The Sun. — London, England, 1857-06-11 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—OCESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The North Eastern and Hartlepool Dock and Rag way Amalgamation Bill was read a third time and passed. The following billi were further considered and ordered to be read a third time :—Great Northern Rail way (Capital) ; Landport and Southsea Improvement ; Lewes and Uckfield Railway ; Margate Water ; and Mid-Sussex Railway. FINSBURY PARK BILL. Mr. C. FORSTER moved that the order for the se• cond reading of the Finsbury-park bill be read and dis charged, and that the bill be withdrawn. That leave be given to bring in a bill, " to enable the Metropolitan Board of Works to form a park for the northern suburbs of the metropolis, to be called ' Finsbury Park,'" and that Lord R. Grosvenor, Mr. T. Duncombe, and Mr. Cox do prepare and bring in the same, and that the ex aminer of petitions for private bills have leave to sit and proceed forthwith.—Agreed to. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented in favour of and against Mr. Hardy's Beer Bill ; for the Equalisation of the Poor'e Rates ; in favour of Mr. Headlam's Medical Profe'sion Bill ; against the Industrial Schools' Bill ; Visc-)unt Goderich presented ten petitions from the neighbour hood of Huddersfield in favour of the Beer Bill. SALE OF BEER. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Mr. KER, SEYMER moved as an amendment that the bill be read a second time this day six months. Ho believed drunkenness was the besetting sin of the work ing classes of this country, but he thought it was now decreasing. The influence of good example amongst the upper classes, the increased desire on the part of em ployers to promote the moral, religious, and physical welfare of their servants, the establishment of parks, and the increase of education, were the causes of this, and it was no Utopian idea to imagine that these would have a still further beneficial effect on the habits of the working classes. They had seen a great change in the habits of the upper classes, in respect of drunkenness, and there was no reason to doubt that a similar change from the causes now in operation would take place in the habits of the lower classes. He condemned the restrictive principles of this bill, and remarked that no body of men would think of restricting the number of shops in any other trades to be opened. He stated in support of his argument relative to the restrictive character of the licensing system generally, that during five years 2,343 persons applied for licences in the Metropolis, of whom only 493 were successful, and of these 72 were granted in the Tower Liberties. He considered there should be some regulations for the trade, but not the restrictions proposed by the present mea sure. The hon. gentleman referred to the connection existing between the brewers and publicans relative to obtaining licenses, on the ground of the former supply ing the latter with ale and porter, and also to most of the public houses being the property of the brewers, or mortgaged to them. The licensing system, coupled with the malt tax, was the great upholder of the brewers' monopoly. It was absurd 'to draw distinctions between beer shops and public houses, because there were bad in both branches, and it was a notorious faht that a number of public houses were kept by prize-fighters, who were a class of men he could never consider as re spectable. It was all very well to talk about the morality of publicans and brewers, but their object was to sell as much beer as they could. Although the licence was strict as to adulteration and dilu tion, the publicans and beer shop keepers were obliged to have recourse to dilution for their profits, and Mr. Hawes, a celebrated brewer, who was examined befure the committee, stated that the retailer bad to " pump the new rives , " fox his profits—(a laugh)—in other words, dilute the beer with water. The present system of li censing was bad and required alteration--magistrates being very often placed in unpleasant positions when they were asked to grant licenses, and sometimes charged with partiality. The Beer Act had been success. ful, inasmuch as it gave the public the reduction of duty, and allowed many persons, such as shell-fish shop keepers, to supply beer, who did not require a spirit license as well. He approved of one license in stead of two as now in practice, which would give the beerseller permission to sell beer and spirits, or either, only as he thought most desirable far the purposes of his trade. Statistics of drunkenness were very fallacious, because no two towns had the same regulations for ap prehending persons under the influence of drink. In some towns the police had orders to take only such men as could not take care of themselves, whilst in others they took men who were a little the worse for liquor. The honourable gentle. man also referred to the present system stigmatising a man as not being respectable by withholding his license, and at the same time preventing his rising in the class to which he belonged. Beer-shops, generally speaking, he thought were better kept than licensed housee. He approved of that part of the bill which referred to coffee-houses that were kept open all night, and he regretted it had been made a part of this measure. The application of the Tippling Act to these shops he thought desirable and be complained of an omission in the bill relative to the privileges of Free Vintners, and called attention so a house now open in Piccadilly under a free vintner's licence. He called upon the " strong Government" to take up the question, and not be afraid of the licensed victuallers, who, it could not be doubted, were a strong else, and very influential in elections. Mr. W. BROWNE supported the amendment, and explained that his name had been put on the back of the bill under a misapprehension. When he first saw the bill he found it so different to what he a xpeoted that he wrote to request the reenovel of his name from it, but he was told it was too late, and could not he done. After reviewing the labours of the committee appointed two sessions since, of which he was a member, he a r pressed a hope that the Government would, next year, be prepared with a measure founded upon the report which the committee presented to the house. Mr. NEWDEGATE did not accede to the doctrine that, because the Government did not deal with an ac knowledged evil, private members attempting to legit late upon the subject should be considered as inter fering with the duties of the executive. He deprecated too much responsibility being thrown upon the Govern ment, as inconsistent with ant freedom and independence of hon. member... Mr. D. GRIFFITHS supported the second reading of the bill. Sir G. GREY said that as a direct appeal bad been made to the Government, he took an early oppor tunity of stating the views of tlse Government on this question, and his views on this bill. The bon. gentleman who bad brought in the bill was not liable to censure for so doing, but rather praise for caus ing the subject to be discussed, and hon. members it.- formed thereby. The principle of this bill was sub,tare. tinily to repeal the Act of 1330, and revert to the system that existed before, restricting the sale of beer absolutely to persons licensed by magistrates according to their arbitrary will, without anything to guide them. To that he entertained the strongest objections, and he pro ceeded to review the course of legi,lttien that had taken place for many years past on this subject. This bill was at variance with the recommendation of the com mittee of 1854, and the honourable member aske,l for this bill because the morality, &c., of the country required that certai❑ checks should be im posed on the trade. The general result, however, of the evidence before the committee was, that drunkenness had decreased in the country, and where it existed it was attributable mostly to the use of ardent spirits. The towns in which drunkendess was said to have decreased were Birmingham, Norwich, Manchester, and Liver pool; and when gentlemen said drunkenees was on the increase, they spoke of some local observation, and not of it generally throughout the kingdom. There could be no doubt that still it was too great, and was the cause of the commission of much crime. The law was more stringent with regard to the new house-keeper than the licensed victualler, for on a third convicti:in the magistrates bad power to shut up snob beer shop for two years, aid report it to the excise ; yet no such third conviction had taken place. Many of the evils corn« plained of arose rather from the administration of the law than its defects. As to the licensing system he thought the evidence before the committee showed that the licensing system hail failed to secure the morality of the people. It was impossible for magis trates to form a just estimation of the quantity of beer and spirits required for a given district, and it eras impossible for them properly to protect the morality of the public from a fear of trenching on vested rights, which they were bound to consideras well as the question of public morality, and from that a house was rarely de prived of its licence. Before 1830 complaints were made against certain houses which he believed still existed, and the true remedy for the evils complained of were sr _not t o b e f oun d i n t h e bill b e f ore t h e h o us e . "" "ichard Mayne said that the beer shops were not Ivor " ,Conducted in the metropolis tha n th e l icense d public-houses, d a Il h a e ry g e a y v , the same evidence was given by Mr. W n . gave tie to the beershops i n th e City, d e numbers, that out of 138 beershops within the City, 131 were well cmductecl extend the system of magistrates • c o mes licear,ing all these houses would he a retiorao movement. On the part of the 17 Government he ,r t d to say that they considered better regulations should be and to make it th e i nt ,I"Pted—(hear, hear)— to better conduct their houeZ est by Of the public ans . intlicting a penalty for doing wrong on t he house, d ap( natty o make the property su tler, iestead of inflicting bent consideration occupier. He . would give Vie suhject his during the recess, and intro duce a mea sure next session, if the hon. member wool I withdraw his bill. Alter some remarks from Mr. Ids "'La _ and Mr. PACES, Mr. HARDY replied. He did not consider the speech of the right hon. gentleman the Home Secretary, satisfactory, and expressed his doubts that any measure would be brought forward D« xt session founded o n the report of the committee referrel to. Already it L a i been allowed to remain in abeyance three years, a n d private men had been obliged to interfere :n this ques tion. He denied that the movement arose with the licensed victual'ers, but from the public generally, whe believed that the time bad arrived when an alteration should took place in the law. He intended to go to a division. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to! reply to the arguments that had been need againt the measure, reviewing the licensing system from the reign of Henry 7th to the year 1830, when the 'public-houses and beershops were one to 269 inhabitants. Tne beershops then numbered 24,342, and after watels they went up to 45,000, but subsequently, in 1855, after increas , ng the amount of rating, there were 43,648 be, r shops, the public-houses numbering 62,570, and the cider shops .521, being at the rate of one . to 164 inhabitant', including women and clol then. After referring to the consumption of spirit in this country, and in those where no licensing system existed, he said tbat if the report of the committee were carried out, things would be worse than now, for the great browers world be the sureties for the publicans, and thus they would monoporse the trade by getting all the houses into their hands. Ho had no wish to pre vent the association of the poor, but he wanted to secure them from the demoralising practices of beer sellers. He complained of the present system of licensing, which gave no security to the public ; because if magistrates marked their sense of the disgraceful manner in which a house was conducted, by withdrawing the license, application was made to the excise, and the house con tinued open to the injury of morality. The Home Secre tary had said that magistrates had power to shut up a beer-shop for two years after a third conviction, but the law was evaded, for after a second conviction, the busi ness was made over to another member of the family, and the convictions had to be gone over again. He con sidered the magistrates the best person to decide on the number of public•houses required for a district, and that the discretionary power of licensing could be safely placed in their hands, more especially as they bad to deal with crime, and the liberty of the subject, many of those houses being the hotbeds of the former. He hoped to bring the free vintners of London under the provi sions of this bill, which would be the means of getting rid of a nuisance, and the evidence taken before the c.imrniitee showed how necessary it was to place coffeesbops under regulations similar to public-houses. Mr. VILLIERS, as chairman of the committee which had sat on this subject, could not allow the hon. and I3arned gentlemen to represent the report of that com mittee to the house in a light not warranted by the facts. The aject of the committee had been to inquire into the evils connected with the sale of intoxicating liquors, which the hon. and learned gentleman had brought be fore the house, aiid to inquire further whether the pre: sent law which regulated publichouses could be amended with a view to the better protection of public morals and for the better accommodation of the people. The hon. and learned gentlemen, however, spoke as though the committee had been utterly regardless of all those con sideration', as if their only object had been to establish what he celled free trade in spirits, utterly reckless of the consequence, which he professed to detail, and has argued upon that assumption in favour of his own mea sure. (Hear.) If the house did not adopt this most erro neous view of the labourers of that committee, he (Mr. Villiers) could not conceive that they were likely to sup port this bill in the face of all the evidence collected by the committee, and now in their possession —(hear)--and further, in disregard of the assurance given by the Secre tary of State (Sir G. Grey) that the Government was about to take up the subject, and would be ready to propose a measure in • the course of next session. (Hear.) The hon. and learned gentleman wanted, he presumed, to raise the character of houses for the sale of intoxicating liquor, and to limit their number. But how could he attempt to lead the house to suppose that the committee had been indifferent to these objects, and had taken no precaution whatever for the future conduct and character of these bouses, and, indeed, he had implied that their object was to multiply them indefinitely ? Why, the first proposition made was that no man should get a license without the certificate of the magistrate as to his being a fit person in point of character to receive it. At present, any man might go to the Excise and claim a beerhouse license on payment of 1/. 2e., while the proposal of the committee was that the lowest pay ment should be 61., and should go on increasing gradu ally in proportion to the papulation. Then the hon. and learned gentleman, very conveniently for his own mea sure, ignored altogether the evidence as to the working of the present licensing system, and its inefficiency in checking the evils of which he complained, because he had proposed a measure which, in direct opposition to that evidence, purported to extend it. The hon. and learned gentleman had observed the two things that the evidence before the committee most prominently con demned—one being the division of the business of the publican, into the sale of beer only, and the sale of every thing else in which he usually dealt, and the present licensing system—(bear, hear)--and he had adopted them both as the basis of his plan. The present system of separating the sale of spirits from the sale of beer was found to be most unsatisfactory, for it was almost impossible for a man to live by the sale of beer alone, and the evidence taken before the committee Ehorred that this was the occasion in many cases of the disre putab!e practices adopted in those houses. (Hear, bear.) The honourable and learned gentleman, however, proposed to perpetuate this artificial distinction occa sioned by law between the two classes of houses, and the only difference in the scheme from the present wool I be that the persons who were to sell beer alone would get the magistrates' certificate for a license—the very system which was attended with se little good and was so generally complained of. (Hear.) The hon. and learned gentleman ought to have told the house how he intended to meet the evils of the licensing system, or to have told them that the evidence was un.rue. (Hear ) This subject was intentionally referred to very untidy in the report, but the evidence teemed with statements made as to the manner in which these licenses were granted, the system being shown to be of the most irre gular and unsatisfactory kind. (Hear.) Nobody at• tacked the magistrates as a body. The committee did not feel called upon to make any reflections on the magistracy, because they had good reason to believe that the great body of the magistracy were as much dis pleased at these irregularities as anyb•dy else—(hear) — that it was a task that devolved only upon a few ; and that generally they would gladly be relieved from a duty they deemed very odious. (Hear.) It was, indeed, one which appertaine 1 rather to the police than to men having judicial functions, and it was felt by some that suspicions which attached to them in this matter tainted their character in the administration ofjustice. (Rear.) On this subject, however, in consequence of the obser vations of toe hon. and learned gentleman, he wished hon. members would read the evidence of the Recorder of Yarmouth, who spoke from an experience of 17 years, and who was equally acquainted with that town, Nor wich, Lynn, and Ipswich, and who said that the present licensing system was one of unqualified mischief, and that in the granting of licenses there was favoritism, interest, and wrong of every description. (Hear.) It was mainly on account of the startling evidence exposing the evils of the licensing system that he (Mr. Villiers) advised the committee not to report in the first year of the inquiry, in order that this evidence should circulate through the country, and that if anything untrue had been stated that it might be contradicted, and that the committee should only make its report upon the truth. Now, he called upon the house to remember that the main point involved in the vote they were about to give was this, whether the licensing system, as it existed at present, should be extended or not. Thetis what the hon.and learned gentleman proposed, never admitting, and expecting the house to ignore altogether, the evils shown to exist in connection with the licensing system. At present the difficulty which was felt in dealing with this subject was the enormous value which had artificially been given to property by the licensing system. " Vested interests" presented themselves in this matter ; yet the hon. and learned gentleman wanted the house to increase these difficulties by the plan he proposed, and which would work with respect to beerhouses precisely as it had done with the other houses. He (Mr. Villiers) did not say a word himself against the magistrates. (Oh!) He only referred to the evidence which had been given which was credible. He had no interest in the matter. They were magistrates themselves that had come forward to speak against the system, and ask to be relieved from the duty at present imposed upon them. But he begged to say there was evidence in the report to show that it was not the magistrates alone who were to blame in this mat. ter, and that there were other people of station in society or possessed of great wealth who had i n t eres t i n t h e houses that were ill-conducted, and who interfered with the maeietrates to protect them ; and if they would turn to Mr. Palmer'e evidence they would see how the magis trate; were sometimes told that they were injuring pro perty when they were about to suspend a license. The hon. and learned gentleman had hoped to dispose of the evidence against the system by saying that it referred only to the metropolis ; but if the report was referred to they would see that from every part of the country it was implied that there is an absence of ad rule in grant ing or withdrawing licenses. The solicitor of the Victu aller Association at Liverpool was sent up to the corn- inittee to give evidence in favour ofthe system, but when he was asked upon what rule be thought the magistrates proceeded in granting licenses, replied "None at all," and it was very much determined by the varying hu mour of the magistrates who attended, and that he thought many applied and got licenses by that means who would not otherwise. (Hear.) Now, when evidence of this kind was submitted to the committee, they were compelled to notice it, and in considering what amend ment they would recommend, it was utterly impossible that they could pursue the course of the learned gentle man and advise this faulty system to be extended fur ther. But, far from justifying what the learned gentle. man implied, that the committee had no views of its own, and, therefore, that his scheme'should be adopted, he might see by their report that their opinion was that a matter so important as that of the sale of intoxicating liquors should not be left to the mercy, or caprice, or in terest of any set of men, and that ample security should be taken for the character and conduct of a person en• gaging in the bniness, and that the conditions on which he might enter that business should be defined and known, and that it should be left to some public re sponsible officer to determine whether he bad complied with those conditions, and whether he was entitled to a renewal of his 1 csnse. He believed that would give more satisfaction than to leave it to the discretion of so varying 1 a body as the justices of the peace. The boo. and learned gentleman had no right in proposing an experiment that had failed, to claim ter hiniselt that he alone had devised a remedy fur great and admitted evils, while tho com mittee had ['reposed nothing in lieu of what they hail displaced. He (Mr. Villiers) bed only risen to vindicate the report of that committee from some of the charges which bad been by implication made against it. He hoped the house would not consent to support this mea sure without minutely examining the evidence upon the whole subject now before them, which, as he believed, would lead them to the conclusion that the plan proposed 1 by the hon. and learned gentleman, however well meant, would be no security against many evils, and would in some respects be a❑ aggravation of the mischievous sys tem at present exi,ting. (Hear, hear ) After some remarks from General Thompson and Mr. Barrow, The house then divided. The numbers were— For the second reading lBO Against it . Majority --33 The bill was accordingly rejected. (Cheers.) PROPERTY QUALIFICATION BILL. Mr. L. KING moved the second readinof this bill. The only objection made t o i t when it was f i r: t . b ro ught in was that woull interfere with the Governments promised measure of reform, but the noble lord at the head of the Governme n t h a d g i ven t h e best answer to the objection by the introduction of the Oaths Bill, which dealt the same as this, viz., with the elected and not the elector. Sir G-. GREY moved that the bill be read a second time this day six months, the Government considering this and another bill on the paper should form the sub. ject of discussion next year on the question of reform. He declined then to enter into the merits of the case. Mr. COBBETT could not assent to the withdrawal of this unless the Government pledged themselves that the question should form part of the new reform bill. Mr. COLLIER thought it was asking too much of the Government to state the details of their proposed mea sure of reform for next session. The time of the house could be better employed this session than in discussing this measure. (Hear, hear.) If, when the Government measure was before the house, no pro vision was made relative to this question, and the hon. member for Surrey moved an amendment, he would support him. _ _ _ Mr. T. DUNCOMBE protested against the principle that the House of Commons should not discuss questions of Parliament reform. Hon. members were " piping hot" from the hustings, and were in a position to give the Government much information on questions of reform, and therefore it was desirable this and other questions on the paper relating to represen tation should be discussed. Unless the Government gave - a pledge that this question and the more frequent registration of votes should form part of the new reform bill, he advi-ed his friend to go to a division, and show the country wbo were and who were not reformers. Mr. GREER supported the second reading of the bill. Money was no test of honesty or intelligence, and be opposed the qualification clause, because it limited the circle of choice of representatives. Educa tion and intelligence should be the only test, and he thought an eeminination of members as to their legis lative qualifications desirable. There was no qualifica tion fir the members of Scotland, who were as respect. able, intelligent, and good members as the English mem bers. (Loud cries of " Divide.") Lord PALMERSTON hoped that the house would follow the recommendation of his right hon. friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and that they would concur in that which he tnought was a gene ral understanding—though it was not an engagement on the part of anybody—that questions affecting the con stitution of that house should •be postponed to the next session, seeing that in the present there really was no probability of there being sufficient time to give that consideration to these questions which their import ance undoubtedly deserved. (Hear.) That remark would alio apply to the next two bilk upon the order paper. He forebore from entering at all into the merits of the bill which his hon. friend had proposed ; but his hon. friend must of course be aware that, whatever he might think of the merits of his own proposition, there might be others who entertained the strongest objections to it f and when it came to be argued—as it must be when it should be brought under the deliberate consideration of the house—much might be stated in opposition to the views of the promoters of the bill. (Hear, hear.) He forebore from sketching any of those easy topics which must naturally enter into the mind of everyone in con nexion with the property qualification ; but he earnestly recommended his hon. friend 'to let the measure stand over for future consideration, and not to press the house to a division on the present occasion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. L. KING could not agree with the excuse of the noble lord, and should press his motion to a division. The house divided, and the numbers were— For the second reading Against it Majority —s9 The bill was accordingly rejected. ELECTION EXPENSES BILL. Lord R. GROSVENOR in consequence of the deci sion of the house on the Property Qualification Bill, withdrew the motion for the second reading of the Elec tion Expenses Bill. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS BILL. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE also withdrew this bill on the same grounds. VACCINATION. Mr. T. DIINCOIVIBE obtained leave to bring in a bill to repeal the Compulsory Vaccination Act, 1853. The other orders of the day were postponed, and the houee adjourned at half•past 5 o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. NEW STREETS IN SOUTHWARK AND COVENT-GARDEN. The committee appointed to consider the bill for the formation of a new street from the Town-hall, Southwark, to Blackfriars-road, and a street from King-street, Covent-garden, to Cranbourne.street, Leicester-square, met yesterday in Committee room., No. 19. The committee consisted of Mr. Cornwall Legh (in the chair), Mr. Davey, Mr. Holland, Mr. Crook, and Air. Portman. Mr. Gray appeared for the promoters of the bill (the Metropolitan Board of Works), Mr. Russell Gurney in opposition, for the Corporation of Lon don. Mr. Gray entered into a detailed statement of the great benefits which would be derived from a direct communication being formed between West minster and London Bridges, which at present did not exist, and it would clear away a great deal of almost valueless property, and be a great conve nience to the inhabitants not only of Southwark but of the entire metropolis. Mr. Russell Gurney urged the claims of the Cor poration of the City of London, and believed that if the bill were pas,:ed it would take a larger sum from the coal duties than was justified. _ _ The room was ordered to be cleared. On the readmission of till parties, The chairman reported that the committee had passed the preamble of the bill. Some of the clauses were then gone through and agreed to. On clause 47 being considered, _ _ Mr. Russell Gurneysaid, in' respect to this clause applied to the new street in Covent-garden, by the bill, in addition to the sum of 50,000/. agreed to be given towards the formation of that street by the Duke of Bedford, a sum was to be applied from the London-bridge appoaches fund of 30,0001. Mr. Gray opposed the clause, as its effect would be to tie the hands of the Metropalitan Board of Works, when it would be impossible to say the pre cise cost of the street, however carefully such aft estimate might be formed. Contingencies might arise which would altogether upset the most elabo rate calculation, and therefore he hoped that the committee would not agree to the clause. The room was again cleared, and after an exclu sion of about half an hour the parties were again admitted. The chairman said the committee had carefully considered the subject, and they were of opinion thit the clause should contain the maximum charge which would be required from the London-bridge approaches fund, and that the amount should be limited to 35,0001. The other clauses were then gone through, and the bill was ordered to be reported. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY E PELTING, JUNE 11, 1857. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—JuNB 10. PROPERTY QUALIFICATION BILL. Order for Second Reading read ; Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the bill be now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of Question to add the words " upon this day six months :"—Question put, " That the word ' now' stand part of the Question." The house divided—Ayes, 145 ; Noes, 204. AYES—I4S. Adams, W. Ebrington, Viscount O'Brien, P. Alcock, T. Ellice, E. Ogilvy, Sir J. Althorn*, Vino*lat Evans, Sir De Lacy Paxton, Sir J. Anderson, sir J. Evans, T. W. Pease, H. Atherton, W. Ewart, W. Pechell, Sir G. A.yrton, A. Ewart, J. Perry, Sir E. Bagwell, John Fenwick, H. Philipps, R. Ball, E. Fergus, J. Platt, James Barnard, T. Forster, C. Price, W. Bass, T. Fortescue, F. Ricardo, 0. Easter, W. Gilpin, Charles Ridley, G. Beale, 5 Glyn, G. Robartes, T. Beaumont, W. Goderich, Via. R,ou pell, W. Berkeley, F. Grace, 0. Russell, F. W. Biggs, J. Greene, John Russell, Sir W. Black, Adam Greer, S. Salisbury, E. Bland, L. Grenfell, Chas. Schneider, H. Bowyer, G. Gren'ell, C. Scholefield, W. Brady, J. Greville, Col, F. Smith, M. Brown, W. Gurdon, B. Smith, A.B. Bury, Lord Gurney, S. Somers, J. Butler, C. Hackblock, W. Somerville, Sir W. Buxton, C. Hadfield, G. Stapleton, J. Buxton, Sir E.N. Banbury, Robert Stuart, Lord J. Byng, G. Harkey, T. Sullivan, Michael i Cal att, M. Hanmer, Sir J. Thompson, Gen. Clay, James Barns, J. Thornely, T. Cogan, W. H. F. Headlam, T. Thornhill, W. Colehroke, Sir T. Holland, E. Tite, W. Jollier, R. P. Hutt, W. Tollemache, Fred. Colville, C. R. Jackson, W. Tottenham, C. Coningham, W. Kershaw, J. Townsend, J. Cotterell, Sir H. Kinglake, A. Trelawney, Sir J. Cowan, C. Kinglake, J. Turner, J. A. Cox, William Kinnaird, A. Vivian, H. H. Craufurd, E. H.J. Knatchbull-Hugessen Waldron, L. Crawford, R. Lang ton, H. G. Watkins, Col. Crook, J. Levinge, Sir R. Whatman, J. Crossley, F. Macarthy, A, Whitbread, S. Davey, R. M'Cann, J. Wickham, H. W. Davie, Sir H. R. F. MacEvoy, E. Willcox, B. De Veils, S. M'Cullagh, W, Willyams, E. Devereux, J. T. Maguire, J. Winnington, Sir T. Dillwyn, L. Martin, P. Woods, El Dodson, J. Matheson, A. Wyvlli, M. Duke, Sir J. Weigand, Viscount Dunbar, Sir W. Mostyn, T. TILL. Duncombe, T. Napier, Sir C. Dundas, F. Neate, C. King, L. Dunlop, A. Nicol, D. Cobbett, J. M. NOES-204. Adair, 11. Foljambe, W. Morris, D. Adderiey, C. Forde, Colonel Mowbray, J. R. Adoane, Henry Foster, W. Naas, Lord Akroyd, E. Fortescue, C. Newdegate, C. Annesley, Captain Freestun, Col. Nisbet, Robert; Bailey, C. Gallwey, Sir W. Packe. C. Baines, Rt. Hon. N. Galway, Viscount. Pakenham, Colonel Baring, T. Gard, R. Palmer, Robert Bernard, T. Garnett, W. Palmerston, Viset. Bernard, W. Gaskell, J. Patten, Col. W. Barrow, W. Gifford, Earl of Paull, H. Bathurst, A. Gilpin, Colonel Pennant, Col. E. Beach, W. Glyn, G. Pevensey, Viscount Beecroft, G. Goddard, A. Portman, W. Greenwood. '. J. Powell, F. B Blackbur n ,ethell, Gregory, Power, N. Blakemore, T. Gregson, S. Pryse,E. Booth, Sir Rt. Gore Gray, Captain Pritchard, J. Botfleid,B. Grey, Sir G. Puller, C. Souverie, Hon. E. P. Grey, R. Ramsay, Sir A. Bovill, W. Griffith, C. Raynham, Viscount Bramston, T. W. Grogan, Edward Repton, G. Brand, H.' Hall. Gen. J. Robertson, P. Bridges, Sir B. Harcourt, G. Mahout, G. Briscoe, John Hardy, ft. Sclater, G. Buckley, Gen. Hassard, A. Seymer, H. Buller, sir J. Hatch,ll, J. Shirley, E. Buller, J. W. Hay, Lord J. Slaney, It. Bunbury, Capt. W. Hayes, Sir E. Smith, R. Burke, Sir T. Herbert, P. Smollett, A. Calcraft, J. IL Holford, R. Spooner, R. Carnac, Sir J. Hope, A. Stafford, A. Castlerosse, Viscount Hopwood, John Stanley, Lord Cecil, Lord R. Jervoise, Sir J. Steel, J. Charlesworth, J. Johnstone, EL B. Stirling, William Christie, Samuel Johnstone, J. Hope Steuart, Andrew Clifford, C. C. Johnstone, Sir J. Taylor, S. Close M. Jones, D. Tempest, Lord Cobbold, J. C. Kendall, N. Thesller, Sir F. Cole, H. A. Ker, R. Tollemache, J. Collins, T. Kerrison, Sir E. Trefusis, C. Cowper, W. P. King, J. Trollope, Sir J. Coote, Sir fl. U. King, E. Traman, C. Corry, H. T. L. Knatchbull, W'. Vansittart, G. Cross, R. Langton, W. Vansittart, W. Cubitt, W. L.turie, J. Verner, Sir W. Bering, Sir E. Legh, G. C. Verney, Sir H. Divest, E. Lennox, Los d N. Vivian, J. C. Drummond, H. Lewis, Sir G. C. Waddington, H. Du Cane, C. Lovaine, Lord Walpole, S. Duncombejlon. A. Lowe, R. Walter, J. Duncombe, Hon.W. Lowther, Ccl. Warburton, G. Dundas, G. Luce, T. Warre, J. Du Pre,C. Macaulay, K. Westhead, J. Dutton,R. Mackie, J. White, H. East, Sir J. Mainwaring, T. Whiteside, J. Egerton, W. Matins, R. Whitmore, H. Egerton, E. Manners, Lord J. Wigram, Loftus T. Eicho, Lord March, Earl of Williams, M. El phinstone, Sir J. Massey, W. Willoughby, 3, Ennis, John Maxwell, Col. Wise, J. Esmond e, J. Miles, W. Wood, Sir C. Estcourt, T. Miller, T. Woodd, B. Farnham, E. Mills, Arthur Wrightson, W. Farquhar, Sir W. Mills, T. Wyndham, W. Finlay, A. Moncreiff, J. Yorke, E. Fitzgerald, W. R. S. Monsell, W. TELLEIS. Fitzgerald, J. Moody, C. Hayter, W. Foley, H. Morgan, 0. Mulgrave, Earl of IRISH AND SCOTCH BANKS. The returns of circulation of the Irish and Scotch banks for the four weeks ending the 9th of May, - 1857, when added together, give the following as the average weekly circulation of tbese banks during the past month, viz. : Average circulation of the Irish banks 27,115,184 Average circulation of the Scotch banks 3,932,834 Average circulation during past month _211,088,018 On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the several banks, as given in the Banking Almanac, the following appears to be the state of the circulation : - - The Irish banks are above their fixed issue £860,690 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue 815,625 Total above the fixed issue £1,646,315 The amounts of gold and silver held at the head offices of the several banks during the past month have been as follows : Gold and silver held by the Irish banks £2,497,140 Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks.., 1,583,707 Total of gold and silver held £1,085,847 The above statements complete the returns of the cir culation in England, Scotland, and Ireland for the month ending the 9th of May. These returns, combined with the average circulation of the Bank of England for the same period, will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous month : Mai' 9 ' Increase. Decrease. -- Ap i r s i s l 7 l . l, 1857. --- — A £ £ £ Bank of England .. •. 19,232,765 19,660,305 427,540 Private Banks Joint-stock Banks .41 .... .......... Total in England Ireland Scotland .13:915352,L8344 7 :2 2 0 4 6 9 __— 'United Kingdom ..•• 37,133,489 37,752,140 618,551 , -- Showing an increase of 517,396/. in the circu lation of notes in England, and an increase of 618,5511. in the circulation of the United Kingdom, when compared with the month ending the 11th of April ; aid, as compared with the month ending the 10th of May, 1856, the above returns show a decrease of 441,148/. in the circulation of notes in England, and an increase of 195,961/. in the circulation of the United Kingdom. The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 9th of May was 9,631,985/., being a decrease of 47,562/. as compared with the previous month ; and a decrease of 164,096/. when compared with the same period last year. The stock of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the 9th of May, was 4,085,8471., being an increase of 7,589/. as compared with the previous return, and an increase of 304,023/. when compared with the corresponding period last year. The Albion and the Wycliffe have arrived from Aus tralia, tut they are not believed to have brought any gold. SALE OF BEER BILL. Order for Second Reading read ; Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the bill be now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now." and at the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months :—Question put, "That the word ' now' stand part of the Question." The house divided—Ayes, 180 ; Noes, 213. AYES-180. Aeair, H. Finlay, A. Montgomery, Sir G. Adams, W. H. Fitzwilliam, C. Moody, C. A.lderley, C. B. Foljambe, Franck Morgan, 0. Adeane, H. Porde, Colonel Naas, Lord Akroyd, E. Gallwey, Sir W. Newdegate, C. Althorp, Lord Galway, Viscount Packs, C. Bailey, C. Gard, R. Pakenham, Colonel Baines, Rt. Hon. M. Garnett, William Palk, L. Ball, E. Gilpin, Col. H. Patten, Col. Bernard, T. Gilpin, C. Paull, Henry Bernard, W. Gin, C. Pease, Henry Barrow, W. °Meech, Viscount Pennant, Cot. E. Baxter, W. Greenwood, John Pevensey, Viscount Beecroft, O. Grenfell, Charles Portman, W. Bennet, Capt. P. Griffiths, C. Powell, Francis Beresford, Bt. Hn. W. Grogan, Edward Raynham, Viscount Biggs, John • Grosvenor, Ld. R. Repton, G. Black, Adam Garden, Brampton Ridley, George Bovill, W. Backblock, William Robartes, T. Bramston, T. W Iladdo. Lord Robertson, P. Bridges, Sir B. Hadfield, George Bolt, P. Brocklehurat , 3- Hamilton, Lord Claud Rushout, Capt. G. Brown, J. Banbury, Robert Sandon, Viscount Bruen, 11. Hanmer, Sir John Shirley, E. Buller, Sir J. Harris,Sibthorp, Major Burghley, Lard Reward, Mi c h a el . Smollett, A. Bury, Viscount Hayes, Sir E. Spooner, R. Butler, C. S. Hildyard, R. C. Stafford, A. Byng, G. H• C • Hodgson, W. Steuart, A. Carden, Sir B. W. Belford, R. Stewart, Sir M. Carnac, Sir J. R. ll° P w ood, John Taylor, Colonel Cavendish, G. C. Boreal!, T. Taylor, S. Charles worth,J. C.D. Hudson, G. Thesiger, Sir. F. Cliolsneley, sir M. Ingham, R . Tite, W. Christy, Samsel Johnstone, H. B. Tollemache J. Clay, James Johnstone, Sir J. Trefusis, C. Close, M. Jones, D. Trollope, Sir J. Cobbold, J. C. Kendall, N. Vansittart, G. Cole, H. A. K e r ria o P, Sir E. Vansittart, W. Collins, T. Kershaw, J. Verner, Sir W. Cooper, E. J. ~. King, 3. 'Verney, Sir H. Cotterell, Sir 1, kit • King, Edward Waddington, H. Cowan, C. Kirk, W. Walcott, Admiral. Crook, J. Knatchbull, W. Warldron, Laurence Cross, It. A. Knightley, R. Walpole, S. Crossley, F. Langton, W. G. Warre, John Davison, R. Langton, H. G. Westhead, Joshua Du Cane, C. Laurie, John Whiteside, J. Duncombe, A. Legh, G. C. Whitmore. H. Duncombe, lIon.W E. Lovaine, Lord Wickham, H. Dundas, G. Lowther, Col. IL C. Wigram, Loftus T. Du Pre, C. Luce, T. Willoughby, Sir H. East, Sir J. M acartney, George Willson, A. Ebrington, Viscount Macaulay, Kenneth Winnington, Sir T. Egerton, Sir P. Maguire, J. F. Woodd, B. Egerton, W. Mainwaring, T. Woods, Henry Egerton, Edw.o Malin!, Richard Wrightson, W. Elton, Sir A. 11. Manners, Lord J. Wynn, Col. Ewart, J. Maxwell, J. T ELLER S. Farnham, E. Miller, Stearne Hardy, G. Fenwick, 11. Mills, Arthur Headla.m, T. NOES-213. Alcock, T. Fitzgerald, J. Palmer, R. Anderson, Sir J. Foley, J. H. Paxton, Sir J Atherton, W. Foley, H. W. Pechell, Sir G. Ayrton, A. Foster, W. 0. Perry, Sir E. Bagwell, John Fortescue, Hon. F. Philips, R. Baring, Sir F. Gaskell, J. Plikington, J. Barnard, Thomas Glyn, G. Power, N. Bass, M. Goddard, A. Price, W. Bathurst. A. A. Grace, 0. Pryse, E. Beach, W. Greaves, E. Pritchard, J. Beale, S. Greene, John Puller, Christopher Beamish, F. Gregory, W. Ramsay, Sir A. Beaumont, W. Gregson, Samuel Ricardo, J. Berkeley, Hon. H. F. Grenfell, C. P. Rich, 11. Blackburn, Peter Gray, Captain Roupell, W. Bland, L. H. Grey, Rt. Hon. Sir 0 . Russell, Lord J. Booth, Sir Rt. Gore Grey, R. Russell, Sir W. Bouverie, Lion. E. P. Hall, Sir Benjamin Scholefield, W. Bowyer. G. Handley, H. Sclater, George .Brady, J. Hankey, T. Shafto, R. Brand, Hon. H. Harcourt, G. G. Shelley, Sir J. Buchanan, Walter Hastie, Archd Sheridan, H. B. Buckley, Gen. Slaney, J. Butler, J. W.Smith, J. A. Burke, Sir T. Castlerosse, Via. Smith, J. B. Buxton, C. Smith, V. Somers, J. P.' Caird, J. Smith, A. Calcraft, J. Smith, Sir F. Calcatt, M. Somerville, Sir W. Clifford, C.C. Howard. C. EHHIH gay, n H ioooe e ar slnpay t l c eeram h ,dieni e .ryad nsl Lordi W. Smith, Johno. n Alexander Stanley, Lord Clifford, Lt: Col, H. M. Hutt, VP. Stapleton, John Clive, George Jackson, W. Steel, John Cobbett, J. M. Jermyn, Rt. Hn. Earl Stirling. W. Cogan, W. H. F. Jervoise, Sir J. Stuart Lord Colbrooke, Sir E. Johnstone, Hope Stuart, Colonel Collier, R. p. Ker, Richard Sullivan. Michael Colvile, C. B. King, L. Tempest, Lord A. V. Cowper, W. Kinglake, A. Thompson, General Coote, Sir C. H. Kiuglake, J. Thornely, T. Conyngham, W. llnatchbull-HUgUeseen Thonthill, W. Copeland, Alderman Lennox.. Lord H. G. Tollemache, F. Corbally, M: E. Levinge, Sir R. Tottenham, C. .Cox, W. Liddell, H. T. Townshend, J. Craufurd, E. H. J. Lowe, R. Trail, G. Crawford, R. W. Lygon, Hon.F. Trelawney , S ir John Cuhitt. W Macarthy, Alex. Truman, K. Dalglish, R. M'Cann, J. Tynte, Col. K. Davey, R. MacEvoy, E. Vane, Lord 11. Davie, Sir H. R. F. Mackie, J. Villiers, C. Dering, Sir E. Mackinnon, W. Vivian, J. C. De Vere, S. E. Marsh, M. Vivian, H. H. Devereux, J. Martin, C. Walter, J. Dillwyn, L. L. Martin, P. Warburton, Major Divett, E. Massey, W. Watkin, Edward Dodson, J. Matheson, A. Watkins, Col. Drummond, H. Melgund. Lord Wegmelin, T. Duff, G. Mills, T. Whatman, J. Dunbar, Sir W. Monsell, W. Whitbread, S. Dune-minx, Thomas Morris, D. Willcox, B. Dundas, F, Mostyn, E. Williams, M. Dunlop, A. Mowbray, J. R. Williams, W. Hatton, Hon. R. H. Mulgrave. Earl of Willyams, E. Ellice, E. Napier, Sir C. Wise, A. Ellice, E. Beate, Charles Wood, Sir C. Elphinstone, Sir 3. Newark, Viscount Wood, W. Ennis, John Nicoll, D. Wyndham, W. Estcoart, T. Nisbet, R. P. Wyvill, M. Evans, T. W. Norreys, Sir D. Yorke, F.. Ewart, W. O'B r i em , P. TELLEIB. Farquhar, Sir M. O'Donoghoe. The Seymer, H. Fergus, John Ogilvy, Sir J. Brown, W. MUNIFICENT TESTIMONIAL BY THE LIVERPOOL SHIP. OWNERS.—On Tuesda♦ the munificient gift of 1,0001. was presented to Mr. J. T. Towson, scientific examiner and secretary to the local marine board, in considera tion of his valuable services in the development of the principle of the great chicle sailing, by which the Aus tralian voyages in particular have been so considerably shortened in time, in the Underwriters' Room, the chair being occupied by James Aitkin, Esq. Several felici tous speeches were made on the occasion. THE FIRE AT MESSRS. PICKFORD'S WAREHOUSE. No individual who was hot an eye-witness to the dreadful calamity which befel the spacious est iblish ment of Mess: s. Baxendale and Co., or, as they are popularly known, of Pickford and Co.. at the Camden Station of the London and Not th Western Railway, on Tuesday night, can form the slightest conception of the extraordinary scenes which that sad catastrophe presented. Whether reference be made to the destruction of the old Houses of Parliament, to that of the Royal Exchange, the fire at the Tower of London, or the more recent demolition of Covent-garden Theatre, divesting them of their national character, there has been no fire in the metropolis which, for its intensity, illuminating power, or destruction of valuable property, has exceeded that atthe Camden Station of the North-Western Railway on Tuesday night and yesterday morning. The premises known as the receiving warehouses of Messrs. Pickford and Co., the great railway car riers were at the northern entrance of the goods de pot of the London and North-Western Railway at Camden-town, and occupied an area of five acres. The building consisted of a series of open sheds, the roofs being of slate and glass, supported by im mense wooden beams and brest4ummers resting upon stout iron columns, and filled with cranes, platforms, and other conveniences necessary for the loading and unloading of heavy goods, such as are well known from their conveyance to and fro the streets of the metropolis to the various railways. Messrs. Pickford's premises, although connected with, were not actually (like Messrs. Chaplin and Horne's and some others of the railway carriers) within the gates of the London and North-Western Railway. They were bounded on the north by the Regent's Canal, the railway trucks being run into the sheds by means of the iron double suspension bridge, which crosses the canal in continuation of the railway between the Euston and Camden sta tions at this point ; on the south by Messrs. Col lard's pianoforte manufactory ; on the east by the Oval-road and James-street ; and on the west by the line of the London and North-Western Railway. At the corner of James-street, immediately facing the principal entrance, stands the Stanhope Armß, an enormous public-house, originally built for an hotel, under the impression that the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway was to be there. The opposite corner is occupied by Mr. Brown, a coffee and eatinghouse-keeper, both of which narrowly escaped destruction. Beneath the building was stabling affording accommodation for about 400 horses, and it is stated that at the out break of the fire there were 350 to 360 horses in their respective stalls, besides 40 or 50 and other live stock. The fire broke out about 20 minutes past ten o'clock, at which time the whole of the collection of goods from the metropolis were in the building, either on the vans in which they bad arrived or in course of removal in the railway trucks for trans mission to their various destinations, via the Lon don and North-Western line. Tho gas was burn ing brilliantly in every part of the immense area, while the numerous clerks and other officials were busily engaged in their respective offices preparing the invoices, and in other necessary occupations for the transit of the merchandise. On a sudden a more than ordinary blaze of light was discovered in the northern portion of the building, in that part known as the hay and corn stores, where the fod der for the horses was kept ; a dense and suffocat ing smoke immediately succeeded, and a cry rang through the building that the premises were on fire. In a few minutes the flames shot up through the roof, and the whole neighbourhood became enveloped in a dense cloud of smoke. It appears that Mr. C. Weightman, upholsterer, of High- street, Camden-town, who, it is stated, had just ; 1 consigned a large quantity of goods to the care of Messrs. Pickford and Co., for transmission into the country, was on the premises at the moment of the outbreak, and not only suggested the removal of the horses, but with Mr. Brown, the keeper of the coffeehouse before mentioned, and Mr. Alfred Timpson, butcher, of Park-street, at the risk of their lives, with several of the carmen, rushed into the stables beneath, let loose the horses, and turned them out. By this time the flames had spread with extraordinary rapidity, shooting up into the air to an enormous height. Thousands of people were assembled from all quarters. The terrified horses rushing out in droves in every direction at their utmost speed, to the imminent peril of those who were not fortunate enough to get out of their way, the shouts of the people, the now furious raging of the fire, the cracking of the ignited tim ber, and the continuous explosion of combustibles within the building, all contributed to produce an effect which may better be imagined than described. The first engine that arrived was that of the parish of St. Pancras; but for some time the water did not flow in as plentiful a manner as ought to have been expected. The engine from the Regent's. park Barracks next followed, and the old London an I Birmingham Railway engine, by Mereweather, said to be capable of throwing three tons of water per minute, was brought up the line but either from the alleged dryness of the suction-pipes, or some other inexplicable cause, although the canal was used for the purpose, some considerable time elapsed before it could be got to work, when the fire had attained so much ascendancy that its ser vices appeared almost unavailing. About 10 minutes before 11 the brigade engines began to arrive in rapid succession, but by this time the entire body of the building, five acres in extent, was one mass of flames, the great gates were already gone, and in the centre could be seen waggon after waggon and truck-load upon truck-load of goods dropping down with a loud crash as the fire gained the mas tery over them. The wind was at the time blowing in a south-westerly direction, the flames completely overlapping the Stanhope Arms and premises ad joining, notwithstanding the praiseworthy efforts of a Life Guardsman and some others, who in spite of the extraordinary heat continually threw buckets of water from the roof on to the front. The flag staff on the summit of the building had already ignited and was blazing upwards when the brigade poured immense streams on the front of the build ing, which had become so hot that the water actu ally hissed, and the wall gave out copious clouds of steam as it dashed against it. In the interior of the burning warehouses beam upon beam and roofafter roof came crashing down, and explosion after explosion added to the scene of devastation, which was not a little heightened when, at about half-past 11, the roofs of the stabling, upon which the solid paving of the sheds was laid, and which wet e all supported upon arches to the extent of about two acres, gave way, carrying with them the whole of the burning mas, beneath. Shortly after the great northern wall fell in with a tremen dous crash upon two large barges laden with corn, which were lying in the cut of the Regent's Canal immediately beneath. Shortly after the outbreak of the fire Captain Harris, the newly-appo4 ed assistant police com missioner, with Superintendents Loxton and Mar tin, Inspectors M'Donald, Fidge, Coeckley, and strong bodies of the S, E, and D divisions of police, arrived and kept hack the populace, which choked up every avenue leading to tie railway and scene of fire ; while within the gates of the Camden Station Mr. Stewart, the Secretary of the London and North-Western Company, Mr, David Stephenson, superintendent of the goods department, aided by Mr. Superintendent Bedford, and a strong body of the railway police, wore active in giving directions and in rendering any aid that might be required in that direction. The scene of devastation presented yesterday was truly appalling. Heavy iron columns, exceeding in some instances 18 inches in diameter, were seen here and there standing amid the fallen debris, twisted and bent by the action of the fire, the slighter pieces of iron in the building converted into all sorts of fantastic shapes. In the north-western corner' were the clerks'-office and counting-house, and in the corner of an upper story was the safe, said to have oontained many valuable books and p a pers, and several hundred pounds in money. While the four aides of this safe stand entire, rest ing upon some projecting brickwork on two sides of the angle of the wall, the bottom of the safe is completely burnt out, and therefore, if there was any hard cash within it will be found in a fused state at the bottom of the building. When the horses were turned out they were driven mostly along the Hampstead and Kentish town roads in the direction of Highgate and Hamp stead-hea h, and this was nearly fatal to Mr. In spector Fidge, of the S division. He had seen the fire and was riding rapidly down Highgate-hill, when he was suddenly met by a drove of the af frighted horses galloping up the hill at the top of their speed. In au instant he was in the midst of them horse and rider being nearly overthrown. Beyond being terribly shaken, however, and covered from head to foot with mud, he sustained no injury. The whole of the horses were happily saved, with one exception, and that was a remarkably fine, though savagebrute, known as "the Manhater," arid which could only be managed by the man who drove him, but who was not present. The poor brute was therefore left to perish, and yesterday after the fire was subdued his remains were found burnt to a cinder. There are various rumours as to the origin of the fire, but none of a positive character. By some it is alleged that the fire was caused by the sparks of the chimney of one of the barges igniting some hay or straw in the gallery ; by others that it was from one of the men's pipes, or a lucifer match. Certain, however, it is that the premises, with all they con tain, are destroyed, and the estimated loss alto gether is little short of 250,000/, It is stated that at least 40,000 quarters of corn were in the bu'ld iig, the whole of which has been burnt. Yesterday morning the railway authorities, with a promptness which reflects great credit upon them, placed at the disposal of Messrs. Baxeudale and Co, a large . space on the opposite side of the canal and between the canal and Chaplin and Horne's ware houses. Wo•kmen were immediately emi loyel in erecting temporary premises, and in the course of the day the following placard was posted on the walls of the destroyed building and on the gates of the railway " Pickford and Co., as agents to the Londonand North-Western Railway Company, have arranged for conducting their business as usual since the lamentable fire at Camden-town last night. -- Gresham-street, June 10, 1857." • Thousands of people visited the spot during the day. It is stated that neither the premises nor goads were insured, it being unusual for insurance offices to insure goods in transit. Naval and Military Intelligence. Th• Royal yacht, Captain the Hon. Joseph Den man, was yesterday swung, off Hardway, to ascer tain the deviation of her compass. She is expected to sail on Saturday on a trial cruise, and will touch at Cherbourg, the Channel Islands, and thence to Cork. The Royal Sovereign, 131, screw, was placed in the steam basin dock at Portsmouth yesterday, where she will copper and complete as a first-class steam reserve ship. The Princess Charlotte, 104, Captain George St. Vincent King, did not haul off from Portsmouth jetty yesterday, owing to the continued inclemency of the weather, as up to 2 o'clock it raine 1 a per fect deluge from the south-west. Should the weather abate she will haul off to her berthing hulk, Bellerophon, to-day ; and the Niagara, United States frigate, Captain Hudson, will come alongside, when the dockyard artisans will com mence her alterations necessary for the reception of the submarine cable. The supports and trusses have been prepared ashore. The Cumberland has not half her complement, the Princess Charlotte is 100 short, and the Mel ville still more. The M4lacca, sloop of war, Captain Arthur Far quhar, has landed nearly all her stores, at Sheer ness, and will pay off all standing sooner than was anticipated, _ _ The - Urgent, 6, iron screw troop frigate, has nearly got out Ihe whole of her engines and 13, , ilers alongside the steam-basin jetty. Her chief engineer, Mr. J. T. Williams, is appointed to superintend their removal, and the introduction of the new ones of 400 horse-power, by Maudslay and Co. She will be under the engineering department about two months. The Australian, iron screw merchant troop-ship has hauled alongside the Dryad hulk, at Poits mouth, and awaits orders. The United States screw frigate Niagara, Capt. Hudson, has entered a great number of English blue jackets on board. This is consequent upon the Admiralty order that none but continuous service men are to be entered on board her Ma jesty's ships of war. So we get the very sweepings of Rothernithe, while the Americans run away with our best seamen. Yesterday there arrived at Aldershot from Gib raltar, via Portsmouth, the 96th Regiment, con sisting of 19 officers and 724 men, under the cam mend of Col. Scovell, and two squadrons of the Ist (King's) Dragoon Guards from Exeter. The re mainder of the regiment is to follow immediately. A few days ago the French Crimean gold war medal waspresented at Lynn, Norfolk, to Sergeant L. Gooding, late of the 46th Regiment, by Captain M'Nair, staff officer of the district. In handing the decoration to Sergeant Gooding Capt. M‘Nair said: —" I am directed by his Royal Highness the Ge neral Commanding-in• Chief in this public manner to present this French war medal to you. When you show it to your family, friends, and neigbb)urs which you may well do with proper and laudable pride, tell them it was conferred upon you by the Emperor of the French for valour and noble daring in the field, distinguishable even from among the valiant, for patient endurance under great hardships, and for your invariable humble respect and strict obedience to your superiors; emi nent qualities which have made you what you are —a thoroughly good soldier. May you long live to wear it !" The gallant captain's speech was received with great applause, and Sergeant Gooding received the congratulations of. his comrades on the deserved reward of his valour. Yesterday a district court-martial, of which Lieut.-Col. R. J. M'Killop, Royal Marine Light Infantry, was the president, assembled at Chatham Barracks for the trial of Colour-Sergeant James Johnstone, of the depot of the 43d Light Infantry, on the charge of having forged the name of Ser geant Chas. Holdship, one of the pay-sergeants of the corps, and thereby obtained possession of the sum of 1/.155., being a month's pay. The finding of the Court will not be known until it has been sub mitted for approval to the Duke of Cambridge. The prisoner, who has been several years in the service, has always borne an excellent character. Yesterday the c avalry an d infantry t coops stationed at the invalid depot, Chatham, were assembled on the parade ground, under the command of Col. H. Anderson, and, having been inspected, the names of 30 non-commissioned officers and men for whose immediate discharge from the service an order had been received from the War-office were announced by Adjutant J. Pope, and each man informed of the amount of pension which had been awarded him. The troops under orders to be discharged will leave Chatham this day. The steam troopship Dee, Master-Commander Pullen, laden with machinery and boilers, and carrying 62 supernumerary seamen of the fleet for the western yar3s, was hauled out of basin at Woolwich yesterday, and proceeded on her voyage Portsmouth. Her Majesty's 13-gun screw-ship Archer, 202- horse power, Captain E. Heathcote, late from the North America and West India stations, was yes terday dismantled at Woolwich in preparation for being paid off to-day, Commodore Shepherd, on his inspection of the vessel, expressing himself highly satisfied with the arrangements of the ship, as well as the discipline and neat appearance of the crew. The only loss experienced on board the Archer during her nine months' stay at Greytown was that of two boys, the vessel being, moreover, in an exceedingly healthy condition during the whole time she was in the West India station. She was employed for two, years in the Baltic, where she was fortunate in capturing a number of prizes. Capt. Heatbcote, having served his full time afloat, now retires on half pay to await his flag. One of the hopper barges built by Messrs. West wood, Baillie, Campbell, and Co., for the puspose of dredging the Danube, was yesterday tested at Woolwich, and answered satisfactorily. A new connecting shaft and cranks, weighing about 10 tons, have been i prepared at thefactory, Woolwich, for her Maje tys paddlewheel sloop Basilisk, Com mander G. A. Phayn.e., in the West Indies. The Hudson's Bay Company's ship Prince of Wales went down to the Woolwich Arsenal yester- day to ship ammunition for Hudson's Bay. The half-yearly inspection of the Royal Marines corps is ordered to take place on Tuesday, the 16th inst., at Woolwich. Major-Gen. Sir W. F. Williams senior officer commanding the garrison, will inspect the troops, and will afterwards be entertained at the mess dinner of the corps. The steam store ship Diligence, Master Corn. Croke, sailed from Woolwich yesterday, l a d en w ith victualling stores from Deptford, and dockyard gear and machinery from Woolwich. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty : W. Forbe4, master, to the Fisgard; W. H. Obree, master, to the Fisgard; R. P. Dick, midshipman, to the Indus, for. disposal ; A. B. C. Booth, mid shipman, to t►he Cornwallis ; N. G. Simmonds, as sistant-paymaster, to the Hogue ; W. P. Taylor, clerk, to the Hogue. EXTENSION OFKEYHAM STEAM YARD.—We un derstand the Government have purchased. or are in treaty with the Duchy of Cornwall and the trus tees of the Manor of Stoke Damerel, for a portion of the land forming the water boundary from Key ham to Weston Mill Lake (in the whole about 100 acres), for the extension of the works at Keyham. Extract of a private letter from an officer of the squadron in China, dated Canton River, April 11 : —"No operations have yet taken place, the admi ral's intentions being kept perfectly - quiet, although report speaks of our bombarding Canton, and then making a move towards Pekin. We are all ready —guns loaded and trained, armed watch, and guard: boats every night ; in fact, night and day the squad ron are under arms. Inflexible is in the Blenheim Road, about 12 miles from Canton ; Encounter, Comm, Elk, and Acorn, further up ; Hornet, Niger, SybillP, and Nankin below. Inflexibly) has relieved Barracouta, which proceeds to England direct. HER MAJESTY'S SHIP HAWKE.—A coiTespon &lit writes us from Kilrush, on the Shannon, to state that the Hawke, 60, screw, Capt. 'Willcox, passed here, for Tarbet, on the morning of the 2d inst., under steam alone, to the great delight of .a vast concourse of spectators assembled to witness so rare and beautiful a sight on that coast. It would be well (adds our correspondent) if our beau tiful river, whose spacious waters could afford ample space and good anchorage, had a few such vessels stationed in it.—Plymouth TILE IRISH CHIEF SECIIETARY.—On. Tuesday morn ing Mr. Herbert, the new Irish Chief Secretary, war re-elected for Kerry v,ithc , ut opposition. LAW INTELLIGBNCE.—Jung 10. COURT OF CHANCERY. (Before Vice-Chancellor Kindersley.) INNES V. MITCHELL.. This was a demurrer to a bill filed by John and Richard Inn es against Alex. Mitchell, Win. Mi t " ad!, otherwise W i lli am Mit c h e ll Innes, Joe n Thompson, and Jane Coningham. The bill (the statements of which fur the purposes of a demurre r are, according to the well understood rule, to he taken as true) stated the following facts :—M in/ Jane Innes, daughter of George Innes, the cashier of the Royal Bank of Scotland, by a testamenta r r bust disposition dated March 7, 1832, gave .all her rellty and personalty to Lieut.-Colonel George Scott, John Thompson, and a third trustee wh o predeceased her, and their heirs and successors, upon trust for her nearest heirs, the testatrix re serving to herself a power of revocation. She died ou the 2d December, 1839, without having re voked or altered the above writing, which was dull recorded in Scotland and proved in the Prerogative Court of tie Archbishop of Canterbury. The effect of Ow tes amentary writing above set out was t° vest the testatrix's property, which was of the valu e of above a Million s'erling, in the persons who Wer e her heirs and next of kin (according as that propertY was real or personal estate) at the time of her de - - cease. The bill set out a statement of a pedigre e ; showing that the above characters were sustained by the plaintiffs in this suit. Nevertheless ( as ill bill alleged) Alexander Mitchell wa s se cond heir ° the deceased, and he and the defendant, W. 3 " Lines, entered as heir and next of kin into the " ,v e. ceipt of the realty and personalty of deceased. of bill then alleged that soon after this the sum ° 10,000/. wag paid to the defendant Thompson, th e , sum of 5,0001. to Col. Scott, and the further suns 0 ' 5,0001. to members of Col. Scott's family. These par_ ments were said to have been as a recompense f°l the trouble and expense to which the trustees / 111 . u„ been put in connexion with their trust, but the bis charged that the consideration for the paymen, 4 was the facility with which th e t ru st e es had allow c `a the defendants, Mitchell and Innes, to enter int ° the receipt of the testatrix's property. It was fur ther stated that Colonel Scott died in 1846, leav ing the defendant, J. ,Coningham, his executriita The blil then charged the defendants, Innes a Mitchell, with fraud in connexion with the e vi c i deuce upon which the first defendant was ser ve heir, and alleged that they had tampered with reL gist ars, and taken measures for putting domineer; out of the way which would be prejudicial to th lo title. The bill prayed in effect that the might be declared entitled to the estate of Xl* Innes, and that the different defendants might acs count for what they or those whom they represent° had received! The Attorney-General and Mr. Hobhouse vie d in support of the demurrer ; Mr. Anderson an Mr. Miller were on the other aide. 4- re' The Vice-Chancellor, in giving judgment , marked that this was a demurrer for want of eclu i ' to support which it must be shown that if th(",nshe came to a hearing, and that the facts stated in th e bill were without denial, even then no relief l ot be had. There was also a demurrer ore tenths o f multifariousness. But looking to the ohargen the gross fraud which were loade by the bill, anc l ue ir allegations which it made, mixing up both the: at law and the next of kin is that fraud, he wit"' be to the conclusion that the demurrers ought to allowed. - Country l9larkets. EDINBURG H HAY AND STRAW MARE-- VIT. JUNE 9. Supplies of all kinds these last six days again largt,oo Oat straw, from 8s On to lOs On per kemple of 6 °7 O Si tron; wheat do., 7s Od to 8s Od; barley do., 76 01. Od. Hay from is id to ls. 4d. EDIN MEAL—JuNE 9. There were in the BURGH market today 14 sacks oatmeal, '- weighing 2801 b imperial, which sold at 44s Od and --13. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET—Juss 8 . oof There were in the market to-da,y 12 bags of oatme xi s barleymeal, and 0 pot barley. Sales ready. Thi l.3. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Second. I n Od imperial Barleymeal, per ditto -s Oct —s Oct i — ' s 04 ---4 Peasemeal, per ditto Flour, new, per ditto.... —s Oct —s Oct ---5 03 Pot-barley, now, per ditto —s Od s Od 14' DUBLIN. JUNE 9. we° A good supply of formers' grain to-day. There of tendency to lower rates, but subsequently the Pr 1 "0 0 11 Friday were generally realised. Indian corn met _ sale, without alteration in price. White wheat, 35. 01 to 3ns 6d; red ditto, 328 6d 6d; ditto new, —8; barley, malting, 16s 6d to 25s 6d ; gnome ing, —s to —s ; oats, old, 13s 3d to 16s; ditto, new, Oct to —s 01 ; oatmeal, 158 to 17e Od; bere, new, ---e t 0 ige 0,1; rapese d, —s Od to —s Od per brl ; bakers' Boar , at 61 to 24s Oct per cwt ; Indian corn, 40s Oct to 414 6d r 480 lbs. COAL -MARK Prices of Coals per ton al CT.—JIINE 10. the close of the market. Wallseud, 40. 4, 6 6 Framwellgate .......... ... 15 _ flaswell .................... Plummer ................... Gambton . ............. • .•16 dough 11;11 ............... U. south lietton ... . ......... Cees ... .............. _ south ........... ...... 0 Cassop ............. . ........ t, 40; sold, 39. M ratter Morni ":'titans Poly ',bads II J.; o Of Pot .M. tic The L . -.___ ue - .ri4lect . the sc G the o ^- at El; as w e ances ~ s. d.' Haswell Gas l3 6 Howard's West Hartley _ Netherton - 16 3 Acorn Close l5 6 Wallsend, &o. Biaddyll l6 0 Riddell l4 3 Whitworth l5 6 Squborwen Merthyr 19 E) Ships at markel LOCAL SHARE MARKETS' LIVERPOOL, JurrE 10. STOOIC EXCHANGE.—The market is quiet to-d4,,Y' pot prices are a shade lower. Eastern Counties, 1 14- 4 Lancashire, 964—London and North Western, iv.,7 1 78." —Caledonian, 364 Lancashire. end 'Yorkshire, PTera Ditto, new 9/., iss. at 1 dis., p. is. 3d.--Northtrtora• Berwick, 224—Ditto, York Capital Stock, 34i - 7,,,,,tern' Worcester, and Wolverhampton, 151—South Prir 224 i—Grand Trunks, 15.8.9.—Dutch Rhenish, Sheffields, 43i 4 31. _ , MANCH ESTER,. JUNE 10. to ,(10 6 STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was unchanged f0 ,j(3 0 . except a further advance of a half percent. on S h ,;T o stoll Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 41--:Great . e of Canadn, 23$—Midlands. —But Lancaeb l ,, r ,,'o o —Ditto, new, dis.—South Eastern and Dovers , —Grand Trunk of Canada, 16—Eastern Counties , o , ct: London and North-Western, 1031—Ditt o Eighths, f$ /-1 11 Leeds, 1001 s—Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee , —Great Northern A, 11. BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 10. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was a sat market, dull business, and rather easier rates. Great T 1: 9 1 ' Birmingham Guaranteed Stock, 73—South Stafforlapg 3s. 9d.—Birmingham Canals, UN—Birmingham 13 ` . Co., 311. [ADVERTISEMENT. J—The following extraordinary o to" out medicine of indigestion (Dyspepsia), Flatulency , patiou, Nervous, Bilious, an d Li ver C omp l a i n ts, ~,' 1 ar ty Asthma, Consumption, and D e bilit y, e ff ec t e d by 1 )11 't delicioushealth-restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, are o ,;.gtle' least remarkable:—From the Dowager Countess 01'1,01, stuart.— Cure 52,612. R oss t revor, C oun t y o f Down, ire t ' ear i 9th December, 1851.—The Dowager Countess of Castlesoto feels induced, in the interest of suffering humanity, t cP o rei that Du Barry's excellent Revalenta Arabic t Food 1 10 ,tea t her, after all medicines had failed, of indigestion, _bile, nervousness and irritability, of many years' standisgu',, co may Food deserves the confidence of all sufferers and may sl y sidered a real blessing. Inquiries will be cheer ;',„010 swercd. Cure No. 49,832. -"Fifty years' indese';:ste agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, c ° an d • tion, flatulency, spasms, sickness at the ' storaa el ojes, t ,. vomiting, have been removed by Du Barry's Food.—MARIA JOL, Wortham Ling, near Diss, e' L 7 tt , supported by testimonials from the celebrated Pro Chemistry, Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. P i c ria o , Dr. Campbell; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzer; I castl e Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess a 0 0 0 stuart; Major-Gen. Thomas King, and many other reeP„ o tbef persons, whose health has been restored by it, after we'speet,- means of cure bad failed. For further particulars f il gr/ ing this invaluable food our readers are referred toPu" advertisement in another part of this paper. BIRTHS. • OF A SON. JO' On the 10th inst., at 16, Ezeleston-square, the 11011. Fred,:ric Hobart. ;to Of 31' Ou the 10th inst., at 71, Eaton•square, the w ife J. Higgins, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. goo" On the 10th inst., at 14, Park-square, Mrs. Hansard. 1 the i '' On the 9th inst ,at 18, Binfield-road, Stocrig el ' , wife of Mr. Horatio Harris. MARRIED. • On the 9th inst., at All Souls', Langham-pla 7 ° , the o rn e o g r; Edward Spooner, son of . the Ven. 'Archdeacon PP to Octavio, daughter of Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart. s ailif' On the 9th inst., at St. J ames ' s Church, Pia 0, to Captain H. Byng, R.N., of late Hall, E9stbinh Mary, eldest daughte r o f the late Lieut.-Colone l Gu C. 8., of Belmont, Hants. D I E D. Y n o t :b: Rowley, 00tthh aged 62. 4, Tich fi eld-ter;ace, Regent'er S p i r t OO. well, Esq., by Chap John • On the 10th inst., Mary, Sitwell, R. —sq., youngest son of the late D. '... aged 58. itainsby House, near Der , . , s , . t 0 of Glocester-place, Portman-square, ag ed 92. Pay n e ' On the 7th inst , at Allin ton, Kent, Mr. John of the Rose Hotel, lionkwegll-street, Falcon-squoe' .- 63. • 0e i , relict of Joseph Neebb FM' On the 6th inst., at Newbury, the Rev. 13ibbert Pe.iti D.C.L./rector of Newbury, Berke, and roluistei 0 f I' o f. Chapel, Knightsbridge, aged 64. hter On the 4th Feb., Mary Elizabeth, eldest clang _ tir o, Henry Matson, Rig., of Builengourooke, near Me,luo Victoria, and formerly of Rochester Kent, aged 1. 1 . 0 00E 4 On the 3d inst., at Southwtdl, Notts, Wm. S. I , Esq., aged 63 —,Oll ( - )1115C; LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Cacao 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in tho o' ll4 1 of Middlesex, Thursday, Juno 11, 1657. M Aillb IRt ♦ent ♦cote ♦hie 1 Tic Nanl Gain, Ttu Past J CC' Prine EVE Cong nayd tent Mr. i r's begi❑ Will i COMI Dc alter Colo Fire' Reg( in at -___ t 6 a 1 etre( Shoo (rwr Vol for 1 in al Age, rrAtt per? date tan Ai nits, Man tiiii Wai dkc; by F Pric 20th of s ben in tl Von Ddn Jud the abo the Cr. P • Mr. J nIU %Rd PST chi to To ~. t 1 `2l ~ 1 - . f