The Sun. — London, England, 1847-12-21 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec.2o, (Sittings at Nisi Prius, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and Special Juries.) ATKINSON v. POCOCK. This was an action brought to recover hack the amount of deposits paid by the plaintiff in the Sheffield and Macclesfield Railway, of the provisional committee of which the defendant was a member. The grounds upon which the plaintiff sought to re cover back the amount of his deposits were that a portion o nly of the line, as originally announced, had been ap • plied for in Parliament, and that an extravagant expen diture had been made of the amount of deposits in the hands of the company. It appeared, however, that the deed which the plaintiff had signed gave power to the defendant to make appli cation to Parliament for the line in question , or such portions thereof as the directors might consider proper. The verdict was accordingly entered for the defendant by the direction of the Lord Chief Baron. Mr. Humfrey appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. Martin for the defendant. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Caroline Jones and Rachel Levy, who have been some time known to the police as utterers of base coin, were charged with having exercised their pro fessional skill in two instances. The shopman of Mr. Pursell, of Cornhill, pastry cook, stated that the 'prisoners, one of whom had a child in her arms, walked into the shop and asked for half a dozen puffs and change for a 51. note. Wit mess served them and gave the change into the hand of Jones, who had handed him the note. Levy, upon hearing that the puffs only cost ls. desired wit ness to give back the note to the lady, and she would give him the shilling. Jones then handed back to him the change, and he immediately perceived that there had been one bad sovereign substituted for the genuine money he had supplied. Finding that the prisoners were engaged in such a trick, the witness placed them in the care of a policeman. William Johnson, the son of the landlady of the George Inn, in Smithfield, stated, that immediately before the prisoners went into the house of Mr. Pur sell, they paid his mother a visit, and called for two glasses of wine, and change for a Si. note. As the landlady had not change witness went into the par lour and was accommodated by a customer there. One of the prisoners objected to one of the sovereigns, and finally the Si. note was returned to them, and they contrived to substitute, in returning the change, a counterfeit sovereign for a good one. The decep tion was soon found out, and a policeman was sent after them, and found that they had been just appre hended for similar conduct. The LORI) MAYOR—I shall commit the prisoners upon the two cases. Rachel Levy—But you'll take bail, won't you ? The LORD MAYOR—Certainly not. Rachel Levy—Oh, that be d—d. I can get some of the most respectable tradesmen in London to be come bail for us. The LORD MAYOR—I shall not accept bail to any amount. Rachel Levy—Why, I thought you were bound to take bail in every case but murder. lam sure you ought to be compelled to take bail for this business. The LORD MAYOR—You may apply to a judge if you like. Rachel Levy—Well, and so we will. Here several officers stepped forward and said they had known the prisoners for a length of time as per sons who turned a great deal of money every day, the tradespeople being blinded by the exhibition of the genuine Bank of England notes. Committed for trial. WORSHIP-STREET. A well-dressed man, who refused his address, gave the name of Richard Smith, and described himself as a carpenter, but had not the appearance of one, was placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, charged with stealing a portmanteau and wearing apparel of the value of 20/., the property of Dr. Adam Sedg wick, Professor of Geology at Cambridge, from the plat form of the Eastern Counties Railway. James Kennaway, one of the company's porters, stated that in consequence of repeated robberies having been committed for some time past during the confusion attendant upon the arrival of the trains, he had been directed to keep a vigilant watch for the perpetrators, and while so doing at half-past four yes terday afternoon, he observed the prisoner, who had been lurking about and attentively regarding the re moval of the luggage from the roofs of the carriages of the Norwich train, which had just come in, sud denly transfer himself to another part of the platform to that he had previously occupied, and after care fully looking about him to see if he was watched, deliberately hoist a heavy portir.anteau upon his shoulder, and walk away with it in the direction of the street. He was instantly pursued by the witness, who asked him what he intended to do with the port manteau, to which the prisoner confidently replied that it was his own, and directed him to order a cab. "If it's your property," said the witness, adroitly placing his hand over the direction, "you can tell me the name upon it;" but the prisoner became confused and flurried, muttered something in which no name was mentioned, and, finding it was his determination to detain him, flung down the portmanteau and at tempted to escape. Witness seized him by the collar and called for assistance, and one of the constables coming up, they succeeded, after a great deal of struggling and resistance on his part, in ultimately securing him. Professor Sedgwick stated, that upon reaching:the Shoreditch terminus from Cambridge, he gave direc tions for his portmanteau, which he had seen upon the roof of the carriage he travelled by, to be brought after him, while he went to deposit his carpet-bag in a cab, and not finding it brought suspected it might have been stolen, and upon hastening back found the prisoner in custody, and the trunk, which he identi fied as his, in the care of the porter. When called upon for his defence the prisoner said that he also had just come up by the same train from Norwich, and, if the portmanteau was really the prosecutor's, it must have been taken by him entirely in mistake for his own, which he was satisfied, if searched for, would then be found amongst the unclaimed luggage at the station. The porter Kennaway, however, said that he could positively contradict this assertion, as he knew that the prisoner did not come to town by that train, and had seen him loitering about the platform so suspi ciously that he watched him for a considerable time before the train came in. The prosecutor said that he had urgent butimsss of great importance to transact in the north of Eng land, which would preclude his attendance again until next week, and the prisoner, who declined saying any more, was remanded till then for the depositions to be taken. COLLISION ON THE MERSET.--STEAMER SUNK. — Yesterday (Sunday) morning, about eight o'clock, the Flambeau steamer left her moorings at the Albert Pier, for the purpose of proceeding to sea; the Wirral, Wood side ferry boat, was at the same time coming from Woodside, and, when little more than half-way across the river, the two vessels unfortunately came into col lision. The Flambeau was struck, or struck herself, on her larboard bow, and was so much injured that she rapidly filled, and shortly afterwards sank. The Thomas Stanley steamer, which was lying near, drew her moor ings to avoid being drifted against, and, before the vessel went clown, took the crew on board. The Wirral, which, strange to say, had not sustained the slightest injury, attached a rope and towed the disabled vessel, in hopes to reach the pier, but did not succeed in conveying her far before she sunk, and totally disappeared. The crew of the Wirral affirm that at the time their engine was stopped, and the helm put hard a-port. As, however, it is a law of mechanics that, other things equal, the body which has most velocity is the one most likely to escape unscathed, it is difficult to reconcile with their statement the little injury which the Wirral has su.tained.— Liverpool Albion. ELOPEMENT.—On Thursday an application was made to the magistrates at the Guildhall, Exeter, by Mr. Samuel Howe, coach-builder, of East Sconehouse, to detain Edwin Rowe, an apprentice, eighteen years of age, who had eloped with the applicant's daughter, a very pretty young lady, handsomely attired, and whose age was "sweet sixteen." From the story of Mr. Howe, the Bench elicited that the young apprentice was of respectable exterior) had worked for air. Martin, a bookbinder, living next door to the coach-maker. Th e bi n di ng o f o ld b oo k s was l ess con genial to our Romeo's taste than the investigation of new ones, and of all the works which he preferred the greatest favourite was the lovely work of Nature in the next house —his little 16 mo., as he affec tionately termed soon etween whom and himself an ac quaintance was formed, which afterwards matured into confidential friendship, and then warmed into love The result was, that he the question," and she. following the swain's Callaghan, " didn't say nay." A second question, however, ever, had to be con pumt,arried. This sidered, viz.—how they were to he i withfound very in terrogation, though simple to be y, wls , that acute difficult to be answered, until the lad lucky stars the appreciation of frolic so peculiar to the se problem by committing herself to her y's e 'fath e and the arms of her lover. On Sunday t e y v stars dis appeared, and on the same day the lad commenced his search, which lasted until Wednesday night, when the young fugitives arrived in this city, It appeared that the lad's master had intimated his wish also that he might b e detained wherever found, as h e intended to claim his services. The magistrates ordered ended in custody until a corn the young man to be re m , . munication had been made to his master. a n „ e loving children" declared that they were married, the young lady in particular seeming much pleased at the idea, and smiling an agreeable affirmative to the inquiry, but the boy acknowledged with more demureness that he was a " married man," though he would neither say where the knot had been tied or produce a " voucher." The Bench thought it would be honourable for all parties, and tend to the future credit and comfort of the lady, if the parents were to provide a license and a ring. &c. This the father declared his willingness to do, and we may suppose that the ceremoney will not long be delayed, if it has not already taken place.— Devon Courier, THE SUN, LONDON, should therefore move that the House do agree to the resolution of the Committe, as follows : " That the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means do examine all private Bills, whether opposed or unopposed, and do call the attention of the House to all parts relating thereto which may appear to his to re quire it. " That there be furnished to the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, by the agents, copies of all private Bills, copies of all amendments intended to be introduced in Committee, copies of all Bills as amended in Committee, and l►kewise copies of all amend ments made in the House of Lords, and of all amend ments to the Lords' amendments intended to be proposed in the House of Commons. " That the counsel to the Speaker, with such assist ance as may be found requisite, do aid the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means in the discharge of the above-mentioned duties." _ Sir R. INGLIS considered that when the subject was brought before the Committee upon a former occasion it was thought necessary to appoint a second officer. He did not think that any one person would be able to perform the duties thrown upon him by the private business of the House. He could not but regret that the Committee had not taken into its favourable consideration the suggestion which he had before made to the House. It would be a great accommodation to the House if breviates of all public as well as private Bills were placed in the hands of Members. The only objec tion which he thought could result from such a course would be that of placing too much reliance upon the officer employed to make these breviates, and it might also be alleged that Hon. Members might neg lect to perform that duty for which they were re sponsible, namely, to read through the Bills at least before they gave their sanction to them. There was another point which he wished to impress upon the House, which was the necessity which he thought existed for the appointment of a Deputy Speaker, who might supply the place of ,the Hon. Speaker in cases of sudden emergency, arising from indisposition and other causes. The resolutions were then unanimously agreed to. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Sir R. INGLIS presented several petitions against the removal of the Jewish disabilities. DENUNCIATIONS FROM THE ALTAR. The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY presented a petition from the borough of Arundel, praying the House to adopt some measures to put an end to the practice of denouncing persons from the altars by Roman Catholic priests. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Colonel THOMPSON presented a petition in avour of the removal of Jewish disabilities. THE PRACTICE OP WAR. An HON. MEMBER presented a petition from a town in Norfolk against the practice of war. RETURN FOR CARLOW. Colonel DUNNE presented a petition praying the House not to receive the petition presented by Captain Layard against the return of Mr. Sadleir, for the borough of Carlow, on the ground of several infor malities in the petition. One of the grounds of informality was, that the petition did not set forth that it was sworn " within the jurisdiction of the magistrate" before whom it was sworn ; and another, that the date of the petition was "the year of our Lord 184." COMMERCIAL DISTRESS. Mr. SPOONER presented, in the absence of his Hon. Colleague (Mr. Muntz), a petition agreed to at a recent meeting held in the town of Birmingham, which was chiefly attended by the working classes, and at which a committee was appointed to carry out the views enunciated at it. The petition com plained that great distress prevailed in the manufac turing districts, in consequence of the want of employment, and expressing the fears of the petitioners that the distress, in consequence, was likely to increase, instead of diminish. They at tributed this to two causes—first, the sudden change in our commercial policy, which repeated majorities of that House during a long series of years had declared to be sound. They did not object to free trade in the abstract ; but the sudden establishment of the prin- ciple had led, they contended, to much of the evil of which they complained. But they complained of a still greater evil—viz., our unsound monetary sys tem. The immense number of bankruptcies had arisen as much from a deficiency of capital as from the defective state of the currency, and the large exportation of bullion to purchase corn. As the Committee on Commercial Distress would be unable to report before some time could elapse, the petitioners prayed the House to devise some immediate remedies, such as passing a tempo rary measure, for the relief of the prevailing distress. ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL. Mr. C. ANSTEY presented a petition from Youghal in favour of this Bill. CHURCH-RATES. Lord NU GENT presented a petition from a place in Buckinghamshire, complaining that a person had been committed to Aylesbury gaol for the non-pay ment ofsd., charged for church-rates. The petitioners knew that the House could afford them no remedy as they might offer bail ; but as this would not agree with their conscientious scruples, they prayed the House to repeal the laws under which church-rates were collected. DENUNCIATIONS. Mr. LAW presented a petition from Holt, in Nor- folk, complaining of denunciations by Roman Catholic priests, and praying the House to take steps to bring the persons so acting to punishment. ADMISSION OF JEWS. The LEARNED GENTLEMAN also presented a petition from the same place against the admission of Jews. Sir G. GREY presented a petition from Alnwick, in Cumberland, to the same effect. DENUNCIATIONS. Lord MORPETH presented a petition from the West Riding of Yorkshire, praying the House to pass an enrctment to punish those priests who de• nounced persons from the altar. Mr. STAFFORD presented a petition from North ampton to the same effect. THE WEST INDIES. Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from the West Indian Association of Liverpool, com plaining that this country admitted slave-grown sugar after preventing such labour in the colonies, and stating that unless they gave immediate relief our \Vest Indian colonies must fall into non-culti vation. TUES4AY EVENING, DECEMBJNR,, 21, 1847. gentry of Ireland had to contend. They were sur rounded by starving multitudes whom it was impossible for them, by any effort, to provide with sustenance, and he greatly feared that in many parts of the country any exertion they could snake would be wholly insufficient to keep the people alive, and that the task would thus again fall on that House of saving the people from starvation. He was of opinion that Parliament had taken the proper course in passing the Bill for the suppression of crime and outrage in Ireland, in the first instance, but he hoped that after the recess they would lose no time in considering other measures for the relief of that country. Considering that the crop on which de pended the whole support of the people had been alto gether destroyed, it was no wonder that the great distress which prevailed last year should have existed. The efforts made by Parliament had no doubt the effect of saving the lives of many of the people ; but it should not be forgotten that one consequence of these efforts was, that the people were taken away from the cultivation of the soil, and that there was necessarily a great diminution in the crops for the present year, and a proportionate want of the means of support. He was glad, however, to be able to say that he saw the prospect of a much more extensive culti vation of the soil next year. Mr. HERRIES said he rose to exress a hope that his Hon. Friend would not press his amendment. — (Hear, hear.) He was quite sure that no Member of the House would hesitate to sacrifice or postpone his own interests or convenience for the public good, but on this question he was willing to place confidence in her Majesty's Government, and to rest satisfied that they would not have fixed on any period for the adjournment that was not in conformity with the public interest. He hoped and trusted that the state ments which had been made that evening by the two Hon. Members fur North Warwickshire as to the sufferings of the manufacturing operatives in their district would not be lost sight of by the Government. —(hear, hear.) They had also heard something about the distress existing in Ireland. Very little at tention had been pail by the House, during the recent sitting:, to the embarrassment under which the manufacturers now labour, and to the distressed con dition of the operatives. It had been stated, he be lieved, on authority, that t o-fifths of the working classes in the manufacturing districts were out of employment, and that of the remainder, a portion only were in full employment; that there was a very large number of factory mills now working short titne, and no inconsiderable number not working at all. He believed that it was also an undoubted fact, that there were merchants from abroad who purchased the raw cotton here at a lower price then our own merchants had it in bond, and who sent it to be manufactured in other countries where labour was far cheaper than here.—(Hear, hear.) This was a subject which de served the most serious and anxious consideration, not only of her Majesty's Ministers, but of Parliament. — (Hear, hear.) He hoped that Parliament would not be re• assembled long before this matter was brought under their attention. There was also another subject which attracted much interest throughout the coun try, and that was the present state of the currency and banking laws.—(Hear, hear.) He would nut say anything that could by possibility lead to a dis cussion on that question at present, but as he had been called upon from various quarters to take it up, and as he had even on that day been entrusted with a petition signed by 130 respectable firms in Liverpool (which, owing to an accident, he was unable to pre sent that day), alluding to the obstructive character of the existing banking laws, he felt it to be his duty to take that opportunity of stating that he hoped, at the earliest day he could select, after the meeting of Parliament, to bring the subject under the attention of the House. Wishing that the Bill relating to the suppression of crime and outrage in Ireland should have precedence, he had been induced to postpone his motion on this subject until the notice of the adjourn ment of the House rendered it impossible for him to bring it forward at the present short sitting. He hoped that her Majesty's Ministers would admit the great importance of the subject, and aid him in bringing it befcre the House at as early a period as possible. Lord JOHN RUSSELL—I mean to address my self in the first place to some observations that fell from the Honourable Baronet the Member for Clare (Sir Lucius O'Brien). The Honourable Member referred to great distress existing in various parts of Ireland, and to the exertions made by gentlemen of property in various parts of the kingdom to alleviate that distress. I cannot, unhappily, contradict his state ment of the distress which prevails, and I am happy to say that I draw from all the accounts that have been received that great exertions have been made by gen tlemen of property to alleviate the distress which ex ists, and I believe the number of applications that have been made under the Land Improvement Act shows a general wish on the part of those possessing pro perty in Ireland to give employment to the poor in their neighbourhoods. But when the Honourable Baronet goes on to express his expectation and hope that relief will be given by Parliament to meet the prevailing distress, I must say that, in the first place, I think it would be necessary that we should have proof that every exertion possible has been made to carry into effect the law passed in the last session of Parliament for the better relief of the poor in Ireland in the various unions in that country.—(Hear, hear.) I certainly do not in any way regret the relief we voted last year, but at the same time I cannot forget that we considered at the time—and the event has since proved that we were right—that even that re lief would be a serious burden on other parts of the kingdom. I believe, myself, that the failure of the harvest of 1846, in this part of the United Kingdom, would not of itself have afflicted this country with the very high price of provisions which we know has prevailed during the present year, but that from the steps taken in order to enable the distressed in Ireland to obtain food, the consequence was a very high price of provisions in this country, extending to a rate which had not been known before since the cessation of the wan—(Wear, hear.) In the next place, the increase in the speculations in corn, which has thus been encouraged, has led, in a great extent, to the commercial distress that has lately taken place. — (Hear, hear.) Ido not say that this is a reason why we should not, in any extreme case, afford assistance to the distress in Ireland; but I beg, at the same time, to call the attention of the Honourable Baronet and of other Honourable Members of this House re presenting Irish towns and Irish counties, to the statement that has been made, and I believe very truly made, this evening by the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire, respecting the great distress and want of employment which prevails in the manu facturing parts of England.—(Hear, hear.) I think we are entitled to say, that as no one asks, or probably will ask, that persons who are out of employment in this country, and who will have to be sustained by the poor-rates, shall be sustained by a grant from the Consolidated Fund, so likewise we cannot propose any vote of money from the Treasury for the support of those Nilthth regarde poor s who are in distress in Ireland u ntil all possible efforts to ohra shall lhe have arroybisnegrbvoeauetnti observations w eail made.—(Hear, h( f H o f r eela t l h r, e fro r m eli ef of hear). the v Right Hon. Gentleman who has just sat down, I beg to say that I am glad to find that he does not approve of shorten ing the period which we prop ose for the adjournment of the House. I think it is far better that we should adjourn till the month of February, with the determi nation of seriously endeavouring to encounter the business that must then come before us.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman says, that at that time he will have a motion to bring forward respecting the commercial condition of the country. I have only to say, that when that motion comes on we shall be ready to state our views to the House, and I rest confident that though we may differ from the Right Hon. Gentleman with respect to the Act of 1844, we shall not differ with him on one chief point, that he will be as desirous as we are ourselves of preserving the convertibility of that part of our currency which is in paper into gold, and that he will not give the sanction of his high authority to any of those various measures which gentlemen in Birmingham put forth, and the adoption of which would, I have no doubt, prove most injurious to the interests, and to the character and good faith of the country.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentle man the Member for the University of Oxford has asked me a question respecting the time when we in tend bringing forward the consideration of the navigation-laws. I certainly hesitated making a promise that that question would be brought forward immediately after the recess. I beg the Right Honourable Gentleman to consider— and the subject is one within his knowledge— what a small proportion of the time allotted to busi ness is given by the Howe to her Majesty's Govern ment for bringing forward the measures which they think necessary to bring under the consideration of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) There are but two days in the week, or eight days in the month, on which the Government are allowed precedence, and this very evening the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Stamford (Mr. Herries) has asked us to give one even of those days for the discussion of his motion.--- is allowed hear.) Feeling what a very short p eriod allowed for the debates on Government measures, I certainly felt myself unwilling to state that we would fix on an early day to bring forward the subject of the navigation-laws, and at present I am not prepared to say whether, until we have all the returns re lating to the revenue before us, after the recess, we shall bring this question under the consideration of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore I wish to reserve to ourselves a discretion as to the time when we shall bring the subject 'forward; but at the same time I can assure the Right Hon. Gentleman that I am quite willing that the question shall be brought on at such a time as that parties interested in it shall be fully able to bring under consideration all matters con nected with it.—(Hear, hear.) Another reason why I cannot now fig the time more closely is that we INCREASE OF BISHOPS. Mr. R. PALMER presented a petition from the Church of England Lay Association, complaining that the present number of bishops were inadequate to the spritual warts of the country. SUPERANNUATION FUND. Mr. NEWDEGATE presented petitions in favour of a superannuation fund:; also two petitions against the admission of Jews. JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL brought up the Jewish Dis abilities Bill, which was read a first time. The Noble Lord said he proposed to take the second read ing on Monday, February 7th. Mr. SPOONER rose to express his regret that the Noble Lord had taken so long a time for the ad journment of the House. Lord J. RUSSELL :—it has not been moved yet. —(A laugh). Air. SPOONER :—Oh, I beg pardon.—(A laugh). Colonel SIBTIIORP regretted that he was un able to be present at the discussion on the passing of the resolution which had been carried. He should not be at all surprised, after what had transpir,d upon this Bill, to hear the Honourable Member for the University of Oxford, the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn, and the Honourable Member for Bucks, proposing that anybody and everybody should :be admitted into the House ; but he wanted the Noble Lord who introduced this Bill, to say whether he intended to make any exception for Jews as to Friday and Saturday sittings. Suppose there happened to be " a call" of the House on a Saturday, would the Jews be ex empted from attending ?—(Great laughter.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that should such an unusual event as that suggested by the Hon. and Gallant Member arise, no doubt those Hon. Members who neglected to attend would be committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at .Arms ; but he could assure the Hon. and Gallant Member that such Jews as might become Members of that house would be quite content to pay the fines and suffer the penalties consequent upon their absenting themselves on a Saturday. Colonel SIBTHORP—Friday—I said Friday.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it did not matter whether the call were made on Friday or Saturday, he could answer for it the Jews would be quite wil ling to pay the fine.—(Hear, hear.) ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that the House, at its rising,do adjourn till Thursday, the 3d February. Ile did not think it necessary to propose an earlier day for the re-assembling of Parliament than the day he had named. The Queen's speech having been de livered, and the address passed, there could be nothing upon the re-assembling of Parliament to prevent the House from at once proceeding with business. He begged therefore to move, that the House at its rising do adjourn till Thursday, 3d of February. Mr. SPOONER regretted that the Noble Lord bad thought fit to move the adjournment to so late a period; he could only attribute his asking so long an adjournment to his total ignorance with respect to the real state of the country. The popu lation of the great iron manufacturing districts was in a most distressing state. In Staffordshire and in Wales vast masses of the people were dis charged, and were now being discharged, and the wages of those who were employed were now under very considerable reduction. What had been done by the House towards alleviating the dis tresses of the country? It was true that they had appointed a Committee, but the report of that Committee would not be ready for some months. They had to a certain degree arrested the distress to which the large houses were subject, but the distress was now falling upon that class of society whose employment was absolutely necessary for the safety and prosperity of the country. The House had stopped commercial failures among the large houses, but they had broken down the industry of the country. The capital of the poor man was his labour, and if employment was not found for that labour, the result would naturally prove disastrous to the interests of the poorer classes of society. He declined upon the present occasion to enter into any discussion as to the causes of the recent commercial distress. He was not one of those who denied that there had been improvident speculations in railways, but if the monetary system of this country had been a sound one, the results of such improvidence would have fallen only on the improvident. It was adding insult to injury for the House to say that it had no power to prevent these sudden and recurring seasons of commercial distress. He maintained that Parliment could and ought by some legislative means to put a stop to this state of things.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The same distress that had been felt in this country was beginning to be felt in America. They had raised the rate of interest there, in order to get back gold, and in fact there was a scramble between the two countries who should get the most of that precious metals. He thought the Government were not justified in a djourning the House for so long a period until they had done something to remove from the Bank of England the shackles that were imposed by the Act of 1844. It was not far from improbable that events might occur before the House met again which would render it imperative that some relaxation should be made with respect to the re strictions on the Bank. He would therefore moved, as an amendment to the motion for the ad journment of the House to the 3d of February, to strike out the words " the 3d of February," and in set " the 15th of of January." ➢lr. NEWDEGATE seconded the amendment. Mr. MONSELL said, though he was not prepared to second the motion of the Honourable Member, he wished to occupy the time of the House for a few moments, whilst he called their attention to the condition of the able bodied destitute poor. He thought he should best discharge his duty, not by support ing the amendment, but by urging upon the Govern ment the absolute necessity of their considering the condition of those unfortunate persons before the meeting of Parliament in February—of bringing forward measures at that time to place the relations of capital and labour upon a bet ter footing than at present. Unless they were prepared to bring forward such measures at the time he mentioned, it would be utterly impossible to encounter the distress of the spring and summer. As an Irishman, he wished to express his unfeigned gratitude for the aid which Parliament afforded last year to his famishing countrymen.— (Hear, hear.) But the sums so generously voted were employed in removing the effects of Ireland's suffering, not the cause. After the recess he should call the attention of the House to the state of the able-bodied unemployed poor, and the necessity of measures for placing the relations of capital and labour on a better basis. Out of 921,576 families dependent for their support upon manual labour 840,963 were in an impoverished estate. This number included the heads of families possess ing land up to five acres. In 33 unions of Ireland the poor-rate averaged 18s. per head of the population, whilst in one of our worst agricultural counties—Dorsetshire, for instance—the rates amounted to 4/. Bs. per head. Now, let him ask the House what would be the condition of that country if the population was increased fivefold, without any increased means of subsistence. Such would be found to be the position of one-fourth of Ireland at the present moment. Having referred to the opinions of Ricardo on the probable fate of an impoverished nation, he proceeded to say, that unless measures were taken to create a change in the social condition of Ireland, the whole population would sink into misery and ruin, and those who now enjoyed comforts would every day be added to the ranks of those in abject misery, and the country would present a much more miserable aspect than it does at present.— (Hear.) He trusted, however, that before Parliament met again Government would have prepared some mea sure sufficient to meet the calamities he had described; and he could assure them, if they did so, they should have his cordial aid and assistance in carrying them out.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. P. SCROPE could not allow this motion to pass without expressing his earnest regret and sin cere disappointment, that Government had not thought it necessary to take the opportunity of this short session to introduce and carry through Parlia ment some measure which should have the effect of facilitating the operation of the Irish Poor-law. A large number of the poor must inevitably be thrown upon the parishes within the next few weks, and it was therefore of the highest importance that some thing should have been done to facilitate and extend the operation of the law. He trusted, however, that the Government would take the opportunity of the recess to consider and mature some measure to set the une:nployed labour of Ireland upon the immense unemployed waste lands of the country. The people of England were bound to look into this matter. The emigration was not that of an ordinary kind, but one which resulted from a state of fearful distress, consequent upon the failure of the potato crop. He trusted that the Government would think it right to adopt some measure for the employment of the people upon the waste lands of Ireland, as a means of improving the condition of the people. Lord LINCOLN said that in the course of last session he brought before the House a motion with respect to the establishment of an efficient system of colonization; that motion was assented to, but the answer which he received from the Noble Lord at the head of the Government was, that he could not recommend her Majesty to appoint a Commission to inquire into the subject in accordance with a portion of the resolution, but that inquiries should be made upon the subject through the Colonial-office. He wished, therefore, to ask the Noble Lora at the head of the Government whether he was in possession of any reports upon the subject, and if so when those reports would he ready to be laid upon the table of the House ? Mr. HINDLEY felt hound to complain of the want of energy and stringency which had charac terised the measures which the Government had in troduced and passed. He thought, with respect to the Bank Charter Act, that it had been very unfairly dealt with in its operation. He thought the Bank of England had been the cause of all the distress that had taken place. Mr. GLADSTONE did not wish at present to enter on the discussion of any of the important ques tions which had been adverted to, but rose for the purpose of making a remark on another subject. Some days since, the Noble Lord said he did not ex pect to be able to introduce the measure announced by her Majesty in the Speech from the Throne with respect to the laws concerning navigation at a very early period after the recess. He must say that he had heard that announcement with very great regret. He was not surprised that the Noble Lord should find a difficulty in introducing every measure at as early a period as he could desire ; but he apprehended that it needed no argument to show that the present period was one, especially after the Committee of last session, eminently fit for the comprehensive con sideration of the laws relating to navigation — (Hear, hear)—and that he should carry with him the feelings of both sides of the House when he said that it was pre-eminently desirable that the de cision of Parliament on this most important subject shauld be taken during the present session. He thought it would be quite consistent with the answer of the Noble Lord, and it might tend to give satisfac tion to the House if he were able to assure them that, although he aid not co ntemplate introducing the measure at an early period after the rece ss, y et he did contemplat e introducing it at such a time that both Houses of Parliament should have ample oppor tunity for considering it in the course of the present session, so that they might entertain a reasonable ex pectation that, whatever the views of Parliament on that question, the shipping interest of the country, and all whose expectations were excited by that ques tion, should no t be kept in a state of uncertainty and suspense, but should have all the means of knowing what conclusion was to be arrived at in the course of the present session. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to ask, as Parliament was about to rise, what had they done since they had been there, and why did the adjournment take place? Was murder still to flourish in Ireland, while the Noble Lord and the other Ministers were passing their holidays shooting, hunting, and dancing.— (Laughter.) He thought it important that the House should know how long the Noble Earl now in Italy was to be absent, and whether he received the public money during his absence.—(Continued laughter.) Had they at all relieved the distresses of the people ? They had appointed a Committee to sit, and sitting God knew how long, what would be the result ? Ile thought that they ought not to ad journ at all ; but of two evils it was right to choose the less, and he should therefore vote for the adjourn ment for the shorter period. Sir LUCIUS O'BRIEN said he wished to call the attention of the House to the distressed state of Ire land, and more particularly of the western part of it, with which he was more immediately connected. He would never cease to bear testimony to all that had been done for Ireland by this country during the last year, and he regretted to have heard some of the language that had been used in that House on the subject. But it was right that the House should be made acquainted with the difficulties with which the 6IPERIAL PARLIAMENT ROUSE OF LORDS. Dec. 20. ROYAL ASSENT. The House sat to-day at Four o'clock, when the Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Public Works (Ireland) Bill, the Crime and Outrage (Ire land) Bill, and the Railways Bill. The Lords Commissioners were the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Campbell, and Earl Fortescue. DENUNCIATIONS FROM THE ALTAR. Lord FARNHAM presented petitions from dif ferent parts of Ireland, Devonshire, and Dorset shire, against the denunciations by Catholic priests, and praying that some measure might he introduced on the subject. AUDITING RAILWAY ACCOUNTS. Lord MONTEAGLE laid on the table a Bill for the better auditing of railway accounts by the Rail way Commissioners, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. WORKHOUSES (IRELAND). The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table of the House papers connected with workhouses in Ireland. IRISH RELIEF FUNDS. Lord MONTEAGLE wished to know from the Noble Marquis whether the funds collected in Ireland for the relief of the poor were being distributed according to the electoral or union division ? There was a report current that they were being distri buted according to the union divisions, and he was anxious to set all doubt at rest. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE could not answer the question positively, but he believed the distribu tion was being made according to the electoral divi • sions. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS. Lord BROUGHAM gave notice of his intention shortly after the recess to bring in a Bill to prevent bribery at elections unless the other House of Par- liament should originate some stringent measure upon the subject. He thought some measure ought to be introduced by which every Member of the House should make a declaration at the table on his honour that he had not either directly or indirectly procured his election by bribery or treating. He had merely mentioned the subject now in order that her Majesty s Government might consider it during the recess. While he was upon his legs he would also impress I upon her Majesty's Government the necessity of adopting some arrangement for preparing the drafts of public Bills, in order that legislation might be consistent and systematic, and the courts of law might not have their time occupied as they now had in con sidering and trying to expound Acts of Parliament. .. . SANITARY COMMISSION. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table the first report of the Metropolitan Sanitary Com missioners. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE then moved the adjournment of the House to Thursday, the 3d of February. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH felt compelled to disagree to the motion of adjournment. He thought it better that they should go on with busi ness while gentlemen would work, than defer their pro ceedings and thereby get into July, when it was well known they would not. He thought it expedient also, that Parliament should continue sitting in order to watch the carrying out of the Crime and Outrage (Ireland) Bill, which had received the royal assent that day. He was convinced of the necessity of this from his knowledge of the fact, that if they attempted to put that Act in force without the eye of Parliament being on the parties against whom it was to be put in force, it would produce no effect. He considered the Act in itself totally inadequate for the purpose for which it was intended, but it would be doubly so if Parliament was not kept together. Parliament, in his opinion, ought to be kept together, in order that Government might come down at any moment for further powers. It might be as well, now that they were about to separate for upwards of a month, to look to what they had been doing. Every measure they had been intro ducing was in order to patch up the lathes of the Minister and the late Parliament. The Government conducted the administration of affiairs as much by letter as by Act of Parliament. They had last year Mr. Labouchere's letter suspend ing an Act of Parliament, and this year they had a letter from the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer suspending another Act of Parliament. The only measure that they had proposed was a measure to admit a Jew millionaire to Parliament. This was called a bold measure ; so it was called a bold measure to attempt to force a Bishop on the Church. He did not call them boll measures, but paltry measures. A bold Minister would have proposed measures to meet the present peril of the country, would have explained to Parliament the ne cessity that existed for the adoption of stringent measures to put down the lawless state of affairs existing in Ireland and would have adopted them. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the Go vernment would not shrink from the adoption of any measures that might be necessary for the repression of crime in Ireland, and it was only because they believed that at the present moment legislative enactments beyond those already enacted would not be useful, that they had abstained from proposing such measures. If during the recess cir cumstances should arise to manifest the inefficiency of that measure the Government had the power to con vene Parliament in a short time, and to demand fresh powers, and, if it should be necessary, that power the Government would exercise. He would not trouble their Lordships by alluding to the other por tions of the speech of the Noble Earl, as the subjects to which he had alluded would come before their Lordships' House for discussion hereafter. After a short conversation between Lord BROUGHAM and the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, which was inaudible in the gallery, and a few words from the Earl of ELLENUOROUGH, on the subject of a dispatch to India calling for the remittance of certain amounts of bullion, Their Lordship 3 adjourned to the 3d of February. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Dec. 20. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. Mr. C. Buller (Liskeard), Mr. Kershaw (Stock port), Mr. Christy, and another Hon. Member, whose name we did not catch, took the oaths and their seats. WELLS. Mr. TUFNELL moved that the Clerk of the Crown be instructed to issue a writ for the election of a burgess to represent Wells in Parliament in the room of Mr. Hayter, who had accepted the office of Judge•Advocate.—Agreed to. COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS. Mr. T lIORNELY presented the seventh report of this Committee. ROYAL COMMISSION. Sir A. CLIFFORD, the Usher of the Black Rod, appeared at the table and summoned the Speaker ar,d the House to hear the royal assent given to several Bills (for which see Lords' report). CALNE. _ On the motion of Mr. TUFNELL, a new writ was ordered to be issued for the election of a Member to represent Caine in Parliament, in the room of Lord Shelburne, who had been appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty. OPPOSED RETURNS. . The SPEAKER - informed the House that the Examiner of Recognizances had reported that the recognizances of the parties petitioning against the returns for the following places were unexceptionable : —Carlow, Newbury, Northern division of the county of Stafford, Hereford, Andover, Lincoln, Hythe, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Marlborough. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Mr. LABOISCHiIii, in rising to call the atten tion of the House to the report of the Select Com mittee on Private Business, and to move the adoption of the resolutions contained in that report, said it would not be necessary for him to detain the House at any great length, because he stated so fully when he moved the appointment of the Committee the urgent necessity there was for making some improvement in the mode of conducting the private business of the House.—(Hear.) On that occasion he expressed his belief that although there might not be room for im provement with regard to unopposed Bills, there was a very extensive field for improvement as regarded opposed Bills. The Committee had accordingly examined the best evidence they could collect upon this subject, and the result they had arrived at was that the opposed Bills, as well as the un opposed, might, with great advantage, be placed under the supervision of the Chairman of Ways and Means. The Committee had found that the unopposed Bills had been so strictly investigated that it was impossible for errors to creep into them ; and the consequence was, that parties who were anxious that their Bills should escape the vigilance of the Hon. Gentleman who filled the office of Chairman of Ways and Means got up sham opposition to their measures ; and therefore the Committee proposed that before any B it t s ll ho w u e l n a t u i n n d to er C g o o m th m e it s t u e p e e , r b v e is i i t o o n pp o o f s t ehdao t r offi un c o e p r p . o T sed he , Committee d ee Means also propos e d t o g i ve th e Ch a irman o f ays S H U o p u er se inte m n i d ght the t hinaa k m dments which the Upper general power to examine and en ne a e n es d sary to be introduced into private Bill s , g reat advantages wou ld result t fromwas anticipated this of N ays stated that \ Upon moving for the Committ ee , chan g e. h e was afraid the Chairman o Means would be unable to undertake thesVear and addition to the oth e r duties he had to perform utl i e n s 'th e in House, but a sufficient case had not been made out far the appointment of a second officer, and the Commit tee therefore proposed that all those duties should be , imposed upon the Chairman of Ways and Means. He wish, imme4iately after the recess, to bring forward some of the Irish measures of which I have spoken on a former occasion, and to which I am desirous that the House should give its most anxious consideration. —(Hear, hear.) The Honourable Gentleman op posite said that though we had passed a measure lbr the prevention of crime and outrage in Ireland, he doubted whether we would proceed to act upon its provisions. I think the Honourable Gentleman may spare himself all anxiety on that subject, because my Noble Friend the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland has applied himself to the consideration of the state of Ireland, and that consideration, I can assure the Hon. Gentleman, will not end in mere empty declarations or words— (hear, hear)—for he is prepared to act with that vigour and energy which belongs to his character in carrying out the law which this House has passed for the restoration of tranquillity in the country.—(llear, hear.) Let me add, that Ido think that the Parliament and the Irish Government should not be frustrated in their attempt to effect that object, and that I shall be ready on the part of the Govern ment of this country to give every support to my Noble Friend in those steps that he may think neces• nary to take for the prevention of crime in any exigencies that may arise. —(Cheers.) The Noble Lord asked me a question with regard to emi gration. I can only say that the information which has been received on this subject will be laid on the table of the House, and if the Noble Lord had spoken on this subject a day or two since, the papers would have been presented this evening. I must state that in North America, and mere espe cially in Canada, a very great prejudice prevails against emigration from this country, arising from the unfortunate state of a great portion of the emi , grants who went over during the last season from Ireland, and of whose melancholy suffering the Noble Lord is no doubt aware. —(Hear, hear.) 'We shall he ready to present the papers in a few days, and if the Noble Lord thinks it necessary to bring the sub jeet forward again I shall be prepared to state my views regarding it. I cannot say that we intend bringing in any measure on the subject of emigra tion this year, but we shall be prepared to lay all papers containing. statements or views on the subject, that may be received from time to time on the table of the House. In conclusion, I have only to ex press a hope that the Hen. Gentleman, seeing what the sense of the House is, will not persist in propos• ing an earlier day for the re-assemblieg of the House than has been suggested by her Majesty's Govern ment.—(Hear.) Colonel DUNNE said he hoped her Majesty's Government would take into their consideration a subject which attracted much attention i❑ Ireland, regarding the rating of unions as electoral divisions. Such ratings could not now be adopted unless the guardians were unanimous, which he need not say was very seldom the case. Sir B. HALL said he was determined to oppose the voting of any further sum for the relief of distress in Ireland until they saw what the working of the last Poor-law Act was in that country. From the last return of the expense of the poor-rates in England and Ireland that had been laid on the table of that House, and which came down to the Ist of January, 1847, it appeared that while the average rate for England was ls. 74d., the average rate in Ireland was only 81d.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped that his Right [lon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department would take care to have laid on the table as soon as possible a similar return up to the Ist of January, 1848. The people of this country were most anxious to see the distress which prevailed in Ireland relieved, and they were ready to agree to any measures absolutely necessary to effect that object, but they thought that a just share of the burden should rest on the property of Ireland in the first nstance. Hon. Gentlemen from Ireland seemed to forget that great distress prevailed in this country. They were, perhaps, not prepared to hear that in Marylebone above 140,000 persons, or 17 per cent. of the population, had received relief.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. H. GRATTAN said the lion. Baronet over- looked in his calculations the immense sums tha went out of Ireland annually to this country. 50,000/. a year left the county of Wicklow alone annually to go into the pockets of absentees. The Hon. Member appeared not to know the vast sums that Lord Portsmouth, and Lord Lansdowne, and Lord Devon, and other great Irish proprietors resid ing in this country, drew out of Ireland. If the house would send back the rich absentees, he would be quite willing to undertake on the part of Ireland the payment, not of ls. Bd. but of 2s. in the pound for ' the support of the poor. If they did not take care, they would by their out-door relief reduce the Irish gentry to such a state of poverty and destitution, that they would be found coming over here just as the French refugees did after the Revolution, and they the House would have to give them a shilling a day for their support, as they gave the French.— (Laughter.) He would beg of the Noble Lord at the head of her Majesty's Government, in bringing forward any measure for the relief of Ireland, to put out of his mind altogether anything that fell from the lion. Member for Marylebone.—(ltenewed laughter.) Sir G. GREY said the papers to which the Hon.' Baronet alluded would be in the hands of Members in a few days. He begged to add, that the return alluded to by his Hon. Friend was for the year 1846, but he would find that the rates for the present year, is far as Ireland was concerned, would be very much beyond Ezid. With regard to what had fallen from the Hon. and Gallant G,.utleman the Member for Fortarlington (Colonel Dunne) lie had only to say that, under certain circumstances, the guardians had power of making a union rating instead of an electo ral division rating ; and in some few cases, where such a system of rating was adopted by paid boards of guardians, they had necessarily received the sanction of the Commissioners, and no doubt, if any valid ob jection could be urged, that sanction would nut have been extended. Mr. DEERING begged to remark, in reference to the rating of England and Ireland, that in seven parishes which constituted the constituency that he had the honour to represent, the average rating was, he was certain, not under 65., and in his own parish it was 6s. 6d. in the pound. When Irish property was rated to that extent, then he thought they might complain, and ask for relief from his constituency, but not sooner.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. SPOONER said that as the sense of the House appeared to be against him, he would ask leave to withdraw his amendment.—(Hear.) The amendment was then withdrawn, and the original resolution for the adjournment of the House at its rising to Thursday, 3d of February, w as agreed to. DUCHY OF LANCASTER. Mr. BROTHERTON gave notice that it was his intention to move, immediately after the recess, for a Select Committee to inquire into the expe diency of abolishing the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and of tranferring the duties of the office to the Home Secretary. SUNDAY TRADING. Mr. IIINDLEY gave notice that he would, after the recess, move for leave to bring in a Bill for the amendment of the law affecting Sunday trading. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN PRISONS. The Earl of ARUNDEL gave notice that he would, after the recess, move for a Select Committee to inquire into the discipline and regulations now in force in the prisons, penitentiaries, houses of correc tion, and other places of confinement for criminal offences in Great Britain, with the view of ascertain ing the best practical means of securing to every prisoner not in communion with the Church of En gland the benefits to be derived from a due observance of the religious duties of his faith ; and also the best practical means of securing the proper attendance of his priest or other minister of his religion, for the purposes of religious instruction. CAPTAIN DENMAN. _ _ Mr. URQUHART gave notice that he would move, on the Bth of February for "Copies of ull cor respondence between the Hon. Captain Denman, R.N., and her Majesty's Government, relating to the undertaking given by that Government to defend the actions now pending in the Court of Exchequer against the said officer, for the destruction of pro perty on the west coast of Africa:' AMENDMENT OF THE LAW. The ATTORNEY. GENERAL gave notice that on Thursday, the 3d of February, he would mov e f or leave to bring in four Bills, with the obj e ct o f amend ing and reforming t he duties of magistrates at quarter sessions. FOREIGN POLICY, kc. Mr. C. AN STEY said he wished to fix Tuesday, the Bth of February, for the notice of motion standing in his name , for p a p e rs relating to the foreign policy of this country, and Wednesday, the 16th of February, for the second reading of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. MONSELL begged to give notice that on the 15th of February, he would call the attention of the House to the state of the labouring population in Ire land. THE CURRENCY. Mr. HERRIES said he would beg to name the Bth of February for the motion which he had already mentioned his intention of bringing forward. THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. Mr. HORSMAN gave notice that, after the re cess, he would move a resolution to the effect, that it is expedient that the distinction between the episcopal fund and the common fund should cease. He also wished to give notice, unless the subject be taken up by her Majesty's Government, that be would, on a future day, bring forward a motion respecting admission to the Universities of Oxford and Cam bridge. PRISON DISCIPLINE.' Lord NUGEN T gave notice that it was his inten tion to bring under the consideration of the House, on the 10th of February, the highly penal nature of our prison system with regard to untried prisoners, with the object of moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the repeal of so much of the Act of 2d and 3d. of Victoria as rendered the separate system applicable tca:. prisoners before trial. JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Mr. STAFFORD give notice that, on the motiom for the second reading of the Jewish Disabilities Bill,, he should move that the Bill be read a second tiin that day six months. THE WEST INDIAN INTERETS. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK begged leave to withdraw the motion which stood in his nt me for Thursday next, in order to substitute another mo tion, which, he hoped, would be found worded is obedience to the wish expressed by his Noble Friend at the head of her Majesty's Government. He wished to alter the notice to one for a Select Com mittee to inquire into the present condition and pros pects of the coffee and sugar colonial possessions in the West Indies, with a view to consider whether any and what measures can be adopted by Parlia ment for their relief. He would wish to name Thursday, the 3 , 1 of February, fur bringing it for ward.—(Hear, hear.) SANITARY 'IMPROVEMENT. Lord MORPETII gave notice that on Thursday, the 10th of February, he would ask for leave to bring in a Bill for promoting the public health. MASTERS IN CHANCERY. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that on Tuesday, the Bth of February, he should move for certain re turns connected with the appointment and the retir ing pensions of Masters in Chancery. Mr. G. TIIONIPSON begged to postpone until Tuesday, the 15th of February, the motion which stood in his name in the motion book for Thursday. SL AVERY. Mr. AGLIONBY begged leave to give notice on behalf of the Hon. Member for Gateshead (Mr. Hutt) that on Thursday, the 10th of February, he would move for a Select Committee to consider the best means that can be adopted by Great Britain for tnitiga ing the horr. rs of the sieve trade, and providing for its final extinction. lie also wished to give notice, in his own name, for a copy of any correspondence that had taken place between her Majesty's Government and the Lough Corrib Improvement Company. PRESIDENCY OF BOMBAY On the motion of Mr. G. THOMPSON the fol- lowing returns were ordered :—Copies of the annual reports of the superintendent of roads and tanks within the presidency of Bombay, from the first to the latest received in this country : Of all corre spondence, instructions, and reports, since 1835, of the Indian Government, or any of its subordinate Governments, departments, or officers, relative to the proposed road from Vingorla to Belgaum, in the presidency of Bombay : Returns of the cost of the construction of the More or Kundalla Ghaut road ; with the rates or tolls thereon, and the annual pro duce of the said tolls, from their first imposition : Of the engineering particulars and cost of the road from Bellary to Sirsee, in the presidency of Madras, and of the import and the export trade, and of the annual produce of the Customs of the port of ---• from the year 1838 to the year 1846, both inclusive. SUPPLIES TO THE METROPOLITAN POLICE. Mr. FORSTER moved for tabular returns of the names of the contractors for the supply of forage (viz , oats, hay, and straw) to each of the districts of the metropolitan police ; stating the date of contract, the quantity and price of the articles supplied by each contractor, and the name of the district where delivered, from 1840 to 1847: and of the supply of coal to each of the districts of the metropolitan police ; stating the quantity, quality, and price of the coals supplied by each contractor, and the name of the district where the same was delivered, from 1832 to 1847. THE CASE OF THOMAS DRURY. Mr. EWART rose to ask a question of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department concerning the administration of criminal justice in this country. He referred to the case - °f Thomas Drury, who was tried at the NVakefield ses sions in December, 1845, on a charge of atealing'3l horse. The man was, unfortunately, too poor to e nable him properly to defend himself, and he, therefore, failed in proving an alibi, although he was in a P,c't tion to do so. He was, consequently, sentencen seven years' transportation, and for two years he wess confined in Wakefield gaol, during which time inter cession was made for him at the Horne-oflices, but without effect. The alibi was offered to be proved at the Home-office, but he (Mr. Ewart) believed that no evidence was allowed to be gone into at that offices and the sentence of the man, therefore, remained un revoked. After two years' confinement the man was transported to Van Dieman's Land, and it so happened that when he got out there, a criminal named John Weston, as he (Mr. Ewart) had been told, confessed that he had stolen the horse, for which crime Drury had been transported, and that in stealing the horse he had assumed the name of Thomas Drury. He (Mr. Ewart) believed that there was no doubt of the truth of this story, and he believed that the man Drury was totally innocent of the crime for which he had been transported. He (Mr. Ewart) desired, therefore, to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman whether he had received any information at the Home-office of the facts of this case, and what measures were in tended to be taken with respect to it. Sir G. GREY said that the case had lately been brought under his notice by a memorial, which was transmitted to him by the Honourable and Learned Member for Hull (Mr. Baines). The account of the case which had lately appeared in the newspapers was, in several instances, inaccurate. It was quite true that a person named Drury was tried in December, 1845, and that a man in Van Dieman's Land had since con fessed that he had committed the crime for which Drury was convicted. The matter was now under in vestigation at the Home-office. At the same time be must caution his Hon. Friend against assuming that the statement of the convict was true. Such state tnents were not unfrequently made. At th e same timA he was bound to say, that there were aircum stances which gave an appearance of probability es; the statement in this case, which circum etanc though not sufficient to call for an immediate commendation to pardon, would nevertheless be fulli inquired into. He (Sir G. Grey) must correct one statement of his Hon. Friend with regard to the case, which had not been disposed of by him but by r predecessor (Sir J. Graha-n), by whom a most care 0 .: investigation was made. When the man was trie b d e two witnesses distinctly swore to his identity, and! Honourable Member was quite right in s tn ht that the defence was an alibi, but he was not rig in stating that the man was too poor to obtain a p r° ; er defence. The Leaned Counsel for the de fers f examined a witness for the purpose of proving' t" e alibi, but he altogether failed. Subsequently te r , e , persons offered to prove the alibi at the Home -ou '';;; but it was discovered that one of those very perso was in court at the time of the trial, and the cou ple for the defence declined to call him. It was not a lto a gether correct to say that evidence was never reosiviebi at the Home-office, but evidence respecting an,ac:pr was always necessarily received with caution. a full consideration of the case, two witnesses deposed to the identity of the prisoner, and one 911-.. ness that was called for the defence on the trial hey' e r failed to prove an alibi, and the verdict of the P r il i t , having been entirely approved by Mr. Ingbams tiA t , • chairman of the quarter sessions, the Right Gentleman the then Secretary of State for the Department felt it his duty Hot to recommend a P 360 don. Circumstances having since come to ligh,f , h a inquiry had been instituted in this country w it to ta view to ascertain the truth. He might farther 5 , 4 that the prisoner was not transported as a con re ' ; but he went out with a conditional pardon, and 61n d j a his arrival he had been perfectly free, with the s' n ? o e exception that he could not return to this count* , seven years. Mr. EWART said they had been told the THE RIVER PLATE. ot t r a t t night by the Noble Lord the Foreign Secretary to r arrangements were being concluded with efereof e te - a the ut.fortunate hostilities which had so long No bl e in in the River Plate. He wished to ask the Lord whether, in the arrangements which were tit"h''' place, measures had been adopted for oPen in g,„.,;l; trade to the River Plate and its contributaries , the Parana and the Paraguay. It was highs portant to British commerce that measure ou be adopted by her Majesty's Government for W I " ing the trade of the vast continent of South America Viscount PALMERSTON said that therefo ret Rivet Plate was in fact an estuary of the sea, no question could arise as to its being oPen to O. commerce of all nations. With regard to the internal rivers, which discharged themselves into th e Plate! they were subject to the general law of nations, and consequently were under the dominion of the coup: and. e tries through whose territories those rivers passe u n e If the one bank belonged to one country sod t" 0 other to another, the navigation would be subject t both countries. Mr. EWART wished to know whether any r . : gulations had been made with the Argentine ROI° lie to intercept the navigation of the river (as we 'ln derstood). V i scoun t PALMERSTON repeated his state' vi as ment, that the navigation of the internal as had subject to the g a iv eneral law of nations, she stated. STOCK IN TRADE ASSESSMENT. In answer to a question from Sir R. INGLIS, Sir GEORGE GREY said that it was not his intention during the next session of Parliament to ade bring in a Bill upon the subject of stock in tr assessment. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND). Mr. KER wished to ask th e Ri g ht Hon. Gentle man the Secretary for the Home Department whetb_frl in the case where poor-law guardians in Ireland de:: termined to confine themselves to in-door relief , 1 1' was the intention of the poor-law Act to saddle tiom 1