The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-19 00:00:00

.0 the 6', saiJ tb ; then !1 the i r ri ''Ple 1 ry t het One. Kyr' Ica r 6,01 1 id to of e'' 3 o( tt , miler e ll boy • p• l• • h 41 fro on , ei NN ` h o heitL l l 3l' d f ite # °(„414 in hsj o je ci ; ole of of ,rd C°(' ,e 3leOber those who were disposed to deny that it was a great misfortune that so large a proportion of the property of Ireland was held by persons who only occasionally resided there Ile trusted, however, that this was an evil which would be gradually amended ; and, he might say, that there were two measures, one of which had been proposed to that House, and the other had been announced by her Majesty's Government, as about to be submitted to the consideration of the Legislature, which he thought would be a fair and legitimate means of counteracting the evils under which Ireland was then suffering. One of these was the poor-law which had been lately discussed. This law—and it was one of the atrungest recommendations which, in his eyes, the measure had —authorised property, whether it was held by absentee landlords or resident proprietors, to contribute its fair share to the relief of the distress in Ireland. He would acknowledge to the Hon Member for Westmeath that, in the course of his experience in Ireland, he had observed many and striking cases of this kind, to which the Hon. Member had alluded, where the exertions of the resident proprietors to meet the distress which existed in their neighbourlsoods, we,e curbed and rendered abortive by the refusal of those landlords who were not present to witness the destitution which existed, to accede to the schemes which were originated for the purpose of alleviating that misery and that distress. It would be no longer possible when this Bill was passed, to refuse their assent to such measures as might be cons dered necess.ry for the relief of the evils which sur rounded them. There was another measure to which he attached equal force lie believe d that many of the evils Under which Ireland was suffering were attributable to the fact, not that property was in the hands of absentee proprietors, but (Fat it was in the hands of persons so encuml ered that it was impossible for them properly to perform those duties which devolved upon them. lie did trust, therefore, that the Bill which the Noble Lord at the head of the Government would shortly off r to the Legislature would facilitate the sale of encumbered estates, and thus benefit Ireland by placing property in the herds of those persons who, having money as well as the disposition to improve the soil, would perform their duty to their destitute and poorer neighbours.—(Hear, hear. ) While he agreed with the lion. Member for Limerick that great evils arose `rom the system of absenteeism, he did not think that the resolution he 'had brought forward would have the effect of counteracting, or remedying the evils which existed, but he could not concede to the lion. Member, that those proprietors ought to he included among absentees, who possessing property in Ireland and England, spent the greater portion of their time in the latter country. He never could eonsent to make any difference between the proprietors of the two countries, and consider those as ab sentees who only had an occasional residence in Ireland, for he believed that many men who held property both in Ireland and England would feel it to be their duty to reside partly in one country and partly in the other, and be could not therefore consent to consider them both as absentee proprietors. In considering both these countries then as portions of the empire he had to look at their g , neral interests, and doing so he could not agree to the proposition of the Hon. Member, that because a landlord resided part of the year out of Ire land that he was to be considered as an absentee proprietor. Yet while saying this he was not at the same time quite assented to the truth that every one who drew has subsistence from the soil ought to do their duty by the country, and that it was not at all likely that those who were absent from the country were able to relieve the distress which they did not see, and with the details of which, of course, they could not be acquainted 30 well as others who were upon the spot, and who had seen them. He would now read a passage from a pamphlet which was published about a hundred years ago, and which produced a great sensation at the time it hap pened. The author was Sir Thomas Prior, some of whose suggestions were very striking at the present moment. That gentleman said that there were many gentlemen who drew large sums of money from the country who never contributed anything to the burdens of the State. Taking all these toge ther, he presumed that there were not less than from 200,000'. to 300,0001. a year by these who spent their money in foreign countries, who left their own without assistance, and who never lived among the people during the whole of their lives. He trusted that the Legislature would take those persons under their consideration, and compel them to contribute to the burdens of the country, and that, as soon as possible, some remedy should be found. He then went on to state that. in his opinion, an absentee tax ought to be laid upon the landed proprietors who lived eut of the country, but that a tax on the land itself would be still more important. Now, with this, under general circumstances, he could not agree, although he quite agreed in the necessity for making those who resided abroad do their duty to their country, and he also quite agreed in the assertion, that if the landlords were to be compelled, that a great change would take place—such a change as would speedily make a ma nifest improvement in many parts of Ireland. But the Hon. Gentleman said that a tax should be laid on the absentee pro prietors. Now, he thought that the word tax was not a proper term to be applied to such an imposition as that which was now devised ; for if the imposition was to be levied on the proprietors of land in Ireland, he (Mr. Labouehcre) conceived that it ought to be laid on all the property of the country, on all the land.—( Hear, h ear.) But if such a tax were to be levied, it ought to he such an imposition as would compel the sale of the encumbered estates ; for he thought that it was a most unwise, a most un just, a most constitutional principle to pass law upon, that any man who possessed an estate in this country should be compelled to reside upon it. And if such a principle was in :tlifilicable to this country, it was equally inapplicable to Ire land. Stich a principle would be as inconsistent with the Political institutions of these two portions of the state, as it s would be inconsistent with the social institutions of this coun try, and altogether inconsistent with the interests of the united empire. lie did not know that he need detain the House longer on this Bill. Il e qu it e agree d w ith the Hon. Gentle manin th e op i n i on w hi c h h e h a d expresse d , th a t th ere Was theira d number of men at the present moment discharging inlets to the country in a most admirable manner, th l ink v t e h e in no way interested in the soil, but he slid not in cense or o ur, it was desirable that a tax should be laid upon pro cinuorder to compel them to discharge their duty which, their Poor shoe of the possession of property, they owed to which it svaaeitglhbours. This, Men believed, was not a matter done all that th e e diitY of the istry to settle, for they had tating the sale of encumbered "uld by introducing the measure for facili tating asaertion of theellcunnbered estates. He could not assent to Gentleman that such a Bill was ne cessary for the protection of property in Ireland; and, be lieving that it would be inconsistent alike with the interests of this country iny and Ireland, e b e .e r l t a a nd l if eo th r i e e a l g i a o ist n n MiTber pushed it to a divisio n , he should Sir A. BROKE thought that the amount of the tax ought ti be expended on t h e property from whence the money was derived. Two years ago when this measure was before the House, he had recommended that a tax, not of Its, but of 15 or 20 per cent., shon:d be levied on the properties of absentee proprietors, and spent in subsoiling, draining, fencing, build ing task houses and cottages for labourers, and other improve tents on the several estates, for the benefit of those who were I° caled upon them. le hought that such a measure would hav e been far be tter t I han t that which the Government had brought forward for the relief of the poor, anti if such a tax were to be imposed he would readily vote for it : nor would he be at all inclined to limit the amount.—( Hear, hear.) But there was one thing that he could not agree with in one point ef the speech cf the Hon. Member for Limerick, and that was, that no gentleman should be :slowed to hold property in Eng land and Ireland at the same time, for such a rule would 14 effect amount to practical repeal of the union. Nor could he assent to the assertion that all the English proprietors `ere to be cons id ere d as a b sen t ees , f or th e Duke of Devonshire, Marl Fitzwilliam, and Colonel Wyndham, who all possessed large Properties in Ireland, went over constantly and expended Re sums i n th e i m p rove ment of their estates. Such men lie ne ver t could consent to consider as absentee proprietors. lint R ho were the exceptions, for he knew and could name several rio drew large sums from the country who had never been steer their estates for thirty to thirty-five years together. hut °Pent their money on the Continent or in England, without any thought of the duties which they had to discharge to the Psantry who were resident in Ireland, Several of these in dividuals had been applied to in the present distress, and had over 51. or something of that sort. But this was not to be t u ndered at, for it was impossible for them to see, and therefore I,, f ,eels the distress and deatitution that now pervaded the t a b'''. Yet, after all, it was not the want of the money I . at should be expended on the estates so much as the depriva '" of a resident gentry. That was a necessity which no money could supply, especially the want of the influence which f " :„„ 111401 Y to be exercised over the minds of all classes by the eo res of the higher classes. In Irelan,l, under the present G 3 deity, he knew several instances where those who were b e 'i(tent had distinguished themselves by their exertions in s ehal f of the poor, frequently to the loss of health, and in na me cases to the loss of life itself. One instance he could e xertion s where a lady had fallen a sacrifice to the benevolent hein behalf of her neighbours. Disapproving therefore h he did of the principle of the Hon. Member for Limerick, it ; should yet, i n t h e even t o f hi s di v idi ng th e House, vote for Slot, as he said, because he agreed with him entirely, but obi 'u,se he believed that it would bring about something 4' l might be instrumental in the removal of a great evil. r• BELLEW could not agree in the supposition that the abS enteeism was the main cause of t h e ev il s to w hi c h I re l an d f° now subject, for the misery was suffered not from the want tha a t resident gentry—though he was very far from underrating t he benefit—but it was the want of confidence in the expendi of capital, and in the consequent want of enterprise in that oo„ o no n trYs This, he thought, would he relieved by the introdue ,,,,tto and enfor ce m en t o f a I roper poor-law, for such alone and hav e t h e e ff ect o f caus i ng t h e sa l e o f encum b ere d es tat es , would occasion a greater distribution of property than any v g [ 'tell now prevailed, and . the whole benefit of which would altirnat .1 y wane to the tillers of the soil. Something of this fi nd had been formerly attempted, but it had failed, from the seculiar circumstances under which the country laboured. here was the agent, the middle-man, the farmer, and the e rs ? tt ters all deman din g subsistence from the roil, anti ~""e consequence was, that there was a continu e d dr ain u pon the land, of which no one got any thing like an adequate benefit. By the sale of estates, which a poor-law would oblige, the whole of this evil would be do ne away with. But far as he was therefore from ascribing the present miseries to this one mischief of absenteeism, or Supposing that any single remedy would suffice to place Ireland ' l ' it state of prosperity, for he believed that it would require a Serie s of measures for that purpose, he yet was by no means in clined to screen those who in this time of distress had re frained from doing their duty to their tenants. Unfortunately he knew personally of several instances where individuals d rawi ng several thousand pounds a year had sent such a paltry the towards the subscriptions raised for the distressed poor, th eir the committees hail been inclined to threaten to publish lett er; and their names. If an a b sentee tax were to be s o nl „ l : ° O sed it ou g ht no t, he should say, to be limited to ' i t h, r fifteen, or even t wen ty per cent., for in his opinions t ram ''uld he at least be fifty per cent. of the amounts drawn that e estates in Ireland, none of which were ever spent in deismy But he would rpeat, that it was not absen. de e that was at the root of th e e evil, but the want of confi -ee in enterprise, and, until that was removed , none o f the Pr li e lti which Ireland produced would be spent for its ins ,..lement. Th e H on . G en tl ema n then read an extract from 2,0 30 °1 k of Dr. Taylor's, to show that an aggregate of l, 'OW. was annually drawn from Ireland to be inves t e d in tuba an Fund s . Whil e such an evil as this continued , no ti onat 'l absentee proprietors could ever occasion a propor- M r "Ittp • O'CONNELL raid the real cause of the present It h a il Ireland was the want of a resident landed proprietary. Peno,`, ‘ suPpressed her manufactures, and made her people de try " t upon agriculture. When that branch of indus wes _ IVith it, a the landed interest became depressed ?ser s and induced them to resort to a system ot i st b Polating their land, in which they' had been encouraged ta„y o that House. Manufacturies would revive in Ireland if event"ad rich and wealthy customers to support them. It . was in want of capital, because of that there was sufficient (b at the present depressed state of the country. But were stn z . e a l'ital to b e embarked in manufactures there would be th at urn for it. Thi s was se lf-evident, for how was it possible Irei xoo ls h manufactori e s could compete with English. Gi v e the re ", however, a res id en t landed proprietary, and then s low i...woukl be custo me rs and inducements for capitalists, who tie s, r , ted their money io Government and othere securi !eon"' revive manufactories. With regard, therefore, to the s hell of his Hon. Friend, the Member for Limerick, he was U,to support it. Ireland was a country which had most tin s suffered from the evils of absenteeism. The word ia.til.totitee,tsm itself had its origin , as adopted in the English ow n ~;,traith Ireland. It existed even when Ireland had its it.,,,iliament, and why did it so exist ? Why. because ! , :eigo ttl i o, i _Parliament was held in great subjection by 'act ores " arid all measures for the improvement of Irish menu evert Overe overuled by the sense power. Gradually, how in were times, these restrictions were removed from Irish commerce, and the Parliament of the country became more free and unshackled. No cisuntry in the world more flourished than did Ireland durinis the short existence of that freedom of trade and freedom of Parliament. lier trade and manufacture. increas absenteeism diminished, and the whole condition cf the people showed man.fest symptoms of improvement. This gratifying state of things lasted up to the time of the union, but after that act was consummated, trade began to decline. Manufac tures gradually dropped, until they became almost extinct, and by slow degress the country became miserably impoverished, and her population reduced to a state of almost hopeless star vation. All this was owing to the absenteeism produced by the union, and in this state would Ireland remain until Parliament took steps to diminish that evil. English capitalists did not ob ject to investing their money in some of the most disturbed parts of South America, but nothing would induce them to send it to Ireland, and the reason why they would not was simple and just. They knew very well that it was im possible to compete with English manufactures in England, and where was the use of their starting works and establish ments in Ireland when there were no customers to buy the goods they might manufacture ? These were positive facts, and any attempts of the manufacturers in that country, which had been made, hail failed in consequence of the powerful op position of English houses. Those persons were able to give credit to their customers, and the Irish manufacturers having no capital to fall hack upon, nor any house market to take off their produce, bad not, of course, been able to compete with them in the markets. It was to meet these circumstances that the lion. Member foe Limerick hail brought forward his motion for taxing Irish absentees. It had, however, been said that these Irish absentees were good and excellent landlords. Why, then, if they were such good landlords, that was a strong reason who they should go over to Ireland to reside, it could not be supposed that by their going over to that country they would become .bad landlords, or that they would change sky and sun by going there. The lion. Member then went on to repeat the statements which he had made en a previous even ing respecting the revenue of Ireland, and proceeded to show, front the details of various returns made to the House, that the remittances from the Irish to the British Exchequer, ex• seeded, by upwards of 9,000,0001. per annum, the amount reniitted from the British to the Irish Exchequer and called upon the Holm to insist upon those persons who were drawing their rents from Irish property to return to Ireland, at least, to spend a portion of their incomes in that couatrv, and by so doing tend to ameliorate the condition of the people, and draw forth the resources of that impoverished country. Lord CASTLEREAGH thought that at all events no charge could be brought against the Irish Members for an unwillingness to make sacrifices, in order to meet the present. distressing emergency of Ireland, but, at the same time, as an Irish Member, he must protest against any precedent being set by a legislative measure of imposing conditions upon the possession of property, such as would be imposed if the motion of the Hon. Alember for Limerick were acceeded to. Should the proposed poor-law measure be carried into opera ' tion, there would be no doubt but that all the property in Ireland would bear its portion to the support of the country, but he did not think it would be fair, if, in addition to the charges which would be laid upon property by that measure, another tax were to be levied upon the absentees themselves. There seemed to be a very general feeling in that House against Irish landlords as a body, which he did not think they deserved, the Right Hon. Member for Marylebone had exerted all the stores of his eloquence against that body, He (Lord Castlereagh) was happy to see that the Right Hon. Member had received the reward of his exertion?, in the shape of a vote of thanks from the parochial vestry of Marylebone, and he had no doubt that the Right Hon. Baronet would be pretty secure at the ensuing election.— (Laughter. ) Colonel RAWDON thought that this motion did not go far enough. He thought that the resolution of the lion. Member for Limerick did not go far enough, for the evil of absenteeism was not confined to the non•expenditure of money. The absence of that moral influence which the presence of the landed proprietary would have in improving the social and moral condition of the people was one of its worst consequences. lie thought that the House had a perfect right to task those who had so greatly abandoned these duties. A great moral influence would be exercised by the landed pro prietors of Ireland if they were in that country to give their advice and assistance as grand jurors, and to fulfil the various other duties which devolved upon them. Their presence would also have the effect of greatly mitigating the horrors of the distress which at present existed, and from a letter which he lately received from Armagh, he feared the statement that had been made with reference to the small holdings in that county were very erroneous. Mr. FITZGERALD thought that instead of a tax of 10 per cent., a tax of 50 per cent. would not be too much to impose. on those who had so greatly abandoned their duty. lie was very much surprised at the Hon. Member below him ( Alder man Ilutnphery ) stating that the absentee proprietors spent more money in Ireland in proportion to their rental than the resident proprietors; but with all deference to the Hon. Gen tleman, he very much doubted the correctness of that assertion. He had no doubt from the statement so eloquently made by the Hon. Gentleman that the London Society had expended a large amount of money on their property, hut he did not think that that could be said of many other absentee proprietors. Mr. R. YORKE rose amidst cries of " Divide." Ile said he should be exceedingly brief in what he had to say. lie wished to ask the House two questions; first, how, in pressing this question of absenteeism, would they define? and, se condly, how, in pressing such a tax would they reconcile it with the great constitutional question of an invasion upon per sonal liberty ? If they would answer these questions as shortly as he hail put them, he should vote for the motion.—(Cheers and laughter. ) Mr. NV. V. SWAP T did not think that a lo'. per cent. tax would be sufficient to induce the owners of property to re side in Ireland. He should, however, vote for the motion. Mr. S. CRAWFORD agreed in the general principles brought forward by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Kilkenny (Mr. J. O'Connell), but found great difficulty in saying that he should vote for the motion before the }Louse. He ciinsidered that whatever legislation they took on the subject should not he confined solely to Ire land, but should apply to the whole nation.—( Hear.) If they taxed Irish proprietors who did not reside in their country, they must decide, on the same principle, that an English landlord, who spent his income in Ireland should be taxed likewise. He, therefore, felt great difficulty in giving his sup • port to a proposition which proposed lo lay a tax upon the pro prietors of land in one country which was not to be levied on proprietors in this country, who resided off their property or out of the country. The evidence which had been adduced on the subject of absenteeism proved that many of the absentee landlord:. of Ireland utterly neglected their estates; but he was acquain'ed with instances in which the estates of non-resident proprietors were well cultivated, well managed, anti on which the poor found employment, hut no man ought to neglect his duty in Ireland, and reside in a distant part of it, as well as in England. lie was in favour of the landlords of Ireland being compelled to support their own poor, but he was afraid the proposition would not have that effect ; and besides, would be fraught with evil. He hoped, therefore his lion. Friend would not press the motion to a division. Mr. S. O'BRIEN explained, that what he stated respecting the estates of the Irish Society was not derived from personal inspection, but from the evidence which had been published with respect to them. He believed, however, that their estates were well managed. In mentioning the nacre of Lord Port arlington and other proprietors of Ireland, he disclaimed hav ing introduced them for the purpose of drawing any invidious distinctions between them and other proprietors. He felt it his duty to take the sense of the House on the motion which he had proposed. The House then divided, when there appeared, so Fer the motion .. PJ Against it Majority. SMITHFIELD MARKET. Mr. 0. GORE moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the necessity for the removal of Smithfield Market, as a nuisance, in the centre of the British metropolis, to sonic ap propriate site. comprising an arra of not le , s than Li acres, and the establishment of abbatoirs in the vicinity of London. He had obtained the consent of all the persona whose interest would be affected. Lord MOR PET H said that there was room for great im provement, for he believed that there remained undeniable gr , tunds of complaint. The safety of life was much endan gered, 84 was also the health of the inhabitants. He was very glad that the interested parties did not oppose the inquiry, and he could assure the Hon. Member that there was still a less intention on the part of the Government to threw any ob stacle in his way. He hoped a disc weight would be given in the Committee to the interest of the parties concerned. Mr. S. O'BRIEN said he was very glad that his Hon. Friend had pursued the course which he had done ; and as he had not entered into the question, he would follow the example set him. Ile only hoped that a fair Committee would be ap pointed. Mr. WAKLEY was rejoiced that the Government did not not oppose the motion, for he considered it most necessary that some inquiry should be made. He was requested to op• pose the motion, but after what bad been stated, he could not think of doing so. Mr. PROTHEROE said that some arrangement should be made respecting the days upon which fairs were held. Under the present system, the drovers were not able to attend re • ligious worship upon Sundays, in consequence of the Mon day's fair. Mr. HUMPHERYS said that if the market was removed, the cattle, in future, would not be driven through London. Mr. HENLEY wished the Government to take the matter entirely into their own hands. If it was left in those of a private Member they would have only some half and half measure. Sir B. HALL thanked his Hon. Friend for bringing forward the question, and he hoped the interest of the inhabitants would be studied by the committee. Mr. ORMSBY GORE said that he could assure the Noble Lord that he would take the interests of all parties into con sideration when he was appointing the Committee. Mr. GREENE proposed that the number of acres should be omitted in the vv, rding of the resolution. Mr. ORMSBY GORE objected, as less than twelve acres would be wholly insufficient. The motion was then agreed to. THE CASE OF MR. MARA. Lord LINCOLN said that soon after the commencement of the present session he had brought under the notice of the House the petition of Mr. Mara. He hoped that Hon. Gentlemen had read that p etition as it would save him much trouble in explaining. In the course of last session a Bill affecting friendly societies was brought in by the Hon. Member for Finsbury. That Bill was afterwards amended and sent up to the Upper House, where the mode ef appoint-, ment for the Commissioners was altered, and vested in the hands of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. A clause was introduced by the counsel for the Home-office to confirm the present holders of the offices in their situations, and to vest t he .National enai Debt appointmentt.Th i e n theß ill, a hands d s thusof the amen,Commissioners t h o e f the House of the Lords on the t:ith of June, and on the 6th of July the present Government entered upon their offices. On the strength of being confirmed in the appoint ment which he had. held for four years, and in consequence of his increased dutind es, Mr. Mara rented an office for 50 1 . per annum, a engaged a clerk. The Treasury, for two months after the passing of the Act, recognised Mr. Mara as a registrar of these friendly societies. On the 11th of August a letter was written from the Treasury to Mr. Mara, containing instructions in reference to his office ; and in two months in after another letter was addressed to him , stat ing that an objection existed to his appointment being con firmed, consequence of the omission of the clause, which was subsequently passed by the Lords, on the first passing of the Bill in the Lower and Upp er H ouses . A no ther letter informed hire that his office had been filled up by a Mr. Cannel, a private friend of the Attorney -General for Ireland. Ile should he able to prove, on reference to the Act, that this appointment was most unjust and impolitic. The words in the 10th clause, upon which Mr. Mara was displaced, were rather equivocal, but it was evident from the context that no ground whatever existed for his dismissal. The Noble Lord then cited the opinion of Mr. Napier, the barrister, as to the illegality of the removal of Mr. Mara, which he further supported by the reading of several sections from the Act. of Parliament bearing on the question. This was the opinion, be said, which had been come to by a high legal authority. Ile thought, therefore, that the removal of Mr. Mara and the appointment of Mr. Connel was an illegal act, or, if not illegal, a direct contravention of the intention of tke Legislature, which was, that the removal of such officers as these should no longer be made dependent on the change of Government. It was not only a proceeding against the inten tion of Parliament, which was to obtain officers of experience and ability, but it was inept, unjust in the present instance to the individual who bad been removed. Having . thus much, ho - THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1847. six months. The Government wore not aware of the effect which this Bill would produce. He had taken a high legal opinion on the subject, which made it perfectly clear to him that it would interfere with the rights of parties living thirty miles along the banks of the Severn, which had existed for 700 years. He h a d p ro posed a clause to obviate this injustice , but the Admir a lty wou ld no t take any notice of it. Mr. \VARD assure d the Hon. Member that no discourtesy was intend e d t owar d s hi m . The Bill did not emanate from the Admiralty, but from the House , and was intended merel y to consolidat e th e c l auses t o be introduced into private Bil's having no enacting power. If the Hon. Member would con sent to allow the postponement of the Bill till Monday , he would endeav our so to modify it as to save existing rights. The Committee was then postponed till Monday. GENERAL REGISTER HOUSE ( EDINBURG H) BILL. This Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered to be reported. The other orders of the day were then disp House adjourned at a Quartor-past One o'clock. THE NAVIGATION LAWS. The Select Committee on the subject of the navigation-laws met yesterday in Committee-room No. 2. There were pre sent Mr. Milner Gibson (chairman), Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Mit chell, Admiral Dundas, Mr. Hume, Mr. T. Baring , Sir R . Peel, Hon. M. Villi ers , Mr. Lyall, Sir George Clerk, Alder man Thompson, Hon. Mr. Liddell, and Sir Howard Douglas. The examination of Mr. Browning was resumed. By Mr. Hume—He thought the repeal of the navigation laws would tend to increase' the number of ships built in Great Britain. Ile grounded this opinion upen the fact that. the materials for ship-b u ilding would become cheaper by the low er i ng o f t h e freights for their importation. It would not tend to lessen the number of ships built in the North American Colonies, but in every other country he thought it would. Th a t a mount of British capital which was now empl o y e d i s b u ildi ng foreign ships would then be employed in b u ildi ng B r i t i s h s hips. He knew one English house, the firm of Peter Dixon and Co., of Gottingen, who built Swedi s h s hi ps; but those ships were not able to corn pete with o ur N ort h Amer i can co l on ies. He believed the effect of the rep ea l o f t h e nav i g ation laws would be to raise. the rate of wages on the Continent to a level with those here. He knew the effect of the late reduction in the import duties on cattle had been to raise the price of meat in Holland from 2d. to 3d. per lb. He thought a great advantage would arise to this country, particularly with regard to the South Sea whale fishing, if British shipowners were allowed to buy ships in Holland and elsewhere, wherever they could pick up a bargain. He thought this permission would not injure our own shipwrights, because they would be repaired in this country, in order to insure their being admitted into Lloyd's books. The navigation-laws caused a great disadvantage to the Australian colonies, as they prevented the colonists pur chasing vessels stranded on their coasts, which frequently happened. The consequence was, that the vessels, when re paired, were sent to the Persian Gulf or to Cochin China for sale ; but there was risk in both cases, as the vessels must proceed on these voyages without a register, and they were liable to be seized by British or foreign cruisers and treated as pirates. Admiral Dundas—Did yon ever know an instance of a vessel being seized under such circumstances ? Mr. Browning admitted that he did not. By Mr. Baring—Though the price of meat had not been raised in Holland, he did not know that the rate of wages had risen ; for when he was there there was a great scareity of employment. When he mentioned last day that the Dutch East India ships refused to go to America for cargoes of corn, he supposed that it was because they could not com pete with English ships; at all events, the fact was, they did not go ; but he could not, of his own knowledge, speak to the reason. Mr. Baring—You told us also that in the China, Singapore, and Manilla trade, British ships were preferred to American ; will you tell the Committee in what particular trade the pre ference was shown, seeing that a British vessel is not allowed to take foreign produce to America any more than an American vessel is allowed to bring foreign goods to England? Mr. Browning had heard several merchants say that they would give the preference to English ships. Examination by Mr. Baring continued—The average freight of wool from Sydney to this country he believed might be quoted at I Ad. The expense of pressing and stow ing amounted, he believed, to It. per ton, and that expense fell upon the shipowner. The duration of the voyage averaged four months. The average duration of the voyage from Mobile or New Orleans to Liverpool was thirty days, and the average rates of freight for cotton from these ports was about Id. per lb. That the freight from Australia was not much higher in proportion ;than the freight from New Orleans, arose from the fact that ships went to New Orleans in ballast, while ships going to Australia carried freights both ways. He did not think that the colonists of Australia had any great reason to complain of the present state of things. Mr. Baring—Would you advise a repeal of the navigation laws, distinct from what might be done by other countries? Mr. Browning—Oh yes; my opinion is, that if we repeal our navigation-laws, foreigners could no longer justify their re strictions by our example. Mr. Baring—But suppose they do not become such easy converts? Mr. Browning—Oh, they would find themselves so crippled that they would be obliged to give them up. Mr. Baring—But suppose they did not, would it not be a disadvantage to our trade that our coasting, our colonial, and our foreign trade should be open to every flag, while at the same time cash country would keep to its own ships exclusive advantages in coasting and colonial trade? Mr. Browning—Yes, it would be a disadvantage at first, just as a bridge interferes with ferrymen. Mr. Baring—At first; but not afterwards ? Mr. Brown ing —We would build cheaper. Mr. Baring—But in the meantime would it not be an ad chanthtse ? voli lN e l ) r . . o ß f Browning—aOh, nations. Mr. ad vantage e t but we r eign cannot m alterer Mr. Baring—Would not it induce parties to purchase foreign American and other foreign ships in preference to British ? Mr. Browning—lt might. Sir Robert Peel What advantages have the North American ports over British ports for shipbuilding, except in the article of timber ! Mr. Browning—That is the only ifference. Sir Robert Peel—What is the difference in the price of copper sheating ? Mr. Browning—There is a difference of about per lb. in our favour. Sir Robert Peel—What is the rate of wages there ? Nir. Browning—Quite as much, perhaps higher, than in England. Sir Robert Peel—Then we have every advantage in ship building that is possessed by the North American States, ex cept in the article of timber ? Mr. Browning—We have. Sir Robert Peel—What alteration could we make iu the 13w which would give the Briti,h ship-builder similar advan tages to the North American ship-builder, and which he does not at present possess? Mr. Browning—Tkere is no altera tion required so far as regards the colonies. Sir Robert Peel—Do the same observations apply to the United States? Mr. Browning—No. Sir Robert Peel—What advantages do the ship-builders in the United States ports possess either in the shape of low duties or of raw insterials? Mr. Browning—The raw ma terial, except in the State of Maine, is dearer in the United States than in this country, and they labour under a disadvantage in regard to the price of metal, chain cables, anchors, Sic. - . Sir Robert Peel—Po you consider that the rates of inmi ranee, apart from the stamp duty on the policy, are the same in both countries? Mr. Browning—l think they may be effected here at a cheaper rate. Sir Robert Peel—Then, with regard to Holland, are you of opinion that a ship of a given quality may be built here cheaper than in Holland? Mr. Browning—The present rate of wages tells m uc h aga i nst t h e ship-builder. Sir Robert Peel—But is not the trade between this country and Holland entirely i n our h an d s ? Mr. Browning — Yes , it is. Sir Robert Peel —A n d t h at i s t h e best test of the state of the trade? Mr. Brow n i ng —T o b e c ure. Sir Robert Peel—O n a f ormer d a y You gave an opinion that if the navigation-l aws were re pealed, the timber, the in surance, the copper, and the light dues, ought all to be abo lished, in order to give them fair play; do you mean that there cannot even be a partial alteration in the navigation laws, whether as respects our colonial or our foreign inter course, unless there be a previous reduct ion in the duties you mention? Mr. Brownin g thought that foreigners had an advantage over British ships in relation to light dues, which the latter were not called on to pay. Mr. Villiers called attention to the fact that the question was not answered. Sir R. Peel—ls net th e B r itish shipown er interested in having his ships built c h eap l y . Mr. Browning—Decidedly. Sir. R. Peel—Suppos e th e na yi gat i on _laws cause a heavy freight on timber, would that be any advantage to the ship owner whose ships were not employed in carrying timber? Mr. Browning—Of course not. Mr. Browning— Sir To be sure. Sir R. Peel—ls it not the interest of the shipowners gene• rally that there should be low fre i g hts for R. Peel—And so with copper or e? ? Mr those articles that are used in the building o s p . Browning—Decidedly. that it is for Sir R. Peel—Then it is not correct to a ssume on these materials for ship-building? thef bhi rin s ging of the interest of the shipowners generally to have high freights eidedly. Mr. Browning—De- Mr. Liddell—Would not the repeal of the navigation-laws, by bringing the whole commercial navies of the world to compete with us, lower freights? Mr. Browning—l think we would then obtain a monopoly by our industry.— ( Laughter.) Mr. Liddell—What 1 A monopoly on ships ? Mr. Brown ing—No doubt of it. Admiral Dundas—Do you think there are fewer or more foreign naval powers to contend with um now in peace or war than when the navigation-laws were tirst passed? Mr w er e a sh re o P u e l a d ie l l iave a supply of Browning—Our advantages are greater now than they were then. yMr. Browning—Be lishould' Admiral Dundas—Aye, but are th i e n y i m ts o s r t e zpp o l r y l o e f s s s e ? arn M en r ? . Browning—l think they are fewer. Admiral Dun d a S—IN ou I d the r t. repeal l b o r f e t aa li d e do n ut a ot v bi i navigation-laws .3 addiAr. Admiral ir oi the rwanl inp gu—n protection dlel‘tati,tsewi feoi e laur a f nntl hd t ws h e,ava,r i , i s nehrl c o u nt ry oraywr is me: owaw atPowers, ,rr si ?a, you d h faciliti h es naturalisa tion, n s ß w ritish seamen ? Mr. Brown- o iseamen must be giVen up seamen a the a m ve ar t ke e t Browning—Be cause, 11 1 1 ' g e n u r l ie e e ' l aff t i t h o ntdhke confidenceadtnifloaairytnitgthahetei pressing n r: la ssi w iiig country t 1 1 . anndd feelt—heßs give the value for their services, and then there could be no doubt we might man our navy to any extent. Admiral Dundas—Suppose we had a • and that this country ought to war with America would the men now in the American service come , to us? Mr. Browning—Yes, they would. The American navy Is getting ex tremely unpopular with our seamen. Admiral Dundas—unpopular in peace, but very popular in time of war. Mr. Browning—l question th a t. Admiral Dundas—But suppose these men were capturedning—«'ell, in war, what would become of them? mr. Brow I don't know what the Americans might do ning—Well, . Admiral Dundas—Suppose half our navy— (Laughter.) with American seamen , when an American were manned war broke out where would our convoys be if these men refused MAmericans Browning—Oh, I don't think the to fight? would come into our navy at all. Sir R. Peel—You say that the wages of seamen be raised front 21. ss. per month to the A amen ought to 31. ss. per month ? Mr. Browning— y American level of ea, and with small stored, such as sugar. Sir R. Peel—Has your house tried the experiment an increase ?—(Laughter. ) Mr. Brow • of such occa sionally paid as high as 31. per month. Browning —I have Sir R. I'eel—But if you were sending out British port would you give more than the current rate of a ship from a wages? Mr. Browning—Of course not. Sir It. Peel—Then how do you suppose it the rate of wages? Mr. Browning—m possible to ra i se only to a time of war. To man the nay; inremarks applied you must give the market value of seamen. an em ergency , Sir 11. Douglas—By the repeal of the navigation-laws, affording facilities for] naturalisation, Would and n of the State be endangered, ;by being 50 mue o i t i , the safety entrustedto these foreign seamen? M i Dir. Browning —I think it would to a small extent ; but except in the case of a war e with . their own country, when they might be free fromsvl the Scandinavian race generally shows an attachment to our service. , Sir 11. Douglas—ls it not a fundamental rule of national law that no subject can divest himself of his allegiance: M r . Drowning—Yes. would move for the papers of which he had given notice, illu3trativ• of this ease. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER justified the removal of Mr. Mara from the office of Registrar of Benefit Societies. The Noble Lord was mistaken in stating that Mr. Mara was a gentleman of great experience. Hehad only held the office for six months, and he (the Chancellor of the Exche quer) had acted upon what was the admitted rule, namely, that the person holding the office should change with the Attorney- General ; and the same rule also held in Scotland, far every succeeding Lord-Advocate appointed the individual who filled the office of registrar. The Right lion. Baronet then proceeded to read the names of the Attorneys-General for Ireland for a series of years, and the appointments which each had made to the office of registrar. Ho did not under stand that the commissioners had at all exceeded their duty. He had consulted the Lord-Advocate of Scotland and the At torney-General of Ireland, and had been given to understand by those eminent legal authorities that there was not any thing in the construction of the Act to justify Mr. Mara's complaint. Neither did he see that there was anything in the construction of the Act to justify the impression that there had been injustice com mitted in :the displacement of Mr. Mara. The Right lion. Gentleman then read an extract from the Act, to show the provisions which affected this particular case. If Mr. Mara had any reason to complain of the deficiency of his salary, he ought to have asked for more. It was always customary, on anif change of the Attorney-General in Ireland, for the officials under him to be changed also, and there was not one word in the Act, that he could discover, to justify the sup position that the system would be altered. With respect to the papers for which the Noble Lord had asked, he had seen some parties on behalf, of Mr. Mara,: and ;though he did not see that they could serve any purpo..,e, he should have no objec tion to grant them. Mr. G (HILBURN could not see that there 'was sufficient reason made out for the: dismissal of Mr. 11ara, for the Right Hohourable Baronet must know that the real ob ject for the attainment of which this Act was passed, was to obviate the inconvenience of changing the under officials in the office of the Attorney-General. Then the Right lion. Baronet appeared to rely, and laid great stress on, the construc tion of the Act of Parliament; certainly, when there was the opinion of so many lawyers, lie did not feel himself qualified to give an opinion ; but when he looked to the fact to which he had just alluded, there was, in his opinion, sufficient reason to believe that this Act was not intended to affect such an indi vidual as Mr. Mara. It was admitted that an interval must elapse between the retirement of one, and the appointment of another Attorney-General. Now, during that. interval, Mr. Mara had acted as the certifier under the Act, and it was highly important that the acts of that gentleman should be con firmed and admitted as legal. After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER in explanation, the motion was then agreed to. GREECE. Lord JOHN MANNERS postponed his motion on the subject of Greece till after Easter. RAJA OF SATTARA. Mr. HUME then rose to move for copies of a dispatch from the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company to the Right Hon. the Governor-Genet al of India, respecting the Ex-Raja of Sattara, dated the 24th day of March, 1646; and a copy of the reply of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India to that dispatch; toge ther with copies of the several documents referred to in that reply, or connected with it; and of any other letters which have been addressed by the present Governor-General of India to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, relating to the case of the Ex-Raja of Satara, from the period of his Lordship's arrival to the present time ; also copies of the minutes of dissent of members of the Court of Directors which have been recorded by any member of that Court, and not hitherto published, relating to the case of the Ex-Raja of Sattara, from the 30th of April, 1840, to the present time. Sir J. C. HOBPIOUSE wished, as a favour, that his Hon. Friend would postpone his motion till a future day. Mr. HUME said he could not accede to the request of the Hon. Member. The Right Hon. Gentleman had had two weeks to consider the motion, and he could not consent to postpone it any longer. The Raja of Sattara's conduct had h,.en impugned in connexion with the East India Company, and a i equest had been sent out to Lord Hardinge, the Gover nor-General, requesting him to make a report upon the sub. ject. The Noble Lord accordingly made a report, and that report had now been in the hands of the Government seven or eight months. If the document had been discreditable to the Raja it would have been published, and he thought it nothing but right that it should be laid before the public if it contained any thing to his credit. Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the motion. Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE said it was an unending task at any time for any Member of the Government to refuse the production of papers. At the same time, he thought the House would agree with him that those papers ought not to be produced. His Hon. Friend was wrong in his description of these papers ; but, nevertheless, as a general proposition, he did not think it was proper that the private correspondence be tween the Governor-General of India and his subordinates should be produced to the House. But, independently of these considerations, there was a fact in connexion with these papers, which ought to negative their production. Copies of these confidential dispatches and correspondence had, some way or other, found their way to England. His Honour able Friend had shown him an envelope, which con vinced him of this, and ho thought was a sufficient reason why the papers should net be hastily produced. He would ask the House whether they would sanction that which was evidently a fraud or breach of trust, and a perjury on the part of the persons employed. If such proceedings were to be sanctioned, the Government if India, and not only that, but all the other branches of the Government would be unable to carry on their proceedings. It was a most shameful tran saction, and that was the reason the parties had not cared to make the matter public; they knew that they would be liable to be asked how they obtained possession of the papers, and that was a question :Chia they knew they could not well answer. He would only say, that had not such a course of nefarious conduct been pursued, lie would have had no ebiection to produce the papers. As it was, however, he would most positively refuse to produce them, and called upon the House to support him in the resolution to which he bad arrived. Mr. WILLIAMS thought that the papers ought to be pro duced, in jtv , tice to the Raja of Sattara. Mr. BRIGHT was well aware that there were many mean , existing in India by which copies of the correspondence. of the officials of the Government could be obtained ; and he thought it rather hard that because some dishonesty or irregularity had taken place in obtaining copies of the correspondence, that therefore, the official returns should be refused; especially as they might tend to justify the character of the dethroned Raja. Sir EDWARD COLEBROOK was of opinion that they should have full information on this subject, unless the Right Hun. Gentleman thought that injury would result to the Govern ment, by the production of the paper. He had not given any sufficient reason for their refusal. Mr. AGLIONBY thought they were losing timo in that discussion, and as the Right Honourable Gentleman had not objected to the production of the papers, and had only refused them on account of the precedent this would establish; he hoped the Hon. 11Iember for Montrose would rest satisfied at present, and had no doubt they would be produced on a future oc, asion. _ Mr. B. ESCOTT' thought that the papers should not be refused, even if fraud }lad been committed in procuring the papers, as it was necessary that the House should ha►e the fullest information on the subject—that it might have an op portunity of pronouncing a correct judgment on the case of the unfortunate Prince to whom they referred. Sir ROBERT PEEL thought the Right Hon. Gentleman was quite right in refusing the papers. If the House would assent to this motion it would give its sanction to what was a must object htnable and dishonourable proceeding with regard to procuring these documents. He thought, therefore, that he was quite right in refusing them, and he should not have inti mated that he would produce them on a future occasion, as this would be holding out an encouragement to such practices. Dr. BOWRING said the Raja had nothing to do with the surreptitious way in which the papers had been obtained, and therefore he trusted his cause would not suffer from it. lie had known instances in which the House had printed papers obtained in such a way. After a few words from Lord PALMERSTON, Mr. II UNIE said be considered that the papers might have been abstracted from a sense of justice of the claim of the Raja. ( Oh, oh.) He had endeavoured to bring the subject before the House for some time past; but he had not had an opportunity of doing so until that evening, and he hoped now the produc tion of the papers would not be delayed on the ground of eti quette. He, however, had no objection to withdraw that part of the motion to which the Hon. Baronet objected. The motion so amended was then agreed to. CORPORAL PUNISEIMENI IN THE NAVY. Mr. HUNIE moved for a return of the number of persons flogged in the British navy in each of the years 1845 and 1846, speiitying the name of the ship, the offence, the sentence, and the number of lashes inflicted; and also for an abstract of the total number of corporal punishments in the navy, and the total number of lashes inflicted, in each year, up to the 31st day of December, 1846. . . . . Admiral BOWLES had no objection to the production of papers which had reference to the infliction of cor poral punishmeut in the navy, and the circum stances under which the different punishments were inflicted. lie should rejoice when the hour would arrive that would enable them to abolish corporal punishment altogether. All that he objected to was, the giving the names of tho vessels, as in many instances the commanders were compelled to resort to corporal punishment to preserve subordination. Neither had they any opportunities to inflict secondary punishments such as the army had, by prisons and drills, for they had seldom room to imprison more than three men. There always existed some kind of organisation in the army, but a ship might be in commission but one year, and the officer in command had to bring his men into discipline, which could not be done without some little severity. Moreover, every three years the whole task had to begin again, as they generally had an entirely new crew to govern. Mr. WARD admitted the difference between the two ser vices, but he hoped to be able to introduce a Bill that night which would enable them to introduce secondary punishments, by the establishment of home stations. He dirt not think that corporal punishment could be entirely done away with, but he wished to have the wholesome check of public opinion over its exertion, and no officer, where it was required, would hesitate to resort. to it. Mr. FOX MAULE tl.ought the clause was one of those vrlich ought to be confined to very narrow limits, although it could not be entirely done away with. Mr. WILLIAMS heard with admiration the wish and hope of the Gallant Admiral. Since the last returns had been granted the punishment in the army had been lessened. The returns were then agreed to. LUNATIC ASYLUMS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the regulation of lunatic asylums. BILL FOR LIGHTING AND IMPROVING TOWNS. Lord MORPETH moved for leave to bring In a Bill for consolidating in one Act certain provisions contained in Acts for lighting, watchin a g, paving, drai n in g , a nd improving towns. sSpeirnsßeOwßitEh theRT nPeEccEssLitywoisfhedtor applyingk Majesty's je know o f w o sr i t s f private ap a te s ee intended onsana tory n ß t l n ls d ? e d to di If th e y were only to have this Bill, he did not think that it would fulfil the expectations raised by h e i m provement. Lord MORPETH intimated that a more general measure on sanatory reform was under consideration, and would be in troduced on a future day. The present measure was only to facilitate the progress of private Bills. Lord LINCOLN did not think the Bill so extensive as it ought to be. After a few words from Mr. AGLIONBY, The motion was agreed to. On the motion that the House go into Committee upon the Mr. P. SCROPE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to exempt from poor-rate (in England) the occupiers of tenements under the value of 5/. in rural, and 81. in town parishes, if cer tifi. , d by the medical officer of the union to be properly drained and maintained in a condition not to be prejudicial to the health of the inmates of the n eighbourhood. Mr. WARD obtained leave to bring in a Bill for extending the period of service of boys in her Majesty's navy ; also a Bill for th e es t a bli s hment of naval prisons, and for the prevention of desertions from her Majesty's navy. The Annual Indemnity Bill was brought in by Mr. PARK. ER. HARI3OURS, DOCKS, AND PIERS CLAUSES BILL. Mr. WARD moved the postponement of the Committee on the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Bill till Monday: Mr, C. BERKELEY moved that it be committed that day Sir H. Douglas—Then would it not be a dangerous expe riment to leave the safety of the State to them ? Mr. Brown ing— I think they would not come. Sir G. Clerk—You stated before that great inconve nience was experienced in the Australian colonies from their not being allowed to purchase Dutch ships for the whale fishing. Do your ships that are engaged in the fishing also bring home the oil? Mr. Browning—No; it is sent home on freight. Sir G. Clerk—Then what is there in the navigation-laws which prevents you from purchasing Dutch ships to be employed in the whale fisheries ? Mr. Browning—Be cause there is a differential duty of 15!. per ton on sperm oil caught in foreign ships, which, however, expires in 1849 ; with regard to block duty, the duty practically does not apply. By Mr. Hume—The French ships that brought sugar from Bourbon to Australia were not allowed to carry the produce of the colony to another British colony ; the con sequence was they were paid for their cargoes in gold, and this in the Years 1841 and 1842 had led to serious inconve niences in the country, by deranging the currency. By Sir G. Clerk—The chief supply of sugar brought to Australia came from Manilla and Java, which were brought in British ships, and he could not say that he had ever known more than four or five French ships arrive in the colony in the course of one year. By Mr. Baring—lf there had been no navigation-laws these vessels would have taken the produce of the colony to Ceylon or other British colonies. At the same time he did not think there was anything, even i❑ the present state of the law, to prevent these ships taking the colonial produce to British India. By Mr. Hume—lre saw no reason why the Australian co lonies should not flourish to as great an extent as Singapore, if the navigation-laws were repealed. By Sir G. Clerk—lie did not think that a French ship could go to Singapore and bring back produce to the United Kingdom any more than she could go to Australia and bring back produce to the United Kingdom. Sir G. Clerk—Then what restrictions do the navigation laws impose on Australia that they do not impose on Singa pore? Mr. Browning did not know if it was not that Sin gapore was a free port. The Committee adjourned till one o'clock on Tuesday. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY, mAucit 18. The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com. mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection : Eastern Counties (Enlargement of London and Stratford Stations, and Amendment of Acts). Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Act Amendment and Branches. South Devon Extension and Amendment). NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bill is appointed to be read a second time on Thursday, March 25: Chester and Holyhead (Extensions at Chester and Holy head, &c.—No. 2). PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY, MARCH 18. ABSENTEE PROPRIETORS (IRELAND). Motion made, and Question put, " That inasmuch as the non-residence of Landed Proprietors in Ireland is one of the causes of social disorganisatio❑ of that Kingdom, it is ex pedient to impose a charge by way of Special Assessment, in aid of local objects of an useful nature, upon the estates of absentee proprietors, with a view to make some compensation for the evils resulting from their non-residence." The Honse divided : MINORITY-AYES, 19. Berkeley, Craren llall, Sir Benjamin Bavrdon, Colonel Blake, M. J. Macnamara, Major Sibthorp, Colonel Brooke, Sir A. B. M'Carthy, Alex. Wakloy, Thomas Browne, R. D. :Newry, Viscount Callaghan, D. O'Brien, C. TELLERS. Chapman, B. O'Brien, Timothy O'Brien, W. S. Collett, John O'Connell, D., jun. Tulle, 11. M. Fitzgerald, It. A. O'Connell, John MAJORITY-NOES, 70. Aglionby, 11. A. Grey, Sir G. Morpeth, Viscount Arundel, Earl of Grosvenor, Earl Morris, David Bannerman, A. Hastie, Archibald Mostyn, E. M. Baring, F. T. Hatton, Captain V. O'Brien, A. Stafford Barnard, E. G. Hawes, ttenj. Owen, Sir John Bellew, R. M. Ileathcoat, John Palmerston, Viscount Bowles, Admiral Ileneage, Edward Parker, John ltowring, Dr. Herbert, Sydney Peel, Sir Robert Bright, Joint Hobhouse, Sir J. Plumrldge, Captain Brothcrton, Joseph Hope, Sir J. Ricardo, J. L. Cardwell, Edward llume, Joseph Scrope, G. I'. Chaplin, W. J. Humphery, Ald. Staunton, Sir G. Christie, W. I). Inglis, Sir R. Stuart, V. Christopher, R. James, William Thompson, Alderman Cowper, W. F. Jerinyn,'Earl Thornely, T. Craig, W. G. Jervis, Sir John Trotter, John Dennistoun, .T. Jones, Captain Ward, H. G. Dundas, Sir David I.abouchere, Henry Wood, Sir Charles Escott, Bickham Lambton, 11. Vyse, R. Fonder, Mathew Lincoln, Earl of Yorke, Henry R. Gibson, Thomas M. Macaulay, T. 13. Glynne, Sir S. Mackinnon, W. TELLERS. Gore, W. 0. Mitchell, T. A. Tul'hell, 11. Goulburn, Henry Moffatt, George Hill, Lord M. Graham, Sir James Monahan, J. H. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S..-.-THURSDAY. The business transacted yesterday was on a very limited scale, barely sufficient, indeed, to warrant a quotation. The only horses in any demand were Halo and the Euclid colt for the Northampton handicap, and the Liberator for the Derby ; the prices agreed with those laid on Wednesday at Warwick, where Pavilion is also stated to have been in force. Closing quotations : NORTHAMPTON HANDICAT. 6 to 1 apt Mr. Gregory's Euclid colt—taken 6 to I agst Duke of Iti.thmond's Halo—taken 7 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Doleful 12 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Queen Mary 15 to 1 agst Mr. G. 11. Moore's Wolfdog 20 to 1 aga Mr. O'Brien's Lord Saltoun. Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 7 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's The Liberator—taken 31 ET ROPOLITAN itaNnicar. 20 to 1 agst Mr. John Day's Bourtoa 25 to 1 agst Mr. ltainshottom's Pine Apple. CIIKSTRIC cur. 18 to I agit Mr. llerbert'sAntler—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Mickey Free 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Payne's Queen Mato 1)51111Y. 12 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Epiroto—taken 25 to 1 agst Sir R. I'igot's Conynghatn—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Liberator—taken 1000 to 20 apt Mr. Stephenson's Black Dwarf taken 4 or 5 times 50 to 1 apt Mr. Holme's Pavilion—take 1000 to 15 1400 to 25 agst Mr. Fuller's Oxonian—taken Colonel Peel has named his b f by Touchstone out of Malibran, 2 yrs, " Jenny Lind," and his b f by Slane out of Rester, 2 yrs, " Lola Montes." His Grace the Duke of Richmond and Mr. Gratwieke are declared to be confederates on the turf. WARWICK SPRING MEETING.—WEDNESDAY. Match, 50 sous., 2 milee—Col. Wyndham's Cecy, 6 yrs, 1 Ist, received, from Mr. Nunn's I'rince Eugene, 6 yrs, list 71bs. Match, 100 h ft, 2 miles—Mr. W. Covrper's Roebuck, 5 yrs, list 71b, beat Mr. Jacob's Mersey, 4 yrs, lOst 121 b. The Warwickshire Innkeeper's Handicap Hurdle Stakes of o a 10 sows each, 5 ft, and 30 added, 2 miles (7 su b s ) . Mr. W. 11. .7ohnstone's Rough and Ready, 5 yrs, l i st 1 Mr. Whittield's Gipser Queen, 10st 51b Lord Strathmore's Red Lance, list 101b—Captain Gam. 61b—andsbhielarszh'szearTi,ahireomsite'ralsr2:1obin„,l,datlIseo0ossftta5rotIe.d: and 10 sow, f iSolras then n on d second, Bel shazzar, 2 miles, was won in two heats, by Mr. F. Robbins' s V a li ant, 5 yrs, 12st 31b, beating Mr. R. Robbins's Midnight, 5 yrs, list 71b. LEAMINGTON GRAND MILITARY STEEPLE CHASES. Trit:asnAr. Sweepstakes of 10 sows. each, h ft. Three miles. lion. R. N. Lawley's The Roarer, 12st ...... (Sir E. Pooro) I Mr. I3uchanan's Matchless, 125 t..... 2 Mr. D'Arcy's Culverthorpe, 12st 71b 3 • The following also 'ran :—Pullaway, 1 Ist 121 b; Edmond, 12st; Tommy Tinkle, 12st; Lopez, 12st; and Major A, 12st. 2 to 1 apt Calverthorpe (taken freely), 7 to 1 agst Roarer (taken), and won, after an excellent race, by a neck. Sweepstakes of 5 sous. each, &c. Mr. L. Little nd Carlow, lOst 121 b (Captain Little) 1 Hon. H. Forester nd Mortgage,i Ilst The following also ran :—Cap, Gambier, The Parson, list (41b over); Captain Forrest nd Rowland, list; Lieutenant IL Johnstone nd Seven Stars, 1 Ist ; Captain Conolly's Liberty, list; and Lieutenant Gordon's Queen of Hearts, llst. sto 2 agst Carlow (taken). Won by a length. INTELLIGENCE EXTRA. CROXTON PARK, 1847. Acceptances for the Granby Handicap of 20 Sovs. each, &c. -- rag T i h ca e l, M 4 ag y ne rs t , lOst 71b—idolater, 5 yrs, Griselle, 4 yrs, list 101b—Fair Rosamond, 6 yrs, list 11b -6 yrs, 10st 41b—br c, by Jerry, 4 yrs, 5 yrs, 10st 121b—Satyr, 6 and Ready, ;5 yrs, lOst—Martext, 4 yrs, lost—The Pony, 5 yrs, lOst 111 b Watchdog, 3 yrs, 9st 31b. Acceptances for the Gold Cup. Naworth, aged, list 61 b—Inglewood, 4 yrs, list 41b -iNicOgrisilttl—el;6°llSlbB4bi=eYrillrml°s°:larbunii—g,lahs:r4: yrs, 41b— Idolator, 5 yrs, lOst 61b—Rough and Ready, 5 yrs, lOst— Martext, 4 yrs, 9st 1 31b—Watchdog, 3 yrs, 9st. NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING, 1847. WEDNESDAY. Duke of Bedford's Captain Phoebus, 5 yrs, Oat, agst Mr. Bowes's Ukraine, 4 yrs, Bst 51b. T.Y.C., 100, h ft. FRIDAY. Sweepstakes of 50 SOY& each, h ft, for three s'rs old. D.M. Bella Donna, Bst 71 b—'lanais, Bst 51b—Marie Louise, Sat 21b—Lady Lurewell, Bst 21b—Sorrel, 7st 91b—bIouseling, 7st 51b. MAJOR-GENERAL CocKnu arc —We regret to record the death of Major-General J. P. Cockburn, of the Royal Ar tillery, who expired at his residence on Woolwich-common vesterdev morning after a lingering illness from general debi. lity. Till within a recent period he held the office of Director of the Royal Laboratory Department of the Royal Arsenal, an office which he resigned on his promotion to the rank of Major-General, and im which he was succeeded by Lieutenant- Colonel Hardinge, K.H. The dates of his promotion in the corps are as follow •—Entered the" Royal Military Academy on the 19th of March, 1793; 2d Lieutenant, March 6, 1795; Ist Lieutenant, January 27, 1796 ; Captain, May 17, 1803 ; Brevet-Major, June 4, 1814; Regimental Major, July 29, 1825 ; Lieutenant-Colonel on the same day • Colonel, Jae. 10, 1837 ; and Major-General, November 9, 1846. The de ceased officer was in his 69th veer. He was at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1795,. in the expedition to Ma nilla, and at the capture of Copenhagen in 1807. AMERICAN PRODUCE.—The American line of nacket ship Mediator arrived in the London Docks from New York, has brought 12,419 bushels of barley, 183 boxes of cheese, 50 tierces of rice, 100 casks of lard, 56 of bacon, 1,500 barrels of flour, 1,910 bags of wheat, 25 barrels and 226 sacks of corn meal, 564 bags of corn, 800 barrels of oil cake for cattle, and a variety of other articles of general merchandise. The General Taylor, which has arrived in the St. Ka tharine's Dock from New York, has brought 1,830 casks and 1.121 boxes of cheese, 31 packages of beans, 223 of beef, 3,963 barrels'of flour, 71 of corn meal, 20 of ba con, 104 of lard, 271 of pork, 20 of tongues, and 2,121 sacks of barley. 4 THE GENERAL FAST.—JF.wISH FORM OF PRAYER. the even ing,ewis h p e e s e u v a . s i D o n r. i A n d t l b e r e , se C iefßab kingdoms,bi i o s f s u the n f e l o pn ' r e m b 3 teerorafdoai prayer to be used in the synagogues within his ap pointed by S ALE or A LIRETRY-LANE RENTERS control, on I N l V er ed b n is e j s e d s a t y y , fo t r he tb 2 e 4 g th en i e n r s a t l ., fas b t e . ing the day Yesterday a renter's share in the Theatre Royal Drury-lane (No. 163), was put up to public competition at the Auction , Mart. It entitled the holder to Is. 3d. for every night of performance, and free admission to the theatre, except on certain nights for charitable purposes, the free admission for this season being parted with, It fetched 57/, COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, took an airing yesterday afternoan in an open carriage and four. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback at the same time. The Equerries in Wait ing, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey and Colonel Bouverie attended on horseback. Lord John Russell had an audience of the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palace. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen yesterday, and remained to luncheon with her Majesty and her Royal Consort. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Helena, took an airing yesterday in the Royal gardens. The Royal dinner-party at Bucki ng h am Palace yesterday included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Excellency Count de Reventlow, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess Grey, Viscount and Viscountess Falkland, Viscount and Viscountess Mahon, and Colonel the Right Hon. G. L. Dawson Darner. Her Majesty's private band attended in the evening. Her Majesty and Prince Albert inspected yesterday the finished full-length engravings by Mr. Atkinson, from Mr, Winterhalter's pictures of the Queen and her august Con sort, in the robes of the Order of the Garter, painted fur the Royal Collection, which were submitted by Mr. Moon. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager yesterday, at Marlborough House. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited the German Hospital yesterday. The Commissioners for Metropolitan Improvements held a meeting yesterday at the Office of the Wootls and Forests in IVhitehall•place. There were present Viscount Morpeth, Lord Colborne, the Lord Mayor, Sir Robert H. Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon, Mr. Alderman Humphery, M.P., the lion. C. Gore, and Mr. A. Milne. A Deputation from Birmingham had an interview with tho Right Hon. K Strutt yesterday, relative to Railway and Ca nal Amalgamation, at the Office of the Commissioners of Railways, in Great-street. The Deputation consisted of Mr. W. Scholefield, Mr. P. H. Muntz, Mr. F. Clark, Mr. J. Bourne, and Mr. W. R. Lloyd. Sir Howard Douglas had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Viscount Torrington had an interview with Earl Grey yes terday at the Colonial Office. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England ha•l a gene ral meeting yesterday, at their office in Whitehall-place. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Sonnambu!a was performed for the first time this sea son last evening, with Gardoni as Elvino. As might have been anticipated, his success was complete. Gardoni is nature's own Elvino. Young, impassioned, tender, a perfect artiste, he unites all the advantages of his predecessors without any of their defects. In Mario we missed the exquisite tenderness of Rubin', who only lacked youth to be perfect in the part; moreover, Maria was somewhat too attentive to himself. It was Mario acting Elvino—Mario singing Bel lini's music, and singing it exquisitely; but still it was evi dent that the singer thought more of Mario than of Elvino. Such is not the case with Gardoni. He is Elvino indeed, and in truth he throws himself completely into the part, he is the peasant lover—his auditors feel fur hire, and with him. The finale to the first act was a perfect triumph for Gardoni and Castellan (who, of course, was the Amina). It was rapturously encored, and, at the conclu sion, they were both called before the curtain. Then came the ?asci ii Guardo, the moreeau of the opera, which was given by Gardoni with an im passioned tenderness that has never been exceeded. His manner of giving the words " Il pin triste de' mortali Seno o cruda e ii son per te," was the very acme of despair—not of despair seeking re venge, but of the despair of a broken heart, which would fain seek in the grave an asylum for the woes of life. Then came the "Ah I perche non poses odiarti," (known to the English playgoer as " Still so gently o'er me stealing "), in which Gardoni surpasses all his predecessors, exhibiting all the tenderness of Rubini, with more than Rubini's _power, and singing the music fairly as it is written. The applause was en hasiastic, and most deserved. His clear, silvery tones told beautifully in this exquisite air. Gardoni has made the character of Elviao his own. Unless Rubini again comes on the stage, no tenor must venture on Elvino while Gar doni lives. Castellan was the Amine, and, in saying this, we ought to lay an accent on the word the, for she is the Amine par excellence of the present day, and never did she personate the character better than last evening. Signor F. Lablache was the Count Rodolpho, and sang the " Vi Raviso" in a manner worthy of his sire and of himself. Madame Castellan, Gardoni, and F. Lablache were called for at the conclusion of the opera, and received with the cus tomary honours. A selection from Lucia di Lammermoor, with Fraschini as Edgardo, followed ; and then came the new ballet of Thea; ou, La fête aux fleurs. The characters in the new ballet are—Thea (the favourite Slave of Hassan), Mdlle. Carolina Rosati; La Fee aux Fleurs, Mdlle. Marie Taglioni ; Prince Hassan, M. Paul Taglioni. The following is the plot "We are in a magnificent garden of Bagdad. Within an oriental kiosk, reposes the youthful Prince Hassan sur roundede by odalisks. Near the kiosk i s The a , regarding with passionate and tender looks the Prince, who, all un moved by the music of his slaves and the voluptuous dances of his odalisks, is absorbed in the contemplation of some flowers which he holds in his hand. Nothing can withdraw bim from his reverie, and Thea becomes dejected at his in difference. Hassan desires to be left alone. Thea entreats that she may remain ; but the Prince commands her to leave him. She feigns acquiesceace, but conceals herself behind one of the columns of the kiosk. Hassan appears de lighted at his solitude, and goes with rapture from flower to flower, while Thea follows him with all the marks of jealousy. She again attempts to tear him from his ecstasy; but the Prince appears to have eyes for his flowers only. At last he quits the scene. "The neglected beauty weeps in despair; but a sudden thought brings smiles to her lips. She approaches the statue of the Fge aux Flours, and entreats the resto ration of her lover's heart. She then forms a crown of flowers and throws it in the air; the crown lights on the head of the statue. Thea becomes motionless and disappears, as does also the kiosk,—in the place of which arises a lovely rose tree, surrounded by every variety of flower. • -The Prince returns, and sees with joy the change which has taken place. He kisses the flowers, aspires their perfumes, and is about to pluck a rose, when, behind the tree, appears the Fee aux Fleur:. She seems in anger, and reproaches Harmtn with his audacity. The Prince throws himself on his knees and implores pardon ; but the fairy will grant it only on condition of his marrying the flower which shall have conceived a passion for hint. Sur prised at this proposition, he nevertheless consents. The fairy conducts him to a bank of turf, places on his head a crown of pmppies, and the Prince sleeps "It is night; a blue flame issues from each floral group, the flowers become animated and are changed to nymphs, who smile, walk, dance, and form a living garland round the Fee aux Fkurs. While the flowers dance, Thea, who represents the rose, escapes, takes the poppy crown from the _Prince's head, and returns to mix with her companions. Hassan awakes; he is dazzled by the tableau which presents itself, but seeks the rose, the object of his dream, falls at the feet of Thea, and offers her his heart and hand. The Queen of Flowers appears to sanction their union." In the first tableau, after an introduction by the corps de ballet, we have La 11"loreska, a pas seul, by Bldlle. Carolina Rosati, which is a perfect triumph of choerographic art. Her tours de—(we were about to add, force, but we must change the word)—her tours de grace in this won derful pas are perfectly astonishing. The audience was taken by surprise by the exquisite grace and perfect origi nality of this pas. It surpasses anything that even Fanny Ellsler has done. Then came Les Clochettes, a grotesque Indian dance, by M. Gouriet and a corps de ballet of negro boys, and then a scene dansante by M. Paul Taglioni and Mdlle. Rosati, which was a tnarvel of grace an I power. In the second tableau we are introduced to Lay& mix Pars (Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni), who gives us the danse de l'animation desfleurs, one of those grand pas that may with truth be called the poetry of motion. None but a Taglioni could have imagined it—none but a Taglioni could execute it. The ballet concludes with a grand pas d' ensemble, by Madlle. Rosati, Monsieur P. Taglioni, and the corps de ballet, in which the dancing of Mademoiselle Rosati excited the audience to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. The scenery is beautiful, the ballet itself is poetical, and it acts closely. The attention never flags ; and Thea will no doubt continue a favourite ballet during the whole of the season. At the conclusion Carolina Rosati and Paul Taglioni were called before the curtain. The house was crowded in every part. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—There were present at her Majesty's Theatre yesterday evening—The Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis of Granby, the Marquis of Sligo, his Excellency the Russian Minister, the Baroness Brunnow, and Mademoiselle Ogla de Lechner, AL de Berg, the Earl of Munster, the Earl of Granville the Earl and Countess of Cadogan, the Viscount Duncannon, the Viscount Cantalupe, the Countess Nicholas Esterhazy, Lady Augusta Seymour, Lady Paget, Lord Adolphus Fitz clarence, Lord Macdonald, the Count Koudriaffsky, Sir John Rae Reid, Bart., the Right Hon. Fox Maule, the Hon. G. Byng, Major Baring, Major Buckley, Mr. Hubert, Miss De Burgh, Mrs. Stanley, Mr. E. Majoribanks, Mr. Trelawney, Sir George Wombwell, Bart., Sir W. M. Stanley, Captain Greville, Colonel Wildman. POTATOES NOT EARTHED-UP FREE FROM DISEASE.— I beg to observe; that I have for the last eight years been in the habit of planting my potatoes whole in November with a dibble, from twenty inches to two feet apart every from six to eight inches deep, and nevr eart hing g w th a e y l an up d . The result has invariably been a most excellent crop. and this last season none were diseased e xce pt two rows separate from all the rest, and which had been highly manured with decomposed animal matter the previous year.—F. MonoAN, Tenby, Feb. 20. Gardener's Chronicle. AN ALDERMAN'S FAMILY SOLD TO PAT HIS DEBTS. —The American papers more and more show the horrors of slavery, how it is abrogating all that common se nse, morality. or religion dictate. The following is from the Washington Patriot :—" We noticed, a short time since, the sud den disappearance from Charleston, South Carolina, of a certain alderman and bank director on account of debts he could not pay, and who was married to a mulatto woman, by whom he had Six children.:lt turns out now that this mulatto woman was his slave! and, consequently the six children are slaves also! The result is, the creditors of the absconding alderman have made arrangements to seize the wife and children and sell them for her husband's and their father's debts !" INCLOSUEB COMMISSION.—The number of applica tions to this Oleo of all kinds since the passing of the Act has been 150. Of these 132 are for inclosures, 1 for the conversion of st i n ted into re g ulated pasture, 10 for the exchange of lands, 4 to complete proceedings under local Acts, and 3 for setting out copyhold boundaries under the Inclosure Amendment Act the number of acres, comprised in the applications for inclosure and conversion, is 105,381 a. 2r. 26p. The number of cases since the last annual general report is 104. Quantity of land, 77,150 a. lr. 4p. Of these, 90 have been for inclosurcs, of which 57 will, we believe, require the previous authority of Parliament, awl 33 will not. There are 9 for the exchange ' of lands, and 2 to complete proceedings under local Acts— the inclosure of Netteswell and Copthall Commons, and arable common fields, county of Essex, containing 207 a. 3r. 14p. part of which is waste land of a manor. Of this application the Commissioners observe—", We consider this proposed inclosure expedient, on the ground that the common rights are at present of little value, and that even in some instances parties forego the exercise of them ; whilst the whole of the waste land is fit for arable purposes, and that it will confer great benefit on those interested and on the neighbourhood." THE BLESSING OF A CHEAP AND ABUNDANT SUP pLy of WATZR.—" I wish to add my testimony to that of every practical man who is acquainted with the poorer class of habitations, that a greater blessing could scarcely be conferred by Government upon the working classes of London, or one more essenti a l to h ealth and comfort, than that o f ? a cheap and abundant supply of water, and that the present mode of supply is about the most expensive and inefficient that can be devised." —Evidence of W. E. IfEdson, En., before the Health of Towns' Commission. IRELAND. ST. PATRICK'S DAY.---DUBLIN, MARCH 17.--This being the festival day of the patron saint of Ireland, the merriment annually indulged in by the people on the occasion of the military relieving guard at the Castle was remarkable for the order and good-humoured festivity which characterised the demeanour of the immense assemblage who thronged the square at the castle. Shortly after eleven o'clock the cheer ing, which could be heard at a great distance, announced the approach of Lieutenant. General Sir Edward Blakeney, who, attended by his staff; rode at the head of the guard, and from the royal barracks to the Castle the gallant veteran was greeted, as well from the windows as from the pavement, with every demonstration of popular affection and respect. Oa reaching the Castle, Sir Edward dismount e d, and j o i ned the Lord Lieutenant an d a numerous party of his Excel lency's private friends and officers of the household. Soon after the arrival of Sir Edward Blakeney, his Excel lency, uncovered, appeared on the balcony over the state entrance, attended by Mr. Corry Conellan, and followed by the Ladies Ponsonby attired in Irish poplin of national green. His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge stood beside his Excellency, and on being recognised, was loudly cheered. The instant the balcony window was thrown open, the approach of his Excellency was anticipated by the dense crowd which fi led the square, and as he advanced to the ballustrade, the acclamations which rent the air, in token of the popular admiration which hls Excellency enjoys, were never equalled on any similar occasion except during the viceroyalty of Lord Normanby. The Ladies Ponsonby were the next objects of popular favour, and the familiarity with which their names were enunciated by the crowd, excited their Ladyships' merriment ; and, in silently ex pressing the senti ments b y which they were moved, there was no stiff timidity nor affectation in their fine open ness of countenance. " Gra maehree, Kathleen—you are the jim of Irish ladies, in your purty green coat, a cushla," said Boeotian giant from the county of Meath, as he snapped his fingers and kicked up his left heel, in genuine Irish style. his Excellency and the- viceregal party remained on the balcony until the military were marched off to their bar racks, shortly after which the crowd dispersed in the most perfect good humour and decorum. RELIEF COMMITTEES.—III S Excellency the Lord-Lieu tenant has directed that relief committees shall be constituted according to the general order of the 4th of March instant, in each of the electoral divisions of the following unions re. spectively :—Drogheda, Dumfanagby, Dunmanny, Ennis killen, Innishowen, Kilrnallock, Manor-Hamilton. A PEER OF TILE IRISH PARTY.—The Northern Whig COE. , tains the following :—" Lord Mountcashel's Munificence.-- A correspondent writes us as follows, under date of the 11th inst. :—` Lord Mountcashel's munificent subscription of 101. (don't mistake this for 1001.) arrived to the Kells Relief Fund last week. His estate of Kells comprises eight townlands, yielding about 2,0004 a year of the best paid rents in the north of Ireland.' Ills Lordship is a strenuous defender of the Irish landlords; and we saw that, a few days ago, be lamented the smallness of certain landlord subscriptions in Cork, though he still stood up for his order. What a splendid offering he presents—ten pounds for eight townlands!" TUE LATZ MURDERS IN KILKENNT.—In addition to the particulars which we gave in our last of the atrocious mur ders of Mr. Prim and the police-constable, the Kilkenny Journal says :—" Four of the men were seen running towards the Grove of Carrickshock, carrying five guns and a bag of money. The latter, no doubt, contained the money Mr. Prim had with him, about 300/. in silver and copper. The fellow who had been shot, crawled to a house, where he asked some children to allow him to lie down, and where he was subse quently taken by the police. He is from Carrick, in the county Tipperary, the place wh ere , it i s conjectured, all the assassins came from. There is one thing certain, that they were strangers, for Mr. Prim was universally and deservedly beloved by the people of the barony (Kell s ), and indeed by every one who knew him." _ _ _ ATHLONE, MARCH 15.—Another fire broke out this day about half-past one o'clock, when unfortunately five houses were burned down, and had it not been for the exertions of the military, and the convenient supply of water, there is little doubt but that the greater portion of the Connaught side of the town would have been now in smouldering ruins. The devastation yesterday was not so great as in the confu sion I was led to believe. The number of houses destroyed amounted to eighteen. EMIGRATION.—A great many persons, farmers, and others, who applied on Tuesday to the grand jury for pre sentments fur damages, &c., stated that they were preparing to go to America.—Tipperary Vindicator. ULSTER RAILWAY.—The traffic on this railway (twenty five miles opened) was, for the week ending 14th March , 1847 :—Passengers, 12,501; amount, 430/. 19s. 9d.; goods, 280/. 19s. sd.—Total, 721/. 19s. 2€l. Corresponding week of last year:—Passengers, 12,193; amount, 415/. 15s. 4d.; goods, 2421. ls. 3d.—Total, 657/. 16s. 7d. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. KILICE.NNY, MARCH 15.—PLUNDER OF A PAY CLERK — Thomas Mackey and William Mackey were indicted for that they, on the 16th of December last, at Rochestown, being armed did assault Frederick Burrowes, a pay clerk of the Board of Works, and rob him of 400 half-crowns, 1,000 shillings, 100 sixpences, and other moneys. A witness, named James Wallace, was produced to prove an alibi for one of the prisoners, (and, in answer to the first question, said, " I cannot speak a word of English."— (Loud laughter.) However, he was compelled to give his evidence in that language. Tho jury found a verdict of Guilty, and the prisoners were sentenced to transportation for life. THE BREADALBANE BUTTON. (From the Ayr Advertiser.) We have before, in our columns, taken notice of the com mencement of this new species of manufacture in the village of Mauchline, and of its rapid progress under the direction of its indefatigable inventor, Mr. Andrew Smith, until now within a few years, it has become the chief manufacture of the village. Yet the extent of the manufactory, abstractly considered, might not merit much attention, were it not that there are other circumstances connected with it, which we think may justify a few additional remarks. It is with manufactures as it is with painting and poetry, not very difficult to acquire a little local fame ; but to com mence the • manufactory of an article in a country village, that can only obtain a remunerative consumption by being sent and sold over the whole civilised world, when it has to meet and compete with articles for a similar use—the pro duct of manufactures of centuries standing— to bring the product of such a manufactory to such perfection, as to ar rest the attention and ciil forth the approbation of the most enlightened portion of the community, and to obtain for it the patronage of the first personage in the empire—all within the space of three or four years, surely says something for its real merits. Our deservedl . %9 esteemed representative io Parliament, Lord James Stuart, having repeatedly sent to Mr. Smith's manufactory for some of his buttons, which were much ad mired, Mr Smith had only to hint to his Lordship, that the patronage of his Royal Iliehness Prince Albert would be of advantage to him, when his Lordship instantly dispatched such an account of Mr. Smith's business to the Palace, as at once proctir.d for him the favour required, and a set of but tons were got up' f for his Royal Highn , ss at the small village of Mauchline, which when shown to the very first manufacturers in Birmingham were pronounced by them to be the most beautiful articles they had ever seen in the button line. We subjoin a copy of the Hon. G. E. Anson's letter acknowledging the receipt, and acceptance of the buttons, and we sincerely wish that the Royal favour may be of benefit to Mr. Smith, as we are sure he will not consider this distinction so much in the light of a reward for the past as a stimulus to future exertions:— " Windsor Castle, December 30,1846. " Mr. Andrew Smith--Sir, I beg to acknowledge the re ceipt of your letter ; and to inform you that I have, in com pliance with your request, and that of Lord James Stuart, laid the buttons which accompanied it before his Royal High ness Princ,,Albert, who has most graciously received them, and expressed his approbation of your invention. (Signed) " G. E. ANSON." DREADFUL DESTITUTION AND DEATII. Yesterday a long inquiry was gone into, before W. Carter, Esq., the Coroner, at the Duke of Wellington Tavern, Wel lington-street, Newington-causeway, respecting the death of Sarah Stocker, aged 69 years, lately residing at a lodging house, situate No. 42, Wellington-street, who, it was alleged, died from want of the common necessaries of life. The body, when viewed by the Coroner and jury, presented a very painful sight, being nothing more than a skeleton. Elizabeth Barter stated that the deceased was her cousin. They lived together for the last twelve years. They formerly occupied a house at No. 6, Borough-road, Southwark, which they let out furnished; but, owing to pecuniary difficultiee, they had lost everything that they possessed, which com pelled them to take a small room, where they employed themselves in making shirts, fur which they received 4d. each. Witness received 2s. Gd. per week from St. George's parish, and with their joint labour they could only earn on an average about 25., which amounted to 4e. 6d., out of which they had to pay 2s. weekly for rent, leaving them only 2s. 6d. to subsist upon during the winter. The deceased had been under the care of Mr. Babbage, for fever and' cough, who prescribed for her, and she got better. About six weeks since the deceased became unable to work, from weakness and the want of nourishing food, which wit• ness was unable to give her. The deceased and witness were often without food. Sometimes they managed to get a little coffee and bread, and very often were compelled to have only bread and water for days together. On Saturday week wit ness and the deceased took a lodging at No. 42, Wellington street, which witness subsequently found 'to be in the parish of Newington. Witness then went to the relieving officer of St. George's, for a surgeon's order for the deceased, and was informed that, as she had removed into another parish, they could not assist her. Witness then proceeded to the poor igngenatledimsleink.e to o Th o ey e off t 9 N ta e k w e i l n i g e r to into nw t h h e e r h e o s u h s e e, s h a u w t li w av o rules of a workhouse, she refused to go in. On Friday list the deceased complained of sore throat, and could not swallow anything. Witness made her some coffee and toast, but she could not take any. On the following morning she was no better. She became worse, and died at twelve o'clock the same night. A juror—Were you able to have any firing during the in clement weather? Witness—No, Sir; and but very little covering. The deceased slept on an old sofa, and lon a few chairs, with a piece of carpet and anything we could find in the room. We had sold everything that we could to get food. We had subsisted for seven or eight months with only 2s. 6d., and were unable to get meat or any animal food. The poor woman, whose appearance indicated that she had suffered the greatest distress, was led out of the room by the officer (Mr. Brooks), who, at the suggestion of the jury, supplied her with some refreshment. Mr. Robert Brooks, one of the 'relieving officers of St. Mary, Newington, said, in answer to the Coroner, that if the witness Barter bad properly represented the case to the authorities of the workhouse every assistance would have been afforded them. — The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of " Natural death ;" and added, that they were of opinion that the death had been accelerated by deprivation and want of food. ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE STREN STEAM-BOAT. On Wednesday afternoon an accident took place on board the A. Syren, when off the Isle o f D ogs, on her way to Woolwich. noise was heard in the engine-room, and immediately afterwartk it, was discovered that a tube or tubes liail given way in the boilers, by which a volume of water escaped into the furnaces beneath, forced out a quantity of hot coals intA the engine. room, and had dreadfully burned the head and bodies of the engineer and stoker. The vessel drifted until it reached the pier east of Greenwich Hospital, when the a ir : fortunate sufferers were put into a waterman's skitf o , and, without without loss of time, conveyed on board the Dreadno ught; 1 ught; Seaman's Hospital ship, where the most Pro WAS rendered by the surgeons on board. e s are not despaired - Ti l l ip poor fellowS remain in a very bad state, but their lives of. Their names are Green, engineer, sailing barge was proceeding up and Jackson, stoker. two BARGE o'clock her bows struck one of the piers the river, with a strong SUNK yesterday,aT as W a EsTor NSTE R-BRIDG E.—About e 'r a c n e d com pletely round, and her stern l, c oming ae to i n cause t a ll: tr witht to reel ea another o c t o h m e r of the bridge with su fi e l h e t d i f t o l pier, she turned over, arch on the south side. The crew' went down bottom upwards,. under the third Everett,bricklarr Rochester, and was d to Mr. . , She belonged he was proceeding to (Master Hearnmanand two boys) escaped in the small boat. • h°B 000 briCkE ? Wit Whig A loaded with , , Nine Lbw. :ZIE 7 • ~.