The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY__ MORNING, MAY 2O, 1846.

tial person was on board, but if a sailing vessel arrived, after
a three mouths' voyage, when all danger must have passed,
she was subjected to a most tedious course of quarantine.
He hoped he had now said enough to induce the House to
grant copies of the correspondence he had moved for on ti e
subject of the quarantine system, and be begged to thank the
House for the patient hearing he had received. He trusted
that what he had said would induce the Government to abate
the present exclusive system, and that it might induce them to
take advantage of the Neling at the present moment, and lead
to the removal altogether of the nuisance of the quarantine
laws. _ _ _

Mr. HUME would say but a very few words, for he thought
that the time was now an ived when this question should be
taken up by the Government, not only because his Hon.
Friend had three or four times brought forward this subject
before the House, during which he had shown that the system
itself was a bad one, but also because he was aware that the
impressions of people generally were declining upon
this subject.—( Hear, hear.) They now felt less alarm
respecting the communication of plague. Again, he was
anxious that this matter should be taken up by the Government,
because he believed it would greatly promote the cause of free-
trade.—( A laugh.) If Hon. Members knew how much com-
merce was impeded between diff,rent countries, and how dila-
tory and expensive the unloading of cargoes of vessels from
infected countries was, they would agree with him that this was
a legitimate reason for the removal of tile quarantine laws.
There was a third ground for their removal arising out of the
large expenses which were occasioned. He believed that it
cost the country 120,000/. per year to carry out these restric-
tive measures, and he trusted that the Right Hon. Baronet,
Sir R. Peel, would find leisure to provide some means for ob-
viating both the expense and the inconvenience, and fully set
the subject at rest.

Sir G. CLERK was quite ready to produce the papers for
which the Hon. Member had moved, and he thought a great
advantage would arise from their publication, not only to this
country, but also to the continental Governments of Europe.
He was aware that the alarm existing on a communication,
of plague was much declining in this country, and it was desir-
able that other nations should also enjoy the benefit of the
information which this correspondence contained. Not only
did it comprise the reports of the Medical Board at Paris, and
the communications from Egypt, but also the report of the
Commissioners sent into Egypt by the Russian Government,
with a view to make experiments to ascertain the contagious
qualities of plague. It would appear indeed that the Egyptian
authorities wished to have gone much further in these experi-
ments than they had done. The experiment which they had
made was this, that the garments of the persons who had died
from plague were subjected to a process of fumigation, and
some of the persons who had been employed by the Russian
commission fell victims to the disease, and the clothes when
taken from them were exposod for forty-eight hours only to a
heat not quite 120 Fahr. Now, the persons who wore these
clothes after such experiments, were not affected with the
plague, and under these circumstances, he did trust that such
an experiment would have the effect of doing away with those
prejedices which existed against these lows.
Mr. MACKINNON said that the evidence which he had
the means of collecting regarding this disease, was when the
thermometer rose as high as eighty the plague was extin-
guished, and the black fever set in. Ho believed most con-
scientiously the Government quarantine laws were not only
very expensive, but were also injurious to human life. He
should second the motion of his Hon. Friend with great
pleasure.
Captain FITZ MAURICE was of opinion that the commer-
cial interests suffered very much from the operation of the
quarantine laws in foreign ports. He thought, if foreign
countries would in general assimulate their quarantine-laws, it
would be better for vessels going to and from different plaess.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS would ask his Hon. Friend who had
seconded the motion whether he could rely upon the climate of
so variable a nature as was the climate of England to regulate
the operation of the quarantine-laws. He was quite willing to
admit that the most commercial nation of Europe had no
quarantine laws. He still believed in the doctrine that certain
diseases were contagious, and he was strongly of opinion that
regulations were necessary to prevent their spreading.
The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. CHRISTIE withdrew his motion with respect to sup-
plying clothes to new-born children in workhouses.
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE (BRIDPORT ELECTION).
Mr. BANKES called the attention of the House to what he
considered was a breach of the privileges of the House. It
was a question regarding the vote of an elector, and in that
was inv slved the right of voting of every individual member
of the constituency. If he was right in his position, there
was an Hon. Gentleman in that House who, he believed, had
no right to a seat in that House; and that Hon. Gentle-
man voted on the third reading of the important measure
which had recently been passed ; and added one to the majo-
rity on that occasion. He was inclined to think that, Mr.
Cochrane, the Member for Bridport, might have retained his
seat ; but he acted on broad and honourable principles, and was
unwilling to avail himself of any unfair advantage. If he recol-
lected aright, the oath that the Members of the Bridport
committee took when they met was, well and truly to try the mat-
ters contained in the petition. Had they done so ? When ho
heard the decision of the Committee, that the election
merely turned on the misplacing of one vote, he felt that the
subject had not been mentioned in the petition. It was an im-
portant matter that the subjects to be decided on by the
Committee should be specially mentioned in the petition.
The Hon. Gentleman then alluded to two cases of Members,
where the petitions against their return were dismissed, be-
cause they did not specify precisely the chargea against the
return. If the Committee were sworn to deal only with the
matter of the petition, and they did not do so, where was the
use of having a petition at all? The elector, whose vote
controlled the return of the Member, had no notice of the
sitting of the Committee, and the first time that he became
aware of the fact of a Committee having sot was when he
saw the report of the meeting in the newspapers.—( Hear,
hear.) He (Mr. Bankes) had received a letter, dated the
17th instant, from William Rockett, the voter alluded to,
praying him to present a petition from him, praying to be
allowed to make his statements, with respect to his vote at
the last election, at the bar of the House. He (Mr. Bankes)
then wrote to the Mayor of Bridport in reference to this ques-
tion, and received from him a reply; to the effect that Rockett
had voted for Mr. Cochrane distinctly, and he never men-
tioned Mr. Romilly's name. If there was a wrong the He use
was obliged to provide a remedy, which it did not devolve upon
him to point out. He would persist in the motion of which
he had given notice.—( Hear, hear.)
The motion having been put,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had anticipated
that the Hon. Member who had just sat down would, in making
his motion, have restricted himself to the question' whether or
not an injury had been done to Wm. Rockett, but the Hon.
Member had taken the opportunity of going into a discussion
with regard to the conduct of the Committee who sat to in-
quire into the allegations of the petition presented against the
return of Mr. Cochrane, and had made very serious charges
against them. Now, in his opinion, the Hon. Member ought
to have been more careful in addressing the House in support
of his motion. Notwithstanding what had fallen from the Hon.
Member, he (the Attorney-General) was certainly of opinion
that with regard to the question of scrutiny, as the law at pre-
sent stood, there was no necessity whatever that the petition
should contain any allegation as to any vote having been im-
properly given or recorded for a candidate ; and, moreover,
that if it had been introduced in the petition, it would not have
had the slightest effect. As the petition prayed for the seat
on behalf of Mr. Romilly, and there being no necessity for
the allegation alluded to, it was quite sufficient to give the
Committee jurisdiction over the matter—it was a petition they
dweecriede. sworn
wti
to
With inquire
regard
thei
mprwo
pheih they were
rcciostn
closing of
bun
f the
eel poll,to
that complaint was not made in the petition, and the Commit-
tee had therefore no right to enter upon that question. The
power of the Committee was defined and ascertained, and was
given by the Legislature, who declared that their decision
should be final. He did, therefore, wonder how the Hon. Member
for Dorsetshire could bring forward his motion. He believed
that the Hon. Gentleman that at present occupied a seat in
that House for the borough of Bridport, held that seat as fairly
as any Hon. Member in the House. He had, however, no
objection to the object of the motion, but he had to the form
of it. They could not refuse an inquiry of the sort asked for.
—(Hear, hear.) But he suggested that it would be much
more convenient to have that inquiry conducted before a Select
Committee, rather than that Rockett should be examined at
the bar of the House. The lion. Member for Weymouth
(Mr. Christie) had an amendment on the papers to that effect,
and he hoped that the House would agree to it in preference to
the motion of the lion. Member for Dorsetehire.—(Hear.)
Mr. CHRISTIE said that he considered that whether the
investigation had been pursued or not, Mr. Cochrane would
have lost his seat, for he believed the state of facts was this,
that the decision should be taken on Rockett's vote, in order
to avoid the disclosure of bribery and corruption, which other-
wise would have been made. Now, there had been three
hundred and seventy-two votes objected to on account of
bribery, and there were six others also objected to for having
bribed, and being therefore consequently disqualified. It was
also an undoubted fact, that an agent of the Government
offered a compromise to the petitioners, that if they would
discontinue their opposition Mr. Cochrane should never sit for
Bridport again. The Government had, in 1842, granted a
Committee to inquire' into the subject of compromises
upon the allegation of the Member for Bath, that such were
in the habit of taking place; upon that precedent he would,
therefore, move the following amendment :—That the petition
of William Rockett be referred to a Select Committee, which
should be appointed, to inquire into all the circumstances under
which Joseph Welch gave :evidence before the Select Com-
mittee on the Bridport election petition that William Rockett
voted for Mr. Romilly, and whether any compromise or ar-
rangement was entered into by the parties to the loetition;
their counsel, or agents, to prevent the disclosure of bribery
or treating ; and also, whether and to what extent bribery and
treating were practised at the loot election for the borough of
Bridport.—( Hear: hear, )
Lord UEORUE BENTINCK considered that a grave
charge was brought against the Members df the Committee.
They were sworn to tei one charge, and they investigated an-
other. 140 therefore considered his Hon. Friend below him
had done most wisely in bringing
.flrWard his itidtion:
The ATTORNEY-GM% ERA', said that the si;eacli tip tu+t
Noble Lord was in perfect violation of the spirit upon which
these institutions were founded, for it contained nothing more
or less than an investigation of, the. ghlunds . Iron which the
Committee had Coma to their decisions—decisions which the
Legislature contemplated shotild be final and decisive: The
House, after granting a incittiry hi 1842, saw the incon-
venience . of the course pursued, and the Noble Lord the Alia-
ber for the city of London introduced a Bill to meet such
cases. The sth and 6th Viet. c. 102, was. accordingly passed,
and power was acootdidkly given td tfie Electidn Committees
to investigate luck petitions, and to report the result to the
Reuse. If the Committee reported that a further iypuiry.Was
necessary, the Spte.lef might then appoint another Uommittee
to examine the matter fully. But if the Committee reported
that no further inquiry was nedetsatyt. tills did not deprive
parties having complaints front getting them investigated. Uri
the presentation of a petition, three months after the
electiola, another body was appointed by that
Bill, who hod the power to take cognisance of
the whole circumstances. There was a distinct Act cif
Parliament to meet the ease. The Legislature had provided
efficient mean to meet it, and there was that difference between
Committees such as that asked for; OA the tribunal appointed
by the House, that the latter had the power to examine without
being, upon oath. He hoped he had stated sufficient to convince
his Hon. Friend the Member for Maynootb, that there was a
tHr iibs uHn ao ln
.atFpresents
aeixd
ht i
on
wg
ewv
ee at dhaapt ttehde
ttrooe chwoanavdseuabc
list
been
tnh eboifrni qbv ueo
bribed
reyar.st
containing 37 names,
ence in Election Committees as he (the
was more common than to
I the Bridport election. whlloadwehries alleged Hon
b
tab whichrobi seesrr yovmaastetaithing very sus-
picious,
FAritetnordneays-mGuencheraelx)Pheardi
he would have known that nothing ,
otenl e.f co tr i onr,risos.
daysfohne:H
mFGrari wouldekeanetds Dubs
ca:lwalbr ,ic oohnlnuo t‘Epv retl eehvhcee etr
n,ao estnihelaeCrt ac't
hlmyae rirol'gefietmstt ehoueifss'
experienceinto
the hi ne qc
tauoui
ishyei
sat hna eidd pt
hoe
et
pir trei
oo
also,vn ee r
the
isi saidwl
eotguhal adt
onhse.
have w
seenHa s
a dr
ne
bao
edt
hybi
rntogou
ug ghn o
-t
common in such allegation, for there was no Election Committee
at which they were not made. These were the grounds on
which his Hon. Friend asked for a Select Committee. He
denied that they were sufficient get:lands. lie said
that there was a tribunal for such investigation—a competent
tribunal, and the mode of meeting the case proposeil by the
Hon., Member was not one which ceuld serve his pucpose.
He himself (the Attorney-General) was for a full investigation
of the circumstances, but he could not see why that could not
be done by the tribunal which had been specially constituted
for
such cases; and, on these ground- he would resist the
' motion.

Mr. GISBORNE thought it eatemely inconvenient that
the House should go into the questionat all; but now that it
had done so, he was very glad that tie Committee was likely
to be granted. He did so upon principle, for there were many
analogous cases, and he considered that such a state of things
was unsatisfactory. By bringing the iuestion prominently be-
fore the House, it would lead to suchamendmetits in the law
relating to elections as would put an sod to these abuses. He
dial not mean to go into the case of Mr. Rockett, as lie did not
know all the particulars connected witi the Bridport election ;
but he thought the Committee might to granted.
Sir R. INGLIS differed with the lion. Member for Dorset
en vatious grounds, but principally beeatue the result of the
decis,on of the Committee in this cage, had the effect of
adding one to that triumph which her Majesty's Government
had lately achieved, and which was already too large.---( Great
laughter.) When the House declared that certain minutes
of an Election Committee should be laid before it, he could
not see why they should be treated as mere waste paper. He
might be allowed to say, that there was a wide suspicion of a
compromise of bribery.—( Hear.) He did not wish to be un-
derstood to impute anything like a suspicion against the con-
duct of any Hon. Member in that House, but he thought it
had appeared that there were proceedings which bore a very
curious aspect, at the late Bridport election. He considered
the subject ought now to remain as it was.
Mr. WAKLEY said that a man named Walsh was called
before the Committee, who stated that he had heard Rockett
vote for Romilly, and accordingly the vote was struck off, and
legalplaced
andto t hi
oerJoi
tt
ihme ra t sei
rig.
hHt eo
fb
thee vverde
st
ehoatt nHoo onn. e would
Member denythe
who
sat
in that House for Bridport, and, therefore, he could not suffer
by the issue of an inquiry. But the House owed it to itself and
to future legislation to set such matters at rest. The Hon.
Gentleman the Attorney-General had said that to allow such
a Committee world be to do that which could not be done so
well as by the present power, but he (Mr. Wakley) thought
they would not discharge their duty to themselves, nor to the
satisfaction of theeLaorfereontlraaiepacirnmnuptebredlonielte,F,As unless they allowed this inquiry to
take place.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that what
faioesrntihi
net
is
paairidor
yp
proper
rot apss
0,0
so
htel :cam:
so e
bsP,eaaraal
ridapml
thateedn .t
transferred
ahsodneh
sl
cfaalleoi
ars omi
rnAedp.
dole
complaint
nronnoftdmbpe
he 'louseon h owha shteh
oa to
gohnte
tvoo
have
ear",
oh
stood,
been
to
another. The question for the House to consider was
whether there was not a regular course for judging of the
matter, without a Committee of that House being appointed.

He was of opinion that the inqui;;lnierthe circumstances,
was wholly uncalled for.
Mr. ROMILLY said that when this election had concluded,
he felt so totally indifferent to it, from the manner in which it
hid boon cenducted, .h.t he had not resolved to petition against
the return of the successful candidate. If, however, the Com-
mittee were appointed, he would give every assistance in his
power for the fullest investigation.—(Hear, hear.) It should
be remembered that the Act of the Noble Lord (John Russell)
made the expense of the inquiry fall upon the parties interested,
and not upon the public; and that alone would be a sufficient
cause to prevent anything like a wish to prosecute such an in-
quiry.
Mr. AGLIONBY said he would only trouble the
House with a few remarks upon th 3 question before
it, which he considered a very proper one.
He did not think there was any other mode for making this in-
quiry more effectual than the present constitutional one, and
that was the power conferred by 1. Victoria, by which he con-
sidered the public were sufficiently protected. But the Com-
mittee might have thought it was not incumbent on them to
have pursued the inquiry further than they had done, and that
therefore they did not deem it necessary to have made a special
report. He (Mr. Aglionby) assumed that the Committee had
had no evidence before them to the effect that any bribery had
taken place, because no statement to the contrary had been
made. But this House still had the power to grant this
motion, and if a prima
,facia case should be made out, the
public at large should bear the expense of it. However, the
party petitioning, who must be a voter, could have no object,
for he could not either seat or unseat a Member. He would
concluded by saying he would vote for the Committee.
Mr. C. WOOD said that there must have been some mis-
statements on the subject, and entered into a long statement
of the nature of the duties of an Election Committee. The
only object of the inquiry was to ascertain whether bribery had
existed. The petition stated that they had. sufficient reason to
think that bribery tad existed, and if any compromise were to
be made in case of any subsequent objecti'n, the inquiry should
be made as to that compromise, but not as to the bribery. If
they were satisfied that the compromise took place for the pur-
pose of screening bribery; if it was established in their minds ,
that bribery really did exist, any Committee, under those cir-
stances, might order an inquiry to
.be made, and enter into a
fu. ther scrutiny. If it was the opinion of the House that pro.
ceedings should be instituted with regard to the bribery, it
seemed to him to be useless to institute a second inquiry as to
the comprornis3.
Mr. B. ESCOTT said that the inconvenience which had
arisen was, that in the desire to condemn the proceeding of the
tribunal, the Noble Lord made accusations against it without
any information with regard to the facts which he stated. Had
the Noble Lord spoken from information, the House would have
been primed with some of those long harangues with which it
had been favoured during the last two months. How could
those who were not present, and who did not know what evi-
dence was given before the Committee, or what admissions
were made by counsel, who could only speak from the informa-
tion which they obtained from printed papers, venture to im-
pugn the proceedings which had taken place. In consequence
of the attack which had been made, he wished to say one
thing. It was quite clear that the present Hon. Member for
Bridport was justly and fairly the Member for the town which
he represented,
a
,
was
insinuated
and that
in h
Mr. Btarle pel Cochraneseech of the Hon.
h had no claimt o
that a
Member
for Dorset. When the counsel for the petition against the
sitting Member threw up his brief, it was sufficient
ground for any Committee to act upon. With respect .to
any future inquiry in that House, the vote of every
Member would be to the fullest extent in favour of
the present Member, and if they were to divide on the subject
he should vote that, if any inquiry was made, it should be a
full and searching one. When the Noble Lord the Member
for Lynn made accusations against the conduct of Members of
that House who were as honourable as the Noble Lord was,
he wished lie would recollect that, under the circumstances, it
was the duty of the Committee, as he himself had said, to de-
cide on the evidence laid before them, and to do justice. They
did decide on the evidence, and they did do justice to the Hon.
Member for Bridport.
Mr. BANKES said that his Right Hon. Friend the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, in the definition which he had
given of the question of privilege then before the House,
admitted at the time of his speech that the subject must be put
to the House as a question of privilege. He would not deny
that the Hon. Member now sitting for Bridport was de facto
the real Member for the borough, and his seat could not be
taken from him, but he would say that the Hon. Member was
sitting there against the will of his constituents, and he put it
to the House whether inquiry ought not to be made with a
view of finding a remedy for the evil. He (Mr. Bankes) had
discharged his duty to the House, and had limited that duty
within the bounds which he considered necessary. It was
his wish that the House should be able to satisfy itself that this
was a genuine petition, and the best mode of ascertaining that
was by bringing it to the bar of the House. The Hon.
Member for Weymouth had substituted an amendment to the
original motion, to which he was perfectly willing to agree.
The Hon. Member had proposed that he (Mr. Bankes) should
sit on the Committee, but he had already two Committees of
great importance to attend to, besides a grouper seven railway
Bills, and that he thought quite sufficient to keep his time
occupied. He would allow that a vote was polled upon one
side that ought to have been given to the other, and therefore
the prayer of the petition was " that the House would take the
premises of that petition into consideration, and take such
measures as should seem fit to the House. " His Friend the
Solicitor-General had said that there need not be any specific
allegation in the petition.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL—No.
Mr. BANKES—Then he went the whole length of stating
that there should be no allegation, and that the petition should
merely state that the sitting Member ought not to be allosied
to take his seat. To proceed under the Bill of Lord John
Russell would have been the most convenient mode in this case,
but he (Mr. Bankes) had not done so, because it was difficult
for him to avail himself of a measure which was not much in
use. The original petition in this case was disposed of, and
for any further proceedings another petition was required, and
who would be the petitioner? It would not be easy to find a
petitioner in a case which promised no result, and in which
there was no object to be gained by the electors of the borough.
If the object was to disfranchise the borough they would be
the last people who would come forward as the petitioners.
He apprehended that the passing of the statute did not pre-
clude them from adopting any other course which might appear
desir able to them. With regard to the Act of Lord John
Russell, it was difficult to avail themselves of it; and he did
not see why they should attempt to proceed by it when it would
be rather an obstruction.
Sir R. PEEL said that the attention of the House had been
called to the motion of his Hon. Friend, who had just concluded
his address to the House, and who had stated a fact which ap-
peared to him to deserve the consideration of the House—
namely, that when the voter before the Committee declared
that his vote was given to a candidate that he did not vote for,
and that his character was injured by that informal vote, the
Committee had declared that that vote was to be transferred to

the opposite candidate. The consequence of that was, that a
majority of one was decided in favour of the other, and that
by the statute law of this country, as far as his seat was con-
cerned the decision could not be questioned, and the present
Member for Bridport (Mr. Romilly) was entitled to his seat as
a statutcable right ; and no decision on the part of that House,
no poWer or authority but an Act of Parliament could deprive
him of a right to which he was entitled by the law of the coun-
try, and the reverse of any decision would not be effected in
thet manner, The House ought to consider whether, on the
allegation which had been made, an inquiry ought to be made
into the affair. If there was no mf conducting the inquiry,
die ehould vote for the original moti ode oon of his lion. Friend
that the party should be called on to appear at the bar of the
House ; but as that means had not been acceded to, he thought
that flOt inquiry should be conducted by means of a Select
Committee, Wile should, examine t
hevtidsenceelec, and thus render
their investigation complete. I a t Committee were
instituted, the original object contemplated would be entirely
ar's-vcred. lie thought they could adhere to the Act of the
Noble Ldrd, and not institute inquiries except under the gene-
ral provisions of that measure. There was a constant tendency
in that House to interfere with those functions which, far a
wise and beneficial purpose, were remitted to Select Commit-
tees. What was the use of the provision of the Noble Lord?
Why, to defeat concealment of improper practices by compromise,
and to defeat not only compromise, but to institute inquiries
into bribery. That Act gave the Committee appointed the
powui ci' adjudicating, and the right to make a epecial report,
setting forth whether there was any reasonable apprehension
that an inquiry into bribery was necessary. In making that
sileeial report, the House was left at liberty to take what course
If there had been sufficient ground in the pre-
it thought ;'l, chargo of compromise against
sent instance to st;;Tort the .
L' the Right Honourable Gentle-
the Committee over whit-•
t:at charge would have been
man presided, there was no doubt t... `,t Committee ; and
made. Evidence had been taken before a special report
if the facts developed before them had rendere2
his inquiry
necessary, there would have been some ground for :
into a compromise ; but as that had not been made, he ,70uuir1yc
not advise the House to proceed. The Noble Lord's Act
was such that an inquiry in compromise or bribery
did not depend on a petition being presented within
foarteen days after the election, for it provides, " That
in any case, where one person, who was entitled to vete, shall
petition the House on the grounds of any reasonable allega-
tions of compromise to them, any time within three months,
they could institutue an inquiry. It was not necessaryli that
y. A
they should prove extensive and general briber that he
had to do was simply to declare his belief in extensive
he and
general bribery in the particular borough of which
voter, and to enter into his rccognizances that such hewbaosniai
fide believed to the best of his knowledge to be the case. If
he made this declaration, and entered into his recognizanes'
then a provision was made for the appointment of a eCom-
mittee of Inquiry, which Committee had all the functions of
an Election Committee. All this could be called into action
by the petition of one single voter alleging his belief that bribery
existed. But did the Act impose expense on the petitioner ?
No ; for if the Committee reported that there was reasonable
ground for the allegation, they would order the expenses of the
petitioner to be borne as in any other public matter. If they
were dissatisfied with the law let them alter it, though he be-
lieved that as it stood it admitted extensive and searching in-
quiry. Great inconvenience had arisen from the old system of
appointing Committees for every individual case, and the Noble
Lord had therefore brought forward this remedy, These were

were
epnool policy the provisions of the law, and he saw no reason to question
but while it remained in force he did not feel disposed ito n-
ysuorffiethieentj,
f
terfere in any individual ease. Seeing how the inquiries had
uistt ivic, ea
so!. 0 intl.p e
tlefn
tthfeoyr
tthought a
Ittl-e.er
tphoewlaw
r s;
been conducted in former times by party decisions in the Com-
mittees of Parliament, and seeing the tendency that political
exctement had to interfere with the decisions of such Com-
mittees, he fur one would resist any further inquiry, except that
sanctioned under the law of the Noble Lord, and such as would
have the object of rescuing the character of an individual from
theinjury to which it has been subjected.—( Hear.)
in-
quirettilrn3A uelfs.rte.li to act laoar4hel jdftietilhiel,ne
aedsedsc
oiatttfifsoherexplanation.
0 whether Committee
appearedmsce momoi
tfrst thatsuch
thecompromise
rsif
from
eksmaovei
should
the
clrdd:tibmhbrree.pop
ruraHloeigymisohoeus
:win:
:tee
de wpfwaoatasrisosen
thatt pre-
paredthehe
alleged did take place.
re-
ference to the sanction of the Committee that had sat on the
case, Ef.
waaFa:ocnso
rtatpydhi

Mr. CHRISTIE said he was willing to fall into the sug-
gestion of the Right lion. Gentleman ( Sir R. Inglis), and he
would, therefore, strike out the latter part of his motion. It
would then stand. a motion for a simple inquiry as to whether
ought to inquiref into. the real
idledreaadw
the, evidence
e nit
ebtya
ktehre,
suci‘lfira. cumunNprcomoiAsfeureualslayidhatphpelned.
question
Rightiloonf
.conmarporno
emt.ise,Naondone noteobue
before the Committee without being persuaded
mise did take place. The fact was, the Committee ahcar fere();
completely bamboozled. The Hon. Member then read at some
length the evidence of witnesses. This was the evidence sent
forth to the public, and could it be expected that it should
satisfy the House ? He trusted the House would proceed with
its inquiry into the alleged compromise which had taken place,
so that justice might be rendered to all parties.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that it was due to the justice
and character of the House that a Committee should be
appointed to ascertain whether a system of extensive bribery
had existed at Bridport ; but he did not think that that Com-
mittee should prosecute its inquiry as to whether a compromise
had been come to. A compromise was, in itself, no offence,
and it would be only a waste of public time and money to ex-
tend the inquiry so far. He thought that this course—that
he meant of extending their investigation into the matter of
compromise—would only revive those party feelings and party
prejudices which had in former times brought such disgrace
upon the privileges of the House.—( Hear, hear. )
Mr. lIEN LEY thought that the election inquiries before
Committees of the House, as at present conducted, were little
better than a farce.—( Hear, hear.) There were two ques-
tions in this inquiry, the one of bribery and the other of a
compromise ; but an inquiry under the Act of the Noble Lerd
the Ale:ldler for London was, in fact, no inquiry at all. The
electors of Brid2ort did not choose that their borough should
be disfranchised, and as respected them, therefore, the inquiry
into bribery would only be, as he had already stated, a solemn
farce.
Mr. BANKES then withdrew his amendment, and Mr.
Christie's amendment was put as a substantive motion.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved, as an amendment,
that all the words after "Romilly" be left out.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when there
appeared—
For the motion 47
Against it 47
The SPEAKER gave his vote in favour of the amendment of
the Attorney-General, which was consequently carried.
The motion of Mr. Christie was about to be disposed of,
when
Mr. HUME moved that the debate be adjourned to Thurs-
day, as Mr. Christie and several other Hon. Members had left
the House.—The motion was agreed te.
RAILWAY COMPANIES DISSOLUTION BILL.

The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
After a short discussion the whole of the clauses, with some
iew verbal amendments, were agreed to.
The House having resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported ac,
cordingly, and the report was ordered to be brought up on
Thursday next.
VISCOUNT HARDINGE'S ANNUITY BILL.

This Bill went through Committee.
The reports on Viscount Hardinge's and Lord Gough's
Annuity Bills were brought up and agreed to.
The report on the Explosive Substances' Bill was brought up
and agreed to.
On the motion of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, the following
clauses were introduced into the Bill:-
1. To enable justices to grant warrants to search for explo-
sive and destructive substances in cases of sworn informations
that an offence under this Act is intended.
2. To enable constables without warrant to stop and search
persons whom they shall find abroad at night, under circum-
stances of reasonable suspicion, that an offence under this Act
is intended.
The Bill was then ordered to be read a third time this day.
The other orders of the day si ere then disposed of, and
On the motion of Mr. CARDWELL,
The House adjourned at Twelve o'clock.

GREAT MUNSTER RAILWAY.
SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the proprietors, shareholders, and
scripholders of this Company, took place yesterday at the
offices of the Company, 29, Parliament-street, in pursuance
with the sessional orders of both Houses of Parliament.
The chair was taken at half-past one o'clock, by Colonel
Darner.
It appeared that in consequence of some faults committed
by the former direction of the Company, that if the share-
holders authorised the directors proceeding with the Bill,
they would hare no disposable fund of which to avail them-
selves for any contingent expenses.
The CAUIIMAN said that the meeting were probably aware,
that instead of following out the original intention of the
Company, the directors, in consequence of the state of the
money market, were obliged to limit their application to
Parliament for a line to go to Limerick, reserving to them-
selves at a more favourable opportunity the power of extending
it to Tralee. They found that many parties declined paying
up the shares allotted to them, and that the deposits upon
three thousand shares reserved for the Company had not
been made by reason pf that alteration, and therefore
when they came to make thoce.deposits they were
obliged to limit their shares from 22,000 to 11,295.
The directors found the greatest difficulties in making the
Parliamentary deposits, so much so that they were obliged
to incur the personal responsibility of 7,soo;.—(Hear, hear)
—before they were in a position to enter Parliament. How-
ever, by this effort they were enabled to go before the House
of Lords, and he need scarcely tell them the Company had two
severe struggles before that tribunal ; they were, however,
in the end so successful, that the Chairman of the Commit-
tee stated the Bill had passed unanimously, and that it was
considered as a national undertaking. The accounts would
be submitted to the meeting, as the board of directors
were most anxious that the shareholders should
feel perfectly satisfied with the whole arrangements
which had taken place. He wished, however, to say, that
the present committee had nothing whatever to say to the
original formation of the Company. He (the chairman) did
not join it until the 19th of June. It had been deemed pru-
dent to send over a deputation to Ireland, to examine
the country, and to make known the scheme, and he con-
sidered that there was nothing more necessary, for, along
the line the scheme was looked upon as a bubble, and it was
not until they had met at Limerick and Nenagh, and the
other towns, that the people and landowners took a real in-
terest in the concern. He would now call on the Secretary
to read the report of the expenditure, from which we extract
the following items :
For the formation of the Company £6so 0 0
For advertisements ... 852 8 5
For printing
Brokerage commission
Deputation to Ireland
Engineers' expenses
Solicitors' ditto lB,OOO 0 0
For scrip purchased by commission

Leaving a balance of 12,489 0 0
The CHAIRMAN begged it to be understood that these
shares were purchased before the present directors had any-
thing to do with the concern.
Atter several speeches from Daniel Whittle Harvey, Esq.,
Mr.Waley, and Mr. Baldwin, M.P., in which strong observa-
tions were made on the reckless expenditure which had
taken place, it was resolved that until a report from certain
gentlemen appointed, should be made, that the meeting be
held as void for Parliamentary purposes; it was also inti-
mated that if the Company would now proceed with their
Bill, the Cashel Company might be inclined to purchase the
line.
After a great deal of discussion, this course was adopted,
and the meeting separated at a quarter to four o'clock.
The next meeting of the Company will take place on
Monday week.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
DEAR Stn,—l will feel greatly obliged if you will please
to insert in your valuable paper the following :—I was a pas-
senger in the Boulogne boat to London of last Sunday, and I
am happy to say that when I went on Monday for my lug-
gage I never met with such politeness, nor such gentleman-
like officers as those employed at the Customs' luggage-
room. It would be a great credit to my country if they had
such gentlemen employed, as they boast it is the country of
politeness ; travellers would suppose they arrive dans an
pays de barbara when...they land at Boulognes'or any French
port.
I hope, Sir, you will find I have not intruded.
May 18, 1846. A FRENCHMAN.

EIIILIA WYNDHAM.—Let no one (says the John Bull)
who wishes to read a work of fiction with the stamp of
genius upon it, hesitate in procuring, Emilia Wyndham.
The author's " Two Old Men's Tales,' and " Mount Sorel,"
have won for him no mean reputation—a reputation which
" Emilia Wyndham " will deservedly expand. This novel
has the peculiar merit of rivetting the attention, rousing
the feelings, and creating an interest that never flags, with-
out having recourse to any of the ordinary devices by which
novel writers attain these ends. It is a tale of domestic
life; all the characters aro characters of home ; and yet,
from the trials which are prepared for the latter, and the
moral virtues they are called upon to exercise in passing
through them, the reader feels precisely that sort of deep
interest which he would do if he were the intimate friend of
the parties. Mr. Danby, Lisa, Colonel Lenox, Emilia
Wyndham, her father, Jonny Wilcox, Mr. Danby's mo-
titer, the faithful, plain-spoken Susan; form a living group in
al ldye
sthe
whole story, which is enforced by a style at once powerful,
the memory long after the third volume has been closed.
The author has considerable humour, approaching that of
moral
111 dra-
matic,ol er ea
no
ffull
Addison;ef vigour. whi
A lofty while his
dialogue
istonesesepnetri;
rapid, and graceful.
THE TRAVELS OF LADY lIESTER STANHOPE, just
published, exceed, if possible, in interest, the " Memoirs" of
this extraordinary personage, which created, last year, so
great a sensation—for, independently of the valuable infor-
mation the volumes contain respecting the countries visited
by her Ladyship, comprising Turkey, Egypt, Palestine,
Syria, add the Desert, with the curious characteristics pre-
served of the different races of the human family there to be
met with, more particularly of the Bedouins, Druses, Jews,
-rid Christians, the narrative abounds with remarkable inci-
of personal adventure in which her Ladyship was the
one place she is seen enduring the horrors of
fears of plague—in another, enjoying the
Palmyra, conferred upon her by the
-11 tribes, as she marched at their
*—further on, directing the
—Wens for buried trea-
'4lr to the harems
exhibiting
and

dents
heroine.
shipwreck or tia,
dignity of Queen m -
most intractable of the Are._
head through the Lurning begin.
Turkish authorities in making exca._
si!re—. elsewhere, equally honoured as a Thu._
of tne most powerful of the nobles ; and alwayb
to the astonished people extraordinary courage, wisdo.,
benevolence.
THE CELLAR MARTYR.--The following is a copy "of
the warrant under which William Smith O'Brien, Egg,. was corn-
milted to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms :" . die
---" Jovls, 30
Aprilis, 1846. Whereas the House of Commons has this day resolved
that William Smith O'Brien, Esq., a Member a the said Howse,
having been guilty of a contempt of the said House, be far his said
offence committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms attending
the s lid House, during the pleasure of the said House--these are
therefore to require you forthwith to take into your custody the said
William Smith O'Brien, and him safely to keep during the pleasure
co the said House. And all mayors, sheriffs, under-sheriffs, bailiffs,
constables, headboroughs, and officers of the said House are required
to be aiding and assisting to you in the execution hereof. For
which this shall be your sufficient warrant. Given under my hand,
this 30th day of April, 1846, Charles Shaw Lefevre, Speaker.
To the Bergeaut-at-Arno attending tug 119 lat Of COUPapias, or his
deputy.",

RAILWAY COMNIMEES.
(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
GROUP I.
MOD:MON AND TORE.

The Committee met this day at eleven o'clock, the Earl of Love-
lace chairman.

The first witness called was a Mr. Baclley, cattle dealer, of Tork,
who was examined by Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE—The grazing of cat-

~..., .
tie was carried on to a very great extent at Lincolnshire. Le-an cattle
were brought to that place and then fattened and sent to Rotherham
ant other places to be disposed of. 'They were driven to those places,
and that had a deteriorating effect. The want of railway communica-
tion was much felt with regard to cattle. There would be a traffic
of 54,000 lean cattle alone brought by the railway from Lincolnshire
is the year. There was that amount at present, but when the rail-
way was constructed the numbers would considerably increase.
Spalding was a very rich grazing district, and would afford a very
large cattle traffic for a line of railway. Had made out a table of
the cattle traffic from information which he had collected from
various sources.
Mr. llmnrstan said he had to object to such tables: he did not
°Wet upon any other principle than that of guarding himself against
a similar objection on the part of his Learned Friend at another
stage of the inquiry. It was held to be the same in a Committee of
their Lordships as in a court of law, with "respect to evidence,
namely, that the witness should only depose to that which came
under his knowledge.
The NOBLE Cnarawasr—Exactly so.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE said that the tables which he put in could
be taken for what they were worth. With respect to objecting to his
Learned Friend under a similar position, he could assure him that uo
such objection should be made.
The examination was then resumed—The cattle from Lincolnshire,
wasret, e rybeorryo üb, ttnd other parts, had been driven to London. This
tedious, and occupied from six to seven days. They were
driven from one market to another on the way, and those which
were not disposed of reacheclvihihue London market.
The NOBLE CHAIRMAN
travel in the day? t Is the number of miles which cattle
The witness—That depended on the condition of the cattle; fat
cattle were not able to traveulat o
such a rate as the lean ; the
former travelled at an average
f ys. tenabo Turhte 2twlve miles a day, but the
mile
others at the rate of twenty income froin cattle traffic
alone would bring to the rallera
,esattsul;greatestlaGdst..a2ndte.
advantage
Itead
theno
doubt that the railway would be of the greatest
cattle-dealers.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr. ITILDTARD great length
was already a
for the purpose of showing that much of the traffic
pro-
vided for by a line about to be made. The witness acknowledged
that his tables were prepared from the traffic which existed
Mr. Hadley was re-examined by Mr. Sergeant TE 1e
'INGLAKE 18T
.
London and York Railway was the nearest line to the cattle deal€rs.
of Lincolnshire, St. Ives, and other large grazing districts and irkarket
towns. It was of the greatest consequence to the condition
of the cattle to have a day's rest before coming into the market.
When they arrived at Smithlleld on the Sunday, they could then rest
till the Monday. By the London and York Railway they would
arrive in such time in the morning as to have all Sunday %rest, in-
stead of, as at present, coming in on the evening.
Charles Chaplin, Esq., examined by Mr. Densa—Was one of the
Commissioners for the drainage of the Witham. Was-a.lSo proprietor
of about 20,000 acres of land. The London and York line would not
interfere with the drainage; the loop line would interfere with ti".*
small landowners, such as those who held about ten acres; it would
Interfere with the drainage of their land to some extent.

The witness was not cross-examined.
Mr. Pitman, traffic-taker, was examined as to the correctness of
the tables showing the amount of traffic.

The *lncas wt briefly cross-cxfunir.ed by 14&. TALBOT, and this
concluddi the traffic evidence.

Mr. Cubitt, civil engineer, was then called and examined by Mr.
DENisox—ls engineer for the London and York Railway. The
length of the line from London to York, without branches, is 185 miles,
78 chains. The loop line goes from the main line 2 miles beyond Pe-
terborough round by Byston and Lincoln ; its length is 86 miles 10
chains. from Bedford it is 7 miles 72 ehains. There was a branch

intended to be made, called the Stamford branch, but it is not
now deemed expedient to construct it, in consequence of
the difficulty of crossing other proposed lines. That branch
was to have been the length of 4 miles 75 chains.
There was also to have been a branch from Doncaster to Leeds, but
it is not now 111 the Bill, that having been abandoned. The branches
or spurs are as follow :—there is for Doncaster, 64 chains, for Hull
and Selby, 51 chains; and the whole length of the line, including
the spurs, is to be 283 miles 47 chains. That is the length of
the line now before the Committee. The table of distances now
handed in were prepared by him. There is nothing at all uncommon
in the construction of this line; it is as easy as any ordinary line of
railway. The gradients are as lin 200 ; there is a small portion of
the line as 1 In 108, and that is close to the London station, but it did
not affect the ruling gradients. The Birmingham station at Euston-
square had a gradient considerably under I in 100.
The gradients, with this exception are, as 1 in 200. He had taken
great care to have the gradients thus favourable. It would cost
more to construct it in this way, but then it will be saved other-
wise. Where the engines should be required to go at its greatest
speed the gradients will Rot effect them. The Bedford branch is a
dead level. The most difficult part of the line is for about
20 miles going out of London, the remainder is all:very favourable,
with a slight exception coming up to Grantham. There are tunnels
along the main line to the number of fourteen, and the longest is
1,352 yards; there is another of 1,312, and another near Grantham
of 1,047. At Islington there is one of 632 yards, and at
Tottenham one of 737, and farther on one of 580. The
other tunnels are one of 378 at Enfield, close to which
is another of 220, and at St. Nath's one of 1,112, at Digswell
one of 1,047, Sandy one of 187, Little Sandy one of 198, at Great
Penton, one of 352, Little Ponton, one of 322, Ponton again, one
of 305, and at Guyd, one ef 968, making a total of 8,266 yards of
tunnelling, at a cost of 603,3651. This is less than five miles in length.
On the loop line there Li r.o tunnelling. The total estimate of the main
line is 4,149,9081. The estimate of the loop is 149,4081. The cost of the
Bedford Branch is estimated at 86,9041., tusking a total of 5,286,4441.
The banks of the Witham are well adapted for a railway, and are just
such as would be required. The soil Is generally sandy, but some of
it is peat. It is, however, admirably adapted to the purposes of a
railway.
After some more general information as to the engineering merits
of the line, the Committee adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP X.

The Committee met againto.7dayaiiwelve o'clock, in Room No. 1
(Rouse of Commons) ; present, Mr. Deedes, chairman ; Mr. Ark-
wright, Mr. Farnham, Mr. Vivian, and Mr. Stanley.
The Cnatardan having inquired if the parties had come to terms
on the subject of satistitction to Messrs. Baird, the opposing peti-
tioners, in the case of the

IYIONKLAND AND ILIKIUNTILLOCH
(CHAPEL-HALL BRANCH),

a conversation, or rather discussion between the counsel on both
sides took place, from which it appeared that the parties had not
yet agreed.
The Committee ultimately adjourned the case to Thursday.
The Committee then proceeded to take the usual evidence, accord-
ing to Mr. Duncombe's resolutions, respecting the

LESMARAGOVI, DALSERP, AND COAT-,

BRIDGE JUNCTION.

Mr. ANDREWS stated that the objects of theßill are to form a com-
munication across the Clyde, joining the Wishaw and Coitness Rail-
way, and connecting the extensive fields of coal and ironstone on
the south bank of the Clyde with the ironworks on the north bank,
and with the markets of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the shipping
ports on the rivers Forth and Clyde. The length of the line will be
two miles and three furlongs. The expense is estimated at 50,0001.
By this railway a large and valuable field of coal and iron-
stone would be rendered available, which the owners have
hitherto been unable to work for want of a cheap means of commu-
nication to enable them to compete with the other mineral districts
having the benefit of railway accommodation. The coal and iron•
atone in the neighbourhcod of the great iron works of the Monklands
are becoming exhausted, and as a large amount of capital has been I
expended on these works, it is very important that means should be
provided for bringing supplies from the more distant fields. The
present means of conveyance from the mineral fields to the iron
works and places of consumption is by cartage, and in consequence of
the heavy tolls and the general steepness of tho roads,
the traffic is necessarily very limited and very expensive.
So great is the value attached to the, contemplated line
by the capitalists and ironmasters in the district, that as soon as the
intention to form the railway was generally known, arrangements
were made to a great extent for working the minerals
in the parishes of Dalserf and Lesmahagow. lie wished the Com-
mittee to observe, that the line would be constructed entirely for
mineral traffic, there being, in fact, no passenger traffic in the dis-
trict. It was important to keep this in view, as it removed all ob-
jections to the steepness of the gradients. This steepness was un-
avoidable, from the nature of the country, without an enormous
expense. But the gradients were perfectly practicable and safe, and
were the best the locality would admit of. The line would be worked
by fixed engines. The Learned Gentleman concluded by observing,
that the line would not materially affect any of the property through
which it would pass, and none of the petitions against the Bill in any
way affected the preamble, but they involved altogether questions
only of compensation.
Mr. M`Nzia., Counsel for the promoters (with Mr. Andrews) called
evidence to bear out the leading statements of the latter.
Mr. Ady, tho engineer of the line, and manager of several of the
existing or projected railways with which it is proposed to connect
this branch, was examined on the engineering merits. His evidence
referred to no important particulars which had not been referred to
in the opening statement of Counsel. The gradients were practicable
for passengers if necessary.
Mr. Goßoorr addressed the Committee at length in support of the
petitions against the Bill. He applied himself with great force and
ability to the proposed changes in the Bill, showing that there was a
danger of exorbitant charges and diminished accommodation from the
extension of the influence of established main lines and new branch
tines, such as the Lesmahagow, &c., Junction Railway. He referred
to the reports of the Amalgamation Committee, to prove that this
was no ideal danger. He called witnesses to show that the proposed
charges were too high, as compared with those on other lines of the
same character—that is, lines for the carriage of minerals. The evi-
dence was further to the effect that the lines with the lower rates of
charge were paying well, and their shares were at a good premium.
The Cutramew observed that the rate of charges upon the lines
referred to were no guide to the Committee as to the equity of the
charges proposed upon the line before the Committee. They could
not estimate the comparative outlay in the construction, or the com-
parative cost of working.
Mr. M'Neu. (for the Bill) observed that some of the lines which
had lower charges than the proposed railway could be worked for
were nearly level lines.
Mr. GORDON submitted that the evidence which he had offered
respected this line in a fair comparison with the others, taking into
account the distance, the difficulty of the gradients, and the conse-
quent expense of working.
Mr. 31'31Eia elicited from 3f r. Baird (a witness for the opponents)
that there was really no comparison between the cheap tiailicrerese
and the present in point of working. [The details of evidence
too minute for a report.)
Mr. 31•Nexx having replied,
The Committee decided that the preamble was Prold•
The clauses were then gone through and agreed t ' and the Bill
passed.

The Committee adjourned till We've o'docl to-morrow.

GROLTP XIII.

The Committee met to-day at the usual hoar, Sir WiMani Clay
in the chair. The other Members present were, Earl Jerrayn, Mr. P.
Ainsworth, and Mr. Curteis.

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY AND BRANCHES.
Mr. Sergeant WRANGUAId made an application on behalf of the
above company, in reference to the vote which the Committee had
come to yesterday. It had relation to a point which he was sure
had escaped the Members, and therefore he had hoped there would
be a reconsideration of the decision. The Committee, in deciding the
preamble of the Dumfries Bill to be proved, had prejudged the case
of the Caledonian Extension and the Langholm branch. In the pre-
amble agreed to, it was stated, that a branch from the Dumfries line
at Sanquhar, or that which was called the Crawick branch, would be
of great public advantage. Now that line was for five miles identical
with the Caledonion Extension. In the same preamble it was also
stated that it would be of great public advantage to make a line from
a point near Springfield to the proposed branch from Hawick to Car-
lisle Church. Now this, along with the North British Extension,
would make thirteen miles identical with the Langholm branch of
the Caledonian scheme. It was clear, then, that the case
of the Caledonian was prejudged by the decision that had
been come to. Originally, the Hawick branch to Carlisle was
grouped in another Committee, but in order that the whole might be
considered it had been referred to the present Committee, so
that the whole case of competing railways might be gone into before
any decision Was given. The decision that had been come to by the
Committee had prejudged the case, without hearing evidence for
the Caledonian Extension, or the Caledonian Langholm Branch.
He was quite sure that, under such circumstances, the passing of
the preamble was accidental, and that the Committee, in doing so,
had been led away from the consideration of these branches by the
larger features of the case —the main line from Ayrshire to Carlisle.t
Ills task was now done ; he called the attention of the Committee to
the matter, in order that some step might be
takirt to bring
t rotnith
h
merits of both branches before them, and in order t a
be a reconsideration of that part of the preamble to which he had

(erred.
The Cuemasti said the Committee had decided that the preamble
of the Bill for the main line was proved, because he conceived the
public wants of the district required it. They had also decided that
the Dumfries Company should have the Canonbie branch. Still they
were willing to go fully into the case of the Caledodian (Langholm)
branch, and if they saw good grounds for proving it they would so
arrange the two preambles by clauses that they would not interfere
with each other.
Mr. Sergeant WaANOnast thought such a course irregular. There
was only room for one branch in each of the districts referred to, and
he could not see how Bills could be granted for two. He thought
there ought to be a re-consideration of the preamble passed, so as to
reserve the decision on these branches till the Caledonian Extension
and the Langholm Branch were gone into, and evidence called. Mr.
CoclOurn, a few days ago, had made an application that no decision
should be come to till the whole was goco into, but it was re-

fused.
.;',e CHAVYALLIZ refused to re-consider the preamble, but would be
willing w wear any application when the clauses of the Dumfries
Bill was titian consideration at three o'clock. Should the Commit-
Ctaledonian(Langhelm) branch ought to be granted„they
go that the two preambles should not clash.
tfotitbl,flatrcktiratic:wh:
Mr. serge., tit WHANOHAM then sat down, expressing strong
h the course of the Committee, which he declared to
d',l-
-
altogether un.nreccdented—deciding on a disputed case without
(CAISIASME AND GRETN
hearing the whole o: its merits.
proofs In agremei,t with Mr. DMICOMbe' A.
NOILTIZ 81Z1T1..." a
I;.:R.ANCHES).
This Bill was then proce.da: with.
s resolutions
weTlirleire.Prs'erringeal'awnthßenmssis opened the Case for the promoters. The
i Qi4eq 0 tile point =AS O, 119 laid, TrAii t 9 C 9111104 EyTiCit and

Carlisle together, by an extension froin the Edinburgh and Hawick
branch of the North British Railway, which had received the sanc-
tion of the Legislature last year, with a branch to Gretna, so as
to form a complete connexion wick the east of Scotland and Carlisle
and Cumberland. The Learned Gentleman then went into a descrip-
tion of the country that would he accommodated by the line—the
principal towns in it being Langhohn, Melrose, Galashields, Hawick,.
Canonbie, and Carlisle, and having gone g. nerally over its engineer-
ing character, he proceeded to call his witnesses.
The Duke of Buccleuch was the first witness called, who stated
that the proposed line went, for a great extent, through his property.
The line would be of great benefit to the manufacturing towns of
Galashiels and Hayrick, besides accommodating the important agri-
cultural county of Roxburgh. He had thought this would be a 8094
line sinceihe autumn of 1844. Hawick Was at present supplied with
coals from the east, and from the neighbourhood of Berwick, also
from his collieries at Berwick.
To Mr. CIIATF.I.,. ^—!de could not say whether all the three through
lines would pay, as he had not paid attention to the question. Be
thought, however, the Hawick traffic would not much interfere with
that of the Caledonian.

Examination continued—He thought the North British, from
Langhoim to Cannobie, preferable to the branch of the Caledonian
proposed between these two points. He had himself suggested the
former as not so likely to interfere with the scenery as the latter.
Cross-examined —He could not say there was much traffic from
Longtown to Carlisle. The country between Crowick and Lang-
holm was in a great measure pastoral, and but thinly populated-
The principal advantage he looked to was taking coals by this branch
from Cannobie to Crowick. He believed one great reason of passing
the Edinburgh and Crowick line last year was to accommodate coals
coming from Dalkeith to Crowick. He could not speak of the through
traffic, or that the course of it was not to the north—to Edinburgh and
Glasgow. He thought the Edinburgh, through traffic, would not be
taken from the Caledonian, that was, as far as he had received infor-
mation. He had from the first, doubted the policy of passing the
Caledonian line. If the difference between the two through schemes
was but two miles, then tbere would be a probability of the Caledo-
nian being injured. Re admitted that the extension agreed to, to
Berwick and the south-east, would give a great outlet to the traffic of
Roxburgh. A great deal af produce went that way, and also to the
north.
examined—The
Air. Wilson, Wilson, a manufacturer ef nawick,
engageielcini mannflactnr-
tion of the town and the suburbs w:l3 8,000,
ing tweeds, shawls, and blankets. 'llle7 rerehiperhnwnpuidyesougeliby
wiih wool from England, a great quantity f w
this railway. The same, he believed,
present the foreign and English wool came ma. __
nly from London to
aohnlied to Galashiels. At
get the proposed
Berwick, from whence it was carted to Hawick. Oh cal scouring and
dye -stuffs principally came the same way. He though. .
e,,_
extension to Carlisle would be of great advantage to the ti.
q.M of the
district. The sale of goods manufactured at Hawick he set L.:WU at
r
270,0001., and with the railway he thought it would very much incrafie
Cress-examined by Mr. COCKBURN—The population of 6,000 Jr,-
habitants included a portion of an adjoining parish. At present thee
principal portion of their goods went to Edinburgh and the north.
Ire was examined last year, and then stated that the bulk of the
trade wont to Edinburgh. He also stated that they consumed at
1 Ynwiek upwards of 700 tons of wool, both home and foreign : but
on
the proportions of the foreign to the home wool had altered last yeaf
account of
orthe growth of the fancy trade. The wool consumed
last
in foreign
wooL
s about 850 tons. The increase was mainly
He had derived his information respecting
the wool from the
to the best of the?anufacturers of the town, who bad stated,
to
did not give the real figures
what tire amount was, but they
The wool came from London,t7,"
used at Hawick came principanyTrool
some came from either Carlisle or Aire:flan
of the quantity received-
, and Yorkshire. The timber
LeLtll,, though he believed
1 m 7.11, He was nokaWare that no American timber be couldr not say how
was imported at

Ann an.
Further evii.:Z2ee on behalf of this Bill was adjourned tit!to_
morrow.
GLis.SGOW, DITNtraSTES, C.A.Eraixszac.
The clauses of this Bill were proceeded Witte a little after three
o'clock.
On the application of Mr. CommtitN, the clauses PI this Bill
ich that
related to the portions of the extension and branci:,,s_wh the
Caledonian proposed, and on which the argument tooi:. Place this
morning, were postponed till the case on behalf of the extension Ana
branches was gone into, and the decision of the Committee knov,-n.
Several of the unopposed clauses of the Dill were read ttiacf
agreed to.
The further consideration of the clauses was put off till to-morrow
at twelve o'clock, when, as there is a proviso in the Bill for an amal-
gamation with the Glasgow and Ayr Railway, evidence on the toll
clauses, according to an instruction of the House of Commons, will
be taken.—The Committee then adjourned.

GROUP XIV.
The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bill*
comprised in this group re-assembled this morniig, and proceeded
with their labours ; 3,tr. Protheroe in the chair.