The Sun. — London, England, 1847-04-17 00:00:00

ingfroitt* - e Rook ss. unom.) FICE. 41, 42, will be UsyS. adde4 ;ad, And ted, sod 2110 14 ropoecu, I of 3fll l l e 11 31 % °. QU er ,1 The rt . ;•mr 4 a prOfe l . 0 "oc uestiO ;110111 71A::,;; ‘ , `ttr', Mg SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1847. A,477,:, LITE RA T U RE. "AL EDUCATION; WHAT IT IS, bas4IVD WHAT IT SHOULD BE. tit r. , able and judicious pamphlet, bearing the above John I) just proceeded from the pen of the Reverend mei f teendtujocaatoio o tn. n, it ß se e l c t t or of Warehorne, gent. The subject the falls peculiarly within the province of minister of religion; and at the present moment the earnestlall, "Our rapidly•who are really interested in the welfare increasing industrial classes, seems to be , Y fixed upon this great question. Nor can we rider that it should be so. - Ina country, and in an ti g ° like ours, of high civilization and progressive kis ne .et Where the value year being depreciated, the favourable the in omnlerelebvreurteb botr is every ti n e triial classes can be raised to% more favourable posi rotr7toinno those is the lever of education. Without edu °se classes, constituting as they do a vast, pro te,iverz.l...nf our whole population, must gradually sink nY _' ol lower, until they become little better than so . oeaats of burden, " hewers of wood and drawers of o n .„ 1/ .. te ti r t" as hopelessly di;orned, from youth to old age, to Plll:telnYarYing round of toilsome drudgery, and as com the_ Y excluded from all possibility of a melioration in 3.nacial condition, as the manacled felon of Norfolk rti l 'u•The stupid booby, staring in amazement as the et Zog train is hurried past by the irresistible power of am, is only a fair illustration of the way in which the ehatic of the ignorant labourer are outstripped by me al force scientifically applied. And, unless his b y log hands and sinewy limbs be aided and directed th e t i be improved intelligence of an educated mind, abourer's exertions to earn his daily bread will ever Y Year be less availing. We cannot wonder, there that the philanthropist should have his attention :°Pecially attr ac t e d b y e d ucat i on . It i s folly to talk abort feedin g and clothing the people, and then educat ing increasing them, it is madness to attempt to stem the torrent t)ne reaaing crime by building prisons and multiplying final statutes. Educate the people, and they will be all the better able to clothe and feed themselves; whilst statistical returns abundantly prove the close connexio n existing; betwixt ignorance and vice. We hail Mr. _ often a pamphlet as a most we ll- t i me d production, va ieulated to render invaluable service to this important ca b s e• It is the successful endeavour of a man of clear „ comprehensive intellect to grapple with a really ,:wettlt subject. In supporting his own views he ex hibits a rare degree of talent combined with moderation; lad the measures which he suggests are alike indicative of S ound judgment and of much practical experience. lir will attempt a brief outline of this clever pamphlet. • Dufton begins with showing that the question at 81 10 is not betwixt education and non-education, but betwixt a good education and depraved knowledge. We hare not to inquire, Shall we, or shall we not educate the people? but, Shall we educate the rising generation to be useful members of society? or allow them to be trained and instructed by the zealous agents of vice ? " Vice," says Mr. Dufton, " opens schools as Well as virtue ; crime has rewards for the zealous, and punishments for the refractory, quite as efficacious as those at the disposal of rectitude. Let this great truth be once thoroughly apprehended ; let it once be under stood that we have not to choose between education and non-education, for the simple reason that non-education is an utter impossibility ; let it be not only known, but felt, that our choice is confined to education or mis education—that we have to decide between possible good and positive evil—and nine-tenths of the con troversies which have been raised on the sub ject will be dismissed as sheer impertitn noes." Our author next describes some of the lamentable con sequences flowing from that depraved knowledge, com monly called ignorance, and by indisputable facts esta blishes the necessity of national education. This may In considered the first part of Mr. Dawn's pamphlet. 1 - 0, the second part he enters upon delicate ground, namely, the insufficiency and inadequacy of all exiting educational systems to meet the exigencies of the case. This, undoubtedly, is delicate ground. But Mr. Dufton Writes in a kindly and conciliatory spirit. He is in ear nest, and expresses his opinions strongly and with can dour ; yet the tone and temper of his pages are tar from being offensive. He may convince ; he cannot annoy and our prejudices are net roused even whets our prepossessions are opposed. With the utmost im artiality he lays bare the imperfections of the National ociety on the one hand ; and on the o.her he adduces the testimony of Dr. Vaughan to demonstrate the inability of Dissent, to supply the universally : admitted deficiency. In short, veluntaryism—whether it be the l 'oluntaryises of the National Society, or of the British and For e i gn S c h oo l s ; w hether it be the voluntat yism of the Established Church or of Dissent—lie holds to be utterly inadequate to provide an enlarged system of national education, co-extensive with the national wants. Ile therefore invokes the assistance and interference of the State. "For the same reasons," says he, "that State intervention is necessary in the dispensing of na tional charity, in establishing national security, and in enforcing general rights, we hold that State interven tion is necessary in national education, not to supersede , b ut to aid individual and voluntary exertion. The strongest advocate of poor-laws never recommended the des truction_ of asylums, hospitals, and infirmaries; the firmest supporter of a police force would not advise us to dispense with bolts, bars, watchdogs, and watchmen; the greatest admirer of law will not withho ld h is pra i se f ro t° private arbitration; and in the same way the ai v °ca tes of State intervention would not recommend a single individual to withhold his subscription or contribu tion from the erection and maintenance of schools." 4 , nd again, " We invoke the assistance of the State be f'r it can alo n e interfere efficiently and beneficially,— alone can escape the imputation of mixed and un wrtbY motives. We trust the cause of national education to the State, because the State is the nation." In the remaining part of his pamphlet Mr. Dufton bring s forward the details of the measure which he submits for the adoption of the State. For these details We must refer our readers to the pamphlet itself, merely observing that the proposed plan is at once simple and comprehensive, practicable and efficient. Many other subjects, to which we have not space for alluding , are admirably discussed in these pages; such as the fallacy of the cuckoo cry, " Will you separate religion from education?" and the paramount importance of giving such an education as shall have a direct hearing on the future career of the pupils. In conclusion, we beg to recommend this pamphlet most cordially to all who tees an interest in this important question, whatever their peculiar views may be, and to tender our warmest thanks to Mr.Dufton for his labours in this great cause. SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF CAPT. G. B. DOWNES, R.E melancholy occurrence took place on board the General Steam Navigation Company's ship Ramona, plying on the armouth station, during the last trip made by that vessel. he Ramona left Yarmouth at five r.m. on Wednesday even ing, under the charge of Captain Dawson, with a general cargo of merchandise and several passengers, among whom Was Captain Downes, of the corps of Royal Engineers. The ~night turned out rough and squally , a heav y sea rolling 'Luring the early part of the passage; but nothing particular occurred calculated t• direct the attention of those on board Ah to ftther leaving Y ar mouth Officer whose death this paragr a p h announces. Y arm outh he took tea in the chie f cabin, at e same ta ble wi th several other passengers. Mr. Wood, the steward of the vessel, believes that he partook of no other refreshment during the evening ; but about half - p ast one o'clock on Th u rsday mo rning he observed the Gallant Captain parading the deck and smoking a cigar. Shortly a fterwards he addressed the steward' s bo y , requesting . to make up his bed for the night on the sofa. This WAS the last that was seen or heard of the unfor tunate gentleman. Some two hours subseq uentl y one of the sailors discovered a hat lying in the starboard fore aponson, and on conveying it into the cabin it was shortly ascertained to have belonged to Captain Downes. A close Search was immediately made for the Gallant Officer, but it !gas soon found that he was not on board the vessel. The first impression was that he must have thrown himself over board shortly after having been seen by the steward ; and this presumption was afterwards strengthened by the fact of his manner having been remarked to have been particularly reserved during the voyage by several of his fellow-pas. sengers. His carpet-bag was opened by the captain, to dis cover his identity, and in it were discovered three letters, which gave the desired information. The only other things contained in the bag were a night-shirt, and a brush and comb. On the arrival of the Ramona off the 'Custom House on Thursday morning information of the melancholy occur rence was given at the office of the company by Captain Dawson, and we understand, from inquiries which have been made, little doubt appears to exist, that the Gallant Captain must have thrown himself overboard while labouring under mental alienation. The weather, it should be - stated, had moderated before the Gallant Captain was missed, an d there was scarcely any swell on. The spot is supposed to have been near the Meuse Light, twenty miles below Gravesend. THE LATE Loss OF LIFE UT FIRE IN MARTLE scam—Yesterday Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at the St. Marylebone Workhouse, on the body of Anne Wilson, aged 74, the unfortunate female burnt to death In her ben un the morning of Wednesday last. It appeared from the state ment of Henry Wilson, a little boy nine years of age, that he resided with the deceased, who was his grandmother, at No. 10, Marylebone-court, and slept in the same bed with her. On the night of Tuesday last, when they went to bed, the deceased, as was her custom, placed her lighted candle on a chair near the bed-side. About twenty minutes after twelve on the Wednesday morning he was awoke by a sense of suffo cation, and on getting up and finding the room full of smoke and the bed on fire, he ran to the door and called for the assistance of the lodgers, but before they arrived the bed and bedding was in flames, and his grandmother still lying upon it. The candlestick was found under the bed, and it had, no doubt, fallen from the chair, and having ignited some articles under the bed, (mused the conflagration. Other evidence showed that before the unfortunate deceased could be rescued from the bed she was burnt in a frightful manner in various parts of the body. She was conveyed to the infirmary of Marylebone Workhouse, where she expired from the injuries received about three o'clock th e same morning. Verdict, "Accidental death." Bonne uizo.--Yesterday's Government Police Ga zette contained inf mation of the following robberies : Stolen from the shop of Mr. Myers, silversmith, &c., No. 27, Edgware-road, between the hours of eleven at night and ix in the morning, 58 valuable gold watches, about 20 second hand watches, of which no description can be given several silver milk-pots and sugar-basins, a variety of gold guards and other chains, &c. A reward of 1001. has been offered. On the 14th, from the house of Mr. Dippie, No. 4, Little Col lege-street, Westminster, a cash-box, containing 22 . 1. in gold and 2/. in silver, an I 0 U for 91., and a variety of bills and memorandums. Absconded from the service of Mr. Skinner, Great Warren-street, Clerkenwell, the potnian, taking with him 20 sovereigns, and some silver moneys; and . from the Person of Mrs. Gray, of No. 6, Watt's -buildings, Ki.ngsland road, a silk purse, containing a 51. note and some silver. THE UNCERTAINTY or HUMAN Lim—Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr. Carter, at the Fentimore Arms, Fentimore-road, Clapham-road, as to the death of John Hen sler, Esq., aged seventy six, which occurred in a most sudden manner. It appeared that the deceased was a gentleman of independent property, and resided at 4, Fentimore-road. He bad not enjoyed good health for some time, and on Monday . Morning, having staid a conside rable time in the water closet,,ei young man of the name of Cartwright went after him, and found him apparently dead. A surgeon was sentfor, but it was discovered by him that life was quite extinct. Verdict, " Natural death." THB CORN RIOTS AT BUZANCAIS—EXECUTION OF TAE ritzeoxEse.—The three raen condemned to death for having, during the corn riots at Buzangais, fallen upon and Milled a wson who attempted to defend his property, were eZOCUt.d os Monday. MANSLAUGHTER — DREAD FUL CRUELTY TO A PAUPER LUNATIC. • Two powerful men, named Samuel Garrctt and James Downes, late keepers at the Grove-hall Lunatic Asylum, Bow, Middlesex, were brought before Mr. Yardley ou remand, at the Thames Police Court a few days ago, charged with having caused the death of a lunatic pauper, named William Rank, under circumstances of an extraordinary nature as detailed in the evidence given below. Mr. Clarkson, barrisnee and Mr. Law, solicitor, prose cuted on behalf of the commissioners of lunacy. Garrett was defended by Mr. Pelham, and a gentleman from the office of Mr. Vann. solicitor, appeared for Downes. Mr. Clarkson, in stating the case for the prosecution, said the commissioners of lunacy, for whom he appeared, charged the prisoners with the manslaughter of a poor lunatic, who was under their charge. They had no desire to excite any prejudice against the men it the bar, but to put them fairly on their trial for the manslaughter of the deceased. He proposed, in addition to the evi dence given on a former occasion, to call a convalescent patient who saw the violence committed on the deceased, and who was in a fit state to give evidence. He should also produce other persons, whom the legal gentlemen engaged for the prisoners might call if they pleased. One of those persons had assisted in securing and beat ing the deceased, but he did not feel justified in char g in g him with the prisoners. Mr. Pelham said he might see the necessity to ask some questions of the party mentioned. Mr. Clarkson said he was in the Court, and that the commissioners would keep bac' nothing. Mr. Yardley should like to hear the opinion of the medical superintendent of the asylum as to whether the convalescent patient could be examined with safety. Dr. Palmer, the gentleman appealed to, said the pa tient was quite tree from excitement, and that he was to be discharged from the asylum to-morrow. Mr. Clarkson said the commissioners were called upon in performance of a most important public duty, to pro tt or the meat helpless and unfortunate of our fellow creatures, and felt strongly that this was a case in which they were imperatively called upon to prosecute the men at the bar for the cruelty they were alleged to have committed. There was no law to authorise act. of violence towards a lunatic, but he would say, as a lawyer and a man, that it would be lawful to resort to violence to preserve life and limb, and the question in this case was, whether there had been an excess of violence. Mr. Yardley—The power of the keepers is preventive, nothing more. It is very desirable, indeed, that an in vestigation should take place whenever any harshness or cruelty is exercised Lewes-de leeetics. William Pride was the first witness—He stated that he was an assistant to Mr. Byers at the Grove-hall Asylum, and had been so three months. lie was engaged in No. 3 ward. The prisoners were em ployed as assistants in No. 1 ward. On Satur day, the 27th of March, the deceased, Rank, was a patient in No. 1 ward. On that day he heard a noise in No. 1 ward, which was next to the one where he was. He heard the prisoner Garrett ordering Rank to put . his clothes on , an d saw R an k stan ding on the floor in a tottering manner. Both prisoners were standing about three yards fr om hi m , and one of them had a straightjacket in his hand. They appeared to he fright ened of Rank, and stood aloof' from him. Witness seized Rank, whose back was towards the door as he entered the ward. The blood was running down Rank's cheeks in a stream. Garrett immediately placed a handker chief round the deceased's neck, and threw him on a bed. Garrett then pressed his knees on the lunatic's chest, and Downes at the same time comnaencee beat ing the deceased in a savage mariner, and struck him ten or twelse blows with his clenched fists on the left side of his head. While Downes was beating Rank as hard as he could, Garrett stood up with one foot on t he floor, arid his other knee upon Rank. It appeared to witness that the whole weight of Garrett's body was upon Rank, while Downes was inflicting the blows with merciless severity. Garrett called out, " Give it to him, serve out the old -- ." Witness repeatedly begged of them to desist, but. they continued their ill treatm. nt, and struck him and kicked him again. Wit ness said drop it. At that time Rank was getting nearly exhausted, and could not make any noise. The hand kerchief e as held tight round the man's neck by Garrett, end he could not breathe. The poor man foamed at the mouth, and the blood was flowing co piously trine his mouth. 'f he prisoner then dragged Rank off the bed on to the floor and put the straight jacket upon him. Rank never spoke after the sleeves of the jacket were tied or crossed be hind him. Garrett was unable to fasten the tape of the straight jacket between the arm and the belly, and he took Rank by the shoulders and struck him four or five times with his knee in the right groin. Rank sighed and groaned heavily ; he leaned forward and the blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils. Garrett then gave orders for the patient to be taken down stairs and locked up in the cell. In answer to questions by the magistrate, the witness said that when Garrett forced his knee against the deceased, he said," keep in your belly you old He never saw Yank alive atter he wes licked up is the cell. He saw the body sfier the coroner's it,qu. st. There were marks on the left side of his chest, were he was struck. They were black marks. He saw no violenee• on the part of Rank, nor any marks of violence on the persons of either of the prisoners. In cross examination by Air. Pelham, Pride said that Rank was struggling at the time he was lying on his back, but he did not see him kick or bite either of the prisoners. Rank was always a violent man, but he was not in the refractory ward. Walter Meeklenburgle a convalescent patient of Grove Hall Asylum, gave his evidence in a very precise arid collected manner. He stated that he slept in the ward No 1, and that the prisoner and deceased also slept there. At daybreak on the 27th of March, Garrett called to him for assistance, and he got out of bed, and found Rank at tempting to strangle the keeper One hand was gr..sping the keeper's throat, and with the other he was pUttiog strap over Garrett's head. Witness immediately seized him by his arms, pinioned him, and pulled him into the middle of the room. A struggle took place, and they both fell They soon got up again, and Hank then re cognised wit ness, and said. " Oh, it, is you, the last person I should h .ve expi mid." Garrett thee call, d tor air. ther keeper trained '..'s'humley, who slept in the next ward. Rank fell on his right side, with the arm of witness underneath. Cliumley pulled the deceased back, threw him down, and struck him with great violence. Chumley got the de ceased dean on the flour by kicking his legs from under him. Garrett Pad previously gone doers stairs for a strait jacket, and when he returned, he struck the de ceased on the mouth and caused the blood to flow. Downes came into the ward at the same time, and at tempted to put the jacket on Rank, who resisted. Garrett asked for a scarf or handkerchief, anti one was thrown to him, which he made last round deceased's neck. and held him down with his knees on his body till the jacket was put over hun. Rank became quite black in the face, his tongue protruded, and his eyes glared. It was such an appearance as a titan would present who was being strangled. Rank struggled for a time, but the handkerchief round his neck was too much for him, he was overpowered anti became quiet. The jacket was then made fast over him, and he was dragged to his bed. He was sure Rank became exhausted by the violent means used to subdue him. Garrett put his knees upon Rank, but not with any degree of vitilencee. Downes struck the deceased several times while he Was down, about the body and side. Rank was striving to get away at the time Gar rett said to Downes, " Gently, that will do." Ile did not see Rank kick either of the prisoners. The deceased was fastened to hie bed, arid was not released until the other patients had breaktasted. The streiget jacket was then take n off, and he became as violent as ever. He struck at Downes, but the blew did not take effect. Downes then struck him a violent blow on the side and knocked him diem Garrett went to the assistance of Downes and held Rank down, and pressed his head against the floor to prevent his rising. Ile did not see Pride offer any violence to the deceased. The witness underwent a long cross-examination by Mr. Pelham, from which it appeared Chumley was in the ward at the first commencement of the affray, and that Gerrett would certainly have been strangled in his bed if the witness had not gone to his assistance. Thomas Lynch, an assistant keeper, was sworn, and answered a few unimportant questions. Mr Edward Palmer, the medical superintendent of Grove House Asylum, stated that he was called to see the deceased on Saturday, the 27th of March. He was then in a state of seclusion, and confined. The straight waistcoat was upon him in a proper manner, and his arms to fr..nt. The patient was in a very excited state. Garrott hart reported that Rank was violent, and accom panied him to the cell. The deceased began to threaten Garrett. He observed the man's left eye was contused, bat saw no other mark of violence at that time. He gave orders for the patient to be kept in a state of seclusion, and prescribed medicine and a poorer diet for him lii the evening he found the patient in bed tran quil hut very sullen. lie complained of pain all over. Witness asked Garrett how the contusion on Rank's eye was produced, to which he replied that Rank had attempted to strangle him ; that with the assistance of other keepers and Meeklenburgh, he had put a straight jacket upon him and confined him to the bed, and that when lie went to get him up at breakfast time he was very violent, and he put him in seclusion. Garrett also stated that the black eye was produced in the struggle, but in which way he could not exactly say. On the same evening he again examined Rank, and found several contusions upon the left side just over the ribs, and a contusion on the chest, which might have been produced by pressure. He passed his hand carefully over the man's ribs. They might have be n fractured without his making the discovery then. The marks were those of recent bruises. He believt d he did inquire of Garrett how the bruist s were occa sioned, and he answered by a general statement, that the diseased was exceedingly violent. On the fol lowing morning the deceased c omplained of severe pains ard giddiness in the head. The patient died on tile Ist of April. On the morning after the occurrence in the ward, there was considerable reaction, anti he bled the patient. The symptoms gradually became worse till the evening of the 31st, when he discovered that an effusion had taken place into the left pleura. From this period exhaustion progressed rapidly, and he died on the follown g day. The deceased had been under treatment for a disease of the heart while in the asylum, and he showed great mental excitement when the action of the heart was increased. After death, in consequence of the rumours that were communicated to him by other patients, that the deceased had been crue lly t r eated, he wrote to the Coroner, and an inquest was held on Saturday, April 3, and didisease a a s e ve rdict heart. w• as r e l t o u r c n o e n d s , e q a u t e t o r i o b e u o t i i n death to a the evidenceeat of me iI fitrnt Pride,the chest co g ehn i we v os e aft n st haoonenbdbltoihildneuy obliquely-fractured inquest, r e efa s ioe t t u , tgun h rrdf e e) p o st d ie no.n a at d tu, e ls,ai a hobeno o f, l e ht m h therutb:le, inches e c s x in til the t from its cartilage, the broken end of the anterior portion having perforated the pleura. The sixth and seventh ribs were transversely fractured about an inch further backwards than the fracture of the fifth rib. The eighth and ninth ribs were also transversely free. tured about an inch still further backwards. The broken ends of the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth ribs were in apposition, and the surrounding textures not torn. The witness, after describing the appearances at great length, said death was caused irom effusion into the chest resulting from inflammation of the pleura, in duced by the perforation of the fractur , d end of the fifth rib. He thought the ribs might have been fractured by pressure or severe blows, or by pressure of the knee. He afterwards examined the head, and found nothing to alter his opinion as to the cause of death. After a long conversation between the Learned Coun sel and Mr. Pelham, Mr. YARDLEY said he should commit the prisoners for trial for manslaughter. Mr. Pelham made an energetic appeal to the Bench in applying to the magistrate to accept bail. Mr. YARDLEY said he could not think of taking bail in a case of this serious nature, and committed the pri soners to Newgate for trial. The deceased was fifty-eight years of age. THE LATE MURDER NEAR SHEF FIELD.-APPREHENSION OF THREE MEN. AND CONFESSION OF THE ROBBERY BY ONE OF THEM. The mystery which has for the past three months shrouded the death of this ill-fated man, is at length un ravelled, and the perpetrators of the murder are in the hands of the law. It will be remembered that on the evening of Monday, the 11th of January, Mr. Riley had been at the New Market Inn, in the Cattle Market, where he remained until nearly midnight, and then pro ceeded towards home, on foot, along the Grimestlaorpe road. The particulars of this murder have already appeared in The Sun. In the absence of official information on the subject, we lay before our readers the following facts, which may be relied upon for their accuracy, although from motives which the public will discern, we refrain from giving all the information which has come to our knowledge. The cause of the apprehension of the prisoners was from the circumstance of one of them, James Bradley, having applied to a publican or beerahop keeper, in Water-lane, to sell a watch for him. The publican accordingly took him to another man residing on Furnace-hill, and to whom the aforesaid watch was sold for seventeen shil lings. After the sale of the watch the three parties con cerned retired to tho «All Nations." another public house in Water-lane, and there while under the influence of liquor, the prisoner, James Bradley, made such admissions as left no doubt in the minds of' his hearers that the watch which had been sold belonged to the late Mr. Riley. He also described the share which he had taken in the attack upon Mr. Riley, and told his auditors on what parts of the unfortunate man's body he had struck the blows, After this disclosure had been made, it would seem that the man who had purchased the watch did not feel himself exactly at ease in having ac quired the watch of a murdered man, and accordingly in the course of the Sunday night, after Mr. Riley died, this man made his way to Grimesthorpe-lane, and depo sited the watch upon the grass plot, where it was found by the undertaker's assistant, wrapped up in some black cloth or linen. James Bradley, it appears, iu making the above disclosures, has also given information that he obtained the watch of his brother, and in consequence of the information so given, his brother George Bradley, also residing at Grimesthorpe, was taken into custody on Monday last. The evidence against the prisoners is said to be substantially the same as a great portion which was adduced before the coroner, strengthened in many particulars by new facts which have since come to light. The prisoners were altogether drinking at the White Lion, in the Wicker, and other places, and were subse quently seen in company together going in the direction of the Grimesthorpe-road. From that time nothing transpired of a tangible shape, either with regard to the murder or the robbery. Having given James Bradley's version of the affair, the statements made by the other prisoners may also be taken for what they are worth. Challoner, it seems, has intimated that James Bradley could exonerate him from the charge if he thought proper, but on this point we have not heard what he says, or whether he says anything. George Bradley's version of the part he took in the affair appears to be, that on the night of the attack on Mr. Riley, he left the Fleur de Lis, in Angel-street, late at night, and went home along the Grimesthorpe-road ; that on arriving at the gates of Mr. S. Bailey's residence he saw a man lying drunk with his head against the wall, that ho tried to assist the drunken man up, but that his assistance was refused, and that the drunken man d—d him, and told him that he could do without him. However, when the man was asleep again, prisoner admits having robbed him of his watch and übout Ils. 6d. in money, and that after he had given the watch to his brother, James Bradley, he never spoke to him on the subject afterwards. So far jeer.goea the ih information said t o gleaned be a uponveryri; this in melancholy n ne,and sub a s the evidence on oath will so soon be laid before the public, we can only hope that it may be of so co nclusive t a character as to bring the perpetrators of this cold blooded and diabolical murder to justice and punishment. SHEFFIELD, FRIDAY MORNING. -- Yesterday after aeout two o'clock, the three prisoners, 11 illiam Challoner, and George end James Bradley, were brought into toe dock, in the Quarter bes,ions Court, and placed before h r. Overend and the Mayor. The court, together with the two galleries, was crowded to excess. Mr. Eyre conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr. A C. Branson defended Challoner. The other prisoners, George and James Bradley, were undefended Mr. Eyre then went through the details of the case, and afterwards culled the attention of the Court to tin centr4dictory statements made by the two Bradley s The case for the prosecution being closed, James Bradley's statement was then read, and stated that, having been charged with killing and robbing Mr. Utley, he said—" Well, gentlemen, I and Challonet went home together, and on Spital-hill we saw the watchman, and bid him good night. We then went home together. I went home and got my supper, and soon afterwards tey brother came home too, but 1 don't know at abet time; when he came home he gave me a watch, and said that he had found it by the aide of Mr. Riley, who was laying on the road. Ile also showed me 10s. or 125., and amongst it there ws s four or five fourpenuy bits ; when he gave me the watch, he said I was to sell it for not less than 155., and that I was to have all I got above for myself. I deny telling Ss) lea that I knocked Mr. Riley down, and have had nothing more to do with it than that my brother gave me the watch. Mr. Riley told me he had fallen down three times that I will take my oath of. W.Challoner's statement was that he went home with James Bradley about a quarter before twelve, and met the watchman on Spital- hill, and they met no other man else. Mr. A. C. Branson was about to add, ess the Bench for Challoner, when Mr. Overend said that there was less evidence against Chal loner than against the other men, but as the Bench in tended to adjourn the case, in order that the depositions, which were very long, might be copied out, they would in the meantime, consider Challoner's case, and, if they saw anything in his favour, would give him th e benefit of it. Under these circumstances , all the p riso ners would be remanded. The Court adjourned about nine o'clock. BANK OF ENGLAND. ;ht's Gazette.) ith and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the 10th day of April, 1847. 'AUTMENT. ' (From lag nig] ,tri Account, pursuant to the Act 7 the Week ending ou Saturday, 18SUI DIP. Notes issued...• .... 23,236,340 Government debt • . 11,015,100 Other securities •• • • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 7,795,644 Silver bullion ••• • .. 1.410,696 £23,236,340 X 23,236,340 bf. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. 47. , EPIATKEN T. Dated the 15th day of April, 18, BANKING D; Proprietors' Capital • • 14,553,000 Hest •• .. • • 3,391,768 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sati•- ings-banks, and Di- Government securi ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) • • 13,574,444 Other securities • • •• 15,136,377 Notes • • •• • 2,532,015 Gold and silver coin 630,711 vidend accounts) .. 4,98075 3ther deposits • • •• • • 11,257,744 Severe day and other bills•• •-• ..... • ..• 987,5G2 Z 35.174,449 £35,174,449 r. MARSIIALL, Chief Caahler. Dated the 15th day of April, 184' RAILWAY IN AUSTRALIA.—The wooden railway at Port Arthur is thus described in the Geelong Adver tiser :—" This railway, or rather tramway, is formed from the hard wood of the country, and passes over a space if five miles, thereby affording a rapid and easy means of transit between the heads of Norfolk and Long Bays, the latter of which leads directly to I'ort Arthur. This tramway, the projection of Capt. Booth, has proved to be a work of the utmost utility; shortening the distance betwixt Hobart Town and Port Arthur, and ensuring a rapid and certain communication at times when the long sea-passage might be impracticable. Like many . men of superior intellect, it was the fortune of Captain Booth to encounter the tnecr of the common herd, who, in their narrowmindedness, predicted nought but failure to his enterprise. Nothing daunted, and possessing the confidence of the Governor, Captain Booth toiled on till they that came to jeer went back to admire. No horse, no ox, no fixed or locomotive engine traverses its course, or assists in the work of conveyance; the waggons are propelled by felons—three men being generally allotted to do the work of each waggon, which is capable of conveying halt a ton of goods at each tran sit. Upon emergency, the same gang have made their three journeys and back, thirty miles a day, conveying thus half a ton per man either way. RIFLE BRIGADE.—The Colonelcy of the 2d bat talion of the Rifle Brigade, vacant by the recent demise of Lieutenant-General Sir David Gilmour, will, it-is reported, be conferred either on Major-General Brown, Deputy - Adjutant-General, or upon an officer formerly of the regi ment. The 2d battalion is at present in Canada. We have id r ari Tbennlhe,edwpi to record the demise of Major Henry R. Capel, also of the corps, who expired on the 13th, at the Vicarage, Watford, in his forty-second year. He was second son of the Hon. and Rev. W. Capel ( uncle to the Earl of Essex), Vicar of Watford, and Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen. He was connected with the service for twenty-one years, and ob tained his majority by purchase in October, 1820. ALARMING FIRE AT ETON .- Yesterday morning, between twelve and one o'clock, a fire broke out in the lower part of the house of Mr. Body, in Eton-square, a short dis tance from the College, which, in consequence of the timely arrival of the Windsor and other engines, and a plentiful I supp y of water from a branch of the river Thames, was for tunatelyonthlueelptytf,uoa fnrot.tei c thr o ue n ar fi nefiproswe portion at : t flo o no oetoohrtiei the rwloleywreec Staircase rescueds a u r t m o e f wd t w.a a h i e tTiilhwsc premise s, ib which diffi culty, 00. petty is loured. RAILWAY COMMMEES. (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE Or ;. COMMONS. GROUP I. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the schemes comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morni ng i n R oom 30. Mr. W. O. Stanley, in the absence of Lord Granville -omerset, in the chair. THE BRIGHTON MID RENT SCHEME. Mr. Ward, a landholder near Bromley, Sir John Lubbock, who is the proprietor of an extensive estate near Farnbo rough; Lord Stanhope, wh ose country re sidence is in the neighbourhood; and Colonel Austen, M.P. for the Southern Division of Kent, gave general evidence in favour of this scheme, and proved th a t th e ma j or i ty o f the inhabitants in their respective neighbourhoods preferred the Brighton to the South-Eastern scheme. Mr. John Thorp, .silk -merchant of Bromley ; the Rev. Thomas Curtis, incumb en t o f S evenoa k s ; Mr. Atkins, High Sheriff of Kent ; Mr. Glendenning, of Ash-grove , Seven oaks; Capt. Horthey, of S evenoa k s ; ' Mr. Burton, builder , of Sevenoaks; Mr. John S ewe ll, manufacturer, of Sevenoa ks ; Mr. Benjamin Pawley, innkeeper of Sevenoaks; Mr. John Howard, miller and corn d ea l er , o f W ester hain, and others, gave corroborative testim on y. The Committee then adj ourne d till Monday. GROUP VI. SOUTH-WESTERN AND GREAT WESTERN SS. The Committee, consisCH LIVIZ ting of Mr. Deedes (Chairman), Mr. Wrightson, Mr. C. G. Round, Sir S. Glynne, and Colonel Fer guson, met, for the first time this morning, in Room 21, at twelve o'clock. The Bills contained in this group are the following:— Bristol and Exeter (Branch from Bleadon to Wells audGlas tonbury). Bristol and Exeter (Taunton and Castle Cary Branch). Great Western (Extension of the Berks and Hants Railway, &c.) Yeovil, Bridport, and Exeter, with Branches. Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Amendment (N 0.1.) Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Amendment (No. 2.) Chard Canal and Railway Company. Southampton and Dorchester (Blandford Branch). Salisbury and Yeovil. Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway and Branches. Exeter and Exmouth Railway Act Amendment. Blandtbrd and Bruton. Great Western (Amendment and Extension). c u l d ' g r b w e a s s i d a e smtohsuts those whorni i d a w b e l r e e arrertaayi retained c b o v u n t h s eel promoterspresent, i in cluding, the Bills in this group last session, a considerable number of fresh juniors. The outer room was also crowded to excess by strangers. The usual formal requirements having been complied with, The CHAIRMAN said that the I_4 Co7amittee had received the report of the Commissioners Upon' ealta ' com prised in the gieup. Those RBIs were, W 0131113 lk Chard Canal and Railway. Salisbury anti Yeovil Railway. Southampton and Dorchester (Blandford Branch). Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway. Exeter and Exmouth Railway; and the Blandfbrd and Bruton Railway. The Committee could not enter into the consideration of the other Bills until the report upon them was received from the Railway Commissioners, and the Committee would have to decide which of those six Bills should be proceeded with. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE said, that he appeared for the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and hoped that the Committee would allow him to have precedence of the other schemes when the report of the Commissioners should have been re ceived by the Committee. Mr. TALBOT, Q.C., on the part of the Great Western Com pany, opposed the application. He thought that the Com mittee should not give any pledge upon a subject which might come before the Committee under circumstances that would prevent the Committee from fulfilling that pledge. Mr. COCKBURN, Q C , said that on the part of the South- Western Company, whose Bills bad been reported on by the Railway Commissioners, he was quite prepared to proceed with his case, should the Committee so decide. The room was then ordered to be cleared. Upon our re-admission, The CHAIRMAN said that with respect to the subject pro posed by Mr. Sergeant Kinglake the Committee had come to the conclusion to decline giving any pledges as to the precedence of any Bills until such time as those Bills came before them in their regular coarse. The Committee had also agreed to act upon the principle adopted in other Committees, viz., that of not allowing any counsel to cross examine a witness who was not present at the examination in chief. The Chairman also said that the Committee had resolved to hear Mr. Cockburn on behalf of those Bills which had been reported upon, and for which he appeared, and called upon that gentleman to select any of those Bills which he thought best. Mr. COCKBURN proposed that the same course should be adopted with respect to the schemes of the South-Western Railway as was adopted last session, and allow the two Bills—the Salisbury and Yeovil and the Yeovil and Exeter Railways—to be treated as one integral scheme. After a few words from Mr. Slade, the Committee de cided on the adoption of that course. SALISBURY AND YEOVIL. YEOVIL, EXETER, AND DORCHESTER. Mr. COCKBUBN then proceeded to state that the two Bills now before the Committee were brought forward for the pur pose of completing the line of connexion between Salisbury and Exeter. They had arisen out of a very strongly ex pressed feeling in their favour by persons in the West of England. The railway connexion between the city of Exeter and the metropolis was at present a very circuitous one, being as much as 21 miles in length more than the old coach road between those two termini. The consequence of the construction of this railway was, that some of the most populous towns and the most fertile districts of Devon and upwards oa Dorset were now left without any means of communication , the coaches having been taken off the roads some time since. file Learned Gentleman then went at considerable length into the details of the rise and progress of these scheme s, commencing with the year 1844, down to the present time. The Bill had passed successfully through the House of Com mons, but was thrown out in the Committee of the Lords, in e.)nsequence of several defects in the plan ; bnt Lord Beau mont, who was the Chairman of that Committee, stated in the House of Lords, in answer to a qustion put to him by the Marquis o( Westminster, that the Committee had refused their sanction to the scheme on those grounds alone; and he stated that, in the next session of Parliament, when the com pany should come forward with improved plans in these re spects, that their Lordships would feel disposed to give their sanction to the measu re . Th e proposed line would leave Salisbury, and proceed by Wilton and Gillingham, and con (wet Shaftesbury by a b ranc h. The rival scheme of the Great Western proposed to go to Sind e,bury from Salisbury. but he t tG i le i 1 population l c a o t i n o t ii contained a ii siia ttes bury contended that the, South-Western had adopted the better course, by takin g i n t h e town o f Gilli n gham, which was a rising , town, and didfertile district, the vale of a more Blackmoor, and hag of 3,600 inhabitants, o , whereas 3,100. 13y l the ess company residential also in j u savedr3than a distance the riv f l two miles, accommodated scheme, which was strongly oppose d by the Marquis of Westminster. Th e two lines then un i te d a t or near to Sher- borne, and diverged near Yeovil, by which divergence the Great Western schemes lost at least three miles of distance. the Groat Western, however, con tended that they wou ld, b y adopting thi s course, give better accommodation to the town of Yeovil by placing it upon the main line. This, however, he denied, f or by the present schemes accommodation would be afforded to Yeovil of a much better cha racter than that afforded by the Great Western scheme. The branch which would connect Yeovil with the main line was about on e m il e arid a half in length, an d the competition which would ex i st between the two com p a nies would effec tually prev en t th e occurrences of any o f the evils which arose from Placing large t owns upon branch lines. From Yeovil the line pr ocee d ed to the towns of C rew k er ne and of Chard, near which t wo b ranches were t h row n off to the, east and to the west , running down to the se a coast, g ivin g Bridport and Leigh communication with the main line. The western b ranc h was a b ou t fourteen miles in length, and th e eastern one a b ou t six miles. From Crewkerne th ere was also a branc h going northward to Ihninster, and alo ng th e w h o l e o f these branches the Great Western Compa n y ran s id e b y s id e . From Chard the line proceeded to Axminster, near which, by a bend to the south, they avoided a tunnel of 1,000 yards in length, through which their rivals proposed to run, at an expense of not less then 75,0001. From Axminster the line proceeded to Iloniton, near which a bran c h was thrown o ff ac commodating the port of Sidmouth. From lloniton the line would proceed to Exeter by means of a line for which a Bill had been obtained in the last session, but was at present in abeyance in conse quence of one of th e provisions of the Act, that the line should not be made until a through line from Exeter to the metropolis was obtained. From the eastern part of Exeter a branch connected the main line with the important ports of Topsham and Exmouth. Then, with respect to Exeter, the South-Western scheme provided a most excellent station in Queen-street in that city in the most eligible situation. Then with respect to the station in the metropolis, the South-Western scheme provided much better accommodation than could be given by the Great Western Company, at their station at Paddington, for an Act had been obtained last session for extending the South-Western Railway from Nine Elms to Hunger ford, Waterloo, and London Bridges, the works of which wrre in a considerable degree of forwardness. The South-Western scheme was looked upon with the greatest favour by the in habitants of Exeter and of all the towns which the railway proposed to accommodate. The South-Western Company also proposed extensions of the line from _Exeter through the county of Cornwall , an d accommodating the towns of Plymouth, Falmouth, and Penzance. The n9rth of Devon would also be accommodated by means of the con nexion of the 'raw Vale Railway with the proposed Corn wall and Devon Central Railway. The construction of these railways stoke, te)), whole would mea n a o sf l s oo theug i the v i s t lat h r proposed oc pt m o e s b a e dent swßeading, of e ildi Exeterr ect c G o m ua i m nl dd u f u n r i ( c t a, Basing- t a i o i i n a. Reigate Railway with the county of Bent, and the various ports on the South-Eastern coasts of thatcounty. The continuation of these lines would also afford au unbroken line of cointnu nication by means of the proposed M anc h es t er an d South ampton Railway , which would leave the South-Western line at Andover , b etween the western districts and the whole manufactur i ng districts of the north of England. It wag alsohighlyimportant, in a n a ti onal point of view, that these schemes should be constructed, affording, as they did, by a continuity of the same gauge, an un broken communication between the ports and ar senals of the country. t Then alt it was desirable that a com petition should exist, 11l that the Great Western thereat ould t. t e i .the slightest chance or poseis Company should not a owed to monopolise the whole gainalono interests. With respect to the traffic of the west; and that competition could only be speed of the South-Western average nthat of the Great Western ; and, brought about by means of a narrow gauge line, such as the South- Western, between b which and the Great Western Cobalilleintleadonfsyuain)erairnority of the broad ever the narrow gauge, it was what was of still greater importance, the fares w erelconsiderably lower. In the west the broad gauge railway had been de titil i a g t ber the t tia nominated the " rich man's railway," and the narrow gauge a wa n s o c t o o n ri s 7 a u e s r tl i t y the " poor man's railway." In consequence of an application of Mr. ue C KnuaN, the Committee then adjourned till Monday next. GROUP XXI. The Committee to whom the following Bills have been re wolver Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley (No. 1). ferred met thid day, shortly after half-past twelve o'clock;— Shropshire Union Railway and Canal (Lease to the London and North . Western). 3132orrIVOTiaf IC' orth-Western (13escot and Wolverhampton). London and North-Western (Port o b e ll o and Wolverhamp ton, Branch, &e.). Wolverhampton, and D u dl ey Act (Stour bridge an d West Bromwich, &c.). Shrewsbury and Bir mi ng h am Railway Act Amendment and Birmingham, 'Wolverhampton, and St our V a l ley (No. 2). Branchei. Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton (No. 2). The following is a list of the Committee :—Sir J. Graham, Chairman; Earl of Arundel, Lord C. Hamilton, Mr. *linkman m ood the zoom to be •and s :Canby, and Mr. P lumptre. Immediately after the assembling of the members, the On the admission of strangers, The CHAIRMAN intimated that the Committee had come to the following resolution : —That no counsel who shall not have been present at the examination in chief of a witness shall be allowed to cross-examine him, except under special circumstances, and by the express permission of the Com mittee. The Right Hon. Baronet also intimated that the SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAIL. WAY ACT AMENDMENT AND BRANCHES would be first taken by the Committee, that being the only bill on which the Standing Orders' Committee had reported with respect to the capital of the company. The others must, therefore, stand over until the reports with respect to their capital had been received. The Appearances with respect to the other lines were then entered. Mr. RICHARDS said there had been two petitions against the preamble, and one against the clauses, and he believed the opposition to the preamble had been withdrawn, and that the Bill was unopposed. The CISAIRMAN said, under these circumstances, they would not trouble him to enter into a statement of the ob jects of the Bill. It would be sufficient, perhaps, if he were to call one or two material witnesses. _ _ _ Mr. Baker, the engineer, was then called and examined by Mr. RICHARDS—He stated that he was an assistant engineer to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company, under Mr. Robert Stephenson, and that he had laid out the proposed branches from the main line,—one to Madeley, four miles and a half in length, to cost 90,0001., and the other to Colebrook Dale and Iroubridge, a mile and a half in length, and to cost 65,0001. Both branches traversed important manufacturing and mineral districts, and would be of the greatest advantage to them, as they would give communication in an easterly direction with Wolverhampton and Birmingham, besides their other advantages. The Shropshire iron was mixed with that of South Staffordshire, and, by the aid of these branches, the iron of Shropshire would be transmitted to Scuth Stafford shire by a short route. In fact, they would furnish the only cheap short route for the transmission of the pro duce of these districts to South Staffordshire and other parts where there was a demand for them. One of the branches would cross the Severn, on the south side of which a station, at a convenient spot, would be erected. No other witnesses were examined. The CHAIRMAN then declared the preamble proved. A clause was proposed on behalf of the Shropshire Canal Company, but, after a short discussion, the whole of the clauses were postponed until the next meeting of the Com mittee. The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday, when it is expected one of the North-Western Bills will be proceeded with. The Committee sat in No. 22 Committee-room. GROUP XLVII. This Committee ma to-day for the first time, in Room 28, New houses of Parliament. Members present—The Hon. E. T. Yorke, Chairman; Mr. Packe, Mr. Gill, Mr. G. C. Legh, and Mr. Trelawnv. The following are the Bills referred to this Committee : Wishaw and Coltness (Branches to Auchinheath and Can- derside). Airdrie and Bathgate Junction (Amendment and Deviation). Caledonian (Branches from the Clydesdale Junction to the Douglass and Lesinagow Mineral Fields and to Strath even). Caledonian (Extension of Motherwell Branch of Clydesdale Junction Railway, &c., to the Wishaw and Coltness Rail way, &c.). Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness (Branches to Benhar Coalworks, &c.). Edinburgh and Bathgate (Deviation and Amendment). Caledonian (Branches to IVilsontown, to Fauldhuuse, and to Biggar and Broughton). The usual preliminaries having been disposed of, the Com mittee proceeded with the IariLSONTOWN,DIORNINGSIDE, and COLT NESS (BRANCHES TO BENHAM.) RAIL- WAY. After some preliminary conversation, the list of Bills was read, with appearances, from which it appeared that the Wishaw and Coltness Branches Bill and the three Caledonian Bills were unopposed; the other three were opposed by several road trustees and landed proprietors. The CHAIRMAN said that the only Bill they could proceed with was the first in the list, as being the only one on which the Railway Commissioners had as yet reported. The report on the others would not be received till Wednesday. It was then agreed to adjourn till Monday, on which day the Wishaw and Coltness (Branches to Auchinbeath and Canderside) will be taken. The Committee immediately afterwards adjourned. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.) TIIE GLASGOW, DUMFRIES, AND CARLISLE EX TENSIONS INTO LANARKSHIRE. It may be in the recollection of our readers that this Bill was thrown out upon the standing orders. The promoters, however, to-day petitioned to be allowed to re-introduce their Bill, in order to be heard against the Caledonian (Les inahagow Extension ), in Group 47, but the Committee refused to entertain the petition. COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) FRIDAY, APRIL 16. Loss OF THE TWEED STEAMER.—The inhabitants of Cowes, in order to testify their high sense of the brave and disinterested conduct of the noble Spaniard in saving the lives of so many of the unfortunates who were shipwrecked iu the Royal Mail steamer Tweed, have at a meeting resolved that a public subscription should be entered into for the purpose of presenting a suitable testimonial to Captain Bernardino Camp, of the Spanish brig Emilio, expressive of their high admiration of his intrepidity and humanity. subscription lists have been opened at the different banks. Southampton and other towns we hoar propose doing the same. The Isle of Wight Steeplechase came off on Wednes day, and proved a most disastrous affair. sine horses entered, seven started, six threw their riders, two of them into brooks, me almost smothered in Blackwater mud ; one horse was Eventually Birmingham came in first, attended by Lars ; the rest reached the starting post alter many mishaps in the course of the afternoon. COURT CIRCULAR. The Royal dii:ner party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday included Madame Marques Lisboa, wife of the Brazilian Minister ; Mrs. Bancroft, wife of the American Minister ; the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter, the Earl and Countess of Dalhousie, Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, Lady Byron, Lord Charles Wellesley, Sir George Couper, and Mr. Hallam. The band of the Coldstream Guards attended during dinner, and performed the following pieces:— Overture "Le Barcarole " Auber. Waltz, The Garland Koenig. Scoria e Cavatina, "Mia letezio" (1 Lom bardi) Verdi. Polka, The Canaella Jullien. Doublar March Schultz. His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided, yesterday afternoon, at a meeting of the Commission for promoting and encouraging the Fine Arts in the rebuilding the Palace of Westminster. The meeting was held in the new Palace. Prince Albert arrived shortly before three o'clock, attended by his Equerry in Waiting, the lion. Captain Gordon. The Commissioners present were the Earl of Aber deen, Lord Ashburton, Lord Colborne, Viscount Mor. peth, Viscount Mahon, the Right Hon. the Speaker, Sir Rob rt H. Inglis, Mr. Hallam, Mr. S. Rogers, and Mr. Wyse. 'l he Secretary, Mr. Eastlake, was in attendance. The meeting broke up at a quarter past fire o'clock, when Prince Albert took his departure, attended by the Hon. Captain Gordon. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Major Stephens, honoured with his presence last evening the Sacred Harmonic Society's performance of Dr. Mendelssohn's Oratorio Elijah, at Exeter Hall. The Rev. Dr. Alder, general secretary of the Wes leyan Missionary Smety, had an interview with Earl Grey on Thursday, at the Colonial-office. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Alderman Kershaw, J. P. (Manchester), Mr. Edward Dawson, J. P. (Lan caster), Mr. John Cheethatn, J. P. (Stale) bridge), Mr, Abel Buckley, J. I'. (Ashton under Lytle), Mr. Alder man Burd (Manchester), Rev. Dr. Vaughan (Manche& ter), Rev. Dr. Massie (Salford), Rev. S. T. Porter (Dar wen), Rev. D. Hewitt (Rochdale), Mr. Thomas Barnes (Farnworth), Mr. William Morris (Salford), Mr. John Hamer (Preston), and the Rev. J. Poore (Salford), had an interview with the Lord President of the Council and Lord John Russell yesterday, at the Privy Council-office, respecting the minutes of the Committee of Council for August Th,ir and D a e i e i rb g n h r e s l e B s 4 6 t h . e Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Prince,' Royal. and the Princess Alice, took airings yesterday in the Royal gardens. The Queen honoured the performance of the French plays with her presence yesterday evening. Her Majesty was attended by the Countess of Mount Edgcumbe, Hon. Miss Kerr, Lord Byron, and Major-General Wemyss. His Royal Highness Prince Albert honoured the performance in the Music Ball, Store-street, with his presence last evening. His Royal Highnes was attended by Lard George Lennox, Captain Francis Seymour, and Captain the lion. A. 11. Gordon. The Prince after wards joined her Majesty at the performance of the French plays. Mr. Charles Russell, M.P., Chairman of the Great Western Railway Company, and Mr. Saunders, the Secretary, had an interview with the Right lion. Edward Strutt yesterday, at the office of Commissioners of Rail ways in Great George-street. Sir John Pelly had an interview with the Earl of Cla rendon en Thursday, at the office of the Board of Trade. General Pasley had an interview with the Noble Ear] yesterday. Bishop Griffiths had an interview with Earl Grey yes. terday. Mr. Dillon Browne, M.P., had also an interview with his Lordship. Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Cole, of the Glasgow and Ayr Company, had an interview yesterday with the Right lion. E. Strum Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial Office from the Governors of the North American Provinces. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Calonial Office fir the Governors of the West India Cu ,ouies, and also fur the Governor of Gibraltar. Monsieur Soyer, on his way from Dublin to Lon don, visited Liverpool and Manchester, and inspected the soup-kitchens of these commercial towns as well as the dif ferent kitchens belonging to the several unions. - - HEALTH OF TILE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.—A St. Petersburgh letter of the 4th announces that the Emperor Nicholas has recovered from his late indisposition. The Emperor of Austria has conferred upon the King of Hanover the command of the 2d Regiment of Hus sars, which became vacant on the death of his late Imperial Highness the Archduke Palatine. THE GAS AND WATER COMPANIES IN A FRET.— Great exertions are making by the different comp anies an d commissioners to oppose the Health of Towns Bill, circulars are flying about in all directions, and delegates are to be sent to London to act in combination on the Government mea sure. Jobbing is in danger—monopoly is threatened —and the occupation of the self-elected is at an end—that is, it the people support the Government. The interested are up, and the masses should be up and doing alzo• or they will WA do om the fl9x 4 ed btAtf. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 16. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. Several Bills were brought up from the Commons and read a first time. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SCHEME. t The Earl of CLARENDON presented a petition from Bury St. Edmunds in favour of the plan. Lord DENMAN presented a petition against it. EMIGRATION OF IRISH POOR. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Corporation of Glasgow, complaining of the burdens which were inflicted by the irruption of Irish poor. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. The NOBLE LORD said he had another _petition to present from Liverpool, and another from Preston, and all these petitions were addressed to the same important subject, and all made the same statement of facts, and all claimed the same relief. The petitions stated that the Acts passed for abolishing im prisonment for debt gave the power of imprisoning for debt in one instance, and that was when a debtor was about to leave the country. The imprisonment however could only be effected throu 4 h the medium of an application to a judge in Westminster Hall, and the petitioners complained that the mode of proceeding was inconvenient and expensive, and prayed their Lordships to vest the power of hearing such applications in local authorities. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Mr. Hume, Mr. Wakley, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Pattison, and other Hon. Members of the House of Commons, brought up a message from that House, requesting their Lordships to furnish them with a copy of the minutes of the evidence taken before a Committee, appointed by their Lordships, to inquire into the charitable trusts of England and Wales. The deputation then withdrew. IRISH MAGISTRATES. Earl FORTESCUE presented a petition from two magistrates of the founty of Down, in Ireland, com plaining of the great costs to which they had been subjected in consequence of proceedings taken against them by a person whom they bad convicted in the penalty of five pounds • and they prayed their Lord s hip s so to alter or am en d the present laws as to afford tbem adequate protection in the performance of their euties. The Earl of ZETLAND presented several petitions against the Government scheme of education. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table several returns, connected (as we understood) with the public works in Ireland. The NoBLE LORD also presented several petitions on the subject of the Government scheme of education from Liverpool, Leeds, Westminster, London, and other places, against—and from a place in Hants, St. Michael's, Leeds, St. Michael's,Winchester, and other places, in favour of it. ARMY ENLISTMENT BILL. Earl GREY moved that this Bill should be read a first time. Lord STANLEY regretted that the Noble Earl had introduced this measure at a time when it was to be dis cussed on its principles within three days atter it was laid upon the table of the House. Earl GREY said that it was necessary that the Bill should receive the Royal assent before this day week. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that this Bill consisted of two parts, and he thought that it would be advisable to take the discussions on both the points in volved on the same day. There was a necessity for the Mutiny Bill being passed by Monday week, and if the second reading were to be taken on Friday next, there would be sufficient opportunity for passing it by Monday. This was the more advisable when the debates of the House of Commons were taken into consideration. They might then pass the Bills, if ne cessary, on Monday week. Lord STANLEY said that this was the first time that he bad heard of there being two principles involved in these Bills, and that furnished the greater reason why the Bill should be postponed. The Duke of WELLINGTON conceived that as the enlistment was to be confined to ten years, while there was an opening for the soldier to take a further term of eleven years, no doubt whatever could be entertained respecting what was properly the Mutiny Bill, and no impediment therefore would be thrown in the way of the discussion. After a few words from Earl GREY, the Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday week. Several Bills were then advanced a stage. Their Lordships then adjourned till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 16. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. KILMARNOCK IMPROVEMENT. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition from the inha bitants of Kilmarnock against the measures which are now being taken for the' improvement of that town, and complaining that they were proceeding without either the consent or the knowledge of the inhabitants. BRISTOL AND CLIFTON GAS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. PILE PIER EXTENSIONS. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. INVERNESS HARBOUR BILL. This Bill was read a second time. TYNE DOCKS. This Bill was also read a second time. LEEDS AND PERTH RAILWAY. Mr. ALDAM presented a petition from Newcastle against the Bill for this line. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION PLAN. Mr. GODSON presented a petition from the Dis senters assembling at tht Free Meeting-house at Kidder min,ter. against the Government education scheme. Petitions to the same effect were also presented by Mr. Thornely, from Tipton,. in Staffordshire ; from the city of Yot k, by Mr. R. Yorke, and by Sir T. Trow bridge, from Ashton. DUBLIN IMPROVEMENT. This Bill was read a st cond time. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION PLAN. Mr. C. BERKELEY presented petitions from Dis senting congregations in Bristol, and places in the county of Gloucester against the plan.. Mr. MUNTZ also presented several petitions from Dissenting congregations in Birmingham to the same effect. Sir DENIS LE MARCHANT presented several petitions from Worcester anJ other places to the same effect. Mr. WODEHOUSE presented several petitions from Norfolk in favour of the plan. Mr. CAYLEY presented a petition from the Wesleyan Methodists of York against the plan. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented several petitions from Wesleyan Methodist congregations, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, against the plan. Similar petitions were also presented by Lord Duncan, Sir M. Cholmondeley, and Mr. Brotherton, from Pendle ton, Brotherton, and Longford. Mr. ALDAM presented petitions from Branley, in the parish of Leeds, and from the Unitarian congrega tion, in favour of the plan. Sir R. INGLIS also presented a petition from Witney, in Oxfordshire, to the same effect. Mr. STRUTT presented a petition from the corpora tion of Derby in favour of the plan, and another against it from the Dissenting congregations of that town. Lord RENDLESIIAM presented nine petitions from the county of Suffolk in favour of the plan. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition signed at a public meeting at Manchester against the measure. NAVIGATION-LAWS. Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from the artizans of Poplar engaged in shipbuilding against any altera tion of the Navigation-laws, and moved that the same be referred to the Committee. Mr. LIDDELL also presented a petition from White haven to the same effect. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION PLAN. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition signed by the congregations, and upwards of a hundred ministers, in the county of Lancaster, praying that the House would withhold ita countenance from the plan. He had also a hundred and forty petitions from various places to the same effact, with the titles of which he would not trouble the House. PETITION OF BERNARD GRAHAM. Mr:WATSON moved the consideration of the petition of Bernard John Graham (presented 13th April), for leave Western present a petition against the Great estern Ra ilway (Branch to join the West London Railway, Widening and Enlargement of Weat London Railway, and Branches to Hammersmith, and to join the London and S o uth Western Railway near Lambeth) Bill, after the time allowed by the standing orders. Mr. GREENE resisted the motion. Mr. WATSON said the grounds upon which he made the motion were these: this gentleman being in nego tiation with the other aide, he neglected to sign his petition within the time allowed by the standing orders. Mr. STRUTT said it would be contrary to the rules of the House to accede to the motion, and he must therefore join with the Hon. Member for Lancaster in resisting the motion. Mr. WATSON said, under these circumstances he would withdraw the motion. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. FEES OF THE HOUSE. Mr. HUME wished to move that Mr. Speaker be re quested to cause to be prepared a tables of fees, as re commended by the Committee on Private Business in their second report, with a view to abolish the present complex system of charging a great many small fees on the various proceedings of a Bill, and to substitute single fees on the principal stages. There was an impression abroad that the fees of the House formed a large portion of the costs of passing a private Bill, but on inquiry it would be found that such was not the case. The report of the Committee on Private Business re commended that the fees should be simplified and one of them payable upon every stage of the Bill, such as on presenting a petition, first reading, second reading, and so on. Ile bad consulted with many Parliamentary agents, and they agreed with him that the best course to be pursued vuts, to ask the Right lion. the Speaker to bring in a list of fees founded upon the principle of providing for the actual expense of each stage of a private Bill. y ved i n o n th a e c i c a o s u t n s tf e s o sio M n r o . f G p ß a E rl E ia N m E en s t ai t d h a t t li t a h t e it fee w s ars received the private business of the House exceeded the ia.laries agreed*Ei E to. O of The h ho e ev o m ffi Eo c ßt e i r No s nm o w f ua t isi b s e tTh l e l sn o c us H e F EDUCATION. Lord R. GROSVENOR presented several petitions from various places in the county of Middlesex against the Government scheme of education LAW OF SETTLEMENT. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from Bar. net, praying for an alteration in the law of settlement. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION. Mr. P. SCROPE presented several petitions from in. habitants of Stroud against the proposed scheme of Go vernment education. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND). Mr. P. SCROPE also presented a petition from a Parish in the county of cork tigsizbt the Provision in the Poor Relief B:11 for Ireland refusing relief to lie holders of small quantities of land. GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION. Mr. SPOONER presented lovers] petitions fro%n Birmingham against the Government scheme of edu - cation. Also one from the ministers and churchwardens of Christchurch, Birmingham, in favour of it. Mr. PARKER presented a petition in favour of the Government system of education, and six against it. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Mr. PARKER, itwasagreed that the House at its rising should adjourn till Monday next. POCKLIN GT ON, moved Mr. T. DUNCOMBE the inhabitants of Pocklin g t on , Yorkshire, P b e e ti p ti r o in n of ted with the votes."—Agreed to. HOLYHEAD HARBOUR. Mr. BANKES moved that the petition of the nobility, gentry, and clergy, of the county of Carnarvon, respect ing the Holyhead Harbour, be printed with the votes. Agreed to. SEVENTY-TWO GUN SHIPS. Sir C. NAPIER wished to ask the Secretary of the Admiralty whether he had any objetion to lay before the House the date of the order sent down from the Ad miralty to the different ports to suspend the construc tion of the 72 gun ships? and also whether any order had been subsequently sent down to go on with them? Mr. WARD said, in reply to the Gallant Admiral, he had to state that an order had been sent down to suspend the works in the 72-gun ships, and accordingly tine Aboukir, the Exmouth, and Princess Royal were • suspended on the 9th of December, 1844; the works re mained suspended in 1844 and 1845, but since that an order had been sent down to resume operations, and these vessels were now in process of being completed - Sir C. NAPIER inquired whether the second order was given by the Admiralty or not? which lr. had W A Ii beenD u s l t d a tfei find th t h o e m e o a n t r t e r s more fully referred to in the program me e - said pursued, be h had alrea d y r h e e a d w ) COMMITTEE OF CONSTRUCTION (NAVY). Mr. 1.0 ME inquired whether the Hon. ). Gentleman would have any übj , ction to produce the app and proceedings of the Committee appointed to inve ointm s e t n i. t gate the subject of na‘al architecture? Mr. WARD said he would reply to the question on Monday. GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION. Mr. HINDLEY wished to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government—first, when the reports of the school inspectors would be laid on the table, whether it was desirable, in his opinion, that they should be in pos..' session of the reports before coming to a decision on the plan of education proposed by the Government; secondly, whether an exact estimate of the expense' could be furnished, and showing whether the statement which bad appeared in some of the newspapers was correct, that the Noble Lord had stated to some persons who had waited upon him that the grant of this year would be applied in strict conformity with the former grants, and not laid out according to the minutes of the Privy Council ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, in reply to the first question, the reports of the inspectors were not quite ready, but as soon as they were they would be laid on the table in the usual course. In re ply to the second, he bad to state that he did not think it necessary that the House should defer its deci sion until they were in possession of the report. —(Hear, hear.) And, in reply to the third, that the grant, if acceded to by the House, would be laid out according to the former rules, and according to the plan laid down in the minutes of December, 1846, he had never made the statement to which -the Hon. Gentleman had referred. He had taken care to hare given with the estimates of this year a detailed statement of the probable expense of the plan proposed by the Privy Council. The grant (so we un derstood) this year would be the same as last. THE TWEED. Mr. MUNTZ inquired whether it was the intention of the Government to mark its sense of the gallant conduct of the Spanish commander of the ship which went to the rescue of the unfortunate passengers of the Tweed? Lord J. RUSSELL said the Government had re ceived intelligence of the gallant conduct of the Spanish captain with great satisfaction, and Lord Auckland had been directed by her Majesty to in form him of the great satisfaction with which her Ma jesty had heard of his conduct ; and to propose to him the acceptance of a medal, upon which would be recorded the history of the shipwreck of the Tweed, and the services which he rendered to the survivors of that unfortunate ship, and at the same time offering him the sum of 5001., to show the deep sense which her Majesty and the Government entertained of the conduct of the Gallant Officer. CUSTOMS DUTIES. Dr. BOWRING wished to know when the House would go into Committee on the Customs Duties Bill, which he saw upon the orders for that day. Sir G. GREY said that it was the intention of the Government to proceed with it that day week. RETURNS. On the motion that the order of the day for the third reading of the Poor Relief (Ireland) 13111 be read, Mr. NEW DEG ATE said, that after the uniform neglect which he had experienced at the, hands of her Majesty's Government, with reference to the returns which he had .coved for now almost three months since, he was sorry to intrude the subject upon the attention of the House, but really the period which had elapsed was so lung. tied the returns for which he moved for so important, that he must state to the House the cir cumstances under which he had moved for them, and the return itself. He had moved for a return of what alterations had taken place in the tariff of foreign countries since 1844 ; nhat alteration had been mace in the Customs duties of the British possessions in the colonies ; %%hat exports of the principal articles of manufacture had taken place during the three last years, ending 1846 ; also what quantity of provisions bad been introduced, and what foreign countries had im posed prohibitory or export duties upon articles im ported to this country. lie thought that the house would see, that considering the gr. at experiment into which this country had been launched last year, the information which he sought was a matter of public anxiety. He would not press the returns then were it not that only one class of them related to the present year ; and considering that all the others related to the year ending 1846, he cr,nld not but believe that her Majesty's Government were not in possession of the in formation and he was ready to i n f er th a t it was through some negligence that they were withheld. Mr. M. GIBSON said that the Hon. Gentleman was quite mistaken if he considered that the Government were unwilling to furnish these returns. They were to be collected by the Customs, who stated that they were so voluminous that they would require a vast amount of time to complete them. As to the remaining part of these returns, it was necessary to communicate with Foreign Ministers and Consuls, which would also take some time. He hoped that the Honourable Gentleman would be satis fied with this explanation. The Government would use due diligence, and as soon as they were com pleted they should be laid upon the table of the House. Mr. BANKES said that the explanation given fully acquitted the Hon. Gentleman himself, but he (Mr. Baukes) was not satisfied that a definite time was not stated for the completion of these returns. Even if they were not given down to a late period, he had no doubt but that they would prove valuable. REMISSION OF DUTIES ON BUTTER AND CHEESE. Mr. LEFROY wished to know from the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Winchester what were kis intentions with respect to his Bill for the remission of duties upon butter and cheese. Mr. B. ESCOTT said that he had, no doubt, given notice of his intention to proceed with that Bill, but he had found it necessary to calculate on what chances he had of success, and what were the sinews of war. He was sorry to say that at present he saw very little chance of carrying the House with him. In the present state of the House, he hardly knew what side of the House he must look to for support, and therefore he would abandon it for the present. He would leave it in the hands of any other Hon. Member who might have more courage and hope of success than her had, if they should think fit to bring it forward. ENCUMBERED ESTATES IN SCOTLAND. Lord DUNCAN wished to ask the Lord-Advocate a s q u a r e : t na s u l n l d e laud been erthec led to onsiderati u o n n de o r f sta G n o d v ' e th rn a m t a ea enmtto facilitate the sale of encumbered estates in Scotland. What he wished to know was, whether such a Bill was under the consideration of the Government, and when it would be introduced ? The LORD ADVOCATE stated, in reply, that the question was under the consideration of the Goiernment, with the view of framing a measure to meet the circum stances referred to. He begged also to state that it would be introduced on an early day. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. The order of the day for the third reading of this Bill was then read. Mr. CORRY said he rose with great reluctance to occupy the House for a short time, to give the reasons why he opposed that portion of the scheme which had relation to out-door relief. In former times, when the condition of the poor was alone considered an Irish question, every one of the least authority was opposed to the introduction of the t principle of out-door roaelscalraeile)et,lof,:anrtnhtdthrbhcewui, throughout gprmhienneooaiauowtstn:i attacked hb:thiedhcceheahudaalsildsec becau s enue affected England, the question was altered, and heard ot ss stthohi o n ee n y s l saooniffavdrahstuo'ii landed h e d hg p lo h r er oi a ia r t a ry r g il t e ou r n e m k e rm te n s hn u e o t p sf t l t subjectr had formerly maintained. He admitted the obligation of the to provide for the pexoporir,ebdu,tthhee peopleknew enooutia be how, whe n tlu d s i t s e tr m ib p u o ted temporary relief saved from starving. Why, the whol e o f t h e property in Ire land , the peopl e i n out- d oor relief, would not suffice to support them. Ile was certain that accommodation enough could be found for the disabled and destitute poor, that was, if out-door relief were not resorted to. If, how ever, relief should be given in that country without the workhouse test, a dependence upon charitable resources would be encouraged to that extent that it would certainly go far towards confiscating the property in the country. He admitted the duty of the land to provide for the disabled destitute, and he would concede even the confiscation of the land, if Gentlemen on the other side could show him that it was necessary ; but the veriest tyro in political economy knew well that property was neces sary to the well-being of the poor themselves. The result of the Bill would be, that instead of out-door relief proving, as the Noble' Lord had stated, the excep tion, it would prove the general rule, end great misery could not fail to he entailed upon those :lic,lttly removed from the .lower classes in conaequence. The Noble Lord asked the deputation who wait:4 ___ A I' uPon him on the subject w h a t b etter pkn they P ro p? To that question he . would reply, Ist the magure be tried temp orarily, 'but do not make it a Perrn au fe and, Wew 4:MSWe. Try it u tempar&TY 334 11 .4r 9 P ils. wit , V". , S• :aun t 1 • ogle, a Is If ' r. „, arsto— C.