The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-10 00:00:00

Tfl SUN, LO ON THU 118 DA Y MORN! NG, JUNE 10, 1847.

was that to give way to the private interests of a pqrcel
of railway j e,s2
Mr. It YORKE said, that as it was admitted that
these r-sulutions were private business he should vote
ftga,inst the adjAirlru-lit tee question, as their present
dismission would gi eatly facilitate thy disposal of all the
private hu,ine,s conn:,cted with railways.
Tie CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER said he
would unite a prop,sition which might, perhaps, meet
the conveai,,nce of all panics who were inter,sted m the
businei3 which was to succeed the present discussion.
W.,uld the House agree to sit at twelve o'clock to-
an,rrow ior the pure .se of considering this question?
atm he would how withdraw it.
The debate was then adjourned until twelve o'clock
to tn.); row.

PORTUGAL.
Mr. OSBORN E said that f.e ‘i i.-hed particularly to
knew a hen the tno, ion of the Hon. Nlemb, r for aLestee.e
upon this subject was to te brought forward. It had
been fix cl upon for to-morrow, and then again post-
putted. It was, as he had heard, postponed in cense•
pellee of there being a Queen's ball upon Friday
evening. It had been sad that " wretches hang
hat jurymen may dine ;" he would, however, p.ara-
phrase the line and say, `'patriots die that se-
nators may dance."—(Laughter.) Ile wished to know
whether the motion was' to come on en Friday.
Mr. HUME said that tee eelay had taken place in
consecpwece of the alkenee of certain pacers which
Mould produced upon Friday. The motion, would
therefore, iii the event of the production of these papers,
come forward un Friday et ening..
Mr. BANKES wished to know why they had not
been produced before.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the delay
had taken place in consequence of the time taken in
printieg them, and they se ould certainly be in the pos-
session of the H, use on Friday evening.
Mr. OSBORNE said that the censure which had been
applied to the Hon. Member for Montrose was not de-
served, for he had done all in his power to bring forward
this subject. He thought that a most unaccountable
and unnecessary delay had taken place in the production
of the pap-rs moved tor.
Sir R. INGLIS said that he thought the less excite-
ment that was created on the subject the bettor, as the
matter was to come on Friday.
HOSIERY MANUFACTURE BILL.
The adjourned debate on the second reading of this
Bill was resumed.
Mr. M. GIBSON said that he felt it to be his duty
to oppose the s cond reading of this Bill, fur by refer-
ring the matter to a Seleet Committee, which they
would have to do, they would be pledging ,hentselv 2s
that the Legislature had a right to interfere with and
regulate labour. He thought the measure which had
received the sanction of Parliament last year
could not be brought for Bard as an argument in
favour of the present Bill. If they interfered
and increased the cost of the production of hosiery,
how could they show that it would not have a most
injurious effect upon the working man? How could it
be supposed that that House could know the manu-
facture of the article as well as t',ose engaged
in the trade? But let that be as it might, how could
they show that any saving that might be effected
would go into the pocket of the labouring man?
Were they not, on the contrary, justified, if they
adopted the statements that had been made as
to the conduct of employ, rs, of arriviog at
the very epeesite conclusion? It was shown from the
testimony of those who had itivestigati d the subject that
the diAxes, thet existed among those empeiyed in the
hosiery trade arose from the increase in their number; tied
that ceuld not be well pie vented front the very nature of
the emi,loyment, itselt, in wince cowpoing was cia,ily ob-
tained, ehd to winch that vast nuieher centinurely
,yed in this country would naturally turn
tiieteselves. The' Committee asked for by the Ho-
nouritbie Baronet was not one that was to
consider the tr,rits of the measure, but merely to go
throur_ II the details of a Bill the principle of which bad
atreedy been sanctioned. He objected to th
who e pro vi-
sion -
sion widen did not allow any person
net a hosier manufacturer to employ any person
in the hosiery trade ; in fact, a middlemen could not
employ his oen child. He believed that it was
necessary that some person should intervene between
the entplot e r and tie WOI iman. Ile would, therefore,
eive his opposition to the proposition of the Honourable
Baronet ; it would he open to evasion, and he consi-
dered it was most objectionable to pass measures
which it eas le ,ssible to evade. It was against
all principle to interfere and by legislative
enactment to prevent hiring out of machines. He
could not conceive a more legitimate investment for pro-
perty than in machinery If they adopted this principle,
it might be extended to all classes of property. He
hoped that the House would never give its consent to a
measure fraught with so many evils, and which he felt
convin-ed would bring great ruin upon the hosiery
manufacture.
Mr. PACKE said that the present Bill was founded on
the caws and evidence taken before Mr. Mmegridge, who
was sent down as a Commissioner to inquire into the
state of the hosiery manufacture. In fact, the
speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman who
spoke last would have led the Howe to suppose the
Bill was a crude and visionary scheme, which had
only found its advocate in the Hon. Baronet who intro-
duced the Bill. These machines only cost about 51. a
piece, and the owners used to let them out at the rate of
a shilling a week, which was more than fifty per cent.
Now this was a tyranny which was most unbearable,
and as long as he had a seat in that House he would
raise his voice against such cruelty, in favour of his poor
neighbours,—(Hear, hear)—and lie would therefore give
his decided support to the second reading of the Biil.
He was sorry to be any party to divide the House upon
such an absurdity, but he felt it to be his duty to oppose
the Bill.
Sir J. EASTHOPE said that he did not conceive that
by supporting the Bill he was becoming a party to any
such an absurdity as that which had just been represented.
Unquestionably, if this Bill were to be carried out strictly
in accordance with its present provisions, lie would aban-
don its support and repudiate its principles. IV hat4as he
asked to do?• Why, not -to go up stairs into a vair. in-
quiry, which would protract the provisions of this Bill,
out to ascertain its merits and obviate its defects. He
had no reason to doubt that this Bill might be so mo-
difial as to become greatly altered, and unquestionably
useful, after it came out of Committee, and seeing that
it proposed to affect the interests of from 50,000 to
60,000 individuals, he was certainly inclined to give
every facility to the working of its principle. There
was no greater evil than that of middlemen, and no-
where was that evil more severely felt than in the case
of those, who were now suffering so severely from frame
rents. And fu ther, he wets the more induced.to- desire
the success• of the Bill, 'because he was aware'th.at the
men who were suffering from the evils complaieed Of had
acted in the most adinir,•ble manner. They had not leot
themselves to chertism; they had in no way evinced un-
easiness or impivience; but had waited with remarkable
terbearance till they obtained rebel through the aid of
Parliament. He rep, ated that the Bill in its present
ship:' was a crt'e, imperfect piece of legislation, with
which he would have nothing to do; but he be-
tiet ed it might be very greatly amended in Gen-
mit tee, and therefore he should vote for the
meaus by which the adventnges of it might
be °honied, ane the ieconveniences avoided. lie re-
collected that the same objection Irtd been made to the
Bill tor the abolition of the truck system, and yet he
believed that his Right Hem. Fdentl the I),esident, of
the etrd of Control lied taken an active part in carry-
ing. out that Bih ; told he trusted, therefore, that no
serious opposition would be of to the C minittee,
whose laboui $ would enable the House to test the state-
ments in the report which, with all its bulkin,tss, had
been pieced in the trends of the Members of toe House,
and he should, therefore, vote for the C-mmittee.
number Colonel ROLLE
eeolelioveuiais:liiittdori,te,
htwwheh(a)ihrtekahhmatstehvhniaen:l;aencyl(dieivirnet3::
imaafsioecnarte.,Trdl as;
tit kntain the owing 'olof
conditiontt
ent
and he could say with truth that the representations had
its no way been exaggerated. A more orderly set of
men never existed ; they had been parties to no dis-
turbance, but had patiently made their appeal to the
regularly constituted authorities, and only com-
plained of a hardebip which no power but that of Parlia-
ment could mitigate. He knew, from the must authentic
sources that many of the most excellent workmen were
at the present moment subsisting on the wages of 53. a

th. CORN-LAWS.
l'ltse,;Lifie GIBSON presented a petition from the
ulttiej'r of Commerce of Manchester, praying that ail
4t°ll corn might be done away with immediately
t.l „„ravigationaws suspended.
otise • PATTEN begged to cull the attention of the
Phvateto rt circumstance which occurred in yesterday's
nitth business. He was yesterday about to move the
Itsiler consideration ot the London and North. Western w
tleemal Bill, when he was informed that it had been
leelY done. That appeared to have been a mistake, as
huti not been moved, and therefore he hoped the House
the niitermit him to move the further consideration of
then.---Motion agreed to.
RAILWAY RESOLUTIONS.
- CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
Ats in
kPursuance of notice he had given on Monday
Itith "e rose to move cer,ain resolutions connected
Sir railWa)s.
"bhp; H. "ALFORD rose to order, and asked if these
'll,„"Lcs were strictly to be called private business.
km; SPEAKER said that all matters connected with
• "Ilis was properly to be considered private
net,
The CHANCELLOR
rat pieswsANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
lottecrl. Gentlemen would remember that about a
Isartrt since, an Hon. Member bad brought up cer-
tea, esolutions to impose restriction* upon the railroad
448, at Which the railway business was proceeding.
'sops Tnuence of that he had framed certain resolu-
the tio7, Which he was now about to ask the consent of
some-'se• Before doing so, he thought, however, that
of to yrPlanation of them was necessary. In the course
the! debate which had taken place a short time ago,
shottiairle which hand been suggested was, that the House
Peo, " interfere, ,by compulsion, stop all further
dee_cedings in the railways. That c .urse was not
Ifr,,Lutd advisable, and it was then suggested that a se-
onof certain railways which should be allowed to
on should be made. The Government had considered
that proposition, and had come to the conclusion that
:11eY would not stop any of the proceedings of the rail-
IZzerpanies by compulsion, but would them the
accompanied by certain inducements, to stay
theirthey
had
for the present. The course which
h_ ad taken was founded upon the opinion that it
;re nid not be advisable to attempt to compel a stoppage
determination
railway proceedings, but they had come to the
j7,7!ertnination of withholding certain powers which had
11.1.erto Leen granted to railway companies, giving them
%t.the same time the power of suspending the Bills till
pliTture period. The first resolution merely gave the
!lea the power to suspend their Bills till the session
of
ato'_,B4Bl and by the second and third they merely re-
-I,petto, the regulation of the House which had existed
/Lens to the enormous increase of these speculative
ings, which had of late assumed an ascendancy,
ell3' inconvenient but dangerous. The third re-so-
n prohibited the payment of, interest upon capital,
ap,;l°,us thus calculated to check the increase of those
rtun:Littions which were got up merely for the purpose
Itro:eg sold. In former Acts of Parliament for private
Oce-reedings, no such thing had been heard of as the
Kent of interest upon capital, and it, was now. being
fialPeerlY about to be checked. The next resolution, the
to rtu, prohibited companies, which were only enabied
Pluealnr,„Pille a small porlion of their line, to declare sure
*al% r'°"tut and the fifth placed restrictions upon the
or lease of railways to other companies. Many
°Y companies were cot up merely with the inten-
bot
the
leasing or selling the line, and the parties had
the e smallest intention o' ever constructing the line
tlitnaselves. Many companies sought powers to gua-
retee the payment ot interest to others, being ey no
ft
ste, Us substantial bodies ; and this resolution would re-
'let Athichany such powers being given to any company
-bean wce not in a position to make their guarantee a
fideean-e security. The last resolution also placed other
t,„,rwtions upon other minor details, which he would
4.,1 enter into then. lie should move Ihe resolutions,
oh`,' if the House agreed to them th. y would be binding
1;1%1 so far as this session was cone.-reed. He there -
Proposed the resolutions for the approbation of the
douse (for which see another part of our paper).
bate, H. LIALFORD moved the adjournment of the de
'v. The matter was stated to be of private business,
b_llt was literally of public importance, and it would in-
terfere materially with most important ; üblic business.
Mr. SPOON ER svc.inded the motion.
The CHANCELLO it of the EXCHEQUER said that
he had cited no power which the Government possessed
,
bringing forward this matter. He had merely acted
its any private Member in that House would have done
under similar circumstances.
Mr. ESTCOURT said that the question was whether
the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite was acting con-
sistently with the practice of the House in bringing for-
Ward these resolutiocs at that time. The subject was
one of considerable
importaece, and he thought tnat the
Sooner.h it was determined the better. He hoped the
4,1,. °use would not postpone, u;Am a merely formal objec-
`ton, the settlement of a question in which such great in-
terests were involved.
„M, e• S. CRAW FORD supported the motion for the
/1
Murnment of the debate. lie did not think that
naeray business should take up so much time of the
—"se, and he was aware that many Members who were
relents to express their opinions on this subject would
Ps no opportunity of doing so if the question were
isposed of now.
Sir J. EASTHOPE said that the determination of
-"'s question was most anxiously looked forward to, but
tuere were thousands of people in distress, whose mi-
., ries were to be alleviated by a Bill which was on the
list of that day. The postponement of the railway
question for one day would not be of any injury to it,
and the case of these people required the most immediate
consideration.
After a few words from Mr. HUME,
thMr- BANKES said that the time was come when
should consider the question of whether the rail-
bl business was to keep off and swamp all the public
business of the House. Night after night railway des-
, .w_u_setehnatvvitehree takin up their time, and the consequence
Housewas frequently counted out, to the
great
slailaY of matters which the House should imme-
cihtoet' "eui with. He hoped that those Hon. Members
sever ere for the adjournment of the debate would per-
. e In their intention.
Sir GEORGE GREY admitted that the pressure of
Nivate business had very much of lateinterfered with the
tublie business, and he thought that if any complaints
were it made about the di-cussion of the present motion,
would be better to take the sense teethe House at once,
'utl not waste mere time in discussion.
Alter a few .torus from- Mr. CRIPPS and Mr. E.
atlZEre,
Colonel SIBTHORP said that upon the present, tem.
stcu ho should du that which he did not very often do-
- tIPPort her Aajesty's Government.—(Laughter.) He
""oult;ht that the measure brought forward was a most
,admirable one, and calculated to put a stop to the pre-
sent
increasing system of railway I(e,ielation.
dc,4 , 131 e 1. T. S. 1)COMBE said. thrit there coulJ he no
tli4i these iesolutloug, were of a private ',attire,
- 4„lll,,tiglit, not to be brouznt on to interfere with the
vtlblit; busbies.; iihich wa:.> upti the 11,, was
I' !efts Bill upon the list which the House had come down
to
diaCtigat and which affected the interests of many thou-
-51148 Of stating people in the Midland Counties, and

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISI

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Comznons.)
TUESDAY, JUNE 8.
COVENTRY, BANBURY, AND
BI LL OXFORD JUNCTION
R Al L W AY .
Report considered ; Amendments agreed to as far as Clause
20 of the printed Bill (Gauge of Railway); Clause 20:—
Motion made, and. Question proposed, " That this House
doth agree with the Committee in the said Ameudment."
the House divided :
MAJORITY—AYES, 105
Acland, Sir T. Greene, Thomas Owen, Sir J.
Alflam, W. Gregory ,W. 11. Pechell, Captain
Antrobus, Edmund Hallyburton, Lord Pluturidge, Captain
Bailie, Walter Hamner, Sir Jobs Price, Sir Robert
Barron, Sir H. W. Harcourt, G. Rendlesham, Lord
Bellew, n. M. Hawes, B. Repton, G. W. J.
Berkeley. Craven Holland, Robert Round, J.
Berkeley, Grantley Howard, P. H. Russell, Lord C.
Blackstone, W. S. Hume, Joseph Russell, C.
Bodkin, William 11. Inglis, Sir It. Seyrser, H. K.
Bolero, H. G. James, William Shaw, Rt. lion. F.
Bowring, Dr. Keratite, 11. Sheppard, T.
Boyd, John Langston, J. H. Shirley, E. J.
Burke, T. J. Lawless, Cecil Smith, Vernon
Butler, P. S. Layard, Major Somerset, L..rd G.
Carew, W. IL Pole Lindsay, Colonel Somerville, Sir W.
Christie, W. D. Lygon, Gen. Spooner, Richard
Codrington, Sir W'. Macnamara, Major Stansfleld, W. R.
Cole, Hon. H. A. M'Carthy, Alex. Stanton, W. H.
Colebrooke, Sir T. M'Taggart, Sir J. Stuart, Lord J.
Martin, C. W. Strickland, Sir G.
Collett,Corbalyj,o3hln E. Masterman, John Talbot, C. R.
Cripps, W. Miles, Philip W. S. Thornely, Thomas
Divett, E. Miles, William Trelawny, J. S.
Duncan, George Mitcalfe, 11. Trevor, J. R.
Duncembe, 0. Molesworth, Sir W. Turner, E.
Ellice, Edward Morgan, 0. Vvian, J. H.
Ellice, E., fun. Morris, David Vivian, J. E.
Escott, Bickham Morrison, James Waddingtonrii. S.
Eimonde, Sir T. Neeld, John Warburton, Henry
Estcourt, T. G. Nichol!, J. Wawn, J. T.
Forbes, William O'Brien, C. Winnington, Sir T.
Forster, Matthew O'Brien, J. Worcester, Marquis
Fuller, A. E. O'Connell, M. .T. TELLERS.
Gill, Thomas O'Ferrall, It. M. Dennlstoun. J.
Goring, Charles Ogle, S. C. Williams, W

week. -
Sir J. H3BHOUSE said that really the only argu-
ment that had been advanced in favour of this Bill was
that it was a very bad Bill, and ought to be amended ;
and tie must acknowledge that he never heard a more
curious reason than this for proceeding with what
his Honourable Friend behind him justly characterised
crude, imperfect piece ut legislation. From his own
knowledge eif the locality he could say that the masters
of the itthiery &strict were as anxious as any men to
alleviate the distresses of their workmen, and both they
and he were quite ready to allow the distresses to
himselflie,
would be deaf to the co:l:plaints of the people if he
were not sensible of the evils which those men enich this
dured.
But, let the House look to the consequences wh
13111 would produce. It would at once set aside all the frame
w
rents, and would thereby destroy the value of upwards
of 1,700 frames in Sutton and in Ashfieldse re alone,
for
proprietors mainly depended on thents
their support. Did the Honourable Member know
that out of the forty thousand frames upwards
of ten thousand belonged to independent proprietors ?
It was becaus:? he conscientiously believed thst this Bill
would not benefit the parties who were distressed, and
because he also believed that it would inflict injury on
others, that he would give it his decided opposition.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said that the object of the present
Bill was to protect the honest earnings of the poor ma-
nufacturer, and was not by any means an pt to
attem
raise or regulate the rate of wages. It had been consi-
dered by the Right Hon. Baronet as inconsistent in him
to support it, seeeing that he had expressed his
opinion that there were several objectionable details
in, it. True that was his opinion, but the only way
to remedy those objectionable details was by
sen‘ling the Bill to a Committee—(l tear, hear)
aiml that was the reason he slippirti-d tbe snond read-
itt, for he bcheved the brine of it wa4 good, The
own-r otthoso trainee, who m
w-As a middle an. let the
trtime to t ,h.! workman, and in doing so he requir,d
hitn to with a certain bit;clv,r or k"ker;
the elfoet which system he would idus.rate by the
following Ciet:—A man, who had a wile and five children,
rcrit, d Out a trams;
ilr,-,
his we for twelve weeks averwed
a 71.; he was of ie(i to deal with a baker;
at
min
nd when he e to be paid for his labour,
he found that 4l 12s. was stepped for the single article
bri2o.d. An en,,rmous charge m:de
t!_
of the f ale,
ra. but the re,,ult was, the rent
that only thirty-seven
s"hiiliiigs was left- to the poor mull and his family, to
al:d clothe, ply rent and taxes, fur the space
of twelve w'''". '1731. eY a soy that tbey should not
interfere with the rights property. They had al-
teads done so in the Ten Hours' Bill, lad it wets

nenense to say that a number of independent Riding Junction Railway (Burnley and Colliery Branches)
frames would be rendered valueless; there was not one of Bill, petition for additional pievisi,an the standing orders
ht not to be dispensed with.
these frames which had not been paid ter five times over. 5. That in the case of the York and North Midland Railway
oug
He did not propose that they should say that
tension) Bill, special report thee
(Harrogate Branch, Borou hbridgand Kt bo gh Ex-
these middlemen should not hire out their frames, but
that such hiring out should be declared " truck." He • the standing orders ought to be dispensed with,and that
ditFio;fntahlrpersoovluistiiomnl,aigf
rteheedyts,h).—allßtehpitotkrtfitot.
.011111111latrteeSe on the Bill,
hoped that the House would not deal contemptue
us-Y the Committee on the Bill be permitted to introduce the ad-
with the distresses of these poor people as to throw
out the Bill without a second reading.
lie on the table.
Mr. ROEBUCK was an opponent of the present Bill,
as it was a direct interference with capital in the country, RA ILWAI
0111' %SITTERS.
and because it would reduce the already wretched con-
dition of the labourer into greater wretchedness. HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESrERDAY.)
What was the case which was charged as a robbery?
Why one man brings his lebour and another brings his
money. Well, where then was the robbery? for as it
seemed to him there was an equable exchange. Ile
might cite the example which he had previously adduced
of the farmer who brought his skill and his money also
into the market, and it the landlord exacted a more
than sufficient tent the time would come when the cause
of loss to the farmer would be discovered, and the land-
lord would have to come down with his rent. This
Bill, therefore, he repeated, if carried would only be
successtul in wo: king a great loss. They could tio more
regulate %ages by Act of Parliament than they could
regulate the price of bread, or the profits of the mer-
chairs of London, by Act of Parliament. It should be
recollected that machinery was now in existence, and
was every day improved, and it was firmly established
in his mind, that if this Bill were to be adopted, the very
first persons to rue its passing, would be those whom
this Bill was intended to benefit. They all knew the
case of the hand-loom weavers. There was not
the slightest doubt in the world, that if
there was to be any interference with the
hosiery weavers there would quickly be machinery
invented to supersede the assistance of the artizan alto-
gether, and everything would be effected by machinery;
and if' Parliament did not desist from its headlong career,
and refrain from interfering in matters which it could
never improve, the consequences would be that greater
evil than benefit would ensue from the alteration. He
was sorry to have trespassed so long upon the House, but
trusted that he had not treated the subject in a spirit of
asperity, and that what he had said would be received as
it was intended, with the hope that no step would be
taken that would not be eventually instrumental in pro-
moting the welfare of the operative.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BA NKES perfectly agreed in the 'opinion ex •
pressed by the Eon. Member for Bath (Mr. Roebuck),
it the belief that they ought to go into the inquiry to
aseertain how benefit could be rendered, but he totally
differed with him in the conclusion at which he had
arrived; for he seemed to assert that if even this in-
quiry were to turn out favourably to the Bill, he
still would oppose it, as it was contrary to the
principles of political economy. But such a course
had not been pursued by the Honourable Member
for Finsbury (Mr. T. Duncombe), for, although that
lion. Member had declared himself a supporter gene-
rally of the principles of political economy, yet still be
did not restrict himself from deviations from the strict
principles of that science whenever the occasion arose
from particular causes, and he was not, consequently,
opposed to this inquiry.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon.
Member for Bath had objected to the 7th and
Sth clauses of the Bill ; but what was the object of
those clauses ? Why, simply declaratory that a '
mischief lied been practised and ought to be prevented.
arid that was, iO fact, the principle of the Bill. The
Right fl ,n. Baronet at the bead of the Board of Control
hal statue that he had male great exertions to overset
the truck sy tem, and yet he opposed this Bill, although
its principle was precis. ly the same. For what reason,
then, del he oppose the Committee for which his Hon.
Fritelo had move,i? None but that of petaotial conve
nience; and, ter his awn part, he believed that the best
reason for volitaa in the affirmative was, that the inquiry,
whether sue: (—slid or not, must prove useful.
Mr. 8110 -MERTON was desirous of not giving a silent
vote on th is occasion, because he was anxious to state that,
although he was favourable to any emancipation of the
operstir-, he did not anticipate any god efh-cts &bre the
Bill this session, and because he be lieved that it would
be easier to make a new Bid than to amend this. He
should, therefore, oppose it, of because itwould be bene-
ficial to the manufacturer, but because it would be inju-
rions to the operative.
Mr. F ERRAND said that the very reason which
had been adduced by the Hon. Member for Salford
was that which would induce him to support the Bill,
for he evidently felt that there was a case for inquiry,
and he regretted that the It ght Hon. Baronet the Presi-
dent of the Board of Control did not conceive himself to
be the Member, not for the manufacturers only but fur
the artizans al-o of Nottingham. He (Mr. Ferrand),
when Mr. Gladstone was at the head at the Board of
Trade, waited upon him, with a deputation from the
Midland districts, an that Minister had sent down a
Commissioner who had ascertained that the operatives
had far understated their ease.
Mr. MARK PHILIPS said that he was perfectly
convinced that this Bill was most objectionable. The
object of the Bill, namely, to regulate wages, was beyond
of the power of the Legislature, and nothing could be
more delusive than an attempt to meddle with the question
and he saw so much that was objectionable in the Bill,
that he would not give it his support.
Sir HENRY HALb'ORD said that the dis-
tress had lasted thirty years, which fully proved
two things—first, that there was uo corrective prin-
ciple in the system itself, and, secondly, that
it was therefore necessary for the Legislature to interfere.
He had been accused of having devised a crude system.
That was the fault of the Government, for he had no
ambition to he a legislator, and the question ought to
have been in the hands of the Government.—(Hear.)
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
House was cleared for a division, when there appeared—
For the second reading 57
Against it
Majority
SEDUCTION AND PROSTITUTION.
Mr. SPOONER presented several petitions in favour
of the second reading of this Bill, and moved that it be
read a second time.
The question was then put, and the gallery was cleared
for a division, but no division took place.
An Horr. MEMBER having observed that strangers
were present, the gallery was again cleared.
After a considerable interval the gallery was again
opened, when we found
Mr. ROEBUCK concluding a speech in opposition to
the Bill.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE opposed the Bill.
Mr. P. BORTHWICK and Col. SIBTRORP supported the
Bill.
After a few words from Mr. Huatz and Sir G. GREY,
The Bill. was read second time, and was ordered to
be referred to a Select Committee for the'cofisideration
of the a lauses.
SAVINGS BANKS' ANNUITIES BILL.
The Heuse then went into Committee on this Bill,
and the (lotuses were agreed to.
Mr. DUNCOMBE obtained leave to bring in a Bill
to provide for the better ventilation of mines and col-
lieries, for the protection and preservation of the lives of
persons employed in and about the same, and to make
other provisions relating thereto.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at Six o'clock.

Room B.
WATERFORD, Vi XxrOILD, WXCELOW,

AND DUBLIN.
The Committee on this Bill met this morning, at eleven
o'clock, and the opposition having been withdrawn, the Bill,
was pas,ed.
The Committee adjourned until to-morrow at eleven
o'clock.

Room D.
The Committee met this morning at the usual hour; the
Duke of Richmond in the chair.
WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTII-VIES-
TERN (STAINES TO ASCOT' AND WOKINGHAM,

WITH BRANCHES).
WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTII-V7ES-

TERN (RICHMON6 TO WINDSOR).
Mr. AUSTIN addressed the Committee at great length in
opposition to these projects, and contended that the lines
pr,posed by the Great Western, which had an undoubted right
to supply the district with railway accommodation, would
afford greater advantages to the district than the lines of the
South- Western.
Mr. WARREN was proceeding to call evidence in opposi-
tion to the line of the South Western from Windsor to
Slough, but
Mr. Sergeant WRANGRAH objected, on the ground that
the line had been admitted in the House of Commons by
Mr. Talbot not to be a competing project; and besides the
line of the Great Western to Slough had been thrown out.
The Committee decided that it was not a competing pro-

ject.
Evidence in opposition to the other portions of the South-
Western line was then adduced.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
GROUP X.
The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of
the Bills comprised in this group, re-assembled at the usual
hour this morning; Lord Clive in the chair.
lIAR.V7XCLI AND EASTERN COUNTIES

JUNCTION.
The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with
;he usual general local evidence in favour of this line.
The Committee then adjourned.

GROUP XXX.
GREAT WESTERN (EXTENSION TO
EXETER.).

Mr. Brunel was cross-examined for a short time, when the
Committee stated that, in consequence of an important mea-
sure coming on in the House, at which they were obliged to
ba present, they must adjourn the Committee till twelve
o'clock to-morrow.
The Committee then adjourned.

THE CORN TRADE.
(From the Mark-lane Express.)
The consumptive demand for wheat has, within the
last few days, increased materially, and no correspond-
ing incre ise having taken place in the deliveries from
the growers, the supplies have scarcely sufficed to meet
the inquiry, and prices have, consequently, again begun
to tend upwards, notwithstanding the continuance of
highly auspicious weather and very favourable reports
from all parts of the country respecting the growing
grain crops. The firmness of holders may probably
have in some measure been owing to the rumours preva-
lent respecting the reappearance of the potato blight ;
but the principal cause of the rise which the price of
wheat has undergone has unquestionably been the in-
adequacy of the Supplies to satisfy the demand. As re-
gards the future we are disposed to think that present
arrivalsharvest, f
rhowever o
afavourablep r
ot hv
ee
rates will be about maintained, nearly, if not quite, up to
r et nedxe
tses a
sti the
mwl/4tiachtheL
than calculated on ; whilst an unfavourable change
would undoubtedly. in the existing state of the country,
lead to a material rise. We are happy to observe that
the most recent accounts from Ireland contradict the
previously received reports of the reappearance of the
potato disease in that country. Such another visitation
as that of last year would, indeed be an awful calamity;
but the greater the magnitude of the subject, the more
imperative it is the duty to watch the matter closely, so
that in case of the worst every means might be employed
to mitigate the evil.
The accounts from Scotland do not speak so favour-
ably of the crops as could be wished, the weather having
been less auspicious there than in the more southern
parts of the kingdom; still no serious complains have
reached us either as regards wheat or spring corn from
any quarter.
We have again to report a very small arrival of wheat
of home growth, the receipts into the port of London
coastwise having, up to this (Saturday) evening,
amounted to only 4,859 quarters. The quantity brought
to Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from Essex. Kent,
and Suffolk, has been still more trivial; and though the
millers have conducted their operations with the utmast
caution, the tendency of prices has been upwards. The
few runs left over from Monday were placed on Wednes-
day at laves scarcely obtainable in the beginning of the
week; and the tone of the trade was altogether firmer
than it had been previously. On Friday there was
hardly any English wheat ,on sale; and the disposition
to buy having increased, holders of the little on hand
declined accepting former terms. That an advance of
2s. to 3s. per quarter was paid is certain; but the trans-
actions were, in consequence of the extreme insignifi-
cance of the supply, quite unimportant. The country
demand for foreign wheat has again begun to revive,
and if importers had been disposed to accept last Mon-
day's prices they might have succeeded in making rather
large sales. For parcels in granary decidedly enhanced
rates have been asked, and, except in case; where the
expiration of the lay days rendered it desirable to sell
from on board ship, purchasers have found it difficult to
buy without paying 2s. per quarter more. The rise
would probably have been more decided if the opinion
had not prevailed that liberal supplies from the Black
Sea are close at hand; the expectation of large arrivals
having induced buyers to confine their operations to as
narrow limits as their pressing wants have admitted.
The receipts from abroad have, during the last eight
days, amounted to 19,326 quarters, the greater propor-
tion of which is from the Baltic.
Town made flour, which till lately was almost wholly
neglected, has within this day or two excited some at-
tention, the possibility of an advance of 55., if the wheat
market should undergo a further rally, having induced
the bakers to purchase somewhat more freely. American
flour has also been in improved request, and for the best
brands of Western Canal ls. to 2s. per barrel more was
realised at the close than in the commencement of the
week. The arrivals of the latter have not exceeded
7,659 barrels.
,Barley, of home growth, seems to have become very
scarce in all parts of the kingdom, and the receipts have
consisted of 1,163 quarters during the week. A few
purchases of this grain were made both on Wednesday
and Friday for shipment coastwise, but the local demand
wits of quite a retail character, and no portion of Mon-
day's decline could be recovered. Supplies from abroad
continue to come to hand somewhat more liberally than
had been calculated upon.
In malt very little business has been done since our
last, and the tendency of prices has been downwards.
The brewers appear to have sufficient for their present
wants, beyond which they show no disposition to
purchase.
Of English oats only 253 quarters have come to hand
whilst the arrivals from Scotland and Ireland have been,
respectively, 50 quarters and 770 quarters, making a
total supply of home-grown corn of only 1,073 quarters.
This has, however, been compensated for by the receipt
of 29,910 quarters from abroad ; and there has, conse-
quently, been no scarcity. Whether the foreign sup-
plies will continue on a sufficiently liberal scale to make
amends for the very trifling nature of those of British
growth may well be questioned. Meanwhile the trade
in this grain remains depressed, and the dealers were
enabled, on Wednesday as well as on Friday, to buy on
nearly, if not quite, as easy terms as in the beginning of
the week. .
Beans and peas have also come sparingly to hand, not-
withstanding which, sales have proceeded slowly at
about the currency of Monday last.
Indian corn has in some degree recovered from the
recent depression, the idea that wheat will not go lower
having had the effect of directing attention to an article
so useful as a substitute.
By the most recent accounts from the Continent it
appears that the weather had, en the whole, been aus-
picious for the growing grain crops; which circumstance, I
together with the accounts from hence of the very im-
portant fall which took place in our markets towards the
close of the last month, had had sufficient influence to
cause some reaction. It appears, however, from the ge-
neral tone of the Baltic advices, that stocks are deci-
dedly short in that quarter ; and it is, censequently,
pretty certain that so soon as the news of the rally
which has this week taken place shall have become
known on the other side, holders will again raise their
pretensions.
A letter from Dantzic, dated 20th ult., states that the
quantity of fine wheat on the spot was very small, and
as the water in the Vistula was low it was feared that
the supplies still expected down might be prevented ar-
riving. The best qualities of mixed and high mixed
wheat had, it seems, been held at very nearly former
prices ; but secondary sorts had, upon receipt of the
English advices of the 21st of May, receded 2s. to 3s.
per quarter. The highest quotation for 611 b. to 61i1b.
fine high mixed was then 183., and prices of other sorts
varied from 755. to 83s. per quarter, free on board.
Accounts from Konigsberg, of the 29th of May, in-
form us that the supplies of grain from Poland had in-
creased, and that, in the absence of orders from Great
Britain, holders had shown a disposition to accept re-
duced rates, notwithstanding which very few bargains
had been closed. The value of r e had also receded
there.
From Rostock quotations come as high as ever ; in-
deed, according to letters from thence of the 31st ult.,
the tendency was rather upwards, owing to the extreme
insignificance of the stocks. The weather in that neigh•
bourhood had been and was then favourable, and an early
and abundant harvest was confidently calculated on.
Some cargoes of Russian rye had arrived, which had
been sold without difficulty at prices corresponding with
555. to 60s. per quarter, free on board.
At Stettin, on the 31st of May, fair red wheat, of
591 b. weight, was held at 88s., and white at 90s. per
quarter, free on board. Stocks were then very light, the
neighbouring growers having brought forward little fot
sale. The value of rye had rather needed, owing to in-
creased receipts from Russia, Sweden, &c. ; still good
parcels were not obtainable below 68s. per quarter, free
on board.
At Hamburg, on Tuesday, there was no export demand
for wheat; but a parcel or two of red, weighing 611 b. per
bushel, were taken fur the interior of Germany at prices
equal to 82s. to 83s. 61 per quarter, free on board. Rye
had receded 25., and oats were rather easier to buy; but
of barley none had been offered for sale.
The accounts from Holland and Belgium speak well
of the crops, and at the leading markets wheat, rye, &c.,
had receded in value.
In France prices have also given way of late; and the
most recent advices from Paris, Havre, and Marseilles,
report the wheat trade very dull.
All over the Mediterranean quotations of wheat have
receded during the last month, owing to continued large
arrivals from the Black Sea. At Leghorn, on the 27th
of May, very good Marianopoli wheat, deliverable in all
June, was obtainable at 60a. Bd., and for delivery the fol-
lowing month there were offers at 21 livres, equal to
575. 7d. per quarter, free on board.
Since writing the above the Hamburg mail of Friday
has arrived, bringing letters of later date from the Baltic.
The weather had, it appears, continued very fine, and
the tendency of prices had been downwards. At Dantzic,
on the Ist of June, the highest quotation was 80s. to 81s.;
and at Hamburg, on Friday, the best red wheat was ob.
,ainable at 80s. per quarter.

DEPARTURE OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE
DUCHESS or KENT.—WOOLWICM, JUNE 8.-1 guard of
honour of the Royal Marines, under the command of Captain
Parke, and a held battery of the Royal Artillery, under the
command of Captain the Hon. G. T. Devereux, marched to
the dockyard this morning at nine o'clock A.M., to be present
during the embarkation of her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent for the continent. Her Royal Highness, accompanied
by his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen and Colonel
Sir George Couper, C.B. and K.H., arrived at half-past nine
o'clock in one of the royal carriages and four horses, and was
received by Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer, K.C.B. and
K.C.H., Superintendent of her Majesty's Dockyard, Lieu-
tenant-General Sir Thomas Downman, C.B. and K.C.H.,
Commandant of the Garrison ; Colonel Parke, C. 8., Com-
mandant of the Royal Marines; Commander West, of the
Hecate steam-vessel; Commander Ryder, of the Vixen
steam-vessel; and Master-Commander Driver, of the Dee
steam- troop vessel ; Major Cuppage, Brigade Major d
; an
Captain Tylden, Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General of
Artillery. Her Royal Highness, on alighting, was escorted
on board the Garland steam-vessel by Sir Gordon Bremer,
the guard of honour presenting arms, and the band of the
Royal Marines playing the National Anthem. A royal sa-
lute from the field battery announced then
ime at whi
the ch her
Royal Highness embarked. Capin Set of Gar-
land, received her Royal Highness on board, and immediately
after took his station to ewn direct th ves
!sel, an
riverd in
with
velocity- This vessel is beautifully
_fitted up as a packet
stesine-r, and is the fastest now runnin. Sunday may be men-
tioned, as a p:oof of her speed, tha.t on last she em-
barked 40 passengers and two carriages at Ostend, and landed
them at Dover. and immediately atter proceeded to Wool-
wich, where she arrived within ten hours from the time she
left Ostend, having performed the whole distance in that
sh.irt period. The royal standard was hoisted on board the
Garland, and her Royal Highness appeared highly pleased
with the Inarka of honour paid to Lcr during her tnibaika-
tioti
4:IILAY'S INN, JUNE 9 —Richtv:i Edward AY(I-1-1,
E.q., and Matthew Cenalr, E•sq., were this day ca.;ed
;be degree of atrfister-ht-Law by the iloueuriute
Society of Gray's Inn.

SERIOUS CHARGE OF ARSON.
On Tuesday a young man, of exceedingly respectable
appearance, was charged at the Police court with setting
fire to his shop, in Kirkdale. The prisoner resides in
Castle-street, Kirkdale, where he has followed the
business of a boot and shoemaker for the last twelve
moths. The charge was supported by Mr. Dowling,
am the prisoner was defended by Mr. Davenport,
ate wney.
The first witness was William Eastwood, a seaman,
win* deposed that he lived at No. 7, Claremont-place,
neat' Castle-street, Kirkdale. He was in Castle street
about one o'clock yesterday morning, going past the
house of the prisoner. He did not know that the pri-
soner kept the shop. When he passed the house, a
dog got hold of him by the leg, which he drove off; and
when he had proceeded about fifty yards beyond the
house', he heard a crash of glass. He then turned
back, and saw that the shop was on fire. He went
back, and knocked them up. He saw the smoke and
flame through the shutters. He alarmed the neigh-
bours. A man then put his head through the window,
and said, "0 ! Lord. 0 1 Lord." He told him the house
was on fire. It might have been two or three minutes
after he knocked. The Dean tried to get on the top of
the house. He and the police persuaded him to go back,
and they would get ladders, whieh they did. The man
went in again. They reared the ladders against the
house ; after that, he went to the back, and got over the
wall, to go and see who was in the house. They went
into the house. He got in by the back doer. The door
was open. He then went into the garret, bet found no
one there. The staircase was not on fire ; only the shop.
He got a light, and went up stairs again, but found no
one. He was suffocated with the smoke, and had to get
through the garret window himself. This was not the
case the first time. No room communicated with the
lobby. There was no room behind the shop. He went
into-the shop a quarter of an hour afterwards. He did
not see the person who came out of the house. The
person might have had his shirt on. He was undressed.
He went out of the back door to the yard. The door
was locked inside ; the key was in it ; he unlocked it
himself.
Mr. Edward Parnell was next called. He said he was
overseer for the poor in the township of Kirkdale. He
lived at 26, Castle-street, Kirkdale, immediately opposite
the shop where the fire was. George Bevan kept the
shop. He (Mr. P.) slept in front of the house. He was
alarmed yesterday morning. He lifted the blind and
perceived the policeman and another person knocking
loudly, and perceived smoke issuing through crevices
of the window shutters, and the room appeared to be
enveloped in one vivid flame. He slipped on his clothes.
His next thought was for the inmates whom he called
loudly on to escape. lie went to the house next door,
at the back of the premises, knowing them to be rela-
tions of the person whose house was on fire. He then
returned to the back part of the house, and saw
the prisoner in the act of descending the ladder.
He was about trio-thirds down when be threw his
feet off and appeared to cling to the under side. He
called out to him not to do so, when the policeman
and others went to his assistance and brought him
down insensible. He then had him conveyed to Mrs.
Tellett's, and called in medical assistance. The prisoner
was not restored when he left in half an hour. It was a
three story house. There was a door leading through
the yard into an entry. He had been to the premise,
after the fire was put out. There was a back parlour
behind the shop. The connexion was through the door.
He did not go up stairs. The fire was confined to the
shop. He had examined the shop. There was a parti
cider smell, similar to turpentine. He saw the leaves of
a book which appeared to be saturated with turpentine.
Other articles were saturated. The prisoner had been in
the shop since November. He had beard that some ob-
jections had been made about the prisoner having th,
shop, but none were made in his hearing.
John Donald, officer 491, was the next witness. He
stated that he placed the ladder and went up it. The
top window was open. He saw a man at that window be.
fore. He called three times, loudly. No one answered
He then descended the ladder. He had no sooner got to
the foot of the ladder than the prisoner made his ap-
pearance. He went up to meet him. He was not
dressed. The prisoner threw some clothes out of the
window. He seemed exhausted, and the witness assisted
him down. He appeared suffocated. There was tie
smoke in the bed-room. The smoke came through
the shop. There was a bed in the room, and another
in the room adjoining. They appeared to have been
, slept in-
Mr. John Eaton, inspector of police, deposed that he
was in Castle-street yesterday morning, about two or
i three minutes past one. The shop was all in a blaze.
1 There were two or three officers there. He called to
them not to break open the shutters. After the fire wa'
got out he entered the shop. He saw the fire was con-
fined to the windows. He got in through the front. The
blaze went out of itself. He found a candle at the foot
of the stairs, in the lobby through the back part. He
found a turpentine bottle on one of the shelves; it was on
the second shelf, and broken from the heat. Turpentine
was about it. It was on the right-hand side of the shop, be-
hind the counter. He examined the place at the back of the
counter and shelves, where he found paper partly con-
sumed. He searched underneath, and found paper soaked
with turpentine, which he produced. He found part of
the paper on the shelves; it was near the window. The
shelves were divided. He found the paper on the con •
trary (opposite) end. It was impossible for the turpen-
tine to flow to it from the broken bottle. The turpen-
tine was all round the shop on both sides. It was
on every shelf in the shop. Opposite where the bottle
eas found was wet with turpentine. He examined the
floor in the centre of the shop, between the two counters,
and this was also wet with turpentine. It was under-
neath the shop, having penetrated through the ceiling
' Mr. Maxwell put the candle to the ceiling of the cellar,
and it blazed. There was a very strong smell. There
were two pieces of carpet on the floor between the
counters; these were wet with turpentine, lie found a
number of shoes saturated with turpentine. The bottle
he produced was the only vessel he found which had
contained turpentine; it might hold about a pint. There
was not much about the bottle. To saturate the articles
as they were, he thought would take a gallon of tur
pentine. The shop was in his division ; there wet-
another shop or two in the neighbourhood. He had
not heard of any injury threatened to the prisoner.
Mr. Thomas Abraham, superintendent of police, was
next called to give evidence. Ile stated that he resided
opposite the prisoner. He was roused from his sleep
by the alarm. The fire was then confined to the shop.
It was like a furnace all at once, all of a sudden. It
blazed ten minutes. His attention was called by inspector
Eaton, and they found the flames dying. They then
applied water, and broke into the shop. There were
chairs placed against the door, and steps. He saw the
flames through the' opening that had been forced be-
tween the doors. They could also see it through the
crevices of the door. (The shop has two windows, and
the shutters cover the entrance as well as the win-
dows.) The wood work was much scorched, as well
as a number of shelves that were well stocked with
boots and shoes. He directed Mr. Eaton to take pos-
session, which he did. He confined himself to the op-
posite side of the shop. He found on the shelves on his
side a quantity of paper, as well as the floor, partly
consumed. The shelves, paper, and shoes, were all wet,
Paper was placed about every six inches on each shelf.
The floor was quite covered with turpentine. He
brought samples of shoes from each of the six shelves,
all of which smelt strongly of turpentine. On the fifth
shelf he found a shoe stuffed with paper and saturated
with turpentine. Other articles were enumerated, as
wet with turpentine. It would take two gallons to do it
all. He also found a wooden bowl which had been fil-
led with turpentine. One waste book he found on the
' counter, it was wet through with turpentine ; the others
had been consumed. Near the parlour door and under
the counter he found a shirt, both sleeves were burnt.
Mr. Maxwell deposed that he was inspector of sal-
vages. He had been called to the fire, and affirmed to
the truth of what had been stated by the former wit-
nesses. He examined the rooms and the shop. Six
shelves on one side of the shop and five on the other
were saturated with turpentine. The premises were in-
sured for 4001. on stock, wearing apparel, and fixtures
They were insured in the Guardian-office, Mr. Chamley i
agent ; 340/. was on the stock, and 601. on the building,
on which the prisoner had spent money, and had on
lease. He had made a rough estimate on the value of
the stock. He considered that the whole might have
cost 1701. No part was entirely destroyed. The book
produced was the only one he saw. It was posted on
the 29th of May.
This being all the evidence prepared, Mr. Davenport,
on behalf of prisoner, said there was no room for
him to doubt that some one had set the house on fire,
but who did it ? The door of the house was open, and
the key was in the back door. He was told that several
perms had threatened to serve the prisoner out; but
not being prepared with witnesses he sought a remand.
The magistrate consented to hear the remainder of the
case to day, when it will come before him in the usual
business.—Liverpool Courier.

THE NAVIGATION LAWS.
The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the
_operation of the navigation !wars re-assembled on 'Tues-
day morning in Room No. 2. to continue that inquiry.
Members present, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Lyall,
Mr. Alderman Thompson. Mr. Hume, Mr. Liddell, Sir
George Clerk, Sir Howard Douglas, Admiral Dundas,
Mr. Thomas Baring, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Chark s
Pelham Villiers; and Mr. Milner Gibson, chairman.

The Committee proceeded with the cross-examination
of Mr. George Frederick Young-
With the permission of the Chairman, Mr. Young '
produced a certificate (rein Mr. Jansen, an eminent
underwriter at Lloyd's, and from the Secretary to the
Marine Insurance Society, both to the effect that the
statements made by Lim on a former occasion, with
regard to the rate of insurance being equal on both
foreign and English ships, and that they would assure a
Danizie oak-built ship at six per cent. for the wholes
year, at which rate they also assured a ten years English
oak-built ship.
By Mr. Mitchell—He was not aware that the state -
ment made by Mr. Jansen had been submitted to most o f
the leading underwriters at Lloyd's, and that they had'
refused to put their names to it.
By Mr. Ricardo—He considered that the ports of this
country were used as the great emporiums for the re-
ception of the produce of the distant quarters of the
world in consequence of that restriction of the Navi-
gation Act which prevent: d the importation from any
port in Europe for consumption in this country. if
the navieation-laws were repealed, and the cost
of warehousing were less in Antwerp than in
this country, the Dutch merchant would warehouse
his importations in Antwerp and not in England. He
had been told, upon very credible authority, that the
cost of warehousing in Antwerp was much cheaper than
in this country. The whole of the German market was
at present open to the Dutch merchant, and if the market
of England were added to that the inducement to ware-
house his goods at Antwerp would be infinitely greater
to the Antwerp merchant. Ships were continually ar-
riving at Cowes for a market ; and they waited there
until the consignee had ascertained the best market tog
which to send her cargo. These ships, however, were
chiefly laden with coffee and sugar.
By Sir George Clerk—He was fully aware of the im-
portance of encouraging the system of warehousing
goods. He was not able to say why goods were ware-
housed in this country for foreign consumption, not-
withstanding that the expcnse of warehousing was
less abroad than in this country. He did not think
it was owing to our insular position and the
facilities of our harbours, for the chief ports for
warehousing were London, Liverpool, and the
'`,lyde. If all foreign countries were to adopt navi-
gation-laws similar to our own, this country
would be placed in a particular disadvantage. He did
not think that would be obviated by a system of reci-
procity, because he was of opinion that the results of re-
ciprocity between two countries would be that the row
material would be imported into the one country in the
ship only of that country in which it was produced,
while the other would cnly have the exportation of the
manufactured goods—a most serious inconvenience to
this country, as the bulkier articles required for manu-
:actures would all be carried by the ships of other

countries.
By the Chairman--There was little or no profit at the
present time on the export trade ; the import trade only
was profitable. The export trade at present was open to
coreigners, and if th,-! import trade were also opened to
foreigners, he thought the result would be great depre-
AatiOn and disadvantage to the shipping of this country.
By Mr. Villiers— He had already stated that the
effect of freight on commerce was very much overrated ;
L d'fference of 11. or 2/. made no alteration in the price
A the article carried. Ile attached m'ire importance to
.he shipping as a national interest than as the interest of
ndividual shipowners. All the shipowners asked was,
that the capital embarked by them in their trade should
not be reduced, by the trade being tak,n away from them
ly the unrestricted admission of foreigners into our car-
rying trade to such an extent as would render it im-
aossihle for them to maintain the competition. His views
on this point were with regard to thee present, and not
to the future race of shipowners. The cost of produc-
tion might be diminished, hut not to a level with the
cost of production in the cheap competing countries. He
could conceive such a state of things, but he should
object to the sponging away the national debt, without
which they could not hope to cJnipete on equal terms
with the cheap nations.
The Chairman—Are you in favour of the shipowner
purchasing his provisions in the cheapest market?
Mr. Young—Certainly I am.
The Chairman—ls it an advantage to the shipowner
to purchase his provisions in the cheapest market?
Mr. Young—lt is a great advantage, and they were
glad to get what they required in the cheapest market.
The Chairman—Would it not be a benefit to the Bri-
tigh farmer to import his commodities in the cheapest
ships?
Mr. Young—He did net think so, because the reduc-
tion in the price of imported commodities would be so
immeasurably small, that it would not reach the con-

LORD CASTLEREAGH'S " JOURNEY TO DAMASCU
is at length published, and certainly there have been
few books of travels announced that have excited
greater attention. Not only are the countries through
which the author passed such as are invested with the
deepest interest to Christians of all denominations, as
the theatre of events recorded in both the Old and New
Testament, but the manner in which they are described'
cannot fail in securing the attention of the genera
reader, particularly as the work conveys a most ani-
mated picture of the East in our own day, including the
stupendous monuments of Egypt, and Nubia, the desert
tracts of Arabia Petrena, and their wandering in
the sacred localities of the Holy Land, and the
mountains and shores of Syria.
" BELL'S LIFE."--There were sold of Bell's Life
in London, during the past month of May—five publications
only, namely, May 2,9, 16, 23, and 30-141,561 copies,
making an average weekly sale of 28,312. The average sale
of Bell's Life for the whole of the year 1845 exceeded 25,000
copies each publication. The average sale of Belts Life for
the whole of the year 1846 exceeded 26,000 copies. The
average sale of Belts Life for the first four months Of this
year, 1847, exceeded 27,000 copies; and the average sale of
Begs Life for the past month of May exceeded `a,coo copies.
Bees Life is regularly published in time for all the Saturday
afternoon railways.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGwohlYileßthAeifiLxw,eAolc.-I,ckSiti,rAai'k.til
rm. ACT.—On Tuesday week,
W esatsPsrtrmuccek' ,osntrteLt
Gardens,
eproceeding n tohpreottit gh
carriagethe 'gto.
face by a stone, which kLocked him downwand seriously in-
jured hint. The guard was also struck by it, but not hurt.
The stone was thrown by a boy from one of the wooden
bridges
d
bridges which cross the railway for the convenience of these
who prJmenade in these gardens.—Caledonian Mercury.
oesne
DREADFULadr
edreadful
u ACCIDENT.—On Thursday afternoon
last,
accident happened at the Partnewynitid
forge by the bursting of a boiler. The scene was really ter-
rific ; one large piece of iron passed through the root of the
Carr:, jog everything before it, and several stones arid
bricks dropped on the roof of the houses near; and the win-
dows were all b roken. There were altogether fifteen per-
sons scalded and otherwise injured, ten of whom are now
wider medical care.—Heriford Mu&

sumer.
The Chairman—But might not the farmer say, that
;he reduction in the price of provisions would be so
im-
measurably small, that it would not reach the ship-
owners ?
Mr. Young—He did not think so, because corn being
3 bulky article, and therefore paying a high freight, the
farmer had still some protection.
The Chairman—Bat the protection being taken away
from the farmer, you are still prepared to maintain the
protection to the shipowner?
Mr. Young—You cannot repair one injury by inflict-
ing a second.
Mr. Villiers—You were opposed to the protection of
the agricultural interests, for you voted for the abolition
of the sliding-scale.
Mr. Young—Ho did not think it just that the farmer
should be deprived of all protection. He had always
been in favour of a fixed duty.
Mr. Alderman Thompson wished to know what the
corn-laws had to do with the navigation-laws?
The Chairman—The navigation-laws have to do with
the importation of corn.
Mr. Alderman Thompson moved that the room be
cleared.
The Chairman—Stop a moment. I do not wish to
inquire into the coro-laws,but I must insist on my right
to put these questions, which arc perfectly relevant to
the inquiry.
Mr. Alderman Thompson protested against the chair-
man making a speech after he had moved that the room
be cleared.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. On our
re-admission,
By the Chairman—Witness was aware that the
farmer was exposed to unlimited competition with the
continent in the articles of corn, cheese, butter, and
cattle; but, notwithstanding that, he would still main-
tain protection to the British shipowner.
The Chairman was p..asuing this course of inquiry
when the Committee were summoned to prayers, and
they accordingly adjourned until this day.