The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

CHANCERY.--(THIS DAY.)
Thu Lord Chanclor sat to day in his Court in the
Old Hall, Lincoln's-inn, to hear appeals.
IN RE SHREWSBURY CHARITIES.-IN RE SHREWSBURY

passing of the Act 9th end 10th Victoria, cap. 95 ; and
the question was, whether such a bond, since the passing.
othfetikaetts,taatililte,awctaiosnssuffiocrientte.pleßvyinthNeTbliclh9thshs,e,cuilidon
beet
brought in the County Court, should be brought
without writ in a Court held under the Act. As
this statute left the former statutes relating
to replevin unrepealed, there was no reason why
the sheriff should not take the replevin bond
as before, but the bond being taken on the condition that
" the obligor :,hould appear at the next county court for
the county of Middlesex, at Red Lion square," the
question arose whether such a bond was sufficient. It
the obligor omitted to appear at the next county court
and prosecute his suit there, it was an infringement of
the statute, and the condition of the bond
was violated. The question would be, whe-
ther such a bond was still a substantial
compliance with the requisitions of the statute 11 th
George 11. The suit was no longer prosecuted in the
County Court, but in the district Court, and it might
well be that the court within which the distress was taken
might be holden before " the next County Court for
Middlesex, at the Sheriff's office, in R• d Lion-square,"
and the proceedings might be indefinitely delayed with
out any breach of the condition of the bond. The Court
therefore thought that the bond was insufficient, and
consequently the defendants were not entitled to have
the verdict entered for them.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
His Lordship having disposed of these eases, which
came before him upon petition, proceeded to bear the
furtter arguments in the part-heard c.tse of

ALLFREY V. ALLFREY.
This case came before his Lordship upon appeal from
the decision of the Master of the Rolls, declaring that
Pee plaintiff was not bound by the settlement mentioned
In the cause, and directing certain recounts. When the
ease came before the Master of the Rolls the arguments
occupied the Court no less than three days. Though the
detdila from the' nature of the case, comprise numerous
Pecnniary transactions, matters of account, and a long
and tedious statement of minute particulars, tending to
show that the accounts were erroneously made out, and
Purposely so as the bill alleged, yet the main facts of the
case,_ itself are not at all complicated, and may be stated
briefly as follows:—'_•.lr. George Allfrey, of Sussex, wine
merchant, died on the 22d April, 1802, intestate, leaving
his eife, Kitty Allfrey, three sons, and one daughter,
then born, alai a fourth son afterwards born, him sur-
Md.". The names cf the children in the order of birth
were George, Edward, Thomas, John Stainnise, Mary.
and William. The intestate at the time of his death
also left his mother, an only brother, Edward Allfrey,
and several sisters, him surviving. He was owner
of some real estate, of which part was freehold and
descended to his eldest son George, and the other part
was copyhold, or borough English, and descended to
Wiliam, the youngest child, who was born on the 25th
of September, 1802. There was also personal estate,
consisting of 9,1001. Three per Cent. Reduced Stock
standing in the name of the intestate, some cash, and
other matters. One-third of this of course went to the
Widow, and the children took each two-fifteenths. All
the children being then infants of very tender years.
and the widow, Mrs. Kitty Allfrey, not applying for
administration, Mr. Edward Allfrey, the testator's only
brother, took out letters of administration on the 17th
of June, 1802, to his brother's estate, and on the 9th of
November following he got himself appointed guardian
of William, as to the copyholds by the lord
of the manor. The whole affairs of his brother's
family were afterwards managed by Mr. Edward Allfrey.
In 18-08 he filed a bill in the name of his ward William,
to compel disclosure of a notice to quit given to Elphick,
a tenant of part of the lands, with a view to an ejectment.
So matters went on till 1822, on the 22d of January of
which year Mrs. Kitty Allfrey died, havine by her will
appointed as her executors Mr. Edward Allfrey and
another, who renounced. On the 25th of September,
WA Mr. William Alifrey came of age, and some time
?lifter his uncle put the books of accounts into his hands
but from some inaccuracy in some of the items, the
matter stood over the 7th of May, 1825, when William
signed a memorandum of approval, but without examin-
ing the accounts, his uncle intimating that George, his
brother, had examined them on his own ac-
count as well as on that of his sister
and brothers, or some such observation; and William
then received a balance of 17/. or 18/. On the 6th of
Il!Ine, 1834, Mr. Edward Allfrey died, having appointed
his wife Margaret, his son Robert, and his nephew, the
B,!tid George Allfrey, the younger, his executors. On
the 11th of August, 1841, administration deliveries were
taken out to Gecrge Allfrey, the intestate, and on the
4th of September, 1843, to Kitty Allfrey, by George
,Allfrey the younger. The papers of Mr. Edward All-
frey coming by some accident into the hands of William,
he happened to observe that credit was not given in the
nooks of account for half a year's rent of the real
estate after his father's death, and that circums
stance exciting his curiosity, he examined fur-
ther, and found other errors, and at last of
such a kind as to excite his suspicion. The result was,
that after two years negotiation, and some offers of ac-
c°l2taledation, he filed his bill first to open the account,
te regarded his own particular estate, notwithstanding
els signing the memorandum, and to set aside the ar-
'4,ngeneent itself. He next filed a bill for the general
aeministration of his father's estate, praying that an
account might be taken thereof, and of the balances in
the hands of Edward Allfrey, from halt-year to half-
Yeer, and that the amounts of stock and interest thereon
(from time to time), which could be purchased with
.sikeicilf!.res;rplus ht
with be allsucowhed ; and that if Edward
trafficmklegd balances, the amount
fhispi ofits might be taken, and the
ikr,
benefitie allowed the plaintiff. It appeared that
• Edward Allfrey, among other things, had
sold out the stock, and used it in his business, being e
"ged in large transactions, as one of the distinguished
ftrul of Makes, Robson, and Allfrey, underwriters, and
that he accounted for the dividends from time to time
"ugh there were none. The items were gone into
very minutely, and several errors were pointed out, the
sums in the aggregate not being of very great amount,
but some of the entries of alleged sums being, as in
the case of the stock, certainly fictitious as to the real
Uature of the transaction, though in the remit, perhaps,
net involving any great loss to the estate of the intestate.
1., At the conclusion of the arguments, the Master of the
41(311s took time to consider his judgment, and ultimately
gave that decision which was now appealed from, statieg
that there wire circumstances in the clause which
rendered it probable that the plaintiff had a very inaccu-
rate notion no' f the benefit he was likely to derive from
e suit, and at the same time observing that probably it
wobld be advisable for him to put an end to
ntigation. The Master of the Rolla however, thought
that he was entitled to a declaration that he was not
bound by the settlement, and to have the usual accounts
Vile estate of George Allfrey, possessed by Edward
Allfrey, and its application, and to an inquiry as to the
balances in hand tit the end of each year, after the death
of George Allfrey, with a view to the consideration
hereafter of what may be proper to be done as to the
interest or profits arising from the employment of the
halaeces with lib, rty to state special circumstances.
From this decree the present appeal was brought.
The case appears likely to occupy a day or two in ar-
gument.

MURRAY AND OTHERS V. HALL.
Mr. Justice COLTMAN delivered judgment in this case.
This was an action for breaking and entering the plain-
tiff's house and expelling him therefrom ; to which the
defendant pleaded, first, "not guilty ;" secondly, leave
and license ; and thirdly, a denial that the house was
the plaintiff's. At tle trial before Mr. Justice
Maule, one ground of defence was that the defendant
was tenant in common of the house with the plaintiff,
and that therefore an action was tot maintainable. Mr.
Justice Maule told the jury that if there had been an
actual expulsion their verdict ought to be for the plain-
tiff. The defendant afterwards obtained a rule
to show cause why a nonsuit should not be
entered on the ground that one tenant in
common could not maintain an action for trespass,
+tgainst another tenant in common, although actual ex-
pulsion was alleged in the declaration. On showing
cause, it was argued before the Lord Chief Justice,
Justices Coltman, Cresswell, and Williams, that this de
fence, even if sustainable, ought to have been specially
pleaded. The Court was of opinion that the direction
of Mr. Justice Maule at the trial was right, and conse•
quently the rule must be discharged.

MARLBRO'-STIIEET.- THIS DAY.
George Fox, William Dean, and John Hunt, three
soldiers belonging to the 3d battalion of the Scotch
Fusilier Guards, were placed before Mr. Hardwick,
charged with being drunk, and creating a disturbance in
Oxford-street.
J. Waltman, 11, Westbourne- terrace, said, last night,
about eight o'clock, he was proceeding along Oxford-
street, when his attention was called to a mob, surround-
ing the three defendants at the corner of Charles-street.
lie went up to see what was the matter, when he saw the
soldiers take up their belts, and immediately begin
striking out left and right; hitting every person who
chanc.d to come within their reach. Witness remon-
strated with them, when he was told that he should be
served the same. Several persons in the crowd endea-
voured to get the belts away from them, but could not
succeed. Witness then ran for the police, and assisted
the constables in conveying them to the station. The
prisoners were very drunk, and were more like madmen
than men in their senses.

Samuel Abrahams, an engraver, residing at 22, Vere-
street, stated that he was in Oxford-street last night,
and saw a large crowd of people at the corner of Charles-
street, and the prisoners fighting amongst them. Witness
aw a fighting man go up to Hunt and knock him down.
The crowd then closed round the others, and knocked
them down also. The soldiers then pulled off their
belts, and struck out in self defence. The mob irritated
them by calling them foul names.
Police-constable A 331, said he was called by the
first witness to quell the disturbance, and to take the
prisoners into custody. On reaching the spot he saw
the prisoners, who were in liquor, striking at several
persons with their belts. After some difficulty witness
succeeded in taking them into custody. They appeared
to be using their belts in self defence.
The prisoners in defence said they were the aggrieved
party. They were first assaulted, and used their belts
in self defence. They were knocked down by the mob,
end were severely injured by being kicked and trample,:
upon.
Mr. HARDWICK handed them over to the sergeant, to
be taken to their barracks, where they will be punished
for being drunk.
Ann Brien, a nurse employed by the officers of the
Strand Union, at the Ogle-street Asylum, was charged
with being drank and disorderly.
George Lock, gate-porter at the asylum, stated that
the guardians of the Strand Union rented the above
premises, which were occupied by the children removed
from Touting. The defendant was one of the nurses,
and yesterday shei.was allowed to go out for a holiday.
with a strict injunction to be back by ten o'clock, or she
would not be let in. About eleven o'clock she made her
appearance in a state of intoxication, and demanded ad
mittance. Witness told her he could not let her in at
that time of night, and desired her to go away. She
refused, and created such a disturbance in the street that
he was obliged to send for a constable and give her in
charge. _ . .

The prisoner expressed her sorrow, and as the had
been locked up all night, Mr. HARDWICK thought that
sufficient punishment, and discharged her.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Privy Council at one o'clock yes-
terday a.ternoon at Buckingham Palace. It was attended
by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Marquis of
Lansdowne (Lord President), the Earl of Minto (Lord
Privy Seal), Lord John Russell (First Lord of the Trea
sury), Sir George Grey (Secretary of State for the
Home Department), Viscount Palmerston (Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs), Earl Grey (Secretary of
State for the Colonies), the Earl of Carlisle (Chief Com-
missioner of the Woods and Forests), the Earl Fortescue
(Lord Steward), the Marquis of Breadalbane (Lord
Chamberlain), and the Duke of Norfolk (Master of the
Horse).
Thomas Wyse, Esq., was, by command of the Queen,
sworn of her Majesty's Honourable Privy Council, and
took his place at the Board,
Her Majesty pricked the list of Sheriffs for the pre-
sent year.
The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the
Council in Waiting.
Tho Queen gave audiences to the Marquis of Lans-
downe and Lord John Russell.

VICE-CHANCERY.—(THIS DAY.)
(Before the VICE•CHANCELLOR Of ENGLAND.)
• GRAY V.
The further arguments in this part-hoard case were
resumed to day, and occupied the Court the whole
morning. The only queAion in the case which turned
on the will of a person named Thomas Gray, was,
whether 1-42 unapplied income, in the hands of trustees,
Who were possessed of it for the benefit of the testator's
ton John and his children, belonged to the next of kin
of John, who died without issue, or whether it had been
given over by the will.
(Before the Vice. Chancellor KNIGHT BRUCE.)
111.3 HONOUR having disposed of the bankrupt peti-
tions in his paper, heard causes, and the arguments in
the case of Powell v. Dodson occupied the Court the
whole day. The case involves no point of interest ex-
eePt to the parties concerned.
, (Before the Vice-Chancellor WiGnAm.)
nis Honour having disposed of the case of Fuller v.
'ennett, which stood in the paper for judgment, pro-
ceeded to hear the further arguments in the part-heard
ease of M'Calmont v. Rankier, which occupied the Court
the remainder of the day.

,QUEEN'S BEN Cl-I.—(f HIS DAY.)
(Sittings at Westminster, before the LORD CHIEF Jus-
TICE and a Special Jury.)
THE QUEEN V. THE MARQUIS OF CHANDOS.
is This cage was called on at the sAting of the Court. It
Eldest
prosecution against the Marquis of Chandos, the
two son of the Duke of Buckingh,an, at the instance of
" Parties named Hitchcock and Waters, as we under-
stood, for the commission of wil,ul and corrupt perjury
thnearnitted in reference to some property. But ten of
wh sPeciul jury appeared, and Sir Frederick Thesiger,
toles,"
aPpeared for the defendant, having prayed a
es," a jury of twelve was sworn.
pk Mr. May was called by Mr. Petersdorff, who ap-
"ted for the prosecution, but nut appearing,
Lord DENMAN, after more delay, enquired if any
person was appointed for the prosecution, and, if so, if it
tintended to proceed with it?
is 1r P. TuEsmElt—Yes, my Lord, my Learned Friend
counsel for the prosecution, and I appear hero with
t -Learned Friend for the defence, and lam quite ready
illiruceed. I wish to know whether my Learned Friend
mellds to proceed with the prosecution.
ben7r. PETERSDORFF intiniated that arrangements had
to'n luade tor the production Of certain documents in
The attorney had gone for them, and was not
brelent. This being the case, he did not think he should
e!.istified in addressing the jury in opening the case.
the Sir THESIGER—If your Lordship does not open
.r!ase, I claim an acquittal.
4%1 DENMAN said the Court knew nothing of any
kjeutostances which might account for any person being
offered
The Court only knew that no evidence wen,
g for the prosecution, and therefore the jury must
4,4 that the defendant was nut guilty. There had been
opportunity of bringing the case forward.
Chief Justice therefore, under the dir.'ction of the Lord
lef , returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

The Court was attended by the Marquis of London-
derry (Gold Stick in- Waiting), the Earl of Listowel
(Lord iu 'Waiting), the Treasurer of the Household, the
Vice-Chamberlain, and the Comptroller of the Household.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Col.
Seymour, visited ber Royal HiOmess the Duchess of
Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester House.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the
Princess Helena, took their usual exercise yesterday.

(siett.,(32l,M9N PLEAS.—(THIS DAY.)
--fiS 112 nanco before Justices COLTMAN, MAITLE,
CRESSWELL, and WILLIAMS.)

MORRISON V. CHADWICK.
r• Justice Cosamess delivered judgment in this case.
f, acid this was an action by a lessor against his tenant,
th,,llled on a promise to use the demised premises during
vs: terns in a tenant-like manner. The breach alleged
41:;*4 that the tenant had used the premises in an unten-
iutt6like manner, and had suffered them to fall
t!:, a ruinous state. The defendant had pleaded evic-
th —tir°al part of the demised premises, during part of
Are but the Court was of opinion that that
l:Position could not be supported. Eviction by the
mistlekrd of his tenant from part of the demised pre-
e, created a suspension of the entire rent during the
p"etion and until the tenant was restored and resumtd
h:tession; but there was no authority for holding that
mattteanney was thereby !mit an end to. In
a;4611 to the suspension ot rent, the lessee might
sishll,tain au action against his lessor for the eviction, by
lus'e" it was presumed he obtained satisfaction for any
th 8 which he might suffer. The Court, therefore,
Qußht that the plaintiff was entitled to judgment.
EDMONDS AND OTHERS V. CHALLIS.
eat`"-rt Justice CuLTMAN also delivered judgment in this
tis-% ile said, this was an action brought against
Ale,'he,!iff of Middlesex for not having taken a re-
uond, in conftsrmity with the statute. The
ats—e Was tried before Mr. Justice Cresswell,
a - a verdict was found for the plaintiff for
thsl3at leave was reserved to the defendlut to show
t the bond was sufficient for the purposes of the Act.
wha.PAf,ared by the Judge's report that the distress out of
%etch., the action arose was taken within the district of
kiddiVhitechapel County Court, in the county of
obti les''x; and the condition of the bs.nd was that the
Loirr " should appear at the next county court to be
offiken
afer the county of Middlesex in the Sheriff's
Ited Lion-square." The bond which had been
'l4ll this case was in the form often used before the

The Marquis of Breadalbane and Lord George Len-
nox had the honour of dining with her Majesty yester-
day evening in Buckingham Palace.
A deputation, consisting of the Right lion. Thomas
Milner Gibson, M.P.; George William Alexander, Esq.
Lombard street; Edward Davy, Esq., Crediton, Devon;
William Henry Ashurst, Esq., Old Jewry; It. G. Wel-
ford, Esq., Chancery-lane; Robert R. R. Moore, Esq,
Temple; and Thomas Chauntler, Esq., Gray's Inn, had
an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade.
Dispatches for the Governor of the Cape of Good
Hope were sent off on Monday evening from the Co-
lonial-office.
The School of Design had a meeting yesterday at the
office of the Board of Trade.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday, and heard petitions in cases from Madras, Ben-
gal, and Dominica, and also one from the Court of
Arches, " Craig v. Farnall." The Lords present were—
the Master of the Rolls, Lord Brougham, the Bishop of
London, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, and
the Judge of the Admiralty Court. An appeal from
Bengal was afterwards opened by Mr. Turner (Queen's
Counsel), " Huradhun v. Mookerjia." The Bishop of
Lo ndon lef after the disposal of the petition from the
Arches' Ccurt; and the Right Hon. Sir Edward Ryan
sat with the members of the Judicial Committee during
the hearing of the appeal from Bengal.

MONEY MARKET.—The premium on gold at Paris
is 9 per mille, which, at the English Mint price of
31. 175. 10d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an ex-
change of 25.37; and the exchange at Paris on London
at short being 25.321, it follows that gold is 0.18 per
cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from
Elamburgh the price of gold is 437 per mark, which, at
the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.11; and the
exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.101,
it follows that gold is 0.23 per cent. dearer in Ham-
burgh than in London.
A decree of the Vice-Chancellor's Court, compelling
a purchaser of shares in a public company to assume the
liabilities thereupon, even although he may have ab-
stained from registering his name as the praprietor of
such shares, has given much satisfaction in the Stock
Exchange.
REPEAL OF THE MALT-TAX.—At a meeting of a
number of the malt and Lop growers and sgriculturists
in East Su,sex, held at the George Inn, Battle, yester-
day (Tuesday), J. V. Shelley, Esq., in the chair, resolu-
tions condemnatory of the malt and hop duties were
adopted. It was also resolved that a requisition be
signed calling upon the High Sheriff to convene a county
meeting to take the resolutions into consideration.
DEATH OF SIR CECIL A. BISSUOPP, BART.—We
hare to record the death of the above Rev. Baronet,
who died at Malta on the 19th ult. He was only in
his 28th 3 ear, having been born July 6, 1821. He suc-
ceeded his father, Sir George (the eighth Baronet), in
March, 1834, and in January, 1843, he married Mary,
daughter of Rear-Admiral Hillyar, K.C.8.. by whom,
we believe, he leaves a youthful family, the eldest, a son,
born i❑ October, 1843, succeeds to the baronetage. The
late Baronet's remains were interred in the island with
much ceremony. He had gone there for the benefit of
his health.

PRICE OF COALS.—We are requested to state that
on Saturday last the merchants in Cambridge (gene-
rally) reduced the price of the best Wall4end sea•borne
coals to 20s. per ton, at their warehouses, for six months'
credit; 19s. 2d. per ton, at their warehouses, for cash
one month after delivery. The coals are delivered to
any part of the town for is 8d per ton, or Id per cwt.,
free of all charges for shooting, &e,—Canibridge Adver-
tiser.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

cause there were no police to carry out the regulations.
'The object of the Bill of last eessioe, therefore, was to
give power to the parties interested to meet together and
be their own conservators, and if possible, protect the
spawn of the fish. That was the sole object of the Bill
of last session. He admitted that it was an experiment,
but it was one which had not yet been fairly tried. He
remembered, that in the course of last session, the Hon.
Member stated that the Bill, to which he now referred
would not effect the object he had iu view, viz., the re-
moval of illegal obstructions. It appeared to him that
that was the object of the Hon. Member's present motion,
and he had stated such strong grounds for it, ,that he
(Sir W. Somerville) felt it to be impossible to refuse his
assent to it.—(Hear, hear.) He quite agreed with the
Honourable Member that the salmon fisheries in Ireland
were much neglected; he believed they were a mine of
wealth, the extent of which had never yet:been explored.
—(Hear, hear.) The Honourable Member-for. Water-
ford had, as he had said, alluded to an entirely dif-
ferent subject, and ho confessed be did not see
what good would result from a Cjmrnittee upon it.
Within the last year, or two, under the superin-
dence of Government and the Board of Works, several
deep sea fish( ries bad Lean established in the west of
Ireland, some of which had succeeded very well, and
others had not succeeded quite so well as might have
been expected. He trusted, however, that a great deal
of good would result, and much useful information be
imparted to the fishermen on the coast by their cff ins;
and the Government would soon be able to give way to
private enterprise in providing that encouragement to
the employment of the fishermen which was so much
required.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FAGAN said, that from the great advantage
which had accrued from the small encouragement which
had been given by Government in the deep sea fisheries, it
was easy to see what an enlarged encouragement would
do for them. The Hon. Member for Waterford had es
timated the imports of fish into Ireland from Scotland at
15,000/. The fact was, however, that they were upwards
of 60,0001. The effect of the law of last year, which
placed a tax on each fisherman, had been to reduce many
of them to poverty, as they were unable to pay the sum,
small as it was. He was delighted that Government
had given their consent to the Committee.
Sir J. YOUNG said, that if the Hon. -Member who
moved for the Committee expected that it would be of
advantage to the national interests, he feared it would
only add one to the many proofs already existing that
no Parliamentary interference or enactment could sup-
ply that prosperity to the Irish fisheries which could be
derived from individual enterprise and energy alone.
The Committee could not do the work which Irish ca-
pital could accomplish in promoting -the success of the
fisheries.—(Hear.) If the Hon. Member, on the other
hand, wished to put an end to the existence of the rights
of several fisheries in Ireland, he feared the example of
the Committee on Scotch Fisheries, in 1842, forbade any
hope of success. The Committee saw that those rights
were detrimental to the value of the fisheries, and placed
the exercise of them under restrictions, but that was all
they could effect—and if the present Committee eudea-
voured to do more he doubted if it would be successful.
Those rights had been fully recognized by the Committee,
but the owners who had exercised them more than half
a century gave them up on terms to obtain a compro-
mise, and the Committee accepted their terms to prevent
litigation, which in some cases, in Scotland, had cost the
fee simple of the fishery. He heartily wished the Hon.
Member all success in his object.
The motion was agreed to.
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND moved for leave to bring in
a Bill to facilitate the Transfer of Real Property. As
Honourable Members had nearly all gone to dinner,
there was no one left to whom he could address himself
but the Speaker, and he would promise him not to stand
long in the way of his enjoying himself in the same way.
—(A laugh.) There was no reason why land should
not be as free in the market as anything else, and no-
thing prevented that being the case but the existence of
feudal tenures. Into the nature of those tenures he would
not enter, nor would he occupy the House by showing
how the worst portion of them had been preserved,
while the burdens on the owners of land had long since
been removed. The only difficulty he felt in intro-
ducing the Bill was, that he could not conceive what
opposition would be made to it, and he could but an-
swer those which he had heard out of doors. He had
been told, for instance, that it was presumptuous in a
person not called to the bar to introduce a Bill on such
a subject.. Now, being "called to the bar" meant that
a person had eaten a certain number of dinners, and had
paid a certain amount of fees to a conveyancer —(A
laugh)—but he could not see any necessary connexion
between those things and the ability to draw up a Bill.—
(A laugh.) The question was not one for lawyers—
they had quite enoughito do. Sidney Smith said long
ago that " the Court of Chancery was like a boa con-
strictor, which swallowed up the estates of English gen-
tlemen in haste, and digested them at leisure."—(A
laugh.) Surely those gentlemen should be satisfied to
perform the offices of mastication and digestion in their
own courts, and, if they were so, he did not see that any
one else need trouble himself on the subject. It was
solely a question for the owners of land. But it was
said that only lawyers could draw up a Bill. That
remained to be proved. A great many Bills drawn
up by great law) ers would not work. For instance,
there was the Bill of last session, drawn up by the Lord
Chancellor, amended by the Solicitor-Geueral with the
assistance of very eminent members of the'legal profes-
sion (the Encumbered Estates Bill), which turned out a
perfect effput mortuum. In fact, the Bills drawn up by
lawyers gave as much trouble to lawyers as those drawn
up by other persons.—(Hear, hear.) But he was told
he should wait till the Crown Commission which had
been appointed had made its report on the subject.
Rusticus expectett—(A.Jaugh)--14sellte'lfl s --be a very
simple rustic indeed who expected' any useful recom-
mendations from a Crown Commission.-:-(Hear, hear.)
He repudiated the idea that the lawyers would oppose
this Bill. The study of a liberal profession like the law
elevated men above the influence of sordid or interested
motives, and he should as soon suppose that the College
of Physicians would oppose a specific for some malig-
nant disease, or that military men would be adverse to
peace—(A augh)—as to suppose that lawyers would
object to such a Bill as this.—(Hear, hear.) The mere
traders in law might do so, just as a certain body of
physicians, who dined together once on a time, gave " A
slow fever," with three times three.—(Laughter.) It
was therefore possible that there were some barristers
who, at their symposia, gave 1" Trusts for terms of
years," and " Contingent remainders," with all the hes
nours.—(Laughter.) He would not detain the House
further, for, though quite ready to give them a long
speech when they wished it, he would rather abstain
just at that moment. With respect to carrying out the
object of the Bill, he proposed to establi h a registry of
deeds in lands—(Hear, hear)—and that this registra-
tion should beeaccompanied with maps of the same.—
(Hear, hear.) There could be no objection now, as in
former times, on the score of expense to these maps,
because they could be had for every parish in England
since the Tithe Commission sat. He also proposed that
there should be a perfect registration of all encum-
brances of every sort on the property.--(Hear, hear.)
He did not intend that these registrations should be
compulsory; on the contrary, they were to be purely
voluntary ; and, when the Bill was printed, he rather
feared the objection would be that it did not go far
enough; but he thought it right to restrict interference
with property to the least possible lengths.
Mr. P. WOOD seconded the motion.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he had no ob-
jection to the introduction of the Bill, though ho
could not express any opinion upon it, from the gene-
ral way in which the Hon. Member had stated its ob-
ject, till it was printed. No one could deny the great
importance and desirableness of the object sought to be
effected, and he thought the Hon. Member had taken
a step in the right direction in selecting registration as
the mode of carrying it
-- and accompanying that
registration with maps, without which it could not be
effectual. He should be happy to give the Hon. Mem-
ber every possible assistance in carrying out the plan he
suggested.—(Hear.)
Leave was given to bring in the Bill.
BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.
Sir J. PAKINGTON moved for leave to bring in
a Bill for the better Prevention of Bribery and Corrup-
tion at the Election of Members to serve in Parliament.
He had intended to explain the provisions of the Bill at
length, but from what he had heard since he entered
the House he was led to suppose there would be no op-
position to its introduction, as he believed the House felt
very generally the evils a- the gross and notorious
•bribery at the last election; Ile would state its details
on the second reading. - •
Mr. BROTHERTON seconded the motion. _

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Fcb. 13.
THE FISHERIES OF IRELAND.

Mr. C. ANSTEY rose to move for a Select Commit-
tee to inquire into the present state of the inland fish-
eries and navigation of Ireland, wed the obstructions
which hinder the enjoyment of the same; and the best
means of removing such obstructions, and to report their
opinion thereupon to this House. The Honourable and
Learned Member said that it would perhaps be in the
recollection of the House that towards the end of
last session he gave notice that he should in-
troduce a Bill to improve the management of the
important fisheries of Ireland, with a view to render the
laws relating to them more simple than heretofore, and
consequently to render them more productive than during
the past. The Bill introduced by the Right Hon.
Baronet (Sir W. Somerville) in the course of last
session would have effected some improvements with
respect to what was known as the "close" fishing ses-
sion; but it was defective in other respects, particularly
with respect to the right of way, and to the fishing below
and above the " tidal" water, which it was the purpose of
the Bill he (Mr. A) intended to introduce to remedy.
In England the salmon fisheries, comparatively unim-
portant, were for the most part " several" fisheries—
that was held by individuals. In Scotland—he spoke
in the presence of those best competent to give an
opinion—he believed it was universally true that the
salmon fisheries were private property, or what was
called in our law " several" fisheries; but of
Ireland, with the exception of those fisheries, and they
were very few, which were vested in individuals by Act
of Parliament, no such thing as a " several" fisher
existed. Every fishery, supposed to be a " several"
fishery, which bad been hitherto made the subject of
legislation in the courts of Ireland, had been found to be
a fishery of public right,and no several fishery at all; and
therefore it was in a peculiar manner the duty of
the Government, who were the guardians of the nation,
and particularly of the poor, to supervise those exten-
sive and valuable kinds of public property, and to pre-
vent all invasion of them. It was in this respect—op-
posed as he was to Government interference with the
b Ie
,re ltabnadt
tt hies!
ahnedw
hasas a naxl
wi oauysst o
been state,
histmha io
endoilupgitenymeonnftGtooovfernment, and not of individuals at all, to
watch over and preserve the inland salmon fisheries, and
the inland navigation in all the navigable rivers of Ire-
!encl. lie so limited himself, because his motion was
intended to apply to navigable rivers alone, it being in
navigable rivers alone that no right of a " severer I
fishery in the present state of Ireland existed.
When a river discharging itself into the sea was navi-
gable from the sea, so far as that river was navigable, even
tor boats of the smallest burdens, it was as much publici
juris as seas beyond the coast. So far as a river was
navigable from the mouth, so far did the public right
extend. From the reign of James 1., no claim of a
prescriptive character to a " several" fishery had yet
been sustained. W hen he stated this fact he appealed to
the recollection of Hon. Gentlemen that had real the
history of Ireland; and it would be seen how impossible it
was that any title by prescription to a " several" fishery
in Ireland could have been acquired by any indi-
vidual now claiming it. His proposition which
he made in the spirit, not of one party or
of another—(Hear)—not even in the spirit of extreme
right, being always satisfied these were matters of legis-
lation in which more particularly the summum jus
than the summum injuria should obtain. His
proposition was that the interests of claimants
and of the public, as well as the legal rights
of the poor, who had been so long prejudiced in
;his mater, should be conserved; and it was not his
intentkaa to institute any one means se which would
not provide to the fullest extent for the quasi
aights of those particular claimants. But on the other hand
it was undoubtedly and lamentably true that, not con-
,ent with their assertion of those derogatory rights,
and the mischief inevitably occasioned by such
assertion to the general rights of the public
and the poor, the monopolists for such
he must be permitted to term the owners of
those illegal obstructions—and ever since that
introduction was first connived at by the Go-
vernment, and not acquiesced in by the help-
less and defenceless poor, proceeded further
and further in their preservation until the
result had been that in a country watered
with rivers of the largest extent ; rivers which
were stocked with the finest fish sufficient for the
provisions of the population and the markets of Great
Britain,not one fish had been taken in many of those rivers.
The Honourable Gentleman then proceeded to enu-
merate the rivers that were monopolised by pa-
tents, which he contended were rendered ille-
gal, by their not being dated later than the time
of Queen Elizabeth, and then asked the House to bear
with him for a few moments, while he pointed out the
extent of loss which the people of Ireland suffered
Cram the existence of these monopolising obstructions of
These their rivers. Estimating the value of the lost fish
according to its market price, Ireland lost 600,000/.
worth of fish annually, independently of the
consequential damage which resulted to them
from the defective state of the_law, allowing poaching to
be carried on with impunity. It had been as-
certained that one thousand femalo fish were
annually destroyed in the river Blackwater ;
each fish producing 1,500 spawn, of which SOO came to
maturity; and, carrying out that calculation, it
would be found that Ireland was an annual
loser in that way of 160,0001., resulting entirely
from the state of the existing law inducing the re-
sident gentry and landholders on the rivers to
feel that it was not worth while taking steps to pre-
vent poaching during Vic close season. This was
k he case he had to present to the House as a toundation
'or his Committee. If tha Committee were granted, the
measures which he should feel it his duty to propose, would
be of an administrative character only. He was perfectly
-atisfied to take the law as it stood, beginning with
the Act of 1842, which did not go the extreme length of
giving a common law right to remove the obstructions,
and with the strict observance of its provisions he felt
convinced that a remedy might easily bo provided
for the evils which afflicted the valuable and
extensive fisheries of the sister kingdom.—(Hear, hear.)
Notwithstanding that the statute law provides a re-
medy for the mischief, yet the benefit of the Act
could not be obtained except through a regular course,
and the gentlemen of Waterford, Cork, and the other
counties had not called upon him to ask Legislative as-
sistance, without having tried every means, both legal and
equitable, to arrest the continual loss. But all their efforts
had been fruitless, for it was found, both in the trials in
the courts of petty sessions and of quarter sessions, that
the results had been invariably adverse, for four out of
the five magistrates were themselves found to
be owners of weirs, while upon application to
the superior courts the decisions of the lower courts
were always confirmatory of the determination of the ma-
gistrates, and this was not in accordance with the spirit
of the law, for they were contrary to that of one of the
most eminent barristers of Ireland, Mr. Berryman. The
Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to show the difficulty
which was constantly experienced in enforcing the ex-
isting laws on the subject of these fisheries, after which
he said the remedy he would propose was, that imme-
diately upon a conviction being obtained before any ex-
isting tribunal or before a tribunal appointed under a
new Act, the subsequent proceedings should be a mere
matter of police; that in the case of an illegal weir, for
instance, it should be immediately thrown down, and if
another was erected in its place it should be thrown down
likewise, without further prosecution. This would be of
considerable advantage, and although it was by no
means all to which the poor of Ireland and the inland
proprietors were entitled, it would go a great way to-
wards satisfying their just expectations and removing
their well-grounded complaints. If the Committee
were granted, he would not ask for powers
to send for witnesses ; but if any persons
chose to volunteer their evidence, he should be
happy to propose that they should be examined. His
object would be completely answered by the C ommittee
having an opportunity of examining the evidence which
had already been taken by the Board of Works, and by
the production of the correspondence which had taken
place last year, and in former years, between those locally
interested in the fisheries and the Government, respect-
ing the difficulty of prosecutions under the Fisheries Act
and at common law at present. The Hon. Gentleman
concluded by moving for the appointment of a Committee.
Sir 11. W. BARRON seconded the motion, and begged
to suggest to the Hon. Member the propriety of adding
to it an inquiry into the deep sea fisheries. They had a
treasure there which was altogether inexhaustible, and
which might be made the source of a comfortable liveli-
hood to thousands of poor starving people on the coast of
Ireland, if means were only taken to instruct them in the
improved modes of fishing which were practised in Scot-
land. He attributed the improvements which had taken
place there to the labours of the Fishery Board, which
had been established in 1800, and suggested
that a similar board should be appointed for
Ireland. He understood that at present Scotland
exported no less than 15,000/. worth of fish to Ireland
every year, and yet so superabundant were the fish
around the Irish coast, that with proper arrangements a
supply could be furnished to the whole of the people of
that country, and of other countries besides. This was
one of the practical measures which Irish Members had
frequently pressed upon Government, but with no satis-
factory result. There had been no tangible opposition
made to their suggestions, but nothing had been done.
There had been plenty of promises, but no performances.
He implored the House, as a mere matter of economy,
if not of justice, to take steps to place the Irish fisheries
on the same footing as the Scotch. He did not think
that an inquiry into this subject would interfere with
the inquiry proposed by the Hon. Member.
The O'GORMAN MAEION had intended to second
the motion, but was glad to have been anticipated by the
Hon. Member for Waterford. He would only now re-
mark, in confirmation of what had been said by the Hon.
Baronet, that if the deep sea fisheries in Ireland had
be en encouraged by Government as they ought to have
been, there would not now be the mass of misery which
they had the pain of contemplating in that country, nor
would it have been necessary to ask for relief from the
public Treasury.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the
addition proposed by the Hon. Baronet, he begged to
suggest that he should first allow the Committee to be
named, and then add his amendment by way of instruc-
tion to the Committee.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said it was not his intention
to object . to the appointment of the Committee which
had been moved for by the Hon. Gentleman. It seemed
to him, however, that the suegestion of the Hon. Baro-
net the Member for Waterford referred to an entirely
different subject, and that the two inquiries could not
well be conjoined.—(Hear.) The Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
nstey) had correctly described the state of the law in
Ireland on this subject. He had also correctly stated
tha object which he (Sir W. Somerville) had had in view
in the Bill of last session. Several Acts of Parliament
had previously been passed regulating the Irish fisheries,
and there had been .general complaints from all parts
of the country that these laws were inoperative be.

LO;cIJoIIIIIITSSELL—said, he thought the Hon.
Baronet had pursued the most convenient course in re-
serving his statement for the second reading, when he
(Lord John Russell) would give his utmost attention to
the Bill.
Colonel SIBTHORP declared he would discharge his
duties to his constituents ih spite of any Bill against
bribery and corruption.—(A laugh.)
Leave was given to bring in the Bill.
PUBLIC ROADS.

Mr. C. LEWIS moved for leave to bring in a Bill to
consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Public Roads
in England and Wales. Such a measure had been ren-
dered necessary by the change consequent on the intro-
duction of railways, which had reduced many of the
former trunks of communication to the condition of
merely secondary lines, while many branch lines, on the
other hand, not included in the turnpike Acts by which
so many roads in the course of last century and the
beginning of this were transferred from the
management of the parishes to the manage-
ment of trustees, had become principal lines
of communication in connexion with the rail-
ways. The railways had subvel ted the existing
system; many trusts had become insolvent; in some in-
stances the mortgagees and bondholders were collecting
the tolls on their own account; and the necessity had
arisen of coming on the parishes for what might be
called a rate in aid of the highway-rates. In 1841 a
temporary Act was passed, which had been continued by
annual renewal since. Private Acts which would other-
wise have required to bo renewed came under the opera-
tion of that measure. But a large part of the law was
in a provisional state; and it had been thought expe-
dient to deal with the whole subject of roads, including
highways and turnpike roads. A highway Bill was in-
troduced last year; one principal objection to which was,
that it created an t xpensive machinery for the mainte-
nance of highways, and took no notice of turnpike
roads, though these were peculiarly exposed to abuse.
The number of places repairing their own highways was
18,000; the number of miles of highway was 100,000;
and the annual expense of their maintenance was
1,408,7501. There were 1,150 turnpike trusts in En-
gland and Wales, of which the annual charge was
1,378,3521. The total annual expense for highways and
turnpike roads together was, therefore, 2,787,000/. The
bonded debt on turnpike trusts was 6,825,7001.; the
making a total of 8,267,000/.
unpaid interest 1,441,9831.;
such was the unsatisfactory state of things with which

WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY. 14, 1849:

Parliament had to deal. The only, question the House
would now have to conslthr was whether the measure he
proposed was one to which they could assent. ' At,pre-
sent there were two units of taxation ; the parish main-
tained its roads by means of a rate, the turnpike.trust by
means of a toll. When the tolls were deficient the charge
was defrayed from a highway-rate. He proposed to
abolish both these districts of taxation, and to take for
the area of taxation the county.—( Hear, hear.) He
would vest the management in a committee of the quarter
sessions, to be selected by the magistrates, and to be
called the County Roads Court; For the more imme-
diate local management, he proposed that the poor-law
unions should be taken as the districts. The county board
would have power to divide the county roads into two
classes, main roads and branch roads. The chairman and
vice-chairman of the district boards would be members of
the county board. It was proposed that on the 25th'of
March, 1850, all turnpike and highway jurisdiction
should cease, and all powers with reference to those
roads should be vested in the county boards and district
boards. From that day all general and local Acts would
be repealed. Another point of great importance was
the payment of the debt owing by turnpike trusts, which
exceeded 8,000,0001. sterling in amount. lie propeg4l
that the county roads board should take measures:to
form a county road fund, which should be derived, first,
from tolls levied on the main roads, and secondly, from
a county rate ; a county rate being substituted fur high-
way rate. Arbitrators would be appointed to estimate
the existing market value of all securities, and the county
board should issue debentures for the amount charged
and secured on the county roads fund. The only quer:.
tion would be as to the inequalities which might arise
from the charge being made coincident with the entire
county, though some of the turnpike trusts might he con-
nected with adjoining counties. But, unless sime ar
rangement of the kind proposed were adopted, it would
be impossible to devise a general plan by which the
debt would be secured and full security given to the
bondholders. It was proposed that the debt should be
paid off in a period of not less than seven or more than
twenty-seven years. By the present Acts no provision
was made for the ultimate extinction of the debts. To
pay 1004 in twenty-one years. allowing 4 per cent. in-
terest, required an annual payment of 71. 2s. 6d. '1 pay
100/. in seven years, allowing 4 per cent. inter/1474d-
quired an annual payment of 161. 13s. 4d. The dif-
ference, therefore, between extinction in seven and in
twenty-one years was, therefore, very considerable.
Unless a measure could be framed on the principle he
proposed it would be impossible to legislate on the
subject by any general measure. It would be necessary
to resort to local legislation ; and all matters con-
, nested with the great communications of the country,
except, indeed, the railwa3s, would remain in stiVun-
satisfactory state.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HENLEY was confident the House would agree
with him in thanking the Hon. Gentleman for the very
clear and lucid statement he had made. No onii besuld
say that the measure now proposed was not comprehen-
sive.—(Hear, hear.) It would be presumptuous for him
to offer an opinion on the measure now; but when the
Hon. Gentleman proposed to throw the management of
100,000 miles of highway and so many turnpike trusts
on 700 Poor-law unions, it might be questioned how far
the duties of those bodies could be satisfactorily dis-
charged. It was proposed that a sinking fund should
be formed to pay off the debt; but the annual payment
which would be required for twenty-one years to pay
8,000,0004 of debt, would be, in round numbers,
400,000/., equal to about half the present county rates
for England, over and above what they would have to
pay for the maintenance of the roads. That seemed
a very heavy tax to impose just when they were be-
ginning to taste the pleasure of wheat at five shillings
the bushel, and after they had cut down hills and
overcome engineering difficulties at a great expense,
not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of those
who wanted to travel at ten miles an hour.—(Hear.)
A few years ago a measure, cognate with this, was in-
troduced into Parliament. It dealt with bondholders by
the same system of instalment as was proposed by the
Bill now moved for; but the bondholders were almost
unanimous in objecting to be paid off by driblets. One
circumstance ought not to be lost sight of in the consi-
deration of this matter; namely, that the condition of
turnpike-roads was an improving one. Although the
tolls were, in the aggregate, greatly diminished, the ex-
penses had decreased in a more than equal ratio, which
showed that the extra expense had been caused by what
was technically called the through transit, in contradis-
tinction to the local transit. The Bill should obtain his
maturest consideration, and he would support it if its
provisions were just to all parties.
Sir J. PAKINGTON had gathered from the clear
statement of the Hon. Member that the principle of his
measure was to be the consolidation of turnpike trusts,
and the payment of their debts by means of a sink-
ing fund. That entirely met his idea as to the
manner in which the difficulties connected with the ques-
tion of turnpike trusts might be removed. In 1843,
when Sir James Graham was Secretary for the Home
Department, a Bill was introduced relative to the turn-
pike trusts, and was referred to a Committee, of which he
(Sir J. Packington) was chairman. That Committee
concurred with him in strongly recommending the adop-
tion of the principles now proposed by the Honourable
Under-Secretary for the Home Department. The Hon.
Member for Oxford had omitted to take into considera-
tion that the tolls derived from the turnpike roads would
go in aid of the sinking fund to pay off the debt; but, at
the same time, it could not be denied that the adoption of
the measure would impose a great charge on the county
rates; and, on that account, it could not fail to be viewed
with jealousy.
Mr. BROTHERTON expressed his approbation of
the plan generally.
Mr. SLANEY was of_ opinion that, under the plan
which had boon stated by the -Honourable Under-Secre-
tary, the landed interest would eventually gain, because
it would lead to the construction of good roads, skilfully
and economically made.
Mr. SPOONER maintained that the lion. Member
for Oxford had not been guilty of any omission in not
referring to the toll derived from the gates as a means
by which any portion of the debt could be liquidated,
because those tolls were avowedly insufficient to pay
even the interest of the debt. He feared that the
boards of guardians would be found altogether incom-
petent to discharge the duties which the Bill would im-
pose upon them. The present was not a time when the
agricultural interest could bear the imposition of a fresh
burden of 8,000,0001.

Captain PECLIELL supposed that the situation
which the Under• Secretary had formerly held under the
Poor-law Commissioners had suggested to him the idea
of making the boards of guardians the administrators
of the proposed new law; but for his part he disap-
proved of that part of the scheme, and thought that
the guardians had quite work enough upon their hands
already.
Sir. G. STRICKLAND observed, that one objection
to the proposed scheme was, that it would cause those
districts in which the turnpike trusts had been well ma-
naged to pay for the mismanagement of others. For
centuries the highways had been under the management
of parishes, the roads were now in an improved state,
and he doubted the policy of placing them under a new
.administration.

Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
THE DUCHIES OF CORNWALL AND LAN-

CAST.EIL _
Mr. TRELAWNY, on rising to move that it be an
instruction to the Committee on Woods and Forests, &c.,
to extend their inquiry to the duchies of Cornwall and
Lancaster, addressed some observations to the House in
a low tone. He was understood to contend that it was
necessary to adopt measures to check mismanagement
and improve the revenue. In 1846 the income of the
duchy of Cornwall was 50,3951., out of which only
12,0321. was paid to the Crown, so that the coat must
have been 38,363/.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, the ITon. Gentleman had
stated that ho made this motion with the view of show-
ing that the revenues of the Duchies of Lancaster and
Cornwall should bo applied to the exigencies of the pub-
lic service and the votes of the Houk. It was upon that
ground that he (Lord J. Russell) should oppose it.—
(Hear, hear.) The house, when the civil list was
settled, had the whole of the revenues of the Crown be-
fore them, and they had it then in their power, if they
thought fit, to declare that the Crown might receive its
own revenues, but that they would make no settlement
on the Crown except those revenues. It might have
declared that it made that settlement contingent on the
surrender of the revenues of the duchies of Lancaster and
Cornwall. It was competent for Parliament—though
he did not say it would have been expedient—to have
taken that course. But, after having made the present
arrangement, and provided by Act of Parliament
that the Crown should keep those revenues, he said it
would be totally unjust to come now and say they
would alter the terms of the contract, because the
economy of the public service required it, and take these
revenues which they had solemnly declared should be
the revenues of the Crown.—(llear, hear.) Every ono
knew that there were sources of revenue which belonged
to former Sovereigns—there were casual revenues which
belonged to George IV.—the revenue of Hanover, which
belonged to William IV.—which belonged not to the
present Sovereign of these realms. There bad been
mismanagement of the revenues of the duchies of Lan-
caster and Cornwall; and, with a view of putting some
check upon it, it was enacted that accounts should be
periodically submitted to Parliament of the general re-
ceipts and expenditure of those duchies. That bad been
done, and a very great improvement had been made in
the management of those revenues. The councils of the
duchies also had
,the power of making such improve-
ments as a great proprietor would make in the manage-
ment of his eatate; and the income, as compared with
the expenditure, was every year becoming more im-
proved. That being the case, even supposing there had
been no regular contract with the Crown, as the Com-
mittee could only recommend the correction of abuses
which were already in the course of correction, ho did
not see that any benefit would result from referring the
subject to a Committee.
Mr. M. GIBSON said there was something in the na-
ture of public inconvenience in these independent juris-
dictions and principalities in the country, leading as they
did 'to litigation and vexation of various kinds. He
doubted whether they were of any advantage to the
Crown, or to any class of her Majesty's subjects.
The motion was then withdrawn.
QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS (IRELAND).
Sir W. SOMERVILLE, in rising to more for leave
to bring in a Bill to amend the Laws which regulate the
Qualification and Registration of Parliamentary Voterso
in
Ireland, said it would be in the recollection of the
measure
the Huse
that last session he submitted to the Hoa
on the same subject, and he then stpitlelddsiffteheerepdriniucipuloe
and object of it; and as the present
tion, it would bo unnecessary
on that subject. The
very material respect as regardefdorthheimcotuont)o,eqeouraylifitciale-
House for any length of time es_m
doing awa with
substitutingam ou nt
of
principle of this measpre occupation, i
atnhde
rating instead.
any qualification requeirpmrgo
.year,, Si , that amount
posed
that the
of paying the poor-rates due
implying the Qv
rating should be aslast ~ •

.within six months ; but .that, iniiteacl of their being
merely paid preyiously to voting, as in the Bill of last year,
they should be paid previously to registration. In the
Bill of last year lie proposed to leave the borough fran-
chise as it was now, with this exception, that it did away
with the payment of all rates except poor-rates, which
were to be paid, as in the case of the county franchise,
previous to voting. He proposed in this Bill to adopt
the same principle with respect to the borough franchise
as to the county franchise. He proposed also that there
should be an annual revision and an annual system of
registration, and he should be prepared to show at the
proper time that this measure would not give an undue
number of electors as compared with England.
Mr. STAFFORD said, that by acquiescing in the mo-
tion for leave to bring in this Bill, it must not be sup-
posed that he and other Hon. Members were pledged to
support it tither in principle or detail. He must also
say, it was not unworthy of observation that the same
Government which was now urging a suwension of the
Habeas Corpus Act for Ireland was propounding a scale
of political franchise for the same people lower than was
enacted in England. •
Mr. E. B. ROCHE thought that, instead of confining
the franchise to a rating of Si., it should be extended to
every man who was rated at all.
Lord BERNARD objected to the proposed alteration
of the borough franchise in Ireland. Considering the
many social questions connected with that country which
required attention and adjustment, and the state of the
poor-law in particular, he could not help condemning not
only the general policy of the Government, but also the
intrt duction of this particular measure.
Mr. GROGAN agreed with the Noble Lord that
a hen the destitution of the people was considered, to
bring forward a measure like the present was to give
them a stone when they asked for bread. The Bill pro-
posed to establish a uniform representation upon a cer-
tain amount of rating, when no uniform system of valu-
ation existed. He could not help thinking that there
were many persons in Ireland who would thank the Right
Hon. Gentleman very little for putting them on the re-
gistry, which would only place them in a false position
with regard to their landlords on the one hand and
popular opinion on the other.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL said, that Hon. Members oppo-
site need not be afraid of the great extension of votes
under this Bill, the effect of which would be in towns to
diminish rather than to increase the number of votes.
The privilege of voting would not, he believed, induce
persons to incur the necessary amount of rate, which
they now tried every shift to avoid. At the same time
he.did not wish to be understood as undervaluing the
step taken by the Government in bringing forward this
promised Bill. One excellent principle of the measure
would be; to disconnect the franchise from the tenure of
the land.

[Leave was given to bring in the Bill.
ELECTIONS (IRELAND).
On the motion of Sir W. SOMERVILLE leave was
also given to bring in a Bill to shorten the duration of
elections in Ireland, and to establish additional places for
taking the poll thereat.
BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.

Sir J. PAKINGTON brought in a Bill for the bet-
ter preventi ,n of bribery and corruption at elections.
The Bill was read a first time.
lIIGH WAYS.

On the motion of Mr. C. LEWIS a Bill to consoli-
date and amend the laws relating to public roads in
England and North Wales was brought in and read a
first time.

The House then adjourned about Nine o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Cotnrnons.)
MONDAY, FEB. 12.

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE.
The following Railway Bills are ordered to be read a
second time on Friday, Feb. 16:—
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, and Edinburgh and
Glasgow Union Canal (Amalgamation, or Sale or Lease of
the Union Canal to the Railway Company).
South-Eastern (Removal of Restriction against opening
tho Tunbridge Wells and Hastings, and Ashford and Hast•
ings Lines, Grant of compulsory Powers for Purchase of
Lands, Steam-boats).• - •

East Anglian (Ely and Huntingdon Railway, Extension
of Time).
TUESDAY, FEB. 13.
The Llynvi Valley Railways Bill :was read a first, and
ordered to be read a second time.

IRISH DEBT.
Mr. Macgregor gave notice that he should, on Friday,
Feb. 16, move tor the following returns:—
Of the numberand amount of loans contracted on account
of Ireland from the period of the union until the Exchequer
of Ireland was united with that of Great Britain in the
year 1817 :

Of the amount Of any) which has been paid off, out of the
Irish revenue, of the Irish debt due at the union, and of the
Irish debt which accrued afterwards, down to the union of
the Irish and British Exchequers:
Of the amount (if any) ef the said debts which has been
paid from the Consolidated Fund since the union until the
year 1817 :
Of the total amount of funded and unfunded Irish debt,
including floating Exchequer-bills, which was funded in
England from the date of the union until the union of the
two Exchequers in 1817 :
Of the amount of loans contracted on account of Ireland
from the union of the two Exchequers in 1817 to the sth day
of January, 1349 :
Of the amount (if any) of such loans as has been repaid,
distinguishing the amounts paid (if an)) out of the Consoli-
dated revenue, and Of any) out of the revenue levied in
Ireland :

Of the gross revenue levied in Ireland each year, from the
sth day of January, 1818, to the sth day of January, 1849,
distinguishing the expense of collection, and the other pay-
ments out of the Irish revenue in its way to the Exchequer :
Of the total gross expenditure of Ireland for each year,
from the sth day of January, 181/1, to the sth day of
January, 1849, distinguishing the amounts (if any) of repay-
ments of loans, of reducing the Irish debt ;funded in Eng-
land or transferred to Ireland, the civil, military, naval, and
constabulary expenditures and interest paid on Irish debt
funded in England or transferred to Ireland, and which have
been each year paid out of the Consolidated revenue, and out
of the revenues collected in Ireland :

Of the amount (if any) which has been redeemed of the
Irish debt from the date of the union to the sth day of
January, IS i 9, distinguishing payments out of the Consoli-
dated Fund and out of the revenue levied in Ireland :
Of the total amount which remains unredeemed of the
Irish debt funded in England from the union to the sth day
of January, 1849:
Of the amount of Irish debt funded in England on the sth
day of January, 1849, and amount of interest payable
thereon out of the Consolidated Fund:
And, of the amount of Irish debt funded in Ireland on the
sth day of January, 1849, and the sources from which the
interest due thereon is paid.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.

From the statement of accounts to be submitted to the
shareholders at the half-yearly meeting to-morrow
(Thursday), it appears that the amount received on the
old and new shares is 5,725,045/.; on preference shares,
171,0421.; calls in advance, 81,0471.; profit on shares
sold, 26,209/.; interest on calls in arrear, 3,3351.; de-
benture bonds, 1,763,150 L; total receipts on capital ac-
count to the 31st of December, 7,769,828/. Expended on
main line and branches completed (215 miles in length),
5,609.539/.; on lines not completed (22 miles in length),
302,7941.; on lines suspended, 686,663/.; on locomotive
engines and carriages, 528,9241.; surveying, law, and
other expenses, 362,765/, including 190,014/. for interest
on calls—making a total expenditure of 7,490,688/., and
leaving a balance of 279,139/. in favour of the company.
The revenue account for the half-year ending the 31st
of December last shows that 201,417/. was received for
passengers; 8,9861. for carriages and mails, 8,954/. for
parcels, 2,1551. for horses, 1,892/. for live stock, and
49,192/. for goods; total receipts for traffic, 272,5961. ;
sundry rents, 1,6901. ; total amount of revenue, 274,289/.
The expenses were—for maintenance of way, 27,1011. ;
locomotive department, 33,013/. ; earriage department,
7,690/. ; coaching, 25,631/. ; stores, offices, and other
expenses, 24,332/. ; total working expenses, 117,769/. ;
rates and taxes, 10,833/. ; Government duty, 8,741/. ;
making the total expenses 137,3431., and leaving a
profit of 136,9441. Out of this sum 41,2431. is de-
ducted for preferential charges and interest against
revenue, including 23,3021. for debenture bond interest
2,400/. fur steam-boats, and 11,973/. for 12 months' in-
terest on the 7 per cent. preference shares, leaving a
balance of 95,7014, to which is added the balance from
the last account (1,2351.), making the disposable balance
for dividend 96,9351.