The Sun. — London, England, 1857-07-04 00:00:00

begged to direct their lordships' attention to the working of the Encumbered Estates Court in Ireland. In the period of five years ending in 1854 no fewer than 2,400 cases were tried and disposed of by that Court. Of these 1,448 terminated in sal-, and the value of the properly sold amounted to 14,133,0001., there having been given in each case an absolute indefeasible Parliamentary title. The cost of the whole proceedings was exceedingly light, but if it had been much larger it would have been as no thing compared with the incalculable advantages obtained under the act. So much were these advantages appre ciated that in many instances frauds were committed in order to bring property under the operation of the act. Perhaps they might be called pious frauds, though on that point he was not called to give an opinion ; but at the same time, he might say that as he did not believe there was such a thing as a white lie, so neither did be believe there could be a pious fraud. But, at any rate, frauds were committed. People trumped up debts— signed bills, for example, when there was no transactions, and made it appear that there encumbrances on pro perty, so as to enable them to come within the scope and the advantages of the Encumbered Estates Court. Now, why should inestimable benefits like these be con fined to encumbered estates ? He thought there ought to be an extension of the Encumbered Estates Act to all cases—that principle to be carried out by proceeding in the Court of Chancery, where a modification in the pro cedure now in force ought to take place. An indefeasible title was given to all land purchased and sold under the Ordnance Department, compensation being given if within a certain period a claim was put forward for the land ; and he saw no reason why they should not go across the channel to France for an example of legislation on this point. In that country the period of "limitation, ' as it was called, was 10 years, whereas in our own coun try it was 30, and in many cases 40 years. It was no doubt suspicious to be asked to copy foreign institutions, but when those institutions were found to have produced great good, as the laws regulating the transfer of land in Ireland, in France, Belgium, and America had done, it would he most improper not to avail ourselves of the examples which those countries afforded. He hoped the noble and learned lord on the woolsack would be able to assure the house that bids upon this subject were in a forward state, and would be speedily laid before Parlia ment. He would only add, that it was of the greatest importance that those who were intrusted with the drawing up of titles to property should possess a com plete and accurate knowledge of their profession, and therefore he trusted that the Inns of Court would see the necessity of requiring all persons to undergo a coin pulsory examination before being called to the bar. The LORD CHANCELLOR said the subject referred to by the noble and learned 1 ,rd was as difficult as it was important, and had not escaped the attention of the Government. Soon after he received the Great Seal, in 1853, he introduced a bill which tended to facilitate the transfer of land. The bill passed their lordship's house, but did not become law, it having been referred to a committee of the other house, which recommended the appointment of a commission to consider the whole sub ject. A Royal Commission was accordingly issued in 1853, but, although the commissioners had not been idle, they were not able to present a report until the present year. In the meantime, however, he had pre pared a measure which he believed would be found in harmony with the recommendations of the commission ers, and that bill he hoped soon to be able to lay upon the table of their lordships' house. One of the greatest complications which were found in dealing with landed property arose from the imperfect manner in which charges upon such property were made. The bill to which he referred proposed to substitute a more simple for the present complicated system of mortgages and judgments, and to allow a declaration to be made of any charge given to any person upon any particular pro perty, and instead of there being contained in the same instrument powers of sale, of appointing receivers, &e., as now, he proposed theta mere chargeupon land should contain all the provisions now to be found in mortgage deeds. He also proposed that the Court of Common Pleas should establish a regis.er of mortgagee, so that any one about to purchase or lend money upon land might ascer tain exactly the charges which were upon it. He feared that the varied nature of cur settlements and the various uses to which land was applied in this country rendered it chimerical to expect that the transfer of land could ever be made as easy as the transfer of bank stock, but he thought, nevertheless, that great improvements might be effected, and he cou!d assure their lordships that dur ing the ensuing recess the subject should receive his fullest attention. Lord CAMPBELL expressed a hope that the laws relating to real property would soon be amended. He had hoped that he might go down to posterity as the author of a Generi,l Registration Act, but that honour was denied him. He rejoiced to find, however, that the subject was again taken up, and he should certainly give it iris most earnest support. Earl FITZ WILLIAM suggested that in addition to establishing a new form of conveyance all other forms should be rendered absolutely illegal. Without an en actment of that kind, any measure which might be passed would fail to cure the evil. He did not think that it would be easy, even if desirable, to transfer land with the same facility as bank stock. The subject was then allowed to drop. ST. JAMES'S PARK. The Earl of MALMESBURY understanding that there was to be a Council that evening at the Palace, at which noble lords opposite were probably anxious to be present, woule postpone his motion on the subject of St. James's Park to a future day. SALE OF OBSCENE ROOKS, &c., PREVENTION BILL. Lord' CAMPBELL regretted that he could not follow the noble earl's example, and postpone this bill, but he feared if he did not bring it forward that evening there would be no hope of carrying the measure during this ses sion. When he moved the second reading he was much surprised at the remarks made by, and the opposition he met with from his noble and learned friend opposite, and he made up his mind at the moment to abandon the bill altogether; but since that he had received such strong solicitations to proceed with it from various members of that house, from many clergymen of all denominations, medical men, fathers of families, and from young men who them-elves had been inveigled into these recep tacles of abomination, and suffered most lamentable con sequences from their indiscretion, that he felt it his duty to bring the measure again under their lordships' con sideration, and having made various alterations in it to meet the objections advanced on the second reading he hoped it would now meet with their approbation. He had no desire to interfere with books, or pictures, or prints, such as his noble and learned friend (Lord Lynd burst) had described. The keeping, or the buying, or the liking, of such things must always be left to the taste of individuals. It was not a subject for law that persons designedly manufactured such things as the bill did refer to with the intention of corrupting the public morals—it was necessary for the law to interpose and save the public from the contamination that such things were calculated to produce. He now knew more cer tainly than he did before that there were receptacles for the sale of lewd books and prints, and that the most lamentable effects were the consequence, and which the present state of the law was altogether insufficient to meet. An indictment might be brought, but the con viction acted as an advertisement of the place where such publications were to be obtained, and the result was to increase the sale. The only remedy was to give a right—(acoompanied, of course, with such safeguards as should prevent abuse)--to search for these immoral books and prints, and to seize them. He did not pro pose to create any new offence a misdemeanour—as it was, he proposed to give additional facilities for dis covering the perpetrators of it and bringing them to justice. He bad modified the bill in a manner that he trusted would relieve it from any further objec tion. It consisted originally only of two clauses ; one empowering the justice, upon an affidavit being made that there was reason to suspect that these pub lications were kept for sale or exhibition at a par ticular place, to issue his warrant to search and to seize The other clause gave a power to the Chief Commissioner of Police, on reasonable ground, to issue a warrant for the same purpose. He confessed he did not think the liberty of' the subject would have been in any great dan ger if, in such cases, the same power was given to th e police of this metropolis which the police of every other capital in Europe possessed. That was, however, ob jected to by his noble and learned friend, and be (Lord Campbell) was most reluctantly compelled to abandon that part of the bill, and to accept the bill as be could get it, on the principle that halt a loaf was better than, no bread. (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) He proposed also to amend the first clause, by requiring that the com plainant should make affidavit that he had reason '• to be lieve" such books and prints were kept in store for the purposes of saleor exhibition at a particularplace, instead of that he had reason " to suspect," and that he should set forth the grounds of his belief, whereupon the justice, if satisfied with such grounds, should issue his warrant ; that w as if he was satisfied P there were suffi cient grounds for believing that there were such books and prints for sale, the sale or exposure of which would amount to a misdemeanou r at common law. Further, he required that the magistrate should not only be satis fied that they were such books as would amount to a misdemeanour, but a misdemeanour prosecutable by in dictment. Lord LYN DEW aST—..kre those all the changes ? Lord CAMPBELL—There were others, but they were all in the form of safegu ar d s . H e concluded byy moving the committee on the bill. The house went into committee accordingly, and the clauses wAre agreed to. The Sites for Workhouses Bill and Charitable Uses Bill were read a second time. The Grand Juries (Ireland) Act (1836) Amendment Bill, the Turnpike Trusts Arrangement Bill, and the Manly Borough Incorporation Bill were severally read a third time and paeaed. Tie Militia (Ireland) Act (1854) Amendment Bill passed through committee. The Dulwich College Bill and the Oxford University Bill Were reported with amendments. Their lordships adjourned at a quarter•past 7 o'clock HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(Y ESTERDAY.) The Svzhams took the chair at four o'clock. _ tine. The Lord s A mendments to the Forth and Clyde J tion Railway and S a i nt Philip's Church (Liverpool) Bills were considered and agreed to. The London Gas politan Cattle Mark e t ; Light Company ( Capital ).; Metro - North R„ a d a ; R ea di ng Railways Level Drainage ; Orkney Railway Salisbury and Yeovil Railway ; South _Eagterr Railway (Greenwich Junctio n to Dartford, &c.), Swan sea Harbour Trust and Swansea Dock. Company, Vic toriaand West of Fife Mineral Railway bills wen Swan read. a third time and passed. The Bourne and Essendine Railway, Islington Parisi . Acta Amendment; Eliyinnoy Railway; Tweed Fisheries; Lancaster and Carlisle and Ingleton Railway ; Thames and Medway Conservancy Bills were further considered and ordered to he read a third time. Tne Hereford Cathedral Restoration Bill was read a second time. THE THAMES AND MEDWAY CONSERVANCY BILL. Sir J. GRAHAM called the attention of the house to this bill, which proposed to deal with the question that had been a long time in dispute between the Corporation of London and the Crown, relative to waste spots on the embankments of the Thames. The bill pro posed to deal with two points of great public import ance, viz., the constitution of the body of the conser vators ; and, secondly, as to the funds to be raised from shipping by that body. He was of opi nion that the conservancy body, instead of being nominated, as was proposed by the bill, by a close body, should be elected by those who had to pay the due , , and, secondly, that dues should not be le vied upon shipping, and should not be exacted to a greater extent than shipping purposes required. He asked whe ther the recommendation of the Board of Trade were not to the proposed constitution of the former, and read ex tracts from the report of the Board of Trade showing that the corporation of London would possess greater powers under the formation of the conservancy body than the Government. In reference to the second point, the right hon. baronet also read extracts from reports of the Board of Trade, and said that the bill would not carry out the recommendation of the Board of Trade for the reduction of the dues if any surplus remained to be carried out. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that no departure of the principle laid down in the re port of the London Corporation Committee had been assented to by the Government. The only variation that had been made was one of detail, and not of prin ciple. The dispute between the Government and the Corporation of London was with reference to the right to pieces of waste land between high and low water. The Corporation claimed it as conservatories of the Tharues,and appled the funds to the conservancy of the river, and the Government claimed the bed and shores of the river between high and low water mark as belonging to the Crown. The right hon. gentleman proceeded to de tail at considerable length the disputes between the cor poration and the Government relative to this matter, which it was attempted to settle in 1846, and what had been done subsequently towards that object. The board was to consist of six members of the corporation, three to be appointed by Government and two by the Trinity-house, which, he thought, would give the Government a fair preponderance, because he con sidered more weight ought to be given to the persons nominated by Government than to their members. If the Corporation of London were found to act improperly, the matter would be reconsidered by the Government with a view to its alteration. Mr. L. KING moved the adjournment of the debate till that day week. After some remarks from Mr. W. WILLIAMS, Mr. LABOUCHERE resisted the motion for the adjournment of the debate. The bill had been referred to a select committee and thoroughly examined, and the whole of the facts were known to the house. He was still of the opinion he had formerly expressed that a tax levied in a given port upon shipping should be applied to the shipping purposes of that port, and be under the controul of a separate body. Sir D. L. EVANS asked what amount of taxation would be conceded to the corporation under this bill. and expressed an opinion that no greater taxes should be levied on the shipping of the port than was ne cessary for its conservancy. Several important ques tions were involved in this bill, and he should sup port the hon. and learned baronet, the member for Carlisle, for an adjournment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was not proposed, by this bill, to give new power to tax shipping. The present navigation fund was in arrears 2,8441., and he thought it was not likely that the income would be increased. Mr. HENLEY approved of the constitution of the proposed board, and expressed an opinion that adjourn ing the debate would be injurious to the parties inte rested. He thought this bill proposed a satisfactory arrangement, considering the right of the respective parties were i❑ dispuLe. Sir J. GRAHAM would not press for a division, but wait till the further stage of the bill. In the meantime he advised hon, members to read the reports of the Board of Trade in reference to this subject. If he read the bill rightly, there was a new principle in it for taxing ship ping between Putney and Teddington, and an appropri atlon of the surplus, to which he also objected. It also dealt with matters relative to the coal and corn duties. He proposed that the bill should not be advanced a stage, but that it should stand over, and the matter con sidered before its third reading. Sir G. GREY said it was not a Government bill, but arrangements should be made to meet the views of the house. Sir J. SHELLEY suggested that the third reading of the bill should stand over till this day week. He would then recommend the withdrawal of the amendment. Sir J. DUKE defended the conduct of the Corporation of London in introducing this bill. Sir G. GREY said that no private bill would be re- ceived after Wednesday next by the House of Lords. He suggested that the third reading should stand over tilt Tuesday. The amendment was withdrawn, and the third reading fixed for Tuesday next. rHE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAIY EVENING, JULY 4_ 1857 made to the noble lord to name some day for the discus- sion of Indian affairs. Lord C. HAMILTON thought that numerous ap peals to the noble lord proved that the house was not quite so indifferent to Indian affairs as the right hon. gentleman supposed. He (Lord C. Hamilton) thought the Government were anxious to evade the discussion of Indian matters. If they did not, however, fix a day, it was not unlikely that hon. members would take their own course, and bring the subject before the house upon whatever occasion an opportunity might offer. Mr. TURNER said that a very strong interest was felt upon Indian affairs in the country generally, if not in that house, and he regretted the noble lord did not name a day for the discussion of the whole subject. The subject was the❑ allowed to drop. PONTEFRACT ELECTION. Mr. HEA.DLAM appeared at the bar, and read from the report of the committ ee , th a t th e y had found Wm. Wood duly elected ; that it had not been established to the satisfaction of the committee that any' act of treating or of bribery had been committed at Pontefract during the last election ; but that the evidenc e o f th e pe ti t i oner proved that at th election in 1852, Mr. Oliveira had, shortly after the election, paid about 3,0001., with the knowledge that a considerable part of that sum was for illegal expenditure ; that a petition was presented, and that the wife of Mr. Oliveira had procured the same to be withdrawn by the payment of a sum of 2,0001., and that a further sum of 1,2501. was sent down to Ponte fract by Mr. Oliveira, for the discharge of outstanding claims for the election of 1852 ; and that the sum was known by Mr. Oliveira to have been employed for dis charging claims for bribery and treating. come when all the colonies would pravide their own go vernors. Mr. BRISCOE wished to know whether the charge for Jamaica was to he permanent ? Mr. LA.BOUCHERE had pledged himself to the pre sent governor to endeavour to obtain it as long as he continued in office. Mr. CROSSLEY thought all the colonies should pay their own governors. Mr. WILLIAMS withdrew his amendment. The vote was then agreed to. 21,4501. for the salaries of stipendiary justices in the West Indies. Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the first item of 7,2007. for magistrates in Jamaica. The charge had been in troduced at the time of the emancipation of the slaves, but now appeared to be permanent. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the charge would not be permanent unless the magistrates were immortal. The arrangement was that as they died out their places should not be filled up, and there was a reduction of 2,850/. in the ♦ote this year in consequence of deaths. Mr. BENTINCK did not wish the vote to pass with out calling to the recollection of the committee the treatment which the West India Islands had received from the mother country, and the distress it had pro duced. Tie ♦ote was then agreed to, as was the next, 10,2301. for the civil establishment on the western coast of Africa. 19,6091. for charges connected with the Island of St. Helena. Mr. WILLIAMS asked for an explanation as to the sum of 18,8141. which the governor had drawn from the commissariat chest in four years, from 1847 to 1851, under a misunderstanding, as it was now alleged, and which sum the house was called on to make good this year. Mr. WILSON said until a few years ago the colony of St. Helena was supported by 'a vote of that house. In 1846 it was determined that it should in future pay its own expenses. The governor of the colony at that period, misapprebending the in s t ruc ti ons w hi c h b e re ceived from the Colonial-office, thought he was justified in drawing upon the commissariat chest, as he bad theretofore done, on account of deficiencies in the ex penses of the island. That went on for about four years without being discovered, when a Treasury minute was passed ordering the repayment of the money ; but the colony being unable to pay anything beyond its current expenses, the money had not been repaid. Under these circumstances it was thought best to prepare a separate estimate to make good the deficiency. Thu vote was then agreed to, as were also the fol lowing :- 960/. for the colony of Heligoland, and 3,8311. for the Falkland Islands. On the vote of 5,7001. for Labuan, Mr. WILLIAMS asked for explanation of the grounds on which the vote still appeared in the esti mates, notwithstanding the admitted failure of the colony. Mr. LABOUCHERE said he must admit that La buan had hitherto been a source of great disappoint ment as well as expense. (Hear, hear.) At the same time, he thought the Government who first took the matter n p were quite justified in pursuing that course, considerin g that there was a magnificent harbour, and . that the c oa l m i nes were o f great apparent importance in reference to communication with the east. The company that undert oo k t o wor k t h e coa l m i nes had not certainly been as successful as it was ex pected to be, but the government were not disposed to give up the matter until the enterprise had had a fair trial. Mr. MAGUIRE thought it was not essential to a fair trial that the treasurer should receive 5001. a year. Mr. LA.BOUCHER,E considered it necessary that the treasurer should be a gentleman on whom full reliance could be placed. The vote was then agreed to. 10.00©/. was then voted for the colony of Hong Kong. On the vote of 13,424/, for the expanses of the Emi gration Board, Mr. ADDERLEY said at the time when this vote commenced the colonies took hardly any part in the promotion of emigration. They now took a very active part. At one time it was a great object with the im perial legislature to induce the poor to emigrate, because there was supposed to be a surplus population. The reverse was the case now. It was, however, still a great object with the colonies, and he hoped it would long continue to be so, fo encourage emigration from Great Britain in preference to emigration from any other part of the world ; and it followed from this that they should bear the burden of the expenditure. Under these circumstances he thought the Emigration Board should ba discontinued. There was one portion of the vote which he had no wish to interfere with, namely, that which comprised the expense of the officers who were entrusted with the carrying out of the Passengers Act, bnt he saw no reason why those officers should not be attached to the Colonial Office. If no alteration took place before next year, he should then call the at tention of the house to the subject, and move that the Emigration Board be abolished. Mr. LABOUCHERE said the hon. - gentleman seemed to think that the business of the Emigration Commis. sioners was diminished, but he could assure him that such was not the case. He had indeed been enabled to recommend that the establishment should be diminished to the amount of on e commissioner, and he believed that, notwithstanding the carrying out of that recommenda tion two years ago, no public department was better conducted. The board had still very important duties to perform, in connexion with passenger vessels, Coolie emigration, and claims made on the Treasury, and it would, for the present at least, be quite impossible to dispense with their services. kr. BRISCOE would be sorry to see the vote discon tinued, that t i n u e d , believing hteo ach soew toe tf h hh a e dn emigrationreeeseusat t i e t y d two or from h: l la A b G o u nr i s ß e E f the board o i a n rd or i d n e t r ships. h f o e r having keew emigrationeneeaee, tha t eI a officers, large he vessel,wishe wished ia three hundred emigrants were about to mb w arl i c el-1 it was discovered that one-half of what was term"endwbrhichd was in reality occasion o t uhs sailed i wl f e o ad r a m f fr o oou f mnd t o biscuits.be pro vided another case, a hookerfe rloe, inspection c s cs O O tone was examined the by the cameor m f ixi men aat l eoadns andgs her id et crew. ha en port o ffit took i al o eo ffi f otcnteehrrse Liverpool,i: three ivae ds satehel times d,e wloaahs et she wa s driven into Cork harbour in vided with the full complement d officers away twelve of the men. After sailing, the vessel en countered a storm, and . the crew being insufficient t manage her, principle free very bad condition, with all the emigrants on board o Board prevented the colonies from doing all Era M ig r r . a K ti l n NNA-IR D feared that the existence of the com plaints in . lrelend that it depended in a that l r they A m N i g e l do wished to know, what emigration was encouraged by the Government! There were many great degree on political influence. He should be glad to know whether it was tc be understood that f ree emi gration was to be c onfined to artisans and domestic ser. vants f 1-!nielleuis at all ration of which he might events, had nothi ng t o d o Mr. LABOUCHERE could assure the hon. gen tl eman that with p t o h l e it m ic a a t l t i e n r fi , inob serve that all the appointments in the emigration de partment were made by its permanent head. The prin ciple on which free passages were given was that of en deavouring to meet the requirements of the colonie s , as commun i ca t e d on their behalf to the commissioners. The board endeavoured to send out such emigrants as, from their age and condition, were most likely to prove useful members o f colonial society. The vote was then agreed to. 2,1751. was voted to discharge the balance due to the eommissariat chest, on account of relief afforded to dis tressed emigrants in Canada. HARBOURS OF REFUGE. On the proposal to g rant 120,0001. for the steam pac ket harbour and th e harbour of refu g e at Holyhead, Mr. LINDSAY observed that the original estimate under this head having been 650,0001., the expenditure, including the present estimate, amounted to no less than 1,303,0001. Nor could it be supposed that if this vote were agreed to the outlay would stop there, for it was proposed to extend the pier 500 feet further into the sea. The expenditure which had been incurred had been de fended partly on the ground of the increasing trade of Holyhead. Froin an official paper which he held in his hand, it appeared that in the six months ending the 30th June, 1852, the number of vessels that entered the har bour was 255, and that in the six months ending June 30, 1856, the number was 1,117. He was curious to know what tonnage these figures represented. The tonnage of the 255 vessels was 15 283 tons, or 60 tons each ; while if 1 steamer of 80 tons re s i s t er entered the port of Holyhead every day, th a t wou ld only give a tonnage of 14,600 tons. Wh y, of Holyh ea d and anchor th e re each day, the return from if his own ships we re to enter the harbour that would amount to the fabulous sum of 3,000,000 tons. But the governm ent seemed t o have an in tention to bring the A mer i can packet servic e to Hol y head ; but if the A mer i can service were to be changed, it would go to some point far west—either Milford Haven or Gal way. The fact was, that these h arbours of refu g e would never be fini s h e d so long as money was voted by the House of C ommons. He would not divide the committee at that moment, nor propose an y reduction, but wait until the Fi rs t L ord of t h e Admiralty had an opportun ity of expl a i n i ng this vote. Sir C. WOOD said that t h e hon. member seemed un der a mi sapprehension upon thi s subject, for so far back as 1847 it w as decided that this h arbour should be a har bour of ref uge as well as a pac ket station. The house had already had ample information on this sub j ect. In 1843 a commission was a ointed and a report ma d e ; in 1844 an en g i neer reported; in 1846 another commission reported ; and th en t h e T rea sury made the necessary ad vances. The hon member also see med to think that this ha r b our was being increased on the g round of the trade of Holyhead. Nothing of th e kind. There was in fact no trade —certainly none worth speaking of—being carried on at Holyhead. It was purely as a harbour of refuge. Another misapprehension of the hon. mem- Holy head, mem ber was the idea which he entertained that it was in tended to shift the point of stoppage of the American packets to Holyhead The truth was this—it had been hon. gentlenaan found that occasionally the American packets touches at might take advantage of such stoppages either to take increasing from and it had therefore been suggested that they in or land their passengers, or to take in or drop their mails. But the great fact which stood in the way of the t10812,r refuge g fo e u i n n (' number of ships availed themselves of this harbour at Holyhead. 's complaint was this—that a very large And that number had increased, and was What the house ought to consider was the number of vessels takingyear to year, and from month to month. tonnage. Starting refuge in the harbour, not the amount of Starting from the half-year ending in June, y e e x a t r half-gear 25 5 vessels the that thathat harbourdur i during ; that i n thhael numberhalf-year was 259 ; in the next, 483 ; in the next, 810 ; in the next, 8 31 ; in the next, 840 ; in the next, 634 ; in the next, 872 ; in the next, 1,117 ; and in the last half-year, 1,325. These figures alone showed the value of the harbour, and justified him in asking the committee to accede to the vote. Sir C. NAPIER, warted to know whether the packets from Ireland were included in those numbers which had just been given to the committtee, for if so they alone would explain the increase. Mr. B . ENTINCK thought the gallant member had fall .n into a mistake. The numbers which the right hon. baronet had read referred to the new harbour, wbereas the packets stopped at the old harbour. (Hear, hear, from Sir C. Wood.) This, therefore, met the objection of the hon. and gallant member. Mr. LINDSAY said that the words of the vote showed that the intention of the Government was to make this port a postal station for America. So far as the increased number of ships went, the amount of ton nage in the returns furnished, showed that many of them - could be but fishing smacks. Mr. KINNAIRD pointed out that one of the main objects of a harbour of refuge was the saving of life ; and whether that was saved—so long as it was saved— o❑ board great ships or small ones, was immaterial. Mr. O'FLAHERTY thought there ought to be an in quiry before making this port a point of departure for America. Some such ulterior result, he believed was at the bottom of the vote. Mr. LOCKE protested against the increase which had been made upon this vote. If such things were allowed, it was impossible for the house to keep a due guard over the public purse. Air. SCHNEIDER bore testimony to the benefits which Holyhead Harbour had conferred on the coasting trade. Mr. HUDSON thought that something ought to be done for the harbours of the north of England, which, as matters stood, were taxed and, got nothing in return from the national exchequer. He did not find fault with the present vote, but he asked the Government not to spend all their money upon one place to the exclusion of the north of England. The vote was then agreed to. 224,000/. harbours of refuge. Mr. HENLEY called attention to the expenditure on the works at Dover, and wished to know whether the whole of th e pl an o f th e comm i ss i oners was to b e car ried out ? The hon. member proceeded to recapitulate the various reports of commissioners from 1834 up to the latest period, inferring from thence that the great pre ponderance of decision was so conclusively in favour of Dover as a harbour of refuge as to make its completion a national necessity. Having gone through this prelimi nary matter, he turned to the progress of the works in that harbour, asserting that the country should have some certain information as to what Government meant to do with this great work. The first contract was taken for 800 feet, the second for 1,000 feet, but all proceeding on the improved plan of 1839-40. Up to the present time the progress of the works had been extremely slow, only 1,800 feet out of 1/ mile. The rate was not more than 100 feet per annum ; indeed it did not proceed even at that rate. The committee were aware that this work was being constructed by means of the diving bell, and no praise could be too great of the skill and perseverance of the engineers and other persons connected with the work. The Secretary of the Treasury said the other night it works of this kind—speaking of Halyhead harbour— ' were carried out at all, they ought to be done quickly, as, until they were completed, a great amount of capital was locked up, and yielded no return. With every word of that he concurred. Mr. Walker and Mr. L. Vignolles both recommended that this work should be carried on at two points at once ; but that I had not been done. He would now call attention to the state of progress of these works. In 1854, 800 feet were completed ; 1,000 feet more to be completed in 1864. They were now in deep water, and there remained to be carried out besides these 1,808 feet which were contracted for, 8,000 feet, and at the rate of progress which had hitherto been maintained it would be 85 years before the work was completed. But this was not all, because from the greater difficulty of laying the foundations in 1855 only 46 feet were put in, and in 1856 50 feet. At this rate they would not finish the work for 200 years. In 1855 Mr. Walker reported that the progress of the work was delayed from the chalky foundation proving not so good as near the shore, and that in three months t hey had been obliged to go 2 feet deeper. In Ju1y,1856, Mr. Walker said the soft nature of the bottom still re tarded the progress of the works. In Oct., 1856, another change took place, and they got to the depth of 45 feet. In April, 1857, Mr. Walker said they were now at a depth of 46 feet on a foundation of broken flint and sand, which, however, he did not think was a very bad foun dation. He thought he was quite warranted from these statements in asking what time the Government ex pected this work to be completed, if they determined to go on with it ! He also wished to know if any measures had been taken by Government to know what the silt ing up had been ? He should also like to be informed what injury had been done by storms? In a report of Mr. Walker's in 1851, it was stated that in a storm which happened in that year, 200 tons of stones were displaced. In 1853 something of the same kind took place, and 240 feet of the staging was carried away in 1855. These things accounted for the slow progress of the work, but he thought that these facts made it the more important for them to know if Government in tended to go on with the work, and at what speed. After a few words from Mr. AYRTON, Sir C. WOOD said his hon. friend had gone at some length into the subject which had led to the formation of various harbours of refuge, of which Dover was one. He did not know that it was necesary for him to follow him in that statement, and if any gentleman had the slightest curiosity to read it in greater detail, he might do so by re ferring to the evidence given on miscellaneous expendi ture in 1843 before the committee on which he was ex amined at great length on this subject. Two commissions had sat upon this matter, it was fully considered for a con siderable period by different governments, and the result was that in the year 1847 the works at Dover were com menced. The right hon. gentleman had very truly stated that a very great number of gentlemen learned in such matters had been examined, and that they had given very discordant opinions. He (Sir Charles Wood) was afraid that the house, if they continued to discuss the question of construction, would not be more likely to agree than the great engineers to whom he had referred. With re gard to the important question whether the Government had made up its mind to construct the whole harbour as re commended by the committee, he was afraid that he could not give a very decided answer; because it was a question whic had never yet been seriously discussed by any go vernment. What was recommended as indispensable at the commencement of the larger harbour, and what was most valuable in itself, if the ultima t e dehision should be to go no further, was to carry out the pier from Cheese man's Head into seven fathoms water; and that was all the Government decided on doing, namely, to carry out the pier 730 feet, beginning at Cheeseman's Head. The period calculated for the completion of that work in the report of the commission was seven years , and in seven years it was completed. In 1853 a second contract was entered into for an extension of the work 1,000 feet fur ther, which would accomplish the original design of car rying out the pier to the westward of the existing harbour into-6i or 7 fathoms water. That, then, was the extent to which any decision had been come. That length had been contracted for, and even if the ultimate decision should be not to construct the larger harbour, a most valuable work would have been executed, not only for the protection of the present harbour, but for providing th e means of holding any sized steamers at any time of the tide. The hon. gentleman opposite had asked what would be the effect of the work upon the present harbour, and be was happy to be able to say that, so fas as the shin g le was concerned, it had been most satisfactory. The result showed that the erection of the pier had had the desired effect of preventing the accumulation of shingle, and affording very great protection, so far as it went, f rom the south-west gales, which were the dangerous winds at Dover; whilst the work itself bad been executed in a manner that reflected the highest credit both on the engineer and contractor. With reference to the rate of progress, that depended entirely upon the amount of money voted by the house. But it could not be said that what bad been done had not already been of the greatest possible utility. It was not a work which would be useless until the whole was complete. On the contrary, as EOM as a certain portion of it was constructed a certain effect was produced, which effect would be increased by every 50 feet that were added to it. With regar d to the question of silting up the harbour, he found on inquiry that the breakwater had not in that respect produced any per ceptible effect one way or the other. Sir C. NAPIER did not see how Dover could ever be properly termed a harbour of refuge, for how was it possi ble that vessels could get round the Foreland to it in a wes terly gale ? Its only use would be to serve as a harbour for our steamers in time of war, and so to protect the thousands of vessels which covered the Downs. It was perfect non. sense to regard it in any other light, and ho advised the Government, therefore, to finish off the works they had now on hand. In his opinion, if a harbour of refuge was made anywhere, it ought to be either at Sand w i c h, or i n proximity to the Goodwin Sands. (Hear, hear.) Mr. G. W. BENTINCK said that what the house had heard from Mr. Henley and Sir Charles Napier showed pretty clearly that the best thing to do was to stick to the original plan of 1,800 feet from Cheesoman's Head. The point they had now to consider was, who was the respon sible party to originate these harbours, to decide upon the locality, and also upon the manner in which the works should be carried out. That was a point which ought to be clearly understood before they came to a decision. A committee had recently been appointed to inquire into the subject of harbours of refuge, and it was not his intention to offer the slightest disrespect to these gentlemen ; but he must say that to submit to such a committee questions like these he had just mentioned, was simply ridiculous. It was utterly impossible for the ablest men in that house to deal with these subjects, for this reason—that the evidence they had to examine was such that they must be able to test from practical knowledge the value of that evidence before they could arrive at a decision. Every gentleman who was conversant with inquiries before committees of this house knew that local engineers would often express the strongest opinions in favour of their own particular locality, no doubt in good faith, but still influenced by local preju dices. Now, unless, the committee was composed entirely of engineers, he defied them to test the value of such evi dence, and ascertain which was the man who was giving evidence, and which was trying to impose upon the com mittee. When they came to decide as to the best locali ties for harbours of refuge they came to a still more diffi cult question ; and this committee, on which he believed there was only one naval man, would have to decide which was the best locality, say on the east coast of England, for a harbour of refuge, upon the evidence of North Sea pilots and masters of coasters. In a ease like that what possible chance had a committee of this house, unless practically conversant with the subject, of cross-questioning with any advantage men of that description ? The thing wasurse: less. The fa c t was that they were going o n in the Clark, and unless they k new t h e authority upon which those k works were to b e carr i e d out the sooner th e y were put stop to the better. He trusted, then that the house would be informed w h a t were the questions referred t o the com mittee just a pp o i n t ed, and hew far it was intended the inquiries of th a t comm i ttee should exten d. He protested against the h ar b our of Alderney as a use l es s waste o public money. It was said that it would be a valuable station from which to watch Cherbourg' in time of war ; but it was not nearly Bo w e ll a d apted for that pur p o se as th e o ld ha r - hours of Portsm ou th and Plymouth. fie felt, therefore, disposed to mov e th at the vote be reduced by the item for Holderness. As to Portland, he was glad to learn that it was in every respect a most useful work. Sig G. PECHELL had always understood Dover to be less a harbour of refuge than one of aggression; for, as the Duke of Wellington had well said, in cass of an attack from the French coast, we should have the sun in our faces. Tho difference bet:eeeu the progress of the works at Dover and these at Portland was very great, acid there could be no doubt that it was much more easy t) carry on the works at Dover than those at Portland. Mr. LID DELL believed the harbours at Dover, Portland, and Alderney, were the bases of a great system of national defence, which hal received the sanction, approval, and recommendation of the Duke of Wellington ; and he thought these works ought not to be placed in the esti mates under the title of harbours of refuge. The works at Dover would involve an expenditure of 5,000,0001., those at Alderney 1,300,0001., and those at Jer ey from 600,0001. to 700,0001. He thought the house ought to know the ulti mate expense of the completion of these harbours. Repre senting, as he did, an impoi tint constituency in the north of E❑gland, it washis duty to point out to the Government that whilst they were sanctioning an expenditure upon an enormous scale upon a coast which was not favourable,,,to the construction of harbours of refuge, there was no har bour of refuge between the Humber and the Forth, whilst the proportion of wrecks was far greater on that part of the coast thin on any other. Mr. LINDSAY did not think the Government justified in spending such large sums at Dover and Alderney, when the establishment of harbours of refuge on the north-east coast was totally neglected. He thought the question of the expenditure at Dover and Alderney ought to be referred to the committee which had been appointed to consider the subject, and proposed that the vote be reduced by the sum of 134,0001. Sir J. JOHNSTONE agreed in the remarks of the hon. member (Mr. Liddell) with respect to the neglected state of the north-east coast, where the casualties amounted to ene•half those which actually occurred. He was glad that a committee had been appointed, and felt satisfied they would come to the conclusion that a large expenditure ought to be incurred in the construction of harbours on that coast. (Hear.) Mr. WARRE thought the proposition of the hon. mem ber for Tynemouth (Mr. Lindsay) most unreasonable, as it was calculated to impede the progress of works which ought to be completed. Mr. HENLEY could not votefor the reduction proposed by the hon. member for Tynemouth, because he considered it necessary to complete the works which had been com menced, otherwise the expenditure hitherto incurred would be thrown away. It was clear from the statements which had been made that Dover could no longer be considered a harbour of refuge. The breakwater was intended to im prove the entrance to the harbour, to make it a packet station, and to facilitate the coaling of steamers. In fu ture the charge ought to appear is the Post-office or naval estimates. Sir C. WOOD said the harbours now under discussion were notaggressive but military defensive harbours. When they were commenced, as it was not desirable to attract the attention of neighbouring nations, they were veiled under the name of harbours of refuge. (Laughter.) The intention was to construct harbours where vessels might lie for the defence of our coast—and be ready to intercept any enemies coming up channel. The Duke of Wellington had clearly pointed out the superior means of observation possessed by France, and it was thought necessary to con struct these military defensive harbours on the south and south-eastern coast of England. With respect to harbours of refuge on the north-east coast, it was no doubt desirable that everything possible should be dono for them, but they must be looked upon as harbours of refuge for the pur poses of trade. Dover was a station for military defence and the protection of trade, and the breakwater at that port would afford a shelter within which steamers might lie in safety, and take in coal with the greatest ease. Al derney was adapted for the same purpose, and from that station nothing could leave Cherbourg and other places along that coast without being observed. (Hear.) Mr. BENTINCK said that Alderney was not the best place to watch Cherbourg, for they were not in sight of each other. He should have wished some explanation from the Secretary to the Treasury as to the subjects with which the committee he was to preside over was to deal with; and he (Mr. Bentinck) still thought that a commission would be a better means of inquiring. Mr. PEASE said he deplored what he thought a serious waste of money on these harbours ; but he thought it would be best to direct the energies of the house not to the past but to the consideration of the subject which was to come before the committee which had been appointed to inquire into the whole question of these harbours. The amendment was negatived and the vote agreed to. The next vote was 12,0001. for the maintenance of cap tured negroes and liberated Africans. After some observations from Sir G. PECHELL, Mr. GREGORY was desirous of knowing the circum stances under which 1,2911. had been given to ex-King Pepple, and what were his peculiar merits over the other African chiefs who bad received much smaller gratuities. Mr. AYRTON said he knew King Pepple. He was King of Bonny, and made a treaty with the British Government to assist in putting down the slave trade, and the payment in the vote was a bal ance o f th e su b s id y w hi c h was t o b e paid under that treaty. He was deposal and driven out of his dominions, and was now in this country endeavour ing to obtain some assistance from the Government. Mr. WILSON said this was on account of the vote which had been granted last year. The vote was agreed to. The next vote 11,0501. for the expenses of the mixed Commission for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, was agreed to. On the next vote, 185,0891., for the expense of consular establishments abroad, Mr. WISE said at that hour of the night he could not enter on this subject, but he would ask if, next session, the Government would appoint a committee to inquire into the whole question of our consular establishments. Lord PALMERSTON said that last year the Govern ment gave a pl e d ge th a t thi s year a comm itt ee wou ld b e appointed for that purpose, and the only reason why it was not appointed in February last was, that certain re turns and information which were necessary to the inquiry were not ready. The dissolution of Parliament had since prevented the appointment of the committee this year. He could assure the house that such a committee would be appointed early next year. Mr. A. KINGLAKE said he had given notice of his in tention to ask whether Government was in possession of any information respecting the present condition of the Tartar inhabitants of those parts of the Crimea which were occupied during the late war by the troops of the allies; and also to ask when, and at what places, British consuls were to be appointed, pursuant to the 12th article of the Treaty of Paris. It would probably be recollected that on the landing of our troops in the Crimea, and on the forma tion of a Land Transport Corps, a number of arabas and beasts of the country were hired, and it was found penes- sary also to hire native drivers, inasmuch as the animals were unaccustomed to threats and execrations addressed to them in the French or English languages. Those persons went with the army to the Alma, and on to Balakiava, and remained during all the sufferings of the winter of 185 i. The Tartars at Eupatoria, and the other natives who had been in the employment of our troops, became committed to their own Government, although the Tartars did not show much sympathy with the invasion. As these persons had been in a manner forced into the service by the military power of the invaders, it became the solemn duty of the allies when they ceded the invaded territory again to Russia, to stipulate for the protection of those persona, and to obtain a complete amnesty for them. We had succeeded in holding the country in which they lived till the conclusion of peace, and then obtained a guar antee that no harm should came to them, and it was now our duty to see that the treaty in this respect was put into execution. He should like to see at Eupatoria and Sebastopol consular establishments, at which these persons could state any grievances they might suffer from the Russian Government.. It was rumoured that a large portion of the Tartar inhabitants of that part of the Crimea which was occupied by our troops, had migrated into the territory of the Porte. The Russians were for merly in the habit of refusing to allow consuls to be sta tioned at Sebastopol and the western ports of the Black Sea. But that was to be changed according to the stipu lations of the treaty of Paris ; but he found that there were only consuls at present appointed to those ports where they existed before the war. Viscount PALMERSTON said the hon. and gallant member had stated correctly the course of the transaction to which he had alluded, and he had also stated accurately the stipulations of the trety of peace with regard to the appointment of consuls. In reply to the hon. and gallant member's question, he had to state that the Foraign-office was now occupied in making arrangements for establishing consuls in those places where by the stipulations of the treaty consulates were to be established. With regard to the Tartars, the hon. and gallant member was also right as to the fact, but the transaction took place at a different time to that to which he referred. When the allies left the Crimea there was a large number of Tartar families who, having been engaged in their service, did not feel full confidence in their position if they remained in the Rus sian territory. Ten thousand of these families applied to the allies to be removed from the Russian to the Turkish territory. Accordingly they were sent to the northern part of Turkey—viz., to Bulgaria. The Turkish Govern ment acted with great liberality to these persons, gave them lands, and provided them with the means of support and other assistance, until they could subsist by their own, industry. The Government had not heard from our am bassador at Constantinople that there had been any com plaints on the part of these people of the engagements entered into by the Turkish Government not having been fulfilled, and therefore he presumed they were contented with their lot. Mr. WHITESIDE complained of the number of assistant registrars of the record at Hong Kong, and he wished to know what were their duties. Then there were 13 super numerary interpreters and four linguists. The expense of the establishment at Hong Kong in this way was 10,4241. If he did not receive a satisfactory explanation ho would propose to reduce the number of officers by one-half. Mr. WILSON explained that the word assistant meant clerk. The first assistant was keeper of the records; thti others had nothing to do with the records, but were en gaged in the general business of the government. The in terpreters it had been found necessary to appoint for the purpose of filling important offices as vacancies occurred, and were for that purpose placed in a position where they would acquire a knowledge of the Chinese language. The trade with China was greatly increasing, and it was obvi ously inconvenient that persons should be sent out to take important offices as representing the trade of this country with China who did not know the language. Mr. WHITESIDE was not satisfied with the explana tion. It appeared that these interpreters were not inter preters, but young Englishmen learning the Chinese lan guage. As the trade at Canton was put an end to, no in convenience would result from the abolition of the Canton mission. He proposed to reduce the vote by 2,5331., the salaries. Mr. WISE supported the vote. Viscount PALMERSTON thought the manner in which the hon. and learned gentleman treated the que stion showed that he was, as he said, completely in the dark upon the question respecting which he sought to lead the house. (A laugh.) The hon. and learned gentieman's observations were not borne out by the facts. The duties of Sir J. Bowrinc , and his assistants were not confined to Canton, but extended to the whole of the other ports, and involved very laborious duties. Had the honour able and learned gentleman known even the rudiments of the Chinese language, he Would have known that that was a language very difficult to acquire. But un less a tongue could make itself intelligible to ears for the purpose of trade, communication would be use less ; and if we sent consuls to China it was necessary they should know the Chinese language. It was re quisite, then, that you should send young men to acquire that language—for it would not be wise to depend upon natives on'all occasions as interpreters. Ho ventured to ex press an opinion, therefore, that no money was better laid out than that which was expended in teaching these young men that language. Whatever the amount of the Hong Kong establishment, it was one that was not more than sufficient for the purposes of the public service in China, which involved, as the house was aware, a large and in creasing trade. Mr. HENLEY sail his hon. and learned friend com. plAined that the estimate was so worded that it was ina. TEWKESBURY ELECTION. Mr. ELLICE jun., reported that the committee ap pointed to inquire into the election of Tewkesbury de clared Mr. J. Martin duly elected for that borough. INDIA. Lord C. HAMILTON asked the First Lord of the Treasury, what day he would give for the conclusion of the Indian debate, the adjournment of which on the 23d June was agreed to by the President of the Board of Control on the ground of the great importance of the subject. Lord PALMERSTON said he was unable to fix a definite period for the resumption of the debate, owing to the pressure of business. ORDNANCE SURVEY. Sir D. NORREYS asked the Secretary to the Trea sury when the supplemental estimate for the ordnance survey of Scotland would be presented to the house ; and whether any orders or instructions had been issued to the Ordnance Department in respect of the scale on which the Survey of Scotland and England was to be drawn in future. Mr. WILSON could not state the precise time when the supplemental estimates would be presented. After the decision of the house, orders had been issued to the Ordnance Department, that all work commenced from this time should be drawn on the 6.inch scale. POSTAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LON DON AND DUBLIN. Mr. CORRY asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government had accepted the conditions of a contract for an improved Postal and Passenger Communication between London and Dublin. Mr. WILSON said that, with the exception of one point of a trifling character, arrangements had b een made between th e G rea t Northern Railway and the Post-office for the conveyance of the mail. the land passage would be perfoKmed in 34 hours, and the whole service between London and Kingst on wou ld occupy 11 hours, and between London and Dublin 11 hours. THE CASE OF JOHN TILLEY. Mr. DRUMMOND asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what report. he had received from the Commissioners of Lunacy with regard to the com plaint of Thomas Tilley, that he had been confined in an iron jacket in a dark room for seven weeks in the Bever ley Retreat for Lunatics near York, to which Commis sioners the said complaint was sent for investigation ? Sir G. GREY said that this lunatic was a violent man, but the commissioners had condemned, in strong terms, the particular treatment complained of, which conduct would not be repeated in future. BOARD OF HEALTH ACT. On the motion of adjournment, Mr. PALK asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it was the intention of the Government to bring in a bill to remedy the defects proved before a select committee of the present Board of Health Sir G. GREY said that a bill had been prepared to remedy the defects in the Act of 1848, but he could not admit that the Board of Health had been so much coc demned by a select committee as the hon. gentleman seemed to infer. The bill to be introduced contained considerable improvements upon the Act of 1848. BRITISH GUIANA. Mr. T. BARING, after adverting to a petition he had received from British Guiana, asked whether her Majesty's Government had adopted any measures to fa cilitate immigration into that colony ? He thought that an abundant supply of free labourers could be obtained, under proper regulations, from Africa, India, and China. Mr. LA BOUCHERE was anxious to give every faci lity for the introduction of free labourers from every , quarter into the colonies, provided the existing condi tions be maintained. These conditions were absolutely necessary to protect the immigrants, and to guard against the horrors of slavery being revived under an other name. With regard to emigration from China, Lord Elgin had been instructed to obtain the fullest and most authentic information o❑ the subject. The atten tion of the Indian Government had also been directed to the matter. DIVORCE BILL. Lord PALMERSTON, in reply to a question from Mr. Drummond, said that, on Mondas , next, he should fix the day for the second reading of the Divorce bill. INDIA. Mr. HADFIELD thought it rather unjust to India that time could not be spared to discuss important mat. ters relative to the interests of that country, when a whole night was wasted discussing the price of a single picture. Lord A. V. TENIPEST inquired when the President of the Board of Control would make his financial state ment, and hoped it would be before the festive season of the whitebait dinner / Sir E. PERRY suggested that forthe future the state ment should be made within the first 10 days of the session. Mr. V.ISMITH said that it was the house itself and not Government which was to be blamed for the delay in his bringing forward the Indian budget, as it wished to get rid of its business before discussin g a matter which would lead to no immediate result. Ile could not, in the present state of public ibusiness, promise it before the end of the month. As regarded the emigra tion of the coolies, the back pa ssage was a matter on which, for the protection of the coolies themselves, the Indian Government looked with the greatest possible jealousy. He had, however, written a despatch upon the subject, and .woul4l forward the wishes of the peti tioners with the greatest possible pleasure. Mr. KERSHAW said, although there might be an apathy in the house with regard the to lnd ia n deepest interestaffairs, iin country was beginning totake that..., He begged to join in the appeal which had been I NEW WRIT. Lord PALMERSTON rose to make the motion of which he had given notice, That in all cases when the seat of any member has been declared void by an election committee, on the grounds of bribery or treating, no motion for the issuing of a writ shall be made without seven days' previous notice being given in the votes. This was a resolution which the house agreed to on a former occasion, and the object of it was that if, arising out of the circumstances of any election, there should appear to be grounds for any measure affecting the borough itself, time might be given for any member to make any motion which he might think fit to make on such a matter, and that the new writ might not be issued by surprise, so as to preclude the house from taking into its consideration any circumstances which might be disclosed before the committee as affecting or likely to affect the borough itself. Mr. DISRAELI begged the house to consider what might be the consequences if they adopted a resolution of so stringent a character as that proposed by the noble lord. The noble lord said there were pre cedents for the resolution, but he believed there were not more than two which were applicable to the present case, and they were agreed to under circum stances of considerable party excitement, and with regard to a particular election. They were now consider ing the case with a complete exemption from such excite ment,and nutto it re tu highlydesirablea resolution consequences should take of f which might be different from those which the noble lord sought to effect by his proposition. If they passed this was ag e resolution a city or borough might be disfranchised for a whole recess. A. report was made to the house, and the writ was not to be moved for a week after. An hon. member might then say—Here is a charge made against a constituency, and we must wait tilt the evidence is in our hands before we can deoide on the merits of the case. That would lead to a delay of a month or six weeks. Another week must elapse before the motion for issuing the writ was brought forward. Gentlemen might then say that they had not time to consider the question, dif ferent views might be taken, and a whole session and recess might pass without the city or borough in ques tion having a representative. All resolutions of this kind were of an unconstitutional character. He was not arguing, however, against the general principle of the resolution, but be thought they should take security that so violent and unconstitutional a proceeding should not be had recourse to unless when there was a bona fide case to justify it. If, therefore, the noble lord would not from hi his ( anM Disraeli':) improvement l ' siidne alio w a feeling of suspi c i on t o we i g h w i th him in accept ingth e a house, sug he st on made would recommendterms of the resoluti on , to the effect that they should not have recourse t o th is method unless the committee the who unseated the member did at the same time report their opinion that theAiine for issuing the writ should be extended to the period proposed by the noble lord. Such an amendment would attain all the advantages the noble lord proposed, and would be a great safeguard against the abuses and inconveniences to which he had alluded. Mr. I'. DUNCOMBE considered that the amendment of the right hon. gentleman would defeat all the objects of the resolution, which had worked very well in the last Parliament. It was no doubt a stretch to suspend the issue of the writ when once the committee had declared a seat vacant, but it was the duty of the house, when the committee declared that a member had been guilty of bribery, to take care that the vacancy should not be filled up unless they were satisfied that the constituency had not abused its privileges. The resolution was agreed to in 18b2, after the passing of the bill which empowered the Crown, on an address from both Houses of Parlia ment, to issue a commission to inquire into the extent of the corrupt practices in the constituency. But it they were to rely on the report of the committee, how could Ithey ascertain whether it was a ease to justify an address to the Crown or not I The right hon. gentleman must be aware that even if 200 or 300 cases of bribery could be proved, the counsel before the committee confined them selves to one or two cases sufficient to unseat the mem ber, but kept the others back to save the constituency. Would a committee be justified in recommending the house to suspend the writ when only one or two cases had been proved, and they bad no power to institute any further investigation! In the last Parliament five commis. sions were issued on the recommendation of the commit tees, in the case of Canterbury, Cambridge, Hull, Mal don, and Barnstaple, and in each case the result was the discovery of a far greater amount of corruption than had been proved to the committees, and the five constituen cies were reported to have been guilty of corrupt prac tices, quite as strong, if not stronger, than any to be found in the report on which they had disfranchised Sud bury and St. Albans, and the five writs were suspended until after the passing of the Corrupt Practices Preven tion Act. He thought there was ample ground for re solving that the issuing of the writ should not depend on the report of the committee. Sir G. GREY said that the object of the resolution was to prevent a writ from being issued without previ ous notice to the house, in order to enable them to be come acquainted with the facts of the ease. Under the existing law, there was a power given to the committee to make a special report as to the existence of corrupt practices, and that further inquiry was necessary, in that event the issuing of the writ was suspended, and there forethe suggestion of the right hon. gentleman was quite unnecessary in such a case. The object of the resolution was to take care that the writ should not be issued as a matter of course when the seat was declared vacant, but he felt there was very considerable force in the objection of the right hon. gentleman to hying down a general rule of suspension ; it might happen that a single case of bribery would unseat a member, and they could not de sire that a constituency should on that account remain unrepresented for several months. If the report was made at the close of the session, the borough or county would be exposed to the inconvenience of a very length• ened canvass. He did not know whether it was intended to alter the resolution then ; but he would suggest that it should be withdrawn for further consideration. H e would propose to leave out the 7days, and insert 10 days or perhaps the words " without previous notice," would be sufficient to meet the difficulty. Mr. DISRAELI had no wish to press his amendment. He should prefer that the further consideration of the resolution should be postponed until Monday at half-past 4, when they would have a full house. (Bear.) Lord PALMERST ON had no objection to postpone mmadoreewhesiephecwiaolulyldabse haeffebcetleiedvbed n t h o e r m e p a o t r t t e r h a t i d l ylNelto been e d e a n y , it. The motion was then withdrawn, and the house went into committee. SUPPLY. On the first vote, 24,728/. for the salaries of governors in the West In dies and certain other colonies, Sir J. TRELAWNY asked whether the grant of 3,5001. to the governor of Jamaica was a new vote or not ? Mr. W. WILLIAMS had given notice of his inten tion to move the rejection of this item, which had ap peared in the estimates for the first time about three years ago. The house was then asked to pay half the salary for three years on account of the distress in the island. The colonial legislature had since reduced their payment to 2,5001. He also objected to the vote of 1,800/. fur the Governor of Western Australia. He begged to move thot the vote be reduced 3,500/. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the mode in which the salaries of the colonial governors should be paid had often been discussed, and some most eminent statesmen, including Sir R. Peel and the noble lord the member for the City of London, were of opinion that, considering the position in which the governors were placed, and their relations to the crown and the colonies, it might be desirable, in order to secure their independence, that their salaries should be paid by the Home Government. There were, however, some practical objections to that course, and he thought it would hardly be right to ask the :souse to vote the largo salaries paid in some of the Australian colonies. The Governor of Victoria, for in stance, bad, between salary and allowances, about 15,0001. The house, however, should recollect that the West Indies were in an exceptional position and had sufferel very much. With regard to Jamaica, it was quite true that the present arrangement had been made for three years only ; but last year he had stated it was proposed to continue it so long as Sir H. Barkly con tinued governor. When that gentleman was removed to Victoria, and Mr. Darling appointed to succeed him, he (Mr. Labouchere) thought it would, loe as well that the new governor should not inaug:arate his adminis tration by a contest with the ass:ll:ably for his salary, and therefore promised him the present allowance should be continued as long as he remained gover nor; the subject would then come again under the consideration of the Governrjaent. The people of Jamaica and other oolonies wishe?., their governor to keep up a certain state, and the • government house in that island was so large that it rise, aired a large establishment. iAs to Western Australia, % was in a different position from the other Austealia al co lonies, which had received representative goverrimeno, and were therefore bound to provide for their 'awn expenditure, whereas in it there uablis was a convict es* hment and it was used for imps rial purposes. ' - - - ir C. It S wa , ....PlERthought the vote was rather too small. Dor--.roposaibl,J for the go vernor of such a colony as ...mica to maintain a proper position on such a salary 4 1,3001. a year. air. A. MILLS expreasecl a hope that the day would possible to understand it in the sense in which the Secre tary of the Treasury had explained. Mr. WILSON said this was an estimate for next year. Mr. Parkes, the consul at Canton, who was now at Hong Kong, would be there with his assistants aed interpreters who knew the language. to aid Lord .Elgin in negotiating with the Chinese authorities. Mr. WHITESIDE, after a few words in reply to Lord Palmerston, withdrew his ameudment, and the vote was agreed to. Mr. WILLIAMS moved that the committee report progress. Mr. WILSON hoped his hon. friend would allow them t o go on. Mr. ALCOCK thought it quite time to report progress. He complained that it was unfair to members who came down to speak on the Reformatory Bill which stood next on the paper, that supply should be carried on till 20 minutes to 1 o'clock. Mr. CROSSLEY expressed his regret for the loss of the late member for Salford (Mr. Brotherton), who had suc ceeded in establishing as a rule that no opposed business should be taken after twelve o'clock. Lord PALMERSTON hoped that the amendment would be withdrawn. The committee would lose more time in dividing than in disposing of the only remaining vote on the paper for the right. After some further conversation, The motion for reporting progress was withdrawn. On the next vote, 22,5001. for the extraordinary disbursements of her Majesty's embassies and ministers abroad. Mr. WILLIAMS drew attention to the great expense of the embassy at Constantinople ' • they had already voted 1,5301. for six paid attaches, but in this vote was an item of 1,1201. for interpreters, attaches, and clerks ; he would also wish for some explanation of the item 1,6051. for ex tra couriers. Mr. WISE said he bad given notice of a motion to re dnce this vote by 12,5001.. being the excess over last year ; but he was informed that the increase was owing to the extraordinary disbursements at St. Petersburg and Mos cow on the occasion of the coronation, and he would there fore withdraw his notice. Mr. WILSON explained that the details of the Tote showed the expenditure for the past year ; which had been very large in Turkey, owing to the war. Mr. BLACKBURN wished for some explanation of the item 1,2841. for loss by exchange on diplomatic allowances. For the Two Sicilies it was 4491. Mr. WILSON said that this allowance was only granted on the disbursements made by the ambassadors for the pub lic service, and not on their salaries. Formerly, if there was a gain on the exchange the ambassador profited by it, but by a recent arrangement with the Foreign-effice the Treasury would derive the benefit. Mr. HENLEY wished to know how there could be a loss of 4491. on the exchange in the Two Sicilies, the total expenditure, including the loss, was only 1,0601. Mr. WILSON was not quite prepared to explain, but would make inquiry. The vote was then agreed to. The CHAIRMAN was ordered to report progress, and the house resumed. SUPPLY. The report of supply was brought up and received. PROBATES AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRA- TION This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be corn mitted on Friday next. GLEBE LANDS (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a second time. EAST QUAY WALL TAX (DUBLIN) BILL. This bill was also read a second time. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned•at twenty minutes past one. CANTERBURY HALL. The popular favourite Sam Cowell, whose talents as a comic singer are so well known as to need no eulogy on our part, has been starring it in the provinces with that success which his brilliant powers is at all times sure to command. Circumstances, ho'wever, require his attend ance in London for a couple of days, and his gratitude to the excellent and highly esteemed proprietor of the Canterbury Hall, as well as to his patrons, whose name is " legion," will not permit his return to the provinces without spending a few boars in their agreeable com pany. He has, therefore, at much inconvenience to himself, announced his intention of delighting the fre quenters of this establishment, which now ranks as one of the legitimate places of amusement in the metropolis, with a few of " the songs they love." He will, there fore be at the Canterbury Hall this evening, and as his engagements in the provinces are likely to extend over a considerable period, we have no clout); the opportunity of hearing him will be eagerly em braced. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL-JULY 3. The market to-day was rather better attended then on Tuesday, and a moderate business doing in the better qua lities of wheat and flour at the extreme rates of that day*. Oats also rather dearer. In barley, beans, and peas no change. Indian corn in limited demand, and rather easier in price. WAKEFIELD-JULY 3. There was but a moderate business in wheat, but fresh, parcels brought last prices, whilst inferior were difficult of sale. Beans fully as dear as on. Friday. In other article. no change. Average prices of grain—Wheat, 64s 44d ; barley, 38 0 64 ; oats, BOa 04d. ; beans, 4Ss Od ; peas, 38s 6d ; rye, —s. Od. EXETER--Juvr 3. CORN.—Wheat, 7s 9d to 8s 3d ; barley, 5s to 5s sa; grinding do., OE Oct to Os Od. O a t s , 3 s 3d to Os 04. Beans, Os Od to 0 Od. Peas, 00s Od to 008 Od. FLOUR.—Fine, 46s Od to 47s Od; seconds, 41s Oct to 4 5 g Od per sack. CATTLE. —There was a small supply of bullocks. Best beef, from lOs to Hs 6d per score ; inferior, 9s 6d to lb Pet score ; fat calves, 5d to 6d per lb ; barrenners, Os Od to 0 5 Oct. per score ; cows and calves, 121. to 201. vs ; butcher' calves, Od to 7d per lb., rearing calves —s to s each; sheep, ewes and lambs, 21. 5s to 35. 5s per couple,. ewes. OJ to 61d; wethers, Od 6}d; lambs, 71 to Od per lb. Figs, large size, —s to —s ; second size, —s to —s ; slips, to —a ; suckers, —s to —s. Rough fat, 43d per lb. Pork carcases from Os Gd to lOs 6d per score. COAL MARKET.—JULY 3. Prices of Coals per ton at the close of the market. s. d. Wallsond, etc. Bates's West Hartley l4 61 s (1 * Bebside's Hartley l6 3 Lambton 16 6 Haswell Gas l3 6 i Tees l7 0 Tanfield Moor Butes 13 9 ,/letton 17 Taufield Moor l3 9 15 Braddyll . Davison's West Hartley 16 3 1 ileugh Hall 15 6 Howard's West Hartley South Hetton 16 9 Netherton 16 OKden Main l5 9 0 Haswell Hartley ......,,14 6 Haswell 17 0 Wylam 15 6,Kepier Grainge ... ...... 16 Holywell l5 6 Russell's Hetton 15 ~' Wallsend, Ste. Seaham l5 ' 0 Stowart's 17 0 Whitworth l5 Riddell l4 6 1 G'osforth . 14 6 „ South Kelloe 16 3 1 Hilda 14 v Lumley 15 6 , Framwellgate 15 6 I Cassop 16 o.Hetton Lyons Main ....14 6! Caradoc: ..I6 01 Ships at market, 115 ; sold, 93. COURSE OF EXCHANGE.-YESTERDAY. 11 18 Gibraltar •• •• •• •• Ditto, three months .. 12 IA Leghorn .. •• • . Rotterdam ............ 12 3l Genoa .26 85 Brussels 25 52% Venice aamburgh ............ a Naples mler •• 424 Altona .. • • •• •• •• •• P Pari5.........,,......... 2 5 3 0 3 Messina ... 129 Ditto, three months .. 25 70 Lisbon 52% Marseilles ..• • • .• •• .• 25 70 ,Oporto .• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 52% Bourdcaux .. • • ........ .. ;Rio Janeiro ..... .•• ...• FraMtfort-on- Vain() .• .. 119% Buenos Ayres ..... Berlin •• •• •• •• •• •••• •• • • , New York 60 clays' si tit Vienna .......... •• .... 10 30 IPhiladelphia .......... Trieste •• .... 10 32 PRICES or lULLION, PER Os. Petersburg 37% 'Foreign Gold in Bars £3 17 9 Madrid .... 48X Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Cadiz .........•• 49% 'Mexican Dollars 0 0 0 Barcelona ............ New Dollars ...... 0 0 0 beville• • .............. ,Silver iu bars 0 0 0 [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Hollowara Ointment and ping , —A. wide spread popularity most deservedly testifies to the excellence of these remedies. Emma Stephens wif e of Samuel Stephens, b oo t ma k er , o f 20, New-street, Fiw gate-street, Whitechapel, thus writes to Professor Hol loway. I was for a very long time afflicted, with scot' butic and scabby eruptions over my face, chest, and lege; medical men failed to relieve me, when at last by theale of your ointment and pills, I was marvellously cured, and feel much pleasure in calling the attention of the public to their virtues. Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the world ; at Professor Holloway's Boob' lishments, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-IW , New York; by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A. Guidicl' Stnyrna ; and E. Muir, Malta. B:I R T II S. OF A SON. On the Ist inst., at 4, Queen-street, Mayfair, tie wit s of H. Drummond Wolff, Esq. On the 3d inst., at Lee-park, Blackheath, the wife (4 Commander R. C. Tomlinson, J.N.t On the 2d inst. ' at 27, Upper Gower -st ree t, th e l a dy °I R. Francis Reed, Esq., of Stockton-upon -Tees. OF A DAUM:ITER. On the 2d inst., at Upton-park, Slough, the wife o f Captain G. J. Johnson. MARRIED. On the 3d inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, WO' C. B. Annesley, of the War-office. youngest son of Cha s ' Animaley, Esq., H.P. Scots Greys, to Louisa August e, third daughter of the late Wm. Henry Goddard, Esq. On the 2d inst., at Marylebone Church, Charles Vacher: . Esq., of the B o lt ons , Brompton, West to Jane, the elde" daughter of Jame s Allan, Esq., of 7, York -terrace, J gent's-park. DIED. On the 2d inst., James Briggs, Esq., of 39, nate square, aged 34. On the 2d inst., at Cold Harbour-lane, CamberWe ll ' Erasmus Robert Foster, aged 56. On the Ist inst., at Dover, Kent, Thos. Usmar, D.C•TV of Queen's College, Oxf or d, f ormer l y o f E pp i ng, E s se'' aged 55. On the 2d inst., at Reading, Berks, Robert L109 4 ' Esq., aged 83. la te the Ist inst., at B a th, Matthew R. Ford, Esq., Captain Bengal Army, aged 78. On the 30th June, at Fordham, Cambs., Mr. Thou Seaber, aged 46. On the 30th June, Samuel Gilbert, lighterman, of 0 144 ' lane, Limehouse, aged - - 0 LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOCat a , of No, 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun 011 ice, 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the 0 0. of Middlesex, Saturday, July 4, 1857. Pai rep rat cif thi eel We ter ere