The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-10 00:00:00

rtdrb 13bittOn SU.N OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP V. The Committee met at twelve Lord H. Vane in the chair. WINDSOR AND SOUTH-WESTERN (STAINES TO WINDSOR). The Committee were occupied all the day with the clauses of this Bill. GROUP VI. EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER• This Committee met this morning at the usual hour; Mr. Deedes, Chairman. The Marquis of Westminster was called and examined in favour of the line. Some other formal evidence was put in, also the table of assents and dissents. This closed the case on behalf of the promoters of the line. Mr. AusTnr then proceeded to open the case on behalf of the Great Western Railway. The Learned Counsel pro ceeded at considerable length and with great minuteness to enter into the early history of the Great Western and South- Western Companies, and to found upon it an argument in favour of the Great Western Railway on the ground of equity—the Bills having been granted to the Great Western Railway with a view of supplying the western districts of England with railway communication, and the object of Parliament in granting the London and Southampton Rail way, or the present South-Western Railway, was to give to that line the south-western districts, and that alone. The Learned Counsel had not concluded his address when the Committee, at his request, adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. Ght -P VII. THE LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN (AN DOVER TO THE BISHOPSTOKE AND SA LISBURY BRANCH). The Committee met to-day at two o'clock; Lord Claud Hamilton in the chair; but at once adjourned until Monday next, at the same hour. in order to give the promoters time to get a necessary agreement completed. The line, we understand, is unopposed. GROUP XV. The Committee on this group met this morning for the first time is Room 12. The Select Committee consisted of the following Members :—Mr. Bernal (Weymouth), chair man; Mr. Sharman Crawford (Rochdale); Captain Boldero (Chippenham ; Marquis of Worcester (Gloucestershire); Captain Pechell (Brighton). The following tines are comprised in this group : Eastern Counties (Cambridge to Bedford, &c.). Eastern Counties (Cambridge, Royston, and Ware, &c.). Royston and Hitchin Railway Act Amendment (Extension from Royston to Cambridge, &c.) Royston and Hitchin Railway Act Amendment (sale of lease 6f line). Eastern Counties (Somersham to Ramsay). EASTERN COUNTIES (cararillanazi TO EEDPORD, &c.) This was the first line taken. A lengthened discussion took place as to whether the Royston and Hitchin Railway Act Amendment Bill (Extension from Royston to Cambridge, &c.), should be considered a competing line with the proposed scheme from Cambridge to Bedford, &c.) The room having bean cleared, The CHAIRMAN announced (on our re-admission) that the former line could not be considered as a competing line with the latter. HILL, on behalf the promoters, th en o p ene d t h e case of the Cambridge to Bedford, &c., line. Mr. Headley, of Cambridge, Mr. Upton, of Bedford, and other witnesses were examined as to the great traffic which might be anticipated along the line, and the present want of accommodation for it. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. ' GROUP XVI. IMPORTAN T DECISION. At the meeting of the Committee this morning, Mr. K EMB I,E, the chairman, intimated that the Com mittee were of opinion that the preamble of the GREAT NORTHERN (HERTFORD, HATFIELD, AND ST. ALBAN'S BRANCH) had been proved ; and that the preambles of the EASTERN COUNTIES (HERTFORD TO HITCHEN, &c.), and ENFIELD AND EDMONTON EXTENSION had not been proved. The clauses of the first-mentioned Bill were then agreed to with various amendments, and The CHAIRMAN intimated that he should report the deci sion of the Committee to the House. THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN (ST. ALBAN'S, LUTON. AND DUNSTABLE) cannot be proceeded with until the Railway Commissioners have made their report on the capital of the company. The CommiLtee then adjourned until to. morrow (Tuesday) week, at half-past three o'clock. GROUP XVII. The following Bills are comprised in this group : London and North-Western (Newport Pagnel, Olney, and Wellingborough). Midland (Extension from near Leicester to Hitchin, &c.) Midland (Leicester and Swannington Railway Widening, etc.) 'Midland (Syston and Peterborough Deviation). Great Northern (Deviation between London and Grantham). Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junction. The Committee to whom they have been referred consists of the following Members :—Sir J. B. East (chairman), Lord Frederick Hallyburton, the Hon. G. Rice Trevor, G. Dupre, Esq , and R. H. Hurst, Esq., who assembled shortly before one o'clock. Me first, fourth, and sixth Bills, being unopposed, were re• ferred to Mr. Greene. The first Bill proceeded with - was the MIDLAND (LEICESTER AND SWANNING TON WIDENING). The North Staffordshire Company had petitioned against the Bill, but Mr. Kennedy intimated that that company did not object to the proposed widening of the line, but simply to acme of the clauses. Mr. BURKE, who appears forlhe . promoters, stated that the , object of the Bill was simply to widen the line between Leicester and Swaniagton in order to accommodate it to the Increased traffic of the extensive coal district which it inter sected. He objected to the locus standi of the North Staf fordshire on the ground that none of the property of that link was interfered with, and because the petition did not specify any definite objections to the line for which he appeared. Mr. KENNEDY contended, in reply, that the North Staf fordshire must get access south by means of the proposed branch, and that it was necessary that they should have clauses inserted in the Bill to give them that right, and tc regulate the tolls which they would have to pay. The line represented by his Learned Friend was a most important line. It was absolutely necessary that the North Staf fordshire should have the use - of it; and unless they hag the reasonable use of it, it would be utterly useless. The North Staffordshire consisted of several small branches, which intersected the Pottery district, and the Midland Company possessed a number of liner in the same part of the country, and it was a matter of the .utmost importance that the rate of tolls to be charged by th( two companies should be regulated by Parliament. Unless this was done the passengers of the North Stafford shire line would be put to much inconvenience, and thecompany materially injured, as the Midland Company b) charging enormous tolls, so as to preclude the carrying of passengers at such a rate, might shut the North Stafford shire out from carrying passengers beyond their lines in their own railway carriages. lie did not say that they - would do so, but, unless proper clause s were i nserted, they could do so Mr. BURE said the N or th St a ff or d sh i re, or any K other line, might run carriages over his line at the rates which Parliament had laid down. But if the principle his Learned Friend sought to be introduted was admitted by the Committee, he might inter fere in the same way with any of the other lines in other parts of the country, and completely upset all the regulations which Parliament had laid down with respect :to tolls, which could not be altered without due notice. Companies were empowered to enter into private arrange ments with respect to tolls, and if the arrangement sought to be brought about by his Learned Friend was equitable, the two companies would carry it out. The Committee considered that the North Staffordshire had no locus standi. , The Bill thus became unopposed, and it was referred to Mr. Greene, with the other Bills above mentioned. The next Bill proceeded with was the SOUTH MIDLAND (EXTENSION NEAR LEICESTER TO HITCHIN). Mr. TALBOT said tha line was promoted by the South Mid land Coinpany, and that the Leicester and Bedford, which had passed into the hands of the Midland Company, forme(' a portion of it. It would afford the eastern part of the county direct communication with the mineral and manu facturing districts of which Leicester formed the centre, and would, besides, traverse a district now suffering from the want of railway communication. It would be 108 miles in length, And would cost 2,500,0001. Mr. BAXTER, on behalf of the Great Northern, opposed that part of the preamble of the Bill which set forth that it was desirable that the line should be carried on from Hitchin to Hertford by means of a line called the Hertford and Hitchin, promoted by the Eastern Counties (thrown out this morning). on the ground that such a proposal was entirely at variance with an agreement which had been entered into between Mr. Hudson. on the part of the South-Midland, and the directors of the Great Northern, to the effect that the line should terminate by a junction with the Great Northern at Hitchin. After considerable discussion, the preamble was amended as suggested by Mr. Baxter, and after some local evidence had been • adduced in favour- of the line, the Committee ad 3ourned until to-morrow. we The Committee cannot pass the preamble of the Bill, (and may state that there is no reason to believe that they willnotpass it,) until the Commissioners have made their repcirt, which will take place in the course of a few days. • GROUP XVIII. The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o ' c l oc k ; the Earl of Lincoln in the chair, with Mr. C. rnythe, Captain Jones, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, and Sir W. .Lames. LONDON AND elm, T ,Mr. Thomas Early, of ii,,, fn , I LASL * Tn fale John Early, l arge himself the Lond o n mav ufacturers at Witney, and who partner of the concern, stated th at their firm used to c onsume 110,060 tons of coal in a year, but, l 9 in , t i en thousand consequence of the ti ton s tie:line of the trade—it was in 83 it_was his impression that it would b e b etter i -unbroken railway communication with the places fr e o y m had an i, was drawn. There would also be a great advantagehich to tie trade of Wit ne y . If the Euston-s q uare stati on were o a ?opted the Jocks in London would be much more useful. T:i,re would also be a further benefit from the reducti-, f Oa price of carriage, for by the North-Western line it is thirty-per cent. less than by the Great Western line. Mr. Marryatt, a blanket manufacturer also at Witney-, srated the general advantages that would be derived from the 'establishment of an uniform gauge. Mr. Clinch, who is a woolatapler, in partnership with his fa they at Witney, testified to the benefit of the North- Western line. The carriage of wool from the docks in Lon dol t was 3s. 6d. a pack, while to the country there was a further charge of thirty shillings. Most of the short wool is used at Witney, but the long wool is sent to Dewsbury, Halifax, and Huddersfield, all of which would be transferred by the -railway with then facility. Witness was a director of the North- " :I. ‘ . and brother-in-law 119 the last witnes& ,?' s +, -- st.- 4 Mx. J. Irmakniy i ll9*, , . , - 4 •Vrri . , , • ' , bus of sheep - . %---- `~~, Y s 1 ,~ . nTr77 - ." , . ? - were annually sent out of the neighbourhood of Burford to the eastern counties. He estimated the sheep in the district about Burford at a sheep per acre. There were 64,000 acres, ;old L:f of the shc,p wcr.? sent away from th place, ;it) that there were upwards of 32,600 sheep driven into I the counties of Buckingham and Bedford, and these were only the worst and lightest sheep, for the finer sheep were too heavy to travel far, so that the purchasers eastward of those counties could net obtain them at all. Mr. Hudson, a member of the council of the Royal Agri cultural Society, stated that he farmed upwards of 1,600 acres of land in Norfolk. They bred neither sheep nor cattle, but got most of their stock from the north and west, but preferred the Hereford beasts if there was not such a great difficulty in obtaining them. In 1844 he bought seventy beasts, and driving them the distance of two hundred miles required a period of seventeen days, with four attendants, the expense of whose service was 101. 48., the keep of the cattle 591. 10s. ; the turnpikes cost is. 6d. each, and the whole amount paid for them alone was 51. 55., which was on that occasion between 235. to 245. each animal. A gentleman of the name of Thomas had purchased two hundred beasts, the loss on which was up wards of 2001. from the driving, whereas he expected to make a gain of 2001. To show the difference of the expense in having the cattle brought by railway, he had a drove brought by railway by a special train, at a cost of 201. 10s.. and which was only two hours on the way. In order to get them by road it would have required three men at four shillings a day each. The turnpikes were very heavy in that part of the country, so that one shilling and sixpence a score would have to be paid for the drove. The keep would be 81., and the whole cost would have been 191. Bs., which with the loss in the condi tion and other expenses would not have been less than 901. He himself did not breed more than about 300 beasts, but he fed from 2,500 to 3,000, and he might further add that lately a large number of bullocks from Carlisle, a dis tance of about three hundred and forty miles, at an expense of 20s. each, and they came to hand in a period of twenty-five hours, in as fine a condition as they left Carlisle. One of the greatest evils which was suffered by the break of gauge arose from the necessity of transferring sheep and cattle from the truck on one railway to the truck on the other, especially sheep and he believed that it would be ad visable rather to drive them twenty five miles, that was two days journey, at a considerable expense than endure that evil. Mr. HILDYARD here made an application to the Committee for an authority to compel the attendance of Mr. Brown, an important witness who had refused to attend without such compulsion. Mr. Williams, of Cheltenham, stated that the supply of coal to Cheltenham was about 70,000 tons, of which about 30,000 were Forest of Dean coal, while the rest were, he believed, Derbyshire coal, all of which might be obtained by the North-Western Railway. Several other witnesses from Cheltenham deposed to the advantage which the railway would be of to the town and its neighbourhood. Mr. Bishop, a butcher, at Tewkesbury, stated that he sent a great number of carcases of lambs and sheep to the several meat markets of London, upwards he believed of 500 a month, and was assured that the meat lost from a halfpenny to a penny per pound on being transferred from the carriages of one gauge to the other. Mr. Woodlands, an extensive land and estate agent, and also a large fanner, also testified to the inconvenience which arose from the break of gauge to the great traffic which already passed, and which would be developed on the route of the proposed line. The Committee then adjourned. accrue in a curve worked by horse-power, and the radius of which might be extended (with permission of the land- holders) beyond the limits ( f deviation. The third reason, r,d it t cc-.. ,- Tiptil)l of th , 7-1", ;Int the unit , ,1 talent of t: , e eminent engineers employed by the Caledonian Company could not get over two miserable "burns" (Drum fork and Milling), which his Learned Friend had magnified into " two impetuous mountain torrents."—(Laughter.) The Learned Counsel then proceeded to contend that the pro posed line, traversing two of the principal streets in Helens burgh, Princes-street and Clyde-street, would occasion great danger, not only to the inhabitants generally, but in a par • ticular manner would endanger the lives of the children at tending the schools of the chapel of ease dependent on the parish church of Stow. After meeting in detail the allega tions of the promoting counsel, and endeavouring to show by reference to the tables of estimate that the advantages in point of economy were not so great as the Caledonian Com pany had stated them. Mr. VENABLKS then proceeded to open the case for the op position, the petitioners being Sir James Colquhoun, of Luss, and others. He proceeded to call Mr. Gale, C.E., Glasgow, who endeavoured to show that the works in the deviation line would prejudice the fencing ground in Helensburgh, in a very great degree, and that it would generally deteriorate the property situated in the pubic streets. There would be increased danger from the steepness of the gradient. On cross-examination by Mr. A. BPNEILL, it was elicited that the witness had laid out many branch mineral lines, the greater proportion of which were distinguished for their steep gradients. Mr. Ronald Johnston and Mr. Joseph Gale, C.E., and Mr. William Spence, architect, were examined in corrobora tion. They all thought that the line of the previous years was the more excellent one. _ _ _ ern Railway (Deviations between London and Grant ham) Bill, to entertain the petition of the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston, and Eastern Junction Railway uunip under their eut,:muii 4l. After some observations from Mr. Estcourt, Sir Wm. lleathcote, Mr. Greene, Mr. Aglionby, and Mr. Strutt, the motion was withdrawn. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY (NORTH KENT). Mr. 0. STANLEY moved the third reading of the South-Eastern Railway (North Kent line) Bill. General FOX moved, pursuant to notice, to alter the 11th clause as follows :—And be it enacted, that nothing contained in this Act, or in the Acts herein cited or re • ferred to, shall extend to authorise the company [with out the consent of the principal officers of her Majesty's Ordnance, or their successors, signiffed in writing under the hand of the secretary of the said principal officers for the time being] to carry the said intended line of railway nearer to the fortifications of Chatham than a line six hundred yards from the counterscarp of Prince Edward's Bastion, and which line shall be marked out and submitted for the approval of the Master-General of her Majesty's Ordnance and the Inspector-General of Fortifications, immediately after the passing of this Act, and that the same shall be constructed to the satisfaction of her Majesty's Ord nance and the Inspector-General of Fortifications, at the cost and charges of the said Company.' • After a few observations the clause as amended was agreed to, and added to the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY (STROOD TO MAIDSTONE.) This Bill was read a third time and passed, on the motion of Mr. 0. STANLEY. SOUTH•EASTERN RAILWAY (MID KENT AND DIRECT TUNBRIDGE) Mr. 0. STANLEY moved the third reading of this Bill. Mr. R. HODGSON moved, pursuant to notice, That the clause granting five years for the compulsory pur chase of land be mitered to three years. After some short discussion the motion was with drawn, and the Bill read a third time and passed. REPORTS. .• The Committee here interrupted the evidence, and ordered the room to be cleared. On the re-admission of strangers, The CmAinstAN announced that they found that portion of the Bill which prayed for a deviation line through the town of Helensburgh, was not proved. Mr. Bateman, C. E., was then examined as to the Glasgow deviation. His evidence went to show that the construction of a tunnel under the canal would inevitably lead to a catastrophe at some time or other. The Scotttish Central had received the sanction of Parliament to pass under the canal near Falkirk. There the soil was a stiff gravel, and therefore well fitted for tunnelling operations, yet there the canal had filtered into the works, and they were obliged to use great precautions to prevent accidents. The Committee rose at four o'clock. The Reports on the following Bills were brought up and agreed to. Belfast Port and Harbour. Caledonian Railway (Gla sgow, Garnkirk, and Coat bridge Railway Bra nc h to Glasgow and Station). Cork and Bandon Railway. Cork, Blackrock, and Passage Railway. Dublin Consumers Gas. _ _ GROUP L. The Committee met this morning at Twelve; present, Mr. Banks, Chairman ; Mr. Carew, Sir B. Hall, Mr. ',Lindley, and Mr. Henley. PAISLEY. DAR.D.NEAD, AND NURZET. The CHAIRMAN said the agreement between the Canal Company and the Greenock Railway Company, and the Ayr Railway Company would better now be explained. It had made a strong impression on the Committee, who hesitated to grant further powers to parties who had made a use of them very unfavourable for the public. Mr. WILATELY explained that the agreement arose out of a ruinous competition between the canal and the railway, when passengers were carried a distance of seven miles for twopence. It was arranged, therefore, that the canal should not carry light goods or passengers. The fares had been little affected, for the rail carried passengers at seven-eighths of a penny per mile. But they were prepared to give up the agreement if the Greenock Company would aid them to compensate the canal, as the Chairman would recommend. The CHAIRMAN said the Committee had no power to en tertain the offer. Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railways Amalgamation. Edinburgh Markets and Customs. General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway Branches. Great Western Railway (Branch to join the West Lon don Railway, Widening and Enlargement of West London Railway, and Branches to Hammersmith, and to join the London and South-Western Railway near Lambeth). Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct, and Glasgow Southern Terminal Railways Amalgamation. Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway (No. 1) (Ex tension to Yarmouth). Leith Harbour and Dock Dues. Mr. Wilson, a large mineral proprietor and lessee, gave evidence in support of the Harlet Company, which he pre ferred for the accommodation offered by it to the different works in the district. Lynn and Ely Railway (Deviation and Lynn Docks). Runcorn Gas. Ryde Improvement. Sheffield Markets. Mr. Pitcaird, factor to Lord Glasgow, agreed that Harlet line would much better suit the mineral fields than the other lines. It offered a direct communication to the port of Ren fern, which he thought the natural port of the district. Mr. Blythe, C.E., was asked a few questions bearing prin cipally on matters of a local nature. The CHAIRMAN announced that the majority of the Com mittee were in favour of the Harlet scheme being granted. Mr. HILDYARD, for the opponents, was heard very briefly. The CHAIRMAN then declared the preamble of the Harlet Railway proved for all except their Neilston and Barskoven branches. Southampton and Dorchester Railway (Wearmouth Branch). Waterford, Wexford,: Wicklow, and Dublin Railway (No. 1). Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway (Branohes to Benhar Coal-works and Edinburgh and Glasgow Turnpike-road). SECOND READINGS. - - The following Bills were read a second time, and or. dered to be committed:— Limerick Docks and Harbour. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, HILMARNOCE, AND AYR, AND AYRSHIRE AND BRIDGE OP New Zealand Company. C3NSIDERATION OF REPORTS. WEIR (No. III). Mr. Hong was about to open the merits of this Bill, when The reports on the following Bills were further con sidered and agreed to:— Bingley Gas. British Commercial Insurance Company (No. 2). Eastern Union and Hadleigh Junction Railway (Sale to the Eastern Union Railway Compan). Ewell Rates. The CrianorAN said he thought that schemes enough for that district had been sanctioned; and he recommended the promoters to consider whether, in the face of this, they ought to go on. Sir B. HALL requested the Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct should understand that the same observations applied to them. The Committee then adjourned. Kingston-upon-Thames Small Tenement. Wolveihamptop Rates. ROYSTON AND CAMBRIDGE EXTENSION RAILWAY. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING Six O'CLOCK. Mr. GOULBURN moved that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Royston and Cambridge Exten sion Railway Bill, to entertain the petition of the Uni versity of Cambridge against the said Bill. He said the petition had been rejected because it did not contain at its commencement the short title of the BilL DERBY. 7 to 4 agst J. Day's lot 5 to 1 agst Cossack 5 to 1 agst Conyngham 7 to 1 agst Van Tromp 10 to 1 agst Forth's lot 15 to 1 agst Mr. Martin 15 to 1 agst Planet 20 to 1 agst Wanota 25 to 1 agst Oxonian 25 to 1 agst Montpensier 30 to 1 agst Glentilt 30 to 1 agst Mathematician 30 to 1 agst Red Hart 30 to 1 agst War Eagle 40 to 1 agst Nottingham 50 to V agst Ulysses Mr. BERNAL objected to the use of the word " en tertain," and suggested that the Committee should be simply required to consider the petition. Sir W. HEATHCOTE opposed the motion, and con sidered the House ought not to alter a rule, compliance with which waa exceedingly easy, us its wording was simple and explicit. Mr. MATHESON said, during the present session many petitions had come before him, in which the short title of the Bills to which they referred were omitted, and in order that the expense and injury might be saved to the parties, he had himself written the short titles of the Bills at the head of them. As this occurred through the laxity of Parliamentary agents, and as the rule laid down by the House should not be departed from, he should oppose the motion. Mr. GOULBURN withdrew his motion. OAKS. 4 to 1 agst Clementina 5 to 1 agst Farmer's Daughter 9 to 1 agst Slander IMPERI NIA PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) DISTILLATION FROM GRAIN. Mr. BROTHERTON presented several petitions from various parts of this country, against distillation from grain. HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool. sack at Five o'clock. THREATENING LETTERS BILL. Lord DENMAN proposed the second reading of this Bill. In doing so, he said he conceived that his motion would not meet with the slightest objection as it was to amend the present anomalous state of the law with respect to persons sending threaten ing letters for the purpose of extorting money. The existing law was so imperfect, that unless a letter of this nature was actually addressed to the person from whom money was sought to be extorted no offensive was committed, and the object of the Bill was to render it equally criminal to send a letter with the view of extortinglmoney from a person to that person's relations or friends. The Bill was then read a second time. THE TOWNSEND PEERAGE. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from a genth man named Charles Townsend, "com monly called Lord Charles Townsend and Marquis of Townsend," praying for an alteration of the Act passed three years ago with respect to the Townsend peerage. CORN. The Earl of HARDWICKE gave notice that he would ask her Majesty's Ministers two questions, first, whether they knew what quantity of wheat was in the country ; and, second, what quantity they expected to be imported. RATING IN IRELAND. The Earl of ST. GERMAINS presented, a petition from the rate-payers in the County Down, praying that the rates should be as usually charged, one-half upon the landlord, and one-half upon the tenant. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1847 the public. Hon. Members are aware that it has been necessary, from the high rate of interest i❑ the commer cial market, to elevate the price of all securities, and the con.cquence has beef' taat Exchequer• bills sutlered great depreciation, and it was necessary to raise their value in order to give a greater facility to trade. This is necessary, not only for the transactions of mercantile men, but for the interest of those artisans whom they employ. I believe, therefore, this measure is absolutely necessary for the credit of the Government. From representations which have been make to me, I find that the traders and bankers of the country have been unable to obtain the ordinary supplies of money to enable them to carry on their transactions. The bankers of the country are unable to discount bills as they could do in prosperous times, owing to the scarcity of money which at present prevails in all branches of trade. I hare also been told that the in vestment of large sums of money in railroads has had a considerable tendency to withdraw capital from the or dinary sources of trade, as well as to render money more scarce than it otherwise might have been. I have heard that many parties in Lancashire who have invested their money in railroads have preferred to sell their shares at a discount rather than pay up the calls, and of course that circumstance has naturally tended to increase the scarcity of money. Mr. ElUME—Speak up. It is not usual for a Member to speak with his ; • back turned to the House.— (Hear, hear, and laughter.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I find also that a system has prevailed amongst the moneyed men of London of withdrawing their money from Government securities, and purchasing, with the money so withdrawn, goods, bills, and railway shares at very large discounts. At first this naturally led to a great increase in the number of bills brought into the market, and when the alarm or panic came, the bankers, in whose hands the bills were placed, found it the more difficult to get money advanced upon them, except at very heavy discounts. It was further represented to us, from the unsaleability of Exchequer bills, that many men were unable to realise any money on those which they held, and conse quently the effect of the measure lately passed will be to facilitate them in such efforts, and it will also en able them to dispense with calls upon the bill-broker, and, further, it must alleviate the pressure on the money market by bringing into circulation capital, until now locked up. Now, Sir, lam not prepared to say that it would have been possible fur the Bank to have done this, except with the concurrence of the last measure, enabling the bankers to pay their loans by advances with Ex chequer-bills ; however the object of the Govern ment was to put themselves in funds, by the use of the money now lying in the banks. Sir, the ex tent of the demand upon the Bank has been exceedingly limited. I made no more than the usual call. I had forewarned the Bank what the amount would be. Nor was there any reason for alleging that an assurance or pledge was given at the passing of the charter that such assistance would not be required. I can find no such promise; but I did observe, that in consequence of another measure, the equalization of dividends, there would be less occasion for a large demand on the two quarters, when the larger amounts were paid, but on the other two quarters the demand must of necessity have been greater. I think, therefore, that it was an exc ee di ng l y wise measure. If I may be permitted to read an extract from a speech which I myself made on that occasion, it will be seen that I then predicted the result of the measure. The Right Hon. Gentleman here read an extract to that effect from a speech he made in 1844, and continued— Now. Sir, ,I quote this to show that the operation of the measure was foreseen, and that no expectation was held out of an excessive demand being made. I have thought it right to make this statement for the purpose of cor recting a misapprehension which a great number of gen tlemen have fallen into on this subject. It will be seen, therefore, that the time when advances would be required was amply foreseen, and time given for preparation to pro vide for them. With regard to the contributors to the lean, it has been my object to give every facility for the purpot e of easing the money market, and my experience in public and private life has taught me this, that driving a hard bargain was advantageous to neither party. It is no doubt true, that when trade is bad, and the money market feverish, the revenue suffers. During the last fortnight there has been a considerable reduction in the receipts at the Custom House, yet within the last few days, I am happy to say, matters have much improved, and resumed their usual course—(Hear, hear)—and things are much easier than they formerly were. The funds have also fallen; but now I am happy to say, from tho report of to-day, that they are up again, and there has been an easy day. This has arisen from the reduction of the loans to be advanced to the Exchequer, and the improvement in the exchanges with America. This is, therefore, a good account, and I would have hoped for improved prospects in the future, were it not attended with a rise in the price of corn.—(Hear, bear.) As far as London is concerned, the pressure for money is decidedly relieved, and I hope that it may extend to the provinces, so that a restoration of trade may be effected. It is, however, impossible to deny but that corn had risen to a fearful price; but the Noble Lord at the head of the Government has given notice of the only course by which to prevent its fur ther increase. No doubt to some extent this might have arisen from the exportation of corn ; but I may observe that while the exportation has been about 132,000 quarters, the quantity imported was 432,000 quarters. Last week the amount entered for home consumption was in proportion to 17,000,000 quarters per annum. The entry for the week of bread stuffs was equal to 200,000 quarters. The entries for all kinds of grain are 333,273 quarters, or, at an ordinary calculation, at the rate of 17,000,000 quarters. Lord G. BENTINCK—For what time? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—In the week.— (Laughter.) Lord G. BENTINCK—Is this the amount imported, or entered for home consumption ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER--It is the amount entered for home consumption. I have said that the entries for all kinds of food is 333,273 quarters. I cannot give the imports of all kinds of corn, but the imports of breadstuffs has on the whole kept on ;in a pretty equal increase, the different being less than 3,000 quarters per week. Ido not know that I need state anything furrher on this head. Since Friday night I observe a slight alteration in the pay ments made into the Bank of England, and the autho rities there report to me that a good effect might result from the extension of the period of payment. I there foae propose to give to every contributor for every sum of money, in regard of these instalments, which shall be paid on or before the 18th day of June, interest at 5 per cent., and in like manner I propose to give to every contributor, for any sum of money paid from the 18th of June to the 10th of September, interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. The Right Hon. Gentle man concluded by reading the resolution. On the motion being put, Mr. HUME rose and said that he was not aware whether, in making the explanation the Chancellor of the Exchequer had explained anything to the satisfac tion of Hon. Members, but he meant to say that in the explanation he had not shown to his mind any reason for the pressure which had arisen in the money and commercial markets. He complainp.d that the interests of money had risen to five per cent., but he had given no reason for the changes which had occurred. He stated, as it seems, that these changes which had taken place had put the capitalists who had the money of others in their hands into great difficulty since the rate of interest had risen. Why he, speaking as one who bad placed money in .the hands of a banker would, under such circumstances, only be too glad to have it ready for a call. He, therefore, thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman had been much misinformed, and that he had assigned no reason why an increase of the discount should have taken place. He had soid nothing as a reason of any alteration in the interest, and had said nothing either that had to do with the currency of the country. He expected that the Right Hon. Baronet would have assigned some reason for the changes which had taken place since 1844, which would have been an explanation of the extraordinary pressure which was now felt. But he had not done so. He had taken the trouble to make a long extract from his own speech, certainly. In 1844 the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel) had made an alteration in the law, and had separated the banking from the issue department. He thought very wisely; but he was not prepared to say whether the reserve of fourteen millions was sufficient, but look ing at the large amount in the coffers of the Bank he should say that was ampl e . The deposits which appeared to be in the coffers of the Bank were more than those of former occasions. Be that, however, as it might ; having provided a bank to settle or fix the amount of paper issue, it mattered not whether that bank were continued at the west or the east-end. There was a bank estab lished for doing that, and that being done, what was the next great change that t oo k place? I Bank ofEngland,with a ll her resources,e t x w a: a t s ly to in p t l h a e c same position e position as any other bank in any other part of the country. leaving her to limit th e extent of her discounts at her own discretion. It was expected that such an arrangement would have the effect of preventing a pressure of the kind the country was now witeessing, In that respect it had failed. It might be owing to the d co id ndu n c o t t of p t o h ss e es ß s an sm Bank authorities informationoritiesthems a themselves, tobutth he contents of their papers and books to enable him to criticise their conduct. He had no hesitation though in stating that it was never held out by any body at the time the Currency Bill was passed that the Bank of England was to make the same advances as before upon good bills. He must say that such a proceeding as that just now stated was never contemplated ; as far as he could recollect the speeches of the Right Hon. Baronet, he never made any speech anticipating such an advance, On the contrary, he found that he provided cash in the Exchequer to render it unnecessary to have these calls. He believed that when the Right Hon. Baronet lett office there was money in it to pay any demands made upon it. They had been told that the Bank had timely notice. Yes, he knew the quarters were coming round ; but what notice had they of the present state of the money-market ? Could any man have believed that circumstances would have led to the present pressure. He considered thatit was not fair to the Bank of England to have given GROUP XIX. This Committee met to-day for the first time in Room A, New Houses of Parliament. Members present, Mr. Dennis toun (chairman), Mr. Finch, Mr. Montague Gore, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. Mansell Talbot. The following are the Bills referred to the consideration of the Committee : Buckingham and Brackley Junction and Oxford and Bletch ley Junction Companies Amalgamation. Northampton and Banbury (Blisworth to Banbury). London and North-Western (Coventry and Nuneaton Branch). London and North-Western (Atherstone and Whiteacre Branch). Coventry, Nuneaton, and Birmingham and Leicester (power to purchase to the London and North-Western, &c.). Coventry, Banbury, and Oxford Junction. The list of Bills, with the petitions against them, was then read. From this it seemed that appearances had only been entered against the last Bill in the list, promoted by the Great Western Company. With regard to the others, the petitions had been withdrawn, and they stood as unopposed Bills. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow, at twelve o'clock, when the Coventry, Banbury, and Oxford Junction will be taken. GROUP XX. The Select Committee appointed to consider the morits of the Bills comprised in this group, reassembled at the usual hour this morning; Mr. Golburn in the chair. MIDLAND (CHZILTENHAM, WARWICK., AND LEAMINGTON). Mr. MACAULAY opened the case for the promoters of this line. It was generally admitted that the line ought to be made, and the only question to be decided by the Committee was, who should make it. The line was intended to form a communication between Bristol and Gloucester and the coal districts of the midland counties It would commence at Tewkesbury, pass through Evesham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, and join the existing Rugby and Leamington at the latter town. The whole of the day was occupied with general evidence in favour of the scheme. The Committee adjourned at the usual hour till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXI. This Committee met at the usual hour this morning; in Room 22, Sir James Graham in the chair. SHRORSHIRE UNION RAILWAYS AND CANAL (LEASE TO TILE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN). The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with gei,eral evidence in favour of this proposal. The Committee adjourned shortly before four o'clock. GROUP XXIII. The Committee met at twelve o'clock ; Mr. Mackinnon in in the chair. SWANSEA VALLEY. The Committee went through the remaining clauses of this Bill and then adjourned. GROUP XXV. The Committee to whom this group was referred resumed its sittings this morning in Room 14, at the usual hour; Sir Charles Lemon in the chair. MANCHESTER, BUXTON, AND MATLOCX, AND MIDLANDS JUNCTION (DEVIA TIONS AND AMENDMENT). The evidence, on behalf of the Duke of Rutland and the inhabitants of Bakewell, in opposition to the line was con tinued. Mr. A. Wheatcroft, corn-dealer, was the first witness. He deposed to the great traffic of the district, and to the superior accommodation which would be afforded by the old line above the proposed deviation. Mr. Greaves, post-master at Bakewell, gave evidence to the same effect, and to the greater facilities the original line would give for the traffic of the inhabitants of Bakewell. Evidence was then adduced on behalf of the promoters. Mr. Francis Barker was examined to show the superiority of the Parliamentary line over the deviation in accommo dating the traffic of the district. Mr. Lock, civil engineer, gave evidence in the engineering points of the Parliamentary line, and on the practicability and cheapness of its construction. The Committee then adjourned till twele o'clock to morrow. GROUP XXVII. The Committee met this morning, Mr. Cardwell, chairman. GREAT NORTHERN EXTENSION TO WISBEACH. The Committee was occupied all day in hearing the cross and re-examinations of Mr. Fulton, C.E. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXI. The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o'clock ; Mr. Shaw in the chair. SOUTH yoititsicraz. Mr. Newman's cross-examination, on the fifty-fifth Clause, which gives the power of taking tolls on the line, was re newed. He stated that the fares on the proposed line would be from a halfpenny to a penny per ton, while on the Don Navigation it was a penny. There is a line from Masborough to the Ureasborough branch of the Midland Railway, which cost the company 15,0001. a year, used principally by Earl Fitz wiLliam. On re-examination, Mr. Newman stated that though the Barnsley branch now proposed would be useful, yet the South Yorkshire line would, in his opinion, be by far more so; but he did not possess a sufficient knowledge of the coal district to speak accurately respecting it. There was now a great traffic in coal westward to Manchester, which would be provided for greatly by the Barnsley line, but the South Yorkshire line would run north-eastward, and south-west ward, and would open a larger field of coal, and would con sequently carry more, but he could not deny, but that the Barnsley line would give a more direct communication westward from the Silkatone bed, which is very valuably. The evidence of this witness closed the case, and the Com mittee adjourned. GROUP XX XIV. OLDHAM ALLIANCE. This Committee met this morning at the usual hour. Mr. Hawkshaw, the engineer, to the line was cross examined by Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM. _ _ At the conclusion of the examination of Mr. Hankshen, the engineer to the line, The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXXIX. This Committee met at the usual hour this morning; Lord Charles Wellesley in the chair. WEAR VALLEY, BISHOP AUCZLAND AND WEARDALE, WEARDALE EXTENSION, and WEAR and DER WENT RAILWAYS and SILILDON TUNNEL AMALGAMATION. The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with the general evidence in favour of this amalgamation. , The Committee adjourned at the usual hour. GROUP XLVII. This Committee met to-day at three o'clock, on the Edin burgh and Bathgate Junction (Deviation, &c.), but imme diately adjourned, the report of the Railway Commissioners, for which they have been waiting the last fortnight, not being received. GROUP XLVIII. The Committee met at twelve o'clock. Present, Viscount Courtenay, chairman, Mr. Towneley, Mr. Tuite, Mr. Ker Sey mar, and ➢lr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell. CALEDONIAN AND DUIVIZIAR.TONSELIRE Mr. Andrews, C.E. .ere called to prove al li t r 3UNCTZON. n F o o d w a l n er g , e C r e w E ou ., l a d n a d c M cru n e M f a ro c m ken t z h i e e formation of the tbutunnlirunder the Forth and Clyde canal. through which the tunnel Glasgow, Mr. Bunnie character to preclud,evfauunyeezk.in its formation. .was to be constructed was of a rm rov a e t d ion t . hat the clay examined on the same point. n g i nd u oters. Mr. Martin, C.E. This closed the case for the Mr. VERA BLEB for the o was not that the others on the part of Sir urged by the James Colquhoun of Lass, and °di l e' alteration made on the line of last year Nv reas a c (m o s t by u any means n wOu r ld be effected, an improvement, and that the three promoters for tbis alteration were io in ,o f oo ac i t . The first of these that a saving of he would show could not be the fact, the second that the alteration would get rid of a dangerous curve, was a fallacy inasmuch as no danger could bewell supposedto THE FACTORY BILL The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented several:pe titions from various parts of the country in favour of the Factory Bill. PUBLIC-HOUSES IN SCOTLAND. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented a petition praying tbat their Lordships would tate into considera tion some measure for licensing public-houses in Scotland. ARMY SERVICE BILL. On the motion of Lord STANLEY, the further read ing of this Bill was postponed till Frieay next. LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. The report on this Bill was postponed till tomorrow. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. - On the order of the day for going - into Committee upon this Bill, The Earl of WICKLOW rose to propose an amend ment to 20th clause of which he had given notice, but was interrupted by Lord STANLEY, who said that he wished to ask her Majesty's Government whether they intended to insert a clause in this Bill respecting electoral division. He would put it to the Government whether they did not think that by argreeing to the words " electoral divisions" after the word " union" they would render more effectual the working of this measure. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood that power already existed to alter the extent of the electoral divisions. alterations, lat L der o na r SnTse, CommissionerseAaw n N edr L een E hdoe Y t eh loi c den o m l ay t i vh a e i a n t ed that the Noble liar uis question.th the e powerl m t hiostusoigohnileartthesaht thoseogute have the power, but that the executive should give the Commissioners authority to exercise it, and to reduce the area of unions of large electoral divisions. Lord BROUGHAM said, that under the law of settlement, power was given to divide parishes in such cases as those which were of great extent, and he thought that similar power ought to be conferred in the present Bill. After a few words from' the: Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Clancarty, and Lord Reddesdale, The Earl of WICKLOW said that he was rquite aware of the existence of the power to which the Noble Marquis (the Marquis of Lansdowne) had referred. He wanted to impress upon their Lordships what ap peared to him to be a grievous injustice, namely, throw ing upon certain_ rural districts the whole weight of the support of the pauper population of the towns. He considered that the pauper population of an union should be supported by the union at large. Un less this were the case, the expense which would be thrown upon the towns would be enormous ; in fact property in towns would be destroyed altogether. After the opinion of their Lordships the other night he conceived that their Lordships would accede to the following amendment : In clause 20 to insert, after the word " repealed" in twelfth line, the words " and that it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, when they shall see fit, to form into separate electoral divisions towrT with a population of three thousand, or upwards. ' He said 3,000, because he believed small towns of that size would be best accommodated by such an arrange ment. (LEFT SITTING.) ROUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY. GISBORNE moved, p u r s uant to notice, that it to gin- instruction to the CommitteeL on the Great North- HEALTH OF TOWNS. Visaount EBRINGTON presented several petitions in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. POOR-LAW (IRELAND). Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from Kilkenny, against any increase in the number of ex officio under the proposed new Irish Poor-law. MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition, signed by a number of medical practitioners, in favour of the Medical Registration Bill. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. Mr. BARCLAY presented petitions from Bristol, signed by upwards of 3,000 persons, in favour of this measure; also a petion signed by 72 medical practi tioners of Bristol to the same effect; also a petition signed by the Rev. the Dean of Bristol, and 52 other clergymen, to the same effect. NAVIGATION-LAWS. Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition signed by 340 merchants and other persons interested in trade and na vigation of South Shiels, against any alteration in the navigation- laws. HEALTH OF TOWNS' BILL. Lord SANDON presented a petition signed by vari ous public bodies at Liverpool, the whole body of me dical men, and a large number of the working classes, the parish authorities, and others, in favour of the Healtk of Town!' Bill. Mr. HUTT also presented a petition from Gateshead to same effect. MONETARY SYSTEM. Mr. FORBES presented a petition numerously signed from Stirling, praying the House to adopt some measure calculated to give assistance to the Bank under its present pressure. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. HUME presented a petition in . favour of this Bill ; also one in favour of the Medical Practitioners Bill. THE PETITION OF GEORGE DREW. Sir FREDERIC TIIESIGER moved that the petition of George Drew (presented 7th May), be printed with the ♦otes.—Agreed to. DISCOUNT ON LOANS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER . moved the order o f th e d ay th at the H ouse go i n t o Committee on the Loan, Discount, and Instalment 13ill. PRICE OF GRAIN AND- LIMITATION IN DISTILLERIES. Mr. 11. BAILLIE wished to ask a question of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord J. Russell). He found that since the period he had put a question to the Govern ment on this subject, that the price of grain had in creased by 30s. a quarter, and that there was every probability of a further increase. He wished, under such circumstances, to know whether it was the inten tion of the Government to prohibit the use of grain in distilleries for a limited period? Lord J. RUSSELL said, that in the absence of any notice on this subject he was not prepared to answer that question, and he should therefore take time to do so. He might, however, generally state that he should bring before the House on an early day a measure for the further suspension of the duties on corn. DISCOUNT ON LOANS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then rose to bring before the House the present, monetary condition of the country. He said—Mr. Speaker, lam not aware that I need add much more-- Mr. HUME—Speak up.—(Laughter). The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I need not add much more to what I stated to the House on Friday last as to the intention of the Government with regard to the present state of the money market in this country. I :stated on Friday night that I proposed to submit to this Committee a re solution enabling the Government to allow interest by way of discount on all sums of money made by the contractors or contributors to the loan, in anticipation of instalments due on a future day. That is the resolution which I propose, Sir, to put into your hands. I stated then the allowance which the Government is prepared to make, and I also proposed to state the amount of the discount which we are pre pared to allow. But perhaps it is necessary, for the satisfaction of the House, that I should make some additional statement by which all depressions and all panics may be avoided, and by which the Government securities may be admitted as available in the market. I am free to allow that I did not apprehend, and that I could not be aware of the high price which corn would attain, and the pressure which will necessarily be felt in all commercial circles. The natural consequence of the high prices of corn is to create a con siderable pressure on the springs of commerce. By this measure I hope to prevent that pressure, and I feel cer tain, that if rightly used, it will prevent any such result as that which many have anticipated. I am quite aware that by the measure which I Rua about to propose, that the result will be to impose a great additional burden upon such an interpretation, which was decidedly incorrect. He would be free to say that the publication of the Bank accounts, showing a deficiency, had spread L.ll „Law in the cuunay. lie believed that more of this pressure arose from alarm than actual scarcity, and it only showed what a delicate thing credit is to a country like this. He might probably err in the views which he had taken. He had approved of the first step taken by the Right Honourable Baronet but he objected to two measures ; the one was his placing the Bank of England in a different situa tion from the other banks. It was not fair to the Bank of England to require them to pay in bullion, while the others were permitted to pay in Bank of England notes, thus rendiri,g it necessary for the Bank of England to hold bullion for the greater portion of the other banks. Ile objected to this as extremely prejudical to the bank. The next error which he considered Government committed was that they should have any con nexion whatever with the Bank. If they wished Government to stand upon an independent basis; they must not permit it to depend on the Bank for the payment of its dividends. One of the first and most important duties of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was to see that Government had the means to pay all the just de mands which might be made upon it. If this were the case there would be no embarrassment or difficulty felt in the money market, and the Bank would be free to apply itself to the accommodation of the public. He believed, therefore, that this dependence on the Bank was a great error. There were other measures also to which he wished to direct attention. The currency of this country was gold. They had a gold currency based on paper. lion. Members should bear in mind that the Bank had 14 millions of issue based on securities, and for any excess beyond that they must have gold in their coffers. Be this sum large or small, it must be paid in gold. He asked the Government, why gold should be placed on a different footing to other articles, such as tea, coffee, and sugar, on which merchants were allowed to make issues. He maintained that free trade should be al lowed in banking as well as in other things, taking care that the notes issued were to be redeemed in gold if required. If the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Tamworth could not give a better reason than had been given by the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, he (Mr. Hume) thought they ought to retrace their steps. At the present time it was wrong to maintain the issues when corn was 120 s. a quarter, at the same rate as it was when corn was only 50s. What had been the case in Scotland for the last century? There they had a different system of banking, and he would ask them to give one instance of error which had resulted therefrom. (LEFT SPEAKING.) NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MAY 9.—His Royal Highness Prince Oscar, of Sweden, is hourly expected at this port in a frigate, com manded by himself. Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart, the '.3ominander -in-Chief, is anxiously on the look out for his Royal Highness, and will pay him the most hospitable atten tion. Mr. Mears, the superintendent of the South-Western Railway Station at Gospert, has also received instructions from the company to place special trains at the command of his Royal Highness for himself and suite. A vast number of the beat seamen in the British navy who were on board the celebrated inconstant, 36, throughout her commission, and recently paid off from that splendid model of a perfect frigate at Devonport, have, we are cre dibly informed, entered on board the Brazilian frigate Con stitution t at that port, as well as numerous other able seamen who were tired of waiting for an English man-of-war to be commissioned. The Apollo troop-ship, Commander W. Radcliffe, arrived from Sheerness yesterday morning, having had a complete refit. The Quail lighter, from Pembroke-yard, with stores, arrived yesterday. The Mercury tender, Mr. Walker, Second-Master com manding, sailed yesterday with men for the Howe, 120, Captain Sir James Stirling, at Sheerness. The Geyser, steam-sloop, Commander F. I'. Brown, arrived this morning from Scotland. A Swedish corvette, believed to be the Navaden, arrived at Spithead this afternoon, but the Swedish Prince was not on board. The Recruit, 12, Commander A. Slade, is to leave the har bour to-morrow morning, and sail immediately for Plymouth with the blue jackets belonging to the Caledonia, which have been employed in navigating • the Avenger. PRO3IOTION. Lieutenant—F. Beauchamp Seymour, Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Sir George Seymour, to be acting Commander of the Collingw•ood. Mr. Seymour has been five years absent from England, serving in China and the Pacific. APPOINTMENTS. Captain—W. H. Hall, to the Dragon. Commander—C. J. Balfour, to study steam at the Wool• wich factory. Lieutenants—R. D. Aldrich, to the I-Towe ; Sir Godfrey Webster, to study steam at the Woolwich factory ; E. A. Glynne, to command the Dart, new brigantine; J. F. Slight, E. A. T. Lloydd, and T. D. A. Fortescue, to the Dragon ; H. M. Kinsman, to the Avenger. . . Masters—W. Archer, to the Avenger; J. Chambers (acting), to the Dragon. Paymaster and Purser—T. E. Gould, to the Dragon. Secretary—George P. Martin, cleik, to be Secretary to Commodore Lambert. Surgeons—James Carmichael, M.D., to the Howe; John Davidson, to the Dragon. Second Masters—Edward J. Tucker, to the Terrible; Wil liam Moorman, to the Howe; G. H. Green, to the Dragon. Assistant-Surgeons—James Peters and Henry Piers, to the Poictiers ; Thomas Kincaid, Frederick Joseph Brown, M.D., and W. B. Dalty, to the Howe; Nicholas Littleton, to Green wich Hospital; J. T. Trousdell, to Plymouth Hospital; John G. Campbell, to the Dragon. Clerks—O. D. Sibbald, to the Avenger; J. M. Moore to the Caledonia. Masters' Assistants—Robert Martin Curry, to tho Dragon Alfred Forester, to the Bloodhound. The Majestic, 80 guns, building in Chatham, is to be pro ceeded with so as to be launched this year. WOOLWICH', MAY B.—Lieutenant Louis, two sergeants, two corpocals, two drummers, and seventy privates of the Woolwich division of the Royal Marines, embarked at Wool wich Dockyard at twelve o'clock to-day in the African steam-vessel, for conveyance to Sheerness, to join for service in her Majesty's ship Howe, 120 guns, commissioned at that port by Captain Sir James Stirling. The remainder of the Marine force required for the Howe will be made up from the second division of the Royal Marine Artillery. The Atholl troop-ship, Commander Pearn, disembarked Major James's company of Royal Artillery, at seven o'clock this morning, at the dockyard, and they marched to the garrison. Major James, Lieutenant Anson, and Lieutenant Power arrived with the company from Malta,l and disem barked at the same time. The Atholl will proceed to Dept- ford to take in stores and return to Woolwich to embark Captain Bingham's and Captain Fitzmayer's companies, both of the Bth battalion, for a passage to Ceylon, to relieve the two companies at that foreign station. FEARFUL ACCIDENT BY A RUN AWAY ENGINE ON THE REIGATE RAILWAY. BRIGHTON, ►SATURDAY EVENING.—ShortIy after six o'clock this morning an extraordinary though fearful accident, took place at the terminus of the London and Brighton Railway in this town, by which several car riages were demolished, and considerable damage done to the station. The particulars, as far as we have been able to learn, are as follow: At the hour named, a train of luggage wagons having been backed into a siding, the engine No. 54 (one of Gray's manufacture), was attached, and the engine driver proceeded with it through the points into the main down line on the London side of the company's engine works (about 600 yards from the terminus). There, for some reasons unexplained, it was left on the line, the engine-driver and stoker attending to some trivial business in the engine-house. According to other statements, they loft the "gear" of the engine in a proper position ; but this seems improbable, for in a few minutes it was observed in motion, bearing down the line in the direction of the terminus. The engine driver and the stoker ran to overtake it, and many others joined in the pursuit, but it gained every moment in speed, rushing forward into the ter sainus at a rate of 12 and 15 miles an hour. The porters looked aghast at the approaching engine, and a collision with the carriages that were standing on the rail at the end being inevitable, they made a hasty retreat. In a mo ment afterwards the engine dashed into the carriages with terrific force, totally demolishing the whole of them the fragments of which struck the front of the parcels office and part of the refreshment room with such force as to shatter them in. The large buffer springs and posts at the end of the rails were likewise shattered to pieces, and part of the end of the platform torn up. The engine, strange to say, kept its equilibrium, though off the rails; and, with the exception of the front buffers, which were turned up, it seems not to have sustained any injury. Doubtless, had not the carriages been on the rails, it would have swept through the terminus. Had it occurred when the passenger trains were running the consequences would have proved of a lamentable charac ter. The company have since directed the engine driver to be taken into custody, he having acted against es the are rules and regulations, which set forth that engin d not to be left on the permanent lines ungarded, n un der any circumstances. CONTINENTAL COMMUNCATION. The South- Eastern and agel3Cos t i nen tal Steam -ship Company's vessel the Queen Belgians, sailed from Folkstone for Boulogne at 3 o'clock on Friday morning , a nd the Queen of the French ar rived at F o lkestone at 4 o'clock. At half-past three in the afternoon the Queen of the Belgians arrived at Folkestone, from Boulogne, with 93 passengers, among whom were Lady Grey, the lion. Mr. Wellesley, and Mr. Cullen Smith, and also live carriages. The steamer Queen of the French sailed from Folkestone for Boulogne, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, with two carriages and 68 passengers, amongst whom were Lieutenant- General All Pacha, Sir Watkiu Pell, Mr. Maher, M.P., &c. GENERAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON.—The meeting on Friday next at the Thatched House Tavern is expected to be most nume rously attended. A great many of the members are deter mined opponents of the ballot as a general measure, but great supporters of it in the club; which tends to anything but its benefit, as one black ball out of tan is fatal to the candidate. There are a great many noblemen and gentlemen proposed for this meeting. STETTIN, APRIL 29.—Intelligence has been re ceived here, that this morning a magazine of forage at Gartz, in which there were 140 bushels of oats, and all the barns before the gate of Schwedt had been destroyed by fire, the origin of which has not yet been ascertained. In conse quence of the accounts received at Stettin froiance there,Schivei nnoe munde, that riots and excesses have taken place account of the high price of potatoes and other provisions, the Ist company of the 9th Regiment of Infantry was hastily dispatched on board the Rainbow and Maria Theresa steamers to Schweinemunde. Lieutenant General Van Wrangle was on board the Rainbow. -- - yv DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. —The rumours con tinue to vary as to the exact time when Parliament will be dissolved. Some accounts say, as early as the middle of June, and others prolong the existence of the present louse to the end of July, in which case some of the rail way Bill may be passed. There is also considerable differ ence of opinion on the point, whether Parliament will re assemble in the autumn. This may depend upon the result of the harvest, and the state of the monetary affairs of the country, both of which are exciting a strong interest in the political circles in London at the present moment—Leeds lifercurp SPLENDID NEW GROUP, BY GIBSON, (From thr. Roma'? 4avertiser.) Mr. Gibson is just completing a work which , we are convinced, will add to the fame even of one already standing so high. It has been executed for Earl Fitz william, and is to form the frieze of a mantel-piece, raised to the height of six feet from the groun d. The subject is, "The Hours leading the horses of the Sun to the chariot of Apollo;" whose figure was int ended to have been introduced (could the limits of the piece have been extended), seated on the chariot, with Phaeton standing before him, and entreating the privilege. which proved fat a l t o his life. The original_ plan was departed from on account of the difficulty 0 . 1 carrying it out within the compass and form pre scribed by the destination of the.work ; and, in its actual com pletion. the figures of three Hours and four horses form the entire group. The number three was ascribed to the personified Hours by the earliest Greek poets, whilst those of later date increased their number to seven and, at last, to t en. Mr. Gibson ha s re p resen t e d th e m as winged crowned with olive le aves , the hair and dress alt in the three, th oug h th e grac efully -flowing 0 is differently di s p ose d o f i n eac h ; and, whilst the same type of co un t enance b e l ongs to all, indiv idualq, is not yet wanti ng . Th e foremost is in tho attitude et strained effort, as she curbs the impatience of the horse who is advancing beyond the rest, using both arms I ',;L, the reins, the drapery flowing nearly to the feet. 1 1 second holds, but without so much effort, the bridle ?_ the noble steed, with whom she keeps pace, in an attitude expressive of rapid motion through the air : her draper)", girded round the waist, falls off one shoulder and boo: the and is gathered so as to display the limbs, giving freedom Ns the swiftness of her flight. The thiro_ leading two horses, extends her arms betwee; both, the figure finely poised, so as to fill the vening apace and connect the members of the greeP and draperies are agitated by a wind, that seems to wee" - on beat back their folds, yet, without destroying the g e. r free - .. of their outlines, even rendering them ni,n,rearr grace, ful setting off the beauty of form the aeriaY r n - t a re_, ful attitudes of each figure. We never saw, in se t t.r ou n s e h t the motion of flying, or rather, rapid coursing air, so successfully expressed ; ethereal , vigorous, in its (as we might suppose) i n coneelv ula swiftness. The Hours look like beings who ti e ?: c o ° ol 6l have trod this earth, whose fair, free ex istee— no w her il have pined in a terrestrial atmosphere, like the k s --t r tist, gracefid.,.,atie flowers that wither under northern skies. Te st u died to arrive at such conceptions, must not only have the reek. Greek masters, but familiarized himself with spirit, in its poetry and mythology; with the J r a ted sense of existenc e , as a t hi ng most prcious, con se Tfef to glory and to the development of faculties g ive t ijoe• happiness, adorned by the phantasies of Or ° i shig personifying all things beautiful, rendering the w ° , l A cs of the gods the luxury of the imagination.and the religion, as presented in its most colSorrv% idealized aspect. gr. In the introd uc ti on o f t h e o li ve crowns and wil3tgstbsr. Gibson has foll owe d t h e authority of a sister art 11 5 5 it than his own, f o r th e personified Hours (strange iv if may appear with a subject so felicitous) have r ar i :,;;Ill ever, been met with on Greek monuments, and i , l ;, - i s oll/ in poetry that these attributes have been eie';„ ete• ascribed to them. The olive emblematic of Pe e ' - ' ocl pressly given to the Hours, and illustrating n the te n b a i e gfr which led to the symbolic • in a beautifying of a ll a t $ 5 tn . manner to sooth and fascinate the 0 2111- ' ns tue Greek mythology is so conspicuous,—the wing s ' dery ally ascribed t o th em by both the ancient aria c ourse, imagination, ex p ress i ng the sw i ftness o f their o des of nor without a moral significance though the e tti e ttl e raill repose,—have been given the preference 0, °clod are speaking, by the great masters of sculpture, e a re certainly most satisfying to contemplate. T her i n t he instances in which that character, though Osent . bu teS physical, is nobly conveyed in the intellectual et , tr. i l t he , of their works ; others in which, if the women" is ell of action, the idea attaching to the personification sole partakes of the eternal, impresses us with t he dere i s tbe e r of undying, immutable existence, and correspondent to the highest purposes of the Where there is this character of " eternal moveroe eternal repose," the beauty of forms that s eem eroroles4 as if spell-bound. in th e transitory action of the m4foot, is of a high and somet i mes an awe -striking ;bid' enhancing that sense of a supernatural preseneeti n of enters into our admiration of the grandest diet art. sculpture, and in the power to convey which t'^ e- disiek so peculiarly qualified for the embodiment of 0 1, W; This beautitul work by Mr. Gibson belongs tc ) t 7 li e o rtSs i named order, personifying an idea itself 143 ge rnP and therefore to be contemplated for ages, 35 - in freshness. T S. RAILWAY SHARE IVIAR.r, LIVERPOOL, AT 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.- The share tn M arket here sti . l , l c e es °ll fi t t l il linl very dull, the business of the day limited, with Pr s i toc k Mo o " Midlands and the London and North-Weete r ßr mng" pressed on the market to-day. The sales are--_ rin), pat' . and Dudley, 4% p.-East Lancashire, New,1, 5 ',, 1 N dis. / Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and I re " fere jace, Leeds and Dewsbury, par-Leeds and Thirsk, L o ndon $ll4 p.-Liverpeol, Crosby, and Southport, I nd Af.), 2 1; North-Western, 171-Ditto, 401. Shares (1-" Leedss 32/. Shar -Ditto, Quarters, 9% p.-Manchester and (late Extensions), R., 14 p.-Ditto, Fifths (lat e ton, dis * Union), 6s. 3d. p.-Manchester an SoutlianlP Ei hths, 21. as. -Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, g 9d.-Ditto, uarters, l 7, g 1 dis.-Midland St 1 °c u k ' - union 15 New, 2 p.-North Staffordshire, 1 3 / 1 p.-North yor.e South-Eastern and Dover, New, No. 2, 1,4 SOUt shire, Doncaster, and Goole, 16s. 3d. dis„-York en d castle (late N. and D.), Preerence, 2 3 /, p. Wrest Biding MAisTCHESTER, MAY tor STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Ambergate, 1 " a nti ham, and !Boston, 1% dis.-Birkenhead, Lancashir e li n d- Cheshire, 112 die.-East Lancashire, New, 3-16 die."' A na derafield and Manchester( 19/, paid), V s p.-Manchesterioo), Leeds, Fifths, 3% p.-Ditto, 321. Shares (late Ex te leerfir 1 / 8 p.-Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, (En No. 1,1% p.-Manchester and Southampton, 31!.. North Staffordshire p.- Oldham Alliance, !";re, Shropshire Union, 3-1 16 dis.-York and Newcast l e, ference, 2% p. LEEDS, MAT 8. of shares has nOt STOCK EXCHANGE.-The advanced p been maintained during this week* are which had been run up to 14-9. P. , Manchester and Leeds Thirty-two 521,4 to 1% p. ; Berwia to ss. p.; Midland Preference from d. 6 and p in other stoats New from 21. 3s. 6d. to 1/. 13s. af°eescwfetal currentni d i f n ro g m a ttl4 l n 9 si ; ° . plis' p% ; material depreciation has taken Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston,s 1 LA. Extension: Great Northern, 1V dis -Leeds and Dewsbury, cis place._ di T B .lLe E s as al t eal, saari e as.... -: shire, New. 1% disi.-Fast and We d t T lC h o i r r k sk sh , ire, 2 1 4 . 5. die• Fif _ . Scrip (green), 20s. dis.-Leeds an Preference, 7s. p.-London, Brighton, and teenths, par-Manchester and Leeds, 32/ : c sions), ss. p.-Ditto, West Riding Union ii _, er d w s. ick ; 3 15 5 5 . 5. land, Preference, 1% p.-Newcastle and . s „ w eb), 9..-North British, Quarters (late Carlist_t anti a ffora._ nap -Ditto, Extension (scrip), 7s. 6d. p. North shire, 355. p.- North-Western, 395. Gd. Midland, Preference, 8 1 4 c. p. NE W CASTLE-UPON-TYNE, MA Y B. _ Car- I ' . 4 STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Newcastle an. New, 9% p.-Ditto, New Quarters, 21 4 EDINBURGH, MAY 7. 25 1 . 11°' STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sal es are-Aberdeen, Forfar, 6d. -Airdrie and Bathgate, 31. 18s.-Arbroath er,';` • 19s , 6d; 27/. 155.-Ditto Halves, 15/.-Ayr and Galloway' , ". -Caledonian, 241. -Ditto, Nev, 1L 195.-Caled0111!1!-q, 10S• Dumbartonshre, 1!. 12s. 6d.-Cl Junction, 4; '.1 . 70. -Deeside, 31. 55.-Dunblane, Donne, and 6d.-Dundee and Arbroath, 42/.-Ditto, Ditto, New, No. 2, 30 1.-Ditto, New, Nn. „dee II- Dundee and Northern Junction, 1. 2/, lisp. Perth, 30/. 10s.-Ditto, New, 12/. -Ditto Q , uarters, -East of Fife, 2/. 10s.-East Lothian Central, 21 . -- --off A la* burgh and Bathgate, 6/. 17s. 6d.-Edinburgh G Os I :4_ 701:-Ditto, Halves, 221. 55.-Ditto, Quarters, At • ce , E lO d t- bu D rg it i t i o, an N d Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, 181.-Ditto, Preferen New, Northern, e 7 ;n . - EdinburghD i t to, Newport, and Perth 7l. Callendef, , 6( i i i - L p s !tt 6 o, d._ Qu D a i r t t to e , rs , s l l l i; , Stoe a lr , 12s. 6 d. , -Glasgow and Ayrshire, 118 L-Ditt o, No.' &. e - v - v D c it o tt . ), ), ( 2 1 1 i . tto i , s. New, I "osfvel g 6/ 0 . w 15s 36L-Ditto, Halves, No. 1, 91. 55.-Ditto, Halv,. e A s ' and G las a g rn o k w i , rici Dumfries, and Carlislt, 51. 2s. nu- - ; 55.-Glasgow and Greenock, 164-Ditto, Halves ,A s selio Ditto, Preference, 81.-'Ardroosto 391 .-Glasgow General Ternlisni Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and 51.-Great North of Scotland, 21.-Great .Northerilyoro Direct Northern), 21. 125.-Ditto (late London enq,ntldd 21.-Newcastle and B erw i c k , 261.-North B r itish, Self -Ditto, Halves, 141.-Ditto, Quarters, 4/. 45.-Ditt ° 'o,--" Quarters (scrip), 1/. Os. 6d.--Ditto, Thirds, 2L lOs ~o fish Ditto, Fifths, 61. 155.-Scottish Central, 241. 7s. Gd•feT/r Grand Junction, 195.-Scottish Midland, 191. 10s.-Scher bury and Hereford, IL-Shrewsbury, Oawestry, fol?„11001 ter, 101.-Ditto, New, IL Is. 6d.-Stirling and Dan';' - c o lte 3/. 55.-Stirling and Midland, 21. 55.-Wishaw and „ ref , ness, 49/. 10s.-York and Newcastle , 341. 10s.-Ditto, 14/. 10s.-Ditto, Preference , 61. 10s.-Direct Bombay 1%. Madras43s.-East Indian , 2s. 6d.-Great North of India. Great Southern of Madras, 25.-Madras, Nellore, and A , : cot, Is. 6d. GLASGOW, MAY 7. STOCK EXCRANGE.-The sales are-Caledonian, New, 6d.-Direct Bombay and Madras, 2s. 9d.-Dundee and Per e Quarters, 50s. 6d.-East Indian, 2s. 6d.-East Lothian '4 4 tral, 425.-Edinburgh and Perth (New Co.), 41s. 3d.--T i `2„,.... Halves, 13s. 6d.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, __3 o /%4 8 , Ditto, Halves, No. 2, 6% 3 -Glasgow, Dumfries, and (Ag r i- es t 51. la.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 43 / 4 "7,i r eet, Southern of Madras, Is. 6d.-Kilmarnock and I;Yr rt i` jitrl• 265. 6d.-Manchester and Southampton, sot tish, Thirds, 505.-Ditto, New Quarters (scrip), 205.-- tish Central, 23%-Stirling and Dunfermline, 66 BIRTHS. On the 4th inst., at Chislehurst,. Kent, On the 3d inst., at Geneva, Mrs. R. Foster, of a ma. _ -7 Aylward, Esq., surgeon, of 'll b rn a eon, sti - 0 • flk the wife On the 6th inst., at Syder.tone Rectory, Nor 0 , of the Rev. W. H. Tudor of a Marlborough, i• of th e On the 6th inst., at Wilts, the W• O3 Rev. M. Wilkinson, of a daughter. of On the 7th inst., Mrs. Henryl of liorshain, enry Horne, the wife of lion , daughter. On the 7th inst., at Woking, Surrey , the wife of the /NC' C. B. Bowles, Vicar Woking of a ghter. On the Bth inst., of 4re in Berners-et,dau the wife of John Car ter ' Eq., surgeon, of a daughter. - - - ALLIZAID. On the 6th inst., at St. Mar ''s ,ter 1 b e Mr. 3 , ary eon ~ Fredcricic * f Bak er. Johnstone, to Elln, second daughter of Mr. Mr of o street, Portman-square. ___.----- DIED. Georg e On the 3d inst., at Kens ington -t er race, Henry Harris, Esq., aged 56. On the 4th inst., J. P. Si mon, M.D., of TavistocroW, Covent-garden, aged 52. 'nab On the sth inst., at .Frognal, Hampstead, Sarah Ilan the wife of Robert Prance , Esq . A.ting MID. -- On the 6th inst., in Upp er Kensington-gore, Phillott.l On the 6th inst., at Notting - bill - sq uare, Mold. BronlP i° Watid ll s ' e On the 7th inst., in Glo ucester-road, Eleanor, widow of the late Dr. Pemberton, aged 76. 11 2 Lou , lon: Printed and Published by MUItDO Y0(.711(44 of 1i0 . .,„0s Strand, 1 tinter, a: fhe Sun Office, No. 112, strand, In the rr.l o . of the Savoy. in the County of Middlesex. Monde)", 316/ 010 1847. _~ :.- rv ' 1 pfd liver Of p lion Ts Sul "nth 1 41 U, Atha *lso tett, has fo u 4 4 1 N .11 1 ! I 4 60,10 Th Lece T Pr( 11() ; serve end i The 1 The 1 Lord inn Willi; Es 4 John Ec g,o rr v o.h, Char] Com and whh and indh Tr: to r twp Pert 411114 1 Tre aw stn Are