The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-11 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 11, 1517.

employed was rather less. It was therefore self-evident
that a young girl attending to those spindles must
have an increased amount of duty to perform. The
questicn was, was this a sort of labour for such persons?
It was said the labour was not hard; granted. He would
like to know how Hon. Members would like to be kept walk-
ing up and down a slippery floor for 13 hours, in an atmo,
sphere ranging from 65 to 80 degrees? Why it would be
bad enough to shut an Hon. Member up in a hothouse
heated to 80 degrees, even if he had nothing to do.—(Cheers.)
Why, the people of Birmingham would be ashamed to see
such persons as these factory-girls in their town.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BRlGHT—(flcer, hear.)
Mr. MUNTZ—Did the Hon. Member suppose that none
but a cotton-spinner could tell whet her a girl looked healthy
or unhealthy?—(Laughter.) The Hon. Member himself got
up a petition in the year 1833 in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill,
and paid all the expenses of it himself. If the Hon. Member
had altered his opinions since that time, he ought to explain
the reason of his change to the House.—(Cheers.) The
manufacturers complained of being compelled to work only
ten hours a day; why, up ,n an average for the last ten
years. no mills had worked more than ten hours a day; they
could not, therefore, lose anything by the passing of the present
measure. He believed the greatest enemy the manufacturers
had were the manufacturers themselves.—(Hear.) It was
competition carried to excess that did the mischief. This
competition eagle home to the manufacturers here at last,
even in those cases where competition had begun with the
foreigner.—(Hear.) He was satisfied if the workpeople were
required to work only ten hours a day, that they would
neither lose in their wages, nor make less produce.—
( Hear, hear.) It was asserted, however, if a different
regulation was made in the hours of labour, a differ-
ence would be made in the rate of wages. Why should
this be? But then we were told it was wrong to adept the
principle of restriction; why, then, adopt it with respect to
omnibuses? why not let as many get in to ride as chose?
Why limit the cab charges? Why prohibit the growth
of tobacco? You had already interfered with labour,
and with advantage, not only to the labourer, but to
the manufacturer. The Honourable Member for Dur-
ham (Mr. Bright) paid for wages to his card-loom hands, in
the year 1820, Bs. per week ; in 1830, 83.; in 1844, Bs. 6d. ;
in 1846, 9s. Did this, then, bear out the assertions of those
manufacturers? It was only fair to ask the Hon. Member,
or some other Hon. Member, to explain to the House
how it was that such an amazing alteration had taken place
since the year 1815, when only 6,000 bales a week of cotton
were spun, and in the present year the quantity spun was
30,000 a week, being an increase of five times the quantity.
It seemed extraordinary that while there should be
this increase the value of the goods produced should
have also been one-third less, contrary to the
opinions of those " feelosophers " who maintain that
nothing but the application of the principles of
political economy should be allowed, and that all in-
terference should be deprecated. and yet that, in spite of the
interference of the Government, there had been an increase in
the rate of wages ,paid to the workmen.—(Cheers.) The
consumption of cotton was—
In the year 1815 ... ........ 6,000 bales.
1846
The price of the raw material was—
In 1815 ls. 71/1 d. per lb.
1846 61,4d. „

The selling price in
1815 3s. 3d. per lb.
1846 lod. per lb.
The number of revolutions per minute of the thrlstles of the
machines was in the year
1815
1846. from 5,000 up to 7,000
The number of spindles to each mules was in

1815 180
1846 5OO
These were facts demanding the most serious attention of the
House.—(Cheers.) The rooms in which the operatives were,
were of the most unhealthy nature, no current of fresh
air was allowed, and it seemed to be necessary
that the unfortunate creatures of factory labour
should be kept in a state of continued perspiration, in order
the better to perform their work.—(Cheers.) Since he had
had a seat in that House he had never given a vote against his
conscience, but he never gave a vote in that House with
more honesty of feeling than that which he should give
upon this occasion in support of the present measure.
Mr. BRIGHT hoped, after the pointed allusions which
had been made to him by the Hon. Members for Dorsetshire
and Birmingham, and by several other Hon. Members, that
the House would allow him to state the grounds on which he
was compelled to differ from many Hon Gentlemen on this
important question. In addition to the means of
udging, which many Honourable Members possessed
from political economy and from other sources, he
possessed this additional knowledge. He had lived
all his lifetime amongst the population for whom
they were legislating; he was very largely connected
with this particular trade, and had not a farthing in the
world beyond what was invested in it; but in his op-
position to the Bill he was actuated by no belief
that it mould injure his property or prospects,
because it was clear to him that if the measure was
really calculated to advance the interests of the 1,200,000
persons more or less dependent for their support upon cotton-
spinning and other textile employments, that his interests
would be consulted. The agitation in factories in favour of a
Ten Hours' Bill had been conducted on the political economy
of the Hon. Members for Birmingham and Oldham, and of
the late Michael Thomas Sadler, on those principles of poli-
tical economy which that House last session declared un-
sound and rotten, and which, if persevered in, would
injure the great interests of the country and de-
stroy the manufacturing and commercial supremacy of the
kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) When it was first commenced, it
professed to have only the labour of children in view, and
Lord Spencer brought in a Bill with that view
but last session. The late Secretary of State for the
Home Department carried a Bill through the House,
which limited the labour of children under thirteen years
of age to six hours a day ; but, not satisfied, those who pro-
fessed themselves the friends of the workers, now asked the
House to interfere to prevent young persons from 13 to 18,
and women of all ages, from working more than ten hours
a day ; but their object really was to interfere with the
hours of work of persons of all ages, and of whatever sex,
engaged in labour in this country, in the belief that the pre-
sent rate of wages would be maintained—a higher rate than
their labour could command in the free markets of the country.
Many. of the exaggerated statements which had been put
forward by Lord Ashley had not been urged upon the
House on that occasion, but the Noble Lord the Member for
Newark (Lord J. Manners) had read a letter from Mr.
Fletcher, physician, in Bury, which however he did not consider
more worthy of belief than official documents furnished by
persons appointed to make such investigations. From them
it appeared that, in 1831, the mortality in Leeds was less
than in 1801, and less than the mortality in Bristol for the
same year. The mortality in Manchester was lees than in
Liverpool, and, in short, the mortality in large manufacturing
towns was not larger than in other towns is which there were
no manufactories. Dr. Phillipps, who had published a book on
" scrofula," had stated that the health of those engaged in
factories was not worse than the health of the rest of the
population employed in large manufacturing towns. It was
stated that the labour of women in factories was long and
severe, but he considered the fact of women being so
employed was conclusive evidence that the work was not
laborious.—(oh !) If Hon. Gentlemen doubted this, let them
make inquiries, and they would find that he was correct. If
it was so severe as it was stated to be, why did not women
forsake it, and work as stonemasons and with spades
—(Oh, oh!) They did not, because factory work
was superior ; they naturally turned te it. They
must turn to those employments where they were
sheltered from the weather, and which were light.
The experiments in France had been equally con-
clusive, that there was nothing injurious in factory-
labour to females. (The Honourable Member then
read a long extract from a report of the
Committee on the Ten Hours' Bill appointed by the Con-
gress of Massachusetts on the 12th of March, 1845, which
went to show that manufactories did not injure the health of
those employed in them.) And the report further stated, that
in the town of Lowell the hours appointed for manufacturing
labour far exceeded those appointed in these countries for
textile manufacture. Let him not be misunderstood : he
was not advocating a twelve hours' labour Bill, he was
only defending himself, and arguing against the state-
ments put forward in behalf of the present Bill; and let
the Hon. Member recollect that children up to thirteen years
of age were exempt from the system now complained of.
He himself never went to school after he szas fifteen
years of age, and he held himself to be a proof
that some kind of information might be obtained up to thir-
teen years of age. Under the old system their forefathers
used to put out every person to earn at fourteen.
And to show that those employed in manufactories were
not so wholly uneducated and immoral, he would tell them
that Dr. Peirce had divided the community into twenty classes,
and amongst the first and the worst of these were
grooms, such a class as most gentlemen in that
House were in the habit of employing. Number
nineteen in that class were domestic servants, and
number twenty were females engaged in factory la-
bour. There was not a magistrate in any manufacturing
town that could not bear witness to the sobriety and good
conduct of these operatives. The Hon. Member said that
he presented a petition from Manchester, signed
by twenty-two thousand persons. Now, when he (Mr.
Bright) presented a petition in favour of the repeal
of the corn-laws, the same Honourable Member
would not pay the slightest regard to it, He
was as much in favour of paying attention to the wishes
of the poor as any man, and he would go farther than the
Hon. Member, for he was prepared to give them votes,
by which they would be enabled to send men to that House
to represent their feelings and wishes. But if the short time
was enforced, they would be obliged to receive less wages.
He could not conceive a guilt more dreadful than the prac-
t!sing of such a delusion on the working classes, a delusion
likely to bring upon them the most serious disappointment,
and greater evils than any other measure had ever inflicted
upon them. He had in his hand a publication called
The Tea Hours' Advocate," dated December 5, and
that. publication asserted that it had, from its first con-
nexion with the question, advocated the fact that the effect
of the Ten Home Bill would be a diminution of wages
in the same proportion as the reduction of time, as any
circumstance that lessened the supply of an article increased its
value in the market, and that there were
numerous
instances
where the hours had been reduced and the
rates
of wag es we re
advanced. Mr. Oastler said, in speaking of Mr. Ackroyd, in
Halifax, that if he were one of the operatives, and he
present rate of wages, he would not do so ,d
na
tos
persuadei any
ne re
increase,
were asked to sign for the Ten Hours' Bill at the
idnucotridoenr
to
no
show t he hh oo uwrst h
oKs'eollpidersbo
ne s followedo
endeavoured
the working classes that they would have the same wages.
The Ten Hours' Advocate sa.that when children were made
to work only six hours, their wages had been increased.
Such was not the case, for, in every instance, the wages
were reduced in exactly the. same proportion as the
time was reduced; and a child twelve yea and eleven
months old, and working only six hours, received only half
of the wages that a child 13 years and one month old re-
ceived. With regard to the case of foreign competition, he
believed that it was not properly . understood by the Hon.
Member for Oldham. He had in his hand a statement of the
raw material consumed in the manufacture of this country.
In the cotton trade alone 600 millions of pounds of cotton
and worstedn
sed. tradesln the there
fiax d
ra were
t e
nwoetrelesussetdh,anan2d6oinintilille wionsooofl
pounds
there were 177 millions of pounds imported, and in the
silk 600.000 pounds, making in all 1,000,175.000 pounds.
If that were divided by six, it would give a diminution in
the consumption of the raw material of 176,000,000 of
pounds, and how was it possible to dispense with one-sixth
of this description of manufacture? The difference in the
revenue would alone amount 7,000,000/ annually.
That was a question worthy of the consideration of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, as it would make a reduction of
7,000,0001. per annum in the expenditure. He had attended
many meetings at Manchester, and was aware that not one
single individual of the working classes would accept of this
Bill if he did not believe that no reduction would take place
in the rate of wages, Many of the work .people he employed
had petitioned that House in favour of the Bill. and
he Was gla 1 that they hail cim:v s', as it rdiuwed that
they, were independent, and could act for rbenis,!v,
r ~..
1. hat wa the mohy of th, I.trz,sst and
te-
menu in their trade ; but he warned the house, that ii they
encouraged the working classes to come to that House for
legislative enactments to limit their hours of labour, and to

tlx their scale of salary, that every manufacturer would be
obliged to unite in self• defence—(Loud cries of " Divide,
divide")—and that, he was sure, would do away
with the good feeling which at present existed
between the manufacturers and their workmen.—(Renewed
cries of" Divide divide.") He would not detain the House,
but he understood that it was intended to bring forward in
Committee a clause to limit the hairs of working to eleven
and not ten hours. Now he thought that the House would
at once concede that the workmen were or were not right
in this demand—if right it was cowardly for Hon. Members
to depart from their principles, if wrong, they had only to op-
pose the Bill altogether. He could not consent to the second
reading of this measure. The Hon. Member for Durham
then expressed his astonishment that the Government had
left this an open question. He had expected that the Noble
Lord at the head of the Government would have adopted a
bolder awl more straightforward course, and he thought that
he was introducing a strange anomaly in legislation by
sanctioning the principle that the workman should be pro-
tected against the capitalist.
Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY moved the adjournment of
the debate.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he rose only to say a few
words to the House, in consequence of the attack which had
been made upon him a few minutes before six o'clock.
If the Hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Bright) had intended
to have made this attack, he ( Lord J. Russell) thought
it should have been made at five o'clock—(Continued cheer-
ing)—and he really thought that the Honourable Mem-
ber, in his anxiety to
.make the best defence en behalf
of the cotton manufacturers, had departed from that
candour and courtesy to which Honourable Members
who might differ in opinion from him were fully entitled.
The lion. Member said that this was a question of
principle, he (Lord John Russell) did not view it as
such. He conceived that the difference between
ten, eleven, and twelve hours was a question of
degree, and not a question of principle. This was no new
principle, as the Hon. Member had been pleased to allege.
The limitation of the hours of labour had been introduced
before into that House, and it would be found that it was
carried out in the statutes of the realm.—(Hear, hear,
and cheers.) Neither was it a change in the old law,
for the old law protected apprentices against their mas-
ters: it was, therefore, no question of principle; it
was merely a question whether the Legislature should
throw the shield of protection round the younger workers.
That was a mere question of the day, on which the mem-
bers of the Government might differ without at all
differing on any principle. if the Honourable Member
differed from that principle ; if he thought the Legislature
were wrong in the course they had adopted, he should have
proposed the repeal of the laws on the subject. He knew
not that it was necessary now for him to enter into this
question. He had stated what he thought was
the general principle, and if this debate came to be
adjourned he would not detain the House by any length-
ened observations. But if the House were pleased
to listen he would not address himself more than
a few minutes to the question. He considered
then, as he had already stated, that it was not a question
of principle, but of degree; and that young persons of 13
years of age, working twelve, thirteen, or fourteen hours a day,
were taxed too much, because their bodily frame was not
sufficiently matured. He considered it was too much to give
time for their moral or mental improvement, and he conceived
that it was so far a question of degree, inasmuch as a shorter
period of labour would be more fitted for them. The
Honourable .3:•nber for Durham had expressed a
fear of foreign competition. That was another
qt estion, and with regard to it he would only say
that the same objection had been urged in every
previous arrangement that bad been made from 1831
to the present time, and he was happy to say that the
manufactures of the country were still flourishing,
while the factory operatives bad been greatly benefited.
The limitation of labour had given them three or four months
in the year fur thin purposes of improvement, iie would not
have troubled the House so long but for the attack of the
Hon. Member for Durham.—(Cheers.)
The debate was then adjourned till Wednesday next.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House Adjourned at Six o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes anti Proceedbm cf the House of Commons.)

WEDNESDAY, FEU. 10.

The following Railway Bills were presented, read a first
time, and ordered to be read a second time :
Cheltenham and Oxford—" for making a Railway from
the Great Western Railway at Cheltenham to join the Oxford
and Rugby Railway near Oxford, with a Branch therefrom,
and for other purposes."
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Branches at Port Glas-
gow, and to the Caledonian Railway and Diversion of Canal)
—" to enable the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway
Company to make certain Branch Railways at Port Glasgow
and to the Caledonian Railway at Glasgow, and to divert
part of the Glasgow, Paisley, and Ardrossan Canal."
Caledonian ( Edinburgh Station and Branches to Granton,
&e.)—" to enable the Caledonian Railway Company to ex-
tend their Station in Edinburgh, and to make Branch Rail-
ways to Granton, to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, to
Wilsontown, to Fauldhouse, and to Biggar and Broughton."
Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junc-
tion and Northern Counties Union Amalgamation—" for
amalgamating the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-
upon-Tyne Junction and Northern Counties Union Railway
Companies."
Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Peterborough and
Thorney Line)—" to empower the Boston, Stamford, and
Birmingham Railway Company to make a Railway from the
Syston and Peterborough Railway, at or near Peterborough,
to the Stamford and Wisbech Line of the Boston, Stamford,
and Birmingham Railway, in the parish of Thorney and
Isle of Ely."
London and South-Western (Andover to the Bishopstoke
and Salisbury Branch, &c.)—" to enable the London and
South-Western Railway Company to make Railways from
Andover to join their Salisbury Branch Railway at Micleael-
marsh, and from the same Branch at Romsey to join the
Southampton and Dorchester Railway at Redbridge, all in
the county of Southampton, to be called The Andover and
Southampton Junction Railway.' "

The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com-
mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection:—
Newmarket and Chesterford (Extension to Thetford).
Caledonian (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway;
Branch to Glasgow and Station).
Chard Canal and Railway (Extension and Amalgamation).

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE.
The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a
second time on Monday, Feb. 15
Caledonian (Edinburgh Station and Branches to Granton, &c.)
London and North-Western (Ormskirk and Raintord
Branch, &c.).
London and North-Western (Bescot and Wolverhampton
Branch, &c.).

NOTICES OF MOTIONS.
Mr. Ricardo—To nominate Select Committee on the Na-
vigation Lawsi—Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Alderman Thompson,
Hume, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Hutt, Sir
George Clerk, Mr. Brownrigg, Mr. Bright, Mr. M'Carthy,
Viscount Sandon, Mr. Brown, Mr. Lysll, Mr. Mitchell, and
Mr. Thomas Baring—Friday, Feb. 12.
Mr. Roebuck—ln Committee on Factories Bill to MAI)
the following amendments:—
To extend the operation of the Act to all mills and factories.
To extend the operation of the Act to all persons employed
in agriculture.
To till up the blank in section 1, line 6, with the word
" eight ;" and so also in line 13.
To fill tip the blank in section 1, line 7, with the words
forty-eight;" so also in line 14.

PATENT MILE INDEX.

A simple and ingenious contrivance for measuring
and indicating the distance travelled by wheel carriages,
has been invented by Mr. Voulister, a gentleman con-
nected with the Engineering College at Putney. The in-
strument is applicable to all carriages, but the special
object of the invention is to supply the passenger in a
cab with a perfect check on the distance actually tra-
velled, and consequently against overcharge by the
driver. The instrument may be described thus :—A
piano-spiral rotator is concealed within the hoop of the
nave of one of the hind wheels, and gives action to a
shaft or small rod of iron which is carried horizontally
nearly as far as the opposite wheel. At this point a
universal joint connects the horizontal with a vertical rod,
which latter continues the action into the body of the
carriage under the seat. Here two or three wheels give
motion to a suitable shaft or chain, which is concealed
between the panels of one side of the carriage, and ter-
minates near the roof in a dial-plate provided with two
faces, one ieside for the use of the passenger, and the other
outside, in which the driver and his fare can together note
the position of the hands before the latter steps into tne
cab. Both dials have exactly the face of a clock, being
furnished with an hour and a minute hand, and hours,
half-hours, and minutes are indicated on the dial pre-
eisrly as in the ordinary time-piece. As the hands per-
form the circuit of the dial, the divisions of hours, half-
hours, and minutes correspond exactly with the miles,
half-miles, and fractions of a mile actually traversed by
the vehicle. Thus if the dials indicate 20 minutes past
12 when the passenger enters the cab, he will know that
he has travelled exactly a mile when the dial within
points to 20 minutes past 1; a mile and a half when it
points to 10 minutes to 2 ; two miles when it arrives at
20 minutes past 2: two miles and a half at 10 minutes to
3; three miles at 20 minutes past 3, and so en. A small
circle within the dial face, with a pointer answering to
the second-bands of a watch, enables the owner of the
carriage to satisfy himself as to the total number of
miles which the vehicle has travelled in any given
period.
The simplicity and convenience of adopting, as the
mode of indicating the distance traversed, the
face of a clock, with the reading of which every one is
familiar, needs no comment. The public can at once
avail themselves of the invention, without having to
learn its use. The instrument is perfect for its purpose,
it is accurate to a nicety in its working, is easily read
off ; is so simple in its construction, that it cannot be
easily put out of order, and is neither cumbersome nor
unsightly—indeed it is scarcely visible at all when the
carriage is in motion. The actual working of the in-
strument has been tested, with the most perfect success ;
it has been fitted to a Brougham carriage, which has
travelled several hundred miles over the worst pavements
in the metropolis, in all weathers and at different speeds,
so that there can be no doubt as to the efficiency of the
instrument for the purposes to which it is applicable. It
gives the passenger in a cab a perfect check on over-
' charge, and the proprietor the means of knowing the
amount of mileage actually performed.
The application of this really useful invention to
cabs will be a great public accommodation. The sys-
, tem of overcharge practised by the drivers of cabs is
too notorious to require any comment. There can be
no doubt that if cabmen would be content with their
legal fare, and would receive the same with civility,
many persons who are deterred by fear of altercation
with the drivers from riding in cabs at all, would avail
themselves of the accommodation which a cab affords,
and of those who do ride, most would ride a great deal
more. In fact, the custom would be doubled at least,
Ladies are almost excluded from the use of cabs—they
mostly prefer the inconvenience of an omnibus to the rink
of insult by a cabdriver. Thus there is a large class
of the community whose custom is at present with-
held, but would, if given, afford a very conside-
rable increase of employment. Individual drivers
are not very likely to adopt the Patent Mile Index ; it
will militate too much against what they imagine to be
their interests. Even if one or two of the class should
have sense enougn to see that just fares and fair treat-
ment will induce a custom which will be amply remu-
nerative, they would be unable to keep way against the
abuse and violence of their class. It is only by a public
company taking up the invention, and forcing it (if we
may use the expression) into the cab market, that there
is any likelihood of the public receiving the benefit of
it. We observe with much pleasure in our advertising
columns the proposal for forming a company, having for
its special object the application of the Patent Mile
Index to London cabs. We refer to the " Patent Mile
Index Carriage Company." The undertaking bears
on its face the stamp of respectability, and it
is put forward in so honest a manner, and
with such a total absence of anything like jobbing that
the promoter will deserve success with the public. The
undertaking embraces beside the application to cabs of
the patent mail index, the improvement of cab con-
veyance by furnishing to the public a superior equipage
with a better class of drivers ; the reduction of fare to
6d., through the medium of mile tickets, an arrange-
ment which will prove not only a very great accommo-
dation to the public, but also very remunerative to
shareholders ; and also the giving to the public the
advantage of having a body of gentlemen to appeal to
instead of having recourse to summons to a police court.
A company with these objects will certainly confer a
great obligation on the metropolitan public when they
make their debut on the London stands. The proposals of
the promoters offer not only a great inducement to parties
willing to embark monies in the undertaking, but also
are put forward so openly and fairly as to induce confi-
dence in their assertions. The registered promoter
bears all preliminary expenses absolutely, reserving a
per centage, or profit for his remuneration. If the ca-
pital be not subscribed deposits will be returned. A
detailed estimate is given, so that the public can judge
of the assertion of the 'promoter, that 15 per cent.
clear of income tax, will be realised. An abstract of
the deed of settlement also is given, that the public may
know what the deed is they will be called upon to sub-
scribe. The directors, instead of receiving a fixed re-
muneration, postpone all recompense till the share-
holder receives five per cent. interest, and then take
only in proportion to what they realise for shareholders.
The foregoing are the principal features of the under-
taking—they are novel, and give evidence of the sin-
cerity of the parties, and offer a very fair inducement to
those easy people who may have a few hundred pounds
in the Three per Cents., and may feel inclined to realise
fifteen per cent., with chance of larger profit and but
little risk. The parties who appear as trustees and
directors are highly respectable. The names of the
solicitors—Messrs. Wire and Child—are alone sufficient
to stamp the undertaking as a respectable and bond fide
project .

THE CIRCUITS.
CROWN-OFFICE, FRB. 9, 1847.
183D67vsiazn.e:1
Places appointed for holding the Lent Assizes,
HOME CIRCUIT.
SiT hr oTmhaosmLa
so r
Wilde,e Denman,
Chiefan Lordjus
tCi
chei eoffJtuhset i
Coc e
Common Pleas. urt of
Hertfordshire, Tuesday, March 2, at Hertford.
Essex, Monday, March 8, at Chelmsford.
Kent, Monday, March 15, at Maidstone.
Sussex, Monday, March 20, at Lewes.
Surrey, Monday, March 29, at Kingston-upon-Thames.
Right Hon.ilon
NORFOLK CIRCUIT.
Right Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock, Chief Baron of the Ex-
chequer.
Mr. Justice Coleridge.
Buckinghamshire, Monday, March 8, at Aylesbury.
Bedfordshire, Saturday, March 13, at Bedford.
Huntingdonshire, Wednesday, March 17, at Huntingdon.
Cambridgeshire, Friday, March 19, at the County Courts.
Suffolk, Wednesday, March 24, at Bury St. Edmunds.
Norfolk, Tuesday, March 30, at the Castle of Norwich.
City of Norwich, the same day, at the Guildhall of the
said city.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.
Right Hon. Sir Jame,. Parke, one of the Barons of the Court
of Exchequer.
Mr. justice Patteson.
Northamptonshire, Monday, March 5, at Northampton.
Rutlandshire, Friday, March 5, at Oakham.
Lincolnshire, Saturday, March 6, at the Castle of Lincoln.
City of Lincoln, the same day, at the city of Lincoln.
Nottinghamshire, Friday, March 12, at Nottingham.
Town of Nottingham, the same day, at the town of Not-
tingham.
Derbyshire Tuesday, March 16, at Derby.
Leicestershire, Saturday, March 20, at the Castle of Lei-
cester.
Warwickshire, Coventry Division, Wednesday, March 24,
at the city of Coventry.
Warwickshire, Warwick Division, Thursday, March 25, at
Warwick.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.
Mr. Baron Alderson—Mr. Baron Rolfe.

Lancashire, Monday, February 15, at the Castle of Lancaster.
Westmorland, Thursday, February 18, at Appleby.
Cumberland, Saturday, February 20, at Carlisle.
Northumberland, Wednesday, February 24, at the Castle of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the same day, at the Guild.
hall of the said town.
Durham, Monday, March 6, at the Castle of York.
City of York, the same day, at the Guildhall of the city of
York.
Lancashire, Saturday, March 20, at Liverpool.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.
Mr. Justice Maule—Mr. Baron Platt.
Berkshire, Saturday, February 27, at Reading.
Oxfordshire, Saturday, March 6, at Oxford.
Worcestershire, Thursday, March 11, at Worcester.
City of Worcester, the same day, at the city of Worcester.
Staffordshire, Tuesday, March 16, at Stafford.
Shropshire. Tuesday, March 23, at Shrewsbury.
Herefordshire, Tuesday, March 30, at Hereford.
Monmouthshire, Thursday, April 1, at Monmouth.
Gloucestershire, Monday, April 5, at Gloucester.
City of Gloucester, the same day, at the city of Gloucester.
WESTERN CIRCUIT.
Mr. Justice Cresswell—Mr. Justice Williams.
Southampton, Saturday, February 27, at the Castle of Win.
chaster.
Wiltshire, Saturday, March 6, at the City of New Serum.
Dorsetshire, Thursday, March 11, at Dorchester.
Devonshire, Wednesday, March 17, at the Castle of Exeter.
City and County of the City of Exeter, the same day, at the
Guildhall o! the said City.
Cornwall, Wednesday, March 24, at Bodmin.
Somersetahire, Wednesday, March 31, at the Castle of
Taunton.
CIRCUIT OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES ♦ND COUNTY

PALAVI'SE OF CHESTER.
NOSTZ WALES.
Mr. Justice Coltman—Mr. Justice Virightman.
Montgomeryshire, Monday, March 15, at Welchpool.
Merionethshire, Thursday, March 18, at Bala,
Carnarvonshire, Saturday, March 20, at Carnarvon.
Anglesey, Wednesday, March 24, at 13eaumiris.
Denbighshire, Saturday, March 27, at Button.
Flintahire, Wednesday, March 31, at Mold.
Cheshire, Saturday, April 3, at the Castle of Chester.
SOUTH 'WALES.
Glamorganshire, Wednesday, March 3, at Swansea.
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Carmarthenshire, Saturday-, March `_tc', ;.1 Carmartlwx.
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Carmarthen.
Brecknockshire, Saturday, March 27, at Brecon.
Radnorshire, Wednesday, March 31, at Presteign.

DEATH of GEORGE ROBINS, ESQ.

Our obituary of yesterday announced the death of the
above eminent auctioneer, a gentleman who has ho-
nourably and successfully filled an eealted position in hi
prkeession for many years ; indeed, we are informed
that he began to wield the bummer before he had at-
tained the age of 19, for whilst attending a large sale in
Yorkshire, he was unexpectedly called upon to act for
his father, who, from indisposition, was unable to offi-
ciate. From that time to the present, during a
period of ,fifry years, he enjoyed the uninterrupted
good opinion of the public, and perhaps no man can
boast of a more extraordinary catalogue of business,
the most extensive estates in this country, and Scotland
and Ireland, as well as all parts of the globe, having
passed though his hands ; the wonderful skill and tact
with which every advantage connected with the property
he had to describe was seized upon and turned to profit
in his glossing descriptions, and his ready wit and re-
par tee in the rosttura, are too well known to require
comment from us. It may certainly be allowed
that, for his profession, no man possessed or exerted
greater capabilities, and he may he considered one of
the most successful and persuasive advocates in seducing
his auditors to unloose their purse-strings that has ever
appeared at the auction mart. A foolish report was
some years age circulated, when this gentleman first
struck out into a different and more descriptive style id
advertisement, that his literary effusions were not his
own production. That his announcements were unlike
those of any of his contemporaries there can be no
doubt ; that they were highly coloured, graphic, arid
often excessively clever, has been constantly admitted ;
and that they were his own productions we have ample
reason to know. Indeed, when only a youth, and al-
lowed by his parents to make the tour of the lakes in
Cumberland, his love of the picturesque was then evinced
by a publication of all that he had seen and been
delighted with. Highflown and indulging in fancy's
sketch as were Mr. Robins's advertisements and partial-
' lars of the properties he had for sale, yet we have heard
him say, in no instance was a purchase repudiated on
the ground of misdescription, whilst in many cases
purchases, and to a heavy amount, have been made
by persons who had never seen or heard of the
estate when they entered the auetion-room, and they
were overcome by his persuasive eloquence. We now
turn to what may be termed his private li'e. A love
of taking a prominent part in sonic of the events of
the day, and a desire to assist some well-known cha-
racter, whose prudence had not placed him above the
world, brought him before the public most frequently in
the cause of charity, and sometimes as the champion of
some oppressed individual, or to serve the fallen for-
tunes of some institution or other—indeed, it may be
Said, he possessed more of the milk of human kindness
than generally falls to th; lot of man ; politics he care-
fully eschewed, and deemed those mad who wasted their
time and substance upon them. His first unprofessional
effort was at Margate, where, in the cause of charity,
no less than that of assisting the funds of the Margate
Sea-Bathing Infirmary by holding a plate for contribu-
tions outside the church. gate, he, with several other
gentlemen, were taken .mtu custody as rogues and
vagabonds for begging, and were afterwards compelled
to attend the Dover Sessions, where no evidence was
offered against him, and upon the trial of an action
against the magistrates of Margate at the Maidstone As-
siws, damages were obtained, and to this day a tablet in
the walls of the institution at Margate record his victory
and the increase to the funds for the sick at the infirmary.
To his determined hostility-, in conjunction with the late
Mr. Calcraft, to the sub-committee of Drury-lane Theatre,
in the years 1817 and 1818, and their exposition of the
mal-government of the theatre, anew system was adopted,
by which this splendid place of amusement was nearly
released from a load of debt; and at a later period his
exertions were mainly instrumental in resuscitating the
rival establishment when all human hope of again afford-
ing amusement to the public within its walls seemed
past. Notwithstanding his numerous avocations, he
could spare time for the cause of charity, and
many were the successful claims to public benevo-
lence that he advocated—the most remarkable was
that for poor Emery's (the comedian) family, when,
by the greatest indefatigability, a sufficient sum
was obtained to provide a comfortable annuity for the
widow and children. That exquisite songstress Mrs.
Bland, and many others, were equally indebted to him,
whilst his protection of James Brandon, the well-known
box-book-keeper of Covent-garden Theatre, against the
proprietors, is even now remembered by theatricals.
Perhaps no man in his station was more courted
by his superiors, by whom his manly, straightforward
conduct was appreciated, his advice often sought, and
amongst the men of his day he was always welcome.
The description of a dinner given by him to Lord Byron
is recorded in that nobleman's memoirs, edited by Moore,
when Lord Kinnaird and his brother, Sheridan, Colman,
John Kemble, and other eminent men were present.
In his private life he was strictly a domestic man,
always ready to do good and to succour the distressed.
Ile leaves a widow and seven young children, which his
exertions have enabled him to provide for in an ample
manner, and a large circle of friends who will long mourn
his irreparable loss. The poor have lost a kind friend,
society an excellent member, and the Queen a faithful
subject. He was an exemplary husband, a kind and
indulgent father, and a warm-hearted friend.
His extensive business as an auctioneer and valuer
will now be conducted by his two cousins, who have long
assisted him in carrying out his novel and successful
method of effecting the transfer of property, and were
often large contributors to his fame.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD
RAILWAY.

The usual half. yearly generaltreeiing of the proprietors of
this undertaking was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices
of the Cor...pany, in Moorgate-street . Mr. W. Collett, chair-
man of the board of directors, in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the report, stated that
a few days ago he had personally inspected the works on the
line, and he was glad to say they were proceeding
in a most satisfactory manner. Upwards of one mil-
lion of money had been expended in the works, and the
consequence was, there was not any point upon the line
where the works were not in progress. In a short time, he
confidently expected, the line would be opened to Flint, in
August he Conway, at the close of the year to Bangor and
the whole of Anglesea, and by the close of 1848, or
the commencement of 1849, the line would be
opened throughout. Government had let the con-
tract fur the construction of Holyhead Harbour,
and from a conversation he had with the Secretary of the
Admiralty last night, he understood the works were to be
proceeded with almost immediately. Negotiations were
pending between the company and Government for obtaining
better terms for carrying the public mails, while arrange-
ments were going forward with the London and North-
Western Company for working the line, by which it was
hoped that a considerable saving would be effected in the
working and maintaining the traffic. Their prospects were
exceedingly gratifying. and their could now be no doubt that
this undertaking would soon be one of the most flourishing in
the country, while the enormous amount of money it had
absorbed last year sufficiently indicated its great national im-
portance.
The report stated that every exertion had been made to
provide the means for the most rapid and complete execu-
tion of the works, the payments upon the road contracts
alone having amounted, on an average, to 71,7081. per month
since the Ist of July last. The average number of workmen
employed upon the several contracts has been 12,560. Con-
tracts had been made for the construction and erection of
bridges over the Conway and the Menai Straits, thus com-
pleting the entire line, with the exception of the extension to
the new harbour at Holyhead, which had not yet received the
sanction of the Legislature. By a Bill now before Parliament.
the Company would take powers to raise an additional capital
of 500,000/. ; 200,0001. being required for the subscription to
the harbour, under the arrangement with her Majesty's Go-
vernment, and 300,0001. for the extension of the line to the
pier, and the proposed steam-packets. A line of railway to
the mineral district of Mold had again been brought forward :
it was to join this Company's line about three miles and a
quarter from Chester, and the entire length of the fine and
branches was about sixteen miles. The capital required was
180,0001., of which the Chester and Birkenhead Railway
Company undertake to subscribe 20,0001.; the Birkenhead,
Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway Company,
20,0001.; and the directors recommend that this Company
should subscribe 30,0001.

The receipts from the commencement of the Company up
to the 31st December,lB46, amounted to 1,793,418/.lls. 10d.,
while the total expended amounted to 1,399,4901. 4s. 4d.;
since the last half-year 593,7651. 15s. 6d. had been spent,
and 880,9101. 17s. 9d. received. The cash in hand, after the
payment of everything up to the 31st of December, 1846, was
' 393,9281.75. 6d.
The report and accounts were unanimously adopted.
In reply to a question,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the authorisedoriginAlo.,l3oooillL
by loans,
them to raise 2,100,6001. by
calls.
dorks of the main line
making their capital 2,1100,0001. .- They were now going
would be completed within that time.
to Parliament for extensions
and by the Bill authorising
those extensions, they proposed to raise an additional capital
of 500,000/.
In reply to a question,
The CH:mil/Art replied that the cost of the bridge over
the Menai Straits was estimated at 300,000/.
In reply to another question,
Mr It. Sricpus_Nisort admitted that there were difficulties
connected with the bridge, but he saw or knew of none
which could not be overcome. He did not anticipate the
estimate would be exceeded ; but still, as every step con-
nected with the bridge, was novel and never attempted
before, of course he could not be positive upon that point.
This closed the business of the half yearly meeting.
SPECIAL MEETING.
The shareholders then resolved themselves into a special
meeting for the purpose of considering a Bill "for extending
the line of the Chester and Holyhead Railway at Chester and
Holyhes.d respectively, for authorising certain alterations in
the levels of the said rail'raY7 and for empowering the Com-
pany to subscribe towards the construction of a harbour at
Holyhead, and to purchase, hire, and use steam-boats. And
also to approve of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament in
the ensuin,2; 6essi,n for mAing a railwal. from Mold, in the
county c:f Flint, t-. 3.11 the Chester and Holyhead Railway in
parish of Ilawar(ien in the same.county, with branches
L.) be calltd tug Muhl ILtil way."
The CHAIELMAN stated that the capital of the Bill would
be 500,0001., of that sum 200,000/. would be subscribed to•
wards building a harbour and pier at Holyhead, 150,000/.