The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-22 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS EDITION. SUN-OFFICE, Half-past Eight. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE. 8 to 1 agst Brunette—taken freely 12 to 1 agst Red Lance METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 20 to 1 agst Sheraton 2,000 GUINEAS STARES. 6 to 1 agst COUrlghatil CHESTER cur. 22 to 1 agst Mendicant 25 to 1 agst The Lamb 25 to 1 agst Antler 25 to 1 agst Camera Obscura 33 to 1 agst Mickey Free 40 to 1 agst Flitch 50 to 1 agst Bedlam 1000 to 15 agst Golden Bee DERBY. 7 to 1 agst Van Tromp 10 to 1 agst Epirote 12 to 1 agst Planet 20 to 1 agst Glentilt 25 to 1 agst Conyngham 30 to 1 agst Horn of Chase 35 to 1 agst Wanota 50 to 1 agst Will-o'-the-Wisp OAKS. 16 to 1 agst Nerlssa OPPOSED LIST Eastern Counties Railway (Enlargement of London and Stratford Stations and Amendment Acts.) Eastern Counties Railway (Branch from Stratford to the Victoria ['ark). In these two opposed cases the opposition was not success ful, and the customary formal proofs were completed. (Room '23, before Mr. Examiner MAY. ) U NOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were completed : Midland Railway (Extension of the Nottingham and Lin coln Branch Railway at Lincoln, with Connexion Branch to the Lincoln Station). Bingley Improvement. Surrey and Kent Commission of Sewers' Act Amendment. Bognor Docks. Great Western of Bengal Railway Company, for the making and maintaining a Railway from Calcutta to Raja mahal, in the province Bengal, with such Extensions and Branches as may be determined (Incorporation). Sovereign Lite Assurance Company. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Act (Stourbridge and West Bromwich line). OPPOSED LIST. MANCHESTER AND SOUTH - A - 11PTON RAILWAY. This important case was opposed by several parties. It occupied the rest of the day, but the allegations sustained were not of a fatal or important character. It was adjourned till to -morrow. I3IPE MA L PARLIAMENT, (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. SUNDAY RAILWAY TRAINS. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from the inhabitants of Linlithgow, in favour of resuming the Sunday railway trains on the Glasgow and Edinburgh Railway. ELECTORAL DIVISIONS. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a pe tition from two parishes near Drogheda, against the present system of electoral divisions in Ireland, and P ill yinh,!?!?.__m_or i e equitable , arrangement. Leir ` - d 7Att i l J 1 CO MMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTCY. their Lordship s , IiNI wished to call the attention of and prescral e ,, s i rcially of his Noble Friends the late and the had been laid on their L o Chancellors, to a return which rdships' t,;.ble, in reference to the Commissioners ofB ank ruptcyinco rrect in town and country, rre i ct in some of its details. which was evidently According to one calculation by an ot h er that return, there were Ii there were 354 344 days in they ear, an d days. In on© part it w,t,, Bristol Commission, that the meant about ~!0 concerni ng the 188 days in imikrupiey, 1 35 (I‘-;aysnlV.ssioners sat and 31 days in small debts. There was no ' d ins°l ""eY, , it was said what this must mean ; it was clear it was Commissioners sat 188 days in all, the 135 days t a h n d a the th e 35 days being parts of that period. Again in reference to one of the Commissioners of Bristol, that he sat, during the year, 258 day, while his colleag ue only sat 174 days ; the first number, clearl y ou g h t $Q hare. bs.)en 158 days. His Lordship said there 'W e - hero -six functionaries capable of a great deal ' . toio-iiitiracia.point of time, or what Mae to the same ~i 1\ a AT a MEETING of the MEMBERS of the SE NATE of the UNIVERSITY of CAMBRIDGE, held this da, Feb. 22, at Two P.M., at the Union Hotel, Coc the Most Noble the Marquis of NORH TA.MPTON, in the Chair,uur-street, It was moved by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of LONDON, and se conded by Viscount SYDNEY, That this meeting has heard with feelings of deep gratitude the terms on which his Royal Highness Prince Albert has been pleased to express the pride and pleasure he would have in filling the office •f Chancellor of the University. It was moved by Lord ERNEST Harm and seconded by Sir Jeff?? CAM HOBROUSE, Bart., That this meeting concur most heartily in the desire which has been se strongly expre ssed by the resident members of the Senate for the election of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. It was moved by Lord 31oNveAor..e, and seconded by Lord NORRETS, That this meeting pledge themselves to use every effort to secure a result so honourable to the University as the election of his Royal Highness, and that the following Noblemen and Gentlemen be re quested to act as a Committee, with power to add to their numbers. The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON, Chairman. The Marquis of Lansdowne The Very Rev. the Dean of Ely The Merqula cilf nguro H. W. Tancred, Esq., M.P. Earl Grey H. T. hope, Esq. Lord Jerrnyn It. T. Kin iersley, Esq., Q.C. Lord Ernest Bruce G. Turner, Esq., Q C. Viscount Sydney T. Purvis, Esq., Q.C. The Lord Bishop of London It. P. Romped, Esq., Q.C. The Lord Bishop of Norwich J. Wigram, Esq., Q.C. The Lord Bishop of St. David's J. Romilly, Esq., Q.C. The Lord Bishop of Lichfield R. C. Hildyard, Esq., Q.C. The Lord Bishop of Ely W. P. Ward, Esq., Q.C. Lord Norreys J. Hildyard, Esq., Commissary of Lord Melgund the University Met Hon, Sir J. Hobhouse,Bart.'F. Chambers, Esq., M.D. Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay Sergeant Thompsen Right Hon. Sir E. Ryan J. E. Blunt, Esq, Bight Lion. Sir H. Jenner lust,' Rev. Professor Hall Bart. E. Fitzherbert, Esq. Bight Hon. E. Strutt Rev. W. Harness Hon. Charles Howard Rev. J. Brogdeu The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean Dr. Paget of Windsor 'Rev. James Cartmell The Very Rev. the Dean of Can- Rey. W. G. Flumphery. terbary I TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. SLY O'CLOCK. - - HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS DAY.) COLE V. SEWELL. The arguments in this part-heard appeal were then re sumed. The case came before their Lordships upon an appeal from the decision of the late Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Edward Sudden, dismissing the appellant's bill. The following may be stated to be the short facts of the case :-13y a deed dated in 1752, Peter Daly, then seised in fee of a large estate in Ireland, called the Quandary . or Daly estate, vested the same in trustees to the use of him self for life, remainder to the use of his three daughters. Ho nods, wife of Viscount Kingsland, Margaret, wife of Lord Athenry, who was also Earl of Louth, and Anastatia, wife of the Earl of Kerry, 'in equal shares, as tenants in common, during their respective lives, with re mainders respectively to the use .of their first and other sons, severally and successively, in tail male, with cross remainders between them, the daughters (as the respondent contended) with remainder to their respective daughters, share and share alike, as tenants in common in tail general, and, in case of the death of any of the said daughters 9f the settler, without issue of her or their bodies, then as to such daughter's share or shares, to the use of the daughters of the survivors or survivor, and the heirs of their bodies or body, and in case of the death of all three without issue, their over with ultimate remainder, to the right heirs of the settler. He died without disposit ' , of the fee. Lady Kingsland and the Countess of Kerry died without issue. Lady Athenry, Countess of Louth, had four daughters only, the eldest of whom died unmarried. The second, married to the Earl of Louth, left four daughters, no son. The third, Elizabeth, married to Thomas Beiley Heath Sewell, had by him two children, the respondent, and the mother of the appellant. The said Lady Elizabeth and her husband, Mr. - Beiley, executed a postnuptial settlement in 1779, providi ng f r o; their said son arid daughter out of the estate (among othe rs ) comprised in the deed of 1752. The various complicated questions in the appeal arose upon the construction of these two deeds, namely, as to the validity or invalidity of the limi tations in the deed of 1752, and whether they were not void' for remoteness—whether the estates comprised in that deed were all comprised in the deed of 1779, or brought within its operation by a subsequent deed. The respondent's title to the estate depended on the validity of the limitations and on the deeds. The appellant claimed against those deeds, contending that the limitations were void, and he made title under the will of his grandmother, the said Lady Elizabeth. The Lord Chancellor of Ireland held the disputed limitations to be valid, in which case the Lady Elizabeth had no estate to devise, and his Lordship dismissed the appellant's bill. The arguments had not concluded at four o'clock, at which hour the further consideration of the case was adjourned. LLYNVI VALLEY RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this company was held to-day, at their offices, 3.5, Broad-street buildings, City; Dr. Bowring, 31. P., in the chair. The CHAIRMIN said that the object of calling the meeting was merely to obtain the sanction of the shareholders to the several resolutions that were agreed to at the meeting of the 10th of last December, in compliance with the terms of the Act of Parliament. The SBCILETARY then read the audited account, which stated that the deposits received amounted to 16,727/. 4s. 6d., the expenditure to 8,3831. Os. Bd., and the balance in hand to 8,343/. 14s. 10c. This account was then adopted. The former directors were re-elected, and Mr. Cumming was elected auditor in the place of Mr. King, who had re signed. A resolution, confirming the resolutions of the meet ing_of D. cember last, was then agreed to unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said that there was no further business to be transacted. He was happy to inform them that some amicable arrangements had been effected with the Dufferyn and Llinsi Companies with whom they had been in treaty. The meeting then separated. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMAIONS.—(THIS DAY). (Room 22, hefke Mr. Examiner SMITH.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were completed : Ipswich and Bury Sr. Edmund's Railway, No. 3 (Ex tension from Bury Sr. Edmond's to 'Thetford). Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway (Warwick and Stratford Line). Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Amendment (Deviation of the line). Limerick Docks and Harbour Improvement. Belfast Port and Harbour Acts Amendment, Further Im provement, and New Works and Amendment of Belfast and Cave-hill Railway aid Belfast Acts Improvement. Wakefield Gas-light Act Amendment (Extension of works). Eastern G;unties Railway (Maldon,Witham, and Braintree Railway purchase.) thing, that that number might be diminished. They were employed at present altogether not more than six weeks in the year, and some fews days more in small debts, but altogether the time was something about a quarter, at least not a third, of a year. It would naturally be said that he (Lord Brougham) ought to take blame to himself. But, as his Noble Friend opposite well knew, he (Lord Brougham) was the only person out of eleven that examined the old , system, and introduced the present alterations, and out of eleven persons he was the only one that did not think six Commissioners were enough. He recollected he had a struggle to keep the number so low as it was ; Sir Thomas Wilde, now Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir Frederick Pollock, now Chief Baron of the Exchequer, both opposed him, the one being for twelve and the other for fourteen Commissioners. He (Lord Brougham) was obliged to come t' a compromise that the number should be seven ; but by a clerical error it was made six, which error he (Lord Brougham) took advantage of, and would not allow it to be amended. lie gave their Lordships notice that he would introduce a Bill making some necessary alterations in these matters. He moved that the present return should be amended. in some districts to induce them to pursue the system of clearing the land. The effect was that a great burden was imposed upon certain unions. He felt that this would press most unjustly on the popu lation, for they would not only have to support their own poor, but also the destitute persons that would be thrown upon them. He would rather the measure was ex tended to three years than limited to twelve months. the intention of the Government to lay upon the table of the House copies of the new constitution of Prussia? Lord PALMERSTON said that it was not usual for the Government to lay before the House documents relating so entirely to the internal management of the affairs of other nations. If, however, the House wished to have those documents, ho would not object to their pro duction. He would, however, advise the Hon. Member not to press for their production. The subject then dropped. PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND). Lord CLE&tENTS wished, in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to call the attention of the Honourable Gentleman the Secretary for Ire land to this circumstance. The House had been informed that Government abuses had taken place in con nexion with the public works in Ireland. Now, he wished to know, as he believed these abuses had been carried further, and had been committed by persons not exactly connected with these works, whether the Government had taken any steps in the matter, and whether the accounts of the different baronies would be audited ? The Earl of RODEN had seen with great satisfaction the excellent measures which had been introduced, he might say so boldly, by her Majesty's Ministers for the relief of Ireland, though he must at the same time say that he was pleased to hear that the Noble Marquis had consented to postpone the third reading of this Bill as the delay might - allow for any improvement of which it was susceptible. He had only two days ago come up from Ireland and could bear his testimony to the suffer ing and distress which prevailed in Ireland. He could not but also express his great satisfaction at the other Bill which had been introduced—he meant that for allowing the sale of property in Ireland to pay off mortgages; for without that he believed that all the other measures together would be next to useless, for it was useless to attempt to levy a tax for the relief of the poor on the possessors of property unless they granted this relief. Most of the entailed estates in that country are heavily mortgaged. and if a man was presumed to have 100,000/. a year, the great probability was that in the majority of cases he only enjoyed a rental of 2,0001., so that, with out the power to divest himself:gut* his liabilities, they would actually subject him to a tax, as if he were a 100,000 L man, when in reality he was only a 2,000/. a year man. Then as to the great measure for the relief of the poor, he thought that some alterations should be made as to the extent of the dis tricts; for it appeared to him that it would be most unjust to limit the unions to the extent of the electoral districts, and in his opinion it appeared to be better to de fine the districts by the size of the towns. Take, for in stance, a large town for a district, and then in another part of the country combine several smaller towns into a district, so that the population of the several districts might bear a proportion to each other. Then, again, as to the relief that was to be granted, he thought that there should be some restriction to be placed upon it, especially where the applicant for relief was the holder of any land. In this country it would never be allowed that relief should be given to a man who held a farm, so long as he continued to hold that land. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE observed that the discussion which had just taken place referred rather to another Bill not before the House, than to the one under consideration ; but he thought, nevertheless, that it would be productive of good. There had been considerable difference of opinion, whether the rating should fall on the union, or the electoral division, and it was, therefore, proposed to make this an open question for the consideration of Parliament. With regard to towns, he was sanguine enough to hope that a provision applicable to them would be ' introduced, and which would obviate the difficulty He wished it to be understood, however, that the clause -which had been introduced into the latter Bill by the Noble Duke (Wellington), as to in door relief, would be left intact, and the new principle, what ever arrangement may be come to with respect to it, would only apply to the out-door relief proposed to be given, without food. He had the pleasure of announcing to their Lordships, that in order to expedite the measure which had for its object to facilitate the sale of lands in Ireland, his Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack had con sented to give his immediate attention to the Bill, and to introduce it at an early opportunity into their Lord ships' House, so that it, with the other measures bearing upon Ireland, would come together before their Lordships, appearing to aid each other to one end—the relief of the distress prevalent in Ireland. The Marquis of WESTMEATH expressed his satis faction that the Government had adopted the suggestion made by the Noble Lord not now in the House, as to defining the case of the pauper, that no person assuming to be a pauper should continue to hold possession of land. He begged their Lordships' attention shortly to a remark of a Noble Lord, that the provisions of one of the Bills proposed ought not to affect the holders of small tenements. He thought if it did not, the effect would be to absorb the whole income of the country. The intention was to give a money re muneration to that class of persons who had small posses sions, and trafficked in land. He begged to ask, in case it were carried out, to whom the person in possession should surrender, whether to the chief lessor, or into the hands of a lessee who might have sublet it? for if it might be resigned into the hands of a lessee, he himself might be a pauper, or he might immediately go and sublet it to another pauper, thereby entirely defeating their Lordships' intention. The same remark applied to the system of conacre, and he begged their Lordships to consider it, for it would have the effect of absorbing the whole income of the country. Lord LANSDOWNE then moved that the third reading of the Bill should be adjourned till tomorrow. Their Lordships then adjourned. Mr. LABOUCHERE said the convenience of the House would be greatly promoted if Hon. Gentlemen would give notice of their intention to put their questions.—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt the accounts would be regularly audited. He would, however, con sult the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Object. INTRODUCTION OF BRITISH MANUFAC TURES INTO PRUSSIA. Mr. FINCH said, as they hail been informed by a high authority that Prussia intended to offer facilities for the introduction of British mane, factures into that country, he wished to ask the Vice- President of the Board of Trade, whether there was any immediate prospect of the free admission of British manufactures into the Prussian do m i n i ons , or i nto t h e states comprehended in the Zollverein? Mr. M. GIBSON stated, in reply, that he had not heard any one express a very sanguine hope that there was any prospect that British or the manufactures of any other country would be admitted free into the Zollverein.—(Hear, hear.) In fact, there had been an augmentation of duty.—(Bear, and laughter.) He was merely stating a fact.—(Hear.) With respect to the first part of the Hon. Gentl eman ' s quest i on , h e begged to remind him that many other foreign countries had made material reductions in their tariffs, and ad mitted the manufactures of other countries at a lower duty.—(Hear.) EXPORTATION OF RUSSIAN CORN. ' The Motion wai agreed to. DISTILLATION FROM CORN. Lord RODEN presented a petition from the mayor and corporation of Drogheda against distillation from corn for the next two years. RUM DUTIES. Lord RODEN presented a petition from the same body against the proposed introduction of the rum duties. The petition set forth that it would be injurious to the distillers of Ireland, who had invested large sums of money in their distilleries, and that it would be ruinous to the labourers employed in these distilleries as well as to other classes. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. Earl FORTESCUE presented a petition from the guardians of the Honiton union, in Nottinghamshire, praying for the abolition of the present law of settle ment. The Noble Earl said that he agreed to much of what had been stated in the petition. He was disposed to agree in what was stated as to the Act of last session, which, so far from being productive of advantage, had been a source of great hardship. He could not, how ever, go the length of admitting that the present law should be altogether dispensed with. Lord MELBOURNE presented a similar petition from the Guardians of the Basford Union, in Lincoln shire. In reply to a question from Mr. WAWN, Lord PALMERSTON said he had recently received information from St. Petersburgh which led him to be lieve that the Russian Government did intend to offer facilities for the exportation of corn into this country. (Hear.) Large quantities, he believed, had been ex ported. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. RAILWAY BILLS. The following Railway Bilis were read a second time, and ordered to be committed ; Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway Amendment and Deviation. Ayrshire and Galloway Railway (Smithstown to, Dal meltington). Caledonian Railway (Branches to Canoble. &re.) . Caledonian Railway (Lease of Part of .Glasgow, Duns fries, and Carlisle Railway). Caledonian Railway (Branch across Clyde and' Glasgow Station). Great Northern Railway (Branch to King's Lynn). Lynn and Ely Railway (Lynn and Wormegay Nevi. gation). Lynn and Ely Railway (Deviation and Lynn Docks). Portadown and Dungannon Railway. 'Wishaw and Coltness Railway (Branches to Auchin heath Mineral Field and Canderside). Several private Bills were brought in, and read a first time. AMBERSG ATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON, AND EASTERN JUNCTION RAILWAY (AL TERATION OF LINE AND BRANCHES TO NO ETINGHAM.) On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Lord IsIOTHAM opposed the motion. on the ground that a breach of faith had been committed by the pro moters, in notcarry in , ' ' out an engagement which they had entered into with Loi d Manvers. In consequence of the opposition of the Noble Lord when the line was first projected, the promoters entered into an agreement to carry the line on a different side of the Trent from what they intended ; and now, after the lapse of six months, notwithstanding that solemn engage ment, they came forward with a Bill to carry out the plan they originally projected. The Hon. Gentleman, the Member for Sunderland, (Mr. Hudson), the Chairman of the Midland Company, had informed him that that company had not sought any onerous terms from the Ambergate Company. The Midland Company might, no doubt, have the use of that line on the usual terms. No doubt the Ambergate line held back, in order that they might get better terms from the Northern Company. He, there fore, considered it his duty to move an amendment, that the Bill be read that day six months. The question having been put, Mr. PLUMPTRE opposed the motion, and considered that the Committee was the proper tribunal to investi gate the matter. Sir JAMES DUKE said that ho hoped that the Noble Lord would consent to the Bill going into Com mittee, and then if he could show the least objection to it, he would do all in his power to throw it out. The Bill contained three objects, and there was only one of those complained of, and it would be too bad to reject the Bill altogether. The gallery was then cleared. On our return we un derstood that no division had taken place, but that the House were occupied in a discussion on the merits of the Blil. After a few words from Mr. REDHEAD Yoaxa and Sir JASIES DUKE, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed till this day week. WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE. Sir DE LACY EVANS rose to put the question, of which he had given notice. He wished to ask the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests what decision the Government has come to respecting the completion of the repairs of Westminster-bridge, which have been lately in progress, the widening of the roadway, &c. ; or as to the re-construction of the bridge on or immediately near its present site, as recommended by the Select Committee of last session, it being proper that the various interests concerned should be relieved from the injury of another year's suspense. Lord MORPETH said, that with respect to the re construction of the bridge at or near to its present site, the Government had had several communications with the Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements, but they were not (considering the demands to be made on the Exchequer, and the fact that the bridge was now available for public traffic) prepared to submit any pro position to Parliament in the present session. ROYAL NAVAL ACADEMY. In answer to a question from an Lim MEMBER, Mr. F. MAUL E replied that, towards the close of the last session, an inspector-general was appointed, for the purpose of reporting any information upon the subject of remodelling the school of the Royal Naval Academy. He had since received a report on the subject, but parts of it related to matters which had not been officially referred to the inspector. He should have no objection, however, to lay such parts before the House as imme diately related to the matter in question. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Mr. MONCKTON MILNES wished to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, whether he had sent to the President and Executive Council of Berne any notice respecting their replies to the menaced interference of the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian Governments, in the international affairs of the Confederation, which have been presented to Parliament by command of her Majesty. Lord PALMERSTON replied that her Majesty's Go vernment had not felt called upon to make any commu nication upon the subject. PORTUGUESE PRISONERS. Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Govern ment were in possession of any authentic information respecting the destination of the officers who were taken prisoners by the Portuguese army at the capture of Torres Vedras. Lord PALMERSTON said, that in consequence of representations made to the Portuguese Government by the British, French, and Belgian, the Government had changed their intention of sending the prisoners to the coast of Africa. He believed that it was pro posed to send them to Madeira, or some other island. He had not, however received_any official information upon the subject. CONSTITUTION OF PRUSSIA. Mr. F. fIOWARD wished to know whether it was THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1847, situation aro bound to perform, I am afraid that I am not very able properly to perform that task.—(Hear, hear.) I hope, at the same time, that my inability may be considered as my excuse if I make my statement as short as may be consistent with making my state ment as clear as possible, and confine my observa tions to that which is absolutely necessary, in order to place before the Committee the financial state and prospects of the country. Sir, I put this further claim to the indulgence of the House, that it is many years since a Chancellor of the Exchequer has had to make so heavy a demand on the Treasury, owing to the unfortunate state of the country, and I hope it will be several years before a similar calamity will render such demands necessary.—(Hear, hear.) The Committee, however, must be aware that the calamity which calls for this demand is one which no prudence, either on the part of her Majesty's Ministers, or of any Government, or of any Legislature, could possibly have pro vided against.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It has pleased Providence to inflict not only this country, but a great part of western Europe, with great dearth, and that dearth has pressed peculiarly on that part of the United Kingdom least able to bear it. Thousands of suffering and famishing people chiefly in the west of Ireland, appeal for sympathy and assistance to this House, and I know that that sympathy and that assistance will be extended to them. —(Hear, hear.) Sir, if I were only to reflect on the past, or even the pre sent state of the finances of the country, I cer tainly should say that there never was a time in which the finances of the country were so well able to bear the demand which has been made upon them.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen have now had in their hands for some time the balance-sheet of the last quarter By it, it appears that the whole excess above the re payments, amounts to 916,0001., and that the entire balance is upwards of 9,000,0001. on the year.—(Hear.) This is the first time, I.beheve I may say in the memory of those conversant with these matters, that a Chancel , for of the Exchequer has had to deal with so large a balance. If, in like manner, I refer to the produce of the great articles of consumption, it would show that the revenue 'derived from them has exceeded the most sanguine expectations even of the Right Honoura ble Gentleman opposite, who made his financial statement last year. If I refer to the Customs, I find that the produce of every article for the nine months, from April to Decem ber inclusive, with one single exception, of those duties which were reduced, is considerably higher than during the corresponding nine months of the preceding year. In like manner, if I turn to the Excise revenue, I find that in the last year, with the single exception of soap, which, I beliesas has, owing to some accidental circumstances at the beginning of the year, on every material article the duty has increased—even including that branch of it on which the Honourable and Gallant Member for Lincoln seemed to have some misgivings—namely, post-horses. By the return of the quarter up to the 13th of February last, I find that there is an increase in the ordinary re venue, as compared with the corresponding period of the preceding year, of nearly half a million. We have, therefore, great reason to be thankful that such a demand came at such a time when we were not unprepared to meet it.—(Hear, hear.) At the same time, I think, we should hold out fallacious hopes if I said we were entitled to look for a continuance of such a season of prosperity. Sir, I think that no person looking at the signs of the times, can doubt that there are circumstances existing which indicate that we may be approaching one of those periods when a revulsion in the prosperity of the country will occur. Such periods of calamity occur in com mercial enterprises as well as in the progress of the country. Such was the case in 1825, and again in 1836, after years of unexampled prosperity. I do not anticipate anything like the revulsion which took place on former occasions. I see no symptoms, and I do not think it right to cause any fear in the minds of persons by the expression of such a belief. I think the experience oi former times has not been lost upon our merchants and traders, and 1. hear from every quarter that the trade and commerce of the country is in a sound and healthy condition. And I am inclined to attribute such a fact to the effects of the measures regulating the currency introduced by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth. I be lieve, but for the operation of that Bill, when the world was not quite in a sober mood, we might have seen great distress, consequent upon the mania existing fur specula tion, and I believe that many of those who were most adverse to the provisions of that Bill, have latterly be come converts to the system it contains. I attach not only these effects to that Bill, but I believe sounder principles and sounder notions of currency weri brought into operation, and persons were induced to pursue a more prudent course than on former occasions. People invested their money in the con• struction of railways instead of purchasing Mississippi stock and Mexican bonds. Great communications, affording employment to the people and calculated to promote the commercial prosperity of the country, were constructed, and I am, there. fore, convinced, that no such results will now I may, perhaps, be justified in stating that when :the period comes to which the Right Hon. Gentleman made reference, his calculations will be found to turn out not unfavourable for the country. I think that the calcu lations which I am about to make, based on the proceeds of the revenue on the sth of January Last—on these proceeds I am about V) state what I think the probable revenue will be for the year, from the ensuing sth April, 1847, to the sth April, 1848. The House will see that the increase on the Customs duties to the sth January was 205,659/., and that a considerable amount was derivable from the corn-laws, somewhere about 79,300/. In consequence, however, of the suspension of the duties on the importa-. tien of corn, it will be seen that we cannot on the first six months expect this amount to be continued. What the produce of the harvest may be, we cannot of course yet calculate; but, even supposing that nothing is derived to the revenue from this source, I think that from the increased importation in sugar a materially added revenue will accrue from this source in the course of the succeeding year; but more than th a t, on t h e on l y three items on whi c h th Customs fall off in the course of the last six months for which we have a return,viz., butter, cheese, and silk manufactures, I find that the import in these articles has increased. I find that in the nine months, from April to !December, the amount of butter has been 201,000 cwt. in 1845, as compared with 207,000 in 1846; cheese, 202,000 cwt. in 1845 as compared with 265,000 cwt. in 1846 ; and 218,000 lb s . o f manu f actured silk as compared with 297,000 lbs. in the following year. Sir, taking all these circumstances into consideration, I believe I shall be entitled to assume that the probable income from customs duties for the ensuing year will not be less than 20,000,0001. If trade goes on without any material change, I believe I shall be fairly justified in assuming that the Customs' duties will yield 20,000,0004 I have already said that from the beginning of the present year up to the present time the Customs' and Excise duties have increased. The increase in the Customs' duties alone has been no less than 245,000/. I come now to the Excise produce. U p to n 7 i 5 00 the , o O The c the sth January th e E xc i se d u ti es amounte d to 13 ,988,000/. Sir, nothing can be more enc o uragin g th an th e extraor dinary increase th a t h as t a k en pl ace i n th e exc i se d ut i es, during th e l ast t h ree or f our years,an d a l t h ough they can not exceed th e amount o f th e past year , nevertheless, in many respects, th e exc i se i ncome i s f ar more certa i n than the Customs. I ma y th ere f ore assume, with some degree o f cer t a i nty, t h at t h e excise income for the en su i ng year w i ll be 13,700,0004 Again, the inc rease upon the excise made in the be ginning of the p resen t quarter has been no less than 106,000/. I n I re l an d , too, the Excise duties have increased in th e course o f t h e l ast year, but not to a very consid era bl e amount. Sir, the Stamps produced I assume they will be about t h e same, or produced 5,395,000/ . ; b ut here there is a small amount P e r a: of extraordinary p ayment; therefore, although the Property -tax yearnduce endingeh Taxes e and the t hLand o s t. h January, Assessments n has n a r increased e d by d • 169,000/. ov e r th e corresponding period of last year, I will assu me th at the property -tax will yield a sum of 5,300,0004 The Post -offi ce I will take at the same sit 5 o Jsy 7,505,000/ . amount as last year, 1 ,845,000/. ; Crown lands at 170,000/. The miscellaneous items of revenue, up to the sth of January, produced 427,000 L The calculation of the Right Lion. Gentleman opposite, was 300,000/. A considerable sum of money had been paid from the tees of the h ouse, which, in all probability, will not be solarge in th e present session. I may call it 30,000/. from that source ; therefore I take the " Mis cellaneous" at 330,0004 This will make the ordinary revenue o f t h e fi nanc i a l year of 1847 and 1848 amount to 52,065,000/. I now come LO the expenditure. The interest of the debt, funded and unfunded, will be 28,045,0004 The estimated charge of the Consolidated Fund, omitting the charges on ac count of the Irish distress, will be 2,522,0001.; to that must be added that charge to which the Right Hon. Gen tleman (Mr. Goulburn) alluded last year, viz., 175,0001. for the remainder of the charges on the Irish consta bulary, hitherto borne by the counties of Ireland, making a total, in round numbers, of 2,700,0004 The amount of the - national debt Consolidated Fund charges will be 30,745,000/. The estimates in the various services, except " the Miscellaneous," are upon the able of the House. I, therefore, need not do more than merely allnde to some of the items. The vote will be, For the army £6,275,074 The militia ~ 155,000 The increase in the ComMissariat Making the whole army vote ...... £6,840,074 But for the increase in the deferred estimates for the previous quarter of the year, amounting to 192,0004, there would be a decrease in the army vote of 30,0004 The navy estimates forthe present ye ar w ill be 7,561,876/ , being an increase in that dep ar t ment of 77,006.4 The estimates for the last two years have been below the expenditure. Later in the evening I shall show the excess of that expenditure for the year ending in April last. lam afraid, however owing to arrangements made in the early par of this year that there is a probability that the expen piture of the present year will exceed that anticipated. A considerable portion of that increase has been deemed necessary. We have inereasec: the marine force to the extent of 1,500 men, and when my Honourable Friend (Mr. Ward) states the naval estimates of the House, he will state the reason of this increase more fully than I now intend to do; but I think it right to make this statement now: The vote for the Ordnance department will be 2,679,1271., which is an in crease over the last year of 135,558/. Oat 'of that increase, 67 ; 299/. is due for certain services which the House last year considered ought to be placed under the heal of the ordnance, in order to bring that portion of the expenditure into proper order. The remainder of the increase is partly owing to the necessity which has arisen in conse quence of the change which has taken place in maratime warfare by the introduction of steam ships for the purpose of promoting the defences of the country. Sir, the miscellaneous, the list of which is not on the table, is 3,750,060/, I have left out of them any sums voted with regard to the relief of Ireland. I may say however, that 1,302,0001 is included in the Right Hon. Gentleman's estimate. Compared, then, with last year there is an increase of about 397,0001. Of that 171,000/. is owing to a half year's expenditure connected with certain provisions of the poor-law, and of prosecutions and for the maintenance of prisoners. The remainder of the increase is due to the necessity for providing fur the maintenance o f conv i cts at home instead of the colonies. A considerable portion is due to printing and stationery for both Houses of Parliament, which is very heavy ; also in consequence of some unexpected increase ie. the ex penses in connexion with the New Houses of Parliament to which, I think, I had not better further advert until they are before the House. The result of these several sums proposed to he voted is 20,831,0771., making the whole ordinary expenditure for the year 51,576,000/. Sir, in the statement which I have made to the House, I have omitted, purposely, all sums required for the re lief of distress in Ireland, whether they have been granted, or estimated, with the exception of the ordinary establishment of the board of works, and the . salary of such officsrs as would have been. employed otherwise, but who are now en gaged in the inspection of the Relief Committees. And it now becomes my duty to state what I think the demand on the Exchequer will be. What is material to the present purpose is not what may be the ultimate demand upon us, but what may be necessary to meet the present emergency, The system which has been commenced last year, and continued to the present moment, is, that all the sums required for the relief of public distress should be advanced by the Crown. Whatever burdens may be ultimately thrown on the landed property in Ireland. In respect to these sums, the landed proprietors have as yet paid nothing.— (Hear, hear.) They have paid, no doubt, the poor rates, which, in 1846, amounted to 390,000/. ; and they have paid their subscriptions to the relief com mittees ; and I believe that a large body of the landed proprietors have gone to a very great ex pense to maintain the poor upon their estates. lam now confining my statement to the relief works, and whatever may be the expense, the whole sum, in the first instance, is advanced from the public treasury. It is not very easy to state precisely what the amount of expenditure may be, for that will depend upon a variety of circumstances over which we have no control. It is easy enough to state what the expenses, in various ways, have already been. I stated a night or two ago, that the expeaSe in the month of November amounted to 308,00 W., and in five weeks after to 742,000/ The number of persona employed in October last was 120,000 ; in November the number was 285,000 ; in December the number was 404,000 ; and in January it was 571,000. The expenditure up to the sth of January last, for a staff for the Board of Works, has been 20,500/ ; and the amount expended for other officers till the same date has been 27,500/. There has been ex pended up till this time, for the purposes of draining, about 218,090/. ; and on depots the amount has been 295,000/. : nearly all the latter sum will be repaid to the Government when the sales of the de pots take place. For the purposes of the Labour Act there has been advanced from the Exchequer of this country to Ireland the sum of 2,400,000/.; and of thin there has been disbursed under the direction of the Board of Works nearly two millions. This expenditure of 2,400,000/. had taken place up to the 20th of Feb. last. !'he amount raised by donations and expended. in Ireland from August till now has been 80,0001. Now from this statement I do not think that there will be required a sum less than a million t month to meet the exigencies of Ireland. The amount which was expended in January, was 800,0001, and this did not include all the outlay. No doubt the Board of Works will in future be relieved of great deal of its pressure, but, on the other hand, it should he recollected that during the summer months there are the greatest number of destitute persons in Ireland. During the months of June, July and August, there are infinitely less people employed than at an earlier period of the year. It was, I believe, in reference to these three months that the statement the Right Hon. Gentle man alluded to was made—that somewhere about two millions of people in Ireland were in a state of total des titution for three months of the year. Again, we expect no inconsiderable saving by the different modes of ad ministering relief, through the medium of soup kitchens and relief committees, for they are considerably cheaper than the relief given by the public works, On the other hand, the increase in the destitution of that country and the increased demand for a supply of .lied, will, I believe, render a greater amount of ex penditure necessary. Again Sir, there is no doubt that a considerable number of persons will be taken off the public works by the employment afforded by the land lords of Ireland, under the Bill which I hope will be passed before long, fur the improvement of their estates. He believed that the Bill would work well in Ireland, for all accounts of it had induced in his mind very sanguine expectotions. Again Sir, the advances made uy the Tr, asury will have •to be made, as far as I can -ee from the data we have to. go upon, down to the ga thering in of the next harvest. It is impossible to sup pose that all exertions on the part o , these national mea sures can cease at once in harvest time, and it is quite clear that advances for the purposes of carry ing on many works must be continued ; so that it is very likely that for some short period after the harvest—looking at the case in the most favourable light—these advances must be continued. Taking, therefore, the briefest view it is pos sible to estimate, I cannot estimate the expenditure uuder eight millions. Up to the present time, as I have already stated, two millions had been advanced, and therefore the estimate of the total sum which will be required to be expended or advanced, granted or lent, for the relief of distress in Ireland, during the period of about a year, will not be less than ten millions of money.—(Sensation.) Two millions have been already advanced, eight are to be advanced, making altogether, from the conclusion of August last to the conclusion of these operations, which I anticipate at the end of the harvest, ten millions of money.—(Hear.) Sir, I do believe that even if the 16,000,000/. which the Noble Lord opposite wished the Government to advance to the railways had been ordered by the House, that not even one shilling of these 10,000,000/. would be saved to the country. With the heavy demands which are now made on the resources of the country, I was glad, although myself unable to take part in this discussion—l say I was glad, and gra tified to see the authority by which the House affirmed so wise and prudent a resolutson.—(Hear hear,) The announcement which I have now to make must be evident to the Committee—it must be evident that I must go into the market to borrow, because no amount of taxation will be able to produce within the time required the money which is necessary for the relief of Ireland. It is, therefore, a matter not of chance, but of necessity, that I must go into the market to borrow, and the first question which it is necessary for me to ask is, shall I borrow the whole of the 8,000,000/., or endeavour only to borrow a part. If I adopt the latter course, I must first consider whether I shall not reduce the balances of the Exchequer. Now, Sir, this is a course which I am most unwilling to adopt. Sir, I think that no person who looks to the state of what is called the money market of this country, who considers that the exchanges had been adverse to us, although I am happy to say that they have lately been less adverse than they were, still they are just at the turn, will say, after a consideration of these circumstances, that it would not be exceedingly injudicious in me if I put a farther pressure on the monetary system of this country'. It must also be remembered that by a Bill of last session great advances were made for the purposes of drainage and other improvements. But, Sir, there is a still further and more weighty con sideration. It is uncertain what hangs over us, and what will be the produce of the ensuing harvest no man can c tell. No man can overrate the importanceof a good harvest. Hitherto we have been living mainly upon por tions of the harvest of 1845—1 mean on the harvest of other countries of 1845, and to some extent upon the harvest of 1846. In the course oft the last year there was in troduced, for hornecon consumption in this country, of , no less a quantity than grain and flour of all kiids 5,318,000 quarters. It was hoped that there would have been a considerable import of Indian corn, the produce of the harvest of 1846, but those hopes were not realized. lam confident, however, that in the course of this summer we shall have an a b un d an d ant supply of Indian corn; but still it is impossible to say what will be the produce of the next har vest. It may please God to give us a good har vest throughout the world, but unless that dispensation is vouchsafed to us it will be impossible to calcu late for the future. Sir, the means by which we met the pressure of last autumn was the large balance in the Exchequer, and I hope this will convince every Member of the Comenittee of the necessity fur keeping some con• siderable bali;nce in the Exchequer. Sir, this being so, I believe the wiser and more prudent course is at once to borrow the extreme sum. Honourable Gentlemen must remember, that in borrowing this, I do not take a permanent responsible position, because a considerable portion of the sum will be repaid by Irish landlords. Of the expenditure on the public works in Ireland, halt of it has been granted as a charge upon the property of Ireland, 4nd payable in a period of ten years. The amotwt of these repayments, as they come in, will, of course, extinguish a considerable portion of the debt p r 4,-)sed to be contracted. But, even though the half of the sums granted to Ireland should be repaid, there would still remain a balance che 4,000,0001. or 5,000,0001., which e n li 4 i t i l t it oe t t r ia e : s ve t e not of t o h n e l y loan,f or when it is considered for what will nob b© so much viz., for the relief of purpose the grant has besla made, The next ques tion,boarorooownlipnagnioodf our suffering fellow ere, "'lures. t s h o at lar l g o e an a wsiuthm, injereSabsecl°lll4: of course is, wbethe.; the purpose of paying the •I". 1~ SCOTCH BANKS BILL. The Earl of CLARENDON said he would wish the Noble Lord (Eglintoun) would postpone his motion with respect to the Scotch Banks Bill. The Earl of EGLINTON said that at the request of the Noble Lord he would postpone his motion. BREWING FROM SUGAR BILL. On the motion of the Earl of CLARENDON, this Bill was read a third time. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the third reading of this Bill, Lord ELLENBOROUGH said that there was a pro vision in the Act that no warrants should be issued to levy a rate after the Ist of o.:tober next, but that on the last day of September warrants might be issued to levy a rate. He.thought that this was likely to occasion con fusion, for under the new Act there would be two bodies collecting for a different purpose. He thought if there was a clause introduced to prevent this it would be of considerable advantage. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the last few words of the Noble Earl had given a precise intimation of this Bill, the object of which was, to give relief to the destitute poor during the period that shall elapse between the present and the coming of the next harvest. That was the particular object of the Bill. He apprehended that in the event of the harvest not being gathered, or the funds necessary for the relief of the poor now being collected under this Bill, that the Lord Lieutenant might issue his warrant for the Finance Committee to pay over to the Relief Committee the sums that might be necessary for tie relief of the destitute poor; but, certainly, it was nut intended to extend the actual operation of this Act beyond the first of October. Lord STANLEY said that the observations of his Noble Friend were well worthy of the attention of her Majesty's Government, and he did not think that the remarks of the Noble Marquis had fully met their point. It appeared that the Bill was to provide for the destitute poor, and that the Relief Committee was to pay over to the Finance Committee the sums collected after the Ist October. It did not appear that there was to be any restriction on the Relief Committee whatever for the relief' committee might make a list of the destitute per sons entitled to relief under the Act, and that this list might then be transferred to the Lord-Lieutenant, who would have the power, after the first of October, on their report, to issue his warrant for the finance com mittee to pay over to the relief committee whatever they might deem to be necessary for the relief of the destitute poor in that district. But there was no limit in the terms of the Act, and the relief committee might therefore make out a list for twelve months. Now it would be better evidently to restrict this power, and not by an alteration of the 21st clause, but by an alteration of the spirit of the Act limit this power to issue the warrant, say for three months, that on the 29th of September the Lord Lieutenant might issue his warrant to the finance committee to pay over sufficient for the sustenance of the destitute poor during three months, October, November, and December. That would be sufficient. Lord CAMPBELL—The Nobls Lord should recol.. lect that the very object of this Bill was to meet an ex traordinary case, and that, in order to do that it was con ceived adviseable to give as large a discretion as, possible in the hands of the Lord. Lieutenant. Lord BROUGHAM..—No doubt, the spirit of the Act ought to be upheld, but they had no right to legislate in the dark when they were levying money to be expended thus ai!hout limit. Ile thought it would be much better to restrict the power of the warrant to three months, in stead of extending it to twelve. Lord ELLENBOROUGH then read over the 21st clause, as he wished it to be amended, so as to embody his suggestion, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection to put off the third reading till to-morrow, to consider whe ther it would be better to insert an additional clause, or to adopt the 21st clause, as amended by the Noble Earl. The Earl of WICKLOW had not at first intended to make any observations on the vote till next day, when it would be read a third time, but this, perhaps, would he the most suitable time for him, and he trusted their Lordships would allow him to say a few words on the Bill itself, as he had not been in the House in its earlier stages. He admitted the Bill was called for by the exigency which it was intended to meet, but there was one clause to which he wished to call their attention, namely, the twelfth clause, which regulates the rating, and which gave the relief commissioners the most extensive power in selecting whether the rating should be in elec toral divisions or in the unions. Ile objected to this enormous power, and he did not understand why the choice should be given to them. ►t was not, how ever, on the present measure he objected to it, so much as the account of the precedent which it was to establish. He was the more confirmed in his view of the danger of this from having understood that, in the permanent Poor•law Bili, which was to be brought forward, the rating in the union at large, instead of the present electoral division was pf °posed to be adopted. It this be the case a greater evil could not be inflicted on the coun try. In the first place it was at variance with the prin. ciples of the law as at present carried out in both countries. Ile knew there were reasons, and those strong reasons, which might be assigned for a general mode of relief, for otherwise there c.iuld he no question about it at all. But he was strongly convinced that the prin ciple of this Bill, if carried into effect, would throw one-half more recipients upon the rates than there would otherwise be. In every district in which provision was made for the poor by the landed proprietors, the rate became au encouragement to give the applicant work as well as relief, because it benefitted the district ; but in csse all the poor were thrown on the union rates, why, every district would be contending with the rest, which district could send in the most ap plicants. Ho admitted there were difficulties attended the division of the towns from the pa rishes, because many would be driven into the towns, and the effect would be to bring a great hardship on the inhabitants. But it had been suggested that that diwculty could be met by an electoral mode of adjustment. Suppose that a town of a sufficient number of inhabitants should be formed into a division, and that it should be decided that when the rate in that town exceeded a certain per centage the necessary help might be sought from the union district. But he angered that much evil would follow from the adoption of a system of general out-door relief; and he felt great difficulty in putting a proper interpretation on the words of the Bill, when they provided for the relief of the " aged and impotent poor ;" for in case of age, one man at 70 might be stronger than another at 50; but if a term were fixed injustice would thus be done, and much more if the word impotent were added, for many a young man was impotent, and utterly unable to help himself. He (Earl of Wicklow) would suggest that no one in possession of land should be entitled to poor relief. The exact time might be afterwards drawn when they came to arrange the details. If tho Bill came up again with the alterations which he had suggested, he for one would not op ' pose it. Earl FITZWILLIAM concurred with the Noble Earl in the necessity which existed in Ireland for a poor law, and also in saying that great care ought to be taken in framing it. But what he was anxious about was, that there might be a properly-adjusted system of elec• toral divisions and communities. There was another point to which he wished to advert. He considered that to throw the population of a town on a single electoral division was not only a hardship, but most unjust. He conceived that it would be right to throw the burden of relieving pauperism on unions at large, but on some districts more extensive. He was not aware that there were in the unions of Ire, land any towns, at least what an English gentleman would call a town. A great amount of the pauperism, no doubt, was occasioned by the system of clearing land estates in the neighbour hood of these towns. Now, he considered that those persons who bad caused in some degree this pauperism should be compelled to contribute towards its relief ; and he repeated that it would be better to throw the pauperism of the country on districts larger than even electoral divisions. Lord MOUNTCASIIEL said, in reference to what in had fallen from the Noble Earl opposite, Oat the towns Ireland were very differently situated from those I t n ained ngland , some o f t h ose places that con -3,000 or 4,000 inhabitants were to be considered to wns. Ile certaill •agreed with the Noble Lord, that there wasa b • 3 onus held out to the proprietor, SEED FOR IRELAND. Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to know what arrange. ments had been made for distributing seed to people in Ireland out of the 50,0001. voted by Parliament? Mr. LABOUCHERE said the arrangements were still under the consideration of the Government. Seed, and not money, would be distributed. RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. STRUTT said that , in consequence of the wishes of several Members, and with a view to limit the discus sion in the House, he would postpone the second reading of the Railway Bills to Monday next. DISTRESS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOT. LAND. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that the House do resolve itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. E. ELLICE begged to call the attention of the Government to a report of the sheriff-substitute of the county regarding the suffering and privation to which, from the extreme scarcity of food, the population on the west coast of Inverness-shire is now reduced. He was extremely unwilling to trespass on the attention of the House, but unless some steps were taken, the calamities which were of daily occurrence in Ireland would soon extend themselves to the Highlands. It was but fair to say that many of the Scotch proprietors had made great sacrifices in order to support the population on their estates. In fact, it would be invidious in him to allude to particular instances. Some had made greater, some smaller exertions, but still a large amount of the desti tute population had been supported by the landed proprietors without asking the House for assistance. At the same time there were many other proprietors who had not acted in the same way, and who had forgotten their duty and the manifestation of that sympathy which was due from them. It was regarding this class that he wished to draw the. attention of her Majesty's Government to the facts which he held in his hand. He did not mean to say that the poor-law was efficient in every instance of distress, and on that he did not wish at pre sent to express an opinion, as the law had not as yet had a fair trail ; but he wished to press on the attention of the House the facts to which he was coming. Those facts were derived from a report of a gentleman of high character, holding an important official situation, and entitled to every consideration and credence. H e was the sheri ff •substiture of the county of Inverness, and the report was made at the instance of the Edin-. burgh Board of Relief, at whose request he had made a journey into the distressed districts. In the districts which he traversed he found a great propor tion of the people in a state of starvation, and in a much worse condition than he expected. In the first district he entered he found that out of 91 families 82 were utterly dei.titute, making 483 individuals. Of thes,. 138 were under twelve Sears of age. The quantity of meal in the district was only sufficient to pro vide one pound weight a day for four days. The writer instanced cases where fever and disease, consequent upon famine, had already made considerable ravages. The next district he went to he found only thirty individuals in independent circum stances, and not requiring aid. The place contained 671 souls, and amongst all that number he found only ten chests of - meal, which would only afford them sustenance for two clays. One proprietor employed eighteen men there, but he had made no pro vision to pay them, nor had he furnished them with any food. In the next instance given, 650 people were in the same condition. Supplies had been sent by the Free Church Committee, but they had been ex hunger hausted. In one place, cont a i n i ng.l,6lo people, 950 of called s tary there, ation . the number were in a state of d est i tut i on; and it was the b e unanimoussuffe suffering g t opinion he pa n o g t s ' aof meeting that in twenty-four hour s many hundreds would The writer said also, that nothing could be done by the peep's themselves, and the proprietors did not appear to be making any provision for them. The seed corn was being consumed, and in many instances had been wholly used. In a letter written by a l a dy in the Isle of Skye, it was slated that unless some means were taken to supply the people they must starve. He did not wish then to make any ques tion as to the necessity of assisting the proprietors, but the Government should take means to intro duce the poor-law as far as it could be made available. Some steps should be taken by her Majesty's Government to assist the people ; for, in some instances, tho tenants and proprietors were selling their produce at a very low price, in price, in order to relieve the people as much as possible. He felt that it was only necessary to call the attention al her Majesty's Government to these circumstances, in order to induce them to do all that could be done for these poor people, and to save them from the misery of want and starvation. Sir G. GREY said that he could assure his Hon. Friend that the attention 'of Government had been fully directed to this qeestion. It was too true that the most extensive and severe dis tress existed in the west Highlands of Scotland in consequence of this visitation ; it was true that the great majority of proprietors in .that district had made the greatest sacrifices and exertions, in order to enable them to discharge the obligations resting on them to support the people in the present distress. There had been ex ceptions to this noble feeling, but he believed that the exceptions were comparatively limited. The re port to which , the Honourable Gentleman had adverted had been communicated by the sheriff substitute of Inverness. He undertook his mission throughout that district in which the distress prin cipally prevailed, and his friend the Earl of Eglin ton had communicated some letters embodying the same facts as were contained in the report. Inquiry had been directed into all the circumstances connected with that distress, and the head of the Commissariat in Oban had been instructed to see that a supply was af forded to those places in danger of suffering from fa mine. A few days ago he had received a letter from Sir John APNeill, chairman of the Board of Supervision in Scotland, and that gentleman had ordered that special inquiry should be made, with the view that the poor-law as it existed should he carried into effect. Captain Cowan had aiways received orders to supply food, with the v i e w of relieving distress wh ere it existed. Mr. BAILLIE said, that he could painfully cor roborate that the distress had greatly increased in the Western Highlands. He had seen a letter from Aneod, of M‘Leod, verifying the fact. Sir GEORGE GREY said there were two frigates constantly engaged in supplying the islands of Scotland with food. After a few words from Mr. GO ULBURN, Mr. P. SCROYE said it was highly praisewor thy of those landlords who had taken care of their poor, and it was equally reprehensible of those landlords who did not support their poor. But what was still more reprehensible was, for Government to allow the poor to remain at the mercy of any landlord ; and there ought to be an efficient poor-law to obviate the evil.--(Hear, hear.) Major MACNAMARA said there was not a man i n his part of the country who had not done his duty, and as for hiniself he was the largest contributor in the county of Clare.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. STUART said that he had received a letter from M'Leod, of 3PLeod, detailing the distress of the persons on his estate, and concluding by stating that he had, up to the present period, supplied his tenants with oatmeal to the amount of 51. on an average, an d that such was the fearful state of the distress, that it was quite impossible for him to bear up under it. Tho conversation then dropped. THE BUDGET. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose for the purpose of making the financial statement, and said —Mr. Greene: Although I have little doubt but that the importance of the subject upon which I am now about to address the Committee would ensure th e attention of th e C omm itt ee , yet I hope I shall not appeal to it in vain for its indulgence during the- statement I am about to make. Though unwilling to shrink from the►performance of that duty which persons holding my proposed to be raised, but also for discharging a pelt° of the debt before a long period. I was exceedirgly si r willing, even to the amount which I have named, to it" crease the amount of the permanent debt, without mal° some immediate provision for its extinction bef°t. lone. ; I was u nw illi ng t o a dd eve n this smog! to the permanent debt, but, on the other hand, tiler, were many rea sons w hi c h i n d uce d me t o pause before l , determined on the adoption of that course. In the fis7 , place, amon g man y ot h er reasons , t h e pres ent year!, one in which it w ou ld b e most un f ortuna t e to atteaS any alteration in the taxation of the country. Ere,_2 l body knows that a season o f great taxa ti o n invarieJ_ induces st agna ti on o f tra d e . I n proo f o f t h a t assertion compare the first quarter of the year 1846 and the quarter of the present year. In the last year the repo. of the corn-law s an d ot h er d ut i es was h ang i n g over to commerce of the country, thereby causing V: uncertainty in commercial matters. In the present ye, all agitation has beed suspended, commerce has bee t '. thrown open, and, as I h ave a l rea d y state d, a rei n° able increase in the Customs' and Excise has 1 1: made in consequence in the corresponding clua h r sti . of the last and p resen t years. F urt h er than t I think no inconsiderable weight is 0 be tached to the consideration mentioned before, flan' with reference to th e amount w hi c h t h e G o vernTe_ may ultimately hav e t o o bt a i n . If, as I h ope , the . 1, 0 ; vest of the next year t urns out a p l ent i fu l one- 1 4 00. I hope from one source or another, employment , t means of subzistence, be p rov id e d f or t h e su ff er ing rf,i i oy of Ireland, then in such case the present demand now In; fur the loan may not be required. If, however, upo n 1 ; i contrary, the produc e o f th e h arvest s h ou ld be defiCien if there should be again a failure of the potato crop alio of the grunt import e d f rom e l sew h ere, or grow n in country, should be a high p r i ce and d ear, t h en it willr t ho hecessary for the country t o come f orwar d an d sss' 9 " fo r starving population of the country, and allowing ther demand to be made upon the public resources o f country, I hope, before Parliament meets a g r- of that I shall be able to inform them , 00 the prosperous state of the country, in conneSio with the harvests. I think, therefore, that it is be tt . e . t od postpone dealing with th e quest i on of iner`-the taxation until we can d ea l w i th it with Ls. full knowledge of the existing circtlMlß•ati Hon. Gentlemen m us t b e aware that i n the net t of Parliament it will be necessary to deal withs question of the renewal of the income-tax. Nex t J ; e tit that question m us t b e d ea l t with. If tal,s.llo was to be incre a s e d thi s year, that is one of tia l ~ources of revenue to w hi c h one would naturally as a fit tax to repeal, but I think it would be extr vw- _ll unwise to deal with it thi s year — to prejudge parlislif, —a new Parliament, perhaps. It is for these reasons/ t ho that it would be well if I could this year provide f0r,4 1 loans out of the ordinary revenue, but I propose T o y big a more prudent course, and not increasing the. Lion in the present y ear , b ut l eav i ng that quest'o2ol be dealt with next y ear . N ow, Si r, I h ave sin' stated that the ordina r y revenue was 5 2,065, that the ordinary expendit ure was 51 , 57 6,0 001., 16/ 0 therefore a surplus o f 489,0001. N ow, Sir, 0511.10 that I borrow 9,000,0001, w h a t w ill b e annua l interesot that amount ? Of course it is obvious that at 3 per d the interest would be 240,0001.; at 3f, 280,0001.; 320,000/. Sir, I have no doubt in the world of 1v able to borrow that a moun t at —(Cheers)-17.0 fore the interest will b e 280,00 0 1. ; b ut I am a fr o Sir, that that is not th e on l y demand whi,clefeA be made upon us i n th e s h ape o f In oft for there is another description of debt _{cif which, after the last inquiries I have been able to Ti t / I regret to say that I f e el m y se lf un d er the neeessioll raising the interest upon Exchequer bills. ~,i f tst are many reasons which ha ve l e d t o a depression e'if in that description of security in the markets. rate of interest on all money has already r e raised--and I don't thi n k i t i s an WV it . assumption to say that it will be furthetpit creased in the course of the spring- 4 boll think it is right that Gov ernment secur i t i e s 5 0 0 be kept at a lower rate of interest than ~,se securities with which th e y h ave to c oins at 6d. less—and, therefore, I propose °ill. crease the rate of interest on these see n t bitig The interest on Exchequer-bills i s now t h ree fa t ' ai a day. An experiment wa s ma d e to ra i se the it o a farthing a day, which so completely failed that_ s on been abandoned. I propose to raise them to tweroll which will make an annual expenditure of 142,000Ltt0 SO calculate that the increased interest of debt lost 422,000/. ; so that the total or di nar y expert Do ge with the addition of the loan, will 0,00: a sum of 51,998,0001, leaving a sufptts 0 f °Pi There has been this year a more tha n ° nary source of revenue. I mean the by 4 "jest' China money yet unpaid from that source:7;lolr hear.) This is a Matter of certainty, an d sot ouo, bo tion—l expect 450,000/. There is, however whicti extraordinary source of expenditure of 18 5 A t h ens/. l it is necessary to vote in order to c9l er A l va I °_,, estimates in the financial year ending i n So, therefore, adding extraordinary receipts income, and also adding extraordinary expend ! ordinary, it leaves a total Income 52 18 3 . 000 Expenditure to ..or.cl.„finesza Leaving a surplus £332,000 reveal This was not a very satisfactory state of the 4 A state of things showing a considerable disprt e t ic between the income and expenditure. - 1 -7por is not our int en ti on , i n t h e p rese nt session itiv liament, to m a k e a p ermanent prov i s i on on the t he ject; partly from the want of information as, 10 01 great amount which m a y b e required; and partliet the necessity which may exi s t th e next year for 0- a large suiplies to be advan ce d.—(H ear, hear.) Cetlot it is my anxious desire that there 1 135 Y „slit / be mph', d more d ec id e d measures to eq",l,- ed the expenditure to th e i ncome ; b ut if -$llB should be, then, in another session, t he House must be prepared to make an addition t° taxation of the country. I will not ask you at preji for any permanent pr ov i s i on , b ut s h ou ld the ne ee L# continue, then I will not shrink from pro posinf i si measures which I may think necessary an d o etis dient for the purpos e o f b r i ng ing the re 0 ) proportionate to the exp en dit u re. (Hear, S e t el At all events Hon. Gentlem en nee d n ot expect ° b li e s!) shall have any revenue to spare this year.—(nee l l, 10 ° And Hon. Members on b o th s id es o f the 1 10 t 1 " 7 0 0 . advocate, some a redu c ti on i n t ea , o th ers a redae ti t est coffee, tobacco, and paper, need not exPt d we shall be able to spare any of the r e s fe t bil to meet their respective views. I throW o 0 pal e intimation, in order that no hopes or exP ec- e may be excited .—( Hear, hear). Now, I will °" k o lce' opportunity of answering a question which Was 11 me in the earlier part of the evening, w h ` c ,,eli, ed whether we intended to to propose any annual du L t i o pel:; of the sugar duty. Ido not think there is nineu l fee; ante in this qustion, because it is my int e : v e l igP 4 take two votes—one of which I shall propose wdiew without which it will be impossible for the o r a ne e expenses to the Government to b e d e f ra y e d. This t e c ele j r duty on sugar is arranged for, and n ex t year the L twe tax will come under consideration. At p re sent, "" (111$ it is not my intention to prop ose an y othe r O —it will be the better course not to p ro pose nci t, tes t pa nel duties. Sir, before I sit down, I will s i m ply sal a o e l " is idle to talk of personal regr e t of th a t w hich is .5 to the public at large, but no person ca n regret me w e 0 4 cerely than Ido the presentperied of calamity:wh ic i al?2, o feel. It is an interruption to that cour s e of fine% commercial policy which, has for a considera ble oec prevailed, and which during the l a st f ou r years hl i est'; carried on with unexampled success.—(Hee r 'airOj restrictions, foster the industry of the people, o n aote, a material addition to their comforts. Just u" bar, came into the House a paper was put into 0 1 con which I am sure will be sati s f ac t or y to 0 ," mittee, and which I hope may dispel t 051 portion of the gloom whi c h m y atatetee; have cast on the minds o f H onoura bl e o' e to iSsi Sir, the statement whi c h I am a b out to rea d CO orlii,fic certain number of arti c l es , th e consum ption 0 ' be otO has been taken for the l as t f our y e ars. ,„ taken those w hi c h enter most largely ee r" the consumption of the grea t b o dy of the P and I think that the Committee will se e riii:;6l, the numbers I am about to read how mater comforts of the people have increased by the e Or_ i to quantities they have been enabled to consume• mi or, take coffee. The consumption in 1843 was 30,v .3 A!1 lbs.; in 1844, it was 31,391,000 lbs.; in 184 3, 'VP , 34,318,000 lbs; and in 1846, it was 36,781,000 lbs. 1 845 0 next take butter. There was entered in the yeas, t ee ; 148,000 cwt.; in 1844, 180,000 cwt.; in 1845 thF,lO%, 240,000 cwt.; and in 1848, 255,000 cwt. I vfl', (3 01 take cheese. In 1843 there were.imported 166,00v01v in 1844 there were 212,000 cwt.; in 1845 were 258,000 cwt.; and in 1846 there were 327,00 0 i ete I shall now take currents, and I find that there entered for home consumption in the year 1843 1844 1845 1846 In the article of sugar I find that there W 1 en for importation in the year. 1843 1844 1845 . 1846 Now in all these articles there had been a got 04 1 c „ Lion of duty, and it will be observed that on tu e hee" ' I ° 6 tes t of tea—the reduction of the duty on which red of late so much agitated—it will be observreducell+ though the duty on that article has not heel l s idersh2 yet, from other causes, the prices had been contberefoi lowered, and a corresponding increase is t il at taken place in the consumption. Now I find'„tion '- article there has been entered for home con the years 1843 1844 1845 1846 - c tO be These were articles which entered largely tops , ,he gumption of the great body of the people, an ,4 1 ,, to satisfactory to the House, and is more esPecrbellicrnt 44,183,000111i:9S: op. Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, to observe A wig , We , . ing imports of these very necessary e ns 0 is very satisfactory to me that I am bolt' to make such a statement as this ' Ad e n tedeo it proves, in a very great degree, th e d to ex /eri to increased :prosperity of ahe country, an d comforts among the labouring classes. Sir, do , I bore duty ta n g I have t o made the statement which it was nay that I have made it clear to every elle a a u n to rit;,,y request that if any person has a quel raid l will put it now, as I am a u T h e votes el not be able to stay longer in the House. • a v ote which I have to put into your hands' 8,000,0001. out of the consolidated fund. _ bser oti Mr. HUME wished to make o ne or tiv. o u ge a t 01 . 14 on the statement that had j us t been man e : .„ a de admitted that the Right Ken. andel:eon had