The Sun. — London, England, 1857-03-19 00:00:00

Atilifvb '),EZritiott SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock. CITY OF LONDON ELECTION. LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S ADDRESS THIS DAY TO THE ELECTORS. This afternoon Lord John Russell attended at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, and addressed a l ar ge and influential section of his supporters relative to his past conduct and future policy. The noble lord was enthusiastically received. Thera were present on the platform .—Mr. Hankey, Serjeant Parry, Mr. Wickham, Mr. F. Bennoch, De puty Harrison, Mr. Gedge, Mr. Whitehurst, Mr. Com missioner Prenderghast, Mr. Miller Christie, Mr. Austin, Mr. Beardmore, Mr. J. B. Langley, Mr. S. Warren, M.P., Mr. Moffat, M.P., Mr. Scurlock, Mr. Pritchard, High Bailiff of Southwark, 4Mr. Edwin James, Q. C., John M‘Leod, Esq., Captain H. M‘Leol, Dr. Spark, Alderman Humphrey, Alderman Salomons, &c. Mr. MOFFATT, M.P., moved, and Mr. ROBARTS se conded, that Thomas Hankey take the chair. The CHAIRMAN briefly stated the object of the meet ing, which was to receive and welcome one of the oldest reformers in Parliament—a gentleman and a states man, mid whose name alone was a passport connected with civil and religious liberty. (Loud cheers.) Besides that be had peculiar claims on the citizens of London as one oftheir representatives. (Cheers.) After some further remarks, the hon. gentleman called upon the noble Lord to address the meeting, whom they looked upon as the champion and leader of progressive reform. Lori JOHN 11.13SRRLL, on rising, was received with enthusiastic applause. He said—Gentlemen, I come before you, the electors of the City of London, to appeal against a decree of anAssociation that pretends to represent the electors of the city of London. (Hear, and cheers, with I.mid cries of " adjourn to Guildhall".) lam coma to tell you, then, that I am appealing here to the electors of the city of London against that Registration Associa tion, which has excluded me, I think most unfairly, from the nomination for the city of London. (Hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen, that registration society met, and, without any warning of any sort, they devised a resolution that four persons connected by commercial pursuits with the city of London should serve them in the next Parliament. lam not going to discuss that reso lution, but I beg you to observe, as I think every one must have observed, that without making a direct attack on me, it was meant indirectly to exclude me from the honour of the representation. (Hear, hear.) Well, gentle men, this Registration Association having again met on Tuesday last, proceeded to the nomination of lour can didates together, thereby excluding, I might say, that fair decision which the nomination of each candidate's name might have caused, and they thereby again decided that they would exclude me indirectly—(cries of "Shame, shame ")—without allowing any discussion whether I was unworthy further to represent you. They heard, moreover, a gentleman who was one of the four nominated, and who made his speech—a speech, I am tcld, of three quarters of an hour—consisting chiefly of a contrast between his votes and mine, and censures on my conduct in the past Parliament. Well, now, gentlemen, let me say that if—as I complain of being un fairly treated—if a gentleman was disposed to part with his butler, his coachman, or his gamekeeper, or if a merchant was disposed to part with an old servant—a warehouseman, a clerk, or even a porter—ke would have said to him, " John, it is true that you have served mo well—(cheers and laughter)—but I think that your facul ties are somewhat decayed. "Y on are growing old, and have made several mistakes ; and you know that I think of Late ting a young man from Northampton, whom you know I have sent for, into your place. (Laughter.) I think a gentleman would have behaved in that way to his servant, and thereby have given John an opportunity of answering and of saying why he thought his faculties were not so much decayed, and that, perhaps, he was able to go on for some five or six years longer. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, that opportunity was not given to me, and the question was decided in my ab sence without any appeal or invitation to me, and I come to yea now to ask you and the electors of the city of Lone on to reverse that decision. (Cheers.) And now, gentl omen, as to the grounds upon which I ask again for y :ur confidence. Let me say, in the first place, that, prou 1 as I am of that confidence, it had occurred to me in later years that the great question upon whiei I came forward for the representation of tb city of London—(cries of " What about Vienna, Johnny ll")—namely, the question of free trade, having been settled, that I might no longer encounter the labour or siceieve the honour of further representing you. But, gentlemen, this does not appear to me au occasion upon which I can honourably shrink from the duty that is to be performed. (Loud cheers) Gentle men, most of you here probably saw an exhibi tion—a Chinese exhibition some years ago, in which there were three large figures, with the words " paq, present, and future" written on them in certain Chinese characters. Now I will allude to the past with the present, and, so far as one can anticipate, with the future. With regard to the past, I think it would be a proof of vanity in me if I were to attempt to enumerate the acts which I believe have been useful to the country which I have brought forward, and which are now recorded in the statute-book of the realm. —(Leud cheers.) But, gentlemen, if I were to go over a few of them—the repeal of the Test and Corp: ration Acts—(cheers)—the Reform of Parliament—(cheers) — the reform of the municipal corporation—(cheers)—the nettlement of the tithes question—(cbeers)—the Mar riage Act for England, by which Dissenters were re lieved from what they thought obnoxious—(cheers) measures respecting Ireland, giving theqa a franchise they sad not hitherto enjoyed---measures relating to the ieduetion and equalieation of the sugar duties by which the people of this country have had that article almost of necessity at cheaper prices than hitherto; the repeal of the navigation laws and some others, I think that enumeration might be fairly set in the balance against the scattered and desultory votes Mr. Raikes Currie may have given. (Cheers.) But, 'gentlemen, passing to that which is of the immediate present, I -beg to call your attention to the course that 1 have pursued in the present session of Parliament with regard to three very important questions. The first question re lated to the budget, and it was objected by Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Gladstone that that budget did not give suffi cient relief to the people. Very able speeches were made by them in support of that proposition, but it seemed to me that the Government had acted fairly— that they were endeavouring carefully to remove those burthens which had been caused by the war—that estab lishiaents could not bo reduced suddenly, though they ought to be reduced largely, and I gave my vote and I spoke as strongly as I could in favour of the proposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Cheers.) That, at least, showed that I was not disposed to view with disfavour, or encounter with opposition the Government of L' rd Palmerston. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, there came another question and that question related t o th e extension of the' right of voting to householders of 101. in counties, the same as that enjoyed by householders in towns. (Laud cheers.) Now, geutl semen, such a motion I had, ou one occasion, if not more, opposed, wishing myself to bring forward a more large and comprehensive measure for the enlargement of the c 'nstituent body, and for the eettlement of some re maining questions respecting the reform of Parliament —(cheers)—but those measures that I hail brought for ward not appearing to me likely to recut with favour at that time, and to which I will ad dress a few words by and by, I supported Mr. Lecke King's motion—(cheers)—as a great practical advantage, and a measure that might be exceedingly useful, both in satisfying the minds of those househol ders who were excluded, and giving a greater weight to the county representation in Parliament. (Cheers.) Now, that motion was strongly opposed by the Prime Minister. Lord Palmerston declared very explicity that he wee not for a comprehensive reform, and he did rot approve of bit by bit reforms like that. (Cheers, I F h ters and hi s s es .) W e ll , gentlemen, we divided, I%_ ean the case was exactly thi s, that if we had einMported by Government there were twen'y one persons holding offic e , and 10 more the immediat e I adherents of Gov ernment, ernment, reeking together 31 ; there were 16 others absen t , jned all, these 41 had whosit l think, bolding office, and if the the 179 minority we should have been 220, op( c oition tom he motion would o nly have counted 160. have l.ad a majority o f b yvh .r - '.) e should thereby an ic d h would probably have increased on future divisissotswo li a li T B easure would have been carried through the -.ow, it was not carried, amsiotfellParliament. (Cberr:h ) N ac count t h e opposition of Government Paiot• Mr. lei,raeli a:„d.. y i... T: h o : ri t di vies° ts was Lord Sir J p a kieglm, Mr. Gladstone, amid - ee Mr. S. voti, together. Wear, bear.) N ow, geetleieen, tin say that this was a sliseraeeful I say "it was an iefarricue combination—that it was svet: a fortuitou, , e.rienurve of atoms,' (Hear and Cheers.) Far from it ; and I say that although I differed ;rove these gentlemen, I think that Lord P e e mertton and his colleagues, and Mr. Gladstone, and Mr. Sidney Herbert, and others having formed an opinion that Mr. Locke King's motion would be inju rioni if carried, they were right in coneulting their own opinions, and of followine th e dictates of their o wn j udgin , lit, though it r hrou4lit them into the ?ebb e , wit h men who widely differed on other sub jects. (Cheers ) Well, gentlemen, this a!* last,, may Turn.-li seine key to the next question I am about to tauch on, namely, the question relative to China. Now, I beg to say, hi the first place, that I believe the charge which has been made of a disgraceful combination —of an unscrupulous coaliti on —i s utterly false. ([dear.) I, for my own part, can say that before the debate be gan, being consulted by one gentleinau upon the subject, I seal, I am about the worst person to be asked to ad vise you, because I have not gono through the papers, and have not made up my own mind. There was one geetlenan to whom I sat next, and to whom I spoke from time t) time, namely, Sir Francis Baring, a man of as spotleis honour, as strict integrity, as sound pa riot:sue as any man that sits in the House of Commons., nd we cams separately to the opinion, rea,rling all the apees, e that Sir John Bowring was not justified in the ' measures of violence he had taken, and it therefore was not consistent with the character, reputation, and honour of the British nation to approve of those proceedings. Now, gentlemen, I can answer for myself, and I think I can answer for some 48 gentlemen who, like Sir Francis Baring and myself, sitting on the right hand of the speaker, gave a similar vote. I believe that none of us had any concert or combination with any other party. Of course, with respect to Lord Derby, Sir J. Graham, and Mr. Gladstone, I know nothing of their views, but they have denied on their part any coalition or combina tion upon that question of China, and I think as men of honour they deserve to be believed. But, gentlemen, persons may meet in a different manner. Several per sons may combino in order to break into a house, but also several persons may combine in a jury room to find them guilty of burglary for so doing. (Hear, hear.) The one combination - is a bad and wicked one, but the other is right and praiseworthy, and belongs to the ad. ministration of justice. (Hear.) Now, gentlemen, it is that latter combination which took place in the case of which I am talking. I thought, on reading all the papers, that we could come to no other opinion. A. great many persons, no doubt, thought that the Government did right ; but a great many other persons thought that although the Government had not been exactly right, it was very unadvisable to give a vote that must displace them from office. With regard to that question, I beg to read to you an opinion which was given by,.a gentleman, of great consistency and highly respected in the House of Commons, where, as a Reformer he has sat for a great number of years. I allude to Mr. Ellice, the member for Coventry. Mr. Ellice was almost the only person who, holding a high position in the House of Commons, and not being in office, gave a vote against the motion that was made by Mr. Cobden. In addressing his constituents, Mr. Ellice used these words :—" I did not approve, and sincerely lament, the extreme measures to which our civil and military authorities in China have carried their proceedings on their own responsibility, and without direct instructions from home." That is in effect Mr. Cobden's resolution, and the only question therefore was—and I admit it is a difficult question for members in the House of Commons to solve—the only question was, shall we or shall we not, disapproving of what has been done, record that disapprobation by our vote, at the expense either of a dissolution of Parliament or a change of Government. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentle men, there are many questions in my long political life in which I have voted either to keep the Go vernment in office or to support my party where my opinion did not exactly coincide with what was pro posed, but I thought here was a question of such grave importance, and touching so deeply the interests of this country and mankind, that I had no other course than to give my vote according to my opi. nions, and it seemed to me that the commencement of hostilities—burning down portions of populous cities —putting an end to the peaceful and amiable relations of trade, and exchanging them for the operations of war—that was a question ot such paramount importance that I could not do otherwise than make my vote agree with my opinions. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, while tat was my course, far be it from me to blame others who thought that the Government might have caused serious evils in Crime if they had not approved of the proceedings of Sir John Bowring. I quite agree that it was a very difficult question for them to resolve, and I applaud the conscientious motives upon which they acted. (Cheers ) But that which I protest against is, that many men on both sides having voted on party grounds —perhaps more in support of Government than against it—what I do complain of is the denunciation of the House of Commons, which I believe was composed, as alldivisions are, of men acting no doubt on party grounds, but of men who, having thoroughly investigated the question, could not conscientiously come to any other decision. (Hear, hear.) And, gentlemen, to refer to what I said to you a short time ago, if this is to be denounced as an infamous and disgraceful coalition, would not the same name apply to those who voted against Mr. Locke King's motion, differing as they did in party, and differing in their general political views. Now, gentlemen, let us come to the question which the third portion f the statute to which I have referred represents—the question of the future. Upon that subject you will perhaps recollect that the figure to which I had a closed book, intimating as much as that it was difficult to us here to read the pages of futurity. Let me say further that I am sure you would have a very bad opinion of me, if having acted according to my sense of duty to the country upon the questions and measures which carne before us, I were now to tell you that I would change that conduct, and for the sake of obtain ing rotes at the City election, I would renounce any opinions I have hitherto professed. (Hear.) Gentlemen, it appears to me that there are three questions put be fore the country. The first qeestion is, whether Lord Palmerston's Government should be supported, or whe ther it should be replaced by any other Government. (Loud cries of No, no, and cheers.) Before that ques tion I give you my opinion that I think Lord Palmer ston's Government ought to be supported, and that hav ing to choose between Lord Palmerston, as the bead of the Liberal party, and Lord Derby, as the head of the Conservative party, I should think it my duty to support the Government of Lord Palmerston. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, - there is a second question which is raised, I think, by the addresses which have been made to the country by persons of all sorts ot opinions, and that is whether Lord Palmerston should be supported irrespec. five of any opinions he may profess, or any measures he may think it proper to introduce. (Hear, hear.) To that question I should give as decided a No. But, gentle. men, there is a third question and I think it is the most important of all—namely,. putting aside both the first and second questions as relating to persons and Ministers — whether the great Liberal party, the great Reform party of the city of London, and of the towns and counties throughout the country, should hold fast by their reform principle., or whether they should abandon them. Now, gentlemen, I think you will anticipate the answer that 1 am about to give for my own i art as to that question. I hold that there would be nothing so dan gerous to that great party as to drop any of the prin ciples upon which it has risen. If you have what is called a Liberal party which is not the advocate of any Liberal measures, which makes no progress, which is not faithful te the cause of civil and religious liberty, you may be sure the downfall of that Li beral party is at hand. (Loud cheers.) It is only by remaining true to your banners—it is only by continuing in the same course you Lave for so many years victoriously pursued, it is only by continu in„ in that course that you can maintain the con fidence of the country and contribute to its future welfare and happiness. (Cheers.) Now upon these subjects there is one question upon which a present col lsague of mine has been the embodiment and the repre sentative of ,religious liberty—l mean of course the Lawn Rothschild, (Loud cheers.) I hope Baron Rothechild, although it is perhaps impertinent of me to speak of any other candidate but myself. I hope that Baron Rothschild, as being the representa tive of that principle of civil and religious liberty which you took up and so firmly maintained, will continuo to be its symbol and emblem,—that you will remain true to those great privileges, so that religious liberty may be established in this country. lam told, gentlemen, that that question has been a long while in dis cussion, and that there hal not been any great progress with respect to it, but if you will look back to the various questions whic'b have been carried on in this country, you will recollect that the Municipal Corporations Bill, the repeal of the Test and Corporations Act, and Parliamentary reform were long -under discussion, that they had to struggle through the force of public opinion, and that it was not until public opinion became, not only united here ' but everywhere, that Parliament gave its sanction to the principles of the Government. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, there is another question upon which I trust that the next Parliament will show a very firm desire—and that is, the question of the retrenchment of the expenditure, (Rear, hear, and cheers.) I believe that the estimates of the present year exceed by more than five millions those of 1853. I have told you I did not wish to hurry the Government with their re ductions; but I think they might in the course of the present year prepare for such reductions as will enable them to make the income balance the expenditure, and if possible relieve further the amount of tax stion which et present presses so heavily on the country. (Cheers.) It is only by such retrenchments that progress can be made in that relief for i n d ustry w hi c h b y t h e repeal of the duties on glass the repeal o f th e d u t ies on soap, an d irony other articles, have so much contributed to the welfare of the people. I cannot see why, if due we may n o t b y th e next year f a ll economy be practis e d, to the ls. duty on tea promised some years ago, and to the reduction of the duty on sugar, which was likewise enacted in former Years. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I come next to the great question of reform—(cheery)— and here I must observe that Lord Derby, as the head of the great Conservative party, has traced certain , limits to which he will permit legislation, and the Government to carry their measures. I, for my part, refuse to be bound by those limitations. (L ou d cheers.)' I cannot think that political reform ought to be excluded from our consideration, and P 3 I voted for Mr. Locke King's motion in the present Parliament, so I shall he disposed, if re-elected, to support it in the new Par liament. (Cheers.) I look to other extensions of the right of voting fer members of Parliament, believing it to be safe and beneficial, and the extension of the right of voting will eff-ctually conduce to the welfare of this country; and it is only by that means that the aduliaistretive Worn), so much va'ued of late years, can be beneficially accempliehed. (Cheers.) About two EU:alien) since an address to " the Crown was carlicil respecting administrative reform, but unless wo have) another extension of the suffrage, I doubt if any adequate measure for that purpose will be adopted. (Rear.) Gentlemen, I will not detain you much leo,nugreQre I ;but the re i s one quest i on w i th respect. to which the Ligauvetsto pursuedito I church bas ebeernates. ( much (! , I)j H ec e t a e r d , to.I mean thehear," centers, a t .neo by and Cheers.) .1 felt as a am perfectly aware that church rates are conduct on thia tuls r the great bedy of dis. linen, but, gentlemen, my by ena ,, y c ' h a u theyt are likewise objected to church rates,j has been based on this, that in you ought, at the same eholishin g tine, church rates can be abolished, to the Chuyeh Establishiwe' to do it with a just regard ment . of this country. (Hear.) You have in Scotland a l by law for the repairs of the Church. You h ay P e r° in lei l ° r n e lane also a provision for the repair of the Church, and no ch mea r n t s follows whi a ch es ; and think that you ought also to have one iu England • but it by that it need be in the form of if an y measure can be devised, by can be abolished an d a due provision m a d e f ur the tphurey poses of the Estab li s h ed Church, I shall b e willit, r most willing, to aid the introduction and carrying of such a measure. (Cheer;.) But, gentlemen, as I have already told you, if I sue elected as your rept esentative in Parliament, I must go there, as I have hitherto done, free to act according to my general principles. (Rear, hear.) I cannot be fettered, and have to' rnE SUN, VONDON, THDRISDA Y EVENING ` MARCH 19 8574 go, guided and gagged, into the House of Commons, and not be swayed by my own opinions as to what was best for the interests of the country. (Hear, hear.) lam sure such a course must be for your benefit. Yon have found it before better to have a men thus nnpledged and ready to act according to his known opinions and past conduct, than to accept any number of pledges or opinions on any subject at the time of his election. Let me say this one thing further. In 1807, fifty years ago, a dissolution took place upon a cry that was in tended to deprive our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects of that equality of civil privileges which they have since had, and to which they are fairly entitled. (Cheers.) That cry met with the assent of the country, and it was not till 1829, that the Duke of Wellington, in prospect of a civil war, took off those disabilities and restrictions by which nearly one quarter of the population of this empire had felt aggrieved. Let me go further back and say that some 80 years ago there was a dissolution just at the commencement of the American war, and the Minister of the day afterwards stated in the House of Lords that the Ministry had hurried on the dissolution purposely that the question of the American war should net be thoroughly sifted and examined before the elec tions took place. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, we know that a parliament was elected that approved of the war with America. We endeavoured by force of arms to subdue those who were then our brethren and fellow subjects, our now inde pendent neighbours of the United States of America. (Hear, hear.) We know, gentlemen, that with respect to the first question, the hasty decision in re ference to the dissolution of Parliament tended to aggravate feelings that partook of alienship of our Irish countrymen. We know that the cry of dissolution of the former day has even to this time produced an effect of rankling—l will not say enmity, but of rankling distrust amongst the people of the United States of Ame rica against the people and Parliament of Great Britain. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.) If such are the baneful consequences of an election conducted in the midst of cries without sufficiently weighing and estimating the consequences, I ask, I shall ask the electors of the United Kingdom to weigh thoroughly on this occasion the merits of the men who come before them for election purposes for the next six years to come— to consider not whether this man calls out for the present head of the Government and reform, and another for the present head of the Government and the Conservative cause, but to consider what men yon can find who, by their past conduct and character, are likely to promote the cause of progress. (Cheers.) I say the cause of progress, for it is my conviction that not only is progress healthy, but that it is likewise Conservative—as mach more Conservap than stagna tion as,the flow of the healthy current is more advan tageous than the stagnation of the unwholesome marsh. (Hear, hear.) I believe, therefore, you ought to look for men who will promote progress—and who will pro mote progress so as not to disturb or unsettle—for I have always held, and I have beeo called backward and slow on that account—in such a way as not to disturb the intricate and complicated relations of men to leach other, and to substitute disorder and confusion for harmony and peace. (Hear, hear.) That progress should embrace an amelioration of the condition of the people carefully considered, an increase of the popular fran chise) and an increase of popular power, but at the same time accompanied with the increase and diffusion of education. Gentlemen, I look to the diffusion of edu cation as the security for our institutions, as the best and ablest men of the United States look to the diffusion of education as the best security for the peace and order of the community. Gentlemen, if these opinions,-- if these declarations are approved by you, I hope to have your support at the forthcoming election. But gentlemen, dearly as I prize your approbation, dearly as I value the honour of being returned for this city in Parliament. Much as I should rejoice in being able to take my seat as representing you, and expresing your sentiments in Parliament, and little as I am disposed to bow to the dictate of a clique—for no such prize, for no such honour, should I be inclined to forfeit the approbation of my own conscience. (Loud cheers.) I am sure that you, as Englishmen, will respect that avowal. If you cannot agree with me— if you think my opinions and declarations render me unfit to receive your votes, withhold them at the poll, but if you think me fit to continue to represent you, I hope no insidious manceuvre will deprive me of the honour of becoming member for the city of London. (The noble lord sat down amidst loud cheers.) Mr. WHITESUIRE, chairman of the Ballot Society asked his lordship to express his views on the ballot, and in doing so alluded to the state of the Continent and his lordship's former expressed views at Guildhall. Lord J. RUSSELL said that his views on the ballot at Guildhall was this, that he thought that in the present state of the representation, there being, according to what Mr. Hume frequently stated, only one in six of the adult male population in the United Kingdom who had a vote for a Member of Parlia ment, that it was not fit that every sixth man should exercise that power unknown to his fellow countrymen. (Cheers, hisses. and cries of "It won't do Johnny.") Whether that reason be good or bad, I have told yeu that I do not propose for the sake of getting votes at this election to change my opinions. I have formed that opinion, not from reference to what happens in Sardinia, but a good deal from what happens in the United States of Ame rica, and what I have heard with respect to France, where the ballot was introduced ; and believing myself that the ballot would not hays those beneficial effects which those who are its advocates represent, I shall nut pledge myself to vote for the ballot. (Cheers, hisses, and three cheers for the ballot.) Several gentlemen proposed to put questions to his lordship, but the chairman ruled that it would be better not to do so then, as the electors would have other op portunities for doing it. _ Mr. F. BingsocH, in a powerful speech, called upon tho elictori to rote for Lord J. Russell in the ensuing election, and concluded by moving the following resolu tion : " That this meeting have beard with satisfaction the manly determination of Lord John Russell, to appeal to the free suffrages-of the independent electors of the city of London. That they hold this course to be such as becomes a candidate for the representation of this important constituency, and looking at Lord J. Russell's eminent past services in the cause of civil and religious liberty, and in the full confidence that he will continue to be the advocate and promoter of liberal measures, they pledge themselves to give him their utmost support." Mr. G. MOORI seconded the resolution, which was carried, four hands only being held up against it. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and after three cheers for " reform, retrenchment, and peace" the meeting separated. WARWICK RACES—(This Day). (BY ZLECTRIO TBLEORAPII.) £4O HANDICAP PLATE. Plausible . Garnet ... Four ran. ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE. Weathercock Minerva Sting Niue ran. Won in a canter. Screw broke down. HURDLE RA.CE. Jean d Quesno Five ran. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—(This Evening.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool sack at 5 o'clock. Lord DONOUGRMORE presented a number of petitions from several places in Ire/and in fa►otvr of the totel abolition of the income tax, and also praying that the salaries of medical officers, in connection with the poor laws, might be paid out of the Consolidated Fund, instead of, as at present, out of the poor rates. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from the Society for the Protection of Trade, praying for an extension of county courts in Liverpool, and also for the appointment of an additional judge. PERSIA. The Earl of EGLINTON said that the noble earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the other night in formed the house that, by the treaty lately signed with Persia, the Government were about to give up the right of protection to all Persian subjects except in respect to those employed in British consulates and missions in this country, provided ad other nations agreed to do the same. Ile wished to ask the noble earl whe ther our protection would not extend to wives and families of those employee. It would be recollected that the late war was c&used through the imprisonment of the wife of a Persian emplo36. While he was on hie legs, he begged to ask whether there was any truth in a paragraph which he had seen in an evening paper, taken from a Dutch journal, which stated there had been a conflict between two English ships and a Japanese naval force! The Earl of CLARENDON said it was understood by the treaty that the wives and families of our ern p!iiy44, as well as the ompioyGi themselves, would have the right of protection. With respect to the other ques tio❑ asked by the noble earl, the Government bad re ceived no intimation on the subject. NAPLES. ' The Earl of HARDWICKE called the attention of the house to an understanding which had been come to at the termination of the Congress lately held at Paris, that a combined squadron should be sent to the Bay of Naples. He wished to ask the noble lord opposite whether he would stat e the reason which had led to the sudden change of the determination of the governments of En&land and France ? The Earl of CLARENDON said he should confine - himself simply to answer the question put to him by the noble earl. After it became known that it had been determined by the Emperor of the French and the British Government to send two or three vessels to the Bay of Naples, private information reached the two Governments of such a nature as to induce them to alter their determination. (Hear, hear.) It was stated that an armed insurrection of Neapolitans was about to break oqt in consequence of the expected arrival of this squad ron, as such a proceeding was far from being the otject desired by the Western Powers, and as they rather desired to modify discontent that existed rather than increase it. They, therefore, thought it de sirable to desist from their original inten- tion of sending the vessels to Naples. Earl GREY said the subject was a very important one, and could not be properly discussed at that ma- # meat, but he tzuated on the re assembling of Parliament the whole question would receive complete investigation. After a short ccnversation the subject dropped. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY this bill was read a third time and passed. RACE HORSE DUTY BILL. On the motion of the same noblia lord, this bill was also read a third time and passed. PAUPER MAINTENANCE BILL. This bill was also read a third time and passed. M UTINY AND MARINE MUTINY BILLS. On the motion of Lord PANMURE these two bills were read a second time. SPEAKER'S RETIREMENT BILL. On the motion of Lord GRANVILLE this bill was read a second time. EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL. On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDBELEY this bill was read a second time. CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL. This bill, after a short discussion, was also read a 8r mad time. THE TURNER COLLECTION. Lord St. LEONARDS rose to call the attention of the house to the bequest of the late Mr. Turner, R.A., of his pictures to the nation. The noble lord, in his opening remarks, passed a glowing eulogium upon the talents of the late distinguished artist, and complained of the manner in which the noble bequest had been treated by the Government. [LEFT SPEAKING.] DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AND GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. A fire, involving a serious amount of property, and unfortunately the lives of five persons —a mo ther and four children—happened at a late hour on Tuesday night, and was not extinguished until an advanced hour yesterday. The scene of this terrible catastrophe was No. 8, St. Mary's-terrace, Walworth-road, four doors from Camberwell-gate, on the premises belonging to Mr. G. Rayner, termed the South London Bonnet, Millinery, Mantle, and Fancy Depot. From inquiries made by a witness of the out break it appears that shortly after the warehouse had been closed the unfortunate proprietor left the house to transact some private business in the neighbourhood, and almost immediately afterwards a man, who was putting up the shutters in the next house, had his attention directed to an unusual glare of light in Mr. Rayner's house. He imme diately raised an alarm. Assistance arriving some one injudiciously broke open the door, which caused the fire—which was then confined to one portion of the warehouse—to spread in every direction round the place, lighting and seizing the staircase, rolled up the same, igt.iting room after room in rapid succession, and cutting off all escape for Mrs. Rayner and the four unfortunate children ; the former having previously succeeded in bringing down ono of her children and handing it to the ser vant, and she then returned, regardless of losing her own life, to endeavour to save the other four children. The scene at this period became of a fearful charac ter. The people in the street, knowing that at least five human beings were in the house, cried most pite ously for help ; but unfortunately the nearest fire escape belonging to the Royal Society was at the corner of the London-road, about one mile and a half distant. The moment the news reached the station the conductor started with the fire escape, and arrived before an engine. He then found the flames belching forth from several of the windows ; but being told that persons bast been seen at the attic-window, he at once pitched his machine be tween the burning premises and the adjoining house, hoping to be able to ascend the fire escape and rescue the persons whose lives were so greatly endangered. Unfortunately, however, when he had got half-way up the fire,escape the flames rushed through another window, and fired the es cape from the middle to the top ; but if this had not taken place, the persons must have been burnt to death, owing to the distance the fire escape had to come. The engines of the London Brigade, West of England and parish, arrived as quickly as possible when they found an abundant supply of water flowing from the mains of the district ; the firemen taking advantage of the same, set their engines to work, under the able direction of Mr. R. Hender son, the district foreman, and Mr. Connorton, of the West of England, but it was not extinguished until the premises were nearly burnt out. As soon as the ruins were caoled, Engineers Flyn and Holloway discovered the mother and four children, burnt almost to cinders. The remains were forthwith removed to the deadhouse, to await an inquest. The cause of the fire is unknown. DEPORT ON THE CUSTOMS DEPART MENT. There has been issued a blue book, of 100 page 3 and upwards, containing the first report of the Com missioners of Customs on the Customs Department. The report, of which, from its nature, it is difleult to give a digest, treats on the origin and formation of the Customs Department itself—the members, cost, and functions of the department, the facilities and diminution of Customs work, the facilities and concessions given to trade, on smuggling, and on the increase of commerce and revenues. The report gives a resume of the alterations and charges ef fected last year. There are copious and valuable apr en dices to the report. The commissioners (pp. 37 and 38) refer to the vast increase in the commerce of Great Britain, under the simplification of our tariff, the reduction of dirties, and the facilities afforded to merchants and shippers. They show that between 1831 and 1834 the first extensive steps were taken towards the removal of prohibitions and th e reduc tion and remission of duties. These were followed in 1842 and 1844 by still bolder a d vances in the same direction, culminating in the vastly re duced and simplified tariff of 1853. Now, the net aggregate of these reductions amounts to above 10,000,0001., and yet, notwithstanding, the re venue of the Customs has scarcely varied for the last 20 year n , s t e adily ranging from 22,000,0001. t o 23,000,0001. In 1835 the gross Customs income was 23,149,000/., and in 1855 23,482,0001., or nearly identical. "In order to produce such a re sult," observes the report, "it is obvious that both the industry and the consuming power of the mass of the nation must have augmented in an extraor dinary ratio." Statistics show that the official values of our imports have increased from 31 . 4 millions (in 1814-15-16) to 121 . 6 millions in 1853 4-5, the official value of our exports from 53.8 to 248.1 mil -1 hong, and the real value of our exports of home produce and manufactures from 46'2 to 97.2 mil lions. The same encouraging tale of commercial progress is told by the tables of shipping. Thus, the average tonnage annually added was for 1823-4-5, 98,900 ; in 1853-4-5, it had risen to 413,900 tons, and this after Cie repeal of the navi gation laws. " Under a continuance of the same wise system," continues the report, "we may hope for a continuance of the same satisfactory results. By a further reduction of duties on all articles of general consumption, as the condition of the finances may suggest and permit, and by extending to commerce the utmost possible facilities compati ble with the security of the revenue, we may hope to insure a progress in future as rapid and as signal as that of the recent past." Smuggling bas declined with the reduction of duties, and "smuggling pro per" is now almost entirely confined to tobacco, spirits (the duties on which are still notoriously ex orbitant), and watches. Passengers from the Con tinent will still do a little smuggling business in lace and silk, but all these cases aro on the decrease, although the habit of packing up contraband arti cles within the folds of ladies' dresses still prevails and occasions very disagreeable disputes. The value of our imports in 1855 was 117,402,3661. ; and that of our exports 258, 424 , 3941., i nc luding 226920,2624 of our own produce and manufactures, 31,504,132/. of foreign goods. The tonnage of the total number of ships entered inwards and cleared outwards in 1856 was 21,589,049. The registered tonnage of the empire in 1855 was 35,692 vessels of 5,250,553 tons, and carrying 261,194 men. MADAME TIISSADD'S EXHIBITION.—A highly interest ing portrait model of the noble Premier has been placed in the great room of this popular establishment. Lord Palmerston is represented in the usual court dress of the First Minister of the Crown—dark blue coat splendidly embroidered with geld, and decorated with the most no1)1-, Order of the Gaiter This portrait cannot fail to create great interest to ,he visitors at this particular time. 10 20 20 20 I[ADVERTISEMENT.]—.Lime Hallett, of Whitty Head, near Netherbuty, Dorset, suffered for many years from a bad leg. From the knee to the ancle it had several wounds, so that she was unable to stand or move about the house. She tried a variety of means and applica tions, but without obt a i n i ng a cure. By the blessing of God and using only three pots of Poor Man's Friend, and taking three boxes of pills, she was perfectly cored , Dr. Roberts's Poor M an ' s Friend, for wounds and crop tions of every description, is sold in pots, ls. lid. and 2s. 9J. each. His -Piluim Antiscrophulas, fur all im purities of the blood, is sold in boxes, ls. lid., 2s. 9d., 46. 6d., Hs., and 225. each, by all medicine vendors throughout the United Kingdom and Colonies. [ADVERTIBEMENTJ-11ollow a y' s Pills.—This medicine bas been constantly increasing in public estimation for yearg, and is now acknowledged to be the most wonder ful remedy in the world. It acts directly on the system, removing all obstructions from the stomach, renovating the springs of life, and purifying the blood, totally eradi cating liver complaint, that main spring of so many diseases, indigestion, loss of appetite, pain in the side, and general debility. It is also a remedy on which the asthmatic may place the greatest dependence and obtain perfect restoration to health.—Sold by all medicine ven dors throughout the world ; 'at Professor Holloway's establishments, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden lane, New York ; by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A. Guidich, Smyrna ; and E. Muir, Malta. 50 100 100 ]2 5° 16f 16t St. Ambg. Nottng. Bost. & Eastn. Junc Belfast & Ballyraena Birrang. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsb. & Cheshire Junct Blackburn Blyth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £45) Bristol & Exeter- Caledonian. .. Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon 1 Cork, Black. & Pass Cornwall Do. Do. B Dublin&BelfastJunc Dun. P. daber.Janc East Anglian Eastern Counties EasternUnion,A. stk. Do., do. B. ....... Do. New East Kent 1 100 100 1 100 all all all East Lancashire East Suffolk Do. Edinburgh di Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edinb.Prth.kDondes Forth and elydeJuno. Furness ....... Olasgowh S.Western Great N. of Scotland Great Northern 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock 100 Gt. Sth.& vVest.(lre.) 100 Great Wes 3rn. 1 00 Do. Str. V. R. gwa. St all Irish Sou:1-Eastern. all Lancaster &Car'isle. 141 De., Thirds..... .. 12 Do. New Thirds St. 50 St. St. 20 20 10 St. 1.00 Lancasb, &Yorkshire 6 Do., do. F. £l6 Do., Wet. Riding Un all De. Southport.... all London & Blackwall 100 Lond.Bright. & S.Cst. 100 London &N. Western all Do. Fifths . . ail Do. ,IG/.5h.,M&8...0 2i Do. Eighths... 100 London & S.Western all Lndndrry.&Coleraine all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Manch.Shef. &Lincln. 1 Metropolitan 1 Do. J. L. Ricardo's arrangement Midland . Do. Birming.& Derby Midland 0.Wet.:;.(1r.) Do. Shares ......... Newcastle & Carlisle.. Newpt.Aberg.&Hrfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry, Warrenpoint & Rostrevor N0rf01k......... Ncrthn. Counties Un North British North Devon, Rail. & Dock Stock ..• Do., A Stock ......... Do., B Stock ...... N. Eastern Berwick Do. do. Extension ... Dodo. G.N.E.Furch. Do. Leeds Do. York North London ..... N. & S. Wstn., Hamp stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire North Western N. Is S. Werstrn. June Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Portsmouth ithymney Scottish Central Scot. N.E.lbrdn. Si Shropshire Union Sitingbourae &Sheer 'South Devon South th per o t r n Do. 4 fiharee . j South Wales 'S. Yorksh. River Dun IDo.. Stailes,Wok.,&Wok. :Stockton & Darling Do. do., 1854 Do. do., 18n5 Stockton h Hartlepl Taff Vale De. Pref., No. J.... Thames Hay. D. kR Vale of Neath Waterfd. ifs Kilkenny Waterford4Limeriek West West End of Loudon and Crystal Palace Do. A Do. 11 West Loudon ... Do. First Class Do, S 3cond Class Wmbledon 4/Croydon 100 100 3 i 100 10 20 5 20 all all 100 SHARE MARKETS—(This Day.) RAILWAYS. 'raid RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this day. 41 - 4i Si - 9 65 - 67 81 - 9 90 - 92 68} - 68; 37 .-- 38 ... ..... .« 91- 10: 19i -- 20, 101 -- 10, 47 -- 49 34 -- 35 8 - 7 95 - 97 66; Ti 7 ss = • •• ...... • 71- 8; 95 - 96 $6 - $8 120 - 123 105 - 107 67} - 68 64 - 66 70 75 7 8p 7 Bp ' 99 —99 i d pu ••• ..... •, 6 - 6.1 106 - 309 101 - Hi; • . • .... • 4d par RN —104 i or• '''' . sif 7- Fr, ••• ".'"' • 81 - 53 - ••• "'" 141 - 15, ••• ''.... 64 - S - IC; i - ..., ''"' ••• '''' 84i - 4 - 39 - 61i - 96 - loi -- 29 7 i -- -- 110 112 274 2$ 48 60 24 14 17 —11 1 d 74 75 85 - 4i - 4 - 41 - ••• •••••• ••41 21 - 4 - 4 . 7 - 24 - 53 - SSESSIONS. ... ... I - 11 lip 196 98 96 99 96 $8 Fax P ••• •• l i 1 a • P 111 • 113 21 -- 2jp 21i -- 22 53i -- i4i 81 -- 13 21k -21 i 1 -- Ikp 261 -26 i 3 1 - 1 1 19 -- 1 00 120 -- 125 120 -- 125 107 109 193 20 211 22 par ip I - P ii - P ••• --- ••• 2 - 2h, IGN. 6f - TA - 1i - . 1 $4 4 iP - k - $4 -34 i 11 - 12 r - 11 3 20 - 21 B,t - 6i ..d -5 i iil, 31~ - 32; i - 21 - 2 1 } 39 -39 t 8i - 94 604 - 61 58 - 59 I?I 18 20 1 11 gi 10} 8i 9 Pat 41 4i gi 10 33 31 Par 1 p K BANKS. 96 - 98 1 i - i p 57 - 59 69 - 71 17i -- 18 181 -- 19 18i -- 19 "" ••• ... - 39 - 40 11 - bo - 8 7 'AA 25A 11 oal 10 8 cl Basiness done this day. 68i i 374 19f i 101 i I 373 7 954 121 I 67i f 991 i 1631 10Ii i f 104},} 371 1 ini f 4 01 5 114 5 27 ei BRITISH pi all all all all !Atlan. and St. Law. Bombay, Baroda, and Cen.lnd,guar. G p. a ,Do. Buffalo & Lake Hur. Buff., Brut& Godcli. 6 p.c.bds., 1 Aug.,'72 Do. do., 1 July, '73 Do, do. , 1 Juno '74 Calcuth 'and 8. East. Central Oudo (Lim.] [ Ceylon A shares , Do. B. do. Demerara Eastern Bengal East Indian Do. C Shares p.c.Bnds. ' '57 Do. do. do. '59, do. Geelong (St Melbourne guar. 5 per cent. Gd. Trunk. of Canada Do. 6 p. c. Deben G. In. Pen. g. 5 per c Do. New. guar. 5 p.c Gt. Westn. of Canada D. p o o. B l ls. ew payablo '571 Do. do., '76, p. '6O 1 Do. do., '73, do. Do. do., '73, without option Madras, guar. 4i p.o Do. do., 5 per s. Do. 44 p. c. Eitel% Do. 3d Ex., g. sp.s. Do. 4th Ex., do Oude (Limited) iScinde, guar. 5 per c, Do . - _ FOR: Antvrrp &Rotterdam Ardennes Belgian East. Junct. Beziers to Graiseessae Carmeau x & Toulouse Coal Mires and Ry Dutch Rhenish Eastern of France Do. New Euphrates Valley Gt., Central of Frazee Great Luxembourg Italian Junction Lake Const. & Bale Lierre and Turnhout Lombardo-Venetian Lucca do Pist.sp.c.p. Lyons and Geirra Lyons Le Mediterran Maria Anteala Do. New Namur iz Liege Do. do. 6 p. s. Pref Northern of Franco NorwegianTrnk. Pref Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans Reeife tit San Fran., (Pernam.) g. 7 p. e. Rome and Frascati Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Do. 54 per cent. prof Southern of France West Flanders all IDo. 52 per c. rjef all IW. & N.W. of France 6 'Western of Aastria all West. of Switzerland all Wiesbaden all Do. Sp. cent. prof. all Zealand JOINT-STOI all Australasia 14 Bank of Egypt 50 ( Bank of London all IBri, Col, Bk.& Ln. Co all British N. American 8 ,C.Bk. of Ind.Au.&Ch 50 City 25 Colonial 20 Commercial of Lond all Eng. Scot. &Aus. Cht all Lon. Ch, Bk. of Aust, • Ditto New 53 Lud.&E,B i Lku all 20 Lone,;;'County g.Corp 10 London Joint 81,: c11- 20 LonlandWestminst. 35 'National Pro. of Eng. 10 Do. New 22,1 ,National Bank New South Wales ..., ; Oriental Bank Corp lOtton;.qn Bank Provincial ‘;'.! Ireland Do. New ........... . R. Aus.B. South Australia Union of Australia._ Do. New ruon of London .... Unity Mutual ...... Nostra Bk.;,` Load.. 59 f 4 1 82 3 51 26i I ii 7 11 5i 34 e i 211 i 391 7# • 91 10 70i 1 27i 7 32?,,; 3 311 474 GI 1 9 61 1 i 1 57i 7 64 7i 26 i 20 I 10 St. St. St. 8 10 10 Paid' St. 12i 12 126 St. St. 10 10 St. st. 25 10 1.0.6 20 25 25 12j 100 all 100 100 all all 2/ 12 20 1 143 1W 3 7 186 d, 16/15 401 1286, ill ts 16, All All all all 50 [0) St. St. all 40 32i 100 100 100 all 10 25 15 20 25 50 50 50 15 100 100 all all 10s. 111 100 all all all 28 ,100 LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Leasing ?,ompanles Ln. &N. W, Caledon .., E.U. dtE.O 'Gt.Northn E. Count. Caldonian. Do Gt.Westn Y. & N.M Do Do S. Eastern Do Peto &Co ' Do Ln. &N. W. Midld. Midland... E. Count Do Do ... Do L. 4N . W Do (fit. Norther T. Brassey M. MClean Stk.&Dar Do Gt.Westn BAILWAIS. Buckghamsli. 1 Clydesdale Jc. Col.Stour Vy. E.Lin. g. 6 p.e E. Un. H. Sh. Glas..Barr. & Neils. Direct Do. New Glstr.&Dn.Fr Hull & Selby Do. Shares Do. I Shares Lon. &Greenw Do. Preference Lon. Til., &S. Do. Bark. Sh. Manch.Bxton. and Matlock Mdld. Bradfd. Newmarket BuryE.G.spc. N.SEst.5 p.c. Do. 6 per et Do. Fixed 5p c Prest. &Wyre Do. Shrs. A Roystn.& Hit. Shrews .& Her S. Staffordsh.. WearVaLg6pc Do Wilts &Somrst PREF ERENI Blyth and Tyne 10 p. e.pref. (issd. at 50/.) Brim. &Ez.4 p.c. St. Do. 4 per c. Shares Caledn. ZlO 4i p. c ' 'Ches. & Ho. Si p.c Do. do. 5 per cent Cork &Bandonsip.c , Dun.rerth.&Aber.J 1 E. Anglian Cis. A Sh Do. do. Cls. B 6p. c Do. do. Cls. € 7 p. c Eas.Co.Ex,sp.cNo.l Do. No. 2 Do. New 6 pr. c. St East Un., G. 6 p. c Do. 51., 10 per cent Do. 10/. Debentr.Sh. Do. do. 4 per cent East Lancast .6 p.cts. E.&W. York. J. Ms Edin.& Gl. 5 p. o. Sh. Ed.Prth.&Dun.4p.c. Furness, 5 p. c Glas. & 5.W.G.5 p.c. Great Northn. 5 p.c. Do. 5 p. c. Redeem. at 10 p. c. prem Do. 4i per cent Do. 5 p.c., Red. at 5 p. c. prem. Gt.N . of Scot.lst Pre. Gt. S & W. (Ireland) Do. 4 per c. Pref. St. Gt.W.(B.&II.Ex.Spc Do. con. red. 4i p.c. Do. con. red. 4 p. s. Do. irred. 4 percent. Do 5 p. c. red. pref. Do. Birm. Pref. Sh.. Do. Chester Sp. c.P. S. Do. do. i p. c. Do, Bina. Gua. Stk. Do. Chesil. Gua. Sh. Do. do, do. Do. do. cis Lan,& York. 0 pc. E;;; 1 ,ou: &13. C. 5 pc.No.l D0.,P.,3 Do. New Guar. 6 p.c. I Do. do. 5 p. c., N 0.4 Lon. & N.W., Coy. & Naneaton 5 p. et Lon. & S.W. 7 per ct late 3d Shares Lon dy. & Color. 6 Sh Londy.&Ennis. A Sh M., 6 p. Cont Do. do. do. .£6 Do. do. 3.1 per cent. MArypt. & Carl. 4 p.c. Do. 4. per cent Do. do. Aid.Consol.6 p.c. St 1 Do. Con. Br. Bir. 6 p.c De. 44 p. c. Pref. S Do. L. &H. Pref. New., Aber., &c., pr.l 5 p. c.red. 5 p.c. pm. Do. Perpet. 6 pr. et. Norf k Deb. 4 p.c. Sh. Do. 5 p. c. Ext. 1846 Do. 5A p.c. pc., 1847 Do. Wv. V. sp. c.,1847 North British Do. 71. Preference N.E. Berw. 4 p.c.Prf. I Do. do. do Do. Leeds 6 pe. No.l De. do. Qrs., 1848 Do. York IL & S. Pur North Staffordshire Ox., War. & Wolv. 6 p.c., lit guar Do. p. e. 2d guar Scot. Cent. New Pref Sc.N.E.Aber.g.6p.c Do. do. 7 p.c. pf. St Do. do.3i p.o. pf. St South Devon Do. lied 4 pr cent. S. Eastern (Reading Aim.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4i per cent Do. Fixed 4i p.a. Sh S. Wales Gust. 4 p. o Do. do. 44 p. s S.Yorksh.4 p.c.Guar Stock. &Dar., fi p. o Di. do. do. Stock. & Hurtl. g. S . p.c. till July 1, '56 Waterfd& Bilk. 8 pc. BRITISH Alfred Cons. (Philk. British Iron ..... Condurow (Cambrn. Dm Gt. Cogs. (Tay., Great South Tolgum. G rt. W. Alfrd. (Philk. Grt.W. Vor (Heist' i Lady Bertha N. Frances (Illogan) N. W. Basset (Mogan; North Wheal Crofty Par. Cons. (St.Blaxy; Porkellis U. (Wend.) Sort. Cons. Min. Co S. Carad on (St. Cleer: S. Cam Brea (Illogn.; S. W. Frances(lllogn. Tam. S. & L. Min. Co Tin Croft lUn.Mines (Gwennan) i,V. of Towoy (Camar. ) W. Basset (Illogan).. W. Caradon (Liskrd.) Wh. Basset (Illogan). Wh. Buller (Rdrath). IWh. Edward(Calstek) I Wh. Kitty (U. Llant) Wh. Ma. Ann (Menht. ) wit. Trelawney (Lis.) Closing Prices this day. 90 - 95 98 - 102 11 - 13 t 33 - 136 3i - 44 1107 - 109 12A - 13 23 - 24 1102 - 105 i- I P 2i - 2i 90 - 92 i - i P 55 - 57 1 131 - 134 g - 9 9 - 9i 31i - 32 88 - 90 SHARES. ••• - ... 92 - 94 93 - 9S 6-6 k 108 - 112 108 - 112 - I - IP I 12 - 121 ' ... ••• - ••• 75 - 77 iii - lii 1105 - 110 1101 - 103 60 -- 62 10} -10 i 5i- 6, 95 - 96 84 - 86 100 - 102 10 - 10 16A - 17 10 - 10, 72 - 76 191 - 20 9 - 10 14 - 15 135 - 137 137 - 140 115 - 118 1157 - 159 ••• ---- ~.• 66 - 68 134 - 136 98 - 99 88 - $9 - lip' 1102 - 104 90 - 92 - 211 - 22 i 110 - 111 114 - 118 105 - 110 65 - 70 17i - 15 23 - 23} 100 - 101 9/ - 10 27 - 28 2 - 3p 2f - 3* MINES. 223 233 63 73 1155 165 450 470 14 15 le 103 63 —6/ I 1 ls 20 29 31 6 7 223 233 8 9 13 —1/ 340 350 63 71 325 —33 5 1 1 53 6 215 235 1 34 35 165 175 260 260 350 370 20 5 21 43 45 22 —• 24 MINES. / - lf li - It 3 - 4 19 - 21 id ' 61 63 12 14 id -- i - 8 it - p / - 7 - 9 2i - 3 3i - 3i .ANROUS. 233 - 243 5 - Si 40 4 L 53 156 35 - 40 26 - 28 21 - 2i 5 11 - - 5i 92 - 93 ••• ••••• ••• li ••• lti I - iti 4i - 4/3 2i —3/ i —1 d —1, 3 4 4 4} par iP 18 -- 22 . B par -- 4 P 2/ -- 67 69 4i -- 5 22 -- 24 65 -- 67 11 --!f 35 - 37 - 1 - 1 ii 2 13 HO - „. Business this dsy. FOREIGN 'Australian Brazilianlmp.(issued at X 5 pm) Do. Comes dr Cuiadai Do. St. John Del Rey Clarendon Con. Min'. Co. of Jamaica Cobra Copper Copiapo Fortuna ~ General .. Linares .. Lusitanian Mariquita New Granada Noyeau Monde , Pont,Sil,LdM.kC n 1 Port Philip Smitiago de Cuba south Australian IDo. Scrip _ De. 10 P. e. Pref.. United Mexican.... MISCE: Australian Agricult. Australis. Royal Mail Berlin Water Works ' Brit. American Land Canada Do.Go.6pc.Jan&July Do. 6 p. c.Feb.&Auir. D 0.6 p.c. Mar.&Sept. Copper Min. •f Eng. Do. Pref. 7§ p. cent Crystal Palace Do. Preferenc• crystal Pal, of France l Duston Iron Ore Eastern Steam Electric Telegraph Electric Tel. of Irel. En. &Aust. Cep.SmCo Eur. & Ind.Jctn. Tel. Gen. Ir. Sc. Col.(lim.) Gen. Steam Navigat. London Discount Lond. Gen. Omnibus Magdalena St. Navig. Mediteran. Elec. Tel. Mexican& S.Americn Nat. Discount Co Do. New Netherlands Land._ Do. Do. Do. 8 p c.Pf.iss.at ld. Do. Do. New B. &N. S. Land N.S.W. Gov.s p.e.D. N. B. Australasian Nrth.ofEuropeSteam Oriental Gas Do. New Shares Peelll,r. Ld. & Minrl 'Peninsular & Oriental, Do. New Rhyraney Iron Do. Nen' Royal Mail Steam Scot. Austral. Invest Do. New S. Ans. Goy. 6 p.e.bds South Austral. Land Submarine Tel. Scrip Do. Registered Trust&Ln' Co. U .Can Van Dionion's Land V. Go.6p,cJan. di July 1031 4 n :a 74 3 1041 3 9oi i li d. I.lok i 651 j 124 i 4 93 3 3} i A LAW INTELLIGENCB.—March 18. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. (Before Mr. Commissioner Murphy.) IN RE LUKE JAMES ALLEN. -SINGULAR CASE. This insolvent, who had been captain of a trading vessel, was opposed by Mr. Sargood for the detain ng oreditor, William Read, a shipowner at Ipswich Mr. Reed supported. In 1851 the insolvent sailed as captain of the ship Dazzler, and in 1855 Mr. Read, the owner, sent out a Captain Cloid, who seized the ship and sold it. Subsequently the insolvent came to England, and when he was about to sail as captain of another vessel he was arrested, on a judge's order, at Sun derland, for an alleged debt of 7701., due to Mr. Read for freight. Ho was arrested in February, 1855, and had been in prison thirteen months. When he was about to be heard by the county court at Durham, he was removed by Read up to London by a writ of habeas corpus, an d h e ap p e ared to be heard in this court. There had been an arbi tration about the alleged debt, but the time bad expired. There was a long and warm discussion, and there was, as the learned commissioner termed it, a good deal of " fiery zeal" by Mr. Reed, who said he felt that his client had been oppressed. Mr. Commissioner Murphy eventually adjourned the case for the insolvent to file accounts respecting the vessel. In allusion to the "fiery zeal," be said it reminded him of an anecdote of Garrick. A child said to her mother, "Oh, mamma, what a passion Mr. Garrick is in."—" Be quiet, child," replied the mamma, "he is paid for it." (A laugh.) ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCITIT.—YoRK, MARos 17. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice Crompton.) CONSPIRACY TO FORGE A WILL. The trial of John Oldershaw, Joseph Sills , the elder, Joseph Sills, the younger, William Wragg, Mary Wragg and Sarah Radbourne, charged with conspiracy and perjury to pass off a forgery a 5 the will of John Jackson, Esq. , of S tapleford, in Not tinghamshire, was continued this day, Mr. Temple addressing thei jury in defence of the prisoners excel , * the two Sills. The facts of the case were fully stated in the Sum yesterday. The counsel for the defence remarked that the prosecution had adopted a sin; gular course in endeavouring to prove that the will in favour of Sarah Radbourne was a forgery. They had travelled out of the county of Nottingham to Yorkshire to establish their case, and had dragged to the bar six persons who ought never to have been proceeded against in a criminal court. The right course to adopt in the first instance was ,t°, institute civil proceedings. The prosecution migh t have filed their bill in Chancery, an action of eject ment would have followed, and such action week', have been tried in a civil court. The validity ca the will in question would in such case have been put to the test, the whole of the persons then in the dock might have been called as witnesses, and the/ would have told their own story, but, unforttr nately, their mouths were closed. Their testimony would in a civil action be opposed by evidence tending to show that the will was not a genuin e document, and the jury, after co paring the state ments on one side and the other, would have in" an opportunity of arriving at a right conclusiet Instead, however, of pursuing this s t r ai g htforwar"' line of conduct, the prosecution commenced opera" tions by preferring a charge of forgery against that accused before the magistrates of Nottingham, b, ll the affair signally failed, as the bench dismissed ti ° case. Notwithstanding this defeat further proceee ings were instituted against the prisoners. Dei r M unable to gain their object, the prosecution, a10. n ,4: had before said, travelled out of the county of rl h tingham to prove an offence, if any existed, win e ._ he disputed. They arrived in Yorkshire, cast th eir net over the whole of the persons capable of giving any account of the execution of the will in (Pe g ; tion, and then asked the jury to give a verd ict of guilty against them. The case for the proseen i " tion, the learned counsel contended, had entir e I failed, the charge against the prisoners had not been substantiated by the evidence. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty aga i n st tlie, two Wraggs, Oldershaw, and Sarah Radbou rne ' but Acquitted the two Sills. ed His lordship, in sentencing the prisoners, obser v _ that he considered it extremely wrong for them to i! indicted for a misdemeanour only and in his opinions it was a defeating of the ends of justice. in ought to have been charged with forgery ill I' county of Nottingham, for not only were the); guilty, in his judgment, of the enormous crime 0 , 1 „ forgery, but of conspiracy also. They were no persons in the poorest classes of society, possessed of no education, and afflicted with poverty, and consequently more liable to temptation in conk' mating crimes ; but they were individuals in a higher station of life, and therefore there was no excuse whatever for them. They had endeavoured by forgery and conspiracy to get a large estate into their possession, but had signally failed, for it was clear that neither Sarah Radbourne nor any of them had any title to it. He bad some doubts in his mind whether he ought not to have directed II charge of forgery to be preferred against theist the evidence which had been adduced was sufficien t to prove such an offence. The result of a convic tion for forgery, instead of conspiracy and uttering only, the punishment would have been raw. greater—transportation, or, at least, penal se% tude. They, however, had been found guilty 4 :u misdemeanour, and agreeing with the conclusion at which the jury had arrived, he felt it to be his di% to pronounce the highest punishment which ta law allowed, namely, that they be severally in r prisoned and kept at hard labour for two years. The two Sills were acquitted, but before tof' were allowed to leave the court, his lordship it; mated that there was a probability of some etr i charge arising out of this will transaction being preferred against them. Country Markets. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET MARCIII 17. Supplies of all kinds these last six days again large. Oat straw, from 6s Od to 10s Od per kemple of 16 W u .. tron; wheat do., 6s Od to 8s 6d ; b ar l e y do., 6s Od. to Od. Hay from is to ls. 3d. EDINBURGH 3IE A.L—MARos 17. sc ii There were in the market to-day 13 sacks oatmeal, • weighing 2801 b imperial, which sold at 37s and —O. DALKEITH MEAL 1 11ARKET—MINCE 16: oh 0 There were in the market to-dsy 13 bags of oatmeal, barleymeal, and 0 pot barley. Sales ready. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. I Second. 1 Th v imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto —s Od —s Od I— o Od Flour, new, per ditto.... . Pot-barley, new, per —s Od Od DUBLIN, MAnca 17. W. had an exceedingly slow market at our corn excliong• this morning. The supply of native wheat very limite c ._l prices without alteration. O a t s d u ll , an d l ower qua lities turn cheaper. Barley firm. No change in value of oatnior s foreign wheat, or I n di a' corn . Fl our d epresse d , a t price s favour of the purchaser. 2 1 White wheat, 31s Od to 34s ; red ditto, 29s Od 3 a , Od; ditto new, —s ; barley, malting, 16s to 25s 6d ; ing, 15s to 20s 6d ; oats, old, lls to 13s ; ditto, new. Od to 15s Od ; oatmeal, 13s to 14s 6d; bere, new, 16s to 15 Oil ; rapose, d, 303 Od to 32s 041 per brl ; bakers' flour. " I _2'; 6d to 253 Od per cwt; Indian corn, 31s 01 to 37e Od r 480 1130. BRISTOL SUGAR—MARCH 18. The very high' prices demanded by importers cause the trade in all descriptions of sugar to be restricted, and 13 ? transactions of any magnitude have taken place since our le!' report. In rums both the supply and the demand are halite') and there is but little doing. 00AL MARKET.—MancH 18. Prices of Ooals per ton at the close of tho market: s , d. iVallsend, &o. Tanfield Moor l3 0 a 0 ,; Tanfield Moor Butos 13 0 Tianibton l7 , Walker Primrose .........13 6 gotten Lyons Main l4 i' Bebside's Hartley 17 0 Rnasell's Iletton 16 Eden Main l6 0 3tevrart's . 17 6 Wallsend, Ste. Hartlepool Hetton l5 6 South Hetton .............. 17 3 ghips at market... 42 { 501 d........... 34 BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 17th inst., at Kinston-grove, Oxon, the lion. Dirge Cau lfi e ld Pratt. On the 18th inst., at Woolwich , th e w if e o f C a pt. G. 11.* Fraser, Royal Artillery. OF A DATJOATER. On the 16th inst., at &andford, tho wife of W. CoTonti Oak, Esq. On the 16th inst., at 21, Ladbroko Villas, Notting-hill, 1 450 * John Campbell, jun, M A It - R I EiD. On the 18th inst at St. Clement's Church, EasteheaP , Henry Zurhorst, o " f Laurence Pountney-lane, to Elizabe th Emma, the third daughter of Mr. Charles Coles, of BlaclQ . heath, Kent. On the 18th inst., at St. George's Church, Hanover-square IP Dr. George Williamson, M.D., to Sarah Armstrong, stet (laughter of Dr. Samuel A. Piper, of Rochester. Di' ED.I On the 17th inst., at Brixton-rise, George Hepburn, EA late of Carey-street, Chancery-lane, aged 53. On the 17th inst., William Gillson, Esq., of Ullestliorp e s Leicestershire, aged 88. On the 17th inst , at Park-lodge Streatham, Wm. Fors t Lapslie, Esq., youngest son of the ' , ate Lieut.-Col. Lapslie, the 39th Regt., aged 33. .. - 4----- , LONDON : Prinked and Punished by KURD() YOUNG . ' of No, 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Moe, 14 °. 112, Strand, in the Precinct cf the Savoy, in the co" of 3liddlesex, Thursday, March 19, 1857. 2sGd lOs 100 15 all all all all all all all