The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-13 00:00:00

'SELECT 'The usual fortnightly meeting of ten o'clock yesterday. Rev. - ',chair. The other members present wt.. 'Woodruff, Chesney, Rawle, :B a i rs t ow, Bradley, Ow€ Mellor t Pairhurs, Lunt, Satch e l! , Whi tty, ` Blain, Bold, J. Jon ,':%V. Jones, Crawford, and Brancker. ;try wa Hector Campb, Messrs‘ Shaw THE TOWN ~_ Mr. Woodruff said, before the vestry the business of th e d ay, he be,- attention' for a' moment, to - portance to th em. last few days the Gove Paliament, the n obje c t o f Lainr, mustbe extent, with the t own d ues of Livers,,,.._ equally aware that, as the bill waS introdu, I , Y the government, it would require no ordinary effect, t get Rectoro objectionable a measure. He had consult the upon the subject, and they came to the c ielusion that the subject was one of such i tr Parish, as to justify the board in take eate til vv e • Matt "' They proposed, there with the mayor, and to call a r 1112")ard, for the purpose of d - - , r oPer to take in reference _nat whatever course they 4PPrOval of the corporation proceeded wi to call t _ - .cry (;ac they must be aware that within t ----went had - ,ch was nportar nrnuni I would meet rwould WORKHOI _ The proceedings of this cormnitte. .. 4PPeared the numbers - admitted during .Ntho y. that agrant sheds, were 204 males, 126 fen dre, in all 358. The number of sick le :2nd in all was 715, including 48 revel ..-tne total numbers in the : house on the 6' 69). state Mr. haw in moving the adoption of the d that in consequence of the gentlem appointed as visitors not Navin' t hat duty of late the committee duty among themselves I VIr. Mr. Jones . preached at the on 4 1 - . sli gg e sted'that";a. copy 'of the sermu op e n of the chapel be presented to !act' of the paupers, as he was satisfied that the greatest neuefit must result from a perusal of 'that admirable discourse. A copy had already by the kindness of the chaplain been presented to each gnardian. itr• Bradley seconded the motion. Feat W hitt said he bad read the - sermon with very pli Pleas ure,and he did not thtnk - there could be any tl e p e e t r i . on to presenting it at [least, to every protestant The su - Th., ,ggeStion was agreed to. ' owtesof the workhouse committee were then adopted 4 su ffi Mena len read. I agreed 10-divid P. , INDUsTRIAL SCIIIJOLS COMMITTEE, to n e e naltwes of this committee were read. They con trial a reso lution that tw o b oys, i nmates of the indus art Be4ol s, nam e d Thomas and.John7:Rice, be entered Prote s t ants. M to fi r ' ,Whitby opposed that resolution'which he con mere atXrrned a principle likely to lead to very per the (lalcensequences, to produce great irregularities in IN.n.teool and dissatisfaction among many of the corn- V o l! Y outside. It would be in the recollection of the 44 ( 1'1 tbat about six weeks ago these two boys, Thomas olk!,°,1111 Rice. having before that time been entered as ti._..soles, h ad had their religious designation altered by the Niustriarsc hools'.. - cornm'ittee, upon the ground that le eldestas boy had been registered in St. Peter's Church, ati a Protestant. Oa that occasion he (Mr. Whittymade nil ri tt irY into the circumstances andl,was told that he that tbe satisfied the matter had been fully examined, li a lPle boys' register had been produced, and that he ,_ a, bee entered wrongly in the industrial schools' books re ceived .catholie. Subsequently to that, he (Mr. Whitby) stitri!ed information tnat the grandmother of the boys 13(4. _ ived . ~ Ile waited upon her in the presence of a mese°. connected with the workhouse, and question him that the two children in Rouey and two others had been baptized Wishes of the parents as Roman catholics in hhrTaa eatholicichapels from time to time. She informed 4, NVhere they Luta t• were baptized, who were their sponsors, th e times When they were baptized, and that ultimately sia4tttier, who was a protestant at the time of her ar test h,,_ e c?-me a catholic and died a catholic. In orde m r to r- atul f . ' . accur acy, he went to th e c h apels she mentioned, .ci e ' t -°llll d the b aptismal registries of the four children. e, herefore thought in this case it would be clear to w a c "; °,oe t hatthe truth of the old woman's testimony Itst.',4llY borne out by the production of the registries. to the chain of evidence appeared therefore to be quite roitt„ d was laid before the industrial schools' corn th e i; e l he did hope that that committee would retrace io the'Len, as he considered they had made a false step %ion. Previous alteration of the boys' religious denomina- Re thought it was admitted by the comit . tee on t la h r a ounecasion that to a great extent, at least, the m e vidence a s /tght forward showed that the boys had been baptized a l_reart c atholics and that the father had been always i„plelict but he ' believed some doubt existed in the 1 ,111-- ," 1, 8 of the committee about the mother being a catholic, ,heed appeared to have considerable influence with est- But finding that the ground on wh: 4_. _altered the religious denomination of . ti. tt?et tez?able, the committee then took their st. life trhuleiple that the boys had arrivedlat that pei .._ selyWen,,tbey ought to be at liberty to choose tbr them hinue'if I ' 4 ow the chief object of his remarks was,. to apply hitrod to ow new principle. He believed it the now . first te od ' e 4 9 he contended that it was most pern.icitoiums small n ma it l s l Nom a : r i es. The only safety against it, was in lip oe t ,i_of cases in which the principle would be called Of the 0? Used. It that were not the case,the adoption abiectloPrinoiple would become so ridiculous as well as Nu e° n ahle, that he was sure every member . of thccorn urge vvould SOOII be anxious to abandon it. He ne ees u Pon the attention of the members of the boat tap ri !itY of consulting the wishes of the parents, ix the Caprices and whims of children. Every gentleman am Th e ° ard Must reflect how his own children were plat, itne? were under the tutelage of teachers, and everybou, chil,7:wit was the plastic, timid, retiring nature o wer'Leos disposition, and that at that tender age they ter!?m"athPelmet.ely ~.subjected to the influence of those Lie asked the board to step in and rraelept those,s; children from the consequences of their own Prin e e i, °4 at that early period of life, and not to affirm a mer i t Pte which would hold out to every child an induce slight:Blld an invitation to change their religion upon the gliasd ia ' caprice. Re thought the duty of the poor-law t ° ear na Was to be the executors of the deceased parents, th e r Y oat with fidelity their wishes, as executors in . atetiailriv transactions of life carried out the disposi the dutywerepresent of the poor-law guardians, he thought that in tett... instance they were departing from it . in a t o ueer Which was likely to be most pernicious and likely P r oduc e c orto„„., very unpleasant consequences in such a mixed th at culby, Re would ask any protestant gentleman at et, ,_.soard--his friend Mr. Satchell, for instance—if a son 0a,_1_,,. fourteen years of age, desired to become a Roman h- pl uil e , what reception would he give him ? Ho thought it,rental box on the ear would probably be the reply. allio . I Th ich was not allowed as religious liberty in any Th e . 8 latnilY should not be allowed in a public institution. a.l lO vuor had a special interest in this principle—the poor bee,„, w ere not now in that institution—but who might assire i nmates of it. The dock labourers who worked lote r ile uslY in that great hive of industry . had . a deep t i n, est in knowing that if by any providential clispe tal ti 4 1 11 ? h as sickness, they were no longer able to main totio'' err children, and had to send them into that insti -410, their wishes would be respected as regarded the tioe l ., ° „ 4 to which they adhered themselves through life, eter t c.", w hich they found a consolation when passing into th e ILY• Finally, Mr. Whitt y concluded by moving that i. resolution be not confirmed. th„eln• Fairhurst seconded the motion, and urged that if e',7l l:toard. thought fit to have the religion of the boys trinred into, it should be before a competent tribunal. 2 R e ~clenied that that board, composed of 24 protestants to —"man catholics, or the committee, composed of 12 to 2 coul d be considered a fair tribunal. 4,r. Crawford : Don't make such an assertion as that. "ar• Filealwrhurlsdt said, undtil tlhreticiehairman calle I him to o rder board recognised the Principle that nn a 113 o r y nn o e f e 14 years should. be permitted to Phan his religion, he should at least be brought before - conapetent tribunal, not, one composed of 12 protestants tO 2 icatholies or vice versa. The boy appeared to give answers perfectly satisfactory to the reverend chairman, and the majority of the committee, but it should be re nlembered, that he had been classed for months as a pro testant under the chaplain, and it was not to be wondered at, therefore, that he should give certain answers which Would satisfy the chairman and those members. Mr. W. Jones contended, that Mr. Whitty had, per haps, without intending it, done an injustice to the com mittee, and the officers of the industrial schools. He contended, that there were such inconsistencies in the statement made by the grandmother of the boys, as dis entitled her to the credence. Any oue who had listened and the reasons they to the boys giving _their opinions, opinions, must have strange and si gave for those ngular notions of liberty, who would incur the responsibility of coercing those children to be Roman catholics. standingNotwith that the boys had, committee meeting after Fooini itlee meeting, been browbeaten, they still persisted lo their opinions, and gave reasons_ which would be creditable to persons 50 years of age. Mr. Owen defended the course taken by the committee, and instanced cases where a parallel course had been t aken i n the instance of child re n who desired to be re gistered as Roma n Ca th olics, although at first registered Ile Protestants. I n ' The Chai rman : P ermit me to say - a few words. The Orion-'n,Y thing hich calls upon me to make any observation 0 n the present occasion is a remark which fell from ,al,r. Fai r h urst, impugning the impartiality and I may say le honest chairman y of the c omm itt ee —i mpugning myself as b oa M r r- . No, Fairhurst: sir, it was the composition of the ~ The Chairman : The honesty of the board in. giving a '-airecision according to their conscience, that was irpned. 4 t was said distinctly that we were not an impartial. tribunal which could give a fair judgment. That I think, s said. (Hear, h ear. ) Now, I solemnly repudiate that accusation. S tanding in yo ur presence an d in the presence of God I believe that I am Perfectly competent to give a perfectly impartial judgment I Pon any case of conscience which comes before me. (Hear, hear ' ) I believe th at I would no more coerce a Roman catholic to become a p rotestant, than I would coerce a protestant to become a Roman catholic. I have, in several eases, acted as an advocate for liberty of conscience. (Hear, hear .) As such I shall always act. I shall always defend the conscience of a Roman catholic as I would defend the °laaCiet tec of a protestant (*oar, hear.) I will never ich they at Joys was 'n, permit any tampering with conscience to go on under my cognizance. I will prevent it to the very utmost of my at ability—f have prevented it to the very utmost of my ability. I , e c I h a h p a l v ,a e li, ici. given re tttehoreoi of tae strongest rnfeorme—ann directions d a the a t tt ho: will n p fit r le o rd t f e ee s ri t ee a n_ n d t -,... sacred privilege, of religious tpon that ground I should I had been called on to 7tve nay vote, for the resolution which was passed by the - .sittee. It is a very injurious insinuation, and I atn sorry that it will go out, by meats of the press, urers, to induce them to suppose that the :es of their children would be tampered with at trial schools. If lam permitted to do so, I will ice, and request the press t o l e t it go forth to pourers, and to all the labourers in this great "tat no such tampering will ever be permitted trial schools, and that it never leas been. I wish them to be perfectly tranquil, and But let U 3 examine what in this case. The mother was a It came out i n th e ev i dence, and austied my mind that she did, for the sake of le a Roman catholic ; and it did appear, far as I could make out, that she had, ie I consc , o I the I privile and it given my *etc rtainly ock labo sy upon that subject, ampering origmally t last moment attention obably she perfectly evident that were not particularly con ceit up the children, because n to go to a protestant . 0 yearn. It came out who is the subject of this Ty freque n tly t o St. M ary ' s estab himself was catechised, and, echised pretty cicsely, an d id he wisned to be a protes ni the reason why, he burst out ery innocently, and with grea t feeling— , ather and the m what they hey remaine, upon the discussio Owen said, he was When I :s, he s: rying, anc I must confe d his mother had enjoined him thought that a very good reason - But upon being further questioned, he gave very intelligent answers upon sundry points of doctrine, and persisted in his Wish to be a protestant. The boy was nearly 15 years of age, and I firmly believe that he was perfectly competent to form a judgment upon the subject, and as an advocate of the '' , hts of conscience I insist upon that boy having his of choice, and I say that we should have acted 'y if we had not given him that privilege of hear.) So much for our partiality and —a. As regards the two cases which came before us, as - Mr. Owen very properly observed, our partiality and injustice induced us to vote against our conscience, and permitted the children to be registered as Roman catholics although they had been registered as protestants before. Therefore I do solemnly repudiate the charge of partiality and injustice, and I declare in my conscience that I believe every member of the committee was as much disposed to impartiality and fairne's as myself. (Hear, hear.) And I think that we acted rightly in that case. We established no general principle of action. We pleaded it as an exceptional case. It was a mixed marriage. The boys had been to a protestant place of worship—they had been for two years at a protestant school, and when they expressed a wish to remain protestant we conceded to their wish, establishing no principle, not courting enquiry and investi gation, not courting shifting from one religion to another, which I detest and abhor—by no means courting anything like tampering with conscience ' which I would res i s t t o th e very utmost of my ability, on both sides ; and, if I may be permitted to say such a thing, I think there is less danger upon our side than upon the other, (Cries of Hear, hear.) I speak it with perfect deference, I know the protestant I know perfectly well the character and osposition of the chaplain, and I know what my own disposition is, and that even if the chaplain had any disposition to tamper with the conscience of others, he would bend to my determination that he should not do so, and therefore I feel perfectly safe that he would not tamper with conscience. Ido not know the other gen tleman, and therefore I cannot speak so strongly of him. but I do not believe there ever has been any tampering with conscience bore—l do not believe there ever will be; and therefore I request that the dock labourers will be perfectly easy upon that subject. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Mr. Fairhurst said his remarks were made against the constitution of the tribunal, not against the chairman or the members generally. chaplain He had the highest respect for the chairman and his impartiality, and he had testified that respect before. Mr. Crawford thought it very insulting to the board, to say that any degree of partiality prevailed. Mr. Whitty briefly replied. The vestry then divided, when Mr. Whitty's amendment was lost by a large majority, only the mover and seconder voting in favour of it. Mr. Whitty : Very well—we have done our duty. The proceeding were then confirmed. MEDICAL RELIEF COMMITTEE. The minutes of this committee were read, and, on the motion of Mr. Bradley, adopted, without discussion. FINANCE COMMITTEE The minutes of the commi►tee contained a letter from the poor-law board, enquiring whether the £56, surcharged by the auditor upon Mr. Bradley, in reference to furniture for the governor's house, had been paid to the treasurer, and a resolution of the committee, recommending that the question should be taken up and dealt with by the board at large. proceedings, pro -3n d that the corn nen to bear any bers of the board which caused it. ss, urged upon the board to take up the question, as one of principle, the expenditure having been sanctioned by the committee and the genera I board. Personally, be declared be was but little interested in it, as he was advised by his lawyer that he would have a remedy against any member of the board he wished to select, for the recovery of the amount. Mr. Br tv occu lot m After some discussion, the Chairman suggested that the resolution should be withdrawn, and the vestry adopt a petition to the poor-law board upon the subject. This suggestion was agreed to, and the proceedings were then confirmed. Mr. Woodruff moved that the salaries of Mr. R. W. Clare, clerk in the superintendent's office, and of Mr. Con way, check taker in the pay clerk's office, be increased from 21s. to 255. weekly. The motions were unanimously adopted. Mr. Woodruff gave notice that at the next vestry he would move the appointment of Mr. W. J. Hales, as warrant offic3r. This closed the general busineFs, The Times complains of the disorder and annoyance which the parliamentary reporters experience whenever a debate of unusual interest occurs. This has arisen from the relaxation of rules formerly observed of admit ting to the reporters' gallery none but reporters for the London daily papers, and the evil is now increased by admitting reporters for the country press. This viola tion, the Times declaims against as preposterous, and that there exists no necessity for it, as at present the Electric Telegraphic Companies have a staff of reporters in attendance, who prepare an abstract of the debates, which is transmitted immediately to all country news papers whieh choose to pay for it. TUE SHIPOWNERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.—The ship owners of the North are taking active measures to resist the Government in passing the bill brought into the House of Commons by Mr. Lowe, the vice-president of the Board of Trade, for the abolition of local burdens upon shipping, the bill being in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commissioner, appointed to inquire into harbour dues. The Shields shipowners' societies have met, and adopted petitions to Parliament, and have appointed deputies to meet similar bodies from the outports and the manufacturing towns in London. The South Shields cor poration have also adopted a petition to a similar effect, and have deputed the mayor to proceed to London to support the deputies. The corporation of Newcastle, which receives £lO,OOO a year from the funds of the River Tyne, applied for town purposes, met on Wednesday, and appointed a committee to ce-operate with other towns interested in maintaining those dues, which they co ns id er to b e " veste d rights." M r . Alderman Ingleden read a letter from Mr. H. G. Liddell, the Conservative member for South-Nor thumberland, who, ia a lar 'P measure, owes his seat to the shipowners of North Saiel 1 , , who stated that he would do all in his p . iwee to o pp ose t h e Government measure, and asking for inf,,ad.tion. Mr. Headlam, M.P., and the new member, Mr. G. Ridley, are pledged to support the cor poration. agricultural sub' THE POTATO ROT . —.An . . Jests, Considered a good authority on . iti as Theoretically, a new light on this long have been run 0 inapplicability of the— diseasse°dl u . t cr r ingeniously' etically, he mentions that potatoes iselsed by over-manuring,.. and the ~ both combining to . make the vegetable becom e a s i rd, as a corroboration of this, poor mountain in good healthowws.ll the writer very how sheep, taken from diea prOceedasv on good pasture on the low lands' ing discussed, with soon grow fat, and to point offer suggestions brought great clearness, the disease, he for the remedy, and this is the chief attention. hf found ere i r n om He argues that as the seed was originally South America, where the esculant is to be healthy and wild or natural state, th a t th e only remedy for the home disease is to supersede the present, by seed to be imported. Ile shows by analogy that potatoes brought from South America would go on by cultivation for a couple of centuries, when again the seed should be renewed, as the stock by that time would have become diseased, as we hav e seen for the last ten years. In illustration of this, the writer gives an instance of a friend at Buenos Ayres, about two years ago, having got some of the natural seed, has cultiv a t e d the root with the utmost success, where it was unknown bef ore . W ould it not, therefore, be worth the while of some one engaged in the South American trade to have a parcel o f the natural grown potatoes brought to this country. The exp er i ment would not cost much, and, under any ci rcumstances, would be worth a trial. NORTHERN TIMES.--LIVERPOOL! WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 180 BANKRUPTCY COURT.-YESTERDAY consider that the remittance of 1,0001. to the father was a fraudulent preference, and made by the bankrupt with the knowledge of the insolvent state of his affairs. His Honour then at considerable length and with the utmost care reviewed the circumstances connected with the set tlement of the ship Duncan by the bankrupt on his daughter on her marriage with Mr. Woolescroft, in Jan. 1855, and the various other objections which he held as having been sustained, and concluded by stating that if anything were wanting to confirm him in the determination to refuse the certificate, he would have found it in what transpired that morning. The conduct of the bankrupt as then disclosed, was so gross, that the court had a right to deal with it under the 198th section, and though it alone might be a sufficient cause for refus ing the certificate, it was certainly such an ingredient in the cause as would remove any doubt if the Court enter tained it, as to the course which it was bound to pursue towards the bankrupt. The certificate should be, there fore, refused altogether. Mr. Evans applied for protec tion fort« enty-one days, in order to appeal to the Lords Justices, and, after some consideration, his Honour granted the application. .........-..,......r..-... (BEFORE MR. tOMMNSIONRR STEVENSON IN Ire JOHN GEORGE CLAUS—This day was fixed by appointment for the judgment of the court in this matter. Mr. Evans appeared on the part of the bankrupt, and Mr. Aspinall, instructed by Mr. •Lowndes, for the assignees. Before his Honour proceeded kith his judgment the bankrupt was etartaiiied at considerable length by Mr. Aspinall. In answer to the learned gentleman, he stated that he had been at Queenstown about the end of last month when the Ottilia, one of the ships forming part of his estate, arrived there. He went on board of her, and obtained from the chief officer, the captain having fallen overboard and been drowned during the voyage, about 2071. and 55 dollars, and also the accounts of the ship. Ile did not tell the chief officer that he was a bankrupt, but acted as if he still was the owner of the vessel. He paid 30/. of the money he had obtained for provisions and ru.dicines supplied to the crew, and of the balance he gave NO/. to his son-in-law, a Mr. Woolescroft, on Thursday last, in payment of loans advanced to him for the support of himself and family. He conceived he was entitled to take the money and look after his own property when in Queenstown, because of the shameful manner in which he said, it had been neglected by the assignees, but he did not consult any legal adviser before taking those steps. In answer to Mr. Evans he said that the Ottilia was niort gaged for 50001., and that until the accounts were made up he could not tell to whom the money belonged. The assig nees had left his Ships uninsured and one was now coming home - With a bottomry bead of x,5001. That was part of the assignees' neglect of which he complained. He considered that if his property were properly managed, it would yield a surplus, and the only allowance which he had received from the assignees for the support of him , self and family, from the time of his t ankruptcy up to the present time, was 101. In answer to his Honour, he said he thought that if the mortgagees did not claim the money, it should go to the assignees, provided the accounts did not show it to belong to the captain. Mr. Aspinall then addressed the court, and urged that if there were nothing else in the case than what had then tran - spired, his Honour would be bound to refuse the certifi cate altogether. It mattered not on whom the fraud had been committed; whether the money belonged to the mortgagees, the assignees, or the captain, the criminality of the bankrupt's conduct was still the same, and he might yet have to answer for it before a tribunal of another description. Ile (Mr. Aspinall) did not then make such an application as would lead to that event, because the gentleman who advised him was unwilling to do anything, without consultation with the assignees, which might involve them in expense ; but though he confined himself that morning specifically to the question of the certificate, he yet reserved the right of the assignees to apply that the bankrupt should be prose cuted for the act which he had that day admitted. Mr. Evans said that it was no part of his duty to justify the conduct of his client, nor did he intend to do so ; but he contended that the act of which, unfortunately, he had been guilty, did not in law amount to the charge attempted to be fastened on him. His assignees had, in fact, brought it on themselves. They had, as the bankrupt told the court, allowed him nothing since the time of his bank ruptcy for the support of himself and family but 101., and they had, therefore, forced him to procure money for that purpose as he best might. His Honour then proceeded to deliver judgment in the matter. He said : The bankrupt's certificate is opposed on the part of the assignees upon various grounds which have been the subjects of very lengthened examinations and inquiries, and all of them involve very serious charges against the bankrupt, so much so, that it is contended they are sufficient to call upon the court to refuse granting any certificate whatever. The followhag are the charges made against the bankrupt, to whiclif refer in the order in which, for the sake of convenience, I propose to discuss them : First, fabricat ing debts, to which may be added fabricating a sale of property, which has been also mentioned as an objection; secondly, fradulent preferences ; thirdly, dealing in accommodation bills; fourthly, concealing property and books ; fifthly, misconduct since bankruptcy in preventing correspondence relating to the estate from coming into the hands of the assignees; sixthly, destroying, altering, mutilating, and falsifying books of account; seventhly, prevarication in his examinations and attempting in such examinations to conceal the true state of his affairs ; and lastly, bad book-keeping, and keeping them in that manner artfully and for particular purposes. I have carefully gone over and considered the various grounds for these objections, and after mature deliberation I have come to the conclusion that, with the exception of that relative to the father's claim, and the dealing in accommodation bills the whole of them have been sustained nearly to their full extent, and as they are all of a very grave nature I have felt bound to consider this as a very gross case, and that I should not be doing justice either towards the bankrupt's creditors or the public at large, whose protec tion also 1 am bound to consider, if I were not to mark the court's severest censure of the bankrupt's conduct by refusing to grant him a certificate, and I therefore refuse to grant it upon any terms. I will now proceed to state the grounds upon which I have come to that conclusion (which I think it desirable to do fully in this matter) ; and first as to the objection of a debt of 5,5001., alleged by the bankrupt, as well as by his father,!to have been recently owing to the latter from the bankrupt, and which, with the exception of a trifling balance of 21. Os. 4d., is alleged to have been recently discharged by the bankrupt, and by which moans the disposition of so much of his ascots is professed to be accounted for. But the claim is contended on the part of the assignees to be wholly fictitious, and certainly all the circumstances in reference to it, especially as they appeared previous to the hearing on this certificate, are so fall of doubt and suspicion, as fully to justify the assignees in raising such an objection, and bringing it forcibly to the notice of the court, as a ground on which alone, if sustained, the certificate ought to be refused; and it is with considerable anxiety that I have proceeded to consider all the circumstances relating to this objection, which involves so serious a charge, not only against the bankrupt, but also against his father (an old man of seventy-eight years), and also the bankrupt's sister ; both of whom, if the debt should be held to be fictitious, would justly be chargeable with conspiring with the bankrupt to defraud his creditors. This claim is stated by the bankrupt to have arisen from remittances by way of loan, and from supplies of goods made by the father commencing as far back as January, 1832, and continuing up to the end of 1836, constituting at that period, with the interest thereon, a debt of about 3,2131, after credit being given for several remittances from the bankrupt to his father during that period. From this time the debt became, as alleged by the bankrupt, increased to the amount of the claim in question, by means of the interest calculated up to the Ist of January, 1855, after credit being given for remittances of 901 in each year on account, and this debt, with the trifling balance before mentioned, is alleged to have been discharged under the following circum stances. His Honour then proceeded to consider those circumstances. In the early part of December, 1834, the bankrupt sold to a Mr. Woolescroft, an attorney's clerk, who in the following month became his son-in-law, a vessel called the Euphrates for 4,5001, and for which he gave the bankrupt his acceptances, payable at twelve months' date. These acceptances the bankrupt remitted to his father at Frankfort by letter, dated the 3rd Jan., 1855, in part payment of his claim ; and by letter of the 25th of the same month of January the bankrupt remitted to his father a further sum of 1,0001 in Bank of England notes in further payment thereof, leaving the trifling balance before alluded to. The bankrupt was, in the year 1832, in partnership with a Mr. Smith, and it was to place him in that partnership concern, which lasted up to 1839, that the father made him advances to the amount of 30001 as part of the capital, but it was singular that there was no entry or notice in any of the bankrupt's books of the father's claim, or of any of the remittances or supplies of goods, with the exception of a single entry in the bankrupt's journal under date of the 31st December, 1852, of the amount of the father's claim, and also excepting a book containing entries in the bankrupt's handwriting purporting to contain the whole account relative to the father's claim, and with the further exception of certain entries in the partnership books of Smith and Claus, which on a recent examination of the bankrupt were pointed out by him as having re ferred to these remittances and supplies, although neither that of the name of the father nor that of any other person except the bankrupt's appeared in them. These and the many other circumstances of a minor character which transpired during the examinations threw great doubt on the genuineness of this debt, but as he considered there was some slight testimony in favour of it afforded in the entries of the partnership books of Smith and Claus, and also as it was supported by the affidavits of both his father and sister, (though he regretted that the latter at least had come over to be examined, orally touching it), he did not feel justified in saying that the claim was fictitious, and should, therefore, wholly regard that objection as unsus tained. He considered, however, that all the circum stances connected with the sale of the Euphrates to Woolescroft, were so suspicious, as to warrant an almost irresistible inference, that it was merely fictitious, got up with the view to some ultimate benefit to the bankrupt, and that the bankrupt was aware at the time of the sale, that his affairs were, if not in an insolvent, at least in an embarrrassed state was manifest, he thought, from the contents of a letter from him to Messrs. Syer, 'Walker & Co., dated the 31st of Oct. 1854. Under all th e circum stances attending it, he felt to consider that the alleged • sale of the Euphrates was a fictitious one, and that it was an attempt upon the part of the bankrupt to commit a gross fraud upon his creditors. It might be observed that in considering the alleged sale of the Euphrates to be fictitious, it should follow as a conse quence that the debt of the father was also fictitious, as the taking by him of the bills given for the supposed pur chase money for the vessel, might be considered as a mere subterfuge forming part of the scheme concocted to defraud the creditors, but as it did not appear that the father (who was a foreigner living at Frankfort,) knew any thing of Mr. Woolescroft, and as it was probable that the father might have considered, that in taking those bills, he had some additional security for his debt beyond what he had before, he (his Hoilour):did not consider that ques tion sufficient to induce him to alter the conclusion he had before arrived at in reference to the father's debt. value of forhBisA property formed Ills Honour then referred to the second groundofsoobtjoeock tion, that of fraudulent preference, and in doing occasion to t a o ft a e l r lude to the fallacy of the estimates of the by the bankrupt. The bankrupt alleged that towards the close of 1854 the value from consignments accounts xl had, expected from of his ships and all other property was 40,0001. and odd, paying hgaednadlitltoi addition e s t ro l e i ta a hl b ie i s l e i ttii.es surplusHitis tow o b u e l d e however, been carefully examined by the order of the court by Mr. Harmood Banner, and it was found that in hDecember, 1854, an d putting the mos t f av ourable va l ue on was a pro perty r tyi e t n h e at so tar from there being a surplus there of 12781.. He was therefore bound to TRADE REPORT.-TUESDAY. LIVERInOL There has been an active market for cotton to-day, and with a brisk demand, and bare supply, prices are A. per lb higher than on Friday last. The sales—including 200 Pernambuco, _ _ _ Gid to 64d ; 1,500 Bahia, sid to 6d ; 30 Maranham, 6d ; 400 Egyptian, 6d to 70 : 1200 Surat, 31/1 to 41d—are reported 15,000 bales, of which 8000 are on speculation ar d for IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (PROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.) HOUSE OF LORDS.-TVEgDAY LIFE PEERAGES. The House met at two o'clock, and sat as a Committee of Privileges to consider the question of Life Peerages. Some documentary evidence was produced by Mr. SHARPE, of the Rolls Court, including several Parliamentary records of the reigns of Richard the Second and Henry the Fourth, but which being► printed in Latin were referred to the Law Lords for consideration. The sitting was chiefly occupied with desultory conversation. It was ultimately agreed that Lord Wensleydale should be heard either by himself or counsel on Monday next. Their lordships then adjourned. export, The Manchester market very firm, higher prices asked, which somewhat curtails business. Stocks very light. PIG IRON : Owing to the failure of a large operator, warrants fell to day to 68s cash. The shipments last week were 4700, against 7848 in the corresponding week last year. SUGAR : A fair amount of business continues to be done, the transactions consisting of 130 hhds. Trinidad at 30s 3d, 130 hhds. Jamaica at 37s to 39s 6d, 340 bags Dates at 34s 9d to 37s 3d, and 20 hhds. indirect Foreign West India at 39s per cwt. Morassns, Rum, AND COPFEE : We hare no sales to report. TEA : The market is not active, at the same time holders are firm ; common Congou rules at 9d to Sid per lb. RICE : The business is confined to a small parcel of yellow cargo Bengal at lOs 6d per cwt. LINSEED is again lower, 500 bags Calcutta having been purchased at 60s per quarter. Jura : Nothing was done at the public sales attempted this morning. CORN : At our market this morning we had a moderate attendance of buyers. Holders of Wheat being generally firm at the opening in demanding an advance on the prices of Friday, business was checked ; and at the close sellers would willingly have accepted those of this day-week, but buyers not being eager, limited transactions only were prac ticable. The farmers to-day brought in a fair supply of Wheat, the condition not so good as of late, and moderate sales only resulted at a decline of about 3d per bushel under the prices of this day week. Flour was in moderate request at the full value of Tuesday last. Barley, Oats, Beans, and Oatmeal met a very slow demand, at rates in favour of buyers. Indian Corn receded is per quarter, and at this decline extensive sales were unfeasible. Arrivals and Ex ports from the sth to the 11th February, 1856, inclusive : From Ireland, 1177 qrs wheat, 45 qrs malt, 5368 qrs oats, 187 qrs beans, 5426 sacks oatmeal, 1548 sacks flour; Coast wise, 147 qrs wheat, 274 malt, 133 oats, 40 beans, 25 sacks oatmeal ; Canada and other British Colonies out of Europe, 1086 qrs wheat; United States, 17024 qrs wheat, 31648 Indian Corn, 33202 brls flour; Europe, &c., 600 qrs wheat, 850 qrs beans, 2169 sacks flour ; Egypt, 2140 qrs wheat, 1350 qrs beans, 380 qrs Indian corn. Into Runcorn, 670 qrs oats, 1418 sacks oatmeal. Total, 22174 qrs wheat, 319 qrs malt, 6171 qrs oats, 2427 qrs beans, 32028 qrs Indian corn, 6869 sacks oatmeal, 3717 sacks flour, 33202 brls flour. To Foreign parts, 20 qrs barley, 588 qrs oats, 181 sacks oat meal, 4 sacks flour, 3 brls flour ; Ireland, 625 qrs wheat, 374 qrs male, 5 qrs beans, 7286 qrs Indian corn, 292 sacks flour, 5 brls flour; Coastwise, 5 qrs beans, 14 qrs Indian corn, 252 sacks flour, 137 brls flour. R. MAKIN & SONS. FRUIT : Currants during the month have been little sought after, and operations have consequently been of a retail character, so much so, as to justify the opinion, that Currants have in a great measure fallen into disuse, on account of their high prices. There are, however, other causes for this dormancy, and I think that it does not require a large amount of penetration, to see, that the excited state of the sugar market has not been without its influence- The stocks in the hands of dealers are light, and the importers and merchants show a disposition to take lower prices, but still there is little business. The clearances show a great falling off from last year, being only 76 tons against 136, and the exports and for ship stores are 16 tons ! against 90. The imports are 27 tons against 330. The stocks here and in London being light, it is not generally thought that fine Fruit will go lower. Raisins: The same unsatisfactory state of things exists in Raisins of all kinds, as noticed respecting Currants. In Va lencias comparatively little is doing, prices for good fruit are however well maintained : in inferior, (prices are lower. Muscatels have been sold at ruinous prices to the importers and shippers, but no large sales have been made. Black Raisins have been sold by auction at 30s, but they are in little request. Sultanas have been moving off more freely at quotations. Imports of all kinds 121 against 164 tons. Clearances 127 tons against 165. Exports 14 tons against 8. Almonds of all kinds are selling at lower rates. /rigs : Large parcels of Turkey figs have changed hands at lower prices than last quotations ; they may, however, be considered to have reached their lowest point, and an improvement is looked for. A parcel of Malaga figs of inferior quality was offered by auction on the 7th nd only brought 23s 6d D.P, at which they were withdrawn. Very few of the common descriptions of figs have come forward this season ; when good, and price reasonable, are largely consumed by the working classes of the manufacturing districts. The reason of the paucity of arrivals is in part attributable to the loss frequently sustained both by shippers and importers, in consequence of ;the high duty paid on these kinds of figs, which is actually equivalent to 160 or 170 per cent on the cost f o b, or whilst the figs cost 8s to 10s, the duty is 15s 9d per cwt, and freight and other charges amount to about 4s 6d, which makes their cost about 30s laid down here, and they very seldom bring more, whilst they very often sell at from 25s to 28s ; this state of things ought not to be, and the duty ought at once to be reduced to 7s, the same as the duty on Prunes, which would, without any exaggeration, produce a consi derable revenue, whilst it wou'd confer a great boon on the working population, and render a business which is now generally unprofitable, remunerative. Till, however, the trade take the matter up nothing will be done. The clearances are 18 tons, exports, 9 tons. Nuts : In Nuts there is little to report, prices continue without change for all sorts. A cargo of Barcelonas arrived on the 18th of January, consisting of 1,336 bags. Black Spanish are getting into little compass, the demand light. The clearances are on 928 bags, and the exports reach 441. Oranges and Lemons : The arrivals of Oranges have been limited, consequently prices have improved these last few days to the extent of 5s per box. At sales this morning St. Michaels brought 27s to 28s, Lisbon 20sto 21s. Lemons selling at quotations. THOMAS PARRY. LONDON S UGA R : The market had a s t ea d y appearance t o -day, yet the trade buy with great cauti on , an d t h e l arge importations prevent any advance. COFFEE remains firm. TEA : The market is inactive. Rica : The demand has rather improved, and the low prices have brought a few buyers into the market. RUM : This article is dull. COTTON : 1600 bales sold at full prices. SPICES without alteration. Markets generally have a dull appearance. TALLOW : The tallow market is firm to day at the annexed prices, namely : (Town tallow, 533 6d net cash ; Petersburg Y C, on the spot, 58s ; February to March, 58s ; March to April, 545. HAY : Mr. J. E. Davis reports scarcely any thing doing ; prices without alteration. Prime meadow hay, 95s to 1003; superior, 1053 to 1103 ; inferior, 70s to 85s ; rowen, 70s to 353; clover, 100 s to 130 s ; second cut, 100 s to 120 s ; straw, 253 to 28s. YESTERDAY'S MARKETS LEEDS CORN: Wheat in retail request at fully ls. advance. Spring corn firm at late prices. DUBLIN CORN : This day's supply of home growth can tinues small. Factors hold for higher rates, which are realised to a trifling extent, the general tone of the market firm, except for Indian corn, in which the business done was only trifling, at late currency. CORR CORN : Oats 13s. _ _ CORK BUTTER: - Firiiii, nil, I.lBs. Seconds, 127, 115 s. Thirds, 71. 104 s. Fourths, 89, 945. Fifths, 35, 84s. Sixths, 1, 745. THE LONDON GAZETTE BANKRUPTS.—WILLIAM Scaravx, Royal Exchange buildings, Cornhill, City; of Port Wallace, Nova Scotia; and of St. John's, Newfoundland, merchant. THOMAS EVANS, St. James's-street, and St. James's-place, Westminster, tailor. WILLIAM BOWMAN, Sloane. street, Chelsea, tailor. MORTON ANDREW EDWARDS, late of Dean-street, Soho, sculptor, moulder, and plaster figure manufacturer. WILLIAM JAMES, Nay land, Suffolk, builder. D AVID P. IVES, Merthyr Tydvil, 'Glamorganshire, general shopkeeper. HENRY BARNES, Winchester, wine and spirit merchant. GEORGE TILLEY, Cambridge-st ree t ' Old-street, Pancras-road, dust contractor. RICHARD MINIFIE, Houlton, Devonshire, baker. CHARLES Pia- LIPS EDNEY and ALFRED RAINES, Liverpool, wh o l esa l e druggists. UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS. When the House met again at five o'clock, the only busi ]ess transacted was a question put by the Earl of ELLENI39- ROUGH to know if Government intended taking any steps to prevent emigrant ships being sent to sea in an unseaworthy condition ? Lord STANLEY of Alderley replied he was not aware of any such measure being at present under the consideration of her Majesty's Government. The House then adjourned at a quarter past five o'clock, till Thursday. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before four o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. Mr. WALPOLE took the oaths and his seat on his election for the University of Cambridge. The right honourable and learned gentleman, who was introduced by Mr. Henley and Mr. Hildyard, was greeted with loud cheers from the opposition side of the . House. Mr. Ridley took the oaths and his seat for Newcastle. NEW WRIT. A neck wtit was ordered for Leominster in the room of Mr. Ark wright, deceased. COLSBROOK DATCHET AND SLOUGH ROAD BILL, On the motion that this bill be read a second time, Mr. SAMPSON RICARDO moved that it be read a second time this day six months. Mr• DUPRE, who bad charge of the bill, said its simple object was to prevent the evasion of a turnpike toll. At pre sent there was a dangerous angle in the road referred to, and the object of this bill was to divert the road so as to avoid that angle, and take in an old water course common that was now used to evade the tell. The parties, in fact, who got up the opposition, were no other than the parties guilty of the evasion. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the second reading. lOl Against it Majority The bill was accordingly read a second time, and ordered to be committed. CONWAY AND LLANDUDNO BILL, On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Colonel linowNLow KNox moved that the bill be read a second time this day six months. Mr. FrrznoY supported the bill, stating that the road was much wanted, there being no safe road between Conway and Llandudno. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the second reading Against it Majority The bill was accordingly read a second time, and ordered to be committed. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS Mr. SE - rmoua FITZGERALD wished to ask the Vice-Presi dent of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to pro pose, during the present session, any measure for the preven tion of accidents on railways ; and also, as it appears from the proceedings in reference to the report of the officer appointed to inquire into the condition of the Eastern Counties Railway, that, though the Board of Trade has the power to direct in quiries into the condition of any line of railway, it has no power to compel tho repairs that may be absolutely necessary for the security of the public, whether it is his intention to introduce any measure for the purpose of investing the Board of Trade with the authority necessary for the purpose ? Mr. LowE said, with regard to the first question, it was in tended to revive the bill of last session ; as for the secon d question, the subject was still under consideration. IRISH WASTE LANDS. Mr. M‘MAHoN asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether ho intends to bring in any measure for facilitating the reclamation of Irish waste lands ? also, whether he intends to bring in any measure to amend the Irish grand jury system ? Mr, ThRsMA.N replied that there was no such intention at present, IRISH POST-OPFICE Sir J. FERGUSON asked whether any steps will be taken by the Government to bring under the notice of the Treasury the various memorials presented to the Lord Lieutenant, on the subject of an improved postal communication between Belfast and the north of Ireland on the one side, and Scotland and the north of England on the other ? Mr. HORSMAN said the memorial had already been for. warded to the Treasury, by the Lord Lieutenant, with a strong recommendation in its favour. TR %DR OF MOROCCO. Colonel W. PATTEN asked whether the joint commission agreed to in the month of August last, by the Emperor of Morocco and Her Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary, fo arrange a commercial treaty, has yet met, and, if not, what is the cause of the delay ? Lord PALMERSTON replied that the commission had not yet met, for the representative of Morocco had not yet received his full powers, but notice had been giver' to him that unless he received his instructions within forty days, Morocco would be held responsible for the consequences that might result to British commerce from the omission. S iRDINIA AND TURKEY. Mr. LAYARLI said he was informed that conferences had been held at Constantinople relative to the settlement of the Eastern question, from which Sardinia had been excluded, and he should be glad to know if his information were correct ? Lord PALMERSTON said it was arranged amongst the govern ments of FranceEngland,Austria and Turkey,that the represent atives of these powers should meet together at Constantinople, for the purpose of considering the measures to be taken by the Rorte, relative to the Christian subjects of the Sultan, and the government of the Principalities. These measures had no immediate reference to the treaty of peace, and therefore when the charge d'affaires of Sardinia applied to be admitted, the ambassadors of England and France stated that they had no instructions, but promised to write home for some. In the meanwhile the question of the Principalities was disposed of. and then the conferences turned upon the fourth point, which relates only to the privileges of the Christian subjects of the Porte. SCOTTISH MUNICIPAL REFORM. Mr. ENVA.RT moved for leave to bring in a bill to extend the provisions of the Scottish Municipal Reform Act to certain Royal burghs in Scotland now excluded from the benefits of that act. __- Lord DUNCAN said when the Municipal A c t f or Scotland was brought in, those nine boroughs were excluded from it, for a specific reason, namely, that th ey could not, from their small populations, have town councils. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. PUBLIC JUSTICE Mr. NAPIER rose to move—" That in the opinion of the House, as a measure of administrative reform, provision should be made for an eff ic i en t and responsible depart ment of publicjustice, with a view to secure the skilful preparation and proper structure of Parliamentary bills, and promote the progressive amendment of the laws of the United Kingdom." Th e s t ate o f our l aws at present was disgraceful to us as a civilised country. The Code Napoleon was completed in 102 sittings ; and a later instance that of the State of N ew Y or k , w h ose co d e o f l aws was com prised in three quarto volumes. He contended with Lord Bacon, that l eav ing on ou r s tat u t e b oo k s l aws which were at varian ce w ith the spi r it o f our own ti mes , im peded, rather than advanced legislation, and was like keeping the dead in the arms of the dying. In 1816 resolution to classify the statutes, passed the Lords, and was also agreed to by this House. Since that Greattim 4,585 statutes had been added to our books. exertions had been made by Lord airougham• and other eminent law reformers since then to effect some re form in this direction; arid Sir Robert Peel had in his reform of the criminal code, left behind him perhaps his greatest work. The hon. and learned gentleman con cluded by moving his resolution. Mr. COLLIER seconded the motion. It was very gone , rally admitted that the present law of England was most unsatisfactory, and utterly inadequate to the exigencies of the country, and though the evil was great he thought that with the examples of the Justinian code, the code of • Napoleon, and the recent modifications arranged at New York, they ought not to despair of providing a remedy. There was a minister of war, minister of works, and a minister of health, and a minister of finance, and he did not see why there should not be a minister of justice, who should introduce from time to time budgets of law reform. Mr. BAINES said that the House and the country would accord to the right hon. and learned gentleman their gra. titude for drawing attention to a subject which occupied considerable attention at the present moment, and for which it was generally admitted that legislation was ne cessary. The only question that remained was " What should be the precise remedy for the evils in our present legislative system?" Upon this subject the right hon. member had said nothing, but had merely made a vague and indistinct proposal. The statute law commission was about to have submitted to it a plan which would touch upon all the objects alluded to by Mr. Napier, and lie hoped that, as there was every probability of that plan being in a short time submitted to the Crown, the right hon. gentleman would not press his motion. Mr. LooKE RING urged the necessity for the consoli dating the statute law, and supported the resolution. Mr. Wrcasm remarked that though it was impossible to codify the laws of Great Britain, the subject might be considered and simply fixed. Several governments had neglected this important question; and believing that the only way to effect the desired improvement would be by the establishment of a new department, he would sup port the motion by Mr. Napier. Sir G. GREY hoped the right hon. and learned gentle man would not ask the House to pledge itself to any course till after they had seen ti Law Commission on the plan regard to the provision contained in the resolution, in. thought that the House would be extremely jealous of giving such independent powers to a new department. He hoped the house would take the discussion upon the measure which Mr. Napier proposed to introduce upon its earliest stage, and so prevent delay upon a question that had been fully considered. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the House was greatly indebted to the right hon. gentleman, who had introduced this question of undoubted grievance. While disputing that the measure was open to the objection urged by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, of being vague and indistinct, he thought it would be well to wait ;till theY saw the plan which was now under the consideration of the Statute Law Commission. He thought that a department was wanting, which should have the subject of Law Reform under its consideration, and should have certain days allowed by the Government, on which to bring forward its measures. With regard to the two propositions, viz., that of leaving the question with a Minister of Justice, or that of submitting all matters connected with Law Reform, to a body of lawyers ap pointed for the purpose, he preferred the former, as the most philosophical, the most distinct, and the best calculated for the performance of the important duty of amending the Statute Book, and attending to the construction and alteration of Laws. Mr. MArdszs opposed, and Mr. EWART and MR. WIL KINSON supported the resolution. LORD'. PALMERSTON was not prepared to say, that the appointment of a Minister of Justice might not be beneficial to the country; but he did not think it would be expedient to take such a step until the functions proposed to be' assigned to the new officer had been well considered. It was im possible to continue absolute power which the right hon. gentleman would give to the minister of justice with the constitution of a deliberative assembly like the House of Commons as that officer would sometimes, if he made a proposition find himself in a'minority. Mr. 111‘MAnors supported, and Mr. CRAWFORD and Mr. R. PALMER opposed the motion. Mr. NAPIER then replied, withdrawing the definite pro posal pointed out in the resolution and so much of it as expressed the opinion of the House that legislation was necessary was carried übmitted to HARBOUR OP REFUGE AT CARDIGAN BAT Statute With Mr. LLOYD DAVIES moved for a select committee to enquire into the advisability of constructing a harbour of refuge in Cardigan Bay, and whether it may not be advantageous also to employ convict labour in the works. The hon. gentleman argued upon the neces sity for a harbour of refuge in the St. George's channel to afford protection to commerce, and remarked that at present there was a waste of convict labour to the extent of £80,000;in the prisons of Pentonville, Parkhurst, and Dartmouth, which might be employed in the works. Sir C. WOOD did not think there had been a sufficient case made out for the construction of a harbour of refuge at Cardigan Bay. A harbour of refuge did exist at Holy head, and that spot was selected by a committee as the most convenient for the purpose on the coast of Wales. After some remarks from Air. WI NNE _ and Mr. PHILLIPS, The HOuse divided, when the numbers were— For the motion, Against it, Majority, BEATS IN PARLIAMENT. Mr. THOMAS MircHELL moved for leave to introduce bill to repeal the Act 22nd George 111.. disqualifying con tractors from being elected to a sitting, and voting as mem bers in the House of Commons. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not object to the introduction of the measure. Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE opposed the motion. For the bill, Against it, . Majority in favour of the bill, JUSTICE'S QUALIFICATIONS Mr. COLVILLE obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the qualification of Justices of the Peace. The Charitable Uses Bill was read a second time. The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to. The Joint Steck Banks (Scotland) Bill was read a second The House adjourned at twenty minutes to twelve, BALAKLAVA HARBOUR.—We learn from unquestionable authority, that the facilities afforded to vessels discharg ing and taking in cargo at the port of Balaklava, are now of the most perfect and satisfactory description. As an instance, we may mention that the Bahiana, Captain Green, a screw steamer of 1500 tons, which left Sweden on the 6th December with a full cargo, arrived at Balaklava in eighteen days, discharged the whole of her cargo in six days. The character of this ship is estab lished by the fact, that she was only 42 days in the round, calling in her return at Constantinople, Malta, Genoa, Barcelona, and Gibraltar. Of another vessel also belong ing to the South American and General Steam Navigation Company, the Imperador, the following testimonials has been addressed by the authorities at the admiralty, to Mr. MacGregor Laird, the agent for the company in London.— "Admiralty, February 6, 1856. Sir,—l have to acquaint you for: the information of the owners of the Imperador steamer, that their lordships have received with much satisfaction, a report from the commanding officers of the troops conveyed in this ship from this country to the East of the very creditable manner in which the master has discharged his duties, and of the way in which the service has been performed ; and it is requested that the master may be informed of the same accordingly.—l am, sir, your very obedient servant, E. Girroßn." TIIE ALLEGED DOUBLE MURDER AT PENSHURST.—We need hardly say that there was not the slightest truth in this story and we are informed that the whole was con cocted for the purpose of hoaxing a credulous village damsel who is much giving to novels and romances.—... Maidstone Journal. THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.-It ap. pears that the dividend to be declared at the half yearly meeting of this company, for the half-year ending the 31st of December last, will be as follows .—Ber wicks, at the rate of 44 per cent. per annum, with £5,000 over ; York and North Midlands, at the rate of 31 per cent. per annum ; dividends will be paid on Great Northern Preference Shares, and a balance of £55,000 has to be carried to the permanent way. WILFUL MURDER AT BEE STON. —An inquest was held last week, before C. Swann, Esq., at the Commer cial Inn, Beeston, on the body of George Burton, frame work knitter, of that place. The evidence, which was very voluminous, was to the effect that the deceased, who was partially paralysed and unable to work, though he could move about the house, was found by his wife lying dead in bed on the 26th ultimo. One of his sons, named George Burton, was also found lying insensible at the foot of the bed. An old frying-pan was on the floor, with some coke cinders in it. The cinders were not burning, the fire having gone out. The account given of the matter by the son, when he became conscious, was, that after receivin g hi s wages on th e S a t ur day evening he went to a p u bli c -h ouse , w h en h e re t urne d h o me about _ y w h e e nt go u t p in to to past seven. His m o th er an d s i s t er s bad but lelthhisomethatay on a visit, and nob o dy was i n the housefather, who el was up stairs in one of the b e drooms. di li ct e l his father and tumbled down insensible the room, remaining in that condition until discovered by hi s re mother at half-past nine o'clock. Thomas Thornhill, a lacemaker, deposed that he was in company with George Burton the younger, at a public-house in Chil we ll . They talked about self-destruction. Burton said he wished to die, and intended to kill himself. He pointed to the fire, and said he should use that. He went and fetched coke, and asked the maltster bow much of that coke there would be for a shilling, and the maltster told him three strikes ; and B ur t o n said '• That's quite sufficient—that's all I wanted to know, it's quite enough." After a very long inquiry, the jury returned the following verdict That George Burton the younger procured certain cokes to burn, for the purpose of destroying his own life and the life of the deceased (his father) by suffocation, and that the said deceased was so wilfully murdered by the said George Burton."