The Sun. — London, England, 1847-12-15 00:00:00

rbtrb ;Itittott SUN OFF' ).IS, Set, o' Clock. IMPERIA L PA ENT. (THIS DAY.) mth HOUSE OF LORDS. The Earl of SHAFTESBURr, in the absence of die Lord Chancellor, took his seat upon the Woolsack at a quarter before Five o'clock. PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND) BILL. Messengers from the Commons brought up the Public Works (Ireland) Bill, which was read a first time. PETITIONS. Lord FARNHAM presented several petitions, pray ing their Lordships to adopt measures to put down the system of murder now prevailing in Ireland, to punish priests denouncing pet sons from the altar, and to pre vent Roman C a tholic bishops from assuming be titles of Church of England dioceses. . . The Earl of ST. GERMANS presented a pctition from Blackwater against denunciations from the altar. The Earl of YARBOROUGH presented a petition against the abolition of arrest on mesne process. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from Dungarvan, praying their Lordships to adopt mea sures to provide work for the able-bodied poor in work houses ; also a petition from Newport, Isle of Wight, in favour of the removal of the Jewish disabilities ; also a petitiun from the students of the University of Glasgow, praying for an alteration in the tests. CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of LANDOWNE this Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted to-morrow, and their Lordships were ordered to be summoned. RAILWAYS BILL Lord GRANVILLE moved the second reading of this Bill The object of the Bill was to allow Railway Companies after giving due notice to the Railway Com missioners, to extend the time for the completion of their works. This would give relief to shareholders aid to the public, and would tend greatly to relieve the money market. Lord STANLEY, considering the object of the Bill to be a desirable ono, would not offer any opposition to the motion. It must be remem bered, however,• that the longer they protracted: the time granted - for the 'construction of a railroad, the loner they protracted the incuni , enier:ce to the land owner and the demoralization of the district in which the railway was in the course of construction. He thought power should be given to the Commisgioners to extend the time not at which the works should be com pleted, but the time at which works not' jtt undertaken should be commenced. He thought also that the clansea of a majority of the shareholders should be sufficient to authorise the stoppage of the works, instead of requiring the consent of three-fifths present at a meeting. • Lord MONTEAGLE thought the su g ges:ions very valuable. This Bill had been rendere necessary by the erroneous system of legislation which they had adopted with regard to railways, by sChich they had authorised 250,000,0001. sterling to be raised by these railway companies. The - Noble Lord concluded by giving notice of his intention to bring in a Bill for the more effectual auditing of railway accounts, by which he would give the shareholders in any railway the power to apply to the Commis sioners to appoint proper persons to institute a searching investigation into the state of the accounts of such company, and that on such `application being made, the Commissioners should cause such audit to Co instituted. If the classification of Railway Bills, sug geited in the Lords' report in 1845, had been adoptel, there would have been a material diminution in the number of railway Bills passed last session. Earl GRANVILLE said that after the recess the Government intended to move for a Committee of their Lordships to consider, and to classify the railway Bills which might come up from the other House. Lord STANLEY explained. After a few words from the Earl of MALMESBURY, the Bill was read a second time. MASTERS- OF WORKHOUSES. The Earl of ST. GERMANS asked if it was intendo.l to introduce a measure granting superannuation allow ances to retired masters-of workhouses? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to say that the matter, was under the consideration of the Government. BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS. Lord STANLEY asked if there would be any objec tion to lay before their Lordships the monthly returns of the trade and commerce of the country, prepared by the Board of Trade ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE would make inquiries on the subject. Their Lordships then adjourned. [ln the-Parliamentary report of last enning it was stated that certain petitions had been presented by the, Bishop of Durham. This was an error. The lii,;ht Rev. Prelate who presented the petitions in question was the Bishop of Llancaff, anit itol the Bishop of Durham.] • HO SE OF - 'COMMONS. . . • COMNIERCIAIa DISTRESS. - - • (Contiaued, (rum our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. WAKLEY thought that the resolution appoint ing the Committee ought to be r , seinded. There was a genera: _opinion abroad that this Committee was only appointed for the purpose of slirking- a full and fair inquiry into the oprraCon3 of the Bank Charter Act. He admitted that the R4, , ht Han. Bironnt the Clian• cellor of the Excheqw , r Ras placed in a very difficult pozitiona• It was difficult to prescribe for a patient in any case of disease, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer had act only attempted to pre,:cribe, but he had to choose the doctors:who should prescribe. But do these doctors come free from con victloo ? NO; they will not be changed in their opinion by the reault of any inquiry. The Right Hon. Baronet -has had to select the doctors who have already prescribed fur, and already nearly killrd the pa - tknt, John Bull.—(Laugh ter.) .One of the doctors said that ,there was some thing the matter with the spine ; ano:her that the patient had a difficulty of breathiiig:; another said that there was som:ahing wrong with: the state of• the :circutation- - (Laagtter) —that the circu lating 'medium *as oat" of onfer.—(LauOiter.) The duetors have alretsfly ptreural their mode of treatment for the patient in oppositi. - in to the opinions of all ine partial - and philosophic men; they were wrong in their coarse; but they mere entitt,rl to their mode of procedure. The merahers of the Con:matte trerc so pledged that there was no hope, that otit of any investigations that might •be mare, they would be inductd to altar their opinion of the state of the patient, or of the temedics regnired: One of the doctors will WIT go on working; with his - digeTtive remtdia!s at the stomach, another will continue probing the spine, one will try his ^ohien•remedy,- another his caustic or salve remedy.— Hear, hear.) There - wail no doubt that they would gain hate tne -old p rescr i pt i ons, b ecause the majority i were n tavour of the ohl retnedies.- - --( [fear, hear.) Now, why not try a prescription, at once ? Why all this waste of time ? What was the use of keeping twenty-six men for months in such a process of inquiry ? Why, an old Dorking hen in a farm-yard would in three waeks, by an assiduous attention ro her unties; hdclaaore'valtie to the farm than thi3 - Committee if r it coMinued sitting for cix months.— Langhter.) He begged of the Committee not to sit at, all, they would hatch nd brood ur fine ehiskens— (Laughter) —at bent they would only addle the eggs.— (Renewed laughter.) Ile meat sincerely trusted that the Governmeulwould reconsider their decision and give up the idea of employing 26 men fur a length of. time upon to fruitless an inquiry. He knrw that already Hon. Gen tlemen shrunk from an inquiry into the detects of the Act of 1844. The inquiry was to be an inquiry into the commercial distresa Why, they could not come to the Bank Charter till next June or possibly June, 1849. Now some of these doctors had been already at work. Some had received their fees, others had not. But there was now another party who were expectants, and ex pected to be called in ; that was the Radical party. Now, of that party he saw only one name upon the Com mittee. and 'that was the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), and he had' declined to serve. Now, he (Mr. W akley) proposed to put' in his place another name; the name of a Radical—the lion. Member - for Birmingham (Mr. Muntx). lie was a hardwire man, a hard headed man, a man who had got brains, and, speaking physiologically, he should say, brains'of the right soh.—(Laughter.) A person bad only to - look at him, and it was enough to see that he understood the question. There was no doubt that this was a question which had engaged much of his attention. He (Mr. Wakley) proposed, therefore, that the name of Mr. Muntz should be inserted instead of the Hon. Member for Monttoie (Mr. Hume). It was not neoes sary that he "should offer any apology to that Hun. Member. -. He had declined to serve. There was no person in that House who would more value the services of th a t Hon. Member upon th e C omm i t t ee than he would.—(llear.) He (Mr. W a kl e y) h a d a great regard for the health of that Hon. Member, and at his period o f li fe he ought not to be placed in such a situa tion.—(Laughter.) The Hon. Member b e hi n d hi m (Mr. Muntz) could, he thought, &Lind the difficulty ; he was a manefacturerund an employer of labour; be had investigated the jeet; he was also merchant, a ,vety larg e a . foreign foreign merchant, and under stood the question of the e anges. He (Mr. Wakley) believed that the Guvernmelreiht beside3of opinion was but one man that there (sir R. Right , Ron. Baronet the . Member for Tamworth who did under stand that question. That g ent lena c an ) al was, he believed, so that be was a very wealthy man, and he was told Ile wished very desirous of increasing his wealth. lions.peGakenftulerm; wahoot to speak disrespectfully of any was not present in the House to Upon a question of this kind, which afteted the inidmusselry. of the country and the condition of ni!llions of the p o o r people of the country—(Hear, hear)—a .wcelthy u ,„„ , and a covetous man, was the last that ought to be cen salted ou the eauestion.—(No, no.) Well, it W4S ,aid that he MIS a covetous man. It was eith gr eat regret thzt he made any allusion to that Hon. Gentle. man, but he feed been told that that Hoe. Gentleman had absolutely refused to incur the legal expenses ne cessary in order to enable him to take his scat in that House.—("lSo, no." from Mr. Wdeon and other Hun. Members.) The Hon. Meather for Westbury appeared shocked by such a statement, but he would hear a great many stranger things in that House before he had been long there. (Hear, hear.) This, however, he (Mr. Wakley) did say, that a case affect ire?" the industry of the country, and the millions of its poorer classes, rich men—he would not indi vidualise them—were not the first that ought to be ceneulted; they had in general a morbid desire to secure what they already possessed, and to obtain as much more as possible.—(Laughter.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer had selected the " ins and outs " and the I THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EIVENING, DECEMBER 15, 1847. " expectants," and the " expect ants" are not pledged to a measure as the "ins and outs" are, but he had neglected to make that selection which he should have done with a regard to the industry and condition of the people of the country.—(Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer had referred in his speech to two railway directors upon the Committee as being the employers of labour but they were employers of labour in companies. Give him (Mr. Wakley) the man who was himself the employer of labour, who superintended his own workmen, who was present on the Saturday nights and knew the difficulty of " handing" out the "needful" to his workmen. These were the men to place upon a Committee such as this. He (Mr. Wakley) had stated the Hon. Member for Birmingham was a person who had conducted his own business in a manner which had obtained for him the greatest credit and repute ; he was a man of undoubted honour and integrity, a man respected by those who knew him in private life, and there was also a large class of peoplein the country who believed that there was no man in the country who understood the subject better than he did.—(Hear, hear.) He had placed the name of the Hon. Gentleman upon the paper without consulting him, and after his name was on he (Mr. Mentz) ix pressed his regret that he bad done so, and stated his in tention of not serving upon the Committee. He (Mr.Wak ley)helieved that he had since relinquished that intention, and was now prepared, should the House think fit to adopt his name, instead of that of the Hon. Member for Montrose, to sit upon the Committee. In proposing the name of that Hon. Member, he thought that he would prove useful, dignified, and ornamental— (Laughter)—should he be placed upon the Committee. Mr. HUME thought it right that he should stand before the House and country as not shrinking from any duty which devolved upon him. It was quite true that he was not so young as he once was; but it was not on account of his age that he declined to serve. He felt that he was as much able to pet form the duties of a Com mitteeman as he ever we.. He had a conscientious reason for declining to serve on a Committee to whom was to be handed over a system of currency to legislate upon as difficult and as useless as to legislate for the motion of the stars.—(Hear, hear.) One of his great objections to the Bank of England was that that institution was to be made the great bill-broker of the country. Radi cally, therefore, they were wrong in fixing the amount of capital upon which they were to trade as such. He objected to the Government having anything to do with the Bank of England upon any other terms than any other banking house. Was it not most preposterous that .a Government like this should have to borrow money, its 6 or 7 millions from the Bank, for the purpose of paying its dividends? If by any un forseen difficulties the Bank had been unable to advance the money, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not have had a shilling to pay the dividends. There was a growing conviction, both in this House and out of it, that monopoly and restriction were the bane of com merce. Was not banking a portion of commerce ? If so, why, then, should restrictions be placed upon the banking transactions of the Government ?—(llear, heer.) He objected therefore to go into Committee, because he saw that they were going away' frein the root of the evil. For the last ; Lthirty years the Government of the country ,tad -- cudgel voured to legislate for commerce, and ,what - had been' the result but the loss of millions ,ancl millions te -- the country? The Government pliced • upon the Bank.. a duty which it was not possible far' human 'nature to perform. The Government had. robbed them - Of their: capital, and how was it poesible tor"thene :to-supply the country with the necessary aecominodalion 2 The Bank of England egreed-to atisierree, In the . ear 1830, the sum of 13,000,000i,‘ for the "purchase of t h e " dead weight." At that.titne the Baerk had no Capital, but purchased that " dead e weight"ecut -of -the: , depteits entrusted to them. Up to this time the -Bank had been - 1 trading with capit a l ; th e G overnment h a d i t a ll , - ate : they bad nothing,,,,Lettee. &hi t' reit," etceettade - upon The Bank of Engtend. wes e litereller batrkrnese theouefee the conduct of the Government, and he most decidedly objected to going into Committee for the purpose of continuing this evil.—(Laughter.) A short time since the deposits at the Bank were 20,000,0001., and the whole reset-so of their notes amounted to 1,150,000 L. and even that sum was divided over thirteen branch banks, one of which most strangely advanced 40,0001. to save another bank of issue in the north. Nee, suppose all these other breech banks .had done the same, where would hate been the credit o f th e Bank? %y it would have beenp gone, and a cheque for 10,000 L might have brought the whole matter to a crisis. —(Hear, hear.) And yet it was at this period that the Government stepped in against law to authorise the issue of money-notes, for which it would have been possible to have obtained gold in payment. It was, fortunate that these things were not attended at the time by any serious result ; but was it not preposterous that the country should be placed at the mercy of such an institution ?—(lleges, hear.) Ile would pledge himself to prove to the House, if they would refuse to appoint this Committee, that in New York there had not been any single bank of issue which had made any default. and they were entirely free from any legislative interference whatever. He had no hesitatiou in saying that the whole of the banking policy of the Government, and even of that . House, had been under the control of Mr. Jones Loyd, and it was high time some change was iutroduced into the sys tem. The fallacies of Mr. Jones Loyd ought to be alien. Aoned, but this could not be done if this Committee were agreed to, and therefore it was that he opposed it. He remembered. Mr. Jones Loyd was examined before the Committee of 1940 till he was exhausted, and then he (Mr. Ilume) asked f.r • leave to examine him.—(Hear, and laughter...) And if the House would read the answers that Mr. Jones Loyd gave to his qui.stions, they would be convinced of the absurdity of the present system of banking in this country. — (Hear, hear.) The question of the corn-laws was of secondary importance, as compared with the banking quiistion; but now that they had established freedom of trade in corn, the least they could do was to allow free dom 'of trade in banking. Act, however, as the house would, of this he was convinced, that freedom of trade must always prove of no utility whilst there was no free dom in banking.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. CARDWELL did not rise to complain of the proptsal to strike his name off the Committee, but to read to the House au extract from a speech which Mr. Horner delivered in that House, in 1811, to show that every member of the Committee of 1810 was open to foilowavhat course he thought proper, and best calcu lated to elucidate his own views and opinions. With regard to himself, all he could say was that ii the House preferred substituting the name of the Hon. Member for South Lancashire for his own be would most cheerfully resign his pretensions to any seat ie the Committee. Mr. STAFFORD rose to protest against the insinua tions which the Hon. Member for Finsbury had thrown out against Mr. Jones Lcyd, and at the same time to deny that the banking policy either of the present or the late Government was ever under the control of thatgentleinan. He knew nothing personally of Mr. Jones Loyd, but he was sure, from wnat he had seen of him as chairmen o -the late Irish Relief Committee, that he did not meri, the aspersions which the Hon. Members fur Finsbury and Montrose bad attempted to cast upon him.—(Hear.) Mr. J. B SMITH, amidst same coalusion, and cries of " Oh, oh," and " Divide, divide," protested agAiust placing so many Members upon the Committee. After a few words from Mr. FoustEs and Mr. HERRIZS, Mr. PATTISON said he had no wish to serve on this Committee, because he could see nu good that was likely to result from it s a pp o i n t ment. lle did not agree with the Bill of 1844, and he was firmly convinced that if the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth were again at the head of the Government he would be the first to propose an alteration in it.— (Cheers.) He repeated that by appointing this Com mittee they were only burking the real question at issue, and therefore he must object to serve upon it. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer knew his opinions upon this subject, and no doubt it was this knowledge that induced Rica to omit his name from the Committee. Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was understood to say it was not so. The names of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel, Lord George Bentinck, Mr. Herrie::., Mr. Goulburn, and Alderman Thompson, were agreed to. On the name of Mr. Labouchere being proposed, Lord GEORGE BENTINCK moved that Mr. La bouchere's name be excluded, and the name of Mr. Bastie substituted. Mr. HASTIE was understcod to object to serve. Mr. LABOUCHERE was sure the Noble Lord did not propose the omission of his name from a want of courtesy towards him, but of course he could not object to serve ou the Committee, and he must, therefore, leave the matter in the hands of the House. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 77 Against it Majority in favour of Mr. La bouchere's name -117 The House then divided on the amendment, that Mr. Brown should be placed on the Committee in the room of Mr. Cardwell—when there appeared For the original motion For the amendment lOl Majority in favour of Mr. Card well's name Mr. BOUVERIE complained that, owing to the door of one of the lobbies *having been closed, he, and others who intended to have voted with him, were debarred from carrying out their intentions. The SPEAKER said the door of the House was open, and declared that the division, as it stood, was final. The Deputy Serg eant - at-Arms was, however, dir ec t e d by the Right Hon. Gentleman to ascertain if any Hon. Members were in either of the lobbies. Mr. Clementson, the Deputy-Sergeant, left the House, and, after the lapse of a few minutes, returned to the table, and reported that no Hon. Members were in the lobby. Mr. WAKLEY retracted the expressions which he had made with reference to Mr. Jones Loyd, as they were erroneous, and regretted that he had cast asper cons upon a gentleman who was not in that House to defend himself. ha M d u wit h ried OSB ORlto M NE also withdrew Lloyd. ithdrew the expressions he Mr. HUME re sp ect (w oae name stood next) hoped the House would excus e hi m f la the C ommittee . The Hon. Gentleman th en left the UThe CHANCELLORofutshee. EXCHEQUER trusted they would h ave the benefit of the serv i ces o f the lion. Member. He hoped , therefo re , pHottliscealwlyoudledelcaroend sent to his appoint ment. Several HoN. MEMBER* h ere th em e ha that the Hon. Member had distinctl y stated that he de clined to serve upon the Commit tee ?' The House then divided, when there appear ed For Mr. Hume's name .............. 188 Against it . 97 Majority __E... .9 I , 4.. , , . We found, on our re - aamissprs., }~ VV 'AILEY declaring t hat it appearatrtoidhi m l that it was the intention of the Governmentin;iprestitg .1)^1 the appointment of Mr. Hume, after ho had declined to -erve, in the robin of Mr. Nluntz, that they were deter mined that there should be no amendment to their nomination; he, therefore, felt it his duty reluctantly to move that the debate be adjourned. Colonel SIBTHORP seconded the motion. The conduct of the House in this matter could not fail to be reprobated out of doors. Lord J. RUSSELL considered that the Hon. Member for Finsbury had misunderstood his Right Hon. Friend. His Right Hon. Friend did not wish to press the election of Mr. Home against his will. He considered it was the wish of the Hon. Member for Montrose to leave the matter in the hands of the House. He was willing to accede to the names proposed by other Mem bers, if it was the wish of the Hcuse. If, after his appointment, Mr. Hume positively declined to continue a member of the Committee, the Government would be ready to accede to the appointment of the Hon. Member or Birmingham. Dr. BOWRING thought the statement of the Hun. 'elember for Montrose might he appropriately termed a aolo episcupat i.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") That certainly was his impression, namely, Out he would serve if the House thought proper ta eh et him.—(No, no.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had no objection to the election if Mr. Mentz if Mr. flume should dee•line.—(Hear, hear.) Lord G. BENTINCK hoped the Hon. Member for Finsbury would not persist in his motion. Mr. ANSTY said Mr. Hume stated to him that he should not serve upon the Committee. He should sup• neert the election of Mr. Iduritz in the room of Mr. Wilson. Sir R. PEEL thought the House ought not to part lightly with the privilee which it possessed If electing Hon. Members to serve upon Committees. lie had voted fur the piecing of Mr. Hume upon the Committee. He could assure the House that the last .hing in his mind was any intention to exclude either Mr. Muntz or Mr. James Wilson from the Committee, as he considered that the attention which Mr. Muntz had paid to the subject well fitted him to tske a part in the proposed inquiry ; and he also thought that it would be desirable to have the Scotch banking represented either by Mr. Hastie, the Member tbr Glasgow, or Mr. Hastie, the Member for Paisley. But he did not understand the Honourable Member for Montrose to express a positive in tention to withdraw if he was appointed, and considering the lung period of his labours, that he had stated to-day that his age formed no impediment:to the faithful performance of his public duties—considering, further, the disinterestedness of his public labours, he thought his election a just compliment of the House that he was he every way qualified to take a part in such an inquiry ; but if he should wish to withdraw, he should be willing to support the appoint ment of Mr. Misfit! ; or it Mr. Muntz was proposed he should feel very much inclined to vote for him.—(Hear.) Fle thought it would be well for them to abide by the decision to which they had come until the Hon. Gentle man had signified his intention to withdraw.—(Hear.) Mr. VALLEY withdrew his motion. The House again divided on the motion that Mr. llenle)'s name should be substituted for that of Mr. 'Ricardo, when there appeared— . For Mr. Ricardo 's name Against it Nluje•rity —67 An HON. Miaisia complained that ao few country vntlemen had bf.en nominated. .Mr. OSBORNE then proposed that the name of Mr. ,GV;} should be excluded, and tha name of Mr. Rey nolds, Member for Dublin, substituted. He did not knoW whether it was competent for him to move the subotituifon of Mr. Reynolds' name, but there could be 'no , cloubt that he was perfectly in order in moving the expulsion Of Mr. Glyn's name. Lord G. B&NTINCK said there could be no dcubt that Mr... Glyn <was a otrong Whig, but still he was a most coropete;44nan to serve on this Committee, and he honed 'the motion of the Hon. Member for Middlesex would not be persevered in. Mr. REYNOLDS would certainly not serve on the Committee if his natn4 was to be substituted in lieu of that of so eminent en authority upon monetary and commercial tnatters as Mr. Glyn. lie must, at the same time, express. his opinion that Ireland was not. fairly and properly represented in this Committee. No country had sulfered more from monopily in banking than Ireland, and she ought, tl.erclore, to have been more fairly represented. After a 1, w woi di from Mr. I). CALLAGHAN, who expressed himself satisfied with the Committee as it originally stood, the motion was withdrawn, and Mr. Glyn's Leine was agreed to. On the question that Sir William Clay's name be agreed to, Lord G. BENTINCE moved, as an amendment, that it be excluded, and Mr. Putteson's name substituted. After a few ords from Mr. PATTISON, who said he had no wish to s ,, rve, the House divided, when there appearcd— For the alcelidtuelat Agairstit 152 Majority for Sir Win. Clay... -30 Mr. ANSTY ruoviAl that the nomination of Mr. Thorndy hepo*tpoed until a future ti me . The galleries were cleared, but no division took place, the motion having been withdrawn. The other names were then agiced to. The Coca tnittce gtands six originally proposed by the Government. SaTINGS AFTER TWELVE O'CLOCK. Mr. BROTHERTQN . proposed ,tl7atwhe;;;; new business is brought un after twelve o'clock at night, if it be moved and seconded that the debate on such question ho adjourned, the Sinfaker should immediately declare the &bate adjourned, without putting the question to the vote. He said he had, in making. the motion, the health of the Speaker and the House in view. He simply wished de bates to be adjourned at twelve o'clock, without dis cession, hut he did not wish his motion to apply to business which was coaemenced before twelve, and Which extended beyond that hour. Wednesday sittings. had proved most successful, and he concluded that they would do well to go back to the times of their ancestors, who met at noon to rise at six. The business was better transacted during the day than night. Dr. BO WRING seconded the motion. Mr. EIVART complained that the motion of his Hon. Friend did nut go fur enough, and proposed as an amend ment that the House should meet every thy from twelve to six. Tide would give them sufficient time to transact the public business efficiently, and would not withdraw Hon. Members li.ow their respective domestic circles. He should not press him motion to a division. Sir GEORGE GREY opposed the motion, as he considned it would put it .in the power of any two Members to adjourn the House during an important dei - ute on a subject which admitted of no delay. Sitting every day would prove most inconvenient. The Hon. Geutleuian had dune much good service in adjourninu debate.; ut la'e hours, and lie hoped ho would exercise his power whenever he found due occasion. Lord G. BENTINCIC said, the subsistence of the Hon. Gentliniun on a vegetable and water diet had led him to believe that the best way to live long was to ab stain fru:,u late hours; but he could nut forget the words of the song— best of all ways to kngthen our days Is to steal a few hours from the night, my boys." Sir IL WILLOUGHBY suggested that there should be a standing older that no Member should speak longer than half an hour. Mr. BROTHERTON would press his motion to a division; Le once possessed some influence in that llougo with respect to Ldjourning debates, but of late years he ha , i not bee❑ able to catch the Speaker's eye. The House divided, when their appeared— Po.- the motion Against it . tilujority O'GORNIAN MAHON stated that he and several Irish Members were deliberating in one of the Corn tnittee-rooms, and when the bell rang for a division they hastened thither but found the door closed and they were consequently shut out. He thought this rather discourteous. Sir G. GREY replied that as soon as strangers had left the House, the Sneaker was bound to put the question, before which . the - doors were closed. He was sure there was no intention to exclude the Hon. Member and his friends.—(Hear.) The House adjourned at live minutes to Six. CRIMINAL CO URT.-( THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. The case of William Newton Altai& (cont:flued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. BILLITINIS addressed the jury for the prisoner, resting his defence mainly upon the ground of insanity. H• called 1)r. Edward Henry Paine, brother-in-law and medical attendant of the prisoner's father, who, the witness stated, was subject to disease of the brain, and died quite raving mad. Other members of the father's family were subject to affections of the brain. From his obser vation of the prisoner, and knowledge of his habits and constitution he considered him partially insane, and he believed he would become more so. Mr. Croucher, sur geon to the county gaol of Derby. had attended the pri soner, and confirmed the opinions of the last witness. Dr. Dewsbery, of Clapton, had also attended the pri soner, and was of the same opinion. Dr. eon°lly of Hanwell concurred in the views of those witnesses. Mr. RYLAND replied, Baron ROLFE summed up, and the jury, after deliberating twenty minutes, returned at six o'clock a verdict of " Guilty," with an earnest re commendation to mercy on account of his tender age. Mr. Baron RoLFE ordered sentence of death to be recorded, with an intimation that the recommendation would be attended to, but that the prisoner must be pre pared to pass the remainder of his life in ignominy and toil. SALE OF RAILWAY SHARES BY AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.) There was a fair amount of bu.iness done at the sale of Railway Shares to-day, by Messrs. Lamond and Co., and prices were considered stationary. We subjoin a few of the quotations:— Leicester & Bedford, Exchange Certificate .£0 12 6 North British, Extension Shrewsbury and Birmingham ( 8)... ...... 0 17 6 Northern and Southern Connecting East Indian, Beg. Great Northern ... ... 413 0 London and Blackwell, No. 1 Madrid and Valencia.. 0 11 0 North Staffordshire Caledonian 37 5 0 Eastern Counties ..... ......... ........ 16 0 0 STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The market here continues generally in the dull and inanimate condition which it has exhibited for two or three weeks past. There is little demand, except for I._;ng-cloths and a few other 'inferior fabrics, suitable to the Levant trade. These 'full ma i nta i n their prices, and are now remunerating ' y the Autnufacturcrs. In other descripti ons o f goo d s, an d ..ti • in yarns generally, there is very little business done, and that generally at slightly declining prices. We hear from various quarters of arrangements making by millowners to elude the provisions of the last Factories' Regulation Act, by increasing those descrip tions of machinery for which the labour of women and young persons is required, and working the mules and looms, with men only, for thirteen or fourteen hours per day. There is no doubt that the parties who adopt this plan will readily obtain hands; for however much some portion of the workpeople may have clamoured for a Ten Hours' Bill, very few indeed of them will accept employment at that rate, if they can procure it at the rate of thirteen or fourteen hours per day. The obvious effect of any extensive adoption of this mode of working will be, to make a very serious difference in the rate of payment for the labour of those who can and those who cannot legally work beyond ten hours, to the great detriment of the latter, who will no t on ly be pre vented from performing the same quantity of work, but must necessarily be paid a lower price for what they do perform. ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The demand for flannels continues dull, and the business transacted to-day has been very light. The manufacturers complain of the low prices given for their goods, and this is likely to be the case while the demand for flannels continues so limited. Wool is much the same, both in price and demand, as last week. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—Fewer merchants made their appearance in the Piece-hall to-day than this day week, and but little business has been done. There seems• to be an impression that things will take a favourable turn after Christmas, yet that the improvement, when it does come, will be very gradual. The con tinuance of open weather enabling the export merchants to ship, supports the limited demand for yarn that has been experienced the last few weeks; but in spite of the reduced production, job lots are still thrown upon the market. Prices for known spinnings continue without alteration. Deep bright wool, both hogs and wethers, are thin in the market, and are in request; but many sacrifices are made under the pressure of necessity. Short wools remain without change. HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—More sales have been effected to-day, in the Cloth -hall, than last week, but these have been in the lowest description of goods. There is an inclination to purchase the better sort of woollens, but at such sacrifices that manufacturers are unwilling to accept, feeling assured that a few weeks will produce in our affairs a more healthy state. This being what is termed " Second Tuesday," there is a general complaint of the difficulty in obtaining settle ments. e, LEEDS, TUESDAY.—Our market presents little altera tion from last week, the tendency being, though, to wards improvement.—Manchester Guardian. SCOTTISH CENTRAL AND CALE DONIAN RAILWAYS. The competition between the Edinburgh and Glasgow and the Caledonian for the possession of the Scottish Central to form an extension :and conjoined portion of their respective systems of communication, which was so energetically pursued last summer, at length brought the parties into the Court of Session. The Scottish Central shareholders having, in the course of last summer, con sulted the Lord Advocate and the Hon. J. C. Talbot, of the English bar, obtained a clear opinion from those eminent counsel that the agreement entered into by the Caledonian to lease the Central was to all intents null and void, as there was no statutory power to that effect. In those circumstances, and on the farther ground, that they bad never been rightly apprised of the nature of the agreement under which their property was to be delivered over to the Caledonian and the English companies, they passed, by a large majority, resolutions holding the same at an end. The Caledonian, on the other hand, main tained that the agreement was valid and effectual ; and that, according to its tenor, it bound both parties to unite in ap plyieg year after year to Parliament to sanction the amal gamation until success crowned their efforts, and that until i.uch sanction was obtained the parties were bound to enter into a working agreement to accomplish as far as possible the objects of their union. Acting on this view the Cale donian applied to the Court of Session to interdict the Scottish Central Company from departing from that agreement and relative stipulations by entering into a new agreement with the Edinburgh and Glasgow or any other.company. After various proceedings in the case, the first division of the Court of session, en Saturday last, confirmed the view held by the Caledonian and London and North Western Companies, and continued the interdict. This dicision, which has caused a considerable sensa tion among railway dompaniev, will, we understand, be appealed, as grave doubts are entertained by some of the gentlemen of the bar as to its soundness, when viewed in connexion with the railway statutes. It is contended that the Court have here given a sanction to an agree ment, which a railway company had no power under the statute to contract, and that, therefore, if this decision was to be the rule, railway companies may now walk oat of the statute to which alone they owe their being, and at their own pleasure enter into agreements involving great public interests.— Caledonian Mercury. PRICE OF SUGAR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Siu,—Taking the average of all the average prices of West India Sugar, published each week in the Gazette, from the sth of January to the 30th of 'November, 1847, inc;usive, being forty-eight weeks, we have a value of twenty-eight shillings per . cwt. It is true that the ►uxuriant sugar harvest throughout the British posses sions has somewhat abated that price at the present mo ment; and it is also true, that the colonists have had difficulties to contend against, through the scarcity of money since the beginning of October, similar to those experienced by all classes of her Majesty's sub jects. Surely the ,great body of consumers in Great Britain should benefit, and have a right to participate in the immense crops of sugar, the plantations have yielded this season; tho consumers can but have their share. of that advantage in price, while ,the producers are sure of theirs in quantity. What can the West Indians want or desire, that they would occupy the valuable time of the Legislature, to the exclusion of more important affairs ? Do they hope to levy contri butions r.gain from classes who have suffered equally with themselves, by endeavouring to revert to protective duties ? They ought to recollect they have already been more leniently dealt with than the agriculturists of this country, inasmuch as they had foe years allowed them before the protection ceased, while the latter had but ee ! Again, all the protection an Act of Parlia ment can secure them has been granted ; and yet, so great is the quantity of sugar produced this year in the British possessions, that the settlers are utterly unable to inaintain all the law has given them. The fact is, all things progress excepting the West Indian colonist. What he was a hundred years ago he is at this day, namely, alieni appetens sui prolusus. I remain, Sir, yours obediently, Mincing-lane, Dec. 14. B. B. R. RIVER PLATE. The following are extracts from letters received per Creole, from Monte Video:— " MONTE VIDE°, OCT. I .—During the past month the receipts of this Custom-house have produced 351,870 dolls., and the committee has decreed a dividend of ten per cent. to the shareholders for the month of September, thus making a total of eighty per cent. paid oft on the original amount subscribed of each share. " OCT. 7.—On the night of the 4th, Don Lorena) Battlle, Minister of War, left this in the armed national schooner Maipeo, with 160 soldiers, for Maldonado, to seize General Ribera, whom the Government suspected of being in correspondence with Oribe. This morning the Minister returned, having executed his mission, by apprehending and banishing to St. Catherine's, in the Braila, Ribero, to whom they have assigned 600 dolls. monthly, paying him in advance three months. The affair has been managed very quietly throughout. " During the month of September there have been imported into Monte Video from Buenos Ayres 270,383 dry hides, 43,211 salted, 25,000 Os. tallow, and 8,250 qtly. wool. " The exports from ➢Monte 'Video have been as fol lows:-119,154 dry hides, 33,369 salted, 7,329 qtls. tallow, 5,000 qtls. wool; of which have been sent to England 512 dry hides, 20,761 salted, 7,129 Os. tallow, 4,560 qtls. wool. From this abstract you will perceive that 17,000 qtls. tallow have still to be appropriated, and this quantity is already_ afloat-rm board of the several vessels loading for England. " OCT. 9.—This morning the arrival of several of the river craft has brought us dates from Buenos Ayres to Oct. 6th. Doubloons were quoted at 893 dolls. Our advices contain news of the safe arrival of the English, Spanish, and Brazilian vessels at Buenos Ayres, of the sailing of which, without paying duties at Monte Video, we previously infoimed you. Several other Brazilian vessels acting in a similar meaner, have also arrived safely." C. Fox, Kingston-upon Hull, tavern keeper, 29. Bd., on Tuesdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Stant-Svld, Kingston- upon-Hull. G. Duplan, Regent's•place, Westminster, tea dealer and grocer, 4s. 6d., on Wednesdays, between the hors of eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. H. B. Brecknell, Oxford street, draper, 45., on Thursdays, between the hours of twelve and two, at the office of Mr Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. D. Syred, Bloomfield road, Paddington, market gar dener, 75., on Thursdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. J. Prosser, Piccadilly, goldsmith, 4s. Gd., on Thurs days. between the hours of Eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. J. Gapp, Duke-street, Manchester-square, livery stable keeper, 55., on Thursdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. C. Martin, Darlington, plumber and glazi er , 10 s ., on Saturdays, between the hours of ten and th ree , a t th e office of r. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. R. Gisburne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, books e ll e r and stationer, 9s. 6 d., on Saturdays, between the hours of ten and three, at the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle upon-Tyne. R. Hallam, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford hire, grocer and tea dealer, first and second dividends of ss. 6d. and 10d., on Thursdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Yalpy, Birmingham. R. Nichols, jun., Birmingham, bookseller and sta tioner, 3s. 6d., on any Tuesday before March 31, between the hours of eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Birmingham. NOTICES OF CERTIFICATES. At the Court, Basinghall-street. W. Armstrong, Norwich, draper, Jail. 5, at twelve— J. Hammond. Bognor, Sussex, ironmonger, Jan. 5, at eleven—C. Bone, Millbank-street, Westminster, licensed victualler, Jan. 5, at half-past eleven—M. Lewis, Oxford street, draper, Jan. 6, at two—A. F. Lloyd, Brighton, cook and confectioner, Jan. 5, at half-past twelve—W: Guttridge, Fulham, baker, Jan. 6, at one—B. Mayhew, New Town, Bow, common brewer, Jan. 5, at two--S. Bretton, Charlotte -street, Fitzroy-square, upholsterer, Jan. 4, at eleven—J. F. Isherwood, Holland-place, Clapham-road, house decorator, Jan. 6, at eleven—G. Gusterson, Paradise-walk, Queen's road West, Chelsea, builder, Jan. 5, at eleven—J. Tupling Cambridge, shoe maker, Jan. 5, at eleven. In the Country. J. Ashcroft, Liverpool, timber broker. Jan. 6, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—G, Bagnall, Newcastle upon-Tyne, music seller, Jan. 17, at half-past ten, at the' Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—J. Dawes, Gloucester, tailor, Jan. 11; at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—J. Cale, Gloucester, builder, Jan. 6, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—G. Evans, Bristol, carpenter and builder, Jan. 6, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—J. Lowden, Leeds, ironmonger, Jan. 11, at eleven, at the Court, Leeds—W. W. Cooke, Denton, Lancashire, hat manu facturer, Jan. 14, at twelve, at the Court, Manchester— J. Andrew, Prestbury and Manchester, calico printer, Jan. 7, at twelve, at the Court, Manchester. At the Court of Review, Jan. 4. S. Lord, Liverpool, wool dealer—J. J. Day, Liverpool, ship broker—J. Hatfield, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, victualler—R. Thackray, Manchester, cloth and linen merchant—J. Fawcett, Richmond, Yorkshire, linen and woollen draper. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. C. Edwards and T. Bryant, Totnes, Devonshire, at torneys and solicitors—T. S. Ashburner and T. W. Robinson, Litherland, Lancashire, merchants—R. A. Johnson and J. P. Withers, Winchester, drapers—W. L. Freer and J. B. Minshull, Birmingham, wood turners and japanners—J. Winch and H. E. Brydon, High row, Knightsbridge, lead and glass dealers—Hannah Ullathorne, 0. J. Ullathorne, and J. Ullathorne, Liver pool and Scarborough, shawlmen and linen drapers—T. Phillips and S. Phillips, Birmingham, guninakers—C. Wilkinson, H. Wilkinson, and T. Haigh, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, thread manufacturers and winders—P. Duckworth, J. M•Namee, and J. Fisher (as far as re - gards P. Duckworth)—E. Ford, S. Rhodes, and T. Wil lott, Bar slem, Staffbrdshire, plumbers—G. S. Upton and J. Podmore, Liverpool, silversmiths and jewellers— J. Holmes and J. Wilson, Sheffield, coach builders—C. Greatrex, T. Greatrex, and J. F. Greatrex (as far as regards T. Greatrex), Walsall, Staffordshire, saddlers and coach ironmongers —J. Mountford and E. Mount ford, Birmingham, builders—W. R. Neale and J. A. Knight, Exeter, civil engineers—W. Thompson and G. Hunter, Edmondsley and Sunderland, colliery owners and coal fitters—T. Mason and E. C. Hindley, Liver pool, grocers and tea dealers—G. Beardmore and G. F. Beardmore, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, lace manufac turers. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. Edward Harnett, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. James Clarke, Ipswich, journeyman carpenter. Thomas Pratt, Nottingham, tobacconist. Goodare Sills, Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, lime burner. Henry Francis Watkins, Bristol, clerk. Thomas Jacobs, Stapleton Villa, Stapleton-road, Glou cestershire. Joseph Hannaford, Salcombe, Marlborough, carpenter. Richard Lea, Romsey, Hampshire, chemist. Peter Lever, Prescott, Lancashire, watch fusee maker. Thomas Ball, Haweside, Lancashire, shoemaker. John Pile Body, Stonehouse, Devonshire, baker. James Henry Wolff, Southa mpton, clerk. John Halliday, Liverpool, publican. John Hughes. Liverpool, butcher. Peter Hughes, Liverpool, dock porter. Edward Itoore, Moorfields, and Liverpool, white cooper and basket maker. Samuel Holloway, Canterbury, baker. George John Russell, Winchester, bricklayer. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. J. Gillau, Inverness, draper, to meet within the Cale donian Hotel, Inverness, Dec. 17, and Jan. 7, at two. T. Morrison, Glasgow, bookseller, stationer, and map publisher, to meet within the chambers of Mr. Smeaton, Dec. 20, and Jan. 10, at twelve. D. Hogg, Holytown, Bothwell, tailor and clothier, to meet within the chambers of Mr. &Denton, Glasgow, Dec. 17, and Jan. 7. at twelve. W. Hutchinson, Edinburgh, solicitor before the Su preme Courts of Scotland, to inlet within the writing chambers of Mr. Robertson, jun., Edinburgh, Dec. 20, and Jan. 18, at one. _ _ J. F. Tress and Co., Edinburgh, tea dealers, to meet within the writing chambers of Mr. Lindsay, Wliuburgh, Dec. 20, and Jan. 12,. at two. W. Grieve, Kevock Mills, Lasawade, paper maker, to meet within the Royal Exchange Coffee-house, Edin burgh, Dec. 20, and Jan. 12, at two. J. M. Turnbull and Co., Glasgow. tea merchants, to meet within the writing chambers of Messrs. Strathern and Douglas, Glasgow, Dec. 21, and Jan. 11, at twelve. 11. Baird and Mary Bowskell, Coatbridge and Air drie, Lanarkshire, printers, publishers, booksellers, and stationers, to meet within the writing chambers of Messrs. Strathern and Douglas, Glasgow, Dec. 17, and Jan. 6, at one. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. • HOUSE OF LORDS. Dee. 14. PENINSULAR MEDALS. The Duke of — iiiC - liilo - Zin asked when it was likely th e medals would be given to the Peninsular officers and soldiers, and if it wee intended to extend the grant of such medals to other officers and soldiers and sailors who served in the late war? He had hoped th at those brave men w ho had served under Aber crombie in Egypt, and those brave sailors who had, during the course of the late war, sustained the honour of their country in skirmishes and in single ac tions, would also be decorated. He thanked his Noble Friends opposite for what they had done, but he thought that medals ought to have been distributed much more extensively. Although there had not been the slightest pledge given by her Majesty's Ministers on that occa sion, yet he felt anxious again to press the matter on their attention. He never contemplated that in doing an act of justice to the officers and soldiers who had so nobly served their country in the great Peninsular war, that they would exclude others who had served under Abercrombie in Egypt, and under many of our greatest naval heroes. He did not either perceive the justice of confining the honours to those who happened to be pre sent in general actions; many of those who were not fortunate enough to be present at such actions, had yet, in the disehesrge of other and most important duties, suf fered much hardship received serious wounds, bravely done their du ty, and were of essential serice in securing that success kof which these general actions were the most brilliant features. He could not say that he was satisfied by the exclusion of such men from the list of those to whom decorations were to be granted. He thought that medals should be given more extensively, and that many of the soldiers and sailors who had fought in their great wars, were quite as worthy of having medals as many of those to whom they had been granted for bating been in general engagements during the last few years. He suggested whether they might not make some difference in the medals granted to those who had been ta skirmishes, and those in general actions. He concluded by asking his Noble Friend whether it was intended to issue,those medals immediately, to wait until all the claimants had been decided upon, or to issue them each month as the claims were settled? Earl GREY •was not aware that any further exten sion was intended beyond the grants contained in the order issued from the Horse Guards last June, and which order spe 2ified the actions for which medals were to be granted. With respect to the nary, it bad been found that the rule laid down did not apply, and there fore it was lately that some extension might be needed in that direction. As to the claims, 2,000 bad been dis posed of, 400 had been rejected, and 16,000 were still under consideeation. The design for the medals had been presented and approved, but some delay had oc curred in their preparation, owing to the artist having nearly lost his life by a severe railway accident. He understood, horrever, that the medal would be ready in about two months from that time, and he saw no reason why they should not be delivered as soon as they were ready. CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said it was crime endgreat importance that the Bill for the prevention up o from the f outrage in Ireland, which had been sent other House of Parliament, and read the first time in their Lordships' House last right, should be proceeded with as rapidly as poss ible. wished, therefore, t o , state that it waAs his intention to move the second read ing of that Bill to-morrow. As they were approaching the holidays, it was not his intention to go into any lengthened explanation on that occasion. He would, on going into Committee on Thursday, give the grounds on which the Bill was brought forward, and the objects the Government had in view. That course would, he lie lieved, be acceptable to their Lordships, by giving them time to exa mine the provisions of the Bill, and, as he believed, one debate would be sufficient upon it, the pass ing of the B iU would not be thereby d e l aye d . - Lord STANLEY thought the course proposed by the Noble Marquis would meet tie geuerai convenience of the House. He was not aware that there was any in tention to oppose the Bill, said therefore one discussiou would be enough, while the course proposed by :the Noble Marquis would give their Lordships :;.allicient time to examine ti:e Biil. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE ITALIAN STATES. Loid STANLEY proceeded to call the attention of the House to the continued absence of the Lord Privy Seal. Under any circumstances the aoaence for several months of a person holding an high a position as that of Lord Privy Seal would be a ground to entitle Parliament to ask for some explanation from the Government ; and the necessity for such explanation would be increased, if, as in the present case, the state of the country was such as to require Parliament to be called together at a period much earlier than usual, and under circum callers in which it was to be expected that every person who was honoured with a seat in her Majesty's Council would be present to offer his advice and assistance. He had always understood that though the office of Lord Privy Seal was not one the duties of which were particularly onerous or laborious, still that it was an office of great importance and high authority, the duties of which must be discharged in person, and requiring the constant attendance of the. party holding it. Ile presumed arrangements had been made for the due discharge of the duties of the office during Earl Minto's absence, and what those arrange ments were the Noble Marquis (Lansdowne) would probably inform their Lordships. He confessed, how ever, he should be less anxious for any explanation on the subject, were it merely on account of the absence of the Noble Earl from England; but that which rendered a specific answer from the Noble Marquis to the ques tions he was about to put to him necessary was, not so much the absence of the Noble Earl from England, as his presence in Italy at this particular moment.—(Hear.) There was a general expectation and belief prevailing in this country—whether correct or not he was unable to say—that it was the intention of her Majesty's Govern ment to endeavour to establish diplomatic relations between this country and the Court of ROlllO, and that the mission of Earl Minto was connected with that object. With regard to the expediency or policy of such a change of the law—if change of the law were necessary—as should enable the Government to esta blish such relations with the temporal Sovereign of the Roman States he expressed no opinion. He said that the Noble Viscount the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in answer to a question recently put to him in another place, had stated that Lord Minto was entrusted by her Majesty's Government with no mis sion to the see of Rome.—(Hear, hear.) He under stood that answer to mean that Earl Minto was not, on the part of her Majesty's Government, an accredited Minister entrusted with any diplomatic functions at the Court of Rome; at the same time there undoubtedly was a belief in this country, which belief had been much strengthened by reports, whether true or false he knew not, of an interview of considerable duration with which the Noble Earl had been honoured by the Sovereign Pontiff, that if not engaged directly to establish diplo matic relations, one portion of his duty had been to ascertain what would be the feeling of the Court of Rome with regard to the establishment of such relations. — (Hear, hear.) But though such was the opinion which prevailedsgenerally, not only in England and in Italy, but throughout the continent, he apprehended that a different motive might be attributed to the mission in which Earl Minto was now engaged. He used the word " mission," for he assumed that the Noble Earl was not at that time a mere casual visitor at Rome, travelling for his own amusement, and in that case culpably neg lecting his duty both to Parliament and his office in the Government. Assuming, therefore, that in some capa city or other he was acting on the part of, and perform ing the duty of a representative of the British Sovereign, his object was now to ask of the Government that which he thought Parliament had a right to ask, if it eels thought necessary to dispatch to any foreign couni.ry an officer of such high rank and dignity us a member of the Cabinet—the Lord Privy Seal ? Parliament had a right to inquire what was the nature of the mission on which he had been dispatched, and the functions he was supposed to be entrusted with. Such an inquire . would be right in refereece to the mission of a Cabinet Mi nister to any country ; but a ith regard to the Italian States, and at this particular time, it was a matter of peculiar importance that Parliament eliould be fully in formed of the views with which Lord Miuto had been sent out. He was not acquainted with all the intricacies of the present state of affairs in Italy, especially the north of Italy ; but it was notorious that, under the auspices of the Pontiff, and partly under other auspices, there was a state of disquiet and political movements going oniwhich excited exaggerated hopes on the one hand, and apprehensions on the other, the effect of which was to place the whole of that part of the con tinent in a state of fermint, and the several nations connected by political relations with it in a state of considerable anxiety. It was under the guid ance of the present Pontiff that various schemes had been set afloat for the introduction of a more liberal system of government in the affairs of the northern states. Similar concessions, they knew, had bees demanded by several other states from their respective sovereigns, and, to a more or less extent, and with more or leis reluctance, those concessions had, by more than one of those sovereigns, been granted. What might be the object of the present movement in Italy, or the ulti mate intention of those who were directing it—if indeed they had made up their minds as to any ultimate inten tion—above all, what might be the meaning of that ex pression put forth as the watchword of the more eager partisans of that movement, " the independence of Italy," he (Lord Stanley) could form no conception.—(Hear.) But the object of the movement in the Italian states, so far as it had taken place in one or more of those states, was confined, so far as lie could understand, to changes of purely an internal nature—changes in the popular power in its relations with the sovereign power as then exercised. So far then as this movement had anything of an internal aspect and bearing it was, so far, removed from such cases as this country, acting on principles of good sense and good policy, had any right to interfere in. It had been supposed that the object of the movement was partly of a commercial and partly of a political character, for the purpose of establishing a general federal union of all the states of the north of Italy. If the object were to estab lish a commercial union which would in any way affect the commercial interests of this country, no doubt it would be a matter for the attention of her Majesty's Government, and one that should be watched carefully by them at home ; but it was one that by no means justi fied the accrediting a cabinet minister to the Court of Rome. So, if the object were to effect alterations in the internal political arrangements of those states, though it might be well deserving the attention, and justify the anxious consideration of the Government, the last course they should pursue would be to give to that movement direct encouragement by the presence of a cabinet minis ter of this country.—(Hear.) But if', by the " indepen dence of Italy" it was meant that no foreign power should exercise any eeentrol over any province situated within the geographical limits of Italy, that was an ob ject to which not only this country would not be justified in contributing, but an object which we were bound by the faith of treaties not only nut to aid but to resist. Though Earl Minto might not be accredited to the Pope or to any other sovereign that we knew of, yet, being the representative of the British Government, he had, pre awning the information which had reached this country to be correct, compromised the British Government his acts, by his words, and by his conduct ; and it was due, therefore, to Parliament that they should I have a distinct understanding of the functions which Lord Minto had to perform, and the cam actor of the I instructions with which he had been sent out. The re ports which had appeared in those sources of information which were opeu to all, as to Lord Minto's proceedings, he trusted the Noble Marquis would be enabled to con tradict. He meant that the Minister of Great Britain, so situated and so circumstanced as Lord Minto was in Italy, had, on more than one or two occasions, appeared in answer to the calls of the people parading the streets with flags and emblems, and joined with them in the cry in favour of the " independence of Italy;" that on the second occasion, during a procession at Rome, the crowd assembled before the hotel in which Lord Minto resided, and, recognising him not as a mere British traveller, but as the supposed representative of this country, and as expressing the sentiments of the British Government, called tor him, and that in obe dience to that call, he appeared on the balcony waved his hand to them, and joined in the " Vivasl" for the independence of Italy. He trusted that the Noble Marquis would be enabled to state that there was no truth in these details. In a nobleman of the Earl of Minto's rank such intermeddling with the internal affairs of foreign states would be highly repre hensible, but it became doubly so when the nobleman so acting was the, avowed and accredited representative of his Government.---(Hear, hear.) For a man so circum stanced to take any part in the movement at present going on in Italy, but above all to join the vague and unintelligible cry of It a liau independence, "g course calling for unequivocal disapproval, and trusted he should hear from the Noble Marquis that it was wholly inconsistent with the instructions of the Government.— (Hear, hear.) The question he was about_ to put to the Noble Marquis, and to which h e hoped he should receive a satisfactory reply, were, in the first place, wheth er provison had been made for discharg ing Eail of the duty Miutof Lord Privy Seal in the absenceof the that Noble Lord Minto ; and Italy, under the or next, on the a ssumptionders that of his Government, he wished instructions pointed, to be infor med to what ob j e ct his pointed, and whether or no be was accredited to the supremo Pontiff or to any other Italian sovereign, and, if so, what were the limits of his functions, power, and authority P—(Hear, hear.) He wished further to know whether the Noble Marquis, on the part of the Government, was prepared to state that England had no desire to interfere—he did not mean merely by force, but by moral influence, or by the encouragement of its accredited Minister —in the interne' affairs of Italy, or in disturbing those forms of government which each particular state might have thought fit to adopt. These wore the questions to which he hoped the Noble Mar quis would give a distinct answer, both as to the facts and as to the views of her Majesty's Government; and he also hoped for a denial of the conduct which had been attributed to Lord Minto, or, if it were admitted, he hoped for a declaration that Lord Minto in so act hag had exceeded his instructions and authority. The Marquis of LANSI)OWNE said that the Noble Lord had asked for explanations respecting certain subjects, and lie had accompanied his request with observations respecting the conduct of a member of the Government at present in Italy. In the first place, the Noble Lord wished to know on what grounds the Lord Privy Seal had been absent front this country, and in consequence had not attended his duty in that House. He (the Marquis of Lansdowne) might refer the Noble Lord to other times, and other circumstances, when a Cabinet Minister, holding a high official station, had been absent from his post without any disadvantageous circumstanc es resultingfrom such absence. Ile thought that the Noble ..Lord must be sufficiently aware of the dut ies of Lord ierivy Seal, to know that, although it was un doubtedl y an office of high mak, yet that, looking to the ordinary practical FROM-THE LONDON GAZETTE OF TUESDAY. DIVIDEN DS. At the Court, Basinghall-street. C. W. Graham, King's Arms-yard, Coleman-street, merchant, Jan. 8, at one—J. Morse, Neithrop, Oxford shire, woolstapler, Jan. 1, at twelvo—R. T. Tubbs, Aldermanbury and Shoreditch, silk agent. Jan. 12, at eleven—ll. M. Waller, Foulaham, Norfolk, merchant, Jan. 13, at two—J. peaks, Tolleshunt, Essex, miller, Jan. 13, at two. In the Country. G. Rogers, Gloucester, ironmonger, Jan. 4, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—D. B. Thomas, Carmarthen, draper, Jan. 6, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—F. F. Phillips, Bristol, coach maker, Jan. 13, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—T. Robinson, Swansea, grocer, Jan. 13, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS. E. Hills, St. Mary's road, Peckham; Warsash, Hamp shire; Farnhurst, Sussex; Lodkin, Surrey; Old Kent road; and Crinar, Scotland, naptha maker, 2s. 2d., on Saturday, Dec. 18, and two following Saturdays, be tween the h ours o f e l even and two, at the o ff i ce of! Mr. Groom, Ahchurch -lane. 0. Richards, Fleet-street, law bookseller, ls. 41, on Friday, Dec. 17, and two following Wednesdays, be tween the hours of ten and two, at the office of Mr. Turquand, Guildhall-chambers. J. R. Weston, Southampton, auctioneer, 3s. 4d., on Friday, Dec.l7, and two fAlowing Wednesdays, between the hours of ten and two, at the office of Mr. Turquand, Guildhall-chambers. W. Marshall and H. Rodgers, Liverpool, ironfoundera , 6d. and 7-16ths o f a penny, on Thursday, Dec. 33, or any subsequent Thursday, betweeh the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Cazenove, Liverpool. R. Heyday, Milk- s t ree t, Ch ea pside, Thursdays, on Thursday, Dec. 16, and thre e ays, between the hours of twelve and the o ffi ce of Mr. Belcher, King's Arms. yard, Coleman street.ehouseman, 3s. 4d. re following three, at ministration L. f t was not attenliti with ary cf whii;h required the constant pro •-• sena! in that Mouse, or the coantry, of the person ex erci3ing it. Tia-, N his Lord might also rt:c,diect that, v - que ten or twelve years sinco, when the Noble Lord linuselt , :otineeted with the Government, and when an inquiry took place as to the expediency of retain irg or ft,'Jolishing certain offices, the office of Privy Seal was preserved on grounds entirely alien from its neces sity for practical business purnies. It was preserved on grounds connected with the iifipoi tanos of Laving a high ()nicer cf (loverriw.ety: uaeacurabered with heavy duties, ready f,r special service; and that being the case, what was so natural as that for the service al luded to by the Noble Lord the present Lord Privy Seal should have been selected?—(Hear, hear.) Besides, he had been appointed to that duty at a time when no immediate meeting of Parliament was contemplated. (Hear, hear.) But the objection implied by the Noble Lord in his question not merely applied to the individual selected, but also to the nature of the mission for which he had been selected to repair to foreign countries. Now it was the Tory nature of that mission which made it de sirable that a Noble Lord, who possessed the entire con fidence of his colleagues, and who was perfectly acquainted with recent.' transactions, should be selected. Ile (the Marquis of Lansdowne) had no hesitation, after what the Noble Lord had stated that evening with respect to th e con dition o' , Italy, in reminding their Lordships of the im portance of the transactions which were taking place in that country, leading, as they might do, not only to consequences of the greatest moment consequences highly advantageous in themselves, and conducive to the prosperity of each Italian state, but also to consequence s of infinite importance, inasmuch as they might invoke the relations of the Italian states with other countries.. In the movement now prevailing in that country, whic h could not be condemned, because its professed objects in each individual state tended to a reform, which had not only been long desired in Italy, but had been frequently urged upon her by foreign Powers as necessary to her welfare, and to the preservation not only of her peace,' but that of Europe—(Hear, hear)— a movemen t which had become simultaneous, which was still temperate, but which, from its character, was likely to become in temperate—it was necessary that not a moment should be lost in offering the friendly advice and interferenc e of England, not directed to any particular ob ject, but a general interference calculated at once to encourage the Government and the population in the steps they were taking, so far as those steps were limited to one object, namely, the internal improvement of each state. These circumstances, even in any Tie* . of the case, were so iinportant as to demand the prompt attention of her Majesty's Government, and the prompt attention of England. A movement was prevailing in Italy, the professed object of which was to effect altera tions and reforms which not only had been long desired in Italy itself, but had bees frequently urged upon the Italian states by friendly powers, as necessary to the welfare of Italy, and tending not only to reserve the peace of that country, but of Europe itself.—(llear.) Those reforms had long Leen looked for, and the mo ment had now arrived when a spirit of reform; tem perate it might be hoped, but a spirit which,' from it. character, might become intemperate, manifested itself in every part of the country. There could not be a moment when it was more imporbeet that the friendly advice of England should be given, that there should be, on the part of England, an interference ncl directed to a particular object, but an interferena ,.:, that would encourage the ,Governments of Italy in the course they were pursuing, as far as that course was limited to the internal improvement of each individual state. There could not be a state of things in which it was more materiel that the state of Italy should be fully considered by England, and through th e agency of r. nobleman of the high standing &rid great capacity of the Earl of Minto, who had left this country accredited to all the sovereigns of Italy, Except one, to whom, undoubtedly, by the law of this country, as that law is understood, b e could not be legally accredited. The Earl of :dint° was instructed to offer the sovereigns 'to whom he wa s accredited the most friendly advice, and to confine that advice to objects connected with the internal improve" meat of each state. He (the Marquis of Lansdowne) considered that their Lordships would find that h e answered the Noble Lord (Lord Stanley's) question fairly when he stated that her M aj esty a Go vernment was sensible of the necess ity of terfering by advice for the preservation 0 f peace, as well in Italy as outside it. The Earl of Minto had communicated with the other sovereigns of Italy, and ho felt justified in saying that those sovereigns expressed their entire satisfaction for the prudent advice given by the accredited authority of the British Govern-' went, but he should add that that Noble Earl had no communication with the Court of Rome. Such a pro ceeding would be contrary to law; but if the N oble . Lord (Lord Stanley) wished to know his opiuion, though he (Lord Stanley) seemed to wish to avoid gfy big his own, he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) should say_ that he thought that it would be much to the interest this country that information could be procured as wall at the Court of Rome as in any other Court throughout the world, and that through an accredited authority. He thought that if the Noble Earl (Earl Minto) did express any sympathy in the anxiety for reform and alteration new prevalent throughout Italy, that be was not to be censured, and that the Government was not to be blamed.—(Hear, hear.) Ile did not think that the Noble Lord (Lord Stanley) need feel the slightest apprehension for the Privy Seal, a* that instrument was secure, and would not be used unne cessarily. . - • AFFAIRS OF SWITZERLAND. Lord BEAUMONT said he felt highly pleased with the manly assertion of the Noble Marquis (the Marquis of Lansdowne). He believed that this country would be much benefited by an accredited officer at the Court of Rome. He should next proceed with the motion of which he had given notice, whether it was the intention of her Majesty a Government to mediate in the affairs of Switzerland. The Noble Lord then proceeded ;to ex plain that, according to the federal compact entered into by tho several cartons in 1815, and which was the basis of the present system in that country, that each canton was to be represented at the Diet, and should have its own independence in the smaller council in their respec: tive cantons. All p ower was t o b e l e ft t o the centra l Government. He considered that the Jesuits were thy' principal agents in th e di s t ur b ances o f t h a t cou ntry, sr' the chief promoters of the Sonderbund treaty. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE sa id th a t he did not feel the least difficulty in answering that ques tion. Tb il4 country had never d e ter m i ne d t o enter i nto th e affairs f Switzerland by any other way than advice. Above al" she deprecated an a r me d interference. When England iv!‘ called upon sh e gave a d v i ce; an d w h en the foundantagouisoe parties were preparing f or oppos i t i on i t was ~ that one of the parti e s h a d l e f t t h e fi e ld , an d c° 11 . 5 :: queutly there was no n ecess it y f or E ng l an d' s mediation. The House adjourned at Half-past Seven. ROUSE OF COMMONS, D e c 14. WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE ELECTION. Mr. WAKLEY, in rising to move the considera tion of the petition complaining of en und u e interfere nce on the part of the Earl Fitzhardinge with "WLb: recent election for West Gloucestershire, said, "--, he mentioned the subject yesterday t o a n hon. rela tive of the Noble Peer, he stated that he was authorised t ° announce to the House that the Noble Peer would 1 1 °1 no objection to the appointment of a Coinreittk Inquiry into the matter. Captain BERKFLEY—What I said was this : if t h h i e , House thought proper to institute an inquiry ict ° ,7, - , conduct, Earl Fitzhardinge would have no objeco °- to it. Mr. WAKLEY said that was precisely his itcP reg' sion, and consequently there was no objection 00 the part of the Noble Earl ; and now the bublic would have an opportunity of seeing whethe r ore was any objecti on on t h e part of that H ow se. The allegations of the petitioners were not loose or ill-defined They were of the most specific character , and there could be no mi sun d erstan ding them. There was n 0 beating about the bush, while he might remark to the house that the pet itioners were persons oi the highest r es p ec t a bility in the county cf . Gloucester, and the manner in which tbef spoke of th e t ransact i ons that occurred at the la st election was such, that if that House desired in tke e ‘ slightest degree to protect the electors of the coun tr y in the exercise of their franchise they would not refits to institute a searching inquiry into the circumstan ce ' '. of the case.—(Hear, hear.) In asking for Committee of inquiry he did not think it /y r: his duty to make any charges against the Noble re , question. He had not the honour of the Noble p e u t H ac e qu m a e ir r i e ta ly nc ac e, ted nor in di t d hi la s e c e a y se er a e s x a c n ha inn deepaewndoerndt Mc within ti ' s u: l ;; l l ) : of that House, into who se h an d s a petition , e respec i t to be` worded, had been pl ace d: ; h e considered his duty to present such petition, and to bring 4 under the notice of th e H ouse. He thought he had d on t ' p ne more in th a t r es p ect t h an discharge his duty as to sh e Member of that H ouse. N ow with respect Noble Peer he cou ld h ave no pr i vate fee li ng w hatever; but he did think th e c h arges i n t hi s pet i t i on w ere In° 6- serious, and if such charges were allowed to pass noticed all that he could sa y was, that all freedom of election in thi s coun t r y was at an end. In fact, if 911613 charges as these wore tolerated they would be guilty of fraud on the country if they suffered that standing order to remain on their books which declared it to be an ire' fringement of the liberties of that House for a Peer of the realm to interfere with the election of its Members. Now what were the charges of these petitioners? It wee unnecessary to go through the whole of them, and be would simply mention those that were the mo st serious. ' He regretted that there should be any contentions between the noble Peer and an hoynourable relative in that House, and far be it from him W widen the breach that existed between ale; parties; but he thought what had trans p ieed famil strite or could not at all redound to t he credit of one party at kaet. Still such circumstances $69,, these ought not to deter them from the dirzleario their duty. Now, the chief charge was, that a Baer of the realm, in direct violation of the standing ordere of the house, had interfered, by bribery, intimidatio n s and corruption, with the election of a Member of that House; that he had interfered to prevent the elect/0s from discharging the duty which that House called upon them to exercise, and that being one of the allega tions, he asked Hon. Members how they could consis tently discharge their duties if they allowed such itatee meats as these to be made without instituting a striae searching, and scrupulous inquiry into the truth 0f them? lie had received a communication from ono or the electors, in which it was stated that at one_ place, by order of Earl Fitzhardinge, wino Vial! carried to the electors in buckets, as well as brandy and water, and he asked whether it was right—whethe! : they could discharge their duty to the public if such allegations as these were to remain uninvestigated I Why, if those statements were true, and no lequiry to be made into them, of whe‘ use would thew 1