The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-04 00:00:00

THE' SUN, LONDON, - TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1.847. had intended to enjoy happiness and prosperity, as they had guaranteed that they should enjoy equal independence however much they might regret her unhappy condition, still it was not for England, or any other of the protect ing powers, to prescribe to the Greek authorities what should be their measures, or what the nature of its ad ministration.—(Hear, hear.) In 1833, a treaty was con cluded, by which the three Powers undertook to gua rantee 60,000,000 of francs, and power guaranteeing to contribute one-third of the entire eum ; and therefore this country was answerable for one per cent of the sinking fund upon 20,000,000 of francs ; but, in order to provide against that, the interest of the sinking fund, being necessarily thrown on the guaranteeing powers, care was taken in the wording of that treaty that the in terest and sinking fund should be the principal, to which in the first instance, and before any other expenditure, the revenue of Greece should be applied. The treaty cx• pressly specified that the first purpose to which the revenue of Greece should be applied, should be to pay the interest and the sinking fund, before applied to any other purpose, and that the representatives of the three powers at Athens, should have the power to watch over the execution of this agreement. lie lamented, however, to say, that that engagement had been overlooked—no, not overlooked—set at nought, as the papers which the Noble Lord had moved for would show. They would also show that from 1843 up to the present time 200,0001. had been advanced by this country to Greece. (Hear, hear.) If these advances had been made during a period, whilst the Greek States were in a state of poverty—such a state of poverty as to prevent them from paying Who interest upon its debt —if she was in . such a state of prostration as to render her progress almost impossible, he had no doubt that the same kind and generous feel ings which led the British nation to sanction the grant in the first instance, and to lend its aid to support and maintain that country would have led them to .adopt a course from which we could have derived no direct in terest ; but if it appeared that this charge had been thrown unnecessarily upon this country, and if it ap peared, as he thought it did, that the 46,0001. which they had paid annually to Greece enabled the Greek Administration to carry on a system of pecu lation and corruption—(Hear, hear)—and not for any real interest of Greece, he thought it would become the duty of those intrusted with the Government and the interests of this country to make due opposition to .the Greek Government to pay their own interest on their own loan.—(Hear; hear,) With those generous feelings which this House and the country must ever maintain towards a nation with which so many recollections were bound- Up, he was sure the House would approve of the Government not pr'oceed• ing for the whole of the arrears, but in calling upon the Greek Government to pay the last instalment of 23,0001. due in March, and for making a fair proposition for the payment of the instalments as they became due. He was sure the House would think her Majesty's Govern ment would, in doing this, not be acting in a way which was inconsistent between a protectingand a protected state. As he said before with respect to the other portions of the Noble Lord's statement, that although the Govern ment deeply regretted the state of things which existed, yet at the same time thy felt that the British Govern ment had not sufficient grounds to stand upon, or justify them in dictating to the Greek Minister as to what should be the course pursued by that Government. And as re garded that topic of foreign influence, he was sorry to say that it had gone on too far in Greece. He could not understand what was the meaning of English, French, and Russian parties, in that country. If the .Minister of Greece were to send him a paper with his name signed at the bottom of it and said, " write above my name any conditions you please, guaranteeing to England any ad vantages you may desire, and behold my signature as your guarantee that they shall be fulfilled, his (Lord Palmerston's) answer would be, take back your paper, put it in the fire; we want nothing from you but that you should govern your country as we endeavour to govern ours, make your nation happy, prosperous, and contented, the only thing which we ask from you, is pay the inter est of our money.—(Laughter.) He could not imagine why such a great value was attached in France to having the Greek Minister, the head of the French party, he could not see what particular object was to be accom plished by it, but if the French Minister valued it, he could see no reason that they should have a feeling of jealousy upo❑ the subject. He, as the organ of her Ma jesty's Government, expressed the ardent wish of that Government that Greece should be well governed, and while they might retain their own opinion as to the ca pabilities of her different statesmen, to well-govern her, they could not interfere or dictate terms to their minis ter, as that would violate the independence of the country ; and while they disclaimed any wish to create what was termed a British party, yet he must do justice to "those eminent and distinguished men who bore that title, that the sense in which they were called the British party was because they believed that the British Government sincerely desired the happiness of their country, but that if they asked them .to do anything inimical to their interests or derogatory to their honour, they would spurn the thought, and prove themselves Greeks and Greeks alone.—(Cheers.) He was ready to agree to the return, and he would have no objection to a motion on the subject if the Noble Lord should ROUSE OF COMMONS, May 3. THE GREEK LOAN. to 13 1 4 1 " 11 _ 0 order of the day being read for going into a tar :i t t e o f Supply, teen u• MANNERS rose to move for a return of all et tc rs paid by Great Britain on account of the interest III:1.G ° reek loan, up to the Ist day of January, 1847. 1 4ii e t.' \ ,.. bl e Lord after glancing at the conditions on or th i: i r-mgland had guaranteed to pay interest on a part an d til Vana, and contending that they had been violated, I ) ro ce „,, l country absolved from continuing the payments, e col ' 'led to read a lengthy report on the subject from brsti t : ll t i ttee appointed by the French Chambers to in to s e the subject, and to report upon it. He went had 43 : that the unworthy Finance Minister of Greece be en "stgned his trust, and base slthough his conduct bad Were Proved to have been in the extreme, yet they th t told by this Committee of the Chamber of France they gave their entire confidence to such a n tlater. H e (Lord J. Manners) had no wish whatever u s ringing forward this motion, to cast any imputation on • r me dipl o macy of this country, or to ask the Noble d-aord (Palmerston) to take any hasty course to- Wards France, or towards the Government of King Otho. He was willing to leave the whole matter in his hands—to his own discretion. He did not ask him to make any threats or menaces towards Greece, to obtain the payment of the loan which England had advanced ; but what he asked the House to do was this—to give an impression of opinion, on the determination to which the Chamber of France had come, to support our _• q atnister in whatever part of the world he might have . r_act on the part of his country ; and to act with pru `l4ce and with due regard to the liberties of the people I g Greece. He asked the House to express an opinion u :ourable to the independence of the people of that —ll %Ppy country. ' to Lord PALMERSTON sa id, it was necessary for him th ' s tate, in the first place, that he had no obj ection to e production of the papers fur which the Noble Lord Iv a t i ti s r " r ed• He had no wish t o make an address, tr io - ,"' might interfere with the business which was the' e Properly the business of the evening ; but at enter Proper time he should feel happy to Vi more fully into the merits of the v i e _ e , question at issue. With regard to the general r." t h e Noble Lord had taken of the affairs of Greece, Say . that he, in a great degree, concurred with r .; The H ouse we ll k ne w that the independence of ane Ofee Was achieved by , the interposition of England France an d R uss ia — art interposition which was er th el sed after a struggle of five or six years between e G ter reek n at i on and the Turkish Government—an in :ark% wrung from the Government of that country. of aitaith the approbation, not only of this country, but for wh ich the whole of the civilised world. The object wall that that interposition took place was to place a th e 13 endeared to mankind by ancient recollections—by ‘vhi e rhievements of their forefathers—in that position she was entitled to occupy ; to put that people in 13!?,ition of independence, comfort, and happiness, and afilue. m se eans at ti the same me i her prosperity ; for that end it was ncrease thought by the POwers concerned that a constitutional monarchy would prove favourable to internal tranquillity, and that it would at the same time promote the industry and in crease the we a lth o f th e co untry ; but he was obliged to i ..nfeas that heretofore the benevolent intentions which p f luenced the three Powers had not been accomplished, fo r it Was perfectly true that the internal condition of Greece was far from that which its well wishers would like ;., 0 see; it was a l so , he was afraid, true that the existing Government of Greece was carried on upon a principle of peculation, nod by those who one would have thought Would have been the last to have acted in such a manner, and that corruption existed amongst those who ought to have been the representatives and guardians of po pular rights.—(Hear, bear.) It was too true, also, that acts of great atrocity were, from time to time, committed by persons in the employment of the Govern ment — (Hear) —that violence, terrible in its character, had been ' exercised in a manner which he would not shock the feelings of the House by explaining. Terrible punish .ments had been from time to time inflicted upon unof fending persons, for the purpose of compelling them to ,make disclosures of the places where criminals had taken r,efuge, or where conscripts, who had fled from the ra nks 'Lad concealed themselves—extorting confessions such as these from innocent persons.—(Hear, hear.) He la 'roented to say that this frightful punishment was in flicted upon an lonian, who, being a stranger, was entitled to protection and succour. The statement t r ,,fhe Noble Lord with respect to the Minister of Zdlanee was perfectly true , _ that the revenue was cm "exaled in its progress to the Exchequer, and what was e ..., X Pended was misapplied in its application, and in a LaY . .wholly adverse to the public servim ; and it was - 0,""t 1 Openly in Parliament by the Minister of Finance ri - tt the greater part of the revenue of Greece was de itnaet from contributions in kind—of grain, for instance, that in one district in which the average q uarters 13 i f a a r aut to which the Government were entitled was Arc 9 0 0 kilos., out of this no more than 8,000 N y e " . were sold—(Hear, hear) —as the remainder thei r embezzled by the parties intrusted with th 'lr collection and sale. It was also proved that be e d o cuments with respect to the fi nances, which had amo unt laid b efore Parl i ament , p ro fessing to set forth the -*11118:11 ch ar of revenue received had been falsified, and it - " ar ged, and he (Lord Palmerston) believed it was ,taitted that that falsification took p lace for the p ur- V g e of concealing the amount of the r evenue actually because it was said if the whole amount was tb er : l Y acknowledged, it would have bee n evident that - th w a til tore a t st large sum of money over the ex p enditure, toree surplus would have been clai med b y the , Powers who had granted the loan , whereas Ve e a f alse document they would be enabled to Bri p, the money in the country, although the Q n ... t h Government in connexion with the vortusients of France and Russia guaranteed the inde- P e ndence of th a the mixed States, yet he did not hold that guarantee gave to any one or more of the guaran admg. Parties any right to interfere in the int ernal mi stration of the affairs of Greece beyond the point 1 3 i f e rreipiring that th e t rea ty by which Greece boun d But s : itt opay the loan should be faithfully 0h5...-,rve.d. however they m i g ht d ep l ore t h e mo d e i n which tne they ot. Greece were administered—however much might lament the lot of a free people whom they desire it. Sir ROBERT INGLIS said that he perfectly agreed with the Noble Lord that it was not Just or right for any country to violate the independence of another in order to see that no injustice was done to its subjects. But he did consider that in the present case England had a right to interfere with the Government of Greece in order to compel her to fulfil her engagements with the British crown. Greece had claims upon them, not for its classical remembrances, or from the gallantry of its sons, but from its conduct in the revolution of 1843. He did wish that the Noble Lord end her Majesty's Ministers would pursue a firm yet a conciliatory course , re towards Greece, as they had hitherto done, the of which would be that she would be mad e capable osf dis charging her debt. Not that he valued thematter in aas pecuniary light, but as a testimony that Greece was worthy of the care which they had bestowed upon her. Sir JOHN lIANMER said that he considered that Parliament ought not only to desire the repayment of a portion of the loan, but that the statesmen of the y countr should bring it to a more perfect state of civilization. Dr. BOWRING said that he considered that the in terest of England was certainly that Greece should be well governed, and that her great resources should be fully developed. The only ascendancy. which England could desire in that country, was that Of Greek interests, and of Grecian liberties. The intellectual character of the country was not destroyed by the length of their suf ferings. Their minds had not become brutalized by desp o t i sm, nor did they sink with ap a t h y into a state of slavery, but maintained the hope of rescuing themselves at some future time. The King of Greece did not disconnect himself from the Bavarians, and every art had been used to prevent the Greeks from being what they were destined to be. The revolutions had been, in his opinion, of the highest honour to the parties to it, and yet General Kalergi had been transported, and was at the present moment a wanderer in foreign lands. There had been a revolution which had been unmarked by bloodshed. There was a desire for progress, but that progress was to be a blood less progress, and such it had been prepared to be. Let him compare the state of Greece with the state of Spain, and they would see the difference. In the one there was a political and a physical struggle, in the other there was a social and bloodless struggle. Sure he was that in this strife the influence of England would be felt. Greece and the Greeks would see that they had friends who would be ready to advance the position of their country, and that no difficulties would in any way prevent the exertions of those friends. Mr. P. BORTUWICK was quite satisfied that the speech of the Noble Lord would be of service in pro moting the harmony of the members of the Greek Government. Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Noble Lord had any grounds for believing that the interference of the British Government had been of any service what ever in improving the state of the Greek people ? It was necessary to know what was the course to be pur sued, for unless there was some restriction on the pro ceedings of the Government in Greece, he was quite assured that the interference would be of no avail. But there was a ground of interference, and that was given by the money which had been advanced. He wished, therefore, to know whether there was any intention of the Government to interfere ? lie therefore thought that some explanation should be given by the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, whether it was intended to give any assistance whatever to the people of Greece. Lord PALMERSTON said that the answer to the Hon. Member would be very short, for the Noble Lord who had preceded him in the office which he held, had, in fact, done most of the business connected with this question. A similar objection had previously been offered, and a remonstrance had been made to the Greek Government upon the results. A similar objection had .been made previously, and he thought that the charges of robbery were perfectly unjustified; but the Hon. Gentleman might be assured that that no effort would be spared to render the application which had been recommended, effectual with the Greek Government. Among the first of these subjects would be the brigand. age which had been committed in the Greek seas, and, certainly, the Government would be fully entitled to sa tisfaction for the piracies which had been committed not only on British vessels, but on the vessels of all tha people of Europe. Lord MOB,PETH said the question was a very com plicated question of property, and, in the absence of a document necessary for the substantiation of tho Poor Knights' case, the Government could come to no decision. On the vote of 50,0001. for enlarging and improving Buckingham Palace, Mr. lIUME said he objectad, because if the building was not a healthy one the money would be thrown away. The only excuse for confining the Palace into a narrow square, which it would be as far as he could see by the plans, would be, that the Royal Family had a de sire for room, which they were no doubt much in want of, but he thought her Majesty, with a capital residence at Windsor and other places, might have put up with a little inconvenience as other people were obliged to do. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said there were two courses left open for the Government, either to build a new palace, or to improve the old one. As the more econo • mical course, they had determined upon the extension of Buckingham Palace, and he trusted that it would not prove so unhealthy as was anticipated by the Hon. Member. Mr. WILLIAMS wished to ask whether or no an es timate had not been taken of the alterations to be made in Buckingham Palace, and whether it had not been set as down 150,000/. ? Lord MORPETH said that the whole expense would not be more than 150,000/. in the whole. The vote was agreed to. The next vote proposed was 5,5001., for the construc tion of a palm-house in the Botanic Gardens at Kew. Dr. BOWRING bore testimony to the excellent cha racter of Kew Gardens, and the great attention paid to the eultivation of rare and valuable plants. He was also glad that such facilities had been given to the public to visit them. Lord MORPETH was glad that the Hon. Member had bore testimony to the excellence of the garden, which at the present time contained the rarest specimens of the plants of the various countries of the world. Mr. lIUME gave evidence to the same effect, and hoped that steps would be taken to get the King of Hanover to give up his garden which stood in the midst of it. It was not desirable that a kitchen-garden should be so closely connected with the Botanic-garden. After a few words from Mr. BROTHERTON and Mr. Hurr, the vote was agreed to. On the next vote, that 17,7091; be agreed to for the expense of temporary accommodation for the House of Common.. Mr. HUME wished to know from the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests when the accounts of the whole expense of the House would be produced ; also, when they should have the New House ready. Was no satisfactory information - given, he would feel it his duty to call the attention of the House specially to it. Lord MORPETH said the - accounts were very volumi nous, and it would be some time before they were ready. Sir .R. IL INGLIS complained of - the time taken to complete the new House of Commons, and considered that if they did not interfere, it would be a long time ere it was ready for their reception. Already for the tem porary accommodation of the House and its officers, there bad been expended 200,0001. 1)r. BO WRING wished to know by what mysterious influence the other House had obtained their accommo dation, while the House of Commons was in its present position? This ought to be explained. Mr. GOULBURN said there was obvious reasons why the other House of Parliament E bould be first ready. When the last House of Commons was burned down, the Lords gave up their House for the accommodation of the Commons, and submitted to inferior arrangements. He could not agree to any step that would unduly urge the works, but allow time that the works might be pro perly completed. Sir DE LACY EVANS could not agree with the last Right Hon. Gentleman. If they were so comfortable now, why seek to have a new House at all ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was not true that Mr. Barry had any other engagements that would interfere with the progress of the works. He had no doubt, how ever, that if the House was prepared to vote the neces sary money, that gentleman would be prepared to go on with the works as quick as they could desire it. With regard to the present House, he did not see any any reason to complain of the accommodation afforded, and time should be given to allow them to have the works efficiently constructed. Mr. FINCH hoped that in the new House of Com mons steps would be taken to secure the sound of the House, so that they might hear their own sweet voices, when they might happen to epeak. After a few words from Mr. P. BORTHWICK and Sir R. H. INGLIS, The vote was agreed to. On the question being put that the sum of 150,0001. be paid to her Majesty for &fraying the expenses of the works of the new Houses of Parliament, Mr. WILLIAMS complained that the public was being put to unnecessary expence in reference to these works. The only outlay, which had already been in creased, considerably exceeded the original estimate, and he thought some limit ought to be put to this waste ful expenditure of public money. No less a sum than 40,0001. had been spent in decorating the new Houses of Lords, and yet the public were not permitted to see the House without paying money for it. After a few words from Lord MORPETH, Mr. PROTHEROE did not think the expenditure had been unnecessarily great, but Mr. Barry had cer tainly produced a building most unfit for the purposes to which it was to be applied, and highly deficient in its architecture. Mr. HUME said the original estimate ought not to have been exceeded, because Mr. Barry pledged himself to build the new House of Lords within the estimate he had made. He must, therefore, blame the Woods and Forests, for having allowed an excess in expendi ture. But he did not so much regret the magnitude of the expenditure, as the failure of the object they origi nally had in view, namely, to produce a handsome kind convenient building. Before they proceeded further, they ought to know something about the plan and the party who was to have the charge of warming and fvahfioeranrcuLddhtwojiisl truaoaedrstmemti t n me,i g o t R h e p E New r ll saidtm s e D s. r. Reid had prepared plans received.namgn and eda nhs e v o e fh n iaci t dieal carrying oy i a n id g nd gsotuul them eimtt ht New eadot ut Houses,htowsewithout tph (la gentlemanwun ts h i Nt e vo h otu h hlde e inter fering with ofE h st h i e s eo a s r rt : r a l e nge soafi m da e r hc n he t s i t , agreed architecture with that those bn d who been dis approved Mr.B. ap plied to the building. After a few words from Lord Morpeth, the vote was agreed to. A vote of 11,4351. was agreed to, for defraying the ex pense of taking down and rebuilding the Home-office. A vote of 4,4291. was agreed to for the service of the Holyhead harbour. On the question being put that the sum of 140,000/, be voted to her Majesty to defray the expenses of con structing harbours of refuge, Captain FITZROY urged upon the Government the necessity of making Newhaven a harbour of refuge. The Hon. and Gallant Member proceeded to read ex tracts from a number of reports made by commissioners at various times with respect to the favourable position of Newhaven as a harbour of refuge ; the whole of which went to show that that port possessed considerable natural facilities for a harbour. Mr. CURTEIS thought that he should not be pro tecting the interests of his clients if he did not say that the port of Rye, which he had the honour to represent, had been entirely overlooked .by the Hon. and Gallant Member.—(Laughter.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Dover was the first port which had been recom mended by the commissioners to fortify and prepare as a harbour of refuge. Seaford and Newhaven would no doubt be afterwards embraced in the general system, but he thought it better to act on the recommendation of the report of the commissioners with regard to their order of proceeding. Dr. BOW RING hoped that the port of Douglas, in the Isle of Man, would not be forgotten by the Go fithraTstthiei vernment. se t 'le purposedN, t C o E t L h L e Otßn ports o confinef b t o h r e d eEr theiXn gC attention,Ho n E C Zr France, R said, e eib theu t t ns Cw ta fia n afterwards the claims of other ports along the coast would be taken into consideration. The vote was then agreed to. The house resumed ; the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Friday. RAILWAY PIERS AND HARBOURS' (IRE- LAND) BILL. On the order of the day fur receiving the report on this Bill, Mr. HUME said that after the decided opinion which had been expressed by the House on this Bill, it was not his intention to proceed with the amendment of which he had given notice, further than to enter his protest against the Government expending money in this way when they themselves were in difficulties--with five or six millions of Exchequer bills to meet, and good paper from five to ten per cent discount in the market. He would merely express a hope that they would not involve themselves further till monetary affairs were in a more prosperous condition. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said that he had given notice of a motion on the brining up the report on this Bill but as the House was anxious to proceed to after business, it was not his intention to proceed with it that evening, but he would take an early opportunity of pro posing a national rate in aid of the public works for Ireland. Mr. HUDSON said that he gave his vote with plea sure for this grant, and he hoped the Government would assist them with loans to carry oat their undertaking. Mr. WILLIAMS was entirely opposed to such a Bill as this, as he considered that it would inflict great in jury upon the mercantile country. He-hoped the Go vernment would not act upon the advice of the Lion. Gentlemen opposite (Mr. Hudson). The report was then received. AMENDMENT OF THE POOR-LAW. Sir G. GREY then rose to move for leave to intro duce a Bill for the better administration of the laws for the relief of the poor in England, He said it was not proposed by the Bill, which ho now sought leave to introduce to effeet any alteration in the general provisions of the law relating to the relief of the poor, as its object would be simply con fine d to the administration of the laws already existing, and to the constitution of a body to whom the general administration of those laws was to be intrusted. In 1842, the Poor-law Commission, which was originally temporary in its duration, and which had been renewed from time to time, was in that year continued by Act of Parliament for a further period of five years, which would expire in the course of the present summer, and the Poor-law Commission would cease to exist by the end of the session of 1848. But at the corn mencemcmt of the present session, his Noble. Friend, 'the First Lord of the Treasury in formed the House that the subject of carrying out the poor-law had oc c upied the careful and se- rious attention of her Majesty's Government during the , Mr. BANKES said the question they would have to recess, and ho then stated to the House the general consider when the subject came before the House would views of the Government, and the intentions which they be, was this the best system of supervision ? He could entertained, and that the Government, after full consi- not on this subject but agree with the Hon. Member few deration, had come to the determination not to propose Montrose, and the Hon. Member for Oxfordshire, that to Parliament a continuation of the Poor-law Commis- the system would prove unsatisfactory. He considered sion ; but that it was the intention of Government to another system might have been adopted which would submit to Parliament a measure involving a great have worked better. It was his opinion that these change in those by whom the poor-law was hereafter to boards were objectionable, and the appointment of an be administered. It was for this purpose that he now i extra Under Secretary of State would have been quite sought leave to introduce this Bill. The Go- sufficient to hare looked after the affairs of the poor vernmeat, looking back to 1834, to the expe- laws, in connexion with the Home-office. He thought rience which they have subsequently acquired, the Government was . going out of its way in thus being of opinion, that the reasons which, in 1834, led to creating new offices. the administr a ti on of the poor laws, should remain, to a Lord J. RUSSELL said the first point to consider was, great extent, a t least, in full force; they felt that the was it necessary to have any central control. By far governing p r i nc iple of the measure could not be fu ll y the most convenient course for the Govrrnment would be dispensed with—(floer, hear)—as without some central to return - to the old system of administering the law— authority they could not guard against the evils which namely, by local boards; that system would free, the grew up under the old system, and which, when laid Government from any charge of abuse in the adminis before the House, were universally condemned, and tration of the law. Whatever hardships or sufferings therefore, no one would wish to see a recurrence of might be inflicted under the law the Government of the the state of things which existed under the former law. day would not be blamed for them. But in considering —(Cheers.) Therefore, the Government thought it the subject most people would come to the conclusion, would be unwise to return to a local system, undirected that whereas, after thirteen years' experience the whole of the law and uncontrolled, although, at the same time , they of 1834, they aft r unable to bring country thought that the same rule could not be applied under one system, so now there existed great difficulties, throughout the whole country in an unvarying manner— and it would not be prudent, or advisable, or even safe, (Hear, hear)—but, at the same time, they thought to bring all parts of the country under one law in respect there must be some general authority invested with of the poor. For that reason, therefore, her Majesty's power to take into account the different districts of the Government had thought it necessary that there should country, and the varying circumstances which may arise be some central authority who should have the from time to time. They felt it right, therefore, to re- power to apply the law in particular cases, and to tain the treatment adopted in Me, w ith some central relax it where necessit y existed,—that some elastic authority. In 1834, when an extensive c hange was made power was necessary for the proper administration of in the system of the poor-law, it was thought desirable such a law. The Hon. Member for Montrose and the that the persona in whose hands those discretionary Hon. Member for Oxfordshire said, and it was reiterated powers should be placed should be unconnected with the by the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last, that the pro- Executive, removed from the Government and from posed plan did not give any responsibility. He thought those popular and political influences, which must ope- the Noble Lord the Member fur the county of Dur h am rate upon all men who take a part in the political con - had' taken the proper view of the matter. What they filets of the day ; but that, separated from the Execu- proposed was, that there should be one person who tiveGovernment,they should exercise their functions, and should have all authorit y in regard to the administration discharge the trust reposed in them, apart from all those of the poor -law, in the same manner as the President of political influences and excitements to which he had re- the Board of Control had in respect of the affairs of ferred; but this plan had not been successful, and he India, and the President of the Committee of Privy could not now controvert the answer that was given to Council on Trade and Plantations had in regard to trade. this objection to their being more intimately connected Originally, and even now, those officers had nominal with the legislature. Not being intimately connected advisers at their board, but practically all the power with the Legislature, led first of all to an imperfect re- centred in them; the responsibility was not shared by sponsibility, whereas, if the Commissioners, or some of the others who sat at the board. There would be them, had been Members of the House, they could have responsibility, because the head of the board would been easily called upon by the House to answer any be solely and chiefly answerable for the manner charges which might be made against them, and at the in which the law was administered, and must be same time they would have an opportunity of being de- ready to defend himself whenever complaint was fended, and of having an impartial hearing in the House made of his conduct, or of that of those over of Commons. He thought, therefore, that the whom he had control.—(Hear, hear.) He entirely administration of the poor-law had been delec- differed with the Hon. Member for Dorsetshiro that they tive in this respect. He would not, however, stop should institute another office of Under-Secretary in to defend the Commissioners, or to say whether they the Home Department. He had had some experience had used sill the discretion they should have used, or in that office—the Secretary of State for the Home De whether they had generally performed their duties in a partment was a high officer, and he thought there was satisfactory manner; but at the same time he could not already too much of the administration of details placed avoid saying, that they bad laboured under great dia- in his hands.—(Hear, hear.) He was responsible for advantages in not having been able to make their own the peace of the country, the security of the lows, and defence. A responsible Minister of the Crown, who had the general administration of the criminal law; a great charges made against him, was able to make his de- officer of that kind had enough to occupy his mind with fence; the Poor-law Commissioners were not in such a such matters of importance. He ought at all times to position. Here was an instance of this:—A question be ready to give his whole undivided attention, should was asked of the Secretary of State for the Home De- the peace of the country be - threatened, and he was con pertinent, who knowing himself, p -rhaps, nothing of the stantly called upon to revise criminal proceedings, in circumstances, states so, but pledged himself to make (eider to judge whether it was possible for him to advise an inquiry, and to state the result to the House on a the Crown to exercise the high prerogative of mercy. future day; and, a ft e r som e delay, he fulfils his promise, It would be impossible for him to do so, were his mind but still with an imperfect knowledge of the subject incessantly occupied with the dietary tables of work which would be obviated by the plan proposed in this Bill. houses, or the other details of carrying out the poor- The principle of the measure was the maintenance of a law. No doubt he would be acquainted with all general general superintendence and authority, subject to direct matters connected with that law, but he would not and immediate responsibility. The provisions of the be obliged to make himself acquainted with the Bill were that the powers of the present Poor-law Com- daily ordinary'details of its administration. One great missioners should cease. The Crown was then em- advantage of the proposed plan was that they would powered to appoint Commissioners for the adminis always have the person who was directly responsible for tration of the poor-law on the plan of the Board of the administration of the law in his place in Parliament Control for India. It was intended that one of the to defend his conduct. In answer to the Hon. Member members should be called the president, who would be a for Knaresborough, he felt compelled to decline saying responsible person, immediately charged with the su- whether the Government would exclude the persons who permtendence of the law, but to be assisted by Members were now charged with the adminstration of the poor of the Government, who should be ex-officio members, law from any office under the new law or not ; he could namely the President of the Council, the Lord Privy give no pledge upon the subject. The Government ought Seal, one of the principal Secretaries of State, and to be free to choose as well as they could those persons Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was intended that two who, in their eyes, were best qualified to administer the secretaries should be appointed by the board, and that law; they would naturally try to appoint those who were the president and one of the secretaries should be eligible most likely to obtain the public confidence. Those ap to a seat in Parliament—not that both should sit pointments were matters for serious consideration, and together, but that the board should be repres e nt e d ought to be left to the discretion of the Government. either by the president or one of the se c r e t ar i es . Ali other matters connected with the administration of The powers of the present Poor-law Commission the law could be much better discussed after that Bill would be transferred to this board. With re had passed. No doubt amendments were required, but gard to making general rules, the Bill provided they ought not only to receive the sanction of, but ought that all rules were to be submitted to the Secretary of to be introduced by, the person who was to be responsi- State for the Home Department, 40 days before they ble for the administration of the law. were intended to come into operation ;if he approved Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought it advisable that the of them, they would then take effect, but they would President of the Board to be constituted under the Bill be subject to be removed into the Queen's Benet), of the Right Hon. Baro n al et so , t should the poor woube a new Cab ld inet by ce,tiorari, and were th en liable to be re p ealed. It Ainister. lie considered, hat be was first thought that it would be more advisable to much more effectually relieved by the administration of make these rules as orders in Council, but on considera- the clergy of the Established Church than in any other floe it was thought better that they should be signed manner. This Bill, be re existingl eft poor slaw a fore they would be signally subject to inves- the estate of the poor was not dealt with by the three titration if they should be brought into the estates of punsalm, but was left to be dealt with by a Queen's Bench by certiorari. Every ad board, resble indeed to Parliament, but nut forming , of the Board must be transacted by two members of the a part of the constitution. board—either by the president and one of the secretaries Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to know whether the pre or by two of the members. Now a report was annually tsident and the secretary of the new Commission now made ; under this Bill a report wo uld also be proposed to be established, would go out of office with made every year, addressed to the Crown, and Government. laid in the ordinary course before Parliament. Sir GEORGE GREY replied that the president and He should not enter into the details of the present men- secretary of the Commission would hold their offices sure, but there was one point to which he wished to during the pleasure of the Crown. direct the attention of the House, namely, that the Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. The Bill number of the Assistant Poor-law Commissioners being was subsequently brought in and read a first time. deemed insufficient, it was the intention of the Govern- Tho remaining orders of the day were then disposed meet to increase that number to twelve.—(Hear, hear.) of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter past Twelve The Government had also determined that the Corn o'clock. mission should only last five years, and that then the Act should be again brought under the notice of Parlia ment. With the sanction of . the House, he should take the second reading of the Bill on that day fortnight. Mr. FERRAND felt too much indebted to the Government for having carried the Ten Hours Bill to in the the construction ol d Poor-law o f h Commissionersi s e o ppose them in this Bill—(A laugh)—but h e hoped that the Noble L or d would not allow , perhaps, more immediat e ly connecte d w ith the bringing in of the measure, he cou ld assure t h e Ri g ht Hon. the Dome Secretary, that this measure would be v iewed thisinto o n h w.o is omrn t t t o ee a, consideration, p t p h e f e ar ; o n r a i f m h a e s e s of with disapprobation. Il e trusted that t h e Right Hon. Baronet would tak e allowed the present system to continue, he would have an universal rising against it. B u t he would ask als o, omm th i a tt t ee were things did he mean to all ow t h e district auditors to co ntinue in office? He hoped th e G overnment did no t so intend. It a C appointed ne feahm i n o u donesth, this s by matteran theirthe he d w o o in u l gs o fd prove means greater the New far, r aono-ldramwhoa rde themselves. But b i let them see what it was t h at the R i g h t Hon. Baronet proposed ? He rejoi ce d to hear from t h e Right Hon. oor, Bironet, that the p Com missioners, when they wished to have a re dress for their grievances, had only to apply to the Queen—the mother of the British nation.—(Laughter.) But he understood from the Rig ht lion. Baronet t hat this Bill delegated all power over the poor of this country to those Commissioners. The Noble Lord and the Government might rest assured that he and his col leagues would not sleep on a bed of roses during the period of their being in office and passing this Bill. He gave fair warning that i n a f ortn i g ht, when the Noble Lord brought in his Bill, he should distinctly and perti naciously oppose it.—(Laughter.) Mr. MILES said that he w as e xceedingly glad to hear that the Right Hon. Baronet opposite had determined that the Poor-law Commissioners should henceforth be partly composed of Cabinet Ministers, and under these circumstances, he did not think that the Hon. Member for lineresborough had exercised his usual judgment in opposing this Bill. But considering that we have already a Committee sitting on the poor-law, he should earnestly recommend the Hon. Baronet to put no number to the inspectors, but leave their limitation to the Counsel. Thanking the Government for the Bill, he would again beg to draw their attention to the suggestions which he had offered. Sir WALTER JAMES said, as they were amending the law, they should not bo too hard on the Poor-Jaw Commissioners, who, whatever might have been their faults, believed that they were acting conscientiously. He believed, to make any poor-law efficient, there should be an efficient inspection. lie also considered that the Government had acted wisely in instituting the Assistant Poor-law Commissioners, for he believed that if they looked to the discussions which had taken place in that House, they would find that those who had treated the poor well were persons of this class, namely, those paid by the country. He, therefore, would support the mea sure of the Right Hon. Baronet. Mr. HUME was pleased that the Government had taken the course which they had done, yet he must say that they had not taken the best course. I t was an nounced that a change must take place—the country called for it ; but it all arose from the maladministra tion of. the law. He hoped this might not be said of the uthesetio old n poor-law new Commission. H e trusted that no one of th e present C om missioners would be constituted P resident of the new Board. He had nothing to say against those gen tlemen personally , but t h e y would im p a rt to the new administration m uch odium, and excite g reat co mplaint. proposalrnment was question. HENLEY doubted much as to the c onstitution of the proposed B oard, consisting so much of Members of the present G overnment. Any in q uir y or question lie was a under a new face . They had not a whit more power to corre ct abuses. In the system about to expi re , t h ere w f o ra u i l d d was no responsibil it y anywhere, and all i nqu i r i es there fore have come to nothing. _What wer e t h ey now pro posing ? Why to put the administration o f t h e law into that the become the a Government the hands of the Legislators. The Legislators and the executive being identical, .it was not likely that they would look with the same impartiality on a l aw of the i r own making. He wished to see some more direct responsibility. Another fault was, that whatever nega tive power given to the Commissioners to say this or that should not be done, was one-sided, and would not work well. H e r eserved his further remarks to the time when the Bill came before the House. • Lord HARRY VANE said he agreed with the Hon. Gentleman opposite, in thinking that large discretion must be reposed in those who superintended the admi nistration of the law. Ile did not agree with the Iron. Member for beta`Knaresgh in thinking that the size of the unions ought to all affected by the present Bill. That was a subject which had come fully before the w of settlement, a nd wou ld b est b e Committee on t he la subjected to consideration together with that law. He differed from the Hon. Member for Montrose. He thought that as there was to be a President of the Board, a Member of Parliament the , that concentratio n of responsi• bility was attained by proposed arrangement, PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. MONDAY, MAY 3. FACTORIES BILL. - - --- - - Order for third reading read; Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months :"—Question put, " That the word now' stand part of the Question." The House divided : MAJORITY—AYES, 151. Ackers, James . Gaskell, J. M. Newport,;Viset. Aclaud, Sir T. " Gladstone, Captain O'Brien, A. Stafford Aciand,-T. D. " Godson, R. O'Brien, C. Adderley, C. B. Gore, W. 0. Packe, C. W. Ainsworth, Peter Gore, W. R. 0. Paget, Colonel Autrobus, Edmund . Granger, T. C. Palmer, Robert Arnistrung, Sir A. - Grey, Sir G. Palmer, G. Arundel, Earl o ~ Grimsditch, T. Perfect, Robert Ashley, Henry . Grogan, E. Plumptre, J. P. Austen"; Colonel Raiford, Sir Henry Plumridge,Captsin Baillie, ,W. Hall. Colonel Polhill, F. Banker, George Halsey, T. P. Prime, Richard Batesou, Thomas Harcourt, G. G. Pusey, P. Bennet, P. Hardy, John Rashleigh, W. Bernal,- Ralph Harris, Hon. Capt. Rice, E. R. Blackburn, J. I. Hatton, Captain Y. Rich, Henry Boldero, If. G. ' Heatheote, G. J. Richards, Richard Brisco, M. ' Henley, J. W. Rolleston, Colonel Broadley, Henry, Hildyard, T. B. T. Round, John kiroadwood, H. Hill, Lord E. Russell, Lord John Buck, L. W. Wadley, C. Russell, J. D. Bulkeley, Sir . R. B. Hodgson, F. Rutherford. A. Buller, Edward Howard, C W.G. Seyreer, H. K. Byng, G. S. Howard, P. 11.. Shaw, F. Cabbell, B. B. Hudson, G. Shell, R. L. Christopher, R. A. Humphery, Ald. Sheridan, R. B. Clayton, R. R. Ingestre, Visct. Shirley, E. J. Clive, Vise. Inglis, Sir R. Sibthorp, Colonel Collett, John Johnson,,General Smith, A. Colvile, C. R. Kemble, Henry Smith, R. V. Courtenay, Lord Kerrisou, Sir E. Somerville, Sir W. Cowper, W. F. - Lambton, H. Spooner, Richard Crawford, W. S. Law, C. E. Stanley, W. 0. Curteis, li. B. Lawless, Cecil Staunton, Slr G. Davies, D. A. Lawson, Andrew Strickland, Sir G. Denison, W. J. - Lennox, Lord G. H. Tollemache, J. Denison, E. B. " Lopes, Sir R. Troubridge, Sir E. D'Eyncourt, C. T. Lowther, Hon. Col. Tufnell, Hoary Disraeli, B. Mackinnon, W. Turner, Edmund Dodd, George Macnamara, Major Tumor, C. Douglas, Sir H. M`Carthy, Alex. Vane, Lord H. Dancombe, Thomas Manners, Lord J. Vyse,. H. Duncembe, 0. Much, Earl of Vyvyan, Sir R. It DarOas, Admiral Masterman, John Wakley, T. Du Pre, C. G. ' Monahan, J. H. 'Waler, Richard Entwisle, W. Morgan, 0. Will k iams, W. Evans, Sir De Lacy Morris, David Yorke, R. LL Ewart, William liostyn,r„ Ferranti, W. li. Mundy, E. 31. Floyer, John Muntz, (I F. French, F. Napier, Sir C. Fuller, A. E. Neeld, Joseph TELLERS. Fle'den. Jolla lkotherton, Joseph MINORITY—NOES, 88. Aldam, William Feilden, Sir W. Ogle, S. C. Bair e, Walter Fitzroy, Henry Ord, William Barclay, David Forster, Matthew Parker, John Baring, Henry Gill, Thomas Patten, J. W. Baring, F. T. Gisborne, Thomas Pattison, James Baring, W. B. Godlburn ' Henry Peel, Sir Robert Barrington, Viscount Graham, Sir James Pendarves, Edward Barron, Sir 11. W. Greene, Thomas Philips, Mark Bell, Matthew Hamilton, Lord C. Price, Sir R. Botileld, Beriah Hanmer, Sir J. Protheroe, E. . Bouverie, E. P. Hawes, Benjamin Seymour, Lord Bowles, Admiral Heneage, G. H. W. Somerset, Lord G. Brown, W. • Heron, Sir R. Stansileld, W. R. Bruce, C. L. C. Houldsw orth, T. Stanton, W. H. liusfeild, W. Hume, Joseph - Strutt, Edward Callaghan, D. Hutt, William Tattered, H. W. Cavendish, G. H. Jones, Captain Thesiger, Sir F. Clay, Sir W. Labouchere, Henry Thoruely, T. Clerk Sir G. Langston, J. H Villiers, Charles Colebrooke, Sir T. Legh , G. C. Wall, C. B. ' Dalrymple Captain Lincoln, Earl of Ward, 11. G. Dawson, J. V. Loch, James Wlnnington, Sir T. Denison, J. E. j.ockhart, A. E. Wood, t,ir Charles Dickinson, F. H. 11 , Taggart, Sir J. Wood, Colonel T. Douglas, Sir C. E. Marshall, William Wrightson, W. B. Dugdale, W. S. Marsland, Henry Young, John Martin, John Duncan, Lord Mildmay, U. St. John TELLERS. Duncan, George Moffatt, George Leader, J. T. Egerton, W. T. Morpeth, Viscount Trelawny, J. S. Escott, Bickham O'Ferrall, R. M. E van s, William _ - PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons' .) FRIDAY, APRIL 30. NOTICES GIVEN AT TH ILWAYSE PRIV . ATE BILL-OFFICE. RA The Committee of Selection have nominated the following Select Committees on Railway M Grou B ps : A Committee consisting of—r. Blackstone (Chairman), Lord Rendlesham Mr. Neville, Mr. Pinney, and Mr. Stuart, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in Group No. 24, viz.:— Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction (Deviation of Main Line and Cheshire Branch), Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway, and Chester and Birkenhead Purchase or Amalgamation, Shrewsbury and Chester (Branches to Langollen, &c.) Mold (Mold to Chester and Holyhead Railway), Parkgate and Chester and Birkenhead Junction, Ch es ter and Holyhe ad (Extensions to Chester and Holyhead) The Select Committee to meet on Tuesday, May 11, at 12. A Committee consisting of—Mr. W. Beckett (Chairman), Mr. Hutt, Mr. Buck, Mr. Forster, and Mr. Balfour, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in ra nc Group No. 26, viz.: North Staffordshire co and Bhes), North Staffordshire (Churnet Valley Line and Trent Valley Railway Junction), A. SUPPLY. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, when it was proposed from the Chair, that the sum of 117,9891. should be applied to public buildings, &c. Mr. HUME, in agreeing generally with the purposes for which this vote was to be applied, doubted whether there was any Eutlicient reason for the grant which had been sought for. Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the whole of the vote, for the several sums, though insignificant in them selves, yet contained items which were highly ob j,,ctionable, and he would particularly notice Hampton Court. Ile had not the slightest objection to support the dignity of the Sovereign ; but when he saw the be nefits which were enjoyed, he could not feel the slightest hesitation in giving his vote for the grant, with this reservation. The expense of Hampton Court was great, and he must say that, in his opinion, the addi tional outlay might have been saved. _ _ Lord M.6II,PETH thought that the lion. Gentleman had misunderstood the question ; for, so far as he could see, it was evident that the only object was to uphold the royal residences in their integrity ; and when he mot. lected the historical associations with which they were rife, he was quite assured that no objection to the grant would be made. Papers were now in the hands of the country, and he did not think the Government would think that that was too much to keep that palace in repair. Mr. HUME eaid thet the attention of the Govern ment had been directed to the residences of the Poor Knights of Windsor, and he questioned" how far the claims of the Dean and Chapter over these poor mph should be allowed, of th; - -,...4lllll36limuloossorroirrimi 33 country a free es. ...siltation of the state of the ()Ce ti , _ - TC a rnai n,Un ot the sot in Ireland, setting forth, that the turf 0 ,enants elle, had no manure, cut sods from the tsan a tt ' o and burnt them for the purpose of making th', 3- that f :ney sometimes got two crops of potatoes pcerziisasitr.e.vve,uld lon g / aid of 'it, then a crop of corn, or anything else, as produce anything, when the same pro nevved, and that afterwards no crop could ho tu tu u eed for cattle for some years. He proposed that th at ~f) ° '-i a principle existing in the law ; he thought 1 10 , se ‘ 4 ' 3 principle which prevented the destruction of (lestri:l might end oug h t to b e app li e d to prevent t h e and, i t! :tion o f the soil. But the Bill was not acceptable la w a b erefore I re l end was still without a remedy. Th e th e , `.; it exist o d regarding landlord and tenant placed ton e , v ri rli6 ro:rantag e s w hi c h th e i r Lordships could not tri c k a ;"; It \V ag a system which rested upon deceit and tart be; ? ;cad to be understood that he did not wish Wea n :, ; w hisk . did not preside for the interest of the le ast : 44 the firstplace. But he thought that where t heir ted, and - the tenants did not fulfil °'stigistions, they ought to be compelled th e ,d'c to surrender their land. He prayed he ascutreased attention of his Lordship, as if r t , h 4 not attend he might . not be able to follow his tt r t England a man had a right .to ejectment if ho had six months' rent owing as .." 11 Such was not the case in Ireland, fur reores,tesent could not be brought for less than a t s we r lve „ - if ._ u ' e 3 rent; and if a tenant owed eleven month en ” , 4 4 ; same before the twelve months' rent had acer . u.si to kild offerer) six months' rent, the landlord was obliged en ac e P ly t it- He wished the Noble and Learned Lord . ateeitite orilsack would give him a little more of his - (Laeghter)-- ['This was the third time the h e 44 41, I,rq u i s b egged for attention] — ot h erw i se h e would r. Te a 40 . 1 e to r ep l y to the arguments w hi c h b e (th e Ma ,Ilies eh r Westmeath) had advanced. The Noble Arele,,, i then cited seve r a l cases of tenants n , in proof of his views, and said that lee he stated h e did o f hi s own personal know . - O.:* and h e c h allenged contradiction of t h e i r accuracy. %Id not trouble their Lordships mach longer. ; Th e . " bear.) The rent might fall due in t. November. bu,he wou..landlord might apply in May for his ren /I, "I be regularly floored till that time twelve ' monthe. 4 4 Vl,' !gain, no tenant was obliged to state the nature s taut tek s : defence when proceedings for an ejectmentwaol :'' a gainst him, until he did so . bef . ore . a court e at I ce, when his case was under adjudication, and he • A t not e olupelled to lodge any thing . lowar . ds "fraying lsite,e`epenses in the event of his losing his . caee. The eacill,)rds were only allowed 91. 12s. for their expenses, Detee :defray e had to the costs , which were frequently ex e, of lawyers and others. This was not the case t ev 3 gland, and he saw no reason why the law of the th e 'countries should not be assimilated. In short, all e tt ,xisen se of the processes fell upon the landlords. Then aa ,,;•e Was no re when barristers ave wrong deci 11 e must be lief allowed to tell their Lordships that sions bar ; .- C'etes often gave wrong decisions, which he attn .- e in some degree, to the want of a central court at in,where they might meet and arrange their decisions. f r i l kieped he h a d sa id enough to show that the law in' th e4l l.!d required reconsideration. He then referred to 44,V:quoted case of crown property, where no ren t I a en paid or th e land sur ren d ere d. The Noble M .lar e ."ur-ilided by s t at i ng t h at h i s ob j ect was to hake , a bd . l 7 . suited to mankind and not mankind to the law ; per,....e implored of h e r M a j es t y ' s G overnme nt not to lei t i t 7:- it to co nt i nue to v i ct i m i se every one connec t e d tie!, 11 (1 as it does at present. tior,',l‘tarquis of LANSDOWNE said that the objec leiiwk"ieh he felt, and which he did not doubt that their ebs s ,._" l l: 4 would feel to this motion, was that it was an leaz „ittireralaontdir , denouncing generally the state of the without pointing out any remedy for the e on ; Which it all ege d . There were at present un d er th e Of ilueration of th e l eg i s l at i ve , l aws re lating to the elate eowreland, and w hi c h wou ld s h or tly come under the ea , e ld eratioa of their Lordships. A Bill with refer -11,4 to the relations between landlord and tenant ; ee ls , a s ! Present under the consideration of th . n e►cry ouse of Parliament, and that measure was i 1 - 1474 5' calculated to remedy the abuses which the tion. for d had described in bringing forward his mo lihres,, 'le was not inclined to dispute the fact that many to._ 3 e xisted, but, b e f ore t h ey were brought forward, hot remed y ough g t to be provided for them. He was th e , ° k r Condemnin the House in which they lived before to C A ultd seen the House in which they were in future Pro Re should b e extremely g l a d to li s t en t o a ny anoPosition whi c h cou ld b e made b y the N o bl e M arqu i s , ree ie i d vh ioll came in a specific form and calculated to efe Y these abuses of the law. He was not desirous :etvi n es tat; g to the motion of the Noble Marquis a direct efsh: t . ,e , and be should, therefore, move that the orders Te s l A , l 7 be now read. tarqui s of Westmeath then withdrew his motion. "1r Lordships then adjourned. South Staffordshire (I ;arsoci ; %Tien and Norton ... ,„ B r anches, &c.) ngham and Lichfield. &c.) London and North-Western (Birrift Derbyshire, Staff or d s hire, and Wore ustershire Junction R a il. way and Branches. uesda The Select Committee to meet of ' Ty, May 11, at half-past twelve. .. Fitzroy ( nd Hon. C. It he Bills, aChairman). A Committee consisting cf—Hon. la lexander Mr. H. J. Baillie, Major Layard , lar • comprised in Lawless, to whom they have rafl.;rred t. Group No. 35, viz. : eta Amendment Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolto I/ Railwa) . gets ( Deviations), Preston and Wyre, Liverpool, Manchester, and _ Wewcastle-on-Tyne' Junction Railway Acts Amendment, Fleetwood, Preston, and West; Riding (Burnley Snd Col liery Branches), Manchester and Leeds (Branc. hes, Extensions, Deviations, Alterations of Levels, and otht,lr IV :orks), East Lancashire ( Burnley Connecting Line), East Lancashire ( Deviations and Itaw enstall Coal Branch), East Lancashire (Bury to Manchester .East Lancashire (Clitheroe, Mittou, ar Padiham). The Select Committee to meet on Tea sday, May 11, at one. A Committee consisting of—Mr. B. Denison (Chairman), Sir W. Verner, 11Ir. Hughes, Earl G rosvenor, and Sir T. Esmonde, to whom they have referred ..the Bills ccomprised in Group No. 44, viz. Scottish ralctlnd Junction (Amendment and Branch to Laurencekirk),l Aberdeen (Brechin Branch Deviation), Aberdeen and Great North of Scotland Amalgamation, Arbroath and Forfar and Scottish MiOland Junction Con necting Railway, Dundee and Perth (Alteration and Extension, and Inchture, Polgavie, and Inchmichael Branches), Dundee and Newtyle, Aberdeen Harbour (Improvement and Sale to Railway), Strathtay and Breadalbane Extension. The Select Committee to meet on Thursday, .lay 13, at 12. A Committee consisting of—Right Hon. Sir R. Peel (Chairman), Sir R. Vyvyan, Mr. Dickinson, Lord H. Ben tinck, and Sir C. Napier, to who►u they have referred the Bills comprised in Group No. 52, viz.:— Great North of India, to connect the cities of Delhi, Agra, and Allahabad, with Extensions, &c. Great Indian Peninsula, Bombay to Alleh, with Extensions, &c. Great Western of Bengal, from Calcutta to Rajamahal, with Extensions, &c. (Incorporation). The Select Committee to meet on Thursday, May 13, at half-past 12. Select Committee on Group No. 49. Mr. Christie discharged ; Viscount ,Newport selected, and added to the Committee. Select Committee on Group No. 7. Mr. iiorsman discharged; Mr. Stanstield selected, and added to the Committee. - - - The Select Committees on the Groups Nos. 4, 29, 36, 37, 45, and 46, will be selected from Panel No. 6, which will be required to be in attendance during the week commencing Monday, May 17. PANEL No. VI. Mr. Adderley Hon. 0. Duncombe Mr. Ainsworth Hon. G Fitzwilliam G. Mr. Alija Mr. Antrohus Mr. Halo Mr. J. Heatheoat Mr. Arkwright 3lr. E. Heneage Mr. J. Bailey, jun. Mr. F. Hodgson MT. Baine Sir Denis Le Marchant Mr. H. B. Baring Mr. Mundy Mr. tiaskerville Right Hon. J. Nicholl Major Beresford Mr. S. O'Brien Mr. Blewitt ' Colonel Peel Mr. Bowes Mr. Roebuck Mr. Boyd Mr. R. Scott 11r. Brocklehurst Mr. J. A. Smith Lord E. Bruce Viscount Somerton Mr. Buckley Mr. Sotheron Viscount Castlereagh Sir S. T. Spry Sir W. Clay Mr. E. Stanley Lord A. Conyngham Sir G. Strickland Marquis of Douro Lord J. Stuart Mr. Duff Mr. Thornhill. Hon. A. Duncombe INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. APRIL 27.—Sir John Rennie, President in the chair. The paper of the evening was " On the laws of iso chronism of the balance-spring as connected with the higher order of adjustments of watches and thermome • ters;" by Mr. C. Frodsham, Assoc. Inst. C. E. The first portion gave an historical sketch of the horological inventions and writings of the artists of the eighteenth century, which appears to constitute the basis of all the knowledge possessed in the present day, and the princi ples of whose school were still invariably followed in the construction of both watches and chronometers of the better sort. It was admitted, that by the aid of machinery and the practical skill of the workmen the separate pieces of clocks and watches were now produced in a high state of perfection; but it was contended that horology, as a science, had declined since the days of Hooke, Beruouilli, Sully, Graham, Harrison, Camus, Mudge, Ellicot, the two Arnolds, Earnshaw, Le Roy, I3erthoud, and others, whose splendid talents and scientific attain ments were all devoted to the elevation of the art of constructing time keepers. Among these, Dr. Hooke appears to have been the first to bring the force of acute reasoning and pure mechanical genius to bear upon the practice of the art, and his experiments upon the pen dulum, and the application of the balance-spring, which latter unquestionably - laid the foundation of the chro nometric art. It is evident that he partially raised the veil which concealed the laws of the isochronism of the spiral spring, as is demonstrated by his expression "ut tensio, sic vis," and it is extra ordinary that so plain a hint was not immediately seized upon by the able men who succeeded him. Arnold appears to have been the first who really prac tically comprehended the subject, and in the course of his researches he invented the cylindrical spring and compensation balance, which formed the com mencement of a new era in the science. The me rit of the discovery of the isochronism in France was contested by Le Roy and Berthoud. Bernouilli noticed in a paper read to the Academie in 1747, the fact of the loss of elastic force in balance springs from exposure to heat; and the experiments of Berthoud demonstrated that, in passing from 22 degrees to 92 de grees of Fahrenheit, the loss per diem was 6 mins. 40 secs. The paper then considered generally and techni cally the subject of the isochronism of the_balance spring, enunciating isochronism to be an inherent property of the balance-spring, depending entirely upon the ratio of the spring's tension, following the proportion of the arcs of inflection; a balance-spring, therefore, having the progression required by the law of isochronism, will preserve that property, whether it be applied to a balance making quick or slow vibrations. The elastic force of balance-springs was considered as constant, because the action is by a number of consecutive impulses following each other in such rapid succession as to constitute an uninterrupted and continuous force. This is shown in considering the accelerated and retarded motion of the balance, when, by following it through an entire arc of vibration, it will be seen that if the balance be moved over a given pumber of degrees, the spring will be wound into a certain tension, and has acquired a certain elastic force due to the angle over which it is inflected. This elastic force being then transferred to the balance , it will be exerted in overcoming its inertia, and at the expiration of the first period will have communi cated a slight motion to it. During the next pe riod, its state will be that of comparative and not ab solute inertia (for it decreases as the motion increases), whence it follows, that as the spring's force is exerted against a body in motion instead of at rest, it will ne cessarily accelerate progressively the motion the balance had previously acquired, until the spring arrives at the point of quiescence, where, having lost all its elasticity, it ceases further to urge the balance, and a new relation of power and resistance takes place. The spring's force being transferred to the balance, it assumes a new cha racter, has acquired sufficient momentum to carry it through the second half of the vibration, and to in flect the spring over an angle equal to that first passed over, and to give it the requisite tension to commence a new vibration ; particularly as during the second half of the vibration the spring has so little tension that its force retards but slightly the motion of the balance. After much acute reasoning upon this position, illustrated by numerical examples, the author proceeded to describe the helical and the flat coiled springs, which are used in chronometers and watches, and the manner of regulating their action so as to take advantage of the isochronism, instancing the ad vantages to be derived from the innate power pos sessed by an isochronal spring of resisting the influences which cause a change of rate, such as change of position, increased friction from dirt, or the viscidity of the oil at low temperature. This was well illus trated by an example of three balls falling in equal times through spaces regulated by the densities of the medium--viz., in vacuo, in air, and in water, wherein they traverse spaces equal to the squares of the times. So it was argued it was with increased friction in watch work ; for the elastic forces of the balance-spring being constantly proportional to the angle of inflection, what ever was the amount of friction, the law of isochronism remained unchanged, and friction was only an adventi tious circumstance, which affects the extent of the arc of vibration, but not the time of its description. The discussion upon this interesting paper was deferred until the next meeting, on Tuesday, May 4, when the paper read will be " An Account of the Progressive Improve ments in Sunderland Harbour, and the River Wear ;" after which the monthly ballot for members will take place. THE VIRTUES OF WEALTH.—THE WAY OF THE WORLD.—The world is full of conventional hypocrisy. It would seem to be the aim of a large portion of the human family to practice falsehood upon themselves —to see Now far by lying conventionalities they can impose upon their own judgments, and perpetuate delusion. A man, whose life has been stamped an over with unmiti gated selfishness, after having enjoyed the consideraAh tion which wealth or connexion commands, dies. , there is mourning, as if a star had f a ll e n fromsoci et heaven! Poverty has lost a friend — virtu e a defender, y a model! And all this falsification is tolerated because conventional. In such a body as the Congress of the United States, there are representatives of all classes and habits. Without o ff ence, we m a y say that the mere fact of being a member is not prima facie evidence of capacity, ho nesty, or purity. Vice, under its grossest for m s , may find vo taries in an American Cong ress. But, it is somewha t re markable that a dishonest or debauched member never dies " Death loves a shining mark , " and every member stricken by his dart is sainted for his . virtues. Whatever the rotten ness within, the sepulchre without is polished. " The me mory of the wicked shall rot," said Solomon, the memory of the wicked is blessed by conventional hypocrisy. National Era ( Washington.) GLASGOW COTTON MARKET.---ARIL 30.—1 n con sequence of the dullness and downward tendency of the yarn market and the tightness of money, our cotton market has been very quiet—almost nothing selling except small par cels for immediate transmission to the mills. Prices are very irregular.— Scotck Reformers' Gazette. COAST OF FRANCE.--The Commissioners of Cus toms have issued directions to the collectors and comptrol lers of the several ports throughout the kingdom to cause copies,of a notice which has been furnished to them, a re specting alteratio ns i n th e li g ht s on Cape Frehel and on ., L la Four Ruck, on th e coas t o f France, to be exhibited in conspicuous place in the Custom-houses of their respective ports, for the information of masters of vessels and ail t ies concerned. e&" RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. • • DIEPPE AND FECAMP. r The general meeting of the shareholders of this company r took plac e on F r id ay, Apr il 30, i n t h e large- room belonging:• to the offices of the Havre Company, Rue Base du Romper ;. Count d'Alton Shee, the president, in the chair. Near him We perceived Baron de Saint Albin, Mr. E. INtitit, 111. _Sel-• liere, M . Caumont de Jumieges, Osmont, M. Clapperon,.. M. d Ailly, and M. Cr6lu. 'l'heDArm, company t l e having been M. n ) d re ec a la d he r t edd r u e l p y or co t. nstituted, This document commences by declaring that, after the last.% general meeting, contracts had been entered into with MM. Mackenzie and Brassey on advantageous terms. The llioltaolau a n contract ' ap probation of the G overnment authorities for the direction to eo be m ta p k eh en y to between enterand D fo i r ep th p e e phiaedppc, line allowedfotrhee sum of 7,750,2041. 79c. The line sertions :-1. From Dieppe to mod was divided into three.. Aubin to Hautel_; 2. From the egar t tme f ntal road—from St. • line of Havre to Etaimpuis ; Fromand,p3.ne j nt e t ti p el l t c w e it tt t tre deparilnental road, No. 25. The first section co a ntaineN tunnel, 1,600 metres in length, passing under the hill esEr Appeville, the most important work on the line. The gallery' had been alreNly carried through the wh o l e l ength; a short. distance was faced with rnasonwork ; and the work would be. entirely finished in six months, if necessary. The bridges and . earthwork, were also far advanced. On the 2d section the earthworks were completed, and it was intended to keep men at work on it day and night during the fine season. There were twenty-twC• bridges on this part, of which four are finished. On the 3d part the works were less advanced than on the others. About 1,600 tons of chairs and rails had been delivered, as well as 32,090 sleepers ; 2,800 workmen, 501 waggons, and 450 horses, were at present employed on the line. The great rapidity with which' the works had been urged on was chiefly owing to the favourable manner in which the land had been obtained, almost all of it having been arranged for on amicable terms. The company had been fortunate enough to obtain the decisitm of the jury, from four to six months after the lands to be . Axpropriated had been subjected to th e ir c onsideration. The whole cost of the land had been originally estimated at 1,900,0001,, but the expense had been only 1,514,3260, comprising interest paid and all indemnities for the present crops, giving a saving of 400,000 f., which, considsring that the line passed through orchards and meadow lands, was doing much. All the contracts for supplies had ben ful filled hitherto with great regularity. The company wax freed from the care of providing the moveable stock, as the traltion was to be undertaken by the Havre Company, but all the cost of the stationary stock was now fully known. It wa. , , therefore, possible at present to declare that the originAl es timates would not be exceeded; and that, should circum stances permit it, that is, should the calls be exactly paid, the line could be opened to the public by March 1, 1848'.. The report then adverts to the general discredit into which: railway property has of' late fallen, and enters at length into the subject of the various calls made by the company. After the last general meeting the second call, it states, had been announced, but more than 2,000 shares remained unpaid. The shares had fallen in the market to 50f. below par, and if that great number were suddenly sold, there could be no doubt that very considerable further depreciation in their value would ensue—at least 50f. more. In this conjuncture the directors did all that lay in their power for the company —they took 1,000 shares for themselves at 4501. ; and in duced the contractors, who felt the greatest confidence in the success of the undertaking, to allow their reserve to be ex pended in 1,045 others. On the third call there was another deficit of 2,000 shares not paid up, and here the same mode of acting as had been previously employed was impossible. The directors had done everything which depended on them to bring the undertaking to a fortunate conclusion. If the matter hung fire for the moment, it must be attributed to the general gloom which affected all railway property. At present, in consequence of the demands on the company„ from the rapidity with which the works were urged or, another call (the fifth) would be made on May 10. Und er present circumstances the board had determined to postp the the execution of the Fecamp line until after that of Dieppe was entirely finished. First, because the latter line would require three-fourths of the capital, and was consequently so much the more important; and next, because that line,wben once concluded, would enable the company to raise fundt , to finish the rest. Looking at the state of the works now m ore than half finished, and taking into consideration that nothing had been begun on March 15, 1846, the line could be opened on March 1, 1848, it must be admitted that the general pro gress of the enterprise had been most satisfactory. The re port, after declaring that everything led to the conclusion that the returns would be fully equal if not superior to what had been estimated, concluded, by laying before the meeting the accounts to April 1, 1847. After the report had been read a desultory conversation ensued on the position of the company, one or two share holders blaming the directors for making the calls so rapidly, which circumstance they alleged, more than any other, lied contributed to lower the shares in the market. The CHAIRMAN replied that the calls were never made until absolutely demanded by the rapid execution of the works; and that what was alleged against the board as a subject of blame was the very best proof possible of their great activity in getting the line finished. Another SHAREHOLDER proposed to postpone the approba tion of the accounts for two months, but this was rejected by an immense majority. _ In answer to some remarks relative to the negotiations with .be Government, The PRESIDENT entered into an explanation on.the sub ject, and stated that the Minister of Public Works had ex• pressed his determination to do something for the Dieppe line, though without having specified of what nature the intended aid should be. The same shareholders who had before addresseh the meet ing, having again manifested a desire to undervalue the un dertaking, Mr. E. Bt.outrr rose, and in a short energetic address after adducing arguments to prove that the line would be eventually au excellent one, called on the shareholders not to permit themselves to be influenced by ill-omened pre.. dictions, which all that hitherto had taken place hi the enterprise ought to lead them to suppose would be ill founded. • THE NEW FRENCH LINES, The following appears in the last number of the Journal des Chemins de Fer : -" We are at present able to give some details relative to a combination, already spoken of, by which the new railway companies would be enabled to continue their works without compromising further the interests of their shareholders. The terms of this combination are sai I to be these:-1. The State is to have an estimate made of the works already concluded or in course of execution; it is to engage, in case it should not have been able by next year to come to an understanding with the companies, to reim burse the cost of all the works executed from the present. time. In this way, if the companies should not be able to arrange with the State for a change in the contracts, they would be sure not to lose more than they could do at present, were they to abandon the works. The companies would still preserve the advantage, in case railway matters should again get into repute, of prcfiting by the revival of confidence. At present, the subject of discussion is to decide on the value to be attributed to the works. and on the sums which the State should keep in its hands. Right or wrong, the Minister of Public Works is persuaded that he could not obtain from the Chambers a vote favourable to am system which should diminish the amount of caution money held by the State. We do not agree with the Honourable Minister, but we admit that if be believes that he cannot get a definitive measure adopted, that proposed is acceptable as a temporary one. It at least has the advantage of clearly fixing the present position of the companies, and of opposing an insuperable barrier to any further fall, as it will then be easy to fix the real value of the share of each undertaking." In allusion to the above, a Paris correspondent states that the negotiation can scarcely be said to have advanced so far. For the Lyons Company, up to Saturday morning, nothing whatever had been decided, the. Minister still appearing t.) vacillate, and being evidently afraid to bring the matter before the Chambers ; and by the report of the general meeting of the Dieppe Company, held on Friday, it will be seen that nothing had been determined on at that time in their case. THE GERMAN RAILROADS• A letter dated Leipsic, 27th ult., mentions that during the last year there were conveyed by the German rail roads 16,412,229 travellers, and 31,833,939 quintals of merchandise, which produced a sum total of 54,646,2321'. (2,185,8491.), and represents an increase of 16,431,208 f., that is, 43 per cent. over the preceding year. At the commencement of the present year, it is said that 592 German miles were regularly open to traffic, of which 26 miles are tram lines, 173 miles belong to various Governments , and 419 miles to 29 private companies ; the longest one runs from Berlin to Breslau, with a branch to Hennesdorf ; the next is the Ferdinand North Railway, 41 miles, extending from Vienna to Brunn, Olmutz, Leipsic, and Stockeran ; the Berlin and Hamburgli, 36.58 miles ; the Upper Silesian (from Breslau to Mys.lowitz) 31 miles ; the Budweis, .Leutz, and iiorse "line 26.13 miles ; Berlin a nd Stettin, and branch to "line, 22 . 62 miles ; Berlin to Cothern, 20.51 miles ; the Berlin, Pots dam, and Magdeburg, 19*63 miles ; the Vienna and Gloggnitz, with branch lines from Modling to Laxen berg, and from Vienna to Bruck on the Leitha, 1614 miles ; the Magdeburg and Leipsic, 16.1 miles ; the Leipsic and Dresden, 1548 miles ; the Altona and Kiel, 14.29 miles ; the Saxo-Bavarian (from Leipsic to Retchembach, with a branch), 14.13 miles ; the Rhe nish (from Cologne to Aix-la•Chapelle and the Ba gian frontiers), 11.57 miles ; the Thuringian (frets Weissenfels to Weimar), 11 . 50 miles ; the Saxo-Si lesian (from Glogau to Sagan), 9.67 miles ; the Breslau. and Freiburg, 8.96 miles ; the Cologne and Minden (from Deutz to Duisburg), 8'54 miles ; the Madgeburg and litaberstadt, 7.84 miles ; the Taurus (from Frank fort to Mainz and Wiesbaden), 5 . 85 miles ; the th R e eld., ends r- Dussf burg and Neumunster, 4'41 miles ; and Elberfeld, 3.57 miles ; the Anbalt i and ,n B 4 er-z burg, 2 - 32 miles ; the Cosa' and -9 R s at m sb es , ; the miles ; the Bonn and Cologne, the 3 . the l Hambrrg and Bergedorf, 2.17 miles; ; Nuremberg and Furth, 0.91 miles. Twenty out o m th tih e ees thirty-eight states Gluckstadt and Elmshorn,2-a2n2df which are completely finished, and two railway s of Germany have railways at present. There are only pro vided throughout their entire length with double line;— the Leipsic and Dresden, and the Magdeburg end Leipsic, The number of tunnels on the German lines open to traffic are 16; of which 5 are on the Rhenish t Lß r ae i aivpnasr(iiebaenatnwdse State ee t s h ldi e ne ne G . r ( a Ta t t z h e a E n lr d ol an e ngg l e l es i. n e t y ) : 6 , Railway, 2 on the Wurtemberg, 4 on the South Aim -3 on the North Austrian (between Olmutz and Prague), 1 on the at Konigsdorf, bet w e en C o l ogne and Aaonnixdt-la-CRbhheatepl.cillseah4 being 5,160 feet. [AnvERTIsENIENT.T—The United Dentists' Tooth Powder, so named from the inventors, Ross and Sons, having visited several first-rate surgeon-dentists, and !lading c ach recommending some peculiar nostrum, they have combined these together with other ingredients, known only to them selves, and are convinced they have produced a perfect tooth powder. It IN ill remove the tartar, strengthen the gums. purity the breath, and entirely prevent and cure the teoth.. aehe, and if used immediately after leaving the sick PVIII prevent infection.—Address, Ross and Sons, 119 and 120 Bishopsgate-street, London. We understand that Captain Glascock, late of the Tyne, has declined to accept of the letter of thanks proffered him by the French Government, for the salvage of a bai que belonging to that nation, on the 25th of December last. It. is said that the gallant officer grounds his refusal upon the fact, that neither the services of his officers nor crew have been acknowledged by the French Government; and the communication forwarded to himself is worded so indefinitely that, except it be accompanied by full explanations, it would be impossible to say to whom it referred.—Devonport Te le9raPh• Mr. Etty sold his picture of Joan of Arc on Fri day, at the private view of the Royal Academy, for the largo sam of 2,600 guineas.