The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

DECEMBER io, 15,0.

Charter Act should be retained or abandoned, it was
astonishing, to say the least, and must be unsatisfactory
to the country, to see that every lion. Member who
voted in any way against the prineip!e of that Bill was
carefully exchuled ; and, for the reasons he had stated
on a former night and reiterated now, he proposed that
the names of Mr. Henley and Mr. Ilastie should be in-
serted in the list of the Committee.
Mr. WAKLEY thought that the resolution appoint-
ing the Committee ought to be rescinded. There was a
general opinion abroad that this Committee was only
appointed for the purpose of shirking a full and fair
Inquiry into the operations of the Bank Charter Act.
He admitted that the Right Hon. Baronet the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer was placed in a very difficult
position. It was difficult to prescribe for a patient in
any case of disease, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer
had not only attempted to prescribe, but he had to choose
the doctors who should prescribe. But do these doctors
come free from conviction? No; they will not be changed
in their opinion by the result of any inquiry. The
Right Honourable Baronet has had to select the
doctors who have already prescribed for, and
nearly killed the patient, John Bull.—(Laugh-
ter.) Ono of the doctors said that there was some-
thing the matter with the spine ; another that
the patient had a difficulty of breathing; another
said that there was something wrong with the
state of the circulation—(Laughter)----that the circu-
lating medium was out of order.—(Laughter.) These
doctors have already pursued their mode of treatment
for the patient in opposition to the opinions of all im-
partial and philosophic men; they were wrong in their
course, but they were entitled to their mode of procedure.
The members of the Committee were so pledged that
there was no hope, that out of any investigations that
might be made, they would be induced to alter their
opinion of the state of the patient, or of the remedies
required. One of the doctors will still go on working
with his digestive remedies at the stomach, another will
contiaue probing the spine, one will try his
olden remedy, another his caustic or salve remedy.—
(Hear, hear.) There was no doubt that they would
again have the old prescriptions, because the majority
were in favour of the old remedies.—(Hear, hear.) Now,
why not try a prescription at once ? Why all this
waste of time ? What was the use of keeping
twenty-six men for months in such a process
of inquiry ? Why, an old Dorking hen in
a farm-yard would in three weeks, by an assiduous
attention to her duties, add more value to the farm than
this Committee if it continued sitting for six months.—
(Laughter.) He begged of the Committee not to sit at
all, they would hatch no brood of fine chickens—
(Laughter)—at best they would only addle the eggs.—
(Renewed laughter.) He most sincerely trusted that the
Governmeetwould reconsider their decision and give up the
idea of employing 26 men for a length of time upon so
fruitless an inquiry. lie knew that already Hon. Gen-
tlemen shrunk from an inquiry into the defects of the
Act of 1844. The inquiry was to be an inquiry into tho
commercial distress. Why, they could not come to the
Bank Charter till next June or possibly June, 1849.
Now some of these doctors had been already at work.
Some had received their fees, others had not. But there
was now another party who were expectants, and ex-
pected to be called in ; that was the Radical party.
Now, of that party he saw only one name upon the Com-
mittee, and that was the Hon. Member for Montrose
(Mr. Hume), and he had declined to serve. Now,
he (Mr. Wakley) proposed to put in his place
another name, the name of a Radical—the Hon.
Member for Birmingham (Mr. Mintz). He
was a hardware man, a hard headed man, a man who
had got brains, and, speaking physiologically, he should
say, brains of the right sort.—(Laughter.) A person
had only to look at him, and it was enough to see that he
understood the question. There wee no doubt that this was
a question which had engaged much of his attention.
He (Mr. Wakley) proposed, therefore, that the name of
Mr. Muntz should be inserted instead of the Hon.
Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume). It was not neces-
sary that he should offer any apology to that Hon.
Member. He had declined to serve. There was
no person in that House who would more value
the services of that Hon. Member upon the Committee
than he would.—(Hear.) He (Mr. Wakley) had a great
regard for the health of that Hon. Member, and at his
period of life he ought not to be placed in such a situa-
tion.—(Laughter.) The Hon. Member behind him
(Mr. Muntz) could, he thought, stand the difficulty ; he
was a manufacturer and an employer of labour; he had
investigated the subject; he was also a foreign
merchant, a very large foreign merchant, and under-
stood the question of the exchanges. He (Mr. Wakley)
believed that the Government were of opinion that there
was but one man besides the Right Hon. Baronet the
Member for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel) who did under-
stand that question. That gentleman was, he believed,
a very wealthy man, and he was told also that he was
very desirous of increasing his wealth. He wished not
to speak disrespectfully of any Hon. Gentleman who
was not present in the House to speak fur himself.
Upon a question of this kind, which affected the industry
of the country and the condition of millions of the poor
people of the country—(Hear, hear)—a wealthy man,
and a covetous man, was the last that ought to be con-
sulted on the question.—(No, no.) Well, it was said
that he was a covetous man. It was with great
regret that he made any allusion to that Hon. Gentle-
man, but he had been told that that Hon. Gentleman
had absolutely refused to incur the legal expenses ne-
cessary in order to enable him to take his seat in that
House.—(" No, no." from Mr. Wilson and other Hon.
Members.) The Hon. Member for Westbury appeared
shocked by such a statement, but he would hear a great
many stranger things in that House before he had
been long there. (Hear, hear.) This, however,
he (Mr. Waltley) did say, that a case affect-
ing the industry of the country, and the millions
of its poorer classes, rich men—he would not indi-
vidualise them—were not the first that ought to be
consulted; they had in general a morbid desire to secure
what they already possessed, and to obtain as much
more as possible.—(Laughter.) The Chancellor of the
Exchequer had selected the " ins and outs " and the
" expectants," and the " expect ants" are not pledged to a
measure as the "ins and outs" are, but he had neglected to
make that selection which he should have done with a
regard to the industry and condition of the people of
the country.—(Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the
Exchequer had referred in his speech to two railway
directors upon the Committee as being the employers of
labour, but they were employers of labour in companies.
Give him (Mr. Wakley) the man who was himself the
employer of labour, who superintended his own
workmen, who was present on the Saturday nights
and knew the difficulty of " handing" out the "needful"
to his workmen. These were the men to place upon a
Committee such as this. He (Mr. Wakley) had stated
the Hon. Member for Birmingham was a person who
had conducted his own business in a manner which had
obtained for him the greatest credit and repute ;
he was a man of undoubted honour and integrity,
a man respected by those who knew him
in private life, and there was also a large class of
people in the country who believed that there was no
man in the country who understood the subject better
than he did.—(Efear, hear.) He had placed the name
of the Hon. Gentleman upon the paper without consulting
him, and after his name was on he (Mr. Muntz) ex-
pressed his regret that he had done so, and stated his in-
tention of not serving upon the Committee. He (Mr.Wak-
ley)befieved that he had since relinquished that intention,
and was now prepared, should the House think fit to
adopt his name, instead of that of the Hon. Member
for Montrose, to sit upon the Committee. In proposing
the name of that Hon. Member, he thought that he
would prove useful, dignified, and ornamental—
(Laughter)—should he be placed upon the Committee.
Mr. HUME thought it right that he should stand
before the House and country as not shrinking from any
duty which devolved upon him. It was quite true that
he was not so young as he once was; but it was not on
account of his age that he declined to serve. He felt
that he was as much able to perform the duties of a Com-
mitteeman as he ever was. Ho had a conscientious reason
for declining to serve on a Committee to whom was to be
handed over a system of currency to legislate upon as
difficult and as useless as to legislate for the motion of
the stars. —(Heer, hear.) One of his great objections
to the Bank of England was that that institution was
to be made the great bill-broker of the couutry. Radi-
cally, therefore, they were wrong in fixing the
amount of capital upon which they were to
trade as such. He objected to the Government having
anything to do with the Bank of England upon any
other terms than any other banking house. Was it not
most preposterous that a Government like this should
have to borrow money, its 6 or 7 millions from the Bank,
for the purpose of paying its dividends? If by any un-
forseen difficulties the Bank had been unable to advance
the money, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not
have had a shilling to pay the dividends. There was a
growing conviction, both in this House and out of it,
that monopoly and restriction were the bane of com-
merce. Was not banking a portion of commerce ? If
so, why, then, should restrictions be placed upon the
banking transactions of the Government?—(Hear, hear.)
He objected therefore to go into Committee, because
he saw that they were going away from the
root of the evil. For the last thirty years
the Government of the country had endea-
voured to legislate for commerce, and what had been
the result but the loss of millions and millions to
the country? The Government placed upon the Bank
a duty which it was not possible for human nature to
perform. The Government had robbed them of their
capital, and how was it possible for then to supply
the country with the necessary accommodation ?
The Bank of England agreed to advance, in the year
1830, the sum of 13,000,0001, for the purchase of the
" dead weight." At that time the Bank had no capital,
but purchased that " dead weight" out of the deposits
entrusted to them. Up to this time the Bank had been
trading with capital; the Government had it all, and
they had nothing but the " rest " to trade upon.
The Bank of England was literally bankrupt through
the conduct of the Government, and he most decidedly
objected to going into Committee for the purpose of
continuing this evil,—(Laughter.) A short time since
the deposits at the Bank were 20,000,0001., and the whole
reserve of their notes amounted to 1,150,000/., and even
that sum was divided over thirteen branch banks,

one of which most strangely advanced 40,0001:
to save another bank of issue in the north. Now,

suppose all these other branch banks had done
the same, where would have been the credit of the
Bank? Why it would have been gone, and a cheque
for 10,000/. might have brought the whole matter to a
crisis.—(Hear, hear.) And yet it was at this period
that the Government stepped in against law
to authorise the issue of more notes, for which
it would have been impossible to have obtained
gold in payment. It was fortunate that these things
were not attended at the time by any serious result ; but
was it not preposterous that the country should be placed
at the mercy of such an institution ?—(Hear, hear.) He
would pledge himself to prove to the House, if they
would refuse to appoint this Committee, that in New
York there had not been any single bank of issue
which had mad© any default, and they were

entirely free from any legislative interference whatever.
He had no hesitation in saying that the whole of the
banking policy of the Government, and even of that
House, had been under the control of Mr. Jones Loyd, and
it was high time some change was introduced into the sys-
tem. The fallacies of Mr. Jones Loyd ought to be aban-
doned, but this could not be done if this Committee were
agreed to, and therefore it was that ho opposed it.
He remembered Mr. Jones Leyd was examined before
the Committee of 1840 till he was exhausted, and
then he (Mr. Hume) asked for leave to examine
him.—(Hear, aad laughter.) And if the House would
read the answers that Mr. Jones Loyd gave to his
questions, they would be convinced of the absurdity
of the present system of banking in this country.—
(Hear, hear.) The question of the corn-laws was of
secondary importance, as compared with the banking
question; but now that they had established freedom of
trade in oorn, the least they could do was to allow free-
dom of trade in banking. Act, however, as the House
would, of this he was convinced, that freedom of trade
must always prove of no utility whilst there was no free-
dom in banking.—(llear, hear.)
Mr. CARD WELL did not rise to complain of the
proposal to strike his name off the Committee, but to
read to the House un extract from a speech which Mr.
Horner delivered in that House, in 1811, to show that
every member of the Committee of 1810 was open to
follow what course he thought proper, and best calcu-
lated to elucidate his own views and opinions. With regard
to himself, all he could say was that if the House preferred
substituting the name of the Hon. Member for South
Lancashire for his own he would most cheerfully resign
bis pretensions to any seat he the Committee.
Mr. STAFFORD rose to protest against the insinua-
tions which the Hon. Member for Finsbury had thrown
out against Mr. Junes Loyd, and at the same time to deny
that the banking policy either of the present or the late
Government was ever under the control of that gentleman.
He knew nothing personally of Mr. Jones Loyd, but he
was sure, from what he had seen of him as chairman of
the late Irish Relief Committee, that he did not merit
the aspersions which the Hon. Members for Finsbury
and Montrose had attempted to cast upon him.—(Hear.)
Mr. J. B. SMITH, amidst some contusion, and cries
of " Oh, oh," and " Divide, divide," protested against
placing so many Members upon the Committee.
After a few words from Mr. FORBES and Mr. HERRIES,
Mr. PATTISON said he had no wish to serve on this
Committee, because he could see no good that was likely
to result from its appointment. He did not agree with
the Bill of 1844, and he was firmly convineed that
if the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for
Tamworth were again at the head of the Government he
would be the first to propose an alteration in it.—
(Cheers.) Ile repeated that by appointing this Com-
mittee they were only burking the real question at issue,
and therefore he must object to serve upon it. The Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer knew his opinions upon this
subject, and no doubt it was this knowledge that induced
him to omit his name from the Committee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was
understood to say it was not so.
The names of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord
John Russell, Sir Robert Peel, Lord George Bentinck,
Mr. Ilerries, Mr. Goulburn, and Alderman Thompson,
were agreed to.
On the name of Mr. Labouchere being proposed,
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK moved that Mr. La-
bouchere's name be excluded, and the name of Mr.
Ilastie substituted.
Mr. HASTIE was understood to object to serve.
Mr. LABOUCHERE was sure the Noble Lord did
not propose the omission of his name from a want
of courtesy towards him, but of course he could
not object to serve on the Committee, and he must,
therefore, leave the matter in the hands of the House.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 77
Against it
Majority in favour of Mr. La-
bouchere's name -117
The House then divided on the amendment, that
Mr. Brown should be placed on the Committee in the
room of Mr. Cardwell, when there appeared—
For the original motion
For the amendment
Majority in favour of Mr. Card-
well's name

66

Mr. BOUVERIE complained that, owing to the door
of one of the lobbies having been closed, he, aril others
who intended to have voted with him, were debarred
from carrying out their intentions.
The SPEAKER said the door of the House was open,
and declared that the division, as it stood, was final.
The Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms was, however, directed
by the Right Hon. Gentleman to ascertain if any Hon.
Members were in either of the lobbies.
Mr. Clementson, the Deputy-Sergeant, left the
House, and, after the lapse of a few minutes, returned to
the table, and reported that no Hon. Members were in
the lobby.
Mr. WAKLEY retracted the expressions which he
had made with reference to Mr. Jones Loyd, as they
were erroneous, and regretted that he had cast asper-
sions upon a gentleman who was not in that House to
defend himself.
Mr. B. OSBORNE also withdrew the expressions he
had used with respeot to Mr. Loyd.
Mr. lIUME (whose name stood next) hoped the House
would excuse him from the Committee. The Hon.
Gentleman then left the House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER trusted
they would have the benefit of the services of the Hon.
Member. Ho hoped, therefore, the House would con-
sent to his appointment.
Several Holz. MEMBERS here emphatically declared
that the Hon. Member had distinctly stated that he de-
clined to serve upon the Committee.
Mr. WAKLEY moved the appointment of Mr. Muntz
in lieu of Mr. Hume, which was recorded.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For Mr. Hume's name
For Mr. Mun'z 97
Majority —9l
We found, on our re-admission,
Mr. WAKLEY declaring that it appeared to him
that it was the intention of the Government, in pressing
the appointment of Mr. Ilume, after he had declined to
serve, in the room of Mr. Muntz, that they were deter-
mined that there should be no amendment to their
nomination; he, therefore, felt it his duty reluctantly to
move that the debate be adjourned.
Colonel SIBTHORP seconded the motion. The
conduct of the House in this matter could not fail to he
reprobated out of doors.
Lord J. RUSSELL considered that the Hon. Member
for Finsbury had misunderstood his Right Hon. Friend.
His Bight Hon. Friend did not wish to press the election
of Mr. Hume against his will. He considered it was the
wish of the Hon. Member for Montrose to leave the
matter in the hands of the House. He was
willing to accede to the names proposed by other Mem-
bers, if it was the wish of the House. If, after his
appointment, Mr. Hume positively declined to continue a
member of the Committee, the Government would be
ready to accede to the appointment of the Hon. Member
for Birmingham.
Dr. BOWRING thought the statement of the Hon.
Member for Montrose might be appropriately termed a
nolo episcopari.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") That certainly
was his impression, namely, that he would serve if the
House thought proper to elect him.—(No, no.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had no objection to the election of Mr. Muntz if Mr.
Hume should decline.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord G. BENTINCK hoped the lion. Member for
Finsbury would not persist in his motion.
Mr. ANSTY said Mr. Hume stated to him that he
should not serve upon the Committee. He should sup-
port the election of Mr. Muntz in the room of Mr.
Wilson.

Sir R. PEEL thought the House ought not to
part lightly with the privilege which it possessed
of electing lion. Members to serve upon Committees.
He had voted for the placing of Mr. Hume upon the
Committee. He could assure the House that the last
thing in his mind was any intention to exclude either
Mr. Muntz or Mr. James Wilson from the Committee,
as he considered that the attention which Mr. Muntz
had paid to the subject well fitted him to take
a part in the proposed inquiry ; and he also
thought that it would be desirable to have the Scotch
banking represented either by Mr. Hastie, the Member
for Glasgow, or Mr. Hastie, the Member for Paisley.
But he did not understand the Honourable
Member for Montrose to express a positive in-
tention to withdraw if he was appointed, and
considering the long period of his labours, that he bad
stated to-day that his age formed no impediment to the
faithful performance of his public duties—considering,
further, the disinterestedness of his public labours,
he thought his election a just compliment of the
House that he was in every way qualified to
take a part in such an inquiry ; but if he should wish
to withdraw, he should be willing to support the appoint-
ment of Mr. Hastie ; or it Mr. Muntz was proposed he
should feel very much inclined to vote for him:—(Hear.)
Ile thought it would be well for them to abide by the
decision to which they had come until the Hon. Gentle-
man had signified his intention to wiwithdraw.—(Hear.)Mr. WAKLEY withdrew his motion.
The House again divided on the motion that Mr.
Henley's name should be substituted for that of Mr.
Ricardo, when there appeared—
For Mr. Ricardo's name
Against it
Majority —67
An HoN. MEssimit complained that so few country
gentlemen had been nominated.
Mr. OSBORNE then proposed that the name of Mr.
Glyn should be excluded, and the name of Mr. Rey-
nolds, Member for Dublin, substituted. He did not
know whether it was competent for him to move the
substitution of Mr. Reynolds' name, but there could be
no doubt that he was perfectly in order in moving the
expulsion of Mr. Glyn's name.
Lord G. BENTINCIC said there could be no doubt that
Mr. Glyn was a strong Whig, but still he was a most
competent man to serve on this Committee, and he hored
the motion of the Hoe. Member for Middlesex would not
bo persevered in.
Mr. REYNOLDS would certainly not serve on the
Committee if his name was to be substituted in lieu of
that of so eminent an authority upon monetary and
commercial matters as Mr. Glyn. Ile must, at the same
time, express his opinion that Ireland was not fairly
and properly represented in this Committee. No country
had suffered more from monopoly in banking than
Ireland, and she ought, therefore, to have been more
fairly represented.
After a fi.w words from Mr. D. CALLAGHAN, who

expressed himself satisfied with the Committee as it

originally stood, the motion was withdrawn, and Mr.
Glyn's name was agreed to.
On the question that Sir William Clay's name be
agreed to,
Lord G. BENTINCK moved, as an amendment, that it
be excluded, and Mr. Pattison's name substituted.
After a few words from Mr. PATTISON, who said
he had no wish to serve, the House divided, when there
appeared—

For the amendmemt lll2
Against it
Majority for Sir Wm. Clay -30
Mr. ANSTY moved that the nomination of Mr.
Thornely be poEtpoed until a future time.
The galleries were cleared, but no division took place
the motion having been withdrawn.
The other names were then agreed to. The Com-
mitten stands as originally proposed by the Government•
SITTINGS AFTER TWELVE O'CLOCK.

Mr. BROTHERTON proposed that when any new
business is brought on after twelve o'clock at night, if it
be moved and seconded that the debate on such question
be adjourned, the Speaker should immediately declare the
debate adjourned, without putting the question to the vote.
He said he had, in making the motion, the health of the
Speaker and the House in view. He simply wished de-
bates to be adjourned at twelve o'clock, without dis-
cussion, but ho did not wish his motion to apply to
business which was commenoed before twelve, and
which extended beyond that hour. Wednesday sittings
had proved most successful, and he concludes; that they
would do well to go back to the times of their ancestors,
who met at noon to rise at six. The business was better
transacted during the day than night. It appeared by
returns presented to the House that in 1842 the House
sat 117 days, and 125 hours after midnight ; rn 1843,
the House sat 119 days, and 105} hours after midnight;
in 1844, the House sat 119 days, and 69 hours after
midnight ; in 1845, days of sitting 119, hours after mid-
night 96 ; in 1846, days of sitting 139, hours after mid-
sight 774 ; in 1847, days of sitting 121, hours after
midnight 714. Comparing 1842 with 1847 it would
be seen that the present Administration, to which he
was favourable, had had the opportunity of proceeding
with business during fewer hours after midnight than
the Administration which existed in 1842, to which be
was opposed. His motion would apply simply
t) questions which might be brought on after mid-
night. He had often seen several hours after mid-
night wasted in discussions on Irish police and Scotch
fisheries which were of no use whatever. He was in
favour of the Legislature conducting their proceedings
by daylight.
Dr. BO WRING seconded the motion.

Mr. EWART complained that the motion of his Hon.
Friend did not go far enough, and proposed as an amend-
ment that the House should meet every day from twelve
to six. This would give them sufficient time to transact
the public business efficiently, and would not withdraw
Hon. Members from their respective domestic circles.
He should not press his motion to a division.
Sir GEORGE GREY opposed the motion, as he
considered it would put it in the power of
any two Members to adjourn the House during
an important debate on a subject which admitted of no
delay. Sitting every day would prove most incouveniont.
The Hon. Geratleman had done much good service in
adjourning debates at late hours, and he hoped ho would
exercise his power whenever he found due occasion.
Lord G. BENTINCK said, the subsistence of the
Hon. Gentleman on a vegetable and water diet had led
him to believe that the best way to live long was to ab-
stain from late hours; but he could not forget the words
of the song—

"The best of all ways to lengthen our days
Is to steal a few hours from the night, my boys."
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY suggested that there should
be a standing order that no Member should speak longer
than half an hour, nor make more than fifty ref, rencell
to books or speeches.—(Laughter.)
Mr. BROTHERTON would press his motion to
division; he once possessed some influence in that
House with respect to adjourning debates, but of late
years he had not been able to catch the Speaker's eye.
The House divided, when their appeared—
For the motion
Against it .
Majority
The O'GORMAN MAHON stated that he and several
Irish Members were deliberating in one of the Com-
mittee-rooms, and when the bell rang for a division they
hastened thither, but found the door closed, and they
were consequently shut out. He thought this rather
diicourteous.

Sir G. GREY replied that as soon as strangers had
left the House, the Speaker was bound to put the
question, before which the doors were closed. U.
was sure there was no intention to exclude the non•
Member and hi► friends.—(Hear.)
The House adjourned at Five minutes to Six.

STATE OF TRADE.
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The market here continue'
generally in the dull and inanimate condition which it
has exhibited for two or three weeks past. There it
little demand, except for lung-cloths and a
few other
inferior fabrics, suitable to the Levant trade. The"
fully maintain their prices, and are now remunerating
the manufacturers. In other descriptions of goods, and
in yarns generally, there is very little business done,
and that generally at slightly declining prices.
We hear from various quarters of arrangements
making by millowners to elude the provisions of the last
Factories' Regulation Act, by increasing those descrip-
tions of machinery for which the labour of women andyoung perscns is required, and working the mules an
looms, with men only, for thirteen or fourteen hours per
day. There is no doubt that the parties who adopt this
plan will readily obtain hands; for however much some
portion of the workpeople may have clamoured
for a Ten Hours' Bill, very few indeed of them will
accept employment at that rate, if they can procure it
at the rate of thirteen or fourteen hours per day. The
obvious effect of any extensive adoption of this mode of
working will be, to make a very serious difference in
the rate of payment for the labour of those who can and
those who cannot legally work beyond ten hours, to the
great detriment of the latter, who will not only be pre-
vented from performing the same quantity of work, bet
must necessarily be paid a lower price for what they do
perform.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The demand for flannels
continues dull, and the business transacted to-day has
been very light. The manufacturers complain of the
low prices given for their goods, and this is likely to be
the case while the demand for flannels continues so
limited. Wool is much the same, both in price and
demand, as last week.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—Fewer merchants made their
appearance in the Piece-hall to-day than this day week,
and but little business has been done. There seems to
be an impression that things will take a favourable
turn after Christmas, yet that the improvement,
tv.:nhueannei do
et
ofoepseiciowmeen, will be
tiierenabivinegrythgeradual. T
export
merchants
rehcaonnt;
to ship, supports the limited demand for yarn that ilea
been experience d the last few weeks; but in spite of
he
tthe
reduced producti on, job lots are still thrown upon
t
market. Prices for known spinnings continue with"
alteration. Deep bright wool, both hogs and wetherh
are thin in the market, and are in request; but wail
sacrifices are made under the pressure of necessity-
Short wools remain without change.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—More sales have beet_ lie
effected to-day, in the Cloth-hall, than last week, 1,"
these have been in the lowest description of goods'
is an inclination to purchase the better sort 0
woollens, but at such sacrifices that manufacturers are
unwilling to accept, feeling assured that a few peeks
will produce in our affairs a more healthy state. Tu:
being what is termed " Second Tuesday," there is
general complaint of the difficulty in obtaining setts'
ments.

LEEDS, TUESDAY.-OUr market presents little alteri:
tion from last week, the tendency being, though, tO
wards improvement.—Manchester Guardian.

-------- -
SCOTTISH CENTRAL AND CALF
DONIAN RAILWAYS.
The competition between the Edinburgh and Glase
and the Caledonian for the possession of the Scottish
a
Central to form an extension ;and conjoined portion °
their respective systems of communication, which was 6:
energetically pursued last summer, at length brought th
parties into the Court of Session. The Scottish Central
shareholders having, in the course of last summer, con'
stilted the Lord Advocate and the Hon. J. C. Talbott °-
the English bar, obtained a clear opinion from thosa
eminent counsel that the agreement entered into by l
it
Caledonian to lease the Central was to all intents 1)°,7
and void, as there was no statutory power to that effect.
In those circumstances, and on the farther ground, that
they had never been rightly apprised of the nature of lb!
agreement under which their property was to be deliversta
over to the Caledonian and the English companies, the/
passed, by a large majority, resolutions holding the Non'.
at an end. The Caledonian, on the other hand, main-
tained that the agreement was valid and effectual, and than
according to its tenor, it bound both parties to unite OA)
plying year after year to Parliament to sanction the
,amal-
gamation until success crowned their efforts, and that until
such sanction was obtained the parties were boiled to eaLtef.
into a working agreement to accomplish as far as possible
the objects of their union. Acting on this view the Cale
~
doniau applied to the Court of Session to interdietri
Scottish Central Company from departing from "'so
agreement and relative stipulations by entering into
new agreement with the Edinburgh and Glasgow or aaJ
other company. After various proceedings in the cave
the first division of the Court of Session, en Saturday
last, confirmed the view held by the Caledonian all
London and North Western Companies, and continual'
the interdict.
This decision, which has caused a considerable sense'
tion among railway companies, will, we understan%D:
appealed, as grave doubts are entertained by some of ,1,11
gentlemen of the bar u to its soundness, when viewed.'
connexion with the railway statutes. It is contended
that the Court have here given a sanction to an 4112110
ment, which a railway company had no power undo;
statute to contract, and that, therefore, if this
walk decision
aat
was to bo the rule, railway companies may now
of the statute to which alone they owe their being,.,!l_l_
at their own pleasure enter into agreements involv
great public interests.—Caledonian Mercury.
now

81117118.
On the 29th of October, at Poona. the wife of CaPts
Hinde, of the Bth (King's) Regiment, of a son.
On the sth inst., at York House Thornton-heath, Croydout
'
the wife of J. G. Maud, Esq., of a daughter.
On the 12th inst., in Wimpole• street, Cavendish-squares
the lady of Thomas Land, Esq., of a daughter.
On the 13th inst., at the Vicarage, Chatteris, the lady of
the Rev. Mr. Gathercole, of a son.

DIED
Lost at sea. in April last, in;the. Hon. East India Compallfs
third steamship
ojCl3i n
lieiro.pssatet:riae,aonft whichLawe heLewes,
agedwae acting master, Thomas,
Corrie, aged 54. in Baker-street, Portman-square, Dias, the
On the 10th inst., in South- street, Greenwich, Mrs. Frances
S. Clare Dixon, relict of the late Captain Dixon.
On the 7th inst., at Birmingham, Abraham Booth, eldest
son of the late Mr. Isaac Booth, of hackney, aged 40.
On the 9th inst., Miss Amelia Huson, of Southarnptou
place, Euston-square, aged 81.
—.mew

-.......-
London : Printed and Published by RIURDO YOUXG:I2,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, )10_,.., 1, of
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, is the Heim
hiiddletex, Thursday, December 16, 1847.