The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-06 00:00:00

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

Mr. H. BROWN rose to move the resolution, of which
he had given notice, with respect to the better regulation
of railway travelling. lie anticipated various objections to
his proposal ; but he could only see good consequences as
likely to proceed from the adoption of it. lie was
not at all interfering with the course of the
government on the subject; he believed he would
strengthen the hands of the government by giving
them the encouragement of a vote of the house.
The evidence taken before the committee could not be dis-
regarded. Mr. Seymour Clarke, a very high authority, in
answer to question 627, which was whether the public
interests did not require that there should be some superin-
tending authority to see that the public had good and suffi-
cient accommodation, said he thought the result of amalga-
mation would deprive the public of conveniences which they
now had. Five of the principal witnesses already examined
before the committee had given their evidence in the most
masked manner, stating that the supervision of railways to
be effective must bo under some central power. Now, he
was the last person who would advocate unneceuary in-
terference with private enterprise, but he contended
that until they made some better arrangements,
until they appointed some authority to which the public
could appeal, and until they had power to enforce such re-
gulations as might be deemed necessary for the public
safety, the columns of newspapers would continuo to be
filled with accounts of railway accidents, and that therefore
interference was requisite for the public safety. The other
objection, as he understood, would be, that the law already
provided pains and penalties sufficient against railway
directors to induce them for their own protection to do
everything in their power to prevent accidents. Now on
this subject he thought he could usefully call the attention
of the house to a trial of some railway officials which had
recently taken place in Scotland before Lord Justice Clerk,
who in summing up said if the present state of things con-
tinued on the Jailwa7 it was plain they would have to
place at the bar the directors and managers who male the
regulations, add if air.ther such czuistrvphe occuirtil after

theybodyeesiud this wanting, it would beat their peril. There
was this difference in the Scotch law and the English, that
in Seetland there was a public persecutor, who secured Jus-
tice to the peasant as well as to the peer. By Lord Camp-
bell's act, railway companies could be sued for damages to
cue of accident, but the operation of that ad was to value
the man who was useful at pence, and the man who was
merely ornamental at thousands of pounds. The objection
that they ought not to interfere with private enterprise was
quite worn out. It was their duty to interfere where the
public was concerned. They did it already with respect
to steamboats, emigration ships, factories, and, indeed,with
everything where the public safet/was concerned, except-
ing railways. Any one who ad read the reports
of the inspectors and of the commissioners from
time to time, would see that the great majority
of the accidents were the result of disregard of smug,-
ments or insufficiency of staff to carry them out. The
Board of Trade had adopted an inspection of new lines of
railway, and travelling was not permitted on them till the
inspector had certified that they were safe; bet when •
line was once opened, all the power the Board of Trade had
at the present moment was, when an accident occurred, to
send down an inspector to make a report on it. Some of
these reports showed that travelling on the lines to which
they referred was unsafe, either from the state of the lines
themselves, or from want of proper regulations, or neglect in
carrying out regulations. If the government refused to in-
terfere, he should feel himself bound, humble member of
the house uhe was, to propose a measure that might tend
to increase the public safety and confidence. (Hear, hear.)
In the meantime he begged to move, " That it is the duty
of a good government to propose to this house all such mea-
sures as may appear necessary for the public safety. That
the great increase in the number of accidents which have
of late occurred on railways demands the especial attention
of this house, and that it is the duty of her Majesty's go-
vernment to propose more effectual measures than now
exist for securing the safety of the public while travelling
on railways."
Mr. F. FRENCH seconded the motion,_ which he
.theisght was a perfectly unexceptionable one. The evils of
the present system arose entirely from the method which
bad been pursued in reference to the granting of railway
bills. No less a sum than eleven millions sterling had been
expended in parliamentary expenses, a sum which would
I have constructed 1,100 miles of railway. Was it at all re-
markable, then, that the companies should be unable to
keep proper staffs of officers and servants upon their re-
spective lines ? (Hear, hear.) Nor was this all. When a
company, after an immense expenditure, had procured its
bill, parliament had granted the very next year a competing
line, as for instance had been done in the case of the Cale-
donian Railway. Parliamentary committees were a most
improper tribunal ; and whatever they might think of Sir
Robert Peel's commercial policy, no one would deny that
his abolition of the Railway Board, so ably presided over
the Earl of Dalhousie, was a most unfortunate step.
Never had there been a clearer case of parliamentary re-
sponsibility than with respect to railways; and if the house
could make the public any compensation, that compensation
they were fully entitled to receive at its hands. (Hear.)
Mr. CARDWELL said that if he did not occupy the
house at any great length, it would not be from a want of
appreciation of its extreme importance. The late govern-
ment, with very good judgment, had determined that a
most careful inquiry should be made into the whole ques-
tion of railways, and that inquiry was now in progress. By
his office he waschairman of the committee, and he could
assure tho house that it was taking the utmost pains to sift
the question of railway management to the bottom. It had
already examined many gentlemen of great eminence
in the railway world, aad was proceeding to exa-
mine other witnesses, who could not bo suspected
of partiality towards the railways. The evidence
had been reported from time to time : and that part of it
relating to accidents, which was very comprehensive, was
in the printer's hands, and would be ready by Thursday
next. He had sent over to France and Belgium for the
purpose of ascertaining what wee the practice on the rail-
ways of thou countries. The result of those inquiries had
boos twasidered by the committee, and would be laid be-
ano the base. • They had also taken a great deal of evi-
dence with respect to communications between
guards and drivers, and that also would be re-
ported. With respect to the Scotch law they
had procured the opinion of Lord Justice Clerk ; and
the Lord Advocate, who had just returned from conduct-
ing successfully a prosecution against parties in Scotland
who had been guilty of culpable negligence, had been
asked, and had promised to attend before the committee.
The superintendent of a Scotch railway had been convicted,
and the directors had been told that if another such acci-
dent occurred again they would be prosecuted. The Scotch
law might be right or it might be wrong, but it would
surely be better to permit the committee to proceed with
its inquiries, and to consider its reports, before they at-
tempted to come to any decision upon the question.
During the last few days a document of great importance
had been laid before them by the public press, namely, a
report to the Congress of the United States with respect to
government interference. In that report it WU said that it
might be doubtful whether a more direct interference
would not tend to increase the danger of the public instead
of to diminish it ; because to affect the authority from which
the regulations must emanate, would give rise to confusion
and embarrassment, would engender bad feeling and hoeti-

lity between the companies aid the governniint, would
take from the officers their responsibility, and might
thus lead to results disastrous to the safety of the
public. Surely that was a subject worth inquiring
into. (near, hear.) He (Mr. Cardwell) had cer-
tainly no objection to the resolution; but it would be
most inconvenient and unusual to place upon the books an
abstract proposition which lcd to no result, and the hon.
gentleman himself had said the time for practical legis-
lation had not yet arrived. He hoped, therefore, that the
hon. gentleman would let the inquiries now proceeding bo
fore the committee come to an end. If the hon. gentleman,
however,rsisted in his motion, it would be his (Mr.
Cardwell's) duty to move, as an amendment, that it be
not pat.
Mr. J. M'GREGOR defended the directors and officers
of railways from the charges which had been brought
against them by the hon. gentleman.
Mr. HUME felt indebted to the hon. gentleman for
bringing forward the subject. As the house had given
maw powers to the proprietors of railroads, it was its duty
*me that those powers were properly exercised. Still he
see* not but regard the statement of the right hon. gen-
tleman as perfectly satisfactory, and he begged to recom-
mend the hon. mover to withdraw the resolution.
Mr. D. WADDINGTON said the course pursued by the
right hon. gentleman (Mr. Cardwell) was highly creditable
to him. He was disposed to elucidate the matter, and
would no doubt do all in his power to arrive at a just con-
elnaion as to the causes of accidents. He could not permit
the observation to pass, that the directors of railways were
d to provide, by every means in their power, for
htmattasty, without giving it the most unqualified
isi.l mmerieaths hon. gentleman (Mr. Brown) that
glee be IS* e Wife railway management, some years ago,
a very different state of things had arisen in referents, to
railways. (Hear, hear.) It the event of • casualty
es a railway, the directors were as full of anxiety
as if it had occurred in their own families; and
lithe hon. gentleman (Mr. Brown) could moist the com-
mittee with evidence to show that, by throwing responsi-
bility on the Board of Trade, the public safety would be
inereesed, directors would cheerfully support the proposi-
tion,

Mr. LAING thought the house ought to wait till the
evidence of the committee was before it. He wished to
correct an impression which might go abroad from the re-
marks of Mr. Brown—that there was any didadination en
the part of railway directors to submit to any measure of
government oontrol, however stringent, which could be
clearly proved, to the satisfaction of practical men, to con-
duce to the public safety.
--—-- - - - -

Mr. H. BROWN was willing to place himself in the
hands of the house, as to withdrawing his motion. His
object was to show the necessity of something being dons,
and, If it were not done, he should renew his motion. It
was aid a marked change had taken place since he was con-
nected with railways. There certainly was a change ; for
at the time referred to there were few or no accidents, now
they were almost of daily occurrence.
The motion was then withdrawn.

CHRIST'S COLLEGE, BRECON.
Mr. GOULBURN, in moving for leave to bring in a bill
for the future regulation, management, and permanent en-
dowment, of the College of Christ in Brecon' briefly stated
the history of this ancient foundation, and added that, at
the suggestion of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, a bill
had been prepared to carry out the objects of the founda-
tion. This step had been taken to avoid a suit in Chancery,
which would necessarily have been very expensive, from
the number of parties to it. It was proposed that the rule.,
approved by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, should be
made the basis of the college ; and ho believed that when
the leases fell in, the property would be such as to render
the institution worthy of the monarchs by whom it was
founded, and a lasting benefit to that part of the country.

Mr. HUME asked where information could be obtained
ea to the provisions of the founder. Mention had been
made of the parties interested ; he wished to know who
they were; where they the public? He wu not for
creating new ecclesiastical establishments at this day.
(Hear, hear.) They ought to know how the college had
been hitherto regulated, and what was to be the scheme
for its future management ; whether its benefits would be
open to the public. He would not object to the first read-
ing of the bill ; but hoped that all this information would
be supplied before the neat stage of the bill.
. _

Sir B. BALL said he understood the object of this bill
was, not to establish any new foundation, but to endeavour
to make that useful which was now useless to the commu-
nity, and out of finds which really belonged to the public,
and ought to have been applied to the purposes of education
before. As an inhabitant of the principality, he was ex-
tremely obliged to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for
having turned their attention to that subject at last, and in-
troduced a bill of some sort or kind. What the bill might
be, he could not divine from the right hon. gentleman's
statement ; but he was quite sure that on a question of this
kind, ample time would be allowed before the second read-
ing for the inhabitants of the principality to understand and
consider its provisions. The property belonging to this
establishment was of enormous extent—nearly 8,0001.104,r.
It was enjoyed by somebody—not by the laity. (Hear,
hear.) And yet, a short time ago, there was hardly
a boy in the school ; and from 1939 down-
wards there hail not been a single pane of glass in
the church, and everything was going to rack and ruin.
Ile wished to ask if any communication had been made
to the Bishop of St. David's as to giving up the
rce
perty he received from this collegiate church, which raised
his income very for above what was assigned to his see, and
for which he (lid nothing whatever. Ile was perfectly ig-
norant of the contents of the bill, but hoped that ample
time would be allowed before the second reading.
Nr. AOLIONDY urged the importance of having on-

theistic information on the subject before the house was
called on to legislate. He presumed the Ecclesiastical Com-
missioners had all the papers necessary ; he hoped they
would be laid before the house, accompanied by some re-
port of their own as to the provisions of the bill.
Mr. GOULBURN said the best information would be
given by the preamble to the bill: itself. It; had been
I stated that the property was worth 7,5001. a year ; but this,
like other eeclesiastital property, bad beea granted on
leases for lives. and all that was received was the reserved

rent ; some 3501. a year, of which the Ecclesiastical Com-
missioners had only yet received 1401. It would bee great
mistake to suppose that they were receiving 7,5001. a year
from the property ; but as the leases fell in, the proceeds
would increase. It was said the bishops were receiving
more than was stipulated for in the act of 1838; some
might receive more ; others received less. la reference to
the bishop of St. David's, his preferments in this collegiate
church would ultimately fall into the hands of the Eccle-
siastical Commissioners. He could only express a hope that

hen. members would read the bill earefulli.
Leave was then given to briag 1 the bill.

WINE DCTIES.
Mr. OLIVEIRA, in moving that the house resolve itself
' into a committee to consider the import duties upon foreign
end colonial wines, with a view to a reduction to Is. per
imperial gallon, said—Sir, In rising to bring under the con-
sideration of the house the resolution of which I have given
notice, I have to solicit that indulgence which I observe: s
always granted to members who are placed in the position
that I am—that of addressing the house for the first time.
Sir, if that indulgence is necessary under ordinary circum-
stances, how much is the necessity enhanced when so hum-
ble a member of this house ventures to treat of a question
of the magnitude and importance of that to which I refer.
(Hear.) No considerations of a personal nature would have
induced me to undertake this task, but when I am in-
formed by large and important commercial classes that the
uncertainty which exists upon this subject is acting preju-
dicially on their interests, and that the revenue arising from
this source is interfered with, I readily adopt the course of
bringing it before the house, in order that it may be dealt
with and a decision arrived at. (Blear.) Were it not for
these considerations, I would far sooner have left the sub-
ject in the hands of the right hon. gentleman the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer. I hope, however, that
right bon. gentleman will acquit me of personal
discourtesy, or any desire to anticipate bis views
upon this question with reference to his general
financial statement ; I have already bad come communi-
cations with the right hon. gentleman upon the matter, and
I have explained to him the necessity I telt for bringing the
subject forward thus early. Sir, this is no mere narrow
question of whether wine shall be cheap or dear—whether
wine is to be reserved as a luxury for the rich, or a neces-
sary and daily article of consumption for the million—
whether a few opulent merchants shall exercise a mono-
poly upon this branch of commerce, or whether their in-
terests are to be invaded. This question, as I apprehend,
stands on far higher grounds, and its merits must be dis-
cussed in connexion with far nobler objects. This is a
question involving considerations of a financial and com-
mercial character of the greatest moment. It is a ques-
tion affecting the moral and sanitary interests of the bulk
of the people of this great country ; it is a
question relating to the international and treaty
engagements with other countries; and, lastly, it
has important bearings upon that greatest of human
blessings, the preservation of peace between the countries
of the world. I am aware that I shall be told there are
many other subjects which have stronger claims for a
reduction of duty than wines—for instance, hops, soap, tea,
paper—the tales upon knowledge popularly called—malt,
and a variety of other taxes. I perfectly agree that at first
sight this would appear so, and upon a recent occasion I
showed ray concurrence in this view by voting for the
abolition of the duty on hops ; but in that case, as in all the
others referred to, these is this distinction, that they are
total repeals of existing revenues without any substitution,
whereu, there is an almost moral certainty that by di-
minishing the duty upon wine to a low standard consump-
tion will increase to such an enormous extent as
to produce a much larger amount of revenue
than that uow received. (Hear, hear.) This I think is
a fair deduction, judging from experience in tea, coffee,
and sugar—all of which have under a low duty increased
in a most surprising degree ; whereas the duty upon
foreign wines, notwithstanding the great increase in the
population and distribution of wealth, has remained sta-
tionary, or nearly so, as shown by the following table ; The
wine duty in 1833 produced 1,633,8301. i in 1831,
1,705,6391. • in 1835, 1,691,522/.; in 1836, L/93,963/. ; in
1837, 1,687,0971. ; in 1838, 1,816,0571. ; in 1839, 1.849,693/ ;
in 1810, 1,791,6361.; in 1841, plus 5 per cent. additional
from • 15th May, 1,720,4791. ; in 1812 (stagnation about
treaty), 1,331,4691. ; in 1643, 1,703,3441. ; in 1844 (when
Treasury minute issued, settling the question about the
drawback), 1,922,5451. ; in ISIS, 1,891,2321. ; in 1816,
1,892,2061.; in 1817, 1,778,6451.; in 1818, 1,799,1261.; in
1819, 1,767,5161.; in 1850, 1,821,1231.; in 1851,
1,856,3311. ; and in 1852, 1,872,9431. Tea produced
in 1841-2 was 3,973,688/. ' • 1851.2, 5,985,4821. The
consumption of coffee in 1841.2 was 28,370,8.57 lbs. ;
1851-2, 35,044,376 lbs. It will be in the recollection of the
hone/ that early last year a select committee of this house,
was appointed to consider and inquire into the cause of the
decline in the revenue derived from the import duties on
wines. That committee was moved for by a learned friend
of mine, no longer, I regret to say, a member of this house,
or this subject would have been dealt with by him instead
of falling into the hands of the humble individual who hu
now the honour to address the house. That committee sat
for a period of seven weeks—via., from the 22nd April till
the Bth June, during which time a mass of most valuable
information was collected upon this subject. I was a con-
stant attendant at that committee, and 1 was invited to give
evidence before the committee with reference to the wines
of the south of Portugal, Madeira, and those produced in
and about Xeres (sherry). In my humble judgment the
evidence in question goes clearly to prove that a
very large reduction in the duty would be desirable,
I held in my hand the evidence of that committee. I re-
gret to say no report was made to this house, though a
draft report was drawn up by a member of the committee,
a few passages from which I will (with the permission of
the house) refer to. The following is one of these pas-
sage. : "The consumption of wine has not kept pace with
the increase of population. For many years past it bas been
nearly stationary. Of late it has shown& strong tendency to
retrograde." " In the decennial period of 1785-95, the era of
Mr. Pitt's liberal commercial policy, with an average po-
pulation of 13 millions, and an income of less than 15 mil-
lions, the average annual consumption was 7 million gal-
lons." During the decennial period 1775-85, immediately
preceding, with an average population of 12 millions, the
average annual consumption bad not exceeded 3 million
gallons." " In the decennial period 1831-41 the population
averaged 25,500,000, but the annual consumption of wine
averaged considerably lets than 7 millions of gallons.
Darin/ 1841-51 the average consumption has been less
than 6 million gallons, although the population has in-
crease to an average of 26 millions and a half, paying for
1851 upon nearly 60 millions to the Income Tax. At the
same time the avenge revenue front wine remains nearly
stationary at 1,700,001." I will now refer to some
points which bear upon the commercial and finan-
cial interests involved. I am of the same opinion with
most of the witnesses that nothing short of a very large
reduction will stimulate consumption so as to increase
revenue. There can be no doubt that British shipping
would be largely benefitted by it. I will read a passage
from a work recently published by a great authority upon
this subject, Mr. Cyrus Bedding. He says in his introdue.
tory remarks to his compressed edition of the evidence taken
before the wine oemnsittee " The present duties on wine
are not to be judged solely by their extravagant amount,
they leek up and keep idle a large amount of capital and
labour which would benefit the public and the revenue too
if they were in full activity. If the consumption of wines
were increased to 30 milhons of gallons, as there is every
reason to believe it would be, there would be required no
lea than 600 vessels of 250 tons each to bring the wine
home instead of 120; theme vessels must take out freights,
so that the advantage to the shipping interest would be
very considerable.' In connexion with this part of
the inquiry I em happy to see that a company
has recently been formed by some of the leading
wine hears who have trading transactions with Spain and
Portugal to establish screw steamers' and they represent—
" That the importation of wine to London alone amounts
to about 20,000 butts of sherry and about 16,000 pipes of
port annually, and by quicker communication great advan-
tage will accrue to the importers thereof, who may then
calculate on arrivals with &greater degree of certainty, and
thus be enabled to reduce the large stocks in bond now held
by them at a heavy expense." I am strongly of opinion that
a condition of a large reduction in our duty upon wine
should be a simultaneous large reduction in the duties
charged upon British goods in France, Spain, and Portu-
gal. If I am rightly informed, negotiations for this object
have been going on with France for some time. I feel satis-
fied that in Portugal the same object might be obtained, if
negotiations were opened on the subject, and no doubt ere
long Spain would follow the example. Now, one objection
raised by the opponents of this measure is, that a sufficient
quantity of wine calculated for this largely increased con-
sumption could not be produced. I conceive this to be a
complete fallacy. In the kingdom of Portugal alone there
are produced annually 900,000 pipes of wino. I beg to read
to the house a letter I received a few days ago from
one of the greatest commercial houses in Lisbon (Mr.
Walsh), in which is the following passage :—" I think, and
have always thought, that this country has plenty of re-
sources which only require development to make it pros-
perous. Its produce of wine amounts to upwards of 900,000
pipes." The Portuguese minister at this court (Count Lay-
radio) fully corroborated this statement to me, and assured
me that wines of the best quality,grewn upon his own estate,
were sold at 41. to 51. per pipe, and wines from my own
knowledge which would be much esteemed here if imported
at a low duty. (Hear, hear.) The same distinguished in-
dividual informed me that the province with which he is
connected (Estramadura) could export annually 200,000
pipes of sound wholesome wines, besides providing for its
home consumption ; and these I conceive to be exactly the
kind of wines suited to the taste of our middling and hum-
bler classes—possessing body, flavour, and warmth, with-
out alcohol. But at the present duties these fine wines are
prohibited, the duty being practically from 700 to 800 per
cent. upon their value. (Hear, hear.) The produce of
France is estimated at 90,000,000 gallons. I give this from
the letter of a gentleman of the highest authority in the
trade (M. Gassiot). Of Spain I have no data; but I hold
in my hand a letter from a correspondent in the Island of
Teseriffe, forwarded to me through the kindness of her
Mejesty's consul of that island. It is to the following effect;
"I find that the total produce of this island was long calcu-
lated to average 2.5,000 pipes, but of late years, from the
decline in price and unproductiveness of wines, the pro-
prietors in many parts had converted their vineyards into
potato and corn fields, and in others they have rooted up a
`great many of their bet plant:46ons ; stud for the last live
years the average has not exceeded ten or twelve thousand

pipes a year. The exports have declined in a much greater
degree, and 1,500 to 2,000 pipes a year may be taken as a
just estimate, of which about three-fourths may have gone
to Great Britain. The quality of the wine, when properly
taken care of, is good. Vidonia is the principal sort pro-
duced; but there are Malmsey and Tent wines of superior
quality. Present shipping prices are—cargo, 101. to let
per pipe ; 2nd quality, 141. to 161. ; ditto, 201., of 100 Mi.
penal gallons." The wimes of Teneriffe would be much es-
teemed, in my opinion, if the duty were lower. lam well
acquainted with them, having passed a considerable time in
theisto l'aar dthatMwaidnee were irawaraelsdtosupplyo
al
large
n ea
e gao daubs would
be sld
if
routhe
taste
be the case if the duty were reduced. The produce of
that island, from all the beat sources of information, ave-
rages 30,000 pipes per year, of various qualities; but. in
consequence of the very small demand fur these wines,
coffee, sugar, and grain have been planted over a large por-
tion of the island. If, however, a demand would spring
up, no doubt the inhabitants of that beautiful spot would
soon consult their own interests by supplying it. With re-
ference to the capability of the soil of Portugal, as well as
other wine countries, to produce large quantities of wines
it is only necessary to see what has been the eller t in fame;
times, when port wine was the favourite in this country.
Mr. Belbi, in his " Statistique de Portugal," giving an
account of the establishment of the Alto Douro Company,
says, " The district where the famous wines of the Alto
Douro are made, since 1756 under the control of that com-
pany, is comprised between the Maris and the Tin, in the
provinces of Tras-os-?dontes and Beira, along the banks of
the Douro, being about one league in width, and eight in
length. This little !mace, which before the formation of the
company was desert and uncultivated, bas become one of
the most populous spots is Portugal. The wines of the
first quality are generally sold to foreigners, especially to the
English, the second clue are consumed in the country, or
exported to Brasil." Now, it is just these second quality
wines which am very cheap, that would, with
• low duty, be consumed largely in this coun-
try, and might be produced to an unlimited
extent. It is said that the labouring classes in England
would not acquire a taste for these new beverages.
would upon this subject simply refer to the evidence given
in the Blue Book by Mr. Short, Mr. Pool, and Mr. Barker,
briefly as follows:—" Mr. Barker, a licensed victualler, in
Holborn, sells retail over the counter, in glasses, a pipe and
a half of Port in a week ; some drink at the counter, others
take it home in small bottles ; the principal coasts users arc
small tradesmen, bankers' clerks, and persons of that class,
a very large proportion of the sick poor, and el. rks and
men of an income of 1501. or 2001. a year—what you would
call 'skilled labourers.' " Amongst these respectable arti-
sans and middle classes he finds that there is a decidedly
growing taste for wines, and saye, "no question but his
consumption would be surprisingly increased with the re-
duction of duty." Mr. I'ool, also a licensed victualler, of
London-bridge, draws from the butt Port and Sherry and
Bucellas, in quartern glasses : in this way he sills a pipe
in three weeks. If the duty were reduced to 1.. ,he would
do twice as much trade as he does now as regeres wines.
Hie customers are of the artisan close, many of them ; there
are thousands of people who come to his place who would
drink wine instead of spirits. (Hear, hear.) He con-
siders that the increased consumption would displace spirits
certainly but not beer. Mr. Short, of the Strand, is able
to buy more largely and therefore more cheaply, then any
other licensed victualler in London ; and, as he makes a
proportionate reduction in price to his customers, who are
of exactly the same class as with Mr. Pool, he has a larger
custom. He draws about lee pipes a year—more than
three pipes a week sometimes; and of this, perheps two
pipes and a half he sells in draught. Ile draws principally
port, sherry, and Bucellas from the butt ; champagne,
hermitage, and claret, from the bottle ; all these he draws
in glasses. The people come to the bar and drink it, and
walk away. "He charges 41 per quartern glass of port,
7d. per quartern glass of champagne, and 6.1. per cell class
of claret. The duty is so much on the French wines, he
cannot bring it in. If no could get the duty d awn on
French wines, the people would drink them in preference
to port. If we could sell claret at id. or 3d. a glass, we
should have them in all day; they take a glass of wine
however. Bricklayers' labourers, cealhenvers, journeymen
carpenters, and men of all grades coma in and take their
glue of wine. You never see anybody drunk in my house ;
we have a 1,000 people a day, and not a drunken
man amongst them. Irish labourers frequently
carry home a bottle of port to their families.
I have seen them come miles to get a bottle of
draught wine." And this brings me to consider the effect
that the use of wine would have upon the moral and social,
as well as the sanitary, condition of the people ; and I am
very strongly of opinion that drunkenness would be dimi-
nished, and many crimes which result from that odious vice
would become of rare occurrence. There can he no doubt,
I think, that its a sanitary point of view the use of wine
would be advantageous. (Hear, hear.) Now the most
serious practical question remains to be dealt with—namely,
the immediate falling off in the revenue before the increased
consumption at the low duty should right itself, and the
drawback to be paid for stock in hand. Upon the first
question, I can only ask the right hon. gentleman the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer to commence my system while he
has a surplus revenue, whilst he has the power to keep
exchequer bills at ld. per diem, and whilst consuls are at
par ; and little difficulty will be felt as to the second point.
I am informed by merchants who have examined the ques-
tion carefully, that the estimate for drawback would be from
500,0001. to 600,0001.; which might be provided for in de-
bentures to be received in payment of future duties. I
will not detain the house by going into the question of
adulteration, the great evils arising from the doctoring of
wines by retail dealers, by admixture of noxious ingre-
dients ; nor into that wide field the manufacture of British
wines, amounting to about 600,000 gallons a year, a large
portion of which are sold as foreign wines, by which the
revenue suffers. (Hear, hear.) I have already occupied so
much of the valuable time el the house, that I must ex-
press my regret that my zeal in this question should have
induced me to trespass at such length. Permit me, in con-
clusion, to thank the house for the kind and patient hear-
ing it has given me whilst I have so imperfectly endea-
voured to lay this subject before it ; and I beg her Ma-
jesty's government to carry out in this respect that system
of unrestricted competition and prudent extension of the
principles of free trade to which they are so solemnly
pledged. (Cheers.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
both the character of the hon. gentleman and the manner
in which he introduced this important subject to the house
ought to make him anxious to avoid the appearance of any
discourtesy towards him. He said this because the reserve
with which he must uececsarily speak might lead to the in-
ference that he was so treated, if he did not make this
apology. He should have desired, if it bad been consistent
with his duty, to enter at the present time on a full ex-
position of the views of the government on this subject.
He fully agreed with the hon. gentleman, that there were
the strongest reasons why government and parliament
should, at the earliest possible opportunity,make known their
views with respect to the question, for it unfortunately hap-
pened, that the wine trade in particular was suffering a
degree of annoyance, and even torture, from suspense and
delay, in consequence of the high duty which wine paid in
proportion to its value, and from the fact, that it acquired
greater value the longer it was kept in store. (Hear,
hear.) The hon. gentleman had shewn so much
candour, that he should like at once to enter
upon the discussion of this question ; but having
already fixed a day for declaring the intentions of
the government with regard to the finances of the country
generally, it would be a positive breach of duty were he to
state now what he would then have to state with respect to
the wine duties. The delay between the present time and
the 16th of the month could not add materially to the
inconvenience which resulted from delay, and when that
day arrived he promised the hon. gentleman that he would
then either announce a change in the wine duties, or show
why the government felt themselves to be precluded from
recommending any such change. But he could even now
state that very little had fallen from the hon. gentleman in
which he did not thoroughly concur. (Cheers.) Ile was
not of the same opinion with those who thought that it
was visionary to hope for a greatly increased consumption
of wiae in this country—the taste of the people not
lying in that direction. (Hear, hear.) But he
thought that the taste of the people of this country
with respect to wine was altogether the result of the Geed
system that had prevailed for so long a period. (Hear.)
Considering wine as one of the greatest gifts of Providence
to man—considering the place it occupied as a means of
subsistence and as a restorative of health—considering its
superiority in that respect over alcoholic spirits—he must
confess that it would be most desirable, if possible, to make
a most important change in the wine duties. (Hear, bear.)
The extension of trade with other nations of Europe, the
breaking down of the virtual monopoly created by the pre-
sent system, the getting rid of the spurious articles which
were brought into demand by the present high rate of duty
—all these and many more advantages undoubtedly recom-
mended the proposition of the hon. gentleman to favour—
not, perhaps, the very alteration which be recommended,
but such an alteration as would bring about in
time a change in the wine duties. (Hear, hear.)
For himself he would say that, in his opinion, there was
no article in the whole tariff with regard to which the rea-
sons for an alteration of the duty were stronger, than in
the case of wines. (Hear.) Bat then it happened most
unfortunately, that strong as were the reasons for an alter-
ation, the difficulties in the way of change were equally
pre-eminent. (Hear.) It would be absurd to make a
trifling alteration in the case of wine. (Hear, hear.) The
hon. gentleman proposed to reduce the duty from sm. 9d.,
to a uniform rate of Ispos.; and he said, in • short time, the
revenue would be no loser. The words " short time " were
very indefinite.
Mr. OLIVEIRA—In two years.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUET'e had the
greatest respect for the word and for the opinion of the
hon. gentleman ; but with regard to a matter of revenue,
in which 1,750,0001. was involved, he should like to have
some better security as to the means of replacing that
amount of revenue. On that vital point he frankly con-
feued, he did not think the statement of the hon. gentleman
was quite satisfactory. If the hon. gentleman could assure
him that with the reduced dty the same amount of reve-
nue would be received, the matter would be very much
simplified. lle should like to have the bond of these gen-
tlemen who thought that the same amount of revenue
would be made up at once or in two years, for replacing the
deficiency if it should occur. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
But, as a matter of reasoning, he would stue the
grounds on which he refused to accept the confident
opinion of the hon. gentleman on this point. It was because
the people must first acquire a taste fur wines; and he did
net think that with regard to wince or any other article
the taste of a whole people could be revolutionised in a
single day. (Hear, hear.) As he had already said, he
considered the present taste of the public in respect to
wine was owing to their long prevaleut fiscal system ; but
still they could not alter that natioull taste i se. pt in the
course of years. If tb..t were so, the ?centric wealil not

,

le up in the course of two yeanto its present amount.
be mi. wines was 6,000,000
Tbt moot oisumption of foreign
and to onteluce at the Is. duty the same amount of
;enures was produced by the present disty,there should be a
,„,,,•,toptiota of 36,000,000 gallons. Now, • consumption
0.0) gellotts could not take place unless the national
t..„ ....Kama so greatly altered or modified, that he might
-;:it COSpieta transformation. (Hear, hear.) The hon.
ggettlexan imeelf %voted nut ssy that be anticipated so
lest A :neap in the national taste in two yean. And in
toe t•vesue were not made up, it would involve them
oest datieukies. There were others beside the hoc.
eslin':em who asked for a reduction of duty on other
ihrt.t;eSA• imeortant— perhaps, on the whole, more important
ig in comfort and well-being of the community, than
sk, mlaition to' wise. The hon. gentleman would have
oats,' nl, thou, who would tell him that • million of
i; my *od enable him to reduce the duty on coffee and
• tf...4 it would enable him to reconstruct the customs
tor if ykeeelly ; that it would enable him to get rid of the
',tonne duty on soap—(hear, hear and a multitude
aotter arti¢les. lie was not prepared, therefofe, on that
wasioe to say that be would recommend to the house to
niie an lessediate sacrifice of 1,000,0001. a year. There
• an taternardiate course which might be adopted, that
tiy,ty, of tie!, avowing in some way to vary the duty
• .„„ &Leveling to its quality ; at the honourable
was well aware of the difficulties
:hi:tithe would involve. lie had expensed an °tiniest
▪ deLnled as that of. the hon. gentleman himself against the
N.e.t.littm. With regard to the question of revenue,
Ie nrreeed a il,fferent opinion ; for though he agreed
with ti.m that, in the course of a number of years, the
foresee would :nova., yet he thought that the change '
weal, in the first instance, be accompanied by a heavy
10w defense, which would necessitate the postponement
of the cor.siderati u of other claims which, at least, had as
toad a right to be considered as the reduction of the
;km duty. The boo. gentleman alluded to collate-
ral elnatages which the reduction of the wine
ask,' to Is. per gallon would produce. But these
ak,y increased the d•fficulties of the proposition he
met, to the house. The hon. gentleman said if they agreed
to s reduction of the duties on wine they must be prepared
to allow a unwhack. Without disputing the claim of the
wise merchants, and assuming that they had made good
tkeix claim to the reduction, he must observe that such
elite cout.l not Ise founded on thu Treasury minute of
BM The object of that minute was to prevent the injury
loss which must result both to the wine
serchants and the revenue if those parties were
obliged to conduct their trade without such a
611,1,14, under the pressure and uncertainty
width 'Listed during the prolonged negotiations which
were then tibiae place un tho subject. It would en cruel
ta the wine merchants not to allow a drawback in such eir-
esseetaluten But without decid,og whether that would
apply to a is ieitian of duty made in the ordinery way,
aid merely .esunsiag that the drawback would be allowed,
k then becani• a serious matter for the consideration of
theCo-ncellor of theE &chequer. 1 he hon. gentleman said this
drawback would amount to between 500,0001. and 600,0001.
ith aid eke Ins dealing with hypothetical casts, but he
sort eiy that if the house were determined to allow draw-
lac:, on stocks in hand, he hoped they would provide ho-
w:l—he used the term not in an offensive, but only in a
Monitor of the Exchequer sense—(laughter)—for such
&whine out of the resources of the present yea, and not
leave them to bar provided for io future years. (leen ) It
was obeitus that, in ease the proposition were acceded to,
ogee wooed in the first instance be a lon of revenue to the
crest of 1,000,0001. lie was not aware of any other point
introduced by the hon. gentleman to which it was necessary
that li: should advert. In his general views of the deity be
Wifely manned ; in his wishes with regard to it he en-
tail, participated; in his anticipations with regard to the
abet of adopting the plan he must confessi, though be did
at eel: great relnetanee, he win unable to follow him ; and
....keened to the intentions of government he most re-
stive say intimation which he might have to make until the

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
t •oeeed Edifies of " Tbe Kama,' costal tbe sore twits. 'e
" °aortic," ts published ceety Tuesday and Yridy e:; b:, t:1 thee
lee pose.
& LIMA& a fee "The Ewen," Lotion Becalm. pew,
gust be at the (Mee, 10, Eoorarkietnet, by Two d'eloek on the
10 of publication.

NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRTDOR.
Det—Morshtf. O. Me— Atternocrz la. las.
Toososaow—Moralag. Is. 40.5.....„...Aftern00n. la. SUL

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5.

local antiquaries. Some of the blood of MARTINUS
SCRIBLERUM must flow in the veins of Lord CAMP-
nut. And yet the discussion to which he gave rise
is suggestive. It reminds one that the old adage
still holds good, that one man may steal a horse with
impunity, when another could not with safety look
over the bulge. All the noble lords who spoke concurred
in admitting that the peace resolutions and
their presentation were uncalled for, and out of all
rule. But Lord CLARENoos cowed they were harm-
less—Lord NIALMESBURY, that they were " success-
ful ;" and, in truth, it would appear, from a certain
French railway concession, that they have been :
while the Lotto CHANCELLOR vindicated them from
the charge of being illegal. All readers of history
are aware of the horror and indignation which still
continues to he wasted upon the English associa-
tions and individuals who at the outset
of the first French Revolution presented con-
gratulatory addresses to the National Assem-
bly (see ALISON'S voluminous works passim).
But wherein did the acts of these admirers of young
Jacobinism differ from our city worshippers of young
Imperialism? If the one slipped beyond what was
right or decent in private citizens, the others have
done so too. But the latter are excused as only
guilty of a venial error, while had any of our extreme
reformers addressed ARMAND MARRAST or Louis
BLANC whilst in power, no words would have seemed
hot or heavy enough to denounce them with. In
our high places there is still a lingering affection for
'Toryism—servility to despots; its excesses are
excused, while those of its opponents are exag-

THE official statement of the public Revenue fox
the three months ending yesterday is given in an-
other column. The document also shows, as usual,
the net produce of the Revenue for the year, as
well as the quarters ending April 5, 1852, and 18.13.
Once mote we have reason to congratulate the coun-
try on the adoption of the Free Trade policy,—upon
the results of fiscal reforms. The national balance-
sheet again shows an increase both on the quarter
and ou the year. The growth of the national re-
sources has been great enough to induce an increase
on the year of 110 less than 920,999/. and
on the quarter of 44,6131. Looking first to the
items of theyip, we find the chief points of in-
crease under till headings of Excise, Stamps, and
Property Tax. The first shows how the bulk of
the people hare been able to extend their enjoy-
ments by increased consumption of those articles
which contribute to this branch of the revenue. The
second tells how active business has been, and how
completely successful the reforms in the stamp
laws have proved to be. The third indicates, in a
way not to be mistaken, the rise iu individual in-
comes.
The total increase on the year's Revenue would be
very far greater than it is but for the decrease from
Customs and 'faxes induced by reduction of duties
and the removal of the Window Tax. Indeed, the two
columns of increase and decrease in this table admi-
rably illustrate the wisdom and justice of unrestricted
commerce. If in the one we see lessened imposts return-
ing lighter totals to the exchequer, in the other
we witness certain results which show how
unshackled industry is able—whilst increasing the
consumption of exciseable products—to more than
compensate the public purse. The exact figures for
the year are :
Increase. Decrease.
314,639

lith lasi.
Mr. JOHN MACGREGOR believed that very great ad-
r.otagc would result to the commerce of the country from the
Squat of the proposed change, and were it not therefore
f tri,. Retargial clit:tes stated by the Chancellor of the
jukeyeer, he should certainly vote for its being lean:le-
i-0.4 dirtied out. There were, however, many other
ea is epos a surplus
ante with respect to the wine duties—(hear, hear)—end
say reduction mule in the duties on wine should be gra-
ail He hoped the hon. gentleman would withdraw his
axis uatil after the financial statement.
Br. MOFFATT said that, after the excellent speech of
C... Clitneellor of the Exchequer, embracing everything
ftat could be said is favour of a reduction, he regretted to
fed that he spoke only in a Chancellor-of-tbe-Exchequer
nee, sad that there was, after all, but a dim and distant
yeispeet of the wits, duties being reduced. The right hoe.
gwesaa sail that if he could satisfy himself that there
tn. i releasable prospect of increased consumption follow-
ag 1 redaction, his difficulty would be removed. The
maim', of tither nations showed that the difficulty was more
isizoiaty than real. In Paris the consumption was about
:,11)70.1 per head per annum. Even in the nauseate,
nes% where the duty en much higher than in Peril, the
exemption was 28 bottles per head. it was the opinion of
upesienced emsmereiel men that • reduction to 2s. per
piles would be very beneficial. On looking at the returns
tecestly laid befogs that home he found that the annual
ri.ue of the glossa imported from France woe 80,0401. of
t:e witches imported 100,0001., of the potatoes 400,0601.
5...0. fut., when taken in couneaion with the feet that
my ;9,0002 was realised by the importation of wine, were
ve; worthy of the right hon. gentlinnaa's consideration.
fir. II CM E thought the mottos had already been pro-
active of great advantage. 'they had heard from the
fteacellor of the Exchequer • denunciation of the tax,
ci that was the first step towards its reduction.
ice right honourable gentleman admitted the evil,
red promised to remove it as soon as nos-
lOW. He (Mr. Hume) believed that any reduction
et. h night be made would be followed by consequences
unilar to Stow which had attended the gradual lowering
el the sugar duties. So far, he believed, his hon. friend
(Ifr. Oliveira) had done good by his motets; but he ad-
mid him not to proceed further at present.
Ix DUNCAN said the importation of French wises was
titbits in which his constituents at Dundee were deeply
licested. There bad been • great falling off in the
,eta trade both of Scotland and of Ireland, in consequence
it tie present amount of duty, and ho believed that the
Chancellor of the Exchequereculd not confer a greeter
:milt on that branch of the community than by making
induction.
Hr. OLIVEIRA »plied. Considering the terms in
Much the right bon. its, bad opposed the motion, he
weld not refuse to withibias It. The right hon. gentleman
kid gieca him MN iliellesersaftat by admitting the wis-
dom of regalia ee sees le Immiticable; but out of doors
tie inspromiss mama oyes the wine trade by what
lad been mid thee sight, mead he that the right hon.
pat:emaa du Not imam t• emit to such • motion at
present.
Ile motion was them milbleawn.
THE NEW 'nu'. FOR LANCASTER.
lit. W. MOWN moved, "That a new writ be issued
foes member foe the limeragh of Lancaster, in the room of
Mut ]erne fig, Esq., unseated cm petition."
Tie bm. mobs/ said be lithsved the cam of this borough
tilled I. character from that of many other places which
W tless subjected to investigation, and he hoped, there-
*Rat the house would not refuse their assent to his
Mat
Hr. TRORNELY moved as an amendment that no writ
le CNA until one month from that day.
11. arm said he raw for the purpose of asking why
thy wee to deprive one plates of the privilege of returning
Umber Andrea it to another whose situation was pre-
del, *Oar. He looked round in vain for the noble lord
he et the hen, who, he understood, intended to
Pow some mud measure. Ho would like to know
%ether the present pawed bad the noble lord's ascetics.
II they had so far solineni the approbation of the country,
'by were they to stag short? (Hear, hear.) He was sorry
in neither the chairmen nor any member of the committee
vas present to express an opinion.
On the amendment being pat,
,_lit. A(iLIONBY said the house was in • very eased,-
wog petits with nom" to the issuing of new write.
hummed es be Wadil se befeeleis, not even by the
"INS, hat ailed epee the esprit* of the moment,
hi decision upon • Mae for a new writ possibly
efesdiag uoon whether It were introduced before disarm
sr Wm. (Leeghter.) Raving himself to undergo the
MU sided as many other hon. members, it would not be.
sr him te say much about purity ; but he would ask any
111.. somber who bad read the evidence given before the
isemster Committee, whether is any ease decided NI.
Wady to the member, there bad been less proof of SOF
helm. Ile took it for granted, that if say membeeot
tmemunittee wished to oppose the motion, he would hale
lee present.
Ile CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER mammal
wit the hon. member who had jud, sat down In
flat the decisions of the house, with respect to tillers 31
me wri. were too Oise hallnemeed aselsteat so sepia. '
lii thought it very momstil that they by
shell gimps one
htn:ation of • emitted NOM. SD as be Mine Item the
hoc the impression that they were vacillating about en
alorant duty. He concurred, however, that they had es-
Moths, a rage In the cases of Blackburn and lindgnorth,
'tub he did not think they could violate in the ease then
\? kr*
gi .the haus. Seven days' notice had he presumed
ea -ven, and no opposition was offered even from the
=limber, of the committee, aone of whom were present.
N•aller was there any petition from the inhabitants of the
:•riigh. The hon. member for South Lancashire moved
1 sew writ, and the question wee whether under such
Jarattances they would deprive the inhabitants for a
:cederable time of an important privilege. He thought
U 7 could hardly do so, and therefore should respectfully
helfest to the hon. member foe Wolverhampton to with-
'no lii motion, with the understanding that fall emporia-
t...7 should be given for inquiry into corrupt premises.
Nir MR' lIMOND wa surprised that in thews men ef '
'..'"lPt practices at elections, some means were not adegled
: Jetting at the ettorniee, who were at the very root Sir
-•.s.i. something of a general measure was load,'
"•e4 fur, but on the present occasion he was inclined be
"''tke view adopted by the Chancellor of the Escherimer. '
Locl STANLEY, as knowing something of the beelegli
7 Lso-wer, felt bound to esprem his opinion that
LI Pftvailed there to • considerable extent,
fmte the freemen. A definite rule respecting the of
."-, la each eases was loudly called for, but in this ease he
•"lo special reason for suspending the writ, and there-
`" thoall vote against the amendment, risers' to kis- ,
, • right of Inquiry, which, in the case of the
•seester, be considered to be extremely awnerstra
4' MORN ELY withdrew his amen Mel die
:44 ,
...ir - -- -„„a. , .v)11 foe the issue Of the writ waits, • 1

Excise

Stamps....
Taxes
Property Tax;
Post-Aloe
Crown Lands

62,000
99,314

Imprest and ether assays 192,632
Repayments of advances 364,903
Seven points of increase—three of decrease ; and
these latter, as we see on turning to the quar-
terly statement, in course of improvement. The
repayments of advances show that the present state
of the country is one that enables those who owe
money to the Exchequer to keep their engagements.
On the quarter the figures stand thus
Increase. Decrease.
£182,193

Customs
Excise

Stumps • . 141,764
Tates

183,572

FRANCE.

PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING.
The Moniteur of to-day contains a decree floral.
nating M. Casimir Delavigne auditor of the second
class, to the Council of State.

Count St. Legier, membrr of the General Council
of Charente Inferieure; M. de Ronnefort, municipal
councillor in the commune of Villefranche; and M.

do Bonsonge, mayor, have refused to take the oath of
fidelity to the Emperor, and are accordingly deprived
of their functions. Numerous refusals of the same

nature are taking place throughout the country.
An absurd rumour has been in circulation for some
days past, to tho effect that Beranger was dead and
buried, and the police had prohibited the journals
from mentioning his death for fear of a political de-
monstration at his funeral. It is conceivable that

Tax
PasPir:o as

the police, acting upon the principles now predomi-
nant, might have given such an order to the journals.
But that Beranger could have died, not in a prison,
but in his own house at Passy, surrounded by his
friends, without all Paris knowing it within a few
hours, is not an admissible supposition. The Si. cle
to-day, in contradicting the report, says that the
illustrious poet is in excellent health.
During the vote fur the Empire in November last
the editor of the Concorde of Rheims printed a num-
ber of bulletins with the word " Oui, ' surmounted

83,406
23,000

bi• an eagle with en imperial crown, and tho letter
N. A clerk in a printing-office at Rheims, named
Valentine klarguet, made some negative bulletins
upon the same model, but varied as follows : The
eagle wait precisely the same, but instead of the
crown it wore the Phrygian bonnet, the letter N
was transfixed with a poignard, and in place of
"Yes" the word "No" was printed in red letters.
Some long time after the proclamation of the Empire
it came to the knowledge of the police that one of
these bulletins had been exhibited at a café. The author

gerated.
We do not indeed think that the act of the self-
appointed deputation to NAPOLEON 111. is illegal, or
that it would be worthy of animadversion if it were.
Like the Jacobin addresses,—to which we have com-
pared it—it falls under quite a different category from
the mission to Russia with which Lord CAMPBELL
compared it. In 1791 there were (as usual in Eng-
land) a ministerial party in power, and an opposition
party wishing to get into power. The ministerial
party charged its envoy at St. Petersburg to press
a certain line of policy upon the court there. The
ex-ministerial party sent an envoy of its own
to counteract him. For the ex-ministers thus to
usurp a function only competent to actual ministers
came as close upon an act of rebellion as can well be
imagined. But merely to pass resolutions at public
meetings (or to get them signed by canvassing
in private), and then intimate them to the persons
whose conduct they relate to, cannot be made rebel-
lion, even by the most ridiculous assumption of an
importance that does not belong to them on the part
of its perpetrators. Still there is an inconvenience
that deserves to be noted in this practice of a section
of one nation taking upon It to speak to foreign
governments in the name of the whole. The City
folks who lately addressed NAPOLEON 111., like
their Jacobin prototypes who addressed the National
Assembly, are foreigners taking the side with one
of two rival parties Ina State—conduct which can-
not fail to give umbrage. Their compliment to the
' Eisraaoa is an insult to the party on whose ruins
he has risen. In declaring their sympathy with the
Eseraott, they declare their hostility to all the
members of the late National Assembly who signed
the protest against their forcible and fraudulent dia-
-1 persal,or were only prevented from doing se by having
been previously incarcerated. The EMPEROR. aseeea
firmly seated just now, but not more so than Ids
Republican Government was before the amp Oat
According to the time for which a governessat kes at
late years lasted in France, we may, in two or three
years at furthest, look to see the late National Assem-
bly triumph in turn over the EMPEROR. In that
case would it be conducive to peace between Franco
and England if the National Assembly. were to
believe that the servile homage paid to their antago.
nist expressed the sentiments of the people of Eng-
land ?
While we are upon this .abject, it may not be
altogether out of place to advert again to a growing
predilection for the despotic factions on the Con-
tinent that is showing itself, not merely in kr►
ward, unaccredited meddlers like the (self-ap.
pointed) deputation to the French Earrenos,
but, we regret to say, in official quarters. Her
MAJESTY'S Government have declared that they will
not connive at preparations by political refugees in
this country to levy war against the existing Go-
vernments of their own. This is quite right, and in
accordance with the law of nations. But her MA-
JESTY'S Government add, that they will take upon
them to prosecute in the courts of this country all
political refugees who shall be detected making
each attempts. This is overshooting the mark,
and being too complaisant by half to the
continental despots. By the law of England it
is the party aggrieved who is bound over
to prosecute. Every honest man who sees a breach
of the peace about to be perpetrated ought to do his
best to prevent it ; but he leaves to the party as-
sailed to seek compensation in a court of law. This
law is for foreigners as well as natives. We heard
some years ago of a poor Turk who having been
robbed or cheated declined to prosecute became of ,
the expense, and of his being under the necessity of I
immediately quitting the country. He was little
edified by the English zeal for justice, which bound
him over to proeecatc, and inasmuch as he
could not find sureties imprisoned him to
sake sure of his being forthcoming at the
trial. Now, if this was the course pursued with
poor man, ignorant of our laws, without a legal
adviser, why should not the same rule hold good
with wealthy and powerful governments, who have
agents permanently resident in this country, an-
6orised to act for them in all matters, and with
plenty of money to fee counsel and pay solicitors?
It is the duty of our Government to prevent political
refugees in this country from breaking the peace :
but it is for the governments these refugees attempt
to injure to prosecute them in our courts of law.
Our Government, by volunteering to do this for
them, has stepped forward as the ready instrument
of not very friendly, and not very creditable
employers.

Crown Landa

8,000
22,215

was sought for, found, and brought to the bar of a crimi-
nal court last week, charged with circulating seditious
emblems. Marguet, in his defence, said ho did it for
a joke. " What," exclaimed the horrified president
of the court, " a joke to put a red cap upon the eagle,
to run a poignard through the initial letter of the
greatest name in France—that providential name,
acclaimed by the entire nation—you call that a joke!"
The court, however, contrary to what might have
been expected, pronounced his acquittal, telling him
that they were unable to find in the facts proved any
legal offence, but that he had committed a great
moral one, and should be careful for the future. The
Court of Rheims seems to have borne in mind what
has been so much lost sight of by most
officials, that the plebiscites were in theory,
though not in practice, free elections, and that.
if the sovereign will of the people be a paramount
argument even against all ordinary notions of right
and wrong, the people in their sovereignty had as
much right to vote for the Phrygian bonnet as for
the imperial crown.
The late shock of an earthquake at Havre was
also felt at Nantes, St. Brien, Portrienx, Rennes,
Montfort, LivrE, Tremblay, St. Lo, Alencon, Lisieux,
Falaise, and Chitellerault. The force of the shook
was in all places about the same.
At the Bourse to-day Rentes continued to decline.
There was much dulness in the market, and pries
closed with a downward tendency. The Three per
Cents. for cash and the account each fell 300. The
Four-and-a-Half per Cents. for cash gave way 40c.,
and for the account 20c. The quotations for Renton
are alike for both cash and the account, the Three
per Cents. closing at 79f. 20c., and the Four-and-a-
Half per Cents. at 103 f. Bank Stock, which fur the
last few days has been gradually advancing in value,
experienced a further rise to-day of 51., and closed at
2,695 E
The railway share market was characterised by
the same dulness and downward tendency expe-
rienced for Rents'. Itte fall in most lines was
trifling, but in the Orleans the decline was to the
extent of 30f., and in the Lyons to the Mediterra-
nean 15f. The following are the closing prices:—
Northerns, 896 E 50c.; Paris and Strasbourg, 835 f.
500.; Paris and Lyons, 937 f. 50c. ; Paris and Ron-
ens, 1,045 f. ; Orleans, 1,037 f. 50c.; Lyons to the
Mediterranean, 800 E; Western of France, 745 E
Frankfort.—Austrian Five per Cents., 97 ; Four-
and-a-Half per Cents., 771; Three-and-a-Half per
Cents., 441; Bank Shares, 1,542; Russian Four-
and-a-Half per Cents. (Baring), 1031; Four per
Cents. (Hope), 921; ditto (Stieglitz), 92; Spanish
Three per Cents., 441 ; One per Cents. Deferred,
24 15-16 ; Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cents.,
100; Exchange on London, short,ll9l. Vienna.—
New Loan, 941; Losn of 1851, 107; Lombardo
Venetian, 1001; Bank Shares, 14-15; Exchange
on London, 10.50.
No positive political news of any kind is knows
to account for the continued dulness in securities.
The improved aspect of the Anglo-American ques-
tion, as made known by submarine telegraph this
morning, was expected to have had a good effect
upon the market. People talked a good deal about
the cold reception the Emperor met with -at the
Lamarche Steeple-chase; but this can hardly have
been supposed to have produced any serious effect.
The belief that the government intends to persist is
vigorous measures to put a stop to Cashes* business
had a tendency to damp speculation. Some addi-
tional correspondence by the Egyptus, published in the
D4bats was thought to indicate that the eastern
.
I question is yet more serious than many have been
lately inclined to suppose. Great complaints are
made that private speculators spread reports, about 2
o'clock in the afternoon, of a fall in the English
funds, received by submarine telegraph, and a wish
is very generally expressed that an authentic tele-
graphic despatch from the London Stock Exchange
should be posted on the Bourse every half-hour. The
shares in the Imperial Transatlantic Packet Company
IMO out to-day, at 55f. and 65f. premium.
PARIS,MONDAY EYININO.
It is now said more confidently than ever, that
the coronation will certainly take place in August,
but it by no means follows that the Pope will offi-
ciate at the ceremony. If Louis Napoleon, backed
by his army in Rome, cannot after all come to terms
with his Holiness, he will be no more at a loss for
reasons to show that the sovereign of France ought
to stand aloof from the Pope, than he was for argu-
ments against the policy of royal nuptial alliances,
after the repeated rebuffs he experienced in his
endeavours to find a wife among the royal
families of Europe. Meanwhile the ultramontane
church party seriously think they have a chance of
I working upon the Emperor's ardent desire to be
crowned by the Pope to the extent of inducing him
to surrender Gallican liberties u the price of the
compliment. The Univers continues to discuss tho civil
mat nage question with an energy which it would not
waste upon an utterly hopeless cause ; and the cir-
cumstance that M. Lupin has been so far mused
from hie lethargy as to appear in print against the

saisesuaneoua
Imprest moneys
Repayments
Apart from the generally satisfactory aspect of this
statement, one point in it deserves a word of special
remark. It is the first entry on the list. We there see
a decreed) of 182,1931. on the Customs, which sum,
as compared with the &crew on the year, seems
law. The Board of Trade returns throw some
light on this, and we may very fairly attribute a
portion of this Customs deficit to a diminution in
the import of tea. Some time ago the increased
prosperity of the people gave a great impulse to the
tea trade, and large quantities of the leaf were
entered for oonsumptami. The stocks thus so-
cured have been freely used, but the prevalent
belief that the for a reduction of the tea-
duties might y induce the CIIANCELLOE of the
EXCEIEQUEI to interfere with the tax on this article
has evidently operated upon the dealers, and induced
them to kev their stocks u low as possible. In the
same way, t hin less measure, other trades may
have been acted upon, and when the Budget for this
year has decided exactly how the year's taxes are
to be raised, we shall doubtless see in a future
revenue table an increase in the produce from Cus-
toms. The increase of 23,0001. from the Pod-office,
is another satisfactory proof of commercial activity
and national progress.
We cannot close this notice of England's balance
sheet, without again calling popular attention to the
proof afforded by the stamp revenue, of the wisdom
of properly-adjusted taxation. A graduated and
equitable rate has done wonders in that branch of the
national resources. Will the Government still
ignore such facts when they come to deal with other
taxes' Since justice was done in the adjustment of
the stamp tax, the receipts from that source have
constantly and steadily risen. Justice in reference
to advertisement tax—to income tax—and other
taxes, would be equally mire of reward.

LORD CAMPBELL, hazing been a tolerably success-
ful competitor with Baouoiu.x for profes-
sional distinction, has, unluckily for himself and a
yawning public, become ambitious of rivalling that
versatile !genius in the fields of literature and poli-
tics. It is invita Minerva with the dowager Irish
Chanoellor : in quoting precedents he may equal
or even surpass the dowager English Chancellor ;
but his ponderous efforts in tho realms of fancy and
personalities lack the attractions which make
men relish the eccentricities of the Lord of
Brougham-hall and the villa at Cannes. Lord
CAMPBELL emulating Lord BROUGHAM resem-
bles nought earthly so much as the heavy Ger-
man Baron, who, aspiring to French vivacity, was
found one day in his closet, puffing and sweating,
attempting to jump over chairs and stools, and ex-
claiming, "Jo me fais vif." No other mortal but
Lord CAMPBELL could have dreamed of firing off
such an array of municipal and international legal
lore against the City deputation who performed the
Ko-too, and presented the City of London peace
resolutions before tho throne of the third
NAPOLEON a few days ago. It was breaking
flies upon a wheel ; it was (to quote from
Dr. Jouxsox) planting an eighty-pounder to blow
open the door of a pigsty. The aimless and osten-
tatious display of unnecessary erudition reminded
the hearers of the doll) endless yam Of inntear

ITALIAN REF CG RES.—A committee has been
formed in London for the relief of Italian refugees. The
gentlemen who have undertaken this kindly task hope to
procure work for destitute Italian refugees in London, and
to assist them, in the meantime, with such pecuniary means
as may be raised by voluntary monthly subscriptions and
I donations. Refugees desirous of availing themselves of the
aid of this committee are required to make a written appli-
cation, at least four days before the weekly distributions, in
order that the necessary informations regarding them may
be made. Every Sunday there is to he a d • 'maim% of
money, in proportion to the subscriptions aad donations
received.
BANK OF ENGLAND—Yesterday, at a Court of
Directors of the Governor and Comrany of the Bank of
England, John Gillibrand Ifubhard, I'q.. was elected
Governor, and Themes Mathiu Wesuclin, Esq., Deputy-
cuyquor for the custaing year.

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 6, 1853.
..... .
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. I AN ABSTRACT OF THE NET PRODUCE OF THE REVENUE OF GREAT BRITAIN,
Ow the motion of Mr. W. Snow's, the following reports
of committees were ordered to be reprinted-tit., Report lii Till TZARS AND QUARTERS ZNDID APRIL 5, 1852, AND 1863.
on the Police of the Metropolis, 1817; report on the Police -
quarters roiled Year Quarters ended Tear I Year ended April 9, 1 Quarter ended April 3,
of the Metropolie, 1922; report on the Sale of Beer, 1830;
report on the Sole of Boer, June 21, 1833; report on Vie-
July , Oet. 10, Jan. 5, Apra 5, April 5, July 3, Ott. IS, Jon. 5, April 9, April 5, --A---,
'Jelling House Licenses, 1833; and the report en the Sale 1551. 1631. 18:2. 1352. lan, 1432. 1833. 1633. 1631. 1833. ) Inereme. Demme. 1 bameme. Decrease.
of Beer, with the queries and answers Moen the chairmen of - -1
i -
quarter sessions, and the chaplains of county gaols, 1850. Customs .......„.-....-............-.--.... ..... .. 4.314,211 5,533,073 4,534,512 4,613,023 111,4127,870 ; 4,507,184 5„.38,1109 4,341.384 4,432,811 18,513,169. 314,6391 112,193
CJSIBINA'IION OS WORKMEN LULL. Faces ..... „„„,,,,,.„,,,_,,,,,„„„„„,„„_,,,„ .......... 3,419,410 4,139,1454 3,352,970 1,070,1164 13,152,666! 3,40,316 4,3413,753 3,339,646 2,096,381 11,34,496 242,500 28,317
Mr. DRUMMOND, who moved the second reading of Mamie •«« ..» 1,323,492 1,432,564 1,427,465 1,313,583 5,901,3561 1,61,826 1,529,111 1,4313,029 1,637,749 6,429,025 527,499 141,764 . .
this bill, said its object was to remedy aa inconvenience I Tams
Property Tao . 976081 1,870.136 :67,936 2,066,827 3,253,800. 1,036,9911 1,915,361 i 463,238 1,132,23.3 14593,843 309,243 .. .. I 93,406
which had arisen from recent judicial decisions as between r,v,t.,4ifm
210,000 306,000 246.000 239,000 1,051,0011, 230,000 261,060 272,000 282,800 1,045,000 *COW i 13,000
master and workman. With respect to the combination crow, lama ........ 3•000 4,,.000 441,000 50,000 190,000' 60,000 40,000 60,000 77,1100 252,000: 62,000 5,000
laws generally, the hon. member for Moatrom had brought miscellaneous .
1 32,213
in a bill which had fora long time given great sotiafaction, rota ordinary ruerno 12,044,1173 13,317,101 11,464419' 10,945,642 48,324,078 12,8130931 13,264880 11,905-1764 10,8A41189 49983,348; 1,181,034 517,334 i 176,07 893,910
and the object of wh;ch was to give perfect equality to Inquest ant other Maw
master and workman. Recently, however, there had been Repayment., of Adverted* 123,409 108,255 372,371 110,608 749,641. 210,0,82 234,042 491,!,951 171,850 1,114,34 s I 164,903 I 33,251 .....
conflicting decisions from the judges, and it hail become I Total theme 1
12,910,031 13,106,659 11,900,113 11,174,731 49,391,607 , 43,034,7 U 13,633 6111; 12A03.111111.2,11,544 50.512,606 i ..755.3031 517.3911 440.3931 393.4-0
necessary to define the law. The bill of which he now The Amount applied men. Fund, excited,' of - I 1341.817,391 Decrease I Drt395,950 Clermont
moved the second reading had that object, and was merely Advances , 7,975,091 5,794,547 7,536,211 3,895,183 39,122,733 7,420,984 8,443,7112 7,647,143 3,576,939 39,590,784 -- -- -
• declaratory act which had received the approval of both I htto applied as Advances
. oa Quarter.
the late and present law officers of the crown. lie looked Do•aPPlictlas lurtortaeusys 10 nleans oftheyear 4,570,213 4,333,82* 4,221.460 9,242,970 HOUMA 5,107,400 4,001,0051 4,4;0,42 5,242,015 19,003,078 , -.-... i•-•••• 1
upon it as a perfect model of legislation as it was printed on Total
half a sheet of paper, and contained only one clause. (A
laugh.) The INCOME and CHARGE of the CONSOLIDATE!) FUND, in the QuanTsaa ended Amin, 5, 1852, and 1853.
Mr. lIC ME seconded the motion, at the same time testi- 111-00 M Se. leal. 1633. 1 CIIARGE. 1022. 113.1.
lrying to the intention of the original act, and expressed his
£4039,367 £4,431,458 Permanent Debt -M-7170,233 £5,467,179
opinion that recent decisions of the judges rendered •a de- Cu teas
eaew »»
-
claratore enactment necessary. Stamp' 4315,983 1,637,749 Sin Ling Fund
Lord PALMERSTON did not mean to oppose the second .4.,,,... - 99,291 99,495
reading, but reserved to himself the right of ascertaining ppperty To. ........ ......-.............„.- ..„.- ........
in committee if the bill was merely declaratory or nut. Pont I Ift:cc
IKON 72,600
The bill was read a second time, and committed for that awn, Lu .«.«gs Total Charge
Mk-0411foot 41,751 19,518 I The Surplus 3091,181 3,359,284
day week. 16,631 113,3.8 1
SHERIFFS' COURT (SCOTLAND) BILL. linpreA and other
Produce of the !eels of Storm ........... - 111,1110 367,035 I Cll,mi,u6o 4:11,204,700
This bill was read a second time. IZepaytnents of Advancte ................ KAI 171'an Tbe Simplot et the Revenue at sth January, 1532, titer providing far
Tree house adjourned at 10 o'clock. - the charges for that Quarter, was£l7l,9lB
511.264010 L 11,7441,103 -
-
To whieb is to be added the Surplus of the Cotrolidatal Food, as abort
stand, for the present Quarter
g it, ervrefifs.
£33,202
... antoset 1,8991 In the Quarter ended April 3,1833, in part of the some
granted by Parliament oat of the Conadidated Food for dimply Services ... 5,242414
TO CORRESPONDENTS. The probable arariant of Lrcheetierltilln required to meet the Charge on
seeped eeeml Maths of .. The Kaprew,' motaioing tb• sone eeteStmet el 1,9111411/1 211.1144,81141 the Coroolidated Fund on ath April!. 1633. ••• __ • at7.o L i IF
80
~

parti pretre, is strong evidence of the reality of the
danger. The entire suxess which it is understood
M. Veuillot has obtained at Rome in his appeal
against the Archbishop of Paris' censure of the Uni-
vers has thrown the purls' pretre into ecstasies.
The jury of selection for the French goods in-
tended to be sent to the Great Industrial Exhibition
of Dublin, held their first meeting yesterday, and
at once entered on their duties. From the character
of the articles already forwarded for selection, there
appears to be scarcely a doubt that the French por-
tion of the exhibition will fully equal in beauty
and attraction the admirable works which France
sent to the Crystal Palace in 1851.