The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1848.

! the want of which relief, he had proved, so many had
died within the last few months, and were now I
dying?
Sir W. SOMERVILLE, in reply to the Hon.
Member, said the Government were resolved to
leave nothing undone Iro enforce the payment of the
poor-rates, and that they had already taken
effective measures for that purpose. They had
divided the unions which were too large,. and ap-
pointed separate inspectors for each division, and
separate workhouses, and they had no doubt that
those proceedings upon the part of the Government
would tend to a better state of things in Ireland ; and
most likely the reports which he should next lay on
the table would show that the poor-law system
worked more satisfactorily.
Mr. FEARGUS O'CONNOR expressed his satis-
faction at the conduct of the Hon. Member for
Stroud for bringing forward a question of so much
importance to Ireland, and also for the calm, able,
and dispassionate manner in which he had discussed
the subject. He was happy to find that English
landlords were now beginning to entertain
an intense feeling in all matters connected
with Irish distress. He was thankful for
every measure which was proposed by her Majesty's
Government for the relief of the Irish poor, and he
agreed with the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary
for Ireland, that the complicated machinery of the
poor-law was repulsive to the Irish character, and
difficult to bring into operation. From his experience
of the country he was of opinion that the Govern-
ment had done wisely in taking away a great
portion of the patronage of the landlords,
many of whom were now, in fact, paupers
themselves, and who had turned out the tenants upon
their estates. He was much gratified to see, by a
publication in the newspapers, that Earl Clarendon
was in favour of the small farm system, and if the
Government would assist him in carrying out such a
project, they would have few complaints of distress in
Ireland. On Tuesday next the whole question of tenant
right would come before the House, and he would
reserve such suggestions as his experience justified
him in making on the subject until that evening. In
conclusion, he had to tender his thanks to the Hon.
Member for Stroud for the able manner in which he
had at all times advocated the interests of Ireland,
and begged to assure him that his conduct was most
gratifying to the Irish people.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN rose for the purpose of
again, if possible, making an appeal to the Govern-
ment not to let an inquiry so important to the inter-
ests of Ireland drop until some good resulted from it.
He lamented that nothing had yet been done with
respect to waste lands in Ireland, and he trusted that
the Goverment would do something upon the subject.
He thought the present machinery of the poor-law in
Ireland was greatly defective, and required revision
and great consideration at the hands of the
Government. The suggestion he had made in
the course of the last session had not been attended
to, and he considered it the duty of the Government
to bring forward some measure on the subject. The
people of Ireland ought not to be allowed to perish
for want of food, as they had done.
Nr. H. DRUM NIOND protested against questions
of this sort being brought forward without any
notice ; and in doing so he begged it to be under-
stood that he was as anxious as any man to attend to
the complaints of Ireland.
Sir B. HALL thought that bringing forward
subjects like the one now under discussion at the
present moment was ill-timed.l
Mr. REYNOLDS said that the present subject
was far more important than any discussion on the
New Zealand Bill could be. The people were dying
by thousands in Ireland, and it was necessary that
something should be done for their relief.

After sine observations from Air. S. CRAWFORD
the subject dropped.
EPIPHANY QUARTER SESSIONS BILL.
Mr. PACKE moved the second reading of the
Epiphany Quarter Sessions Bill. The object of the
Bill was to postpone the holding of the Epiphany
Sessions for three days, which he believed would be
productive or great convenience to all parties,
especially to the witnesses and magistracy.
Sir G. GREY opposed the second read;ng of the
Bill, believing that the inconvenience that it sought
to remedy would be more than counterbalanced by
the inconvenience which would be occasioned by the
provisions of the Bill if it was allowed to become law.

Sir J. PAKIN G TON trusted that the Bill
would be withdrawn, believing with the Right Hon.
Baronet at the head of the Home Department that
inconvenience would be increased, and not diminished,
by the Bill.
Mr. BANKES supported the second reading of the
Bill, considering that its provisions, if carried into
effect, would be productive of good, and would incon•
venience no one.

Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD opposed the second
reading of the Bill, because it sought to alter a
measure that had heen brought forward and became
law with the sanction of some of the first legal autho-
rities in the realm. He thought the House should
pause before they sanctioned a measure which was
likely, in his opinion, to lead to very serious conse-
quences, to say nothing of the extra time which the
prisoners would have to be confined, merely for the
sake of affording a little extra convenience to the
magistrates.

Mr. SPOONER thought that if the Bill were
sanctioned it would give the magistrates, in the dis-
charge of their duty, the advantage which the best
talent of the bar could afford it. The Bill was not
introduced with a view to afford any convenience to
the magistrates.
Sir J. DUCKWORTH was of opinion that the
better course would be to withdraw the Bill, and not
make any alteration in the existing arrangements with
respect to the holding of the sessions.
Mr. PACKE said that, considering the feeling of
the House on the subject, he thought it would be only
right for him to withdraw the Bill.
The Bill was accordingly withdrawn.
NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BILL.
On the order of the day for going into Committee
on this Bill being read,
The Earl of LINCOLN appealed to the Presi.
dent of the Board of Trade, and trusted that he
would not insist upon pressing the question of going
into Committee on so important a measure as the
present. He thought that the discussion ought not
to be taken upon a sitting on Wednesday, and espe-
cially in the absence of the First Lord of the Trea-
,ury and the Under-Secretary of the Colonies. It
was most important that the business of the color),
of New Zealand ought not to be allowed to be
44 slurred" over in a hurried or imperfect manner.

Mr. L :.I.I3OUCHERE said that the Government
had great difficulty in bringing before the House the
consideration of those measures which it was neces-
sary for them to do. They had but two nit;lits in
the week, and even they were generally- broken in
upon by other business. Under these circumstances
he hoped the Noble Lord would excuse him if
he expressed a hope that the House would allow
him to go into Committee on the Bill at once.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that he would allude to
one or two important points in the provisions cf the
Bill. Upon the best examination he could make of
the enacting portions of the Bill he thought that they
were of a very unusual nature, but such as, upon
the whole, he thought the circumstances of the case
required. With respect to the suspending por-
tion of the Bill, he could not see why
the constitution of 1846 should be sus-
pended for a period of five years, instead of being
at once repealed. The constitution of 1846 was a
mere paper one, it had never found its way among
the inhabitants, it had only existed as a speculative
and theoretical question. He did not know that they
were possessed of any affirmative evidence that this
constitution would be a proper one to form in
New Zealand five years hence,—(Cheers.) Ile
thought that such a provision would tend only to
fetter the opinion of the House upon a future occa-
sion. He thought the more honest course would be
to say that as the Governor had acted upon a mis-
taken policy in exacting that constitution, they
would take the opportunity of considering with a
matured judgment the nature of any proceedings
that might be hereafter adopted on the subject of a
constitution. In the meantime they could recom
mend the repeal of the existing constitution. These
were not matters of party opinion; it would be a sin
against the first principles of humanity if it were
so.—(Hear, hear.) He did not wish to commit himself
finally to any course of conduct which he might pursue.
When the treaty of Waitangi was concluded, it was
li.nricirstocd that the rights and property of the natives
assuredth
the land would he recognised, and he wished to be 1
that the dispatch of Lord Grey in reference
to thedisposal of public lands respected to the full
that interpretation
of the treaty. The peace, if not
the possession, of the island was involved in this part
of the question, and h
cautious that no breacehhoped Government would be
of good faith in respect of
this treaty was committed
of
Lord
the natives.—
(Hear.) The instructions
ordGrey appeared
to him to confine the right of
the natives to property
could
in the land to cases where theyrove that they
had occupied it for the purposes oflabour,i and upon
these instructions rested his doubts and
apprehen-
sions for the prosperity of the colony.
'Thesei
in-
structions were opposed to the correct and liberal
interpretations interpretations of the treaty he had just alluded to,
and if in future the natives were only to be entitled
to such lands as they had improved by their
labour, he very much feared the peace of the
colony would he seriously endangered. The
Bishop of New Zealand had been censured by the
Colonial Secretary for protesting against any infringe-
ment of the
_treaty of Waitangi, and upon looking
over the dispatch containing the censure, it appeared
to him that the censure was founded upon the suppo-
sition that the protest was addressed to the natives as
well as to the Governor of the colon Now, he wished
Government to explain, in justice yto. the Hight Bev.
Prelate, whether the protest was made public or not.

He admitted that to make such a protest known to
the natives was highly censurable, but he doubted
much whether the Right Rev. Prelate made
his views upon the treaty of Waitangi known to any
other party than the Governor. He had already put
the House in possession of the fact that he agreed with
the construction placed upon the treaty by the Right
Rev. Prelate, and it now remained for him to assure
Government that adopting a liberal and generous in-
terpretation of that treaty would do far more to pre-
serve the colony to this country than the operation of
a force, howsoever great its numbers might
be. The papers that had just been received
from the colony bore him out in the opinion,
for it appeared from these papers that the in-
structions of Lord Grey to the Governor had caused
great excitement amongst the loyal por; ion of the in-
habitants of the island, and he hoped, without further
detaining the House, he had said enough to induce
Government to give him an assurance that in future
their acts should not be calculated to disturb the
peace of the colony, but should be regulated
by the principle which secured a fair and
liberal interpretation of the treaty of Waitangi.
He trusted, in conclusion, that theßight Hon. Gentle-
man (Mr. Labouchere) would give a satisfactory and
explicit statement with regard to the observations he
had made upon the subject of the dispatch.
Mr. GLADSTONE in answer to a question from
Mr. Miles said that the whole gist of his observations
referred to the northern part of the island, excluding
the southern slice which was separated from it.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he could assure the
Right Hon. Gentleman that it was the intention of
the Government to carry out faithfully every treaty
and engagement which they had made with respect to
the colony of New Zealand. He alluded with
great pleasure to the very favourable accounts
which had been last received from the colony,
and which showed that the natives were not untract-
able and unruly, but readily submitted to the habits
and customs which had been introduced, and ably
filled all occupations in which they had been em-
ployed. He was glad to find that the Right
Honourable Gentleman did not object to the ab-
stract doctrine of Earl Grey with regard to the
occupation of land by the aborigines. The
Honourable Gentleman, however, seemed to
think that it was the intention of the Noble Lord in
his dispatch to limit strictly the right of holding pro-
perty of the natives only to such lands as they had
improved by their labour. On the contrary, he (Mr.
Labouchere) believed that it was intended that the
natives should have land granted to them, whenever
they could show a bona fide right, without limiting
that right to land improved by them. The Governor
would have an opportunity of using his discretion in
introducing the new institutions into the colony
during the next five years, and at the lapse of that
time they would have sufficient experience as to their
efficacy, and doubtless the subject would then
again be brought before the House. With refer-
ence to the observations relative to the Bishop of
New Zealand, he believed it true that the Bishop
considered that the measures proposed by the Go-
vernment were unjust to the natives, and in sending
his protest to the Government he distinctly stated
that it was his intention to excite the dissatisfaction
of the natives to the course the Government was dis-
posed to take. He considered that under such cir-
cumstances the most prudent course for the Secretary
of the Colonies to take, was to take steps to preserve
peace in the colony.
Mr. GLADSTONE believed that the Bishop of
New Zealand had not adopted such a course, although
he had threatened to do so.

Mr. LABOUCHERE was happy to hear that he
had exercised so sound a discretion; but he thought,
after what had been been stated by the Bishop, his
Noble Friend Earl Grey was fully justified in the
course he had adopted.—(hear, hear.) He trusted
that the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite was satis-
fied, after the statements he had made, that
it was the intention of the Colonial-office
not to take any step with regard to the question
of waste lands inconsistent with the rights of the
natives of New Zealand, granted under the treaty of
'Waitangi.—(Hear, hear.) The principle of the
Bill now before the House was to suspend the
constitution of New Zealand, but at the same time
to enable the Governor of the island, when he
thought fit, to introduce the constitution, either
wholly or in part, as he thought best. Such
was the principle of the Bill; its great object
was to give to the colony the blessings of free
institutions, and he believed if the principles of
Governor Grey were allowed to be carried out such
great benefits would be obtained, and that that dis-
tant colony of the Crown would ere long fleurish as
a free and intelligent community.
Sir E. BUXTON felt much gratified at the state-
ment of the Right Hon. Gentleman the President of
the Board of Trade, that the treaty of Waitangi
was to be upheld to the full extent, that was,
in the light in which the natives of New Zealand
understood it. He trusted that the Government
would act upon the principles enunciated by the
Right lion. Gentleman, notwithstanding any
interference which he was fearful might
be attempted by the New Zealand Company. If the
Government adhered to those principles he felt con-
vinced they would ensure the peace and happiness of
New Zealand.
Mr. AGLIONBY, as one of the members
of the New Zealand Company, felt bound to make
a few observations. On the behalf of-that company
he begged for investigation into all they did; and he
could assure the lion. Baronet, if he was desirous of
obtaining information with respect to that company,
if he would apply to him or any other member of
the company, he would have it. The company
wished for nothing but publicity to all they did.
Governor Grey in his report, which was the founda-
tion of the Bill, said he was not aware of any circum-
stance which should prevent the introduction of the
proposed institutions into New Zealand; and he also
stated the settlers on the Cooke's Straits district
had settled their differences with the Government,
and that a better and more tractable body of
settlers could not be found.

Mr. CARDWELL said the question of peace or
war depended upon the spirit cf the instructions given
by the Government to Governor Grey. Ho con-
tended with reference to the discussion abou:
the Bishop of New Zea'and that no proof
had been given that he had been guilty of
inciting the dissatisfation of the natives of
the colony. The explanation of the president
of the Board of Trade on the subject was far froni
satisfactory. If the Government intended to act in a
proper an I laudable spirit they might look forward
to thlt improvement in the colony which ha.l been
anticipated by them ; but if they neglected to do so,
another state of things would be the consequence.
With regard to the Bill before the House, he said he
considered that something ought to be done in the mat-
ter, and having denied the imputations cast upon the
Bishop, which he said were not warranted by the
evidence submitted, he should not offer any opposition
to the House going into Committee on the Bill.

The Earl of LINCOLN said the whole discussion
which had taken place had reference only to two
points—waste lands and other lands in the colony—
but with regard to the propriety of the Bill—the
operations of which mere to extend over five years
no discussion had taken place at all, and he had to
offer a suggestion that the Chairman should merely
take the chair pro f)rmd, and that the discussion be
taken on the Bill on some future occasion.

Mr. LABOUCHERE said he was sorry to meet
the Noble Lord's suggestion with a refusal, but he
could not kelp hoping that the House would g-.; into
Committee on the Bill at once.

Earl LINCOLN said, in that case he should raise
a discussion on the bringing up of the report, and
reserve his right to move an amendment to it.
Mr. SCOT I' expressed a hope that the Government
would postpone going into Committee on the Bill.
By the treaty of Waitangi the shadow of the land
only was transferred to the Queen of England, but
the substance remained with the natives. If, there-
fore, Government adopted steps that were opposed to
that principle they would commit a breach of good
faith and endanger the safety of the colony. If the spirit
of that treaty were permanently departed from the
natives would inevitably raise a warfare against the
British settlers, and it must be manifest to Govern-
ment, from the disparity in the numbers of the
British forces, that the result of such a
contest would be most disastrous to the lives and
interests of those of her Majesty's subjects who
had settled in the colony.--(Hear, hear.) He, there-
fore, hoped the Colonial Department would pause
before thoy called upon Captain Gray to carry out to
the letter the instructions contained in Lord Grey's
dispatches, and try the experiment of treating the
claims and demands of the natives in a liberal con-
scientious spirit.—(Hear.)
Mr. ADDERLEY said the question which had
been raised by this incidental debate was one of great
importance not only to the colony of New Zealand
but to the mother country, and he hoped on another
stage of this Bill Government would afford the House
an opportunity of going fully into the provisions of
the treaty of Waitangi and the expediency of inter-
preting it in candid and generous spirit.— (Hear.)
Mr. C. ANSTY contended that the rights claimed
by the natives under the treaty of Waitangi were not
only fonnded in reason and justice, but strictly in
accordance with the laws recognised by this
country. It was therefore not only morally
unjust, but unquestionably illegal, to depart
from the condition of the treaty. Much
had been said about casual and permanent occupancy
of the land by the natives ; but was it right, or
in accordance with the laws of the country, that
one of the contracting parties should have the
power of
deciding whether the occupancy had
been casual or permanent ? Certainly not ; and
unless he had an assurance from Government that
the terms of the treaty would be construed in a liberal

sense, he should oppose the enactment of this Bill.
To give time to Government to consider the expe-
diency of their making such a pledge, he would move
as an amendment that the Bill be committed this
day week.
No lion. Member, however, seconded the amend-
ment, and it fell to the ground.
The House then went into Committee on the Bill.
On the first clause, suspending the constitution of
New Zealand for five years, being propesed,
Mr. HUME moved that the tet rn of suspension be
only three years.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE said it might give rise to
difficulty and inconvenience if the amendment were
adopted, and he therefore trusted that it would not be
persevered in.
Mr. AGLIONBY said that he did not think that
the dispatch of Governor Grey warranted the sus-
pension of the constitution in the southern parts of
the colony.
Mr. LABOITCHERE said that the 4th clause of
the Bill gave power to the Governor to grant con-
stitutions in the Southern part of the Colony if he
thought proper, and he thought that the matter
had better be left to the discretion of the Governor.

The Earl of LINCOLN apprehended that no
power was given in the 4th clause to Governor
Grey to grant the constitution which was suspended
by the Ist clause. He had power to grant a provin-
cial legislative council, but that was a very different
thing from the constitution which was suspended by
the previous clause.
Mr. C. BULLER apprehended that the Legisla-
tive Council would be in all respects similar to the
Constitution.

The Earl of LINCOLN denied that such would
be the operation of the clause.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contended that
the clause would bear the construction put upon it by
the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade.
Mr. LABOUCHERE moved that the Chairman do
report progress.
The Chairman reported progress, and the House
adjourned at ten minutes to Six o'clock.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)
YARMOUTH.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the
truth of the allegations contained in the petition
complaining of the return of Lord Arthur Lennox
and Octavius E. Coope, Esq., for the borough of
Great Yarmouth, met, for the first time, this morn-
ing, in the Committee-room, No. 22 ; Mr. Seymer
in the chair.

The Committee having passed the usual resolutions,
Mr. Sergeant WRANUHAM opened the case of the
petitioners, who sought to unseat the Members re-
turned, on the grounds that either they or their agents
had been guilty of corrupt practices in bribery or
treating. Now, upon the register of the borough of
Great Yarmouth there appeared the names of
1,800 voters, 1,000 of whom were freemen.
It was discovered that two days previouly to the no-
mination, Lord Arthur Lennox received, through the
Post-office, a bulky registered letter, which it was
conjectured contained a number of bank-notes, and
the suspicion was strengthened by the fact, that upon
the same day his Lordship transacted business at a
well known "Red" banking•house at Yarmouth.
There were other suspicious circumstances connected
with the election, which placed boyond all doubt
that bribery and corruption were freely resorted to by
the " Reds," Lord Lennox's party. For instance,
155 freemen who voted for the Blues in 1841, at the
recent election, voted for the Reds while the general
results proved that 513 freemen voted for the Reds as
against 370 for the Blues. One batch of voters
offered to sell their votes to the Blues at a certain
price, but the offer was refused, and they immediately
went over to the Reds, and the proofs which the
petitioners were prepared to put in would fully sub-
stantiate that it was by bribery alone that the sitting
Members for Yarmouth had obtained their return.

Mr. Thomas Clarke, a notary public at Yarmouth,
stated that he took part in the proceedings of tke
election on behalf of his friend, Mr. Goldsmid. He
understood that the canvassers of the Reds were
Mr. Ferrier (a brewer), Mr. L. Preston (a timber
merchant), Mr. William Greene (a rope maker), Mr.
Stagg, Mr. John Latham (a banker), Mr. Cob!e,
and Mr. Sergeant Goring, who acted as the com-
mittee of the Reds, and held their meetings
at the Angel, in the market-place of Yarmouth.
On the morning of the election he went to the Angel,
when he saw a man named Solbey, who had promised
to vote for Mr. Goldsmid. Solbey was in the bar
quite drunk. Mr. Preston, a barrister, and Mr.
John Latham, the banker of the Reds, were in
the bar at the time with him. Solbey was a
freeman, and while he was in the house he ob-
served a uumber of persons who appeared to be
freemen waiting for their turns to be admitted into a
room, the door of which was guarded, and subse-
quently he saw Lord Arthur Lennox go to and
fro from the Angel to the polling booths with
batches of these persons.
Mr. Samuel Salter, a traveller in the drapery
line, and another witness gave similar testimony, and
the Committee afterwards adjourned till ten o'clock
to-morrow morning.

NAVIGATION LAWS.-PROCES-
SION OF SEAMEN.-(THIS DAY.)
. . _ _

The deputation from the different ports -of the
United Kingdom, to place in the hands of Sir
George Grey the seamen's memorial, praying her
Majesty to refuse her assent to the repeal of the
navigation laws, proceeded this morning from
Shadwell, accompanied up the river by a very
large body of seamen in a " boat procession," the
imposing effect of which was marred by the stormy
wind, which blew ahead the whole of the way,
and rendered it impossible to preserve the order
and compactness necessary for the grandeur of
which the display might have been capable,
and which it was intended to produce.
The boats were divided into three squadrons
arranged in single file, and each division towed by a
steamer. But the unfavourable wind and tide
obliged a number of boats to separate, and stay
behind. However, two or three thousand seamen
were landed at Westminster-bridge, and proceeded
in tolerable order with a band, and numerous flags,
to Trafalgar-square, where, after a short rest, they
were again marshalled, and attended the deputati,
to the Home-office. In passing the Admiralty
and the Horse Guards the procession halted, while
their band played at each place " Rule Britannia,"
after which three times three cheers were given by
the crowd of sailors and spectators, for the army at
one place and for the navy at the other. We have seen
many crowded processions through the metropolis
conducted in more military style and order, we have
never seen one of such numbers less attended by any
considerable inconvenience or blameable disorder.
The police exerted themselves with much good
humour to prevent contusion, by the pressure
of the crowding spectators upon the members of
the procession. The deputation, consisting of Captain
Mathews, of South Shields, Captain Dunn, of Sun-
derland, Captain White, of Belfast, and several
gentlemen from other ports, was received by Sir
George Grey at half-past four, when he undertook
to present their memorial to the Queen.

VALE OF NEATH RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)
The fourth ordinary general meeting of the share-
holders in this company was held this morning, at
the offices of the company, 449, West Strand ; Lord
Villiers in the chair.

The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that
at the general meeting held on the 25th of February
last, that the South Wales Railway Company had
consented to subscribe for 6,389 shares in the Vale of
Neath Railway Company, but in consequence of some
ambiguity in the wording of the Act of 1846, which
rendered it doubtful whether this arrangement could be
legally carried out, the directors had, at the request
of the South Wales Railway Company, applied to
Parliament for a confirmation of this subscription,
and a Bill had been introduced for that purpose. The
directors intended to apply for the full extension of
time allowed for the completion of the works by the
new General Railway Act. In consequence of the
continued depressed state of the money market, the
directors had not thought it right to press on the
works on the line with that rapidity which they could
otherwise have wished.
The report stated that Mr. R. F. Gower had re-
tired from the board.
The engineer's report did not give a very satis-
factory statement with regard to the progress of the
works, delay having been occasioned in obtaining the
land ; but all obstacles, he stated, were in a fair way
of being removed, so that they might proceed with
the letting of the contracts for the completion of the
main line.
The total amount of receipts up to 31st December,
1847, was 104,9701.; the total amount of pay-
ments, 30,081/. ls. ld., leaving a balance of
74,8841. 18s. 1 ld.
the CHAIRMAN stated that the great object of the
directors had been to husband the resources of the
company as much as possible until a more favourable
state of things should arise. They had entered into
two contracts for the construction of about eight or
nine miles of the railway, which they expected
would be open for traffic by the beginning
of next year, and these contracts were of
a most satisfactory description. They intended
to apply for an extension of the time allowed by the
Act tor the purchase of land, and the completion of
the works, but that would'have no injurious effect
upon the prosperity of the company, as a great por-
tion of the traffic on the line would depend upon its
communieation with others which had applied for
similar powers.
A SHAREHOLDER asked when the directors intended
to make another call ?.

The CHAIRMAN said that, in all probability, the
directors would have to make a call before the month
of June. He could not state whether it would be
necessary to make two calls this year.
The report was then received and adopted.
The directors who retired by rotation were re-
elected.

Mr. T. Wayne was re-elected auditor of the
company's accounts.
A. vote of thanks having been passed to the chair,
the meeting separated.

COMMON PLEAS.—(THIS DAY )
(Sittings at Nisi Prins, before Chief Justice WILDE
and a Special Jury.)
DUKE OF BRUNSWICK V. SLOMAN AND OTHERS.

In this action which was brought to recover da-
mages for a trespass committed by the defendants, it,
breaking open the door of the Duke of Brunswick's
residence, and obtaining a forcible entrance into it fur
the purpose of serving a writ of fi. fa., and the trial of
which occupied the ijourt nearly the whole of yes-
terday and to-day.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for 7201.

MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY)
Elisha Royal was placed before Mr. Hardwick,
charged with creating a disturbance at the house of
Mr. Edward Cavendish, No. 2, Great Pulteney-
street, Golden4quare.
Complainant said, about eleven o'clock last night,
the defendant and another man came to his house,
and asked to see a lady by the name of Simons.
Complainant said there was no such person residing
there, but that a lady by that name sometimes came
there for letters. The defendant replied that was all
humbug, he knew she was there, and he would see
her. Complainant assured him he was mistaken and
requested him to leave the house ; he refused to do
so and made use of such horrible and abominable
language that he was obliged to send for a constable
and give him in charge.
The defendant, who made a very rambling defence,
was ordered to find two sureties in 201. each, and
enter into his own recognizances in 401. to keep the
peace towards complainant for the next two months.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 8.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Lord J. RUSSEL fixed Friday week (the 18th)
for the financial statement.
REGISTRATION FOR IRELAND.

Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN, seeing the Right Hon.
Baronet the Secretary for Ireland in his place,
wished to know whether it was the intention of the
Government to bring forward at an early period of
the session a Registration Bill for Ireland ?
Sir WM. SOMERVILLE said that it was the
intention of the Government to bring forward such a
measure as early as possible.
CAPT. DENMAN'S CASE.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in answer to a
question from Mr. Urquhart, stated, after reading a
long correspondence between Sir Fitzroy Kelly and
himself, that it was not the intention of the law
officers of the Crown to require the assistance of Sir
Fitzroy Kelly in the case of Captain Denman.

CONDUCT' OF THE LORD-LIEUTENANT
OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

Mr. G. BERKELEY wished to know from the
Right lion. Baronet the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether two petitions addressed
to her Alajesty by the electors of the western division
of Gloucestershire, and also another similarly
addressed by the mothers and daughters of the
same division, had been received at the office of the
Right Hon. Baronet ; whether it had been presented
to her Majesty, and if so, whether copies of the pe-
titions had been sent to the Lord Lieutenant, and an
explanation demanded from him ? The Honourable
Member read some correspondence which showed
that the receipt of one of the petitions had not been
acknowledged.
Sir GEORGE GREY said he was not en-
abled to add anything to what he stated yester-
day. It appeared that one of the petitions had
not been acknowledged, but on inquiry he found that
the reason of this was, that Mr.Woitehall, from whom
the petition had been received, had called at the
Home-office, and its receipt was there acknowledged
to him. He (Sir G. Grey), however, directed a
letter to be sent. He had no doubt the petitions
were duly laid before her Majesty like all petitions
entrusted to him for presentation. Copies of the
petitions had not been sent to the Lord Lieutenant,
neither had any explanation been demanded of him
respecting his conduct.
Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Thomas
Duncombe for two months, and Mr. Ludlow Bruges,
on account of ill-health.
NAVAL AND MILITARY ESTABLISH-
MENTS.

Mr. HUME moved for a return of the number of
seamen, distinguishing the number of marines and
boys, voted in each year since 1829 to 1847, in clu-
sive, stating the total number of each class, and
the number of each actually employed in each
year (in continuation of account in the appendix to the
Finance Committee of 1828.) Also an account co tripari-
son of the supply for army, ordnance, navy, and miscel •
laneous service fur each of the years 1828 to 1847 ;
and of the number of men, distinguishing the charge
fur the effective establishment, and for half-pay and
pensions of the army, ordnance, and navy, in each of
those years (in continuation) ; and also a return
of the number of commissioned officers in the
royal navy, on the Ist day of January, 1828, in
each class, from lieutenant to admiral ; also, the number
of each class struck off the list by death, or by any
other causes, in each year from 1828 up to the Ist
day of January, 1848, both inclusive; the numbers
of each class that have been promoted in each year
during the same time, to show tho increase and
decrease of numbers of each class in each year.

Agreed to.
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

Mr. HUME called the attention of the House to
the state of the returns made to a motion which he
made some time since for an account of the sums of
money laid out up to the present time on the con-
struction of the new Houses of Parliament. The
return in question was only calculated to mislead
Hon. Members as to the real expenditure which had
been made.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to know from
the Hon. Member for the University ufOxford (Sir R
Inglis) when it was his intention to move the ap-
pointment of the committee on the subject of the new
Houses of Parliament, of which he had given notice
previously.
Sir R. INGLIS said that if it were the pleas ure of
the House to support him in the appointment of a
Committee, he would bring forward the measure—he
could not say exactly upon what day—it certainly
would not be any day in the present week.
SALARIES AND FEES OF THE COURTS

was anxious to proceed with the adjourned debate, he
hoped the lion. Gentleman would not persevere in
his motion to-night.
Mr. STAFFORD as the mover of the amend-
ment under discussion last night, begged
to state that from the communications he had had
with Honourable Members on his side of the House,
he could assure the Hon. Member for Youghal that
it was the wish of that si of the House that the
adjourned debate should close this evening. He
therefore most strongly appealed to the Hon. and
Learned Member for Youghal to postpone his motion.

Mr. C. ANSTEY said, before he proceeded to
answer the appeal of the Hon. Gentleman who had
just sat down, he thought it right to state that he
had not been fairly dealt with by the lion. Member
for Montrose, because the Hon. Member had made
a similar rt quest to him in private, when he gave him
a satisfactcry answer, and now the Hon. Member had
repeated the question, with the assistance and support
of a number of impatient Members, who were anxious
to proceed with another subject. He told the
lion Gentleman in private, and he now told the House
that he could not consent to postpone his motion.
He had assured :those Hon. Members that, let the
consequences he what they might, he would perse-
vere in his motion, and on the faith of that statement
several lion. Members who intended to be present du-
ring the discussion on the Jews Bill had left the
House ; he therefore must say, most respectfully, to
the Honourable Member for Montrose that it was
impossible for him to accede to his application.

Lori J. RUSSELL fully admitted that it was
perfectly competent for the Honourable Member to
proceed with his motion if he pleased, but if he did
so he must understand that he pursued such a course
against the wishes of the House.—(Hear, hear.) It
was for the public convenience alone that he had
asked the Hon. Member to postpone his motion.
Mr. C. ANSTEY was perfectly aware of the
responsibility he incurred in persevering in his mo-
tion. He was sure, when he informed the Noble
Lord that his motion was likely to affect not only his
colleagues but himself, that the Noble Lord would
at once admit the importance of the subject, and
would be the last man to attempt to prevent his bring-
ing it forward. He did not undervalue the impor
tance of the Bill under discussion before the House,
he would not deny that it was a national measure, but
before he sat down he would undertake to satisfy the
House that the motion he was about to bring forward
was far more important and of greater consequence
than the Jewish Bill. The subject he had to bring
under the notice of the House was foreign
aggression abroad and treason at home. He
could not have conceived until this day that any
servant of the Crown could wish to postpone till a
future period the decision of so important a question as
that which he now brought forward. As far as he was
concerned the question of personality between hint
and the Noble Lord was quite put out of the way.
It was a very painful duty which he had to dis-
charge; he had to present to the House the condition
of a country ruined, her treasures lavished, her blood
spilled like water, her policy made the scorn and
laughing-stock of other countries, and all this brought
about by one person who acted in defiance of all laws,
and that person whose conduct; he was about to
bring before the House was the Hon. Member for
Tiverton (Lord Palmerston). The preservation of
their Indian possessions and their colonies from
the ambition of Russia depended upon the
decision which the House should come to upon
the questions contained in his motion. The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman then proceeded to call the atten-
tion of the House to the course of policy which had
been pursued by Russia, and the immense strides
which that ambitious power had made during the
period that had elapsed since 1772 ; and pointed out
the gigantic territories which she had acquired in
Europe and Asia in that interval. The other powers
of Europe had each their principles to maintain, but
Russia had no principles to maintain—she only had
ends to realise. At one and the same time she was
represented by agents at the Tuileries and at the
Court of St. James's. He would trace the course of
the Noble Lord step by step, which was at first cau-
tious and concealed, but latterly, when his name
became known to Europe, and his power established,
was clear and open. He should enumerate the mate-
rial points of his policy, and should establish in every
case a violation of the laws of this country, of the
law of nations, and of the laws of nature and of
God. Having established, on satisfactory evidence,
the guilt of the Noble Lord in the variety of in-
stances he should enumerate, he would then show
that such had been the consistent tenor in all this cri-
minal conduct, that it was impossible for the mind to
arrive at any other conviction than that the whole
was proof of concert and design—concert with the
enemy, and design upon the part of the Noble Lord,
so that the opinion must be irresistible that the Noble
Lord had added to all the other crimes which, in the
exercise of his functions, he had committed, that of
high treason ; not constructive treason, not such
treason as was charged against Mr. Fox, but wilful
and delib rate treason. At this moment the Noble
Lord to whose hatels the interests of this country were
confided was under the necessity of going on in the-
even path of consistency ; because the Noble Lord
well knew that the moment when he paused would
be the moment of his discovery and downfal. The
Noble Lord's policy from an early period, nearly, in-
deed, coeval with his own accession to office, was such
as to draw ,upon him the approbation—the secret,
end therefore, it might be suppssed, sincere approba-
tion, of the Russian Minister. It would be in the
rec Alection of the House that in the year 1829 the
Government of this country, then conducted by the
Duke of Wellington, was sedulously, and on the whole
successfully, engaged in vindicating the rights and ho-
nour of England against the aggression and usurpations
of Russia in the East. The Secretary of State for Fo-
reign Affairs, who at that period was Lord Aberdeen,
finding that, contrary to the obligations of foreign
treaties, Russia was using the treaty of London of
1825 or 1826 for the purpose of her own territorial
aggrandizement, intimated to that power, through
her ambassador in this country, that the British Go-
vernment not only would not sanction such aggran-
dizement, but would, if necessary, resort to its right
of enforcing against Russia the stipulations of the
treaty of London. The hopes and fears of the Rus
sian Cabinet were at that time represented by Prince
Lieven. The Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton,
on that occasion, took upon himself to vindicate the
proceedings of Russia, and reproached the English
Government of that day for interfering with the
policy of the Court of St. retersburgh. The Hon.
and Learned Gentleman then referred to a private
letter written by Prince Lieven, at that time the
Russian Ambassador here, to his own Government,
complaining of the policy pursued by Lord Aberdeen,
and referring with satisfaction to the sentiments re-
cently expressed by Lord Palmerston, in a speech
delivered in the House of Commons. In the course
of that speech the Noble Lord objected to the in-
tegrity of the Turkish empire being considered an
essential part of European policy, and he declared
that by timely concessions on the part of Turkey, to
the just demands of Russia, the occurrence of war
might have been prevented. Well, in 1830, the
Noli'e Lord came into office, but in the meanwhile
the French revolution had broken out, and had in-
spired the people of this country with a strong desire
for Parliaieentary reform, and for a close and intimate
alliance with France against all other Christian
powers, and especially against Russia. Accordingly,
from November, 1830, no more speeches were heard
from the Noble Lord in defence or vindication of the
just demands of Russia upon Turkey. The Noble
Lord, though his connexion with the Whigs was
but recent, came in for a share of their popularity,
and the people believed that he would not sacri-
fice the interests of England to Russia, and that
he would concert with France, now become our
natural ally, the measures necessary to effect their
common object. But the policy which the Noble
Lord had defended out of office was nevertheless
silently pursued in every part of the world where
there were Russian interests to be promoted and
English interests to be sacrificed. Before going out
of office the Duke of Wellington had protested against
the treaty of Adrianople, and Lord Aberdeen had ob-
tained a pledge from Prince Polignac that the expe-
dition of the French to Algiers should not lead to any
territorial aggrandizement on the part of France.
The Hon and Learned Gentleman then proceeded to
say that if it was wished to prevent our East Indian
possessions from passing out of our hands, they must
do so by the adoption of another line of policy than
had hitherto been pursued. At that moment Russia
dared not make war upon them, or refuse any demand
they might please to make upon her. All her
efforts, however, were directed towards the
quiet extension of her jower. In 1833
Turkey found herself engaged in a war with
her vassal, the Pacha of Egypt. He would not stop
to inquire how the Pacha was pushed on by Russia
in this matter, but he might say no doubt was en-
tertained of the fact in the Foreign-office among
those then charged with the conduct of foreign affairs.
The I'orte, unable at that time to resist the aggres-
sions of Mehemet Ali, found it necessary to call in
assistance, and accordingly, on the faith of treaties,
application was made to the Noble Lord to give the
protection which was required. The Noble Lord
refused this protection. Russia then offered her
assistance, but her offer was declined by the Porte.
Another application was made to the Noble Lord,
and again was it refused. The Hon. and Learned
Gentleman was proceeding to point out the conse-
quences which afterwards followed the insurrection of
the Pacha, the movements of the British force in the
Mediterranean, and the manner in which the question
was settled, when

An HOji. MEMBER moved that the House be
counted.

The gallery was accordingly cleared, and there
being only thirty• nine Members present, the House
stood adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock.

TIIE COMMERCIAL BANK OF

LONDON.

A special meeting of the proprietori was held yester-
day, et one o'clock, at the offices of the bank, Loth-
bury—John Taylor, the Deputy-Governor, in the
chair—for the purpose of electing three directors in
the room of those who had resigned.
A dividend at tip rate of 6 per cent. per annum for
the half-year having been declared, •
Mr. BARNWELL proposed and Mr. OXENFORD
seconded the election of Mr. Charles Dickson
Archibald in the room of Mr. John Shewell.

Air. HoextrisoN proposed Mr. Henry Cooper in
the room of Mr. Henry Cornfort.
111 r. REN NIE, jun., proposed, and Mr. CLAY, M.P.,
seconded, the election of John Alfred Chowne in the
room of the former.

The gentlemen proposed having been elected, and
having severally returned thanks for the honour con•
ferred upon them,
The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the proprietors.
He sail he had great pleasure in stating that
the progress of the bank bad been very 'satis-
factory since the directors had the pleasure of
meeting the proprietors at the last annual meeting
in July. The times they had passed through since
then had been very difficult to encounter, and most
portentous in their character. He supposed that at
no period within their recollection had such remark-
able changes taken place in the value of securities,
and, in fact, of every kind of property, as during the
last four or five months of the past year.
During that year they had Consols at 94,
and also at 79 ; they had also Exchequer-bills at 152
premium and 37 discount. All the great articles of
general use and consumption, such as sugar, cotton,
and indigo, had, he believed, declined in value 25,
arid some as much as 40 per cent. Under these cir-
cumstances, of course, the directors were obliged to
exercise peculiar caution in their transactions, and be
was happy to say that at no period—not even
during October or November—did the balances
diminish to a greater extent than about ten per cent.
from the highest amount at which they were during
any period of the last year.—(Cheers.) He had,
therefore, unfeigned pleasure in stating that during
the last half-year the gross profits of the bank were as
large as they had been in the same period in 1846,
for although their balances were somewhat less, yet
the higher rate of interest which they had
found it necessary to charge had made up
the difference.—(Cheers.) He could not but
expect that they had had some losses during such a
period as the one they had passed through ; but he
was happy to inform them that these losses were of no
importance, considering the amount of business now
transacted by the bank. The bad debts had been
mu-th less than might have been expected, considering
the commercial embarrassment that had prevailed.
In one respect they had been peculiarly fortu-
nate ; as, seeing in some measure, the coming
pressure, though he did not pretend to say
that they foresaw its extreme intensity, they,
in September, soli a considerable portion of
their Exchequer-bills and other stock in order
that they might be prepared to meet any demand
that might be made upon them, for the directors
were most desirous to give all the accommodation
and assistance to their friends which they were en-
titled to receive at their hands. They had since re-
bought a large number at a price considerably
below that at which they had sold them,
so that instead of sustaining a loss, they
had been enabled by the transaction to add something
to the profit and loss account. Since the beginning
of the year the progress of the bank had continued
equally satisfactory, for, during the month of January
they had opened 50 new accounts.—(Cheers.) He
trusted that these short statements would prove satis-
factory to the proprietors, and that they would not
consider that his recital of them had unnecessarily
occupied their time.—(Cheers.)
A vote of thanks having been awarded to the Chair-
man and directors, and suitably acknowledged, the
meeting separated.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, FED. 8.
STOCK EXCHANGL—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire, 5% dis.—Ditto, 311. Shares, 5% c. die.
—Ditto (late C. and B.) 17%—Eastern Counties, 15%
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock, Halves, B%—Great
Northern, 6 dis.— Great Western, 171. Shares, I % p.—Great
Grimsby and Sheffield, 201. Shares, 6% dis.—Lancashire and
Yorkshire (late M. B. and IL ), Fifths, % p.—Ditto, Halves
(late L. and B ), 8 dis.—Leeds and Dewsbury, Halves, 21,.t
dis.— Leeds and Thirsk, 15 dis.—Londoa and North-Western,
148 —Ditto, New Quarters, 6% p.—Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincolns Quarters, No. 1,1,4 p.—Ditto, Preference, par
—Midland, 40/. Shares, 45%—Ditto, Halves, 1 dis.—North
StaiYualshire, % p.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4,1%
dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N.E. Purchase), 2 p.