The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-12 00:00:00

'bition SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Cloc, GREAT BOAT RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES AND 2400. DEFEAT OF MESSENGER. The winner rowed in a beautiful new boat built for him by Mr. Taylor of Newcastle, and Messenger in one of his own. Mr. J. Salter, of Wandsworth, was umpire for Kelly. Mr. W. Biffen, of Hammersmith, was umpire for Messenger. T. Egan, Eig., was referee. We never recollect seeing so great a number of spectators on any previous occasion. Twelve steam-boats accompanied the race, among3t which were one chartered by the Messrs. Searle, the eminent boat-builders, and one by Mr. R. Ba;n, the well-known oar and scu!l maker, of Lambeth. The conduct of the captains of the various steam boats was deserving of great praise for the manner in which they steered their boats through the im mense number of small craft of all descriptions which crowded the river. SHREWSBURY RACES.—(This Day.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) STEWARDS' CUP. Oakball Strawberry Nine ran. GREAT CLEVELAND HANDICAP. Companion 1 Seven ran. Polestar was scratched at 11.30 a.m. BIENNIAL STAKES. The Dupe tAudarnia, Vaulter Three ran. LONGNER HALL STAKES. Colt by Temhill .............. Matnelon - live ran. 3 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. —(This Evening.) The LORD CHA.NCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. TESTAMENTARY AND DIVORCE BILL. In reply to a quest , on from Lord LYNDHURST, The Lord CHANCELLOR said if it was the wish of their lordships that the discussion on these two bills should be taken separately, instead of proceeding with the two bills on Monday next, he should offer no objection to such a course. He would therefore fix this day week for the seco❑d reading of the Divorce Bill. The arrangements for discussing the bills together had been made to meet the convenience of Lord St. Leonard's. ST. JAMES'S PARK. The Earl of M..A.LNIESBURY gave notice that on Friday he should call the attention of their lordships to the works now going on in St. James's pack. THE CIVIL SERVICE. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH presented a petition from the civil servants of the Crown at Glqucester, complaining of the present system of granting superannuation allowances, and praying that they should receive much more pay. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from the civil servants of the Crown employed at Sterling to the same effect. LAW OF LIBEL. Lord CAMPBELL moved that thepetitiongpresented last session in favour of an alteration in the law of libel, be referred to the select committee appointed in the pre sent session to consider the subject. LAW OF DIVORCE. The Bishop of OXFORD trusted the noble and learned lord would fix a later day then Tuesday next for the second reeding of this bdl. The 'oill eves not yet pre- Rented, and would not be in the hands of their lord ships till Wednesday next. It was a subject in which several reverend prelat ea took a deep interest, an I under these circumstances he hoped his suggestion would he aiFented to. The LORD CLIA. N CFILort said that, considering the discussion that bad sirealy taken place on the grin - cip?e of the bill on a f ormer occasion, he thought it was unreasonable toaa'Ahim to delay proceeding with the bill. The measifr e, with very ;light, but he mutt say important, alter 4eiene, was the same as the one of the last session. After a doors, d iscuss i on, in which Lord Campbell and Lord Ly n d :nrArst took part, the subject dropped. The . T ll B POISONINGS IN CHIN A. trutti r .e.: ell of CARNARVO N rose to inquire into the 'ot certain statements contained in the -China Mail the sth F e b ruary last, respecting the confinement %it Chins?e prisoners a: Hong Kong, and to raeve for any papers connected with the subject, -and also with the trial of a baker and others on the chargecrge o f pois on i ng. The noble lord proceeded to detail gth the cruelties that bad been inflicted on the 42 Chinese prisohers, wh ha becn confined in a place of the most horrible scr de d iption, being only 16 food feet in ader,ti on to which they were kept without mode of treat until they were nearly s t arved to death. Such a treatment he thought at variance with every principle of la - amenity, and one calculated to increase the feelings ot bitterness which at present existed. The speech of dr, Attorney-General et the ti me: ct the soner3 he also characterired most harsh and unfair. The Earl of HARIZOBY said he was not prepared to e ot p def hend he tel n le speech of th ene Attorrey Ge nera l at Hong Kong a s e even se it. It Scould be ree, fleeted that the circumstances connected with -these prisoners were excitement. The English law those g r real; • e eit'u eal • was generalev autrenistere mneee again st had always called forth admiration peeseetiere, ee , froen foreigners. He denied the truth of th e informs tir,n on which the noble lord had founded his motion, 1f the prison ers L a d b een confines: in rva a so placejposeibi of the they . .. mentioned by the noble earl, le, , c ,- ;uld have survive d throuehlut the "gh Instructions had be en cent out to the British authorities on the o sub r: ti ject, an d an inquiry into the SUicjered. (H ear, hear.) The Earl of I‘i,jo rneshury said his noble friend had carefully abstained from attackin g any Party in relative to these transactions He mere'', confined himself to akin':; the Government question,. His noble friend had his right as a peer of the realm to Foote for those papers, and he was painfully justified in making the statement, he had clone in doing to. He trusted the inquiry Ow The Great Sculling Race for 200 sovs. aside, and the championship of the Thames, between Henry Kelly, of Fulham, and James Messenger, of Teddington, which for nearly twelve months has been the subject of speculation amongst all parties connect( d with aqu stic sports, took place this afternoon in the presence of au im mense numbers of spectators, no race for the championship ever having created a greater in terest. It will be in the recollection of most of our readers that Messenger obtained the cham pionship about three years back by defeat ing the renowned Tom Cole, who had twice defeated the celebrated Robert Coombs ; since which time he has bad no other challenge until last spring Kelly, having won the Scullers' Race at the Thames Regatta, and twice defeated J. Mackenny, immediately challenged the cham pion, which challenge was duly accepted by Mes senger, but, in consequence of pressure of business, was postponed until the present time. Kelly, in the meantime, not wishing to re main idle, having again won the Scullers' Race at the Great Thames Regatta, accepted the chat:, lenge of Richard Buttle, of Norwich, to row two races, home and home, for 501. a-side each, both of which he won easily. It is, therefore, not sur prising that his friends should be sanguine on this race, making him the favourite at 5 and 6 to four. The start took place at 'even minutes past four, Kelly having won the to for choice of stations, choosing the north or Middle ex side. After a fair start Kelly immediately took the lea I, and off Searle's was a clear boats' length a-head. On nearing Craven cottage ho had increased the lead to two boats' length, and at the Crab-tree to about three, retainink about that lead to Hammersmith Bridge, which distance he performed in 9 minutes, from this time he gradually increased his lead, reaching Barnes-bridge in 20 minutes, and doing the whole distance, though not all pressed, in 23 minutes and a quarter, beating Messenger by a minute. a. ~ '~~~. bad been ordered would be of the most searching de- the appointorscriptiou. Tae house adjourne After a few words from the Earl of EGLENI)/tOUGH, the papers were ordered. Their lordships' then adjourned. A at 20 mintiti rnittee, ,es past 6 o'clock, LONDON GAZETVE—(This Evening.) , ROUSE OF COMMONS--(This Evening.) The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock, when the swearing in of members was proceeded with. Amongst them were the following :—Major• Sibthorp, Lord Naas, Col. Lowther, Mr. G. H. Moore, Mr. Mon sell, Mr. H. Johnson, Major S. Wortley, Mr. Hagan, Mr. H. Vivian. 1 The Sheriffs of London, Messrs. Mechi and Ideates, appeared at the bar of the house, and presented a peti tion from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, praying for the abolition of the abjuration oath required from members of Parliament. PRIVATE BILL. The Bedale and Leyburn Railway Bill was ordered for a third reading. THE ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS. Lord CASTLEROSSE, Comptroller of the House hold, appeared at the bar of the house with her Ma. jesty's gracious reply to the Address. POOR RATES. __ __ LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MAY 11. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty's birthday will be celebrated on Tuesday, the 26th instant. DOWNING-STREET, MAY 8. The Queen has been pleased to appoint J. W. Johnston, Esq., to he Attorney-General ; M. J. Wilkins, Esq., to be Solicitor-General ; C. Tupper, Esq., to be Provincial Se cretary ; J. J. Marshall, Esq., to be Financial Secretary ; S. Brown, Esq., to be Receiver-General, and C. Tupper, Esq., to be Clerk of the Executive Council, for the Pro vince of Nova Scotia. Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint Nicolas Gustave Bestel, Esq., to be Second Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of the colony of Mauritius ; J. H. Foster, Esq., to be Registrar of Demerara and Essequebo ; J. F. Bourne, Esq., to be Civil Engineer and Overseer of Public Works for the Colony of British Guiana; the Chief Justice of Dominica for the time being to be a Member of the Council of that Island ; and John Fox, Esq., to be a mem ber of the Legislative Council of the Island of Newfound land. DOWNING-STREET, MAT 9. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Wm. Stevenson, Esq., to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and ovrr the Colony of 3lauritius and its dependencies. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, MAY 11. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a Despatch from her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, transmitting a translation of a Decree abolishing the mono poly on soap, and fixing the duty upon importation, as shown by the annexed extract : ART. 1. The monopoly of the manufacture of soap is hereby abolished in all the kin g d om an d adjacent islands, from the Ist July, 1858, when the present contract ex pires, and the manufacture and trade of this article will be open to all. Art. 2. Foreign soap, imported through any of the cus tom-houses of the kingdom and adjacent islands, shall pay the following duties : —Common soap, of any quantity, one mil rein (4s. 6d.) per 100 lbs. Art. 3. The impost levied for the amortization of the notes of the Bank of Lisbon, by virtue of the laws of 13th July, 1848, 25th June, 1849, and 20th April, 1850, Shall henceforth be at the rate of 12 per cent., payable in cash, upon all the duties levied at the custom-houses of the kingdom and islands, with the exception of those levied at the municipal custom-house of Lisbon, which will only be subject to an impost of 10 per cent., and the fishery tax 5 per cent. Mr. AYRTON gave rotico that on the 26th May h e should move for a !Select committee for inquiring into the present state of the inequality of the pour -rates in the metropolis. filE SUN, LONDON, TV_ESDAY ENING,i MA Y 12, 1857 1 nt of the Hudson's Bay Coir o ~....a —. --_ i silly combatted, a n d ra id th a t i n h aving recourse to attended with mu c h success, but, as men of great pea' transportation we were thrown on the only celery . ' tics: experience entertained a duff rent opinion, It _ nor that would receive them, viz., Westera Australia. at all events, desirable that the committee should i e i Fy There we c mid not expect to send them long, and he on their l e be er s with th e t o mess vneour, and that . ` e . l ll. cautioned the Government against sending large Tian- ! latisn shoniS be proreened with in ne hasty sl'l r tities ther e at airy ono ti me , or th e y would b e treated (Hear, hear.)—The motion '.11,9 then agreed to. the Caine by the colonists there as they were by rho . GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH. 6 people of Van Dieunan's Land a short time since. Ad- Sir GEORGE GREY' moved for leave to intre& ne milling West Austrslia continued favourable to the re a bill to make better provision for the exercise of the caption now, it coulti not be reckoned on as a perrna- power of the General Board of Health. The right fleece, and it was desirable that the best clans of tem- honourae barouet in doing 80 . took occaion,, victs should be sent there. This question would come observe that the Board had originally been. s ere t o 7 before the house in a plainer f orm a f ew years hence, i n the year 184 S ; its members having then ° ri d when they would have to deal - with their inc?rrigils , les, Fisted of the First Commissioners of Woods 1 0! because there would always be a class of crinsioa,s it Forests, and two other gentleman appointed ISY nbe would be impossible to let loose on society. Ile did not Crown, (se e of whom was in the receipt of a salary. ' , mean to advocate imprisonment for life, nor did be think erieinal Bnird bad however, been dissolved in the Je st the public would tolerate it; but he thought places miellt 1854, and a new Board bad been constituted, having o „ be found in which it would be possible to retain them its bead, a president, who received a salary of 2,0001.7 secluded from the world, and employ them in reinuaer• annum, he being the only paid member of the 8 02 ,7, 1 alive labour, Turning from those to th e co r ri g ibl e , he By virtue of the act under which the department e n ; found there was a dislike on the part of the people to been instituted its powers were to continue until the 2 !,, the present ticket-onleave system ; but his answer to a day of July next, and until the end of the next enst ll 47, the objections that bad been urged against the synern session of Parliament. Paying regard, however, to b ie was that it had not in reality had fair play. The tneerY ordinary duties which the Board had to perform, ' l.O , was one thing, and the practice spottier. Great cum- Government had come to the conclusion, instead of P. t h plaint was raised against the roan's being ails to ain posing a renewal of the existing Board, to dispels" *i d ' employment in consequence of his being under the cur- it as a separate department, and that such a portion , 0 veillance of the police, and no doubt a system of sue- its present duties as it was desirable should contintl o e ffics ` veillance was alien to our feelings ; but the position of a be discharged should be transferred to the Golneiln fa man under the ban of the law was in itself very distinct to be performed by the Lnrd President, with the aid ° t , from that of ordinary persons, and any supervision over committee of the Council. If the house should ag",, P oi. this man seas no obstacle to his finding employment. that proposal an immediate redaction of 3 0001. or 4, 0 ',,, The house should recollect that there were two sides to per annum in the expenses of the department wouln it ' er the question, and if these men had been allowed to get the; resole, while a still greater reduction might 5 ' be into employment with forged characters, or in any under- some experience of the working of the new system band way, and after gaining the confidence of the masters, effected.—Leave was given to bring in the bill. had betrayed it, the sympathy of the people would have ' changed sides. N o d ou bt a difficulty would att e nd BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY (1° - the finding the whole o f th em w ith emp l oyment. It LAND) BILL. Mr. J. D. FITZGERA.LD moved for leave to 101 was a Government question, but he thought that em in a bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating' pleyment might be found for many of them on public bankruptcy and insolvency in Ireland. sal works after the expiration of their sentence, on a remu- Mr. WHITESIDE reminded the Attorney-Genera neration below that paid to the honest labouring pope. Mr Ireland that about 12 months ago a resolution e rai lation by way of distinction between the two classes, 't real' passed by a committee of that house stating that I gb 1 He thought the ticket-of-leave system defective in grant essential te the due administration of justice in the Mi d icg the ticket indiscriminately. No ticket ought to be Encumbered Estates Court that a proper place shl t , granted until a prisoner had passed through certain pro be provided fur the transaction of its business, a nu i t l bationary stages, but a different test should be applied which the professional practitioners and the suitors neu d , than that lately acted upon, because it was well known have convenient access. He added that, notwithstsl n , n , that the best conducted man in confinement was not the - n that resolution, at that moment nobody knew °": i best conducted when he regained his liberty. It was an ' or g wherefore it had not been acted u on, though it r , -' 0 anomaly not to revoke tickets of leave except on convic lated, as they all knew, to a tribunal which p from titne' c i lion, for if that be adhered to, they might as well dis time disposed of an immense amount of property; a° charge the man at once, without any ticket. Any re had proved to be of great advantage to the public.' , Ad :' turn to transportation upon a large scale would be found The motion for leave to bring' the b i ll w a s o ' - in Mr. BERESFORD HOPE th oug h t t h e great merit agreed to. • THE PRINTING COMMITTEE. i on of this bill was its brevity and vagueness, as he thought Mr. WILSON" moved that Mr. G. A. Hamilton► ttic the only legislation that could be attempted in the pre - Greene, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Divett, Mr. Gaskelh '.1.1 ' .. sent state of things was of a tentative character. e i Vernon Smith., Mr. L. Eetcourt, Mr. Bonhain•ss 3 n° r ten Mr. MARSH m a d e hi s ma id en speec h i n favour of transportation, and s t a t e d f rom hi s exper i ence in Ass- and Mr. Thornely b e th e members of the Printing u tralia, that the nor th ern reg i on o f t h at territory would mittce. h o the colonies b e f ore th ey were sent t h ere. e that convicts sho u ld un d ergo some spec i a l training for be very suit a bl e f or rece i v i ng convicts. He susgeeted Sir H. WILLOUGEIBY ca ll ed the attention o f t house to the enormous a moun t o f the printing exPeh:e i and stated his convicti on th a t , unless some e ff ee' ly The bill was th en rea d a secon d t i me. ; control were placed ov e r th e var i ous departments el, INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL. netted with thi s su bj ec t , th e ev il would continuer I' et troduced last ses si on b y Si r S tra ff ord N ortimate. Mr. ADDERLEY moved the second reading of this indeed, it did no t go on i ncreas i ng, bi'l, which b e sa id was ver b at i m t h e same with that in- Mr. WILSON said the Treasury had p repare d s 5 of ruses, whi c h h e s h ou ld present for the opinion elii,ao adoption of this committee when it eas, and which, Mr. BOWYER opposed the bill because it interfered hoped would have the effect of accomplishing the 0111- 16 with the parental authority of the poor in the case of the hon. baronet had in view. He (Mr. Wilson) sl il ' o f children who might be taken up on a pretended charge admitted that there had been an enormous a mount of vagrancy or begging. He also condemned the bill as unnecessary printing from first to last, and he hopecr t .". a scheme for proselytising Roman Catholic children. its' house would assist the Government in its desire to tr i , a Lord ROBERT CECIL defended the bill, and charged gate the evil, for during some years past they bad l e Mr. Bowyer with a desire to introduce the lazzeroni sye returns moved for whisk were of no earthly use. Th e ,11 tern into England. He denied the charge of proselytism, solutions he meant to propose would he such as we — and said its only object was to reclaim children from the paths of imm ora lity an d v i ce , reach and cont ro l every dep ar t men t o f t h e State elci Mr. PALK a n d M r . MULLINGS o bj ec t e d t o vari ous details of th e bill. ti veined in the subj ec t o f pr i nt i ng, and such as he h°,Pe would effect a ma t er i a l re d uct i on in that branch of ' public xperiditure.—The motion was th en agree d to. Sir GEORGE GREY wou ld no t oppose th e secon d . d reading of the bill, b u t b e f e l t it wou ld requ i re careful ECCL ESIASTICAL CORPORATIONS. consideration in co mm itt ee . The Marquis of BLAN DFORD o b tained leave to brOv in a bill t o f ur th er prov id e for the mode of securing °I After some further di scuss i on , th e h ouse divided— in of ec c l esiast i ca l corporations, aggregate sa d For the second rea di ng 177 Against it lB sole ; and the bill was su b sequently introduced and I.° a first time. Majority for the second reading.... 159 The bill was ordered to be committed on Wednesday week. PtiBLIC MONEYS. On the motion of Sir F. BARING, a select c ommitte e was appoint e d t o i nqu i re into the receipt, issue, and all i a of public moneys in the Exchequer, the Pay-office, as the Audit department. ELECTION PETITION. A petition was presented against the return for 06 borough of Sligo. The house adjourned at a quarter past 1 o'clock. We are requested to state, that on Friday evening t he Hon. Mr. Dutto n p resen t e d a pet i t i on to the House f Commons from civil servants of the Crown in the A nnralty depart men t a t P ortsmouth, praying for S ri amendment of the Superannuation Act. CH-. MICH RITES. CENTRAL AMERICA. In reply to a question from Mr. WILDE, Lord PALM ERSTO N entered into a detailed state merit of the condition of Central America, and said that her Majesty's Government had stationed, or was about to station, a sufficient naval forte to protect British property and subjects in that port. ETURNS. Several unoppos e d r R eturns were granted. AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS BILL. Mr. DILL WYN moved for leave to introduce a bill to repeal the Act 16 and 17 Vio., c. 30, and to make better provision for the prevention and punishment of aggravated assaults upon women and children, and for preventing delay and expense in the admi nistration of certain parts of the criminal law. He said the present law bad been a failure, and that was his reason for re-introducing this bill, which he !aid be fore the house last session. The hon. gentleman read vari ous statements relative to aggravated assaults committed on women and children from the police reports of the metropplis and other parts of the country. It was a crime of frequent occurrence, and the present law did not tend to its decrease. From returns he found that in 1854 and 1855 there were 877 convictions in the metro polis alone for aggravated assaults and in the last year it amounted to 374. The diminution he contended did not arise from the operation of the present law, but from accidental circumstances, because he found that many of these men had been convicted over and over again. He proposed as a remedy to diminish the period of imprison ment and substitute flogging for it. (Hear, bear.) He did not l oo k upon this question as one between man and wife, and therefore a difficult one to deal with, but as brute force against helpless weakness, and he bad no doubt that his remedy would have the desired effect, for it was invariably found that the men who committed these assaults were great cowards. Mr. BENTINCK seconded the motion. Sir G. GREY said that though he had no confidence in these remedies, he should not oppose the bill. He did not consider the present law so defective as the hon. mover believed, but rather that it had been beneficial. The number of cases that now came before the public arose from the summary procedure of the present law. Leave was accordingly given to bring in the bill. SALE OF BEER. On the resolution of Mr. HARDY, the house went into committee to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the general sale of beer by retail and to regulate certain places of public resort, refreshment, and entertainment. All must agree that this subject required alteration, after a careful scrutiny, and he considered there were facts sufficient before the house to enable them to legislate with satisfaction to the public. He referred to the anomalous state of the law as regarded public houses and beer -shops, under the law of 1830. He bad no wish to disturb the licensing of the present public-houses, but to compel beer-shops to apply to ruagistraLes for licenses as a check on the conduct of the keepers. lie proposed also to put in force the Tip !An Act, and prevent the recovery of debts for beer, &u. He wished to put coffee shops, where they sold spirits, under the control of the police.. He reserved any further remarks t:11 another stage of the as he understood there was to be no opposition to its in troduction. Mr. KERR SEYMOUR regretted that this had not bem made two bills instead of one, by separating the beer houses from the coffee-shops. He considered that magistrates were nut the proper persons to grant licenses, because they had no means of judging of the requiremeots of a district. uir J. PA K INGTON regretted that Government bad not taken up the question, and asked the Government to consider the report of that committee, and ultimately bring in a bill. Should the Government adopt that course, he would su , ,cy:et the withdr awa l o f the bill from the doubt of its being passed through inn house this session. Sir G. GREY doubted if the bill was a sufficient remedy for the evils complained of. When they con sidered the amount of capital invested in the trade it required careful consideration. He saw no such difficulty relative, to beer shops and coffee-shops. He could not give any hope of bringing in a bill on an early day on this cult ect. He thought great benefit would arise from a discussion of the question, but he should be aliged, on the second reading of the bill, to oppose it. The resolution was agreed to, and the house resumed. PROPERTY QUALIFICATION. Mr. LOCKE KING moved for leave to bring in a Lill to abolish property qualification for Members of Par:ia meet. He considered that this was an appropriate time for bringing on'tbis question, and observed that in Scot land there was no property qualification ; scas of peers, the members for the university, and the eldest sons of knight, of the shire sat without any qualification being required of them ; but the latter, when they suc ceeded to their father's property, must have a property qualification. Lord PALMERSTON did not intend to oppose the introduction of the bill, but he thought it was urlei stood that all questions of reform were to be in abeyance till next session. At a future stage of the bill he should oppose it, unless it was allowed to remain en the tittle of the house for consideration till next session. Leave was given to bring in the bill. After the transaction of Borne other busintaP, iccludirg Sir J. TRELAWNEY gave notice that on the 26th May he shou!d ask for leave to introduce a bill for the abolition of the church-rates. BOARD OF TRADE. Mr. UORSFALL gave notice that on the 26th May he should move for a Select committee to inquire into the origin of the past and the present constitution and powers of the Board of Trade, with a view to its better adaptation to the requirements of the country. METROPOLITAN WORKHOUSES. Viscount RAY.NH..A.M gave notice that he should, on that day fortnight, wove for a select committee to en quire into the state of the Metropolitan workhouses and the mode of giving relief. Sir J. TRELAWNEY, in BURIALS the absence of Mr. Hard castle, gave notice that that gentleman would, on the 26th May, ask for leave to introduce a bill relating to burials in consecrated and unconsecrated places. LONDON CORPORATION REFORM. Mr. LAURIE asked the Secretary of State fer the Home Department, whether the Government meant to proceed with the Corporation of London Bill this ses sion Sir GEORGE GREY said that he could not give an answer to the question until be saw what progress bills of a more pressing importance bad made. PETTY SESSIONS CLERKS (IRELAND). Mr. GREGORY asked the Attorney-General for Ire land, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Go vernment to bring in any bill during the present session for the regulation of Petty Session Clerks' Salaries in Ireland. Mr. FITZGERALD said it was his intention to re introduce the bill of last session with some modifications. AGRICULTUR A.L STATISTICS. Mr. CAIRD asked the Vice President of the Board of Trade, whether the Government intended to take any steps for collecting Agricultural Statistic.; in England. Mr. LOWE said he was not aware if it was the inten tion of her Majesty's Government to introduce such a measure at present. (gear, hear.) THE KING OF OUDE. Mr. FAGAN asked the President of the Board of Control whether it was intended to apply any portion of the money borrowed by the Government of India from the King of Oude to the payment of public and bona fide debts still unpaid and Flyable to the creditors of that Prince ? Mr. V. SMITH said that the matter was under inves igation, and all bona fide claims would be paid out of he revenue of that country. SUPERANNUATION FUND. Mr. MACA.RTNEY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the report of the Civil Service Super annuation Commissioners would be la:d upon the table ; and whether the Government contemplated introducing, at an early day, a bill to alter the system under which the superannuation ail iwances were at present provided. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he had been informed that the report would be pre• sented to the house next week. Until that was done he could not state what would be the intention of the Government relative to ft. PASSING TOLLS. Mr. HUDSON asked the Vice-President of the Board of Trade when he intended to introduce a bill for the abolition of the passing tolls ; also, whether he proposed to introduce auy bill for the abolition of the charges on shipping at Liverpool and other places, and also for taking away the power of the Trinity-house at New castle in the appointment of pilots for the poi t of Sun derland ? Mr. LOWE said that it was the intention of the Go vernment, when the state of public business permitted it, to bring in a bill founded on that report. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMESSION. Lord R. CECIL asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was his intention to bring in a bill embodying such of the suggestions of the com mittee of last session upon the Ecclesiastical Commis sion as required the sanction of Parliament. Sir G. GREY said it was the intention of the Govern. ment to do so, and be hopod shortly to be able to intro duce it. "f Country Markets. CHELMSFORD —Mir 8. Wheat to-day exp er i ence d a rat h er b etter sale, and the best samples mus t b e quote d i s per qr. dearer—infer i or t , . last week. Sp r i ng corn fi rm for all sorts at late rates, e s. cepting peas and beaus, which were is dearer. Wheat, white, old, per s. s. I 0. ".,(1 . qr. 33 72 I Oats, per qr 24 4 1 new 36 71 1 P eas, Partridge 4 1 4/ red, old 31. 62 i White 39 16 nesv...3l 62 B o ili ng 39 '7 Barley 35 46 Dun 3/ 4° 4° Chevalier 40 54 I B eans, T iek 35 g 9 4 Grinding 35 46 I Harrow ticks . 131 Malt 73 77 I M azagan 3; ss Chevalier 75 79 I Ditt o , ne w... 39 Official Statement of th e Q uan titi es of Corn, &c., rece i/ea ft in the port of Loud on , f rom the f ollowing ports, "' May 4 to May 9, both inclusive. 1 1,-; . 1 ...: ..; 4 1 A t 4 m S Colchester . Harwich Leigh Maldon I 1 80 - 570 3711 20 1991. 20 COLCHESTER—MAT 9. A fair supply of wheat to-day ; the prices asked were higher than buyers were willing to give, and only on a few selected samples was any advance obtainable. Beans and peas from their scarcity were rather dearer. Prices to-daywere as follow :—Wheat white, 60,4t0 6 8 '; rod, 51s t o 60 s; b ar l ey, 4 4s to 483 ; oats, 26s to 28 ; bealoo Mazagan, 363 to 3S s ; middle and. small, 38s to 148; Pe al 4 white, 38s to 42s ; grey, 40s to 425. KIRKCALDY—MAY 9. To-day we had a good supply of wheat, which had t ! slow sale at last wee k' s pr i ces. O ats were in fair suPliu:. and were about 6d per qr. higher. Only a few sacks 0 barley, and prices the same as on last market day. Wheat. I Barley. I Oat s . I Beal, ' First Second Third 34s Od 134 s Od j 253 od Os 0 " Oatmeal, 36s to 38s per bag of 2801 b. :ET.—MAY 11. t the close of the market. VVallsend, &t. s d. 18 0 -- 250 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, MAT 12. 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Major G. J. Brown, from half-pay unattached, to be Major, paying the dif ference between full-pay of Cavalry and full-pay of Infan try. vice Low, whose Brevet Rank has been converted into Substantive Rank under the Royal Warrant of 6th Oct., 1854 ; Capt. W. A. King, from half-pay of the 4th Light Dragoons to be Captain, vice Brevet-Major G. J. Brown, whose Brevet Rank has been converted into Substantive Rank under the Royal Warrant of 6th Oct., 1851. Bth Light Dragoons—Capt. Jas. S. Naylor to be Major, by purchase, vice Arthur Jas. Lord Killeen, who retires ; Lieutenant C. W. Heneage to be Captain, by purchase, vice Naylor ; Cornet Peter Charles G. Webster to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Heneage; Ernest Helmo, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Webster. 10th Light Dragoons— Lieutenant Thomas Manners Townley to be Captain, by purchase, vice Holmes, who retires; Cornet Wm. Mayne to be Lieutenant, by pur chase, vice Benson, who retires ; Edward John Howley, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, view Mayne. 14th Light Dragoons—Assistant-Surgeon Richard Chap man Lofthouse, M.D., from the 86th Foot, to be Assistant- Suree6n, vice Fasson, promoted in the 53d Foot. Royal Artillery—Lieutenant Augustus Henry Zing to be Second Captain, vice Hagan, deceased Gentleman Cadet Hugh Latimer Ell a by t 3 b e Lieutenant; Staff-Ser geant John Cochran to be Quartermaster and Commissary of Stores, by augmentation. The date of the permanent rank of Lieutenants Francis S. Stoney and George O'Connor to be 6th March, 1856, and not 7th March, as stated in the Gazette of 10th ult. Ist Regiment of Foot—Ensign Anthony Gardner to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice A. E. C. Forster, who ra tites. 4th Foot—Captain Thomas Martin to be Major, by pur chase, vice Rutherfoord, who retires ; Cant. Francis Clark, from the 24th Foot, to be Captain, vice Winniett, who ex changes ; Lieut enan t J o h n Wimburn Laurie to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Mat Lin. 6th Foot—Ensign James Thomas Nugent, from the 89th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Hardinge, who exchanges. 7th Foot—Lieutenant Llewellyn Price Traherne has been superseded, being absent without leave. 24th Foot—Captain William Winniett, from the 4th Foot, to b; Captain, vice Clark, who exchanges. 27th Foot--Lieutenant William James Surman, from the 48th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Cairncross, who ex changes ; Staff-Surgeon of the Second Class Mark Stanley Todd to be Surgeon, vice Mostyn, who exchanges. 29th Foot—Lancelot Amelius Shadwell, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase. 33d Foot—Captain Edward Barker Prescott, from half pay 33d Foot, to be Captain, vice Nugent, who exchanges. 40th Foot--Oliver George Wynyard D'Arcey, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, rice Pennefather, deceased. 44th Foot—Lieutenant Francis Dalrymple Walters to be Captain, by purchase, vice Thoroton, who retires. 48th Foot — Lieutenant William C a i rncross , f rom th e 27th Foot, to be Lieutenant, a:eta Surman, who exchanges. 53d Foot—Assistant-Surgeon Charles Hamilton Fasson, from the 14th Light Dragoons, to be Surgeon, vice Dart nell, deceased. • 60th Foot—George Hewitt Trotman, Gant., to be En sign, by pu rc h ase , v i ce W atson, promoted. 71st Foot—John Law, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Roberts, promoted. 85th Foot—Major John William Grey to be Lieutenant Colonel, without purchase, vice Brevet-Colonel Manley Power, deceased ; Captain Robert Maunsell to be Major, without purchase , vice Grey ; Lie u t enan t J o h n B ayley to be Captain, without purchase, vice Maunsell ; Ensign Stephen Henry K. Wilson to be Lieutenant, without pur chase, vice Bayley. 86th Foot — Assistant-Surgeon William Alexander Mac kinnon, from the 42d Foot, to be Assistant-Surgeon, viec Lofthouse, appointed to the 14th Light Dragoons. 89th Foot—Ensign William Sheffield klardingo, from the 6th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Nugent, who exchanges. 93d Foot—Ensign James Sav age h as b een superseded, being absent without leave. Ist West India Regiment—Lieutenant James Dickson Mackenzie, to be Instructor of Musketry. DEPOT BATTALION. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edward Fairtlough, from half-pay, 63d Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Geo. Macbeath, who retires. UNATTACHED. Major Robert Bruce, from a depot battalion, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase. Brevet-Major George John Brown, of the 4th Light Dragoons, to have his brevet rank converted into sub stantive rank, under the Royal Warrant of 6th Oct., 1851. HOSPITAL STAFF. Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals William Austin, M.D., half-pay, to have the honorary rank of Inspector General of Hospitals. To bo Staff-Surgeons of the Second Class —Surgeon Thomas Mostyn, M.D., from the 27th Foot, vice Todd, who exchanges. Staff-Surgeon of the Second Class William Watson Somerville, M.D., from half-pay. MEMORANDA.—The commission of Lieutenant -Colonel Hall, of the 49th Madras Native Infantry, as Brevet- Lieutenant-Colonel, to bear date the 9th December, 1853. The surname of Cornet James Falkner, on half-pay, Laad Transport Corps, is spelt Falkner, and not Faulkner, as stated in the Gazette of Ist December, 1155. BANRUPTCNU. Alexander Dalrymple , me Y rcha A nt, N Lime- LLED street, City, BANKRUPTS. Spegel Morice, importer of foreign and fancy goods, Coleman-street, City, to surrender, May 26, and .Trine 23 at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, offici assignee ; Bail e y, T o k en h ouse-yard, City. Anthony Crowther and Wm. Crowther, curriers, Hud dersfield, May 29, and June 26, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leeds ; Floyd and Learoyd, Huddersfield ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. Henry Harrison, draper, Sheffield, May 23, and June 27, at ten, at the Leeds District Court. Brewin, official assignee, Sheffield ; Hoole and Yeomans Sheffield. Jonathan Cru se , b u ild er, Kintbury, Berkshire, May 25, at half-past one, and June 29, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy.' Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall -cham bers ; Gregory and Co., B e df or d- row ; Pinniger and Sons, Newbury, Berks. Richard Gale, grocer, Skirrnett, Buckinghamshire, May 21, and June 18, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Rhodos, Sons and Dnffett, Chancery-lane. James May, linen draper, Goswell-street, Clerkenwell, May 29 and June 26, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Giles, Lon don-wall. William Organ, saddler, Walsall, Staffordshire, May 27 and Juno 15, at half-past t en , a t th e Bi rmingham District Court. F. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Thomas, Walsall; Hodgson and Allen, Birmingham, Castle Brangwin the younger, grocer, Greenwich. May 21, at half-past twelve, and June 18, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street buildings ; Atkins, Andrews; and Co., Lombard-street. Mary Huddleston and Thomas Huddleston, cabinet makers, Berners-street, Oxford-street, May 25, at eleven, and June 29, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chamber s ; Tate, Bucklersbury. Neptune Seal and John Seal, hat manufacturers, Bir mingham, May 22 and June 12, at one, at the Manchester District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Manchester ; Darnton, Ashton-under-Lyne; Sale, Worthington and Shipman, Manchester. William Jones, slate merchant, Carnarvon, May 25 and June 16, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazo nove, official assignee, Liverpool; Woodburn, Liverpool. John Barnes, chapman, Dorchester, May 20 and June 18, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Flirtzel, official assignee, .Exeter ; Templer and Son, Bridport; Terrell, Exeter. William Leake, cattle dealer, Lane, Yorkshire, May 25, at half-past eleven, and Juno 22, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Floyd and Learoyd, H u dd ersf i eld ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. Samuel Armson, builder, Walbrook Cosoley, Stafford shire, May 22 and Juno 12, at half-past eleven, at the Bir mingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee Pinchard and Shelton, Wolverhampton ; Hodg son and Allan, Birmingham. Samuel Starmer, shoe manufacturer, Wolverhampton, May 27 and June 15, at half-past ton, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, otilcial assignee, Birmingham ; Kitson, Wolverht:mpton; Knight, Birmingham. COURSE OF E XCRANGIL--THIS DAY. ..s.msterd,,,,, ...... •... 11 IN Gibraltar .........“. Ditto, three months .. 12 % . Leghorn . Rotterdam .• •••••• •• •• 12 . ........ .. • • 29 GO Genoa Antwerp .............. 25 62% 1uau........ ••• a •• • • 25 8 0 Bru,s. , .... ....., .• ,• •• 25 623,: Venice...... • • ...... •• •• M ilamburgh •• .• •• •• •• •• 13 9 Nam" •••,.... ...... 42 3 , i, Alton ..•••........... ••••••..•• •• •• ' Palermo .• .... 13014 Ditto, three months .. 25 75 Lisbon .. 5214 Marseilles .... ...... ... 25 75 Oporto •• •• 52% Bourdeaux .. • • ........ Ri o Janeiro ... • ... Fiankfort-cn-Ntaine •• .. 120 B uenos Ayre5.... ... ..„ Berlin .• •• ,• •• .• •••• •• New York, GO day s ' sight _ Vienna.......... •• .... 10 33 Philadelphia .... ..... __, rri es t e „„ •• •• "••••••.. 10 36 PRICEj OF BULLION, P 1 oz. Petersburg ............ 37% Foreign G o ld In Bata #3 17 9 Madrid ... •• •• •• „•• „ 49 Portugal Guld COW • • 0 0 0 cadiz •••••„, •• ..„ „ „ 49% Ifcmican Dollars 0 0 53, New Dollars ....• 0 0 o Bareaiona ~• •• •• .• •• .. -- 5 . 3 , ee.,.....,..,„,..„ —. . 611yer In bars 0 0 0 _ __. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.) SAVINGS BANKS. The house went into committee on savings banks, when The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the following resolution :—That it is expedient to amend the laws relating to savings banks, and to provide for the establishment of savings banks with the security of the Government. He said that this resolution was ne cessary for the introduction of a bill similar to that of last session. During the recess the bill bad been sent to all the savings banks, and the great majority of them were of opinion that the principle of the bill should be adopted by the house. They objected to the limitation of the amount of deposit from 2001. to 1001., and he intended to omit that clause from the bill. After stating some minor details in connection with the bill, the right hon. gentleman said that he intended to alter the present mode of investment in Exchequer Bills. By the old bill the commissioners invested their money on an average of prices during the quarter, but by this bill it would be made on the price of the clay of the investment. He proposed to introduce a bill prohibiting private persons and companies from establishing banks under the title of savings barks, to prevent the public from being imposed on. • Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, in the course of hie remark.; on the question, said there was now a deficiency of the savings banks funds amounting to 5 ,280,0001., which he said arose from the inconvenient, he would say the mis chievous, system of allowing the Chancellor of the Exche quer to use the stocks of savings banks for the purposes of the State in carrying on his operations of finance and thereby working out his own projects and not those that would be for the advantage of the savings bank funds. He contended that the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had no right to deal with one farthing of this fund as they had done, and he objected to their placing the money of the savings banks under the control of individual officers of the National Debt Office. He asked the Government to have the whole matter re ferred to a select committee. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. HERBERT expressed a hope that the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer would press the clause relative to Government taking the re sponsibility, instead of the present law, which absolved the trustees and manager from all responsibility, and held out a false inducement to the people to part with their money. Mr. SOTHERAN ESCOTT said this bill proposed to introduce a new system of savings banks, and he was of opinion the subject should be referred to a select com mittee. He, however, expressed his approval of the principles of ti'e bill. Lord GODERICET urged the appointment of a select committee on the subject. Mr. T. BARING was also in favour of a select com mittee. He did not believe that the managers of the savings banks objected to any checks being imposed upon their action, but they wished those cheeks to be well defined and inserted in the bill. They objected to the power of imposing checks being lodged in any one indi vidual, however respectable. He also thought that the power which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had of dealing with the savings bank funds in such a way as to increase the National Debt, was a very objectionable one, and deserved the serious attention of the house. Mr. SLANEY strongly supported the bill, and was unwilling to send the measure to a select committee, as that might endanger the passing 9f the bill during the present session. Mr. HENLEY supported the select committee. He also thought the checks to be placed upon the local managers of the banks should be defined and inserted in the bill. He had no confidence in Government inspec tion, end reminded the house that a Government inspec tor sent over to examine a suspicious bank in Ireland proved it to be in an insolvent condition, but recom mended it to go on, in the hope that times would mend. The bank went on, but times did not mend; a failure took pleat', and the Government was obliged, on account of its inspector's advice, to refund to the depositors 15s. in the pound. Mr. CROSSLEY was also in favour of a select com mittee, and complained that Government did not make enough of the money deposited in savings banks. Mr. FAGAN supported the bill, and urged its imme diate adoption. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had heard with much satisfaction that the bill be sought to introduce bad met with the approbation of the various members on both sides of the house, who were well ac quaicted with the subject. The objections that had been made to the measure were of a two-fold character —one of a practical nature, and the other, though bearing on savings banks, having little reference to the bill. The practical part of the question was that stated by the right hon, gentleman the member for Oxfordebire (Mr. Henley), and on that the fate of the bill mainly turned. Tne object of the bill was not so much to introduce a new class of savings banks as to suggest means by which the present savings banks might be brought within the benefit of the Government security. He concurred with the right hon. gentleman opposite (Mr. Henley) that their admission must turn on the conditions prescribed for their union, and that the house was entitled to ask what those conditions were to be. From the difficulties there appeared to be in the way of laying down any impera tive rules in a bill for the regulations of these banks— from the great variety of circumstances connected with them, he had omitted th em f rom t h e bi l l from a desire to avoid any unnecessary restrictions which the inflexible words of an act of Parliament enforced, and leaving it to a discretionary proceeding on the part of Government. The only condition Government sought to enforce was their satisfaction of the bank's solvency, and then the question hos:, was that solvency to be ascertained. The most conclusive and complete means of ascertaining that was by obtaining a sight of the deposit books, but then the right hon. gentleman opposite said that was impossi ble. It might not be right to enforce such a condition,but then were they justified by experience in laying down that it was impossible to get a large proportion sufficient to guide them as to the bank's solvency In Ireland, a few years since, the law requ i re d t h e production of the depositors' bo o ke • and in the fi rs t y ear out o f 21,000 to be brought in to be examined but 45 per cent—not one ha'f—were brought in. In the last year, out of 39,000 books, 72 per cent. were brought in, being equal to three fourths. One bank, in 1855, gave in 94 per cent. ; ano ther 83; one 78, and another 99 per cent, of the whole. That was the result of actual experience in Ireland, and he saw no reason to think be was asking an unreason able thing for the English depositors to produce their books. Before the second reading of the bill be would' endeavour to put it into as distinct terms as possible, the conditions which he deemed it necessary should be com plied with fora bank's admission within the provisions of this act. One other practical objection to the bill was the proposal for sending it to a select committee, which he thought would have the effect of shelving it for the session, and therefore he could not accede to that request. If hon. gentlemen wished to throw out the bill, let them resort to the fair and direct course of doing it on the se cond reading, and not by indirect means, by referring it to a select committee. With regard tea consolidation of the laws, he begged to remind the house that it was not his proposition, and he thought, if it were desirable, that it could be better done after the passing of the bill. In reply to observations that had been made relative to the ma nagement of the fund by the Commissioners of the Na tional Debt, he begged to remind the house that the re sponsible official was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the same as the Vioe-President of the Board of Control and the Vice-President of the Board of Trade in their re spective departments, and therefore he had not thought it necessary to propose any alteration in the existing law with reference to that. With regard to what had been `said with reference to the large sum the Government was indebted to these banks, no loss could accrue to either party unless a demand wee to be made on all these banks in one day for the amounts therein deposited. That was an improbable event, and as long as they went on in their present state the Government deficiency was a mere matter of acconnt, and had no practical bearing on sav ings banks. No loss had as yet accrued to any deposi tor. No depositor had failed to obtain the full amount of his deposits with interest, and any loss that by possi bility could accrue could only be to Government, sup posing the whole amount of deposits to be required by a given day. It bad been said that there was an improper power vested in the Chancellor of the Exchequer of vary ing the securities, and that a Chancellor of the Exche quer had the power of playing with the funds which ought to be restricted. He could only say that so far as he was concerned, he had not on any occasion exercised the power of funding Exchequer bills. (Hear.) Exche quer-bills were as much a Government debt as Three per Cent. Consols. The annual fiction of paying off Exche quer-bills was now neither more nor less than a fiction. They had become part of the permanent debt of the country. If the house thought any further restrictions necessary they would deprive the Goverament of the power, under emergencies, of sustaining the public funds. He did not believe that any Chancellor of the Exchequer would use his power for any private or personal object. Still if Parliament thought right to impose more strin gent regulations the Government would not be to blame if it did not make the best possible bargain for the advan tage of the public. He would before he sat down advert to the observations made on the conduct of Mr. Tidd Pratt when he was sent over to investigate the affairs of the Cuffe-street Bank ; he bad been blamed because when he discovered the bank to be in an insolvent state, he advised it to go on. Now this was correct, with one important exception. Mr. Pratt advised it to go on, only if it complied with a certain mode of procedure. The bank took one part of the advice, but disregarded the other. (Laughter.) He trusted the house would allow the resolution to be read. Mr. HENLEY said that the Chancellor of the Exche quer, when he had admitted that a large sum of money had been lost on the savings bank account, yet said it was no less if the savings bank had not asked for their money, had enunciated a most extraerlinary doctrine. - Sir H. WILLOUGHDY said that the proposal of the right hon. gentleman with regard to the management of the savings banks was that three should form a quorum, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer was to have the control of the funds. How could the Chancellor of the Ex chequer be three persons at once. (A laugh.) The result was to make the Chancellor of the Exchequer the sole controller of the bank. Now the sums invested in the savings banks amounted to no less than 34,000,0001. He (Sir H. Willoughby) would trust no man living with 34 reillicns of money, least of all a Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has so many temptations to play with it. He must observe as to the affair of the Cuffs -street bank. That bank bad gone on in a state of insolvency for 10 years—from 1833 to 1849—it had declared at last a deficiency of 60,0001., and yet the Government official bad advised its going on, in epite of the law, which ordered that when a savings bank was insciveot the books should be closed. Yet it was to these officials that they were to entrust the management of the banks under the proposed system. SECONDARY PUNISHMENTS. Sir G. GREY rose to move the second reading of the. Transportation and Penal Servitude Bill. He hoped that it would not be necessary now to repeat the argu ments which he had used last session. He bad then stated that the first object of the bill was to amend the act passed in 1833, which act had been passed in conse quence of the difficulty which arose in carrying out sen tences of transportation. By that act all sentences of transportation under 14 years were abolished, and an option was left to the judges of passing sentence either of transportation or penal servitude. By the present law he proposed to abolish sentence of transportation altogether. But it was not intended to forego the ad vantagessf the system as to the convicti las lately adopted by the country. The bill would give facilities for send ing them out of the country which did not now exist. The next provision of the bill had been introduced in consequence of the recommendation of the committee of the House of Commons, according to which recom mendation sentences of penal servitude, instead of being shorter than those of transportation, were to be co-extensive. One difficulty that had arisen arose from this, that there was no medium between the old term of imprisonment for two years and the term of transportation for seven years. Ey the law sentences might be passed for four, five, or six years. But the most important provision was that which removed the difficulty of carrying into effect penal servi tude in the colonies. 'According to the Act of 1853, as It was received, it was doubtful whether Parliament had intended to allow the power of exercising penal servitude in the colonies. In consequence of a demand for convicts in Western Australia, the law officers of the Crown had been consulted, and they took some time before they ar rived at the conclusion that the Government had not the power to send convicts to 'Western Australia. The pre sent law was this—that every person sentenced to penal servitude might be confined in any part of this kingdom, in any fortress or harbour thereof, or in any part of her Majesty's dominions beyond the seas, or in any fortress or harbour thereof, there to be kept to hard labour. The law officers did not think that under this act Govern ment could send prisoners to Western Australia. The Government no doubt could send prisoners out there, but only as they sent them to Portsmouth or any other place of confinement in the _kingdom ; but as soon as they were there, they would have to be confined, and could not be set at liberty in the colonies ; and the pro vision of the act would then cease to apply, and the ad vantages of the mea ure would be altogether lost. There were abundant means now of employing convicts in this country in putlic works—at Portsmouth and Dart moor—to say nothing of Gibraltar and Malta. The fact was, that there was not enough of convicts fit for labour to meet the demand called for by the Admiralty. The difficulty was, what to do with the convicts when relaxa tion of strict discipline became expedient. This was the object of the provisions of the bill which be asked the house to allow to be read a second time. It was to re move the present obstacles tosendingconvicts contended to peual servitude to Western Australia or any other colonies where it might be found expedient, and which were willing to receive them. A committee of the House of Lords bad recommended them to revert to the old 'system of transportation, by taking out those who would be useful to the colonies. But that was impos sible, as they could only take those who were sentenced to long terms of transportation, and who had been guilty of serious crimes. After the passing of the Act of 1353, the number of sentences of transportation had greatly diminished, and from these they must deduct persons in a weak state of health, and who would ho of no use to the colony. The provisions contained in the bill would enable Government, out of the convicts sen tenced to penal servitude, to select as they thought right in respect of these persons, and with a due regard to the nature of the crimes committed by them, in order to send them to Western Australia, that they might there undergo the rest of the sentence, and obtain any relaxa tion of their sentence, or a modification of its terms as might put them into a condition to become more useful members of society. The objection to this system was that it produced an uncertainty and doubt in the carry ing out of the sentence, an element which it was desir able to avoid. Now he (Sir G. Grey) admitted the fact of the uncertainty ; but if they desired absolute certainty, they must forego altogether the existing system of trans portation. That could only be carried into effect by selection, with regard to the man himself, or to the facilities of employment in the colony. The objection was not a now one. He should be glad to get rid of it, if be could do so without sacrificing all the advantages of transportation. It was an objection which applied as fully to former systems of transportation as to the one which would be in force if Parliament gave its sanction to the bill which be introduced. The old system was to detain the convict for some time in the hulks, and well conducted men were retained in this country. The House of Commons had passed a resolution condemning this practice, and in consequence suoh a number of convicts were sent out that they deluged the land, and the result was that the colonies became overwhelmed with convicts, and the whole system broke down. He would take the ten years from 1843 to 1852 inclusive, because these were the years immediately preceding the bill of 1853. During these ten years the number of convicts actuary sentenced was 31,020, while the numbers actually trans ported were 22,322, making, 8,692 which were sentenced and not transported. So that the uncertainty prevailed in former times to the same extent as at present. Sen tences of transportation could not always be carried into effect, while sentences of penal servitude could be carried into effect at any time. It was impossible to know how far it was possible to carry out sentences of transporta tion unless the man stood actually before you, and you could know his physical capacity. The judge could not tell what demand there might be for labour in the colo nies. It was, therefore, out of no distrust of the judge that he was not allowed full di cretion. The judge might let the criminal know what he had to expect, but there would be always some uncertainty as to the details. He would not then enter into the ticket-ofleave system. The bill left the law as it found it on that subject. Thera were now only a few convicts left with whom the sys tem was at present in operation. They had adopted the spirit of the recommendation of the committee of that house, which considers it desirable that a stimulus to good conduct should be held out in shortening the terms of a long sentence. In retaining the ticket-of leave system, be felt that as a general rule an absolute remission of the sentence should be observed rather than a qualified re mission. (Hear.) He would advert to a few matters of detail. By the bill power was expressly given to the courts of passing sentence of penal servitude for more than two years. Again, certain penalties were imposed by the present law on those who threatened to charge others with crimes punishable by transportation. The same penalties were extended by the bill to those who should threaten to charge others with crimes punishable with penal servitude. After these explanations, he begged leave to move the second reading of the bill. Mr. BENTINCK opposed the bill because he was opposed to transportation altogether. It was only a source of additional crime and demoralisation. In place of transportation he would provide penal settlements at home, and make the system of penal sentences self-sup porting, by the ereotion of harbours of refuge on different parts of the coast, which could never be undertaken ex cept on some such plan as that he proposed. He moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. ROEBUCK thought Sir G. Grey bad not touched the real difficulty of the case. The great cause of crime in this country was want of employment. Labourers were plentiful, and the labourer tainted with crime was shunned by everybody. The man must starve or steal. They all knew which alternative the man would prefer. It was impossible to send them to our colonies, for with few esiceptions the colonies would not have them. The was,oply c t o h u a r t s e i n t o everywh ich caseth e housewas h transportation, up shat whenever therefore f was inflicted, should b e f or lif e ; an d that a new penal colony should be f oun d e d f or t h em i n some un i n h a b ited island in the S ou th S ea . Of course t h at pun i s h ment sor i e t would only be inflicted on hardened offenders. After a course of penal servitude in some existing colony, he would remove them to this new colony ; and to preserve an equality between the sexes, he would send out every woman that was sentenced to transportation. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON believed that the two great causes of crime in this country were ignorance and druilkenness—not want of work. As to the estab lishment of a new penal settlement, he confessed he was once of that opinion himself ; but the more he con sidered the subject the more hopeless he considered the subject to be. He approved generally of the bill ; but he lamented that the uncertainty of punishment was still to be allowed to a great extent. He defended the principle involved in tickets of leave, and the Govern ment did not mean to exclude the element of hope from a convict by carrying out every sentence to the letter. Mr. COLLIER reminded the house that transporta tion had always succeeded when they were bent to colonies where there was a demand for labour ; it bad failed only when the convicts were sent merely to a prison at the other end of the world. Now, the object of the bill was to send convicts across the seas only in cases where the colonies required their labour. If there was no such colony to receive them, it was proposed to retain them at home. He supported the general pro visions of the bill. Mr. DRUMMOND said if gentlemen would take any ordinary map of the world they would discover at least 1,000 plats where they might transport their criminals. AU thesis difficulties arose from breaking up a system which they had established to their hands, only because of the abuses which they found attaching to it. He contended that Government had nothing to do with the reformation of criminals, their business was to protect society. On these grounds he would be glad to see the bill pass. flr. Phillips also supported the bill ; as did Mr. Lyng, Mr. Newdegate, Mr. John Ewart, and Mr. Liddell. Mr. HENLEY complained of the vacillation of the Government upon this question ; at one time abolishing transportation altogether, end then reviving it again. Fur his own part he condemned the system of tickets-of leave, and thought the more convicts were transperted the better. Mr. BAINES defended th 3 Government, and con tended that the experiment initiated by the. Government had failed, and it was /10V7 necessary, therefore, to legis late in another direction. After some observations from Mr. Whiteside, Mr, Keating, and Mr. Packe, Lord STANLEY said the real question was, whether it would be possible permanently to continue transporta tion beyond the seae, or whether the time had not ar rived when the practice must necessarily cease. He had read much on the subject, and had conversed with many practically acquainted with the subject, and he felt satis fied ttmt any attempt to found a new penal settlement would be an experiment necessarily ending in disanpoin t meet. The only places likely for such establi,hment, were the Falkland Islands, Vancouver's 'sided, the northern and southern ports of Hudson's Bay, and the north Pert of Au tralia the objections to which he sever BANK ACTS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation of the Bank Act of 1844 and of the Bank Ante for Ireland and Scotland of 1845. The right hon. gen• tleman said the motion was similar to one to which the house agreed in the last session. The committee was then appointed, but only one witness had been examined when their further proceedings were interrupted by the dissolution. Mr. 'ROEBUCK wished to know whether it was the intention of the right hon. gentleman to move that this should be a secret committee ? The last was a secret committee, and it was a sort of locus pocus which he did not understand. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, it had been the uniform practice of the house to have coin mittees of this description committees of secresy. The only difference between committees of secresy and com mittees not of secresy, but which excluded the public during the examination of witnesses, was, that in the former case members were not able to go into the room while the examination of witnesses was proceed ing. He did not attach any importance to the com mittee being a committee of secresy, and it was merely in deference to the practice of the house that he moved it should be so in the last session. There was nothing in the relations between the Government and the Bank of England which the Government desired to be con cealed ; but he believed it was thought questions might be asked reflecting on the credit of the Bank, or involv ing matters which it might not be desirable to have dis cussed in public during the progress of the inquiry. If the general opinion of the house was opposed to this committee being a committee of secresy, he would not press that point. (Hear, hear.) Mr. MALINS rejoiced that no time had been lost in proposing the reappointment of this committee, but he should have been glad if the Government, taking into consideration the difficulties existing in the money mar ket, had brought forward a measure on their own responsibility, because he did not think that the labours of the committee would lead to legislation during the present session. At present a state of things existed which was most detrimental to the commercial interests of the country. The rate of discount of the Bank of Eng land on the 21st March last was 6 per cent., and on the 2d April it was raised to 611 per cent., at which rate it had since remained, and one day last week the Bank of England had refused to make any advances upon Govere ment securities. It was most essential that in a commer cial country money should be procurable at an easy rate, and if the present state of things continued it would be the destruction of small operators. What had led to the present state of things was the absurd division, by the act of 1844, of the Bank of England into two depart ments, As he bad explained on a previous occasion, the only resource which the Bank had to operate upon was its reserve notes. and those were at present reduced to 3,500,0001., and gentlemen conversant with those mat ters would agree with him that when the amount of re serve notesfell below 5,000,000/. commercial transactions in this country could never be carried on with advantage. He would venture to say that war taxation had not been so much felt by the commercial community as was the present high rate of interest ; and the Government would find that the commercial interest were beginning to be alive to the importance of the question. The subject seemed to him to be of such importance that he had felt it hie duty to offer a few remarks to the house—(hear)--- and his principal object in rising had been to express the hope that the Government would lose no time in bringing forward a measure upon the subject, and that they would not consider that having appointed this committee they had discharged all their duty.. His suggestion was that we should have by law the power of relaxing the act of 1844, and so important did, he consider the subject to be that unless he saw the progress made by the committee was such as to enable the Government to legislate d tir ing the present session, and if the existing pressure in the money market should continue, he should, before the close of the session, bring the whole subject under the notice of the house, and submit to it a resolution for its approval. Mr. T. HANKEY said that from the observations which had fallen from the hon. and learned gentleman who had just spoken one would be inclin e d t o conc l u d e that absolute rui n had' been brought upon the mercantile community by the operation of the Act of 1844 ; but he, for one, did net believe that the general rate of interest had anything whatever to do with the working of that Act. He did not wish that the opinion should prevail out of doors that great commercial distress existed when such was really not the case ; and in corroboration of his opinion upon the suject he might add that when in Man chester the other day he had been informed upon the best authority that the high rate of interest had bad no effect whatsoever upon trade, which was in a most thriving condition in Manchester, Liverpool, and in other great commercial towns. His own experience in London went to confirm that statement. Mr. HUDSON expressed it to be his opinion that to make the proposed committee one of secrecy would be an useless proceeding, inasmuch as the committee of 1844, of which he had been a member, had been a secret eornmittee, and yet all the evidence which had been taken before it had been published to the world. Sir R. Peal had attended most assiduously upon that committee, and the acquisition of a great deal of infor mation had been the result of its laboure. Ho therefore could not understand why further inquiry into the sub ject should be inetituted, and he thought that the Cean celior of the Exchequer should at once legislate with re spect to it, if legislation should be deemed to be necessary. Mr. A. AYRTON contended that the proposed in quiry should be conducted *WI the utmost vigour and subject connected should embrace within its scope every with the Bank of Englan 7 3, and the relation which it bore to the trade and commerce of the country. He wag of opinion that, as there was no necessity for immediate legislation open the matter, it would be highiy exile. client that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should at once introduce any measure in reference to the Act of 1344. The Bank Charter was now granted in perpetuity with the liability to be redeemed whenever Parliament should deem it desirable to take that course, and he might state that he had been in communication with many gentlemen of considerable authority upon the question in the city of London who believed that that charter might be altogecher abrogated with great advantage to the community. There were others., however, who thought that the Bank of England should again be charged with the management of the whole currency of the kingdom, and that such control would enable it to relieve the esisting commercial distress. He was not one of those who deemed that such a scheme would be COAL NARK Prices of Coals per ton at s. d. Howard's West Hartley Netherton 17 !) Davison's West Hartley 18 North Percy Hartley l5 0 Bates's West Hartley 15 Bobside's Hartley 17 9 Holywell l(i e Bell's Primrose l3 3 Wylain Virallsend, &o. Plummer Uosforth l5 0 • Ships at market aetton South fretton... ......... l7 9 Cassop 16 9 pees lB 0 Lambton l7 n 6 ' dirchgrove Graigola — 2O - Wharneliffe 14 6 Elaswell 18 9 Whitworth l6 0 Acorn Close l6 ,3, " Haugh 11311 16 ;, 70 ; sold, 50. [ADVERTISEMENT.] — Holloway ' s —Holloway's Pills sup e rior to - other Remedies for Stomach Oomplaints.—Mrs. Bakst , of Addington-street, Rochd a l e - roa d, M anc h ester , b a d suffered severely for many years from a wea k ness 1 0 the stomach, and a generally debilitated constitution. 44-1 ., though she had the best medical ad v i ce , an d t r i e d ever y available remedy, yet she derived no benefit, b u t by the use of Holloway's pills a perfect e ure has been effected, as she now enjoys the best of health ; and in gratitude for which she desires public,ty should be given to her case.—Sold by all m e di c i ne ven d ors throughout the world ; at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 2t, Strand, London, a n d 80 , M a i den- l ane, New Yer k ; A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A. Guidici, Smyrna ; 3°- E. Muir, Malta. LB I R T111,;S. OF A SON. On the 11th inst., at Dulwich, the wife of Thos. A l " Esq., bar r i s t er - a t-l aw. Oa the 10th iust., at the Lawn, Ttilse-hill, Mrs. MO " tus 0. Robinson. OF A DAUMITER. 01 On the 10th inst., at 2, Queen-streetTlace, Mrs. Da' R. Harvest. Ou the 9th in s t., a t 19 , Fi us b u ry-squiire, the wife of Julius 'touter, Esq. MARRIED. On the 11th inst., at St. Mary's Church, Ulverston, b 9 the Rey. J. Robeitson, John Bell, Esq , late. of C 3 17 to widower, to Caroline Dorothy, only Daughter of the Richard Waller, Esq., revenue officer of her ?Jai° Customs, Lor.clon. vo te 0% the Gth hat., at Trinity Ch urc h, Stepney , --1 the natt-Co!onel Thomas t; illine~s, "' of Dublin, to lain daughter of William Dickson ilagatt, Esq. DIED. I , jag. On the 11th inst., in Albany- s t ree t, Regent's-Pa r " Eatwisle, E sq., f ormer l y of Leeds, aged 75. 2 ,1 0 100. On the 9th inst., at Woolwich, Mr. W. Taylor solicitor aged 31 Peac e Ou the 9th inst., Theed Pearse, Esq., Clerk of the of the county of Bedfor,i, aged 64. of frell r f On the 'Jth inst., at Epsom, Elizabeth, wife Ridiards, Esq , Esq. 11 1 On the tith inst., at 8, Ely-pl a c e , Lower-read, Islingt° Mr. Henry Upton, age d 41. --- • ---- ()LING LONDON : Pri L d and Publishod by MUILDO of No. 112, strand, Printer, at The sum t".y . 112, Strand, it the Product o f th e Savoy, i . the 0 of Middlesex, Tuesday, May 12, 1637. .~ ..~