The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-23 00:00:00

, LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 22. COLE V. SEWELL. The arguments in this part-heard appeal , were then re sumed. The case came before their Lordships upon an appeal from the decision of the late Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Edward Sudden, dismissing the appellant's bill. The following may be stated to be the short facts of the case :—By a deed dated in 1752, Peter Daly, then seised in fee of a large estate in Ireland, called the Quandary or Daly estate, vested the same in trustees to the use of him self for life, remainder to the use of his three daughters. Ho noria, wife of Viscount Kingsland, Margaret, wife of Lord Athenry, who was also Earl of Louth, and Anastatia, wife of the Earl of Kerry, in equal shares, as tenants in common, during their respective lives, with re mainders respectively to the use of their first and other sons, severally and successively, in tail male, with cross remainders between them, the daughters (as the respondent contended) with remainder to their respective daughters, share and share alike, as tenants in common in tail general, and., in case of the death of any of the said daughters of the settler, without issue of her or their bodies, then as to such slaughter's share or shares, to the use of the daughters of the survivors or survivor, and the heirs of their bodies or body, and in case of the death of all three without issue, their over with ultimate remainder, to the right heirs of the settler. He died without disposing of the fee. Lady Kingsland and the Countess of Kerry died without issue. Lady Athenry, Countess of Louth, had four daughters only, the eldest of whom died unmarried. The second, married to the Earl of Louth, left four daughters, no son. The third, Elizabeth, married to Thomas Beiley Heath Sewell, had by him two children, the respondent, and the mother of the appellant. The said Lady Elizabeth and her husband, Mr. Beiley, executed a postnuptial settlement in 1779, providing for their said son and daughter out of the estate (among others) comprised in the deed of 1752. The various complicated questions in the appeal arose upon the construction of these two deeds, namely, as to the validity or invalidity of the limi tations in the deed of 1752, and whether they were not void for remoteness—whether the estates comprised in that deed were all comprised in the deed of 1779, or brought within its operation by a subsequent deed. The respondent's title to the estate depended on the validity of the limitations and on the deeds. The appellant claimed against those deeds, contending that the limitations were void, and he made title under the will of his grandmother, the said Lady Elizabeth. The Lord Chancellor of Ireland held the disputed limitations to be valid, in which case the Lady Elizabeth had no estate to devise, and his Lordship dismissed the appellant's bill. The arguments had not concluded at four o'clock, at which hour the further consideration of the case was adjourned. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. 22. (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Smmi.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were completed:— Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway, No. 3 (Ex tension from Bury St. Edmund's to Thetford). Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway (Warwick and Stratford Line). Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Amendment (Deviation of the line). Limerick Docks and Harbour Improvement. Belfast Port and Harbour Acts Amendment, Further Im provement, and New Works and Amendment of Belfast and Cave-hill Railway and Belfast Acts Improvement. Wakefield Gas-light Act Amendment (Extension of works). Eastern Counties Railway (Maldon,Witham, and Braintree Railway purchase). OPPOSED LIST. Eastern Counties Railway (Enlargement of London and Stratford Stations and Amendment Acts). Eastern Counties Railway (Branch from Stratford to the Victoria Park). In these two opposed cases the opposition was not success ful, and the customary formal proofs were completed. (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were completed : Midland Railway (Extension of the Nottingham and Lin coln Branch Railway at Lincoln, with Connexion Branch to the Lincoln Station). Bingley Improvement. Surrey and Kent Commission of Sewers' Act Amendment. Bognor Docks. Great Western of Bengal Railway Company, for the making and maintaining a Railway from Calcutta to Raja mahal, in the province of Bengal, with such Extensions and Branches as may be determined (Incorporation). Sovereign Life Assurance Company. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Act (Stourbridge and West Bromwich line). OPPOSED LIST. MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY. This important case was opposed by several parties. It occupied the rest of the day, but the allegations sustained were not of a fatal or important character. It was adjourned till to-morrow (to-day). LLYNVI VALLEY RAILWAY. - The usual half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this company was held yesterday, at their offices, 35, Broad-street buildings, City; Dr. Bowring, M.P., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said that the object of calling the meeting was merely to obtain the sanction of the shareholders to the several resolutions that were agreed to at the meeting of the 10th of last December, in compliance with the terms of the Act of Parliament. The SECaETARY then read the audited account, which stated that the deposits received amounted to 16,727/. 4s. 6d., the expenditure to 8,383/. 9s. Bd., and the balance in hand to 8,3431. 14s. 10d. This account was then adopted. The former directors were re-elected, and Mr. Cumming was elected auditor in the place of Mr. King, who had re signed. A resolution, confirming the resolutions of the meet ing of December last, was then agreed to unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said that there was no further business to be transacted. He was happy to inform them that some amicable arrangements had been effected with the Dufferyn and Llinvi Companies with whom they, had been in treaty. The meeting then separated. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, FENaL7ARY 22. STOCK EXCttANoE.—The sales are—Chester and Birkenhead, 47 ex div.—Eastern Counties, York Extension, 34 p.—East Lancashire, New, 2% p.—London and North-Western, 189—Ditto, New, Quar ters, 12 1 , 4 p.—Ditto, Quarters ((rand Junction), 20 1 ,4 p.-111anchos ter and Leeds Fifths, 6 p.—Ditto 321. Shares (late Extension), 3 p. Halves (late London and Birmingham), 514 p.—Ditto (late Manchester, Birmingham, and Bury), Fifths, 6 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 201. Shares, 14 dis.—Midland, 401. Shares, 5 p. ex div.—Soutli-Eastern and Dover, 37 —Ditto, New, No. 4, sra p.—Dundee and Perth, 1314 p.—Huddersfield Canal and Railway, 31—Ditto, 3% p.—Ditto, Extension, 114 p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, New, Extension (pink), 1% p.—Leeds and Thirst, Pre ference, 1 1 4 p.—Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester, 21i dis.—Bir• mingham and Oxford Junction, N p.—Blackburn, Clitheroe, and North-Western, 6s. 3d. die.—Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham, 2 p.—Great Northern (Nos. 108,001 and upwards), 1 4 p.—Northarn Counties Union, 265. 3d. dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), I p.—Ditto, 91. 12s. 3d. Shares (B), % p. —Shropshire Union Railway and Canal, dis.—West Riding Union, 1% p.— Manchester and Southampton, dis.—Dutch Rhenish, 51s. 3d. die. MANCRESTER, FEBEUAZY 22. STocx Exccanor.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 1-16 p.—Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 93 p.—Black burn, Clitheroe, &c., par—Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, % p.— East Lancashire, New (scrip), 1 3-16 p.—East Lincolnshire, 21i p.—Ely and Huntingdon, 14 p.—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, 9-16 p.—Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, 4 p.—Ditto, Thirds, 1 4 p.—Lancaster and Preston, Three-quarters, 174 p.—Leeds and Thirek, Preferentials, 1 3 / 4 p.—London and North• Western (Manchester, and: Birmingham), 73 c.—Ditto, Quarters (B), 6N p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 6 4 p.—Ditto, 321. Shares (late Extension), 3 1-16 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire, Eighths, c. dis.—Ditto (Grimsby), 501. Shares, 4% die. —Ditto, ditto, 121. 10s. Shares, % die.—Manchester and Southamp ton, 11-16 dis.—North Staffordshire, 3% p.—North Staffordshire and Churnet Valley Junction, 2 p.—Northern Counties Union, 1 3-16 dis.—Oldham Alliance, 11-16 p.—Preston and Wyre, Halves (A), 4 7-16 c. p.—Shropshire Union, N, dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 9-16 c. p.—South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole, 5-16 p.— West Riding Union, 1 13.16 p.—Whartdale (late North-Eastern), 3 / 4 dis. LEEDS, FEBRUARY 22. Sroca EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, par.—Buckinghamshire, is. 6d. p.—East Lancashire, p. Ditto, New, 2% p.—Ditto, New Scrip, 265. 6d. p.--East and West Yorkshire. par—Huddersfield and Manchester, 314 p.—Ditto, Thirds, 1 1 4 p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 7,4 p.—Dltto, Halves, 4% p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 2% dis.—Ditto, New, 12s. 6d. dis. —Ditto, Preference, 265. p.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 10s. dis.—Malton and Drif fleld Junction, 255. p. —Manchester and Leeds, Halves (late llud. and Shelf.), 4 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Great Grimsby and Sheffield), 5 dis.—North British, 10% p.—Ditto, Extension (scrip), 14s. Gd. p.—Northern Counties Union, 245. dis. —North-Western, Gd. p.— Sheffield, Rotherham, and Goole, 4s. 6d. p.—West Riding Union, 555. p. HFIELD, 22. S'rocic Excisswoz.— S The EF le saes areFEBRUARY —Huddersfield and 3fanchester, 44 P.—Manchester and Lincoln Union, 19s. dis —Manchester, Sher nem, and Lincolnshire, (Grimsby and Sheffield), 4N dis.—North- Western, Bs. tld.p.—West Itidineynion, 265. p.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 11s. die. FEBILVLICY 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.-011r market is quite inactive ; all depends upon the Budget. The sales are—North nritish Quarters, 87s.— Apabergate, is. P. EDINBURGH, FENacART 20, STOCK EXCIIANGE. — The sales are—Aberdeen, 23—Caledoni 97—Ditto, New, 50s. —Dundee and Arbroath, No. 3, 51.—Dunan' and Perth, 33 —Ditto, New, 20—East of Fife, 575. W.—East Lo thian Central, 495.--Eindburg,h, Leith, and Granton, 19—Ditto, Quarters, 163. Edinburgh and Northern, 16%—Ditto, New, 79.._ Ditto, Newport, s%—Ditto, ditto, New, 543. (M.—Edinburgh and Perth (New), 51s.—Ditto, New, 14s. 6d.—Great Northern (late Direct Northern), 763.—North British, Halves, 17% Ditto, Quar ters, 88s.—Ditto, New, Quarters (scrip), 28e.—Ditto, Thirds, 748. iStottish Central, 21% —Scottish Midland, 22% Shrewsbury, Osv,•es try, and Chester, 81. 43.—Stirlieg and Dunfermline, 78s.—Stlrling and Midland, 493. _ _ GLASGOW, FEBurrsity 20. friTocir Excristroz.—The sales are—Ayr and Galloway, 455. Caledonian, New, 48s. 6d.—Caledonian and Dumbartonshire, 51s.— Direct Northern Scrip, 54s.—Dundee and Arbroath, New, No. 3, 41. 19s.—Dundee and Perth, 3114 —Ditto, New, 18%—East Lothian Central, 465. 6d.—Edinburgh and Perth, New, 15s.—Glasgow, Kil marnock, and Ayr, llalres, No. 2, 91.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Car lisle, 6/. 2s.—Glasgow and Greenock, Preference, ;8 1 ,4—Manchester and Southampton, 31s. 6d.—North British, New Quarters (scrip), 27s 6d.—Scottish Central, 221.—Wishaw and Coltness, 481.—York and Newcastle, Preference, 874. WILL OF THE LATE VISCOUNT CANTERBURY.— It was only on the 16th inst. that probate of the will of the Late Right Hon. Charles Viscount Canterbury passed the seal of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and was granted , to his second son, the lion. John H. T. Manners Sutton, one of the executors. His Lordship directed that on the demise of the Viscountess, who only survived him four months, the sum of 20,0001., the dividends of which constituted her jointure, should be divided into four parts, his eldest daughter taking first therefrom 1,000/., apportioning to his two sons 1 ,; 11 ._.e-fourtli each, and the remainder to his youngest daughter. !ya Lordship also appointed that the sum of 7,5001., settled upon him for his life on his first marriage, should be equally divided of that on . gst his two sons and eldest daughter, the issue r :rnage. All other property not specifically given was to e divided into four equal parts between the Via countess, the two cons, and youngest daughter. The pic tures of himself, were left to his widneevra9 Speaker and the other when young, like, and the service of the diamonds, jewels, and such also the embellished with the peacock. The silver vases and the longed to his father, the la te B Ar rt et e r viee of plate which be bishop of Canterbury, also the bust of his Grace by Chantr y , a bust of Pitt, and Mg Other the pictures and family por traits, he has left to his inrdehip was in his Meet son, the present Viscount. 1835; he held h sear, and was raised to the Peer ~,,E klt rcerof Civil Knight Grand Crowiagoef the Bath, and w as '" e t ' 'or of the Charter-house. a goverl. ''brATO DISEASE,—The loss caused the ' b THE I - , y , notate disease, within the counties o f Angle ravages of the ~t is estimated, by parties who are corn. aey and Carnarvo :,.t. shillings in the pound upon the annual patent to judge, at , -•ed to the poor rates. The rental rental of the land, as 13 . 8 "'' "- -, to the latest parliamentary of the land so assessed, amountio,., ,illation and Carnarvonshire, returns, was, Anglesey, 164, 6371 i0n was based 125,587/. In forming this estimate ihe cai: e f. ; r n o 9 p t had the upon the assumption that only three-fourths ce o r i tai th n been destroyed. Even supposing, in a upwards state, the case, one-fourth of the crop to have .been_ which actual loss within the two countieg woriuld be 362,7800 145,1121., which at Ss. a quarter, won.l - or 90,695 tons of potatoes,Can.:arc" i leral purchase d. .T RE SUN, LONDON', TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2$ 1447. PROSECUTION AND ACQUITTAL OF THE " NATIONAL." The trial of the National for the publication of an article on December 18, relative to the Montpensier marriage, came before the Court of Assizes of the Seine on Saturday, in the presence of a great c row d o f spectators. Th e c h arges against M. Delaroche, the responsible ditnr, were, first, otience against the Kiug's person ; secondly, having blamed the Bing for the acts of his Government, thus making hint responsible for the same. M. Delaroche having allowed that he had authorised the publication of the article in question, M. Gallon, the Advocate-General, ad dressed the jury. After an exordium, in which he laid down the law of the case, the Learned Counsel declared that the incriminated article had gone out of its way to connect the recal of M. Barbet, the Consul at the Mauritius, with the Spanish marriages. Without waiting for any explanation from the Government, the .National had declared that circumstance to be a shameful concession, made to England, and attacked with every form of outrage and violence not only the Government for its conduct in the Spani-h marriages, but even the King himself. The Learned Gentleman then read the article, commenting on it as he went on, and dwelling particularly on the following phrase, as a proof of the intention of the writer to attack the King: " The occasion presented itself to realise a considerable profit ; the prudence of the father of a family imposed silence on the fears of the statesman, and the dowry was fingered with the secret thought that at an after period means would be found to appease the resentment of the English Cabinet." He inquired whether there could be any doubt that when the National used such language as this, before the circumstances of the marriages were fully known, and before the Chambers had given their opinion thereon, it did not intend to reflect improperly on the King, and it possible to excite contempt against his person ? Could any man doubt that when the National represented the King as wholly occupied with the desire of bringing to a successful termination a money speculation, and only anxious about fingering the dowry, it did not go beyond the limits of fair discussion ? The Learned Gentleman also referred to the expression—" We are now paying the King's debt, and the recal of M. Barbet is the first payment on account," and to the assertion that the marriages gave proof of the " selfishness of a family," and were "to be useful to the Orleans dynasty alone," as language of an im proper character, as attributing to the King the blame which the National considered the marriages ought to call forth. He also referred to the word "system," used by the. National, as an additional proof of its intentions; and called the attention of the jury to the declaration made in the article, that "when France was tired of seeing its honour sacrificed everywhere and always, it would go back from effects to causes, would not attack the Ministry, but over turn the system itself." He would appeal, he said, to all honourable minds whether such insults ought to be permitted—whether they were not calculated to in spire the most detestable resolutions? He concluded by declaring that even if no law existed to punish such offences, the honour of the country demanded that the head of the state should be respected ; and it was with a full conviction that such was the opinion of the jury that he called on it to give a verdict against the journal in question.—M. Marie, in addressing the court in favour of the National, declared that he considered the pre sent trial as one of the gravest attacks made of late years on the freedom of the press. In the worst days of the Resto ration nothing worse (he said) was ever attempted. He maintained that the National, and every other journal, had a right to attack and overthrow every injurious political system, whatever might be its origin. The Learned Gentle man then referred to the charge of making the King re sponsible for the acts of his Government, and reminded the jury that for a length of time a discussion had been going on about what was called "personal government" and " Parliamentary government." He quoted the language of M. Duvergier de Hauranne to show that the two ideas were notoriously matters of public debate. The system of per sonal government, the Learned Gentleman observed, was not new. In 1832 it had attempted to get the upper hand, but had failed, owing to the firmness of Casimir Perrier. In 1837 it was in full vigour, according to what was openly affirmed not only in the press, but in the Chambers. A paper war on the subject arose between the Journal des Debuts and the Consti tutionnel, and he could produce twenty articles from the former journal openly treating of a famous question, and in sisting that "the King ought to reign and govern," thus sup porting the system of personal government. The Learned Gentleman then showed that M. Guizot and M. de Lamar tine had openly spoken on this question in the tribune; and then inquired whether the National was not perfectly justified in adverting to the same question when it declared that a bad system ought to be overturned. He maintained that the National was fully authorised in using the language it had done on the point alluded to. Next, referring to the offence against the King's person, he argued that the National had not used language in the slightest degree stronger than that employed by the Opposition Deputies in the discussions in the Chamber, and by a number of other journals. He de clared, besides, that the National, in speaking as it did of the affair of M. Barbet, bad been neither more nor less than the echo of public opinion. He concluded by calling on the jury not to give a vital blow to the freedom of the press by their verdict. The jury, after a short deliberation, gave a verdict of ac• quittal on both counts. FIRE AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS.—On Saturday night, about twelve o'clock, afire broke out on the premise, of Mr. Oliver, grocer and tallowchandler, of Bury, and was not extinguished until half-past three o'clock. It was known that, among other combustibles, there was a con siderable quantity of gunpowder on the premises. The adjoining premises (the Suffolk Hotel, with the long range of gallery and stables were only divided by a lath and plaster partition, and the hotel being full of inmates, and several strangers, the utmost consternation prevailed. The bankers (Messrs. Oaks and Co.) very kindly offered the commercial gentleman to take care of their property in case of extreme need; and everything was packed and prepared, and the furniture of several adjoining houses was entirely taken away. Providentially, however, with the extra aid of one large engine in the inn yard, the fire was at length sub dued before it reached the gallery of the Suffolk Hotel. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. and Mrs. Everard, the proprietors of the hotel, for their promptitude and pre sence of mind in directing the energies and exertions of their servants, whose conduct throughout the trying night was above all praise. THE LATE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.— The remains of the late Duke of Northumberland lay in state for a few hours yesterday at Northumberland House, Charing-cross; but although a considerable number ob tained admission, the ceremony was, comparatively speak ing, ,a private one. The large dining-room was appro priated for the solemnity, every portion of the apartment, save that occupied by pictures, was covered with black cloth. The coffin was placed in the middle of the room, and enclosed by a state rail. It was covered at the top a large pall of black velvet, richly bordered, and Ivhici, displayed escutcheons on either side; resting alone on a velvet cushion was the ducal coronet of the deceased. The room was lighted with tapers, in massive silver candlesticks, on either side of the railing. The outside coffin is covered with rich crimson velvet, with gilt mountings; on the covering are displayed the star and insignia of the Order of the Garter, as well as the following inscription on the centre plate :—" Most high puissant and most noble Hugh Percy, Duke and Earl of Northumberland, Baron Lucy, Latimer, and Warkworth, a Baronet, Lord-Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum, Vice-Admiral of the county of Nor thumberland and the town of Newcastle-upon Tyne, Chan cellor of the University of Cambridge, Constable of Lancas ter Castle and High Steward of Lancaster, one of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, born 20th April, 1785 ; died 11th February, 1847." The private carriages of her Majesty, their Royal highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Cambridge, and those of several members of the nobility, it is understood, will form part of the funeral cortege. A REVENUE CUTTER SITNIt AT SEA. — Between two and three o'clock on Friday afternoon, the 19th instant, the Nimble cutter, Mr. J. P. Blundell, commander, was standing along shore, between Berry Head and Dartmouth, in chase of a small meek, when her progress was suddenly arrested by a sunken rock, and caused a rapid leak ; the vessel fell over on her starboard side, drifted from the rock, and in stantly sunk, in an upright position, in deep water. The crew were saved by hastily cutting away the boats from the tackles, but without clothes, bags, or bedding. It is said the fatal rock is not laid down its any chart, and that the com mander is a zealous officer and highly respected. FRENCH NAVY.—The following is a list of the vessels of war which are to be launched in the French ports during the year 1847 :—At Dunkirk, the Biche corvette, and the Ist class advice-steamer, the Phenix. At Brest, the Tage man-of-war 2d class; the frigates, the Perseverante, Ist class ; and the Nemesis, 2d class ; the Faune brig ; and the first-class steam corvette, the Caffarelli (iron). At Cherburg, the Sane steam-frigate, and the Newton, Ist class steam-corvette. At Nantes, steam advice corvettes, the Groenland, the Heron, and the Epervier. At Indret, the Eclaireur and the Pelican advice corvettes. At Lorient, the Ist class frigate the Vengeance; and the 2(1 class frigate, the Jean d'Arc. At Rochefort, the Ist class fri• gate, the Renommee ; the 3d class frigate, the Ile:iopolis ; the steam• frigate, the Mogador. At Bordeaux, the cor vette the Sentinelle, and the steam corvettes of the second class, the Eumenide and the Rdquin. At Toulon the second class frigates, the Zdnobie and the Sybelle ; the first class steam corvette the Reland, the second class steam corvette the Caton, the second class advice steam corvette the Sala mandre, and on the Seine the first class steam corvette the Mouette. EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES? A Brussels journal announces that an hotel-keeper and his wife having been prosecuted for assassin a ti ng a t rave ll er, and converting his dead body into sausages, were found guilty with the addition of extenuating circumstances. The French journal the /de:/brine copies the above statement, and observes, that no doubt the " extenuating circumstances" were that the convicted parties were induced to commit a murder in order to feed their fellow-creatures in this period of universal distress. IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—On Friday night last, some (it is believed two) thieves broke into an oast, now used as a granary, at Harple Farm, Debiting, belonging to Mr. Stun ham, by breaking a window-shutter, through means of a lad der. They stole about four bushels of flour made from brown tail wheat, and two sacks, one of them marked "S. Stonham, Debtling." On the shutter, they wrote 'frith chalk— " You are rich, we are poor ; When this is gone we'll come for more." Mr. Stonham has offered 101. reward for the conviction of the thieves.—Dora• Chronicle. THE ETON MONTE3I.—Ifer Majesty, it is said, is desirous of rescinding the order for abolishing this time honoured institution, which once in every three years brought the Sovereign of these realms into personal intercourse with the Eton boys. As the question, however, is referred to public opinion, it is necessary that some demonstration should be made with regard to it before an alteration can be effected; and therefore a meeting of Eton men is convened for the ensuing week, to take the subject into consideration. Sunday paper. A NOBLE EXAMPLE.—Mr. Thompson, of Hope street, New Mill, Salford, has opened a soup kitchen for the benefit of his hands, which is intended to be continued as long as work is suspended. The daily distribution amounts to three hundred and fifty quarts of soup and as many pounds of bread, both being of the very best quality. No charge whatever is made. Such a generous regard for the welfare of the workine people deserves the highest commendation, and we trust the example will be extensively followed.— (Correspondent of the Manclieter Guardion.) STATE OF NEWGATE.—At a Committee of Alder men, on Saturday, the crowded state of Newgate, from Lord John Russell having refused to transport any more criminals, was brought under notice. It was impossible to keep the tried and untried in the same gaol, and more prison room must be immediately provided. Mr. Alderman llumphery proposed that the Borough Compter, which cost 7001. a year, thebe legallyd dconvictedldte contain i c n n r t criminals. nitnhaalsr.esinle prisoner, might be allotted to , T I froml 'E The Recorder said they could not is t p o , b w e ir fu i r s t i h o e N r s considered.rßom being out of the City. The matter New UNI TED O STAT ES.—The Orleans, as;, Liver Lucia Miltiades and Commerce, z i zto L Field, from Charleston, which were rep o the 20th of February, bring 9,209 sacks of Indite barrels flour, Alla 12,4,3 bushels 9f paddy. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 22. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. SUNDAY RAILWAY TRAINS. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from the inhabitants of Linlithgow, in favour of resuming the Sunday railway trains on the Glasgow_ and Edinburgh Railway. would suggest that no one in possession of land should be entitled to poor relief. The exact time might be afterwards drawn, when they came to arrange the details. If the Bill came up again with the alterations which he had suggested, he for oae would not op pose it. Earl FITZ WILLIA NI concurred with the Noble Earl in the necessity which existed in Ireland for a poor_ law, and also in saying that great care ought to be taken in framing it. But what he was anxious about was, that there might be a properly-adjusted system of elec toral divisions and communities. There was another point to which he wished to advert. He considered that to throw the population of a town on a single electoral division was not only a hardship, but most unjust. He conceived that it would be right to throw the burden of relieving pauperism on unions at large, but on some districts more extensive. lie was not aware that there were in the unions of Ire land any towns, at least what an English gentleman would call a town. A great amount of the pauperism, no doubt, was occasioned by the system of clearing land estates in the neighbour. hood of these towns. Now, he considered that those persons who had caused in some degree this pauperism should be compelled to contribute towards its relief ; and he repeated that it would be better to throw the pauperism of the country on districts larger than even electoral divisions. Lord MOUNTUASHEL said, in reference to what had fallen from the Noble Earl opposite, that the towns in Ireland were very differently situated from those in England, some of those places that con tained 3,000 or 4,000 inhabitants were to be considered towns. He certainly agreed with the Noble Lord, that there was a bonus held out to the proprietors in some districts to induce them to pursue the system of clearing the land. The effect was that a great burden was imposed upon certain unions. He felt that this would press most unjustly on the popu lation, for they would not only have to supp or t th e i r own poor, but also the destitute persons that would be thrown upon them. He would rather the measure was ex tended to three years than limited to twelve months. The Earl of RODEN had seen with great satisfaction the excellent measures which had been introduced, he might say so boldly, by her Majesty's Ministers for the relief of Ireland, though he must, at the same time, say that he was pleased to hear that the Noble Marquis had consented to postpone the third reading of this Bill as the delay might allow fer any improvement of which it was susceptible. He had only two days ago come up from Ireland, and could bear his testimony to the suffer ing and distress which prevailed in Ireland. He could not but also express his great satisfaction at the other Bill which had been introduced—he meant that for allowing the sale of property in Ireland to pay off mortgages; for without that he believed that all the other measures together would be next to useless, for it was useless to attempt to levy a tax for the relief of the poor on the possessors of property unless they granted this relief. Most of the entailed estates in that country are heavily mortgaged, and if a man was presumed to have 100,0001. a year, the great probability was that in the majority of cases he only enjoyed a rental of 2,000/., so that, with out the power to divest himself.of his liabilities, they would actually subject him to a tax, as if ho were a 100,0004 man, when in reality he was only a 2,0001. a year man. Then as to the great measure for the relief of the poor, he thought that some alterations should be made as to the extent of the dis tricts; for it appeared to him that it would be most unjust to limit the unions to the extent of the electoral districts, and in his opinion it appeared to bo better to de fine the districts by the size of the towns. Take, for in stance, a large town for a district, and then in another part of the country combine several smaller towns into a district, so that the population of the several districts might bear a proportion to each other. Then, again, as to the relief that was to be granted, he thought that there should be some restriction to be placed upon it, especially where the applicant for relief was the holder of any land. In this country it would never be allowed that relief should be given to a man who held a farm, so long as he continued to hold that land. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE observed that the discussion which had just taken place referred rather to another Bill not before the House, than to the one under consideration ; but he thought, nevertheless, that it would be productive of good. There had been considerable difference of opinion, whether the rating should fall on the union, or the electoral division, and it was, therefore, proposed to make this an open question for the consideration of Parliament. With regard to towns, he was sanguine enough to hope that a provision applicable to them would be introduced, and which would obviate the difficulty He wished it to be understood, however, that the clause which had been introduced into the latter Bill by the Noble Duke (Wellington), as to indoor relief, would be left intact, and the new principle, what ever arrangement may be come to with respect to it, would only apply to the out-door relief proposed to be given, without food. He had the pleasure of announcing to their Lordships, that in order to expedite the measure which had for amido , absorbingr d s a u h b its object to facilitate the sale of lands in Ireland, his Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack had con sented to give his immediate attention to the Bill, and to introduce it at an early opportunity into their Lord ships' House, so that it, with the other measures bearing upon Ireland, would come together before their Lordships, appearing to aid each other to one end—the relief of the distress prevalent in Ireland. The Marquis of WESTMEATII expressed his satis faction that the Goverment had adopted the suggestion made by the Noble Lord not now in the House, as to defining the case of the pauper, that no person assuming to be a pauper should continue to hold possession of land. He begged their Lordships' attention shortly to a remark of a Noble Lord, that the provisions of one of the Bills proposed ought not to affect the holders of small tenements. He thought if it did not, the effect would be to absorb the whole income of the country. The intention was to give a money re muneration to that class of persons who had slush posses sions, and trafficked in land. He begged to ask, in case it were carried out, to whom the person in possession should surrender, whether to the chief lessor, or into the hands of a lessee who might havesublet it? for if it might bare he immediately begged the effect g their f be resigned into the hands of a lessee, he himself might be to another pauper, thereby entirely defeating their Lordships' intention. The same remark applied to the a pauper, o cf r oonr l a f Pit t the Lord LANSDOWNE then moved that the third reading of the Bill should be adjourned till tomorrow. cwsyohnsotseliedmein;clot,me of the country. Their Lordships then adjourned. icet r ew mightaunl would I g lA n l a L il W wa A y Y Ba ß is l w LL er S e . "[OUSE OF COMMON S, Feb. 22. read a second ti me ' Th e SPEAKER took the Chai r a t F our o ' clock. and ordered to be c o m mitted ; Airdrie and Bat h g ate Junction Railway A men d ment a nd Deviation. Ayrshire and Galloway Railway (Smithst own to Dal rnellington). The followin Caledonian Rail way (Branches to Canobie. &c.) Caledonian Railway (Lease of Part of Glasgow, Dum fries, and Carlisle Railway). Caledonian Railway (Branch across Clyde and Glasgow Station). Great Northern Railway (Branch to Kinn.'s Lynn). Lynn and Ely Railway (Lynn and WOrmegay Navi gation). Lynn and Ely Rail wa y (Deviation and Lynn Docks). Portadown and Dungannon Railway. Wishaw and Coltness Railway (Branches to Auchin heath Mineral Field and Conderside). Several private Bills were brought in, and read a first time. AMBERGA.TE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON, He had since received a, report on the subject, but parts of it related to matters which had not been officially raferred to the inspector. He should have no objection, however, to lay such parts before the House as imme dately related to the matter in question. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Mr. MONCKTON MILNES wished to esk the Minister for Foreign Affairs, whetker he had sent to the President and Executive Council of Berne any notice respecting their replies to the menaced interference of the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian Governments, in the international affairs of the Confederation, which have been presented to Parliament by command of her Majesty. Lord PALMERSTON replied that her Majesty's Go vernment had not felt called upon to make any commu nicatiou upon the subject. thy of those landlords who had taken care of their poor, and it was equally reprehensible of th >se landlords who did not support tht , ir poor. But what was still more reprehensible was, for Goverratwnt to allow the poor to temain at the mercy of any landlord ; and there ought to be an efficient poor-law to obviate the evil.—(Hear, hear.) Major MACNAMARA said there was not a man in his part of the country who had not done his duty, and as for himself he was the largest contributor in the county of Clare.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. STUART said that he had received a letter from M'Leod, of M'Leod, detailing the distress of the persons on his estate, and concluding by stating that he had, up to the present period, supplied his tenants with oatmeal to the amount of 51. on an average, and that such was the fearful state of the distress, that it was quite impossible for him to bear up under it. The conversation then dropped. THE BUDGET. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose for the purpose of making the financial statement, and said —Mr. Greene: Although I have little doubt but that the importance of the subject upon which I am now about to address the Committee would ensure the attention of the Committee, yet I hope I shall not appeal to it in vain for its indulgence during the statement I am about to make. Though unwilling to shrink from the performance of that duty which persons holding my situation aro bound to perform, I am afraid that I am not very able properly to perform that task.—(Hear, hear.) I hope, at the same time, that my inability may be considered as my excuse if I make my state ment as short as may be consistent with making it as clear as possible, and confine my observa tions to that which is absolutely necessary, in order to place before the Committee the financial state and prospects of the country. Sir, I put this further claim to the indulgence of the House, that it is many years since a Chancellor of the Exchequer has had to make so heavy a demand on the Treasury, owing to the unfortunate state of the country, and I hope it will be several years before a similar calamity will render such demands necessary.—(Hear, hear.) The Committee, however, must be aware that the calamity which calls for this demand is one which no prudence, either on the part of her Majesty's Ministers, or of any Government, or of any Legislature, could possibly have • pro vided against.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It has pleased Providence to afflict not only this country, but a great part of Western Europe, with great dearth, and that dearth has pressed peculiarly on that part of the United Kingdom least able to bear it. Thousands of suffering and famishing people, chiefly in the west of Ireland, appeal for sympathy and assistance to this House, and I know that that sympathy and that assistance will be extended to them. —(Hear, hear.) Sir, if I were only to reflect on the past, or even the pre sent state of the finances of the country, I cer tainly should say that there never was a time in which the finances of the country were so well able to bear the demand which has been made upon them.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen have now bad in their hands for some time the balance -sheet of the last quarter By it it appears that the whole excess above the re payments, amounts to 916,0001., and that the entire balance is upwards of 9,000,0001. on the year.—(Hear.) This is the first time, I believe I may say in the memory of those conversant with these matters, that a Chancel• for of the Exchequer has bad to deal with so large a balance. If, in like manner, I refer to the produce of the great articles of consumption, it would show that the revenue derived from them has exceeded the most sanguine expectations even of the Right Honoura ble Gentleman opposite, who made his financial statement last year. If X refer to the Customs, I find that the produce of every article for the nine months, from April to Decem ber inclusive, with one single exception of those duties which were reduced, is considerably higher than during the corresponding nine months of the preceding year. In like manner, if I turn to the Excise revenue, I find that in the last year, with the single exception of soap, which, I believe was, owing to some accidental circumstances at the beginning of the year, on every material article the duty has increased—even including that branch of it on which the Honourable and Gallant Member for Lincoln seemed to have some misgivings—namely, post-horses. By the return of the quarter up to the 13th of February last, I find that there is an increase in the ordinary re venue, as compared with the corresponding period of the preceding year, of nearly half a million. We have, therefore, great reason to be thankful that such a demand came at such a time, when we were; not unprepared to meet it.—(Hear, hear.) At the same time, I think we should hold out fallacious hopes if I said we were entitled to look for a continuance of such a season of prosperity. Sir, I think that no person looking at the signs of the times, can doubt that there are circumstances existing which indicate that we may be approaching one of those periods when a revulsion in the prosperity of the country will occur. Such periods of calamity occur in com mercial enterprises as well as in the progress of the country. Such was the case in 1825, and again in 1836, after years of unexampled prosperity. I do not anticipate anything like the revulsion which took place on former occasions. I see no symptoms, and I do not think it right to cause any fear in the minds of persons by the expression of such a belief. I think the experience of former times has not been lost upon our merchants and traders, and I hear from every quarter that the trade and commerce of the country is in a sound and healthy condition. And I am inclined to attribute such a fact to the effects of the measures regulating the currency introduced by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth. I be lieve, but for the operation of that Bill, when the world was not quite in a sober mood, we might have seen great distress, consequent upon the mania existing for specula tion, and I believe that many of those who were most adverse to the provisions of that Bill have latterly be come converts to the system it c ,ntains. I attach not only these effects to that Bill, but I believe sounder principles and sounder notions of currency were brought into operation, and persons were induced to pursue a more prudent course than on former occasions. People invested their money in the con struction of railways instead of purchasing Mississippi stock and Pennsylvanian bonds. Great communications, affording employment to the people and calculated to promote the commercial prosperity of the country, were constructed, and I am, there fore, convinced, that no such results will now occur, as upon former occasions, but, neverthe less, it would be imprudent if we did not en deavour to be prepared. The present high prices of provisions must necessarily diminish the comforts of the people and their power of purchasing luxuries. Sir, the high-priced food tells on the existence of many, but it must tell upon the com forts of all classes of society. lam speaking now of this country, and am not alluding to the state of Ireland. The result of this state of things is to diminish, among all classes, the consumption of articles of luxury. I have looked through the articles of Customs and Excise, and I find that, throughout the whole, the main articles on which duty has been paid, are articles of consumption for food. I find that for the bygone year, ending sth Jan. last, there has been paid in these departments 34,557,0001. for articles of food. Of this amount the article of sugar has cost 5,530,000/. The articles of wine, spirits, tea, and coffee, 21,787,000/. ; tobacco, 4,336,0004, making a total of 31,653,000/. This was the amount raised on these articles ; while, on the whole, the sum of 34,557,000/. had been raised. Contemporaneously with the high price of provisions, there has been a high price in the ,raw material of one of the great staple manufactures —I mean the article of cotton. The result has been to produce a considerable diminu tion of the articles produced in this department of our manufacturing industry. I hold in my hand a state merit of the mills employed, standing idle, or partially employed from the 9th of January to the 3d of Februar) last respectively. On the 9th of January last there were ten mills in Manchester standing idle, on the 3d of Feb ruary, 13; on the 9th of January, 52 were working short time, on the 3d of February, 58; on the 9th of January there were fully employed, 113, on the 3d of February, 104 ; on the 9th of January, 25,845 persons were fully employed, on the 3d of February, 22,945 ; on the 9th of January, there were working short time 11,851, on the 3d of February, 13,806; and on the 9th of January there were unem ployed 1,691; and on the 3d of February, 2,638. Such was the condition of this branch of industry. Bu , the pressure occasioned by dear provisions was not alone confined to this country; it prevailed in France, Belgium, Germany, and Poland ; and the effect, as might be ex- petted, was to create a demand for bullion for foreign purposes, and therefore to create difficulties in the way of commercial transactions, and to limit the enterprise of the country.—(Hear, hear.) I find, on referring to the state of the Bank in February last year and February this year, there are only 1,200,0001. less this year than during the corresponding period last year. On the 13th of February, 1846, thert• ELECTORAL DIVISIONS. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a pe tition from two parishes near Drogheda, against the present system of electoral divisions in Ireland, and praying for a more equitable arrangement. COMMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTCY. Lord BROUGHAM wished to call the attention of their Lordships, and especially of his Noble Friends the late and the present Lord Chancellors, to a return which had been laid on their Lordships' table, in reference to the Commissioners of Bankruptcy in town and country, which was evidently incorrect in some of its details. According to one calculation in that return, there were 344 days in the year, and by another there were 354 days. In one part it was said, concerning the Bristol Commission, that the Commissioners sat 188 days in bankruptcy, 135 days in insolvency, and 31 days in small debts. There was no doubt about what this must mean ; it was clear it was meant that the Commissioners sat 188 days in all, the 135 days and the 35 days being parts of that period. Again, it was said ►n reference to one of the Commissioners of Bristol, that he sat, during the year, 258 days, while his colleague only sat 174 days ; the first number, clearly ought to have been 158 days. His Lordship said there were here six functionaries capable of a great deal more work in point of time, or what came to the same thing, that that number might be diminished. They were employed at present altogether not more than six weeks in the year, and some fews days more in small debts, but altogether the time was something about a quarter, at least not a third, of a year. It would naturally be said that he (Lord Brougham) ought to take blame to himself. But, as his Noble Friend opposite well knew, he (Lord Brougham) was the only person out of eleven that examined the old system, and introduced the present alterations, and out of eleven persons he was the only one that did not think six Commissioners were enough. He recollected he had a struggle to keep the number so low as it was ; Sir Thomas Wilde, now Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir Frederick Pollock, now Chief Baron of the Exchequer, both opposed him, the one being for twelve and the other for fourteen Commissioners. He (Lord Brougham) was obliged to come to a compromise that the number should be seven ; but by a clerical error it was made six, which error he (Lord Brougham) took advantage of, and would not allow it to be amended. He gave their Lordships notice that he would introduce a Bill making some necessary alterations in these matters. He moved that the present return should be amended. The motion was agreed to. DISTILLATION FROM CORN. Lord RODEN presented a petition from the mayor and corporation of Drogheda against distillation from corn for the next two years. RUM DUTIES. Lord RODEN presented a petition from the same body igainst the proposed introduction of the rum duties. The petition set forth that it would be injurious to the distillers of Ireland, who had ►nvested large sums of money in their distilleries, and that it would be ruinous to the labourers employed in these distilleries as well as to other classes. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. Earl FORTESCLTE presented a petition from the guardians of the Honiton union, in Nottinghamshire, praying for the abolition of the present law of settle ment. The Noble Earl said that he agreed to much of what had been stated in the petition. He was disposed to agree in what was stated as to the Act of last session, which, so far from being productive of advantage, had been a source of great hardship. Ho could not, how ever, go the length of admitting that the present law should be altogether dispensed with. Lord MELBOURNE presented a similar petition from the Guardians of the Basford Union, in Lincoln shire. SCOTCH BANKS BILL. The Earl of CLARENDON said he would wish the Noble Lord (Eglinton) to postpone his motion with respect to the Scotch Banks Bill. The Earl of EGLINTON said that at the request of the Noble Lord he would postpone his motion. BREWING FROM SUGAR BILL. On the motion of the Earl of CLARENDON, this Bill was read a third tirneland passed. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the third reading of this Bill, Lord ELLENBOROUGH said that there was a pro vision in the Act that no warrants should be issued to levy a rate after the Ist of October next, but that on the last day of September warrants might be issued to levy a rate. He thought that this was likely to occasion con fusion, for under the new Act there would be two bodies collecting for a different purpose. He thought if there was a clause introduced to prevent this it would be of considerable advantage. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the last few words of the Noble Earl had given a. precise intimation of this Bill, the object of which was, to give relief to the destitute poor during the period that shall elapse between the present and the coming of the next harvest. That was the particular object of the Bill. He apprehended that in the event of the harvest not being gathered, or the funds necessary for the relief of the poor now being collected under this Bill, that the Lord Lieutenant might issue his warrant for the Finance Committee to pay over to the Relief Committee the sums that might be necessary for the relief of the destitute poor; but, certainly, it was not intended to extend the actual operation of this Act beyond the Ist of October. Lord STANLEY said that the observations of his Noble Friend were well worthy of the attention of her Majesty's Government, and he did not think that the remarks of the Noble Marquis had fully met their point. It appeared that the Bill was to provide for the destitute poor, and that the Relief Committee was to pay over to the Finance Committee the sums collected after the Ist October. It did not appear that there was to be any restriction on the Relief Committee whatever, for the Relief Committee might make a list of the destitute per sons entitled to relief under the Act, and that this list might then be transferred to the Lord-Lieutenant, who would have the power, after the Ist of October, on their report, to issue his warrant for ;the Finance Com mittee to pay over to the Relief Committeewhatever they might deem to be necessary for the relief of the destitute poor in that district. But there was no limit in the terms of the Act, and the relief committee might therefore make out a list for twelve months. Now it would be better evidently to restrict this power, and not by an alteration of the 21st clause, but by an alteration of the spirit of the Act, limit this power to issue the warrant, say for three months, that on the 29th of September the Lord Lieutenant might issue his warrant to the Finance Committee to pay over sufficient for the sustenance of the destitute poor during three months—October, November, and December. That would be sufficient. Lord CAMPBELL—The Noble Lord should recol• lest that the very object of this Bill was to meet an ex traordinary case, arid that, in order to do that it was con ceived advisable to leave as large a discretion as possible in the hands of the Lord-Lieutenant. Lord BROUGHAM —No doubt the spirit of the Act ought to be upheld; but they had no right to legislate in the dark when they were levying money to be expended thus without limit. Ile thought it would be much better to restrict the power of the warrant to three months in stead of extending it to twelve. Lord ELLENBOROUGH then read over the 21st clause, as he wished it to be amended so as to embody his suggestion. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection to put off the third reading till to-morrow, to consider whe ther it would be better to insert an additional clause, or to adopt the 21st clause, as amended by the Noble Earl. 'rhe Earl of WICKLOW had not at first intended to make any observations on the Bill till next day, when it would be read a third time, but this, perhaps, would he the most suitable time for him, and he trusted their Lordships would allow him to say a few words on the Bill itself, as he had not been in the House in its earlier stages. lie admitted the Bill was called for by the exigency which it was intended to meet, but there was one clause to which he wished to call their attention, namely, the twelfth clause, which regulates the rating, and which gave the relief commissioners the most extensive powers in selecting whether the rating should be in elec toral divisions or in the unions. He objected to this enormous power, and he did not understand why the choice should be given to them. It was not, how ever, in the present measure he objected to it, so much as on account of the precedent which it was to establish. He was the more confirmed in his view of the danger of this from having understood that, in the permanent Poor.law which was to be brought forward, the rating in the union at large, instead of the present electoral division, was proposed to be adopted. If this be the case, a greater evil could not be inflicted on the coun try. In the first place, it was at variance with the prin. ciples of the law as at present carried out in both countries. Ile knew there were reasons, and those strong reasons, which might be assigned for a general mode of relief, for otherwise there could he no question about it at all. But he was strongly convinced that the prin ciple of this Bill, if carried into effect, would throw one-half more recipients upon the rates than there would otherwise be. In every district in which provision was made for the poor by the landed proprietors, the rate became an encouragement to give the applicant work as well as relief, because it benefited the district ; but in case all the poor were thrown on the union rates, why every district would be contending with the rest which district could send in the most ap plicants. He admitted there were difficulties attending the division of the towns from the pa rishes, because many would be driven into the towns, and the effect would bo to bring a great hardship on the inhabitants. But it had been suggested that that difficulty could bo met by an electoral mode of adjustment. Suppose that a f t o o r w m u e o d f iantosuaffi d ci i e v n is t io n n u , m an b d er t o h f at in i h t ab sh it o a u n i t d s b s e ho d u e l c cl idc b l e i that when the rate in that town exceeded _ a certain per centage the necessary help might be sought from the union district. But he augured that much e'il would follow from the adoption of a system of general out-door relief, and he felt great difficulty in putting a proper interpretation on the words of the , Bill, when they provided for the relief of the " aged and impotent poor ;" for in case of age, one man at 70 might be stronger than another at 50; but if a term were fixed injustice would thus be done, and much more if the word impotent were added, for many a young man was impotent, and utterly unable to help himself. lie (Earl Wicklow) &c., RAILWAY. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Lord LIOTHAM opposed the motion, on the gro'und that a breach of faith had been committed by the pro moters, in notcarrying out an engagement which they had entered into with Lord Manvers. In consequence of the opposition of the Noble Lord when the line was first projected, the promoters entered into an agreement to carry the line on a different side of the Trent from what they intended ; and now, after the lapse of six months, notwithstanding that solemn engage ment, they came forward with a Bill to carry out the plan they originally projected. The Hon. Gentleman, the Member for Sunderland, (Mr. Hudson), the Chairman of the Midland Company, had informed him that that company had not sought any o m n i e d r l o a u n s d C terms omp a f n r o y s m t g he h Ain n no e rgat° doubt, C o la n v p e a n).. Th the use e of that line on the usual terms. No doubt the Ambergate line held back, in order that they might get better terms from the Northern Company. Ile, there fore, considered it his duty to move an amendment, that the Bill be read that day six months. The question having been put, Mr. PLUMPTRE opposed the motion, and considered that the Committee was the proper tribunal to investi gate the matter. Sir JAMES DUKE said that he hoped that the Noble Lord would consent to the Bill going into Com mittee, and then if he could show the least objection to it, he would do all iu his power to throw it out. The Bill contained three objects, and there was only one of those complained of, and it would be too bad to reject the Bill altogether. The gallery was then cleared. On our return we un derstood that no division had taken place, but that the House were occupied in a discussion on the merits of the Blil. After a few words from Mr. REDH2AD YORKE and Sir JAMES DUPE, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed till this day week. WESTMINSTER-BRIDG E. Sir DE LACY EVANS rose to put the question, of which he had given notice. He wished to ask the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests what decision the Government has conic to respecting the completion of the repair s o f W estm i nster -b r id g e, which have been lately in progress, the widening of the roadway, &c. ; or as to the re-conqruetion of the bridge on or immediately near its present site, as recommended by the Select Committee of last session, it being proper that th e various interests concerned should be relieved from the injury of another year's suspense. Lord MORPETH said, that with respect to the re construction of the bridge at or near to its present site, the Government had had several 'communications with the Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements, but they were not (considering the demands to be made on the Exchequer, and the fact that the bridge was now available for public traffic) prepared to submit any pro position to Parliament in the present session. ROYAL NAVAL ACADEMY, In answerio - aqu — Ps - tio — nfrom an How. MEMBER, Mr. F. MAULE replied that, towards the close of the last session, an inspector-general was appointed, for the purpose of reporting any information upon the subjeot of remodelling the school of the Royal Naval Academy. was in the Bank 13,476,0001., and on the 13th February this year there are 12,299.0001. Indeed, Sir, I am almost surprised at this, considering the amount of bullieli sent freul this country, that t h e deficiency i 0 ups PORTU6UESE PRISONERS. Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Govern ment were in possession of any authentic information respecting the destination of the officers who were taken prisoners by the Portuguese army at the capture of Torres Vedras. Lord PALMERSTON said, that in consequence of representations made to the Portuguese Government by the British, French, and Belgian, the Government had changed their intention of sending the prisoners to the coast of Africa. He believed that it was pro posed to send them to Madeira, or come other island. He had not, however received . any official information upon the subject. CONSTITUTION OF PRUSSIA. Mr. P. HOWARD wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to lay upon the table of the House copies of the new constitution of Prussia? Lord PALMERSTON said that it was 4 not usual for the Government to lay before the House documents relating so entirely to the internal management of the affairs of other nations. If, however, the House wished to have those documents, he would not object to their pro duction. He would, however, advise the Hon. Member not to press for their production. The subject then dropped PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND). Lord CLEMENTS wished, in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to call the attention of the Honourable Gentleman the Secretary for Ire land to this circumstance. The House had been informed that Government abuses had taken place in con nexion with the public works in Ireland. Now, he wished to know, as he believed these abuses had been carried further, and had been committed by persons not exactly connected with these works, whether the Government had taken any steps in the niatter, and whether the accounts of the different baronies would be audited ? Mr. LABOUCHERE said the convenience of the House would be greatly promoted if Hon. Gentlemen would give notice of their intention to put their questions.—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt the accounts would be regularly audited. He would, however, con sult the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject. INTRODUCTION OF BRITISH MANUFAC TURES INTO PRUSSIA. Mr. FINCH said, as they had been informed by a high authority that Prussia intended to offer facilities for the introduction of British manu, factures into that country, he wished to ask the Vice- President cf the Board of Trade, whethet there was any immediate prospect of the free admission of British manufactures into the Prussian dominions, or into the states comprehended in the Zollverein? Mr. M. GIBSON stated, in reply, that he had not heard any one express a very sanguine hope that there was any prospect that British or the, manufactures of any other country would be admitted free into the Zollverein.—(Hear, hear.) I❑ fact, there had been an augmentation of duty.—(flear, and laughter.) He was merely stating a fact.—(Hear.) With respect to the first part of the Hon. Gentleman's question, he begged to remind him that many other foreign countries had made material reductions in their tariffs, and ad mitted the manufactures of other countries at a lower duty.—( Hear.) EXPORTATION OF RUSSIAN CORN. In reply to a question from Mr. WAWN, Lord PALMERSTON said he had recently received information from St. Petersburgh which .led him to be lieve that the Russian Government did intend to offer facilities for the exportation of corn into this country. (Rear.) Large quantities, he believed, had been ex- ported. SEED FOR IRELAND. Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to know what arrange ments had been made for distributing seed to people in Ireland out of the 50,0001. voted by Parliament? Mr. LABOUCHERE said the arrangements were still under the consideration of the Government. Seed, and not money, would be distributed. RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. STRUTT said that, in consequence of the wishes of several Members, and with a view to limit the discus sion in the House, he would postpone the second reading of the Railway Bills to Monday next. DISTRESS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOT LAND. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that the House do resolve itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. E. ELLICE begged to call the attention of the Government to a report of the sheriff-substitute of the county regarding the suffering and privation to which, from the extreme scarcity of food, the population on the west coast of Inverness-shire is now reduced. He was extremely unwilling to trespass on the attention of the llouse, but unless some steps were taken, the calamities which were of daily occurrence in Ireland would soon extend themselves to the Highlands. It was but fair to say that many of the Scotch proprietors had made great sacrifices in order to support the population on their estates. In fact, it would be invidious in him to allude to particular instances. Some had made greater, some smaller exertions, but still a large amount of the desti tute population had been supported by the landed proprietor!) without asking the House for assistance. At the same time there were many other proprietors who had not acted in the same way, and who had forgotten their duty and the manifestation of that sympathy which was due from them. It was regarding this class that he wished to draw the attention of her Majesty's Government to the facts which he held in his hand. He did not mean to say that the poor-law was efficient in every instance of distress, and on that he did not wish at pre sent to express an opinion, as the law had not as yet had a fair trail ; but he wished to press on the attention of the House the facts to which he was coming. Those facts were derived from a report of a gentleman of high character, holding an important official situation, and entitled to every consideration and credence. He was the sheriff•substitute of the county of Inverness, and the report was made at the instance of the Edin burgh Board of Relief, at whose request he had made a journey into the distressed districts. In the districts which he traversed he found a great propor tion of the people in a state of starvation, and in a much worse condition than be expected. In the first district he entered he found that out of 91 families 82 were utterly destitute, making 483 individuals. Of these 138 were under twelve years of age. The quantity of meal in the district was only sufficient to pro vide one pound weight a day for four days. The writer instanced cases where fever and disease, consequent upon famine, had already made considerable ravages. The next district he went to he found only thirty individuals in independent circum stances, and not requiring aid. The place contained 671 souls, and amongst all that number he found only ten chests of meal, which would only afford them sustenance for two days. One proprietor employed eighteen men there, but he had made no pro vision to pay them, nor had he furnished them with any food. In the next instance given, 650 people were in the same condition. Supplies had been sent by the Free Church Committee, but they had been ex hausted. In one place, containing 1,610 people, 950 of the number were in a state of destitution; and it was the unanimous opinion of a meeting called there, that in twenty-four hours many hundreds would be suffering the pangs of hunger and starvation. The writer said also, that nothing could be done by the people themselves, and the proprietors did not appear to be making any provision for them. The seed corn was being consumed, and in many instances had been wholly used. In a letter written by a lady in the Isle of Skye, it was stated that unless some means were taken to supply the people they must starve. He did not wish then to make any ques tion as to the necessity of assisting the proprietors, but the Government should take means to intro duce the poor-law as far as it could be made available. Some steps should be taken by her Majesty's Government to assist the people ; for, in some instances, the tenants and proprietors were selling their produce at a very low price, in order to relieve the people as much as possible. He felt that it was only necessary to call the attention of her Majesty's Government to these circumstances, in order to induce them to do all that could be done for these poor people, and to save them from the misery of want and starvation. Sir G. GREY said that he could assure his Hon. Friend that the attention of Government had been fully directed to this qeestion. It was too true that the most extensive and severe dis tress existed in the west Highlands of Scotland in consequence of this visitation; it was true that the great majority of proprietors in that district had made the greatest sacrifices and exertions, in order to enable them to discharge the obligations resting Oil them to support the people in the present distress. There had been ex ceptions to this noble feeling, but he believed that the exceptions were comparatively limited. The re port to which the Honourable Gentleman had adverted had been communicated by the sheriff substitute of Inverness. He undertook his mission throughout that district- in which the distress prin cipally prevailed, and his friend the Earl of . Eglin ton had communicated some letters embodying the same facts as were contained in the report. Inquiry had been 'directed into all the circumstances connected with that distress, and the head of the Commissariat in Oban had been instructed to see that a supply was af forded to those places in danger of suffering frem . fa mine. A few days ago he had received a letter from Sir John M'Neill, chairman of the Board of Supervision in Scotland, and that gentleman had ordered that, special inquiry should be made, with th e v i ew that the poor-law as it existed should be carried into effect. Captain Cowan had always received o r d ers to supply food, with the view of relieving distress where it existed. Mr. BAILLIE said, that he could painfully cor roborate that the distress had greatly increased in the Western Highlands. ao had seen a letter from M'Leod, of M‘Leod, verifying the fact. Sir GEORGE GREY said there were two frigates constantly engaged in supplying the islands of Scotland with food. After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN, P. KIM% said it was highly prsisewQr.. greater, and it is in this respect satisfactory for there has been an enormous importation of corn which has contributed to the prosperity of the manufactur e s of this country, and has mad e an enormous demand for manufactured goods, wh ich have been sent to America and elsewhere in payment tor food.—(Hear.) I am happy also to find that th ere is not that demand for the exportation of food which there was, and I am also happy to find that a great establishment in a neighbouring country—l mean the Bank of France—is in a better situation than it was some time ago, because it is utterly impossible that any great circumstanc e affecting the commercial prosperity of that count* could avoid being felt by and reacting upon ourselves. I think that the circumstances I have stated are enough to show that the present time lilt at least a time for caution. We cannot cons tinually prosper to the extent we do, and we must be prepared for less prosperous times, and no one ought to be too sanguine. I will now turn, which is more particularly my duty, namely, to make the financial statement. Sir, the Right Hon. Gentleman wi le preceded me in the office I have the honour to fill, made his financial statement in the month of Mai last year. He then said that he anticipated a surplus on the ordinary revenue of 76,000, and from the extra' ordinary source of China, a surplus of 700,0001., making, altogether 776,0001. By subsequent legislation, slav ed grown sugar has been rendered admissible to this country, and the result has been that in the ni xie ' months from April to December there has been all increase of revenue on the article of OW V 1 the extent of 304,0002 The Right Honourable Gentleman anticipated a probable surplus, and bf his nett calculation made it to be about 1,000,0001' However, if Hon. Gentlemen would only refer to 0 24 balance-sheet issued on the sth of J anuar y,. they low, find that the excess of income had so far ceeded the Right Honourable Gentleman's pations that there was an excess of 2,846, 30 1 4 I may, perhaps, be justified in stating that when n, period comes to which the Right Hon. Gentleman on reference, his calculations will be found to turn out 0 ° unfavourable for the country. I think that the allS,,, tr lotions which I am about to make, based on 1 . 1 , proceeds of the revenue on the sth of Javan last—on these proceeds I am about to state what think the probable revenue will be for the year, fro.- the ensuing sth April, 1847, to the sth ' AP 1848. The House will see that the incre on the Customs duties to the sth January was 20,568, 9 0 ' and that a considerable portion of that was derivable fr°, corn, somewhere about 793,000/. In consequo" however, of the suspension of the duties on the hurl; Lien of corn, it will be seen that we cannot on 2 anti/ first six months expect this amount to be continn7f What the produce of the harvest may be, we canno t course yet calculate; but, even supposing that nothing . .., derived to the revenue from this source, I thi n k that f.r_ the increased importation in s ugar a maWrit'i s added revenue will accrue from this source i n the con r of the succeeding year; but more than that, on the ° IP S/ three items on which the Customs fall off in the course the last six months for which w e h ave a re t urn , viz., butter' cheese, ar d silk manufactures, I find th a t th e insnoss et na these articles has increased. I find th a t in then - s months, from April to December, the amount of but te o o has been 201,000 cwt. in 1845, as compared with 2 17, ,e t e in 1846; cheese, 202,000'cwt. in 1845, as compared .„ 265,000 cwt. in 1846 ; and 218,000 lbs. of manufacti e silk as compared with 297,000 lbs. in the following i s Sir, taking all these circumstance s i n t o consideratilo believe I shall be entitled to assum e th a t th e probe 0; income from Customs' duties for the ensuing year sYII IO O 6 be less than 20,000,000/. If trade goes o n without any material change, I b e li eve I e t ies ,„ be fairly justified in assuming that th e C us toms' u f `',. s ai will yield 20,000,0004 I have a l rea dy sa id that 0 the beginning of the present year up to the present The the Customs' and Excise duties have increased. I g o increase in the Customs' in the last six weeks was n i e r ,„ than 245,0001. I come now to the E xc i se p ro duce. v o r o g the sth January the Excise duties amounted to 13,9 88, 5 r Sir, nothing can be more encour ag i ng th an the ex t ' ... ii e s, dinary increase that has tak e n pl ace i n th e Excise de n , during the last three or four years, and, although thersto not exceed the amount of the past year, nevertheless' in many respects, the Excise income is far more eer w itli than the Customs. I may therefore assume, 06 some degree of certainty, that the Excise Agin , for the ensuing year will be 13,700,0001. -t l e - bes the increase upon the Excise made i n the less ginning of the present quarter has been no re than 106,000/. In Ireland, too, the Excise duties it„ . • increased in the course of th e l as t y e ar, but not:cied very considerable amount. Sir, the Stamp pro in the year ending the sth of JannerY ot I assume they will be about the 7,500,000/. The Taxes and Land Asse ssin the eetssbProduced ould not 4,272,0004 I know of no r easo n why -- produce the same, say, 4,270,0004 The Pro produced 5,395,390/. ; but here there is a small a th e of extraordinary payment; therefore, although bb Property-tax since the sth of Ja nuar y, has increase" 169,0001. over the correspondin g period of last year' o f will assume that the Prop e rty-t ax w ill yi e ld a stlea.„ 5,300,0001. The Post-office I will t a k e a t t h e ssi-eruitYfe, amount as last year, 845,0001. ; Crown lands si 120,000/. The miscellaneous items of revenue, 1 1 1 ) the sth of January, produced 427,0001. The calculatiell of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite was 3 00 , 0°°L A considerable sum of mon e y h a d been paid from th e fees of the House, which, in all probability, w ill not 1();•° so large in the present session. I ma y call it 30,0 0:: from that source ; ther e f ore I take the " cellaneous" at 330,0004 This will make tb s o' ordinary revenue of the financial year of and 1848 amount to 52,065,000/. I now coin to the expenditure. The inter es t of the debt, fun d and unfunded, will be 28,045,000/. The estimated char)c; upon the Consolidated Fund, omitting the charges oe s ,s count of the Irish distress, will be 2,522,4204; to,t, must be added that charge to which the Right Hon• ur o o/ tleman (Mr. Goulburn) alluded last year, viz. 175, " s r for the remainder of the charges on the Irish coe s „,i, bulary, hitherto borne by the counties of Ireh;s making a total, in round numbers, of 2,700,0 004 .41 amount of the National Debt and Consolidated -cOOO charges will be 30,745,000/. The estimates in the ° vi s es services, except the " Miscellaneous," are all tW ee t bs entitle e table of the House. I, therefore, n ee d no t do eaore, merely etle to some of the items. The vote opt For the army The militia ~ 4155,10n0e 0y- The increase in the Commi ss ari a t ~-----' 71 Making the whole army vot e a rtl But for the deferred estimates for the previous ( 1 12- s s of the year, there would h ave b een a d ecrea se ; " o f was, the increase amount e d t o 192,0004 The c e s 6/, estimates for the present year will be 7,561%64 being an increase in that department of 77 '"i s if The estimates for the last two y ears h ave b e en he o ll the expenditure. Later in th e even i ng I s slat show the excess of that expenditure for sv ert year ending in April last. l am a f ra id, holy y et owing to arrangements made in the early r. s . of this year that there is a probability that the eltli t ;d, diture of the present year will excee d t h at anti - er n e:l A considerable rot - lion of that increase has been de e 'ies , necessary. We have increased the marine force to b ie extent of 1,500 men, and when my Honour e eeo Friend (Mr. Ward) st a t es th e nava l est i mates of " re House, he will state th e reason o f t hi s i ncreas e n i „ e t e fully. than I now intend t o d o; b ut I th i n k i t r ight make this statement n ow . Th e vote for the °Mins department will be 2,679,127/., which is an pf crease over the last year of 135,558/. 011 t ; c ee that increase, 67,299/. i s d ue f or certa i n so.- se which the House last year considered ought to 0 placed under the head of the Ordnance, in order bring that portion of th e expen di ture into Prop t if order. The remainder of th e i ncre a se is pares owing to the necessity which has arisen in 007 0 quence of the change which has taken place si r maratime warfare by the introduction of steam-shins the purpose of promoting the defences of the counl; Sir, the Miscellaneous, the list of which is not on t s , s table, is 3,750,000/. I have left out of them any stlw c , voted with regard to the relief of Ireland. I may, i sll n i however, that 1,302,0001. is included in the Right -1 3 ,. e-I Gentleman's estimate. Compared, then, with last fv - i n there is an increase of about 397,0001. Of that 171, 0 th is owing to a half-year's expenditure connected lY" certain provisions of the poor-law, and for the maintenance of prisoners. The reasele ci r er of the increase is due to the nece • • • 5 -cr necessity for providin of printing and stationery for the maintenance of convicts at home lust" the colonies. A considerable portion i s due tof Parliament, which is very heavy ; also, e s , consequence of some unexpected increase in th e ..„ - penses in connexion with the New Houses of Patliau' n -f ll bothand of puroosueseenst i 0 I to which, I think, I had not better further adver t „ 11 , -- eel they are before the House. The result of the Se se n , t he sums proposed to be voted is 20,831,077/., making 7i whole ordinary expenditure for the year 51, 574 a„00 Sir, in the statement which I have made to the 2 '"i s s I have omitted, purposely, all sums required for the en lief of distress in Ireland, whether they have„ be of granted, or estimated, with the exception 1. 14 the ordinary establishm e nt o f th e B oar d of Woo, , and the salaries of such officers as „ one have been employed otherwi se , b ut w h o are now m d gaged in the inspection of th e re li e f committees; na it now becomes my duty t o s t a t e w h at I t hi n k thenera" a on the Exchequer will be. What is material to the pret n e l; purpose is not what may b e th e u l t i mate demand tr o - n s us, but what may be n ecessary to mee t the Pre' e a emergency. The system w hi c h h as b ee n cowmen last year, and contin ue d t o t h e present recn tleo, l i e f is, that all the sums requ i re d for the re , o of public distress should be advanced by Croy. n. Whatever burdens may be ultimately sh o .4 1 in the landed property i n Ireland, in relent `,, 0 these sums, the landed proprietors have as yet (Hear, hear.) They have paid. ' no doubt, the poor' rates, which, in 1846, alliClinted to 390,0004, and t he ! have paid their subscriptions to the relief con; mittees ; and I believe that a large body 4 : l ' the landed proprietors have one to a very greats pense to rnailPt4in the poor npon their estates. A ant now confining may be the expense, the whole r;ild nothing."' my statement to the relief works, and whatever re first instance, is advanced from the public Treasury It is .'not very easy to state precisely what the amount of expenditure may be, or that will depend upon a variety of circumstances . over which we ha ve s , control. is easy enough to state what the expenses , in various wars,have already been. I stated a ni g ht r two a go that the expense in the month of November amounted to 3980 Perrone relleYed Qcs°ber last _ 01., and in five weeks after to 742. 0002 number of r - Y I 2 ti tt C