The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-12 00:00:00

~--_ __ IDiatton SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP I. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills eomprised in this group re-assembled Room 30, at the usual hour this morning ; Lord Granvillein Somerset in the chair. NORTE KENT EXTENSION (STROOD TO Mr. AusTIN said, with the permission of the Committee, he would roceed with the evidence in favour of the project, after takin p g the testimony of a Noble Lord in favour of Tun MID-BENT SCHEME. Lord Camden was the Noble Lord referred to. His Lord ship gave the preference to t he South-Eastern Mi d Kent line, because it better acco mmodated the countr y , and did the least possible residential injury. There was another reason which induced him to prefer that line, namely, that it would better facilitate the transit of coal than the Brighton Com pany's line. He understood that the gradients of the South- Eastern line were much easier than the Brighton. His Lordship was cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT, who elicited from his Lordship the fact, that he was almost the only Sevenoaks' landholder who preferred the South Eastern line, while his Lordship admitted that the Brighton line would better accommodate the village of Bromley. The Noble Lord was also cross-examined by a Learned Counsel on behalf of Sir Percival Dyke, who petitioned against the line because it would destroy his family residence in Kent. NORTH KENT EXTENSION. The Committee then adjourned till Monday, at twelve. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE (THIS DAY.) The Committee on standing orders met this day at the usual hour. The following were the decisions which the Committee came to during the course of the day KILMARNOCK AND AYR DIRECT RAILWAY. Allowed to proceed. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (Branch to join the West London Railway; Widening and Enlargement of the West London Railway; and Branch to Hammersmith, to join the London and South• Western Railway near Lambeth.) Allowed to proceed. EDINBURGH AND _NORTHERN RAILWAY (Branch from Burutisland to Dunfermline Branch). Allowed to proceed. WATERFORD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY. Allowed to proceed. DUBLIN IMPROVEMENT. Allowed to proceed. WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICKLOW, AND DUB IAN RAILWAY (Repeal of the Act). Allowed to proceed. GRAVESEND CEMETERY. Not allowed to proceed. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. 11l I.aa .I{. ALA • • 4 AIL AIL JL.1.4 .1.0 AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.) The sale of Railway Shares jp-day, by Messrs. Lamond and Co., was flat, and the quotlaions were again a shade lower. The following are a few of the principal sales : East Indian £o 8 6 Great Western of Bengal 0 6 6 Madrid and Valencia Great Northern (London and York Reg.) 2 6 0 Manchester and Southampton 0 17 6 North British Extension Shrewsbury and Birmingham (B). ..... North Staffordshire Leeds and Thirsk, Preference South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole 2 0 6 Leicester & Bedford, Exchange Certificate 0 12 6 Eastern Counties ..... ........• ... ........ Reading, Guildford, and Reigate, ex int 4 13 0 Newcastle and Berwick Derby, Statlord, and Worcestershire .... 0 9 0 Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston COURSE OF EXCIIA Amsterdam ....C.F. 12 3 Ditto, at sight...... 12 1 Rotterdam .... ••2 U. 12 4 Antwerp ..... •• • . 25 80 ILarhurgh .... • M. 13. 13 10% Allows ..... • • .... Paris, 3 days' sight ...• 25 45 .Dttte, 3 months.. .. .. 25 75 Marseilles • .... 25 85 Bourtleaux ......... • - 25 85 Frankfort on Maine.... 121 Fetersburgh, 3 U 5......— Berlin.... •• •• •• Vienna, enc. do ••• . • • 10 3 Trieste, ditto.... • ... .. 10 3 Madrid ....... 0 id I z • Barcelona ..... 5eri11e......... ,NGE.-(TIIIS DAY.) Gibraltar.......... Gibraltar Leghorn Genoa ..•• • ....... •• 26 85 Milan ...... •• •• •• Venice...... •••• •••"• Naples .. • . 40% l'alermo, per OA.. ...... 121 Lisbon .;....• ... . Oporto • • . 1 Itio Janeiro • • ...... • • 28 Bahia liuenos Ayres .. • ..... New York, 21 days'sight 11111dilelphia .... • • PAICLS OF BULLION, TER Oz. Foreign Gold In bars ...£3 17 9 New Dollars ••.. • . 0 4 10% Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 Silver in bars ......•• 0 5 051 ...... 36 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELEOR took his seat upon the Wool - sack this day, at Five o'clock. BIRMINGHAM AND NA , ORCESTER RAILWAY. The Earl of RIPON presented a petition from the Bir mingham and Worcester Railway Company complaining of toe conduct of the London and North-Western Rail way Company, in purchasing up the Birmingham and Oxford Railway, in order to defeat the policy of an Act passed last session, he would accordingly move that the petition should lie upon the table of the House. Lord LYNDIIURST said it was a matter of great importance, and he considered that the House ought to grant a Committee of Inquiry into the facts of the case. The course they have adopted is this,—out of the 50,000 shares, they had purchased 38,000 ; the remaining shares were divided among the shareholders, and the dependents of the company. 'The object was plainly to defeat the opposition of a rival company, and he would suggest that his Noble and Learned Friend should move for a Committee of Inquiry into the allegations of this petition. Lord BROUGHAM quite concurred in the opinion that thc se allegations should be left to the inquisition of a Committee, fur the Bill alluded to was clearly a fraud on Parliament. The only difficulty that struck him was that this matter was under a course of inquiry in a Court of law. Lord LYNDHURST had made inquiry and was cer tain that no such difficulty existed. Lord BROUGHAM was sure that his Noble and Learned Friend would perceive that he was in favour of the committee. Lord LYNDHURST said that there were more in tereststs than those of the Oxford and Birmingham Company invested in this question. There was the Great Western Company also, who were largely affected by the conclusion to which they might come. After a few words from the Duke of BUCKINGHAM and the Earl of WICKLOW, Lord BEAUMONT sa id th a t b e was qu i te opposed to this Committee, for a Bill was at the present moment Pending before the otber House of Parliament to enable the Londod and Birming ham Company to l ower th e i r tolls, an d as that Bill would have to go through both /louses there would be ample opportunity for inquiry. Lord LYNDHURST was of opinion, that as the Lon don and Birming h am Railway w as a l rea d y i n t h e pos session of the Oxfor d and matter at all. and Birmingh am C om p any, t h at the Bill could n o t Lord CAMPBELL professed himself wholly ignorant uld, therefore, refrain of the facts of the case, and he from offering any opinion whatev erwo ; N b ( ut he must say ,tlle and Learned that he perfectly concurred with hi s Friend on the cross benches (Lord Ly ndhu rs t), that. and with his Noble and Learned friend oppo site, quite necessary, but he thought that objeientlelloiruyldwbaes obtained without a Committee. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed W i t h his NoWe and Learned Friend, that this was not a matter with which they should proceed hastily. Aa the subject divided itself into two parts, that very materially affected the interests of the public ; he would suggest that they should refer it to the Railway Board that had been specially appointed to superintend the operation of rail*ays. After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM, Lord Sands was to give evidence in favour of this line. His Lordship gave strong and decided testimony in favour of the South-Eastern Company, who, he said, had done everything in their power to give Kent efficient rail way accommodation. The people of Faversham undoubtedly were in favour of the South-Eastern line. A long discussion took place as to whether the corporation of Canterbury should be heard as petitioners against the preamble of the Bill. Sir Edward King, Port Admiral at Sheerness, was more familiar with the water communication to the metropolis than with the land communication, but he still had no doubt that a line connecting Sheerness with Woolwich and London would be of advantage. Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT —The present garrison at Sheerness numbered some 200 men, and the stores at present came by water. He was not able to give a positive opinion as to the relative merits of either conveyance. Mr. Stephen Lush Lushington had sat in Parliament as Member for Canterbury, and was well acquainted with the way Company. He was chairman of the committee of the Faversham Navigation ; he was aware that great sums were laid out in the improvement of that port, and he considered that the money was well laid out. The general feeling of the district landowners was in favour of the line from Strood to Chilham. and so important was deemed the necessity of having a communication by rail with Ashford, that the con sent of all the landholders, without an exception, was given to the formation of the line from Faversham to Chilham. Meetings had been held at which the proprietors attended, and the universal feeling was in favour of the South-Eastern line. Mr. Plumptre, M.P., thought the South-Eastern Company had chosen the route best fitted to supply the wants of North Kent. He believed that were it not for the technical objec tion which was raised last year, with respect to the purchase of the Rochester Canal, that there would be no excuse for the intrusion of the Brighton Company. Sir Brook Bridges considered that it was absolutely neces sary that a full communication should be given between Lon don and the great towns of Kent; and the South-Eastern Company being already in possession of Gravesend, Strood, and Rochester, he thought it would be for the interest of the county if the whole chain of railways were in their hands. Mr. George Neame, alderman of Canterbury, was the pro prietor of considerable property in that locality. He was de cidedly in favour of the South-Eastern extensions, and he thought that the public feeling was generally expressed in favour of this company. Cross-e.camined by Mr. HOPE—He had been connected with the Whitstable Company, and had no reason to com plain of that connexion.—(Laughter.) He had had a lover's quarrel with the South-Eastern Company on more than one occasion—once when they raised the fares. He had attended a public meeting in consequence, and had pretty soundly expressed his opinions there.—( Laughter.) The meeting only grumbled—(Laughter)—and did nothing more. The South-Eastern afterwards explained their reasons for raising the fares, and, he believed, to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. Lord LYNDHURST then said, that, after what fell from the Noble Marquis, he would suggest, that the fur ther consideration of the subject should be adjourned till Tuesday next, and he should then name the appointment of the committee. He would now move that the petition be printed, to which he presumed there would be no objection. Lord BROUGHAM thought they would be better able to consider the question than the Railway Board, and be would not give his reasons why he thought so. The subject then dropped. IRISH PAUPERS. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Black burn, complaining of the influx of the Irish poor into this country, and praying for a stringent law to compel the landlords of Ireland to support them. The Noble Lord proceeded to comment on the statements of the petitioners, and stated that the poor were sent over at 2s. 6d. a head, at the expense of the landlords of Ireland The Earl of DEVON said that there was one state ment made by his Noble and Learned Friend which ought not to have been made without the best founda tion. That statement was, that the poor of Ireland were sent over by the landlords of Ireland at 2s. 6d. a head, to be fed by the people of England. This was a reflection upon a large, and, as he believed, a highly respectable body of men, on whom he believed it was a reflection as unnecessary as it was unjust. Lord BROUGHAM had the greatest confidence in the sources of his information. The Earl of DEVON wished to know whether his Noble and Learned Friend spoke in explanation or reply? Lord BROUGHAM—Which I please. The Earl of DEVON spoke to order. Lord BROUGHAM—So do I; and I put it to your Lordships whether I am not entitled to a reply on a debate upon a petition, and, if I am not in order in that motion, whether I am not entitled to speak on a motion for a Committee for the consideration of that petition. His only object in the presentation of this petition was to show the practical effects of the present proceedings of Government. He had the best possible authority for the assertion that the poor of Ireland had been sent over to this country at the expense of others, to be sustained in this country. His Noble Friend was a member of a committee before whom he had summoned his informants, and they were ready on oath to confirm the statements which they had made to him of the fact which ho had put before the House. The Earl of DYSART would put it to their Lordships whether they were to be wearied night after night by the attacks of the Noble and Learned Lord, who hoped abilities and varied attainments to which many of those who had to make their defence could not pretend. Lord BROUGHAM bad but one object in all these attacks, and that was to impress on the minds of the country were not to oe supporteu r r -r th9l - nor even at the expense of the Irish people, but that the landlords were themselves to bear their portion of the burthen. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE only rose to refute the absurdity that the sustentation of the Irish people was to be made at the expense of the English. They had come to us in an extreme exigency, and it was our duty to relieve them as a portion of the population of Great Britain, for in truth Ireland is a portion of Great Britain. (LEFT SITTING HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed : Axholme Railway (from the Leeds and Selby Railway to Gainsborough, with branches). Bingley Gas. Edinburgh and Northern Railway (improvement of the ferry between Ferry Port on Craig and the North Shore:of the river Thy). Enfield and Edmonton Railway Extension. Leominster Canal Navigation Sale. Liverpocl Corporation Waterworks. Manchester and Birmingham and North Staffordshire Junction Railway. Newhaven Harbour, Ouse Lower Navigation, and Lewes and Laughton Drainage. Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (No. 1 —Extension and Amendment). Portland Harbour of Refuge and Breakwater. Rochdale Improvement. MACDUFF HARBOUR. On the motion of Sir A. L. HAY, the second reading of the Macduff Harbour Bill was postponed till this day week. STOCKTON AND HULL RAILWAY. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from Lord Brougham and ,others against the St3ekton and Hull Railway Bill. It was ordered to be referred to the Committee upon the Bill. ISO POOR-LAW FOR IRELAND. The O'CONOR DON presented a petition from the High Sheriff and Magistrates of the county of Ros common, in favour of a general assessment for the relief of the poor ; and praying that an extensive system of emigration might be introduced as a means of relief to the distressed. WINDOW-TAX. Mr. BROTIIERTON presented several petitions against the window-tax. The petitioners stated that the tax was unfavourable to the health and comfort of the inhabitants. THE FAMINE. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL presented a petition from the county of Mayo, complaining of the want of energy in the Irish landlords, and praying that the House would take some further measure to prevent the spre;:d of the caiamity which now exists. HARBOURS i Nsi l l) TIDAT. WA 9 "VnQ . prese a petition from the ship• owners of Ilfracombe, praying the House to further, as s. - on as possible, the Bill now before it for the better management of ha - bours and tidal waters, and stating that the harbour of Ilfracombe would receive much be nefit from such a measure. Mr. MILNER GIBSON presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce at Manchester, praying for a better management of harbours and tidal waters. Also a petition from Manchester against the rating of tenements ; and three petitions from the same place against the law prohibiting marriages between certain degrees of kindred. POOR-LAW IN IRELAND. Lord CASTLEREAGH Presented a petition from the Board of Guardians of a parish in the county Down, praying fur an extension and alteration of the Iri,h Poor-law. Also, a petition from the pariah of New townards, praying for an equalisation of the rating system. Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the assessors and collector s o f property an d the assessed taxes, in the county of Stafford, complaining that they did not receive adequate remuneration, and praying that the House would take some step to increase it. Mr. P. SCIIOPE presented a petition from the parish of Craig, in the Queen's County, praying for an efficient poor law ; and also for such measures as would enable them to do what the inhabitants of every country on the face of earth were enabled to do —namely, maintain themselves by their industry on the face of their native land. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. Messengers from the House of Lords brought up a message intimating that their Lordships had agreed to several Bills which had been sent up for their approval. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that on Tuesday next he would ask the Secretary for the Home Department a question as to the course the Government intended to take with respect to the introduction of a general Bill for the lighting, paving, and general improvement of towns. RATE OF WAGES ON PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL, seeing the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to call his attention to a statement which he had made last week, in answer to a question from the Honourable Member for Limerick, respecting the rates of wages in the west of Ireland. It appeared that the answer of the Right Honourable Gentleman had been misunderstood. It was stated that the Right Hon. Gentleman had said that the wages of labourers on public works were nearer ls. 2d. than 8d a day. The Gentleman who wrote to him (Mr. O'Connell) said that this was an error, as no person in Sligo, or the neighbouring county, had ever received more than Bd.; he added that that could not support a family with the present high rate of provisions. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that he would repeat to the House what he had stated on the occasion referred to by the Hon. Member. He said that from informa tion he had received from Sligo, it appeared that the system pursued was this—that as far as possible the principle of task work was introduced, and under that system an able-bodied labourer would earn nearly Is. 2d. a day, but in the cases of families where they could not be supported by the labour of one member of that family, it was allowed to give labour to another person from the same family, rather than give a higher rate of wages than was to be had in agricultural operations. EXPORTATION OF GRAIN FROM ENGLAND. Mr. IL BAILLIE wished to ask a question of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government. The Noble Lord was perhaps aware that France and Belgium had prohibited the exportation of corn from those countries, and that there were Belgian agents in this country mak ing large purchases of grain. There was a general anti cipation, therefore, that in consequence of these purchases the prices of food would advance, and a scarcity ensue. He wished, therefore, to know whether the Government would feel called upon to prohibit the exportation of corn from this country? Lord JOHN RUSSELL complained that the Hon. Gentleman had asked a question on this important subject without giving notice of his intention of doing so. Ho would, however, tell him what was the general opinion of the Government under these circum stances. The members of the Government were aware that a great demand existed in France and Belgium for grain, and that prices had risen in those countries, but they were also of opinion that to prohibit the exportation of corn was not the way to cause articles of food to be brought into this country, because they thought that the importing merchant, if he had a security that he could bring corn here, and be permitted to re-export it if he thought proper to send it to other markets, would bring it here ; but if it were at once shown that when he did come here they refused to allow him to re-export it, then the probability would be that he would avoid their market. Although he had not been prepared to meet the questi on o f the Hon. Member, he had no hesi tation in saying that this would be the ruling principle of the Governm ent. CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS BILL.—PRISONS In reply to a question froustaon.d BILL Offenders lin'' Bill and Sir G. GREY said the Cul THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY ErENING, MARCH 12, 1847 Prisons Bill had just come down from the Upper House, and he proposed then to move that they should be read a first time. He would, with the permision of the House, fix Thursday next for the second reading, when the discussion would be taken upon them. The Bills were according read a first time. CAPTAIN WARNER'S INVENTION. Sir R. PEEL said, a short while ago certain officers were appointed to ascertain the value of Captain War ner's invention. In the report which those officers had made upon the subject, allusion was made to certain minutes that had been kept in the course of the investi gation, and he wished to know if Government had any objection:to lay these minutes on the table? LOUGH FOYLE. Mr. BLAKE said a short time ago plans and specifi cations were prepared for the improvement of Lough Foyle, but the works had not yet been commenced. Now he should be glad to know the cause of the delay. Mr. LABOUCHERE replied that the officers of the Board of Works were not answerable for the delay. It had occurred solely from the parties interested in these works not having seat in their assent to them. He must add, however, that the assent had just been re ceived. He did not think there would be any further delay in the production of the papers referred to, EMIGRATION TO AMERICA. Mr. VESEY wished to know whether the Govern ment had made any preparations, or had it in contem plation to assist poor persons emigrating from Ireland upon their arrival at Quebec. He believed that up wards of 400 families were now preparing in one part of Ireland to proceed abroad without the assistance of the emigration committee; and, as it was not probable that they would be enabled to collect together more than a sufficient sum to carry them across the Atlantic, it would therefore be desirable if the Government could afford them any assistance upon their landing. Mr. H AWES said that there was a fend in Canada available for the sick and destitute emigrants who might be landed there. This fund was, however, very small, arising mainly from a tax upon the emigrants, and from a vote taken with the estimates for Canada, and required considerable care in its distribution. He did not anticipate that the fund at present existing in Canada would be found insufficient for the purpose. He would add, that during the last year the number of emigrants to North America had been up wards of 125,000, the system of emigration had been found to work well, and in general no complaints were made of their condition. POOR RATES (IRELAND). Sp. J. GRAHAM wished to know when the return, which he moved for about a fortnight since, on the sub ject of levying poor-rates in Ireland, and also showing how the account of the sum of 1,200,0001. advanced for building Atorkhouses in Ireland stood. Mr__PARKER rPnlierl_ that this nanPrx referred to hv Monday. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. GREGORY wished to put a question to the Noble Lord, with respect to a clause which he (Mr. Gregory) had placed upon the paper with the in tention of moving its insertion in the Bill when the House should go into Committee upon it. The Noble Lord had stated that it was his intention to propose that no holder of land above half an acre should be entitled to come under the definition of destitute persons. Now, he wished to know whether he intended to introduce such a provision. If be replied in the affirmative, his (Mr. Gregory's) motion would fall to the ground, but if in the negative, it would be his duty to er.ter it. He also wished to know when her Majesty's Government could state their intentions with respect to vagrants in Ireland? Lord JOHN RUSSELL (who spoke in an unusually low tone) was understood to say that he had already stated that he approved of the clause which the Hon. Gentleman intended to propose, but he should prefer him to make what amendments he might think proper, and afterwards to bring it under the consideration of the House at the proper time. He could not state the exact time when the Government should bring in the Bill with respect to vagrants, but he might state that he certainly should not bring such a measure forward until the measures so urgently requiry in Ireland had re ceived the sanction of the House. MINT PROSECUTIONS. Mr. FIUME said, seeing the Hon. Gentleman the Master of the Mint in his place (Mr. Shiel), he wished to know whether the statement that had gone abroad was correct, that policemen were employed in Mint cases were paid double the usual pay, during the time they were engaged. Such a statement was made at a trial which recently took place at the Old Bailey, and it seemed most extraordinary conduct. He thought the public should have authentic information on the subpezt. He therefore wished to know whether such a practice existed, and if it did, whether the Hoe. Gentle. man had taken any steps to put a stop to it ? Mr. SHIEL said, on Friday last he inquired at the Mint whether such a practice prevailed, and was informed that the practice had existed for a considerable time, and had been carried to a much greater extent than at present. He thought it was a practice likely to lead to great abuses, and he could assure the Hon. Gentleman that he should do his best to put a stop to it.—(Hear.) The subject then dropped. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the order of the day for going into committee upon the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that before the Speaker left the chair he wished to state generally what had been the latest proceeding of the Government with respect to the calamitous state of affairs now existing in Ireland, and at the same time to call the attention of the House to one or two of the principal provisions of the Bill Isefore the House. In the midst of the present afflictions of Ireland he thought it was dua to the House—with darkness surrounding them and peril before them—to acquaint it with the steps which they were , taliing _ _ whit i might have at a future period a serious influence on the destinies both of this country and of Ireland. The House was acquainted both with the steps which had been taken before the commencement of the sessions, and the conti nued refusal which the Government had given to enter tain some other measures of large import to which their attention had been repeatedly called. Thus the Govern. ment agreed with respect to the supply of provisions, that there should be the amount of 10,000 tons always in store in various depots in those parts of Ireland where there were no regular markets established, but it declined to undertake the feeding of the people of Ireland by the importation of provisions. They likewise consented that a sum of not more than 50,0001. should be laid out forseed thinking that seed might be more readily purchased by the Government than by individuals. But they bad steadily refused to undertake the cultivation—the ploughing and sowing of the land in Ireland.—(Hear.) Thus, also, they had augmented to a very small degree the sum which was applicable fur the removal of emigrants in a destitute condition, from Quebec to Montreal and other places, where their labour might be more in demand. But they had refused to be come responsible for the conduct and promotion of emigration in general from this country.—(Hear,) The reasons why the Government had thus acted were as follows :—ln the first piece, they thought the quantity of corn and provisions of all kinds would be greater if the trade was not interfered with, than if they by any act of theirs interfered with the purchase of supplies, and in the second place day by days they had been confirmed that in so doing they had act' d right. They were also of opinion that the cultivation of theland would have been impeded instead of forwarded had they undertaken, as they had been desired to do, the employment of the people upou the land. They were likewise of opinion that the number of emigrants to the United States and the colonies would not have been considerably increased if the Govern ment # had proposed any large grant of money for that purpose, instead of having emigrants to depend on their own resources, or on what was furnished them by their friends or their landlords. On these topics he would do no more than state what the opinions of the Government had been. With regard to another question, ichas been thought that the Go vernment had unduly interfered with the employment of the people devoting large sums of money for the em ployment of the destitute people of Ireland. This was undoubtedly true. For this purpose the advances bad been very great ; and he would now state what the amount had been, up to the end of February, expended on relief : September (1843) November December January (1846) February 944,141 This expenditure was entirely independent of that which had been expended by the commissariat and other public departments. He would now give the numbers employed during the last month, in which the increase had been very great:— Mon. The week ending Feb. 6 615,051 IP, 13 605,715 If 20 668,749 Of I, 27 780,268 On looking back at the proceedings he was firmly per suaded that unless a very large outlay of money had been made from the national treasury, many of those who were now employed would have died from the want of the means of subsistence.—(H e ar,) He thought this very large outlay was justified, and was to be justified by the great emergency of the case. It was undertaken to prevent an increase in the number of persons who' had died in Ireland from want of food. But while during the months of November, December, January, February, and, indeed, part of March, they had continued these works on that great scale, they had never been insecurablo to the evils which were attendant upon these works, and it was to be expected the evils would increase as the works were enlarged. In the first place the immense increase in the number and crowds of workmen, an increase which ranged from 30,000 to 40,000 at the commencement to 708,000 had made it al most impossible for the Board of Works, however it had exerted itself, or did exert itself, to keep that due order and regularity which ought to be observed in the public works. Let him say, however, at the same time, that the degree to which order and regularity had been ob served, was not only a matter of praise, but of great as tonishment. It had been done in the first place by the exertions of the officers of the Board of Works themselves, and in the next place by the exertions of the military and officers who were placed under the con stabulary of the Board of Works, and lastly by the exertions of the Executive Government, and the mili tary and constabulary at their disposal. The conse quence had been that although it would have been impossible t o see w h et h er a d ue quan tity of work was performed by each individual there had not been any general confusion in the works, or the regularity of the payments. Still there had been, and it was to be expected there would be, something dishonest and speculative on the part of those clerks who were engaged in superintending and paying the men engaged on the works. But part of the irregularity arising in the performance of the works, was to be attributed to the inabiliV of some of the persons employed to perform the works assigned to them, in consequence of the want of that sustenance shish was requisite to enable them to perform that amount of work which was necessary to enable them to procure a sufficient sum of money for the purchase of food; and thus their overseers and the other persons over them naturally felt unwilling to oblige them to perform tasks to which they were unequal, or to give them a sum irsuffi cient to meet those demands for food. They had, therefore, rnduced the amount of the task work, and consequently the amount of work performed was not to be considered an equivalent for the wages given, but rather an amount equivalent to that which they were enabled to perform. This had led to irregularity, be cause while some were altogether unable to perform the task assigned, and it was impossible to make them do so, others who were able and strong, and capable of per forming those tasks, had taken advantage of this state of things, to come at late hours of the morning, at ten and eleven, and as late as twelve o'claek, and said that as they were performing task-work they were not obliged to attend at regular periods. But a further evil was the consequence of these irregularities, for at this particular season, as they would learn from the report of the Board of Work.; for last month. The Noble Lord then read a quotation from the repert, to show that as this system of task work had been introduced on the public works, the labourers earning Is. 6d. a day were averse to attend to the cultivation of the soil, and the consequence had been that a higher rate of wages had been induced. lii consequence of this report, corroborated as it had been by a great num ber of representations from irdividual officers employed in various parts of the country, and in different depart ments of the commissariat and the Board of Works ; and in consequence of these representations, the Government determined that it was necessary to reduce, as far as possible, at that time of the year when ploughing and sowing should take place to prepare for the coming crops. They were deter mined, as far as possible, to reduce the number on those public works, and on these grounds his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State or the Home Department had written a letter to the Lard-Lieutenant of Ireland avowing that, as far as possible, the number of those labourers should be diminished, and that no further presentments should be made unless upon the special grounds—grounds upon which he should be required to make a report to the Secretary of State for Ireland. The Treastrry had likewise directed that notice should be given that from Saturday, the 20th March, the number of persons employed on the public works should be reduced in the proportion of 20 per cent. The last treasury minute gave instructions to the over seers to take off from the public works these persons whn_ruircht vrmino , u3 - cicat - Wnett all tnose terrodgeeie Tt were complete that the number of men employed on the relief works would be considerably reduced. He did not then intend to take notice of the other measures then before the House with respect to Ireland, 'because, although they were great in their extent, they were not to be compared with that measure to which he had alluded, so totally unexampled in its nature, and so appalling in its magnitude.—(Hear.) To the other measures he would feel it his duty to call the attention of the House at a future period. He purposed now to call the attention of the House to the proper business of this evening, and before he did so, he thought it right to say something with respect to a representation which had been made to him a few days since. A memorial had been presented to him, signed by 64 Peers and 40 Members of that House, upon the subject of the Government measures. He thought it would be respectful to the parties whose signatures were attached to that memorial, that he should notice the representations before he proceeded to the measure itself,—(Hear, hear.) The sixty-four Peers and the forty Members of that House formed a list of persons well acquainted with Irelant?; many of them had been long residents in that country ; and they all had considerable know ledge both of this country and of Ireland ; but the he confessed he could not agree to the resolutions which they had adopted—resolutions which would pre clude that House from entertaining at all the question of out-door relief.—(Loud cheers.) Their third resolution was in the following words:— " Resolved, that the principle of giving out-door relief to the able- bodied labourers of Ireland, has been condemned by Parliamentary Committees and Government Commissions, as well as by public officers appointed to consider the subject—that the experience of the last twelve months, during which time several have received out-door relief, although accompanied by the relief ordinarily afforded to agricultural labourers, demonstrate conclusively that the system of out-door relief will produce the most fatal and lamentable conse quences. Now, with regard to the first portion of that statement, he had nothing to say, as he did not wish to go into any examination of the report of the Committee and the Commissioners, but with regard to the other he had two observations to make. We did not think that the relief given during the last twelve months, accompanied with labour, at all conclusively proved that out door relief had proved injurious, however serious the expense might have been.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, however, that the system which they had been compelled to carry out, could not fail to be attended with abuse ; but that observation could not with any truth apply to the plan of the poor-law for rating the land in Ireland. The House could not have failed to have seen the great readiness with which advances had been made from the Treasury for the purpose of carrying on public works, and the great readiness which had been shown in recommending the employment of per ; sons upon these wprlis—a-teax) . tom made for the reli e f p ot the distress were not considered to be made on the understanding that they were to be immediately repaid by the rate-payers of Ireland ; they were to be looked upon as sums advanced from the pub lic treasury. [LEFT SPEAKING.] BURFORD'S NEW PANORAMA OF GRAND CAIRO. Mr. Burford has just completed a magnificent pano rama of Cairo, the "City of the Caliphs," or, as the inhabitants style it, " the mother of the world." It has been prepared from drawings on the spot, by D. Roberts, Esq., AI.A., who bas obtained deserved celebrity for his b eaut if ul drawings of remarkable spots in the Holy Land. The view of the city has been taken from the summits a one of those extraordinary mounds which f ormerly encircled the city, i and which not only mpeded the fr ee c i rcu l at i on of the air, so absolutely necessary in s• eh a climate, but almost invariably destroyed its salubrity by l oa di ng i t with clouds of the natives during th e pecul i ar seasons visit that pa r t o f the world. The edan cities are b eaut if ul and magni ficent that fine species of sand which p roves so destructive to but Cairo, f rom its hundreds of imw t eye- qe s our i g tefi acha extreme, ioi)m, he whose handsome and noble domes, capolas. and elegantly decorated. spiral minarets, which beautif u l ty and equally tower high above the ordinary houses, has no equal in glaring in the noon that extraordinary lan . d. lite are not only presented t v h i e ew eg o u f al that ci interet ing surrounding country. In the distance, we behold the ramids, the majestic Nile,. the tombs of the Caliphs, the Libyan mountains, the . isle of Rhoda, Gezeeh, Old dwaiyths sun, n s , p b a u c t io o u f s Cairo, the great Mosque in the citadel, and the Pacha's Palace. We have also beautiful groups of figures on horseback, among whom are Mehe met Ali , Ibrahim Pache, Egyptian ladies riding, dancing girls, boatmen o f the Nth &c., &c. A more pic turesque or life-like scene could not be presented to the imagination so truthfully is i t depicted on the canvas. Most Egyptian cities are built on no regular plan. The houses are of all sizes and forms, and are scattered about in the most extraodinary and incorrect manner ' • the streets are miserably narrow and m os t irregular ; but the general effeet is thereby ne i g h tened. Looking at Cario as depicted on the panorama scarcely a street can be perceived. Th e h ouses hare, with scarcely an exception, flatroofs, in whi c h the inmates congregate . at certain periods of the day. The panorama is beautifully and carefully painted, and will be found one of the most interesting exhibitions to be met with in London at the present moment. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. 'From the London New Price Current of March 12 ) SUGAR.—To-day, although there was a large amount of business transacted in East India and Mauritius Sugar, for home consumption, no improvement Look place in the value. REFLNED.—To-day there was a large amount of business transacted in refined goods for home /hie ; but the refiners were willing sellers at former reduced rates, 63s 6d being taken fur standard lumps. Bonded crushed Sugar is cheaper, and 35s to 35s 6d accepted for first sort. EAST IyDtA.—Thie afternoon there were six public sales of Bengal Sugar, consisting of 6,638 bags and 80 chests, the principal part of which was disposed of, and generally at former rates for white and the better sorts of yellow, but brown and inferior yellow kinds went 6d cheaper. I.'omo/sr.—This afternoon at public sale 73 cases and 35 brls Babia Sugar, duty paid, were offered, and chiefly taken in and withdrawn. Bleumnus.—This afternoon Mauritius Sugar was in ex cellent request, and 5,600 bags 490 casks at public sale were sold at fully previous rates, and, in some instances, rather above. MOLASSES.—There has been little businee transacted in any kind of West India this week, and the tendency of prices is downwards for all sorts. There is a fair quantity on offer. At public sale this afternoon 90 hhds of Cossipore taken in at 275. COFFEE.—This afternoon Ceylon Coffee was less in re quest.. At public sale 1,003 bags Plantation Ceylon were offered, but a part only sold at full rates. TEL.-Public sales are announced to take place on Thurs. day next, the quantity announced at present is 16,000 pkg s . Nonehas arrived this week whereas the quantity on which duty was paid was very large, and a fair quantity was taken for exports. There has been a desire generally manifested by holders of Congou to realise on account of the heavy arrivals, and they have submitted to a slight reduction on former rates. RICE. —To-day East India Rice met with little attention privately. At public sale 2,088 bags Bengal were offered, but all the sound was taken in at the full value. SALTPETRE. --There was a good demand for Rough to day; and 1,500 bags of Calcutta at public sale were sold at full rates. English Refined is selling at 305 to 30s 6d. Nitrate of Soda is yet in good demand at 17s to 17s 6il per cwt. Srinrrs.—The demand has been extremely limited for all sorts of West India Rum for home use and exportation this week ; but holders appear not disposed to submit to any further decline in prices; whilst buyers, on the other band, only take sufficient for their immediate wants. Calcutta can be obtained at 3s 5d to 3s 6d proof. In Leeward Island there has been scarcely any business done, and 3s 8d to 35 9d is the nearest value. For Demerara the market is in a flat state, the value of strong sorts is 5s to 5s 3d. For Brandy the market is in a quiet state, and prices tend downwards. Ous.--lielders of Olive Oil manifest much firmness, and large parcels h ave b een disposed of. Palm met with ' little attention fur exportation, but the home demand is good; prices do not improve. In Rape Seed Oil a large amount of Lillian has been transacted, and M firmer fates. There are ,‘ several buyers of Coeoa Nut, but little is yet to be had, and prices are on the advance. Linseed Oil met with less atten tion this week, the prices taken on the spot have been 26s 6d to 26s 9d. In Cod Oil several purchases have been made, but holders are still inclined to sell at 271 to 2 7 / 1 0s, Seal met with a fair demand, and prices rule high. A good demand existed for all sorts of Southern, and, the supply being less plentiful, holders are enabled to obtain stiffer rates. Sperm met with increased attention, but little improvement in the value can be quoted. , THE LONDON GAZETTE (THIS EVENING.) BY THE QUEEN. -A PROCLAMATION FOR A GENERAL FAST. VicroßiA, R.—We taking into our most serious consi deration the heavy judgments with which Almighty God is pleased to visit the iniquities of this land, by a grievous scar city and dearth of divers articles of sustenance and necessaries of life; and, trusting in the mercy of Almighty God, that notwithstanding the sore punishment which He bath laid upon us, and upon our people, He will, if we turn to Him in due contrition and penitence of heart, withdraw His afflicting hand ; have, therefore, resolved, and do, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, hereby command, that a public fast and humiliation be observed through out those parts of our United Kingdom called England and Ireland, on Wednesday, the 24th day of March instant, that so both we and our people may humble ourselves before Almighty God. in order to obtain pardon of our sins, and may, in the moat devout and solemn manner, send up our prayers and supplications to the Divine Majesty, for the removal of those heavy judgments which our manifold sins and provocations have most justly deserved, and under which we at this present time labour; and we do stri, tly charge and command, that the said public Fast be reverently and devoutly observed by all our loving subjects in England and Ireland, as they tender the favour of Almighty God, and would avoid his wrath and indignation; and upon pain of such punishment as may be justly inflicted on all such as con temn and neglect the performance of so religious and necessary a duty. And, for the better and more orderly so lemnizing of the same, We have given directions to the Most Reverend the Archbishops, and the Right Reverend the Bishops of England and Ireland, to compose a Form of Prayer, suitable to this occssiori, to be used in all churches, chapels, and places of public worship; and to take care the same be timely dispersed through their respective dioceses. Given at our Court, at Osborne-house, Isle of Wight, this - 9th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, 1847, arid in the 10th year of our reign. God save the Queen. • BY THE QUEEN—A PROCLAMATION, FOR A GENERAL FAST IN SCOTLAND. VICTORIA, R.—Wire, taking into our most se r i ou s con sideration the heavy judgments with which Almighty GQd is pleased to visit the iniquities of this land, by a grievous scarcity and dearth of divers article s o f zi.0ttv..!.,,,: God, that, notwithstanding thC sore punishment which He hath laid upon us, and upon our people, He will, it We turn to Him in due contrition and penitence of hearty withdraw his afflicting hand; have, therefore, resolved, and do, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, hereby command, that a public Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout that part of our kingdom called Scotland, on Wednesday the twenty-fourth day of March instant, that so both we and our people may humble our selves before Almighty God, in order to obtain pardon of our sins, and may, in the most devout and solemn manner, send up our prayers and supplications to the Divine Majesty, for the removal of those heavy judgments which our manifold sins and provocations have most justly deserved, and under which we at this present time labour; and We do strictly charge and command, that the said public Fast be reverently and devoutly observed by all Our loving subjects in Scotland, as they ten der the favour of Almighty God, and would avoid His wrath and indignation; and upon pain of such punish ment as may be justly inflicted on all such as contemn and neglect the performance of so religious and necessary a duty. Our will is, therefore, and we charge, that this our Proclamation s een , ye f ort hwith proceed to the Market Cross of Edinburgh, and all other places needful, and there, in our name and authority, make publi cation hereof, that none pretend ignorance ; and our will and pleasure is, that our solicitor do cause printed copies hereof to be sent to the sheriffs of the several shires, stewarts of stewartries, and bailiffs of regalities, and their clerks, whom we ordain to see the same published ; and we do appoint them to send copies hereof to the several parish churches within their bounds, that, upon the Lord's Day immediately preceding the day above mentioned, the same may be published and read from the pulpits, immediately after Divine Service. Given at our Court, at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, this ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty•seven, and in the tenth year of our reign. God save the Queen. DOWNING-STREET, MAncu 12. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Viscount Torring ton to be Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Island of Ceylon, and its dependencies. Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint Robert James Mackintosb, Esq. to be Liecutenant Governor of the Island of St. Christopher. Her Majesty has further been pleased to appoint Johan G. Aspeling, Esq., to be Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate for the district of George, in the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope. MARCH 8. The following promotions have this day taken place, con sequent upon the death of Vice-Admiral of the White Nicho las Tomlinson : Vice-Admiral of the Blue Hon. Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, to be Vice-Admiral of the White. Rear -Admiral of the Red Robert Jackson to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue. Rear. Admiral of the White Brian Hodz.son to be Rear-Ad miral of the Red. Rear-Admiral of the Blue Wiliam Bowles, C.D. to be Rea-- Admiral of the White. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Devonshire. East Devon Regiment of , Militia-hilrttnn Calmady Hain r.sq., to De uapt ain , vice r Word, Aug. 20, 1816, Ed ward Herman Marsh; Gent., to be Lieutenant, May 21, 1846 ; Frederick Granby Farrant, Gent., to be Surgeon, Sept. 7, 1846. North Devon Regiment of Militia.—Augustus Saltren Willett, Esq., to be Lieutenant-Colonel. vice Bruton, deceased; George Stucley Buck, Esq., to be Major, vice Sir James Hamlyn Williams, Bart., June 29, 1846; Logan Downes, Gent., to be Lieutenant, May 8, 1846. North Devon Regiment of Yeomanry ;Cavalry.—Wiliam Binford, Esq., to be Captain, vice Mallet, resigned; John Colville Roe, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice Binford; Thomas Goldie Harding. to be Lieutenant, vice, Scott, resigned ; Ad derley Wren, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Roe; William An thony Deane, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Grant, resigned, Aug. 25, 11346 The Poor-law Commissioners have appointed Charles Sharman Crawford, of No. 23, Lower Gardiner-street, Dublin, Esq., barrister at law, to be an Assistant Commissioner to act in Ireland. The Poor-law Commissioners have also appointed Denis Phelan, Esq., of Dublin, surgeon, to be an Assistant-Com missioner to act in Ireland. WHITEHALL, Kitten I. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Enmund Butler Ed wards, of Pontypool, in the county of Monmouth, Gent., to be a Master extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. Thomas Benbow, draper, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire. James Hilton, stockbroker, Victoria-street, Manchester. BANKRUPTS. John Thorogood, Innkeeper, Aldgate High-street. Paul Biddle, tallow-chandler, Judd-street, New-road. fa Robert Saw, grocer Hammersmith. Samuel Ffitch, malster, Virrittle, Essex. William Martin, grocer, Skinner-street, Somers' -town. • Joseph Thomas Townsend, carpet dealer, High-street, Islington. Henry Charles Broom, grocer, Lawrence Pountney-hill, City. Edward Abel Taylor, licensed victualler, Tottenhan-court road. William Little, paper manufacturer, Borough-road, South wark. Henry Lovatt and William Hinde Larkman Curran, mer chants, Liverpool. John Armitags, woollen cloth merchant, Paddock, York shire. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed from the returns made in the week ending March 9, 1847, is 325. 7:Ad. per cwt. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From this night's Gazttte.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week eliding on Saturday, the 6th day of March, 1847. ISSUE DEPARTIUNT. X. Notes i55ued........ 24,993,685 Government debt 11,015,100 Other securities •• • • 2,984,9(10 Gold coin and bullion 9,445,493 Sliver bulliou •• •• • • 1,548,392 X 24,333,885 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 11. DEATHS IN IRELAND. Lord G. BENTINCK moved for a comparative return of the number of deaths which hare occurred in each pariah of Ireland in each of the three last periods of six months, commencing the Ist day of September, and ending the Ist day of March respectively with a summary for each period. Mr. LABOUCHERE could assure the Noble Lord and the House that whatever difficulty there might exist in meeting the present motion, he had no wish but to furnish the fullest information of the destruction of human life which had taken place. He regretted it as much as any man could do, and he believed it was going on, and would continue to do so to a fearful extent. The Government had already supplied two returns ; one was the number of coroners' inquests at which verdicts of death by starvation was given ; and the other was that to which he consented the other night, supplied through the constabulary force. The real difficulty of acceding to the Noble Lord's motion was, that he did not know how accurate information was to be obtained. There were but two ways of getting in formation. With regard to the first plan, he regretted there was not, as in England, a register of births, mar riages, and deaths, owing principally, he believed, to re iigiims differences. He 'was not without hope that this difficulty would be got over, but at the present moment there was no such system in operation as could furnish correct returns to the Noble Lord. Nothing could be more inexpedient than inaccurate information, as it was only calculated to mislead the public mind. The other objection was, that the returns, if made out at all, would be entirely voluntary on the part of those alone who could give any information on the subject, as there were no public functionaries in Ireland whose duty it was to furnish the information sought by the Noble Lord. The Noble Lord proposed that the clergy, of all denominations, should be required to furnish the information; but as they did not keep returns of the numbers who died in their respective localities ; neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic clergymen were expected to keep lists of the deaths that occurred in their parishes, so that in many instances they could only assume the numbers. Thus the information would be most fallacious. All he could say was, that he would write to Ireland to inquire whether there existed any means whatever of affording information which, being accurate, could be relied on. He feared that there were no accurate means, and if there were not, he thought the House would derive no good by having information of a vague character before them. These were the only objections he entertained to the motion, for he concurred with the Noble Lord, in thinking that it was the duty of the Government, and he was sure it was their desire, to afford the fullest information on the subject. The Noble Lord had Limerick .(Mr. S. O'Brien) that 240,000 had recently died from starvation, or. from . diseases closely connected with it. Now he must say that he was quite ignorant of the source from which the Hon. Gentleman had derived his information. Ho (Mr. Labouchere) was totally ignorant that any such possible accounts had reached the Irish Government. But he had written to Ireland, and he could not help protesting, in the name of the Government, against the statement of the Noble Lord, that the Government, acting upon the principles of political economy, had not devised proper remedies, and that, in consequence, starvation and death had increased. The Noble Lord stated that the present Government had not acted so benevolently or so wisely as their predecessors ; but he (Mr. Labouchere) was at a loss to know in what respect the conduct of the two Governments differed? He stated that they had not provided food for the people like their predecessors, but if he would look at the returns of the quantity of food that had been exported for the people of Ireland, he would find that the quantity of food very much exceeded the quantity exported by the late Government. The dis tress, it was true, had increased, but the Government bad done all in their power to meet the increasing wants of the people. Nothing could be more dangerous to the Government than to make these vague and unjust accusation s against it un less Gentlemen were prepared to prove them by facts. The Government had dune all in its power to relieve the present calamities ; but there was unfortunately pre valent in Ireland a notion that the Government could prevent these calamities, and the motion of the Noble Lord was much calculated to give force to that idea. Ile thought it rather hard that the Noble Lord, without giving proof, should state in the face of the House and the country that the Government had sacrificed the lives of thousands of their fellow-beings at the shrine of poli tical economy. Captain HARRIS considered that things were con- tinuing in a most objectionable state. He would suggest that the duty might devolve upon the relief committees to ascertain the number of deaths which occurred. He considered that it was this continual compromise which rendered their legislation upon Irish subjects such a matter of interminable difficulty. Mr. SHAW said that he did not consider that the clergymen in,the different districts kept registers of the deaths which occurred. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the Government would make inquiries, but they would not undertake to furnish any vague information they might receive. In consequence of the many reproaches which had been cast upon the Government, he considered it right to make some statement to the House next Monday night, cn going into Committee on the Poor Relief' Bill, with regard to what had been done and what was then doing, and why he thought it necessary that out-door relief should be administered. Lord -G. BENTINCK -said that the increased mor tality in the workhouses, throughout all Ireland, was ,nine-fold. _ ! Last, year th e d ea th s were 162, while this Tea. wet, 1,493 per wed( and within the last, three weeks there were only 218,000 quarters of wheat sent into the country. He blamed the Government for not making earlier and more stringent exertions to avoid the calamity which had befallen the country. He would beg leave to withdraw the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the estimates of the deaths, which the Noble Lord had made, were just as much exaggerated as those esti mates he had made when making his late proposition to the House. The French Government had only sup plied food to the army in Algiers. Mr. DISRAELI contended that his Noble Friend had not exaggerated his estimates; he had founded them upon the very documents before the House. And with respect to the statement of the Chancellor, respecting the French Government, the reason they only purchased corn for their army was because they had exhausted a three years' store of provisions in first feeding the people. The motion was then withdrawn. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Labouring Poor Bill. They were agreed to. RUSSIA LOAN. Mr. B. ESCOTT desired to know if a new Act would be necessary in order to pay the interest on the Russia loan ? Lord PALMERSTON said that a new convention would not by any means be required. NAVAL ESTIMATES. Captain PECHELL asked it' the Government in tended to take the naval estimates upon Monday or Friday. Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not the intention of the Government to take the consideration of them till Friday week. CRACOW.—ADJOURNED DEBATE. On the motion for resuming the adjourned debate upon Cracow, Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a numerously signed petition, adapted at a meeting held in the Tottenham court-road, against the annexation of Cracow to Austria. Mr. MONCKTON MILNES raid that the Noble Lord on the former evening propounded a doctrine which he (Mr. Manes) did not think was very tenable. He implied that the House were not warranted in going into the question at all. It was a matter of fact that their foreign affairs were generally too much locked up in the bosom of their Foreign Secretary. The subject of the absorption of Cracow was made a matter of a moral, distinct, and solemn protest, and he thought that the House was in no degree derogating from its dignity by taking that opportunity of confirm ing that act of her Majesty's Government. He had re joiced to hear the protest which had been delivered against that act by the Duke of Bedford, and he had been glad to see a letter on the subject by that distin guished diplomatist Sir Stratford Canning. He believed that by the consent of the House to the resolution pro posed by the Hon. Member,for, Montrose, the Govern ; ment would give effect to the protest which had already been made. If, however, the Noble Lord at the head of her Majesty's Government refused to give the assent of the Government to the resolution, it would encou rage a notion upon the Continent that the Government of the country was not glad to have an opportunity of declaring itself against this act of incorporation. The general feeling of the people of this country was so strongly marked against the wrong which had been done to Poland, and it was not because the Poles in this country were emigrants or strangers that that feeling was shown by large contributions to their assistance, but because it was deeply felt that they were suffering from injustice and oppression. In the papers relating to the suppression of the free city of Cracow, laid before the House, the last ten or twelve pages were taken up by an elaborate argument—he supposed by some Austrian author—to show that Russia, Prussia, and Austria had at their disposal and sole control the independence of the city of Cracow. It stated that th e independent existence of that city was granted solely by those three ' Powers, as, in 1815, when the treaty was concluded, the assent of no other courts beside those of these three powers was demanded. Ile should be enabled to show that the assertion was wholly destitute of foundation. In the Congresses held at Utrecht and Aix la-Chapelle, treaties were entered into solely between England and France, to which the other nations were merely assenting powers. The treaty of Vienna was, however, an agreement between all the powers of Europe. A distinguished statesman had said that the final vet of the treaty of Vienna was now the fundamental law in Europe with reference to European States; for it was a law framed by all the States com prising the system, and obligatory upon all. It was not in the power of the Congress of Vienna to arrange all the afairs of Europe, but one of the principal objects was the disposition of the territory which had become vacant by the peace of Paris. This was divided into two bodies, one relating to Poland, and the other to Saxony. There had been previously made arrangements with regard to part of this territory, and there were several articles in the treaty of Paris by which the allied powers were to have the disposition of the territory relinquished by France. The first arrangement made with regard to the Duchy of Warsaw was made between Russia, Prussia, Austria, and England ; and France and Spain were to be called on to advise, but were to have no part in the proceeding, and to agents of each of the four powers forming a committee, many important arrangements were intrusted. The object of England, as would be found upon an X 24,95 , 3,885 M. MARSHA T. L, Chief Cashi er . Dated the 11th day o f Starch, 1847. BANE ING DEPILITMENT., Proprietlsrs' capital.. 14,553,000 Rest ... •• • •• • 3,951,962 Public deposits (in elading Exchequer, Commissioners of .National Debt, Say ings-banks, and Di- j Government securi ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 11,990,079 Other securities .. • • 16,905,705 Notes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5,714,740 Gold and sliver coin • • 601,650 vidend accounts) .. 6,571,731 other deposits • • 9,288,661 Seven day and other bills. ••• • • • .• .• 846,860 4 3,5,212,174 £35,212,174 M. MARSIIALL, Chief Cashier. 147. Dated the 11111 day of March, 18 SUDDEN DEATH ON THE WESTMINSTER -BRIDGE PIER, --An inquest was held yesterday by Mr. Bedf or d, a t the Westminster Hotel, Bridge-street,Westminster, on the body of Charles Samuel Short, aged 40, managing clerk to Messrs. Burchell and Boreham, solicitors, Parliament-street. The, deceased lived at Stockwell, and a t h a lf- past five o clock on Tuesday afternoon last, he left his employers to return to his home, by a steam-beat from Westminster bridge Pier, and whilst sitting on the outer durnby, waiting the arrival o f th e steam- b oat, he was observed suddenly to fall forward from his seat. Several persons ran to his assist ance, and he was conveyed to the waiting-room. Mr. Kell, surgeon, of Bridge-street, promptly attended, but the de ceased had ceased to exist, death having resulted from diseased heart. Verdict, "Natural death." SacntLEGE.--Yesterday information was received by the police that on the morning of the Bth instant the church of Birtle-cum-Bamford was sacrilegiouly broken into, and the foll ow i ng property stolen t h ere f rom . An Irish linen surplice, fasten e d a t th e nec k w ith one plain button, and marked on the face with the letters I: 11. S. ; a cassock made of Orle ans c l o th , li ne d on t h e b o dy and sleeves with very thick cotton ; two scarfs, one of which was thick silk about four inches broad and three yards long, fringed at the end, and the other made of Orleans cloth, being fourteen inches wide, doubled, and three yards long; also, a white twilled cotton sheet, three small prayer books, on e of which contained the name " Beery," six psalm books con taining the old and new version, two having the words " Birtle Church" written therein. The parish church of Donington, in the county of Lincoln, was also broken and entered, and a white communion cloth, three bottles of wine, with a communion plate stolen therefrom. There has, we understand, been a pnrti a l s t r ik e among the horse nail makers in the neighbourhood of Dailey, some of whom are standing out for a rise of 3d. per thousand. —Wolverhampton Chronicle. to inspection of the papers relating to this subject•_, have an establishment o f the independency si:_ssj kingdom of P o land. Th e E m peror of .Austris.,,f;iti to so laudabl e an o bj ect ; b ut the Emperor 0! lag. insisted up on an a b so l ute connex i on hetween ts!n st i (loins' of Poland and Russia. To this Atistrt a cs England object e d, an d th at so strong ly that thel:ros, every expectati on o f th e b rea ki ng u p of the C f t v es b 'ess and the recommencement of war. A COrani" . 0 01 then appointed of Russia, Prussia, France, Ans /rl ootS England, and called the Committee of Saxony , W or ths was intrusted, the arrangement of the matte r s, b eore 31st of December th e Emperor Alexander laid o f die the committee his p r op os i t i on f or the partitio n i c on Duchy of Warsaw, an d it was in that Pt ° r'h, e to y that it was offered to a llO w Cracow free, independent, and neutra l c ity. Aft e f he se to ; ss' modifications ; that w as a gree d t o , an d that was t e It dation of the independence of the city of. Cr ep t of was therefore clear th a t wh en th e fi n al arrang i ew pssse the Duchy of Warsaw was ma d e , England arl111!' mot were parties to it, for shortly a ft erw ards the pee of ence of Cracow was declared. How' in easttb. cts these simple facts, could th e A us t r i an s declare t e ifete cow became a political body by the will, of w as oee protecting Powers alone, surp r i se d him; for it s ever of the most extraordinary assertions which , wa re d tb e , made, The Emperor Alexander afterwards desa en d independence of Cracow to the Poles themsls; p as stated that it }fad been agreed upon, that in th o s oth e „ r tions of Poland submitted to the authoriti, powers, they should be governed and reguisteu lit 'asits t own magistrates, elected by themselves. licl epr ibs,°' to be trusted to such a promi se was s h o rtly a"-ejstssl and how little the Polish p eo pl e might, b tels A te upon the fulfilm e nt of th a t p art o f it win ° l ow' to the independence of C rac o w , was den lo o tstle s l It was impossible to read the documents of 41 4 b,, without being convinced' of the truth of "yo b .% e d stated ; that Cracow had all along rrisi n 7 ss ige l t greatest moderation in regard to whateVel;o" forward in Poland. But from the moment tw" fell, it was clear that the three powers wouldielis portunity of annihilating the independence of "" os eale state whenever a chance occurred, At.l_,,„, °° held some time subsequent to the fall of w'" - t isas, determination was fully shown in the deliberbitia, the three powers. With regard to the distu r Au strit Gallicia, and the entry of Cr aco w by tb i e hee psr„ troops, from first to last every endeavour ben, " -- , 0 to irritate the inhabitant s o f th a t city, 911 " he them to commit excesses. N o one could ree d t s odef' t ota s lations of General Collin, th e A us trian v 10,4 without being convinc e d o f t hi s f act . Cra°°,ssati consequence suppressed ; a s t ep w hi c h he well s risegsr_s would never have been re sor t e d to if F ranc e and von had but acted in concert in the matter. A jo ist , - 1/ 41 .,,,' from, the Governments of these two coat:alio it: havo I , sse.sisted this melancholy catastrophe. A d o: also firmly persuaded, that had the Noble the head s l / 4 f the Foreign Departnient sent t: fir Cracow to watch over British interests there, t i' s l'ottr would have been independent now. But the u s eiti went which succerded had shown itself no Me re 1 0, 1° than the one before; nothing was done ribli t ne h s avert the fall of the unfortunate republic. s hesP Prussia, and Austria, determined that Crassr a d kt be suppressed, an d i t was d one, the reason usgig-slleß r a it being the disturbances in Gallicia, and th e et as/ tion that no peace cou ld b e secured t i l l C r acq o f ie to be the focus of insurrectionary intrigues. ' be dr, circumstances, however, were well known, fr °lll tosr.s cussions last year that took place in ParliamSe's, subject. It appeared that the Austrian treNeths; vacated Cracow, taking with them all the loc l oter ew rities, on which an insurgent democratic forse, e i s Sol and established a provisional Government. I I : e of was alleged to have made itself the moving st pit the rebellious proceedings that then too," dig: exterior to Cracow, and hence the violent IrT o sett: that took place in , Gallicia. In the latter ee l :: its ti greatest cruelties were practised ; the pessa nf Wssa gated by the Austrian authorities, rising UP , „psi' every direction destr o yi ng a ll t h e l an d e d propritt i beir gentry supposed to tie f r i en dl y to the ca use of to b e et sureents. These were th e causes which assigned for the suppression of the free State o '. the Hon. Member here read extracts from certantaillie ments of the Austrian anthorities in illustrati9°, matters to which he had referred ; also some ..b pondence from the diplomatic agent of the IRZToI b : vernment at the Austrian Court, to the effect t . " .. „ 5 time of the disturbances, no intinsation had °":„ by Austria of any intention to 051 supp ress Crace , ". o % s the answers of the British Government, OP! . sCr e hope that whatever was done, the indepen deno cow would be maintained inviolate. In revietribres whole case, he much regretted that, among the c a 1 1 Powers, h e f oun d one, Prussia, from rri e olie had hoped better things, and to whom he he'" : „ Oe r for the pro gress of constitutional freedom "0 lye many. Having said thus much, he would, t jD yself remaining observations he had to make, coal'e hatch to the question before the House—the Bost Ve r. loan. After g i v i ng hi s b est considerat i on to ty - 011 1 ' a tion, he found there were two distinct conditions to t it s convention of 1832 —one, that England would pay Russia the interest of the Dutch loan, an Dr Russia on that condition agreed to the genera l a gr ments of the Treaty of Vienna. If :he Housewol with him that the stipulation with the duchy nt d was an important part of the treaty, they COn' ,telswi with him t o b e o f o pi u i on t h at R uss i a h a d clearly an y the Treaty of Vienna.—(Hear.) The treaty rt e Or; of Parliament as it were, and must therefore _ an d preted as one, and certainly considered as solemn a c s rp lli o n w din a g s .;- m ( g ht o e g a r r 2p It np13,1 bu t lt6 it o k r li?e 'd ; ness'of her dominions was no argument in lav a n et, annexation in opposition to the treaty ; itwa s his opinion, a small question, and he could 11() %i;ori with the Hon. Gentleman, the Member for Shre w ' ' Off (Mr. Disraeli), that it was a matter of small dirl — d os because he saw on one hand a small weak state, e n str an the other th ree p ower f u l o pp ressors —R uss ia. A ° on and Prussia—its powerful executioners. Ile did oj, looking at the whole transaction, that there wa s !ssao cause for blame; because if this spirit of aggrePi C T o tel to be tolerated, there would be no safety for weak: w as who had powerful neighbours. —(Hear, hear.) l_ f t l et s , of to be tolerated, what security was there fur tha Switzerland, and for the awakening liberty of 1 1 *'„,re (Hear, hear.) Certainly, when solemn treaties o f e f thus violated, there was little security ler the h s : w hole the countries of Europe. Yet, looking et grea t proceedings, he might justly exclaim wit" d ___.. s tle Roman moralist, there was still hope for r"l' ln bear.) quando dormit jus, mother nunquain !"—( 11"1. - Lord DALMENY concurre d i n t b c obserr i c r ace o the Hon. Gentleman, that the annexation 0l hss d or; was one of the grea t est cases of oppression thaths hs" curred for ye ars . If the lion. G e ntleman , w ply° proposed th e th ree resolutions, had adhere d si!led to the first, whi c h wou ld confirm, if it were acc7,oo that, in the opi n i on o f t h at H ouse, t h e three s la had committed a gross b reac h of f a i t h, in vifspbea solemn treaty, to whi c h th ey were part i e s ; " - Or ° he asked them to deal with it as a mere O b ey's! pounds, shillings, and pence, he considered 0 33/ sr big; asking them to d o th at wh i c h woul d l ow or thL i ro seso national character. L e t th em protect t he oPPoei' and do their b es t t o re i ns t ate t h em i n the i r forme r ecte r tion ; but do not let them so desecrate the eiTh e ere of that House, by lowering the question to , 11 part matter of economy. If they adopted th' s t a bet of his proposition, foreigners would declare tie p ea were not actuated by philanthropy, but h)„,. /1- „ e tlets e s n spirit of self-interest. He trusted the Hon. ur e- no rtit the Member for Montrose would withdraw th e „r i ds! r of his motion to which he objected, because it w `ctfoll' wrong if he divided the House upon such a propolsip e ra Dr. BO WRING explained that the Noble Lord the Dalmeny) would not pledge himself to the part ° a s ea' resolutions to which he objected if he voted tor S i b The timent of the r eso l ut i on o f w hiCh he approren 0 0° question whi c h t h e reso l ut i on ra i sed was not sitnPi t oo of money, but of "Poland and the Poles."—(Hear')ssre°/‘ thought when Cracow was spared from the ge neral i t te* of Poland th a t it would continue to remain a livinb nant of the nationality of Poland; but Austria, Pr°,7 - d bee; Russia, having violated a su l emn treaty, C rac ow n a ofe` destroyed, and the la s t vest i ge of Poland deliver e d i stri to universal darkness. But if Cracow was to h e o tber quietly destroyed, the safety and peace of thin s tol e° countries of Europe was jeopardi se d. H e wished id 110$ peace between' E ng l an d an d France, but he n°,. 12 0 help thinking that th e Ki ng o f t h e French had " e-. trar'i advised as to his conduct in this matter . _(Hea r ' The promiseS wade have - all beeti forfeited.. T he P O O4 mises made to Bessarabia have all been violatunsies princes are seated, or are deposed, and in those 01 :01 there is an universal feeling of discontent. He 5 ,1,40; that crisis which Mr. Canning had predicted' f as t struggle between the oppressor and the oppresse"; wbe be brought to a conclusion, and though he was ° ll- d of shared in the disgust ads violation of' treaties h t : i a& the cited, he was yet one of those who was glad question had been brought to an issue—not the V e to to as to whether Cracow was to be restored, but whether the nationality of Poland was to be rest° . $ OO Sir W. MOLESWORTH said that there were` th e questions before the House. The first was, `vb eth coed' W payment of 48,00 0 1. was to b e continued; and tne" - • ' e° whether th e y were to ta k e part in the great P & o ohs revolutions of Europe. He shared in the opini°lltiat it Noble Lord th e M em b er f or t h e city of London , rested on the qu es ti on as t o whether the colonies N ai to had been taken from the Dutch should be re store _ . lO, them or not, by th e convent i on o f t h e 1 5 t h of li ti c raTbo 1814. By that conven ti on t h e co l on i es of til/„ef ffi ottr and Berbice were t o b e res t ore d i n th e event o f failing in th ese p ayments to t h e Dutch. '4OO the engagement, an d th e resu l t was , t h a t w/ . — hired pay not exceeding 1,000,0001. sterling. i c asts guaranteed by the conventio n of 1803, or, k for that we should pay no t excee di n g 6,000,°°" f the the defences of H o ll an d an d i n s atisfaction o otic engagements between the Netherlands and Busei tt ' thi was the origin of the Russian Dutch loan, and P a a pe country made it a debt, or, in the event of our not P o pe this money, we should restore the colonies of the &et . of Good Hope, Essequibo, and Berbice. This e n ef.d meat was made with the understanding that IlollaniaZih Belgium should be considered as one country, all a ssair ty the understanding, also, that Russia should be a :4; e to the combination of the two treaties. This was ID under the convention in 1801 ; but a different arrauto meat was made at the Congress of Vienna ; eo u he did not see that this made any diffe r a s e e . for if we intended to deviate from that eng f he ment there ought to have been some clause to e t o effect, that we repudiated this engagement, °!..,.. t 0 5 , we ought to have restored those colonies to the lit ss ,, and if we did either one or the other we ought t° Psv o acted differently, or we should be acting on the sit s g: d principles as those by w hi c h Russia, Austria, Prussia had been guided. Lord MAHON had listened with the greatest atten tion to the sp a eech of the Noble Lord the Mem b e r London, but still he remained unconvinced, fcl no one was more anxious to express his feeling L!d although for -.oe(''''''' ' 1 ..111Mrina , \ Pc ab by atr