The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

be ow. g Of WO expiration of hi s sentence. The effect of the new system, ! ho ugh an imp rovement, was far from satisfactory, a few months af ter t h e introduction of this system into uistressi Diemen 's L an d, t h e Governor gave a most ng account of the situation of that colony a ri 4 m ing from t h e generally impoverished state of the e°l trY• The Right Hon. Baronet then proceeded to read at considerable length the report of the governor neon that subject). Other papers were also laid upon the table of the House which would fully bear out the statements of that gentleman. Upon the earnest solici tations of the colonists a large amount of money was advanced from the Treasury to meet the demands thus made upon the colonists by the large influx of the trans- Ports from this country. With respect to the moral con dition of th e colony he could not do better than read a l e tter on th at subject, addressed to Lord Stanley when ' n office, setting forth the miserable condition of the People in that respect. The subject was maturely con ered I, i n I, - ey )fir, Gladstone, who succeeded Lord Stanley i t his office at th e h ea d of the colonial department, and 4 lett er addressed by that Gentleman to the then Grab. of State f or th e H ome D epar t men t (Si r J. rs also sett i ng forth in strong teems the moral 4idiels tion of th e conv i ct population of Van Diemen's °d• What then was t h e con d it i on i n w hi c h the ereaent Government were placed when they entered !toffice? It had been recommended by his predecessors d at the system of transportation to Van Diemen's Lan rl.o° Oake suspended for a period of two years, leaving h.lsland as the only place to which convicts from . ' 4 country were to be sent. This, of course, entailed ; P o n; the Government the necessity of adopting some measure to provide employment for the mass of teearicts thus thrown upon the bands of the Govern e °t • The Government gave the most anxious, ibe;;sideration to the subject, and the Government felt e . '4Y convinced of the necessity of breaking up as speedily 17, Possible the criminal establishment at Norfolk ''efused, and the utter impossibility of renewing the se s n.at the expiration of the ten years, as proposed by fully 'a?late Government The papers laid before the Hou r s: spear, bore out the opinion of the Government in this - Co es t ; Ile would advert to the report of the Legislative th e — c't Van Diemen's Land, presented to the House on f trans leth of March, upon the subject of the resumption o teatrisPortation to that country. (The Right Hon. Baro re then . Proceeded to read various extracts from the at,:stopao,rt referredperaftnt to, all of which tended to show s ue impro Y of the resumption of the sy g against it, and denouncing it ZLZ„.„ raost demoralising system, and also expressing re ,that the Government at home were still disposed to ititnie the detestable and pestilential system). The toeLetrljong t anlßaronetey also read a letter from Mr, Pitcairn ee ect. upon the same subject to the same th e a , Re thought therefore, that these fully merited i d ea I`llo.Ption of then the course proposed on the present occa- Ile ali),o'ue Government for the remedy of these . evils. ena L and to ree,ad a letter from the Bishop of Van Diemen's cranes or dlGrey, setting forth that the most fearful ief o Prevailed in the colony from the want of proper the rtGnatclY discipline. He now came to the plan which the ~, vernraent proposed—that the just portion of couetraai punishment should be passed in . this til d th Y ' °r, at least, at no great distance from h it ; 4 , r acter, a nd should be of a strictly reformatory_c a eeretit that when they were sent to the penal sot- Th s that p r obatipapers should be given to them. /ailed V s tent they en Pape fie the eY Proposed to adopt was that which pre seat to entonville prison —the majority would be ref ,„ Australian colonies, and he trusted that the 1)47a,,0!•y discipline to which they would be subjected evil w i l 'z' e k ing sent abroad would prevent much of the t hen le " Was strongly complained of. They might 4,olz:re their wives and families, and might, no doubt, 'here w g°l9d members of society. The time of punish- Ns se et eti 'd depend upon the term to which a person tea t t;eeheed; but the strictly penal part of the punish tioa 0 , ( nlld be passed in this country. The transporta the u a persona to New South Wales would depend upon the colon tend ing to be come to with the authorities 9 for t h t'}'• Arrangements were at present being made th e IP erection of a Prison in Ireland, similar to adoptedehtonville prison• in fact, the plan there b een d ha d proved so ' favourable that it had Pris e , a ; ° b Pted, as far as was practicable, in many of the referred built before it. The Right Hon. Baronet p t e e n n . too.„ ii ,_ „t,o.the last report of the Commissioners of separate eoc_en:-'rison, which stated that the system of l ed to ue th en ! , combined with education and industry, had te Inisencr: tcaprovernent of the moral condition of t h . sus th at i ti `, th d had led them to form habits of industry, °t ' s in theireY were generally cheerful and and in us r . eticz. , nt "nfinement. They said that separate con_ te at jb.. Prevented contamination and recognition, a e n r d . toe s eoenfiofst results had accrued to the unfortunate p tens e onid ued to their care; but they added that the sys di screti on ° W.Y be carried out properly with the utmost la rep ort ,and vigilance. He also read an extract from . ree et c '', ls Earl Grey stating that plenty of emploe - and °ll 'd be found' for exiles sent to Port Philip, h ello that those who had been sent, had be av e , Well ; in fact that they were the best that t ti Persons in the colony, ' and he sincerely hoped that thee zhodifications about to be made,. would show 1, uefort ~n'e appl ied orate persons, to whom it was about to ' e eentl , would not abuse this indulgence. A report ViewitlY Presented to the French Chambers, after re- LakrrieZthe system of separate confinement in France, '1 r e , o - ' and in this country at Pentonville, concluded kloptadr'llnending that a similar system should be tic: Mx, e ,:: r the future in ' France. There were, no every da. eptional cases to this reformatory prin.ciple— teal Y eases occured in which it was utterly ineffec ,:4s; P li r t o the y were the exceptions, and not the rule. 4 ' l thi s P os ed that the first term of punishment m ore ce qintr es e thee Y should not be less 'than six, and Z o n n a tb s C ein o g f eighteen months' duration , eighteen the greatest term for which . per- The imprisoned in the Pentonville Prison. to r Neet the Custody of Offenders Billwou w lt io b i l c o . ,!nder available any spare accommodation establishments. A rr u ld be given from the ordinary prison th: n geMents would bo made with the magistrates of se counties of which the prisons were not entirely ~,upiee, to enable the Government to occupy a -ta portion -a o s of these prisons for the purposes alreaeny 's ° ta rt t i ed n . A certain rent should be paid, and the engagement was to terminate by six months' notice ()11 either side, so that if crime should unhappily in- Zease in the country, or the Government become dissa- Z„ed, the arrangeme . nt would at once cease. He was :Lt aware of the difficulties which would attend the C r ent rng out such a scheme of punishment. The sud a, eas with which the demand . come upon them, ," casenabled them from trying they preliminary tnillerinsent, so that, at first starting,. would labour th o er sonsewhat disadvantageous circumstances. He ae e i hr‘ght that this matter required the most careful and ranuus attention of the Legislature, and he thought that de c o credit was due to all those gentlemen who had Jeer , e d their attention to this very important sub- Pa;t,tsis i Yar, hear.) He had been for some time ret s l ai e'ing active steps to provide the increased . accom the -4°4 Which this new system would require, and with Fla n for 25,000 Z which had alread been obtained. eat 'Pad already b 'en framed for the erection of such the% shad as would be required. With regard to a tatei lter a of transportation for life, Lord Stanley had _, c ensia,,l ia a_ i t it was quite impossible that he cuuld be 41 t6 i " , e u as a convict for the whole of this time, ter a - t - g" he might not be admitted as a fit person to re- Ceti "() this country. A limited period would be as ea for the compulsory labour of persons under such et tnetion, and the remainder of their lives would he ,allow ed etr Olen disposal, although they would not be h ap! to to return to their native land. He was very t aetsV ni s' e ° see, that in the Chamber of Peers, when this hot e ) ,„ Was adv er t e d to, t h e F rench Government had core,".ressed th e s li g h test alarm, that any great or in heir alient influx of convicts would take place upon Perso ns suO res in consequence of the discharge of these Ni, after they had undergone their terms of Th e Il e er aent and penal labour in this country. tio o •''' n re at object will be, to restore them to their condi- Of lit - a° , c letY, and enable them to en t er i nto a new way eaten e ,;„ 'le was quite ready to a d m i t th at a large and of pe - ee change ou g ht t o b e b roug h t un d er the attention lipo," rl , l ansent, but - being unable to satisfy themselves at ie - w nat particular plan they should adopt,. they l ab s Isked from a further interference. He had said nothing Um -- r egard to the new colony of North Australia, . as n of ssabjeet did not bear any reference to the hat qli t est w io as e q ra nsportation. In fact. it appeared h o ' e a ce not intended for the w l n o n cationof convicts. t He red that establishments h oy ld yet be formed in b s of tender years ki ll country to w „At bo sent, where hey would be instructed He f 7d rendered back to society as useful members. i i ° haidered that he had now stated the woleGoefvetrhnemoeuntf tre, of the plan which her Majesty's . a e ''red to adopt, and he conjured thellouse eo n n o a t i t d o e i r ud t g h e e u St , , v a‘st 7 t :Y or condemn rashly. .Let . them h r raount of documentary evidence which had been d eli to bear upon the . question. The Government le Sir ed to make an exneriment upon the advice of Dr. h e —a l l °r, who recommended that criminal labour . should up:eivadelopnublicly useful, thus inflicting a punishment eo e ea t e ri,rne, while they conferred public advantage. In , he would say that be would be happy to I ;: e n e- v e anY advice or auy assistance which Hon : Gentle -111- mi ght be willing to afford the Government in carry tout their proposition. should°rd MAIION said that he would regret very . much, ae . . . st i eeY Party spirit interfere in the . discussionofthe e titl a e t l °o . He felt a very strong objection to the sudden h hadlig of the punishment of transportation. Sin e c f e t he the honour of a seat in that House, it was one b greatest c hanges which he had seen attempted. h There e ~tas another objection to the measure whi e c d n h "' it so felt strongly, namely, the fact of re or wh i en g ther e leali nal sentence of transportation, te e , was no intention of carrying it out. They all re q ut h i ered the debates which had taken place upon the k tles i t , ° Of capital punishment, and the miserableness of ee, 33 , - t - t s. hontences which were not to be carried into asa' try t° Q h• Nor did he consider that the success of the , Right II think the wuhrlickhfavva;:naetrcleaombntlitlYfwei: Gentleman. He was disposed t a l)nf s e. tr s hi u oe ffi ass c e i p e oa n fr t at t e o warrant the deductions eighteen aould be stretehetliornevetrh, e s b y es imprisonment te d m i a o nf mannerio imprisonment, from p st r eyhe i s eena o natt n tlarhea m sn amfax e ahet a n glatyni t ohodt , : lOren done by th e ie now came to the secoßnidghmtode Honourable o f labour in the hulks. Now it was voted punishment,someG t t uat the number imprisoned in the hulks was by muc yet, in defiance of that vote, the Right Hon.. re„a_tsieatan came down to the Mouse, and desired to in e,.74 e it. Some of the most eminent statesmen of rrieriance regretted the system of governing bands f st c c ais employed upon public works, such as those at 1.. 1.1100 and . at .Brest. They praised the system . of . En a g la - V l, -, which found means of providing for their criminals 4duread, and who did not, at intervals, let out bands of e4Perate and unreformed criminals. Yet such was the tlicattb,how proposed, He did think it could not be prac .. - e e ''' 'e,as a national system. He had received the opi wr i o ° l °. the Bis hop of Australia, who stated that public should come first, and separate confinement after wards. Viri k h d t. respect to sending the prisoners abr oa d TILE SUN, LONDON, fter confinement, the scheme proposed originally by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir G. Grey), was essentially ditf-rent from that now proposed to be adopted. It would have been better if the Right lion. Gentleman had produced some other document than this letter of the 20th of January. Mr. Clay produced an instance of a man who asserted that he would not be redeemed from his career of vice if he were sent back to his old as sociates, and that he conceived to be a strong proof in support of the view which he was now advocating. Lord Denman and other high judicial authorities who were supposed to be competent to judge on this ques tion, were opposed to the principle of this measure. The Committee of the House of Lords had not yet, he could understand, concluded their labours, hut he thought sufficient information had been already ob tained to enable the House to judge of this question. He did not deny that evils existed under the system of transportation, but he denied that it was shown that these evils were inseparable from the system, or that under a better administration it might be made useful to the community and beneficial to the convict himself. Sir James Mackintosh was in favour of this system. But it might be said that he did not possess sufficient acquaintance with the subject to constitute him a sufficient judge; but Sir James Franklin, whose competency to judge oa this question, could not be denied, had expressed himself favourable to the prin• ciples of transportation, though he did not bind himself to any specific plan ; and in one of his dispatches he stated that ha considered transportation essen tial to the welfare of society. The Reverend ..ilr. Fry had put forward a similar opinion. As regarded the inferior appointments of the colony, a great mischief had been committed by under-paying those who held them. He complained, too, that there had been a discrimination of the differing circumstances of diffe rent colonies. But the circumstances of the penal colonies must be taken to explain the origin of those complaints, which bad arisen concerning the governor of the colony. It ought to be remembered that it was determined all at once to discontinue banishment to New South Wales, and the whole tide was necessarily poured in upon Van Diemen's Land. And, again, the system thereof had not been administered in accordance with the spirit. Why, it was found out that the officers, to save themselves more trouble, for the night used to lock up the prisoners from six o'clock in the evening till eight o'clock next morning. This was against their instructions. How then could they expect the system so worked to work well ? That item being remedied, he thought they must further ensure an effi- cient service of the inferior officer by better payment. From long consideration and experience, he had come to the result, that such a system of penal settlement in the colonies might be established with the advantage which was contemplated in the first establishment of these settlements. He concurred that Lord Grey had acted blameably in abandoning the settlement in South Australia. He acted on a sudden ; on a sudden he recalled the Governor and ordered the settle ment to be abandoned. He was to blame also for stating that transportation would in no future time be resumed. That was a question which he ought to have lett open, stating no more than that an intermission of a period of years would occur. The Legislature of Van Diemen's Land had exacted a pledge that transportation would not be again resumed, and they had bound the home Government by conditions. That was not the relative position which the colonies and the mother country ought to occupy. The colony of New South Wales was established especially for a penal settlement—(Hear, hear)—and he thought, so long as proper care was taken that a sufficient admixture should be gained of the popu lation, it ought to have been continued as such. On those two points, Lord Grey was to blame, and he (Lord Mahon) felt strongly that the change was improper, and he must protest against it. Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH could not agree to the conclusions which the Noble Lord had come to. This question had two aspects. One was, whether the system of transportation was necessary or desirable ; and if not, what would they substitute in its place ? They had to consider if the present system should be con tinued; and if they decided in the negative, what they would offer in its stead. In answer to the Noble Lord he was prepared to prove that in every form trans portation was a bad system of punishment, and that no alteration of it—no improvement that could be made, would render the system effective. In doing so, he would have somewhat to trespass on their time, but he claimed their indulgence in doing so. On a former oc casion, some few years ago, he was a chairman of a Committee which investigated this subject, composed of several of the leading Members of the House ; and the report of that Committee, unanimously agreed to, recommended the abolition of the assignment system. The investigations they made into the whole question, led the Committee to the determination they had come to regarding the assignment of convicts. (The Hon. Baronet here read an extract from the report in question, setting forth the grounds on which the Com mittee had come to their decision. Such were the views which had been taken by the Transportation Committee, which the Noble Lord ( Mahon) would fain revive. Last year Mr. Gladstone, the Colonial Secretary, took occasion to ask the opinion of the Governor of the colony of New South Wales whether they were desirous to have a renewal of transportation. The matter wag re ferred to the Legislative Council for their consideration, and he referred the Noble Lord, and those who thought with him, to the report which the Select Committee, to which the matter was entrusted, made on the question. That report was, that on no grounds could they give their assent to a renewal of transportation. They declared that no conceivable modification of the system ought to be again introduced into New South Wales. (The Hon. Baronet read an extract from the report, to the effect stated, setting forth, in detail, the reasons the Commit tee sts hyai:dtt had were hearoctefot crowded, :ve t s o dpp eo t e h drr ,s e t aobt c nui o sot nc nwt h l we u ara s tes i conclusions tyv i w t ssoa h hbb y . leue n l. ad) o s sbTi r eg e hn n ee e Cd w ot a mo l o dispersed mp f l at tet all over the country, not in gangs, but separately, an d thus it was exp ec t e d th at they would be able to get t d W t t ht h h he e: m rid of hundreds and thousands of persons. a a n n d armed whatr Roman( H ebwouldaarn, banditti toot baiuer would d) t r h ob eweTlsafe resultne prowling a would about uuml should be armed in order to defend their htits a N n o d w flo t c h : y country,t hey w o a u n l d d n b s e perpe tualosesetuvrielaenteouto r a man ge s wilderness where they desired to colonize. re gretted that the Noble Lord did not go one ste .fr p ther than he had done, and had shown in . a statement to the House the evils of the syste m . Th e Noble Lord, however, had taken steps in the right direction, but unfortunately Lord Stanley succeeded to office, who completely undid the good already effected. Lord Stanley greatly increased the number of depots for transportation. Now the probation system was intended to improve the drove and chain gangs. Now, he desired the attention of the House to this part of his statement, as he intended to prove the utter failure of all attempts to improve the system. The probation system was this— in the first instance, the convict was transported to Nor folk Island, and after a year's good conduct, he was en titled to be sent to a private person and receive pay ment for his labour. For the second year's good conduct, he was entitled to a ticket of leave. How did the system work? that it should do so well, two things were requisite proper inspection, and power to enforce obedience. Lord Stanley frequently com plained of the utter want of information which existed upon the subject, and, after three years, he declared that it was impossible to obtain any that was satisfactory. This was rather an evident proof that the in spection was by no means efficient, otherwise the desired information could easily have been obtained. When Mr. Gladstone succeeded to office he desired information from the governor of Van Diemen's Land, and in accordance with that wish several reports were submitted to the Government, all of which plainly proved the position which lie (Sir William Ntolesworth) endeavoured to demonstrate.—(Hear.) He would not trouble the House with any further au thorities on this part of tin, subject. He predicted the failure of the system at the time it was brought forward, but his warning was disregarded, and the consequences had been most distressing. With regard to Norfolk Island, the systems of punishment pursued there were of three descriptions, namely, cruel, indulgent, and relaxed. Only the two latter, however, had been attended with any success, and, of late, he understood the Governor of New South Wales had been instructed to adopt a system of extreme indulgence. From the best. evidences he could collect, it was clear that the extreme indulgent system was the best ; it produced better order amongst the convicts, made them more moral and rational in their conduct, and induced them to feel more deeply the degrading nature of their situations.—(Hear, hear.) The extreme indulgent system had been successfully tested under Captain Maconochie, who reported that the punishment of transportation, where that system was adopted, always produced the best results upon the moral character of the convict, while where the cruel system was resorted to, the convict became hardened and brutal, instead of awakened to a sense of his degradation. Major Child gave similar testimony ; and in his reports upon the operation of the different systems under his supervision, he related a number of anecdotes, strongly contrasting the beneficial effects resulting from the extreme indulgent system with the cruelties and atrocities which were always attendent upon the cruel system. At the expiration of those two years the governor of Van Diemen's Land thought proper to inquire into the condition of the convict population, but no information had been given to him during that period with reference to the working of the measure ; and it was not until at the end of that period Lord Stanley awoke as from a trance and wondered how his new system worked. He charged him, therefore, with neglect, with the conse quences of that neglect, with the hideous, horrible, and disgusting state of things which now existed, be cause he had not appointed proper officers to su perintend the convicts, and require them to make regular reports to him. He would refer to the opinion of Mr. Baron Alderson given in the appendix to the report of the Criminal Law Commis sioners. That opinion was deserving of the most serious attention of the House. (The Hon. Member then pro ceeded to read various extracts from the evidence of his Lordship, in which he attributed the failure of the system of transportation to the want of proper discipline prior to the convicts being sent out of the country.) He thought that the only proper and efficient mode of checking crime was by granting a general and wide-spread system of efficient education for the youth of the lower orders of the people, and separating them from their parents. But the question before the House was, which was the best substitute for the present mode of punishment. He thought the solitary system was the best that had been devised for a threefold ob ject—that of preventing crime, preventing the demorali zation of the persons by associations with others of a worse character, and it also tended to improve the moral condition of the prisoner, by affording ample time for reflection and improvement. • I unishment could not be looked at in a pecuniary point of view, because a good system of punishment, even though it might require a larger outlay than a bad system, still the benefits to be derived from the good system to the • public at large, were such as infinitely to counterbalance the consideration of the expense. It had been said that the solitary system was one likely to affect the healths, and impair the intellects of the prisoners. He did not think that such were the effects of the system ; all punishment tended in some degree to impair the health of the prisoner, but even if the solitary or separate system did impair the health, still it should be borne in mind that there was none of the disastrous effects upon the morals of the prisoners, and pore of those vicious habits contracted which invariably followed punishment upon those systems in which o r prisoners were indis criminately mixed together. The Archbishop of Dublin proposed a plan by which convicts would be enabled to go to the colonies. The only colonies, however, which they could be sent to, were those which were too weak to refuse them, or who were willing to receive them. He did not think, however, that New South Wales or any other convict colony, was the proper place to send liberated offenders as by going there, there would bo a likelihood of their falling into the old habits—the consequence of which would be, that they would be only emptying their own jails to fill those of the colonies. The utmost the Legislature could do was to open up a way for the liberated offenders. The Right Hon. Baronet proposed to make another alteration, the Bishop of Dublin's plan, which would have a worse effect than making their transportation compulsory—he meant the separating the convicts into a distinct class after they arrived in the colony. He maintained if the convicts were sent abroad to these colonies the Govern • ment would have no control over them. He considered, moreover, that the inhabitants of New South Wales would not withhold consent to this compulsory transpor tation, and the petition presented from them recently gave ample evidence of this feeling. He thanked the House for the attention with which they had heard him, and though he concurred generally in the scheme he hoped the Government would reconsider those parts of it to which he had objected. Mr. BANKES could not assent to the further pro gress of these two Bills. He considered it inexpedient and unconstitutional that the Royal prerogative should be exercised as far as this modification of the law rela tive to transportation, unless in the usual direct manner. He considered that the speech of the Right Hon. Gen tleman, though exceedingly luminous, had but little to do with the subject on which he professed to treat. The one Bill provided simply for the removal of Irish criminals into this country, and the other to give new powers to the commissioners of Pentonville, Parkhurst, and Millbank Prisons ; but it appeared to him, that it would mate rially alter the government of the prisons throughout the whole country, and the high prerogative vested in the Home Secretary, would be transferred to a com mission, when the magistracy, he humbly believed, had not abused the trust placed in them, and were quite capable of managing the prisons in their respective lo calities. There were to be seven new commissioners ; some of the present offices would be abolished and remodelled ; but, in truth, the patronage of the Government wonid be increased by them, and this they were heartily prepared to meet with from those who, in opposition, were rather prone to cut down and abolish offices.—(Hear, hear.) It seemed to him, therefore, that the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Montrose had not been vigilant on this occasion, and allowed his friends on the opposite benches to induce him to give them his support, much against his avowed principles of economy. It was true the Commissioners were liable to be removed by the Lords of the Treasury. The Government was empowered to " turn them all off." —(Laughter.) And surely this was patronage.—(Laugh. ter.) If the Chief Commissioner, as it seemed, was to usurp the power of the Secretary of State—for he was to have the power of appointing the different officers of the prisons, he considered the :salary of 8001. too small for the discharge of such important duties. If the object sought to be attained by the Bill was not a greater de. gree of supervision over the convicts, he should like to know what other possible object could be attained ? The Right Hon. Baronet in his speech addressed him self partly to this point, that the present system had proved a failure.—(Hear. hear.) He thought that in endeavouring to amend that system, the Go vernment were trying a rash experiment. He could not but consider that if the Government had made up their minds to change the present system, they should do it by a Bill more specific in its nature, than the present, they should remember that it was adverse to the highest opinions in the land. The House of Com mons should not be called upon to pass doubtful Acts of Parliament. Under these impressions, though perfectly impressed with the defective state of the present system of transportation, and thinking that the present session should not close without an amendment of them, yet he considered that it was their duty to oppose at an early stage the proposition of the Government.—(Hear.) Mr. EWART moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. HOPE desired to know what would be the con dition of the convicts on their arrival to the colony ? Sir GEORGE GREY—They will be in the same position as if they had obtained tickets of leave. The motion for the adjournment was then agreed to. ASCOT HEATH RACES THURSDAY. The Solicitor-General for Ireland L with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday. PRI DA Y ETENIN G„ JUNE 4, 1847. The peculiar features of the Cup day at Ascot have been so frequently described, that to travel over the ground again, would be as wearisome to our readers as it would be to ourselves. We shall, therefore, offer no apology for leaving them to the imagination, but proceed at once to a brief record of the occurrences of the day. The weather, as on th e two previous days, was brilli antly fine, and at a period long in advance of the time of starting, the gath er i ng o f a l l ranks was immense, filling the stands, "grand" an d temporary, to an over fl ow, an d exhibiting a display of beauty and fashion that we have rarely seen excelled ; there was also a very good assembling of the higher classes, but in this re spect the show was inferior to what was constantly wit nessed in the golden ae of the turf, when such terms as "nobbling" a n d " ma ki ng safe" had not found their way into the racing vocabulary, and when the course was the favourite resort of the aristocracy of both sexes. A few minutes after one o'clock the bell rang for clearing the course (a step that, we trust, will henceforth be deferred until after the arrival of her Majesty), and shortly after, the appearance of the royal live ries in the distance announced the approach of the Illustrious party from the Castle. The cortege consisted of eight carriages and the char a-bane presented to her Majesty by the King of the French. She was attended by the Earl of Granville and the same retinue as on Tuesday. The first carriage was occupied by the Queen, their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, the Prince of Lucca, and the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia. In the second were the Prince Consort, his Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, and their Serene High nesses Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Prince of Leiningen. In the other carriages were the Prince Lowenstein, Prince Lichtenstein, the Duke of Welling ton, Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord and Lady John Russell, Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde and the Lady Hubert de Burgh, Earl Spencer, Earl Fort escue , B aron Brunnow, Vice-Admiral de Lutke, Rear-Admiral Count Heyden, the Coun sellor d'Etat Haurowitz, Le Baron de Freedericktz, Count Beust, Countess Assenburg, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord George Lennox, Hon. Colonel Grey, Hon. Captain Gordon, &c , &c. Her Majesty was most cordially welcomed, and every mark of respect was paid to th e P r i nce C onsort, an d h e r Majesty's royal and ill us t r i ous v i s i tors. Th e racing com menced immediat e ly a ft er h er M a jesty's arrival, and, with the usual interval for luncheon between, the New V ase an d C up races proceeded, with a tolerably close attenti o n t o th e p u blished time of start ing, up to the race for the Visitor's Plate, on the termi nation of which her Majesty and party left for the Castle. We understand that the royal visitors expressed themselves highly gratified with the sport, and with the regularity with which the business of the course was carried on. Having spoken generally of the attendance, which is allowed to have been on a par with the best Cup day on record, we ought, in justice to the occasion, to submit a long list of the titled and distinguished oc cupants of the grand, jockey club, and stewards' stands. So much of our time, however, was necessarily occupied by other duties, and so dense was the crowd, that we could only obtain an indifferent view of the noble personages pre sent. The sport came fully up to our expectation; each of the eight events crowded into Mr. Oxley's neatly printed card having produced a race. The first in the order of running was Her Majesty's Guineas, which were won so easily by Footstool that he made a second and equally successful appearance for the Visitors' Plate ; the New Stakes, out of forty-nine entries, gave us only seven starters, it was won by a "dark" horse of Mr. Green's, who has thus brought out this season no less than three great two-year-old winners —Assault, Flatcatcher, and Beverlac, all in the Derby, and sure to figure conspi cuously in the quotations from the corner. The Emperor's Vase followed, and excited great interest ; The Hero, who did not make any figure in the betting until after he won the Queen's Vase, becoming at the last an equal favourite with Mendicant The race was not long in doubt, the Hero making strong running from first to last, and winning cleverly by a length, Mendicant, who appeared to us to go short, being only fifth. The betting on this race, and, in fact, on all the races, was much more lively than could have been expected in the present state of the ring. A splen did race for the St. James's Palace Stakes was followed by four others, on which time will not permit us to dwell : and at six o'clock, a day's sport that had no alloy but the heat and its concomitant dust, was brought to a close. Iler Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas ; 3 yrs, 7st 21b ; 4 yrs, 9st 21b ; 5 yrs, 10st ; 6 yrs and aged, lOst 51b. About 3 miles. Lord Orford's Footstool, 4 yrs (Nat) 1 Sir J. Hawley's Humdrum, 4 yrs 2 Mr. Winch's Oliver Cromwell, 6 yrs 3 Betting-6 to 4on Footstool, and 6to 4 agst Hum drum. Footstool made all the running, and won cle verly by a length. Run in 5 min. 53 secs. The New Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 100 added for two yrs old, colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 31b. Wi nners of 100 soya., including hs own stake, Mb extra. T.Y.C. (40 Subs.) Mr. B. Green's Assault (E. Edwards) 1 Mr. Payne's Glendower, (51bs extra) Lord Exeter's Tisiphone 3 The following also started, but were not placed : Mr. Thornhill's The Iron Crown, Mr. Mostyn's Mastiff, Mr. May's Senga, Mr. Death's Glitter. Betting-2 to lon Assault, and sto 2 agst Glendower. Assault took the lead, made all the running at a great pace, and won cleverly by a length, Tisiphone a bad third, and the others beaten off. Assault was backed for the Derby, before starting, at 25 to 1, and after the race at 15 to 1. Run in 1 min. 15 sec. MAGAZINES-(CONTINUED). FRASER. A Piece of Plate, value 500 soya, the gift of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Hussies, added to a Sweepstakes of 20 soya each; three yrs old, 6st 10lb; four, Bst 51b; five, 9st; six and aged, 9st 31b; mares and geldings allowed 31bs. About two miles and a half. (20 Subs.) Mr. J. Day's the Hero, 4 yrs Mr. W. 11. Moore's Wolfdog, 5 yrs Lord Lonsdale's Jericho, 5 yrs 3 The following also started, but were not placed: — Lord E. Russell's Sting, Mr. m e iki a , m , s Poynton, Sir J. Hawley's Mendicant, Mr. Isaac Day's Sir Tatton Sykes. Betting-6 to 4 agst The Hero, 6to 1 agst Mendicant, 7 to 1 agst Sting, 10 to 1 agst Si r Tatton Sy k es , 10 to 1 agst Poynton. The Hero made the runn i ng at a strong pace, fol lowed by Mendicant, Jericho lying about two lengths in her wake, and clear of the other horses, who ran in a cluster. There was no change in this order until they came to the last turn ; Poynton here took Je richo's place, and followed Mendicant to the dis tance, where they were both beaten. Wolf Dog then came, and got to The Hero's quarters, but never i m p rove d hi s position, and was in the end beaten clev er ly by a length, J er i cho a cap i ta l third, Sting fourth, and M en di cant fifth, both well up. Run in 4 min. 34 sec. The St. James's Palace Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h ft., for three yrs old colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 41b, Old mile. (16 Subs.) Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Montpensier (Templeman) 1 Mr. Greville's Mirmillo .................................... 2 Lord Exeter's Voronetz .................................... 3 Even on Mirmillo ; 6 to 4 agst Montpensier ; and 6 to 1 agst Voronetz. They got off well together, and ran in company at a strong pace to the end, Montpensier winning by a head, and Mirmillo beating Voronetz by a neck. Run in 1 min. 51 sec. The Visitors' Plate of 100 sovs. (Handicap) by subscrip tion of 5 sovs. each, the surplus, with the entrance money of non-subscribers, to go to the second horse. Once round and a dis. (20 subs.) Lord Orford's Footstool, 4yrs, Bst 41b (Nat) I Lord Lonsdale's Martingale, 3 yrs, 4st 121 b 2 Lord Exeter's Hydrangea, 4 yrs, 7st 31b Mr. Worley's Wintlnia, 3 yrs, 6st 4 Count Batthyany's Master Stepney, 5 yrs, ist 71b Mr. Death's Subduer, aged, Bst 41b , - - Sir J. Hawley's Bravissimo, 4 yrs, 7st slb 7 Betting-2 to 1 agst Footstool, sto 2 agst Martingale, 7 to 2 agst Bravissimo, 5 to 1 agst Wintonia, and 6 to 1 agst Hydrangea. Bravissimo made the running, followed by Hydrangea and Martingale ; this lot maintained the front to the turn into the Old Mile, where Hydrangea took the lead, which she held to the distance, Bravissimo was then beaten off, and Footstool went in front, had it all his own way, and won by a couple of lengths. Run in 3 minutes 55 seconds. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three year olds, colts Bst 71b, fillies est alb ; those got by stallions or out of mares that never bred a winner allowed 41b, of both 71b ; Swinley course. (23 Subs.) Mr. Mostyn's Crozier (Nat) 1 Mr. Bowes's Epirote Mr. Coombe's c. by The Nob out of Premature .. 3 Mr. Herbert's Buckskin ............ 4 ......... Sir G. Heathcote's Nestor Betting.-5 to 4 agst The Nob colt, 6to 4 agst Epi. rote, 5 to 1 aget Buckskin, and 7 to 1 agst up Cro zier. Crozier jumped off with th e lead, followed by the Premature colt, the other s l y i ng off at wide intervals ; they ran so to t h e Brick Kiln turn, where The Nob colt took a slight lead, g ; which n ch re l s ie um h ed held histilll t e h a e d, stTrahigehtNorb colt lying unnin Crozier the with him to the distance, where Epirote joined corn-- zany ; a fine race home ended in favour of Crozier, by half a length ; the same between second and third ; and Buckskin a bad fourth. Run in 2 min. 4 sec. The Stand Plate of 7 0 sovs. ; three yrs old, 7 st 71b ; four, 9st ; five, 9st Slb ; six and aged, 9st 12113 ; mares and geldings allowed 31 b ; horses entered to b e sold for 400/. allowed 31 b ; 300 /. , 71 b ; 20 01., 12lb. ; and 1001., 2016. Swinley Course. I .) yrs ( ( l 00 1 / 0 . )......... (J. Prince) 1 Lord 0 1 ) ................. 3 . 2 1 t Lo r. Trdh S Exeter'sTarella,Voronetz, w followingi e ttsis 1 so l started, but wer e not ount Callan, 4 yr s (2001 placed :----M r . 3 3 yrs Theobald's Chemise, Count Batthyany's Master Stepney, Mr. Robertson's Noiseless, Mr. Drinkald's Mistress Jean, and Lord Chesterfield's I'am. Betting-5 to 2 agst Tarella, sto 2 agst Voronetz, 5 to 1 agst Pam, 6 to 1 each ag st Mis tress Jean and Mount Callan, and 7to 1 agst Master Stepney. Mistress Jean made the running, followed by Chemise and Tarella, the others lying off. No alteration occurred until they reached the turn, where the first two were beaten ; Ta rella, then took the running, followed, but never ap proached, by Voronetz and Pam, and won eas il y b y two lengths. Run in 2 mm. 40 sec. Sweepstakes of 100 sovs, each, and only h ft if declared, &c. ; three yrs old, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 41b. Swinley Course. (3 Subs.) Sir G. Heathcote's Timour (Chapple) 1 Sir J. Gerard's Diphthong 2 Even betting. Won by a head. Run in 2 min. 50 sec. There are twenty horses in the first class of the Wo kingham, and 17 in the second. The handicaps were not out when we left the heath. acre will also be a very large field for the Great Western Handicap. Lad an interview I Fraser this month opens with an elaborate review of the recently published work of the Chevalier Bunsen on Egypt. The review, like the work and the subject, is somewhat heavy. We have then a " Chronicle of Kenilworth Castle, its Heroes and its Heroines." It is needless to add that this is a most interesting paper—that man must be ingeniously dull ho could on such a subject write a stupid one. A sequel to the Boar-hunt in Brittany follows, under the title of " Love Passages in the life of Perron the Breton ;" and then we have a vigorous sketch of Perico, the Mexican Vagabond." Sam Slick gives us a capital Tankee paper, " Judge Beler's Ghost." The following is the history of the meeting of Stephen Richardson, the hero of the tale, with the ghost of Judge Beler : " This happened twenty-five years ago next March, and at that time it was still little more than a bridle path, and the trees lapped across it in places. Now in that hollow two large hemlocks had got canted well over on one side, windfalls like, and were catched by two large spruces on the other ; so there was just room to stoop low down on the saddle, and squeeze under, and much as ever, too—almost a scrape. Having rid that way in the morning, I knew the track, kept to the left, bent forward on the neck of the horse, and went through. Just as I cleverly cleared it, old Beler sprung right on the crupper, seized me round the waist, and yelled just as he did when he got out of the lake, first in one ear and then in the other. Oh, how the woods rung ! His breath was so hot it most scalded me, and the scream cut me through the head like a knife ; and then he clasped me so tight round the body he near about squeezed the wind out of me. If I didn't sing out its a pity, and the more I hollered the louder he shrieked. I won't pretend for to go for to say that I warn't fright ened, because that wouldn't be true ; I was properly skeered, that's a fact. I expected every minute to be clawed off, and plunged into the lake. I didn't know what to do. Human strength I knew was of no avail against supernatural beings, so I took to prayer. Our Father —' says I. " The moment I said 6 - at he let go Yellin', and seized me by the nape of the neck with his teeth, and bit right through the grizzle. Oh, it was a powerful nip that the pain was enough to drive one mad, and I fairly roared like a bull, it hurt me so. " In the meantime the horse began to rear and plunge most furiously ; for the poor dumb animal knew as well as could be it had a ghost-rider besides its lawful master to carry. At last it kicked so like old scratch it sent us both flying heels over head, the judge on one side and me on the other of it. I fortunately held on to the rein, and jumped up like winkin, and the horse stood head to him, snorting and blowing like a porpoise. I shall never forget that scene the longest day I ever live." Albeit Stephen is convinced of the existence of the ghost, there are divers sceptics, amongst others Parson Rogers. In the following colloquy Stephen by unanswerable arguments overcomes the parson, and sets for ever at rest the vexata quastio of the existence of ghosts : " Were you quite sober that night, Steve?' said he; you know folks sometimes see double on St. Patrick's day?' " See!' says I, parson; I not only see him but felt him, too. Look here where he left the marks of his teeth on me!' and I stripped and showed him the scars. Do you believe now?' says I. " I never heard that ghosts had teeth before, Steve,' said he, most provokin' cool—' no, never.' 4" Did you ever see one?' says I; ' so come, now, answer me that.' " No,' says he, never saw one, and never expect to.' " How the plague can you tell, then,' says whe th,!r they have teeth or not? But I have seen one, do ye mind ; and I can swear they have teeth—plaguy sharp ones, too—breath as hot as a tea-kettle, and claws as long and as strong as a bear.' " Stephen,' said he, my son, I didn't think you were so easily frightened.' " Frightened!' says I, and I began to get cross with his banter, as if I would go for to tell a he, or be such a fool as not to know what I was talking about—' Fright ened, is it?' said I; it's more than ever you could do to skeer me, though you have been preachin' against the devil and all his imps ever since I was born. But do you go to Beler's Lake on St. Patrick's night, and if the judge is to home, and a talking and a stirring under water, do you ondervalue him as I did, and say you ain't afraid of him, dead or alive, and if he don't frighten you into believing what you hear, and believing what you see, and into knowing the difference between a bite and a kiss, then you are a braver man than I take you to be, that's all.' " ' I'll go with you the next 17th day of March,' said be. "' Thank you,' says I, I'd rather be excused.' " Well, I'll go with or without you, just as you please, on the 17th of next March, if you will first go to Nick Wyland's, and see that Colonel Brown's crazy boy (the one that roasted his brother) is well chained up. It's my opinion that that mischievous maniac broke loose, or -slipped out that night;and attacked you; and the only wonder is that, with his superhuman strength, he didn't kill you. You had a great escape. But as for a ghost, Steve-' " Parson,' says I, do you believe the Bible?' " Yes,' says he, I do.' " Well, then,' says I, believe in Judge Beler's ghost. I have seen him, and heard him, and felt him, and have the marks to prove it. You are Parson Rogers, ain't you?' "'Yes.' Well, so you are; but how do I know it? Be cause I've seen you, heard you, and felt you. Well, that's the way I know the ghost. I tell you I have heard, seen, and felt Judge Beler's ghost.' " The Earl of Ellesmere and Mr. Monckton Milnes are the literary legislators who sit for their portraits this month, and justice is done to each of them. Morgan Rattler furnishes a coarsely overdone puff of the Covent-garden Opera speculation ; and the number winds up with an elaborate paper on colo nisation, in which Lord Grey's plans are eulogised most highly, but not more highly than they deserve. LOAN DISCOUNT BILL. In answer to a question, Sir G. GREY said that the Loan Discount Bill would be the first business to-morrow, but he understood that it would not occupy the attention of the House for a long period. BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) BILL. The House went into Coirimittee upon this Bill. The Bill went through Committee. HIGHWAY RATES BILL. On the motion for the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill, Sir W. JOLIFFE said that with the Turnpike Acts, which were annually renewed, they found great evils perpetually recurring. The functionaries employed under the Turnpike Acts were unable, from want of funds, to prosecute defaulters. Ile did think that a mass of evil existed under the present system, which was a disgrace to the Legislature and the executive, and he thought that the subject ought to be taken into consideration by the Government, with a view to its amendment. After a few words from Sir G. GREY, The Bill was read a second time in order to be com mitted this day. The following Bills were then read a second time:— Stage Carriages, &c., Duties Bill. Soap Allowances Bill. TRUST MONEY INVESTMENT (IRELAND) BILL. ___ ____ This Bill went through Committee. PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND. Mr. HUME moved for copy of an Address from the House of Assembly of Prince Edward's Island to her Majesty, praying for a responsible Government in that colony. Copies of all applications and correspondence between the colonies and the British Government respecting the establishment of free ports in the colonies since 1840.- Agreed to. LIGHTHOUSES (BARBADOES). Mr. HUME moved for copies of the official corres pondence relative to the erecting a lighthouse at Bar badoes, alluded to in the Governor's speech in 1845 ; of the dispatch of the Colonial Secretary to the Governor of Barbadoes, stating the readiness of her Majesty's Government to contribute half the expense of such erection. Of any documents in the Colonial-office, which explain the refusal of the Council at Barbadoes to appropriate the money depo sited in the Colonial Bank for their express purpose. Agreed to. The House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY, JUNE 3. THAMES CONSERVANCY BILL. Report further considered ; Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the Amendments made by the Committee to the Bill be now read a second time :"—Amendment pro posed, to leave out from the words " That the" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " Bill be re-com mitted," instead thereof:—Question put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question." The House divided:— MINORITY—AYES, 65. Allx, J. P. Guest, Sir J. Parker, John Arkwright, George Hannaer, Sir J. Pattison, James Bailie, Walter Hatton, Captain V. Philipps, Sir It. Barclay, David Hill, Lord M arcus Plurnridge, Captain Barnard, Edward G. Hodgson, Rickard Rich, Henry Berkeley, Captain Howard, C W.G. Rolleston, Colonel Boyd, :John Howard, P. H. Ross, David R. Buller, Charles Humpliery, Ald. Sheppard, T. Busfeild, W. Labouchere, Henry Smith, A. Colebrook., Sir T. Lemon, Sir Charles Somerville, Sir W. Copeland, Ald. Lyall‘ fileerge Stanstield, W. R. C. Dawson, T. V. Lygon, General Stanton, W. H. Denison, J. E. Marjoribanks, S. Staunton, Sir G. Duke, Sir J. Masterman, John Stuart, - Lord J. Dundas, Admiral Mimic, Fox Strutt, Edward Dundas, Sir David Milnes, R. M. Trelawny, J. S. Elmington, Viscount Mitchell, T. A. Tioubridge, Sir E. Escott, Bickham Molesworth, Sir W. Tufnell, Henry Ferguson, Sir R. Monahan, J. H. Turner, Edmund Frewen, C. 11. 3lorpeth, Viscount Fuller, A. E. Ogle, S. C. TELLERS. Gibson, T. M. Palmer, G. Ward, H. G. Grey, Sir G. Palmerston, Vis. Cowper, W. F. MAJORITY-NOES, 71. Adare, Viscount Duncan, Viscount Mackenzie,:T. Aglionby, H. A. Duncan, George Mahon,:Lord Austen, Colonel Duncombe, T. Manners, Lord J. Bailey, Joseph, jun. Estcourt, T. G. Maunsell, T. B. Baillie, IL - J. - Evans, William Morris, David Banker, George Evans, William Muuts, G. F. Barrington, Viscount Forster, Matthew Pakington, Sir J. Bentinck, Lord G. Gladstone, Captain Peel, Sir Robert Bowles, Admiral Goulburn, Henry Philips, G. R. Bowring, Dr. Graham, Sir James Prime, Richard Bramston, T. W. Granger, T. C. Russell, J. D. Broadwood, 11. Greene, Thomas Somerset, Lord G. Bretherton, J. Hall, Sir B. Spooner, Richard Bruce, C. L. C. Hamilton, W. J. Thornely, T. Cardwell, Edward laarris,:Captain Vernon, G. H. Carew, W. H. Pole Hughes, W. B. Walker, Rickard Carnegie, Captain Inglis, Sir It. Wawn, J. T. Clerk Sir G. Irton, Samuel Wortley, J. S. Clive, R. H. Johnstone, Sir J. Wrightson, W. B. Collett, John Knight, F. W. Yorke, Henry R. Deedes, W. Law, Hon. E. C. Young, John Dickinson, F. 11. • Lefroy, A. Divett, E.' Liddell, H. T. TELLERS. Douglas, Sir C. Lincoln, Earl of Hume, Joseph Drummond, 11. 11. Lowther, lion. Col. Williams, W. LORD CASTLEREAGICS ACCOUNT OF Ins JOURNEY TO DAMAS C US, is to appear, we unde rs t an d, i n a few d ays. The attention which has lately been directed towards the East, it is expeeted, will be increased by the publication of these travels, as the author's high position must have enabled him to command facilities for noting whatever was most worthy of observation in the various countries through which he passed, seldom, if ever, accorded to travellers. POSTPONEMENT OF THE IRISH AsslzEs.—The judges have it under consideration to postpone the assizes until the last week in September or the first week in Octo ber. The Government has left the questi on t o b e d ec id ed by their Lordships , intimating no opinion . on the subject, an d the precepts will issue at t h e usual time. The spread o f fever, the consequent dange r of contagion, and the proba bility ge assizeseneriilel will b July,ectionieni?ostposw make adr l e t al s m ,s os N t cer tainews: f that o h Letter. It is stated that the j ud g es this day decided upon postponing the circuits until October.—Dublin Evening Post of Tuesday. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. We agree entirely with the Farmer's Magazine, that a deficient harvest or a recurrence of the potato murrain would be productive of consequences the very supposition of which is appalling : and we do believe that if it be ever advisable to ad dress orisons to the Deity for any temporal blessing, it is surely advisable to address such orisons for the continuance of the present favourable and magnificent weather. Upon the advantages that have already resulted from the beautiful month of May just terminated, the Farmer says : " After rather a heavy fall of rain the temperature rose gradually, and the moisture and warmth combined have wrought an amazing alteration in the appearance of the country. The spring-sown crops stand as well as could possibly be desired. The wheat plant, though still backward, wears a healthy and vigorous aspect, and promises far better than could have been hoped, consi &ring the extreme length and severity of the winter. Grass has grown amazingly, and all the green crops are luxuriant. As far, therefore, as a judgment can be formed at this early period, the harvest promises to be abundant." Earnestly is it to be hoped that all our hopes in this respect may be realised. Although the writer does not appear very sanguine as to the diminution in the price of corn, before the time of harvest has actually arrived, he still thinks that " under certain combinations" wheat may easily decline 20s. or even 30s. per quarter. Unless it decrease more than this, we shall yet have to pass through a severe, if not a protracted, ordeal. THE BANKER'S. One of the principal features in this month's number of the Banker's Magazine, is, as a matter of course, the odious and miserable financial blunder of Sir Robert Peel. Every alternate page displays in conspicuous characters the words " Bank Restriction Act," and these words are plentifully accompanied by animadversions upon the reprehensible measure they indicate. In speaking of the almost uni versal obloquy now showered upon the enactment of 1844, one of the contributors to this commercial periodical observes, that it was eulogised on its ori ginal introduction as an admirable scheme, by nearly all the press, " with a very few exceptions." It cannot be forgotten that among those very few ex ceptions, we ourselves were numbered from the very outset. Speciously as the innovation upon banking transactions was introduced by the then Prime Mi nister, we recognised in it, from the first, those dilemmas and miseries and dangers which have re cently come to pass. We perceived and proclaimed that the Bill was intended to direct the currency by mechanical agency, when the agency was required to he imist flexible and elastic. What has been the result of experience in developing the influences of the measure is tolerably well expressed in the follow ing sentences : " The recent fluctuation in the rate of interest within a few months, from two per cent. to twenty, has dispelled the delusion they were under on this subject. They see clearly enough that the Act, instead of equalising the rate of interest and the value of money, must, whenever its enactments come into effect, produce more violent and sudden changes than could reasonably occur under a system which would permit the exercise of wisdom and part of those who have the practical experience on . the regulation of the rate of interest in their hands. A lengthened and accurate report of the debate upon this important subject in the House of Com mons is given in the June Number. The Magazine continues to be the bold and temperate organ of the banking world. TYE MONTHLY RAILWAY RECORD. With a characteristic likeness of the chairman of the London and North Western Railway Company, and a singular accumulation of information upon railway matters, the prese nt part is embellished (we use the word advisedly) with a generous appeal to the railway public—and a vast public it is, too ! —in behalf of Thomas Gray. We quote the sensible and reasonable proposition of the Railway Record:— " The formation of a penny railway subscription, has been suggested on the p ri n ci p le of a penny per pound on the paid up railway capital of the country. Suppos ing the paid - up ca p ital of established railway com p an i es to be somewhere about 4 6 000 . ,0001., a penny subscrip tion, as thus suggest ed, would yield 47,000,000 o f pence; which, by an easy process of arithmetic, will be found to be, in round numbers, 195,0001. It may be said that this is a large sum. Then, let the limit be a penny per five pounds ; this would yield again in round numbers, 39,000/. Again a tenth. or a penny per ten pounds, would be just one half-19,5001. Say only a penny per share, and, to facilitate calculation, take the shares at 25/. each ; 47,000,000/. divided by 25, gives 1,830,000/.; and this, at one penny each, amounts to 7,B33L—the lowest possible amount we think the railway public could, with any regard to liberality, offer as their contri butiun to the nation a l testimonial to Thomas Gray. We hope to see some movement made at the ensuing half yearly meetings of the railway companies ; and, in the mean time, we throw out these hints for the consideration of railway men." Let it not be forgotten that Thomas Gray was the first (derided) propounder of railway communication. Thomas Gray is now old, and, we believe, very in digent ! THE KNIGHT OF G WYNNE. Part XVIII. By Charles Lever. Forester, as Earl of Wallincourt, figures very conspicuously in these chapters ; he is all solicitude to afford ass i s t ance to t h e Darcys. In hastening towards Ireland for the purpose, he is, however, detained at Bangor by a dangerous attack of fever. His valet proceeds to Bicknell, at Dublin, for the purpose of delivering important dispatches from Lord Castlereagh, whereby the approaching trial with O'Rielly may be frustrated against Dr. Hick man and his detestable relations. We are intro duced again to Freeney and Miss Daly ; but as yet no sign of Bagenal or the Knight. Next month there will be of course a double number com pleting the fiction. KNIGH7"S MONTHLY VOLUME XIL—XV. SETTLERS AND CONVICTS. By An Emigrant Mechanic. PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE; FEMALE EXAMPLES. By G. L. Craik. As has been visible heretofore in the periodical publication of this serial, there is much discrimina tion in the arrangement of the different subjects. The first work above-mentioned is composed of certain recollections of sixteen years' hard labour in the Australian backwoods. The second is a collection of biographical notices of Elizabeth Smith, Elizabeth Hamilton, Hannah More, and Mrs. Grant of Laggan. We perceive that among the con tinuations that have recently appeared of works com menced in the Weekly Volumes, are the abbreviated Lives from Plutarch. THE LAND WE LIVE IN. Part I. Although we have watched this interesting peri odical from its first appearance in weekly numbers, just four weeks ago, we have refrained from comment ing upon its singular merits until the first monthly part was completed. The notion from which the pub lication has originated is new and admirable. The eminent publisher for the million—and we might truly designate him as the distinguished instructor of the t million p — i e M r a . w C e h r a k r ei illustrative u t l r i e n t i i g v e h t, of h e a r l l e t h proposes most striking characteristics observable in England, so as to indicate in a vivid manner the pro gress of civilisation, the growth of science, the improvements of the manners and customs of the people, the natural peculiarities of the island, and the artificial constructions by which it is externally decorated, or by which its commerce and social inter course are materially advanced. The purpose of the publication, however, may be better understood by quoting the titles of the four chapters which have already appeared, namely " The Road and the Railway," " The Sail and the Steamer," " The British Museum," and " Richmond." Even now, therefore, it has acquired a remarkable degree of diversity. Each disquisition is illustrated by en gravings from the pencils of distinguished artists ; the first number depicting a pack horse train of the seventeenth century, the travelling machine of 1750, the turnpike of 1663, and the road waggon of the last century ; the second number, containing views of the Clyde near Dumbarton, of Queensberry, of the Hoy Becalmed, and of a Steam-vessel on the Thames ; the third, sketches of the old entrance to the British Museum (a fragment of old London, which, however unsightly, we shall regret to see demolished), of the principal (new) front, of the (new) quadrangle, of the (new) stair case, and of the Egyptian Gallery ; the fourth is embellished, moreover, with pencillings of Richmond from the Isleworth Meadows, the Park, the Gateway of the old Palace, the view from Rich mond Hill, and Ham House. Eighteen beautiful engravings in all, and appropriate letterpress, ele gantly and intelligently written ! THE BELLE ASSEMBLEE. Now that Camilla Toulmin has undertaken the editorship of the Belle Assemblee, we augur well for the prosperity and improvement of the magazine. We wish her Godspeed, cordially ! CHAMBERS'S EDINBURGH JOURNAL. As crowded with instruction and entertainment, as vigorous in style, and as diversified in contents as ever. We are not surprised to find the preference given to Burns in a comparison drawn between that glorious bard and Beranger, and however much we may differ in opinion, we cannot but admire the genial glow of the nationality by which the pre ference is inspired. SHARPE'S LONDON MAGAZINE. There are such a multitude of cheap and popular publications, similar to Sharpe's London Magazine, that we cannot do more than express our approval of the general discrimination and unstarched morality by which its pages are beautified. There is a dis agreeable mannerism about all the engravings, that might be easily remedied. They seem to have been produced by the scrutinising system of glypho graphy. THE PICTURESQUE AND POPULAR .HIS TORY OF ENGLAND. Part I. By Thomas Miller. Our old favourite Thomas Miller—the poet of the green lanes and of schoolboy recollections—is assuming a higher position in literature than he has hitherto reached—he is climbing the pinnacle of his tory. Safe be his footing upon that perilous ascent, and golden his reward on reaching the summit ! We have already had a multiplicity of histories of our native land. Lingard and Hume have given us the eloquent utterances of the past ; Stowe and Holin shed have afforded us the quaint chronicles ; Sharon Turner and Henry have given us very equable but fragmentary narratives ; we have had a pictorial history from the printing press of Charles Knight, a ventriloquial or Catholic history from the portfolio of Mr. MacCabe, and a facetious history from the incorrigible and inexhaustible comicality of Gilbert A'Beckett. Thomas Miller offers us now a picturesque and popular history. To our thinking, he is admirably calculated for that very graceful and novel undertaking. We shall re serve a definite expression of our opinion upon his work until it is further advanced, if not completed. SHARPE'S MODERN MAPS. Part 117. Scotland and Ireland are delineated in the present part, which is as carefully and distinctly traced as its predecessors. The colouring is neat, and the lettering elaborate. LE FOLLET. We continue to be as much charmed as ever with this unequalled brochure of the fashions. The coloured plates are quite miniature paintings in their way, and the anatomy of the figure is preserved under all the alternations of costume. One engraving in the June part is a garden scene, in which some little girls are netting butterflies ; it is daintily done. Without any question Le Fond is without a rival. THE ART-UNION. We have before us the most splendid number of the Art- Union that has been issued for a long period. It literally abounds with pictorial beauty, the mere enumeration of which would extend beyond the limits afforded just now by our columns. The number is worth three times its average price. It is conducted with increasing industry and the most prolific enterprise. Some parties, usually well-informed, writing from Belfast on the all-important question of the coming crop, observe—" We have had a few days warm and fine wvather, and we are told the country generally looks well. 'We calcu late, from observation and the farmers' statements, that in the best portion of the North of Ireland nearly one-third extra land is under grain, about one-fourth the average of potatoes are planted, and scarcely an average of flax, besides a much greater extent than ordinary of cabbages, turnips, parsnips, carrots, beans, and such like." The destruction of live stock during the winter, from poor food and insufficient tending, is believed to have been considerable. " BELL'S LlFE."—There was sold of "Bell's Life in London," during the past month of May—five publica tions only—namely, May 2,9, 16, 23, 30-141,561 copies, making an average weekly sale of 28,312. On Sunday next " Bell's Life" will contain faithful details of Asoot Races, and their brilliant accompaniments, with engravings of the Emperor's Vase, Queen's Vase, and Hunt Cup, with the usual sporting varieties. Price of "Bell's Life," 6d. Office 170, Strand. [A D VERTISEMENT.] —Mercantile Life.—lt has been re marked by intelligent foreigners, that oases of baldness prevail greatly in this country, and Asa cause, that the unwearied application to eom me rcial pursuits contributes largely tr, this result. Be thi s as it may, nowhere is a protective and restorative pr e p arat i on more needed; a and probably there is no European peopl e to whoniaretiroficatas* al cases PPil oi antes have been so eminently serviceable. The narn recovery of the hair after having fallen off, or partial baldness, are truly astonishing. The testimoni a l s o f the efficacy of Oldricl,ge's Balm of Columbia place its power and v i rtues bevond all doubt or cavil : 3s. 6d., Gs., and I Is. per bottle. No other prices are genuine. Oldridge's Balm, 1, Wellingtou - street, the S econ d house from the Strand.D [.A VERISEDIENT.]—A VERY BAD LEG curnED By lIOLLOWAT's Pins AND OINTMENT ._The M — The foreman at a large paper mill, near Armagh (the e iiro l pe; e ty t' r. Gwynn), from excessive confinement, and being employed so much upon hi s f ee t, h a d one leg swollen to such an extent as ultimately to break into ulcers, from which ha suffered so severely o as Id tom a incapacitate isme butayaci thtateis e him from ling to his duties. I t was a despe ratecathe s, il wounds, abscesses, was qui c kl y h ealed by using these powerful remed i es . abscesses, contracted and stiff joints, as likewise white sw ellings, tumours, or oth er unnatural enlargements, are rea dil y 11 oowa cured by the use o f II ' y s Pills and Ointment.--Sold by drug gists, and at th e Proprietor's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. PORTUGAL. The following (laid before Parliament last night) is , the text of the protocol of a conference relating to the affsirs of Portugal, held at the Foreign-office on the 21st of Nray, 1847 Presons: Les Plenipotentiares d'Espagne, de France, de la Grand Bretagne, et du Portugal. Les Plenipotentiares d'Espagne, de France, de la Grande Bretagne, et du Portugal, s'etant reunis en c •: , ference sur l'invitation du Pleoipotenti a r e d u Por tugal: • Le Plenipotentiaire Portugais a deolare qu'il avait appris par des avis regus ce jour memo de son gouverne inent, l'inutilite des efforts tenter a Oporto par le Colonel Wylde et le Marquis d'Espana, pour mettre un terme Ila guerre civile en Portugal, moyennant les conditions . * • que la Heine de Portugal les aviit autoris.e3 a faire c.,nnaitre al la Junte. Ii a ajoute que, comme la Heine de Portugal avait offert ces conditions conformement au eenseil de ses allies, it 6tait charge par Sa Majest6 Tres Falele de renouveler la demarche dejti faite par elle au ei de ceux de ses allies qui avaient pris part au Traite du 22 Avril, 1834, afin d'obtenir d'eux l'assist ance necessaire pour effectuer la pacification de ses ittats. Le Baron de Moncorvo a declare ensuite qwe les con ditions ainsi communiquees a la Junte d'Oporto de la part de Sa Majeste Tres Fidele, etaient : Precuierement ; une amnistieploine et generale pour tousles delits politiques commis depuis re commence ment du mois d'Octobre dernier, et le rappel immddiat de toutes les personnes qui, depuis cette époque, avaient ate contraintes de quitter le Portugal pour des motifs po litiques. Deuxiemement ; la revocation immediate de tousles de2rets protaulgues depuis le commencement du mois d'Octobre dernier, qui sont an confilt ou en opposition avcc les lois etablies et la constitution du royaume. Troisiemement ; Ia convocation des Cortes, aussitiit que les elections, qui doivent avoir lieu sur-le-champ, seront terminees. Quatriemement ; la nomination immediate d'une Ad ministration composfie de personnages qui n'appartien nent point au parti des Cabrais, et ne soient point mem bres de la Junta d'Oporto. Le Plinipotentiare Anglais a confirme la disslaration du Baron de Moncorvo, et a dit que le Gouvernement Britannique avait reeu egalement ce matin mime du Colonel Wylde des d6peches annongant une la mission a laquelle it s'etait employe conjointement avec le Mar quis d'Espana, avait tochoud, et que la Junte avait refuse de mettre fin a la guerre civile, moyennant les termes proposes par Sa Majeste Tres Fidele, ou meme de con sentir a une simple suspension d'armes. Les Pldaipotentiares d'Espagne, de France, et de la Grand Bretagne, prenant ces circonstances en s6rieuse consideration, et ayant present a l'esprit le profond in te! & que leurs gouvernemens respectifs portent au hien etre du royaume de Portugal, et le vif desir de ces gou vernemens de voir Ia guerre civile qui disole actuelle ment ce pays terminee, al des conditions fondies, d'une part, sur le respect du a la dignity et aux droits constitu tionnels de la Couronne, et propres a assurer suffisam ment, d'autre part, les Ebert& du peuple ; convaincus, de plus, que les termes proposes par Sa Majeste Tres Fidele &Merit Bien faits pour atteindre ces deux buts, s'accordent a penser qu'une conjoncture s'est maintenant pi Lentee, di leurs gouvernemens respectifs peuvent, en se conformant pleinement aux principes qui les dirigent, ace Bier I la demande de secours qui leur a eti address 6.3 par la Reine de PortugaL Le Plenipotentiaire du Portugal apses avoir exprime la satisfaction avec laquelle it recevait cette declaration de la part des Plenipotentiaires des Trois Puissances, a etabli l'urgente necessite de prendre des mesures con formes sl ces declarations, et a represents que dans Pdtat actual des affaires du Portugal, tout Mai doit ajouter au sang verse, et aggraver les ca.lamites qui affligent ce royaume. Ayant Sgard I ces circonstances, et persuade do l'ur gence de la conjoncture, les Plenipotentiaires des Trois Puissances se sont resolus en commun a acc6ier a la d, mande du Plenipotentiaire Portugais ; et it a ate arrete en consequence par les Plenipotentiaires des Quatre Puissances, que l'assistance promise I la Reine de Portugal lei serail pre tee imrneiiatement ; et d'apres cette determination, les Plenipotentiaires d'Espagne, de France, et de la Grande Bretagne, s'engagent I ce que les forces navales de leurs gouvernemens respectifs ac tuellement stationnees sur la cote du Portugal prennent part, conjointement et sur le-champ, avec les forces na vales de Sa Majesie Tres Fidele, a toute or eration judge necessaire ou opportune par les commandans de ces forces combinees, pour atteindre le but de cat acte com mun; et le Pleuipotentiaire d'Espagne s'engage en outre a ce qu'un corps de troupes, dont le nombre sera fixe entre les Gouvernemens d'Espagne et du Portugal, p6..letre en Portugal, I l'effet de co-operer avec lea troupes de Sa Majeste Tres Fidele, et que ces troupes dvacuent le territoire dans un (Wei de deux mois apses leer entree, ou aussitOt que l'objet de l'expedition aura ate rempli. Les Plenipotentiaries des Quatre Puissances pro mettent que des ordres conformes aux engagemens de ce protocole seront immediatement envoy, ds aux officiers de Marine des G ouvernemens respectifs sur la cote de Portugal, et aux officiers generaux commandant lea troupes Espagnoles sur les frontieres d'Espagne. (Signs) XAVIER DE ISTURITZ. JARNAC. PALMERSTON. TORRE DE MONCORVO. (TRANSLATION.) Present—The Plenipotentiaries of Spain, of France, of Great Britain, and of Portugal. The Plenipotentiaries of Spain, of France, of Great Britain, and of Portugal, having met in conference on the invitation of the Plenipotentiary of Portugal, The Portuguese Plenipotentiary stated that he had learnt by advises which he had this day received from his Government, that the efforts made at Oporto by Colonel Wylde and the Marquis d'Espana, to put an end to the civil war in Portugal, upon the conditions which those officers were authorised by the Queen of Portugal to make known to the Junta had failed; and he added, that as the Queen of Portugal had offered those condi tions in accordance with the advice of her allies, he was now commanded by her Most Faithful Majesty to renew the application which her Most Faithful Majesty bad previously made to those of her allies who had been parties to the treaty of the 22d of April, 1834, for assistance to enable her to effect the pacification of her dominions. The Baron Moncorvo further stated that the condi tions which had thus been communicated to the Junta of Oporto by her Most Faithful Majesty's authority, were :- Ist. A full and general amnesty for all political offences committed since the beginning of October last, and an immediate recal of all persons who, since that time, have been sent out of Portugal for politi ca l reasons. 2d. An immediate revocation of all the decrees which have been issued since the beginning of October last, and which infringe upon or conflict with the established laws and constitution of the kingdom. 3d. A Convocation of the Corks so soon as the elec tions, which are to take place without delay, shall have been completed. 4th. The immediate appointment of an administration composed of men not belonging to the party of the Ca brals, nor being members of the Oporto Junta. The British Plenipotentiary confirmed the statement of Baron de Moncorvo, and said that the British Go vernment had also received this morning from Colonel Wylde, dispatches reporting the failure of the mission ' upon which he and the Marquis d'Espana had been em ployed, and the refual of the Junta either to put an end to the civil war upon the terms proposed to them by her Most Faithful Majesty, or to consent even to a tempo rary suspension of arms. The Plenipotentiaries of Spain, France, and Great Britain, having taken these matters into their serious consideration, and bearing in mind the deep interest which their respective Governments take in the welfare of the kingdom of Portugal, and the anxious desires which those Governments feel that the civil war which now desolates that country should be brought t e oanend, upon conditions which should on the one hand be f oundedrights a c d r u o e w r n es a a n r regard dignityr s o hn th u e ldnn thn and eth eer o i ..,,t thn,hhaesaset,nttdtu afford no r n e a ror 1 1 rorraelfgit Britain, o s ou t:: l el ot u r hn r e o i security for opinion the tlhibaetrtthieesof arrangementsthe people; p a r pd po b s e e i d ng h nl y more over of Faithful Majesty were well calculated to attain these ends, agree that a case has now presented itself in which their respective Governments may, in full ac cordance with the principles by which they are guided, comply with the application for assistance addressed to them by the Queen of Portugal. The Plenipotentiary of Portugal, after expressing the satisfaction with which he received this declaration on the part of the Plenipotentiaries of the three Powers, impressed upon them the urgent necessity that imme diate measures should be taken to carry those declara tions into effect, and represented that in the present state of affairs in Portugal delay must lead to a a renewal Of bloodshed, and an aggravation of the calamities by +Nhich Portugal is now afflicted. Adverting to these circumstances, and sensible of the urgency of the case, the Plenipotentiaries of the t tio o oatfn d Portuguese u P e o s a e • Por tugal should be given c? de termined b the Plenipoten h tia i r teh z d es ; of Spain, frt France, and Great accordingly the Plenipotentiariesthe Queen requesthFoure ot , :hat the assistance ePrisenai pg or t et o ee nd b t e itao al 3; w r i deal and d engageaenta, nowth actos-ttobapet stationed e n rn a a et co-operate 1 with e.n forces thet the ee f a naval htaevoiafrl Portugal,f e o s r p e e e c o ti ft.e her shallGe r o v i :rn os - im mediately Faithful Majesty in any operations which the corn launders of these combined forces may judge necessary cr expedient for carrying into effect the objects Spainobje cts of : a g reement o ; and the Ple n ip a t ent i aw engages that a body of troops, the number of which shall iv., agreed upon between the Spanish and Portuguese Governments, shall enter Portugal for the purpose of ca-operating with the troops of her Most Faithful Majesty ; and that those troops shall withdraw from the Portuguese territory within two months after the time when th ey s h all enter, or as soon as the ob jects for which they shall have entered shall have been accomplished. The Plenipotentiaries of the Four Powers undertake that orders, in conformity with the engagements of this protocol, shall be sen t f or th w ith t o th e nava l officers of the respectiv e G overnmen t s on th e coas t of Portugal, ,and t o o n the e general s o e f fi t. officers a i commanding D t E h e i S s p T a u n troopsisßhiT ISTURITZ. (Signed) JARNAC. PALMERSTON. TORRE DE MONCORVO. BRISTOL COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—R e D., E., proof.—On Friday his gave judgment in this during andctlao: which Honour A ili c h r r mica Commissioner nm. occupiedm— opnaerrttehe attention of the court A Stevensonll sop p ' s three or four sittings. The proof was admitted for 1,5841., and for a 1,0001. bill of exchange. His Honour gave the as signees six weeks to consider whether they would bring their - action against the Messrs. .Allsopp, and ordered, in the mean time, that the dividend on their proof should be stayed.— Bristol Gazette. they sub elief owe low ice ,e de- ' re a aid, ) of Ted hip gild ,us o ttee ~~