Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-28 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-YESTERDAY

Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Attorney-General for Ireland
if he could say when it was the intention of Government
to introduce their promised measure for a more equitable
adjustment of the relations between landlord and tenant
in Ireland.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said that he
could not fix the day for the introduction of the measure,
but it would be before the Irish assizes came on.
Mr. GRIFFITH asked the Foreign Secretary whether
the statement in a foreign paper was true, that the
French Government had landed 30,000 men in Leghorn,
and that it was the intention of France to prevent the
annexation of the Central States of Italy to Sardinia.
Lord T. RUSSELL, in reply, gave a decided negative
to both these assertions.

Mr. E. JAMES having called attention to the con-
viction and subsequent pardon of Dr. Smethurst, asked
if there was an intention of introducing a measure of
criminal appeal.
Sir G. C. LEWIS reserved his opinion on criminal
appeal till the matter came regularly before the House.
As to Dr. Smethurst, he had followed the ordinary
course which he had no reason to regret. He added
that the judge who tried the case had since expressed
his opinion that Smethurst ought not to have been exe-
cuted.
In reply to Mr. M. Milnes,

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that a convention was now
in progress between this country and America for the
purpose of facilitating the trials of persons accused of
acts of cruelty on the high seas. As soon as the con-
vention was concluded, a bill founded upon it would be
introduced.

Mr. F. FRENCH having called attention to the
business of the Divorce Court,

Mr. BOWYER protested against the scandal caused by
the publicity given to the proceedings of the court.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that the subject had been under
the consideration of the Chancellor, and in consequence
it was resolved neither to increase the number of com-
mon law judges, on account of the demands of that
court, nor to add another judge.

Sir G. C. LEWIS asked leave to introduce a bill for the
better management of highways in England. The bill
was substantially the same as that of last year. It pro-
vided for the management of the highways by a board
similar to that of the board of guardians directed by a
magistrate.
After somo debate leave was given.

Sir G. C. LEWIS further obtained leave to introduce
a bill to make further provisions concerning mortgages
and other dispositions of property belonging to muni-
cipal corporations in England and Ireland.
Mr. AYRTON obtained leave to introduce a bill to repeal
certain acts relative to newspapers and other publications.

Mr. BOWYER obtained leave to introduce a bill to
amend the law relating to Roman Catholic charities.
The house adjourned at 7.30 p.m.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.—The Cornish Telegraph, reports
the loss of wheat and barley worth £l,OOO, and machinery
estimated at from £3,000 to £4,000, on Tuesday morn-
ing, in the mills of Messrs. Branwell, of Penzance,
situate at Gulval, near that town. The fire was dis-
covered at five in the morning, and by eight everything
was destroyed, a fierce wind prevailing from the north-
west. By great exertions a granary near, with £5,000
or £6,000 worth of corn in it, and a spacious flour-
store were saved. Messrs. Branwell are insured in the
West of England and County, but not fully.
A BREACH OF PROMISE IN FRANCE.—The Civil
Tribunal of Lyons has just given a decision in a case of
breach of promise of marriage. Last March aM. Joa-
chim and Mdlle. Marie, in presence of their relatives
and friends, signed a contract of marriage before
a notary, and four days after the banns were
published in the usual way. M. Joachim made
his intended various presents, such as jewel-
lery, a gold watch, shawls, and dresses, and
took an apartment of 2,500 f. a year. But on the very
eve of the day fixed for the wedding. M'dlle. Marie
sent to inform M. Joachim that she had changed her
mind, and declined to marry him. All attempts to in-
duce her to change her mind proving fruitless, M.
Joachim sued the lady for the amount of expenses in-
curred and for 2,000 f. as an indemnity for his loss in
hiring an apartment which he no longer required. The
tribunal condemned the lady to pay all the expenses
and the amount expended by M. Joachim in presents,
but rejected the demand for 2,000 f. indemnity, and
directed the parties to pay their own costs.
PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.—Returns of the
income and expenditure of the United Kingdom during
the years 1857 and 1858, were issued yesterday morning.
The total income for the latter year was £65,387,252, and
the expenditure less by £628,461, while in 1857 the ex-
penditure was in excess of income by more than £2,000,000.
The total sum brought in in 1858, by customs and excise,
was £41,890,925, the result of the duties on wine being
£1,761,738. Spirits, including excise on those produced
at home and duty on that imported, brought to the Ex-
chequer something more than £12,200,000. Malt and
hops together brought £5,800,000 in round numbers.
Tobacco and snuff about the same. Stamps produced
£7,994,635. Assessed and land taxes, £3,160,756; and
the property and income tax, £6,610,102. The
total charge for collecting the revenue amounted
to £2,586,720. 'The interest of the public debt,
including its management, an unimportant item;
absorbed £28,527,484. The total civil government
cost £1,642,017, including the allowance paid to the
King of the Belgians. This allowance, indeed, is prac-
tically very small, consisting of a few pensions only to
persons formerly attached to the establishment of the
late Princess Charlotte. No part of it is at present paid
for the use of King Leopold. The trustees, after dis-
charging certain annuities and pensions, repay the
balance of the annuity to the Exchequer. The sum so
repaid it the last year was £37,500,