The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 11, 1848.

FRANCE.

M[The following appeared in our Third Edition o
ast night]:—

Every day and night conflicts take place in the
wood of Romainville between refugee insurgents and
the National Guards. Last Friday six National
Guards and a considerable number of insurgents are
said to have fallen.

The state of siege, which is somewhat relaxed in
Paris, continues to be strictly maintained in the
Banlieue, more particularly at Belleville and its
neighbourhood. The National Guard of Belleville
was disarmed several days ago, but 4,000 muskets
are still unlawfully detained by some of the inha-
bitants, who, it is useless to say, are believed to
have taken an active part in the insurrection.
The Mayor of Paris assembled the mayors of the
different arrondissements of that capital on Friday,
to inform them of the measures he had adopted
for the disarmament and re•organization of the
National Guard, and the distribution of relief to
distressed families. The disarmament of the National
Guards of the Bth, 9th, and 12th arrondissements,
whose dissolution had been decreed, was proceeding
satisfactorily. It was complete in the 9th, where
7,500 muskets had been surrendered. In the Bth,
considerable depots of arms had been discovered ;
but several portions of the arrondissement had not
been completely searched, and required a re-exami-
nation. In the 12th district, a greater quantity
of arms than had been originally distributed
were seized. In the nine other legions the disarma-
ment was partial, 27 companies only having been
dissolved. Many muskets were found in the wells,
garrets, cellars, and in the Canal of St. Martin.
The operation once terminated, the Government
was to proceed to re-organize the National Guard,
so that the civic militia, devoted, by its very institu-
tion, to the maintenance of order, the defence of the
Itepublic and the laws, shall not be divided into two
hostile camps, as it was in June last, and provide
soldiers for the insurrection. All citizens
living in furnished lodgings, or residing tem-
porarily in the arrondissement, hereafter will not
be admitted to serve in the ranks of the
National Guard. Relief continued to be distributed
to the unemployed workmen, through the medium of
agents, who did not belong to the national workshops.
That relief was to be merely temporary, until the
resumption of labour. M. MAREAST, in conclusion,
announced the proximate adoption of measures for
encouraging industry and relieving the capital from
the presence of its superabundant labouring population

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, July 10.

(Sittings at Nisi Prius, Guildhall, before M. Justice
WILLIAMS,and Special and Common Juries.)

One of the two special jury cases in to-day's list was
postponed, and the common jury causes tried were de-
void of any general interest.

GRAHAM V. COX AND OTHERS.

The plaintiff in this case sued as the official assignee
of the provisionally registered Tring, Reading, and Ba-
singstoke Railway Company, which had been dissolved
under Lord Dalhousie's Act, the 9 and 10 Vict., cap.
28, and the defendants were Messrs. Cox and Co., of
Throgmorton•street, brokers. The action was brought
to recover 6301., money alleged to have been advanced by
the company to the defendants, with interest.
Mr. Sergeant Byles, Mr. Sergeant Dowling, and Mr.
Bramwell conducted the plaintiff's case; `and Mr. Ser-
geant Channell and Mr. Willes that of the defendant.
The object of the company, it appeared, had been to
connect the London and Birmingham, the Great Wes-
tern, and the South-Western Railways, and the proposed
capital, as stated in the registered prospectus, was
700,000 L, in 14,000 shares of 501. each. The deposit of
five guineas a share had, it appeared, been paid up on
6,370 shares, and the company consequently bad a large
sum standing to their credit at the Commercial Bank,
and it had been resolved by the provisional committee,
in October, 1845, to place the surplus sum, above 5,000 L,
at interest. In pursuance of that resolution, as one of
the committee in his evidence said he had understood, a
cheque was drawn by three of the directors and the
secretary of the company, which cheque appeared to
have been paid into the defendant's bankers. To prove
the nature of the advance, further evidence was given of
a letter written by the defendant to the company's soli-
citor in September, 1845, in which, on behalf of certain
persons whose shares were held as a security for money
advanced, he begged that the loan might be continued.
The existence of the company had been put an end to at
a meeting of the scripholders, convened under the 9th
and 10th Vict., cap. 28, and the subsequent fiat and pro-
ceedings in bankruptcy against the company, for the
obtaining of which the previous dissolution had been
resolved upon, were put in evidence under the 7th and
Bth Vict., cap. 111, sec. 11, incorporated into Lord Dal-
housie's Act, together with the Gazette of Sept. 15, 1846
—made evidence under the latter Act—to prove what
had taken place at the meeting for the purpose of disso-
lution.

At the close of the plaintiff's case a number of objec-
tions were raised by the defendants to the plaintiff's
right to recover, which led to
Mr. Justice WILLIAMS saying that, in his opinion, the
company could not have sued for the present claim before
bankruptcy, for a company only provisionally registered
had no power to make a loan such as the present claim
was contended to be, and if so, then the plaintiff, who
only represented the company, could not recover. That
being his opinion, it became unnecessary to go into the
question of whether or not there had been a loan in fact.
The result was, that the plaintiff elected to be non-
suited, it being agreed that should the Court above de-
cide otherwise, and think there was sufficient evidence
of the material issues in favour of the plaintiff, a verdict
should be entered for the sum claimed.

THE CHARTIST TRIALS.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
• TRIAL OF ERNEST JONES.
Mr. Sergeant WILKINs (in continuation of our After-
noon Edition of yesterday), having adverted to the open-
ing speech of Sharpe at the meeting at Bonnor's Fields,
which he contended was not seditious, the Learned
Sergeant then proceeded to address himself to the speech
which Jones was indicted with uttering. He recom-
mended the people to organize and form wardmotes and
class leaders, as the best means of accomplishing the
object they had in view, but there was nothing whatever
of a seditious nature in that recommendation. What
systems of organization were more perfect than that es-
tablished by John Wesley, for the regulation of the Wes-
leyan Methodists, and that by which the Anti Corn-law
League were enrolled to obtain their end? The Learned
Sergeant having referred to that part of the speech in
which Jones congratulated the people upon the proba-
bility of a revolution in Ireland, proceeded to uphold the
doctrine that when men were convinced that a revolution
was necessary to the well-being of the community, it
was their duty to advocate and forward it, quoting in
support of his opinion, Milton, Locke, Bolingbroke, Paley,
Hume, and Russell's " History of Modern Europe."
Jones's speech concluded by a foolish observation, that if
the people organized they would soon see the green flag
floating over Downing-street and St. Stephen's, and
would be able to bring back Frost and Williams to this
country, and send Lord John Russell and Earl Grey
to occupy their places. The jury should, however,
look upon that as a mere effervescent piece of oratory,
and recollect at the same time the saying of an eminent
man, that liberty of speech was the safety-valve of our
constitution. The case was not so much a question
between Ernest Jones and the Crown as one involving
the rights, privileges, and happiness of a people—in-
volving the right of public speaking, of giving
expression to our feelings, and of criticising
the acts of the Government—a right which
was the salvation of our country, had made it what it
was, and which they would preserve entire, and let no
human being infringe it, having reference to their chil-
dren's children, the security of the Throne, and every-
thing which they held sacred and dear. If, after the
address of the Attorney-General and the summing up
of the Learned Judge, any juryman remained uncon-
vinced, it was his sacred duty to hold out until his
tongue failed him rather than return a verdict of guilty
against the prisoner.
The Learned ATTORNEY-GENERAL concluded a most
admirable and able reply at ten minutes past four
o'clock.
Lord Chief Justice WILDE summed up with great
particularity, occupying no less than an hour and a half.
The jury, after a short consultation, then wished to
retire, and at a quarter to six o'clock they left the box
to consider their verdict, and returned at six o'clock,
when, having answered to their names,
The Clerk of the Arraigns said—Gentlemen, are you
all agreed ?
Foreman—We are.
The Clerk of the Arraigns—Do you find the defendant
Ernest Charles Jones guilty or not guilty ?
Foreman—Guilty of all the counts except the last,
that of riot.
Mr. Jones was then taken into custody of the Governor
of Newgate, and the Court adjourned for half an hour.
SENTENCES ON THE PRISONERS.
During the interval of the adjournment, the Court
became considerably crowded, and the utmost interest
appeared to be manifested to hear the sentences to be
passed on the prisoners.
The Lord Chief Justice Wilde entered the court at
five minutes before seven o'clock, when the prisoners
Jones, Fussell, Vernon, Williams, Sharpe, and Looney
were placed at the bar, when
The CHIEF JUSTICE, addressing them, said they had
all been severally convicted of misdemeanour, some of
them for sedition, others for attending an unlawful meet-
ing and sedition; and Williams had, in addition, been
convicted of riot; but in that case, as the person who was
tried with him for an offence arising out of the same
transaction, and he was acquitted of the riot, which
probably would have been the case with him if he had
not pleaded guilty, the Attorney-General had requested
that judgment might not be passed upon the count
charging him with riot. The offences of the whole of
them partook of one common character. Under pre-
tence of exercising the most valuable right that an
Englishman could possess, that of public discussion,
they had made it a pretext for uttering seditious and
inflammatory speeches, for the purpose of exciting dis-
affection in the minds of their hearers, and stirring
them up to oppose the authorities of the country, and
they would find upon referring to the circumstances
of each particular meeting, that at no one of
them was any real or supposed grievance pointed out,
and the only object appeared to be to assail the Govern-
ment and the authorities of the country with violent
and inflammatory epithets and abuse. They had by
these proceedings put in jeopardy the valuable right
and privilege of holding public meetings, for, if they
were allowed to bo made the means of exciting the
people to revolution, it was quite evident that pub-
lic meetings must be done away with. It could not be
borne that large numbers of people, many of whom were
probably suffering distress and privation, should be
brought together, and that they should be told by per-
sons like the defendants, that they were entitled to share
in the wealth of the country, and that their interest
would be advanced by overthrowing the Government of
the country, for that was evidently the object and effect
of all the addresses that had formed the subject of pro-
secution. They must all be well aware of the nature
and tendency of what they did ; and there could be no
doubt that their object was to inspire terror and alarm.
The meetings were, evidently, not convened for
an honest purpose. They were continually im-
puting to the Government that it was the cause
of all the misery in the country, and charging it with
some abominable act, the nature of which was never
stated, the object evidently being to excite and stir up
the multitudes to overturn it, possibly with the expecta-
tion, entertained by some of them, that the power would
be transferred to their own hands, and God only knew
how they would have exercised that power. The Learned
Judge then briefly alluded to some of the facts, and said
that the circumstance of several thousand excited men be-
ing suddenly marched about the streets of the metropolis
at midnight was calculated naturally to excite the utmost
terror and alarm, and it was quite clear that such things
could not be permitted. The public mischief that had
been done was very great, but it might have been much
greater, and it was highly important that the law had
been supported, and that it was now very well under-
stood. He believed that they all knew well that they
were offending against the law. One of them had not
scrupled to recommend the horrible expedient of
private assassination.----(Fussell here exclaimed, " I
deny it was useless to deny it. The witnesses
dehmqiftepdunpaddel
equally
dpiltbsheraededd:
murder to
one
ink,
the fact, and the jury had given their
opinion. Theins,paeoenocfdfhes of some of the others were
tthheem another
potal
ilhekeae.dd
deliberatelyo
orfh e using s inagl l staeperpleecpaoremedns.
talybt be clever,
circumstances
forcvneri,rsuhmsrueswptapdnocsmeinseghnathdat andany perfectly conscious of
what they were doing; and there did not appear to be
theyshawreeri inducing en
iedistress,them or
to adopt these proceedings. They had all been defended I
most zealously and ably, and they must admit that their
several cases had been fairly left to the jury; and after
a very careful consideration, the jury had declared them
guilty. He bad himself referred to different authorities
with a view to guide him as to the punishment that
ought to be pronounced. Sedition had seldom risen to
the height it had in their case, but it had al-
ways been punished very heavily ; and even in
cases where only a single sentence had been proved,
the sentence had been very severe. He wished his

duty would allow him to look at their eases in a favour-
able light; but he must confess that he saw no pallia-
tion for their offence. When he recollected the nature
of that offence, its probable result, and that they were
probably only deterred from exciting some desperate
outbreak by the zeal and energy with which their pro-
ceedings were met by the Government and the respect-
able classes of the community, he felt that the public
safety and a warning to others required him to pass a
severe sentence. The Learned Judge then passed sen-
tence upon Fussell, whom he ordered to be imprisoned
upon the charge of sedition for two years, and for the
unlawful assembly for three months; and he was, in ad-
dition, ordered to enter into his own recognizance in
1001., with two sureties in 501, each to keep the peace
for five years.

Fussell, before he was removed begged to be allowed
to say a few words, and he then asserted in the most
solemn manner, that he never made use of the expres-
sion attributed to him, recommending private assassina-
tion. He said he was an Englishman, and had the
feelings of an Englishman, and should be ashamed of
such a diabolical expedient.

The Learned JUDGE told him that such a denial would
have no effect. The jury had heard the evidence, and
had decided the question, and he was bound to act upon
their verdict.

Williams was the next sentenced. Before judgment
was passed he addressed the Court, and said that he was
a hard-working man, and was engaged for twenty hours
out of the twenty-four for the wretched pittance of six-
teen shillings a week. He considered he had a right to
endeavour to better his condition, and this was his only
object. He then went on to deny that Fussell had made
use of the recommendation to commit private assassina-
tion, and he said if he had heard him do so, ho would
have thrown him out of the waggon.
Chief Justice WILDE then addressed him, and said he
had taken a very prominent part in the meeting, and had
called on the peDple to fall inn, and he had marched them
about the town, causing, no doubt, great terror and
alarm. The sentence upon him was two years' impri-
sonment, on the first count, one week on the second, and
that he also should find sureties in the same amount as
Fussell to keep the peace for three years.
Sharpe was then sentenced to two years for sedition,
three months for the unlawful assembly, and find the
same amount of sureties as the others to keep he peace
for three years.
Vernon was next called forward.
Before he was sentenced he declared he had nothing
to do with the meeting in Clerkenwell-green, and was
merely there by accident, and he merely got into the van
to escape the pressure of the crowd. He also said that
he afterwards merely followed the crowd from curiosity,
as it was on his road home. He admitted that he was a
Chartist, and he said he was conscientiously of opinion
that the Charter would benefit the labouring classes, and
enable them to subsist by their labour.
The Learned JUDGE told him that all these circum-
stances had been brought to the attention of the jury,
and they had come to the conclusion that he was guilty,
and he had now only to pass sentence, which was, that
he be imprisoned for two years, and find the same sure-
ties as the others to keep the peace for three years.
Vernon inquired in what prison they were to be con-
fined ?

The CHIEF JusTlcE said, in the New House of Cor.
rection for Middlesex.

The defendant wished to know whether they were not
to be treated like human beings. Since they had been
in gaol they had been compelled to tear their meat to
pieces with their teeth, and to endeavour to get the peel
from the potatoes, covered with grease, in the same
manner.

The Learned JUDGE said, he had nothing to do with
the regulations of the gaol, but they must of course
abide by them, whatever they were.
Looney was then called up. He also addressed the
Court, and said they had called him an Irishman on
Saturday. Ile told them now that he was an Irishman,
and, more than that, he would tell the Attorney-General
that he was so pleased with the manner in which he and
his Government treated his country, that they might do
what they liked with him.

TIo was sentenced to two years' imprisonment upon
the count for sedition, two months for the unlawful as-
sembly, and to find the same amount of sureties as the
last defendant to keep the peace for two years.
When the s ntence was passed Looney laughed, and
said, " Very well, that will do."
Jones was then brought forward. He had evidently
made up his mind to give a political address, and he
commenced by asking permission to make a few obser-
vations to the Court.

The CitiEF JUSTICE told him that, if he could direct
his attention to any circumstances that might tend to in-
duce him to review the decision he had come to, he
would willingly listen to him, but he must confine him-
self to that point.
_

The defendant then proceeded to make a long state-
ment of his political views, declaring that he was a
Chartist from conviction, that the Charter was the only
thing that would save the country, and relieve the middle
classes from the burdens under which they laboured.
lie was going on at great length, when he was stopped by
The CHIEF JUSTICE, who said he did not sit there to
discuss political questions with him. If he could suggest
anything likely to induce him to re-consider his decision,
he would willingly listen to him, but it was useless for
him to enter into matters that were totally irrelevant.
The Learned Judge then sentenced him to be impri-
soned for two years, to find two sureties in 1501. each,
and to enter into his own recognizance of 2001., to keep
the peace for five years.
When the sentence was pronounced, Jones addressed
the Court, and said, "I wish your Lordship good night,
and may you sleep with the motto of the Charter round
your neck and no surrender."

This closed the business of the Session, and the Court
then adjourned to Monday, August 21.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

A very pretty young woman, named Sarak Elizabeth
Markham, was brought before Alderman Moon under
the following circumstances :
Mr. Edward Edwards, of 21, East-road, City-road,
Hoxton, said that he was an intimate friend of Miss
Markham's family, and happening to be in Suffolk, he
called upon them, when the parents informed him that
she had eloped with a young man named William
Rolfe, who had been down in the neighbourhood for
some time. They requested that on his arrival in Lon-
don he would give a look out for them, and try to per-
suade their daughter to go home, as they were con-
vinced she would not be happy with the man she had
chosen. He accordingly did as he was desired,
and having found where she resided, went, in com-
pany with the young man's father and a constable,
when he saw Miss Markham, and after trying all he
could to persuade her to return to her parents, who were
in the greatest distress about her, he thought it his duty
to give her into custody, according to the instructions
he had received from her father and mother.
Alderman Mooti asked Miss Markham what she had
to say for herself ?
Miss Markham replied that she did not wish to go
back.
Alderman MooN—You are not married? Miss Mark-
ham—l am not. _ _

William Rolfe, the intended husband, here stepped
forward and said, that as soon as he could obtain a cer-
tificate, he intended marrying her. He had behaved
honourably towards his intended wife, and still in-
tended doing so, and he had his father's consent to the
marriage.
Alderman MooN said it appeared to him that Miss
Markham was her own mistress to a great extent, and
therefore he had no control in the matter, but he thought
that as the young man appeared to be acting honourably,
and had his father's consent, that as arrangements were
being made for their marriage, and as there was not the
slightest imputation on her character up to the present
moment, he hoped Mr. Edwards would try to reconcile
her parents to the match.
Mr. Edwards said he should shortly see her parents
and would try what he could do. He had already written
to them to say that he thought they had better give their
consent.

All parties left the court to all appearance as happy as
could be.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
James Goennern, who passes as Dr. Von Goennern, of
N 0.22, Great Pulteney-street, Regent-street, a young
man with mustachios, and wearing his hair combed over
his ears and shoulders, was brought before Mr. Bingham,
in custody of the officers of the Mendicity Society,
charged with having attempted to obtain money from
Lord Crewe by false and fraudulent pretences.
The apprehension of the prisoner occurred in conse-
quence of an anonymous letter received by the Mendicity
Society, and yesterday morning Horsford watched the
prisoner from his house in Great Pulteney-street to Lord
Crewe's, in Hill-street, having previously made arrange-
ments with the servants to insure the prisoner's appre-
hension. He searched the prisoner, and found a gold
watch and three sovereigns on his person, besides a
large bunch of keys and a quantity of memo-
randa, bearing out to a considerable extent the
statements in the anonymous letters. One of the papers
contained the names of Lords Skelmersdale,
Fitzwil-
ham, Crewe, the Duke of Leeds, Mr. 0. Gore, Mrs.
Huskisson, Major-General Gardiner, Lieutenant-Gene-
ral Sir John Gardiner, Mr. Sotheron, M.P., Lord
Brougham, and others, from whom the prisoner had
either obtained, or expected to obtain, money. Hors•
ford further said that the prisoner in his hearing ad-
mitted he was not a physician, but said he was a school-
master.

The prisoner said it was true he was going back to
Germany, as soon as he could get money enough. He
could bring plenty of respectable people to prove that he
was what he represented himself to be.
Horsford said he had no doubt whatever that all that
had been stated in the anonymous letter would turn out
to be true. He believed he should be able to prove that
the prisoner was a tailor, and not a physician, if the
prisoner was remanded.
Mr. BINGHAM said the prisoner had better bring those
respectable persons he had referred to as being able to
speak to his character at the next examination, as it was
his intention to remand him till Monday next.
The prisoner was then remanded.
Horsford went away to search the prisoner's lodgings.
In a short time he returned with the information that
the prisoner lived apparently in great luxury. A DN.
cheque, just sent from Mr. W. Evans, M.P., was found,
which the prisoner had not yet got cashed; also scores
of letters from charitable noblemen and gentlemen. A
letter with two sovereigns was also lying for the pri-
soner at Lord Fitzwillam's house.

The rock, known by the name of the Dent de
Naye, which was 7,000 feet high, fell on the 3d inst.
into the valley of Montreux (Vaud), and destroyed
seven houses and all the persons in them. It is said
that upwards of 2,000 head of cattle have been killed in
the fields.

The Cleckheaton Valley branch of the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway is to be opened as far as Low
Moor on Wednesday,—Manchester Courier.

IMPERIAL PA R L 'AMEN T.

HOUSE OF LORDS, July 10.
Their Lordships met at Five o'clock.
IRELAND.
Lord BROUGHAM wished to draw the attention of
the House to the recent proceedings in Ireland, and to
the establishment of drilling clubs there, and to ask the
Noble Marquis opposite if the Government had adopted
any measures to meet the threatened danger? He could
assure the Government that if it wanted further powers
to meet those dangers, they would find no difficulty in
carrying them through that House.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, who spoke in a very
low tone, was understood to say that the Government
was perfectly aware of the present perilous state of Ire-
land, and that the Lord-Lieutenant was prepared to
meet it.

PETITIONS,
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Glasgow
in favour of the Scottish Entail Bill.
.__. _ _

The Marquis of BREADALBANE presented up-
wards of 200 petitions from various Free Church con-
gregations in Scotland and Ireland, complaining of the
refusal of Free Church sites in Scotland, and praying
for the passing of such a measure as should afford them
adequate relief. There were certain individual members
of their Lordships' House who had refused those sites;
but he hoped that, on consideration, they would think
better of the subject, and no longer interpose between
their fellow-men and their Maker.

Lord REDESDALE presented sixteen petitions from
various Waterworks Companies, against the Health of
Towns Bill.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY asked if at the
present moment her Majesty's Government had any
means of knowing what was going on in Spain. It had
been stated that a very distinguished Carlist General
had been taken and shot, notwithstanding the proclama-
tion of General Cabrera that he should show mercy to
his prisoner. He wished to know if the Government
had received any information that the Carlist General
Alzana had been shot by the Queen's troops.
Earl GREY said that it was exceedingly inconvenient
to have those questions put without notice.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY gave notice of
the question for Thursday.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL.
On the motion of the Duke of BEAUFORT the
Cruelty to Animals Bill passed through Committee.
The other measures on the table were forwarded a
stage, and their Lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 10.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock_
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY.
Mr, BROTHERTON moved—" That it be an in-
struction to the Committee of Selection to appoint the
Committee on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
(Amendment of Acts and Regulation of Capital) Bill, to
sit forthwith, if they shall think fit."—Agreed to.
LORDS' AMENDMENTS.
The Lords' amendments to the Great Western Rail-
way (Extension of the Berks and Hants Railway from
nungerford to Westbury, with a Branch to Devizes)
Bill were considered and agreed to.
THIRD READINGS.
The following Bills were read a third time and passed:
Birkenhead Dock Commissioners (Transfer of Powers to
New Commissioners, effecting Arrangements with the
Crown, and Amendment of Acts—No 2).
Hulme and Eccles Road.
Philanthropic Society Charity Estate.
Rawlins' (or Bishops Hull Curacy) Estate.
Worcester Turnpike Trust.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS.

The following reports were considered and agreed to,
and the Bills ordered to be engrossed :
Crossford Bridge and Manchester Road.
New Grand Canal Company (Ireland—No. 2).
Thorne Moor Drainage and Improvement.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition against the
Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill.
Mr. GREENE presented a petition from Lancaster,
praying for Parliamentary reform.
An Hort. MEMBER presented a petition from the
bakers of Dundee, praying the House to pass a Bill to
restrict the hours of labour in their trade.
Viscount GALWAY presented a petition praying the
House to. restrain the sale :of intoxicating liquors on
Sundays.
Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from the Anti-
Malt Tax Association praying for the repeal of the malt
tax. The Hon. Member gave notice that to-morrow
he should move that it be printed with the votes.
Mr. THORNELY trusted the Hon. Member would
leave the consideration of the petition to the Committee
on petitions. Every petition of importance was inva-
riably ordered to be printed, and already 1,200 petitions
had been printed this session.

AGRICULTURAL TENANT-RIGHT BILL.
Mr. PUSEY said perhaps it would be for the conve-
nience of the House if he stated that he was afraid he
should net be able to proceed with the Agricultural
Tenant Right Bill this session. He therefore begged to
move that the order for the second reading be discharged.
The motion was agreed to.
Sir DAVID DUNDAS presented a petition from the
magistrates of Dingwall, praying for the establishment
of a college at Inverness, the capital of the north of
Scotland.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the bakers of
St. Marylebone against the Bill introduced by Lord
Ashley for regulating their trade.
Sir B. HALL presented a petition in favour of
Parliamentary reform.
BATTERSEA PARK.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS, pursuant to notice, wished to
ask the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in what
state were the arrangements for the formation of a park
at Battersea, and the erection of a bridge therefrom over
the Thames; and, further, to ask for the returns of pro-
gress made under the Westminster Improvement Act of
10 and 11 Vic. c. 131.
Lord MORPETH said, in answer to the Honourable
Baronet, he had to state with regret that the arrange..
ments for the formation of Battersea Park,
were necessarily suspended in consequence of there
being no available funds for that purpose in the hands
of the Exchequer. With respect to the progress of the
Westminster improvements, he had to state that the
department to which he belonged had received some
returns upon that subject, which it was pro-
posed to lay upon the table of the House.
He had also the satisfaction of stating that he
had been informed by one of the Commissioners,
that notwithstanding the unparalleled pressure of the
times, there had been expended up to December, 1847,
60,0001., and there was still every prospect of the West-
minster improvements being proceeded with without
the least delay.
Mr. FOSTER hoped that the bridge at Battersea had
not been altogether abandoned.
Lord MORPETH said the word he used was sus-
pended not abandoned. The Government had no inten-
tion to abandon so important a work, and the Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests would proceed with it
as soon as sufficient funds were placed at their disposal.

ENCUMBERED ESTATES, 'nisi' FRANCHISE,
AND LANDLORD AND TENANT BILLS.
In reply to Sir JOHN HANMER,
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that as soon as the Sugar
Duties Bill had passed through Committee, he should
state to the House the course he intended to pursue
with respect to the above- named and other Bills.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said it would be a great con-
venience to the House if the Noble Lord at the head
of the Government would state what measures he in-
tended to persevere in this session.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he would • state on
Monday next the course Government intended to pur-
sue with reference to the business before the House.
SIERRA LEONE.
Mr. CHISHOLM ANSTEY, pursuant to notice,
wished to ;ask the Under-Secretary for the Colonies
the reasons of the recent removal of Thomas O'Brien,
Esq., from the office of Colonial Secretary for Sierra
Leone, and for information as to the charges brought by
that gentleman against the present Governor of the same
colony.
Mr. HAWES replied, that a dispute arose between
the Governor and Mr. O'Brien which led to inquiry,
and after the inquiry had taken place Mr. O'Brien
stated that it was quite impossible for him to serve
under the Governor. Upon this intimation the
Colonial Department determined to withdraw Mr.
O'Brien. With regard to the papers, they contained
much private and personal matter, and unless compelled
to do so, he must decline to produce them.
Mr. C. ANSTEY gave notice that on an early day be
should move for their production.
COLONIZATION.
In reply to a question from Lord LINCOLN,
Mr. HAWES stated that a Committee of the House
of Lords was now sitting upon the subject of coloniza-
tion, but whether their inquiry would result in
any plan for mitigating the evils of Ireland by an
improved system of colonization, of course he
could not say. Since, however,' the Noble Lord had
brought the matter under the consideration of the House
last year, the Colonial Department had devoted a good
deal of attention to the subject, and the Noble Lord at
the head of that department had sanctioned a loan of
100,0001. for the purpose of promoting emigration, besides
aiding the relations of emigrants in British North
America in procuring passages across to their friends.
Lord LINCOLN said his question was a very simple
one, but had not been answered by the Hon. Member.
In consequence of an address to the Crown, which had
been agreed to by the House, her Majesty directed that
a special inquiry should be instituted into the condition
of our colonies by the Colonial-office, and he wished to
know whether any such inquiry had taken place?
Mr. HAWES said no inquiry had taken place except
that before the Lords' Committee.
Lord LINCOLN said the Committee concluded its
sittings on the 4th of June, and the reply of her Majesty
to the Address was given on the 14th of the same
month.—(Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said there had been great sickness
and mortality among the emigrants from this country to
the Canadian colonies last year, and in consequence of
that great complaints had been made against a further
influx of emigrants.
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
Mr. HUME asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether any new estimate had been furnished for
making the alterations from the original plan of the
House of Commons for additional offices; and, if so, to
what amount ; and whether the alterations had been
sanctioned by the Commissioners superintending the
building.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
there had been an alteration in the estimate to the ex-
tent of 5,0001., which would be required for additional
offices that were considered essentially necessary. This
additional expenditure had been sanctioned by the Trea-
sury, but would not be laid out during the present year.
Mr. OSBORNE inquired whether the attention of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer had been drawn to a note
in one of the Parliamentary papers ori this subject, pre-
sented that morning, stating that the additional remune-
ration of the architect for the alterations was to be made
a subject of consideration ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his
attention had been called to all those cases of public
buildings in which additional expense had been incurred.
In the case of the New Houses of Partiament, he believed
the additional expense could not have been foreseen; but
he thought no additional expense should have been in-
curred without the previous consent of the Treasury. He
had directed the additional remuneration to be paid in
this case, but not in any other case, of a similar
nature, unless the alterations had boon agreed to by the
proper department.—(Hear, hear.)
MR. O'NEAL'S CASE.
In replying to the O'CONNOR DON,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
intimated that he had wristen to Ireland,
and in reply had received a letter from a
Mr. Griffin, stating that during the last five
weeks seventy-five men had been employed on the
estate of Mr. O'Neal, in Galway, and that that gentle-
man was quite ignorant at the time that he had laid
himself open to complaint.
NEW PLACES.
Lord LINCOLN inquired whether the return he had
moved for with respect to new places created since 19th
of March, 1845, down to which period a return had been
furnished, would be laid on the table.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
three-fourths of the return had come in; the return of
some of the legal departments had not yet come in, but
he should immediately take steps ,to have the return
completed at the earliest possible moment.
AUGMENTATION OF THE POLICE.
Sir DE LACY EVANS inquired if it would be open
to him, on the motion for going into Supply on Friday,
to draw the attention of the House to the proposed in-
crease of the police, and the consequent cost?
Sir GEORGE GREY apprehended that it would not
be open to the Hon. Baronet to do so ; but if it was in
accordance with the rules of the House for him to do so,
of course he had not the least objection.
NEW WRITS.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved that no new writs
shall be issued for the boroughs of Derby and Leicester
before Tuesday the 15th day of August next.
In reply to Mr. STAFFORD,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL intimated that he did not
intend to proceed with the Horsham Bill in the
meantime, neither did he intend to take up the Bill of
the Hon. Baronet for the Flint boroughs. On Thursday
he should bring in a Bill on this subject. On the 15th
of August it would be open for the House to adopt any
course it might think fit.
Colonel SIBTHORP asked the Noble Lord if be
meant to abandon these two Bills or not, and whether,
if he intended to bring in a new Bill upon this subject, it
would be brought in this session. The fact was he had
no confidence in the statements of the Noble Lord, and
he wanted to tie him down to a pledge.—(Laughter.)
The motion was then put and agreed to.
Colonel SIBTHORP said, notwithstanding the motion
had been put and carried, he should be glad to have an
answer from the Noble Lord.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he hoped on Thursday to be
able to move for leave to bring in a new Bill.
SUGAR DUTIES.
The House then went into Committee on the sugar
duties.
Mr. HUME repeated that it was the duty of the
House not to make any alteration in the existing sugar
duties, unless the House were satisfied that the change
would improve the colonies. The West Indies
had never had an opportunity of testing the
experiment of using free labour, and he must,
therefore, protest against this being a question
of free trade. This was a question of justice
to the colonies, and if they hoped ever to see the colo-
nies prospering again, they must allow the colonies to
legislate for themselves, and not leave them under the
management of the Colonial-office. The colonies were
placed in their present deplorable condition through the
misconduct of the Colonial-office, and the misconduct of
the House, and the only reparation they could make was
to place the colonies under such a free and fair system
as would enable free labour to compel;o with slave labour.
All he asked, therefore, of the House was to put the
colonies in a condition to compete with slave labour.
He was convinced that the Act of 1846, as proposed
to be continued by the Noble Lord, would not have that
effect. He thought it would be better to leave the Act
as it was, or give to those interested in the colonies suf-
ficient time to regain confidence. lie was of opinion
that if free labour was properly dealt with it would be able
to compete with slave labour in any part of the world.
The colonies, he considered, had been grievously used.
He read a memorial of the Assembly of Jamaica, agreed
to the 7th of June, complaining of the mismanagement
of the Colonial-office, to show that this was so. The
colonies would never prosper until they left them to con-
duct their own affairs, and to employ free instead of
slave labour.
Lord G. BENTINCK, who entered the House while
the Hon. Member for Montrose was addressing the Com-
mittee, proceeded to observe that the question for con-
sideration then was, not whether they should afford ad-
ditional protection and some relief to the West India
Colonies and the sugar- planting interest, but what would
be the degree and amount of that relief. They were, in
point of fact, to decide whether the Act of 1846 was to
be abandoned or abided by. Only thirty Members of
the House of Commons could be found last week to
maintain that Act. The question for docision was which
of all the propositions made to the Committee was most
worthy of attention. With respect to the amendment
of the Hon. Member for Leominster, he was bound to
say it was a proposal that he very little approved of, but
at the same time the question which he had to deter-
mine was, whether in the main it was not better than
the proposition of her Majesty's Government. He
found that the sum total of protection offered by the
Hon. Member for Leominster, if the period of six
years be taken, amounted to 455., or about 78. 7d. a year.
He would, therefore, give a preference to the amend-
ment before the House, rather than take the Government
measure as it stood, considering that it would afford a'
greater relief to the suffering parties. But, on giving
his preference to the amendment, he felt it his duty, in
justice to the West India interests, to the interests of the
Mauritius, and the other great interests it would affect,
to state the reasons which induced him to do so. The
Government measure would not give satisfaction to the
West India, the East India, or the Mauritian interest,
and it would be very far from giving satisfaction to the
Members of the Committee appointed by that House to
deliberate upon the West Indian question, and who had
spent so much time and labour in doing so.—(Hear,
hear.) It had not received the sanction; of those great
and influential interests who had assembled in London
in May last; and in Liverpool in the month following;
neither had it received the sanction of the East India
Company. It certainly, therefore, militated much
against the measure, that it had been condemned
by all these interests, and even, alt hough the reso-
lutions of the Committee did not g o all the length
of what the West Indian and Mauritian interests