The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-05 00:00:00

importance of economy. The Government had wished
to impose a five per cent. income-tax, and if Hon. Gen-
tlemen around him had only prevented that they had
done something, particularly as the Government bad
thereby been induced to revise their estimates, and had
saved half a million without having, as he supposed
they would assure the House, in any degree infringed
upon the efficiency of the public service. He
now called upon the Government to revise
the expenditure incurred upon the Railway Com-
mission, which might have been a very proper
experiment, but which had been followed by no be-
neficial results whatever. A blue book of 200 pages
had been, it was true, printed, which might just as well
have been contained in twelve pages, so that he had not
only to regret the other expense incurred by the com-
mission, but that the House had also incurred the ex-
pense of printing these very valueless records. A
Committee of that House had, it was true, recommended
the appointment of a Railway Commission, but they had
no idea that so great an expense would have been in-
curred, and nothing would be found in their report
which would in any degree justify so large an establish-
ment as the Government had thought proper to appoint.
Here was a charge amounting to four times the sum
expended when the duties were as well performed as
they were now—he did not say that they were as well
performed now as they ought to be. What was the
good performed by the commissioners which would
justify Parliament in voting this amount ? He did not
say it was desirable that the railways should be left with-
out supervision, but his complaint was that there was no
supervision in the present Bill. During the last
session of Parliament it was a matter of common occur-
rence for Committees of that House to be delayed for
two or three days, and be compelled to adjourn
from time to time, in consequence of the non-
arrival of the reports of the Railway Com-
missioners. And when the reports were received
they were of very little value. He thought it would be
better for the House to leave the matter to the Board of
Trade, and if that Board appointed persons competent as
scientific men, the House would then obtain what they
could not from a Board constituted as the Railway Com-
mission was, and their reports and proceedings would
obtain the confidence of the public, which was of itself a
great advantage, besides the benefit of a large reduction
of expenditure. The Hon. Member concluded by moving
for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Railway Com-

to the country, and thus tend in a great degree to im
prove its condition. He was sure that there was
but one common' feeling in the House, to make it
an efficient Bill, and the Government would be thankful
to receive any suggestion which could make it more per-
fect, it being a matter of considerable complication and
difficulty. There was a great deal of technicality neces-
sarily involved in the measure, but the Government had
endeavoured to avoid that as much as possible, in order
to lay down broad and intelligible principles. He,
therefore, was of opinion that it would fully meet the
object it was intended to accomplish without doing
serious injury to any person, and trusted that it would
receive the general approbation of the House.—(Cheers.)
Mr. NAPIER deprecated the provisions of the Bill,
which he said would be destructive to the sacred rights
of property in Ireland. The real effect of it would be to
compel the sale of every estate in Ireland, because there was
no estate in that country which, under the designation
contained in the Bill, would not be considered an encum-
bered estate. The Bill, therefore, would be appli-
cable to every estate ; and a more reckless
and injurious measure, and one more ruin-
ous in its ultimate result, he could not conceive.
In the Court of Chancery, he understood that a pur-
chaser is not expected to complete his purchase, unless
it could be shown that the title which was about to be
vested in him was good; but under the Bill this salu-
tary power would not prevail.—(Hear.) He denied
that the Bill would be a boon to the landlords of
Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) They could not be too careful
with respect to right titles, because if they did not do so,
endless litigation would be the result. The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman they gave several technical and legal
grounds to show that the Bill would operate most injuri-
ously, if not ruinously, on the landed interest of Ireland.
He had the authority of Sir Edward Sugden for saying,
that proceeding by means of a bill instead of a petition,
as provided by this measure, were the most inexpensive
and conclusive.—(Cheers.) He felt it his duty to oppose
the Bill.
Mr. MONSELL said it would be a matter of sincere
regret if it went forth to the public that the sentiments
enunciated by the Hon. Gentleman who had just re-
sumed his seat were those entertained by the majority
of Irish Members—(Hear, hear)—because the Bill, he
sincerely believed, would be the means of mitigating
much of the misery that prevailed among the tenants on
encumbered estates in Ireland. When the House
considered the
_condition, the social position of Ire-
land, they would pause, he was sure, before they
threw out this Bill, which was looked to as their only
means of relief by the poor. If in other countries the
onus probandi rested with those who desired change, in
Ireland the onus probandi rested with those who wished
to preserve a system fraught with the greatest
misery. Having read the testimony of Mr.
Booth in support of his view, he proceeded
to say, if landlords and tenants knew their
interests and wished to promote their welfare, they
would agree in desiring such a remedy as this, in order
that the present system might be put an end to.—
(Hear, hear.) The Honourable and Learned Gentle-
man said such a measure could only be justified
by an " overwhelming necessity."—(Hear.) What
did he mean by such a statement? Surely an " over-
whelming necessity" existed for this measure at the pre-
sent moment—(Hear, hear)—for the state of things in
Ireland were such as to threaten a bloody revolution.
They had to consult the interests of the living rather
than those of the dead, or the indefinite wishes of pos-
terity.—(Hear, hear.) The landlord would derive little
advantage from the sale of his estate. He could not
commit any trickery in respect of it, neither could he
expend the money it might realise as he thought pro-
per, as it was to be paid into the Court of Chan-
cery, and appropriated to those who had the
greatest claims to the proceeds. He considered that the
selling of small portions would also tend to the
advantage of the country, because it was most essential
that a class of persons having an interest in the same
should be fostered.—(Hear.) He hoped the Govern-
ment would pass the measure with all convenient haste,
but not, however, without listening to all reasonable
amendments.
Sir GEORGE GREY hoped the House would
rise (the time being halt-past three) until five
o'clock, as the Speaker had been some time in the
chair and would most likely occupy it many hours after
the House resumed. He should on Monday mention a
day for proceeding with the Bill.
Mr. B. OSBORNE deprecated the speech of the
Honourable Baronet the Member for Clare (Sir Lucius
O'Brien), as a party " move" and quite foreign to the
subject before the House, as he had related anecdotes
to the House which had no relation to the subject
before it, and then concluded with an amendment. He
hoped the House would decide on that amendment
before they rose.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. GROGAN suggested that the Bill should be re-
ferred to a Committee upstairs, where all the minute
points in the measure could bo discussed.
Sir G. GREY hoped the House would consent to re-
lieve the Speaker. As he believed the Hon. Baronet
did not intend to proceed with his amendment, he hoped
he would withdraw it.—(No, no.) Well, ho could re-
new it before they went into Committee, if he thought
proper.
Sir L. O'BRIEN declined to withdraw his amend-
ment.—(Cries of " Adjourn," " Divide.")
Mr. HENLEY moved the adjournment of the debate.
The SPEAKER put the motion, and as there were a
great many " ayes," and a number of " noes," the gal-
leries were cleared for a division, but none took place.
The House then adjourned until Five o'clock.

the maintenance of this expensive Commis‘ion to he

justified, when there was nu view of giving it prac-
tical effect?—(Hear, hear.) This was a question of
economy; but he did not overlook the importance of
the duties to be discharged by the Commissioners, and
he fully agreed that such duties must not be intrusted
to inferior persons; but still the Right Hon. Gentleman
had not done justice to the functionaries who had served
under Lord Dalhousie, and who, like General Pasley
and Colonel Harness, were men of high eminence and
ability, and received high salaries. As regarded the en-
gineer officers, the secret of the charge appeared to be
this—that their pay was doubled in order to increase
their efficiency. As to the increase of railway business,
no doubt, as regarded the duties to be performed by cap-
tains of engineers, and as to the accumulation of a mass
of correspondence, there had been a great increase, but
as regarded difficult, delicate, and responsible functions,
there had been no increase at all, but, on the contrary, a
decrease, since the time when the duties of this board
were discharged by Lord Dalhousie with an establish-
ment costing the country me-third of the present. He
had read the report of the Commissioners and traced ma-
nifest indications of the difficulties which arose from

having been appointed to an office without their duties
having been defined beforehand. The Right Hon. Member
proceeded to ridicule the trifling nature of the details with
which the Commissioners swelled out their report, in-

stancing particularly a case on the 27th page of it, private
belonging to the Sappers and Miners having been, it
was alleged, overcharged for his luggage by a railway
company, and in which, after a gigantic effort, it had
been decided, with the aid of the law officers of the
Crown, whether or not twopence per ton per mile should
be charged. lie did not think that the weight attach-
ing to the recommendations of the Commissionthad in-
creased any more than the delicacy and difficulty of
their duties. He had never heard that Lord Dalhousie

had been assisted by incompetent men. In some few
conspicuous instances the report of that Noble Lord
might not have been attended to, but it should be re-
membered that he had had a great number of reports
to present. The reports certainly did not meet with
very general support, for many members of the Com-
mittee said they did not understand theta, and with

respect to the expenses of the Railway Board, every one
must concur with him in saying that they ought not to
pays 12,0001. a-year for, that which might be done
for 4,0001.
• Mr. R. V. SMITH rose amidst loud cries of '6 Di-
vide." He said it was not quite decorous for the Hon.
Member for Sunderland to raise a cry of " Divide,"
when he and the Hon. Members near him were known
to be deeply interested in railways. There was quite a
sufficient number of gentlemen in the immediate vicinity
of that Hon. Member to form an excellent provisional
committee. He admitted that there was not sufficient

mission.
Mr. LABOUCHERE would admit that it was the
duty of the House to economize the public money in
every way consistent with the due performance of the
public service. The present salaries and expenses of
the Railway Commissioners (after deducting the salary
of the Chief Commissioner, which office it was not
proposed to fill up), and including the contingent ex-
penses of the department, were 10,7001. He believed
the expenses incurred by the department of the Board
of Trade which had the superintendence of railways
was about 4,0001. per annum. But it was a great
mistake to suppose that if the House sent back the
railway business to the Board of Trade as a rail-
way board, it could be discharged at the same ex-
pense as formerly. The business had enormously
increased since that time in every way.
on account
of the great development of the railway system, and
of the expense which that development occasioned, but
still more on account of the additional functions which
Parliament -shad from time to time thrown upon the
Railway Commissioners, and which, of course, must be
performed by that board. His opinion, then, was, that
as a matter of economy the House would deceive them-
selves if they thought that a great saving would be
effected by abolishing this Commission and transferring
its duties back to the Board of Trade. The report of
the Railway Commissioners, which had been lately laid
upon the table, contained an account of the important
functions and duties which from time to time it had been
the pleasure of Parliament to throw upon that Commis-
sion, and it must be admitted upon a perusal of that re-
port that the addition of business to that which had
been transacted by the Board of Trade had been very
large. The Right Hon. Gentleman then, observing
that he was unwilling to weary the House with details,
read from the report several heads or items of rail,
way business under which the functions of the
Commissioners had been greatly increased since
the period when the duties were performed by
the Board of Trade. He observed that prior to 1843
there were only 1,952 miles of railway open in this
country, since which 3,860 miles had been opened, and
at the end of the year it might be expected there would
be a further addition of 1,200 miles. This great deve-
lopment of railways had thrown great labour and ea-
pense upon the Commission, besides those duties which
were connected with the opening of lines and of inspec-
tion. With respect to inquiry into cases of accident, he
had the satisfaction of stating that, partly on ing to the
useful suggestions which the Government had received
from various railway companies who had come forward
and met them in the frankest spirit, accidents upon rail-
ways had very greatly diminished—(hear)—that rail-
ways were safer than they were, and that the system
had worked well in this respect, as regarded the security
of the public when travelling. The heads of by-laws
and cheap trains had also caused much additional
business to the Commission. The Hon. Gentleman
had accused the commissioners of not having done
their duty in enforcing the provisions of the Rail-
way acts. Cases of that kind had come before
deem, and it had been considered that generally the best
course to pursue was one which by amicable adjust-
ment secured justice to the public, and avoided litigation
and dispute. A mast important question bad lately
arisen under this head with a powerful railway company,
and as it was now pending he would make no further
allusion to it, except to remark ;that the case had re-
ceived the most anxious attention, and that the Commis-
sioners were prepared to take whatever course the exi-
gency might require. He might add, that other arduous
duties had been thrown upon the Railway Commis-
sion by the numerous applications for extension of time.
His doubts as to the propriety of reverting to the old
system rested much more, however upon the nature or
quality of the business to be transacted by the Commis-
sion than upon the amount of it. The questions referred
to the Railway Department involved nice questions of
law and an immense amounteof property. This rendered
it highly important if the House chose to refer such
matters to a Government department, that that depart-
ment should be so constituted as to give,weight to its de-
cisions and carry with them the public respect.
The questions ought to be determined by men of
high station and of prominent and established cha-
racter ; for that was the only shield which a public
department charged with such duties could present
against the shafts of calumny which were too frequently
aimed against it. He attributed the failure of the Rail-
way Department of the Board of Trade, under Lord
Dalhousie, notwithstanding the great talents and energy
which the Noble Lord brought to bear upon it, to the
fact that he had the advice of persons who were perhaps
not exactly in the station or of that established and well
known character which ought to be possessed by those
who advised with a Minister of the Crown. It was of
the highest importance that a department to which such
functions were intrusted should be so composed that)
their decisions should convince Parliament and the
country, if not of the wisdom of those decisions, at least
of the perfect impartiality and independence of the
groundS upon which they were given. To do this it was
necessary that they should be assisted by eminent legal
ability, and that men of the station and reputation to
which he had just adverted should compose the
board. Be could not refer to the name of Sir Edward
Ryan without expressing his conviction that the House
and the public were largely indebted to that eminent
and Learned Gentleman for the assistance he had ren-
dered the board. It was a mistake to suppose, as had
been asserted, that the decisions of the Railway Com-
missioners had not been attended to by Committees of
that House, and he believed there was only one instance
in which a decision of the Committee had been de-
cidedly contravened. His opinion was that it would be
a very ill-advised step toiput an end to this Commission,
and to insist upon transferring the business back to the
Board of Trade. At the same time he admitted he
was not altogether satisfied with the state of the railway
business of the country even under this Commission.—
(Hear, hear.) Constituted as the Commission was, he
believed that its duties were well performed, and its
services useful ; yet it might be made more useful than
it now was. Other questions and subjects might be
brought before it, and he hoped to see its in-
fluence over railways graduallyextended. With respect to
the Tidal Harbours Commission, he agreed that it was
a question worthy of attention whether that Commission
might not be abolished, and its duties be discharged by
the Railway Commission, with the assistance of a single
officer from the Admiralty. All these subjects, how-
ever, were receiving the attentive consideration of a
Committee, the report from which would be shortly be-
fore the House, when it would become their duty to take
the whole matter into consideration, with a view of
making such ultimate arrangements as would promote
economy, and conduce to the public advantage. It
would now be premature to abolish the Commission and
insist that the Board of Trade should resume railway
functions, and he trusted the Hon. Gentleman would
leave the affair in the hands of the Government.
Mr. GLADSTONE would be brief in his remarks,
although the matter was important and concerned the
character of the House. The ground adopted now by the
Government was different from that they had before
taken. Then the complaint was, that the Commission
had been instituted at a great expense, and that it had
been held out that duties were to be provided for it by
Act of Parliament, but which duties were never created
at all. The Government had not, however, met the
motion of the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire with a direct
negative, but as a question of time, advising the House
to wait for a report, when they would be in a position to
come to a decision. The Railway Commissioners had
reported, and to what effect? Not in favour of itnpo-
sing these new duties upon them. The whole idea upon
which the Railway Commission had been founded had
utterly vanished into thin air; and it was evident no
notion was entertained of imposing upon the Commis-
sion those duties which had been intended to be per
formed when it was constituted, and without which
no one would have dreamed of appointing it at all.
The House was invited to leave the matter in the
hands of the Government, and a careful consideration
was promised; but that was not the way the Members of
Parliament could look their constituents in the face, at a
time when the vast expenses of the country and the ne-
cessity of retrenchment wore talked about.—(Hear, hear.)
Some pledge should be given of a clear intention to take
up the subject effectually. The Railway Commissioners
in their report had evidently, for all practical purposes,
abandoned the notion of their acquiring those extensive
duties for the performance of which they had been really
appointed. Upon the resignation of Mr. Strutt, it was
evident that there was no longer an intention on the
part of the Government to commit those duties ,to the
Commission, for Mr. Strutt himself had said that he
would not hold office without those functions, and his
abandonment of office marked to the House that .the
Government had no purpose of proposing to Parliament
a measure on a comprehensive basis. How then was

business to occupy the attention of the Railway Commis,
sion, but he contended that this was not the time for
introducing such a measure as the Bill of the Hon. Mem-
ber for Dorsetsbire. It would not have escaped the
recollection of the House that the Committee on the
miscellaneous estimates had considered the expenses of
the Railway Commission; had agreed to certain resolu-
tions regarding them, and not many days since they
had presented a report to the House on the subject;
still they had not yet before them the evidence either of
Mr. Strutt or Sir F. Smith; and he thought that they
ought not to decide so important a question as the pre-
sent till they were in possession of the information which
that evidence contained.
• Lord J. RUSSELL said that, before the House
divided, he wished to state how far he agreed with the
Honourable Member for Dorsetshire, by whom the
present motion was made; and how far he agreed
with the Right Honourable Gentleman the Mem-
ber for the University of Oxford. He quite
agreed that the Itailvtay Board had more persons
belonging to it with high salaries than was necessary
for the business to be performed; and unless some ar-
rangement could be adopted, by which other duties
might be assigned to them, he thought that a great
alteration must take place before the next session of
Parliament—an alteration, probably, by which that
board would be much reduced in numbers. But he did
not agree with the Hon. Gentleman opposite in think-
ing that the salaries of those who might be retained
ought to be reduced; he did not agree with him that low
salaries would ensure a good deportment, and he was
quite surprised to hear such a sentiment maintained. It
the Hon. Member did not wish for a useful and efficient
supervision, let him say so; that would be intelligible;
and then let him propose that the whole motion be left
in the hands of the House of Commons. That, at all
events, would be a better plan than to have a depart-
ment upon low salaries. The worst possible way would
be to have a numerous board with inferior salaries, for
that would be °Gring to the members of the Board a
temptation to leave the public service for other employ-
ment. There was a case which came under the notice
of the Government, in which the engineer quitted the
public service and went into that of a private company.
The case to which he alluded was Mr. Codrington's.
Then there was Mr. Laing, who put on his barrister's
gown, and found that he did better by following his
profession than by remaining in the public service.
Such examples as these caused it often to be said that it
was very bad economy to pay a judge less than a leading
barrister could obtain in his profession, for such a
practice led to the advancement of inferior lawyers to
the bench. If they were to have a railway board at all,
it would be better to have it at an expense of 3,0001. or
4,0001. a year, and get the business of the department
performed by men of station, who would be not likely to
quit public for private service. Having thus shortly
stated his opinion of the Bill, he should content
himself with repeating that it would be better
to have no board than a numerous department in-
sufficieritly paid.
Mr. BANKS, in explanation, said that what he pro-
posed to do was to repeal all the existing Acts, and then
leave the Noble Lord to bring in whatever Bill he
thought proper.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion
Against it

The SPEAKER resumed the Chair at a Quarter pas
Five o'clock.

LEGAL EDUCATION.
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON asked the Attorney-General
whether steps have been taken by her Majesty's Go-
vernment, or by the Inns of Court, or the King's Inn,
Dublin, to give effect to any of the recommendations
with respect to the improvement of legal education
contained in the report of the Select Committee on that
subject, presented 25th of August, 1846. Also, whether
it is intended to introduce any measure by which Irish
barristers may be authorised to practise in courts in
England, and English barristers in courts in Ireland,
in which they are now by law competent to preside, or
by which a reciprocity of practice in the profession in
both countries may be established.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that it was
not the intention of the Government to introduce any
measure on the subject, and that it was not a matter
which came within the province of the Government.
THE WEST INDIES.
Mr. HUME gave notice that he should to-morrow
ask the Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of the Colonies
whether any dispatches relating to the condition of the
West India Islands, and the number of labourers brought
from Africa in the course of the year, had been received
by the packet which had arrived to-day.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS.

Majority— —ll
INTERFERENCE WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Mr. URQUHART, pursuant to notice, moved " That
in the opinion of this House, interference in the internal
government of other countries is detrimental to the inte-
rests, and derogatory to the honour of this country, as
well as to the interests and honour of the countries in
behalf of which such intervention is assumed to be exer-
cised. That this practice of intervention has led to or
excused the increase of the military and naval establish-
ments, and thereby of the public expenditure, to the
great oppression of her Majesty's subjects, and par-
ticularly of • the class which depends on daily
labour for daily food." He contended that the Go-
vernment of this country ought to be very cautious how
they involved us in war, considering that we laboured
under the great disadvantage of possessing but very
insufficient means for carrying on hostilities. It was
also not to be forgotten that at the present moment the
House of Commons was almost overwhelinned with busi-
ness, and that business was now going on increasing
with an accelerated pace. The law and practice of Eng•
land was against any interference with the domestic
affairs of our neighbours, and, in his opinion, we ought
never to interfere with any questions, either of dynasty
or of constitution. He wished that an opportunity
might be afforded to the Noble Lord opposite to give the
House an explanation of the policy which he intended to
pursue, which he hoped would bo not altogether unin-
fluenced by the experience that he must have had of the
evils of intervention, at the same time that he might, on
the present occasion, be anticipated by a " count out."
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and, as
forty Members were not present, the House stands ad-
journed to to-morrow (this day).
The adjournment took place at a Quarter before Eight
o'clock.

Mr. COLVILE inquired whether it was the inten-
..on of the Right Honourable Baronet to bring in a
Bill in the ensuing session relating to turnpike trusts;
and if not, whether he would have any objection to
introduce any clause in the general Turnpike Act to re-
lieve particular districts, one of which he mentioned,
from the stringent operations of the Act?
Sir G. GREY had intended to introduce a measure
in the present session, but the vast amount of other and
more urgent business had prevented him from doing so.
He should be sorry to give a decided opinion with re-
spect to any particular district; but, at the same time,
he should be extremely happy to consider any parti-
cular case that might be laid before him.
THE KAFIR WAR.
Mr. V. SMITH asked the Hen. Gentleman the Under
Secretary for the Colonies whether there had been re-
ceived, and if so, whether he was prepared to lay upon
the table, any report from the Cape of Good Hope re-
lative to the expenses of the Kafir war; and also whe-
ther there had been received a report on the general
state of the Cape of Good Hope, said to have been pre-
pared by Sir Henry Pottinger, the late Governor, prior
to his proceeding to the seat of his Government at
Madras?
Mr. HAWES said, in reply to the first part of the
question, he hoped to be able to lay the report on the
table in a very short time. With regard to the second
question, he had not received any such report as that
stated.

THE " COUNT OUT" LAST NIGHT.
The following Members were present when the House
was counted out last night, 10 of the 29 present being
members of the Government:—
Russell, Lord J. Frewen, C. H.
Baines, M. Shell, R. L.
Palmerston, Lord Galway, Lord
Hill, Lord Marcus Herbert, Henry
Smith, J. B. Humphery, Alderman
Baring, Sir F. T. Stuart, Lord D.
Denison, J. E. Cowper, Hon. W.
Thompson, Colonel Keogh, William
Milnes, R. M. Bellew, R. M.
Somerville, Sir W. Romilly, Sir.J.
Rich, Henry Dunne, Colonel
Brotherton, J. Grey, R. W.
Lewis, George C. Hume, J.
Hudson, George Urquhart, D.
Plowden, .W. 11. C.

THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.
Mr. BANKES then rose to ask for leave to intro-
duce a Bill to abolish the Railway Commission Act. One
of the Ministers had stated that the House of Com-
mons was entirely to blame for all the extravagance
into which the Government had been driven. It this
were so, the time surely had arrived when it was in-
cumbent upon the House of Commons to redeem its
character in this respect ; if so, the House of Commons
should exercise a greater degree of vigilance than it had
hitherto done. Lie did not admit the charge on the
broad ground on which it had been made. The Go-
vernment were responsible for adopting the sug-
gestions that were made to them. It was gene-
rally admitted that the railway board had not
given satisfaction to the public and railway companies.
It was necessary that he should direct the attention of
the House to the manner in which Government had ex-
ercised its authority in reference to raihVays. The
power was first given to them in 1839, and the Act giving
the power remained in force down to 1844, when it was
repealed, and another Act passed establishing a railway
department of the Board of Trade. From 1839 to 1844
the cost to the country of Government interference
in railway matters was only 1,3701. ; from 1844 to 1846
it was 3,3601. In August, 1846, an Act was smuggled
through Parliament almost without discussion creating
the Railway Commission, and it appeared that the ex-
pense of that Commission from the period of its first
existence amounted to no less a sum than
17,0001. He had stated, when he had before brought
the subject before the House, that this charge of 17,000!.
was for a year and a quarter; but he had been corrected
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that it was for a
year and five months. Now, he found that the Right
Hon. Gentleman was in error, as the commissioners had
not entered into office until the 9th of November, so that
it was, in fact, for a year and two months that the
charge was made. The Act passed on the 28th of
August, and the commissioners stated in their report
that they entered upon the duties of' their office on the
9th of November, 1846. The charge for the Railway
Commission for the present year was 13,5221. The
Noble Lord had said, as he understood him, that it was
not his intention to fill up the office of Chief Railway
Commissioner now, but he had not engaged not to do so
at some future time.
Lard J. RISSELL had said that he should not fill up
the office, and that he should not ask for any salary on
account of the office.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.
NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE

TUESDAY, JULY 4.
The following Bills are ordered to be read a third
time on Thursday, July 6:—
Leith Municipality and Police Trusts, Markets, Paving,
and Sanitary Improvement.
Monkland and Kirkintilloch, Ballochney and Slamaanan
Railways (Amalgamation or Sale or Lease, and
Amendment or Repeal of Acts).
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midlands Junction

Railway Deviation and Branches.
Royston and Kitchen Railway (Extension to Cambridge
and Branches).

NARRow EscAPE.—Shortly
after two o'clock
yesterday afternoon, the Lalla Rookh, Putney steam-
boat, was alongside Blackfriars pier taking in passengers
at which time the Waterman No. 9 also arrived. In en-
deavouring to reach the pier the latter ran against the
former vessel, slightly causing her to lurch, when a re-
spectably-dressed man, about 60 years of age, who was
leaning against the hand-rail at the head of the Putney
steamer, was, by the jerk, instantly precipitated into the
water. The tide running towards Westminster he floated
with the stream till he was opposite the gas-works on
the western side of Blackfriars-bridge, when he was
picked up by a wherry, which had put off to his assist-
ance, apparently having received no other injury than
the ducking, as he was able to walk home.
THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND HIS CREDITORS.
—On Monday last a case was to have been heard in one
of the courts of law in London between the claimants
to the personal property of his Grace the Duke of Buck-
ingham at Stowe. The dispute was between the mort-
gagees of the property and certain execution creditors,
for whom the property was held by the late sheriff of
this county. Several witnesses from Aylesbury and the
neighbourhood were subpasnaed, but their attendance
was not required, in consequence of the execution
creditors withdrawing their claim. It is announced that
all the valuable effects at Stowe will be advertised for
sale forthwith.—Bucks Advertiser.
The Monkey steam-vessel proceeded to Chatham on
Saturday with Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer,
K.C.H., and returned in the evening.

Mr. BANKES resumed—He had brought the matter
before the House six weeks ago, and his motion had been
defeated, but only by a small majority. The amount, it
was true, was not large, but the question was valuable as
one of economy. It had been said that the session was
nearly over, and that the House had done nothing. But
as far as it had been in the power of that side of the
House, they had impressed upon the Government the

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY
_EVENING-, JULY 5, 1848

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
TUESDAY, JULY 4.
RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Motion made, and Question put, " That leave be given
to bring in a Bill to repeal the Railway Commission
Act." The House divided:—
MINORITY—AYES, 62.
Anstey, Thomas C. Ellice, Edward Meux, Sir Henry
Baillie, H. J. Fitzgerald, R. A. Mullings, J. R.
Beckett, W. Forbes, William Neeld, Joseph
Bentinck, Lord G. Galway, Viscount Newdegate, N.
Beresford, William Gaskell, J. M. Plowden, W. H.
Berkeley, Captain Gladstone, W. E. Pugh. David
Blackstone, W. S. Glyn, George Carr Sandars, George
Boldero, Henry Greene, John Sibthorp, Colonel
Buck, L. W. Hall, Colonel Sidney, Alderman
Buller, Sir J. Y. Heald, James Smyth, John G.
Cardwell, Edward Henley, J. W. Stafford, Augustus
Chaplin,,W. J. Herbert, Sidney Stephenson, Robert
Christy, Samuel Hervey, Lord A. Tyrrell, Sir J.
Clive, Henry B. Ilildyard, T. B. Urquhart, David
Cobbold, John C. Hodgson, W. N. Vyse, H.
Colvile, C. R. Hudson, George ' Waddinzton, David
Compton, H. C. Humphery, Ald. Westhead, J. P.
Disraeli, B. Ingestre, Viscount Williams, John
Duncan, Viscount Keogh, William
Duncombe, 0. Lincoln, Earl of
Duacult, John Locke, Joseph
Edwards,.Henry Mackenzie, W. F.

TELLERS.

Bankes, G.

Spooner, Richard

MAJORITY-NOES, 73.

Abdy,:T. N. Forster, M. Pechell, Captain
Anson, Colonel Grey, Sir George Rice, E. R.
Baines, M. T. Grey, It. W. Rich, Henry
Baring, Sir F. T. Hawes, Benjamin Robartes, T. J.
Bellew, It. M. Heneage, Edward Russell, Lord John
Berkeley, Captain Henry, Alexander Russell, F. C. H.
Boyle, Colonel Herbert, 11. A. Rutherfurd, A.
Brotherton, J. Heywood, James Shelburne, Earl of
Buller, Charles Hobhouse, T. B. Slaney, Robert A.
Butler. P. S.: Jervis, Sir John Smith, R. V.
Caulfield, Colonel Labouchere, Henry Smith, J. Benjamin
Clay, James Lascelles, W. S. Somerville. Sir W.
Clements, Charles Lewis, G. C. Stanstield, W. R. C.
Court•nay, Lord Marshall, J. G. Tenison, E. K.
Cowper, W. F. Martin, John Thompson, Colonel
Craig, W. G. Maule, Fox Townshend, Captain
Davie, Sir Henry Morpeth, Viscount Ward, R. G.
Deedes, W. Morison, Sir W. Watkins, Colonel
Denison, J. E. Morris, David Wilson, James"
Dundas, Admiral Mostyu, E. Wood, Sir Charles
Ebrington, Viscount Mulgrave, Earl Wyvill, Marmadtike
Elliot, J. E. Ogle, S. C.
Evans, William Ord, W. TELLERS.
Fagan, William Paget, Lord Clarence Tufnell, Henry
Ferguson, Sir R. Parker, John Hill, Lord Marcus
Fitzpatrick, J. W. Patten, J. W.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, July 4.
(Trial at bar, before the full Court and a Special Jury.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. HALLETT.

This was a trial at bar to try the right of the defend-
ant to enclose an estate near to Epping Forest. It ap-
peared from the evidence that a few years ago the
defendant bought a freehold estate of 73 acres of arable
and woodland, on the borders of Waltham Forest, and
subsequently he enclosed the wood portion of the estate.
The Woods and Forests, however, interfered to prevent
the enclosure being completed, resting their right to do
so on the ground that the wood was a portion of Walt-
ham Forest, but the defendant disputed the title of
the Crown, and the present trial was had for the pur-
pose of deciding the question.
The evidence adduced proved beyond all doubt that
the land formed part of the forest up to the time of the
defendant taking possession, and he therefore consented
to allow a verdict to be entered for the Crown.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD' COURT.
(Before the RECORDRR.)
Charles Sully, an old man, surrendered to answer a
charge of unlawfully publishing a libel.
Mr. Ballantine prosecuted ; Mr. Parry appeared for
the defendant.

The LEARNED COUNSEL, in opening the case, said,
the prosecutor of this indictment was a gentleman
named Clutf, who resided in Spital-square, where he
carried on an extensive establishment as a silk weaver,
and was possessed of considerable property which he
had amassed by his own industry and exertions. Some
persons in the neighbourhood had, however, thought
proper to cause a pamphlet to be published, reflecting
upon the character of the prosecutor, and casting im-
putations upon him which it was impossible for him to
pass over unnoticed. The Learned Counsel then read
some extracts from the pamphlet in question, which was
entitled, "A Tale of the Nineteenth Century: or Paddy
Cluff, the Bane of Commerce and the Weaver's Curse;"
and appeared principally to consist of a tirade of abuse,
among other things, charging the prosecutor with hav-
ing formerly kept a " dolly " shop, and receiving
stolen property of every description ; and alleging
that this was the source of his present prosperity.
Mr. Ballantine said, that the present defendant had
merely published one of the pamphlets, and, taking into
consideration his age, there was no desire to inflict
punishment upon him; but the object of the present
prosecution was to teach him and other persons similarly
situated that they could not be the means of publishing
defamatory statements of this description with impunity.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Mr. PARRY then applied for the costs of the defendant,
and he said that by the Act of Parliament sth and 6th
Victoria, defendants who were acquitted upon a charge
of this description were entitled to their costs from the
prosecutor.
Mr. BALLANYINE said, that if he had been aware such
a course would have been taken, he should have con-
ducted the case in a different manner. _

The RECORDER, upon referring to the statute, said, it
appeared to him that the parties were in a similar posi-
tion with regard to costs as it the cause had been tried
at Nisi Prius, the costs being allowed to those who
obtained the verdict. He should have declined to make
any order for costs even had it been in his power to do
so; but he could not help expressing his opinion that it
was rather an ungracious application on the part of the
defendant for costs under the circumstances.

NEW COURT.
(Before the COMMON SERGEANT.)
John Atkins, 28, barman, John Smith, 22, and Caroline
Smith, 21, were indicted for unlawfully uttering coun-
terfeit coin.
Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution; Mr. Robinson
defended the two Smiths.

It appeared that the prisoners, all of whom were very
well dressed, drove up to the door of the Camden Arms,
near Kensington turnpike, on the Cup day of Ascot
Races, and called for some liquor, tendering in payment
a bad half-crown, and receiving the change. The pri-
soners then, it appeared, drove lower down the road,
and at another public-house, called the Marquis of Gran
by, they succeeded in Passing a counterfeit crown-piece
in the same manner. Thence they proceeded to the
Red Cow at Hammersmith, and to the Crown at
Chiswick, at which latter house Atkins attempted to
pass a counterfeit crown-piece, but the fraud was dis-
covered, and he then stated that he had received the
bad coin from a toll-taker on the road. He was de-
tained, and the other prisoners were allowed to depart;
but upon the police receiving information of their
conduct along the road they were pursued and taken
into custody- at Bedfont, when they told the same story
as the other prisoner, Atkins, and asserted that they
had received the counterfeit coin at the different toll-
houses as they passed along. 17s. in good silver were
found in their possession.
Mr. Powell, the Inspector to the Mint, proved that
the whole of the pieces passed by the prisoners were
counterfeit, and he said that the crown pieces were of a
very superior description, and were all from the same
mould.
The jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were
sentenced to be kept to hard labour for nine months.
William Shells, 50, was indicted for feloniously. stealing
a number of bank-notes and sovereigns, amounting alto-
gether to the sum of 2531., the moneys of Samuel
Charles Whitbread and others.

The prisoner pleaded Guilty.
The CommoN-Sen.rEaNT sentenced the prisoner, who
had been before convicted of felony, to be transported for
ten years.
Sarah Poole, 28, was then charged with feloniously
receiving part of the money stolen by the last prisoner;
but as
Mr. BODKIN declined to offer any evidence in support
of the charge,
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
The grand jury returned a true bill against George
John Heteson, for the murder of William Henry Wood-
house, in Coldbath-fields Prison.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
Charles Samuel Whitbread Eicke, a clerk in the
Money-order-office, at St. Martin's-le-Grand, was sum-
moned before Alderman Salomons, for unlawfully de-
facing a half-sovereign.
A clerk from the office of Mr. Peacock, the solicitor
to the Post-office, attended to watch the proceedings.
Thomas Walsh, a brass-finisher, living in Halfmoon-
passage, Aldersgate-street, stated that, about ten o'clock
on Friday morning last he tendered one sovereign and
one half-sovereign, to be forwarded to Margate. The
defendant took the money, and, after putting it into the
scales, said it was full weight, but that it was lead, and
he then handed it to some other clerks for their inspec-
tion. They returned it to Mr. Eicke, who at once took
up a ruler and bent it nearly double, after which he
returned it to witness. He told Mr. Eicke not to
deface it, as he would not be able to pass it elsewhere,
but he persisted in doing so. When the half-sove-
reign was returned to him he immediately went to two
places, and after its being filed twice and weighed the
parties declared that it was good gold, and very little
short of the proper weight, as after the two filings it was
only 3d. deficient in value. He thereupon went back to
the office, but they would give him no remedy, in con-
sequence of which he summoned the defendant to this
Court. _ _ _

Alderman SALOMONS asked Mr. Peacock's clerk if he
had any questions to ask the witness.
The clerk replied that he had not, as the chief point
was whether the half sovereign was full weight when
presented. He did not deny now that it was gold.
Joseph Wagstaff deposed to seeing the defendant
double the halt-sovereign with the ruler.
John Sargeaut proved that he saw it weighed at Mr.
Scales, in Barbican, and that it was then rather light.
He went back with the complainant to ascertain the
name of the clerk, but it was refused.
Mr. Peacock's clerk said that it was a general order
at the Post-office to give no names.
Alderman SALOMONS asked the clerk what was his
defence ? _ _ _

The clerk replied that he intended to call a witness to
prove that it was light when tendered.
Richard Jude, also a clerk in the same office, said,
that on the defendant giving the half-sovereig❑ to him
for the purpose of examination, he came to the conclu-
sion that it was not good, as the sound was bad, and it
did not look well. He placed it in the scale and found
it was light. It was very soft, and by pressing it be-
tween the thumb and finger it might have easily been
bent,

AliflllllPll S4l:OlfON9 nsked the ritnm if it Wag the
practice at his office to deface coins that were presented?
—He replied it was when bad money w,;.s tendered.
The clerk from Mr. Peacock's office said, that under
the Act of Parliament 2d William IV., clause 13, any

person was empowered to cut, br,ak, or deface any coin
that shall appear to have been diminished otherwise than
by reasonable wearing, and that the person tendering

:he same shall be at the loss.

Alderman SALOMONS observed, that the act also fur-
ther stated, "that if the same was of due weight and
appeared to be lawful coin, then the party so cutting or
defacing the same is required to receive the same at the
rate it was coined for, and in case of dispute it. was
competent for the 'parties to go before any justice of the
peace, who was empowered to settle the affair.
Robert Tyrrel, a constable at the Money Order-office,
deposed to the complainant returning a sec,nd time to
the office, when he saw it placed in the defendant's scales,
and he observed it was considerably lighter. He told
the complainant that if money was light it was the cus-
tom to deface it, and that if he had gone to the Bank of
England they would have done the same, and he could
have obtained no redress.

Alderman SALOMONS thought it a hard case, and
ordered a pair of scales to be brought ; and on the coin
in dispute being weighed it scarcely turned the balance.
The defendant himself weighed it.
Alderman SALOMONS said, that he much doubted the
power of the Yost-office to deface the coin of the realm;
but in the present instance he must state that there was

a little sharp practice in the office, particularly when,
even after the filings had taken place, the deficiency was
so slight that it would barely turn the beam. He had,
therefore, come to the conclusion that it was of due

weight when presented by the complainant. The clerk

was wrong, and he hoped that he would take his advice
and give a full-weighted half-,sovereign in exchange for
the one produced.
The defendant, after speaking to Mr. Peacock's clerk,
at once consented to give Mr. Walsh another, and to

pay the costs; after which all the parties left the Court.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

William Cameron, coachman to Sir If. W. Barron, was
brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with having as-
saulted police-constable Stride, 83, while in the execu-
tion of his duty.
The constable said he was on duty at No. 12, Lower
Grosvenor-street, where there was a party, and his busi-
ness was to keep order and seo that the carriages con-
formed to the rules which had been laid down by the
proper authorities. Tho defendant was called and he
drove up to the door, but word was passed out that his
master was not ready. The defendant kept his place
and would not make way for other carriages, and when
told to go on by witness he replied he would see him
d—d, and then began flogging him with his whip.
Thomas Mould confirmed this statement, and said
while assisting to take the prisoner into custody he was
struck a violent blow on the mouth.

Mr. BINGHAM would not inflict a fine, but sent the
defendant to prison for 14 days.
MAR YLEBOPrE.
William Davidson, a man who has been repeatedly
convicted for assaults upon policemen and other persons,
was placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged
with having committed a most brutal and savage out-
rage upon police-constable Clouting, 166 D, who, in
consequence of the injury inflicted upon him, has ever
since the occurrence, which took place upwards of a
week ago, been incapable of doing duty.
It appeared that on the 27th ult, the prisoner was
fighting in Salisbury-street, Portman-market, and that
on his being taken into custody, owing to his noisy
behaviour and refusing to go away, he struck the officer
a tremendous blow with his fist, and nearly strangled
him by thrusting his right hand between his (the offi-
cer's) stock and his throat; in addition to which, he
kicked him with all his force in the lower part of the
stomach. The ruffianly fellow was at length secured,
principally through the assistance of Mr. Alderson,
landlord of the Royal Champion, and, atter much re-
sistance, he was conveyed to the station-house.
He was fined in the full penalty of 5/, ; in default of
payment, two months' imprisonment.
WORSHIP-STREET.
Yesterday Samuel Watchman, alias Captain Watch-
man, an elderly man of about 60 years of age, was
placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, charged with ob.
taiuing various sums of money by means of false and
fraudulent representations.
The prisoner had been several times remanded, and
at the former examinations three charges were gone
into against him—the first preferred by a coffeehouse-
keeper in Bishopagate, and the others by victuallers at
Whitechapel, from each of whom he had obtained
money upon the representation that he would shortly be
in possession of a third share of an estate worth
$75,0001., placed in the hands of four town bankers,
whose names ha gave, but where, upon making inquiries
since he has been in custody, it has been ascertained
that his statement was an entire fabrication. It is ne
cessary, also, to mention that at the house of each of the
persons he had so duped he was accompanied by a well-
dressed and very good-looking young-woman, whom he
passed off to all persons who had communication with
him as his wife.
Mr. James Balls, a tailor, of Ipswich, now presented
himself, and complained that he had been imposed upon
by the prisoner in a manner which was marked by pe-
culiar treachery and turpitude. This witness stated
that the prisoner was introduced to him about a twelve-
month ago as a Captain Watchman, and told him that he
was shortly to come into the enormous fortune he had
described to the prosecutors in the other cases, but that
he was then unfortunately involved in some embarrass-
ment. His manners were so plausible and frank that he
was induced, without hesitation, to receive him into his
house, where he was treated with great hospitality and
kindness until a short time since, when he abruptly
started for London. with the avowed intention of taking
possession of his property. During the time of his stay
with him, numerous letters relating to the money, and
signed " Ulysses Walker," arrived at the house for the
prisoner, who explained to him that the reversionary
interest in the estate had originally devolved upon
his correspondent Ulysses Walker, his sister Pene-
lope, and her brother Zenophon Walker, but that
but that the latter had recently died, and they had there-
fore determined to invest him with the share which
had elapsed, as a recompense for important services he
had rendered the family, and both of them would post-
pone their intended marriages until the division of pro-
perty could be effected. Soon after the prisoner reached
London he transmitted him a letter, in which he ex-
pressed his intention to appoint the witness his steward,
and followed this up by several others, strongly urging
him to send his wife up to town, as he; was anxious to
introduce her to Miss Penelope Walker, who was in
immediate want of a companion, and that when the
witness found it convenient to join her they should both
be handsomely provided for as hang as they lived. Theser
repeated solicitations so convinced him of the prisoner
sincerity, that he sent his wife up to London, under the
care of a female friend and her father, to meet the pri-
soner; but he was afterwards much surprised at finding
that no notice whatever was taken by her of any of his
letters, and he remained in most painful suspense as to
her safety, until, happening to take up a newspaper, he
was thunderstruck at seeing art account of the prisoner's
examination, in which it was conclusively shown that
his wife had fallen a victim to the prisoner's artifices,
and had been some time living under his protection. The
witness added, that as soon as the dreadful fact reached
him, he hurried up to town and had an interview with
his wife, from whom he learned that none of his letters
had ever reached her, and must have been intercepted
by the prisoner to promote his infamous designs upon
her; and the mental suffering to which he had thus been
subjected, in addition to the pecuniary losses he had
sustained through the prisoner's rascality had had such
an effect upon him that he had been compelled to
abandon his business, and give up everything, and was
now reduced to both want and wretchedness.
Inspector Scott produced a letter he had received that
morning from Mr. Hutchinson, au overseer at Ipswich,
which stated that, so far from the prisoner being con-
nected with any such wealthy persons as he had repre-
sented, he had occupied a house rated at Si. per annum
there, for which he had been twice excused payment of
his rates on the ground of poverty, and that he was a
married man, with a wife and three children.
The prisoner still persisted in the truth of his assers
lions, and, as he had done at each previous examination,
asked the magistrate to indulge him with another week's
remand to establish them; but
Mr. Hamm'. said he had had opportunity enough to
do so already, if they had any existence in reality, and
he should therefore at once order the depositions to be
taken, and commit him fur trial upon three of the charges
gone into.
The ;prisoner then asked to be allowed to find bail,
which was granted, but, as before, he was unable to pro-
cure it, and in default was carried off in the van.

James Johnson, a Swede, Charles Jarvis, and John
Andrew Marion, were brought before Mr. Ballautine, on
remand, charged with stealing 180 dollars, the monies
of Johann Hurting, a German farmer.
Mr. BALLANTINE would leave a jury to say whether
one or all of the prisoners were guilty or innocent. and
should therefore commit them to the Maidstone assizes
for trial.
Mr. Pelham hoped bail would be taken for Mr. Jarvis.
There were gentlemen present who would enter into
sureties to any amount.
Mr. Humphreys made a similar application for Marion.
Mr. BALLANTINE would consider of the proposition to
bail the prisoners Jarvis and Marion, and give his de-
cision to-morrow (this day), but he should not take bail
for Johnson. He ordered the depositions to be taken,
and committed the prisoners.

•
[Alsv EnTisEmENT •] —A WONDERFUL CURE OF
AN ERUPTION IN THE FACE BY HOLLOWAY'S OINT-
MENT. - The editor of the Guernsey' Sun,
publishes in his paper, of the 20th of February,
a most extraordinary cure which he wit-
nessed by the use of Holloway's Ointment, in the ease
of a child whose face was entirely covered with scabs.
By his recommendation, the parents of the child tried
this invaluable remedy, and in the space of one week,
to the astonishment of every one, the face was perfectly
healed. This ointment is peculiarly adapted for the
cure of burns, scalds, scurvy, and every variety of skin
disease. Also for old wounds and scrofula, cancers,
bad breasts, and sore legs. Sold by all druggists, and
at Professor Holloway's Establishment, No. 244, Strand,
London.
TnE N EW HOUSES OF VARLIAMENT.-011 Monday
the last portion of the old House of Commons called the
Speaker's house, the adjoining committee rooms, and
those forming the centre of the cloisters were being re-
moved. The entrance•hall to the new House of Com-
mons and the western window to Westminster-hall have
attained their elevation, and are rapidly approaching
completion. The new House of Commons, it is now
stated, will positively be ready for Members next session.
Orders have been issued for the removal forthwith of all.
the temporary erections at the east entrance to West-
naittster-ho,ll.