The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

to a tax on passing through the Post-office, he had no
doubt that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would lose
very little in the end, whilst he would get rid of a prac-
tice which was a stigma and a reproach to the age they
lived in. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BRIGHT begged to ask the Chancellor of the
Exchequer whether it was his intention to repay Messrs.
Bradbury and Evans their costs in the action in which
the Government was defeated ? The event proved that
the Government was wrong in the suit they instituted
against those gentlemen, and that being so, he thought
the Government should pay all the costs in the ordinary
way.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in
reply, the subject which the hon. gentleman had just
opened was entirely new to him (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer), and that any application of that kind would
have to be considered on its own merits. The whole
subject was now under the consideration of the Govern-
ment, but it would require an alteration in the law to
carry out the principle which the hon. gentleman had
suggested.
Mr. RICARDO said it was somewhat remarkable that
three successive Governments had confessed themselves
unable to deal satisfactorily with this question ; and, as
the only way of getting rid of the difficulty attaching to
it, the present Government was now about to obtain a
judgment in the case from a police magistrate. (Hear,
hear.) A constituent of his published a paper called the
Potteries Free Press, arid—overlooking the Racing Tele-
graph, Punch, and various other publications—the Go-
vernment was about to summon that unfortunate man
before a police magistrate, with a view to mulct him in
a penalty of some 201., or to imprison him. That was
the case which was to brought to a hearing on Thursday
next, and a Bow-street magistrate was to decide a ques-
tion which had puzzled the law officers of the Crown in
three successive Administrations.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the honourable
gentleman (Mr. Ricardo) was entirely mistaken in sup-
posing that the cause of his constituent and that of
Messrs. Bradbury and Evans were at all similar. The
question in the case of the Household Narrative was,
whether it was published within an interval of not less
than twenty-eight days ; but the Potteries Free Press
was pUblished every week, contained regular statements
of public news, and was, therefore, a clear infraction of
the law. Whether or not it was desirable to repeal the
existing law was one question ; but so long as that law
remained on the statute-book, he apprehended it was
clearly the duty of the Government to enforce it.
Mr. EWART though it was possible to establish a
system of postage duties on newspapers passing through
the post, by which, whilst the revenue would not be
prejudiced, the numerous evasions of the existing law
would be prevented.
The conversation then dropped, and it was agreed that
the bill should be read a third time this day at half-past
four o'clock.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS (REPAY-
MENT OUT OF THE CONSOLIDATED FUND)
BILL.
On the motion that this bill be read a third time,
Mr. W. WILLIAMS wished to obtain an assurance
from the Commissioner of Works, that the Crown rents
arising out of the public improvement in question would
be sold without delay.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH said so soon as the Govern-
ment could get the full value for those Crown rents, they
would be ready to sell them.
In reply to a question from Mr. HUME,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
as regarded the enactments of this bill, he should be the
last man to propose to the house to put any charge on
the Consolidated Fund to the detriment of the public.
The pecuniary liabilities to which this bill related were
already settled so far as the public were concerned ; and
the whole question was, whether they should pay off the
whole debts, on which they now paid interest, while
they had a large balance at their bankers, or whether
they should apply that balance in discharging those debts
and interest, and put the surplus into the pockets of the
public, (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE wished to know—supposing it ap-
peared to the lenders of the money that the London-
bridge Approaches Fund was insufficient to guarantee
them the repayment of the money they had lent—whe-
ther his right hon. friend was perfectly certain that by
putting this charge on the Consolidated Fund, and re-
leasing altogether the land revenues of the Crown, which
ought never to have been charged—(hear)—the whole
principal and interest were likely to be paid.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
felt the greatest possible certainty on the subject. The
population of London might be decimated—for they did
not know what calamities might not occur—but advert-
ing to the rate at which the coal fund now yielded,
nothing to his mind was more plain than that the "Ap-
proaches Fund," and the other assets which were liable,
would be amply sufficient to guarantee the whole of the
debt and interest.
The bill was then read a third time ; and, on the ques-
tion that it do pass,
Sir W. JOLLIFFE moved the addition of a clause,
providing that an annual account should be rendered by
the Treasury of the sums paid into the Consolidated
Fund, and of the disbursements therefrom under the
authority of the bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had no objection to the clause. He wished to say, in
correction of a statement he made the other night, that
the whole proceeds of the present act were pledged.
First there came a charge of 88,000/. to the corporation
of the city of London, for past improvements, and then
another charge which would absorb the whole surplus
for certain other improvements not yet defined.
After a short conversation the clause was agreed to,
and the bill was passed.
JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.
The house having gone into committee on this bill, Mr.
W. Patten in the chair,
Admiral WALCOTT objected to the principle of the
bill, on the ground that its obvious result would be to de-
prive the Legislature of its exclusively Christian character.
He protested against the admission of a class of religionists
into Parliament, who, unhappily for themselves, disbe-
lieved in the divinity of the Son of God.
Mr. VANSITTART characterised the course which the
noble lord (Lord J. Russell) proposed to take with regard
to this bill as most unfair, inasmuch as it would effectually
prevent a full expression of opinions on the third reading.
He complained of the Clergy Reserves (Canada) Bill hav-
ing been postponed without notice, by which many mem-
bers were taken by surprise. He urged that the third
reading of the present measure ought, in common justice,
to be deferred till after Easter.
t Lord J. RUSSELL said he had only postponed the
Clergy Reserves (Canada), Bill for the purpose of making
alterations in it. The course he had taken would, in his
opinion, facilitate public business ; for if the third reading
of the Jewish Disabilities Bill were postponed till after
Easter, it might happen that there would not be enough to
occupy the attention of the house the whole of Friday
evening. The subject had been so thoroughly discussed
that be could not anticipate any new arguments upon it.
Mr. WALPOLE had himself no objection to the bill
passing through committee to-night, nor to the third read-
ing taking place on Friday ; but it would undoubtedly be
more satisfactory to his friends around if it were postponed
till after Easter.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not consent to postpone
the bill, but he would undertake not to bring it on at a
late hour on Friday. He would not bring it on after ten
o'clock.

CUSTOM-HOTISE-MARCH 14.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The Superior, from Cadiz; Briton,
Singapore ; Rochester, South Whale Fishery ' • City of
Paris, Boulogne ; Phcebe Dunbar, Madras ; Susan C.
Howell, Baltimore ; Amaranth, adras ; Aurora, New
Orleans ; Monarchy, Calcutta ; Castor, Malta ; Marchio-
ness of Londonderry, Calcutta ; Johnson, Guernsey ; Ad-
miral Grenfell, Rio Janeiro ; Columbine, Mauritius ;
Gras, Manilla; Julia, Callao ; Affghan, Shanghai ; Mo-
selle, Antwerp ; Lady Sarah, Cuba ; Edward Little, Ro-
chester ; Cassandra, Terceira ; Active, Dieppe ; Dovre,
Laurvig ; Egbei Mauritius • ForLuna' Lokken ; Emma
and Mary, Dunkirk ; St. Andrew's, Rouen ; Infanta,
Rouen ; Tay, Marans ; Lance, Rouen ; Breeze, Ibrail ;
John St. Barbe, Santander ; Unity, Jersey ; Margaret,
Guernsey ; Echo, Rouen ; Emma, Palermo ; Murray,
Ghent ; Merlin, Terceira ; Aliwal, Guernsey ; Susan, St.
Michael's; Concordia, Rotterdam ; City of London, Dun-
kirk ; Magnet, Harlingen ; Menai, Calais ; Ceres, Rotter-
dam ; Lion, Harlingen ; Dublin Lass, Havre • Giraffe,
Rotterdam ; Water Lily, St. Michael's ; Claud, 'Callao.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING—The City of Lon-
don, for Dunkirk ; Menai, Calais ; Notre Dame, Havre ;
Albert Louise, Abbeville; Ceres, Rotterdam; Triumph,
Rouen • Pearl, Montreal ; Asia, Port Philip ; Valleyfield,
Sierra Leone ; Concordia, Rotterdam ; Madagascar, Havre ;
Mentor, Elsinore ; Patrina, Naples ; Mehemet Ali, Ceylon
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Notre Dame,
for Havre ; Sovereign, San Francisco ; Breeze, Dunkirk ;
Euphemia, Geelong ; Triumph, Rouen ; Regina Hellechina,
Hamburgh ; Elise Johanna, Amsterdam ; Cameron, Port
Philip ; City of Boulogne, Boulogne ; Ocean, Havre ; Tri-
dent, Hamburgh.

Mr. NEWDEGATE could not understand what the ro-
ble lord would gain by pressing the bill through its remain-
ing stages so rapidly as ho proposed. He would remind
the house that if he succeeded, the measure would have
gone through three stages within one week. This was not
the ordinary course of business with bills of so much im-
portance. He supposed, from what he had heard, that he
was not to hope the noble lord would consent to postpone
the bill till after Easter ; but if he did not, he would be
accepting the division on the second reading as evidence
of a feeling which did not really exist. As for the argument
of economy of time, there was nothing in it, for there was
plenty of business which might be taken on Friday instea d
of this bill, by which no time whatever would be lost.
Under such circumstances he trusted the noble lord would
not be guilty of what appeared to him a manifest disre-
spect to the feelings of the country by pressing the bill.
He assured the noble lord that the feeling in the country
was growing on the subject ; and the more it was debated
the greater would it be shown. He could see nothing
likely to create greaten jealousy of the conduct of the Go-
vernment than an impression that they were attempting
to thrust this bill through the house contrary to the ex-
pressed feelings of the country.
Mr. MILES urged the noble lord to postpone the third
reading till after Easter. Easter came this year very early;
and it must be remembered that after the holidays Go-
vernment proposed to take another day, so that they might
select their own time for the third reading.
Mr. HUME deprecated any further delay. Not a single
individual could bring forward a single new argument on
the subject, so that any postponement would be only a
waste of time. He thought the noble lord had exercised a
wise discretion in endeavouring to get aid of the question.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. M. SMITH, as representing a large and impor-
tant constituency upon the verge of the metropolis, who
entertained strong opinions upon this question, implored
the noble lard to pause before he proceeded further with
the measure, until the feeling of the country had been as-
certained.

MESSINA, March 3.--The Alexander, Troon to Rhodes,
has put in, making water, and the vessel much strained.
HOLYHEAD, March 13.—The Pelham Clinton, Liverpool
to Aberystwith, put in here yesterday, half ful of water,
having struck on the Harry Furlong on the previous night;
she sailed again this morning.
REDCAR, March 13.—The Leonidas, from Sunderland to
London, which ran on the rock on the 11th, has been
assisted off, and taken into West Hartlepool ; part of her
cargo had been thrown overboard.
YOUGHAL, March 12.—The Telcida, from Marianople,
which went ashore in Whiting. Bay on the 9th, went to
Pieces Yesterday ; cargo washed out, part of the materials
saved.
ANTWERP _The Leoni, from Pernambuco and Maran-
ham to Havre, put into St. Thomas, Feb. 15, leaky, and
would discharge. The Eucharis, from Charleston to Bor-'
deaux, put in there very leaky, with damage, and had nearly
discharged.
to Marseilles, was wrecked on Great Inagua, Jan. 6 ; crew
The Adolphe (French brig), Port-au-Prince
saved. The Comete, of Bordeaux, was lost about the same
time as the Adolphe. Mem.—The Comete sailed from
Martinique for Hayti Jan. 8.
TERCEIRA, Feb. 26. During the S.E. gale of the 17th
the Lady Elizabeth, the Ringsbridge, and. the Rival (Port
brig), drove on shore here,
and became total wrecks ;
crews saved.

Sir B. HALL represented a large constituency, who
formed part of the metropolis. The place he represented
numbered 403,000 inhabitants, who were assessed at more
than 2,000,0001. sterling ; and, speaking to some extent
their opinions, he must appeal to the noble lord not to
think for one moment of postponing this measure. This
was no new topic. It was the most unprofitable discus-
sion the house could have; and surely when it had been
so long debated on both sides, it was much better to ar-
rive at a conclusion at once, for he was sure that, what-
ever eloquence might be displayed, not one single vote
would be turned by it.
Mr. WHITESIDE said the request for a postponement
was most reasonable, and it was a mistake to say that the
principle involved was not new. The fact was the bill in-
troduced a novel principle into the whole system of the
laws of England. It might be right politically to admit
Jews into Parliament, but it was certainly opposed to the
ancient laws of the country, of which Christianity was a
pate. Under such circumstances, he contended that it was
only reasonable that some delay should be accorded.
Lord D. STUART contended that ample time had been
devoted to the consideration of the subject, and said that
the petitions in favour of admitting Jews to Parliament
had increased in the proportion of six to one.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said that in 1847 he had stated
that many of the petitions were spurious—that the parties
procuring the signatures were paid for them at the rate of
3s. per hundred, which remuneration was afterwards
changed to ss. per day. He had offered to prove this be-
fore a committee of the house, if the noble lord (Lord D.
Stuart) would move for one. The noble lord had never
moved for that committee ; and he had no doubt that the
signatures to the petitions were paid for now as they were
in 1847. But as to the petitions on the other side, he
could answer for it that the signatures were not only
unpurchased but unsolicited.
Mr. NAPIER believed the noble lord would be pro- THE MARCH OF SPEED.—The announcement of the
ceeding with undue precipitancy if, under existing nirenni. division on the second reading of the Jews which
members Stances h ewpressedwere
e atdhye
leavingthi rd rteotigforonthFerriday.
and it
was taken at midnight on Friday last, was pubhshed in
tamedvr a
Ouns unusual forae day eqfu
thees ti question
adjournment,
vsmhe
n importance recess
sbse enter- the Galway papers of Saturday, in little over 12 hours
Lord J. RUSSELL reminded the honourable andl after the transmission of the intelligence from London.
(Mr. Napier) that the bill had been learned
The distance thus travelled is nearly 500 miles, and six
and also upon its second reading.
gentlemanhours were consumed in the passage between Holyhead
upon its introduction, opposed
and Dublin.

VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.
The Bagman, Rio Grande to Valparaiso, 12th Dec., lat.
56 S., long. 64 W.
The Resolute, London to Sydney, 9th Jan., lat. 25 S.,
long. 27 W,
The Camerton, Clyde to Berbiee, 6th Feb., lat. 20 N.,
long. 35 W.

The Solway, Bristol to Matanzas, 9th Feb., lat. 27 N.,
long. 27 W.
The Neptune, Madras to London, 3d March, lat. 49 N.,
long. 22 W.
The Bussorah Merchant, London to Sydney, N.S.W.,
3d Jan., lat. 29 N., long. 24 W.
The Vioja, of Dundee, for Antigua, 13th Feb., lat. 23
N., long. 36 W.

The Victor A:medie, Marseilles to Mauritius, 23d Jan.,
lat. 3 N., long. 19 W.
The Marie Charlotte, of Granville, Bth March, lat. 49
N., long. 5 W.

The house, therefore, had already expressed its opinion
twice on the subject, and after that he could not expect
that its opinion would be changed. Besides, he had already
undertaken not to bring it on at a late hour on Friday.
This subject was a constant source of delay, and delay only
would be the result if he assented to the suggestion, for, as
he was now told that members had left town, he should be
told the first week after Easter that they had not arrived.
After a few words from Mr. W. M. SMITH,
Mr. J. A. SMITH said he must give to the statement of
the host. member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Newde-
gate), as to the signatures to the petitions in favour of
this measure, the most positive and absolute denial which
courtesy would enable him to give. If the hon. member
really entertained the opinion he expressed, he (Mr. J. A.
Smith) should have the greatest readiness in meeting him
on the subject. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. NEWDEGATE said that when he made the allega-
tion in 1847, the hon. gentleman was sitting by the side
of the noble lord the member for London, and if the
noble lord would not afford him the means of proving
the charge it was rather hard to contradict him after
five years had elapsed. Under such circumstance the
gentleman must forgive him if he did not retract the asser-
tion.
Colonel SIBTHORP hoped that, whatever might be the
manceuvring of the noble lord, his friends on the opposi-
tion side of the house would not forget what was due to
the country on this question.
The clauses were then agreed to, the report was received,
and the bill ordered to be read the third time on Friday.
The second reading of the Pilotage Bill was postponed
till the 4th of April.

LANDS IMPROVEMENT (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read the third time.
On the question that the bill do pass,
Mr. FITZGERALD moved the introduction of a pro-
N ision in clause 36 giving a power of appeal from the com-
missioners to the assistant barrister as a judge, in cases
where the tenancy exceeded 501. per annum.
Mr. NAPIER objected to the amendment, on the
ground that it would be a departure from the act of 1847,
which was the foundation of the present measure. Nothing
could work better than the act of 1847, which had no power
' of appeal, and, as a proof that such a power was unneces-
sary, the commissioners under the act of 1847 had only
been called upon in four cases to adjudicate between land-
lord and tenant. In all the other numberless cases the I
amount of rent
parties had mutually agreed between themselves on the
to be added for the improvement of the
land, and he thought a useless power of appeal, which
must lead to delay and litigation, would be prejudicial to
the beneficial operation of the act.
Sir J. YOUNG said he would as soon have the bill with-
ont the amendment as with it, but he agreed to accept it
as a compromise rather than' be forced to insert a more dis-
agreeable clause.
After a conversation, in which Mr. Stapleton, Sergeant
Shee, Mr. R. S. Moore, Mr. F. French, Mr. Vhiteside,
and Mr. Kirk took part, the amendment was agreed to,
the words were inserted, and the bill passed.
OATHS IN CHANCERY BILL.
The house tJ'c we it into co ittee on the Oaths in
Chancery Bill, some verbal alterations, on the motion of
the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, were made in the clauses,
and the Chairman reported the bill to the house.
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.
Mr. H. BROWN, before moving a resolution of which
he had given notice, wished to know whether it was at all
probable the select committee on the amalgamation of rail-
ways would make a report of practical use to the house ?
Mr. CARDWELL had no objection to the words of the
hon. gentleman's motion, which were—" That it is the 11
duty of a good government to pro Pose to this house all f,
such measures as may appeai necessary for the public safety.
That the great increase in the number of accidents which
have of late occurred on railways demands the espe-
cial attention of the house, and that it is the duty of her
Majesty's Government to propose more effectual measures
than now exist lb- Le, :rg the safety of the public
while travelling on rai' .vays." The answer he would
make to the question of the horourable gentleman was
that the committee appointed by the late Government was
now sitting to inquire most carefully into a subject in
which he could assure the hon. gentleman that both her
Majesty's Government and the members of the committee,
and he believer: he might and every member of the house,
felt the deepest possible interest. (Hear, hear.) Since he
had been a membe and presided over the committee, they
had examined many of the most eminent persons con-
mete -I with the railway interclt. They were about to h
examine other witnelsei not connecti with the railway
interest, and they should consider with the utmost pains s
the question which the hon. gentleman wished to bring s
under the notice of the horn e. It would be presumptuous s
and premature to 'anticipate the result of the committee, s
which had hitherto been occupied in taking evidence, and
had not yet come to any opinion. (Hear, hear.)Con- I
sidering the magnitude and importance of the subject, the 2
early period of the session, and that many witnesses had
not yet been called, he was sure the honourable gentleman 1
would approve of the committee, and having hither to come 2
to the house with an expression of opinion, and under the 2
circumstances the honourable gentleman would be by no 6
means wanting in duty to the public if he allowed the s
committee full time to mature their judgment before tak- 5
ing the sense of the home on his motion. (Hear, hear.) 2
With regard to what might be anticipated from the com- 2
mittee, all he had a right to s:2-::e was, that he never saw
a committee which devotal more pains to the subject; in 2
hand, and he should be extremely disappointed if the la-
bours should not re3alt in measures beneficial to the public 2
interest. (Hear, hear.) 2
Mr. BROTTN, after the assurance of the President of 5
Board of Trade would be quite content to await for a time 2i
the result of the committee, though he confessed he saw I I
very little hope of that result being any practiced principle
which the house might adopt. He should therefore defer S.
the consideration of his motion until after Easter. (Hear.) 2

SCOTCH PROFESSORSHIPS.
The LORD ADVOCATE gave notice that in committee
of the whole home to-morrow he should move a resolution
to introduce a bill to regulate the admission of professors
to the lay chairs in the universities of Scotland. The bill . St.
which he proposed to introduce would abolish entirely the
subscription of tests required by the statutes as they now St.
stood; but this would only extend to the lay chairs, and 20
not to the chairs of theological collet: I. Every professor, St.
under its provisions, would be r-qui:cd instead to sub- 15
scribe a declaration almost in terms the same as that in-
troduced in the Test and Corporation Act of 1822, namely, °„I
that he should not exercise the functions of his office to
the subversion or prejudice of the Established Church.
RETURNS. 5
On the motion of Sir G. PECHELL. the following re-
turns were agreed to :—" Return of all the towns or bo- 6
roughs which have petitioned to be incornorated according
to the provisions of the act 5 and 6 Will. ,IV., c. 76;
stating the date of such petition, whether such petition 10
was opposed or not, the result, and whether. in case of the 20
chat ter being granted, the district comprised in such
charter was either larger or smaller than the precinct of st
the petitioning town or borough (in continuation of Par-
liamentary Paper, No. 610, session 1840) ; and copy of the st
report made by Wig Forsyth, Esq., to Her Majesty in •
Council, in or about the month of November last, on the st
subject of a petition of the inhabitant householders of the st:
town of Biighton, praying for a municipal charter.
On the motion of Mr. KIRK, a return was agreed to of 61
the number of vessels, distinguishing British from foreign,
wrecked or lost off the coast of Ireland during the five 50
years ending the sth day of January, 1853 ; stating the
names of the places where such wrecks took place, the st
number of lives lost, and the amount of tonnage and value •
of the cargo of the ships lost.
16:
The house then adjourned at eight o'clock.

ISt.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.