The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY_ EVENING, MARCH 4, 1847.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY (ENLARGE-
MENT OF LONDON AND STRATFORD
STATION AND AMENDMENT OF ACTS).
On the motion that this Bill be read a second time,
Mr. FOSTER said the title of the Bill did not convey
the exact object of the Bill, which was for the purpose of
raising capital to create a steam-boat company in con-
nexion with the railway; he, therefore, felt it his duty
to move that the Bill be postponed until that day fort-
night.
Lord SANDON seconded the motion.
Mr. A. HAS LIE said he was not aware of the ob-
jectionable clause in the Bill, and consented, on the part
of the promoters of the Bill, to postpone the second
reading fur a fortnight.
Lord SANDON stigmatised the Bill as one framed
for the purpose of deceiving the House, as under its title
it sought to vest the railway company with power to
raise capital for the purpose of becoming
steam-boat proprietors. It was the incumbent
duty of the railway department of the Board of
Trade to see that Bills which professed to be simply
railway Bills had nonanother object in view before they
came before the House, as it could not be expected that
the House could find time to analyse the nature of all the
railway Bills which came before it.
Lora G. SOMERSET agreed with the Noble Lord
that the railway department of the Board of Trade
should revise railway Bills before they came under the
consideration of the House.
The motion was agreed to.
PROTESTANT DISSENTERS AND GENERAL
LIFE AND FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
This Bill was read a third time.
MANC HESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND MID-
LAND JUNCTION DEVIATION BILL.
Mr. EGERTON postponed the second reading of this
Bill until Tuesday next.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (LINCOLN AND
GRANTHAM).
This Bill was read a second time.
TEN HOURS' BILL.
Sir A. L. HAY presented a petition from millowners
in Aberdeen, employing upwards oflo,ooo men, expressing
their alarm at the Ten Hours' Bill, and praying the
House not to consent to any alteration in the present
arrangements between the employer and the employed,
as they considered that any such alteration would be in-
jurious to both.
LIGHT DUES.
An Hoer. MEMBER presented a petition from Glasgow
complaining of the excessive charge of the light dues.
Mr. FOSTER presented two petitions to the same effect
RAILWAY TRAVELLING ON SUNDAYS.
Mr. SPOONER presented five petitions from Shrews-
bury, Ipswich, and York, regretting that railway
Acts had been passed allowing the running of
trains on Sundays ; setting forth that the running
of trains on that day was contrary to law ;
and praying the Rouse to repeal the clauses in the
various railway Acts permitting this practice, and not.
to pass any railway Bill which contained a similar ps o-
visian. Ile should move to-morrow that the petition
from York be printed with the votes, as it was his in-
tention to call the attention of the House to the question
on a future day.
RAILWAY REGULATION BILL.
The Hoer. MEMBER also presented a petition from
the directors of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway
against this Bill.
ANATOMY ACT.
Mr. FERRAND presented two petitions from places
in the West Riding of Yorkshire against certain clauses
in this Act.
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from Wigan
against this Bill.
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
Mr. ELLICE' desired to draw the attention of the
House to the dismissal of two Committees, of one of
which he was chairman, without any explanation being
afforded to the Members. He would, therefore, ask the
Chairman of the Committee of Selection, whether, after
the appointment of Committees, and after having Bills
referred to them, the Committee of Selection would
enter into the consideration of complaints preferred
against members of those Committees?
Sir W. HEATIICOTE called the attention of the
House to the standing orders relating to the selection of
Members on railway Committees, which provided that
no Member should be placed on such Committees who
had any private interest himself in any railway Bill to
be brought before it; or whose constituents had a direct
interest in the passing of any such Bill. This caused
the Committee of Selection last year to proceed with
great caution. But it was not for any of the above
reasons that the llon. Member who had asked the ques-
tion, or the other gentleman selected with him, had been
discharged from serving. The Committee on which
they had been named to serve was one to deal with lines
invo.v:ng the broad and narrow gauges, and at that
time the question of the gauges excited great interest,
not only in the localities through which the lines passed,
but in towns remote from the routes of the lines. On this
account the Hon. Member, as being the representative for
Coventry, which took a great interest in the narrow
gauge, and, therefore, without the least imputation
on the Hon. Member, but in order that there might
not be the least ground for supposing any undue bias, he
was discharged from attendance. The same applied to
the other lion. Members, whose services were not re-
quired.
Mr. ELLICE was not satisfied with the explanation
given, as he thought, after Members had been selected on
a Committee, and had made the declaration, they should
not be discharged without some good reason for the same.
He was very glad that his Hon. Friend had no other ob-
jection to allege than that his constituents were sup-
posed to be in favour of the narrow gauge, in conse-
quence of the railway passing through Coventry. It gave
him the occasion of again pressing upon the consideration
of the House the absolute folly of going on with the pre-
sent system. In order to show that he was disinterested
he would refer to a statement he had already made,
hoping that some member of her Majesty's Government
• would propose a resolution by which all competition
between the two gauges should be referred to competent
judges. The Committee had refused to entertain the
consideration of the gauges, on the ground that they did
not consider themselves competent judges. The parties
interested did not themselves consider the Committee s
impartial on the question, and it was impossible to find
any one Committee upon which there could not be found
one Member who had not already formed opinions on
the question. 300,0001. had been spent in the discussion
of the question before a Committee of that House, and
when such sums were expended the losing party would
be ready enough to accuse the Committee of not being
so pure as they supposed themseles to be. He hoped
that the House would find a remedy for such a s) stem.
After a few words from Lord G. SOMERSET, which
did not reach the gallery,
Mr. STRUTT said that the Railway Commissioners
had sent round certain returns to be filled up by
the Railway Companies, on this question. Those
returns were afterwards to be reported upon by
the Commissioners to the House. Very likely
early next week this report would be prepared and
in the hands of Honourable Members. With regard
to his own interpretation of the resolution, he did not
know whether his opinion would be of any great im-
portance, but certainly he understood it to mean that no
Bill should be proceeded with till the terms of the reso-
lution had been carried out.
Mr. HODGSON said it' that were the case no Bills
would be proceeded with till after Easter. Ile con-
sidered this was most unfair, and the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman the Member for Coventry was to blame for not
having brought forward the subject earlier.
Mr. ELLICE said the reason why he did not bring
fcrward this subject earlier thau he did was, because he
had felt confident that the matter would be taken
up by Government, and he believed it would have
been Laken up by them had it not been for the illness
of his Right lion. Friend the Chancellor of the Ex.
chequer.
Lord SANDON was understood to say that it would be
unwise to proceed with the Bills before the Committees
could have the report of the Commissioners before them.
Without the reports from the Commissioners, it was
impossible for the Select Committees to understand the
merits of the several questions that were to come before
them. Thus a railway company might be at the ex-
pense of depositing their plans, bringing up their
Witnesses, and employing their counsel, and,
after all, the report of the Commissioners
might render all this expense and exertion abortive.
Before he sat down, he wished to ask his Right Hon.
Friend, the Member for Derby (Mr. Strutt), what course
it was intended to pursue with respect to the several
Bills now before the Commissioners. There were
several Bills now before them, indeed a whole
tribe of Bills, apparently for slight deviations
from established or granted lines, but which, in
reality, involved an immense amount of capital.
He wished to know what restriction was to be placed on
the employment of railway capital, and on the liability
of the several shareholders? For his own part, unless
there was to be some special report made to his Right
lion. Friend of the nature of those clauses in the several
Bills which might be reported to the House, he would
rather leave the whole matter entirely in his hands
without troubling the Commissioners at all.
Mr. STRUT'I' said that this subject had attracted
the attention of the Railway Commissioners, and it was
intended to adopt the recommendation of his Hon.
Friendithe Member for Coventry, and have a conside-
ration of the clauses before they were placed before the
Select Committees. With that view it was intended,
instead of calling the Committees together on Monday
or Tuesday, to defer their meeting till Thursday, so
that the Committees summoned for to-morrow were, it
was understood, only to meet, and adjourn till Thursday.
Mr. GISBORNE considered that the course taken by
the Committee of Selection, and complained of by his
lion. Friend, was most objectionable. The House was
contented that the gentlemen appointed to act on the
Committees should sign a declaration to the effect that
they had no personal interest in the matter, and
that they were unaware that their constituents
were strongly influenced upon the question.
The Committee, however, was not satisfied
that it should be left to the discretion of the gentlemen
who signed as to their power, but it entered, behind
their backs, into investigation as to whether they would
be able to sign or not. lie did not know that it would
have been p. ssible to select five gentlemen in the
House, not Iri:h Members, whose constituents were
not interested in the question of the gauges.—(Hear.)
Ile hoped there would be some competent tribunal esta-
blished, as he confessed he was more afraid of au incom-
petentunMUL" E S
consideration'r e
UI t l
.
than an interested tributes'.
dijdornotbslee any grounds in the easel
tice to erase the luta
Selection, as for many years
the Committee o
years it had been the prac-
tice
on particular corainintt of Members selected to
The motion was agreed tel).ees, and substitute others.
, as it appeared to be the
Sir J. Y. BULLER said
umextett,e it
should not
t would be a
desire of the House that these
truer on their duties till Monday
.

saving of expense to the parties concerned in the Bills
if the Committee of Selection were instructed to annul
their order for meeting to-morrow, and summon the
committee to meet on Thursday next. He should,
therefore, move an instruction accordingly.
The motion was agreed to.
- SECOND READING.
The following Bills were read a second time, and
ordered to be committed :

Direct London and Portsmouth, Brighton and Chiches-
ter, London, Brighton, and South Coast, and London
and South Western Railways.
Edinburgh and Northern, and Edinburgh, Leith, and
Granton Railways Amalgamation.
Great Northern Railway (Deviations between London

and Grantham). - -
Newcastle and Berwick Railway (East Coast Line,
Blyth, Seaton Sluice, and other Branches).
York and North Midland Railway (Hull Station and

Branches).
York and North Midland Railway (Harrogate Branch
Extension and Terminus).
York and Newcastle Railway (Wcarmouth Dock En-
largement).
York and Newcastle, Newcastle and Berwick, and North
British Railways Amalgamation.
QUARANTINE LAWS. . . .

Dr. BOWRING gave notice that on this day fortnight
he should move for the continuation of the correspon-
dence on these laws. To-morrow he should put a ques-
tion to Hon. Gentleman, the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade (Mr. M. Gibson), on the subject.

objection to give his Hon. Friend the information he re-
quired, or the weekly return of the number of persons
employed upon these public works. With regard to the
other question his Hon. Friend had put respecting the
number of men now employed upon the public
works, he regretted to say that it was
found impossible, not. only to reduce the
number of men, but also to prevent a great concourse in
that number. He had lately stated the number to be
450,000. His Hon. Friend must recollect that a bill
which was to be passed by the House, and which
did in a certain degree affect the public works,
had not yet come into operation, and it had
therefore been impossible to prevent the numbers em-
ployed from increasing. Distress had been greatly on
the increase lately in Ireland, and the number of men
employed upon relief works, according to a return for
the week ending the 20th of February amounted to
668,000.—(Great sensation.)
Lord G. BENTINCK (who was almost inaudible),
wished to know the number of applications which had
been made for loans to the Lord Lieutenant.

Mr. LABOUCHERE was not able to anwer the ques-
tion of the Noble Lord. All that he could say was, that
power had been given to the Lord Lieutenant to carry into
effect the intentions of the Government in the manner in
which he should think most desirable. The Lord Lieu-
tenant had come to the determination of not ad-
vancing money but of advancing seed, in small
quantities, to be repaid is a short time. There had
not been a great number of applications made.
The Lord Lieutenant would not advance seed except for
wheat, he thought it better to leave the supply of corn
seed to come through the ordinary channels, as any in-
terference would do more harm than good.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK wished to know if the
Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland had
any objection to lay upon the table of the House a
return distinguishing the different professions of the
persons engaged on the public works.
Mr.LABOU C HERE said he would give a return,show-
ing the names of the persons, and distinguishing the dif-
ferent works upon which they were engaged, but it was
quite impossible to give a return, distinguishing the dif-
ferent professions of the persons employed in the short
time allowed him for making the returns.
Lord G. BENTINCK said he would undertake that
the information could be collected within a week.

Mr. LABOUCHERE said his only wish was to give
the fullest information, but it would take a good deal of
time to give a return distinguishing the labourer from
the small farmer, or the farmer from the mechanic.
Major MACNAMARA wished to know when he
might expect the returns he had moved fur connected
with his Hon. Colleague.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said both he and the officers
of the Board of Works were anxious that the returns
should be made as soon as possible, but sufficient time
had not yet elapsed to admit of their preparation.
GAME LAWS.

Mr. COLLETT wished to inquire of the Hon. Gen-
tleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
if the Government intended to introduce, this session,
any Bill with respect to the Game Laws, in ace( rdance
with the recommendation •of the Committee of last
session ?

Sir GEORGE GREY was understood to say, that il
the Hon. Gentleman would give him notice of his ques-
tion, he should lose no time in replying to it.
DRAINAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

Lord LINCOLN wished to know if the Honourable
Gentleman (Sir G. Grey) intended to take the second
reading of this Bill before Easter. The reason
he asked the question was this, that he was anxious
to ascertain the number of applications which had been
made fur assistance under the Bill, before it was further
proceeded with. He understood that a list of the Mem-
bers who had so applied, would be shortly laid on the
table, so that they could have some means of judging.
Sir. G. GREY said he intended to move the second
reading to morrow night. It was necessary that the
Bill should be proceeded with without delay.
POOR-LAW AUDITORS.

Sir W. JAMES wished to know whether the
Hon. Gentleman the Secretary cif State for the Home
Department considered that auditors would be justified
in refusing to allow accounts submitted to them in their
official capacity in accordance with the decision of the
law officers of the Crown.

Sir GEORGE GREY said an auditor so acting
would incur great responsibility, but he was empowered
to exercise his discretion as to allowing or disallowing
accounts. If the parties were
.dissatisfied with his de-
cision, they had the power of appealing to the Poor-law
Commissioners.

EDUCATION.

The minutes of the Committee of the Council on Edu-
cation (in August and Dee;-ir;ler la3t) ha+•e just been
printed by Parliament. The following are extracted
therefrom :

" REMUNERATION AND DUTIES OF SCHOOLMASTERS AND

MISTRESSES.

" At the close of each of these years, if the pupil
teachers have received a certificate of good character and
of satisfactory progress, the master or mistress by whom
they have been instructed and trained shall be paid the
sum of 51. for one, of 91. for two, of 12/. for three pupil
teachers, and 31. per annum more for every additional
apprentice; and, on the like conditions, 21. 10s. for one
stipendiary monitor, 4/. for two, 6/. for three, and 1/ 10s.
in addition in etich year, for every additional stipendiary
monitor.

" In addition to the foregoing subjects of instruction,
if the pupil teachers be skilfully trained by the master
in the culture ,of a garden or in some mechanical arts
suitable to a school of industry, or the female pupil
teachers be instructed by the mistress in cutting out
clothes, and in cooking, baking, or washing, as well as
in the more usual arts of sewing and knitting, and the
inspector certify that the pupil teachers are thereby in a
satisfactory course of training for the management of a
school of industry, the master or mistress will receive an
additional gratuity, proportioned to the degree of skill
and care displayed.
" In consideration of the foregoing gratuity, and of
the assistance obtained from the pupil teachers and sti-
pendiary monitors in the instruction and management of
the school, the master will give them instruction in the
prescribed subjects, during one hour and a half at least,
during five days in the week, either before or after the
usual hours of school-keeping.
" The stipends will be liable to be withdrawn by their
Lordships on the report of their inspector, on proof of
the continued ill-health of the pupil, teachers, or stipen-
diary monitors, or of misconduct, want of punctuality,
diligence, or skill, or failure in their examination, or in
default of the required certificates.
SUPPORT OF NORMAL SCHOOLS.

EDUCATION OF SCHOOLMASTERS AND MISTRESSES, AND

GRANTS IN AID OF THEIR SALARIES.
" Exhibitions on behalf of successful Pupil Teachers to
Normal Schools—Employment of certain of • them in
the Public Service—Grants in aid of Expenses of Nor-
mal Schools, and of the Salaries of Masters and Mis-
tresses educated therein.

" The Committee of Council on Education had under
their consideration their Lordships' minutes as to the
apprenticeship of pupil teachers in elementary schools.
" It appeared further expedient to their Lordships, that
the Lord President should authorise one or more of her
Majesty's inspectors, together with the principal of a
normal school under inspection, to submit to his Lord-
ship, from among the pupil teachers who had success-
fully terminated their apprenticeship, a certain number
of those who, upon competition in a public examination,
to be annually held by such inspectors and principal in
each inspector's district, as might be found most proficient
in their studies and skilful in the art of teaching, and
concerning whose character and zeal for the office of
teachers the inspector of the district could give the most
favourable report.
" That the Committee of Council on Education, on
comparison of the testimonials and examination papers
of these apprentices, should award, for as many as they
might think fit, an exhibition of 201. or 251. to one of
the normal schools under the inspection of her Majesty's
inspectors.
_ _ _

gauTeehna,ts
sthcheopupil teachers to whom such exhibitions
should be awarded, should be thenceforth denominated
" That the exhihition should be liable to be withdrawn
if the principal of the training-school should be dis-
satisfied with the conduct, attainments, or skill of the
Queen's Scholar.'

" Their Lordships were also of opinion, that it might
be useful to offer further incentives to exertion and good
conduct among the pupil teachers, by opening to such
of them as might not display the highest qualifications
for the office of schoolmaster, but whose conduct and
attainments were satisfactory, an opportunity of obtain-
ing employment in the public service, under such regu-
lations as may be hereafter adopted.
" Their Lordships hope that the grant of an exhibition
of 201. or 251. to the most proficient pupil teachers, to
enable them to enter a normal school, may diminish the
difficulty experienced by the trustees and managers o'
such institutions, of maintaining them in efficiency. In
order still further to reduce the burden of such esta-
blishments, their Lordships will award to every normal
schocl subject to inspection a grant for every student
trained therein, concerning whose character and conduct
the principal shall give a favourable report, and concern-
ing %hose attainments, skill in teaching, and general
aptitude for the vocation of a schoolmaster, it shall ap •
pear to the Lord President, at the close of each of three
years of training from the report of one or more of her
Majesty's Inspectors, and from the examination papeis,
that a certain standard of merit has been attained.
Such grants shall be 20L at the close of the first year,
251. at the close of the second, and 301. at the close of
the third year's course of instruction. This standard of
acquirement shall not be so ordered as to interfere with
the studies pursued in any normal school, hut shall ;be
adapted to those studies, so, however, as to apply im
partially to all such normal schools an equal incentive
to exertion, by requiring efficiency in a sufficient num-
ber of the studies pursued in them.
" Their Lordships will further grant, in aid of the
salary of every schoolmaster appointed to a school under
their inspection, and who has had one year's training in
a normal school under their inspection, 151 or 201. per
annum; and in aid of the salary of every such school-
master who has had two years of such training, 20/ or
251. per annum; and of every such schoolmaster who has
had three years of such training, 251. or 304 per annum;
provided he has upon examination, obtained the proper
certificate of merit in each year, on the following con-
ditions:—

" 1. That the trustees and managers of the school
provide the master with a house rent free, and a fur-
ther salary, equal at least to twice the amount of this
grant.

.. 2. That the trustees annually certify that his cha
racter, conduct, and attention to his duties are satis.
factory.

" 3: That the inspector report that his school is effi-
cient in its organisation, discipline, and instruction.
" On the same conditions their Lordships will grant,
in aid of the salaries of schoolmistresses appointed to
schools under their inspection, who obtain similar certi-
ficates in a normal school, two-thirds of the sums to
be awarded to schoolmasters for each year's certificate
of merit.
RETIRING PENSIONS TO SCHOOLMASTERS AND MISTRESSES
FOR LONG AND EFFICIENT SERVICES.

" That a retiring pension may be granted by the Com-
mittee of Council to any schoolmaster or schoolmistress
who shall be rendered incapable by age or infirmity of
continuing to teach a school efficiently.
" Provided that no such pension shall be granted to
any schoolmaster or schoolmistress who shall nut have
conducted a normal or elementary school for fifteen years,
during seven at least of which such school shall have
been under inspection.
" That in all cases of application for pensions a report
shall be required from the inspector, and from the
trustees and managers of the schools, ab to the character
and conduct of the applicants, and the manner in which
the education of the pupils under their charge has been
carried on.

" The amount of the pension shall be determined ac-
cording to such report, but shall in no case exceed two.
thirds of the average amount of the salary and emolu-
ments annually received by the applicant during the
period that the school had been under inspection.
" A minute of the grant of every such pension, and
of the grounds on which it has been awarded, shall be
published in their Lordships' minutes."

FRACAS at MULLINGAR ASSIZES.
(From the Dublin Evening Mail.)
On Friday a most extraordinary scene occurred in
our court-house. Shortly after Mr. Justice Crampton
had taken his seat upon the bench, the Hon. W. Paken-
ham, foreman of the grand jury, entered the court and
stated that Mr. Cooke, of Cookesborough, had called Sir
Richard Levinge a liar, and other opprobrious names.
Th 3 judge ordered the attendance of Mr. Cooke and Sir
Richard into court, and upon their appearing, they were
ordered to enter into recognisance, each in the sum of
10001., to keep the peace.
The origin of the quarrel was as follows :—On Thurs-
day last, a meeting of the grand jury, and the chair-
men of the different relief committees of the union of
Mullingar, was held, and the question as to townlands
being under discussion, Mr. Cooke objected to being
compelled to support the paupers which properly be-
longed to other estates, and he went on to charge Sir
Richard Levinge with having in the first instance ejected
a number of tenants who had now squatted on his
(Mr. Cooke's) property with others. who had been
similarly treated by Mr. Gibbons, of Ballynagall. No
observation at that time was made by Sir Richard
Levinge.
On the following day, however, on the meeting of
the grand jury, Sir Richard Levinge called their atten-
tion to the statement made by Mr. Cooke on the day
previous, and assured that gentleman that, on inquiries
made yesterday, he ascertained there was not one of
his tenants on the townland alluded to who could have
squatted on Mr. Cooke's property, inasmuch as, for
forty years, he (Sir R. Levinge) had not ejected more
than two or three tenants. Mr. Cooke in repll, at-
tempted to deviate from his former charge, and wished
it to appear as if he had merely been exemplifying
his argument ; but he was at once reminded that his
charge was precise and personal, affecting Sir R. Le-
vinge and Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Cooke again denied that
the fact was so, but the grand jury unanimously. as-
serted the contrary, in which Sir Richard Levinge
joined. This led at once to a personal altercation, in
the course of which Mr. Cooke used the term liar, as
ad
nat pmapnel i epbl. est
soer
neSat
iantße cs huitaori
nd
umtLee ese clue, a.onr dia, ahnneyn
cooiurt nbc cue ermd
sg t
:ant
ttelhhee es.
not
as above stated, having been reported to the judge, . t e
o
enterin
parties were ordered into court. Sir Richard Levinge
u ntl
the county gaol.
cus-
tody of the sheriff, and conveyed to
backtotbe
At a subsequent period he was brought
trnh
eh ni his p
committeda ro
continued
to immediately
an complied,
re c
0 gni s butan eet I, rw.
aCso
coot
mh
tvtiendg
to refusedt 1
e t
un-
changed,l
and Mr. Justice
to re • • main until the
him to Mullingar gaol, where he is
nc court-house,
xu rt t -dhaoyu.s e ,
His and
determination, allowed
Crampton
miaamibnpo
twoouentv
next assizes.

DISEASE IN FLANDERS.—The Belgian journals
represent the misery in Flanders as most frightful. The
Journal de Bruges says—" The mortality, already frightful,
has not yet reached the horrible acme to which it will quickly
rise. The reports of several physicians prove to us that the
detestable food of the people of the country creates diseases
which must inevitably spread death around. More than 50
cases of dropsy have occurred in a single village:'

FOOD DISTURBANCES IN THE
NOPTIT
FIRING BY THE MILITARY AT WICK.
Contrary to all expectation the turbulent spirit manifested
in some districts in the north, regarding the shipment of
food from the various ports, has again manifested itself,
and been attended with disastrous results in the town of
Wick.

It appears that, in the course of last week, a vessel bad
arrived at Wick to ship grain, but, by the interference of the
populace, this was prevented. Sheriff Thomson and the
authorities, however, deemed it necessary that protection
should be afforded to the exporters of the grain, and ap•
pretending that outrages might be committed, sent for
the aid of the military at Fort George. Accord-
ingly a detachment, consisting of one hundred and lour
men of the 76th Regiment, under the command of Captain
Evans Gordon, was dispatched by the Pharos steamer,
and arrived at Wick on Tuesday. After being landed
they were quartered in the Temperance Hall. The authori-
ties now made preparations to protect the loading of the ves-
sel, and, on Wednesday, a number of constables were sworn
in, but the shipment of grain proceeded so slo, ly that they
were dismissed with an injunction to assemble if necessary.
The following are from the local papers:
(From the John 0' Groat Journal of Friday.)
Before dusk on IV ednesday evening a party of the military
was marched down the quay to watch the vessel during the
night, and here commenced the most alarming part of the
whole proceedings. How a mob was created, there are
various statements; one thing is certain, previous to the
arrival of the military, the streets presented the usual
features of ordinary days. About seven o'clock the
whole remaining body of the soldiery were quickly
marched to join their comrades, on a shot being fired as a
signal from their party on the quay. At this time there was
a great excitement. An immense gathering of the populace;
men, women, and children had asssembled, and, in other
parts of the town, deep anxiety was depicted in every coun-
tenance, and great excitement prevailed. The Sheriff and
Provost were present amongst the mob, who surrounded the
military on all hands. The Riot Act was read by the Sheriff,
but this had not any effect in inducing the people to disperse
in peace. At this time the feelings of the inhabitants were
roused up to the highest possible pitch, for a direct collision
was anticipated every hour. The soldiers were divided into
several parties, and were ordered to disperse the mob at the
point of the bayonet. In this attempt several were wounded
but only slightly. The soldiers continued for some time
parading in different directions, which had the effect of scat-
tering the crowd. The prisoners were taken and lodged in
jail.
But the worst remains to be told. As a party were march-
ing from Pulteney-town, back to their quarters, when imme-
diately under the brae where the Academy is erected, a
volley of stones was thrown by individuals on the top of the
brae and the Sheriff and Provost were both struck. The
soldiers were immediately ordered by the Sheriff to fire, and
we deeply regret to sav, that two individuals, a man and
a girl were wounded. 'The man, William Hougston, fore-
man cooper to Mr. David Davidson, did not form part of
the mob, nor was he with them at the time. According to
his own statement, which seems highly probable, he was
proceeding quietly home. A ball went through his right
hand, which was so shockingly mutilated, that the fin-
gers had to be cut off, and it is even doubtful if a farther
amputation will not have to be made. The,other a girl,
named Macgregor, was wounded in the left arm, the ball
passing through the fleshy part, but we believe that the in-
jury done was not dangerous. About this time it is impos-
sible to depict the state of excitement which was visible in
every direction. Men, women, and children fled, on hearing
the report of the musketry and on learning that damage had
been done. Parents were anxiously running in search of
their children, while the crowd were giving expression to the
most vociferous shouts and yells. Soon after, with the ex-
ception of the guard at the vessel, all the military were or-
dered to their quarters, but throughout greater part of the
night, groups of the inhabitants were assembled at every
corner, where the unpleasant events of the evening were can
vassed. Nothing occurred, however, to produce a breach of
the peace.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
ICIVOUId seem that, previous to the soldiers being ordered
to disperse the mob, they suffered a continuous and most
aggravating series of assaults from the crowd, and not a few
of them were wounded. Some of the women seized staves, with
which they struck the solders ; one, in particular, struck an
officer thrice, when she received a pretty severe sword cut.
Stones were also thrown from various directions. A great
many were wounded by the bayonets of the soldiers, but no
serious injury was done to any by this means.
THURSDAY, Fort O'CLOCK, P.M.—A public meeting of the
electors has just been held, at which resolutions on the sub-
ject of the military being brought here, have been unani-
mously passed. The Town Hall was crowded to suffocation,
and was presided over by the Provost. At the close of the
meeting, the whole assemblage have gone down the quay,
and removed the obstructions. From present indications we
think, as we sincerely trust, we have seen the end of this
most unpleasant matter. The Provost made some explana-
tions to the meeting, which were loudly applauded, and
gave universal satisfaction. Few speeches wei e made at the
meeting, but such of the gentlemen as spoke. expressed their
resolution to support the authorities, and an earnest desire
for the immediate removal of the military.
CASTLETOWN.—On Monday evening several hundred par-
sons assembled at Castlehill harbour, in order to put to sea
a vessel ( the " Fisher " of Leith) which had come there to
load grain. They proceeded to hoist the booms out of
the harbour entrance, and to use threats to compel the cap-
tain to leave the port. Mr. Traill, M.P., accompanied by
Sheriff Gregg, the latter of whom happening to be there b 7
chance, quickly proceeded to the scene of action, but their
presence had not much effect on the turbulent mob. Many
were armed with sticks and bludgeons, and having pro-
ceeded on board the vessel, the mate, in attempting to de.
fend himself with a knife, was felled to the deck. This lat
onset had the effect of dispersing the crowd, as they sup-
posed the man had been killed, and each took to his heels.
Mr. Traill then, at a late hour, (about 12 P.M. or 1 A.m.),
had his household forces mustered, got the booms replaced.
the vessel secured, and had the mate carried on shore; he is,
however, severely injured. The crew having been withdrawn
no further attempt was made to put the smack to sea.
That such outbreaks should take place in a rural district like
Castletown and Dunnet, is remarkable, and cannot be justi-
fied by any good reason. Mr. Traill is known to have re-
tained in the district more meal and grain than have been
stored there in any previous season, more indeed than can be
consumed before next harvest. The people, too, are well em-
ployed, and want is not known among them.
Tuunso.—A correspondent of the above journal, writ-
ing from Thurso, on Tuesday last says— "We have
had lamentable disturbances here. The populace
have blocked up the road to the river with two
small sloops; one of them was taken up to-night. They
have also planted a ten-pounder on the braehead. About
one hundred special constables have been sworn in, and
everything assumes a most threatening aspect. We have
too much cause to fear serious consequences, unless, by some
means or other, peace be restored." We have learned, in
addition to the above, that on Wednesday evening another
gun was placed on the brae, and that the feelings of the
people continue wound up to the greatest pitch. Assemblages
at night are frequent, and threatenings of violence are per-
severed in. The peaceable inhabitants are kept in a state of
the utmost terror from these manifestations.

RE-APPEARANCE of the POTATO

DISEASE.

The following communication from his Grace tEe
Duke of Portland, relative to the re appearance of the
potato disease, will be found worthy of consideration :
" Sir,—lt is certain that the potato disc ace has again
appeared in the same manner as it appeared last year at
this season. No man, therefore, in common prudence,
can depend upon a crop of that root this summer. I ven-
ture, with great confidence, to provide a substitute—viz.,
the Swedish turnip. Till within these six weeks I w•as
not aware that Swedish turnips were good human food,
much superior to the common turnip. I have since
eaten them, and I think them much more substantial
food than potatoes. Having had much experience in
the use of potatoes as food for cattle, I am sure that
Swedish turnips are the better food of the two. In point
of quantity they yield larger crops. I have grown here
twenty-two tons per acre. I have no doubt that in
milder climates larger crops may be obtained. The cul-
tivation of the turnip is less expensive; comparatively,
the seed costs almost nothing. As they need not be
sown very early in the spring, they do not suffer from
early frosts; and in the autumn and winter no frost will
hurt them. Ido not know that on the same land they
will bear repetition continually, as potatoes will; they
are also liable in sand lands to be hurt by the grub.
These two last are the only disadvantages to which they
are liable. When well cultivated, on the whole I con-
sider them a superior crop, and to be preferred, even if
there was no such thing as a potato disease.
" Welbeck, Feb. 26." " SCOTT PORTLAND.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENTS IN

THE ARMY.

Two Parliamentary returns, of great social importance
have recently been issued by order of the House of Commons.
The first is intitled " A Return of Persons Flogged in the
Army, in Great Britain and Ireland," from January, 1845,
to July, 1846, and the second returns the number of corporal
punishments inflicted, from the Ist of August, 1846, to 31st
December, 1846. The flogging " experiences" of 53 entire
regiments, and 79 depots, are recorded in these documents,
from which it appears, that during the first eighteen months
in question, 348 soldiers suffered the punishment of the lash ;
228 in 1845, and the remainder in the first half of 1846. The
number of stripes awarded was 43,168, and the number
inflicted 38,929, or in round figures, something like 90 per
cent. of the whole amount. The nature of the offences,
and the quantum of punishment administered, may
throw some light upon the operation of the military code of
legislation. Ninety-four soldiers were flogged for insubor-
dination ; their sentences awarded an aggregate infliction of
12,500 lashes, and the number actually " laid on" was 11,748,
or more than 123 in each case. The " drunkards" amounted
to 80, and were doomed to receive 8,133 lashes, and the cu
rative process was carried out to the extent of 7,129 nine-
fold lacerations, or upwards of 89 per man. For " selling
their necessaries" (i. e. any portion of military clothing,
which in all cases, the soldier pays for, or receives indirectly:
as a portion of his state wages), 69 culprits were brought to
the triangles, and received 7,325 lashes, out of 8,035, or more
than 106 each individual. For using " violence to su-
periors," 36 were tortured into a love of peace and moral
suasion, at the easy cost of inflicting 135 lashes per man,
or in the whole 4,863 stripes, out of 5,350 ordered. The
" thieves" rank next in the military scale of vice : 29 of
these receiving 3,730 out of 4,050, or upwards of 128 each
delinquent. The last class of offences is described rather
vaguely, as "disgraceful conduct," and of these there are 35
instances, for which 5,100 lashes were awarded by courts-
martial, and 4,134 inflicted, or something worse i,we were
going to say better), than 118, as the share of each unfortu-
nate criminal. With regard to the distribution of punish
meat, the returns afford singular results, In ten regiments.
and 51 depots, not a single case of flogging occurred. In 6
regiments, and 12 depots, only one instance occurs in each,
and in 5 regiments, and 2 depots, but two cases of flog-
ging are recorded. On the other band there are three regi-
meas, with 20 cases each ; 67 soldiers were brought to the
halberts in four regiments, and out of the entire number of
couit martials avoiding corporal punisl m nt, 37 regiments.
Thcse between them, no less than 8i each ; the latter fact
sift rding some scope for reflection, as to the "reforming"
influences of the lash. But the philosophy of the question
is to be gleaned from the second return of flogging cases,
from August Ist, 1846, to 31st of December last, comprising
the period since the death of the martyr White. 68 regi-
ments, and 64 depots, yield a total of 400 lashes awarded, and
155 inflicted. It would seem as if the chiefs of the army felt
that a paltry 50 lashes is a sentence too weak for vengeance,
and too feeble to produce amendment.

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FOOD IN BELGIUM.—A letter from Antwerp, of
the 28th of Februar7, informs us that the price of bread bas
again risen. On Friday the price of wheat was 33E 55c. per
hec., of rye 22f. 72c., oats 9f. 79c., hay If. 95c., and straw sf.
80c. The price of bread of second quality was 50c. per killo-
gramme,iand that of rye bread 30c.