The Sun. — London, England, 1847-04-20 00:00:00

(YESTERDAY.) _DOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP I. GROUP XVI. The Committee to whom the following Bills have been re ferred met this morning in No. 23 Committee-room, at half. past twelve o'clock; Mr. Kemble in the chair : London and North-Western (St. Alban's, Luton, and Dun stable ). Great Northern Railway (Hertford, Hatfield, and St. Alban's). Eastern Counties Railway (Hertford to Hitchin, &c ) Enfield and Edmonton Railway Extension. The CHAIRMAN said he entirely concurred in the justice of the rule which had been laid down by many of the other Committees, that no counsel who was absent at the exami nation in chief of a witness should be allowed to cross examine him, except under special circumstances, and by the express permission of the Committee, because enormcus expense would be thereby obviated; but they did not think it necessary, in the present instance, to adopt that rule; yet, at the same time, he begged distinctly to state that the Committee bad reserved to itself the right of acting upon the rule at any time they might think fit. The appearances for the various parties having been entered, The CITAIRMAN intimated that they were ready to hear Mr. Sergeant Wrangham open the case of the Great Northern (Hertford, Hatfield, and St. Alban's). Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM said he was prepared to pro ceed at once; but as the Railway Commissioners had not yet reported on the capital of the Eastern Counties' branch, and as in some respects it might be looked upon as a com peting project, he suggested to the Committee whether it would not be advisable to postpone the consideration of the two lines until they could both come before the Committee in a similar position, so far as the reports of the Railway Com missioners were concerned. After some discussion, The CHAIRMAN intimated that he would first take the GREAT NORTHERN BRANCH, and, at the completion of the case, they would take the Eastern Counties project. Mr. Sergeant Waxxonaar then proceeded to open the case. He said, at present the county of Hertford was traversed by three lines of railway—towards the west by the North-Western, the east by the Eastern Counties, and directly through the centre by the main line of the Great Northern Railway, and that one of the great objects of the branches was the supply of that great desideratum to the county—namely, a connexion between these three lines. Although the county was, as he had said, traversed by these three lines, each line only accommodated the districts in its immediate vicinity, and then only northward and south ward, not giving any lateral communication, which was mach needed. For instance, the two great towns of the county, Hertford and St. Alban's—and at the first the sessions and assizes were held, and the county business trans acted—were entirely cut off from each other, so far as rapid and cheap railway communication was concerned, and they were but fourteen miles distant from each other. To get from Hertford to St. Alban's by railway, a person must go round by London, and strike off at Watford, on the No r th- Western line, and travel to his destination by the Luton branch. The connexion, therefore, of the three lines, by stretching across the county in a lateral direction, was suffi cient, if that were the only advantage of the branches, to ensure the passing Of the fill. By them every town or dis- I trict possessing 2,000 inhabitants would have rail way corn • munication. Barley would be transmi;ted from the districts in the west to the malting districts in the east—Ware, for instance —and at one quarter of the present rate by cart, which was Bd. per ton per mile. By the Luton line, a communication would be given with the manufacturing districts, with which the Birmingham line was connected, and coals would be brought to the district, by the aid of the area Northern, at 163 per ton, instead of 305., as at present. The Hertford and Hitchin branch, proposed by the Eastern Counties, omitted all the important towns in the county. True, it would be four miles and a half shorter between Hitchin and Hertford than by the Great Northern and the Hertford branch ; but what would that avail, when it would afford little or none of the local communication sought by the county, and would cost 270,0001., whilst their line, which would offer accommoda tion to one-fourth of the population, would cost only 300,0001.? th e l engt h of their line being fifteen miles and a half, and the Eastern Counties fourteen miles. His Learned Friend might say that the Eastern Counties could bring coals from Huntingdonshire to Ware at half the price they (the Great Northern) could, on account of the difference of the distance to which he had referred ; but a clause was inserted in the Direct Northern Bill compelling them to charge for the transit of goods only by the geogra phical distance. The line would commence at Hertford in connexion with the Eastern Counties line, and run to Hat field, where it would join the Great Northern; it would then run on to St. Alban's, where it would join the proposed Luton and St. Alban's line. After referring to the opposition which the Great Northern had experienced at the hands of the Eastern Counties and the Midland Company, he con cluded by confidently trusting that the Committee would pass the preamble of the Bill. The Marquis of Salisbury, examined by Mr. Sergeant KINGLAZE.—His Lordship said, his residence was at Hat field. He had lived in the county all his life, and had paid much attention to the railway wants of the county, and was well acquainted with the sentiments of the resident gentry on the subject. All the general business of the county was transacted at Hertford. The liberty of St. Alban's amounted to about one-third of the county, and the county business transacted there was considerable. The connexion of the three lines was indispensable. Hertfordshire was an agricultural county, and the great markets were St. Alban's and Watford for the west, and Hertford and Ware in the east. There was a great demand for malt for malting at Ware. Formerly there was some demand at Hitchin, but it was not great now. Straw plait ing was carried on at St. Alban's, which would find an outlet by the proposed line. He did not understand the use of the Hitchin line, but the other he considered would be most advantageous. There was a general feeling in the county in favour of the cross lines. Cross-examined—Had insisted upon a deviation of the London and York, w hi c h b rought it nearer his house, in order that it might no t b e seen from it. Hertford was generally in favour of the line. The Hertford and St. Alban's markets were on the same day. Gave evidence last year in favour of a St. Alban's and Hatfield line, which was rejected. There were no public conveyances between the two points of the line. Cross-examined by Mr. ROWE, for Baron Dimsdale—Was It ot aware of the way in which the line would interfere with this nobleman's property, but if it crossed immediately op posite the house, and ran for a distance of 500 yards on an embankment 13 feet high, and cut off communication with the gardens, it would be a great inconvenience, and would intercept the view. His Lordship was examined with respect to Mr. T. Smith's 'property at llertford, but nothing material was elicited. Re-examined by M r . lit • - • P Hes attended both Mertford and St. Alban's mark G e L ts A o k n l'— the L ' Me day. Lord Verulam, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, was next examined. He said his seat was in the vicinity of St. .Alban's. If the line wer '' county would, as heret o f o rneotbpassed, the we s t ern par t o f th e ; toe shut out f r o m ra il way com munication with the count quis lSal H is e bu g r e y n . in the evidence of the Mar e r T a l h l y e octohnecru ma- e gistrates, he believed, generallyoconcurred*in the necessity of the line. 8 11. A3olb, peace, slid, the population Mr. Durand, the clerk of the .a the county, including the libert 157,207 ; the population of St. *Maui" au ll 'a er ; tf w or a d s 6,668. Jurymen were summoned from St. Aiblan's to attend the assizes at Hertford. Magistrates residin side of the county did not attend the assi!eosnitnhethweesetasen4 Owing to the want of proper communication. Other evidence in favour of the line having been adduced the Committee adjourned until to-mo rrow ( this davl. , GROUP XXVIII. EASTERN COUNTIES EXTENSION. The Committee on this group, comprising Mr. T. D. Ac_ Sand (in the chair), the Earl of March, Sir,R. Lopez, the Hon. Ed. Harris, and Lord Edwin Hill, met this morning at twelve o'clock, when, after some discussion, as to the right of oppo oition held by Mr. Sergeant Clark, the Committee proceeded with the BOSTON DEVIATION BRANCH. Afr. PAO Err opened in its favour, by stating that this was is ver y short line, in or near the town of Boston. By the ori ginal Bill, the loop branch of the I.ondon and York line pass e through the town of Bo s t on , b ut would be in a very IDCOlTveniant position, and the object of this Bill was to change the course of that loop in the town of Boston, So as to bring it into the centre of one of the principal streets. The first gobject, therefore, was to gain a more convenient station, and then to cross the river Witham at a more convenient distance for the traffic than that originally designed. The London and York Company, and the Eastern Counties Company, had both obtained their Acts, and had agreed to form the devia tion, but yet it was necessary that there should be an Act for the purpoee. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled in Room 30, at the usual hour this morning; Mr. W. O. Stanley in the chair. THE BRIGHTON MID RENT SCHEME. The Right Hon. J. C. Herries gave general evidence in fa yam- of the Brighton line. He understood the Brighton Company were prepared to bind themselves—at least he had oeen told so at one of their meetings —to charge 2d. for first, 1 1 -Ad. for second, and id. for third-class passengers, and, on that account, more than any other, he was disposed to sup port the line. Besides, neither he nor his neighbours had confidence in the sincerity of the South-Eastern in proposing a Mid Kent line. He was decidedly an advocate for compe tition. In cross-examination he admitted that he thought the saving of the Croydon toll to the South-Eastern Company was a sufficient consideration to induce them to make their proposed line. He was not aware that at one of the Kent meetings, Mr. Wilkinson, the Deputy Chairman of the Lon don and South Coast Company, pledged his company, in con sideration of the Mid Kent line being conceded to them, to charge I%d. for first, Id. for second, and 1 / 2 d. for third-class passengers, which pledge was afterwards repudiated by the South Coast Company. A number of witnesses from Sevenoaks, Tunbridge, and Maidstone, were examined, but their testimony all bore upon the same point, namely, that they preferred the Brighton line to the South-Eastern. The Committee adjourned at the usual hour till twelve o'clock to-morrow (this day). GROUP VI. SOUTH-WESTER N SCHEMES—SALISBURY AND IrEOVII., AND EXETER, YEOVIL AND DORCHESTER. The Committee met this morning at twelve, Mr. Deedes, in the chair. Mr. Squarrey, a farmer residing near Salisbury, was called to give evidence in favour of the South-Western extension of the line from Salisbury to the West of England. The rail way would, if constructed, afford him considerable advan tages in sending his stock to the metropolis and other parts of England, and also effect a saving of at least sixpence per head on the present mode of conveyance. He believed that a break of gauge at Salisbury would mar the beneficial effect of railway communication, by causing considerable injury to the stock in the process of removing from one truck to the other. The railway would, if constructed, afford also great advantages for the conveyance of lime, with which the dis trict abounded, and also coals, manure, and other articles. Mr. James Crew, grazier, from the neighbourhood of Salisbury, gave evidence favourable to the line. If the line were constructed it would effect a saving to him of at least 30s. per head on the expense of sending his cattle to London. The terminus of the South-Western Railway, when com pleted at London-bridge would also afford greater facilities fbr removing cattle from the railway to Smithfield. Great quantities of dead meat would also be sent to London by this railway, which it was essential should be constructed on an unbroken gauge. Mr. T Mathews also deposed to the advantages which this line would afford in the conveyance of live stock, killed meat, and other agricultural produce. The Committee then adjourned. Mr. Cubitt, the engineer of the London and York line, stated that as the line was now planned, the passage would be above the grand sluice, where the whole of the traffic of the county passed. By the alteration sought by this Bill the crossing would be below, instead of above the sluice, where, in fact, there is already an iron bridge, and where the crossing would in no wav interfere with the trade. It was proposed by the present Bill to carry the railway traffic on one line, and at one rate. The new works would cost about 3001. more than those originally designed; and those works were to be executed at the expense of the London and York Company, and the change would be of great advantage to the country at large. Mr. Sergeant CLARK was about to oppose the Bill, when i some discussion arose as to his right to appear, as the title of the Bill had been changed. - - _ SOCIETY OF GUARDIANS FOR THE PROTECTION OF TRADE. This society was instituted in 1776, in the city of Lotldon, for the protection of trade from the frauds of the swindler, who, by means of its machinery, has been often thwarted in his nefarious plots, and deprived of the ill-gotten gains which formerly he was wont con fidently to count his own. The members and their friends of this worthy society, in celebration of their success, and to cheer each other for the toils of the future, sat down to dinner to the number of about 70, in the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, last evening; Alderman Farebrother, the president of the society, in the chair. Of the dinner we need say no more than that it was most excellent in all that went to ma k e up t h e comple ments of good fare, enjoyment, and hearty conviviality. The stewards had done so well their part, and the ser vants so satisfactorily did theirs, that any fault, if such existed, must be attributed to the individual knife and fork. The singing, which was of a very high character, was conducted with great ability, under the superin tendence of Mr. Bruton, by Messrs. Genge, Turner, and Simmons. After dinner the " Non Nobis" was sung by Messrs. Genge, Turner, and Simmons with good effect. The following toasts and songs were then received with applause :—" The Queen"—National Anthem; " Queen Dowager, Prince Albert, Albert, Prince of \Vales, and the Royal Family" —song, "Here's a health to the Prince and the Queen ;" " The Navy an d A rmy " —glee, " How merrily we live that Soldiers be!" " The City of London, its Trade, and the Corporation," connected with the name of Mr. Adlard"—song, " The boatie rows." The CHAIRMAN, in drinking the health of R ow l an d Hill, Esq., who sat on his right, paid a hi g h compl i ment to that gentleman for the . universal benefit whi c h h a d arisen from the scheme of postage whi c h t h at gent l eman hail originated, and which had very much aided the ob iects of the society. Mr. HILL, in reply, referred to the progress of the Post•office, and said that the first petition in favour of reform in that department was taken up and encouraged by the city of London, and prosecuted by Lord Ashbur ton. Till that time no thought of improvement or reform in the department had i ever occurred. B ut reform hav ing been adopted, the increase of the letters had been so great, that while the whole of the letters passing through the post-office of Belgium was 6,000,000 per annum, the number of letters for London and its immediate environs was 75,000,000. That would show that the correspon dence of even the metropolis alone, much more of the country itself, was of importance to the universal world. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by thanking the com pany for the honour they had done him. The CHAIRMAN gave " The Prosperity of the Society for the Protection of Trade." He felt it unnecessary to enlarge on benefits which they all acknowledged, which they all expected, and which they well knew they had all enjoyed. In the course of the evening one of the guests an officer of the society, stated that one firm had been saved through the means of the society to the amount of 3001., another of 1501., and another of 5001. Song—" The man with the beard," a comic effusion, by J. H. Dixon, Esq., in which was detailed the adven tures of a well-known character, whose portrait had been lithographed by the society, the original being celebrated not only for his light fingership, but also for his unusual beard. J. H. GASSIOT, Esq , proposed " The health of the Chairman." Other toasts followed, and Messrs. Bruton, Genge, and Simmons enlivened th e com p an y th roug h out the evening with songs of a comic but appropriate character. About ten o'clock, when the spirit of hilarity was high, the Chairman retired, all being in the very best spirits. up the door by quiet compulsion was most judicious, and I think that if you should have, upon any emer gency, something of the kind to do, it might be advisable to charge the defendant with the expenses.—(A laugh.) GUILDHALL. Yesterday Sir Peter Laurie attended to learn what progress the drivers and guards of the late Parcel Post Company had made in recovering their deposits and wages from the directors. He presumed some compro• mice had taken place, as he did not see the same parties before him now es on the former occasion. He made a suggestion that, as the directors offered one week's wages and the men claimed six weeks', the point should be given up on obtaining the proper amount of four weeks. He asked Mr. Humphreys if he had seen the deposit note on which the claim was founded? Mr. Humphreys said he had, and proceeded to read one— " Your testimonials having been submitted to the board of directors, and you having deposited X— as security for your integrity, you are elected -- to this establishment. The deposit of 4:— is returnable to you any day you leave the company's office. " J. T. GOUGH, Secretary." Sir PETER said, this mode of raising the wind was most disreputable to any concern, and especially to a company which professed to raise a capital of 30,0001. A guard stated, that at a grand dinner given at the Bridge-house Hotel (which was not yet paid for) the directors bragged a great deal of their means, and of having paid the tailor and other preliminary expenses. He would not have ventured to deposit a farthing but for these glowing accounts, and the assurance that his 101. would not be used by the company, but would rest at the bankers', and that interest would be allowed upon it. " I was told the same !" shouted a man in the crowd. " And so was I !" cried a third. Mr. Humphreys read over the list of directors, and asked which of them was present at that dinner? Mr. W. Andrews, of Cadogan-plrce, was stated to be, in the chair, and he was supported by Messrs. Parry, Ashley, Hill, Hawker, Omen, and Ancram. A guard said, the catching deposits was not the only means of raising money adopted. The company sold stamps, to be affixed like Post-officelabels to the parcels, and got the persons who received parcels for the com pany to purchase a stock of them, which now were of no value, and which the company were in no hurry to take back. A person in the crowd said he had 31. worth of these stamps. It was stated by the agent that the Bill had been originally introduced under one title, but was now prosecuted by the agency of another, under the sanction of the Committee of Selection ; but as it was shown that the petition of the land owners, for whom the Learned Sergeant appeared, had been put in against the Bill under its original title, he was allowed to proceed. On cross-examination, Mr. Cubitt stated that Mr. Locke was originally employed as the engineer of the London and York, but he had himself been engaged in the October of last year; and although the line designed by Mr. Locke was a good line, that which he had himself was a better, although he would not say that there was a better through Boston, for there was but the property on both sides of the river pre vented its adoption. To the CHAIR3I.4s—Mr. Cubitt described the position of the loop branch of the London and York lice, of which this formed a part To the CHAMMAN—Mr. Cubitt replied that the Act of the London and York Company was obtained last year, and that the line of the Ambergate and Boston line had been subse quently devised, and the station now designed was to be close to the station of that company, but in his opinion it would in no way interfere with the station, although the alteration would cross the Ambergato station rails. An objection was here taken that the application required by the Railways Consolidation Act had not been made to the Admiralty, but after much discussion it was allowed that the application had been made, but the answer had not been received. This, however, in no way invalidated the advisa bility of the line, for no objection had been, in reality, alleged on the part of the Admiralty. To the CHAir.m.o.)l's suggestion, it was replied that there was an understanding that, in the event of the Eastern Coun ties and the London and York companies receding, either or both companies might go over the Ambergate lines. Mr. Cocxeunx, Q.C., wished to know what the proposi tion really was, and after some further discussion, Mr. PASET said that the company had no objection to withdraw the branch, provided they had an outlet granted to them, and this they might obtain if either the . East Lincolnshire or the Ambergate Company would ent er into arrangements with them. The East Lincolnshire Company were at the present moment in possession of the ground in consequence of their Bill being passed previous to the Act of the Ambergate Company. After some further discussion between the counsel engaged, it was arranged that the Bill should be adjourned till to morrow (this day). It was stated, in answer to a question, that one or other of the directors was always with the secretary when he received the deposits from the guards and drivers. Mr. Humphreys thanked the Alderman for his atten tion to the claims of these poor men, and the parties withdrew. The room was crammed with drivers, guards, clerks, porters, and keepers of receiving houses. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Edward Larkin and John Dwyer, two lads, were charged with having attempted a robbery in the house of Mr. Edward Simpson, licensed victualler, 231, Ox ford -street. Thomas Agness said, he was in Oxford street last Saturday afternoon, when he saw the two prisoners to gather, one of whom carried a long stick, the end of which was daubed with tar. lie watched the movements of the prisoners, and followed them into Mr. Simpson's house, and heard them call for some beer. They were served and they were left alone in front of the bar. One of the prisoners then got upon a bench, and with his stick attempted to reach a sovereign which was placed on a shelf within the bar; but, in his efforts to fix it to the stick, by means of the adhesive substance at the end, the sovereign was knocked off the shelf, and the noise thus made attracted the attention of the landlady in the bar parlour, who came out to see what was the matter. Wit ness immediately acquainted her with what had taken place, and on looking on the floor the sovereign was found with a portion of tar adhering to it, and there was also some tar on the shelf from which it had been dis placed. While the stick holder was busied in his attempt to get the money his companion held him up, and gave him all the assistance in his power. Mrs. Simpson corroborated the testimony of the last witness as far as related to the attempts of the prisoners to get the sovereign. 'lnc prisoners were fully committed. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Arnit. 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.-There has been a very small business done to-day. As regards prices we consider them to be pretty firm, especially when compared with the last few days. On the part of sellers there is a reluctance to accept the prices offered. The sales are-Ambergate, Notting ham, and Boston, dis.-Eastern Counties, 18 3 4-East Lancashire New (scrip), % p.-Leeds and Thirsk, New, 2,8 dis.-Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 1 p.-London and North-Western, 1711 2 -Manchester and Leeds, 32/. Shares (late Extension), 1 1 / 2 p.-Ditto, Halves (late Liverpool and Bury), 3 p.-Ditto, Fifths ( West Riding Union), 7' 4 p.- Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 88-Midland Stock, 1 15 1 4-Ditto, New, 2/. 6s. 3d. p.-North Stafford shire, 2% p. -North-Western, 1 1 4 dis.-Preston and tit' re, 341 , ,' 1 -Shrewsbu r y, O swes t ry , an d Chester, 2 1 4 dis.-Shrews bury and Birmingham (B), dis. ex int.-South-Eastern, No. 4, Thirds, 1 / i 3 p.- York and Newcastle, Preference, 31, 3 p. MANCHESTER, Aran. 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.- , The sales are-Ambergate, Notting ham, Boston, and Eastern Junction, 34-East Lancashire (late B. and P.), New (scrip), 7-16-Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junct., 11-16-Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, 1 1 ,4 -Ditto, Thirds, %-Manchester and Leeds, Halves, H. and S., 2 1 ,6-Ditto, 32/. Shares (late Ex tension), 114.-Ditto, Fifths (late West Riding Union), % -Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 1%- Manchester and Southampton, 19s.- North British, Ex tension, I Is. 9d.-North Staffordshire, 2 1 4 -Oldham Alliance, 1 4-South-Eastern arid Dover, No. 3, 4-Ditto, No. 4, 1 / 4 South Staffordshire, 1 4. LEEDS, Aram 19. STOCK EXCHANGE. -The sales are-Ambergate, Notting ham, and Boston, 163. dis.-East Lancashire, New, 7s. 60. p.-Ditto, New Scrip, Bs. p.-East and West Yorkshire, Bs. 6d. dis.-Huddersfield and Manchester. Thirds, 10s. p.- Leeds and Bradf or d, 43 1 4 p.-Leeds and Dewsbury, 3 p.- Ditto, Branches (blue), 2% p.-Leeds and Thirsk, dis. -Ditto, Preference, 16s. p.-London and Brighton and South Coast, 521/ 6 -Ditto, Fifteenths, 2s. 6d. p.-Malton and Driffield Junction, Is. 6d. dis.-Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 4 5 ,; 1 p. -Ditto, 32/. Shares (late Extensions), 28s. 6d. p.-Ditto, West Riding Union, 14s. p.-Newcastle and Berwick, New, 2 1-16 p.-North British, Thirds, 41s. 6d p.-Ditto, Extension (scrip), 9s. 6d. p.-North Stafford shire, 2 1 /i p.-Northern Counties Union, 2 1 4 dis.-North Western, I%dis.-York and North Midland, Extension,3934 SHEFFIELD, APRIL 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are - Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire (Grimsby and Sheffield), 6% dis.-Ditto. 201. Shares, 465. dis.-Ditto, 12/. 10s. Shares, 1% idiand, New, 2 1 4 p.-Ditto (Sheffield and Rotherham), 3214-West Riding Union, 3s p, EDINBURGH, APRII. 17. S TOC K NICILINGE.-The sales a re -C a l edonian, New, New,erth, 745.718. 6d.-Dit to , N ew 455. 61-Edinburgh, Leith, and Grant on, Q uarters, 13s. 6d. 6d.-Ditto, New port, -Edinburghs B s.-Ditto, Halves, Quarters (scrip), 245. 6 d.-Ditto, Third s , 624.-Direct Bona ,lilrs andem Quarters,, bay and Madras, 3s. 6d. 20 s. 6 7 6d.-North - - N E o rdat 7%-Edinburgh o THE MURDER AT NORWOOD. The name of the wretched man who committed mur der and suicide at Norwood, as reported in our paper yesterday, was James, not John, Young, and his age was twenty-seven years. He married the unfortunate victim of his violence upwards of two years ago; she had ti4ree children by him, two of whom died shortly after their birth. For some time past he had behaved in an eccentric manner, but nothing dangerous was appre hended in his conduct until last Christmas, when he showed evident signs of mental aberration. Mr. Chap man, a medical man iu the neighbourhood, was con sulted, and prescribed for him, and advised that he should be looked after, as he considered he might inflict injury on those around him. His wife, who was greatly attached to him, objected to his being placed under re straint, and expressed her conviction that he would neither hurt her or himself. It appears that a young man lodged in the house with him, and slept there on every night but Saturday night; had he been at home, he might probably have rescued the victims from the unhappy maniac. When Young returned home on Saturday night, he was so unwell that a medical gentle man was called in to see him, who gave it as his opinion that he ought to be closely watched. About three o'clock on Sunday morning, Young and his wife were heard quarrelling by their servant-girl: he asked for some thing which she said she had not got. He then flew into a passion, saying he knew she had got what he asked for, and he was determined to have it. He at the same time struck her, and she exclaimed, " Ah! James, you know you ought not to have done this." The quarrel then ceased. James Pope, a journey man shoemaker, in the employment of Mr. Quy, of No. 7, High-street, Norwood, next door to the house in which the murder was committed, was awakened about ten minutes past 6 o'clock on Sunday morning by the screams of a woman. He immediately got up and, with Mr. Manshe, who lives at No. 5, knocked at the door of Young, which was opened by the servant-girl, who, in answer to their question, " What is the matter?" replied, she did not know, but thought her master was killing Mrs. Young. They saw blood dripping down the stairs, and Mrs. Young lying with her feet on the stairs, and her head on the landing-place, bleeding from a wound in the throat; there was a cut on the throat and another at the back of the neck. His (James Pope's) impression is, that Young first cut his wife's throat in the bedroom; that she crawled to the top of the stairs, and screamed for help until she became exhausted; he recollects the scream growing fainter until it died away. Upwards of two minutes elapsed after he heard the first scream be fore he got into the house. Whilst Pope and Manshe were on the landing place, Young came out of the bed room; they then ran down stairs and went for a police man and a doctor. No person saw Young cut his throat as he did it before any one returned to the house. It further appears that shortly before six o'clock on Sun day morning Mrs. Young called the servant-girl up and told her to get breakfast ready; whilst the girl was lighting the fire she heard Mr. Young ask for something, to which his wife rcplii-d, " My dear, I have not got any." He said, " You have;" a scuffle ensued, and her mistress endeavoured to call her by name, but could not; fearing that he was ill-using her, she ran out and called at Mr. quy's house. The scuffle was the fatal repetition of the quarrel which the girl heard at three o'clock the same morning. The inquest will be held this evening. SUSPECTED DEATH PROM STARVATION IN ST. PANca.as.—Yesterday (Monday) morning, bet ween th e hours of one and two o'clock, a woman, n ame unknown, was Hospital under the fol lowing i admitted it es n dt t r o etso t s h : n e pgo l.7 l c n cie i r v -cc e uo r m s n i s t s y tt aa b C n lc o ee l s l 2 e : g 3lO his beat in Seymour-street, Hampstead-road, had his atten tion suddenly attracted by the faint groans of a poor creature lying on the pavement, near the Coronation public-house, in the above street, and shivering with cold. On appreaching her he found her in a very exhausted state, and she appeared as if on the brink of death from the want of food and nourishment. She was in tke most filthy plight, being liter ally covered with a few dirty rags, and was reduced to such a state of weakness as scarcely to be able to articulate. She said she had had no food for several days, and the policeman, assisted by another constable, conveyed her to the above in stitution, when dle was attecded to by Mr. Cadge, the night-surgeon, who pronounced her to be in a dying state. She was so exhausted as to be unable to take any nourish ment, and notwithstanding all the care and attention paid her, she expired in an hour and a quarter after her admission. The deceased appears to have been about 55 years of age, and has all the appearance of having died from want and des titution. THE ALLEGED MURDER IN STEPNEY.—yesterday, the adjourned inquiry was resumed and concluded before Mr. William Baker, coroner, at the Grav e M aur i ce, White chapel road , resp ec ti ng the death of William Bridge, a painter, aged 61 years, who died in the London Mospital, on Sunday, the 11th inst., from a rupture in the bladder, alleged to have been occasioned by a female named Mary Burns, in the Artichoke beer-shop, Jubilee-street, Stepney, on Thursday evening, the Ist instant. Mr. Buchanan, a soli citor, attended f or t h e accused. It was alleged by three witnesses, who were present during the affray, that the woman Burns stamped three times upon the deceased while he was lying upon the door, and that she wore a pair of wooden clogs with iron round the soles at the time she did so. The deceased afterwards complained of severe pains in his stomach and abdomen, and was removed to the London Hos pital, where he expired on Sunday, the 11th inst. Mr. John Nash, house surgeon to the London Hospital, attributed death to a rupture of the bladder. It might have been pro duced by a kick or a fall against some pointed substance. A girl, - named Eleanor Holmes, sister to the female Burns, was examined at great length, and she entirely contradicted the statements made by the previous witnesses. She stated that several men were in the tap-room, very much intoxi cated, and they commenced abusing the deceased, who was also drunk. Her sister entered the room and advised him to leave the house. One man, named Haynes, struck her sister, and the deceased also struck and kicked her on the right leg. He was about to kick her again, and he fell side ways over a chair with great violence. She did not see her sister kick the deceased at all, and she was quite certain her sister did not wear any clog boots that day. Jane Storey, of No. 3. Henry-street, Jubilee -street, Stepney, stated that she was present during the altercation between the deceased and Mary Burns. The deceased was sitting in a chair when Burns entered the room, and endeavoured to eject the old man from the house. She kicked him on the leg, and then dragged him from his chair. He fell upon the floor from her violence, and s h e stamped upon the lower part of his sto mach. She was desired to desist, and she then left the room. In answer to questions by the coroner, the witness said that the female Holmes was not present during the affray, and that Burns did wear a pair of clog boots on that day. The Coroner then. summed up at great length, and the jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against Mary Burns." The witnesses were then bound over to prosecute. Burns will be brought up before the magistrates at the Thames Police Court on Thursday next, when she will be fully committed to take her trial at the Central Criminal Court, for the manslaughter of the deceased. THE JUDGES AND CORPORATION AT ST. PAUL'S.— On Sunday, it being the first in term, the judges and civic corporation went in state to St. Paul's Cathedral, where they attended Divine service. There were present Lord Denman, Sir Thomas Wilde, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas; Mr. Baron Parke, Mr. Baron Al derson, Mr. Justice Patteson, Mr. Baron Rolfe, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, Mr. Sergeant Chadwick Jones, Mr. Sergean Man ning, the Lord Mayor (with his chaplain, the Rev. 11. E. C. Cobden, M.A.), Alderman Farebrother, Alderman Sir Chap man Marshall, Alderman Kelly, Alderman Hughes Hughes, Alderman Farncombe, Alderman and Sheriff Challis, Mr. Sheriff Kennard, the Recorder, Mr. Commissioner Bullock, and a large number of members of the Common Council; the Lord Bishop of London, the Lord Bishop of Llandaff (Dean of St. Paul's), the Lord Bishop of Oxford, the Venerable William Hale Hale, M.A., Archdeacon of London ; the Venerable Archdeacon It. Wilberforce, the Honourable and Rev. H. Montague Villiers, M.A., Rector of St. George's, Bloomsbury, and Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's; the Rev. James Endell Tyler, 8.D., Rector of St. Giles's and Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's; the Rev. T. Boyle Murray ; the Rev. H. Browne ; the Rev. W. J. Hall, and several other clergymen in their robes. Full choral service was per formed, and a sermon preached by the Lord Bishop of Lon don, who selected for his text the tenth verse of the second chapter of the general epistle by St. James--" Whoever keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point is guilty of all." The Right Rev. Prelate dwelt on the nature of sin, exposed the destination drawn by the Roman Catholic Church between moral and venial sins, and impressively set forth the efficacy of true repentance. At the close of the sermon the procession left the cathedral in the order in which it had entered FIRE NEAR - WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Yesterday morning, at three o'clock a fire, attended with serious de struction of property, broke out in a large building known as the Prince of Wales beer-shop, the property of Mr. E. Underwood, 10, Princes -street, Westminster, nearly facing the Abbey. A police-constable of the B division, in passing the premises, first discovered the fire, by perceiving flames issuing through the bar shutters. The constable raised an immediate alarm, and after considerable trouble the inmates were aroused from their slumbers, but such a firm hold the flames had obtained, that none of the residents were able to escape by the staircase. By great perseverance the whole of the parties succeeded in effecting a safe retreat from the blazing premises by the back windows. Although the fire men exerted themselves to the utmost, they were unable to get the tire extinguished until the whole of the stock in the building was destroyed, and the premises nearly gutted. SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. ARNOTT, OF CHATHAM DOCKYARD.—Mr. Carter yesterday held an inquiry at the Clayton Arms, Kennigton-uval, on the body of Mr. Robert Arnott, aged 70, master carpenter of the dockyard at Chat ham. Susan Austen, housemaid to Edward Russell, Esq., 24, Kennington-oval, stated that the deceased had been staying with Mr. Russell on a visit, Mrs. Russell being his daughter. On Friday he had been out in the forenoon, and was apparently well. In the evening, about seven o'clock, she was called down stairs, and then found the deceased 1 12_11 3 0fa i an n nr, g iole.y o f n vosr b h : e.. psbieictek the e n h d go r quite e ,f d io e mr a d. lie had apparently been ! f n ro t m he c a h c a t t o h f ara sm ifn o o k rh i ae n a g elt a lan p g ip e e or f aor he had one lighted in his been C i a E j . x Mr. Arnott'e son srniar3i,ide and .nihadDitsehultykea Duke, t i e h d h e a si r d us e r d s c gk o e h i e ln e h ; c' a ' u ao d p sf decliningG SIGNS : et : i e n e g k the g to o\ s v ta w t state r t k h that are a Ver dict —“Natural death." pence per stone, and that ithIIIE IMES.—W e are happy puce of oatmeal was reduced two more abundant all our agents for Glas er ueld_anrterstrikpp.alidevserf.we.bs, and at an advance of a farthing p TUE TII3B E N FiA Id POISONINGS.—The uncertainty and mystery o r i g i na l ly attached to these cases seem t o b e disappearing, an d the real facts gradually, though slowly, unfolding themselves ; whole truth may yet be discovered. Thoug h th e cause o f death seemed a t fi rst uncertain, th e chymical tests applied and there is so me probability that the by Mr. Firth left no doubt of that being poison ; but at the adjourned inquest, though the strong pro b a bility was that this had been feloniously administered, there might be some doubt remaining, considering the quantity of poison that was proved to be about the house for the purpose of destroying the mice, whether some of this might not accidentally leave got mixed with the water in the pail or the tea-kittle, and so have undesignedly caused the deplorable consequences which followed. Subsequent discoveries, however, have set this at rest, and it is now placed beyond a doubt that this poison has been given by design. The jury re-assembled on Thursday last to inquire by themselves into the new facts the case pre sented, but they examined no witnesses, nor was the court opened. It is not considered prudent at present to say 'who has fallen under suspicion; but it may be said, that other poison has been found mixed up and secreted in a bottle and buried two feet beneath the surface of the soil in a garden. Every exertion is being made to discover the perpetrator of these appalling murders, and, it is said, with some probabi lity of success, but no one is apprehended. It would be a se rious public evil for such a cue to go undetected. THF, SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1847. SLEAFORD BRANCH. Mr. Sergeant \VRANGIIAM opened on behalf of this branch, which is to form a continuation of the London and York branch, but the evidence isito be taken to-morrow (this day). GROUP XLVII. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, the Ron. E. Yorke in the chair. WILSONTOWN, MORNTNGSIDE, AND COLTNESS (BRANCHES TO BENHAR) BILL. This Bill was then proceeded with. It was petitioned against by Mr. Mann, the agent of Mr. Dixon, an ironmaster in the district, for whom Mr. Sergeant Murphy appeared. Mr. Andrews was for the promoters. Mr. ANDREWS opened the case, stating that the line was a short mineral branch, to open up the Benhar mineral dis trict with Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was estimated to cost 24,705/., and would prove highly remunerative. The coal and limestone that would be opened up amounted to many millions of tons. Mr. M'Creath, mining engineer, gave evidence as to the mineral capabilities of the district, and the benefits which the line would insure. Mr. William M'Creath—He had examined the coal-fields and reported to the promoters of this project. He had bored in two places and found that the aggregate depth of the working seam was ten feet, and that there Are some 16,000,000 of tons. in all, that might be brought to the sur face. The whole country was rich in coal, and he had never heard that a doubt had existed as to the existence of coal in great quantities in this particular locality. Mr. Williamson, mineral surveyor, gave similar evidence. He had no doubt that the Opening of these fields would, in a considerable degree, lower the price cf fine coals in Edin burgh, and he blieved that the furnaces —some seventy in all, would be principally supplied from Benhar. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY). (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.) CORNWALL AND DEVON CENTRAL PLYMOUTH RAILWAY. This case, which is on the opposed list, again came under the consideration of the Examiner. After a number of formal proofs had been tendered the case was further ad journed. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 19. Their Lordships sat to-day in the new House for the first time to hear appeals. The Peers present were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, and the Bishop of Hereford. THE EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY CO3IPANY V. THE PROVOST AND TOWN COUNCIL OP LINLITHGOW. Mr. BETHELL replied at considerable length to-day in this case, the arguments in which were part heard prior to the Easter recess. Their Lordships postponed giving judgment. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSIOIV-I-10 USE The City Solicitor attended yesterday . for the purpose of answering a complaint ma d e on S aturday to his Lord ship by Mr. Farey, the proprietor of the Black Boy and Camel public-house, in Leadenhall-market, with regard to some proceedings which it had been found necessary to adopt. As he was not present at the time the state ment was made, he should take the report which appeared in the newspapers as containing the matter and manner of the complaint. The LORD MAYOR intimated that the Solicitor was correctly informed through the channel of the press. The City Solicitor said, that, upon reading the account of what had taken place at the Mansion-house, he called at Mr. Farey's house for the purpose of requesting the proprietor to meet him at the Justice-room, as he was always desirous of speaking in the presence of any per son who considered himself aggrieved. It did not, however, suit Mr. Farey to attend, and the explanation of the affair must, therefore, be made in his absence. The statement in the newspapers, as he presumed it issued from Mr. Farey's mouth, was a series of misre presentations. Mr. Farey had represented that there was no mode of drainage upon his premises, and that everything which ought to pass into the common sewer passed into a cesspool immediately under his house, and occasioned a most obnoxious nuisance. Now, Mr. Farey must blame either his landlord or himself for permitting such annoyance to exist. The Corporation had built most capacious common sewers all through the city, and if individuals did not cause drains to be made from their premises into these receptacles, they must put up with the inconveniences necessarily arising from the neglect. In that respect Mr. Farey must come in for his share of the consequences of the omission. Probably if the Cor poration possessed the power of compellin g the landlords of houses to drain into the sewers, Mr. Farey would have been silent upon that subject. As for the com plaint that the City Solicitor had caused the door of the Black Boy and Camel, leading into the market, to be shut up, that proceeding had not been resorted to with out very strong reasons for its adoption. Complaints had been made, as the Lord Mayor had intimated in his observations to Mr. Farey, that robberies were fre quently committed in the neighbourhood, and according to the evidence of the ward beadle, a thief, who had stolen a goose in Leadenhall-market, had easily escaped pur. suit by running through Mr. Farey's house. Now, it was not difficult to understand that a means of commu nication such as Mr. Farey's house with its two doors presented might be applied to the purposes of ingenious persons in a way not likely to be profitable to the trades men in the market. It had been insinuated that the Corporation were influenced against the proprietor of the Black Boy and Camel by the fear of the con sequences likely to arise to a house of their own from an act of justice. The house to which Mr. Farey alluded was a tea and coffee-shop in the mar ket, and a pump was kept close to it at the back of Mr. Farey's house, to which pump several females were in the habit of going for water, and it was considered amongst other objections that it would not be altogether proper to have the back entrance to a public-house opening upon such an engine of public convenience. Now, Mr. Farey had had due notice to block up the door of com munication which he had opened without the permission of the magistrates. Ile had declined to do so, and the Corporation had done it for him.—(A laugh.) The official referees who had been applied to on the subject had decided against him, and, in truth, the only com plaint he could fairly make was, that he had not been treated with all the justice which the law awarded to persons similarly situated, for the Act of Parliament said, that if, upon being called upon to shut up a prohi bited door, a defendant did not, within a certain time, comply with the order, the business should be done for him, and he should be made answerable for the expenses. It was not his practice, in cases in which a compulsory course was considered necessary, to charge the expenses incurred, but certainly the conduct of Mr. Farey was calculated to make one regret that he had been included in the exemption. The LORD Mayon. said, he was convinced when Mr. Farey was stating to him what had taken place that a complete refutation would be given to all the assevera tions. lie knew that the Commissioners of Sewers were , d , i o n s t t ng in i d n e t f :t t i h gf e tb e l o e m ß m o o a n rd s , ew an er d he plainly saw that Mr. Farey would not take advantage of the opportunity of The City eingrunsonesdnidb,yl:lhre. that he wanted to o y Solicitor lently of b • rwiadsoaf t w h i e nd n o u w isa. o n v c e e t: .eFeassrepyoolc,omanpdlaiinnteiduaavtieod pewihate door into the market to get the la w2:s a ee which h e t p h r e e d t pretence. There a d T b h e e e r n e , and, if' he pleased, he might make that wiz' ,dow larger. But his object was to have the co mand of the market. It wag absurd to say that there id note the greatest said facilities for getting rid of that by he was offended. The Commissioners of .SFarey within a very narrow compass already made 48 miles sewers at the expense of about 300,000 L, and if l e e j r s would not go to the expense of making drains to .. ee 'r n e .. municate with these sewers, why they must take the consequences. If Mr. Farey were to be permitted to open a door into the market, what between omnibus cads in the front of his house and market cads at the back of his house, the neighbourhood would be in a very agreeable condition. The LORD MAYOR—I certainly am of opinion, Mr. Solicitor, that the course you have pursued in shutting JMPERIA I. PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Ap ri l 19. The LO RD CHANCELLOR took : is seat upon the Wool ca,-;k at l' iv; o'cl/wk. The Earl of EG LINTON presented a petition from the malt distillers of the west of Scotland against the Cuqtoms Duties, and praying that they might be &lowed a drawback equal to the difference in the duty on rum and spirits. The Earl of WALSINGHAM presented a petition against the law of settlement. The Earl of CLANCARTY presented a petition, praying for poor relief in Ireland. The Noble Lord, who was very inaudible, was understood to say that the present question was one that required considerable con sideration. There could he no doubt that there were many obstacles with which those who were unacquainted with the subject could have no conception. Several Bills were brought up from the Commons, and read a first time. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION PLAN. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Protestant Dissenters of Reading, Banbury, and Abing don, apinst the Government scheme of education. In doing so he wished to ask his Noble Friend what was the reason of the change which the Com • mittee of Education had decided upon since the plan of 1839. He could only say that the accession of the Dissenters would be obtained by some such system being adopted as the plan of 1839. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that in the plan of 1839, and of that subsequently propounded in 1841, it was fully intended that the Scriptures should be made a part of the system of education; but so much of opposi tion had been shown that it was determined that none but the authorised version of the Scriptures should be adopted; but the reception of the system was to be left optional._ ____ - Lord BROUGHAM had always been a party to any thing than the use of the authorised version, and he believed that no school would be allowable without the use of Scriptural instruction, and the reply therefore was no answer to his question. The Noble Marquis had stated that none but the authorised and regular version was to be used. But it should be recollected that there was one version need in England, and another in Scotland. In England there were but two schools which would require Government assist mice, though in Scotland there would be more, and in Ireland, in all probability, there would be many who would have a right to this aid. The question, there fore, came with great force as to what was the autho rised version of the Scriptures. There was the Catholic version, and there was the Protestant version, but he was atonished that any question should be raised about either in this year, not of 1447, or 1547, but in the year 1847; and he regretted that in this year there should be mixed up on this treat question the broiling spirit of bigotry on both sides. Lord BEAUNIONT wished to ask what was the system which the Government intended to pursue. No other minute existed but that which bore date the 3d of December, 1839. There was no other published but that, and he thought it would require some igenuity to construe that minute into the meaning given to it by the Noble Marquis, namely, that one particular version of the Scriptures must be used in its integrity, and the words used in their minutes were portions of the Old and New Testament. Now that formed a great objection to Catholics attending these schools. It was a great source of regret to him that the explanation of the Noble Lord was calculated to create still further sectarian divisions and dislike to spiritual education. He had hoped to see under the same roof, and instructed by the same masters, and inspected by the same men, both Catholics and Protestants receiving education together, and by that means, in course of time, to do away with that ill feeling which resulted from sectarian differences. The question he wished to ask, therefore, from the Noble Marquis was this—Was there any other minute, any unpublished minute, with regard to the use of the autho riced version of the Scriptures besides the minute dated the 3d December, 1839? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to say, that there was no minute which would hear the construction put upon it by the Noble Lord He wished to state that the general observation that had seen made had reference, not to the authorised version of the Scriptures, but with reference to Roman Catholic schools, judgment only would be delivered when a fur ther am ,unt of knowledge was obtained. He had J'oped that no objection would have been made to the measure of the Government. Lord BROUGHAM begged to explain. His Noble Friend had altogether misunderstood him. If the au thori'ed version of the Scriptures were read in the schools the Catholics would not receive it. Earl RADNOR made a few observations. OXFORD AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. Lord LYNDHURST, who was very imperfectly heard, was understood to refer to the Committee of Inquiry which had been recently appointed on this railway, and to state that he had been considering the objection which had been made as to the propriety of discontinuing the labours of that Committee, in consequence of the matters in dispute between the North-Western and Great Western Railway Companies being still pending in the Court of Chancery, and was of opinion that the inquiry should not he abandoned. Lord ItEDESDALE said that be was not in the House when the Committee was appointed, otherwise he would have opposed the motion, as he thought that the prin ciple which it recognised was a dangerous one, and that the House should not interfere with the legal possession of property. With these few remarks he should con clude, and if there was any opposition to his motion, he should not feel justified in pushing the matter to a deci sion before their Lordships.. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that it was right to state to their Lordships that the question which had been raised in the Court of Chancery, and which was now pending before him, was, as to who were the legal directors of the Oxford and Birmingham Railway. This question would, in all probability be decided in the course of the present week, and he thought, therefore, that it would not be wise in their Lordships to come to a decision which might, very probably, interfere with the jurisdiction of a court of law. It would seem admirable to him, therefore, to postpone the consider& tion of the matter until after the decision of the Court o Chancery. Lord - LYNDHURST said that the Vice-Chancellor had come to a decision that the directors, who had been elected in October, should go out in October, and it seemed, therefore, desirable on all hands, that their Lord ships should not interfere, while the matter was pending in the Court of Chancery. The matter then dropped. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SCHEME. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented petitions in favour of the plan for Mansfield, Bridgewater, and a great number of other places; as also several against it. Lord BROUGHANI wished to inquire what deter mination the Government had come to respecting the use of the authorised version of the Scriptures. He also wished to inquire whether there was any change in the Minutes of Council of 1839; and suggested that such alteration would materially affect the votes of the House of Commons. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said there had been no change whatever in the Minutes of Council; for, with respect to the authorised version, the rule was sufficiently established; and with respect to the money that was necessary to carry the plan out, the House of Commons would at all times have the means at their command for directing it, and could bring their influence to bear upon it from year to year. Lord BROUGHAM believed that the Ministry would not surely take any step in so important a matter without the sanction of Parliament. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE conceived that as the whole of the plan would yearly be subjected to the consideration of the House of Commons, that it was un necessary to bring it in, in any other shape, before their Lordships. POOR-L ASV. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that he had another petition to present, which was of a very different character. It was against the Poor•law Removal Bill, and he would take that opportunity of stating that as there were two Bills bearing upon this subject, one for the extension of the poor-law in Ireland, and the other to enable landed proprietors to dispose of their estates with more facility than they now possessed, which might pos sibly clash with each other, he proposed to take the second reading of them both on the same day, and would therefore fix them for Thursday next. Lord STANLEY presented several petitions, both for and against the Irish poor-law. The Earl of RADNOR presented several petitions against the Government scheme of education. Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented four petitions to the same effect. CUSTOM DUTIES. The Earl of EGLINTON moved for certain re turns connected with the Custom Duties, which were agreed to. CASE OF CATHERINE FOSTER. The Marquis of WESTMEATH said he wished to direct the attention of the Government to the execu tion of an unfortunate woman on Saturday last, at Bury St. Edmunds. It appeared from the newspapers that upwards of 10,000 persons were present. The execution was conducted in such a manner as to pro long the sufferings of the unfortunate creature for a considerable space of time ; and the assemblage of per sons were so struck and horrified at the circumstance, that they called out shame, shame, murder, murder. He was one of those persons who unfortunately thought that this mode of punishing crime ought to be conti nued, but still he thought the sufferings of the unfortu nate beings who came to those untimely ends should not be protracted by the carelessness or brutality of the exe cutioner. A short time ago a similar case to this oc curred, and on its being brought under the attention of the Right lion. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, a promise was given that the matter should be looked into, and measures taken to prevent a recurre.ce of such a proceeding. Many years ago he was quartered in the town of Sligo when an unfortunate man was brought out for execution. The drop being exceedingly high, the rope broke, and the man fell into the street, • breaking both legs, and fracturing several of his ribs, and yet in that state he was carried up again, and the sentence of the law exe cuted upon him. A similar case having occurred in the very heart of the kingdom, h e th oug h t i t was a proper occasion upon which to call upon the Government to take steps to prevent a recurrence of such scenes. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said Government would cause a careful inquiry to be made into the cir cumstances. He agre e d w i t h hi s Noble Friend that, while it was necessary to continue this mode of punish ment, it ought to bo carried out with all due solemnity and caution. The subject then dropped. MUTINY BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow (this day). MARINE MUTINY BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and the report was er - ered to be brought up to morrow (this day). St.:veral Bills were advanced a stage, and their Lord ship; adjourned. --- HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 19. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND GREENOCK RAILWAY. Mr. HASTIE presented six petitions against the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Mr. GEEENE moved that this House will not re ceive a petition against a railway Bill after Monday the 3d day of May next, unless the petitioners shall com plain of any matter which may have arisen during the progress of the Bill before the Committee on the Bill. That, from and after the said 3d day of May next, the Committee of Classification be empowered to refer to the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, toge ther with the Members ordered to prepare and bring in the Bill, such unopposed Bills as they shall deem it de sirable so to refer.—Agreed to. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition against the Bills of the Great Northern Railway Company. REPORTS. The reports on the following Bills were considered and agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be engrossed:— Darwen Waterworks and Reservoirs Bill. Newhaven Harbour, Ouse Lower Navigation, and Lewes and Laughton Drainage. Newmarket and Chesterford Railway (Extension to Thetford). Newmarket and Chesterford Railway (Extension to Bury St. Edmund's, with a Branch to Ely). HOLYHEAD HARBOUR. Mr. WARD moved that the order, that Viscount Morpeth, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Owen Stanley be Mem bers of the Select Committee on the Holyhead Har bur Bill, be dischitrged. He made the motion at the request of the Noble Lord the Member for Liverpool, who was of opinion that the appoint ment of the Committee ought to be delayed until the report of the Commissioners, appointed to consider the subject, was before the House. He should lay that report on the table either to-morrow or next day. The motion was agreed to. LONDON, OXFORD, AND CHELTENHAM RAILWAY. Mr. C. BERKELEY moved that the petition of the inhabitants of Cheltenham, in favour of the London, Oxford, and Cheltenham Railway, and against the Chel tenham and Oxford Railway Bill, be referred to the Committee on the Bill.—Agreed to. FEES ON PRIVATE BILLS. The SPEAKER said he had to acquaint the House, that in accordance with the resolution of the House, he had caused a list of fees payable on private bills to be prepared. NEWMARKET AND CHESTERFORD RAILWAY BILL. This Bill, repealing the provision authorising the company to use the line of the Eastern Counties Rail way, was read a third time and passed. GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION. Mr. P. HOWARD presented two petitions from Car lisle against the Government scheme of education. Mr. HASTIE presented several petitions from Scot land to the same effect. Mr. THORNELY presented petitions from Devon shire and North Wales to the same effect. Mr. W. PATTEN presented several petitions in favour of the scheme, and two against it. Mr. R. CURRIE presented a petition from North amptonshire against the Government educational scheme. Mr. BAILEY presented petitions to the same effect. Mr. WILLIAMS presented two petitions to the same effect. The Hon. Member also presented a petition from a person named Williams, complaining that the Irish Board of Works were guilty of jobbing practices in connexion with their functions. Mr. DUNCAN presented several petition: from Scot land against the Government Scheme of Education. Petitions were also presented against the measure by Mr. Redhead Yorke, Mr. Protheroe, Mr. Huntley, Mr. Brotherton; Lord C. Fitzroy, Mr. Greene, by Mr. Walker , Mr. Gisborno up war d s o f 20 petitions , Mr. Godson, and Mr. Sharman C raw f or d , 26 petitions from Wc sleyans and others from Rochdale. Mr. HINDLEY also presented 700 petitions from various places. Petitions in favour of the measure were presented by Mr.. Seymer, Mr. Finch, Mr. Greene, Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Hudson, from Sunderland ; Dr. Bowring, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Brooke, and Lord H. Vane. Mr. MILES presented several petitions from places in Somersetsbire in favour of the scheme. Mr. G. BERKELEY presented petitions from Glou cestershire against the Government plan. Mr, ROEBUCK presented two petitions from Bath against the scheme. Mr. E. DENISON presented one in favour and one against ; as also did Mr. HAYTER. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he had from 300 to 400 petitions to present from various parts of the country against the scheme—four or five of which were peculiarly deserving the attention of the House, as they were of a different character to the generality of them. One was agreed to at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Maidstone, objecting to the scheme as unconstitutional ; another agreed to at a public meeting, held on Saturday last, at Ramsgate, deprecating the House proceeding to decide on the scheme with haste, and in favour of his (Mr. Duncombe's) motion for a Select Committee of Inquiry; from the committee of a society calling itself " The Central Committee of Na tional Associated Trades, and for the Protection of In dustry;" and another signed by 7,000 members of an association, calling itself " The Association of Young Men of the City of London," who were also members of various mechanics institutes, against the scheme and in favour of an inquiry ; also a petition from thirteen of the clergymen of the diocese of York, who stated that it appeared from the Minutes of the Council of Education that certain pro positions were in some measure founded on the representation of the Protestant clergy, while there was no authority to show that the Protestant divines as a body were in favour of the plan. Mr. DENISON presented a petition from Surrey in favour of the Government scheme of education. Lord ARUNDEL presented several petitions from Sunday -school teachers against the scheme. Mr. M. GIBSON also presented several petitions to the same effect. Mr. M. MILNES presented a petition in favour of. Mr. HOLLAND presented a petition against. Lord DUNCAN presented lo petitions from Bath against. Alderman HUMPHERY presented a petition against. Col. SIBTHORP presented a petition against. Sir G. BANKES presented a petition against. Sir J. Y. BULLER presented several petitions against. Colonel T. WOOD presented several petitions against. Mr. PUSEY presented several petitions in favour of the Government plan. Lord MORPE f H presented 124 petitions from various places in the West Riding of Yorkshire against the scheme of the Government.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. P. BORTHWICK presented a petition in its favour. Sir R. PEEL presented three petitions from places in Lancashire against the Government scheme. Mr. WAKLEY presented several petitions to the same effect. Mr. VERNON SMITH presented petitions from North ti ampton against the G overnment scheme of educaon. Mr. CHRISTIE presented similar petitions from Weymouth and other places. Sir GEORGE GREY presented s i m il ar petitions ; also petitions from the Free Church Presbytery of Glasgow and Ayr in favour of the measure. The Right Hon. Baronet proceeded, amidst the utmost confusion, to state the prayer of the petitions, and in an apolo getic tone added that he had been specially requested to do so.—(Lauzliter.) Mr. COMPTON presented petitions in favour of the Bill. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN presented petitions from 22 parishes in Norhamptonshire against the Bill. Captain GLADSTONE presented similar petitions. Mr. PATTISON presented petitions to the same effect. Mr. LABOUCHERE presented petitions in favour of the measure. Mr. AGLIONBY presented petitions against the measure. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET presented petitions to the same effect. Petitions aga i nst t h e mea sur e wer m e r a . ls A o l p d re an szn b t y ed t b2 Mr. Bar c l a y, b y M r . S o th e ron, by e . Chancellor r o . f th e Exchequer, by Mr. B. Escott, and by Lord JOHN RUSSELL p resented 513 petitions in favour of th e measure (fourteen from the Chancellor of the Exchequer). Several petitions were presented also in favour of the B m a e r il e s l u a r y e , abnyd i M rord in .Alda g ;t4o_na Leeds, Sir H. In g lis, M r . Sir DE LACY E V A Ns presented petiti ons f rom a n i s n t s t t h a e ll c S oni ta m te i g u r e a e n o ts f f s o e r ve e r d a u l c p a a t r io is n h a e l sin Privy Council.—(A I ) W purposes est . m ; a i v a n n s d t e : a r g l a g i .RHKIELRL three p re se i n n t e f d a v a o u p r e . titton against. the m Lo r r . d p M A Mr. ICEMBLE one from Clapham, signed by the Archdeacon of Surrey, in favour. Mr. BROTHERTON petitions from different dissent ing congregations in Salford, and other places, against. BOARD OF CONTROL. —GAS COMPANIES. Mr. HUME said that he desired to give notice that he would to-morrow or on Thursday move that as the Government of India had been vested in the India Directors, the conduct of the Board of Control in taking cognizance of certain matters was illegal and i:upeachable.—(Laughter.) Er e would also move that a statement of the rate at which all gas companies had furnished the public with gas for the last ten years should be laid upon the table. DECIMAL CURRENCY—VICTORINES. Dr. BO WRING would move on to morrow (this day) an address to her Majetty, that she would authorise a decimal system of currency, and that a coin of the value of two shillings should be issued, being one. tenth part of a pound, to be called a " Vi ctorine. "—(Lauhter. THE POOR-LAW. g ) Mr. FERRAND said that he would wish to ask the Noble Lord the First Minister of the Crown a question, of which he had given notice : he desired that he would name a day on which it was his intention to bring forward the question of the new poor-law. If the Nubia Lord was unprepared to do this, he should con sider it his duty to bring the subject under the notice of the House. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it was his inten tion to bring forward that question on Thursday next, or on to-morrow (this day) week. GOVE RNMENT EDUCATION SCHEME. Sir BENJ. HALL said—Before we proceed to the order of the day, I shall put a question, of which I have given sseice, to the Noble Lord at the head of the G 9" vernment. It is of some importance, and may ma teriallY, effect the discussion of thi s measure . The question have to put to the Noble Lord at the head of the Govern ment, and of which I have sent him a copy, is to this effect:---I may first state that there is a rumour preva lent in the city of London th a t an arrang ement has bee n made between the Government and the Wesleyan iCom mittees, for the purpose of setti ng aside the oppositi on which is intended to b e ma d e by th e W e sleyans to the. grant for the Government'scheme of education. I think that the best mode in whi c h Icon bring the question b efn _ the House, is to read a statement which appears paper supported by the Wesleyans, and hich is to alts effect. On account of an important communication from. high sources exp ress i ng a d es i re , w ith ou t any tion on our p ar t, to enter i nto a nego tiation va regard to thi s scheme,„ we have judged it ex pedient to direct a Committee, in order that no tnis° ll into a may tak e pl ace on e i t h er s id e , to enter a communication with th e G overnment w ith regard to the objections felt by the Wesleyans to the Minutes of Council, and on which we have stated, in strong but respectful language, our aversion to th e An official reply h as b een rece i v ed, pleb the present measure in a new light a ltogethe r ' and which, we are b oun d to say, removes in a great degre e s o m e o f th e most grave an d insuperable objections which, as consistent Niresleyans, the Comm l ", 3 tees have urged. N ow th e statement ma d e is this, or I wish to call the att en ti on o f th e N o bl e L or d and the House to it. Official but private overtures have been made to the Wesleyans i n L on d on , offering these concessions —first, that the Government exhibition shall be made only t o sc h oo l s w hi c h use th e authorised version of the Scriptures; nex t that th e AVesleyans he permitt e d t o use their own catechisms, in schools devoted to the use of the Wesleyans, and that the instructors should be of the Wesleyan persuasiop• The question I have to put to the Government is this, first, whether this negotiation has been made to t 1 Wesleyans by Government, or any person authorised by the Government, and if such concessions are to be mode, whether the Roman Catholics are to have the like privilege? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—l must say, in the first place, in answer to the question of the Hon' Member, that the communication with the Wesleyan body was, as far as I know, not begun by any person authorised on the part of the Government. A Noble Friend of mice, whose name (although I have no authority to mention it) I may state to the House —I mean Lord Ashley—understood from some of the Wesleyan body that they Isere about to enter into resolutions describing the character of the minutes in a way which was thought by him not apply cable to them. He told them that they had better Wait until he should communicate with Lord Lansdowne oe the subject, and thus through the secretary of the corn" mittee of council get an explanation on the sub ject. The secretary of 'the committee came to Lora Lansdowne and myself, and asked our intentionSe on the subject, we said that we should have no hesitation in answering any questions which the Wesleyans MT h; choose to put, and which might lead to a correct expla nation on the subject. I do not know that any blame can be attached to us in consequence.—(Loud cheering') The first question was, whether any person, holding ecclesiastical functions w ou ld b e e li g ibl e to fill the office of pupil teach ers , an d t h e answer we tnau l " was, that they would not be eligible as pupil teachers -(Loud cheers.) The next question was, whether the authorised version of the Scriptures would be used in schools ? On this subject, the resolution of the Com mitte, dated the 3d December, 1839, in which reference was made to a previous resolution, said that the condi tion on which they wo u ld g i ve ass i stance to schools would be that a daily portion of the Scrip tures should form a portion of the usual exercise to the classes. The words " the daily reading of a por tion,b of the Scriptures," w as un d erstoo d t o mean e authorised version of the S cr ip tures , an d in the sam e . report of 1839, it was s t a t e d t h at t h e i nten tion of the _ Committee with respect t o th e c hild ren of Roma ! Catholics, was that the Douay version of the Bible should be allowed. The next question was, whether the iii' spectors of the Wesleyan school might be appointed not as from the Wesleyan body, but with their concurrence r The Hon. Gentleman stated that they had hitherto re ceived assist ance th roug h the British and Foreigi l _ School Society, an d th ey sa id t h at i t wou ld b e far mor e agreeable to their feelings and the constituti on of their Society if the Committee on edge. tion would recognise th e Wesleyan body direct'''. I admit that, according to that arrangement, they wer e not parties which, according to the minute, were entitled to assistance from the grant. With re gard to the exclusion of the Roman Catholics from the grant, it was no new question. Ever since 1839 such has b een the policies, and I do not know of any grant having been made to Roman Catholic schools exelusively as such. The question is, therefore, left as before as far as Roman Catholics are concerned. When the Roman Catholic Bishops came to the Government and ask for assistance from the Go vernment grant it will be time enough to give attention to the matter. At present there was considerable diffi culty in working such a grant on account of many of the teachers in Roman Catholic schools being in holy orders, and might be supposed to use their functions as teachers to proselytize their pupils. With regard to the grant for the present year, it will be this year the same as the lust, viz., 100,0004, and it will he applied as before. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. Lord JOHN RUSSELL then proceeded to the order of the day. He said—Sir, I will now proceed to propose to read the order of the day with the view of proposing in Committee a resolu tion for education. In doing so, the House, I trust, will bear a ith me, and give me its indulgence , while I endeavour to clear away some of the exaggera tion with which it has been accompanied.---(Hear , hear.) And in connexion with which Honour' able Members have been misrepresented an d attacked in no ordinary manner, and called to give se' count of their conduct at public meetings and elsewher e i It is done by those who sa y th e y come to protes t a gainst an irresponsible power, it is done by those who endeavour to show that the body who will have the management of this grant is unconstit u ti ona l, an d t h at t h e gra nt made from year to year—made by this House—placed in the hands of the Ministers of the Crewn, renewable at the pleasure of the Sovereign, and who cannot hold office any longer than they have the support of this House; that such a mode of devoting money to the education of the people was an unconst i tut i ona l mode of proceeding. Why, Sir, talk of responsibility' how much more must we be responsible, 1 2 01 ing this power up on suc h a tenure, than t°°s" . who assemble together from various parts of the ° tin try, not resp ons ibl e to any persons, and who have told Hon. Memb ers o f t hi s House that they will raise s uch opposition a t a f uture election, that they shall no longe r have the h onour of a seat in that House if they dec ide according to th e i r f ree and impartial judgment upon the questions now to be b roug ht b e f ore you . I trust, Sir, entirely to the judgment and impartiality of this H ouse ; and that they will not allow that these attempts at exaggeration and misrepresentation shall hide from them the real facts of the case.—(Hear, bear.) Sir, it is well known that the education of the people — of the working classes especially—forms no part of the duty, either of the Government or, nationally speaking, of the Church of this country. The whole task of education has been left, of late years, to volun tary efforts. In the year 1784, a person of the name of Raikes first started subscriptions for the purpose of establishing Sunday schools, and was the means of diffusing a great amount of education among the younger portion of the community. In the beginning of this century, when Mr. Lancaster came to this country, it was entirely by the efforts of in dividuals that the British and Foreign School Society was established, altogether unaided by any assistance from the funds of the Government. So likewise when these schools were succeeded by the National Schools upon the plan of Dr. Bell. Although the clergy took a great part in the establishment of these schools, it was done entirely by the money of the indi viduals among the clergy and the laity ; and was in no way countenanced by the State. In the yea r 1822, I think a vote was proposed in this House, of a very limited amount, as it did not exceed 20,0001., for the purposes of aiding in the education of the working classes. That sum was placed under the direction of the Treasury, and was stated to be intended for this purpose. I have mentioned the National Society, which was composed of members of the Church of England, and by the British and Foreign School Society, which had no other rule than this— have the Scriptures read daily in the schools connected with that society, which was constituted, not of Church men only, but of Churchmen and Protestant Dissen ters. Sir, the matter continued in this shape till 1839, when it was proposed to form a Com mittee of the Council ; and that the sums which had hitherto been granted by the Treasury to the different educational societies, should henceforth pass through the Committee of the Council, and that that Commitee instead of the whole Council, who being a a large boiy, like the T reasury, was occupied wit h other concerns, sho u ld f orm a committee of council, an d that that c omm i ttee, b y the direction of her Majesty, should have its attention expressly devoted to this particular subject. The Lord President of the CommCiottuenec:landwasheplhaacsed takenat tthnee chargehea dof that a t all tinges ; whether un d er t h e then Government, th e late Government, or un d er the present Government. The the Lord President of the Council has at all times taken the charge of this matter, and of the distribution of the funds for the purposes of education, and has brought before the Couticil from time to time such regulations the adoption of which, he thought, would be useful. Sir, the appointment of that Committee in the first in stance gave rise to great differences of opinion in the country, and a very protracted and vehement discussion took place in this House on the subject. The Arch bishop of Canterbury, in the other House of Parlia ment, protested against the formation of that Committee, and against any scheme of education a hich was not brought by Bill before Parliament. It was evident for some time the endeavours of the Committee of Council on the one hand, and that of the church on the other, were much weakened by these differences of opinion ; and therefore the results were not so successful as they would have been if they had not prevailed. The ques tion was in this shape when it was proposed that the inspectors who should visit the national schools should be appointed by the Council, with the concurrence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the province of Canter bury; and with the concurrence of the Archbishop of York, in the province of York. That these should re port to the Committee of Council generally, as to the secular education, and that they should report as to the nature of religious instruction according to the liturgy of the Church of England; and that duplicates of these reports should also be sent to the Archbishops, that if they withheld their concur rence from the appointment of that inspector or were dissatisfied with what he considered the conscientious discharge of his duties, his appointment ceased, and the