The Sun. — London, England, 1847-01-30 00:00:00

imPERTAT, P4Pl',l,AmFN'r ROUSE OF LORDS, Jan. 29. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. IMMIGRATION OF IRISH PAUPERS. Eat! FITZWILLIAM said that he had observed, on the other evening, that a great impression had been made by the statement of his Net)le s od Learned Friend who sat opposite (Lord Breughaie) of the great number of Irish poor who had recently been relieved in Liverpool. He was sure that their Lordships must be aware that those poor who had re cently arrived in Liverpool had not stayed there.—(l.ord Brougham—" Oh no, no 1") They were not resident there. Therefore let not Noble Lords, who were uncon nected with Lancashire, imagine that they could get off scot free. Lord BROUGHAM—True, they might overrun the West Riding. —(Laughter.) Zed FITZWILLIAM—They would, go on to Man chester ; they would go through the East Riding on to Lincolnshire, and to Norfolk ; and the landlords of Suf folk would not escape the infliction. Let, them, there fore, not imagine that the evil was removed from their doors. This Irish distress was not local one ; it, would affect the whole empire; and there vitas no way, he imagined, in which he could more strongly display the evil than by moving for an official return on that. He would, therefore, move for a return of the number of persons, distinguishing men, women, and children, who had been relieved as casual poor in the town of Liverpool, from the Ist Janu ary, 1847, distin g uishing also the English, Scotch, and Irish; and with respect to the Irish distinguishing those resident at Liverpool from those who had recently arrived. He moved also for a similar return from Bristol. Lord BROUGHAM—And Glasgow and Greenock. Glasgow is much worse than Liverpool. Lord MONTEAGLE—Say the ports on the Clyde. Earl FITZWILLIAM—And the ports on the Clyde ; also a similar return for the corresponding period of 1846. Lord BROUGHAM said, since he had last addressed their Lordships upon this painful subject, he had received a letter from a gentleman at Liverpool, named Horseley, a large wholesale warehouseman there, in which he stated that from the reports in the newspapers he had seen that some observations were addressed by him (Lord Brougham) to their Lordslips upon the subject of the great influx of Irish pa u p e rs to Liverpool. He stated in his letter that the number of persons relieved on Thurs day the 22d amounted to 22,640. What, the writer went on to say, would be the fearful increase might be easily con • jectured. The poor rate at present levied was 2s. 3-id. in the pound, and he himself paid 901. for his portion of the poor rate. A tabular statement was also enclosed showing the amount of the relief from the 18th to the 26th inclusive. He would not trouble the House with the details of each day, but the total number amounted to 173,538. Soup rations amounted to between 7,000 and 8,000. The amount of out-door relief was also considerably increased. The increase at present amounted to 408/., of this, 378/. had been expended upon Irish paupers. This would give their Lordship: a pretty tolerable indsx of the propOrtion of Irish paupers in Liverpool. The result was that nineteen twentieths of the pauper population were Irish paupers. This was a subject which required great delicacy in its management. If they were to go on month after month relieving the people at this rate, what would be the result ? He had seen a letter this morning from a friend of his who had re• ceived it from his bailiff in Ireland, stating that it was quite impossible to go on with the cultivation of land, as at that moment he required 100 labourers, and could not get them, they being all too anxious to obtain employment on the public works, because they well knew that they could get good pay for it, while the value of their work was not worth 2d. It was clear that the Irish pauper did not like work. He regarded with apprehension the state giving money by mil lions to the people for these useless works. Ile knew it might be said, how cruel, not to give the public money to these starving people for doing nothing. It had been said that men were exceedingly generous of things when they were other people's money and their own advice. This adage applied very well to these sentimental people, who were so fond of blaming persons who were opposing this squandering of the public money. They were, however, the best friends to the labourers themselves, who told them not to Support a system which was calculated to make them Mendicantsupon the British public, and take away from them all self reliance upon their own exertions. He hadlt one subject t o w hi c h he would briefly allude. had been stated in the report of his speech, of last night that he had said that there was a society engaged in the work of proselytizing the Catholic pau ptheirnsi.n Ireland. H e (Lord brougham) said no such g , what lie said wrs, that a letter was written by a v e w en i u r h d b e g h n e t I e statedm , w t h h o a s t e nameit d be an in wo h u e l wouldno t mention, opportunity for mem b ers of Protestant es to subscrib e a sum of 20,000/. b e mis sion to p romulgate the tenets to of excellenteprxupteeantdaendtiaimn.a Thereasons why the Rev. Gentleman considered the present a favourable opportunity, were, as he hdadhstated,lthat the Roman C a th o li c peasantry had conciliated and thei r prejudices removead t no eil d ' ou fe b e t i t a o g a s great degree by the generous relief which had been afforded so promptly in the ti m e of their s evere di stresses by the Prote s t ants o f E ng l an d. He had n o d ou b t t h at the proceedin of the Reverend Gentlemen w ere we ll intended, but he gs should try at the proper tim e w h en the circumstances were more favourable to overcome, what h e (L or d Brougham) considered the grievous errors, political, moral, and religious, of popery, by the introduction of the p r i nc i p l es of Protestantism, , and the circulating of the scriptures. He objected, however, to the present opportunity being taken ad vantage of, in order to forward the Protestant faith. Earl FITZWILLIAM was of opinion that unless the relief committees of the district from which the letter referred to by the Noble and Learned Lord, acted in a different manner to what the relief committees did elsewhere, he did not see how the evils complained of could arise to any great extent. If a proprietor or farmer wanted labourers and could not get them in the , ordinary way, it be applied to the relief committee, there Was no doubt that they would discharge as many from the public works as would be required for that purpose. There was no doubt that that the labourers preferred employment on the roads to the ordinary em ployment, as the rate of wages was higher. still the relief committee had the power of regulating this to a great extent. He had received a letter from one of the bailiffs of his estates in Ireland the other day, from which it appeared that the wages paid by the farmers was eightpence a day. The wages paid by his bailiff was one shilling a day, while the relief committee paid from thirteen to fourteen pence a day; so that the labourers preferred his (Lord Fitz william's) employment to the farmers', and the relief-committee to both. He was not anuch alarmed as to anything that had transpired up to this period, as little had been going forward in the cul tivation of the land, but as February and March were the principal months for cultivation, and, this state of things continued, he would have greater apprehension that there would not be sufficient labourers found to cul tivate the soil.—(Hear, hear.) Lord BEAUMONT was of opinion that a Select Com mittee on the operation of the Law of Settlement should be appointed by their Lordships, as well as the one which had been appointed by the Lower House. He thought this was necessary, as the most erroneous impres sions prevailed as to the operation of the Law of Settle ment pasr,ted last year. The Earl of ROI)EN wished to know how far the question of the Noble Lord had been replied to, and how far it was the intention of the Ministry to amend the Labour-Rate Act of last seession. By that Act it was competent for the farmer to apply to the Board of Works for any number of la bourers he might require. By that Act the labourers were under the direction of the Board of Public Works, and if any farmer required labourers, he had nothing to do but to apply to that Board. But what was the fact of the case? Supposing a farmer wanted labourers on his farm,, would he apply to that Beard ? He might do so, but if he lived in a lonely part of the country, or if he resided in a thatched house, he never could depend upon his life being safe for an hour, should he employ any labourer who was not patronised by the secret as sociations. He thought that the Government ought to lee warned by the extent of the effect to which this Act went, and he trusted that some measures would be taken to amend its provisions. One thing of which he had to cotnplain was, that occasion had been taken to sow religious jealousies. It had been stated that a hope was entertained that this visitation would be beneficial in promoting the Protestant faith, and thus knitting the interests of that country with this, one of the great est adva stages, as he cen2eiyed, derivable f. om this cala mity, and one of the greatest consolations, arose from the fact that all religious differences were sunk in the cowmen (muse of charity. The calamity existed, and they coulel not hinder it. and the union of political and religious feeling was the greatest consolation that any one coteld possibly enjoy under • the infliction was the feeling that existed on this point. If they spent thousands; upon thou -ands they would not prevent it, and he regretted therefore the more on those two ac counts that the name of a gentleman had been men tioned by the Noble Lord who had just sat down with out that ;respect to it which was entitled. It had been stated that this was a good opportunity for uniting Ireland with England, and making converts to Protestantism. With this assertion had he joined the name of:a gentleman whose best answer to the attack vias the history of his lite. There was not a mart higher in the estimation of those with whom I li had, to deal, not one whose conduct under ti at difficulty would have been more worthy of praise; no one whose character more combined the character of the genel eman an d t h e c l erg yman than that of M r . Ilickerste?th. His character was fully established in this 7 un trY, and no one would regret more than that gen Leman. et a time when all religious differences were suok under the sufferings of the common calamity, if his Observations serve to be made a cause of difference be tween the two countries. few Lord BROUG lIAM would exceedingly regret if a words of his were to be considered as originating any atte.el; upon the e xce ll ent clergyman to whom his No ble Pr end had alluded, for he felt convinced that Any oe servcei such as h e had been represented to ha% e made wo uld only be a cause of increased misery in Ireland, a nd Lead t o a greater breach between the professions of the two religions th e n n ew exi s t e d. UNION WORKHOUSES AND ruE DUBLIN POLIi 'E. the The Marq u i s o f LANSDOWNE laid upon th e table returns of the expediture in these two departments. SPANISH MARRIAGES. - there The E ar l of ABERDEEN wished to ask ;bother was any intention un the part of the Government 1 ° lay on th e ta bl e the last dispatch which had been rc cnei_ved, from. the Marquis o f Normauby with respect to 12.11111311 martiages. It appeared to him but reason- f` lEF. d by order of scriptions for ling food for !onarrEE Lblin Castle, urth desires to prevailing in 71111 or unavail. has au thorised tented ratio on ent of destitd i will be equal rester amount n the first Ps' w of gr atuitol.. s . sans , and ch it family is in° . stain theothe g rounds , . the com et St priCe i fb r COten 2ttee 2 applicable nt regul eti l the lesser rer lists as roni the 51411 lam . E them, to ssar, loci: L have been .o ..„1 ill be man a g e " its mem bert,.. certificate 7, ,structioao ze Ls place— -A at th e the lieutenr:o she instructv to for= IP' for graut u il e , vided for .00. tieing the t. to the Vir e o ° ,mmittees, .41 emen ding, IR A . eq uested teL, ocessio e '' ad. ved y eraP•°. id I n only b e P fl o 'here be ing !ur red ° ao [lour to be , " Socretari. 110 - U S DUBI-1114. ie hours of s.,, ne d a most dal?Pale d 5 (610 1 ' • oe Ar ch Thomas mile out half 14 f r be inmates f bo id, Arou sa i. nt sevor e° o ,nced in The servant. forc e ,uring P She to resistTrej oaded, Lle D ot t o reel, but vo lley ° s 1 06; a miracle' , it o. k e n . on the the iccess lo tt t det who, in ec to tat lIIIPP ea . t he* Rol; "gn Air A r Act) , • c o a positie jsre d and den. the bowels of ber founded intil I c ' a Ev jei re , had re' tbeir t to fIY , s beir varmth of, n Of . ern A aad 61- : 300—f pgle ihe can' Nag the d a y- -is Of nex t TOKE 1 1 1 ' 1 ,j , )UTH-0.7 rej ele' generalf opening e te diti ,its p r even Friday an 1 "0,y miles f? 011 1 0 01 mld have c. c ie .ed the,_? h f ilt le miscue by b 10 _ 13 ,1 4/ oaq ,iced, Al ) " or; y es terdatoo „ as, a ccolor; this time u a o migh t acl.e , oti c) Fortunately to i pproa ch eto spectatertooti ible inbj e arriva l 11 th e Al° t 4 .4 ras g reeb_ a bo , sin aPP P IIAI' ' e n by P A r ' r ocsag.. riages. we igh I s of the aad ed citizen, to o bring Tile pose.ile a Mr' AcCir S i s• ° George - ,,d,0 0 D e ceits - 0o oe er b v3gg ro° " ' at C Olll S e ff .... w hee ' to o u und ° A l le ga n under 7.0 Aces' pi; yo ung 'fey ( of r ; gs , Id otbetwuh'eo r i or so t w ' l3c .ere ;)y B "page t ' rape' t bol°' St. 133 r OD N'S 4r- _ WeUn- 01l 50' b ,f the r ' sv itU " , sc atch , Ver. pro. p gler . eu • m orely to sup pob o i: at , n, after „ e f„r e, Cub 3 131 :: ft that_Pceopt e' t io na at La was forms u 5 13°d°' . 3 , 311 e W C3' f 133 ' °WO 0 t31 0 . 5 b _ c : b " lewat i gent ho pe last 42/ ti 4 rel , U [IIT THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 80, 1.847. s' ale that as the correspohdence Iliad begun by them lle was not going to give any opinion en the sub ject matter of that correspondence, and he hoped that the House woJld not be called to give such an opinion—(Cheers). But he ventured to state that he had a very strong belief that this House and the coun try would desire to see that correspondence come to a termination—(Renewed cheering). It was now con titeied teit hew aim et- practical ebj pet, and he wes only afraid that if it was centinued still further in the tone and temper which it had now assumed, he could anly apprehend that it might cause a disruption of friendly understanding, and lead to serious mischief. The Marquis of LANSDO'iVNE, who was very in audible, was understood to say that the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had only on that morning been put in pessession of a copy of the answer to the dispatch referred to by the N. Earl, and he (Lord Lanschavne)had not yet had an opportunity of seeing it. But he would at the earliest opportunity lay it on the table of their Lordships' House. He could assure their Lordships that her Majesty's Government were not in the slightest degree inclined to suppress, or withdraw, any information, nor to withhold any one circumstance attending this transaction. Lord BROUGHAM said that every body must feel the justice, fairness, as well as candour, of the answer of the Noble Marquis, and they musttall agree in the hope expressed by the Noble Earl behind him that this cor respondence were better ended. THE CASE OF MR. R. W. MARA, LATE RE GISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES IN IRE LAND. The Earl of ST. GERMANS, in presenting a peti tion from Mr. Mara, c mplaining of his removal from the office of Registrar of Friendly Societies in Ireland, proceeded to state that, at the close of last session, a Bill upon the subject of Friendly Societies was brought from the other House, which was referred to a select Committee of their Lordships. The Committee pro n•eded to consider this Bill, and among its enactments was one adding a considerable amount of duty to the office of Registrar in Iceland, without at the same time giving any additional emolument. The Noble Earl then referred to the correspondence which had taken place on the matter, and to the opinion of the Attorney General of Ireland, and of Mr. Napier of the Irish Bar. It the opinion of the Attorney General of Ireland wai correct, all the proceedings of Mr. Tidd Pratt, with respect to friendly societi s, was null and void.—(Hear, hear.) He would not push the matter further at present, nor did he bring the matter forward for the purpose of em barrassing the Noble Lords opposite. He would con clude by moving that the correspondence which had taken place between her Majesty's Government and Mr. Mara, in ct,nseqte nee of his being removed from the offi c e of registrar- of friendly societies in Ireland, be laid on the table of ill. ir Lordship's Hou-e. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE begged to claim the attention of the House fir a few inoMents, after the statement which had been made by the Nob! Lord, in order to explain under what circum• stances the appointment had been made. He was not acquainted with the particulars of this transaction until within the last twenty-four hours, and he considered it his du y to inform himself of them, which he considered he had fully done. It was quite true that Mr. Tin! I Pratt, who holds this office, had never been removed, to which he had been well entitled from his long and useful exertions in reference to these societies. But in Ireland anti Scotland it had been an established practice that the gen Leman office should also be in the c eilidence of the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, and it was in pursuance of this very practice that Mr. Mara was appointed. There being a change in the Attorney-General, only Mr. Green suc ceeded to that office. The person who held the ap pointmenteas certifier, of friendly societies, only appears as a claimant until the right of the last A ttorney-Ge neral'a Act came into operation. Nei. her has this species of temporary appointment been considered per. manent. Whether the Act had recently altered the practice and created a necessity which cli,l not before exist, he was not aware, but it was essential that the person filling the office should be in the confidence of the officials whom he had already made. From this statement the question was narrowed into the question, whether under the circumstances, the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals had not done that which was best fur the public interests, in combining the two offices. It was no doubt to be regretted that Mr. Mara, who was a respectable person, should have been disappointed in not obtaining the office ; still he submitted there was no thing extraordinary in the proceedings of the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, in regard to the present appoint ment. He hoped the Noble Lord would not press his motion. Earl ST. GERMANS called the attention of the Noble Marquis to the words of the Act of Parliament. It stated, whether right or wrong was not the question, that the two offices referred to should be combined, and that the barrister or advocate who had hitherto certified the rules of benefit societies, should in future be styled Registrar of Benefit Societies, and appointed by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the Naticnal Debt, the situation being held during pleasure. The appoint ment was therefore in the hands of the Commissioners, and not the Attorney or Solicitor-General. As Mr. Mara had held the office previous to the Act coming into operation, ho thought he had been badly used in his removal. Marquis of CLANRICARDE—The difference in the practice of Ireland and Scotland was this, that the Attorney General for the time being in Ireland, and the Lord-Advocate for the time being in Scotland, were to appoint these persons, and the question then was, whether the intention of the Legislature was to confine the appointment to the Attorney-General at the time being, referring to the passing of the Act, or to the time being when the vacancy in question might occur. After some further conversation, the motion was then withdrawn. Their Lordships adjourned at half-past six o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Jan. 29. The SPEAKER took his seat at Four o'clock. SECOND READINGS. On the motion of Mr. PARKER, the Birkenhead and Cheshire Junction Railway (deviation of main line, &c.), and the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway, and Chester and Birkenhead Railways Amal gamation Bills, were read a second time. On the motion of Mr. H. BERKELEY, the Bristol and Exeter Railway (Taunton and Cas.lecary branch) Bill was read a seem(' time. On the motion of Mr. E W ART, the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2), aid the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carl►sle R, ilway, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway' (No. 4) Bills, were read et second t►me. On the motion of Dr. BOWRING. the Llynvi Valley Extension Railway Bill was read a second time. On the motion of Alderman COPELAND, the North Staffordshire Railway (alterations in branches) and the North Staffordshire Railway (Churnet Valley and Trent Valley Junction) Bills were read a second time. On the motion of Sir E. FILNIER, the following Bills were read a second time, in order to be committed: South Easi:ern Railway (Mid Kent and Direct Tun bridge). South-Eastern Railway (Croydon and Bromley Branches) South-Eastern Railway (Maidstone to Chart). South. Eastern Railway (Strood to Maidst,ne). South• Eastern Railway (North Kent and Bricklayers' Arms Junction). South-Eastern Railway (North Kent Line). COMMITTEE OF SELECTION. Mr. GREEN moved that it be an instruction to the Committee of Selection not to appoint the sitting of any Committee on. Bills for town improvements, markets and fairs, harbours and docks, cemeteries, gas works, water w Tits, lir any Bills for the amendment of Acts for any of the,above purposes before the Ist of March next. After a few words from Dr. Bowring, Mr. Wilson Patten, Lord Harry Vane, and Mr. Hudson, Mr. HUME supported the motion. He thought that there ought to be general measures passed applicable to all the various orders of private Bills ; persons then wishing to present any private Bill would have only to adopt one paragraph or so, instead of the numerous clauses and lengthy Bills now n quired, creating by their enactment an enormous amount of confusion. The motion was agreed to. LIG lITLI OUS ES. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from the inhabi tants of Scilly, praying that the lighthouse dues might be reduced. Home Department heard of this matter, he concurred CM- }lmre) in r rire;pl , -. end he 'iey e d. trout what he stated, that a Bit of icily descrit i Awn woti.tt be agreed to by the House. One great ollj• - ct to be effected by what he proposed would be unanimity ; the next would be a saving of time. As great a reduction in tly expense in the proceedings in reference to Bills as two•thhirds would be effected. These were matters of great importance. It would be found in many parts where lighting, draining, &c., were required, that the inhabitants were prevented from coming to Parliament by the attendant expenses. He was acquainted with one case the expense of which would be scarcely believed by the House. It was for the renewal of a Bill, and the cost was considerably over 1,9001. He had asked the solicitor, and he candidly admitted that the charge was three times more than he was accustom, c 1 to demand, but justified his conduct by the prac tice that prevailed gener.illy. The Committee had also considered what change should be introduced into the legislation on private Bills. He thought that it might be interesting to the House to know that the town of Liverpool alone had laid out no less a sum than 87,0001. in applications for Bills since the period of the Reform - Act. The town of Glasgow had expended a sum of 67,000/. He could multiply examples, but it was not necessary. He had every reason to believe that the measures recommended by the Committee would have the most beneficial effects, and would also save a great portion of the time of the House. Sir GEORGE GREY did not wish that the House should pledge itself to any di3tinct nsolution ou the subject, as he considered that before they should do so t would be advisable to have the Bills 'which had been in preparation in reference to this subject laid before the House. Through an unforeseen pressure of business, a very great delay had occurred, but they would shortly have them laid upon the table. The House would then see what Bills were still wanting. Mr. HUDSON had no objection to the three reso lutions proposed by the Hon. Member for Montrose, be lieving, as he did, that their adoption would tend very much to the efficiency: of public business. There was one other point, however, to which he wished to call the attention of the Hon. Member, and which was very de • serving of his attention, namely, the fees of the House. Now, in many cases, these amounted to the whole charges besides. He trusted, therefore, to draw the attention of the Hon. Gentleman to this subject, and hoped he would move for a Committee to inquire into it, with a view to reduce the scale of fees. It was a subject of great public importance, and ought not to be lost sight of. He had found, that year by year, the fees of the House increased enormously. Mr. HUME would be satisfied to leave the matter in the Speaker's hands. The fees paid to the House were only fractional, compared with the expenses of a Bill out of doors, and he thought a Bill ought to be drawn up to regulate the expense of passing a private Bill. He was willing, however, to lea ,, e that to the Speaker, and it only remained for him to withdraw the motion. Be was Oil to have the concurrence of the lionournble Member tor Sunderland, because it was well known the Hun. Member had had a good deal of experience in these matter:. :slr. HUDSON said he could produce an account of the expense of the Bills he had had anything to eo wide in the last two or three years. Mr. GREENE said, after what had fallen from the Hon. Member for Sunderland, be must be allowed to say a few words. The Hon. Member had stated that the fees of the House had latterly increased, year by year, to an enormous extent. Now the Hui. Gentleman omitted to state that the increase had not taken place in the fees paid to the House, hut in the fees paid to Parliamentary agents end barristers, over whom the House had no control.—(Hear, hear.) Lord HARRY VANE trusted that the Hon. Mem ber who had stated to the House that he could produce an account of all the expenses incurred by the different companies with which he had been connected in the passing of Bills through that House, would do so; and he hoped he would distinguish between those expenses payable to the officers of the House and those payable to attorneys and solicitors. Mr. HUDSON said that the Hon. Member misunder stood him if he inferred that he wished to persuade the House that the expenses were the principal items in the Bills. He only said the fees to the House were a most important item in the expenses. Dr. BOWRING said it should not be forgotten that the officers of the House were paid out of those fees. But he wished that some check should be established on the enormous infractions practised by the legal profes sion on railway companies. He greatly regretted that no means existed for checking it, and also that no in fluential Member of that HOLIS2 took up the question. The resolution was then withdrawn. Mr. WRIGHTSON gave notice that, on going into Committee on the Poor-laws in Ireland, he should move that it be an instruction to that Committee to fix a cer tain amount in the pound, leviable on the rates collected there, and that that rate should not be exceeded except by an express provision of Parliament. TOBACCO, SPIRITS, TEA, SILK, &c. On the motion of Dr. BOW RING, returns were ordered of the number of pounds weight of leaf tobacco, manufactured tobacco, ciga-s, and snuff paid duty upon quarterly, in the years 1844, 1845, and 1846, and up to the sth day of January, 1847; also, the gross amount of duty received thereon, dis tinguishing England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the respective ports of importation therein, and the totals of each quarter and year. The several seizures made, and of the prosecutions for breaches of the laws relating to tobacco, in the year ending the sth day of January, 1847, distinguishing Great Britain from those in Ireland, specifying the places where and names of the persons prosecuted, or from whom the seizures were made; the quantities and kinds of goods seized; whether fine or imprisonment imposed ; whether fine paid, or party suffered imprisonment ; for what time impri soned. The number of persons convicted for smuggling tobacco, spirits, tea, silk, and for any other articles, and the total number convicted, in the year ending the sth slay of January, 1847: also, the number of persons who paid the penalties imposed; the number of compromises made; the number of persons committed against prison ; the 8 ) r4t.7d. toAtbhace: co (ru:navtnesdnuosenf number utlffha we of imported perso ns laws, on quantity tthe ei into otf htf prison hodrea,yui g for onnfit iejndaaoffencesuu January, King dom in each of the three years 1844, 1845, and 1846 ; -tating the quantity exported from the bonded ware houses as merchandise to the British colonies, and to what colonies ; also the quantity exported as ship stores in each of these three years. Of the quantity of British manufactured tobacco exported as merehandise under drawback to the British colonies, in each of the three years 1844, 1845, and 1846; and also an account of the quantity exported as ships stores in each of these three years; of the quantity of British manufactured snuff exported in each of the three years 1844, 1845, and 1846. Of the several seizures made, and of the prosecu tions fur breach of the lawsrelative to tobacco, &c. BOYS JOINI Li THE ARMY FROII UNION WORKHOUSES.' On the motion of the-HoN. MEMBER, the following return wait also ordered :—The number of boys who have been received into the army as drummers, from parish union workhouses in the United Kingdom, year by year, from 1840, specifying the unions resrectively, down to the end of 1846. LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. GOULBOURN hoped that this Bill would be in the hands of Membf•rs to-jnorrow morning,—(llebr, hear.) If it was not delivered until Mon:lay morning it would be impossible for them to give it that attention which it deserved. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Government had been very anxious to carry down the information to the latest possible period, and there fore sonic delay had taken place. He trusted, however, that copies of the Bill would be delivered to morrow morning. IRELAND. Mr. S. O'BRIEN wished to know that course the Government intended to pursue on Monday. He be lieved it N 23 generally understood that a debate would take place on the Irish Poor-Jaw Amendment Bill on Monday. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, it was not in his power to say what course the debate would take on Monday evening. It was possible that the debate might occupy the whole night. It might, however, be necessary to state what course the Government intended to pursue with regard to the measures which they had stated their intention of . bringing f o rw ar d. H e s h ou ld f i rst proceed with the Bid for remedying the temporary distress in Ireland, or to render valid Mr. Ltbouchere's letter ; and secondly, the permanent Irish Poor-law Amendment Act. MONITENSIER MARRIAGE. Mr. FINCH wibhed to ask the S. eretary of State fur Foreign Affairs, whether he had received any com munication from M. Guizot on the subject of the Montpe•nsier marriage, or whether he had received any communication fro m th e Marquisof Normanby ; it . so, whether it was his intention to lay the same before the House? Lord PA LMERSTO N—The French Ambassador had called upon him, and be had received the communi cations in question, copies of which would be kid before the House. LETTERS OF MARQUE. On the motion that the House do R theadUjoEu.rn being put, Right Hon. I3A R theCL As Secretary r e b teagrgye ofd t s o ta c te al for lattention of the Foreign imes A of ff t a h i e rs B to th an advertisement which appeared the T inst. from the Mexican Consul, who stated that he would is h s e ue m l e le x tt i e c r a s n o t o o n tvaerrqn% Government thoseagst ai against o imighthe United engage for i e tehdadbeensent States. 'e pre I t was forty years since letters of issued, and be thought it wai p civilisation of Ettrop to countenan ce suc h a fn r i ce . He _hogged to ask the Secretary r prat Foreign Affairs whether his atten tion had been directed to such, and what means he had taken to pre ' vent the same be i ng carried into p ractice. He be gged to call the attentio n of the House to a p assa g e which app , area in the Courrier Fra n c ais on the sub j ect, wh ich, after stating that these le tters of mar q ue were bein g issued by the Mexican Government, said that an y na tive of France accepting them would be considered as having forfeited their righ ts as Frenchmen, and would be treated as pirates. L or d PALMERSTON said that when the same ques tion had been asked him some da y s back he thought he had given a satisfactory answer. He explained at the time that the advertisement in question wits merely an ad e.nent from a well•known gun -maker on Tower-hilll He had communicat, d with General M endoza, and he stated that nobody was at present autho rised in these countries to is s ue letters of marquo. His Hon. Friend had just s h own to hi m the regulations under which tho se dar tti outh letters were issued, and he referred them to the law adviser- of the Crown to consider how far they were non.istent with the laws of the realm; for it C. rtainly was not legal to equip vessels in these countries destined fo: any hostile pros; h 'a_;ainstil another nation without the express permission of the Crown, and in conformity with the Act, three vessels have been seized, having been susp - eited that. tl,e e were intended for hostile pur poses orl the co:1r. of SCOTTISH DisTßEss. Mr. DUNDAS, in the abset,ce of Mr. Mackinnon, on the order or the day being read, desired to know, whether it was the intention of the Government to take any additional measures 'dative to the distress which existed in the Western Islands and Highlands of Scot land? Sir GEORGE GREY said that the Government did not contemplate tli , e establishment of any general system of relief, in addition to those measures which the Government had already availed themselves of The Drainage Act hudeorne most opportunely, and-bad effected the most beneficial results—satisfying the proprietors as to the p ro b a bl e increase of value in the i r farms, and affording very extensive relief to a large port i on of dis tressed labourers. In addition to' this, the Govern ment had established depots for the sale of food, end they had found that these rata sures were quite sufficient to meet the present emer gim y. Parties also who applied to the Loan Com missioners might obta'n loans of money, on giving security for the repayment, to be expended on public works. Besides, grants would be made, in a few in stances, upon the other modes of relief; and the Scotch poor-law was found to be inadequate to meet the desti tution. He hoped, therefore, that by these means they would be able to_ grapple with the emergency, and that the severity of the distress would be greatly mitigated. Mr. MACKINNON wished to know, as the Govern ment proposed to advance a sum of money for the pur chase of seed for corn and potatoes in Ireland, whether, in the event of such assistance being required in the Highlands, the Government would have any objection to extend it to them? Sir G. GREY said that no application of that kind had been made from the Highlands as yet. If it should be made, the subject would meet with due consideration. Mr. ELLICE would like to know what amount of money had been expended in the Highlands by the Go vernment. Sir G. GREY had no objection whatever to lay such an account upon the table, but he believed the relief had been confined to three instances. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that there was a blue-book for Scotland as well as for Ireland, and when it was laid upon the table the expen diture would be seen. Mr. BOUVERIE hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet would hold out no hope that such advances would be made; for he believed if it went abroad that Government were willing to make such loans, it would cause serious mischief, and produce more harm than good. Mr. HUME wished to know whe&ber in the event of seed being given by the Government, the distribution be made by the retailers or by Government them selve.? Sir G. GREY said the greatest care would be taken, in accordance with the practice Government had hitherto adopted, that there should be as little interference as possible with the operation s of trade. CHELSEA PENSIONERS' BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday. SUPPLY. f o r r oTi ,ti g ht hi re o e. ti motionnme money questiont oE raesexpressedabad agy etadvanced d Committeeagreed putv aato. ncoet hope wtaastSupply,Government od vf uponeo r r n t m h e e t purpose te uutr. table. bu o l ; ea : On the question being put that the order of the day o he of postponement, be read, forthe not make any more advances to Scotland until an account EISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES second readingßlLL. this Bill, Mr. FORBES MACKENZIE rose and said, the . Bill had not been printed more than half an hour, end he titers , fore trusted the second reading would be postponed Mr. HUME did not see any reason why the second reading should be postponed. The lion. Gentleman could not of jeet to the principle of the Bill, arid if the details did not meet his views, the Hon. Gentleman could object to them in Committee. Mr. FRENCH reminded the Hon. Gentleman that the Bill was brought forward for the purpose of alleviating the distress of Ireland, and it was important that it should not be delayed.—(Hear.) After a few words from Mr. GnocAN and Dr. Bow- RING, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER urged the Honourable Member to pcotnone his opposition to the details till they went into Committee on the Bill. He had not apprehended that there was to be any oppo sition to the Bill at the present stage ; on the contrary, he thought that any objection was to be brought forward in Committee. Mr. MACKEI , 7ZIE wished to know if there was any inforniatin with respect to this Bill in the papers which were to be produced to-morrow ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he was very sorry that those papers were not in the hands of the Members at that moment, but they were delayed in consequence of a great number of calculations which were to be ins rted. They would, however, be ready by to-morrow morning, or, at the latest, on Monday. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next. The Buck Wheat Importation Bill was then read a se cond time. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Customs Duties Bill was not printed, and therefore it had better be postponed till Monday. Mr. HUME asked if the Noble Lord had any ob jection to allow the papers for which he • had given notice of motion. If so, he should now move for them in the terms of which he had given notice, viz.!— " For an address for a copy of the note, or representa tion, made by the Russian Envoy, ICrudi:or, to the Vorort of Switzerland respecting the Federal Contract of Vienna, and copy of any answer thereto. Also, for copies of any notes or representations made by Baron Sturmer to the Porte at Constantinople, respecting the annexation of the free republic of Cracow to Austria, and copies of any answers to the same." gallery, • erstanding that Mr. HUME said that, upon the un • e After some conversation, which did not reach the there would he no obj ec tion to lay the papers on the table o 1 the House, h e would withdraw his mot i o n. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. _ , to four The House then adjourned, at six o'clock o'clock on Monday. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and P rocee di ngs of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY JAN. 2 8 . The following Rail way Bill s were presented, read a first time, and ordered to b e rea d a secon d time:— Glasgow, Paisley, Kil marnoc k , an d Ayr, and Ayrs hire and Bridge of Weir (&). 3)_... a . to enable the Gla s g ow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ay r Railway s ofCompany to make certain Branch counties Railways i n the ' Renfrew and Ayr, and for other purpo ses ." a 11 lanchester and Lin co l n U n i on (Deviation) — " to authorise Deviation i n th e Li ne of the M a nchester and Lincoln Union Railway." Lyrn and Ely (Extension to Spalding and Holbeach)— " to enable' The Lynn and El •Railway Compauy' to ex tend their Railw a y t o Spalding and Holbeach." Manchester, Sheffield, and Li nco lnshire (Lout h and Horn castle and East Lincolnshire Junction Bran ches)—" to enable the Malchester, Sheffi e ld, an d Lincolnshire Ra ilwa y Com pany to make Bran c h R a il ways t o the towns of Louth and Lynn and E'y Horneastle, and to c onnect t h e E a st Lincolnshir e Railway.' (Ely and Huntingdon and Lv ham Amalgamation)—" f or c onsolidating the - nn and Dere - Lynn and Ely, the Ely and Huntin g d on , an d the Lynn and Dereham Rail way Comnanies into one C o mpany, to be called ' The East Anglian ii ,ilways Company.' " Lynn and Ely (Extension to Bury St. Edmund's)—" to 14 R , a it i l l i w t a i y me C c om al p ed a enable the Lynn and Ely Railway Company to extend their Railway to Bury St. Edmund's." —" to enable the ' General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway Branches Caledonian a te a a make t Branch her adj certain subsidiary Branches, and to amend the Act relating to such Railway." Preston and Wyre—" to alter and amend the Acts relating oraisail;azasibt‘oa;sr with to the Preston and Wyre Railway, Harbour, and Dock Company, and to enable the Company to make an additiona an -1 Railway at Kirkscar Bay, in the county p alatine of L caster." • Bristol and South Wales Junction and Aust Ferry—" to enable the Bristol and South Wales Junction Railway Com pany to improve and main tain the Aust or Old Passage Ferry across the river Severn." ---" to enable the ei _ Norfolk (Yarmouth Exte nsion, &c.) or- folk Railway Company to extend their ,Railway to the town of Great Yarmouth, and for other purposes." Liskeard and Caradon—" to enable the Liskeard and Ca radon Railway Cranpany to raise a further sum of money, and e to sell or lease their Railway to the Cornwall Railway Company." Wolverhampton, and Stour - Valley (No. 1— Birmingham, . . Sinethwick Deviation)—" to authorise a certain alteration in the Line of the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Sto •ui - Valley Railway , and to amend the Act relatin g thereto, and for other purpo ses. , Wlmarfdale (Skipton ' and Cayle y Hall Deviations)--« to ameed the provi sions of ' The Wharfdale Railway Act,' 1816, aid t o make certa in deviations from the authorised Lire of Railway." Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, Aye ( \l - o 2)—" . • Kilmarnock, and , • to amend the Act to the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carli s l e Railway Company, relating and to authorise the Company to make a Brancli P ompany, KircuMnight, with diverging Lines therefrom, Railway to ri, and for other pure , M." London and North-Western (Purchase of Ellesmere's interest in the Manchester South Jur • the Earl of Altrincham Railway)—" to authorise the Right I Junction and Egerton, Earl of Ellesmere, to sell, and le lon. Francis North• Western Railway Company to London and purchase, the estate Con and Altrincham Railway." ester South June- Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-un ' tion Railway Acts Amendinent—" to enadn-Tyne June- Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne ja e the Liverpool, Company to make a Railway from the Burnienct ion Railway the Manchester and Leeds Railway, in y Branch of Habergliam Eaves, in the parish of kv hau t the township of of Lancaster, to the East Lancashire Rail e•Y ' in the county township, and for other purposes." Railway, in the same Chard Canal and Railway ( Extension —" to enable the Chard Canal and Railw a y Amalgamation tend their Railway from Ilminster to Chard, CilinPanY to ex of Somerset." a.. in the county NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bills are appointed to be. read a second time on Monday, Feb. 1:—. Norfolk Miss Branch), Norfolk (Bury St. Edmund's Branch), Yeovil, Bridport, and Exeter, with Branches. Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Amendment (No. 1). Windsor. London and North -Western (Newport Pagnell, &c. , Branch). London able Branch) and North-Wcstern (St. Alban' ;, Luton, and Dun- Hartlepool and Stockton Junction. London, Brighton, and South Coast (London-bridge Station Enlargement and Arrangement). London, Brighton, and South Coast (Extension to London bridge), London-bridge Termini General Enlargement. London, Brighton, and South Coast-( the gent Railway to Maid§tone, Canterbury, and Tunbridge). East Lincolnshire (Deviation at .Boston and Branch to Great GI husby and Sheffield Junction Railway at Grimsby). List Lincolnshire (Branch from Louth to Lincoln). Lonthn, Oxford, and Cheltenham Railway and Branches Itoolid/le Canal (Sale to Manchester and Leeds Ruilway Company). Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (Newcastle, Anniskinnan, and Baltrasna Deviations). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, and Glasgow and Belfast Union (No. 1). Glasqow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (No. 4). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Station Approach in Manchester). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Branch from Ash ton-under- Lyne to Oldhatn). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Junction with the Midland Railway, &c.). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Branch to Chapel town and Thurgoland Coal Branch). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Aston Canal Pur chase.) Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Branch to Bugs worth). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Sheffield Canal Purchase). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, and Manchester and Lincoln Union and Chesterfield and Gainsborough Canal Amalgamation. Leeds Central Railway Station. PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. The Seventeenth Annual Report of the Comtllsaioners of Woods and Forests was published on Tune sy ; the following are the most interesting notices. The report is dated the 25th of - August last, and contains fall parti culars, together with the minutest items, of all their pro ceedings during the preceding year : PUBLIC SALES. —There have 'beta five sales of the land revenues of England, producing 18,220/. PRIVATE SALES. —The total of these sales during the year yielded 88,766/. 1 Is. Gd. Amongst the items is mentioned that of the Fleet Prison, which had teen cffered for public competition, but for which only nine tenders had been sent in, varying in amount from 8, 0 00/. to 18,000/.• As, however, the minimum price had heal previously fixed at 25,000/, none of the tenders were ac cepted ; and, -in consequence, the purchase was finally made l*y the City of London for 25,0001, which in.- eluded the entire freehold estate, such sum to be paid by the Corporation free of th e conveyanc i ng expenses. METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMETS.—The purchase money for the following improvements is thus stated by the commissioners:— Line from Oxford-street to Holborn £287,155 410 " Bow-street to Charlotte-street 96,408 11 0 " London Docks and Spitalflelds 136,241 5 6 r `• Coventry-street to Long-hcre 1,9043 3 8 " East Smithfield to Rosemary-lane 18,256 0 0 £717,604 5 0 Besides 10,813/. 15s. to complete purchases VICTORIA PARIL—TI a total sum paid, or agreed to be paid, for property required for the formation of this park, amounts to 86,873/. 3s. ld. The park is now en closed, and partly laid out and planted. The commis sioners state that 20,000 persons have frequently resorted to it in the course of a day, for recreation and (xercise. YEARLY RECEIPTS.—During the year ending January 5, 1846, the land revenues of the' Crown amounted to 120,000/.; the monies arising from the sales of Crown land amounted to 37,1551. 14s. 2d.; and 6,9541. Os. 2d. bad been appropriated to the purchase of property for the improvement of the Crown estates. CASH BALANCES IN THE NAMES OF THE COMMIS SIONERS.-22,1831. 15s. Id. in the Bank 'of England, to be applied to metropolitan improvements. The total of the different accounts standing in the Bank of England, Bank of Ireland, and Bank of Scotland, on January 5, 1846, amounted to 166,0131. 7s. 10d. THE FAMINE IN IRELAND. The four following Bill have been distributed to the Members of the House of Commons :- 1. To suspend the Duties on the Importation of Buck wheat, Buckwheat Meal, Maize, or Indian Corn, Indian Corn Meal, and Rice. , 2. To make further Provision for the Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland. 3. To render valid certain Proceedings for 'the Relief of Distress in Ireland, by Employment of the Labour ing Poor. 4. To allow the Use of Sugar in the Brewing of Beer. I: To SUSPEND THE DUTIES ON BUCKWHEAT, &C. —This Bill contains but one section, ned - that declares that no customs duties shall be paid on buckwheat, buck wheat meal, &c., until the Ist of September next. 11. FURTHER PROVISION FOR THE RELIEF OF THE DESTITUTE POOR IN IRELAND.—Preamble : Declares the fresent powers 'of the guardians not sufficient for the due relief of the destitute poor.—Sect. 1. The guardians are.empowered and required to relieve desti tute persons permanently disabled by old age, infirmity, or . bodily or mental detect,' either in or out of the work house, as they may think fit in such case. 2. The guardians may be authorised by the Poor-law Commis sioners to give out-door relief to destitute persons not permanently disabled. 3. On- receiving such authority, the guardians are required to make provision for giving relief accordingly. Out-Ooor relief to the able• bodied to be given in food only, except- in any case of sudden and urgent necessity. 4. Regulations to be made by Poor law Commissioners as to the mode of application for relief, inquiring into circumstances of applicants, lists of poor, accounts, &c. 5. The guardians are re quired to appoint so many relieving officers as the Commissioners may deem requisite and sufficient. 6. The guardians may be authorised and required to appoint medical officers for medical relief out of the work house, if deemed necessary and expedient by poor-law commissioners. 7. Relieving officers may give provi sional relief until the next meeting of the guardians. 8. Relief to wife or child to be relief_to husband or parent, as the case may be. 9. All relief under thiS Act to be charged on the poor-rates of the whole union ; and re lief not to be given out of the union to which it is charged. 10. :Some provisions as to qualifications, du ties, appointment, removal and salaries of officers, as in the case of of f icers appointed under the Acts now in force. 11. Administration or relief under this Act to be subject to the direction and control of the pJor-law commissioners. 12. The guardians of every union an.l their officers shall keep accounts, in such form as the Poor-law Commissioners shall prescribe, of all expendi ture under this Act. 13. Former Acts and this Act to be one. 14. This Act may be amended or repealed this session. 111, To RENDER VALID CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN IRELAND, BY EMPLOY MENT OF THE LABIURING POOR.— Sect. present ments which have been made at any presentment ses sions in Ireland. at any time before the passing of this Act, and which have or shall be - approved by the Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland and by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, declared valid. 2. Certain pre sentments charged on particular lands, 5 and 6 Vict., c. 89. 3. Occupiers paying money on demand of land lord, to deduct sum from rent. 4. Commissioners em powered to fix increased rent of lease tenants. 5. Sums presented for public works to be assessed either on barony at large or electoral divisions. 6. Provision when assessed on barony at large. 7. Provision when as sessed on electoral divisions. 8. This Act, and Act 9 and 10 Vict., c. 107, to be construed as one Act. 9. Act may be altered or wended. IV. To ALLOW THE USE OF SUGAR IN THE BREW Tr lc OF BEER.—Sect. 1. Brewers of beer for sale may make use of sugar in brewing. 2. Brewers not al lowed to use molasses, or any sugar, except in the state in which it has been imported, and on which the customs duties have been paid. 3. If any brewer make use of any other sugar than as aforesaid, or take into his possession any molasses, honey, syrup, or extract or composition of sugar, he shall forfeit 2001. 4. Brewers, using sugar to enter in the book . delivered by the officer the quantity of sugar intended to be used in the next brewing, under a penalty of 2001. 5. Brewers using sugar to pay their licence duty in proportion to quantity used, as under 6 Geo 'IV., c. 31. G. Repeal o' former drawback on beer exported, allowed by 1 Wm. IV., c. 51, and new drawbacks granted. 7. Repeal of so much of 1 Wm. IV., c. 51, as authorises the export of beer in casks of 36 gallons, in the brewing of which not less than two bushels of malt has been used: beer may be exported on drawbacks, according to the specific gravity of the worts used and specified in shipping notice. 8. Repeal of-so much of l Wm. IV., c. 51, as requires oath to be made on debenture for obtaining drawback. 9. Declaration to be made on debenture for obtaining drawback. 10. The drawbacks by this Act granted to be under the management of the Commis• sioners of Excise and the excise laws respecting export ation and the recovery of penalties. 11. Act may be altered this session. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. The following report by Mr. Barry, the architect, appears in the Report of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, just issued, showing the state of the works of the New Houses of Parliament on the 30th of June last:— " The shell or carcase of the river front portion of the building is completed. The whole of the north and south flanks are now roofed in, and the carcase of the building completed, with the exception of a small por tion of the cresting on the ridges of the roofs. The Vic toria tower is 7t) feet in height, and the gzoined rocf over the state entrance within i: is in hand. The clock tower is 73 feet high, and is now above the adjacent roofs. The central tower is from 55 to 66 feet high, and the corridor portions of the building to north, south, and east of it, as well as a portion of St. Stephen's Hall; - are at the same height. The whole of the low roofs over the corridor, and rooms sur round - rig the various courts, are completed the royal gallery is roofed in, the windows glazed, and the wood ceiling is nearly completed. The roof of the nous?. of Commons is being fixed, and the New Palace-yard portion of the building is ready for its roof, which will be fixed forthwith. The thick arches forming till the floors in this part of the building have been completA. The aricus brick arches forming the floc r 3 in other portions of the building are completed, and the stone groins and vaults required in various parts of the building are far advanced. The work at the crypt of St. Stephen's Chapel and contiguous portions of the building, and also the vaults under the central hall are at a stand, owing to the difficulties in respect of warming and venti:ating arrangemen's. The deco ralions of the walls and ceiling of the House of Lords are completed. In the Home of Lords, and in the adjoining lubLies and corridors, the carp?f, trs and joiners are proceeding with the fixing of the oak finish ings. The joiners' work of the libraries, committee rooms, refreshment-rooms, and corridors of access thereto of the Muses of Lords and Commons, are for the most part preparzld; but the fixing of those finish lags, and the preparation of the joiners' works for other portions of the building, cannot with propriety he pro ceeded with until a decision is come to in respect of difficulties connected with warming and ventilstiqg ar. e rangements. There are 1,186 men engaged on the works, of whiCh number 774 are employed at the build • ing, 83 at the quarries, 202 at the Go,vernment work shops at Thames Bank, upon the joinersworks, and 127 men upon miscellaneous works connected wish the new Palace, both at the building and elsewhere.„ ALLEGED MUTINY ON BOARD THE COMMBIA.— Thursday we communicated the melancholy ,. loss of C a pt a i n Rathbone, of the Columbia, who, with the mate a n d severa l !'otrlirtco this port. washed overboard on the voyage from Ne w ,). port. We have just learned, and with regret, that after the captain's death, the ci ew became insubordinate. There were but six cabin passengers on board; and the crew, it is alleged, broke into the cabin, pilfered it, and also over hauled the luggage of the passengers, throwing what ap peared useless into the sea. The Columbia, which had lost her foremast and several of her spars, was spoken soon after wards by the Lady Falkncr, anA asked if assistance were re quired? One of the passe ngers, with a speaking trumpet, shouted "yes," one of the crew answering "no." She was boarded, and the ma# of the Lady F'alkner took her in com mand. The crew strenuously wished to put into Cork; he took a pilot on board as if foi that purpose; but, deceiving them, brought the vessel here. Captain Cropper, sent out by the consignees, boarded her this morning in the Channel, and several of the crew have been placed under arrest. MORTALITY OF LONDON.—The total nurr.b.n . of ee tths in the metropolis for the week ending last Saturday'. as made up by the Registrar-General, was 1,225, being )27 above th e wee kl y average of the past five winters. The number of births during the week was 1,334-679 males, and 655 females, DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. S. O'BRIEN presented a petition from Mary. borough, calling the attention of the House to the distress existing in Ireland, and praying that some effectual remedies n :ht be devised to alleviate it. _ Mr. LABOUCHERE presented a petition from a place in Tipperary, signed by the High Sheriff of the county and many of the residtmt gentry, complaining of the distress in Ireland, and praying the House to adopt measures to prevent the recurrence of a similar calamity. PRIVATE BILLS. Committee on Private BIN, and toration .he report of the for the consideration Mr. HUME rose to call the attention of the House to submit the following resolutions and adoption o f th e House:-1. That public Acts should b e p re p are d f or ea ch of the several subjects of p o li ce and watch i ng, of waterwor k s an d sewage, of paving, of i mprovement of towns an d regu l at i on of but d ings, str ee t s , ' stu d roads, of markets and fa i rs, o f cemete ries,of general brid ges and ferries, of h a rbours, docks, ports, piers, and quays, of canals, rivers, and navigation, as recom mended in air report of the Select Committee on Privat , Bills, etnbod.i.,irig. as far as possible, he suggestion. there of. 2. That the recommendation in the baid report, as to the taxation of the cogs of parties promoting or op posing private Bile, be also alopted; and that a proper taxing-officer should he appointed, and scale of tees; costs, and charges be authorised and published by Mr. ;Speaker: 3. That the taxing officer snall 'present to the House, at the commencement of each session, an account "of the total amount of ex penses for promoting or opposing each Bill taxed and sanctioned 1? . .y him during the preceding session, dis tinguishing the amount paid as fees on each Bill, to each of the Houses of Parliament, the amount for witnesses and other expense,, at .d for professional services. He said the Committee from which these recommendations emanat. d, was composed of the chair men of the principal Committees of the House, who, from their experience, were well qtridified to deal with the matter. He believed it was the intention of the Chairman of the Ways and Means to submit a proposition to the House, to the effect that no private Bills should be alowed to proceed from them, until'the Bills recommenthid by this Committee should have;been introduced, in order to save the Howe unnecessary:trouble, and to i3).(1 to metre uniformity in the measure.s which the (louse were in the habit of passi ug . He was bbund ur t.tite ;hat every dispsition . had been shown by the late Government to meet his views on this subject, and when the Right Honourable ; Gentleman the Secretary of State for the ' A r.‘ f. I AOI I O S! PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commonb) • THURSDAY, JA INT. 28. _ - CONVICTS (WOOLWICH). - Motion made, and Question put, " That a Select Commit tee be appointed to in9uire into the treatment of Convicts on Board the Hulks at IN oolwich." The House divided : MINORITY-AYES, 44. Berkeley, IL Ferrand, W. B. Peellell. Captain Bouverie, E. P. Hall, Sir Benjamin Plumptre, J. P. Bowring, Dr. Harcourt, G. Plumridge, Captain Brown, W. Hume, Joseph Rashleigh, William Callaghan, D. James, Sir W. C. Spooner, Richard Collett, John Kelly, James Stanley, W. 0. Dashwood, G. H. Lawless, Cecil Strickland, Sir G. Dennistoun, J. Lindsay, 11. 11. Thornely, T. Duncan, George Lockhart, A. E. Wakley, T. Easthope, Sir J. APCarthy, Alex. Wawn, J. T. Ellis, Wynn Alilnes, B. M. Williams, W. Entwisle, W. Muntz, G F. Yorke, Henry R. Escott, Bickham Newdegate, N. Etwall, Ralph O'Brien, W. S. Ewart, William Palmer, G. Fie Men, John Pattison, J. TELLERS. Duncombo, T. Aglionby, H. A. MAJORITY-NOES, M. Anson, Colonel Gaskell, J. M. Patten, J. W. Baillie, Colonel Godson, R. Peel, Jonathan Baine, Walter Goulburn, Henry Power, James Barclay, David Graham, Sir James Price, Sir R. Baring, F. T. Greene, Thomas Rawdon, Colonel Barnard, Edward G. (trey, Sir G. Reid, Colonel Bentinek, Lord G. Hamilton, G. A. Repton, G. W. J. Berkeley, Captain Hamilton, W. J. Richards, Richard Bernard, Viscount nestle, A. Ross, David R. Bodkin, W. H. Hawes, I3enj. Round. J. Bodkin, J. J. Heathcote, Sir W. Russell, Lord J. Bowles. Admiral Hervey, Lord A. Rutherford, A. Itroadwood, H. Howard, P. 11. Scrope, G. P. Brotherton, Joseph Hudson, G. Sheil, R. L. Bruges, W. H. L. Hussey, Thomas Somerville, Sir W. - Buller, Charles Hutt, William Stansfleld, W. It. C. Byng, G. S. Inglis, Sir It. Strutt, Edward Cardwell, Edward Kemble, Henry Sutton, 11. M. Christie, W. D. Lascelles, W. S. Thesiger, Sir F. Colebrooke, Sir T. Lefroy, Anthony Thompson, Ald. Connolly, Col. Lincoln, Earl of Towneley, John Courtenay, Lord Loch, James Trelawny, J. S. Cowper, W. F. Lygon, General Trevor, J. R. Craig .W. G. Macaulay, T. B. 'Trotter, John Cripps, William Mackinnon, IN . Troubridge, Sir E. Dalmeny, Lord 31`Taggart, Sir J. Turner, Edmund Dalrymple, Captain Mahon, Lord Tyrrell, Sir J. Dawson, T. V. Maitland, T. Vane, Lord H. Dickinson, F. H. Manners, Lord J. Verner, Sir W. Divett, Edward Marjoribanks, S. Walker, Richard Douglas, Sir H. Masterman, John Warburton, 11. Douglas, Sir C. E. Maule, Fox Wa.,l, 11. G. Dundas, Admiral Morris, David Wood, ..ir Charles Dundas, F. \[ure, Colonel Wood, Colonel T. Bandits, David Norreys, Lord Wortley, J. S. Ebrington, Viscount . Northland, Viscount Wrightson, W. B. Esmonde, Sir T. O'Brien, A. Stafford Wyse, Thomas Ferguson, Sir R. O'Brien, C. Fitzroy, henry O'Conor, Don Forster, Mathew Ogle, S. C. Fox, C. R. Ord, W. French, F. Parker, John TELLERS. Hill, Lord M. Taloa, H. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner SMITH and Mr. Assistant- Examiner FREEE.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were completed : Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock R a il way A men d ment an d Branches. Darwen Waterworks Reservoirs. OPPOSED LL;T. Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway . (Branches at the Port of Glasgow, and to the Caledonian line, with deviations of Canal.) The whole of the allegations in this opposed case were gone through; but the Examiner reserved his decisions upon them. South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole Railway (Pur chase of the Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Wakefield, Huddenfielfl, and Goole Railway). This case was next gone into. It occupied the rest of the day, and had riot closed when the Examiner rose. (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY and Mr. Assistant- Examiner GUNNELL.) In the following unopposed cases the proofs were com pleted : Manchester and Leeds Railway (branches, extensions, de viations, alterations of levels. and other works). Manchester and Leeds Railway (branch from the Hud dersfield and Sheffield Junction to Barnsley, and extension of Holmforth Branch). G'oncester and Dean Forest Railway (construction of docks for enabling the company to form Docks at Glou cester). OPPOSED BILLS. Salisbury and YeoviLßailway Lines, from the London and South-Western Railway at Salisbury to Yeovil, with branches to Shaftesbury and Wincanton, and to join the Wilts, Somer set, and Weymouth Railway at Yeovil, and the proposed Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway, at Berwick, in the county of Somerset. The petition was opposed by 21 memorialists, but the alle gations sustained to-day were of no immediate importance. The case was adjourned. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The Committee on Standing Orders met yesterday at 12 o'itock. GLASGOW, DUMFRIES, AND CARLISLE, AND GLAS GOW, PAISLEY, AND KILMARNOCK RAILWAY (No. 3). GLASGOW, DUMFRIES, AND CARLISLE RAIL WAY (No. 1). In each of these cases the Committee decided that the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND KILMARNOCK RAILWAY (No. 5). WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMOUTH (No. 2). REGENT'S CANAL AND RAILWAY. LEEDS AND DEWSBURY RAILWAY. The Committee decided in these cases that the standing orders ought to be dispensed with, and the parties allowed to proceed. The Committee then adjourned. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From lait night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 23d day of January, 1847. ISSUE DICPAILTSIENT. X. Sotes issued- • • .. 26,7G6,260 Government debt .. 11,015,100 Other securities .... 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 11,091,751 Silver bullion . • 1,674_509 X 26,766,260 Dated the 28th day of January, £ 26,766,2G0 I M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. , 1847. .EPAIITAIEN T. BANKING D X Proprietors' capital .. 14,553,000 Rest .... .. 3,560,665 Public deposits (in eluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sav ings-banks, and Di- Government securi z. - ties (including Dead Weight Annuity).. 12,757,326 Other securities .• • • 14,489,657 Notes .. .... • • • • • 6,167,170 Gold and silver coin.. 676,620 vidend accounts).. 4,668,489 Dther deposits •• •• • • 10,355.935 seven day and other bills.. 952,784 X 31,090,773 Dated the 28th day of January, 431,n90, M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. 7 73 1847. MR. WILSON'S ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE POOR HIGH LANDERS. On Tuesday, Mr. Wilson gave an entertainment for the benefit of the poor Highlanders, and it is our grati fying duty to announce that Mr. Wilson will be enabled to hand uvtr 851. 19s. Gd. as the proceeds of the enter tain:flint to the fund for the bandit of his destitute fel low, countrymen. The sum includes a cheque for 25/., which was sent to Mr. Wilson by that noble-hearted man, Sir Charles Forbes, and which was acc , impanied by a note in these words:—" To Mr. Wilson, in support of • his praiseworthy exertions in favour of the pur High landers, from—Sir CHARLES FORBES." THE POTATO ROT. The potato disease has Fe -appeared. We have this moment received the following communication from Mr. Elphinstone, gard ener to the Right Hon. the Speaker, at Ileelefield; and we entreat alt who wish well to their country to consider it well. It requires no comment. The plants are diseased exactly as in January, 1846: "I herewith forward you for your inspection some of our walnut leaf kidney potatoes, grown in pots, every one of which within the last three weeks has been at tacked with the disease. The above potatoes were planted singly in 16-sized pots on the 24th November last. Every tuber came up well, and was going on as well as could be wishei. The number of pots was 80. One part of the pots was placed in a vinery that I commenced forcing at the time, and certainly never from the above day has the temperature been under 50 deg. The other portion of the pots was placed in a new pit heated by hot water, and the temperature has ranged from 55 deg. to 60 deg. The potatoes at taking-up time were of the very best quality, ar.d were laid out to green—a practice which I have followed for upwards of twelve yrars without a single failure. When taken into the seed room, they were laid on a boarded flour until the time of planting. I have been very minute in examin ing the haulm, and not a s'ingle aphis have I been able to detect."—Jan. 18.—(Gardene'rs Chronicle.) THE NEW P U BLICATIONS. — The following new works are published this day by Mr. Coburn, and may be had of all booksellers : - 1. An Overland ourney to Lisbon, with a Picture of the Present State of Spain and Portugal By T. M. Hughes, Esq., Author of Revelations of Spain. r -2 vols., 21s. bound.-2. Vols. 3 and 4of General Montho lon s History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena, completing the work.-3. Part 2of the Re-Issue of Burke's History of the Landed Gentry, to be completed in 10 Monthly Parts, price ss. each.-4. Vol. 6of 'Tiers' History of the Consulate and Empire. Translated by D. Forbes Camp bell, Esq., with the Sanction of the Author. Price only 5.5. —5. Vol. 7 of Ma lame D'Arblay's Diary and Letters, com pleting the work.-6. Canada and the Canadians in 1846. By Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Bonnycastle. 2 vole., 20s. bound. x N 17; - • FURTHER IN TELLIGtNCE • FR,oll , l__ AMERICA. (F 1107.: OUR CORRESPONDWit)t s LI VrRPOOL..TithnSDAY: By the arrival of the racket-ship Patrick :Henry, Captain Popham, we have received New York-papers to the Bth inclusive, two days later than those brought by the Zeubbia yesterday. The news. in general is very unimportant and meagre. The. following are the • latest : CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS, JAN. 5. In the House, Mr. llstalson, irons the committee on military affairs, reported back that.pait of the Message relating- to the appointment of a lisutenant-general, and was discharged from its furtLei. consideration. Mr. Preston King, on obtaining leave to make a personal ex planation, read a parer sustair.ing the 'Bill he had offered , on Monday, grantkg 2,600,000 dole. to the President to make peace with Mexico, and excluding slavery from any territory that might be-acquired. He said he should not have introduced the Bill but for an apparent dispo sition to avoid action upon the anti-slavery proviso as brought forward by Mr. Willmot. Peace, he said, could • not be made' With Mexico, without indemnity ; but there should be no extension of - slavery into regions now free. The Bill presents no • question of abolition, but simply one of Ihnitation, and he thought it ought to be adopted. Justice to the free States required its adoption, and it would improve the character and condition of labour throughout the country. Ilia remarks were brief and cogent. . The question concerning an increase of the army came up ; and Mr. Andrew Johnson of Tennessee advocated the passage of the bill, and was followed by Mr. Hilliard, who insisted upon the right of fteely canvassing the acts of the President, and avowed himself decidedly in favour of a prosecution of the war. It should be waged till Mexico would make overtures for an honourable peace. He thought any declarations as to the terms on which - new territory should be added to the Union " indecently premature," and said that if attempts were persisted in to dictate such terms, the days of the Union were num bered. Mr. Haralson offered a resolution to close the debate upon the Bill on Wednesday at two o'clock, but it was not adopted, and the House adjourned. • In the Senate, after the presentation of a number of petitions, among which were several in favour of a rail road from the Lakes to the Pacific, Mr. Cameron offered a resolution calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury to specify the articles of import - upon which duties can be increased, and how much additio..al revenue can thus be raised.—lt was laid over. The resolution calling upon the President' for information concerning Santa Anna's return to Mexico, was laid upon ,the table, on motion of Mr. Phelps. The Public Land Bill wai made the order of the day for Monday, and the Bill to apply certain lands to aid the Central Railway in Michigan was di-cussrd, arid ordered to a third ri.ading—yeas, 26; nays, 16. The Cumberland R .ad Bill was made the order for Tuesday, 4n , 1, after a short executive session, the Senate adjourned. January 6, 1847. In the House to-day, on motion of Mr. Hamlin, the vote of yesterday l a yi ng on th e ta bl e, that portion of the President's Message e, hick relates to the appointment of a Lieutenant-General of the Army was r , c , nsidered, by a vote of 86 yeas to 84 na) s. The question being again thus brought up, to lay it upon the table, was decided in the negative. Yeas 92, noes 97. The subject was then referred to the Committee of the whole on the state of the Union. Mr. Haralson's motion of yesterday to close the debate on the bill for increasing the regular army by the addi tion of ten regiments, was thcidtd in the negative. Yeas 93, nays 96. The bill was then taken up in Com mittee of the whole, when Mr. Smith of Indiana occupied the floor for some time in opposition to the Administra tion and the war. In the Senate, Mr. Thomas Clayton presented a rnemorial•from the Citizens of Wilmington, Delaware, to bring the war to a speedy close. The Judjciary Corn • mittee was discharged from the consideration of the petition of James W. Sehaumbergh, which was trans• f'rred to thu executive journal. The Committee on Printing reported against printing the memorial of the sugar planters of Louisiana for the repeal of the tariff of 1846. The Bill for the sale of the Lake Superior Copper Mines was taken up, and sundry amendments passed—when it was ordered to be printed. The con sideration of the Bill was postponed until Friday. The Bill giving the assent of t.',.nLycsa for certain states to tax public lands as coon as sOld, was passed. The Senate then went into ext.cutive "session, and on opening the doors, adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. anuary 7. Mr. liaralson offtred a resel u ti on to terminate • the debate on the inereas, of the army. 1112 Bill was amended to be read I - ;.turda,y,next, and adopted. Mr. Seamans, of New York, then gave notice that he would introduce a Bill to provide means to prevent the im portation of foreign paupers. The 1 - louse then went into Committee of the whole on the Bill to increase the regular army. Mr. Dargin, of Alabama, took the floor, and was followed by Mr. Grover, of New York: The House then took up the Bill to encourage the enlist ments in the army, which was passed with amendment, so that Government be enabled to discharge soldiers at any time. IN THE 'SENATE—The Bill authorising the increase in the National establishments was referred to a committee of the whol). A resolution was passed to ask the President what,is the expense of the Executive department under the new postage bill ; also, a reso lution calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for a statement of the amount of public moneys in the pub lic depositories, and to inquire why a monthly statement - has not been published. A report from the Navy De partment concerning the loss of the brig Somers, was then received ; also a report from the D e partm en t, giv ing a statem e nt o f a ll appropriations and expenditures made for the improvement of harbours, rivers, &c. Remonstrances were presented against the repeal of the Pilot Laws. The resolution of Mr. Catheron, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to report on what articles were embraced in the Tariff of 1846, on which the duties might he increased so as to augment the revenue. On this a long debate ensued. Mr. Niles denounced the financial measures of the Go vernments, as utterly unfit for the present si:uition of the country. Several slight amendments were made to the resolution, and it w:,s pit , sed. Mr. Benten intro.lueed a B II eneenraging the enlist ment of soldiers, and strenuout,ly urged its adoption. Mr. Crittenden said he should vote for the B 11, that he was in favour of a vigorous pro, of the war, and should according-1y vote for a 1113 rag supply of men and money te timber that object. The Bill passed, and subsequently pass. d the Douse. A long debate on printing a memorial followed, after 'which the Senate adjourned. --- FABRICATED CHARGE OP ATTEMPTED MURDER.— It was stated, some time since that a young man named Charles Smith, who had received an appointment at Reading, had been followed there by a young woman with whom he had formerly lived in other towns, and that during an inter view a quarrel ensued, and that he cut her throat. The ac cused, who is the son of a respectable attorney at Bridg north, Shropshire, had .only resided in Reading about a month, and holds a Government appointment in the Tax office. When the charge was made, directly after the com mittal of the act, on Wedneslay night, the 20th instant, he was taken into custody, an d th e woman having greatly re covered from the effects of the injuries inflicted, the exami nation of the accused commenced before the Mayor (Mr. Morris) and other magistrates on Monday, and the investi gation terminated on Tuesday evening in the dismissal of the case. The statement of the woman proved to be a most gross fabrication, as she had inflicted the . wound herself, be cause he refused to - let her' ive with' him again, and then charged him with having attempted to murder her. - - [ADVERTISEMENT.] —TEAS AT WHOLESALE PRICES, No. 2, BUCKLERSBURY, CHEAPSIDE.—FamiIies whose consumption is large, and study economy, will derive considerable advantage at this establishment. One uni form price is affixed, by which the purchaser of a single pound can obtain it on the same terms as the trade. Black Tea Bd., 35., 3i. 4d, 3s. 8d.,•4 , .4., 4s. 4d., ss. Green Is 4d., 3s. Si., 4s. 4s. 4d., 55., 65., is. Coffee 91., lOU.. i s ., Is 2Ci., Is. 4d., Is. 6, Is. Bd. One sent free to any part of town. Orders from the country forwarded the same day; and when the quantity is fcr 61b. weight (tea only), the carriage is paid to any part of England.-11i ANSELE and Co., • wholesale tea dealtTs, 2, Bueldersbdry, cheapside. - , AUSTRAL] AN TRUST COI , ,IPANY.-.- he half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, at the offices in Moorgate-street. John Abel Smith, M.P., having taken the chair, the manager, Mr. Innis, read the report of the directors, by which it appeare(l, that after appropriating 500/. for the half-year, in tedut_tiou of preliminary expenses, and providing for a.dividend of three per cent. for the half year (six per cent. per annum), there remained 4,149/. 3s. to be added to the reserve fund, which would then amount to 41,960/ 17s, 5d., without taking credit for the six months' interest due in Australia, en the - 31st ult. By the statement at the end of the -profit and loss account it would appear that the amount outstanding upon mortgages, on the lst of July last, was 336,962/. lls. 10d.. which was a reduction of 28;190/. ss. 4d., during the half-year between the Ist of January and -the tat of July, 1846, which arose from the facility of borrowing money of the local banks at a reduced rate of interest ; but should a demand tor money occur tit Sydney, it was expected that borrowers would have again recourse to this establishment for loans. After a short dis cussion the report was adopted nnanimouAy, and i i _vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and directors, ilhen the meeting adjourned. _ SEIZURE or Anms.—A. seizure of a very extra ordinary character, and c ne involving the most weighty cr Thi; siderations, was made on Monday night, in the River Tham, near to Limehouse H o l e , where nearly had been a new vess e l, ca ll e d rs t the Black Cat, Capt a i n J . Davies,ietny wasars some manifestedday e receiving her carg o , and p the e 6 to get act iN on the part of th e ship get their frei g ht on b oar d with rather un usua l dist 1 I.i and she ten o'clock on Mond r y nailgrhett, ttilli,em\s'el:n;sdelst,aa-nasa of arms. a. t • l s e h e ß w l a a c s k f c o 0 ,7 d w t a o s c e o n n t e t i n t d a at the Cuhtem-house as about to proceet: to Gibraltar, but no dub seemed to be enlertaii!ed that she would land her argo on the coast of Portugal ; she was to have sailed down the river on Tuesday morning, and at Erith to have received . 4 9 000 barrels of gunpowder. The Black Cat carries six • heavy carronades for protection,'and is considered one of the trimmest vessels and fastest sailers that ever entered the port of London. It is rather a remar4able circumstance that on the day following the seizure such information had reached his Excellency the Portuguese Ambassador, that he sent down officers to detain the vessel; but great was their astonishment, on their arrival, at finding it already under seizure by the Custom-house officers. The vessel, cargo, and crew are at present strictly guarded, and frequent communications have taken place between the Portuguese Ambassador and the Commissioners of Customs as to what steps shall he taken in the matter; but we have no doubt j that in a few days we shall be able to give our readers the fullest information on this important subject. TUE USE OP ETHER IN SURGICAL OPERATIONS. •, —Medical men employing the eg. , ucy of ether to effect sur gical operations williuut paining the patient, should be re minded that the vapour constantly given forth by this body is highly inflammable, and if brought into contact with flame while being inhaled, will be productive of very dangerous effects to the patient. " MI