The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-12 00:00:00

• IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT r . The R oyal &sent was given to-day, by Commission, to the following Bills.—The Customs Duties Bill, the Portland Ilarbeur Refuge and Breakwater Bill, the Commons Inclosure (No. 2) Bill, the Prisons (Ireland) Bill, the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Bill, the Pile Piers Extensions Bill, the Ipswich Gas Bill, and the Cheltenham Waterworks Bill. The Lord Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor the Marquis of Clarricardf-, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. The LOY Cr 'V 001- WORD CHANcELLoa to k his seat on the A\ seek at Five o'cleek. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messeegers brought up Bills from the Commons. THE FACTORY BILL. Petitions in favour of this Bill were presented by Lord p tan leY; Lord Wh arnc liff e , s i gn ed by 14 ; 500 merchants, actor), workers, and others; the Bishop of Oxford, from in,raster manufacturers and factory workers in Bury and f "'on ; and by L or d B r o ug ham, from a number of actory workers in Lancashire. IMPERFECT FRAMING OF ACTS OF PAR LIAMENT.—LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT. I „ . Lord BRO UGHAM said he wishe d to ca ll th e i r ' aurth hiPs' attention to a subject on which he had oftenbefore addressed them—namely, that nothing could i ) more slov en l y , or a mere f ru itf u l s ource of injury to the Conemunity, and to suitors in courts of justice , than the e r imperfect m o d e i n w h ic h many statutes were framed. -- le referred as well to public as to private Bills, andintended to move for a return on the b,,hject, owing to some circumstances which recently come to his knowledge—that there lurked in corners of local Acts clauses giving tower to imp ose pena l t i es o f a na ture which would never Ve been tolerated if they had not been inserted in the under cover of darkness. One of these objection able c l auses gave a constable power, if he found any per "in the street of any town, whom he suspected either of having committed, or ha vin g an y i ntention to commit any offence, to take him into custody lad to imprison him for forty hours, and if a policeman thought that he (Lord Brougham)—(Laughter)—howlas . to commit an assault by seeing him htaf s int into his hand up—(Laughter).—he might is t 4 dy and imprison him for 40 . _ Now that_ would ' P ea great puishment for such a slight off Illere—(H , a ? if he was found out after sunset and before eight in the morning—and he might be out walking before seven O'clock on a summer morning—if he was found loitering a bout—(Laughter) —he was equally liable to a similar term of imprisonment. After a few words from Lord DErrararr and _Lord CAMPBELL the conversation dropp. QUANTITY OF - WHEAT IN THE COUNTRY. Earl HARDWICKE said that he wished to put a question to the Noble Marquis (Lansdowne) of which he had given him notice; and however the Noble Ma rquis might please to answer it—if he should answer it 14 a distinct manner it would be of great service to the eountry—and if he should decline to answer the silence that he (Earl Hardwicke) should inter from his silence the situation of this country in reference to its su pply of food was a bad one. He had been induced to put this question to the Noble Marquis in conse q uence of 4ig feeling a very strong impression on his mind that one quantity of food in this country was not sufficient t-sus ta, in the population, at the present rate of con :0-P40N-until the next harvest came on. He was led that conclusion by seeing the very rapid decrease of li:h:ttoiland finding that in the markets of this country — in Oxford, Cambridge, and other places—that the coin- Price Kith the farmers was so great as to raise the of wheat during the past week from 965. per quarter to 120 s. U pon further inquiry, he had placed in his hand t a n d e tuenent to which he begged to call the attention of for although it was not what is usually con sidered an u official document, for unfortunately it w as not hing of the sort, s till it did appear that there were y s ora ra e te persons who had endeavoured to ascertain , as se u ly as they might. the state and condition of this coun ties and th ese persons bad written to all the coun iv— in England, f or the purpose of ascertaining wha t the state of the country, and the quantity of corn verb From that statement, to which he now begg ed of s hortly to refer, he collected -the condition ss the counti es i n t h e worst sta t e , a nd he could W 4 _ orusre their L or d s hi ps, that those who were no t i n th e of condition wer e s till ver y b a dly off. Two-thirds the t year s i nce last harvest had already passe d , and therewere still four months to run before corn could be b w r h o i u e nicati brought into the market, and one-third of the produce oetusght to remain was not here. He had commu wh f i r cl: m a b Mr. Playfair, in Scotland, on the sub turnstuL (The Noble Lord here read extracts from re teheeetv_ing that he ehad received from several counties of kh Scotland, and Wales, with the object of counties was about of grain now was much under 114 , 4 4 1 311 d quantity at this period of the year.) The about one-third; whereas in all the quarter's referred to, with the exception of one, the somber,er su pply Was r!llearheeelsytipapnyly was about one-fifth, and, in a great not more than an eighth, and in at all. Under these circumstances, matterght it was necessary to call public attention to the cuminas he considered there was not a sufficient co eu i n " food for the population of this country till the Opp zif harvest. He wished to know if the Noble Lord the s ue , te (the Marquis of Lansdowne) whether he was of be m r it e ?Pinion, and whether he expecte . d there would ne (L orri e Leut supply from foreign countries. As far as head, 41 ardwicke) could collect information on this h a d , the continent of Europe there was little to be roland and the countries on the banks of the Danub e , had but very limited stocks; the same was the in ty the c oun t r i es o n the Mediterranean and Black Se a; ll their only hope was America , and there the probe of a supply was very small. If this were so, the prospect was very dismal for this country, and he hoped the greatest economy and care would be practised by all Classe s , in order that the country might be carried through this trying period. It behoved all classes to cut down every useless and superfluous luxury—that the wheat would be ground up as a whole—and that no starch would be used. lie trusted, also, that the landed gentry, would use their influence in their respective Counties, so that measures might be taken to keep the corn from leaving the country. Lord CAMPBELL said the consequence of the course taken by the Noble Earl would be to excite what were called meal mobs in Scotland. The Earl HARDWICKE meant to do no such thing, but he thought it his duty to bring the matter promi nently retitly before the notice of their Lordships. The Noble reNoble Marquis sat down by asking the question whether the Marquis could state the supply of food in the country, and also what was the quantity that might be expected from foreign countries ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, in answer to the Noble Earl, who had no doubt felt it his duty to bring this subject before their Lordships, that Noble Earl would admit that he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) would exercise a sound discretion if he abstained, both on the fart of himself and her Majesty's Government. nom asserting anything like an opinion. ' W hich would have the effect of misleading the People or the trader. The Noble Earl had said truly that the Government had no organised machinery by , wh ich they could become acquainted with the amount o' m i n in the country. Every individual has the same h e -- 1 8 of collecting information as he himself bad or as aiel.C l iesty's Government possessed on this matter, and suni e l. s fo ln r a one was a more likely authority on such a " extensive and accurate information than the "'du 1 the' Et . to whom the Noble Earl had alluded. He die Of it proper to give any opinion on the sufficiency ini l amount of corn at present. But thus much le end say in answer to the Noble Earl, that since the into of harvest last year there had not been brought ported this country very much more corn than was im during the corresponding period last year ; so ittlitunless the harvest yielded an equal return this year couit a l t ° be presumed that the amount of corn in the faCtiV: would not be sufficient. Yet, for the satis of the Noble Earl, he could state to him the enor mous amount--the increasing amount up to to this mo m:lent of importation of corn into this country. Up to this Present moment the importation of corn was, for January 661,000 qrs. February March April 1,043,000 thereby indicating that in proportion to the increased ainount of demand, and the press of that deficiencyof which at the early part of this year the people of this country bad but little warning ' there had been a cor responding amount of importation to meet that deft eiency. The same average amount of importation con tinned throughout the year would make an annual importation of 9,000,000 of quarters. There was ano ther source of satisfaction to the Noble Earl, shoeing the complete command of the market of the world which this country had enjoyed ever since men understood that no interference would take place with the course of trade. Since that an increasing and unceasing action bad been kept up, and since that. it had been well now that other countries had laboured under the same evil—that in these large countries there had been ..„,,an increasin g d eman d, so that the exports from the United States to the whole of the world was 2,170.000 quarters, and of that amount no more than 500,000 iq u arters found their way into the rest of the world , leaving to this country more than four times the am ount which had b ee n sent to the rest of the nations. Therefore he saw no reason for giving an opinion con trary to u that of those well acquainted with the question. 1"0 thought that there would be a sufficient supply for ie,Le eOuntry. tr eate d ASHBURTON said the question was of the 011 t en importance in every point of view, but the reply hi the Noble Earl appeared to be less satisfactory to se i n - ,,`'an it did to the Noble Earl ; for the additional o e sY of food to which he had referred bad had little pr ." effect upon consumption, upon demand, or upon they The Indian corn crop was gathered late, and herd `fore there might be some observation to come a but he feared that the same would not countries to the wheat crops of America ; and the northern Zb uu i s n e tr o ies of Europe were in a little better condition than crops country both with regard to the potatoes , and green . to 0 --- .1. " e4r .) He called there Lordships attention naturse thin gs i n they order that they might see the exact . they- ei • state of the country, and in order that which ight knovv the exact nature of the calamity with to deal. Evidence of the high price 441,n:tea r t e l ' j e t y 1:4: od at 120 s. a qua rt e r. 'wl was to be found in the fact tha t Lord >UGH I'l toutnothing could be more Ungeneroussaid C i t , 0 „ than attempts to conceal the fie of any se . b e if n food existing in the cow: , y. Had timely notice 01 , giver, it mi g h t h ave prey a dearth from be nit mg a famine, by putting all cles-es of the commu .N,Yb, upon thei r guar . l. Much credit was due to the e Earl for having drawn attention to the siehject. " °_ country,_ r eign corn w as to b e i mported into this country, ;PraCt i ght to be admitted with out b e i ng su bj ec t t the ce of bondi ng. SOUP earl FITZ wILUITACmfI w E a N h S e d ( I t o R k n E t w k N i f D t: h ) Govern- TilF, SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 12, 1847. ment were in possession of information of how far the /Net . . known in 11 , -eland as the Snap Kitchen Act, had • The Marquis of 14, Wda neariy in• audible in the gallery, was understood to say that the Government were not in posession of that positive infor mation which would justify them in laying it before the House. - Earl FITZWILLIAM said that the object of his re turn was to ascertain the number Gf male and female paupers who had been relieved, what had been the ex pense within certain periods, and what districts of the poor-law the rates had been levied for the purpose. Ile s h ou ld move for those returns on Friday Lext. The Earl of CLANCARTY hoped that the Noble Earl would include in those returns one also of the voluntary contributions which had been made for the same purpose_ THREATENING LETTERS. On the motion of Lord DENMAN the House went into Committee on the Threatening Letters Bill. It passed through Committee, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Friday. BELGRAVE CHAPEL. Lord NI ONTEAGLE, in rising to present a petition from the Rev. Dr. Th-•rpe on the annointment of a •haplain to this chapel, regretted that it hid not fallen into the hands of some person more competent to do it justice, and discarded every supposition that, in the remarks ' >hich he might make upon the Ric,ht Rev. Prelate, whose conduct was brought in question, he had not the slightest personal feeling. Had the question touched upon, by this petition, been of a spiritual nature, he should not have felt it to be his duty to bring it before their Lordships; but the question was purely of a secular character; and, therefore, it was perfectly in the province of a lay Lord to introduce it to the House. The petition he had to present was signed by a highly-respectable reverend gentleman whom he did not know personally, but who, it was represented to him was a gentleman of undoubted respectability. Now this gentleman, on applying to a Right Reverend Prelate for an appointment which was at the time vacant in the church was told by that Right Reverend Prelate that he was not eligible to the appoint ment, because he was an Irish clergyman. He should not have made objection to the refusal had it been founded upon spiritual defects in the applicant. The Church of Ireland contained the names of some of the most illustrious men to be found in connexion with the churches of both countries.—(Hear, hear.) It was too much to say that an Irishman could not hold a curacy in London at the very time when the Bishop placed nearly at the head of the church of Ireland was an Englishman, who had seen little or nothing of Ireland—(Hear, hear)—and many Englishmen held high offices in the Irish church: it was not unlike what the late Sir Roach Boyle had said, namely—that all the mutuality was on one side.— (Laughter.) When Lord Plunkett was elevated to the bench a cabal was formed against him much similar to the one which he was now discussing; but he overcame it, and at the time the bar of England refused to consent to the elevation of Lord Plunkett to the judgeship of the Rolls Court, Sir Anthony Hart was sent over to preside over one of the highest Equity Courts in Ireland.— (Hear, hear.) There was no safety for Ireland, for one hour if the Protestant Episcopal Church of Ire land, as specified in the Act of Union, was to be consi dered a separate instead of a similar and sister esta• blishment with the Protestant Church of England. Why the Act of Union expressly stated that the Protestant Church of both countries should be asssimilated, and that they should be called the United Protestant Churches of England and Ireland. But of all times this was the most inexpedient to endeavour to draw invidious distinctions between the two Churches. And then no Church had so much improved as the Irish Church dur ing the last five and twenty years. Still further, was this inexpedient at a time when the Protestant clergyman and the Catholic priest had associated together for the purpose of assuaging the sufferings of the Irish people. —(Hear). An objection to the difference between the g.ourse of instruction in the Colleges of Dublin and of Oxford and Cambridge, though at first one might think of some importance, could not avail, as the Right Rev. Prelate had himself admitted that the course of religious study in the Protestant College of Ireland was superior to that pursued in the English Universities. He trusted 'hat nothing be had said might be construed into offence towards the Right Rev. Prelate, and he concluded by laying the petition on the table. The Bishop of LONDON only intended to address a few words to their Lordships, in reply to the statement of the Noble Lord. He believed be should he able to show that, in the course he had pursued, he had not been actuated by any disrespect to that branch of the United Church whose labours were confined to Ireland. En the first place, he begged to thank the Noble Earl for the way in which he had introduced the subject to ~heir Lordships, except so far as his remarks led him to think that he had not done justice to the church of his country ; because no one was more willing to do justice to the claims of that Church than be was—no pany genic which he could pronounce would be too high with respect to the past conduct of the Protestant clergy of Ireland for many years past, and oarticularly during the last few months.—(Hear, hear.) The regulation to which the petition referred had not been adopted by him daring the last few months, or the last few years, but was adopted 23 years ago, and this was the first time complaint had been made of it. When he was Bishop of Chester, he found the influx of Irish clergymen into his diocese extremely great, and he dis couraged it on more grounds than one—particularly on two grounds—which still existed in his mind ; and they were these: he did not think that young men educated and for annrddl t ey he rco the h: opportunity oe service eritrffiug o pcvn o auei f ytrl the Church in Ireland, should take an y:ateoons of quitting hEl q ean u stg i s t ls t ia i uru n krd g rs 00 ft nu t o h nre a dd t etudh C hteyiutp at thatob tainingCollege time, and its improved state deserved the approbation of h is he he had e consideredthat was sp pae e r rfec ti t c ly e warranted rie nt E edin nd tle course a d op ted. The of taking their degrees in Ireland and immediately ooming over to England he th0u., , 1.t extremely hard upon the young men educated at great 4 xpense at the English universities, and that they should be misplaced from ouracies and those occupations in the Church for which they had been educated, and prevented from obtaining ordination by the immigration of large numbers of Irish ttlergyraen, therefore he thought right to discourage the practice • but the rule was at no time ri gidly adhered to, because he thought there were many reasons why Irish clergymen should not come over here, and at that moment there were as many Irish clergymen licensed as those whom he had refused to license. As this rule had been in forced 23 years, and had, moreover, been published in the recog nised organs of the Church, it was somewhat remarkable that it never had elicited any remonstrance from the clergy in his diocese ; but if his Noble Friend the Lord Primate of Ireland had stated that he thought such a rule was inconsistent with the relations which should subsist between the two Churches, and between the two countries, he should have bowed to the wish of his Grace; but nothing of the kind had occurred, yet the petiti ,ner stated on his own authority that he (the Bishop of London) had been guilty of an intole rable assumption of authority. Hia offence alone r'onsisting in preventing young men from quitting that sphere of labour for which they had been specially , ordained. The petitioner should have brought the natter before the heads of the Irish church, rather than by a petition to their Lordships, which had not been read, but which contained much stronger language than that used by his Noble Friend He (the Bishop of London) might have acted injudiciously, hut, as he had said, he had adopted the rule as a stringent one. This he thought was sufficient to exonerate him from having east any disrespect upon the Irish church. Within the last year or two he bad conferred two or three of the most valuable livings in his diocese on Irish clergymen. One •,f the most valuable livings in connexion with St. Paul's had been conferred by him on an Ir ish clergyman. But Dr. Thorpe, by his c onduct, had not rende ed it neces sary for him (the Bishop of London) to show him any special obligation. When Dr. Thorpe's curate came to tim, he staled his objections, but ho, at the same time, intimated that as Dr. Thorpe was about to leave the country, he night perform his duties, and let the matter rest until he returned ; but Dr. Thorpe, thereupon, wrote him a letter, accusing him of an . 6 intolerable as sumption of power," and refused to consent ; but, sub sequently, he (the Bishop of London) found that the curate was a fit person to be licensed, and he offered to license him, but he thanked him for his offer, but declined, and since that time he had licensed many Irish clergymen, and he should continue to do so. He begged to thank their Lordships for the attention with which they had listened to his explanation. The Earl of CL ANCARTY said that the Irish clergy were men of the highest character and the most superior intellectual attainments. Attached as he was to the union between the two countries, he regretted that such a distinction should have been made. There had been a great deal of talk about repeal, but he assured their Lordships there was nothing which would aid more strength to that cry than such unhappy distinctions. Englishmen and Scntchmen were advanced to a high situation in Ireland, but they could not instance that the converse of fact was true. He therefore begged to give his support to the prayer in the petition which his Noble Friend had omitted to state. Lord MOUNTCASHEL said that if the whole bnich of Right Rev. Prelates adopted the same rule, they would not have any Irish officiating clergymen in the whole of England. LUNATIC ASYLUM BILL. Lord CAMPBELL gave notice that he would move, that the House go into Committee, on the Lunatic Asylum Bill, on Friday next, proforma. LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. On the bringing up of the report of the Landed Pro perty Bill, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the insertion of certai❑ words in this Bill, giving power for the erec tion of farm buildings to the Commissioners, should they deem it requisite, The motion was agreed to, and after a few words from The Marquis of WESTMEATH and Lord MONTEAGLE, The report was received. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF ( , (131 , 110N5, May 11. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were real a third time and passed : Martin's Divorce Bill. The Shipowners' Towing Company Bill. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, and ordered to bg engrossed : Caledimian Railway (Lease or Purchase of Wishaw Coltnehs Railwa)). Caledmian and Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Rail *Vays Amalgamation. cv logow , Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 4). The reports on the following Bills were further con- BtPtetoo, borough and Thorne)• Line). Chard Canal and Railway (Extension and Amalgama tion). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (No. 4). Herne Bay and Canterbury Junction Railway. Inverness Gas and Water. Liskeard and Caradou Railway. Southampton and Dorchestkr Railway (New Forest Deviation and Branches). South Wales Railway. Vale of Neath Railway. Wilts, Som,!rset. and Weymouth Railway (No. 1— Bruton, Pitcombe, and Rodden and Bradford De• iations). Wexford an I Valencia Railway (Killarney toValencial .1 7 fIANIES CONSERVANCY This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be c ommitted. NORTH OF INDIA RAILWAY. Mr GREENE moved that the order made upon the Bth of March last, referring the Great North of India Railway Bill to the Conin3itte of Selection, be read ; that the said order be discharged ; and that the Bill be wit hd rawn.—A greed to. BLACKBURN, DARWEN. AND BOL FON RAILWAY. Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved that in the case of the Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway (diversions of line in the parishes of Blackburn and Bolton-in-the- Moors), petition for additional provision, the Examiners of petitions have leave to sit and pros. ed to-morrow. Agreed to. RATHMINES IMPROVEMENT. Mr. GREGORY moved that it he an instruction to the Committee of Selection to appoint the Committee on the Rathmines Improvement Bill for Tuesday, the 18th instant, and that the Committee do meet and proceed with the Bill on that day. After some observations from Sir W. Ileathcote, Mr. Grogan, and Mr. Estcourt, the motion was negatived without a division. RATE-PAYING CLAUSES. Mr. M.: PHILIPS presented petitions from Man chester against the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Bill. HOLYHEAD HARBOUR OF REFUGE. Mr. COLLETT wished to know when the House rnisrht t o r A r nr! "f 01r. tipi °sided o I ,, ,TAtie lila) CIIt iiitit66 oI tiolyi,tuu tea La. harbour of refuge? Mr. WARD said that not a moment had been lost in the proceedings of the Commissioni..rs appointed to in quire into the subject. The Commissioners had thought it necessary to proceed down to the spot, in order to exa mine the " holding" ground at the bottom of the harbour. He thought that the report would very shortly be laid upon the table of the House. DIRECT TAXATION. Lord J. RUSSELL wished to ask the Hon. Member. for Dumfries (Mr. Ewa,m) whether he would consent to po--tpone the motion o f w hi c h h e h a d given notice i this day, on the subje c t o f di rec t t ax ation, n order to afford an opportunity f or p rocee di ng w i t h the consie-ri. tion of the report of th e C omm i ttee agree d to last night on the Discount on Loans Bill? Mr. EWART had no objection to postpone his me Lion, on condition th a t ot h er H on. M em b er s who had motions on the pape r s h ou ld d o t h e same ; and at the same time he would g i ve notice that h e wou ld b r ing for ward his motion on th e fi rst d ay o f t h e H o use going into Committee of S u p p l y. POOR REMOVAL ACT. Lord J. RUSSELL said that, seeing the Hon. Mi'm ber for Dorsetshire (Mr. Bankes) in his place, he wished to state to him that with respect to the motion which he had upon the paper for to-day, to bring in a Bill to re peal the Ist clause of the Act 8 and 9 Vic., c. 66, the Poor Removal Act, the Government had no objection to the Bill being brought in. Mr. BANKES said that it was to be understood then that the discussion upon the Bill was to take place at an early period. COLONIAL AND BRITISH SPIRITS. Mr. MOFFATT postponed till Friday next his Bill for assimilating the warehousing privileges on colonial and British spirits, an d a l so his B i ll to perm it British spirits to be rectified in bond for exportation, and to permit rectified spirits and compounds to be warehoused for ex, irtation. FREE TRADE FOR JAMAICA. Mr. HUME postponed till Thursday next his motion to call the attention of the House to the petition from Jamaica, signed by 4,000 persons, praying for free trade for that colony, and for an additional supply of labour, as requisite for the prosperity of that island. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Mr. BANKES moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the first clause of the Poor Removal Act, Bth and 9th Victoria, c. 66. Sir G. GREY had no objection to the Bill being brought in and read a first time, but on the distinct understanding that the Government were not pledged to the Bill, and that their objectioas to it remained in full force. Mr. DUNCOMBE was very much afraid that the the country would misunderstand the reason for allow ing this Bill to be brought in and read a first time. It appeared that the Government consented to the Bill to be saved from the Hon. Gentleman's speech. Sir JAMES GRAHAM was desirous to consult the convenience of the Government as much as possible, but in allowing this Bill to be read a first time, he wished it to be understood as not acceding in any way or relax ing his opposition to that Bill. Mr. E. DENISON said that it would be well that the course of her Majesty's Government should be known to the country; there was a great deal of anxiety abroad respecting the law, and he wished th e op i n i on of the Government were fixed. Sir G. GREY said that he had already stated what was the opinion of her Majesty's Government, and it was out of his power entirely to fix a day. Mr. VERNON SMITH said that it would be much better for the Hon. Gentleman to withdraw his motion. an i bring it on upon another day. Whether the vote were carried or not, it would be well that her should be some discussion upon the subject, and some expression of opinion, he believed that these repeated changes of the law were very in jurious, and that the existing law was was peculiarly objectionable. Mr. BANKES said 0 -, at if the Government would promise to take this Bill into their own hands and amend it he would withdraw his motion, but in the a7:ense of this intimation he should feel it his duty to persevere. He did not, however, under present circumstances desire to throw any obstacle in the way of the business of the House, and should therefore be contented with fixing an early day for the second reading, when the dtscussion might take place. He should, therefore, move now for leave to bring in a Bill for the repeal of the first clause of the Poor Removal Act. _ _ _ Mr. HUME did not clearly understand the object of this proceeding. He remembered that this clause was brought in as a sort ofcompensation to gentlemen of landed i.roperty--(Laughter)—and now one of these gentlemen came forward to move that it be rescinded. He did not think that they should accede to the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman, he should rather hope that Go vernment would object to the Bill altogether, and he trusted, therefore, that the sense of the House would be at once taken on the Bill, so that it might be got rid of. Mr. CHARLES BULLER happened to be in the position of Chairman to the Committee in question, and he was placed in considerable difficulty, in con sequence of the extraordinary diversity of opinion which prevailed in it. (Laughter.) There were not merely two conflicting opinions—(Laughter)—but the greatest variety of opinions.—(Laughter.) An en deavour had been made to bring the Committee to a decision by a motion that the Bill should be re pealed altogether ; but to this course there was an almost universal objection. Then it was moved as a general proposition that the law of last session should be preserved, but it was here found that all the Members were for amending it each in a particular and different way.—(Laughter.) He must say that the Hon. Me m b er f or D orse tshire had t a ke n the more manly way, an d t h at w hi c h was mos t likely to assist the Committee in coming to a conclu sion on the subject. He had brought forward his Bill for the expunging of the first clause in Committee, and when they h a d i t in this practical shape b efore t h e House they would k now how to deal with the quest i on . He therefore most heartily thanked the Hon. Member the of motiontthe amount of Mr.for Dorsetshire f or h aving brought forward his mot i on. Leave was th en g i ven to bring in the Bill. BELFAS T MUNICIPAL CORPORATION. On Belfast Corp orat i on, and of the mode of expenditure of the money th ey h ad received. of the ROSS propert several ypure r h e a tu se r d es by w t e h r e e granted _LOAN (DISCOUNT ON INSTALMENT) BILL. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the re port on this Bill was brought up, and agreed to without discussion. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to te committed. POOR RELIEF SUPERVISION (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. SERVICE OF HEIRS (SCOTLAND) BILL. , The report up on this Bill was brought up an d agreed to. POOR REMOVAL (ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND) The report upon this BILL' Bill was also brought up and agreed to. CROWN (CHARTERS') SCOTLAND BILL. The report upon this Bill was also brought up, and agreed to. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time. lOUSE OF COMMONS COSTS TAXATION BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be reported to-morrow. TURNPIKE ROADS (IRELAND) BILL. This 13i11 was read a secondtime. The other orders of the day having been disposed of, the House adjourned. IMPORT OF PROVISIONS INTO LEITH.—The arrivals of foreign grain at Leith have been upwards of 36,000 quar ters weekly for some time back, principally from the lower Baltic ports. On the opening of the Russian rivers there will probably be a great increase in the imports of rye, rye meal, oats, ac. In the scarcity of British ships for charter, i foreign vessels have been sant from this to Riga, and other ports. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thusdsy last brought 4,029 quarters of wheat, X 4,837 quarters barley, and 945 quarters oats, besides tares, peas, and potatoes.—Edinburgle pa r pe. ADMISSION OF THE PUBLIC TO VIEW THE NEW HOUSE OF LonDs.—Monday the public were admitted to view the New House of Lords without tickets, The privi lege is to be continued during the session on appeal days, namely, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; on Saturdays admission will still he by tickets, issued from the Lord Cham berlain's office. GLASGOW IRON TRADE.—GLASGOW, MAY 8. The price of Scotch pig iron, delivered free on board here, may be quoted to-day at 665. per ton net cash for 3-sths No. 1 and 2-sths No. 3 . E xtensive p u rchases were m a d e t hi s week at 675. 6(1., 665., and 65 5. net cash, for th e usual pro -1 portion of numbers, but owin g to th e continued pr essure i n the money market sales for cash down can only be e ff ected by a still further reduction in price. The late lamented M r. Youa tt , in one of his o ra ti ons to the members of the V eterinar y Coll ege , observes—a That by the improvements in the modern chemistry, the medical profession are enabled successfully to treat diseases which were previously supposed as not within the reach of niefE eine." This truth has been manifested for many years, but in no instance of greater importance to mankind than by ib)lrince Edward of Saxe the discovery of Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills. [A D VERTISEMENT.] — The Registered Paletot of Highnesses Prince Llama cloth, the most fashionable coat for both the present and approaching seasons, still retains the same moderate price, which, with its usefulness and gentlemanly appear ance, has secured such general popularity. It has been made Cambridge, Weimar, his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and the several royal visitors to the British Court. In London it can only be purchased of the patentees, 11. J. and D. Nicoll, Cont t a il o rs, 114, Regent-street, and 22, Cornhill. Agents for Liverpool, Dawbarn and Son, 80ld -street • for Dublin, Geo. 'Modena, Molesworth-street ; for Birmin4l;am by Albert, special Prince eorn d n e o a r n g d e o f o f r t , Wareing and Son, New-street; for Edinburgh, Christie and Son, George street; and the principal tailors in other large towns. [ADVERTISEMENT.] BRUSHES, NEW INV ENTION— THE TRIPLE HAIR Bnusti.-9ne stroke of this is equal to the effect of one penetratit, five small-toothed combs, and one even cut brush. The Double A nti - Pressure Nail Brush, which does not divide the quick from the nail, no pressure beinet required, and thoroughly cleans and polishes the nails in a tenth part of the time of any other m e th od. The new Tooth pick Brush, w hi c h entirely enters b e t ween the interstices No. 1• of the closest teeth ; marks, , hard , No. 2, less hard ; No. 3, middling; No. 4, soft, at is each, or 10s. per dozen in bone; and 2s. each, or 215. per dozen in ivory, the hair warranted never to come out.—The medium Shaving Brush, between the usual badger hair and bristle brush, being a se lection of the stron gest hair only from the badger skin.—The . above articles are the inventions of Ross and Sons, 119 and treet, London, and being 120, Bishopsgate -5 protected, any one 1 imitating them will be proceeded against. RAILWAY. CONUMITIT ES the iron districts of South Wales, stated the advanta g e which - the railway would be to them, and the Committee adjourned at f - srr We'cclr, 2 Trlr'C'r . !r GROUP _ This Committee resumed its sitting at twelve o'clock; Mr Dennistoun in the chair. COVENTRY. BANBITILY, AND OXFORD. On the assembling of the parties Mr. FLOOD opened the case for the promoters of the Bill, in which he detailed at some length the advantages of the line to the district through which it passed, and its engineer ing features. It is opposed by several landed proprietors. Several witnesses were examined on behalf of the pro moters, and the necessity of the line through the district it was proposed to accommodate. GOUP X This Committee me t a t the usual X. hour this morning ; Mr. Goulburn in the chair. MXDX.A.ND, CHELTENHAM, AND OXFORD. S HIRE. The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with the usual general evidence in favour of this line. XXV. The Committ ee on tGROUP his group resumed its sittings in Room 14; Sir Cha r l es L emon i n the chair. itIANC/izSTEXA, BURTON, MATLOCK, AND MIDLANDS JUNCTION (DEVIATION AND BRANCHES). The case of the Duke of Rutland and the inhabitants of Bakewell, in opposition to the above line, was continued this morning. Mr. Darlington, a miner of Cornwall, was examined to show the nature of the borings, which he stated were good. Two other miners confirmed this evidence. Mr. Baker was then examined, and deposed to the great advantage which would be conferred by the Parliamentary line over the proposed one on the inhabitants of Bakewell. Mr. TALBOT having addressed the Committee, and closed the case, the room was cleared, and on our re admission The CHAIRMAN said, that as they had not received the report of the Board of Commissioners they would not give their decision till they had received it. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXVI. The Committee on this group met to• day, for the first time, in Room 12; Mr. Beckett in the chair. The lines comprised in this group are the' North Staffordshire (alterations and branches). North Staffordshire (Churnet Valley line and Trent Valley Railway Junction). South Staffordshire (Cannock, Wyrley, and Norton branches). London and North-Western (Birmingham and Lichfield line). Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire Junction Railway and branches. The first line taken was the NORTH STAPPORDSHIRE (ALTEILA.TIONS AND BRANCHES). Mr. TALnirr opened the case for the promoters, and pointed b out the great advantages which would be:conferred by these ranches. Mr. NEALE, on behalf of Sir H. Overy, opposed the Wel lington branch on the ground that a clause in the Bill passed last session precluded any further interference with his pro perty. After some discussion, The CHAIRMAN announced that this clause woulsl not pre vent the Com m i ttee from considering the merits oithe Bill. Evidence was then adduced for the line. Mr. Forsyth, C.E., was examined, and said that the gradients and engineering works on the branches were of the usual character, and the estimates were quite sufficient for the construction. The lines would open up access to mines, fire-works, and iron -works, and afford great accommodation to the country generally. Mr. NEALE then stated that it was net his intention to cross-examine witnesses, or to oppose the fur; her projects of the branches before the Committee, but to reserve his opposition till the Bill went up to the Lords, as Sir H. ' Overy felt satisfied that the Committee would not sanction the Bill for a moment after they had been made aware of the clause in the Act passed last session. The case of the promoters hare cleised, and the Committee were prevented from passing the preamble in consequence of not having yet received the report of the Railway Com missioners. The next line was the NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE (CEURNET VAL LEY AND TRENT VALLEY JUNCTION). Mr. TALBOT then opened the case for this line, and expa tiated at considerable length on the merits of the line and the great advantages it would confer on the districts where the two lines passed. Several witnesses then deposed to the great traffic which would be accommodated, when The CHAIRMAN interposed and said that the Committee wished to be informed of the advantages of the line for the accommodation of the through traffic. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP XXVII. GREAT NORTHERN (BRANCH TO KING'S LYNN.) On the assembling of the Committee, Mr. Cardwell in the chair, the case on behalf of this line was resumed. Mr. Cubitt, C.E., was examined at some length in favour of the engineering features of the line, which he represented to be very favourable. Evidence was given on the part of the corporation of Wis beach against the mode in which the Great Northern Rail way proposed to contract the swing bridge in that town. The Court adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP XXXI. SOUTH YORKSHIRE. The Committee assembled this morning at twelve o'clock; Mr. Shaw in the chair. The Committee adjourned yesterday in order to give the promoters of the South Yorkshire and the Barnsley lines time to come to terms, and agree upon a line to serve both companies, but it was stated this morning that they had been unable to come to an understanding. The room was cleared for a considerable time in order to give the Committee an opportunity of considering the pro positions which bad been made respectively on both sides. Lord Effingham gave evideace as to the probable utility of the line to the coal-fields in the neighbourhood of Rother ham, and to the inconvenience of the present s t a ti on o f th e Midland line in that town. On cross-examination, his Lordship allowed that there was already a direct communication between Sheffield and Gains borough, by means of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln shire junction line, but he was not aware that the Midland Counties proposed to form a loop line from Masborough, which would serve the district. Lord Wharncliffe, and several other witnesses, testified to the advantage to be obtained for the mineral districts around Rotherham, as well as for the timber forests of Wharncliffe and Penistone, and spoke also as to the respective accommo dation that would be given by the different projects. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP VI. EXETER, rnov.a., 11. ND 310MCIIMSTZSZ. The Committee re-assembled this morning at twelve o'clock. Mr. AUSTIN resumed his address to the Committee in fa vour of the Great Western schemes, and pointed out the great advantages of the Great Western schemes over those of the South- ‘.% estern in point of accommodation, with Shaftesbury, Yeovil, and Exeter at the two latter places. Common stations would be made for five or six lines, radiating in dif ferent directions, and all upon the same gauge. The Learned Couns€l continued his address throughout the whole of the day. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XI. This Committee resumed its sitting to-day in Room B. BRAINTHEE AND HALSTEAD. Mr. HILDYARD opened the case for this the last Bill in the group, and the Committee was engaged all the day in hear ing evidence in favour of the Bill. GROUP XIII. NORPOLIC (THETFORD TO LOWESTOFT, &c., WITH A BRANCH TO HALES WORTH). The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock, in No. 7 Committee-room ; Mr. Bailer in the chair. DECISION. The CHAIR3fAII declared that the preamble of the Bill bad been proved; and the clauses, with various amendments, having been agreed to, he intimated that he would report the favourable decision of the Committee to the House this evening. GROUP XV. CAMBRIDGE AND BEDFORD. The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o'clock; Air. Bernal in the chair. This line is to run across the country by Bigleswade, so as to connect the Midland Counties Branch at Bedford with the Eastern Counties line at Cambridge, and Mr. Waddington, the vice-chairman of the Eastern Counties line, was called to show the advantage that would accrue by the proposed route for the carriage of iron from the western districts to Ipswich and all the places on the coasts of Suffolk and Norfolk, while coal would be conveyed, as he conceived, from Lynn into the centre of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. A long cross-examination ensued on the way in which the line would affect the property of Lord Hardwicke, as also on the respective merits of Ipswich and Lynn as ports for the reception of coals, when the witness stated that the cost of carriage of coals on the Eastern Counties line is three far things and a penny per ton per mile, while on the London and York line the company were restricted to three farthing , . Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, said that he had laid out a line for an east and west communication two years ago, and the Eastern Counties Company had purchased much property with a view to its formation. It would be a re markably easy line to construct, and would, in his opinion, not cost more than about 13,0001. per mile. Mr Borthwick, the engineer, of the line, stated that it would be twenty miles one furlong in length, of which two and-a-half miles are already made. The whole cost of the line would be 385,0001., and that for land would be 2,157/., of which 267 acres would be required. There was but little residential property to be interfered with, indeed those of Mr. Lewis and Lord Lord Hardwicke being the only ones. The land agent stated that the owners of land who assented were 46, those who dissented 40. while the neuters were 65. The lessees who assent are five, and those who dissent six, and the occupiers respectively 58 and 83. This closed the case for the promoters, after which, Mr. GURNEY, Q.C., opened on behalf of the opposing land owners, and said that unless the Legislature were prepared to sanction an independent line of railway between every two villages, they would never give their sanction to the line now before the Committee. It appeared from the evi dence that the whole of the population on the proposed line was 25,000, almost the whole of whom were already sup plied ; for 14,500 were on lines already made, 2,500 were within a mile and a half of lines now forme,l, and 3,000 were within two miles. Then, as to the whole of the traffic, nothing had been shown as to the transfer of vegetables from the neigh bourhood of Potton, the whole of which it appeared was not more than 3.000 tons,. and the whole of the revenue from it would be 375!. Mr. Smith, a brewer at Cambridge, had stated that within the course of his experience there had been no traffic on this line at all ; and another witness, from the other end of the line, had stated just the same thing; so that there was no public necessity whatever established. As for the plea that there was a necessity for an east and west communication, that was already practically obtained, for the line from Huntingdon to Bedford had already obtained the sanction of Parliament, and that would only take the passen gers a distance of nine miles further round. With respect to the procuring coals, that access for them was also already obtained, for by this latter line there was the means of communication with the ports of Lynn and Bedford for the seaborne coal, and for the inland coal-fields there was the North. Western line and its branches. Seeing all this, he trusted the Committee would not give their de cision on the preamble of this Bill without taking the evi dence upon the other Bills before them, and that they would not sanction a line which bad no public utility whatever to recommend it, in opposition to the wishes of a great number of owners, with whose property it would materially in terfere. Mr. LIDDELL then called Mr. Nash, who was examined on the way in which the line would affect the residental pro perty of Mr. Law, at Shelford, Mr. Bendish, and Miss Har rell, from each of which it runs between three and four hun dred yards distant, running in front of the houses on an em bankment ten feet high. The Earl of Hardwicke, Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, stated that he resided at Wimpole, seven miles from Royston, where his property was about 7,000 acres in extent, and that he did not conceive, from the thinness of the population, that there was any justification whatever for the outlay for this line. There appeared to be two lines of communication already sanctioned, and in his Lordship's opinion there was no probability whatever of another line being profitable. for every requisition as to railway accommodation for the coup• try was already satisfied. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XVII. MIDLAND (EXTENSION IMOD , / LEICESTER TO EXCHIN). GREAT NORTHERN (DEVIATIONS BE TWEEN LONDON AND GRANTHAM). The Committee met this morning at the usual hour, Sir J. B. East in the chair. The Committee were occupied for a considerable time to day in hearing counsel on the question, whether the Midland Company (the Siston and Peterborough Branch) could be heard against a deviation proposed by the Great Northern on their line between Peterborough and Grantham, which is about 15 miles in length. The Committee decided that the Midland Company had a locus standi. Mr. DENNISON, who appears for the Great Northern, said the real object of the opposition of the Midland was merely this, to compel the Great Northern to run along the Midland line for a considerable distance. Now, the only an swer the Great Northern had to offer to this was, " that they would not do so." They had been empowered by Parliament to run their line parallel with the Midland line, and if the Committee did not accede to the deviation they could make the line wholly independent of the Midland, which they would only cross once. The deviation was proposed to offer greater accommodation than the old line would to Stamford, and in compliance with a promise made last session to Sir John Trollope to avoid his property. Lord Lindsay opposed the line, and had instituted a suit in one of the courts against the amalgamated companies, in order to recover a greater amount of compensation than the company were inclined to afford him—but if the devia tion were passed, less injury would be done to his property, and, consequently, his claim would be materially reduced He believed, however, that no serious case of residential injury would be made out by his Lordship against the line. Mr. Haycock, the Mayor of Stamford, was then called, and gave strong evidence in favour of the Stamford devia• tion. Mr. Cubitt, jun., one of the engineers to the line, explained the nature of the deviation, and the advantage which it would confer on Stamford. Adjourned until to morrow at half-past eleven o'clock. GROUP XVIII. LONDON, OXFORD, AND CRELTENRAIYX. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock ; the Earl of Lincoln (in the chair), with the Hon. Mr. Smythe, Sir W. James, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, and Captain Jones. A considerable discussion took place on the opening of the Committee, between the counsel for the several parties, as to the course to be pursued—the promoters of the London and Cheltenham line having determined to alter their mode of counties, eight o passing turnpike and other highways from the level to that of going over them by bridges ; and it was ultimately directed by the Committee, that the cross sections of the plans should Norfolk,truck containing ai othe r nitl g be furnished to their opponents. Mr. Read, of Easton Lodge, near Gloucester, was then t that N h v a e 3f,afrrmo from Carlisle, upwards be e f 1 believed, 30 0 at, but th e many of which were brought from great distances I, , rail way. They had cattle in their market last Saturday 3 whic h e h x a p d e m n s o e s of o 7 f 71. their lOs . per cat t truck, m each were called br w ou h g o h a t ta a te ll d ten animals. The distance from Norwich to Gloucester is 200 miles, and as they had many head of cattle from Nor folk, he could confidently state the diffe driving cattle that distance and having themrence ot cost of by railway. By the former mode the cost was about 255. per head, while they could get them by railway for 12s. There fore, not tke slightest doubt that the establishment of a narrow gauge communicati on wou ld b e the district in which h e li ve d. of essential service to Mr. J. Powell, a wine merchant at Worcester, stated that he bought his goods chiefly from London, Gloucester and Bristol, the first being the best m ar k e t ; b u t t h e o b ta ining wine from London was exp ens i ve , as it cos t some ti mes lOs., sometimes 155., and even 16s. a ton for haulage from the docks to the Camden-town station. The carriage of wine by railway is about 355. per ton, a pipe weighing about nine cwt. He at present paid 275. 6d. per pipe for carriage. He understood that a line was to be made from the Camden -town station, which would, he conceived, save him from much in convenience. On cross-examination, Mr. Powell allowed that even if this new line were made he would still use the old route. The Earl of LINCOLN here interfered, and stated that al though the Committee had not the slightest wish to interfere with the course of counsel in the conduct of their case, yet they could not help suggesting that witnesses of this kind, notwithstanding the fair and admirable manner in which they had given their evidence, were not of the slightest use to the case. It was accordingly agreed that a new set of witnesses should be brought forward. Mr. Kendall, a merchant and coal-broker at Gloucester, said he preferred the narrow gauge line because it would give a direct communication between the docks at Gloucester and those in London, the narrow gauge line being already laid down round the docks at the former place. There was a great deal of miscellaneous merchandise which now came coastwise by sea from London , which would be transmitted by the line at a less cost both of money and time. There was a large importation of Irish produce at Gloucester winch went into the interior of England, Oxford being a great depot for it, and between that place and Gloucester there was only an imperfect communication. With respect to the pro bability of the South Wales Railway being able to compete with the water alongside of it, the distance between Swansea and Gloucester is about 102 miles, and the cost of the carriage by water was only 3s. 6d. to 4s. a ton. As to the importation of Irish pro duce into Fisliguard, he deemed it totally illusory, for, ever y s hipowner knew, whcn goods were once on itoard it cost little if anything inure to carry them a hundred miles further, and as it was always an object to get a return would be sure t freight, Gloucester to be the port preferred. a uge lines be belteved carried goods - Narrow g at a cheaper • rate than the broad ones. Mr. Gold, Mr. Burton, and several other gentlemen from GROUP XXXIII. The Committee met this morning; Mr. Hope in the chair. LEEDS, WA.N.EPIELD, AND MIDLAND TUNCTION. The whole day was occupied with hearing engineering evidence on the Bill. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXIV. This Committee resumed its sitting at twelve o'clock; Mr. F. Baring in the chair. OLDHAM ALLIANCE. Mr. MARK opened the case for the opposing petitioner Mr. Burn, after which he proceeded to call evidence. Mr. Sergeant NV RANGHAM replied on behalf of the Lin colnshire, Sheffield and Manchester Railway, against the Oldham Alliance Railway. TLe Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP XXXV. This Committee met to-dav for the first time ; Sir Robert Ferguson in the chair. All the members were present. Bills referred to the Cemmlttee : Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Acts Amendment Bill (Deviat ions). Preston and Wyre. Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-on-Tyne Junction Railway Acts Amendment. Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding (Buruley and Colliery Branches). Manchester and Leeds (Branches, Extensions, Deviations, Alterations of Levels, and other Works). East Lancashire (Burnley Connecting Line). East Lancashire (Deviations and Rawtenstall Coal Branch). East Lancashire ( Bury to Manchester). East Lancashire (Clitheroe, Milton, and Padiham). X.XITER.POOZ, azzkrcuzismen, 111111) CALS TX.113-771 6 01.1r—TVIVES 71171VC2VCOZT ACTS .PLIYEZAT332ITX. This was the first Bill taken, which is to effect a deviatiyn and some extensions in the scheme passed by Parliament last year. EAST LANCASHIRE (73IIILNLET CONNECT XhirG LINE). Mr. Bennet, Mr. Ilawkshaw (the engineer), and several other witnesses were examined on behalf of the Bill. Mr. BRANDT opened the case on behalf of the opposing scheme, after which the Committee adjourned. GROUP XLI. This Committee met at the usual hour this morning; Lord Seymour in the chair. NEWSY AND ENNISKILLEN caiwzran- WENT OF ACT). The Committee passed the preamble to this Bill, and the rest of the day was occupied in going through the clauses. The whole of the clauses having been gone through, the Chairman was requested to report the Bill to the House. DUBLIN AND DROGIIEDA (BRANCH 1.11431/1 NAVAN TO ILEIMS). - -- --- The Committee also passed the preamble to this Bill. The whole of the clauses were gone through, and the. Chairman having been directed to report the Bill, the Com mittee adjourned. GROUP XLII. WATER,IIORD, WEXPORD, WICKLOW', AND DUBLXN REPEAL. The Commitee met at half-past three, and adjourned till after the Whitsuntide holidays. GROUP XLIII. The Committee met at one o'clock, in Room 16; Mr. Protheroe in the chair. LIMERICK and WATERFORD. ~ ~7,„, -, Q(3 , opened the merits of the Bill, which he l‘ s t a r ld " w 4 a's - t - o - e - i l tend the . time for making the railway. The works were already . considerably advanced, and part finished, but the difficulties in the money market, and the unfortunate state of the country, had delayed them. The Great Southern and Western proposed to run over the line, and it was wished to open this line simultaneously with their own. Another object of the Bill was to make some unimportant deviations, which, so far from making an increased capital necessary, would actually effect a saving. He trusted to be able to satisfy the Committee that both these were necessary. They were only opposed by Mr. Baker, a resident on one of the deviations, which was really a case for compensation, and nothing more. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XLVIII. This Committee met this morning at the usual hour; Lord Courtenay in the chair. CAI4EZtOPTIAN AND DUIVESAIITONSIUMEI 313 AT C TXOIV (DEVIATIONS EXT'W"AISN DIMTOCICES. LUKE- vE) OAKS, Aran now- LING, &c.) Mr. Bateman, C.E., Mr. Miller, C.F., and Ur. Baukr, i s n u g rve t r at t, t ioj e G t la nn sz n cn, er r, p ze p rez d :ita t m o i b r.V e2 t r v t i f tl , i d a n t n -i ci e F w of thow•- ;on! Clyde • ui ...ot b. ci.,:slinc,c s::: , ••y to the public, or with. lit danger to the extence. of the cana , . Mr. Cubitt, C E., also gave evidence to the same effect. He thought the works under the ctn:ti could he ccnitructed without an accident, still there wc,old be s;.me danger. Mr. Sergeant Mtn:pity then replied on behalf of the Forth and Clyde Navgation. This closed the case on behalf of the opposition. Mr. Horn replied for the Bill, dwelling on the evidence adduced in its behalf and for the opposition. The provi sions of the Bill were to effect a proper connexion with the Garnkirk and Glasgow, and the Calec:oniAti Railway, and the real opponent was the Edinburgh and Glasgow Com pany, though ostensibly the Canal Ct willow. The Edinburgh and G asg,w Railway Compatv wa ted to have the present lit e connected tiiTh their scilime alone, and hence the oppositi,n had been got up in order to defeat the Bill. For that purpose this care about the Barger to the canal in the crossing under it was mooted, but he (Mr. Hope) submitted that no case of real difficulty or danger had been made out. Whatever danger, however, there might be, the promoters of the Bill were willing to leave the direction of the works to any neutral engineer that might be ap pointed, and in that shape he left the Bill for the decision of the Committee. The room was then cleared for the decision. On the re-admission of the parties, The CHAIRMAN intimated that it was the opi n i on of the proved, with a t Helenburgh. They further intended that the works at th e the ex Commit c t e t p e t e fo t n h a of t s h o e m p u rea ch m o b f l i e t o a f s r t e h l e ate ß d il t l o 'N t .a h s e crossing of the canal should be left to a neutral engineer. The clauses were then agreed to, Mr. Walker failing or, him, Mr. Leslie, of Edinburgh, the engineers to be referred to regarding the works. The Committee then adjourned. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from Warrington in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. POOR-LAW. - Mr. ROUND presented petitions from Essex, praying for an alteration in the Poor-law Bill. Mr. BANKES presented petitions from Buckingham, praying for an alteration in the Poor Removal Act. LUNACY. Mr. T. DUNCONIBE presented petitions praying for an alteration of the law with respect to lunacy. COUNTY BUILDING'S BILL. This Bill was read a third time. MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. Petitions against this Bill were presented by Sir W CLAY, from medical practitioners carrying on business in the Tower Hamlett' ; and by Mr., ENTWISLE, from a place in Lancashire, in favour of it. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. Petitions were presented in favour of this Bill by Mr. P. HOWARD, from medical practitioners carrying on business in Carlisle ; and by the Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY, from a place in Surrey. THE CASE OF MRS. SHUTTLEWORTH. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from Dr. Quaill, surgeon, of Howland-street, Fitzroy-square, stating that he was Mrs. Shuttleworth's medical adviser (whose case has repeatedly appeared in The Sun in our reports of the law courts), and complaining that that lady had been forcibly removed from his care, and placed in confinement in York House, Battersea, and that he had been assaulted by a City policeman—(Laughter)—and by a Dr. Wil'mot, in their successful endeavour to remove Mrs. Shuttlewurth fry m his care. lie further stated that the lady was "no more mad than he was," and prayed the Hen ,e to make an inquiry._ DE rEc TING EMBEZZLEMENT BY A BARRACK- MASTER. Captain PECHELL prented a petition from Mr. Duncan Nl.liityre, formerly of Fort WilHim, stating that he had prevented a barrack master from embezzling the money with which he was entrusted, and complain ing th-a he had not received the reward to which he was entitled, under an Act passed in the reign of William 111., and praying the House to interfere and do him u,tice. AMBERGATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON. ANT) EASTERN JUNCTION RAILWAY CoMPANY.. On the motion of Mr. GISBORNE, the petition of this company, presented May 7, was ordered to be re ferred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders, for their report to the House, whether the Committee on the Great Northern Railways (Deviations between London and Grantham) Bill, ought to entertain the said petition. MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. Mr. HUME presented a petition from sever4l medi cal practitioners in favour of the Medical Bill now before the House. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SCOTTISH LAW. The same HON. MEMBER also presented a petition from the magistrates and town council of the Royal borough of Forfar, taking notice that there were before the House five or six Bills for promoting certai❑ reforms in the law of Scotland, and praying that those Bills might speedily pass into a law. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. The same Hox. MEMBER presented a petition from the carpenters and joiners of St. James's in favour of the Health of Towns Bill.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition in favour of the Median' Regulation Bill. Lord MORPETH presented petitions in favour of the Health of Towns Bill from the following places:—Hull, Bethnall Green, Skelton, near the Potteries, Newcastle upon-Ty n , . the City of Durham, Halifax, the Tower Hamlets, Essex, Bridgewater, Worcester, St. Maryle bone, Horseley Down, Stockton-on-Tees, Great Yar mouth, Westminster, and All Saints, Poplar.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. G. PALMER wished to know whether it was the intention of the Noble Lord who promoted the Health of Towns Bill to press those clauses which authorised the compulsory purchase of waterworks? Lord MORPETH was understood; to say that some modification of the clauses would be introduced. - Sir G. GREY:presented a petition from Winchester in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. Mr. Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the bar, and summoned the House to the bar of the House of Lords, to hear the royal assent given by commission to several public and private Bills (for which see our Lord's report). BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that on Thurs day, the 21st inst., he would move that, after that day. the orders of the day should take precedence of notices of motion on Thursday. HERITABLE PROPERTIES (SCOTLAND) BILL. Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY presented a petition from Inverary against the Heritable Property (Scot land) Bill. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL. Sir JAMES GRAHAM presented a petition against the Medical Practitioners Bill. POOR REMOVAL BILL—LAW OF SETTLE- .47E NT. Mr. MILES presen'ed petitions against the Poor Removal Act of last session, and praying for the aboli tion of the law of settlement, and the enactment of a national rate. SUSPENSION OF THE NAVIGATION-LAWS. Mr. MITCHELL wished to ttAc the Noble Lord at the head of the Treasury, whether he intended to pro pose a further suspension of the navigation-laws with respect to the importation of corn, and also another question, which he hopd the Noble Lord would not an.,wer, unless he had pre-viously considered it, as it was of very considerable importance. The question was, whether he intend " d to move t h e suspens i on of the na vigation-laws with respect to the importation of all other goods? Lord J. RUSSELL said that, on an early dap, he intended t o move the suspension of th e Navigation -Laws with respect to corn. but that the object of the other question had not been sufficiently considered. and he must, therefore, defer the answer to a future statement. SANATORY STATE OF TOWNS. Mr. AGLIONBY wished to ask a question oFihe Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Fcrests as to the course which he intended to pursue with respect to the Health of Towns Bill, as his intentions appeared not to be understo.d. lli,l he intend to content himself merely with reprinting the Bill, and then throw it aside, or did he intend to proceed with any part of it during the present session ? Lord MORPETII said that he proposed to proceed with a part of the Bill this session, and to apply it to those towns from which petition had been presented by the rated inhabitants. THE THETIS FRIGATE. _ _ Lord INGESTRIE wished to inquire of the Secre tary of the Admiralty, whether the money paid for the use of the ships employed for the recovery of the treasure lost in the Thetis, and what was its amount? Mr. WARD said that the sum of 13,6721. had been carried to the credit of the country for the use of these ships. He had inquired of the Accountant-General of the Admiralty, and had fund that a sum was paid in the month of September 1834, and again in 1835, and again in 1836. BATHS AND WASHHOUSES. Mr. BANNERMAN said he wished to ask the Secre tary of State for the Home Department whether it was his intention to bring in a Bill to extend the provisions of the Baths and Washhouses Act of last session? Sir G. GREY said the draft of a Bill for that purpose had been submitted to him, but he must give it his careful consideration before he could say whether he should be prepared to adopt the whole of it. AGRICULTURAL TEANNTS 4 BILL. Tn reply to a question from Mr. AGLIONBY, Mr. DENISON said he believed the Hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Pusey), intended to-morrow to an nounce the withdrawal of his Azrieultural Tenants' Bil►. HIGH DUTIES ON PROVISIONS. Mr. lIITME wished to know whether her Majesty's Government were prepared to take into their considers ttou the reduction of the high duties which were impo.cd or. sever 1 articles of food, such as butter, cheese, &c. If the Noble Lord was not prepred to answer the ques tion. then perhaps he would do so on Friday. Lord JOHN RtISSEI,L was understood to agre'4 to the latter suggestion of the O Hon. )ember for Montrose. COURT F R Mr. TlOlt';q4A — N , --- z,Lve notice that on Thursday be should ask she Noble Lord at the head of the Govern ment whether it was his intention to take advantage of the favourable circumstances which novv existed for en deavouring to estahish diplomatic relations with the Court of Rome? GROUP L. The Committee met this morning at twelve. Present, Mr. Bankes, in the chair, Mr. Carew, Sir B. Hall, Mr. Hind ley, and Mr. Henley. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, KILMARNOCK, AND AYR, AND AYRSHIRE AND BRIDGE OP WEIR (NO. six). The CHAIRMAN said Mr. Hope might proceed, if he thought proper to do so after the strong opinion expressed by the Committee that they would not grant the Bill. Mr. HOPE assured the Committee that their recommenda tion had been considered, and that most carefully, but he trusted to be able to show reasons wherefore the company should proceed. The statement put in before the Com mittee showed that the balance of mortgaged debt only amounted to 318,0754 on a share capital of 3,854,5661.- The Bills sanctioned by Parliament had a capital of 1,966,0001., and the company had already sixty-six miles of railway made and opened. It appeared, therefore, that the whole amount of debt on a capital of 3,854,5661. subscribed for and available, did not amount to one-tenth of the whole capital. Besides this, it ought to be recollected that Bills applied for this year, and included in the data upon which the Commissioners had founded their report, had been lost on the standing orders to the amount of near 2,000,0004 and also that the Act of Parliament gave them the power of borrowing to the amount of 400,000/. These considerations bore inspection, and the company would not suffer from comparison with the financial practice of any other before Parliament. So much for the financial status of the company. But now for the scheme projected by the Bill. i i r o . ned Th b i y s - h P r a a r h l i c a h me w n as t tr a , h ,m ort J ; o h then -1 Ayr s Last o stone e Company to year the alin Bridge line h w a a s d of sanctioned Nin 'ec powers t to lease the line, but it was thoughtmoArerr Company. desirab T le to amalgamate hatwas it one altogether object with theof the Bill. Again, Parliament had so far commit ted themselves to the present project, for the traffic to the Bridge of Weir and Crossley formed a large im portant element in the case for the Bill last year. But these places were still unsupplied, and the Bill proposed to meet that. A third object of the Bill was to continue the line down to Port Glasgow, a distance of nine miles. The same project was before the Committee last year, and was thrown out only on the engineering difficulties, when the line joined the Greenock Railway at an incline of 1 in 7a. It now avoided the Greenock station, by joining the line a quarter of a mile before, and with half a mile of a dead level. Port Glasgow was a harbour of very considerable import ance. It was included in a Bill promoted in 1837 by the Greenock Company,, and powers were obtained to make a rail way to the port ; but, as Greenock port was a competing harbour, these forms were neglected and allowed to expire. In 1840 powers were again sought by the Greenock Company, and obtaned, to make the branch. A clause was inserted, binding them to make the branch in five years, and open it at the same time with the Greenock branch ; but it was not made. Now, the importance of Port Glasgow was such as not to deserve this. The customs last year amounted to 135,800/. It was important to bring up the Ayrshire coals to compete with those front Lunatic, and also to offer a means of ballast to the outward-bound vessels. There was another branch 171 , miles long, from Kilmacolm to Largs by lnnerkipp. But, in deference to the committee they were prepared to postpone that this Year, deducting from the proposed capital an amount of 380,600/., and they took their stand on the other branches, which might be made for 99 0,000/. Sir B. HALL said his own opinion was, admitting all the statements of counsel, that the branch to Port Glasgow was entirely to be made from minerals, that a case had not been made out for the prea'rble of the Bill except for the amal gamation, and for the Bridge of Weir and Crossley Mill branches, if these were unopposed. The CHAIRMAN intimated that that was the opinion of the Committee. Mr. Miller, engineer in chief, who was called on these two branches, said, when the Bridge of Weir line was passed last year, it was thought proper that it should be leased to the Ayr Company, but it was believed better that it should be vested in the company entirely. The two branches t o th e Bridge of Weir and Crossley-Mill were very short and very necessary, and not opposed. The estimate was under 30,0001. The preamble of the Bill for these objects was then de clared proved. _ Mr. Hs u% said they would withdraw their opposition to the preamble of the next Bill, if a clause were inserted giving the Ayr Company running powers over the Linwood Branch down to Port Glasgow. After some conversation, in which the Committee evinced an opinion that this should be conceded, it was agreed to consider this privately to-morrow, and therefore the consi deration of the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Amendments and Branches), and the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (branches to Port Glasgow). was postponed till to-morrow. PAISLEY AND RENFREW (SALE AND PRO VEMEN T). Sir T. Pliti.x.irs said this Bill was to all intents unop posed. The object of the Bill was to sell the railway and to complete the works and improve them, for which a Bill already existed. The Clyde trustees opposed it, but the Admiralty had given their consent, and a petition against it was put i❑ by the Barrhead and Neilston Railway Company. Mr. MILLER said the Paisley and Renfrew Railway had been acquired by the Ayr Company, and was to be improved by. widening the rails from 4 feet 6 inches to 4 feet Bfr inches throughout. That was necessary, and several large works at the part now proposed were also necessary. The estimate was 38,000/. The preamble was declared proved, and the clauses were read and agreed to. The Committee then adjourned till Thursday. GROUP LI. THE NORTH BRITISH. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock; Sir John Yarde Buller, chairman. There was a full attendance of the members of the Committee. Mr. Miller, civil engineer, Was cross-examined by Mr. FORSYTH, on the part of Miss Anderson, of Clifton Lodge, and re-examined by Mr. BURKE, on the general merits of the line, after which, Mr. WHATELEY addressed the Committee for Miss Ander so►,, whose property he contended would be destroyed by the line. The room was then cleared, and on the re-admission of the public, Tile CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee were of opinion that North British Railway Company had not made out a satisfactory one, and they decided, therefore, that the preamble was not proved. Mr. COCKBURN then proceeded to reply for the Caledonian Company. lie was glad to find that the decision just ar rived at wi:uld confine the observations he had to make within somewhat narrower limits ; and he trusted that when the whole circumstances of the case were laid before the Committee the opposition which was given by the Dumfries and Carlisle Company would be equally unsuccess ful. That opposition divided itself naturally into two dis tinct branches—first, against the leasing power granted to the Caledonian Company, in the last session of Parliament, of th , t portion of the Dumfries scheme which was compre hended in the branch between Annan anti Springfield; and, s ec o ndly, the powers which they sought to obtain for making i line to Brampton, and other branches. To the first of these objections he would direct the attention of the Committee ; and here it wou l d be necessary to review (and h e should do so as rapidly as pos sible) the events of the last few years, in as fr.r as these affected the interests of these rival schemes. It would be remembered, that when the Caledonian schemes were first projected, Mr. Locke and Mr. Errington were appointed to survey the line of country from Carlisle to the nortii of Scot land, with the view of laving out one great line which should afford the best accornmohtion for the southern traffic, at the same time that it did not overlook the local requirements. These gentlemen, in their report, recommended that the line should be .taken round by Annan and L.,:ekerby, and thence carried northwards through the centre of the country, then dividing—one fork being car ried west to Glasgow, and the other south to Edinburgh. This scheme was submitted to the Royal Commissioners. who recommended triaiacieviation A bouidbomade, leaving Annan to the south, and the promoters deviated accordingly. The Board of Trade, by a subsequent report, confirmed the Royal Commissioners, and gave the preference toopitnhioneCs of theentral or Catedonian line over its two competitors— G t h l e a s .N g ' o . w r t , h D ß u r rn i ti f s r h i e , s o , r andE as c t j C ri i i i s a l s e t line, (n tl, o e n o thethe other. n side,oh n 1 84 a 5 n t d h t es h e e lines came before the Legislature, and the Dumfries, which announced that its object was to supply the local wants of themw:rse7so ct country,chsesiul; but, a ot • n a h siatdespite proceedingstliheect succeeded otiej(ei oppositioniLnogr Lord, ei hisir) t g I 4 clientst b h l; s clause 'in serted w, s fa er r t f e o d rt i u n na t t h e e Dumfries Company's Bill, as which he of pro tection to their through traffic, a Company Lad not p th re e te C n o d m ed mi t t o tee as t k o . rer l n v e e m n b ; ;r ha th t accepted their Bill with this clause; they brought it dow n to the House of Commons, and th ere , and in the i House of Lerd s , not a wor d of protest was e n t ere d against insertion, and they ac cepted it in its present condition at the hands of the Legis lature. What was the contsheequence? This, that the Cale doniangwhetr,etvbis;kthh e t A he ct tain ri D of umfries Company Legislature vested with a cor set aside. Could anything now sought to be more monstrous? The Cale donian Company sought to protect themselves; they had had the sanction of the Royal Commission ; they had been pro nounced the best line by the Board of Trade, after a minute, and patient, and searching investigation; and, lastly, they had received the confirmation of Parliament itself. In the confidence that no other main line would be promoted through this district, the promoters of the Caledonian Com pany had invested their capital, they had constructed their line, and they looked with security to the implied compact entered icto with the Government. This Company now came forward to ask one section of the Legislature to set aside an Act of Parliament, and what was the reason they a dv a n c ed? They distrusted the Caledonian Railway. They surmised that certain obstructions would b e t h rown in tI way of their traffic between Annan and Springfield. Who ever heard of reasoning like this ? Why it was the interest of the Caledonian Company to encourage the traffic upon their line, and the very be s t security for their abstinence from all obstruction wo u ld h e found i n their owninterests. The Learned Counsel then proceeded at great length to show that the branches sought tor by the Dumfries Company to be constructed to the east belorged properly to the Cale donian, and could be better supplied by them ; and he ridi -1 culed the id ea t h at an export an d i mport trade could be es tablished between Kirkc.ndbright and Ireland. He entreated the Committee to affirm the decision of the kloa:x of Lords, ■ ed )of