The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-06 00:00:00

DEBT OF THE CORPORATION.

Mr. ANDERTON moved " that the Coal, Corn, and Fi-
nance Committee du report to this Court the amount of
debt owing by this ccrporation, and charged upon its
corporate funds, with an estimate of the probable amount
which will be required to meet the liabilities of the cor•
poration during the next two years, and the means of
meeting such liabilities." He called upon the Court to
consider the actual state of the funds of the corporation
before they went headlong into such an expenditure
as every day's proceedings disclosed. He begged that
they would look, for instance, to the sum of 80,0001.,
which was about to be expended in erecting the new
prison, and surely, when they were making themselves
responsible for the payment of such enormous amounts,
they ought to know how the Chamberlain's accounts
stood.

Mr. T. H. HALL said the statement was made public
every year.
Mr. Deputy PEACOCK said that, upon the ground that
such a report was entirely unnecessary, he should move
the previous question.
Mr. JoxN WOOD said it was his intention to vote for
the previous question. He could fancy the mischief
which such information might cause, but could see no
advantage as likely to arise from it.
Mrue. TAYLOR re gc
eraelltetedd
cheqtrr of the Court, was departed from. It was the
practice of that old member to bring his annual budget.
thethat
the
Chancellorpin adopted
of rho E byx
Mr.-
Mr. T. H. HALL represented the condition of the
Chamber to be much more flourishing at the present
period than it had Wen formerly.—(Hear.) There was
always a surplus in the Chamber, and the power of mak-
ing great additional improvements, would no doubt in-
crease. 'They would, in fact, be able to devote more and
more to great public improvements.
The previous question was then carried by a majority
of 26 to 22.

COLLECTION OF TUE CITY DUES.
Mr. Sheriff (Alderman) Firitits moved, after an ex-
cellent speech, in which he enlogised the great exertions
made by Mr. Deputy Selson and Mr. Last, members of
the Court, in investigating the tremendous system of
plunder pursued by the late collector of the City's dues
on wines, moved the following resolution:—

" That the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee having,
on the 19th of October last, reported that, upon the ex-
amination of the accounts of the collection of City dues
on wines for the year ending the 30th of July last, and
comparing the amount paid out of the Chamber by the
present collector, with that paid by the late collector
upon the average of three years, it appeared there
was an increase of 2,3911. per annum, it be an in-
struction to the said Committee, referring to
the resolution of thanks of this Court to the
31st of May, 1847, to consider and report whether
some more lasting testimonial should not be given to
George Selson, Esq., Deputy, and Mr. John Last, for the
invaluable services they rendered in the investigating
and exposure of the delinquencies of the late collector."
A long discussion took place, in the course of which
several of the most able and experienced members ex-
pressed the highest admiration of the manner in which
Mr. Selson and Mr. Last prosecuted the inquiry, not-
withstanding the resolute attempts made to overpower
them, and to misrepresent their motives and intentions.
It was agreed that the vote of thanks already unanimously
agreed to sufficiently testified to the opinion entertained
by the Corporation, and it was suggested
.that a copy of
that resolntion, written and emblazoned upon vellum,
should be presented to each of the gentlemen. By mis-
take, however, Sheriff Finnis omitted to withdraw his
motion, and the previous question having been carried,
the sugtestion could not be adopted according to the
forms of the court.—Adjourned.

NEW PASSENGER ACT.—The new Passenger Bill,
prepared by Mr. Hawes, provides certain very impor-
tant alterations in the law. All persons following the
business of a passenger broker will be required to give
2001. security for the integrity of their dealings. The
scale of provisions supplied to emigrants is proposed to
be raised in quantity, and will include tea and other
luxuries. In certain cases, also, the space allowed to
each passenger will bo increased. There are several
other provisions, interesting to shipowners and emi-
grants, which have not yet been made public.—Cork
Examiner.
IRISH Hora.—The vessel Erin's Queen, arrived in
the river from Belfast, has brought eighteen pockets of
hops as a portion of her cargo.or This • somewhat
novel and remarkable importation is
country.
imina
the Elia ter

THE REPRESENTATION OF
SLIEFFIELD.

A mecAinz of the Sheffield Reform Association was
INld in the Council-hall on Weclnesdly evening, to con•
eider what steps should be taken to supply the tnectcd
vacancy in the representation of the borough, conse-
quent
upon the appointment of Mr. H. G. Ward, M.P.,
to the Chief Commiisionership of the lonia,. Islands.
Mr. E. SMITU took the chair, and called on the mover
of the first r.l6olution—.
_

Mr. W. FlSHER—(Cheers.) Before moving a reso-
lution, he would first state, that on Monday he attended
a meeting of about 20 influential Liberals of both sec-
tions. The result was, a determination to convene a
meeting of the whole Liberal electors, and to propose
Mr. J. A. Roebuck.—(Cheers.) Immediately after that
meeting, the committee of this society met, and also
prepared a resolution in favour of Mr. Roebuck, on con-
dition of being assured of his adhesion to the principles
of the society. He (Mr. Fisher) was instructed to write
to Mr. Roehuck on the subject. Since he came into
that building he had received the following reply to his
letter:— _

" Reform Club, Tuesday evening, nine o'clock.
"My dear Sir,—l have this moment found your letter
here, and hasten to answer it, in the hope that my letter
may be with you in time for the meeting to-morrow. I
can have no difficulty in answering any questions you
ask. My whole political life has been spent in support-
ing free tra3e, ballot, extension of the suffrage, and
financial reform. And some of the last opinions to which
I have given expression in Parliament were declarations
against any extension of religious establishments by the
State. To these opinions I adhere, and must refer Sou
to my past life as the guarantee for my future conduct.
"I shall, therefore, be quite ready and proud to ac-
cept your flattering offer, with all its provisos. I shall
remain in London until I hear further; and beg you to
believe me yours very truly (but in haste),
"J. A. ROEBUCK.
" I say sincerely in haste, for I write in fear of the
post closing."
—(Cheers.) lie now moved the following resolution:—
" That this meeting, recognizing Mr. Roebuck as an
able, powerful, and zealous advocate of those political,
commercial, and economical principles which this so-
ciety was established to promote, will rejoice to see him
adopted as the candidate of the whole Liberal party for
the representation of this borough."
With the full conviction that Mr. Roebuck was a man of
very considerable talent—with the full conviction that
he would go as far on all political subjects as any rational
man could expect to succeed with in the House of Com-
mons, be very cordially moved this resolution.
Mr. R. LEADER, jun., said he had occupied some time
during the last few days in examining the speeches and
votes of Mr. Roebuck during the last Parliament, from
1841 to 1847, and this review had augmented the plea-
sure which he should otherwise have felt in seconding
the motion. Mr. Roebuck had spoken and voted on all
the great questions that had come before Parliament, and
in reference to all he had shown great information, and a
steady adherence to his principles. Mr. Leader, jun.,
then, at some length, recapitulated the votes given by Mr.
Roebuck whilst in Parliament, and concluded by heartily
seconding the motion. —(Cheers.)
Mr. M. BEAL thought they could not have a more
eligible candidate than Mr. Roebuck. He thought the re-
turn of Mr. Roebuck would do credit to Sheffield. No town
could better suit Mr. Roebuck—(Hear, hear)—and no
Member could suit the town better. He thought they
should make a very wise selection in naming Mr. Roe-
buck, and he cordially supported the motion.
The Cnetinmay did not know that he could indorse
all they had heard from Mr. Roebuck. But that was
not the question. The real question was whether, on
the whole, he was the likeliest man to represent the
town. His (Mr. Smith's) views might perhaps be Lycu-
liar, but it was a recommendation to him that Mr. Roe-
buck was not a man of aristocratic family and connexions.
—(Cheers.) As to any little faults of temper, they
might go very far before they would find a perfect man.
He hoped these faults might not have the quality which
Jeoffry Crayon attached to, a woman's tongue—that it
was the only edged tool th it never grew duller by using.
—(Cheers.) He hoped that in this case, if there was
any fault, it would grow a little quieter and duller.—
Cheers.) He had reason to suppose that Mr. Roebuck
would embody more of the approbation of the people of
Sheffield than perhaps any other man ; and since there
had been some little difference among them, it was im-
portant that they should concur in electing a man who
had so many excellent qualifications.—(Cheers.)
Mr. W. BAKER, as a non-elector, expressed his ad-
miration of Mr. Roebuck, and the unbouaded satisfaction
he felt that they were likely to be unanious in returning
a man whose public character and intellectual worth was
so well known.

The motion was then put to the vote, and carried
unanimously.
.•

A vote oe-thanks was proposed to Mr. H. G. Ward for
the many services he bad rendered to the liberal cause
during the time he had represented Sheffield. There
was considerable opposition to the motion from a feeling
among the electors that since Mr. Ward had been in
office his conduct had not been satisfactory. Eventually,
however, the resolution was;carried by a majority of two
to one of the meeting.