The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-10 00:00:00

were annually sent out of the neighbourhood of Burford to
the eastern counties. He estimated the sheep in the district
about Burford at a sheep per acre. There were 64,000 acres,
;old L:f of the shc,p wcr.? sent away from th-
place, ;it) that there were upwards of 32,600 sheep driven into I
the counties of Buckingham and Bedford, and these were
only the worst and lightest sheep, for the finer sheep were
too heavy to travel far, so that the purchasers eastward of
those counties could net obtain them at all.
Mr. Hudson, a member of the council of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society, stated that he farmed upwards of 1,600
acres of land in Norfolk. They bred neither sheep nor cattle,
but got most of their stock from the north and west, but
preferred the Hereford beasts if there was not such a great
difficulty in obtaining them. In 1844 he bought seventy
beasts, and driving them the distance of two hundred miles
required a period of seventeen days, with four attendants,
the expense of whose service was 101. 48., the
keep of the cattle 591. 10s. ; the turnpikes cost
is. 6d. each, and the whole amount paid for them alone
was 51. 55., which was on that occasion between 235. to 245.
each animal. A gentleman of the name of Thomas had
purchased two hundred beasts, the loss on which was up-
wards of 2001. from the driving, whereas he expected
to make a gain of 2001. To show the difference
of the expense in having the cattle brought by railway, he
had a drove brought by railway by a special train, at a
cost of 201. 10s.. and which was only two hours on the way.
In order to get them by road it would have required three
men at four shillings a day each. The turnpikes were
very heavy in that part of the country, so that one
shilling and sixpence a score would have to be paid
for the drove. The keep would be 81., and the whole cost
would have been 191. Bs., which with the loss in the condi-
tion and other expenses would not have been less than 901.
He himself did not breed more than about 300 beasts, but he
fed from 2,500 to 3,000, and he might further add that
lately a large number of bullocks from Carlisle, a dis-
tance of about three hundred and forty miles, at an
expense of 20s. each, and they came to hand in a
period of twenty-five hours, in as fine a condition as they
left Carlisle. One of the greatest evils which was suffered by
the break of gauge arose from the necessity of transferring sheep
and cattle from the truck on one railway to the truck on the
other, especially sheep and he believed that it would be ad-
visable rather to drive them twenty five miles, that was two
days journey, at a considerable expense than endure that
evil.
Mr. HILDYARD here made an application to the Committee
for an authority to compel the attendance of Mr. Brown, an
important witness who had refused to attend without such
compulsion.
Mr. Williams, of Cheltenham, stated that the supply of
coal to Cheltenham was about 70,000 tons, of which about
30,000 were Forest of Dean coal, while the rest were, he
believed, Derbyshire coal, all of which might be obtained
by the North-Western Railway.
Several other witnesses from Cheltenham deposed to the
advantage which the railway would be of to the town and its
neighbourhood.
Mr. Bishop, a butcher, at Tewkesbury, stated that he sent
a great number of carcases of lambs and sheep to the several
meat markets of London, upwards he believed of 500 a
month, and was assured that the meat lost from a halfpenny
to a penny per pound on being transferred from the carriages
of one gauge to the other.
Mr. Woodlands, an extensive land and estate agent, and
also a large fanner, also testified to the inconvenience which
arose from the break of gauge to the great traffic which
already passed, and which would be developed on the route
of the proposed line.
The Committee then adjourned.

accrue in a curve worked by horse-power, and the radius of
which might be extended (with permission of the land-
holders) beyond the limits ( f deviation. The third reason,
r,d it t cc-..,-Tiptil)l of th, 7-1", ;Int the unit, ,1
talent of t:,e eminent engineers employed by the Caledonian
Company could not get over two miserable "burns" (Drum-
fork
and Milling), which his Learned Friend had magnified
into " two impetuous mountain torrents."—(Laughter.)
The Learned Counsel then proceeded to contend that the pro-
posed line, traversing two of the principal streets in Helens-
burgh, Princes-street and Clyde-street, would occasion great
danger, not only to the inhabitants generally, but in a par •
ticular manner would endanger the lives of the children at-
tending the schools of the chapel of ease dependent on the
parish church of Stow. After meeting in detail the allega-
tions of the promoting counsel, and endeavouring to show
by reference to the tables of estimate that the advantages in
point of economy were not so great as the Caledonian Com-
pany had stated them.
Mr. VENABLKS then proceeded to open the case for the op-
position, the petitioners being Sir James Colquhoun, of Luss,
and others. He proceeded to call
Mr. Gale, C.E., Glasgow, who endeavoured to show that
the works in the deviation line would prejudice the fencing
ground in Helensburgh, in a very great degree, and that it
would generally deteriorate the property situated in the pubic
streets. There would be increased danger from the steepness
of the gradient.
On cross-examination by Mr. A. BPNEILL, it was elicited
that the witness had laid out many branch mineral lines, the
greater proportion of which were distinguished for their steep
gradients.
Mr. Ronald Johnston and Mr. Joseph Gale, C.E., and
Mr. William Spence, architect, were examined in corrobora-
tion. They all thought that the line of the previous years
was the more excellent one. _ _ _

ern Railway (Deviations between London and Grant-
ham) Bill, to entertain the petition of the Ambergate,
Nottingham, Boston, and Eastern Junction Railway
uunip under their eut,:muii 4l.
After some observations from Mr. Estcourt, Sir Wm.
lleathcote, Mr. Greene, Mr. Aglionby, and Mr. Strutt,
the motion was withdrawn.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY (NORTH KENT).
Mr. 0. STANLEY moved the third reading of the
South-Eastern Railway (North Kent line) Bill.
General FOX moved, pursuant to notice, to alter the
11th clause as follows :—And be it enacted, that nothing
contained in this Act, or in the Acts herein cited or re •
ferred to, shall extend to authorise the company [with-
out the consent of the principal officers of her Majesty's
Ordnance, or their successors, signiffed in writing
under the hand of the secretary of the said principal
officers for the time being] to carry the said
intended line of railway nearer to the fortifications
of Chatham than a line six hundred yards from the
counterscarp of Prince Edward's Bastion, and which
line shall be marked out and submitted for the approval
of the Master-General of her Majesty's Ordnance and
the Inspector-General of Fortifications, immediately
after the passing of this Act, and that the same shall
be constructed to the satisfaction of her Majesty's Ord-
nance and the Inspector-General of Fortifications, at the
cost and charges of the said Company.'
• After a few observations the clause as amended was
agreed to, and added to the Bill, which was read a third
time and passed.
SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY (STROOD TO
MAIDSTONE.)
This Bill was read a third time and passed, on the
motion of Mr. 0. STANLEY.
SOUTH•EASTERN RAILWAY (MID KENT AND
DIRECT TUNBRIDGE)
Mr. 0. STANLEY moved the third reading of this
Bill.
Mr. R. HODGSON moved, pursuant to notice, That
the clause granting five years for the compulsory pur-
chase of land be mitered to three years.
After some short discussion the motion was with-
drawn, and the Bill read a third time and passed.
REPORTS.

.•
The Committee here interrupted the evidence, and ordered
the room to be cleared.

On the re-admission of strangers,
The CmAinstAN announced that they found that portion of
the Bill which prayed for a deviation line through the town
of Helensburgh, was not proved.
Mr. Bateman, C. E., was then examined as to the Glasgow
deviation. His evidence went to show that the construction
of a tunnel under the canal would inevitably lead to a
catastrophe at some time or other. The Scotttish Central
had received the sanction of Parliament to pass under the
canal near Falkirk. There the soil was a stiff gravel, and
therefore well fitted for tunnelling operations, yet there the
canal had filtered into the works, and they were obliged to
use great precautions to prevent accidents.
The Committee rose at four o'clock.

The Reports on the following Bills were brought up
and agreed to.
Belfast Port and Harbour.
Caledonian Railway (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coat-
bridge Railway Branch to Glasgow and Station).
Cork and Bandon Railway.
Cork, Blackrock, and Passage Railway.
Dublin Consumers Gas. _ _

GROUP L.
The Committee met this morning at Twelve; present, Mr.
Banks, Chairman ; Mr. Carew, Sir B. Hall, Mr. ',Lindley, and
Mr. Henley.
PAISLEY. DAR.D.NEAD, AND NURZET.
The CHAIRMAN said the agreement between the Canal
Company and the Greenock Railway Company, and the Ayr
Railway Company would better now be explained. It had
made a strong impression on the Committee, who hesitated
to grant further powers to parties who had made a use of them
very unfavourable for the public.
Mr. WILATELY explained that the agreement arose out of
a ruinous competition between the canal and the railway,
when passengers were carried a distance of seven miles for
twopence. It was arranged, therefore, that the canal should
not carry light goods or passengers. The fares had been
little affected, for the rail carried passengers at seven-eighths
of a penny per mile. But they were prepared to give up the
agreement if the Greenock Company would aid them to
compensate the canal, as the Chairman would recommend.
The CHAIRMAN said the Committee had no power to en-
tertain the offer.

Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's
Railways Amalgamation.
Edinburgh Markets and Customs.
General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway
Branches.
Great Western Railway (Branch to join the West Lon-
don Railway, Widening and Enlargement of West
London Railway, and Branches to Hammersmith, and
to join the London and South-Western Railway near
Lambeth).
Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct, and Glasgow
Southern Terminal Railways Amalgamation.
Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway (No. 1) (Ex-
tension to Yarmouth).
Leith Harbour and Dock Dues.

Mr. Wilson, a large mineral proprietor and lessee, gave
evidence in support of the Harlet Company, which he pre-
ferred for the accommodation offered by it to the different
works in the district.

Lynn and Ely Railway (Deviation and Lynn Docks).
Runcorn Gas.

Ryde Improvement.

Sheffield Markets.

Mr. Pitcaird, factor to Lord Glasgow, agreed that Harlet
line would much better suit the mineral fields than the other
lines. It offered a direct communication to the port of Ren-
fern, which he thought the natural port of the district.
Mr. Blythe, C.E., was asked a few questions bearing prin-
cipally on matters of a local nature.
The CHAIRMAN announced that the majority of the Com-
mittee were in favour of the Harlet scheme being granted.
Mr. HILDYARD, for the opponents, was heard very briefly.
The CHAIRMAN then declared the preamble of the Harlet
Railway proved for all except their Neilston and Barskoven
branches.

Southampton and Dorchester Railway (Wearmouth
Branch).
Waterford, Wexford,: Wicklow, and Dublin Railway
(No. 1).
Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway
(Branohes to Benhar Coal-works and Edinburgh and
Glasgow Turnpike-road).
SECOND READINGS.

- -
The following Bills were read a second time, and or.
dered to be committed:—
Limerick Docks and Harbour.

GLASGOW, PAISLEY, HILMARNOCE, AND
AYR, AND AYRSHIRE AND BRIDGE OP

New Zealand Company.
C3NSIDERATION OF REPORTS.

WEIR (No. III).
Mr. Hong was about to open the merits of this Bill,
when

The reports on the following Bills were further con-
sidered and agreed to:—
Bingley Gas.
British Commercial Insurance Company (No. 2).
Eastern Union and Hadleigh Junction Railway (Sale
to the Eastern Union Railway Compan).
Ewell Rates.

The CrianorAN said he thought that schemes enough for
that district had been sanctioned; and he recommended the
promoters to consider whether, in the face of this, they ought
to go on.
Sir B. HALL requested the Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct
should understand that the same observations applied to
them.
The Committee then adjourned.

Kingston-upon-Thames Small Tenement.
Wolveihamptop Rates.
ROYSTON AND CAMBRIDGE EXTENSION

RAILWAY.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING
Six O'CLOCK.

Mr. GOULBURN moved that it be an instruction to
the Committee on the Royston and Cambridge Exten-
sion Railway Bill, to entertain the petition of the Uni-
versity of Cambridge against the said Bill. He said the
petition had been rejected because it did not contain at
its commencement the short title of the BilL

DERBY.
7 to 4 agst J. Day's lot
5 to 1 agst Cossack
5 to 1 agst Conyngham
7 to 1 agst Van Tromp
10 to 1 agst Forth's lot
15 to 1 agst Mr. Martin
15 to 1 agst Planet
20 to 1 agst Wanota
25 to 1 agst Oxonian
25 to 1 agst Montpensier
30 to 1 agst Glentilt
30 to 1 agst Mathematician
30 to 1 agst Red Hart
30 to 1 agst War Eagle
40 to 1 agst Nottingham
50 to V agst Ulysses

Mr. BERNAL objected to the use of the word " en-
tertain," and suggested that the Committee should be
simply required to consider the petition.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE opposed the motion, and con-
sidered the House ought not to alter a rule, compliance
with which waa exceedingly easy, us its wording was
simple and explicit.
Mr. MATHESON said, during the present session
many petitions had come before him, in which the short
title of the Bills to which they referred were omitted,
and in order that the expense and injury might be saved
to the parties, he had himself written the short titles of
the Bills at the head of them. As this occurred through
the laxity of Parliamentary agents, and as the rule laid
down by the House should not be departed from, he
should oppose the motion.
Mr. GOULBURN withdrew his motion.

OAKS.
4 to 1 agst Clementina
5 to 1 agst Farmer's Daughter
9 to 1 agst Slander

IMPERI NIA PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

DISTILLATION FROM GRAIN.
Mr. BROTHERTON presented several petitions from
various parts of this country, against distillation from
grain.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool.
sack at Five o'clock.
THREATENING LETTERS BILL.

Lord DENMAN proposed the second reading of this
Bill. In doing so, he said he conceived that his
motion would not meet with the slightest objection
as it was to amend the present anomalous state of the
law with respect to persons sending threaten-
ing letters for the purpose of extorting money.
The existing law was so imperfect, that unless
a letter of this nature was actually addressed
to the person from whom money was sought to
be extorted no offensive was committed, and the
object of the Bill was to render it equally criminal to
send a letter with the view of extortinglmoney from a
person to that person's relations or friends.

The Bill was then read a second time.
THE TOWNSEND PEERAGE.

The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition
from a genth man named Charles Townsend, "com-
monly called Lord Charles Townsend and Marquis of
Townsend," praying for an alteration of the Act passed
three years ago with respect to the Townsend peerage.
CORN.

The Earl of HARDWICKE gave notice that he
would ask her Majesty's Ministers two questions, first,
whether they knew what quantity of wheat was in the
country ; and, second, what quantity they expected to
be imported.
RATING IN IRELAND.

The Earl of ST. GERMAINS presented, a petition
from the rate-payers in the County Down, praying that
the rates should be as usually charged, one-half upon
the landlord, and one-half upon the tenant.

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1847

the public. Hon. Members are aware that it has been
necessary, from the high rate of interest i❑ the commer-
cial market, to elevate the price of all securities, and the
con.cquence has beef' taat Exchequer• bills sutlered
great depreciation, and it was necessary to raise their
value in order to give a greater facility to trade. This is
necessary, not only for the transactions of mercantile men,
but for the interest of those artisans whom they employ.
I believe, therefore, this measure is absolutely necessary
for the credit of the Government. From representations
which have been make to me, I find that the traders and
bankers of the country have been unable to obtain the
ordinary supplies of money to enable them to carry on
their transactions. The bankers of the country
are unable to discount bills as they could do
in prosperous times, owing to the scarcity
of money which at present prevails in all
branches of trade. I hare also been told that the in-
vestment of large sums of money in railroads has had a
considerable tendency to withdraw capital from the or-
dinary sources of trade, as well as to render money
more scarce than it otherwise might have been. I have
heard that many parties in Lancashire who have invested
their money in railroads have preferred to sell their shares
at a discount rather than pay up the calls, and of course
that circumstance has naturally tended to increase the
scarcity of money.
Mr. ElUME—Speak up. It is not usual for a Member
to speak with his;• back turned to the House.— (Hear,
hear, and laughter.)

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I find
also that a system has prevailed amongst the moneyed
men of London of withdrawing their money from
Government securities, and purchasing, with the
money so withdrawn, goods, bills, and railway
shares at very large discounts. At first this
naturally led to a great increase in the
number of bills brought into the market, and when the
alarm or panic came, the bankers, in whose hands the
bills were placed, found it the more difficult to get money
advanced upon them, except at very heavy discounts.
It was further represented to us, from the unsaleability
of Exchequer bills, that many men were unable to
realise any money on those which they held, and conse-
quently the effect of the measure lately passed will be
to facilitate them in such efforts, and it will also en-
able them to dispense with calls upon the bill-broker,
and, further, it must alleviate the pressure on the money
market by bringing into circulation capital, until now
locked up. Now, Sir, lam not prepared to say that it
would have been possible fur the Bank to have done this,
except with the concurrence of the last measure, enabling
the bankers to pay their loans by advances with Ex-
chequer-bills ; however the object of the Govern-
ment was to put themselves in funds, by the
use of the money now lying in the banks. Sir, the ex-
tent of the demand upon the Bank has been exceedingly
limited. I made no more than the usual call. I had
forewarned the Bank what the amount would be.
Nor was there any reason for alleging that an
assurance or pledge was given at the passing of the
charter that such assistance would not be required. I
can find no such promise; but I did observe, that in
consequence of another measure, the equalization of
dividends, there would be less occasion for a large
demand on the two quarters, when the larger
amounts were paid, but on the other two quarters the
demand must of necessity have been greater. I think,
therefore, that it was an exceedingly wise measure.
If I may be permitted to read an extract from a speech
which I myself made on that occasion, it will be seen
that I then predicted the result of the measure. The
Right Hon. Gentleman here read an extract to that
effect from a speech he made in 1844, and continued—
Now. Sir, ,I quote this to show that the operation of the
measure was foreseen, and that no expectation was held
out of an excessive demand being made. I have thought
it right to make this statement for the purpose of cor-
recting a misapprehension which a great number of gen-
tlemen have fallen into on this subject. It will be seen,
therefore, that the time when advances would be required
was amply foreseen, and time given for preparation to pro-
vide for them. With regard to the contributors to the lean,
it has been my object to give every facility for the purpot e
of easing the money market, and my experience in public
and private life has taught me this, that driving
a hard bargain was advantageous to neither party.
It is no doubt true, that when trade is bad, and the
money market feverish, the revenue suffers. During the
last fortnight there has been a considerable reduction in
the receipts at the Custom House, yet within the last
few days, I am happy to say, matters have much
improved, and resumed their usual course—(Hear,
hear)—and things are much easier than they
formerly were. The funds have also fallen; but now I
am happy to say, from tho report of to-day, that they
are up again, and there has been an easy day. This
has arisen from the reduction of the loans to be
advanced to the Exchequer, and the improvement
in the exchanges with America. This is, therefore,
a good account, and I would have hoped for
improved prospects in the future, were it not
attended with a rise in the price of corn.—(Hear, bear.)
As far as London is concerned, the pressure for money
is decidedly relieved, and I hope that it may extend to
the provinces, so that a restoration of trade may be
effected. It is, however, impossible to deny but that
corn had risen to a fearful price; but the Noble Lord
at the head of the Government has given
notice of the only course by which to prevent its fur-
ther increase. No doubt to some extent this might
have arisen from the exportation of corn ; but I may
observe that while the exportation has been about 132,000
quarters, the quantity imported was 432,000 quarters.
Last week the amount entered for home consumption
was in proportion to 17,000,000 quarters per annum.
The entry for the week of bread stuffs was equal to
200,000 quarters. The entries for all kinds of grain are
333,273 quarters, or, at an ordinary calculation, at the
rate of 17,000,000 quarters.
Lord G. BENTINCK—For what time?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—In the
week.— (Laughter.)
Lord G. BENTINCK—Is this the amount imported,
or entered for home consumption ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER--It is
the amount entered for home consumption. I have
said that the entries for all kinds of food is 333,273
quarters. I cannot give the imports of all kinds
of corn, but the imports of breadstuffs has on the whole
kept on ;in a pretty equal increase, the different being
less than 3,000 quarters per week. Ido not know that
I need state anything furrher on this head. Since
Friday night I observe a slight alteration in the pay-
ments made into the Bank of England, and the autho-
rities there report to me that a good effect might result
from the extension of the period of payment. I there-
foae propose to give to every contributor for every sum
of money, in regard of these instalments, which shall
be paid on or before the 18th day of June, interest at
5 per cent., and in like manner I propose to give to
every contributor, for any sum of money paid from the
18th of June to the 10th of September, interest at the
rate of 4 per cent. per annum. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man concluded by reading the resolution.
On the motion being put,
Mr. HUME rose and said that he was not aware
whether, in making the explanation the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had explained anything to the satisfac-
tion of Hon. Members, but he meant to say
that in the explanation he had not shown to his
mind any reason for the pressure which had arisen in
the money and commercial markets. He complainp.d
that the interests of money had risen to five per cent.,
but he had given no reason for the changes which had
occurred. He stated, as it seems, that these changes
which had taken place had put the capitalists who had
the money of others in their hands into great difficulty
since the rate of interest had risen. Why he, speaking
as one who bad placed money in .the hands of
a banker would, under such circumstances, only
be too glad to have it ready for a call. He, therefore,
thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman had been much
misinformed, and that he had assigned no reason why
an increase of the discount should have taken place.
He had soid nothing as a reason of any alteration in the
interest, and had said nothing either that had to do with
the currency of the country. He expected that the
Right Hon. Baronet would have assigned some reason
for the changes which had taken place since 1844, which
would have been an explanation of the extraordinary
pressure which was now felt. But he had not done so.
He had taken the trouble to make a long extract from his
own speech, certainly. In 1844 the Right Hon. Baronet
the Member for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel) had
made an alteration in the law, and had separated the
banking from the issue department. He thought very
wisely; but he was not prepared to say whether the
reserve of fourteen millions was sufficient, but look-
ing at the large amount in the coffers of
the Bank he should say that was ample.
The deposits which appeared to be in the coffers of the
Bank were more than those of former occasions.
Be that, however, as it might ; having provided a
bank to settle or fix the amount of paper issue, it
mattered not whether that bank were continued
at the west or the east-end. There was a bank estab-
lished for doing that, and that being done, what was the
next great change that took place? I
Bank ofEngland,with all her resources,etxwa:atslytoinptlhaec same
position e
position as any other bank in any other part of the country.
leaving her to limit the extent of her discounts at her
own discretion. It was expected that such an
arrangement would have the effect of preventing a
pressure of the kind the country was now witeessing,
In that respect it had failed. It might be owing to the
dcoidnduncott ofptohsseesßsansm
Bank authorities
informationoritiesthems a
themselves,
tobutth
he
contents of their papers and books to enable him
to criticise their conduct. He had no hesitation
though in stating that it was never held out by any
body at the time the Currency Bill was passed
that the Bank of England was to make the
same advances as before upon good bills. He
must say that such a proceeding as that just now
stated was never contemplated ; as far as he could
recollect the speeches of the Right Hon. Baronet, he
never made any speech anticipating such an advance,
On the contrary, he found that he provided cash in the
Exchequer to render it unnecessary to have these calls.
He believed that when the Right Hon. Baronet lett
office there was money in it to pay any demands
made upon it. They had been told that the
Bank had timely notice. Yes, he knew the quarters
were coming round ; but what notice had they of the
present state of the money-market ? Could any
man have believed that circumstances would have
led to the present pressure. He considered
thatit was not fair to the Bank of England to have given