The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, May 28. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack shortly before Five o'clock. Several messages from the House of Commons were brought up. REWARDS TO BRITISH SOLDIERS AND SALORS. The Duke of RICHMOND said he wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies, whether or not it was intended to give any medals to those soldiers who had served in the Peninsular war ? He had received a communication from the Secretary of State last year, in which he stated that it was intended to distribute those medals, and he wished to know if any such distribution was to take place. He also wished to know whether the sailors who had served under Nelson would or would not be lost sight of? Earl GREY said that it was intended to investigate the claims of the officers and soldiers employed during the Peninsular war, and also the sailors. BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY. Some cenversation (the greater part of which was inaudible in the gallery) then ensued between Lords BROUGHAM and BEAUMONT, as to the nature of the Committee to be appointed upon the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway. Lord REDESDALE complained that the whole pro ceeding was novel and irregular, and if they agreed to the motion they would be laying down a bad precedent. Lord LYNINIURS r thought their Lordship s should delay the appointment of the Committee which was sought. After a few words from Lords CAMPBELL and BROUGHAM, Lord REDESDALE said, he was so convinced of the bad precedent of appointing such a Committee, that he gave notice that on Monday next he would move that the order of the day for the appointment of the Com mittee be discharged. The subject then dropped. CONVEYANCE OF ENTAILED ESTATES. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the Lord Provost and Town Council of Glasgow, praying that a measure might be passed to facilitate the conveyance of entailed estates. MALT TAX. The Duke of RITTLAND presented a petition from persons in Lancashire, praying for the repeal of the malt tax. Lord BROUGHAM assured the Noble Duke that he was opposed to all taxes, and to the malt tax also. But he could not consent to that tax being repealed till it could be seen how they could do without it. The Duke of RICHMOND differed from the Noble and Learned Lord. The tax in question was felt as a great burden, the removal of which was become more necessary from certain late changes in the law. The sugar duties, too, had been reduced, so as to bring that article into competition with malt ; and as malt itself could now be got elsewhere, the duty was become a severe burden. He hoped his Noble Friend would ere long bring in a measure for the repeal of this duty. FIRE AT sr. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND. Lord PORTM A N rose to call attention to the papers laid before this House relating to the fire at S Newfoundland ; and to move an humble addresst'John's, Newfoundland to her Majesty. He said this matter had been brought before his attention first of all by the clergy - f the West of England. They fo un d that Th e e n principal part of the fund had been devoted to objects to which it was positively prohibited from being devoted. He would now direct their attention to the documents and papers which had been laid upon their Lordships' table. Letters were before the House which would show the House the extent of the calamity to which he referred. Considerable collections had been made for the relief of the sufferers ; petitions had also been presented to the Queen, praying that a collection might be made for the sufferers. The Noble Lord then proceeded to refer to several documents, bearing upon the case, at a consider able length. The Bishop of LONDON said the Noble Lord com plained of the way in which the funds, raised under a Queen's Letter, for the damage done at Newfoundland by fire, had been applied. He objected to every por tion of the money being employed for the rebuilding of the parish church. Now it ought to be considered that the parish church of St. John's, was the only one de stroyed, and surely it was a work of charity to erect it, under the circumstances. Being the only place of wor ship which suffered by the fire, it was but right that a portion of the amount raised, should be applied in the manner referred to, and he could not see how it could reasonably be denied. An application was made to the Crown from a Committee, appointed at a meeting, over which the Lord Mayor presided, to allow collections to be made in the churches and cha pels throughout the country for the purpose of relieving the distress occasioned by the fire in Newfoundland, and for rebuilding the churches. which had been destroyed. He did not, therefore, think that the Bishops or the Government were to blame for the course which was taken, but if blame did attach to any one for what had been done, he was quite ready to take it upon himself. He begged to thank the Govern ment in his own name, and in the name of the authorities of Newfoundland, for their exertions in behalf of the unfortunate persons who had suffered by the disaster. Earl GREY said his Noble Friend had blamed him or not allowing a portion of the money for the rebuild ing of the church. He did refuse to allot any portion of the money for this purpose, but he did so at the wish, and with the approval of, the authorities of the colony. The persons of the working class who had been sufferers by the fire had received compensation to nearly the full amount, and the class which suffered most severely (namely, the small shopkeepers), did not come forward to receive relief. It appeared therefore to him, that the application of the surplas money—which remained from these contributions—to the restoration of the churches destroyed, was a most legitimate application, and one likely to be more beneficial than the continuation of money grants to the sufferers; whereby a most improper and morbid craving for this relief had originated. Under the existing law there was no machinery for regulating the distribution of charitable donations of this descrip tion, and, in almost all cases, such donations were ap plied under a system analogous to the one adopted in this instance. He had no cbjection to the motion as brought forward, but it certainly was not likely to serve any efficient purpose. The Bishop of SALISBURY said that he entirely concurred in the observations of the Noble Lord (Port man) that any information as to the method of disposing of this money might be useful, but still he was of opinion that so far from it being misapplied, it had been very judiciously distributed according to the usual mode in such cases. After a few words in reply from Lord PORTMAN. The Transference of Land Bill was then read a firs time. Several Bills were then forwarded a stage, and their Lordships adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, May 28. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Captain BURKE was introduced by Lord M. Hill and Admiral Dundas, and took the oaths and his seat for the county of Galway, in the room of T. B. Martin, Esq., deceased. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and or dered to be committed:— Townshend Peerage. Windsor Castle and Town Approaches Improvement, and Removal of Datchet Bridge. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up and agreed to : Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail. way, No. 1 (Smethwick Deviation). Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail. way, No. 2 (Branches). Bristol and South Wales Junction Railway and Aust Ferry. Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham and Leicester Rail- way. Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire Junction Railway. Dundee and Newtyle Railway. Dundee and Perth Railway (Alteration and Extension, and Inchture, Polgavie, and Inchmichael Branches). Eastern Counties Railway (Cambridge, Royston, and Ware Line, &c.) Eastern Counties Railway (Enlargement of London and Stratford Stations and Amendment of Acts). East Lothian Central Railway. Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway (Deviation and Amendment). Great Northern Railway (Branch to liorneastle and at Brayford Mere, Lincoln) Great Northern Railway (Deviations between London and Grantham). Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales Drainage and Inclosure Company's Incorporation. Liverpool Gas. London and North-Western Railway (Purchase of the Earl of Ellesmere's interest in the Manchester South Junction aad Altrincham Railway). London and North-Western Railway (Newport Pagnall, Olney, and Wellingborough Branch). London and North-Western Railway (Portobello and Wolverhampton Branch, &c.) London and N orth-Western Railway (Atherston and Whitacre Branch). London and North-Western Railway (Coventry and Nuneaton Bran c h es). Northampton and Banbury Railway. Parkgate and Cheste r and Birkenhead Junction Railway. Royston and Hitehin Railway (Sale or Lease). Royston and Hitehin Railway (Extension to Cambridge). from Royston Scottish Midland Junction Railway (A mendment and Branch to Laurencel.irk). Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Lease L on don and North Western Railway c,,,pany).to the The reports on the following Bills were further con sidered and agreed to : Aberdeen Harbour. Caledonian Railway (Branches to Canonbie, &c.) Dublin and Belfast Junction and Navan Branch Railway. Dublin and Drogheda Railway (Purchase of Navan Branch, &c.) Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway. Eastern Counties Railway Extension (Cambridge to Bedford, &c.) Eastern Counties Railway (Maldon, Witham, and Brain tree Railway Purchase). East Lincolnshire Railway (Louth Navigation Pur chase). East Lincolnshire Railway (Deviation at Boston, and Branch to Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway at Grimsby). Glasgow and Shotts Road. Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan Railway (Amend ment, Deviations, and Branches). Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway. Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Branches at Port Glasgow). Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Amend ment and Branches to the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmar nock, and Ayr, the Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston, and the Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahag ow Rail ways, and to Haugh Pits). Great Southern and Western Railway Extension (Por tarlington to Tullamore). Lowestoft Railway and Harbour (Alteration near Reed ham). National Mercantile Life Assurance Society. Norfolk Railwayi (Branch from Wymondham to the Norwich Extension of the Ipsw ich and Bury Saint Edmund's Railway, and the proposed Thetford and Reedham Railway, near Diss). Norfolk Railway (Yarmouth Extension, &c.) Paisley, Barrhead, and Harlot Railway. Saffron Walden Rates. South Staffordshire Railway (Cannock, Wyrley, and Norton Branches, &c.) Swansea Docks. Wakefield Market. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed : Birkenhead Commissioners Dock Acts Amendment (as to Construction of Sea Wall along Wallasey Pool). Caledonian and Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Rail ways Amalgamation. Dublin Consumers Gas. Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway (Construction of Docks.): Great Northern Railway (Hertford, Hatfield, and St. Alban's Branch). Llynvi Valley Railway Extension. Waterford Road HEALTH OF TOWNS. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. TRANSPORTATION TO VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. _ Sir R. H. INGLIS prese nt ed a petition from several of the residents in Van Diemen's Land against the sys tem of penal transportation to that colony. THE CASE OF THE REV. MR. SHAW. Mr. CHRISTIE presented a petition from 600 of the congregation of the Rev. Mr. Shaw, stating that he had been suspended by the Bishop of Exeter for officiating in a Dissenting chapel, and that upon his application to the Court of Queen's Bench for redress it had been de nied to him, and praying that the House would take the matter into consideration. SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL. Mr. BAILLIE presented a petition against the Births, Marriages, and Deaths (Scotland) Registration Bill. MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. Mr. BROWN presented two petitions in favour of this Bill. AFRICAN CRUISERS. The HoN. MEMBER also presented a petition from the borough of Liverpool against the employment of cruisers on the coast of Africa, and complaining that they did more harm than good. CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. Captain PECHELL presented a petition signed by 32 of the chemists and druggists of Brighton, praying for a Bill to regulate the business of chemists and druggists. Mr. WYNN ELLIS presented a petition to the same effect. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 29, 1847. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought no excuse had need to be made by the Hon. Gentleman for bringing forward the present motion. It was one of great importance, yet he moped under existing circum stances the House would Dear with him, if he did not attempt to follow him through the various items to which he had referred, as in another Parliament it might be found necessary to increase the amount of direct taxation, and therefore he regretted the question was brought forward at the present time. With this general declaration he considered it would be the best course for him not to go into the details of the question now, but leave it to a future and more fitting occasion. Mr. R. YORKE hoped the Hon. Member (Mr. Ewart) would, after the declaration of the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) postpone the subject. In another session of Parliament there would have to be a general revision of taxation. Mr. HUME said the business of the night was the voting away of the public money, and therefore ha thought the question was one which was fairly entitled to consideration. He for one thought the whole excise system should be revised, and as there was a league es tablished to effect this object, he wished it every success. They would soon have to elect a new Parliament, and it would depend on the people what Members should be returned, and what should be done with the excise-laws. The duties on soap, paper, and bricks, were most oppres sive, and if the people were true to themselves, this would be accomplished. There were many ways in which the expenditure of the country might be reduced, in order to effect improvements in the taxes ; for instance, a million might be saved by withdrawing the cruisers from the coast of Africa, where they were doing no good, but evil. Mr. WILLIAMS complained of such motions being brought forward, unless they were persevered in. There was one omission in the statement of the Hon. Member for Dumfries. It was the reduction of the expenditure, as well as the carrying out of direct taxation. He would call their attention to the fact that th e es ti ma t es in 1835 were seven millions less than they were in the present year. Year for year the increase of the esti mates has been going on. He called upon the Chancel lor of the Exchequer to explain . how this took place. The country ought not to be satisfied with this state of things, or with the tax roll of fifty-five millions of money, It would, in his opinion, be better that the sense of the House should be taken in a direct motion on this sub ject. Col. SIBTHORP thought the best course would be for the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give up his office to the Hon. Member for Coventry. It would be then seen what he could do in his new position. Mr. EWART said as the subject would have to come fully before the House on a future occasion, and after the expression of opinion which had been elicited, he would for the present withdraw the motion. The motion wag then withdrawn. MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. The House then went into a Committee of Supply, and on a vote of 77,8061. being proposed to be taken for the expenses of the Mint, Mr. HUME thought a better system than the present for the management of the Mint might be contrived. It was the only ancient institution which had not been re formed, and it possessed all its ancient abuses without being any benefit to the country whatever. It appeared from the returns, that on recoining 11,000,0001. sterling the public were subjected to a charge of 40,0001.; instead of that, the institution ought to maintain itself as in France, America, and other countries. With great unwilling ness he succumbed to the business of the House, and did not press for a Committee of Inquiry, but he entered his protest against the payment of this money, and called on the Government to take the matter up as a Govern ment question, and reform it altogether. Mr. SHELL defended the officers of the mint. They were not blameable for the large amount of expenditure. There certainly were some things objectionable in the management of the mint, but the officers engaged in the mint were not answerable for them. Mr. HUME said he did not blame the officers, but the system. This country was paying more for this depart mvnt than any other country in the world. Mr. SHEIL was rejoiced to hear that Hon. Gentle man did not question the morality of the officers engaged in the mint. Mr. WILLIAMS complained that the department was in the hands of a private company, whereas it ought to be in the hands of the Government. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would turn his attention to this subject. Sir GEORGE CLERK said there was a good deal of uncertainty in the work supplied to the contractors of the Mint. These contractors had a large capital in vested in the business, and it was not to be won dered at that when they were called upon suddenly to throw chat a certain amount of work it involved the country in a large expense. Mr. HUME was not aware that the contractors had a large capital lying dormant, Mr. SHEIL said it was true the Government found the machinery for the Mint, but the miners had to keep that machinery in repair. He entertained an ear nest hope that ere long some useful modification would take place in the system. Mr. THOR NELY wished to know when the country might expect the issue of 2s. pieces? Mr. SHEIL said he had consulted his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the sub ject, who was more officially responsible for the issue than he was, and his Right Hon. Friend had promised to give his attention to the subject. He had, therefore, given instructions to the engraver of the Mint to hold himself in readiness to prepare the die. After some further conversation, the vote was agreed to. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. On the question that 17,0001. be voted to her Majesty, to defray the expenses of the Railway Commissioners services, Colonel SIBTHORP said he could see no necessity why the country should be put to such an expense. It ought to be paid by the railway companies. Mr. HUDSON said he did not approve of the Board. All the railway companies considered it quite uncalled for, and ho could not agree to the suggestion of the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman opposite. In selecting the officers of the Railway Board, he regretted that Go vernment had not appointed gentlemen who were con versant with the railway system. 8,0001. a year would be quite sufficient for the expenditure of the Com mission. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the annual expenditure of the board was only 12,0001., and he was quite sure that the ability and integrity with which the Hon. Gentleman conducted his own affairs put a much larger sum into his pocket than that now proposed as a salary for the officers of the board. Mr. HUDSON—Oh, but that is a mere speculation —(Laughter.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that. the appointment of the board was most popular, and the object of the Government was not to have any one upon it who was connected with railroads, in order to secure perfect fairness, and to leave no room for jealousy or suspicion of favouritism. Col. SIBTHORP said that one of the duties of the board should be to ascertain how far compensation has been given, can be, and must be given to the families of those who have been injured by accidents upon railroads, which he was sorry to observe were daily occurring. The Government were bound to take care of the lives of the people, and they should, therefore, pay attention to the subject. Mr. STRUTT said, that an Act was passed at the end of the last session for the purpose of giving compensa tion to the surviving relatives. He had also to assure the Ron. Member that there was no portion of their duty to which they paid so much attention as to the causes of accidents. And when they heard of the melancholy accident to which reference had been made, they sent down a very able engineer, with whom they had asso ciated, Mr. Walker, a very eminent gentleman ; and they had communicated with the other departments of the Government, in order that some steps might be taken. The Board of Ordnance had also sent down engineers —(Hear, hear)—to examine into the circumstance of the case. _ _ Mr. HUME considered that it was most important to ' continue the commission, and that it should be sup ported in an efficient manner. Mr. WILLIAMS did hope that her Mai( sty's Go vernment would place great power and control in the hands of the commission, even so far as to extend to the regulation of the goods on the different railways. After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the Ex- CHEQUER. and Mr. HUDSON, Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Government had any return by which they were able to ascertain the number of third class carriages in which the passengers were obliged to stand. Mr. STRUTT said, that under the terms of the Act passed last year, each railway company was obliged to run one train, at least, during the day, at a speed of not less than twelve miles an hour, and at the charge of - a penny the mile, closed and with seats ; but whether any company thought fit to run any other carriages at a less cost, or with less convenience, was an affair of which the Act took no cognisance. The vote was then agreed to. PUBLIC RECORDS. _ _ . The sum of 12,812/. was then proposed for the ex penses of the offices of public records, compensation to officers, &c. ) Mr. i)ItoTHEROE hoped that some safe and perma nent place would shortly bo prepared for the reception of the public records, in order to reserve them from the very unsafe position in which many of them were now placed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the subject was under the consideration of the Government. There was, however, considerable diffi culty in obtaining a suitable site for the erection of such a building, which he hoped would soon be met. Dr. BO WRING th oug h t t h at at t e ntion ought to be bestowed by the G overnment i n the collection of the early records of the histories of this country, which were believed to exist in great numbers, and of great value, especially some of the writings of the monkish historians. Great progress had been made in collections of this kind by the different countries on the continent. Mr. PROTHEROE thought it a matter of import ance to consider in what manner it would be best to give the information which would be so collected to the public. After a few words • from Mr. Protheroe, Dr. Bowring, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the vote was agreed to. INSPECTORS OF FACTORIES AND MINES. A vote of 13,0341., to defray the expenses of the sala ries of the inspectors of factories and mines was then agreed to. HEREDITARY CROWN REVENUES. The sum of 1,7551. was then proposed to defray the expenses of certain officer s in Scotland, formerly de frayed out of the hereditary crown revenues of that CO Mr. WILLIAMS atjected to the vote , 11 ° had HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. GODSON presented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Town• Council of the borough of Kidder minster, in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. TENANT RIGHT. Mr. NEWDEGATE presented a petition from the county of Warwick in favour of the Tenant Right Bill. SCOTCH REGISTRATION AND MARRIAGE BILLS. Sir GEORGE CLERK said he had an important pe tition to present from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to which he begged to call the attention of the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Lord Advo cate) opposite. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, at a meeting last week, took into consideration the Registration and Marriage Bills, and after a discus sion of their provisions, a division took place. In that division two hundred and four voted for a pe tition to this House, and but two against it.—(Hear.) The petition was against both Bills, and the petitioners averred that several clauses in them were extremely ob jectionable as affecting the interests of the Church of Scotland, as well as the country generally. On that account, they felt called on to oppose the Bills, and they trusted no further legislation would take place upon them till they were further considered and more matured. He had also a petition to present against the Marriage Bill from the bishops and clergy of the Epis copal Church of Scotland, who stated that the measure would inflict a great hardship on them, and praying that the House would not pass it into a law, or, at least, postpone the Bill till another session. He had also nine other petitions from various presbyteries and public bodies in Scotland to the same effect. EDUCATIONAL GRANT. Mr. VILLIERS presented a petition, praying that the Roman Catholics might be allowed to participate in the Government grant for education. Sir DE LACY EVANS presented several petitions to the same effect. CASE OF MR. COBBETT. The HoN. MEMBER also presented a petition from Mr. Cobbett, in the Queen's Bench Prison, complaining of the treatment which he had received, and praying for redress. REGISTRATION BILL. The LORD ADVOCATE presented petitions in favour of the Registration BBL HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. Mr. WILLIA.MS presented a petition from the me dical practitioners of Coventry in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. NOTICES OF MOTION—EXCISE. Dr. BO WRING gave notice that on Monday he should move for certain returns connected with the Excise, and if it should be his privilege to be in that House—(Laughter)—he should, in another session, call their attention to the necessity for an entire revision of the Excise laws. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. Mr. DIVETT gave notice that, in Committee on the Health of Towns Bill, he should move that clauses 19, 20, 21, and 23 be struck out. THE WELLINGTON STATUE. Mr. C. BERKELEY gave notice that, on reading the order of the day on Monday, he should put a question to the First Lord Commissioner of Woods and Forests with respect to the Wellington statue.—(Laughter.) RAILWAYS IN IRELAND. Lord G. BENTINCE presented petitions from Dublin, and from various unions in Clare, Queen's County, Galway, Clonmel, and other places in Ireland, in favour of the extension of railways in that country. COLONISATION. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK presented a petition from Dublin in favour of some efficient plan of colo nisation. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. V. SMITH presented a petition, numerously signed, from the medical men of Northampton, in favour of the Health of Towns' Bill, and from the Commis sioners of Paving'and Lighting in the same place, against the Bill.—(Laughter.) Mr. MACKINNON begged to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government whether it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the Health of Towns Bill this session? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he would state the course he would pursue on Monday night next. EDUCATION.—ROMAN CATHOLICS. Sir R. PEEL said he had to present two petitions to the House from her Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects, praying that they may be included in the provisions of the grant for education; the first was signed by clergy men and laymen in Allingham, Northumberland, and the second by clergymen and laymen in Enfield. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, it was agreed that the House at its rising adjourn till Monday night. POOR-LAW COMMISSION. Captain PECHELL wished to know whether the Noble Lord intended to take the vote for the expenses of the Poor-law Commission to-night? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that vote would not be included among the estimates to-night. PUBLIC BUSINESS. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that on Monday next, before the other orders of the day, be would , take up the Lords' Amendments on the Poor-law (Ireland) Bill, and the Landed Estates (Ireland) Bill. It had been before stated that two Scotch Bills— Registering Birth, &c. (Scotland) Bill (Committee), and Marriage (Scotland) Bill (Committee)—would be taken by the Lord-Advocate on Monday ; but, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to proceed with some business of an urgent nature, namely, a vote of money for the destitute poor in Ireland, according to the Act of the present session, that vote would be taken on Monday, immediately after the consideration of the Lords' amendments to the two Irish Bills. On Thurs day he would take the Prisons Bill and the Custody of Offenders Bill, on which would arise the discussion re lating to the system of transportation. On Friday he proposed to take the third reading of the Loan Discount Bill. In answer to a question, Lord J. RUSSELL stated that he would not bring on the Scotch Bills at a late period on any evening. STATE OF PORTUGAL. Mr. HUME wished to ask a question which he had put the other night, with respect to the etate of Por tugal. That question was as to whether the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had any objection to lay on the table of the House copies of the instructions which had been given to the British agents in Portugal. pro gent J. RUSSELL said that he should oppose at pro e The the producti on o f an y p a p ers res p ec t ing P o rtugal. r ecti e o r n ti t m o e t e h a e me pr h o e du w c o t a io l n d of the papers,overnm andnt hadwne when no objection to the production of the papers, and when the proper take care that they were laid on the table of the House. time, and —ho mischief would be done by that came to be thereforeconsidered ( lie trusted that when the matter give him an answer,r a on Monday the Noble Lord would once more put the uerl- he would therefore on that day Another Hox• isi E t u t . w question to the Hous e on another.. subject, proceedin g t o p u t a called to order, and ject, whe n h e was Mr. HUME said that he had anotheruesti q hut that was to the Noble Lord at the on to p u t, Foreign Department , and that was, whether a head o f t h e tions had been sent out t o Co l onel Wylde axtiiane otherstruc- British agents to use coercive measures in th e eventof the Junta not acceding to the propositions which had been laid before them? Lord PALMERSTON said that arrangements had been made between the Governments of France, Spain, and Portugal, for the repression of the insurrection in that country. The production of the papers asked for would naturally hinder the progress of any negotiations, I but when the proper time came he would be ready to produce the papers and to state the reasons for th© mea sures which they had adopted, and which he was sue would satisfy the House. Mr. HUME—AII he wished to know was, whether any instructions for coercive measures had been issued. Lord PALMERSTON said that it was impossible to produce the papers while measures were in course of execution. Mr. HUME then gave notice that he should on Monday bring the subject under the consideration of the House. RELIEF WORKS (IRELAND). Lord G. BENTINCK having observed that, while the outlay on the public works in Ireland had been reduced from a quarter of a million to 40,0001. per week, the expense of the staff, which had been rated at 60,000/. was still 14,0001. a week, said the question he wished to ask was, whether there was any prospect of the expense of the staff being reduced in proportion to the reduction of the outlay for labour? He wished, therefore, to in quire how many of those persons who were receiving 14,0001. a week of the public money were of the class of destitute electors? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that on the 25th of this month a great reduction had taken place in the number of the inferior classes employed on the public works. A reduction in the numbers of the superior officers could not be so easily effected, as they would have to be employed on the various relief committees. in the numbers of the overseers and the check clerks a very large reduction had taken place. Upon the 31st of March the number of overseers employed was 11,218, whereas upon the 25th of May their number only amounted to 3,700, being a reduction of about 7,000. The check clerks had been reduced from 4,800 on the 31st of March to 2,000 on the 25th of the present month. With regard to the others who were employed reduc tions were going on as far as was consistent with the necessities of the case. PORTUGAL Sir R. PEEL asked the Noble Lord (Palmerston) if the course which her Majesty's Government were pur suing in Portugal was the consequence of any combined plan of action with the Governments of Spain, France, and Portugal, arising out of the treaty of the Quadruple Alliance, or if it was independent of that treaty? Lord PALMERSTON said that , the policy of her Majesty's Government was not in consequence of that treaty, excepting so far as this—that the Government of Portugal addressed itself to them as being parties to that treaty, but the present proceedings were the con sequence of a new agreement. IRELAND. Lord G. BENTINCK asked if he understood the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer to say that the reduction of the pay clerks was to 3,700, or 5,700? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER re peated the statement he had made when the Noble Lord first asked the question. SCOTCH BILLS. Mr. HOME DRUMMOND wished to know when the Scotch Bills were to be brought forward? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he would state on Monday night what course should be adopted with re gard to them. INDIRECT TAXATION. _ _ Mr. EWART presented petitions from a number of merchants, spirit dealers, and bakers, resident in Edin burgh and Leith, complaining of the oppressive system of indirect taxation. Ordered to lie upon the table. On the motion for reading the order of the day, Mr. EWART rose to move that it is expedient that a more direct system of taxation on property should (as far as possible) be substituted for the indirect system (by Customs and Excise duties) now in use. That such a change would, by removing restrictions caused by the Excise, encourage trade, and the free application of science to trade. That, by removing the restric tions caused by Customs duties, it would extend commerce, and be the most natural means of prolonging the peace, by promoting the intercourse of the world. That it would be highly beneficial to the poor (who now pay the great mass of indirect taxation), by giving them more abundant means of subsistence and of employment, and would tend generally and finally to the good of all classes of the community. He wished to call the attention of the House to the present system of indirect taxation, and it was principally in the name of the poor that he did so, for it was au admitted fact that the greater portion of the tax on all the articles of consumption was paid by the poor. A. great pressure was inflicted upon the poorer classes by the system of indirect taxation, which, according to a calculation made, amounted to 20 per cent., or one-fifth of the whole revenue. Many schemes had been pro pounded; among others it had been suggested that an ad valorem duty, or one that should be regu lated by the quality of the article, would be the most fair and just in its operation, and so far had this opinion been impressed on the minds of practical men, that Sir R. Walpole, and other names not less cele brated, were among those who supported it. But experience had shown them that an ad valorem system of taxation was impracticable. The adoption of this plan would prove of inestimable service to the poor, while it would do no injury to the Exchequer. For instance, when the duty was taken off salt, it was anticipated that the returns from that source would fall off, but the anticipations were not realised. But this system of a discriminating duty, however just in theory, had not at all succeeded in practice. He was, therefore, of opinion, that since the objects sought could not be obtained by an ad valorem or discriminating duty, they should at once try the system which ho had taken the liberty of suggesting, namely, to reduce the duty on tea, on sugar, on butter, and such other articles of consumption, and place the same in their just proportions on the pro perty of the country. Under the present system the trade with China had decreased, and in other articles of general comfort and common use they were sta tionary. By adopting the mede suggested by him they would greatly increase their commerce. With respect to butter and cheese, it Ns as of great ira portance that still further reductions should be made in the duties now levied upon those articles. Large quan tities of those articles were consumed by the working classes of this country. Since the alteration of the duties on :those articles by the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth the consumption had increased in value to a very large extent. The value of the butter imported into this country in the year 1845 was 259,0001., but in the present year it amounted to 312,3261.; the value of the cheese imported in 1845 was 372,7771., while in 1847 their declared value was 506,7451., and there was no doubt but that a still greater increase would take plaee upon a further reduction of the duties. It was proved also before a Committee of that House, that if they were to lower the duties on tobacco, a very considerable trade would be created in that article, and that it would lead to a much more extensive manu facture of snuff. By the abolition of the duties on the importation of corn which had taken place, America, he believed would be induced to increases her purchases of their manufactures. There was another article also, which would be greatly affected by reduction, the article of wine, the consumption of which he believed would be increased to an incredible extent if the duties were reduced. The Hon. Member then referred to the report of the Committee, in 1833, on the Excise laws, which had made many valuable suggestions, which he wished had been carried out.—(Hear) He alluded, of course, to such petty interference of observing the Excise claim, for if the system of require existed obser vi ngtef nost oc kfor m t a e k sw i n a gts to hetnhuobmsee inne be c r on o t f d they would officersobservances aas w no properly. and he would ask whether any of the trades affected would tolerate such a supervision as it would then be necessary to institute ? The Commissioners ap pointed in 183 i, with Sir Henry Parnell at their head, had unanimously recommended the reduction of the duty from one penny to one farthing per pound ; and they had stated that France, Germany, and Spain were all in advance of this country in the manufacture of soap. Ireland, it was well known, was not rated with any duty on soap. He would not trouble the House with any further observations on this head, because many Honourable Members were intimately acquainted with the subject. But there was another :subject of very considerable importance, on which he must say a few words. That was the duty on paper. Now, this duty was first imposed in the 10th of Queen Anne, in the year 1711, and it was said to be imposed to provide supplies for the war, and to obtain a good and lasting peace. A long time had elapsed since that peace was established, but the duty had never been removed. To show the extent of this grievance, he might state that the paper on which newspapers are printed is formed of the sweepings of the cotton factories; and one of the evils which the petitioners complained of was, that the mate rial of which their paper was formed, and which was taxed in its manufactured state, had pre viously been taxed when in Its raw condition. He was particularly anxious to have the duty taken off paper, because he considered that it was a tax upon the literature of the country. They must all re member the repeal of the almanac tax. Before that tax was taken off almanacs could only be procured by the rich. There was every prospect of the English language becoming eventually the only language used in commerce. This was evident from the rapidity with which Eng land and America were extending their foreign relations, and this was an additional reason why the literature of this country should be left free and untaxed. It was also desirable that an equalization of the duties levied in this country and Ireland on spirits should take place. Salt also was an article, the consumption of which had greatly increased since a reduction had taken place in the amount of duty upon it, and upon which it was desir able, for the cause of chemistry, and the other sciences, that the Excise duties should be entirely removed. The effect of the whole of the Excise duties was seriously to impede the progress of the arts, as well as to inflict an injury upon the public at large. The Excise laws ope rated also upon science, and checked its advance, as ap plied to the arts. There was one kind of duties, how ever, which were so unequal in their pressure that he would briefly allude to them—he meant the stamp duties. It was mentioned last year before a Committee who sat upon these duties, that upon a 501. sale of land the duty was 121 per cent., On 1001. 51 per cent., and so on to 5001., when it was 1 per cent. He called on them in the name of morality to alter their present system. He also maintained that if they had a more direct system of taxation, they would collect their taxes at a much less cost, and thereby increase the revenue very considerably. One reason, e therefore, why he preferred direct to indirect tax was because it el eva t e d th e mora l s o f t h e p eo pl e , and another was because it was ca l cu l ate d to preserve the peace of M ME" A co G n E ded Eß th o e m u mo T tion E . ESS the wo r ld. fir.. HU LORDS. wh A i l e :s w e e l ers from th e L or d s b rought up several Bill s , The ordered to li e on t h e table. debate was thou resumed. divided the House upon several occasions on the vote ; he would not, however, do so on the present occasion, but he hoped that the vote would not be again brought forward. LORD LIEUTENANT'S HOUSEHOLD. The sum of 6,4641. was then proposed to defray the charges of the salaries of the officers, and other expenses, of the household of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Dr. BOWRING objected to the vote; one of the items of which it was made up was 1,5001. to be laid out in Queen's Plates to be run for at horse races. He thought that in the present distressing state of that country, it was most unreasonable to ask the House to agree to vote away such a sum for such a purpose. Mr. LABOUCHERE defended the vote on the ground that various sums were voted by the House for England and Scotland for this purpose, and he thought it would be most invidious to refuse to Ireland so small a vote as that now proposed. Mr. WILLIAMS thought that it would be just es reasonable to propose a vote for the encouragement of cock-fighting and badger-baiting as for the promotion of the gambling and nefarious system of horse-racing. He should move as an amendment that the vote be reduced to the sum of 4,8901. ls. 3d., thereby excluding the item for Queen's Plates. The gallery was cleared for a divisihn, but none took place, and the vote was agreed to. 22.788/. was also agreed to for the Chief Secretary's and Privy Council Offices, Ireland. On the vote of 5,1351. being proposed to defray the expenses of the office of the Paymaster of the Civil Ser vice in Ireland, Mr. HUME objected to that vote, and said that the office of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland should be done away with altogether. Ireland should be placed on the same footing in every respect as England, and if this equality was secured, there would be little occasion for such offices as that for which the present vote was pro• posed. If he had the good fortune to be returned to the next Parliament, he would not allow the first session to pass over without submitting a motion to the House to abolish the Lord-Lieutenant's office, and he believed there would not be found a single Member who would not join hiaa in getting rid of an institution whose only object appeared to be the creating and fostering a great system of cabal. This mode of dealing with Ireland was not the proper one, and had the effect of making that country a colony instead of an integral part of the United Kingdom. lle would enter his protest against this and similar votes, as ho believed those offices en tailed a useless and unnecessary expense upon the country. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that whatever opinion might be entertained with respect to the utility of these offices, it was not upon an item like that the question could be discussed. His Hon. Friend said the general advantage should be looked to in the application of his expenditure, and he agreed with him in that opinion, but he would not then enter into a discussion of the question which the Hon. Gentleman brought before them. The vote was then agreed to. On the vote of 27,0281. to defray the expenses of the Board of Public Works in Ireland, Sir R. FERGUSON asked the Chancellor of the Ex quer what arrangement was made with respect to the salary of the Chairman of the Board ; and he should also like to know what part of that office was to be tem porary, and what permanent ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who was very imperfectly heard, was understood to say, that he was not able to state what part of the office would be permanent and what temporary. Mr. HENLEY said the vote was very much increased since last year. It was very large, and as it was an ad ditional sum to what was expended in the weekly superintendence of the works going: on in Ireland. He thought it would be very desirable to know what part of the office was to be temporary and what permanent. The vote was then agreed to. On the vote of 39,0001. to defray the secret service expenses, Dr. BOWRING thought it very strange that the same amount should be asked year after year for this item, and he wished to know if there was any balance ever left from foi flirt. years. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the vote every year was struck on an average by former years. Mr. HUME objected to the vote altogether. He did not think that bribing a set of fellows, such as those who received this money, was the proper plan for any Government to adopt. A Government that could not carry on its business without resorting to this expedient was not fitted to carry on the affairs of the country. The tendency of such expenditure was always to in crease more and more, and he protested against such an outlay at all. Mr. WILLIAMS considered it would be very desi rable to know whether any balances of this expenditure remained at the end of the year. He thought the vote was a most objectionable one, and that it created the most erroneous impressions among the people, many of whom supposed that a considerable portion of it was de voted to electioneering expences. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that such a report was altogether without foundation. The expenditure of this vote was strictly looked after, and he did not think that any portion of it was unnecessarily incurred. The vote was then agreed to. 295,5131. was proposed to defray the expenses of the stationery and printing, &c. of the various public de partments. Mr. WILLIAMS considered that this was a most enormous sum, and would like to see a detailed account of this expenditure. lir. PARKER said there were so many returns or dered by the House—so many inquiries made, and so many documents demanded, that a very large expendi ture was necessarily incurred. Mr. CARDWELL corroborated this statement, and said if a detailed return of the cost of printing each do cument was made, the expenditure under this vote would be greatly increased. After a few words from Mr. HUME, who was desir ous that a full detail of the accounts should be given, Dr. BOWRING said if the statements made by the late Secretary of the Treasury (Mr. Cardwell) were correct, it only showed the complicated and entangled way in which the public accounts were kept, and the necessity which existed for an improved system of.keep ing them. Mr. CARDWELL said that these observations were entirely unfounded and uncalled for. What he said simply was a detailed account of tbe cost of printing each return would cause a very considerable additional expenditure. Lord G. BENTINCK thought that many of the re turns ordered were useless, and he should like to have a return of the cost of the various documents which had been moved for by the two Hon. Gentlemen opposite (Dr. Bowring and Mr. Hume.)—(Laughter.) Mr. HUME had not the slightest objection to accede to the Noble Lord's wish, and to challenge him to say that he (Mr. Hume) ever moved for a return that he did not afterwards make use of.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had no right to say that the papers he moved for were useless and unnecessary. Let the papers be looked at, and it would be seen that in the great majority of in stances his object was removal of existing abuses.— (Hear, hear.) As there appeared, however to be some reluctance to give a detailed account of the expenditure of this item, he would, on Monday next, move that these accounts be analysed, and that the result be laid before the House. Sir W. CLAY said there could be no doubt that many of the returns moved for were quite unnecessary, and only gave trouble to the department without producing any advantage. Mr. WILLIAMS said it appeared that there bad been an increase of 68,0001. in the course of last year ; but the Hon. Gentleman had only accounted for 11,000/. He was not aware that more Parliamentary papers were published last year than in its predecessor. He hoped, therefore, that the Hon. Gentleman would take the subject into consideration, and that for the future a succinct account would be furnished of the different papers published, and of the quantity of paper supplied to the different public offices. Dr. BOWRING said, frequently repetitions of the same return were published, and suggested, in order to obviate this, that before an unopposed order was put by the chair, it should be ascertained that no similar document had been previously published. Returns were invariably made according to the letter of the order, and where figures extended over a number of pages, they were not added up at the bottom of each page, and Hon. Members were often obliged to add up the whole at the end of the twentieth or thirtieth page, He had never moved for a return, because he had, been asked to do so ; but because they had reference to mat- • tors before the House. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER depre cated the turn which the discussion had taken. He considered, however, that some censure was deserved, with respect to the way in which returns were made out. Wher Hon. Members had asked him whether he had any objection to a return, he had invariably suggested that they should search their library in order to ascertain whether they had or had not been furnished, and fre quently similar returns had been found. It would be utterly impossible to furnish every item of expanse in preparing a return—such as paper, printing, &c.--but at the same time he could not avoid saying that the expense of this department ought to be conducted as economi cally as possible, but without, at the same time, militating against the value of the documents. Mr. HENLEY wished to know what portion of the increase related to papers published by the order of the House, and what to the papers published by the order of the different public departments ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had already stated that the increase in Parliamentary papers was 15,0001. Mr. ARK WRIGHT inquired what control the sta tionery-office had in the publication of papers? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the stationery-office could not print any pap,rs without authority to that effect from the public office from which they were supplied. Papers were printed under the authority of the Government, and the Government was, of course, responsible. After some further conversation, the vote was agreed to. 9,6001. was next voted to defray the expense of Mint prosecutions, and 16,1001. to defray the expense of sheriffs, commissions of the peace, & c . 13,3681. was next proposed to defray the expense of the Insolvent Debtors' Court. Mr. HUME said he had understood that the Bankruptcy and Insolvent Debtors' Court were to be amalgamated. He wished to know, whether this was to be the case or not ? Mr. PARKER replied, but the purport of it did not reach the gallery. The vote was agreed to. 61,0601. was next proposed to defray the law ex penses of Scotland. In reply to Mr. HUME, The LORD ADVOCATE said the accounts were reguittrly audited. On the vote of 71,2591. being proposed to defray the expenses of criminal prosecutions and law charges in Ireland, _ _ . Mr. HUMS wished to know if the system of detain ing witnesses for many months before the trisls n which they were engaged was:allowed, or was still con tinued ? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for Ireland said, ex cepting in very rare instances, this system was done away with. The vote was agreed to. On the vote of 388,0001. for defraying certain charges formerly borne by the county rates, being proposed, Mr. HENLEY said that as this vote could not cover the expense at present incurred by the country for the maintenance of the persons detained in custody, he wished to know how the balance was to be made up? Sir GEORGE GREY said that there were two classes of prisoners—those to be detained in custody in the gaols of this country, and those sentenced to banishment beyond seas. The present vote was intended to cover the expense of the former class, the latter would be pro vided for by a future vote of the House. Dr. BO WRING wished that the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State would give the House some assurance that the good conduct on the part of a pri soner would alleviate the condition and length of his punishment, Sir G. GREY said that such an assurance was not required, as the principle was already acted on. The vote was agreed to. On the vote of 14,3491. being proposed to defray the expenses of Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight, Mr. HUME thought that the present system was an experiment which must of necessity fail. He believed that it had failed already. He thought the preferable system would he to give homeless boys an opportunity of going to the colonies, where they might turn out good subjects. As the case was at present the country was put to a vast expense, and no good was derived. Sir G. GREY said that the experiment had com pletely succeeded. Mr. WILLIAMS said that the cost at present incurred under this system was 201. per boy, which would be far less if they were, by consent of their parents, sent out of the country. The vote was, after a few words from Lord GEORGE BENTINCK, agreed to. On the vote of 18,3071. being proposed to defray the expenses of the Pentonville Model Prison, Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the expense incurred at this prison for the maintenance of each prisoner. The average cost of maintenance in each case was 361. Is., which was a larger amount than two independent and honest labourers had in wages to support themselves and their families. Sir GEORGE GREY said that the expenses were daily decreasing in the establishment, which was other wise of the highest importance, as furnishing a model for the psisons throughout the country. Mr. WILLIAMS said that he found fault with the expenditure in this matter of last year. Things were differently managed in New York. There were two prisons there where the product of the labour of the prisoners confined there last year was 10,000 dollars more than the cost. Mr. HENLEY said the cost of maintaining prisoners here was 14s. a-week, it being necessary, under the silent system, to deal out a more livable diet. He must say that he did not think there was any extravagance committed in the cost of maintaining the prisoners under the system here adopted. Mrs HUME said that it did appear to him that Go vernment ought to take a comprehensive view of this subject, for he thought they were not at the present time pursuing a very wise course. This was a model prison, and was a great expense. Mr. HENLEY said that he was of opinion that this experiment was not very convincing, inasmuch as only picked prisoners were confined in this prison. Some doubt also existed as to the efficacy of separate confine ment, at d there were a great number of cases of insanity or of delusion. Sir G. GREY denied that there was any excess of these cases. The estimate was then agreed to. 33,9851. was agreed to for the prison at Milbank. The estimate for 8,812/. for the prison at Perth was also agreed to. The vote of 3,2231. for convict depots, Dublin, &c., was agreed to. The vote of 10,000/. to defray the expense of a prison for general convicts in Ireland. The vote of 4,4021. to defray the charges of maintain ing criminal lunatics in Bethlehem Hospital was agreed to. The vote of 6,2931. to defray the expense of erecting a prison for criminal lunatics in Dublin was agreed to. The voteof 11,1001. to pay the salaries of inspectors of prisons in Scotland and of lunatic establishments in Ireland was agreed to. On the vote of 39,5001., to defray the charge of the Metropolitan Police, in Dublin, Mr. HUME said he had often intended to ask what were the expenses of the police courts, and how many magistrates were in each office; he now, therefore, put the question? Mr. LABOUCHERE said the salary of each magis trate was 6001. a year, and there were three attached to each court. The vote was agreed to. The vote of 118,7801. to defray the expenses of the convict establishments at Bermuda and Gibraltar ; and The vote of 200,0001. to defray the expenses of the convict establishments at Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales, were agreed to. On the vote of 100,0001. for education in Ireland, Mr. HUME regretted that no report of the previous history of the experiment had been laid on the table. He had himself visited Ireland, and when he saw the schools there, and the actual effects of the system, he was satisfied in his own mind that the system was excel lent.—(Hear, hear.) By it all parties were united ; and he was sure the only way to effect the same good end, the union of all parties, in Scotland and England, would be to adopt the same system. Mr. LABOUCHERE said he had no difficulty in ex pressing his opinion, that the system, from the results which had followed, was the best that could have been adopted ; and in reference to that country itself, the most adapted. But he did not think that a report must necessarily be laid upon the table, to induce the House to agree to the vote. At the same time, ha thought it desirable that information should be furnished, and a report would be laid upon the table in a few days. Those who read that report would at once bs gratified to mark how great had been the blessings of education.—(Hear, hear.) There were half a million of children, both Catholics and Protestants, often educated together, but at least all well educated. The Right Hon. Gentleman then read from a document, that there wer ) 456,410 children under a course of education in the Go • vernment schools; that the last year's increase had been 23,500 children, and 211 schools; that one-seventh of the children were Protestants; that of the total number of schools, viz., 3,986, there was 1,601 in Ulster alone; that 300 teachers were annually trained, one-fifth of whom were Protestants; that both Protestants and Ca tholics were educated together, irrespective of creeds, and always with the greatest harmony. Mr. EWART was gratified with the statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman. But as to the remark of the Hon. Gentleman about its being adopted in this country, he had to tell him, that it had been adopted by the Cor poration of Liverpool, and acted on with the happiest results. Mr. M'CARTHY said, that amongst all the different topics of education, there was none of so much prac tical importance as that of agriculture. in all its branches. He hoped that this branch was not less at tended to than the other and less important branches of secular education. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the subject bad not been lost sight of by the Government, and a proper system of education on this subject had been esta blished ; the importance of which was fully appreci ated both by the Government and the people them selves. After a few words from Mr. VERNON SMITH, The vote was then agreed to. On the vote for a grant of 6,5001. for the Schools o Design, Mr. EWART expressed his anxiety that one uni form system should be kept up in these schools, and that the taste of pupils in the country should be modelled and guided by casts of the best designs from the central school in London. He was also anxious to call the attention of the House to the instruction of females in the schools of design. He hoped that every facility would be granted for the establishment of schools for females in that branch of the arts. Mr. HAWES answered the observations of the Hon. Member, but was quite inaudible in the gallery. After some further conversation the vote was agreed to. The next vote proposed was 2,0061 for the purpose of defraying the expenses of certain professors at Oxford and Cambridge. Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the sum as extravagant, considering the great wealth of the Universities. Mr. ESTCOURT defended the vote. The sum had been agreed to on a former occasion, when the Crown appointed those professors , and it had never under any circumstance been increased. It would, therefore, be very imp ro per to refuse the vote now, and he trusted the House would affirm it. Mr. EWART regretted that the course of education pursued at the universities was such as to justify such objections as had now been taken. Mr. HUME thought the matter a very shabby busi ness altogether. He had repeatedly called on them to furnish a statement of their accounts and funds, but they never had yet furnished it. Ile trusted the matter would be fully inquired into. Mr. WAKLEY called the attention of the Govern ment to the fact that the professor of chemistry had but 100/. a year, while the professor of modern history had 3501. This ought to be amended. Atter some further discussion the motion was agreed to. The next vote was for the sum of 4,5361. to defray the expenses of the London University. It was agreed to, after a few remarks from Mr. lIUME. The sum of 7,4801. was ,ag votedScottishran t t u o tnoi v h te e hr r se tNi Royalsa st 3 t o Irish defrayThe t n h e e x e t x N p v e a n s s e f s e for f 3 t o h o e /. Academy.--It was agreed to. The following votes were also agreed to:- 300/. for the Royal Hibernian Society. defray the expenses 6,000/. for the Royal Dublin Society.r3c,le 9 1 0 OnLe fornett v theote wasße Belfast a fo s t r 47,9 Institution. 591.to of the new buildings of the British Museum. It was agreed to, after a protest from seum. Mr. WILLIAMS, Mr. HUME and The sum of 3,152/ was voted to h( r Majesty, to enable the trustees of the British Museum to defray the ex penses of collecting antiquities. The next vote was 5,537/. for the National Gallery. Mr. HUME complained that the trustees had recently purchased copies of paintings under the impression that th©y were originals at extravagant prices. After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER in explanation, Mr. HUME complained that the minutes which ought to have passed before the House of Commons had not been produced, and he intended, therefore, to move that they be laid on the table of the House, so that the public might see by whose advice this forgery had been. purchased. Colonel THOMAS WOOD objected altogether to the purchase of those pictures, at least while the Gallery was under the present management. The present National Gallery was in a disgusting and dirty state; it was, in a disgraceful state: because all classes were admitted; and it so happened, that persons came there to lounge and pass away the time,instead of being attracted by the beauty of the pictures. Mr. HUME could not say that he had seen the Gal lery in that filthy state. It might, perhaps, towards the end of the day. But the keepers had certainly informed him that the rooms were washed every morning. He (Mr. Hume) would feel much obliged if the Hon. Mem ber would point out to his attention where the place WaS in that very dirty state; because he should certainly, as one of the trustees of the Gallery, endeavour to im prove it. He must say that he had been there—he was there repeatedly—and he was always happy to see that it was frequented by persons of all classes; and he trusted it would long continue to be so.—(Cheering.) The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 8,961/. to defray in part the expenses of tho Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland was then agreed to. On the vote of 4,0941. for the erection of observatories at St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and in Vat= Diemen's Land. Mr. HUME observed that they had already in former sessions, given two votes for this purpose, and he wished to know when these were to be ready? Lord MORI'ETH trusted that no further delay Wel° take place. Vote agreed to. On the vote of 2,0001. towards defraying the expel log of the Monument in Trafalgar-square, Mr. WILLIAMS inquired how much would be wanted to complete the Monument ? Lord MORPETH said it had been handed over to the Government, which had undertaken to complete it, and it was then estimated that 12,000/. would be required to complete the base ; 8,0001. had been already voted ; 2,000/. was asked from the House now, and be thought that 2,0001. more would cover the rest of the expenses. Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought that this country west very unfortunate in its public monuments. He com plained of the present one on the ground that it wee entirely out of proportion. The vote was then agreed to. The sums of 4,0494 to defray the charges of the civil establishment at the Bermudas, and 3,410 for the Bahamas, were then voted. As was also a vote for the sum of 3,070/. for the like purpose at Prince Edward's Island. A sum of 400/. was also voted to defray the charges of the civil establishments at Sable Island. The following votes were also agreed to : The sum of 13,680/. for the civil establishments on the Western Coast of Africa. 11,5001. for the charges of the coal establishment as St. Helena. 7,219/. for the charges of the establishment of Western. Australia. A sum of 1,240/. was also voted to defray the charges of the settlement at Port Essington. The sum of 5,500/. was next proposed in order to de fray the charges of the civil establishments at the Falk' land Islands. After a few words from Mr. Hume, Dr. Bowring: an d Mr. Hawes, this vote was also agreed to. The sum of 36,0001. was then proposed to defray th e charges of the civil establishment of New Zealand. Mr. HUME objected to the votes, on the ground that the island having now a government of its own, it oug ht to bear its own expenses. Mr. HAWES said that the Act had not yet come into force which gave a local government to that country. After a few words from Dr. BOWRING and Lor IN" GESTRIE, The vote was agreed to. 1,0231. was next agreed to for the Heligoland Islan as also 18,39*4/. for the West Indian colonies ; 11,57 d 86'l for the Ecclesiastical expenses of the British North American colonies ; and 1 5,0001. for the Indian depart' ment of Canada. aes of 23,815/. was next proposed to defray the expen— the Colonial Land Emigration Board. boa Mr. V. SMITH complained that a gentleman who _ formerly been assistant-secretary to the board , had be_ej appointed one of the Commissioners, at a salary of I,O TI a year. The explanation to the vote was this— i% there were originally three salaried Commissioner* an that the increase of business had rendered the elVicloew. ment of a third Commissioner necessary. Thl s f lo bad en ever, was not the case, as two of the gentlem A w er e not acted as Commissioners held other offices , se tn paid exclusively for their duties as commissioners. thought but two commissioners were required. Mr. HAWES said it was essential that t here should be three commissioners in order that disputes might settled which two could not well deal wit h, and _be. .P' Rogers, the gentleman appointed, having bad cosi/04.1: able experience, was thought a proper person to a pp om and he was accordingly nominated. Mr. HUME said that this was a palpable attempt to magnify the labours of the commissioners. They did not in any degree assist the emigration of the persons who departed this country, for they emigrated to the colonies unaided and unassisted. He thought with his Hon. Friend that a loss of 1,000/. was incurred to the country by the appointment of the third commis sioner. Mr. HAWES considered that as additional labour was imposed, there should be an additional commis stoner. Mr. BORTHWICK thought that question should receive consideration from a full House. The vote was agreed to. On the vote for the estimate of 15,790/. for defraying the expenses of the functionaries employed in the colo . nies, Sir GEO. CLERK made a few observations which were inaudible. Mr. HUME said that this question certainly required some consideration. Mr. WILLIAMS said he would press the House 'to a division on this vote. After some conversation it was agreed that Mr. Green should report progress. The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Monday next. The Newfoundland Government Bill, and the Borough Police (Scotland) Bill, were read a second time. The House then adjourned at One o'clock. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAY 28. STOCK. EXCHANGE.-The sales are-East Lancashire, New', 1 dis.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, Quarters, 17-Great Western, Fifths, 25 3 4 -London and North-Western, 174 Ditto, New, Quarters, 10 1 / 8 p.-Ditto (Manchester and Bir mingham) Quarters (A), 5 1 74 p.-Ditto, Quarters (C), 54 p. -Manchester and Leeds, 32/. Shares (late Extensions), par Ditto, Fifths (late West Riding Union), Is. 3d. dis.- D Grimsby and ehietatote(rlastehelllealtdic,heasntedr, L B i o n l e t o o l o n , ( a l n a d te B G u r r e y a ) t , 17 p.-Man- Sheffiel'd), 20/. Shares, 6 ls. 3d. dis.-Midland, 116 3 / 4 .- Ditto, 40/. Shares, 3 , ,8 p.-Ditto, New, 2 5 / A P.-Newcastle and Berwick, New, 1 3 4 p.-North British, New, 3s. 9d. p. -Preston and Wyre, 35 3 /-South-Eastern and Dover, New, No. 2, dis.-Ditto, No. 4, Is. 3d. dis.-York and Newcastle, Preference, 3 p.-York and North Midland (East and West Riding Extensions), Preference, 8 1 4 ) p.-Hudders iuntghhpaomrt, l a l n / d Oxford Junction, p.-Hudders field Canal and Railway, I A p. ex int.-Leeds and Thirsk, Preference, p.-LiN,erp 00 3 1 s; C 9 ro d s . b P y . , -- an i3i d r S in o STOCK EXCHANGE. -The sales are 6 1 / 2 p.-Great Northern, 1N dis.-North Staffordshire, 2 1 4 _ Amber E t I N nd t ian . ,8. LEEDS, MAY 28. /8 P. as Notting ham, and Boston, 11A dis. -East Lancashire, New, 3 % dis. -Ditto, New (scrip), Is. p.-East and West g Y a o e rksh o ir t e l , n 7i g. dis.- Great Northern, 235. dis.-Ditto, Extensions, 15s. dis. -Leeds and Dewsbury, 10s. n. p.-Leeds and Thirsk, New, 4 5 / n. dis.-Ditto, Preference, 6d. dis.-Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 18s. 6d. dis.-London, Brighton, and South Coast, 53 n.-Malton and Driffield Junction, 15s. n. dis.-- Manchester and Leeds, Quarters, 2% p.-Ditto, 321. Shares (late Extensions), 4s. p.-Ditto, West Riding Union, 3s. p. -Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, ss. dis- Midland, Preference, 2/ 2 p.-North British, Quarters (late Carlisle Branch), 21s. p.-Ditto, Extensions (scrip), 2s. 6d. p.-North-Western, 1 1 / dis.-Sheffield, Rotherham, and Goole, 1 dis.-Wharfdale Junction, llg dis.-York and Newcastle, Preference, 3 1 A p. SHEFFIELD, Inv 28. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, dis.-Manchester and Leeds (West Riding Union), 1 4 p. -Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln shire (Grimsby and Sheffield), W e dis.-Ditto, 201. Shares, 3 1 4 c. dis.-Ditto, Docks, 4% dis.-North-Western, dis. HULL, MAY 28. STOCK ExcHallou.-The sales are-Anabergate, Notting -6d.-Great Northern, 48 5. - M anchester, Buxton, Matlock, ham, and Boston, 305. - East Lancas hire, New (scrip), -255. and Midland, lk dis.-Manchester and Leeds (West Riding Union), ls. 6d. p.-Newcastle and Berwick, `2SN-Ditto, New, 1-% p.-North British, Quarters, 855.-Ditto, Exten sion (scrip), 3s. p.-Ditto, Thirds (scrip), 51s. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, MAY 27. STOCK EXCHA;GE.—The sales are—Caledonian, New, 16a. dia.—Newcastle and Carlisle, 110—Ditto, Quarters, 9s. p. A BLACK TURNED WHITE.-ALEXANDRIA, MAT 9.—The extraordinary fact of a black woman turning white has recently occurred at Cairo. The woman is married to $ black soldier belonging to Ibrahim Pacha's guard BIRTHS. On the 27th inst., at Hendon, the Countess of Kerr}' °I a daughter. On the 25th inst., at Purbrook Lodge, Ilants, the lady of Stephen Winkworth, Esq. ' of a daughter. On the 26th inst., the ladyMasterman, of a son. On the 26th inst., in Noel-street, Islington, thewife of W. L. Hooper, Esq., of a daughter. On the 26th i ns t., a t N onsuc h-park, Surrey, the lady of W. F. G. Farmer, Esq., of a son. On the 26th inst., at Cottimore, Walton-on -Thames, the lady of John W. Gooch Spicer, Esq., of a daughter. On the 27th inst., at Clapham - pa rk, the lady of William Thornton West, Esq., of a daughter. On the 27th inst., at Markham-square, Chelsea, Dirs. Halse, of a son. At South-crescent, Bedford-square, the lady of Captain Norman C. MacLeod, Bengal Engineers, of a daughter. _MARRIED. On the 11th of January, at Ghazeepore, A. E. Frere, Esq•' Lieutenant in her Majesty's 24th Regiment, to Miss Eliza- , beth Palmer, daughter of Quartermaster James Price, of the same regiment. On the 27th inst., et St. Mary's, Bryanston.square, the Rev. William Cooke, B. A,, to Fanny, second daughter of the late Rev. G. J. llaggitt, of Bury St. Edmund's. DIED. On the 11th of April, at Bombay, Frances Gvrynne, wife of Captain Henry Creed, Hon. Company's Artillery, aged 2 Dirs. l. On the 23d inst., at Belgrav e House, Turnham-green, Penelope Graham, aged 84. London: Printed and Publialtei by MUSD° YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Odic, No.lll, Strand, in the PIOCIBCt of the Sovoy, th e County of dleSeX, BatUllart ALIT VI 1647. 4 ti 'Yi ` r '~ 1 ~~~ ~,,a.r - sv----