The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-23 00:00:00

p 1-110SeS e ar' !er t al° the ,tvfee° oa pis ll ' o df bad al B ill of th e e , the Went ne othe n o s till .cond„ 0 03 mole ;. , A be 1s; y 0; ordsbig lie took the estitna , e at 2,200.000, the expense n oee, • - what lie then stand was, that ii an 5,000 ,000/. were to be made upon Irish property, would bo taxing Ireland to four times the excel: to %Moll property was assessel for a simile' purpose in England ; and that, if the pr, Irish party of England were to be rated at the same ratio property would be under the Bill, the annua assessment would be not 5,000,000/. but 23,000,0001 and this, he said, would be an net of gross injustie, towards Ireland. In consequence of the confusion whirl . existed i n t h e H ouse a t t h e ti me w h e n he was speaking he could easily account for the misunderstanding havint taken plat'''. Mr. FOX MAULE then rose to move the seven: readine of the Army Service Bill. He deemed it in eu rnbent upon him to make some statement to the Heels( relative to the princip e which this Bill contain: 6. and also to the motives which had induced the Go vprument to bring forward a principle of this nature Ile could, by following the precedent of 1800, hay, C hanged the service from unlimited to limited, by simple alteration in the Mutiny Bill, but as it had bee , the practice to remove from that Bill all that which gave occasion to continual discussion, and reek° i simply contain the law and discipline of the army, an( as the discussion on that Bill had been carried on fro,. Year to year with very little notice, the House, relying mainly on the judgment of the Executive Go v ern ment, b ll e preferred to call the attention of the House to th, Principle involved. It would be in the reek)] lection of the House that a former measure r egulating the service had been repealed, after two years, when no experience could be had of its merits. He did think, that no one in that House wool. Start any permanent objections to a standing army it the country. He assumed that as a matter hie! their would dispute. All would adm i t tha, ` u eir domestic interests, their extended colo nies, our position among the nations of the e arth, required a permanent army in this cou ntr y I . t was said that the system of recruiting the army ea, a voluntary system ; but when his lion. and Gallant Friend brought forward his motion, last year, he di. net at that time give any distinct, opinion on the ,subject. It was promised by his Noble Friend at the uead of the Government that the question should receive the careful consideration of the Government during the recess of Parliament. The question had bean well con sidered, and in considering that question it appeared t. him that there was no system of enlistment that wa , v oluntary in its name that had not been , by the Practic es which had been resorted to, deprive , ' of all the rtues of a voluntary enlistment in effect e feund, on looking into this matter, that there mig h be very serous doubts whether any one who eve enlisted into the army did so for the purpose of ,Taking it a regular profession for life. lie 'ows ti.: mere were some classes of their recruits wit', hag , Very readily gone into the ranks, not with any view tc future, but rather with the view of e clping tune Perary distress. He found that their ranks scere very much accustomed to be recruited by those who were hilt arid averse to labour, and who thought that in the lib °F a soldier they would find that idleness and indolence Nisonant to their dispositions. He found that it was t °o often the case that the prodigal sought 41 the army a refuge from his improvidence, Slid it too often occurred that where lads W ho had got into disgrace immediately had r ecourse to enlistment in order to avoid their temporal . ) toasters. With that class voluntary enlistment was at an end. All the rest were voluntary in name, but it was il l reality brought about by the artifices and remises ef recruiting parties.—(Hear.) The place which they adjourned was the public-house, and mei; w ere tern e ted to enlist by the fallacious p romise 01 bounty tneney when they were in a state in which they • Could hardly be called amenable for their actions, am the unhappy man too often found that in a moment of inebriety he hail disposed of his liberty f or life 44 e did not mean by this that the men became slaves ; b ut there could not be a doubt that they surrenderei their own life and disposition to those who corn 'tancled them, and when a man f o u nd himself i, th is position he often deserted in the first m oment o' disappointment. He is no dou bt arrested ii th e course of a few clays, and the man who ha vo luntarily joined the regiment is brought back I ncustody and involuntarily made a soldier. The , u ey had often heard of men who had maimed th e m se', es, under the influence of such feelings a , th ose engendered by a dial ke to the service: a nd when they considered that a man was taken away al t°e'rether from domestic ties—when they were severed le the duties he has to hen he knew he had no hop. • the his fireside except under a high fine, didlll shape of purchase-money, he (Mr. Fox Mauhe Whether,sa that it behoved the House to considei Itore new that the army was receiving somewle-e by r attention than it had done for many years past. painful enlistment, and by removing those raighul circumstances which he had described, the; abl e t not make the life of a soldier less objectien • ua y, Impr ove present, and at the same time not P rete the condition of the army. He de all thos e rkl t ° the effect- say that limited enlistment would curt " 15 , but lie did think that it would hay, of other resets curing many of them. But wit( the subjecutres of' improvement such as formed the l ate of the military administration o! of Government, and with the measures Go vernment he improvementd. being carried on by the present Go had now r id ea n s eolnieve that many of the evils of whirl: theyto complete would be effectual!) cured if th e y h a d recourse to limited en li stment. I-1( fleet( hardly say a great many of the evils in connexion With the army had been removed, that the discipline , had been improved, especially now they had a , little of the degrading punishment of the lash 'What he proposed to do with regard to the limiting the , period of enlistment WiLS to alter the period to ten year: in the infantry, and twelve 3 ears in the cavalry, artillery. a nd ordnance departments. After that period elapsed an Option should be given to the soldier of re -enlisting the infantry soldier for eleven yea rs additional, and tie Cavalry fo r twelve years, making, in the whole, twenty °lle years for the one and twenty-four years for th, other—the period when they could claim their dis Charge. He also took a power in the Bill to en -811,10 the commanding officer to retain the sol e "ler for another year when the regiment we , - abroad, should the public service require it. He might be asked the reason why he made any c lifferenc e in the terms of the period for infantry 'ate: ejlvalry soldi , rs. The difference of training however, was t he,„ reason of the extension of the period for the latte r. 4110 Government proposed then that they shoul, , have the opportunity of enrolling themselves fo, I deferred pension, and during the time the) W ere enrolled for that pension they should serve twelve ay ye sin each ar, uon the same princip a, pen d sioners who were entitled under the 6th, le ith. 9th, and 10th of Victoria. The deferred pension sneuld equal in amount the lowest sum which wa at prese n t fixed by royal warrant. After ten years Zelive service in the army, if the soldier enrolled himself on is discharge, it was proposed to require twenty-two years' at the end of which period he would obtain a clear title to a deferred pension. The effec t of this measure would e, that a person entering the army at the age of eighteen Would serve for ten years, which would bring him to the ag, Of twenty-eight ; if, then, he enrolled himse lf at the a g e ot t -w enty-eight to serve for twenty two years , a t the rate of t welv e days per annum, he would then, at the age of fifty, re eive a small deferred pension, of which he would be left in I w ninterrupted njoyrnent during the remainder of h is life. Thin plan oeld therefore, affect a double obj ec t—it would in ducee many young ' men to enter the army, with the full pur rh" of spending the first years of their enlistment in the ranks, „owing that their d,scharge would take place at a Period when they were still young, and fitted to enter into nY other kinds of business, or turn their minds to agricul rur al, mechanical, or mercantile pursuits, and if they en rolled themselves for a deferred pension they would carry into the society and the country these habits of order and regu. ' r ttY which they had learned in their military care r, 4 `,! 1 (1 also provide a reserve force of great importance, should the eountry be called upon on a sudden to defend its s that from foreign aggression or to man its garrisons, so ttat the troops in active service might be employed elsewhere. He_ took it upon himself to say that these pensioners, especially behind walls, or in entrenchments, or in any service requiring 11 °t much labour, were as thoroughly conversant with the duties of soldiers as when they carried their fireloeks at Wa terloo, or even previous to that, and twenty or five-and-twenty thousand of these men would be sufficient to provide for any sudden emergency which might arise. A few regulations for these pensioners constitute the principles Of the present Bill. He did not intend to make the Bill retrospective, for the prerogative of the Crown could do much in the present case, and therefore if he was asked why he did not extend the privilege to the army at present, he would say that the authority cf the Sovereign could of its own accord effect all that was desired, and although he did not see an danger in the extension of the principle, yet common prudence required that they should have some experience of its working. Even supposing that such a privilege were to be extended to the army, that every man were to receive his disch ar g e who had b een ten years in the ranks, the first thing they would have to do would be to place such restrictions upon the regulation as to hinder too great a deflux of men from the ranks, and such a system would cause even more discontent than at present existed. In the present system, under five years' service a man might pu rc h ase his discharge for 20/. ; after five years he might purchase it for 181., provided he had a distinguishing marl: for good conduct. After seven years' actual service he might Purchase it for 151. ; and after ten years' service, with two marks for good conduct, he might purchase it for 5/. ; and after twelve years, with two marks, he was entitled to a free d ischarge; and after fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen years, he could receive a pension of 4d. or 6d. per day. Although he 4 . 41 not intend to extend this plan to tho se at p resent in th t-VIY, he anticipated good results from it , because he did nut ink those complaints which had beenmade were well founeete Although he had adopted this plan with respect to those in the lal aY and those yet to join it, he should take care that all the revisions of those warrants which emanated from his Right Ii on. Friend who had preceded him should be punctually and terally fulfilled. For these rea , ors he did not intend to li • mit enlistment to the present army, but he did propose io extend it to those vet to join it, and that they should be car lied into effect, if the House should agree to them, as soon se under could bring them into operation. He had proposed them more the conviction that it would make the servic much t si re popular than it was in this country at present.— ~Lsear, hear.) The public or popular feeling in this matter a t ooe which in this case they might safely legislate for — (Hear, hear)—because those who were most deeply interested 10 the matter were the masses from whom the army was recruited, and unless they made the service palatable (Hear, hear)—and agreeable to those classes they ali g h t rely upon it that, with the exception of some dist inguished c o rps, such as the Horse Guards , the Life Guards, and regiments of a similar character, whic h he be lievedttla were much sought after by a higher class of i ndividuals fi nd ' i those ho generally joined our regimen ts, the y would much difficulty in getting good men unless they made the s ervice palatable to the masses. 1 hey might depend up on i Poet would not get the class of recruits they required in so im portant a br anc h of the public service. But on ecenomical grounds he should recommend limited enlistment—(Hear) — b ecause the expense of keeping up recruiting depots in various !arts ‘ of the country, and of transmiting recruits backwards and forwards, and by circuitous routes, Ails great. In many instances presentes all that expense might be avoided, if the service were made more popular, and instead of the system of recruiting, depots were established ill different places to which recruits might repair. THE SU_N', LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 23, 1847. cipline of the army, Some allusion had been made to de serti,m ; he would say wit.l, reference to that crime, that it was occasioned by the tillers incurring dela beo,ming, there. fore, dissatisfied with the service. Why, they held out no in ducement to a man to enlist after nerving twenty. one years ; they did all they could to make him leave the army with disgust. By the warrant of 1833 it was stated that a man might have, after completing his service, a permanent pension of not more than 6d. a day. Therefore they were not sure of getting even this small stipend; and when men had asked him if they were soon to get it, he had told them that they must not look forward with any certainty to it. It was often held out by those engaged in recruiting, that a man might obtain his discharge free of expense at any time. Now, proper information should be promulgated on this s.ibject, so that the ignorant might not be deceived, and led into so serious a contract, without knowing its exact na ture. The Right Honourable Gentleman spoke of endeavour iug to obtain a higher class of men; but he (Colonel Lind say) considered that the army could do without gentlemen clerks or half gentlemen, as the army could not he better re cruited than at present. A more rigid discipline must be main tained in the British army than in that 'of other nations. Here we could not afford to have any waste, but when they considered the high pay and the high pensions of the police, and the great numbers who now obtained employment as rail way officers, he apprehended they would find that a better class of men could not be obtained. They had done well by select ing men from the working classes, and by continuing to adopt the same plan, he had no doubt the same result would take place. Greater inducements ought to be held out to cause men who had served for fifteen years to rejoin the army ; but when a man had served his country faithfully twenty-one years, he ought to be allowed a pension which would prevent him from seeking the aid of a workhouse, from being insufficient to support him in his old age; he ought to have such an allow ance as would keep him in comparative alifluence.—( Hear. ) Colonel SIBTHORP lamented that nothing now was right, and that a subversive system was going on. They had attacked the Church, they had attacked the law, and they had attacked physic— (Laughter) all professions were undergoing a change—nothing was right— ( Renewed laughter)—but he still reverenced the wisdom of , their ancestors, which he thought was totally departed from within the walls of that reformed—that pure House of Com mons, which did nothing wrong.—(Laughter.) But were the people more happy or united now than in the days of their ancestors ? Let them look for a reply to Ireland, to Scotland, and then let them glance at England. A melancholy lesson told them that the people were neither happy nor united. Now they meddled with the army.—(Laughter.) Now, he thought the past services of the army were sufficient to tell the people of this country that no change was required in that de partment of the public service. It was the envy of surround ing nations. He had "great respect for the late and present Secretary-at-War ; but it was sufficient for him to say they were civilians, and that they could not, therefore, have a very intimate knowledge of the feelings of the army. But when he said that the men were unhappy he apprehended that he committed a lupsus linguce. He (Colonel Sibthorp) had been sixteen years in her Majesty's dragoons before he came into that refined society—( Roars of laughter) —and he met, whilst in that service, as good men, and men of as high honour, as he had met with in that society.—( Laughter.) Certainly whilst in the army his time was not consumed in hearing long speeches, such as those ften delivered in that House, and which lie often wish,d he had not sat to hear.— ( Laughter.) If he came in unlearned, he went out. after hearing their speeches, ten times more unlearned.— (Laughter.) The Right Hon. Gentleman stated that the ma jority who joined the service were disgusted with it. Now, he thought this a most improper observation for one in the position of that Right Hon. Gentleman. He considered that it re quired three years at least to make a man who came from the tail of the plough—arid they were the best recruits—to make him a good and perfect dragoon ; but when men were sent out as detachments, they required extra drilling ; and looking at the expense which was incurred, he thought the country would be ill•served if a man was entitled to leave the army at so early a period as that prodosed. Major LAYARD said that he felt a deep interest in the measure now offered to the House, for from the moment he entered the service he felt that the bargain made by the country with the private soldier was an unjust one. He re gretted that the Hon. and Gallant Officer the Member for Li verpool was not there, for there were some points in his speech which he (Major Layard) should be able satisfactory to answer. He had authorities higher than that of the Gallant Officer for stating that many points in his spech were incorrect. When he brought forward this subj , ..ct in 1842, Sir H. Har dinge gave it as his opinion that a measure for limited enlist ment deserved the attention of the Government. Two Go vernments had taken it into consideration, and the Military Commission hail had upon it officers old and experienced as his Gallant Friend, who had also given it in favour of the measure. His Gallant Friend had alluded to the difficulty of maintaining an army during a protracted war with a limited enlistment, and had in the same breath alluded to the amount of money which could be paid to these men upon re-enlistment. It appeared, therefore, from his own arguments that the men would enlist again, and it was his belief that no man would leave his colours in the British army while there was an enemy before them. The Honourable and Gallant Officer stated that it would be unwise to alter the existing; state of things in the army, for that the army was happy enough as it was. In three years out of 110,000 men 28,c00 men had been put in gaol, 8,000 had deserted and 4,0J0 had undergone corporal punishment. That was the happy army alluded to by the gallant officer any change which had been hitherto made had always produced a beneficial effect. The Hon. and Gallant Officer had said that this was not a time for a change. Was not any time the proper time for doing justice ? What reason could be urged for its being delayed? The soldier had no power to complain, and no power to petition—and why should he be compelled from delays to suffer in place. When the late Secretary at War brought forward this subject was there not a feeling in the House that the measure was not to rest as he had placed it. Was it not felt that it was but the beginning of the change, and why did the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman now oppose what he had before suffered to pass away in silence ? Why had he not opposed the proposition of the Secretary at War ? Sir H. DOUGLAS—[ opposed it when you brought it out. Major LAYARD—Yes; the Gallant Officer opposed it when he brought it forward ; but why did he not oppose it when the Secretary at War brought it - forward Sir H. DOUGLAS—I was not in the House. Major LA YARD —The subject was not then of sufficient importance to induce the Gallant Gentleman to oppose it, and why did he do so now ? The Honourable and Gallant Officer who had last spoken had opposed the measure. and had stated that there would not be a proper opportunity in many instances of punishing disobe dience. It did not require twenty-one years to do that. Men, as the Hon. and Gallant Officer said, grew wise by experience; he hoped they did. If any Gentleman had asked him (Major Layard) before 1842 if he should enlist, he should tell him not, and for the following reason—That the bounty which was promised was no bounty at all. That it did not pay for their necessaries, that they joined their regiment in debt— that the arms which they gave were inefficient, as he had seen 100 out of 800 miss fire. If they were sent out to India, they remained for 24 years, and the chances were fifty to one against their coming back. That in the West India islands the mor tality was enormous, being 21,421 since 1817. That no medals were given for hard and long service That they got salt provisions five days in the week, and that a deduction of five per cent, was made from their pensions when they had earned them. As the law was, he could describe the reverse of these things, and under the present system he should advise a man to enlist.. lie would get more bounty, better arms, better treatment and food, and more consideration paid for long servitude. He ()weed that, so far as the Bill now before the (louse want, he did not feel quite satisfied with it ; and, in saying so, he might, perhaps, appear to take an ungrateful course, seeming to oppose a Bill which had been brought for ward by a Government that had his support ; but he felt it ne eessary to state an objection when it arose. It was with that view 'that he had given notice of a clause which he would move to be introduced between the third and fourth clauses of the measure, as it stood at present. There were difficulties in dealing with all the details of the objects which such a measure was meant to provide for—difficulties that were exceedingly increased to him (Major Layard), who did not have the information which the books at the Horse Guards could so minutely give him. But the effect of the clause of which he had given notice would be, that after three years these men now in the service should be allowed to take advantage of the provisions of this measure, always provided that they gave three months notice of such intention to the officer in command. But he had a considera tion to submit to the Government. It had been said by many Hon. members of that House, and it was the feeling ont of doors, that promotion at the Horse Guards was a one-sided opinion only, and no other ; he would have sat still and said nothing, but as it was the feeling of many, very many, of Isis fellow officers, as well as of many whose interest did not lead them so directly to the subject, and he felt bound now to say, that it was his own opinion also, that promotion at the Horse Guards was not impartial. Why, the Noble Lord now at the head of the Government, in a speech which lie made in 1842, when the Right Hon. Baronet opposite was in office, took the very point which he (Major Layard) felt now so anxious to impress upon her Majesty's Government. The Honourable and Gallant Gentleman had quoted from the Noble Lord's speech in Hansard, in the course of which that Noble Lord referred to the opinion expressed by the Duke of Wellington, that the commander-in-chief ought not to be a memb..r of the Cabinet, in order that no bias might exist in his mind in reference to promotions. But (the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman continued) the Right Hon. Baronet oppo site said, in answer to the Noble Lord, that that would not snake any difference. Now, on the contrary, he believed it did make a difference, and for this reason. He knew that many of his fellow-officers had a wish in the case of an election to stand upon prineiplss which, till very lately, had not pre vailed in the army; but these gentlemen were not prepared to aive up their profession. Why, he believed he was the only officer on that side of the House, except the Noble Lord the Member for Lichfield, on full pay. Now what he meant to say was, that any Government laboured under a great evil when the promotions, cf which there occurred seven hundred a year, were all in the power of a partizan. It was impossible in that case that those on his (Major Layard's) side of the House could have the same chance with those on the other side ; and that was unfair— very unfair. That was a circumstance which he believed operated strongly against the present Government, which had been called into power in a time of difficulties, enough of which there were to contend with, barring any such additional im pediment as that to which he had adverted. He wished that promotions shouts be impartially conferred on gentlemen, whether they voted for or against the corn-law—that political differences should disappear at the Horse-guards. But it had been said that a Whig Government had earned no debt of gra titude from the army; what had they done for it? Why, much ; they had done much. They had abolished corporal punishment in the army, they had done away with the enormous charge of five per cent. on the pensions. and now they had introduced a measure for limited enlistments, so that now the soldier instead of being unhappy might look to the time when his ditties would actually become a pleasure.— ( The lion. Gentleman was here interrupted by cries of " Divide.") He hoped they would not divide yet; he trusted they would allow him to express his opinion fully on a measure which he had so early befriended before the Government had taken it into hand. The Hon. and Gallant Member then read a long letter speaking of the hardship of a private soldier in the British Army, and expressing an earnest hope that the benefits of the measure taight be extended to those at present in the letter . was signed " A British Soldier of eight who dares not sign his name," which elicited s y e e r a v r i s c e s t . a rit c u T n h gl e , ironical cheers f P •d f h 1 rom the posite st eo t e ouse, ant among the roe( from . • lr Disraeli. ) The Hon. Gentleman said the he must tell what he knew to he too ironical cheer, but name l t t h o a s t u such Member for Shrewsbury might treat such a sionature with an a letter as e to anything opposed to the views of solder dared sign his name fetter he had read durst not hmeanhy„daresaodldtieerthdearHedeunseo.t sign hiss ewwe reveal himself as the true, that had trusted to his (Major • Layard's) honour. mitigation, bore upon the the Government, and requiring his officers, and the sure that any Hon. Member of pAewrnrsooitntehrwerhboeitoeihnet deserving the attention of • wives of the soldiers. He was 1. about to embark for foreign service, tioa when a regiment was ower was greater than the would agree with him that such a arrogap e. But the Right Hon. that House who had seen the teart-rent nig scenes of separa- Government had any right to subject of education for the soldier bort) had proposed that the That was but a tardy re should be taken into consideration. Gentleman the former Secretary at War (11 . Ir. Sidney Her turn for a service long since d on e by the soldier. He begged for Dublin—(Great laughter)—he me ant the Right to ask the Hon. and Gallant G entleman the _ e etiorecteer. the Learned Member for the Dublin University—did be know who founded the Dublin library?—( Great. laughter.) No, the Her.. and Learned Member did re' k"r- (Laughter. ) After the battle of Kinsale, oui lug the days good Queen Elizabeth—(Laughter)—in the year 1603, the British army, after destroying the Spanish force, subscribed I. 0/. to raise a monument in commemsration of their gallant aehismatiat. It was spent on no Ecuiptured marble or en graven brass; but they sent the funds to the celebrated Usher for the purpose of founding the Dublin library, about which the Learned Recorder knew nothing.—(Laughter.) But, in fine, believing that the British soldier would derive great be nefit from that measure he would give it his cordial support. The Bill was th en rea d a secon d time, and ordered to be committed that night week. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the order of the day for going into Committee on this Bill being read, Lord G. BENTINCK rose and said he wished to call the attention of the House to the statement made by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland, as to the possibi lity of an incorrect return et the deaths that had taken place in Ireland. It would be recollected that the Right Hon. Gentle man said there was no possibility of obtaining a correct register of the death s i n Ireland, inasmuch as no return was made of the deaths that took place there. Now, the Right Hon. Gen tleman in making that statement was entirely mistaken. In proof of this, he (Lord G. Bentinck) had had letters from se veral clergymen in Ireland, who stated that by the canon law every Protestant clergyman was bound on the 25th of March of every year to make a return of all the deaths and marriages that had taken place in the parish. That this matter might be perfectly understood, he would read a letter which he had received on Saturday from the Rev. Mr. I Archer, incumbent of Newton Barry, county of Wexford. The Noble Lord then read extracts from the communication of the Rev. Gentleman, expressive of his surprise that the Right Hon. Geutleman the Secretary for Ireland should have re turned the answer ho did to the question put by him (Lord George Bentinck). The clergymen of the Church of Ireland were bound on the 25th day of M arch in every year to furnish a correct copy of the parish registry of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths, to the regis• trar of the diocese, by whom they were inserted in the registry of the Diocesan Court. lie (LordlG. Bentinck) thought, there fore, that it must be clear to the House that the Right Hon. Gentleman was entirely misinformed, and that no difficulty could stand in the way of the Government in furnish ing those returns. He bad also received a communi cation from one of the medical officers connected with the dispensary in Galway, who stated that there could be no difficulty in ascertaining the amount of mor tality among the Roman Catholic population. He had had several other communications, among others, one from Mr. Hewson, anatomical lecturer in Killarney Hospital, stating that the mortality in that establishment was three in the month of November, six in December, nineteen in January, arid twenty dune in February. The Noble Lord then proceeded, bat in a tone of voice almost inaudible in the gallery, to tax the Government with having, by their ill-judged measures, precipitated the present distress in Ireland. Pe blamed them, that, instead of afterwards endeavouring to alleviate the desti tution they had in part created, they had left the wants of the country to be supplied by the energy of private speculators, and from the resources of private capital. Mr. LABOUCHERE trusted that Hon. Members would not think it necessary that he should follow the Noble Lord into a subject which had been so frequently discussed in that House—he meant the policy of her Majesty's Government with respect to the supplying of food to Ireland, and the effect which that policy had on the comforts, and perhaps lives, of the people of that country. He could only regret that the Noble Lord should have felt it necessary to adopt the course he had done on that occasion, and that he should again have provoked discussion by affirming that her Majesty's Government had pursued an impolitic course, inasmuch as they had not themselves provided a supply of food for the Irish people. He ( Mr. Labouchere), on the contrary, felt satisfied that every day's experience confirmed the wisdom and necessity of the policy by which the Government was actuated not to interfere with private energy, or the ordinary career of trade. Most enormous supplies of food were pouring into Ireland, and he confessed that in his own opinion, if Govern ment had interfered to fetter the course of private enterprise, the result might have been very different. He had seen a letter that day which stated that in the port of Cork there were one hundred vessels with full cargoes of provisions.— ( Hear, hear.) There were similar imports in the ports of Galway, Limerick, and in fact in all the large ports of Ire land. The result had been that great quantities of provisions were stored on the premises of the several merchants, and private imports bad exceeded what might have been expected from the utmost efforts of the Government. With regard to the returns of mortality, if he had objected to the returns which were moved fur by the Noble Lord, it was from no desire to keep them from the House, in order to conceal what the Noble Lord would call the impolitic measures of the Government. He would at once concede that the mortality in the last year greatly exceeded that of former years. It was not on that account that he had refused these returns, but because he believed that no correct returns could be rendered. Where he thought that correct information could be afforded he did not refuse to the House to lay such before it. They had ordered a return of the Lumber of coroners' inquests, and also returns from the constabulary force ; but when the Noble Lord asked for the returns of mortality in the last year as compared with previous years, he ( Mr. Labouchere) did not feel himself justified in granting them. The Noble Lord said that the Protestant clergymen of Ireland kept a registry of the births and deaths within their own parishes, and that they were com pelled to do so by the canon law ; he believed they were obliged to do so, but he was much deceived if that law was enforced in Ireland. His Learned Friend beside him had put the canon law into his hand, and he found that the penalty for the evasion of the Act was, that the parties infringing it could be proceeded against accordingly. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said that the chief reason for his rising was to express a hope that the Government would place a check on the landlords using these depots. The desti tution in Ireland was daily growing more and more fearful, and he conjured them to do so as the markets were not likely to fail, and there was every probability that they would have ample opportunities of using their resources. Mr. SHAW thought that the representations of the Right lion. Gentleman had been much overcharged. The fact was, that the Protestant clergy had inquired into the deaths only of the people under their own care. It was impossible therefore to draw any comparative estimate of the state of destitution in Ireland from these returns, nor ought they to be relied upon for that purpose. Lord i N S s i S a y , e L n L , conceived e t . N ., o d b . le i . L d e o e r d d , had hi views were altogether beside the case. They had come to me opinion, that the best course they could pursue,was not to check the importation of food into Ireland through private en terprise by any measures of the Government. With regard to the proceedings of last year, he might observe, that a certain amount of money was voted for the purchase of Indian corn for the supply of the destitute people of Ireland. They bad thought that it was a very proper article of food for that country, and had accordingly bought it up largely ; but they did net say, on that account, that other persons were not also to introduce Indian corn ; and on a reference to the public markets in America, they found that the object had been fully attained, for it had led to a large importation of food, and the Govern ment had done all they could to promote that importation. But the Government never intended, and never engaged, to feed the people of Ireland, although he could not say that they had never undertaken to secure a supply of food for that country. By a letter received this very day, addressed to the Secretary to the Treasury, by the special agent of the Government, it appeared that at the moment he wrote, there were twenty thousand tons of Indian corn in the neighbourhood of Cork waiting for sale, and that the markets were overstocked, and that the corn was at the present moment being sold in such small parcels as fifteen pounds each, and the probability was that the stock now on hand horn the late importations would be sold at a consider able loss. In fact, the arrivals had been much greater than he had supposed, and he believed that more than twenty-four ships had come to port more than were required, and that a much greater amount of Indian corn had arrived than was required, and it was likely to be sold at a much lower price than that at which the Government had undertaken to supply the whole of the country with food. Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask the Secretary for Ire land whether there was any objection to grant the returns for which his Noble Friend had asked? If that return was pro perly made, and it was in accordance with what the Right Hon. Gentleman had stated, it would be a complete answer to what had been stated by his Noble Friend. Mr. L A BOUCHERE said that the returns made by the Protestant clergy hai been returns of the deaths only, but if the Noble Lord attached any importance to the . returns as showing the comparative deaths and the destitution Ireland,ln he would not have the slightest objection t o grant them. Mr. W. V. STUART conceived that t he o o Hon. Gentleman opposite were quite in o pp o e bry f Iltuenough for some debate, for if the returns had b een purposes, they were quite incomplete w ith regard to others, d raw ing any conchs - ,eneattoion is he o f the ther distress of Ireland was now before the House, he wished to mak e an inquiry with re spectthat was said to ha ve been incurred in s a i n o d ns th o e n ref w o h r i e ch u t n o fi tto found be an relied o pin u io p n o . for Mr. COLLETT said that as n i to tgoistr t i t the expenseo distribution fsoup. It was stated that a hundred men were employed at a pound each to superintend the distribution of this soup, making an expense of 1001. a-week. The ques. tion then which he wished to put was, as to whether this state ment was true? Secondly, at to whether these men were now engaged ? And in the third place, as to whether the Right Hon. Gentleman had reason to believe that, considering the great expense incurred, the experiment was likely to prove suc cessful ? Mr. LABOUCHERE said he should have been prepared to hpraevvei(ainssrvegrievdenthneotqicueesotifonit,ofbutthethiHs o h n e . G co e u n i t d lem „ a a n te, h t a n d he at at first the experiment was made by private parties. Perhaps, while he was on his legs, he might be allowed to say, in re ferenceavnsdden transition from the u opposite,H t o o n. ti ? c en , t ii l ffi em cn a l n tieswt,ieh might that presentto what Governmentt hadhe were fully fallen nsn a fo from alie pu blic works, and the Iri sh Governmen t had accordingly been fully instructed up o n that p oint. Mr. DILLON BROWNE would nev er as k t hi s country t o ,e,, f re a el l come forward to assist Ireland while the people of that coun try had an opportunity of providing for themselves ; but be really did think Government ought to take st e p s f or supp l y i ng tenants with seed wher e the landlords would not, or could not, do so. He fully admitted that Government was pursuing a proper course in allowing the present demands for food in Ireland to be supplied by private enterprise, T In reply to a que stion from Ca p tain H ARRIS, CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER s t a t e d th a t all persons would be discharged from the public works when inalrland laden with simi lar employment could be found for them in another way. Mr. B. DISRAELI said, it would appear that the depots for the supply of food in Ireland had been reduced from ninety threeey had to consider was this, to twenty-four, and yet the Noble Lord at the head of stable when the steed was the Government told them that the ports of Ireland were filled navy, to the extent of ower withr.ceoa they vh,,gcuosytes tong, laden Nwtaaokswi snhtghoer with teqlayur eetfsto,tooitdf,n, arrive attinhi the stable stolen? It appeared to him that what the Government was doing very much resembled that fable, for having reduced the number of the starving population, they were introducing food into Ireland sufficient to supply the demands of the origi nal number of persons in want. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the lion. Member's conclusions were based upon fallacious argu ou so no argu ments. Many of the depots to which he all u d e d were d e p o t s of reserve, and not depots of supply. For instance, the w. co Theast dep oyt shld remain been red uce d, b ut rema i ne d guard stations had been all converted into d e p o t s o f reserve , butoittsw of' assunpoptly, however,necessarythiaiatdthne as they were last year. Mr. PHILLIP HOWARD suggested that biscuits should form a considerable portion of the food sent to Ireland by the Government, in consequence of the great scarcity of firing in that country. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that a considerable quantity of biscuits had been sent to Ireland. Mr. P. SCROPE presented a petition from a place in the borough of Limerick against that clause in the Bill for equal ising the number of ex-ellii io and the elective guardians. An Hoe. MUMBER presented a petition from the Town Com missioners of Galway for art equalisation of the rate between the town and rural districts. Mr. MACARTHY presented a petition to the same effect as the two last, from the city of Cork. The House then went into Committee on the Bill. Clause 3 was agreed to. On clause 4 being proposed, Mr. HAMILTON moved that the words "direct the guardians of each union in Ireland to" should be left out; and n line 36, thst r.fterthe word "appoint," the werd. " in end for each union in Ireland" should be inserted ; awl in tine 39, that the words from "Ireland," to the end of the clause, should be omitted. Mr. S. O'BRIEN hoped the Government would not accede to the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman. After a few words from Sir G. Grey, Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. D. Browne, and Mr. Cripps, in opposition to the amend ment, Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN said that those Hon. Mem bers did not appear to be perfectly consistent in their conduct in opposing the amendment of his Hon. Friend the Member for the University of Dublin, seeing the course which they had adopted upon other clauses of the Bill, recommending authority to be given to the board of guardians and not to the Commis sioners. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suaorted the clause as it originally stood. Mr. SHAW thought that it would be not only safer, but much better for the efficient working of the Bill, that the ap pointment of the relieving officer should be vested in the Com missioners. Mr. GROGAN supported the amendment. Mr. LABOUCHERE was in favour of the clause ; it bud been prepared with considerable care, and was the result of con siderable attention on the part of the Government. Sir W. CLAY opposed the amendment. Mr. J. O'CONNELL thought the better course would be to consider first the clause relating to ex-officio guardians, as upon the result of that clause would depend the whole value of the other details of the Bill. Mr. HAMILTON withdrew his amendment, and the clause, as originally proposed was agreed to. On clause 5 being proposed, Mr. HAMILTON suggested that in cases where there was no medical officer for an electoral division, while there was one for the union, that then the burden of the medical attendant appointed should fall only on the district to which he was elected. Mr. D. BROWNE suggested that there should be some qualification test for the election of a medical officer. It was very necessary that such should be the case, there were so many unqualified persons practising in Ireland. Sir G. GREY said that such should be the case; with respect to the suggestion of the Member for the University of Dublin, much should be left to the discretion of the guardians. Mr. MORGAN J. O'CONNELL said that it would be the most valuable clause, if it totally abolished the system of dispensary practice in Ireland altogether. The appointment was in the power of the subscribers, and they always elected some one they favoured, even should he reside fifty miles out of the district. The clause was then agreed to. On clause 6 being preposed, Mr. G. HAMILTON moved the substitution of the follow ing :—" That in every electoral division of each union there shall be a relief committee; which relief committee shall consist of the guardians of such union, resident or having rate able property within such electoral division, together with the (two) highest ratepayers therein, not being guardians of such union ; and every such committee shall meet weekly, on some day, other than that of the meeting of the board of guardians; and every such relief committee shall annually elect a chair man; and every relieving officer who shall be appointed as hereinbefore directed, shall at such weekly meeting report to such relief committee any case of sudden or urgent necessity, and shall have power, under an order signed by the chairman, or such person as shall be, pro tempore, acting as chairman of such relief committee, to give provisional relief in such case of sudden and urgent necessity, either by an order of admis sion to the workhouse or fever hospital of the union, pro• vided there be room therein respectively, and by con veying any destitute poor person thereto if necessary, or by affording such poor person immediate and temporary elief in food, lodging, or medical attendance, until the neat ordinary meeting of the board of guardians, at which meeting he shall report the case, and the nature and cost of the relief so afforded, in such form and manner as the Poor-law Com missioner shall prescribe, and after such report shall give no further relief otherwise than by direction of the board of guardians in the case so reported; and the guardians of the union shall furnish the chairman of such relief committee with the necessary funds for affording relief in manner aforesaid, and for the relief of those destitute poor persons to whom relief shall be granted by the board of guardians, at such times and in such manner as the Poor-law Commissioners shall determine and direct. And be it enacted, that in any case of sudden and urgent necessity at any period between the meetings of such relief committee, and of the board of guardians, it shall he lawful for such relieving officers to give such provisional relief as aforesaid, under the written order of the chairman, or of any two members of the said relief committee, until the next ordinary meeting of the board of guardians or of the relief committee, whichever shall first happen ; at which he shall report the relief so afforded in the manner, and subject to the conditions hereinbefore required with respect to relief admi nistered under the orders of the said relief committee. M:. SHARMAN CRAWFORD thought it was indispen sable that a poor person should have a surgeon to look to who would afford them temporary relief, in cases of pressing emer gency, until their case could come, in the ordinary course, under the attention of the board of guardians. He hoped the Government would adhere to the clause as it stood. Sir GEORGE GREY thought that the amendment would interfere with the poor obtaining that immediate relief for giving which the clause was specially framed. It was indis pensable that the power which the clause proposed to give should be in the hands of medical officers. Some discussion ensued. Mr. J. O'CONNELL wished to have a provision introduced into the Bill to have the clergy of every denomination upon the boards of guardians. They were better acquainted with the people themselves, and the objects must worthy of receiving relief. Sir WALTER JAMES thought that some provision should be made giving to the relieving officers a power analagous to the powers possessed by some charities in England; namely, that of giving immediate relief in cases of urgent distress. Mr. SHAW thought that the relieving officer would, under such circumstances, be placed in a difficult position, and it would not be easy to foresee the extent to which such a prin ciple as the one proposed might be carried. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that in the present position of Ireland there might arise many cases of distress of an urgent nature, which it would be the duty of the relieving officer to attend to without applying for authority to two or three different per sons, The person seeking relief might under such circum stances die before assistance could be afforded. He thought therefore that such a power was absolutely indispensable. zur. P. SUROPJE thought that it was tho duty or the Go vernment to introduce into the clause some words which should render it compulsory upon the relieving officer to administer relief, After a few words from Sir GEORGE GREY, the clause was agreed to, On clause seven being proposed. Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN wished to know if this clause em. powered the guardians to give out-door assistance to the family of a man unable to work from accident. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the first clause did that. Mr. VESEY moving that the following words be added at the end of the clause —" Provided always that no wife or child shall be admitted into the workhouse without the husband or parent for more than one week, unless with the sanction of the Poor-law Commissioners. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that if they admitted these provisos, they, by implication, legalised what was illegal now. After a few words from Mr. Vesey, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Hamil ton, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. VESEY inquired whether the guardians had the power to stop this practice? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not say that ; all he could say was, that if the guardians acted in the way represented, they acted illegally. The amendment was then negatived without a division. The clause was then passed without a division, as was also clause 8. On the motion that clause 9 be agreed to, Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that his Hon. Friend the Member for Waterford had an amendment to propose, and he wished to know whether he intended to press it ? Lord J. RUSSELL said, that as several Members had mo tions to make, he thought it would be better to postpone the consideration of the remaining clauses till to-morrow. The House then resumed. CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS BILL. On the motion that the House should go into Committee on the Custody of Offenders Bill, Mr. E. DENISON wished to know what course the Go vernment intended to pursue with respect to this Bill, as it appeared to him that it would open the whole question of transportation ? Lord J. RUSSELL thought that it would be better to take the consideration on the debate on the clauses of the Bill. The question of altering the present system of transportation, it would seem, was to be discussed upon the report of one of these Bills, and unless he heard from Government that it was to be brought forward in another form, he should come down on Thursday prepared to go fully into the matter. Sir GEORGE GREY said it was highly important that these Bills should be disposed of as soon as possible, but still he should be quite ready to go into the question of transportation on Thursday, when it was proposed to bring up the report on the Bill. Sir JAMES GRAHAM was understood to say that the Crown proposed to alter the present mode of transportation without the authority of an Act of Parliament. He thought, therefore, that the question ought to be brought forward in a specific form, and he should be glad to know if Government would bring the matter forward for full discussion after Easter? Sir G. GREY said he should be extremely happy to enter upon such a discussion, but it could only be done by some Hon. Alember giving a notice of motion upon the subject. The House then went into Committee on the 13111. PRISONS BILL. This Bill also went through Committee, and the report or dered to be received this day. GENERAL REGISTER-HOUSE (EDINBURGH) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter-past One o'clock. PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—We perceive that the an nual benefit of Mr. M'Lean, the obliging and attentive messenger to this theatre, takes place on Friday next, when BAlini's opera seria Norma will be performed for the last time, to be followed by the Ethiopians' Concert, with their irresistible Railroad Overture, and a drama, supported by the entire company. ‘Nre feel certain that his friends will rally round him, for he deserves their encouragement. THE STORY OF LILLY DAWSON. BY AIRS. CLONE, AUTHOR OF " SUSAN ITOPLEY."—We have read this work with deep interest ; an interest derived from the nature of the incidents, the character of the principal per sonages, the forcible style of the writer, and her occasional reflections upon motives of human conduct. In all these requisites of a good novelist Mrs. Crowe excels. Her cha racters are delineated with striking fidelity, and a thorough acquaintance with human nature and the passions that shape its destiny. Among the most successful are Abel White, May Elliot, Luke Littenhaus, and the heroine herself. Lilly Dawson. The last of these, Lilly Dawson, is a creation nut unworthy of Scott. The gradual unfolding of a good and gentle heart as she passes through situations calculated to work the change is pourtrayed with consummate skill, delicacy, and truth. Every portion of the work, indeed, indicate , powers of no common order. The story of " Lilly Dawson" will place Mrs. Crowe high among the living writers of fiction.—John DRAINING WITH ENGINE ASHES.—On the farm of Daldorch, the property of Archibald Buchanan., Esq., of Catrine Bank, Scotland, there are drains made twenty yeers ago, and filled with engine ashes, which are in full and efficient operation. The de p th of drain is twenty-six inches, and the width between each twelve feet. The bottom of the drain is cut three inches wide, and the depth of ashes used in fillin g them i s about tell inches. The soil is a firm clay. These drains promise to be as effi cient half a century hence as they are at the present time.— Cambrian. DOVER REFUGE HARBOUR.---We at length con gratulate our readers that the great national undertaking, the formation of a harbour of refuge at Dover, is no longer problematical. The greatest probability exists that the pre sent year will see the works commenced.—Dever Chronicle. HIGHLAND SOCIETY of LONDON. Yesterday being the anniversary of the glorious victory Ns 0,, icy tale trou t s una,r the command of Sir Ralph Aber crombie, at Alexandria, the Highland Society, according to annual custom, held their festival at the Freemasons' Tavern, and never have we seen a more splendid gathering. The occasion was one worthy of all honour. The Chief of the society, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, honoured the anniversary festival with his presence for the first time His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided, sup ported on Ma right by the Prince Chief of the Society, and on his left by Field Marshal his Grace the Duke of Wel lington. In addition to these Noble and Illustrious personages, we observed among these present the Viscount Clifden, General the Hon. Sir Alexander Dufl; Lieutenant-General Sir John Mac donald, Adjutant-General to the Forces; Lieutenant -General Sir James Macdonnell, Major-General Sir David Leighton, Baron Knesebeck, Hon. Colonel Phipps, Colonel Sir T. M. Wilson, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., Sir Nicolas Harris Nicolas, Sir Robert Murray, Bart. ; James Matheson, Esq., M.P. ; William Hutt, Esq., M.P.; Colonel Matheson, Colonel Kelly, Major George Hutt, Captain Christie, R.N.; Captain Lamont, R.N.; Captain Jay, R.N.; Major Dunsmure, 42d Royal Highlanders; Captain Wynyard, Guards; the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England; John Mac gregor, Esq., of the Board of Trade ; C. A. Mackenzie, Esq.; Alexander G. Mackenzie, Esq.; John Mackenzie, Esq.; D. Roberts, EN., RA.; J. Auld o, Esq. ; W. Judd, Esq. ; J. Beaumont, Esq. ; Sir William D. Ross; H. J. Cameron, Esq., F. W. Caldwell, George Bain, Esq., Honorary Secretary of the Society; J.j Tulloch, Esq.; D. C. Guthrie, Captain Charles Forbes, George Forbes, Esq., Charles Sutherland, Esq., &c., &c. At half-past seven o'clock his Royal Highness the Chair man, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Chief, by his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and by the officers of the Society, and preceded by her Majesty's piper, the piper of the society, and the juvenile pipers of the Royal Caledonian Asylum, entered the hall. At this mo ment the coup d'ceil was most picturesque. The body of the hall was occupied by gentlemen attired either in the High land costume, military or naval uniform, or full Court dress; and the gallery was filled with ladies in full dress. Under neath the gallery was ranged the juvenile military band of the Caledonian Asylum. These boys were dressed in uni form, and during the course of the evening they per formed several martial and popular airs with a precision and an ensemble that would have done credit to veteran performers We understand that they have been only under instructions seven months, but we have heard pieces of music by bands, who had been under instruction as many years performed much less satisfactorily than by these boys last evening. Infinite credit is due to Mr. Burford their instructor. The progress they have made under his superintendence is really astonishing. Upwards of 200 gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner which was placed upon the table in the Messrs. Bacons' best style. The hall was elegantly fitted up for the occasion. In addi tion to a great quantity of valuable plate, the tables were decorated with various emblems in gold of the military and naval victories of the country. The side tables were also ornamented with vases of beautiful flowers of every descrip tion, and on the cross-table stood the handsome " thistle vase" presented to the Highland Society by the late Sir James Hamilton. Messrs. Sinclair, Browne, Moody, and Smirke, were the vocalists engaged for the occasion. The instrumental music was admirably given by the juvenile band Mr. Higgins, a worthy disciple of Toole, officiated as toast-master. The cloth having been withdrawn, and grace having been said, His Royal Highness the CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, I have a toast to propose. Her Majesty the Queen, our most gracious Sovereign, and God bless her.—(Cheers.) The toast was drank with Highland honours; after which the National Anthem was sung, the solo parts being sus tained by Messrs. Smirke, Browne, and Sinclair, and the band played " God save the Queen." The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of the Queen Dowager. Drank with three times three. Air—" Hearts of Oak," by the band. The CHAIRMAN then, amidst loud cheering, proposed the health of the Duke of Rothsay, and the rest of the Royal Family. Drank with Highland honours. Air—" The Duke of York's March"—band. The Cuatitsrast said the next toast I am assured you will drink with enthusiasm. It is "His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Chief of the Highland Society," who I am pleased to say is on this occasion present amongst us. The Highland toastmaster, Mr. Duncan Macnaghten, then proposed the toast in Gaelic as follows : " A Mhorachd Rioghail Prionnsa Albert, ceannard a chomuinn Ghaidhealaich." It was drank with Highland honours, after which her Ma jesty's piper played a Highland air. Prince ALBERT then rose and said—Allow:me to thank yon, gentlemen, for the way in which 3ou have received this toast. lam glad of this opportunity to express to you in person the sense which 1 feel of the honour you have done me in electing me your chief—the chief of a society, the ob ject of which is to preserve the nationality of the Highlands —(Cheers)—the national sports, and the national habits.— (Renewed cheers.) I have had the pleasure of visiting the Highlands several times, and I can assure you, that the im pression that has been left on my mind has been most gra tifying.—(Loud cheers.) It is impossible for any one to visit your country, to breathe the pure air, to see the beau. tiful scenery, and to live amongst the simple and hardy people of that country without feeling the most favourable impressions.—(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I have to propose " Prosperity to the Highland Society."—(Loud cheers.) Drank with three times three. Song, Miss P. Horton—" Follow Prince Charlie." The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the Presi dent, his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, and expressed his regret that his Grace was not present amongst them that evening. Drank with Highland honours. Air, Mr. Browne—" Roy's Wife." The CHAIRMAN then said, I have now to propose a toast, in which I am sure every one will join : it is the health of the Duke of Wellington, who sits near me.— (Immense cheering) which was frequently renewed and lasted several minutes.) Every body honours him.—(Renewed cheering.) More it would not become me to say of him in his presence, except that I hope he may still live for many years—(Loud cheers.) The toast was then drank with Highland honours. The Duke of WXLLINGITON then rose and spoke as fol lows :—" Gentlemen, I beg leave to return you my thanks for the honour you have done me in drinking my health, and for the manner in which you have been pleased to listen to the proposition of tho illustrious Duke in the chair. Gentle men, I have long had the satisfaction of being acquainted with many of you, and of having the highest respect for your countrymen of all classes and descriptions, more especially for those who are members of the profession to which I have the honour to belong.—(Cheers.) It is highly satisfactory to me to have had the power of attending here this day, and on all occasions when you will do me the honour to in timate to me that my attendance is desirable, if I have tot other avocations, I shall be happy to avail myself of any opportunity which will permit me to pay my respects to you. —(Loud cheers.) It is with the utmost satisfactionlhat I have witnessed the symptoms of your attachment to the illustrious Prince who has honoured us with his presence this day.— (Loud cheers)—and I am sure that you all appreciate his attachment to you and to your country, and feel how greatly your country must benefit from it.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I repeat I thank you for the honour you have done me."— (Loud cheers.) Air—" British Volunteers"—Band. At the conclusion of the air the pipers struck up the reel of " Tulloch," which was danced by some of the gentlemen present with true Highland enthusiasm. The Duke of WELLINGTON then rose and said, " Gentle men, I have received permission from his Royal Highness the Chairman to propose a toast, to which I am satisfied you will feel anxious to pay every respect, when I mention the name of his Royal Highness, our chairman.— (Cheers.) We all feel obliged to his Royal Highness for coming forward to preside on this auspicious occasion, when our President was not able to attend in consequence of the pressure of business. His Royal Highness is a soldier, like many of us, and has acquired the greatest respect of those who have gained re spect by their gallant achievements in the field.—(Cheers.) The Duke concluded by proposing " The health of the Illus trieus Chairman," which was drunk with three times three. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said that he trusted the gentlemen present would not forget that he too, like his illustrious relative, had been in the Highlands, and, continued his Royal Highness, what I saw there I admired. In wish ing prosperity to this establishment I trust you will not forget that I have had the pleasure of seeing many of you before, and I may also state that I belonged to a highland regiment years before many of those now present were born.--( Loud cheers.) Air—" Auld Lang Syne."—Band. The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Army and Navy." Drunk with three times three. Air, " Rule Britannia—Band. Song, " Death of Nelson"—Mr. Sinclair. The CHAIRMAN—The next toast I have to propose is— " The memory of Sir Ralph Abercromby and the heroes who fell with him in Egypt." Never was there a better soldier or a more honest man than Sir Ralph Abercromby. The toast was drunk in solemn silence. Colonel KELLY addressed the meeting in a short speech, which, however, was quite inaudible in the part of the room where we were sitting. The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The ladies." Drank with three times three. Air, " Here's a health to all good lasses"—Band. After this toast had beets drank, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge vacated the chair, and accompanied by his Royal highness Prince Albert, and his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and attended by Baron Knesebeck, retired in grand procession, preceded by the pipers, &c. Shortly afterwards Lieutenant-General Sir J. MACDONNILL,KsC 8., said—His Royal Highness has commanded me to succeed to the chair for an indefinite period. Is it your pleasure that this Court should now break up, or should it be reconstructed ? The question of the reconstruction of the Court having been carried nem. con., Sir James Macdonnell took the chair amidst loud cheers. The CHAIRMAN said that the present anniver sary, honoured as it had b een b y the p resence of the Duke of Cambridge in the chair, their illus trious chief, Prince Albert, and by the visit of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, must be considered the most remarkable in the annals of the society. They had also been honoured by the presence of many other visitors, and the first toast he would propose would be " The health of the gentlemen, not members of the Corporation, who bad honoured them to-night with their presence." Drank with three times three. Song, " Lulurity "—Mr. Moody. Mr. Roenesox, the Deputy-Governor of the Bank of Eng land, in returning thanks, bore testimony to the energetic manner in which Highlanders had met the present distress, and which reflected the greatest credit both on chiefs and people. The CHAIRMAN then proposed the national toast, " Clann nen Gaidheal an gualaibh a cheile"— Highlanders shoulder to shoulder—which was drank with Highland honours with the greatest enthusiasm, and was followed by a reel. The CHAIRMAN then rose to bring before the notice of the company an establishment which was peculiarly worthy of the attention of Scotchmen—he meant the Caledonian Asylum. —(Cheers.) It was instituted in the first place for the orphans of soldiers and sailors, and afterwards the charity had been extended to others.—(Cheers.) He was happy to think that an opportunity was now atThrded him of acknowledging the obligations which all Highland societies were under to the honorary secretary of this, which must be considered the parent society—(Cheers)---a gentleman who had founded the Caledonian Asylum and many oth er i nstituti (Cheers.) He proposed "Prosperity to the Caledonian Asylum." Drank with three times three, followed by a Highland reel to the pipes. J. MATHESON, Esq., M.P., returned thanks for thecerdia feeling of good will whi c h those present had expressed to wards the Caledonian A sy l um. valuable institutions which they It was one of th e mo s t possessed. Ia the first place, it provided for the children of those who had devoted The question of bounty he considered might be attended to in e feet years after this. %-!,•. Wyndham said that, he should never • be contented till the profession of al :,AS was in Oil: respect put upon the same footing as other callings. He (Mr. F. Maule) did not think that this could be carried into effect for sonic time, but he thought in these days of peace by the measures they would take to improve the condition of the sol dier, they would be enabled in a few years to dispense with the system of giving bounties. There was another subject to which he wished to call attention before he concluded. What a benefit would it be to allow those, wino retired from the service, to go back well satisfied with the treat ment they had received. If they could send them back with good moral habits acquired—with ideas 01 habit and obedience strongly impressed on them, their example would do more in bringing recruits to the army than any other measures they could adopt. He was quite sure of this that the House would give him credit that lie would not propose any measure for its adoption if he or any of her Ma jesty's Government believed that there existee a single source ef darger, or that it would injure in any way a service, the success of which he had sincerely at heart. With this feeling tie trusted that the House would mark with its approbation the principle of a limited enlistment, and in order that the House might embody that principle in a legislative enactment, he would place his Bill before them, with an earnest hope that the House would see the necessity of giving its support to it. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS said that he had, on a former occasion, voted strongly against this measure, and he had found no reason to change his opinion. After a service of consider able duration, after having had much experience in the prac tical working of the present system in every quarter of the world to which the British arms were carried, it was his delibe rate and confirmed opinion that this measure was unnecessary and ill-timed, and he should, therefore, be reluctantly com pelled to withhold his consent to it. But it was not his intention to meet this measure with a direct nega tive, or to propose any amendment. Her Majesty's Government had determined to try this experiment, and the illustrious Duke at the head of the army had also acceded to it. He ( Sir H. Douglas) would, therefore, confine him self at present to the mere expression of his dissent, with the reasons which induced him to come to that decision. He la mented the changes that were taking place ; he grieved to see the spirit of change that was abroad; he lamented the change that was daily occurring in those commercial regulations—re gulations which had raised England to the highest state of great ness. He could not concur in the preamble of this Bill, that it was expedient to make an alteration in the period of enlistment. He ( Sir Howard Douglas) thought it was inexpedient to make this alteration. He did not think this change necessary by any practical, political, constitutional, or statistical consi deration. He thought that it could not be justified by ex perience or by any rule which might be adopted with safety. They found no difficulty in recruiting then, the supply was greater than the demand. —( Hear, hear.) Ihe army was complete in all its arrangements ; it was in a perfect state of efficiency, its discipline was most admirable, and he was happy to say that the moral and social condition of he soldiery was greatly improved. This measure would be inconvenient in its working, expensive in its organisation, and el-timed in its introduction. The Hon. and Gallant Member hen referred to certain statistical details, to show that desertions in the army had been less frequent in a state of extended, than under a limited, enlistment. The measure was not intended to obviate a scarcity for the stock of the army, for he had taken care to inform himself upon this point, and le had ascertained that in the year ending 31st April, 1846, teere offered themselves for enlistment not less than 20,000, some of these were rejected ere they came before the medical efficer, but 16,563 were examined, out of this number 5,143 were rejected, and 11,420 enlisted. Within the present year in fewer than 24,000 offered themselves for enlist ment. The stock of the army, which was com posed principally of the children of the soil, was aelinirable. At least six-tenths of their soldiery had been agricultural labourers, and as they got up in the scale of sduration, they proved inferior soldiers. It had been alleged hat the army was composed of the riff-raff of the country, that the members were ignorant, illiterate, and vicious. They mad it to boast that they improved and educated these persons, Ind returned them to their country better men than they foOnd them. He found that the great proportion of the eavalry and line was composed of agricultural labourers; that at least 643 out of every 1,000 belonged to this class, and they nade the best soldiers. Advancing in the scale, he found me ithanics and artizans, and they were inferior men to the others. rhen they had ruined tradesmen, shopmen, and shop clerks, Ind they were still worse, and the highest class of all, profess •Mnal men, persons educated for the Church, medical students, aid law licentiates, made the worst of soldiers, and in this ategory he would particularly place the licentiates of law. It was said that it was derogatory to the character of freemen o permit them to enlist for an unlimited period, but he found hat both history and the best authorities disproved that state nent. If the Bill were strictly carried out, he did not doubt hat there would be a cry got up that they were going to con ert England into a military country, but he would leave theory ind come to what he thought would be the practical ope ration, of this Bill in the time of a protracted war. Now had he system of limited enlistment prevailed during the late war le would venture to say that England never could have sue ,eeded in the manner she did. 'inc dispatches of the Dukes of York and Wellington showed that the successes of that period sere effected by old soldiers, who had long b: en engaged in the service, mid he, therefore, had a right to assume that, had the ule been lima ed enlistment, this country never could have inaintained the war.—(Hear, hear.) Previous to the year 1813, during the Peninsular war, there were very few enlist ments in the British army, and the consequence was, this iountry had to spend a large sum of money to avert the evils if a temporary system of enlistment, and to secure the re-enlist nent of men whose time of retirement had arrived. The latter readily consented in the emergency to remain in the army to iefend the rights of their native land, and had it not been for 'heir previous experience in arms, they never could have attained the glorious contests they did. He warned Govern ment, then, of the mischiefs this bill would inflict upon the eountry. In the event of another war, they would experience he sad operations of this Bill upon the marines, while a very shirt time would show, if its provisions were to be applied to the Sappers and Miners, that it would entirely destroy the effi • ciency of that body of men. For his own part, therefore, he was decidedly averse to any change in the present system. It would prove daneerous to the Constitution, and might place the Colonies in jeopardy. He was an advocate for early en iistment and training in the army, and had always regretted [hat military colonization had been neglected by the various Governments of this country. Rather than take the steps they were now doing, her Majesty's present advisers ought to have turned their attention to that subject, and endeavoured to ascertain if the etpuntry tnd the army, could not be benefited by introducing improve ments into the prevailing system of military colonization. Let them raise the soldier in the scale of society, and there would be no want of a better class of men. Let them secure them rewards and encouragement, and they would invest that calling with attractions, which would have the effect of enticing good men into the service of their country. With regard to punishments, he thought :hat a soldier should not be sent to prison unless for some crime of a disgraceful nature. Every slight breach of .nilitary discipline should not be vis.ted in that manner, the consequence of which invariably was to degrade those who vere subjected to it. With respect to the measure before the House, he thought its effect would be to cause a great diminu ion in the number, and the amount of the pensions to be granted at the termination of the period of service. At this time, when the army was brought to such a state of efficiency, to thought that this experiment should have been avoided, as it would be found unsatisfactory, expensive, and prejudicial to the interests of the army in its operation. Colonel REID thought the measure under consideration would not accomplish its object; secondly, that it was wholly unnecessary; arid thirdly, that it would impair the physical efficiency of the army, and create jealousy and dissatis faction. Of what avail would the army of this country have been, even under the guidance of Wellington, if, when spposed to the great usurper, it had not been composed of strong men, who, in addition to moral courage, possessed physical efficiency. He believed, that by adopting a period sf limited enlistment, one •eighth at least of the force of the cavalry would be lost to the country. The consequence would be, that there would be an army of boys instead of an army of ovally efficient men. He had a perfect horror of an army of such a nature. He had seen an exhibition of the conduct of such an army at the siege of Antwerp, where, two sallies haying been made by the besieged, they destroyed all the works and entrenchments in a few hours, which would have taken at least a fortnight to have done had the besiegers not been panie•stricken and useless as they were on that occasion.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He thought, that if Mr. Wyndham's plans of limited enlistment were to be carried out, the Government ought at ieast to carry out the other plans of that gentleman, for provid ing more liberal pay, and more liberal pensions to the soldiers. rhe pension to a private for serving his full time, was at pre sent only 6d. a day, and that of a non-commissioned officer Bd. He thought that at least the minimum pension to the private soldier should be raised to 9d., anti to the non-commissioned officer is. He trusted that the subject of more liberal pay and pensions would receive the fullest consideration of her Majesty's Government. He thought that by far the better mode of im proving the army, would be by the introduction of systems cal ulated to improve the social and moral condition of the soldiers themselves. Let them be treated in such a manner that they might consider that they were respected by the country. The country owed much to their valour and to the hardships which they had undergone in all climates for loner seasons for the sake of preserving untarnished, the honour and the interests of the country. With respect to the officers, he believed that they had it always nearest to their hearts to in crease as much as possible the comforts of the soldier, and he thought that the present Bill would tend to loosen the ties which existed between the officers and men. He would not, although he disagreed with the principle of the Bill, oppose its further progress. - Sir DE LACY EV ANS did not see in the present measure any ground for such fears as had been expressed by the speakers who had preceded him. With respect to the fear that it would not be safe to go to war with men who had only been in the service for ten years, he would remind any Hon. Member who entertained that opinion, that all the other nations of Europe were of opinion that it was safe to go to war even at a less period than that. He did not see any reason to doubt the efficiency of young troops. As to the case referred to by the Hon. and Gallant Member who last ad dressetithe House, of the young men being driven from the enclies at Antwerp, he had seen many veteran soldiers who had oaten done the same thing. At St. S: bastion they did so, but they rallied again, and he had often seen many young troops if not outstrip at least equal the valour of more veteran troops. As to the perfection of the army in the field, it did not depend upon one or two years' service. Let them look into the dis patches of the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular war, and they would find that he said that the men under hi s com mand were fit to beat any army i n the world, but that that he could not conduct was extremely bad ; so m uch so, trust a detachment away from him, as they would roh, murder, and plunder in every direction. He called them a band of robbers. So much for the morality of an efficient army.— ( Hear. heir ) The Duke of Wellington had acquiesced in the measure, and he was confident that he would not have done so had he one tithe of the fears that the Hon. and Gallant \ [ember had. If they wanted to make the army popular among the people they should do so not only among the youths, but among fathers and mothers and sisters. They should see that their friends came back to them after ten or eleven years. —( Hear, hear.) That would be the way to make the service sought after. He was sorry that the advantages of a Bill which promised so much should be delayed from coming into operation. If ten or twelve thousand men came back to th e o f p o l r e su cf would ohr a thebsooodny .desire to have a na tcliosunpnaotlsri guard.country n e n ve y a s y e l m a n r : the t if h e e s t ßeformagitation p e e dlsios ß t i o ll t „ a strong tries possessed it, and they would find that, in proportion as foreign Governments desired to put down liberty, they also put down the national guard. Colonel T. WOOD said, that he did not think that the Hon. Gentleman had fairly described that army where he had so honourably and gallantly served. If he compared the accounts of other armies with those of our own he would find how far tki latter were superior. He was more in favour of Mr. Wyndham's plan than any he bad ever heard proposed; under that plan the soldier who served seven years was entitled to a penny a day, and at the end of fourteen years he was entitled to his discharge, with a pension of fivepence a day. The present measure was not of a permanent character, it did not hold out the indueement that it should ; and from these reasons he regretted that Mr. Wyndham's plan had been aban doned. As there was no opposition to the Bill he would not give it any, as it was a step in the right direction. Colonel LINDSAY objected to the Bill, as it did not pro vide for the old soldiers who were the depositaries of the dis- U ~'' ^~-J their best years to the service of their count SCheers.) It was the especial object of the asylum to pr trt far the education ard in,:ir.t:_nance of the children o ,' 'ui,'.4* and sailors. At the time when it was fir • Irsii!uted there was more urgent occasion for it than t \ e happily , ~ , was at the pre:.zent moruent.—(Cheers.) Althou now there --> \:....L.," were, comparatively speaking, few instances in Vim_ ibliol c,;mag 7, children of soldiers and senors were kft destitute, leeittlll there were found maay children of their countrymen in a state of distress in this great metropolis. The object of the Caledonian Asylum was to train up these children in such a manner as that they should inherit the national Virtue of their parents and of their country.—(Cheers.) Viewed in this light he knew no institution iu this metropolis which possessed so many and so peculiarly interesting claims to the notice of Highlanders as the Caledonian Asylum.—(Cheers.) He, therefore, felt more than ordinary pleasure that it had fallen to his lot to return thanks to those who had noticed the institution in so interesting a manner.—(Cheers.) D. C. G UTIIIIII, Esq., in proposing the health of Sir James Macdonnell, their Chairman, alluded to the bravery which that distinguished officer had exhibited in many a well fought field, and more particularly to his celebrated defence of the chateau of Hougoumont, at the battle of Waterloo, for which he had been awarded the prize of bravery, which with modesty equal to his bravery, he had given up to another. The toast was drank with three times three. The CHAIRmAN, having returned thanks, said that it de lighted him on all occasions to contribute not only to the ob jects, but to the hilarity of the institution.—(Cheers.) He felt that they were under the greatest obligations to their secretary, who had always conducted the affairs of the society with such order and regularity as to give the utmost satis faction. He had great pleasure in proposing the health of George Bain, Esq., the honorary secretary. Drank with Highland honours, and followed by a reel. G. Bane, Esq., briefly returned thanks. Song, " Whistle and I'll come to thee, my lad"—Mr. Smirke. The next toast proposed was, " Chiefs and Clans," which was drunk with honours. D. C. GuTtritul, Esq., after passing a high enlogium on the character of the Chisholm as the model of a chief, pro posed—" Better health to the Chisholm, and may he soon be able to rejoin the Highland'Society," The CHAIRMAN was happy to inform them that the Chisholm was convalescent, and would have been amongst them on this occasion had he not been expressly forbidden by his physician to join the party.—(Cheers.) Highland song by Mr. Man. Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., two sons of David Charles Guthrie, Esq, and Thomas M'Gregor, Esq., were elected members of the Society. A cup of thanks was drunk to Mr. Forbes, after which The CHAIRMAN proposed the last toast, " Our next merry Meetiag," which having been drunk, the band paraded the room, tormed behind the chair, and played several airs, a ft er which the company separated. COURT CIRCULAR. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent dined with the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Viscount Clifden, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Captain Francis Seymour, and Colonel Bouverie. honoured the Highland Society of London with his company al dinner yesterday, at the Freemasons' Tavern His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Baron Knesebeck, also honoured the Highland Society with his company at dinner last evening. Her %lajesty and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent honoured the performance of the French Plays with their presence yesterday evening. her Majesty was attended by the Countess of Desart, Earl of Morley, and C&onel the Hon. Charles Grey. Lady Augusta Bruce was in waiting on the Duchess of Kent. The band of the Grenadier Guards, under the direction of Mr. Schott, attended during dinner at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, and performed the following pieces : Grand Fantasia frum " I Lombardi"—Verdi. Waltz, " Die Gemuthlichen"—Mozart. Selection from " The Bondman"—Balle. Polka-mania—Kuhner. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager yesterday at Marlborough House. Sir Robert Ferguson bad an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday at his official residence in Downing. street. Sir Robert had also an interview with the Right Hon. Ed ward Strutt yesterday at the office of the Commissioners of Railways, in Great George-street. Count Schimmelpenninck, the Netherlands Minister, tran sacted business Yesterday at the Foreign-office. The Earl of Devon had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. Messrs. George, Lacey, and Hoxwerth, with a deputation of the Willow Trade from the 'rower Hamlets, had an inter view with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday, at the Office of the Board of Trade. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a com mittee meeting yesterday. Dispatches were received yesterday-at the Colonial-office from the Governors of the West India Colonies. Dispatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial office for the GoVernors of Sierra Leone and St. Helena. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NORTHAMPTON AND PYTCHLEY HUNT RACES. MONDAY. The Trial Stakes of 10 sous. each, and 40 added. One , ... .._ mile and a quarter. ... ... Mr. Mostyn's King of Morven, 3 yrs, Est (Kitchener) 1 Mr. Whiks's Infringe, 3 yrs, Est 2 Mr. Smlll's Master Downes, 5 yrs, 9st Mr. G. Ongley's Maid of Athens, 3 yrs, 6 st 4 Even, and 6 to 5 on King of Morven, who made moat of the running, and won by a couple of lengths. Run in two minutes 30 seconds. Sweepstakes of 50 soy& each, h ft, for two years old. Last half mile. _ _ Mr. Payne's Glendower, Bst 41b (Nat) 1 Mr. Watson's The Sheriff, Bst 41b Duke of Richmond's Nectar, Bst 41b Even on Nectar, 6to 4 agst Glendower, and 2 to 1 agst The Sheriff. Glendower made all the ranning, and won by half a length. Time, 46 seconds. The Great Northamptonshire Stakes of 100 sous. added, to a handicap of 25 soya. each, 15 ft, and 5 only if declared, the second to receive 25 soya. Two miles. Lord Waterford's Wolfdog, 5 yrs, Bst 111ba...(F. Butler) 1 Mr. Gregory's ch cby Euclid, d by Taurus, 3 yrs, 4st 71b 2 Duke of Richmond's Halo, 3 yrs, 4st 101 b 3 The following also ran :—Mr. Gratwicke's Doleful—Mr. Pemberton's Best Bower—Mr. Ongley's Roderick—.ur. John Cook nd The Magnet—Mr. H. Baker nd Hydrometer— Mr. H. Nethercole nd Princess Royal—Lord W. Powlett's Fort William—Count Bathyany's Tragical—Sir W. Don nd Fugitive—Mr. F. Villiers nd Comma it faut—Lord Chester field's Bro. to Stitch—Mr. Greville's Mirmillo—Mr. H. Hughes nd Moonlight—and Mr. Drinkald's Mistress Jean. Betting-5 to 2 agst the Euclid colt (taken), 9 to 2 agst Woltdog (taken freely), 8 to 1 agst Doleful-100 to 7 agst Fugitive-16 to 1 agst Magnet—and 20 to agst Hydrometer The Duke of Richmond declared to win with Hal.—A very last tun race from end to end, Wolfdog, by the most admirable riding, reaching the Euclid colt a few strides from home, and winning by halt a length, Halo, being as tar from the f avourite; Magnet, who carried •Ilbs over-weight, was fourth, beaten a lengtt from Halo, and Hydrometer and Mirmillo fifth and sixth. Run in 3 min. and 44 sec. "i he Farmers' and Tradesmens' Cup of 50 sovs. About 3 miles. Mr. G. Cowley's, The Hackney, aged, 12st 1 Mr. 1. R. Cowley's Britannia, 5 yrs, 11st 41b. 2 Won easy. Several others ran. The Open Stakes, of 10 sovs. each, and 25 added. Once round, and a distance. Mr. Parr's Icicle, 4 yrs, lOst 51b (T. Parr) 1 Mr. Ekins's Salopian, lOst 121 b Mr. W. Sadler's Fugitive, 4 yrs, 10st Mb 6t05 on Icicle. Won by a length. Run in 2 min. 21 sec. The Queen's Plate, of 100 guineas. Two miles. Mr. Moore's - Wolfdog. 5 yi s, 9s C121b.. ..... (F. Butler) 1 Sir C. Cockerill's Duke of Richmond. 4 yrs, 9st 21b 2 Mr. Fowler's Ranthus, 3 yrs, 6st 101 b 3 Mr. Wreford's Witsend, 4 yrs, 9st 21b Mr. Pettifer's c by Epirus, 3 yrs, 6st 101 b 5 sto 2 and 3tol on Wonog. Won by three lengths. Run in 3 min. 44 sec. Glendower is declared not to start for the Althorp Stakes. Time will not permit us to do more than congratulate the promoters and managers of the meeting on its brilliantly successful commenceme►►t. The weather could not possibly have been more inviting, and those who left the course dissatisfied with the sport, or with the manner in which it was conducted, must have been very hard to please. The company was not only the largest, but the most fashion able we ever saw at Northampton, and it is with some regret that we confine our list of visitors to the following brief selec tion :—The Duke of Richmond and the Ladies Caroline and Georgiana Lennox; Marquis of Exeter; Earls of Euston, Spencer, March, and Southampton ; Lords E. Russell, Dun cannon, W. Powlett, Maidstone, A. Lennox, W. Lennox, G. Lennox, F. Fitzroy, C. Fitzroy ; Count Bathyany ; Sirs George Armitage, C. Cockerell, Captain Rous, H. P►tt, W. Forester, G. Ongley ; Messrs. Grevil;e, H. Blair, Mostyn, Gregory, Payne, &e. &c. LEAMINGTON GRAND ANNUAL STEEPLE CHASES. MONDAY. The Free Handicap ofsso;s. each, and 25 added, was won by Lord Strathmore's Belshazzar, list 31b, beating Mr. Parkvn's Wilford, Ilst 71b, and several others. The Royal Leamington Annual Steeple Chase, of 25 soya. each, 15 ft, and 5 only if declared, with 100 added. 4 miles. Mr. C. Bevill's Latitat, 10st 91b (Mr. Bevil!) 1 Mr. Preston's Brunette, 12st 51b Mr. R. H. Jones's b g by Glaucus, aged, 10st 10lb 3 Switcher (fell), Discount, Sam Slick, Grenade, Eagle, runaway - , Little John, Golden Rule, Canary, and six others, ran. Won easy by three lengths. The Leamington Hunt Club Steeple Chase, of 10 soya. each, 5 ft, 11st 71b each, 3 mile', (14 subs), was won by Mr. Ouseley Higgins's Chandler, beating King of the Valley, and three others. (RECEIVED THIS DAY.) LATEST BETTING AT NORTHAMPTON. DERBY. 6 to 1 agst Van Tromp 12 to 1 agst Planet _ .. 40 to 1 agst Pavilion 50 to 1 agst Black. Dwarf —t 1000 to 15 agst Oxonian No others mentioned. SEAS STAKES. t Liberator. ER CUP. ig done. 20 to 1 agst Liberator 40 to 1 agst Christopher 2,000 GUI:, 6 to 1 agst CREST] IV otbin We beg to call the attention of the patrons of the fine arts to a collection of water colons paintings (formerly the property of a gentleman well known in th e artiatical worl.l, James Stewart, Esq.), which we are sorry to say are to be submitted for sale by auction on Thursday next, by Messrs. Christie and Manson. Works collected with so much judgment and taste ought n o t t o b e separated, and it is greatly to be desired they should pass altogether into the hands of some spirited collector. The drawings are of an important size (most of them) and include the names of De wint, Cattermole, Hunt, Rayner, Wright, Austin, and other distinguished artists :—we have never seen finer specimens of these great masters of water colour painting. We cannot help recommending those of our readers who sincerely love the works of thi s extraordinary school to visit this exhibi tion on or before the day of sale. DETERMINE D SUICIDE.—On Sunday, about ..n one t o'clock, a gentleman of the name of Macveremdi No. 10, Bol , A ell-terrace, Lambeth -walk, committed by running a knife several times into that the deceased had for so ness, and was in a very deject surgeon, of Lambeth-walk , ceased, but without avail. e night, when he expired. Vulcanised India-rubber supersede steel in the some time e .1 ! state.hise been suicide, by It appears _r. Thompson, a tiffer . ing from ill secdalled in, who attended de -nwalingered until ten o'clock:hi is now made use of; buffer springs of railway and other es c ages. 'lThursday will determine the value not only of shares in the two patent theatres, but of admissions. Mr Robins has announced some attraction to the playgoer on that day. Of 11'°