The Sun. — London, England, 1847-04-29 00:00:00

' tirl) Wbitton SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.) (Sittings in Banco, before LJrd Chief Justice DzNmAN, and a full Court.) JrItiItDICTION OF COURTS IN THE cHANNRL ISLANDS. Ir. CROWDER applied 'to this Court for the discharge of Brennan and Henry Gallan, two lads who had been sentenced to traneportatien by the Royal Court of Jersey for the period of seven years, on the ground that on the face of the return the Court possessed no authority to pass such a sentence. The Learned Counsel stated that the two boys bad been tried before the Royal Court of Jersey . for breaking into a baker's shop in the town of St. Helier, in that island, a id stealing a quantity of sweetcake therefrom. The sentence was passed in the usual form, namely, that the prisoners should be transported to such place beyond the seas as her Majesty or her Privy Council should direct and appoint, and the pri setters were re-conveyed to prison. Sir George Grey after wards sept his warrant for the removal of the prisoners to this country, and they were placed in custody in the Peni tentiary at Milbank. He had now to submit to their Lord ships that, on the face of the return made there was no com petent authority in the island of Jersey to sentence any parties to transportation. He contended that, where sen tence of this kind was passed in any foreign countries, it was necessary that it should be shown on the face . of the return that a proper authority exted to inflict such a sentence. No such authority appearedis on the face of this return; and not only was it not shown that suc it h authority really did exist, but ther e was every proof that did net exist. A minute of Council had been framed with reference to the disposal of prisoners who should have been sentenced to transportation in these islands; but that minute did not, nor could not constitute any authority to pass sentence. It merely pre-supposed the existence of such authority at the time that the minute was framed. The right to pass sentence of transportation did not exist by common law, —it was only conferred upon judges by Act of Parliament ; and, therefore, unless it was passed under such Act of Parliament it was not only invalid, but against the law. Not one of the Acts which had been passed with reference to this punishment had in any way any application to the courts in this island; nor even under the ancient laws, upon which the island was formerly regulated, did any such authority exist. Any British subject who was committed to custody, in any gaol or prison, had surely the right of know ing upon what law or authority he was detained. It was not incumbent upon him to show that there was no authority to detain him, but it was incumbent upon those who deprived him of bis liberty to show that they had a legal title to do so. No such right was shown on the part of the Baillie of the Royal Court of Jersey, and therefore as there was no means of reversing the judgment, the prisoners were entitled to their discharge : The Learned Counsel then proceeded to cite at some length- several authorities in support of his view of the case. - • - Mr. Lug; followed upon the same side, and contended that upon the face of such a return sufficient should be stated to enable the person detained, in case he should be unjustly de tinned, to found an action upon it. In this case the return was perfectly correct in the fact which it stated as to the sentence passed, but was silent as to the authority given to pass such a sentence, so that parties accused, although sen tenced by an authority which was not competent to pass sentence, could found no objection upon the return, inasmuch as the facts stated in it were perfectly true. Their Lordships were asked to infer the authority of the Royal Court of Jer sey to pass sentence, because they had actually passed it. Such a popesition would be a most dangerous one, if allowed to be valid. The ArToRNET-GENERAL contended that the Court could not interfere with the judgment which had already been passed by a court of competent jurisdiction, although the parties accused might be within their jurisdiction. Sup • posy the case of a person sentenced to banishment from Scotland, and while being removed for the execution of that sentence the vessel in which he was was wrecked within the jurisdiction of their court, having been sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction, they could not interfere legally They could not order him to be remitted to the jurisdiction of the Court which sentenced him,nor could they discharge him with the sentence hanging over him. The only course that could be pursued with regard to the prisoner' would be to show respect to the judgment passed upon him. If a person were sentenced in England, and ordered to be imprisoned in the county of Middlesex, that would not render his detention in the county of Essex an illegal one. A Court, having a competent jurisdiction to pass sentence, and the prisoner who had received that sentence having been brought over to this country, the absence of any statement as to the authority of the Court to pass sentence, upon the face of the return, ought not and could not constitute any right on the part of this Court to interfere with the sentence. Tile SOLICITOR• GCRERAL said, that if this precedent were admitted, there would exist a necessity for inquiring into the cases of many Scotch prisoners who were detained in this country under sentence of the Courts of Scotland. The only method in which any such case could be brought under the notice of the Legislature was by petition to the Queen in Council ; and, in the present case, where sentence had been passed by a competent Court, the same appeal, namely, by petition to the Queen in Council, must be adopted. Under such circumstances, this Court would establish a very injurious precedent if it allowed the present application, and interfered with the sentence. Mr. HILL addressed the Court upon the same side. He contended that by the sentence passed the prisoners were to be transported beyond the seas to such place as her Majesty should appoint. The prisoners "were detained in Jersey until that pleasure was made known. The discretionary power was vested entirely in the Crown, and their detention any where until that pleasure was made known was merely a part of the sentence passed. A writ of habeas corpus might just as well apply in the case of a prisoner whose ultimate desti nation was not named for a long time after his sentence of transportation. His detention in that case, as well as in the prt,ient one, was therery . a - portion of the execution of the - - r. %Vann'sGrow having been heard upon the same side, Mr. CRoWDER, in reply, urged that his objection with re ference to the powerof the Court of Jersy to pass sentence of transportation had not'been answered. 31r. Justice Paramus said that the question was not one 'of error as to the judgment; it turned upon the power of de taining the prisoners in this country. Mr. CROWDER said, .that under any circumstances his Learned Friend had shown no authority by which these pri soners could be detained in this country under a sentence pa=sed by the foreign Court of Jersey, the laws of which.were unknown to ibis country, and also unrecognised. The sen tence was passed under the laws of Jersey, and the prisoner was found in this country, and how could any right to detain him be shown ? The sentence of transportation was un known to the law unless created by Act of Parliament, and it had not been so created in Jersey. If a pri :soner were brought before their Lordship under a sentence which condemned him to lose a lunb, such a sentence not being known to the laws of this country, and being passed by a foreign court, would not be recognised, and the person would not be legally detained in this country. The Ace, sth of Geo. IV., provided that when any sentence of transportation was passed by any court out of the United Kingdom, and within the limits of her Majesty's dominions, the prisoner should be sent over to England to be transported. His Learned Friend had laid great stress upon this provision, but if there was no authority in the Royal Court of Jersey to pass sen tence of transportation, that Act could not apply. His Learned Friend the Attorney-General had assumed that the Court of Jersey possessed that authority, and had confined his arguments to the question as to the legality of the cus tody in this country. That was literally an assumption of the whole question; for if it should be found that the Court bad oo jurisdiction, the Act could not apply. On these gr.euids he submitted to their Lordships, that the Court ought to entertain this application. If the Court possessed the power they ought to have stated it upon the face of the return, and as they had not done so, that return was invalid, and constituted no authority to hold the parties in custody in this country. There Lordships reserved their judgment. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP vi. SAIASBURY AND YROVIL, AND EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER. Mr. Thytherleigb, merchant and banker, of Exeter, was examined by Mr. RowE on behalf of the promoters of these lines, and gave it as his opinion that it was desirable to have a narrow gauge line direct from Exeter to London, and that when such a line was completed there could be no doubt but that branches affording accommodation to the smaller towns in the neighbourhood of Exeter would be constructed. Mr. Pope, farmer and grazier, of Beaminster, thought that the proposed lines would afford him great facilities for the conveyance of his live and fat stock to Salisbury, London, and the south-east coast. Captain Buller, tithe and copyhold commissioner, anti ma gistrate of the county of Devon, and owner of considerable property at Wimple, in the neighbourhood of Exeter, was also called to give evidence in support of the . proposed line. D. B. Davey, merchant of Topsham, also deposed to the beneficial effect to be derived from the construction of the direct route to Exeter. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve to morrow. GROUP XIII.. The Committee to whom the following Bills have been referred met this morning is Room 33; Mr. Buller, M. P., ~ in the chair. Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds (Extension to Yarmouth). Lowestoft Railway and Harbour (Alteration near Needham). Norfolk Railway (Branch from Wymondham to the Norwich Extension of the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds Railway, near Diss). Norfolk Railway (Yarmouth Extension). Norfolk Railway (Thetford to Lowestoft Railway, &c., with Branch to Halesworth.) The first line proceeded with was the IPSWICH AND MINT ST. EDMUNDS (EX TENSION TO YAEMOITTif.) tir. JAM as opened the case for the promoters , in the ab senceof Mr. S e r g e a nt Wrangham—He said the line was promoted by the Eastern Union Railway, and that it would start from a point to the north of Diss, on the line o f th e Eastern Union between Stowmarket and Norfolk, which was eonst nass!sd last year, and which is now in toe course of Bee r e rtion. it would then run by Harleston, Bungay,, across the Lowestoft Railway, to Yarmouth, where an independent ou station would be erected Th. 4 s i t ; much required by the at Southtown, another station reduced. between Yarmouth inhabitants of the town. After glancing at and London would be greatly Parliament, with the proceedings which had beeenumtarukueenneld'esinti to the district, would be 32 respect to atfording railway he proceeded to say that the length of thel' would miles, 1 furlong, and 1 chain ; that it would coat an I that as the country was e i extremely faciles ' 6 ;t o g., \ construction of a railway, owing to its flatness, the n be nearly a surface one, and, therefore, presented no engineer_ log ,htli.tulties. The scheme of the Norfolk Cornpany g w ni c e n e ja coronorece on the Norfolk line at Thetford, and run by Di ss to Beccles, almost along the route of the line for which he (Mr. James) appeared; it would then strike off at that pOint, and form a junction again with the Norfolk line at Reedham, and the cost would be 760,0004 and it would be fur the Com mittee to say whether they would consent, in the present atete of the money market, to the expenditure of so large a suns when nearly the same objects could be obtained for 460,0001. The first witness examined was Mr. Coaterton, a merchant, of Bradwell House, Great Yar mouth, who stated that the line would be of the greatest advantage to the district which it was proposed to traverse; that the trade of Yarmouth required an additional and an independent station, and that the present station could not be extended to meet this want owing to the difficulty which would be experienc ed in getting the necessary land. The station being on the west side of the river, and the river being ; crosced and the groups intersected by tranaroads, great ac. commodation would be afforded. The population of Yar mouth was 27,849. Mr. MIRHEWETHER (who appears for the Norfolk Com pany) intimated that those for whom he appeared were ready to admit the necessity of a line through the district ; in fact, it would be his duty to show t hat such a line was ' required. The CHAIRMAN said it would be necessary to adduce some evidence to show that such a line was required. Counsel would of course use their discretion, and not adduce unne cessary evidence. minutelyYarmouth, it 3 gave leea evidence evera witnesses,nfa veufavour of the welllinaec i saperiority over the line of the Norfolk Company. , clu and ain t d e e d t a w i t d h Mr. Cobel, a gentleman connected with the Yarmouth Custom-house, said ships came to Yarmouth from all parts of the world with the exception of Asia; that the imports and exports were rapidly on the increase, and that the feel ing of the town was decidedly in favour of a station at Southtown. For cattle it would be particularly useful. Cross-examined by Mr. CORRY—Cattle might be put on the trams, and so conveyed to the stations for transmission to their destination. Mr. Jackson, soap manufacturer, of Yarmouth, said last year he manufactured 500 tons of soap. He sent a great quantity to the district traversed by the proposed line, and fur that purpose he had found the present station very de fective, and the cause of much delay, on account of the want of sufficient accommodation. By a more direct line and an additional station his trade would be increased. He understood that the new station of the Norfolk Company, on the site of Paget's brewery, was intended to be a passenger station, so that it would not cause much additional goods accommoda tion at the present station. There was a general feeling in Yarmouth in favour of a station like that of the proposed line. He should send his goods to the district from it. Adjourned until to-morrow. To Captain HARRIS, the witness replied that he appre.. hended no difficulty in starting trains from a site which was so low as to be in a cutting, and he cited the Euston-square station as an instance. Mr. TOLLEMACHE asked if, in the event of the Dumfries Company not getting their line, the North British would take it up? Mr. PAITEN said that they would state their case to the Committee, and also lay before them their proposition for supplying a communication between Hawick and Carlisle. Mr. Blythe's examination continued—The sharpest curve on their line was three furlongs at the point of junction with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. They had also two curves of almost two furlongs within the Canobie district. The estimate of the works, which would include the price of land, was amply sufficient for a double line of rails ex tending above 25 miles. The cost per mile was about 16,0001., and the total cost would amount to about 420,0001. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Mummy—He did not know that it would be likely that heavy traffic would be sent from Belfast round to Dublin and Holyhead, and so to York.—(Laughter.) He did not therefore think that the examination on that point was preposterous. He had heard Mr. Kennedy's evidence with respect to the mode of transit for fat and half fed cattle. He thought that the obvious route would be that given by the North-Western Company, provided that company charged such rates as would pre vent competition from ether companies, which were not so favourably circumstanced. With respect to the branch to Brampton, he acknowledged that the Dumfries Railway was more distant by 240 yards. He declared most certainly that the Dumfries Company had not a joint interest with the North British Company. The only connexion that existed between them was, that Mr. Miller was principal engineer of both lines. Even if this branch to Brompton and Milton were granted to the Dumfries Company, and they did not do justice to the public, the Caledonian would interpose a check, because they effected a junctien with the Newcastle and by a circuit of only four miles. gers to the same points : p p a a s r s t en of the Earl of Carlisle— Caßrlyisli‘ei,ra.nßdAcmousilidANtsh,,uos atrhrye Carlisle — The Dumfries line did not intersect one of the streets of Brompton. Mr. John Miller, C.E., examined by Mr. LIDDELL—Mr. Locke and he were jointly employed some six or seven years ago to survey the ground between Glasgow and Carlisle, and in 1841 the Railway Commissioners caused an investigation to be made into the subject. The Caledonian Com pany, in regard to their line, made considerable alteration with respect to the fork to Edinburgh and Glasgow. He reported that the best single line to Glasgow was that proposed by the Nithsdale Company. If the Caledonian Railway were to be granted the branch to Gretna, he considered that it would be entailing an inconvenience on the public, because it would, in fact, be attaching a branch to a branch. A great obstruction would be offered to through passengers, and that would be increased in the case of the local passengers. He thought that it would be for the interest of the Caledonian Railway Com pany to force die -Kilmar4ock traffic "round by Glasgow, instead of permitting it to'be transmitted on the Glasgow,. Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway; • He considered that for the purposes of fully developing the traffic on this line, it should have an independent connexion, with the south and east of England. Cross-examined by Mr. COCEBUS.N—He seriously believed that the Kilmarnock traffic, could be forced round by Glasgow, if the Caledonian Company threw impediments in the way of the Dumfries and Carlisle Rail way, by working the southern branch at Spring field. They could also interfere with the traffic at Annan by altering the hours of their train. He would not if the position of things were different, recommend the Com pany for which he acted to do so. He did not know what the directors of the Caledonian might de. He imputed no thing to the engineers of that company. The matter was, he believed, altogether in the hands of the directors. As between Glasgow and Carlisle, he believed that with the same engine power and the same load (that was the engines at present employed) the Cale donian could not master their gradient of one in seventy-five at all. With engines suitable to that stiffer gradient the Caledonian would arrive at Glasgow, in that shorter time which might be represented by twenty from miles of distance. Re-examined by Mr. TALBOT — He considered that the possession of the power of passing under the main line of the Caledonian at Springfield would materially influence the interests of the Dumfries Company in respect to the southern traffic. The possession of this power would be a safety-valve—if he might use the expression —for the protec tion of the public interests. Mr. Hawkshaw, C.E., examined by Mr. TALBOT—Had examined the relative lines before the Committee, and engi neeringly considered there was no great difference between them. He was engineer of the Manchester and Leeds Company, and he had observed the effect of compe tition in that district, which was covered by many rival interests. He thought that the public would be better served if the country were in possession of the Dumfries Company, and he could see no object the Caledonian Com pany bad in asking for this branch (especially as they already effected a junction with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway at Carlisle), unless for the purpose of placing an effectual lock upon the operations of the Dumfries Company. Cross-examined by Mr. Cocmiums—Had no interest in any Scotch lines, and was retained to go down to Scotland to give evidence in favour of this line if he could do so.— (Laughter.) He had before been retained for several com panies, and refused to give evidence in their favour. He did not think it fair to state those lines. He had staid long enough in the country traversed by_these lines to see that the Dumfries was the superior line. He had been employed, and was then employed, as acting and consulting engineer by dif ferent railways, not mere offshoots of the Manchester and Leeds Railway. He had not been examined in all the different Committees in this House last year. He had been examined in many, as other engineers had been. Re-examined by Mr. TALBOT. — He knew many cases in which an opposition line had been half-ruined by the restric tions placed upon them by rival lines, which then pur chased them at half the cost of construction. The Bolton and Preston was one in point. He had invariably met .dr. Stephenson and Mr. Locke, Mr. Brunel and other eminent engineers, in all the Committee-rooms that he had attended, and they were retained in the same way that he was. By Mr. ToLLEsrAcanr--He considered that it would be de cidedly for the interest of the public that this line should be made to Brighton. This closed the case for the promoters. Mr. COCKBURN requested that he might not be desired to open his case that evening, and •• Tha Committee, therefore, adjourned till twelve o'clock to-Morrow. On Mr. ADAMS further cross-examination, it appeared that this Rottergate-road was nothing more than a bridle road, but he would construct a road from the spot where the balance level fell to the highway. He would, however, have another station at Byard's leap about a mile further on. To Captain HARRIS, Mr. Borthwick replied that he thought about three stations between Newark and Sleaford for pa:- sengers beside three additional ones for goods. The other side would have about the same number. Mr. Smyth was re-examined on the point of the station in the cutting, and after some further evidence the case of the promoters was closed, and the Committee adjourned. GROUP XXXIII. This Committee met to-day in Room 28 ; the Hon. Eliot Yorke in the chair. LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHESTER, (EXTENSION TO waszpiELD, &c). On the assembling of the Committee this morning the case for this Bill, adjourned from yesterday, was proceeded with. _ _ _ General evidence, as to the advantages the scheme would confer on the district, was taken. The Committee was occupied till its close with evidence on the advantages the line would confer on the district, after which they adjourned till to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. GROUP XVI. HERTFORD AND =TOBIN. The Committee met at the usual hour. Evidence was given as to the injury which would be caused to the proper ties of Mr. A. Smith, Mr. Adcock, and other landowners, by the construction of the proposed line. Mr. R. Stephenson, engineer to the Eastern Counties and Midland Railways, was examined at considerable length in favour of the Eastern Counties scheme. The construction of this line by the Eastern Counties Company would enable the Midland Company, in connexion with that line, to compete with the Great Northern Railway for the traffic between the north and the metropolis. The cross-examination of Mr. Stephenson had not con cluded when the Committee adjourned till 12 tomorrow. GROU r XV I 11. CHELTENHAM AND OXIVAD. - The Committee, comprising the Earl of Lincoln, in the 1 chair, .Captain Jones, the Hon. Mr. Smythe, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, an& Sir Walter James, met this morning at twelve o'clock. Mr. Ar.r.x.Axpirit, Q.C., opened at very considerable length on behalf of the owners of property, insisting chiefly on the loss and inconvenience which would be experienced by the people of Cheltenham by the abstraction of the water in the sand bed in the first place, and from the ul timate derangement of its flow. The Learned Gentleman intimated, in the course of his observations, that he meant to call witnesses. Among the witnesses which he should cite would be a gentleman who was engaged by Sir R. Mur chison to edit a second edition of his geological works so far as Cheltenham was concerned. There were a number of other eminent geologists, he said, whom he should also call, and concluded a long and elaborate speech with expressing his conviction that their evidence would overpower that of Mr. Brunel. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. COMMITTEES on PRIVATE BILLS (THIS DAY.) LIVERPOOL WATER WORKS. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock, Sir J. Johnstone in the chair, when the points under discussion yes terdav were resumed, and much scientific evidence was given, which it would be impossible to understand without , a full detail of the data. The several parties seem deterthined to carry their oppositions to extremity. LUPE RI AL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the Commons brought up certain Bills. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a number of peti tions from Rotherham, York, Doncaster, Think, and numerous other places, in favour of the Government plan of education. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition, signed by several medical gentlemen, in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. EDUCATION. _ _ The Noble find LEARNED LORD presented several pe titions fur and against the Government scheme of edu cation. IRISH POOR LAW. The same LEARNED LORD presented a petition from the vestry of Liverpool. The petitioners stated that the number of Irish paupers had of late very rapidly increased ; that 180,000 had passed into Liverpool since the month of December last, according to documents of authority on the subject ; but these did not include in that number some 30,000 that had come over more recently. They further stated that of the 180,000 paupers 105,000 had remained in Liverpool in a state of perfect destitution, arid with cases of very grievous disease among them, thus fostering the seeds of a very wide contagion in the town. They said that there had been not only a sudden increase of the population, but a sudden increase of 180,000 in 300,000—an increase of near two-thirds—in the course of four or five months. That affected the poor of the town more than any other class in society; and that classprevious to this, numbered 70,000 or 80,000. principally Irish Ro man Catholic paupers. The petitioners prayed that their Lordships would pass an Irish poor-law to facilitate the passing of Irish paupers from' England to Ireland, and prevent the immigration of paupers from Ireland into England. He (Lord Brougham) wished, however, to guard his Noble Friend (Marquis of Lansdown) oppo site against supposing that the petition was in favour of the present measure, for they further stated that they did not think the measure passed by the House of Com mons would at all ameliorate the condition of Liverpool —(Hear)--for the facilities of obtaining relief in England were so great that Irish paupers would continue to flock into England. The Noble and Learned Lord said the opinion was founded on a vast number of documents drawn out by en authority who was of opinion that an Irish poor-law would increase the influx of paupers. He, therefore, deemed it his duty to present the petition. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the condi tion of the manufacturing districts had heen brought under the consideration Of her Majesty's Government, but he was not prepared to say what steps if any, would be taken in reference to the subject. After a few words from Lord ASHBURTON, which was inaudible. Lord MONTEAGLE was surprised that the subject had not sooner been brought under consideration. Lord BROUGHAM—Do they pray for a poor law? Lord MONTEAGLE--Tkey do; but not such a one as this.—(Hear, bear.) The Earl of WICKLOW said that it was necessary to remind the people of Liverpool that although they suffered so much from Irish distress they ought to be aware of the immense influx of wealth which this very distress caused to ffow into that port ; if they compared the poor -rates with the enormous sums which flowed into their coffers, from every p a rt of the world , f o r corn, the y would find th e latter greatly to preponderate. After a few words from the Earl of WESTMEATH, Lord BROUGHAM said that his Noble Friend was quite mistaken in the suppoi t i on that he entertained, for he meant t o reserve himself for the discussion of the poor-law. He quite agreed with his Noble Friend behind him that the present depression of the money market justified the most careful proceedings, and al though, perhaps, the worst might be passed in Ire land, there was yet much to be indured ; and he be lieved that the Government would do well to consider this subject maturely before they took any definite measures. OUTDOOR RELIEF. The Earl of SHREWSBURY presented several peti tions on out-door relief, and said that he trusted that if outdoor relief wer e given it might be made compulsory. TENURE OF LAND IN IRELAND. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented several petitions praying for the abolition of villein tenure in Ireland. POOR-LAW (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was now become his duty to move the second reading 9f the THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 29, 1847 Poor-law Bill for Ireland, and in doing so he felt that he was inviting their Lordships to follow him in a path I beset with difficulties and with danger. He was aware that in taking measures for the relief of a people on whom a calamity had fallen with a degree of unusual intenseness they had to provide, not only for human improvidence, but against the consequences -of an awful dispensation of Divine Providence, and if they reached the post 'which they sought to attain, they must reach it by a course beset by rocks and encumbered by shoals, They had to raise out of the depth- of - misery into which it was plunged a country- which without manufactures, except to a very small extent, was yet to be elevated to a state of active industry, and to enrich a people by the efforts of industry, which, to render it effective, required a capital which they did not possess, to enrich a people which, without the appliances of either manufactures or capital, yet possessed a pope. lation equal to that of countries which possessed both. Permanent remedies were to be found in other re sources. The only ground upon which he had to ask their Lordships' assent to this measure was, that it was an important and indispensable palliative of the evils existing in that country. Before he stated to their Lordships what the Bill was, he would state to them what it was not. The present Bill was not a Bill conferring a general, indiscriminate, and per manent right to out- door relief in Ireland. If such were the case, he should be the last person in the House to propose to their Lordships the adoption of the measure, because he believed that a measure of that nature would be fatal to the property, and, above all, to the character of the people of that country. — (Hear, hear.) The immediate effect of such a measure would be to diminish the number and amount of the producers, already tOOO small, and to increase the num ber and amount of the consumers, already too large, and it would tend also to destroy the relations which exist in the country between landlord and tenant, and bring the couutry into such a state that nothing but evil would ensue. To meet the evils attendant upon such a measare it would be necessary to have a power to compel parties to produce, as the poor would by the operation of such a measure, be otherwise left to share a diminished produce. Such would, in his opinion, be the inevitable result of such a measure, and he was, therefore, most decidedly averse to the petition, the prayer of which had just been read to the House, the effect of which would be to .throw upon the landlords of Ireland a still greater burden than they already were compelled to bear. The object of that petition was the most preposterous that had ever been sub mitted to the consideration ,of their Lordships. Hut if their LoedshiPs would act wisely, they would con sider that Divine law which controlled and regulated all affairs. The dictum of the pious French author was— " Remember that it is man that proposes, that it is God that disposes." If their Lord ships neglected that Providence which governed the course of society, they would certainly repent their legislation, and regret the evils inflicted by their deci sion, evils irreparable. LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. TUFNELL, a new writ was ordered for the county of Galway, in the room of the late T. B. Martin, Esq. REPORTS. The reports on the following Bills were brought up and agreed to : Claridge's Patent Asphalte Company. Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead Railway (Extension from Lavenham to Bury St. Edmund's). Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead Rail way (Stour Navigation Purchase). Manchester Markets. Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society. Wolverhampton Gas. Wolverhampton Rates. LORDS' AMENDMENTS. The Lords' Amendment to the Ipswich Gas Bill were further considered and agreed to. THIRD READINGS. The Hartlepool West Harbour and Dock (Dock Ex tension) Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, it was agreed that the order made on the 23d of February last, for re ferring the Leeds Waterworks Bill to the Committee of Selection, be read and discharged.—That the Bill be withdrawn. That leave be given to bring in a Bill "to amend and enlarge the proviions of an Act passed in the first year of the reign of her present Ma jesty, intituled, An Act for the better supply ing with water the town and neighbourhood of Leeds, in the west riding of the county of York,' and for more effectually supplying the said town and neigh bourhood with water." That Mr. William Beckett and Mr. Aldam do prepare and bring it in. That the said Bill be referred to the Examiners of Petitions, who shall report whether any other standing orders apply to this Bill than tho,e which were proved to have been com plied with before the Examiners upon the petition for leave to bring in the Leeds Waterworks Bill; and that the Exa miners have leave to sit and proceed on Tuesday next. That the order made on the 22d day of April last, re ferring the petition of the " Trent Navigation Company," against the Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Junction Railway (Alteration of Line and Branches to Nottingham) Bill, to the Committee on the Bill, be discharged. That the petition be withdrawn. Oa the motion. of Mr. M. PHILIPS, it was ordered that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Man chester Corporation Waterworks (power to sell to the Manchester and Salford Waterworks Company), and the Manchester Corporation Waterworks (power to pur chase the Manchester and Salford Waterworks) that they have leave to consolidate the said Bills into one Bill. GROUP XX. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group, met for the first time this morning, in Room 21; Mr. Goulburn in the chair. The CHAIRMAN intimated, before commencing the business of the day, that the Committee had come to the resolution not to allow counsel to cross-examine who were not present at the examination in chief, except under special circum stances, and with the special leave of the Committee. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN (XENIX.. WORTH AND LEAMINGTON ENX.A.RGE MXINT). Mr. MACAULEY stated that the object of this Bill was to connect the Coventry and Leamington line with the Rugby and Leamington line in the latter town, and to lay down a second line of rails between Leamington and Coventry. The Bill also included a short line from Kenilworth to Bake well, giving Warwick and Leamington access to the Birm ingham and Derby line at Hampton. The rest of the day was occupied with general evidence in favour of the scheme. The Committee adjourned at the usual hour, till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXI. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits o the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usua] hour this morning; Sir James Graham in the chair. BIRMINGHAM AND STOUR VALLEY (No. I Mr. Stephenson was cross-examined at some length by Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE, on behalf of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company, but his evidence in chief re mained unshaken. The Committee then adjourned, the next witness to be examined being engaged in another Committee. GROUP XXII. This Committee met for the first time to-day in Room No. 27. Members present, Mr. H. Drummond (chairman), Lord Charles Fitzroy, Mr. Christopher, Sir J. M`Taggart, and Sir J. Tyrell. The Bills submitted to the Committee were the following : Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway Deviations. Newport. Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway (Extension to Taff Vale Railway). Gloucester and Hereford Railway and Canal Purchase. The Committee proceeded to take the NEWPORT, AIIERGAVENNY, AND WERE-. WORD (EXTENSION TO TAPP VALE). Mr. Codxsynx, Q.C., opened the case for the proMoteili; and then troceeded to call evidence in favour of the scheme. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXIII. The Committee met at twelve, in Room Bin the New Houses; Mr. Mackinnon in the chair. SOUTH WALES (DEVIATIONS). Evidence was continued this morning in favour of the two or three deviaticns at Llanelly, Margam, &c., which were of comparatively small importance. . . Counsel appeared for Mr. Chambers and other opposing proprietors on the ditterent branches, and cross-examined the witnesses. The room was cleared, and parties on being admitted were told that the preamble of the Bill had been proved, and the Committee had also decided that clauses for the compensation of Mr. Chambers and the lessees should be inserted. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXI,I. The Committee met this morning at twelve; Lord Harry Vane in the chair. GREAT WESTERN (BRANCHES TO STAINES AND EGHAM). The Committee were employed immediately after their sitting with evidence for private proprietors in opposition to the line. Counsel then addressed the Committee, for the South- Western, against the Bill ; and Mr. Austin replied. The Committee, at the conclusion of Mr. Austin's address, adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP XXVIII. EASTERN COUNTIES (SPALDTNG TO NEWARK). The Committee on this group—Mr. T. D. Acland in the chair, with Sir Ratph Lopes, Captain Harris, the Earl of March, ar.d Lord Edwin Hill—met this morning, at eleven o'clock. Mr. Borthwick, the engineer of the line, stated the several circumstances of gradient, curve, and direction. Mr. PAGFAr cross-examined on the part of the Duke of Newcastle, to show that the course Which it was intended to pursue in crossing the Trent above Newark, would be inju rious to his property and to the town. A provision had been made for building the bridge square to the Trent, which at that place bore all the trade of the river. Instead, however, of building a bridge of 30 feet, which w ou ld g i ve an o b l i que of 22 feet, he had adopted an oblique bridge, with a span of 90 feet, and an oblique of 135. To the CHAIR3IAN, Mr. HILDYARD, who appears for the Eastern Counties Company, replied that the Admiralty had given a conditional consent, with which he at the proper time would show that the company were prepared to comply. To kr. ADAMS, the witness replied that the river Trent was subject to considerable floodings, which would occasion a I rise of four or five feet, but he could give no definite inforn.a tion on the subject. lie was only satisfied that the access of water would not block up the_ bridge which he had designed. There was a bridge about a hundred yards below his own, and a lock called the Nether Lock about ; a mile and a half below, the walls of which were about three feet above high water. His own bridge would•be eleven feet above the lock wall, that would be 14 feet 6 above the ordinary level of the water. The height of the rail would be ten feet six inches. There were to be five arches of 30 feet span, and seven feet six inches high. The Devon, which is merely a brook, joined the navigable cut of the Trent, about a furlong above the bridge by which he meant to cross • the river, but the clauses proposed to be inserted in Committee by the Eastern Counties Company fully explained the alteration which he designed. To the Earl of MAecu, the witness said that he relied on the good sense of the Admiralty to suffer the alteration which he had designed. To the CHAIRMAN, he replied that he could effect this alteration within the limits of deviation, and in fact would give nicety feet instead of thirty feet on the square. Mr. Smyth put in a section to show how the alteration might be accomplished. There would be one tunnel, which would be aproached by a cutting of sixty feet in depth. The other cuttings would vary from twelve to forty-three feet. There were several gra dients, v arying from 1 in 100 to 1 in 132, and, practi cally,ihe difference of power required to overcome gradients of lin 100 and lin 200 was two-thirds. With respect to stations, he believed that after the contest was over, there would be a variety of interests, and the Eastern Counties line crossed the Great Northern near enough at Spald ing to come into a common station. They crossed the Ambergate line at. Sleaford, where the same convenience might be obtained. The total estimate is 620,0001., the real expense of the road being 580,0001., leaving a margin of 40,0001., which he deemed to be quite sufficient for stations and other contingencies. The earthworks would be 115.000/. ; the tunnelling 55,0001., at 601. a yard ; the masonry for bridges and culverts, 42,0001.; the permanent way, 215,000/. ; level crossings, 40,0004 ; maintenance of Permanent way for one year, 9,0001.; purchase of land, 5 4,0004 and contingencies, 40,000/, and he had then a al though, further m arg i n o f 40,000/. In audition to this, there was a tPowerover to borrow 217,0001. Th ere wou ld b e several bridges, and possibly if alteration were made which he designed, it v l ertle Trent a t N ewar k h e l a id at 10,0001. more , a l- TcoX thee3,oool. or 4,0001. more , b ut t hi s was provided for n might allowed for contin genc i es . Th e y intended to p ass two miles and a furlonGg Northern line at the distance of instructions to the langveelXth of Newark. He had given no come e ue e rs to take the land required for estiniate ut of the contingencies. For stations; that was to co land for the t was about 1,000/ a mile, but , whiche ations. land and stations the included the land The Great I this was exclusive of the la set against the 62,000/. Northern estimate was 420,000/ ought to be for the stations, and that was to be b li e eath, I of his own line. To the CHAIRMAN'S intimation, that there some convenience provided for the farmers of Lincoln's Mr. Bortbwick replied that the station there wou f the spot where the icottergate-road crosses the line at right .r roads for ; angles, at about 26 1 / 2 miles from Spalding. This he would do even at the expense of making the necessary approach. GROUP XXXI V. The Committee on this Group met again this morning, at twelve o'clock, in Room 31, Mr. F. Baring in the chair. ROCHDALE CANAL , (SALE TO MAN CHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY). Evidence in opposition to this Bill was continued until four o'clock, when the Committee adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP XLVIII. This Committee met Vv-day, at twelve o'clock, in Room C, Lord Courtenay in the chair; all the other members of the Committee present. After some preliminary conversation, The Committee decided to go on with the CALEDONIAN, GARNHIRIE, AND COAT BRIDGE (BRANCH to GLASGOW STATION). Mr. HOPE opened the case on behalf of the Bill. The proposal was to alter the scheme of the company, re specting the entrance into Glasgow, from the scheme of last year. l'he length was two miles and three-quarters, and would cost 100,0001. The main alteration proposed was to effect an entrance into the station on the level, instead of at an elevation of fifty feet, as provided in the former Bill. Mr. Collister, civil engineer, was examined in explanation of the scheme. The alteration was suggested by Mr. Locke as soon as the Garnkirk Company came into the possession of the Caledonian. At would be the means of effecting a much better station entrance, and do away with th& elevation over the_streets. The gradients would be improved, the severest would be one in 100 and one in 132.. The line would pass under the canal, but the bridge would be constructed without the least danger. The witness was cross-examined at some length by Mr. FORSYTH, on the part of the Leith and Clyde Canal; and Mr. ANDREWS, on behalf of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, with the object of showing that there would be danger to the navigation, in the proposed going under it by the line, and to the tunnel of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, in its going over it. .No material point, however, was elicited. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP L The Committee met this morning at twelve ; present, Mr. Banks (chairman), Mr. Carew, Sir Benjamin Hall, Mr. Hind ley, and Mr. Henley. GLASGOW. ILIMMAR.NOCIL, AND ARDROS SAN (DEVIATIONS AND AMENDMENTS). Colonel More, cross-examined, said he had been a witness on the line from Kilwinning to Glasgow. He thought the proposed branch to Beith would be of advantage to the dis tribution of limestone from Leighton, the centre of his pro perty, over the district to the iron-works, and for the accommodation of the Beith passengers to Glasgow. He did think the present accommodation was very indifferent, the station being a mile and and a-half from the town, down a very steep hill. The road was kept in very good order. The difficulties were so great that he did not think skill could overcome the steepness of the hill on which the town was built. The proposed station of the Ardrossan line wag to be in the town, also on a hill, but not so steep as the other. Last year, he stated that several of the largest iron manufacturers—Mr. Baird, of Gartshelly, Mr. Dixon, of Govan, and the Glengarnock Iron Company—had appeared to lease the minerals on his property. Hematite was ex pected to have been found, both on his property and that of the Messrs. Caldwell, but they were disappointed, and the applicants did not follow up their first application. James Picken gave evidence in favour of the Fennick branch. He believed the general feeling of the people to be in favour of the Ardrossan branch, which advanced to High Fennick, while the other stopped at Low Fennick. A great deal of dairy produce was sent from the district to Kilmar nock, Glasgow, and Dunlop. He expected the district would be accommodated with coals from Loudon. Minerals were, he believed, found near Fennick on estates belonging to Lord Hastie, the proprietor of the coal-field at Loudon. John Moffat, civil engineer, deposed that he knew the country about the line well. He believed if coals were wanted up about Stewarton and the way to Glasgow, they would most likely be sent by the Ardrossan Railway, because they would pass over only one company's line. Ardrossan har bour offered great accommodation for the shipment of coals ; many were shipiled, but there were not enough, because many vessels were obliged to leave unloaded, and others prevented coming, by the want of coals. The distance to Paisley was shorter by the Ardrossan Railway. Sir B. HALL now intimated that the Committee felt satis fied with the amount of evidence produced on behalf of the scheme. Counsel on both sides agreed to leave both Bills in the hands of the Committee, Sergeant Murphy to address them to-morrow at their meeting. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP LI. GLASGOW, DUMFRIES, AND CARLISLE, AND GLASGOW, PAISLEY, ICILIVIAIL- IV OCK, AND AYR (NO. I). The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock, ia Room No. 29. Present, Sir John Yarde Buller (chairman), Mr. Newdt•gate, Captain Plumridge, Mr. Tollemache, ani Lord John Manners. Evidence was called in support of the promoters. Mr. Knight, managar of the goods and mineral traffic (1 the Glasgow and Ayr Railway, said he had been so for many years, and was well acquainted with the country traversed by the different railways; He thought it was essential to the security of the country that the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Company should be put in possession of the main to Annan and the branch to Brampton, for no legislative enact ment was sufficient to remove obstacles when companies were prepared to interpose these. Coal was at present brought in large quantities from Kilmarnock to Paisley, which was under the management of one company ; thence to Greenock which was managed by two companies conjointly. Nothing but the fair competition of the Ayr coal could keep the Glas gow coal out of the Paisley market. They had, however, been unable to get the Ayrshire coal into Greenock and Port Glasgow ; yet the Glasgow coal passed through Paisley, which was the common point for all coals. One cause of this was the fact that different rates were charged by the Glasgow and Greenock company ; another was that waggons without springs were objected to; a third was, that Ayr coals were frequently allowed to lie at the station for hours before they were forwarded; and a further reason was, that the tires on the wheels were objected to. Captain PLUMMDGE asked what the object of the examina tion was? Sir Thomas Phillips said, that the object was to enable the Committeee to infer that the obstructions which had already taken place at the north end would be followed out at the south end. Mr. Sergeant lldtatrint said that he had never contested the fact that they might thus cut off their noses if they wished to disfigure their faces. He thought it was un necessary to occupy the time of the Committee proving that they would not do so.—(Laughter.) gr. Knight's examination continued—lron was at present conveyed by the joint line of Kilmarnock and Ayr to Glas gow, and then by the Glasgow and Greenock line to Greenock, thus entailing a necessity of an extra carriage of fourteen miles, besides the expense of carting the loads from one station to another. The expense of carrying coal at present was id. per ton per mile, where the distance exceeded sixty miles; and at this rate the cost of carriage from Canobie to Kirkcudbright would be 4s. 9id. per ton. They charged higher rates at one time, but as the traffic increased they had reduced the charge. Mr. Knight, cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Munrwr— The Act of Parliament gave an unlimited power to charge any sum not exceeding 2d. per ton, but he did not think that that amount would be charged. He should think lid. sufficient, and would recommend them to take that sum. He had no doubt that there was sufficient coal in the direct line through Ayrshire to supply them for the next fifty years. They had ironstone and other minerals in abundance. He did not remember the amount of minerals carried the first or the following years, but it did not exceed that on all other railwaps existing. The amount of traffic in the first year was .:00/. or 600/., while in a few years after, in 1845, the return for the carriage of minerals was 12,000/. He had no doubt, that it they earried a large quantity, say 100,000 tons, of coal from Canobie to Kirkcudbright, they could afford to carry it at 3s. 4d. per ton. He did not know what quantity would really be cal tied. He did think that 18,000 tons would pay for wear and tear of the carriages, but lie would not say that it would give a profit. He did pot think that it was absolutely necessary, for the safety of the public, that traffic carriages should be provided with springs. The cost fromirs theThpoe rto oof railwayA Ayrshire, d h neighbouring of keeping up the way wa s le ss on th e Ay r th an on the Greenock Railways, and the l a tt er h a d carr i ages with springs, while the former had them without. Re-examined coosi d e r o b b y l e Sirexport T trade T. P . in duced o although the export trade of Maryport and it s ports still continued. Mr. Blythe,C.E.—The distance from Gretna to London by the North- Western system of railroad was 310 miles. ir e took the shortest route by the Trent Valley when he said this. The distance from the same point by Newcastle was 329 miles. There were Bills before Parliament which would bring this down two or three miles. The gradients on the latter lines were better, because the summit of Shapfell was avoided. He knew the country between Hexham and Durham. The CHAIRMAN interposed, and said that the Committee would not receive evidence on lines not before them. Mr. Blythe's examination continued—The practical diffe rence in time between the two routes would be only some twenty minutes. The distance from Glasgow to Carlisle by the Caledonian Railway was 101 miles, while by the Dum fries Company it was 125 miles. The distance from Gretna to Peterborough by Rugby, on the North- Western lines, was 281 miles, while by the Newcastle it was only 253 miles. But there was a shorter distance by the Lancaster and Carlisle to Penrith, Appleby, York, Doncaster, and Newark, which was under the control of the London and North- Western. The distance by this line was 234 miles. The distance from York to Belfast by Gretna, Kirkcudbright, and Donaghadee would be '261 miles; while the distance by the London and North-Western, to Holy head, Dublin, and so to Belfast, would be 348 miles, 160 miles of which would be under the absolute control of the London and North-Western. The water carriage from Holy head to Dublin was 64 miles, the water carriage' from Kirkcudbright was also 64 miles; but if this line were ex tended to Port Patrick, the water carriage would be only 19 miles. He had, in conjunction with Mr. Miller, laid down the line to Brampton. He had also laid out the Hawick and Carlisle Railway, which would have been the shortest com munication between the Canobie-fields and Colchester. He knew the Caledonian schemes as well as their own, and he thought, on the whole, that the Dumfries Company's Ex tension to Brampton was the more preferable, as being shorter, and havin better gradients. These superior gra dients were obtai ne d by taking the line 240 yards from the town of Brampton. The Canobie branch, promoted by the Dumfries Comp any , was three-quarters of a mile shorter than the Cal e d o thala ttmfOruzer: man, littt the latter had a better gradieat , • HEALTH OF TOWNS. Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR presented a petition froth the workmen : employed on the Great Western Rail way in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. Viscount EBRINGTON presented similar petitions from South Molton, and from the journeymen tailors'of London. RATE-PAYING CLAUSES. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented petitions from Nor. tvich praying tor the repeal of the rate•pa} ing clauses of the Reform Bill. EDUCATION. The HON. MEMBER also presented petitions from parishes near Manchester against the Government plan of education. LIGHTHOUSES. Sir A. LEITH HAY presented a petition from Peter• head against the present Lighthouses Bill. AGRICULTURAL TENANTS. Mr. DEEDES presented petitions from Margate, and other parts of Kent and the Isle of Sheppey, in favour of the Agricultural Tenant Right Bill. LAMBETH-BRIDGE. Dr. NICHOLL stated that, in the discussion which recently took place on the subject of the proposed Lam beth-bridge, he said that Sir Samuel Brown, one of the parties interested in that undertaking, was a member of a mercantile house engaged in the manufacture of chain cables, and that his object in the promotion of the undertaking was no doubt to dispose of some of his chain cables. He had since received a letter from that gentleman, denying that he was actuated by any such motive. He felt it his duty to make this statement to the House, although at the same time he must express that he did not consider it a very grave charge to make against the member of a mercantile house. Sir DE. LACY EVANS said that at the time the statement was made he thought it most uncalled-for. FOREIGN WINES. Dr. BOWRING gave notice, that on this day fort night, he would call the attention of the House to the desirableness of reducing the duties on foreign wines. PROPERTY-TAX FOR IRELAND. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD gave notice that, on ttie motion for going into Committee on the Railways, Piers, and Harbours (Ireland) Bill, he would move a re solution, that it is expeiient to impose a tax on the pro perty of Ireland to construct public works in that country. SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL. Mr. DENNISTOUN presented a petition from Glas , gow against the Scotch Registration Bill. IRISH DISTRESS. Lord SANDON presented a petition from Liverpool, which stated that by the official returns the number of Irish paupers who bad immigrated was 150,000. only 40,000 of whom had emigrated, while the rest were wandering about the town; the petitioners prayed that the House would take their case into consideration. ENCOURAGEMENT OF EMIGRATION. Lord LINCOLN gave notice that he should move for an humble address to her Majesty, praying her to take into her gracious consideration some means by which emigration and colonisation might be effectually pro moted. Mr. BROWN wished to ask the Right Hon. Secretary for Ireland a question with reference to certain sub scriptions, said to have been made in the United States, for the relief of famine in Ireland. It had been stated that a committee of gentlemen in the United States, had obtained from the Secretary-at-War of the country, the use of two ships of war, which they employed in conveying food, raised by voluntary subscriptions, to the relief of their starving brethren in this side of the Atlantic. If such a course had been taken by any gentlemen in the .United States, it fres most desirable that the country should know it. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that he was glad to be enabled to answer the question of which his Hon. Friend had given him notice. He thought that the best way in which he could give that information would be by reading an extract from a letter which he had received. The letter was from Mr. Ewing, who lately represented the United States in this country, and who, when he left, carried with him the esteem and re gard of everybody who knew him. The letter was dated the 26th of March, and stated that the vessel which conveyed it was a vessel of war, which had been lent for the purpose by the Secretary at War, and it conveyed food for the relief of Ireland to the value of 100,000 dollars. These supplied were collected, one half in Boston, and the other half in the interior towns It was commanded by Mr. Forbes, a gentleman of high consideration on the United States, who bad had volun teered his services gratuitously, in order to enconomise the food as much as possible in its destribution. The officers were also persons of consideration, who had volunteered their services gratuitously. That ships arrived at Cork and would, as it was stated, soon be followed by another with a similar cargo.—(Hear, hear.) PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. Dr. BOWRING said, that on various occasions he had sought to call the attention of the House to the im portant subject which was involved in the resolutions which he was - about to propose with regard to the proper cpropriation of the public funds. He iypld, in order • • to acquaint the House with what he proposed, read the resolutions which he intended to submit to their con- sideration. The following are the resolutions he had to propose:- 1. That it appears by official returns which have been laid on the table of this House, that a sum exceeding , seven millions sterling is annually expended in the dif ferent departments of__Government, without being paid into her Majesty's ExChequer, or subjected to any preli minary Parliamentary sanction or contreul. 2. That it appears by the returns ()Mere& to be printed in the, last session of Parliament, that sums. amounting to 6,152,3941,.145. 90., were deducted by the various revenue departments from their gross re- Ceipts, and intercepted in their progress to the Ex chequer, for disbursement in the said revenue depart ments, in the year ending the sth day of January, 1E46. 3. That it appears by the same returns, that in the said year the sum of 909,6101. 12s. 2d. was received by various departments of expenditure, from sources inde pendent of Parliamentary grants, or issues from the Exchequer, and that such sum has been or may be ex pended without previous Parliamentary examination and control. 4. That the security of the public revenue, and the accuracy, simplicity, and completeness of the public accounts, it is desirable that the gross receipts of all the departments of revenue should be paid into her Majesty's Exchequer. 5. That no department of expenditure should be al lowed to receive money from any quarter other than her Majesty's Exchequer, under Parliamentary vote, and that all sums received for stores, fees, fines, or from any other similar sources, be paid into her Majesty's Ex chequer. 6. That every department of receipt be required to present an annual estimate of anticipated expenditure, and that such estimate be submitted to the sanction and approval of Parliament. 7. That, as this House has, by its resolutions of last session, recognised and approved of the principle, and directed it to be adopted in the Crown colonies, that the gross revenues should in all cases be paid into the Public Treasury, there is no sufficient rea son for delaying the application of the same prin ciple to the revenues of the United Kingdom ; and that this House concurs in the recommen dation made by the Commissioners of Public Ac counts in the year 1831, " that no portion of the public treasure should be arrested on any plea or pretence whatever oa its way to the Exchequer, and that no portion of -it should be issued from' the Exchequer without prWous Parliamentary' sanction;" and " that it is only by the adoption of this principle that any really efficient and complete control-can be introduced into the different departments of the public service." Now, he did not require to state to the House that there were two great departments reguired for the business of the State, namely, that of receipt and that of expendi ture ; and be held that the Government would be neglecting one of its most important functions if it did not see that all the taxes raised from the people should reach her Majesty's Exchequer, and also that no portion of these revenues should be issued excepting under the authority of the State. These re solutions of his were no novelty in that House, for in the year 1831 a commission was appointed to inquire into this subject, and he would trouble the House by reading a portion of the report which bad resulted from the labours of that commission. The Honourable Member then read extracts from the report, which al leged that moneys had been abstracted from the national funds without the sanction of the Exehe- quer, and that means should be taken to avert this evil. And what were the signatures to this document? The first was an Hon. Lord, late a Member of that House, now no longer among them, Lord Congleton. The next was the Noble Lord the First Lord of the Treasury : The ;hird was Sir James Graham. The next was Sir James Kent; the fourth was a late Chancellor of the Ex chequer, the Right Hon. Francis Baring—(Hear and laughter)—and the last signature was that of the Hon. Member for Coventry, Mr. Ellice. Now, he ventured to say that six more respectable signatures on the pre sent question could not be introduced into that Hons.?. If the accounts of the different departments were made out according to one form, or that each of them could be easily carried into the general balance- sheet of the re ceipts and expenditure of the company, they would come properly under the revision of Parliament; time would be saved, mistakes avoided, and unnecessary or ex travagant expenditure obviated, as each item would, as now, have to be voted by Parliament before it could be liquidated. In the report of the Com mittee on Naval and Military Reform presented in 1831 and 1832, they were informed that the receipts and ex penditure of the different public departments of France were made out according to one uniform plan—(Hear, hear)—and that as they were all formed on one model, they were easily blended in one general whole, in the periodical balance sheet of the finances .of the country. He did not know whether any seperate entries, on this plan, were kept at the Treasury. When he was connected with that department of the Government, none were kept, having the receipts and the expenditure relating to the different departments, and arranged under different heads but it was quite clear that the public accounts ought not to exist as they did in this com pany. The mode adopted in France formed a sad contrast to the. one adopted here, in which he had shown that seven millions sterling an nually escaped Parliamentary control. —(llear, hear.) In the Admiralty department th e Right lion. Baronet opposite had done much to reform the system of accounts, but still there was great room for improvement. The Admiralty was always. in possession of money, and always expending more. amounts than were authoriserl by Parliament. For instance, a few years ago, no less a sum than one million of money was expended by the Admiralty beyond the estimates submitted by Parliament. Now, if some definite and clear system was kept at. the Admiralty, and when re 0- , perly audited and made up to the particular date, pre sented to Parliament, such an excess of expenditure would • not arise without the authority of that House. He thought that independent of this security titer° ought to be authority from the Exchequer itself. He found that in the year 1843 there were deduc tions from the public revenue of about 5,000,000/., and appropriations 1,199,0001., making some 7,000,0001. ; and in the year after the deduction amounted to 6,155,0001., the appropriations to 767,0001., making in all nearly 7,000,0001. ; and so it was in every year down to the date of the latest returns. He might be met with the objection that, inasmuch as the Customs could not know what sums might be ne cessary. That they could not avoid drawing at times con siderable overplus. The Excise had retained about the same sums retained by the Customs, viz., for drawbacks, &c., 830,0001.; for the charges of collection, 968,3801.; for further payments, 94,700/.; and for the superannuation fund, 7,7581. Large sums were also retained in other departments, under similar heads, and for all of which it would be very easy to obtain a Parliamentary grant. They would not discharge their duty to the public, unless they took measures to effect a remedy. Considering the public burdens of the people, he thought they had a right to have all sums paid into the Exchequer, and ex pended under the coutroul of Parliament. The same system prevailed regarding the Crown-lands, in which theie had been expended last year, 40,0001. fur collection, 285,0001. for other purposes, and 2321. for the superanutttion fund. Altogether there had been expended last year in this way upwards of six millions of money. In the army and the navy about 190,0001. was expended in this way, and the same mode was adopted in many other departments of the State. In the military departments 110,000/. There were a great many smaller sums, and the whole amounted to 909,600/., which these departments had received, not from the Exehequer but from other sources, and without the consent of Parliament. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to other reports which stated that there was no instance on record of a Government who had adopted the mercantile system of keeping accounts, abrogating that system, and that the adoption of a system of double entry had been followed with the best results, as it had led to much comprehensiveness, and at once shown the state of a nation's financial condition; an order had been made for the introduction of the double entry system into all the public offices ; but he regretted to say, that from a return he had obtained on the subject, it appeared that it • had not yet been introduced into the Home Office,- the Ordnance, the Board of Controul, the Customs, or the Stamps and Taxes., Now, he did think he had made out his case for a change in the existing plan, and he hoped the House would therefore agree to his motion. Having said this much, he would sit down by moving the resolutions. Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the resolutions. He thought the question raised one of great national importance. The Honourable Gentleman • had adduced so many facts, that he could not see how the Govern ment could oppose them. He wondered, after the high authorities that had in former years declared against the present mode, that it should have been per sisted in to the present day. His Hon. Friend had proved that last year more than seven millions bad been intercepted in its progress to the Exchequer, and thil evil had been increasing year by year for a long time. In 1841, when the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth came into office, he complained of the state of the finances of the country ; and on that occa sion he (Mr. Williams) called the attention of the House to the labours of a Committee that formerly sat on the ques tion. He also called their attention to the fact, that about fifty millions of taxes in 1806 were collected for 9,790,000/., while in 1845 the collection of 5 6,460,0001. cost nearly five millions.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.) From this it appeared, that while the collection in the year 1806 was but 44 per cent., while in the year 1845 it had risen to 8i per cent. In the year 1843, though a great reduction had taken place in the Customs duties, there had in 1843 and 1844 been 114 new places created. In the Post-office also in the last 4 years, there had been no less than 4,063 places created. LEFT SPEAKING.] THE BATTLE of the JOURNALS. (From the Dublin Pilot.) A sort of death struggle regarding prices is going on among the Liverpool papers. The mortal competition commenced by one of the public journals reducing the charge per copy to threepence, the stamp, paper, and i n terest of money, amounting to twopence halfpenny, thus leaving one halfpenny sterling for house rent, editor's salary, wages, taxes, ink, &c. This was resisted by the Mercury, one of those so called liberal journals which boast of the unlimited patronage of all classes of the public ; but Mercury himself has found it necessary to clip his wings and come down plump to the earth, thus proving that he is not valued at a rush more than his contemporaries. In the desperate frenzy of the day, other reductions are offered as a lure, and we fear that the system will not only degrade the press in the eyes of the public, but.ultimately curtail the proceeds of the workmen,—Liereford journal. [lt is totally impossible for any honest-intentioned newspaper proprietor to reduce the price below the pre sent standard, whilst the stamp, paper, and other thatinc dental taxes taxes remain as they are. Nctwithstanding our Liverpool contemporaries have fifty times the Ovech r! tising patronage accorded to their Iri sh brethren, Such . 4,-cl ~: an income as . per sheet, to meet a ll exprmses,n r i 5 .6 . • ' 7' • " little too bad:' One of the Liverp ool p ape" marking on the above paragraph, says : V . ll The paper which commenced t he :three-1 : system, and whose competition wit h the establishe journals is to bring down the wages of the woritinn. • .-' .. employed on the press in LiVerpool, is inconsistentli- ...: enough, a professed advocate of the interests of the working classes." n order. t° 7 We aro sure that the public woul d not, i obtain their newspaper a penny or two cheaper, de 6i . re • -- to see the mechanic deprived of the hard - of his labour. Some people, with more money &to v il l ,', ;• were lately induced to start a " very cheap" newsrirt '``. t etra' - , in Liverpool, but were forced to make a hasty from the speculation, although they had the advactic: not only of having to pay reduced wages to their IS" «• teen, but of not paring them at all !I ! V.: earned frtit.tts. STATE OF TRADE. , t or :.: .lANcIFEsTER, TUESDAY, APRIL 27.---The a-,,,--e to :- the money-market has almost entirely put a step of business here. The only purchases made, either ~,1 goods or yarn, are in small quantities to make upt r , sortments—generally at previous prices. It is tiliwe le stood that the execution of some rather considerstiiiij orders from the United States is prevented by th, e . d ' As culty of negotiating the bills, which they are founded. A , ... ROCHDALE, MONDAY, APRIL 26.--We have be" -- e n s t: other dull market; but the few pieces that hav e p i T 6 or using the credits - sold have fetched former prices. At the close et e ,. ,-- week the Government orders arrived, which 'fa c f ° ,:10:;: - prise about 9,000 pieces. These pieCes have be eti — ,.0; ' ..1. - equally divided amongst ten or twelve manufacturer ,s-, A' • In the wool market there is no change to report. ver lIALIFAx, SATURDAY, APRIL 24.--Scarcely a bu _„ l o.. has been seen in the hall to-day; and business has/ v ibe sequently, been excessively flat. The state e f o i• .; money market, and the rise in price of provisions,'" A.,. bine to throw a deeper gloom over all departmentai., trade; and the feeling amongst the manufacturers te "" X ..• was less hopeful than for some time past. In th e L il o ... trade we have no alteration to notice, except. P er . -- i; ;.- ' an increase of caution on all sides. What is do se nt the blanket trade is sufficient to take off th e P re re! limited supply of brokes and noils, which are. th erg :,.,o °l if kept firm; but the wool trade generally is in a 10. Vi , • condition. -. ,-,....,.." HUDDERSFIELD. TUESDAY, APRIL 27.-- 14° . I ,:git : .1:-.: ' than three or four buyers of any importance "e`-botr-Ace,) tended our market today, and they appear to v s.,* • used extreme caution in all purchases. The ri se i n n g for . price of corn damps all speculation; and were it, n ot ' considerable orders being in hand for the Ame rica- 'a . continental markets, we fear we sh ould be experiene the distress of some of the cotton districts. . 0 0. LEEDS, TUESDAY, APRIL 27.—This tio'-, ,t o rti presented a dull appearance, but as many rnaltu ra z t; fi ce ' are employ ed to orders, principally on Are enc- epes • counts, the supply of goods to our cloth halls 19 l o ir sarily very limited, and the transactions Teri a .- nificant. In prices there is no alteration wh at ' e. . • Manchester Guardian. . • -, ..,',7 ACCIDENT RELIEF SOCIB-"1"Y et. The annual festival in aid of the fu nds of this el? 01 • lent institution was held last evening, at the Ak ll3l° Aldersgate-street. „, e silt ;' • Shortly after six o'clock about fifty gentle-t 0 06 i• Clown to a most admirably-served entertainniene 1,0 0 .• • which reflected the highest credit upon the PoP ri • e • de (Messrs. Staples), both for the excellence of th e veil " and the quality of the wines. ..si . er The vocal entertainments were under the ea '': Messrs. Smith, Shoubridge and Genge. d J The chair was filled ,by ' Luke James Hansar' sti*". ..."-; . D' •-• who was supported upon the right by the Re!' ine ,E . Sargrove, rector of St. Mary Somerset, -upper TO oft, ~..:' street ; and upon the :eft by the Re v. Dr. Carpi& ' ..• usual loyal toasts having been drunk , i' Stir The CHAIRMAN gave the toast of th e evening-- ripe • . cess to the praiseworthy and ph il ant h r opic labourSe o ejo i - Accident Relief Society," which was of course re with all the honours. A the re .; The SECRETARY (Mr. R. Croxton) then rea -- , t bad port, from which it appeared that the soololao of originated in the year 1838, amongst thef °r savori Mr. T. Cox Savory, of Cornhill, w'r. m aking up • himself subscribing 201., and his workmen to the the sum of 641., for the purpose of affording relief he ren t families of labouring men who mig ht chance to b e o es II dered incapable of supporting their families anti •• ' currence of such accidents as falls from scaffolding. bie. others, to which the labou rin g classes are hourly h a l o ~_ • From that time t o the p resent the society bass i° b but progressively increased in funds and power, althongo it still falls so far short of the requirements aof classes for which its foundation was effected, that of S':,,, 45,000 cases of accident that are estimated to occu r London annually, not one in thirty can receive 01' (11. • the slightest assistance fro i m snego it u; s r f tL u e u sos d r s. dmii; Amongst the subscriptions announced to have be ell rEeacreli%l.e,idtz: j e l l- li e :1111 th , e iol f . C ; llo v w i D io v u er . sll6. 7 -- o r(1 1 ,: " R a renswort a l r i l , n l u o a l l : 2o A• l l .; is E s Mrs. Duff, reagh, annual, 5/ ; Sir Thomas ' 13:ei g' Bart., sundry _donations 1001., mutual donation, 5/.•" Charles Hoare, .::,„ I F q., second donation, 10/ • H. M. j..loare, Pq'' .l `-'l.l •• ( Lord Skeltnersdale, second • ' donation, 51; Ref - • ,_.i . Fisk, donation, 501 - ; Luke James „Barnard, E g g , third. aßrluordnestit Cutts, annuso- 2t1.: ~. donation 201.; Lord Dudley Coutts S'tlnNa.rt;,Ldirnti2vitioanslsl annually 21.25. The total amount was about 1530/. ' l _ l 7 • subscriptions for the past month were about sde and for the past year about 7001. • • s--- ---....................... IN THE AMERICAN SQ UADRON THE GULF OF MEXICO• acted list We understand that the f ollowing is a correc . ... of' the United States naval forces now concentratinrg i_7. the Gulf o f Mexico. They furnish a formidable 6,11?..f,a [Lent on the seaside to cover the debarkation of t ow• troops and to assist in tak in g the Castle:-- Gang. 74 Line of battle ship Ohio, Captain Stringhant '' 44 . , • Frigate Potomac, Captain Aulick ...................... ,4 Frigate Raritan, Captain Forest .......................... *2O Sloop of war John Adams, Commander Dl dens ••• op Sloop of war St. Mary's, Commander Saunders ....... ~,, Sloop of war Albany, Captain Breese ..................... 2xo" Sloop of war Germantown, Commander Bu . n •••• •' 20 Sloop of war Saratoga, Commander Faragut .. ....... 16 Sloop of war Decatur, Pinckney ••• ...... 1 0 Brig of war Porpoise, Lieutenant Hunt ......... ...... .. , Schooner of war, Bonito, Lieutenant Benham ....•• •• '.• Schooner of war Reefer, Lieutenant Sterratt ........... si Schooner of war Peterel, Lieutenants han' .•••• . •_ ..... 10 3 Steamer Mississippi, Commander Ams (rali"."") 9 Steamer Princeton, Commander Engle ................. 5 Steamer Spitfire, Commander Tatnall .................. 3‘ Steamer Vixen, Commander Sands ..................... 3 Steamer Maclean, Captain Howard ..................... 4 Steamer Union, Captain Rudd ................. ; ...... .' 6 , Steamer Hunter, Commandersahl ............... 1 , Steamer Scorpion, Bigtow, 64-pr ......... 1 , Steamer Scourge, Lieutenant Hunter ............... 6 Storeship Relief, Lieutenant . Bulltla ................ • Storeship Supply, Lieutenant'Colhoun .................. 1 Storeship Fredonia, Lieutenant Chaunce y .. •.. 1 Bomb ketch Stromboli, Commander Van Brunt, ......... 1 1 Bomb ketch /Etna, Commander Walker, 93-pr. ...... B o mb ketch Vesuvius, CommanderMagruder, 9s- P r M ' i '• Bomb ketch Hecht, Lieutenant Fairfax, ..... 93- r ... "' Bombuerlo ketch ,rw Electra, p L ta i i e n ur °res .. Lieutenant ... ................. ............................... Cu . j 655 Total number of guns ....................... li . ...... 0 The whole number of guns, according to the ra ( the ships enumerated, is 353—which - is less, h°llefo; than the actual number. This enumeration does i include several small vessels captured from, the en e and taken into service by Commodore Connor. Thed c brig s Washington (one gun), Lieutenant Cotninafe,e S. P. Lee, also destined for the Gulf of 3 1eP-c° :), will sail in a few days • and the Perry (1 0 g o b Lie u tenant Commander Barron, will sail as soon oi crew can be obtained for her. The steamer AlleEiter' (10 guns), Lieutenant W. W. Hunter, is completi u .. B4 o* e q uipment at Memphis, and will soon be read,' It', de' 14 of the vessels named have been purchased IlL"--j'er4 partment since the commencement of the war.-- --4.- ' • Tribune. ---2--------- ° sea i'l s , Two strangers, a male and female, suPP, ei . Wel their dress to be of a respectable station of sioele••;;008•- found dead near Colmar three days ago. There W 0 5,,, 0 101 ", * pistol near their bodi,s, and it was evident that tP,,,_ and who was about 30 years old, had first shot the fettle'''' then_ reloaded the pistol to destroy himeelf. ...-•• On n D s R a E t u A r D d y ay ti L a ACCIDENT m IdN Williams,.l!a Biti if 0 9 , :l i f I ; sl dr . S 'C i r e lyss il t i ' ..,'-'' carrier's cart along Farrinflone-street,wassnt!lienbile s i tlrd :l-' 1 forward upon the road, a the wheel had passed' overn befo reotli Lh is e I; e or s s . e ege`ogopscaos LA i a ngly taken to St. Bartholomew's, viler! ha 110° re very dangerous condition. 1 On the 9th i ---_— cep th e nst. at Prafitti-RsTtrHe'let., Lambeth' fleren wife of Mr. John Bowney, of a son. lady of 001 0 /1. On the 22d inst., at Hamburgh, the Corlett, Esq., of a daughter. ' ii Vr - On the 22d inst., at Canterbury, the 12d ia °f d s iugl i Captaintr . mer. her Majesty's 14th Liht Dragoon s ' e• •• '- ' 1 - lo s Esq., of Ashton Keynes, and On the 22d just., at Chatham, the wife Griffin 114th o'" 1 o r tin ita birei Capta in 62d (W 1 liegiment, of a son. Wilts, On the 25th inst., at St. Margaret's Vies chaster, .` • rage , R °G • ? the wife of the Rey. James Wh • •te, of a sou . Deslef' .• i of On n da t o h g e h 2 t 6 e t r h . inst., at Upper dapton, Mrs. F • btolit toifvf l3r/g On the 26th ins,., ' in Susses-square, NWT- Mrs .Thomas Selby, of a son. 1 i in ;• DIZD. Cow -veSs" f In forty-seven hours after the rupture of a is i e o a fit of coughing, at Chester House, East SN:„fivltt Wight, Charlotte, the beloved wife of William laugh t he • of Trinity-square, Newington, and younge.st dauenteli rederick late W. Meggy, Esq., of Chelmsford , aged 35 * d 8 5 ' • On the 22d inst., in Alifirnan-street, Mr. Tull, age _ ..si $1! On the 23d inst. at Hawkshead, Betts, Alon " s i o itca Davidge Gould, G.C.8.,' Vice-Admiral of the ••• Kingdom, aged 90. Sara h t°. On the 24th inst., at Eversley, shall, relict of the late Rev. C. R. Marshall, aged „wool On the 25th inst., at Leamington, Lieutenant- Hants, Mrs. S , • 116 00 33 Pocklington, aged 72. r ove, Ess ex, On the 26th inst., at St ratford-f; fl; Curtis, Esq., aged 77. t he Wire ° On the 26th inst. , at Upper Tooting, Sarah, 0 3 Lucas, Esq., aged 82 . On the 26th inst., at Croydon, Henry Rea d s VA" 564 a I o'l l% London: Printed and Published by MIIILISO and Yotrj-e tror.-4 Strand, Printer, at The Bun Office, N 0 .112, SU 4 T-funpw ..j P l ' . of the Savoy, in the County of Micbil leeel • . 29, 1847,