The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

/IRE
,SUN,
,LONDON, FRIDAY .p.r.ENIN(4, MARCH 5, 1847.'

most unpl*asant matter. The Provost made some explana-
tions to the meeting, which were loudly applauded, and
gave universal satisfaction. Few speeches were made at the
meeting, hitt such of the gentlemen as spoke. expressed their
resolution to support the authorities, and an earnest desire
for the immediate removal of the military.
CAsTeeTown-.—On Monday evening several hundred per-
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 entraoce, 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 by
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. Thia la! t
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 The crew having been withdrawn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 bee❑
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.
Tilunso.—A correspondent of the above journal, writ-
ing from Thurso, on Tuesday last says-- "We have
had lamnantable 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 eonsequences, 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.

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
(Room 22, before Mr. Examiner SMITH.)
OPPOSED LIST.
Gloucester and Hereford Railway and Canal Purchase (for
making a Railway from Gloucester to Hereford, with con-
necting lines, and purchase of the Herefordshire and
Gloucestershire Canal, with power to the London and
North-Western Rahway Company to subscribe to the in-
tended Railway, and purchase and make arrangements in
respect of the same).
Opposition withdrawn ; standing orders complied with.
This was the only case on Mr. Smith's list.
(Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.)
OPPOSED CASE.
Midland Railway (Worcester, Hereford, Malvern, and Chel-
tenham Lines, with a Branch to Ledbury), proposed Ex-
tension by the Midland Railway Company from Worcester
to Hereford, with Branches to Ledbury, Malvern, Ash-
church, and Cheltenham, with power to purchase or make
arrangements with the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire
Canal Company, and Junctions with the Shrewsbury and
Hereford Railway.
This case was opposed by the Oxford, Worcester, and
Worverhampton Company. The opposition occupied the
whole of the day,!and was adjourned till to-morrow (to-day).

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
OLD COURT.

(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON and Mr. Justioe CoLE-
RIDGE )
ROT:BERT OF DIAMONDS UPON THE HIGII SEAS.
Robert Kerr, aged 28, a mariner, was indicted with steal-
ing two packages of diamonds, value 3,3001., the property
of John ill‘Millan and others, upon the high seas, within
the jurisdiction cf the Admiralty of England, &c.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. BALLANTINE then addressed the jury for the defence.
The Logo CHIEF Banox carefully recapitulated, in his
summing up, the whole of the evidence, and the jury, after
consulting for a few minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty of
stealing on the high seas.
The Logo CHIEF BARON then, in an impressive address,
sentenced the prisoner to seven years' transportation.
This case occupied the court nearly six hours.

THE COAST OF AFRICA.
The following is an extract of a letter from a corre-
spondent :

"Ascension, Jan. 22, 1847.
"The Hydra steam-sloop, Captain Young, went up the
River Bonny on the 29th of October last. She attempted to
go up the day previous, but grounded inside the bar on a
sand bank for four hours. She was got off after great
exertions by throwing the aftermost 68-pounder overboard,
also a 321 b. carronade, and almost the whole of her fresh
water; however, the Hydra was taken up the river the fol-
lowing day by one of the captains of a merchant vessel at
anchor, trading for palm oil. Captain Young went up to
inquire into the merchant captains' complaints against the
King of the Bonny; but they could not substantiate them,
for it appeared that the King told them on their arrival,
that he could get no palm oil for trade, owing to his being
at war with the King of the Calebar River. The merchant
captains had subsequently supplied him with powder, shot,
and muskets on tick, but as his memory was rather forgetful,
they thought a little music from the-Hydra's 68-pounders
would refreshen it. She proceeded from the Bonny to Lagos,
where she fell in with the Acteon, Captain Mansell, when
she found herself in for another squabble with the King of
the Bimbia, he having been reported to the commodore as
committing, or having committed a breach of faith. Ac-
cordingly the Acteon, in company with the Hydra and Styx,
steam-sloop, Commander Chada, proceeded to the River
Bimbia, calling at Fernando Po fora pilot. Captain Becroft,
the Governor of Fernando Po, offered to pilot her. She ar-
rived on the 18th November, and took up a position within
range of her shells, when it was found out that the informa-
tion was false; in fact, the Baptist missionaries have a large
settlement at the entrance of the river, and this would be
the last place for slavers.

(" Whilst up the Bonny it was discoyerod, although the
kingii on both sides of the river did not sell slaves, yet they
murdered all prisoners in cold Wood, roasted, and ate them,
and one of the kings assured all officer that a little girl, with
plenty of salt and pepper, was very nice. So much for the
suppression of slavery, to s*y nothing of the expense and
loss of so many valuable lives and those who escape being
rendered unfit for further service. There were 2,000 :laves
brought down to the Leach at Palma, near the river Lagos,
to be shipped into the two vessels captured last September
by the Ilydra. Not having enough provisions to last until
the arrival of other vessels, they took their slaves down to
the beach, murdered them all, and suck their heads on
poles. Provisions were very scarce on the coast, and must
be brought from a great distance inland.
" From the Bimbia, the Hydra proceeded to Fernando Po,
Princess Island, and arrived at Ascension on the morning of
the 26th December.

" The Devastation, with the broad pendant of Sir C. Ho-
tham ; the Acteon, 26, Captain Mansell; Sealark, 10, Capt.
Gooch, were then here. The Devastation, with Sir C. Ho-
tham, and Acteon, left Ascension the same day for Sierra
Leone and the West Coast. The Sealark left this place about
a week since, with dispatches for Sir C. Hotham, brought
out by the Haddington, a large merchant-steamer, bound to
China, and the Grappler, steam-vessel, Lieut. Commander
Lysaght.
" Captain Hutton took command of the island of Ascen-
sion last Monday, so that Captain Morrell at present remains
a supernumerary, until we hear from the commodore. The
Grappler leaves this place also to-day, for Sierra Leone, to
meet the commodore.

" The Sealark left her captain behind at the hospital dan-
gerously ill from repftted attacks of epilepsy, in fact, he is
expected to die hourly.
" The turtle are rising very fast, which promises a good
season.

" The Eurydice, 2G, Captain Anson, touched here on her
way to the Cape.
" The Wanderer, 14, Commander Sommerville, has lost
her second lieutenant and ten men from coast fever, owing
to her commander sending his pinnace twice up the Rio
Pongos. The lieutenant stated that himself and boat': crew
wet e completely exhausted from their first trip.
" A vessel is expected in about a fortnight from the
commodore, with orders for the Hydra to proceed home.
She will probably be in,En»land about the first week in
May."

THE RUSSO-DUTCH LOAN.
OPINION OF DR. ADDAMS.
It is obvious that upon the separation of Holland and the
Netherlands, consequent upon the revolution of September,
1830, it ceased to be obligatory on Great Britain to make any
further payments on account of the Russian Dutch Loan, in
virtue of the Convention of May, 1815, according to the letter
of that Convention. though it was said or intimated that
obligation still subsisted, according to the spirit of the Con-
vention. But whether Russia could or could not, founding
upon the spirit, as against the letter of the Convention, have
justly insisted on such further payments, is a question that
merged upon the execution of the Convention of November.
1831, between Great Britain and Russia. And it is upon
this latter Convention that it is now obligatory on Great
Britain (if at all) to make any such further payments.
Now, in the Convention of November, 1831 (executed by
the two Powers), the objection of the Convention of 1815 is
recited to have been, to afford Great Britain a guarantee that
Russia would procure a certain policy on all questions re-
specting Belgium, on the one hand ; and the other, to secure
to Russia the payment of a portion of her old Dutch debt,
in consideration of the general arrangements of the Congress
of Vienna, to which she had given her adhesion—arrange-
ments which (says the Convention) still remain in full
force; and it is in virtue of this special consideration (Con•
vention of 1831, art. 1) that Great Britain undertakes to
continue, on her part, the payments stipulated in the Con-
vention of May, 1815.
It seems to me, that the phrase " arrangements which still
remain in full force," pretty plainly implies that if such
arrangements had not remained. in full force, at any rate
through any fault or delinquency on the part of Russia,
Great Britain would have declined to enter into such latter
Convention; and the language of the whole Convention ac-
cording to the true interpretation of it, in my humble judg-
ment, is identical in import with this—that Great Britain
undertakes to continue the payments in consideration of
Russia maintaining, or by reason that she does maintain,
those general arrangements of the Congress of Vienna, to
which she was originally a party at the time of the holding
of such Congress in 1815.
And this being so, it also seems to me that a breach or
violation of those general arrangements in any material part,
though the fault or delinquency of Russia, plainly releases
Great Britain from that continuing obligation which she
took upon herself under the Convention of November, 1831,
in consideration or by reason of Russia maintaining such
general arrangements.
And this reduces the whole question (and as to which I
think there can be no doubt) to a consideration of a hether
the reunion of Cracow to the Austrian Monarchy, at the time
and in manner as stated in the case, is or is not a departure
from the general arrangements of the Congress of Vienna, in
a material article, and one to which Russia is a consenting
and therefore a guilty party.
For surely, it admits of no doubt that one of the general
arrangements (and that a principal one) of the Congress of
Vienna was, the independence of Cracow. By the Eth ar-
ticle of the "principal act," an Act consisting of 120 ar-
ticles, of June, 1815, are several following articles. Cracow
with its territory is declared free, independent, and strictly
neutral, in terms the most positive and precise, and Russia,
Austria, and Prussia are pledged to the maintenance of their
freedom, independence, and neutrality. The 6th article is,
"La vine de Cracovie avec son territoire est declaree a per-
patuite cite libre, independante et strictement neutre,
sous la protection de la Russie, de I'Austriche, et de la
Prusse." Again, the 9th article—" Les Cours de Russia
d'Autriche, et de Prusse s'engagent a respecter et ti faire
respecter, en tour tents, la neutrality de la villa libre de
Cracovie et de son territoire, &c." These articles, if no other,
introduced into au "acts principal," commencing with she

recital fic that of 9th of June, 1815, clearly show that the
independence of Cracow is one of the principal arrangements
of the Congress of Vienna; and that the violation of its inde-
pendence and of one of the general arrangements (and that a
principal one) of the Congress of Vienna is one to which
Russia has been a guilty party, is as clearly shown by the
facts of the care.

Under these circumstances it appears to me that if Great
Britain makes any further payments on account of the
Russian Dutch Loan, it must be on political considerations
only (as to which I give no opinion), and not by any means
is obliged thereto by the Convention (into which the former
Convention merged in that respect) of November, 1831.

IMPERIAL PAH LIAIIEIN'T.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on ti he Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
LIGHT-HOUSES.

The Earl of EGLINTON presented a Petition from
Aberdeen, praying that the cost of light-houses• might
be defrayed by the State.
JUVENILE COMMITMENT.

Lord BROUGHAM moved for a return of the docu-
ments relating to the commitment of a boy to Tothill-
fields, on the 19th of February last, for felony. The
boy was but five years and two months old, and the
present motion was with a view to the removal of the
ma;;istrate.
Lord CAMPBELL said the only question to be con-
sidered was as to whether such proceeding should
originate in their Lordships' house or elsewhere, be-
cause the action to which his Noble and Learned liriend
referred was monstrous.
Lord BROUGHAM said, he had conferred with his
friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
as well as his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord
Chancel!or, and they agreed with him (Lord Brougham).
He agreed with his Noble Friend as to that House not

-
beirg the proper place for these proceedings: but yet he
thought, under the circumstances, they should be
granted.
The motion was they. agreed to.
NAVIGATION AND EXPORT RETURNS.

The Earl ref ELLENBOROUGH moved for the naviga-
tion and export returns for the last two years, with a view
to comparison, as there had been a diminution in some
Of the most important exports to the extent of 3,329,0001.
In sheep's wool there h.td been a falling off to the
amount of 1,500,0001b5. There was a great diminution
also in articles that were necessary to the perfecting of
manufactures ; in dyes and dye stuffs there was a small
increase ; but in cochineal and madder there was a de-
crease. There wai a marked falling off in madder root,
and in indigo to the amount of two-ninths of the
whole usual imports, and in bark to the extent
of 97,000 cwta. There was likewise considerable
decrease in the import of barilla ; in untanned hides to
:he number of 210,000. In cocoa nut oil there was a
slight increase, but in all the other articles there was a
serious falling off. There was a diminution in these
articles of import, but especially in the raw materials,
the subject of our manufacturing industry. He had
been making mc ntion of certain diminutions, but he
must say that the trade of Britain appeared
upon the whole, not going back, but stationary ; that
seemed to be the result. Perhaps it would not be pro-
per for him then to raise any inferences upon the details
which he had just mentioned. He ought to mention,
however, that there had been an increase in the export
of machinery and of metals, to be used no doubt in the
manufactures and the railways of other countries. The
Noble Lord added that perhaps it might be desirable to
hare returns, similar to those for which he had moved,
for the last six months of 1844.
The Earl of CLARENDON said there could be no
objection to the returns just moved for, as he believed
they would enable them and the country generally better
to estimate their prospects and their present condition.
The Noble Lord, in moving for the returns, had referred
to different details and diminution, but he believed that
satisfactory reasons could be given for these diminu-
tions.

Lord ASHBURTON wished to know from the Noble
Earl whether it was true that there had been a very
great importation of woollen cloths into this country
from Belgium, in consequence of the recent reduction of
the duties on goods of foreign manufacture, and whether
this importation had interfered with the manufactures of
this country?

The Earl of CLARENDON had heard of that ina-
portati.,n from Belgium, but he had heard of no com-
plaints from the woollen manufacturers of this country
with rJerence to it.

The motion was then agreed to.
LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL.
The Earl of CLANRICARDE moved the corn
mittal of this Bill.

Lord MONTEAGLE thought that the Government
deserved praise for having attended in this Bill to the
suggestions he had thrown out. He cordially approved
.f the principle of encouraging as much as possible
voluntary contributions, rather than the mode of com-
pulsory payments, in support of the poor. He
would not throw any obstacle in the way of
the further progress of the present measure. He
hoped that no consideration would have the effect of
causing them to fail in making the present measure as
f ffective as possible.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said be was quite
opposed to any c,mpulsory clause on either land or land-
lord being introduced into this Bill. It was his con-
scientious opinion that if such a clause was introduced
it would prove pernicious.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE explained that
the terms of the Act showed that the objection to the
indemnity clause was not justified. It certainly was
largely framed, but it was yet sufficiently explicit and
defined.

Lord BROUGHAM said—lf his Noble Friend had
said that this clause was loosely, instead of largely,
framed, he was sure that everybody would have agreed
with him. The meaning of the Act was to indemnify the
Government, and those who acted under the Government,
from any evil consequence; hut in consequence of Mr. La-
bouchere's Act this intention was in a degree frustrated.
The present measure would give an indemnity to all
persons who had acted illegally under the Act, and any
preentment made under the Act were to be indemnified
from all penalties. Ile loolced with great apprehension
tin the measure, which gave powers which he did not
think the Government intended to give.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that no doubt
the words of the Act were capable of a very large inter-
pretation, but he did not think they were quite so loose
as the Noble Lord had suppo3ed. The Act was intended
cnly t,) afford indemnity to all such persons as had acted
under the authority of Mr. Labouchere's letter.
Lord BROUGHAM thought that power might be
vested in the Lord•• Lieutenant to give indemnity to such
persons as he thought proper ; if it were not so, person,
who had acted with mala fides would be indemnified.
Lord CAMPBELL thought that his Noble and
Learned Friend need not be under any apprehension
that persons acting with mala fides would be indemnified
under the second clause of the Act. It would only up-
ply to those persons who acted bona fide, or who might
have considered that they were acting in a strictly bona
fide manner.

The House then went into Committee. The various
clauses of the Bill were agreed to, and the report ordered
to be bronght up to-morrow (this day).
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table
papers relating to the state of union workhouses in
Ireland.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 4.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.
Papers from the Ace untant-General's office were
presented.
On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the following resolution
was agreed to :—" That in order to give time for the
breviate to be laid on the table one clear day before the
second reading, the York and Newcastle Railway (Har-
tlepool Dock and Railway, and Great North of England,
Clarence, and Hartlepool Junction Railway Lease and
Purcha,e) Bill be read a second time on Friday, notwith-
standing more than seven clear days will have elapsed
since the first reading thereof."
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 I'IE 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 for 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 not another object in view before they
carne 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.
Lord 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.
MANCHESTER, 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
RANTHAM).
This Bill was read G a
second time.
TEN HOURS' BILL.
Sir A. L. HAY presented a petition from millowners
in A berdeen, 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 employe],
as they considered that any such alteration would be in-
jurious to both.
LIGHT DUES.
An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from Glasgow
complaining of the excessive charge of the light dues.
Mr. FOSTER presented two petitions to thf, same effect

ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
An Hoar. Meetnen 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 chilli-wan, without anv explanation being
afforded to the Members. He %voutcsl, 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 these Committees?
Sir W. lIEATHCOTE 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 place;; 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 Hon. 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
involving 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 lien. Member, as being the representative for
Coventry, which took a great interest in the narrow
gauge, and, therefore, without the least imputation
on the lion. 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 Hon. 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 fully 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 prop(ise 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 Committees
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 he. He hoped
that the House would find a remedy for such a system.
After a few words from Lord G. SOMERSET, which
did not reach the gallery,
Mr. STRUTT said that the Railway Commissioners
bad 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 harids 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-
poi tance, 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 if that were the case no Bills
would be proceeded with till after Easter. He con-
sidered this was roost unfair, and the Right Hon. Gem
tleman the Member for Coventry was to blame fur not
having brought forward the subject earlier.
Mr. ELLICE said the reason why ho did not bring
fcrward this subject earlier then he did was, because he
had felt confident that the matter would be taken
up by Government, and he believed it would have
been taken up by them had it not been for the illness
of his Right Hon. 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 Co amissioners
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.
lie wished to know what restriction was to be placed
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. STRUrf said that this subject had attracted
the attention of the Railway Commissioners, and it was
intended to adopt the recommereletiiin of hie Hen.
Friend the 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 cf calling the Committees together on Monday
or Tuesday, to defer their meeting till Thursday, so
that the Committees summoned for to-morrow teere, 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
Hon. 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 Commit-
tee of Selection, 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. He did not know that it would
have been possible to select five gentlemen in the
House, not Irish Members, .whose constituents were
not interested in the question of the gauges.—(Hear.)
He hoped there would be some competent tribunal esta-
blished, as he confessed he was more afraid of an incom-
petent than an interested tribunal.
Mr. ESTCOURT did not see any grounds in the cases
under consideration for blaming the Committee of
Selection, as for many years it had been the prac-
tice to erase the names of Members selected to
serve on particular Committees, and substitute others.
The motion was agreed to.
Sir J. Y. BULLER said, as it appeared to be the
desire of the House that these committees should not
enter on their duties till Monday next, it would be a
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 READINGS.
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 (Wearmouth Dock En-
largement).
York and Newcastle, Newcastle and Berwick, and North
British Railways Amalgamation.
QUARANTINE LAWS.
Dr. BOWRING gave notice thato on this day fortnight,
he should move for the continuation of the correspone
dence on these laws. To-morrow he should put a ques-
tion to the Hon. Gentleman, the Vice-President of the
Board of Trade (Mr. M. Gibson) on the subject.
FACTORIES BILL.
Lord EBRINGTON gave notice that when this Bill
was in Committee he should move that clauses should
be inserted, appointing medical practitioners, whose
business it would be to report on the health of persons
employed in factories. Further, that clauses should be in-
serted reqniring the security of drainage and ventilation,
just such as those which Low were in operation with
respect to unguarded machinery.
Mr. ROSS gave notice that he should move to except
Ireland from the operation of the Act.
SMITHFIELD MARKET.
Mr. SPOONER, on behalf of the Member for Wor-
cestershire (Mr.Ormsby Gore), gave notice that he should
postpone his motion respecting the removal of this
market till Thursday, the 18th, when, instead of mov-
ing for leave to bring in a Bill, he should move for a
Select Committee.

RIOTS IN THE NORTH..
Sir A. LEI FIT HAY rose to ask a question of the
Learned Lord-Advocate respecting a circumstar.ce which
had come to his knowledge through the public press.
lie understood that in consequence of the delivery of
some grain the military had been called out to qmell a
riot, and that they had fired on the people, and several
persons had been seriously injured. lie wished to know
why the civil authorities had not interfered without call-
ing out the military?
The LORD-ADVOCATE said that it was true that
a riot had been created in consequence of the delivery
of some grain, and that the military were
called out and two persons were injured, one
slightly and the other severely, but the civil authorities
wet e in no way to blame, for they had taken all necessary
precautions the day before in consequence of some in-
structions which they had received of the probability of a
tumult. In the morning of the day the sheriff received in -
formation that a vessel had been attacked in the harbour,

and that itwouTd.tTel--advlSable to unship the corn, as
the vessel would be scuttled in the harbour, and that the,

crew would be thrown overboard. In consequence of that
information, the sheriff of the county applied for a strong
body of soldiery, and under their protection the crew

disembarked. In their passage through the I°_,
e,
the populace were very violent, and ill-treated them
Looking at all the facts of the case, there was n°-1./;
ficetion hatever on the civil officers; and the sheriff,
what he had done—had acted entirely in conctr_ire
with the magistrates of the county. So far front
likely to act in a harsh and hasty mariner, be ls,b
welt known to be a gentleman of& beeevolent and lila"'
character.
CENTRAL RAILWAY TERMINUS, GLA-S'
Mr. BOUVERIE moved that an humble addressu it
presented to her Majesty, that she will be grac°t;iii
pleased to give directions, that there be laid before
net'
a copy of the Report made by the Connissi°p,,ef
appointed to consider and report upon the advantag
otherwise which might be afforded by a central ranwq
terminus in the city of Glasgow.
LABOURS ON PUBLIC WORKS IN lIIELAN 9;t
Mr. E. VENISON had a question to ask the &go
Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland in relatienred
the relief granted under the public works. It "Peay',
that, according to his statement on the 19th efJeau!io,
there were 450,000 persons employed on these %ila,
The time for patting the seed in the ground was ,c,i,b;
end was passing away, and he wished to ask Itss
Hon. Friend what progress had been made in disb e'roa,
the lerge army of labourers now employed up:111,1 of
ductive works ? He wished to know what ntir°':;icie:l
inert were employed, and whether his Right Ho".
,ease
had had any objection to place on the table of the 000
weekly, a return of the number of men ernploYe,".l
these works, so long as the works themselves shoo"
tinue in progress. •ectiet
Mr. .LABOUCIIERE said that he had ito ebJ re.
to give his Honourable Friend the information he
oat
quired, or the weekly return of the number of lW,:the
employed upon these public works. With regewertAuiric
gubtibt
other question his lion. Friend had put resp
number of men now employed upon the istif
works, he regretted to say that "
found impossible, not only to reduce
se it
number of men, but also to prevent a
that number. He had lately stated the number tDbill
be
450,000. His lion. Friend must recollect that abicli
which was to be passed by the House, and w o,
did in a certain degree affect the public w°llol
had not yet come into operation, and it 0•
therefore been impossible to prevent the numbers, 06
ployed from increasing. Distress had been gre'tios
the increase lately in Ireland, and the number of fa
employed upon relief works, according to a real t.)
the week ending the 20th of February amouate
668,000.—(Great sensation.) ble);
Lord G. BENTINCK (who was almost jawrilh so
wished to know the number of applications Wile')
been made for loans to the Lord Lieutenant. nee'
Mr. Mr. LABOUCHERE was not able to answ a the'tbo
tion of the Noble Lord. All that he could say "s!inla
power had been given to the Lord Lieutenant tocarria
effect the intentions of the Government in the inaellf:ieu•
which he should think most desirable. The Lortll-0
tenant had come to the determination of 00tooll
vancing mcney but of advancing seed, in :iisJ
quantities, to be repaid in a short time. pier-01e
not been a great number of applications na Ala
The Lord Lieutenant would not advance seed excefrotO
wheat, he thought it better to leave the supPlY
seed to come through the ordinary channels, as
terference would more harm tan good. if ibl
Lord GEORGE BENTINCKh wished to knovibei
Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Irelss',.o
any objection to lay upon the table of the ilelirs-tlo
return distinguishing the different professions e`
personsM engaged on the public works. bor
r.LABOUC HERE said he would give a returtleab
ing the names of the persons, and distinguishing tloo
ferent works upon which they were engaged, bet,' dif
quite impossible to give a return, distinguishing l'eborl
ferent professions of the persons employed, in the -
time aowed him for making the r e turns. ,h 0
Lord G. BENTINCK k
said he would undertake t
the information could be collected within a weal",„ gift,
Mr. L A BOUC HERE said his only wish was ',4;51
the fullest information, but it would take a good u'frotO
time to give a return distinguishing the laboateT
the small farmer, or the farmer from the mechame,'
n be
Major MACNAMARA wished to know w"ho
might expect the returns he had moved for c°l3",ec
with his lion. Colleague. Ace°
Mr. LABOUCHERE said both he and the
of the Board of Works were anxious that the 11,10
should be made as soon as possible, but sufficien'
had not yet elapsed to admit of their preparatioa•
GAME LAWS. Oea'
Mr. COLLETT wished to inquire of the 0°13;00
tleman the Secretary of State for the Home DePtr-
joti.
if the Government intended to introduce this sef pc.
any Bill with respect to the Game Laws, in ace°,-/310
with the recommendation of the Committee -
session?
tv
Sir GEORGE GREY said, no such Bill was t -
sate
paration ; at the same time, he could say that l"
ject was under onideration.
DRAINAGE AMENDMENT BILL. ,11#
Lord LINCOLN wished to know if the I-10011,;cooil
Gentleman (Sir G. Grey) intended to take the s`eoon
reading of this Bill before Easter. The rn Tune
-
he asked the question was this, that he W 21,5 7 g - bet"
to ascertain the number of applications which "as rale
made for assistance under the Bill, before it was twor
proceeded with. Ile understood that a list of the 3' the
bers who had so applied, would be shortly laid, one
table, so thd, they could have some means ofjoug'7ooo
Sir. G. GREY said he intended to move the' e-00
reading to morrow night. It was ee eissary that
Bill should be proceeded with withountd
POOR-LAW AUDITOII2
:By.
he
Sir W. JAMES wished to know whether„,,toit
lion. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the
Department considered that auditors would be :111„131-1' ir
in refusing to audit accountssubmitted them the
official capacity in accordance with the tle'is''" °
law officers of the Crown? action
Sir GEORGE GREY said an auditor son erect
would would incur great responsibility, but he was elnrirwitog
to exercise his discretion as to allowing or di,a')is dr
accounts. If the parties were dissati,fied with b 1
cision, they had the power of appealing to the u
Commissioners.

BOARDS OF WORKS.
Mr. W. R. COLLETT' wished to know whetile.rutol3o.
House could be furnished with the names and occur, owl
of the 11,000 overseers employed on the producti"
unproductive works of Ireland ? 5(10°
Mr. LABOUCHERE would be quite ready as them
as the returns of the overseers were received to 15fieor
on the table of the House. These returns ether
comprise the number of the people employed, tf,„gtestlir:
with how many were employed inland, and he- 8,
were engaged in the works of piers and harbour r iS;
her Majesty's Government received any forth:we'
formation, there would be every disposition to pro
,
as amply as it was obtained.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL gave notice that on the Os'
going into Committee of Supply, he would olciqueelfl
the people now employed on the public works sti,?isge e
the remainder of the term be engaged in the ti)
the laud.—(Hear, hear.)
EMIGRATION. I Of !S,
Mr. VERNON SNIITU rose to move--" ;tioti
order to assist and encourage voluntary ensigr,s-0001`i
the colonies, it is expedient to increase the irl3r, to tw
and authority of the Land and Emigration Board, t° pt°,l
to their agency in Great Britain and Ireland, °no, 110,,
mote their vigilant superintendence of the Pas?l,e. t11"4
future location of the emigrants." In Pattto 613e4
motion to the House he was not disposed to go '-eibre,
long and discursive inquiry into the important ~,ces,"
of emigration from the United Kingdom; firstly' `l,:relq
at no distant period it had been respectively put eel% feis
House by the Hon. Members for Limerick, Sheltie' aette°
Liskeard ; secondly, because he had not the el°,,gthoLt
and information to bring the subject before it which 5e
Hon. Gentlemen had evinced ; and, thirdly, hectloo -
hoped to obtain some result by his motion, which - ;
rhe
Gentlemen had been unable to achieve. But in the rte
remarks which he had to offer to the House, otioti
tended to confine himself to the terms of the Tose t
which he had to submit. This he should do, ne,c;oo,`"
was universally allowed that some system of elielbalior
was necessary, and was in coincidence with the fei
of the public and the House. He believed thl3,ooo'
system of national emigration would never bet , brit`''tenanced either by the House or the GoverneneD stint
on the other hand, there was no doubt but
otlece
right system of emigration would be colloteue%
both by her Majesty's Ministers aad the e"„eib'
He believed that tee present time was the most fav°eerg
that could be selected for emigration. If Hos. Alfgooli f
would read the blue books upon their tables, they ding °f
find that much disease arose from the over-crow
e, oti
the poorer classes in certain districts of their t°vieutsble
f
cities. In the agricultural districts the most 103 oats
instances of destitution occurred from the 11 pro) d
wages, and the Irish Secretary cf State had also '11,,,J 11/
them that the number of destitute, weekly eusPlo3to 00.,
the Board of Public Works in Ireland, amounted essi°'
less than 668,000 persons. It was his firm imPopf
that the proposed alterations its the system et vest
tation would have an injurious effect on the h°lle
grant. By the arrangement of bounties for foe
gration to the colonies, the honest evorhilg
tP
who had done his best to educate or brlout
his family, if he were desirous of going wage
one of the colonies would not be allowed for the P The
of any of his children under seven years of age: abee
.
rule was that no bounty should be allowed to those
fifty years of age or below seven. And what r` the
position when he got there? Why that, Peel d
'bee°
ba
children of his next-door neighbour, who
_la lees
neglected and taken places fo some petty theft,. co'eS
taken into one of the p for reformation, 113`..'e0i0.0
out there at the public expense with every eear3l37,ti elet,
of mending as well as the children of the h
_!.7600
of
grant. If that short sketch of the present 0'
tP con6ideor,
emigration were true, he begged the House _
what were the difficdties against any plan to
applied tr!
The motion of which he had given notice 11P.P(_.;erath?'1_
particularly to what was called the Land and D'!,"100
Board. There was a board of that desc.rknwte
operation, however little its existence might u„sceergif
thTehenlewher
The commissioners were zealous ingenthoee,rnyieasinciroviitodh
of
properly
ptiyr
carryingtduties ,
outbut
theirthey phearda t
oneost.
00
for Liskeard stated, in 1844, that a
Canada wished to make some inquiries in En, ‘te
ntere"-
reference to emigration, and although much interof
in this question. he was not aware of the exists.
on the
DWI to
that beard. When gentlemen applied to 0,
iD
this board, but the information given by
thhairdly wort.'
subject a emigration, he invariably referre.sd
htoh9erti
the country was so scanty that it was , _ of this
having. The Noble Lord was the founnenr the
commission in
siiniorltBly4,oa,ftaenrdwarinds,atloetttheer
commission, he correctly deed their duties.
soil,lerJbut
these duties, it was true, halos ince becomeob
.taybeoe
very much limited, and this anah
although they had not altogether expired, they n
was one of the reasons t
oe.
Many delusive etnigratory projects had been
out ;
had induced him to bring forward his presenstuging°,:ted
from time to time, but few had been carried
Lowermittbeer.srltlioef