The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-30 00:00:00

that b. h e Go 11, for aryl• ns "' nd itr one , 11 tho rePli right; as ked ,g in with ; was toned Lora urge peti• t the atter , bf f the for I out laat 'don that nest- which it was stated that the return could be easily famished. (The Noble Lord here read the setter stating that the number of deaths could be sup plied, and even the names of the pardes, and that the deaths this year were twenty to one as compared with those of any former year.) He would wish to know whe the Government were prepared or not to send round a circular, asking for the mortality returns w hich had oc curred in those periods which he had before named. Mr. LA.BOUC HERE said that on a former occa sion he had stated that he was not prepared to deny that a great mortality had taken place. He had also promised that, as far as . any correct information could be obtained, it should be afforded. The Govern ment had consented to returns of the coroners' inquests, and they had also resorted to other means to obtain in formation. The Noble Lord, had directed his attention to a method, namely, by means of the registry kept by the clergy of the Established Church, and in conse quence of the suggestion he wrote to Mr. Redington, who had made the requisite inquiries, and it was the opinion of many Protestant clergymen that the registrit s In the parishes could not be relied upon, for they were only kept of those who were burid in churchyards ad joining the church, and not in open churchyards. The Noble Lord had now called his attention to a new method, namely, through the medium of the Roman Catholic priesthood. Now, he apprehended they had no power to enforce such a return, but he could assure the Hon. Gentleman that he would again inquire, and if it was possible to obtain them, and if they were to be relied upon, the Government would cheer fully consent. After a few words from Lord JOHN MANNERS, Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged of the House to re _ _ member, that already the public officers of Ireland were taxed almost beyond their power in preparing these re turns, and therefore some allowances ought to be made for delays ; until the returns which had already been ordered had been more advanced than they were at present, it was not advisable to call for other returns. After a few words from Mr. DISRAELI and Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN, Mr. P. SCROPE recommended that there should be taken an accurate census of the destitute of Ireland. Mr. LABOUCHERE was understood to say that such Eat had long ago been ordered. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Mr. P. SCROPE moved the insertion of a clause similar to clause 10 in the Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill, for enforcing performance of thetuardians' duties, and also a clause enlarging the maximum extent of land which the guardians of any union are empowered to purchase or hire and occupy with their workhouse, from twelve to two hundred acres, and likewise that any buildings hired or erected by them upon or near to such land, be considered a part of such workhouse. This system had been tried in England, where it worked well, tending very materially to reclaim the bog land of the country. At Charlton-upon-Medlock, the guardians had attached a large portion of chat moss to their work house, and set their able bodied paupers to work upon it, and the result had been that land which was origi nally not worth a shilling was now valued at 50s. an acre. Now, could not some of the bogs of Ireland be reclaimed in the same way ? The plan was economical and fair, and he could see no objection to its adoption. Mr. W. S. O'BBIEN thought the guardians ought to have the power suggested by the clause of the Hon. Member for Stroud, and he thanked that Hon. Gentle- Man most cordially for having brought the matter forward. Mr. SFIARMAN CRAWFORD agreed with the principle of the clause, and trusted Government would allow it to be inserted in the Bill. Mr. SHAW deplored as much as anybody the con dition of the labouring poor of Ireland, but he thought at the same time that to pauperise the whole of the people, would render their condition eve* more into lerable than it was at present. Colonel RAWDON thought that the great difficulty Was how to employ the paupers; he thought, however, that a system of labour might be obtained from the Paupers in the cultivation of land in such a manner as to provide for their own necessities. Sir G. GREY considered that the Bill, as it at pre sent stood, was the best that could be devised to meet the circumstances of the case ; ho should, therefore, feel it his duty to oppose the introduction of the clause. Ile hoped that by carrying out the system of the re clamation of waste lands, and the other measures of the Government, that ample employment would be found for the pauper population of Ireland. Mr. I'. SCROPE thought that if this clause were not adopted, the workhouses would be filled with able-bodied Paupers able to work, but no work at all provided for them. He thought that those persons who considered that, to the people of Ireland, that country would be come a land of Cockayne if the workhouse dietary were to be thrown open to them without labour, placed but little reliance on the vast resources of the country. After a few words from Sir. G. GREY and Mr. SHAW, Sir 11. W. BARRON said that the poor labourers of Ireland were almost entirely ignorant of the principles of agriculture so common both in England and Scot land, and he thought that the establishment of model farm s in connexion with the workhouses of Ireland Would be of great service to the people of that country, and by co m p e lli ng th e paupers to wor k on t h ose f arms , great portion of the expense of their maintenance Would be saved. The plan would also be useful as a test of poverty, for it could not be supposed that a ta aa would continue longer in dependence upon the par ish by being compelled to work, than if he were ''ai4 tained in the hous e without work. L ord J. RUSSELL thought that this measure ought tot -- to be treated as a measure for more than one dis tinct object. When the Government proposed a mea sure for public works it was their duty to make it as effectual as possible, and when they proposed a measure such as the pre sent for the relief of the poor, it was also their duty to make that measure as effectual as possile. With respect to the establishment of model farms, b he did not think they could be carried out effectually in connexion with a measure for the relief of the pauper. Colonel ROLLESTON said, if the proposition of the &I'm'. Member for Stroud were carried to the extent he Proposed, he questioned whether the beneficial results he anticipated would follow. He thought, however, that 41 a modified form it would be productive of good. Sir W. JAMES thought the measure was a necessary e xperiment, but he considered it was accompanied with c onsiderable danger, and if care were not taken in car qing it into operation, very different effects from those c ontemplated might be the consequence. This he Thought was particularly the case with regard to admi nistering re li e f t o t h e ° destitute, when considerable im- Position might be practised. Mr. LAWLESS hoped to see the time when not a single able-bodied man would be seen enclosed in a work house and that pauper labour would find employment f rom other resources. After a few words from Sir H. W. BARRON, Mr. CURTEIS objected to the clause, as it might table landlords to play into the hands of each other. . i .A.l . ter a few words from Sir G e orge Grey, Lord John 44 anners, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. V. Stewart, Mr. P. SCROPE withdrew his amendment. Mr. GREGORY then moved the following clause:— 4 tl be masted, that if it shall be proved, to th e satis ' f aetion of the board of guardians, at any time, that any t `teupier of land within such union, ra t e d a t a ne t annua l b ' lBl4 e, not exceeding 51., shall be willing to give up pos -8,48i0n of the said land, whether held under lease or as it tliint.et-will, and to emigrate together with all persons !Is') may be dependent upon hina for their support ind su mintenance ; and that such occupier shall have been approved by her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State f or the Colonies, or such person as he may appoint for h at purpose, as a fit and propsr person to be admitted en emigrant ; arid that the immediate lessor of snch 13cupier is willing, upon the emigration of such occupier itl ld his family, and upon the surrender of the land i !eoupied by him, to forego any claim for rent which may have upon the said occupier, an d a l so t o p r ovide two-thirds of such fair and reasonable sum as nail be required for the emigration of such occupier and 7, 1 a gamily • then, and in such case, it shell be lawful for 'e board of guardians of such union, upon payment of in ch last mentioned sum, to charge upon the rates °(' the electoral division, and to pay over to such erson, and in such manner as shall be directed by the oor-law Commissioners in aid of the emigration of such fac eopier, any sum not excaeling one-half of the sum e°etributed arid paid by such ?immediate lessors as afore :aid, notwithstanding that any sum or sums so charged and paid may exceed in any one year one shilling in the on the rates of such electoral division, and not- Ohatanding that such occupier and his family may not 9 for have been, inmates of the workhouse of such bet on. The clause was read a first time. S. O'BRIEN wished to move the following cl auses, in substitution of that of his Hon. Friend ; he * 4. °41 c1 not, however, press them upon the House : t " whereas it appears that in the formation of elec -I°ltl divisions pauperism has been so allocated, in re- P p ec t of the property liable for its relief, as to cause the tie.ssure of poor-rate taxation to be very unequal :" be mtherefore enacted that the Poor law Commissioners all revise and reconstitute the electoral divisions of : 'several unions in such a manner as that the ri Et t l,perism of each district shall bear to the property "e for ite relief, as nearly an uniform proportion throughout And each union as circumstances will allow. h 4 c l be it enacted, that for each electoral division there j 44 1 ,1 be formed a relief committee, consisting of the b ,, l tsces of the peace residing or possessing rateable pro in such electoral division; of the Roman Catholic, i t r; s copalian Protestant, and Presbyterian clergymen el' Bll Y officiating in the churches existing in such ppgeetoral aldivision; of the guardians of the poor elected for _eh electoral division; and of wardens elected in the w r ` ) Portion of on e f o r ever y inh a bit an t s o f s uch e etoral division, according to the census of 1841; which I 'd ens shall be elected at the same time and in the same And manner as the gaurdians of the poor are elected. ti p e d be it enacted, that the relief committees, consti afe aforesaid, shall consider and determine who 4 , the persons entitled to receive relief in the e r e rel electoral divisions for which they act, and shall se, t eY their opini on w i t h res p e ct t o th e claims of each Person who may apply for relief to the board of p,, r 4 rdians, and shall state whether, in their opinion, the h o .- 4 8°11 Ito applying ought to be relieved in the work h.s'e or out of it. And " whereas much inconvenience th !' been found to result from the great size of several of " unions of Irel a nd ;" b e it enacte d, th a t th e Poor tini Commissioners shall revise and reconstitute th e u be.,fla, so th at no un i on s h a ll conta i n more t h an one e gre(i and fifty thousand acres. And whereas it has eos ,t l found that the rate required to repay the original tip( '_of building the workhouses presses very unequally Prsperty in the several unions of Iretand : be it ( li r 'led, that the repa ) meet of he loans borrowed under tkirieetienie the Poor-lavY Commi,sioners, for the construe r4te the workhouses, shill be defrayed by means of a 3 1 40 4k-cording to the tie veluJime, a, an uniform And upon rateable property throughout Irel an d. ti t i„ eas it has been found that ihe standard of miittee l . ers very much hl the several unions of Ireland ; be it therefore enacted, that the Poor. law Commissioners shall take immediate steps for obtaining an uniform valuation of rateable property throughout Ireland, in so far as the same may be attained by the Acts now in force relative to Ireland. And be it enacted, that persons receiving fixed incomes from rateable pro perty by way of jointure, rent-charge, or any other an nuity, not being created in satisfaction for debt, shall be liable to all rates levied for the relief of the poor in the same manner as if the incomes so received were re ceivable as rent. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the guardians of any union, if they shall so think fit, to put out to nurse and to con tract from half -Sear to half-year for the maintenance of any orphans or deserted children whom they may consider fit objects for relief, and to order payment out of the rates, and charge against the union at large such sums as may be agreed upon between the guar dians and the persons so contracting for the main tenance of such orphans or deserted children: pro vided always, that no such contract or payment shall continue after any orphan or deserted child, for whose maintenance such contract shall have been made, shell have attained the age of thirteen years; and provided also, that such children shall be brought before the guardians at least twice in each year during tho sub sistence of such contract; and that in entering into such contract, due provision shall be made for their educa tion and training in habits of industry, during the period of such their maintenance out of the workhouse. And whereas it is expedient to remove the existing restrictions which tend to prevent boards of guardians from assisting emigration, be it therefore enacted, that it shall be lawful for the guardians of any union, sub ject to the regulations of the Poor law Commissioners, to be made with the consent of her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, to assist any poor person who is a fit subject for relief, and who shall have been approved by the Commissioners, to emigrate to a British colony, and to charge the ex penses of such emigration on the union, or electoral division, to which such person would be chargeable if relieved by the guardians. Sir G. GREY said he preferred the clause of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Gregory), which tended to promote what was very desirable, namely, emigration. He had a few verbal objections to the clause, which he would suggest at the proper time. Mr. P. HOWARD said that it would be quite a new principle to afford money to parties for emigration out of the poor-rates. He would suggest that after the word emigrate there should be inserted " to any British colony." Mr. HAMILTON considered that there would be many cases were such words would inflict a positive hardship. Lord J. RUSSELL said he had no objection to the clause as it then stood. Mr. P. HOWARD said that if a man emigrated out of his own private resources, he had a right to go where he liked, but where he received public money he ought to go to a British colony. Mr. TRELAWNEY hoped that the words would not be inserted. The clause was then agreed to and inserted in the Bill. Mr. GREGORY then rose to move the following clause :—" And be it further enacted, that no person who shall be in the occupation, whether under lease or agreement, or as tenant at will, or from year to year, or in any other manner whatsoever, of any land of greater extent than the of a statute acre, shall be deemed and taken to be a destitute poor person, under the pro visions of this Act, or of any former Act of Parliament ; nor shall it be lawful for any board of guardians to grant any relief whatever, in or out of the workhouse, to any such occupier, his wife, or children ; and if any person having been such occupier as aforesaid, shall apply to any board of guardians Kir relief, as a destitute poor person, it shall not be lawful to such guardians to grant such relief until they shall be satisfied that such person has bend fide and without collusion 'absolutely parted with and surrendered any right or title which he may have had to the occupation of any land over and above such extent as aforesaid, of one quarter of a statute acre." Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN said that as the Government seemed prepared to concede the clause, it was almost useless for him to object to it; but he could not allow it to pass without entering his protest. An applicant might only require relief for the time being, but the effect of the clause would be to render him perpetually a pauper. Mr. CURTEIS said he would be sorry if the Go vernment would accede to the proposition which he would tell them would be very unpopular in this coun try. What was a quarter of an acre?—it was nothing; and supposing a man had a lease of the land it might be impossible for him to render it up in order to qualify himself for relief. Sir G. GREY said that a number of persons had been applying for relief who were small landholders, a class of persons who were a principle source of the poverty of the country. The subject had attracted the most serious attention of the Government, and they considered that the principle was good, as it would be a method to remedy the evil to which he had alluded. There must he some limit placed. They could not oblige a man to give up his cottage or garden-ground. As the clause then stood, it would come into operation immediately after the passing of the Act, and the difficulty would be met by inserting after the word " that" the words " from and alter the Ist of November next." After a few words from Mr. NEWDEGATE, Mr. BELLEW said that he conceived this clause most essential to the well-working of the Act. There were an immense number of holders of land in Ireland where farmers were under five acres, and who by retain ing them, and still becoming entitled to relief, would most seriously injure the country. The Bill could not be complete without such a clause, Mr. POULETT SCROPE said that the Bill would cause a most serious social revolution in Ireland, and if it could effect its object quietly, it would be desirable ; but if in the event of another famine, all these small holders were to be compelled to give up their farms, how could they be provided with labour or subsistence when the crisis was passed. He would wish to know if the Right lion. Gentleman considered it consistent with the principle of the Bill, that a man who might suffer from temporary distress or sickness should be compelled to give up his farm to obtain relief. He thought it would be far better to leave the matter to the discretion of the board of guardians to give relief or withhold it in cer tain cases. Unless some such power were given, the Bill would have a most ruinous effect. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD was not disposed to deny that some limitation was necessary in the case of holders of land, but still be could not agree with the clause as it then stood. Suppose a man were overtaken by sickness or any ether casualty, and was compelled to seek relief, was he to be deprived of his land se cottage and the well-earned fruits of his labour ? Could not some relief' be extended in such cases in the way of loans ? He thought that the board of guardians should have a discretion in such a case. Mr. BELLEW said that in the case of a man being sick, there was the sum of 100,0001. per annum levied in Ireland for hospitals and dispensaries. The poor were as well taken care of in the event of sickness as they possibly could be Mr. YOUNG said that the Hon. Member for Stroud had said that this clause would produce a sudden revolu tion in Ireland by suddenly reducing men from being' landholders to paupers. There was nothing in the clause that would at all accelerate a man's fall, It merely pro vided that, in the event of his becoming chargeable upon the poor. rates, he should no longer retain the land which he could no longer cultivate with benefit to himself or to the country. Mr. NEWDEGATE said that he wished to explain what he had said. He had strenuously impressed upon the Government that in no instance should the tools of a man's trade be taken from him. The operation of the present clause was so stringent that a man's tools were taken from him, and he had wished to provide against any such fact under the present law. After a few words from Mr. WILLIAMS and Mr. VILLIERS, Mr. S. O'BRIEN thought the clause was neces sary for the welfare of the agriculture of Ireland. There never would be a system of money wages introduced into that country, except by a provision of this kind; and he was therefore glad the Government had given their sanction to the principle of the clause. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said there was this difference between the poor labourer in England and Ireland, that whereas in England he had a cottage built for him, in Ireland he built it himself on land which he held at will. This ought to bo taken into consideration in dealing with a question of this kind. Mr. GREGORY replied to some objections urged by previous speakers to the clause. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL thought the clause would be a very useful one. It would do away with that class who were half labourer and half farmer, but' nei ther the one nor the other. He gave the principle of the Bill his decided support. After a few words from Mr. CURTEIS, Colonel RAWDON supported: the clause, which he thought would prove a very useful provision in the Bill. Mr. ARCHBOLD said ho had known holders of twenty acres of land applying for work under the La bour-rate Act, and there were cases in which the chil dren of holders of ten acres actually were employed, and employed, perhaps, even to the present day. He would support the clause under the impression that if such parties would continue to ask relief, the sooner they were off the Land the better. Mr. SHAW supported the clause. Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY thought it would be too bad to deprive such small holders of land of the relief which the Bill would give them. He would suggest as an amendment that holders of five acres, instead of one half acre, should be excluded from the benefit of the Bill. Sir GEORGE GREY said he thought the Hon. Mem ber did not understand the nature of the clause. Ac cording to his amendment, a person might hold four and three-quarter acres, and yet be entitled to relief. The original amendment was then agreed to. On the motion being put that the clause as amended stand part of the Bill, Mr. P. SCROPE objected to it as severe and uncalled for. The Gallery was then cleared for a division, when there appeared. For the clause Against it Majority for the clause --110 The clause was, therefore, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN then moved that the foflow ing clauses should be added to the Bill:—And " whereas it appears that in the formation of electoral divisions pauperism has been so allocated, in respect of the pro_ perty liable for its relief, as to cause the pressure ol poor-rate taxation to be very unequal:" be it therefore enacted, that the Poor-law Commissioners shall revise and reconstitute the electoral divisions of the several unions in such a manner as that the pauperism of each d.strict shall b •ar to the property liable for its relief, as n.-arly au unit Orin proportion throughout each union ti!' circumstances will allow. And be it enacted, that for each electoral division there shall be formed a relief 0111Alit. ~. ~~ TELE mtiN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 30, 1847.` tee, consisting of the justices of the peace residing or pos- such poorhouse be at least six miles from aessing rateable property in such electoral division ; of Zany infirmary, such buildings or wards as shall the Roman Catholic, Ep'scopalian Protestant, and Pres- he approved of by the Poor-law Commissioners, for a - e byterban clergymen usually officiating in the churches reception Of destitute poor persons requiring surd- existing in such electoral division ; of the guardians cal assistance ; and it shall be lawful for the iguar of the poor elected for such electoral division ; and of diens of the said union to charge the expense incurred wardens elected in the proportion of one for every in the maint enance an d me di ca l treatment of the said inhabitants of such electoral division, ac- destitute poor persons upon the rates of the said union, cording to the census of 1841 ; which wardens shall or of the electoral division to which they may belong. be elected at the same time and in the same manner as And whereas great advantage would arise, were wards the guardians of the poor are elected. And be it en- for surgical cases made available in the different poor acted, that the relief committees, constituted as afore- houses in Ireland for the reception of the poor, &c., be said, shall consider and determine who are the persons it enacted that surgical wards be provided for such poor entitled to receive relief in the several electoral divisions persons, &c., upon receiving security for the expense in. for which they act, and shall certify their opinion with earred in the maintenance and medical treatment of such respect to the claims of each such person who may apply persons. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful fur fur relief to the board of guardians, and shall state the guardians of any union to pay out of the rates the whether, in their opinion, the person so ap- expense incurred in conveying any destitute poor person plying ought to be relieved in the workhouse or out of it. to any infirmary or hospital, who from accident or Sir GEORGE GREY thought it would be actually otherwise may require surgical assistance, and in impossible to act upon the principle laid down by the maintaining such destitute poor person in such hospital. Hon. Gentleman in his first clause. Mr. LABOUCHERE objected to the clause, as it Mr. HAMILTON said the disapprobation of the die- would interfere with the Bill for the regulation of proportionate relation established by the electoral the medical charities. divisions between the population and the property was After a few rem.trks in support of the clause, from universal. Sir H. W. Barron, Mr. P. Scrope, and Mr. M. J. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL corroborated the observe- O'Connell, the clause was negatived without a division. tion of the Hon. Gentleman. Sir GEORGE GREY said, the Hon. Member for Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said the divisions into unions Kilkenny (Mr. J. O'Connell) had given notice of a were most unequal. In Rathdown Union, for example, clause to he inserted after clause C, section 10, for the there were 69,000 acres, while in other unions there were appropriation of a separate apartment for the religious so many as 498,000 acres, and 320,000 acres, an ine- worship and practice of each denomination of Christians 9uality for which there was no assignable reasons. among the paupers, and also giving the appointment, Some change was clearly very desirable in this respect. control, and dismissal of the schoolmaster and school- The clauses were negatived without a division. mistress of each denomination to a sub-committee of Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN then moved the following the board of guardians, to consist of the guardians 'of clause :—And " whereas much inconvenience has been such religious deno m inations. He thought that cases found to result from the great size of set eral of the might arise where such regulations would be necessary; unions of Ireland ;" Be it enacted, that the Poor-law at the same time that he did not approve of a heavy Commissioners shall revise and reconstitute the unions, expense being incurred for the erection of separate so that no union shall contain more than one hundred places of worship where they were not absolutely re and fifty thousand acres. quired. He had, therefore, prepared an amendment to Mr. VESEY trusted that some measure would be the clause of the Hon. Gentleman, giving the Poor-law taken to subdivide the unions, and he hoped also that Commissioners a discretion to carry out these objects the electoral districts would be so arranged as to bear where they should think necessary, and he would beg to some proportion to the local properties. propose it to the House. Sir G. GREY said that the Commissioners had the The clause, as amended, was agreed to without dis power of reconsidering and arranging the limits of the cussion. electoral districts, and he saw no reason why the same Lord G. BENTINCK then moved the addition of the rule should not apply to the unions also, following clauses:—" And be it enacted, that, save as Lord G. BENTINCK had always advocated the ex- hereinafter provided, it shall not be lawful for any occu tension of the unions. The districts at present were pier of rateable property holding under any lease or immensely disproportioned to the population, in some agreement to be made or entered into after the passing instances the applicants for relief having to walk of this act, nor for any tenant at will, or from year to seventeen miles, and in a very great number of cases year, after the let day of January, 1849, to deduct from the distance was equally great. The district cempre- the rent to which he may be liable in respect of such hended in the Ballina union was very extensive, and property any amount whatever in respect of any what made the evil the worse was, that the union rate which may be imposed at any period subsequent was situated at the one extremity of the dis- to the date of such lease or agreement, or subsequent trict, and the western, or more populous part to such Ist day of January, as the case may be. of the district, was some forty-six miles distant.— And be it enacted, that all the provisions of the (Hear, hear.) He believed that the system of union Act 6 and 7 Vic., c. 92, intituletl, "An Act for the fur government, and more especially of that part of it ther Amendment of an Act for the more effectual Relief of which referred to the care of the sick, was capable of the Destitute Poor in Ireland " for the charge and reco very great improvement. Perhaps it might be within very of rates upon property rated to a net annual value the knowledge of the Hon. Gentleman the Solicitor- not exceeding four pounds, shall be deemed and taken to General for Ireland, that in the year 1.643, when apply to the like property rated to a net annual value not Mr. Gulston was in Galway there were upwards exceeding five pounds. Provided nevertheless, and be it of two thousand persona lying ill of fever enacted, that no immediate lessor holding under any 1,500 of which number were in the streets and lanes of lease or agreement to be made or entered into after the the town, and many of them were exposed before the passing of this Act, shall be authorised to deduct from doors of their houses, with scarcely a rag to cover them. any rent by him payable under such lease or agreement In the course of 48 hours Mr. Gulston constructed a to his superior landlord any amount whatever in re fever hospital, at an expense of 3061., capable of contain- sped of any rate which way be imposed at any ing one thousand inmates. The result was, that out of period subsequent to the date of such lease or the 2,000 persons that passed through the fever hospital, agreement." 'ihe Noble Lord then proceeded to say, only 17 died. Now, if this principle had been whilst the rental of Ireland was 13,187,4701. sterling, adopted in the present session, the Government might the rack-rent was 17,000,0001. ; the effect of this was, have saved an enormous sum of money, and the lives of that the landlord paid 2s. sd. of the rate. Such a state hundreds of thousands of people. He was sure that in of things kept down the disposition of the tenant to re the year 1847 not less than 4.000,000/. would have been duce the rate, for his poor relations gained more than saved to the revenue of Great Britain. The expense of he lost by his assessment. The million of heads of fami the public works for the year ending the 13th of March lies in Ireland, representing five millions of people, lived instant, amounted to no less than 13,142,0001. The ex- without any regular means, or knowledge of how they pense of the staff alone was 1,193,000/. Now, he was in were to provide for themselves or their families. Nearly a condition to show that if they had extended the work- one-half of them lived in heuses or cabins with only two houses—if they had built 400 workhouses upon the rooms; and ninety thousand of them lived in same principle as that upon which Mr. Gulston con- mud cabins, without either windows or doors. With strutted a similar building in Galway, and supported in such a state of things, the poor rates, when the them the 2,200,000 paupers of Ireland, they would not Act came into operation, would be 20d. in the pound. only have saved 4,000,0001., but they would have in. He thought it would be for the advantage of creased the comforts of the poor, and avoided all chance all parties to throw the whole burden on the of demoralising the peasantry. There would have been rate-payers generally, instead of on the land no forsaking the land for being employed on the lords, for it was surely better that the poor should public works ; and, had recourse been had be dependent on 500,000 or 600,000 tenant-farmers, in to this system, hundreds and thousands of stead of but 16,000 lauded proprietors. This was the lives would have been saved, while the general condi- object of his amendment, which was in entire conformity tion of the people would have been greatly improved. with the observations of the Noble Lord at the head of Government could tell them the number of potatoes the Government in introducing the present measure. which Ireland had produced, but they would not give Though in some particular instances, as had them a return of the number of poor wretches who had been objected to, his clause might operate injuriously perished under the foolish system of free trade. When on the middle-man ; generally speaking, its operation, Government, in the month of August, knew that the po- he was firmly persuaded, would be beneficial. tato, the only food of the people, had failed, they ought The effect of his first clause, then, would be this—sup to had taken decisive steps to supply the wants of the posing Bs. to be the rate paid by the landlord, the land people with another description of food, but instead of lord would deduct 45., namely, half the rate, from the doing so, Government had shown an utter indifference tenant ; or if be should be debarred from that, he would, for the sufferings of the people, and now they boldly be at libJrty to enter into a -new contract with the refused to supply the House with any infor- tenant. That would be a most stringent means of get nation upon the great misery of Ireland ; but ting rid of the middle-man, who must be allowed to be he could tell them that the time was coming when it the bane of Ireland. Such was the effect of the first of would be wrung from them by the united voice of the his clauses. The first object of the second clause was three kingdoms. to reduce the small rate-payers, and the Mr. LABOUCHERE was anxious that the House second to withdraw from the inducement should proceed with the consideration of this important to sub-let small farms to small holders Bill, and he should not then intrude himself upon the The object of the proposed clause would be to improve House had it not been for an assertion of the Noble the character of the rate-payers by removing from the Lord. He owed it to himself, to his own character, and tenant who was rated under a the liability to pay poor the feelings of the Government with whom he acted, to rates. The effect of the measure would be to remove make some reply to it. The Noble) Lord had said that this liability from the ehouldcls of 76,027 persons, while Government were indifferent to the sufferings of the there would still remain of persons rated above that sum people of Ireland ; and he should content himself with 309,726. The guardians would, when thus elected by giving a contradiction to that assertion as explicit a better class of rate-payers, be more likely properly to and as complete as his respect for the House fulfil the duties which might devolve upon them by virtue would allow him to give.—(Cheers.) He felt of their office than when chosen by the lower (dais of too deeply the responsibilities which rested upon him, rate-payers. as a Minister of the Crown, to lose his temper in dis- Sir G. GREY did not believe the statement of the cussing a question of this magnitude, and no provoca- Noble Lord would lessen the alarm felt on the subject tion should induce him to do so, and nothing but the by the Irish landlords. The rental of Ireland was 13 provocation the Noble Lord had given could have called millions, and the landlords were rated at present at 17,3- from him the declaration he had made. He trusted that millions; but the proposition of the Noble Lord would he had not expressed any sentiment in opposition to the increase that rating by half a million more. The adop principle of the Bill, or that he had not displayed a tion of the proposition of the Noble Lord would inter spirit which was not in perfect consonance with that fere with the working of the project, and he considered, which the Government desired to display, but if he had therefore, that it would be better to postpone it for the it had been elicited by the charge which the Noble Lord present. Nothing could be more mischievous than to had so unjustifiably brought against the Government. hold out to the people of Ireland any expectation that, Sir G. GREY trusted that the observations which because the potato crop had failed, there was to be an had been made were not in consonance with those end to all exertion on their part. The Bill would afford which had been evinced by the enunciation of the Noble to meet an emergency, but not to encourage a deficiency Lord's views ; and it should be recollected that the in the individual exertions of the Irish people. Ile cases which had been adduced were in contravention of should, therefore, oppose the clause. the principle which he had propounded. There would Mr. SHAW said the clause would assimilate the law be ample opportunity for discussing them in the Com- of Ireland with the law of England, and he could not see mittee, when the clauses were bro ug ht un d er t h e not i ce w h at sufficient rea son cou ld b e u rged a ga i ns t i ts of the House. He sincerely hoped that the Hon. Mem- adoption. He would quite agree with the principle of ber would not press any of his suggestions to a division, his Noble Friend if he would act up to it. His Noble Mr. REPTO.N had not the slightest wish to detain Friend had said that the sacrifice would be of the floe house from the discussion of the clauses, and must 13,000.0001. a year on the part of the landlords for the say that he gave the greatest credit to the Government sake of the labourers, and if the 1,500 were to be sacrificed for their exertions to relieve the distress in Ireland. for the 700,000 now engaged on the public works, he was Mr. S. O'BRIEN had, no more than the last Member, also ready to agree to it; but it should be recollected a wish to detain the House from th e consideration of the that they were not prepared to give the English poor subject before them ; but he believed that in th e doe- law in its entirety. When the Hon. Member for trines of free trade, to which they professed their adhe- Northamptonshire had first stated his scheme to the rence, there was a remedy to be found ; and if they had House, he had dissented from it ; but he was now of a acted up to those principles, he believed that it was not different opinion, and if they would give the English necessary that a single life should bo sacrificed in Ire. poor-law in its entirety, he was quite ready to agree to land. He trusted, therefore, that they would not n ow it. The effect of the law would be, as he conceived, that depart from their principles, but that they would recol- the poor-rates would be thrown on the small occupiers, lect what was the amount of distress that was likely to and if they would give the English poor law in its whole ensue from a too astringent adhesion by them. effects, he thought that it would be a boon to the coun- On the clause bring put by Mr. GREENE, try, and a motion which he could readily support. Mr. NEW DEGATE said that it was very possible Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the Speaker report that the Noble Lord had used expressions stronger than progress, and ask leave to sit again.—(Cries of "Go the meaning which he intended they should bear— on, go on," and Mr. Brotberton refrained from press (Laughter)—but while saying this, he was quite ready ing his motion.) to give her Majesty's Government credit for every desire Captain HARRIS f e lt that the Noble Lord was en to relieve the distress in Ireland, but to do that they titled to the highest credit for the introduction of this must depart from their rigid construction of the princples law, but he thought that it was insufficient for the pur of political economy ny which they seemed to be bound. pose.—(Loud cries of " Divide, divide.") The clause was then negatived without a division, and Sir W. JOLLIFFE thought the system adopted in on the proposition that the original clause should be this country should be applied to Ireland—namely, brought up with the report, throwing the burden of the rates in the first instance on Mr. HAMILTON and Mr. SMITEI O'BRIEN expressed the occupier of the land. It would then be the interest doubts as to the way in which it was likely to work. of the farmers to find work for the labourers for the Sir GEORGE GREY explained that it would not purpose of keeping them off the rate. depend on the guardians so much as on the Act itself. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said the tenantry of Ireland Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN proposed the insertion of the did not call for this arrangement. It had existed for following clauses :—And whereas it has been found centuries in England, but it was quite unsuited to Ire that the rate required to repay the original cost of land. They might as well talk of extending it to Siberia. building the workhouses presses very unequally upon Gentlemen seemed to forget that in Ireland half the rate property in the several unions in Ireland ; be it enacted, was now paid by the landlord, and the other half by the that the repayment of the loans borrowed under direr- tenant. This, therefore, was but another sample of the tion of the Poor-law Commissioners, for the construction extension of English laws to a country of whose existing of the workhouses, shall be defrayed by means of a rate laws they were utterly ignorant. He warned the House leviable according to the net valuation, as an uniform that a more dangerous experiment could not be tried poundage upon all rateable property throughout Ireland. than that now proposed by the Noble Lord. By adopt- And whereas it has been found that the standard of ing it they would do more to unsettle the state of valuation differs very much in the several unions of Ire- Ireland than all they had done beside would tend to land; be it therefore enacted, that the Poor-law Com- settle it. missioners shall take im me di a t e s t e p s f or o bt a i n i ng an Mr. P. SCROPE opposed the clause. I t was objecte d uniform valuation o f ra t ea bl e property t h roug h ou t I re - t o by th e t ena nt s of Ireland, and, upon every ground of land, in so far as the same may be attained by the Acts reason and justice, ought to be negatived by the Com now in force relative to valuation. And be it enacted, mittee. that persons receiving fixed incomes from rateable Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD protested that, pro property by way of jointure, rent-charge, or any other posing this clause at such a time, was taking the people annuity, not being created in satisfaction for debt, of Ireland by surprise. The tenants of Ireland were in shall be liable to all rates levied for the relief of the a very different position to the tenants of Eng poor in the same manner as if the incomes so received land, and, therefore, the law of the two countries could were receivable as rent. And be it enacted, that it not be assimilated; at all events, if the Committee shall be lawful for the guardians of any union, passed the clause, he could assure them it would create if they shall so think lit, to put out to nurse and to disturbance and discontent in the sister kingdom. contract from half-year to half-year for the mainte- The House then divided, when there appeared—. nance of any orphans or deserted children whom they For the clause 76 may consider fit objects for relief, and to order payment Against it 79 out of the rates, and charge against the union at large Majority 3 such sums as may be agreed upon between the guardians Sir G. GREY moved the following clause: And and the persons so contracting for the maintenance of whereas by the said first-recited Act the Poor-law Com such orphans or deserted children. Provided always, missioners are empowered to purchase or hire land not that no such contract or payment shall continue after exceeding twelve acres, imperial measure, to be occupied any orphan or deserted child, for whose maintenance with the workhouse of any union in Ireland, and it is such contract shall have been made, shall have attained expedient so to extend the said provision as to enable the guardians of any union to occupy for certain pur. After a short discussion, in which Sir G. Grey, years. Mr. Bellow, Sir 11. W. Barron, Mr. poses an additional quantity of land not immediately thirteen years. contiguous to any workhouse, or to the site thereof: and Mr. Archbold took part, the clauses were Shaw, be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Poor-law negatived. Commissioners to purchase or hire land not exceeding Nthieoraggaen ofJ J. Sir GEORGE GREY introduced a clause, removing three acres, imperial measure, in addition to the twelve the restriction of a three months residence in the union acres aforesaid, to be occupied by the guardians workhouse previous to est ablishing aim to a elemigration of any union, any portion of the said land so to be oc• relief, which was agreed to. cupied being either contiguous to, or detached from, the Mr. VILLIERS STUART moved the following site on which any workhouse stands, as shall be found clauses :—And whereas in many districts in Ireland, most convenient in each case, and it shall be lawful for fro m the l oca l pos i t i on of the county infirmary, the poor, such land to be used for the site of a fever ward, or as a oho from accidents or other causes may require surgical cemetery fur the burial of deceased inmates of the assistance in an hospital, are unable from Ste distance of workhouse, or for any other purpose which the said he said infirmary to obtain it, and it is desirable that Commissioners shall approve ; and the Poor-law Com this evil should 'be remedied : ne it enacted, that it missioners are hereby empowered to erect such fever shall be lawful for the guardians of any union ward on such land to be se purchased or hired as afore• for the relief of the, poor in Ireland, to attach said,- and to direct the guardians of the said union to raise or to the poorhouse of the said union provided borrow the sum necessary to defray the expense of hiring or purchasing such land and erecting such building, and to charge the same, with interest, on the poor-rates of the union, in the same manner as the said Commissioners empowered by the said first recited Act to purchase and hire land, and to erect a workhouse or additional workhouse for any union, and to direct the guardians thereof to raise orborrow the necessary sums to defray the expenditure so incurred. And ho it enacted, that ail the provisions of the said first recited Act, which relate to the purchase and conveyance of land for the erection of workhouses, or for the purpose of carrying into effect any of the provisions of the said Act, shall extend and apply to the purchase and conveyance of land under the provi sions of this Act. The clauses were agreed to without discussion. Mr. SHAW proposed several clauses relating to the mode of voting clergymen to the relief of the poor, which were also agreed to. The preamble of the Bill was then agreed to. The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Wednesday. ARMY SERVICE BILL. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS was sure that the House would not, at that hour, enter upon the Army Service Bill, and he hoped it would be put off till after Easter. Mr. FOX MAULE objected to the Bill being post poned till after Easter ; and said, if it could not be taken immediately, it would be necessary for the House to meet at twelve o'clock this morning (Tuesday), to take the 13i11 into consideration in Committee. Lord J. RUSSELL thought that as the opponents of the Bill had deelined to come to a division upon a former occasion appointed for the Bill, he did not think it fair that a postponement of the measure should now take place; he thought the arrangement he had proposed was the most desirable that could be effected. Sir B. DOUGLAS was understood to consent to the suggestion of the Noble Lord. Mr. S. HERBERT thought that no good could result from the House meeting to-morrow at twelve o'clock, as most of the Members would have left town under tho impression that the Irish measure was disposed of. Lord J. RUSSELL said that if the Bill did not come on at that period, he would propose that it should be taken after the notices at the usual hour this day. Colonel SIBTHORP considered that the Go►ern ment wished to smuggle the Bill through the House, or they would not bring it forward at so late an hour as the present. Lord J. RUSSELL, on the suggestion of Sir H. DOUGLAS, fixed the Committee for this day (Tuesday) at fire o'clock. Lord J. RUSSELL said that, in order to suit the con venience of Irish Members, he would fix the third read ing of the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill and the Landed Property (Ireland) Bill for Friday, the 16th of April. The report on the Customs Duties Bill was brought up and agreed to. The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third time and passed. The remaining orders of the day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter•past Two o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read second time on Wednesday, March 31:— Caledonian (Edinburgh Station, and Branches to Grantor' and to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway). Caledonian (Branches to Wilsontown, to Fauldhouse, and to Biggar and Broughton). PARLIAMEN TARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Common -L . MONDAY, MARCH 29. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Clause (And be it further enacted, That from and after the first day of November next, no person who shall be in the occupation, whether under lease or agreement, or as tenant at will, or from year to year, or in any other manner what soever, of any land of greater extent than the quarter of a statute acre, shall be deemed and taken to be a destitute poor person under the povisions of the first recited Act and the Acts amending the same, or of this Act; nor shall it be lawful for any board of guardians to grant any relief what ever in or out of the workhouse to any such person until they shall be satisfied that he has bond fide, and without col lusion, absolutely parted with or surrendered any right or title which he may have had to the occupation of any land over and above such extent as aforesaid, of one quarter of a statute acre):—Motion made, and Question put," That the Clause, as amended, be added to the Bill." The Committee divided:— MAJORITY-AYES, 117. ,MINORITY-NOES, 7. Crawford, W. S. WCarthy, Alex. Eecott, Bickham Scrope, Evans, Sir Da Lacy Williams, W. Ilumphery, Ald. TILLERS. O'Brien, W. S. Curteis, H. B. Clause (And be it enacted, That, save as hereinafter pro vided, it shall not be lawful for any occupier of rateable pro perty holding under any lease or agreement to be made or entered into after the passing of this Act, nor for any tenant at will, or from year to year, after the Ist day of January, 1849, to deduct from the rent to which he may be liable in respect of such property, any amount whatever in respect of any rate which may be imposed at any period subsequent to the date of such lease or agreement, or subsequent to such Ist day of January, as the case may be) brought up, and read a first time ; Motion made, and Question put, " That the said Clause be now read a second time." The Com mittee thvidgd:— MINORITY—AYES, 76. Acland, T. D. Gaskell, J. M. Masterman, John Adderley, C. B. Gladstone, J. N. Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Antrobus, Edmund Gore, W. H. 0. Mundy, E. .M. Heinle, W. donThum, Henry Newdegate, C. N. Barkly, Henry Grogau, E. Newry, Viscount Baring, Thomas Balsey, T. P. Norreys, Lord Bateson, T. Hamilton, G. A. O'Brien, A. Stafford Bennett, Philip Harris, Captain Patten, J. W. Bentinck, Lord 0. Ileathcote, Sir W. Reid, Colonel Bribe°, M. Henley, J. W. Repton, G. W. Brooks, Sir A. B. Herbert, Sydney Ito Heston, Colonel Sunbury, T. Hildyard, T. B. Sibthorp, Colonel Cardwell, Edward Hill, Lord E. Stuart, J. Carew, W. 11. Pole Holmes, W. A'Court Sutton, 11. M. Chandos, Marquis of Hope, G. W. Taylor, E. Chute, W. L. W. Jocelyn, Viscount Thompson, Alderman Clerk Sir G. Jones, Captain Tollemache, J. Cole, Hon. H. A. Kcr, D. S. Vesey, Hon. T. Corry, Henry Knight, F. W. Villiers, Viscount Cripps, William Law, C. E. Vyse, H. Darner, Colonel Lefroy, Anthony Walsh, Sir J. Disraeli, B. Lennox, Lord G. 11. Young, John Douglas, Sir H. Liddell, 11. T. Douglas, Sir C. B. Lincoln, Earl of TELLERS. Emiyn, Viscount Lindsay, Colonel Jolllffe, Sir W, G. 11. Finch, G. Manners, Lord J. Shaw, F. Fuller, A. E. March, Earl of MAJORITY-NOES, 79. Aglionby, H. A. Evans, Sir De Lacy O'Brien, W. S. Aldam, William Fitzroy, Lord C. O'Connell, At. J. Anson, Colonel Gore, Robert O'Conor, Don Archbold, Robert Grey, Sir G. Ogle, S. C. . . . , .. . -. Arundel, Earl of Hall, Sir Benjamin Paget, Lord A. Bannerman, A. Hawes, Benj. Pechell, Captain Baring, F. T. Heneage, Edward Perfect, Robert Barron, Sir H. W. llobliouse, Sir J. Philpotts, John Berkeley, Captain Holland, Robert Rawdon, Colonel Berkeley, H. F. Howard, C W.G. Rich, Henry Bodkin, J. J. Howard, E. G. Russell, Lord J. Bowring, Dr. Howard, P. 11. Russell, Lord B. Brotherton, Joseph Howard, Sir R. Scrope, G. P. Buller, Charles Jervis, Sir John Sheridan, R. B. Christie, W. D. Labouchcre, henry Somerville, Sir W. Collett, John Lambton, H. Stanley, W. 0. -Cowper, W. F. Macaulay, T. B. Stuart, V. Craig, W. G. M'Carthy, Alexander Strutt, Edward Crawford, W. S. 24'1 lonnell, J. M. Thornely, T. Dickinson, F. F. Maitland, Thomas Warburton, IL Dodd, George Mangles, R. D. Ward, H. G. Duff, James Marshall, William Wilshere, T. W. Duncan, George Haute, Fox Wyse, Thomas Dundas, Admiral Mitchell, T. A. Dundas, Sir David 31otratt, George TELLEILI. Dundas, J. C. Monahan, J. 11. Hill, Lord M. Escott, Illekham hforpoth, Viscount Tuniell, IL Evans, Wiliam Morris, David AMERICAN WHALERS. MR. BROWNING''; EVIDENCE BEFORE THE NAVIGATION -LAWS COMMITTEE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In The Sun of the 24th inst. Mr. Browning is reported to have said, before a Parliamentary Committee on the Navigation-laws, that " the American whalers were generally of an inferior class of vessels, and could not follow the whales into high latitudes, or hook on to them in rough weather." Happening to be an American myself, and, indeed, to have been "raised"—to use a Yankeeism—in a little town called Nantucket, which is somewhat famed for its enterprise and success in the prosecution of the whale fisheries ; and being, moreover, familiar with the modes operandi of the whaling business otherwheres, the above statement somewhat amused me. Now it so happens that the one thing for which our American whalers are pre-eminent, is strength, a quality more necessary than any other to success. In fact, the length of their voyages (averaging over three years), and the great cost and inconvenience of getting repairs while abroad, makes it of prime importance that such should be the case. I can assure the Committee aforesaid, that the Nantucket and New Bedford merchants (and they do seven-eighths of the whole business) never send a vessel from their ports until, after a thorough overhaul ing. she is found to be every way seaworthy. The com monest self-interest would warn them from any other course. The statistics show that fewer vessels are lost on whaling voyages than any other. As for the difficulty of " hooking on to whales " in stormy weather, one scarcely knows what Mr. Browning means. The whale is always attacked, captured, and " hooked on to," from comparatively small boats—of which every ship carries from four to eight—and is not brought alongside till he is in a state of most harmless quietus; and it must be a " stormy " time indeed, when either an American or a British whaler loses an opportunity to " hook ou to him. Really, testifiers before such Committees should be more cautious in their testimony. On looking at another part of Mr. B.'s statement, we find the following : " The shipwrights repairing her (meaning the Ameri can ship), and other artisans fitting her with stores, take their chance of the profits arising from her fishing. The same arrangement was made with those who navigated her, the ordinary seaman receiving one-sixtieth part of her net prefits, and the captain about one-twelfth." The whole of this is wrong. The shipwrights and artisans have nothing to do with the ♦oyage, and the " lay" (as it is called) of the sailor and captain is not a given proportion of the profits, but of the cargo. The owners may sink thousands of dollars, and yet the sailor make one or two hundred, and the captain much more. Dundee, March 26, 1847. C. [The writer of the above has sent us his name and address.—ED.] LONDON AND NORTII-WESTERN RAILWAY OF FICERS, &c.—Tho officers and servants of the London and North-Western Railway Company having, much to their credit, opened a subscription for the relief of the distressed Irish and Scotch, have collected the sum of two hundred and eighty three pounds, which has been paid to the account of the National Relief Fund. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of Hong-Kong, Ceylon, the Mauritius, and Gibraltar. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon at Buck ingham Palace. Senor Isturitx, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plrnil otentiary from her Catholic Majesty the Q teen Isabella 11. of Spain, had an audience of her Majesty to present his credentials. Senor Mora, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple nipotentiary from Mexico, had an audience of the Queen to present his credentials. Their Excellencies were respectively introduced by Viscount Palmerston, G.C.8., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Colonel the Hon. Sir Edward Cust, K.C.11., her Ma jesty's Master of the Ceremonies. The Queen was attended by the Marquis of Ormonde, Lord in Waiting, and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, Groom in Waiting. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty and hPr Royal Consort yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back yesterday, attended by his Equerry in Waiting, Colonel Bouverie. The Royal Family took their accustomed walks and rides yesterday. The Earl of Lincoln, Lord Edward Howard, and Mr. G. E. Anson, l had the honour of joining the royal circle at Buckingham Palace at dinner yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen Dowager yesterday. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge also visited her Majesty yesterday, at Marlborough House. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday, ut Cambridge House. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, attended by 13aroness Hammer stein, left town yesterday evening for Kew. A meeting of several of the Cabinet Ministers took place yesterday at the residence of the Marquis of Lansdowne, in Berkeley-square (the Noble Marquis continuing indisposed). There were present—Lord John Russell, Sir George Gre, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl of Clarendon, and the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere. Count Schimmelpenninck, Miuister of the Nether lands, left London last Sunday morning for the Hague. His Excellency is expected to return in about a month. During his absence M. Stratenus, Counsellor of Lega tion. will act as Chargé d'Affaires. Mr. Bancroft, the American Minister, left town on Monday, on a short visit to Paris. Baron de Brunnow, the Russian Minister, transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. Sir John Pelly had an interview with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. IL Galt had an interview with Earl Grey yester day, at the Colonial-office. Lord John Russell had a dinner party on Saturday, at his residence in Chesham-place. Among the company were M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister ; Baron de Moncorvo, Portuguese Minister ; the Chevalier Bunsen, Prussian Minister ; Senor Isturits, Spanish Minister ; the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Bedford, the Earl Fortescue, Viscount Torrington, Lord Lilford, the Earl of Minto, Mr. Villiers Stuart, and Lord Wriotheslev Russell. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday to give judgment on au appeal, " Sidney Stephen v. the Judges of the Supreme Court of Van Diemen's Land." The Lords present were the Master of the Bolls, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, and the Judge of the Admiralty Court. Judgment was given by Lord Brougham. The Lord Chief Justice Wilde and Lady Wilde arrived at Farrance's Hotel, Upper Beigrave-street, yesterday, from Lewes. Her Kfajesty the Queen has been most graciously pleased to :appoint Mademoiselle Dezboroif (successor to Madame Thomas), of 35, Rue Neuve du Luxembourg, Paris, to be her Majesty's milliner in that capital. Mdlle. Dezboroff has also the honour to hold the appointment of milliner to the Princesses of the French Court. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S-MONDAY. The Newmarket Handicap excited a good deal of attention, its interest being chiefly derivable from the business done on the three favourites. We have quoted Vanish at 7 to 1 ; this was her closing price, but in the courso of the afternoon she was backed at all sorts of prices, from 10 to 1 up to 6 to 1, from which she receded near tho last to 9 to 1, was backed at that figure, came again and settled finally at 7to 1 : 9to 2 was at one time taken currently about each of the two favourites, but offered at the finish. Some other horses were backed for small sums. Nothing fresh on the other Spring races, and not much done on the Derby ; we should mention, however, that 9 to 1 was taken freely about Planet, 30 to 1 to about 1001. about Liberator, 2,500 to 100 about Glen- tilt, 1,400 to 50 about Conyngham, 50 to 1 to 2001. about Bingham, and a few other bets of minor importance. Glentilt and The Liberator, &though backed, were not in good odour, and Epirote was entirely friendless. Latest prices : NEWMARKET HA rmicAr. 9 to 2 - agst Mr. Gregory's Euclid colt 9 to 2 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting 7 to 1 agst Sir C. Monck's Vanish 10 to 1 agst Lord Orford's Footstool—taken 12 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroke's Lynceus—taken 1 I to 1 agst Mr. Wigram's Kesheng— taken 20 to 1 aget .Shellev's Campanile 20 to 1 agat Col. Anion's Torn Tullocl. 100 to 6 agst Sir J.llawley's Humdrum—taken Watch-dog is scratched. TILE PORT STAKES. OIrCIS to back the tield'at even, or take 6 to 4 about Sting. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 18 to 1 aget Mr. John Day's Bourton—taken 20 to 1 agst Mr. G. H. Moore's Wolf - dog—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. Herbert's Odessa filly—taken 25 to 1 aget Mr. Ramsbottom's Pine Apple Finvaragli is scratched. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 5 to 2 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet—taken 7 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's The Liberator—taken 8 to 1 agst Mr. S. Conway's Christopher. CHESTER CUP. 20 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Mendicant 25 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Dulcet—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's The Lamb 25 to 1 agst Captain Pettat's Newcourt 28 to 1 agst Mr. Wilson's Punch 40 to 1 agst Mr. Skerratt's Intrepid—taken 1,000 to 15 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Annandale—taken 750 to 25 agst Lord Eglinton's two—taken 600 to 20 agst Mr. Collett's two—taken. mum - . 700 to 200 agst Kent's lot—taken 14 to 1 agat Forth's lot—taken 6 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Van Tromp 9 to 1 agat Mr. Mostyn's Planet—taken freely 13 to 1 agat Mr. Bowes's Epirote—no backers 25 to 1 agst Mr. Alostyn's Glentilt 28 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngharn—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Liberator 40 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Horn of Chase—taken 50 to 1 agat Colonel Anson's Bingham—taken to 2001. 50 to 1 agst Mr. Stephenson's Black Dwarf 50 to 1 agst Mr. Holmes's Pavilion 2000 to 40 agst Mr. Payne's Sister to Cobweb colt—taken 60 to 1 agst Mr. Bouverie's War Eagle 66 to 1 agst Mr. Fuller's Oxonian—taken. OAKS. 8 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's The Farmer's Daughter—t. Hornet is disqualified for the Darby, Oaks, and St. Lezer, and some other engagements, by the death of the owner, Mr. Corbet Smith. MANCHESTER RACES. The Master of the Horse has been pleased to transfer the Queen's Plate frvm the old course to the new one, and it will be run for, as usual, at the forthcoming meetinte. NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING.—FRIDAY. Mr. G. H, Moore's Wolfdog, 9sr, agst Lord E. Rus sell's Rnninisccsnce, 6st 71b; A.F., 200, h ft. SECOND OCTOBER MEETING.—FRIDAY. Duke of Bedford's Leopard, Bst 91b, ag,rst Mr. G. H. Moore's Watchdog, 7st 71h; D.L, 200, h ft. It has been stated in a Marseilles paper that the Government of Great Britain had definitively decided upon adopting the route to India by Marseilles and Alexandria, and had abandoned all efforts to procure an other mode of transit. This statement has been copied into the London papers. The mistake of the French journals has arisen from the fact of the Ardent (Govern ment steamer) having been taken from . the other route, and ordered back to Malta. But, in fact, the Ardent had been only lent to . our enterprising country man, Lieutenant Waghurn, for a series of experimental trips, six in number, which have now terminated. A sum of money was also placed at his disposkl by our Government to . carry out the r ema i n i ng portion of his experiment, which is now for the present concluded. No opinion as to its working has been come to. Indeed there has not as yet been time to arrive at a conclusion. But even should that conclusion be adverse to the route by Trieste, in the present state of road travelling, it by no means follows that the way by Marseilles is to be de finitively settled upon as the best, or that our Govern ment should be debarred from seeking another—and if possible a better—mode of transit for our Indian mails, or from giving all due encouragement to every enterprise calculated to establish so desirable a result.—Observer, 28th March. SCHOOLS FOR, THE DESTITUTE AND NEGLECTED.— A very numerous meeting to forward the above object was held last evening in the school-room, Chapel-place, Suffolk street, Borough. Lord Ashley occupied the chair. After a report had been read detailing the operations in connexion with a school lately established in London-street, London road, his Lordship congratulated the promoters of the meeting in having, to some extent, met the claims of this large and unfortunate class, and expressed the hope that in connexion with this effort a daily industrial school might be established, as the best means of counteracting evil associations. lie encouraged the committee to persevere in their labours, assuring them that his experience in the working of ragged schools warranted him in telling them that success was cer tain, if the work were carried on with benevolent intentions and • a kindly spirit. Resolutions were passed setting forth the claims of this hitherto uncared-for class, and calling for the increased co-operation of the Christian, the philan thropist, and the patriot. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. C. Wall, J. Branch, and J. Stevenson ; J. Payne, Esq., J. Browne, Esq., and other gentlemen After a vot e of thanks to the Noble Chairman, the meeting separated. ROI:MEET AT KNAPTON.-0a Saturday, inspec tors Scott and Aldis apprehended W. Lark and George Lark, both of Knapton ; the one for stealing, and the other for receiving, a quantity of linseed, the property of the Rev. W. L. Barnes, of Knapton. George Lark was stopped with a quantity of linseed in his possession; and the house of the other prisoner being searched, a quantity of linseed meal was found concealed there, which corresponded with that found on the prisoner George, They were brounht before the magistrates at Cromer, and fully committed by W. H. Windham, Esq., to Walsingham prison.—Norfolk Chronicle. GLASGOW PIG IRON MARKET, MARCH 23. The market is firmer this week, mixed Nos. having been sold as high as 71s. cash, and little iron on sale,— Glas pi t/ B atur d ay post. THE MURDER at CHESTERFIELD. CONFESSION OF PLATTS. This criminal, since his conviction, has been placed in the condemned cell of the county gaol, under the ens ! tody of Mr. Sims, the governor. He was visited by the Rev. George Pickering, the cgs _ , of the prison, who ur g ed on t h e conv i ct the iety of 1 making a conf es si on o f hi s gu i lt. On uncle) , he I attended Divine ser v i ce , an d i n t h e after part of the day 1 he wrote to his mother, sister, and brother, previous 1 to which he made an unreserved and full confession of the murder. lie stated that he was present when it j was committed, and that he was the principal party I concerned, altht ugh he did not s t r ik e t h e bl ow b y which I the unfortunate man, George Collis, was stunned and rendered insensible. He next proceeded to implicate Morley as taking an active part, and divulged the name of a third person, which, as a matter of course, has not been suffi!red to transpire. The circumstances he narrated were as follows : Platts and Collis, the deceased, spent the Sunday after noon vridi Morley, Collis was plied with drink and in veigled into Platt's shop in the shambles under pretence or settling the account, and be was then murdered. The object of Platts and Motley was plunekr, for it was conjeetins d that as Collis was about to marry Ellen Bereaford in the West Bars, he had saved a sum of money fur this purpose, which he carried about with hire. This young woman gave testimony on the trial. After the Perpetratio n of the murder the body was inutilatr d, and on Mender 'night was de posited in a sack by Miley and the convict, and carried across the market-place to the cesspool, where it was accidentally discover, a. During the e is3 Platts had proceeded to the house of Mr. Franks, the land lord of the Old Angel, and not many yards distant from the shambles, and told Mrs. Frank, at the time the corpse was lying in the shop, that he fully expected to meet Collis at the Angel, in order to settle their partnership aceeunts. This statement, made by Punts on Sunday, would make it appear that after the blow inflicted on the victim, he was strangled to prevent the moaning noise, and which noise, it may be remembered, was sworn to as having been heard by scrotal persons on passing through the shambles on the Sunday evening of the murder, and which attracted the attention of the passers-by. The convict admitted that he then proceeded to rifle the dead body of his victim, and divested it of his shoes and part of the dress. Platts then went into lengthened details of the part he had sustained in the murder and the cir cumstances. After this confession the prisoner appeared more sociable in his manner, and conversed with the attendants. He was then, at his request, furnished with writing materials, and wrote the following letter to his mother:— " Derby County Gaol, March 21, 1847. " My dear Mother, Sister, and Brothers,—With a trembling, i rite these few lines to you—i hope you will not fret about your unfortunate son, for i hope we shall all meet in a better world than this ; i hope the Lord will forgive us all our sins ; i am shure he will if we due ask the Lord (jeus) jeues Criced our Savor dear mother ; i hope you will pray to the Lord to pardon your sins i am sure he will if you pray to heaven for pardon my dear sister remember what i say to you pray to heaven to pardon all your sins dont delay my dear Brother remember what say dont delay pray to hevon to pardon all your sins; bles the Lord fo: it and i hope he will forgive me for i know we hav all to die therefore i will not lose no time i have praid nite and day to the Lord Jeseus our Savor to forgive me all my sins and to blot out all my old offences my dear mother pleas send word if you are coming to sec me for I should like to see you all lam going to rite to my dear friend Mr. llotham rite to me with speed pleas to show this letter to Mr. R Hotham and you will oblige your unfortunate son, JOHN PLATTS." The above letter was forwarded, at the convict's re quest, to Plan's mother, at Chesterfield. At an early hour on Monday, upon being visited by the chaplain and governor, his conduct was very indecorous. Shortly before noon Platts had an interview with several of the visiting justices, and was then interrogated relative to the confession which he had made on the preceding day, and was asked, if the confession was reduced to writing, he would sign the document ; to the great surprise of all present the convict contradicted the statement made on the preceding d iy, and denied that he had any part in the murder, but implicated other individuals, lie made another statement to the justices, which was full of inconsistencies. On Tuesday it was communi cated to the convict that the High Sheriff had fixed Thursday, at neon, April the Ist, for the sentence to ba carried into effect. On the announcement by Mr. Sims, the convict turned deadly pale, but evinced no emotion. During the week the relatives of the convict had an in. terview, and his mother and sister will take their find leave on the Tuesday preceding the day of execution. Rtfeirm.- -Thirty years past, at Bergamo, by ia singular contrast, the Opera company was very mediocre and the chorus excellent. Amongst the chorus-singers at this period there was a young man, very poor, very modest, and much beloved by his companions. This young man (to aid his aged mother), added to the functions of a chorus. singer the more lucrative one of a tailor. One day, having taken a pair of pantaloons to Nozari, this celebrated singer looked at him earnestly, and said to him, with kindness, "It seems to me, my boy, that I have seen you some where ?" " That is very rrebable, Sir; you might have seen me at the theatre, where I sing in the cholusses." " Have you a good voice ?" "Not particularly, Sir; I ascend with difficulty to G." "Let us see," said Nozari, at the same time approaching the piano; "slug the scale." The chorus-singer obeyed, but, having sung G, he stopped, quite out of breath. " Sing A—courage ; go on." " Indeed, Sir, I cannot." " Sing A immediately, I say, un fortunate." The A was sung. " Now sing B." " keally, Sir—" " Sing B, I say, at once, or by my—" " Oh, do not be angry, Sir, and I will try." GAII C was sung. "You perceive," said Nozari, with a triumphant voice, "and now, my boy, I shall only say to you, if you will work, you will become the first tenor of Italy." Nozari was not de ceived. The poor chorus-singer was the renowned tenor Rebini, who now possesses a calossal fortune. A few days ago the following massacre was com mitted at Nedonchel (Pas de Calais). A father strangled his two children, one six and the other only four Yeats old, in order that he might become the uncontrolled possessor of some little property which they inherited. OBJECTION TO THE TAKING OF AN OATII.---A tall, stout man, rather respectably dressed, appeared before Sir Joshua Wahnsley, on Saturday, to make a charge against James Wel s h, o f h av i ng sto l en a pa i r of picks, being utensils used in making roads and excavations. The prosecutor, on being handed the book, preparatory to being sworn, s tid,-1 refuse to be sworn ; I cannot con scientiously take an oath. Sir Joshua Walmsley—What are you? Are you a Quaker? Prosecutor—l sometimes go to the Quakers' meetings. Sir Joshua—What religious denomination do you belong to? Prosecutor—l believe in Christ, and nave been told not to take an oath. Sir Joshua—Who told you ? Prosecutor—The Word of God. Sir Joshua—Are you a member of the Society of Friends? Prosecutor—No. Sir Joshua—Are you a Moravian I' Prosecutor No. Sir Joshua Are you a— What arc you? Prosecutor declined to answer. A Voice—He doesn't know what he is. Sir Joshua—ls it on religious grounds that von object to be sworn? Prose cutor—lt is. Sir Joshus—Well, it is very wrong that the ends of justice should be defeated in this way. I feel that I have a power to send you to gaol, but I hesitate to act upon that power. It may be that your repugnance to take an oath is based upon conscientious scruples, but I certainly daubt it. lam obliged to discharge a man who, in the face of the public, is all but proved to have been guilty of stealing your property, and he must now be let loose upon society to practise the same deeds with impunity. You see the result of your refusal. Prosecutor—l do, but I cannot help it. Sir Joshua—Let the prisoner be discharged.— Liverpool Mercury. LIVERPOOL.—DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF A CAP TAIN.—On Tuesday, Captain F. Brown, of the ship Benares, appeared in answer to a summons chargiug him with ill treating and placing John Duff, a seaman, in irons. From the complainant's statement it appeared that during the voyage from Calcutta, fur sonic alleged misconduct, he had been put in irons and placed in the water closet for ten days, where there was neither room to lie down, nor, when the door was closed, scarcely sufficient air to sustain life. During this time he was fed on bread and water only. From this he was removed, and fastened down under one of the hatches, where again he h a d great di ff i culty in breathing from the insufficiency of air. The defence was, that he had neglected the captain's orders, was careless and in-' delent, although at the end of the voyage he had exerted himself to the utmost. Mr. Rushton said he never heard a case of greater hardship. For a slight offence the man was placed in irons, and kept in solitary confinement for ten days : this in a tropical climate, and in a place where he could scarcely breathe, and sufficiently close to put an end to life in twenty-four hours, or to produce a fever. Cap tain—We bad no other place to put him. Mr. Rushton—l do not think I should be doing my duty if I did not make an example of you, and send you for trial. Had such a thing occurred in. the army or navy, we should never have heard the last of it. Let the evidence be taken. The case was ad journed, and the captain held to bad. The defendant, who was held to bail, appeared yesterday, when Mr. Rushton said that the magistrates had given the matter their serious con sideration ; and, while they thought that the punishment intended to be inflicted was not so great, still they could not but consider that that kind of punishment in the tropics was calculated to do serious mischief—it was highly reprehensible —and there was great doubt whether they should not send him to trial. They would, however, only inflict a penalty of 51.—Liverpool Mercury. On the l 7th the Rhamses, a steamer belonging to the French Government, entered the port of Leghorn, having in tow the Tiger, one of the vessels of the Oriental Steam Navigation Company, of London. The two steamers had run against each other during the previous night, owing, it is said, to the neglect in watching of the crew of the Tiger, and one of the Tiger's wheels was so much broken that she was obliged to be towed to Leghorn for repairs. Her pas. sengers took their departure for Naples the 53=0 day, by th, Ville do Marseilles. 'geMe.t.lePm.an, FUNERAL or CoLoxkL GORE LANGTON' (Abridged from the Bath Herald.)—Thursday being the day Newton Park was the resort of many thousends of persons appointed for the lying in sta t t oh e te 'alt . d Th de e ee c a h s a ed mb la e v r in anxiouswhich to h e e obtain arth l a y N r - i e e n w lai o n f s was hung with black cloth, in the form ; I l e a canopy, from the centre of which depended a chanci e r ground glass shades, which, together with six _ chandelier with flambeaux on either side of the entrance to the room, cast a sombre gloom over t h e whole, presenting a scene at once solemn and imposing. Friday was the day fixed upon for the ig. interment of thebody, and long before the hour start from appointed for the procession to the house, a vast concourse of persons, the ma jority of whore were habited in complimentary , mourning, assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory oteflei ertihrea°mdneeice"ed of the departed estimable gentleman. At about half-past one o'clock, everything having been arranged 'with the ut most regularity, the procession moved from the house. Oa arriving at the church, which was hung with black cloth, the comae was met by the Rev. C. Holland, the curate, who read the appropriate service in a very impressive manner, during which the body was lowered to its last earthly tene ment in the presence of the deceased Cc,:cnelfe, relatives, friends, and tenantry only. At the conclusion of the service the mournful cortege returned. JAMES SHBEIDAN KNOWLES.—DuIi - the `t few days a memorial to Lord Sohn ell bag 1.„„ , in coarse. a signature in Leeds, in favouref e pension being aTan" s ed to • Mr. James Sheridan Knowles, es a rewerd for ' 4 l, stm i lla and talent as an author. Ti'.3 memorial 1a..".: fs-..esiset-1 tho signatures of many of the moat reMictal4 . i)-14,4(tt0 of the lsorouglt. -.Leeds Mer mortis r