The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-24 00:00:00

TRUSTEES' RZLIEF BILL.

The bill wee brought down from the Lora:, and on the
metes of Mr. WALPOLI reed a Bret time.

VALUATION OF LANDS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
lb. DUNLOP, in wing the second reeding of the
Tab led...set Las& (Soodead) Act Ammodmsot BSI, explained
that the object of the 111••11/11 woo to establish one glossal
and uniform vabritkas for Sootlead, alder which all the loud
rates as well or rib& taus should he siesseed. As the
law now stood many /ands, each as deer forests, shoot-
ing sad woodiaods, and copes, woes exempt from
valastioa, unites they wen notimally let or yielding prods,
and being a) exempt they could net be emosseed, dolor to
public times or local rates, sad one sleet et this bill would
be to gat rid of this unjust ezeutpdon. Large tracts of
country in the highlands now need, not foe purposes of pridt,
but of enjoyment, either in shooting or deerstalking, were
exempt from all taxation. and It was quite clear such an es-
enaption was both anomalous and expedient, insomuch so it
encouraged the belief that the law recognised a difference
between the rich and the poor.
Yr. CM t: FORD seconded the motion.

Lodalidi.l.7l:ontendedthst the bill was in principle
dismatrically opposed to the act of 1854, which it was pro-
posed to amend and which had given general satisfaction
in Scotland. The honourable and learned gentleman
wee not tight in assuming that deer forests, shoot-
ings, woodlands, and copse, were not rateable unless
actually let. By one section of the act of 1854, it was pro-
vided that such lande, when let, should be ratod and valued
at their letting valuation; but another section, namely, the
sixth, equally provided that when not let,the valuation should
be taken at theorem! vales of the land. This bill,thtirefore, was
wholly in that respect. Bat this bill proposed
to make the of in duties liable to the local rates
and taxes equally with the occupier of land. A fen duty la
Scotland was similar to • ground rent is
and he pat it to the house whether the soak
sanction • proposal to maks the ground rents
of the Marquis of Wesembester liable for the local rates and
taxes ? Now that wee preoleely what this bill proposed to
do In Scotland, and as such • tax would be a manifest injas-
dos, he should move that the bill he read • second time this
day six months.
)dr. OEORGIi DUNDAS seconded the amendment.
After • diacuaries„in which Mr. Black, Sir M. S. Stuart,
Mr. Cowan, Mr. Meolosy, Mr. Finlay, Lord Elcho, and
Colonel Sykes took port,
The LORD ADVOCATE, in a lengthened address, op-
posed the bill it tatr.
(LA sitting.]

EASY INDIA H0U83.-(THIS DAY)

This day, at noon, the usual Quarterly Court of Pro-
in this company, wee held at the House in Leaden-
-street, for the transaction of the usual business, and to
consider a motion of which Mr. Jones had riven notice,
viz., " That it is our duty to return the Kingdom of
Dude to the king, or some representative of his family."
Mr. Rom D. MANOL7B. M.P., the chairman of the court
of direetons prodded.
The CLERIC having read the minutes of the previous
courts, and the saw having been confirmed, end various
papers laid before the proprietors,
Mr. Hates said that before going on with the Wiriness of
the court he thought they would not be doing their duty it
they did not pan a vote of thanks to Sir J. C. Melville, the
late secretary. The hoe. proprietor having paid a high eulo-
glum to that pntlemen, than moved a resolution to that
effect.

Mr. Id sLcoLo seconded the motion, and In debt
so bore testimony to the zeal and ability. of the late secretory
to the company, and the high honour, integrity, and
tiality of that gentleman, and his ready "Minium' to=
as information which might be required by the prnprishors.
Mr. CIR 41,511 AT supported the motion, and OM Mae the
services of Si, James Melville had been recognised by all
the statesmen of his time. With such • soon for their se-
cretory this erisprg stood second to none in the kingdom.
Mr. JoNis eta dot as he had been ace at the most
trombhoono moinibro of the court—(laughter, sad • votes,
"We Wog havo")—he wished to bear his toodsoity to
Ile yawl& swim of Sir James Melville, end behoped
Sot ottelto of Sir James would be rendered hereditary la
ditposoon of hi sou, who was on the board.
The CnAlmesx said the directors felt they bad lost a
marble servone when they accepted the resignation of Sir
Jame, and the whole of the court were willing to offer their
best thanks to Sir James for his long and valuable service.,
and he felt sure the reaolution would not only be carried
rise. • refotradtenete, but with universal approbation.
The resolution was then put sad carried with reclamation.
A PlOralafoll wiatied to know whether the directors
knew anything of what would come on in the House of
Commons on Friday night.
The Cats am AN replied that the directors knew no more of
the eons ia of the bill than they did of the previous one.
Ls sever to questions from Mr. H etre,
'The Cuomo/or said that the services of those who were
memot et the captor, of city of Dethi would be folly mug-
abed. The property of the government which had been
than would mot le considered es prize money, nor would
ties property el geed and loyal persons who had behaved
w• hat dist at the !tag sod minds would be divided by
the crows. The Governertismerol beillgives the proope abe

menthe mire betta, sad the mart of daeson bad glair ma
edditional el: menthe, sad r to honours, there world he
medals distributed to than for Delhi, Locknow, and held
melee, with • clasp for met
In reply to • remark of Kr. W. Lewin
The C111•111.111AN said that It yr proposed to give the son of
the late Sir Henry Lemmas • pension of 1.000/. • year.
Mr. Lewin you not make it 1,600!. instead of
1,000!.? (Oh, olt.)
The CILIIILMAW-1 must remind the bon. proprietor that
teems but the stewards of the rocesey, and that we mast be
;opt before we ereemorme. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. Lurie wished to beam if the reports were true ti
the fearful mutilation on Europeans.
The CI4•ISL,Av said that up to laid weak not • single
ere bad come to their knowledge—not one case bag been
proved to have tirasee. Recently one caws bad muse to
thins knowledge an aspect of truth, end that we
wee low being fol up b 7 a oriel, investigation.

..ra up by • ie.._
Sir FR/1)1E11NC CVRRIR (deputy chairman.). said that none
of the evidence had shown there wait one case of the horrible
ware that had ban rumoured. He bad sedated benseer
lent individuals who wished to whit ra-h soff bet
could not find out one coos. The Commissioner in
bad communteaud to them that the first that could be heard
etymons being chained down or crucified in Delhi was by
the report. that had gone back from Ragland.
Mr. CRAWAH•Y wished to know whether there were say
dissents amoopt the Court of Directors to the annexation at
Odds, and if they would be published
The CHAIRMAN said if the return wee moved for in the
how; a truthful one would be made. He did not know that
say return had been moved for in the home on the 'object.
Mr. lours then roes to move the resolution of which be
bad given notice, and bad been ',peaking • short time, when
Major GIMHOR LRMIS, WE., moved that the court be
counted, end there being only eighteen holders of 1,0001.
stock present,
The CHAU/NAM declared the court adjourned.

CHURCH Rai.Es.—On Monday, the 22nd instant,
a meeting in support of Sir J. Trelawny's Bill for abolish-
ing church rates was held in Twickenham, A. %wring,
Esq., in the chair. J. Carr Williams, Esq., in seconding the
resolution that church rate*, for various reasons, ought forth-
with to be abolished, stated the various arguments for and
against the system, and showed its disadvantage not only to
dissenters but to churchmen themaslvei. Dr. Foster, in
supporting the proposal to petition parliament in support of
the bill, urged the necessity of more energetic opposition in
the country, believing that more active opposition out of
door. would greatly amidst the carrying of the bill through its
remaining stages. No organised opposition has until re-
mealy been attempted in this pariah, and there are many
items in the expenditure for past years that are clearly illegal.
A encomettd comnienotenent has been made, and it is hoped
that the matter of church rates may speedily be satisfactorily
settled in this district.

IN E&T-END OF LONDON RAILwAT.—This
railway is now complete, and was yesterday examined by
the government inventor. It it hoped that it may be open
for public freedom Monday next. The inhabitants of Bel-
gravia, Westminster, Kennington, and the adjacent localities
will thereby be enabled, from the " Riverside Tennis=
the foot of Chelasa new Buspensioa-bridge, to reach B
In use hour and a quarter, ,and Dn.er and Portsmouth in
Iwo hours and a half. The rtilway was laid out by Meares.
Bidder and Fulton, the engineers, in 18.53, and the works
have been carried out under their direction by Yearn Peto,
Bramey, and Betts The line will also give increased
of &cress to the C7stal Palace, end the localities of Balhani.
hill, Streatham, Norwood, and SAnnham, through which it
poems.
WEEKLY RETURN OF BIRTHS AND DEATH IN
Loenov.—The deaths registered in London decreased from
1,487 in the previous week to 1,431 in the week that ended het
datinday (March 20). The decrease is not great, and the
mortality I. mall unusually high ; for though the weather has
' boss bright and genial during the week, its elect is not ha-
niedistely seen to Its full extegt in the Monads(
of the e.gl list of deaths. In the ten years 1848-67,
the swings number of deaths in the weeks cog-
' reepending with last week was 1,196, bat as the
deaths of iest week occurred in en increased population, they
can only he compared with the average, after the latter is
raised peoportionstely to lb. Memos'', • correction will make
It 1,318. Renee it appear. that 113 persona died teat week
who would have farmed if a mortality not higher than the
average rate had ruled. The prat rnt return exhibits • con-
siderable increase in the mortality of who. h, for
in three previous weeks the deaths from it were stioesseimly
63, 69,
of 69, end last week they were 83. Last week the
births 1,626 beys and 934 girls, in all 1,960 children, were
registered is London. Is the ten oorrseponding weeks of
tbs_yesis 1848-67 the average number was 1,639.
CRYSTAL PALACE. v— ONE fiauLLINo DAT. •-••
TIHOIDAT, MARDI 23.-2460101 MM OR plume 1,190;
dale by sacra deers, 316 totsl, 1,606.