The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-09 00:00:00

BRITISH AMERICAN LAND COMPANY. _ _ The annual general court of proprietors in this company was yesterday held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of receiving the report of the directors, and for the purpose of electing four directors and one auditor, in the room of those who retire by rotation, and to fill up the vacancy in the direction occasioned by the death of the late P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P. A. Gillespie, Esq., took the chair at two o'clock. The CLERK having read the notice convening the meeting, the minutes of the last meeting were confirmed. The CLERK then read the report of the directors, from which it appeared that a marked improvement in every branch of the company's business had taken place. The sales amounted to 17,350% acres, for 12,6391. 13s. Bd. currency, being an average of 12s. Bd. per acre for unim- i proved lands, and 141 J. 10s. for town lots in Sherbrooke. And showing an increase above the sales of last year of 3,220 acres, and 2,850/. ss. 2d., and in average price of ls. 2d. per acre ; notwithstanding every care had been exercised t o avo i d sales to irresponsible parties. The subject t o w hi c h t h e di rec t o rs adverted with most pleasure was the very im portant increase in the receipts of the company in Canada within the past year. The total sum collected had been 7,574/. currency, being, as compared with last year, an in. crease of 4,652/. Bs. 4d. as thus shown 1845. 1846. Increase. Mortgage Debts .... £2,283 17 7 £5,081 11 11 £2, 797 14 4 Real Estates ••• •• 539 211 1,239 16 9 700 13 10 Sherbrooke Town... 15 7 7 463 5 0 447 17 5 Rents • • £2,921. 12 9 £7,452 911 £4,530 17 2 Premium of Echange —4211 1 2 Less Trans fers ..... • 89 0 0 2,985 7,509 2,000 6 0 0 30 7 0 30 11 8 415 13 7 £122 1 2 £122 1 2 £2,921 12 9 £7,574 11 1 £4,652 18 4 These results the commissioner attributed, in a great degree, to the increased activity given to business generally in the eastern townships by the prospect of the early construction of the railway, and to the operation of the system of pro duet payments, which had enabled every industrious pur chaser to fulfil in part his engagements. Its bene ficial effects might be further judged of, from the cir cumstance of purchasers having in many cases, preferred in this mode of payment, to anticipate the period at which the claims of the company became due. The expenses for management in Canada, inclusive of sums due for the service of 1845, had been 1,770/. 13s. 9d., H.C., and for statute labour, and other ordinary current expenses, inclusive of several claims for previous years to 5821. Bs. 9d., leaving a balance of income over the proper annual expendi ture of 5,2211. Bs. 7d., H.C., or 4,6991. ss. 10d. sterling. " The assets in Canada, at 31st December, 1846, as com pared with the previous year, were— Fer 1845. For 1846. Cash £426 Produce ... 657 Cotton factory 5OO Railway Shares deposit 250 Rib and Notes... 1,086 945 - 2.031 894 805 425 2,400 3,864 Less received from England 1,800 Stg. £3,860 £5,509 With respect to the expenditure in London, the directors had only to remark, that the utmost economy had been observed, and the total outlay, as shown by the accounts, amounts to 3294 6s. 7d. In trick last annual report the directors drew the attention of the proprietors to the prospects of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway, and they had now the plea sure to announce to the proprietors the commencement of this important work ; notwithstanding the very grave obstacles with which this enterprise had had to contend, arising from the apprehended difficulties with the United States, now happily dispelled ; and also from the panic which had overtaken almost every one of the railways projected at the same time. Nothing, the directors felt, could- afford stronger evidence cf the value of this great work than the simple fact, that it had been proceeded with almost exclusively on colonial support, after the de termined opposition, and final withdrawal of the greater proportion of those who had taken shares in Eng land; and who, it was probable, conceived it to be classed with the other ephemeral projects of 1845. The proprietors might rest assured that although, from their present engagements in promotion of objects vitally hnpor tant to the company, the directors deemed it inexpedient to attempt to uioertake further charges on the company's re venue; yet the proprietors might be assured that the earliest moment would be adopted for attempting a renewal of interest payments. The commissioner of the company, Mr. Galt, was now in this country, it having been deemed important by the directors to require his presence for com munication with them relative to the prospective operations of the company. The directors regretted to announce the lamented death of P. M. Stewart, Esq., ALP., one of the members of their board, the vacancy occasioned by which it was now the duty of the proprietors to till. The directors who retired by rotation were W. P.Crawfurd, Esq., R. Ellice, Esq., E. W. Mills, Esq., T. Poynder, Esq. ; and 11. Carter, Esq., auditor. The following gentlemen offered themselves for re-election, Russell Ellice, Esq., E. W. Mills, Esq., Thomas Poynder, Esq., as directors; Robert Carter, Esq., auditor. The follow ing gentlemen were also candidates :—Thomas H. Brooking, Esq., George Pemberton, Esq., John White, Esq., as directors ; Wm. Chapman, Esq., as auditor, in place ofT.H. Brooking, Esq. The following abstract of the British American Land Com pany's London Cash Account for the year 1846, was laid before the meeting : Dr. 1846. Balance at bankers 31st December, 1845 Cash received for the Commissioner to be repaid to him in Canada 364 dllys' interest on 1,0001. Ex chequer-bill Cash for letter of credit, lco. 112 Do. 113 Do. 114 £259 11 6 Cash for 2,000/. Exchequer-bill, sold at 105. premium, less com missicn 364 days' interest on 1,0001. Fx chequer-bill Remittance by Commissioner on T. Willis ... Cash for Bth call on 20 shares and interest on which the dividend of 1839 is paid (see below) 1847. 5 0 0 15 0 0 3 0 0 Balance at bankers 415 13 7 Exchequer -bill 2,000 0 0 Cr. 1846. Paid the Deputy Governor for super- intending for one year the.of- fice Business :.• ... £l5O 0 0 „ Clerk's Salary for one year 75 0 0 „ Rent of Offices in Barge .yard 60 0 0 „ Office Laundress, for cleaning and coals ... „ Stationery ... „ Postage, expense of sleet ings, and other small charges during the year••• ••• ••• „ Printing Annual Accounts, Cir cular, &c. „ Solicitor's Bill for 1845 „ Dividend of 1839 on 20 shares, on which call and interest is now paid ~ Commissioner's bills fur St. Law rence and Atlantic Railway de posit ~ to the following persons, for money received by the Com missioner from their friends in Canada : ~ to H. Leonard „ to Mary French... 4 0 0 to A. M‘Leod 2O 7 0 „ on account of the Commissioner, to be repaid by him in Canada Balance at bankers £2,617 14 11 The CHattimme then said that the report which had just been read was one of the most satisfactory nature that had been laid before the proprietors for some years. lle congra tulated the meeting on the improved state of the finances of the company, and looked forward with interest to the com pletion of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway, which would give an increas e d s ti mu l us t o t h e i nterests of the town ship.E., and the cultivation of the l an d o f t h e company, immediatein . proximity with th e li ne of the railway, along which considerable q uan titi es of Indian corn and other agricultural produce would be carried. He thought it would be highly i m p ro p er to distribute the . small surplus of the company among the proprietors, and that the better course would be to husband the money in the hands of the directors, in order to adva nce th e comple tion of the railway and otherimprovements in the hands of the company. Mr. GALT (the commissioner of the company) stated that the whole of the line of rail way alluded to in the report would, he had no doubt, be completed very shortly. Within the last twelve months, upwards of 150 miles of rail way had been placed under contract, leadi ng in the direction of the company's lands. A line was placed under contract from Boston, which will afford the means of com munication with the frontier of Canada and that city, and thereby open a market for the produce of the tenants of the company at all seasons of the year. The report was then, after a few desultory remarks, unani mously agreed to. Russell Ellice, Esq., E. W. Mills, Esq., Thomas Poynder, Esq., Thomas H. Brooking, Esq., and George Pemberton, Esq., were then unanimously elected as directors of the com pany for the ensuing year. W. Chapman, Esq., and R o b ert Carter, Esq., were appointed auditors to the company for the ensuing year. The thanks of the meeting were then voted to the chair, man, and the meeting broke up YV, OOLWICII.—LIBERATION OP CONVICTS BY TIER MAJESTY.—it is stated upon undoubted authority that her Majesty's pardon will be extended to a number of convicts now serving, whose period of sentence has nearly expired, and their exemplary conduct has entitled them to her Ma jesty's royal clemency, and as an example to others to do the same. The royal mercy was recently extended to 130 of these unfortunate beings, brought home in the Scotia transport from t the West Indies, and landed at Woolwich issued oc fro'kr thevarious Home Department. A list is to be forwarded from them the Le u stablishments to the Secretary of State, to lay before een for her approval. The recent order with respect t o discharged Prevents st convicts from the hulks, works well, as it printl:tetirfbeing plundered by the keepers or others, as a " What are 11111 is now forwarded to their friends, viz., any person employ him? statei prospects if liberated ? will has any application been madetheir names and address; whom ? has any, and what replytob such p ersons . and by the money saved up for th em , made ?" &c. Also not paid till their arrival at their amounting.destinati on, from Si. to 201., is is sent with them to sec that they go off by and a person ance for their native place. y the first convey_ THE UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION. --- 0 n Saur. day afternoon the sixteenth annual meeting of the I.Titne" Service Institution , Wh itehall, was held in their muse . i t tn' d Major-General Sir James L. Lushin g ton, vice-president,. presided. The report showed that the institution was pro gressing favourably. The number of visitors amounted to 32,885, being larger than any former year. There were u p to the sth March 4,056 members , of whom 235 were new subscribers, being a g re at increase on former years. The total receipts were 1,980/. 4s. 9,1., which included 1,303/. annual subscriptions, and 136/. 10s. life ditto, and there was a balance in hand of 101. 18s. after paying all expenses. The report also referred to the want of money for build inz a lecture theatre, the fund for that object being only 3841.165. • THE KING OF BAVARIA AND LOLA MONTES. The Debats publishes the following letter, addressed to the King of Bavaria by four of his Ministers, on ten dering their resignations:— " Sire,—There are circumstances in which men, invested with the inappreciable confidence of their ' sovereign, and charged by him with the direction of affairs, have only the sad alternative of re nouncing the accomplishment of the most sacred duties, their fidelity, their attachment, and their gratitude, or of not fearing, in order to satisfy their conscience, to expose themselves to the unhappy danger of incurring the disapprobation of their beloved monarch. Such is the sad necessity in which the undersigned find themselves placed by the royal de cision, which has for its object to grant to the Signora Lola Montes Bavarian letters of naturalisation. We are all incapable of betraying the oaths which we took to your Majesty, and our resolution has never been for a moment doubtful. This question of naturalisation was frankly characterised by the Counsellor of State de Maurer, in the sitting of the council of the Bth inst., as the greatest calamity with which Bavaria could be afflicted. This was also the conviction of the whole of the council ; it is at the same time the expression of the opinion of all the faithful subjects of your Majesty ; and it was not necessary for the Council of State to assemble to cause it to be entertained by the under signed. Since the month of December last the eyes of the whole country have been fixed upon Munich. In all the provinces of Bavaria nothing is thought of but what is passing here, and which forms almost exclusively the subject of all conversations, whether private or public; and the opinions manifested on this subject are exceedingly grave. The respect for the Sovereign be comes weaker and weaker in all minds, because we hear from all parts only expressions of the most bitter blame and the most energetic disapprobation. Moreover, the national feeling is offended, because Bavaria believes herself to be governed by a foreign female, whose re putation is branded in public opinion, and, in presence of such facts, nothing can root out the idea. Men like the Bishop of Augsburg, whose fidelity and attachment to your Majesty cannot be disputed, daily shed bitter tears for what is passing before their eyes; the Minis ters of the Interior and of Finance have been witnesses of his profound affliction. The Prince Bishop of Bres lau, on learning that a rumour had been circulated here that he had set forth an opinion tending to tistd state of things, has hastened to write to persons in Munich, requesting them to contradict this in the most formal manner, and to declare that he disap proved in toto of what was going on. His letter is no longer a secret, and in a short time it will be known to the whole country. Foreign journals are every day relating the most scandalous anecdotes, and making the most degrading attacks on your Majesty. The number of the Ulm Chronicle, which we subjoin, is a proof of what we assert. It is in vain that the police endeavours to prevent the introduction of these journals, as they are circulated everywhere, and read with the utmost avidity. The impression which they leave on men's minds is by no means doubtful ; it is renewed day after day, and in a short time nothing will be able to efface it. This opinion is the same from Berchtesgaden and Passau to Aschaffenburg and Deux-Ponta—it is the same throughout Europe, in the cabin of the poor and the palace of the rich. It is not alone the glory and the well-being of your Majesty's Government that are compromised, but even the existence of Royalty itself. It is this which ex plains the joys of those who aim at overturning the throne, and all whose efforts tend to annihilate this same royalty. But it is also the cause of the profound grief and despair of all who are faithfully attached to your Majesty, and who cannot shut their eyes to the dangers to which the country has not ptrhaps at any other period been expostd. In this state of things it is beyond the reach of human power to prevent the effect of what is now passing acting in the end on the army ; and if such an unfortunate event should take place, if that bulwark should give way, what would then be our resource ? The statement which the under signed, whose hearts are torn with anguish, venture to place before your Majesty, is not the effect of an ima gination struck with terror, but the result of the obser v-itions which each of them, in the circle of his attribu tions, has been in a condition to make for several months. It may be easily foreseen what will be, in the ensuing Parliamentary session, the result of these circum stances. Their effect cannot be calculated if the delibe rations of the Chambers should open under such im pressions. Each of the undersigned is ready at any moment to sacrifice for your Majesty his lite and for tune. They believe they have given you sufficient proofs of their fidelity and attachment, and it is for them a doubly sacred duty to point out to your Majesty the dangers which are daily increasing, in mitt. that you may deign to listen to their humble prayer, and give up the supposition that what is taking place is the effect of passions or of opposition to your august will, when this opposition is really directed only against a situation which, in the eyes of every faithful Bavarian, threatens to destroy the fair fame, power, and future happiness of a beloved King. They have respectfully and minutely weighed all the circum stances connected with a course of proceeding to which their profound and sincere attachment to your Majesty have alone decided them. Their firm convic tion is, that if your Majesty should not deign to attend to their supplications, they are bound to resign the situations to which the kindness and confidence of their sovereign had called them, and that nothinelse rt mains for them but t o respec tf u ll y pray your Majesty to "n -il sume the portfolios which you bad intrusted to them. (Signed) D'ABEL, Minister of the Interior. GU MPENBERG, Minister of War. , SHRENKE, Minister of Finance. SCENSHEIM, Ministerof Justice." M. de Bray, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has also given in his resignation, as has been already stated. BURNING OF A THEATRE. GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. We read in a letter from Carlsruhe of the 28th ult.:--- " The grand ducal theatre has just been destroyed by fire ; it is at this moment a heap of ashes. Soon after five o'clock, and when a considerable number of persons had already en tered the theatre, the third tier of boxes being nearly filled, the fire broke out suddenly in a box on the second tier. It is said that one of the gas pipes burst, and this was probably the case, for in a few minutes the whole of the interior of the theatre was in flames. Assistance was soon procured from all sides ; but as it was impossible to save the theatre, all the efforts were directed towards the preservation of the adjoin ing houses. At ten o'clock all danger was over as regarded them. But what is most terrible in this affair is the loss of life. Several persons in the boxes lost their lives, for, as soon as the fire had declared itself, escape was difficult. Some, who were in the third tier, jumped into the second, and then into the pit; others threw themselves out of the windows into the yard." The Carlsruhe Gazette of the 3d gives the following parti culars:— " It was not in one of the boxes of the second gallery that the fire first broke out, but in one of the court. boxes, imme diately after the gas was lighted. The inquest is not yet terminated ; but it is already known that there was no fissure in the gas pipe, and that the flames driven by a current of air, caught the hangings. The rapidity with which the fire spread is easily accounted for by the interior arrangement and decorations of this banding in common with all old theatres. As soon as the audience part of the house was be g to be filled with the volumes of smoke, the confu sion and alarm became general and frightful. Many persons on the third tier of galleries were stifled. The number of persons dead and missing amounts, according to the police returns, to 70. The Grand Duke, although he had for seve ral days been confined by indisposition, hurried to the scene of disaster, and by his presence encouraged the firemen. His Royal Highness has to-day expressed, through the au thorities, his warm thanks to the inhabitants of Carlsruhe and its environs, and the military and gendarmery, for the zeal with which they all lent their assistance on this lament able occasion." A letter from Carlsruhe, in the . 4 / a nnheim Journal, says— " Among the victims the following are named—viz., a brother of Homburg, the ma n o f letters ; a son of M. \Vabel, the prompter; a whole family who had just arrived from Ludwigsburg, and an English family who had got lost in the corridors, besides many women and children. Most of the bodies are completely reduced to ashes; and of many others nothing was left unconsumed but the limbs, which have been carried to the cemetery. Some threw themselves out of the windows of the fourth story ; one, in attempting to do so, was withheld by a young female, to whom he was affianced, and thus remained suspended till the building gave way, when they both sunk into the flames." POLICE INTELLIGEPICE. SOUTHWARK. Joseph Newman, described on the charge , heet as a gen tleman, was brought before Mr. Cottinghar, charged with assaulting Mr. Wil'shire, a grocer, residing i Tooley-street, also with attempting to steal a silver liqumstand and a large gravy spoon. Mr. Willshire said that the prisoner was its brother-in_ law, and had for some time with is wife live on his bounty. Witness advanced him several sums of moneyt various times on the security of his plate and other articles While witness was at church on Sunday, the prisoner centred to get pos session of the plate produced, and that moring was in the act of leaving the house with it, when he stoped him. The prisoner knocked him down, and had not thepolice come to his assistance, he believed he would have mulered him. He had no wish to press the latter part of the carge, but only required protection from his violence. The prisoner said it was quite true that himelf and wife were residing at Mr. Willshire's, but he hadsulficient pro• party to pay him whatever he expended. Hi wife was now exceedingly ill, and required the attendance f a physician, and it was for the purpose of paying one tha he was about to take the plate from the house. He conslered himself much ill-used by the complainant. The latter said that whatever attendance lir& Newman required he would cheerfully pay for, but he ould not en courage the prisoner's lazy habits. Mr. Corrmaxam ordered him to find goal bail for his future conduct, and told him that he had narliwly escaped being committed for felony, in taking away merty which he had deposited as security. Mr. Wm. Greenfield, the son of a clergynsan,was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged with attempt* to commit suicide. Mr. John Connor, a chemist, of Kent-street. Southwark, stated that on the preceding night the defendatt came into his shop, and wanted to be served with a shillitg's worth of laudanum. He was asked for what purpose it vas intended, and his reply was that he required a dose ci a narcotic medicine to compose his mind, which was rafter uneasy. Witness informed him of the consequences o' taking an overdose of such a medicine, and then, at his request, fur nished him with about forty drops. The defendant quitted the shop, but had not been many minutes gone when a boy came and informed (witness) that he saw the tame gentle man walk into another chemist's shop, and purchase some more laudanum, which he drank off the moment he got into the street. Witness immediately left the shop, and on going into the street saw th e defendant in the act of conveying the phial containing the laudanum to his lips, and was just in time to prevent him from swallowing the whole quantity. As he suspected that he meditated self-destruction, he had him directly taken to Guv'' where the stomach pump was iiiiiouocea, and the contents of his stomach ejected. As the defendant refused to give any account of himself, it was deemed necessary, as a precautionary measure, to place him in the hands of the police. Policeman, 246 M, said that when the defendant was given into his custody, he found in his pockets several bullets re cently moulded, some gunpowder and percussion caps, which he said were intended far a sporting excursion which he was about to take in the country. In answer to the magistrate the defendant said—The fact is, Sir, I was mesmerised at a lodging which I recently oc cupied at Pentonville, and suffered so seriously from the ope ration that I thought a dose of laudanum woulc have coun teracted its effects, and that was the reason I pirchased the quantity I did on the occasion. Mr. Corrnsonwat proceeded to put other pestions, to which the defendant gave the following answers:—That his father was a clergyman, residing in Sussex, fron which place he (the defendant) had only arrived a fortnght ago, for change of scene. The policeman said that, besides the powder Ind ball found in the defendant's possession, there was also money to the amount of 20/. Mr. COTTINGUAM said that he could not permit the de fendant to go at large, after making such an attempt upon his life, without having proper security that he would not repeat it. lie should, therefore, remand him; and in the interval his family should be made acquainted with his si tuation. MARLBOROUGH -STREET. FELONY. —Adolphe Charles Prevost was charged with having robbed his employers, Messrs. Auber and Klaften berger, watchmakers, Regent-street, of gold watches, clocks, and other property, of the value of 801. Mr. Klaftenberger said the prisoner was :n the employ of the firm, but left his situation abruptly, in consequence of an inquiry that was being made about some o! the missing pro perty. On looking over the stock it W 212 ascertained that several gold and silver watches and carriage clocks were missing. A constable was employed, who, on searching the prisoner's lodgings, found ample evidence of the defendant's delinquency. Police -constable John Cock, C 182, said he went to search the prisoner's lodgings at No. 6, Mead-street. He found two keys belonging to carriage-clocks, two cases be.. longing to gold watches, and a paper containing a list of pro perty, consisting of gold and silver watches and carriage clocks, together with the names of the pawnbrokers with whom they were pledged. Witness went to the pawnbrokers and found the stolen property,i all of which was identified by Mr. Klaftenberger. He then went in search of the prisoner, and took him in custody near the Lee-road. Several pawnbrokers produced articles pledged by the prisoner, all of which were the property of the prosecutors. The prisoner, who said nothing in defence, was fully com mitted. WESTMINSTER. Maria Lewis, a young woman described as a servant, was charged with ringing the bell at the house of Lord John Russell, 42, Chesham-place, Pimlico, without lawful excuse. James Light, 128 B, said that at a few minutes before eight on the previous evening, while on duty in Chesham place, he saw defendant violently pull the bell at Lord John Russell's, and then run away. He pursued and overtook her, and upon asking her what reason she had for ringing the bell, she replied that she had done it for a lark. lie told her that he was there to prevent such larks, and took her to the station, after which he returned back to the house to know whether anybody would charge her, when his Lord- ship said he should not like her to be punished, but wished her to be taken before a magistrate and reprimanded. Mr. BURRELL informed defendant that he should have fined her but for his Lordship's wish that she should only be reprimanded. He should recommend her not to be found playing such a lark, as she termed it, again. The defendant was then discharged. POPULATION, POOR'S-RATE, &c. A return was issued yesterday, by order of the House of Commons, under the above head, showing the following statistical facts for the United Kingdom. Population in 1841: England and Wales Scotland Ireland 8,173,124 Annual value of property rated to the poor's-rates : England and Wales ...... .... £62,540,030 Scotland Ireland Expenditure for the relief and maintenance of the poor, year 1844-45: England and Wales Scotland ...... 292,686 Ireland 298,813 Rate in the pound of that expenditure on the annual value of property rated to the poor's -rate : England and Wales Scotland Ireland Total number of paupers relieved, including casual poor : England and Wales Scotland Ireland Proportion per cent. to the population : England and Wales ..... ... 9.2 Scotland Ireland Rate per head of expenditure on the total number of paupers relieved : England and Wales £3 Bs. 6id. Scotland Ireland PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Sxlmr.) OPPOSED. MANCHESTER, LONDON, AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. This case was opened, and the further hearing was adjourned till to-morrow - (to-day). (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAT.) PETITION ADJOURNED. North British Railway (No. 2).—Not complied with. OPPOSED. Meath and Cavan Junction Railway.—Withdrawn. Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway (Re. peal of Act).—Not complied with. Plymouth and Dartmoor Branch Railway.—Withdrawn. Coventry, Banbury, and Oxford Junction Railway.—No! complied with. Adjourned. T] 'HE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD TIIE STARLIGHT STEam-BOAT.--Yesterday Mr. Bedford held an inquest at the Salisbury Arms ; Durham-street, Strand, on the body of Mr. James Hunt, aged 52, a master framework knitter of Nottingham, who lost his life by falling into the engine -house of the Starlight iron steam-boat, under circum stances already detailed in this journal. Joseph Crowne, the engineman, said that the flaps of the skylight were generally lifted the first thing in the morning and, unless the day was wet, they were kept up till night. There was no bar or any other protection over the opening when the window was up. There were bars placed in one or two of the company's boats, and he had no doubt that the same precautions would be adopted with respect to every other vessel belonging to the company. The jury, after consulting, returned a verdict " That the deceased died from injuries received in falling into the engine -room of the Starlight iron steam-boat, which they (the jury) deemed to have been insufficiently protected. And the jury recommend that the skylights of all steam boats shall bo in future well protected so as to prevent a re currence of a similar calamity." FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held yesterday at the Infirmary, by Mr. Chapm an , on the body of John Davies, of Wringley, in the parish of D ean. The de ceased was a stoker in the employ of the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company. On Wednesday morning last he was on a luggage-train, which was on its way to Bolton, and at Farnworth, the rails being very slippery on account of the frost, he got off to sweep them, in order to enable the train to ascend the incline with greater ease. Having done this he got up again, and whistled and sang alternately until the train passed Green-lane-end. Suddenly the voice ceased, the engineer missed his companion, and heard him cry, "Toni, stop; my leg is cut off." The engine was stopped as speedily as possible, and th e sto k er was found l y i ng on the rails. He said, "I slipped my leg off the footboard, and went under the wheel." There had been a drizzling rain, and it is supposed that the footboard had become slippery. The wheel had passed over the middle of his right leg. 11e was taken home at his own request, but soon afterwards he was brought to the Manchester Infirmary, and died there about nine o'clock the same evening. A verdict of " Accidental death" was re turned.—Manchester Eraminer. AMATEUR PERFORMANCES AT THE ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, IN AID OF THE DISTRESSED Inisit AND SCOTCri. —There is much excitement in the fashionable world re specting the two performances by distinguished amateurs, to be given at the St. James's Theatre. It is stated that Mrs. Butler will sustain the principal characters, but no other member of the profession will be included in the casts. THE CANADA COMPANY.—On Saturday, notice was posted on the Royal Exchange, that an election of a Governor, and three other dir ec t ors an d an au di tor, o f this company would take place on the 23d instant. PUSEYISM AT FALMOUTH.—The church at this place is now hung with black cloth, the candlesticks on the "altar," which are usually covered with white lace, are now covered with black crape, and the worthy clergyman, who at other periods of the year preaches in white kid gloves, now preaches in black—these are the outward and visible signs of humiliation in Lent.—Devonport Telegraph. NEW CHURC 11, Sr. GEORGE'S, HANOE SQUARE" —A new church is about to be erected on the south, or Picear dilly, side of the parish of St. George, Hanover-square. coroner,f ternoo na at the inquest Seven a_ BOILER EXPL OSION AT C LIFTON . Y esterday rs T h a el v d e rnb,yclAi Clifton, relative county e to t the S w ta as death of James Winterhottom. The deceased, who was 72 years of age, was foreman of the engine -house at the Spindle Point Coal-pit, at Kearsley, belonging to the trustees of Mr. Fletcher. On Tuesday, whilst the work-. men were at dinner, and the engine was standing, the deceased went into the fire-hole, and was pulling a clinker from between the bars, when a slight "fizzing noise" was heard, and immediately afterwards the boiler exploded. The deceased was projected from the fire hole to a distance of five yards, into a lodge of water close to the reservoir. He was severely scalded on the face, body, and hands. Two surgeons were called in to attend him ; but he died on Wed nesday night. The engineer, William Lomax, was the only other person in the engine-house at the time; he escaped unhurt. The engine, after having been thoroughly cx • amined, was fitted up about two years ago, and had been in regular work ever since. About a fortnight ago it was ex amined again, and a slight repair of the steam pipe, which seemed all that was necessary, made. The explosion, it seems, was attributable to the fact of one plate of the boiler having, from some unknown cause, become exceedingly thin. The engine is a high-pressure one, and at the time of the explosion, the safety valve indicated a pressure of only 81bs. to the inch, although it was calculated to carry 40 lbs. Lawrence Fogg stated that he had been employed at the pit for 27 years, and that this was the first accident of the kind which had occurred there. Verdict—" Accidental death."— Manchester Examiner. LIE LATE AiLIRDEII AT DAGENHAM. -- The Government have issued instructions for the prosecution of Sergeant Parsons and the other police-constables belonging to the K division, for alleged perjury committed by them in their evidence before the coroner when ho held the in quest on the body of their comrade Clarke, who, it will be remembered, was found in a corn-field murdered on the 28th of last June. Mr. Maule, of the Treasury, has re ceived directions from the Government to prosecute the men to the utmost. During the past week several parties connected with the Government, and Sergeant Kendall, of the detective pollee force, have been actively engaged in getting up the evidence on behalf of the Crown. Mr. Lewis, the coroner for Essex, who held the inquest on Clarke's l i"dy, and the various witnesses who Were examined by that functionary have been subpoenaed by the Government t r %b . e in attendance at the assize court, Chelmsford, to-mor (Monday), to prefer a la against the parties,— Weehly pointed Mr. Smith Pa.leter.is understood that the Admiralty have ap whbose‘e screw-propeller is adopted in her netted with it, and sautrt)erintendent of the works con- Majesty's vessels, , to dire ers c relating to the fitting of the screw are to be under his inauguration of his Itoyatlonljoing,htoi The salary to be 6004 a year.—Hamvshire Telegritpke ions. n ess Th P u r r i s n da c y e The Albert will probably take place in independent,' week.—Cambririve THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCIE! 9, 1347 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS, March 8. The LORD CHANCEDLOR took his seat on the Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock. IRISII DISTRESS. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM Wished to ask the Noble Marquis (Lansdowne) whether be hart any objec tion to lay on the table of the House, from time to time, reports of the expenditure of the money allowed by Government for the relief of Irish distress ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection to lay a return before the House of the amount granted by Government, but was uncertain as to the possibility of stating the expenditure, at least for some time to come. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM wished to know what was done with the money collected under the Queen's letter. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the subscriptions, under the Queen's letter, were not strictly under the supervision of Government, but he believed that, as the money was collected, it was from time to time trans mitted to Ireland, and there dispensed under the super vision of a committee; but he did not speak officially, for the reason to which he had alluded. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that it was plain that some person ought to be responsible for the management of this subscription, but the Government appeared to have introduced a new system. The Marquis of LAN6DOWNE was quite willing to afford every information in his power upon the subject. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH conceived that it was plainly evident that some one person ought to have the direction, and be responsible for the distribution of this fund. have an opportunity, however, for a full discussion upon the matter. Lord ASHBURTON said he considered it most objection able for the judges of the land to pa=s sentences which it was never intended to carry into effect. If any great change was to be effected, it ought to be done with the sanction and under the authority of an Act of Parliament. He wished to know whether A'cryminal could insist upon his sentence being car ried aut? Lord CAMPBELL said that, in his opinion, he could not ; the peivetr, was given to the executive to transport if it was desiroitiVf so doing, but there was no compulsory obligation. I-Oid BROUGHAM said, that he desired to know whether his Noble and Learned Friend was of opinion that the Execu tive could imprison for life after sentence of transportation for life had been passed ? Lord CAMPBELL said that he certainly was of opinion that there was such a power vested in the Executive. Lord LANSDOWNE said that it was not the intention of his Noble Friend to advise the Crown to a course which m'ght appear to be even indirectly illegal, although really legal. But the Act of Parliament was perfectly clear upon the subject, and seemed framed to meet the objection of the Noble Lord. The Act expressly gave the 'overnment power to trans port or retain in prison. (The Noble Lord then read the words of the Act. Now, in no case could he become entitled to his liberty, even if he had been confined contrary to his sen tence. He said that this clause provides that no mar. could be prevented from suffering the imprisonment to which he was sentenced, whether for one month, one year, or even for the whole term of life. He was quite ready to admit, that sup posing Government was quite ready to give all the operation which his Noble Friend desired, yet he felt quite assured that it was quite necessary to have the experience that this Bill re commended. He did not consider this as a permanent altera tion, but as a temporary trial. This was a departure, a limited departure from the old practice, and his Noble Friend, who was lately Secretary, would, he felt assured, be convinced that it was not intended to depart from the established practise without some sufficient reason, and that reason was to be as certained by he trial that was soon to be made. Lord BROUGHAM felt that from the construction of this very clause, that it was intended to do away with the principle of transportation. If they were to punish offenders by impri sonment instead of by transportation, transportation for seven years was either too long or too short. It was too long for imprisonment, but too short for transportation, for, in fact, the people were sent out for three or four years, and not for seven. Lord Lyndhurst had no recollection of what had transpired when he brought in his Act when he was Attorney-General, but the principle had been adopted by him of modifying the system of transportation; but he had left it to the usual prin ciples of the law to rectify the abuses, while he preserved the principle. Lord ASHBURTON conceived that there was no sufficient time for teati.. l3 .-ha principle. and that tho obtuse would never effect its purpose. He thought, therefore, that there ought to be some change so as to bring the experience within a shorter period. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH conceived that the change could not be made, unless there was some assurance that the Noble Earl, who was now Secretary for the Colo nies, would remain in office until its results were fully ascot tained. The Earl of CHICHESTER thought that, however the rule might work with respect to adult offenders, it would not apply to juvenile offenders, for it was unwise and unjust to send a boy sentenced to transportation to Pentonville, when another person under the same sentence was sent abroad. There was no equality of punishment between the two offenders. Earl GREY quite agreed with his Noble Friend, that this princip'e could not be universally adopted. In 1841, when a motion wac moved in the House of Commons, it had been mooted that there was no such equality. for the fact was, that by far the greater number of convicts sentenced to transporta tion were for seven years, the greater part of whom were in tended to be see t to the hulks and kept at home, and when they had suffered a certain degree of punishment they should be set at liberty. After a mutual explanation between Lord BROUGHAM and the Earl of CHICHESTER, The LORD CHANCELLOR put the motion, that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the execution of the criminal law with respect to transportation, and especially with respect to juvenile offenders. The Earl of ELLENBOROUG II complained of being taken by surprise. The LORD CHANCELLOR offered to put it again, but this was declined, and the Committee was agreed upon. CENTRAL TERMINUS AT GLASGOW. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table the report of Commissieners appointed to inquire into the necessity of a central terminus at Glasgow. JUVENILE OFFENDERS The Marquis of LANSDOWNE also laid on the table the report of Mr. Burrell, magistrate of Queen-square Police office, respecting the committal of John Hockham to Tothill fields Prison. LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL. The amendments moved on this Bill were adopted, and was read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 8. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock. Returns from the Poor-law Commissioners, and other public bodies, were then laid upon the table of the House. NEW WRIT. On the motim of Lo'rd MARCUS IT'LL, a new writ was ordered for the city of Canterbury, in the room of J. Bradshaw, Esq., deceased. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed:— The Birmingham and Oxford Junction, and Birming ham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railways Amalga mation Bill. The Dublin, Dundrum, and Rathfarnham Railway (Ex tension to Stephen's Green) Bill. COMMITTEES ON PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. GREENS moved that no Committee for markets and fairs—for appointing commissioners to carry out works—for gas works—for waterworks—for improving and regulating the paving, draining, cleansing, lighting, and watching towns and populous districts, and other wise promoting the health and convenience of the inha bitants thereof—for making cemeteries—for making har bours, docks, and piers —shall rep or t th e Bill to the House till the sense of Parliament shall have been taken on the Clauses Consolidation Bill applicable to the pro visions of each such private Bill respectively.— Agreed to. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE presented a petition signed by 800 influential persons in the city of York, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death. INFLUX OF IRISH PAUPERS. Mr. DENNISTOUN presented a petition from the pro vost and the principal inhabitants of Glasgow complain ing of the influx of Irish paupers, and praying that the House would grant some remedy. IRISH POOR-LAW. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the inhabitants of Rochdale, praying the House to pass a complete poor-law for Ireland, assimilating the system of oat-door relief to that which prevailed in England. LIGHT DUES. Mr. CHRISTIE presented a petition from a number of shipowners praying that the light dues might be abo lished. OUT-DOOR RELIEF (IRELAND). Mr. SHAW presented a petition from a number of Roman Catholic gentlemen residing in the King's County against the system of out-door relief. SPANISH BONDHOLDERS. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK presented a petition from the chairman and deputy-chairman of the Spanish bondholders, praying the assistance of the House in obtaining redress from the Spanish Crown, in the matter of a debt of upwards of 71,000,0001. sterling, alleged by them to be due from the Spanish Government, princi• pally to British subjects. The petitioners stated, that out of 78,000,0001. debt, no interest Is id been paid, ex cept on 7,000,0001., although the Spanish revenues had more tha❑ doubled since the 7th of August, 1834. These petitioners further stated that that country had for years past been increasing in prosperity, wealth, and resources, and that the country had entirely restored her credit with her native creditors, and they went on to say that it was not to poverty or inability to meet their engagements or debts with British creditors, that their defalcations were to be ascribed. On the contrary, with regard to debts which she had contracted with native capitalists long subsequent to the period when these debts with Great Britain were contracted, Spain had faithfully and accurately discharged the interest, and still con tinued to discharge faithfully and punctually the interest due upon such debts. The petitioners went on to state that by a decree of the Cortes, the national revenue of Spain had been rendered liable to the payment of these liabilities; ne vertheless the Spanish Government did not discharge the interest accruing to British capitalists. Under these painful circumstances the petitioners took the advice of the most eminent jurists and counsel learned in the law of this country, and they had consulted her Majesty's Attorney-General, and the result of that con sultation was that an opinion had been received that the only mode of redress left against the bad faith of Spain was to make application. to that House or to the Government. They stated that their opinion was that the long oppression to which they had been subjected by Spain constituted a cases Lelli. Under these circum stances they had come to the House to beg that their case might be taken into consideration, in order that some mode of redress might be given to them, such as might seem fit to the Government. The conclusion of the petition prayed that the House would allow them to be heard by counsel at the bar. Mr. POULETT SCROPE presented a petition, praying tor the introduction of an effectual system of poor-law in Ireland. LIGHT DUES. Mr. lIUME presented a petition nutnerouAy signed by shipowners, praying for a reduction or abolition of the light dues. - An Hots. ME3tnEa presented a petition from the magistrates, clergy, and rate-payers of the parish of Moira, in the county of Down, against the out-door relief of the able 'bodied poor, and against any extension of the present electoral divisions. NOTICES OF MOTION. ABOLITION OF RATE-PAYING CLAUSES. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE gave notice that after Easter he should move the following resolution : —" Whereas an Act which was passed in the reign of his late Majesty William the Fourth, intituled an Act for amending the representation of the people of England an d W ales, has failed to fulfil the just and lawful expectation's of the people, and such an Act ought not, and cannot, be final; and it is expedient to amend <he same by a repeal of the rate-paying clauses in that Act, and by the insertion of provisions calculated to pre vent any undue influence being exercised in boroughs or counties, whereby the representation of the people may be prejudiced." IRISH MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. Mr. HUME gave notice that on an early day he would move that the Irish Miscellaneous Estimates be referred to a Select Committee up stairs. THE RAJA OF SATTARA. The lioN.Eit also gave notice that on Thursday next he would move for leave to lay before the House certain documents of the Court of Directors of the East India Company relative to the ex-Raja of Sattara. JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Sir JOIr‘T PANINGTON pl-,,,;ented p e tid,..,- ; from the Mayor,•Aldermen, and Corporation of Carlisle, praying for a more summary mode of dealing with juve nile offenders. 15 17 6 4 17 9 14 0 0 5 3 0 4 8 4 -.-- 329 6 7 11 16 1,800 0 0 112 17 9 22 1 9 23 0 0 2,051 5 0 22 1 9 28 10 0 98 7 2 £2,617 14 11 £2,415 13 7 IRISH PAUPERS. _ _ Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Lord Provost, magistrates, and town-council of Glasgow, complaining of the influx of Irish p au p ers i nto Gl asgow, and praying for an efficient poor-law for Ireland. He also had a statement in his hand from the magis trates of Liverpool, from which it arpeare d that, on Wednesday last, 1,778 paupers arrived in Liverpool ; on Thursday, 1,081; and on Friday, 2,o36—making, on an average, for the three days, between 1,600 and 1,700 persons. The consequence of this state of things was that typhus fever and disease was rapidly spreading through that town. He also had a statement from several persons in Ireland, complaining of the very great misery to which the people were reduced, and the. inadopicato acs;otanoo. they received from those from whom they ought to have received it. The non-resident landed proprietors of one parish that gave them a rental of 25,5874 just contributed the sum of 2081. for the relief of the distress. In a parish near Cork three-fourths of the inhabitants were paupers, all the landlords were non-resident, and not a farthing of relief had the relief committee of the parish been able to get from them. The wealthy barristers in Dublin, who receive 5001. a year did not even answer the application, though seine of his own tenantry were on the public works. A high dignitary of the Church, in the receipt of 45(1. a year, contributed the munificent sum of 11.— (Laughter.) And the secretary of the committee wrote to him again, stating he must have made a mistake, but was informed in reply that it was no such thing— that he had made no mistake, and would give no more. — (Laughter.) He had a statement also from Ballina, respecting which place ho made some remark, a few evenings ago, and was then told by a Noble Earl, who he regretted to see was not in his place, that the ejectments to which he then referred were only suits for rent, and not summary proceedings. He found, however, that at the last quarter-sessions in Tyrawley, on the 11th January, there were from 1,500 to 2,000 ejectment processes entered, at the suit of sixteen or eighteen landlords, for rent due at November last, and for the over-due rent of 1846 The Noble Lord further read several extracts from documents which he had received ; one from the parish priest of Tyrawley and Ballina described the injurious effect which processes brought for non-payment of rent had upon the population. It stated that out of a parish of one thousand persons, in September last, the writer did not expect to have 200 remaining in August next. He also read several lette rs describing th e jobbing which had been carried on in the appointment of officers in the Board of Works. LordjDEVON said, that as scrutineers were required, it was therefore necessary to appoint responsible persoi,s. Lord BROUGHAM said that he perfectly agreed in the justice of the observation. The statements which he read were more showy than satisfactory, but they were useful; for if they did not look most carefully to the expenditure of the public money, this demand for it would never cease. The Earl of /110U..TTCASHEL objected :to the ' course pursued by the Noble Lord, in reading state • ments to the House, yet refusing to give the au thorities substantiating them. He did so the more especially as they contained such serious charges. If such an occurrence bad taken place recently, there would have been full inquiry. If it had occurred twenty years ago, it might have been suppressed, but if it had occurred recently it would have been published far and near. The county of Cork was one of the most peaceable and well-conducted counties in Ireland. If, then, the ejection of a large body of people should have made so great a noise, how was it that the ejection of a larger number was passed off so silently? He could say, from his own know ledge, that the gentry there had not spared themselves, and though he regretted to find so small a subscription, yet he was not at all surprised at it. He ascribed it to the circumstance that the landlords were sorely pressed by their creditors. He knew that they were in great difficulty; and, though he lamented the smallness of this subscription, he thought the circumstance was sufficiently explained by the fact which he had just stated. Lord BROUGHAM felt it hard that ho should be complained of because he had, in the first instance, refused the names of the parties of whom he spoke, and still more that he should have been now complained of that he did give those names. He would now read the name of the gentleman who bad furnished him with the information which ho had used. That was Edward Howe Vernon, of the Sligo Champion, and he thought there was ample reason to speak of the paucity of the assistance which had been rendered by the Irish landlords when he found in one district a contribution of only 2001. from proprietors of estates which yielded an income of 28,500/. a year. He still withheld, and as he thought advisably, the names of the clergymen with whom he had been in communication. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY conceived that it was not right thus to run down the Irish landlords, for they had under the difficult circumstances- in which they were placed done all that they could. In the County Down there was considerable distress, and he knew that, what from marriage settlements, mortgages, and the various obligations to which property was liable, but little came to the hands of the landlord. In the town of Down—not in the district—there was ex cessive distress, and he had been the first to head a subscription for the establishment of a soup kitchen, but the clergy had rather discountenanced the project, from the belief that it would draw the poor from other districts, and so increase the distress, If the Noble Lord ( B rou (Brougham) o inquire h a In)d i d intoright h h e ol s v h t o h u e l d Irishpr o pose a Select Committee landlords had:behaved in the present state of that country. Such a course would be much more proper than to indulge in these indiscriminate tirades, the materials of which were furnished to him by interested and evil disposed persons,who were quite regardless of truth in the statements they made, and were influenced by the most improper feelings towards those who were involved in these statements. After a few words in explanation from Lord BROUGHAM and the Marquis of LONDONDERRY, The subject dropped. THE CRIMINAL LAW. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Corpora tion of Kingston-on-Hull, confirming the complaints made in the petition lately presented from the magistrates of Liverpool on the subject of the amendment of the criminal law. The six cases which the petitioners cited were exactly similar to the fourteen cases enumerated in the Liverpool petition, each of whom had been committed nine times before sentence of trans portation was passed upon them. He would new, in accord ance with the notice he had given, move for a Select Com mittee to examine into the subject of the execution of criminal law, and particularly with respect to its operation on juvenile offenders. He was sure the result would be favourable to the views he already expressed on the subject, and the recom mendation of the Committee would be that transportation, if not altogether suspended, should be considerably modified. Lord STANLEY said that upon this subject—that of cri minal punishment—he hoped to hear an explanation as to what was the intention of the Government respecting transportation. He understood that it was ti eir desire to suspend the punish ment of transportation for two years without applying to Par liament for its sanction for such a proceeding. With regard to transportation as a punishment, he entertained an opinion more favourable than his Noble Friend. But to suspend it for two years seemed to him to be an experiment of such a magnitude as should not be attempted without applying to Parliament ; and ; in his opinion, it would be a serious abuse of the preroga tive of the Crown. He hoped the Government would intro duce a Bill, and thus afford an opportunity to both Houses to discuss the measure. Earl GREY said that since the year 1843 no convict sen tenced to transportation for seven years had the sentence car ried into effect, the criminal was confined to the hulks, or sent to Bermuda. Although he considered transportation as a bad punishment, yet he was aware that it had its attendant advan tage. The Noble Lord had mistaken the intention of the Go vernment. Transportation w ould not be abolished,it would continue to be the same precisely as it was at present, with but one difference, namely the place, where one part of the sentence should be endured. The penal labour would be in flicted in this country under the immediate observa tion of the Government, where they would control and check the abuses which took place, but the convict would be discharged in Australia, under the same control as he was placed by the present system. Therefore he ventured to say, that th e c h ange was not so su b stan ti a l as to make it neces sary for them to apply to Parliament. The more especially as it was perfectly com p e t en t f or h er Majesty's Government to make it without any Act of Parliament upon the subject. Lord BROUGHAM protested against the law as laid down by his Noble Friend. He denied the power of the Crown. He would suppose an Act of Parliament requiring a punishment of one hnndred an d twenty-one years ' transportat i on , now h e de sired to know was it competent to imprison him for one hun dred and twenty y ears , an d transpor t him for the rem a i n i ng portion of the time. The principle was the same as ap plied to any period of time. He admitted that an Act was passed, some fifteen years, which gave a power to the executive in a certain class of cases. The Act he referred to was the sth George IV. chapter 63. No man could doubt th e power of t h e C rown to par d on cap i ta l o ff ences. But if it be leg a l f or t h e C rown to overse t ever y punishment, theinhabitants of Bridport, w ho intrusted him with the pre sentatinn of a petition praying for the abolition of the punish ment of death, had mistaken their way, they should have ap plied at once to the executive. Lord CAMPBELL said that, as at present advised, he con sidered that all that his Noble Friend proposed to do might be effected without any Act of Parliament. The general rule which had been adopted was, in every case of transportation for a period o f seven years, the Government d i d not carry i . into effect. Now no one ever objected to such a practice, and he considered that the rule applied to fourteen, or fifteen, or twenty years. It was most desirable that the House should THE TREATY OF VIENNA. Mr. S. WORTLEY, seeing the Noble Lord the Fo reign Secretary in his place, wished to ask him a ques tion, which he hoped the Government would be able to answer without detriment to the public service. It was whether he could produce any document relative to the Convention of 1831, in which words were shown to have been introduced into the treaty of Vienna at the instance of the Russian Ambassador? Lord PALMERSTON answered that he would be prepared to lay on the table of the House this evening certain instructions of the two Russian Plenepotentiaries in 1831, relative to this question. Also some extracts from the dispatches of Lord Londonderry, bearing on the same subject. AMENDED DRAINAGE ACT. Mr. EDWARD ELLICE, jun., seeing the Right llon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home De partment in his place, wished to ask when it was the in tention of the Government to proceed with the Drain2ge Amendment Act. There had been many parties who were pursuing at this crisis a certain course on the faith of this Bill being passvd, and it would therefore be ex tremely satisfactory to them if they knew when the Go verment intended to bring it before Committee. Sir G. GREY said that it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the measure on Wednesday next. He had received several communications from gentlemen in the west of Scotland, urging the Gove.rn ment to proceed with the measure as speedily as possible. SLAVE TRADE. On the question being put that the order of the day for going into Committee cn the Landed Property. (Ire land) Bill, Mr. HUME said he wished to ask the Noble L(.rd the S,•cretary for Foreign Affairs whether there was any intention on the part of the Government to repeal the Act passed in the year 1845 respecting Brazil, making the slave trade piracy ? Lord PALMERSTON replied, that until Brazil en tered into a treaty with this country for the suppression of the slave trade, Government did not feel it to be their duty to repeal the Act passed in 1845. Mr. HUME said it would be remembered that a short while ago an occurence took place where certain British officers and men were murdered, by inhabitants of Brazil, and when the murder( rs were brought to trial here they escaped in consequence of some illegality. He wished to know whether any measures had been tak, n to prevent such an occurrence again? Lord PALMERSTON said, not having received any notice of the questior ' he; was not prepared to answer it. POOR-LAW AND LANDED PROPERTY BILLS (IRELAND). Mr. ROEBUCK said it was proposzed that they should go into Committee on two Bills; one for the relief of the por in Ireland, and the other relating to landed pro perty. Now he wished to know if the Noble Lord Lt the head of the Government did not intend to propose the continuation of the Poor-law Bill if these two passed, or would the Noble Lord go on with the Poor-law Bill, and not the Landed Property Bill? Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that he was anxi,us that the two Bills should go through Committee toge ther. But perhaps the Honourable Gentleman would state his reasons for expecting the abandonment of one of them. Mr. ROEBUCK said he inferred as much from what had fallen from the Noble Lord on a former evenirg. Lord JOHN RUSSELL ssid what he statcd was, that he intended to move that these Bills be proceeded with pari passu, so that both the Landed Property Bill and Poor Relief Bill might be read a third time at the same time. He still intended to carry out that plan. lie could not state when the Poor•law Bill would be proceeded with. GRANTS TO SCOTL \ ND. An lIoN. MEMBER wished to know what sums of money had been advanced by the Government for the purpose of relieving the destitution in the highlands and islands of Scotland ? Sir G. GREY said the Government had intimated that they would make grants equal in amount to the local subscriptions raised with the view of mitigating the distress in those parts. This had been stated to Sir Edward Caffin, and the Government, in accordance with his recommendations, had given grants to two places, Tobermory and Fort William. The HON. MENDER inquired the amount of the grant ? Sir G. GREY repeated that the amount was to be equal to the amount raised by local subscriptions. The subject then dropped. POOR-LAW (IRELAND). Mr. SHAW intimated that it was not his intention to offer any unreasonable objection to the main provisions of the Irish Poor-law Bill, but he certainly should op pose that portion of it which proposed to give out door relief. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. In reply to a question from Lord G. BENTINCK, The CHANCELLOR of the EX(;IIEQUER stated that he should be prepared to proceed with this Bill on Friday week. LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the House going into Committee on this Bill, Mr. HUME roaejto inquire when the Bill for lending money to tenants would be proceeded with. He was at a loss to know why so much delay had taken place in bringing it forward. Lord J. RUSSELL understood the Hon. Gentleman to allude to the Bill for affording landlords the means of selling encumbered estates. Mr. HUME said that was the Bill to which he alluded. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Bill was one which re quired the most careful consideration, and besides the Government had experienced great difficulty with re spect to many of its provisions. The Bill, haw ever, had been prepared, and would be shortly brought into the other House by the Lord Chancellor, and would have all the benefit of his authority on the subject. It would be afterwards brought into that House, and with as little delay as possible. An Host. MEMIER (whose name we did not learn) asked if this Bill would be made applicable to estates in England ? Lord J. RUSSELL thought it would be better to maintain that Bill as it was—one applicable to estates in Ireland. He considered that it was of importance to have a Bill of a similar kind with regard to England ; but he thought it would be better to have a separate Bill for that purpose. Lord DUNCAN wished to know if the Bill, with re spect to encumbered property, was also to apply to Scotland?—(Laughter.) Sir. G. GREY said the subject was under the con sideration of the Lord-Advocate, and that he would bring forward a Bill on the subject without delay. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL hoped that the Bill with respect to Ireland would be first proceded with, MEASURES OF RELIEF FOR IRELAND. Mr. ROEBUCK rose to make the motion of which he had given notice. It was that any plans of relief for the distress of the Irish poor, by means of loans to the owners of property in Ireland, would be unjust and impolitic, unless accompanied by a system of taxation which would subject such property to the burdens al ready imposed upon all property throughout Great Bri tain. He said he' was utterly at a loss to know what argument was wanted on the present occasion beyond stating the question. The proposition he had to make was, that in any system of taxation proposed fur Ireland, the principle should be precisely the same as that pursued in England. He could not understand how they could object to this proposition. The matter was exceedingly simple, and he did not see why any reasonable opposition should be made to it. He was pre pared, and well prepared, to meet opposition from the Members for Ireland—from both parties belong ing to that country he expected not only opposition, but abuse. Still, as the motion would call up opponents in the quarter he had stated, he thought it was his duty to take note of whatever arguments which he thought were likely to be advanced against it. Before he came to the arguments that were to be expected from the Irish oppohents of the proposition he would deal with the rational objections that might be urged. It was clear that the interests and obligations of both England and Ireland were the same. The artizan, the merchant, and the landed proprietor, all subscribed to the general exchequer, while the people of Ireland were exempted from many of the taxes that were imposed on these. In comparing the taxation of the two countries he found that there were three great dis tinct branches of taxation from which Ireland was ex empted. The assessed taxes was one. Now what were assessed taxes ? They were taxes on houses, win dow; horses, servants, arms, and a variety of other articles of a similar character ; yet the gentry of Ireland paid none of these. When he crossed the Channel, he found the gentlemen of Ireland, with perhaps their twenty servants, with their horses, and their carriages, and they paid no tax for either ; and when the Irish gentlemen crossed the Channel, he was altogether free from any claim which would diminish his resources, when he wanted to make a display. He (Mr. Roebuck) knew that in Ireland it was a painful thing to tax display, for it constituted one-half of that country's pleasure.—(Hear, hear.) He would proceed now to the poor - law. Ireland was exempt from the necessity for supporting her poor. The gentleman in Ireland, th e artisan, and the trader in Ireland, were exempt from that which every English gentleman, aye, and every Englishman, felt to be his duty, namely, to maintain the poor—(Hear, hear) —but the Irish gentleman, the Irish artizan, and the Irish merchant, all thought that a matter truly and entirely beneath their consideration. (Hear, hear). The Irishman had nothing to do with the poor; therefore, in Ireland, they were exempt from this tax. An English gentleman, or it might b e a Scotch gentleman, had promulgated a sen timent which should have struck the death-blow to display in Ireland. It was this, that " property may have its duties as well as its rights." That sentiment had been responded to in every English bosom, but he wanted the response from Ireland, and he got none. That which should have returned it was corrupted and spoiled, the sounding board was good for nothing, and they got n o response from Ireland. But the good feeling of the people of England, assisted by the good feeling of the people of Scotland, would bring a response from Ireland. But there was nothing of the sort as yet; the rich had escaped from any tax to provide either for the poor or the ge neral necessities of the state. He asked that pro perty should be taxed in Ireland as well as in England— he asked it in the name of all that was good—of all that was humane—of all that was just—he asked the Irish pro proprietor to bring his quota to the national xchequer for the purpose of meeting the national expenditure. What was his (Mr. Roebuck's) proposition? It was simply this, that every man in Ireland win earned 1501. a year from land, or from his own intellects, or from trade, should be taxed as in England. He knew the tax was in some degree unequal, but what was sauce for the geese %els settee fur ;114 - > hear). atwer tie 4.1..; vi " honest in your generation, the debt which you owe is a debt due to the nation, that id, a debt which you have not paid, and I find you mightily unwilling W pay; and for the non-payment of which ' yon tho find a great many pretexts ; but by e st blessing of God, we will see what you are made ois The House would see how they did their duty, and when they threatened that House with e repeal; let these gentlemen beware that the House and the country did not give them " repeal."—(Cheers.) Let them bewar e that those who were now loudest for repeal were nob overwhelmed by the terms they asked lor.—(Cheers.). Oh, there is ;(said the Hon. Member) that coming o f which Ireland will know and feel, the commencem ent : which I have seen. 'There has been nothing so MILL the almost whispering song of the repealers inuu" House and in this country since real calamity has bees impending over their country. Was there ever stye r spectacle exhibited ? A people, with its leader: who, in its time of prosperity and wealth , we re all fcr self-government ; for repeal ; all against Saxon, all for the Celt! It has pleased God to Tisis them with a famine ; at once all this burly burly cessets There was an utter, a complete prostration of body !in! mind among the whole of her rampant' and turbulens (Teter's. They had nothing to propose, all to ash for; their whole limbs and bodies—everything except Wes, tongues—were? inert and useless; and with their t on g s !! they cried " Give, give." They had nothing to fr.: I.coe but the dictator to the Saxon. The Celt crept isbus his hiding-place, and all that was heard of him vege s n. whispering voice supplicating the aid of the SO ° Such was a true picture of a thorough-going re pealer. (Cheers.) When, however, he (Mr. Roe bu c k turned to England, what was the con tra c t s He saw, to use the language of Milton,ega._ great nation bearing its ills with a fortitude which j os wands admiration, and with a perseverance which Be and enamours." But was that true of Iroi.:(ad ? t h e read some lucubrations which had appeared In, tor pages of the Morning Chronicle, contained in fe tter witten to Lord J. Russel. The writer of that letter einw- Member of that House, and th a t H ouse wa s the proper ses for his propositions for the regeneration of the con; ry to be b ought forward. Why should they go t° „, t .Noble Lewd? Was the House t o d e p e nd upon tu e ' - God forbid. They must learn to dep en d• u pon themselves, Let him tell us their wants. Let him tell us what e=el' wanted for his country. Let hi m come there and to them what, was really necessary for the welfare of mi; land.— (Hear.) The lion. Gentleman the lifernb e a r Limerick " Hear." He kn ew what* —„ e ,, Gentleman meant. He w as going to pro Mi.- at Ho raw it in the Hon Member's eys•-•-`—ueld: laughter.) But the Honourabl e G ent l e man wo propose something for the benefit of Ireland which 11 knew would not be carried ; but he would to T the lloneurabre Gentleman that the time mi ght come when it would be adopted—Meer, bearli o and nobody would so thoroughly r ue it as those mob now cheered it. Let any Irish gentleman prop what was required for Ireland, a n d if it were reason s o s t and just, and rational, it wo u ld b e p a ssed ; but if prer et pre.ceeditoe,s were carried on one step further, it sniP te , happen that England would cut the rope that coon / Ireland, and allow her to d r ift on th e w aters of tniseg and die unaided and uncared for.—(Hear, hear.) had taken some part in Irish affairs of late, and had sl at " , to himself an unenviable n o tori e ty thereby.— (g bs t hear). It was in consequence of this, he supposed the two rev. gentlemen h a d ca ll e d u p on hi m f ro m Irelandi tae Rev. Dr. Collins, and the Rev. Mr. Macarthy. They CS I A from Mallow, aid they said that they were de p u te s from the Catholi c priests. And what was their usie rc statement to him? After he had asked them t o ' b e e t seated—(A laugh)— they sa id, "W e d o not believe ton the gentlemen in the House of Commons cona:ng sa id Ireland represent Irel an d." H e (M r . R oe buck) ha - 0 ) " S:r, I am extremely glad to hear it."—(Loud laughn " Sir," said they, " they are the r e pr es entatives of c ,o, party iu Ire lam). We are conversant with the fee : ll 7g of the people, f rom mov i ng among t h em and a il s - with them, and we are deputed to tell Y, c ' u t b e feelings of the I r i s h peop l e . " Si r " said h e the ° "do riot listen to o ne wor d t h at i s sa id es us e in the House of' Commons about Ireland." -- v - ,,Alf hear.) He (Mr. R oe b uc k) ac id , " I s h a ll religio3 e , obey your instructions."—(Lo u d laughter.) These pe;s i rn tleen said, "They d o not represent t h e poo r peo that country, they represent the rich," and they following out most care f u l ly the peculiar interest ofooo rich classes of the people. He would tell the 13 what these gentlemen had stated before they be .,: f ir They said, " We will give y ou th e p er fect oPr' s ei, pity and authority Co use our names ill MO statement," &e. They then continued, "Round rtj low there are a number Jf gentlemen of large Pr ° P e s , —(they gave hi m t h e names, but he had forgot ten and they had promised to send him a list, but thei, hes . not)—ther e are s i x gentlemen of about ten P'oo4 sand pounds p er annum each; we have been r,9lisi to the se gentlemen for subscriptions for the rug of starvatio n ( an d the people were a133..1bef starving at the ti me , an d b y the coroners' innu k es .",:, beet , were stated to h ave di e d of starvation)—" we De— bele round to these gentlemen, an d f rom every one of none t we asked tbr relief for their starving brethren, a 111 1 nd of them did we get anything. but the 1)- t he trifle fo r th e urpose."l There was a heartiness W ei I manner of the re v . gent l emen, w hi c h h e r ather lik;e in fact, it won upon him. It was not what be h il t l es s st as usually curnin e from Ireland. His eyes he spoke to him. " Si r ," cont i nue d the Rev. Gentles:o: e one of those gentl emen h as seventy d o gs livilleet good meal and milk, w hil e ev ery r e , °L an,t every day there are t rroners'CmeriNu—oe,- held almost at that man's buck) said, "My God ! sir , do do He e ou w ie h : th this is the fart!" and he said, Sir, y o u knee 040 I am. I have stated to you this feet, and you Os er - et e my name." This had passed within a few ta e- „ ni Mallow, and men had (lied from starvation, while lived. He appealed, not to Irishmen in that 11(7 b , , but he appeal e d t o hi s own countrymen —he raised b voice to the wh o l e o f E ng land and Scotland, and s_g asked if they were pr,pared to hear this thing? li vv vs h ou en ld he a) s ' done,atihdatthiattcoitulsdhnooutldbenot bedone , millions would b e ra i se d i n co nfirmation. But thef t if these Irish l an dl or d s were this class of nt!! —he did not k now w hy they should __Ds bthee knew voices l of 24 such a class of men — t h ey were made so by the s y s Tf: of legislation. They were a class very much like w ri : slave holder. He would call them white slave hold s i e si i Their unfortunate country had been conquered , „ this country was the conqueror, and its Iron grt had caused to a great extent the evil now i so ' a They carried out the bias—the feeling of oPP r , es s to which once rankled in English hearts with reeP%,' Ireland—but there is no such feeling (Cheers). It has gone from the hearts of the 0 , querors, but it rests in Ireland s -(Hear, hear.) , T .t e • fore he wished the English people to be " strong hold" on those Irish landlords. is show go o so in all things connected with the poor, and, S, s a be m ort' at the commencement of the session, " we w"' in England nocop, r yb gage the land of Ireland for the support of the r of poor." They had done immense injury to the flt° 4 o 6 Ireland by protecting the landlords of Ireland; bu s h ell state of things coud exist no longer. Th e f, the maintain their own poor—they s h a ll ee ntribute-' ° 5OS maintenance of the indigent in a proper wal t • ee he would ask the Noble Lord, what objection h e " t o to his proposition ? He said that was not the "I r i s h make it. Why ? " Oh," he said, the ?JO, , landlords have not received their rents. sob' an Honourable Friend, conversant with th e iyea jeer, had informed him that Irish landlords receaos. their rents very well j us t now . H e was sur e the Gentleman would not object to his pointing him ou tbs. (The Hon. Gentle man p o i nte d towar d s t h e door " er to House, but we cou ld not di scern the ' Hon. Me_, lll the whom he referr e d.) I t was true, i n some distv c- t eef rents might n o t h ave b een rece i ve d ; bu t • had been received throughout the Ina:1 °r11 ;;s4 (An Hon Member—" No, nor) All he could say p ot that the Hon. Member was one of those who le e to received his rents; but nothing was more easy t _ i " S w ith prove who had. Let all th e gen tl emen connect e d bad public companies and with land, state what tbeinosei received, and let an income-tax be j . , ll , 2 ;f a ed. on all who received 1501., as in A' se eaSs But it was said that the Irish proprietors had la","„ f r with the Cabinet on this question, because a greaw r i s of portion of the Government were themselves owns . 0 0 Irish property. It was stated that the Adatinis tilli s nd were favourable to the claims of the Irish partP ts - iss that they did not in reality wish the Irish propertl,64, made n.sponsible few the relief of Irish distress.' Thad outside of the Cabinet knew all about it. 'l'be newspappr had been the great Bade light which _ffse, revealed the secret workings and feelings of the G ov a ll ment. It was therefore necessary that he should stat t ,f, s se about it. It was necessary, in order to show holvx,s;er feelings went, to inform them that the Marquis of P downe, one of the Cabinet, w as a p r i nc ip a l /MD prietor ; and that the Earl of Clarendon, another ret i lhe of the Cabinet was the s a me . I t was necess erY„S` 4 ,e should further stat e th a t L or d M onteag l e , who, cr% ne-V;i Minister, was be a ti ng at t h e d oor f or a d m i ss io o laughter) —was also a landed proprietor. He Inig l° hase state that anoth e r N o bl e L or d i n t h e C a binet. W fo e advent to office set Europe a shaking, , nes et also an Irish l an d e d p ro p r i e t o r. lie *- the Lord Palmerston. He might also nape who, Duke of Dsvonshi re an d anot h er N o ble Lore' , - if not in the Cabinet, had considerable over it—he meant Earl F r t itzwilliam—who were prietors of land i n I re l an d. Th e House would r enoi n how the latter Noble Earl had supported the gran d h P rv- 0 0 ject of the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn, a n d , eti s the knowledge of that fact had led many to surrnt:_rj;.. the Government would have to declare in its l e 7n.„„ With these, as members of the Government, or infla m e ing its decisions, he (Mr. Roebuck) could res.b_r feelings of the Noble Lord the Mem b er hot Lynn, when fie asked for sixteen millio n ' be other influences had proved stronger, n sn ot th e . and they had to succumb. Still the declartttio _ ne 113°C N wh e i b e l h e Lord anim at(eEdartlheFseitzivirilslhiamp)ropsrhieetworesd. the o e; admirable character that was Lord Besbes.oll4o i h e e et w e o n u ee ld n h o e w name, reigh the give, though sa t y h , eu b g or h e an th ex e co n l °10bille fs 11: 1 -ra . Ile was likewise an Irish proprietor. He coula ern' G ov mor e ; but with this, as connected w ith the to the burdens ment, the people of England to ask exemption from e , r ho would ask, was it decent , was it Ps` area ' ib t im he pt s me o d b7 o e n L t o h r e d U at n t i I t . e e d h i e i a i g d o d f o t m h e ? G H oy e e h rn a ra d al en w t ith courage, he had-thought him brave; him for this, though he liked his policy almos else; but he must deny him even this qulitleYi: 3o l r _ hos . cave way to the Irish landlords on t h e dos aPPeel to He would tell the Noble Lord what they would me was cer . the country and outvote him.—(Hear, h I')Lord. He had taro of carrying a majority against the N °Heouse, but he felt and he atltrietelsoltheiog never spoken so strongly before in that Lord bad not sada strotgly upon the subject. The Noble question. The b.ctorily expllineti his intentions , upoo_ o 7, ,e) had lot WO? trt it t! "h!..h Iflfesltive manner—as if given in an o ff -hand manner—a sort o not the first question which he (Itir. Roe it coecerned not the lives of the people of _th b i u s acc.iinittrayd. m ss r~riii~ 'I