The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-16 00:00:00

so. It was of the _last importance that the house should
act with the strictest impartiality and justice in this
matter. The house had not withheld the writ in the case
of Blackburn, and it would therefore be an injustice if the
writ was withheld in the case of Bridgnorth. If the ques-
tion was pressed to a division, he should certainly vote for
the issuing of the writ, unless, indeed, there was anything
which removed it from the rule which had been established
in the case of Blackburn. He admitted that after an in-
terval of seven days, no petition came up, and that there
was this special circumstance of difference in the case of
Bridgnorth, that a petition was presented. But that
petition was not very numerously signed, and it contained
no allegation which had not been distinctly raised before
the committee and thoroughly investigated by them.
The committee had laid the. evidence before the house,
which proved that competent witnesses had been exa-
mined—one gave the result of twenty years' experience—
and the result was that no doubt could remain on the mind
of hon. members as to the true bearing of the evidence.
Taking all the circumstances dispassionately into conside-
ration, he did not think he should be acting with justice if
he refused the writ.

Mr. HUME said the house had agreed to the rule that
in every case in which a member was unseated for bribery
a further inquiry should bake place. He was sorry the
hon. member withdrew his motion in the case of the Black-
burn election. He was for allowing the inquiry into the
allegations in the Bridgnorth to be made, especially after
the statement of the hon. member for the West Riding,
that the family of the Whitmores could return their own
footman if they pleased. He trusted the house would not
stultify themselves by opposing inquiry into such serious
allegations. _ _

Mr. DISRAELI said the hon. member for the West
Riding had placed his whole argument on one alleged fact
—that the Whitmore family possessed, not considerable,
but predominant influence in Bridgnorth, and that, as
patrons of the borough, they could return both members,
and, if they liked, their own butler—(no)—their own foot-
man. Either result would show what considerable influ-
ence the bon. gentleman alleged they possessed in the
borough. He would, however, produce an authority, not
the one quoted by the hon. member—an authority open to
every gentleman in the house— the authority of the public
journals—in which some circumstances were stated which
had relation to the borough of Bridgnorth. It was there
stated that a gentleman, having all the advantages of family
and high respectability, of long experience in that house
as a member, and who had held an eminent official post—
qualifications which entitled him to the confidence of any
constituency—this gentleman did not entirely rely on his
birth, Parliamentary experience, social position, or the re-
flected lustre of his past official position ; for wheni he went
as a candidate to Bridgnorth he proceeded to avail himself
of the assistance of the gentleman asserted to possess such
overpowering influence in the borough. This gentle.
man, Mr. George Hope, not only went to Bridg-
north, but he went as a guest to Mr. Whitmore's mansion
at Bridgnorth. This gentleman, who not only possessed
singular advantages in his own person, which other candi-
dates did not enjoy, had the addititional advantage of being
introduced 'to the electors •of Bridgnorth by Mr. Whit-
more at a public meeting, the asserted patron of the
borough. After canvassing the town Mr. Hope found he
could make no way. The opinions he expressed were
favourable to the Government; but they found no favour
with the electors of Bridgnorth, even though backed by
the influence of the alleged patron. Now, in the face of
these circumstances, he thought it was rather too much for
the hon. member for the West Riding to get up in such a
peremptory manner in that house, using his great influence
to make the people believe that Bridgnorth was a rotten
borough in the hands of a particular family, and that elec-
tions were not free. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for
the West Riding had not the slightest authority for his
statement, which, though endorsed with his usual facility
by the hon. member for Montrose, was proved to be utterly
void of foundation. It was stated by the authority referred
to, that the family of the Whitmores exercised some in-
fluence in the borough—some influence they did possess
(and they deserved to possess it), and because they exer-
cised some influence, Mr. Cadogan chose to say they could
return their footman if they liked. This was the evidence
of a disappointed candidate only, who, like all disappointed
candidates, wished easily to account for a result not alto-
gether pleasing to himself. That was all the evidence ad-
duced for the unqualified statement of the hon. member for
the West Riding, an d. the hasty confirmation of the hon. mem-
berfor Montrose. The information affordedbythepublicjour-
nals no one would pretend to contradict, that information
clearly proved that the asserted patron of the borough of
Bridgnorth, who had recommended a gentleman with every
qualification in his favour except that the electors could
not agree with his political opinions, could not prevail on
the borough to elect him. (Hear.)

After a few words from Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, Mr. H
HERBERT, and Mr. BALL, the house divided—

For the motion
Against it

Majority for issuing the writ 134
THE SHIP VIOLET.

Mr. WHALLEY said he had given notice of a motion on
the subject of the capture of the ship Violet by pirates in
1851; but, as the information which he had received on
the subject from the Government rendered the motion un-
necessary, he begged to withdraw it.
Motion accordingly withdrawn.
SELECT COMMITTEES.

Mr. EWART rose to move for a select committee to in-
quire whether the constitution and action of the select
committees of this house might not be improved by gene-
rally diminishing the number of members composing such
committees, and by making provision for their giving more
undivided attention to subjects committed to their consi-
deration than they are able to do under the present system.
He said he was anxious to call the attention of the house
to the subject, with the view of remedying what he consi-
dered the evils of the present system of constituting select
committees. It often happened that there were conflicting
committees sitting ; that members were appointed to more
than one committee at the same time, and were thus pre-
vented from discharging the duties imposed on them. The
hon. and learned member concluded by proposing the above
motion.
' The question having been put,
Mr. SOTHERON, as chairman of select committees,
bore testimony to the inconveniences of the present sys-
tem, and concurred generally with Mr. Ewart as to its
reform. At the same time he urged the postponement of
the motion, in order to give more deliberate consideration
to the subject.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he was ready to accept the sug-
gestion of his hon. friend who had just sat down, as to its
being advisable that the motion should not be pressed at
that moment. He thought it would be better to make the
motion at a future time, and in more general terms ; so
that the committee which should be appointed might not
be confined exclusively to the suggestions contained in the
motion of the hon. member for Dumfries, but might be
enabled to offer other suggestions which would tend to
facilitate the progress of business in that house. He
quite agreed with his hon. friend that it was highly desir-
able, now that there were so many subjects for the consi-
deration of committees, that the number of members
usually appointed to sit upon those committees should be
as small as possible. He hoped, at all events, that his
hon. friend would set an example in the nomination of
the committee for which he had moved, of the advantages
of a small number, and that he would not propose a large
number to consider the subject which he had broughtunder
their notice that evening. It was highly desirable also that
members should be constant in their attendance with respect
to the subjects which they might be appointed to consider.
It often happened that members were absent, without
whose opinion and authority the report of the committee
would not be looked upon as of as great value as it other-
wise would be. That was a question, however, with
which it was extremely difficult to deal effectually, and
one which required much deliberation. Very often the
day of the appointment of the committee was early in the
session, and members usually attended in very full num-
bers to hear all the evidence ; and then about the middle of
July, it being proposed by the chairman to come to a reso-
lution upon the subject of investigation, out of the fifteen
or sixteen members who had been originally appointed, not
more than seven or eight generally appeared. Four or five,
therefore, formed a majority, and it was upon the opinion
of those four or five members that the house was obliged to
frame its decision. He repeated, however, that the object
which his hon. friend had in view was somewhat difficult
of attainment, and he hoped he would not proceed with
his motion for the present.
Mr. RICH thought the suggestions of the hon. member
for Dumfries deserved the serious consideration of the
house ; he (Mr. Rich) felt assured that there was hardly a
member of the house who had not observed how very hastily
committees were usually nominated. He did not wish his
hon. friend should press the motion, however, at that
moment, though he sincerely hoped that he might ulti-
mately succeed in the object which he had in view.

Loid H. VANE thought it a matter of extreme impor-
tance that the members usually appointed to serve upon
committees of that house should be lessened. It would be'
better, however, in his opinion, that the hon. member for
Dumfries should postpone his motion until he should have
been enabled to place himself in communication with the
Government upon the subject.
Mr. E. DENISON was not quite sure whether the pre-
sent mode of appointing select committees was looked upon
as altogether objectionable or not. It might be very con-
venient that the number of members upon these committees
should be diminished; but, at the same time, a large pro-
portion of young members should not be appointed to act
upon them in all cases. He should tell his hon. friend the
member for Dumfries, that he for one could not enter into
an inquiry upon the subject with any very sanguine hope
of a material improvement being effected in the present
system.
Mr. FRENCH wished that the inquiry should be ex-
tended not only to the members who might constitute the
committee, but also to the subjects which should be
brought under their notice. •
Mr. EWART said if the hon. member for Malton (Mr.
J. E. Denison) had been present when he (Mr. Ewart) had
introduced the question, he would have been aware that
he excepted very important: committees, such as those sit-
ting upon the affairs of India, from the same regulations
as those which he proposed for the appointment of those
of minor consideration. In bringing forward his motion
his only desire had been to improve, as far as possible, the
interior organisation of that house. He would at once
yield to the suggestions made by the noble lord the member
for London as to the propriety of not pressing it prema-
turely upon the attention of the house, and would, there-
fore, postpone it until some more favourable opportunity
of introducing it should present itself.
The motion was then withdrawn.
Mr. WHALLEY moved for a select committee to exa-
mine the returns made to that house by the Inclosure
Commissioners and the Commissioners of the Board a
Health, and to inquire into the operation of the Tidal
Harbour commission, and to report whether any inconve-
nience or any benefit has resulted from the mode of pro-
ceeding in regard to private bills adopted by those corn-
aclmvairno.temraegrse.
hpeAw
respectively,emtended to aontdhewrheelasthseers
ofth epns.vamatee
business.
which which had been uE
gNedsaaigad,inhste
tthheoulgahstt
mthoteiosanmaiesoobajpecptliioed
to the one then under
itthteior
ochotnasiindemraetmiohne—rsnaamt eplrey,stehnatt
to
serve on everycommitteew hichwould have to inquire into
any new subject. He should
further say, that although he
thought there ought to be a change in the mode of conduct-
ing private business in that house,i dwith a view to make it
as little expensive as possible, not appear to him that
the motion of the hon. member was calculated to promote
thrIWHALLEY intimated that lie did net mean to
o.bject.
press his motion to a division.
The motion was then withdrawn.
Seymour, Mr. Stir-
THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
Ewart,Sera Mr. Goulb
Colonel MIME moved that the following gentlemen
Labouchere,uardl.nge 31g.r(1
should be the select committee on the National Gallery
Stir-
ling, Mr. l°l,leB Bales Currie, Mr Hamilton,urn'
Colonel Mure
. Mr.
Mr. Baring Wall, Mr.
Sir William Molesworth, and Air.
Vernon, Mr. Marshall)
Charteris.

Mr. C. BERKELEY objeeted to the constitution of the
committee.

Sirj. PASINGTON believed that it was the general
practice to have both sides of the house represented in a
committee. In this case, with two or three exceptions,
the members of this committee were taken from the other
side.

Mr. W. PATTEN suggested that the hon. member for
South Cheshire would be a ♦aluable addition to the-com-
mittee.

Colonel MITRE assured the house that in the selection
of the committee it had been endeavoured to procure the
services of those who took an interest in it, without refer-
ence to political considerations. Applications had• been
made to two or three gentlemen sitting on the opposite
side of the house, and on their declining to serve, the
committee was constituted as it now appeared before the
house.

Mr. HENLEY did not think the objection unimportant,
as the report of the committee might lay the foundation for
an expenditure of public money.
Colonel MITRE had conceived that expenditure of public
money would be a collateral question.
After a few words from Mr. SOTHERON,
Colonel MURE mithdrew the motion for the present.
Mr. C. BERKELEY then gave notice that he should
move " That it be an instruction to the committee to in-
quire into the expenditure of money for the purchase of
pictures for the National Gallery."

FOREST OF WHICHWOOD.
On the motion of Mr. WILSON, leave was given to
bring in a bill for disafforesting the Forest of Whichwood.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS BILL.

•On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. HENLEY urged an objection to the power given in
the bill of summary conviction and imprisonment,without
appeal.
Mr. BARROW expressed his strong repugnance to this
power.

Mr. FITZROY said that the bill would be nugatory if
clogged with such power of appeal.
The bill was then read a second time.
UNIVERSITIES (SCOTLAND).
On the motion of the LORD ADVOCATE, leave was
given to bring in a bill to regulate the admission of profes-
sors to lay chairs, &c., in the Universities of Scotland.
EXCHEQUER LOAN FUND COMMISSION.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER laid on the
table a return of the proceedings of this commission, ob-
serving that the gentlemen composing it had performed
their office gratuitously, and had saved the country a mil-
lion and a half of money.
Mr. DISRAELI said that he had never intended to
make any charge against these officers, and he now bore
testimony to the exemplary manner in which they had
fulfilled their duties.
The house then adjourned at eleven o'clock.

RAILWA T INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The half-yearly report of the directors of this company
to be presented at the half-yearly meeting, on Thursday
next, says

- •
" The-directors have to report, that the receipts of the
South-Eastern Railway Company for the half-year ending
on the 31st of January, 1853, have been 424,5471. Bs. 94.,
including 3801. 18s. 9d. received of the Brighton Company
for toll ; and the working expenses and renewals
151,0691. 13s. The sum of 6,2151. 15s. has been laid aside
for renewal of permanent way. The rates, taxes, and tolls
amount to 15,980/. 16s. 2d. ; the Government duty to
13,171/. 14s. 4d. ; the rents of the Greenwich, Canterbury,
and Whitstable Railways to 24,4151. ls. Bd. ; which sums,
in addition to the interest on the mortgage debt, South-
Eastern annuities and guaranteed stock of the company
74,2001. 12s. ld., make a total deduction from the gross
earnings of 285,0531. 12s. 3d. The profit and loss account
shows a credit of 8591. lls. after providing for the last di-
vidend; also a sum of 1691. 3s. 4d. for dividend and
interest on Canterbury and Whitstable securities in the
hands of the company, and is debited with the sum of
3,2701. ss. 9d. for Parliamentary expenses, and 7881.45. Bd.
being one-third of the loss sustained by fire at the com-
pany's works, at Ashford, leaving a balance available for
dividend of 136,4641. Os. sd. The total increase in traffic
for the last half-year, as compared with the corresponding
half-year ending 31st January, 1852, is 15,6911. 12s. 4d. ;
the through traffic to and from London and Folkestone,
and Dover and Ramsgate and Margate, for the half-years
ending as follows was :

To and from
Folkestone and Dover.
Jan. 31, 1851-461,351 2
Jan. 31, 1852.... 84,363 14 8 ....
Jan. 31, 1853.... 68,889 18 2 •• ••

To and from
Itamsgato and Margate.
£18,792 6 11
18,821 6 2
23,810 10 9

Dec. under '52. £14,473 16 6 Inc. trier '52, £4,989 4 7

Inc. over '51.. £7,538 15 6 .... Inc. over '5l, £5,017 3 10
It will be ,observed that there is a decresae in the traffic
to Folkestone and Dover of 15,4731. 16s. 6d. ; but the di-
minution in the continental traffic during the half-year,
as against the comparative half of the preceding year, is
actually 18,9431. There is, therefore, an increase of 3,469/.
3s. 6d. of traffic between London and Folkestone and
Dover, not attributable to continental traffic. The whole
increase, therefore, of domestic traffic during the half-year
is 34,6341. 12s. 4d., a fact which the directors cannot but
consider will be gratifying to the proprietors. Of this,
12,0471. 16s. 7d. is derived from the goods traffic; 4,9581.
4s. 9d. is to be attributed to hop traffic ; there was a dimi-
nution, however, during the half-year of 2,132/. 7s. 9d .
owing to a deficiency in the crop of fruit and vegetables.
The foregoing tables show that the increase of passenger
and goods traffic during the half-year, compared with the
corresponding half of 1851, has been 71,9291. 17s. 10d.
The directors renewed their application to the Government
for the privilege of having the baggage of passengers ex-
amined at the London-bridge terminus, whereby the con-
venience of those persons who constitute the most
important class travelling between England and
France would be greatly enhanced, and it has been
conceded in favour of passengers arriving in London
by the mail leaving Paris at 7.30 p.m. The contract with
the Northern of France Railway Company, to continue
the fixed train at 8.10 a.m. daily, from London-bridge ter-
minus to Dover, and the steam-packet service in connec-
tion therewith to Calais, will be in force to the Ist of July;
but experience serves to convince the directors that a tidal
service, in connection with express trains between London
and Paris, is the best thing for the accommodation of the
travelling public, and their endeavours will be given to
the improvement and maintenance of this service. In any
event, a train will leave the London-bridge terminus
daily, in correspondence with a steamer at Folkestone, so as
to ensure the most rapid communication between London
and Paris via Boulogne ; and this service is accomplished •
daily from London to Boulogne in four and a half hours.
It will be observed, that, notwithstanding the facilities on
the Greenwich branch have been continued throughout the
half-year by a train every quarter of an hour each way,
the traffic has diminished to the extent of 2,3891. 9s. 7d.,
whilst on the North Kent line, although there has been a
decrease of 67,243 persons in number, the increase in the
traffic receipts has been 3,9681. 17s. ld. In the half-year
ending on the 31st January, 1852, the number of miles
run by engines was 1,337,531 the coke consumed was
14,585 tons; the total cost being 13,6161, ls. 11d., or
2.4432 d. per mile. During the last half-year, the number
of miles run by engines was 1,425,556 ; the coke consumed
was 16,910 tons, being an average of 26.574 lbs. per mile,
at a cost of 14,6081. 9s. Bd., or 2.4597 d. per mile. The en-
gines, therefore, ran 87,825 miles more last half-year than
in the corresponding half of the preceding year, and con-
sumed 2,325 tons more coke, at, an increased charge of
9921. 7s. 9d. The total running of the engines has cost
8.651 d. per mile, which includes 3.251 d. per mile of re-
pairs and renewals. The carriage and waggon stock of the
company is in good order ; the whole cost of repairs and
renewals of new for worn-out stock, during the half-year,
is charged to revenue. There is a charge to capital ac-
count for additional new stock of 6,3161. 18s. sd. The re-
turns of the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate line, since
its opening on 24th October, 1849, have been as follows :-
Partially opened, to 31st January, 1850, 7,6661. 12s. 4d. ;
six months ending 31st July, 1850, 11,1861. lls. 6d. ; do.
31st January, 1851, 13,6871. 15s. 10d. ; do. 31st July,
1851, 14,7001. 17s. ld. ; do. 31st January, 1852, 16,8111.
15s. scl. ; do. 31st July, 1852, 14.7691. 3s. ; ' do. 31st
January, 1853, 19,0931: 7s. scl. When proper commu-
nications with the northern lines are established with the
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate line, a large increase to
its traffic may be anticipated. It will be observed
that were there an union of trains with the 5.20 a.m.
train from Dover, which conveys the mail leaving Paris at
7.30 the night before, via Red Hill and Reading, the mer-
chants of Liverpool and Manchester might receive their
correspondence leaving Paris at 7:30 p.m. by two p.m. on
the succeeding day. The advantages to the merchandise
traffic which would result from such arrangements are ob-
vious. The directors were compelled to enforce the rights
of the, company as lessees of the Reading, Guildford, and
Reigate Railway by an action against the London and
South-Weitern Railway Company, who retained the whole
receipts on account of this company at Guildford, and
claimed against them a set-off of larger amount for tolls,
under an erroneous interpretation of the agreement be-
tween that company and. the Reading, Guildford, and
Reigate Company. The directors first obtained a decision
in favour of this company in the Court of Exchequer ; but
the directors of the London and South-Western Company
appealed from that judgment, and the judges, on a rehear-
ing of the case, in a court of error, affirmed the decision in
favour of the South-Eastern Railway Company, which seta
the question at rest, and the amount due to this company
has since been received. The charge in the account for the
maintenance of the permanent way during the last half-
year is large; it is 18,4491. 17s. against 14,0611. 135.. 10d.
in the corresponding half-year. That increase is occasioned
by the outlay required in consequence of the heavy rains.
It was difficult at one period of the half-year to keep the
line open in a satisfactory state for the traffic. This object
was accomplished in a safe and substantial manner, though
at a great outlay ; the circumstances were not such as
would have warranted the slightest hesitation in provid-
ing ample means for ensuring safety. The accounts pre-
sented at the last half-yearly general meeting showed
that the sum of 88,7721. ss. was due from proprietors
in arrear of calls. During the last half-year, 29,9771.
13s: 4d. has been received from proprietors in arrear,
and the sum now due on shares forfeited, and to be for-
feited, is 58,7941. lls. Bd. 49,3781. 18s. 4d. is due on ac-
count of shares, 'of which notice of forfeiture has been
given, and 9,4151.135. 4d. on shares of which notice of for-
feiture has been prepared for the present meeting. When
the resolution is passed, the whole question may be dealt
with at once, and the capital account to that extent closed.
The amount of mortgage debt of the company on Jan. 31,
1852, was 1,997,0601., bearing interest at an average rate
of 4.375 per cent. per annum ; on July 31, 1852, the
amount was 1,859,9751., at 4.259 per cent. per annum; and
on January 31 last, the debt was 1,932,5751., bearing the
reduced interest of 4.1048 per cent. per annum. In addition
to the capital shown to have .been expended to the 31st
January loaustt,laty in workshedirec and buildingstorshave now
to state that therein progress,
lbe
a further
which will reach the sum of 70,0001., o,nd any outlay beyond
this sum must be in the discretion of the proprietors hav-
ing regard to the prospective advantages to be derived from
it, and the directors will take the earliest opportunity of
placing the matter in a shape for their decision. It is right
to say that the settlement of the contractors' accounts up
to the present time has required a larger sum than had
been estimated, but the accounts open on the 31st January
are within moderate compass, and are not likely to occa-
sion any material variation from the estimates. If, when
full statements are prepared, the proprietors are of opinion
that hop and corn warehousesshould be erected at the Brick-
layers' Arms station, bonded warehouses at the London-
bridge terminus, and cottages said other auxiliary works on
the line, and that the locomotive and carriage and waggon
stock of the company should be increased, then the outlay of
70,0001. now proposed will be increased by 230,0001., and
make up a total sum, in addition to the capital expendedon
the 31st January, of 300,000/. The directors have taken
steps to realise the surplus property belonging to the com-
pany ; but they are bound to state that, notwithstandingthe
instructions given to them at the last general meeting, they
are not in a position to offer more than an estimate of what