The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-25 00:00:00

derailed by all parties except the Ministers. He did not believe that it was possible that under this the poor could obtain justice from that House. The measure was one of the most unfortunate propositions that could have been made to that assembly. The poor-law was to have diminished crime, to decrease the expenditure falling upon the parish, and remove many of the existing evils, and he asked the House had it accomplished any one of those objects? The facts when ascertained show that seven-eighths of the relief is administered out of doors. The Act of 1834 has entirely failed. Had the details bow existing been foreseen in that year as the effects of the Bill then proposed, all England to a man, would have risen against it. Yet all these details were to be sanctioned by the Bill now on the table. Why, in the old days of the Tory and Whig, and the unreformed Parliament, they would never have tolerated such a Bill. This Bill proposed that the president of the poor-law board should have a seat in that House as well as the secretary. Under this regulation, the solicitor, clerk, and other officers of a board of guardians would do all in their power to obtain political power, khd the effect of that would be, that attention 'ould be withdrawn from their legitimate function— that of relieving the poor, and directed to purposes alto gether extraneous. It was said that the law worked re markably well, but the fact was that the law was made a dead letter, and then it was expected that it worked remarkably well. In the Andover Union the poor were literally starved.--CCries of " Hear, hear.") had been proved that the children had been in the habit of running away with and eating the potato-peel 'thrown to the hogs, and, in one instance, a poor woman had to carry the corpse of her child under her arm, through the town of Andover, to the church-yard. He was sorry to hear that the Noble Lord had stated that he was prepared to defend the conduct of that Poor-law _iommission in that House, for if there was ono thing which was more odious thau another to men, and which they were more anxious to avoid, it was the Poor law Commission. The conduct of that body was in. defensible ; and yet there were many gentle- Men in that House who, to the misery and mor tification of the poor, were prepared to uphold it. If the Government should decide against a liberal allow ance what would be their position—would they be able to stand against the cry made ngaiest them. And let them take the converse of the propositions. Why, then, they would have all those poor-law guardians against them who were anxious to grind down the poor. Why should there not be a poor-law court, with a man of high character presiding over it, and a public advocate Maintained to plead the cause of oppressed poverty ? The present system was working badly for the inter( sts Of the people, and was dividing the rich from the poor. The unfortunates who had to apply for relief, owing to the enormous extent of the union, had often to travel forty and fifty miles before they could obtain it.-- (Hear, hear.) No attempt in the present Bill was made to 'remedy this defect and contract the pre sent gigantic size of the unions.—(Hear, hear.) Re objected to the workhouse test, in the manner in which it was carried out ; he was of opinion that every destitute person in the kingdom had a right to relief.— (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member then referred to some • documents, and said that it was not too late to do right. The Government could abandon the present Bill with a good grace, in a much better manner than they aban doned the Railway Bill, for in that case the public re quired some such measure. He bad conversed with practical men, and they were all unanimous in the con demnation of this Bill, and quoted the opinions of se veral, to show that it was a dangerous Bill, and that it would sooner or later end in a revolution, and that no Monarchy would ever be able to bold office long while it was in operation. Believing that the measure was an unjust and an impolitic one, and that it would operate most injuriously, he would move that it be read a third time that day three months. Mr. FIELDEN, who was very inaudible, was understood to say that he could not support a Ministry who would introduce such a Bill, and he should, therefore, vote with the Hon. Member for Finsbury. Mr. FERRAND said that there was not a statement made by Lord Althorp when the law was first brought forward but had been violated by the Poor-law Commis goners. When the reports of the Poor-law Commis sioners were made, on which the new poor-law was founded, he asserted that a considerable portion of the evidence in favour of the 43d of Elizabeth was suppressed. Who, he would ask, were they who defended the Poor law Commissioners in that House? The Member for Wolverhampton, and the Noble Lord, the Member fur London, defended the Poor-law Commissioners ; but there was a circumstance which detracted very much from that defence, which was, that both the Noble Lord and the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton, were related to one of the Commissioners. The late Secretary for the Home Department also defended them, but he did not attach much weight to his defence, as the Hon. Member for Dorchester had denied all acquaintance with the transactions of the Commissioners at the time they occurred, and now he said that he Was cognizant of them, and approved of them. The Right Hon. Baronet also said in the course of his speech, that the Hon. Member for Weymouth had made an ample apology to him, in reference to certain state ments. Now he (Mr. Ferrand) wished the Right Hon. Baronet would act in a similar manner towards him, and apologise for the many erroneous statements which he bad made with regard to him. He had not, however, acted in that honourable and gentlemenly manner, but said, " I had appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar I should go." (Laughter.) Now, the Right Hon. Baronet stated on the 28th of January last, that in six weeks from that time the trial should take place; but it was now the 24th of June, and nothing had been done yet. He had, however, received a notice. a short time ago from his solicitor, that Lord Denman had inti mated that the trial could not come on before December or February next. Such, therefore, was the position in Which he now stood, and all be could do was to complain of the postponing and procrastination which had taken place. The Noble Lord at the head of the Government stated on a former occasion that he (Mr. Ferrand) had made statements to the House which were utterly unfounded. Now, he denied having done so, and he was prepared to stand by anything he had said. What statement had he ever made that had been refuted? When he called upon the Noble Lord at the time he made such an assertion to name one, he could not do it till he was prompted by the Hon. Gentleman the Mem ber for Wolverhampton. He then attempted, parrot like, to repeat the words again, but he could not do it. He at length, however, said that he (Mr. Ferrand) had stated that the Poor-law Commissioners delighted in murdering children. Now be (Mr. Ferrand) denied that he had ever said any such thing. He never said so; and be now called upon the Government to tell the House it that was the way in which they ought to have acted. Re would ask them if they were now going to pass such a law without giving some guarantee that the aged and infirm of this country would be protected from the cruelties which had been hitherto practised upon them. Re would ask the Noble Lord if he was aware that there were tens of thousands of the aged and infirm who were convicted of no crime, but who, from the distress in which they were involved, were obliged to. sell off all the little furniture they had, and seek a refuge in the union workhouse, and that, consequently, their property, their comfort, their hopes, and their liberty, were all affected by the present law. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for Bath, who had attacked him with so much asperity when the question was last under discussion, said that he was willing to interfere with regard to the aged and infirm ; but he (Mr. Ferrand) wanted the Government to interpose. Why if the people were to combine together against the law they would overturn the Government in a week, but there was no redress for the poor, and if he stood up to defend them he was met with a secret document which, if it had been _ true, would have prevented him from ever after s itti ng in t h at H ouse .. The 43d of Elizabeth provided that labour should be found for the indigent poor. If they did 80 now theya of would the co ldhave a robust labouring population. In his part he found men b e gg in g for work, but they were refuseduntry it, because they were told by the guardians that they had applied to the Poor-law Commissioners to give them the power of do in g so, but that they had refused to accede to their request. But in how many unions were they compelled to refuse relief except within the walls of the union workhouse. On the second reading of the Bill the Honourable and Learned Gentle man the Member for Bath taunted him with being desirous that the poor should lead a life idleness ; but no magistrate had committed more men M to the treadmill for deserting t heir families than he (r. Ferrand) had. When it was shown that they were able to work, and could have obtain ed it, he invariably sent them to the treadmill. But when a man had sought work, and could obtain none, he was compelled to part with his furniture at one-twentieth part of its value, and to enter the union, to subsist upon a diet which reduced him to such a state of debility that lie was unable to work when he procured it to do. Such an inveterate dislike did the people entertain to the law, that he should not be surprised if a revolution was the result. He at tended a meeting at the Crown and Anchor a few weeks ago, at which a resolution was passed condemning the present poor-law, and an amendment proposed by Mr. Fergus O'Connor, to the effect that, in the opinion of the working people, they would receive no redress either in or out of Parliament unless the charter became the law of the land, which was equivalent to universal suffrage. There was a large number of persons, moving in a higher walk of life, present, but, nevertheless, eight of ten of those present, held up their hands in favour of the amendment. What caused all this dissatisfaction ? Twenty years ago they heard nothing about the charter, but as the Reform Bill, for which the Whigs taught the people to cry, " the Bill and nothing but the Bill," de prived the people of their franchise, they thought it would be well to give them some compensation, and they proposed the New Poor-law Bill ; but if the same feel ing of dissatisfaction continued, the Government would find it a far from easy matter to preserve the peace of the country. Year after year he had explained the grievance to the House, but still them and their peti tions had been treated with silent contempt ; and the same treatment which was pursued in the Andover _ union, also prevailed in other unions throughout the country. Why, it was only the other day that he was shown over a poor-house, which was stated to be a model—as a place in which the people were well fed and well treated—but he found that the rules of the Poor-law Commissioners were disre garded when the directors found the poor suffering from them, and that they bad been complained of for doing so ; and it appeared that a gentleman was sent down by the Poor law Commissioners, who walked round the house but never entered it. No sportsman in Great Britain or Ireland would allow his dogs to be treated in the_ same way as the poor were treated u nder this law. Medical men, for instance, were paid fourpence for attending a case. He asked the Hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley) if a medical man could properly perform_ his duties for a fee of fourpence or six p ence ? A medical man in his part of the country had told him that he could save a man's life with ease by giving him proper medicines, but that 11 he bad done so it would have cost him the whole of his salary. Did they think that the poor would not brood over such cases—in their club-rooms, at their meetings, and in their shops ? He wished to have some pledge from the Government that the children of the poor would not be treated in the same way as at present, as it was now the practice to send children to the manufacturers, whenever they applied for them—a manufacturer was, for instance, in the habit of saying, " Send me the number you have, their ages, sex, health, and I will send a person to look at them ;" and he would, ne doubt, send an overlooker, who " took stock." They were, no doubt, taken to be " absorbed," for that was the term in the factories—children who had been reared in the . open fields, and villages were taken from the union workhouses, to be destroyed in the manufacturing districts. But the Government, in the face of the opposition of the people, were prepared to carry the Bill by a large majority. He wished to know how the Noble Lord, and the other Members of the Government could meet the people at the ensuing election, if they passed this Bill without modifying any of the provisions of the old law. After saying that the Ten Hours' Bill had been carried by the agitation of the people, and that he had abstained from taking a part in an extensive agitation, which was proposed for the Whitsuntide holidays, on the ground that it would not be respectful to the Government, some of whom supported a Ten Hours' Bill, he proceeded to say that he believed no man, with the exception of the Hon. Gentle man the Member for Finsbury; possessed more of the confidence of the people than he did, and yet, notwith standing all he had urged against the poor-law, no alto rateen was to be made in it, and the only notice taken of his statements by the Noble Lord at the head of the Government was, that the statements, which he had brought forward were unfounded. He repeated this ob servation of the Noble Lord to the 2,000 or 3,000 who comprised the meeting at the Crown and Anchor, and on his calling upon them to say whether the statement was true or false, they all held up their hands in the affirma tive. That House, however, did not represent the people ; the Reform j3ill deprived them of the franchise, and when the present freemen expired, instead of sending one hundred and twenty Members to that House they would not solid one ; and when they bowed and scraped to them upon the hustings, they would recollect that, at the close of the session a ques tion of the most vital importance to an immense mass of the people was brought before them, and that they re fused to redress the grievances of which they had com plained during the last 20 years—that the poor had still to walk forty miles to obtain relief, as the unions were still of an outrageous size ; that the pay to medical men for attending them when ill was at a rate which a man would not pay for the treatment of his dogs ; that the aged and infirm were still driven into the workhouse when they sought relief ; and that their furniture was stolen from them, for he held that the compulsory sale of a poor man's furniture before he could receive relief from his union was nothing more than a theft, and that men were separated from their wives, and children from their parents. How could they meet the electors and non electors? But did they think that a Parliament elected on the universal suffrage principle would pass such a measure as the one they were now discussing? The burden of the song of the Poor-law Commissioners to the rate-payers was " We have saved your money ;" but the Hon. Member for Finsbury had shown that the very converse had taken place. They saved it by starving the poor to death, a fact which was recorded in the ver dicts of coroner's inquests, and if the verdicts of juries were to be set at nought, they had better be given up, and the expense avoided, but they had proved that the poor had been murdered by this law. Sir JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE—By the order of the Commissioners? Mr. FERRAND—By the order of the Commissioners. He would give a case. He attended a coroner's inquest in his neighbourhood upon a woman who was starved to death. He was present when the jury returned from viewing the body, and in reply to the coroner, they stated that the deceased was a mere "bag of bones." The child of the dead mother could hardly give her evidence from the state of distress in which she had been plunged. She said she had gone to the relieving-officer, and that he had refused to afford her and her mother any assistance. The man who was present admitted that this was so, and in the most insulting manner he put his hand into the pocket of his sporting jacket, and producing a paper said," This is my authority." It stated that he should not pass out of the boundary of his parish ; and this poor woman did not live more than twelve yards on the other side of the brook which terminated its boundary. The verdict was that the woman was starved to death, and he said that she was murdered. She had committed no offence, and yet because she lived a few yards from the boundary line, she was allowed to die from want of food. How long was this to continue ? How long was this crying evil to continue ? If he used violent lan guage, the treatment of which the poor had complained was also violent ; and he, for one, would never be a party to the oppression of the poor, and then expect them to be loyal. Had not the poor cause to pray for a revolution whilst this treatment was inflicted upon them? Any change must be for the better for them. This was the state of England, and he trusted that it would be suffered no longer. Year by year it was growing worse, and he warned them to take care, for unless they redressed their grievances then they would have to redress them after going through the horrors of a revolution. He would, therefore, second the amendment proposed. Mr. ROEBUCK said that one would suppose that they were discussing the new poor-law, whereas they were only discussing that portion of it which required a certain number of gentlemen to form a commission for the administration of those laws. By the present system three gentlemen were appointed to carry the Act into effect, and by this measure it was proposed to substitute one acting commissioner, and certain nominal commissioners, and the acting commissioner was to have a seat, if he could get it, in that House. The only change they were discussing was as to the formation of the Board of Commissioners, and he asked what course of discussion had been pursued by the Hon. Member for Finsbury, and the Hon. Member for Knaresborough. The Honourable Member for Finsbury had dragged into discussion the principle of the whole law, and had entered into the details and operation of that law which in its integral state was not before the House. With regard to the charge which had been brought against the com missioners, he did not think that there was any cause of complaint against them for adhering too strictly to the law itself, but for vacillation and for yielding too much to the pressure from without, and to the observations of the press. Charges had been brought against those commissioners in that House when they had no oppor tunity of defending themselves ; and the most violent attacks and strongest vituperation had been put into operation against them. Under the new system these charges would no longer be made, for.the answer would be given on the instant. Those who read the accusation would,' in the same paper, read the defence, and anonymous slander would no longer be sent to the press to be published, as the most instant and immediate refutation wo uld be given. He not complain of these charges, for, standing as he did in the midst of that circle, gove rnin g , as it did, by its influence, the whole world—the slightest accusation, even the utterance of the g reatest slander upon this sub ject, became so important, that they could not, and dared not refuse to listen to it. lie would ask whether it was becoming in a Member of that assembly—a Member of the Commons of England—to assert that the people had been murdered under this law, and to bring forward cases which were not substantiated, which went forth to the world and increased the cry which was already going? A charge had been made against a gentleman belonging to a generous profession—a surgeon—of an offence which approached nearly to murder, and certainly amounted to manslaughter. In the name of the Com mons of England, he demanded the name of the person who had so conducted himself? By the law of England, a person was required to give the relief that was v re is q i n o i n r s e . d b4 f aLl t t h h e os s e ta w te h m o en s t ou h g a n d t he r e ee under nlif made that its a p r o per- son had not administered that relief to a dying person which the law compelled him to admh ll ster, why did not oncethe Hon. tak Gentleman, oognsano e who of s o w grossa was h i m e breach law Another statement equally strong h a d b een de . m by the Hon. Member for Knaresborough; Thee a ir. cum stances were flagrant, and the order of the Poor-law Commissioners was stated to have been brought forward in justification. Even if she had gone to the wrong overseer, considering that hunger did not kill except by slow process, there was time for her to have gone to the right officer. But the Hon. Gentleman charged with murder the high officers of the Crown, a crme which was only less than high treason. He would be amazed if shame, that feel ing of an ingenuous bosom, did not rise at the assertion of such a calumny. He would take one of the cases mentioned by the Hon. Gentleman. He told the House that a woman near her accouchement had engaged a lodging, a surgeon, and a nurse, but she was deliveredings while alone. Wny, the very description showed her to be no pauper. But the Honourable Gentleman a ttributed e t h e l a c w o I n_se w q u h e y n ciets arose the m o p t e h r a a - t Lion with which society had chosen to brand the woman who had yielded at a moment of temptation, and she refused under these circumstances to reveal the true tr h ue circumstances of the case. This w a d s ,atcaseh o w w i t c h n e t l e l Hon. Gentleman (Mr. c w o h n i s e e h q u h e n o c e bas o tard clauses, it rigs. was the belaw that child murder in said le ( thatd fl°tVolla°klviniudYr)dgetrhsoe.teand greatmise led any single instance. Was it Roebuck) asked whether The wo not n am th e a w t i w th as w e h a i r c e h_ society branded the crime ? s just the person less, that was insensible to shame, w ll h e o (N w i e r r . erior.) w w h a o k would e rgeo intimatedthe house that andth the make was inferior.) it.—(Mr. in word of the Hon.e ßo su eb bj u e c c k t ) dtoidwnoortske ndoiwetantyhacnlastshein athgericcouultnutrraYl a la u b t o h u o r r e it r y s oofallthoarsteatgshaiiares.t the e e pledged his word t end his Gentle manseemed tto opposite. hv B e ü b t e t e h n e startled Member e for wo I r i d ua a r b e s s o b rb r . " Pi h e seemed htaotwas have th a e ll m so e r a ts eieg of faentcitets?stirvvrehdy b , y in th s e em w e or e d f . the counties of England labourers were found not earn ing half sufficient to sustain life, and as in such a county, such as Lancashire, their might be a demand for labour, the guardians were at the expense of having the poor people removed to a s ph er e where they m i g ht earn 20s. or 30s. a week. Th at was what was me ant b y absorb ing ; but the H on . G ent l eman s eemed to thin k that the guardians must have swallowed the poor people. — ( Laughter.) The Hon. Member for Knaresborough, however, indulged in portraying an aged courple of ' w ‘ othrkreheouscseo,reanyd were separatedearsandten, ; nor only "w hohad gone into the on being detected talking t o eac h other, so;we but eitatchaart cerated for it as an offence. Now if this was not mere declamation. The Hon. Gentleman ought to have traced out the case, and to have had it investigated be fore the country. But be feared that the Honourable Member was too much accustomed to indulge in declamation, perambulating an inflammable part of the country, perhaps with a view to rising upon the backs of the people to a high place in the Hosse of Commons. But, the last time he (Mr. Roebuck) heard of him, he understood the people of England were about to be rid of him—(Laughter)—that he was going to Dublin.—(Laughter,) Well, he must say to the Right Hon. Gentleman that, in the estimation of the sound thinking people of this country, careless declamation, wild expressions, and infuriated boisterousness, were proofs either of insufficiency of intellect, or a want of the love of truth.—(Cheers.) Mr. FERRAND wished to explain, merely in refer ence to what had fallen from the Learned and Hon. Member, as to the right the surgeon had to b.) paid out of the poor-rates, that the payment was so small that gentlemen could not attend to the cases. He then quoted from evidence taken before a Committee on the Poor-law, in 1834, when Mr. Guthrie said that the salary was so insignificant, that no person qualified to have the trust could attend to the sick, and any one who did atten them, did it merely to keep out an interloper. Mr. R ICEBUCK explained. Mr. HENLEY said the statement that had been made by the Hon. Member for Bath was so much at variance with the truth that he felt bound to say a few words. The fact was, that the sum paid to the medical doctor, was for medicine and attendance. He thought her Majesty's Ministers were making important alterations in the law.—(Bear, hear.) Why, since the alteration of the law, any person who was acquainted with the subject, must know that child murder had increased, and so great was the evil, that the Government were obliged to come forward and make au alteration in the law, giving the woman a remedy against the putative father; but the law, even with this alteration, was found to be wholly inoperative. He thought that the change in the law left what was vice entirely untouched. Captain PECIIELL said he thought that they should know who were to fill up the places which were to be made vacant by this measure. But upon this subject the Government was entirely silent. The officers who were to be dismissed, were to be discarded without any reason being assigned. He could not help expressing his sorrow that these poor-law offi cers, whose services had proved so valuable, should be so unceremoniously, and so unjustly treated. This ss as particularly the case with respect to Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Parker. It was said of the latter gentleman that he was not fit for the public service. Was that conduct that should be pursued towards a gentleman, through whose means, in conjunction with the other gen tleman, most valuable information had been ob tained. He hoped that the change would give the country men perfectly efficient, and who would be able to deal with parochial matters. If he voted against this Bill, however, it was not upon the ground of the dismissal of the poor-law officers, because he thought, after the evidence brought before the Andover Union Committee, that it would be impossible for any Government to retain these gentlemen in office. Mr. P. BORTHWICK said, if the Honourable Member for Bath were correct in his accusation of the Honourable Member fur Knaresborough, that Honourable Member was slaying the slain. The Honourable Gentleman had said that complaints were not made against the Poor-law Commissioners fur acting up to the strict letter of the law, but for allow ing themselves to be acted upon by other influences. The present Bill was brought in to remedy that evil, and he (Mr. Borthwick) thought that it would do so to a certain extent. The present proposed Bill would be a remedy in part, but he thought that it was neither so deep nor so comprehensive a one as the House had a right to expect upon this subject. The Bill did not at all affect the question of the law of settlement or the general tenor of the Bill itself, but merely referred to an alteration in the administration of the existing measure. He thought that it was a question fairly to be raised that this Bill did not go far enough in apply ing a remedy to the existing grievances. It was a great evil that medical attendance in workhouses was supplied by contract, and that in that contract was included medicine. An Honourable Member had stated that a medical officer had declined giving proper remedies in a certain case, on the ground that if he were to give medicine in every case he would run through the whole of his property. If that fact were so no one could doubt that the medical officer had been guilty of a great crime, but how much more was to be attributed to the law which permited, and in a certain degree enforced, such harsh and inhuman measures. If the union entered into a contract for medical attendance and supplied the medicine itself, Mr. Borthwick) thought that this enormous evil would be obviated. He, him self, could give an instance of the cruelties under this law. In a country union, the name of which he would not give unless required, a labourer had maintained him self all his life. He was married and bad one :child. The mother died, and the child was left with the father, who was afterwards compelled to go into the workhouse. The father fell ill in the workhouse and the aunt applied for admission. She was shifted from one person to another, until, at length, she found the father dead and the child dying, the child (who was nine years of age, never having been allowed to see her father in his last moments). These were the evils arising under this law, and he would only ask the House whether it was safe to allow their imaginations to be led away by the eloquence of the Honourable Member for Bath in support of a law under which such Aets as these could with safety be perpetrated, He, for one, could not rest until a proper and salutary altera tion of the present law had taken place. Mr. BANKES said. that he thought it justice to dis cuss in that stage those clauses which he objected to in this Bill. Sir G. GREY said that they had not as yet been pro posed.—(Divide, divide.) Mr. BANKES said that he thought that this was the propei time. He should discuss the Bill, as it stood, stating that it was not the Bill he referred to. Ho wished to know, in the first instance, what were the duties that he assigned to these Commissioners which they proposed to elect, and whether the Govern ment thought that the present was a proper time of the session to bring forward a motion of this importance. He argued the great difference between the proposed commissioners and the ?resident of the Board of Con trol. In the one case the Government proposed to make the official a legislator, in the other he was no legislator —he made no laws. But this was the proposal by which the Government proposed to remedy the evils complained of. What he thought they ought to do was to increase the power of the local authorities, and to throw the responsibility on the president, then if error was found in the working they would know where to throw the blame. The Member for Bath was wrong, when he said the question was, whether this was a better system than the other ; that was not the question. It was whether they could found a third system better than both. The Bill had been near five months before the House. At the last hour they brought up new clauses, which they were to add as a rider to the Bill, and they were about to prevent hiss discussing these. He would support the a mendment—that the Bill be read a third time this day three months, and leave the Government to bring for ward a better system in a new session. In fact it was not, perhaps, worth the trouble or the time of the House to tight about it, for the Government might, after all, as in the case of the Railways Bill, have no serious intention to proceed with their new clauses. He was not without hope that his suggestion would be ac ceded to, and he felt convinced that if was, it would be a great improvement in the Bill. He thought that the present Bill was no essential amendment on the existing one, and being of opinion that the country was entitled to a much better one, he would most certainly oppose the present.—(Divide, divide.) Col. SIBTHORP thought that the present mode of administering the poor law was an unconstitutional one. He always objected to the system of centralisation, on the ground that local government was infinitely better. The present Bill proposed only to change two of the Commis sioners, and put in two fresh ones, just in the same mode as was adopted when he used: to exhibit his humble person in the country dance, where he was called upon " to change sides, down the middle, and back again." There was nothing good in the present Bill, and he should certainly do his utmost to prevent its further pro gress. The Bill was a trickery Bill, a Government pa tronage Bill, an ad captandum Bill, a Bill meant for the hustings, and not to pass through the House ; it was a Bill proposing to amend the former one, but making it infinitely worse ; it was nothing more than a Govern ment shuffle, and he thought with the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire, that the country had better put up with the present Bill than pass the proposed one for five years. The new Parliament might perhaps be able to propose some better Bill, but he did not know what sort of a Parliament the new one might be ; the present was, if he might be permitted to use the expression, " a very dirty one," and he really had his fears that the next one might be even still more " muddier."—(Laughter.) He should give his most hearty vote in favour of the motion or rejecting the Bill. Sir G. GREY said that he had stated upon several oc- easions the principle of the Bill, which was, that of esta blishing a general system of superintendence over the ' country. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the third reading lO5 Against it ... ... 35 Majority —7o The Bill was then read a third time. Mr. SPOONER then moved the following clauses:— Clause 19. Provided always, and be it declared and enacted, that no rule, order, or regulation of the Poor law Commissioners heretofore made, or hereafter to be made, prohibiting the granting of relief to any able bodied person, except within the workhouse or union, shall remain or continue in force or effect from and after the passing of this Act. Clause 20. And be it declared and enacted, that it shall not be lawful for the commissioners appointed under this Act to make or issue any rule, order, or regulation, prohibiting the granting of relief to any able-bodied person requiring the same, except ithin the workhouses of the union. Clause 21. And be it declared and enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, it shall be lawful for every board of guardians of the poor, and they are hereby respectively empowered and required, to set to work, out of the workhouse of the union, all such able-bodied persons as shall lawfully require relief from any parish within such union; and to grant such relief as to the said guardians of the poor shall seem fit, out of the workhouse of the union, to all such able-bodied persons so set to work as aforesaid. There was no one who had a practical knowledge of the pauper system, but weuld say that their prisons were conducted on a far more liberal system, in point of food, clothing, and education than their work houses. He would not detain the House at any greater length, but he must ray that he objected to the labour test, as it was at present carried out, but more parti cularly so, as they were now arrived at the last week not of a session, but of a Parliament. The question was deserving of a much fuller consideration than they were now able to give it. The country had frequently spoken upon this subject, but their voices had not been heard in that House. He trusted, however, that the House would now do the people tardy justice.—(Hear.) Sir GEORGE GREY said, if the clause of the Hon. Gentleman were adopted, it would be tantamount to a repeal of the existing poor-law ; and as it did not directly relate to the administration of the law, he could not consent to its introduction into the Bill. The Hon. Gentleman seemed to think that the workhouse test was introduced for the first time by the Act of 1833 ; but he begged to remind the Hon. Gentleman, that so far back as 1772, the principle was in operation in the country, and sanctioned by a Legislative enactment. If the Hon. Gentleman's clause were adopted, he was afraid it might have the effect of inducing the labourer to rely more upon support from the poor-rates than his own exertions, and that was another reason why he called upon the House not to agree to it. The Hon. Gentleman, in his warmth, spoke as if the order of the Poor-law Commis sioners, as to the workhouse test, applied to the poor generally ; but he could assure the Hon. Gentleman and the House that it only applied to the able-bodied poar, and not to the aged and infirm. Under these cir cumstances, he trusted the House would not think it necessary to pass the Hon. Gentleman's clause.—(Hear.) Mr. BANKES said the present rule of the Poor-law Commission did not apply only to able-bodied persons, though the order to bo established by the future Com missions might ; but the House would bear in mind that a long interval might elapse before the provisions of this Bill were carried into effect. Mr. B. FERRAND said he could state from his own knowledge that in the vast majority of the workhouses of this country the test was applied to the aged and infirm poor as well as to the able-bodied, but if the rule did not apply to the aged and infirm why not introduce a clause into the Bill that should remove all doubt upon the matter?—(Elear, hear.) The Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for Bath had thrown out some insinuations against him, and he called upon the lion. and Learned Gentleman if he had any regard for his own character to speak out boldly and tell the House what he meant, because he (Mr. Ferrand) denied that there was any foundation for the inuendos of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman. The House would remember that, on a for mer occasion, the Hon. and Learned Member sought for the protection of that House ; and ever since then the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had been making these attacks with i m p un ity, u nder the protection of the House.— (Hear, h ear .) He was prepared to give the name of the medical officer be had mentioned to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department. When that medical officer gave him information, as to the cruelty and oppression of the poor-law, he told him that the cost of the drugs he had to provide for the poor exceeded the salary allowed him under the rules of the Poor law Commissioners. —(Hear, hear.) With regard also to the statement he made as to a woman being starved to death, he was prepared to give the name of the Coroner to the Right Hon. Gentleman, and to render him every assistance, if he were desirous of seeking further information upon the subject.—(Hear, hear.) After a few words from Sir C. BURRELL, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER appealed to those who had acted as guardians to bear him out that the statement of the Hon. Member for Knaresborough, that aged persons were forced into workhouses, was un founded.—(Hear.) He had acted as a guardian of the poor for several years—in fact since the law came into operation, and except under very special circumstances no person above sixty years of age had, in the union with which he was connected, been sent into the work house against his will. He had, it was true, ordered persons above sixty to be taken into the workhouse ; but the special circumstances of each case warranted him in doing so ; for instance, in order that they might obtain better care and attendance than they could out of the workhouse. _ Capt. PECHELL reminded the Right Hon. Baronet that the report of the Committee on the Andover Union stated that it was the custom in that union to make persons seeking relief perform a certain quantity of labour before they acceded to their request—whether in the shape of money or food—and that Committee was of opinion that such a system ought to be abolished, as it inflicted the utmost hardship upon the poor, and besides was an objectionable mode of applying the test. An instance occurred of a man com ing a distance of ten miles to seek relief, but he was not allowed to carry food home to his family until he had performed a certain quantity of work which had been assigned to him. He was sure this never was the inten tion of the law. _ _ Mr. WAKLEY repeated that old persons were forced into the workhouses against their will, and that they were refused relief except in the house. Under the 27th clause of the Poor-law Act, infirm persons incapable of working who objected to enter the house, were to be maintained out of it; but in the face of this, old persons were refused relief except within the walls of the work house. He would relate an instance: an old man, wholly incapable of working for his living, applied to the guardians of his parish for relief; he was, however, re fused, unless he consented to come into the House. He went before the magistrate, and Mr. Waddington, the surgeon, afforded him temporary relief. He received out-door relief from his parish for a week, but at the expiration of that period, they refused to continue it. He returned to the magistrate, who told him that they could not furnish him with any more relief, and that his remedy was by action against the guardians. This was one of the cases, which, as soon as her Majesty Govern ment became Poor-law Commissioners he intended to bring before the House. Mr. CHRISTOPHER said he should support the amemdment. He said there were instances in which out-door relief was given to persons who were neither disabled nor infirm, and who were moreover under the age of sixty. This showed that one general unvarying rule could not be applied to all parts of the country, and that the Poor-law Commissioners and the boards of guardians should be invested with discretionary power. —(Hear, hear.) He hoped the Government would take the whole subject into their serious consideration, and in the next session remodel the law as he had pointed out. Mr. ETWALL said aged persons had been forced into the Andover workhouse in opposition to the law. Mr. SPOONED, explained. - The gallery was then cleared, and the House divided, when there appeared— For the clauses Against them • Majority against the clauses —72 Lord G. BENTINCK moved that the House de now adjourn. Lord JOHN RUSSELL thought that was most un usual. They were near the end of a Bill, which the House had agreed to read a third time this night. But there were some amendments to be considered, which would not take long, and he thought it was most unusual in the Noble Lord to move, before twelve o'clock, that the House do now adjourn. Mr. BANKES reminded the House they were to meet to-morrow at twelve o'clock. After a few words from Mr. Henley, Sir G. Grey, and Mr. Ferrand, Captain EGERTON said he thought it would be very unfair to adopt the course recommended by the Noble Lord, as it would interrupt public business. Colonel SIBTHORP thought this a very unreasonable motion. Lord G. BENTINCK having stated that he would withdraw his motion. Mr. BORTHWICK then moved the following clause: Provided always, and be it enacted, that when any two persons, being husband and wife, both of whom shall be above the age of sixty years, shall be received into any workhouse, in pursuance of the provisions of the said recited Act or of this Act, or of any . rule, order, or regulation, of the commissioners appointed by au thority of this Act, such two persons shall not be corn parate and apart from each other in o thought the clause would be produc sPt e v c i se l h e i ro Gtlive f workhouse. very E separate great inconvenience, and he could not accede to it. Mr. ROEBUCK entreated the Right Hon. Gentle man to give way. He was sure that two old persots who had passed their whole lives together felt the sepa ration as most painful. Sir G. GREY explained that the whole objection a the dame Mr. FERRAND and Mr. HUMS hope ahreoinsge from the inconvenience in the case of the House might be passed. Mr. B. DENISON hoped the clause as it would g i ve th e paupers those a dvantages were not entitled to. They mus t have a r ight thereby to claim a ro o m by day and by night f o r themselves. t would wh n i o c t h p th a e ss y , Mr. BROTHERTON recollected that when he was an overseer several years ago, he saw an old couple very needy, whom he asked into the house. Why, said the old man, my old woman and I have lived together these forty years, and if we were separated now, it would break our hearts. He (Mr. Brotherton) thought the clause ought to pass. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK was surprised to see his Hon. Friend who was returned for the West Riding o y f ea Y rs orkshire upon an Anti-Poo r l aw cry , res i s ti n g a proposition for mitigating the severity of the poor-law. His Hon. ofa Friendge were invariably h e them relievedthat out of abovethe soixrkty house. How small then would be the acco m modation to be provided if this clause were agreed to.—(Hear, hear.) They knew very well that soldiers and th e i r w ives lived together in the same apartment, and therefore he thought there was not the slightest pr e t ence f or re sisting this modification of one of the severities of the law. w Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he believed the Poor -law Commissioners had endeavoured to embody the rule proposed by this clause; but, from the difficulties men tioned by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the West Riding, it had not been fully carried out. If, however, it was thought desirable to introduce the matter into this Bill, he should have no objection to agree to the clause, provided words were introduced into it to place the discretion of putting it in force in the hands of the guardians. Mr. WAKLEY said the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the West Riding had given them the declaration of the chairman of the board, and that afforded the House a most decisive evidence of the impolicy of adopting the sug gestion of the Noble Lord. He did earnest l y en t re at the Government to agree to this clause w ith ou t altera tion, for he firmly believed that many of the a ged poor had absolutely died of starvation, rather than go into the workhouse to be separated. Mr. HENLEY agreed in the view taken of this clause by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Salford. Captain PECHELL did not see any difficulty at all in carrying out the arrangement proposed by the clause. Dr. BOWRING thought that it would not be right to leave this subject in the discretion of the boards of guardians. It was a point upon which the Legislature ought to decide. Mr. P. BORTHWICK hoped that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government would not object to the clause as it stood. Lord J. RUSSELL felt it his duty to propose his amendment. Mr. BANKES would be glad to see the Noble Lord leave the whole question of the poor•law in the discretion of the boards of guardians. Mr. ETWALL supported the clause as it originally stood. _ _ . Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when there appeared— For the original clause 7O For the amendment 55 Majority in favour of the clause as originally proposed —ls On the motion that the clause be read a third time, Sir J. PAKINGTON opposed the clause; he did not anticipate anything but confusion from the operation of the clause. Mr. ELLICE supported the clause. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he wished to insert the words he had proposed, in the clause, in the same sense in which the existing rules of the Poor-law Commis sioners were interpreted. One of the provisions in the poor-law was to the effect that as it might be desirable, in some instances, to depart from the rules laid down for the government of workhouses with re spect to married couples, they should be at liberty to have a sleeping apartment set apart for them specially, and separate from the other paupers.—(Hear.) He, therefore, did not wish to throw upon the board of guar dians the odious task of making a selection as they were empowered to make such an order themselves, and to place it on their minutes, and to send it to the Poor-law Commissioners for confirmation. He wished to take away this necessity, but if the clause was to be agree d to without such a limitation as the one he had proposed, he was not certain that it would have the humane effect which those who voted in the majority seemed to suppose. The Honourable Gentleman the Member for the West Riding had stated that the system would become most inconve nient where a number of persons were admitted. Then the guardians were empowered to say they would relieve them out of the workhouse ; but he was not sure that that was desirable in every: case. Married Per sons, of seventy years of age, without friends or relations might, for instance, find themselves more comfortable in a workhouse than out of it — (Hear, hear)—but when they were admitted those mar ried persons might demand a separate apartment. This, he was afraid, would be the effect of the clause as it stood ; but he did not think it would be desirable to take another division upon the clause, in order to amend it as he had in the first instance pointed out. Mr. S. WORTLEY did not see the difficulty which the Noble Lord pointed out, as these aged married per sons might be either taken into the house, or have relief afforded to them out of it. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK explained that what he said was that married soldiers slept with their wives in the barracks. If there was any indecency in the work house with which the Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Pakington) was connected, it must arise from the bad management of the Hon. Baronet and his colleaguesin their directions ; he had known instances in which four or five married couples slept together in one room, in a barrack, and be never found that they were guilty of any indecency, or that they violated the rules of decorum.—(Laughter.) The clause was then read a third time. On the motion of Mr. ETWALL, the following clause vi as agreed to:—T►:at all meetings of boards of guardians be opened to the ratepayers of their respec tive unions. Sir GEORGE GREY said he had no objection to the insertion of the clause. Mr. WAKLEY thankei the Right Hon. Baronet for his ready acquiescence to this clause. The Right Hon. Baronet - had done more service to the poor by adopting the clause, than he was probably aware of, and he (Mr. Wakley) was sure it would be productive of great good. After a few words from Mr. FERRAND and Mr. Htnnz the clause was agreed to. Mr. BANKES moved the insertion of a clause, pro viding that all the present rules and orders of the Poor law Commissioners should cease after the expiration of six months, and the same or others adopted upon the re sponsibility of the new officers. Sir G. GREY opposed this clause. Mr. HUME said he thought it was not right to inter fere with the operation of the new commissioners in the manner proposed. After a few words from Mr. SPOONER, who sup ported the clause, Lord J. RUSSELL said it was the intention of the new commissioners immediately to consolidate the exist ing orders and rules. Mr. FERRAND said if that were so, they ought to know who the new commissioners were. Some time ought certainly to be named when they should become responsible for the new rules and orders that might be issued from the offices of the Poor-law Commissioners. _ _ Mr. HINLEY thought, with the Hon. Member for Birmingham, that the House should have some security for the consolidation of these rules. _ _ The gallery was then cleared, and the House divided when there appeared— For the clause 35 Against it 7l Majority against it —36 Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved the insertion of a clause to the effect that the appointment of the President and Secretary should be vested in the Crown, and the salary mentioned in the Bill. After a few words from Sir G. GREY, The House divided, when there appeared— For the amendment Against it Majority against it —39 Mr. WAKLEY moved an amendment limiting the Bill to one year. Colonel SIBTHORP hoped, if this amendment was carried, that no salaries would be allowed these com missioners during that year.—(Laughter.) Too much money had been spent already on the poor-law. Sir GEORGF GREY reminded the House that this amendment bad already been before them and nega tived, and thought it was unnecessary to divide upon it again. After a few observations from Mr. HualE and Mr. SPOONER, Mr. BUNCOMBE begged to know what the salary of the president was to be ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the opportunity for that question would turn up to morrow night, when the estimates for the Poor-law Commissioners would come on with the first vote. Mr. BANKES said by that time the Bill would - have passed. It was, therefore, desirous that they should know now what the salary will be. After a few words from Mr. FERRAND, Mr. HUDSON said he would move the adjournment of the House unless Government would disclose what would be the probable expense of carrying out this Rill. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Goverment would:be prepared to state to-day what the salaries,would be, and then would be the proper time to discuss them. Lord Ingestre, Lord G. Bentinck, and Mr. T. bun combe contended that the passing of the Bill ought to be postponed till the salaries are disclosed. Lord J. RUSSELL said there would be no increase upon the expense of the present Commission. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion .. 26 Against it 7l Majority The Bill was then read a third time, and passed. THREATENING LETTERS BILL. This Bill was read a third time. REMOVAL OF THE POOR. Mr. BODKIN obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Act 9 and 10 Vict., c. 66, for amending the laws relating to the removal of the poor. The orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-past Two o'clock. FISHMONGERS' AND POULTERERS' INSTITUTION. — Wednesday Lord Morpeth laid the foundation-stone of an asylum for aged and infirm fishmongers and poul terers, at Wood-green, near Hornsey. The ceremony was performed with the usual observances, and was wit nessed by a large and respectable assemblage, invited to celebrate the occasion. A very handsome dejeuner in celebration of the event was given ins pavilion erected on the grounds, and the amusements terminated with _ . dancing: . THE EXHIBITION AT WESTMINSTER HALL.—On Tuesday the public exhibition of the works of art and oil paintings intended for the ornament of the New Pa lace at Westminster was announced to commence on Monday next, the 28th inst., at 9 o'clock in the morning, at Westminster Hall. FALL IN THE PRICE OF BREAD.—Wednesday the bakers throughout the metropolis reduced the price of the 41b. loaf one halfpenny. The best bread is now charged I Id.; second quality, 9d. and 9d. In White chapel, the New Cut, Westminster, and other populous districts, the price is 8 4 d. and Bd. weighed on delivery. Rye bre ad, 7d. and 7d. the 41bs. TAB LATE THOMAS Hoon.—We have much plea sure in stating that Lord John Russell has announced her Majesty's gracious intention of conferring a pension of 100/. a year upon the children of this highly-gifted but unfortunate author. DEATH OF DR. LYNCH.—This distinguished ad vocate of sanatory reform expired on Wednesday,athis re sidence in Farringdon-street, atjtwo o'clock, of inflamma tion of the throat, after a few hours' illness. He was one of the Common-Councilmen of the ward of Farringdon Without, and senior surgeon to the West London Union. Even so late as Saturday last he enjoyed the society of some of his friends. He was the architect of his own fortune, and leaving achieved an honourable name, he died at the early age of 38 y ears. Through his life he was the popular and e lo q uent advocate of progressive me asures for the reformat i o n of abuses both in civil and commercial affairs. His premature and unexpected death has caused considerable sensation in the City. ROYAL SOUTH LONDON FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. —Wednesday the second grand miscellaneous flower show of the season, of the members of the above society, was held in the Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens. The weather was very unpropitious, but, notwithstanding, the grounds were very well attended. The flowers were very tastefully arranged beneath extensive marquees and pavilions, and consisted of the most splendid display of roses, pinks, Cape heaths, tail cacti, pelargoniums, ranunculuses, calceolarias, orchedaceous plants, specimen plants, and cut flowers. The fruit and vegetables were also remarkably fine. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RlVER.—Wednesday afternoon Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Albion Tavern, Upper East Smithfield, on view of the body of James Weller, aged thirty.seven, a boatman in the employ of the Custom House. On Thursday afternoon, the 17th instant, the deceased was engaged to row a female searcher to the James Watt, a steam-vessel, lying in the river off the St. Katherine Dock Steam Packet Wharf. He had landed the female on board the vessel, when, in returning to his boat, he slipped, and struck his head against the side of the steam-vessel. He was rendered insensible, and immediately disappeared under the water. Search was made for l:-in. but he was not recovered until the following Tues(l , ..,. morning, when his body was discovered by a waterman in the paddle wheel of the Shannon steam-vessel, lying off Alderman stairs, Upper East Smithfield. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." LLOYD'S SHIPPING. LONDON, JUNE 24. , —Wind S. W. by S., moderate bree: ze, and cloudy. DEAL,' JUNE 23.—Wind W. to S.W., fresh and squally: Arrd. Apollo, Peake, Grenada; Donna Carmelita, Drysdal 'e, St. Lucia; Calonia, Rikersten, St. Thomas, and sailed or Flushing; Sussex, Comin, Jamaica; John Oldham, Cantu ty, ditto; Carolina, Artana, Havannah ; Clinton, Mantanza a ; Queen Pomare, St. John's, New Brunswick. Sld. Velore a nd Aurora, Calcutta. LIVERPOOL, JUNE 23.—Wind W. to N.N.W., Arrd. British Queen, Conway, New Orleans; Mary Cam p 'Sell, Hannah, ditto. Sid. Ringdove, Port-au-Prince ; Patric ivalenry, New York. Off port, Washington Irving, Julie t, a ald Henry Clay. CLYDE, JUNE 22.—Arrd. Highlander, McMillan, St. I:itts ; Courier, Thompson, Porto Rico ; Astracan, Ford, New Orleans; Alexander, Graham, Newfoundland. CORK, JUNE 21.—Wind N.W.—Arrd. Pods Radulorech, Now Orleans. LONDONDERRY; JUNE 19.—Arrd. Elgin, McCulloch, St. Andrew's, New Brunswick. MISS LINWOOD'S PICTURES.—SeveraI of the very interesting and ingenious productions of this most extra ordinary and highly talented lady are, we observe, to be offered to-morrow by auction, by Mr. Phillips, New Bond-street. _ _ _ THE WATERLOO DINNER.—We regret to find that Major- Genet al Sir Alexander Cameron, 11.C.8., Colont . l of the 74th Highlanders, was unable to atteod this festi val from seve re ill ness . The gallant General came every year from his seat in the Highlands expressly to join his distinguished friends in the commemoration of the glorious victory. Sir Alexander served with marked distinction in Egypt and throughout the Peninsula cam paign, and at Waterloo, with the Rifle Brigade, where he was very severely wounded.—Observer. NEWCASTLE RACES AND THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —Anxious to communicate the earliest intelligence of the above races, we made arrangements at Newcastle for daily messages per electric telegraph to Rugby, where envelopes, properly addressed, were provided for their transmission by the first up-train. On Tuesday the results of the Produce, Northern Derby, and Tyro Stakes, were forwarded without delay, and of course, were received at Rugby, but from some cause that re mains to be explained, they have never reached us. The news, however, was known in town early the same evening, and the flats were floundered as usual. On Wednesday the authorities were graciously pleased to forward our message, and the principal races appeared in our paper of yesterday; the result of the Northumberland Plate, however, was known in London long before our parcel arrived, and the flats were again robbed to some extent. This is not the first time we, or rather the public, have suffered from the mis management of the electric telegraph on this line, and we trust our present notice of it will lead to some inquiry. To-day we have been again disappointed, "The Cup" has not arrived. CONTINENTAL COMMUNICATION. - The South- Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Company's steam-ship the Lord Warden left Folkestone for Bou logne at 5 A. N. Wednesday. The Prince Ernest arrived at Folkestone from Boulogne at 7 A. N., and again left Folkestone for Boulogne at 4 P. M., with 116 passengers; and the Lord Warden arrived at Folkestone from Bou logne at 5 r. at., with 50 passengers. CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.—In the barn-yard of Let toch (Mr. Morrison's farm), near Beauly, a hen and a hen partridge are laying their eggs in one nest. Poor chuckle is robbed of hers every morning, but of course, the partridge eggs are left in the nest, and quite a little war is waging betwixt the fowls for the privilege of sitting upon them. Should the barn-door hen be trium phant, it will be interesting to notice how she will treat the young birds, and how the young will treat her. Mr. Morrison has taken every precaution to secure the nest and the hens from marauding enemies.—lnverness Courier. THE MURDER OF A WIFE BY HER HUSFLAND AT DUDLEY.—Wednesday information was received by the metropolitan police that the man Hawkless Lovett Blewett, an itinerant tinker and razor grinder at Dudley, who absconded from that place on the 17th instant, and against whom a coroner's jury bad returned a verdict of wilful murder, for throwing a large quantity of boil ing water over his wife, has been apprehended and com mitted to gaol to take his trial at . the ensuing assizes for the atrocious deed. CURRANTS. —Although we have heard some com plaints as to several kinds of fruit, which, it is feared, will not prove abundant, the present seems likely to be an extraordinarily productive year for currants. A small branch—a mere twig, was brought to our office on Mon day last, broken from a bush at Northen, which con tained no fewer than thirty-two bunches of currants, many of the bunches large, and the fruit generally of considerable size and most healthy in appearance.— Manchester Guardian. SERIOUSACCIDENTS.—Wednesday the following ac cidents occurred, one of which, it is feared, will end in loss of life :—The first happened to a youth named James M‘Gregor, aged seventeen years. It seems that ho was employed on hoard the Victoria, a trading vessel, belonging to Goole, Yorkshire, and whilst in the act of ascending a ladder he missed his footing, and fell a depth of twenty feet down the hold. He was raised up in an insensible condition, and carried ashore at Hay's Wharf, Tooley-street, Sophwark, and from thence to the nearest surgeon. He had received a severe scalp wound, dislocation of the clavicle, and concussion of the brain, and was in such a condition that it was necessary to remove him to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he now lies in a very precarious state. Another accident oc curred to a man named George Wright, a bricklayer, living at No. 25, Essex-street, Gravel - lane, Southwark. He was at work on the roof of a house, when he, by some means, lost his equilibrium, and fell into the yard at the rear of the building, whereby he sustained a frac ture of the thigh, and such other contusions, that he was taken to Guy's Hospital. He is progressing very fa vourably. GRAND BALL AT THE MANSION-HOUSE. —On Wednesday the Lady Mayoress gave a splendid ball, which was attended by an unusual concourse of persons of high rank. The magnificent suite of rooms on the floor with the Egyptian Hall were prepared for the reception of the numerous company, who began to assemble before ten o'clock. The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress re ceived her ladyship's distinguished guests in the draw. ing-room, which presented a most brilliant appearance. THE SHERIFFS DINNER TO THE JUDGES.—Wed nesday the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex gave their annual entertainment to her Majesty's Judges at the Albion, Aldersgate-street. About 50 gentlemen sat down to a splendid banquet at half- past six o'clock. At the head of the table were—Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Challis and Mr. Sheriff Kennard, the Sheriffs of Lon don, who together constitute the Sheriff of Middlesex, and who gave the toasts alternately ; the Vice-Presi dents, were Mr. Under-Sheriff Baylis and Mr. Under- Sheriff Tilleard. Among the company were—the Chief Baron, Mr. Justice Patteson, Mr. Justice Coltman, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Sergeants Manning, Lawes, Adams, Thompson, Dowling, Bain, C. Jones; Aldermen Sir C. S. Hunter, Bart., Farebrother, Hooper , Yarncomb , Mus grove, H. Hughes, Sidney, Moon; the Chamberlain, the Common-Sergeant, Mr. Commissioner Bullock, Mr. Chaplin, M.P., ;Sir W. Feilden, Bart., M.P., Mr. J. Laurie, Mr. W. Cubitt, Mr. D. Wad dington, Mr. S. M. Peto, Mr. Secondary Pot ter, the Rev. Dr. Mortimer, the Rev. W. Web ster, &c. After the usual loyal toasts, Mr. Alder man and Sheriff Challis gave the health of " the Chief Baron and the rest of her Majesty's Judges," and noticed the confidence which all classes had in those high func tionaries. The Chief Baron acknowledged the toast, and gave " the Health of the Sheriffs," observing that there was no necessity to praise them to those who knew them. The following toasts succeeded :—The Sergeants-at- Law and the Bar of Nngland" (acknowledged by Mr. Sergeant Manning) ; " The Lord Mayor and Magis trates of the City" (acknowledged by Mr. Alderman ' Johnson) ; and " The Common Sergeant and Mr. Com ' missioner Bullock" (acknowledged by the former). Mr. Harker made a very good toastmaster, and the dinner and wines were unexceptionable. The musical depart ment was conducted by Mr. Hobbs, assisted by Messrs. Francis, Lockey, Bradbury, and J. L. Hatton. THE WEATHER. —Wednesday the metropolis was visited by a thunder-storm, the rain at one time falling very heavily, causing considerable damage to the fruit trees around Wandsworth, Barnes, Mortlake, Battersea, and other places. Towards evening the atmosphere be came clear, and the sun shone out with great brilliancy. It subsequently became very lowering, the wind ceased, and the night closed in with a continual drizzling rain. RowiNG-stATcrt.—.The scullers' match, between John Connelly and John Warren, both watermen of Woolwich, for 201. a-side, came off on Tuesday after noon, the distance being from Woolwich to Barking Creek, and back. Warren took the lead, and kept it for a considerable distance, when his opponent passed him, retained the lead all the way up, and won by half 1 a mile. _ _ ___ ---; Viscountess Hereford and suite, the Hon. W. Curzon, the lion. H. Devereux, and General Farquhar son and family, were among the passengers that em barked at Blackwall, on Wednesday morning, on board the General Steam-Navigation Company's steam-ship Soho, for Antwerp, en route to the Rhine. DARING ROBBERIES OF PLATE, &c.—Wednesday the police received information of the following robbe ries:—On the 21st instant, from No. 43, Mount-street, Lambeth, a japanned cash-box, containing a chased gold neck-chain, with gold locket and key, a mourning ring, a fancy gold ring set with turquoise and pearls, a chased gold ring, turquoise in the centre, a gold garnet ring, a handsome bead purse, containing ten shillings in silver, and 41. 10s. in gold. On the 20th, from 59, Great Queen, street, six plain silver forks, three dessert ditto, two salts, pepper-caster, must ird spoon, a double cased gold antique watch, with the royal arms on the outside, sixty silver-handled knives (crest, a cat's head, with mouse in mouth), a silver foreign drinking cup, two silver table-spoons, two plain ditto, seven teaspoons, a silver milkjug, and other articles, including medals of dif ferent orders. On the 20th, from 57, Lower Grosvenor street, Grosvenor-square, five silver table-spoons, four silver teaspoons, pair of sugar-tongs (crest an arm in armour, with a ring in the hand) DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE ON BOARD A STEAMER.—Wednesday afternoon a most desperate. at tempt at suicide, and which is expected to prove Great Lad atal, was made by a bookbinder, living at No. 8, street, Long-acre, named John Hodgson it seems had latterly been in a very low aged 38, who . state of mind, and at about half -past onaendi n d t e h s desponding o a n f d L i e n r g . noon he was returning from thfreeCmit3• on to the I.l e n g p e e r n f o n r y d b a o n a d t s as s th t a h t e ply from b th ri e dg st e .de th , e ah u d nfortunate man madea arriveddesperate paetrarerloo precipitated himself into the water. The boat was, however, soon stopped, and the unfortunate te Nr Lsh to mall rescued, though in an almost lifeless state. Ho was removed to the Charing-cross Hospital, and put under the care of Mr. Steggall, the house surgeon, but remains in a very p recar i ous s tate. Life was all but g one on his atinaission. CHINA. (From the Times.) THE EXPEDITION TO CANTON. (FROM AN EYE-WITNES 8.) HONG-KO; RG, APRIL 26. Immediately after the departure of the last mail, a rumour of an expedition being projected, the destination of which was unknown, gathered strength, and the unex pected arrival, on the night of the 31st of March, of the Honourable Company's steamer Pluto, from Canton, with dispatches from the Chinese Government, gays currency to the report. In the course of the next morn ing it transpired that the communication from Keying had been extremely unsatisfactory, and that the most important points in Sir John Davis's last dispatch had been contemptuously passed over, the Imperial Commis sioner not even deigning to notice them. in his answer— a line of conduct probably induced by the character of the policy previously pursued by the Plenipotentiary, and by the knowledge of the wea;mess of our force, both naval and military, at present in Chi na . Towards the afternoon Sir John Davis decided upon proceeding at once to Cantoa to demand redress, or OS he had in• formed the Chinese Government), in thfs event of its .being refused, to take it. Without present a .eference to tk'e policy of this measure, it is proposed mei Ply to gi ve a oithful narrative of the events as they occurred._ events not alone worthy of note from the iminavise in terests at stake, and from the boldness which ckarac tense d them as military operations, but also from t the ultimate effect they may produce upon our future rela tions with the Chinese empire. No sooner bad the Governor come to a decision than General D'Aguilar ordered the entire force available, after providing for the safety of the colony, to em bark that night ; and, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, being thee past four o'clock, the troops, includ:ng the detachments from the outposts of Saiwan and Stan ley, respectively seven and nine miles distant, together with the guns, materiel, provisions, and stores necessary - or the expedition, were all embarked with the greatest order and regularity by soon after midnight. The rai littlry force under General D'Aguilar did not amount to 1,000 men of all arms, and consisted of her Majesty's 18th Royal Irish, the 42d Madras Native Infantry, ant's detacltments of the Royal Artillery and Sappers. The naval irorce, under Captain Macdougall, the senior naval officer, was composed of her Majesty's ships Vulture and Espiegle, the Honourable Company's steamer Pluto, and the Corsair, a small merchant steamer running between Hong-Kong, Canton, and Macao, I which having come in at ten o'clock P.M., was instantly' hired for the expedition. A lorcha was also taken up by the Ordnance for the artillery, and was speedily con verted by Colonel Brereton into a gun-boat. Several Chinese boats were engaged for the transport of com missariat stores, &c., and followed the squadron up the river. Nis Excellency the Plenipotentiary, the General and staff, embarked at the same hour on board the Vul ture, and about two o''clock, a.m., the squadron was„ under way, the Vulture towing the gun-boats and tw junks containing the sappers with scaling ladders, powder-bags, &c. ; the Pluto and Corsair following as close as possible. The plan (..-f operations arranged by General D'Aguilar and Captain Macdougall, and ap proved by Sir John Davis, was that the defences of dal Canton river should be seized, and, owing to the im possibility of occupying them, disarmed, so as to secture the safe communication of the force with Hong-Kong. This object being attained as expeditiously as possible, the troops were to land at the factories, thus placing the British Plenipotentiary in a position to enforce every demand of his Government for redress, or to carTy into execution the intention he had previously intimai'ved to Keying, of punishing the aggressions upon unoffer td ing British subjects by means of a British force, and a lso to convince the Chinese that, however small the imn le diate force at her command might be, England aus always ready to resent insults, and punish the breach of solemn national engagements. At nine A.M., the Vulture, entering the Bocca Tip was anchored by Captain Macdougall, with three fatimimsi of water under her stern, within pistol shot of the Anunghoy Batteries, being also within range of the forts on the islands of North and South Wantong. N ot an instant was lost, and the troops entered the boats as they touched the water; a few seconds more and they were landed; and the Chinese, taken completely by sur prise, offered no resistance. The General, accompanied by Sir John Davis, entered the works, and the guns in the three forts, to the number of upwards of 200, were sptked, and the magasines, with all the arms and am munition that could be collected, destroyed. Whilst General D'Aguilar was thus employed, Col. Brereton, with the force that had been told off for that duty, crossed over to the strongly fortified islands of North and South Wantong, mounting more than 250 heavy guns. As at Anunghoy the garrisons at once yielded, the guns were spiked, and the ammunition either blown up or thrown into the sea. Property to a considerable amount was found in each of these forts, but not an article was injured, much less taken away, by the troops; and, with the exception of the disabled guns and empty magastines, not a trace was left by which it could be known that they had been in our possession. The ap pointed work had been speedily and effectually per formed. Five formidable forts, mounting upwards of 450 large guns, had been rendered useless, and thus far the communication of the expedition with Hong-Kong secured. Continuing their course up the river the three steamers arrived late in the afternoon at Whampoa, and the Espi4gle, having been obliged to beat the greater part of the distance, came up during the night. The size of the Vulture formed an insurmountable obstacle to her fur ther progress—indeed, owing to the state of the tide she had crossed the second bar below Whampoa, with only 18 inches to spare. Therefore, the next morning, the 3d of April, the troops she carried were transferred into the Pluto, Corsair, and the armed boats of the Vulture, which were to be towed by these steamers. The gene ral and staff, accompanied also by Sir John Davis, went on board the Pluto, and the tide serving, the expedition moved onwards, and at half-past nine o'clock arrived at the barrier—a line of strong stakes extending nearly from bank to bank of the river, with only a single open ing for the passage of ships, and defended by four ad mirably placed and well constructed forts. As intelligence of the capture of the Bocci Tigris must have reached Canton in the course of the night, every preparation was made by General D'Aguilar and Captain Macdougall to carry the forts by storm, and overcome the expected resistance. In accordance,there fore, with the orders that had been given, the works to the left, forts Pachow and Napier, were simul taneously attacked, the Pluto with her division of boats leading through the barrier, and landi ng her troops at the latter, under the immediate orders of the General, whilst the Corsair dis embarked a portion of her force under Colonel Brere ton at the former. The massive gates, plated and thickly bound with iron, were burst open with powder bags. Their garrisons, astounded' with the rapidity of our operations, which, indeed, scarcely gave them time to look round, went out by the landside as we entered ; the magazines were blown up, and the guns spiked. While this was going on it became evident that the forts of Whampoa Creek and Wookongtap were prepar ing to receive us, and, accordingly, as two divisions of boats, supported by the steamers, pulled across to at tack them, the Chinese opened a sharp and well-sus tained fire from both the forts, at first of round shot, and then, as the boats approached nearer, of grape. The steamers and gun-boat instantly replied. The first discharge of the Chinese was answered with a cheer from the attacking parties, and then the boats pulled steadily, and in silence towards the batteries, the firing continuing on both sides until the troops were landed, and formed close to the forts. Upon seeing our force on shore, the enemy left their guns, and retreated by the rear of the works to a large town in the vicinity. The Chinese fired remarkably well, and it is inexplicable how the force escaped without suffering severe loss ; the round shot passed on either side of the boats—several between the masts and funnels of the steamers and the grape-shot fell thickly around the boats of Colonel Brereton's division, both before and after a most judicious movement on the part of that distinguished artillery officer, who, when close to the Wookongtap fort, seeing that the guns were being laid for the line of the advancing boats, changed the direction of his division towards the angle of the fort; and hardly had it been done when a shower of grape tore over the surface of the water within a few feet of the boats. Had even one boat been struck, the loss of life would have been great, for the men had hardly standing room, and the paddle-box boats of the Vulture were carrying 70 men in each, besides their crew. Had one been sunk, the fearful current and strong tide of the Canton river, into which if a man falls he rarely rises again to the surface, would have rendered assistance but of little avail. The long gun of the Pluto was admirably served, every shot taking effect upon the Whampoa Creek fort, and a shell fired from it burst in the centre of the work, just behind the enemy's guns. All the guns in these four forts were spiked, in number more than 200, and most of them of very large size; one brass gun was 24 feet in length, with an eight-inch bore. The magazines, containing large quantities of loose powder, ammunition, arms, &c., were blown up. The steadiness and conduct of the men throughout these operations were excellent ; not a musket was fired, although the enemy were seen at their guns through the embrasures, and not the slightest injury done to private property of any description. This portion of the river being now disarmed, the ex pedition proceeded as rapidly as possible up the river to wards Canton, to provide for the safety of the British merchants and their property. At the commencement of the south-eastern suburb of Canton stands the strong fort known by the name of the French Folly —a work both from position and construc tion one of the most formidable in the river. Armed with double tiers of guns, the lower is " >i Sear d'eau," and the upper is mounted on the summit of a strong cen tral tower of solidly-built masonry, comp letel y com manding the rea-1 of this river. It was, therefore, ab solutely necessary for the safety of ou r communicati ons that it should be disarmed. Th e troo p s were accord ingly landed, the gate blown in, ne t magazine hepid destroyed, rapidity o f oi and the guns spiked. H ere a movemen t s saved us; every preparation was making andg, again was nearly com pleted for the defence of this fort when we enteredit, and even half an hour's delay would have c ost us dear, for the s mall island upon which the fort stands, connected only with the bank by a bridge, is so covered by the works, that only a few feet of mud is available whereon to place an attacking party, and even that is commanded by the fort itself an the houses on the bank of the river. About four, P. m. , the expedition was anchored off the factories, and the four forts forming the river defences of the suburbs and city of Canton were taken possession of, their gates blown open, their guns disabled, and the magazines destroyed • forming a total of upwards of 870 large guns disabled since the preceding 1001.11illik I THE SUN, LONDON,, _FRIDAY. MORNING, JUNE 25, 1 47.