The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-10 00:00:00

M. J. O'CONNELL also presented a petition to the same
effect.
On the order of the day being read for the second reading
of the Ten Hours' Bill,
Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition, signed by upwards
of 5,000 persons, from Leigh, praying the House to pass the
measure introduced by the Hon. Member for Oldham, for
limiting the hours of labour in factories to ten hours.
Mr. FIELDEN Presented a number of petitions in favour
of the Bill, from Oldham, Macclesfield, and other places,
which he stated were both respectably and numerously
signed.
Mr. DUNCOMBE presented petitions from places in Scot-
land, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Leicester, to the same
effect.

Mr. C. IHNDLEY presented similar petitions from
Ashton-under-Lune, Staleybridge, Chorley, and Medlock,
signed by 2.5,000 persons.
Mr. FIELDEN then moved the second reading of the
Bill.
Mr. HUME said he had expected that some one connected
with the Government would have risen to state the views
of the Government on the question—(lleac, hear)—because
he could not conceive anything more unsatisfactory than
there meeting there in doubt as to the intentions of the
Government with regard to it.—(Hear, hear.) He said they
were left in doubt, and more than doubt, because the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government, on a
former occasion differed with his colleagues on the question,
and whilst one person went out at one door, the other went
out with the Noble Lord at the other. The least those in-
terested could have expected was that Noble Lord's attend-
ance in his place according to his promise—(Cries of
"Hear, hear")—because he stated when the proper
time came, that he should be plepared to tats
his views on the subject. Such a statement by the Noble
Lord would have regulated the course of those who opposed
the Bill, for there were many gentlemen in that House
who were extremely doubtful as to the course which
the Government intended to pursue with respect to
the measure. Some had formed tery decided opinions,
and he (Mr. Hume) had no hesitation in saying
that any interference with the employer and the employed
would prove detrimental to the interests of both. Many
lion. Gentlemen were in the habit of casting aspersions on
those who acted in accordance with the principles of poli-
tical economy, forgetting, no doubt, that those principles
regulated the welfare ot the community; and, therefore, be
said that any interference with the arrangements made be-
twPen the employer and the employed, with regard to the
prices of work and wages, except for their protection, was
opposed to the spirit ot political economy altogether. His
Hon. Friend (Dr. Bowring) was now in favour of a Tett
Hours Bill, although he formerly entertained an opposite
opinion.
Dr. BOWRING—No, no. Eleven hours.
Mr. HUME considered that a man who was in favour of
eleven hours, could not be in favour of ten.—( Hear, hear, and
laughter.) Hon. Gentlemen now treated the question as a
party one.—(Cries of "No, no.")
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Miss Anne Romer made a most successful debut here last
evening, in the character of Adelgisa, in Belliui's opera of
Norma. Our musical readers, no doubt, recollect this young
lady at the concerts of the Royal Academy of .blusic, where
her singing attracted great attention. Her voice is a pure
soprano, wonderfully flexible, and of exquisitely sweet quilt)!
Her recitative is clear, distinct, and emphatic, and her style,
both of singing and acting, is finished. She has handsome,
expressive features, and her general appearance is very pre-
possessing. Miss Bassano was the Norma, and her per-
formance of that arduous character is. such as to
confirm the favourable opinion we expressed of her
abilities, vocal and histrionic, on the occasion of her debut
some short time since, in the character of Anna Bolena.
Allen was the Polio, and, together with Miss Romer and
Miss Bassano, was called for at the conclusion of each act of
the opera and received with enthusiastic applause. The
debut of Miss Anne Romer was one of the most successful
that we have seen for some time, and that she will soon
achieve for herself a position worthy the name she bears
here cannot be the least doubt.

The King of Sweden has appointed a commission
of inquiry on the best means for reducing the rates of postage,
and of multiplying the mails not only within Sweden and
Norway, but also between the two countries and the rest of
Europe.
CHARGE OF MURDER AT RUNCORN.—On Saturday
last a considerable sensation was caused in Runcorn by the
fact of a man named Richard Edwards, a carpenter by trade,
having killed his wife. It appeared that Edwards, who is a
man given to drink, had been fuddling all that day, instead
of being at his work, and his wife, Betty Edwards; who is
described as having been a quiet, peaceable woman, had sent
one of her children to receive what wages were due to him.
About four o'clock in the afternoon Edwards came home, and
wanted to get some money; but his wife declined to give
him any, as all that she had received was due to the pro-
vision shop. Edwards immediately began to abuse and beat
her, in the presence of her children ; he took her by the hair
of her head and attempted to throw her out of doors, and
then he struck her several times about the head arid neck,
knocked her down, and kicked her most severely. His eldest
son, who is an apprentice, interfered on behalf of his mother,
but was obliged to desist in consequence of the threats of his
father; but he ran out to fetch the neighbours in, who found
her on the floor quite dead, so that site had literally been
beaten to death. Edwards took the matter quite coolly, and
when his son was desired to send for a doctor, he threatened
that if he went he would kill him. Again, when be was
told his wife was dead, he made use of the brutal language,
"Let her die, and to h-1 with her." Edwards was immedi-
ately taken into custody. On Tuesday last an
inquest on
the body was held at the Royal Hotel, Runcorn, before Mr._
Henry Churton, coroner, when the jury returned a verdict of
" Wilful Murder against Richard Edwards," who was accord-
ingly committed to Chester Castle on the coroner's warrant,
to take his trial at the next Chester assiaes.—Chester
Chronicle.
OaDzwilcs ESTIMATES.—The estimates of effective
and non-effective ordnance services for the year 1847-48
have just been issued by order of the House of Commons.
It appears there from that, according to the gross estimate,
a total, of 2,862,4841. will be required for that year, whereas
the sum granted for 1846.47 was 2,717,934/. There will be
sppropriations in aid to the extent of 188,3574 (they having
()cell 174,365/. for 1846-47) ; and, consequently, the real
total amount required to be voted for the Ordnance services for the ensuing financial year will be 2,679,127/. (having
been 2,543,569/. for the year 1846-47). The total ire
crease, therefore, to be demanded for the ensuing twelve-
month will be 135,558/. 'There will be a diminution II
the two items of ordnance stores for land and sea service
(21,4721.) and the scientific branch (to the extent of
1,9531.) making a total diminution, compared with the
current year, of 23,4554 as regards effective services. The
items in which the principal increase will be required are—
the pay, allowances, and contingencies of ordnance military
corps, 41,5694 ; commissariat and barrack supplies for her
Majesty's forces, great coats for the army, clothing for
colonial corps, &c., 29,483/. ; wages of artificers and la-
bourers in the United Kingdom and colonies, 12,460/.; and
works, buildings, and repairs, 20,7794 ; making a total in-
crease in the required grant for effective ordnance services,
compared with the present year, of 110,9401. Deduct for
decrease in other items (above-mentioned) 23,4551., the ba-
lance is an increased sum required for 1847-48 of 87,4851.
The increase to be demanded for non-effective services, mi-
litary and civil, is a further amount of 48,0731., making the
total 135,5581., previously stated as the increase in 1847-48,
in the net amount to be required to be voted, compared with
the preceding year.
' NAVAL RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE.—It appears
from a Parliamentary paper issued yesterday, relative to
naval receipts and expenditure for the Year ended March 81,
1846, that the balances of the votes for 1842-43 and 1843-
44, amounted to 5,860/. The amount granted for naval ser-
vices for the year 1845-46 (per Act 8 and 9 Viet., c. 130) wax
6,936,1921., and adding to the above the additional sum of
215,363/. credited on the navy estimates for 1845-46, and
7,528/. (the amount granted on the supplementary estimate
for the same year, to provide retired allowances to captains),
the sum total was 7,159,083/. The expenditure (1845-46)
was altogether 7,334,363 L—the grants including appro-
priation in aid and supplementary estimate, tieing only
7,159,083/. Adding to the amount of expenditure the sum
of 5,8601. by balance of votes for new works (1842-43
and 1843-44), the total expenditure during the last finan-
cial year ending 31st of March, 1846, was 7,350,2231. 125.;
making an outlay of 183,2801. over the receipts and balances
of former years. In various votes 88,534/. less than the sums
granted by Parliament were expended ; but the above-
mentioned excess of expenditure was caused by an outlay
of 273,815/. upon other votes more than what was granted
by the House of Commons, making the before-named
balance. The chief cause of this excess was an excess of outlay for naval stores, &c., for the building and repair of
ships, docks, &c., of 165,6014, and an excess of expendi-
ture for victuals for seamen and marines of more than
28,4114 &c,
At the monthly meeting of the committee of the
Adult Orphan Institution on Monde), last, the gratifying in-
telligence was received that her Majesty had been graciously
pleased to appoint one of the senior wards of the institution,
%lists Sarah Anne Hildyard, to be sub-governess to the royal
children. •
I'ALL OF Two HOUSES IN LONG ACRE.—Yester-
day morning, shortly before twelve o'clock, an accident
which, under the circumstances, might have been attended
with fatal consequences, occurred in Lo g i
place
n -aere. t
d
in that portion of it in which
eh have lately taken improvementsistriet, ticularly whi
liolbrnanthd
ethe removal t Strand
is contemplated,
a direct commuuichaatvioen
renderedbetween necessary
of many houses contiguous to the new church of St.} Giles's-in-the-Fields. telds. At the point where Hanover-street
intersects Long-acre several houses have been taken down
by consent of their occupants ; still the intended im-
provements have remained some time in abeyance in
consequence of the opposition of Mr. Hersey, the pro-
prietor of an adjacent tavern, who declared that as Icing
as he held a lease from the Mercers' Company he
would rather perish in the fall of his house than surrender
without adequate compensation. A few evenings before
this declaration, Mr. Kensall, the district surveyor, pointed
out to Mr. Hersey the danger to which his house subjected
him, recommending, at the same time that precautionary
measures should be adopted for averting the danger that
threatened him. All these remonstrances were unavailing.
A few moments before the fall "a crackling" was beard, and
Mr. Hersey having been forewarned, recommended all his
inmates to retire from the premises. Shortly afterwards,
the walls fell in with a fearful crash. Pictures and looking-
glasses are still hanging on the walls, as may be observed
uy passers-by, but the greatest danger exists that other
houses may fall, owing to the slightness of the foundation
on which they are constructed. The second housep that fell
was that of a Mr. Clark, livery-stable keeper. His stables
were contiguous to Mr. Hersey's premises, but it fortunately
happened that his assistants had Aft the premises before the
occurrence, which has involved the destruction of a vast
amount of property.
It is understood that Mr. Richard Thornton, as
chairman of the Committee of Portuguese Bondholders, has
received from the Portuguese Government a communication
in reply to his recent representations concerning the imposi-
tion of the double decima tax on the dividends of the foreign
bt a copy of which was inserted under this head a few
weeks since. From what we now hear, there is a probability
~e this oppressive and very unjust tax being speedily aban-
doned.—Post.

LONDON YACHT CLUB.--Yesterday the members
of the London Yacht Club (formerly the Arundel Club)
held their monthly meeting, at Wright's Hotel, Strand.
Me general business coanected with the affairs of this
aquatic club was arranged, and many suggestions indicative
of extensive arrangements of this club for the ensuin gl
yachting season were made, and the meeting adjournei til
March.

SALT VERSUS THE POTATO DISEASE.—AIIow me
to suggest to those whose potatoes are already forward
enough, or as soon as they are so, to try the effect of a slight
top dressing of salt, and to publish the result. It would be
interesting to know from correspondents residing nt ar the
sea it they can confirm or refute my statement in your paper
of Dec. 5, that potatoes grown in the neighbourhood c f salt-
water were entirely or in some cases only partially free from
the prevailing epidemic.— Gardiner? Gazette.