The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-10 00:00:00

Tfl SUN, LO ON THU 118 DA Y MORN! NG, JUNE 10, 1847. was that to give way to the private interests of a pqrcel of railway j e , s2 Mr. It YORKE said, that as it was admitted that these r-sulutions were private business he should vote ftga,inst the a dj A irlru-lit tee question, as their present dismission would gi eatly facilitate thy disposal of all the private hu,ine,s conn: , cted with railways. Tie CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER said he would unite a prop,sition which might, perhaps, meet the conveai ,, nce of all panics who were inter,sted m the businei3 which was to succeed the present discussion. W.,uld the House agree to sit at twelve o'clock to an,rrow ior the pure .se of considering this question? atm he would how withdraw it. The debate was then adjourned until twelve o'clock to tn.); row. PORTUGAL. Mr. OSBORN E said that f.e ‘i i.-hed particularly to knew a hen the tno , ion of the Hon. Nlemb, r for aL es t ee . e upon this subject was to te brought forward. It had been fix cl upon for to-morrow, and then again post putted. It was, as he had heard, postponed in cense• pellee of there being a Queen's ball upon Friday evening. It had been sad that " wretches hang hat jurymen may dine ;" he would, however, p.ara phrase the line and say, `'patriots die that se nators may dance."—(Laughter.) Ile wished to know whether the motion was' to come on en Friday. Mr. HUME said that tee eelay had taken place in consecpwece of the alkenee of certain pacers which Mould produced upon Friday. The motion, would therefore, iii the event of the production of these papers, come forward un Friday et ening . . Mr. BANKES wished to know why they had not been produced before. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the delay had taken place in consequence of the time taken in printieg them, and they se ould certainly be in the pos session of the H , use on Friday evening. Mr. OSBORNE said that the censure which had been applied to the Hon. Member for Montrose was not de served, for he had done all in his power to bring forward this subject. He thought that a most unaccountable and unnecessary delay had taken place in the production of the pap-rs moved tor. Sir R. INGLIS said that he thought the less excite ment that was created on the subject the bettor, as the matter was to come on Friday. HOSIERY MANUFACTURE BILL. The adjourned debate on the second reading of this Bill was resumed. Mr. M. GIBSON said that he felt it to be his duty to oppose the s cond reading of this Bill, fur by refer ring the matter to a Seleet Committee, which they would have to do, they would be pledging , hentselv 2s that the Legislature had a right to interfere with and regulate labour. He thought the measure which had received the sanction of Parliament last year could not be brought for Bard as an argument in favour of the present Bill. If they interfered and increased the cost of the production of hosiery, how could they show that it would not have a most injurious effect upon the working man? How could it be supposed that that House could know the manu facture of the article as well as t',ose engaged in the trade? But let that be as it might, how could they show that any saving that might be effected would go into the pocket of the labouring man? Were they not, on the contrary, justified, if they adopted the statements that had been made as to the conduct of employ , rs, of arriviog at the very epeesite conclusion? It was shown from the testimony of those who had itivestigati d the s ubject that the diAxes , thet existed among those empeiyed in the hosiery trade arose from the increase in their number; tied that ceuld not be well pie vented front the very nature of the emi,loyment, itselt, in wince cowpoing was cia,ily ob tained, ehd to winch that vast nuieher centinurely , yed in this country would naturally turn tiieteselves. The' Committee asked for by the Ho nouritbie Baronet was not one that was to consider the tr,rits of the measure , but merely to go throur_ II the details of a Bill the principle of which bad atreedy been sanctioned. He o bjected to th who e pro vi sion - sion widen did not allow any person net a hosier manufacturer to employ any person in the hosiery trade ; in fact, a middlemen could not employ his oen child. He believed that it was necessary that some person should intervene between the entplot e r and tie WOI iman. Ile would, therefore, eive his o pposition to the proposition of the Honourable Baronet ; it would he open to evasion, and he consi dered it was most objectionable to pass measures which it eas le ,ssible to evade. It was against all principle to interfere and by legislative enactment to prevent hiring out of machines. He could not conceive a more legitimate investment for pro perty than in machinery If they adopted this principle, it might be extended to all classes of property. He hoped that the House would never give its consent to a measure fraught with so many evils, and which he felt convin-ed would bring great ruin upon the hosiery manufacture. Mr. PACKE said that the present Bill was founded on the caws and evidence taken before Mr. Mmegridge, who was sent down as a Commissioner to inquire into the state of the hosiery manufacture. In fact, the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman who spoke last would have led the Howe to suppose the Bill was a crude and visionary scheme, which had only found its advocate in the Hon. Baronet who intro duced the Bill. These machines only cost about 51. a piece, and the owners used to let them out at the rate of a shilling a week, which was more than fifty per cent. Now this was a tyranny which was most unbearable, and as long as he had a seat in that House he would raise his voice against such cruelty, in favour of his poor neighbours,—(Hear, hear)—and lie would therefore give his decided support to the second reading of the Biil. He was sorry to be any party to divide the House upon such an absurdity, but he felt it to be his duty to oppose the Bill. Sir J. EASTHOPE said that he did not conceive that by supporting the Bill he was becoming a party to any such an absurdity as that which had just been represented. Unquestionably, if this Bill were to be carried out strictly in accordance with its present provisions, lie would aban don its support and repudiate its principles. IV hat4as he asked to do?• Why, not - to go up stairs into a vair. in quiry, which would protract the provisions of this Bill, out to ascertain its merits and obviate its defects. He had no reason to doubt that this Bill might be so mo difial as to become greatly altered, and un questionably useful, after it came out of Committee, and seeing that it proposed to affect the interests of from 50,000 to 60,000 individuals, he was certainly inclined to give every facility to the working of its principle. There was no greater evil than that of middlemen, and no where was that evil more severely felt than in the case of those, who were now suffering so severely from frame re nts. And fu ther, he wets the more induced.to- desire the success• of the Bill, 'because he was aware'th.at the men who were suffering from the evils complaieed Of had acted in the most adinir,•ble manner. They had not leot themselves to chertism; they had in no way evinced un easiness or impivience; but had waited with remarkable terbearance till they obtained rebel through the aid of Parliament. He rep, ated that the Bill in its present ship:' was a crt'e, imperfect piece of legislation, with which he would have nothing to do; but he be tiet ed it might be ver y greatly amended in Gen mit tee, and therefore he should vote for the meaus by which the adventnges of it might be °honied, ane the ieconveniences avoided. lie re collected that the same objection Irtd been made to the Bill tor the abolition of the truck system, and yet he believed that his Right Hem. Fdentl the I),esident, of the etrd of Control lied taken an active part in carry ing. out that Bih ; told he trusted, therefore, that no serious opposition would be of to the C minittee, whose laboui $ would enable the House to test the state ments in the report which, with all its bulkin,tss, had been pieced in the trends of the Members of toe House, and he should, therefore, vote for the C-mmittee. number Colonel ROLLE ee o le li oveuia i s : l i i i tt d ori , te, h t ww h eh( a )ihr t ekah h ma ts teh v hn i ae n :l ; aency l (d i ei v irn e t3: : imaa f si o ecna r te.,Trdl a s; tit kn tain the owing 'olof condition t t ent and he could say with truth that the representations had its no way been exaggerated. A more orderly set of men never existed ; they had been parties to no dis turbance, but had patiently made their appeal to the regularly constituted authorities, and only com plained of a hardebip which no power but that of Parlia ment could mitigate. He knew, from the must authentic sources that many of the most excellent workmen were at the present moment subsisting on the wages of 53. a th. CORN-LAWS. l'lts e ,; L ifie GIBSON presented a petition from the ultti e j'r of Commerce of Manchester, pray in g that ail 4 t °ll corn might be done away with im mediatel y t .l „„ravigationaws suspended. ot ise • PATTEN begged to cull the attention of the Phv ate t o rt circumstance which occurred in yesterday's nit th business. He was yesterday about to move the Itsil er consider a tion ot the London and North . Western w tle em al Bill, when he was informed that it had b e en leel Y done. That appeared to have bee n a mistake, as h uti not been moved, and therefore he hoped the House the n ii termit him to move the further consideration of then.---Motion agreed to. RAILWAY RESOLUTIONS. - CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said Ats in k Pursuance of notice he had given o n Monda y I tith "e rose to move cer , ain resolutio ns co nnect e d Sir railWa)s. "bhp; H. "ALFORD rose to order, and asked if these 'll,„"Lcs were strictly to be called private business. k m ; SPEAKER said that all matters connected with • "Ilis was properly to be considered private net, The CHANCELLOR rat p i eswsANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said lott e crl. Gentlemen would remember that about a I sartr t since, an Hon. Member bad brought up cer tea, esolutions to impose re striction* upon the ra ilroad 448, at Which the railway business was p roceeding. 'sop s Tnuence of that he had framed certain resolu the ti o 7, Which he was now ab out to ask the consent of som e - 'se• Before doing so, he thought, however, that of to y r Planation of them was necessary. In the course th e ! debate which had taken place a short time ago, sh ott i a irle which hand been suggested was, that the House Pe o , " interfere, ,by compulsion, stop all further d ee _cedin gs in the railways. That c .urse was not I fr ,, Lu td advisable, and it was then suggested that a se onof certain railways whi c h should be allowed to on should be made. The G overnm ent had considered that proposition, and had come to the conclusion that : 11e Y would not stop any of the proceedings of the rail- I Zz e rpanies by c ompu l s i on , b ut wou ld them the accompanied by certain inducements, to stay theirthey had for the present. The course which h_ ad taken was founded upon the opinion that it ; r e nid not be advisable to attempt to compel a stoppage det ermination railway proceedings, but they had come to the j7,7!ertnination of withholding certain powers which had 11 . 1 .erto Leen granted to railway companies, giving them %t.the same time the power of suspending the Bills till pliTture period. The first resolution merely gave the !lea the power to suspend their Bills till the session of at o '_, B4B l and by the second and third they merely re -I,petto, the regulation of the House which had existed / Lens to the enormous increase of these speculative ings, which had of late assu med an ascendancy, e ll 3' inconvenient but dangerous. The third re-so n prohibited the payment of, interest upon capital, ap,; l° ,us thus calculated to check the increase of those rt u n : L ittions which were got up merely for the purpose Itr o : e g sold. In former Acts of Parliament for private Oce-reedings, no such thing had been heard of as the K ent of interest upon capital, and it, was now . being fia l Pe e rl Y about to be checked. The next resolution, the t o r tu, prohibited companies, which were only enabied Plu ealn r ,„P i lle a small porlion of their line, to declare sure *al % r' ° "tut and the fifth placed restrictions upon the or lease of railways to other companies. Many ° Y companies were cot up merely with the inten bot the leasing or selling the line, and the parties had th e e smallest intention o' ever const ructin g the line tlit naselv es . M any com p an i e s sought powers to gua retee the payment ot interest to othe rs, bein g e y no ft ste , Us substantial bodies ; and this resolution would re 'let Athichany such powers being given to any company -be an wce not in a position to make their guarantee a fide ean - e security. The last resolution also placed other t ,„,rwtions upon other minor details, which he would 4. , 1 enter into then. lie should move Ihe resolutions, oh `,' if the House agreed to them th. y would be binding 1; 1% 1 so far as this session was cone.-reed. He there - Proposed the resolutions for the approbation of the d ouse (for which see another part of our pape r ) . bate, H. LIALFORD moved the adjou rnm e nt of the de 'v. The matter was stated to be of private business, b _ ll t was literally of public importa nce, and it would in terfere materially with most important ; üblic business. Mr. SPOON ER svc.inded the motion. The CHANCELLO it of the EXCHEQUER said that he had cited no power which the G overnment possessed , bringing forward this matter. He had merely acted its any private Member in that House would have done under similar circumstances. Mr. ESTCOURT said that the question was whether the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite was acting con sistently with the practice of the House in bringing for - Ward these resolutiocs a t that time. The subject was one of considerab l e i m portaece, and he thought tnat the Sooner. h it was determined the better. He hoped the 4,1 ,. °use would not postp one, u;Am a merely formal objec `ton, the settlement of a question in which such great in terests were involved. „M, e• S. CRAW FORD supp orted the motion for the /1 Murnment of the debate. lie did not think that n a eray business should take up so much time of the — "se, and he was aware that many Members who were relents to express their opinions on this subject would Ps no opportunity of doing so if the question were i sposed of now. Sir J. EASTHOPE said that the determination of - "'s question was most anxiously l ooked forward to, but tue re were thousands of people in distress, whose mi ., ries w ere to b e a ll ev iated by a Bill which was on the lis t of that day. The postponement of the railway question for one day wo uld not be of any inj ur y to it, an d the case of these people required the most immediate co nsideration. After a few words from Mr. HUME, t h Mr - BANKES said that the time was come when should consider the question of whether the rail bl business was to keep off and swamp all the public business of the House. Night after night railway des , . w _ u _se t e h n at vv it e h r ee takin up their time, and the consequence Housewas frequently counted out, to the great sl a i l a Y of matters which the House should imme cihtoet' " e ui with. He hoped that those Hon. Members sever ere for the adjournment of the debate would per . e In their intention. Sir GEORGE GREY admitted that the pressure of Nivate business had very much of lateinterfered with the t u blie business, and he thought that if any complaints were it made about the di-cussion o f the p resent motion, would be better to take the sense teethe House at once, ' ut l not waste mere time in discussion. Alter a few .torus from - Mr. CRIPPS and Mr. E. a tlZEre, Colonel SIBTHORP said that upon the present, tem. stcu ho should du that which he did not very often do - tIPPort her Aajesty's Government.—(Laughter.) He ""ou l t;ht that the measure brought forward was a most ,admirable one, an d ca l cu lated to put a stop t o the pre sent increasing system of railway I(e , ielation. dc , 4 , 131 e 1 . T. S. 1)COMBE said. thrit there coulJ he no tli4i these iesolutloug, were of a private ',attire, - 4 „ lll,, tiglit, not to be brouznt on to interfere with the vtlblit; busbies.; iihich wa:.> upti the 11,, was I ' !efts Bill upon the list which the House had come down to dia Ctigat and which affected the interests of many thou -51148 Of stating people in the Midland Counties, and PARLIAMENTARY DIVISI (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Comznons.) TUESDAY, JUNE 8. COVENTRY, BANBURY, AND BI LL OXFORD JUNCTION R Al L W AY . Report considered ; Amendments agreed to as far as Clause 20 of the printed Bill (Gauge of Railway); Clause 20:— Motion made, and. Question proposed, " That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Ameudment." the House divided : MAJORITY—AYES, 105 Acland, Sir T. Greene, Thomas Owen, Sir J. Alflam, W. Gregory ,W. 11. Pechell, Captain Antrobus, Edmund Hallyburton, Lord Pluturidge, Captain Bailie, Walter Hamner, Sir Jobs Price, Sir Robert Barron, Sir H. W. Harcourt, G. Rendlesham, Lord Bellew, n. M. Hawes, B. Repton, G. W. J. Berkeley. Craven Holland, Robert Round, J. Berkeley, Grantley Howard, P. H. Russell, Lord C. Blackstone, W. S. Hume, Joseph Russell, C. Bodkin, William 11. Inglis, Sir It. Seyrser, H. K. Bolero, H. G. James, William Shaw, Rt. lion. F. Bowring, Dr. Keratite, 11. Sheppard, T. Boyd, John Langston, J. H. Shirley, E. J. Burke, T. J. Lawless, Cecil Smith, Vernon Butler, P. S. Layard, Major Somerset, L..rd G. Carew, W. IL Pole Lindsay, Colonel Somerville, Sir W. Christie, W. D. Lygon, Gen. Spooner, Richard Codrington, Sir W'. Macnamara, Major Stansfleld, W. R. Cole, Hon. H. A. M'Carthy, Alex. Stanton, W. H. Colebrooke, Sir T. M'Taggart, Sir J. Stuart, Lord J. Martin, C. W. Strickland , Sir G. Collett, Corbaly j , o 3 h l n E. Masterman, John Talbot, C. R. Cripps, W. Miles, Philip W. S. Thornely, Thomas Divett, E. Miles, William Trelawny, J. S. Duncan, George Mitcalfe, 11. Trevor, J. R. Duncembe, 0. Molesworth, Sir W. Turner, E. Ellice, Edward Morgan, 0. Vvian, J. H. Ellice, E., fun. Morris, David Vivian, J. E. Escott, Bickham Morrison, James Waddingtonrii. S. Eimonde, Sir T. Neeld, John Warburton, Henry Estcourt, T. G. Nichol!, J. Wawn, J. T. Forbes, William O'Brien, C. Winnington, Sir T. Forster, Matthew O'Brien, J. Worcester, Marquis Fuller, A. E. O'Connell, M. .T. TELLERS. Gill, Thomas O'Ferrall, It. M. Dennlstoun. J. Goring, Charles Ogle, S. C. Williams, W week. - Sir J. H3BHOUSE said that really the only argu ment that had been advanced in favour of this Bill was that it was a very bad Bill, and ought to be amended ; and tie must acknowledge that he never heard a more curious reason than this for proceeding with what his Honourable Friend behind him justly characterised crude, imperfect piece ut legislation. From his own knowledge eif the locality he could say that the masters of the itthiery &strict were as anxious as any men to alleviate the distresses of their workmen, and both they and he were quite ready to allow the distresses to himselflie, would be deaf to the co:l:plaints of the people if he were not sensible of the evils which those men en ich this dured. But, let the House look to the consequences wh 13111 would produce. It would at once set aside all the frame w rents, and would thereby destroy the value of upwards of 1,700 frames in Sut ton and in Ashfieldse re alone, for proprietors mainly dep ended on thents their support. Did the Honourable Member know that out of the forty thousand frames upwards of ten thousand belonged to independent proprietors ? It was becaus:? he conscientiously believed thst this Bill would not benefit the parties who were distressed, and because he also believed that it would inflict injury on others, that he would give it his decided opposition. Mr. DUNCOMBE said that the object of the present Bill was to protect the honest earnings of the poor ma nufacturer, and was not by any means an pt to attem raise or regulate the rate of wages. It had been consi dered by the Right Hon. Baronet as inconsistent in him to support it, seeeing that he had expressed his opinion that there were several objectionable details in, it. True that was his opinion, but the only way to remedy those objectionable details was by sen‘ling the Bill to a Committee—(l tear, hear) aiml that was the reason he slippirti-d tbe snond read itt, for he bcheved the brine of it wa4 good, The own-r otthoso trainee, who m w-As a middle an. let the trtime to t , h.! workman, and in doing so he requir,d hitn to with a certain bit;clv , r or k"ke r ; the elfoet which system he would idus.rate by the following Ciet:—A man, who had a wile and five ch ildren, rcrit, d Out a trams; ilr,-, his we for twelve weeks a verwed a 71.; he was of ie(i to deal with a bak er ; a t min nd when he e to be paid for his labou r, he found that 4 l 1 2 s. was stepped for the single article bri2o.d. An en , ,rmous charge m:de t !_ of the f ale, ra . but the re, , ult was, the rent that only thirty-seven s"hiiliiigs was left - to the poor mull and his family, to al:d clothe, ply rent and taxes, fur the space of twelve w'''" . ' 1731. eY a soy that tbey should not interfere with the rights property. They had al teads done so in the Ten Hours' Bill, l ad it wets nenense to say that a number of independent Riding Junction Railway (Burnley and Colliery Branches) frames would be rendered valueless; there was not one of Bill, petition for additional pievisi,an the standing orders ht not to be dispensed with. these frames which had not been p aid ter five times over. 5. That in the case of the York and North Midland Railway oug He did not propose that they should say that tension) Bill, special report th e e (Harrogate Branch, Borou hbridg an d Kt bo gh Ex these middlemen should not hire out their frames, but that such hiring out should be declared " truck." He • the standing orders ought to be dispensed with,and that dit F io; f n t a h l r p e r s o o v lu is ti io m n l , a i g f r t e h e e d y t s , h ).— all ß t e h p it o tk rt fi to t. .01111111 1 l a t r t e e S e on the Bill, hoped that the House would not deal contemptue us -Y the Committee on the Bill be permitted to introduce the ad with the distresses of these poor people as to throw out the Bill without a second reading. lie on the table. Mr. ROEBUCK was an opp onent of the p resent Bill, as it was a direct interference with capital in the country, RA ILWAI 0111' %SITTERS. and because it would reduce the already wretched con dition of the labourer into greater wretchedness. HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESrERDAY.) What was the case which was charged as a robbery? Why one man brings his lebour and another brings his money. Well, where then was the robbery? for as it seemed to him there was an equable exchange. Ile might cite the example which he had previously adduced of the farmer who brought his skill and his money also into the market, and it the landlord exacted a more than sufficient tent the time would come when the cause of loss to the farmer would be discovered, and the land lord would have to come down with his rent. This Bill, therefore, he repeated, if carried would only be successtul in wo: king a great loss. They could tio more regulate %ages by Act of Parliament than they could regulate the price of bread, or the profits of the mer chairs of London, by Act of Parliament. It should be recollected that machinery was now in existence, and was every day improved, and it was firmly established in his mind, that if this Bill were to be adopted, the very first persons to rue its passing, would be those whom this Bill was intended to benefit. They all knew the case of the hand-loom weavers. There was not the slightest doubt in the world, that if there was to be any interference with the hosiery weavers there would quickly be machinery invented to supersede the assistance of the artizan alto gether, and everything would be effected by machinery; and if' Parliament did not desist from its headlong career, and refrain from interfering in matters which it could never improve, the consequences would be that greater evil than benefit would ensue from the alteration. He was sorry to have trespassed so long upon the House, but trusted that he had not treated the subject in a spirit of asperity, and that what he had said would be received as it was intended, with the hope that no step would be taken that would not be eventually instrumental in pro moting the welfare of the operative.—(Cheers.) Mr. BA NKES perfectly agreed in the 'opinion ex • pressed by the Eon. Member for Bath (Mr. Roebuck), it the belief that they ought to go into the inquiry to aseertain how benefit could be rendered, but he totally differed with him in the conclusion at which he had arrived; for he seemed to assert that if even this in quiry were to turn out favourably to the Bill, he still would oppose it, as it was contrary to the principles of political economy. But such a course had not been pursued by the Honourable Member for Finsbury (Mr. T. Duncombe), for, although that lion. Member had declared himself a supporter gene rally of the principles of political economy, yet still be did not restrict himself from deviations from the strict principles of that science whenever the occasion arose from particular causes, and he was not, consequently, opposed to this inquiry. —(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Bath had objected to the 7th and Sth clauses of the Bill ; but what was the object of those clauses ? Why, simply declaratory that a ' mischief lied been practised and ought to be prevented. arid that was, iO fact, the principle of the Bill. The Right fl , n. Baronet at the bead of the Board of Control hal statue that he had male great exertions to overset the truck sy tem, and yet he opposed this Bill, although its principle was precis. ly the same. For what reason, then, del he oppose the Committee for which his Hon. Fritelo had move,i? None but that of petaotial conve nience; and, ter his awn part, he believed that the best reason for volitaa in the affirmative was, that the inquiry, whether sue: (—slid or not, must prove useful. Mr. 8110 - MERTON was desirous of not giving a silent vote on th is occasion, because he was anxious to state that, although he was favourable to any emancipation of the operstir-, he did not anticipate any god efh-cts &bre the Bill this session, and because he be lieved that it would be easier to make a new Bid than to amend this. He should, therefore, oppose it, of because itwould be bene ficial to the manufacturer, but because it would be inju rions to the operative. Mr. F ERRAND said that the very reason which had been adduced by the Hon. Member for Salford was that which would induce him to support the Bill, for he evidently felt that there was a case for inquiry, and he regretted that the It ght Hon. Baronet the Presi dent of the Board of Control did not conceive himself to be the Member, not for the manufacturers only but fur the artizans al-o of Nottingham. He (Mr. Ferrand), when Mr. Gladstone was at the head at the Board of Trade, waited upon him, with a deputation from the Midland districts, an that Minister had sent down a Commissioner who had ascertained that the operatives had far understated their ease. Mr. MARK PHILIPS said that he was perfectly convinced that this Bill was most objectionable. The object of the Bill, namely, to regulate wages, was beyond of the power of the Legislature, and nothing could be more delusive than an attempt to meddle with the question and he saw so much that was objectionable in the Bill, that he would not give it his support. Sir HENRY HALb'ORD said that the dis tress had lasted thirty years, which fully proved two things—first, that there was uo corrective prin ciple in the system itself, and, secondly, that it was therefore necessary for the Legislature to interfere. He had been accused of having devised a crude system. That was the fault of the Government, for he had no ambition to he a legislator, and the question ought to have been in the hands of the Government.—(Hear.) Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House was cleared for a division, when there appeared — For the second reading 57 Against it Majority SEDUCTION AND PROSTITUTION. Mr. SPOONER presented several petitions in favour of the second reading of this Bill, and moved that it be read a second time. The question was then put, and the gallery was cleared for a division, but no division took place. An Horr. MEMBER having observed that strangers were present, the gallery was again cleared. After a considerable interval the gallery was again opened, when we found Mr. ROEBUCK concluding a speech in opposition to the Bill. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE opposed the Bill. Mr. P. BORTHWICK and Col. SIBTRORP supported the Bill. After a few words from Mr. Huatz and Sir G. GREY, The Bill. was read second time, and was ordered to be referred to a Select Committee for the'cofisideration of the a lauses. SAVINGS BANKS' ANNUITIES BILL. The Heuse then went into Committee on this Bill, and the (lotuses were agreed to. Mr. DUNCOMBE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the better ventilation of mines and col lieries, for the protection and preservation of the lives of persons employed in and about the same, and to make other provisions relating thereto. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Six o'clock. Room B. WATERFORD, Vi XxrOILD, WXCELOW, AND DUBLIN. The Committee on this Bill met this morning, at eleven o'clock, and the opposition having been withdrawn, the Bill, was pas,ed. The Committee adjourned until to-morrow at eleven o'clock. Room D. The Committee met this morning at the usual hour; the Duke of Richmond in the chair. WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTII-VIES TERN (STAINES TO ASCOT' AND WOKINGHAM, WITH BRANCHES). WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTII-V7ES- TERN (RICHMON6 TO WINDSOR). Mr. AUSTIN addressed the Committee at great length in opposition to these projects, and contended that the lines pr , posed by the Great Western, which had an undoubted right to supply the district with railway accommodation, would afford greater advantages to the district than the lines of the South- Western. Mr. WARREN was proceeding to call evidence in opposi tion to the line of the South Western from Windsor to Slough, but Mr. Sergeant WRANGRAH objected, on the ground that the line had been admitted in the House of Commons by Mr. Talbot not to be a competing project; and besides the line of the Great Western to Slough had been thrown out. The Committee decided that it was not a competing pro- ject. Evidence in opposition to the other portions of the South- Western line was then adduced. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDA Y. ) GROUP X. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group, re-assembled at the usual hour this morning; Lord Clive in the chair. lIAR.V7XCLI AND EASTERN COUNTIES JUNCTION. The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with ;he usual general local evidence in favour of this line. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXX. GREAT WESTERN (EXTENSION TO EXETER.). Mr. Brunel was cross-examined for a short time, when the Committee stated that, in consequence of an important mea sure coming on in the House, at which they were obliged to ba present, they must adjourn the Committee till twelve o'clock to-morrow. The Committee then adjourned. THE CORN TRADE. (From the Mark-lane Express.) The consumptive demand for wheat has, within the last few days, increased materially, and no correspond ing incre ise having taken place in the deliveries from the growers, the supplies have scarcely sufficed to meet the inquiry, and prices have, consequently, again begun to tend upwards, notwithstanding the continuance of highly auspicious weather and very favourable reports from all parts of the country respecting the growing grain crops. The firmness of holders may probably have in some measure been owing to the rumours preva lent respecting the reappearance of the potato blight ; but the principal cause of the rise which the price of wheat has undergone has unquestionably been the in adequacy of the Supplies to satisfy the demand. As re gards the future we are disposed to think that present arrivalsharvest, f r however o a favourable p r o t h v e e rates will be about maintained, nearly, if not quite, up to r e t n e d x e t s e s a s t i the m wl / 4 ti a ch the L than calculated on ; whilst an unfavourable change would undoubtedly. in the existing state of the country, lead to a material rise. We are happy to observe that the most recent accounts from Ireland contradict the previously received reports of the reappearance of the potato disease in that country. Such another visitation as that of last year would, indeed be an awful calamity; but the greater the magnitude of the subject, the more imperative it is the duty to watch the matter closely, so that in case of the worst every means might be employed to mitigate the evil. The accounts from Scotland do not speak so favour ably of the crops as could be wished, the weather having been less auspicious there than in the more southern parts of the kingdom; still no serious complains have reached us either as regards wheat or spring corn from any quarter. We have again to report a very small arrival of wheat of home growth, the receipts into the port of London coastwise having, up to this (Saturday) evening, amounted to only 4,859 quarters. The quantity brought to Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from Essex. Kent, and Suffolk, has been still more trivial; and though the millers have conducted their operations with the utmast caution, the tendency of prices has been upwards. The few runs left over from Monday were placed on Wednes day at laves scarcely obtainable in the beginning of the week; and the tone of the trade was altogether firmer than it had been previously. On Friday there was hardly any English wheat ,on sale; and the disposition to buy having increased, holders of the little on hand declined accepting former terms. That an advance of 2s. to 3s. per quarter was paid is certain; but the trans actions were, in consequence of the extreme insignifi cance of the supply, quite unimportant. The country demand for foreign wheat has again begun to revive, and if importers had been disposed to accept last Mon day's prices they might have succeeded in making rather large sales. For parcels in granary decidedly enhanced rates have been asked, and, except in case; where the expiration of the lay days rendered it desirable to sell from on board ship, purchasers have found it difficult to buy without paying 2s. per quarter more. The rise would probably have been more decided if the opinion had not prevailed that liberal supplies from the Black Sea are close at hand; the expectation of large arrivals having induced buyers to confine their operations to as narrow limits as their pressing wants have admitted. The receipts from abroad have, during the last eight days, amounted to 19,326 quarters, the greater propor tion of which is from the Baltic. Town made flour, which till lately was almost wholly neglected, has within this day or two excited some at tention, the possibility of an advance of 55., if the wheat market should undergo a further rally, having induced the bakers to purchase somewhat more freely. American flour has also been in improved request, and for the best brands of Western Canal ls. to 2s. per barrel more was realised at the close than in the commencement of the week. The arrivals of the latter have not exceeded 7,659 barrels. ,Barley, of home growth, seems to have become very scarce in all parts of the kingdom, and the receipts have consisted of 1,163 quarters during the week. A few purchases of this grain were made both on Wednesday and Friday for shipment coastwise, but the local demand wits of quite a retail character, and no portion of Mon day's decline could be recovered. Supplies from abroad continue to come to hand somewhat more liberally than had been calculated upon. In malt very little business has been done since our last, and the tendency of prices has been downwards. The brewers appear to have sufficient for their present wants, beyond which they show no disposition to purchase. Of English oats only 253 quarters have come to hand whilst the arrivals from Scotland and Ireland have been, respectively, 50 quarters and 770 quarters, making a total supply of home-grown corn of only 1,073 quarters. This has, however, been compensated for by the receipt of 29,910 quarters from abroad ; and there has, conse quently, been no scarcity. Whether the foreign sup plies will continue on a sufficiently liberal scale to make amends for the very trifling nature of those of British growth may well be questioned. Meanwhile the trade in this grain remains depressed, and the dealers were enabled, on Wednesday as well as on Friday, to buy on nearly, if not quite, as easy terms as in the beginning of the week. . Beans and peas have also come sparingly to hand, not withstanding which, sales have proceeded slowly at about the currency of Monday last. Indian corn has in some degree recovered from the recent depression, the idea that wheat will not go lower having had the effect of directing attention to an article so useful as a substitute. By the most recent accounts from the Continent it appears that the weather had, en the whole, been aus picious for the growing grain crops; which circumstance, I together with the accounts from hence of the very im portant fall which took place in our markets towards the close of the last month, had had sufficient influence to cause some reaction. It appears, however, from the ge neral tone of the Baltic advices, that stocks are deci dedly short in that quarter ; and it is, censequently, pretty certain that so soon as the news of the rally which has this week taken place shall have become known on the other side, holders will again raise their pretensions. A letter from Dantzic, dated 20th ult., states that the quantity of fine wheat on the spot was very small, and as the water in the Vistula was low it was feared that the supplies still expected down might be prevented ar riving. The best qualities of mixed and high mixed wheat had, it seems, been held at very nearly former prices ; but secondary sorts had, upon receipt of the English advices of the 21st of May, receded 2s. to 3s. per quarter. The highest quotation for 611 b. to 61i1b. fine high mixed was then 183., and prices of other sorts varied from 755. to 83s. per quarter, free on board. Accounts from Konigsberg, of the 29th of May, in form us that the supplies of grain from Poland had in creased, and that, in the absence of orders from Great Britain, holders had shown a disposition to accept re duced rates, notwithstanding which very few bargains had been closed. The value of r e had also receded there. From Rostock quotations come as high as ever ; in deed, according to letters from thence of the 31st ult., the tendency was rather upwards, owing to the extreme insignificance of the stocks. The weather in that neigh• bourhood had been and was then favourable, and an early and abundant harvest was confidently calculated on. Some cargoes of Russian rye had arrived, which had been sold without difficulty at prices corresponding with 555. to 60s. per quarter, free on board. At Stettin, on the 31st of May, fair red wheat, of 591 b. weight, was held at 88s., and white at 90s. per quarter, free on board. Stocks were then very light, the neighbouring growers having brought forward little fot sale. The value of rye had rather needed, owing to in creased receipts from Russia, Sweden, &c. ; still good parcels were not obtainable below 68s. per quarter, free on board. At Hamburg, on Tuesday, there was no export demand for wheat; but a parcel or tw o of red, weighing 611 b. per bushel, were taken fur the interior of Germany at prices equal to 82s. to 83s. 61 per quarter, free on board. Rye had receded 25., and oats were rather easier to buy; but of barley none had been offered for sale. The accounts from Holland and Belgium speak well of the crops, and at the leading markets wheat, rye, &c., had receded in value. In France prices have also given way of late; and the most recent advices from Paris, Havre, and Marseilles, report the wheat trade very dull. All over the Mediterranean quotations of wheat have receded during the last month, owing to continued large arrivals from the Black Sea. At Leghorn, on the 27th of May, very good Marianopoli wheat, deliverable in all June, was obtainable at 60a. Bd., and for delivery the fol lowing month there were offers at 21 livres, equal to 575. 7d. per quarter, free on board. Since writing the above the Hamburg mail of Friday has arrived, bringing letters of later date from the Baltic. The weather had, it appears, continued very fine, and the tendency of prices had been downwards. At Dantzic, on the Ist of June, the highest quotation was 80s. to 81s.; and at Hamburg, on Friday, the best red wheat was ob. ,ainable at 80s. per quarter. DEPARTURE OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS or KENT.—WOOLWICM, JUNE 8.-1 guard of honour of the Royal Marines, under the command of Captain Parke, and a held battery of the Royal Artillery, under the command of Captain the Hon. G. T. Devereux, marched to the dockyard this morning at nine o'clock A.M., to be present during the embarkation of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent for the continent. Her Royal Highness, accompanied by his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen and Colonel Sir George Couper, C.B. and K.H., arrived at half-past nine o'clock in one of the royal carriages and four horses, and was received by Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer, K.C.B. and K.C.H., Superintendent of her Majesty's Dockyard, Lieu tenant-General Sir Thomas Downman, C.B. and K.C.H., Commandant of the Garrison ; Colonel Parke, C. 8., Com mandant of the Royal Marines; Commander West, of the Hecate steam-vessel; Commander Ryder, of the Vixen steam-vessel; and Master-Commander Driver, of the Dee s t ea m- troop vessel ; Majo r Cuppage, Brigade Major d ; an Captain Tylden, Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster -General of Artillery. Her Royal Highness, on alighting, was escorted on board the Garland steam-vessel by Sir Gordon Bremer, the guard of honour presenting arms, and the band of the Royal Marines playing the National Anthem. A royal sa lute from the field battery announced then ime at whi the ch her Roya l Highness embarke d. Capin Set of Gar land, received her Royal Highness on board, and immediately after took his station to ewn direct th ves ! sel, an riverd in with velocity- This vessel is beautifully _fitted up as a packet stesine-r, and is the fastest now runnin. Sunday may be men tioned, as a p:oof of her speed, tha . t on last she em barked 40 passengers and two carriages at Ostend, and landed them at Dover. and immediately atter proceeded to Wool wich, where she arrived within ten hours from the time she left Ostend, having performed the whole dista nce in that sh.irt period. The royal standard was hoisted on board the Garland, and her Royal Highness appeared highly pleased with t h e In arka of honour paid to Lcr during her tnibaika tioti 4:IILAY'S INN, JUNE 9 —Richtv:i Edward AY(I-1-1, E.q., and Matthew Cenalr, E•sq., were this day ca.;ed ;be degree of atrfister-ht-Law by the iloueuriute Society of Gray's Inn. SERIOUS CHARGE OF ARSON. On Tuesday a young man, of exceedingly respectable appearance, was charged at the Police court with setting fire to his shop, in Kirkdale. The prisoner resides in Castle-street, Kirkdale, where he has followed the business of a boot and shoemaker for the last twelve moths. The charge was supported by Mr. Dowling, am the prisoner was defended by Mr. Davenport, ate wney. The first witness was William Eastwood, a seaman, win* deposed that he lived at No. 7, Claremont-place, neat' Castle-street, Kirkdale. He was in Castle street about one o'clock yesterday morning, going past the house of the prisoner. He did not know that the pri soner kept the shop. When he passed the house, a dog got hold of him by the leg, which he drove off; and when he had proceeded about fifty yards beyond the house', he heard a crash of glass. He then turned back, and saw that the shop was on fire. He went back, and knocked them up. He saw the smoke and flame through the shutters. He alarmed the neigh bours. A man then put his head through the window, and said, "0 ! Lord. 0 1 Lord." He told him the house was on fire. It might have been two or three minutes after he knocked. The Dean tried to get on the top of the house. He and the police persuaded him to go back, and they would get ladders, whieh they did. The man went in again. They reared the ladders against the house ; after that, he went to the back, and got over the wall, to go and see who was in the house. They went into the house. He got in by the back doer. The door was open. He then went into the garret, bet found no one there. The staircase was not on fire ; only the shop. He got a light, and went up stairs again, but found no one. He was suffocated with the smoke, and had to get through the garret window himself. This was not the case the first time. No room communicated with the lobby. There was no room behind the shop. He went into - the shop a quarter of an hour afterwards. He did not see the person who came out of the house. The person might have had his shirt on. He was undressed. He went out of the back door to the yard. The door was locked inside ; the key was in it ; he unlocked it himself. Mr. Edward Parnell was next called. He said he was overseer for the poor in the township of Kirkdale. He lived at 26, Castle-street, Kirkdale, immediately opposite the shop where the fire was. George Bevan kept the shop. He (Mr. P.) slept in front of the house. He was alarmed yesterday morning. He lifted the blind and perceived the policeman and another person knocking loudly, and perceived smoke issuing through crevices of the window shutters, and the room appeared to be enveloped in one vivid flame. He slipped on his clothes. His next thought was for the inmates whom he called loudly on to escape. lie went to the house next door, at the back of the premises, knowing them to be rela tions of the person whose house was on fire. He then returned to the back part of the house, and saw the prisoner in the act of descending the ladder. He was about trio-thirds down when be threw his feet off and appeared to cling to the under side. He called out to him not to do so, when the policeman and others went to his assistance and brought him down insensible. He then had him conveyed to Mrs. Tellett's, and called in medical assistance. The prisoner was not restored when he left in half an hour. It was a three story house. There was a door leading through the yard into an entry. He had been to the premise , after the fire was put out. There was a back parlour behind the shop. The connexion was through the door. He did not go up stairs. The fire was confined to the shop. He had examined the shop. There was a parti cider smell, similar to turpentine. He saw the leaves of a book which appeared to be saturated with turpentine. Other articles were saturated. The prisoner had been in the shop since November. He had beard that some ob jections had been made about the prisoner having th, shop, but none were made in his hearing. John Donald, officer 491, was the next witness. He stated that he placed the ladder and went up it. The top window was open. He saw a man at that window be. fore. He called three times, loudly. No one answered He then descended the ladder. He had no sooner got to the foot of the ladder than the prisoner made his ap pearance. He went up to meet him. He was not dressed. The prisoner threw some clothes out of the window. He seemed exhausted, and the witness assisted him down. He appeared suffocated. There was tie smoke in the bed-room. The smoke came through the shop. There was a bed in the room, and another in the room adjoining. They appeared to have been , slept in- Mr. John Eaton, inspector of police, deposed that he was in Castle-street yesterday morning, about two or i three minutes past one. The shop was all in a blaze. 1 There were two or three officers there. He called to them not to break open the shutters. After the fire wa' got out he entered the shop. He saw the fire was con fined to the windows. He got in through the front. The blaze went out of itself. He found a candle at the foot of the stairs, in the lobby through the back part. He found a turpentine bottle on one of the shelves; it was on the second shelf, and broken from the heat. Turpentine was about it. It was on the right-hand side of the shop, be hind the counter. He examined the place at the back of the counter and shelves, where he found paper partly con sumed. He searched underneath, and found paper soaked with turpentine, which he produced. He found part of the paper on the shelves; it was near the window. The shelves were divided. He found the paper on the con • trary (opposite) end. It was impossible for the turpen tine to flow to it from the broken bottle. The turpen tine was all round the shop on both sides. It was on every shelf in the shop. Opposite where the bottle eas found was wet with turpentine. He examined the floor in the centre of the shop, between the two counters, and this was also wet with turpentine. It was under neath the shop, having penetrated through the ceiling ' Mr. Maxwell put the candle to the ceiling of the cellar, and it blazed. There was a very strong smell. There were two pieces of carpet on the floor between the counters; these were wet with turpentine, lie found a number of shoes saturated with turpentine. The bottle he produced was the only vessel he found which had contained turpentine; it might hold about a pint. There was not much about the bottle. To saturate the articles as they were, he thought would take a gallon of tur pentine. The shop was in his division ; there wet another shop or two in the neighbourhood. He had not heard of any injury threatened to the prisoner. Mr. Thomas Abraham, superintendent of police, was next called to give evidence. Ile stated that he resided opposite the prisoner. He was roused from his sleep by the alarm. The fire was then confined to the shop. It was like a furnace all at once, all of a sudden. It blazed ten minutes. His attention was called by inspector Eaton, and they found the flames dying. They then applied water, and broke into the shop. There were chairs placed against the door, and steps. He saw the flames through the' opening that had been forced be tween the doors. They could also see it through the crevices of the door. (The shop has two windows, and the shutters cover the entrance as well as the win dows.) The wood work was much scorched, as well as a number of shelves that were well stocked with boots and shoes. He directed Mr. Eaton to take pos session, which he did. He confined himself to the op posite side of the shop. He found on the shelves on his side a quantity of paper, as well as the floor, partly consumed. The shelves, paper, and shoes, were all wet, Paper was placed about every six inches on each shelf. The floor was quite covered with turpentine. He brought samples of shoes from each of the six shelves, all of which smelt strongly of turpentine. On the fifth shelf he found a shoe stuffed with paper and saturated with turpentine. Other articles were enumerated, as wet with turpentine. It would take two gallons to do it all. He also found a wooden bowl which had been fil led with turpentine. One waste book he found on the ' counter, it was wet through with turpentine ; the others had been consumed. Near the parlour door and under the counter he found a shirt, both sleeves were burnt. Mr. Maxwell deposed that he was inspector of sal vages. He had been called to the fire, and affirmed to the truth of what had been stated by the former wit nesses. He examined the roo ms and the shop. Six shelves on one side of the shop and five on the other were saturated with turpentine. The premises were in sured for 4001. on stock, wearing apparel, and fixtures They were insured in the Guardian-office, Mr. Chamley i agent ; 340/. was on the stock, and 601. on the building, on which the prisoner had spent money, and had on lease. He had made a rough estimate on the value of the stock. He considered that the whole might have cost 1701. No part was entirely destroyed. The book produced was the only one he saw. It was posted on the 29th of May. This being all the evidence prepared, Mr. Davenport, on behalf of prisoner, said there was no room for him to doubt that some one had set the house on fire, but who did it ? The door of the house was open, and the key was in the back door. He was told that several perms had threatened to serve the prisoner out; but not being prepared with witnesses he sought a remand. The magistrate consented to hear the remainder of the case to day, when it will come before him in the usual business.—Liverpool Courier. THE NAVIGATION LAWS. The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the _operation of the navigation !wars re-assembled on 'Tues day morning in Room No. 2. to continue that inquiry. Members present, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Lyall, Mr. Alderman Thompson. Mr. Hume, Mr. Liddell, Sir George Clerk, Sir Howard Douglas, Admiral Dundas, Mr. Thomas Baring, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Chark s Pelham Villiers ; and Mr. Milner Gibson, chairman. The Committee proceeded with the cross-examination of Mr. George Frederick Young- With the permi ss i on o f th e Chairman, Mr. Young ' produced a certificate (rein Mr. Jansen, an eminent underwriter at Lloyd's, and from the Secretary to the Marine Insurance Soci et y, b o th to t h e e ff ect that the statements made by Lim on a former occasion, with regard to the rate of insurance being equal on both foreign and English ships, and that they would assure a Danizie oak-built ship at six per cent. for the wholes year, at which rate they also assured a ten years English oak-built ship. By Mr. Mitchell—He was not aware that the state - ment made by Mr. Jansen had been submitted to most o f the leading underwriters at Lloyd's, and that they had' refused to put their names to it. By Mr. Ricardo—He considered that the ports of this country were used as the great emporiums for the re ception of the produce of the distant quarters of the world in consequence of that restriction of the Navi gation Act which prevent: d the importation from any port in Europe for consumption in this country. if the navieation-laws were repealed, and the cost of warehousing were less in Antwerp than in this country, the Dutch merchant would warehouse his importations in Antwerp and not in England. He had been told, upon very credible authority, that the cost of warehousing in Antwerp was much cheaper than in this country. The whole of the German market was at present open to the Dutch merchant, and if the market of England were added to that the inducement to ware house his goods at Antwerp would be infinitely greater to the Antwerp merchant. Ships were continually ar riving at Cowes for a market ; and they waited there until the consignee had ascertained the best market tog which to send her cargo. These ships, however, were chiefly laden with coffee and sugar. By Sir George Clerk—He was fully aware of the im portance of encouraging the system of warehousing goods. He was not able to say why goods were ware housed in this country for foreign consumption, not withstanding that the expcnse of warehousing was less abroad than in this country. He did not think it was owing to our insular position and the facilities of our harbours, for the chief ports for warehousing were London, Liverpool, and the '`,lyde. If all foreign countries were to adopt navi gation-laws similar to our own, this country would be placed in a particular disadvantage. He did not think that would be obviated by a system of reci procity, because he was of opinion that the results of re ciprocity between two countries would be that the row material would be imported into the one country in the ship only of that country in which it was produced, while the other would cnly have the exportation of the manufactured goods—a most serious inconvenience to this country, as the bulkier articles required for manu :actures would all be carried by the ships of other countries. By the Chairman--There was little or no profit at the present time on the export trade ; the import trade only was profitable. The export trade at present was open to coreigners, and if th , -! import trade were also opened to foreigners, he thought the result would be great depre- AatiOn and disadvantage to the shipping of this country. By Mr. Villiers— He had already stated that the effect of freight on commerce was very much overrated ; L d'fference of 11. or 2/. made no alteration in the price A the article carried. Ile attached m'ire importance to .he shipping as a national interest than as the interest of ndividual shipowners. All the shipowners asked was, that the capital embarked by them in their trade should not be reduced, by the trade being tak,n away from them ly the unrestricted admission of foreigners into our car rying trade to such an extent as would render it im aossihle for them to maintain the competition. His views on this point were with regard to thee present, and not to the future race of shipowners. The cost of produc tion might be diminished, hut not to a level with the cost of production in the cheap competing countries. He could conceive such a state of things, but he should object to the sponging away the national debt, without which they could not hope to cJnipete on equal terms with the cheap nations. The Chairman—Are you in favour of the shipowner purchasing his provisions in the cheapest market? Mr. Young—Certainly I am. The Chairman—ls it an advantage to the shipowner to purchase his provisions in the cheapest market? Mr. Young—lt is a great advantage, and they were glad to get what they required in the cheapest market. The Chairman—Would it not be a benefit to the Bri tigh farmer to import his commodities in the cheapest ships? Mr. Young—He did net think so, because the reduc tion in the price of imported commodities would be so immeasurably small, that it would not reach the con- LORD CASTLEREAGH'S " JOURNEY TO DAMASCU is at length published, and certainly there have been few books of travels announced that have excited greater attention. Not only are the countries through which the author passed such as are invested with the deepest interest to Christians of all denominations, as the theatre of events recorded in both the Old and New Testament, but the manner in which they are described' ca nnot fail in securing the attention of the genera reader, particularly as the work conveys a most ani mated picture of the East in our own day, including the stupendous monuments of Egypt, and Nubia, the desert tracts of Arabia Petrena, and their wandering in the sacred localities of the H ol y Land, and the mountains and shores of Syria. " BELL'S LIFE."--There were sold of Bell's Life in London, during the past month of May—five publications only, namely, May 2,9, 16, 23, and 30-141,561 copies, making an average weekly sale of 28,312. The average sale of Bell's Life for the whole of the year 1845 exceeded 25,000 copies each publication. The average sale of Belts Life for the whole of the year 1846 exceeded 26,000 copies. The average sale of Belts Life for the first four months Of this year, 1847, exceeded 27,000 copies; and the average sale of Begs Life for the past month of May exceeded `a,coo copi e s . Bees Life is regularly published in time for all the Saturday afternoon railways. EDINBURGH AND GLASG w o h lY ile ß th A e i fi L x w ,e A o lc.- I,ck Si t i ,r A ai 'k. t i l rm. ACT.—On Tuesday week, W es a t s P s r tr m u c c e k ' , o s n tr t eLt Gardens, e proceeding n t o h p r e o t t i t gh carriagethe 'gto. face by a stone, which kLocked him down w and seriously in jured hint. The guard was also struck by it, but not hurt. The stone was thrown by a boy from one of the w oo d en bridges d bridges which cross the ra il wa y f or the convenience of t hese who prJmenade in these gardens.— Caledonian Mercury. oesne DREADFULadr edreadful u ACCIDENT.—On Thursday afternoon last, accident happened at the Partnewynitid forge by the bursting of a boiler. The scene was really ter rific ; one large piece of iron passed through the root of the Car r: , jog everything before it, and several stones arid bricks dropped on the roof of the houses near; and the win dows were all b roken. There were altogether fif teen per sons scalded and otherwise injured, ten of whom are now wider medical care.—Heriford Mu& sumer. The Chairman—But might not the farmer say, that ;he reduction in the price of provisions would be so im measurably small, that it would not reach the ship owners ? Mr. Young—He did not think so, because corn being 3 bulky article, and therefore paying a high freight, the farmer had still some protection. The Chairman—Bat the protection being taken away from the farmer, you are still prepared to maintain the protection to the shipowner? Mr. Young—You cannot repair one injury by inflict ing a second. Mr. Villiers—You were opposed to the protection of the agricultural interests, for you voted for the abolition of the sliding-scale. Mr. Young—Ho did not think it just that the farmer should be deprived of all protection. He had always been in favour of a fixed duty. Mr. Alderman Thompson wished to know what the corn-laws had to do with the navigation-laws? The Chairman—The navigation-laws have to do with the importation of corn. Mr. Alderman Thompson moved that the room be cleared. The Chairman—Stop a moment. I do not wish to inquire into the coro-laws,but I must i ns i s t on m y r i g ht to put these questions, which arc perfectly relevant to the inquiry. Mr. Alderman Thompson protested against the chair man making a speech after he had moved that the room be cleared. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. On our re-admission, By the Chairman—Witness was aware that the farmer was exposed to unlimited competition with the continent in the articles of corn, cheese, butter, and cattle; but, notwithstanding that, he would still main tain protection to the British shipowner. The Chairman was p..asuing this course of i nqu i ry when the Committee were summoned to prayers, and they accordingly adjourned until this day. MINORITY-NOES, 70. Ad - derley, C. B. Evans, William Marshall, William Anon, Colonel Fellden, Sir W. Maule, Fox Austen, Colonel Ferguson, Sir R. Mostyn, E. Baukes, George French, F. Oswald, Alexander Barnard, Edward G. Frewon, C. IL Palmer, R. Beckett, W. Gisborne, Thomas Patten, J. W. Brotherton, J. Godson, Richard Pattison, James Brown, W. Grogan, Edward Peel, Jonathan Burrell, Sir C. Hastie, Archibald Philips, Mark Callaghan, D. Heathcote, G. J. Russell, Lord J. Carnegie, Captain Heatheote, Sir W. Scott, Robert Chaplin, W. J. Holmes, W. A'C. Sotheron, T. 11. Clerk Sir G. Hornby, John Stanley, W. 0. Clifton, J. T. Houldsworth, T. Strait, Edward Collett, W. R. Howard, C .W.G. Thesiger, Sir F. Collins, William Hudson, G. Trollope, Sir J. Copeland, Alderman Hughes, W. B. Vernon, G. 11. Dickinson, F. H. Humphery, Ald. Walker, Richard Dodd, G. Jervis, Sir John Walsh, Sir J. Douglas, Sir li. Johnstone, Sir J. Wrightson, W. R. Dugdale, W. S. Johnstone, Hope Duncombe, T. Jolliefe, Sir W. H. TILLERS. East, Sir J. B. Lowther, Hon. Col. Hodgson, Richard Egerton, Sir P. Mackenzie, T. Douglas, Sir C. Entwisle, W. Mangles, R. D. ARLIAMEN TARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes an 4 rid the House of Cot - imams. ) TUESDAY. JIINZ 8. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee :-- 1, 'flutt in the case of the Midland Railway (Worcester, Hereford, Malvern, and Cheltenham Lines) petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 2. That in the case of the Liverpool, Manchester, snd Newc.i.stle•upon-Tyne Junction Railway (Burnley Branch) Ui l ckburn, Esc. l PC I' wh:itional provlsion, the standing orders ougnz • : . :,pensed with. Titat in t h e cast , 6. Manchester, and :3. ovea,le_upon.Tyn , ( Burnley lAranch) Bill (Fltwod, iirovi4on, the n, and West sta • ln:lThgaotridnertsheougcat not h. t t h o e b y e i d e is et p w e ova nsed , p w r i t e ll. s t 0 IMPERIAL PAHL:A:IIEI.i r Thri nous E oF c um U.S S. June ,. 9. tetl ekir ,E4lLErt took the Chair bhurJy u tt er Tv.elve Loa I Q }, Kt; Estate Bill was read a sccolid time and ordered tormnitted. R. kxll.s. e _reports on t h e to E dowin POßT g S Bills were brought up, t rii 7ired to lie on the table ; N o r t nttilditg and lin ? rovenicnt. tit q l:ter Navig:on and Improvement. Cance.shire Railway (Dem:aims and Rawtenstall °4l Branch). ( c , Airdrie, an d M o nklands Junction Railway Carmyle, Central Junction, and Coplaw jpiwi• tiri.nches, and Nlmitr-se- so rtl, Tcrioinus). j e h and Bury St. Lidinuild's Haiti, ay (Branch from ti,Peuvich to W oodbridge). pool Corporation Waterworks. err i o r"eli Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne June tome w ay. 14'A arid Blackwall Railway Improvement and t„,, 44 nnehe s to the St. Katharine an d L on d o n Docks. `t h eh, Oxford. : ind Cheltenham itailwa.y and Branches. 4,, e rePorts oil the following Bak were further con lltitie", and agr ed to:— 44 Atterican Land Company. rgh Waterworks. THIR READINGS. t c he foll ow i ng D Bills were read a third time and passed: )11 4 140 t1t5% Waterworks. jti etter and Birmingham and North Staffordshire 13 4nd ilet ien Railwa IN v el iand Improvements, Markets, and Bridge. ° l'd Free Bridge. HEAL i H OF TOWNS BILL. Ieta h L'ROTHERTON presented a petition fro the hfiCnitors of London in favour of the Health of Towns Rb , ""vONER presented a petition against the Bill. dt MEDICAL BILL. 'Top . YORKE presented a peti'don from York in k r 1 , -. °f t he Medical Registration Bill. 4 UNIE presented similar petitions. BEERSELLERS. --"‘J RCTE STRICKLAND presented a petition tai t he beer se ll ers o f Preston, praying that they titt Ntk l " put on the same footing as the licensed t A itilers. )I, ll B ia lAGE BY RAILWAYS A'ND CANALS. 4 4 4 tutsuz presented a petition from :he Bir min g . %t e a nal Company, praying for an inquiry into the of carrying by railways and canals. he NAVIGATION-LAWS. 41 • s•ON. MEMBER also presented a petition from t he 14Pnitters of the port of London against any inter nee In the navigation-laws. kr • RI STANDING ORDERS. t nib ' I ,7 I ARMAN CRAWFORD presented a petition Ot t 6. 4 boeladal e complaining of the effect of the standing O t4e ,'Petition was ordered to be referred to the Staading Committee. EDUCATION GRANT. 110 WARD presented petitions from certain C atholics Cath o li cs i n C ar li s l e , an d other places, praying td"itholieti might participate in any grant for national %tie ri • STRuTT presented similar petitions from Bath ether pl aces. ki th ' WILSON PATTEN presented similar petitions Pap s of LancAshire. hti t' 0 11 ARMAN CRAWFORD presented similar %la from Rochdale. SMITHFIELD MARKET. oar FILMER presented petitions tram Tu nbrid g e h, 11 4 a A ` l 4l t r, Liydenham against the removal of Smithfieid )4, TRADING IN SEDUCTION. o . • SPOON ER presented petition, trom the clergy UV. "m°ll and Bristol in tavour of the Bill to prevent 1 4 in seduction. - \ GROUP XXXIV. The Committee were engaged all day arranging and pass ing the clauses of the MANCHESTER, sztErrxELD AND LlN— coxaystanz (ASHTON PURCHASE), and THE OLDHAM ALLIANCE. The Committee afterwards broke up. GROUP XXXVIiI. The Committee met at the usual hour this morning; Mr. Rice in the chair. VIANCIIEST33R. AND NEW CASTLE-UPON .T tNE JUNCTION ( ALTERATION OF MAIN LINE AND HAWES BRAN•'H). NORTHERN COUNTIES UNION DEVIATION. The Committee having passed the preambles of these two Bills, were engaged the whole of the day in disposing of the dowses. The clauses were agreed to, and the Chairman was directed to report the same to the House accordingly. This closed the labours of the C. inniittee. GROUP XLV. EDXNBITRGH AND PERTH. The Committee met at twelve o'clock, and proceeded to hear evidence for the promoters. Mr. Charles Jopp, C.E., had assisted Mr. Miller in laying out the line. its iength (both main and branches) was over 34 miles; its cost, incluning land, 650,000/. ; the heaviest gradient, lin 80; the sharpest curve, 2 furlongs 5 chains. 'There were two tunnels on the w!tole line, one of 400 and the other of 500 yards. It had two viaducts, one of 160 and the other of 700 yards. Mr. Miller corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. The Committee afterwards adjourned. COMMITTEE on PRIVATE BILLS HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YES VERDAY.) The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat at One o'clock and passed the following Bills : Cork and Bandon Railway. Cork, Blackrock, and Passage Railway. Alilland Great AN estern of Ireland (Extension from Athlone to Galway). Imnerial Continental Gas Company. Warrington Gaslight and Coke Company. Dunfermline Waterworks. Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.) The Earl of SHAFTESBU RY decided that the following Rail way Bills had complied with the standing orders: — East Lincolnshire (Deviation to Boston and Branch to Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway at Grimsby). Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct. Watei ford and Limerick. London and South Western (Andover to the Basingstoke and Salisbury Branch). Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Deviations. Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Deviations (Extension to Taff Vale). Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Junction (Alteration of Line and Branches into or near the town of Nottingham). REGISTRY of BIRTHS and DEATH DURING THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 5. Deaths registered in the week. Births registered in the week. Males... .• • ... 426 Males ... ... ••• 7°6 Females ... ... 360 Females ... •••619 Total ... 1,325 Total - . 786 COMBAT BETWEEN A RAT AND A FERRET. A striking proof of the sagacity, courage, and I may say reasoning powers of these animals, has been recently given me by a medical friend living at King ton. Being greatly surprised that the ferret, an animal of such slow locomotive powers, should be so destruc tive to the rat tribe, he determined to brin g both these animals fairly into the arena , i n order to judge of their respective powers; and having select ed a tine large and full-grown male rat, and a lso an e q ually strong buck ferret, which had been accu stomed to the h a unts of rats, my friend, accompanied b y his so n , turned these two animals loose in a room without furni ture, in which there was but one window, and the two philosophers determined to watch patiently the whole process of the encounter. Immediately upon being liberated, the rat ran round the room, as if searching for an exit. Not finding any means of escape, he uttered a piercing shriek, and with the most prompt decision took up his station directly under the light, thus gaining over his adversary (to use the language of other duelists) "the advantage of the sun." The ferret now erected his head, sniffed about, and seemed fearlessly to push his way towards the spot where the scent of his game was strongest, facing the light in full front, and preparing hi m self with avidity to seiza upon his prey. No sooner, however, had he approached witoin two feet of his watch ful foe, than the rat, again uttering a loud cry, rushed at him with Iviolence, and inflicted a severe wound on the head or neck, which was soon shown by the blood which flawed from it; the ferret seemed astonished at the attack, and retreated with evident discomfiture ; while the rat, instead of following up the advantage . he had gained, instantly withdrew to his former station under the window. The ferret soon recovered the shock he had sustained, and erecting his head, once more took the field. This second rencontre was in all its progress and results en exact repetition of the former, with this exception, - that on the rush of the rat to the conflict, the ferret appeared more collected, and evi dently showed an inclination to get a firm hold of his enemy; the strength of the rat, however, was very great, and he again succeeded, not only in avoiding the deadly embrace of the ferret, but also in inflicting another severe wound on his neck and head. The rat, a second time, returned to his retreat under the window, and the ferret seemed less anxious to renew the conflict. These attacks were resumed at intervals for nearly two hours, all ending in the failure of the ferret, who was evi dently fighting to a disadvantage from the light fain , * full on his eye whenever he approached the rat, who wisely kept his ground, and never for a moment lost sight of the advantage he iad obtai ne d. I n or d er t o prove whethe r the choice' of this position depended upon accident, m y friend managed to dislodge the rat, and took his own station under the window ; but the moment the ferret attempted to make his approach, the rat, evidently aware of the advantage ho had lost, en deavoured to creep between my friends legs, thus losing his natural fear of man under the danger which awaited him from a more deadly foe. The ferret by this time had learned a profitable lesson, and prepared to approach the rat in a more wily manner, by cr ee pi ng i ns idi ous ly along the skirt in g , and thus avoiding the glare of light that hitherto had baffled his attempt. The rat still pursued with unabated energy his original mode of attack, namely, inflicting a wound and avoiding, at the same time, a close combat ; while it was equally certain that his foe was intent upon laying hold or, and grasp ing his intended victim in his murderous embrace. The character of the fight, which had lasted more than three hours, was now evidently changed, and the rat appeared conscious that he had lost the advantage he originally possessed, and, like the Swedish hero, had taught his frequently-beaten foe to conquer in his turn. At last, i n a lengthened struggle, the ferret succeeded in accomplishiug his originally intended grapple; the raf, as it co uscio . us of his certain ru i n , ma d e little fur ther effort of reslitafice, but, sending forth a plaintive uric k, udered his life to his persevering foe. — Jesse's Natural Nistoru. standard - MONEY MARKE T. at. i p , l i e:m lis i h uino nt i p g r gold o a f t 3 ri. 1"s. e a r p n eul d ri t i t tue e 'n e .c. : .eh e i l l o a hr t;ge at Paris on London at short being gold, gives an exchange of i 2, 8 05 1 .154 6 5d p ;. 25.31, it follows that gold is 0.10 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. ilk' xlvices from liamburgli the price , ' I • , :,,iii it 4331, P. per „ na rk, which, at the ooish kint price of 31.1 7,.. , . 101,6 d. per oun ce for standard gold, ,ive6 an enchtwge of 13 loi ; ,- ; N.I i.be exehaLge at 'Hmburg% on Loudon at short being .13.91, it follows t Lond at gold is 0.34 per cent. dearer i n li am b ur gh than in ou. EXTENSIVE FORGERY. MANCHESTER. TUESDAY.—This, moro tug a respectably attired young German was brought up at the Borough Court, charged with committing forgery, uuder the fol lowing circumstances:---- The prisoner, who is a native of Germany, and cannot speak a word of the English lan guage, gave his name as Adolphus Schwz. Ile appeared to have been respectably connected. It appeared from the evidence, and also from his own admissions, - , that, some time ago, he and those with whom he was connected, paid into the banking- house of Messrs. J. H. Stemetz and Co., at Vienna, 20,000 florins, or 2,0001,, and obtained for the amount a letter of credit on several highly-respectable houses in this country. The letter of credit set forth that any of the house s named might pay the whole amount, or such part of it as they thought proper, tha balance of the 2,0001 to be paid by the others, individually or collectively. The prisoner, whilst in the bank at Vienna, managed to abstract two similar letters, or blank forms, by which he was enabled to commit the forgery. On the face of the original or genuine letter of credit, amongst other names, appeared those of Messrs. blirck, of Cross-street, Manchester, and Mr. Suse Sibtb, of London. On the 20th of May the prisoner went to the office of Messrs. Mirck, and drew upon the letter of credit 1,8001. in gold ; and it appears that he had also drawn upon the London house for 1,9001. One o f those letters must have been forged. On Sunday morning last Messrs. Mirck received some infor mation which led them to believe that all was not right, and they immediately gave information to the police, together with a description of the prisoner. Mr. Bet wick, with his usual activity, at once dispatched two of his must trustworthy men to Liverpool, and by the aid ' of some of the Liverpool police, had him apprehended , ' on board the Cambria steamer, bound for Boston. The 1 prisoner was assisted by an interpreter, through whom he ccnfessed many of the offences broug ht to his charge. ~ The prisoner was remanded until Thursday. fire broke out in the pr emises of DlTharson and Brown, FIRE IN LEITH. —Yesterday ( Sunda y ) morning a con f ec ti o ners, 53, T o lb o oth-wynd, about half - past five o'clock. Two engines were speedily on the spot, but no water in the pipes, until the Leith water officer journied to the Castle-hill, and ordered it to be put on. By this time the fire had obtained a considerable ascendancy, but Wll6l ultimately subdued about eight o'clock. The tenement con sists of five floors; the underground flat is the workshop of 1 three ete l are l c h o e i s n e p the firm, and is fitted up with ovens, flues, &c. ; the street flat is the retail shop of the establishment, and the first flat communicate u is n i t c h a e t wholesaleeby inside sirs department.,and dfleoostmrsyeall Both the stock and buildlng are said tobe Insured ' . Cal e donian Mercury. FATAL ACCIDENT AT EDGE lIILL.—On Tuesday, about two o'cluck, as fire, men were descending the shaft of the new railway tunnel, at King-street, Edge-hill, the rope slipped f rom t h e d rum, an d t h e w h o l e - of the five went to the bottom, a depth of thirty-two yards. Ia a very short time after one man was found quite dead_ The other four were conveyed to the Infirmary ; two have since died, and a third is not expected to recover. The accident is attributed entirely to the recent heavy rains. We may add, that Mr. Park, surgeon, Edge-hill,. was speedily on the spot, and rendered all the assistance in his power. Ti. uAtne of the man who was killed wale, Haves ; the two who died fit the Infirmary were named, Metcalf and Sin:mom—Liverpool Courier. THE PEST OF ;Ulm —The damage done by mice in the corn st acks this year is immense, amountin g :,;Imp(,)dsticii:. to a plague. A. nei g h bour of mine hit upon ant 1.:3t autLiaca (; Lestio,vl:,z4 - t, I:Jeat, number., which wa s thii : --•• .'ifter %Own.. so A i ,g, he found great quantity were in the fields, and carrying the seed corn into their holes. In the autumn he employed at wan wit`' a water cart and watering pot to go over his fieldi e and pour water tete every hie he could find, and in a few rla2 she kllleil about twenty dozen. The quan tii) theee-would have bred is nicalculabie ; the result was his stacks were but little injured compared with ad. joining farms."—Agricultural Gazette. tr ": • - '