The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-05 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

RAILWAY BlLLS.—Yesterday in the Committee of
the House of Lords, of which Lord 'Redesdale is chairman,
the preambles of the following railway bills were declared
proved : —Vale of Neath Railway, Stockton and Darliag-
ton, and Great Southern and Western Railway, Ireland.
The following general bills also had their preambles
proved :—Medina River Navigation, Ekes Estate Bill,
Barnstaple Markets and Fairs, Bradford Piece Halls, Rhyl
Improvement, Dudley Waterworks and Belfast Harbour.
The standing orders of their lordships' house were declared
complied within the case of the York, Newcastle, and Ber-
wick Railway Company's Bills, South Wales Railway, Han-
chaster, Sheffield, and Lincolushire Railway No. I Bill,
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan Railway, and New-
market Railway Bills.
_Woo Laths case of the following general bills :—Sheffield
Bridges and Streets, London and Southampton Reid',
Deptford Gas, Bury Roads Bill, and Accidental Death and
Railway Assurance Amalgamation Bills.
POSTAGE LABEL STAMPS.—ThiS 0301111iftee met yester-
day to consider their report, but adjourned without doing
so, owing, it was understood, to the want of a quorum.
DRISIDI RAILWAT.—The committee, in reporting the
preamble of this bill proved, state that it is intended to
reduce the capital to 106,2601, and loan to 35,4001., and to
abandon the portion of the line between Banchory Ter-
.• an, and Aboyne, leaving the line 16 miles loeg. livened
of the line will be 92,0001.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—The report of
the committee, declaring the preamble proved, states that
the object of it is to limit and define the company's borrow-
ing powers. The company's share capital was ascertained
to be 2,373,3761., and their loan 981,7201. The committee
' thought it expedient to authorise the lease of the Black-
brae's branch.
MIDDLESBROUGH AND GUISBROVOIE RAILWAT.—Tho
committee, in reporting the preamble of this bill, proved the
state the line to be 9 miles long, and cost of it 72,0001., of
' which stun 66,0001. is subscribed.

ENCIMEY INTO THE GROWTH Or COTTON IN
Itinta.—Mr. Mackay, who was deputed about a twelve-
month since by the lAncashire manufacturers, to enquire
into and report upon the state of cotton cultivation in
Western India, together with the reasons of the defective
supply sent to this market, has addressed • letter to the
Bombay Chamber of Commerce, in which he announces that
severe indisposition has caused the termination of the investi-
ptioa in prosecution of which he visited India. Mr. Mackay
to his address saya:—" Before disease had fairly disquali-
fied me for further exertions, I hail succeeded in travers-
ing the greater portion of that part of India which consti-
tutes its greet cotton field. In retiring from the country,
therefore, I do not leave without having formed impres-
sions as to the condition, wants, and prospects of the cotton
trade in the great district in question, impressions founded,
for the most part, on actual observation. Mad I remained
any longer in the country, my subsequent visits would have
been, in the first place, to districts of secondary importance, sis
regards the growth of cotton, end afterwards, to sections of
the country, my journeying; through which would have par-
taken more of the character of trips of pleasure and recrea-
tion than otherwise. Such, however, lam now relnetsntly
compelled to forego, but it is a consolation to me to know
that whilst 1 am compelled to leave India just as my work
was becoming light and agreeable to me, this compulsion
has not come upon me until the heavier and more serious
portion of it had been accomplished. I trust that return-
ing health and strength will enable me elsewhere to tarn,
to soma little extent, at least, the information which I have
derived at the cost of no little labour oa the spot, to the
common benefit of India and England."

THE ENCUMBERED ESTATES COMMISSION.—From
a return to parliament, just printed, it appears that up to
the lit of February the sales effected by the Irish Encum-
bered Estates Commission amounted to 402,8771. 2s. 3d.
The number of acres sold was 698,328, and the cub pay •
mend made by the commissioners 1,971,0291. 141.1 d.
TILE METROPOLITAN INTERMENT ACT.--Yoafcr.
day a return to parliament, obtained by Mr. T. Dusoombe,
was printed, giving some information en the Metropolitan
Interment Act. It app,ars that Dr. Southwood Smith has
1,2001. a year under the act; Mr. C. hlacauley, as secretary,
has 5001. ; Mr. li. R. Williatna was appointed treasurer at
6001., but the office has not been filled up since August
last ; and Mr. 11. C. Edwards, as statistical clerk, at 1601.
year. These salaries have been advanced by the Trea-
sury out of the funds available for civil contingencies.
WEST INDIER—Tho governor of Gundaloupe hair
published a proclamation on the subject of the regulations
to be observed at the Saints' Islands, when they become a
penitentiary colony. No vessel will be allowed to approach
within gunshot of the coast after sunset. Any vessel nes-
locting this order will have a warning gun fired from the
fort, and if that is unattended to she will be firedog.