The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-07 00:00:00

FLANDERS and HAYIBURGH MA ..ILS PRUSSIAN DIET . . BERLIN, APRIL 24.—1 n the sitting .of the Chree Estates of the United Diet of th 23d of April, a great - . num ber of new petitio ns were prented to the 3d ,c 1 4 estates, chiefly for an extension of the law for th s elec tion of deputies. A. memorial was also presented relative to the ,exclu siou of exceptionable persons from the Assembly of' their Diet. This memorial fills six columns of the Prussian , . State Gazette. KEIL, APRIL 25.—With the increasing prices , )E pro visions, the distress of the lower classes has bee male so great, that the Society of the Friends of the Po or, has considered some extraordinary resources necesse .ry, and has therefore assigned 5,000 marks out of the existing excess of the Savings Bank, to supply the poor • inhales • tants, with rye, flour, and bread at reduced pric e BERLIN, APRIL 2i.—lnvestigations respect tug the disturbances are continued with great act ivit y . It is universally reported that among the persons art 'ested on the spot there are not only common vag abonds and idle apprentices, and the like, but also many stud! eats from the Gymnasium ; a report which we hope .wi 11 not be confirmed. For the satisfaction o f the citizens who os . e property has lately received . so much . riu:4 ( y_a a it proper to observe that a commission, consishrigvnef trates, visits the persons so injured at their . les hou g ses where they make an estimate of the loss incurrod. _Thee estimates, amounting, upon the whole, to a s b umy means inconsiderable, are to be made good to t bakers and other persons from the coffers of the mu_naesp . ahty. Since this morning the three estates have b ad a . sitting which commenced at ten o'clock, and is not yea. broken up. The subject of t s e discussion was the memorial for the exclusion of exceptionable persons. The A ssemblies of the opposition m embers of the Diet, in the Hotel de Russie, still continues-, and have latterly been more in teresting than the Diet itself. We hear that a very violent debate took place re specting the motion of the deputies, Von Vinki and Von Bechiratb, relative to a protest in the journals of the Diet, and the royal answer. but it seems there is no prospect that the proposal will be acceded to. The best proof of the political ripeness of the nation, which has been frequently doubted, is mani fested by the dignified conduct of the Diet, notwith standing the agitations and the splendid proposals that have been held outs—Randsurgh Papers, April 30. STETTIN, APRIL 24.—This morning, a mob of the lower classes made an attack on the supplies of potatoes brought to market, and then accompanied by a countless multitude of women and boys, proceeded to almost all the bakers shops, seized the bread, and destroyed the furniture and other articles. It happening to be the day of the fair, the stalls were not spared ; those with provisions were plundered, and msny excesses committed. It was not till the drums beat to arms, and till the troops assembled at the places threatened and patrolled the streets, and several of the . desperate rioters were arrested, that tranq uillit y was in some measure restored. A proclamation is everywhere posted in the streets, the citizens distinguished by a white ribbon on their arms , act as a guard. The military were furnished with ball-ca rtridge,and it is hope that the public tranqu i llity will not be further interrupted. April 25.—The military not being able to quell the riot, and the soldiers, officers, and general, being pelted with mud and stones, it was at length necessary to fire, by which several persons were wounded and two killed. The violence of the rioters surpasses all belief. A drummer was at tacked by two fellows, and so dreadfully ill -treated that he died soon afterwards. The perpetrators. unfortu nately . escaped. Some fears of incendiary fires we r e entertaleed . , so that patrols of the c iti zens , a n d m ilitary have paraded the streets during the whole night. This morning our garrison has been reinforced by detech merite of troops and cavalry from Purz and Pasenwalk. BRUSSELS, MAY 3.—The Chamber of liepresentatives in the sitting of yesterday discussed the project of law relative to the reduction of the tolls on the Sombre. The Senate yesterday adopted the project of law for regulating the boundaries of the cantons, and opened and closed the general debate on a project of law far a supplementary vote of credit for the department of finances. The Senate then proceeded to the nomination of a committee for examining the budget of public works. The Minister of the Interior, on the 14th of April, addressed the following circular to the Governor of the provinces of Antwerp, Leimburg, Liege, Luxembourg, and Namur. The law for clearing the waste lands gives the Government and the Communes an effectual means for relieving the poorer classes, while it serves to the localities, which shall consent to make use of it, the certainty of realising considerable benefits. The law in fact places at the disposal of the Department of the . Interior a sum of 500,000 francs, for measures rela uve to giving a value to unproductive land, and thus it facilitates the immediate undertaking of useful works in all them districts which possess property of that nature. " I b e li eve , Sir," says their Minister, •° that it is imperatively necessary to direct the attention of the communal authorities to this sub ject,hhforming them that I am ready to advance the requisite sums to all thos e w hi c h h av i ng l an d fit f o r cul tivation i should be willing on th e i r pat; to make some sacrifices n order to employ on the works necessary for the purpose the p our , w h o are on t h e lists of charitable institutions, and who live partly on alms. These funds would be distributed by me, as you shall propose, among the communes of your provinces which shall be disposed to employ the poor in the manner pointed out, on the conditions which will be laid before you. I believe these works, undertaken and directed in the manner which I have stated, will be highly service able to the communes which shall consent to exe cute them, and would, at the same time, give the most beneficial influence to the clearing of waste lands. It is, in fact, necessary that such land, before being brought under cultivation, should find a shelter for the workmen, and there is no doubt that the communes will add considerably to the value of these lands, which may be turn e d t o account i n the production of articles of subsistence. I hope you will exert yourselves to induce the com munes of your province, possessed of unproductive lands, to adopt the proposals of Government, and that you will not ier,glect any means which may contribute to facilitate the realisation of the necessary funds. I re quest, as soon as possible, an account of what you have thought necessary to do in consequence of this com munication." (Signed) THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR. COUNT DE THEUX. The Prince of Leiningen left Brussels the evening before yesterday, for England. PRUSSIAN DIET. BERLIN, APRIL 29.—The subject for the order of the day in yesterday's sitting was the project of law relative to the expulsion from the Assemblies of the Estates of persons of exceptionable character. On receipt of this letter, you will be acquainted with this law, which is in sert-d in the Prussian Gazette. The debate on this subject, on the sittings of yesterday and to .day, was very warm, but nothing was decided. I will give you the details to-morrow. An important member of th e Di e t, M r . Hanaman, of Aix-la-Chapelle, was prevent e d by indisposition from attending the sittings. It is hoped, however, that Mr. Hanaman, whose great activity and su p er i or ta l ents are unequalled, will be able to attend to-morrow. We received by the Prussian Gazette the conclusion of the account of the illness of the Cure of the three Estates. APRIL 27.--The assembly of the Second Chamber, as we have before stated, after a debate which con tinued to the end of the sitting, required a prohibition of the exportation of potatoes, and using them in the distilleries, till the month of Oc tober next, but it rejected the proposal for a petition, requiring the prohibition for the exportation of corn. The Prussian Gazette of the 2d of May does not contain anything of the affairs of the Diet.—Courrier Beige. ST. PETERSBURG", APRIL 14.—We have latterly seen severe punishments inflicted on officers of high rank. An order of the day of the 7th April, says on the subject, " Lieut.-General Trischang, commander of the corps of the Guard of the Interior, who formerly commanded the whole of the reserve infantry in the empire, had allowed several important abuses and disorders to take place in that part of the troops which belong to the corps in the Caucasus, in consequence of which a very great number of sub alterns died. The Emperor, on being intormed of the circumstance, authorised General Trischang to inquire into the circumstances, and report to him. The Ge neral, however, made a report to the Emperor, in which the facts were represented very different from what they really were. For this culpable conduct he is condemned by that order of the day to be tried as a prisoner by a special court-martial, consisting of persons, all of whom are in the capital with the rank of generals. The order of the day removes him from his post, and sentences him to be subjected, as a prisoner, to a vigorous investiga tion. Other officers of that division are subject to a similar sentence. PEsTrt, APRIL 21.—The price of corn, which had risen every day, is now declining, in consequence of the rain on the 17th, w hi c h ext e nded over the whole country. The cold an d d ry w i n d s h a d so i n j ure d th e cr ops, that we were in great apprehension and feared a third failure of the h arvest . We hear from the Bannat that only eight or fourteen days of such weather were wanting totally to dest roy the throughout Hungary, crops ; but now, both there and f av th e em so . great hopes are entertained of far recovered that The market town of by famine, .Igalon . te, which had al ready suffered severelywa, rediunce,dwith a population of 12,000 inhabitants, to ashes on the whic rr h he lef e t 17th of April, by a dreadful e fir h o u n rc l t a sixth part of the town star.Jr; of the Protestants, with* its steeple school, parsonage - house, the town-hall, e ball, the sine of the country, with alt the stores, and all the cipal buildirgs, are destroyed. The Pest's Gazette add n ; "It was not ascertain ed, at the de p arture of the mail ' how many lives were lost."—Allgernenze Zeitung, May 1. MADLLE. ROSE CuEar—On Sunday Madlle.Rose Cheri returned from London with her mother, and soon after her father and family went with her to the theatre. Whether excited with joy at his daughter's return, or from whatever cause, M. Cheri was attacked with a congestion of the brain, and was carried home, where he lingered till the morning, and then expired. Madlie. Rose Cheri was to be married on Thursday, but this is of course put off. M. Cheri was forty-four years of age.— Galignani. THE LATE GENERAL BERTRAND.—The remains of General Bertrand arrived at Paris on Monday afternoon at live o'clock, by the Orleans railroad, and were conveyed from the station to the Invalides in a hearse, followed by four mourning coaches, in which were a priest, a part of the family of the General, and some of his old comrades in arms. At the Invalides, the body was received by the Staff of the Hospital, and carried into a chapelle ardente, adjoining the Church, where it remained till Tuesday at half-past eleven o'clock, when the funeral service took place. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1847. o'clock in Room 32, and proceeded to receive further evidence on the part of the promoters of the GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (EXTEN- SXONS TO LYNN). The evidence was altogether of a local character. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXIII. LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHESTER (EXTENSION TO WAHETIELD, &c.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Learned COUNSEL then called Mr. Hawkshaw, whom he examined at great length, in opposition to the Bill—Mr. Hawkshaw considered that the projects of the Manchester and Leeds, and the Great Northern, were vastly superior to the line of the Leeds and Dewsbury. Both sides have now completed their cases, and another Bill will be proceeded with on the meeting of the Committee to-morrow, at twelve. GROUP XXXIV. OLDHAM ALLIANCE. Several witnesses were called in favour of this Bill. Their evidence, however, did not present any feature of particular importance to the public at large. The Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow. Mr. CHA.RNOCK, who appeared for the defendant, urged that there was no proof of the trespass by the breaking and -entering into the house, and the goods only fetched 131.25. Bd., although the rent due was 121. 10s., and the costs and ex penses made a total of 15/. 2s. 2d. The UNDER-SHERIFF said he did not consider that the expenses could be urged in mitigation. Defendant had ad mitted he had done wrong, and could not charge for that wrong. The question was, the difference between what the goc,ds were sold for and what they ought to have fetched. Mr. CHARNOCE said he would show that the goods had been properly appraised, and had been fairly sold at public auction. _ _ _ Evidence was then adduced, on behalf of the defendant, to show that the prices at which the goods had been sold were such as an auctioneer ought to take; the boats fetched, on the average, Bs. each. Mr. HAI - miss, in reply, said that the trespass was ad mitted by the default of plea, and contended that under the count for trover the plaintiff was entitled to the full value of the: goods, and that the amount of the rent said, but not proved, to be due, ought not to be deducted from the amount of damages. The Learned UNDER-SHERIFF said, that at first he was of opinion that the expenses of the levy, &c., could not be taken into consideration in the verdict; but having read the record, he considered that those counts which, it was urged, bore ad missions, ought also to bear explanations, therefore he would admit evidence as to the whole of the declaration. He con sidered that the jury should take the rent due and the ex penses into consideration, then adduce from the evidence the fair value of the property seized, and give a verdict for the plain tiff for the difference, if in his favour. At all events the defendant, by suffering judgment to go by default, had sub jected him self to a verdict for nominal damages. The jury gave a verdict for 101., over and above the rent due. The cane lasted four hours. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAT 6. STOCK EXCILANGE.—The sales arc—Ambergate, Notting ham, Boston, and Eastern Junction, 265. 3d. dis.—Birming ham and Oxford, 7 p.—Buckinghamshire y y dis..—East Lancashire, New (scrip), par — Huddersfield Canal and Rail way, par—Leeds and Thirsk, 5t4 dis.—LiverpoDl, Crosby, and Southport, % p.—London and North-Western, 171 1 4 — Ditto, Quarters (G. J.), 16 p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 4 p.—Ditto, 321. Shares (late Ext ens i ons ), p .— Ditto, Fifths (late W. R. U.) , 1 4 P.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 2, 21 4—Midland, 115— Ditto, 40/. Shares, 3 p. —Ditto, New, 2 1 / 8 p.—North Staf fordshire, 1 3 % p.—North Union (A), 210 p.—North-Western, 17/ dis.—South-Eastern and Dover , 36 j —Ditto, New, N 0 . 44, 3s. 9d. dis.—York and North Midland (East and West Riding Extension), 10% —Irish Midland and Great Western, 14 dis.—Easr. Indian, I A 3 dia. BLANCHESTER, MAY 6. STOCK E 7 SCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting ham, and Boston, 1% dis.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire, 1 3 A c. dis.—Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 7 p.—East Lancashire (late B. and P.), New (scrip), 1-16 dis.—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction, 1 1 /, dis.—Manchester and Leeds, 321. Shares (late Extension), 3-16 p.—Ditto, Fifths (late West Riding Union), lh p.— Manchester and Southampton, 28s. 3d. dis.—North Stafford shire, 1 9-1 G n.— South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4,3-16 dis. LEEDS, MAY 6. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—East Lancashire, New, 1M dis.—Ditto, New Scrip, Is. 6d. dis.—East and West Yorkshire, 1% dis.—Great Northern, 275. dis.—Leeds and Dewsbury, Extensions, Scrip (green), 103. dis.—Ditto, New, Extensions, Scrip (pink), 14s. dis.—Leeds and Thirsk, New, 3 1 /, dis.—Ditto, Preference, 7s. 6d. p.-31alton and Driffield Junction, 10s. dis.—Manchester and Leeds, 321. Shares (late Extensions), ss. p.—Ditto, West Riding Union, 4s. p.— Midland, Preference, 171 3 p —Newcastle and Berwick, New, 335. 9d. p.—North British, Extrusion (scrip), 7s. 6d. dis.— North Staffordshire, 1. - K i p.— North-Western, 345. dis. SHEFFIELD, MAY 6. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting ham, and Boston, 27s.—East Lincolnshire, I% p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 5/. dis.—Ditto, Preference, A p.—Manchester, Bux ton, Matlock, and Midland, 1 4 dis.—Manchester and Leeds (West Riding Union), 1 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, anti Lincolnshire (Great Grimsby and Sheffield), 8/. die.—North Staffordshire, 1 is p. HULL, 'MAY 6. STOCK EXCHANCE.—The sales are—North British, Quar. ters, 62s.—Ditto, Extension (scrip), 7s. 6d. p.—Ambergite, Nottingham, and Boston, 255. 6d.—Great Northern, VA North- Western, 1 3 / 4 die.—West Riding Union, 1 4 3 p. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, MAY 6. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 15 dis.—Newcastle and Carlisle, 111% cum div. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, Hay 6. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills. LAW OF ENTAIL. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from Edinburgh praying their Lordships to introduce some measure to improve the law of entail. The Earl of ST. GERMANS presented a petition from Lancaster in favour of a poor-law for Ireland. Lord KENYON presented a petition in favour of the Factory Bill, Lord BROUGHAM complained of the want of ac curacy of the clocks of the new Houses of Parliament. LUNATICS ASYLUM BILL. The Duke of RICHMOND regretted the second reading of this Bill had been taken with so much haste and little warning. He had strong objections against the Bill, partly because it was an amendment of the Bill of last year, and because the seventh clause took away the control which last year's Bill gave the quarter sfssions over the county money. He hoped the Noble and Learned Lord would not press it into Committee without giving those opposed to the Bill an opportunity of noticing it. Lord CAMPBELL assured the Noble Duke that he was not aware that any Noble Lord had the slightest objection to any of the clauses. He had laid himself out to know whether there was any objection enter tained to it, and he had not pressed on the second read ing unnecessarily. The Earl of HARDWICKE said he had come into the House that night about five minutes after five, but the 1111 by that time had been already read a second time. Lord CAMPBELL said there would be ample notice given of the Bill going into Committee. MONETA RY DIFFICULTIES. Lord BROUGHAM said that he wished to ask the Noble Marquis opposite whether the Government had received any communication from the leading bankers and merchants in the City relative to the present dis ti essed state of the money market. He was informed that the manufacturers of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire, our woollen and cotton manufac turers, had not ready money to pay the wages of their workmen. There never were so many orders from America in this country as there were now in the cotton trade ; but our manufacturers could not execute those orders, and they were obliged to stop th( it mills ; and in this state of things we were called upon, by the vicissi tudes of the seasons, by our want of grain, to send for further supplies of flour and corn from the United States. The ordinary consequence of these orders from America ought to be to enable us to obtain those supplies without bullion—without sending out any more bullion. He could not venture to propose a remedy, but he believed that a great remedy might be applied if both Houses or Parliament should agree not to let any Rail way Bill pass without a clause, spreading over a large portion of time, limiting the payment of instalments to very small sums. They could do this with the now railway Bills, but not with the old. His reason for this was that he had traced to some quarters an evil, the removal of which would benefit tee money market. Interest varied from 21 to 12 and 13 per cent., and ho had been informed that 20 per cent. was a common per tentage within the last few days. Ile could assure them that the very best paper, within the same periol, was refused to be dis counted under 12 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) The money lenders watched the proceedings of the House, when a new Railway Bill would pass. In a very short time there would be instalments called on those new railways, and parties would say, " Let us be quiet, and keep our money until the instalments are called for, and until there is a necessity for avoiding forfeiting our shares ; and then we may make what terms we like." Lord LANSDOWNE said that he did happen to know that within the last two hours his Noble Friend had had a communication on this very im portant subject, and the Government would not Iwo sight of the suggestion. Lord ASHBURTON (who was only at times audible) was understood to observe that any disorganization of the monetary interest in the City affected the country generally, and that the whole of the difficulty arose from the restriction on its issues imposed on the Bank in 1844. A sudden stoppage of accommodation, on the part of the Bank, had taken place, with something like 10,000,000/. of bullion in the coffers of the Bank. It had hardly ever been known that there was so large an accumulation of bullion. The whole of the confusion had arisen from the restrictions, which had left the country in the predicament of having only 2,500,000/. in the Bank disposable, while there were 10,000,000 of bullion. The whole scheme rested on a mistaken theory, in his opinion, though tke act no doubt had the sanction of the late Government, as well as of the members of the present Government, and all the highest authorities on the subject in the country. In 1844 he had stated to their Lordships that the measure would work pretty much as it was now working. It was a great mistake to suppose that any additional accommodation given to the country must be shown in an additional issue of bank notes. The amount of notes had varied but little; it had been sometimes at 20,000,0001., sometimes 20,400,000 L, and sometimes 20,500,0001.; but it had never reached 21,000,0001.; but the private securities had varied from 12,000,0001. up to 18,000,0001. On the 29th of Au gust, 1846, the public accommodation was 12,000,000 L, in April, 1847, it was 18,000,000 L; but the whole amount of notes issued, instead of increasing, had de creased in that period. Any apprehension of the issue of notes increasing in proportion to the amount of the accommodation given by the Bank was incorrect. Ho thought it impossible that the Government should sit down with things as they were at present, when for the first time in the memory of most of their Lordships, Exchequer-bills had been at a discount for weeks and months together. The question was one of much im portance, and if it had not been for fear of occupying too much of their Lordships' time, be should have been sorry to pass it over in so slight a manner as he had done. Earl FITZWIL ['JAM. said that it might have an injurious effect if the opinion that the present monetary crisis was to be attributed to railways gained ground among the public. They bad bad railways going on for some years back, and yet no difficulty was felt in the money market. lie thought that the present state of affairs was owing to many causes, among which railways perhaps might take a prominent place, but they were not the sole cause of the present embarrassment. The Noble Lord (Ashburton) said that the Bank Charter Bill was concurred in by all the leading parties in Parliament. He (Earl Fitz william) must observe that Parliament never legislated worse than when the leading parties concurred in some particular measure.—(llcar, hear). Lord BROUGHAM explained. What he said was merely a continuation of what he said the other night. He wished to be understood as not expressing any opinion as to what was the principal cause of what ho com plained. Lord WHARNCLIFFE rose simply to state his view to be, that the causes which his Nol;le - Friend near him (Lord Ashburton) had assigned were really not those which had led to the present unfortunate state of the money-market. In his opinion, the Act of 1844 was founded on sound and just principles. If there had been no such regulation of our monetary system, it was his belief, and that of very well-informed parties who had communicated with him, that the country would have been iu a very much worse position than at present. The amount of liabilities in the banking department in August last had been reclined by April very considerably. Looking at what had passed within the last eight months, considering the vast sums invested in railways, and the high price of grain, owing to the great demand in conse quence of the famine in Ireland, it was to him a matter of surprise that the country was not in a worse condition than that in which it now was placed. He believed, that but for the security afforded by the Act of 1844, the pressure would have been greatly aggravated. Lord ASHBURTON spoke in explanation, and was understood to complain of the conditions imposed upon the Bank by the charter of 1844. With a reserve of no more than 10,000,000 of bullion, the Bank was neces sarily restricted in affording accommodation to the com mercial world. By its charter the Bank was compelled to adopt the some course under every possible variety of circumstances ; it adopted the principle of Le Sage's Doctor Sangrado, and applied the same remedy to every disease. RAILWAY coAnurrEES, HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.) GROUP V. IMPORTANT DECISIONS. The Committee met at twelve o'clock; Lord Harry Vane the chair. ViTINDSONG. Evidence was continued against this railway from Slough ,o Windsor. Mr. HOPE, on the case being closed, then addressed the Committee against the Bill. Mr. AusTiti replied on behalf of the Great Western Com pany, the promoters of the Bill. The room was then cleared for the consideration of the preambles cf the following Bills : Great Western (Branches to West London Railway, &c.) Great Western (Branches to Egham, Staines, &c.) Windsor Railway. Windsor, Staines, and South-Western (Richmond to Windsor). Windsor, Staines, and South-Western (otaines to Ascot, &c). The CHAIRMAN, when parties were re-admitted, said the Committee had unanimously decided that the preamble of the Great Western (Branches to West London, &c.) was proved; the preamble of the Great Western (Branches to Egham, Staines, &c.) was not proved ; the preamble of the Windsor Railway not proved; the preamble of the Windsor, Staines, and South-Western (Richmond to Windsor) was proved; the preamble of the Windsor, Staines, and South- Western (Staines to Ascot, &c.), proved only for the Staines and Egham and Farnborough branch, acd not proved for the Wok ingham branch. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP VI. EXETER, 'YEOVIL, AND DOnCII73STER. The Committee was occupied during the whole of the day n the cross-examination of Mr. Locke. GROUP XVIII. CELEZTENHANZ AND 'RING. The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o'clock ; the Earl of Lincoln in the chair. Before proceeding to the business of the day, The CIIAIRISIAN intimated that it was the impression of the Committee that an unnecessary number of witnesses had been adduced on the Cheltenham and Oxford branch, and, on reference to his book, he found that not less than ninety seven witnesses were engaged for both sides of the question. Without meaning in the slightest degree to interfere with the mode in which the counsel might think proper to con duct their case, he, however, thought that a greater discri mination might be used in the selection of the witnesses. Mr. lIILDYARD, who appears for the narrow gauge line, said that, whilst not forgetting the intimation which had been thrown out by his Lordship, he should be careful to do his duty to his clients. He would first make a few observa tions on the line which had lately been submitted to the Committee, and then state the merits of the Cheltenham and Icing line; and he would first remark that Gloucester was the real point from which the traflic would start, although the Bill before the Committee only sought powers to make a line from Cheltenham. The first object worthy of the notice of the Committee was the different summits which had to be reached by the Great Western line and the proposed line of that company. According to Mr. Brunel's statement the summit of the new line would be at least two hundred feet higher than the other, while the gradients, as compared with the project of the North-Western Company, would be very materially heavier. The new line was intended to separate from the existing line at Swindon, and again met it at Glou cester, and, in the course of its progress, it would have to surmount one of one in sixty, and which would continue it four miles, and another, of one in a hundred, which con tinued for two miles. On the other hand, upon the Chelten ham and Tring line the maximum gradient would be only one in sixty, which was only about three-quarters of a mils in length, and there were only two others of any consequence, one which was one in seventy, and the other one in seventy-five. Now, he was prepared to show that the summit to be surmounted on the Cheltenham and Oxford line would be not 200, bat 217 feet above the summit of the old line. The only meiit which the Great Western Com pany therefore assumed for their project, was that the dis tance between Gloucester and London would be shortened by five miles, but this, he thought, would be fairly met by the greater facility which the line of the North-Western Company afforded. And, even did he not possess that argu ment, he might still cite the evidence of Mr. Brunel himself, given in IS':35, when the Birmingham and Gloucester Com pany obtained their Act, and from that evidence it was seen that it was Mr. Brunel's opinion that the passengers from Gloucester would still find their way to London by Tring, and not by Oxford. In addition to that, there would be the great difficulty of crowding a traffic on a line to which it did not legitimately belong, and the further disadvantage of a bad terminus in London ; while, on the other hand, there would be on the Cheltenham and Trirg line a freer transit and an admirable terminus. Then it would be recollected that there were grave considerations with regard to Chelten ham, though upon that he would not touch except just to refer to it, for counsel had been specially instructed by the inhabitants of the town to show the detriment which would be suffered from bringing the railway quite through the heart of it. With respect to the plea that the Great Western Company would be enabled to furnish accommodation to the people a the district at a lower rate, by the Railway Consolidation Act, there was already a power given to that effect ; so that, in fact, one million of money would be spent for no earthly benefit whatever. Mr. Talbot, in opening for the other side,had stated that the Great Western line was the better line of the two, but on what ground he could make such a assertion hel(Mr. Hildyard) could not possibly con ceive, for the real truth was that the two opposing lines would accommodate the country much in the same way ; and, in truth, if the Great Western were to consult their own in terest, they would never construct this line at all. They had been enabled to extend their main lines down to the Land's End, and up as far as Fishguard, why, then, if it was their interest to construct this line, had they not made it before? Mr. Brunel had, in 1836 and 1837, allowed that railway ac commodation was _much needed between Cheltenham and Oxford, and yet he left it until 1845 before he took any steps to provide it, and then he allowed that he was only prompted to devise a line by other parties being in the field. On the contrary, if the Great Western Company had no interest whatever, the North Western Company had every interest; for it so fell in with the whole of the property already established that they had every inducement, not only to make the line, but to work it efficiently, for it was fully intended to lay down a double line of rails to Rockwall all the way from Euston-square; so that in fact the whole of London would be opened up to the traffic of the western counties. Counsel, witnesses, and very possibly Committees also, had been too much in the habit of looking upon London as a point, but it should be recollected that London was a vast district which contained upwards of 2,000,000 of inhabitants, and a district which might be split up into eight or ten towns, each of which would be larger than the largest city be side in this country. Now, leaving out a portion of the town about Paddington, with its five hundred thousand inhabitants, was it to be supposed that the remainder should be left to the inconvenience of having a terminus two miles further off than was necessary ? He did not wish to put a toll-bar across the railway at Swindon, but what would be said if the Manchester Railway were to stop five miles short of its destination? As to the allegation that the Cheltenham and Tring line was longer, he would show by evidence that this was felt practically to be no inconvenience, for it was a fact that the Peterborough traffic, which mas conveyed to London pretty equally by the Eastern Counties and the Midland Counties lines, although the latter was ten miles and a half further, for that distance sunk into insigni ficance when the convenience of the London terminus came into consideration. Then as to the fares for the 109 miles, which would be the distance by the North-Western project, the Great Western Company had, by their Bill, a power to charge for a first-class passenger 11. Ils. *l., and they did really charge for that distance 1/. 4s. 11d. ; while the charges, according to the North-Western rates, for the first class would be 195., and by the second class 14s. 3Ad.; while on the second-class fares of the Great Western company there was no limit in their Act. After recapitulat ing the several points, the Learned Counsel adduced the evidence of Mr. Brunel and Mr. Saunders to show that such a healthy competition would be brought about by the con struction of the narrow gauge line as must prove advanta geous for the public. The decision of the Commissioners ap pointed to ascertain the merits of the two gauges had pointed out the whole of the district of Wales as being appropriated to the narrow gauge, but the Act was so ambiguous in its terms that it was easy to say that a broad gauge line might be made there, but the Ni hole spirit of the Act was in reality opposed to that construction. The Learned Counsel then went through the peculiar fea tures of the line, but as they are to be brought out specifi cally by the witnesses, it would be useless to slate them hers. GROUP XXI. The Committee met at the usual hour this morning; Sir James Graham in the chair. _ _ LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN (POR TOBELLO AND WOLVERHAMPTON BRAINCEI). The Committee were engaged the whole of the day with the general evidence in favour of this line. The case closed before the rising of the Committee. The Committee, however, adjourned without giving their decision. GROUP XXII. 411.017CESTEXL 824'31 liraLEPOILD, AND CANAL PI7ItCIIASII. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock ; Mr. Drummond in the chair. The case fur the promoters was proceeded with. Mr. Stephenson, the engineer, and Mr. Bartley, his assistant, were examined at some length with respect to the line. The line is opposed by the Great Western, on the ground that their Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester lines will be un fairly interfered with by the project, and that their lines offer all the accommodation which the district requires. The length of the line will be 34 miles, and the entire cost 600,0001. The Committee, after the completion of the engineering evidence, adjourned for a fortnight, until the 17th inst. GROUP XXIII. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock; Mr. Mackinnon in the chair. SWANSEA VALLEY. Mr. JAMES continued evidence against the line, and called Mr. Walters, of Swansea, who spoke against the propriety of granting a broad gauge line for such a district. Counsel then addressed the Committee, and the room was cleared. The CHAIRMAN, on parties being re-admitted, declared the preamble of the Bill proved; but the Committee had deter mined that a clause must be inserted in the Bill, compelling the company to lay down a narrow gauge line if the Corn mi.sioners should require it. The clauses of the Bill were then gone through and agreed to. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXV. ivuusrcuEsTzu, BUXTON, MATLOCE, AND ____ morning Th e Committee a t twelve - ItIrDLELNDS TUN . CTZON: - on this group resumed its sittings this Room 14 ; Sir Charles Lemon in the chair. Hon. com Th p e any, avendish, the chairman of the great advantage which woyuld Mr . TALBOT, and deposed to the by the proposed alteration. be conferred upon the district Mr. George Stephenson, civil engineer , and deposed to the superiority afci was then examined, over the one that had been projectedat4ti7 w a Gs examinede orge° ' n o e enkrby, i u Chatsworth Park line, which, in his opinion, would entail an rough Bakewell, enormous expense for a tunnel. Mr. Gooch, Mr. T. H. Statham, and other engine roborated the evidence of Mr. Stephenson, and stated thater deviation was the preferable line, and that the proposed the eo i nta t e s were quite sufficient to construct the wo rks. The Committee then adjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow, GROUP XXVII. This Committee (Mr. Cardwell, chairman,) met at twelve GROUP XLVIII. CALEDONIAN, GLASGOW, GARNMIRE., and COATITIZIDGE (znaNcit TO GLASGOW STATION). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The arrangement with respect to the clauses agreed to was, that in regard to the Forth and Clyde Canal the pro moters of the Bill would construct their works under it in a way to satisfy a neutral engineer, Mr. Walker, or, failing him, Mr. Robert Stephenson. It was provided, in addition, that the cut for deviating the canal during the progress of the works should be maintained for a year after the water was restored to its usual course, and that the company should be responsible at the time for any injury done by the works either to the canal or to the property of the public. Mr. Tennant, the Inchbally Road Trustees, and tte Edin burgh and Glasgow Railway Company, also obtained pro tective clauses. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XLIX. This Committee assembled at the usual time to-day; Mr. Cripps in the chair; all the members present. CALEDONIAN AND GLASGOW, AND GREET/OC= .PLIV/ALGAIWATION. The case on behalf of this Bill was resumed. Mr. Cubitt, C.E., examined—Deposed that he was con sulting engineer of the London and Brighton line, and bad experience of its working. Formerly the London and Croy don was an independent company between London and Croydon. Then came the London and Brighton Company, which constructed the portions from Croydon to ll,eigate. Since then the South-Eastern came in, and the London and Croydon portion was worked by the three com panies. The London station was jointly used by them. From what he had learned of the Glasgow and Paisley joint sta tion, he apprehended no difficulty in the working of it. If the present amalgamation took place it would lead to a great economy in the working of trains and management. Mr. ihrding, formerly secretary and manager of the Greenock Railway, and now superintendent of the Bucking ham lines, deposed as to the financial condition of the company when he was connected with it. They could, on several occasions, barely pay a dividend of one per cent., and bad to abridge their expenses very much in officers, trains, and general management. He was firmly persuaded that the proposed amalgamation would serve, not only the shareholders, but the public. This closed the case for the promoters. After an adjournment of about an hour - Mr. TALBOT addressed the Committee at some length in review of the evidence adduced in support of the Bill. He said the whole objections he had to urge were resolvable into two heads. The one was, that it would be the means of enabling the Caledonian Company to bring its traffic on to the joint line free of expense, on the terms of the agreement entered into between the Ayrshire and Greenock Companies. The other point was, that the public would suffer by putting the key of the line to Greenock into the hands of the Caledonian Company, who had the strongest interest in throwing diffi culties in the way of passengers going to the steam-packets, in order to send them through to England by their main line. On these grounds, which the Learned Gentleman amplified at some length, he submitted that the preamble of the Bill ought to be rejected. IMPORTAN T DECISION. The room was then cleared for a decision. .0n the re-admission of the parties, The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had decided that the preambles of both the Bills, viz , the Gla=gow, Dum fries, and Carlisle, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Avr, (No. 4), and the Caledonian and Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock, and Greenock Railways Amalgamation, were proved. The clauses were postponed till to-morrow, and the Com mittee adjourned. GROUP L. The Committee met at twelve o'clock; Mr. Bankes in the chair. GLASGOW, EAREHEAD AND NEILSTON DIRECT. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND GREENOCK (AMENDMENTS AND BRANCHES). Evidence on the Greenock Branches from Paisley to Dyke bar was called. Mr. Stirratt, bleacher, in Paisley, believed the accommo dation offered by the Greenock line was the best of any pro posed, and very necessary on account of the present prices of coal. _ Mr. Galloway said there was a strong necessity for getting to the Lanarkshire coast, as the Hurlet coal would easily be exhausted. _ _ Mr. Hector said there existed strong necessity for the line at Pollockshaws. There were large works at the place; but there was no direct communication to Paisley since the canal was shut up by agreement with the Ayr Railway. The weaver preferred Paisley work, but was obliged o seek work in Glasgow. Other witnesses were called to give similar evidence of the necessity of accommodation to the district. [,fr. Robson, the engineer, said the Paisley branch was three miles two furlongs long, with the steepest gradient at one i❑ eighty• eight. The length of the Renfrew branch was seven furlong ; the Edersley branch three miles ; the Loudonsdale branch six furlongs ; the Maidsley branch at Barrhead, 3 furlongs; the East Dykebar branch, 1 mile and 3 furlongs ; the Hawpits branch, 1 mile and 3 furlongs; the branch to the IVaterloo Pits, 6 furlongs; the Househill branch, 6 furlongs; the Lesmahagow branch, 3 miles and 6 furlongs. There are two other short extensions and deviations, which, with the others, made a total length of 18 miles, at a cost of 287,2551. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP LI. NORTH BRITISH. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. J. D. Carr, miller and baker, Carlisle, proved that he could get his grain cheaper in the markets around Kelso if this line were completed to Carlisle, instead of purchasing it at Newcastle, and bringing it down by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. He paid the latter railway about 6001. per annum for carriage. Mr. Walter Wilson, manufacturer, Hawick, spoke to the advantage which the opening of the line would give to Hawick, as giving a ready means by which they might get their wool, at the same time affording a ready transit for the exported article to the southern markets,. It would also give them a ready access to the Canobie pits, and thus lessen the price of coal in the country. Mr. John Laing, manufacturer, llawick, corroborated the preceding evidence. Mr. Ronald, woolbrokcr, Liverpool, said that he had found it exceedingly difficult to get his wool to Hawick and Gala shiels; the market had therefore not been so profitable as it would be if there had been railway communication. Mr. Robert Gill, manufacturer, Galashiels, spoke to the increased manufactures of that town, and the necessity for a communication between the centre of these manufactures and the English markets. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. 1...A.W INTELLIGENCE. BAIL. COURT. May 6. (Before MT. Justice COLERIDGE.) THE QUEEN V. SPINES. Mr. PALMER said his Lordship would recollect that, in this case, the defendant, who was a highly respectable master builder resident in Norwich, had been committed to gaol to take his trial at the next assizes on a charge of manslaughter, in having caused the death of a female, aged 87 years, by driving a cart over her, on his return from a neighbouring market. A writ of certiorari had been already granted to bring up the depositions taken before the coroner, and a rule calling upon the magistrates to admit Mr. Spinks to bail in the country. The depositions were now in court. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—IS there any opposition to your application' Mr. PALMER—No, my Lord. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE wished to have the evidence taken before the coroner handed up to him. Having perused it, he said that it appeared that the prisoner was driving very fast, and that he did not stop after the accident occurred. Mr. PALMER said, that the prisoner was not driving at the rate of six miles an hour. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE then directed that the prisoner should be admitted to bail, himself in the sum of 501., and to find four sureties of 151. each, to take his trial at the next Norfolk assizes. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, May 6. (Sittings in Banco.) Several motions of unimportant interest were disposed of during the morning. A long discussion arose as to a point of practice un d er th e new rules which have been issued, judgment upon which has been for the present deferred. The Court then took up the new trial paper, with which it was occupied for the rest of the day. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, May 6. (Sittings in Banco.) The Court was occupied all day in hearing motions, and determining arguments as to points of practice, but nothing important came under the notice of the Court. SHERIFFS' COURT, May 6. (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BuncKELL.) HOBBS V. PARKER. This was an action to recover damages for an illegal distress. The defendant *ho is a broker and auctioneer, suffered judgment to go by default. Mr. ILtwirixs appeared for the plaintiff (a Capt. Hobbs), who had occupied a beer-shop called the "Pleasure Boat," in the Lea-bridge-road. The Learned Counsel said that the plaintiff, having occupied the house during the summer season of 1845, shut up the place in October of that year for the winter, as no "boating" was going on. At that time he left several boats in the dock, together with chairs, tables, and the ordinary fixtures of a public• house; but on the 9th of November, without any notice having been given, or the key demanded, the defen dant, under the authority of Mr. Brown, the landlord, broke into the premises and seized the property, under a distress warrant, for M. 10s. The Learned Counsel said that the main question for the jury would be, whether tha goods had been sold at a fair price. The UNDER- SHERIFF said, that if the goods were sold in the open market, the price fetched would probably be considered their fair value. N rthe i e r. h ß ad roo b k ee m n a 2 n o , a bo n a a ts uc i t n ion t e h e e r, d w oc a k s . ca o ll n ed e , ( a a nd ga s li ai e:" %t w ha as t worth 10/. ; the worst would fetch 21. 105. ; the total value of the boats and fixtures bought by the plaintiff, when he took possession of the house, was 931. Sewell was called— He was a boat-keeper on the Lea, and bought the galley for 275. lie considered it worth 41. fair,4ll t e fo h ar a ni d dt ;h b i i et d ww2mals quite solduf o it r e fort satisfied,he I b . l e o r• s. e u n ft. hene ande he , oand sgidoetrhaeadd goodt h the sin ce sal o ffered ye bargain.er red EDINBURGH, MAY 5. STOCK. EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, New, 395. 6d.—Dundee and Northern Junction, 32s.—Dundee and Perth, Quarters, 625, 6d.—East Lothian Central, 41s. 6d. Edinburgh and Glasgow, Halves, 22'4—Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, Preference, 20 t/o—Ditto, Quarters, lls.—Edin burgh and Northern, 17'/ 2 —Ditto, New, 623.—Ditto, New port, 7—Ditto, ditto, New, 393.—Edinburgh and Perth, 403. 6d.— Ditto, Halves, 12s. 6d.—Great Northern, 525. 6d.— North British, 31—Ditto, Quarters, 82s. 6d.—Ditto, New Quarters (scrip), 19s. 6d.—Ditto, Thirds, 50s. 6d. GLASGOW, MAY 5. STocK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, 24 1 4-- Ditto, New, 42s.—Caledonian and Dumbartonshire, 345. Clydesdale Junction, 42Y 2 —Dundee and Northern Junction, 335,-Dundee and Perth, Quarters, 575. 6d.—East Indian, 2s. 6d.—East Lothian Central, 42s.—Edinburgh and Glasgow, 704 —Edinburgh and Perth (New Co.), 40s.—Ditto, Halves, 12s. 3d.—Glasgow, Barrhead, and NeiL3ton Direct, New 51.—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (5 per cent. guar.), 35 3 4 —Ditto, Halves, No. 2, 61. 4s. 6d.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 5 1 A—Grelt Southern of Madras, ls. 6d.—Kilmar nock and Ayr Direct, 275. 6d.—Manchester and South ampton, 13s. 6d.—North British, Thirds, 49s.—Ditto, New Quarters (scrip), 20s.—Scottish Central, 241.—Slarnannan, 24/.—Stirling and Dunfermline, 665. ELECTION MOVEMENTS. ANDOVER.—RETIREMENT OF MR. ETWALL, ALP. — Oa Monday an address, of which the following is a copy, was circulated amongst the electors of this borough:— " TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF ANDOVER. " Gentlemen—A canvass having commeneed for the representation of your borough I beg to announce to you that it is not my intention to solicit a renewal of your confidence at the approaching election. I have not taken this step without great regret and reluctance, but I find it impossible constantly to attend to my Parliamen tuy duties without a total sacrifice of my health. During the last sixteen years I have served you in the Commons House of Parliament. I have en d eavoure d t o act faithfully, honestly, and independently, in strict con formity with those liberal principles which first secured to me the distinguished honour of being one of your re presentatives. I shall carry with me into private life the sincerest wishes for the pr os p er i ty o f my nat i ve town, and a deep anxiety for the welfare and happiness of its inhabitants. I shall still be as zealous as I ever have been in co-operating with the unflinching friends of the poor in my exertions to improve their condition, maintain their rights, and redress their wrongs. " With every sentiment, &c., &c., (Signed) ETWALL. " Brooks's Club, St. James's-street, April 30, 1847." Mr. Newton Fellowes, of Hartsbourne Park, a rela tive of Lord Portsmouth (Liberal) ; Mr. Cubitt, the builder, of London (Conservative) ; and Mr. Coles, of Andover (Conservative), have already addressed the electors, and it is stated that a gentleman well known for his Liberal opinions, will be put forward in conjunction with Mr. Fellowes. EAST USSEL — Lord Cantalupe's address to the elec tors has been issued some days. In the meantime much uncertainty was felt as to the course that would he tak( n by the present Member, Mr. Frewen. On Saturday, at the Hastings market, that gentleman met a considerable number of his constituents, and delivered an address, in which he vindicated his recent conduct in Parliament, and stated, that if any gentleman holding the same opi nions as himself, and possessing the confidence of the electors, should come forward, he would place his seat at their service. In conclusion, the Honourable Member said he was chiefly anxious to consult the wishes of the electors, and left it entirely in their hands whether he should retire or not. Lord Cantalupe has announced his willingness to join the Anti Malt-tax Association. MA.LDON.—We understand that David Waddington, Esq., deputy chairman of the Eastern Counties Railway Company, has consented, in compliance with a requisition numerously signed by the freemen and electors, to be come a candidate for the seat for this borough, to be vacated by the retirement of John Round, Esq., at the ensuing election.—Essex Herald. HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS. In the week ending Saturday, May 1, 983 deaths, being .;03 males, and 480 females, were registered in the metropolitan districts. Of these, the zymotic (or epidemic, endemic and contagious) diseases, the class we have at present most reason to apprehend danger from, was slightly below the average ; this, we think, must be attributed to the unusually cold weather that has lately prevailed, but should hot weather set in, that is above 66 or 68 degrees, it is greatly to be f e ared that the typhus fever now raging in Ireland, and to which persons of the lower, middle, and highest classes have already fallen victims, will appear in its worst form in this crowded metropolis. Vast numbers of poor Irish are, it is well known, flocking over to this country, their oborddiine a s ry emaciated and their constitutions broken by famine, th e i r so l e f oo d h av i ng l o ng been of a grea tly times deteriorated d escr i pt i on , com p o sed of rotten potatoes and refuse v egeta bl es , t h e ver i e st garbage, such as in given ne tthese wretched animals. It can wretched peopl e b r i ng over i n their systems the seeds of would not h d a o v u e bte beeni, then, giv that a disease of a highly contagious character, which, although it may be restrained for a brief period by a low temperature, will inevitably break forth at last, and spread death over the land. It is already on our thresh hold, for it is even now raging at Liverpool, where an excess of nearly 100 deaths (from typhus) over the ordinary weekly average shows how destructive this scourge must prove when it reaches London, where narrow streets, ill-ventilated rooms, defective drainage, and an incessant vapour of miasma, arising from slaughter houses, gas works, chemical works, heaps of decaying vegetables, and animal matters, and a thousand other sources of the most noisome and deleterious exhalations, will add incalculably to its powers of destruction. Wirning ought to be taken in time, and some steps adopted for the mitigation of the impending evil, seeing that it is now too late to pr ev ent its approach altogether. Increased cleanline ss and improved ventilation may do much ; houses might be whitewashed, heaps of filth removed from their ancient abiding-places, and other means taken to counteract the pernicious effects that will result from a rise of temperature. The number of births last week was 1 , 2 76 —males 622, females 654. From the meteorological observations taken at the Royal Ob servatory, Greenwich, during tho week ending Saturday last, we find the mean Night of the barometer to have been 29 569 : thermometer, highest 59.5 ; lowest 37.8 ; mean 48.1 ; mean direction of the wind S.W., with a maximum pressure of 1001bs. a square foot. the mean of horizontal movement of the air (for three days) being 785 miles ; mean amount of cloud 7.7; sum of rain 0.54 inches. THE LEGTON OF HONOUR.---T 1 e Presse announces that M. Auber, diaector of the King's 1 )-i" of music, has been appointed commander of the order of the Legion of Honour, and M. Spontini, leader of the choir of the King of Prussia, officer of the same order. ARMY SERVICE BILL. Earl GREY postponed the Army Service Bill till Tuesday next. POOR-LAW RELIEF BILL. On the order of the day for going into Committee upon this Bill being read, The Earl of RODEN said that in a question so deeply affecting the interests of the country in which he re sided he felt that it would be wrong if he were alto gether to remain silent. He had heard with great satis • faction the statements of the Noble Marquis, that the provisions for giving relief to the destitute poor did not give a right to any man to claim relief under the provi sions of this Bill, but that they were intended by the Government to confer upon the Commissioners of the Poor-law and the guardians to give out-door relief under the most cautious circumstances, whenever it should be found necessary. He felt great satisfaction when he heard the Noble Marquis make this statement, and be confessed it had relieved him from many difficul ties as to this part of the Bill. He could not but remember that Ireland was an integral portion of this empire, and in all the measures to be brought forward with regard to that country, it should be dealt with as Middlesex, or any county in England. Ho regretted very much the illness of tie Lord-Lieutenant of Ire laud—(Hear, hear)—and he could not allow this oppor tunity to pass without paying his tribute of gratitude to that Nobleman for the ability and judgment with which he administered the affairs of Ireland in the present crisis. The Lord-Lieutenants who had hitherto governed Ireland, were many of them wanting in those qualities which the Viceroy should possess. Many of them had much to learn and much to unlearn—(bear, hear) —be fore they were fi tte d f or suc h a s it ua tion. With regard to the Bill before the House, ho thought no danger e afforded would ensue from it if it were limited to four or fi ve years, as in that ca s e an opportunity would be to re-consid er it ; but if it passed as a permanFn_t withmea measure, he thought it would be found accompanied greatest difficulty and danger. The House then went into Committee. On the Ist clause, Lord MONTEAGLE m oved the amendments of which he had given l i m iting notice, totheend of the operation of the Bill to August 1, 1848, a nd od omitting the the then next session of Parliament, a clauses authorising relief to the able-bodied should not enter into the question of the Bill for 1,2, 3,4, or 5 years. The issue hewa was about or to try, was whether the B ill was to b e permanent temporary. The Bill was comprised of two series of enactments ; the first was whether the able-bodied poor should be entitled to relief, and the second con tained provisions which it was proper for their Lordships to consider and to entertain without reference to an alteration in the principle of relief. If he were, there fore, to propose to suspend the whole Bill, he would doubtless be met by this question—would he suspend the clauses relating to emigration, to an improved system of workhouses, to th e ex officio guardians, to the altera tion of the size of unions? Would he ask the House to make clauses such as these temporary? Now, in answer to such questions, he would say at once that the only clauses which he proposed to make temporary were those which introduced for the first time the new prin ciple of the right to out-door relief. His Noble Fried who introduced the measure admitted that it was a perilous experiment. There was no Noble Lord who would get up in his place and say that the operation of this Bill would not be attended with doubt and danger. These vi ere times of extreme distress and excitement, and therefore extreme caution should be exercised in legislation. It had been stated that this Bill would have the effect of confiscating the property of Ireland. If it had that effect it differed from all other confiscation in this re spect—that confiscations in general took property from one and gave it to another, but this took from one and gave it to no one ; and, worse than all, its effect would be to strike at the root of property altogether. In one electoral division, the rating for the poor, for three months, amounted to I is. in the pound starling, which would be 445. in the year; and the House might form an opinion from this case, which was not a solitary one, what would be the operation of this Bill. In addition to this, however, it would debase the national character, which would be the worst effect that could result from the measure. The Noble Lord then read letters from different autho rities, to show the demoralising effict which might be anticipated. What he asked the Government to do was to assent to his proposition. He asked them not to put this upon the Statute Book as a permanent law. If he were asked where was the difference, whether they made the law permanent or temporary, since ?ornament had the power to re-consider the law in any future session—he would reply, that this Bill must be taken, not as regards its express enactments so mach as the expectation it would excite among the people; and if this were properly considered, he thought the advantage of a temporary measure would become at once apparent. As lie had already taken up so much of their Lordships' time on this measure, he would not trespass further on their at tention at present, but concluded by proposing the amendment as to the limitation of time. Lord ABINGER. in reference to the challenge of the Noble Lord who had just sat down, to say that this Bill would have any other than an injurious effect, agreed with him that the Bill would have a most injurious influence, and this would be felt with ten-fold force in Ireland, in consequence of the recklessness and impru dence of the inhabitants of that country. He had the greatest objection to the Bill ; but if it appeared to be the feeling of the House that it should bo carried into law he was of opinion that a clause should be enacted to prevent disabling those in Iceland who might afterwards contract marriage, or any one dependant on them, from receiving relief under it. Much of the evil which bad arisen to the population of Ireland, and to the country at large, was caused by the early and imprudent marriages of the people. These marriages were, to a considerable degree, encouraged by the priests, a great part of whose income depended upon these occasions. This Bill would tend further to encou rage such marriages, and would therefore increase many of the evils by which Ireland was at present afflicted. The provisions made for the relief of able-bodied persons were too extensive in their character, and were calcu lated to encourage idleness, and a confident reliance upon the Government for the relief of all distress which might hereafter prevail. _ . The Earl of WICKLOW confessed that when he saw the number of amendments which stood for consideration upon the paper that night, he thought that the question of the permanency of the measure had better be post poned until the measure had been duly considered, and would therefore suggest to his Noble Friend that he should let the Bill go through Committee, and thin bring forward the question as to its duration. Lord BROUGHAM said that he hoped the Noble mover of this amendment would not adopt the advice offered to him, for he (Lord Brougham) thought that the question raised was a most proper one to be con sidered. He did not say so in any spirit of amity to the Bill, for the amendment was by no means one in it; favour. His Noble Friend having expressed his opinion that a measure once passed was permanent, and then moving that the operation of this Bill be limited to one or two years, went pretty strongly to the point that the the measure ought not to be tolerated at all. He thought that the question of the permanency of the measure was one that should be at once discussed ; and, as he thought that it ought not to be a permanent measure, he should vote for the amendment of his Noble Friend. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that his Noble Friend called upon the House (as he had a perfect right to do) to consider the question of the duration of this measure ; but he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) thought that it was literally calling upon them to decide as to the duration of the measure without their knowing what shape the measure was eventually to assume. Ho was rather surprised to find that view of the case supported by the Noble and Learned Lord opposite, for he must be aware that until the House had considered what the nu merous amendments proposed were to be, and whether they were to stand, they could not with any sense or propriety decide as to the permanency of the measure. His Noble Friend (Lord Monteagle) could hardly ad vocate the rejection of the entire Bill, because he had on several occasions heard him in that House speak strongly in favour of the most permanent and characteristic pro vision in the Bill—namely, out-door relief for the sick and disabled. Now, if in the progress of the Bill through that House the operation of the Bill should be restricted to this class, his Noble Friend, by the course he was now taking, was striving to defeat that object which he had always professed himself most desirous to attain. He (Lord Lansdowne) saw great mischief in making the Bill temporary, for such a provision would give it a cha racter of uncertainty and doubt, and would create a feeling of distrust rather than favour, and prevent that cordial and settled co-operation of all classes so essential to its due administration. He disclaimed the idea that the subject might not at a future time be brought under the notice of Parliament, but he asked their Lordships not to sanction an amendment which would hold out to the Irish public (many of whom were already averse to its principle) a hope that the measure would be ulti mately abandoned, and which would stimulate them to agitate against it.—(Hear, hear.) Lord WI-lARNCLIFFE offered a few observations which were inaudible in the gallery. Lord BROUGHAM would venture to say that of all the anarchy that would be introduced, he could conceive nothing greater than the want of a Commission on the Poor-law Bill for this country, which was the main spring of that measure. Lord STANLEY—The Noble Lord opposite had failed to show that this measure would not produce an undue pressure on the landlords of Ireland. He had supported the second reading of the Bill, for he thought that under the existing circumstances her Majesty's Government were justified in introducing this measure. But it was not inconsistent to support the principle o f the Bill, and at the same time to assent to the proposi tion of his Noble Friend opposite. The Noble Marquis admitted that this Bill was an experiment, but he also said, on the other hand, that if it be passed merely as a temporary measure in the first instance, the circum stances under which it would be carried into operation would be far more favourable than it it be carried as it now stands ; that the conviction of this being a perma nent measure, which he believed it would be, would lead to greater circumspection in its consideration ; but he (Lord Stanley) thought he would cordially support the amendment of his Noble Friend, not in any spirit of hostility to this measure—(Hear, hear)—not with any desire to prevent it being tried, and not with the least desire to prevent its being safely worked as an ex periment—(Hear)—but because he thought that further interference of Parliament in this measure would lead to its perfection. The Archbishop of DUBLIN said, in support ing the amendment, he did so without any hostility to the Bill, even if he were in favour of that measure. It was universally admitted by even the supporters of the Bill, that without a very cordial co operation of many different classes of the people of Ire land, the measure could not succeed. It was admitted, on all hands, that this was a very perilous experiment. He gave credit to her Majesty's advisers for good inten tions in the introduction of this measure, but he did not think that any reasoning person would think it did pro vide a remedy for.the abuses which ho admitted did exist at the present time. Lord ROSS—There were a great many errors in this Bill. He believed that even if the l a ndlord com menced long ago in t'eeir efforts inhelaidorationof the people of Ireland, they woupolfdorrhtattvhee object. He would, therefore, f g a na ile e d nd in me the t. ir The Marquis of CLANRICAsuRP d in one in- Lordships that, from his o vv o n oi l . c , c.e_uglde,assure their a great number of stance, by the outlay of 1 _.,„ o f earning their families were placed in a w" , fisheries in Ireland. He be fisher bread. He alluded to the be considerably increased by Hewed that whatever of evil or risk there might be in this Bill, both would r i e d..—(Hear, hear.) He sent Pe inactivity at the p -r° n ot throw any obstacle in the tboucht they could way of the usefulness of this measure more powerful eoplo of Ireland, that this relief than this, to tell theorPary. If their Lirdships dealt with was to be only the Bill in the mannerternp proposed.by the Noble Lord, their Lordships would at on ce do away with all confidence that might be placed in its future efficacy. WFSTMEATH would certainly vote The Marquis of or the limitation of the measure to a certain period. The Earl of HADDING roN was decidedly of opinion that, if they were to establish the principle of out-door relief, it ought to be made te m p or a r y and not permanent. Lord MONTEAGLE objected entirely to the princi ple of ou t-door relief. E ar l GREY said, that if he understood the" Noble Lord aright, ho objected that that portion o f t h e Bi ll which extended relief to the out-door able. bodied paupers should be not a permanent, but a temporary measure. He did not express any dissatisfaction with the remaining portion of the Bill. He (Lord Grey) conceived that this was endeavouring to get rid of the measure by a side wind, and it their Lordships affirmed by their vote the amendment of the Noble Lord, they expressed by that vote their opinion that the Bill as it stood was a dangerous and unconstitutional one. Their Lordships, by adopting the amendment, would not only express that opinion, but they would convey to the public an impression that their Lordships wet° about to try an experiment of the success of which Parliament already entertained doubts, and uncertainty. He therefore entreated their Lordships to negative the amendment. The great principle of the Bill w. 05 that property was to he liable for the relief of the distress of the population; that those by whose labour value was given to property should receive, in one shape or another, that subsistence which was necessary for them. That principle bad been recogaised fvr three I sii ..• —.., ------ hundred years in England, and he was prepared to recommend its adoption in Irel and, not for three Yr but permanently. The o pi n ion was spreading - throue.h England, that you could not allow the Iriishh c p._)or to have a right to out - door reliW, wh should begin only when they landed in Diverpool. In the present state of fee lin g which prevoiled in that country, and considering t he inefficient m a.nner int which the poor-law was administered in the sister king d, m, their Lordships would disregard the public inert terest if they refused to adopt this Bill, unfettered ith '- limitation clause. The Irish pauper when he landed i s Liverpool was entitled to outdoor relief, if no room fur no work could be found for him in the workhouse ; ned it was too bad for their Lordships to tell this count al that the same principle ought not to be extended to Ireland —(Hear, hear.) Earl FITZ WILLIAM said it wa s a mistake to sco pose that the statute of Elizabeth provided that the rx' e aril '. should be supplied with out - door relief. What: ti ii statute of Elizabeth provided was, that every P should be bound to supply the poor with work, and It never contemplated nor did its framers contem plate giving the able-bodied p o or out-door reli ef. He tin' doubtedly agreed with those eho thought that this vole a . dangerous experiment, and he was o f course o n. ti l t account glad that his Noble Friend had moved this alter' ment. The object of the amendment was to rtcoitn• mend to Parliament, nut to bind itself permanently to a system of out door relief, and he strongly urged liV en their Lordship's the necessity of adopting that recc le; mendation. It' they passed this Bill as a permleil_ measure, then their Lordship's would put it out of the power of Parliament hereafter to adopt any cis o f plan, and he should, therefore, give his decided supl)9l. to the amendment. The Earl of DEVON reminded their Lordslin that Ireland at the present moment was pla ced ,,„idi s most extraordinary position, and it was " , dew , . that condition that they were now called upon t ° It was stated upon undoubted authority, that a larg a i portion of the population were dependent for a part 0_ the year upon temporary relief, without having. reoinv,e_u_ to work or labour of any description, and this 811, tbe was not mistaken, was intended to remedy that el vi t l. „ t would serve as a stimulant to induce the landed er of the country to exert themselves to procure work le u r, the poor, because it would induce a belief that withot maintaint they dici stoh,et able-bodiedh e m easnre d i e ts s e ti l t f ut i e v o p u o l o d r, eannfdore e them t he t e heo a bi ll cn ,:; conceive of a more efficient means for securing they had in view, namely, a remedy for the existing state of things in Ireland. That being his view of slsup' intention of the Bill, he could not conscientiouY iid port the amendment making the operation of the nt On temporary, and not as it now stood, perMon' ting this Bill an opportunity would be afforded of preven i_ f distress, and providing ample employmen t for tbe poop stic: of Ireland. H wiselye believed it would be a measure o in, i , and necessity, and their Lordships wou ld not act in refusing to pass the present measure. The Earl of RIPON said, that from t he actuale di l i ee se tion of the country, he could no t bring hinalhe to agree with the motion of his Noble Friend, e n a s should feel it his duty to vote against t he resolution' proposed by that Noble Lord. The Earl of SHREWSBURY wished to distressedth erthe Bill personsdid ac o t f u actually give know i w i h tb e- 0 country, give a ri ;. doubt, impose a burden upon land which it s hould °ot be called upon to bear. If it did not afford that 1',. , ex _ then for what purpose was the first Bill introdueoiki be cept for the purpose of raising hopes which it wot li ;di ht of relief to te: no unable to satisfy. Government had already w`..0,, drawn ono of the measures that was to accomPy. it, and nothing was heard of those measures which w e e:: promised to follow it, he thought, therefore, hamperst n? would have to take the present Bill, with all ie fecti, us, as it then stood. Under these eircutnste 0 , he thought he should he inclined to vote for the PreP sition of his Noble Friend below him. 0 the if so, it oula,ouot Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when House divided, and the numbers were -63 Content ............................ ........... N o n-content ................................ 50 .. Majority in favour of the amendment ° . _ d 0 The. Earl of ELLENBOROUGII then propn,s e e, by clause to the effect that the relief which WS,S previa '-' , A hem the Bill for poor women with legitimate childrent!. _oh be extended to those with illegitimate children. :Li the a clause were not enacted, it would be inflietulgord. punishment of death on those who were so eircuinstos„ Atter a few words from the Marquis of 14 DOWNE which were inaudable, h e oar The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that t p - - su ch diens had a discretionary power to provide or s uch a cases, and there was therefore no necessity ter a special clause to meet it. lief under any circumstances, as he thought that u crf: The Earl of CLANCARTY objected to out-doer_Le; and improvidence would be the inevitable conseq..__'" and it would be holding out a premium to imenoraltr., Lord ELLENBOROUGH adhered twhist oP i P t e u , be to the necessity for such a clause, but mignfba; more convenient to introduce it on the bringing up ° report, he would withdraw it for the present. The Earl ot . WICKLOW proposed 'The clause was accordingly withdravvn. n :tient to insert against the word a Counissioners' line of the second clause, the words, " w l "th the consent 'don of of the Lord Lieutenant," , in order that the sanction the ;thoughGovernmen be had. Earl GREY t the words unnecessary, and hope:[ the Noble Lord would withdraw his amendment. Lord MONTEAGLE was of opinion that an Amin ti t he 12th there should s b e e r an enactment compelling unions to provide for de ndren, pauperand s schools. The that they should be a d te c ri l edu t c e The Earl of WICKLOW then withdrew his amend ment. The Earl of DESART proposed the following amend" ment :—" That after the words 'by order under their seal to authorise and empower the guard ians of such. union,' be inserted ' to build or hire additional houses for the reception of such destitute persons, or to ad' minister, &c. ;' and after the words 'on the receipt by the guardians of the union of any such order authorise ing,' be inserted ' the erection or hiring of such houses, or relief,' &c. ;' also, that after the words ' shall be give n in food only b inserted, 'to he in all cases distributed from a store ,' to e be provided by the guardians for a° purpose, save as hereinafter," &c. Lord STANLEY said that although the Poor-law Commissioners were stated in the claim to have t h. power of making this order for the relief of a district, yet the power was as much vested in the poorelecr guardians, who were authorised to demand the san e ': Lion of the Commissioners, by the wording of Axle the The amendment for enabling out - d oor relief to be The tributed, was most imperfect. They must either ad round food to the home of every destitute person in the district, or they must compel every able-bodiedoftna:z who was destitute, to walk, perhaps, a distance efiwB or six miles, when he might, perhaps, be better ployed in looking for work. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose and made solie observations, which, from the low to ne in which they were uttered, did not reach the gallery. After a few words from Lord CLANCARTY, Lord DESART withdrew his amendment, and th e clause was agreed to. On clause three being proposed, Lord STANTEY rose to propose an alteration to th e effect, that the relieving officers be P' should a pointed by the Poor lay Commissioners, instead of th e board of guardians. In England, ' the averag'e l an d. population average In of each union was 24,845, in Ire was no less than 65 384 Engla nd the 00 , 0 acres in extent, there were hut 2 above 200 _ above 100,000 acres, and 600 under 100,000. In Ire'land, however, 200,000 acres in extent, 104 above 100,000 acres, an 541 only under 100,000. The Noble Lord having con s trasted the mode of managing the poor in England, fi compared with what it was proposed to be in the Bill, concluded by proposing his amendment, that the 0" lieving officers should be appointed by t he Poor c lam ommissioners, instead of by the guardians. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE d id not object tc: the clause being so worded as to make the appoint m l n e of the railway officers subject to the appro bation of Poor-law Commissioners. The Earl Earl of RODEN suppo r t ed the p ro p osed amen ment of the Noble Lord (Stanley). Lord LUCAN thought that the board of guardians ought to be exonerated from that duty, for the Gove rn ' meat were, in fact, the real directors of those boards. Earl GREY said, that the whole of the effect of the Noble Earl was to take off the responsibility from th e board of guardians, and to throw it on the Governmen t. At least it was directed against the Poor-law Commis eioners. who now const ituted a part of the Government. every statesman who had observed the course of the proceedings of the last fifty years must have perceived what a continual tendency there was to relieve the local a uthorities from their responsibility, and to throw it on the Government. What was it that the amendment f o the Noble Earl required ? Why, that all the manage' meat was to be taken out of their hands, and to be given to the Commissioners. The Government had hit herto interfered hut rarely, but in Ireland it was desired that all the management should be taken out of the hands of the board of guardians, end should be given to the Government or thrown upon the Commissioners, but it was above all d esirable that these matters should be managed by their own Minist n ry, and to that point the efforts of the Governm ent had bee constantly directed. So far as he could observect tbe of _ effect of this amendment would be to ren der tbe effe these abuses constant, and to occasion have no advances from the Treasury, which the inhabitants would means of repaying. On the contra* when these expenses were thrown upon the ra t e 3, therewould be a direct interest in the board 0:?fell' . guardians to do their duty , and be assured that Nob Lors would but PaY attention to the provisions of this le Bill, d they would see that there !!a s no reason whatever for transferring t h e responsi bility from the board of guardians to the Governm ent. , The Earl of CLANCARTY conceived that the o bjec of the Noble Earl was to impute bl am e to those hoSO duty it was to administer the poor-law in Ireland. ld Earl GREY believed that if the Noble Earl made, only consider the observations which be had roan.. he would perceive that he had no intention w(lile,", ever to inculpate the boards of guardians, whose OL-T_ it was to administt r the law ; and the Noble Earl on the other side had entirely mistaken his meaning. The Earl of CLANCAR TY intimated dissent. to Earl GREY had certainly no intention whatever_ ._ throw out imputations against any one. Indeed, 11..11_ chief object was to show that blame had unnecessarily and frequently been imposed on the boards of guardian. The Earl of CLANCARTY thought that if the IsTobrl! Earl had not interrupted him in the middle of his o bse o __ vations, he would have perceived that that interruptl2lll was quite unnecessary. The Noble Earl had t a ng S :. out imputations which vvre • qiito unrec , ssary, an' ,„ believed that the reply of th,.! Noble Marquis ( o f Len_ downe), was a complete a nswer to the allegation' which had been made. The Earl of ELLENBOROUG H said that 130 one AV, B, - . an Ai