The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1847.

most luxuriant, displaying large open grassy flats
of 200 or 300 acres each, game in abundance, turkeys,
cockatoos, crested pigeons, and parrots, displaying their
gorgeous plumage in wonderful and rich variety. The
country along this river (which they continued to fol.
low) is truly splendid, being the finest pieces of land
either for pasture or agriculture that they have met with
in the colony.
Having followed the course of the river until it
emptied itself into a small inlet of the sea, the party
returned by a different route, along the south-east
branch of the same river, and after a variety of diffi-
culties, fatigues, and adventures, and having travelled
1,100 miles, our adventurers at length ascertained the
glorious fact that extensive coalfields did indeed exist
in this wild and comparatively unexplored country of
their adoption, and that within 180 miles north of Perth,
on the river Irwin, and only 39 miles from the beach.
These are indeed glorious advantages to the whole
population of the colony—and to minds so well able to
appreciate these advantages as the discoverers undoubt-
edly are—the first sensations of delight must indeed
have been enthusiastic—nay, one would think almost a
sufficient reward for all the toils, fatigues, disappoint-
ments, dangers, and anxieties they had undergone during
their two months' expedition in search of it. The for-
mation proved of considerable extent, consisting (as far as
they had time and means to ascertain) of two seams of from
five to six feet each in thickness, with the usual accom-
paniment, shales and sandstone, which are peculiarly
interesting as proving the exact coincidence of the geo-
logy of that continent with Europe on this point. In-
deed the cliff where the coal was found may really be
said to be an execution in nature of Buckland's map of
the coal formations. The coal is so advantageously
situate for working, that in the space of a quarter of an
hour one of the party extracted several hundred weight,
with which they raised a blazing fire as a feu de joie!
The coal gave a great heat, and burnt out to a white
ash.
Having supplied themselves with specimens both of
the coal and shales, the party returned, with light hearts
and joyful countenances, to Perth, where there arrival
was hailed by the good citizens with raptures of delight.
The coal caused a grand sensation, and was displayed
for some days to the delighted public from the verandah
of the Government offices.
We shall not omit to state that the party are entitled,
by virtue of this discovery, to a grant or reward of 2,500
acres of land from the local Government.—Nottiacham-
shire Guardian.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
NEW YORK, MAY 15.—My last letter, dated the 11th
inst., by the propeller Sarah Sands, announced the defeat
of General Santa Anna by General Scott, at Cerro
aGnodr d
takeno. Since
possession that affairof, JalapaGeneral
a Scottnd p e hasPerote,
e ,
without advanced
op-
position,the Mexicans having abandoned these posts.
General Worth entered Perote on the 22d of April.
Perote is about 40 miles in advance of Jalapa.
There is a rumour, not believed, that orders have
been issued and forwarded to General Scott, directing
him to halt, and not to enter the city of Mexico. If
such an order has been issued, it will probably be of no
avail, as Scott, it is supposed, will have taken the city
before the order can reach him. There is another
rumour, more ridiculous, that an extra session of Con-
gress is contemplated.
The inquiry, in the American community, now is,
having conquered all that is important or valuable of
Mexico, what is to be done with the conquered territory ?
The opinions on this point are conflicting. The high-
toned portion of the Administration party insist upon
the Government holding all they have or may conquer
until the Mexicans pay the expenses of the war. They
say the army shall be supported by contributions levied
upon Mexico, &c.
On the other hand, there is another party that advo-
cates an abandonment of all conquests, or substantially
so, contending that whatever territory it may be deemed
expedient to retain shall be honestly paid for, at its real
or true value. Between these two extremes there are a
variety of opinions. What are the precise views of the
Executive is not known. It is considered, I believe, a
State secret.
One thing, however, many think is definitively settled,
so far as the Administration is concerned. Not an inch
of territory of any value, which they may have the
power to hold, will they ever surrender. Every act,
every movement, indicates such a design. What the
American people will ultimately require their Govern-
ment to do, is in the womb of Time. I yet hope and
believe that they will indignantly spurn the idea of
being recorded on the pages of history as freebooters
and robbers.
In the present state of public affairs, I shall hazar
no other opinion as to the future policy of the Govern-
ment on the question of peace or war, than that above
expressed. The partisans of the Executive are amass-
ing fortunes. They will, therefore, continue to laud
Mr. Polk and the war. I neither know nor hear of any
honest effort by those in power to terminate the conflict.
A few weeks will probably develope more fully the
views of .the President and his Cabinet. The latest
accounts from Mexico would lead us to the conclusion
that they were preparing for a guerilla warfare.
On the 28th of April it was rumoured at Jalapa that
Mr. Bankhead, the British Minister, has renewed his
offers of mediation between Mexico and the United
States, and that when the last diligencia left the city of
Mexico the Congress was acting upon his propositions,
whatever they may have bees.
Notwithstanding the fixed and denunciatory tone of
the press, there is a peace party in Mexico, and there
may be something in this report of English intervention,
in the distracted affairs of that country. But this Go-
vernment will reject all or any interference in this ques-
tion. To admit it, would probably defeat the views and
policy of the Administration. It would certainly jeo-
pardise them.
The following preamble and decree have been passed
by the Mexican Congress:—
" The sovereign constituent Mexican Congress, in use
of the full powers with which the inhabitants of the re-
public have invested it for the sacred object of saving its
nationality; and as a faithful interpreter of the firm de-
termination with which its constituents are decided to
carry on the war which the United States are now
making on the nation, without desisting on account of
any kind of reverses; and considering that under these
circumstances the first public necessity is that of pre-
serving a centre of union to direct the national defence
with all the energy that circumstances demand; and to
avoid even the danger of a revolutionary power arising
which might dissolve the national union, destroy its in-
stitutions, or consent to the dismemberment of its terri-
tory, has determined to decree as follows:
" Article I.—The Supreme Government of the union
is authorised to dictate all necessary measures for the
purpose of carrying on the war, defending the nationality
of the republic, and saving the federal republican form of
Government under which the nation is constituted.

" Article 2. —The preceding article does not authorise
the Executive to make a peace with the United States,
conclude a negotiation with foreign powers, nor dispose
in whole or in part, of the territory of the Republic.
" Article 3.—Neither does it authorise him to make
contracts of colonisation, impose punishments, or confer
any civil or military employments other than those
whose appointments are expressly entrusted to him by
, the constitution.

Article 4.—Every agreement or treaty shall be null
and void which may be made between the Government
of the United States and any authority whatever, which,
subverting the actual order of affairs, should set aside
or take the place of the legally established supreme
powers of the union.
" Article s.—Every individual is declared a traitor,
let him be a private person or public functionary, who,
either in his private capacity or invested with any autho-
rity, incompetent or of revolutionary origin, may enter
into treaties with the United States of America.
" Article 6.—ln the event that the actual Congress
finds it impossible to continue its sessions, a permanent
Committee shall be immediately installed, to be com-
posed of the oldest individuals then found present of
each deputation.
" Article 7.—This committee, in the absence of Con-
gress, shall perform the duties of a Government Council;
shall appoint, in case of vacancy, the person who is to
take charge, temporarily, of the executive powers of the
republic ; shall regulate the counting and taking of the
votes in the election of a new president ; shall give pos-
session to the elected person, and shall call together the
national representation.
" Article B.—The powers which the present decree
confers on the Government shall cease as soon as the war
is concluded."

A most unpleasont collision has taken place in Cali-
fornia, between Commodore Stockton and Lieutenant-
Colonel Freemont on the one side, and General Kearney
on the other. I pretend not to judge who is in the
wrong ; but I may safely state, that public opinion is
strongly against the Commodore, and in favour of the
General. When Kearney presented his authority as
Governor, Stockton refused to recognise it, and defied
his authority.

Oue charge against Colonel Freemont, it is said, is
making improper and incorrect reports to the Adminis-
tration for sinister purposes. It is further said, that the
General is only awaiting the arrival of troops to sustain
him, and he will then, probably, arrest Stockton and
Freemont as mutineers. Within the last ten days, it is
announced, the Cabinet have had two conclaves on this
serious subject. Freemont is the son-in-law of Colonel
Benton.
It is also stated, that Mr. Marcy, Secretary of War,
sustains General Kearney, while Mr. Mason, Secretary
of the Navy, deems it his duty to uphold the acts of his
subordinate. This is, for the President, an unpleasant
dilemma, to say the least of it, as it may produce un-
happy results.
Mr. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, is afflicted
with an alarming complaint, and has not attended the
two or three recent Cabinet meetings. Without being
very ill he is losing his voice, and is now scarcely able
to speak so as to be heard. He recently visited Balti-
morehadinterference. for medical advice, and it is said he is instructed
to converse but little.
In a former letter I remarked that the temperance
The
d inasctahteockofN
coenwseyquoerncek7 othfrloeuggishlattihvee
portion of gthe
importunity of certain fanatics, passed what was termed
the retailin spirituous liquors. The independent
,of but which was, in fact, a law prohibiting
men)
denouncedcommunity (many of them tem-
perancerights of the citizens,
were
re their denunciations,
and a violation this law as oppressive,
of the
and so loud and lon
sut.e adjournment of
taand promptly
that a few days since, jifst
the Legislature, they took up the
Acts prohi-
bitingrepealed the Excise or License law, Glicsedl
the
the sale of spirituous liquors. ha motion to
repeal, the votes stood:—

In the Senate .....
25 2
In the House of Representatives 68 3a.
Such is, and ever will be, the effect of coercion, whey
substituted for persuasion, especially if the rights of th
citizen are supposed to be invaded. A repeal of this

odious law will promote the cause of temperance.—
Timm A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI-

NEERS.

PRESIDENT'S CONVERSAZIONE.
Sir John Rennie, president of the institution, gave his
first conversazione this season on Saturday evening,
which was both numerously and brilliantly attended by
the members of the institution, and by visiters who ap-
peared to be alike delighted with the intellectual treat
provided for them in the extensive collection of works of
science and art arranged in the suite of apartments, and
with the host's generous hospitality, as displayed in the
refreshment rooms.
It would be impossible to enumerate all the objects of
interest in works of art or models of machinery exhibited,
we must therefore restrict our notice to some of the
most prominent.
Count D'Orsay contributed some spirited statuettes
and busts of the Emperor of Russia, Daniel O'Connell,
the Duke of Wellington, &c. which were deservedly
much admired. Paintings and sketches by Oliver, Bass,
Wood, Scanlan, Digby, Wyatt, and Ward ; enamel
paintings by Bone ; chalk drawings from Mr. Fuller,
and some beautiful sketches from Mr. Ackerman's col-
lection were profusely scattered through the rooms ;
Taylor, Williams, and Jordan had some excellent speci-
mens of machine carvings, and Mr. Rogers some delicate
examples of hand carving.
The collection of models was more extensive than we
ever remember to have seen it, and as the whole of the
ground floor was devoted to their reception, there was
ample space for displaying them to advantage.
A series of models from the Admiralty exhibited the
construction of a 50 gun ship at various epochs, from
the highly decorated but clumsy vessel of 1637, to the
simple but elegant and effective " Vernon" of 1840.
Other models illustrated the most approved form of bows,
sterns, and midship section, and the general lines of the
vessels composing the experimental squadron were con-
trasted by a series of uniform models. The wave-prin-
ciple was illustrated by models from Mr. Scott Russell
and Dr. Phipps, and the progress of the steam navy was
exemplified by beautiful models of vessels and engines
constructed by Messrs Renaies, Maudelays and others.
The screw-propeller by G. Rennie, Woodcroft, and
Maudeley, excited much attention. Models of Brunel's
block machinery, and Harewoods patent scuttle were
appropriate mingled with this part of the collection.
All the various systems of electrical telegraphs were
represented and were at work in the apartments :
Bain's electric clock, Nott and Gamble's simplified single
wire Telegraph, the Electric Telegraph Company's com-
plete and efficient system as used at the Admiralty,
Brett and Little's apparatus, and Brett's printing tele-
graph, in which by depressing a series of keys, corres-
ponding letters are brought into contact with a continu-
ous strip of paper, and the communication is printed at
any number of miles distance.
Mr. Cowper contributed a series of models of the old
French and other telegraphs, in order to form a contrast
with the present instantaneous and certain methods of
communication.

A curious specimen of laminated granite from Dart-
moor, contributed by Mr. Freeman, appeared to excite
much interest among the geologists.
There was a series of models of bridges of all kinds,
amongst which we remarked one of corrugated cast iron,
erected by Mr. Barlow on the Tunbridge Railway.
The wrought iron tube bridge, by Mr. R Stephenson
at Conway, beautifully shown on various scales by Salter's
elegant card-board models.
A cast iron girder bridge by Mr. Borthwick, of the
same construction as that over the Dee at Chester, and

which is now exciting such painful interest.
The drops for loading coal vessels, at the Date Dooles,
Cardiff, by Mr. Highton, excited much attention, and
appeared to be an ingenious modification of the system
used in the north, well adapted to the purposes of the
South-Welsh railways and shipping ports.
Stephenson's long boiler locomotive, Bessemer's axles,
Dunn's simple and elegant turn-table, Stevens's efficient
railway signals, and Clarke and Varley's new atmos-
pheric railway tube, formed au interesting series of
railway models.
Cochrane's machines, for sawing out curved timbers
of all forms without waste, was worked, and was uni-
versally admired: it was stated that these efficient
machines were now being introduced into the royal
docky-ards.
Little's very ingenious new printing machine, by which
the number of sheets now dispatched, great as the quan-
tity seems, can be doubled, was also at work, and ex-
citei much attention.

We must reserve until the next meeting the notice of
the other models, which were so numerous and well
chosen that it is impossible to do justice to them all.
Among the guests we noticed almost everybody of
eminence in science and art, and a number of the aris-
tocracy, who from their Parliamentary duties have
their attention now directed to scientific matters. The
President reeeived his guests with that distinguished
urbanity which is characteristic of him, and his obliging
and hospitable attention to his friends, in which he was
ably seconded by Mr. Manby, the secretary, was beyond
all praise. It is manifestly impossible, in so crowded
an assembly, to point out every noticeable individual
present. We, however, remarked, amongst the crowd
passing through the rooms in the course of the evening,
the Marquis of Quadra, Earl of Devon, Count Rosen,
Baron de Bode, Bishop of Norwich, Lords Orford, Auck-
land, J. Stuart, and Littelton; Sirs IL Ellis, R. Schom-
berg, D. Blair, Gaspar Atkinson, C. Lemon, N.
W Mock, J. Clark, IL Westmacott, N. Delabeche, C.
Douglas, E. Ryan, W. Newton, P. Egerton, C. Adam,
J. L. Goldsmith, R. N. Inglis, R. I. Murchison, W.
Ross, J. Copley, and D. Norris, Captain Schwabe ; M.M.
Diego Echappar, Hebeler, Helberer, Alexandroff, Pan-
cratief, C. Euystrom, S. C. Chuckerbutty, Bolanoth
Bose, Gopal, Chunder, Seal, Parsee Students of Medi-
cine; the Very Reverends Deans of York and Westmin-
ster, Professors Grant, Wheatstone, Faraday, Forbes,
Pryme, Grove, and Owen; Doctors Phipps, Playfair,
Jelf, D.D., Billing, and Paris; Colonels Sykes and
Stanhope ; Major Willock, Captains Ford, Miller,
Swinny, W. Walker, Wenn, CI-1z: ther, O'Brien, Couloff,
and Gordan; Messrs. Gustraffon, Fuller, Cubitt, Glynn,
Clarke, Varley, Woodcroft, Ditchbourn, Salter, Brett,
Oldmixon, Archibald, Cochrane, Little, Wild, D. Smith,
Comrie, Bergue, Leigh, Pla.nchi, Drory, Stevens,
Kerner, Mylne, Hicks, H. P. Boul, Clarke, Archer,
Applegarth, Cowper, Laxton, Herapath, C. Words-
worth, Whishaw, Lyall, Rivers, B. Cowper, Melon,
Westmacott, Gamble, Webster, Horn, Merryweather,
Buchanan, Hebeler, Pickering, C. Enderby, Bohn,
Bronde, Ayrton, W. Cubitt, J. Field, G. Rennie, M.
and J. Rennie, Turner, Ward, Landseer, Perigal, Baxen-
dale, Albano, Donthorn, Carpenter, Buckedon, Amyot,
Windsor, Clowes, Knight, Shaw, Bichner, Beetham,
Babbage, Stoles, Codrington, Jones, Adolphus, Roper
Doyle, De Burgh, Herbert, Sharpe, C. Barry, Bartly,
Blose, Lefray, Miller, Donkin, Grissell, Donaldson,
M‘Garrell, Wright, Wyatt, Scanlan, Galloway, Alex-
ander, Smee, Estcourt, M.P., M‘Gregor, Lee, Leslie,
Gravatt, Hanson, Penn, Brandon, Cooper, J. Smith,
Bain, Young, Vulliamy, Grainger, E war t, Jee,
Macready, Broderip, Murphy, E. Landseer, Leech,
Chadwick, Jordan, F. Stone, Scharf, Ure, and Meek.

TRAGEDY EXTRAORDINARY. —At the Queen's
Theatre, in Manchester, on Monday, the sock and buskin
were laid under peculiar contribution in the representa-
tion of King Richard 111. Mr. Wyndham took a
benefit, which, we trust, really proved what it was
hoped to be ; and a quintet of comic actors, including
Messrs. Sloane and Wyndham, undertook the novelty
of strutting through the crooked-backed tyrant, one
act of the tragedy being apportioned to each actor. Of
course so startling an announcement as five Richards
in the field astonished the " gods," who, as the
several tragedians appeared, scarcely knew whether
to laugh or cry. At length the climax of the tragic
farce arrived, Mr. Sloane dashing upon the stage as King
Dick. In the midst of a very grave soliloquy the risible
muscles of the audience were disturbed, and this in-
decorous facial expression in the midst of a solemn
tragedy was quickly followed by a loud guffaw, which
Richard's philosophy could not scorn. Hastily stepping
to the front of the stage, and, with his well-trained
tragic face, he said, " Ladies and gentlemen, pray don't
think we are playing comically, for I assure you that we
are playing tragedy as earnestly as we can. You'll
oblige us much if you won't laugh." The people again
hardly knew whether to laugh or cry; and in a few
moments afterwards the curtain fell amidst peals of
laughter.
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND
ENGLAND.—The following is (in substance) taken from
a private letter just received from Rome, and we believe
may be implicitly relied on. When his Holiness heard
of the defeat of Mr. Anstey's (or Mr. Watson's) Bill, he
exclaimed
Englandln,eesrenew
igmey os—f
now
Tewhppe
le
at vahne
that
t sNuncioCooi
uonn
ssontn.
rsoefmwliatihw sendingnsiEllinngn
God bless Pope Pius LX.—The Tablet.
Haymaking has commenced in the neighbourhood
of Bath, and the cropi promise to give a fair average
yield. The wheat plant _ also is looking strong and
healthy ; the genial showers of the last ten days having
materially promoted its growth.—Bath Gazette.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—The late copi-
ous rains, and glorious sunny weather, have brought
penal
diplomaticn': to oee
laws
atar
wteoi
vegetation forward with extraordinary rapidity. The
wheat, and grain, and potato crops, indicate a plentiful,
and, we trust, an early harvest • the country presenting
so far every appearance of a 'fine and prolific season.
There is also a fine show of fruit, and the advanced
period of :the year gives promise that the blossom is
secure from further frosts or chilling winds. We are
gratified to find that a similar state of things exists
throughout the country, as expressed in the different
local papers.—Nottingham Review.
A WINNER ON THE DERBY.—An amusing inci-
dent is recorded of a winner on this race. A person at
consentyatt.oo,s,
Pontefract having 500./.. depending on the event, in his
great anxiety to have the earliest possible intelligence,
hired a horse and gig and proceeded to the electric tele-
graphic office,atCastleford,a distance of three or four miles.
Cossack being announced as the winner was such a stroke
of fortune for him, that he at once lost all recollection of
the manner in which he had come from Pontefract, and
proceeded home again with all possible haste on foot,
without it ever once crossing his mind that he had left
his horse and gig, until he reached his destination and
wanted a pocket handkerchief from his top-cot in order
to wipe off the perspiration from his face I—Leeds Mer-
cury.
John Gorman, Dennis Gorman, James Coffee, John
Gilbert, and Catherine Gorman, were finally examined at
Westminster Police .court, on Saturday, on a charge of com-
mitting a desperate assault upon the police, and Ellen Gorman
was charged with attempting to rescue one of the other pri-
soners. The first five prisoners were fully committed to
Newgate for trial on the capital charge of assaulting and
wounding with intent, &c. • and Ellen Gorman, who was
proved to have tried to rescue her husband, was admitted
to bail,

Col:enel Dundas had au interview with Sir George
Grey at the Haze-office yesterday.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
HOUSE OF LORDS, May 31.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
saek at Five o'clock.
Messengers from the Commons brought up certain
public and private Bills.
SCOTCH PEERAGE.
Earl ROSEBERY moved that the returns which he
recently moved for with respect to the Scotch Peerage
should be printed and laid before the House.—Agreed to.
DIOCESE OF KILDARE.
The Archbishop of DUBLIN presented eighteen
petitions from clergymen of various parts of Ireland,
praying for the re-establishment of the bishopric of
Kild are. _

HIS LORDSHIP also gave notice that it was his inten-
tion to bring in a Bill on the subject of the royal prero-
gative with respect to the establishment of separate
dioceses in Ireland.

PORTUGAL.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that he hoped
to be able to lay upon the table of the House a copy of
the protocol recently signed in London by the Plenipo-
tentiaries of England, France, and Spain, on the subject
of the arrangement with the kingdom of Portugal.
FACTORIES BILL.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition signed by
5,000 of the traders and merchants of Nottingham against
the Factories Bill.
OXFORD AND BIRMINGHAM JUNCTION
RAILWAY.
Lord LYNDHURST moved the appointment of a
Select Committee to consider the case of this company.
Lord REDESDALE felt it necessary to call the at-
tention of their Lordships to this Committee, and
the subject to be submitted for its consideration.
There was no intention of working the line, but there
was no means of defeating an Act of Parliament. In
March last the chairman of this Committee possessed
220 shares, but he had since sold 170 of those shares.
Mr. Russell, the chairman of the Great Western Railway
Company, held 220 shares, of which he had sold 199
shares, and now only held 21 shares, having en-
joyed the premium upon the shares which he
had parted with. Then there was Mr. Stephenson,
who held 2,025 shares, of which he had parted
with 1,848 shares, retaining only 177. It was repre-
sented that the directors held 3,545 shares, but they
now held only 957.
On all these grounds, then, he
thought that the order for this Committee was dangerous,
and ought to be rescinded ; and he trusted that their
Lordships would not, therefore, vote according to their
instructions, but according to the conviction of their
own consciences.
Lord LYNDHURST said that the object of this com-
pany was to make a line direct between Oxford and Bir-
mingham, in order:to obtain a:competing line to that town;
and this he had stated to be the object when he presented
this notice to the House more than six weeks ago. But
what had the Great Western Company done ? They
had used every effort to bring the line into play, but the
North-Western Company had bought 8,000 out of
50,000 shares, with a view to obtain a command over
the proceedings of the company. He begged their
Lordships to consider the powers of the Birmingham,
now called the North-Western Company—powers given
it not only for the good of the shareholders, but for that
of the public also ; and he begged that they would look
at the abuse which had been made of these powers.
Such was the conviction on his own mind that he would
persevere in his motion.
Lord BEAUMONT thought there had been a great
misconception of the case before their Lordships.
The case was not one bearing on the relative
claims of two contending companies, between
whom their Lordships were oalled to judge. That
was a misconception. The motion so grounded, was
wrong, and without precedent. If a case of a public
grievance had been made out, that would have been a
legitimate subject of public inquiry. But the miscon-
ception had arisen from the misstatements of
the Noble and Learned Lord: He thought
the principle of selection for the Committee
was that which applied to a Committee sitting on an op-
posed Bill. But the case was one of public grievance,
and the Committee ought to haw been appointed in the
usual way, the Noble and Learned Lord himself being a
member and a Chairman of the:Committee.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE thought the case was one
fit for, and requiring a sifting inquiry, how those mono-
polising abuses had arisen.
Lord STANLEY said it was assumed by some of
their Lordships that there had been a public grievance;
but he denied that there had been any thwarting
of the intention of Parliament, or public grievance.
The Wolverhampton and Dudley Company had power
to sell, and sell they did. But how did they come to
Parliament? Was it as bond fide shareholders?
They first contracted to sell to the Great Western;
they afterwards sold to the North-Western at
a premium ; and they wished, with this money in their
pocket, to exercise their influence. These parties came
asking Parliament to inquire into the facts. What,
then, was the Committee to do ? They would inquire
into the facts, and report upon facts already well known.
What were the Committee to do, or what did their
Lordships mean to do ? There was no fraud. The
shares of the railway in question were in the market,
and were brought up as those of another
would have been. Looking at the whole he felt
it necessary to call upon his Noble and Learned
Friend to reconsider his motion. If he pressed it to a
division he would certainly vote against it.
Lord ASHBURTON did not mean to occupy
their Lordships' time, but the question was one
demanding the expression of opinion. This was not
like any ordinary railway Bill, for it affected the great
manufacturing interests of the north, and it was evident
that when the business of that district could not be carried
on by one line of railway, that they were entitled to
two. If, then, a mistake had been made, was it to be
said that when the subject came before their Lordships
that this mistake was not to be considered in order that
the error might be remedied ? But how did this affect
the great companies? They gave power to raise capital
for effecting certain public purposes, and yet all those
purposes were defeated by the proceedings of a rival com-
pany. A certain Noble Lord had stated that out of the
50,000 shares 38,000 had beea bought up by a rival
company. To this it was replied that those shares had
been bought, not by the company, but by individuals
connected with that company ; but when he (Lord
Ashburton) saw that the individuals who had
purchased these shares were persons who were
chiefly interested in the property of the rival
company, he could not help believing that the opposition
arose out of the conduct of the company itself; and he
thought that this was an element well worthy of the
consideration of their Lordships.
Lord BROUGHAM said that the statement on this
subject had been made with the clearness which charac-
terised all the speeches of his Noble Friend, but yet,
notwithstanding all that, it should be recollected
that he had only stated three or four of the
bare facts, and though they were important
facts, yet such as only gave a very meagre view of the
case. Their Lordships should further recollect that this
decision was not arrived at on the moment, but declared
after an adjournment, in order to afford due considera-
tion to the subject, and no doubt whatever had been
expressed upon the result at which they had arrived.
He cautioned them against changing their decision so-
lemnly come to, on any but the strongest grounds. Un-
less they did so they would destroy all importance at-
tached to the authority of the House. He would sup-
port the motion for the Committee.
Lord WICKLOW saw no good reason for the ap-
pointment of the Committee, and would oppose it.
The Gallery was then cleared for a division, when
there appeared for the Committee—
' Content
Not content
Majority in favour of the motion — 7
FACTORY BILL.
The House then went into Committee on the Facto
ries' Regulation Bill, the Earl of SHAFTESBURY in the
Chair.
The Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered
to be read a third time to-morrow.
ARMY SERVICE BILL.
On the order of the day for the third reading of the
Army Service Bill being read,
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY protested against
the measure as a most ruinous one, and he prophesied
that in a few years the Government would be most
anxious to retrace their steps. It was a most rash and in-
considerate experiment.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
The Duke of RICHM OND presented petitions from
the parishes of Marylebone and Lambeth, praying for
an equalisation of the poors' rates.
The House then adjourned.

. 29
22

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 31.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four.
THIRD READINGS.
The following Bills were read a third time and passed:
Bridge house Estates Debt.
Cleveland•square, St. James's, Westminster, Improve-
ment.
Commercial Gas-light and Coke Company.
Dunfermline Waterworks.
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow,
Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 1).
Imperial Continental Gas Association.
York
Kingsnorton, Northfield, &c., Rates.
Paisley and Renfrew Railway (Sale and Improvement).
Payne's Patents Assignment.
Plymouth and Tavistock Road (No. 2).
Warrington Gas-light and Coke.
Wexford Free Bridge.
Westminster Improvements.
roaches
REPORTS.
The following reports were brought up and agreed to:
Improvenment (Lendal Bridge and App).
Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway (Amendment
and Deviation).
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction Railway
(Cowlairs Branch).
Glasgow, Paisley Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No 5.)
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Branch to the
Caledonian Railway and Diversion of Canal).
Great Northern Railway (Extension to Leeds and Wake-
field, Deviation of Methley Branch of Wakefield, Pon-
tefract, and Goole Railway).
Great Northern Railway (Purchase of Ambergate, Not-
tingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junction Rail-

"Y, &c.)Great Northern Railway (Branch to King's Lynn).
Great Northern Railway (Deviations between London
and Grantham).
London (City) Small Debts.
Lynn and Ely Railway
(Lynn and Wormegay Naviga-
tion).
Newbury Cemetery.
North British Railway (No. 2).
Royston and Hitchin Railway (Sale or Lease).
THAMES CONSERVANCY.
On the bringing up of the report on the Thames Con-
servancy Bill,
Colonel T. WOOD moved that the proceedings of the

Committee on the Bill should be laid before the House. I
Agreed to.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS.
The reports of the following Bills were further con-
sidered and agreed to:—
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern
Junction Railway (Alteration of Line and Branches
to Nottingham).
Glasgo'w, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2).
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway, and
Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir Railway (No. 3).
London and South-Western Railway (Andover to the
Bishopstoke and Salisbury Branch, &c.)
Mac Duff Harbour.
Metropolitan Sewage Manure.
Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway (Exten-
sion to Taff Vale Railway).
Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway Devia-
tions.
Sandwich Haven.
Swansea and Amman Junction Railway.
Waterford and Limerick Railway.
BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND
DUDLEY RAILWAY.
On the bringing up of the report of the Birmingham,
Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Bill, reporting that
the preamble had not been proved,
Mr. SPOONER moved that the Bill be recommitted,
which was agreed to after a few observations from Sir
J. Graham.
LIVERPOOL, CROSBY, AND SOUTHPORT
RAILWAY.
Mr. BROWN moved, on the further consideration of
the report from the Committee on the Liverpool, Crosby,
and Southport Railway Bill, that the Bill be read the
third time on Wednesday next.—Motion agreed to.
LONDON-BRIDGE RAILWAY TERMINI.
Mr. GREENE moved, that, in the case of the
London-bridge Railway Termini (General Enlarge-
ment), petition for additional provision, the Examiner
should have leave to sit and proceed to-morrow.
Motion agreed to.
COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS.
Mr. KEMBLE moved that the Examiners of petitions
for private Bills have leave to sit on the examination of
the petition of the Commissioners of Sewers for the
limits extending from East Moulsey, in Surrey, to the
Ravensborne, in Kent, for leave to bring in a Bill " to
facilitate the effectual drainage of certain districts within
the Commission of Sewers for the limits extending from
East Moulsey, in Surrey, to the Ravensborne, in Kent,"
without giving seven clear days' notice of the day ap-
pointed for such examination.—Agreed to.
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY.
Viscount INGESTRE moved, on the further conside-
ration of the report from the Committee on the North
Staffordshire Railway (Alteration and Branches) Bill,
that the Bill be read a third time on Wednesday next.—
Motion agreed to. _

HEALTH OF TOWNS.
Lord EBRINGTON presented a petition, numerously
signed by members of the medical profession, praying
that the provisions of the Health of Towns Bill should
be extended to the city of London.
MEDICAL REGISTRATION.
Mr. WAKLEY presented a large number of petitions,
praying the House to pass the Medical Registration Bill
in the present session.
POLICE ACT.
Dr. BOWRING presented a petition numerously
signed by beer-sellers against certain clauses in the Po-
lice Act.
MARRIAGE AND REGISTRATION BILLS.
Mr. BRUCE presented various petitions against the
Marriage and Registration Bills from different parishes
in Scotland.