The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-14 00:00:00

TTI E SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 14, 1847.

cure his return at the next election, was to have a
Committee on every subject—(laughter)—because they
would have the credit of being good working men
and would go to the country with better claims upon
them to repose their confidence in them.—(Laughter.)
They would say they would do them good service, because
every man who had a crotchet in his head would be
able to get a Committee.—(Hear.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE said, .after the observations
which had been made on the conduct of his Hon.
Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) he wished to
say a few words in his defence. He readily acknew-
edged that Hon. Gentlemen who opposed the Govern-
neat had been fair and candid in their opposition, and had
supported them in the most disinterested manner ; and
therefore he had no desire to speck of them except in
terms of courtesy—(Hear)—but he could not avoid
stating that the Hon. Gentleman the Member fir
Shrewsbury, and his friends round him, had fallen into
the " besetting sin " of opposition, of which he
had often complained.—(Bear, hear.) Ile (Mr.
Labouchere) had frequently had to regret that the
time of the (louse was wasted, for apparently useless
purposes; hut he was glad that those who opposed the
Government had not had the chance which they antici-
pated of placing the Government in a minority. The
Ihroeet the Member for Waterford, had brought
forward his motion for the single purpose of promoting
Lush fisheries; he was satisfied with the statement of the
Government, and expressed his intention of withdraw-
ing his motion, in order that he might leave the matte r
in their hands. Ile apprehended that the opposition
which the lion. Baronet had made to the Noble Lord
and other llon. Members was not to support his motion
whatever might be said by the Glvernmer!t, or other
Hon. Members—not to promote a party principle, but
to promote the prosperity of Irish fisheries. lie hoped,
therefore, that he would not accede to the pro-
posal made by Hon. Members opposite, but that
he would take the course he had intimated. What
he (Mr. Labouchere) stated was this—that a
vast quantity of information, with respect to
Irish fisheries, had been laid on the table of the
House, that the appointment of the Committee would
bring over gentlemen from Ireland, who were actively
engaged
at present in superintending the erection of
curing stations and otivr public works—employed in
the beginning of this experiment, and he thought it would
1.),3 a most unfortunate thing to withdraw them from
the scene of their labours, at the present juncture. The
non. Gentleman, the Member for Shrewsbury, said it
was an easy course to appoint Committees; and if he
wished to consult his convenience, he might hoof the same
opinion ; but when he thought, that no public good
would, arise from it, ho felt it right to press his Hon.
Iriend not to push his motion further than it had gone.
Lord G. BENTINCI( said that if the Hon. Member
for Armagh would give them the list which he had taken
of the Members present, he would find that out of the
three and twenty there were only three who were Irish-
men, and there was but one Cabinet Minister.
Sir G. GREY--011, I was here the whole debate, on
your side of the House.
Lord G. BENTINCK apologised, but he did think
that the Treasury benches looked most deserted, and
the Secretary looked very much forlorn. But he did
wish that the people of Ireland should not misunder-
stand the feelings of the Gentlemen with whom he
acted.

Sir 11. W. BARRON said that he made his motion
with only one object—that of benekting his country—
and not to brin about a party division, but to elicit
public opinion. When he saw that it was about being
made a party question by two or three gentlemen, he
honestly confessed he shrank from th? motion.
Mr. BANKES said that the question assumed a new
complexion by what had fallen from the Hon. Baronet,
and he considered it would be very difficult for Gentle-
men on his side of the House not to vote upon the ques-
tion. The Hon. Gentlemen the Member for Stroud had
a motion respecting the waste lands—one of the
dropped plans of the Government—was this to be
a sham motion ? He and others had been pre
railed- upon to put off their motions, and it
now appeared that they did so to facilitate sham mo-
tions. He would not wonder, should the people of Ire-
land consider that their interests were neglected, if they
were in future to be conducted in this manner.
Mr. P. SCROPE said that his motion was not by any
means a sham motion, but he would be inclined to post-
pone it, as he saw no reasonable chance of obtaining for
it a fair discussion.
Sir H. W. BARRON said, when he referred to a
party spirit, his observations meant particularly to refer
to the Member for Shrewsbury.
The SPEAKER then put the question whether the
motion should be withdrawn, and a loud dissent haviug
been expressed,
The gallery was cleared for a division, when there ap-
peared—.

For the withdrawal of the motion 73
Against it
Majority
THE CASE OF JAMAICA.
Mr. HUME proceeded to call the attention of the
House to the petition from Jamaica, signed by 4,000
persons, praying for free trade for that colony, and for
an additional supply of labour, as requisite for the pros-
perity of that island. Ho trusted the Government would
take the subject into their serious consideration, and de-
vise measures for increasing the supply of labour for
those colonies. Inaymuch as the only way of putting an
end to smuggling, was to reduce the duties on the pro-
duce taxed, so in the same way the best means of getting
rid of slavery, as long offering every facility to the intro-
duction of free labour. The best method would be for
the merchants of the West Indies to go to Africa
and secure as many slaves as they could, and when
they took then, to the West Indies, liberate them, and
make them free labourers. By this means alone could
the colonies hope to compete with Cuba and Brazils.
Mr. BARCLAY thought that if free trade were to
regulate the dealings of the mother country, the some
principle ought to be extended to the dealings of the co
lonics. He thought that the prayer of the colonists was
a perfectly fair and proper one.
Mr. HAWES stated that the petition which formed
the subject of the Don. Member's motion had been for
some time under the consideration of the Government.
With respect to one of the prayers of the clients with
reargd to the free emigration of labourers, he begged to
state that a considerable increase had taken place in
the number of labourers employed in the colonies.
After a few words from Mr. FORBES M'KENZIE,
Mr. HUME replied briefly, and said he would not
press the petition further on the attention of the House.
SEDUCTION AND PROSTITUTION.
Mr. SL'OONER rose to ask leave to introduce a Bill
to prevent seduction and prostitution. He said he would
not waste the time of the House further than state that he
ititended.euntining it trethe, point recommended' te him
by the Right Hon.-BarOnet. •
Mr. HUME thought the Hon. Member was wasting
the time of the House, and really doing harm by draw-
ing attention so closely to a subject which many, per-
haps, would think less of. He did think the Hon.
Member had much to account for—(Great laughter)—
in thus keeping the subject betore the House.—
(Laughter.) He was sure he might appeal to the Hon.
Gentleman's experience—(Laughter)—for experience he
must have, unless he had a particular taste. He would,
therefore, take the sense of the House upon it.
Sir G. GREY said he had no wish to provoke any
discussion; but he felt it necessary to say that having
yesterday pointed cut the reasons that weighed with
him against the former Bill, and the points which he
thought should form the nucleus of a Bill on the subject,
and. understanding that the present Bill was to be con.
fined to these, he would support the Hon. Member for
Birmingham.

-51

•.
Mr. HUME said he had not bean present yesterday,
and he would be no party to the concern.—(Laughter.)
The gallery was then cleared for a division, when there
appeared—
For the motion
..... 57
Against it
Majority 46
Leave was given to bring in the Bill.
MEDICAL REGISTRATION.
Mr. WAKLEY moved that the subject of the regis-
tration of legally qualified practitioners in medicine, and
the state of the law relating to the practice of medicine
in Great Britain and Ireland, be referred to fur consi-
deration to a Select Committee.

Sir G. GREY said that he should feel it his duty to
oppose the further progress of the Bill brought in on the
subject of medical registration by the Hon Member for
Finsbury.
Mr. WAKLEY hoped that the Committee might be
appointed in order that the evidence given before that
Committee might enable him to shape his measure in
accordance with such evidence.

Mr. SPOONER stated that the opinion of all the me-
dical practitioners of Birmingham was favourable to this
Bill.
The motion was then agreed to.
HOSIERY MANUFACTURE BILL.
On the order of the day for the second reading of this
Bill,
Sir 11. lIALFORD was desirous not to proceed with
the second reading at that late period of the evening,
and consented to postpone it till Wednesday, the 9th of
June.

An HON. MEMBER suggested that the Hon. Baronet
should give up his motion altogether, as it would entail
great evil on those whom it pretended to relieve.
Sir J. C. HOBIIO USE concurred in this suggestion,
as the Bill would be found to be utterly inoperative if it
became law. They could not regulate wages by Act of
Parliament, and this Bill was an interference with labour
whieh would produce more evil than good.
Mr. DUNCOMBE thought that this was not the way
to meet the Bill of the llonourable Gentleman (Sir
IT. Raiford), and he trusted the Honourable Baronet
would proceed with his Bill, as he (Mr. Dun-
combe) believed it would confer great benefit on
the working hosiers, for whose benefit it was intended.
He believed the condition of the frame-knitters could not
be worse than at present. Several were receiving relief
in the Keightley union, and it was the duty of the House
to make an inquiry into their condition. Ile hoped the
'lon. Gentleman would proceed with his Bill.
The further consideration of the Bill was then post-
eon, d until the 9th of June.
POOR REMOVAL (ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND)
BILL.
This Bill was read a third time, and passed.
TURNPIKE ROADS (IRELAND) BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee. —Report to-day.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL.
This Bill also passed through Committee.—Report
to-day.

LOAN DISCOUNT BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the second reading of this Bill. lie proposed to move
the Committee on the Bill to-morrow, before the other
orders of the dny, and the continuation of the debate
could, therefore, be taken on the motion that the Speaker
do lave the, chair.
The was then
s,
realdtEaGseueLonAdTtitnoeN BILL..
It
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said this

Bill stood on the list for to-morrow, but it was not the
intention of the Government to proceed with it on that
day. His Noble Friend (Lord J. Russell) would state
to-morrow (this day) his views with respect to it, and
when he proposed proceeding with it.
Mr. HUDSON hoped that the discussion would not be
taken too soon, otherwise railway companies would have
little time to consider the Bill.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was un
derstood to say that ample time would be given.
• TOWNS' IMPROVEMENT CLAUSES BILL

The report upon this Bill was brought up.
Colonel SIBTIIORPE gave notice, that when this
Bill went into Committee, he would move thattho Speaker
do not leave the chair for six months.—(Ll ughter.)
PREVENTION OF PROSTITUTION.
Mr. SPOONER moved the first reading of this Bill.
Captain BERKELEY moved that it be read a first
time this day six months. _

The gallery was cleared for a division, and there not
being forty Members present,
The House adjourned at a Quarter to Ono o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
TIIURSDAY, MAT 13.
STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE.
The following Resolutions were reported from the above
Committee :

1. That in the case of the Kingston-upon-Hall Docks
petition, for leave to deposit a petition for a Bill, the standing
orders ought to be dispensed with -.—That the parties be per-
mitted to deposit their petition accordingly.
2. That in the case of the Warwick County Prison petition,
for leave to deposit a petition for a Bill, the standing orders
ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted
to deposit their petition accordingly.
3. That in the case of the Ambergate, Nottingham, and
Boston and Eastern Junction Railway (Alteration of Line,
&c.) petition, for additional provision, the standing orders
ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted
to introduce such additional provision, if the Committee on
the Bill shall so think fit.—Resolutions agreed to.

PEEL'S BILL OF 1844.

(From the Morning Advertiser.)
The state of the Money Market is still the absorbing topic,
and there can be little doubt it will continue to be so, until
something is done to mitigate the existing pressure. Minis-
ters may persevere a little longer in their resistance to any
alteration in the Bill of 1844, but they must, in tha end,
succumb to the force of circumstances. Even now we fancy
we can discern indications of their feeling a presentiment
that they must yield. The Chancellor of the Exchequer did
not speak on Monday in the same decided terms not to relax
the rigours of Peer; Bill which he did on previous occasions.
Nor need we wonder at this, when we reflect on the nume-
rous deputations which have, within the last fortnight,waited
on him from London and Liverpool, to urge upon him the
inevitable ruin which will be brought on the mercantile in •
terests, should Ministers persevere in their adherence to the
measure of 1844. And if the Right Hon. Gentleman were
beginning to waver before, he must have been still more
shaken in his attachment to Peel's Bill, by the number of
influential and intelligent Members who, on Monday,
ascribed to the operation of that Bill' the terrible state of
things which now prevails. But what will be considered still
more surprising and hopeful, is the fact, that even Sir Robert
Peel himself, the author of the measure, manifestly
begins to have misgivings as to the practical workings of the
measure, in a season of adversity. On Monday night the ex-
Premier distinctly stated that if it should be found on trial
not to work in the manner anticipated, no foolish parental
affection for the measure would induce him to cling to it.
Sir Robert, it is true, does not admit that a case has yet been
made out against his Bill, but it is a great thing to extract
from him an admission that its failure is within the bounds
of possibility. He would have made no such admission three
months ago. Altogether, indeed, we see abundant grounds
to believe, that if Ministers be only sufficiently pressed they
will consent to capitulate. The opponents of the measure
must give the Premier and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
no rest. Deputation after deputation must wait on them, to
bring before them the disastrous effects which are daily pro-
duced by the Bill of 1844, and to repeat, over and over again,
the expression of the universal belief prevailing among mer-
cantile men, that if some modification of the measure be not
speedily made, there will be a complete extinction of trade
and commerce. The complete failure of Peel's Bill hasnot taken
by surprise the banking interests of the metropolis, nor the
more intelligent of our City merchants. On the contrary,
matters have just turned out as they expected and predicted.
The measure was strenuously opposed, when before Parlia-
ment, by nearly all the London banking establishments.
The only exception of note was that of Loyd Jones and Co.,
and the name of that firm was put down to a memorial
against the Bill, though afterwards withdrawn from personal
considerations, at the instance of one of the partners. The
metropolitan banking opponents of the Bill drew up and pre-
sented to Sir Robert Peel a strong memorial on the question.
And as that question is at this moment one of the gravest
kind that ever came before the Legislature, we give, in this
prominent part of our paper, the document referred to.
Though brief, it is pregnant with force and full of meaning.
It is this:—
"TO THE RiGHT ICON. SIR R. PEEL, BART., M.P.
" Sir,—We, the undersigned bankers of London, are in-
duced, by the importance of the measure, and our interest
in its success, to address you upon the subject of the Bank
Charter Bill now before Parliament.
" We were led to believe, when the measure was first
brought forward, and we feel confident it was generally un-
derstood throughout the country, that although it was the
intention of her Majesty's Government that the paper cir-
culation of the Bank of England in their issue department
should he limited to an amount not exceeding 14,000,G0W.,
upon securities, yet that in the event of any particular crisis
arising, a power was to be reserved by the Bill enabling the
Bank of England, with the consent of the First Lord of the
Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Master
of the Mint, to extend their issue upon securities beyond that
amount.
" It is with considerable surprise that we find that the Bill
now before the House of Commons does not contain any pro-
vision for an extension of the issue beyond 14,000,0004 upon
securities, excepting under the specials circumstances named
in the sth clause of the Bill now before Parlianient.
" We are apprehensive that the absolute limitation of the
issue to 14,000,000 L, without any power of expansion being
reserved, whether that amount be in itself a proper amount
or not, will create a general feeling of uneasiness throughout
the country, and by preventing the satisfactory reception of
the measure, will deprive the scheme of many of the advan-
tages it posseses, and interfere with its success.
" We respectfully submit that the effect of such an abso-
lute limitation will be to restrict the business of the country
by leading to general withdrawal of legitimate accommoda-
tion unless some power be reserved by the Bill for extend-
ing the issue, with the sanction of the authorities above
alluded to, in cases of emergency, to be made apparent to
such authorities.

" Robarts, Curtis, and Co. Fullers and Co.
Hanbury, Taylor, and Barnard, Dimsdale, Barnard,
Lloyd. and Co.
Bosanquet, Franks, and Co. Barnett, Hoares and Co.
Brown, Janson, and Co.
PLruibcbeo:lka,rlry'oarts:earn,dancdo.Co.
Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, Stevenson, Salt, and Sons.
and Co.
Hankey and Co. Spate, Banbury, and Co.
Smith, Payne, and Smiths. Weston and Co.
Willis, Percival, and Co. Twining and Co.
Masterman, Peters, and Co. Dixon and Co.
Rogers, Olding, and Co. Coutts and Co.
Spooner, Attwood, and Co. Herries and Co.
Currie and Co. Ransom and Co.
Glyn, Halifax, Mills, and Strachan and Co.
Co. Scott and Co.
Williams and Co. Cockburn and Co.
" Lombard-street, June, 11, 1844."
It might have been supposed that such a document, pro-
ceeding from such eminent anthorities on the subject to
which it related, would have induced the ex-Premier to
pause and re-examine the grounds, on which he had based
his measure. He did no such thing. Priding himself on his
fancied superiority to everybody else, as regarded a know-
ledge of currency and banking, he paid no attention to the
representations of the bankers of the metropolis, but pressed
the Bill through its various stages. Few will envy him his
feelings now, when the event has so strikingly shown that
he was altogether wrong, and that they were altogether
right. The latter must experience no slight gratification in
the reflection, that they foresaw :what the consequences
of the measure would be, and foretold them in the most ex-
plicit terms. " When surrounded," says the Bankers' Cir-
cular, ",by the distress of their oppressed and broken-hearted
customers, what a source of satisfaction it must be to these
Incaspuullt,
ilni
cgofceffrlolosrmuesriesgealrinyt that they exerted themselves to avert the
evil which now threatens the ruin of their friends and the
safety of their own positions. Why the authors of this mea-
sure should be allowed to escape without the expression of
cod i:eaittitoa
,isoovneer ofw ht
ih_oohs ewaen ooamnaldieos
no-
thing but meditate,"
dile in
mourn, and murmur. -
R

_AIL
The public are generally that the present average
materials, and labour, in worelatiol
of railway calls is b y aware .
They
matter of account. Painful experience has brought it home
are also awaremere
class,
andatoouatlmonoset millionoye7.
personsterling a week.
this time that railway calls are
b37-AY. LEGISLATION..nota
greena correspondingcia3.days
o f
hope enhancement
credulity,
to every
in the empire,
that these calls denote an expenditure of food,
prospective utility, and an
silered a national
equivalent demand on the existent stock, leading of course to
equivalent ent
present
calls paid up was thought
resources of Europe and Americawhen
the
b believed inexhaustible,
and any undertaking whatever were e
calamity,
W ofi these
when
immediately ceobme amod foodit commodities. s .wals n n
o availablet
nh _e
actually and at
once reproductive, we found • be therefore
to fix the atten-
tion
itself. The
of the public or the Legislature i impossible ,
ous character
to the serious
of the engagements in in-
volvingwhich the country at large was
to that returned 5 per cent. on
calculated to sober the most volatileaspect and tie them to
the rigours of arithmetic. AParliamentary minds,
return, of which
we publish an abstract to-day, informs exactly what we
us
have already undertaken t
3tt
.one
att
lhi
Tee absmoe srtat
raisedni
ste
dof
i115n2420,8r6,d73e52:06,0 spend and to pay. The Acts
passed in the two last sessions authorise new calls and loans
of affairs, however, is one
The portion of this sum ac-
in 1845 and 1846 is 96,355,635/. Supposing this to
be spread over two years, it results that the popular
124,675,6551. The
0 mlnt l
ete follows
the thatlilines
the
grantedsum
average of a million a week is not far from the truth. There
are, indeed, very few of the lines which the projectors do not
contemplate finishing by May, 1849. We have our own
opinion—the opinion we have always entertained and de-
clared—as to the possibility
of this gigantic aggregate of un-
dertaking. We believe that it will involve the whole mer-
cantile world, and with it all the industrial classes, in diffi-
culties beyond our present experience. However, what is
done cannot be helped. It seems agreed on all hands that
this part of the experiment must work itself out. Natures via
medicatrix, as exhibited in the spontaneous movements of
commerce and trade, is to reduce the disorder, and heal the
wounds inflicted by the public cupidity and rashness. The
public attention is rather directed to the fresh undertakings
now before Parliament. They can be confined to a safe
compass, or subjected to prudent conditions. What, then, is
their extent? The question is answered by the seine Par-
liamentary return. The capital proposed to be raised by the
Bills of this session is altogether 47,486,6744, of which
31,161,674/. is for extensions and other improvements of lines
already opened, and 16,325,0004 is for railways not yet 1
opened. Some of these are unopposed lines. Some are
competing. Supposing all the objects to be sanctioned, con-
siderably more than half the Bills will pass. If only half
pass, there will then be an addition of about 24,000,000/. to
our railway engagements, entailing a probable outlay of
about 200,0001. a week for 120 weeks to the end of August,
1849, and raising the weekly expenditure for two years to
1,200,0001. Two motions bearing upon the pending and all
future Bills are now hefore the Commons. Mr. Hume has
given notice of one for this evening, which proposes to put a
serious check on the borrowing powers hitherto conceded to
all railway companies. The power of contracting loans in
furnished by
now,
°Pile
trhl Parliament m
strengthen t til 1
oift
cheer:
the proportion of a third of their capital has immensely in-
creased the ability of the directors to push on the progress
of their lines. The object of the motion is that no company
for power to issue new shares, rind
shall be allowed to use any new powers of raising money
thoroughly exhaused its existing powers ; that, for ex-
proposes. Mr.
ample, the Great Western, which has only called for 85/. out
with which it
to contract new loans, shall not he allowed to raise this new
teafienveexrytenWsioobns, is asking
capital, should it obtain its Bills this session, till it has called
for, and realised, the remaining 15/. from the original share-
s': ear:, bbeu t
Mackinnon has one of a less artificial character, and which
holders. Such is the remedy Mr. Hume
certainly does look a very rude piece of legislation. It is that
no railway company whose Bill shall have passed this ses-
sion, and which as
Ist day of January, 1850.
Such is the
motion of which he has given notice for next Thursday, by
which time he will probably either give it a more definite
character, or withdraw 'it altogether. Of this latter
plan it is therefore needless to speak.
Of the former,
we will confess an opinion that it promises to be
more vexatious than effective. It will be a con-
of
siderable hardship on the holdersoriginal shares,
many of whom are trustees, or people living on their divi-
dends, and wholly out of the sphere of the Money-market,
to find themselves suddenly dunned for ',calls," and obliged
either to sell their shares at a loss, or to borrow money at a
high rate of interest. • The measure would, in fact, necessi-
with an infinite number of small ransactions, accompanied
much inconvenience, confusion,
.and loss ; nor is it by
s certain that it would limit the enterprise or
any mean
and v •
thwart the ingenuity of those potent
cabinets, and l versatile person-
ages, the monarchs, and legal advisers of the
great railway companies. For our own part, we still abide
by the view which from first to l; alt.
we have maintained,
that it was not only competent to arliainent, but was it 9
most obvious course, and its bounden duty, to lay down at
the commencement of each session some general rules, with
a view to an ultimate selection from the Bills. A Parliamen-
tary Committee, after using and reviewing the reports of the
Railway Commission, might have_. indicated the chief railway
desiderata of the country—viz., the districts most in want of
communication,aggregate of undertale
the
was prudent to go with reference to the available resources of
the country, and various other useful preliminaries of
legislation. We believe that nothing could be more •
easy and definite than such an inquiry. However •
the Fates were against us. A vain conceit of the infinitely •
expansive resources of the country, and of a certain tide of •

prosperity which it was necessary to take at the flow, pre-
vailed against our cautions. It was pronounced a heresy
against free trade, and beyond the scope of Government, to
assign any limit to mercantile speculation ; and in a few
short months, in great confusion, in the midst of blunders,
squabbles, technicalities, jobbing, canvassing, haphazard,
rascality, and chaos, there was passed an amount of Bills,
under the burden of which this nation is now bowed to the
ground. What is already done will not be mended till it
mends itself, as it probably will, without the intervention of
Ministers and Parliaments. But something may yet be
done with the Bills now before the Legislature. There is still
time to make a judicious and limited selection from them,
marking out some few for immediate execution, and giving
to others only a prospective sanction. There is no valid ob- '
jection to such a measure. Railways are not simply com-
mercial speculations. They are distributions and assignments
of the British territory; they are the foundation of a new
heptarchy in these islands. Surely they are amenable to any
sort of control the State may think fit to apply; and surely
the State is also bound to see, especially in these times, that
the realm should suffer no hurt, and receive no wrsng, as it
certainly does by the enforced monopoly of its resources in
speculations of remote and precarious advantage.—Tintes.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, MAY 13.—Rear-Admiral of the Blue Sir
I C. Napier, K.C.8., is selected by the Lords of the Admiralty
to hold a distinct command in the Mediterranean, and will
I hoist his flag on board the St. Vincent, 120, Captain Milne,
at this port, in a few days, and proceed forthwith to Lisbon.
Sir Charles will be followed as soon as possible by the Howe,
120, Captain Sir James Stirling, now fitting for sea with all
possible expedition, at Sheerness; and the Caledonia, 120,
Captain Dixon, at Devonport. Other ships will also follow,
as the Government have resolved to increase the fleet in the
Mediterranean.
A hoax was played off upon the inhabitants of Portsmouth
to-day. The news of the sudden death of the Duke of
Wellington was communicated between three and four o'clock
by electric telegraph, and created a most unprecedented
sensation.
The Vengeance, 84, Captain Lushington, was at Bermuda
on the 24th of April, having arrived on the lath with Col.
Cameron and the Ist detachment of the 42d Highlanders.
She had a long passage of forty-nine days from Malta to
Bermuda, and both sides of the main-deck full of sick, the
measles having broken out on board seven days after leaving
Malta, which carried off at the first sweep four soldiers. She
was to sail on the Ist of May for Halifax.
Tke Undine steam-tender, Master-Commander Allen,
having undergone sundry repairs, and been coated on one
side of her bottom with red lead and the other with a com-
position, in order to see whether either application will pre-
vent the growth of rubbish, was undocked yesterday, and the
Sappho, 16, taken in for refitment.
The Apollo troop-ship, Commander Radcliffe, sailed last
evening for Halifax.
The Odin steam-frigate arrived this morning from Ireland.
She has a quantity of seeds and Indian meal undisposed of on
board, which is ordered to b 3 returned into store at the Chi-
rence•yard. As usual with all new Government. steamers,
her engines have broken down, and will take a mouth's re-
pair to set to rights again. She is a new vessel, and has
never been employed but during the last three or four months
in " relief service."
The Hyacinth, 18, was undocked this morning, and the
Britannia, 120, taken in to have her bottom examined and
cleaned.
The Netley arrived this morning from Plymouth with men,
and left on her return as soon as she had discharged them.
ROYAL MARINES.
Captain Logan, and 100 men of the artillery companies
embarked this morning at this port in the Geyser steam
sloop for Pembroke, for service in that arsenal.
Woonwren, MAY 13. —The Right Hon. the Earl of Auck-
land, G.C.8., First Lord of the Admiralty; Vice-Admiral
Sir Charles Adam, K.C.8., First Naval Lord; and Rear-
Admiral J. W. Deans Dundas, C. 8., Captain M. F. Fitz-
hardinge Berkeley, C. 8., Commodore the Right Hon. Lord
John hay, C. 8., Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty;
and the Hon. H. G. Ward, Secretary to the Admiralty,
arrived at Woolwich Dockyard to-day at ten o'clock A.M.,
and were received by Commodore Superintendent Sir J. G.
Bremer, K.C.B. and K.G.H. ; Captain Ramsey, of the Ter-
rible, steam frigate; Captain Hall, of the Dragon steam
frigate; Mr. Lang, master shipwright; Mr. Jenkins, store-
keeper; Mr. Mouchet, store receiver; and Mr. Lloyd, chief
engineer. Their Lordships, on alighting from their carriages,
proceeded to the west end of the dockyard, and inspected the
Hydra steam-vessel, in dock, the Dragon steam-frigate, the
Niger and Kite steam-vessels, in the basin, and then went along
the wharf wall to the place of embarcation, where a guard of
honour of the Royal Marines was drawn up to salute their
Lordships. The barge of the William and Mary yacht being
in waiting at the landing steps, their Lordships, accom-
panied by Commodore Sir J. G. Bremer, proceeded to the
Black Eagle steam-vessel, and at 20 minutes past 11 the
steamers intended to tak part in the experiments went down
the river, the Minx iron steam-vessel with screw propeller
first; the Amphion steam-frigate, under the temporary com-
mand of Lieutenant Sibbald, in the absence of Captain Wil-
liams, in the Odin steam-frigate, follawed by the Monkey
steam-vessel as a tender, in case her services should be re-
quired ; the Teaser wooden steam-vessel, with screw pro-
peller; the Black Eagle steam-vessel, and the Kite steam-
vessel. The Amphion steam-frigate was the great object of
attraction, Captain H. T. Austen, C. 8., of the William and
Mary yacht; Captain Schwabe, of the Russian navy; Lieu-
tenant Redl, of the Austrian artillery, inventor of a code of
ignals for the navy; Mr. Lloyd, chief engineer; ;Mr.
Atherton, assistant to the chief engineer; Mr. Smith, in-
ventor of the screw propeller; and Mr. Ravenhill, of the firm
of Millar and Ravenhill, constructors of the engines, with a
number of the officers of the royal navy studying steam at
the factory in Woolwich Dockyard, being on board.
Mr. Elson, master attendant at the Woolwich Dockyard,
had the superintendence of navigating the Amphion steam-
frio•'ate down the river, assisted by Mr. Stuart, the
pilot. She started with 44 revolutions of her screw propeller
per minute, and overtook the Minx steam-vessel opposite the
practice ground in the Marshes, taking the lead of all the
vessels. The Black Eagle shortly after came abreast, with
the Lords of the Admiralty, the Hon. H. G. Ward, and Com.
modore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, all standing on the paddle-boxes,
having their attention directed to the Amphion. When op-
posite Erith, their Lordships caused a signal to be made from
the Black Eagle to make all sail upon the Amphion, but it
having been replied that the men had all gone below to
dinner, including eighty of the crew of the Terrible, trans-
ferred for the occasion to the Amphion, their Lordships very
considerately signalled to make all sail as early after dinner
as could be effected. When the Amphion entered the mea-
sured mile in Long Reach she had only her foresail up, and
the tide being then slack, afforded a fair opportunity of test-
ing her steaming capabilities, when it was found that she ac-
complished the measured mile in 6.78, or rather more
than 6i knots per hour, the number of the revolu-
tions of the screw-propeller being, on an average, 47
per minute. Their Lordships left the Black Eagle steam-
vessel opposite Greenhithe, and went on board the Amphion,
and after examining the working of the engines, which per-
formed their duties most efficiently, the stay and square-
sails were unfurled, and this splendid frigate proceeded at a
rapid rate through the water, making nearly ten knots per
hour. The Growler steam-vessel left Woolwich some time
after the squadron and overtook the vessels below Gravesend,
and went ahead of the whole of them; but the Amphion,
when her canvass was hoisted, went ahead of all the others,
and their Lordships appeared greatly pleased, and expressed
themselves to that effect, with the manner in which she pro-
ceeded under steam and under sail, and the way in which
the duty was performed under the command of Lieute-
nant Sibbald, with a mixed crew. The Amphion pro-
ceeded under steam and sail to Sea-reach, and when oppo-
site Yantlet-creek an order was given to turn and take
her back to Greenhithe to have her compasses adjusted.
Their Lordshps shortly after went on board the Black
Eagle, and returned to Woolwich Dockyard, where they
landed at half-past six o'clock r.m , and immediately let
for town

The Princess Alice steam-vessel left Woolwich at twenty
minutes before two o'clock, under the command of Lieute-
nant Scriven, and overtook the experimental steam squadron
in Sea-reach, having accomplished that distance in 1 hour
50 minutes, or at the rate of 131 knots per hour. Captain
Austen and the officers studying steam at Woolwich, with
those officially connected in the dockyard, returned to Wool-
wich in the Princess Alice, which will be ready to leave for
her station at Dover on Saturday next.

DEATH OF THE REV. MR. MiLOUGHLIN, P.P. OF
AHASCRAGH.—It is our painful duty this day to record the
death of the above ettimable clergyman. The Reverend
Gentleman, like many of his sacred calling, got fever in the
discharge of his duties, and. thus fell a victim in the prime of
life to the pestilence with which this country is infected.—
Roscommon Journal.

SOYER'S MODEL KITCHEN FOR THE POOR.—The
Government having purchased this extraordinary kitchen,
now in Dublin, for the south union in that city, it is to be
removed at once from its present site, the Royal Barracks
Esplanade, to that most densely populated district, the
liberty of Dublin, the latter spot being more commodious
snsulest,ed:
and better adapted for the benevolent purpose in view. The 1
goodouthbat,tahnxasioaulsreattoly been doneeneonwh
itshsecakricf:ye to
bpero.:rtei
but some notion of the extent of usefulness may be gathered j
from the following extract of a letter from the resident
manager to Monsieur Soycr:—" May 8, 1847. A-- s you are,
no d
have gone into the calculation, of which the f 11 o owing is the
result :—We have on Monday and Tuesday cooked porridge
and stirabout of rice and Indian meal for 31,270 persons,
using 4,8641 b. of meal, and 5,0341 b. of
erice, and 1% cwt. of
salt, at an expense of 11-16 of a
each, making together 62,5401 b. pnny per ration of 21b.
Wednesday and to .day we
made 22,760 portions of soup, using on Wednesday 4 cwt. of
barley, 4 cwt. of flour, 2 cwt.of
meat, 1 cwt. of salt, 141 b.
of fat, 241 b. of sugar, 21 ). of
of onions, at an e
spepper and ground spice, 1461 b.
expense of -16 of a en
pint; and to-day (Thursday) we I) ny per ration of a
3 cwt. of flour, 3 cwt. of American usedpork, 5
317:1 b . r, f pea
of pepper, 131
lb. of sugar, at an expense of 5.16 of a penny
The quantity of fuel consumed is a quarterof a ton
per ration.
By ten o'clock all the city depots were supplied.
Benr
Ma.
11, I made 15,100 quarts of receipt No. 4, in your char?.
table cookery book ; it was excellent and praised by every-
body; General Sir R. Bourke and many of the principals
of the relief committees were with me, and highly de-
lighted. The food, bread, anti biscuits are distributed
without the least confusion. This is the first day I have
had an opportunity of getting the account of sundries
written out for the secretary. A most important result
arising from the use of your kitchen is, that between the
south and north side a great economy is effected, namely, on
the south side, where your kitchen is used, each ration with
bread comes to 2d., and on the north side each ration comes
to 3d. ; therefore, through your system there is a saving of
11.2 d. on every ration. To conclude, lam happy to say, that
all the different kinds of food are very much approved of by
all parties."
BERLIN, MAY s.—Several cargoes of core arrived
here to-day, and others are expected. The importation of
corn by land has also been considerable, so that the sales in
our market to-day might be called dull. Rye was sold at
102 to 110 dollars per wispel (24 bushels), and oats from
46 to 50 dollars. In consequence of the prohibition of the
distilleries, such a large supply of potatoes has come from the
wealthy landowners, that there is sufficient, not only for
planting and supporting the inhabitants, but also for feeding
the cattle, so that we may hope for a great reduction in the
price of this article.
The Roscommon Journal contains the following
horrifying statement :—" In the parish of Kilglass this week,
the skeleton bodies of seven wretches were found inside a
hedge. The dogs of the surrounding villages had the flesh
almost eaten off. The police stationed in the place were
called out and shot seven dogs, in the mouth of one of which
was
a heart and a portion of the liver." With such a state of
things, how is it possible to form any accurate estimate of the
extent of mortality, or to set any limit to the ravages of the
pestilence?
THE QUEEN V. RICHARD DUNN.—The defendant
in this case is still confined in the Queen's Prison , where he
will remain until the rule obtained by him to set aside the
proceedings is decided by the Court of Queen's Bench. The
points on which the rule nisi was granted, are, whether the
affidavit was properly sworn, and also whether
do-
cument on which perjury could be assigned.
Trinit
it was a
commences on Saturday week, and the matter will by tem
cussed alter the first four days of the
term.e dis-