The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-18 00:00:00

'44. btrti litittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock, RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) ROUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP VI. niurpos. AND EXETER (TAUNTON AND CASTLE CART BRANCH). The Committee met at the usual hour. The first witness called was Mr. Porch, residing at Glastonbury, magistrate of the county of Somerset, and partner in Stackey's Banking Company, who was called for the purpose of giving general evidence in favour of the line, as it would affect the interests of the town of Glastonbury. Mr. Dickinson, M.P. for West Somerset, also gave evidence in favour of the proposed line. The remainder of the day was occupied in hearing env3ence in favour of the Bill. The Committee adjourned till twelve on Monday. GROUP VIII. The Committee met at the usual hour this morning ; Mr. Young in the chair. SOUTH DEVON (AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION). _ _ ----- Mr. Brunel and other engineers were examined in favour of this Bill, and the Committee adjourned. GROUP X. This Committee met at the usual hour this morning Lord Clive in the chair. EASTERN coUrriltEs (xi.rosa) TO SOUTH, ZND AND GIiCA:VESEND). Mr. RENNET addressed the Committee on behalf of the opponents to this Bill, the Thames Haven Railway and Dock Company ; and called several witnesses to prove that the line would never pay, while the traffic that did exist on the route of the proposed rail• way was amply accommodated by the steam-vessels plying from London -bridge. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXX. ORE&T WESTERN (ISLE OT .S.XIIOI.ME EXTENSION). The Committee met at the usual hour, and were occu pied during the day in h ear i ng ev id ence i n favour of the Bill. GROUP XXXIX. This group met at the usual hour this morning ; Lord Charles Wellesley in the chair. ZEZDS AND TEIRSZ (LEEDS, DURHAM AND NEWCASTLE EXTENSION). The Committee were engaged the whole of the day in receiving general evidence in favour of this Bill. The Committee then adjourned. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS DAY.) The following Bills passed through the Standing Orders Committee :- 3;dibburgh and Bathgate Railway. Londok and South-Western Railway (Andover to, the Bialfopstoke and Salisbury Branch). 1 1 / 4 1acdriff Harbour. 'Dublin and Drogheda (Purchase of the Navan Branch). Dablin and Belt ast Junction and Navan Branch Railway. Sh , zopshire Union Railway and (Canal Lease to the London and North-Western Railway Company), Ayrshire R'ads. Sunderland Improvement. Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham, and Leicester Rail way. Falmouth Waterworks. Great Northern Railway (Branch to King's Lynn). Saint Helen's Canal and Railway (Warrington Branch). Buckingham and Brackley Railway. London and North-Western Railway (Saint Alban's Branch). South Eastern Railway (North Kent and Bricklayer's Arms Junction). Midland Railw ay (Erewash Valley). ALE OF RAILWAY SHARES BY AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.) The Share Market was rather buoyant to-day, and the demand has been active generally; at the sale of Railway Shares, by Messrs. Lamond and Co., more business was done. The following are a few of the principal sales : Leicester & Bedford, Exchange Certificate £0 10 0 Great Luxembourg Shropshire Union and Canal 2 4 0 Northern Counties Union 1 1 0 North -Western North British, Ext ens i on 2 4 0 16 0 South - Eastern and Dove r , N o. 4 4 14 0 London and Black wa ll, No. 1 5 10 6 Shrewsbury and Birmingh am ( . B). Louvain ala Sambre .. lO 0 Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston 1 6 0 Eastern Counties. York Extension ... 614 0 North Staffordshire Royston and Hitchin Taw Vale Extension and Dock . EXCHEQUER.—( THIS DAY.) (Sittings in Banco, before Lord Chief Baron POLLOCK.) This Court was occupied the whole of the day in hearing an information filed by the Board of Excise. The case was not concluded when the Court rose. -- MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London 14 7 ew Price Current of June 18.) SUGAR.—To-day an:; further advance in the value was prevented by the market beieg more freely supplied ; still there was no material diminution in the home or export demand, for nearly the whole brought forward was actually disposed of. The rates obtained for West India Muscovado were equal to those of yesterday, and at which a fair business was transacted in all sorts ; the private purchases reaching 250 hhds and tierces. At public sale 115 hhds and tierces were sold at the former I value. REFINED. —To-day Refined goods were extensively dealt in by the home trade, and an improvement in the value took place for all kinds. Bonded Crushed Sugar is held for 333 to 33s 6d for fine quality. In Bastards and Pieces large sales have been made by exporters at 22s to 30s per cwt. Mauerrics —This afternoon the demand was good for Mauritius Sugar, and 9,060 bags 33 casks at public Ble were nearly all sold at former improved rates, or at a rise from the late lowest points of the market of Is. EAST INDIA. —This afternoon Bengal Sugar was in fair demand, and 1,241 bags at public sale were sold at previous improved rates. Molasses. —This afternoon at public sale 12 puns Montserrat Molasses were sold at 17s per cwt. FOREIGN. —This afternoon, at public sale, 26 casks, 127 barrels, St. Marlin's Sugar, were sold at the full worth; middling ye low at 4 9 s 6d to 435, and low mid dling 41s 6d to 421 per cwt. Coereu..—Tnis afternoon Coffee was in good demand fo.• home consumption, and the rates obstained were rather above those that existed previously. For expor tation there was rather more &mend for Coffee privately, at the previous currency; at public sale 151 bags Batavia were sold, Ordinary mixed yellow at 26s 6d to 275, fair ordinary 27s to 27s 6d, and damaged 135 to 27s per cwt. COCOA.—Holder s of West India have shown more firmness this week, and have refrained from offering any at public sale; privately little desire has been shown to operate in the low and middling kinds, and there are sellers at former rates, but a good demand has been ex rrieneed for the better sorts, and full rates are paid. Foreign is little wanted, and the tendency of prices is downwards. TEA. — lmporters have refrained from offering any at public sale this week, but there are further arrivals, and privately there is a plentiful supply. In the demand no improvement has taken place. Congou can easily be obtained privately upon previous low terms, still the pur chases Made have been of little moment. The market for Green is in an inactive state, and the tendency of pricer, is yet downwards. Scented Teas have been OPe'iated in with caution, and lower rates are accepted. - FRUIT.—Of Currants there are several arrivals this week, but there is still the same indisposition to pur chase, as the stock on hand of all description of Fruit is very large, and the demand generally continues very limited ; the quotations at present must be considered nominal. &co. —There are sellers at a further reduction in prices, still the contracts entered into have been of little moment by private treaty. Sago Flour is little wanted, and ca'a be obtained at 26s to 275. Of Bermuda Arrow root '2O pkgs at auction were sold at lld per lb. SPICES.—To-day Black Pepper was not much in demand, and 1,574 bags at public sale were nearly all taken in at the full worth, good brown light Batavia but dusty at 2id; a few lots of light Sumatra sold at 21d to 2fel per lb. RICE.—To-day there was little desire evinced to operate in East India Rice, and of 6,748 bags Java offered at auction a small part only found buyers 6d per cwt under the valuations. 961 pockets 791 bags Bengal sold 6d per cwt cheapery and went at 19s to 19s 6d for good middling white, ITS 6d for good y e ll ow, an d at 8 s to 19s 6d f or damaged. CoCnINEAL.—This afternoon Cochineal mat with ready buyers ; et public sale 26 bags Honduras silvers were sold at 5s 2d to Ss 9d, which is 2d higher. S r PIRITS.—E ast India is little wanted, and to-day fernier e were seller; at 2s 9d t o 2 s 1 0 d , b e i ng rather under bn eeremer rates. F or Demerara rather lower prices having accepted, occasioned the demand to be good, and the sales rea c h ed 330 puns. Jamaica has been operated in with cauti on b y exporters and the home trade, whilst holders are more inclined to sell, and the limited busi ness transacted has been at rathe r I e r r ea rres. lle ß r randy met with little attention, and there areow Genev a is less w y an se ted f s or u exti previous reduced terms. 2s 6d to 2s 7d taken for ord' inarnd for fine portal,ion, British Corn fur home use 3s to 3s 3d. For Spirits the demand ia good at Ils 6d for English nett cash ; Scotch i • arid Irish llssdto i I s 6d. and the been shownto SALTPETRE.---An increased desire has b exporters, operate in rough by fully equal ou to trade t' whilst the rates obtained have been . .ose previously current ; indeed the supply b i a s n.s no o t f sufficient for the demand. At public sale 1,240 were sold For British refined the demand has been active. Nitrate of Soda has been extensively dealt in at 138 6d to 14 s per cwt. Some parcels, however, hav e =lived, and others are near at hand. Woon.—The trade have manifested little desire to ; operate at th e p u b l i c sales ; the quantity of Colonial 411 • 1 4 reci being large. Importers have been anxious :. „s e t s , and accepted prices lid to 2d per lb under those or the previous auctions. Other sorts of Wool met with 7 - • little attention, and rather lower rates are t a k en . 011 4.—Viiere are "sellers of Rapeseed Oil at 323 6d to • 1 •:. 0 \ V N a s THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENTING-, JUNE 18, 1847. 335 for pale, and at 31s 6d to 32s per cwt for brown, still few purchases have been made, and there is a plentiful supply, whilst further parcels are near at hand of Foreign. For Linseed Oil the market has an im proving aspect; there is a small supply, and an ex tensive consumption; on the spot a good deal has been done by the home trade, whilst exporters have taken a fair quantity; the rates paid have been rather above those previously current, and 27s is the quotation; for forward delivery several purchases have been made. - Tliere are few buyers of Olive for any purpose, whilst holders are anxious sellers. Of Palm some parcels have been received, still prices rule firm, as a good demand exists. Of Cocoa Nut the supply is inadequate for the demand, and prices in con sequence range high. For Lard Oil the demand has been only for small parcels at 44s to 495. Of Fish Oils several parcels have been received since this day week, and for auction on the 25th 34 tuns of Sperm and 60 tuns of Southern are declared. The business concluded in Cod Oil during the week has been to a small extent only. For Southern prices ruling moderate occasions the demand to be good for all kinds by private treaty. There has been little desire shown to operate in Seal Oil, and merchants are inclined to realise, as the supply this season will be much greater than it was in the former one. TALLOW.—For Russian on the spot former prices are asked ; but there has been less desire evinced to operate this week, and only a small amount of business has been done ; the value is 50s 6d to 51s per cwt for fine Peters burgh Yellow Candle. For delivery in the last three months of the year less business has been done, and prices have declined to 47s 3d to 47s 6d per cwt. Fur home made the demand has been active. Other kinds of Tallow are less wanted, and former rates are not gene rally to be obtained. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From this night's Gazelle.) An Account, pursu an t to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 12th day of June, 1847. DiPAHTMENT. 4. Notes isstied•• •• •• .. 23,592,925 X. Government debt .. 11,015,100 Other securities .. . • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 8,143,925 Silver bulliou .... 1,449,000 423,592,923 bad stated in opposition to it that Members would be burdened with more work -- than at present; but the very contrary would be the case, be cause, under the new system, five would often be enabled to perform the task now assigned to fifteen. The present system was bad, because it overworked Members—(Hear, hear)—but the plan proposed would make that labour less. As Chairman of the Committee of Selection, he had found greit difficulty in the selection of Members, but he apprehended that the plan of his Honourable Friend would remove it. He considered that it was greatly necessary to alter some part of the present system, and he believed that if they adopted the plan proposed by the lion. Member they would effect a great public benefit. They would advance the dispatch of business, and he was quite sure, at all events, they would consult the convenience of the Members of the House. (The Hon. Member, owing to the noise in the House, was but indistinctly heard.) Mr. BROTHERTON hoped that the House would pause before it attempted to carry out this resolution. With regard to the constitution of Committees on former occasions, he remembered when 60 or 70 Members were entitled to sit upon the Committee, and were, without being interested in the question, induced to come and give their votes. He thought that in those Com mittees which sat to decide upon subjects of a local nature, that local Members ought to be allowed to sit upon them. He conceived that such a plan would be much better than the present one, by which two or three Members were put upon a railway Com mittee when they were actually interested in the passing of the Bill before them. If they could not use direct influence, still they would have weight enough with the chairman to affect the Bill in its clauses. If the pro position was open to modification, he should give his support to it. Mr. BANKS said he was quite ready to view this question in respect to the parties more immediately con cerned. In that view he was obliged to support the Hon. Member for Salford. His experience lately on a Railway Committee, where the want of local information was severely felt, strengthened his conviction. He be lieved the system pursued, in respect to the rail ways, was perhaps the best that could be adopted with regard to them ; but only in regard to them for the qualification, for his tribunal was ignorance. Mr. STRUTT begged to remind the House that they had already expressed an opinion on the very subject which was now under consideration. A motion on it was made by the Hon. Member for Dumfries, which, because it was somewhat prematurely brought on, was negatived by many in the House. No final decision, there fore, was given. In reference to whiit had fallen from the Hon. Member, about ignorance, as a qualification, it was enought for him to say that, not ignorance, but im partiality, was the qualification which was looked for in a Committee, as in a jury • and he thought th a t was th e more satisfactory principle on which to constitute a tribunal. Lord SANDON said that he should like that the Members of the Standing Committee should come before the House instead of being contented with general in structions. All questions that were brought before the Committees were in some degree local ones, and when the House ordered that no local representative sat upon that Committee, it practically denied the district to be affected by the Bill the means of making its opinions known to Parliament. He hoped the House would pause before they came to any decision upon the subject. He was of opinion that local Members should be placed on these Committees. The rule might have been quite right to exclude them on Railway Bills, but it did not follow that they should be excluded from Committees on Bills which were merely local in their nature ; in fact, be was of opinion that none but local Members should be placed there, and he was per fectly convinced that strict justice had ever been done. —(Laughter.) At all events, place them on the Com mittee, do not give a vote if they felt so disposed, but at least allow them to be present and to be heard. Sir J. GRAHAM said that he disclaimed altogether the propriety of considering what might be the conveni ence of Members of that House with regard to sitting upon these Committees. He thought thst when a Member undertook the representation of any place, he undertook it under the implied, if not the expressed condition, that his convenience was to be sacrificed, and his time devoted to the public service. He could not say that it was for the public good, with reference to what they were then discussing, that local Members should be excluded. He must say that he could not conceal his opinion, that it was due to the interest of the people that, in the discussion of private business in that House, and which might in different localities affect interests of vast importance, that the representatives of those localities .should not be alto gether excluded. He thought that what his Noble Friend said was most true with regard to the case of the Liverpool docks. That was from the Corporation of Liverpool, and from the Dock Company or Liver pool. The rival contending parties alone paid the wit nesses and incurred the expenses of fighting a Bill in which these corporate bodies might not alone be in • terested. The people at large might not have a pecu niary motive to appear by counsel, but they ought to have some means of having an interest in it by their Members, by whom they would be represented without expense. He thought that the question was one which materially affected the principle upon which the people were represented. He would hear it with very much regret that the House should have surrendered at any time any of these im portant functions, the discharge of which is the object of its existence. At the same time they ought to be pre pared to enter upon the consideration of the subject. In the Committee to which he had alluded the question was mooted and sustained even by an authority such as the Hon. Chairman of Committees, that the local interests should be carefully excluded. It was considered by the Committee, and they decided that the 10c.,' interests should be represented, and that private Members should be added. He (Sir James Graham) supported that decision. He thought their attendance was most important; it might be a question in considering this subject whether their attendance which at present was voluntary, ought not to be made: compulsory, and a large proportion of private Members added. The subject, however, deserved consideration, and the resolution especiallly which had been brought before the House, containing some words of a questionable and almost neutralising effect. The subject deserved the consideration of the Government and of the new Parliament when they should come to deal with the standing orders in detail. But he was surprised that this resolution should have been brought forward now, at the last hours of an expiring Parliament. If it went to a vote, he must divide against it. Sir G. GREY said that when the motion was brought forward in the earlier part of the session, he objected to the alteration so recently made in the matter of railway business being again so 'soon changed, but since that period a Committee had reported upon the subject, and they almost unanimously supported the resolution proposed by the Hon. Member for Montrose. They did not mention any system to be proposed in its stead, but they proposed to leave to the Committee of Standing Orders the details of the question. To this suggestion he would offer no objection. Mr. ESTCOURT said that there was no dis inclination on the part of Honourable Members to serve on the Committees of -the House, and he should not, therefore, expect that any reluctance would be exhibited under the new resolu tions. The plan had worked admirably since 1839, and he was sure that the extension of it would not disappoint the expectations of the House. This was the last time, probably, that he would have the honour to address them before he retired into private life ; he saw the utmost necessity for their adopting the resolution, which would not only save the public time. but also the convenience of the Members. (LEFT SITTING.) LATEST PRICES OF SHARES. IN BANKS, ASSURANCE. AND OTHER COM PANIES' STOCK', From the Official List, PUBLISHED EVERY TI.TEKDA.Y AND FRIDAY EVENING. LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 18. JOINT-STOCK. BANKS. Dividend Amount I Name of Company. , per of I Paid. i Price 1 Annum. Share. .--- ,-- I £ S. d. £ 8. d. I - australasia ••••• • • • • • ! 40 0 0 40 0 0 BritshNorth American ; 51. per Cent. 150 0 0 50 0 0 I - .../ommercial of London 1 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 I - "lolonial . ( 100 0 0 25 0 0 1 - Londu and Westnainstr 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 I 26k London Joint-Stock ..• , 61. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 ' - Metropolitan ......... - 25 0 0 710 0 Provincial of Ireland• • 81. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 ( 46 Ditto, New.- •• • 8/. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 - STational of Ireland • • 151. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 0 I - hat. Provncial of Eng. 151. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 0 - Ditto, 1Tew..... •• • • 51. per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 Union of Australia •• 1 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 - Union of London... - , 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 - carz.a.zis. .;Dividends: An Dividend pn ewr ii .i Names of w ,Names of Companies. 111 per Price. Companies. cl Price. Basingstoke-1100 ri: Annum. va ____--- _______ Ashtn & Olelhi ! X X Ashby-d-la-Zlll3 4/. .- Mntgomrysh 100 61. Dudley, .. Barnsley.. • • 1 160 121. 180 Macclesfield. 100 - - 97 5/.55. p c 70 Monmouthsh 100 lel. \ - Brknk&Abrgllso 5/. 85 Nottingham. 150 12/. - romford..••lloo' 141. - peak Forest. 78 3/. Derby 40 - - Neath ...... 100 20.1. 340 ,100' 61. 63 Rochdale .. • - 85 41. 54 ........ 100 4/. - Regent's ••• • 33 I/. 4s. 20 Ellsrnre&Chs'l33l 4/. 51 Shropshire • • 125 81. - E:ewash • • •11001 321. Somrset Coal 150 7/.los. 130 Forth & Clyd l lool 4/. Do.LkFdSt 12 6/.p. c. - GrandJunctn 100, . 79 Stffrd &Wore 140 281. 275 Grand Union 1001 11. 6/ 10s. - Shrewsbury.. 125 15/. - Glamorgnsh. 1721 , 13%1. - Stourbrldge.. 145 201. 305 i iistr & Brkly i 001 _ - Strtfrd on Av 79 1/. 10s. - 3rantham • • 1150' 12/. - Severn and} Eluddersfleld., 57 - - Wyeltail. 26 1/. Bs. - Kennt & AvM 39 7s. 6d. 5 Trnt& Mr. 50 30/. -- Lancaster ..• 47 11. 10s. _ sey •• • • Leeds&Livrp 100 341. 505 Thams&Med 19 - _ Leicester .. • •140 10/. 75 Worcstr &/ 78 21. 41 Leiestr &Nth 81 4/. 36 Binning. Lotighborogh,l42, 70/. j 530 ,Wiltsk Brks 67 11. 11 DOCKS. Dividend Amount - Name of Company. per of I Paid. Price. 1 Annum. , Share. - ,-- 1 X s. d. £ o. d. Commercial --•• .• • 31. per cent.l Stock. - 71 East and West India... 61. pr cent. I Stock. - 130 East Country • ... •• . 11. per sh. ;100 0 0 - - 1 ar,don - 104 SL.Kathaline ........1 5 per cent. I Stock. - - Bout tianipton ••.• • • • • 2/. per cent. 50 00 ' 0 0 25 .... WATER-IVORIES. Dividend Amount Name of Cr..mpa.ny. per of Paid. Price, Annum. Share. ----.--- East London.... .. .... lit. 100 00£s. d. - 195 Grand Junction .... • • 3/. 108. 41 13 4 - 90 i , :0.,' 0 0 -- - P Vauxhall •••• • • • ..... i•i:ia West Middlesex . ! _. 31. 10e.yrraii. 63 a 9 .., i:2O , ___ Bill, or that it would in any way have affected the de cision of the Committee? It was perfectly evident to any one in the possession of common sense, that these shares had been placed in the hands of the present holders not for the honest purpose of deriving an income from them, but in order to obtain a preponderance of in terest in theconcern, with a view to influence the opposition and obtaining the defeat of the Bill. This was the rea son why they were placed in such a situation, and he was quite sure that, considering the matter in that light, their Lordships would not allow any merely tech nical obstacle to stand in the way of substantial justice to the parties. And he felt the greater confidence on this point, because, in fact, at the time the report of the Committee was made, they were not aware of the precise position in which the Bill stood before the Committee of Standing Orders, and should, therefore, move, that, in compliance with the instructions which they had received, the Committee should be directed to take the evidence, and inquire into the merits of the Bill pending the deci sion of the Committee of Standing Orders. A conversation here ensued across the table between Lord Lyndhurst, Earl Grey, Lord Brougham, Lord Redesdale, and the Duke of Richmond, at the conclu sion of which The Earl of DEVON moved that the Committee do proceed in the usual way. The Duke of RICHMOND then explained that it was the custom of the Standing Orders' Committee to allow of one month to go to the shareholders in the event of there being a non-compliance in any particular. Such was, in fact, the position of the Bill at the present moment. Lord ICINNAIRD said on a former occasion he voted against going into Committee, because he did not think it wise tor the Legislature to interfere in the matter while it was before a court of law, but their Lordships having decided to appoint a Committee, he was inclined to support the motion for going further ioto the inquiry. It was alleged that the directors having delayed the issue of the sealed cer tificates deprived the shareholders of the power of voting upon the Bill, but urged in justification of the directors that these shareholders had purchased their shares for an object. He had no doubt whatever that such was the case, but he altogether disbelieved the statement that the shares were purchased with the funds of the London and North-Western Company. Earl FITZWILLIAM supported the motion for in quiry. He had supported the appointment of the Commit tee, because he thought inquiry necessary for the public good, and because he thought it behoved their Lord ships to assert the powers which they delegated to the promoters of that railway, and which powers were sought to be turned aside by the conduct of cer tain parties. He regretted that the Commit tee had not gone into the inquiry, and with all due respect and regard for the Noble Lords com posing it, he would support the motion of the Noble and Learned Lord, or he would go further and support the appointment of a new Committee, who might take a different view of the proceedings. The Earl of CHICHESTER said as chairman of the Committee which had been appointed by the House, he thought it necessary to make a short statement of the grounds upon which the Committee bad come to report against proceeding without further instructions from their Lordships. The further observations of the Noble Earl were perfectly inaudible. Lord BEAUMONT thought there were two distinct questions before the House. The case as brought before them by the Noble Lord was, whether they should or should not suspend their own standing orders, and whe ther it was wise to suspend them or not depended on the truth of the allegations in the petition presented to their Lordships. The Committee appointed to investigate that was most competent to form a correct judgment, and he therefore thought it should report to the House whether the allegations were true or not. It would be then for the House to say whether they would suspend the standing orders. He thought, however, they should nut stop there, but take steps to prevent a repetition of similar acts in future. His own opinion was, that they were common, and he was of opinion that the time had arrived when they should put an end to them. For that purpose, he would suggest the ap pointment of another Committee to report specially on that subject. Lord PORTMAN thought that certainly the Com mittee ought to report to the House, for the whole of the argument of his Noble and Learned Friend fell to the ground, when it was recollected that the agreement had been entered into by a number of gentlemen, who had been elected to the responsible position of directors, with full powers to make any arrangement which would be bidding on the shareholders ; and it was hardly to be supposed that was at all consistent with equity or fairness, to allow their decisions to be set aside through the conduct of a few of the shareholders, unless there was some equitable or legal deficiency in their proceed ings. If a Committee then was appointed at all, he trusted that his Noble Friend, and the Noble Lord next him (Lord Brougham), and other Noble Lords who were more conversant with legal and judicial inquiries than many Hon. Members of their L ird,hips' House, would consent to render their assistance in the investigation. The Earl of DEVON was understood to cite some in stances of similar purchases of shares, and to show the effect of them upon the interests of the different com panies, but the way in which his Lordship spoke, ren dered him quite unintelligible in the gallery. Lord REDESDALE said that he could not see how the statement made by many Noble Lords with respect to the London and North- Western Company, having purchased a monopoly in the Birmingham and Oxford shares, had been borne out. It was confidently asserted that the funds of the North-Western Company had been employed to get the line into their hands. Now, what was the fact—lt was said on the ether side, that the shares were not purchased by the North-Western Company, but by individuals, who, having purchased those shares, considered that they then had a right to vote as to the disposal of their property. He looked upon the manner in which one-sided statements were received in that House, as highly injudicious and even dangerous. The charges made against the North-Western Company were all received by the House as proved. It would fall upon the commissioners to report whether, in the quarter of Oxford and Birmingham, the broad gauge should be continued farther. That was a most important matter for the public, and therefore he moved that proceedings on the Birmingham, Oxford, Wolver hampton and Dudley Junction Railway, and the Bir mingham and Oxford Railway, should be intermitted till the important questions pending in the Courts of Law should be decided. He was surprised most of all that such a motion should ever have been heard as that the standing orders of their Lordships' House should be sus pended. The standing order alluded to was framed for the safety of the shareholders, and was one of the most important for the public that existed on the records of their Lordships' House. The Earl of WICKLOW said he would support the amendment moved by the Noble Lord who had just sat down. For he had voted against the original motion for a Committee of Inquiry as a course which could not result in anything useful ' • and now that he had heard the Noble and Learned Lore, after the Committee had reported, his opinion was noways changed. He thought that their time, especially at this part of the session, was more valuable, and might be more usefully employed than in prosecuting an incpiry so abortive. Why should a Committee of that House be formed to inquire into what was the intention of the Legislature in an Act of Parliament whether one company had power to sell, or another com panyth the power re to buy? It appeared that the Great reat Western anxious to become lessors of the line, and were in pos session of a vast amount of the shares. The Great Northern wished to have the same line ; they bought many of these shares as they could find in the market ; they purchased from the Great Western them selves, who could not resist the temptation, and thus got possession of the line. That was the case, the whole case, as far as any result which any Committee of their Lordship's House should ever be able to at rive at. Lord BROUGHAM thought that the Noble Lord, who had just sat down, had made a distribution of his goods, his vote to the one side, and his speech to the other. But whatever might be said, there could be little doubt that there had been a juggle, a device, a stratagem, which had operated to the frustration of the declared intention of the Legislature. Votes were purchased up at any price prior to that meeting, which was necessary, under Lord Wharncliffe's standing order ; and the object, without doubt, was to frustrate the intention of the Legislature. But if he was wrong in the fact, the re port of the Committee, when brought up, would set him right. That was the object and the end of a Com mittee. A Committee were the very eyes, the organs by which their Lordships saw. They were instructed to inquire ; inquire they did, and submitted all the facts to the House. Complaints had been made about crimina tion and recrimination taking place. That was the very point upon which they ought not to complain, for there was criminztion in that which they had directed their Committee to inquire into, and they could not expect that some reply would be wanting to the allegations which were made against parties, whose interests were concerned in the transaction. He felt it necessary to apologise to their Lordships for again entering into the subject. He had confined himself as much as possible to the new features which the case had presented ; and, in conclusion, he should express a hope that a strict investigation, if honestly .gone into, would operate as an example, and tend to b inder the offence from being repeated. Lord STANLEY said that the question was, whether this was a transaction carried an by one great company, or was it not? Was it a bonc2 fide purchase, or was it not? The Committee agreed to investigate the case ; and the Counsel, in his opening speech, said, that he would not attempt to prove that this was not a bona fid e transaction, and then . the Committee and House were entertained by a mere assertion of some guarantee hav ing been given by the Great Northern Company, an d that they had gained an unfair advantage by a strata. gem. How did the case stand—the shareholders in the Company had sold their interest in the Company_ no formal transfer had taken place, and the shareholders took advantage of their nominal position as shareholders and repudiated that which they had performed, really and in fact, because of a technical objection. He was surprised to hear his Noble Friend take the part of those who bad acted in such a manner, and to complain that the Committee would not hear those whose case had, in the very outset, been admitted to be no case at all. He thought that, in such a case, their Lordships would be wrong if the) , attempted to depart from the ordinary rules permitted in these cases.—(Hear, hear.) Earl FITZWILLIAM stated, that he entirely con curred in the view which had b een taken of the case, when Noble Lords stated that there had been a strata gem practised. The only question was, whether the stratagems on one side, or both sides, were calculated to injure and damnify the publi c . Th at was a matter which ought to be inquired into. • The House then divided, when the numbers were— For the amendment 22 Against it Majority against the amendment 2B The original motion , instruottn. g the Committee to Price. - „ proceed with the inquiry which they eiefe di re cted to make by the former of der, WO then put and negatived Lord It E gs' o DDESDALE then nctice hard he should move a resolution, that the Commissioners .of Railways do inquire into the comparative merits, and the means of public accommodation afforded by a ll ,be rai l ways between London and Birmingham . BISHOPRIC OF MANCHESTE R BILL. •!: The Marquis of LANSD'IWNE st ated that the Coin' inittee on this Bill would be postpon ed until Monday'. Lord STANLEY said that it was understood that the Bill would not be committed that night ; in order that legal opinion might be taken as t o the power of tilt., Crow:: to call the four new bishops proposed to be cr estee to that H 4 use, and thus supersede the arrangement of the Bill on that point. The Soap Allowances Bill, and the Stage Carrisge Duties Bill were severally read a first time. • The Masters in Chancery Affidavit Bill passed through Committee, and was reported without emendment. heßur a g s hPo lice (Scotland) Bill was read time thin' l' and passed. The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the House adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. June 17. CURRENCY OF PORTUGAL. h"i° On the order of the day being read for g oing i Committee on the Poor Relief Bill, e tion of the House to the infraction of the Lord GEORGE BENTINCK rose toiscta,llitshtnit,stleirol: and 18th Articles of the Treaty of Lisbon, 014111Y,,lpits mid to ask her Majesty's Ministers IN bother any spa r!_ t steps have been taken to obtain from the Goverart u r i t y the Queen of Portugal, redress for the past, and hi d against future injuries of a like kind don e to Brit's the terests. He said that this was a quest ion in whica.ti, British merchants, resident in Port u g al and this country were deeply interested.—(Dear-) I L h• ad be within the recollection of all those who read the papers which had been House, with respect to the affairs of P° l : Lu Vd.. that Mr. Southeron, on the 16th of November last' iLi f For i m dressed a letter to Viscount Palmerston, inform g " that a decree had been proclaimed by t h e Queen _. r ,, presented 0....TT, tugal, which compromised the interests of Brititaire'sr, chants resident in that country.—(Cries of lock hear.") The Noble Lord then read s o tt statement made by Mr. Southern, the disadvantages under which they were laboarich. the compulsory use of the bank notes of Portugal, wwhigh as they were of much less value than the sums for they were issued, materially interfered with the'r o r s i- ch tions, because it compelled them to take Par r wo uld , would shortly be valueless ; and the consequence fir pointinF be that they would be compelled to suspend their or, to tions. Now, the first article of that decree 1 1 0 01 these words—" Any person who from enl should reject the notes of the Lisbon bank , , 0 g be liable to transportation, and subject of ` go fd, fine of from 50,000 grains to 500 grailnsin eel, to be placed to the public account. The 11°- 0011°, 1 ', case to be regulated by the judge, according to the for , of the transaction and the sentence of the trausg re ge neet, The 15th article provided, that under the egg s % g ab. of the Queen of Portugal the commerce of Br be red jects in the Portuguese dominions should 0 0 `*ohott strained or interrupted by any monopoly of th'L g i c e notes; that they should have un restrained oe P as e r dli l- an e p d ur i! buy from and sell to whomsoever they whatever form or manner was agreed d sb r°. ,,* chaser. An article of the 17th of Deceinu"2llritis'• gated that to a great extent, and at present the t ont subjects in Portugal were compelled to take Pl d id in notes of Lisbon, which were dePreceitttr pot value to the enormous amount of fi lt c r.,, e leb , of cent. This was fully stated in a 9gin Sir George H. Seymour, dated April l'"'" C ow although by the articles of this commercial treaty, boy eluded by Lord Waldegr a v e the • were e ntitled te ea t and sell, and to receive i) n exchange, ,PL l r ni and which might be agreed upo n b e tween,the parce7: 4s to the seller. He should have occasion afterwiropth refer, as regards the seventeenth and eig t i c !** articles of the treaty to tri a l by jury. tboSe 1 1; r i t ish as Honourable Members would know, al they subjects were entitled to tri a l by jury, but of that mg. were deprived. So, then, all British merchant* e t •Le to nacturers would have suffered a depreciation s a t r t ., present time, on the whole amount of 54 Per ri boti if they had contracted any bargains with riot. houses since November last. This sta te ° ted, ters continued to exist, and to be tolehraeros, notwithst an di ng th e f requent p ro tests of Mr. Soj t c old addressed to the Queen and her Minister of nut avoid drawing a con t ras t between the condue British M • nisters in regard to the Court of .-P°rLutf i and their onergy, when the Junta appeared to tee? _ f i r , guilty of any infraction of the rights of the BrhitiV4764 jects, or of the law o f na ti on s. On the 4 th of oa a pt Colonel Johnson wrote to Mr. Southeron, statieg t rio the Junta had seized stores in the town, part ot belonged to a Mr. R usse ll. This was instantly 1;0'1,4 municated to her Majesty's Ministers , and A. di.. Palmerston, on th e 26 t h o f March, had sent o'ons, patches to Mr. South ero n relative to his communiest!;„o. Now, he wi s h e d t o as k H on . Members would this rhe lation in the treaty, signed by the Queen i n 184 is ' oft permitted to be violated without any °P orgy tion being demanded by her Majesty's 0; the ment ? So much for the infraction ° ve er treaty as regarded the rights of British h the chants to deal in any way they pleased wi t d e s! Portuguese merchants. He would now proceed !lb of with other infractions of the treaty. On the ", h v i t December Mr. Souther on wrote from LisbO n al, violation of trial by jury had taken place in eria/;g, and that British subjects were placed in a different P c4 flo tion to that intended by the 17th and 18th articl e` ; o f treaty of 1842. It might not be known b u f bers Honourable Members of that House that in 18 42 ' t he existed a court of j us ti ce in Portugal for trial of British subjects; but by that trea t y vileges were granted to British subjects u r e s institution of Conservatorial Courts. As ' li n ers he had been able to ga ther from these P a r t he no remonstrance had ever been entered into uP° ll O if subject. He wished to know whether any stePsodres. any, when and what steps had been taken to these wrongs of British subjects in Portugal d the Lord PALMERSTON said that he understo od Noble Lord to ask him a question relating to the e d ec eo r which had b een p asse d, giving force to t he p ap ° forced r rency of the B an k o f P o r t ugal at a rag: r la' nominal value, and, secondly, with to certain suspended guarantees with rag to the British subjects in Portugal. NOW hadwith ret-gr• 'C to the first point, without pretending, as G o a rern; thought of doing, to justify the Portuguesed reg orge , ' ment for the financial measures which it ha ow a d l to in its pecuniary embarrassments , be „ A l lier W e ' the attention of the Noble Lord to -- not The Noble Lord would admit thst this f Govern the first instance in the history of nation s ° s l u e to* ments being obliged to give by law a forced Y a dersbl e paper currency which was suff er i ng from o°-1 value depreciation, and that paper had been received at e- er somewhat different to that which, accor ding to the Irjhe trade notions of the Noble Lord it would fetch In '- market. merc h ant/ Lord GEORGE BENTINCK said, British tnern--,,,e/ were prevented from making any private contract; ,m,", were forbidden by this decree to contract even byfil tufo medium of bars of silver, under a penalty varying ; 50,000 to 500,000 reals—notwithstanding any COP to that eff e ct, they were forbidden from receivingl 3 ,,, sl ; ment in any other mode except in the Bank of Lisn'A notes. Now, he apprehended that the Noble Lord cou ld not instance any precedent for such a course. it Lord PALMERSTON resumed. He a dmitted thit i g Noble a ble very stringent rule; but he wished to remit t t l h o e w v a N s Lord that the notes were receivable by PI" Government at the same rates at which they Twhe re co c u o r it; gelled to be received by private individual adopted with respect to this by her s. Majesty's ( l 3eov er _s mint was, he considered, the usual course . They L; not anticipate complaints of hardships from f° 1131 2 countries ; but whenever any complaint was r° founded upon the construction of treaties whose Pai r. ; visions had been invalidated, it was referred t° t° proper law offic e r s o f th e C rown , an d accor ding adv ice given by those officers her Majesty's Goveraille-to acted. He was not aware th a t a ny s p ec ific c oniela z i n ne had been made by British mer c h an t s i n th e c onversalh of Mr. Southeron; but if any complaints were mad e '' be course which the Government would pursue would te• this—to refer that complaint to the Queen's L, AO" - sf and if he were to state that a v i o l at i on of the t re *. had taken place, the Gov ernment wou ld seek LI redress. With respect to the second quest i on , it perfectly true, as his Noble Friend h a d - s tated, th si re. 17th and 18th articles of that treaty of 1842, CO the establishment of the conservatorial court bad b a d (as we understood) violated. A B r itish subjec t he se suffered great injustice from th e sus pension of articles ; and an application was made to the G °l :„%ln ment of Portugal to re-establish the conservat',7o,l court, e. and it was established accordingly, and inwitsAr to xistence. He did not think it fitting or exeem4 had trouble ak the House with all the correspondence iry,ll-„ veriun t en place between this Government and the L'l.l relations. ent of Portugal, appertaining to their coninteere.,„o the uP He had carefully expunged everything tothe communications which took place from Oetobei.rol• , present time, with respect to those relations "Ithe had a bearing upon the political question Which . House would, at a future time, take into consider lee , A vast deal of correspondence with respect to block at o, and other ma t ters , would be found in the bl ue b°° Founded on th e ar ti c l es o f thi s trea ty t h a t court e*Is.:11: and will still conti nue to ex i st , unt il t h e legal constitute guaranteed will be established.—(Hear.) HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. the Lord LINCOLN w i s h e d t o k now w hether it wa s o , ° intention of the Noble Lord to bring on the Ilea' t- Towns Bill to morrow 9 Lord JOHN RUSSELL—My impression is 11111 - ttil b e e discuision on th e P oor -l aw Administration Bill will to concluded to-night, and I therefore hope to bring ° I2 Health of Towns Bill to-morrow. DECORATIONS FOR THE BRITISH OFFICE.;'" PORTGAL. Mr. E WART d es i re d to as U k the Government whether it was the intention, as it was reported to be, of the tuguese Government to confer a decoration on the onie4. of the British navy who were concerned in th e late a in Portugal ? He did not consider such was deserve"' as they were employed not as partisans, but as trators. Lord PALMERSTON—It is well known that t•Vre: is a rule in force whi c h presented any British subile from accepting or wearing any foreign order, unless ve . person has been actually in the service of a foreign sea reign, or performed particularly eminent services ; ve feel no ditlicul:y in saying, none of the duties which 11:1,b0 been performed by the British offi cers c oncerned in one late transactions in Portugal brings them withi n the se 1"- of this rule. POOR-LAW ADMINISTRATION BILL. go On the order of the day that the House sho u l d into Committee on this Bill, Mr. BANJOS said that he should oppose the 034911 Z 23,592,925 M. Dated the 17th day of June, 1847. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. BANKING DEPIRTIECN T. 4. - Proprietors' capital.. 14,553,000 Rest .. . ..... . • 3,441,466 Public deposits (in eluding E]chequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sav ings-banks, and Di vidend accounts) .. 8,693,619 Other deposits • • 8,224,131 Seven day and other Government securi ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 11,713,101 Other securities •• • • 17,853,469 Notes •.•.••• • • • • • • • 5,375,245 Gold and silver coin.. 765,926 bills 4 35,707,741 £35,707,741 :. MARSHALL. Chief Cashier. Dated the 17th day of June, 184' COURSE OF EXCH, A.msterdam ......C.F. 12 6 Ditto, at sight • • .... 12 3 Rotterdam .... •• 2U. 12 6% A•ntwerp • 26 ilamburgh .... • • 11.8. 13 13 Altona— ...... ....... Paris, 3 days' sight •••• 25 65 Ditto, .• •••••. • • 25 95 Marseilles •• .. • . 26 80urdeanx......., . • • 26 Frankfort on Drains.... 122% Petersburgh, 3 Us.. •• Berlin • .• • - Vienna, effee.flo.... • • 10 8 Trieste, ditt0...... .. 10 8 Madrid ...... 47% Cadiz• .. : Bilbao.. ...... Barcelona .... Eevi11e...... LNGE.-(THIS DAY) Gibraltar.. Leghorn 3O 60 G 61102 ..... •• •• 26 . . . Milan • ..... ....... Venice... ..... ...... • . Naples •..•••• • .. . • •• 40 4 Palermo, per0z........ 120 Li5b0n................ 52% Oporto .... ..... •••• • • • 53% Rio Janeiro ..... •.. • . 26 Bahia .......... • • • • • • Buenos Ayres ....... • . New York, 21 days' sight Philadelphia .......... PRICE'S OF BULLION, TIE OZ Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 Noir Dollars ...... 0 4 9 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 Silver in bars ...... • . 0 4 11% PHE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 17th day o June, 1847 present the Queen's Most E xce ll en t M a j esty i n Council, this day the Right Hon. Major-General Sir George Arthur, Bart., K.C.H., was, by her Majesty's command, sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and took his place at the Board accordingly. ST. JAMES'S PALACE, JUNE 18. The Queen has been pleased to appoint the following Cha plains in Ordinary to her Majesty : The Reverend Richard Harvey. The Honourable and Reverend Augustus Frederick Phipps. The Reverend William Cureton. The Honourable and Reverend John Thomas Pelham. The Reverend William John Broderick. The Honourable and Reverend Richard Boyle. The Reverend John Jackson. FOREIGN-OFFICE, JUNE 15. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. John Wil• limn May, as Vice Consul in London for his Majesty the King of the Netherlands. CROWN-OFFICE, JUNE 17. SIEHEER. RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PAR- LIAMENT. Borough of Derby—The Honourable Frederic Leveson Gower, in the room of the Honourable John George Braba zon Ponsonby (commonly called Viscount Duncannon), now Baron Ponsonby, called up to the House of Peers. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE—JuNz 15. Ordnance Medical Department—Henry Fisher, Gent. to be Assistant Surgeon, June 7. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. 2d Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia— Lieutenant Richard Phibbs to be Captain, vice Stancliffe, resigned, May - HITEHALL, JUNE 9. The Lord Chanc W ellor has appointed Edwin Clarke, of Longton, in the county of Stafford, Gent. to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. w, MAY . The Lord Chancel lor TERALL has appointed l2 Henry Reynolds, of Handsworth, in the county of Stafford, Gent. to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANK R UPTS. Edmund Maude, William Henry Jones, George Maude, and William Aspdin, Portland cement manufacturers, Northfleet, to surrender June 25, at half-past twelve, and July 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official as. signee ; Lawrance and Plews, Old Jewry-chambers. Frederic Young, woollen warehouseman, Basinghall street, June 23, at eleven, and July 21, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee; Chamberlayne, Great James -street, Bedford-row. John Dallisson Browne, surgeon, Wood-street, Waltham stow, June 25, at half-past one,. and July 23, at half-past two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Badham, Houghton, and Mayhew, Verulam-buildings, Gray's. inn. William Thorne, linen draper, Crawley-street, St. Pancras, June 29. at half-past twelve, and July 27, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Jones, Sise-lane. Joseph Hall, currier, Broadway, Westminster, June 25, at two, and July 23, at threa, at the Court of Bankruptcy; Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Hudson, Buck lerOaury. Henry Foan, glove manufacturer, Yeovil, Somersetshire, July 8, at one, and 27, at eleven, at the Exeter Di s t r i c t Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter ; Hancock, Yeovil; Stogdon, Exeter; Gregory and Co., Bedford-row, London. Thomas Hunter, grocer, Bishopwearmouth, Durham, June 29, at twelve, and July 27, at one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Wakley, official assignee, Newcastle-upon.. Tvne ; Hill and Mathews, Bury-court, St. Mary Axe, London; Hoyle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Robert Macdonald Brown, merchant, Sheffield, July 2 and 23, at ten, at the Sheffield District Court. Freeman, official assignee, Leeds; Tattersall and Co., Great James-street, London ; Hoole and Co., Sheffield. Francis Williams, grocer, Harriseahead, Staffordshire, June 26 and July 24, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court; Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham. Cooper, Con gleton ; Smith, Birmingham. Alfred Gerard Robinson, woolatapler, Rothley, Leicester.. shire, July 2 and 30, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Nottingham; Harris and Luck, Leicester; Bowley, Nottingham. Waples Can Warden, corn agent, Birmingh am , J u l y 1 and 29, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Whit more, official assignee, Birmingham ; Weller, King's-road, Bedford-row, London; Pell, Welford ; Ryland, Birmingham. Richard Cox, stone-mason, Chalford, Gloucestershire, July and 30, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official assignee, Bristol; Brisley, Pancras-lane, London; Paris, Stroud. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed from the returns made i❑ the week ending June 15, 1847, is 275. 1 1 A l d. cwt. SOCIETY FOR THE IMPROVE MENT OF THE LABOURING CLASSES. (THIS DAY.) The third annual meeting of this society was held to-day at the New Model Lodging-house, in George street, St. Giles's ; Lord Ashley in the chair, who was supported by the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Norwich, Mr. Evans, M.P., the Hon. and Rev. Montagu Villiers, the Rev. H. Dakenfield, &c. The attendance was respectable but not numerous. The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by stating that there were three points to which the society directed its attention at its establishment. The first was the allotment of land ; the second, the establishment of loan funds; and the third the improvement of the dwellings of the working classes. With regard to the two first, he was not able to say that they bad accomplished much as yet, but with regard to the;third a good deal had been done. There had been two lodging-houses opened in Charles• street and King-street, Drury-lane, and he expected that the house they were then in would be opened on Monday next for the reception of the labouring classes. The Noble Lord, after pointing out the dangers which beset the labouring population who came up to this metropolis to procure employment, from the crowded and immoral places to which:they were obliged to resort, said that those lodg • ing-houses were intended to obviate such evils, and he hoped they would yet become part of their parochial system. The Noble Lord dwelt at some length on the great benefits of the institution, and concluded by im pressing upon the meeting the duty and the necessity of supporting this society—calculated, as it was, to pro• duce such incalculable advantages to the labouring classes, and to promote the spiritual and temporal wel fare of their fellow creatures. Mr. Wool), the secretary, read the report, which was -unanimously adopted, and the Bishop of London, tbs, Bishop of Norwich, Rev. Sir H. Dukenfield, and Cater speakers having addressed the meeting, several reso► agreed The htoo,usaendiatheaelemuele ttindgtsoeparatetod lotions to carry out the objects of the :mitt:Lr Were ate one hundred inmates, each of whom will have a separate bed and a separate apartment lighted and ventilated. The charge to each Person will oe only fourpence per night, the rate charged at the ordi arrangements nalliceiging-houses, and from believe that the establishment will be to insure cleanliness of inmates. andt h the admirable nnnfnrt w e seldom found t o piereent want its full a of for the Queen ROYAL PRESENTS.--Some Pack gQ have arrived in this country from. pictu res and his Royal Hi t Prince Albert, bein Majesty the iihog of the Netterlando, g Pre 4 eata tFeiz nwstrzarrcE COMPANIES. Name of Company. Dividend per Amount of Share. An um. Albion ...... Alliance Brit. and For, Ditto 3larine: • • • • • • Atlas ......... British Commercial INericLMed.&Gen.Life County .. : agle ...... • • • . Eng. & Scot. Law •• • • European Life b'reemason s' . • ... •, (,lobe Guardian .... Imperial Fire imperial Life Indemnity Marine Law ,egal and General Life :andon Fire Landon Ship Marine .. lied. Inrlid & Gen. Life National Lean Fund `rational Life.. • . Palladium Life "hcenix •. 'rotector Life.... 'rovident Life....... lock Life...... tGyal Exchange :41..11 Fire ........... Ditto Life Chilversal Life .. 31. 10s. 6 per cent. 61. per cent, 13s. 6tt. pr oh. 7s. per share 51. per cent. 12s. • 6s. 5/. per cent. 5% per cent. 51. per , -ent. 61. pef cent. 51. per cent. 61. and bonus lii. 11. Mi.& bs. 11. is. 10s. 10s. Si. per cent. 41. per ct. 51. per cent. 8/. per cent. 51. per cent. 31. p. ct. & bs. 51. per cent. 1/. ss. 4s. 5/. per cent. 6/. 10s. 11. 6s. 10Ni. pr cnt X 5. d. 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 Stock. 100 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 100 0 Paid. 8. d. 50 0 0 n 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 2 10 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 All paid. 3 0 0 36 10 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 5 13 1 10 0 0 2 0 0 12 10 0 12 10 0 15 0 0 2 0 0 2 10 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 47% 210 141 s id 185 11. 3s. 6 15 LIST OF SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. Bank of Scotland 100 0 0 168 Royal Bank of Scotland 61. per cent. 100 0 150 British Linen Company 81. per cent. 100 0 0 200 Commercial Bank •• • • 61. per cent. 100 0 0 164 National Bank 6l. per cent. 10 0 0 141 2s. Union Bank of Scotland 7%1. pr sent. 50 0 0 88 Western Bank— .. •• • • 6/. per cent. 50 0 0 82 North of Scotland Bank 61. per cent. 50 0 6 3 4 Clydesdale Bank.... • • 61. per cent. 10 0 0 131,, Eastern Bank ... •• • 5/. pet cent. 10 0 0 111 12s Caledonian Bank Edinb.& Glasgow Bank 61. per cert. 50 0 6% City of Glasgow Bank . Si. per cent. 10 0 0 13 Scottish Union Ins. Co. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 225. 6d Hercules Insurance Co. 71. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 1234 Insur. Co. of Scotind• • Si. per cent. 10 0 0 All paid. 9 , North British Incur. • • 5 34 /. pr cent. 200 0 0 10 0 0 26% Caledonian Fire Incur. 101. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 22% Edinburgh Life Incur. 61. per cent. 100 0 0 12 10 0 18 Edin.&Glast:Rallvray 11.10 s. per s. 50 0 0 50 0 0 68 Ditto, li Shares •. • • 7s. 6d. p. a. 12 10 0 All paid. 1654 Edin., Leith, & Grantn 20 0 0 20 0 0 20 Glasgw & Ayrshir Rail. 71. per cent. 50 0 0 All paid. 61% 31asgw &Greenck Rail. 21. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 18 Glsgw& Garnkirk Rail. 5/. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 39% Dundee& Arbroth Rail. 6/. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 37 standard LifeAistimce. j 51. per cent. Isoooj 2 10 0 9 ELECTION MOVEMENTS. THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION.—MEETING OF MR. C. LUSHINGTON'S FRIENDS. Last evening a meeting of the electors of the city of Westminster, Tesiding in the parish of St. Martin-in the-Fields, was held in the Parth enon R ooms , S t . Mar tin's-lanefor the purpose of hearing Mr. C. Lushington enter into an explanation of his political principles. Dr. BAINBRIDGE being clalled to the chair, said that in a short time the electors of that large and influential constituency would be required to make choice of a proper individual to represent them in Parliament, in consequence of the resignation of Mr. J. T. Leader. They all valued their present representative, General Sir De Lacy Evans, who, he believed, had performed his duties to the satisfaction of the electors.—(Hear, hear.) He supported every good measure that was brought into Parliament, and he! voted for the Government when questions were introduced by the Ministers for the inte rest of the country ; but was independent of them when they acted in a contrary spirit.— (Hear, hear.) There was another candidate before them, who was a gentleman of known worth, and who had honourably represented a popular constituency. He was a tried man, and his name was paramount for supporting every measure calculated to benefit his country.—(Applause.) That gentleman was now before them, and would state his opinions.— (Hear.) It was of great consequence that the electors should look with caution at all those candidates who came to solicit their suffrages, and should make choice of that gentleman who would be likely to proteet their interests. —(Hear.) If Mr. C. Lushington became their repre sentative, and he had very little hesitation in saying that he would be returned at the next election, he (Dr. Bainbridge) was convinced that he would be the active supporter of education, - of sanatory reform, and of every measure that would be beneficial.—(Applause.) Mr. C. LUSHINGTON then addressed the meeting, and fully explained his opinions in reference to the various important political questions likely to be introduced into Parliament, which were listened to throughout with attention, and were received with acclamation. Mr. JONES moved the following resolution :—" That this meeting, approving of the opinions and sentiments expressed by Mr. C. Lushington, and considering his past conduct in the House of Commons, and his tried services a guarantee for the future, do hereby engage to use their utmost exertions to secure his election as one of the representatives of the city of Westminster." The resolution being seconded, was agreed to by a large majority. Mr. C. LIISIIINGTON then acknowledged the vote, and the meeting separated. REPRESENTATION OF MARYLEBONE. Last evening a very numerous meeting of electors of the borough of Aarylebone, convened by the United Reform Association, took place at the King and Queen Tavern, Paddington-green, for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee appointed to ascertain if the Liberal candidates aro prepared to submit their claims to a ballot of the association to enrol members. Mr. T. Langham, of Paddington, presided, and Mr. Douglas read letters which had been received from the candidates in reply to the resolutions of the association. The letters in question were from Mr. D. W. Harvey, Lord Dudley Stuart, and Mr. Sergeant Shee, expressive of their willingness to comply with the terms of the re solution, and from Mr. D. Salomons, expressive of re gret that he was no longer a candidate. The report pro• ceeded to recommend that on the day the ballot was taken all the candidates should have the opportunity of addressing the association, and ,that the candidates ob taining the majority at the ballot, should then be sub mitted to a great public meeting of Liberal electors for approbation. Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS begged to announce that Sir Charles Napier was not going to Lisbon, and had, there fore, again determined to present himself as a candidate for tho borough. BOLTON.-A deputation from the free•traders of Bolton waited on Tuesday upon Mr. John Brooks, of Manchester ; and presented to him a requisition signed by about 400 electors, requesting him to offer himself as a candidate in conjunction with Dr. Bowring ; but we have not been able to learn the result. No candidate has yet been announced in the Conservative interest, and it is thought by many that if they cannot find a gentleman of local influence, they will make a virtue of necessity, and adopt Mr. Ainsworth as their man.— Manchester Guardian. BURY.—The intimation of the intended retirement of Lord Charles Fitzroy from the representation of this borough, and the intention of one of Sir Henry Bun bury's sons to come forward, has been authenticated by the addresses of the retiring Member and the candidate, Mr. Edward Herbert Bunbury.—Manchester paper. CA.MRRIDGE BOROUGU.—At present there are three candidates actually in the field—Mr. Campbell, Mr. Adair, and Mr. Manners Sutton. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly has not returned to Cambridge to solicit, like Mr. Man ners Sutton, a renewal of the confidence of the electors. —Cambridge Advertiser. TAMWORrIL-Mr. Wm. Yates Peel will represent this borough in connexion with the late Premier, in the new Parliament. This is now placed beyond doubt by the retirement of Captain A'Court from the forthcoming struggle. I IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, June 17. PORTUGAL. Lord BROUGHAM said he wished to ask the Noble Marquis whether it was true that upon the arrival of the small vessel which had taken out the Count Bomfim and the other prisoners of war to Angola, an insurrection had broken out in that colony, and whether it was true t that Count Bomfim, who had been sent out as a convict, was now in the position of the Governor of Angola, he being himself a prisoner of war ? He hoped that Das Antes, instead of being a prisoner of war, was not now the Governor of Lisbon.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) The Marquis of LANSDOWNE—I have heard the report. Lord BROUGHAM—Have you any doubt about it? —(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) The Marquis of 14ANSDOWNE —I have some doubts. Lord BROUGHAM—Has my Noble Friend at the head of the Admiralty heard it?—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of AUCKLAND—I have heard it. Lord BROUGHAM--Have you any doubt of it?— (Hear, bear, and a laugh." BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY. Lord LYNDHURST then rose to move the further consideration of the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the truth of th© allegations contained in the petition of the Great Western Railway Company re lating to the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway. The Noble Lord than proceeded to say that the directors of the North-Western Company had purchased 4,000 shares in the new company, and read over the names of several of the directors, engineers, solicitors, locomotive superintendents, and clerks, who had purchased those shares, among whom the names of Mozely and Tootal occupied a prominent place. He would SISK their Lord ships what tilt) , thought of such a proceeding? Now, what was the next step which was taken? A meeting was advertised, for the purpose of appointing an additional number of directors, and at that meeting six more were added to the original eighteen, under the direction of the North-Western Company. The next step taken was to try to remove four of the old directors. The dis pute was then brought into the Court of Chancery, and subsequently into the Court of Queen's Bench, and how they should succeed there it was not for him to say. A Bill was then brought into Parliament to obtain the sanction of the agreement, and the Bill was reported on favourably by the Committee who sat upon it. Some discussion afterwards arose upon it, and it was re committed, with the same result, and the sanction of Parliament was subsequently obtained for it. The Bill was then brought before their Lordships, and it remained for them to decide what course they should adopt in reference to those strange proceedings. Let him suppose, for a moment, how this matter would have stood if an agreement had been entered into by the Gre at W es t ern C ompany t o a ccomplish h asimlar object. Would an yb o dy f or an instan suppose that a i non compliance with the standing orders would i n any way birat , :e7tr" - I the 90%lidiapticin of the merits of the IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. BILLS FROM THE COMMONS. Several Bills were brought up and read a first time. COPYHOLD COMMISSION BILL. On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL this Bill was read a second time. TURNPIKES CONTINUANCE BILL. On the motion of the same Noble Lord this Bill was read a second time. GREAT BRITAIN STEAM-SHIP. The Earl of RODEN stated that the Great Britain steam-ship had been run aground in the Bay of Dun drum, within sight of his own residence. Up to the present time numerous unsuccessful efforts had been made, by means of breakwaters, to preserve the vessel during the storm, and through the exertions of Captain Claxton, he hoped that that splendid vessel would be restored to its owners. He had been struck with the great services rendered by the use of faggots as a breakwater, and he wished to as k th e N o bl e L or d at the head of the Admiralty whether any steps had been taken by the Government with a view to ascertain ing the value of this kind of material as a breakwater? The Earl of AUCKLAND was understood to say that the Government had sent an officer to inspect the position of this vessel, and they had made an offer to the proprietors of the use of a powerful steamer should it be required to aid in getting the vessel off. - BATHS AND WASHHOUSES. tha the second reading of this Bill being moved, Lord MONTEAGLE wished to call the attention of their Lordships to the importance of providing suitable accommodation for the public in baths and washhouses. The Noble Lord also presented a petition suggesting the adoption of baths in every parish, and that they should be supported by rates. FEES AT ST. PAUL'S. Earl FITZWILLIAM complained of the practice of charging fee for viewing the cathedral of St. Paul's. He attended there yesterday, and a charge of 2d. was made upon him for inspecting the structure. He thought it was high time that the system was put an end to. Messengers from the Commons brought in several Bills, which were ordered to lie on the table. MASTERS IN CHANCERY BILL. On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Masters in Chancery Bill and the Masters in Chancery Af f idavit Office Bill were read a third time and passed. JUVENILE OFFENDERS' BILL. The Earl of DEVON moved the Committee on this Bill, and briefly entered into its details. Lord BROUGHAM thought that something must be done to remedy the present defective state of the law with respect to the punishment of juvenile offenders, There were many cases in which the servkes of a jury might be dispens e d w i t h, particularly inTealing with very young persons. He entirely approved of that part of the Bill which made parents responsible for the good conduct of their children. Lord DENMAN had long thought it expedient and necessary for the ends of justice that all petty cases should be submitted to a jury, because he never could think that an Englishman should be tried without a jury; still the evils inherent in the mode of trying juvenile and petty (offences were great ; for instance, persons were tried for stealing such thins as eggs, stores, and game. They were incarcerated for some time before their trial, and when at last the time arrived juries considered that the parties had been suffi ciently punished ; and even when they were found guilty, the Judge could only inflict a fine of one shilling in consequence of the punishment which the prisoner had received. The consequence was, that petty offences were committed with impunity, and the lower classes, who were the persons guilty of them, were demoralised. He Wab compelled, therefore, however reluctantly, to say that that jury might be dispensed with in such cases where a good and responsible tribunal could be obtained. (LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. The Hon. Frederick Leveson Gower took the oaths and his seat for Derby. The Hon. Gentleman was in troduced by Mr. Strutt and Mr. W. Entwisle. LIMERICK DOCKS AND HARBOUR BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY BILL. This Bill, for making deviations in the East Lanca shire Railway and the Rawtenstall Canal branch, was read a third time and passed. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN SHIRE RAILWAY (ASHTON CANAL PUR CHASE). This Bill was read a third time and passed. REPORTS. The reports on the following Bills were brought up and ordered to lie on the table : Chester and Holyhead Railway Extension. Crowland and Cowbit Washes, &c., Drainage. • Manchester Corporation Waterworks (Power to sell to Manchester and Salford Waterworks). THIRD READINGS, The following Bills were read a third time and passed:— Manchester, She ffi eld, and Lin co l ns hi re R a il way. Northern unties Union Railway Deviation. York and North Midland Railway (Knottingley Branch). Midland Railway (Extension of the Nottingham and Lincoln Branch at Lincoln). Midlands Railway (Masbrough and Normanton Station Enlargement). Paisley, Barrhead, and Hurlet Railway. Lincoln Town Rating. Limerick Docks and Harbour. Leeds Central Railway Station. Guildford Extension and Portsmouth and Fareham Railway. East of Fife Railway (Markinch Deviation). Edinburgh and Northern Railway, St. Andrew's and Newburgh Harbour, Branches, and Road Crossings (Newport Railway Extension). CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS. The reports on the following Bills were further con sidered and agreed to:— Belfast Improvement. Caledonian Railway (Edinburgh Station and Branches to Granton, and to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway). Clarence Railway, and Leeds and Thirsk Railway Amal gamation. Eastern Union Railway (Branch from Manningtree to Harwich). Exeter and Exmouth Railway. Great Northern Railway (Deviations between Grantham and York). Inverness Harbour and Navigation. Inverness Municipal and Police, &c. Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Eagleseliffe and Stillington Extension). Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Branch from Melmerby to Northallerton, &c.) Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Harrogate and Pateley Branch, &c.) Leicester Waterworks. London (City) Improvements. Rathmines Improvement. Taw Vale Railway and Dock (Deviations and Bideford and Southmolton Branches). York and North Midland Railway (Hull Station and Branches). STOCKPORT MANORIAL TOLLS AND BRIDGES. On the moti on for the third reading of this Bill, Mr. B. ESCOT T opposed the third reading, on the ground that the Bill would interfere with the interest of the licensed victuallers, who had been refused a hearing before the Committee on the Bill. Mr. TATTON EGERTON supported the third read ing, alleging that the inhabitants of Stockport were particularly anxious that the Bill should pass. The Bill was then read a third time. CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY EX- TENSION. Mr. WARD moved that the evidence taken before the Committee be printed before the Bill was further pro ceeded with.—Agreed to. REGULATION OF PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. GREENE said, that in the absence of the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), he begged to move the order of the day for the adjourned debate on the question, that it is expedient that the constitution and practice of all Committees on private Bills, in future sessions of Parliament, should be assimilated as nearly as may be to those of Committees on railway Bills; and that it be an instruction to the Committee of Revision of Stand ing Orders, to make provision accordingly. In doing this he could not but regret that the duty had not fallen into more able hands. But as he had nine years ago entered fully into the subject, and as he had participated in the construction of one of the first reports that had ever been made, he was anxious to see the recommendation which had been then thrown out. The House some time afterwards adopted the principle of placing Members on the Committee who had no interest in the places to which private Bills had reference; but it had not been commonly adopted, and it was now necessary that some further regulations should be made. He did not think that Hon. Members, who were locally interested in any Private Bills which came before them, in their Committees, should be allowed to vote upon the decision of such Bills 1 and he certainly thought that some change was needed for in the constitution of the Committees of the House of Commons. Mr. BERNAL thought that the motion ought not to have been brought forward in the absence of the Hon. Member for Montrose, whose offspring this motion really was. Ho was convinced from the enormous increase of private business annually brought before the House that a time was not far distant when the House would completely throw overboard all the private business, and leave the adjudication of such subjects erttirely in the hands of another tribunal. He would oppose the motion by every possible mode the rules oJt the House afforded. Fir R. H. INGLIS • thou that the principle of con -b :itreting the private business ought to partake mere of the nature, and be influen ce d more by t h e principles, of the public business of this House. In the management of railway Bills there was a great error committed in placing the business which affected a local district before a Committee of that House, the Members of which were completely ignorant of the local wants of that district. Why, in such a case the decision depended not so much on the merits of a case as on the abilities of the counsel. He thought that no reason had been assigned for reversing the decision which the House had come to on the 20th of January,: and he should,' therefore, give his opposition to the motion. Sir W. HEATHCOTE supported the motion, and considered that the Hon. Gentlemen - who opposed it had not- stated sufficient grounds for- its TheY th e hm(