The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-30 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY; so, 1857 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. proper ones, and they could grant licenses to persona to such darker shape. He ought to have stated at first take on them the care and confinement of lunatics, and any that the composition of that commission took away all persons who kept lunatic asylums without licenses were suspicion of partiality. It was composed of two gentle liable to a penalty of 2001. for each offence of sending men experienced in cases of lunaey, and in charge of any lunatic into custody. The sheriffs had to attend to lunatics under the system in England, of a gentleman all matters relating to the length of time during which who was an experienced lawyer in Edinburgh, a sheriff lunatics were confined in any licensed houses, and no one of one of the populous counties of Scotland, who could could be detained without an order from the sheriff. He not be supposed to set himself against his brethren the could show that, notwithstanding this, the granting of sheriffs of Scotland, or against the board of supervision, licenses was the exception ; that houses of detention were and of a medical gentleman of Edinburgh, and all these opened without licenses, that people were detained as gentlemen seem to have set their mind on giving a fair lunatics without any order or any medical certificate, and impartial account of these things in Scotland. The that many of them died, and that the facts of their committee of supervision in their reports of the last four deaths were not stated to their friends and that years only stated that "they had no change to announce they thus disappeared without any notice being in the management of lunatic paupers this year ;" but in taken by the authorities. The statute which regulated their last report they seemed to have some misgiving, the care of lunatics in Scotland provided that no one and they said they had called the attention of the inspecs should receive into his exclusive care any lunatic person tors to the irregularities which had arisen. He thought without a certificate signed by two medical men, and the sooner the Beard of Supervision was dispensed with that on their reception into a house of detention, within the better. (Hear, hear.) The former statements of the five days the certificate was to be transmitted to the board were vague, but the last one was an insult to the sheriff ; and also, that within seven days of the Ist of Government, to the house, and to the country. He did .January in each year a certificate of tNO medical men not ask what measure Government would take to die was to be sent to the sheriff describing the state of pease with the Board of Supervision next year, but he the lunatics, and any deaths which might have occurred asked what measure they would take now. were to be notified to the proper authorities. Regis- Sir G. GREY was not surprised that his hon. friend, tries and accounts were to be kept, and entries were to as one of the representatives of Scotland, should have be made of the state of health of each patient, and of felt it his duty to take the earliest opportunity of calling, the deaths of any of them. In all cases of coercion not the attention of the Government, for their attention and restraint entries were to be made of the causes of had been called to it before, but the attention of the house such restraint ; and entries were to be made every day to the report which had lately been presented to them, of of the progress of the disorder of such patient, and of the committee appointed two years ago to inquire the necessity, more or less, of restraint. Any keeper of into the care and treatment of lunatics in Scotland, any house who did not keep such books was liable to containing, as the - report did, a statement of a heavy penalty. The law, therefore, would seem to facts and allegations calculated to throw the greatest have clone enough. As regarded pauper lunatics in Scot- discredit upon that portion of the United Kingdom. land, they were in the hands of the parochial boards, He would not follow his hon. friend through the de which were under the control of the board of supervision tails of that report ;he would only express a hope that in Edinburgh. The law as it stood enacted, that when a the observations he had made would lead hon. members poor person chargeable to a parish became insane, the to read it for themselves, especially the Scotch members, parochial board was to see th a t w i t hi n f ourteen days he because on them mainly depended the adoption of those was properly lodged in an asylum to be provided for means which alone could be effectual for remedying those such persons. The board of supervision, however, on gross cases of abuse and neglect which were contained proper cause shown them, in particular cases might in this report. In one respect only did he differ from allow a lunatic to be left in the bands of his friends, the hon. gentleman. He said that the state of the law due inspection being made as to his being properly in Scotland was from being defective, and that the de cared for. The asylums for pauper lunatics were also sub- feet was in the administration of the law. He (aiz. G. jest to the inspection of the sheriffs. In England there Grey) thought this report showed the greatest defect in was no legs! appeal on the subject of the allowance of a the law. Let him call attention to one passage of the pauper lunatic, but iu Scotland there was such an ap- report, which was the key, in fact, to most of the peal to the Court of Session, which Court might make abuses : "A. curious anomaly exists in the statutes. They an order of maintenance on a pariab. Tne power, require that pauper patients shall be sent to public asy therefore, over keepers of lunatic asylums and over lams, while they omit to make provision for the creation the parishes was as complete as it was possible to be. of those asylums." There did not exist iu Scotland at The hon. gentleman then read extracts from the reports the present moment asylums supported by local rates, or of the Board of Supervision for 1847 downwards, all of from the public funds, for the reception of this class of which went to show that all the provisions of the patients. The consequence was, that the only asylums law had been complied with as regarded pauper to which they could be sent were asylums which owed lunatics, and he stated that he should be able to sbow their origin to the benevolence of individuals, which that these reports were false, and that the condition of were self-supporting, and to which only patients could the pauper lunatics was diametrically opposite to that be sent whose friends could pay for them a sum far be which was stated in those reports. Three years ago he yond the reach of the class of pauper lunatics. After MILITARY EDUCATION. brought in a bill for the inspection of parochial boards these came the licensed houses, the poor-houses, or those Sir D. L, EVANS gave notic e th a t on Thursd a y, th e and paupers, on the ground that the Board of Snpervi. portions of the pose-houses appropriated to lunatics; and 11th June, he should submit resolutions for the conside- sion was lax, and that paupers were mach neglected in these places were of the worst possible description. Then ration of the H o u se on m ilit ary e d ucat i on. Scotland, but h e w a s me t by th e rep l y t h at h i s state- there was that numerous class of pauper lunatics who CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. meats were exaggerated, for the pu r p ose o f ge t t i ng up a were left to the care of their friends, who were subject to " Mr. BASS ask e d th e Ch ance ll or o f t h e E xc h equer case, and if he had moved for a co mm i ss i on o f i nqu i ry as treatment which in Many instances was too horrible to what was the course pur s u e d w h en can did ates f or em - to the state of pauper lunati c s, h e s h ou ld no d ou b t have contemplate. This . report clearly demonstrat e d a mos t ployment in the civil service we re nom i na t e d by mem- been met with the same objectio n . B u t it was a su bj ect d e f ect i ve state of the law—a defect which existed a t one bers of Parliament ; whether a can did a t e so nom i nate d of congratulation that, through the e xer ti ons o f t h e L ord t i me i n this country, but which had been remedied by a was necessarily admitted to ex a mi na ti on ;w h e th er th ere Advocate, a bill had been brought in and p asse d , un d er l aw w hi ch requ i red every county and borough in Eng was any competition fofemploy men t i n th e c i v il serv i ce ; which inspectors had been appoint e d. Th e report hat l an d to contribute by local rates to the erection and whether, in fact, with the ex cepti on o f a s i mp l e exam i- originated from the inquirie s o f an A mer i can lady, a ma i ntenance of asylums for the reception of pauper Miss Dicks, who came he r e o n a phil an th rop i c mission. lunatics. That being the case, he could only assure nation as to the ordinary qualific a tio ns f or o ffi ce , th e o ld system of patronage and favouritism did n ot rema i n i n She found in the course o f h er i nqu i r i es, t h at the lunatics h i s honourable friend that as soon as this report was in full force ! in Scotland were in a misera bl e sta t e, an d at her persua- the hands of the Government his attention was mime- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said Bien and instance Governm en t a pp o i n t e d t h e commission diately given to it ; and he conferred with regard that all the particulars of the regulations referred t o to examine into the subj ec t. H e s h ou ld not be doing jun. to the measures t o b e t a k en with the Lord Ad would be found in an order in council, dated May, 1850, tice to the lady if h e did no t say t h at all who read that vocate, and he would state generally what steps had which contained all hon, members should know— report must fe e l gra t e f u l to h er for having been the been taken. But first let him say a few words with (laughter)—besides which, if he studied the report of the means of showing up a state of things that was disgrace- regard to the origin of the report. He entirely concurred Civil Service Commission, he would find the manner in ful to this country. The statements in that report were with his hon. friend in the tribute of admiration which which that order had been carried out, most horrifying, and he invited hon. membe rs t o rea d it he had paid to a benevolent American lady who visited CORRUPT PRACTICES PREVENTION ACT, as the only means of carrying home to their minds the this country some time ago. She took a deep interest in state of things as it actually existed. Under the statute, the welfare of this unfortunate class of persons, and after Mr. CROSS asked the Secretary of State for the the visitation and supervision of pauper lunatics was the visiting the asylums in this country, she went to Scot- Home Department, whether it was the intention of the duty of the sheriff; but the report stated that only in land, where he gave her every facility for inquiring into Government to extend the provisions of the Corrupt one case—that of Mid-Lothian—were the regulations the condition of the lunatics there. Even before those Practices Prevention Act, 1854, to municipal elections? licensing houses for the reception of lunatics drawn up visits of Miss Dicks to the licensed houses and other Sir G. GREY said it was not the intention of the Go- by the sheriff, and there they had fallen into disuse, It places where pauper lunatics were confined the matter vernment at the present, at all events, to apply this act stated also that persons were often removed without any had been brought under the attention of Government, to municipal elections, POLICE (SCOTLAND). medical certificate ; th a t th ere was no suff i c i ent examine- and they thought it desirable that a commission should tion or supervision ; that in some counties no houses for be issued for the investigation of the subject, and his hon Mr. MACKIE asked the L or d Adv oca t e if it was his the reception of pauper lunatics existed, and that the friend only did the Government justice in saying that intention to introduce a police bill f or S co tl an d d ur i ng greatest abuses existed. Under the provisions of the sta. their desire was that that commission should be socom this session ! tote, it was nece ssar y t h a t recor d s s h ould b e kept of all posed as to ensure a f a ithf u l and efficient discharge of an The LORD AD VOCA.TE said it was hi s i n t en ti on t o that took place in the asylums, but in most of them this important duty. After perusing the report he thought introduce such a bid this session. was neglected, and in many of them even the necessary it his duty to send a letter to the Board of Supervision, HONDURAS. books and forms had never been procured. It f o ll owe d with a copy of the report ; and he informed the board Mr. DISRAELI inquired of her Majesty's Govern. if some of these asylums were licensed and some not—if that the statements in the report demanded and would meat as to the reasons for the non-ratification of the no record was kept, and no supervision took place—ne. receive the attention of Government with a view to re- Treaty between her Majesty and the Government of the glect would naturally arise. And it appeared that the medying the evils that existed, but that independent of United States about Honduras ;as to the present state lunatics were insufficiently fed and clothed, subject to any measure which Government might think it right to of the negotiations ; and whether papers would be laid mechanical restraints ; that they had to sleep on the brieg into Parliament, he called the attention of the before Parliament. floor ; were without comfort or medical requirements, board to the gross cases of cruelty and neglect in the ad- Lord PALMERSTON said that in the course of last and in some instances there was no separation between ministration of the existing law. He received an imme summer, two treaties were concluded—one with Hon- the sexes, and the whole object seemed to be to crowd as diate reply from Sir J. Me - Neill, the chairman of the dares and the other with the United States—by the many as possible into a given space. In every house they board, assuring him that the matter should be brought former treaty the Ruatan Islands were ceded to found handcuffs, leg-locks, and strait waistcoats. And before the board at its next meeting, and requesting to Honduras, under a convention that existed, pro- the commissioners added that on the death of a patient be furnished with information on various points, upon vision being made for the protection of the inhabitants, in one of these asylums no notice is given to the sh er iff which he addressed aletter to the Lunacy Commissioners, who were to be a, neutral and not a military station, under whose warrant the incarceration had taken plac e , requesting them to place themselves in communication He then referred to the conditions of the though the statute required that notice of the death of with the Board of Supervision, and to give them the ful treaty between this country and America, one every patient should forthwith be given to the sheriff, lest information. He would not now enter into a defence part of whieh was that Great Britain and the United Nobody believed that such a state of things could have of the Board of Supervision-110 would only ea y that he States engaged henceforth to acknowledge these islands existed in any civilised country, especially one that laid thought it right the house should suspend its judgment as a past of the territory and sovereignty of Honduras, especial claims to superior civilisation and enlightenment. until they had heard what the board had to say, He These treaties had been sent, one to Honduras, The comm i ss i oners h a d experienced great difficulty in believed that his lion, friend h a d overrated the power of and the other to the United States, for ratifica- obtaining a correct return of the number of persons in- the board, but he was far from saying they were free tion. Up to this time nothing had been heard from carcerated in these places. They applied, therefore, to from blame. That blame, however, was shared b the Honduras, but the Senate of the United States thought the Board of Supervision, but they could obtain no in. inspectors, by the sheriffs, b the clergy, by the ju y stices proper to alter their treaty, none of which alterations formation that could be depended upon. The retur ns of the peace, and by the comm y iss s io ti n n ers l of su been He be were important, and her Majesty's Government had the board had were far from complete. They had no ac- lieved that one defect of the existing law h ad . that waived all their objections to the alterations except one. counts of the number of lunatics in the poor-houses, nor divided responsibility which had en g ded as usual in no The one to which he alluded was that no reference should of the number of lunatic paupers who lived with friends, one taking upon himself the due performance of duties be made to a convention that existed relative to the and were supported by out-door relief. Th e y app ea l e d of this kind. (Hear.) The Lord Advocate at his request, Ruatan Islands, but that the treaty should simply state to the clergy, and he (Mr. Ellice) was sorry to say that had also addressed a letter to the sheriffs, calling their that henceforth they would acknowledge these islands as no reliable information could be obtained from them, it attention to their neglect in exercising their visitorial part of the territory of Honduras, which would have the appearing that the clergy, like the others, were in the powers. When their answers were received his right menappearance of a concession. Her Majesty's Govern- interest of the ratepayers. Ultimately they applied to hon. friend would know what measures it might be pro jestyt could not consent to that alteration, and her Ma- the constabulary, whose returns showed a very large in- per to take with reference to that part of the subject. 's Government had made certain representations to crease on those of the board of supe r i n t en d ence . Th e y He hoped that the Government might not be accused of the United States, which it was hoped would be ac- found that the number of paupers in Scotland was 7,403 neglect in the measures they had taken with a view to jcepted. He declined producing any papers on the sub- of whom 4,600 were lunatics. But of these 4,600 pan. correct, as far as was possible, a gross defect in the ad ect, but would rather wait till the treaty was ratified, per lunatics, only 1,500 were in the chartered asylums. ministration of the existing law. Beyond this, his right and then lay it on the table for the consideratio n o f the In licensed houses there were 426, but in the poor. hon. friend would take the earliest opportunity of asking house. h ouses and living with relations and strangers there were the house to agree to a bill whioleit was hopedwould After some further remark s f rom Mr. DISRAELI and 2,671, The gr eat ma j or it y of the paupers of Scotland were remedy the existing evils. This was not the ttime Lord PALMERSTON th e su bj ec t d roppe d. out-door paupers. In c onsequehce of the want of ac- that such a bill had been proposed to parliament. Lord The motion for adjournment was then agreed to. commodation in the asylums, private houses have been Rutherfurd, when he was Lord Advocate, brought in a THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S DOWRY . opened, where no care was ta k en as to the suitableness bill which, if passed, he believed would have prevented The house then went into committee on this bill. of the premises, the number of persons crowded within many of these evils. That bill was read in that house On clause 1, granting an annuity of 8,000/, a-year to them, or the fitness of the proprietor or conductor, B u t with the warm approbation of most of the Scotch teem her Royal Highness on her marriage, besides these asylums and private houses, there were th e bers ;it was referred to a select committee, but the op poor-houses, and as to them h e wou ld refer to the case position which was raised in Scotland proved fatal to it. however, that in the event of her R o y a l Hi g h ness b e- Mr. BOWYER moved an amen d men t t o a dd , prov id e d , of two houses in Edinburgh. Th e report stated that at He trusted that this report would lead to a very diffe- Coming Queen Consort' of P russ i a , th e sa id an- the Edinburgh city poo r -h ouses and St. Cuthbert's, pa- rent result with regard to the bill to be brought in by • nuity shall cease and detsrmine from the date tients were admitted without medical service—they were his right hon. friend. He the trusted that disorace which of the access ion of his Royal Hi g h ness P r i nce never visited by the sh er iff, nor was there any license now attached to Scotland with regard to the care of pain Frederick William of Prussia to tile throne of Prussia. obtained, the neglect in this respect being, it appeared, per lunatics would be thereby removed; and that that In the event of her Royal Highness surviving her bus- consequent on the desire to save the fees. If such was and the other house of parliament would kindly co-o e band he proposed that the annuity shouli be revived. the case in Edinburgh, what must be the condition of rate with Government in the adoption of those P The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER resisted those receptacles for persons afflicted with the direst that were necessary to attain that end. H a measures visitation to which humanity was subject in the more re- Mr•DRUMMO said when Lord Rutherford had the amendment, and said he woul I much rather the mote districts ? And what security was there for the brougiet in his bill, he with him in order to re house had net consented to the second reading of the bill than agree to the present amendment. (Divide.) liberty of the subject ? "Economy wail " said the corn- get and s L om er e d returns giving information on the subject, R h u n t t h e h r e f u w r d a3 gave beat bhim the every systematic as sistance op p i o n . Mr. W. WILLIAMS, who had given notice of a missioners, " the rule of conduct, and thus Was the state of the accommodation accounted for," With reference his power ; similar amendment, supported the amendment of the to the removal of pauper lunatics to hhe asylums, or sition of every single person connected with Scot hon member (Mr. Bowyer), He thought a prince must from one asylum to the other, the commission stated, in land. This report showed that the object in Scotland be a man of mean spirit to accept with his wife an reference to one caSe, the removal of paupers from was to care for property and not for the lunatics. If there annuity to be taken from the high taxed people of ono- reference Royal Asylum, at Perth, to Musselburgh was one institution, or a set of men in Scotland more ther country. and n s d ick o e f Mr. WALTERS could not support the amen d ment as th a t th e manner of it was disgraceful, and that from the ' guilty than another, it was the board of supervision. In it now stood. If the annuity was to cease on her Royal want of the accommodation patients rapidly n eattention died d t the latter T he They no one instance had a magistrate gone to inspect these n asylums. ot . llet i 3i rninYes, because ther e whaes was one instancepapist. ;and The the Poor-1 would , Highness becoming Queen of Prussia, the amount place, also referred to many instances of great cruelty inflicted should be increased. He had no objection to make a • viz., that if the period of the amount was during the removal—in one, that of a woman who was as it stood, had been well defined as an act to deprive compromise, viz., removed last year, and was brought with a stick tied in the poor of their rights. He would give to the house limited, the amount should be increased to 12,0001. a year. (Hear, and laughter.) her mouth and behind her head, the effect of the_ pres- three instances. In the first case a poor woman of 64 sure being that her tongue mortified and was lost. He had lost thee he use of her right arm and was afflicted with Mr. DISRAELI opposed the amendment, repeating the arguments he used on the second reading of the bill, came now to the ca-e of those lunatics who were a g e allowed 2s, per month, out of which He added that the annuity would not be furnished out ported by out-door relief, and who came more especially asthma, deducted for Another case was that of of the taxes of the people, but out of the Crown estat es ' under the superintendence of the board. He P found .81 wasa notdeserteed bynr what they husband, He (the hon. gentle given up by her Majesty, when she ascended the that the number was 1,363, but the commissioners •a woman know they allowed her, but she lived Throne, which returned 260,0001. to the Exchequer, said they had only arrived at an approximation of e on a t y ef upo n n a t. turnip which one of her children had a :to:en . l a cart. In the third case, the pauper had He characterised the present proposal as being a shabby the numbers. The condition of these lunatics was ex one, and said the question whether the Queen of Pres- tremely bad. With regard to them there was no in- nominal al lowance of 4e per week, but of that the in- File should or should not be a pensioner of the country, sPeetion i they were left to chance and the mercy of s ectir took away 3s, for ;wet. All these cases had been Providence. The instructions given by the Board of Su- brought before the board of supervision, and it had re torested with Prussia and not England. It was our place pervision were that they were immediately to report to peatedly refused to interfere until at last some persons make proper - provision for the marriage of te• princess. The time was come for th e them all cases of insanity. But those instructions were insisted upon its attending to them. He was glad the by no means stringently acted upon. Many of these sub'ect had at last been brought befora the public, but he house to consider upon the present system of coca- by lived in remote districts, where removal to warned the hon. member that his efforts would fail un poqing her Majesty to make such appeals to the house, an asylum would entail great expense. There was, how- lees be exerted himself r to the utmost. (Hear.) and he could not approve of the jealousy of the people Mr. F. DUN AS, in reference to a case mentioned cerned, no check of any kind. The sheriff, took no ceg of •'this country that deprived her Majesty of the ever, so far as the inspectors of the parish were con-by Mr. Ellice, he had a letter from Professor Ay postfeesion of territorial rights that would enable her nisance of these cases unless they were specially reported. said to make provision for her family. him flat , s a h ft e e r r iff in o s t u t tu b t e in c g on a n n ty i i n n qu q i u ry e : ti on , he was satisfied who assured Sir P. BARING, after some remarks relative to the It depended on the inspectors of the parishes whether hereditary revenue of the Crown, said he should oppose they reported these lunatics or not, and very few con sidered it their duty to report them. The commissioners that the woman was labouring under a delusion. Still thieaniendment. Z. ROEBUCK said that, as the "sense" of the said : "The inspectors of the poor practically assume an he (Mr. Dundas) was afraid that so good an answer could not be made to all the charges which had been committee appeared to be against the proposition of the unwarrantable power over poor patients, in keeping them at home, or in placing them with strangers or in trans h°nouratle and learned member, as it was against himbrought forward; and he was glad, therefore, that an in vestigation had taken place which was likely to put an furring them from one place to another, and in transport- end on a former occasion, he advised him not to divide the committee. ing them, when English or Irish paupers to Enland or to so serious and so grave an evil. (Hear, hear.) After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn. Ireland." As to the general treatment of these paupers, after all, with the Sir T. COLEBROOKE did not wish to lighten the re- The clause they bad a fearful account in the appendix to the report, u oin s e ti r it a t s te t . hen agreed to, and the bill passed The . . . "The sponsibility which rested on the local authorities and on the board of supervision ; but he could not help thinking through commissioners said : greater part of these that the primary responsibility was, p AUPER LUNATICS (SCOTLAND.) paupers are with their friends or with strangers, the On the order for go* • ' ing into a Committee of Supply, generality of them in a destitute conditi on . S ome of impe r i a l legislature.. This was not the fi rs t ti me the at- Mr. E. ELLICE rose to call the attention of the house s e e n g ra ue rn n i c a e i h e tention of parliament had been called to the sub' them are chained, some are locked up in small closets, ject. It to the report of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the many are confined in their beds, filthy, infested with a n d e r n s u i ni only increasedB44 ; bu t tthhees evilt e p ... t h ... a t t, h w e a s t s e t p a , k n e a n m i !l el y c r 0 f had been fully treated on in the report of the Poonlaw State of Lunatics in Scotland, and to ask what steps the vermin, covered with rags ; some are allowed to remain dividing the responsibility, insteadof leaving it, as it had been till then, solely upon the ' • Government intended to take for immediately securing naked ; some are in straw, and their rooms emit an in 1-tb Rutherford brought forward . proper was !irotection and maintenance. H e said that his,rnbeytiownhich it to pauper lunatics in Scotland tolerable stench. Others, again, are homeless, and al , with since,adto a select rn lowed .to wander about." One instance was given in oaeriffe. The late Lord founded on which a lunatic had been chained to his bed for 13 years . a bill which was received the report of the hommiseioners appeared that the laws relating to pauper lunatics in Scotland had the chain being 21 feet long. There was another case,compliments f rom a l :, the Scotch members, but it was ref heard ; r with arose out of a been greatly disregarded •; and laisstatemeet vrould of of two wretched women. One was confined in a wooden ommittee and it had never been The opposition which that bill had met • cipally of extracts from . that report. The state of cage is a corner of a room, She had been so for 13 years, hnietaken economy, for there was no win things with regard to lunatics in Scotland w as eery du _ and was of course furious. Her sister, at the age of 32, nexe.ring. in cases of mental disease were in fact in medical In Scotland, became insane also. The parents whom they lived with chances of reinaclo oerience so well established as that the ferent to that in England and Ireland, were described as being in a continual state of intoxica- INN' ~using thought it right to say that instead of a board of commissioners appointed totake care tion. And thee there was another important matter— ?To oortion as the wit h • of lunatics, the charge of them devolved on the sheriffs' the m s r a . m j : remedial treatment promptness which the of counties and the Coard of supervision, which stood in hon. g entleman was mistaken in su the number of these lunatic women who bore children, was applied. the elect) of the Poor-law Board ia this country. Th ough (Hear.) It appeared that there were about 120 or 130, P n 8 . c i Tu e a d t t' the eatro. the abuses which e xi s t e d we re p er haps attributable to a a s__ far) It the commissioners could ascertain, of these want of precision in the law, yet in many respects the !o h n e en who had borne children, and it was believed there cious cose of cruelty he had describePd o l Perth provisions of the lam were ample for the protection of C ould not cases which had escaped observation. He asyluiri, The cruelty took place elsewhere , and pauper lunatics, if roperly carried out, and he charged " 1 " conceive a more horrible state of things. Then tient was afterwards taken to the asylum t * • pa p in question the Commissioner& the eheriffs and the board of supervision with an almost lunatics were left mentioned other cases in which the whe re she was treated with great bumanity. He though' total neglect of the duties incumbent on them according They said that inE without a sufficient supply of food, the y were greatly indebted to the Government for the to law. The power and duty of the sheriffs was to de- , a week. The coratniinburgh the allowance was only 29. virgour and ability with which the matter had been taken tide on every manor which was deemed necessary saying that the detailssioners concluded their report which had e y up by the Home.office. • witli reference to lunatics ;to ascertain whether any gave only an imperfect representationbeen furnished them L , Col. SYKES said that until a recent period the treat perione were confined who ought not to be so confined, ;of the case ; they formed oal a of the true state I :ment of lunatics had been no better in England than it end to see that all persons were set at liberty if the cis : misery, and had they been able' part of the picture of : wasnow - in Scotland. The royal commissioners cumstances of their cases allowed of it. They were ' • it . _ to . extend their investi- pointed, and now the condition of thos h were apt 0 Un appy per gations, would, the y were COLIIIIIC ed, have emu d t a bound to see that places of confinement for lunatics were .me a . sous was in the • ,z, highest degree creditable to the nation. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.) The SPBAKEB took the chair at 4 o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. Lord U. G. Lennox and Mr. B. Baring took the oaths and their seats. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : The Dublin and Wicklow Railway; Dumbaiton & c . ; Great Western and Brentford Railw a y ; an d Isling ton Parish. The following bills were further considered and ordered to be read a third time :—Briton Ferry Docks, Burslem and Tunstal Gas, Glasgow City and Suburban Gas, Glas gow Gas, Kidsgrove Market, Saint Helens Canal and Railway, Scottish Central Railway, Waterford and Tra more Railway. that the Government factory produced Lancaster shells at 1-3 d of the price charged by the trade. The Enfield manufactory was established to supply a certain portion of the public demand, but it was never expected that it would meet all the demands of the army from time to time. Mr. DRUMMOND said the hon. gentleman spoke of this manufactory as being contrary to sound commercial and political principles, but the most important question was how this country could be supplied with the best possible article. He had beard some advice given to young members that evening : if he might gently offer a hint it would be that they should read the blue-books on the various subjects into which committees had inquired. They would find that to trust to the trade would be to trust.to that to which - no trust could be given. After a few words from Mr. EWART, the vote was agreed to. On the vote of 221,0001. for artificers' wages, Sir W. CODRINGTON called attention to the desti tution prevailing at Woolwich. He thought some steps ought to be taken to relieve this distress ; he would not say by a direct vote, but by some means whieh might fairly fall within the means of the Government. The peo le ought to be passed to where they could get work. Sir W. WILLIAMS would urgently press upon the Government the consideration of the matter to which the hon. and gallant member had referred. Sir F. SMITH called attention to the small pay which Government artificers received ; he trusted that this evil would be remedied. Mr. BRISCOE and Mr. TOWNSEND corroborated the statements which had been made with reference to the distress prevailing at Woolwich. Toe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the subject had been under the consideration of the Go vernment, which had felt extremely desirous, if they could, to grant a sum to aid those persons to whom refe rence bad been made. But it had been felt, if the prece dent were once set, a door would be opened for claims which it would be difficult in many cases to meet. He under stood that many of the persons who were now out of employment were mere labourers, who nevertheless had received from Government good wages, almost equal to those of some classes of skilled artificers. Under such circumstances those people, being now discharged, re futed to take work at the wages which they bad formerly received, but endeavoured to obtain similar wages to those paid by the Government. Upon this they had, as might be expected, been unable to obtain employment. From communications which had been received from the Poorlaw Board, he had been led to suppose that the dis tress was not so great as the hon. gentleman supposed. The vote was then agreed to. Upon the vote of 228,5701., for clothing, dte., for the army, Mr. WILLIAMS called attention to the fact that the clothing of the Horse Guards cost double that of the ca valry of the line, and with regard to the Foot Guards that the expense was more than double that of the cor responding expense with regard to the line. He also urged that the number of Horse Guards was much larger than necessary ; it had been stated in that house by the Duke of Somerset (Lord Seymour) that 400 men would be amply sufficient for the purposes for which the Horse Guards were required. Sir J. TRELAWNY pointed out that the regulations of the Horse Guards prevented them obtaining a tho rough knowledge of their profession. He complained also of the extra pay enjoyed by the Guards as compared with the line, and that on service the Guards were exempted from detachment duty. At one time during the Crimean war the commander-in-chief, the chief of the staff, and three generals of brigade, were Guardsmen ; this showed that they were f avoure d more than the line. Another privilege they possessed was that they were not called upon for colonial service. The hon. gentleman referred to several other privileges which the Guards enjoyed as compared with their fellow-soldiers of the line. He de nied that there was anything in the argument that the Guards were entitled to peculiar privileges because they paid mere for their commissions than officers of the line, seeing that the addition was compensated by extra al lowances. Sir J. RAMSDEN reminded the hon. baronet that they were on the vote for clothing, with which the sys tem of promotions in the army, or the difference between the privileges enjoyed by the Guards and the line re spectively, had nothing to do. Whatever abuses there might be in the system of promotion, or however wrong it might be that the Guards should enjoy privileges which the line had not, that was no reason why our troops should go naked. (A laugh.) He advised the hon. baronet to bring the subject forward as a substan tive motion on a fitting opportunity. Sir J. TRELAWNY was proceeding to repeat a question put and replied to on a previous day as to the good conduct pay of the sergeants, when The CHAIRMAN interposed, observing that the question had no reference to the vote before the house. Sir J. TRELAWNY was still insisting on his right, amid loud cries of " Question," when An HON. MEMIER rose to order. The CHAIRMAN again decided that the hon. baronet was out of order. General CODRINGTON intimated that when the question was properly before the house he should be prepared to defend the Guards against the statements of the hon. member. Sir J. TRELAWNY thought the hon. gentleman the Under-Secretary for War would have treated him with a little more of courtesy. (A. laugh.) Sir J. RAMSDEN, in reply to Mr. Henley as to the increase in the charge of clothing, said that under the change that had recently been introduced, all the cloth and material for the clothing was sent to Weedon to be inspected, and it was the development of the new sys tem that occasioned the extra charge. The total sum was 174,0001. for the clothing of 69,722 men. The average Cost per rnau was 21. as. 6d. Mr. E. ELLICE suggested that in future estimates it would be well to have the number of men placed in a column against the cost of the clothing. Colonel BOLDERO doubted whether the present system was more economical than the old one, but he admitted that it was an improvement, Mr. S. HERBERT remarked that it was not intro duced as a measure of economy, but to relieve colonels of regiments from a good deal of odium which, under the old system, was most unjustly attached to them. The vote was agreed to. 617,9001. was voted, in addition to the 319,00 a pre viously voted, for provisions, forage, fuel, and light. In answer to Mr. RIDLEY, Sir J. RAMSDEN said there was no intention of making any alteration in the allowance for billeting. In answer to Sir J. TRELAWNT, Sir J. RAMSDEN said improvements in the system of accommodation in barracks for married women was being gradually carried out. Col. SOMERSET complained of the smallness of the allowance to infantry officers of 2s. a day for the keep of a horse. He also urged that an allowance for one horse to the lieut.-colonel of a regiment was not sufficient. Captain VIVIAN complained that the officers of ca valry had Bd. a day taken from them to pay for the keep of their horses. Sir J. RAMSDEN said that 2s. a day had been fixed after great consideration, and it was thought to be quite sufficient, especially as the general contract price of the keep of a horse was only ls. 6d. The stoppage for horses of cavalry officers was under consideration. The vote was then agreed to after some further con versation. The next vote was 400,0001., in addition to 199,0001. already voted for warlike stores. Colonel BOLDERO said he saw the other day at Woolwich two monster mortars, made to throw shells weighing 478 pounds. The shells were made in the ar senal at Woolwich. He wished to know by whose au thority those guns were made, whose property they were, and what they cost I He was informed they cost 12,0001. a piece. They had not been proved, and he wished to know if they were to be tested, and whether they were for land or sea service ! Lord PALMERSTON said he was the person who ordered the mortars. (Hear, hear.) In the beginning of the war with Russia these mortars were projected by two ingenious persons, and ordered by the Government. One was intended for the Baltic, and the other for the Black Sea, but there was a failure in the firm which was to make them, and they were not finished till the war was over. They had not been tried, but he had no doubt they would have been very efficient. ; Colonel BOLDERO—To whom do they belong, and what did they cost I Lord PALMERSTON—They belong to the public. I can't say what they cost. I will give notice when they are to be tested. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY complained that it was not clear that ad the sums specified in the estimates were spent on the articles on which they were applicable. A Ot,oeooa/t.nnwkansnwin h spent lastand : year for gunpowder s W urn hat of 7 wa o s the They had therefore every reason to hope that similar re sults would follow the adoption of a similar course in the northern part of the island. Only there must be no di vided authority, and the staff must be partly a paid one and partly composed of gentlemen who gave their ser vices from purely philanthropic motives. The LORD ADVOCATE was far from regretting the strength of statement employed in the report, and by his hon. fr ienclf ; on the contrary, he rejoiced at it from the very bottom of his heart. The existing state of things had long been a disgrace to Scotland. The attention of Parliament had been called to it several years ago, and an attempt was made t.) provide a remedy, but that at tempt failed. Every ore of the suggestions contained in the commissioners' report had been proposed by his deeply lamented friend, Lord Rutherfurd, in 1848 ; but there was at that time not a single petition in favour of the measure. So far from it, his lamented friend's bill was p e titi one d aga i nst by twelve of the largest and most important of the Scotch counties. (Hear.) After the failure of his noble friend he (the Lord Advocate) did• not feel justified in putting the subject forward again until circumstances should have brought about a change. In 1854, however, he passed his Valuation Bill in older that assessments might be made at a future time is aid of any public object. In the next year that noble-minded woman (Hiss Dicks) came to Edinburgh and visited the asylum. She said that there was something wrong, and wished to be allowed to make a visit at night when she would not be expected. He (the Lord Advocate) felt some difficulty in giving authority to an unofficial per.on to do what she proposed, and she therefore applied to his right hon. friend the Home Secretary. His right hon. friend asked him his opinion, and he (the learned lord) stated that the whole dealing with lunacy was utterly disgraceful, and that it could only be reached by a commission of inquiry, or by immediate legislation. The commission which had just sat was thereupon appointed, and he (the Lord Advocate) rejoiced to think that if the mea sure which bad failed in 1848 were now proposed, there would be hale fear of its meeting any serious opposition in either house. (Hear, hear.) His hon. friend might depend on the subject receiving the best attention of the goverment. (Cheers.) Colonel SYKES said the house should understand that the censures contained in the report were not of universal application. There were asylums in Scotland —that, for instance, at Aberdeen—which would bear comparison with the very best in the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. H. JOHNSTONE observed that their infor mation on the subject of lunacy was now much more complete than it was forty years ago. The government would meet with the general and cordial support of the people of Scotland. (Hear, hear.) Mr. FERGUS hoped the Lord Advocate would bring in his measure without a moment's delay. (Cheers.) The Speaker then left the chair. SUPPLY. 251,2281. for manufacturing departments, barrack masters, storekeepers, ate. Mr. SPOONER asked for an explanation of a certain advance, which he understood had been made to an American house, to enable it to take a contract for small arms, which house had sine* failed. Sir J. RAMSDEN said it would be in the recollection of the committee that when the war was at its height there was a very great demand for small arms. Orders were in the first place given to all the English houses which could take them, and then contracts were entered into in France. Still the demand coLtinued ; and Messrs. Fox and Henderson, who were then engaged upon va rious contracts for the Board of Ordnance, stated to the Government that they could procure 20,000 stand of arms from an American house. The arms were to be of the very best construction ; but it was stated that in order to enable the American house to set up the extensive machinery that would be requisite, an advance must be made. Under the circumstances, and con sidering the pressing nature of the demand there was for arms, it was considered advisable to make the advance asked for. The whole contract was for 87,0001. odd, and it was agreed to advance one-fourth, it being stipulated one-fourth should be deducted from the payment en ac count of each instalment of the muskets delivered. After a time, however, the Government were informed that more money would be wanted, and it then became a question for the Government to consider whether it would realise the securities deposited with it or make further advance. The latter course was adopted, and the total sum thus advanced amounted to 35,6591. During all this time the muskets were being delivered of a very good quality and with great regularity, but when ten thousand had been sent in the Government received an intimation that the contract could not be completed. The balance due at that time from the American house was 24,1101., and steps were immediately taken to realise the securities. These consisted of a mortgage on the Ameri can manufactory and machinery, and of a claim on the estate of Messrs. Fox and Henderson. Messrs. Fox and Henderson had also failed, but it was right to say that not a shadow of an imputation rested on them, they having acted throughout in a thoroughly honourable and straightforward manner. (Cheers.) Mr. SPOONER asked whether it was true that a proof for 2,5001. had been tendered against the estate of Messrs. Fcx and Henderson I Sir J. RAMSDEN could not exactly say. Of course the Government had no claim against Messrs. Fox and Henderson's estate until the American property had been realised and proved to be insufficient. Mr. NEWDEGATE was understood to assert that the home trade would have been perfectly able to supply any amount of arms required if it bad only been treated with fairness by the Government. It was improper for the Government to employ foreigners in the manufac ture of arms, when the Birmingham manufacturers were able to turn out 160,000 stand of arms a year. Lord PALMERSTON twitted the hen. member with advocating the interest of his constituents. The hon. gentleman had referred to the first year of the war ; but it should be remembered that unless they had been supplied with arms at the beginning of the war, the Government would have been blamed for the neglect. As to the notion of improved arms being kept a secret, nobody but the hon. gentleman supposed that this could be done. If an improved musket was brought out in Russia or any other country, it would be immediately a P f O e O w introduced her e . (H ear, hear.) q E ue ß sti r o e n p a li f e r d o ' m Mr. Wittiest; Sir J. RAMSDEN denied that any workmen had been enticed from Bi rm i ngham to Enfield. It had been After Mr. S N discovered that one man, who had been employed at Enfield, had left his employment at Birmingham, and be had been sent back. He denied that the Government were anxious to take the trade into their own hands. After a conversation, chiefly between Mr. SPOONER and Lord PALNERSTON, Colonel SYKES said that in thirteen years there had been a loss of 5 00,0001. upon the manufactures carried on by the Government. The change of weapon from the "Old Brown Bess" to the improved Indian rifle occa sioned an extra eirpenee of 31. Bs. 6d. per piece ; and this expenditure would shortly be increased, for an improved musket had been produced, and he contended that the British soldier ought to have the best description of arms. He objected to the manufacture of small arms at Enfield as an infringement on the principles of free trade. Colonel NORTH supported the vote. Mr. NEWDEGATE reminded the house that the Government had not set up this factory at Enfield in opposition to the private trade of England, and asked was it right that the officers of this competitive esta blishment should be made judges of the works of their rivals in trade I To make the competition fair, and pre serve the character of the public servants, they should separate the inspection from the manufacturing depart ment. Lord PALMERSTON said that the hon.- gentleman assumed there was some personal interest in this matter. He spoke of competition as if any person made a profit out of Enfield. That manufactory was established to produce the best possible description of weapon for the public service, and the private trades were called on to do the same. It was necessary that some person should be appointed on the part of the Government to see that the arms furnished by the trade were equal to pattern, and the proper person to appoint was one acquainted with the process of the manufacture. Mr. CROSSLEY had originally opposed the vote for this manufactory, and all he had seen or heard since had confirmed his opinion. He objected to have the officers made judges of the arms supplied by the trade. He would sugge,t that some gentleman acquainted with arms should be appointed to examine those produced at En field, and by private manufaoturers. If an accurate ac count was kept he believed the Government would find they were considerable losers. Mr. DISRAELI said the noble lord denied that En field was a competitive establishment ; that was true to this extent, that the manufactory there had not yet pro duced a single rifle, although it had drawn away the best artificers from the private trade, and had caused many to enter into the service of foreign governments. He con sidered that it was a very great mistake on the part of the Government to make an advance to a private manu facturer with whom they had entered into a contract. (Hear.) But in this case they were not content with an advance. The question raised by the hon. member for Warwickshire that evening was a very important one, and although the present vote might not be a fit occa sion to decide it, the house would before long have to press a decided opinion one way or other. It was con trary to every sound commercial principle that Govern. ment should enter into competition with private traders. If the manufactory at Enfield was a competitive estab lishment, they were working against private trades with capital drawn from the general taxation of the country ; but if it was not a competitive establishment, it was nothing but a normal school of gun-making, and it be Colonel BOLDERO said that when we went to war with Russia we had an immense supply of gunpowder ; that supply had been devoured during the war ; and be fore the war was over we were getting deficient in pow der, and it was quite proper to furnish all the magazines again. The vote was then agreed to. 153,1361., in addition to 82,0001. already voted, for fortifications at home and abroad was the next vote. Sir C. NAPIER drew attention to the insufficiency of the defences at Woolwich. Sir F. SMITH observed that the Portsmouth defences were very effective. Sir C. NAPIER had not said a word about Ports mouth, but urged that a hulk in Portsmouth Harbour would have been as good as the harbour battery. Lord PALMERSTON said the question of the de fences at Woolwich was an important one, and had oc cupied the attention of the government; that the pecu liar conformation of the ground about Woolwich would always render it difficult to defend it by works on the land side. Against any attacks by water it might be defended by gun-boats and batteries, but on the land side they must always, he believed, depend upon troops for its defence. Mr. RICH trusted the committee would pause before making any grant for fortifying commercial towns, or raising batteries which might be altogether useless. Sir C. NAPIER had no doubt that a great deal of dependence might be placed upon the army, but it could not do impossibilities. By means of redoubts Woolwich might be put into such a state that it would be impos sible for an enemy to take it by a coup de main, and he trusted some works would be thrown up there which came necessary to ask what was result — produced by the expenditure on it. Lord PALMERSTON feared that a good portion of the discussion turned on the meaning of words ; if the Government were to set up a manufactory of Articles to sell, then again that would be a competitive establish ment and a very impolitic proceeding ; but if the ques tion was how the wants of the public service were best to be supplied, in his opinion the more the Government did under the inspection of their own servants the better. Of course no government establishment could be on such a scale as to supply all the wants of the public service. His right hon. friend the First Lord of the Admiralty kept a competition establishment for building ships, but when a great n u m b er o f gun boats were required, h e h a d to ask the assist ance o f p r i va te traders. Some yea rs ago there was a want of li ne - o f-battle ships, and forty were ordered from th e p r i va t e b u ilders ; but they were so bad that they were called the "forty thieves.' The advan tage of public establishments was, that things supplied were good in quality, and as cheap as possible. Lord Panmure had lately established at Weedon a manufac tory of clothing for the army, and the result was that the things were much better made, and the cloth of a bet ter quality than bail been supplied by the contractors. The same way with the manufacture of cartridges ; and when he wax at Woolwich last year he found would be capable of resisting any sudden attack until efficient relief could be afforded. Lord PALMERSTON said that representations had been made by . 8 everal commercial towns to the effect that they were totally unprotected against attacks from foreign cruisers. The estimates were so framed as to pro vide for the execution of batteries to defend these ports, but her Majesty's Government intended to proceed gra dually and to erect only such works as were considered the most necessary. He believed that very trifling out works would be sufficient to defend these towns, and was confident that they would provide such a volunteer artil- levy corps as would be able to man the batteries in case NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. EIAYTER, a new writ was or dered for the borough of Leeds, in the room of Mr. R. Hall, deceased. RETURNS. Various unopposed returns were ordered to be laid on the table of the house. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented for an equalisation of the poor rates in the Metropolis ; against the paper duties ; for and against the present beer bill ; against the May nooth grant ; against the opium traffic in China ; against the regulation clauses in the Savings Banks bill. • WHITSUN HOLIDAYS. Lord PALMERSTON moved the adjournment of the house, on its rising, till Thursday next. Mr. HUDSON put a question to the noble lord at the head of the Government, relative to passing tolls on shipping, whether it was the intention of the Govern• went to introduce a bill this session for the removal of this charge at Whitby, Burlington, and Hull, and whether it was the intention of Government to deal with the question of local charges on shipping, and also the regulation of pilots I The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the question of passing tolls was in the hands of the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, who would, after the Viihitsun holidays, if the questions were repeated, state what would be done. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought the state of public business was such as to prevent the introduction of a bill this session on these subjects. The motion for adjournment was then agreed to. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord PALMERSTON moved that on Thursday, the 18th June next, and every succeeding Thursday, orders of the day should have precedence of notices of motions, in order to facilitate the business of the session. NE Vi 7 CA STLE-UND ER-LYNE. The SPEAKER announced that the petition against he sitting member for this borough had been with drawn. of need for the defence of their own property. All that was requisite in such cases was proper defences and a sufficient number of pieces of ordnance. Sir J. TRELAWNY was afraid that the vote, ;f agreed to, would lead to considerable additional expendi ture. Instead of 300,0001., the amount would probably exceed 1,000,0001. Mr. AYRTON thought the Government ought to mention the harbours on which the sum of 13,5001. was to be expended. It certainly must be intended for only two or three harbours, and he thought it no't at all de sirable to commit the )3ouse to an expenditure of 300,0001. Lord PALMERSTON was not in a position to state the particular towns on which the money was to be ex pended. If the proposal was to begin fortifications on which 300,0001. must be expended it might be _argued that it would be necessary to complete them or all the money would be thrown away. Bat the intention was to fortify a number of places, each of which would cost only a small sum. It did not follow that it would be necessary to proceed with all the fortifications contem plated. He might state that Liverpool, Hull, and Sun derland were threeof the places from at hich applications had been received. General WILLIAMS supported the vote, and was of opinion that the contemplated works could not be com menced at too early a period. To show the importance of fortifying our seaports he might state that during the French war the ports of France were so welt fortified that Nelson could not put a stop to the French coasting trade. After some further discussion, in which Sir H. Ver ney, Mr. Rich, and Sir C. Napier took part, the vote was agreed to. On the motion of Mr. WILLIAMS, the chairman then reported progress, and the house resumed. MINISTERS' MONEY (IRELAND). On the order of the day for going into committee on this bill, Lord J. MANNERS objected to going on at that hour wi , h the bill. Certain returns with respect to the pro perty of the ecclesiastical commission affecting the very basis of the bill had been moved for, and he submitted, therefore, that the measure ought not at present to be proceeded with. Sir G. GREY denied that the returns which the noble lord referred to bad any direct bearing on the bill. Mr. HORSMAN explained that the income of the present year was 143,0001., and that of the last year was 93,6001. The balance, after payment of ministers' money, would amount to about 2,0001. Ha thought that these facts would afford all necessary information to the house. Mr. HAMILTON said that this bill was giving to the owners and inhabitants of certain towns in Ireld.n 1 an advantage to which they had no right. S ill, after ti e division of the other night, he felt that the house had decided on abolishing that payment ; but with respect to the fund out of which that payment was to be made good no decision had been arrived at. It was therefore necessary that the returns to which his noble friend had referred should be before the house before any further steps were taken, Mr. BUTT felt convinced that this bill did not affect the security of church property in Ireland. He looked upon ministers' money as a mere tax, and nothing more. He believed that the protestants in Ireland were desirous to have the tax abolished. (Hear.) Not one petition had been presented by the protestants of that country in favour of the tax. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY objected to this measure, as it was pressed on by reason of certain corporations in Ireland setting themselves above the law. Sir A. ELI'ON objected to the measure, because he thought one great measure ought to be introduced for dealing with all the religious questions in Ireland. He objected to non-members getting up first upon one side, and then upon the other, and attacking the creeds and advantages enjoyed by those opposed to them. The house went into, and the bill passed through, committee. SAVINGS' BANKS BILL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER with drew this bill, in order to re-introduce it with certain amendments. Leave was then given to bring in another bill. CINQUE PORTS ACT AMENDMENT. This bill was read a third time and passed. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. LOWE (in committee) asked for leave to bring in a bill to amend certain technical difficulties which had arisen in the construction of the act of last year. Agreed to. MR. BERTOLACCI. Mr. CONING HAM moved that the petition of Mr. Francis Robert Bertolacci, auditor of the Duchy of Lan caster, praying the house to appoint a select committee, to inquire into the statements set forth iii hi, petition— [presented May 19], be printed with the votes. The hon. member read a long extract from a speech of Mr. Strutt's, explaining the circumstances under which Mr. Bertolacci received his appointment. He intended to ask for a select committee on the s u bj ec t, and his object in moving that the petition be printed was to put the souse in possession of the main outlines of the case. Mr Bertolacci was dismissed from his office for doing his duty too faithfully to the crown and to the country. Mr. WISE, on the part of the select committee on public petitions, stated that they did not think it ad visable to print the petition, because it contained sixty folio pages, and would cost 251. to print, besides that it charged some noblemen and gentlemen with serious offences which they would have na opportunity of an swering in that house; and therefore, according to the rules laid down for their guidance, they could not print it. - Mr. BAINES knew nothing personally of the trans actions referred to, but headmitted the charges contained in the petition ought to be investigated. Ha was autho rised by the two noblemen who had preceded him in his office to say that they were most anxious to meet these charges, and only wished to have the inquiry as prompt and complete as possible. Mr. FORSTER suggested that the petition, instead of being printed, should be referred to a select commit. tee. (No, no.) Sir. G. GREY said that any hon. member who pre sented such a petition ought to have at once taken some steps to act on it; and the hon. member for Dover ought, instead of his present motion, to 1311,V0 • asked at once for a committee. He would suggest it be referred to a select committee of five members. If this motion was with drawn the Government would give their support to the appointment of a committee. Mr. CONINGIIAM, on that understanding, would withdraw his motion. The motion was then withdrawn. HOP DUTIES. On the motion of Mr. DODSON, the following were nominated the select committee on these duties :—Mr. Dodson, Viscount Pevensey, Mr. W. Martin, Mr. B. Hope, Sir E. Derirg, Mr. Bass, Mr. Hanbury, Sir John Shelley, Mr. J. Locke, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Brand, Mr. Beach, Mr. Ball, Mr. Blakemore, and Mr. Knight. TURNPIKE TOLLS (IRELAND). Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD obtained leave to bring in a bill to discontinue the taking of toll on the turnpike roads now existing in Ireland, and to provide for the maintenance of such roads as public roads, and for the discharge of the debts due thereon, and for other pur poses relating thereto. PROTECTION OF YOUNG FEMALES EITEN SION. Lord R. GROSVENOR obtained leave to bring in a bill to extend the law for the protection of yonng fe , males between the ages of 12 and 14, and of young fe males of unsound mind. ECCLESIASTICAL REVENUES (IRELAND ) Mr. J. GREENE moved for returns of the revenues derived from lands by the archbishops and bishops of Ireland, distinguishing the amounts received from rents and amount received from fines, and the gross and net amounts ; the number of acres of land from which the rents and fines are derived ; the average value per acre of those lands, an d t o t a l vaue ; of the revenues derived from the lands of the church in the hands of the Eccle siastical Commissioners, distinguishing rents and fines, and stating to what extent perpetuities have been granted under the Act 3 and 4 Will. IV. ; of the num ber of acres of ecclesiastical lands in the hands of the commissioner ; of what leases have been made in per-. ' petuity by archbishops and bishops under the Act 3 and 4 Wilt. IV., c. 37 ; of thenumber of acr es o f c h urc h lands in Ireland, whether held by the archbishops and bishop., or by the ecclesiastical commissioners ' • of the rents and fines of all such lands, and of th e total value ; of the total ecclesiastical tithes of Ireland as now pay able under the last Commutation Act ; of the total lay tithes of Ireland ; and of the value of church leases for 21 years, as ascertained from sales in the Court of Chan cery and Incumbered Estates Courts, in years' purchase. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD feared it would be almost impossible to give the information required, and there fore requested the hon. member to postpone his motion till Tnursday next, to give him an opportunity of com municating with the authoritiesin Inland on thesubject. Mr. GREENE said that his request for a similar re turn had been assented to in 1856, and he should there fore press his motion. The motion was negatived without a division. SAVINGS BANK (No. 2) BILL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought up this hill, which was read a first time. RETURNS ORDERED. DIVORCE (SOOTLAND.)—Oa the motion of Sir E. PERRY, return of the number of decrees of divorce a vinculo matrimonii pronounced by the Court of Sessio❑ in Scotland during the present century, distinguishing whether the suit was promoted by husband or wife. SAYINGS BANNS.—On the motion of Mr. ESTOOURT, return showing whether any, and, if any, what defalca tions have been discovered to have taken place in MY- ings banks since the let day of July 1851, together with copies of any correspondence in relation thereto, between the trustees and managers of such savings banks and the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. _ _ ELECTION EXPENSES.—On the motion of Sir J. PAK INGTON for Sir F. Kelly, a return from each election auditor of the total amount of the audited expenses in- curred by each candidate to serve as a member in the present Parliament, especially distinguishing the ex penses, if any, of conveying electors to the poll, the num ber and expenses of the polling places, and of rooms en gaged as committee rooms , the number and expenses of c e a le n c v t a io s n se a r g s en a ts n , d co o m th m er it s t , ee te m h en,clerks, messengers, p a id expenses of printing ad dresses, placards and advertisements ; setting forth also the total number of voters on the registry, and the total number of votes polled for each candidate. CHEESE.—On the motion of Sir P. G. EGERTON, ac count of the quantities of cheese imported into the several ports of Great Britain, in each month of the year 1856, distinguishing the - Enropean, - United States, and colonial produce ; and of all European cheese, exclusive of Bri tish cheese, exported from England in the year 1856 (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 249, of ses sloe 1856). ARMY PROMOTI,NS ,v+finil of Col, NoRTHr return of the nmiii , s i,ee-co -)fficer4 of the army who were pro/noted to commissions while SA-s -in the field with the army of the East, between May 1, 1854, and Aug. 1, 1856 ; stati ng the regiment to which, they belonged and the regiment or corps to which 01 were promoted ; and specifying if they received appoint ments as adjutants or quartermasters, and if now sel l ' ing on full or half•pay. BARRACKS, &c.-0o the motion of Col. NORTH, return of the several barracks and encampments occupied by troops on the 14 day of January, 1857, with the Dn' ber of rank and file they are each calculated to contain showing, in a tabular form, if the barrack rooms an d passages are lighted with gas ; if separate quarters ar c e t provided for married priv a t e so ldi ers , as distinglii 3 b e from families in barrack rooms ; if ovens, or means c` roasting, are provided in the kitchens ; and if °vent. , f ° : instructing soldiers in baking br ea d are a tt ac h e d ; if five courts, skittle grounds, or the mean s of p rac ti s ing gPm: nastic exercises are provided for soldiers; if any cricket' ground is attached to the station or provided at the el' pense of Government ; and alsothe amount of accornt °°. dation for libraries and reading rooms in each barrack, MR. CHIEF JUSTICE DRAPER.—Oa the motion of e LABOUOHERE, copy of the letter addressed by Mr. Ch OLr Justice Draper to her Maj e sty' s S ecretar y o f State ; the Coloaies, bearing date th e 6th day o f May, 1 85 " together with a copy of the memorandum therein re' fared to. WROUGHT IRON ORDNANOE.—On the motion of M r. EWART, copies of the correspondence which has take ° place between the War Department and the ger se t Y i Shot and Iron Company on the , mbject of the 12-in e A wrought iron gun manuf a ct ure d by th em an d p r esent , ' to her Majesty's Government ; of all corresr nden ce t which has tak en pl ace b e t ween th e W ar D epa rtaie% and other manufactu rers o f wroug ht i ron or d nanc e; an amount of public money paid to private inanu f ic turer: for eqxtriments in the construction of wrought ore° iron ordnance, with particulars of the amount paid f ° each firm or private individual. Tne house adjourned at half-past one. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL--MIT 29. bo To-day there was a thi n a tt en d ance o f th e trade, - showed some di s p os iti on t o b uy, b ut t h e great a d aa van., asked by holders for th e moa t par t caused them to a bstl a from making purchases. Wheat may be quoted 4d to al per 701bs, and flour i s per b arrel dearer, Oats and oatnie"ii were in fair request, and ld per 451 b and 6d to 9d perl°,, more money was generally realised in the sales made. J 3a ,. ley, beans, and peas met a slo w sa l e, at a b out late Prlet% Indian corn was at Gist held for our extreme rates; 9 . : olose, however, it gave way 6d per q r ., 39 s per 4801bs be% accepted for yellow from the qu a y. E xcee di n gly' 6° o weather prevails, and the growing crops are reported unexceptionable. -.....m. WAKEFIELD-MAY 29. A fair supply of fresh wheats. Holders are very 6111 r ' rani demand an advance on the late rates, w hi c h ratted checks trade, but nevertheless a moderate busi ness po s ,, E b l , at fully is par quarter dearers. Barley unaltered. sale for beans is hardly so active as recently. Oats and other articles as before. Average prices of grain—Wheat, 59s 6d ; bailey, 4 ; 9d; oats, 33s 3d ; beans, 40s ld ; peas, 45s rye, —s. Od. EXETER—MAY 29. 6c l ; COEN.—Wheat, 7s 9d to 8s 3d ; barley, 5s to 5 0 6 3, grinding do., OF Od to Os Od. O a t s , 3 s 3d to 3 8 Beans, 08 to 0 Od. Peas, 00s Od to 008 Od. FLOUR. —Fine, 45s Od to 46s Oda seconds, 43s 0 to i ll Od per sack. l3e st CATTLE. —There was a small supply of bullocks. „et beef, from 108 to 118 9d p er score ; i n f er i or, 9s 60. to 1 0 roa score ; fat calves, sid to 63 per lb ; bsirrenners, O s Od O r ; Od. per score ; cows and calves, 121. to 201. us ; butell e b; calves, Od to 7d per lb., rearing calves —s to - a el l,t sheep, ewes and lambs„2l. Os to 31. —s per couple; evratio to Btl ; wethers, 8(1 8 ; 0; lambs, to Od per lb. - 1- ,0 large size, —s to —s ; second size, —s to —s ; to —s ; suckers, —s to —s. Rough fat, 43d or Pork carcases from 9s 6d to 10s 6d per score. BRISTOL SUGAR—MAY 29. We have had a qu i e t wee k f or b o th raw and inan, tiO 06. tured sugars, an d, w ith th e excep ti on o f a b ou t 300 pat West India, whi c h so ld a t sfi s 6d t o 58 s 6d , we are aware of any transactions. The refined market is steady, with very little o fferia; e i Rum is much wanted, bat the recent arrivals are 104 j ready for the market. COAL MARK Prices of Coals per ton ai ET.—MAY 29. the close of the market. s. d. Longridge's Wst Hartley 16 0 Tanfield Moor l4 3 Tanfield Moor Butos 14 3 Wylain Bates's West Hartley 13 6 Howard's West Hartley Netherton 16 0 Hastings' Hartley l6 0 North Percy Hartley _l3 6 Huddle W. Hartley l3 6 Davison's West Hartley 16 3 Ward's West Hartley _l4 3 Wallsend, &a. Wallsond, &o. Eden Acorn Close .............. . •i6 3 Braddyll 15 Framwellgate Fleugh Hall l* g littswell 17 3 stewart's 11 j Riddell l4 0 Whitworth l6 i i 0 Hatton Lyons Main ...•.' (I Ilartlepool l6 ,0 Trimdon 16 6 Hatton Lyon's Stone Coal l9 0 -eaham l6 0 Eden Main l6 Ships at market, 56; sold, 37. Cassop 15 & Russell's H ettou .... „ l6 6 West Kelloe 15 0, COURSE OF EXCHA N G E.--YESTERDAT. Amsterdam 11 18% Gibraltar •• • • • • • • o , 70, Ditto, throe months .. 12 % Leghorn •••• .. • • •' 8271 Rotterdam 12 % Genoa •• • • •• " Antwerp .............. 25 55 Milan .... ••••.••• • • '• Brussels .... 25 55 Venice ........ •• 4216 Hamburgh ............ 13 8 Naples .. .• •• •• •• ••• 130 4 Allona •••••••••• •• •• • • • • Palermo ••• . • ..... •• •• 130c+Paris .• .• •• • • ..•• •• •• 2530 ;Messina • • ....... •• •• 50 4 Ditto, three months .. 25 75 Lisbon .. S2S Marseilles 25 77% 'Oporto •• Bourdeaux .• ,Rio Janeiro ...... • • • • • • Frankfort-on-Maine •• 119% 'Buenos Ayres — Berlin •• •• y e •• •• •• •• •• • • [New York days' sight Vienna • • .... 10 25 'Philadelphia Trieste.. •• •• . 1 ••• • •• tlO 37 PRICES OF BULLION, Ilt A - Petersburg A O CI 36% !Foreign Gold In Bars X 0 0 Madrid 48% Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 ,`", 0 Cadiz ......... • • ...,, —. 49% Mexican Dollars ...• 0" 0 0 Barcelona .......... .• New Dollars 0 n 0 Seville.. • • .. • •• Silver in bars U LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAT 29. STOCK EXOHANGE.—The market has been withouv mation, and closed quietly to-day at the following So. Caledonian, 36a— Ch es t er an d Holyhead, 18i—East cashire, 974 - Lancashire and Yorkshire, 104 5-I , °, lz oi and North Western, 1044 $-----111anchester, Sheffield , v Lincoln, 42 834 —South Eastern, 2:,416, Dutch Rhenish, 1 die.—Grand Trunk of Canada, 14 MANCHESTER, MAY 29. a , o 70 STOCK EXCHANGE. -- There was not mu c h nsineSS, os, prices were rather lower.—Bl ac kb urns , 8 15-16—Sbefli e of 421—Midlands, 83k—Leeds, 100 I—Great Western ro Canada, 24 —Grand Trunk, 1151—P res t on an d ' l ' (No. 2), 71—East Lancashire (Fifths), 7-16 p. BIRMINGHAM. MAY 29. STOCK EXCHANGE. —This market was inanimate to- 0 ; 11 0 and prices a shade lower. Closing prices : Stour Iro 41 . shares 8i 9—Great Western, 66 66—London and Non' e Western, 104/ 'l—Manchester, Sheffield. and Lincolnslik r o i 424 43—Midland, 831 4—South Staffords, 91 and Birmingham Canal. 24 25—Stourbridge and Sicl„, 11 ,11, rninster Bank, 154. 161—Birmingham Old U n i o n 01 ' 14i 151. DUBLIN, MAY a i I STOCK EXCHANGE.—Three p er C ent. Consols, 99 Do. for June Acc oun t , 92g i —New Three per Cent. St° 92 A 92 —Do. for June Account, 92i [ AD VERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and are unequalled in their astonishing effects in all pai n '; i g and serious cases of ulcerations, being as penetrating ehe powerful, ex,rcising a wonderful influence over , 0 diseased system. But " one established fact is wortP thousand theories. Charles Croft, of Chepstow, .;. 1 :1 afflicted with an abscess in the side ; baffl i ng all ine,u l "„i • de , paiiing of relief, he was persuaded to use P'', 4 loway's Ointment and Pills ; he did so, and in a 813 „, ° e - t time the healing process commenced, and the P° 1 1„ - r s cure rapidly followed.—Sold by all medicine ve" - b. a . throughout the world ; at Professor H o ll owa y' s B st lishmentq, 244, Strand, London, and 80, M a iden- 1 A 13 ,. New York ; by A. Stampa, Constantinopl e ; dicy, Smyrna; and E. Muir, Malta. BIRTHS. OF A SON. , 0 ' On the 29th inst., at 43, Glocester-place, Pon 4 - 0 r square, the wife of Win. Richard Fisher, Esq barriste at-law. On the 29th i ns t. at Wickham - place, Clapton,t ho virfi of R. S. Thornhill, OF A DAVGIITER. Aa r' On the 26th inst., a t St. L eonar d' s - on -S ea , the chioness of Queensberry—twins, prematurely. re, On the 29th in 4., at Bedf or d H ouse , T av i s t oc k-aqua the wife of Nathl. Powell, Esq. MARRIED. rAeorg a On the 28th inst., at the p ar i s h c h urc h o f St. the Martyr, Queen-square, George, youngest son °f to late Thomas Hart, Esq., of North W ea ld- p l ace , Essel' o f Fanny, youngest daughter of 1 'lnnis Edwards, Hart-stteet, Bloomsbury. On the 28th inst., at King's rn Py a cro on Church, Eferetl: n shire, Thomas M. Crooe, Esq., eldest son of T. Esq., of Cains-cros s , Gl ocestershire, to Nora Maria, 0 1P a use. daughter of the R ev . J . B . W ebb, of King ' s Pyou ,e o DIED. i On the 2 4 th inst., at 2, G ra y' s -i nn - p l ace , J o seph Sr a-t Esq., barrister-at-law, aged 83. of On the 28th inst , at Brighton, Archd. Paris, Pg . ' Abdale House, Her 85. On the 27th inst., ts, at aged Pontonville, Mr . Henry Do rsett, aged• ' On the 27th i ns t., a t St. A nn ' s -hill, C um berland, Be, nald Graham, Esq., aged 81. q., On the 27th inst., at Blackheath, Wm. Seager , aged GO. str O ee n t, th F e en 2 c 7 h th ur i c n h st s . t , ree l t r : Wm. Henry Arnold, o f Loncloa- On the 28th inst., at Portugal-street, Grosvenor-square' Sarah, Dowager Lady Di llon Massy. On the 28th inst., at Tandridge Priory, Godotone, R de Welbank, Esq,, Capt. H.E.1.C.5., and one of the -e4;. Brethren of the Corporation of the Trinity Houses J-1 don, aged 8.0. -- LONDON: Printed and Published by KURD° YOUNG' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in tho eountY of Middlesex, Saturday, May 30, 1857. se 41 01 glaib.. • a th th Dc • XI •. at R th sa SUI