The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-25 00:00:00

NEWS FROM PORTUGAL.

SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 25.—The Peninsular and Ori-
ental Company's steam- ship Iberia, Captain John Bawen,
arrived this morning at half-past two o'clock from the
Peninsula, bringing the usual mails. Her dates of de-
parture are as follow:—Gibraltar, June 14, 7.30 P.M.;
Caopdoirzt,o,J
juunneel2s, 1,
410 A
.A.m.ls. ;
;landLsbo
Vigo,
in
JJunuene2sl,9, 9
7.30
On the 19th inst., at 10 A.M., passed her Majesty's
steamer Polyphemus, entering the Tagus.
The Iberia has on board nine cases of merchandise,
five boxes of leeches, 42 boxes of almonds, 13 packages
of specie, six packages of sundries, five casks of wine,
three casks of oil, 339 boxes of fruit, 219 barrels of
potatoes, eight baskets of onions, 13 bullocks, three
cases of eggs, one box of pines, and one bag of potatoes.
The bullocks are superior to any landed here from Spain
for some time. An evident improvement has taken place
in this respect.
Ships of War lying at Lisbon :—Her Majesty's ships
Hibernia, Trafalgar, Superb, and Amazon; brig Re-
cruit; steamers Terrible, Sidon, Bulldog, Jackal, and
Phosnix; three Spanish men of war, and Portuguese
squadron. At Oporto:—her Majesty's ship America
and steamer Gladiator, the latter moored quite close to
the bar; Spanish corvette and steamer, names not
known; Portuguese steamers Royal Tar and Conde
Tojal. At Vigo:—Spanish man of war brig Minerva,
and Portuguese steamer Oporto.
The Superb and Amazon were lying above St. Julian's
and the Terrible below, guarding the prisoners in Fort
St. Julian's.

The Gladiator was moved close to Oporto bar, as close
as possibly she could go.
The Marquis of Loule, secretary, and servant, were
the only passengers allowed to land at Oporto. The re-
maining. passengers all went on board the America, by
order of Sir Thomas Maitland.

The Iberia left Oporto on the 21st inst. The English
squadron had not then arrived from Lisbon to make an
attack upon the place. There was a force of 9,000 in-
surgents congregated, and it was reported they would
yield to the English power, and that only; and should
the Spanish army arrive and show fight, they would
defend the city to the very last. It was said that the
Spanish army, 3,000 strong, was at Braga, about ten
leagues from Oporto, whither they were making with all
expedition.
The greater portion of Sa cia Bandeira's forces, instead
of surrendering with him, retreated to Evora, under
the command of Galamba, who took with him four
pieces of cannon. They were pursued by Vinhaes's
cavalry, who avoided coming to an action, but remorse-
lessly slaughtered all stragglers without pity. On
arriving at Agoas Mouras, Galamba, having or-
dered a halt, addressed his men, and told them he
had no means of paying them, and scarcely knew
how to procure rations for them, but that he would
stand by them to the last—that his intention was
to go to Evora, and there make as good a fight as he
could—that those who wished to follow him would ever
find him staunch and true to them and to their coun-
try's cause, and that the others might go away whenever
they pleased. It is said that in consequence of this
nearly all the Algarve tro-ps, about 1,500 in number,
left him, and turned off to the southward to return to
their own province.

Viscount Sa, Count Mello, Count Taipa, and the Mar-
quis of Louie, are prisoners on board the Sidon, and aro
to proceed to England.
A decree has been issued making Bank of Lisbon
notes legal tenders for only one-third of each payment,
from the Ist of July forward.

MPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The House met at Twelve o'clock.
HIGHWAYS BILL.

On the order of the day for going into Committee on
this Bill being read,
Sir W. JOLLIFFE thought it was deeply to be re-
gretted that the Bill had not been discussed before it was
sent to the Committee up stairs, for no important altera-
tions had taken place there in it; and he believed if a
discussion had taken place before that step. that that
Committee would have had something to guide them in
its consideration, and much that was objectionable in it
would have been removed. He agreed with some parts
of the measure, but there were other parts which he
considered novel, dangerous, and unconstitutional. For
instance, when he saw the vast power which was given
by the Bill to the Highway Commissioners in England,
and Wales, as well as other objectionable parts of it, he
could not assent to a measure of such a nature. The
turnpike trusts, and the whole system of internal com-
municationrequired revision.

Mr. HENLEY thought if anything could show how
ridiculously the legislation of the country was carried
on, the present measure afforded an ample proof. After
sending this Bill to a Committee up stairs, they now
came to consider it in what was called a Committee of
the whole House, and the empty benches around him
showed the farce of such a proceeding. He believed the
measure was far too important to be dealt with in such
a manner, for what was to prevent any Hon. Gentle= n
from putting an end to the proceedings, at any moment,
by having the House counted? He objected to the Bill
on many grounds. It not only gave a taxing power to the
boards to the extent of 2s. 6d. in the pound, but also gave a
power to mortgage the rates to an unlimited extent.
Another objection he had to it was, that the parishioners
had no effective means of checking the expense. It was
true they might appeal to tho auditor, but of what use
would that be unless they had the accounts to
examine previously? He considered the Bill would be
most injurious in its operation, and he would give it his
most strenuous opposition.
Sir GEORGE GREY said he had no wish to force
the Bill through Parliament, still less to blink discus-
sion. But this was not a subject which came before
Parliament for the first time ; yet any course which Par-
liament might think most advisable he was ready to
adopt. What they wished to do now was, to go into
Committee on the Bill, to consider the amended
clauses fully and calmly.
The House then went into Committee on the Bill.
Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to.
On clause 3 being read,

Mr. MILES moved an amendment, giving the righ
of reference in disputes to magistrates at quarter.
sessions.

After some discussion, the amendment was withdrawn,
and the clause was agreed to.

After some further conversation,
Mr. BUCK said that in his opinion it would be com-
pletely throwing away the time of the House to go on
discussing this measure, unless they came to some dis-
tinct understanding as to whether the powers given in
this Bill, and all its regulations, were to be under the
control of the commissioners or not. He moved as au
amendment, that the words, " and the said commis-
sioners" be left out, and the words " justices of the
quarter session" be inserted.
Mr. E. DENISON said that it appeared to him that
the sense of the House was against the commissioners
exercising these powers, and it would be a waste of time
to discuss the measure, unless some alteration were made
in this particular.

Mr. V. SMITH said that it had been agreed to go
through the Bill, reserving that question. It would be
better to pass the Bill through Committee, and discuss
this provision afterwards.

Colonel SIBTHORP said that it had been requested
that any Member would suggest some course by which
this difficulty could be overcome. He could sug-
gest one, which he thought was the only one,
namely, that the Chairman should report progres, and
ask for leave to sit again on that day six months.
He called, however, upon her Majesty's Government
to state the salary of the Commissioners, and of their
Waghorns,, the assistant-commissioners.
Sir GEORGE GREY said the amendment did not
raise the question fairly ; he was ready, however,
to admit that the justices at quarter sessions
might discharge the duty of superintendence as well as
the commissioners—(Hear)---but if they were to agree
to it, the clauses of the Bill would, nevertheless, em-
power the enclosure commissioners to interfere. He
understood that the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Dor-
setshire intended to propose an amendment, which would
more fairly raise the question than the amendment pro-
posed by the Hon. Member (Mr. Buck.)
Af,er a few words from Mr. CHRISTOPHER,
Sir R. PRICE supported the clause as it stood.
He did not wish to underrate the services of justices at
quarter-sessions ; but, at the same time, he considered
that a Central superintending power was requisite, I),
cause he believed that they would go far to remove the
objections entertained against the old system of mana-
ging the highways.
Sir GEORJE GREY was quite willing to divide
upon the question, but he wished to remind Hon. Gen-
tlemen opposite that the objection should have been
taken on the second clause.

Lord GEOLZGE BENTINCK said the clause was
agreed to when not more than twenty Members
were in the House. He certainly was not one of
them. Last night, or rather this morning, he
wished to induce the Noble Lord ut the head of the
Government to consent to the House meeting at a later
hour than twelve to-day, as it was quite impossible to
sit till nearly three o'clock this morning, and to be at
work again at twelve to-day. The Noble Lord and the
Right lion. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer
strongly opposed any departure from the arrangement
which had been made, and as they were not in the House,
he supposed they were still in bed.—( Laughter.)
After a desultory conversation, the House divided,
when there appeared—
For the amendment 5O
Against it .
Majority
The clause, so amended, was then agreed to.
In reply to a question from Mr. MILES,
Sir G. GREY stated, that in the course of the session
he said if it was the wish of the House, when the Bill was
further considered, that he should not proceed with it this
session, he would comply with such a wish. As it would
be impossible to carry the Bill at this late period of the
session, he wished, with the permission of the House,
to withdraw it.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. AGLIONBY said he was one of those who had
urged the Government to bring forward such a Bill, as
the highways were, in many parts of the country,
utterly neglected, and he trusted that the Bill would
be proceeded with early next session. Notwithstanding
the objection of country gentlemen to a central au-
thority, he considered that such a body was essential,
and that the highways would be better managed under
their superintendence than under that of justices at
quarter sessions and country surveyors.
Mr. V. SMITH trusted that the Government would
not be daunted by the result of the division, and that
they would next session bring forward a similar Bill.
Mr. R. PALMER said the division was the result of
fair discussion, and it was no party triu uph. He was
sorry, however, that the Right Hon. Gentleman had
withdrawn the Bill, as there was a great deal in it which
he believed to be useful.
After a few words from Lord G. BENTINCK,
Lord HARRY VANE hoped that the Bill would be
brought forward again next session, and as it was now
before the country, there would be a likelihood of a
measure being introduced which would be generally
acceptable.
Mr. BANKES regretted the course Government
adopted in withdrawing the Bill, because the com-
missioners were struck out. He believed the Govern-
ment were themselves making this a party triumph. It
would appear that the principles of the Govern-
ment were no commissioners no Bill.—(Laughter.) He
thought the Government would understand from this
division how strong the feeling was against central
boards.

After a few words from Mr. MILES,
Mr. PHILIP HOWARD thought the Government
had themselves to blame with regard to this division,
in not securing a larger attendance.—(Laughter.)
Had the House adjourned at an earlier hour
last night, a different result would probably have taken
place now, and he hoped the House would not again
depart from the usual custom of adjourning at 12 o cluck.
After a few words from Sir John Duckworth, Captain
Harris, and Lord G. Bentinck,
The House resumed, and immediately afterwards ad-
journed till Five o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Room C.

was called this
BIRMINGHAIVX. WOLVERHAMPTON, 'AND
STOVE. VALLEY (NO. XX.) BRANCELEs.
if constructed.
civilele ven
engineer,oclock
I\„ir. Their
nL. Lordships
morning for the purpose of showing the amount of traffic
ships Stephenson, vaet a
t
which might be expected upon this line,
lie stated that in the district through which
would pass there were 400 works, consisting the
ironl'ne
furnaces, coal pits &c.
.o.f this number, 50 - of
'would be
accommodated by the existing Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton Railway, leaving 350 to be accommo-
dated by the present proposed line. Of' 1 •
u t s number,
returns bad been made from 230, showing that the ac-
tual payments made by them for the car •
riage of material
was 80,792/. That return did not include the amount
paid by the works of Mr. Foster, at stourbridge, which
that gentleman stated in his evidence
There were then one hundred and twenty
to be about 1,500/.
twenty works re-
maining, from which no returns had been made, but,
taking them at the same averages which
the income derivable by the n had been made,
be 42,0001., or making a
total altogether of about
mpan oy from them would
137,0001. from works located upon
of materials alone. And, pon the line for carriage
fact that one fourth of that traffic would be distant
traffic, averaging sixty miles,
revenue from that source that would increase the
The average distance which goods would be conveyed
from 137,0001. to 182,000/.
upon tl3O whole lino
would
be about five miles, the

..=,.r.

charge for which, deducted from the above bum, and
also making due allowance for the traffic, which would
still be accommodated by means of the canal, the net in-
come likely to be derived from the carriage
of raw materials would be about 30,0001. The
passenger traffic would, he believed, pay the Or"
penses of working the line. The capital of the com-
pany would be 500,0001., and the revenue would yield
about six per cent. profit on the outlay. The line vrould
be worked in connexion with the London arid North'
Western Company. The income from passenger train°
he estimated would be from 1,2001. to 1,5001. per mile
per annum.
Mr. 'TALBOT cross-examined the witness at some
length, with a view of showing that the data upon
which he had founded his calculations, both with respect
tocts. goods and passenger traffic, was. not founded upon
fathe
Mr. Brunel (civil engineer) was then celiac', and ex-
amined by Mr. Burke, with a view of showing that the
line projected, for the accommodation of the district, by
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway
Company, was better adapted for the development of the
traffic than the line at present proposed by the North-
Western Company.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP VI.
GREAT WESTERN (8 ERRS AND SANTA
EXTENSION).
The Committee met this morning at eleven o'clock.
Mr. MILFORD appeared as counsel for Arr. Cuming-
ton, and stated that it was his intention to call Mr.
.G-
Edwards, for the purpose of proving that a better line
than that now proposed could have been adopted by the
Great Western Company. He distinctly stated that he
did not oppose the line in connexion with any other
company, but it was a sincere and bona fide attempt on
the part of his client to induce the Great Western Coin..
pany to postpone a portion of the proposed line to is
future session of Parliament.
Mr. Edwards then handed in some plans and sec-
tions, showing that a better line could be constructed
in
a different direction, without doing any injury to the
property of Mr. Cumington.
In his cross-examination by Mr. ALEXANDER,
.the
witness admitted that the line, if taken in that direction,
would add a mile and a half to the distance. lie did
not know where Mr. Cumington's land was.
The CHAIRMAN stopped the further cross-exarne-
tion, and decided that they could not enter further into
the case.