The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-21 00:00:00

free from his engagements; vr.he ro..s. the party who was
out of trade, in um, ty-nine cases out of a build, ed, be-
came insolvent in consequence of his own misconduct.—
(Hear, hear.) The only difficulty that had been started,
which was of sufficient consequence to be noticed, was
that in which it was asserted that it could render the
power of representatives to return Members to Parlia-
ment involuntarily void.—(Hear, hear.) But yet there
was this reply to such an objection. The Bill only gave
the opportunity to the electors of saying whether they
considered any one fit to be a reprsentative or not. He
would rather follow the advice of the Hon. Member for
Newark, and wait for a short term Act from the House
of Lords.
After a few words in explanation from Sir W, CLAY,
Mr. F. O'CONNOR said that he would agree with
the Hon. Member for the Tower Hamlets, and not offer
any active opposition to the Bill. Yet be felt bound to
state what effect this Bill was likely to have on the
people at large. The people were striving to obtain a
power of returning representatives without any property
qualification ; and he would warn the House not to let
them suppose that whilst they were advancing their re-
presentatives were retrograding. The effect of this Bill
would be to frighten Members into the payment of debts
which they really never owed.—(Hear, hear.) He
trusted the Bill would be rejected, for he believed that
if it became an Act of Parliament it would be productive
of great mischief.
Mr. HUME thought that he had opposed no sufficient
obstacle to raise any serious objection to his proposal.
With regard to the House of Peers, he believed that it
was quite as desirous to keep itself pure as that House
was, and if the measure worked well as regarded that
House, no doubt the principle would be adopted by the
other House. He could well conceive the difficulty
arising from a long chancery suit, and he did conceive
that it would be hard in the extreme that a man who
perhaps with 1,0001. a year was embarrassed by the
costs of legal proceedings, should be excluded from the
House.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the best
plan would be to leave the matter altogether to the de-
cision of the judges, whose peculiar business it was to
discriminate in cases of insolvency. This was a portion
of the duty for which they were paid.
Mr. HUME had always thought of late that according
to the present rate of prices the judges were overpaid.
Mr. R. PALMER thought that the Bill would be
useful, and he should support the clause.
Mr. MULLINGS also supported the clause.
After a few words from the SOLICITOR-GENERAL,
Sir W. CLAY said the Bill sanctioned the Speaker's
declaring the seat of a Member vacant who might re-
fuse to pay a debt on the order of the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Now, suppose, on an appeal to a Superior
Court, it was decided that the Member was
not liable for the debt, what redress did
the Bill give for such an inquiry as it? He still thought
the Bill so defective that he should move that the Chair-
man do report progress.—(Hear.)
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, in the case put
by the Hon. Member the party so agrieved could be re-
elected.
Mr. HENLEY said that was no- redress at all, for the
same process might be gone through of obtaining the
bankruptcy order, and the unseating of the Member
again secured.—(Hear.) He hoped that the discussion
upon the Bill would be postponed until a future day,
when the House might have the benefit of the attend-
ance of one Member of the Government.
Mr. H. BERKELEY thought that a vast deal of the
Bill requiredi much; more consideration on the part of
Hon. Members than had as yet been directed to it.
There appeared to be a great disposition in that House
to legislate against its own Members, and this was par-
ticularly observed in all measures which were brought
!ordward to establish, or rather to create, purity of
election. An agent had nothing to do but
to give a sovereign to a voter, and an Election
Committee could not refuse to turn out the Member on
whose behalf it was alleged that the sovereign was give n.
He hoped that the further consideration of the Bill
would be postponed until a future day.
Mr. STAFFORD hoped that no new element of con-
fusion would be introduced into the Bill, which, on the
very face of it had an unsavoury appearance. The So-
licitor-General bad stated that the Bill would not effect
the object which it was sought to accomplish, viz., the
exclusion of insolvent Members from the Ilouse ; and
when they saw that the title of it was so totally dissimilar
to the clauses, he thought the House had a good ground
for not sanctioning it. There' was a good deal of oppo-
sition in the House to it, but Members had a delicacy in
speaking upon the subject. When it was under discus--
awn upon the last occasion, Members seemed to
take very little interest in the debate, and
on enquiring the reason ho was told, but
he hoped it was not true, that all the
insolvent Members had gone to the Levee.—(Hear.)
Mr. MACKINNON said it was impossible in the
19th century that they could remain under the slur of
having Members in the House who did not pay their
debts, and who took advantage of the privileges
of the House in order that they might
defraud their creditors. If they wished to raise
themselves in the public estimation they ought at once to
pass this measure. If it was the wish of the House that
Members should be eligible for re-election upon getting
a release from the judgments issued against them, the
Bill might easily be altered in that respect by the in-
sertion of two words. He was strongly opposed to any
attempt for throwing overboard this measure.
Colonel THOM.PSON said it might be extremely
improper to afford shelter to any Member who
could not, or would not, pay his debts; but it
was a work of supererogation to pass a measure
for the recovery of debts from Members against
whom a process could be successfully carried
or out of the House. There was hardly a Member of
the Home who was not a president, vice-president, go-
vernor, or member of some commercial or charitable in-
stitution; and, in the ;glorious uncertainty of the law
which existed in the time of our ancestors, and existed
now, they might be called upon to settle claims against
such institutions, for which they were not equitably
responsible. An instance occurred, not many years ago,
of two Members of Parliament being fixed upon for the
payment of some claret, the club to which they belenged
being unable to settle the demands upon it. He should
vote against the Bill.
Mr. MOFFATT replied. He regretted that he could
not accede to the proposition of the Hon. Member
for Derbyshire. The Honourable Member for
Northamptonshire said that a man might be
re-elected; but if he became a fraudulent insolvent, he
never could be re-elected . At the present moment
directors of public companies were no more liable for the
debts of the undertakings with which they were con-
nected than they would be under this Bill; for if they did
not pay their debts they were liable to be ejected
from the House under the bankruptcy laws.
The House should bear in mind that he did not propose
to, introduce any new principle. The mover of the
amendment " that the Chairman report progress" had
not stated any valid reasons in support of his proposi-
tion, he had merely objected to the principle of the Bill.
Alter a few words from Mr. MU LLINS,
The House divided, when there appeared—
Fur reporting progress 34
Against it

Majority ... ..• ••• —43
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY the House
agreed to the 4th clause.
Mr. HOUNDELL PALMER proposed an amend-
ment to the sth clause, to the effect that an insolvent
Member, whose seat had been vacated, should be put
precisely in the same situation as a bankrupt stood in
regard to that House, who could not sit again until he
had obtained his certificate from the Bankruptcy Court.
Mr. MOFFATT did not see any objection to the
amendmeu t.
The amendment was thereupon agreed to.
The House then went through the remaining clauses,
making a few verbal amendments, which did not provoke
any opposition or discussion, and the House having re-
sumed the Chairman reported progress.
Mr. HENLEY thought that to-morrow would be too
soon to report the Bill.
Mr. BERNAL said this day week.
Mr. HENLEY—There were several Members who
wished to take part in the discussion who had been un-
able to be present to-day. He thought, therefore, that it
would be better to postpone the consideration of the
report.

Mr. HUME conceived that the objections which ho
had put were of great force, and ought to be taken into
account.—(Hear, hear.) The question of costs in a law-
suit was a very poor one.
Mr. BERNEL was exceedingly surprised that the
Hon. Member for Montrose had at all supported the
principle of the Bill. The objections which he had urged
were altogether fatal to the principle, and he was only
astonished at his supporting the Bill, or rather its prin-
ciple at all.

Mr. lIUME was quite opposed to the Bill. He
should likesome arrangement,certainly, but the prin-
ciple of the Bill was one which he could not in any
wassulptpor
t tken ordered that the report should be brought
ntTdEaNy
AwNeeh AT RACK RENT RELIEF BILL.
THE
Mr. SOTHERON, on the motion
abeing put for the
second reading of this Bill,
expresseddesire that some
clause should be introduced to put the rate-payers, who
had formerly contributed to the erection of lunatic
asylums, should be put on the same footing
as those who had not paid anything towards
the fund for such a purpose. He thought
the Bill was a very good Bill, and he quite agreed with
its principle, but he thought that its details, especially as
regarded the point to which he had alluded, might be
very much amended.
Sir F. LEWIS said that as far as the measure went
it bad his decided approbation. He did not, however,
think it went far enough. He thyught great advantage
would be gained by placing such rates upon the landlord
instead of the tenant. _

Mr HODGES doubted whether the provisions of the
Bill could be carried out. _ _

Mr BROTHLRTON agreed with the principle of the
Bill, but thought there would be great diffieultics in
carrying out its details.

Mr. d. LEWIS did not object to the second reading of
the Bill, but ho thought its provisions might be con-
siderably improved i❑ Committee.
Sir J. DUCKWORTH supported the second reading
of the Bill.

After a few words from Mr. F. Edgerton, Mr. P.
Scrope, and Mr. 11. Palmer, who also supported the.
Bill, but suggested improvements to be considered in
Committee,
Mr. SOUTHERLAND replied.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered
to be committed this day week.
Mr. FOX MAULE brought up the report of the
Committee of Supply relating to the army estimates,
which was considered and agreed to.
ECCLESIASTICAL BENEFICES.
Upon the motion of Mr. MULLINS, leave was given
to bring in a Bill to extend the remedies of sequestrators
of ecclesiastical benefices.

STTPPT,Y.

the rep_tt of the Coututii.tee of 6upp:y was biGug
up and agreed co.__

_
PUBLIC ROADS BILL.
Colonel LEWIS brought in the Public Roads Bil
which was read a first time.

After the transaction of some other unimportani
business,
The House adjourned at five o'clock.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—Iu your paper of the 16th, I find my name is
placed; as voting in the minority on Mr. Disraeli's motion
for transferring a portion of the poor and other rates to
the Consolidated Fund ; whereas I voted in the majority
and against Mr. Disraeli's motion. Begging you will
correct this error,

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
RICHARD HARRIS,

NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE.

GIBRALTAR, MARCH 9.—The Sidon steam-frigate ar •
rived here on the 4th, from the Riff Coast.
The Polywhemus steam-sloop was soon after dis-
patched to Tangier, with negotiations respecting the
piracies on the above coast, which, I think, are in a
train for satisfactory settlement.
The Vanguard, 80, sailed the same day for Plymouth
to be paid off.
The Polyphemus has not yet returned, but is momen-
tarily expected to heave in sight, when, it is reported,
Sir Charles Napier will leave this for England in the
St. Vincent, the Sidon, Plumper, and Renard in com-
pany-.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 19.—Her Majesty's ship Van-
guard, 80, Captain George F. Rich, scaled guns, and was
inspected this morning in the Sound by Admiral-Super-
intendent Sir John Louis. She has discharged her
powder into boys, preparatory to going up harbour.
Her crew are suspected of having a considerable quantity
of contraband goods on board. One revenue cutter is
moved astern, one is sailing round her, and every boar
leaving the Vanguard is minutely rummaged by the
revenue officers.

Her Majesty's steam-vessel Conflict arrived on Satur.
day from Woolwich.

Orders were received at the Dockyard on the 17th
to prepare for commission her Majesty's 50. gun frigate
Indefatigable. Her masts will be put on board this week.
The merchant barque Queen, of Greenock, Captain
Alexander Hutton, 128 days from China, was off the
port this morning, bound to London. Her dates are—
Sbanghae, 9th of November, 1848; Cape of Good Hope,
17th of January, 18b9; off St. Helena, 28th of January,
and off Ascension Ist of February. The flag-ship of
Admiral Dacres, the President, 50, Capt. W. P. Stanley,
and two sailing vessels•of-war were at Simon's Bay. At
Table Bay, the merchant ships Larkin and Kent, and
brig Nautilus, a Dutch bark and a Dutch brig; also the
steam-ship Pottinger, three months from Bombay, full
of passengers, homeward- bound, with loss of funnel and
other damage, and bottom covered with grass 3 inches
long; no war vessel at Table Bay. Off St. Helena,
the barks Janet and Buenos Ayrean, both homeward-
bound. At St. Helena the ships Duke of Argyle, John
o'Gaunt, and Heigh Walker. At Ascension her Ma-
jesty's store receiving ship Tortoise, 12, Captain Frede-
rick Hutton, and a 16-gun brig. Spoke 17th of March
the barque Ellen Mary from the Mauritius bound up
Channel, and the ship Kent from Table Bay. The
Queen is laden with tea and 80 to 100 bales of silk; she
landed at the Cape James Johnson, a sick seaman, and
at Plymouth Mr. R. R. Parry, and Mr. R. Mocatta,
passengers. The only other passenger, Mr. G. J. Syme,
is gone on in the Queen.

Wind easterly, light breezes, cold and hazy.
FIVE P.M.—Her Majesty's brig Ranger, 6, Comman-
der Charles F. Newland, came in this afternoon, all well,
from the coast of Africa; left Sierra Leone on the 10th
of February, same day as her Majesty's brig Wanderer,
16, Commander F. B. Montresor. About 20 days since
the Ranger spoke the brig Challenger, of Glasgow, out-
ward bound.

her Majesty's ship Vanguard is now under canvas
going up Hamoaze. ,
WOOLWICH, MARCH 30.—The C.) clops Dutch war
steamer went up the river yesterday afternoon to Black -
wall, and passed Woolwich sit half-past seven o'clock
A. 31. to-day on her return to the Netherlands. The
pendant and flags were hoisted half mast high in conse-
quence of the death of the King of the Netherlands.
i a The Niger steam sloop went down the river yesterday
morning on trial, under the charge of Lieutenant Robert-
son. Captain Halstead, Captain Hyde Parker, Captain
Spencer, and several of the officers studying steam
at the Woolwich factory, Mr. Humphries (chief
engineer at Woolwich Dock-yard), Mr. Smith (of'
the screw propeller department), and Mr. Field (of the
firm of Maudslay, Field, and Son, the conetructor of her
engines) were on board, and she proceeded as
far as the Mouse Light, and when tried between the
Nore and Mouse Light her speed was found to average
9,494 knots, her engines making very nearly 69 revo-
lutions per minute. She returned to Woolwich shortly
after seven o'clock P.m., having made the distance from
the Nore to ber moorings at Woolwich Dockyard in 2
hours and 53 minutes.
The armament for the Basilisk has been received at
the dockyard, and consists of one 10-inch gun of 85 cwt.,
one 8-inch gun of 94 cwt., and four 32-poundar guns of
42 cwt. each. She is to be ready for trial by the end
of the present month.
The Monkey steam-vessel, Master Commandant W.
Bryant, accompanied the Niger during her trial yester-
day, and has been taken alongside the sheers to-day to
have her funnel taken out and some repairs effected.

FRANCE.

The trials at Bourges still continued. On Mon-
day, MM. Ledru•Rollin, Marrast and Vidocq were
examined for the prosecution.

ITALY.

General Chrzanowski, the Commander-in-Chief of
the Piedmontese army, has addressed to it the follow-
ing proclamation, dated Alexandria, the 14th :
‘• Soldiers,—The days of the truce have passed away,
and our wishes are granted. Charles Albert again comes to
place himself at the head of your brave ranks. The armistice
is renounced, and the days of glory for the arms °Maly are
about to recommence. Soldiers 1 This is the supreme
moment Soldiers! March to the battle which must be
to certain victory. Following the example of your
Princes, who fight in your ranks, and the voice of your
King, who leads you on, march, and prove to Europe,,
that you are not only the bulwarks of Italy, but the
avengers of her rights. At the approach of your
arms the oppressed populations will change their coin-
plainings into cries of joy, and our brothers, once more
saved, will fly into your arms participating in the in-
toxication of the triumph gained. Soldiers! the greater
your alacrity may be more prompt will be your victory.
The braver the battle, the sooner you will return into
the bosoms of your families, crowned with laurels, and
proud of having a free, independent, and happy country."
The following order of the day was published at
Milan on the 12th :

"Soldiers! Your most ardent wishes are fulfilled. The
enemy has renounced the armistice. A second time be
stretches out his hand to grasp the crown of Italy. But let
him be taught that six months have not in any degree
lessened your fidelity to your Emperor and King, or your
bravery in supporting him. Having come forth from
the gates of Verona, flying from victory to
victory, and driven the enemy back within his
frontiers, you generously granted him an armistice.
While declaring that he was preparing to make pacific
propositions, he was arming himself for renewing the
war. We are all armed, and that peace which we ge-
nerously offered him, we will gain by force in his own
capital. soldiers I The conflict will not be long. It
is the same enemy whom we have beaten at Saint
Lucia, Somma Campagna, Custozae, Volta, and be-
fore the grates of Milan. God is with us, for our cause
is just ! Up once more, soldiers, follow your chief',
who has grown grey in arms, to war and victory. I
shall be a witness of your exploits. It will be the last in-
spring act of my long life, as a soldier, if in the capital
of a disloyal enemy I can decorate the breasts of my
brave comrades with the insignia of their valour, gained
by blood and glory. Let our war-cry then be, Forward,
soldiers, to Turin It is there that we shall find the
peace for which we fight. Long live the Emperor 1 Our
country for ever. " BADETZKY."
A letter from Rome of the 9th states that news
had just reached that city of the arrival of a French
war steamer at Ancona, and that several other vessels,
whose flag could not be distinguished, were in sight.
The same letter mentions a report of the death of
Garibaldi.

SALMON FUMING IN THE TAY.—The takes con

tinae to be extremely sparse and unremunerating; in-
deed, a worse week than the last eight days have proved
could hardly be conceived. At the North Inch not a fin
has been turned over for these ten days, and many other
grounds are reported to have been equally unfortunate,
while the best luck hardly deserves to be mentioned.
Prices still remain the same as last week .—Perth
Advertiser.

DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION AT MERTON, SURREY.
—At a late hour last night (Tuesday) the retired vii
lege of Merton presented a most unusual scene of
confusion, owing tor.the outbreak of :a fire in some
stabling, causing the total destruction of many build-
ings, farming implements, &c. The scene of destruc-
tion adjoins the Six Bells public-house. With all
possible expedition several engines had been taken
to the fire, and fortunately a good supply of
water was obtained. The loss is fearful in amount, but
happily no lives were lost. Its cause was attributed to
carelessness. The following is an official account re-
turned
fu i
Merton,l d ing s ,
sbul ircr-ehyo; u sbeu, adsdni
ngo u he
xo tic
es
pe st on
gf
pMr.O b J 1 .e
to the various insurance-offices:—The farm-
-Mhoiluleser,
roof only damaged) all destroyed and contents therein,
of great extent in value. Insured in the Sun Fire-office.
GOLD IN FRANCE.—In carrying on works for im-
proving the bed of the river at Strasbourg, the engineers
of the Pouts-et-Chaussees, a few days ago, turned up
some stones containing marks of metal. An examina-
tion having been made by M. Kopp, chemical professor
in the Academy. it was found that a piece of freestone
contained large incrustrations of a yellow, ductile metal,
which turned out to be massive gold, with a little silver,
and some other metal, probably iron or copper. The
gold was not in thin flakes, like those which gold seekers
find in th sun(' of the Rhine, bus in dense massive bits,
and in large quantities in proportion to the quarts.
CALIFORNIAN GOLD.--MT. T. H. Henry has
analysed some samples of this gold, and found in one
88'75 per cent. of pure gold, 8.88 of silver, 0.85 of cop-
per, with a trace of iron and 1.40 per cent. of silicious
residue. In another sample the pure gold was 86.57,
the silver, 19.33, the copper 0-29, and the iron 0.54 per
cent. It is found that the surface of the gold is purer
than the interior, and that before fusion, the metal ap-
pears nearer the colour of pure gold, and after fusion
it assumes the hae of a brassy yellow.—Herapath's
Journal. •