The Sun. — London, England, 1847-01-20 00:00:00

THIRD EDITION OF "THE SUN." THE VERY LATEST NEWS WILL. BE FOUND AS USUAL IN THE THIRD EDITION OF "THE SUN,' WiIICII 'WILL CONTAIN THE .• DEBATES IN BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT UP TO THE HOUR OF POST, "*EREBY AYTICIPATING OTHER PAPERS BY TWELVE 'TOURS. THE CORN LAWS. A FULL REPORT of LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH, in a Committee of the whole House, will be given TO-MORROW, in a THIRD EDITION of " THE ST-N." TIIE NAVIGATION LAWS. A FULL REPORT of LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH, in a Committee of the whole House, will also be given TO-MORROW, in a THIRD EDITION of " THE SUN." LAW OF SETTLEMENT. A FULL REPORT of LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH on the LAW of SETTLEMENT, will be given on FRIDAY, JAN. 22, in a THIRD EDITION of " THE SUN." CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES. A FULL REPORT of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'S SPEECH, on his moving that the whole House resolve itself into a Committee, will be given on FRIDAY, JAN. 22, in a THIRD EDITION of " THE SUN." STATE :OF IRELAND. A FULL REPORT of LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH, on his bringing under the consideration of the House the STATE of IRELAND, will bo given on MONDAY, JANUARY 25, in a THIRD EDITION of " THE SUN." EXPRESS EDITIONS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON ALL IMPORTANT OCCASIONS, BRINGING DOWN THE DEBATE', TO TILE LATEST MOMENT. Orders received by all Newspaper Agents, and at THE THIRD EDITION Sun-office, 113, Strand _ _ b.reha re 7v on SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock. NORTHERN COUNTIES UNION RAILWAY. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING.—(THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the shareholders of this coin ',any was held this day, at one o'clock, in the London Ta vern, Bishop gate-street, for the purpose, as stated in the advertisement, " of taking into consideration, and approving, ..r otherwise, the proposed application to Parliament for the partial deviation of the line, arid the ameodintmt of the Act constituting this company. Also, in -e.iinp!ianee with the 2equisition of the shareholders for the further purpose of taking into consideration and approving, or otherwise cer tain propositions for an amalgamation of this compan y with i lie Liverpool, Manchester , and Newcastle-upon-TyneJunc tian Railway Company." Considerable interest was excited in consequence of the following counter-notice having been advertised in the London journals : "TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE NORTHERN COHNTIE3 UNION RAILWAY COMPANY. " In reference to an advertisement in the Morning Chroni cle on Monday, the 22d inst., calling a special meeting of the Shareholders of the Northern Counties Union, to be held on the - 20th of January next, at the London Tavern, London, at welve o'clock, for the' purpose of consideoin -, the propriety 4 , r otherwise of an amalgamation of the said company with the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction Railway s ',ompany, we, the undersigned, being directors of the Northern Counties Union Company, consider it our duty to rtate that we dissent from the proposed amalgamation, and hall be prepared at the above meeting to give our reasons for such dissent. (Signed) " W. CrACKANTIIORPE, Newbiggin 'Hall, Westmoreland "11. nowsun, Grey stoke Castle, Cumberland. •' H. PEAent Pi...,rrernont, Darlington. "J. WIIITWELL, Kendal, Westmoreland. "J. C. IlorKisis, Woodside, Darlington." The meeting was therefore densely crowded. Major Beresford, M.P., was called to the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, The Ca.tUtMAN said that this meeting had two distinct objects. In the first place it was the intention of the directors to lay before the meeting, for their consic:eration, an amended Bill, which was to be introduced into Parliament during the present session. That Bill he considered, and he trusted the meeting would consider also the effect of a resolu tion passed unanimously by the shareholders of this company, at a general meeting held in August last. If he understocri I tie intention of the prospectus, it was that the simultaneous construction of two lines of railway—the Yorkshire and 4 llasgow and the York and Carlisle—would be injurious and detrimental, and contrary to the wishes of the shareholders .4 this company. if he were mistaken in this view of their wishes, they could state that he was wrong, and • firmly and decidedly express the opinion which they really held, :and the intention which they meant to adopt in consequence. f his reading of their wishes was the correct one ; if they Old consider that the simultaneous construction of hese two lines was opposed to the general interests of the shareholders, if they did consider that it was right and jast to let them hare the expenditure of their own moneys, I hen. he said, they were justified in bringing forward the :intended Bill in this session. It was proposed, and would be laid before the meeting that day, and they could then say whether they would wish it to be carried through Parlia enent. If, on the contrary, they said that the chairman-had mistaken their views, then he would at once accede to their opinions, but until they did so express themselves, lie should hold that he had acted in obedience to the wishes of the shareholders of the company. Another matter in the Bill was to diminish, to some extent, Vie amount of their capital.—(Cheers.) When they first .vent before Parliament, the amount of their capital had been thund more than sufficient (after calculating all expenses) inc the construction of either or both of their lines. Th, consequence was, that they were enabled to limit the capital ,o 2,500,00 0/. if they constructed the Yorkshire and Glasgow Junction, and the York and Carlisle; but, if they confined hemselves to the former, of course they could diminish their e.ipital still further. After the first object, which liad called them together, was dispossed of, they -would proceed to place the second before them. The requisition for calling the meeting to consider this subject had been numerously signed by shareholder: , laving shares in the Leeds and Carlisle, the Yorkshire and ilasgoN" Junction, and the Liverpool, Manchester, and New castle-upon-Tyne Junction. Certain conditions proposing an amalgamatiion had been submitted by the latter com p toy, but he could assure the meeting, that these conditions had not been accepted by the directors of the Northern Counties Union Company. After some further remarks, the Chairman called upon the Secretary to read the follow ing report : " The present meeting has been convened for two objects as stated in the advertisement. " First, —for the purpose of taking into consideration and approving, or otherwise, the proposed application to Parlia nient for the partial deviation of the line, and the amend vent of the Act constituting this company. " Since the first general ordinary meeting of this Com p Any, your directors have turned their attention to carrying into effect the resolutions of that meeting with respect tc, the re-survey of the more expensive portions of your line, and for making the necessary preparations to proceed ti Parliament In the present Session for an amended Bill, ac cording to the report adopted at that meeting. " Your Directors have to state that a re-survey of the ex pensive portions of your line from Smardale Gill to Barnard _Castle, has been made by Mr. Harris. the engineer to the original York and Carlisle line, with a view to diminish the cost thereof, and that, upon examination of the sections, your directors unanimously resolved not to adopt his plans and survey, on account of the severity of the gradients. "In compliance with an agreement entered into with the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction Railway Company, a deviation of your line has been surveyed at the point of junction with that company's line, in order to make ire levels of b oth coincide. This deviation will im prove the line, and is estimated to effect a saving of expense in constructing it. "The draft of the Deviation Bill will now be laid before. you. " Your directors have the satisfaction of stating that they have entered into a further agreement with the directors of .the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne June , ton Company for the joint construction of the line from • Carperby (the point of junction) to Wath. Secondly,—ln compliance with the requisition of the arsholders for the further taking into consideration and approvi ng , or otherwise, certain propositions for an amalga mation • 3gewe gthis company with the Liverpool, Manchester, and of which y r o u l oon. Tyne Junction Railway Company, the terms The cumi l l directors submit for your consideration." and he would move said, that they had heard the report read, shareholders. e h that it be received, adopted, and printed for the use of the Mr. SAMS seconded th e and it was carried unani mously. The CHAIRMAN then read the clauses in the amended Act, the principal of which were theta, 12th i and 13th ; the former of which enlated that the c proportions, in the former Bill was to be expended in equal and i•imultaneously, in the construction of that part e t n _i s , l : 7torna i lway which was Auckland in the con- Ai , toted botwe in Thirsk Wath and Carlisle), Tebay, WI-ix:ion of that part between Bishop but at (t!ie only part remaining of the York and be e p ncLid simultaneously, the ,Zliirld not e, directors. and on any part of the line; the last to of therise that the capital be 2,500,0001. instead of 3 000,000/ . 1L co ncluded by mo vin g that the Bill be agreed to by t h e shareholders Mr. Sans seconded the resolutddreion. 3lr. How.tarr, in a long a s, moved an amendment ti at the simultaneous clau se be kept inviolate. He con ti that it was an attempt on the part of certain of the directors to throw the only remaining portion of the York and Carlisle Railway overboard ; lie meant that portion of the line between Auckland and Tebay, and on the part of those who had paid their money for the construction of that p. rtion, he protested against the doing away with the clause, ar.d he would demand a poll on the subject. Mr. EAST seconded the amendment, which was supported Mr. Crackanthorpe, Mr Pease, and other gentlemen. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2O, 1847 After a long discussion, and much confusion, occasioned by Mr. Howard's determination to take the poll befofe having a show of hands, The CHAIRMAN overrated this determination, and took the show of hands, when only 13 were held up for the amend ment, and some hundreds for the original resolution. Mr. HOWARD again, and amid the utmost confusion, de ' manded a poll, which Was taken, and the numbers having been— For the original resolution, present and proxies 8,140 For the amendment, present and proxies 3,303 Majority The resolution having been declared carried, The CHAIRMAN introduced the subject or an amalgamation with the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon - Tyne Junction. IMMr. H. MARRIOTT moved " that power be given to enter into preliminary arrangements for the purposes of an amal gamation of this company with the Liverpool, Manchester, add Newcastle ; that a deputation be appointed, consisting of the chairman and three directors, Mr. Wybill, Mr. Collett, M.P., and Mr. Salkill, to negotiate for that purpose, and to authorise them to conclude arrangements and report the same to the next general meeting." Mr. CARLISLE seconded the resolution. After some discussion, in which Mr. COLLETT and other gentlemen took part. Mr. CRACKANTHORPE moved "that :it would be inex pedient to amalgamate with any other campany." Mr. HOWARD seconded the amendment in a long speech, which was freqttently interrupted by the impatience of those present. Mr. WHITWELL, in an admirable address, supported the amendment. Mr. SULKIIILL and Mr. ALLHUSEN spoke in favour of the original motion. A show of hands was taken, when the original motion was carried. Mr. HOWARD demanded a poll, but it was decided that the question of " amalgamation not befandshe meeting. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated after five hours sitting. QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.) The Cjurt took the Crown paper to-day. None but disputed pauper settlement and parish cases came on for argument during the morning. They involved no points of public interest. DAIL COURT.-(THIS DAY.) LIABILITY OF PROVISIONAL COMMITTEEMEN. FLOWE a V. ROr This was an action brought to recover the sum of 88/. due from the defendant to the plaintiff, for work and labour done, and upon an account stated. Mr. Wordsworth appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. New ton, with whom was Mr. Hatherton, appeared for the de fendant. The facts of the case were very brief. It appeared from the statement of counsel, and front the witnesses examined, that the defendant, Mr. Roper, was a gentleman of property, and the plaintifl; Mr. Flower, is a soli citor. In the year 1846 a railway company called the Liverpool, Gloucester, Salisbury, Devizes, and Southampton Railway was started. The defendant, amongst other gen tlemen, gave his written consent to have his name placed upon the provisional committee. The written consent was dated the 13th of Dec., 1845, although the registration of the company did not take place for some time afterwards. The attorneys and solicitors were appointed for the company on the very day upon which the defendant had given his consent. The plaintiff was one of those solicitors, and in the duties consequent upon that appointment the present expenses were incurred. On the cross-examination of the witnesses, it was admitted that Mr. Flower had, by way of showing that he had not selected the defendant by any undue preference, brought six other actions for this bill. A managing committee was ap pointed soon after the defendant joined the provisional com mittee. The sum of three guineas was charged by the plaintiff for each attendance at the board of directors of the company. The Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, and South ampton Railway Company was amalgamated with the railway of which the defendant was a member, on the 13th of December, the day on which the defendant placed his name on the provisional committee of the joint co npany called the Liverpool, Gloucester, Salisbury, and Devizes, and Southampton Railway Company. Mr NEWTON objecteJ, on the part of the defendant, that he was in any case not liable for more than the amount of the bill from the 13th of December to the appoint ment of the managing committee. He also objected that it did not appear what number of the provisional committee were to form a quorum, and therefore many of the proceed ings of that committee might have been illegal, as it had not been shown that the proper number attended. He also objected that a great many of the proceedings for which charges had been made had taken place before the 13th of December, when, although the de fendant was in the habit of attending meetings of the company, there was nothing to render him in any way liable. Mr. Flower had also neglected to prove the attendances, which comprised the heavier portion of his bill. Mr. Justice RULE said that if the Counsel on either side would allow him to consider of the case until to-morrow morning, he would decide whether the plaintiff should be nonsuited, subject to the objections of Mr. 'Wordsworth, or the defendant should be rendered liable, subject to the motion of Mr. Newton. The only question was as to the amount. Both Counsel expressed their readiness to come to au ar rangement. Mr. NEWTON . then addressed the jury. The Learned JUDGE having summed up, The jury found found for the plaintiff.—Damages, 171. Bs. 6d., the amount from the 13th of December to the ap • pointment of the managit'r committee. The case of Richards v. I...erd Maidstone, which stood for rial this morning , was, by consent, postponed until the sit ngs after term. Committee to inquire into the treatment of convicts on board the hulks at Woolwich. MILITARY PUNISHMENT. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that to-morrow he should move for a return of the number of corporeal punish ments in the artoy since the last Parliamentary returns , made up to the latest period at which they could be furnished. THE NAVY. Sir C. NAPIER gave notice that to-morrow he should move for a return of the number of line-of-battle ships which bad been cut down to frigates and steam contract ships. He should also mote the same time, for a return of the number of seamen which the Channel fleet was short of in their complement ZEALAND at the present time. NEW . Mr. B. HAWES brought up the return of the Com mittee of the affairs of New Zealand. SESSIONAL ORDERS. Mr. JOHN PARKER moved the usual sessional orders, and a resolution for the arrangement of public business in respect of orders and notices, and a resolu tion for the morning sittings on Wednesday.—Agreed tr. Mr. EWART moved, amongst the sessional orders, that Committees on Private Bills, as well as on Rail way Bills, consist of five Members, neither personally nor indirectly interested in the question submitted to their consideration. This system had been tried during the last session, and it was found to work so efficiently that it was at present proposed to extend it to all pri vate Bills. It was proposed that the Committee should consist of five independent, unbiassed, and unpreju diced Members, in no one way interested in the Bills to be submitted to their consideration. Honourable Gentlemen certainly might object that it would be better fur those who had local knowledge and local interests to sit on Committees, where the subjects affecting local matters were tried ; but he certainly was of opinion that they would be more likely to be of ser vice to their constituents as witnesses than as judges. Mr. THORNELY concurred fully in the observations of the Hon. Gentleman, and would second the motion. Mr. BROTHERTON thought that it would be injudi cious to adopt changes in this matter. At the time when the Speaker and other gentlemen recommended changes there was quite a different mode adopted to that now in use. No local Members were permitted to sit on Committees unless they were present on the first day that they assembled. There was a manifest distinction between railway anti other local Bills. There might be reason why they should have perfectly . impartial Com , mittees on railways, where so many interests were af fected, but there were many reasons why, in other Bills, constituents should not be deprived of the attendance of their local representatives. The present system worked well, and he saw no ne cessity for disturbing it. He should, therefore, object to the motion of the Hon. Member for Dumfries. Mr. HUME was surprised to hear the Hon. Member for Salford speak in the way he had done of the present constitution of the Committees. It would bemuch bet- ' ter for the feelings of Hon. Members themselves who were local members, if they were not appointed to these Committees ; there were always two parties concerned, and even if an Hon. Member were inclined to "trim," he was often puzzled to know how to act.--(Laughter.) He should, therefore, support the motion of his Hon. Friend. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE would give his cordial support to the measure, as he considered it a reform in the right direction, and calculated to leave unstained Vie honour and the integrity of the Members of that House. Colonel SIBTHORP thought that every Member of that House should be brought up to the table, anti made to swear that they had no interest, directly or in directly, in any railway, fur until that were done, he thought that the honour of the House could not be preserved, and the same system with reference to railways, of gross gambling, fraud, and specula tion, would continue to disgrace that House. He wished to have a pure House of Commons and a pure Ministry, and he had waited long for such and had found none. He wished to have in the House-inde pendent Members, who would work for the good of the country, and not to forward their private ends. Until they had such a House of Com mons no good could be done. He had lost ll confidence in the late Ministry, and he had great suspicion of the gentlemen who constituted the present one. He would support the Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Ewart), in order, if possible, to purify the present 53 stem. Mr. S. O'BRIEN believed that the present system had given greater satisfastion than the old one, and ought to have a further trial. It had been said that the public out of doors wished to place all Committees on private [sills on the same footing as Committees on railway Bills. He differed from that opinion, as he felt satisfied the present system was in much more favour than the one which it had succeeded. He would therefore vote against the motion. Mr. WILLIAMS supported the motion. The prin ciple had been already introduced into a great portion of the business of the House, which involved a large amount of property. He agreed with the Hon. Member for Montrose that it was impossible for any Member who had any interest in a private Bill to act upon the Committee appointed to consider its merits with any thing like impartiality or independence. Mr. NEW DEGATE opposed the motion. Mr. BERNAL supported the motion, and deprecated the practice of hearing counsel with long briefs before private Committees. Some time since they were led to believe that all the preliminary steps in private Bills were to be undertaken by the Public, D.parttnents, but. with the exception of the Woods and Forests, he be lieved no other board had taken any step of this kind. Sir G. GREY admitted that the principle of the motion was good, but he should certainly recommend the House to exercise great caution in attempting to carry it out. The new machinery used in dealing with railway Bills, had been found to work exceedingly well, and he thought it ought not to be abruptly interferrosi with. It was adopted after a long and patient inquiry had been introduced into the subject, and instead of adding to the expenses incurred in the progress of railway Bills, it had tet.ded to reduce them. — (Hear, hear.) He was not, therefore, prepared at pre sent to make any alteration in a system which bad been found to work so admirably. Dr. BOWRING suggested that, after what had fallen from Members on both sEes of the House, and seeing that the principle of the motion was admitted, the debate on the subject had better be adjourned.—(No, no.) Mr. EWART (who arose amid loud cries " Divide") said he would be quite willing to withdraw his motion, but he would give notice of a Select Committee upon the subject fur to-morrow.—(Cries of "Divide, divide.") Sir G. GREY said that, in his opinion, a division would only be a waste of time, as it would be open to Ewart, even should his motion be negatived, to move for the Select Committee upon the next night. — (Cries of Divide.") The House then divided, when there appeared, For the motion 36 Against it lO3 Majority —67 IRON SHIPS OF WAR. Mr. R. YORKE wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it was true that sixteen iron ships of war had been ordered without previous inquiry of their powers and efficiency for the service. Also, whether the report of the Admiralty of France, showing the utter inefficiency of iron ships for the purposes of warfare, was not in possession of the Government at the time the said ships were ordered. Mr. WARD said the best reply he could give to the Hon. Gentleman was, that the iron steam-ships to which he referred, were ordered by tl* House last session, on the motion of an Hon. Member opposite. He believed that no report had been made to the Admiralty of France setting forth the utter inefficiency of iron ships for the purposes of warfare, and that no experiments had yet been made by the naval authorities of either country to test their capacity. Mr. WILLIAMS wished to be informed whether the progress of the iron-steamers, which had been ordered, hid been suspended? Mr. WARD replied, but was not audible in she ga lery. of much more importance than the County Courts Bill, On the 19th of January it might well be supposed that the state of Ireland would oeoupy a prominent position in h r Majesty's Speech ; but even that, he considered, a eubject not parameunt to the alteration, of the poor law. He trusted that the Gevernment would grant these returns, as it was fully expected that the House of Commons would grant the relief which was so earnestly sought. Mr. BANKES said that it was with great pleasure he seconded the motion which had just been made, and he took that opportunity of giv in g notice of an intention which he had had previou sl y of bringing a formal pro position before the House, and on Friday next, he pro pose d to do it in the shape of an amendment to the motion of the Noble Lord, in which he should submit to the House a proposition for the immediate repeal of the Poor-law, which was at that moment doing the greatest mischief in the country. He held in his hand a petition from his own parish, which bad been greatly injured in the county tie represented by the operation of this law, and he believed that in a few days he should have petitions from almost every parish in that county, speaking of this petition, which ho should take that op portunity of presenting to the House ; it purported to be with reference to the least important portion of the evil, viz., it had reference to the additional burthen thrown upon the rate-payers, while the more important portion by far, was that adverted to by the Honourable Member who just spoke, viz., the ge neral injury inflicted upon the poor. He believed that those who ventured to suggest objections to this Bill when it passed ; he was one who suggested many amendments, every one of which was negatived, and those who promoted the Bill had no conception of the mischief it would create. For that reason he should be acting inconsistently with his duty if he did not take the earliest opportunity possible of sub mitting to the House the immediate and total re peal of these laws. He should be answered by the Noble Lord that the question of whether the measure should continue was one of the subjects which he pto posed to submit to the committee, the constitution of which he should offer to the consideration of the House on Friday next. His (Mr. Bankes) answer would be, that during the deliberation of the committee, the kgrievance ought not to continue if it were in their power to put an end to it at once, and sure he was that Whatever might be the result of their deliberation, that law, as it now stood, ought not to remain another hour upon the statute-book. He, therefore, concurred en tirely in the ptopriety of the motion of which the Noble Lotd had given notice,- with reference to a tull consideration of that law. The amendment which he should submit was—' That it is r ecessary to enquire into the operation of the Act 9 and 10 Victoria, chap. 66, passed during the last session of Parliament, as to its effects upon the comforts and anditit n of the poor. Such an enquiry must neces sarily tend to show the necessity of altering the statute materially, or of removing it altogether. With regard to the other subject, alluded to by the Hon. Member, there was no doubt that some time would be required before the full information could be obtained. He would, however, support the motion of the Hon. Gentleman for that information which he required. He trusted that country Members would contribute to the information of the House on this subject by the results of their own personal experience, and render unneces sary any committee on till: subject.—(Hear, hear.) Sir GEORGE GREY had no objection to the pro duction of the papers moved for by the Hon. Member, but as the Hon. Gentleman opposite had stated it to be hie intention to bring this matter before the House by a specific motion, he trusted that the House would not countenance the discussion further at the present time. POOR-LAW AUDITORS. Mr. FERRANI) would trespass on the House while he called the attention of Hon. Gentlemen to the con duct of the poor-law auditors. It wool Ibe difficul to describe what injustice was inflicted on the poor by these functionaries. He would be able to convince the House that it was their duty to rescue the poor from the clutches of these poor-law auditors. He would men tion one instance of the harsh conducted these officers. It was the custom in the town where he re3ided to direct the parish constab!e to relieve the poor, and he was in the habit of providing the destitute with a lodging, food for a short period, end a small sum to assist them on their road. But what was the case at present?—why the poor-law auditors had intimated to the constable that he should di,,continue the practice. The auditors of several unions had threatened to com mence actions against the guardians if they gave relief to any person in opposition to the orders of Somerset house. He hoped the House woul I take immediate steps and inquire into the charges which he had brought forward. Mr. B. ESCOTT was convinced that half of the miss riet resulting from the a dministration of the present poor law arose from the ignorance or laziness of those appoint ed to administer it. There was no law prohibiting out door relief; there was 'only an order of the Poor-law Commissioners, and even that was nut absolute. There were several exceptions to to the operation of that order, such as caps of sudden emergency, On a former occasion he asked the Right lion. Baronet opposite, whether the power of regulatme out door relief lay with the commissioners or board of guardians in cases of emergency arising. He said he would take some time to consider the point, and in a day or two he returned an answer to the effect, that the board of guardians were alone the judges of what should be considered cases of emergency. if so, what right had those guardians to the poor men, who had los.t their food through the fAilure of the present year, that they could not be relieved out of the workhouse. The guardians had no right at 11 to act in this manner. Feelin apprehensive that the distress now prevailing would increase greatly before the next harvest, he was desirous tha- the poor-law guardians should know the powers reposed in them, and exercise them in a prop , r manner. Mr. SPOONER agreed with the Hon. Member for Manchester, that the guardians should know their duty. and the powers conferred on them by the law. He knew however, that in cases where the gurdians ordered out door relief, the auditors disallowed it. He knew of an urgent case in Worcestershire, wherein the auditors refused to sanction the relief ; the item of relief was struck out, and the guardians charged with it. Mr. P. BORTHWICK agreed with both his Hon. Friends who had just spoken. The one stated the law of the case correctly, and the other the facts which had resulted from its administration. For his own part he believed the law was bad, because it vested unconstitu tional power in the hands of Commissionersthe facts which had just been stated showed that the admi nistration of the law was as bad as the law itself. The motion was then agreed to. ADMISSION OF SUGAR INTO DISTILLERIES. Mr. CHRISTOPHER wished to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, whether it was his in tention on Friday next, to ask the opinion of the House permanent or only RUSSELL replied that on Friday night upon a permanent measure with regard to the employ don of Government to ask the House for ment of sugar in breweries and distilleries ? Was the empowering the use of sugar in breweries for a litnitPd period ? s not intended to limit to any parti cular afterwards, if the House agreed to measure t ne Lordal , resolutionas distilleries r t eh JOHN e t to i i bi intention ei ini: ;pi va the resolution, to propose a Bill for carrying it into e Aw o N I il l s whether t d Eh e e r . r a t i the o n ceuffleacrl'pevrhiiocdh. It would be competent, however, for the Perhaps ‘v l i t it was ui , if they worthyt LONG eoy NhGa o dß f , Hon. Member to propose a clause limiting the operation whether it would not be advisable, in the first instance, hear.) to limit the Bill fbr a given time, and after wards to make of the Bill. NAPIER wished to ask the Noble Lord whether any report had been made upon Captain it p s e ir rm c an . ent.—( Noble Lord had any objection to lay it upon the table of the House. Warner's long range , RUSSELL replied that there had been Lord JOHN a report made, tut before he could consent to lay it CAPTAIN WA upon the table of the House, TTI he NG.) must look over it aga i n . (LEFT SI ; s in . Great E dwa r ß d r . i s - , STATISTICS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.--In England and Wales there were 540 churches and chapels .In S cotland, eighty-two t e h i e gh l t m y- m t a w c o u . : besides twenty -tyro sta:ions were Divine servi ; ce st is . Ca r t f h o b rm er e t ; t G ai r n a , n 6 d 2 t 2 o . tal of Catholic churches and chapel CATHOLIC COLLEGES . — In England there are eleven Catholic caws, viz • .-- St. „. Edmends, , Herefordshire ; St. Peter's, St. Paul's, and St. Cirreg:ry's, 80 . mersetshir e ; s tony _ hLuuaynhscat Lancashire b,ireLancashire Durham st. 5; c as S rt t y. . , sLAl,aawrye'ns Derbyshire ta , ff y o : ro, College Immacu late Conception, Leicestershire. In Scotland, St. Mary's, Blair's, Kincardineshire. , ' CONVENTS. — London district, 12 . ; Central di s t r i ct, 8 • Western district, 5 ; Lancashire district, 4 ; Y or k sh i re district, 2 ; Northern district, 2; Scotland district, 1. Total, 34. MONA sTERIES.—Central district, 7 ; Western district 1. MISSIONARY PRIESTS IN GRA I BRITAIN, ENG LAN I.), AND WALES.—Lon don district 135 ; C entral district, 132 ; Eastern district, 39 ; Western di s t r i ct 68 ; Lancashire district , 173 ; Yorkshire distri c t, 68 ; Northern district, 61; Wales district, 24. Total, 714, in. eluding Priests without any fixed rnisssion. I n S cot l and , Eastern District, 25 ; Western district, 44; North ern di str i ct, 24; St. Mary's College, Blairs, s.T?tal, 98. G ran d tota l of Missionary Priests in Great Britain, 818. Of th e 7 66 Priests contained in the alphabetical list of last year, only eight have died, and eight snore have retired or g one a b road. Exclusive of these last, the incr ease during last year is forty. E We read in a letter from A Tihos (Greece), o f th e 25th nit. :—" There is in the whole of Greece only one guil lotine. Wherever an execution is to take place, therefore, the guillotine must be taken to the place. For some time past this instrument had been stationary at Athens, as there were a rat many brigands to decapitate who had been taken in the environs. Th e gu illotine is now making the tou r o f th e provinces, and is at this moment at Egribos, where it has just served to cut off the heads of eleven persons, one of them a priest, who were condemned to death some time ago for piracy. Although a great portion of our population do not regard piracy as a crime, and have a profound veneration for priests in general, whatever their private conduct may be, there was no manifestation at the place of execution in favour of the curiosity. The number of persons present to witness the execution was about 12,000. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Jan. 19. THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. Lord HATHERTON rose and said—My Lords, it is now my duty to invite your Lordships' consideration to the Address which I have the honour of proposing in reply to the speech o f h er Most Gracious Majesty, which you havejust heard read. The condition of Ireland justly forms a prominent topic in that speech, and I am sure the important circumstances connected with it will fully entitle me a ttempting any justification . of . (Hear, hear.) For the first time for a long period of years Ireland appears no longer to he the arena of ; political agitation. The question, therefore, which we have now to consider is no, longer a quastien of party interest, or of party opposition, or of party policy, fur ; it has pleased the Almighty in his wisdom to inflict upon th , t country a wide spread famine, I ueequalled, I believe, in past history, certainly not to be I paralleled in the history of modern times. It is truly I an overwhelming itifEction, falling, unhappily, upon many millions of the population of this kingdom. The population of Ireland since the year 1792 that is during the last 75 years—has exactly doubled. The potato, during that period, has been an article of food in common throughout the whole country; and it is well known, that in every year that has elapsed since that period, down to the present time, that the pntatO has become more and more an article of exclusive subsistence of a large portion of the Irish people; not only, however, was it the principal article of subsistence of the cotter and the peasant, but it has been the chief article of subsistence of the small farmer; and not only even was it the • principal article of subsistence of the small farmer, but I believe it has also formed the prin cipal article of subsistence of a large portion of the population residing in the suburbs of large towns. His Lordship then prcceeded to say that potatoes formed not only the sustenance of the people themselves, •hut the sustenance also of the animals which they reared. The value of the potato crop, it was estimated, amounted annually to sixteen millions ; and when their Lordships considered the immense amount of sustenance which it afforded, some idea might be formed of the awful misery consequent on its failure. The failure of that crop had brought on a famine that not only proved destructive to the poorer classes, but threatened the existence of every man oft very grade in the community. The union workhouses were tilLd to overflowing, and so crowded had they become that they were obliged to close the doors against further admissions. He had also to state, in reference to this, that many of these houses were horderine on the brink of bankruptcy. By the Labour-rate Act, passed at the close of last session, presentment sessions were held in 293 baronies out of the 326 baronies of Ireland. In some of these the sessions were held once, in others twice, and in a considerable number of them three times. It was thought, when that Act, was passed, that it would meet the extent of distress then anticipated, and it then received the approbation of all parties. lie was not aware that any person in authority at that time foresaw the extent of the calamity, or denounced the measure as into!, quate. In this state of things it became absolutely necessary fur the Lord-Lieu tenant, in communication with he Government of this country, t;; consider what was to be done fur the urpose of continuing . to employ the people, and to do it on a principle satisfactory to the landed proprietors, and not ruinous to the country at large. There were two paths to be taken, and one was to assemble Parliament to devise other , measures ; and the other was, for the Lord-Lieutenant to take on himself the direction and management 'of the public money as he best could under the circumstances. It was impossible for any Government to have taken a wiser course than the one which the present Govern ment did in not adopting the former alterna tive. There would have been the long delay before Parliament assembled, and a long discussion when it did. The Government had sufficient experience in guarding against the greatest evil ot all—which would have been suspense—which would have been pending during the proceedings of assembling Parliament, and during the discussion little or nothing could be done by the landed proprietors, and the landlords of course, in that state of suspense, would only wait to ascertain the result of their deliberations. If the Lord Lieutenant took on himself the exercise of a just discretion, and determined, as far as possible, to accommodate the di rection of the existing Act of Parliament, by adopting such an extension of its powers as would permit it to be applied to the occupation of the people in private and useful works, and to do so, under such regulations as to insure to the public the benefit of any money expended. Bat to do this it was by no means operative, so as to admit of the employment of the public money exclusively in drainage or the reclamation of waste lands, for many of the landowners had no land which required draining, and some of them had already accomplished these works, and very little ad vancement was made under Mr. Lahouchere's Act. A very usual complaint was made, and a very natural one it was indeed, that the Irish landlords could not guard against the injustice of the double tax. A man who had released his lands from any charge, was not released from his contribution to the baronial expenses. In this state of things it was natural that they should cry out for the area in which the present levies were made to be extended to the electoral districts. He congratulated the Noble Duke for his suggestions, which he had made sotne years ago when the Irish poor-law was brought under consideration, and his objection to the very serious mischief which would arise to every area in the district being compelled to support the ex pense of its awn poor. He always regretted that his valuable suggestions were not • carried out.—(hear.) There was also another Act under which authority was given to grant 50,000/. for employment in public works, such as fisheries, and other works of that description. But it was so clogged with inconvenient provisions that it could not be turned to present material advantage. Ireland was consequently in this conditio n, that there was at present a stop put to drainage in that country, which was to be deplored, because it afforded the means of giving beneficial employment to the labouring classes, particularly in the summer months. To chow that this world occur he need only mention that draining at certain periods could not be carried on, for oats bad to be sown in the land as in next month, for instance, aid drainage must then necessarily be suspended The Labour-rate Act must then cease, because in many districts it would be impossible to find objects upon which to expend the public money. It would be necessary, therefore, for their Lordships wit ti the other House, to devise some other modes of employing the people of Ireland. It was not his in tention to repeat what he had heard as to what those modes should be, nor would he wish to provoke just then a discussion on that subject. He admitted its paramount importance and the right of the pubic, deeply interested as they were in the question, to be made acquainted with all that related to it as soon as possible ; but it would be the duty of the Minister of the Crown, and he would, as soon as it could conveniently be done, bring this important question under the consideration of the other House of Parliament. Such was the statement which he felt it his imperative duty to make to their Lordships, end if he had omitted anything which he should have stated, there were so many of their Lordships so inti mately acquainted with all the affairs of Ireland, that these omissions would be amply supplied. Besides, his lion. Friend the Noble Baron who was to second the Address, and who was so beneficially connected with the barony of Wexford, would be able to atone for any inaccuracy of his. Well, it was highly desirable that for this purpose one should compare and examine the condition of society and property in England and Ireland. Nothing could be snore disproportioned, nothing could he more dispiriting. In England - they had a large proprietary ; they had residing among them a vast moneyed interest— a moneyed interest not con- Rued to this metropolis, the most extraordinary place of resort in the world—but an interest extending to every port in the kingdom, and gene-ally spread over the whole surface. They had, besides, on the estates of these landlords a thriving and substantial yeomanry ; they had a long-established and desirable or ganization with the law under which they bad so long lived. There was scarcely a parish in England in which there were not means found admirably adapted to render assistance to the most humble classes in any crisis of the country. But how different was the condition of the people in Ireland. 1 here were, no doubt, several wealthy proprietors there, and with respect to the organization of that ,country, undoubtedly it was the fact that there was an aptitude for organization for po litical purposes; yet it was unfortunately the case, that for any practical or useful purp; se there was a remarkable want of this virtue. It was true, indeed, that for some ye ars past several Acts of Parliament had greatly improved. the social and moral conditiox of the people He would illustrate the relative positions of the land lords and tenants of Ireland, by some analogies, which would bring the thing home to the itnagitiations of the Noble Lords whom he was addressing.— Supposing it possible that by some atmospherical influence an insect were found to infect all the bags of cotton which came into Manchester. so as to ruin the trade which sustained the population of the county of Lan cashire. Had their Lordships then addressed the great mill-owners of that country, in language like that which had been addressed to the landlords of Ireland, they would then have found congregated those parties who, although they would have cheerfully borne the burden for those who had been horn and bred in their service, still their Lordships might expect that they would be addressed in language similar to this :—" e are now thrown on our resources, and are made responsible, in order to meet this great emergency, yet we ex pect that some partial relief ought to be ex tended towards us by the Imperial Parliament To bring this analogy more home to their Lordships just let them suppose that last autumn there had been a failure in the wheat and oat crops of this country, would it have been right, or would it even have been expected, that the landed interest alone should be called upon to meet the calamity ?—(Hear, hear.) He made those remarks spontaneously ; they had not been suggested by any party; but in performing the task he had undertaken, he thought he had right to express his views and feelings upon these various topics. Whatever might be the issue of this fearful calamity, it was, in the meantime, the duty of all parties, from e the highest Minister of the Crown , down to andth lowest member of society to use e ver y make eery persoted 'sacrifice if necessary t e eN t w o erti ar o r n est its ould have further progress.—(hear, hear.l)endWhhad there been been the condition of Ene a no channel between this Why it was perfectly certain thatcounatrvy and Ireland ? vast amount of the misery would have be en extended to England, for the demand for labour was so great andetflleetreartees,ofthwatagtehsesroe high in many branches of English n'tan must inevitably have been a greater influx of unemployed labourers into this country. Whatever might be the result of this calamity, he was quite satisfied a just determination would prevail amongst all parties to h d d o t h h f ei a r n du a t l y l- l w ib is e e ra i lty ro , v a i n d d eu t c h e e . r es t must be left to the an That they should get over the present suffering, if a little exer. lion were used, he was quit e cer t a in,a .t h in d n th a e n ta d th h e ! p e t s t s s i t i azu n l f d t t e h a e c i h r them better to u nderstand the post social condition. Two particular measures had been sug gested by her Majesty's Speech, and he was su re , a f ter a little cons ideration, their Lordships would accede to her Ma;esty's request, and cordially adopt them. Th e fi rst o f those m easures was to throw open the ports for a given period, and do awa y with all restrictions upon the importation of food. It might be contended by some that this would give rise to unnatural speculation, and serve to fill the pockets of a few in- dividual merchants. Some partial evil of that descrip tion might possibly result from the measure, but still it would b^ small indeed when compared with the good the measure must inevitably confer upon the country. With respect to the other measure, relating to the admisdila of sugar into this country, their Lordships must bear this in mind, that the price of barley at this time was 10s. per quarter higher than at the corresponding period last year. Besides, the brewers had raised the price of beer, while had sugar been more plentiful in breweries, this evil could never have arisen. It would be their duty to give th,se measures their best consideration, and to see whether the request of her Majesty with regard to them could not be readily acceded to There were other measures not mentioned in the Speeoh which he thought it necessary to be adopted for the purpose of carrying out any plans for the improvement of Ireland. For instance, the laws relating to real property ought to be in some measure modified, and he was glad to see that this sub ject had been placed in the hands of a Noble and Learned Lord who was remarkable for per- sonal ability and vast experience in such matters. Her Majesty simply stated that, with reference to the marriage between the Infanta of Spain and the Duke de Montpensier, she had ordered copies of the correspondence which had taken place on that subject to be laid before them ; and with regard to the annexation of Cracow, that not only would the correspondence on that matter be laid before them, but she also stated that she had commanded a protest to be made by her Government to the Governments of Austria, Prussia, and Russia for the violation of the treaty, by which the independence of that republic was secured. lie must, however, take the liberty of saying, in his private capacity, that such a violation of a soltnn treaty deserved the denunciation of all who were interested in the stability and strength of the kingdoms of Eui opt!, and he could not help saying that Austria was the last country which ought to have deviated from the principles of that treaty. If from the distance of that republic it was .impossible to inte4ere, it was necessary that the strongest protest should be entnted against the proceeding, and as far as England was ceAcerned, he believed their Lordships would concur in the general abhorrence with which it had been regarded. The next paragraph of the Speech referred to the sanguinary and cruel war which devastated the southern part of South America. With regard to it he had to state that, long as he had been connected with a commercial and manufacturing district, he had 'never heard any complaint preferred against the late, or the present Foreign Secretary with regard to the manner in which they had managed affairs in that quarter. With regard to their amicable relations with other countries, he was sure their Lordships would join in the hope expressed as to their continuance. With reference to the sanatory regulations referred to, he was sure that they would meet with very general approbation, and he sincerely hoped that measures for that purpose would not be long delayed. With these plain observations, he shou d conclude with moving that an humble Address be presented to her Majesty, which, as,usual, was an echo of the Speech. Lord CARI-t:W (who was very indistinctly heard) said that, in rising to second the motion of his Noble Frient, he could say, and say with truth, that he had always been reluctant to address their Lordships, and they might, therefore, judge how contrary it was to his feelings to be compelled to bear his testimony to the misery and destitution existing in Ireland. That reluctance was increased by the knowledge that the present state of want and misery was peculiarly felt by that part of the country to which he was peculiarly bound by every tie of birth ; but he was urged on by the conviction that if he did not address them it would appear as if he were shrinking from his duty. Exaggeration of the misery would be impossible, and amplification would be useless. Last year an infliction fell upon the food of Ireland, and this year it had fallen more heavily, particularly upon that food to which the people looked for sustenance. They well knew that the poorest portion of the Irish people depended upon the potato for existence. There was an universal complaint of extreme distress and famine. It might be said that it was an unsound state for the people to be depending on any single article for food. That was, however, the case, and that food had been stricken by the inscrutable visitation of Providence, and the people were starving in other countries; and in better regu lated countries employment was the surest test of prosperity ; but in Ireland employment was not sufficient for the people.—( Hear, hear.) The potato was there produced with the greatest facility, and that facility had produced a population more than sufficient for the labour to be performed. In that particular portion of Ireland called the Skibbereen county the visitation had been most severe, and it was that portion of the country in which the potato was formerly most prolific and best as regarded the quality. In many parts the people were starving. Such was the dis tress in many cases that the small farmers were consuming that portion of their stock which in former years they had kept for seed. They were now coming upon the public works, arid each day added to their numbers. It was necessary to carry forward the Labour Act. The re sults that had followed these experiments, had, un fortunately, not been as desirable as could have been wished. And here he must do justice—justice which was not always done—to the landlords, and justice to the farmers, who did not shrink from making themselves liable for the repayment of the sums which had been contributed for the benefit and provision of the poor. - But the evil effects of the good intentions of those who desired to avert and ameliorate the distress existing in this peculiar manner were unfortu nately many. The whole country came under one gigantic scheme, and as it must have been in some degree experimental, it was impossible to blame them for not having succeeded in the first instance, or being able to carry them out.—( Hear.) In some cases the works could not be overseen, and the consequence was that there was a waste of the funds. In some instances there was in fact an actual refusal by the necessary parties to act, and in others a considerable unwillingness, which almost amounted to the same. The difficulties were so great that they had to struggle against hope.—(Hear, hear.) Starvation was hard to bear, but it was his firm hope — it was his conviction—his belief—that when it pleased Providence to ralieve the people of Ireland from the present famine infliction, it would lead to the regenerati on of that country. Allusion had been made in her Majesty's Speech to the cessation of political excitement. It was well known that there was no country in the world in which greater political excitement prevailed than in Ireland, and the natural ground of quarrel between Protestant and Catholic was that of their faith. It had been his duty in , conjunction with the deputy-lieutenant of his own county ( Wexford) to organize the diffe ant committees appointed in the s,veral districts. and he had endeavoured in every i , stance to employ those whom lie considered the most discreet and trust worthy in the different neighbourhoods.— ( Hear. ) It was astonishing that so much patience was manifested by the people of Ireland under this infliction ; but. now he could assure their Lordships that there was no heart left in Ire to supoort these distresses. Even the little boys wh n going to school appea• ed heart struck, and destitution and depression were but too visible in their hits s. He would take leave to disabu , e their Lordships of a prejudice, but t.. 0 prevalent, arising from the purchase of arms. It had been asserted that the money which had been given for the purpose of charity had been expended in the purchase of arms. He could assure their Lordships that the pur chasers of arms were to be found principally among the farmers, and only for the purposes of self-protection. He would illustrate this fact by a circumstance which canny within his own knowledge not many weeks ago. He had seen adver tised that 600 stand of arms were to be sold in his own county, and he was exceedingly sorry to observe it. With the view, therefore of ascertaining who were the purchasers, he wrote to the editor of the paper, and he would take leave to read to their Lordships the substance of his answer. He told him (Lord Carew) not to be alarmed about the sale of fire-arms, because it was not unusual for newspapers to insert advertisements which might not be in unison with the feelings of the proprie tors. The fact was, that it was a speeulation of the Birming ham gun-makers, and it was sufficiently notorious that Jonn Bull made the most of his markets. The sale, however, did tot meet their expectations, because only 30 stand were sold out of the 6' 0. The Irish people considered this a dispensation of Providence, which they were obliged to submit to. ' Lord STANLEY said it had of late years been the practice of Government, except upon extraordinary oc casions, to abstain from introducing into the Speech delivered from the Throne, and from the Address to be moved in answer to it, in both Houses of Parliament, any topics which were calculated to give rise to the expression of hostile opinions, or to lead to lengthened debates. On the other band, it had been the prac tice of those who were placed in opposition to abstain from introducing into the discussion anything that was calculated to give rise to controversy, or to interfere with the respectful acknowledgment or ready acquiescence to take into consideration those measures and topics touched upon in the Speech from the Throne. Of course, how ever, there had been occasions of momentous import when the public exigencies required the Government to break through this rule, and introduce into the Speech matters which had given rise to extended controversy; while, on the other hand, there had also been occasions when the Opposi tion to the Government had felt it to be their duty at the outset of the session to introduce into the Address, in answer to the Speech from the Throne, amend ments which they might also think required immediate con sideration. No such extraordinary circumstances now ex isted, and it was, therefore, not necessary to inter pose any amendment or obstacle in the way of the adoption of the Address.—(Hear, hear.) Ile could not but recollect the peculiar circumstances under which the Go vernment at present occupied their seats. He must do them the justice to say that they had attained their present position by no opposition of a factious nature. Indeed, he might go so far as to say they had attained it by no act of their own—indeed, they had been placed in office by circumstances over wnich they hail no control. He believed many of them with sincere reluctance exercised the great responsibilities of office, and whatever might be their poli tical feelings, he was sure that both in that House and in the other House of Parliament there prevailed a general impres sion that, under existing circumstances, Government had a peculiar claim to the forbearance of Parliament. But he would go further. Whatever might be the peculiar claims which the circumstances that called them into office in August last entitled them to, th e y ought, nevertheless, to be relievers as much as possible from embarrassing amendments coming from the opposition. Great and heavy responsibilities were pressing upon them, and ever) man should, therefore, abstain from throwing any unnecessar y therefore, promise her Majesty' s they abstained from unn eces obstacles Government, that way. so /:1 longe could, as sarily interfering with the institutions of the country, so long as they should resist the exciting inducements that might he held out to them by - their more violent supporters, so long Government might be satisfied, they would receive the cordial support and co-operation of Noble Lord, sitting on his own side of the House. He could not refrain from noticing what he considered to be a very significant omission in the Speech from he Throne There had been no allusion, no reference whatever, to the finan cial condition of the country. This omission might not have excited much attention had not the recent returns exhibited an increase in the revenue, and he thought it very significant that ne notice whatever had been taken of that. increase. There had been for various reasons a large increase in the consumption of exciseable articles, which, together with the large importation of foreign produce, accounted for the increase in the revenue, but that could not he taken as an indication of the increased prosperity of the country, as there had been no cation correspondingalso, that increase thts was in nott}ft latter-an increase Th which s coots ot h d er b e i n d d e i .- pended upon. There had been lately a great reduction of the premium on Exchequer-bills. Some time ago the premium on them was 40 per cent., but latterly it had come down to 5 or 6, and he expected, or apprehended, that it would be the painful duty of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to raise the interest on them. He saw already that a considerable export of bullion had taken place, and he was afraid that before six months had elapsed the excess of imports over exports would indicate a still larger amount There was no apprehension to be entertained of the inter ruption of the general peace of the world, but he confessed that he did not altogether find that confidence which he, for one, fully entertained before certain events alluded to in the Speech, and which had given to place the growing conviction in this country of the impolicy of the course which had been pur sued. He - believed that a cause which some years ago would inevitably have produced a war would be repudiated by the good sense of the present era as insufficient to lead to such a consequence. He was sure that in a commercial nation like this powerful and capable of great exertion in war, peace was not only desirable, but necessary. He telieved that ' the conviction was deeply rooted in the minds of the people of this country, and 4%1100 EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.) CHILTERN V. CROYDON RAILWAY COMPANY. This cause, which has been brought before the attention of the Court upon several occasions, was again brought for • ward upon demurrer. The plaintiff, it will be remembered, was a passenger from Sydenham by the Croydon Railway Company, but upon his journey up it appeared that he had lost his ticket, and upon refusing to pay the whole fare from Croydon, wee given in charge to a policeman, and brought before the Lord Mayor, and was finally discharged upon paying the fare claimed. The action was brought to recover compensation in da mages for the imprisonment complained of. Mr. KENNEDY was heard at great length against the de murrer; at the conclusion of which the Court gave judgment against the Company, on the ground that they had no right to give a passenger in charge under the circumstances of the case. THE LORDS ADDRESS.—This afternoon the Ad dress of the House of Peers in answer to the Speech from the Throne, was presented to her Majesty at Buckingham Palace. Lords Hatherton and Carew, the mover and seconder of the Address, went up to the Palace, with white wands, and presented the Address to her Majesty. There was no procession, az is usual on such occasions, and the whole proceedings were conducted with the utmost privacy. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE STOCK EXCHANGE, JAN. 19.—The sales were—Caledonian, New. is. dis.—Glasgow, Dumfries - , and Carlisle, 80s. p.— Great Northern (London and York Reg.), 1 ,4 p.—Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, ' . sg pi —Newcastle and Carlisle, 115—Ditto, New, 14 1 / 2 p.—New castle and Berwick (North Shields), 13% p.—North British, Thirds, 525. W. p.—Ditto, Quarters, 40s. 6d. p.—Ditto, Ex tension, 15s. 6d. p. ti~PERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House met shortly before Four o'clo:k. NEW WRIT. A new writ, on the motion of Mr. PARKER, was ordered for the election of a Member for Middlesex in the room of the late Mr. Byng. NORTH KENT RAILWAY. An lIoN. MEMBER gave notice of his intention on a future day to move for leave to bring in a Bill to construct several branches from the North Kent Rail way. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. Colonel WOOD presented a petition from Brecknock against the present law of settlement, and praying that the poor might be taken under the care of the State ; also a petition from the same place, praying that the Irish poor-law might be made more effectual. MALT AND HOPS—LICENSED VII;TUALLERS. On the motion of Alderman HUMPHERY, the fol lowing returns were ordered :—An account of the total numbers of quarters of malt made between the 10th day of October, 1845, and the 10th day of October, 1846, distinguishing the quantity made in each country, and the quantity used by brewers, and victuallers, and retail brewers. An account of the total number of acres of land in Great Britain under the cultivation of hops in the year 1846, distinguishing the number of acres in each parish. An account of the duty of hops of the growth "of the year 1846, dis tinguishing the districts, and the old from the new :luty. An account of the quantity of hops exported from Great Britain to foreign countries from the sth day of January, 1846, to the sth day of January. 1847, distin guishing the countries to which the same have been ex ported, and also the quantities to each country ; also British from foreign growths, and the dates of the years in which the British hops were grown. An account of foreign hops imported into the United Kingdom from the sth day of January, 1846, to the sth day of January, 1847, distinguishing the ports where imported, and the countries from whence exported. An account of the total number of pounds weight of hops charged with duty in each of the several collections of the United kingdom in the year 1846. An account of the number of persons in each of the several collections in the United Kingdom licensed as brewers, victuallers, to sell beer to be drunk on the . premises, and to sell beer not to be drunk: on the premises, stating the number of each class who brew their own beer, and the quantity of malt con sumed by them, particularising each class in each coffee iion, from the 10th day of Oct., 1845, to the 10th day of Oct., 1346. The Hon. C. VILLIERS presented apetition, signed by all the leading merchants, brewers, and distillers in the city of London, calling the attention of the House to the great dearth of fond in Great Britain and Ireland, and in other parts of Europe, and praying the House to rescind the penalties imposed on brewers using sugar and molasses. PRESENTMENTS OF SESSIONS (IRELAND). Mr. F. F,IIENCH gave notice of his intention to move for a return of the extraordinary presentments made by the sessions in each county in Ireland under the provi sions of the 9th and 10th Victoria, together with the expenses thus incurred, and the number of officers em ployed in the workq. ISLE OF MAN. Dr. BO WRING deferred until Thursday, the 28th inst., his motion with respect to the House of Keys. KEIGHLEY UNION. m Mr. FERRANI) gave notice that he should move to with . their . dat es , Poor-law for a return of all the orders made by the together with the I.° °r - law Commissioners with respect to this union, and communicatieT s l since mber ( t )f he inm 9t a h tes, of the Ju in n s e t , ru l c B ti r ns ; issued by the Commissioners to ' the guardians and t o the relieving officer, and whether those orders, or whether he had relieved the poor upon o his own responsibility. TREAT NIENT OE Mr. DUNCOAII 3 E gave noti ce that he should move, ou the 28th instant, for the appointment of a Select AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN wished to ask whether the Government had fulfilled the promise made through the Right Hon. Gentleman the Vice-President of the Treasury (Mr. M.Gibson), and directed their attention to the subject of agricultural statistics during the recess, and which they proposed bringing forward any measure on the subject ? Mr. M. GIBSON replied that the subject bad re calved the attention of the Government during the recess, and that a measure was now in progress which, when some of its details had been decided on, would be laid before the Eleusa = he hoped on an early day. POOR-L . AW. Captain PECHELL moved for a return from each Poor-law union and parish in England and Wales, of the number of non-resident families and persons who were in receipt of relief on the 26th day of August, 1846; distinguishing those who have since become chargeable to the unions and parishes in which they were residing at that period. He wished the return referred to the extraordinary ope ration of a Bill passed last Session, entitled the Poor law Removal Bill, the working of which had proved most injurious to the poorer classes. It had created the greatest consternation in the coun try, and had benefited none save the legal authorities connected with the various unions, who in fact were living upon plunder derived from the poor. The non-resident had been harshly treated, and had in many cases had relief altogether suspended so far as they were concerned. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. On the motion of Sir R. 11. INGLIS, the following committee was appointed to assist Mr. Speaker in the direction of the Library, and all matters relating to it: —Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Chancellor of the Exche quer, Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. W. Wynn, the Lord Advocate. Mr. Shaw, Viscount Palmerston, Viscount Mahon, Mujor-General Fox, Mr. Soacitor-General, Mr. Pendarves, Mr. Aclantl, Sir W. S , ,merville, and Mr. Monckton Milnes. Leave of absence to Mr. Colquhoun, for two months, ill health. There were several persons now thrown upon the humane guardians of certain unions for whom they had no right to provide, and the Gilbert Union, at the pre sent moment, paying both ways. By the operation of this Act, no less than 1,110 families, consisting 0f1,621 persons, had been thrown upon the Gilbert Union at an expense of 285 7 .. per week. In the town of Brighton, with which he was connected, no less than 1,452 persons had been thrown upon the rates, and the guardians of that union, rather than refuse these poor people as sistance in their necessity, or of litigating the case, and voluntarily undertaking their support of the expectation that the House of Commons would pass some measure, during the present session, for their relief from this oppression. He could not help think ing this was a matter which might have been introduced into her Majesty's Speech, for certainly it was on the Continent of Europe, that generation had almost passed by, which hid witnessed for a brief space the horrors of war, and that now rising had experienced the blessings of peace; , yet it had had the means of contrasting she horrors of the one with the blessing of the other. He believed that en the Continent, also, there was a g ppeneral areciation of the b lessing 3 , ,of peace, and a sincere desire that the tranquillity Was no t to be frivolously and uselessly., endangered. He could not sal that he locked with satisfaction one the state of our relations with toreign countries. Amongst the Powers of Europe there was one with which, in his, humble judgment, it was mere essentially necessary for this cc:until -tobe on terms ..- ro e t- amity merely, but of cordial co-operation and union.. • B&W,' ',el s' ferred to that great neighbouring state with which wi a late been on good terms. Throughout,the world, and Wey er ?' quarter of the globe, there were- numerous points of :costae and which, in the event of my bad understanding hetwee° England and France, would be turned into points "of collisions He did not intend to offer any lengthened observa tions on thts question, but he certainly could not refrain frdm expressl his regret at much of what was contained in the correspowas ence that had taken place between her Majesty!s-Governinean` and the Ministers of the other Governments. U p to a &riled period they had acted on a feeling of mutual confidence , a° there was a probability at the present moment of an interrue: thin in that state of amicable feeling, from this course 01 !! s s having been persevered in. He also must deplore that between the representatives of the respective countries interested ~!!frie the question to which this correspondence referred (the te sr by_!•ie riage of the Infanta of Spain), there should have been so tor e recrimination and exhibition of petty feeling. He must c on!!! ' that he was of opinion, that what had taken p l ace se rev)! enee to another question, had effected this subject, namelie what bad taken place with respect to Cracow. He did bad mean to express any opinion on the annexation that . taken place, but he had no hesitation in saying, that there A ir insult and discourtesy shown towards the Government ; ee .! that, if France and England had been on amicable terms, Is e. ; • that insult and discourtesy would not have taken P e e ls , Now he approached a question which was unfortunately Pore in , cresting and important to the people of this country.7e, anything that could be connected with foregin policy. ted.' tie, ferred to that awful visitation which had afflic IP" i , one side to the other, the sister island. He was coade l , of this, that for the prevention of the present evil, or the P l _, e r liation of the present misery, and for the purpo se of re q l_a b S s this country from the guilt of permitting a large portion el ! so population of Ireland knowingly to starve, that there Was t be ~_ sacrifice and no eff .rt which Government might call urf l to , ", people to make which they would not willingly se(l"tekeir whether these might originate, with the members ei • ' Lordship's House or the other House of Parliament, an"e re' of tb would further venture to assert that the sentimen ts th e presentatives would be echoed by the public sense °f I;etesr. country. He spoke not in any captious spirit of the:1101e which had been already taken by her Majesty's Goveroe' ess fee He knew that the extent of the visitation had in a fires t e el boa f i sure come upon them by surprise,—he knew "of 1 ;1 that visitation came, there was a dialog' co ~ e is obtaining correct and trustworthy information era , = the subject; he knew that even the best efforts of Gereesee meat there would have much of local interests to overeSe...:S: because the best reparations of the Government would he ta; r than counteracted for the petty purposes of local adea l t ot He knew—and he spoke it not disrespectfully of the Peer,oeei Ireland—that in the administration of relief, and more l o s cially when that came from the public purse, that the di . t i . o oe thin of these funds demanded a degree of circurespearbeie required in any other country. That g reat errors ha d a i r ed , committed by the Government no further proof was tel do olo than the speeches of the mover and the seconder of the Ar 0 1/ tr and the passing of the Labour-rate Act had ba' ss elele the effect of diverting work from channels in tit it could have been more profitably employed. At a er tioo l when every landlord was using his bes t ea ' oo to meet the calamity with which his teteastrY ad threatened, a power which he could not withstand /Ate s ec to prevent his employing his capital in the mode Most b& tageous to himself and useful to those around him; itn,d po stie compelled instead to employ that capital in filling uP ' ll l, 0. 1 cable hollows, lowering invisible bills, and the effect Of enormous sums of money were scattered for the Parr e ;hlo9 making the face of the conntry absolutely iMP II TeriSis Well, then, his Noble Friend, the mover of the _ iN said (and he, Lord Stanley, might be perraitted4o. that he did not concur with those who censured the L.:', A + ment for the course they had taken) he thought that theLDs Lieutenant of Ireland was justified, in the circtunstallTota which he had found himself, in exercising a wise the re efe iS j f • remedy the effect of a law which he found so inconclusive, 101, when his measures went beyond the strict letter of the to ths He had no fault to find with Government for abstainiese,'-tbet exercise of their discussion from calling Parliament tTropell earlier than they had done, but if there were V iD. t pre . ' which he should be disposed to take exception to the pt' d to. ceedings of Government, it was, that they had adhe tee i`j - r iess t closely to the principles of political economy. The r 5 0.0. of political economy were framed, no doubt, to meet' f or se ti circumstances and general evils, but it was impossible oeei man to say that eireumstences should not arise of so gr,telsiel" important a complexion as to compel Government to di to ils!, the doctrines of political economy, and act accordinfloares! dictates of political experience. Now, for instance, thel ie heere from one paragraph in the Speech which had been ",'"epis'e.e from the throne, that means had been taken to lessen ', Le " 07 sure of want. What those means had been, he P — rost they would hereafter learn, but it wa s fest that there were large and PoPu' e lerret tricts in Ireland whose sufferings had been coesltbreor augmented by the unhappy omissions of Governments I aor, the zeal they had exhibited in favour of political ecodeldeaen trines. Now, had Goverment established granaries so le eo7,' in these large and populous districts, where the PeeP tee • have purchased food at reasonable, but still profitable r:et would have had the effect of throwing into the Inttift/ stocks of speculators who were waiting for famine , f we; ( Hear, hear.) He regretted that they did not ova t he tent selves of their power, where there was an intention oo ket of certain individuals to withhold supplies from the of el er e the purpose of raising prices higher. He heard I ° ll Vier of 14 Friend on the cross benches (the Duke k lington) say that these steps had been , te be e e rt. e u l p ie inp v li e oe d sst t e t a il v t tae t nd h t, i a s ogre bi ts e h...ae : i tlr sol7 e. t eghu h au; e ,:is,: l :it a ied. ; e .nisi,,atchthoeeutrheneetarrffeyesecta. Government. r he scarcity beenoef believed terence, such as he had referred to, had been attemPs — A eve. twoasmnakoee,ffworhtiewhhiwcohutlldienoGt obveerrnesolpoeljel? to relieve the distress.—(llear. ) There were two or I/h i - e ll' - sures which had been distinctly referred to in 15 One of th em was state d to be tenee7 for itee_4o., sure, and referred to the increasing period the f ac ili t i es for the importation of foreigunSt. There was anot h er measure, w hich as he stated wa's understood to be contempl at ed by her Ma ie jesty's Gover l but as a temporary ran:elle, and which, in that cbarsen t e e agreed would b e less open to objection than a forme:fir, troduced. He meant the temporary measure to be '1;1,4 for the purpose of affording a greeter amount of to ` u. ba f this country. He believed that if they examined in that; turns of the amount of corn in this country, and oA bes!,lo jest there were many conflicting statements—( H they would ind that the amount of corn in this COo mo w much underrated. There could be no doubt that ie ipt ose s ; there was a very large proportion of corn waiting for;thstLt, tation to this country, and there could be no d O O5 kept transportstion of large proportions of that corn wa s to ,s. by the want of sufficient 'tonnage to bring it or b e eS.„e country under the existing laws, and the result hat the re fi t s enormous disproportion in the price of corn grown 0 p'L l , of corn in this country.—( Hear, hear.) L ar tope;ski were realised by the corn traders a nd there et ; and as a temporary measure be did not think thattoo be any general feeling of opposition to the introdeoehopeOrco, large proportion of tonnage into this country. e l l be 400 they would not think that those connected with t c , to le e , $ tural interest were in the slightest degree o ppose ef e ble" .4 o the consideration of the medium of protection, " to eSr k ei would de Live them. He did not, however, wis h , 1: 0 0 any positive opinion with reference to that rail tespet been admitted, and he was glad of the admissl ° the east/ read or greatest part of the difference of price would go r , o° l of the foreign corn importer. For then they t eolier that the measure being passed, the supply of • eor o t o in the slightest degree increase, or the price 1 0 iot t ,eob o nish, and the loss to the revenue would P o d pockets of the importers. He did not underst s ts e o° oo l oo one of the measures referred to by her Maj ee k ' s eg ro reir et ment was of a temporary or permanent nature. 1 fey ' used in the speech " for a limited period" might re f belle 51 corn. If sugar were introduced for the e rpose t e l ta re of in distilleries it would increase its price, all the 0 4 ° oh . argument for the abolition of the malt tax, whir e no be:O, tb ment would not be likely to concede. It ha d ; o pt b e n efi t served, that the absence of all political eecit e r st to e, land afforded a favourable opportunity for atter: 11 1; 1 ; 0 '41 ° e ! fen the country. He thought that althotigh the oPP° l " d iele r it was not an eligible one, and it would be imPe s r - at ioS t a per sweeping promises made without the fullest ce-°P e s bee' o oo two countries. In legislating on this subject thet i e prl ot i teed on two axioms. They should proceed 0 ° w e re t e o hlet f o l in the first place that the people of Ireland OO lan d see 0 to be supported out of the property of the be Ioe.l and that pauperism should be relieved there by t the It it "'- Ireland themselves. It had of late years beeps he 'Ol grievously abuse the landlords of Ire! ml. b 1,.; stand there as the defendant of the Irish laic same should not regard the landlords of Ireland in th,e;',Oli Tbs:f they did those of this - country. The same dotle i - o hti. As es solve upon them, for they had not the same fli t s e ,' - e lr e i properties were in several instances crowded W i eo lev o et per sons, turncoats at will, who would neither line ot re id themselves, or permit their landlords to do sts , ..4,l o ,'tet's upon it in the same condition, wretched thernselr'ersll;pr‘i verishing the land. He himself was aware of se e d s h iv e; when the efforts of the most considerate la°,, d/e bo rc i te e thwarted by this very character; and it shoolo oft that public feeling in Ireland was in favour of th ec e ste l landlord in this country would not be blamed 1 9: a eh nt ' sai l ante of the evils that afflicted Ireland, untie r o - a ld 11- s ebie t t stances. He trusted, therefore, that; they sle- ehis e ,oo, l ' any rash or hasty steps in reference te.„0,10 1u and He did hope that no rash attacks would be "ther nef e ,,e. laws of real property, but that they should r,a oh erse t ate e t mous in adopting measures of a more were' , 0 .0! wobi r t e more cateu'ated to advance the pertnanent intereo ibis But there was one important point bearing utl e e 0401 s i i' e which had been totally lost sight cf. He bel le i tnot ° pe so s associated companies prepared with sone t 0 ree f , pp assistance to embark large sums of money. i rks t o f t r public works, and he thought as those public W io roe°, o oo 4 , l , liarly adapted to securing the permanent ell t he e ° ; o t lt o s people, he did hope that 'they would meet with 010;4010e ment of the Government who ought to glee, and cantile and political security to insure the t' e u e - rt ekine °a le vestment of capital in those o _7 to l ot itb did not think it necessary for 1 ""' th' t o °l re their attention at any greater e ee , g he - s e t hsi , p e, t ee must be allowed, in conclusion, to state woa to ly, e e s o' 4 o at the commencement of his observations, tt, a teese'eted tyi vided Government would exclude from their, sold par,o; religious and pelitical topics which had alway s o e d, op ro mind of Ireland, and made it unhappily the bat be th t oe provided the sole aim of their measures shoo., 4,olerd, ment of Ireland ; he was satisfied that all 11),: t , consideration would be sunk in a desire to eas t o tio° j e ts t he Or ee e tele merit, who might rely upon the cordial co" who occupied the Opposition benches. of the mover and seconder of the Address, W; t iog, f t, eo . r, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, thateeherseeee_leretes with information acquired personally, or bY r o tes orde: ir- b O ,l, as it was with one of the most painful be met with in the course of the- Way 01 eded perience, with these addresses s el d n ano t ° o eure", their Lordships, he did not feel himself capeahat hip w as i 0 thing to their statements, but he re rearkeee - s - seerelse e s 0 0 , 0 , 10 the Noble Lord's (Lord Stanley) speech! W oo , tu nsbe ist duced to depart from the rule be had . laid t ot• s t he e ke Lord had admitted the inexpediency of ° : `,/ so rdshiP'e t 'ion `„ 1 fact, he bad made with himself at th i e lcso o ° ion, o d a . but.,lo ject, where no evidence was before their vre , o ) ols oo st ;";: i rol th e reO s die more,Noble fLororbdepfrooucnedeeddedaisnehriiess(oLfoorbdieLrainaten. to w ers of ":,„, perfect evidence, and asked their Lordlue l P t s he O li at I 'l9 o opinion upon it. He (Lord Lansdowne) 10 its se hte o f to. Noble Lord, would revert to the two g in the den t° aff ec' ht a° to he public, namely, those events which wig re red aj, th e public, pressed themselves prominently on the 3 dr ady the their foreign relations, and those whie" e ere pare u ou la state of Ireland, on both of which he . r tee. W_ o t oue proper time, to afford the fullest informate.os?„o, not,! . . t hee dress but two or three words to their Lorn_L'2lires....4r in justification of the Ministry'. reSt