The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

THE PROPAGATION OF POTATO. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TINES. beg to submit to you some important remarks on a new method of increasing the potato, which premises to be of the utmost utility. Ever since the introduction of the potato, now c near . ly three hundred years, the gener al wa y of increasing rn has been either by planting the small tubers whole, or three, and four sets, by dividing the large ones in to two, but rarely m g n a ..( r ' c re ity than Cit akin that tour s ets from one tuber. i The present great se valuable esculent, end my own practical experience n the propagation and management of plants, more , particularly to the pro.= ing of a great number from some of the tuberous rooted kinds, induced me to turn m y attention to the subject, towardsC obtainilig a much more abundant increase from the potato than the present system gives. I have made a trial of the method now so successfully practised for the propagation of the dahlia, as follows:—The roots of the dahlias are taken up for preserving through the win ter about the same time as the late-planted potatoes, and stored from the frost; some of the sorts that are much in demand and scarce it is now customary to put into pots in December and January, and to place there in the hothouse or hotbed, which causes them soon to show the eyes just above the tubers; these are allowed to grow to about two or three inches in length. They are then taken off carefully so as not to des: roy the eyes that are formed at the bottom part of the young shoots; two eyes are left on each of these shoots, which will give double the quantity of cuttings, ready to take off in ten to fif teen days after the first lot, and every succession of cut tings may be expected to be much more numerous. I have known instances when the almost incredible num ber of 500 good healthy plants hes been made from one dahlia root by the above mode of treatment. It will, perhaps, be as well to mention that, by the old way of propagating, viz., by dividing the root when in a dor mant state, was scarcely possible to make more than six or seven plants. I now lay before you the result of my experiments with the potato as far as time has permitted me. I placed some tubers of four sorts in the hothouse and treated them in every respect as the dahlias; they made cuttings quicker, these cuttings rooted sooner than the dahlias, and by the present thriving appearance of the tubers, from which some cuttings have now been taken, I have not the least doubt of their proving as prolific as the dahlia. Some objections may be started to this method of propagation in competition with the old estab lithed system. My present endeavour is to provide in some measure for the great deficiency of potatoes for this season's planting, and I am convinced that, to a certain extent, it will be found to be perfectly successful. I think my suggestion will open a great field for improve ment in the culture of the potato, and may lead to many experiments ; and some other advantages may be ex pected to be made known. I regret this idea did not strike me earlier in the season, as it would have given me an opportunity of placing before the public my other experiments, which are not just now sufficiently matured, although I feel quite satisfied they will come up to my anticipations. In order that this plan be fully and fairly tested, I would venture to recommend every gentleman's gardener, or other parties having the opportunity, to commence immediately to make the following trials:—viz., where they have already planted the tubers in frames for the first crop, and the tubers have made shoots, or not, the mould to be taken off carefully, by hand, from one, two, or more rows of the sets, so as to expose them, and some light and pure soil, finely sifted, be put on directly, just thick enough to cover the sets ; by adopting this mode good cuttings will be produced, and, if treated every way the same as (Lillie cuttings, they will readily take root. On some of the earliest planted sets they will probably be found, on removing. the soil, to have already made some growth; these should be taken off to near the sets, they will throw out fresh shoots or cuttings very soon, and every attention should be paid to promote the growth and health of the tubers or sets, such as oc casionally to replenisle the soil about them, giving air at times to prevent a too rapid growth or the shoots will become weak and succulent. I am under the impression that if from twelve to twenty cuttings were nut into each store pot in the middle or latter end of . April, they would take root in ten or twelve days, and when gradually hardened to bear exposure they could at once be permanently planted into gardens or fields with as much certainty and in a s,itnilar manner as the turnip, cabbage, &e., are from the seed beds ; and here I would suggest the propriety of getting them out as soon as possible in order to prevent the plants being checked too long, for the success of the crop of all tuberous -rooted plants depends, in a great measure, on their free anti uninterrupted growth. In a former part o f my l etter I expressed regret at not Lavine- had the opportunity of making an earlier trial of my plan, and that will very likely lead some persons to inquire how I propose to manage with the young plants that might be rooted in January and February, and when they could not be planted in the open ground. I beg to add my recommendation for that early time of the year for the young plants would be either to put them into large sized pots, or plant them in frames for an early crop for the table, or to give stock, the tubers would be ripe in time for re-planting out of doors in May, making two crops in one season ; and if of a new and choice sort, I would re-pot the young plant, take off the top for another cutting, ar.d keep the young plant for increasing, and I think it would yield many cuttings if encouraged. This method might be pursued to a great extent. _ _ _ And probably this new method of propagation may be a means of throwing some light on the much talked of disease in the potato as to its origin ; my impression is, that it arises from a very minute parasitical plant, which attaches itself to the haulm and fills up the pores of the leaves and stems, checking the circulation of the sap, and depriving the plant of all nourishment of the atmo sphere, and that it is only in remarkable seasons this parasite vegetates. From experiments now making I expect some further important results, which I shall be happy to make known. EDWARD BROWN. The Cottage, Slough, Bucks. EDUCATION. The minutes of the Committee of the Council on Edu cation (in August and December last) have just been printed by Parliament. The following are extracted therefrom:— " REMUNERATION AND DUTIES OF SCIIOOLMASTERS AND bIISTRESSES. " At the close of each of these years, if the pupil teachers have received a certificate of good character and of satisfactory progress, the master or mistress by whom they have been instructed and trained shall be paid the sum of 51. for one, of 91. for two, of 12/. for three pupil teachers, and 31. per annum more for every additional apprentice; and, on the like conditions, 21.105. for one stipendiary monitor, 4/. for two, 6L for three, and 1/. 10s. in addition in each year, for every additional stipendiary monitor. " In addition to the foregoing subjects of instruction, if the pupil teachers be skilfully trained by the master in the culture .of a garden or in some mechanical arts suitable to a school of industry, or the female pupil teachers be instructed by the mistress in cutting out clothes, and in cooking, baking, or washing, as well as in the more usual arts of sewing and knitting, and the inspector certify- that the pupil teachers are thereby in a satisfactory course of training for the management of a school of industry, the master or mistress will receive an additional gratuity, proportioned to the degree of skill and care displayed. " In consideration of the foregoing gratuity, and of the assistance obtained from the pupil teachers and sti pendiary monitors in the instruction and management of the school, the master will give them instruction in the prescribed subjects, during one hour and a half at least, during five days in the week, either before or after the usual hours of school-keeping. " The stipends will be liable to be withdrawn by their Lordships on the report of their inspector, on proof of the continued ill-health of the pupil, teachers, or stipen diary monitors, or of misconduct, want of punctuality, diligence, or skill, or failure in their examination, or in default pf the required certificates. SUPPORT OF NORMAL SCHOOLS. EDUCATION OF SCHOOLMASTERS AND MISTRESSES, AND GRANTS IN AID OF THEIR SALARIES. " Exhibitions on behalf of successful Pupil Teachers to Normal Schools—Employment of certain of them in the Public Service—Grants in aid of Expenses of Nor mal Schools, and of the Salaries of Masters and Mis- tresses educated therein. " The Committee of Council on Education had under .their consideration their Lordship? minutes as to the apprenticeship of pupil teachers in elementary schools. " It appeared further expedient to their Lordships, that the Lord President should authorise one or more of her .Majesty's Inspectors, together with the principal of a normal school under inspection, to submit to his Lord ship, from among the pupil teachers who had success fully terminated their apprenticeship, a certain number of those who, upon competition in a public examination, to be annually held by such inspectors and principal in each inspector's district, as might be found most proficient in their studies and skilful in the art of teaching, and concerning whose character and zeal for the office of teachers the inspector of the district could give the most favourable report. " That the Committee of Council on Education, on comparison of the testimonials and examination papers qf these apprentices, should award, for as many as they likight think fit, an exhibition of 201. or 251. to one of the normal schools under the inspection of her Majesty's inspectors. That the pupil teachers to whom such exhibitions silould be awarded should be thenceforth denominated ' Queen's Scholars ', if Z a hat r l l ie . exhibition should be liable to be withdrawn satisfieg with the the training-school should be dis , Queen's Scholar; •• conduct, attainments, or skill of the •• Their Lordships sv be useful to offer puperie also of opinion, that it might incentives to exertion and good conduct among the teachers, by opening to such of them as might not ditl the highest qualifications for the office of schoolmaster, whose conduct and were satisfacputobrl3:c,sengp.portunity, of obtain attainments ing emrloyment in the Le, under iations as may be . hereaWr adopted such regu " Their Lordships hope that the grant . r of 9 01. or 25/. to the most proficient o an exhibiti on pupil teachers to ena ble them to enter a normal school, may diminish difficulty experie nced b y the trustees and managersthe4 such institutions , o f maintaining them in efficiency, In order still further to reduce the burden of such esta blishments, their Lordships will award to every normal school subject to inspection a grant for every student trained therein, concerning whose character and conduct the principal shall give a favourable report, and concern ing whose attainments, skill in teaching, and general aptitude for the vocation of a schoolmaster, it shall ap • pear to the Lord President, at the close of each of three years of training from the report of one or more of her Majesty's Inspectors, and from the examination papers, that a certain standard of merit has been attained. Such grants shall be 201. at the close of the first year, 251. at the close of the second, and 301. at the close of the third year's course of instruction. This standard of acquirement shall not be so ordered as to interfere with the studies pursued in any normal school, but shall :be adapted to those studies, so, however, as to apply im • carti.illy to al such normal schools an equal incentive to exertion, by requirine• b efficiency in a sufficient num ber of the studies p u r sue d in them. " Their Lordships will further grant, in aid of the salary of every schoolmaster appointed to a school under their inspection, and who has had one year's training in a normal school under their inspection, 151. or 20/. per annum; and in aid of the salary , of every such school master who has had two years of such training, 201 or 251. per annum; and of every such schoolmaster who has had three years of such training, 251. or 30/. per annum; provided he has upon examination, obtained the proper certificate of merit in each year, on the following con ditions : _ _ . " 1. That the trustees and managers of the school provide the master with a house rent free, and a fur ther salary, equal at least to twice the amount of this grant. " 2. That the trustees annually certify that his cha racter, conduct, and attention to his duties are satis• factory. _ . " 3. That the inspector report that his school is effi cient in its organisation, discipline, and instruction. " On the same conditions their Lordships will grant, in aid of the salaries of schoolmistresses appointed to schools under their inspection, who obtain similar certi ficates in a normal school, two-thirds of the sums to be awarded to schoolmasters for each year's certificate of merit. RETIRING PENSIONS TO SCHOOLMASTERS AND MISTRESSES FOR LONG AND EFFICIENT SERVICES. " That a Miring pension may be granted by the Com mittee of Council to any schoolmaster or schoolmistress who shall be rendered incapable by age or infirmity of continuing to teach a school efficiently. " Provided that no such pension shall be granted to any schoolmaster or schoolmistress who shall not have conducted a normal or elementary school for fifteen years, during seven at least of which such school shall have been under inspection. " That in all cases of application for pensions a report shall be required from the inspector, and from the trustees and managers of the schools, as to the character and conduct of the applicants, and the manner in which the education of the pupils under their charge has been carried on. " The amount of the pension shall be determined ac cording to such report, but shall in no case exceed two thirds of the average amount of the salary and emolu ments annually received by the applicant during the period that the school had been under inspection. " A minute of the grant of every such pension, and of the grounds on which it has been awarded, shall be published in their Lordships' minutes." RE-APPEARANCE of the POTATO DISEASE. The following communication from his Grace the Duke of Portland. relative to the re appearance of the potato disease, will be found worthy of consideration:— " Sir,—lt is certain that the potato disc me has again appeared in the same manner as it appeared last year at this season. No man, therefore, in common prudence, can depend upon a crop of that root this summer. I ven ture, with great confidence, to provide a substitute—viz., the Swedish turnip. Till within these six weeks I was not aware that Swedish turnips were good human food, much superior to the common turnip. I have since eaten them, and I think them much more substantial food than potatoes. Having had much experience in the use of potatoes as food for cattle, I am sure that Swedish turnips are the better food of the two. In point of quantity they yield larger crops. I have grown here twenty-two tons per acre. I have no doubt that in milder climates larger crops may be obtained. The cul tivation of the turnip is less expensive; comparatively, the seed costs almost nothing. As they need not be sown very early in the spring, they do not suffer from early frosts; and in the autumn and winter no frost will hurt them. Ido not know that on the same land they will bear repetition continually, as potatoes will; they are also liable in sand lands to be hurt by the grub. These two last are the only disadvantages to which they are liable. When well cultivated, on the whole I con sider them a superior crop, and to be preferred, even if there was no such thing as a potato disease. " Welbeck, Feb. 26." " SCOTT PORTLAND. /IRE ,SUN, ,LONDON, FRIDAY .p . r.ENIN(4, MARCH 5, 1847.' most unpl*asant matter. The Provost made some explana tions to the meeting, which were loudly applauded, and gave universal satisfaction. Few speeches were made at the meeting, hitt such of the gentlemen as spoke. expressed their resolution to support the authorities, and an earnest desire for the immediate removal of the military. CAsTeeTown - .—On Monday evening several hundred per sons assembled at Castlehill harbour, in order to put to sea a vessel (the " Fisher " of Leith) which had come there to load grain. They proceeded to hoist the booms out of the harbour entraoce, and to use threats to compel the cap tain to leave the port. Mr. Traill, M.P., accompanied by Sheriff Gregg, the latter of whom happening to be there by chance, quickly proceeded to the scene of action, but their presence had not much effect on the turbulent mob. Many were armed with sticks and bludgeons, and having pro ceeded on board the vessel, the mate, in attempting to de. fend himself with a knife, was felled to the deck. Thia la! t onset had the effect of dispersing the crowd, as they sup posed the man had been killed, and each took to his heels. Mr. Traill then, at a late hour, (about 12 P. M. or 1 a.m.), had his household forces mustered, got the booms replaced. the vessel secured, and had the mate carried on shore; he is, however, severely injured. The crew having been withdrawn no further attempt was made to put the smack to sea. That such outbreaks should take place in a rural district like Castletown and Dunnet, is remarkable, and cannot be justi fied by any good reason. Mr. Traill is known to have re tained in the district more meal and grain than have bee❑ stored there in any previous season, more indeed than can be consumed before next harvest. The people, too, are well em ployed, and want is not known among them. Tilunso.—A correspondent of the above journal, writ ing from Thurso, on Tuesday last says-- "We have had lamnantable disturbances here. The populace have blocked up the road to the river with two small sloops ; one of them was taken up to-night. They have also planted a ten-pounder on the braehead. About one hundred special constables have been sworn in, and everything assumes a most threatening aspect. We have too much cause to fear serious eonsequences, unless, by some means or other, peace be restored." We have learned, in addition to the above, that on Wednesday evening another gun was placed on the brae, and that the feelings of the people continue wound up to.the greatest pitch. Assemblages at night are frequent, and threatenings of violence are per severed in. The peaceable inhabitants are kept in a state of the utmost terror from these manifestations. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner SMITH.) OPPOSED LIST. Gloucester and Hereford Railway and Canal Purchase (for making a Railway from Gloucester to Hereford, with con necting lines, and purchase of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal, with power to the London and North-Western Rahway Company to subscribe to the in tended Railway, and purchase and make arrangements in respect of the same). Opposition withdrawn ; standing orders complied with. This was the only case on Mr. Smith's list. (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.) OPPOSED CASE. Midland Railway (Worcester, Hereford, Malvern, and Chel tenham Lines, with a Branch to Ledbury), proposed Ex tension by the Midland Railway Company from Worcester to Hereford, with Branches to Ledbury, Malvern, Ash church, and Cheltenham, with power to purchase or make arrangements with the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Company, and Junctions with the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway. This case was opposed by the Oxford, Worcester, and Worverhampton Company. The opposition occupied the whole of the day,!and was adjourned till to-morrow (to-day). CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT OLD COURT. (Before the LORD CHIEF BARON and Mr. Justioe CoLE RIDGE ) ROT:BERT OF DIAMONDS UPON THE HIGII SEAS. Robert Kerr, aged 28, a mariner, was indicted with steal ing two packages of diamonds, value 3,3001., the property of John ill‘Millan and others, upon the high seas, within the jurisdiction cf the Admiralty of England, &c. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. BALLANTINE then addressed the jury for the defence. The Logo CHIEF Banox carefully recapitulated, in his summing up, the whole of the evidence, and the jury, after consulting for a few minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty of stealing on the high seas. The Logo CHIEF BARON then, in an impressive address, sentenced the prisoner to seven years' transportation. This case occupied the court nearly six hours. THE COAST OF AFRICA. The following is an extract of a letter from a corre spondent : "Ascension, Jan. 22, 1847. "The Hydra steam-sloop, Captain Young, went up the River Bonny on the 29th of October last. She attempted to go up the day previous, but grounded inside the bar on a sand bank for four hours. She was got off after great exertions by throwing the aftermost 68-pounder overboard, also a 321 b. carronade, and almost the whole of her fresh water; however, the Hydra was taken up the river the fol lowing day by one of the captains of a merchant vessel at anchor, trading for palm oil. Captain Young went up to inquire into the merchant captains' complaints against the King of the Bonny; but they could not substantiate them, for it appeared that the King told them on their arrival, that he could get no palm oil for trade, owing to his being at war with the King of the Calebar River. The merchant captains had subsequently supplied him with powder, shot, and muskets on tick, but as his memory was rather forgetful, they thought a little music from the - Hydra's 68-pounders would refreshen it. She proceeded from the Bonny to Lagos, where she fell in with the Acteon, Captain Mansell, when she found herself in for another squabble with the King of the Bimbia, he having been reported to the commodore as committing, or having committed a breach of faith. Ac cordingly the Acteon, in company with the Hydra and Styx, steam-sloop, Commander Chada, proceeded to the River Bimbia, calling at Fernando Po fora pilot. Captain Becroft, the Governor of Fernando Po, offered to pilot her. She ar rived on the 18th November, and took up a position within range of her shells, when it was found out that the informa tion was false; in fact, the Baptist missionaries have a large settlement at the entrance of the river, and this would be the last place for slavers. (" Whilst up the Bonny it was discoyerod, although the kingii on both sides of the river did not sell slaves, yet they murdered all prisoners in cold Wood, roasted, and ate them, and one of the kings assured all officer that a little girl, with plenty of salt and pepper, was very nice. So much for the suppression of slavery, to s*y nothing of the expense and loss of so many valuable lives and those who escape being rendered unfit for further service. There were 2,000 :laves brought down to the Leach at Palma, near the river Lagos, to be shipped into the two vessels captured last September by the Ilydra. Not having enough provisions to last until the arrival of other vessels, they took their slaves down to the beach, murdered them all, and suck their heads on poles. Provisions were very scarce on the coast, and must be brought from a great distance inland. " From the Bimbia, the Hydra proceeded to Fernando Po, Princess Island, and arrived at Ascension on the morning of the 26th December. " The Devastation, with the broad pendant of Sir C. Ho tham ; the Acteon, 26, Captain Mansell; Sealark, 10, Capt. Gooch, were then here. The Devastation, with Sir C. Ho tham, and Acteon, left Ascension the same day for Sierra Leone and the West Coast. The Sealark left this place about a week since, with dispatches for Sir C. Hotham, brought out by the Haddington, a large merchant-steamer, bound to China, and the Grappler, steam-vessel, Lieut. Commander Lysaght. " Captain Hutton took command of the island of Ascen sion last Monday, so that Captain Morrell at present remains a supernumerary, until we hear from the commodore. The Grappler leaves this place also to-day, for Sierra Leone, to meet the commodore. " The Sealark left her captain behind at the hospital dan gerously ill from repftted attacks of epilepsy, in fact, he is expected to die hourly. " The turtle are rising very fast, which promises a good season. " The Eurydice, 2G, Captain Anson, touched here on her way to the Cape. " The Wanderer, 14, Commander Sommerville, has lost her second lieutenant and ten men from coast fever, owing to her commander sending his pinnace twice up the Rio Pongos. The lieutenant stated that himself and boat': crew wet e completely exhausted from their first trip. " A vessel is expected in about a fortnight from the commodore, with orders for the Hydra to proceed home. She will probably be in,En»land about the first week in May." THE RUSSO-DUTCH LOAN. OPINION OF DR. ADDAMS. It is obvious that upon the separation of Holland and the Netherlands, consequent upon the revolution of September, 1830, it ceased to be obligatory on Great Britain to make any further payments on account of the Russian Dutch Loan, in virtue of the Convention of May, 1815, according to the letter of that Convention. though it was said or intimated that obligation still subsisted, according to the spirit of the Con vention. But whether Russia could or could not, founding upon the spirit, as against the letter of the Convention, have justly insisted on such further payments, is a question that merged upon the execution of the Convention of November. 1831, between Great Britain and Russia. And it is upon this latter Convention that it is now obligatory on Great Britain (if at all) to make any such further payments. Now, in the Convention of November, 1831 (executed by the two Powers), the objection of the Convention of 1815 is recited to have been, to afford Great Britain a guarantee that Russia would procure a certain policy on all questions re specting Belgium, on the one hand ; and the other, to secure to Russia the payment of a portion of her old Dutch debt, in consideration of the general arrangements of the Congress of Vienna, to which she had g i ven h er a dh es i on —arrange ments which (says the Convention) still remain in full force; and it is in virtue of this special consideration (Con• vention of 1831, art. 1) that Great Britain undertakes to continue, on her part, the payments stipulated in the Con vention of May, 1815. It seems to me, that the phrase " arrangements which still remain in full force," pretty plainly implies that if such arrangements had not remained. in full force, at any rate through any fault or delinquency on the part of Ru ss i a , Great Britain would have declined to enter into such latter Convention; and the language of the whole Convention ac cording to the true interpretation of it, in my humble judg ment, is identical in import with this—that Great Britain undertakes to continue the payments in consideration of Russia maintaining, or by reason that she does maintain, those general arrangements of the Congress of Vienna, to which she was originally a party at the time of the holding of such Congress in 1815. And this being so, it also seems to me that a breach or violation of those general arrangements in any material part, though the fault or delinquency of Russia, plainly releases Great Britain from that continuing obligation which she took upon herself under the Convention of November, 1831, in consideration or by reason of Russia maintaining such general arrangements. And this reduces the whole question (and as to which I think there can be no doubt) to a consideration of a hether the reunion of Cracow to the Austrian Monarchy, at the time and in manner as stated in the case, is or is not a departure from the general arrangements of the Congress of Vienna, in a material article, and one to which Russia is a consenting and therefore a guilty party. For surely, it admits of no doubt that one of the general arrangements (and that a principal one) of the Congress of Vienna was, the independence of Cracow. By the Eth ar ticle of the "principal act," an Act consisting of 120 ar ticles, of June, 1815, are several following articles. Cracow with its territory is declared free, independent, and strictly neutral, in terms the most positive and precise, and Russia, Austria, and Prussia are pledged to the maintenance of their freedom, independence, and neutrality. The 6th article is, "La vine de Cracovie avec son territoire est declaree a per patuite cite libre, independante et strictement neutre, sous la protection de la Russie, de I'Austriche, et de la Prusse." Again, the 9th article—" Les Cours de Russia d'Autriche, et de Prusse s'engagent a respecter et ti faire respecter, en tour tents, la neutrality de la villa libre de Cracovie et de son territoire, &c." These articles, if no other, introduced into au "acts principal," commencing with she recital f i c that of 9th of June, 1815, clearly show that the independence of Cracow is one of the principal arrangements of the Congress of Vienna; and that the violation of its inde pendence and of one of the general arrangements (and that a principal one) of the Congress of Vienna is one to which Russia has been a guilty party, is as clearly shown by the facts of the care. Under these circumstances it appears to me that if Great Britain makes any further payments on account of the Russian Dutch Loan, it must be on political considerations only (as to which I give no opinion), and not by any means is obliged thereto by the Convention (into which the former Convention merged in that respect) of November, 1831. IMPERIAL PAH LIAIIEIN'T. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on ti he Wool sack at Five o'clock. LIGHT-HOUSES. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a Petition from Aberdeen, praying that the cost of light-houses• might be defrayed by the State. JUVENILE COMMITMENT. Lord BROUGHAM moved for a return of the docu ments relating to the commitment of a boy to Tothill fields, on the 19th of February last, for felony. The boy was but five years and two months old, and the present motion was with a view to the removal of the ma;;istrate. Lord CAMPBELL said the only question to be con sidered was as to whether such proceeding should originate in their Lordships' house or elsewhere, be cause the action to which his Noble and Learned liriend referred was monstrous. Lord BROUGHAM said, he had conferred with his friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as well as his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord Chancel!or, and they agreed with him (Lord Brougham). He agreed with his Noble Friend as to that House not - beirg the proper place for these proceedings: but yet he thought, under the circumstances, they should be granted. The motion was they. agreed to. NAVIGATION AND EXPORT RETURNS. The Earl ref ELLENBOROUGH moved for the naviga tion and export returns for the last two years, with a view to comparison, as there had been a diminution in some Of the most important exports to the extent of 3,329,0001. In sheep's wool there h.td been a falling off to the amount of 1,500,0001b5. There was a great diminution also in articles that were necessary to the perfecting of manufactures ; in dyes and dye stuffs there was a small increase ; but in cochineal and madder there was a de crease. There wai a marked falling off in madder root, and in indigo to the amount of two-ninths of the whole usual imports, and in bark to the extent of 97,000 cwta. There was likewise considerable decrease in the import of barilla ; in untanned hides to :he number of 210,000. In cocoa nut oil there was a slight increase, but in all the other articles there was a serious falling off. There was a diminution in these articles of import, but especially in the raw materials, the subject of our manufacturing industry. He had been making mc ntion of certain diminutions, but he must say that the trade of Britain appeared upon the whole, not going back, but stationary ; that seemed to be the result. Perhaps it would not be pro per for him then to raise any inferences upon the details which he had just mentioned. He ought to mention, however, that there had been an increase in the export of machinery and of metals, to be used no doubt in the manufactures and the railways of other countries. The Noble Lord added that perhaps it might be desirable to hare returns, similar to those for which he had moved, for the last six months of 1844. The Earl of CLARENDON said there could be no objection to the returns just moved for, as he believed they would enable them and the country generally better to estimate their prospects and their present condition. The Noble Lord, in moving for the returns, had referred to different details and diminution, but he believed that satisfactory reasons could be given for these diminu tions. Lord ASHBURTON wished to know from the Noble Earl whether it was true that there had been a very great importation of woollen cloths into this country from Belgium, in consequence of the recent reduction of the duties on goods of foreign manufacture, and whether this importation had interfered with the manufactures of this country? The Earl of CLARENDON had heard of that ina portati.,n from Belgium, but he had heard of no com plaints from the woollen manufacturers of this country with rJerence to it. The motion was then agreed to. LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL. The Earl of CLANRICARDE moved the corn mittal of this Bill. Lord MONTEAGLE thought that the Government deserved praise for having attended in this Bill to the suggestions he had thrown out. He cordially approved .f the principle of encouraging as much as possible voluntary contributions, rather than the mode of com pulsory payments, in support of the poor. He would not throw any obstacle in the way of the further progress of the present measure. He hoped that no consideration would have the effect of causing them to fail in making the present measure as f ffective as possible. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said be was quite opposed to any c , mpulsory clause on either land or land lord being introduced into this Bill. It was his con scientious opinion that if such a clause was introduced it would prove pernicious. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE explained that the terms of the Act showed that the objection to the indemnity clause was not justified. It certainly was largely framed, but it was yet sufficiently explicit and defined. Lord BROUGHAM said—lf his Noble Friend had said that this clause was loosely, instead of largely, framed, he was sure that everybody would have agreed with him. The meaning of the Act was to indemnify the Government, and those who acted under the Government, from any evil consequence; hut in consequence of Mr. La bouchere's Act this intention was in a degree frustrated. The present measure would give an indemnity to all persons who had acted illegally under the Act, and any preentment made under the Act were to be indemnified from all penalties. Ile loolced with great apprehension tin the measure, which gave powers which he did not think the Government intended to give. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that no doubt the words of the Act were capable of a very large inter pretation, but he did not think they were quite so loose as the Noble Lord had suppo3ed. The Act was intended cnly t , ) afford indemnity to all such persons as had acted under the authority of Mr. Labouchere's letter. Lord BROUGHAM thought that power might be vested in the Lord•• Lieutenant to give indemnity to such persons as he thought proper ; if it were not so, person, who had acted with mala fides would be indemnified. Lord CAMPBELL thought that his Noble and Learned Friend need not be under any apprehension that persons acting with mala fides would be indemnified under the second clause of the Act. It would only up ply to those persons who acted bona fide, or who might have considered that they were acting in a strictly bona fide manner. The House then went into Committee. The various clauses of the Bill were agreed to, and the report ordered to be bronght up to-morrow (this day). The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table papers relating to the state of union workhouses in Ireland. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 4. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. Papers from the Ace untant-General's office were presented. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the following resolution was agreed to :—" That in order to give time for the breviate to be laid on the table one clear day before the second reading, the York and Newcastle Railway (Har tlepool Dock and Railway, and Great North of England, Clarence, and Hartlepool Junction Railway Lease and Purcha,e) Bill be read a second time on Friday, notwith standing more than seven clear days will have elapsed since the first reading thereof." EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY (ENLARGE MENT OF LONDON AND STRATFORD STATION AND AMENDMENT OF ACTS). On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Mr. FOSTER said the title of the Bill did not convey the exact object of the Bill, which was for the purpose of raising capital to create a steam-boat company in con nexion with the railway; he, therefore, felt it his duty to move that the Bill be postponed until that day fort night. Lord SANDON seconded the motion. Mr. A. HAS I'IE said he was not aware of the ob jectionable clause in the Bill, and consented, on the part of the promoters of the Bill, to postpone the second reading for a fortnight. Lord SANDON stigmatised the Bill as one framed for the purpose of deceiving the House, as under its title it sought to vest the railway company with power to raise capital for the purpose of becoming steam-boat proprietors. It was the incumbent duty of the railway department of the Board of Trade to see that Bills which professed to be simply railway Bills had not another object in view before they carne before the House, as it could not be expected that the House could find time to analyse the nature of all the railway Bills which came before it. Lord G. SOMERSET agreed with the Noble Lord that the railway department of the Board of Trade should revise railway Bills before they came under the consideration of the House. The motion was agreed to. PROTESTANT DISSENTERS AND GENERAL LIFE AND FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY. This Bill was read a third time. MANCHESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND MID LAND JUNCTION DEVIATION BILL. Mr. EGERTON postponed the second reading of this Bill until Tuesday next. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (LINCOLN AND RANTHAM). This Bill w as read G a second time. TEN HOURS' BILL. Sir A. L. HAY presented a petition from millowners in A berdeen, employing upwards oflo,ooo Men, expressing their alarm at the Ten hours' Bill, and praying the House not to consent to any alteration in the present arrangements between the employer and the employe], as they considered that any such alteration would be in jurious to both. LIGHT DUES. An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from Glasgow complaining of the excessive charge of the light dues. Mr. FOSTER presented two petitions to thf, same effect ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL. An Hoar. Meetnen presented a petition from Wigan against this Bill. RAILWAY LEGISLATION. Mr. ELLICE desired to draw the attention of the House to the dismissal of two Committees, of one of which he was chilli-wan, without anv explanation being afforded to the Members. He %voutc s l, therefore, ask the Chairman of the Committee of' Selection, whether, after the appointment of' Committees, and after having Bills referred to them, the Committee of Selection would enter into the consideration of complaints preferred against members of these Committees? Sir W. lIEATHCOTE called the attention of the House to the standing orders relating to the selection of Members on railway Committees, which provided that no Member should be place;; on such Committees who had any private interest himself in any railway Bill to be brought before it; or whose constituents had a direct interest in the passing of any such Bill. This caused the Committee of Selection last year to proceed with great caution. But it was not for any of the above reasons that the Hon. Member who had asked the ques tion, or the other gentleman selected with him, had been discharged from serving. The Committee on which they had been named to serve was one to deal with lines involving the broad and narrow gauges, and at that time the question of the gauges excited great interest, not only in the localities through which the lines passed, but in towns remote from the routes of the lines. On this account the lien. Member, as being the representative for Coventry, which took a great interest in the narrow gauge, and, therefore, without the least imputation on the lion. Member, but in order that there might not be the least ground for Supposing any undue bias, he was discharged from attendance. The same applied to the other Hon. Members, whose services were not re quired. Mr. ELLICE was not satisfied with the explanation given, as he thought, after Members had been selected on a Committee, and had made the declaration, they should not be discharged without some good reason for the same. He was very glad that his Hon. Friend had no other ob jection to allege than that his constituents were sup posed to be in favour of the narrow gauge, in conse quence of the railway passing through Coventry. It gave him the occasion of again pressing upon the consideration of the House the absolute fully of going on with the pre sent system. In order to show that he was disinterested he would refer to a statement he had already made, hoping that some member of her Majesty's Government would prop(ise a resolution by which all competition between the two gauges should be referred to competent judges. The Committee had refused to entertain the consideration of the gauges, on the ground that they did not consider themselves competent judges. The parties interested did not themselves consider the Committees impartial on the question, and it was impossible to find any one Committee upon which there could not be found one Member who had not already formed opinions on the question. 300,0001. had been spent in the discussion of the question before a Committee of that House, and when such sums were expended the losing party would be ready enough to accuse the Committee of not being so pure as they supposed themseles to he. He hoped that the House would find a remedy for such a system. After a few words from Lord G. SOMERSET, which did not reach the gallery, Mr. STRUTT said that the Railway Commissioners bad sent round certain returns to be filled up by the Railway Companies, on this question. Those returns were afterwards to be reported upon by the Commissioners to the House. Very likely early next week this report would be prepared and in the harids of Honourable Members. With regard to his own interpretation of the resolution, he did not know whether his opinion would be of any great im poi tance, but certainly he understood it to mean that no Bill should be proceeded with till the terms of the reso lution had been carried out. Mr. HODGSON said if that were the case no Bills would be proceeded with till after Easter. He con sidered this was roost unfair, and the Right Hon. Gem tleman the Member for Coventry was to blame fur not having brought forward the subject earlier. Mr. ELLICE said the reason why ho did not bring fcrward this subject earlier then he did was, because he had felt confident that the matter would be taken up by Government, and he believed it would have been taken up by them had it not been for the illness of his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Ex. chequer. Lord SANDON was understood to say that it would be unwise to proceed with the Bills before the Committees could have the report of the Commissioners before them. Without the reports from the Commissioners, it was impossible for the Select Committees to understand the merits of the several questions that were to come before them. Thus a railway company might be at the ex pense of depositing their plans, bringing up their witnesses, and employing their counsel, and, after all, the report of the Co amissioners might render all this expense and exertion abortive Before he sat down, he wished to ask his Right Hon. Friend, the Member for Derby (Mr. Strutt), what course it was intended to pursue with respect to the several Bills now before the Commissioners. There were several Bills now before them, indeed a whole tribe of Bills, apparently for slight deviations from established or granted lines, but which, in reality, involved an immense amount of capital. lie wished to know what restriction was to be placed the employment of railway capital, and on the liability , of the several shareholders? For his own part, unless there was to be some special report made to his Right lion. Friend of the nature of those clauses in the several Bills which might be reported to the House, he would rather leave the whole matter entirely in his hands without troubling the Commissioners at all. Mr. STRUrf said that this subject had attracted the attention of the Railway Commissioners, and it was intended to adopt the recommereletiiin of hie Hen. Friend the Member for Coventry, and have a conside ration of the clauses before they were placed before the Select Committees. With that view it, was intended, instead cf calling the Committees together on Monday or Tuesday, to defer their meeting till Thursday, so that the Committees summoned for to-morrow teere, it was understood, only to meet, and adjourn till Thursday. Mr. GISBORNE considered that the course taken by the Committee of Selection, and complained of by his Hon. Friend, was most objectionable. The House was contented that the gentlemen appointed to act on the Committees should sign a declaration to the effect that they had no personal interest in the matter, and that they were unaware that their constituents were strongly influenced upon the question. The Commit tee of Selection, however, was not satisfied that it should be left to the discretion of the gentlemen who signed as to their power, but it entered, behind their backs, into investigation as to whether they would be able to sign or not. He did not know that it would have been possible to select five gentlemen in the House, not Irish Members, .whose constituents were not interested in the question of the gauges.—(Hear.) He hoped there would be some competent tribunal esta blished, as he confessed he was more afraid of an incom petent than an interested tribunal. Mr. ESTCOURT did not see any grounds in the cases under consideration for blaming the Committee of Selection, as for many years it had been the prac tice to erase the names of Members selected to serve on particular Committees, and substitute others. The motion was agreed to. Sir J. Y. BULLER said, as it appeared to be the desire of the House that these committees should not enter on their duties till Monday next, it would be a saving of expense to the parties concerned in the Bills if the Committee of Selection were instructed to annul their order for meeting to-morrow, and summon the Committee to meet on Thursday next. He should, therefore, move an instruction accordingly. The motion was agreed to. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed : Direct London and Portsmouth, Brighton and Chiches ter, London, Brighton, and South Coast, and London and South-Western Railways. Edinburgh and Northern, and Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Railways Amalgamation. Great Northern Railway (Deviations between London and Grantham). Newcastle and Berwick Railway (East Coast Line, Blyth, Seaton Sluice, and other Branches). York and North Midland Railway (Hull Station and Branches). York and North Midland Railway (Harrogate Branch Extension and Terminus). York and Newcastle Railway (Wearmouth Dock En largement). York and Newcastle, Newcastle and Berwick, and North British Railways Amalgamation. QUARANTINE LAWS. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that o on this day fortnight, he should move for the continuation of the correspone dence on these laws. To-morrow he should put a ques tion to the Hon. Gentleman, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade (Mr. M. Gibson) on the subject. FACTORIES BILL. Lord EBRINGTON gave notice that when this Bill was in Committee he should move that clauses should be inserted, appointing medical practitioners, whose business it would be to report on th e h ea l th of persons employed in factories. Further, that clauses should be in serted reqniring the security of drainage and ventilation, just such as those which Low were in operation with respect to unguarded machinery. Mr. ROSS gave notice that he should move to except Ireland from the operation of the Act. SMITHFIELD MARKET. Mr. SPOONER, on behalf of the Member for Wor cestershire (Mr.Ormsby Gore), gave notice that he should postpone his motion respecting the removal of this market till Thursday, the 18th, when, instead of mov ing for leave to bring in a Bill, he should move for a Select Committee. RIOTS IN THE NORTH . . Sir A. LEI FIT HAY rose to ask a question of the Learned Lord-Advocate respecting a circumstar.ce which had come to his knowledge through the public press. lie understood that in consequence of the delivery of some grain the military had been called out to qmell a riot, and that they had fired on the people, and several persons had been seriously injured. lie wished to know why the civil authorities had not interfered without call ing out the military? The LORD -ADVOCATE said that it was true that a riot had been created in consequence of the delivery of some grain, and that the military were called out and two persons were injured, one slightly a n d th e ot h er severe l y, b ut t h e c i vi l authorities wet e in no way to blame, for they had taken all necessary precautions the day b e f ore i n consequen ce of some in structions which they had received of the probability of a tumult. In the morning of the day the sheriff received in - formation that a vessel had been attacked in the harbour, and that itwouTd . tTel -- advlSable to unship the corn, as the vessel would be scuttled in the harbour, and that the, crew would be thrown overboard. In consequence of that information, the sheriff of the county applied for a strong body of soldiery, and under their protection the crew disembarked. In their passage through the I°_, e, the popul a ce were ver y v i o l en t, an d ill-treated them Looking at a ll t h e f acts o f t h e case , there was n ° - 1. /; ficetion hatever on the civil officers; and the she riff, what he had done—had acted entirely i n conctr_ i re with the m ag i s t ra t es o f t h e county . So far front likely to act in a harsh and hasty mariner, be ls , b welt known to be a gentleman of& beeevolent and lila"' character. CENTRAL RAILWAY TERMINUS, GLA-S' Mr. BOUVERIE moved that an humble addressu it presented to her Maje s ty, th a t s he will be gra c° t ; i ii pleased to give directi ons , th a t there be laid befo re ne t' a copy of the Report made by the Conniss i° p ,, ef appointed to consider and report upon the advant a g otherwise which might b e afforded by a central ranwq terminus in the city of Glasgow. LABOURS ON PUBLIC WORKS IN lIIEL AN 9;t Mr. E. VENISON h a d a question to ask the &go Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland in r elatien red the relief granted under th e public works. It "P ea y', that, according to his statement on the 19th efJeau!io, there were 450,000 persons employed on these %ila, The time for pattin g the seed in the ground was , c , i ,b; end was passing aw a y, an d h e w i s h e d t o ask Itss Hon. Friend what progress had been made in disb e'roa, the lerge army of labourers now employed up:111,1 of ductive works ? He wi s h e d t o k now what nti r° ':;i ci e:l inert were employed, and w h e th er hi s Right Ho". , ea se had had any objection to place on the table of th e 0 00 weekly, a return of the number of men ernploY e ,".l these works, so long as th e wor k s th emse lves shoo" tinue in progress. • e ctiet Mr. .LABOUCIIERE said that he had ito ebJ re. to give his Honourable Friend the information he oat quired, or the we e kly re t urn o f t h e nu mber of lW,: t he employed upon these p u bli c wor k s . With reg e w e r t Au iric gub t i bt other question his li on . F r i en d h a d p ut res p number of men now e m pl o y e d u pon the i stif works, he regrett e d t o sa y that " found impossible, not only to reduce se i t number of men, but also to prevent a that number. He had lately stated the num ber t D bill be 450,000. His lion. Friend must recollect that a bicli which was to be pa sse d by th e H o use, and w o , did in a certain degree affect the public w ° llo l had not yet come into operation, and it 0• therefore been impossible to pr even t the numbers, 06 ployed from increasing. Di s tr ess h a d been gre' t ios the increase lately in Ireland, and the number of fa employed upon relief works, according to a real t.) the week ending th e 20 t h o f F e b ruary am ouate 668,000.—(Great sensation.) ble); Lord G. BENTINCK (who was almost jaw r il h so wished to know the number of applications Wil e ' ) been made for loans to the Lord Lieutenant. n ee' Mr. Mr. LABOUCHERE was not a bl e t o ans w a th e ' t bo tion of the Noble Lord. All that he could say " s !inla power had been given to the Lord Lieutenant tocarri a effect the intentions of the G overnment i n the ina ell f :i e u• which he should thi n k mos t d es i ra bl e . Th e Lort ll- 0 tenant had come to the determination of 00t o oll vancing mcney but of advancing seed, in :iisJ quantities, to be repaid in a s h or t t i me . pier - 0 1e not been a great numb er o f applications na Ala The Lord Lieutenant would no t a d va n ce seed exc e f rotO wheat, he thought it b e tt er t o l eave t h e su p P lY seed to come through the or di nary c h anne l s , as terference would more harm tan good. if ib l Lord GEORGE BENTINCK h wished to kno v ibei Right Hon. Gentleman the S ecre t ar y f or Irelss',.o any objection to lay up on th e t a bl e o f t he il eli r s- tlo return distinguishing the diff eren t pro f ess ions e` persons M engaged on the public works. bor r.LABOUC HERE said he would give a returtleab ing the names of the persons, and distinguishing tloo ferent works upon which they were engaged, bet,' dif quite impossible to give a ret urn , di s ti ngu i s hing l' e borl ferent professions of the per sons emp l oye d, in th e - time aowed him for making the r e turns. ,h 0 Lord G. BENTINCK k said he would undertake t the information could be collected within a weal",„ gif t , Mr. L A BOUC HERE said his only w i s h was ',4;51 the fullest information, but it wou ld t a k e a go od u' fr otO time to give a return distinguishing the laboateT the small farmer, or the farmer from the mecham e ,' n be Major MACNAMARA w i s h e d to k now w" h o might expect the returns he h a d move d f or c° l3 " ,ec with his lion. Colleague. Ace° Mr. LABOUCHERE said b o th h e an d the of the Board of Work s were anx i ous that the 11,10 should be made as soon as p oss ibl e, b ut su fficien' had not yet elapsed to admit of their preparatioa• GAME LAWS. Oea' Mr. COLLETT wished to inquire of the 0 ° 13 ;00 tleman the S ecre t ary o f S tate f or the Home DePtr- joti. if the Governm en t i n t en d e d to i ntroduce t his sef pc. any Bill with respect to the Game Laws, in ace ° , - / 3 10 with the recomme n d a ti on o f t h e Committee - session? tv Sir GEORGE GREY said, n o suc h Bill was t - sate paration ; at the same time, h e cou ld say that l" ject was under onideration. DRAINAGE AMENDMENT BILL. , 1 1# Lord LINCOLN wished to know if the I-10 011 ,; co oil Gentleman (Sir G. G re y) i nten d e d to ta ke the s ` e oon reading of this Bill b e f ore E aster . The r n Tun e - he asked the question w as thi s , t h at he W 2 1 ,5 7 g - bet" to ascertain the number o f a ppli cat i ons which " a s r ale made for assistance und er th e Bill , before it wa s tw or proceeded with. Ile u n d ers t oo d t h at a list of the 3 ' t he bers who had so applied, would be shortly laid, one table, so thd, they co u ld h ave some means ofjoug'7 o oo Sir. G. GREY s a id h e i ntended to move the' e-00 reading to morrow night. It wa s ee eissary that Bill should be proceed e d with withountd POOR-LAW AUDITOII 2 :B y. he Sir W. JAMES wished to know whether„,, t o it lion. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Department considered that auditors would be : 111 „ 13 1 -1' ir in refusing to audit accountssubmitted them t h e official capacity in accordance with the tle' is '' " ° law officers of the Crown? a ction Sir GEORGE GREY said an auditor so n e rect would would incur great respon s ibility, b ut h e was eln rirwitog to exercise his discr e ti on as to a ll ow i ng or di , a' ) is dr accounts. If the parties we re di ssat i,fi e d with b 1 cision, they had th e p ower o f appea li ng to the u Commissioners. BOARDS OF WORKS. Mr. W. R. COLLETT' wished to know whet ile . r u t o l3 o . House could be fu rn i s h e d w i t h t h e names an d occur, o wl of the 11,000 overseers employed on the producti" unproductive works of Ireland ? 5(10° Mr. LABOUCHERE would be quite ready as them as the returns of the overseers were rece i ve d to 15fieor on the table of the House. These returns et her comprise the number of the people employed, t f,„ g t est l i r : with how many were emp l oye d i n l and, an d he- 8, were engaged in the wor k s of piers and harb our r iS; her Majesty's Government received any for th :we' formation, there would be every disposition to pro , as amply as it was obtain e d. Mr. J. O'CONNELL gave not i ce t h at on the Os' going into Committee of S u ppl y , h e would olciqueelfl the people now employ e d on t h e pu bli c wor k s sti,? is ge e the remainder of the t erm b e engage d i n t he ti ) the laud.—(Hear, hear.) EMIGRATION. I Of ! S , Mr. VERNON SNIITU rose to move--" ; t ioti order to assist and encourage voluntary ensigr, s- 00 0 1 `i the colonies, it is expedient to increase the irl 3 r, to tw and authority of the Land and Emigration Board , t° pt° , l to their agency in Great Britain and Ireland, ° n o , 11 0 ,, mote their vigilant superintendence of the Pas?l, e . t 11 " 4 future location of the emigrants." In Pat t to 613 e 4 motion to the House he was not disposed to go ' - e ibr e , long and discursive inquiry into the important ~,c e s, " of emigration from the United Kingdom; firstly' ` l ,: re lq at no distant period it had been respectively pu t eel% f eis House by the Hon. Members for Limerick, Sheltie' a ette ° Liskeard ; secondly, because he had not the el ° ,,gthoL t and information t o b r i ng t h e su b ject before it which 5e Hon. Gentlem en h a d ev i nced ; and, thirdly, he ctl oo - hoped to obt a i n some resu l t b y his motion, which - ; r he Gentlemen had b een una bl e to ac hi eve. But in t he rte remarks which h e h a d t o o ff er to t h e H ou se, o tioti tended to confine hi mse lf t o th e terms o f the Tose t which he had to submit. This he should do, ne, c ; o o,`" was universally all owe d th a t some system o f elielb a lior was necessary, and was in coincidence with the f e i of the public and the House. He believed th l3 , o o o ' system of national em i gra ti on wou ld neve r be t , brit`'' tenanced either by the House or th e GoverneneD s t int on the other hand, there was no d ou bt but otlece right system of emigration wou ld b e collo te u e% both by her M a je s ty' s Mi n i s t ers aa d the e "„eib' He believed that tee pres e nt ti me was t h e mos t fav°eerg that could be selected for e m i gra ti on . If H o s. Alfgoo li f would read the blue books up on th e i r ta bl es , they ding ° f find that much di sease arose f rom t h e over -crow e , oti the poorer classes in cert a i n di str i cts o f t h e ir t° vi eu tsb le f cities. In the agricultur a l di str i cts t h e mos t 1 03 oats instances of de s ti tu ti on occurred from the 11 pro) d wages, and the Iri s h S ecretary cf State had a l s o ' 11 ,,,J 11 / them that the number of destit u t e , wee kly eusP lo3 to 00 ., the Board of P u bli c W or k s i n Ireland, amounted essi°' less than 668,000 persons. It was his firm imPopf that the prop ose d a l terat i ons i ts the system et ve s t tation would h ave an i n j ur i ous effect on the h° lle grant. By th e arrangement o f b oun ties for foe gration to the colonies, the honest evorhil g t P who had d one hi s b est to e d ucate o r b rl ou t his family, if h e were d es i rous o f going wag e one of the colonies would not be allowed for the P Th e of any of his children under seven years of ag e : a be e . rule was that no bounty s h ou ld b e a ll o wed to tho se fifty years of age or b e lo w seven . And what r ` the position wh en h e go t th ere ? Why that, Peel d 'bee° b a children of his ne x t-do or ne i g hbour, who _ la le es neglected and taken places fo some petty theft,. co' eS taken into one of the p for reformation, 113`..'e0i0.0 out there at the public expense with every e e a r3 l 3 7,ti el et, of mending as well as the children of the h _! . 7 60 0 of grant. If that short sketch of the present 0 ' t P con 6ide o r , emigration were true, he begged the House _ what were the difficdties against any plan to applied tr! The motion of which he had given notice 11 P.P ( _. ;er ath?' 1 _ particularly to what was called the Land and D'!," 100 Board. There was a board of that desc.rknwte operation, however little its existence might u„ sc eergi f th T e he nl ew her The commissioners were zealous ingenthoee,rnyieasinciroviitodh of properly ptiyr carryingtduties , out but theirthey p h e a r d a t o n e o s t . 00 for Liskeard stated, in 1844, that a Canada wished to make some inquiries in En, ‘ te ntere" - reference to emigration, and although muc h interof in this question. he was not aware of the exists. on the DWI t o that beard. When gentlemen applied to 0 , iD this board, but the information given by thhairdly wort.' subject a emigration, he invariably referre.sd htoh9erti the country was so scanty that it was , _ o f this having. The Noble Lord was the founne n r t he commission in s i i n ior l t B ly 4 , o a , ft a e n r d war in ds, a t l o et t t h e e r commission, he correctly deed their duties. so il,l e rJb u t these duties, it was true, hal o s ince becomeob .taybeoe very much limited, and this ana h although they had not altogether expired, they n was one of the reasons t oe. Many delusive etnigratory projects had been out ; had induced him to bring forward his presen s t ug in g ° ,:ted from time to time, but few had been carried Lowermittbeer.srltlioef THE POOR-LAW. We understand that the following is an abstract of the opinion given by the Attorney and Solicitor-General, which was referred to by Lord John Russell on Friday night. It is dated Oct. 16, 1846 : " 1. Two et' the commissioners should sit as a board, and they are not at liberty, as they seem to have considered themselves to be, to distribute the business of the commission amongst themselves, witheat eventually referring it to the board. " 2. The commissioners are not bound to have the attend ance of their secretary at their board meetings. " 3. The commissioners ought to exclude from the record none of their correspondence that refers to their business as commissioners. "4. The commissioners are not bound to enter a minute of opinion in every case, unless they shall finally differ. [lt has even been suggested that they should register opinions.] " 5. Every communication relating to the conduct of any of the officers, or to the business of the commission, should be addressed to the party concerned in an official shape (although private correspondence respecting the business they have to do is not forbidden to all, or any of the commis sions, for thus they may obtain information which is neces• sary and useful, and need not be communicated to the board under all circumstances). The following is the opinion of an Assistant Poor-law Con: missioner of the Poor Removal Act : "I have no hesitation in giving my opinion that the Poor Removal Act operatss most harshly upon the aged and in firm poor—upon the class of poor most deserving of our sympathies. I have no hesitation in saving that, during the whole period since the passing of the Act, I have never visited a board of guardians, I have never visited a union, I have never conversed with a person, without hearing the greatest dissatisfaction expressed at the measure. I have never known an instance in which approbation of the law has been expressed. I have heard the greatest dissatisfaction expressed at the measure by ratepayers, and by the poor applying for relief. lam bound to say the sooner the Act of last Session is repealed the better. The Act has a tendency to induce the proprietors of close parishes to pull down their cottages, and drive the poor from the place of their labour. Everything is now done to force an irremovable person out of a parish. The only paupers who have derived benefi from the Act are the S - cotch and Irish." FOOD DISTURBANCES IN THE NORTE'. c From the Edinburgh Adrertiser.) FIRING BY THE MILITARY Al' WICK. Contrary to all expectation the turbulent spirit manifested in some districts in the north, regarding the shipment of food from the various port?, has again manifested itself, and been attended with disastrous results in the town of Wick. It appears that, in the course of last week, a vessel bad arrived at Wick to ship grain, but, by the interference o f th e p o pulace, this was prevented. Sheriff Thomson and the authorities, however, deemed it necessary that protection should be afforded to the exporters of the brain, and ap prehending that outrages might be committed, sent for the aid of the military at Furt George. Accord ingly a detachment, consisting of one hundred and four men of the 76th Regiment, under the command of Captain Evans Gordon, was dispatched by the Pharos steamer, and arrived at Wick on Tuesday. After being landed they were quartered in the Temperance Hall. The authori ties now made preparations to protect the loading of the ves sel, and, on Wednesday, a number of constables were sworn in, but the shipment of grain proceeded so slowly that they were dismissed with an injunction to assemble if necessary. The foll , lving are from the local papers : (From the John 0' Groat Journal of Friday.) Before dusk on NV ednesday evening a party of the military was marched down the quay to watch the vessel during the night, and here commenced the most alarming part of the whole proceedings. How a mob was created, there are various statements; one thing is certain, previous to the arrival of tile military, the streets presented the usual features of ordinary days. About seven o'clock the whole remaining body of the soldiery were quickly marched to join their comrades, on a shot being fired as a signal from their party on the quay. At this time there was a great excitement. An immense gathering of the populace; men, women, and children had asssembled, and, in other parts of the town, deep anxiety was depicted In every coun tenance, and great excitement prevailed. The Sheriff and Provost were present amongst the mob, who surrounded the military on all hands. The Riot Act was read by the Sheriff, but this had not any effect in inducing the people to disperse in peace. At this time the feelings of the inhabitants were roused up to the highest possible pitch, for a direct collision was anticipated every hour. The soldiers were divided into several parties, and were ordered to disperse the mob at the point of the bayonet. In this attempt several were wounded but only slightly. The soldiers continued for some time parading in different directions, which had the effect of scat tering the crowd. The prisoners were taken and lodged in jail. _ _ But the worst remains to be told. As a party were march ing from Pulteney-toWn, back to their quarters, when imme diately under the brae where the Academy is erected, a volley of stones was thrown by individuals on the top of the brae and the Sheriff and Provost were both struck. The soldiers were immediately ordered by the Sheriff to fire, and we deeply regret to say, that two individuals, a man and a girl were wounded. The man, William Hougston, fore man cooper to Mr. David Davidson, did not form part of the mob, nor was he with them at the time. According to his own statement, which seems highly probabk, he was proceeding quietly home. A ball went through his right hand, which was so shockingly mutilated, that the fin gers had to be cut off, and it is even doubtful if a farther amputation will not have to be made. The other a girl, named Macgregor, was wounded in the left arm, the ball passing through the fleshy part, but we believe that the in jury done was not dangerous. About this time it is impos sible to depict the state of excitement which was visible in every direction. Men, women, and children fled, on hearing the report of the musketry and on learning that damage had been done. Parents were anxiously running in search of their children, while the crowd were giving expression to the most vociferous shouts and yells. Soon after, with the ex ception of the guard at the vessel, all the military were or dered to their quarters, but throughout greater part of the night, groups of the inhabitants were assembled at every corner, where the unpleasant events of the evening were can.. vassed. Nothing occurred, however, to produce a breach of the peace. FURTHER PARTICULARS. to disperse the mob. they suffe re d a con ti nuous an d mos t It'would seem that, previous to the soldiers being ordered d not a few aggravating series of as s a u lts f rom th e crow d, an of them were woun d e d . S ome of the women seized staves, with which they struck the solders ; one, in particular, struck an officer thrice, when she received a pretty severe sword cut. Stones were also thrown from various directions. A great many were wounded by the bayonets of the soldiers, but no s.nious i n j ury was done to any by this means. THURS DAY , F OuR O'CLOCK, of the milit ary being broughtr:. here —Aptib 1 electors has j ust b een held, at which resolutions on the sub ject,hlai public have meetingbee been u o n f a t n h i _ e mously passed. Tim Town Hall WEIS crowded to suffocation, gone down the quay, and was presided over by the Provost. At the close of the meeting, the whole assemblage have and removed the obstructions. Prom present indications we', as w e sincerely trust, we have seen. the end of this think, AUSTRIAN DESPOTISM. - -- The blighting effect of Austrian despotism is sadly shown in the following extract:-- " Every mati in Austria pays an income-tax of ecventeen per cent., which must all come from the industry of the country, and go into the pocket of the Emperor. For what purpose? To enable him to establish schools, and provide the people with the means of moral and intellectual culture? To build railways and canals, and to furnish the people with facilities for cheap and speedy intercourse and trade ? No ; but chiefly for the maintenance of an army, for their de struction, if they attempt to improve their condition, by re modelling their social institutions ; and for the support of agents, who enter their social and domestic cirekes, to listen to their most secret words, and watch their hiost secret actione. _ "No trade can be carried on in Austria without a license from Government, for which from five to ten shillings per an num are paid, according to the nature of the trade and the advantages of the situations. If to-day a man take out a baker's or tailor's license to work in Freiwaldan, and, in a week, he finds a better opening in Lindewiesse, and deter mines to remove thither , he must t a k e out a new license for the latter place, which is but two miles distant, at tie same rate as before. And as those licenses canno t b e h a d at a ll without the recommendation of one of the local magistracy, these ten thousand petty tools of despotism, for there are ten thousand ofempowered to A m d a e n cid c e ann w o h t o ki a l n l and how many a the v o n ; at arem each e P trade. lambforhis neighbour without a li cense. A poor tailor, who same as a patient to Graefenberg, and had no t th e means to pay his expenses, wished to work at his trade, in order to earn the means of support. One of the guests gave him ern.. ployment ; the poor fellow was delight e d t o h ave somet hi ng to do. But the tailors inFreiwalda n , hearing that the man was exercising his trade without a license, instantly inter fered, and threatened to have him arrested if he did not desist. He dared not set another stitch, and many times afterwards a collection .plate was handed round to the guests in the saloon on his behalf.—Six Months at Graefeaberg. CORPORAL PUNISHMENTS IN THE ARMY. Two Parliamentary returns, of great social importance have recently been issued by order of the House of Commons. The first is intitled "A Return of Persons Flogged in the Army, in Great Britain and Ireland," from January, 1845, to July, 1846, and the second returns the number of corporal punishments inflicted, from the Ist of August, 1846, to 31st December, 1846. The flogging " experiences" of 53 entire regiments, and 79 depOts, are recorded in these documents, from which it appears, that during the first eighteen months in question, 348 soldiers suffered the punishment of the lash ; 228 in 1815, and the remainder in the first half of 1846. The number of stripes awarded was 43,168, and the number inflicted 3'3,929, or in round figures, something like 90 per cent. of the whole amount. The nature of the offences, and the quantum of punishment administered, may throw some light upon the operation of the military code of legislation. Ninety-four soldiers were flogged for insubor dination ; their sentences awarded an aggregate infliction of 12,500 lashes, and the number actually " laid on" was 11,748, or more than 123 in each case. The " drunkards" amounted to 80, and were doomed to receive 8,133 lashes, and the cu rative process was carried out to the extent of 7,129 nine fold lacerations, or upwards of 89 per man. For " selling their necessaries" (i. e. any portion of military clothing, which in, all cases, the soldier pays for, or receives indirectly as a portion of his state wages), 69 culprits were brought to the triangles, and received 7,325 lashes, out of 8,035, or more than 106 each individual. For using " violence to su periors," 36 were tortured into a love of peace and moral suasion, at the easy cost of inflicting 135 lashes per man, or in the whole 4,863 stripes, out of 5,350 ordered. The " thieves" rank next in the military scale of vice : 29 of these receiving 3,730 out of 4,050, or upwards of 128 each delinquent. The last class of offences is described rather vaguely, as "disgraceful conduct," and of these there are 35 instances, for which 5,100 lashes were awarded by courts martial, and 4,134 inflicted, or s - gnething worse kwe were going to say better), than 118, as the share of each unfortu nate criminal. With regard to the distribution of punish ment, the returns afford singular results, In ten regiments. and 51 depots, not a single case of flogging occurred. In 6 regiments, and 12 depots, only one instance occurs in each, and in 5 regiments, and 2 depots, but two cases of tog ging are recorded. On the other hand there are three regi ments, with 20 cases each; 67 soldiers were brought to the halberts in four regiments, and out of the entire number of court martials avoiding corporal punishment, 37 regiments. Those between them, no less than 8i each ; the latter fact affording some scope for reflection, as to the "reforming" influences of the lash. But the philosophy of the question is to be gleaned from the second return of flogging cases, from August Ist, 1846, to 31st of December last, comprising the period since the death of the martyr White. 68 regi ments, and 64 depots, yield a total of 400 lashes awarded, and 155 inflicted. It would seem as if the chiefs of the army felt that a paltry 50 lashes is a sentence too weak for vengeance, and too feeble to produce amendment. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MARett 4. Stocz ExcgAwGz.—The sales are—Dristol and Exeter, 7S—Ditto, New, 12 1 ,4—Great Western Quarters. 6• p.—Ditto. Fifths, 28— Midland (Bristol and Gloucester), 1G p.—l'ortbury Pier and Railway Company, 4 dis.—South Devon, 6 per cent.. % p.—Taff Vale, 131 ex dlv.—Ditto. New, % p. .LIVERPOOL, Miami' 4. • , 13 5 u s r n , p . Si i i r tr e n i r o e i . , g h a n n m d —l3 g i i h I P ".... p.—Buckinghamshire, sales 1 B am n e kaliiirldeg are—Blackburn, a s l h yt i re , 1,:, p. Dun d e e and N a n o g a r x t ° I O , c - le i North-Western, ex Junction, r c a ll , A p ar Perth, 145 f, p.—East Lancashire, New (Scrip), 114 p.—East Lincoln,, shire, 314 p.—Great Northern (Nos. 1 to 105,000), Gs. 3d. p.--' Ditto (Nos. 105,001 and upwards), 4 p.—Leeds and Thirak, 114 die. —Ditto, Preference, 114 p.—London and North-Western, 185 ex div.—Ditto, Grand Junction Quarters, 194 p. ex div.— Ditto, Quar ters, New, 1214 p.--Lonion, Birmingham, and Southern Coast, ex div., and New, 5514 —Manchester and Leeds, 321. Shares (late Ex tension), 3 p.—Ditto, Halves (late Liverpool and Bury), 53 4 P. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Quarters, No. 1,3% p.— sDhiettfuo,eiddit,, 4% ditto, No. . is !, 3,2l2ldViixd Stock,. diva—Ditto 0L Shares itit3o(la)tieGr4eatGrints,bs p. 54 iyatd —North Staffordshire, 3% p.—North Union (A), 217 ex div.—Ditto ( e u x ), (l4v.— p. lLreston and Wyre, 35—Ditto, Halves (A), 4% Shrewsbury and Chester, New, par —South- E x onaato e - T i 1 e sales seir L bgniv a ,: t rei tr it): a s .aynao l pn i o dvi. cdr_ne, 3 , ,pi fira a auen t ids i : d .... E i(sii. :lt ) ;t l D e . l n o ist r i tl k o% a: t t i d ig D N ol ,e ,, r , c , a N st o l . e, 4, 36 l li ' hi — r d p s. itt li o. p. N — e Zes 6 t y. ltid p i . n_g it U e l i t i l a o s n t , a 1 %,, i i ) l ' allyine „,. 7% dis.— Dublin and Drogheda, Thirds, 5;6 dis.—Newry and Wairenpoint, 1 P. MANCHESTER, Meacn 4. Junction, 7-16 p.—Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 9 % ( C — - s B l e r i Balton, l i p a rr k t 3l b: j l r 6 " " c ne w— Buckinghamshire, 9- 16—East Lancashire, New ' _Edinburgh Ui i p th : e )t r itot e o( . : a a: N n e e d e " Lw G : l p a n a s : r g o o nd c w i . san e d w e—e dtnew—Blackburn, Quarters,siYork),a D e 2 k O e b , — i l t. Pres ton, and West Riding Junction, 4—Great Northern (Direct North ern), Regd. mid l an d, .3i —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire derstield and Manchester Railway and Canal, Thirds, 14 —Leeds and Thirsk, 114 cheater, New Branches Scrip (blue), 3% — Manchester, Buxton, Mat -201. Shares), 134—Ditto (Sheffield and Lincolnshire), I % North Staffordshire. 34 —Manche ster —Oldham Alliance, % —Preston and Wyre, 35%_Scottl• It Central, cc : I le:1 . 15ton), IN p.—East Lan -7% —South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 13-16 —}nest Riding Union, 1 ock 1% p.—Whartilale, 3-16. Northernster(late I Lo 6s. nd G o d n . and York), 7s. Oct P. East and West York- SToca ExCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Ditto, New (scrip), 31s. p, _East a a s n t a c:i C u o ti u; m t E te Pp s t° ( Sn Y : o 3 r lr k 6:l : (Grimsby;aud IL—Leeds, Wake - nein, Slid Midland, I Is. 6d. dia.— P.—Leeds and Dews- Ditto, Branches Scrip (blue), 34 p.-- bury, 7 tr. P• --- Ditto, Ex tensions Scrip (green), 15s. p.—Ditto, New Extensions (pink), 20s. p.—Leeds a nd Thirsk, 1% Ditto, New, 2s. 6d. dis.— Ditto. 'ci l ia: i : sr f hte n i:r d ne d i e pB2 r sa af i r —ePPI p. —Th a n r r t .3la London and Brighton and South Coast, Fifteenths, Gs. p.-31anches• 321. Shares (late Extension), 31. 3s. 9d, p.—Man ter and Leeds, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (late Great Grimsby and Shef field), 4% dis.—Ditto, Extensions. 295. dis.—Ditto, Grimsby Docks, Newcastle and Berwick (North Shields), 12 p.—North ltri -214 dis.—.. _. , p _, ) i t t n , Quarters (late Carlisle Branch), 24 p.—Ditto, tish, 104 • . (scrip), 16s. p. —Northern Counties Union, 255. 6d. dis.— refbrence, 33 3 . Extensions - Sheffield, Rotherham, and Goole, 55.6 d. P.—west !Udine UlllOl4, 37g. ' f p.-11 , liar ,tale Junc tion, 2s. 6d. p.—York and North Midland, Pre ference, 104 p. E.--The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and SIIEFFIELD, MARCH 4. par—Loudon and Brighton and South Coast, 55%-- Alan d Sheffield), 121. 10s. Shares, % dis.—West colifshire (Grimsby aff enhogessTttencrEand Lincoln and 1 dis.---31auchester, Sheffield, and Lin- Riding 'Union, 2 p• NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, 31ancn 4. N e w, 255. 9d. p.—Newcastle and , 1214 p.— STocx ERcHANGE.—TIia sales are—Edinburgh Berwick, 3Ss. Union, 245. dis.—North British, 10% p.—Ditto, 1 Newcastle, ' 6d. p .--york and Extension, 6% p. Extension, 155. HULL, MABut 4. .17do.npl.1—ernI)Citotounties STOCK EXCLIANGL—The sales are—Eastern Counties, York Ex p.—London and York Exte nsions (scrip), 2% —West tension, •,,I,•p.—North British , Quarters , 898 . — East Lancashire, New (scrip), Riding Union, 388. P. EDINBURGH, Milieu 3. i t: burg Leith, ll and Glasgow, Halves — " D les und a e r e e— al e id al r e e d r o t n h i , a a n iT4 N — e ltto, New 588. 6d.— Direct Granton, 20 )4 he 87s. 6d.—Ditto, New. 2 D 2 i Ze T — c ° e t Northern E K as o c t g ii A t ( a N s n G c c i Ditto, Preference, 21 —Ditto, New, 665.—Ditto, Quarters, 17s. Edinburgh port, 6 1 4—Ditto, ditto, New, 585.—Edinburgh and Perth (New), 59s 2 2 — Ditto, Quarters, . I)—e l )n 9 ,lt6all - B: E s ln ss d . b — ti l rg ;dl Edinburgh and Northern, 17)4—Ditto, New, —Ditto, Halves, 19s. 6d.—Great North of Scotland, 545.--Great Northern (late Direct Northern), 84s. North British, Quarters, 90s. 6d.—Ditto, New, Quarters (scrip), 28s.—Ditto, Thirds, 75s.—Scot. tish Central, 2234 —Scottish Grand Junction, 295.—Scottish Mid. land, 24)4. d Arbroath - , New New, 555.—Cale doSnTi.oftKanEdXpeultrb GLASGOW, MARCH 3. a 6 r d e: - - C D al u ed n d o e i e d a a n n , No. 3,5/. 2s.—Dundee and Perth, 351.—East Lothian Central, 553: Ga.—Edinburgh and Glasgow, Halves, 21%—Ditto, Quarters, 19,A — Edinburgh Edinburgh and Perth (New Co.), 65s.—Ditto, New, 225. 6d.—Glas- G ar E io — nrhir e e, sa4l9e s s . gow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 641.—Ditto, halves, No. 2, GI. 1 I s.— Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 6% —Great North of Scotland, 56s.—Great Southern of Madras, 2s. 9d.—Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct, 40s.—Manchester and Southampton, 235.—North British, Thirds, 765. 6d.—Ditto, New Quarters (scrip), 285.—Scottish Central, 223 i Scottish Grand Junction, 28s. 611.—Scottish Midland Junction, 24X —Stirlingshire and Midland Junction, 475. FOOD IN BELGIUM.—A letter from Antwerp, of the 28th of February, informs us that the price of bread has again risen. On Friday the price of wheat was 33f. 55c. per hec., of rye 22f. 72c., oats 9f. 79c., hay If. 95c., and straw sf. 80c. The price of bread of second quality was 50c. per killo gramme, and that of rye bread 30c. SAVINGS BANKS IN IRELAND.—A return of the amount of deposits in the Irish savings banks has just been printed by order of the House of Commons. The returns are made up to the 20th of November last, and contain the fol lowing comparative statement of the amounts due to the banks of the several provinces on that date and on the cor responding day of 1845. The total amount of deposits ap pears to be for 1846. 668,787 18 0 1845. £965,315 2 2 Leinster £1, 6 0 2 78 1: 3 33 0 8 9 1 12 1 34 Ulster Connaught 131,156 5 9 . ..... 140,782 19 11 1,107,280 3 8 Munster 1,045,584 1 3 Gross Total. 412,876,388 10 7 £2,882,166 3 9 The balance on the surplus fund account were, in the total, in 1845, 11,023/. 3s. 3d. ; 1846, 10,915/. 2s. 2d. The separate return for Dublin (i n cluded in Leinster in th e above t a bl e ) s h ows t h e amount of deposits to have been on the 20th of November, 1845, 635,8511. 35.; and in 1816, 485,1161. 2s. Bd. DEATH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL NALCO; ILA._ This officer, who for some time past has been in the enjoy ment of retired full pay as a lieutenant-colonel, died on the 28th ult., at his residence in Hampshire. He entered the Royal Artillery in 1802, and while but a junior officer, saw some distinguished service, including the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns. He was attached to the army under Sir John Moore, and took part in the Corunna campaign. In 1815 he accompanied the army sent against Napoleon, under the Duke-of Wellington, and commanded a company of artil lery at Waterloo. Colonel Walcot's commissions were thus dated :—Second lieutenant, Dec. 20, 1802; lieutenant, Sept. 12. 1803 ; captain, March 23, 1809 ; major, Aug. 15, 1822; and lieutenant - colonel ; Jan. 10, 1837. The Marquis of Sligo arrived at Farrance's Motet Upper Belgrave-street, yesterday. ZAILWAY TRAVELING ON SUNDAYS. Mr. SPOONER presented five petitions from Shrews , bury, Ipswich, and York, regretting that railway Acts had been passed allowing the running of trains on Sundays ; setting forth that the running of trains on that day was contrary to law ; and praying the House to repeal the clauses in the various railway Acts permitting this practice, and not to pass any railway Bill which contained a similar pro visbn. He should move to-morrow that the petition from York be printed with the votes, as it was his in tention to call the attention of the House to the question on a future day. RAILWAY REGULATION BILL. The Hox. MEMBER also presented a petition from the directors of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway against this Bill. ANATOMY ACT. Mr. FERRAND presenVd two petitions from plac es in the West Riding of Yorkshire against certain clauses in this Act. in :to in any sch they ha gration. mere re have its br, the three p , vited to voyage. eeiYed