The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-11 00:00:00

erbtrb Mbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Justice ERLE and a SpecialL.:.uxtiry.2 CO. PIR ATING COPT -BOOKS.--SO U TER V. DARiIE Sir Frederick Thesiger, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Ogle ap peared for the plaintiff; and M r. Sergeant Talfourd, Mr. Knowles, Mr. Peacock , and Mr. W ar ren for the defence. This was an issue direc ted to this Court by the Court of Chancery to try whether a series of copy-books which had been published by Messrs. Darn e and Co., s chool-booksellers , were or were not an infr i ngement of a series of copy-books called " Foster's Copybooks," of which the plaintiffs, Messrs. Souter and Co., school-booksellers in Fleet-street, are the proprietors. The defendants had pleaded that "Foster's Copy Books" were not original, that there was no novelty in them. Sir FREDERICK TRESIGER haring opened the case, and characterised it as one of considerable importance to the scholastic community, the following witnesses were called to support the plaintiff's case, that the invention was perfectly original : Mr. R. E. Branston, en engraver and printer, in St. Andrew's-hill, Doctor's Commons, deposed that he had pre pared the plates for printing the copy-books of Mr. Foster, and that he was engaged upon them several years, during which time he was in constant communication with Mr. Foster. The books comprised a system of teaching writing from the earliest to the more advanced stages. The plates were for letter-press printing. He never saw any copy books of a similar nature until they were brought to him by Mr. Foster. 500,000 or 600,00 had been printed. He considered it a very great improvement in the mode of teaching writing. The first series was published four years ago. First saw Darnell's book about two years ago, and found it a copy of Foster's system. Cross-examined—Never saw faint lines printed in the same way. Never saw pencil lines drawn by a master. Mr. Law said be published the first series for Mr. Souter, in 1E41; 450,000 of the whole series had been sold up to Christmas last. Alterations had been made from time to time in the various editions. Mr. William Aitcheson said he had been actively occupied in teaching writing for twenty years, and had examined the various works and systems of wilting which had been published in this country, and in France, Germany, and Spain. Although he might have found individual points in the various systems he examined, yet he did not find any entire system resembling Foster's, which possessed the principle of ; ; tiding the pupil, by light lines, of frequent repetitions, the c,radual withdrawal of the ex amples, and the application of diagonal lines, denoting the size, shape, and slope of the letters; diagonal lines had been used in former systems, but only equi-distant across the page, but they would not guide the pupil as to the proper distances of the different parts of the letters; there were also alternate tracings or lines leaving blanks for the pupils to fill up. In cross-examination a number of systems on the tracing principle were submitted to the witness. He admitted that they evinced the principle of diagonal lines, and flues to guide the formation and size of the letters, with alternate l'nes. The witness was cross-examined at great length on the book published by the defendants and the books pub lished by the plaintiffs. It appeared that the defendants' book did not follow the other so nearly as to come under the defeition of a fac simile, so far as the course of the examples IW2 I concerned. Ile- examined—The great novelty of Foster's system WC3, that the lines compelled the pupil to make the letters ,pro perly—neither too la-ge nor too small. It might be defined as a combination, into a practicul system, of all the rm provements that had been made from time to time. The systems of Nelly, Fergu 30, end Well (on which the NitneFs was examined) were not much used in schools. Mr. Josh. Hill, a schoolimister at Brentford, and the Rev. /Ir. Thomas, head Rifting-master of Christ's Hospital, spoke to the great value of Mr. Foster's system—especially the elementary portion, the first; but they considered the system a compilation of elements which had previously existed. Dry aelr's W 93 a copy, as nearly as possible. They thought Foster's diagonals, denoting the exact shape of the letters, Ins a very importsnt peculia r ity. The t ame thing Tres in Dal a ell's copy-books. Mr. Foster himself stated that he had bren engaged in teaching writing during the last twenty years; that he had . travelled over the continent and America, teaching vidm vestigating in his progress the various systems of teaching which prevailed in the parts he visited. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD then addressed the jury for the defendants, and contended that the copy-books of Dir. Foster contained no new invention y that the s 3 stem of tracing the characters in faint lines had been pursued by va.. rious teachers for years; that it had even been sug gested by Locke ; and would the jury, by a verdict for the plaintiff, set up Mr. Foster as the universal teacher of writing, as the great inventor of an entirely new system, when it had been shown that he had simply gathered fogether and published the improvements of others. No ch.ubt it was of great importance to Mr. Fester to get a favot , ahle verdict, and to exclude others from following up and acting upon th e suggestion of Locke, who said the proper w a y t o teac h a boy writing was by the master tracing the characters m feint red ir , k lines. Mr. Foster, and those who had preceded bin) had done nothing more. He hated they would not so fa ; forget their duty as to state to the world that Mr. Foster was coin led to be considered as the inventor of this system of writing. The Learned Serger'it concluded a poweiiul address, by submitting that their verdict would be for the defendant. Witnesses were called for the defence, and the case wet ad journed until toomorrow. EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.) WAKLEY P. COOS. This was an action brought by Mr. Wakley, M.P., for Finsbury, and coroner for the county of Middlesex, against the proprietors of the Medico? Times, to recover compensation in damages for the publication of a libel in their journal seriously affecting the professional and private character of the plaintiff. The Attorney-General with whom was Mr. Bramwell, appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. Cockburn, Q.C., Mr. Lush, and Mr. Healey, on the part of the defendant. The ArratlNET.GEltit.ll, in opening the case called the attention of the jury to the serious nature of the libel in question, and proceeded to read the same. The libel in question was contained in a letter addres ed to the editor of the -Vertical Times and signed " Vindicator," headed a pro posal for alr. Wakley's trial by a jury of gentlemen. The object of the letter, as the writer of the letter stated, was "to free a worthy man from hideous accusations, or sever from a high-nlinded profess:on a gangrenous member, peril ous to its safety." The letter went en to state that it would not impair his arguments to admit that the reputation of the plaintiff had been so far trodden under foot, that while on the one hand it could be cleansed, if redeemable at all, only by a vigorous effort, his utility and comfort of conscience on the is.her are bane for ever if that effort be not made and successfully. Befoulment has so far eaten into his name, that had he the best of desires and greatest of energies, it would kill both. A moral leprosy encrusts it each day, spreading, which repels each good, and keeps aloof each prudent man. True, the talent may be only imaginary, but public opinion gives vigour to the hypothetical virtue, and makes it as deadly to himself and those around him as though it were real. The fatality of public opinion— even, alas! if errone ous— offers him abroad asocial Lazar-house, alike infected and infecting, touching once and Wilting for ever! The London College Hospital was in its origin a gloiiotis affair. It had everything in its favour but one—the hostility of Mr. Wakley. Ile, unfortunately, gave it his support, and it polished. He lost his battle, his companions their honour. By blunder, or crime, cr doom mysterious, each associate to this day has imputed to bim imposture or vagrancy. The accounts were not finally balanced, wherefore honourable men were looked on as felons. A breath bears evidence of crim* when corroborated by acquaintanceship with Wakley. The Walsh Medical Association followed. The same history, the same end! If Wakley could not raise it he generously lent it, when raised, his name. It glistened under the light of big sickly radiance, throwing oil like snow under a tropic sun. The treachery of the one faculty-scheme fol lowed other schemes to ruin, bill, bill, to ridicule; member, member to secession, till all that is now left of the once-in fluential society, is a hybrid M.D., and apothecary of Du!. Teich, prefigured and described by Pope : " Eternal smiles bis emptiness betray, As shallow streams tun dimpling all the way, Whether in florid impotence he speaks, And as the prompter breathes the puppet speaks." He is of the British Medical Association, the mutilated tail still left to tell, that once Kilkenny cats—and dogs—dwelt there. Last came the Medical Protection Association. I saw with wonderment how suddenly in power, and wealth, and wisdom, this young society—obeying your call—sprang to being. It was born a man. It sprang as from the brain of Jove, another Minerva, instinct with might and beauty. A multitudinous meeting, at three days' call, startled British medicine from her seat, and the world asked what shall it be . this new-born giant ? Surgeons and physicians the proudest, bent their steps towards the thrershhold—the new popular shrine offered more promise than the old corporate idols; funds flowed in ; prosperity for once, in medical agi tation, seemed our captive; but W - akley crept into the para dise; and, At the ear of Eve, familiar toad, Half froth, ha!f venom, spit himself abroad." Bullying the equivocally placed, darting venom at the timid, bending the indigent with dishonoured tread, the nobly ambitious with frothy hopes, he estranged in disgust the respectable, and enhanced the not stranger fate of a bad name! The more he paid, the less he purchased ; the more he toiled, the less he did—he worked but to injure, to ruin. His breath was a killing pestilence—honour, wealth, cha racter, association—all have gone! Surely, the name of in famy is as a greedy maelstrom, insatiate, bottomless. . . The unfortunate infamy of his repute left him without an opinion of his own. His low character made him low The very bread of his public life depended on his taking the olownship to any medical company that would engage him." hi the same strain the letter was continued to a great length, filling nearly three columns of the Medical Times. For the publication of this letter an action was brought a short time since, and a verdict returned for the pinintift; with damages 1501. At the conclusion of the trial, a leading article I was written upon the Vial, containing also a quantity of libellous matter affecting the character of Mr. Yiakley, and it was the libel contained in the article in luestion, published o n the 28th o f June, that the present a was brought. The Learned Attorney General, forciblein a and eloquent speech, called the atten nnd _ jury to the serious natur e o f L i; the libels in question, their stron g pon them, in the exercise of their duty, to s h ow a libel. sense of reprobation upon the publication of such Evidence having been put in as to the publication of the Medical and" _the purchase of the paper, containing the libel, by the Mr. Cocxnuuw, clerk to the Q t V e i , , 4n a ttddressing the jury, said that 6'f, attorney . of Mr. Waklev, Learned Attorney oquenee andhad addressed them with the greatest grandil thinking, with all respect ' to n which he really could not hel with feelings of indignat io n his Learned Friend, was mperiaeillitrimed for the occasion, f mustfrom the defeat +which in- the purpose of saving the say, that the preseni evitably threatened him. Ile contemptible that he action was one of the most had ever known to be hrought o f Li w. 11 is Learned Friend had ee n , a , n Y, court unfairly to him in his in.ide of conductin-c-e`' most Ile had commence:l by reading the lib e l for which n a 'e ve cese. rict of 150/. lead been alrea d y returned, hut his Learned Frie nd d had declined to read the whole of the docum ent in question. The first libel was contained in a report of the trial, printed in the Medical Times, but not one word of that report h a d been read to the jury by him. The ArrORNEY-GENERAL—I must object to that being read, unless it is given in evidence. Mr. CPCKBURN—It is from the same document as you read from, and I insist upon reading it, and it shall be read. The Arrossnv-GEsEnsi.—lf it is read, I must have a reply. Mr. COCKBURN-1 can assure the jury, that, in the con duct of the case of my client, I will not allow the instruc tions given to me to operate upon me as my Learned Friend has done, who has poured torth the foulest malignity upon the defendant. _ The ATaroarta~r Gurraw....-I must object to having any personal imputations passed upon me in the conduct of the case. 1 Mr. COCKBURN—I say that it was a most foul attempt to blind the merits of the case by pouring a tissue of slander upon my client. The Loan CHIEF Banos—l think, Ur. Cockburn, that some concession is due from you to the Attorney-General, you having made charges affecting his character in conduct ing the cause. Mr. Cocnnuns—l can assure your Lordships that in any thing I have said I had sot the slightest idea of imputing improper conduct, personally, to my Learned Friend, and if any expressions which I used are considered by your Lord , ships at stronger than the case demands, I most willingly retract them. The ArronsEr-GENEnaL—My sole object in interrupting you was to caution you that, if you read any fresh documents, I shall be entitled to a reply. Mr. COCKBURN—I am much obliged to you. The Learned Counsel then prcceeded to read the report of the whole trial, as given in the Medical Times, and then proceeded to comment most strongly on the conduct of the plaintiff sending his attorney's clerk to obtain a copy of the paper, for the purpose of founding a second action upon the self same libel. It showed the vindictive spirit which ac tuated the plaintiff in causing these proceedings to be brought. The defendant was the proprietor of a rival news paper, and the plaintiff seemed to omit no opportunity of destroying him by these legal proceedings. Was it for that his client should be dragged into the court a second time for the publication of the same libel ? His Learned Friend had de nounced in the most unmeasured terms the writer of the libel as a person who was a disgrace to his profession, and such an one as caused him to blush for the character of that pro fe,-ion. He (Mr. Cockburn) had watched his Leal aed Friend closely, and had seen no blush mantle over his crim son cheek, but he must-say that he almost blushed to hear soh charges brought against the defendant as his Learned .Friend bad hurled against him. Mr. Wrkley had obtained a victory over, and MY. from the defendant, what then was to be expected, but that the defendant, the proprietor of the Medical Times, should give, in the next number of his journal, an account of the proceedings to his readers, and was it un natural to suppose that the waiter, sma-ting under the effects ofa victory, would use rather strong language upon the subject ? The Learned Counsel concluded an eloquent speech by con tending that the libel complained of in the leading article of the Medical Times on the subject of a trial, was nothing more than could be expected. His Learned Friend had said that it "all looked yellow in a kiundiccd eye," but for the life of him—and he appealed to the common z,ens:e of the jury in support of his opinion—he could not discover the slightest libel in the article, neither had his Learned Friend, either in frlsstieelaration or speech called attention to any special case of libel. The Plaintiff was a public character, and as such open to public criticism upon his character by the public journalist. There was not a public measure connected with politic-, which had been commented upon by the public jour nals, the leaders of which were not ciitiscd in language ten times more strong, and to which the present libel I was mere milk and water. It the course adopted by the plaintiff had been pursued by all those pub. lic characters, the courts of law would have been occu. pied with nothing else but trials of this nature. It was essential to the character of public men that this public ctitic;sm should be allowed to exist, and it was difficult to weigh nicely the amount of power to be conceded to the public press, though there was no doubt that if a public writer abused his power to propagate wilful slander he was deserving of punishment fur se doing ; and he was certainly most surprised that a public character like Mr. Wakley, and himself the editor of a journal, should have thought fit to adopt the pre.,ent proceedings. It would be for the jury to consider whether, under all the circum stances of the case ; there was anything in the article calcu lated to affect the diameter of the plaintiff beyond his public capacity, and whether the defendant had exceeded the proper bounds due to him as a public journalist. They must not allow thermelves to be carried away by the vehement, violent, and unjustifiable language towards the defendant u , ,cd by the Learned Attotaey- General in opening the ca ,e, but calmly and fairly to consider the question, and the result of that consideratijn would, he fear lessly believed, be a triumphant verdict for the defendant. The LORD CHIEF BARON, in summing up, said that as the publication of the libel was admitted, and as no justificati , pn had been attempted for the libel in question, their duty wouid be to return a verdict fur the plaintiff. It would be for them to say, however, what amount ofdamfiges should be returned. A great deal of very violent language hal been used by the Learned Counsel or. both sides, but it would be the duty of the jury to divest their minds of the effect of all such expre3sionF, and to consider whether the de fendant was really justified in publishing the libel complained of by the complainant. It had been said that the leading article: containing the libel was published by the defendant upon a trial which had before that period taken place. The jury, however, must be told that no man having paid damages for a libel purchased the liberty to repeat, or to re-publish it in the manner com plained of. It had been said that the publication of a trial was perfectly orthodox. He wished it to be un derstood that in ccse of any trial for libel. or blasphemy, when the matter complained of was reprinted it became a question for the jury whether it was intended by the republication of the libel or blasphemy, to repeat the same with a malicious intent. The report of the trial in the present case, As published in the Medical Times, appeared to be perfectly correct. No doubt it had been copied from the notes of some shorthand writer, employed for the occasion. The public reports of the law courts were performed in the most efficient manner, and reflected generally the highest credit upon the parties etnrdoyed in reporting these cases. The jury retired, and after an absence of 55 minutes, re tained a verdict for the Plaintiff.—Damages, 1751. REEVES V. MARQUIS OF lIIONNYNGIIAM. This was an action brought to recover of the defendant the sum of 354 for articles of upholstery supplied to the Mar chioness. The noble defendant pleaded that he was not liable to this claim, on the ground that his Lordship was living separate from the Marchioness at the time of the debt being con tracted, and allowing her Ladyship full and ample means of maintenance. Mr. Humfrey and Mr. Temple appeared for the plaintiff; Sir F. Kelly and Mr. Lush for the defendant. The plaintiff was an upholsterer, carrying on business in Piccadilly, and during the years 1843 and 1844, the Mar chioness had made several purchases at his premises, some of which were sent by her ladyship's directions to a mansion in Portland-place, at the residence of her sister, the Duchess of Richmond, others to Berkeley-square, to Richmond, and to Mivart's Hotel. Various other articles of the goods were also snit to the Duke of Richmond's residence in Scotland, Gordon Castle. 4 balance of 351. was due upon these various trans actions, and the] plaintiff, not having been able to obtain payment of the sum from her Ladyship, the present action was brought to recover the sum from the defendant, The sale and delivery of the goods in question having been proved, . - The Duke of Richmond wss called, who fully admitted the receipt of the articles forwarded by the Noble Marchioness. NVhen he discovered that these articles were not paid for, and that an action was brought to recover payment for them, he offered to pay the demand. The Marquis and Mar chioness were not living together at Richmond in the year 18.13, but the latter had resided there after his separation; the estabhchment having been kept up for her Ladyship. The allowance paid to the Marchioness was 2,40 L a year. Sir F. KELLY now contended that this sum was amply sufficient for the maintenance of her Ladyship, and that, therefore, the Marquis was not liable for the payment of the debts contracted by her. The LORD CHIEF BARON said that the fact of the allow mice having been proved, and that sum being considered sufficient for her maintenance by her Ladyship herself, hav ing accepted the came from time to time, the plaintiff must be nonsuited. The plaintiff was nonsuited accordingly. COMMON PLEAS-(THIS DAY.) GILICS V. SMITH. This was the third of the thirteen actions brought by the plaintiffs, Messrs. Francis and Alfred Giles, engineers, to recover 1,560/. for work and labour done in preparing the plans and sections of th! Tunbridge Wells and Rye Harbour Railway. The present defendant is Mr. Smith, a solicitor i tlAs city. The difference between the present case and the two we gave yesterday consisted in the fact that the defendant had been present at a meeting of the provisional directors, held on the 27th of October, 1845, at which certain resolutions were agreed to. The first resolution was one in confirmation of certain business done at a previous meeting, held on the 16th but which the defendant had not attended. On the 16th the principal businesc, transacted was appointing the plaintiff's lbe engineers of the company, and instructing them to pro ceed with the survey and preparations of the plans, &c. It was by the meeting of the 27th, confirming this contract and arrangement with the plaintiffs, that the liability was sought to be affixed on the defendant. The evidence ad duced during the day was mainly to strengthen the alleged liability springing out of this transaction. For the defence, it was contended that the transactions of the 16th did not bind any parties but those who were present, and that the defendant, not having taken any part till the 27th, had nothing whatever to do with the contract. The Loan CHM' JUSTICE having summed up at great length, The jury, after a consultation of about a quarter of an hour, returned a verdict for the defendant. NEWMARKET AND CHESTER FORD RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The first half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the Newmarket and Chesterford Railway Company was held at one o'clock, this day, in the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ; Lord George Manners in the chair. The notice for convening the meeting having been read, the general seal of the company was attached, at the desire of the Chairman, to the register of the shareholders. The SECRETARY then read the report, from which we make the following extracts:- 1 " Your directors reported at the last general meeting of the proprietors, held on the 14th of August, 1846, that con tracts, under the guidance and advice of their engineer, had been made and entered into with a responsible contractor, for the entire completion of the works, whose proceedings on the line up to the present time, have been characterised by great energy; and as the season is fast approaching, when the works may be conducted with greater vigour, the direc tors do not in the least doubt their ability of carving out the original intention, of opening the line of communication from the Eastern Counties Railway Station in Shoreditch to Newmarket, by the 30th of September next. In anticipa tion of this event, a contract has been entered into for the supply of twelve locomotive engines and tenders, upon the newest and most approvei principle of construction; the majority of which are to be delivered upon the works before the above-mentioned date. "Your directors with a view to the expedition required, and in order that the works may not be impeded, and to se cure the opet,ing of the line in the month of September next, have deemed it necessary to make a call of 51. per share, payable on or before the 22d instant. " Since the special meeting:held on the 11th November last, for the purposes of considering the terms of a lease of the Newmarket and Chesterfield Railway to the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company, which terms were rejected, negocia- Lions have been opened by that company, but they have failed to produce any result. " In consequence of the short period which intervened be tween the dates of the Act being obtained, and the first ordi nary general meeting, and there being many accounts then outstanding, no financial statement was laid before the pro prietors; but your directors stated their conviction, that the expenses psare to the date of incorporation, would not exceed 13s. share. which anticipation has been satisfactorily borne o a tit r suffice it to say, that un total expenditure being 9,2011. or 13s. ld. per " With respect to the contemplated to enter much into detail of railway, i t is e contemplated extensions of the line adopted atthientfursuance of the resolutions unani mouslygave instructions to their tint general meeting. the directors , ;gi l l:Leer, aud solicitors, to take the necessary steps to comli . t. the Standing Orders of Par liament, previously to ap ppl !g e li ts cts to extend the line of linogy ,trioird, and to Bury St. p,,t e iv r e eg i llisite e a o ta i war; railway from Newmarety Edmunds, with a hi anch to Ea raised ny subscriptinn, and Ow r,% posits, consisting of 35,6254 and 31,8751, have sinc e bean i n , 'mentay (le- - vested in the Three per Cent. Consols." The CHAIRMAN then said that, in -- b rin ging before the notice of the meeting a resolution to the effect that the re port be received, adopted, and circulated, he felt it to be his duty to make a few observations, though from the detailed nature of the report it was unnecessary for him to detain them long. The Noble Lord then alluded to the dif ferent points referred to in the report ; and said that with regard t 3 the extension, it was fortunate that they proceeded to Parliament for two Acts trom the opposition they had met with. He would conclude by moving that the report be adop.cd. Mr. J. G. FRITH, the deputy chairman, seconded the reso lution. Mr. COOPER, of Cambridge, wished to observe before the re solution wa3 put to the meeting, that he regretted the terms offered by the Eastern Counties Company had not been ac cepted. He did not blame the directors, for he believed the rejection to have been the act of that meeting on the 11th November. He thought, however, that it Ives competent for this meeting to consider that resolution with a view to re scinding it. The stock of the company bad fallen considerably after the negociation with the Eastern Counties Company had terminated. Mr. J. V. SHELLEY, one of the directors, replied that if any overtures were to be made again by the Eastern Counties Company they would be entertained, but under present circumstances he thought it advisable that they should stand aloof, and make no proposition. The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to. Mr. lIrDE, one of the shareholders, moved that the direc tors should be re-elected, and paid a very flattering compli ment to them for the way in which they had acquitted them selves of their duties, and he referred especially to the negociation with the Eastern Counties Company. It could not b.) surprising that their shares had fallen, for consider ing the large call that was recently made on the share holders, and the great pressure on the money market, such a thing was to be expected. It was in his opinion a strong proof of the confidence of the directors in the undertaking that they made a call of 5 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) Ile begged to move the re-election of the directors. Mr. PecKER seconded the resolution. _ The directors were then separately elected. The CHAlumut returned thanks for the confidence that had been again placed in them. He begged to say that if any company made a proposal to them they were quite willing to entertain it; but the shareholders might rest assured that their interests would be attended to. On the motion of ~➢ir. CLOWES, seconded by Mr. FULLER, the auditor of the company was also re-elected. This hav;ng concluded the business, the meeting separated. SOUTHAMPTON AND DORCHES TER RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The half-yearly general Meeting of the Sharehotders of this Company was held to-day at the terminua.of the Lon don and South Welteta Reilway. Nine Elms. Lord De Manley in the Chair. The CHAIRMAN said it would be necessary to trouble the meeting by reading over the Bills which they were summoned to consider, after the usual business had been transacted. It would be necessary, according to the standing to the standing orders to call another meeting at a longer rotice. The register of shareholders in the company was then sub. mitted to the meeting, and the seal of the company affixed thereto. The SECRETARY then read the report, which stated that so short a period had elapsed since a full statement of the affairs of the company had been laid before the proprietors that it would be only necessary to state with respect to the bill for making the Lyminsion end Ealing branch as well as the other Bites, that they were all before Parliament, and had been road a first time, and that the directors had made an arrengement with the engi neer, by which their line would be opened in three months. The report then stated that the total receipts were 142,411/. 7s. 3d., the expenditure 137,456/. 10s., and the balance 4,955!. The report was then adopted. The :Noble Chairman, J. Mills, Rd. Brownkerr, and W. Chas. Lambert, 14.1sqrs. were unanimously re-elected as direc tors, and J. Hanbury, Esq., as auditor. The CHAIRMAN s yid, he wished to inform the meeting that a greater progreLs had been made in the works than was originally expected, and that the directors were of opi nion that the line would be opened on the Ist of May, and the contemplated accommodation would thus be afforded to the public, as well as an increased facility to those visititing Weymouth, &c., for the purpose of bathing. Mr. Iloksn moved that 609/. per annum should be placed at the disposal of the board from the opening of the line, to meet the contingent expenses. Mr. Mani seconded the resolution, which was unani mously adopted. The CHAIRMAN said that he had just been informed by their engineer that the line would be open for inspection on the Ist of May, but that it would not be open to receive passengers, or for traffic purposes for a few days afterwards. J. GUST, Esq., then proposed a vote of thanks to the noble Chairman, to whose services, he was of opinion that the company was so much indebted. Mr. Citapeus seconded the resolution, which was put and carried. The meeting then separated. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. SLY O'CLOCK. 2,000 GUINEAS STARES. 7 to 1 agst Conyngham CHESTER CUP. 20 to 1 agst Mendicant 25 to 1 agst The Lamb—taken 30 to 1 agst Flitch 30 to 1 egst Camera Obscura 40 to 1 agst Antler 30 to 1 agst Bedlam 30 to 1 agst Punch 40 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond 45 to 1 agst Mickey Free 50 to 1 agst Intrepid 50 to 1 age* Bourton 50 to 1 agst Sir 'Fatten Sykes 55 to 1 agst Princess Alice—taken 66 to 1 agst The. Premier (3 yrs) DERBY. 15 to 2 agst Van Tromp 13 to 1 agst Epirote (taken) 14 to 1 agst Planet 20 to 1 agst Glentilt 25 to 1 agst Conyngliam 30 to 1 agst Red Hart 40 to 1 agst Lunedale 40 to 1 agst horn of Chase (taken) 50 to 1 agst 50 to 1 agst Bedlam 66 to 1 agst Limestone OAKS. 8 to I agst Farmer's Daughter 9 to I agst Clementina 20 to 1 agst Ellerdale PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.) (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Sairrit) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were put in, and the standing orders complied with:— Dundee and Perth Railw a y, a lteration and extension, and Inchture, Polgavie, and Inchmichael Branches. Dundee and Newtyle Rail wa y, w id en i n g, altering, and im proving. Newry and Enniskillen Railway Act Amendment. OPPOSED LIST. Caledonian Railway—Branches to Canobie, Langholm, Longtown, Milton, Annan, and Dumfries, with side Branches. This opposed case was then resumed. It occupied the rest of the day. (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were put in, and s t an di ng or d ers comp li e d w i t h , ex cept in the second case, which was adjourned for the pro duction of an affidavit : Braintree and Halstead Railway. Great Northern Railway Branch to King's Lynn. Great Northern Railway Deviations between London and Grantham. Ayrshire and Galloway Railways from Smithetown to Dal mellington, from Dalmellington to Castle Douglas, from Castle Dcuglas to Orchardten Tower, and front Orchardten Tower to Baleery Point, with Branches to Gibshale and Porterbelly. Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junc tion Railway, alteration of line and branches into or near the town of Nottingham. OPPOSED LIST. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN (BIRMINGHAM AND LICHFIELD EXTENSION AND, AMEND MENTS). Some unimportant allegations against this petition were sustained. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY (CANNOCH, WYRLEY, AND NORN, AND AMEND LENT OF ACTS, TO AND POWER S TO BIR MINGHAM CANAL COMPANY TO CONTRIBUTE. In this case the standing orders were complied with. SUTTON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, AND POWER TO LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN TO SUBSCRIBE. In this case also the standing orders were complied with. The Examiner then adjourned. MPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his sect on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. CHELSEA. PENSIONERS' BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, this Bill was read a third time, and passed. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVEN'ING, FEBRUARY ll , IM7. suggest, that in the event of the Committee being granted, their inquiry should be directed to the levying of an equal rate throughout all unions. It appeared to him that it would be a great advantage over the present union of settlements. It would at once open up to the labourer an ample fieldfor employ ment , w hil e i t wou ld revive that pecuniary interest in the rate-payer, which was supposed by some to be of so much advantage. The Duke of RICHMOND said, as the Noble Lord had alluded to what had fallen from him with respect to the Law of Settlement, he wished to say a few words. He had stated, and he now repeated it, that a more clumsy measure was never introduced and passed property someTh drawing The than the Law of Settlement. It was origi nally proposed as a . much more extended measure, bat half of its original provisions were left out, and the lawyers did not agree as to the working of the portion that remained. It had done great mischief, and if a committee were appointed, and he should move for one on a future day, the injurious effects of its working could be proved. Nothing did so much mischief as the continual alterating of the law of settlement, as the poor found it difficult to ascertain, from the different views that prevailed, any definite notion of the settlements and the proper way to claim them. Earl FITZWILLIAM approved of the principle of the present Law of Settlement, yet he admitted the clauses were so involved that its working was most de fective and injurious. . He thought that if the poor-law to the removal of paupers, by guardians had certain rules laid down for their guid icuenmtraatltearustrheofreitryl.,rgthere couid not possibly be any Lord BEAU MONT said that an evil of considerable magnitude had lately arisen in the construction of cot tages upon the land at the lowest possible prices, and to g saon r m o c u ee nd of objection. . let them at the highest rents, without paying any rates for them. He thought that with reference to the Poor law Settlement Bill passed last session, that it was a mea sure that was both just to the rate-payer, and genercus to the pauper. There was one point which the N.,ble Lord who presented the petition should consider well, that was, whether the fact of high wages being given at places might not act as a sort of advertisement for paupers from the poorer districts. Earl of STRADBROKE was of opinion that all should be rated. He knew a place where there were from 700 to 800 small cottages exempted from as sessment. In Ilchester so great was the number of houses exempted, that forty-five per cent. of the rates were left unpaid. Lord WALSINGHAM agreed with the Noble Lord that the small occupier should be rated, as it would give them an interest in keeping down the rates as much as possible. CRIMINAL LAW AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that, on Monday next, he would present a petition from the magistrates of Liverpool on the subject of the administration of criminal law, and of juvenile offenders. THE POOR REMOVAL ACT. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented a petition from Long Crenden, praying for the abolition of the Poor-removal Act of last session. REDUCTION ON RUM. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the malt distillers of Huntley, Aberdeenshire, against the proposed reduction of the duty on rum. The petititioners thought that with the various restrictions and burdens on them they ought not to be subjected to an unfair competition. He hoped, there fore, their Lordships would do much to make a full inquiry into the statements of the petitioners before they assented to the reductio❑ complained of, and he was quite satisfied that Mr. Robinson, the gentleman who signed the petition on be half of the other petitioners, would be able to substantiate all the statements made if an opportunity were given him, as he (the Duke of Richmond) hap pened to know that gentleman, and he would under take to say that he would not put his name to anything that was not true. Lord MONTEAGLE said he had recently received a deputation upon the same subject, and he felt that he could rely with confidence upon the information they gave him. He thought the distillers of this country ought to be placed upon an equal footing with those of the colonies. The manufacturers of spirits in this country were subject ty inconveniences and re strictions to which the manufacturers of spirits in this country were not liable. The colonial manufacturer could distil how he pleased or where he pleased, without any control, while the manufacturer of spirits in this coun try was compelled to go through a number of formalities. pay duties upon every ingredient used in their manu factories, and subject themselves to all sorts of restric tion and inconveniences imposed on them by Govern ment.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore thought some alteration ought to be made in the law. The Duke of RICHMOND presented similar petitions from distillers in Elgin and Banff, and the towns of Hamilton and Keith. The Noble Duke also presented a petition complaining of the charge imposed on land. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented copies of the correspondence which had taken place between the Government and the Lahore Durbar during the minority of the Maharaja Runjeet Singh, which was ordered to be printed. Their Lordships then adjourned. HO USE 0 FCOMMONS. The SI/EULER took the Chair at Four o'cleck. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time:— East Lincolnshire Railway (Louth Navigation Purchase). London and Blackwall Railway Improvement and Branches to St. Katherine's and London Docks. Windsor, Staines, and South• Western Railway (Rich mond to Windsor, So.) Windsor, Staines, and South. Western Railway (Staines to Ascot and Wokingham, with Branches). PETITIONS. Mn GREENE presented petiti on s against the North British and other railways. Lord DUNCAN presented a petition against the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway. Mr. DILLON BROWN presented a petition from the barony of Westport, in the county of Mayo, praying d il ia E n i S tT or Salford, prayin g th e H ouse t o the House to establish foo p d re d s e e p n o t t e s d in a Ipreetliatniodn from the . R° a gu p ar o lr' or. law for Irel an d w hi c h should throw the mebsoatMaairnbdrieisonßhfance of the poor upon the owners of the land. Several Hon. Members presented petitions from dif ferent places, praying for an alteration in the Poor Removal Act of last session. Colonel CONNOLLY presented two petitions in fa vour of Lord George Bentinck's Bill for aiding the Railways in Ireland. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from Bury, the city of London and Greenwich, praying for the abolition of punishment of death. Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition, praying the House to reduce the duty on copper ore. Mr. M. PHILIPS presented a petition from a tobac conist of Manchester, named Stork, complaining that the Income-tax Commissioners had assessed his profits at 500/. a-year, while he was prepared to prove that he had lost instead of gained by his business, and praying the House to amend the law, so that he, and others similarly situated to himself, might be relieved from its operation. Lord R. GROSVENOR presented a petition in favour •f the claims of the Rajah of Sattara. Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from Nottingham, in favour of the reducti on o f th e d ut i es on tea. DECCAN BOOTY. Mr. HUME asked whether the ten lacks of rupees lately paid by the India House as a final settlement of interest and unpaid balances of the Deccan booty, are to be immediately distributed to all the claimants generally, or whether those who claim for actual capture would be paid in preference to those who claim for constructive capture ? Sir JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE relied, that it was P quite true that during the course of last year a final adjustment took place between the court of directors and the trustees with respect to the sum to be paid, and he understood that Mr. Arbuthnot would lose no time in seeing that the distribution took place. With regard to the question as to who was to be paid first he could gibe no information. JOINT STOCK COMPANIES. Mr. THORNELY said he wished to ask a question of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Vice-President of the Board of Trade with regard to a Bill promised last year to enable joint stock companies to wind up their concernsbeen He wished to know whether any progress had made with the Bill, and whether it was likely soon to be submitted to the House. Mr. M. GIBSON replied that the Bill was in prepa. ration, and some legal provisions had been submitted to the consideration of the Lord Chancellor. He had every hope that at no distant period the Bill would be sub mitted to the House. WASTE LANDS IRELAND. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN gave notice that, to-morrow, he would ask a question of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, as to whethe r, in the event of a company bei ng formed for the reclamation of the waste lands of Ireland, the Noble Lo rd would fa cilitate the acqui s iti on of the powers by which it was proposed to effect that object. Dr. BOWRING put off his motion relative to public accounts till this day fortnight. Mr. CHRISTIE also p os tponed of Oxford a nd Cambridge till the same da y. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. WADDINGTON gave notice of his intention to bring in a Bill for the regulation of the law relating to small tenements. t n h cl e a y Foods Lord COURTNEY gave notice of his intention to move an amen d ment to the Poor Relief Bill in Committee. THE WELLINGTON STA TUE. y any the co mmitte Tids andto the Forests Governmentw hetherb Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY gave notice that, on Monday next, he would ask the Noble Lord at the head of e communication had been m a de of the Wellir t g on statue with respect to the removal of the scaffolding r round the statue; and , if it was to be , at whose expense the removal was to take place? Lord CASTLER EAGH presen t e d a petition from a place in th e county of Down .gainst _ the able-bodi e d poor in Ireland ; as, extending relief t o in the opinion o f the petitioners , it would tend to increase improvident marriages, and lead to the confiscation of the property of the cou n t ry . T hey also should be a p proved of by the House, t h at th e extension prayed that if such a measure of such relief should be optional with the board of guardians, Mr. SMITE' O'BRIEN presented a petition from the fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters of those who had fallen victims to the famine in Newport, county Mayo, prn.yint7 that iminec.l:;at e inPasures ;.,;: r.,.!,:,1 ,:.! :it:Ty Dili; Liaorti,lity among the peop!e. Mr. MILLS pre.i,,r,toci a petition frt , :t ii! - p,i.:; U!,.l:i , t, against the Your Removal Act of last session. Also a duty on tea. petition from Bristol ) i n f avour o f t h e re d uct i on o f the TEN HOURS' BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented several petitions from mill•owners and others, in favour of this Bill. IRISH MEASURES. Mr. ROEBUCK wished to ask the Noble Lord a question. There were now before the House four Bills respecting Ireland. One they might consider to have been disposed of—he meant the Bill for the immediate relief of the destitute poor of Ireland, which had one through Committee, and which might, therefore, be con sidered to have received the consent of that House. Then there was the Bill to indemnify the Government for their departure from the Irish Labour Act of last year. Besides these Bills there were the Poor-law Bill and the Bill for granting loans of money to the owners of land in Ireland. What he wished to know was, whether the Poor-law Bill would proceed pari passu with the Landlords' Bill, or whether he proposed to carry them separately? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, in reply to the ques tion of the Honourable Gentlt man, he had to inform him that it was the intention of the Government that the two last Bills—the Poor-law Bill, and the Bill for lending money to the proprietors of land, should proceed together. He could not say the particular days on which they would be taken, or whether one would be taken before the other, but be should wish to have them read a third time almost simultaneously by the House.—(Hear.) He was anxious to have them read on days so closely following each other, that they might be sent up to the other House of Parliament, as nearly as possible at the same time.—(Hear.) He considered that the one measure should be decided at the same time as the other —(Hear, hear)—for if the one failed in its object, it could not prove otherwise than detrimental to the other. IRISH POOL-LAW BOARD. Mr. SHAW desired to know, before the permanent Poor-law Bill came into opera;;ion, what was the or ganization which the Noble Lord proposed to affect in the new poor-law board, especially as it related to Ireland. Lord J. RUSSELL said that a short Bill arranging the organization of that board was now under con sideration of the Government. Amidst the hurry of bu siness he had not been able to examine its provisions, but they would bring it forward on a very early day. RAILWAY PLAN FOR IRELAND. Colonel WOOD desired to know whether the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, would bring forward his Bill for a system of railways for Ireland. Lord G. BENTINCK said that it entirely depended upon the business of the House. Mr. S. O'BRIEN said it was the wish of the Irish Members that the Noble Lord would defer it until Tuesday next. MONEY TO IRISH RAILWAYS. Colonel OSBORNE desired to know what sum of money had been granted for the earthworks of the Limerick and Waterford Railway ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he could not answer the question off hand. PRESENTMENTS IN IRELAND. Sir H. BARRON wished to know why the Board of Works had delayed to send down drainage surveyors to carry into operation the sums of money which had been advanced under the Act commonly called Mr. Labou chere's Act. He hoped that his Right Hon. Friend would explain to the House why the delay had taken place. Mr. LABOUCFIERE said, that unless he had the re port of the Board of Works he could not give a distinct answer. The Board of Works had been obliged to delay longer than they could have wished the examina tions necessary to the presentments before the money could be advanced to carry them out, as, in many in stances, there had been a difficulty in finding competent surveyors to undertake the works. The Board of Works itself was most anxious to facilitate the works. Mr. W. COLLETT wished to press the question already asked by an Hon. Member. Ile wished to know whether any advance bad been made to the Limerick and Waterford Railway? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that in order to answer the Hon. Gentleman it was ne cessary that he should read the Treasury Minute which had sanctioned the advance.—(Hear.) The Minute stated that the Commissioners of the Public Works had, with regard to a portion of the line for which the authority of Parliament had been obtained, advanced sums of money for the execution of the earthworks ; and with reg ard to that portion of th e li ne f or w hi c h t h e authority of Parliament had not been obtained, and of which it was intended to alter the course as soon as the consent of all the landholders should have been obtained, the money necessary for the earth works would be advanced. COMPENSATION TO IRISH TENANTS. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD moved the following resolution, of which he had given notice :—That it ap pears to this Rouse, from the reports of various Com mittees and Commissions, that the system generally adopted in times past in the letting and management of landed property in Ireland, has been one of the main causes of the present distressed state of that coun try, and the disordered state of its social relations ; and that no measures can be effectual in producing a demand for labour, or improving the condition of the people, which shall not include such an amendment of the laws of landlord and tenant as shall give to the improving tenant in occupation a sufficient permanency of tenure, or else establish the tenant's right to claim by law full compensation for all benefits created by the expenditure of his l a b our an d cap i ta l on the pre mises in his occupation. The question, be said, had often been asked, what were the causes of the evils which afflicted Ireland, and who were responsible for them, that as yet no solution of the matter had been arrived at, nor did it seem to be understood. He had therefore been induced to draw the attention of the House to show how far these evils had resulted from the relation that had existed between land lord and tenant, and to what extent the pro prietors of Ireland were responsible for them. If ever there was a time when inquiry was needed the present was the moment, when they were voting such large sums of money for the relief of the people of Ire land, and when, he regretted to say, Irish Members were opposing a poor-law, and throwing off a responsi bility to which they were justly subject. It was with pain that he had seen a resolution, signed by the name of a leadirg Irish „Peer, declaring itself opposed to the moderate proposition of the Noble Lord for the relief of the people of that country, and in which the measure empowering relieving officers to grant out door relief under certain circumstances was reprobated. With such circumstances before them, it was right that they should inquire into how far the landed proprietors of Ireland were responsible for the state of things which prevailed. The first portion of the resolu tion he had to submit was as follows :—" That it appears to this House that from the reports of various Commit tees and Commissioners, that the system generally adopted in times past, in the letting and management of landed property in Ireland, has been one of the main causes of the present state of the country." As he had made this assertion it was his duty to bring before the House some portion of the evidence on which he based that assertion, but he would confine his obser vations within very narrow limits. The Land Commission, in their report, referred to thirteen reports of former committees, after instancing the large possessions in the hands of a few individuals they referred to the penal laws, the forty-shilling free hold franchise, and they concluded with the following observations :—" That whatever difference of opinion was put forward and maintained on other points, the testimony of all witnesses concurred in this, that the great evils under which Ireland laboured were to be traced to the want of proper employment, felt by a large proportion of the agricultural labourers of that country. The Committee of 1830, on referring to the multiplied evils of Ireland, said they conceived it was the duty of individuals, as well as of the Legislature, to consider what means ought to be taken to diminish this mass of suffering, and they suggested that by promoting the better management of estates, and regulating the arrangements between landlords and tenants, on a national principle, that good might be effected. So much for the general condition of the country. He would now refer to the important evidence of Mr. Lesley Foster and of Mr. Betchworth, in the year 1825. The former witness traced a considerable portion of the evils affecting land to the want of encouragement given to tenants in building, repairing, or draining ; and the latter gentleman gave evidence that the landlords of Ire land were wanting in the kindness and generosity which so eminently possessed the English proprietor. There were strong proofs that the evils of Ireland had been produced by the misconduct of the Irish landlords. The first who introduced the middle men were the land- lords, for they were not introduced by the tenants on the several properties. And what was the evil con sequence of the introduction of these middle men ? Why, another evil of almost equal magnitude —that of subdivision. Then there was another evil, that of eon-acre. These middle men let houses to the poor people without any land, and these people were therefore obliged to take land for the sake of the poor people, and the consequence of this was the increased population of the country, the non-drainage of estates, low wages, which could neither support the men nor their families, bad houses, and general distress, and the still further result of a tax on the lands of England. But there were evil consequences in another way, for whilst the poor people were starving they were absolutely sending corn out of the country, to the extent of two millions and a half of quarters. He found by the returns that in the first six months of 1846, the exports of corn from Ireland amounted to 1,776,000 quarters, while the imports of the Government amounted to only 11 8,000 quarters during the same period. The gentlemen did not return to the people to give profitable employment, and the result was that the pro prietor did not employ the people—the farmers did not employ the p eop l e , and the occupiers did not employ t h e people, and th e p eop l e did not work f o r themselves because they had not the proper remuneration for their labour. There could be no doubt that the want of source of security for the tenant with re gar d t o th e i r l a nds was a feeble misery to the p eo pl e . Th ere were two counti es, _ one in the south, an d anot h er i n th e north of Ireland, between which he would make a comparison ihneerneefeerf those,redto t t h h e e counties of Do w n an d Limerick, and distressed condition of the people arose entirely from the small holdings having no security for their tenure. Down, holding from The number of farmers in one to five acres, was 14,000, and in Limerick it was only 7,000. The number of farms in Down, from 5 to 15 acres in extent was 11,000, and in Lime rick the farms of the same description amounted to 7,000. The number of farms over 30 acres in Down was 15,000, and in Limerick 300, and yet in Limerick the presentment amounted to 186 ,000, andin Down t o 2.97 G. Farms were mo re subdivided i n Down than in Limerick, and yet it was more prosperous, as, by the custom of the country there was a . proper security to the improvement he might make in his lands. tenant for any to , lcvati, the condition of the people of The only way in , Ltud, was s , „•earnig them . a nlyett.,attou for a n y 4 „ ob t tn e y 10). t here was a preval-nt teeliog in certain quarters that small lettings should be done away with; that no one should be the farmer of land unless he had held the plough. But how could they ever expect the labourers to rise unless there were different sizes of farms. In the county of Down the benefit of small lettings had proved to be moss beneficial. The tenant right for which he con tended was such, that the holder of land was not re quired to give up possession without receiving from the proprietor the value of the improvements lie had made. He could also sell the improvements to any tenant that might follow. What would England and Scotland do in the harvest sew-on, if it were not for the Irish labourer? He was no advocate for small holdings as they existed in seme parts of Ireland. He was no admirer of cotter tt nants but he did maintain that a considerable degree of the prosperity of the north of Ireland depended on the division of land into small but reasonably-sized farms. —(Hear.) With reference to the system of mid dlemen, he held that it was one which destroyed all confidence between the landlord and tenant, which repressed all Improvement, and was a fruitful cause of the miseries of Ireland. No security was given by the middleman to the tenant, and he could not claim one from the landlord as the middleman stood between them. Unless they passed a law for the iwprovement of land lord and tenant, it would be of little use to pass a law for the relief of the destitute poor of that country; and unless there was such a law passed, it would be utterly useless to do anything else, and there would be an end to all improvement, and an entire loss of all the labour and the expense which had been incurred. He did say that there was a greater evil than that of the absentee landlords, for he could say, from his personal knowledge, that the properties of many of the absentee landlords were in a far better condition than those of the resident landlords. The people were better housed, better fed, and in a better condition on those estates. It was said by the Irish landlords, that if the rates were levied that they would never be paid, but, if the poor people were unable to pay the rates, why did not the landlords pay the rates themselves. If they did so, then would they ob tain the good-will of the people of this country, and would be held worthy of the money which had been contributed, and the assistance which had been rendered by this country. He did not 'swish to say one word that would be offers ive to the Irish landlords, but in the course of bringing this sub'ectbefore the house, he challenged them to throw off the re s p ons ibili ty w hi c h theirposition imposed Ile was thankful to the House for the indulgence which it had shown to him. He trusted that the landed proprietors would not shrink from their responsibility. He hoped that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government would give him a pledge that some amendment of the law of landlord and tenant would be effected.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped that he would tell him that such a measure was one of those which in tended to introduce. Sir D. NORREYS said that unless it could be made the interest of the landlords to give security to their tenants, it would be wholly useless to expect any move ment on their part to effect what was so much desired. In order to induce the landlords to give leases he would take away the stamp duties, and he thought also that it was absolutely necessary that all local taxation should be thrown upon the landlords, where there were not leases for at least twenty or thirty years. On this subject, he did think it would be of some interest to the House to give its attention to the opinion of a foreigner, who had probably observed Ireland, and had written better on Ireland than any other person, and who probably knew the condition of Ireland better. He referred to Mr. De Beaumont, wh3 thought the uncertainty of tenure in Ireland was the main-spring of moat of the evils that afflicted it.—(Hear, hear.) ilr. TUIT'E then addressed the House, but was for some time inaudible, from the confusion which prevailed. He was firmly persuaded that no benefit would accrue to Ireland till they had generally a resident, instead of an absentee, pr , prietary. He altogether denied the a,ser don which had been made by some Hun. Members in that House, that the property of absentees was as well managed as the estates of the resident gentry. From experience he knew this was not the case. Lord CASTLEREAGH wished to call the attention of the House very shortly to the observations of the Honourable Memoer for Rochdale. He gave credit to the Honourable Member for the best inten tions, but he might be permitted to say that the - improvements in the county to which he had the honour to belong were increasing, chile the tenantry experienced a freedom from distress which was gratifying to those interested in what —in the welfare of the country. He would beg to say, in one word, why he could not support the resolution of the Hon. Member for Rochdale. Hon. Gentlemen in that House r, ere too much accustomed to look on Ireland as they would upon a county, and to entertain the opinion that whatever measure would suit that county would be equally suitable for the whole of Ireland. Hon. Gentlemen were not perhaps aware that the systems of agriculture were widely different in different parts of the country. Were the measure of the Honourable Member for Itc.chdale therefore, car ried in that House, it wou ld involve the greatest mischief to the landed property in that count'. Ile trusted that without a legislative enactment tke improvements, which were going on in the north,'would extend into the south, and that the relations between the proprietors of the soil and the tenants would be earried out in a spirit of liberalty. Colonel CONNOLLY rose, and was [LEFT SPEAKING.] -.rE. __,LECTION RUMOURS.—We are requested by Si Howard Elphinstone's agent to state, in the most unqualified terms, that there is not the slightest truth whatever in the rumour that the Hon. Baronet has resigned his seat, or that he has intimated his intention of resigning it..—Sussex Ad vertiser. Baron Pasquier, sen., first surgeon of the King, inspecting surgeon and member of the Board of Health of the Army. and Commander of the Legion of Honour, died on Saturday, after a long illness, in his 74th year. The funeral ceremony took place on Monday, at twelve o'clock, at the church of St. L-Juis d'Antin. —Paris paper. DUTIES ON RUM. The Earl of RADNOR presented numerous petitions from Cupar, Fife, Perth, and other places in Scotland, against the proposed alterations in the duties on rum. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from th e city of Old Sarum praying their Lordships to amend the law relating to the Poor-law Settlement Act. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Lord BLANEY presented a petition from Monaghan against the Poor Removal Bill. lIYDROPATIIIC TREATMENT. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition, signed by Mr. Rowland, a surgeon, stating that he had heard with surprise that a verdict of manslaughter had been re turned on a coroner's inquest against a gentleman for treating a patient under the hydropathic treatment. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition, signed by a Mr. Ross. of the same nature, (as we understood). HEIR-AT-LAW SOCIETY. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from the managers of the Ileir-at law Society, coin . plaining ut the conduct of certain city magistrates in hearing charges against them relating to the way in which tt_eir society was conducted, without giving them an opportunity of meeting these ex parte statements. The Noble Lord said that this was a subject which had been repeatedly complained of. The magistrates had no right to entertain these charges nor even to listen to them, and he hoped that an end would be put to a mode of proceeding so unfair. NATIONAL POOR RATE. Lord WALSI3I6H AM presented a petition from Swaffham, in the county of Norfolk, praying for the abolition of the present law of settlement, and that a general national rate should be enacted. The Noble Lord did not wish to be understood as concurring with the petitioners in ail they had stated, but was of opinion that the subject was on.' into which i , !clniry should be Triaiic, gave bun great r leasnre to beer that it was ilie tioii of the :Cr +EI,, j, ),,i near - itira paid a good deal of attention to the matter, to move tor a Committee of Inquiry into the etth i jeot, and he would IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 10. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. BANKES said he did not advocate the present Bill for the purpose of giving any opposition to the Government. He was rejoiced that some members of the Government were in favour of a modification of the present system. Although they were not prepared to go the whole extent which the Hon. Member for Oldham required, he was authorised to state that those who sought for a ten hours' Bill, would not be contented with an eleven hours' Bill, but if it was the pleasure of the Government to pass such a measure it would be a matter of satisfaction to them, as it was a step in a right direction ; and with reference to the success of an experiment it might not be unsatisfactory to have a. trial for a year or two of such a measure before the public. He concurred in the regret expressed by the Right Hon. Baronet, that this matter had not been made a subject of private regulation, but he could not say that he, for one, was disappointed. But he had high authority for saying that such a result had been expected by one of the principal opponent) of the measure. He did not then see the Hon. Gentleman in his place, but he believed him to be in an adjoining chamber; he alluded to the Member for Dur ham. (At this moment Mr. Bright entered the House, and took his seat amid considerable laughter.) On the 23d of May the Hon. Member for Durham stated in his place that the proper mcde-of proceeding would he for the operatives to seek a private arrangement with the em ployers ; and he admitted that they ought to have by some means or another an alteration in the present sy.- tem, which he said they would have had had other means been taken to procure them. Now, would the Hon. Member for Durham say that those means had failed? Had there been even a proposal from the manufac turers to the operatives? The Hon. Member had been the subject o`many questions by reaLon of the high and prominent position in which he had placed himself as candidate for one of the great manufacturing cities of the empire. Amongst other questions which were put to him ; as lately as the mouth of December last there was this—" Do you consider that time should be allowed for education with regard to young persons employed in manufactories? " In answer to this question, the Hon. Member said— Mr. BRIGHT—Read the precise words I used.—(Hear.) Mr. BANKES—WeII, I will, and I ought to say, in Pa.- liamentar y form, that to pre ven t m i sta k es, I hold in my hand a copy of the Hon. Member's speech.—(Hear.) His words were as follows:—" Well, I am quite certain that the man who works ten hours a day is much more likely to be edu cated than the one who works twelve.—(Loud cheers.) I do not differ upon this point, but I differ on the point whe ther a reduction of time ought to be carried out by the Legis lature, or by a regulation between the masters and the ope ratives themselves."—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Had he quoted the Hon. Gentleman right? Mr. BRIGHT—That is correct. h e Mr.ba had made K ES promote asking ate ta thim adjustment whether any w a ell h l n o f u u r st tt ed only right but just ?—(Hear, ho a r. ) tempts ?—(Hear, hear.) which in the month of slay last h p h u a a d d s h ta e tehl eh t v o ea b a e m n a o y t and December made any andsucha February, had he made But now, between December e couldsu i there de ? Was th er e more favourable for such an adjust have been any period or d• d b h r e kn ow ever, o f a o n r y h an av y i s n u g ch be e e n n de m a ment, when avour, labour were shor ten e d, the mills were partly ro h c y lose a t y wh m en at t a l - a e l hoursof from other agree ment entered into between causes e se m a a w st h e i r c s h an h d e t w h a e u er d er n a o t t ive a s t , but shortened the present moment inquire into, but which showed, in point of fact, that no adjustment had been made. If it were the fact that no effoie. had been made f or this par-. pose what chance was there that that arrangement would be Made now. There had been time for malting the experiment, and since the Hon. Member said that it ought to have been done, what chance he again asked remaincd that it would be done at ell? The Hor Member for Durham was no w a candidate—undoubtedly he lied every right to be tc-.for the representation of one of the largest and most commercial cities in the country, the city of Manchester. He might not have been in the _dome when a petition was presented,Esigned by 220,000 persons residing there, and with the leave the House he would read the prayer of that petition. TIT petitioners said that they deeply sympezhiLed with the fecLoty workers in that large and important manufacturing city, many of whom were of tender years, shu.; up in a close room for a period in each day that was qvite incompatio'e noi,h their nature, and they added that, owing to the long hours of leboar, these young persons were debarred from a!( means of enjoying the bene fits of religious or secular education ; that, in consequence of the long hours of which the petitioners complained, the fac tory operatives were in a worse poiition than any other artizans, by which their physical creme was deteriorated, and if no relaxation were afforded, they would be mere representatives of the human body, without any of the vigour which should accnnpany it. They prayed therefore that the Legislature would pass a ten hours' Bill without further delay: These sentiments emanated from 220,000 persons, whom the Hon. Member for Durham sought to represent in Parliament. True, they had no votes, but they were still the persons whose opinions and feelings he would represent. If the Hon. Member would, therefore, wish to please his future constituents, let him vote for this Bill, and thus render hi mse lf a more worthy candidate lor their suffnizes than be was at present.—(Hea - , i and laughter.) The Hod. M em b er sa id last year that this was a fit and proper measure, which ought to be by some means adopted. Thera might be persons in Blanchester, .~- --=- perhaps, more powerful there the in wb name not for 0 were appended to this tion woul , 1 n ,fluence hie moment suppose that this consia:ra ha' r it was the conduct now. He had, however. to recollect. ris measure expressed opinion of the Hon. Morn her that thew petit; on. ' br d it ivi l d re na nt _ . y of adjust ought to pass ; and, as it could not p, operatives es a nd thrl ment and regulation between the errin - l a o s e , t : now to fulfil he (Mr. Bankes) called upon the Hon. D. 'Ruler' theme , esure by the the pledge which he gave, and early out actmente-• only means left, open, namely, a legislat el let, which, (hear, hear.) There had been circulated a pampa although published two years before, had o my be in sen t tO against him that day. That pamphlet contained grave lehargtarsags, he a most honourable person, and containing se cli charges, if at thought that it ought to have been circula ted earlier, ell. It was entitled " A Report of the Cent oralcommittee e. ° of the Association of Millownersengaged in the • cotton tau allude to- the personal Now he (Mr. Bankes) would nos '• e d • Lust this honours, charges which that circular contained against able person, but lie would to one pass, age w hich h e 0 happened to glance at, fig he had had no t ime to examin e :That passage stated,. carefully the contents of the document': prs , st nt arraz igement " It is useless to discus whether the twelve hours for fire days, and nine' -hours on Sf t tur . ; day, is precisely the best limitation fo Jabot sr; _ the limit which Parliament has long since e .etablisn ed," Om. Now, the House would permit him to ask wh ,e it wasc" use less less to discuss?" Could there be a better occupation their time than to discuss whether that which was fie trid a benefit to the people Co a certain entent should not be further __ ex tended, if any further additional benefit could be conferred/ Could they be better employed than extending a measure which had been already found good still further The quotation went on, " Usage and habit has ace, =moda tea itself to this period." Why that; was said of the slave trade ; "usage arid habit" bad existed there for a long time, but that was no reason why that habit and usage should be permitted to continue.—(Hear, hear.) el On th continued certanity of this lirnitatioe, the master manulae: turer had based his calculation of profitable retort ls." WhY what right had the master manufacturer to base his. Gale n : lations ore this limitation ? Had not this been a evnstanl. subject of inquiry, of proper inquiry year after year 2 it not been constantly agitateci in that House, a - nd histly agitated? Was there any reason wby th e master manufacturers, when the former iw w"' passed, should speculate upon no further cration of the law in all time coming? The Honourable MOP: ber for Moetrose had been pleased to say that he bad got one besetting sin, and that was his universal advc general all reductions in taxation and retrenchments in experaeliturse • But the Hon. Member had another besetting sin, sued that was his determination to look with such intensity en one side of a question, that he omitted altogether to look at the other.—(Hear, hear.) Now, when the Hon. Mernenr for Montrose supported the former Bill of leleel, he doubtless thought it the concentration of all human wisdom—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—but be forgo t that these Acts limiting factory labour had been passed—Tassed with complete triumph—Acts reducing nOe labour of these under thirteen years of age from 74 hours a week to 3V, an d persons above that age from 74 to 69. All th ese conce scions had been universally admitted, by every one ,but the Hon. Member for Montrose, to be attended with the happiest sue: cess, without any counterbalancing inconvenience to Any of the parties interested. But, said the Hon. Member for MO if trese, these persons are blind to their own interests; ohN n. they were ignorant it was the duty of the - I ' e a ,`; eg member to educate and prepare them properly. At that time, when an extended measure of education was hiving nein trodueed into the other House of Parliament, surely' sa e " arrangement should be made by which the artizan mon with all classes in the country might be benefited. la ° measure (as far as the factory workman was con: cerned) was an insult to 11;:e, for they provided a leg; fund fur educational purposes, from the benefits which he would be altogether deieerred. The Honer?: able Member for Darbam had arimitted that the man who worked ten hours had more time for the purn,ri or education than the man who worked twelve iueers. Pea the man who worked twelve hours any time for educailell a s all? He was compelled to devote twelve hours to work, eine he required two heurs for meals--where thee could the tirSla for education be found? The Hon. Member for Montrose:, had put a hypothetical case. " You cannot," sai l ` he, " pass an equal law for the limitation of labour? because the labourers are of different conditions in life: One has a father and mother, and another is o °' burdened with either." He ( Mr. Bankes) said, giv e f them all the advantage of the same law. He could e! no distinction that could be safely made between the ono labourer and the other. The House would remember that when this measure . , was first brought before' them the": were shocked at the recital of the cruelties perpetrated!! the factories; they had heard of the physical defornfitg; which resulted from the nature of the employment. e l ' eg (Mr. Bankes) had always beard and read those statemaa w with much pain, and with a belief that, while the manufti Curers were not guilty of the cruelties impute d to to them, the offences them se lv es were grea tly exaggerateaz but neither could he shut his eyes to the consequences whiccl would follow the want of ed uca ti on . He could not be to the physical, as well as the moral deterioration IC" e e would result from this course; and if Government did apply the remedy,, to whom were they to look for it? He wee` r of opinion that this was t h e fitting opportunity ln e the enactment of such a measure. If t h ey passe d tlns' Bill at this period it wou ld enta il no inco nvenience on the manufacturer. The Hon. Member for Durban erit had been unable t o carry into effect a measure he himself d ec l are d was fi t and proper, an d therefor e it behoved the Gov ernmen t t o interpose and rectifY t he _.A grievance. He would give his cordial assent to the sews reading of the Bill. for Mr. MARK PHILIPS said that the Hon. Membe r Durham had had a speech made at him as candidate for Manchester, perhaps the House would allow him as words for him. repre sentative tor Manchester, in essc, to say a few - m pathise He trusted it would not be considered he did not 67 de in the with the workmen in factories if he did not coielel ()O but he nions of the Hon. Me m b er w h o had last spoken , , (Mr. Philips), as the re p resen t a ti v e of a vast cominercia; interest, could not l e t hi s f ee li ngs run awa y with his tilt!te judgment. He tho ug ht th a t any i nter f erence b e t we en capo . .., and labour would tend to the most mischievous consequences for the House might depend upon it that one-tenth of the manufacturing power of this country could not be repressed without the workmen's wagessuffering in the same proportion. Why was the Government to stop short with reference to agricultural labours? He believed the present was such a departure from proper legislative interference, that he could not but augur the most serious results from the adoption of the measare.—(Hear, hear.) He did not like the proposed "nibbling," piece by piece, of the measure, such as that alluded to by the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to reduce the hours to eleven in stead of ten. If the experiment were to be made , let it be made at once, upon a bold scale; lle would much rather at once g i ve hi s su pport to the_ ten hours' measure th an t o suc h a me ddli ng sys t e m of kV!: lation proposed by those who had not the courage to go s , once to the completion of the f u ll measure , but who steppe d at a sort of half-way house.—(Cheers.) He believed that great ignorance existed on the part of Hon. Members with reference to the subject of factory labour. It was not for him.to catechise Hon. Members on the subject; if he did sox Ise might, in all probability, be told " that he had better mind his own business, and give them credit for i r the. knowledge they poss esse d upon subjects wh ich even the most experienced man u f ac t urers an d inhabitallen of the district were unable to obtain." It was quite true an' t the measures which had been passed for the purpose of re: stricting labour in some factories had been attended Witl some success ; but he begged most earnestly to protest agahl the arguments urged by the Right H on . B arone t the been tary of State for the Home Department, that because part'n success had attended the measures passed f o r the protection' of women and children, that therefore future legislation fof adults should be equally successful. With those views, seeing nothing but mischief attendant upon the passing of the" measures, and not at all underrating the comforts of the working cusses. or being one whit less desirous than the lion- Gentleman who had last addressed the; House to see educe; tion afforded to the p eo pl e , st ill h e was o b l i ge d to w eigh carefully both sides of the question, and he had come to the conclusion that nothing but mischief would result from th e interference by the Legislature in the large manufacturing districts oO the country. Lord JOHN MANSERS was quite surprised to hear the Hon. Member for Montrose say than the present measure was advocated upon party grounds. He did not think such a charge ought to have been made. The slightest refiec!ion upon the history of the question would suffice to show that such. a charge was teener unfounded. No one could look upon the Pa sst history of the question without seeing that never was anY question of great national polity supported upon such dis° interected and honourable grounds, and carried on in such 8 manner as to be in every way worthy of the great els e itself.—(Cheers.) The great cause had been going on for years, though warrior after weldor had fallen in the glorious struggle. Sir Robert Peel first advocated the question, died, and left the care to the care of Sir J. Hobhouse; he carried it en for tome time, until it was taken up by Mr. Saddler. That great advocate of the cause died, and left the conduct of it to Mr. Oastler; he, in' his turn, gage place to Lord A s hl ey , w h o carr i e d on the 'war to the very verge of victo, when circumstances on" curred which prev en t e d his proceeding further With the measure, and he resigned his glorious charge to the Honourable Member for Oldham (Mr. Fielden)- Still they found the same teeolute, indomitable persever ance in the great cause. And row, in this year, 1847, they found the great question again brought forward, and boldly' advocated by its irdelatigable supporter, the Hon. Member for Oldham ('Mr. Fielden).—(Cheers.) Well did Lord Ashley say in that House, and truly, "that it was possible, nay, probable, that the efforts of her Majesty's Ministers would be successful, and that they would carty their motion, but for how long? If the Government would wish their victory to be complete, they mast extinguish those senti ments which had given rise to his." In that sentiment was to be found the feeling wbich nurtured and fed the in• domitable courage o: the supporters of this measure.— (Cheers.) And so long as men had eyes to weep, souls to pray, hearts to feel, voices to raise, and hands to lift up, so long would the struggle be continued, until the arduous contest was eansummand by the glory of a triumphant victory. The Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, had used what he called "old arguments," those arguments were year by year becoming weaker and weaker, and he hoped those arguments, the fallacy of which had been so long exploded, would be consigned at once " to the tomb of ell the Capulets."—(Cheers.) The present was the most favourable time for the passing of this law, in con sequence of the depressed state of trade in the manufacturing districts and the high prices of corn. The mills were now working short time. When, howeverOthe current set in the other way, if this measure were passed, then stability and security would be the result, instead of a wild , insane, and reckless re-action, which had before been the bane of the prosperity of our manufacturing districts. -- (Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then went on to quote trurn the circular of Meyers. Parkissoa and Taylor. The' e gentlemen said:--" Stocks aro :lady accumulating, and must be ore long press heavily upon the market. Yet the spinners and manufacturers with reckless infatuation, in the face of ic; creasing stocks, of advanced prices in the raw material, and of a declining demand 6)r yrens and goods, have for the greater part reverted to fell tim e , and production within the last fortnight has resumed almost its former vigour." Thi s state of things would no doubt be followed by a serious de pression. What was the select of these rapid alternations o prosperity and depression in the condition of the workman? —during one week he had nothing to do, and the text week he was tone and racked by fatigu e . I n suc h a state , was it possible for the working man to contract habits of sobriety or forethought, or to perform his duty to his country and the society in which I:e moved?—(Loud cheers.) It had been said by the opponents of this measure, that so much walk could not be done in twelve hours as in ten • (va if it were so, the great p ractical reeelt would be, that if this Bill were passed it would spread a larger amount of labour over the working classes, and thereby equalise the amount to be performed. It had also beeu said that it was wrong to interfere in manufacturing speculations. Nothing* could be a more decisive refutation of that argument than the declared officiel value of the exports of the country, as given in a Nvfli ?Tr Til‘Clo!!..t . •! , , from which it op; en: ,1 inn, iii teel , e;.; vele., c••!14) 1 ' exports ii it ,i to lenee,neeo leee it. .Lll,4.ailted LO 17,344,5764, but in the year 1842 the declared value of the .cettoa exported was 21,770,1271. This would at ouce dispose of the argument of the mischief 0