The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-02 00:00:00

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

MAIDSTONE.—The wind and raia of last week has
made the hops turn up their leaves and look sickly.
Other appearances discourage the expectation of any-
thing like a crop. The succession of large growths the
last few years, with the unseasonable spring and the
considerations that they have not been even fairly
manured this year on account of the crop, however large
or small, not paying the grower, causes the duty to
stand from 190,000/. to 200,0004 but they must even
have fine weather to do even this.
TALDING, WEST FARLEIGH, CHART.—Bine not abun-
dant, some weak and rather yellowish. Some lice on a
few grounds.

STAPELHIIRMT.—Coming into burr; generally looking
healthy and promising.
MEREWORTH.—The hops continue growing and com-
ing out in burr very fast. There is not so much bine as
last year, and the crop cannot be large.
EAST PECHHAM.—Bing not quite so healthy. The
high winds and cold nights have been much against the
progress of the plantation. The duty is much over-
stated, according to the appearance of this district.
UECGMB.—The wet weather this last fortnight, ac-
companied with cold winds, has considerably affected
the hops, and stopped their growth; they are not look-
ing so well as at the beginning of July; there is much
slack bine that will not reach the tops of the poles.
'This year we shall be quite one-fourth short of last
year's duty, if we get kindly weather for the next three
weeks.

CRANBROOK.—The bine has done but little this fort-
night—some yellow, otherwise very slack—the stronger
very much whipped by the late high winds and cold
nights, and if such weather continue much longer the
crop will come much short of expectation. In the
sheltered situations the burr is coming forward and looks
tolerable.

GOCroitrnsT.—The hops have made but little pro-
gress since our last report. The late weather has in-
jured them, and there is an inclination to fire-blast.

ROLTENDEN.—Some of our best grounds are doing
pretty well, but a considerable part of the old grounds
have much fire-blast, and cannot do much. Some lice
have also made their appearance.
CANTERRITRY.—With the discovery of a great quan-
tity of bine which will produce little or no fruit, and the
damage done by the late high winds and rains, a mate-
rial declension has taken place in the duty, which is now
laid at only 180,0001., with indications of some 20,0001.
less should the weather not greatly improve. General
accounts speak of the hops retrograding by reason of the
cold winds.—Maidstone Journal.

THE GRESHAM LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICE. —A
dinner to celebrate the establishment of this new office

took place at the Brunswick, Blackwell, last evening .
About 100 partooht of he banquet, which was presided
over by Alfred Smee, Esq., M.D., surgeon to the Bank
of England. The objeet of the office is the assurance of
lives declined by other offices as not being first-rate, at a
small increase on the ordinary premium.
TRIBUEE TO BRITISH TALENT.—We hear a great
deal of the diabolical manner in which the unfortunate
negroes are packed together in the slave-ships. A gen-
tleman who gave his evidence on this subject before the
House of Commons, declared that it was impossible for
human ingenuity to cram more people into an equal
space. Here, however, he was mistaken. It is with
honest pride we inform the public that England excels
the rest of the world in this, as well as every other
science. The Brasilian merchants have sent over five
agents of great experience in the slave trade to study the
superior mode of loading practised on board our river
steamers.—Puppet Show.
OPENING OF RAlLWAYs.—Yesterday the Chester
and Holyhead Railway was, with the excption of three
miles and a half adjoining the Menai Straits, opened
throughout for goods and passenger traffic. This open-
ing will materially accelerate the communication between
London and Dublin ; the mails from either capital will
now arrive in both cities at five A.M. The Leeds, Dews-
bury, and Manchester Railway lessening the distance
between the former and the latter town ten miles, was
yesterday opened for public traffic.
ST. HELEN'S AND RUNCORN RAILWAY AND CANAL.
—LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.—The half-yearly meeting of
the shareholders in this railway was held this afternoon,
in the Clarendom Rooms. In the absence of the chair-
man of the company (Mr. Gilbert Greenall, M.P.), Mr.
Thomas Ross, one of the directors, presided. The meet-
ing was numerously attended. The secretary read the
report, from which we take the following extracts
" It will be no matter of surprise to the shareholders that
the extensive depression of trade during the past twelve
months has much affected the revenue of this in common
with nearly every other company in the kingdom; the
falling off in the income of the last twelve months being
upwards of 2,7001., while the diminution in the expendi-
ture is only 9001.; thus showing a diminished surplus of
1,8001. The whole of this falling off is in the coal trade,
the difference in the two periods being 60,000 tons,
whilst there has been a slight increase on the income
from passengers and merchandize. The directors do
not doubt that on the revival of the general trade of
the country, the deficiency will be quickly re-
moved. From the accounts it appeared that,
on revenue account, the canal income for the
half-year was 6,372 L 95., and the expenses 2,658 L ss. 3d.,
leaving a surplus of 3,6142 3s. 9d. The in-
come from the railway was 6,4191. 11 s. Bd., and the
expenses 3,852/. 135., leaving a surplus of 2,566/.lBs. Bd.,
and a total surplus of 6,1811. 2s. sd. Deducting the
interest on the canal and railway bonds, and the guaran-
teed dividend on the preference shares, left a net profit
of 5551. 4s. 2d., and adding this to the balance from the
last account left a clear balance in favour of the com-
pany of 5,8301. 11s. 3d. The capital account showed
the entire receipts of the company, including payments
on shares, mortgages, debts owing to the company, ba-
lance of purchase money due to the canal company, and
surplus on traffic account, to he 415,1541. 13s. 6d.; and
the disbursements showed that there had been expended
on the railway 209,1731. 12s. Bd.; on the canal, 176,0001.;
and on the new branches 30,9811. Os. 10d." The report
was received and adopted. A resolution of the directors
for the forfeiture of upwards of 2,000 shares, held by
Mr. Jonathan Higginson, a bankrupt, was confirmed;
and after the usual Tote of thanks to the chairman, the
meeting separated.

REF-ORM MEETING IN WESTMINSTER.—Last night
thehee s t
pmr
a,
sr ieeenlmesyset t e.inrentrrg. ,
or, for the purpose, as the bills
a public meeting was held at the Temperance Hall,
we
iepdnxreepdstrheeness
tshaeoctdhri ,vtaley:rs:yaofsttfrreermht aik,hi nsepga
cCharlesdoorsi o wi into
Broadway,au n eun
considerationclng Wt
Lnnuislhdiinnggtowna,sEdseqn.
were thrown open. The chairman, in opening the
proceedings, said that he fully concurred in the points of
the People's Charter, with a qualification for universal
suffrage—(Hear, hear.) He then went through the
points of the Charter seriatim. He would rather work
for honour than for wages—(Cheers)—hut if they liked
to pay him he would have no objectionto accept it.—
(Much laughter, &c.) He had promised at his election to
attend all meetings that might be held for a legitimate
purpose, and he was now present in accordance with that
pledge.—(Cheers.) Mr. Kydd moved the first resolution,
viz., " That this meeting is of opinion that the monopoly
of the elective franchise by any class is unjust
in pricciple, unsafe in its operation, and injurious in its
results ; that in a country professedly of free institu-
tions every man of sane mind, unconvicted of crime, and
of not less than twenty-one years of age, should pos-
sess the right of voting for a representative in Parlia-
ment ; and this meeting is fully convinced that perma-
nent prosperity can only be obtained and secured through,
the emancipation of all classes from political thraldom.'
—(Cheers.) Mr. Basset seconded the resolution, which
was unanimously adopted. Mr. Stallwood then moved
the next resolution—" That this meeting pledges itself
to continue its exertions, by all legal and constitutional
means, until such time as every man shall be admitted
within the pale of the constitution—his vote protected
by the ballot—the property qualification aboliabed—the
electoral districts rendered equal—the old constitutional
method of paying Members for their services, and an-
nual parliaments should be restored.' The resolution
having been seconded was carried nem. con. Other gen-
tlemen having addressed the meeting, a vote of thanka
to the chairman closed the proceedings.
MEETING OY LABOURERS REFUSING TO PAT Poor-
RATES.—At Great Bardfield Petty Session on the 24th
three men named
Rev. Messrs. Lainpet and Barnard,
ultimo, before J. IValford, Esq., Chairman, and the
Ramsey, Jealous, and Coal, were summoned for
pans many of the poor in the non-
payment of poor-rates.. tlt appears
that summonses
having been issued s
pa-
rish of Great Bardfield, who, our correspondent statea,
have never before been called upon to pay the rates,
on Saturday night last a meeting was held, and about
200 labourers assembled. Several spoke and declared
meeting,
o la btohue r e
hresn, as
numerousO as
bench
they were not able to pay the rates, a man with a wife
and five children, only getting Bs. per week, and
hearty young men who went to plough only Gs. per
week.
On Mondayat
attended t he
and the court was the whole of the time '
in great con-
fusion. The parties summoned laid their cases before
the bench, who told them it was impossible for the
magistrates to excuse them. They (the
bench) had but
one duty to perform, and it was a painful as they
must order them to pay. This causd reatone,
which continued some time, the partiesg d excitement,
l.
they
would not pay, and distress warrants beingec
declaring
quence granted. The whole body intimated111
"Ise-
to the
magistrates that they would all act as one,and would
defy any person to execute the warrants. Essex Herald.
SMOKE PROHIBITION BILLSA Bill, brought from
the Lords, entitled " An Act to abate the nuisance of
smoke from certain furnaces and chimneys," provides,
";that from
, om and after the Ist day of January, 1849, opaque
smoke shall not be permitted to issue from any chimney
of a furnace for any longer period of time than is bont
fide necessary for the kindling of the fire of such fur-
nace." Clause 3 enacts " that from and after the said
Ist day of January, 1849, if opaque smoke shall issue
from any such chimney for any longer time than is
hereinbefore limited in that behalf, the occupier of the
furnace connected with such chimney shall be guilty of
an offence against this Act, and shall for every such
offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding a"
BANK or BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.—A special
meeting of the proprietors of this company was held at
the offices, St. Helen's-place, yesterday afternoon, to ap-
point
a director in the room of George Pemberton, Esq.,
resigned. H. Barnwell, Esq., having been called, to the
chair, John Seward, Esq., was unanimously elected to
fill up the vacancy in the board of directors, end the
meeting separated.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF LORDS, August 1.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-

sack at Five o'clock.-
ADMINISTRATION-OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
ECCLESIASTICAL DIVISIONS BILL.
The Commons' amendments to this Bill were agreed to.
SAVINGS' BANKS (IRELAND).
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from certain
depositors in St. Peter's Savings' Bank, Dublin, which
had failed for 74,0001. In 1831, a Mr. Dunne was in
default and absconded with a large sum in his bands.
There was a great fault in international law with regard
to swindlers. He had given a judgment in favour
of Dr. Hussey for 60,0001., the person had
gone to France, and had died there with the
money in his possession, and there was no redress
for Dr. Hussey. In the same way Dunne had absconded,
and the people were advised to go on in the hopes of
making up the deficiency of Dunne. They went on
until the year 1845 subscribing, when 233,0001. was
drawn out, leaving only 30,0001. in the bank, and they
then stated to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
the gross mismanagement and the gross frauds which
had taken place without being checked by the authori-
ties. They had received deposits from persons exceed-
ing the amount permitted, contrary to law, and they
opened several accounts for the same individual, con-
trary to law. The Government of that day never ex-
pressed any disapprobation, nor did they take any step
to express their disapprobation. They therefore
thought that all was right, and went on depositing
until 1847, when the savings'-bank proved insolvent,
having only 87/. to pay 47,000/. There was no class of
the commnnity more entitled to protection than the de-
positors in savings'-banks, inasmuch as giving encourage-
ment to them was discouraging those grovellers who
depended upon the relief to pauperism. He trusted
their Lordships would give these 1,500 depositors every
relief in their power.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to
'Say that the subject had been referred to Mr. Tidd Pratt,
but the Noble Marquis was nearly inaudible in the
gallery .
After a few words from Lord MONTEA.GLE,.the
subject dropped.
PETITIONS.
The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL presented a petition
from the grand jury of Monaghan, complaining of the
interference of the Poor-law Commissioners with regard
to the quarter-acre clause.
SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY'S
(ACTS AMENDMENT) BILL.
Earl GRANVILLE moved the adjourned debate on
the amendment moved on the third reading of this Bill.
The Committee to whom the subject was referred was
presided over in the House of Commons by Sir R. Peel,
and the Committee of their Lordships had for its chair-
man the Noble Earl on the cross benches (the Earl of
St. Germans), facts which insured a most patient and
careful inquiry. He thought the
.power given by the
Bill to the company of running steamers in connexion
with their line would not in the end prove to be a mono-
poly; but, on the contrary, would be advantageous to the
public. The period was limited to 14 years, and the
maximum rate of fares was fixed. This railway company
had an interest themselves in establishing the greatest
amount of accommodation for the public, not only to feed
the traffic of their own-line, .but also to enable them to
compete with other lines of communication between Lon-
don and the continent. They offered great advantages to
the public by the performance of the voyages with much
greater rapidity and regularity than before—a voyage
which formerly occupied 23 hours having been accom-
plished in nine. The Bill had been considered carefully
in Committee, and the general principle had not been
objected to on the second reading. He hoped, therefore,
that their Lordships would allow it to pass this stage, or
they might lose the general character which they pos-
sessed tor the regularity with which they conducted the
private business of that House.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE did not find fault with the
decision of the Commit,ee, but thought, if it had been
possible, that it would have been desirable to have re-
committed the Bill for a day or two, in order that the
question then under discussion might be more fully
considered. He should, however, support the third read-
ing of the Bill, believing that a strong case had been
made out in favour of the company being allowed to es-
tablieh steamers in connexion with their line.
The Earl of HARROWBY opposed the principle of
allowing railway companies to establish steam-boats in
connexion with their lines; and with reference to the
South-Western Railway, he did not see that the com-
munication between Southampton and the Channel
Islands and the coast of France was beyond the reach of
private enterprise.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE considered that
their Lordships, having appointed a tribunal to investi-
gate the merits of their private Bills, were bound to sup-
port its decision. He should vote foi the Bill apart
from its merits, on the ground that the Committee of
both Houses to which it had been referred had reported
in its favour. He was as great an enemy to monopoly as
the Noble Earl opposite, and it was because he was so
that he objected to the principle being laid down that in
no case should a railway company have power to run
steam-boats,,, but wished every question to be treated on
its own merits. .
The amendment was then put and negatived, and the
Bill was read a third time and passed.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 1.
FARMERS' ESTATE SOCIETY (IRELAND) BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. ROGUE said the great panacea required for
Ireland was the investment of capital; but this would be
altogether prevented if the support of the poor on land
purchased was made a permanent charge upon a com-
pany like this.
Mr. P. SCROPE wished to prevent the eviction of a
large class of persons in Ireland, and he knew of no
better mode of effecting this than by compelling the
company to support those whom they evicted. He
supported the amendment, and trusted the Government
would agree to it.
Mr. DIONSELL said if he considered the Bill calcu-
lated to evict the small cottiers of Ireland, that he should
not give it his support. He supported it because it
would tend to the improvement of the land and employ
the idle poor.
Mr. ALCOCK supported the amendment.
Mr. P. HOWARD said the clause compelling the
company to support persons whom they had evicted for
five years would lead to those people remaining during
the whole et that time in idleness, instead of striving to
support themselves by honest labour.
Colonel DUNNE said he would. net oppose the wish
of the Government, and would consequently withdraw
his amendment for the present, hoping at the same time
that the Government would be prepared to pledge itself
to support his amendment when the report was brought up.
Sir G. GREY said it was not a Government measure,
but he considered that the louse would support the
Hon. and Gallant Member in his amendment when the
report was brought up.
After a lengthened discussion, in which Mr. Augustus
Stafford, Sir G. Grey, Sir D. Norreys, Mr Reynolds,
Mr. Henley, Mr. Roche, Mr. Alcock, Mr. P. Howard,
and other Hon. Members took part,
Colonel DUNNE withdrew the clause, and said that
he should bring forward an amended one on the brieg-
ing up of the report.
The other clauses were• then agreed to, as was also the
preamble, and the report; was ordered to be brought up
on Friday, at twelve o'clock.
PAROCHIAL DEBT AND AUDIT BILL.
The Committee on this Bill was postponed to Friday,
at twelve o'clock.
POOR-LAW UNION.
The Committee on the Poor-Law Union Distrie
Schools Bill waspostponedto Friday, at twelve o'clock,

HIGHWAY RATES BILL.
This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered
to be reported to-morrow.
COURT OF JUSTICIARY (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The Committee on this Bill was postponed till to
morrow, at tweivo o'clock.
CALEDONIAN. CANAL BILL.

This Bill vas read a third time F.nd passed.
CONSTABULARY FORCE (IRELAND) BILL.
This Bill W 3.3 read a third time and passed.
LOAN SOCIETIES BILL.
The Committee on this Will was postponed till Friday.
FEES (COURT OF CHANCERY) BILL.
The report on this Bill was brought up.
TURNPIKE ACTS CONTINUANCE BILL.
_ The second reading of the Bill was postponed
ti
Friday, at twelve o'clock.
The House than adjourned until Five o'clock.

-________
The SPEAKER resumed the Chair at Five o'clock.
Sir B. lIALL presented a petition from the parish of
St. Yancgss against the increased police rate.
THE NATIONAL LAND SCHEME.
Mr. HAYTER brought up the report of the Commit-
tee appointed to inquire into the state of Mr. Foargus
O'Connor's National Land Scheme.
On the motion of Mr. O'CONNOR, it was read by the
Clerk at the table. The report, alter stating that the
evidence taken before the Committee would be laid upon
the table, proceeded to state that the ComMittee had
come_ to the following resolutions:—" Ist. That by this
Is,ii.9.tc proposed to make additional provisions to the
;i;eiti .119 Societies Act, which is incorporated with the
B
."1 in question, and. to alter and amend the 9th
and I,oth of Victoria for the amendment of the
law relating to friendly societies, but the Bill does not
include the
National Land Land Company. 2d. That the
general principle Company is nut consistent with the
upon
which friendly societies are
founded. 3d. That the National Land Company, as at
pres.qui constituted, is
ban illegal scheme, and will not
fulfil the expectations held out by the directors to the
shareholders. 4th. That it appears to the Committee,
of
and by the evidence several witnesses, that the
whole system of proceedingaceonitts i the National Land Com-
pany, as well as thebeen most imper•
fectiy kept ; that the origival' have
balance-sheets signed by
the auditors have been destroyed andh that only three
of these balance-sheets, namely, for t
the 29th September, the 25th December, ia‘o
1847, and the
25th March, IS4B, respectively, bquarters ending'
i
gone abroad
his
pro-
duced ; but Mr. O'Connor havingz::)
e
having ' been
opinion that an impression had
road that
the moneys subscribed by the National Land Company
had been applied to his own benefit. this Committee are
clearly of opinion that, although the accounts have not
been. kept with strict regularity, yet that irregularity
has been against Mr. O'Connor
's evidenceisad of i
. his favour; for it appears by the of Mr. Gray
that there is due to Mr. O'Connor the sum of 3,2981.
ss. 3id., and by Mr. Finlaison's account the sum of
3,4001. sth.. That considering the great number of
persons interested in the scheme, and the bona fides with
which it appears to have been carried on, it is the opi-
nion a this Committee that power might be granted to