The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-21 00:00:00

NAMUR AND LIEGE RAILWAY

The second annual meeting of the proprietors in this rail-
way took place yesterday, at 12 o'clock, in the London Ta-
vern, Biahopsgate-street. The chair was taken by Andrew
Spottiswoode, Esq., President of the company. The Secretary
having read the advertisement convening the meeting, the
report was read, which was a very lengthy document, and
related principally to descriptions of the works and cuttings
carried on on the main line and its branches. It was
stated, that between the bridge over the Meuse at Hemalle
and the Pont du Val Benoit, on the right
bank of the river, the greater part of the land
has been acquired, and that the works were proceeding
rapidly. A similar statement was also made respecting the
line between Namur and Hey, which comprises a distance of
' eighteen miles and a quarter. The construction of the bridge
over the Meuse at Hemalle is also actively progressing. This
bridge will consist of five segmental arches, 82 feet in span,
with a versed line of 10 feet. The directors had not been
able to hopen any part of the line as yet, but they hoped
soon to be enabled to do so. _ _ _

A discussion arose as to the forfeiture of the Line,
in consequence of the works being incompi eted ; but the
directors assured the company no such advantage would be
taken of them, for, in the first place, the deliy in the com
pletion of the works was occasioned by the Government them:
selves ; and, in the second, it was too much the interest of the
Belgian Government that the line should be made. It
was also stated that the directors were willing to pay
five per cent. on the remainder of the capital
to be paid up. The resolutions adopting the reporr
were unanimously adopted, and a vote of thanks havink,
been passed to the Chairman the meeting separated.

.1:
with
hc hoiotktioes
e-------------
DEATHBLOW TO THE LOCOMOTIVE.—We had the
the,,prnha,atitoenvailopy;iloosfoaphnerw, invention
privilegeb
v i‘i r
William,Nes t yesterday
Martin,darof a
.11M"alritnibnbdliespHenusdessol'wn.
hand labour. Two or three
and
ed his"supersede.steam,ow na
lO fea ol expressivefalls
locomotive.' ma phrase,coktruv peo. 'n' I V'IT ri
men, turning a crank, wit! move a train at the speed (as the
Americans would say) of ' greased lightning." We congra-
tulate Mr. Martin on his great mechanical achievement. Its
simplicity is remarkable.—Gateshead Observer.
BO'NESS.--MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday
morning, a little before ten o'clock, an engine stalk, which
has lately been erected by John W ilson, Esq., near the School-
yard Pits, Bo'ness, fell with a tremendous crash in the di-
rection of the School-brae ; destroying one house of four
storeys in height, and another of one storey. The inhabi-
tants of the buildings were buried in the ruinusi,efrroomadwohvicehr
one female was taken out dead, and several others severely
injured, but who are since progressing favourably. It is re-
markable that more lives were not lost, as
which the stalk fell is the one leading to the parish school,
arid the accident happened at the very hear of the assembling
of the school. Some
suctsoncmiacpsa,etsfiroot
nomo
hkzpir I. abceee.n
Parker,Tr he
ceoeneievr erec-
tion Lion was upwards of 100 feet in height.—lnverness Journal.
ttiltshieeccrCeotaAmirimEesAisLstio.o—ntehAres Lords Commissioners of her Nlaj •ty'
Treasury, stating that he has been directed by their Lord-
ships'- to transmit to them a copy of a memorial from an emi-
nent firm, praying the admission of rice meal duty free; and
that he was to desire that the Commissioners would give
directions for the admission of rice meal duty free until the
Ist of September next.

ELOPEMENT IN HIGH LIFE IN PARlS.—Certain
unfortunate disclosures were lately made upon the trial
for settlements in the affair of Madame Charles Lafitte,
the banker's wife, who, acting as the French choose to
call it, a h Anglaise, has deserted her husband and
family, and thrown herself into the arms of her lover, to
the horror and scandal of French society, where such an
event as this never occurs, and where outward decorum
at least is preserved evf-n when disorder and disoltrion
of iage tie 131," bnlg creut in. The fair lady if;
question has caused some little rumour in her day, '46
she wag one of the most fashionable of 14,11 the fantastic
lionnes of Paris. Her maiden name was Coniugham, and
although no longer young, she is still in the possession
of great beauty.

IMPERIAL PAIttLIAMENT
HOUSE OF LORDS, May 20.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
SUNDAY TRAINS ON RAILWAYS.
The Bishop of HEREFORD presented several peti-
tions against the running of trains upon Sundays.
Ordered to lie on the table.
NORTH KENT AND MID KENT LINE.
On the motion that the Liskeard and Caradon
Rail-
way Bill be read a second time, as also the South..
EaAern Railway (North Kent Line) Bill, the South..
Eastern Railway (Stroud to Maidstone) Bill, and the
South-Eastern Railway (Mid-Kent and Direct Tan"
bridge) Bill,
The Duke of WELLINGTON said, that these
Bills sought to give fresh powers to the South-
Eastern Company. He was anxious that all these
railways should be rendered as useful as P°
sible, and that every measure should be adopte!
which could ive the Uovernent a knowledge of who'
was being tra give the Uovernment a knowled
was being transacted. It wasm obvious that it would bee_
very great object to the county of Kent and the town of_r
Dover to bring them into such a close approzie!atlL
with the metropolis. He would moveithat the Dills ea
referred to the Railway Commissioners. lad
Lord BROUGHAM said that he was extremely g
that his Noble Friend bad taken this subject int° 1113
", hands. It well became his Noble Friend, because it h
been his constantrecommendation to Parliament that
3 more care should be takenrecommen of these railway achenles.
railway schemes, and he would propose tla,_
more attention and care should be bestowed
• He (Lord Brougham) was always of opinion that reuecsels
should be referred to a Select Committee.
The Earl of RADNOR, said that it appeared veP:
Bills were the very parties that got up
strange that those gentlemen who now opposed the
these Bills. No less than a million had been expanded
upon the line to Folkstone. 004
Lord BROUGHAM said he wished to be underet
as not referring to any petitions on thethmea
that the
Earl FITZWILLIAM said, that tea or twelve yet:
ago he had suggested that Government should 11,17_
powers to exercise a certain degree of control over
11
Ottpepr.ositioudet!.
ways, in fact that the whole subject should be UlLt
into the hands of Government, and be was of
We'
opinion still. had
The Duke of WELLINGTON . said that
,be rd
thought it necessary to call the attention of theil',T,
ships to this question. He entirely concurred wit, of
Noble Friend (Earl Fitzwilliam), that the subP7
rails ays should be under the control of GoverntoeilL,st
Lord REDESDALE said that he thought it of irii;ite
importance that the present Bills 'should be iliuese
before the Hou,e. It would be impossible to peo
Bills before next session, as the matter stood at Lai
sent, and ye: the re were no Bills of greater by.,,P49l4„ffhe
on the railway question, and, if possible, the Bul
to be got through this session. Sele6
The Lillis were then ordered to be referred toe
Committee.

FACTORIES BILL. n
The Esrl of CL ARENDON presented a petition feela
Halifax against the Factories Bill.
REPORTS. second
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid the citbe
report from the Relief Commissioners in Irelan
report 01 the Commissioners on Lunatic AB9l am hips
Laid) fur 1846, and other reports, on their Lo 3
table.
The NOBLE MARQUIS also moved, that the ffollie'llt
its rising, do adjourn till Friday week.—Agzeed to.
CLERGY OFFENCES BILL. f the
Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading
Clergy Offences Bill.
The Bishop of LONDON, who was but indieti,pcstilingl
heard in the gallery, said that alteration in the eIEL„,,..
law was allowed on all hands to be absolutely necesanfo
Ile himself submitted a Bill last session to person:o7e
were well acquainted with the state of the law. sone
siastical and common which was intended to effen'rel
of these alterations. The Bill of this year refer ns of
those cases of offences in the doctrines and oPinl°heee
the clergy to the usual,, the ancient court,
~Ae.
those sat on the bench who were acquainted with Lb: 70n
asilatesrtiactailonantdn the
the
tcroimalmor a lcalwer.gytanproposed like
bilshop.
dant/
Hitherto that had been conducted withobuetithreeintbaterveo“d
of a jury. Now, however, there was a constitrcanoo
organized body in the Church, the canons,
residentary, including the archdeacons; and in who
should be no canons residentiary, the rural dear4,used
should be a jury, with ower to the
we
the next
of challenging; two of the jury. and iikefsvis by the
two that should be appointed in room 0- these.
st the
hop. The Bill, likewise, Provided again,
head
suspension of accusations over a clergymaa .„‘
for a length of time,--it provided that__nuswt
person should have power to prefer a charge lig"'
he
a clergyman after five years subsequent to t
alleged occurrence, except the bishop. He had
nesse there
stated to their ordships his views with regard
to this Bill. It was not so arbitrary as the measure
under which the clergy now laid, for, under the old JaW
they might be brought to the bar of the court without any
assistance from either their brethren or counsel. The,
might be now brought before the court assisted by:their
brethren, who would naturally be inclined to protect thee 4
and by experienced lawyers. He would attend as far as
was consistent with the main principle of the Bill to poi
suggestion ot no .r
constitutionoT fher e
justice,w ae
eoifth teeither
the
(I)3i lcontrary
clergy,
o for rt t
oo its
the
hhaeel tes
principlespr ai
rtii nothingcrurctbhe
ecclesiastical. He only desired to give to the clerg,
that protection which the law as it now stood did new
give.
Lord BROUGHAM (who was nearly inaudible) wee
not prepared to deny that some such measure as
.yvt".
one proposed by the Right Rev. Prelate was nee:99,7s
Cases of the most scandalous description ba° come
before him in the Court of Queen's Beech this
would have come completely under the operation 0 ,e of
law. He was, however, far from saying that the wh?"-,,,,i
this measure ought to be carried into effect,and hewstri
civil or
shortly to state two objectionable points to which b ar:
to direct the attention of their Lordship. The deputies
might be chosen by the Crown, and indeed therefirert
nothing to limit the choice of them ; but, ia the tang,
place, such a court was not a regular, meet e°slsas
or permanent court, and it could only mee
distinct court every time any offence was comnilor",
There were some provisions to which he could not gin:
his adhesion. He would be anxious that the Bill sholiteela
go into Committee, and they would then be able to
what beneficial alterations they could make., fle. eer.
tainly was, however, of opinion that the clause giving
right of challenge was also defective.
astical court was originally constituted, it was. i i
ppeal n
tended to be strictly and purely a court of a,
Ihe Bishop of EXE I'ER said that when the
eceles:
ni
ecclesiastical matters. It was not a ;Batter 0f
blame to those that sat in the other law courts that
they should be incompetent to adjudicate upon
eccestical matters when they had not received the
necessary education upon ecclesiastical subjects. e
Act of H. my the Eighth, giving power t°
the law courts to deal with ecclesiastical quer
dons, was oppo-ed to the spirit of the Constitution.
He rejoiced in the hope of his Noble and Learned
Friend applying. his strong and powerful mind t°
amending the Bill. But he thought that to leave the
d.ctrines of the Church of England to the decision of •
single. mind was injudicious and impracticable, and rat
of the Church of England were
ofopinion that a court cf divines should be appoint
to
try , and decide will“
the doctrinescases of this sortele Th
rsr
e
Any
measure to be passed ought to be an effective mea-
sur
They were tried by the Archbishop, The Bishops were under a strict law of disciPliae•
wit • h six Bieb°ol
as assessors.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he could not feel
very confident of the result of the measure which bad
just been brought in. A treasure which bad bel
orought in by himself, with the consent °
on the
one of the Right Reverend Prelates
front bench (London), but it was thrown out because
of the opposition of the Right Rev. Prelate %Al° had
spoken last. It seemed, however, that all parties now
,agreed, and that Right Rev. Prelate with them, Ls° cc'!"
in-
plain of those bad effects which that measure was
tended to remedy. Not only would the existence of
court of appeal operate beneficially upon individuals, I
it would exercise a wholesome effect upon those who au__
minister justice. Those who know the matter wesroo
.veil acquainted with the fact that no court could be
efficiently constituted as not to make the judges of the
'same perform their duties better by the knowledge) that
they were under the jurisdiction of another court.
The conclusion of the Lord Chancellor's speeoh was
quite inaudible in the gallery.
The Bishop of LONDON said he was prepared to
adopt any system that would work beneficially.
After a few words in explanation from Lord

BROUGHAM,
Lord CAMPBELL replied. He said there was al-
ways a degree of suspicion about the fairness in clerical,
trials, and the common law judges and doctors of ciru
law. The Bill before the House left it very much in the
same state as it was.
The Bishop of OXFORD said there was great
necessity of interposing by a stringent law not to
convict the innocent but to protect the inno-
cent by convicting those who were really guilty.
—(Hear.) Clergymen felt often a great raper
lay upon them, if there was an impure
could
their body, whom no law and no conviction
could reach..
He wished, especially, to press this upon the attentao
of the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack, fine
his colleagues.
After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM,
The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be

committed this day fortnight,
r Earl FITZ WILLIAM then moved for an ace°6llt
from each rateable district (whether union, electoral
.division, or otherwise) of the rates struck, levied, end
in arrear, under the provisions of the Act for the teal'
porary relief of destitute persons in Ireland
accounts of the number of persons, distinguishing mach
and females, adults, and children, to be relieved in
aid
such district, according to those provisions of the sar
Act by which lists of such persons are to be ullute
within each electoral division ; also return of the eel:
mates (made by the relief committees of each electors'
division) of the sums needed from time to time for the
purchase, &c., of food, under the provisions of clause 7
of said Act ; and also a statement of the rate per ee.ut•
of the rates, whether struck or levied, upon the valuatton
of the district according to the poor-law valuation.
; also
After a few words from Lord MOUNTCASEIEL,
E•irl GREY said be had no objection to the returng•
The motion was then agreed to.
ARMY SERVICE BILL.
On the bringing up of the report of the ATM' Service
Bill,
Lord AUCKLAND proposed elvcral amendiron.ts.
One of thrsc %v.'', a clause enabling Cie ofa ;ors p inflict
ch were
summary punishment for several offences whi
specified.
Lord COLCHESTER did not rise to Woo t4e
clause. He thought the clause a great ireproreinetit 011,