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

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1853.

An interesting discussion took place in the
House of Lords on Monday evening, respecting
one of the most important, as it is-confessedly one
of the most arduous, of the duties connected with
the measures of Legal Reform now under con-
sidenttion. It arose on a question asked of the
Lord' Chancellor by the veteran Lord LYNDHURST
respecting the contemplated consolidation of the
Statutes. The Noble and Learned Lord alluded
to a subject which had long been painfully noto-
rious, and which had but too frequently elicited
such grave censures from the most eminent mem-
bers of the Bench and the Rar, and something still
stronger from unfortunate litigants, who had been
subjected to heavy and almost ruinous costs through
the obscurities and contradictions contained in
enactments sanctioned by the collective wisdom.
The evils arising from this crude and hasty legis-
lation have, indeed, attained such a height as to
render it essential that something should be done,
and that without a moment's unnecessary delay.
There may yet be found. ridiculous absurdities
reflecting disgrace and odium on those by whom
such follies were perpetrated or sanctioned. The
case alluded to by Lord LYNDHURST, of the statute
which provided that one moiety of the penalty
incurred for a certain offence (viz., 14 years' tran-
sportation), should go to the informer, and the
other moiety to the parish, is by no means
a solitary instance of such oversights and
anomalies. Many similar absurdities were
pointed out by Lord BROUGHAM, in his
admirable speech in the House of Peers in 1848,
and subsequently in his letter to Sir JAMES
GRAHAM, he cited many other acts that ex-
hibited gross negligence on the part of those by
whom they had been carried through both branches
of the Legislature, and at the same time explained
some,,of the causes to which the acknowledged
evifs were ascribable. But glaring as were these
errors, ridiculous as they *appeared even to the
most •superficial observer, they occasioned far less
mischief than the adoption of words of doubtful
construction, which arrayed Judge against Judge,
and even one of the Superior Courts against
another, to the perplexity and confusion of the
unfortunate suitor, who felt the hardship of being
compelled to pay for settling the law, and de-
ciding by the judgment of the highest appellate
tribunal the serious difference between the Courts
of Common Pleas and Exchequer as to whether
the word "may" in the County Courts Act had
been used in a discretionary or imperative sense.
SiMple as the matter may now be regarded, the
law has been, we believe, in an unsettled state
for many years ; and it is not yet, we believe,
definitively disposed of as to whether words
of , permission, as " may," or it shall be
lawful," dr,c., are to be so construed as affording
any option to the Judge, or allowing him to de-
termine as he thought most in accordance with
the justice and equity of the case. • The difficulty
ceUld, with a very little care, ,be most easily
avoided ; but, as it was, it led to the greatest an-
noyance and vexation, inducing " sharp practi-
tioners" to bring actions in the Superior Courts,
on the chance of receiving costs far exceeding the
amount of the original debt, through the obscurity
occasioned by the wording of the statute.
While, then, it is most desirable that adequate
means should be adopted to prevent a repetition
of such ludicrous. and injurious mistakes, it must
be obvious that the intended digest or consolida-
tion of the statutes would be of comparatively
little utility, unless the existing contradictions
and obscurities were removed, and the law .
stated 'in a more intelligible manner. We
must at all times receive any observation
of Lord Sr, LEONARDS with respect ; but
with great deference to the Learned Lord,
we submit that a mere alteration of the
language; 80‘ as to remove existing doubt, could
not be considered as so far altering the nature
and 'character-of the work as to render it a new
code, rather than a consolidation
of
previous enact-
ments; but even were it the case, it could scarcely
afford a sufficient reason for
avoiding the oppor-
tunities for amendment, and. permitting such gross
blots much longer to deface the national
statute-
book.

Extraordinary credit, we cannot help
111-'
repeat•
is due, we conceive, to the Aonourable Gentlern
the Member for the borough of Lewes, in refer-
ence to that bill, Which he has now obtained leave
to introduce, for the better prevention and punish-
ment of aggravated assaults upon women and
children. It was time, indeed, for some such in-
terference on the part of the Legislature. The
columns of the public journals had been too fre-
quently polluted, especially of late years, by the
record of these lamentable acts of brutality, for
the expiation of wl)ich the law hitherto allowed
but very inadequate and restricted power to the
provincial or metropolitan magistracy. According
to the existing system, as explained in the House
of Commons on Thursday evening by Mr. FITZROY,
all the punishment that can be inflicted upon the
offenders here especially referred to, is limited to
a line of 51., or, in default of payment, two
months' imprisonment. It must be remembered,
- moreover that this imprisonment must be without
. hard labour,
uorf, even though the cruelty complained
of be
most inhuman description,
by the
and heightened
most revolting circum-
stances. Something, therefore, in the way of im-
mediate alteration) was imperatively demanded

from the humanity and justice of Parliament. It
is gratifying to reflect that measures have at length
been taken by the Hon. Representative of Lewes
for the improvement of the law in this particular,
and the course adopted by him has already re-
ceived the approval of the popular branch of the
Legislature.

It' was scarcely necessary that the details of so
many acts of appalling ferocity as were brought
forward by Mr. FITZROY in evidence of the need
.of the proposed alteration, should have been re-
counted to the national representatives. Unhappily,
the existence of the evil was already sufficiently
notorious. Scarcely any one can find it difficult
to recal a variety of similar atrocities to remem-
brance, for unfortunately there is scarcely any one
but must have read accounts like these again
and again in our own columns, and in those
of our contemporaries. Nevertheless, it was,
perhaps, after all, quite as well, everything
considered, that the Member for Lewes should
at once make out the strongest case that was
possible, in order that there might not remain
among our legislators the slightest chance of mis-
apprehension. After the speech delivered by Mr.
FITZROY upon this subject, we cannot imagine for
a single instant, that any of those who listened to
his statements, could hesitate to acknowledge that
the bill proposed by him was otherwise than abso-
lutely requisite. Enough was said on Thursday
to show in the clearest light, that there has long
been a, very grievous want of some such resolute
effort to suppress the continuance of those execra-
ble abominations. Outrages of the most inhuman
nature are repeatedly occurring, the people know
but too well by this time, committed on members
of the weaker sex by persons whom, as Mr. FITZ-.
ROY justly remarked, we must all blush to regard
as Englishmen. Outrages, moreover, very many
of them, not confined to members of the weaker
sex, but perpetrated, we might almost say, in
the majority of instances upon helpless chil-
dren. All that is now asked from Parliament; in
this matter, by the originator of the suggested
measure, is, as he himself observed, the same pro-
tection for unfortunate females and children, al-
ready afforded to dogs, and cats, and donkeys.
At least, it is reasonable to hope that the preven-
tion of cruelty may at length not be witnessed
only in regard to animals, but in regard likewise
to our hitherto almost wholly undefended fellow-
creatures. We may then perchance hear some-
what less frequently of women being left insen-
sible on the floor of their home, their " clothes
saturated with blood," and the rings on their
fingers " beaten into the flesh to the very bone"
according to those painful descriptions which Mr.
FITZROY conceived it to be his duty to submit to
the consideration of his brother representatives.
Agreeing though we do very cordially with the
Hon. Member for Bath, in regretting that the
bill introduced by the Member for Lewes
could not go farther than is actually
intended, we cannot coincide with him or
with the Hon. Gentleman the Member for
Leominster, in aspiring to witness the application
to these ruffianly offenders of the degrading pen-
alty of corporal punishment. In reference to that
punishment, we conceive that the Hon. Gentle-
man the Representative of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
was fully justified in questioning its efficacy. Sup-
posing its efficacy to be demonstrable, we should
exult in its application to the assailants of *omen
and children, for none could more richly deserve
to .fall under the weight of that punishment. But
experience has proved plainly enough before now,
in a countless variety of instances, that evil, in-
stead of good, is invariably the result of corporal
chastisement. It was the recognition of this fact
that called forth the clamour several years since
against its continuance in the army and in our
public schools. It was seen that the ill-
disposed who fell under the lash, were only
rendered thereby more stubborn and incor-
rigible. Instead of correcting offences, it only
multiplied them ; and, in the case of the military,
no soldier who over bared his back to the thongs
of the cat was ever known afterwards to reflect
credit on his profession. His position among his
comrades became altered, and he was never known
fully to recover from the degradation. He either
fell into worse habits, and was ultimately drummed
out of his regiment for some more flagrant repeti-
tion of his offences, or, falling into a state of des-
pondency, quietly left the service at the earliest
available opportunity. Equally ineffectual, we
doubt not, would prove the application of this
punishment to the unmanly assailants of unfortu-
nate females and helpless children. The fear of
it would not be enough, in the first instance, to
frighten them from the luxury of giving way to
their ferocious bursts of passion, and application of
the lash afterwards would only render them, if pos-
sible, still more lamentably brutalised. We cannot
but think, therefore, that the bill introduced by the
Member for Lewes goes quite as far as was advis-
able under the circumstances ; and we say this
advisedly, even while coinciding most cordially
with Mr. PHINN and Mr, PHILLIMORE, that the;
class of offenders about to be dealt with by the
new measure should be brought under the pressure
of the heaviest penalties and the most degrading
punishments.
It is lamentable to reflect, that as matters have
hitherto stood in reference to ads of cruelty to
our fellow-creatures, a 'man might brutally as-
sault a woman or a child, with only the danger of
having to pay 51. penalty or be imprisoned for
two months, whereas, for stealing a lady's lap-
dog he is liable to be mulcted. of 201., or be re-
quired to undergo six months' imprisonment.
Hitherto, indeed, there has in all this been a
graceful disproportion in the distribuiion of pe-
nalties and punishments. Fortunately there is
now fair prospect, as we have shown, of at least
one great error in this disproportion ' being very
speedily rectified—namely, by means of 'the hu-
mane bill introduced by the member for , Lewes
for the prevention of aggravated assaults upon
women and children.

THE COURT.—It is now determined that the Court
will prolong its stay at Buckingham Palace until Satur-
day next, when it will take its departure for Windsor
Castle. Preparations are making at Frogmore Lodge
for the reception of her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent, who is expected to arrive there on Friday next.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about at par. (according to the last tariff), which, at the
English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 104 d. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.17 ' and, the
exchange at Paris on London at .short being 25.071, it
follows that gold is about 0.38 per cent. dearer in Paris
than in English. By advices from Hamburgh the price
of gold is 429 per mark, which, at the English Mint
price of 3/. 17s. 10Ad. per ounce for standard gold, gives
an exchange of 13.7 ; and, the exchange at Hamburgh
on London at short being 13.6, it follows that gold is
0.47 per cent. dearer in Hamburgh than in London.

BURFORD'S PANORAMA ROYAL, LEICESTER-SQUARE.—
The public will be glad to find that on Saturday next
Mr. Burford opens a View of Granada and the Alham-
bra—that ancient city of the Moors. This has been
long a desideratum, not only on account of its un-
rivalled beauty, but of its historical interest, and as a
spot pronounced by the late Lord Dudley and Sir David
Wilkie to be the finest they had ever met with during
their extended travels.

THE REFORMATION.—At St. Matthew's, Great Peter-
street, Westminster, the Rev. R. Malone, incumbent,
received into the Protestant Church six males and two
females, who publicly and formally renounced the errors
of the Church of Rome. This solemn and impressive
ceremony took place during Sunday evening service.
e six male converts were the inmates of the London
Colonial Training Institution for the Reformation of
district in which( the church is situated.
Adult Male Criminals, but the females werei,
h e
rev.from
characler.
gen-
tleman also,
the
the evening, baptised an adult Jew.
ebeirvehneintegxtse
Altogether'
wasrvc en
not wasse
selected
ttehde
expresslymost
siveforthe occasion •
from the book of W the text in his course of lectures
been giving
for
somaentiiel, which the rev. gentleman has
Daniel m 16, 17, 18.
SEVEN me— • ••••P
PERSONS KILLED BY A COLLIERY EXPLOSION.
in the Risca Vale, r
neaerPt a frightful colliery explosion
mouth, by which seven youngwport' in the county of Mon-
mendenly hurried into eternity, and thirteen
and boys were sud-
injured, so that four of the unfortunate
more or less
Pected to survive the frightful boilnate men are not ex-
u
rnings from which they
are now suffering. The seam of coal
i
ex-
plosion took place on Saturday evening last,
awhichthich this
as the Black Vein, from which John itusseil,l known
the
proprietor, has for some time past supplied thecli Nest
India mail-boats. It was in this same seam that, about
seven years ago, a great explosion took place, when
be-
tween 30 and 40 persons were killed ; and since that
period, occasional explosions of a minor character have
taken place, by which one or two lives each time have
been sacrificed. It is to the negligence of a collier, 'who
ately survives to admit the truth, that the present
frightful ta t h is to be attributed,
ca sop he

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCE:

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday w ere
estimated at 8,000 bales, of which 1,000 Ame ri can
were taken for export, and 2,000 on' speculati on.
The market closed steadily. The sales comp ri sed
7,000 American, 400 Pernam and Maranharrr. at
514. to 6d., 50 Bahia at 6d., 300 Egyptian a t 6d.
to 7id., 400 _Surat at 3id. to 4d., and 50 Sea
Island. Railway Shares were dull, at rat her
lower prices.

Owing to the Chusan steamdr whichlbrough t the
mails from Sydney and Adelaide being only c Ku an
experimental trip, scarcely any one connected -with
Australia appears to have received letters by her.
The few items obtained, however, show than the
gold yield was fully equal to the former ave ntge,
and that there may probably be great discos raries
yet made.
Stocks are rather lower to-day for special tram sfer
only, in consequence of the difficulty of obtain .ing
names corresponding to those in which the seller
has been entered in the Bank books. Consols- ; ilso
have been down to 99 to 1001 for Money, am Ito
1001 to for Account, cash being in demand. The
New per Cents. have been 1031, including the
dividend. Exchequer Bills of June are at 11.0 s.
premium, and thos& of March 12s. Bank Stock for
account has been at 2281. .

In the Foreign Market the dealings have b een
limited, except in Spanish Stock, which is still
rising. The New Loan, it is now said, will be for
about about nine millions sterling, but of which
two millions will be merely in the, nature of a a )n-
-version or redemption of the existing debt, the
coupons being taken at 10k. The market price tthis
morning for the Certificate was 8* to g ; and 25
for, the New Deferred. Mexican are higher, ha.v ing
been done at 26g. The allusion in the message •of
President Pierce to his desire to increase tho to rri-
tory of the United States wherever it can be 'd one
by peaceable means, gives rise to the impre:3l don.
that ultimately Mexico may become anno; (ed.
Brazilian 4i per Cents. have been marked :98i.
Russian Bonds have been at 1031 to 104 for t'he
per Cents., and Dutch 4 per Cent. at 99i- to
The Railway Share Market had been govor ned
mainly by the settlement of the account, andi )r ices
are slightly lower. French Shares have beei i
im-
proving, and there is more doing in Paris and
Lyons, Northern, and Luxembourg.
The Gold Mine Shares have been iluctuali ng,
owing to the adjustment of the account. The 'ort
Philip have declined, because. of the conflagra.t ion
at the company's stores. Australian Freehold. are
higher, and also Australasian, Australian, the Cor-
dillera, the Colonial, and the Great Nugget
The Brazilian Imperial Cocacs are buoyant.
The Land Companies' Shares are scarcel y so
good, but Van Diemen's Land have risen, and ;also
North British Australasian.

The Australian Bank shares are firm, and. are
quoted with the extra call paid upon the En glish
and Scottish and the London Chartered.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
(From the Official List.)
Business (J me.
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities . lOO 599,1 '4.00
New 34 per Cent. Annuities...
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 —
Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6ii
India. Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO.. 4B
Bank Stock for Account 2284
Consols for Account 13th April
Exchequer Bills, 11d. Juno. March.
11000
£5OO lO
Small l4 312

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY..
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. —
Ditto New, 1852, 43 per Cent 9Bl
Eiluador Bonds ss
Greek ex over-due Coupons
Mexican 3 per Cent... 26a
Portuguese 4 per Cent. 39
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto, 4.4 per cent
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 254 ft
Ditto for the Account 25 i

Spanish Passive (Converted) 68+61
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun,
Venezuela Bonds 3i per Cent.
Belgian Bonds, 4i per Cent. Ex. 25fr. . 99
Dutch Exchange i per Cent
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates... .. 991
TITREE O'CLO(IK.
Consols
Ditto April Account

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCXCI.
WARWICK AND LEAMINGTON SPRING

MEETING.

A useful little filly of Mr. Watson's, by the Sheriff
out of Faintaway, ridden excellently well by ',Veils,
opened the ball yesterday in a five-furlong scurry, beat-
ing the Gip, Exchange, and Sophia filly in such, easy
style as to give great promise of accomplishing a. good
thing in the time to come.
The Trial Stakes furnished an interesting race be-
tween Defiance and Poodle ; but, as might be eip ected,
the former, with Wells up, won cleverly, with some }thing

to spare.
The favourite for the Woodcote Stakes—the cc at, by
Hercules, out of Sister to Dexterous—was beaten, with
the greatest ease by Mr. Wauchope's colt by John
o'Gaunt, who cantered home three lengths in frNont of
Oleaster, the favourite being the same distance in the
rear of the latter. _ _

The Epsom horse for the Willoughby, the Heroy won,
as they said he would, in a common canter. 1:, how-
ever, could not fancy him ; but had I seen him a few
days ago, his condition, backed by his being rid den by
Dockeray, would have made me hold his chance i n. some
esteem.

vY
The Free Handicap was considered, at the last mo-
ment, a first-rate thing for Conmore; and the:wires were
worked to some purpose, for all the money that could
be got on in town was taken off the lists in an hour or
two, and as little as 7t04 on the course. He won -very
cleverly, with nothing to spare, by a short length.. It
was, however, a good performance, as he conceded loads
of weight to everything in the race, giving the sf:cond
favourite—Black Jack--no less than fifty-four pounds
for the year. His owner, it is said, has backed him for
tbe double event—the Free and Great Warwi ckshire
Handicaps ; and it looks very likely to come off suc-
cessfully.
Directly that Defiance had won the Trial Staked there
was a rush upon Trifle for the Chester Cup ; 1:e ad-
vanced in the course of twenty minutes, upon a. mode-
- rate outlay, to 10 to 1.
Conmore's victory brought Ninnyharnmer into :notice
for the Derby, and 22 and 25 to 1 was taken to some
money.
The Grand Military Steeple Chafes to-morrow, in all

likelihood, will furnis-h some -excellent sport, as full two-
thirds of the horses engaged are on the spot. By a few
bets made at Leamington yesterday morning, it -would
seem that Lieut. Probyn's ROUTH and Lieut. Saritoris's
ch. g. YOUNG Sin EDWARD are pretty nearly certain,
one or other, to carry off the Gold Cup, value 100 Boys.,
added to a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, h. ft., &c. &c.
_ _

The Sweepstakes of 5 sous. each is said to be a good
thing for ESCULAPIUS or AMBER WITCH. The former is
the property of Captain Lane Fox, and the latter of
Captain Rowley.
For the Welter Stakes Clipstone has been talked

about, but not, so far as I am aware of, backed.
Mr. J. D. Hewitt's two years' old b. c., by Sir Her-
cules out of Sister to Dexterous, received the name of
Sampson yesterday.

THE SPIRIT OF THE, TURF.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1853.
The figures within parenthesis denote the number of

days' racing.
MARCH.

Warwick Spring (2) 15
Kiplin Coates (11 .17
Newcastle Spring (2)....23
Leamington (1) 29
AP.

Croaton Park (2) 5
Epsom Spring (1) 7
Newmarket Craven (5)...11

Chester (4) 3
Newmarket Sec Sp (3) lO
Liverpool Hunt (2) 11
Shrewsbury (2) 11
Edinburgh (2) l2
JUT
Newton (3) 2
Ascot (4) 7
Hampton (2) 15
Beverley, Hull, &c. (2) 15
JU]
Newmarket (3) 5
Worcester (2) 5
Carlisle (3) 5
Liverpool (3) 13
AUG.
Brighton (2) 3
Brighton Club (1) 5
Wolverhampton (3) 8
North Staffordshire (2) 9
Yarmouth (2) 9
Reading (2) lO
SEPTE

Catterick Bridge (2) 29
Northampton (2) 30
Abergavenny (1) 31

York Spring (2) .19
Malton (2) .21
Newmarket F. S. (5).....25
Y.
Redditch (2) 15
Bath (2) 17
Manchester (3) 18
Epsom (4) 24

rE.
Bibury (1) 22
Stockbridge (1) 23
Winchester (1) 24
Newcastle (3) 28
X.
Stamford (2) 19
Nottingham (2) 21
Goodwood (4) 26

_ ..._.
York (3) 17
Radcliffe (3) 22
Eghara (2) 23
Derby (2) 24
Eccles (3) 29
Lichfield (2) 30
vIBER.

Warwick (2)
Pontefract (2)
Doncaster (4)
Bedford (2)
Leicester (2)

Lanark (2) 22
Manchester Autumn (2) 22
Newmarket F. 0. (3) 27
Northallerton (2) 29

..13
..20
..21

OCTO:
Chester Autumn (2) 4
Newmarket S. 0. (5) 10

Richmond (2) 19
Newmarket H. (6) 24
IBER.

-NOVE
Worcester (2) 1
Epsom Autumn (2) 3
Cowbridge Hunt (2) 9
Liverpool Autumn (2) 9

Warwick Autumn (2) 16
Shrewsbury (2) 23
Aberystwith (3)..Last week

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(THIS DAY.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.

The following bills were considered and agreed to :
Blackburn Gas, Dudley Gas, Sunderland Gas, and
Whittle Dean N.atervforks.

The Staines, Wokingham, and Woking Junction Rail-
way Bill was read a second time.

Mr. ELLIOT presented a petition from Selkirk against
testa imposed upon Scotch_ professors in _universities of
Scotland.

Mr. CHEETHAM presented a petition from Bowden
against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Mr. GIBSON presented a petition from Aylesbury
in favour of the County Rates Expenditure Bill.
Mr. MIALL presented a petition from Rochester
praying for the adoption of an ocean penny postage.
A number of petitions were presented against the ad-
mission of Jews into Parliament, and against the May-
nooth grant.
RYE INJECTION COMMITTEE.

Sir J. PAKINGTON intimated to the house that two
members of this committee, which had met in pursuance
of the act, reassembled to make further inquiries into
the election at Rye, had absented themselves, and as
the act required that the committee should reassemble
for further inquiry within 14 days, and as the holidays
were coming on, the consequence would be that the com-
mittee would lapse entirely. Under these circumstances
he had to move that three be a quorum of this com-
mittee.

Sir G. GREY thought it would be a hazardous course to
excuse the absence of two members without reasonable
cause. The best mode would have been for the com-
mittee to have reported to the house that two members
were absent, and then it would have rested with the
house whether they would excuse those members or not.

Mr. HUME agreed with the right hon. gentleman
that members ought not be allowed to absent them-
selves.

Sir J. PAKINGTON said that he had the highest
authority for stating that the committee was no longer
an election committee, but merely a select committee.
After a few words from Mr. E. DENNISON and Mr.
BOUVERIE,

The SPEAKER said that, having consulted the coun-
sel to the Speaker, he was of opinion that after it had
once made its report the committee ceased to be an elec-
tion committee, but was reduced, in all respects, to a
common select committee. It must, therefore, proceed
'according to the ordinary rules. It was evident that it
was the intention of the act that the committee should
consist of the same members, and he thought it
would be very dangerous if the house were to inter-
fere to reduce its number. It appeared to him that
the only mode was to order the attendance in their
places on Friday next.

- Sir J. PAKINGTON then withdrew his motion, and
the two absent members were ordered to attend in their
places on Friday next.
COUNTY RATES AND EXPENDITURE BILL.

On the-motion for going into committee on this bill,
Sir J. PAKINGTON moved as an amendment, that
it be committed on the 13th of April next, with a view,
as he explained, of giving the county magistrates time to
consider it at the quarter sessions, which were shortly
about to be held over all the counties.
_ _

Mr. M. GlBSONobiected to the amendment, on the
ground that the quarter sessions had had sufficient time
and opportunities to consider the measure.

-EGERTONsupported the amendment.
Mr. 1. PALMER pointed out that there were many
alterations in the bill since it had last been before the
country, which the county magistracy had had no oppor-
tunity of considering. He did not thir.k that any time
would be lost. •

Lord PALMERSTON objected to the postponement,
on, the ground that-it was neither a new bill, nor were
they now at the last stage of the bill.

(LEFT SITTING.)

ELECTION COIMITTEES.-4 TZUS DAY).

SOUTHAMPTON-DECISION.

The committee assembled this morning, at eleven
o'clock ; Mr. Henry Herbert in the chair.
The Chairman intimated that, after ten days' inquiry,
the committee felt competent to come to adecision upon
the case without further evidence; but they had no
wish to prevent the sitting members being called as wit-
nesses if they desired to be examined.

Mr. E. James said as some personal charges had been
made against them they were desirous of clearing them-
selves from an 'imputation in' reference to their conduct
at the election.

Sir Alexander Cockburn and Mr. Wilcox were then
called, and they both positliely denied having been
guilty of any corrupt pricticei, asserting that their posi-
tive instructions to their agents were that the election
should be contested upon the fairest principles.
The room was then- -bleared; and on the readmission
of the reporters,

The Chairman said, the committee had unanimously
come to the resolution—that Sir Alexander Cockburn
and Mr. Wilcox were duly elected for the borough and
county of Southampton at the election in July, 1852,
and that they were of opinion that there were strong
grounds for believing that George Warren and Samuel
Mastern, in giving evidence before the committee, had
been guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, and that the
chairman be directed to move in the house that the Attor-
ney-General be ordered to prosecute those persons for
the said offence.

Mr. Sergeant Kinglake applied for costs on the pari
of the sitting members, on the ground that the allega.
tions in the petition were vexatious and frivolous.

The Chairman intimated that the committee enter-
tamed a strong opinion against allowing costs.
Mr. Alexander opposed the application..
The room was cleared, and after a few minutes deli-
beration, .the committee said they had come to the reso-
lution that there was no reason for giving costs in any
matter arising out of the present case.
The committee then broke up.

MALDON.
Mr. Hawkins this morning proceeded to sum up the
case on behalf of the petitioners.

. NEW WINDSOR.
Mr. Power summed up the case for the petitioners,
and the committee then adjourned until to-morrow.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone
had a dinner party on Monday at the official residence
of the Right Hon. Gentleman in Downing-street. The
guests included Lord Robert Grosvenor, M.P., Lady
Fanny Hope, Lord Courtenay, the Hon. R. Cavendish,
Sir Stephen R. Glynne, and Mr. W. Harcourt, M.P.
In the evening Mrs. Gladstone had a soiree, at which
were present Viscountess Canning, Lord and Lady
Lyttleton, Mr. H. Herbert, M.P., and Mrs. Her-
bert, Sir John and Lady Young, the Right Hon. J.
and Mrs. Stuart Wortley, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. J.
Percy; the Duke of Argyle Earl •Granville, Colonel
and Mrs. Malcolm, Colonel and Miss Mure, Sir.
Edward Dering; • M.P., -Mr. G. Vernon' M.P., Lord
and Lady Alferd Hervey, Mr. Henry A. Court, M.P.,
Mr. R. Phillimore, M.P., and Mrs. Phillimore, Lord de
.Tabley, Sir John-Johnstone, M.P., Miss Johnstone,
the Right Hon. E. and Mrs. Cardwell, Mr. Bruce,
M.P., Mrs. and Miss Milnes Gaskell, Mr. and Miss
Brigstock, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., and Miss
Seymour.
- PRESENTATION OF A SNUFF-BOX TO MR. SANDS.—The
present lessee and manager of the Theatre Royal Drury-
lane has more than once evinced his gratitude to various
members of his company in a very substantial manner ;
and we have now to record another instance of his
liberality. A few days ago we noticed the appearance of
Mr, Sands, "the man who walks upon the ceiling."
This gentleman is not only a wonderful performer in his
way, but "a very good fellow" to bhot ; and his generous
conduct towards the theatre has induced Mr. Smith, the
manager, to present him with an elegant though slight
testimonial of esteem, in the shape of a chased silver
snuff-box. The presentation took place in the presence
of the company, and both the bestower and the receiver
were warmly applauded during the few brief remarks
they made on the occasion. The box bore the following
truthful inscription:—" Presented to R. Sands, Esq., by
E. T. Smith, lessee of the Theatre Royal Drury-lane, in
token of friendship for his liberal conduct and astonish-
in(' Performance 'during the season 1853." The chasing
of box represents " Mazeppa on the Wild Horse ;"
and since Mr. Sands is the proprietor of an extensive
equestrian establishment in New York, perhaps no more
appropriate design could have been selected.
THE MAIL SCREW PACKET AUSTRALIAN.—It is im-
possible to describe the chagrin and disappointment of
the passengers at the delay and annoyance, to say nothing
of failing of confidence, from these repeated mishaps.
One gentleman, an American, has come 3,000 miles out
of his way to take passage in an English mail packet,
the fame of • which, for comfort and punctuality, had
reached the centre of the Continent of America. His
expressions of disappointment are most lamentable, as
are, in fact, those of the majority of the passengers,
numbers of whom have called at our office to-day re-
questing that their grievances might have publicity, as
they allege their complaints are received by the officials
of the company with an indifference and hauteur which
is very much like adding insult to injury. An electric
message was received at the dockyard yesterday after-
noon, granting perivdssion for the Australian to be taken
into dock for exaniination and repairs, and for which
purpose she will go up harbour this day.—Plymouth.
Mail.

HOLYHEAD HARBOUR.—Another of those melancholy
accidents which have of late been so frequent at the new
harbour works, Holyhead, has just occurred, by which
two lives have been sacrificed. In consequence of the
damage done during the late gale, an old "tipping " had
been adopted instead of the usual one, which had been
rendered ineffectual. Two loaded waggons and an
engine were proceeding on this line with the usual num-
ber of men, when the stage gave way, and all were
precipitated into the sea. Boats from the harbour were
instantly sent to to their assistance. All but the stoker
were rescued ; of these one breaksman, named Peter
Wynne, was taken up insensible, and died soon after.
The stoker is supposed to have been buried beneath the
staging. A diver was sent in search of the body, and
drags were employed, but they have hitherto employed,
but they have hitherto proved of no avail.
ELOPEMENT.—We regret to hear that the beautiful
and accomplished wife of a wealthy gentleman resident
in this neighbourhood, and well known in sporting
circles, left her home on Wednesday evening last, in
company with a gallant captain in one of the regiments
stationed here.—Plymottek, Times.