The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-06 00:00:00

finals in this er ut with referei r of eon trolhng would be tindr• !so expres sed a t h the I° 6 ' t h a t was a mo the parties sti;(, :e of slavery. 0, in this subjet,: it was shown thit ing and dernorn )roposed were abolished, rh6 w ould bend I° ' y ar ned Frien ti lay rec eive! °f f conviction ! know, bc"'t r ; system oc, - j; would to 1 . , ealth had hee l )e transporte ; ur e of the P% New South 5,, g n?d, and in assignmen t as BURY act ch 5. lock. 0, s w ere P r Cana l 531° An d afar 1 Bail °l ( ii• 1, and 113 '' so il 4 oil rew ssiopv s, 1 cro 1 stle 0 u i 5 diroe. s " e6 r 4 obell° - , an d fere,' • OP ° k: d 00 , Lase). Lis6 3iu, ably` ne of ins,c`" ba a tht , i t io mai 1.• sins ed ;poly ° (5. leri da f e° o ne 4'4' 0 ) ciekY 0 isti°, l* dela"' be i n" ; idea, jg pocro a P lAc° a tii°'. le O D ' es se 11. i e A rta wol t° , by h tot./ 00. favo ur !Ora 8 - TELE SUN', LONDON, SATURDAYEVE,NING, MARCH 6, 1847. THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS BILL. Mr. MUN rz presented a petition from the directors of the Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolverhampton Rail way Company a2ainit the provisions of this BilL THE RAJA OF SATTARA., Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from Westminste r , praying for an inquiry into the circum stances attendant on the dethronement of the Raja of Sattara. SPANISH DEBT. ...Lord G. BENTI NCK wished to give notice that, on .Monday next, he would present a petition from the 4- chairman and deputy-chairman of-the Spanish Bond - huldeta' Association, asking the assistance of the House to obtain redress from the Spanish Crown, in the matter of a debt, which they stated was above 7,000,0004 ster ling, and which they alleged was principally due to British subjects PRESENTMENT SESSIONS IN IRELAND. Mr. BOUVERIE said that, seeing the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland in his place, he wished to inform him that he had seen in the Dublin Gazelle sixteen pro clamations for the holding of presentment sessions in different parts of Ireland. Now, he understood that a 'till was passed through the House providing a substi tute for the Public Works Act passed last session ; he wished, therefore to ask whether those proclamations were intended to authorise those presentment sessions for the furtherance of public works as well as for the Purpose of supplying food to the destitute Irish? Mir. LABOUCHERE said, that as the Act which had been passed as a substitute for the Public Works Bill had Only lately received the sanction of the Legislature, there had not been time allowed for carrying it into eff ect. He could assure the Hon. Member that the anxious wish of the Government was to reduce and ex tinguish the present system of providing public works as early as possible, consistent with the peace of the country and the welfare of the people. Mr. HUME wished to know if any order had been transmitted to the Irish Government upon the subject? Mr. LABOUC HERE replied in the affirmative. air- SPOONER gave notice that he should move that the Petition from York against the compulsory Sunday trains be printed with the votes. HOLYHEAD HARBOUR. Lora SANDON moved for certain returns showing the name of the engineer who has been finally approved of by her Majesty's Government, with a copy of the Plans, the estimated cost of the same. together with the n ames of such engineers and nautical men as had been c onsulted and approved of the same. Mr. COOPER stated that these returns had already been laid upon the table of the House. PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND). Mr• BOUVERIE wished to know the course to be pursued by the Government with regard to the public works in Ireland. If he remembered rightly, a short tame ago there was a l e tt er a dd resse d by th e Lord entenant to the relief commissioners, suggesting th a t t he Public works should be effectually, but gradually, suspended. He wished to know if any suspension of the Public works in Ireland had taken place. Mr. LABOUCHERE could only give a general ! Is wer to the question. He had no doubt that some of t ae public works had already be e n s us p en d e d. It was 'an desire of the Government to close as speedily as Possible the system of public works in Ireland. ARREARS OF RATES (IRELAND). Lord DUNCAN wished to put a question with re- P e et to the Castlebar Union. A l e tt er h a d th a t m orning be an circul a t e d, written by Mr. Otway, dated Feb. 11, 1847, stating that two-thirds of the rates in arrear for that union were due from solvent parties. He further sated that a r a t e h a d n o t been struck, and he impresses thel' necessity of the Gcvernment making advances on the security of these rate.. Ile wished to ask if it W2S the intention of the Government to make any such advane, s of t he public money, and what steps were to be taken to !aforc e the collection of the rate from the solvent lessors Ir urn whom they were due? Sir G. GREY said, that with regard to the first question of his Noble Friend he had no additional infor 1113ti°o to give beyond that which was already before the ° use. With regard to the latter part of the question, he Would refer his Noble Friend to the 20th page of the Paper s to which he had referred, where he would find that ~,P . l °. ,e e ecii. n gs had been instituted by the Commissioners, with a Vim to thr. enforcing the payment of the rates in arr ear, L , 0) the lessor. Mr. E SCOTT wished to know if Lord Lucan had paid "le rates due from him, and if not, whether he would be excluded from his right to vote ? Whom Sir GEORGE GREY sa id t h at t h e N o bl e L or d to the Hon. M em b er refe rre d was t h en i n I re l an d. he had Placed on t h e ta bl e o f t h e H ouse papers i n w hi c h h ad express e d a strong op i n i on as to hi s li a bili ty to 11 : P a yment of thos e ra t es . H e (Si r G eorge G rey ) h a d doubt, that if the Noble Lord found that he was "It: for those rates, he would at once pay them. w... ° 1 • P. SCROPE asked if the Right Hon. Gentleman was Aware that the Government bad advanced large „n 1, 4. the UrtVan rotes not having been paid up regularly, in G Sir union ? read G REY t h„:, said that, if the Hon. Member had attention We ion indisposT e Ifers that had been laid on the table with would have seen that there was no ' 4l exonerate the rate-payers at eaPenie of .2_ tne Treasury, but the utmost exertion be made in the collection of the rates. l ei t, would wouldppear th a t there was a power invested in Lord-Lieutenant to advance money to prevent the closing of Workhouses, and the distress that would ensue 111_ con sequence. The Cavan Union had no particular Volta to favour, an d wou ld f orm no e special e x a mpl e , 'op the Lord-Lieutenant would exercise the same dis- Non with respect to other unions as that which had "fah exercised with regard to Cavan. ,Mr.•HUSIE inquired whether there would be any gisposition on the part of the Government to piss a re. Solution to the effect that no more money should be advanced for the relief of any union than was obtained by the collection of the rates. - Sir G. GREY did not quite understand the question, taut he might remind the Hon. Gentleman that there was ts distinct motion on the papers of the House, and when that came on for discussion the whole of the details mould naturally be brought under the attention of the Souse. CRACOW. Mr. STUART WOliTEili wished to ask a question of the Noble Lord opposite as to whether any arrange l!ent had been. especially entered into with respect to I . " convention between this country and Russia in 1831, Vid whether he had any objection to lay the papers on t he table. be Lord J. RUSSELL—The discussion would be re wed on Thursday, when he would then answer the SALE OF SPIRITS IN CANTEENS. On the motion that the House go into Committee on the .m ft, ance Estimates, ..,Colonel LINDSAY rose to more, that an humble bs t l re_ be s: bepresented to her Majesty, praying that she : graciously pleased to direct inquiry to be made the effect that the present canteen system has 7 4 the m a nd whether it would not be advan tiltu ar e to discipl ine, c - l ine, and to the moral improvement of 47,.. 0 4 1 jesty's troop s , t o p reven t the sale of spirituous Imors eanteell 14 14 within the precincts or proximity !,1, to In making this motion, he caire todo his duty in that House and to the country. k ent ld not wish to offe r any opposition to the Govern tome' on the contrary, he thought he could t throw out anl o ,2 tl ggestion which might lead to a reduction in the th e required for the estimates. It appeared that ean t Btli n of 65,000/. was derived as rent from the of - " Il l and svashiri , the sheets. The total number C 4l Jen, i ncluding the artillery, in the Br i tish 41(k II " was 119,662. Excluding. the artillery, the ) ntit de r i ved from washing the sheets was 11,8961.45., 14,,eh, deducted from the total sum of 65,739 . /., would as derivable from the canteens the sum . of 53,643/. tk)tsi,eatiteens were usually let for a period of three years ch,'",, e highest bidder, provided he was a person of good e c it e*. The tenant had also to pay a fixed sum . for 1 1 1' 02 1114 n in the barracks, including also the men in the test-41, married men living out of the barracks, and who t hen, ()ecu liied the barracks except when on duty, and ttill,',l l(3 t allowed to go into the cante . en e . ,sm il e e n w ts a w s h a a ls t o . ey er ',,,, ll Pon to pay all taxes, rates, and . ass th at ' he result of this male of letting the canteen was, eY eo t,ne perso n who occupied it was obliged to be most 'i e ,V a rit in his charges. This was no h t e th o e r f , a i u n l a t n ( c i e the the G o in command, nor the fault It Go but it was the faul t t )f of t those whose duty ' 4 . '( lr s d - r 0 br ing the subject under the notice of the Board open for through /) " % nee the usual and regular channels the titularl y that purpose. :Sow, subject he wished par u-ir 0- under the notice of the Government ld -- a a t ja these canteens spirits were licensed to be t ltte ei : 4 w ell as other articles, and the clociusoe r,,slitll4-ti ° I that license was the general barracks.t demo- The e: )11 of the men living in the the G„ --t een man had to give such an enormous rent to Pay hi'veranient for the premisies he rented, that to re -4144;131110f he was o bli ge d to l ay an extra p r i ce on t he he Cold. His object i n b r i ng in g f orwar d this conCu,„ l " 4 that spirits, as an article o f "ray —1 ', 113 , 4 in these canteens, might be done w i t h. He had sown experience in military and l'ecr u i7 and he invariably found that the young t i; " 5 seduced to these places by the old soldie i r l s, I npe r . e enilsequenca was that evil habits were gradula y b Induced, and the young soldier in a short time e; tl , 4l e a confirmed drunkard. He, therefore, complained tio,e4e facilities which the canteen presented for this pur- Sedu:.. `litB Pre:Chei ty to the barracks, and its plac i ng t h e 00„.rri ve te mptation constantly before his eyes. When Pley - Inent first constructed canteens, lie admitted that kttv good object in view ; and as somebody must sidered Profi t on the vari,us articles sold there, they con dde tai7,ll` as well have the profit as any one else. te ens .(1 t hink that ' the di s t r ib u tion of spirits in the can -444, W as most objectionable, and there would be many Fc`a(h, vent's' banks warrants, and warrants for good ati e ;" is sued, if i t was clieckl It was perhaps notl thieh n ' but there was an order in existence , q give to the commanding officer the power restrictin' • of spirits in canteens,. ere thp ~,Lei llconduct of th , ! e May deem it advisable from the as a i k e,,n• But this was a privilege of which they . never Th, themselves, as they did not like to exercise it. Uffi ce e arlt(!en 'nett gave large sums to obtain the t4et r and there were some canteens in the terl (" r li S Where t h e average expenditure of every 14,1 ‘it her3, exceethed de thirteen shillin ,, s per mo ; (jw.varied in amount of money,'but it never nth was lui aoli t r en or eleven shillings. The canteen was a fruit veQ°f crime, and touch of the irregularity and /f discipline that prevailed might be traced to it. th e In n rin were to be found in a state of drunkenness, ap.)4 17'eorrunissioned officer dare not lay a hand soid ul l, but must wait until a police-officer or a file B abor r ii le ' s , carte to his assistance. The acts of in t'veld nr ; l attua generally happened at r o ll- ca ll fn. the e t14( ,, u ,,. Parad e, when the nlm. were in a state of drunk. out „f'aa4nd assaulted their superiors. Now he found that in th e 'rporeal puni s h ments wh i ch had taken place 8463. si rn w J last ye ar , 139 of them were fur acts of in for tlation c onnected with drunkenness, and 70 more "4"uelitnuess alone, making a total of upwards of 200 for offences connected with drunkenness. In those regi ments which-came from India, where, and in the West Indies, drunkenness was known to be more intense and violent, it was a fact that corporal p mishments were more nu:nerous than in any ether corps. In the returns it appeared that from one regiment which came from India the punishments were 17 in number, in another they were 20, and in one which came from the West Indies there were 18 punishments during the year. So inveterate was the habit of drunkenness in the West Indies, that it was known that the men mixed Cayenne pepper with their spit its, in order to give them additional pun gency for the stomach, and it was also well known that the drunkenness which arose from drinking spirits in canteesns was always more violent than that which arose from taking the spirits bought out of them, no doubt, from the deleterious substances mixed with them. Such a system as that, by which large profits were raised from the moral turpitude of the people, was a system which it was the duty of the &worriment seriously to consider and endeavour to put a stop to, even though they should be compelled to give up thereby some small portion of the revenue which they then derived from the canteens. He enl not expect that any immediate improvemsnt would take place, but still it was the duty of the Go vernment to adopt some general mode of improvement, some mode by which the facilities of the young s ;idlers to obt tin spirituous liquors veduld be taken away, the o'd soldiers prevented fruee seducing tee y oung t o s p en d their in, -nay at such places, and the habits of both the young and the old soldiers improved. And this, in his opinion, could be only effected by prohibiting the selling of spirits in any of the canteens.--(Hear, hear.) Besides, all this drunkenness and de b lechery lead to an extensive invalid system, and hence the cost of that sys tem was more than would be saved by re forming these Asses. The habitual drinker was also an expense to the country. The habitual drinker was the man, when drunk, who made a con stant practice of drielcing his glass at the canteen, and was always in a state of false excitement. He never was reported tis a drunkard, and yet this man was a source of far more expense to the country than the habitual drunkard, because the constitution of the one fell befure that of the other. All military officers agreed that, on the whole, the can teen system should be aboliehed. as the most effectual way to put an end to crime was to undernsineit. The first authority he would mention was one which they would consider of some weight. The present Governor- General of India, Lord Hardinge, in his evi dence before a Commission said, that before he left the Ordnance, he had a minute under his consideration, with a view to put an end to this system, which he considered a species of tax upon the soldier. The present Adjutant-General, Sir John M•Donald, entertained the same opinion, and commanding officers in general considered that these canteens were a nuisance instead of a benefit to the soldier. Sir Edward Blakeney was of opinion that canteens should be better regulated, and let at a less rate than they were. Colonel Smith said that if he had his will be would not permit the sale of a single glass of rum in any canteen ; and Sir John Campbell held the same opinion. Bat he would also refer to an authority upon which the House would be inclined to place reli ance. He alluded to Sir George Arthur, who had been employed in every quarter of the globe, and that also by the present and the late Government, he says, " We encourage the soldier to drink a small quantity of spirits, but we punish him for drinking a large—though a small quantity disarms his power of resistance to the large. The Gallant Officer then cited the testimony of Col. Macdougal and Colonel Macgregor, to show that none but a confirmed drunkard would take the trouble to dress and go oat of barracks to get spirits in a morn ing, as also the testimony of Dr. Ferguson, who had served both in regiments and on the staff to show how inveterate the habit of drunkenness would become, and what hard ships the men would undergo, and to what abomina tions they would descend to get spirits when it was once formed. Dr. Ferguson, who is now high in office, had further stated that beer would not intoxicate a man without the admixture of spirits. Was it not then a bounden duty, ms the part of the Government, to remove this temptation from the reach of the men. He justified in bringing this therefore thought himself motion before the House, especially as ho thought that of late a great portion of that power which formerly belonged to commanding by fear had been removed, and that corporal punishment was also considerably reduced, he felt justified in making an appeal to the Beard of Ordnance, and through them to the Chanceller of the Exchequer, o y some of their income deri vable e va c condition p thesecanteens,elof the service, e r vc andie and raise d uco n e theconduce o moral materially to its e ffi ciency.—(Cheers.) The Hon. and s b i l a e l and f r emt Gallant Member concluded by moving the motion of which he had given notive. Mr. FOX MAULE said that he did not for a moment wish to defend the system pursued to a great extent in the canteens of the different barracks throughout the country, which had been alluded to so forcibly by the Hoe. and Gallant Officer a ho had just sat down. But he must be allowed to say that the remedy proposed by the Gallant Member, although founded upon the best of principles, would not, he feared, be very easily carried out. It would net, perhaps, be disagreeable to learn that the minds of the authorities had been already turned to the consideration of this question, and that they were at this mo ment considering in what way the canteens could be put upon a better footing, so as to form a part of that system of general amelioration of the whole condition of the soldiers, which both the authorities at the Horse Guards and her Majesty's Government have sincerely at heart. It will be remembered that the canteens, although attended with considerable inconvenience when allowed to be put to improper uses, were a great armantage to the soldier while in barracks. There were many articles to be obtained in these canteens, which it would be inconvenient, on many occasions ' for the soldier to have to seek witho u t the wall s o f th e barracks. And even with reference to the sale of spirits, tl4 canteen was so entirely under the control of the commanding officer, that, it he chooses to exert his proper authority, and use a moderate amount of common vigilance, many of those evils, to which the Hon. and Gallant Officer hail alluded, might in ordinary cases, be prevented; but still he was free to admit that it was not easy for an officer always to exercise the authority vested in him. He would not detain the House by going into any of the cases mentioned by the Hon. and Gallant Officer ; but he felt bound to admit, that under many circumstances, the sale of spirits in the canteens might be injurious, but the answer to that was, that total ab stinence from the sale of spirits might also produce evils in another direction. The Hon. and Gallant Officer did not trace the canteen to its original establishment. Formerly canteens were confined to the sale of spirits exclusively, but, they were afterwards extended to other articles. Their esta blishment for the sale of spirits exclusively arose from the re gulation of excluding spirits from barracks. That regulation gave rise to the crime of smuggling spirits into the barracks, and canteens were established with the view of doing away with that offence. With these observations heloped the Hon. and Gallant officer would not press his motion to a division, but leave the subject in the bands of the Government. Sir H. DOUGLAS said that it afforded him much pleasure to know that the Government was disposed to take the canteen system up, with a view to inquire into its o peration, and to remedy the evils which might be found in it. Much of the present system arose from abuses that had gradually crept into the system. In a command which he himself had, and that not leng ago, a sum was paid for wine for the officers' mess, derived from the profits of the canteen system. He believed it would never be placed on a proper footing until both Government and the canteens ceased to derive profit from the quantity of liquor consumed in those places. He would throw it out for the consideration of theißight Hon. Gentleman (Mr. F. Mauls) whether these canteens could not be made a desirable and moral adjunct to the barrack-roam, so as to become a place of resort for a very different purpose than intemperance. He would not, however, permit the profits of such an institution to go either to the Government or to the canteen, but to be spent in some wholesome and profitable manner to the advan tage of the soldier; and he thought if they were changed to the fund system, and appoint a canteeneer to superintend the institution in a moral and judicious manner, it would put an end to those pernicious indulgences which he had long seen and deeply regretted. Mr. GOULBURN was exceedingly glad to bear the state ment made by the Hon. Gentleman opposite, but still he must assert that the House were greatly indebted to the Gallant (Meer for having given to the House the results of his expe rience and inquiries. Yet, as the Right lion. Secretary- at- War had stated that the subject of can!eens was at the present moment under the consideration of the Government, he would perhaps act wisely in the withdrawal of his motion on the pre sent occasion. C,,1,,n e l ANSON quite concurred with the Gallant General opposite, that any plan which would be likely to promote the improvement of the soldier it was the bounden duty of the Government to entertain, ant, if necessary, to pursue. But he felt compelled to call the attention of the Gallant Officer, by whom this question had been introduced to the fact that so far back as 1838 the Government of the day had expressly stated that they were quite ready to adopt any suggestion which was likely to prove of practical benefit. But it should likewise be remem bered, that by the regulations as they at present stood, the commanding officer had full power to direct the canteens, as it appeared by the regulations now in force. It should also be recollected, that these canteens were taken by tenders, arid not only was security given for payment of the rent, but also for the good conduct of the parties by whom they were taken ; and in the event of the orders not being obeyed, the occupier was subject to ejectment. Sir DE LACY EVANS begged to tender his grateful thanks to the Gallant Officer for the pains which he had taken to bring thi, subject before the House, a subject which might not be felt to be of interest to the House, but which was of great importance to the profession. He was also glad that it was, according to the statement of the Secretary-at- War, to be taken in hand by the Government; yet he must observe that it was plainly evident from the extracts which had been read by the Gallant Officer, that the corn. mantling officers of regiments felt themselves in a difficulty as to the direction of these establishments. Ile entirely concurred in the proposition of establishing a canteeneer, and it would be much better if no property was derived from the canteen. If a non-commissioned officer was placed at the head of the de partment, and taught to expect promotion if he conducted it well, there would be a great advantage conferred upon the army if such a proposition was carried into effect. Mr. STUART WORTLEY said he was anxious to give his tribute of thanks to the lion. and Gallant Officer for the zeal which he had shown upon the subject. lie believed that nine-tenths of the offences which were committed in the army arose from the crime of intoxication. The Earl of ARUNDEL said that he also felt most grateful to his Gallant Friend :or the able exposition with which hit had favoured the H iuse, of the ill effects of the distribution of spirits in the canteen on the discipline of the army. Colonel LINDSAY said that he felt most flattered by the praises which had been been bestowed upon him. Having called the attention of the House to th e su bj ec t, h e would beg leave to withdraw his motion. The motion was then withdrawn. CULTIVATION OF THE LAND IN IRELAND. On the order of the day being read for going into Com mittee of Supply, Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL desired to draw the attention of the House to the motion, of which he h a d a l rea d y g i ven notice, namely, of his intention to bring under th e con sideration of the House theadvisability of employing the labouring population, now engaged upon public works in Ireland, in the cultivation of the soil. The destitution which prevailed in that country was frightful ; by the last accounts which they had received, no fewer than 700,000 persons were weekly employed upon the public works in Ireland. It was a notorious fact, that the arable land was lying untitled from the want of means of its proprietors. He, therefore, objected to this system of employment, as the works would not be by any means oraduc tive of one half the benefit, as the same amount of labetir would produce were it directed to- wards the cultivation of the soil. The question, then, was, whether it would not be better to turn the people to its _cultiva tion, as it was at tie present moment so greatly neglected. In France the amount of food destroyed was far more that ever anticipated, and the French press held out gloomy prospects for the future. The prospects of France were the general pros. pects of the continent. The grand jury of Longford had passed, a resolution calling upon the Government to employ the people thus in preference to wasting their labour upon the public roads. He understood that that resolution would be followed up by others from the grand juries of the different counties if the Government refused attention to the demand made upon them. He desired to state that a Mr. Brennan, in the county of Meath, seeing the deficiency of the cultivation of the land, has offered, and given, premiums to such of his tenants as had cul tivated theirs. If the system which he proposed were carried out, some assurance ought to be given the people that they would be insured the fruits of their labour, as the crops would be seized by the landlords. When the people were at present spoken to for not having made some exertion, their excuse was, that if they tilled they would derive no •benefit from their in. dustry. If some Members considered this , such a scheme was too extensive, they should recoll e ct th a t th e same amount at present expen ded would suffice ; they should also remember they could not retrench their present expenditure—such was the enormous extent of the calamity which had befallen the country. He was very sorry to see that a Noble Lord in another place had been reported to have said that Ireland should look to herself, and that she should depend iron her own exertions. Now he was sorry to say . hat she was incapable of doing more than she had or was doing. He considered that the expression would be injurious, as it would indispose those who might otherwise be inclined, and prevent them from extending their aid should the necessity of the Irish people outgrew its present extent. There had been same observations about economy, but the people had nothing to be economised about • their whole stock had been consumed, na y, even th e i r seed for the next year has been wanted to supply their present necessities. Their heaps of manure had even been sold, by which they had hoped to cultivate the soil. There has only been ten millions proposed, to meet this fearful necessity. He could assure the House that one-half rents would not be paid this year. There had also been a great deal cf talk of the amount of money at present lodged in the savings' banks, and much clamour had been raised upon the subject ; but what were the facts ? Why, the money placed there had been placed , by those about to emigrat e , an d ex actly that very c l ass whose loss would at the present pressure be severely felt. But even more than that, the excesses of Great Britain of money lodged in savings' banks ten years ago was fifteen millions; at the present moment it was twenty-five • so they might see that the am oun t o f money lodged there could not be 30 much. He desired to express his heartfelt admiration at the charity of England towards the people of Ireland, and in doing so he would take occasion to observe that the House of Commons ought to take some steps to enforce the expenditure of the absentee rents in Ireland. While the resident landlords in certain districts had subscribed about 15s. in the pound to • wards the relief of the destitute, the absentee landlords in many instances bad not subscribed above a farthing in the pound of their rental. What he submitted was wanted in Ireland was gradually to abstract the people from the public works, and without breaking up the machinery in operation at present, place the persons so abstracted to the cultivation of the soil. By so doing they would remove all danger in making the transition. If this were done he had no doubt but that barony presentments would be as readily got for the cultiiation of the land as for the construction of public works. Another thing which he would suggest to be done would be a measure to produce peace between the landlords and the tenants, and to secure to the latter the value of any improvements they they might effect in their holdings. There ought, in addition to arrangements of this kind, to;be a law to compel; proprietors of land to come and reside on their properties, so that the rents which they receive instead of being spent out of the country might be spent in it. By this step alone 5,000,0004 would be saved to Ireland every year. He hoped that the Go vernment would take these matters into its most serious cone sideration as they were of the utmost importance to Ireland at the present time. Mr. LABOUCHERE said it must not be supposed that he wassurprised at, or censured the motion of, the Hon. Member. The condition of Ireland was so alarming that he was not at all astonished that he should think it his duty to impress the subject on the attention of the House. The Hon. Member would do him (Mr. Labouchere) and the Government the justice of supposing that if anything more than another would have stimulated them to greater exertion than they had made, it would have been the patient endurance of the suffering people of Ireland.—(Hear.) The Hon. Gentleman had laid before the House certain proposals, and he (Mr. Labouchere) felt it his duty on th e p ar t o f the Government to state distinctly his opinion on them, so as there may be no doubt and uncer tainty in the matter. He would, therefore, in answer, say it was not merely the duty of the Government not to adopt the course proposed, but that it was impracticable and unprin cipled. The Government had already done that which no Government had ever yet done before; it had attempted to employ the great body of the people—a step which no executive could take without risking the greatest risks and abuses. But the Government had not gone blindly into that ; they were aware of the evils and abases that might arise. They proceeded to the employment of the people with their eves open, because they thought it was r i g ht th a t th ey s h ou ld do so, for had they acted otherwise in the circumstances of the country, a cry of horror against them would have pervaded the land from one end to the other.--(Hear, hear.) But there were various reasons into which at present he would not go at length. Why, they could not proceed with the employment of the people in this way. They were now employing, according to the latest accounts, an organised body of 700,000 on I üblic works, a fact unexampled in history, and here he would re mark that justice had net as yet been done to those who had had the direction and superintendence of these works. Those who had had the superintendence, had throughout their ardu ous undertaking shown the greatest ability, zeal, and spirit in carrying out the arrangements of the Board of Works. Had they not done so the greatest evils and abuses would have arisen. Another, and a serious evil, threatened them. The time had arrived when the soil required to be cultivated for the coming harvest, and had they decided to go on with the public works, the consequence would have been, there would have been no one to cultivate it. But though the Government had deter mined to stop the public works, had they therefore abandoned the people? No ; but they had introduced another system to meet the state of the country. They had decided not to em ploy them, but to give them food. He would not say that this would not be accompanied with great evil, and was a proceed ing also foreign to the functions of a Government ; but he said of this, as be said of the system of the Board of Works, the Go vernment did not adopt it. 'They did not consider it free of evils, but because th ey t h ought it freer of evils and abuses than any t o h th e e r r e . lie A f t co t m he m s it a t i e n e e s time, h e e v e e k ry an ex y ar e t v io d n t w h o a u t ld m b ig e ht ma b d e e d b e y . veloped und er t h e system now proposed to be adopted. this gray ~tahyougmhightthebe s l y ia s b te le m food could not, as a Christian legislature , suppl y ing Christian t o f ahoy, and sn as p a nd l they men i n , allow pestilence and famine to spread over Ireland without doing every thing in their power to relieve them. But the Hon. Member wa n t e d th e G overnment to go a stepfu ' rth e ,and t o : directly interfere i n th e cu l t i vation of the soil. He (Mr. La bouchere) told hi m th at i t was impossible for the Government to attempt such a thing ; or, if they did, it would be a deplor able failure.—(Hear, hear.) It would paralyze all individual exertion. and would produce nothing in the country but evil. For the Government, therefore to do so, would be to go en tirely beyond their functions. The same applied to the supply of seed for 'grain. To supply such seed was a thing which no Government would attempt to do, and it would lead to irrepar able mischief. With respect to the cultivation of the soil to prepare for the coming_ harvest, that was a qu es ti on o f t h e greatest importance. We rejoiced, however, to say, that he had received intelligence from Ireland to the effect that the land was in course of cultivation, though he regretted to says all districts did not exhibit the same satisfactory results. Still he hoped there would be no difficulty ou this head ; and he trusted that the landed proprietors of Ireland—though he admitted in many respects they had not the power to do a great deal in the matter—would do every thing they could to assist their poor countrymen. The income of the Government for the relief of destitute persons, he had no doubt, would have the effect of liberating the labour of Ireland, and that it would be now employed in the propagation of the soil.—( The Right Hon. Gentleman here read an extract from a report of Major Fitzgerald, a Government inspector in the county of Clare, to the effect that the people under him were gradually returning to the cultivation of the land, and that in one week no less than 1,200 persons left. )—Such were the proceedings new going forward; and he begged to state that everything would be done by the Irish Government .to administer the new law in the way best calculated to advance this desirable movement. Now, a few words relating to absentees. While he knew that same of those proprietors had done their duty in subscribing liberally to meet the present crisis, others had shamefully neglected their duty, and left the resident proprietors the task of meeting the difficulties. He must say, that at the present time Ireland was the proper place for Irish landed proprietors to reside; but, at the same time, if public opinion would not induce them to live there. he did not think a resolution of that House would have the effect. Respecting the law of landlord and tenant which had been referred to, a Bill, as already inti mated, would be introduced into the House on an early day. He would not longer tre , pass on the House, but conclude with assuring the Hon. Member that the state of Ireland would re ceive the anxious attention of the Government, and if they did not take his suggestions, it was because they did not think they would tend to the improvement of that country.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. SHAW quite concurred in the opinion of the Right Honourable Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland, that any in terference on the part of the Government would tend only to paralyze the exertions of the people without producing any really beneficial result. He feared, however, that some evils might arise from suddenly throwing out of employment the great number of labourers employed on public works, and upon whose exertions were depending for their maintenance, on a moderate calculation, 3,000,000 persons. He had received se veral letters from Ireland upon this subject, stating that greater abuses would, no doubt, take place under the proposed mode of relief than existed even under the Labour Rate Act, in consequence of the greater temptations which would exist for fraud upon the parts of the persons applying for re lief, He hoped that the Government would adopt speedy means to render the transition from the one state to the other as little injurious to the interests of the people as possible. Difficulties must, no doubt, exist under all modes of relief, but the only alteration the Government could adopt, was either to submit to these difficulties, or to allow the people to starve. Mr. BELLEW thought that an efficient poor-law would be the best possible rernedv for the evil of absenteeism, justly complained of by the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland. With respect to the public works, he did not think that they had been so entirely useless as they were supposed by some persons to have been. Mr. FITZGERALD thought, as the present was the sowing season in Ireland, the Government should do something, in the present state of the country, to assist the people of Ireland to obtain the necessary seed, and encourage the people in the cultivation of the land. He most cordially concurred in the opinions ex pressed by the lion. Member for Kilkenny (Mr. O'Connell), and he hoped that the Government would yet see the neces sity of adopting the suggestions of the Hon. Member. He thought it a most unfortunate thing that the question of sup plying teet to the people of Ireland, had been menti one d a t a ll by the Government. In his own exper ience , he had known instances of persons hiving consumed th e i r see d , of many i trusting to Government for a fresh supply. He thought th a t some strong resolution should be passed b y b othHouses of the Legislature, and I headed by the Sovereign herself , imploring or commanding the absentee landlords to go anti live in Irela n d ; and there by their bane at all events until the next ha ryest , volenee and example, a ssist in raising the condition of the people, and removing the enormous burden thrown upon the nation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was quite willing to follow the opinions which had been and he could s • ex p r e s sed before, for the Government that they we re willing to abide by the question which had been raised by t h e lion. Member for Kil kenny ; but he must distinctly say that they were not inclined to undertake the tillage of the land ; and they were quite ready to follow the strong warning rvhiclt that lion. Member hail given to them. When last year the sum of 50,0001. were distinctly asserted the country , it w as voted for th e i m p roveme nt o asserted that it was o f little use. lie had hoped that sum, which he k new was on ly a pplicable to particular cases, would have a t l eas t su ffi ce d for temporary benefit 'out a Nobl e L or d h a d t o ld th e m that all the b enefft that would acc rue was on l y a m onetary relief, for it would only suffice for the purchase of '25,000 quarters of oats. He d eep l y regretted to hear that the farmers were not prepared with seed; but he believed, from the inquiries he had made, that tillage would be more extensively roamed than was generally supp ose d , an d t h a t tillage would go on as soon as the proper season arrived. He would ask if these changes were to be adopted, what was to become of the army of 11,000 auditors now engaged on the supervision of the public works? Not ten times that number would suffice for the purpose. He believed that the tillage would be extensively resumed; but he founded his hope on the presumption that no false impressions would be spread of the amount of assistance to be derived from this country. Mr. HAMILTON thought sufficient justice had not been done to the officers of the Board of Works in Ireland. When they recollected the gigantic task which those gentlemen had to perform, and that they had the management of 700,000 men, and the order and regularity with which those works proceeded, they would be satisfied that they bad a most onerous duty to perform, anti would allow that it was well executed. It would, therefore, be manifestly unjust to impose additional duty upon them. With respect to the proposition that the Government should undertake the tillage of the land, he quite agreed with the Noble Lord w h o had just sat down, that it would be highly injudicious on the part of the Government to undertake the tillage of the land, for he felt assured that it would have a very Paralysing effect. There would, in his opinion, be no necessity for any strong or imperative measures either upon the landlords or the tenants in Ireland. He mentioned this because he thoughts t but right that other Members should share the responsibility of these statements.—(`. Hear," from the Miniteetial benches.) But there was one thing which he thought might be attended to, and it was of great importance, because he believed that many Hon. Members were not aware of the number of ac, es that were out of cultivation in Ireland. This was very likely owing to a certain extent to the practice that had lately occur red, of the farmers leaving their farms. In the west of Ireland this was particularly the case, and he thought that some tribu nal might be erected for arbitration between the landlord and the tenant. Such a tribunal mig'it give, say six months, for the opportunity (to the tenants) of retrieving their sroperty, or 1 at least give th em compensat i on f or the losses and expenses which they had sustained. Mr. B. ESCOTT was more and more of opinion the longer he lived, that not only would the adoption of any ex traordinary measures for Ireland not be beneficial, but would be absolutely injurious. The only two things that could, in his opinion, be done, was, in the first place, to allow the free importation of grain into Ireland, and the second was, the adoption of a system of strict economy. If these who were in the possession of wealth would set the example of that economy. It was a well known fact, that if the. bran were to be ground up with the grain, there would he an in crease of at least one-third to the farinaceous food of the people, and would not only also increase it, but would actually constitute a better and more wholesome food for man. The consequence of this would be, that the dreadful calamity with which the country was now oppressed, would be to an immeasurable extent relieved. At the present time there were large exports of wheat to Paris, and this very day a large quantity had been sold for that purpose ati Mark-lane, at 765. a quarter. The same was done last Monday, and by a little management, all this out-going would be saved. There then was sufficient reason for the adoption of the eco nomy which be recommended. The subject then dropped. DEFENCES OF THE SOUTH COAST. On the motion of going into a Committee of Supply being again read, Colonel RICE begged most earnestly to call the attention forf o r theduring present the year last sess io n,t h a t e t e a ffi n d e i we h n e ats t :e r ie t u a srotgeoede,ttahnwadtooini thatd the h h e ii: of the Government to the important works which were voted render the defences of our southern coast secure. It might be alleged that the sum re quired estimates could taken be td ill spared ; but it should be recollected that if large, it was necessary, and great as it might be, was not larger in a whole year than was now sent in one month to Ireland. The French had, in this instance, set us a worthy example, for they had been active for years past in protecting their coast. But we seemed to have exchanged characters with them, for while we were only talking, they had been earnestly at work. We were proud of our naval superiority, and well had it been sup purted. Yet it should be recollected that even before the days of steam navigation, that demonstrations had been made against the southern coasts of England, and it attention to the state of our defences was necessary then, it was doubly necessary now, and he earnestly trusted that the matter would not be neglected by the Government. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY-ORDNANCE ESTIMATES. On the order of the day being again read, Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, for himself and his Gallant Friends who had given notices of motions, begged to postpone them to some future day. The House then went into Committee, and Colonel ANSON said, that in rising to bring forward the Ordnance Estimates for the year, he felt proud to notice the observations which had been made by the Honourable Mem ber for Montrose, who, he was sorry to see, was not then in his place. That Honourable Member had last year statekthat ha was quite willing to suffer the naval and military estamates for the year to be proposed without a word whtihche proposition, he of observation from him, although the several sums were aa largely increased. He ad this year thrown out a caution, in it w entirely et the c d o o n t c y u o r concurred e d e vaenrty, functionaryfullyr assentedo f to Government, however large the sums might be at his com mand, to use them with the most sparing economy, and to (Ci Anson) t that bring every charge s within the smallest possible limit of practi cable economy. But economy consisted as much in the appli cation of the money used, as in the amount to be applied to the purposes for which it was voted. And in considering the great and extensive colonial;„empire now under the charge of the British authorities, he conceived that a greater wisdom would be shown in the conservancy of the whole by a judicious expenditure, than by risking a part through too thrifty an outlay. He could assure the House that the utmost endea vours had been used to arrive at accuracy in the estimates, and if they were larger than last year, it was net from any desire to avoid economy, but partly from the circumstance that the last was an irregular year, and so could not fairly be compared with this. The whole amount which he proposed for the ordnance estimates for the three services was, 2,679,1271. For the year 1846-7, it was 2,543,569/., showing a total of increase this year of 135,5581. But if Hon. Members would turn to the first page of the abstract, they would find that there were three different votes—vote 2, vote 4, and vote 9—in which there was a deficiency amounting together to the sum of 67,2991. So that the actual increase was only 69,289/. upon the last year. The sum which he proposed to take for the military ordnance was 673.239'; the sum voted for 1846-7, was 579,670/., makiag an increase of 41,6911. on the year, These items were to be divided between the engineers, the sappers and miners, and the artillery. On the estimates for the corps of engineers there was an increase of 5,5781, but this did not arise from any addition to the force, but from their having been worn out, and from their more constant employ ment ; and all knew that from the eminent position which the officers and men of that corps were held in by the scientific world, that their services were eagerly sought for wherever their assistance could be obtained. He would pass to the Sappers and Miners, and he must say that that body was corn- j posed of the most e fficient men. There was no increase in the establishment. He now came to the Artillery. It was f ound necessary to add 1,2:1) men to that establishment. They had found no dif f iculty its getting recruits, but they h ad _ e _ endeavoured to manage as economically H as possible. thought no gentleman would say that the increa se was too great, for, when he considered the extent of th e colonies, it must appear a matter of surprise that they sh ould p erform their duties as we ll as they had done. The next vote t was for the commissariat d it epartment. T his year i was proposed t o grant 370,4641 . Th e e xcess over last year was in consequence of the increas e in the the price of fodder. The distress in Ireland in some degree also contributed to th e i ncrease. The ac t u al increase was only 12,507, and i t should be remem b ere d that last year the votes were on l y f or three-fourths of t h e year, while at present, th e es ti mate was for the whole year . The next vote was for the salaries and contingencies of the ordnance department at the T ower. He believed t h ere was no body of men more efficient. There was a d ecreas e in the numb er of the men employed, w hi c h was owing to the subst i tu tion of police in the Tower. Th e next i tem to which h e wou ld allude, was for the labou rers emp l oye d . The increase w as owing to the number of artificers th a t i t was found neces sary to employ in repairs at Woolwich an d ot h er places where the same was re• quired. The 6th vo t e was for ordnance stor es. For that year they asked 368,712/, w hil e last year it was 396,10', anti was an actual increase that ye ar of 21,0)0c Th e estimate for sh ot, te shells, Bc., was 4,7311. more t h an that of l as t year. Th d e n t e o xt rant for works at ho me an d a b roa d , an d i t wa s propose g s6l. for that purpose 6 32,763/. Last year the grant was 0 11 u sailing vessels; but he thought they were vessels for change had taken place by the substitution of steam m and the actual increase for that earwas 22.709/. A great bound to it mf g ht involve sures to secure their sea-ports, even though cised a wise discretion in the manner in which they an increased outlay. He thought that Governmen t bad exer cised a wise discretion in the manner in which the , y before, ex in reference to this particular ; for, instead — they intended to pending large sums of money on their colonies, lay out large employ them at home. It was thought right t o o th. They had sums on such places as Sheerness and Ply me there were also to expend large sums on barracks, o f . w hich had acted 38 new ones established. From the list, wh ich was very volu minous, it appeared there were 205 barrac ks 3 in England, and 750 e less than in 167 in Ireland. The vote for surveys was , ted that the Irish the previous year. The Government exp ec t Considerable d. Considerable Ordnance survey would be shortly comp dried in Ireland complaints had arisen as to the sum be completed. The for desiring that the Irish survey should , as compared to Scotland, but very was 165 a 301., vote for civil and military non-effective service g e Z e reasons existed This vote would be accounted for, by the increase in had fallen that many departments had military service, and by the fact, oc • .ur He which was an excess of .16,0001. over the the fallen into this estimate which did not formerly . . service he would obtain in the artillery, and the advantages he would gain in the obtaining additional forage. Mr. WILLIAMS sail that they were called on to vote away seven had also a right to set off against this e xc es s, t he en ad t, di a t s io t n h a e l b s e t r a s t statement e t i k t t e. of Houset t e ; Gallant an4 h r b e e e s r t occasion, and remain silent. He thanked Mr. Hume, upon a former a comparative his Hon. Friend for furnishing c tmh o i u elrl r ie s o e wn , se t r eohferomenllooynreet),w-,meannlgt(ylll-tdnuibleientgMotehreollow the example of his Friend, not see the reason of had been maintained. Ile could the increase, explanation. If he was to go through the esti mates, had thereby a better means of jidging of the economy which and he called for an ' but he knew, under present circumstances every Stein ; of 1 .200 men. House would pay no attention to the matter. mates he would be able to show that a reduction could, hif,illvasadpeeirn. Eerily useless. The Hon being toe m uc h Sir HOWARD a fram DOUGLAS, theO i rd n answer to ethpartthmeennton.Member, ob served that, so increased. he considered it was still tar too weak. The various bat teries both of this country and t i h n e cr co eas lo e nies, were not half Manned, and he therefore rejoiced at the when the people o Mr. GOULBURN thought the estimate was not too much. Under the circumstances of the country, it was necessary that this branch a e i p n er e lod of the service should be as efficient as possible. He defended the late ffice they had counte nanced any expensive or improper experiments. ANSON briefly explained. The new barracks Colonel possible. Dr. would be completed as soon th as t poss . Dr. BOWRING complained at he whole of the ordnance esti mates had been la Government from aneyatclyhairngceretatstdwathil this country were called upon to make the greatest sacrifices, in order to afford relief to their starving countrymen. H e complahled, also, that the accounts were ma de out in the way they were, and hoped that that would be the last occasion in which they would be made out on such a plan. There were deductions for appropriations and other matters; thus they were rendered unintelligible, a n d Rare arrived at with difficulty. The mon . the exact expend money ought to go through the Treasury in the ordinary ensu e . After a short conversation, the vote was agr ee d to. The following votes were then agreed to:- 617,239/. for allowances of the ordnance military corps. 370,4641. for the commissariat , i ncluding barrack s upplies. cloth ing, great coats, &c. 91.4441. to defray the salaries of persons employed in the Ordnance office. 228,1301., salaries and allowance to persons employed in the On barracks In the colonies. 137,852/. for defraying the cost of labour in connexion with the Ordnance department in the colonies. 368,712/. tor Ordnance stores. The stun of 632,7651 was then granted for the expense of the Ord nance barrack works and repairs. Captain PECIIELL said that he observed a statement " Times," that a high wall had been erected around the Woolwich in the Military Academy, for the purpose of keeping the cadetf Voolwich walk ing about the streets of the town. Ile wish e d to knows from any truth in the report. if there was Colonel ANSON said that no report had yet been made to the House with respect to the Woolwich A ca d emy. lie recommended Hon. Members not to believe all they saw in the newspapers. (Laughter.) The fact was,.-that a palisade had been e i r e M pers. purpose of preventing improper persons getting in, but for the vent the Cadets getting out. not to pre- The vote was then agreed to. On the vote being proposed of 1 68,5321., for the purpose of defray ing the expenses of the non-effective military and naval services for next year, The House then proceeded to consider the nary estimates. Sir H. DOUGLAS expressed his regret that the Government had not taken measures to secure an efficient naval reserve force similar to that which existed in France The whole establishment of the French fleet =kited of 29,000 men, and they had euitbushed ieeta at' the live principal ports. The establishments of the gun nery department at each of these five rorts, beside the gunnery frigates, were such that they could put 6 000 men on board at any moment. Never had any country made such progress as France hail since the war. At the close of 1815 her commercial as welt as her royal marine was completely destroyed, and yet never was she in such a position of power as at the present moment. At Cherbourg, L'Orient, Toulon, Marseilles, and Bourdeaux, she had the most complete establishments, and the officials could put a most com plete armament on board at any moment, and ho trusted that no false, no inferior notions of economy, would prevent the Government from putting the navy into such a state of preparation as—although we never would commit any offensive and injurious acts that should lead to a war—would enable us to inflict in the first instance such a dreadful blow as would give a whole turn to the contest. Dr. BO WRING said that the Gallant General had held strange language, for while he had been extolling the increase of the French navy, he had altogether overlooked the advance of our own, with which the advance of the French navy was, indeed, tardy. Re did not hesitate to say, that as compared with the English navy, it was totally in a state of weakness, and utterly unable to compete with our own. He was glad to say that it was universally con fessed that the British navy was, beyond all comparison, superior to that of any other in the world. What was the case? Why, while the two successive Administrations had been gradually reducing the burdens on the people of this country, the French Government, on the contrary, were, year after year, getting deeper and deeper into debt, until, after thirty years of peace, that country was so deeply involved, that the Ministry were afraid to meet the Chambers. Whether in political influence, commercial success, warlike power, er financial position, there was no comparison between the two countries.—(Hear.) He could not sit down without adverting to a most admirable change in the dockyards which had been made by the present Government, M hick was likely to keep the navy in a still greater state of efficiency than ever it had been before. fir HOWARD DOUGLAS—Had the Hon. Gentleman read tl.e pamphlet of the Prince de doinviEe ? Dr. BOWL:, ING—Yes, certainly; and it was a confession of their weakness. air. WILLIAMS was not quite so satisfied with this increase of the expense as some lloa. Gentlemen appeared to be. He found that the esti nate taken for the whole of the cost w!s 5,661,0001., and, upon a comparison with late 3 ears, he found that there had been an increase of not less than upwards of 3,00e,0001., and that, too, in a time of profound peace. Sir CH ARLES NAPIER perfectly concurred in all that had fallen from the Gallant General (Sir Howard Douglas). He did not, how ever, at all agree with the statement of the Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Williams)—(Hear and laughter)—because if they were to taka his advice, the defence of the country would be impaired, and perhaps an opportunity thereby afforded to the French of passing 50,000 or 60,000 men into this country should they feel inclined to do so. He wished to bear his testimony to the way in which the Hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. Ward) had brought forward the questions so interesting to the navy. It had been admitted by every Secretary to the Admiralty, and by every Lord of the Admiralty, for some years, that jobbing to a large extent had existed in our dockyards. Now he sincerely wished that the Hon. Gentleman had been authorised to go a step further than his predecessors had gone; and, In addition to making such au admissios, had issued an order like the one recently issued by the Custom-house, which he supposed was issued by the permis sion of the First Lord of the Treasury. It stated that the friends of clerks, employes, and others, making use of private interest for the purpose of raising them from their different stations, would find that a very opposite result would take place. Now he confessed he should like to have seen a paper issued by the First Lord of the Admiralty, stating that those connected with the navy must only expect to attain promotion by their own exertions, and that if they applied to Lord this "or " Lord that " for such is purpose, that their progress would be effectually put a stop to.—(Hear.) The n orkmen in the respective dockyards wanted better superintendence, and this might be effected if the superintendents and ether officers were strictly honest, which he regretted was unfrequently the case. —(Hear and laughter). The mode in which persons were ;appointed was pregnant of evil. If the names of three persons were brought to the Admiralty, two of whom were Whigs and the other a Tory, no doubt the Whigs would stand a far better chance of being ap pointed than the other.—(Laughter.) Why, it needed no ghost from the grave to tell them that this was the invariable practice. ( air. Ward dissented.) The lion. Gentleman shook his head, but the statement was correct. The great fault of the management of the dockyards was that a superintendent was not allowed to man his yard as a captain manned his ship, and to discharge the men if they neglecte6 their duty. If this power were vested in him he would " keep a good look out," and prevent a continuation of this jobbing. He (Sir C. Napier) had been endeavouring for five years to impress the neces sity of a thorough revision of the dockyard system upon the Govern ment ; but he had never received any assistance in his labours until the present session, as he found the Secretary to the Admiralty stating that the " Government did not get a fair day's work for a fair day's wages."—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Then again, the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Portsmouth (Mr. Baring) admitted that many ships were not built in a proper manner, as mis takes had been made from time to time in their construction. We had also the published statement of a gentleman who was connected with the Admiralty during the late Administration (Mr. Corry), that, " considering the large expense of building and preparing ships, the most careful revision of the practice and proceedings of the dockyards is urgently required, as much for the purpose of saving expense, as for the purpose of promoting regularity." He should like to know from the Secretary of the Admiralty whe ther those thirty-three iron vessels were in his opinion adapted for war or not ? There was one other question also which he wished to ask him. He was desirous to know if he intended to revise the articles of war with a view to make them more humane ? In these days of modifying and abolishing corporal punishment, he thought the Admiralty should take this subject into their consideration. Before he sat down he also wished to impress upou the Admiralty the propriety of increasing the number of ship-carpenters in their employment. The pay of this class of persons was so small that they were obliged to employ joiners to carry on the works, and he hoped that, as soon as a vessel was . out of commission, they would lay on the table a statement of the expenses she incurred while in commitslon, as he believed such an account would be extremely satisfactory. If the Admiralty would follow these few hints which he had thrown out, he had no doubt but they would be attended with the best results. With regard to those iron vessels, i , was proved, if they were struck with a shot, the effect was just the same as if " you put your finger through a piece of brown paper." Now, what would be the consequence, he would ask, if one of these - vessels was struck with a 32 or a 68-pounder? If the Ho nourable Gentleman did not know, he (Sir Charles Napier) would tell him, she would go to the bottom like a stone. Capt. BERKELEY thought that the Gallant Admiral (Napier) should not have alluded to the iron vessels, as the Secretary for the Admiralty had already stated that iron vessels were not fitted for the purposes of war. He himself did not think they were adapted for such a purpose. Mr. CORRY would only make one or two remark.s on the subject. The Hon. Member for Wiltshire seemed to think that a good deal of jobbing had been practised in the appointments in the dock yards, but he could as-ure the Hon. Gentleman that while he (Mr. Corry) was in office, no such jobbing was carried on. The appointments of the late Government were founded upon the merits of the parties ap pointed, and not with the view, as the Honourable Member would seem to insinuate, to secure sinister support. With regard to the fitness of iron for steam vessels be would not contend that iron was suite 1 tor the purposes of vessels of war, but with regard to vessels to be employed in services of a general character, be entertained an entirely different opinion, and in support of that opinion he need only mention that he had received a letter front Captain Hosken, wherein he stated, that had the Great Britain been mace of wood instead of iron she must have gone to pieces long ago. Ile maintained, therefore, that iron was the best material for constructing vessels to be used for general purposes. When they said so much of the de fects of iron vessels, they should recollect that wooden vessels were not able to resist the effects of shot, but they had often been burnt from the shots fired into them. That was an inconvenience to which iron vessels were not subject. It was said that a shot tired into an inn vessel passed through one side and entered the other, but this Anti have arisen from the slight scantlings of the iron, and the same con sequences would result to wooden vessels, if made up proportionably slight. It could not be denied, however, that if they were objection. able as war vessels, they would make very good troop ships. Captain HARRIS said that it would be most advisable that a sum of money should be voted as a supplementary estimate, for the pur pose of raising the pay of petty officers, and that such a measure should go pc:ripe/48u with secondary punishments. Captain PECHELL desired to know what votes the Government were anxious to obtain, as he wished to hear the observation which the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir James Graham) intimated he would make ? Mr. WARD said that ho could 'not expect the House to enter into the whole Sir J. GRAHAM said he was afraid that any observations which as he might make in reference to this vote, and the paper which had another opportunity o u f f t a ti resz estimates,t the House. Gentlemen would have . been laid upon the table, would be of little value, because his expe s liesa s not of of t v u e u r y lat patronage date. of dockyards being monopolised by the Secret ar i es of the Admiralty was altogether unknown in his time. In f ac t th e B rie ut e hh a eu t the must ßoard say of th t e ua A t dmi t r u al e ty, a S ft e e e r re t t h a e ry n to the rm Reform Secretaries exercised no patronage, except in the appoint ment o f Act, and before he left that board, he could perceive the o p erat i on of the right to return Members to Parliament for Chatham, Ports chaplahis. Admiralty for He twu said thatyears . h upon p obnaathe held ge ne t ra he l e o l ffi ec c telon of mouth, and other places ; and he must say, that if these political feelings prevailed further in the service of the Government, he feared they must resort to the old usage of the statute in r e f erence to their servants, which was, that all who were employed in the collectioil of the revenue, should not possess the qualification of voting. He instanced the coast-guard as a case nearly analogous to the present. Still, he thought, this plan brought forward by the Admiralty was such, that it ought to have a fair trial, and therefore he would give it his support most gladly, in order that the experiment might be made. If the experiment of the Admiralty fail, then he would most certainly recommend the extreme remedy of disqualification. Mr. WARD was extremely gratified at the favourable opinion ex pressed by the Right Hon. Baronet, and he could assure him that everything would be done to g ye effect to the plan which he had spoken of so highly. He was also of opinion that the officers in the dockyards would co-operate in giving the plan a fair trial. Should it, however, fail, he had no objection to the extreme remedy of dis qualification recommended. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS expressed himself in favour of the plan. Mr. T. BARING begged the Right Hen. Member to be watchful of the proposed plan, else he would find that he had only removed the evil from the inferior to the superior officers. The greatest care, therefore, was necessary, in order to give the measure a fair chance. If that were done, a benefit might be realised ; but whether or not, he had grave objections to the extreme remedy of disqualification which had been recommended by the Right Hon. Baronet the late Home Secretary. meBnltls.3auharloatdu. defray The vote was th en agreed to. The following vot es were then agreed to:— navaltheu resumed,es tah establishments report home. The 25,5571. to d e f ray some expense in connexion with naval establish the wages of artifi cers and labourers in con nexion i nw i Lth se was brought up, and or dered to be receiv e d on Monday. DRAINAGE OF LAND BILL. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Lord LINCOLN objected to some of the provisions of the Bill, and complained that its object had been slightly altered by the Government from the one introduced by their predecessors. The erect advantage contemplated by the Bill of last year was to convert the instalments into a loan. The large proprietors would have no great difficulty in obtaining these loans from insurance cony parries. The small proprietors could not do so, for where the sums amounted only to 4,0001. or 5,0001., there would be a difficulty ; but when the sums amounted to 30,0001. there would, he conceived, be no such difficulty. He would not be invidious and read the names of the persons on the paper before him, but he observed that there were applications for sums of 32,!;001., of 47,0001., and, in one in stance, of 70,000/. ; and although the grant was 2,000,000/., there were applications for 700,000/. beyond that sum ; so that it was evident that the whole of the money, if this system were to be pursued,:would be absorbed by the large landowners. Then, again, he objected to the term which was adopted of three years, for in England, there were seven-course systems, and in Scotland four-course systems, so that the money never could be repaid within the three years, and he would therefore advise that they should at once be dropped, and take a five year system, for that would be much better both for the drainage and for the cultivation of the soil. Again, if the money was thus to be expended, he was afraid that it would never prove of any great value in promoting the general improvement. He did hope therefore that the Government would give this Bill a little more attention bef>re it was definitely passed through the House. The Bill was then read a second time. and ordered to be com mitted on Wednesday next. COSTSOLIDATED FUND BILL. This Dill was read a third time and passed. Mr. GODSON obtained leave to bring in a Bill to encourage per- Sons to effect insurance on lives. The Dill was subsequently brought in and read a first time. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to introduce the following Bins :—A Bill to amend the law and practice in Scotland as to the Service of Heirs ; a Bill to amend the law and practice in Scotland with regard to Crown Charters and Precepts from Chancery; a mu to facilitate the Transference of Lands and other Heritages in Scot land not held in Burgage Tenure ; a Bill to facilitate the Transfer ence of Lands and other Heritages in Scotland held in nurgage Tenure ; a Bill to facilitate the Constitution and Transmission of Heritable Securities for Debt in Scotland, and to render the same more effectual. Captain PECHELL moved for a return of all vessels that have been purchased, since 1830, in the Royal Navy, including those condemned under the Acts relative to the Slave Trade, stating the tonnage and the price paid for each, distinguishing the amount paid for the hull and for the stores ; also tor a return of the number of boys of the first and second class for general service received on board the several flag-ships at Ports mouth and Devonport, during the several months of August, Sep tember, October, November, and December, 1846, distinguishing those who have not been entered under the regulation of the admi ralty memorandum of the 25th day of May, 1841, with the number Aofgrbenedystsuo. entered, who have been supplied with slop clothing.— The sdoremainingadjourned ato hrdLrl sropfastthoeudeaywewlueerk.e then disposed of, and the House SALE OF LAND IN TEXAS. Thursday, 16,273 acres of freehold located land, situate in Texas, under the dominion, and in the southern part of the United States of North America, were submitted to public competition, at the Auction-mart, by Mr. Robins. The land comprised nine estates in the counties of Harris, Liberty, Galveston, and Bexar, the size being from 320 to 4,605 acres, all of them surrounded with thriving farms, and from three to eight miles from the capital city, Houston. The lands located in the vicinity of Houston, &c., produced ss. 6 3 4(1. the acre ; the unconditional certificates, entitling the holder to select land in any part of Texas, from 320 to 1.280 acres each remaining unallotted, going at nominal prices. An order has been issued that an appeal shall be lodged in the House of Lords against the decision of the Queen 's Bench, in confirming the sentence passed at Ennis, of execution on Patrick O'Brien, for the murder of his wife at ogee.—Limerick Chronicle. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. DOME CIRCUIT.—Hertfn-d, March 5. ....., - It The as , ; , es f ur t hi s county concluded to-day about one o'clock. The f o ll ow i ng are the only cases that possessed any feature of public i n t erest that have been dispesed of during these assizes. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Lord DEN/4.0t and a Special Jury.) MILES V. 31118.RA.Y., This was an action to recover damages for an assault al leged to have been committed by Sir Robert Murray, a ma gistrate for this co un t y . . Mr. Montagu Chambers appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Sergeant Shee was for the defendant. This case arose out of an action that was tried at the last assizes, and which has since been several times before the public upon the application for a new trial. A man named Beadel brought au action against Sir Robert Murray for false imprisonment, on having given him into custody on sus picion of stealing some fowls; and the result of that action was a verdict fur the defendant. It appeared that, shortly after the trial Beadel and some of his friend, among whom was the present plaintiff, bad been regaling themselves at a public• house in the village, near Sir Robert's residence, and as they were passing by one of them blew a horn, and some other discordant noises were made, and it was alleged that Sir Robert had come out, accompanied by some of his servante, and made attack upon the party, and committed the as sault complained of upon the plaintiff. Lord DENMAN, in summing up, said he lamented that a gentleman in the position of the defendant should have acted 111 the manner alleged, even although he might have re ceived some provocation. That was no excuse for an act of violence from a gentleman who, by his position, ought to set an example. of forbearance. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict fur the plaintitf.—D.rnages, Is. His Loupsnw. subsequently, upon the application of Mr, Chambers, certified that there was ground of action, so Elia/ the plaintiff will receive his costs. THE QUEEN V. STUET. This was an indictment preferred at the instance of the justices of the borough of St. Albans, against the defendant, who is a banker in that town, for a libel. Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Hawkins were for the plain tiffs; the defendant conducted his own case. This action was also connected with one tried at the last Assizes, in which Mr. Blagg, the town-clerk, and clerk to the magistrates at St. Albans, was the plaintiff, and Mr. Sturt the defendant, and he was charged with publishing a libel concerning him. The libel was contained in a letter addressed to Sir J. Graham, while Home Secr e t ar y, an d charged the magistrates an d Mr. Blagg with some irregular proceedings in. referencs to the examination of two persons for embezzlement ; the latter particularly, as having acted As clerk and professional adviser to the magistrates, and also as attorney for the prisoner. The present indictment was preferred by the magistrates for the attack made upon them in the same communication. After the case had proceeded some length, it was put an end to by the defendant consenting to make an apology, and pay the costa ; and upon this understanding a nominal ver dict was recorded. CROWN COURT.--(Before Chief Justice WILDE.) Caroline Brown, aged 24, a good-looking young woman, was indicted for the wilful murder of her illegitimate child, oy casting it into the waters of a mill-stream, and thereby suffucating and drowning it. , Mr. Hawkins conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Ryland defended the prisoner. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the prisoner was in the service of a gentleman at Hitchin, as cook, and for some time prior to the month of January there: had been a suspicion that she was in the family way, but there was no positive evidence upon the poini. On the 9th of that month the body of an infant was found in a mill-stream which ran at the bottom of the premises of the prisoner's master, whence there was access to it by a gate or flap. It appeared in evidence that there was a grating above the spot is question, and the inference was that the child must have been thrown into the stream at the place where it joined the residence of the prisoner; and there were some Other circumstances of suspicion, tending to fix the guilt upon her, but the evidence was very far from being conclusive. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, March 4. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS.) George Pink was indicted for burglariously breaking into the dwelling-house of Frances Covey, on the 24th of July last, and stealing therefrom 2701. Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Edwards conducted the case for ,he prosecution; and Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Massey defended ,e prisoner. It appeared from the evidence, which in detail was of very great length, that Miss Covey is a maiden lady, 85 years of age. She lives in New-street, in the town of Basingstoke, keeping one servant maid. The prisoner, who is a respec table-looking man, 28 years of age, lived as shopman in the service of Mr. Barton, a butcher. Miss Covey and her servant went to bed about 10 o'clock on the night of the 24th of July; both of them slept in the same room. They were awoke about two o'clock in the morning by some noise, and instantly perceived a man standing by the bed with a candle in one hand and a pistol in the other; they also saw that his face was covered with something resembling a piece of muslin. Although alarmed, they were enabled to take notice of his dress, and they stated that he had not any coat on, but that his waistcoat was of sach a pattern that they could re cognise it. The man said, " Money I want, and money I'll have." The old lady wanted to get out of bed and attack him, but the maid held her down and spoke to the man, who said if she was not quiet he would blow her brains out. The servant then told him she would give him her mistresses money, and she hoped he would spare their lives. He was then a little quiet, and then the servant took a purse from under the pillow and gave it him. This did not satisfy him, for he said that was not what he wanted, and he desired her to give him the keys of the drawers. The woman was so much frightened that she gave him the keys; there were several purses containing money in the drawers, and among that was a Queen Anne's sixpence. The prisoner having the keys, went to the drawers and opened them, and took out all these purses with the money. He then tied the hands of the servant with a cord which he took from his pocket. He then went away, but in an instant he came into the room again, and told them if they did not lie still he would blow their brains out. He then went out of the house. Imme diately after this the servant opened the window, and ob served the same man who had been in the room walking in the street. She then gave an alarm, and a person who lived on the opposite side of the street hearing it procured a police man, and, accompanied by him, went to Miss Covey's house. They proceeded to make an examination of the home, and found a back window open and a pane of glass broken. 'ley also found a hammer and chisel near the drawers. Miss Covey and her servant gave a description of the man, and particularly alluded to his waistcoat. in the course of the morning the policeman went to Barton's, and in the pri soner's bedroom he found a coat and waistcoat and a pair of trousers, and upon taking the w a i s t coat to Mi ss Covey she identified it as that worn by the man who was in the room. The policeman then examined the rest of the clothes, and he discovered that one of the pockets of the coat had been torn oft He then proceeded to examine Mr. Barton's pre mises, and under some sawdust he discovered a sort of bag, which, upon inspection proved to be the pocket of. the pri soner's coat, and it contained all the property Miss Covey had lost, and among the money the Queen Anne's sixpence was discovered. In the privy they found several bullets and a lucifer match-box. The hammer and chisel found at Miss Covey's were identified as the property of Mr. Bar ton. They had been placed in the slaughter-house the night before, and the prisoner was in that slaughter-house about nine o'clock that evening. The mother of the pri soner lived next door to Miss Covey, and a chair had been taken from the premises adjoining Miss Covey's, and placed against the wall of her premises. Mr. Barton had two other men in his employ, and they and the prisoner slept in rooms outside the dwelling-house of Mr. Barton, but the two men had to pass through the room of the prisoner to go to bed. On the night of the robbery the prisoner was not in his room when they went to bed at eleven o'clock. A large dog was kept on Mr. Barton's premises, and no stranger could have gone there without the dog making a great noise. The dog. however, on that night was perfectly quiet. A short time before the robbery the prisoner had purchased a brace of pistols, and on Monday last those pistols were found in a cess-pool on Barton's premises. The cord which had been tied round the hands of the servant of Miss Covey was stated to be similar to those used in slaughter-houses. The pri soner was apprehended on the day of the robbery ; he had only been married a short time before, and had intended set ting up in business on his own account. No one could have got to the back part of Miss Covey's house but by means of the chair put against the wall. Mr. CoCxnuitN addressed the jury, and called several wit nesses on behalf of the prisoner. The Learned JUDGE having summed up the case, The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Sentence-15 years' transportation. John Parry, the black, convicted yesterday of uttering a forged 201. note, was sentenced to seven years' transpor tation. NISI PRIUS COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESWELL and a Special Jury). LANEASTER V. COUPLA ND. Mr. Crowder, Mr. Cockburn, and M r . Sl ade were counsel for the plaintiff ; and Mr. Sergeant liinglake, Mr. Barston, and Mr. Saunders for the defendant. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, an ironmonger, against the proprietor of the Hampshire Advertiser, for a libel imputing to the plaintiff misconduct in his character of Com missioner of the Improvement Act for Southampton, relative to making a road. The Learned JUDGE characterised it as an extremely dull case, except to those interested in the politics of South ampton. The jury eventually gave a verdict for the plaintiff, with 40.4 damages, at the same time stating that they did not consider the defendant was actuated by any malicious motives. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Reading, March 5. CROWN COURT.—(Before Sergeant GASELEI. ) CUTTING AND WouNnina.--Charles Smith was indicted for cutting and wounding Jane Morris. The trial did not close till one o'clock this morning. The undisputed facts were these :—The prisoner, a young man, of about twenty two, was the son of a gentleman who was a respectable soli citor at Bridgnorth, in Shropshire, and a clerk to the ma gistrates there. The prosecutrix, a tolerably well-looking young woman, twenty-one years of age, of small figure and sharp features, and who gave her evidence to-day with great firmness and presence of mind, was the daughter of a Journeyman plumber and glazier at Bridgnorth. About six years back they became acquainted with each other, and about four years back a connexion commenced, the conse quence of which was that she became a mother. After this event be went to live at Bury, near Manchester. She fol lowed him, and he took apartments for her at Manchester, and supported her there for some months. After some time his pecuniary advances to her began to diminish, and at length he abandoned her without giving her any notice of his intention to do so. After undergoing some considerable privations, she learned that he was at Reading, and by the assistance of an acquaintance of his at Bury was enabled to follow him to this town, where he at the time had a situa tion in the tax-office. On her arrival hero, on the last day of last year, she took a lodging under the name of Mrs. Smith, at the house of a Mrs. Cray, in West-street—he lodging at. the house of a Mr. Martin, at No. 26, in that street. They met—their acquaintance was renewed—he visited her as his wife, and they spent the night before the day in question together at her lodgings. On the evening of the 20th of six January she found means to get into his lodgingsabout o'clock, and stopped there till he cam e home. He ue course, anxious that she should l eave. S he refused. was, bickerings and reproaches took P l ace. At length, between eight and nine o'clock, the people of the house suddenly heard screams and cries o f " Murder !" They ra n up, rushed into the room, and found her lying on her back on the door, at some distance from the fire -place, in a state of unconsciousness, and bleeding pr) fus , _ly f rom a wound on the rif,ht side of the th roat, and the prisoner standing at her feet, in a stooping position, lying on the fl oor, three or four yards ftoand facing her, and a razor mher left side and the prison er ' s r i ght, bloody on the handle and the blade, and the carpet near it stained with blood from it. Surgeons were sent for, who dressed the wound. He WAS asked how what was seen had happened, and repli e d tchonatni9shtlehsr andre itherself . She, on recovering her Dein asked wlie did it, said it was he. The neighbours asseMbled and sent for a constable ; but Mr. May, one of the surgeons, with singular tact and presence of mind went down stairs and forbid the . con stable to interfere till he should know on what charge the prisoner was to be apprehended, and then returned up stairs and, in the presence of the prisoner, Mr. Rusher and Mrs. Martin said to her " It is an unfortunate thing you did this. What could be your motive for doing it?" To which she replied, apparently in amazement at such a statement, " I did it!" and then added, "It was he did it." Thereupon the prisoner went up to the head of the bed, and . said, "Jenny,, will Nou swear I did it?" and she said " Yes, I will." Mr. May then told her to be cautious as to what she was saying as the charge was a serious one against Mr. Smith, and told the latter that a constable was waiting to take him into cus tody; whereupon he observed, " This is a sad job for me;" to which Mr. May replied that if he was innocent of the charge he would have no difficulty in proving himself so before the magistrates. He was then conveyed to Bridewell. She remained at his lodgings confined to bed till the next Monday, whets she left to attend before the borough magis trates. These gentlemen having beard her evidence, and thet of the medical men and of the persons who were in the house at the time of the occurrence. and the prisoner's state ment, which was to the eff. . ct that she had inflicted the wound herself; dismissed the charge. This decision did not give universal satisfaction, and a subscription was raised in the town to conduct the case to a hearing before a jury. A true bill was found by the grand jury on Tuesday; and the prisoner, who was at large, and pursuing his employment in the tax-office since his release by the magistrates, at once surrendered to take his trial. The facts in .dispute must be gathered front the following report of the evidence bearing upon them : Mr. KEATING, in opening the case for the prosecution, said, that es the only object Of those who instructed him was to elicit the truth and to vindicate justice, he would call every witness whom he was aware of as knowing anything of the matter, and even put in evidence the statement made by the prisoner in his own exculpation before the magis trates, though it could not be submitted to the jury by him under any circumstances in the present inquiry. Jane Morris, after stating the circumstances of her con nexion with the prisoner up to her arrival in Reading, said that after she had found him out here, and met him, they had remained on good terms till he went to his lodgings on the evening of Wednesday, the 20th of January last. "At first," said she, "he did not speak to me. Afterwards he asked me, had I got a lodging at Cavershare ? I told him I could not. He then wanted me to take lodgings at an inn for the night, and wanted me to go early. I complained of being faint. He ordered up a glass of water. I said he ought, knowing my weak state, to have ordered a cup of hot coffee. He said the water was good enough for me. I said, this is the way you wanted to starve me at Manchester, but a friend enabled me to find you out. He pressed me to tell him who the friend was ; I told him it was Mr. Bradbury, who lodesed in the same house with him at Bury,and who gave me money to come up to him. Some time after that he said, 'I am determined you shall go.' I had put my bonnet on the table before then. On his saying that, I said nothing. He then attempted to put on my bonnet; I would not let him, but told him I would go presently. He said nothing, but took my glove and cuff off the table, and threw them on the fire. The glove was burnt. I took the cuff off. It was then a quarter past eight o'clock. He said he had no doubt it was nine. He then put his arm across the mantelpiece, and laid his head upon his arm. I was sitting at the time. After a time he turned round and said twice, Will you go?' I arose from the chair. He seized hold of me and threw me backwards. I felt some thing pass across my throat. He afterwards thrust a hand kerchief into my mouth. I felt something pass across my throat a second tithe. I struggled and moved the handker chief from my mouth with my left hand. I felt blood trickling down my bosom, and cried out. On my crying out he dragged me from where I was standing, near the fire, and threw me on the floor, and knelt on my chest. I should say it was impossible for him to ring the bell. I saw no razor in the room. I heard the prisoner say I did it myself. Upon my solemn oath that is not true." Cross-examined—The prisoner left a dressing-case and razor at Manchester. I brought the razor to Reading, be cause it was his favourite razor, having been his grand father's. I brought the strop and other articles also. I gave him the razor a few days after I first met him. He gave me 30s. since I had come to Reading. He did not put any money that evening in my basket. There was a half crown, a sixpence in silver, and fourpence in copper in it. With one hand he seized my right hand at the wrist and pressed it against my chest, and threw me back against the table, and then inflicted the wounds. The witness was cross examined at great length as to the mode in which the wounds were inflicted, but no material contradiction was elicited. She gave very firmly and unhesitatingly point blank contra dictions to questions as to whether she told a Mr. Martin that she kept the razor to protect her, or a Mrs. Cray that she kept it to cut her corns, or that she once flourished it in the presence of Mrs. Cray, with a menace that if she found a Mrs. Smith, or any other woman, at Mr. Martin's, she would —, meaning she would use it; or that she told Mrs. Mar tin that he had tied her hands behind her back before he cut her throat, or that he cut it while he was putting on her handkerchief, or that on the Saturday subsequent to the Wednesday in question, after Mr. May had come to see her, she told him she had a pain in the head from having been thrown back on the floor by the prisoner, and in the chest from his having knelt on her, and that when that gentleman left she burst out laughing, and told Mrs. Parr, the nurse, that the fact was she had been out on the landing to over hear what they were saying about her, and, hearing some body coming, she ran into bed, and in doing so knocked her head against the boards. Re -examined—The prisoner in holding her wrist hurt it. The mark was there when Mr. May came. William Martin, a tailor, residing at 26, West-street, proved that on going into the room he saw the prosecutrix lying on the ground with her eyes closed, and apparently unconscious. He afterwards heard her say "he did it; He did it." ; He was not sure he heard the bell ring. Eliza Martin, the wife of the preceding witness, confirmed him generally. Cross-examined—Heard the bell ring. On going into the room found Jane Morris lying on her back. There was a holland spread over the carpet. The blood from the wound was already on the holland. She wished to save her carpet, and therefore begged of the prisoner to apply a handkerchief to the wound. He, at her request, pinched up the wound with his finger. She could not say whether there was blood on his hands when she went into the room. Jane Morris afterwards told her that the prisoner had tied her hands behind her back before he cut her throat, and afterwards, again, that be did it while he was putting on ter handker chief. She saw blood on one of Jane Morris's wrists. Re •exemined—She could not say when or where she first mentioned the statements made to bar by the prosecutrix. James Robert Cottell, an apprentice to William Martin, on going into the room, saw • blood on the prisoner's hands. Could not say whether this was before or after the prisoner had been stanching the wounds. Mr. May, a surgeon in Reading, after proving what we have already mentioned above, went on to state, that when he observed the prosecutrix on the ground there was no bleed on her hands, nor was there any when they undressed her. He observed it particularly, as his attention was called to her ring. Nor was there any blood on either of her wrists. There was blood on the prisoner's hands. Two days afterwards he saw a bruise on her wrist. It was a bruise of about two days' standing. A bruise does net show itself at first. This was such a bruise as might have resulted from an injury inflicted two days before. On dressing the large wound they discovered a second, slighter than the first. This had not cut much deeper than the skin. The large wound was on the right side of the throat, and made by a cut from right to left, and was deepest at the right or upper end. It was improbable, but not impossible, that the wound was in flicted by herself. It was more probable that it was in flicted by another. She appeared to be in a weakly state, independently of the wound—such a state as a person would be in who had recently miscarried. Had examined her feet. There was no appearance of her ever having had corns. Cross-examined—lf the prisoner it would rheldu b up J e an his arm while inflictingvery Morrisryin difficult for wound for him to inflict it. Re examined—But, supposing that he with his left hand caught her by the right wrist, and, pressing it against her chest, forced her backwards against a table, and he, while so facing her, had a razor in his right hand, there would be no difficulty in inflicting such a wound; and, as there was no spring or purchase at the back of the razor, he would cut rather backwards—from right to left—than forwards, from left to right. Mr. Rusher, a chemist and druggist in Reading, on going into the room saw the prosecutrix lying on her back. The razor was three or four yards from her left-hand side, and bloody on the blade and on the handle. There was blood on the floor near it—such a quantity as might be supposed to fall from a bloody razor thrown there. He took up the razor and placed it on the pianoforte, and was, he believed, the first person that touched it after it left the hand that inflicted the wound. He particularly observed Jane Morris's hands. There was no blood on them. There was blood on both the prisoner's hands. The prisoner was holding a handkerchief to the wound. When the prisoner, in the bed-room, asked her would she swear he did it, her answer was, " You know you did it." The razor was produced, and the prisoner's statement be fore the magistrates was put in and read. The substance of this was, that he repeatedly begged her to go away—that she herself threw her glove and cuff, and also a handker chief, or, the fire; that she wanted to get back the razor ; that he refused to give it; that she at last promised to go if he would give it back to her; that he at last, after much importunity, gave it; that she stood for a while before the fire, apparently preparing to go; that he suddenly heard her scream and cry " Murder," and saw her falling; that he met her, supported her in his arms, rang the bell, laid her on the ground—that the persons in the house then came in, and that the wounds were inflicted by herself. At the close of the case for the prosecution, Mr. Sergeant TAIXOURD (with whom was Mr. Selfe) put in her examinations taken before the magistrates, and again cross-examined her on discrepancies between her statement then and to-day. Mr. KEATING having re-examined the witnesses, Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD then proceeded to address the jury on behalf of the prisoner. The Learned Sergeant's ad dress occupied nearly two hours. Several witnesses were then called to prove the affirmative of the questions to which we have already . stated the pro secutrix, in her cross-examination, had given point-blank contradictions. These witnesses were all in humble life. Not one of them was shaken in cross-examination. One of them, Mrs. Parr, proved the affirmative of the last of those ques tions, as given above. Cross-examined—Was appointed by Mr. May to attend as nurse on the prosecutrix. Never told Mr. May what the prosecutrix had so stated to her, because she had never since been able to see him till last Saturday, and then could not speak to him. She went on the Saturday after the Saturday on which the prosecutrix had made that statement to her to his house, and saw his servant, but could not see hum Was certain she had not seen him since that Saturday, the 2 3 At t o r . f thehiJaancyluoasrey waso, f t r till the lel las t eN,di Saturday. d e n eef or the prisoner, Mr and swo re th at he was attending on the prosecutrix on the Sunday and Monday after the occur reuce, hile she was at Martin's house, there iu att en d ance as usual and saw Mrs. P arr one word ab ou t thii statement , an ntto d h t i h m a . t Mrs. Parr never s a id Mr. Sergeant TALI'OURD replied on this evidence. Mr. KEATING replied on the whole case. IliS LORDSHIP commenced his summing up by observing, that though he would not presume to say that the magis trates were wrong in dismissing this case, yet thanks were due to those who enabled the prosecutrix to bring it before a Jury; for, of all the cases he had ever seen, it was the one which wag most proper for decision by the verdict of a jury. His Lordship having read through the evidence in detail, and commented upon it, The jury consulted for about five minutes, and then re turned a verdict of Guilty on the second count—for cutting and wounding with intent to disable. Ilis Loansiur, after observing that the verdict met with his entire approbation, sentenced the prisoner to ten years' transportation. EMIGRATION.—Yesterday the New York packet ship Northumberland, H. H. Griswold,lleft the London Dock with 100 passengers and a very large cargo of British manu factured goods. The emigrants consist principally of small farmers and agricultural labourers from the lime countiea and few natives of Ireland. soge l i f co► rrad ° LOW ;don , knevf I s oi sick- from h e ro esti it of ;e of port oor-