The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, May 11. ROYAL ASSENT. The Royal Assent was given to-day, by Commission, to the following Bills: —The Customs Duties Bill, the Portland Harbour of Refuge and Breakwater Bill, the Cornoaons Inclosure (No. 2) Bill, the Prisons (Ireland) Bill, the ilarbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Bill, the pile Piers Extensions Bill, the Ipswich Gas Bill, and the Cheltenham Waterworks Bill. The Lord Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor the Marquis of Clanricarde, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. The LORD CHANCELLOR to. k his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers brought up Bills from the Commons. THE FACTORY BILL. Petitions in favour of this Bill were presented by Lord Stanley; Lord Wharncliffe, signed by 14,500 merchants, factory workers, and others; the Bishop of Oxford, from master manufacturers and factory workers in Bury and Preston ; and by Lord Brougham, from a number of factory workers in Lancashire. IMPERFECT FRAMING OF ACTS OF PAR LIAMENT.—LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT. Lord BROUGHAM said he wished to call their Lordships' attention to a subject on which ho had often before addressed them —namely, that nothing could be more slovenly, or a more fruitful source of injury to the community, and to suito rs in courts of justice, than The imperfect mode in which many statutes were framed. He referred as well to public as to private Bills, and intended to move for a return on the subject, owing t o some circumstances which had recently c ome to his knowledge—that there lurked in corners of local Acts clauses giving power to impose penalties of a nature which would never have been tolerated if they had not been inserted in the Bills under cover of darkness. One of these objection able clauses gave a constable power, if he found any per- son in the street of any town, whom he suspected either of having committed, or having any intention to commit any offence, to take him into custody and to imprison him for forty hours, and if a policeman thought that he (Lord Brougham)--(Laughter)—was going to commit an assault by seeing him merely hold ing his hand up—(Laughter)—he might take him into custody and imprison him for 40 hours. Now that would be a great puishment for such a slight off sc-_.—(H , as) — and if he was found out after sunset and before eight in the morning—and he might be out walking before seven o'clock on a summer morning—if he was found loitering about—(Laughter)—he was equally liable to a similar term of imprisonment. After a few words from Lord DENMAN and Lord CAMPBELL the conversation dropped. QUANTITY OF WHEAT IN THE COUNTRY. Earl HARDWICKE said that he wished to put a question to the Noble Marquis (Lansdowne) of which he had given him notice; and however the Noble Mar quis might please to answe r it—if he should answer it in a distinct manner it would be of great service to the country—and if he should decline to answer the ques tion, he (Earl Hardwicke) should inter to from his silence that the situation of this country in reference o its s upply of food was a bad one. He had been induced to Pu t this question to the Nobl e Mar q uis in conse q uence of his feeling a very strong impression on his mind that the quantity of food in this country was not sufficient to sustain the population, at the present rate of con sumption, until the next harvest came on. He was led to that conclusion by seeing the very rapid decrease of wheat, and finding that in the markets of this country — in Oxford, Cambridge, and other places—that the com petition with the farmers was so great as to raise the price of wheat during the past week from 965. per quarter to 120 s. Upon further inquiry, he had placed in his hand a document to which he begged to call the attention of the House, for although it was not what is usually con sidered an official document, for unfortunately it was nothing of the sort, still it did appear that there were some persons who had endeavoured to ascertain, as ac curately as they might . , the state and condition of this country; and these persons had written to ail the coun ties in England, for the purpose of ascertaining what was the state of the country, and the quantity of corn in it. From that statement, to which he now begged very shortly to refer, he collected the condition of the counties in the worst state, and he could assure their Lordships, that those who were not in the worst condi i n were still very badly off. Two-thirds of the year since last harvest had already passed, :nal there were still tour months to run before corn could be brought into the market, and one-third of the produce which ought to remain was not here. Ile had commu zreatioLs from a Mr. Playfsir. in Scotland, on the sub subject. (The Noble Lord here read extracts from re turns which he had received from several counties of England, Scotland, and Wales, with the object of showing that the supply of grain now was much under the usual quantity at this period of the year.) The usual quantity was about one-third; whereas in all the counties referred to, with the exception of one, the quarter's supply was about one-fifth, and, in a great number, the supply was not more than an eighth, and in some scarcely any at all. Under these circumstances, he thought it was necessary to call public attention to the matter, as he considered there was not a sufficient amount of food for the population of this country till the coming harvest. He wished to know if the Noble Lord opposite (the Marquis of Lansdowne) whether he was of the same opinion, and whether he expected there would be a sufficient supply from foreign countries. As far as he (Lord Hardwicke) could collect information on this head, on the continent of Europe there was little to be had. Poland, and the countries en the banks of the Danube, had but very limited stocks; the same was the case in the countries on the Mediterranean and Black Sea; their only hope was America, and there the proba bility of a supply was very small. If this were so, the prospect was very dismal for this country, and he hoped the greatest economy and care would be practised by all classes, in order that the country might be carried through this trying period. It behoved all classes to cut down every useless and superfluous luxury—that the wheat would be ground up as a whole—and that n starch would be used. He trusted, also, that the linded gentry, would use their influence in their respective counties, so thet measures rnight be taken to keep the corn from leaving the country. Lord CAMPBELL said the c msequsnce of the course taken by the Noble Earl would be ti excite what veers called meal mobs in Scotland. The Earl' HARDWICKE meant to do no such thing, but he thought it his duty to bring the matter promi nently before the notice of their Lordships. The Nolo!e Earl sat down by asking the question whether the Noble Marquis could state the supply of fool in the country, and also what was the quantity that might be expected from foreign countries ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, in answer to the Noble Earl, who had no doubt felt it his duty to bring this subject before their Lordships, that Noble Earl would admit that he (the Marti 115 of Lansdowne) would exercise a sound discretion it he abstained, both on the part of himself and her Majesty's Governmen from asserting anything like an opinion, th which would h ave t h e e ff ect of misleading e people or the trsd er . Th e N o bl e Earl had said ) trul - that the Governm en t h a d no organ i sed machinery 1 which they could become acquainted with the amount cop] is 03 country. Every individual has the same means of collecTing information as he himself had or as her Majesty's Government possessed on this matter, and perhaps no one was a more likely authority on such a subject for extensive and accurate information than the individual to whom the Noble Earl had alluded. He did not feel it proper to give any opinion on the sufficiency of the amount of corn at present. But thus much he might say in answer to the Noble Earl, that since the end of harvest lest year there had not been brought into this country very much more corn than was im posted during the c irresponding period last year ; so thet unless last harvest was short there must be a considerable quantity of the corn of last harvest still in the country. Yet, for the satisfaction of the Noble Earl, he could state to him the enor mous amount—the increasing amount up to to this mo ment of importation of corn into this country. Up to this present moment the importation of corn was, for January 661,000 qrs. February March April thereby indicating that in proportion to the increased amount of demand. and the press of that deficiency of which at the early part of this year the people of this country had but little warninss there had been a cor responding amount of importation to meet that dee cieccy. The same average amount of importation con tinued throughout the year would make an annual importation of 9.000,000 of quarters. There was ano ther source of satisfaction to the Noble Earl, showing the complete command of the market of the world which this country had enjoyed ever since men understood that no interference would take place with the course of trade. Since that an increasing and unceasing action had been kept up, and since that. it had been well known that other countries had laboured under the same evil—that in these large countries there had been taite inereasins, demand, so that the exports from the Stetest to the whole of the world was 2,170,000 quartedra, and of that amount no more than 500,000 wieners found their way into the rest of the world, leaving to this had d ottry more than four times the amount which h —(Hear, hear.) And , whilst sent to the rest of the nations. n he made this statement, he might add that he hafl was o a rear n to apprehend that that supply from America to diminish ; but, on the contrary, it was the onLitkeie.:lli those most likely should we ensure the to be well-informeds that noConlQnsw t i c it h had been des receipt of all the corn ie Amewriecyam. ensure a tined for this country, but portion of the corn which had origingallyoanbsi;n intended for other countries. These were the which he thought it his duty to make any t t coy mmunication to to their Lordships, and he would on l y Of . the markets and the suite of this count ry were statesueh as ro render it imperative on all persons, so far as their influence, power, and authority extended, to incul cate as a matter of feeling, as well as a matter of p o li cy, prirciples of the strictest economy with rrgard to th e consumption of fool.—(Cheers..) Lord ASHBURTON said the question was of the greatest importance in every point of view, but the reply of the Noble Marquis appeared to be less satisfactory to hirifThan it did to the Noble Earl ; for the additional supply of food to which he had referred had had little or no effect upon consumption, upon demand, or upon prices. Ttie Indian corn crop was gathered-late, and therefore .there might be some quantity yet to come 'here, but lief feared that the same observation would not . apply to thP wheat crops of America ; and the northern nountries;of Europe were in a little better condition than e hi t e eme tteey boll with regard to the pot a t oes an d green creile.—(Heer.) He called there Lordships' attention to these things in eeier that they might see the exact nature of the state of the country, and in order that they might know the exact nature of the calamity with which they had to d ea l. E v id ence o f t h e high price grtr.N 4 ~~ and scarcity of food was to be found in the fact that wheat was quoted at 120 s. a quarter. At the same time, however, that he feared there was a great deficiency in the country, he was by no means of opinion that the Government should impose restrictions upon the export of grain.—(Hear). Lord BROUGHAM said that nothing could be more ungenerous than attempts to conceal the fact of any scar city of food existing in the country. Had timely notice been given, it might have prevented a dearth from be coming a famine, by putting all classes of the commu nity upon their guard. Much credit was due to the Noble Earl for having drawn attention to the subject. He agreed it would be extremely undesirable to inter fere with the export trade, by attempting which he thought they would under present pressure defeat the very object they had in view. SOUP KITCHENS (IRELAND.) Earl FITZ WILLIAM wished to know if the Govern ment were in possession of information of how far the Act, known in Ireland as the Soup Kitchen Act, had been put in operation ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, who was nearly in• audible in the gallery, was understood to say that the Government were not in posessiun of that positive infor mation which would justify them in laying it before the House. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE proceeded to state (but in a very indistinct tone) the substance of various amendments which it was proposed to introduce into the Bill. One was with the view of extending the power of the Commissioners in granting loans under the Bill for such works as might be conidered necessary and es sential to be executed. After a few words from Lord NIONTEA.GLE,_ the 21st inst., he would move the adjournment of the House for the holidays till Friday the 28th. HERITABLE PROPERTIES (SCOTLAND) BILL. Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY presented a petition from Inverary against the Heritable Property (Scot land) Bill. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL. Sir JAYIES GRAHAM presented a petition against the Medical Practitioners Bill. POOR REMOVAL BILL. : :LAW OF SETTLE- The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, with reference' to an amendment proposed by the Noble Duke opposite I on the subject of the p iyment for labour by wages and not by land, he had been anxious to frame a clause as, much as possible to meet the views of the Noble Duke. But from what he heard it appeared that it would be impossible to carry the principle into effect in every in stance. The Noble Marquis then briefly stated the terms of the amendments by which he hoped to meet the suggestion made. The Duke of WELLINGTON said the object which he had in proposing the clause would be obtained under the Bill, that object having been to produce a general alteration throughout the country by means of an enact ment of that description. His opinion was that a great part of the evil which at present existed had been caused by the payment for labour being made by por• tions of land instead of in money. If the present evil had not been occasioned by that practice it had been in creased by it, and he was certain that the evil had been uniformly aggravated by it. But, great as the evil was, it had occurred on a variety of occasions within the last fifty years, and it had always been remedied and re moved by the interference of the Government. The pre sent evil was greater at this moment an Ireland than in any part of the world, and it was principally on those very grounds that the Government was obliged to inter fere to alleviate it. What he had wished to do was to avail himself of the present measure, in which, in order to apply a remedy to the existing evil, Parliament had offered to the landed proprietors and occupiers in that country the means of distributing large capitals; he wished, he repeated, to avail himself of that opportunity of putting an end to practices which, in his opinion, were so fatal to the prosperity of that country. Ile was much obliged to his Noble Friend for the manner in which he proposed to adopt words in the Bill to meet his wishes; but he believed, when they came to examine the ar rangements proposed by that clause, they would find that it would not attain all the objects he had in view, until the labourers were paid in Ireland as they were in every other country in the world, by daily wages, instead of by land. the mode in which they were now paid. Such a system was not practised in any other country in the world except in Ireland, and that was the reason that it suffered ten times more now than ever was suffered by any other country.—(Hear.) The Marquis of WESTMEATH said there could be no doubt that the mismanagement cf land in Ireland had done much to bring that country into its present condition. One way to put an end to the conacre sys tem would be to make the rents not recoverable by law. The amendment, with one or two others, was then agreed to, and the report was received. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table the annual report of the Poor-law Commissioners. The House adjourned at Half-past Eight. MENT. Mr. MILES presented petitions against the Poor Removal Act of last session, and praying for the aboli tion of the law of settlement, and the enactment of a national rate. SUSPENSION OF THE NAVIGATION-LAWS. Mr. MITCHELL wished to ask the Noble Lord at the bead of the Treasury, whether he intended to pro pose a further suspension of the navigation-laws with respect to the importation of corn, and also another question, which he hoped the Noble Lord would not answer, unless he had previously considered it, as it was of very considerable importance. The question was, whether he intended to move the suspension, of the na vigation-laws with respect to the importation of all other articles of food ? Lord J. RUSSELL said that, on an early day, he intended to move the suspension of the Navigation Laws with respect to corn and all other articles of food, but that the manner in which the suspension was to be pro posed had not been sufficiently considered, and he must, therefore, defer the answer to a future statement. Earl FITZWILLIAM said that the object of his re turn was to ascertain the number r,f male and female paupers who had been relieved, what had been the ex pense within certain periods, and what districts of the poor-law the rates had been levied for the purpose. He should move for those returns on Friday text. The Earl of CLANCARTY hoped that tha Noble Earl would include in those returns oust also of the voluntary contributions which had been made for the same purpose. THREATENING LETTERS. SANATORY STATE OF TOWNS. Mr. AGLIONBY wished to ask a question of the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests as to the course which he intended to pursue with respect to the Health of Towns Bill, as his intentions appeared not to be understood. Did he intend to content himself merely with reprinting the Bill, and then throw it aside, or did he intend to proceed with any part of it during the present session ? Lord MORPETH said that he proposed to proceed with a part of the Bill this session. and to apply it to all corporate towns inEngland and Wales, and to all other towns from which petitions had been prevented by the rated inhabitants. THE THETIS FRIGATE. O❑ the motion of Lord I)ENMAN the House went into Committee on the Threatening Letters Bill. It passed through Committee, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Friday. BELGRAVE CHAPEL. _ Lord 111ONTEAGLE, in rising to present a petition from the Rev. Dr. Thorpe on the appointment of a chaplain to this chapel, regretted that it had not fallen into the hands of some person more competent to do it justice, and discarded every supposition that, in the remarks which he might make upon the Right Rev. Prelate, whose conduct was brought in question, he bad ' not the slightest personal feeling. Had the question touched upon, by this petition, been of a spiritual nature, he should not have felt it to be his duty to bring it before their Lordships; but the question was purely of a secular character; and, therefore, it was perfectly in the province of a lay Lord to introduce it to the House. The petition he had to present was signed by a highly-respectable reverend gentleman d t 0 0 0 h t im kwnaoswa gentlemanpersonally, of undoubted u w b t h e r d ,, iw r t e h s wo p am e s c traebphirleiets;.dnittei n Now this gentleman, on applying to a Right Reverend l'relate for an appointment which was at the time vacant in the church was told by that Right Reverend Prelate that he was not eligible to the appoint ment, because he was an Irish clergyman. He should not have made objection to the refusal had it been founded upon spiritual defects in the applicant. The Church of Ireland contained the names of some of the most illustrious men to be found in connexion with the churches of both countries.—(Hear, hear.) It was too much to say that an Irishman could not hold a curacy in London at the very time when the Bishop placed nearly at the head of the church of Ireland was an Englishman, who had seen little or nothing of Ireland—(Hear, hear)—and many Englishmen held high offices in the Irish church: it was not unlike what the late Sir Roach Boyle had said, namely—that all the mutuality was on one side. — (Laughter.) When Lord Plunkett was elevated to the bench a cabal was formed against him much similar to the one which he was now discussing; but he overcame it, and at the time the bar of England refused to consent to the elevation of Lord Plunkett to the judgeship of the Rolls Court, Sir Anthony Hart was sent over to preside over one of the highest Equity Courts in Ireland.— (Elear, hear.) There was no saf, ty for Ireland, 1 for one hour if the Protestant Episcopal Church of Ire land, as specified in the Act of Union, was to be consi dered a separate instead of a similar and sister esta• blishment with the Protestant Church of England. Why the Act of Union expressly stated that the Protestant Church of both countries should be asssimilated, and that they should be called the United Protestant Churches of England and Ireland. But of all times this was the most inexpedient to endeavour to draw invidious distinctions between the two Churches. And then no Church had so much improved as the Irish Church dur ing the last five and twenty years. Still further, was this inexpedient at a time when the Protestant clergyman and the Catholic priest had associated together for the purpose of assuaging the sufferings of the Irish people. —(Hear). An objection to the difference between the course of informal. n in the Colleges of Dublin and of Oxford and Cambridge; though at first one might think of some importance, could not avail, as the Night Rev. Prelate had himself admitted that the course of religious study in the Protestant College of Ireland was superior to that pursued in the English Universities. He trusted that nothing he had said might be construed into offence towards the Right Rev. Prelate, and he concluded by laying the petition on the table. The Bishop of LONDON only intended to address a few words to their Lordships, in reply to the statement of the Noble Lord. He believed he should be able to show that, in the course he had pursued, he had not been ectueed by any disrespect to that branch of the United Church whose labours were confined to Ireland. In the first place, he begged to thank the Noble Earl for the way in which he had introduced the subject to their Lordships, except so far as his remarks led him to think that he had not done justice to the church of his country ; because no one was more willing to do justice to the claims of that Church than he was—no pally genic which he could pronounce would be too high with respect to the past conduct of the Protestant clergy of Ireland for many years past, and particularly during the last few months.--(Hear, hear.) The regulation to which the p-Ction referr:d had not been adopted by him during the last few months, or the last few years, but was adopted 23 years ago, and this was the first time teenplaint had bee - made of it. When he was Bishop of Chester, he foaled the influx of Irish clergymen into his diocese extremely great, and he dis ccuragt d it on more grounds than one—particularly on two grounds—which still existed in his mind ; and they were these: he did not think that young men educated for the service of the Church in Ireland, should take an early opportunity of quitting that Church, especially under the difficulties that surrounded it at that time, and coming over to England for the purpose of ob taining better pay, and less irksome duty. Looking too at the state of «lucation in Trinity College at that time, and its improved suite deserved the approbation of his Noble Frien 1, he considered that he was perfectly warranted in the course he had adopted. The practice of taking their degrees in Ireland and immediately coming over to England he thought extremely hard upon the young men educated at great expense at the English universities, an 1 that they should be misplaced from coracles and those occupations in the Church for which they had been educated, and prevented from obtaining ordination by the immigration of large numbers of Irish clergymen, th-refore he thought right to discourage the practice ; but the rule was at no time ri gidly adhere I to, because he thought there were many reasons why Irish clergymen should not come over here, and at that moment there were as many Irish clergymen licensed as those whom he had refused to license. As this rule ht-d been in forced 23 years, and had, moreover, bsen published in the recog nised organs of the Church, it was somewhat remarkable that it never had elicited any - remonstrance from the clergy in his diocese ; but if his Noble Friend the Lord Primate of Irelaed had stated that he thought such a rule was inconsistent with the relations which should subsist between the two Churches, and between the two countries, he should have bowed to the wish of his Grace; but nothing of the kind had occurre 1, yet the petitianer Lord INGi.'STRIE wished to inquire of the Secre tary of the Admiralty, whether the money paid for the use of the ships employed for the recovery of the treasure lost in the Thetis, and what was its amount? Mr. WARD said that the sum of 13,6721. had been carried to the credit of the country for the use of these ships. Ho had inquired of the Accountant-General of the Admiralty, and had found that a sum was pa►d in the month of September 1834, and again in 1835, and again in 1836. stated on his own authority that he (the Bishop of London) • had been guilty of an intole rable assumption of authority. His offence alone consisting in preventing young men from quitting that sphere of labour for which they had been specially ordained. The petitioner should hare brought the matter before the heads of the Irish church, rather than by a petition to their Lordships, which had not been read, but which contained much stronger language than that used by his N(,ble Friend. He (the Bishop of London) might have acted injudiciously, hut, as he had said, he had adopted the rule as a stringent one. This he thought was sufficient to exonerate him from having cast any disrespect upon the I r i s h c h urc h. Wi t hi n t he last year or two he had conferred two or three of the most valuable livings in his diocese on Irish clergymen. One of the most valuable livings in connexion with St. Paul's had been conferred by him on an Irish clergyman. But Dr. Thorpe, by his conduct, had not rendered it neces sary for him (the Bishop of London) to show him any special obl . gation. When Dr. Thorpe's curate Came to him, he stated his objections, but he, at the same time, intimated that as Dr. Thorpe was about to leave the country, he might perform his dnties, and let the matter rest until he returned ; but Dr. Thorpe, thereupon, wrote him a letter, accusing him of' an " intolerable as sumption of power," and refused to consent ; but, sub sequently, he (the Bishop of London) found that the curate was a fit person to be licensed, and he offered to license him, but he thanked him for his offer, but declined, and since that time he hal licensed many Irish clergymen, and he should continue to do so. He begged to thank their Lordships for the attention with which they had listened to his explanation. The Earl of CLANCARTY said that the Irish clergy were men of the highest character and the most superior intellectual attainments. Attached as he was to the union between the two countries, he regretted that such a distinction should have beenmade. There hal been a great deal of talk about unhappy h pp w y would add repeal, but he assured their Lordships there was nothing were advanced to'°anhi more strength to that cry than such He therefore begged t a. Fla situation in Ireland, but they Englishtnen and Scotchmen the converse of fact was true. could not instance than the petition which hios give_ o his support to the prayer in Lord MOlTNTCASllENLbsiaeidirthraietnidf thhaedwhoomleittbeednetbo Right Rev. Prelates adopted the's o a f t a iß t , e oi . g m r e u n le, in th t e a would not have any Irish officiating clergymen whole of England. Lord CAMPBELL gave notice that he 'would m ove „ that the House go into Committee, on the Lunatic 4131" Bill, on Friday next, proforma. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. Lord ItIONTEAGLE begged to give noti ce th at het would ask a question of her Majesty's Government when, the report on the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill was brought up, as to how far it was intende d that the recei p t of re lief under the Bill should disqualify a v o ter. ' LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. The order of the day for receiving the report oil 09 above Bill having been read, THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING,' MAY 12, 1847: POOR RELIEF SUPERVISION (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. SERVICE OF HEIRS (SCOTLAIid)) BILL. The report upon this Bill was brought up and agreed to. POOR REMOVAL (ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND) BILL. The report upon this Bill was also brought up and agreed to. CROWN (CHARTERS') SCOTLAND BILL. The report upon this Bill was also brought up, and agreed to. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time. HOUSE OF COMMONS COSTS TAXATION HOUSE OF COMMONS. play 11. The SPEAKER took the Chair- shortly before Four. THIRD READINGS. The followino . Bills were read a third time and passed : Martin's Divorce Bill. The Shipowners' Towing Company Bill. • REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, and ordered to be engrossed . Caledonian Railway (Lease or Purchase of Wishaw and Coltness Railway). Caledonian and Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Rail ways Amalgamation. Glasgow, Duinfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 4). The reports on the following Bills were further con sidered and agreed to: — Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham Railway (Peter borough and Thorney Line). Chard Canal and Railway (Extension and Amalgama- tion). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (No. 4). Herne Bay and Canterbury Junction Railway. Inverness Gas and Water. Liskeard and Caradon Railway. Southampton and Dorchester Railway (New Forest Deviation and Branches). South Wales Railway. Vale of Neath Railway. Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway (No. 1— Bruton, Pitcombe, and Rodden and Bradford De viations). Wexford and Valencia Railway (Killarney toValencia). THAMES CONSEIIVANCY BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. NORTH OF INDIA RAILWAY. Mr GREENE moved that the order made upon the Bth of March last, referring the Great North of India Railway Bill to the Committe of Selection, be read ; that the said order be discharged ; and that the Bill be withdrawn.—Agreed to. BLACKBURN, DARWEN, AND BOL rON RAILWAY. Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved that in the case of the Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway (diversions of line in the parishes of Blackburn and Bolton-in-the- Moors), petition for additional provision, the Examiners of petitions have leave to sit and pros ed to-morrow. Agreed to. RATH:WINES IMPROVEMENT. Mr. GREGORY moved that it he an instruction to the Committee of Selection to appoint the Committee on the Itathrnints Improvement Bill for Tuesday, the 18th instant, and that the Committee do meet and proceed with the Bill on that day. After some observations from Sir W. Ireatheote, Mr. Grogan, awl Mr. Estcourt, the motion was negatived without a divis!ou. RATE PAYING CLAUSES. Mr. M. PHILIPS presented petiti.)ns from Man chester against the rate paying clauses of the Reform Bill. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. WILSON I'ATTEN presented a potition from Warrington in favour of-the Health of Towns Bill. POOR LAW. Mr. ROUND presented petitions from Essex, praying for an alteration in the Poor-law Bill. Mr. BANKES presented petitions from Buckingham praying for an alteration in the Poor Removal Act. LUNACY. Mr. T. DUNCONIBE presented petitions praying for an alteration of the law with respect to lunacy. COUNTY BUILDINGS BILL. This Bill was reld a third time. MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. Petitions against this Bill were presented by Sir W. CLAY, from medical practitioners carrying on business in the Tower Hamlets ; and by Mr.: ENTRISLE, from a place in Lancashire, in favour of it. HEAL TEI OF TOWNS BILL. Petitions were presented in favour of this Bill by Mr. P. How Ann, frtin medical practitioner; carrying on business in Carlisle ; and by the Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY, from a pace in Surrey. THE CASE OF MRS. SHUTTLEWORTH. Captain PECEIELL presented a petition from Dr. Quaill, surg , on, of Howland-street, Fitzroy-square, stating that he was Mrs. Shuttleworth's medical adviser (whose case has rep-atedly appeared in 7he Sun in our reports of the law courts), and complaining that that lady had bent forcibly removed from his care, and placed in confinement in York House. Battersea, and that he had been assaulted by a City policeman—(Laughter)—and by a Dr. Willtnot, in their successful endeavour to remove Mrs. Shuttleworth fr. in his care. He further stated that the _ _ lady was "no more mad than he was," and prayed the House to make an inquiry. DETECTING EMBEZZLEMENT BY. BARRACK MASTER. Captain PECIJELL presented a petition from Mr. Duncan M'lntyre, formerly of Fort William, stating that he had prevented a barrzck•mrster from embezzling the money with which he W 33 entrusted, and complain ing that he had not received the reward to which he was entitled, under an Act passed in the reign of William 111., and praying the House to interfere and do him justice. - ANIBERGATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON, AND EASTERN JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY. On the motion of Mr. GISBORNE, the petition of this company, presented May 7, was ordered to be re• ferred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders, for their report to the House, whether the Committee on the Great Northern Railways (Deviations between London and Grantham) Bill, ought to entertain the said petition. MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. Mr. HUME presented a petition from several medi cal practitioners in favour of the Medical Bill now before the House. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SCOTTISH LAW. The same HON. MEMBER also presented a petition from the magistrates and town council of the Royal borough of Forfar, taking notice that there were before the House five or six Bills for promoting certain reforms in the law of Scotland, and praying that those Bills might speedily pass into a law. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. The same HON. MEMBER presented a petition from the carpenters and joiners of St. James's in favour of the Health of Towns Bill.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition in favour of the Medical Regulation Bill. Lord MORPETIE presented petitions in favour of the Health of Towns Bill from the following places:—Hull, Bethnall Green, Skelton, near the Potteries, Newcastle upon-Tyn?, the City of Durham, Halifax, the Tower Hamlets, Essex, Bridgewater, Worcester, St. Maryle hone, Horseley Down, Stockton-on-Tees, Great Yar mouth, Westminster, and All Sainti, Poplar.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. G. PALMER wished to know whether it was the intention of the Noble Lord who promoted the Health of Towns Bill to press those clauses which authorised the compulsory purchase of waterworks? Lord MORPETII was understood: to say that some modification of the clauses would be introduced. in S f i e r vo G u . r G of h t E h Y:i i p e re a s l e th nt o e f d T a ow pe n t s it i co i i l i l. Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod, report). from Winchester appearedblvahWhich choftsheee a Lou t o t :s h d e : b o a f r i a or n d d s, s t u o m t m ea o r ne th d e the House a o s u s s e e nt to giv t e h n e U itnh S se l t.. 7 4 E ahy s e s by cm3mia sion to several public and private Bills (for , d t:e y, o t r h d e e 1. 2 8 1 0 s E f t Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that on Fri- OF THE HOUSE. swhooutillad ta alr e e rr th ec a e t d , e a n f c t c o r 0 that f notices of motion on Thursdays. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. gwy - The NOBLE Lo an it l so t • • .9 no bap, that on Friday, BATHS AND WASFIHOUSES. Mr. BANNERMAN said he wished to ask the Secre tary of State fur the Home Department whether it was his intention to bring in a Bill to extend the provisions of the Baths and Washhouses Act of last session? Sir G. GREY said the draft of a Bill for that purpose had been submitted to him, but he must give it his careful consideration before he could say whether he should be prepared to adopt the whole of it. AGRICULTURAL TENANTS' BILL. In reply to a question from Mr. AGLION BY, ➢ir. DENISON said he believed the Hon. Member for ➢laldon (Mr. Pusey), intended to-morrow to an nounce the withdrawal of his Agricultural Tenants' Bill. HIGH DUTIES ON PROVISIONS. Mr. HUME wished to know whether herlifsjesty's Government were prepared to take into their considera tion the reduction of the high duties which were imposed on several articles of food, such as butter, cheese, &c. If the Noble Lord was not prepared to answer the ques tion, then perhaps he would do so on Friday. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to agree to the latter suggestion of the Hon. Member for Montrose COURT OF RI)ME. Mr. HORSBIAN gave notice that on Thursday he should ask she Noble Lord at the head of the Govern ment whether it was his intention to take advantage of the favourable circumstances which now existed for en deavouring to establish diplomatic relations with the Court of Rome? __ HOLYHEAD HARBOUR OF REFUGE. Mr. COLLETT wished to know when the — House might expect to receive the report of the Commissioners, appointed to inquire into the fitness of Holyhead as a harbour of refuge? Mr. WARD said that not a moment had been lost in the proceedings of the Commissioners appointed to in• quire into the subject. The Commissioners had thought it necessary to proceed down to the spot, in order to exa mine the "holding" ground at the bottom of the harbour. thought that the report would very shortly be laid upJn the table of the House. DIRECT TAXATION. Lord J. RUSSELL wished to ask the Hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Ewart) whether he would consent to postpone the motion of which he had given notice for this day, on the subject f direct taxation, in order to afford an opportunity for proceeding with the considera tion of the report of the Committee agreed to last night on the Discount on Loans Bill? Mr. EWART had no objection to postpone his mo tion, on condition that other Hon. Members who had motions on the paper should do the same ; and at the same time he would give notice that he would bring for ward his motion on the first day of the House going into Committee of Supply. POOR REMOVAL ACT. Lord J. RUSSELL - said that, seeing the Hon. Mem ber for Dorsetshire (Mr. Banker) in his place, he wished to state to him that with respect to the motion which he had upon the paper for to-day, to bring in a Bill to re peal the Ist clause of the Act 8 and 9 Vic , c. 66, the Poor Removal Act, the Government had no objection to the Bi.l being brought in. Mr. BANKES said that it was to be understood then that the discussion upon the Bill was to take place at an early period. COLONIAL AND BRITISH SPIRITS. Mr. MOFFITT pustponed till Friday next his Bill for assimilating the warehousing privileges en colonial and British spirits, and also his Bill to permit British spirits to be r crifi d in bond for exportation, and to permit rectified spirits and compounds to be warehoused for exportation. FREE TRADE FOR JAMAICA. Mr. HUME postponed till Thursday next his motion to call - the attention of the House to the petition from Jamaica, signed by 4,000 persons, praying for free trade for that colony, and for an additional supply of labour, as requisite for the prosperity of that island. POOR REMOVAL BILL. _ _ Mr. BANKES moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the first clause of the Poor Removal Act, Bth and 9th Victoria, c. 66. _ _ Sir G. GREY had no objection] to :the Bill being brOught in and read a first time, but on the distinct understanding that the Government were not pledged to the Bill, and that their objections to it remained in full force. Mr. DUNCOMBE was very much afraid that. the the country would misunderstand the reason for allow ing this Bill to be brought in and read a first time. It appeared that the Government consented to the Bill to be saved from the lion. Gentleman's speech. Sir JAMES GRAHAM was desirous to consult the convenience of the Government as much as possible, but in allowing this Bill to be read a first time, he wished it to be underAood as not acceding in any way or relax ing his opposition to that Bill. Mr. E. DENISON said that it would be well that the course of her Maj, sty's Government should be known to the country; there was a great deal of anxiety abroad respecting the law, and he wished the opinion of the Government were fixed. _ _ Sir G. GREY said that he had already sta.ed what was the opinion of her Majesty's Government, and it was out of his power entirely to fix a day. Mr. VERNON SMITH said that it would be much better fur the lion. Gentleman to withdraw his motion, and bring it on upon another day. Whether the vote were carried or not, it would be well hat there should be some discussion upon the subject, and some expression of opinion, he believed that these repeated changes of the law were very in jurious, and that the existing law was was peculiarly objectionable. Mr. BANKES said that if the Government would promise to take • this Bill into their own hands and amend it he would withdraw his motion, but in the absense of this intimation he should feel it his duty to persevere. lie did not, however, under present circumstances desire to throw any obstacle in the way of the business of the House, and should therefore be contented with fixing an early . day for the second reading, when the discussion, might take place. He should, therefore, move now for leave to bring in a Bill for the repeal of the first clause of the Poor Removal Act. property—( Mr. HUME did not c l ear l y un d e rstand the object of this proceedi ng . H e remem b ere d that this chuse was brought Inas a sor t o f com p ensa tion to gentlemen of landed came fo rwar d to move that it b e resc i n d e d. He did not Laughter)—and now one of these gentlemen think that they should accede to the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman, he should rather hope that Go. vernment would object to the Bill altogether , and he trusted, therefore, that the sense of the House would be at once taken on the Bill, so that it might be got rid of. Mr. CHARLES BULLER happened to be in the position of Chairman to the Committee in question, and he was placed in considerable difficulty, in con sequence of the extraordinary diversity of opinion which prevailed in it. (Laughter.) There were not merely two conflicting opinions—(Laughter) — but the greatest v ar i ety of opinions.—(Laughter.) An en deavour h a d b een made to bring the C omm itt e e to a decision by a motion th a t the Bill should be re pealed altogeth er ; b ut to Oil: cours e there was an almost universal objection . Then (aughter.) He must it was moved as a general propos i t i on t h a t the law of , last session sh ou ld b e preserved, b ut it was here found that all the M em b ers were for amen ding it each in a particular and diff erent way.-- -L say that the Ho n . M ember for D orse rshi:e had taken the more m a nly way, and that which wa s most likely to assist the Committee in coining to a conclu sion on the subject. He had brotwlit forward his Bill for the expungi ng o f the first clause' in Committee, and when they had it in this practical shape before the House they would know how to deal with the qurstior. He therefore most heartily thanked the Hon. Member for Doraetshire for having brought forward his motion. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. BELFAST MUNICIPAL CORPORATION. - Ou the motion of Mr. ROSS several returns were granted of the amount of the property purchased by the Belfast Corporation, and of the mode of expenditure of the money they had received. LOAN (DISCOUNT ON INSTALMENT) BILL. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the re port ou this Bill was brought up, and agreed to without discussion. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. Tbis Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed, BILL. This Bill went through Committee, Committee, and was ordered to be reported to-morrow. TURNPIKE ROADS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time. The other orders of the day having been disposed of, the House adjourned. RAILWAY COMMITTEES, HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.) GROUP XI This Committee resumed its sitting to-day in Room B. BRAINTREE AND HALSTEAD. Mr. HILDTARD opened the case for this the last Bill in the group, and the Committee was engaged all the day in hear ing evidence in favour of the Bill. GROUP XV. CAMBRIDGE AND BEDFORD. The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o'clock; Mr. Bernal in the chair. This fine is to run across the country by Bigleswade, so as to connect the Midland Counties Branch at Bedford with the Eastern Counties line at Cambridge, and Mr. Waddington, the vice-chairman of the Eastern Counties line, was called to show the advantage that would accrue by the proposed route for the carriage of iron from the western districts to Ipswich and all the places on the coasts of Suffolk and Norfolk, while coal would be conveyed, as he conceived, from Lynn into the centre of Bedfordshire and Buckinghtmahire. A long cross-examination ensued on the way in which the line would affect the property of Lord Hardwicke, as also on the respective merits of Ipswich and Lynn as ports for the reception of coals, when the witness stated that the cost of carriage of coals on the Eastern Counties line is three far things and a penny per ton per mile, while on the London and York line the company were restricted to three farthings. Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, said that he had laid out a line for an east and west communication two years ago, and the Eastern Counties Company had purchased much property with a view to its formation. It would be a re markably easy line to construct,-and would, in his opinion, not cost more than about 13,0001. per mile. Mr Borthwick, the engineer, of the line, stated that it would be twenty miles one furlong in length, of which two and-a- half miles are already made. The whole cost of the line would be 385,0001., and that for land would be 2,1571., of which 267 acres would be required. There was but little residential property to be interfered with, indeed those of Mr. Lewis and Lord Lord Hardwicke being the only ones. The land agent stated that the owners of land who assented were 46, those who dissented 40. while the neuters were 65. The lessees who assent are five, and those who dissent six, and the occupiers respectively 58 and 83. This closed the case for the promoters, after which, Mr. GURNEY, Q.C., opened on behalf of the opposing land owners, and said that unless the Legislature were prepared to sanction an independent line of railway between every two villages, they would never give their sanction to the line now before the Committee. It appeared from the evi dence that the whole of the population on the proposed line was 25,000, almost the whole of whom were already sup plied ; for 14,500 were on lines already made, 2,500 were within a mile and a half of lines now formed, and 3,000 were within two miles. Then, as to the whole of the traffic, nothing had been shown as to the transfer of vegetables from the neigh bourhood of Potton, the whole of which it appeared was not more than 3,000 tons, and the whole of the revenue from it would be 3751. Mr. Smith, a brewer at Cambridge, had stated that within the course of his experience there had been no traffic on this line at all; and another witness, from the other end of the line, had stated just the same thing; so that there was no public necessity whatever established. As for the plea that there was a necessity for an east and west communication, that was already practically obtained, for the line from Huntingdon to Bedford_ had already obtained the sanction of Parliament, and that would only take the passen gers a distance of nine miles further round. With respect to the procuring coals, that access for them was also already obtained, for by this latter line there was the means of communication with the ports of Lynn and Bedford for the seaborne coal, and for the inland coal-fields there was the North- Western line and its branches. Seeing all this, he trusted the Committee would not give their de cision on the preamble of this Bill without taking the evi dence upon the other Bills before them, and that they would not sanction a line which had no public utility whatever to recommend it, in opposition to the wishes of a great number of owners, with whose property it would materially in terfere. Mr. LIDDELL then called Mr. Nash, who was examined on the way in which the line would affect the residental pro perty of Mr. Law, at Shelford, Mr. Bendish, and Miss Har rell, from each of which it runs between three and four hun dred yards distant, running in front of the houses on an em bankment ten feet high. • The Earl of Hardwicke, Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, stated that he resided at Wimpole, seven miles from Royston, where his property was about 7,000 acres in extent, and that he did not conceive, from the thinness of the population, that there was any justification whatever for the outlay for this line. There appeared to be two lines of communication already sanctioned, and in his Lordship's opinion there was no probability:whatever of another line being profitable, for every requisition as to railway accommodation fur the coun try was already satisfied. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XVII. MIDLAND (EXTENSION PROM LEICESTER TO HICHIN). GREAT NORTHERN (DEVIATIONS BE TWEEN LONDON AND GRANTHAM). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Cubitt, jun., one of the engineers to the line, explained the nature of the deviation, a,nd the advantage which it would confer on Stamford. Adjourned until to morrow at half-past eleven o'clock. GROUP XVIII. LONDON, 0xr0v.33, AND CHELTENHAM, (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Gold, Mr. Burton, and several other gentlemen from the iron districts of South Wales, stated the advantage which the railway would be to them, and the Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXV. The Committee on this group resumed its sittings in Room 14; Sir Charles Lemon in the choir. MANCH LSTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND MIDLANDS JUNCTION (DEVIATION AND BRANCHES). The case of the Duke of Rutland and the inhabitants of Bakewell, in opposition to the above line, was continued this morning. _ _ Mr. Darlington, a miner of Cornwall, was examined to show the nature of the borings, which he stated were good. Two other miners confirmed this evidence. Mr. Baker was then examined, and deposed to the great advantage which would be conferred by the Parliamentary line over the proposed one on the inhabitants of Bakewell. Mr. TALBOT having addressed the Committee, and closed the case, the room was cleared, and on cur re admission • The CHAIRMAN said, that as they had not received the report of the Board of Commissioners they would not give their decision till they had received it. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXVI. The Committee on this group met to• day, for the first time, in Room 12 ; Mr. Beckett in the chair. The lines comprised in this group are the' North Staffordshire (alterations and branches). North Staffordshire (Churnet Valley line and Trent Valley Railway Junction). South Staffordshire (Cannock, Wyrley, and Norton branches). London and North-Western (Birmingham and Lichfield line). Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire Junction Railway and branches. The first line taken was the NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE (ALTERATIONS AND BRANCHES). Mr. TALpor opened the cane for the promoters, and pointed out the great advantages which would be;conferred by these branches. Mr. NEALE, on behalf of Sir H. Overy, opposed the Wel lington branch on the ground that a clause in the Bill passed last session precluded any further interference with his pro perty. After some discussion, The CHAIRMAN announced that .this clause would not pre vent the Committee from considering the merits of the Bill. Evidence was then adduced for the line. Forsyth, C.E., was examined, and said that the gradients and engineering works on the branches were of the usual character, and the estimates were quite sufficient for the construction. The lines would open up access to mines, fire-works, and iron-works, and afford great accommodation to the country generally. Mr. NEALE then stated that it was net his intention to cross-examine witnesses, or to oppose the further projects of the branches before the Committee, but to reserve his opposition till the Bill went up to the Lords, as Sir H. Overy felt satisfied that the Committee would not sanction the Bill for a moment after they had been made aware of the clause in the Act passed last session. The case of the promoters here closed, and the Committee were prevented from passing the preamble in consequence of not having yet received the report of the Railway Com missioners. The next line was the NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE (CHURNET VAL LEY AND TRENT VALLEY JUNCTION). Mr. TALBOT then opened the case for this line, and expa tiated at considerable length on the merits of the line and the great advantages it would confer on the districts where the two lines passed. Several witnesses then deposed to the great traffic which would be accommodated, when The CHAIRMAN interposed and said that the Committee wished to be informed of the advantages of the line for the accommodation of the through traffic. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP XXVII. GREAT NORTHERN (BRANCH TO KING'S LYNN.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Eridence was given on the part of the corporation of Wis beach against the mode in which the Great Northern Rail way proposed to contract the swing bridge in that town. The Court adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP XXXI. SOUTH YOEZSBZ&E• (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Lord Wbarncliffe, and several other witnesses, testified to the advantage to be obtained for the mineral districts around Rotherham, as well as for the timber forests of Wharncliffe and Penistone, and spoke also as to the respective accommo dation that would be given by the different projEcte. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXIII. The Committee met this morning; Mr. Hope in the chair. LEEDS, WAIEEPIELD, AND MIDLAND UNCTION. The whole day was occupied with hearing engineering evidence on the Bill. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXIV. This Committee resumed its sitting at twelve o'clock ; Mr. F. Baring in the chair. OLDHAM ALLIANCE. Mr. MAIM opened the case for the opposing petitioner Mr. Burn, after which he proceeded to call evidence. Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAm replied on behalf of the Lin• colnshire, Sheffield and Manchester Railway, against the Oldham Alliance Railway. Tl.e Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP XXXV. This Committee met to-day for the first time; Sir Robert Ferguson in the chair. All the members were present. Bills referred to the Committee : Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Acts Amendment Bill (Deviations). Preston and Wyre. Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-on-Tyne Junction Railway Acts Amendment. Fleetwood, Preston, anil West Riding (Burnley and Colliery Branches). Manchester and Leeds (Branches, Extensions, Deviations, Alterations of Levels, and other Works). East Lancashire (Burnley Connecting Line). • East Lancashire (Deviations and Rawtenstall Coal Branch). East Lancashire (Bury to Manchester). E-st-Lancashire (Clitheroe, Mitton, and Padiham). LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, AND NEW CASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION ACTS AMENDMENT. This was the first Bill taken, which is to effect a deviation and some extensions in the scheme passed by Parliament last year. EAST LANCASHIRE (BURNLEY CONNECT.. ING LINE). Mr. Bennet, Mr. Hawksbaw (the engineer), and several other witnesses were examined on behalf of the Bill. Mr. BKANDT opened the case on behalf of tue opposing scheme, after which the Committee adjourned. GROUP XLIL WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICSLO W, AND TIMM= R.EPICALL. The Commitee met at half-past three, and adjourned till after the Whitsuntide holidays. GROUP XLIII. The Committee met at one o'clock, in Room 16; Mr. Protheroe in the chair. LIMERICIC and WATERFORD.' Mr. WHATELEY, Q C., opened the merits of the Bill, which he said was to extend the time for making the railway. The works were already comiderably advanced, and part finished, but the difficulties in the money market, and the unfortunate state of the country, had delayed them. The Great Southern and Western proposed to run over the line, and it was wished to open this line simultaneously with their own. Another object of the Bill was to make some unimportant deviations, which, so far from making an increased capital necessary. would actually effect a saving. He trusted to be able to satisfy the Committee that both these were necessary. They were only opposed by Mr. Baker, a resident on one of the deviations, which was really a case for compensation, and nothing more. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XLVIII. CALEDONIAN AND DUDIEAILTONSIIIILE 317NCTION (DEVIATIONS BETWEEN DI7NTOCHER, LITHE-WOR.I4S, AND BOW LING, &c.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) ➢ir. Cubitt, C.E., also gave evidence to the same effect. He thought the works under the canal could be con3tructed without an accident, still there would be some danger. ➢lr. Sergeant MultritY then replied on behalf of the Forth and Clyde Navgation. This closed the case on behalf of the opposition. Mr. Heim . eplied for the Bill, dwelling on the evidence adduced in its behalf and for the opposition. The provi sions of the Bill were to effect a proper connexion with the Garnkirk and Glasgow, and the Caledonian Railway, and the real opponent was the Edinburgh and Glasgow Com pany, though ostensibly the Canal Company. The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company wanted to have the present line connected with their scheme alone, and hence the opposition had been got up in order to defeat the Bill. For that purpose this care about the danger to the canal in the crossing under it was mooted, but he (Mr. Hope) submitted that no case of real difficulty or danger had been made out. Whatever danger, however, there might be, the promoters of the Bill were willing to leave the direction of the works to any neutral engineer that might be ap pointed, and in that shape he left the Bill for the decision of the Committee. The room was then cleared for the decision. On the re-admission of the parties, The CHAIRMAN intimated that it was the opinion of the Committee that. the preamble of the Bill was proved, with the exception of so much of it as related to the deviation at Helenburgh. They further intended that the works at the crossing of the canal should be left to a neutral engineer. The clauses were then agreed to, ➢lr. Walker or, failing him, Mr. Leslie, of Edinburgh, the engineers to be referred to regarding the works. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP L. The Committee met this morning at twelve. Present., Mr. Banker, in the chair, Mr. Carew, Sir B. Hall, Mr. Hind ley, and Mr. Henley. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, NXLVIARNOCIC, AND Awn, AND AYRSHIRE AND BRIDGE OP tV EIR (NO. III). The CHAN:MAN said Mr. Hope might proceed, if he thought proper to do so after the strong °pillion expressed by the Committee that they would not grant the Bill. Mr. Hort.: assured the Committre that their recommenda tion had been considered, and that most carefully, but lie trusted to be able to show reasons wherefore the company should proceed. The statement put in before the Com mittee showed that the balance of mortgaged debt only amounted to 318,0751., on a share capital of 3,854,566/. The Bills sanctioned by Parliament had a capital of 1,966,0001., and the company had alreitly sixty-six miles of railway made and opened. It appeared, therefore, that the whohs amount of debt on a capital of 3,854,566/. subscribed for and available, did not amount to one-tenth of the whole capital. Besides this, it ought to be recollected that Bills applied for this year, and included in the data upon which the Commissioners had founded their report, had been lost on the standing orders to the amount of near 2,000,000!., and also that the Act of Parliament gave them the power of borrowing to the amount of 400,0001. These considerations bore inspection, and the company would not suffer from comparison with the financial practice of any other before I'arliament. So much for the financial status of the company. But now for the scheme projected by the Bill. Last year a line was sanctioned by Parliament from John stone to the Bridge of Weir. This branch was short; the Ayr Company had powers to lease the line, but it was thought more desirable to amalgamate it altogether with the Avr Company. That was one object of the Bill. Again, Parliament had so far commit ted themselves to the present project, for the traffic to the Bridge of Weir and Crossley formed a large im portant element in the case for the Bill last year. But these places were still unsupplied, and the Bill proposed to meet that. A third object of the Bill was to continue the line down to Port Glasgow, a distance of nine miles. The same project was before the Committee last year, and was thrown out only on the engineering difficulties, when the line joined the Greenock Railway at an incline of 1 in 75. It now avoided the Greenock station, by joining the line a quarter of a mile before, and with half a mile of a dead level. Port Glasgow was a harbour of very considerable import ance. It was included in a Bill promoted in 1837 by the Greenock Company,; and powers were obtained to make a railway to the port ; but, as Greenock port was a competing harbour, these forms were neglected and allowed to expire. In 1840 powers were again sought by the Greenock Company, and obtained, to make the branch. A clause was inserted, binding them to make the branch in five years, and open it at the same time with the Greenock branch ; but it was not made. Now, the importance of Port Glasgow was such as not to deserve this. The customs last year amounted to 135,800/. It was important to bring up the Ayrshire coals to compete with those from Lanark, and also to offer a means of ballast to the outward-bound vessels. There was another branch 17% miles long, from Kiltnacolm to Largs by Innerkipp. But, in deference to the committee they were prepared to postpone that this year, deducting from the proposed capital an amount of 380,0001., and they took their stand on the other branches, which might be made for 220,0001. Sir B. HALL said his own opinion was, admitting all the statements of counsel, that the branch to Port Glasgow was entirely to be made from minerals, that a case had not been made out for the preamble of the Bill except for the amal gamation, and for the Bridge of Weir and Crossley Mill branches, if these were unopposed. The CIIAIRMAN intimated that that was the opinion of the Committee. Mr. Miller, engineer in chief, who was called on these two branches, said, when the Bridge of Weir line - wal passed e tdo lastte year, it was thought proper that it should be leased _ _ _ e Ayr Company, but it was believed better that it should 1) vested in the company entirely. The two branches to t he Bridge of Weir and Crossley-Mtn were very short and very necessary, and not opposed. The estimate was under 30,000!. The preamble of the Bill for these objects was then de clared proved. Mr. IlorE said they would. w.ifthdralwaustehweire;eopipnosseirtitoedn to the preamble of the next Bill, a c giving the Ayr Company running powers over the Linw oo d B ran ch down to Port G las g ow. After some conversation, in which the Committee evinced an opinion that this should be conceded, it was agreed to consider this privately to-morrow, and therefore the consi deration of the Glasgow, Paisley, and. p Greenock ..i (Amendme n t s and Branches) , and the Glasgow, ats and Greenock ( b ranc hes to Port Glasgo w ) , was p ost p oned till to-morrow. PAISLEY AND NI ROVEMENT)MEW (SALE AND =M. P. Sir T. Pniwrs said this Bill was to all intents unop posed. d The object of the Bill was to sell the railway and to compl e te the works and impr o v e th em , for which a Bill already existed. The Clyde trustees opposed it, but the Admiralty had given their consent, and a petitionagainstit w as put in by the B arrhead and Neilson Railway Company. Mr. MILLER said the Paisley and Renfrew Railway had been acquired by the Ayr Company, and was to be improved by widening the rails from 4 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 86 inches throughout. That was necessary, and several large works at the part now proposed were also necessary. The estimate was 38,000/. The preamble was declared proved, and the clauses were read and agreed to. The Committee then adjourned till Thursday. GROUP LI. THE NORTH BRITISH. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The room was then cleared, and on the re-admission of ,he public, . - The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee were of opinion that North British Railway Company bad not made out a satisfactory one, and they decided, therefore, that the preamble was not proved. Mr. CoexsunN then proceeded to reply for the Caledonian Company. He was glad to find that the decision just ar rived at would confine the observations he bad to make within somewhat narrower limits ; and he trusted that when the whole circumstances of the case were laid before the Committee the opposition which was given by the Dumfries and Carlisle Company would be equally unsuccess ful. That opposition divided itself naturally into two dis tinct branches—first, aga i nst t h e l eas i ng power granted to the Caleilouiah Company, in the last eesslou of Parliament, of that portion of the Dumfries scheme which was compre hended in the branch between Annan and Springfield; and, secondly, the powers which they sought to obtallt for making e line to Brampton, and other branches. To the first of these objections he would direct the attention of the Committee; and !here it would be necessary to review (and he should do so as rapidly as pos sible) the events of the last few years, in as fon. as these affected the interests of these rival schemes. It would be remembered, that when the Caledonian schemes were first projected, Mr. Locke and Mr. Erringten were appointed to surrey the line of country from Carlisle to the north of See!. land, with the view of laying out one great line which should afford the best accommodation for the southern traffic, at the same time that it did not overlook the local requirements. These gentlemen, in their report, recommended that the line should be taken round by Annan and LockerbY, and thence carried northwards through the centre of the c ount r y, then dividing—one fork being car ried west to Glasgow, and the other south to Edinburgh. This scheme was submitted to the Royal Com missioners. who recommended that a deviation should be made, leaving Annan to the south, and the promo t e rs deviated accordi n g l y The Board of Trade, by a subsequent report, con fi rm ed the opinions of the Royal Commissioners, and gave the preference to the Central or C a led on ian line over its two competito the the North Briti s h, or East Coast line, on the one side, and the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle on the Other. In 1845 the e: lines came before the Legislature, and the Dumfries, wh ic _i announced that its object was to supply the local wants ye the country, was despite the oposition of ere] by them, sec cessful ; but, on proceeding to p the Lords, his clients ware se far fortunate, that they succeeded in getting this clause in serted in the Dumfries Company's Bill, as a matter of pro tection to their through tra ffi c, a tra ffi c which he begge o ui the Committee to remember the Dumfries ComPanY,l lad et n 'll pretended to ask. Well,:that company of with this clause; they brought it down to the House rd Commons, and there, and in the House of Lords, not of protest was entered against its insertion, and th e y 8 . 1 f: accepted Weir cepted it in its present condition at the hands of the Leg!' lature. What was the consequence? This, that the Cute' donian were by the Act of the Legislature vested htwith ef; tain right, which the Dumfries Company now sea r set aside. Could anything be more monstrous? The had donian Company sought to protect themselves; thorium.. • the sanction of the Royal Commission; they bad been Pre te, nounced the best line by the Board of Trade, ef te , r .. a t i r e t h i and patient, and searching investigation; and, the had received the confirmation of Parliament itself. In , e d confidence that no other main line would be . proln . .. through this district, the promoters of the C a ledeeian the ft pany had invested their capital, they had constr ucteu pa ct line, and they looked with security to the implied contow entered into with the Government. This Comf y s et came forward to ask one section of the Legislature Noel aside an Act of Parliament, and what was the re as , on Thef advanced They distrusted the Caledonian Rai l wa y' I n the surmised that certain obstructions would be Om" who way of their traffic between Annan and Springfield. _t ever heard of reasoning like this ? Why it was the interves of the Caledonian Company to encourage the trafic er ee their line, and the very best security for their abstin;eo6 from all obstruction would be found in their own inter. The Learned Counsel then proceeded at great length to sw op that the branches sought for by the Dumfries CelnParYsle be constructed to the east belonged properly to the ridi . donitn, and could be better supplied by them ;_ and be e es culed the idea that an export and import trade could b ted tablished between Kirkcudbright and Ireland. H e e, nt T , o rea r ds, the Committee to a ffi rm the decision of the Home s ide and thus put an end to a conflict so unjust on the one and so oessive to the Caledonian Company. The C om mittee adjourned till Thursday at twelye o'clock. T COMMITTEES on PRIVATE B ILL S YORK PVEMENT. The object of this Bill, I w hi ch is promoted by the enr ll. Ceti of York, is to construct a bridge called Lendale-bridger and to take land and house property in order to make air proaches thereto. Lord Ingestre is the chairman. Mr. Hudson, M.P. (who was examined by t he title Which he bears, namely, " My Lord Mayor," and ship," as Lord Mayor of York, which sounded rather strange.V. .to the ears of those accustomed to hear the Ilono9dearc; Gentleman examined in his railway capacity), O ve evi sr in favour of the Bill, in which he explained the various .on rangements which had been come to between the coiros h t ! k " Your L ora ,: of York and the North Midland Railway Compann c ' f he is the chairman, with respect to making itnprovemen.- the approaches to the station, &e. The Hon. Gentleman was examined at considerable leer. by Mr. LEMAN, of York, to show that the property's 3 f ir Norrison was not required for the purpose of the pro ments sought to be made by the Bill. Mr. Birkenshaw, the surveyor, was exami ned at consider,: able length. He considered that the proposed improveraem" would be of great advantage to the city. Adjourned until -morrow, at one. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS DOCK ACTS AMENDMENT. k This Committee m e t f or a short ' time at tsvelve o cloc and went through the remaning clauses of the Birhe nhei Commissioners Dock Acts Amendment i (as to construction d sea wall along Wallasey Pool), and then adjourned. MARKET INTELLIGENCE . (From the London New Price Current of May 11) the SUGAR.—To-day a considerable increase took place in - fr demand for all descriptions of raw Sugar for home colour" tion, whilst exporters came into the market wi th more ee: dom, and purchases were made by speculator bresvere, I _ l 2 distillers. The result was, a rise in the valtke of all ki n "" took place ; in fact, some parties have withdrawn their Sugars from the market. tcellent reeest REFINIED.—To-day Refined Sugar was ex' aid . The by the home trade, and advanced rates W ere p business transacted was larger than for some Crushed Sugar sells more freely, and at stiffer rates. ; brisk EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was .n e demand, and prices advanced 6d per cwt. Privately sev rat parcels were sold, and 1,514 bags at auction all found buyers. Of Madras 2,193 bags were only in part sold, owing to BOlided holders asking an advance on furii.er rates cf Is per cwt. NACRITIUS.—This afternoon there was an extensive de mand for all sorts of Mauritius Sugar,•and 9,878 bags 84 casks at public sale were all disposed of at an advance on the rates of Friday of 6d to Is per cwt. FOREIGN. To-day there was no public sale of foreign Sugar, but by private treaty a fair quantity was taken by shippers and the home trade, and the rates paid were rather above those that existed previously. d for COFFEE.—This afternoon there was a better demo- _ Native Ceylon, and merchants succeeded in obtaini n g stifle ; rates for the parcels disposed of by private treaty. Therei but a small quantity on of f er. Plantation howev er is l itt . le _ wanted, and for such the tendency of prices is yet downifar.as: Tr*.—Although there are sellers of Congou even rather under former low rates, still all descripti ons have been ! ) r i e ; rated in with caution by the town and country trade, and market is plentifully supplied, especially with the nielnuT and better sorts. There are few buyers of Poucho ooda d ng,si L . l . further reduced rates would be taken. The ntb9 11" qualities of Green have been in good request , bu g t holder are a s willing sellers at previous quotations, and there i: quantity on offer, but the low and middling sorts afhr gee arl of disposal ; the supply is yet plentiful. and the little has been done. The merchants are complaining _ accepted are again in favour of buyers. In SentedafTtehaes low rates at which Tea is selling, and be wondered. rate in East Rim—To-day privately as less desire to n amount of busi- India Rice, and p only a moderate ther lower at which it is not to ness was done, although there are sellers upon ra ; art sold. terms :at auction 650 bags of Bengal were only . 11 _,,j oh SPICES.—To-day. at public sale, 19 casks of au!a,,,,, Ginger were sold—mid at 755. to 80s, ord and good ord 0 41 to 555, and sea damaged, of better quality, 93s per cwt. A SaurrETnE.—Rough has been in excellent request; 1 1 0 7 1,442 bags at auction sold at a rise on the rates of the ase public sale of 6d to 9d per cwt. English Refined has beefs much in demand at 3ls 6d to 32s per cwt. Hors.—The market has an improving appearance for $ ll descriptions of Hops, in the better sorts large purchases have been made, and at rather higher rates; whilst in the lower kinds a fair business has been done, and in some cases a t better prices. Sriarra.—To-day many purchases were made in all sorts of Rum, and prices range as follows :—Leeward Island, Pr on g 3s 2d to 3a 3d; East I n di a , di tto 2s ltd to 3s; Jamaica, `- 4 to s 37 0 4 p s e r6dc att over whic h proof ii oldae holders are4s6dto firm; in ss6 ddin d e e ; and Demerara' will pot.emerarst take these rates. - - I wDzao.—'ll;e quarterly sales of Indo commenced to-dif: Before the opening and during theprogressl,l43 chests were withdrawn from the two catalogues A and B. 82 4 c 11), C a o n e d } I t ur. h have passed the sale. the parcels i afternoon o 3 fl.er e d a publicic e further sale w e declined re o nlonly 1 2 d p p a e .. 1 sold. Otis. —For Southern Oil, further reduced rates having be en submitted to, occasioned the demand to be good for all de scriptions, but the supply is ton the increase. At publicsarr 45 tuns were all gold. There has been little passing bY/Pfor vate treaty, and 25 tuns at public sale only'lletched 3 3 . _ pale, 261 lOs to 27/ f o r yellow, and lower prices are looilict for, as the accounts received from the Seal Fishery cont nuo to be highly satisfactory. In Cod only a sm all amours business has been concluded. Of Sperm there is an inc r ease ' quantity offering for sale, and prices are on the decline, t he demand having been limited. The sfock of Oils has .p_e_cl further increased, and there are sev eral arrivals near at nal' of all descriptions. TA L LOW. —Although hom e-made Tallow can be ob t ained aine on the spot at moderate rates, still the trade operated with caution, and there• is a plentiful supply. For Russian the market is in a dull state, the town and country trade only purchasing sufficient for their immediate wants, whilst merchants are free sellers. l'or delivery in the last three months of the year there has been only a small amount of business done. All other kinds of Tallow are heavy of dis" posal, and can be obtained at further reduced rates. 81112713. eee On the 9th inst., in Chester-equare, the wife of C • $ ll f Burdett, Coldstream Guards, of a daughter. On the 9th inst., at Larkliall-lane, Clapham, Mrs. 15PMullen, of a son. M r s. Jolla On the 10th inst., at Newton-road, Bayswater, Townshend Philpot, of a son. MARRIED. On the 6th inst., at St. John's, Paddington, Ernest John, h°lll to s eldest son of the late Colonel Craigie, of the Bengal ATrinY, $ Mary Jane Frederica, second daughter of the Rev. Hatch, Vicar of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. On the 6th inst., at the Collegiate Church, Manchestert Charles Cumberland, Esq., of Roselands, Enfield, Middlesef ! to Eliza, eldest daughter of Jeremiah Garnett, Esq. , of? Du Broughton, Manchester. DIEP- On the 9th inst., at Swilland Vicarage, near Ipswich, th e Rev. Heny Cx Blorrell. On the r 9th o inst , at Frogtal, Hampstead, Mary Ali n* eldest daughter of Robert Prance, Esq.. aged 12. On the 9th inst., at the Grove, Blackheath, Sarah , th e wife of Joshua Hargrave, Esq., aged 59. .4 On the 9th inst., at Cedar Lodge, Stockwell , Frede..c George Cox, Esq., of Doctors'-commons. On the 9th inst., at Spring-grove , Richmo nd, Lady Price" relict of Sir Charles Price, Burt., aged 71. On the 6th inst., at Paddington - green , M ar y Esther, relict of Edward Gray Saunders, Esq., aged 90. On the 7th inst.. at Clapton, John Clark Powell, Esq . At Madrid, H. W. Wilton, Esq. On the 7th inst , the infant son of Robert Welsh, Egl• On the 7th inst., at Western - te rrace, Brighton, Ileurf " Everitt, Esq , aged 56. On the 7th inst., at the Vicarage , Tottenham, the Be!. E° Vaux, of Aspenden, Herts, aged 44. On the 7th inst., at Southsea, James Mill, nant on half-pay of the 40th Regiment. T h om On the Bth inst., at King's Langley, Hertfordshire , Toovey. Esq., aged 56. efal Su On the Bth inst., in Hyde-park-street, Majos-Gell John May, K.C.8., K.C.H., aged 67. the On the 6th inst., at St. Leonard's-on-Ses, Charlotte, daughter of Mr. Charles Southall, aged 15. Esq., Lieute - London: Printed and Published by IMMO YOUNG, of 24.° ' Fred a — Strand, Printer, at The Bun °Bice, No.l l t , Strand, in of the Fi• 1547, —Yoh in the County of miclaopic, W e dacedeY, Pow the _ tio g, . cog] and ill 11 Sider Tb Will 1 Om s Ills Di re, buu Self the 11 I to win oft 1 to d ..r o by ( -..,,