The Sun. — London, England, 1847-07-02 00:00:00

~.-~-~'- P 00R-LAW COMMISSION. Thw3 thirteenth annual report of the Poor-law Corn saissi one rs has just been printed. It opens with a state ment of the amount of poor-rate received and expended in Engl and and Wales for the parochial year ending "Latly-d ay, 1846, and which is compared with the expen diture of the preceding year. In the expenditure for the relief of the poor there "vas, in 1846, as compared with the previous year, n tdiminution of 77,6771. In the law charges there was a II decrease of 12,1121; in the county and borough rate ita increase of 21,2801.; and in the total expenditure from the poor-rate there was a decrease of 102,552/. ghe following table shows the expenditure for four jeers:— 'Years ending Lady-day. 1843 Expenlistu,27Bf,oor27the Poor. 1844 ................... 4,976 093 1845 5,039,703 1846 4,962,026 The total number of paupers (ilnB-4d6, i (in -door out) 3 a 3 nd ss;de -re lieved in 1845 was 1,470,070; in ' 0,7 crease in 1846, 140,413. On the whole population of the last census , 15,906,741; this gives a per centage of p 'were in 184 5 of 9 • 2, and i n 1846 of 8-4. paupers Commissioners are not able to state the com plete amount of the poor - law expe nditure for ',;ha year ending at last Lady-day, but they entertaisa no douaa that it has considerably exceeded the amount for the preceding year. This increase they aatribute to the failure of the potato crop of 1846, wnich, by raising the price of other previsions, mateeially influenced the condition of the poor; for whereas in April, 1846, the price of wheat was 545. 11d., in April, 1847, it had risen to 755. 6d. In the former year a quarter of the principal sorts of grain and pulse (wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans, and peas) could be purchased for 101. 9s. 2d., in the latter year their price had risen to 16/. ss. 6d. Amongst the agricultural labourers of Wiltshire, So inersetshire, and Devonshire, where the allotment system prevails, the effects of the potato blight have been severely felt, and out-door relief has been granted to many who formerly relied on their gardens, and whose means were also crippled by an unusually cold winter. The report states— " We may here mention, with reference to the failure of the potato crop, that it became necessary for us, in numerous unions, to sanction an'alteration in the work house dietary by the substitution of some other article for potatoes. The substitutes have for the most part been bread or boiled rice; in other cases, turnips, car • rots, parsnips, cabbage, peas, or hominy have been used. We have likewise, at the desire of the Board of Trade, instructed our Assistant-Commissioners to obtain infor mation upon certain particulars respec t ing the failure of the potatoes. From the reports which have been sent in, and which have been transmitted to the Board of Trade, it appears that the failure of the potatoes has ex tended generally over the country, but that the earlier sorts of the potato have failed the least. " Other causes also have eontributed to increase the expenditure far the relief of the pour since last autumn in the manufacturing districts and the large towns. Owing to the high price of cotton, and the diminished demand for manufactures, the hours of work have been shortened, or the work has been even temporarily sus pended in some factories in the Lancashire district. Moreover the severity of the distress in Ireland has produced an influx of Irish, in a state of extreme desti tution, into several towns on the western coast of Eng land. Liverpool, as being the port nearest to Dublin, and with which the principal steam communication is carried on, received the largest number of this class of immigrants. The numbers having begun to increase in December, a-iyansed rapidly in January and February last, and still more rapidly in March and April. From the 13th of January to the 20th of April, during which period an accurate account of Irish immigrants was kept, there aerived at Liverpool 133,069 persons from Ireland. The Select Vestry adopted prompt and efficient mea sures for meeting the increased number of applications ; and it will be seen from the annexed Report of cur Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Austin, that these mea sures were ate : fed with considerable success in pre venting imposition, and in providing for the destitute. The precautions taken by the vestry against the spread of fever and disease, from the crowded dwellings of the Irish, are on a large and expensive scale but not, it is to be feared, beyond the necessity of the case. "It has not been thought advisable by the local autho rities to make any attempt to pass the Irish immigrants back to Ireland under tne 8 and 9 Vict. c. 117. Some have remained chargeable on the rates of Liverpool, others have proceeded further into the interior of the country, but several thousands have emi g rated to Canada or the United States. Many have reac hed Manchester and the other manufacturing towns of Lancashire, as well as of the West Riding and Cheshire ; and we have received statements from several Boards of Guardians on the subject of a provision for the increased number of Irish vagrants. Large numbers of Irish have also landed at Newport and Chepstow, and have thence moved on to Cheltenham and other towns in the mid land counties. A. considerable number of Irish poor (estimated at about 1,000 within a week) have recently been landed in London by steamers from Cork and Dub lin. In addition to these, some Irish have reached the metropolis fr en Bristcl and Newport. " The Removals Act of last session (to the operation of which we 5h..11 advert more particularly hereafter), - has likewise increased the amount of relief to the Irish in the large towns, especially_ in the metropolis. By the operation of this Act, Irish and Scotch, who have been resident five years in an English parish, become irre movable from th at parish ; and thus many Irish, who had been resident for that period, became applicants for relief, although previously to the paesieg of that Act, they had be( a deterred from applying by the fear of being passed back to their own country. The expecta tions of benefit under this Act formed by the resident Irish in the metropolis appear to have been excessive, and led to their applyh.g ih large nuwteer Co several London parishes and unions at the beginning of the winter. The pressure was, however, only temporary, for the applications have been g enerally met by an offer of the workbeilee or out-door la bour, and the offers were in few cases asc pted. " Owing to the combined operation of the causes above stated, (namely, the general failure of the potato crop throughout England, the high prices of corn and other articles of food, the length and severity •of the winter, the diminution of manufacturing pros perity, the largo immigration of destitute Irish into England, and, in some degree, the operation of the Removal Act), the pressure upon the poor -rates has been considerabh; increased since last autumn, and the poor-law expenditure for the year ending Lady-day, 1847, will, when ascertained, doubtless prove to have been greater than that for the preceding year. We have, how , yea the satisfaction of being able to state that the boards of guardians and other local authorities have found no serious difficulty in overcoming the ob stacles against which they have had to contend, and that the system of relief has Issen efficient and orderly. In deed we are not aware that, at any time since we have held our present offices, the administration of the poor law has been in a saore regular and satisfactory state than during that period since last autumn, or has been conducted with,a more willing co-operation on the part of the local authorities." In reference to appeals against the decisions of audi tors there cc 'or the two following paragraphs:— " An important portion of our duty, in connexion with the audit, has been to receive application in the nature of an appeal under section 33 of 7 and 8 Vict., c. 101. We have considered that, as the object of the provision was remedial, the auditor might be called upon to state his reasons even after the conclu sion of the audit, and we have accordingly received applications from parties who had neglected, at the time of the audit, to require that the reasons for the allowance or disallowance of any item should be stated in the book by the auditor. Several such appeals have been made to us in a formal shape. In many of them, the party complaining has been satisfied with the expression of our opinion, without wishing us to issue a formal order. In ten cases, how ever, such orders have been issued, of which seven went to establish the lawfulness of the reasons assigned by the auditor, and three decided against those reasons. None of these orders have yet been removed into the Court of Queen's Bench ; a course which it is compe tent for any party to take who is dissatisfied with our decision. " We are advised that, in these appeals, we are only competent to consider the lawfulness or unlawfulness of the reasons assigned by the auditor, and that we cannot go into enuiiable considerations, or make allowance for the good intentions of the officers against whom any surcharge or disallowance may be recorded. We have had, in some cases, reason to re g ret the hardshi p which is thus necessarily brought on individuals by the introduction of a system of greater strictness ; but we are satisfied it a discretion had been left to the com missioners, the result would have been great uncertainty on the part of the auditors and the officers themselves ; each individual case would have presented some excep tional features in the ey expend ing the money, and each person e of the person or body cal culated on the probability enough in the particular instacnotcheeto. of the or body would . have equtty being strong .law grad el u decision from the Poor these cases of hardships will secure a favourable m al i l ssioners. As it is, y ceas r e ;aouu T dniat h trl e yw:o a il udi tors, each acting over a large surfa c e make known the principles on which the f i conducted ; and the chance of success on commissioners will be a matter capable oPlapetoZnof.e will l th bi e lel ascer tained with more certainty, in proportion as d sious are given with reference to similar cases?' eel- The total expenditure fur medical relief, in 1845, was 174,3301. ; in 1846, 175,269/. The number of p ersons vaccinated was, in 1845, 362,087 ; in 1846, 271,219. The ratio of persons successfully vaccinated to the number of births was, in 1815, 100 in 140 ; in 1846, 100 in 187. The law relating to proper lunatics and the Sanatory Act, are thus noticed by the Commissioners : " Tho Act 9 and 10 Vie., c. 5, which contained some amendments of the statute of the previous year relating to county lunatic asylums, removed one of the difficul ties which existed in regard to the removal of pauper lunatics, in cases where the lunatic was not such as to require confinement in an asylum, is one likely to be cured by the medical treatment therein. Under the previous statute it was considered by the Justices that they had no discretion, but Isere bound to issue an order in every case which was brought before them. The Ist section of the new statute declares that it shall not be incumbent upon the Justices, and the other parties who are competent to act in this matter, in all cases to issue the order; and it requires such Justices and parties to satisfy themselves as to the propriety of confining the Lunatic in an asylum before they sign the order, except, indeed, a medical certificate be obtained from the medical officer of the union, in which case this discretion is removed. " The Sanatory Act (9 and 10 Viet., c. 96), for the removal of nuisances conferred certain powers upon boards of guardians, to enable them to procure the rem wet of such private nuisances as are o f a nature calculated to injure health. We thought it ad- Til_E visable to issue a circular letter to all boards of guar- 9 dians to point out the nature of its provisions, and the powers and authorities which the statute conferred upon them ; and we urged upon the guardians the exercise of these powers. A difficulty was suggested as to the proper construction of the statute, with refbrence to the places in which the boards of guardians could act ; and we were consulted, on several occasions, as to the extent of its operation in rural districts. 'We expressed our opinion that the Act had a general operation in all parts of England and Wales ; and we are glad to learn, from a communication lately made to us by your direction, that the Law Officers of the Crown have given the same opinion. We believe that many boards of guardians have acted upon the statute with beneficial result. The report concludes with the details of the proceed, ings in Ireland under,the Poor-law Commis;ion. PROGRESS OF DIF,UOVERY. (From the Grahamstown Journal) The folle,wing is the account given by Sir Thomas Mitchell of the most, important discovery made by him in hia'..ecent exploratory journey in New Holland. His dislYstch is dat'ed— Camp on the River Balonne, in lon. 148 deg. 46 min. 44 sec. E., lat. 28 deg. 2 min. S. On ascending the range early next morning, I saw open down and plains with a line of river in the midst, the whole extending to the N.N.W., as far as the horizon. Following down the little stream from the valley in which I had passed the night I soon reached the open country, and during tea successive days I pursued the course of that river, through the same sort of country, each day as far as my horse could carry me, and in the same di rection, again approaching the tropic of Capricorn. In some parts the river formed splendid reaches, as broad and important as the River Murray ; in others, it spread into tour or five channels, some of them several miles apart; but the whole country is better watered than any other portion of Australia that I have seen by numerous tributaries arising in the Downs. The soil consists of rich clay, and the hollows give birth to water-courses, in most of which water was abundant. I found at length that I might travel in any direction and find water at hand, without having to seek the river except when I wished to ascertain its general course and observe its character. The grass consists of panicum, and several new sorts, one of which springs green from the old stem. The plains were verdant ; indeed, the luxuriant pasturage surpassed in quality, as it did in extent, any thing of the kind I had ever seen. The myall tree and salt bush (acacia pendula and salsolse), so essen tial to a good run, are also there. New birds and new plants marked this out as an essentially different region from any I had previously explored ; and although I could not follow the river throughout its long course at that advanced season, I was con vinced that its estuary was in the Gulf of Carpen taria ; sat all events, the country is open and well watered for a direct route thereto. That the river is the most important of Australia increasing as it does by successive tributaries, and not a mere product of distant ranges, admits of no dispute ; and the downs and plains of Central Australia through which it flows, seem suffi cient to supply the whole world with animal food. The natives are few and inoffensive ; I happened to surprise one tribe at a lagoon, who did not seem to be aware that such strangers were in that country ; our number being so small, they seemed inclined to follow us. I crossed the river at the lowest point I reached, in a great south ern bend, in lon. 144 deg. 44 sec. E., lat. 24 deg. 14 sec. S., and from rising ground beyond the left bank I could trace its downward course far to the northward. I saw no callitris (pine of the colonists) in all that country, but a range showing sandstone cliffs appeared to the southward, in longitude about 145 deg. E., latitude 24 deg. 38 min. S. The country to the northward of the river is, upon the whole, the best ; yet, in riding ninety miles due east, where I crossed the southern hand, I found plenty of water and excellent grass ; a red gravel !here approaches the river, throwing it off to the north ward. The discovery of this river, and the country through which it flows, was more gratifying to me after having b. , en disappointed in the courses of so many others. The Cogoon, the Maranon, the Warrego, the Salvatur, the Claude, the Belyando, and the Nive, are, nevertheless, important rivers, and a thorough investigation of the mountain ranges in which they originate, will enable me, I trust, to lay before your Excellency such a map of those parts of Australia as may greatly facilitate the immediate occupation of the country, and the extension through it of a thoroughfare to the Gulf of Carpentaria. to which the direct way is thus laid open. With a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty, and loyalty to my Gracious Sovereign, I named the river watering the bast portion of the largest island in the world, the Victoria; and hastensd back to my party on the Salvator. I reached that camp on the Bth ultimo, having been absent about a month, found the cattle and horses re freshed, and in condition for pursuing our route home wards. In nine days we reached the depot camp, where I left Mr. Kennedy with the heavy drays and cattle, and received the agreeable intelligence that, during the long period in which that party had been stationary, the natives had given no trouble; that the men were all well; and the old cattle in good condition. I had straightened the route in returning, so that it is now a most conve nient road, well watered by permanent supplies. AN AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE. We have been favoured, says the Gateshead Observer, with the perusal of a letter received in Gateshead from the other side of the globe, bearing date " Melbourne, Oct. 25, 1846." The writer, Mr. Jas. Nelson, formerly of Northumberland, but now a colonial farmer, reminds his friends that a vessel named the Britannia left this country with emigrants six years ago for Sydney, and never arrived at her dectination, nor was hard of else where. Sometime, however, in 1846, a discovery was made which gave a clue to her fate. In Gipp's Land, on the set-roast (a tract of country inhabited by only a few whites), a shepherd in search of a stray sheep, found the Christian name and surname of a stray female scratched on a tree. The first name was " Eliza," the second Mr. Nelson had not learned. He made known what he had seen, mid an inquiry was immedi ately set on foot. One of the black women, who abound in the neighbourhood of Melbourne, averred that a white woman was among her countrymen, and that she had seen a child (or children) which she had by a black (or blacks). This woman, it is understood, was a passenger on board the Britannia, and the only survivor. The police—horse and foot, black and white—were set in motion, and ascertained t hat she was kept in durance by two superiors of a na tive tribe, who observed great wariness and secresy in their movements. One of the mounted police informed Mr. Nelson that be had one night slept within thirty or forty yards of the woman, but did not know of it until too late. One of the wives of the black men, the keepers of the Scotch woman, was taken, and gave the police some information. The authorities, who are most anxious to recover the prisoner, got a number of hand kerchiefs prepared, with inscriptions in Gaelic (from which we presume that she was known to be a High lander), intimating that armed white men were seeking her rescue, and suggesting that she should walk abroad in early dawn. These were to be dropped in various parts of the " bush," in the hope that they might meet her eye; for there was reason to believe that she was ignorant of the efforts that were being made to restore her to freedom. On the 22d of October, the Shamrock, Sydney and Launceston steam-vessel (which calls at Melbourne both ways), left Melbourne for Sydney with these handkerchiefs on board, in charge of a body of armed men (ten blacks and six whites). On the arrival of the steamer off Gipp's Land, the exploring party were to leave her in two whale-boats, and disperse the handkerchiefs. Other measures were also to be adopted, but, if possible, no violence was to be used. It would have been easy to resort to compulsion, but the coloniaLGovernment were un willing to take any step which might place the pri soner in jeopardy, and bury in oblivion the fate of the emigrant ship. The blacks state that she was wrecked on the coast ; that some of the per sons on board got to l an d ; t h a t the natives at tacked them ; and that they retreated to their boats, but were overtaken and d estroyed, w i th the except i on o f this woman. The two men who have her in possession not t a astmp r hn e aeednai tr s kyfo a ob i rEo d og mdfin. to ehll seibeh.samehe back," a warmly ewuiTk tph.Theyh.They nsywcTlsol attached iorn.bttaois: twtiels vlooasereoshklbni blanket aroundr n, kuaatenertdegr everyoolelthelaae determined drbnoidurnoatg uyt townsn_htoe, town and beg from those that will give them." SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.—The eleventh an nual meeting of this company was held y es t er d ay, at the offices in New Broad-street, City. G. F. An gas , Esq., having taken the ch a i r , the manager read the report of the directors, from whi c h it appeared 3 that the was co total value of the company's property,o23/. Ss. 3d., in which, however, the mineral property was not included. The expected improvement in thecircum rental s tances of the colony had been realised. The f r om the town buildings was 3,3911. 4s. 7d., and from t h e country lands 3 , 693 /. 2 s. 6 d. The total quantityof country land leased was 14,256 acres. The sales of stock during the year amounted to 2,783/. 4s. 2d., and Ole value of sheep and cattle killed for rations during the same period was 8991. 63. Bd. The net proceeds of the wool :=ales amounted to 2,890/. 1 Is. 3d., being only about 6001. less than the total receipts from wool last year, while the remainder of this years clip would realise in all probability 2,000/ The gross number of she'll in October last was 38,379, of horned cattle 2,53 2, of hor ses 102, a nd 150 goats. The revenue for the past year was 15,819/. 43., and the expenses were 11,6971. 8 3. 101 Mr. Giles es timated a clear profit of 5,0004 next year, fromn e newly discovered mines of the company. 'During the r the debt to the Sout h Australian Banki ng - COmpan - y 'e h a a ' d b e en reduced nearly 18,000/. •, besides which, the ad vance made by the Ba nk of South Australia for I had been repaid to trhethe purchase of the mineral land s extent a of 6,000/. During the year, about 300 ton s o f ore i from Lynedoch Vall e y sold fodr been l _ L 6 received. A sample regretted they were u na bl e to advise l th s e . d e T e te r ation o of directors a dividend, but hoped it would be the last time th ey wou ld b)) compelled to make such au announcement. The report sed t o t h e as adjourned. was adopted, and a vote of thanks Wasp directors and managers, when the meetin g a j UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.-O%YORD ' JUNE —This morning Mr. Francis Turn er Pal.Ta ' is ve scholar of of Baliol College; Mr. George Herbert Curte scholar of University College; and Mr. William Ince ,k ' B.A. 8.A., of Liucoln College, were elected Fellows of Exeter College. At the same time the Rev. George Eveleigh Sanders and Mr. Samuel Joseph Hulme, 8.A., scholars oF Wadham College, were elected Probationary Fellows of that Society; and Mr. Walter Waddington Shirley, commoner of University College (son of th, late Bishop Shirley); Mr. Starling William Day, Bible clerk of Wadham; and Mr. James Davenport Kelly, were elected schalara of the same Society. SUN, RAILWAY COMMITTEES, HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.) Room B. MAN CSIBSTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND MIDLAND 31714CT10N. The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with h .wring evidence in favour of the proposed line. Room E. MAST LANCASHIRE (SOUTHPORT BRANCH). Evidence in support of this branch was adduced during the entire day. Room F. LONDON-BRIDGE TERMINI ENLILRGE- WENT. After hearing engineering evidence in favour of the proposed enlargement, the Committee adjourned at an early hour till eleven to•morrow. HOUSE OF COMMORS.-(YESTERDAY.) GROUP VI. SALISBURY AND YEOVIL-EXETER, YEO VIL, AND DORCHESTER-AND ISLAND FORD AND BRUTON. Mr. COCKBURN resumed his address, whit la again occupied the attention of the Committee during the entire day, and was about to allude to the proposed schemes of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, and to show their insufficiency to supply the wants of the district proposed to be accommodated by the pro posed lines of the South-Western Company, when the Committee decided that they would adjourn till to na,rrow, at eleven o'clock. The Committee adjourned accordingly. LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 2, 1847. GROUP XXX. GREAT NORTHERN (ISLE OP AXHOLIVIE EXTENSION). The Committee decided that the preamblo of the above Bill was proved, and that the preamble of the AXIIOX.VIE (PROM LEEDS AND SELBY) was not proved. HORRIBLE and INHUMAN TREAT MENT OF A BLACK BOY. On Wednesday a long and interesting investigation took place before Mr. T. Wakley. M.P., coroner, and a most respectable jury, at the Bedford Arms Tavern, High-street, Camden•town, concerning the death of Daniel Hunter, a youth of colour, aged 18, alleged to have died from being compelled to sleep in a dirty dark, and damp underground cellar, by his master, Mr. Edward Pinder, chemist, of 123, High-street, Camden town. The inquiry had been instituted by the coroner in consequence of the receipt by that functionary of a re quisition signed by several inhabitants, containing the above charge, and much interest was excited on that account. The coroner and jury viewed the body, and the place where the deceased had been in the habit of sleeping up to the day previous to his death. It was a perfectly dark opening under the shop, about four feet and a half high, between the joists supporting the shop flooring, the only ventilation being a few holes in the steps entering the shop above. In it was a stump bedstead, and at the head of the bed some bricks, which were so damp, that when Tiffin, the summoning officer, placed his finger between them, and withdrew it, he found his finger covered with wet. The boards were rotted through, and the place was filled with straw and all kinds of refuse. The following is a narrative of the circumstances con nected with the deceased as detailed to the jury :—lt ap pears that about five years since the deceased, who was a native of the West Indies, is as brought over to this country by a lady named Hutton, who made a will in his favour. About three years since this lady, under the authority of a commission of lunacy, was dragged from her house at Brompton, and conveyed to a lunatic asylum, where she shortly after died. At the time Mrs. Hutton was being dragged from her door to be placed in a cab, notwithstand ing the cries of the deceased, Mr. Weaver, of Park street, Camden-town, was passing, andonmaking inquiries, and hearing the boy was left friendless, he took him home, and he lived under his protection until about ten months sisce, when Mr. Pinder, wanting a lad as errand boy, he engaged deceased, agreeing to give him half-a-crown a week. The deceased was a lad of an exceedingly mild and easy disposition, and never complained. The evi dence went to show that about three weeks ago he caught cold through going out to Chalk Farm and sitting in his wet clothes, and became very ill—so ill as to be unable to do his work. He was medically attended for cold on the lungs, but notwithstanding he was labour ing under this complaint he was allowed to remain in bed for eight days in the place above described, and on Thursday last he expired. No notice was given to the coroner, but at the desire of Mr. Pinder a post mortem examination was made by Mr. Hield, of King street, and Mr. Hillier, of Francis-terrace. The body was to have been interred on Sunday, but by order of the coroner the funeral was suspended. The medical gentlemen named stated the result of their examination to be that the de ceased had died from pneumonia and pluritis, caused by exposure to wet and cold. Several of the jury commented very strongly on the conduct of Mr. Pinder, who bad declared that his pre vious boys had slept in the same place, and that all others- should do so. They ultimately returned a verdict —" That the deceased died from disease of the lungs from exposure to wet and cold," and appended the fol. lowing:—" That, having viewed the place where de ceased was kept while labouring under the disease froni w bich he died, the jury consider that place to have been a very improper one as a sleeping place, not only for a person affected with disease of the lung - 5, but even ror a person in good health, and earnestly recommend to Mr. Pin Oar not to require any servants of his for the future to occupy that place at night." YEOMANRY CORPS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.— It appears from a return to the House of Commons, that the total charge for the Yeomanry cavalry in Great Britain, for the year 1842, amounted to 101,7041.; the number of officers to 845, and the number of men to 13,358. In the year 1843, the total charge amounted to 95.4701.; the number of officers to 893, and the number of men to 14,311. In 1844, the charge amounted to 87,6221.; the number of officers to 873, and the number of men to 14,189. In 1845, the charge amounted to 82,1821.; the number of officers to 896, and the number of men to 14,353; and in 1846, the total charge amounted to 87,9481; the number of officers to 884, and the num ber of men to 13,818. The Societe d'Economie Charitable has proposed for the essay of this year the question of supply of food, and M. de Cormenin, one of its members has off e r e d a prize of a gold medal worth 1,200 fr. to the writer of the best memoir. He thus lays down the problem—" It being ascertained that the population of France doubles itself in 138 years, we shall have in 34 years and a half an increase of 10,000,000 souls, making at least the gross amount of 46,000,000. To know positively bow much corn these additional 10,000,000 will consume, we must take the lowest average of consumption, which is three hectolitres 20 litres a-head for all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, which gives for the present popu lation of 36,000,000 of souls, 115,000,000 of hectolitres. When at the end of 34 years we shall have 10,000,000 souls more, we shall require an addition of fr )tn 31,000,000 to 32,000,000 hectolitres. Now, it is esta blished by returns made in the last 26 years that the im portation of corn has been 21,000,000 hectolitres, and by other returns made in the last 14 years, that the importa tion of cattle during this period has cost us 114, 0 00,000 fr. Hence it ensues that France would produce annually at the most upon an average the quantity of food necessary for the subsistence of her 36,000,000 souls. If then, in stead of 36,000,000 she will have to support 46,000,000 and she certainly will have them, and if this increase requires, upon the lowest calculation, an increase of 31,000,000 or 32,000,000 hectolitres, we must inquire from what sources, by what means or process, France is to procure this excess." The memoirs are to be sent before the Ist May next, to the Society's Secretary, No. 25, Rue de la Planche St. Germain, where a programme of the questions may be otained.— Galignani. GLASGOW GRAIN MARKET.-Our grain market since last week has been, and still is, in a very languid state. This is easily accounted for by the very favour able accounts that are daily received from all parts of the country, and a general expectation that the harvest will not be so late as was recently anticipated. A very limited business is doing, and that almost entirely among consumers, and prices have a tendency downwards.— National Advertiser. MATRIMONY AND MEAL.—A buxom country girl in Aryshire left her place last Whitsun term, with the merciful determination of putting a matrimonial period to the doubts and sighs of her stalwart swain; but having the bump of caution large, she read of high markets, and sagely pondered thereon; and ultimately the last week arrived at the dwelling of a civic func tionary, in whom she placed implicit reliance, and re quested as a most particular favour that he would give her his advice. The question she put was, whether markets were likely to rise or fall? ":or," added she in a whisper, " Alick and me intendit to gang thegither at this time, but I canna mak up my mind to't wi' the at t wmoeal shillings;a 2s. 3 b d u . t a f a e t c h k A n l o ick tr , y l t s a e b e o , o w n a n cl u g risk hte e it n pence." NEWINGTON BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOLS.— The annual examination of the children of this school, which is located in a populous district•of the borough of Lambeth, took place last night. Mr. J. H. Palmer pre sided. The children displayed a knowledge and intelli gence highly creditable to the master, and gratifying to the supporters of the schools. The report of the com mittee having stated that the condition of the finances had obliged them to raise the weekly pittance paid by the parents, the chairman expressed a strong belief that the advancing spirit of liberality would, ere long, force the Government to adopt such a system of national edu cation as shculd be free from all religious tests and distinctions, and open to the participation of all, without Ett 'ck M.A of South The late Rev. William la , ~ near Batb, and of High Barnes, near Sun derland,Hill House, 7' d his valuable settled estates in trust respnt of persons or of . . creeds. has devised the residue of real and personal estate t surviving son, Anthony. All other lands and for his younger children. lie are to form a Fon "sion 1835, and lived to the age of executed his will in orders and an excellent biblical ninety. Though in ho ly held any_ benefice, baying resigned to the use of is ise eldes scholar, he had never family estates or. the death a curacy on succeeding to the of his father. GLASGOW P m I R ON TRADE. —During the past 1 week th e p i g i ron market has been gener allyvery • a dull to- Yesterday, h o , vever, t h ene was a better , feelin , ,, ,,, a, an d may bc, , i 4,) th.,.-e is still g roal , r ii; ;n;.ess. TI.•: , Ili , quotPd fo r N o. 3, 63.. 6d.; for mixed Nos. 6 5 a• ; and :or : No. 1, 665. to 665. 6d. per ton, f. o. b.--Nat io nal Ad vertiser. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 1. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat On the Woolsack at Five o'clock. bIESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the Commons brought up several public and private Bills. The Earl of RODEN complained that the third re port of the Poor Relief Commissioners (Ireland), laid on the table yesterday, contained statements 'against many of the magistrates and gentry of Ireland, which were totally unfounded, and gave notice that he should call the attention of their Lordships to the subject on Tuesday next. Lord MONTEAGLE hoped the Noble Earl would postpone the subject to a future day, as on Tuesday next probably many of their Lordships would be absent at the installation of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. After some observations from the Earl of DEVON, The Earl of RODEN postponed bringing forward the subject till Thursday next. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented several peti tions on the subject of the Health of Towns Bill. QUALIFICATION OF PEERS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The Earl of ROSEBERY moved the reception of the report upon this Bill. After a few words from the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, on the subject of the oaths required to be taken under the provisions of the Act, the Earl of Rosebery, and the Earl of Haddington, The Earl of EGLINTON said that he gave his most cordial support to the measure, and he hoped that the Bill would be allowed to pass without any alteration. Lord DENMAN suggested that in his opinion it would be desirable to do away with the necessity for Peers taking the oaths in foreign countries at all, and allowing their declaration to have equal weight. After a short discussion, in which the Duke of Buc clench, Lord Redesdale, Earl Haddington, Earl Rosebery, and several other Noble Lords took part, the report upon the Bill was agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Monday next. IRISH POOR-LAW ADMINISTRATION BILL. Earl ST. GERMANS wished to know;if the Govern ment intended to bring on this Bill to-morrow, and if they intended to make any material alteration in it. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE intended to propose some amendments, but they would not be of a material nature. He intended to proceed with it to-morrow. After a short discussion, The NOBLE MARQUIS consented to discharge the order for the second reading of this Bill to-morrow, and to re appoint it for a future day. COLONIAL TRADE. Lord ASHBURTON then moved for certain returns relating to the commercial transactions of this country with its colonies. The object he had in view in moving for them was to ascertain how the recent changes in our Legislature bad affected the dependencies of the British empire. The Noble Lord reviewed at some length, but in a tone inaudible in the gallery, the policy pursued in Parliament for several years past, and stated the effect which he considered it had had upon the colonies. The course which had lately been pursued would seem to indicate that the colonies were of no use, and ought not, therefore. to have their interests considered. Since the differential duties had been abolished, what use was there, he would ask, in observing any of those other distinc tions which had arisen from the arrangement, and which now interfered with the prospects of the colonies, in stead of advancing them? He thought that the wiser and better course would be, to open up to the colonies all the advantages which foreign countries at present were allowed to possess. He moved for the returns on account of a recent dispatch received from the Governor General of Canada. The Noble Lord con cluded by moving for the returns. Earl GREY had no objection to the production of the returns; on the contrary, he thought their being laid on the table of the House would be productive of benefit to all parties. If ever there was a time that showed the course Parliament had pursued last year was a correct one, it was the present. After some observations from Lord WHARNCLITFE and Lord STANLEY, The returns were agreed to. TRUSTEES RELIEF BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that this Bill be read a second time. The Noble and Learned Lord, in moving the second reading of the Bill, stated that last year the money in the hands of the Accountant• General of the Court of Chancery, amounted to 40,000,0001., while in the present it exceeded 51,000,0004 Only a small portion of that amount was the subject of litiga tion, the greater part of it being placed in the Court of Chancery, for the purpose of security. The object of the Bill was principally to enable trustees to pay trust funds in their hands into the Court of Chancery, with out filing a Bill, or creating any expense to the estate of the infant, or the individual for whom a party was trustee, thereby giving greater security to property, and relieving trustees from their security. After some observations from Lord ASHBURTON and Lord MONTEAGLE, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES' BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. PASSENGERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. The other Bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and their Lordships adjourned shortly before Eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 1. The SPEAKER, took the Chair Ili. Four o'clock. The report on the Edinburgh and Perth Railway Bill was brought up and agreed to. The Blackburn Improvement, Market, ete., _Hal was read a third time and passed. - - - - The Lords' amendments to the London and North- Western Railway Bill (Atherstone and Whitacre Branch) were agreed to. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, it was ordered that it be an instruction to the Committee of Selection to refer the Dollar Institution (Mylne's or M•Nabb's Estate) Bill to the Scotland List (No. 1), and three selected Members, and to appoint the Committee on the Bill to meet on Tuesday the 6th day of July, with power to hear the petitioners on all petitions against the Bill, which may be presented on or before Monday the sth day of July. On the motion also of Mr. GREENE, it was ordered that the Examiners of Petitions for private Bills have leave to sit and proceed to-morrow on the following Bills:—Newbart (or Gravenor's) Estate Bill, Paterson's Estate Bill, Pickernell's Estate Bill, Wingfi:ild's (or St. Aubyn's) Estate Bill, Mansel's Estate Bill, and Duke of Richmond's Estate Bill. On the motion of Sir R. FERGUSON, a return was ordered of the harbours, piers, quays, landing places, and other works in Ireland, with respect to which any notice or instrument in writing, declaring them to be vested in the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, under the provisions of the Act 9 and 10 Vic. c. 3, has been published in the Dublin Gazette. FUSTIAN CUTTERS. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from the fustian cutters of Warrington, praying that no per son under the age of fourteen years might work in those manufactories. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. ALDAM presented a petition from Leeds against the Health of Towns Bill. Mr. HUDSON presented a similar petition from Leicester. Mr. STANSFIELD presented a similar petition from Leeds. NAVIGATION LAWS. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS presented petitions from the ports of London and Montrose against any alteration in the navigation-laws. JOINT- STOCK COMPANIES. Mr. M. GIBSON brought in the Joint-stock Com panies Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from a gentleman of the name of Porter, residing at Hill House, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, stating that he had discovered the means of making instantaneous communication by means of electricity to the outports in the most foggy nights upwards of 12 years ago ; that he had stated to the Admiralty that he had done so, and had received a letter from that Board, stating that they should be happy to have communications with him on the subject, but that they had never granted him an interview. Under these circumstances the petitioner deprecated the idea of a foreigner haring the credit of the invention, and prayed the House to institute an inquiry on the subject. RATING. Mr. WAKLEY also presented a petition from a gen tleman named Hutcheson, complaining of the manner of rating to the poor. The HoN. MEMBER also presented a petition from the workmen of Glasgow, complaining of the law of arrest ment of wages in Glasgow. The Hort. MENDER also presented a petition from the National Association for Promoting the Improvement and Condition of the People, in favour of the Health of Towns Bill, and praying that the metropolis might be included in its provisions. The HoN. MEMBER also presented a petition from a soldier named Philip Ward, stationed in the garrison at Gibraltar, complaining of the conduct of the command ing officer, and praying to be transferred to some other regiment. Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from one of his constituents, complaining of the treatment of the East India Company. MALTA. . Dr. BO WRING wished to know, from the Secretary at War, whether he had received any information as to the alleged misconduct of the military of Malta at the theatre and elsewhere. _ _ _ . _ said that he had made inquiry at the Horse Guards, and found that no report had reaehed there with respect to the subject. PRISONS BILL AND CUSTODY OF OFFEN- DERS BILL. Lord MAHON wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what course ho intended to adopt with respect to the Prisons Bill and the Custody of Offenders Bill. Sir G. GREY said, that it was of great import ance to the country that the Custody of Offenders Bill should pass as soon as possible, and he hoped to be able to bring up that Bill, with such amendments as should induce the llousc to give its sanction to it. Ile hoped to be able to get the Bill through Committee to-night. With respect to the Prisons Bill, the Government did not think that measure of such immediate importance. FEVER HOSPITAL AT ISLINGTON. m.r. T. DUNCO ;IBF, presented a petition nume l'otily signed by inhabit ants o f I s li ng ton, praying the 11 niTii MA to .1!= the est a bli s h m: •z.:- fever hospital at Islington ; and also praying the House to consent to the clause which he proposed should be inserted in the Health of Towns Bill. Mr. WAKLEY supported the prayer of the petition. Lord MORPETH said that, so far as he was con cerned, he could not have any possible objection to the clause proposed by the Hon. Member for Finsbury. BORNEO. On the motion of Mr. EWART, the following return was ordered:—Copies of all communications to and from her Majesty's Government relative to the affairs of Borneo, from the Ist day of December, 1842, to the 24th day of June, 1847. ISLE OF MAN. Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to know when the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the criminal law of this island would be presented; and if, when it was presented, the Government intended to introduce any measure on the subject, and whether it would be followed by an inquiry into the condition of the civil law. Sir G. GREY said the Commissioners had promised to present their report in May, but on the 31st of that month Mr. Elliott, one of the Commissioners, stated that owing to the difficulties of the inquiry it could not be presented for a short time. He was sorry to say that it had not yet been presented. Until he obtained that report he could not state what course he should adopt. He had stated that an inquiry into the civil law should not be instituted until the inquiry into the criminal law had been completed. With respect to the Isle of Man, the Government would be happy to lay any papers on the table of the House. EDUCATION. In reply to a question from Mr. HINDLEY, Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that the recent minutes on education would be presented to the House so soon as her Majesty had expressed her intention to tb at effect. UNITED STATES. Mr. HUME gave notice that to-morrow he should ask, whether loans had been granted in any of the United States, and, if so, why they had been omitted from the papers presented to the House to-day. He understood that the sums lent to these states were very large. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. Mr. WAKLEY wished to know whether there was any law under which the Government might appoint a public prosecutor ? And whether, if there was, the Government intended to avail themselves• of it, and to appoint a public prosecutor? Sir G. GREY said there was no law under which the Government might appoint a public prosecutor. The subject had been under the consideration of the Govern ment, not certainly, however, respecting the appointment of a public prosecutor, but with respect to a decision of the House respecting the conducting prosecutions, and the mode of defraying the expenses. Some plan would be submitted to the House, not exactly for the appointment of a public prosecutor, but as a step in that direction. EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Lord JOHN MANNERS wished to know if the Noble Lord would have any objection to lay on the table copies of the communications whi , :h had taken place with respect to education in Ireland between him and the Primate of Ireland ; and whether he would also lay the correspondence of the Right Honourable Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, and that Right Rev. Prelate, on the same subject. Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to produce the correspondence, but he doubted much whether there was any record of the correspondence with the Right lion. Baronet. RELIEF OF THE POOR. Mr. NE WDEGATE moved that the petition of the clerks, masters, and matrons of workhouses, re lieving officers, assistant overseers, and other officers connected with the administration of the laws relating to the relief of the poor in England and Wales be printed with the votes. THE RAJA OF SATTARA. Mr. EVELYN DENISON wished to ask the Hon. Member for Montrose whether the motion of which he (Mr. flume) had given notice, ar►d which had been put off several times, with respect to the Raja of Sattara, would be again brought on by the Hon. Member. Mr. HUME said that the notice stood for to•morrow upon going into Committee of Supply, and it was his intention to bring it forward then. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Lord MORPETH presented a number of petitions from various parts of the country in favour of the Health of Towns' Bill. NAVIGATION BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the order of the day for the second reading of the Navigation Bill for the pnrpose of postponing it. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE. Mr. E. DENISON said that there were several Bills at present before the House relating to the representation of the people—he had counted as many as five—one of which had been introduced by the Noble Lord. The subject of these Bills was one which was very interesting, espe cially at the present moment, and he wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to per severe with any of those Bills in the present session. Lord J. RUSSELL stated that he was only enabled to answer the question of the Hon. Member as regarded the Bill which he (Lord J. Russell) had introduced. It was a very important Bill, but at the same time, con sidering the late period of the session, he did not mean to proceed with it at present. He wished to have the Bill read a second time, in order that the House might go into Committee pro forma upon it, and he thought that no objection could be entertained to such a course. With regard to the other Bills referred to he was not answerable for them ; but, as the Hon. Gentleman had asked his opinion, he would state that at the present period of the session it was not de sirable to proceed with any Bills which would make any alteration as regarded the representation of the people. COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WIGAN. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE wished to ask the Right Hon. Batt the Secretary for the Home Department a question, and also to call his attention to a subject which required the prompt interference of her Ma jesty's Government. The Right Hon. Gentleman was aware that an express had arrived only that afternoon announcing a most calamitous explosion in a colliery near Wigan, which took place on Tuesday afternoon last. It was the wish of the parties that the case should be represented to the Right Hon. Baronet, and that a commission should be sent down to investi gate the case and the causes from which the accident has arisen. According to the information he had re ceived the colliery was situated about two miles from Wigan, and it appeared that for some time past the men had been representing to the proprietor of this colliery that it was not in a safe state, and so much so, that on the very morning on which the explosion took place the men went to the man at the bottom of the shaft, and requested him to take them up, as the pit was not safe. The man refused, and told the men to go back to their work, and in a few hours after the ex plosion took place. Two men were brought to the mouth of the pit, and died instantly, and six or seven others were brought up blinded and in such a state as not to be expected to live. Six men were left in the pit, and although the most experienced men offered to go down and see if it were possible to rescue them, the proprietor refused to allow them. He hoped that the Government would take such cognizance of the case as would render these horrible accidents less frequent. Sir G. GREY was not acquainted with the facts, as they had not come under his notice officially, but he believed that an inquiry was in process of taking place before the coroner, and ho trusted that the coalowners would be found to be blameless; but, in the meantime. he could give no opinion. If the conduct of the coal owners should seem to require it, a strict investigation would be commanded by the Government. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that no time ought to be lost, for it was intolerable that six bodies should be unaccounted for; and that although persons had volun teered to go down the pits, liberty to do so was refused, because they might be afterwards examined before a judicial tribunal. COMMUTED PENSIONS. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask the Secretary at-War what decision had been come to respecting the restoration of their pensions to the commuted pen sioners, so many of whose petitions have been laid before the House at different times during this session; and re specting the arrears claimed by the petitioners, consist ing of the amount they would have received had the warrant of 1834, authorising the restoration of these pensions, been made known to them? Mr. FOX MAULE said the parties referred to by the Hon. and Gallant Colonel were pensioners who had commuted their pensions 15 years ago—who had gone out to North America on their own affairs, and who now sought to be again put on the pension list. He thought the proceedings of the Treasury in respect to these com mutations had been quite proper, and be could not see what possible ground there was for persons who had received value for their pensions 15 years ago to come forward and claim to be placed on the pension list again, and to have, in addition, the arrears paid to them. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES' BILL. Sir R. H. INGLIS said the Joint-stock Companies' Bill stood on the list for to-night. It was a most im portant measure. It gave great power to joint-stock companies, and repealed the provisions of all former Acts relating to joint-stock companies. He trusted, therefore, that it would not be brought forward for dis cussion at a late hour of the evening. Mr. M. GIBSON was understood to assent to the re quest of the Hon. Baronet, but denicd that the Bill either infringed the letter or the spirit of former Acts. Mr. ROSS rose for the purpose of making an expla nation on a personal matter. He had been represented in the Times of that morning—(Cries of " Oh. oh !") to have stated yesterday, that a spirit of jobbing pre vailed throughout all Irish society. He denied having said anything of the sort. What he said was, that it was most unjust to represent Irish society as being tainted with any such spirit.—(Hear, hear.) ACCIDENTS IN COLLIERIES. Mr. BAILEY wished to know what power the ma gistrates had to interfere with regard to colliery explo sions. Scarcely six months passed without accidents happening, and he thought it right that some inquiry should take place with the view of ascertaining the case, and of providing a remedy against them. Sir G. GREY said that an inquiry could not take place unless circumstances rendered it necessary. Mr. HUME quite agreed in the opinion that an in quiry should take place when any of these accidents occurred, and hoped that Government would also take steps to inquire into the collision of vessels at sea, with a view'of adopting measures to prevent the great loss of life which frequently occurred from them. Mr. FORSTER complained of the imputations which were cast upon the owners and masters of collieries with regard to these accidents. Mr. DUNCOMBE said that he had this information from Mr. Itob,: , rts, a solicitor, of Manchester, and lie had no doubt of the accuracy of the facts. NAVIGATION (No, 2) BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL postponed the second reading of this Bill till twelve o'clock to-morrow, HEALTH OF TOWNS' BILL. Lord MORPETH moved the order of the day for _ _ going into Cumrnittee upon the Health of Towns Bill. Mr. G. PALMER said that, in his opinion the clauses of this measure upon which they were about to go into Committee were most unconstitutional. The Bill in its operation must necessarily deprive many corporate bodies 1 of powers and privileges which they had hitherto exercised with great advantage to themselves and to the public. The responsibility for the acts of the Commissioners who were to put this Act into operation were to rest upon one Com missioner, who was to have a seat in that House. They all knew what was meant by that responsibility, and hew easily it was to be got rid of. He objected to the principle of any compulsory sale of property belonging to public bodies and private parties, not under the ope ration of a proper Act of Parliament, but at the discre tion of one individual who might never see the spot, or know the detailed circumstances of the case with which he had to deal. He should resist this Bill upon prin ciple alone, and not from any other interested motive, and he should therefore move that this Bill be committea that day three months. Colonel SIBTHORP said that he had paid some attention to this Bill, and he did not think that all the parties interested in this matter were thoroughly ac quainted with the dangerous power which it placed in the hands of the Government. The Noble Lord who had proposed the Bill had in the first instance limited its operation to four miles, but he had suddenly, and without any reason, increased its operation to ten. He was informed that there were sixteen metropolitan Members in that House, and the fear of the opposition of these sixteen Members he supposed had induced the Government to exclude London from the operation of the Bill. He had the honour to represent the important city of Lincoln, and he had no doubt he should have the same distinguished honour in the next Parliament ; and he could tell the House that his constituents were as clean as the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London or the Common Council of the city of London, and they did not require any super vision of this sort. They did not want a commissioner to be continually coming down and telling them that they had no right to do this, that, and the other. Local government was the essence of the constitution, and he could not consent to pass a Bill which proposed to strike a blow at the foundation of all local governments throughout the country. He condemned this partial le gislation, and unless the Government changed their sys tem of proceeding they would lose the support of all who now voted with them. Mr. W. BROWNE said that this was the most im portant Bill which had been introduced during the ses sion. The state of Liverpool at the present moment was most deplorable, for want of proper sanatory regulations. There were not less than from six thousand to seven thousand people ill of fever at the present time in the hospitals of that town, and unless some preventive measures were taken, the most incalculable evils would be entailed upon society. A medical gentleman told him that during last week no less than 1601. ha I been spent in providing coffins for the poor. Mr. MACKINNON said that the principle of the Bill was good, but there were some things omitted which he believed were calculated to effect much good, and which he would wish to see introduced into it. For the reason which he had already given, he should give his cordial support to the Bill. After a few words in explanation from Mr. PALMER, Mr. SPOONER wished to make some abservations upon what fell from the Hon. Member for South Lanca shire. It hat been stated that the borough of Liver pool was in a most distressing state, and that had been urged in s , ipport of this Bill. Why did the Noble Lord not come down and ask for a special Bill for this special purpose, instead of applying a permament Bill to a temporary emergency? The Bill was one which gave inquisitorial powers of the most unbounded nature to the commissioners appointed by Government, to the injury and detriment of public and private property. Much had been said about excluding London from the operation of the measure. If it were a proper one why exclude London from it, and if it were such as could not be applied to London itself, why apply it at all. After a few words from Mr. BARNARD, which did not reach the gallery, Mr. NEW DEGATE (who rose amidst loud cries of " Divide") wished to know why four miles, as the limits of this Bill round a city or town, should have been in creased to ten miles, and why so many new clauses had been added to it? Mr. HUDSON rose amid loud cries for a division. He assured the House that he had dined, and would not be put down.—(Laughter.) He could not understand why London was omitted from the Bill, and he objected to the unlimited power given to the towns to fix rates. This power he would give to no corporate body, as he believed it would operate with the greatest injustice. He also thought it extremely objectionable to establish so expensive machinery, as was created by the Bill, and to give the whole management of the towns under its ope ration into the hands of young gentlemen who might be wholly incapable to discharge the trust, and would be the nominees of the Minister of the day. He saw no reason why London should be excluded, and he thought there was no magic circle ef 10 miles round St. Paul's any more than there was round St. Peter's of York.— (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) He hoped the House would resist this attempt at centralisation. He had no hesitation in saying that this commission was one of the grossest jobs ever attempted by any Government. He would use his best exertions to defeat the Bill in every stage, and he hoped the House would join him in that determination. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down appealed to the metropolitan Members, and hoped they would not vote for going into co--I.—. Ix- .6... 3 1.A f.Lo olicosamattata,C vt uielrtieing connected with London was a strong reason why they should vote, and on that clause exempting London from the operation of the Bill he would vote for its omission. He believed the Bill would increase instead of diminish the value of property, ae drainage and cleanliness would necessarily produce that effect. Whatever objec tion, however, there might be to its details, they could be discussed in Committee, and he should, therefore, support the motion. Captain PECHELL was also in favour of going into Committee, where the various amendments might be dis cussed, and the Bill made in accordance with the views of the House. Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought it was a very strange and suspicious circumstance, that all who were to be ex empted from the operation of the Bill were in its favour, and all who were brought under its provisions were against it. He thought the omission of London was ex tremely objectionable, and though he gave her Majesty's Government credit for good intention, he considered the measure would not effect the good which they an ticipated. Believing that it was a crude, ill-digested, and imperfect measure, and not sufficiently comprehensive in its character, he would vote against going into Committee. Mr. F. BERKELEY was connected with a very large city—the City of Bristol—which was in favour of the measure, and the inhabitants of it thought it very strange that so large a city as London should be opposed to it.—(Cries of " Divide, divide.") The House then divided, when there appeared— For going into Committee ll7 Against it Majority —9l On our return to the gallery we found Lord MORPETH explaining that he intended to re duce the commissioners from five to four—one of whom only was to be a paid commissioners. The House then resolved itself into Committee on clause 1. Mr. HENLEY said that the Bill would only create patronage, and he would put it to the Government whether it would not be better to have one general Bill for sanatory regulation, and to omit altogether all those clauses which related to the appointment of commis sioners and secretaries. He concluded by moving the omission of the clause Lord W. PO WLETT did not object to the principle of the Bill, but objected t o man y o f the clauses. He con sidered that sanatory regulations could only be properly carried out under the management of a central com mission. An HON. MEMBER did not think that the intervention of commissioners was necessary for the purpose of pro moting the health of towns ; he should, therefore, sup port the amendment. Col. SIBTHORP wished to know the salary of the paid commissioner and the probable expense of the central office. As the Noble Lord had redticed the number of commissioners, perhaps he would think proper to reduce the number of inspectors. The House ought to have the fullest information on the subject. It seemed to him, however, that the Bill would create a number of new offices which the country could do well without. He should offer all the opposition in his power to the Bill passing into a law. Mr. SPOONER also wished to know the salary of the paid commissioner, and deprecated any secrecy on the subject. Surely the Noble Lord had not come down to the House to seek the passing of a Bill which would entail great expense upon the country, but of the amount of which he was ignorant. Mr. MACKINNON supported the clause as it stood. He defied them to bring the Bill into operation without the aid of a central board. The Noble Lord had stated the expense of the commission. Col. SIBTHORP—But he had not stated the salary of the commissioner. Mr. MACKINNON—WouId they prevent the sane, tory . of improvement of the country if it could be effected by giving the commissioner a salary of 1,5001.? Sir W. CLAY said the word " centralisation" in this country had almost gained the signification it obtained during the time of the French Revolution; but if cen tralisation meant the diffusion of information on the sub ject of sanatory reform, and the collection and arrange ment of information, he considered that a body of this kind was necessary. Mr. HUDSON said the Bill would give the com missioners enormous powers —such as sending down surveyors at great expense to make plans, which would not be paid by the metropolitan members—(Laughter)— but by the rate-payers. He considered that the sanatory government of towns should be left in the hands of local boards, over whom the inhabitants exercised direct con trol. In the city of York, the sanatory condition of the town was entrusted to a board, who had the entire con fidence of the inhabitants, because they discharged their duties properly and economically. Although he did not materially object to the Bill, he considered that it would be well to leave the management of towns to local boards. He could not understand why London was to be exempt.—(Hear, hear.) The Government might, by their majorities pass the Bill ; but they would ulti mately regret its adoption.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped that they would remodel the Bill, and extend it to all towns.—(Hear, hear.) Lord AIORPETII said the bums necessary to carry out the Bill would be voted by the House; but he mighi state that the Government did not intend to propos:- that the paid commissioner should receive a higher sa lary than 1,0004 a year.—(Hear, hear.) Centralisation was either good or bad ; in this case he conceived that it would be most beneficial. The central authority was not intended to paralyse local exertions, but to promote their desultory and straggling efforts, and to stimulate those efforts, and to render them more valuable than heretofore, and not to strip them of power, bes cause he defied any one to put his finger on any portion of the Bill which took awe, the right of management from local authorities ; in fact, the Government were anxious to leave the manages ment of towns to local agency and to popular feeling. The report of the Committee of the House recommended this, and the Government had simply adopted their opis nion, to entrust the management to local agency, reser's ing to the Crown the right to step in and see that they did not neglect their duties.—(Hear.) He found that the opposition to the Bill came principally from York and Lincoln.—(Hear, hear.) But the Paving Board and many of the inhabitants of Lincoln had sent a pe tition to that House, which the Hon. and Gallant Metes ber (Colonel Sibthorp) had presented, in fasour of the Bill. He felt as much interest in the prosperity of the ancient community of York as the Honourable Member (Mr. Hudson). But from a statement read by the Noble Lord, it appeared that the main sewerage was defective, and that though the main streets presented a fair appearance, the poorer streets were sadly neglected. In the districts which were properly seweraged, the average duration of life was 38 years, and in those improperly seweraged 24 years ; showing that York would admit of great improvement. If they did not appoint the commission, they would lose the services of many eminent men well qualified to discharge the duty of commissioners and inspectors. lii trusted the House would adopt the Bill as it had been amen.Lect Mr. HUDSON said the report from York was moss fallacious, and had been denied by many medical men. If they would give the corporation the necessary means, they would effect all the improvements that would be necessary. Mr. T. BARING was in favour of a central authority, as he conceived the greatest good would accrue from He objected to that portion of the Bill which providati that the rate-payers should defray the expense of itf spection. He did not like the principle of not allowing local authorities to determine the rates that ought to be levied for this purpose, and to expend them.—(Hear.)Colonel SIBTHORP said that the City of Lincoln t in petitioning in favour of this Bill, was not aware Vf the increased powers which were given in it, nor of the increase of the area of four miles into ten. Neither were they aware of the increased amount of expense they were placed under by it, and the arbitrary autho rity given to the inspectors under its provisions. The questions which the inspector was empowered to ask, then, was of the most inquisitorial nature, and there was a penalty of 51. in case of his questions not being answered. The inspector might ask whether the Lord Mayor went to bed sober every night, or any such other question.—(Laughter.) Mr. NE WDEGATE said that the system of eery , tralisation proposed by the Noble Lord, was one most utterly alien to the constitution of the country. Its powers might be exercised in the most arbitrary man ner, and its ramifications might be extended in any direction, in violation of all other constituted authori ties. If there were no other means of regulating the towns of this country than by a central authority, his should say let such authority be constituted by all means ; but when they could do without it, and had done without it, why should such a power be placed over them without any immediate necessity ? The Noble Lord had quoted the average duration of life in York, but it appeared upon an inquiry, that the average duration of life there was rather a lengths ened one, and yet that city was selected as a fit spot td place under the arbitrary operation of this measure. He believed that this measure, if introduced, would lay the first step to a system of interference by Government which would injure the constitution of the country. Mr. R. YORKE said that he could bear testimony td the correctness of the allegations of Dr. Lsycock as to the sanatory state of the city of York. He should not be doing justice to his constituents if he denied that the city of York was capable of improvement, but he cos tainly thought that there were many objections to be taken to the means to be adopted as a means of remedy, and these objections he should take an opportunity of making when they went into the details of the Bill. Mr. PALMER said that to a certain extent foul air must always exist in large towns, and he did not believe that this Bill could, by any one of its provisions, remedy that evil; and it would have the further objection of being very difficult in its application. The salary voted for the paid commissioner was to be 1,0001. If they expected the work to be well performed by this commis sioner, they ought to pay him well, and not give a man who was to be entrusted with such large powers so smal a remuneration. 1 Mr. ENT W ISLE said he was very anxious to assist in doing all that could be done to remove distress and disease; but he did not think the present Bill one which would remedy one of the evils which now existed. The system was one which would lead to much trouble and confusion, and as such he felt himself at perfect liberty to vote against it. Mr. WAKLEY said that the great objection to this measure was encouragement of the vast and unlimited powers it gave to the commissioners, and yet a few days since they had passed a Bill—the Poor-law Bill which was then before another assembly—the clauses of which gave to the Poor-law Commissioners power so vast and unlimited, that the powers given in the pre sent measure were as nothing to them. This Poor-law Bill was passed with acclamations, and yet they now denied these minor powers in a measure nearly as im portant as the Poor-law Bill. The city of London was to be excluded from the operations of this Act. This was not the: first thno that the influence of the city of London had prevailed in that House. When the Muni cipal Corporations Act was passed in 1837, they had demanded to be excluded from its provisions, and they were excluded, although much against the will of the Noble Lord. This seemed unfair, and it was so, particularly in this instance. If there was any city in England which required some such sanatory regulation as the present, it was the city of London. Hon. Members could hardly conceive the state of abominable filth in which many parts of the city of London now were, and that filth spreading abroad disease, and giving rise to crime in its worst forms; therefore he thought that the metropolis should be placed under the operations of the present Act. He for one should vote for these commissioners, though it was partly against his inclination, and he certainly hoped that the paid commissioner would be one of the medical profession, who would be better enabled to dis charge the important duty which devolved upon him, than any other person of different acquirement and education.—(Hear, hear.) The rates of mortality in many of the manufacturing towns were frightful, and in Manchester alone it was known that 13,000 persons beyond the average bills of mortality had perished for the want of some such sanatory measure as the present. If such a state of things was permitted any longer to continue, that House would be answerable for all the mischief that might arise, and he therefore hoped that it would give its sanction to this measure. After a few words in explanation from Mr. HUDSON, Mr. HENLEY objected to this measure, in conse quence of the great difficulty which would be experienced in putting it into operation, when the Towns Improvement Clauses Bill could have been put in force at once, and with less trouble and opposition. Mr. HOWARD believed the Bill would give far more satisfaction to the country if it were allowed to pass as it now stood than curtailed and amended, as proposed by Hon. Gentlemen opposite. With regard to the city of London being excluded from the operation of the Bill, ho thought the Bill ought not to be impeded on that account. London was of immense magnitude, and ought on that account to be legislated for alone. Lord G. BENTINCK said he could confirm the state ment that the corporate towns of the country looked with a considerable degree of alarm at this system of centralization. He was not surprised at this alarm, when it was remembered that shortly after the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests came into office, he called upon a gas company in Glasgow to make a return, which would have cost 30,000 L to pre pare.—(Hear, hear.) When he remembered that the city of London was represented by the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, he could not help think ing that there was some secret mischief in this Bill which the Noble Lord was afraid to apply to the place he represented. Be that, however, as it might, he hoped that before the discussion closed, the Noble Lord would give them some explanation on that subject. The Noble Lord the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests when he introduced this measure of sa natory regulations, which did not then exclude London, told them that it was estimated that in the metropolis alone their sanatory regulations would save the lives of 10,000 persons a year, and reduce the number of s i c k by 70,000. The Noble Lord told them that the mea sure would add eight years more to life and ease the metropolis two millions and a half a year. Why, then, if these statements were correct, was London to be ex cluded from the operation of this Bill ? He was afraid, however, that the statements could not be relied on. They were a delusion, and the measure was promoted by the Government more for the sake of patronage than a desire to benefit the country. Under the Poor law Administration Bill between five and six thousand officers were placed under the control of the Govern ment, and it was, therefore, th e more necessary t h a t they should not give them the additional patronage to be conferred upon them by this Bill.—(Hear, hear.) But before they proceeded further with this measure, they ought to show something of the salaries to be paid to the officers to be appointed under this Bill, and be hoped that information would be given to the Com mittee at once.—(Hear, hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Bill they were now discussing was read a second time nearly three weeks ago, and its merits were canvassed again before going into Committee, and yet the Noble Lord was now, for the sake of delay, attempting to renew the debate, which was brought to a close before they got into Committee. The Noble Lord had taken up the frequently-repeated assertion of the city of London being excluded froze the Bill, because the First Minister of the Crown was one of the representatives of that City. But he (Lord John Russell) might observe, that neither his Noble Friend, nor anybody else, had explained the fact that the Noble Lord who had been late Commissioner of Woods and Forests (the Earl of Lincoln), and who did not represent, and was not connected in any way with, the city of London, had introduced a Bill on the subject, which had not comprised that city; and that the first time the city of London had been included in a Bill of this kind was in the Bill of his Noble Friend (Lord Morpeth); and also that on the occasion of bringing in this latter Bill the Noble Lord the Member for Falkirk (the Earl of Lincoln), who had himself brought in a measure on the subject, had objected to the metropolis being included, is it would render the measure impracticable and almost impossible to be ec.rried through Parliament. Those wei-t, he thought, a complete answer to the re peated insinuation respecting the omission of the metro polis. The present question was, whether there should be any central body or power authorised to put the