The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-24 00:00:00

NE of Nortb umber Abbey. T ll ° befitting 06 illy a private his Grace, the dial, and the urn erti. ETO ierland Houk. d household oi her of death to he descendan t • througl a i old Earls le, who made id whose por from the dr was born 0a he time of .-ear. On the cond year , be second laugh' h er tbirtietn uk e deceased Drst 1 the u 2 ' d . of August° House shortly n cushion. he body of tbe the bl itll :4 on cover, ndwbseatill,lll, the first 4 . ci q. v icar h 0 .3 1 .10,1 c Rev.ln the escort g el ' le l e late Hake' Right Carlisle, Ptbe e P rey, an d -e Hon. James, Pij Hon. E dsc i n tb , Esq. n o.; Esq., 4 The 7th hold. tri and gall , street were $1 01 prorogati on ded. bo at Abbey $ At an inue' lo in having be t be he vaults , of 1 ' dtaries the perforn 3et 3 Chin/tea:lA ult, and Plll``' le inaje riti °1 EN. Lof dispito r. ion from te j Id be dire riegi G t ; teo he bs d be ' ef t 'eratzo t ho tenee the me b‘d by to or , b s an d w i t h Pr ' o r re fore, P ° , licitor i° l3ll f a ey CO f tIO dUt;eS ) f this C 0 ach " SOn3`"o 30di' ,- 0 seconll S 4 3insri c o hi ol by n o . 4 0011 004 h i s one A -0 00 t hree ilectiug 2 0 ' here , boar. j ot ji , tor ° o re T (0 here ,4 21 hin se jler" and Of awe tinf a d. e in * - 1:5 1 1" arnett , ie opeAPeed, oln iDe rnrig s e ,te., h o e r o re °l ld ehi t at I ced ets ,counts 0 oral 1„ agy Do ori 1 pit, $.„ 1,11 6 ees ge, s s , co oJi p.- 1 the ‘`eder' At ) :, ~- z LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY. The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yesterday, at the London Tavern ; J. N. Daniell, E2q., in the chair. The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that the total receipts amounted to 31,801/. 6s. 91., being an increase of 4 ,5481. 4ss3d. as compared with the corresponding period of the Year 1845, and the sum available for the half-yearly dividend yvas 9,6381. 17s. 2d., which would give 4s. per share, clear of income-tax. The amount of passengers in 1845 was 1,65 3,555, which produced a sum of 26,362/. 11s. 2d., and the number in 1846 was 1,782,841, and the receipts 28,6341. 143 . Id. The report then went on to state that the directors had for some time past been engaged in an inquiry whether, tinder all the circumstances of the traffic, it would be desirable that the present system of motive puwer should be continued, and that from a recent report furnished by the superintendent of the company, which was confirmed by their engineer, they believed_ th at i t would be beneficial to the interests of the company to change the present expensive and exclusive ,}'stem of worki ng b y ropes, an d to a d o pt. l ocomo tive puwer. The recommendation of the present system was that it ac commodated the intermediate w ithout inconveniencing the through traffic. The directors thought that the conveni ence of the public might be provided for by a judi cious arrangement of the intermediate stations, in order to adopt the line to the use of locomotive engines. Bv means of locomotives an accommodation would also be affor - des!, which could not be given under the present System o f conveying passengers to and from the intermediate !nations, thereby opening a new traffic, which the removal of the Shadwell and Cannon-street stations to the locality of the new street leading to St. Katherine's and the London docks would extend. The report then sent on to state that working by ropes precluded the possi tbeY' without g reat diffic ulty , of j unction lines runnin g into e railways, and that t o o bviate that inconvenience, the directors, at the recommendation of their engineer, obtained Powers, to widen the line from Stepney to Fenchurch ."et ; but, in the event of the present mode 9f traction being changed, that the outlay for widen ing the line would be spared, with the exception of the coat Of improving the London terminus, to accommodate the traffic which would follow the commußication of other lines With the e x t ens i on li ne t h en i n progre s s. The present Syst e mcost nearly one-third more than would be in turred b y the locomotive power. The report concluded li 7 nll stating that a Bill for effecting the requisite altera :of gauge, and for constructing a abort line to con nect Le London and St. Katherine Docks, had been read a second time in the House of Commons, and that after the ineeeting, the directors, in accordance with the wish of the proprietors, Would reduce their number from 10 to 7. Loet- The SECRETARY then read a lettter from Mr. Jos e p h -e, Stating that the change of gauge could be easily effected, and at a cos t o f b u t 1,500/. for each line. „ statement of the accounts for the past half-year was tthen submitted to the meeting, from which it appeared that le ft a u e expenditure for that period was 25,0201. 2s. Gd., which balance of 9,924/. 2s. 10d. h T he Clt.eiittair said that it must be evident to the share ° ders that there was a disposition on the part of certain great companies to avail themselves of their line. e had ld no doubt that the Great Western Company if their line were offered to them. It not 'it be for th e mee ting to consider whether or T hei ere sho u ld b e any c h ange in the mode of traction. b r station traffic was no doubt of great advantage , and a Y b ied t b t e o a lteration! here proposed they would be en - There carry passengers from one station to another. be • wi ls one important feature which should not was disregarded in deciding upon this question—that would if the proposed alteration were adopted, it effect a saving of 190,0001. or 200,0001. The several, 34vfi g Was not only in the mode of traction, but in other way s , !o thinkmust as any p e r s on acquainted with the to be aware. There was every reason be that within the space of a few months they would in full operation. As far as the last half-year was con icherned, the shareholders had reason to be gratified, for it was e only' hall-year in which there had been anything like a `",-, fide di v id en d . He would t h ere f or e move that the re- Port, together with the accounts which they had heard read, should be received and adopted. Dr. ,BowitlNG seconded the resolution, which, after some discussion was agreed to unanimously. Captain Mangles, Mr. Haigh, and Mr. Baker, were then re-elected directors. Thanks were voted to and acknowledged by the Chairman, atter which the meeting separated. THE NORFOLK RAILWAY. The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the Norfolk Railway was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices of the company in Guildhall. yard. Mr. Adam Duff, chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The report stated that during the past half-year the traffic upon the line had considerably increased. the receipts had amounted to 45,689/. Is. 2d., and the expenditure to 22,190/. 4s. Bd.; after pay rnent of th e h a lf-y ear ' s interest on the mortgage debt, amounting to 3,8601. 17s. 4d., there would be a balance available for a dividend of 29,3871. Ils. id. and the di rectors accordingly proposed that a dividend, at the rate of 31. 10s. per cent., should be declared on the capital stock of the company, and 4s. I Id. on the 22,000 10/. shares, payable on the 4th day of March next. A preliminary agreement had been come to with the Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury Companies for the union or amalgamation of the two concerns upon the following terms, namely—the Norfolk Company were to be guaranteed 7 1 4 per cent. upon the whole of their capital, but, in case any proprietor objected to take the amalgamated stock, he was to have the option to dispose of his interest, at the rate of 1501. for every 1001. share. The CIIAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, stated that the agreement for the amalgamation was only come to on Saturday, and in the present state of the railway market the directors, with the view of obviating expensive Parliamentary contests and unwholesome competition, had thought it best to accept the 7 1 ,4 per cent. A special meeting would be called to discuss the details of the agreement, but still it was proposed now that the shareholders should express their feelings upon the matter in adopting the report. After a short discussion the report was adoptsd with only four dissentients. The dividend having been declared, Captain Charles William Tvndale, Captain Charles War dell, and Ebenezer Fuller Maitland, Esq. were re-elected directors of this company; and Mr. S tephen Nicolson Barber, jun., and Mr. Benjamin Wigg Hickling re-appointed auditors. lieEtialasuar said it was proposed to capitalise the loan debts, and, with the permission of the meeting, he would move two resolutions for the purpose : The first was—That in pursuance of the powers vested in this company by the several Acts of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vic., cap. 18, 8 and 9 Vic., cap. 41, and 8 and 9 Vic. cap. 154, and also of the Act of Parliament 8 Vic., cap. 17, and subject to the provisions of such Acts, it is hereby directed that the 22,000 10/. shares, which have been created under the powers of the Act of Parliament 8 and 9 Vic., cap. 154, the whole money subscribed in respect of which (amounting to 220,0000 has been called, be, and they are hereby consoli dated, into the general capital stock of this company, in the proportion of 101. consolidated stock for every 101. share. Second, That in pursuance of the powers granted to this company for that purpose, an additional capital of 197,0 001 . be now raised to be divided into shares of 201. each, and offered to the proprietors of shares and stock in this corn i - Pany, in proportion to their existing interest therein—that s to say, one 2CI. share to every 1001. stock, such new capital to be applied in payment of the present mortgage debt of the company. A dep,sit of 51. to be paid upon each share, and the remainder to be called for by the directors, as occasion shall reqmire for effecting the object aforesaid. A PinwaleTon inquired when the loans became due? The CIiALRMAN replied, in the present year, 1848, 1849, 1850 , and 1851. The resolutions were unanimously adopted. A vote of confidence in the directors was then passed, and the business of the half-yearly meeting closed. SPECIAL MEETING. The proprietors then resolved themselves into a special meeting, when the following Bills were unanimously ap proved of A Bill to ena bl e th e N or f o lk Railway Company to extend their Railw a y to the town of Great Yarmouth, and for other Purposes. A Bill to empower the Norfolk Railway Company to Take a Railw a y f rom th e N or f o lk Railway, in the county of the city of Norwich, to Avisham, in the county of Norfolk, with a branch th ere f rom to North Walsham. A Bill to empower the ; orfolk Railway Company to make a Railway from Wymondham to Vise. A Bill to empower the Norfolk Railway Company to make a Railw ay f rom the Norfolk Railway near Thetford, to join the Ipswich or Bury St. Edmunds Railway, near Bury St. Edmunds. A Bill to empower the Norfolk Railway Company to make a Railway from the Norfolk Railway at Thetford to the Lowestoft Railway near Reedham, with a Branch to Hales worth. t Bill to authorise an Alteration in the line of the Lowes toft Railway and Harbour Company. The meeting terminated with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman. SHREWSBURY AND HEREFORD AILW AY. The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this company was held at the British Hotel, Cockspur street, yesterday. W. Ormsby Gore, Esq., M. P., presided. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read by the Secretaty, the report, of which the following is a brief abstract, was read:— The directors are now in negotiation with the Shrewsbur♦ and Chester, Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and Shropshire Union Railway Companies, with a view of making permanent arrangements for the erection of a joint station at Shrews bury. The directors have entered into an arrangement with the proprietors of the Leominster Canal Navigation, for the pur chase of that canal, a part of which will be made available in the construction of the I:ne, and the remainder held with a view to future objects. The accounts showed a total receipt of 35,9111. Is. 7d.; expenditure, 13,417/. 16s. 4d. ; leaving a balance of 2 2,493/. ss. 3d. The liabilities of the company amounted to about 15,0001., leaving a credit balance of 7,400/. 18s. 4d. In answer to questions. the CHAIRMAN said that the Leo minster Canal was 16 miles in length, occupying a space of 150 acres of land, and that the purchase money was 12,0001. It was the general opinion of the meeting that the purchase was an advantageous one. The calls had been well paid up, and a 21. call would be made in the course of a short time. The report was then adopted unanimously. In seconding the second resolution, that the negotiations for the purchase of the Leominster Canal should be confirmed, atr• Scorr, 51. P., for Walsall, suggested that the amalga mation of all the lines which had their common terminus at Shrewsbury would be advantageous to the particular in terest of this company and to the public at large, the more especially as the Chester and Shrewsbury, and the Hereford and Shrewsbury were continuous Bies. Thanks to the Chairman were then voted, and the meet ing separated. It was stated in the course of the meeting that the offices of the company would be removed from London to Chester. — V. D UNN . --- The trial of this case, THE Q UEEN which i s an i ndictment brought at the instance of .Aulirss Burdett Coutts against the defend a nt f o r alleged per 4 )., and which h as been several tim es a ll u d, d t o , i s specially for tri a l i n the Court of Queen's Bench, Guildhal l, on Thursd ay next. MUNIFICENCE OF THE MIELOCitACT.—" appointedn, Prowl of of my h er it age i ndeed; I sin mofe—l love it, I reverence it with the fondest affection, and ble a the accident that made rue a Manchester man. In less than three years the nobit spirited inhabitants of Manchester —a mere provincial town . —have given away, out of their own earnings, upwards or three hundred thousand pounds! Oh I how hard-hearted, selfish, and i:ra,ping are the co!tonocracy. Wnat ducal country can vie IA ith such a town ? Wiwi ev. , r I may dwell, I *hall alwavi lo , k hack wi:11 the fuideat renietnorat.ce to to y native town, raised, as. it has been, by the gigantic efforts of the sons of toil to the honourable position of the first commercial town ill Europa "— From John Ealiky' I mew •-• LITERATURE. .. N 11 0 N, st. lb. THE SUN, L HOMES AND HA UIV7'S OF THE MO ST EMINENT BIaTiSH POETS. 2 Vols. MI William Homy itt. Agreeable as have been the previous writings of Wil liam Howitt, this is unquestionably the most delightul work he has yet produced. There was a necessity. moreover, for a hook of this description, a book forming a topographical illustration to the inimitable biographies f Dr. Johnson, and perpetuating as far as possible the remembrance of the scattered localities in which the poetic genius of England has resided. Without sonic clue to the abodes of the departed illustrious it wets difficult to form any c:inception of their domestic habits, of the incidents by which their lives had been diversified, or of the natural and artificial objects by which they were continually surrounded ; and without some know ledge of these habits, incidents, and local characteristics, it were almost impossible to conceive to ourselves the idiocyncracies, the dispositions, the partialities, or the prejudices of those men otherwise from their cornposi thins. That would indisputably have been a lamentable loss to humanity, for it is from the contemplation of the biographies of remarkable persons that we derive some of our most salutary and benign itnpresions. From the perusal of biographical works we derive a plenitude of experience ; the memorials of our distinguished prede cessors are for us fountains of the purest wisdom. In this respect biography is superior to history, and it is superior to history because the vicissitudes of in dividuals come more home to each of us than the vicissitudes and revolutions of empires. The story and the moral of biography is more applicable to our con fined fortunes, that the story and moral of those records which relate to the progression of entire races. To the statesman, the legislator, and the anointed sovereign, history furnishes an inexhaustible instruction ; to every one, without exception, biography teaches truths that are essential for the happiness of mankind. It is in consequence of these immutable principles, it is from our intimate relationship with one another, the prince with the mendicant, the sinless infant with the most reprobate felon, it is from the similarity of the humsn character in all grades and positions of society, that biographical compositions are invested with such a peculiar fascination. In the narrated peregrinations of the great, we find reminiscences of our own wanderings; in the utterance of their homeliest sentiments we listen with rapture to the thoughts which have floated through our own imaginations; in the troubles by which they have been buffeted, we discover a striking similarity to our own misfortunes; in the joy which they have ex perience Ave frequently recognise something parallel to the emotions of which we ourselves have been con , scions. It is like the realisation of a dream; it is precisely that mysterious sensation, sometimes of awe, sometimes of delight, which agitated the heart of Charles Dickens when as he tells us in his little volume upon Italy, he came upon a secluded spot in Switzerland when evening was closing in, and his carriage was toiling up the hill at some distance behind him. A quiet scene which, though of very ordinary features,' thrilled him with the most unaccountable feelings of awe, as though lie hal known it in connexion with some appalling murder, and in a previous state of existence. Strange and bewil dering as these things are, they are nevertheless by no means unfrequent ; and it is nearly impossible to read much or to talk much without being sometimes affected in a similar manner. But biography does not only aff ird us these eccentric sensations, it gives us lessons; it is pleasant and useful to con; it presents us pictures fraught with wholesome truths; and it almost enables us to live in imagination many times instead of once. The work to which we would here especially direct attention is to our mind an addition to our national biography as va luable as it is novel. It comprises, indeed, some of the most essential elements and rudiments of biography, for it is descriptive of those homes and haunts from the peculiarities of which our poets have derived the whole colouring and bias of their intellects. What, for ex ample, would Drummond have been had he resided elsewhere than in llawthornden ? What would have been the result had Falconer never —" Sailed along the deep, Where the stormy winds do blow." had Wordsworth never trod the herbage of Grasmere or Rydal Mount; had Burns never staggered through the streets of Dumfries ; had Shakspere never poached among the fern of Stratford, or strayed into the parlour of the Mermaid Tavern, Friday-street, Cheapside? Should we have heard ought of the Shipwreck, of the rural sonnets, of Tam O'Shanter, of Jacques, or of Bar dolph? Would Spencer have ever imagined Gloriana, or the Shepherd of the Ocean, if he had never loved the woodlands or encountered Raleigh ? Had Chaucer never known the Tabard Inn, in Southwark, where woul d have been his priest, his reeve, and his miller? Because these men received nts from the scenery , whe ther of their homes or of their particular impressions in their most impressionable mo m e eir haunts, they wrot e as they didd ; had they never beheld that particular scen er y at those particular times, they would have written otherwise, and perhaps not at all. Hence we are satisfied that we are gratifying m ore than a merely idle curiosity, when we seek after the houses, and the fields, and the streets sanctified by the footsteps of genius. Hence the researches of 'William Howitt, in the neighbourhood of Belvoir, when co'lecting materials for his paper on Crabbe, of Laracor for Swift, of Sandy-knows for Scott, of Sloperton for Moore, and of Sheffield for Mont gomery, have a purpose higher than that of pandering to some unprofitable appetit e o f th e mu ltitude. So satisfied are we with the labours of Mr. Howitt in the production of the two volumes now under notice, that we are solicitous the subject may be completed by one who is evidently so well qualified for it by his industry, his literary enthusiasm, and his graceful and fluent style. There are, of course, minor blemishes in the book, such for example as the monotonous repeti tion of the same phrases. Take as an instance the fol lowing iterations occurring within scarcely orrt- bun d red pages of the second volume :—p. 365, " the scene in the gardens and the pavillion is not surpassed by any • thing of the hind in the language;" half-a-dozen linos lower down, " one of the loveliest poems in the language;" p. 448, "gems of as noble and perfect poetry as any in the language ;" p. 461, " amongst the most perfect things in the language ;" and so on over and over again. Otherwise the composition is simple and vivid. Occasionally, too, Mr. Howitt, evinces an acerbity that jars in upon the subject treated of, very unpleasantly. It must be acknowledged that he encountered in his gentle and amiable inquiries after the homes and haunts of the English bards treat ment enough to irritate the most gentle and amiable disposition. As sin cimens of this treatment, we may refer with a very sympathetic indignation to the articles upon Thomas Campbell, Sir Walter Scott, Shelley, and Mrs. Tighe—a poet, by the way, not very appropri ately introduced among such illustrious and immeasurably superior minds. Since the publication of Mr. Howitt's work npon the British poets, we have seen with regret a singularly ungenerous and undeserved attack upon him from a correspondent of the Atlienceuni newspaper —that correspondent being none other than the widow of Robert Southey. We are altogether unacquainted with either Mrs. Southey or Mr. Howitt personally; to our knowledge we have never even seen them ; our remarks, therefore, are uttered with the most disinterested feelings. Mrs. Southey on the bare representation of an anonymous critic-, chooses to become very indignant with Mr. Howitt; for, inasmuch as she has been assured by the said critic, that her deceased husband is spoken of with untrue harshness in the work entitled "The Homes and Haunts of the English Poets." Beyond this, Mrs. Southey couples the expression of her indignation with a petulant insinuation, that Mr. Howitt speaks thus harshly of her dead husband, out of revenge for the refusal of his widow to supply him with anecdotes of the private life of Southey. And, as a climax to this ungraceful aspersion, Mrs. Southey observes, that she has never read a syllable of the "Homes and Haunts," and remarks that she shall probably never even see the book ; as much as to say, it is too con temptible a production. It were well if Mrs. Southey had read the book before writing as she has written; had she done so, we would wager that she would have written otherwise, and might probably have abstained from writing at all upon the matter. For Mrs. Southey would have found that obnoxious article to have been dictated in the kindliest spirit toward her husband, and in the noblest manner towards herself. The close of the A paper indeed amount s t o a p aneg y r i c u p on Mr s . Southey. such tak a followingetwheoman, , simple Southey) sentence, vol. s aII proof., has adorned th e li terature o f h er country with some of its most exquisit e contr ib ut i ons, an d sacr i f i ced every thing to render th e l ast d ays o f one of i ts finest writers as serene as possible, ought not to be left to wear away the remainder of her life in the res augustce donor , stripped of those simple elegancies and enjoyna •to which, as a gentlewoman, she has alw a y s been e" accus tomed It were well it Mrs. S out h ey h ad read the article of which that is a solit ary sentence. In that article Mr. Hewitt awards a thou san d fold more praise to Southey as a poet than we ourselves cons id ered . to be deserved. The onl y point which he speaks in depreciation of the " L eke Poet," is in reference r e hi s sudden transformation fr o m a liberalist and a revolu tion into a tory and a bigot. Arid what honest man could speak of .tl a t mournful and suspiciouschirgen other than language of depreciation. De mortius nil nisi i bonum, has always appeared to us a very sickly and maudlin sentiment. Acting upon it, we should become the panegyrists of the most depraved and vitiated. Give us the manly nil nisi verum ; give us the man who can call things by their right names without any spurious , modesty. or any bowing down before the idols of Con ventionalism. That Southey was nothing better than au arrant renegade as a politician, no one will have the temerity or idiotism to deny. The metamorphosis was ton abrupt to allow of our designating it by any other epithet ; and consequently it became incumbent upon Mr. Howitt to speak as emphatically in reprobation of that monstrous tert;giversation, as he cities in approval ot . ,aithe's's virtues and abilities. We have spoken thus plainly, became of the fallacious and inviduous stature of the . cnarge levelled at Mr. H ow i t t. A n y qu otation from these fascinating volumes would be insufficient as a testimony of the talent by which they are characterised. We shall content ourselves with observing that the . biographical sketch of Scott is amon g th e most b r illi an t in the collection ; that the euligium upon Tennyson is as disc-irninating as it is deserved; that the publication is daintily embe fished with wood-engravings ; and that it is equally ()elemental in appearance, and excellent as a ent:CUI A. REvuNur. .7/UTTER SUNK AT Sl:A.—Between two end three o'clock on Friday afternoon, the 19th instant, the Nimble cutter, :111. J. I'. Blundell, comm an d er , was standing betwen Berry Head and Dartmouth, in chase of a small smack, when her progress was suddenly arr,:s•ed by a sunken rocl t, and caned a rapid leak; the vessel fell over on her starboard side, drifted from the rock, and in stantly soak, in at upright position, in deep water. The crew „,, re , a y e ,' by lostiiy cutting - away the boats from ti.e ta,kies, but witbott cioihes, bag.:, or oedding. It is said the fatal rock is not hid down in any chart, and that the com mander is ti zealots ()facer and highly respected. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI NEERS, Fan- 16. Sir JOHN RENNIE, President, in the Chair. The pa psr read was a centinua t ion of that which was browsht forward at the last meeting by Mr. G. B. W. Jackson, Assoc. Inst. C.E. It gave an" Account of the mode of gaining land from the sea; by Folders ; antl the art of building writ fascine work, as practised in Hol land and Germany." The paper commenced hy reference to the works of Msis, Weibtking, Spanzin, Calaud, Hyde Clarke, and others, as having given the best known accounts of Datch water mists - us:Lions, and the situations of these labours. It then described the "Polders" as being tracts of land la covered from the sea, by a construction of a belt of dykes, gradually raised to above the water level, and then pumped dry, by which means they were still rendered habitable, the level of the many more an cient being beneath that of the sea. When thus re claimed they form the finest land, and produce, for many years, immense crops, almost without the appli cation of manure. The a teal construction of these dykes wss described to be, by sinking successive layers or beds of fascines or faggots of about 30 inches thick, by from S to 16 yards in width, and of proportionate length, weighted with gravel and stones, mingled with clay, sea-weed, and salt. These layers were continued until they reached ab.ve the sea level, when the tcp w as constructed of more solid materials, and sometimes cupped with a flooring of brickwork, as the public roads were formed upon them. The difficulties of the usual construction of the larger and of the smaller dykes, of various forms and heights, were fully described; parti cularly entering into the details of the dimensions and quantities of the materials employed, and the precau tions to be taken fur the delicate operation of closing the last portion of each dyke, which, unless skilfully con ducted, in proper weather, frequently hazards the safety of the whole work. The different kinds of lock-gates and sluices used for facilitating the outflow of the land waters and prevent ing the ingress of the sea were fully described, and drew from several members accounts of balance and other gates of peculiar construction used in Holland and else where. The original kind appears to have been the self-acting balance-gates of unequal surface, so placed upon the pivots that on the rising of the tide they closed, and remained so until on the receding of the tide the weight of the accumulated land waters fitted them open. Iteceritly machinery has been employed for opening and shutting these gates, and the ordinary lock-gates have generally been adopted, as it was found that they were frequently prevented from shutting by some floating matter getting between the mitre posts, and great leakage ensued. The general details were then given of the methods adopted fur the subsequent drainage of the Polder lands, the separation of the springs, the upland and lowland waters, and the method of conducting them out to sea. The slopes of the faces of the dykes vary considerably; some of the low d) es are, in section, of the form of an arc of a circle of six to ten feet chord, and ten inches to one foot versed sine, covered with fasciae matting, staked down upon a clay bed. Others have a base of 19 feet wide and 5 feet high, of a trian gular section, also made of fascines and stakes, secured by hurdles and wattling ; with clay, peat, sea-shells, and sand well rammed in, and then covered with turf: Others are formed of rows of piles 16 feet long, with their heads 6 or 7 feet above the shore, joined longitudi nally and laterally by waling timber, filled in and around with fascine beds, and weighted with stones. Baskets filled with sand are also used in certain situa tions, as *sell as various modifications of all these kinds of protections. It was stated that these constructions were found to succeed better, and last as long, as stone, being, at the same time, about half the cost ; and in the discussion which ensued, this statement was confirmed even for some parts of England where stone was not ex pensive. Our limits will not permit a more extended notice of this excellent paper, of which it was justly said by one of the speakers that "it is the first detailed account in the English language of some of the most interesting hydraulic works of Holland." THE INDIAN GABELLE. (From the Eraminer.) Humble trade is, after nll, the great civilises and humaniser of mankind, and has, unquestionably, contributed far more to the prosperity of our Indian empire, than statesmen and warriors. It, alone, overthrew the great commercial mono polies; abolished all-pervading transit duties and Octrois; bound the Custom-house to moderation ; gave personal free dom to British subjects in exchange for proscription ; created an Indian public opinion, and established the freedom of the press—the security for all other freedom. We observe that this busy agent is again engaged in its quiet, but effectual labour of benevolence. Its present ob ject is the overthrow of the notorious gabelle of Bengal, by tar the ugliest, and the most comprehensively mischievous of all the monopolies which still continue to disgrace the legislation of this empire. Cheshire, Worcester, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds, Hull, Bristol, are all alive to the subject; and, as the question will soon come before Parliament, we shall give a brief account of the pre sent state of the great public nuisance. There exist, all over British India, either monopolies in salt, er heavy duties, which are bad only in the second de gree. This. of course, includes all the native states within our frontier, called " under our protection," and, consequently, this necessary of life is vended to an indigent people, amounting to 150,000,000, at prices the most exorbitant, while the subjects of the native princes, beyond the walls of the fiscal prison-house, with its peine forte et dure, get their salt as cheap as the citizens of New York—that of Cheshire. But the salt monopoly exists in its most exquisitely per nicious form in the finest provinces of cur Indian empire; those of Lower Bengal, over about forty-eight millions of people. This country is low and moist ; its coast, in propor • Lion to its area, small; and here alone, fur there exist neit.lier salt lakes, nor brine springs, nor fossil salt, can salt be manufactured. On this limited coast, covered for the most part with un wholesome jungle, the brine is weak, because the sea receives at it the drainage of the Himalaya and Vinoya ranges, as well as that of the Gangetic plain, 1,500 miles in length, and often 500 in breadth. The natural cost of manufacture is, consequently, great, and it is enhanced by the unskilfulness of the sole manufac turers, the lion. the East India Company, the leasehold 3res ina i i i m ra e n a o s f delegates, on behalf of the Crown of Great Britain and the a ton, or about Ireland. The process is rude, in fact, beyond what would be credited at Nantwich or Droitwich—such as it was under the M th e i a,th : rri g teci ; ge l v br s tde, ir:aietltiettigide:rnagi written. delegates o e ,aiot ~th:l:ebrtaehitiaeitreensnlrst Imperial n saltpoao er n s rt d wai l i ts u Le nc t ia ; tr t eoloir p ,uepy r tons o o b h6ii s a .oa probably not t only the sole manufacturer, but, in violation of the spirit and letter of its engagements in 1833 to forbear front every kind of trade, the sole wholesale merchant. It conveys all the salt for the consumption of forty•eight millions of souls to one spot, not a centrical one, the town of Calcutta, and here it sells whole sale, or even retail, the salt of the best quality at near 121. a ton, being about twelve-fold the price of good Ch es hi re sa l t in Liverpool. Then, the salt falls into the hands of a small combi nat i on of native dealers who exercise a second monopoly in it, and having, according to the analysis of Professor Farraday, laid before a Committee of the Commons, mixed it with from fifteen to twenty per cent. of earth, proceed to dispense the " black drose", which has lost every feature of a muriate of soda, over the provinces. The transit is generally against the current of the Ganges and its tributaries, so that by the time it has got to a moderate distance, the price ranges from 30/. to 401. a ton ; that is, from about fifteen to twenty times the retail price which the people of England pay for their salt ! Let us now turn to the capacity, as tax-payers, of the people who are to consume salt at such prices. The vast majority are rural labourers, earning at the utmost from 31. to 4/. sterling a year, and the majority not near so much. The hard earnings, then, according to distance from the sup ply, of from a month and a half to three months of a labour ing man are required to furnish his family with a supply of salt, the consumption, which with a less stimulating diet, and hardly any other condiments, ought to be greater, being less than one-half the average consumption of each individual in this country. Let the English reader fancy to himself an English day labour earning 301. a year, obliged to pay for this single con • diment of salt from 5/. to 101. a year, being, at the same time, reduced to half a ration, and then he will have some tolerable notion of this pet tax, so long and so obstinately defended by the British Government of India. We do riot mean to assert that the prices we have given are always paid by the Indian peasantry. We know that they are not, for the smuggler steps in and relieves the people of some share of the burden imposed on them—in deed of a considerable share, for it has been computed that not less than one-fourth part of all the salt consumed is con traband ! There are, however, situations which his benevo lence cannot reach, and here the people eke out the pittance of culinary salt they can afford to purchase, by the use of the ashes of vegetables, muriate of lime, and Epsom salts, vul garly called the " bitter purging," an article which we ven ture to guess that our East India director would,not find a pleasant, however much it might be a sanative ingredient in his own curry ! The monopoly is, in fact, a frightful capitation tax, in some respects worse than the old French Gahetie, which con tributed so handsome a share towards bringing on the Revo lution, for the old French Government distributed its salt over the province,, while the British Government vends it all at one corner. The proof that it is worse is, indeed, afforded by the fact that, deducting the supply derived from smug gling, the average consumption in Ifeegal per head is not greater than under the G« Belle, where salt was dearest, and New on ,o York o a r b k ov t to twenty greatly below what it was where cheapest. a earning, contrast the rate of 455. h The duty charged on British salt in the United States of Cal cutta, t American is about Bs. a ton. and in British India Si. 3s. 6d. a ought very w to el s l to n labourersti a in n times sa t co s d tt t im much. aet B cityßritish earning l a salt is .r i s s a o s df O a l a a al - t t ton; ha p m ai e d, so 4 m d e . p a e - o d p a f s e ', i a n t to l2l. mo deration. The whole revenue from its much erived by the Indian cherished Gover nment monopoly is 1,300,000/. a-year, or less than the amount of our soap duty, The British Government yielded to it, four-andA although the salt duty 1,500,000/. a year, and, although'v)einty years ago, above it was infinitely less onerous that the Bengal salt monopol abolished it. The year after die voted tot it a nuisance and abolition, 1826, the whole public revenue was larger without, than d t had been with the salt duty, and this without any increaae i All good example, however, is lo s t on the East India Company in financial matters. In administrative and l judi cial reforms, it is o ften held and j ud icious; but the moment finance is touched, it bele ngs to time fifteenth century. In 1836 a Committee of the House of Commons made a careful and searching inquiry into this very salt monopoly, and the virtual drift of its report was that it was a pub lic nuisance which ought to he abated. 'fen years have passed away, and the Indian Government has done nothing but nibble at it. The salt is as high priced as ever—as dirty as ever; the rulers of the monopoly are as stringent as ever, and smuggling is more rife than ever. In finance the Com pany does - n othing, except at the point of the bayonet. It re quired two heavy chary ee, of that bayonet in 1813 and 1833 to dive tleami from their great commercial 'mew l : ones, as In jurious to England as to India, and ruinous to themselves in back the whinland trade character. A few years . e puree a re an infiaitv of transit duties trade of India was harrassed by and octrois, which were abolished ocilv by a bold act of virtual di so bedience on the part of one of their overt efortune servants, had place in temporary au t h whom gae They had long been til t i ng their ci)frers by taxes on the felloions rites and superst itions of the ; us , from the car of . Jag , roat, down to the bathing or the shaving of a pit grim ; and these iinposts, of vr , rse odour than th famous dirty tax of V es p a sian, have, even now, been only partially abandoned, a n d this n ot voluntarily, but through s hame of the public opinion of England. WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 24, 1847. MR. STRUTT'S BILL "FOR REGU LATING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COM MISSIONERS OF RAILWAYS, AND FOR AMENDING THE LAW RELATING TO R A IL WAYS." 1. Objects of the Act—(Preamble and Clause 1.) Recapitulates the titles o f the Acts 1 and 2 Vic. c. 98 ; 3 and 4 Vic., c. 97 ; 5 an d 6 Vie., c. 55; 7 and 8 Vic. , c. 85; 8 and 9 Vie., c. 20 ; 93 ; 9 and 10 Vic. c. 105 ; and states that it i s ex p e die n t to make further provision for regulatim 4 th e p rocee di ngs of the Commissioners appointed by the last named, and to amend certain de tails of the others. Accordingly, in Clause lit is enacted that 9 and 10 Vic., c. 105, and the present Act shall be construed together. 2. Interpretation—(Clause 2.) Declares to what ex tent of application words in the singular number and masuline gender only shall be understood; and what in-aping shall be attached to the words—" Persons," " Lands," " Month," " Oath," " County," " The Com missioners," " Railway,'' `• Railway Company," and " Promoters of a Railway." 3. Short Title of the Act—(Clause 3.) This Act is to be cited as " The Commissioners of Railways Act, 1847." 4. Surveying and other Proceedings by Railway Pro moters, preliminary to Application for 13i11-(Clauses 4 to 31.) 4. Promoters are to apply to the commissioners for power to survey, at any time, iti the year ending on the 3( to Ist of Dee'.inlie r, preceding the year in which they intend give notice of application for their Bill in compliance with the standing orders. 5. Notice of such application is to b e g i ven ten clear days before in the London Gazette, and some newspaper printed or circu lating in each county through which the railway is to pass, specifying the course of the line, the termini, and the towns through or near which it is to pass. 6. The Commissioners, on being satisfied that due notice has been given, and on the deposit of a sum not exceeding 5001. for each mile as security for expenses (or the giving of satisfactory security), shall, by wtrrant under their seal, signed by ten of their number, authorise the promoters to survey and mark out the line; and may limit the time within which this is to be done. 7. The money deposited is to be paid into the Bank of England, and placed to " The ac count of the Commissioners of Railways, a parte the promoters of Railway ;" and the cashier of the bank, if required, is to give a receipt to the person paying in the money. 8. The Commissioners may draw chequens for payment of expenses incurred prior to the passing or throwing out of the Bill. 9. The Bank of England is to keep separate accounts, and certify balances in respect of every deposit to the commissioners. 10 Not later than one month after the Bill has passed or been thrown out, the commissioners are to pay over the balance remaining, after expenses are paid, to the promoters. 11. In event of irregularity or failure in giving the notices prescribed in clause 4, the commis sioners may direct such notice .as they think fit, to be given either before or after the 31st of December. 12. By virtue of the warrant of the commissioners the promoters may, before the expiry of the time limited, or if not limited, before the 31st of March next after its date, enter on the lands through the railway is to pass, survey, run c itio u o tt the more o r occupyingi n j t u h r u e n t r s e n e v s te ) en . n, levels, fix posts or marks, dig, probe, and bore (but not analtn3s4. n ßefore cl)4t.leTs s e h n ety t h e a r an i r n e g they shall give t w t o o m d a a r y k s 'o nonceu t the line by a trench or furrow, not more than nine inches wide, and to put up posts to show the levels. 15. Occu pying u oo r m r ic o loa s m v k . ep e : I : 6 ma . t pi A oenn n y s ah p t ai e os r n s b o fe n 6ern obstructing u t s h t e bs occasionue rev ten an t s ma y requ i re th e li ne to b e mar k e d out by stakes, not m o r e th an thi rt y y ar d s apar t, i nstea d o f a penalty of Si. f or eac h o ff ence . 17. Th e promoters are survey. 18. Complaints of da mage by survey , f or w hi c h presented bi incurs c tuhr es to o ar the commissioners within three months after the making of the survey. 19. The commissioners shall order pay ment of such compensation as shall seem to them just : their decision to be final. 20. When the amount of cone pensatien awarded does not exceed the amount ten dered, and in some other eases, the commissioners may order part of the expense of inquiry to be retained by the promoters, out of the sum awarded. 21. Plans and sections of the survey are to be lodged with the Commis sioners on or before the 15th of April first after the date of the warrant, or on or before the fifteenth day after the expiry cf the time limited for the survey. 22. After the deposit of the plans and sections, the Commissioneramay appoint one or mor e en g ineers (or other com p etent per suns) to inspect the lin e or an y p art of it ; the p ersons thus appointed may give public notice of the time and place where they will attend to receive information or sug gestions respecting the railwa y . 23. S p ecial re p orts of such inspections to b e made to the Commissioners. 24. The Commissioners, after consider in g re p orts, ma y authorise amendments and empower promoters to sur vey and mark out altered lines within a limited time. 25. Plans and sections of the line as intended to be ap plied for to Parliament to be lod g ed with the Com missioners on the 31 st of Ju l y next before the session in which application is to be ma de. 26. The Commissioners are to certify that these provisions have been complied with as soon after the lodging of the plans and sections as they conveniently can. 27. The commissioners may authorise the deposit of plans of a varied line proposed to promoters by au owner, occupier, or other person in erested, 28. When application is to be made fur leave to vary a line for which an Act has been obtained in the preceding session, or for power to construct a railway substantially the same as one applied for in the pre ceding session, the Commissioners may dispense with the whole or part of these proceedings, and require any others. 29. The Commissioners, on application are to give promoters is certified copy of try certificate in dorsed on or annexed to plans and sections. 30. De posits of documents not to be made later than 6 P.M. on the day fixed, or on the day preceding should it. fall to be Sunday or Good Friday. 31. Railways, of which plans and sections have been deposited and certified, are to be advertised by the Commissieners in the London Gazette not later than the 15th of October each year. 5. Survey and Inspection Examination of Pending Bills by C o mmissioners(Clauses 1 32 to 35).-32. When the plans, &c., have been depo of Proposed Railways and sited the Commissioners may name the line or any part to be surveyed by themselves or som e competent o a ffi o . f. 33. Speciffc objectians in writing to t he whole or part cer to the any railway may be submitted by any. parson The Commissioners re gulations as they shall appoint. 34. T by themselves may hear the objectors and the promoters . uch regula- Commissioners within such time and subject to such or their officers in such manner arid under s oses of surrey tions as they may appoint. 35. F)r liabilities as have each powers, and be subject to such Viet , c. 105, are given to er imposed on them by Act 10 . or inspection, the Commissioners or thPeuirrPofficers are to and have moreover power to possess. PENDING BILLS (Clauses 36 to 38)._36. The Ccomtomrie. sioners, at the commenceme nt of each session, port pendingbefore Parliament, and t o sugges t the groups 6. REPORT TO itE MADE 111 COMMISSIONERS O.sN port to both H ouses th e ra ilway Bills in hich they other may most co nven i en tly b e con sidered, and any matters tending to facilitate their due exa m . ination. all on 37. They shall also report to each House sp e m 11 the curves, the embankments, and cutti every Bill :-the length of line, the gauge. y of esti mate, bridges, the level crossings, the suffienietincleans, the mate, the engineering merits, the capital ti dissents, the subscriptions and deposits, the assents and . ,e the tolls tolls, fares, and charges, the Posteiffice servie! on connected lines, the union with other undertakings, ngs t , h t e be gr tunnels , In the case and the general merits of the project. of competing lines, the Commissioners or more Bills in one report. c LADING ORDERS 7. PROOF OP COMPLIANCE Wall oTA I e of' Parliament (Clauses 39 to 41).-39. e If either lolls - . t ascertaining assign to the Commissioners the duty 1., TT ° se has been whether the standing orders of such -ries soon a complied with," they shall, by thenase _ v s m3ayg.include two make inquiry and report thereon. 40s. shall make duty is assigned to the Commissioner s they Copies of all and publish the necessary . regulation s. receding session such regulations made since the last . Pone month after shall be laid before both Houses withal the meeting of Parliament. or es 42 to 47).-42. teeheysoon as this 8. OPENING OF RAILWAYS (~/.3119 _ ....c„, c„ 55), (i. e., f ntrol over owers o CO clauses 4,5, and 6), as confers p Railway Committee of the opening of railways on the railway company the Board of Trade. 43. Before haanllygive at least thirty Repeals so much of the Act of 5 and 6 Yr open any part of their line they shall 4 Not earlier than days' notice to the Commissioners. days to the Commis. company shall give a further n than ten days after) on sioners, naming the day (not Liss than After receiving the which they propose to open. s shall order the railway second notice, the Commissioners the opening as to be inspected, and al l l i ow d not be l a wful to open railways twenty nor later than thirty after such notice the they see fit. 46. It sh i e d t n . o ,wanee of the Commissioners. before the inspection h er o ! 11 ut ' such notices or allowance any 47. For opening wit pay forfeiture of 100/., and 201. ad ditional AND CHARGES EveryOF RAILWAY company fo s r h e a v ll eo , clay a the railway continues open with out allowance. s Ta ) le .- les 4B of tolls, Sc to . company COMPANIES (Clauses time to time to the Co shall make returns minis. of.he e els, itc., they are authorised to take, and sioners i of those actually taken.. every station, under a penalty of 201., and be set up et day during h . ea further for every..w ich the neglect 9. Toens, con tinues. 50 , Companie.sta.ree too. public fifteen the Commissioners (Clauses4B 4t90. t hirt y days' "tiee'and theirfil3tl fifteen days' notice, of fulls, esc, ; and their intentioe to alter if they alter shall incur a w ithout such notice, they penalty of 201 . for every increased toll so taken. 51. Tolls may be re duced in special cases without notice; but a report of each reduction, and the reasons for not giving notice, must be made to the Commissioners. 52. The Commis sioner:e o rt once in every ari . to r p year to Parliament the tolls, B`'ee every company is entitled to take; what it does take; and to note any alterations since last report. 53, Commssioners are t o d irect the at tention of Parliament to all matters revising to tolls &c., which they think affect the public interest. 54. They shall i nt i m ate in their annual reports, when the time for receiving the to lls, &c., of any railway approaches, and state whether any alteration ought to be made. 55. They are to settle disputes as to tolls, &c., between rail way companies and the postmaster -general. 56. They are to define what trains are "express trains" in the sense of an Act which allows higher tolls, &c., to be charged on them tha n on ordinar y trains. 10. TIMES OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL OF RAIL WAY TRAINS.-(elauses 57 to 66.)-57. Cempinies are to make returns of the arrivals and departures of all their trains at all their statiorts withi n one wee k a f ter being required by the Commissioners, under penalty (for every fat.t.re or fake return) of 201. 58. No alteration in the times of arrival and dep arture of trains to b e made without sufficient notice to the Commissioners and the public. 59. The time of such notice (except ill 'uecial cases illesved by the Cernmissioners) to be ,our ,ern days, when the alteration is to take place on the Ist day of a month ; one month when on any other day. 60. The Commissioners are to require • a register of times to b© kept by every company. 61. The com panies are to appoint an officer at every station to keep such register. 62. The officer is to keep the register of each week suspended at his station for public inspecti'n for such period as the Commissioners shall direct. 63. The officer at the end of each week is to transmit to the Commissioners a copy of the register for as many pre ceding days as they shall direct, 64. The penalty for neglecting to appoint a registrar of times is 201. for every day the neglect shall continue. 65. Every company shall pay a penalty of 101. for each default of every registrar, and the officer himself a penalty of 51. 66. The Commissioners shall report once every year to Parliament on the punctuality (or want of it) of rail way companies, and on any matters connected therewith. 11. CHEAP TRAINS (Clauses 67 to 73).-67. The Commissioners may limit the time of stoppage of cheap trains and regulate the times of their arrival at termini common to two or more railways. 68. Companies failing to conform to the Commissioner' orders on these matters to forfeit 201. for every day the de fault continues. 69. The Commissioners may fix the number of passengers to be conveyed in every carriage of a cheap train, and that number is to be mark( don each in legible characters. 70. Every cheap train car riage to have a light fixed in every separate division, between one liour after sunset and one hour before sun rise. 71. The regulations of cheap trains are to be hung up at stations. 72. The penalty for contravening these regulations respecting cheap trains is 201. for every offence. 73. In computing the tolls, BSc., of cheap trains, no fraction of a mile less than one-half is to be taken into account, and for any greattr fraction nut more than half the toll, &c., on a mile. 12.—CONVEYANCE OF NAVAL, MILITARY, AND POLICE FORCES, STORES, AND AMMUNITION.—(CIauses 74 to 78.) 74. Repeals so much of the Acts 5 and 6 Viet., c. 55, and 7 and 8 Viet., c. 85. as relates to these mat ters. 75. On the production to the clerk at any station of a route or order for march, transport, or removal of stores, the following rates of charge to be made :—For every commissioned officer two thirds of the fare charged for the time being; for every sailor, soldier. marine, private of militia, or police-constable, or the wife, widow, or child of twelve years of age or upwards of such, two•thirds, and for every child, if three years and upwards and below 12, one-third of the cheap train fare, and no charge for children under three years of age; for every ton of bag.. gage, stores, &c. (gunpowder excepted), twopence per mile, the assistance of the military, &c.. being given in loading or unloading; for gunpowder and other combus tible matters, such reasonable sum as shall be demanded by the company, or approved of by the Commissioners. Commissioned officers may travel by any train, in any carriage they please, and shall be allowed the usual quantity of luggage, not less than 1 cwt.; the privates, &c., shall travel in cheap train carriages, secure from the weather, and shall be allowed cwt. of luggage for eve se,' grown person and child of 12 years or upwards, and cwt. for every child of 3 years and upwards, and under 12. 77. If the order bear that the troops or stores are to be forwarded forthwith, a special train is to be provided; if not, they are to go by the first or any subsequent train in the option of the officer in command. 78. The penalty for non-compliance with these enact ments is 1001., and 1001. additional for every day the de fault is continued. 13. DISPUTES BETWEEN RAILWAY COMPANIES HAV ING CONTERMINOUS LlNES—(Clauses 79 to 81.)-79. Repeals so much of 5 and 6 Vic., c. 55, as relates to these matters. 80. The Commissioners are to settle disputes between companies having conterminous lines, and to make such orders respecting the number of trains to be run, their times, &c., as may conduce to the public safety. 81. The penalty for contravention of their orders is 20L for every day it is persisted in. 14. POWER OF COMMISSIONERS TO CALL FOR RETURNS FROM RAILWAY COMPANIES—(CIauses 82 to 86.)-82. Repeals as much of 3 and 4 Vic., c. 97, as relates to this matter. 83. Repeals as much of 5 and 6 Vic., c. 55, as relates to this matter. 84. Empowers the Commissioners to call for returns from railway companies in relation to fares, charges, receipts, and expenditure ; to numbers, kinds, and salaries of officers ; to rules for the govern. ment ; to accidents ; and to other matters connected with accounts. management, and concerns of the com• panies. 85. The Commissioners may cause the corn panics books, &c., to be inspected in order to test the accuracy of returns. 86. The penalty for non-compliance is 201. for each refusal or neglect, and 20/. per diem during its continuance. 15. EXERCISE OF TUE COMMISSIONERS' POWERS OF INSPECTION AND INQUIRY.—(Clauses 87 to 97.- 87. The Commissioners may make regulations to guide themselves or officers in inspections and inquiries. 88. The officers of Commissioners are to be conveyed on rail ways free of charge : the company refusing to carry an officer to forfeit 20/. 89. The Commissioners em powered to summon witnesses. 90. The Commissioners and their officers may administer oaths to witnesses, and any person giving false evidence before them is liable to the penalties of perjury. 91. The penalty for refusing to produce documents called for by the Commissioners is 20/. 92. Witnesses duly summoned and failing to ap pear to forfeit Si. 93. The Commissioners may direct the reasonable expenses of witnesses on survey, inspec tion, or ii quiry to be paid by the pr..rnotcrs or pro prietors of the railway ; out of a deposit if such have been made, or otherwise to be recovered, as after provided. 94. The expenses of the Commissioners and their efficers, or other persons employed by them, to be paid by the promoters or proprietors of the railway ; the debt to be considered due to the Crown, and the Commissioners' certificate to be conclusive evidence in all Courts. 95. " Inspector-general of railways" in the Acts recited in the pre sent to be construed as meaning any inspecor. 96. The appointments, orders, &c., of the Commissioners. are to be signed by their secretary, or some officer ap pointed by them, and thus signed, they are to be re. neived in evidence in all eourts. 97. Orders, notices &c., shall be deemed served on any railway company, it delivered to the secretary, or any clerk, at one of their offices, or put into the past-office addressed to the Com pany or their secretary, at one of their offices. 18. BTE-LAWS ON RAILWAY COMPANIES.—(CIauses 98 to 104.)-98. Repeals so much of 3 and 4 Vie., c. 97, as relates to this matter. 99. Railway companies are to send copies of their bye-laws to Commissioners when required. 100. Failure to comply subjects to a penalty of 201., and the like sum for every week that the default is wilfully continued. 101. No new bye-laws, after the passing of this Act, are to have force till allowed by the Commissioners. 102. The Commissioners are to allow or disallow bye-laws sent to them as soon as possible. 103. The allowance of bye-laws is to be testified under hand and seal of the Commissioners; and all bye-laws so allowed are to be binding on all persons, and received as evidence in all courts. 104. The Commissioners may disallow existing bye-laws, 17. PoLICE NEAR RAILWAYS DURING THE MAKING TLIEREOF.—(CIauses 105 to 109).-105. Repeals as much of 1 sod 2 Vic., c. 80, as relates to this matter. 106. The Commissioners, on the application of two jus tices, may order any company to pay the expenses of the necessary police near the line while it is making. 107. Any two justices may appoint special constables (in number not exceeding that mentioned in the Commis sioners' order) along the line, or within two miles of the same. 108. Any two justices may dismiss such consta bles, and appoint others in their stead. 109. Every such constable is to receive from the company such reasonable salary as the justices may appoint, and the salary is to recoverable by distress. 18. RECOVERY 07 FORFEITURES AND PENALTIES.— (Clauses 110 to 118).-110. All penalties and forfeitures made under this Act are to be sued for and recovered as debts due to the Crown ; and when incurred by more per sons than one each shall be deemed due from all and each severally. 111. The penalties not being forfeitures to the crown may be recovered by summary proceedings before two justices in England and Ireland, and the Sheriff in Scotland. 112. Prescribes the form of the summary proceedings for recovery. 113. Immediately on adjudication the amount of the penalty and costs is to be Levi, d by distress and sale in England and Ireland, by poinding and sale in Scotland. 114. When the ap plication of penalties is not otherwise provided for one half is to go to the informer, and one-half to the over seers of the parish poor. 115. The conviction is to be drawn according to a form contained in a schedule ap pended to the Act. 116. Proceedings under this Act are not to be quashed for want of form or removed by certiorari or otherwise into any of the superior courts. 19—(Clause 117).--This Act may be amended or re pealed this session. 'IABOLICAL ATTEMPT On Thursday night last about nine o'clock, as the City watchman, along with the private watchman, was examining lait,itt othe kindling new school rpe,re whichi ses i i ns enclosed,, lt n b nk - round u a c n e d , they v,, o u a bilod roo l m the where coating o at t h l i i g e private o el a v watchman had been i i t n h w t h h e r e n ie t i ke b . • On taing out the ashes he a h found o large a a nci na bottle e ce of w clay as e w e n h e i e c a h l e h a e , tookl ro ni the tip fireplace, a hd broke, an earthenware ginger-beer which discovered i i t nt d o ees l:is astonishment pieces,hacl been a filled with gimpow atsheheacsohmmonly d w e i r t . h 0 ulltadt taking g roan, eat shortbal,e beentime the spot. Who the perpetrator most tlikely l e ie we b r o l t_tle f man's life was, have killed him on it otherwise than by supposing e i i n t tao kindled the fire cannot b guessed ; but he cannot account for would have exploded, and . of the attempt on the poor th t some men employed about the building, whom he had s e the means of detecting as having secreted lead for the ' been pur pose of being taken away. It is to be hoped that the perpe trator or perpetrators will be found out and punished, as such conduct richly merits.— Glasgow Post. THE RIVER PLATE.—FALMOUTH, FELL 21.—The packet Peterel, Lieutenant Creser, has arrived here from Rio de Janeiro, whence she sailed on the 12th ult., leaving there the British ships of war Curacoa, Talbot, and Crescent. Exchange '2Bd. No freight, and not a syllable of news. A man, condemned to death by the Court of Assizes of the Ardeche' has petitioned the Minister ofJusticc to permit hint to undergo his punishment by inhaling e ther, death by such means, he understands, being without pain. We regret to state that M. Gervase Parker Bushe, attache to the British Embassy at Vienna, died in that capi tal on the sth instant of fever. He was only son of the late Gervase Bustle, Esq., o f Kilkenny, Ireland, and was a mem ber of the same famly to which the late Chief Justice Bushe belonged. OSWESTRY.—SHOCKING DEATH IN THE SNOW.--A poor man, named William Miller, by sunken fence, in trade a bell-han Porger,k was yesterday morning discovered in a ington Park ; his right leg was broken, and the features dis figured by vermin. He had not been seen since Monday night, the Bth inst., and, as is supposed, had taken a near cut across the park, and, in leaping the fence, broken his l ie d through the inclemency of the weather.— leg, and perished Edilowes' Shrewsbury Journal. JOINT•STOCR PROVISION COMPANY IN ELGIN.— A proposal has been issued in Elgin for thethe establishmto be ent of a working-men's provision assoation, capital 1,000/., in shares of 20s. By purchasing for cash in the best markets, the promoters expect to supply meal, wheat, bread, and groceries at lower than current prices. A baking egablishment is included in the proposal. A public meet ing, held on Wednesday - week, appointed a committee to draw up the basis of the society. Similar associations have been successfully carried on in the south-western counties of Scotland. —Ross-shire Advertiser. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. INTELLIGE CHESTER. SPRIN(. The Free Hand. at. Ib. l ... 8 4 7 10 7 8 7 8 7 8 Eventr, aged The Coadjutor, 4 yrs Princess Alice, 4 vrs Philip, aged .. The Cure, 5 yrs ... Ratcliffe, 6 yrs ... Pic Nic, 5 yrs ... 7 1 Spithead, 4 yrs ... 6 1:3 June, 5 yrs 6 12 Sharston, 4 yrs ... 6 11 Emigrant, aged ... 6 10 1 Jolly Beggar, 6 yrs ... 6 10 Due an Dorris, 53 rs 6 10 Magnet, 5 yrs 6 10 1 The Lamb, 4 yrs ... 6 71 Kismet, 4 yrs ... 6 3 1 Nominations for till Patriot, 6 vrs ICE EXTRA. L iiIEETING, 1847. icap. 32 Subs. Fair Rosamond, 6 yrs Pie Nic, 5 yrs The Roper's Daughter, aged IPinkini,indne:3s, 4 yrs 5 I i IF. IT Kremlin, 4 yrs 511 Golden Bee, 4 yrs ..•; i , 5 9 [Banana, 4 yrs ... 5 9 Brown Fly, 4 yrs ... 5 8 iDipthong, 3 yrs ... 5 6 Abcliel, 3 yrs ... 5 6 Cheapside, 3 yrs ... 5 6 The Premier, 3 .yrs ... 5 3 Urania, 4 yrs .., 5 0 Agne., 3 yrs „. ... 5 0 Infringe,. 3 yrs •.. 5 0 Lady Lurewell, 3 yrs 410 Tweed, 3 yrs ... 4 9 Tribute, 3 yrs ... 4 4 Yellow Rose, 3 yrs ... 4 4 A , t Corinthian Stakes. 1 Pantam, 5 yrs - - Rowland, Naworth. aged Ilookey, aged THE LIEUTENANTS, RN. (From the Devonport Independent.) The followin; memorial to whic.i %re r,!err..d ti f.rt night sin;:e, has been prsented to the Flr.,t 14,rd of the Admiralty. A deputation has waited on Lord Auck land and from the courtesy with %hi: h his Lorthhip received them, and the attention paid to their represen tations, we are justified in hoping tit,tt rho cLin.s of this class of officers will be duly consith-red by the To the Right Hon. the Earl of Auckland, and the Lords Commissione, sof the Admiralty. The Memorial of the Lieutenants tf Her Majesty's Fleet most humbly shaveth : That your Memorialists have seen with much satisfac- Lon, the promotion and retirement that has been granted .o the senior Captains, Masters, and Paymasters, of her Majesty's fleet, as it will be the means of rendering the service more efficient, by bringing forward young active officers, fitter to bear the fatigues and privations incident to the service. _ _ _ That there are twelve hundred and fifty one of your memorialists that have served with credit to thanselves and benefit to their country, many of whom had the honour to serve under the immortal Nelson, at the battles of the " Nile," " Trafalgar," and other memorable engagements through the whole of the French and American wars at the termination of which they were consigned to a life of inaction and pecuniary difficulties, without a shadow of hope to br;ghten or relieve its monotony, and this not arising from want of energy in themselves, but purely from cireums!anees over which they had no control, and were thus excluded from em ployment, promotion, or the means of benefiting their That the peculiar position of your memorialists differ from every other rank of officers in the service in conse quence of their number, two thousand four hundred and forty eight, of which a very large majority cannot, from their long standing, be employed otherwise than in com mand, or as first lieutenants, whic'i would exclude younger and more efficient men, at the same time de prive the captains of their long established privilege of selecting their first lieutenants—added to this there are one hundred and ninety eight at the head of the list, bearing rank as retired commanders of 1830, without increase of pay or benefit accruing to their widows, having the shadow without the substance—thereby pre venting the junior officers receiving the increased half pay, until age renders it of little value, from the short period of enjoyment. Your memorialists therefore humbly trust, that your Lordship will be pleased to take a !avourable view of their position, as well as of the justice of their claim and bene volently recommend the Government to extend to your memorialists such retirement to themselves, with pen sions to their widows, in like proportion to iet granted to the captains, masters, and paymasters of her Majesty's fleet. And your memorialists as in duty bound, will ever pray. DEFEAT OF THE DEER PRE SERVERS.—RIGHT TO DROVE ROADS IN SCOTLAND. A case was decided lately in the Court of Session of great importance to the Highlands, and indeed to the country at large, by which the right of the pub lie to what are termed " drove roads" is established. The case originated a few years ago in an attempt by the Marquis of Breadalbane to abolish the long-used cattle stance at • Inverveach, on the great drove road through Argyllshire, with the view of more strictly preserving his Lordship's deer forest in the Black Mount. The attempt necessarily created a great sensa tion, not only throughout the whole Highlands, but among the graziers of the northern counties of Engl a nd, who are so muca interested in the cattle trade of the north of Scotland. Public meetinga were held at vat ious places, a deputation was appointed to corresvond with the Noble Marquis and his news, with the view to an amicable arrangement of the, mater, and that failing a public subscription was raised to try the question in the persons of the tenants at In, verveach, on whose grounds the right of ntx was first exercised. With the exception of Lord Ful lerton, who rather qualified the broad view taken by the rest of the Bench, their Lordships unanintouly sus• tained the right of the public to the roads in qin•stikli; and Lord Jeffrey explained the ju,tice ot7 the principle thus established in his usual felicitous st, le of Mastro.. tion. The cae may, n ) doubt, I e protrcted by appeal; but, in the face of such an opinion us that (1. livered, we can hardly suppose such a course will be adoptud.— Ross-shire Advertiser. FRENCH VINEGAR. Upton upon-Severn, Feb. 22, /847. Sirs,—We note that a paragraph has been going the round of the papers, and among others was inserted in your publi cation, to the effect that 400 casks of French Vinegar had been recently imported from France, being the largest im portation yet brought from that country. In justice to our selves, we think it right to state, that since the reduction of the duty in 1844, we have each year imported Wine Vinegar of first quality from France to a greater extent. We inclose you particulars of two several arrivals, which were, inde pendent of others, of less important extent. Your notice, and that of other papers in which the before-named paragraph appeared, will oblir lour constant subscribers, W. and J. KENT and SONS. LThe paragraph was copied from a Morni ng C on t emporary. .ED. Sun.] PROVISIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES.—The Miltiades and Commerce, from New Orleans, and Lucia Field, from Charleston, which were reported at Liverpool on the 20th of February, bring 9,203 sacks of Indian corn, 349 barrels of flour, and 12,623 bushels of paddy. THE TRUE CHARTER.—" Instead of discussions on the ' five points of the charter,' if working men will but turn their attention to the benefits connected with the cleanliness of their immediate dwellings and courtways, the soundest and best foundation will be laid for political rights, that of moral respect."—Douglas Jerrold's Newspaper. THE ROBBERY or DIAMONDS.—In our report of the last examination of Kerr, upon the charge of stealing the diamonds, Mr. Satchell was , erroneously mentioned as the solicitor for the prisoner; Mr. Hobler is, and has been from the first, engaged for the defence. MILAN.—At the Scala the only two operas yet given have been Attila and Prova d'ua Opera Seria, neither of which has pleased very much. In the ballet we have bad Fanny Elssler and the inimitable Perrot. The theatre is crowded whenever they appear. At Gen-a, Mr. Jones, the basso, has created a furore in Attila, which is the more flat tering to him, as the music generally does not please. Mr. Leati, an Englishman, has made his first appearance at Pavia, as Don Carlo, in Ernani, with the greatest possible success. Ile has a magnificent baritone voice. SOLAR SPOTS.—For a week past several groups of solar spots, in different declinations, and successively va rying their appearance, have presented a singular aspect en the sun's disc. Three of these now exhibit individual spots, on their western sides, of between thirty-five and forty thousand miles in diameter. Of these, the first, in about one degree of south declination, resembles a large parallelogram, with its long side westward, and nearly within ene digit of the sun's western limb. The second, in about two degrees of north de clination, has its largest spot nearly round, which is followed, at regular intervals, by two others, varying from two-thirds to one-third of its size, this group being now about two digits from the son's western limb. The third group, in the high declination of four digits, north, has its largest spots, now also nearly round, within two and a half digits of the sun's western limb. The fourth group, composed of sma ll er spot, is nearl on the sun's equator, and within thre e an d a half digits of y his western limb. Besides these now mentioned, one large spot has just made its appearance on the sun's eastern limb, thus showing us that the sun's inhabitants, whose existence is in ferred by analogy, are not deprived of the means of studying astronomy, which can only be done by viewing the celestial bodies through the clear sky afforded to them by means of those solar spots, which often remain for four, five, or more weeks, with little change, over the same opaque territories. SociEns OF ARTS.—An interesting paper by M. Claudet, on photography, was read at the meeting of this society on Wednesday evening. It commenced by observing that during the past two or three years the chemical part of the process had made but little progress, no substance having yet been found more sensitive to the light than iodine, bromine, and chlorine. The optical arrangement was then alluded to. Until the present time object glasses of short focal length have been employed with a view of operating more rapidly, but there is an objection to this. The shorter the focal length the more the image is curved, and the less it will coincide with the plane surface of the plate upon which it is represented. Again, the angle formed by the rays which converge towards the object glass is more open as the focal length diminishes. It follows that objects situated upon different planes in relation to the object glass will be reflected of a size proportionate to the width of the angle under which they are represented. Object gl i asses, therefore, of the greatest possible foc al length onlygs iou i d be used. The image obtained b y the refracting camerais inverted; it consequently becomes necessary to reinvest 9,e image if a portrait, for several reasons. The line which crosses the two eyes is nearly parallel with the line formed by the mouth. The nose is not always straight; the hair is not always parted equally, and the like. There are three methods of reinvesting the image—the parallel mirror, the speculum, and the prism. Of these the prism appears to be the best. The image of the camera as seen upon the ground glass generally appears to the eye more perfect than the re sulting photograph. The perception of an object by the retina is instantaneous, but the action upon the daguerreo type plate is progressive. The strong lights operate first ; then the half tints; and lastly, the shadows. By employing screens, covered with black velvet, the strong horizontal light is diminished, giving the reflected light time to operate on the parts in shadow. By this means greater relief an d roundness of effect is obtained. M. Cl au d et concluded by referring to some photographs on paper obtained by M r . Maskelyne, remarkable for the perfest delineation of foliage which they presented. The iodide and bro mide o potassium, the chloride of sodium, with nitrate of' and t gallic acid, were used to produce them. The second communication was by Mr. Jordan on mechanical carving. The subject was Illustrated by many beautiful specimen 3, but owing to the length of the first paper, its consideration was postponed till the hext meeting. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 23. The LORD CriaNcELLox took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. DESTITUiE PERSONS (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the order of the day for the third reading of the Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill. . . . . Lord BROUGHAM said that be had already stated what ho conceived would be the necessary consequences of this measure. Among the other objections that might be urged to this measure was, that there were i three official bodies con stituted to carry out the details of t. The relief commission was the one to which he wished to call the attention of the House. There was no power given under . the provisions of the Act to appoint one of the commissioners a member of the committee. It only said that it should be lawful for the Lord-Lieutenant to nominate certa i n parties. It only gave power to the Lord-Lieutenant to specify by a general or special order applicable to the case of the parties, but it did not make it imperative upon him to say what the number should be. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY complained of the attacks which the N o bl e an d Learned Lord who had just sat dow n was in the habit of mtking against the Irish landlords, for a more kind-hearted, more just, or more beneficient body of individuals did not exist in the empire. Tl.eir gene rosity at the present emergency could not be described, and he %vould not venture to assert that. the assistance they had given had contributed couch to alleviate the calamity. If the Noble and Learned Lord was E 0 adverse to persons spending their money abroad, why did be no! carry out his own argument and not spend his mo..ey in France.—( Hear, hear.) Ile repeated that the Irish landlords sere a most beneficent class of person!. He admitted th a t th e wan t o f res id en t proprietors in Ireland caused much of the unhappiness in that Country.- However, if Irish landlords were deprecated in the way they had been, their tenants would become dissatisfied. lit did consider that these measures might have been more maturely weighed. By these frequent animadversions the Irish tenants were taught to look unfavourably upon their landlords. He comidered that the Noble Lord should not have undertaken , the Government without re-enacting the Arms Reg,stration Act. At the present moment the pea santry were parading the country in large bodies with arms. He was satisfied that they must now extend the poor-law system to Ireland, for the guardians appointed under it were the wisest and best protectors both of poverty and property. He was obliged to the Howe for their attention to him on this subject. It was one on which he felt very anxious, and he had felt it his duty to state to the House his opinion that the measure was one calculated to benefit Ireland. Lord BROUGHAM begged leave to set the Noble Marquis right. The Noble Marquis had totally mistaken him, if he was under the impression that he had meant any attack upon the Irish people, or to run down the Irish, be could assure the Noble marquis that he had no objection to the measure as applied to the Irish in particular. Ile should have the same objection to the measure if it were applied to the Irish or Scotch. His objection had nothing to do with any national peculiarity ; what he was averse to was the system. He had no doubt that many of the measures adopted were very munificent charities; but his objection applied to a great public measure. He bad no objection to Ireland, although he had not resided there any more than he had ever pursued the diversion of bear hunting on the Con tinent.—( Laughter.) The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said that, although he was not present, he understoood that the Noble Lord had attacked the Irish landlords. He objected to their habits, of horses, equipages, servants, and wine —(A laugh)—ard said that they ought not to indulge in them. The Noble Lord himself could go to France, and do as he pleased in that respect, but there was no necessity for him to run down the Irish proprietors. Lord BROUGHAM could assure the Noble Marquis that he never ran down an Irish proprietor any more than he ever ran down-- ( A voice from the Ministerial bench—" A bear.") The Marquis of LANSDOWNE here made some observa tions, but in so low a tone of voice that they did not teach the gallery.) With respect to the amendment that had been sug gested by his Noble Friend opposite, it was one to which no very seeious objection could be advanced, and he intended to introduce an amendment that would meet the views of the Noble Lord. In reply to an observation of the Noble Lord opposite, he wished to state that be would receive a report from the Commissioners, to which he might refuse to accede. Lord ELLENBOROUGH said he felt quite satisfied with the Noble Lord's statement that he would introduce an amendment. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that there were certain other amendments which it was intended to introduce. The Noatat MARQUIS then proceeded to refer to amend. ments which he proposed to insert in the Bill. The Marquis of WESTMEATH said the late meeting of Irish proprietors in Dublin proved that better feelings had been generated among them, and that there was now greater hope than ever for the improvement of Ireland. He regretted that there was no provision in the Bill for the more effectual collection of the poor rates. Lord BEAUMONT said that he desired to take that oppor tunity of correcting a mistake which had appeared in a letter of Mr. Commissioner Otway from Castlebar. He states that a near connexion of mine, a Noble Lord who does not possess a seat in this House, Lord Kilmaine, has not paid the gt eater portion of his rates. He ( Lord Beaumont) had received a letter from that Noble Lord, and he had also a communication with his agent, and they had both assured hint that that statement was totally incorrect ; that all the rates had been paid, and that no portion of them were unpaid at any time, as they were always paid upon application. He thought, however, that he might be allowed to remark that he did not wonder that these mistakes should occur from the incorrect manner in which the collector's rate-books were kept. He acknowledged that the Bill was a necessity of the moment; hut he thought a great disadvantage would arise from the me thod in which one rate was made to clear another; for that was really what would occur.—(Hear, hear.) - One rate would not be half collected, before another was struck. The system of levying the rates in England was much more complete and rabid than it was in Ireland, in consequence of the long notice required. The system, however, was produc tive of most injurious effects to those who did pay their rate, while those who did not pay them escaped comparatively free. If a retail trade had existed in Ireland, to distribute the im mense supply of provisions that had arrived in this country, three-fourths sf the cuff-ring which had prevailed in that coon: try would have been pzevented. -He' would just observe in conclusion, that an extensive system of emigration must be re sorted to, if an improved system of cultivation of the land was to be introduced. In England there were but three labourers to the hundred acres; hut in Ireland there were eight; and until this ,urplus population was removed, they could not hope to e+tablish the prosperi , y of Ireland on a permanent footing. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY was abbot to address the House, when The LORD CHANCELLOR interrupted him, and said that he had received a Coo: mission from her Majesty and the House should stand prorogued during plea.ure. ROYAL COMAIItiSION. The LORD CHANCELLOR then retired, and in a few minutes returned, accompanied by the Earl of Miuto and the Earl of Shaftesbury, in their robes, as Lords Commissioners, to give the Royal assent to several Bills. The Usher of the Black Rod then summoned the Com mons, when the Royal assent was given in the usual form to the Buck Wheat Importation Bill, the Brewing from Sugar Bill, the Distillation from Sugar Bill, and the Chelsea Pen blotters' Bill. DESTITUTE PERSONS (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of Lansdowne this Bill wt. len read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 23. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. The following Bilk were read a second time, and or.. dared to be committed:— Aberdeen Harbour Improvement. Leeds Waterworks. Regent's Canal Company (Paddington and Limehouse Railway and Branch)—by order. Rochdale Waterworks. Rydc Improvement. South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole Railway (Peni stone, and Purchase of Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and Goole Rail way, Dun Navigation, and Dearne and Dove Canal). DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Major MACNAMARA presented a petition from the tenantry and landed proprietors of several parishes in the county Clare, complaining of the state of distress in that county; also a petition praying for a system of rail wsys for Ireland. COMPLAINT OF UNJUST IMPRISONMENT. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the working men of Warrington, in Lancashire, complaining of the unjust imprisonment of two men in that town ; that no notice had been taken of the petition presented to the House in reference to that imprisonment; that the pi isoners had not had a fair trial, and that the tyranny of the magistrates in the manufacturing districts was extreme. RATEPAYING CLAUSE OF THE REFORM ACT. The How. MEMBER also presented a petition which had been agreed to at a public meeting of the inhabitants of London, at the Crown and Anchor, on the 17th'inst., presided over by his Hon. Colleague, the other Member fur Finsbury, praying for the abolition of the rate paying clauses in the Registration and Reform Acts, which they designated as unconstitutional in their nature and vexatious in their operations. The Hon. Member also presented a petition to the same effect from the city and borough of Leicester. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from Warrington in Lancashire, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill ; also a petition for the Hon. Member for Devon, from the merchants and shipowners of Brixham, Devon, 1 against the light dues ; also a petition from Tenbury, Devon, against the law of settlement. CHARGES AGAINST' THE MEMBERS FOR CLARE. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented a petition, i signed ri L ise a b r y; 0 1 n 4 , ita h ree, r c e o li m ef p c ia o i m ni m ng itt o e f e th an e d r o ep th o e r z an officer of the Board of rn c o e u m n t b y e, r o s f o C t character of Mr. O'Brien y and other members of that committee, and pra y in g m W a o d r e ks b , y wi C th ap r ta e i fe n re W nce n t noe'the for a Select Committee to inquire into these charges, for which, the petitioners asserted, there was not the shadow of a foundation. Petitioners also expressed a de: ire that Captain Wynne should not be promoted (which it was rumoured was intended by Government) till this Committee should be appointed and the charges investigated. DISMISSAL OF MR. LANGSD AL E . oN _ eEy Mr. B. ESCOTT said he had th a at petitionh to present Stagtefromeah jauddgbeesehnipdisir; from Mr. Langkd a le, comp l a i n i ng a dM feiteshtya'rsgecdou:ittsh charged by theVbretary of one wht c o l i t hhee had s o a f tisfaction to the bar and Ceylon, the duties of to all interested in the h administration of justice ; that the gro un d s on which e was dismissed were not stated to him, and an o to them ; that his o pportunity giv en f or hi s re plying ruined, and professional prospects had been. praying ' House him tae to afford . redress. Li& shou ld - . move to-morrow that the petition be printed with the votes. SUGAR. Mr. FORBES presented a petition from farmers, brewers, and others, praying that sugar might only be admitted into breweries at the same rate as malt. POOR-LAW REMOVAL BILL. Mr. 0. STANLEY presented a petition, Complaining of the Pour-law Removal Act, and setting forth that the rates had been already duubled in many cases in eon• sequence of it. RATE-PAYING CLAUSE OF THE REFORM BILL. Sir B. HALL presented a petition, atcreed 'to at A publio meeting held last evening in St. Pancras, praying .; - N„ ~,' ~1 U