The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

ORPHAN WORKING SCHOOL.

Tfp com n trorntiv. le' net^ the ~t
tion of this philanthropic ics i:t.tion took place on
Wedneklay, a 1 the-London-Ttivern. -Its -claims se• of
an aneieat character, its establishment dating from
1758, and probably there is no phase of philanthropy,
its object being to relieve those who are left in the lone-
liness of orphanage. more deserving of public patronage.
Alderman Challis took the chair in the absence of tie
Right Hon. the Earl of Ducie from indisposition, sup
ported by Drs. Leitchild and Archer, Rev. Messrs.
Browne and Carlile, Messrs. C. Lushington, .•!,trickland,
J. Mills, J. Morley, Roger Cunliffe, C. Pearscn,
Douglas Jerrold, J. Rolt, W. Warren, M. Ware, W.
Clarke, J. Esdaile, W. Penfold (of Brighton), E. Ed-
wards, J. Spicer, J. B. White, Hull Terrell, D. J. Ben-
nett, H. Rutt, J. Sewell, C. Reed, W. Tyler, J. Tyler,
G. T. Kemp, F. Smith, E. Phelps, D. Brewster, and J.
Harrison.
Finding that the premises in the City-road were in-
sufficiently commodious for the growing usefulness of the
charity, the institution has recently been removed to
ampler premises at Haverstock-bill, where the sale lately
held on its behalf produced a munificent accession to the
funds of some 2,000/., though 7,000/. is still required for
the completion of the new building. A gradual increase
appears to have taken place in the number of inmates
supported, until it has reached, at the present time, one
hundred and thirty-nine, the full number being now
eighty-five boys and fifty-four girls. The average an-
nual admissions for the last three years have been
twenty-eight children from all parts of the country. One
thousand two hundred and fifty-two children have been
received since its commencement, most of whom, after
receiving a suitable, useful, and religious education, have
been placed in situations, in which they have, by in-
dustry and good conduct, obtained a comfortable liveli-
hood, and some of them have risen to influential sta-
tions in society, and become governors of the charity.
The chief objects sought to be benefited by the charity
(as we elicited from the speeches of the various speakers)
being poor orphan and other necessitous children, who
are admitted between seven and eleven years of age,
from any part of the kingdom. There were some excel-
lent songs from Messrs. Binge, Genge, Kenny, Smith,
and Frost, under the direction of Mr. G. H. Taylor,
who presided at the pianoforte, and Mr. Toole, who
filled ably the post of toast-master. The following were
amongst the chief subscriptions of the evening:--The
Earl of Ducie, 21/.; Sir John Easthope, 101. lOs.; the
Treasurer, 21/.; Messrs. Thomas Gibson, 311. 10s.;
Samuel Morton Peto, 211.; J. S. Lister, 211.; George
Waugh, 211.; C. Lushington, 5/. 55.; H. T. Wood,
10/. 10s.; A. W. Waugh, 101. 10s.; the Secretary,
10/. 10s.; E. H. Brandt, 10/. 10s.; Mrs. F. J. Field,
101, lOs.; G. T. Kemp (for 1847), 101. 10s.; H. Dodd,
10/. 10s.; David Salomons, 101. 10s.; B. Cooke, 10/. 10s.;
J. G. Smith, 10/. 10s.; J. G. Hepburn, 10/. 10s.; Rev. A.
Good, 101. 10s.; Mrs. Wilson, 101. 10s.; B. Cooke,
10/. 10s., &c.-the total transfer to the funds being
upwards of 1,000/.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE.—This auspi-
cious occasion is now drawing near, and the elements of pre.
paration are not idle. Among other arrangements on a
liberal scale, those that are making for the horticultural fete
in Downing-grounds deserve prominence. The sum to be
distributed in prizes at this show is upwards of 2001., in sums
of 101. and downwards; and the competition is to be open to
all England, so that we may expect it to be put forth in
rather a spirited manner. The installation of his Royal
Highness will take place on Tuesday at the Senate-house,
and on the evening of that day it is understood that a splen-
did fete will be given in the grounds of Magdalene College,
by the Hon. and Rev. the alaster (Neville Grenville), Dean
of Windsor. On the previous day (Monday), it is expected
that her Majesty and the Prince will honour the Vice-Chan-
cellor by dining with him, at Catherine-hall; and that on
the evenirg of the same day her Majesfy will hold a draw-
ing-room at Trinity-lodge. We may add that the Eastern
Counties Company are preparing a sumptuous carriage for
the conveyance and convenience of the illustrious visitors,
and that the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal are ex-
pected to form a not uninteresting part of the royal company.
Altogether we have every reason to believe that the occasion
will not only be productive of immediate benefit to this
town, but ss ill be memorable in the annals of the University.
Never, indeed, did we look forward to any event of local or
domestic interest with prouder anticipation.—Cambridge
Adertiser.
THE CALEDONIAN BALL.—The ladies patronesses
of this ball met on Wednesday in committee atWillis's Rooms
to report progress, &c. We understand her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester and their Royal Highnesses the
Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar
have already signified their intention of honouring the re-
union with their presence, and a favourable reply is confi-
dentlz. looked for from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
His Grace the Duke of Wellington invariably attends this
ball, and he has been especially invited this year, as have
also his Imperial Highness the Gratkd
.Duke Constantine,
the Hereditary Prince of Lucca, and all 'the Foreign Minis-
ters. The Ladies' Committee, in consequence of the distin-
guished patronage they have already obtained, have deter-
mined on limiting the number of tickets to the ball, and
vouchers are already very scarce. Several fancy quadrilles
are being formed by the Duchess of Bedford, the Countess of
Roseberry, Lady Willoughby d'Eresby and Lady Agnes
Duff.
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN OF
FORTUNE.-An inquest was held on Wednesday by Mr. W.
Carter, at the Duke of Clarence Tavern, Penton-place,
Walworth, respecting the death of Mr. Mark Townley,
aged 39, a gentleman of independent property, lately re-
siding at No. 3, Penton-place, near the Zoological-gardens.
The deceased, by the evidence of the brother, had been
subject to apoplectic attacks for some time past, for which
he had had medical advice. On Saturday last he called to
see the deceased on business, and on going to his bed-room
found the door fastened. On entering the apartment the
deceased was lying on the bed partially uncovered, and ap-
parently dead. Mr. Crisp, a surgeon, was ealled, who pro-
nounced the deceased to have been dead several hours. Death
had arisen from an attack of apoplexy, no doubt the result of
natural causes. The jury returned a verdict of " Natural
death."

yy
CATTLE FAIR. - WATFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE.-
Yesterday this fair was held, usually one of the best in the
county, with the exception of Barnet. There was a con-
siderable falling off in the demand for cattle of all kinds—fat
beasts, also sheep and lambs, were from 6d. to Is. per stone
lower ; lean stock, for grazing, was plentiful, with very few
buyers ; the sales effected were at much lower terms ; and
the jobbers who have been buying up largely at the pre-
ceding fairs at high prices, are, like the corn jobbers, com-
pletely taken in. The pig pens were well stocked with plenty
of good store pigs ; but the prices obtained were much
lower.

A letter from Munich of the 26tk ult. , in the Augs-
burgh Gazette says—" We learn that the King of Bavaria has
just laid down the bases of a Legislature upon broadest
and
the
and most liberal scale. Henceforth, the administration of
justice will be separated from the political government. The
inhabitants are in a state of enthusiasm from this news."
The Grand Council of Berne has just nominated
M. Nickler its President, and M. Ochsenbein has been
elected President of the Executive Power, which is the pre-
sent Vorort of the Confederation. M. Ochseubeia commanded
the corps franc at the affair of Lucerne.
SUICIDE.—An inquest was held last evening at the
Crown and Shears, Sparrow-corner, Minories, betore Mr.
William Payne, on the body of Paul Pinnell, aged 31, a
seaman, who committed suicide. From the evidence of
the witnesses it appeared that the deceasad had been leading
a very " racketty" life since this time two years, when he
was paid off from her Majesty's ship Illustrious, and in
addition received 9001., a part of some property left him.
All this money he squandered away, and recently went to
Portsmouth with barely sufficient money in his pocket to
get himself an outfit. He was unable to get a ship there,
and by the time he got back all his money was gone. On
Thursday last he took lodgings at the Royal Mint Coffee-
house, and, from his wild manner and incoherent language,
the landlord thought him out of his mind. On Saturday
he shipped himself for her Majesty's ship Ocean, and was to
have gone on board on Tuesday, but on that day the servant
of the coffee-house found him lying in his bed-room with his
throat cut. The jury returned a verdict of " Temporary
insanity."
STATUE OF LORD CHATHAM IN NEW YORK.—
This interesting relic of colonial times has again been brought
to light. In 1768, by an Act of the Legislature of New
York, Sir C. Baker and Mr. R. Charles were authorised to
pay for the statues of George 111. and William Pitt, pre-
viously ordered. That of his Majesty was placed in the
Bowling-green, and Mr. Pitt's was set up in Wall-street. In
1773 the political iconoclasts of this city showed such a dis-
position to deface and destroy the statues, that a law was
passed imposing a fine of 5001. currency oa any who should
attempt to injure them. It apps ars t!‘at General Washing-
ton, at a subsequent period, whip in possession of the town
showed his respect for the arts by issuing a general order with
a similar purpose. Pitt's statue, however, disappeared for
many years, and was next discovered in the corporation
yard, deprived of its head, which was a separate piece of
marble, and fastened to the trunk by an iron rod. It next
came into the possession of Ball Hughes, the sculptor, and
afterwards was set up in a small garden in the rear eta store
in Water-street. Recently, during extensive repairs of that
building, it was thrown down and covered with rubbish, and
now it has been removed to the sth Ward Hotel, where it is
to be placed at the corner of Franklin and West Broadway.
It is even now an object of great curiesity.—New York Jour-
nalct"Commerce.
THE RECENT CASES OF POISONING AT KENSAL-
REICL—Upon making inquiries on Wednesday as to the state
of Mrs. Hickman, it was ascertained that she was gradually
recovering from the effects of the poison. She is now per-
fectly sensible, but appears absorbed in grief. Yesterday
Mr. Abercrombie, the surgeon, Dra. R. Browne, Rose,
Fowel, and Chowne, the lecturer and professor of medical
jurisprudence at Charing-cross Hospital, were engaged in
making the post•abortem examinations, which showed that
a great quantity of arsenic must have been taken by each
party. The bodies have been placed in separate coffins,
which have been furnished by the parish. The jury having
viewed the deceased on Tuesday, Mr. Wakley, the coroner,
made out the orders for burial, and it was arranged that the
funeral should take place this day (Thursday). The excite-
ment in the neighbourhood has not diminished in the least,
and throughout the whole of yesterday crowds of persons
e
continued to assemble in front of the cottage, but the lice,
who are left in charge of the premises, refused to allow any
one except the medical gentlemen and Mrs. Hickman's re-
latives to enter.
FIRE BY THE NORFOLK RAILWAY TRAIN.—On
Friday last, immediately after the 11 o'clock, A.M. down
train from London had passed Santon on its way to Thet-
ford, the sparks from the engine ignited a barn belonging to
Lord William Powlett, in the occuptdion of Mr. Ellis, and
instantly set the whole premises in a blaze. A large well-
timbered and well-built barn, one of the best in the county
of Norfolk, together with stabling for twenty horses, COW
house, bullock houses, granary, and cart lodge, all fell a
prey, without the possibility of saving them, the intense heat
of the weather aiding the progress of the flames.—Burk/
Post.
MARYLEBONE ELECTION. A meeting of the
friends of Lord Dudley Stuart took place on Wednesday,
but, in consequence of the death of his lady, his Lordship was
unable to attend. Tne only business done was to pass a re-
solution that Lord Dudley 'Stuart should be heard in expla-
nationA
unicorn sheep, from Port
of his opinions.
A P
RESF,NT FOR THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.--
the ship Arab, Captain Phillip, has recently arrived
Dock. On Scott, now lying in the St. Katherine
the forehead is i labout two feet in
a round torn,
length. The
animal is ecentiv arrived in
offered 20/. for it.owner has bees
two years old, and the
in
tends W e understand that Captain Scott m•
tervis it for a present
to
Park. the Zoological Society in the Regent'

BAD NEWS FOR EVERYBODT.—There will be no
less than 324 attorneys added to the roll during the present
Trinity Tenn. Cot:sided:lg how many attorne3s there:,re
already on the roll, the question is, how the roll can possibly
furnish broad for ono-hwif of t4eril?—punch.

.~z .Y,~

TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN
BROOKS, OF TUE STEAM-SHIP ORIENTAL.

On the arrival of the Oriental at Alexandria, on the
6th of May last, Captain Brooks, one of the ablest and
most experienced officers in the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's service, had the gratification of receiving the
following highly complimentary letter from Viscount
Torrington and his fellow passengers iu that ship:—
(Copy.)
"On board the Oriental, off Alexandria,
May 6th, 1847.
" TO CAPTAIN GEORGE BROOKS, COMMANDING THE
ORIENTAL STEAMER.

"Sir,—On behalf of the ladies and gentlemen, my fellow-
passengers on board this ship, and at their request, I have
great pleasure in communicating to you our unanimous and
grateful sense of the attention, urbanity, and kindness, by
which y.O have so much contributed to our comfort and
enjoyment, during our agreeable voyage from Southampton
to this place. The long experience, careful diligence, and
cautious zeal, by which you have for so many years acquired
for yourself the distinguished confidence and esteem of the
public at large can, we feel, receive no higher praise from us
than has long been awarded to you by others, equally, per-
haps more competent, to render justice to your merits.
" But we desire on this occasion to present to you a more
lasting memorial of our esteem than our words alone can
convey, and it is with sincere pleasure that I now beg to
hand to you on the part of my fellow-passengers, my family,
and myself, the accompanying sum of money, which we re-
quest you to lay out in the purchase of such a testimonial as
may be most acceptable to yourself, and best calculated to
perpetuate the expression of our thankful and friendly sense
of your deserts.

I remain, Sir, very sincerely yours (on the part of the
passengers of the Oriental),
(Signed) " TORRINGTON."

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, JUNE 2.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—Our Share market has experienced
a check to-day, and prices have fallen considerably, both in
the heavy kinds of stock, and the lesser shares. The follow-
ing are the closing prices :—Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston,
and Eastern Junction,ll. 3s. 9d. dis.—Birmingham and Ox-
ford Junction, 61/2 p.—Chester and Birkenhead, 42—Eastern
Counties, IN—East Lancashire, dis.—Ditto, New Scrip,
1/1 dis.—Great Northern, 1 dis.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 1/2
p.—Leeds and Thirslc, 51/2 dis.—Ditto, New, 4 dis.—Ditto,
Preference, Vi p.—Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 3/4 p.—
London and North-Western,l7sl/2 —Ditto, Quarters (G. J.),
17 p.—Ditto, Quarters, New, 101 p.—Malton and Driffield,
38 dis.—Manchester and Leeds, Halves (late Hud. and She:),
1 p.—Ditto, 32/. Shares (late Extension), dis.—Ditto,
Fifths (late West Riding Union), IA: dis.—Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 1, 3 p.—Ditto, Quar-
te s, No. 2, 22—Ditto, Eighths, 2 dis.—Ditto, 20/. Shares, 23/
dis.—Midland Stock, 118—Ditte, New, 2 p.—North Staf-
fordshire, p.—North-Western, 1/. 6s. 3d. dis.—Shrews-
bury and Birmingham,ls/. 78.9 d. Shares (A), dis.—Ditto,
91. 128. 3d. Shares (B), 13s. 9d. dis.—South-Eastern and
Dover, Thirds, No. 4, IA dis.—York and Newcastle, Prefer-
ence, 2% p.—Dutch Rhenish, 2%
MANCLIE3TEI , JUNE 2.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, y„ dis.--Birkenhead, Lancashire, and
Cheshire Junction, 0/4 c. dis.—Birmingham and Oxford
Junction, 6 c. p.—Eastern Counties, 191/5 —Ditto, York
Extension, 1-16 dis.--East Lancashire, New, 1-16 dis.— Ditto,
New (scrip), 3-16 dis.—Huddersfield and Manchester Rail-
way and Canal, %—Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester,
Branches, Halves, 7-16 p.—London and North-Western,
(Manchester and Birmingham), 68—Manchester, Buxton,
Matlock, and Midland, 14—Manchester and Leeds (H. and
S. % p.—Ditto 32/. Shares (late Extension), 1,4 dis.—
Ditto, Fifths (W. R. U.). 1-16 c. dis.—Manche.Rter, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire (Sheffield and Lincolnshire), 31/I dis.—
Manchester and Southampton, 11/s—North Staff mishire, 2
p.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 1/5 dis.—Wharfdale,
114 die.
LEEDS, JUNE 2.

STOCK EXCHANGE. —The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 275. dis. East Lancashire, New, 20s. dis.

-Ditto, New (scrip), 2s. 6d. dis.-East and West York-
shire, 114 dis.-Great Northern, 13/4 dis.-Huddersfield and
Manchester. par-Ditto, Thirds, ss. p.-Leeds and Bradford,
45 p.-Leeds and Dewsbury, ss. p.-Ditto, Halves, I,i c. p.
-Ditto, New Extensions (pink), 17s. 6d. dis.-Leeds and
Thirsk, 53/4 dis.-Ditto. New, 4 die.-Ditto, Preference, par-
Leeds,Wakefield, and Midland, 19s. 6d. dis.-London, Brighton,
and South Coast, Fifteenths, 3s. 6d. p.-Malton and Driflield
Junction, 19s. dis.-Manchester and Leeds, 321. Shares, 28. 6d.
dis.-Ditto, West Riding Union, is. dis.-Manchester, Bux-
ton, Matlock, and Midland, 10s. dis.-Midland, Preference,
244 p.-Newcastle and Berwick, New, 17/8 p.-North British,
Thirds, 11/2 p.-Ditto, Quarters, 21s. p.-Ditto, Extension,
2s. 6d. p.-North Staffordshire, 21. is. 3d. p.-Northern
Counties Union, 23/4 dis.-North-Western, 1% ais.-Wharf-
dale Junction, 1% dis.-York and Newcastle, Preference,
314 P-
HULL, Juxu 2.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 285.-East Lancashire, New, % dis.-Great
Northern, 425.-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Mid-
land, dis.-Manchester and Leeds (West Riding Union),
4s. p.-Newcastle and Berwick, New, 11. 19s. p.-North
British, Halves, 14%-Ditto, Quarters, 845.-North-West-
ern, 31s. dis.-York and Newcastle, Preference, 31. 3s. p.
SHEFFIELD, Julia 2.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 11% dis.-East Lincolnshire, 1% p.-Great
Northern, 335. dis.-Leeds and Thirek, Preference, par-
Manchester and Lincoln Union, 28s. dis.-Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire, (Grimsby and Sheffield), 201. Shares,
23/4 dis.-Ditto, 12/. 10s. Shares, 335. 6d. dis-Ditto, Docks,
4 dis.-Ditto (Sheffield and Lincoln), 655. 6d. dis.- North
British, Extension (scrip), p.-North-Western, dis.-
Man chester and Southampton, 1% dis.
EDINBURGH, Jusiz 1.

STOCK EXCIIANGE.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 30/. .47
Airdrie and Bathgate, 3/. 10s.-Arbroath and Forfar, 271.
155.-Ditto, Halves, 151.-Ayr and Galloway, 11. 19s. 6d.-
Caledonian, 301.-Ditto, New, 21. 75.-Caledonian and Dum-
bartonshire, 1/. 155.-Clydesdale Junction, 421. 10s.-Dee-
side, 3/. 55.-Dunblane, Doune, and Callender, 1/. 7s. 6d.
-Dundee and Arbroath, 401.-Ditto, New, No. 1, 291.-
Ditto, New, No. 2, 301.-Ditto, New, No. 3, 41.-Dundee
and Northern Junction, 1/. 12s.- Dundee and Perth, 311.
155.-Ditto, New, 111.-Ditto, Quarters, 3/. 55.-East of
Fife, 1/. 155.-East Lothian Central, 1/. 18s.-Edinburgh and
Bathgate, 81.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, 701.-Ditto, Halves,
231.-Ditto, Quarters, 171. 10s. -Edinburgh, Leith, and
Granton, 181.-Ditto, Preference, 20/. 10s.-Ditto, New, 21.
95.-Ditto, Quarters, 155.-Edinburgh and Northern, 171. 108.
-Ditto, New, 31. Bs. 6d.-Ditto, Newport, 71. 7s. 6d.-
Ditto, ditto, New, 21. 95.-Edinburgh and Perth (New Co.),
11. 155.-Ditto Halves, 10s.-Glasgow and Ayrshire, 1161.
10s.-Ditto, New Stock, 401. 10s.-Ditto, Halves, No. 1,
91.-Ditto,Halves, No. 2, 71.-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Car-
lisle, 5/.-Glasgow and Garnkirk, 38/. 10s.-Glasgow
General Terminus, 12/. 155.-Glasgow and Greenock, 171.
-Ditto, Halves, 8/. 155.-Ditto, Preference, W.-Glasgow,
Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 41.-Great North of Scotland,
V.-Great Northern (late Direct Northern), 2/. Bs.-Ditto
(late London and York ), 21.-Newcastle and Berwick, 261.
55.-North British, 331.-Ditto, Halves, 151. 55.-Ditto,
Quarters, 4/. 135. 6d.-Ditto New Quarters (scrip), 17s.-
Ditto, Thirds, 31.- Ditto, Fifths. 61. 155.-Scottish Central,
24/. 7s. 6d.-Scottish Grand Junction, 195.-Scottish Mid-
land, 181.1.03.-Shrewsbury and Hereford, 10s.-Shrewsbury,
Oswestry, and Chester, 9/. 155.-Ditto, New, 11.-Stirling
and Dunfermline, 51.-Stirling and Midland, 2. 55.-Wishaw
and Coltness, 491.-York and Newcastle, 35/. 55.-Ditto,
New, 141. 55.-Ditto, Preference, 6/. 155.-Direct Bombay
and Madras, 2s. 6d.-East Indian, 2s. 6d.-Great North of
India, 35.-Great Southern of Madras, Is. 6d.-Madras,
Nellore, and Arcot, Is. 6d.
GLASGOW, Ram 1.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, New,
46s.—Caledonian and Dumbartonshire, 35s.—Direct Bombay
and Madras, 2s. 6d.—Dundee and Perti, New, 11M—East
Indian, 2s. 9d. —East Lothian Central, 41s.—Edinburgh,
Leith, and Grantun Quarters, 14s. 6d.—Edinburgh and
Perth (New Cu.). 343.—Ditto, Halves, 9s. 6d.—Glasgow,
Barrhead, and Neilston Direct, 153,4—Ditto, New, 5/.
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 1181.—Ditto, 40S—Ditto,
Halves, No. 1, 91.—Ditto, Halves, No. 2, 674—Glasgow, Dum-
fries, and Carlisle, 51 9s.—Glasgow Harbour Mineral, 345.
—Great Northern, 50s.—Great Southern of Madras, Is. 9d.
—Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct, 14s. 6d.—Manchester and
Southampton, 10s. 9d.—North British, Thirds, 58s.—Ditto,
New Quarters (scrip), 16s. 9d. Paisley, Barrhead, and
Hurlet, 55s.—Stirling and Dunfermline, 51.—Wishaw and
Coltuess, 491.—York and Newcastle, Preference, 71. Ils.

" BELL'S LlFE."—There was sold of "Bell's Life
in London," during the past month of May—five publica-
tions only—namely, May 2,9, 16, 23, 30-141,561 copies,
making an average weekly sale of 25,312. On Sunday next
" Bell's Life" will contain faithful details of Ascot Races,
and their brilliant accompaniments, with engravings of the
Emperor's Nase, Queen's Vase, and Hunt Cup, with the usual
sporting varieties. Price of "Belts Life," 6d. Office 170,
Strand.

TUE GLORIOUS " FIRST OF JUNE."-William
Burk, late boatswain of Devonport Dockyard, who, in the
heat of the action, when the Royal George, in consequence
of her spars being shot away, was fighting without a flag,
climbed, with nails in his mouth and hammer between his
teeth, to the shivered stump and nailed the colours to the
mast, still lives in the west of England, respected by all
who know hin.

THE POTATO DISEASE.—We have received the
following formal declaration from the parish of Carisbrooke,
Isle of Wight:—" We, the undersigned inhabitants of the
village and parish of Carisbrooke, having heard that a para-
graph has appeared in several of the London and local papers
that the blight had shown itself in the potatoes in the village
and parish of Carisbrooke, and believing the report to have
originated from the appearance of the potato aboat a fortnight
ago through the cold wind or a slight frost which occurred,
we deemed it our duty to go this morning and examine the
beds of potatoes from which the report emanated ; and we
can assure you most positively that there is not the least ap-
pearance of blight among them at present, but, on the con-
trary, they have a most healthy, luxurious, and beautiful
appearance, not only in that garden, but in the gardens and
fields all around us.—W. Cantell, Eight Bells Tea-gardens,
Carisbrooke; J. Sanders, market-gardener, Carisbrooke ; J.
Dver' coal-merchant, New Village; all growers of potatoes." •
THE TEN HOURS BlLL.—Wednesday a meeting of
the parliamentary promoters of the Ten Hours Bill was held
at the King's Arms Hotel, New Palace-yard, for the purpose
of congratulating the working classes on the success of their
labours, and also to urge them to make good use of the time
which the passing of the Bill would afford them. The Right
Hon. Lord Ashley presided, and there were present the Earl
of Ellesmere, Lord Feversham. and Mr. Fielden. After
several excellent speeches, resolutions in accordance with the
objects of the meeting were agreed to.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The
liberality which this company has shown, in conveying pro-
visions and clothing for the destitute Irish free, has been
suddenly checked by a discovery of the fraud by which the
privilege has been abused. It is painful to think that there
are unprincipled persons ready to make a trade by fraudu-
lently representing their packages as gifts for the starving
population of our sister isle, and thus obtaining free carriage
of them along the railway; and it is lamentable that the
free scope of generous feelings should be checked by such im-
position. We understand that since the commencement of
the Irish famine the London and North-Western Company
have conveyed, free of charge, a weight of goods which at the
ordinary freights would have produced between 1,0001. and
2,0001. to the company.
[ADVERTISEMENT ]— Mercantile Lifo.—lt has been re-
m& ked by intelligent forei,mers, that oases of baldness prevail greatly
in this country. and as a cause, that the unwearied application to com-
mercial pursuits contributes largely V this result. Be this as it may,
nowhere is a protective and res orative preparation more needed ;
and probably there is no European people to whom artificial appli.
anees have been so eminently sery ceable. The numerous cases of
recovery of the hair after having fallen off, or partial baldness, are
truly astonishing. The testimonials of the effica"aloir
oklridges Balr
of Columbia place its power and virtues. beyond doubt or
Oldritige's Balm, e
peuirngtobotntl.es.tre.eNtiothoothesecr
onprdiceshousatee
Igreennsuitnbee.
355tr.au16,4i.., 65., ri,:d its,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
HOUSE. OF LORDS, June 3.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool.
sack at Five o'clock.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Messengers from the House of Commons brought up
several Bills, which were ordered to lie on the table.
CLERGY OFFENCES BILL.
The Bishop of LONDON moved that this Bill be
referred to a Select Committee.—Agreed to.
The members of the Committee were then nominated.
PORTUGAL.
Lord BROUGHAM asked when the papers respecting
Portugal would be on the table ?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he would tell
him to-morrow.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL.
This Bill, on the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, went
through Committee.
HERITABLE JURISDICTIONS (SCOTLAND)
BILLS.
Lord CAMPBELL rose to move the second reading
of the five Bills which had been brought before their
Lordships on this subject. They were all of a technical
character, so that he need not trouble their Lordships
with many observations. And after recapitulating the
titles, which are—Service of Heirs Bill, Transference
of Lands Bill, Burgage of Tenures Bill, Heritable
Securities for Debt Bill, and Crown Charters
Bill—the Noble Lord briefly explained their characters,
which are indicated by their titles. He would conclude
by stating that the Transference of Lands Bill was of
particular importance, for at the present time no land-
owner could transfer an acre of land without a very con-
siderable expense an evil which was peculiarly injurious
to the country.
Lord BROUGHAM entirely approved of the Bills.
They would get rid of many prevailing defects in the
present system, and simplify and encourage the law in
many of its details. He, therefore, highly approved of
these measures, and he hoped shortly to see them car-
ried into effective operation. There were several amend-
ments which he could suggest, but he should defer them
until they got into Committee on the Bills.
The Bills were then read a second time.
POOR-LAW REMOVAL (ENGLAND AND
SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, this Bill was
read a second time, and ordered to be committed on
Monday next.
POOR RELIEF SUPERVISION (IRELAND)
BILL. -
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the second
reading of this Bill, and briefly explained the objects of
the Bill, which was to improve the administration of
the poor-laws in Ireland.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH objected to the Bill
as going to effect a total change iu the mode of carrying
out the poor-laws. Originally the administration of the
law was in the hands of parties unconnected with the
Government, but now it was proposed to place it under
the control of the Executive Government. The result
ould be that the machinery for carrying out the law
would vary and change with every new Government that
held office. There was another evil in the practical
working of the poor-law. It was no doubt well that the
board should be made up of men of all parties. But
p
he had great reason to suspect that it would
be uppermost in the mind of
pthose
board that the Government would listen rather to its
e it in at
politti that
friends than those who happened to
oppose
He would then oppose this law fur carrying the poor-law
into effect as he had opposed the poor-law itself.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the Noble Earl
seemed so far at variance with general opinion, that it
was the experience of the last five or six years
that the public generally were determined to dismiss all
party feeling and difY'rence on a subject of the nature
of the poor-laws. As to the other topics mentioned by
the Noble Earl, he thought he was in error.
Lord BROUGHAM thought that the change proposed
was very portentous, inasmuch as it made the poor-law
a Government department. He considered that the Bill
was making the poor-law a Government department.
He did think the administration ef the law ought to be
placed in the hands of a high officer with a large salary.
It was not stated whether this Government officer was to
be removable with the Ministry or not. He believed
that it was not so intended ; but if so there would
be a great difficulty occasioned, which lie could
not see the way to obviate. This was evident,
for this department being a portion of the Government
it was liable to all the attacks on the men of the day,
and such being the case it was surely Main that a
va,t mischief must ensue, for the Government
must of necessity protect its officers, and what-
ever the guardians might have to complain of,
whatever the overseers might have to complain of, and
whatever the poor might have to complain of; no remedy
whatever could be afforded by the men in office.—
(Hear, hear.) Of all things, then, he thought that
anything could be worse than making this board en
object of attack on the one hand and a matter of defence
on the other.
Earl GREY said it was impossible for any Member of
that or the other House of Parliament to have watched
the discussion which had recently taken ,place upon
the poor-law, without being convinced that the time had
arrived when some change ought to be made in the
constitution of the board to whom the administration of
the law was entrusted. In the other House of Parlia-
ment, within the last two years, every conceivable point
in connexion with the administration of the law had been
freely discussed, sand the Secretary of State for the
ilome Deljartineuf had been forced upon many occasions
to defend and justify the acts of officers with whom he
had little or nothing to do. Did it not strike Noble
Lor4, therefore, that it would be introducing a
great improvement into the system, if some of the admi-
nistrators of the poor-law had seats in the other House
of Parliament, in order that they might be prepared, on
their own individual responsibility, to explain or defend
any
mightactcon be called intonectedwith the
question administration
by partiesstrationofthelaw
that either
within or without the walls of Parliament ? In the
other House of Parliament, among all who had any ex-
perience of the administration of public affairs, there was
a unanimous feeling that the administration f this law
should be inakaliguate connexion with the Executive Go-
, verposent.
' Lord' BROUGHAM said a few words in explanation.
Earl St. GERMANS could not see how this measure
would be made to work beneficially. He thought it per-
fectly impossible for the Secretary of Ireland to attend
to the regular duties of his office, and give any conside-
etiamdeintihneisctrhatioioinseeodrettahrisylaw.--
:i ot
presentto th
His experience of Ireland led him to this conclusion. At
conside-
ration(Hear, hear.)
over-
whelmed with business, and he would not be able to give
his attention to any more.
The Earl of WICKLOW did not like the turn which
the debate had taken, in Noble Lords intimating that the
was perfectly
principle of Government supervision was objectionable,
in the Bill progressing in the other House, as applied to
Enz. iancl, but that it might be made to operate very well
in Ireland. One thing he decidedly objected to; it was
the monstrous power given to the Poor-law Commis-
sioner, and he supported the present Bill, so far as it
introduced the check of the Government over his pro-
ceedings.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE thought the Bill objection-
able. The Chief Secretary was generally one ball of the
ear absent from Ireland, :•nd the Under-Secretary for
Ireland had his hands so full of business, that it would
he banns of the Pour-
be impossible for him to give any attention to the
administration of the law. Practically, therefore, the
whole management would be in t
Pour-
law Commissioner.
Earl FITZ W ILLIAM hoped his Noble Friend who
had introduced the present Bill would give its provisions
a re-consideration. He thought them decidedly objec-
tionable. With regard to the measure now in progress
in the other House, he thought it was one also which
had not been well digested, and would work unsatisfac-
torily. The most serious evils would arise, in his opinion,
from making the administration of the law dependent on
the changes that might from time to time take place in
the Government.
Earl LUCAN made a few observations, which were
inaudible in the gallery.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE briefly replied,
stating that the Government would fully consider the
objections stated between now and the day of Committee,
and he would also take care that every Noble Lord was
duly summoned.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to
be committed pro forma on Monday next.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS.
Messengers from the House of Commons brought up
several Bills, which were ordered to lie on the table.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the considera-
tion of the Commons' amendments to the Poor Relief
(Ireland) Bill. There were two amendments, one re-
lating to the residence of persons requiring relief, and
the other to the jurisdiction of ex officio guardians.
The Earl of WICKLOW had no objection to the
first amendment, but he could not consent to the second.
woulddhei
bdner
oosno
supplied
npr provision i
workhouses,ioo ne ti n th
year.eh Bt i
he
el
thought
trusted
us
gttheeh
(it
of the House of Commons to restrain
that House from introducing reasonable alterations into
Lord MONTEAGLE complained that the House of
yßillolsf,rinbguetdwtihteh
privileges
The this Bill he contended that the aapeudments their
educationiCt
thoiwsmaoms
moinsssioho fan d
the
unworthy m ac
them
ei
i nmnoon ewya
L
Bills by
dmeaikni nt
hgi
st
rd-
of p
theoi House of Commons.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed with his
Noble Friend that the amendments their Lordships'
introduced into the Bill could not be considered as an
infringement of the privileges of the House of Commons,
and expressed a hope that some arrangement might era
long be come to which should obviate the raisingof
such
an objection in future. He must, at the same time
regret that no provision had been made by
the other
House of Parliament for education of children in work
houses, but he could promise his Noble
Friend that the
omission should not be lost sight of.
After a few words from the Earl of DEVON the
amendments were put and agrea.d to.
LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the conside
ration of the Commons' amendments to this Bill. The
amendments made were rath. r numerous, but the one
he regretted the most was the strikine• out of the clause
which provided for the erection of mills and other build-
ings of a similar description.
Lord MONTE AGLE theoght that the amendments
to the Bill now under consideration would be fatal to its
operation as far as Connaught was concerned.
The amendments were then avreed to.
RAILWAY BILLS.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE then moved that a
Select Committee be appointed to consider whether it is
expedient that any measures should be adopted for sus-
pending further proceeiiegs in all or any of the railroad
Bills in the present session, and for enabling the par-
ties, under certain conditions, to proceed with the same
in a future session of Parliament ; and also, whether it
is advisable that any further provisions
should be made

inn the standing orders of this House relative to Bill-
for the construction of railroads ; and to report their
opinion thereupon to this Howie from to time.
Agreed to.
Their Lordships then adjourned. •

ROUSE OF COIIIAIONS, June 3.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.

THIRD READINGS.
The following Bills were read a third time and passed :
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Junc-
tion Railway (Alteration of Line and Branches to
Nottingham).
Caledonian Railway (Branches to Canonbie, &c.)
Glasgow, 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.)
Nlacduff Harbour.
Metropolitan Sewage Manure.
Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway Davin-

tions.
Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway (Exten-
sion to Taff Vale Railway).
North Staffordshire Railway (Alterations and Branches).
Swansea and Amman Junction Railway.
Waterford and Limerick Railway.
REPORTS.

The following reports were brought up, and ordered
to lie on the table.—
British American Land Company.
Direct London and Portsmouth, Brighton and Chiches-
ter, London, Brighton, and South Coast, and London
and South-Western Railways.
Direct London and Portsmouth Railway.
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.
Gloucester and Hereford Railway and Canal Purchase.
Great Western Railway (Amendment and Extensions.)
Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway (Extension
to Wakefield and Junction at Methley, with the
Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, and the York and
North Midland Railways).
Leeds Central Railway Station.
London and North-Western Railway (Lime-street,
Liverpool, Station, Extension, &c.)
Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, and Midlands Junc-
tion Railway (Deviations).
Manchester and Leeds Railway (Branch from the Hud-
dersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway to Barnsley,
and Extension of Holmfirth Branch).
Manchester and Leeds Railway (Alteration of Levels of
Brighouse Branch of the West Riding Union Rail-
ways, and new Line into Leeds).
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway
(Branch at Bugsworth to join the Peak Forest Canal
Tramway and Amendment of Acts).
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Branch
from Ashton under Lyne to Oldham).
Midland Railway (Syston and Peterborough Railway
Deviations, and Approach to Manton Station).
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (N 0.2)
(Extensions and Amendment).
Strathtay and Breadalbane Extension Railway.
Van Diemen's Land Company.
York and North Midland Railway (Harrogate Branch,
Extension, and Terminus).
The reports on the following Bills were further con-
sidered and agreed to:—
Ayrshire Roads.
Falmouth Waterworks.
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Branch to the
Caledonian Railway and Diversion of Canal).
Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales Drainage and
Inclosure Companies Incorporation.
Manchester and Birmingham, and North Staffordshire
Junction Railway.
Scottish Midland Junction Railway (Amendment and
Branch to Laureneekirk).
Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Lease to the
London and North-Western Railway Company).
Sunderland Improvement, Markets, and Bridge.
BELFAST IMPROVEMENT BILL.
Mr. R. SPOONER presented a petition against the
Belfast Improvement Bill, which was ordered to be re-
ferred to the Committee on the Bill.
COVENTRY, BANBURY, AND OXFORD
JUNCTION RAILWAY.
On the motion of Mr. WILLIAMS, it was ordered that
the Committee of the Coventry, Banbury, and Oxford
Junction Railway Bill, have leave to report this day.
THAMES CONSERVANCY BILL.
On the motion of Mr. WARD for the further consi-
deration of the report on this Bill,
Sir R. INGLIS wished to know if the Bill had re-
ceived the consent of her Majesty's Attorney-General.
There was a surrender by the Bill of the rights of the
Crown to a private body, which he objected to. There
could be no doubt that the Corporation of London had a
right to both sides of the river, but he was not aware
that the Crown had denuded itself of the right on the
soil of the river.

The ATTORNEY. GENERAL said that, instead of
fighting out the rights of the Crown in a court of law, it
had been considered desirable to come to some arrange
ment in order to effect a great public good, and to carry
out that arrangement was the object of the present Bill.
Mr. lIUME was in favour of the Bill, but against the
mode in which the objects were to be carried out. He
objected to so many aldermen being members of the
board, considering that the City bad no interest in
the measure, but the merchants of London had.
He considered such a board would be altogether ineffi-
cient, and it ought to be revised ; the acting managing
board should have a portion of gentlemen representing
the shipping and mercantile interests of the port of
London. He concluded by moving that the Bill be re-
committed, with the view of the board of conservancy
being reduced from 19 to 12, and that four of their mem-
bers should be connected with the shipping interest.
Mr. WARD opposed the amendment on the ground
that as all the funds for the improvement of the river
would have to be raised on the credit of the Corporation
of London, it was but right that they should have the
management. Were the City authorities favourable
to the alteration, he would have no objection to it.
lie had asked an eminent engineer what would be his
estimate of expense for those improvements, and he had
laid it at 350,000/. Those were the objects contemplated
by the Bill. It appeared to him an immaterial point
whether the conservators consisted of 19 or 12, and
therefore he should oppose the amendment of the Hon.
Member for Montrose. _

The Earl of LINCOLN said that it was universally
conceeded that the objects of the Bill could not be found
fault with; the only matter for the consideration of the
House was how to carry out these objects, and to re-
concile the conflicting interests connected with the sub-
ject. The Hon. the Secretary to the Admiralty said that
the present state of things had continued so long, that
no other: interest than the city of London could now be
represented. But he could show the House that
a different course from the present had been pur-
sued in the case of the river Mersey. From the
moment that understanding ceased another arrange-
ment had been entered into, which gave entire satis-
faction to the corporation of Liverpool. He wished to
bring this under the notice of the Hon. Secretary for
the Admiralty; and though he did not feel ready to throw
any reflections on his conduct, he yet might say that he
had not voted as he himself would have done if ho had
been at the head of the Woods and Forests. He felt
assured, therefore, that the Bill never could give
satisfaction, and he could not conceive that the
amendment of the Honourable Member for Montrose
would, in any sufficient extent, remedy the evil, and
he should, therefore, vote against it.
Lord MORPETII said that, when he entered upon
the duties of the office which he held he found consi-
derable doubt resting upon the circumstances on which
the Bill was founded, and he regretted that the speech
of the Noble Earl had shown that there was not
the same spirit of amicability which had formerly been
evinced. (The Noble Lord then read a letter of Mr.
Pemberton, the solicitor for the Bill, in which that
gentleman stated that he did not expect the suit upon it
to be terminated for perhaps less than five years.)
It was stated by the City authorities that this suit pre-
vented them carrying into effect certain improvements
in the river, which otherwise they would be prepared
to undertake. He entertained no doubt whatever
that the funds derivable from the use of the river
~ught to be applied to its improvement. Whether
there were means to compel the City autho-
rities to undertake these improvements, he could not
venture to say, but he had agreed to the provisions of
this Bill, believing that it was the safest and easiest.
course to effect that object, and he trusted after this
statement the progress of the Bill would not be impeded.
The improvements would be carried on under the super-
intendence of the Board of Conservancy, and Govern-
ment would also take care to see that they were efficiently

performed. It was provided by the Bill that the receipts and
expenditure should be first laid before the superior board,
and that all the works should be subjected to an en-
gineer, who would also see that the board carried into
effect all they were bound to undertake by the Bill.
The details of the expenditure would be also laid before
Parliament, and if any circumstance should hereafter
arise of a nature to require legislative interference, Par-
liament might he called upon for its adjudication.
Mr. DUNCOMBE was not aware, after the speech of
the Noble Lord opposite, how the Bill would detract
from the character of the Corporation. lie was of this
opinion particularly after the example set them by the
corporation of the river Mersey. His Hon. Vriend
wished to strike off seven aldermen, but the superior
board alluded to in the course of the discussion professed
to control the aldermanic board. Powers were to
be takers to levy taxes to the amount of 350,0001, for
the purpose of this conservancy. (Mr. Ward made some
explanation, which was inaudible in the gallery.) Well,
at any rate, with the one shilling fee sought to
be imposed, there would be taxation of the public
in some way or other ; at any rate it would bear
heavily on the consumers of coal—(Hear, hear)—but
the principal reason which led him to oppose the Bill
was this, that it was a public and not a private Bill—
it was a public Bill to all intents and purposes:
it was an important Bill, and one which would
materially affect the trade and commerce of the city
of London—it was a public Bill and ought to be
submitted to the whole House.—(Hear, hear.) Besides,
no one knew anything about the Bill, and he thought
the public was indebted to the Noble Lord (Lord Lin-
coln) for his statement with respect to the Bill. Even if
it came back from the Committee with a recommendation
that the seven aldermen should be knocked off, he should
still look upon it with suspicion.
Mr. WILLIAMS did not think the Bill was so ob
jeetionable as the Hon. Gentleman seemed inclined to be-
lieve. lie quite agreed with the observation of the Noble
Lord the late Secretary for the Woods and Forests. He
thought it would be much better to carry out the new
system,
rather than that which was proposed
by the Bill. The present board did not consi,t
of persons tit to manage the navigation of the river
Thames, and it they interfered at all they ought to do
so by rendering them an efficient body. So many com-
plaints were made against the management of the river,
that, in 1836, a Committee of Inquiry was granted,

in which such charges were fully proved ; in fact, they
could not speak to a single shipowner upon the sub-
without being confirmed in the general belief
that the present board was wholly inefficient. It
they were going to make a change in the
body they should include shipowners and merchants.
Such a class was not to be found in the corpora-
tion. and such a class had an interest in the nevi-
!fition of the riv•r, which the corporation had not.
This was a question which seriously affected the public,
considering the enormous amount of traffic which tool,
place even above bridge. There were not powers suffi-
cient in the Bill to remove the abuses which existed, and
therefore this interference would do more harm than
good.
Alderman COI'ELAND then rose, but was for some
time inaudible in the gallery in consequence of the low
tone in which he spoke. He thought that it was an im-
provement upon the previous Bill, and he would vote in
support of it.
Mr. COWPER said that the present Bill was a de-
cided improvement upon the former, because it gave a
check upon the corporation.
Mr. S. WORTLEY said that this Bill had taken the
parties interested by surprise, and he should support the
recommittal, in order to give time for its consideration.
The House then divided, and on our re-admission we
found the numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it 65
Majority for the amendment —6
Monday next was fixed for the recommittal of the
Bill.

After a few words from Mr. LAW and Mr. WILLIAMS,
Lord LINCOLN objected to the Bill, as it did not
give private parties, who might be affected by it, the
notice which they should have.
Mr. HUME wished to know when the House would
go into Committee of Supply, and whether the papers
which he had demanded in relation to Portugal would
be in the hands of Hon. Members on that day?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that if possible the House would go into Committee of
Supply on Monday evening, and that the papers referred
to would be in the hands of Hon. Members on that day.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER :said
that when the papers were laid on the table that he
ould move for a committee immediately, and if they
were laid on the table on Monday he would move for a
committee that evening.
Sir R. PEEL said that as it would be hardly pos-
sible for all the Members of the Committees, many
of them being engaged on Committees, to read their
papers on Monday, it those papers were delivered on
Saturday night it would obviate this difficulty, and he
thought the best course would be to wait till to-morrow.
Mr. HUME said that under these circumstances he
would wait till to-morrow.
The motion was accordingly withdrawn.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL.
Mr. ESCOTT gave notice that upon the bringing np
of the report of the Punishment of Jnvenile Offenders
Bill that he would move for the omission of the clause
authorising the punishment of flogging.
PRISONS' BILL.
On the order of the day for going into Committee
on this Bill being read,
Mr. EIVART presented a petition from the towns of
Maitland and Newcastle, in New South Wales, against
the renewal of the system of transportation.
Sir G. GREY then rose to move that the House do
resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House upon
this Bill. The present Bill, with the one which imme-
diately followee it (the Custody of Offenders Bill)
formed together a comprehensive scheme of prison
raform proposed by the present Government. The
present Bill proposed to unite under one management
the government of the Parkhurst, Milbank, and Penton-
rune prisons. Pentonville was by an Act passed in 1842
placed under a board of unpaid commissioners, who
were appointed by the Crown, and were not to be less
!Ilan seven, or more than eleven in number, two of the
members of this Committee being insp« ctors of prisons.
Parkhurst was a prison for juvenile offenders, and wae
placed under the general direction of the Secretary of
State in 1838. Now it was proposed by the present
Bill to place all these prisons under one Act, similar to
that under which Pentonville was at present managed.
As experience, however, had shown the impossibility of
the various details of management being attended to by
unpaid commissioners, many of whom had other eccu-
patims to attend to, it was proposed that there shoul,l
be one paid commissioner. It was also proposed by an
alteration made in the Bill, since it left the other House.
that the hulks and other places of confinement for the
reception of criminals sentenced to transportation should
be placed under the commissioner, and that the
duties of the superintendent of convict criminals.
who had lately resigned his office, should its
future be discharged by the new board.—(Hear.)
The second Bill—the Custody of Offenders Bill—pro
posed to place Irish convicts on the same footing with
respect to transportation, as the Act with respect to the
transportation of convicts belonging to this country was
passed before the Act of Union. The first clause pro-
posed to place them on the same footing as the convicts
of this country; and the second, the removal from the
county prisons the criminals at present confined in them
Some apprehension had been excited cn this subject with
respect to the expense, but he believed that the amend-
ment he should propose before he sat down, and the ex-
planation which he should give to the House, would
effectually destroy the objections to this part of the Bill.
He now proposed to deal with the general and the more
important question—namely, the question of secondary
punishment. In approaching this part of the subject, he
did so with a perfect idea of his inadequacy to do justice
to it. Of the importance of the subject he believed
every one whom he addressed was fully persuaded. Of
the difficulties attending it, none save those fully con-
versant with the subject, could be aware ; and also
conversant with the course which had been adopted
with respect to those offenders during the last few years.
He believed that his Hon. Friend, the Member for
Montrose, considered that the question was free from
difficulty. He considered that " prevention was better
than cure," and that a sound, moral, and religious edu-
cation would do much to promote this end, and to re-
move the necessity of so much prison discipline, as was
proposed. He quite agreed with him as to the impor-
tance of education—its importance had been fully ad-
mitted by the vote which the House had come to in, the
course of the session—that it was the duty of the State
to promote the education of the people in every way in
its power. Still, whatever steps they take, prisons
would still be necessary, and since they were necessary,
they must consider the best way to deal with them, and
the best mode of discipline they could adopt. The ge-
neral attention which had been directed to the subject ?lad
evinced what he considered a most satisfactory feature.
that by example and punishment offenders are deterred
from the commission of crime, because the penal ritour
of the law possessed so much terror that protection to
lire and property was thereby greatly promoted. The
object of the Bill was one of such importance that no
Government ought to shrink from carrying it out itis faz-
es possible. In proposing any new scheme it was;im-
possible to avoid meeting with many difficulties an ob-
jections to any innovation upon the old system. A, few
years since he was afraid that but little was done by
the law for the future reformation of offenders-the
punishment being inflicted in proportion to the offence.
without using any means besides what would deter the
culprit from the future commission of crime. It was diffi-
cult to determine accurately what transportation was,
beyond the mere addition of a deportation to the loss of
personal liberty, and the performance of compulsory
labour, and when the criminals reached another hemi-
sphere, many of the severities of their punishment welt_
remitted. When the present Government first came
into office, the first question that forced itself unpon her
Majesty's Ministers, in reference to the punishment of
criminals, was whether the present system of transpor-
tation could be continued with any degree of benefit to
that society whose laws the criminals had outraged.
Under the old system, as soon as the criminal reached
another part of the world, the compulsory labour was
not enforced by the Government, but it was carried out
by individuals to whom the convict was assigned, as a
labourer for a certain period. In many instances, the
convict, so far from being punished, was actually bettered
in his condition, whilst the greatest of miseries was in
incited upon others, who had, perhaps, not been
abandoned a criminal as the first. A report, which
presented in 1838, recommended that transportation to
New South Wales should cease, and that the punish-
ment of criminals should be inflicted in penitentiaries at
home and abroad, where their compulsory labours woulo
be productive of some benefit to the community.
Shortly after this report being presented, transpor-
tation to New South Wales was discontinued. Van
Diemen's Land, Norfolk Island, Bermuda, and
(libraltar, only remaining as places to whicl
convicts from this country were sent. The result o'
these arrangements was not quite satisfactory, and it,
was then proposed that the number of convicts son%
abroad should be diminished, and that no convict sen •
tented to seven years' transp-)rtation should be sent ore
of the country. Shortly after that period it was den r -
mined, to abandon altogether the hulk system, and that
alteration necessarily involved a material increase in (lie
number of convicts sent abroad. That increase hi id
brought on many evils, which he did not see the pot;s
of remedying whilst the present system existed,
(Hear, hear.) The effect of the present system of re-
forming criminals bad been far from satisfactery, tiered
that he attributed to the custom of making the men weeds
together in large masses, without any efficient sew' ra.
tion, or. indeed, any means which would hinder contami-
nation from one class to another. He did not imp ute
any blame to those under whom that system had b eel.
carried out—on the contrary, he was quite aware t hat
there had existed on their part a very anxious deir, e
carry the law into effect as fully and us beneficial
f.; f
V.
ofpo stshiebloeidL;yractieSint,apnrleoypohsaedd,
tihnactotnhseerqeusehnoeuelodf
bthe
fi
vaet
dif-
ferentlure
criminal
o should be
punishment
encouragedishm e nti n %hoe colonies,the ho pe oafnadrotelri
ot rat
•
g his condition by good conduct, whilst the fear of in-
'creasing its hardships should be held out to pre-
vent any misconduct or recklessness. Lord Ste nle\
had proposed as one of these stages, that pro-
bation gangs should be formed of those prise enere
who had passed the first stage of their punish• went
in Norfolk Island. These gangs were to be unde r the.
direct superintendence
probation
:os
asf
ft.
sor
yonfsvo
teoer
food
passes, ma
adn st
c.
el
no
carriedTheathb next stag-
ni enabling
g,
butithi tel
nidtllm t:rl
wages. i
v themate p
oatsr kmt ofeoegrei vyper
ou
the direction of Lord Stanley, and for a time it app eared
to work favourably, but before he
adverted
eventual result, he would call their attention
te teo
oldts
system of transportation. That system, in the fit .st in-
stance, inflicted the punishment of deportation, followed
by coerced labour, followed by a
which enabled a man to travel
wt
hie
thceor conditionalu
country
te r would, po ardor
r thy;
native
tr
vided he did not return to his
expirationthough an ofhis sentence. The effect of the Y bef
news v stew.
improvement, was far from satisfactory, a
few months after the introduction of this system nit"
Van Diemen's Land, the Governor gave a most;
distressing account of the situation of that co/OU'

arising from the generally impoverished state of the
country. The Right Hon. Baronet then proceeded to
read at considerable length the report of the governor
upon that subject). Other papers were also laid upen
the tarle of the House which would fuily bear out the
statementsef that gentleman. Upon the earnest solici-
tations of the colonists a large amount of moneyewae
alvanced from the Treasury to meet the deens.nds thus
made upon the colonists by the large influx ce' the teens-
ports from this country. With respect to the moral con-
dition of the colony he could not du better than read a
letter on that subject, addressed to Lord Stanley when
in office, setting forth the miserable condition of the
people in that respect. The subject was :maturely con-
sidered by Mr. Gladstone, who succeeded Lord btanley
in his office at the head of the colonial department, and
a letter addressed by that Gentleman to the then
Secretary of Stete for the Home Department (Sir J.
Graham) also setting forth in strong terms the
.moral
condition of theJeonvict population of Van Diemen's
Land. What then was the condition in which the
present Government were placed when they, entered
office? It had been recommended by his predecessors
that the system of transportation to Van Diemen's Land
should be suspended for a period of two years, leaving
Norfolk Island as the only place to which convicts from
this country were to be sent. This, of course, entailed
upon the Government the necessity of adopting some
measure to provide employment for the mass of
convicts thus thrown upon the hands of the Govern-
ment. The Government gave the most anxious,
consideration to the subject, and the Government felt
fully convinced of the necessity of breaking up as speedily
as possible the criminal establishment at Norfolk
Island, and the utter impossibility of renewing the sys-
tem at the expiration of the ten years, as proposed by
the late Government. The papers laid before the House
fully bore out the opinion of the Government in this re-
spect. He would advert to the report of the Legislative
.Court of Van Diemen's Land, presented to the House on
the 15th of March, upon the subject of the resumption of
transportation to that country. (The Right Hon. Baro-
net then proceeded to read various extracts from the
report referred to, all of which tended to show
the impropriety of the resumption of the sys-
tem, protesting against it, and denouncing it
as a most demoralising system, and also expressing re-
gret that the Government at home were still disposed to
continue the dete,table and pestilential system). The
Right Hon. Baronet also read a letter from Mr, Pitcairn
to Lord Stanley upon the same subject to the same
effect. He thought, therefore, that these fully merited
the adoption of the course proposed on the present occa-
sion by the Government for the remedy of these evils.
lie also read a letter from the Bishop of Van Diemen's
Land to LordlGrey, setting forth that the most fearful
crimes prevailed in the colony from the want of proper
reformatory discipline. He now came to the plan which
he Government proposed—that the just portion of
the penal punishment should be passed in this
eiuntry, or, at least, at no great distance from it ;
and that it should be of a strictly reformatory cha-
racter, and that when they were sent to the penal set-
lements that probation papers should be given to them.
l'he system they proposed to adopt was that which pre-
vailed in Pentonville prison—the majority would be
sent to the Australian colonies, and he trusted that the
reformatory discipline to which they would be subjected
before being sent abroad would prevent much of the
evil which was strongly complained of. They might
then have their wives and families, and might, no doubt,
become goad members of society. The time of punish-
ment would depend upon the term to which a person
eas sentenced; but the strictly penal part of the punish-
inent would be passed in this country. The transporta-
-ion of persons to New South Wales would depend upon
he understanding to be come to with the authorities of
~he colony. Arrangements were at present being made
or the ert ction of a prison in Ireland, similar to
-he Pentonville prison ; in fec', the plan there
idepted had proved so favourable that it had
been adopted, as far as wes practicable, in many of the
irisons built before it. The Right Hon. Baronet then
-eferred to the last report of the Commissioners of Pen-
-onville Prison, which stated that the system of separate
confinement, combined with educalion and industry, had
:ed to the improvement of the moral condition of the
prisoners, and had led them to form habits of industry,
and that they were generally cheerful and and industri-
'us in their confinement. They said that separate con-
:ineznent prevented contamination and rec.gnition, and
,hat the best results had accrued to the unfortunate per-
sons confided to their care; but they added that the sys-
tem could only be carried out properly with the utmost
liscretion and vigilance. He also read an extract from
a report to Earl Grey, stating that plenty of employ-
anent could be found for exiles sent to Port Philip,
old that those who had been sent, had
behaved well ; in fact, that they were the best
-shaved persons in the colony, and he sincerely hoped
.hat the modifications about to be made, would show
,hat the unfortunate persons, to whom it was abc ut to
be applied, would not abuse this indulgence. A report
recently presented to the French Chambers, after re-
viewing the system of separate confinement in France,
America, and in this country at Pentonville, concluded
by recommending that a similar system should be
adopted for the future in France. There were, no

doubt, exceptional cases to this reformatory principle—
every day cases occured in which it was utterly ineffec-
tual ; but they were the exceptions, and not the rule.
l'hey proposed that the first term of punishment
in this country should not be less than six, and
more than of eighteen months' duration ; eighteen
months being the greatest term for which per-
sons were imprisoned in the Pentonville Prison.
The object of the Custody of Offenders Bill would be
to render available any spare accommodation which
could be given from the ordinary prison establishments.
Arrangements would be made with the magistrates of
those counties of which the prisons were not entirely
occupied, so as to enable the Government to occupy a
certain portion of these prisons for the purposes
already stated. A certain rent should be paid, and
the engagement was to terminate by six months' notice
on either side, so that if crime should unhappily in-
crease in the country, or the Government become dissa-
iisfied, the arrangement would at once cease. . He was
well aware of the difficulties which would attend the
carrying out such a scheme of punishment. The sud-
denness with which the demand had come upon them,
had disenabled them from trying any preliminary
experiment, so that, at first starting, they would labour
under somewhat disadvantageous circumstances. He
thought that this matter required the most careful and
serious attention of the Legislature, and he thought that
much credit was due to all those gentlemen who had
devoted their attention to this very important sub-
ject.—(Hear, hear.) He had been for some time
past taking active steps to provide the increased accom-
mia odgartaionnt whichfor
25t,
oh
oi so 2 systemnewwhiowhich
had
regardof to
such
Planshad
alwouldready require,been 9ndwith
tobtained.
establishmentsalreadya
s wouldbre b
been framed
required. With edforthe erection
the system of transportation for life, Lord Stanley had
stated, that it was quite impossible that 'he could be
considered as a convict for the whole of this time,
although he might not be admitted as a fit person to re-
turn to this country. A limited period would be as-
signed for the compulsory labour of persons under such
an infliction, and the remainder of their lives would he
at their own disposal, although they would not be
allowed to return to their native land. He was very
happy to see, that in the Chamber of Peters, when this
measure was adverted to, the French Government had
tot expressed the slightest alarm, that a ny great or in-
convenient influx of convicts would tal to place upon
their shores in consequence of the discharge of these
persons, after they had undergone Owl'. terms of
confinement and penal labour in this country.
the great object will be, to restore them to their condi-
tion in society, and enable them to entee into a new way
of life. He was quite ready to admit that a large and
extensive change ought to be brought under the attention
f Parliament, but being unable to satisfy themselves
upon what particular plan they should adopt, they sb -
stained from a further intert•erence. He had said nothing
:c. : 1 ss
stohi :lee 0 f the
with regard to the new colony of North Australia, as
the subject did not bear any reference to the question
of transportation. In tact, it appeared that. it was
a place not intended for the location of convicts. He
ni)Pecl that establishments would yet be formed iu
this country to which boys of tender years
might be sent, where they would be instructed
and rendered back to society as useful members. He
considered that he had now stated the whole of the out-
line of the plan which her Majesty's Government
desired to adopt, and he conjured the house not to judge
harshly or condemn rashly. Let them consider the
ivast amount of documentary evidence which had been
brought to bear upon the question. The Government
desired to make an experiment upon the advice of Dr.
Naylor, who recommended that criminal labour should
be made publicly useful, thus inflicting a punishment
upon crime, while they conferred public advantage. In
conclusion, he would say tliAt be would be happy to
receive any advice or any assistance which Hon. Gentle-
-1 men might be willing to afford the Government in carry-
ing out their proposition.
Lord MAHON said that he would regret very mititcht
should any patty spirit interfere in the dl
question. He felt a very strong objection to
ceasing of the punishment of transpor
it i s ni
suddenn4 e
he
e
had the honour of a sent in that Hsea,„_.
pted. There
greatest changes which he bad seen
,
also felt strongly, the fact of recording
a nominal sentence of transportation, when
was another objection to the measure which he
there was no intention of carrying it out. They all re.
membered the debates NI, hich had taken place upon the
question of capital punishment, and the miserableness of
epLessiuntigons.entNenocresdidwhheicchonwseidreerntthA
thb:sueaccrersies
that the dofinthtoe
solitary system was sufficient to warrant the deductions
of the Right lion. Gentleman. lie was disposed to
tlitilt favourably of the separate system of • '.‘
mprisonment,
which varied the periods of imprisonment 1
from s'
eighteen months, however, he did nut see that it
could be stretched in the manner that had
been done by the Right Honourable Gentleman.
lie now came to the second mode of punishment, namely,
lhbeur in the hulks. Now it was voted some years ago
that the number imprisoned in the hulks was by much
too great ; yet, in defiance of that vote, the Right Hon.
Gentleman came down to the House, and desired to in-
crease it. Some of the most eminent statesmen of
France regretted the system of governing bands of cri-
minals employed upon public works. such as those at
roalon and at Brest. They praised the system of Eng-
land, which found means of providing for their criminals
abroad, and who did not, at intervals, let out bands of
desperate and unreformed criminals. Yet such was the
plan now proposed. lie did think it could not be prac-
ticable as a national system. . lie had received the opi-
nion of the Bishop of Australia, who stated that public
works should come first, and separate confinement ai ter-
wards. \Vial respect to sending the prisoners abroad
after confinement, the scheme proposed originally by the
Bight lion. Gentleman (Sir G. Gre3 ), was essentially
different from that now proposed to be adopted. It
would have been better if the Right Hon. Gentleman
had produced some other document than this letter of

think that such were the effects of the system ; all
punishment tended in some degree to impair the health of
the prisoner, but even if the solitary or separate
system did impair the health, still it should be borne in
mind that there was none of the disastrous effects upon
the morals of the prisoners, and none of those vicious
habits contracted which invariably followed punishment
upon those systems in which the prisoners were indis-
criminately mixed together. The Archbishop of Dublin
proposed a plan by which convicts would be enabled to
go to the colonies. The only colonies, however, which
they could be sent to, were those which were too weak
to refuse them, or who were willing to receive them.
He did not think, however, that New South Wales or
any other convict colony, was the proper place to
send liberated offenders as by going there, there
would be a likelihood of their falling into the
old habits—the consequence of which would be, that they
would be only emptying their own jails to fill those of
the colonies. The utmost the Legislature could do was
to open up a way for the liberated offenders. The Right
Hon. Baronet proposed to make another alteration, the
Bishop of Dublin's plan, which would have a worse
effect than making their transportation eompulsory—he
meant the separating the convicts into a distinct class
after they arrived in the colony. He maintained if the
convicts were sent abroad to these colonies the Govern
ment would have no control over them. He considered,
moreover, that the inhabitants of New South Wales
would not withhold consent to this compulsory transpor-
tation, and the petition presented from them recently
gave ample evidence of this feeling. He thanked the
House for the attention with vihkh they had heard him,
and though he concurred generally in the scheme he
hoped the Government would reconsider those parts of it
to which he had objected.
Mr. BANKES could not assent to the further pro-
gress of these two Bills. He considered it inexpedient
and unconstitutional that the Royal prerogative should
be exercised as far as this modification of the law rela-
tive to transportation, unless in the usual direct manner.
He considered that the speech of the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman, though exceedingly luminous, had but little to do
with the subject on which he professed to treat. The one
Bill provided simply for the removal of Irish criminals into
this country, and the other to give new powers to the
commissioners of Pentonville, Parkhurst, and Millbank
Prisons ; but it appeared to him, that it would mate-
rially alter the government of the prisons throughout
whole country, and the high prerogative vested in
the Home Seeretary, would be transferred to a com-
mission, when the magistracy, he humbly believed, had
not abused the trust placed in them, and were quite
capable of managing the prisons in their respective lo-
calities There were to be seven new commissioners ;
some of the present offices would be abolished and
remodelled ; but, in truth, the patronage of the
Government wonld be increased by them, and
this they were heartily prepared to meet with from
those who, in opposition, were rather prone to cut down
and abolish offices.—(Hear, hear.) It seemed to him,
therefore, that the Hon. Gentleman the Member for
Montrose had not been vigilant on this occasion, and
allowed his friends on the opposite benches to induce
him to give them his support, much aeainst his avowed
principles of economy. It was true the Commissioners
were liable to be removed by the Lords of the Treasury.
The Government was empowered to "turn them all off."
—(Laughter.) And surely this was patronage.—(Laugh-
ter.) If the Chief Commissioner, as it seemed, was to
usurp the power of the Secretary of State—for he was to
have the power of appointing the different officers of the
prisons, he considered the ,salary of 800 k too small for
the discharge of such important duties. If the object
sought to be attained by the Bill was not a greater de
gree of supervision over the convicts, he should like to
know what other possible object could be attained ?
The Right Hon. Baronet in his speech addressed him-
self partly to this point, that the present system had
proved a failure.—(Hear. hear.) He thought that in
endeavouring to amend that system, the Go-
vernment were trying a rash experiment. He
could not but consider that if the Government had
made up their minds to change the present syst, m, they
should do it by a Bill more specific in its nature, than
the present, they should remember that it was adverse
to the highest opinions in the land. The House of Com-
mons should not be called upon to pass doubtful Acts of
Parliament. Under these impressions, though perfectly
impressed with the defective state of the present
system of transportation, and thinking that the present
session should not close without an amendment of them,
yet he considered that it was their duty to oppose at an
early stage the proposition of the Government.—(Hear.)
Mr. EWART moved the adjournment of the debate.
Mr. HOPE desired to know what would be the con-
dition of the convicts on their arrival to the colony ?
Sir GEORGE GREY—They will be in the same
position as if they had obtained tickets of leave.
The motion for the adjournment was then agreed to.
BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The House went into Committee upon this Bill.
The Bill went through Committee.
HIGHWAY RATES BILL.
On the motion for the order of the day for the second
reading of this Bill,
Sir W. JOLIFFE said that with the Turnpike Act-,
which were annually renewed, they found great evils
perpetually recurring. The functionaries employed
under the Turnpike Acts were unable, from want
of funds, to prosecute defaulters. He did think
that a mass of evil existed under the present
system, which was a disgrace to the Legislature
and the executive, and he thought that the subject ought
to be taken into consideration by the Government, with
a view to its amendment.
After a few words from Sir G. GREY,
The Bill was read a second time in order to be com-
mitted this day.
The following Bill: were then read a second time:—
Stage Carriages, &e., Duties Bill.
Soap Allowances Bill.
TRUST MONEY INVESTMENT (IRELAND)
BILL.
This Bill went through Committee.
PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND.
Mr. HUME moved for copy of an Address from the
House of Assembly of Prince Edward's Island to her
Majesty, praying for a responsible Government in that
colony. Copies of all applications and correspondence
between the colonies and the British Government
respecting the establishment of free ports in the colonies
since 1840.- Agreed to.
LIGHTHOUSES (BARBADOES).
Mr. HUME moved for copies of the official corres-
pondence relative to the erecting a lighthouse at Bar-
badoes, alluded to in the Governor's speech in 1845 ,
of the dispatch of the Colonial Secretary to the
Governor of Barbadoes, stating the readiness of
her Majesty's Government to contribute half the
expense of such erection. Of any documents
in the Colonial-office, which explain the refusal of the
Council at Barbadoes to appropriate the money depo-
sited in the Colonial Bank for their express purpose.
Agreed to.
The House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock.

the 20th of January. Mr. Clay produced an instance of
a man who asserted that he would not be redeemed from
his career of vice if he were sent back to his old as-
sociates, and that he conceived to be a strong proof
in support of the view which he was now advocating.
Lord Denman and other high judici , authorities who
were supposed to be competent to juu...e on this ques-
tion, were opposed to the principle of this measure.
The Committee of the House of Lords had not yet, he
could understand, concluded their labours, but he
thought sufficient information had been already ob-
tained to enable the House to judge of this question.
He did not deny that evils existed under the system of
transportation, but he denied that it was shown that
these evils were inseparable from the system, or
that under a better administration it might be made
useful to the community and beneficial to the convict
himself. Sir James Mackintosh was in favour of this
system. But it might be said that he did not possess
sufficient acquaintance with the subject to constitute
him a sufficient judge; but Sir James Franlein, whose
competency to judge on this question, could not be
denied, had expressed himself favourable to the prin
ciples of transportation, though he did not bind himself
to any specific plan ; and in one of his dispatches
he stated that ha considered transportation essen
till to the welfare of society. The Reverend
Mr. Fry had put forward a similar opinion.
As regarded the inferior appointments of the colony, a
great mischief had been committed by under-paying those
who held them. He complaiaed, too, that there had been
a discrimination of the differing circumstances of diffe-
rent colonies. But the circumstances of the penal
colonies must be taken to explain the origin of those
complaints, which bad arisen concerning the governor
of the colony. It ought to be remembered that it was
determined all at once to discontinue banishment to New
South Wales, and the whole tide was necessarily poured
in upon Van Diemen's Land. And, again, the system
thereof had not been administered in accordance
with the spirit. Why, it was found out that
the officers, to save themselves more trouble, for the night
used to lock up the prisoners from six o'clock in the
evening till eight o'clock next morning. This was
against their instructions. How then could they expect
the system so worked to work well ? That item being
remedied, he thought they must further ensure an effi-
cient service of the inferior officer by better payment.
From long consideration and experience,
_he had come to
the result, that such a system of penal settlement in
the colonies might be established with the advantage
which was contemplated in the first establishment of
these settlements. He concurred that Lord Grey had
acted blameably in abandoning the settlement in
South Australia. He acted on a sudden ; on a
sudden he recalled the Governor and ordered the settle
meat to be abandoned. He was to blame also for stating
that transportation would in no future time be resumed.
That was a question which he ought to have left open,
stating no more than that an intermission of a period of
years would occur. The Legislature of Van Diemen's
Land had exacted a pledge that transportation would
not be again resumed, and they had bound the home
Government by conditions. That was not the relative
'position which the colonies and the mother country
ought to occupy. The colony of New South Wales was
established especially for a penal settlement—(Hear,
hear)—and he thought, so long as proper care was taken
that a sufficient admixture should be gained of the popu-
lation, it ought to have been continued as such. On
those two points, Lord Grey was to blame, and he (Lord
Mahon) felt strongly that the change was improper, and
he must protest against it.
Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTII could not agree to
the conclusions which the Noble Lord had come to.
This question had two aspects. One was, whether the
system of transportation was necessary or desirable ;
and if not, what would they substitute in its place ?
They had to consider if the present system should be con-
tinued; and if they decided in the negative, what they
would offer in its stead. In answer to the Noble
Lord he was prepared to prove that in every form trans-
portation was a bad system of punishment, and that
alteration of it—no improvement that could be made,
would render the system effective. In doing so, he
would have somewhat to trespass on their time, but he
claimed their indulgence in doing so. On a former oc-
casion, some few years ago, he was a chairman of a
Committee which investigated this subject, composed
of several of the leading Members of the House ; and
the report of that Committee, unanimously agreed to,
recommended the abolition of the assignment system.
The investigations they made into the whole question,
led the Committee to the determination they had conic
to regarding the assignment of convicts. (The Hon.
Btu-omit here read an extract from the report in
iTltteestiecri, setting forth the grounds on which the Coni-
had come to their decision. Such were the views
wby the which had been taken Transportation Committee,
which the Noble Lord Mahon) would fain revive.
Last year Mr. Gladstone, the Colonial Secretary, took
occasion to ask the opinion of the Governor of the colony
of New South Wales whether they were desiroUsitO
have a renewal of transportation. The matter was re-
ferred to the Legislative Council for their consideration,
and he referred the Noble Lord, and those who thought
with him, to the report which the Select Committee, to
which the matter was entrusted, made on the question.
That report was, that on no grounds could they give their
assent to a renewal of transportation. They declared
that no conceivable modification of the system ought to be
main introduced into New South Wales. (The lion.
M read an extract from the report, to the .
'stated, setting forth, in detail, the reasons the effect Commit
tee had come to the conclusions why no renewal of the
system of transportation was advisable.) The Committee
said that these persons were not to be assigned to places
that were crowded, but that they should be dispersed all
over the country, not in gangs, but separately, and
thus it was expected that they would be able to gt.t
rid of hundreds and thousands of persons. Now they-
should be armed in order to defend their huts and flocks,
and what would be the result ? Why, they would be
an armed banditti prowling about the country, and no

man or woman would be safe from the most violent out-
rages.—(Hear, hear.) They would thus secure a perpe-
tual wilderness where they desired to colonize. He re-
gretted that the Noble Lord did not go one Step :fur-
.ther than he had done, and had shown in a
statement to the House the evils of the system. The
Noble Lord, however, had taken steps in the right
direction, but unfortunately Lord Stanley succeeded to
office, who completely undid the good already
effected. Lord Stanley greatly increased the number
of depots for transportation. Now the probation
system was intended to improve the drove and
chain gangs. Now, he desired the attention of
the House to this part of his statement, as he
intended to prove the utter failure of all attempts to
improve the system. The probation system was this—
in the first instance, the convict was transported to Nor-
folk Island, and after a year's good conduct, he was en-
titled to be sent to a private person and receive pay-
ment for his labour. For the second year's good
conduct, 'he was entitled to a ticket of leave.
How did the system work? that it should do so well,
two thin zs were requisite proper inspection, and power
to entbre 'la obedience. Lord Stanley frequently com-
plained o f the utter want of information which existed
upon the subject, and, after three years, he declared that
it was im possible to obtain any that was satisfactory.
This was rather an evident proof that the in-
spection wits by no means efficient, otherwise the
desired information could easily have been obtained.
When Sir. Gladstone succeeded to office he desired
information from the governor of Van Diemen's
Land, and in accord„-.1-2,e with that wish several
reports were ;submitted to the Government, all of which
plainly proved the position which he (Sir William
Molesworth) endeavoured to demonstrate.—(Hear.)
He would not trouble the House with any further au-
thorities on this part of the subject. He predicted the
failure of the system at the time it was brought forward,
but his warning was disregarded, and the consequences
had been most distressing. With regard to Norfolk
Island, the systems of punishment pursued !here were of
three descriptions, namely, cruel, indulgent, arid relaxed.
Only the two latter, however, had been attended with
any success, and, of late, he understood the Governor of
Kew South Wales had been instructed to adopt a :system
of extreme indulgence. From the best evidences he
could collect, it was clear that the extreme indtrigeca
system was the best ; it produced bete •r order am angst
the convicts, made them more moral and ration al in
their conduct, and induced them to feel more deeply the
degrading nature of their situations.—(Hear, he ar.)
The extreme indulgent system had been successfullii
tested under Captain Maconochie, who reported that .t.l:Le
punishment of transportation, where that system lira s
adopted, always produced the best results upon th e
moral character of the convict, while wh ore
the cruel system was resorted to, the cons det
became hardened and brutal, instead of awake', d
to a sense of his degradation. Major Child gave simi' La r
`testimony ; and in his reports upon the operation of t e
different systems under his supervision, he related a
number of anecdotes, strongly contrasting the benefic is I
effects resulting from the extreme indulge n t
system with the cruelties and atrocities whi el I
were always attendent upon the cruel syste .
At the expiration of those two years the governor c f
Van Diemen's Land thought proper to inquire into t. 7) a
condition of the convict population, but no informatics
ht:Atlia)een given to him during that period with reference
working of the measure ; and it was not until et
the ea nClof that period Lord Stanley awoke as from e
trance and wonde d how his new system worked. Hi
charged him, therefore,re
quences of that nesi with neglect, with the conses
ofeettii.with the hideous, horrible, and
disgusting state
cause he had not ings which now existed, be,
proper officers to sus
perintend the convicts, and
areequire them to mak
regular reports to him.
Aiderrvould refer to the
opinion of Mr. Baron
raion;sl Leawo
erim. given in tho
appendix to the report of the
CstosmeriroiusTs
limners. That opinion was deservingHoletemthber4r
the evidencethen
attention of the House. (The
ceeded to read various extracts from pro-
which he attributed the failure of the
this.
Lordship, in
sysb-,-La of transportation to the want of proper discipline
prior to the convicts bring sent out of the country.) He
thought that the only proper and efficient mode or
checking crime wa.- by granting a general and.
wido-spread system of efficient education for the:
youth of the lower orders cf the people, and separating-
them from their parents. But the question before the
House was, which was the best substitute for the present
mode of punishment. He thought the solitary system
was the best that had been devised for a threefold ob-
ject—that of preventing crime, preventing the demorali-
zation of the persons by associations with others of a
worse character, and it also tended to improve
the moral condition of the prisoner, by affording ample
time for reflection and improvement. Punishment could
not be looked at in a pecuniary point of view ,
because a good system of punishment, even though i t
might require a larger outlay than a bad system. stil 1
the benefits to be derived from the good system to th e
public at large, were such as infinitely to counterbalanc,
the consideration of the expense. It had been said that
the solitary system was one likely to affect the healths,
sad impair the intellects of the prisoners. He did not

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING,

RAIL, VA commiTTEES.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)

GROUP 111.

The Committee met this morning at twelve; Mr. Vernon
in the chair.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS.
JUNE I.—Sir John Rennie, President, in the chair.
'rile paper read was an account of the iron barque
Josephine, of Liverpool, by Captain Masters, who
commanded her in the voyages she has made.
'file subject of iron vessels is one of great
importance, and the use of that material in naval
architeettire has been steadily progr. ssing since it
was introduced for seagoing vessels by Mr. Manby
in the steamer named after him, in 1821, and which was
the only vessel that ever conveyed a cargo direct betwein
London and Paris without trans-shipment. Sangaene
hopes had been entertained of introducing iron vessels
of war, but it appears from the partial accounts that
have been made public of the results of the experiments
at Woolwich and elsewhere, that the effects of cannon
shot on iron vessels is more destructive than upon
tisaber.
The paper read was a plain and somewhat dry specifi-
cation of the construction of the vessel, which will
however, when printed in extenso in the minutes of pro-
ceedings, be extremely useful. The main dimensions of
the barque Josephine are :—Length over all, 99 feet 6
inches ; extreme breadth, 24 feet 6 inches ; depth of
hold, 9 feet 9 inches. Register tonnage, 168 tons ;
by old measurement, 221 tons. She was of a pe-
culiar build, differing from almost any other mer-
chant ship, being intended for service in the Mexican
trade, and calculated to cross the bar of Tampico, add
other impediments. She was entirely of iron, even to
the bulwarks; and as she lay low in the water, draw-
ing 9 feet aft, and eight feet 8 inches forward, her
ports were hung on hinges forward, so that they
should act as valves, and allow the water to escape
from the deck, and yet shut of themselves when she
heeled over deep on her side. Her general rate
of sailing was from 1 to 12 knots per hour ;
she was very buoyant and very dry ; rising well
to the sea. There was great capacity for stowing the
cargo, owing to the absence of large projecting timbers.
She was somewhat damp forward and aft, but was very
dry in the main hold. There was not found to be any
difference in the health of the crew from that of wooden
vessels ; she was a little cooler than other ships, owing
to her being so deep in the water, and the thin material
did not retain the heat like wood.
Thesi
tilrono n s
Josephineashills
ex phear
was,vi
me e e
hn
oel%r a.
el
vl ye
rbeen
df o
wu d
th t
vo a gr
ot uvs e re yo
mf oulpo
zits, that which succeeded best was 1
barrel of varnish, 21 cwts. of best tallow, 40 lbs. black
lead, 7 lbs. brimstone, 70 lbs. arsenic. This being ap-
plied hot, the iron having been previously warmed and
paid with boiled linseed oil, appeared to have prevented
foulness, as after her voyages there was little weed or
grass, and scarcely any barnacle; but very slight oxida-
tion took place, and that only where the composition had
been rubbed off.
They were as much annoyed by rats as in a timber
ship, nor could they be destroyed by any of the means
adopted.
'lnc principal feature of the paper was that which
treated of the local attraction of the compasses, which
can scarcely be in an abridged form. It appealed
that as long as the ship was on an even keel and
perfectly upright, the compasses acted correctly, but
in proportion to the listing over so was the derange
ment of the magnet, for the local attraction being
changed by the side frames and el,ck beams falling irit(,
new positions, this caused great variati,n in the ship':
course, and it led to a conjecture Whether this may net
have been the cause of the loss of the Great Britain, tre
if her compasses were acted upon as much as th se of the
Josephine, a deviation of six mil's and a half from her
course might easily have occurred.
Captain Masters suggest, d the hanging the binnacles
complete in gimbles like the compass, in order to teei:
always remaining verticsl, and also in adjusting the
eempiteses that they should to tri- d in every position,
a table of variation being male our. for every deem-, ot
listing over. Th-: paper was illustrated by drawings ot
the vessel and of her rigt,ing, which pt sieNsed euli-
aritics, end also by several tables for the corrections 01
the compasses.
Cie paper annoucced to be read at the next meeting
was " Oe the Expansion of Steam," by J. M. Heppe;
Grad. Inst. C.E.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH CO 6.ST
(LONDON BRIDGE STATION ENLARGE-
MENT AND ARRANGEMENTS).

Mr. Hill, Q.C., opened the case on behalf of this Bill,
which is one of several schemes before the Committee for the
enlargement of the London-bridge station. In the course of
his observations the Learned Gentleman intimated that an
arrangement had been made with the rival company for a
joint Bill fur the enlargements proposed. They were opposed
by the directors of St. Thomas's Hospital and the authorities
of the parish of Bermondsey.
After an explanation of the nature of the enlargements,
and the necessity for them, the examination of witnesses was
proceeded with.
The Committee was engaged up till four o'clock in hearing
evidence in support of the alterations and extensions of the
station, in order to accommodate the great and increasing
traffic of the company.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve.

At the monthly ballot the following gertlemen were
elected :—Messrs. J. B. Clacy, J. Phillips, W. Slyce, and
Captain J. L. A. Simmons, associate.