The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-23 00:00:00

471'4 PI
-43,. 411 rjri

SCII OFFICE, S.-?veu o'

NEWCASTLE AND BERWICK
RAILWAY.
Notice is hereby given, that a special General Meeting of the Pro-
prietors of the Newcastle and Berwick Railway Company will be
held in the Directors' Room, at the Railway Station, in the city of
York, on MONDAY, the 4th day of May, 1846, at half-past 10 o'clock
in the forenoon, for the purpose of submitting for the approval of
the Proprietors of the said Company the draft of a Bill now before
Parliament, intitutied " A Bill for enabling the Newcastle and Ber-
w ek Railway Company to make certain Branch Railways in the
County of Northumberland."
P4ted this 20th day of March, 1846

GEORGE HUDSON;
Chairman of the tioard of Directors
of the said Company.

NE wcAsTLE and DAI LLIriG 0
JUNCTION RAILWAY.
Notice Is hereby given, that a Special General Meeting of the Pro-
prietors of th-, Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway Con:-.
pang will be held In the Directors' Room, at the Railway Station,
in the City of York, on MoNnav, the 4th day of hay, 1846, at a
quarter past 10 o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of submitting
fur the approval of the Proprietors of the said Company, the drafts
of the following Bills now before Parliament, that is to say,—
"A Bill for enabling the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Rail-
way Company to make a railway from or near Thirsk to Maiton,
'with a branch to Helmsley."
" A Bill ter enabling the Great North of England Railway Company
to Pease, and also to sell, their Railway to the Newcastle and Darling-
ten Junction Railway Company, and to authorise the raising of addl..
tional mosey by the said last-mentioned Company, for those and
other purposes."
" A Bill for enabling the-Newcastle and Darlington Junction Rail-
way Company to make a railway from the line of the Great North of
England Railway to Bedale."
" A Bill for enabling the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Rail-
way Company to make a Railway from the line of the Great North
of England Railway to or near to Boroughbridge."
" A Bill for enabling the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Rail-
way Company, to purchase the Durham and Sunderland Raffle ay,
and the Weymouth Dock, and to make certain Branch Railways in
the county of Durham, and for other purposes."
" A Bat for authorising the Sale of the Pontop and South Shields
Railway to the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway Com-
pany."
And " A Bill for enabling the Newcastle and Darlington Junction
Railway Company to construct a Dock at Jarrow Slake, in the River
Tyne, and to make Branch Railways and works to communicate
therewith, and for other purposes."
And at such meeting, it is proposed to confirm the deeds and
agreements already entered into between this Company and
Sun
Berland Great North of England Railway Company, the Durham ah
deriand Railway Company, and the Weymouth Dock Compaiiy,
either alone or together with any other com antes, or between the
directors of the same Companies, or any of them, relative to the fur-
chase and leas'ng of the said Great North of England Railway, the
a
Durham and Sunderland Railway, and the Wearmouth Dock, or any
of them, and the works connected therewith respectively.
Dated this 20th day of March, 1R46.
GEORGE HUDSON,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Newcastle
and Darlington Junction Railway Cornnanv.

yORK AND NORTH MIDI, AIN
Notice Is beret ' RAILWAY.
y given that a Special General Meeting of
the Proprietors of the York and North Midland Itallway
Company, will be held in the Directors' Room, at the Railway
Station, in the city of York, on MONDAY, the 4th day of
May, 1616, at Ten o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose el sub-
mitting, for the approval- of the Proprietors of the said' Company,-
the drafts of the following Bins, at present before Parliament, that is
to Pay,—
" A Bill for enabling the York and North Midland Railway
Company to mate a more direct line of Railway between York
and Leeds."
" A Bill to authorise the widening and enlargement of part of the
line of the York and North Midland Railway, or the construction
and maintenance of a Railway adjoining thereto"
" A Bill for enabling the Hull and Selby Railway Company to
lease, and also to sell, their Railway to the York and North Midland
and Manchester and Leeds Railway Companies, or one of them, and
to authorise the raising of additional money by both or either of the
last-mentioned companies, fur those and other purposes."
A Bill for enabling the York and North Midland Railway Com-
Tan), :43 make certain Branch Railways in the Rut Riding of the
county Of York, and for other purposes." (No. 1.)
" A Bill fer enabling the York and North Midland Railway Com-
pany to mate tertain Branch Railways in the But Riding of the
county of York, and for other purposes." (No. 2.)
lttd " A Bill for enabling the York and North Midland Railway
Company to extend the line of the Whitby and Pickering Railway
so or near Castleton."

-- -
And at such meeting it 13 proposed to confirm the deeds and
airree‘nents already entered into between this Company and the Huh
and Set:.,r and the Manchester acd Leeds Italiway Companies, or
either or then, or between the ilrector3 of the same several Com-
panies, or any of them, relative to the purchase and ;easing of the
said Hull and Selby hallway, and the works connected therewith.
Dated this 20th day of March, 1'341
GEORGE HUDSON,
Chairman of the Hoard of Directors of the said 'York
and North Midland Railway Company.

EXUHEQUEH.-(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings in BInco.)
GATIIERCOIE, CLERK, V. MIALL

This was az action for libel preferred by the plaintiff, the
Rev. Mr. Gat heteole, against the defendant who is the proprie-
tor of the Nonconformist newspaper, and was tried at the late
assizes at Cambridge before Mr. aron Parke, when a ver-
dict was given for the plaintiff—damages 2001. The circum-
stancs of the case, it may be remembered, were the composi-
tion and publication of certain severe strictures in the
Nonconformist newspaper, restive to ob4ervations made in a
charity sermon by the reverend p!Aintifi on the perish church
of Ciiatteris, in the Isle of Ely, to the effect that he would
exclude Dissenters from a participation in the funds of the
charity, on the ground of their not belonging to the Church
of Christ. The facts have been so recently and so fully re-
ported in The Sun that it will not be necessary now to give
4 detailed report of them.

Sir THOMAS WILDE moved for a rule to show cause why
the verdict should not be set aside, and a new trial had on the
ground of the admission of evidence which ought not to
have been admitted, and of misdirection. The Learned
Courted adverted at great length to the evidence sub-
mitted at the trial, respecting the copy of the paper
which was submitted to the jury not being the same
as that sent down to the reading-room at Chatteris,
and contended that this circumstance invalidated the
evidence altogether, for the paper sent to the
reading-room ought to have been • produced. He also
condemned the doctrine laid down by the Learned Judge
(Parke) at the trial, that a sermon preached by a minister
to his congregation was not a legitimate subject for
public comment, for if that was the case it would
be conceding a privilege to clergymen which was not given
to judges, advocates, or any other public men, and would be
a refusal to the public to take notice of any remarks which
might materially affect their interests. Public charity
was of the very last importance, and the public
had a right to inquire into and observe upon anything that
had a reference to it. And when, as in the present case,
an attempt was made by a clergyman to exclude Dissenters
from participation in charitable funds, oa the ground of
their religious principles, he contended that, sectarianism
was a legitimate subject for public. comment
71re enunciation of the contrary doctrine to
the jury before whom the case was tried was a misdirection,
and alone afforded grounds for granting the present motion.
Under all the circumstances, he submitted that he showed
sufficient grounds why the Court should grant the rule.
The LORD CHIRP' BARON said that everything that affected
the public might be commented on, provided only that truth
was made the basis and justice the superstructure of the ob-
servations. He thought that a sermon made by a pastor to
his cougsegation was a fair subject for comment, but
it must be comment:_.(l on with truth and justice.
With regard to the sermon referred to the remarks of Baron
Parke could not have eff:cted the issue, as the sermon had
mot been given in evidence. lie was of opinion also that the
evidence submitted to the jury was evidence which ought to
have been admitted. He, therefore, thought the rule should
be refused.

Barons ALDERSON and Rom concurred in opinion
'with the Lord Chief Baron relative to the adminton of
evidence and did not think sufficient ground had been shown
for a new trial.

Mr. Baron PARKE reiterated the opinion which he ex
pressed on the trial in reference to a sermon preached by
a clergyman to his congregation not being a legitimate sub-
ject for comment. If the sermon was printed the case would
.he diffaent.
The rule was accordingly refused.
This case excited great interest, every part of the Court
bei:tig filled with persons desirous to hear the result of the
application.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES
(THIS DAY.)

Sub-Committee No. 6.
(Continuel iron our Afternoon Eiitioa.)
WARWICK AND 'WORCESTER.
The ease not being completed at four o'clock stood over, and the
Committee adjourned till to-morrow at twelve.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Their Lordships met this day, for the firsithtelmeeornsinmciettetlet!
'recess, for the dispatch of public business. lEnascotnef
sequence of Lord Da housie's motion, came to the determination of
adjourning all the Railway Bills which came before theta on second
zeterencl to Monday next. Amongst the Bills so adjourned were
the following —Londonderry and Enniskillen Extension Railway—
Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway— Dublin and
IKingstown Batenston Railway—Clonmel and Thurles Railway
Limerick, Ennis, and Rillaloe Junction Railway Great Southern
and Western (Ireland) —Cork. Extension —Mallow and Fennoy
Itailway—Knlaruey Junction Railway—Mount 111s11:ck Junc-
tion Hallway—l...erne, Deltast, and Danymens Rahway—Bally-
mena and ltally-Money Railway—the Newry, Warrenpoint.
and Rostrenor Railvray Bill—and Omagh, Dungannon, Arena h, and
Belfast Junction Railway Bill.
The Sunderland Waterworks 8111 went through the Standing Or-
clers, and also the Sunderland Gas Bill.

TRENT VALLEY CONFINUATION
RAI LWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
Several Manchester shareholders in this contemplatedd line
Berns dissatisfied with the proceedings of the
directors,
meeting was held to-day at the London Tavern, lart tir, a
in-
atance of John Collier, Esq, chairman of the Mancheeter
Sub-Committee, Francis Deflinne, Esq., one of the sames
body, and Thomas Carlisle Esq., of Hyde-park-place.
The Committee of Management issued a counter advertise-
ment, stating their intentions to call a meeting, after the
provisions of the Bill for dissolving railway companies should
lbe ascertained. Some little time elapsed after the hour
bad passed for which the meeting was called before the pro-
e•edings commenced. After that lapse it was moved that
T comas Carlisle, Esq., take the chair, but that gentleman
.declined on the plea of a severe cold, and, on his motion,
James Troup, Esq., was called upon to preside.
The CHAIRMAN stated that he was but little accustomed
to preside at pubiic meetings, but he was ready to hear any
gentleman, and having read the advertisement calling the
meeting,
F. DEI-LI:CSIC, Esq., stated that the chief objection of the
Jhareholders to the conduct of the directors arose from the
intention of that body to amalgamate W ith the Shropshire
nion umPln
the London and Dublin Approximation
C.Y,
Company-, And the Shropshire Mineral Ccanpany, part of
which Companies were well known to the proprietors pre-
of this day would be much
sent. The procr:`,digg', l; waver,
modified by the f0...*. that he 4Frectors had issued an adver-
tisement, stating that they intended to call a meeting as
anon as the provisions of :lie Government Bill for dissolving
railway companies should known. But there were very
euVielous circionstaeces coneaaated with the investment of
alas funds, and it aripeared that in order to meet the pro•
ea ions of that Act the directors had been largely engaged in
baying up share,
hand one auctioneer had Leen engaged to
bey alt the share's,
edeactolusl.d obtain at 30i. a share, and several
heit been purcha. . discount, and others at 17s. e, I. a
the share.sj a wererlethitl3,li.seensouwrsoeu.,epsuwmed, it would be evident that
w:s to answer
question that
The ob,ect of this
itt,,,a,toiTlight be attked.
A mating
et 1,144 that' SiealiEttonnan sugg
as-
,certain what proportion of shares had been dttahltie-newhuarepllesbt yocateeidirectois. This was the more necessary as
out at a premium.
Mr. DEFI-I:ol.:—They came out at 5/. premium,
Toe ..,:,:tAgEfIOI.DEIt wished then to know whit had been
paid tip lie bad app
lied for information, but could obtai-n. it,
same.
Mr. Joirzvai N7gata; said that he had replied to the
letter which was addresaed to them.
Mr. JAMEg .Iticitattpsom wished to know whether Mr.
D4inue was alitut to anova a resolution

The CHAIIIMAN stated that Mr. Deflinne had stated that
he was ready to answer any questions, and that be was ready
to submit a petition for signature.
Some conversation then ensued as to the re r 1 object of the
meeting, as several strangers bad just entered the room, and,
The CHAIRMAN 1 aving again read the advertisement, said,
that the gentleman who had convened the meeting %as to
make a report, the materials of which they had not been
abie to obtain, and they Isere ready, therefore, to submit a
petition for the signatures of the members present.
After some further conversation, the object of which was
to elicit the names of some particular directors, which Mr.
Deflinne refs sed to give,
The CHAIRMAN tnonght that gentleman ought to be heard
to the end of his statement.
Mr. DEFt.msz then read the petition which had been pre-
pared, and which was intended to be presented to the House
of Commons, with a view to give greater efficiency to Lord
Dalhousie's Bill, the purport of which was, that the directors
had:taken originally Live-eighths of the whole of the shares of
the company; that on the 16th of April last year the others
had come out. at 51. premium, on which a deposit of 11. is. 6d.
had been paid. On the 4th of October, a further deed was
prepared, by which it appeared that the directors had agreed
to take up the whole of the shares, which it was incumbent
upon them, but had actually taken up only one-eighth of
that quantity. The petition still further stated that its ob-
ject was to prevent a winding up of the Company without
an investigation of the conduct of the directors.
111 r. DEFLINNE then moved the adoption of that petition
but it remained without a seconder; and a shareholder then
moved that the meeting adjourn till after the meeting which
the directors intended to call.
This was seconded; but a further conversation ensued,
from which it appeared that this was the desire of the
meeting, with the addition that an opinion should be ex-
pressed,oriofthinernesmtiegvaetdinang tandejepaarapemrsesnatdfearccaorrttusight,
that the committee of shareholders ought to have
an opportunity
soi.o
or three
uw weeks.
3 then
inquired whether any report had been
NmNl:vseadida tr:iewerelahtiaeda,bewehnienho
hsuecwha3re
issued from the Trent Valley office.
mM
rr
jUar.3
Eus
ppourtYt.ing into
writing, when _

Mr.Joll.vsort NEA.LE said that he had come there to give
' all the information he possessed respecting the Company,
and he was the more desirous of doing so, because
he was anxious to refute a slander which had ap-
peared in the Morning Chronicle, he believed in the
report of a statement made by Mr. Deflinne, which
went to the effect of saving that he had sold the in-
terests of the Company. Mr. Neale then went into an ex
planation of his conduct, which appeared to be perfectly
satisfactory that it had been in every way honourable. In
this statement it was shown that the Staffordshire Juncti ,n
had offered to abandon the Welsh part of their line, and to
give 15,0001. to take up all the dropped shares; and with
respect to the Shropshire Mineral Amalgarmisaiteeacile%
motion,mp
equal advantages were proffered ; and on
..M
at a meeting of the directors, it was decided. that the
share
holders should be called together in order to effect h
amal-
gamation, but from that meeting the Manchester shareholders
had retrained from attending Such was the case, yet at a
susequent perind those gentlemen had openly expressed
their disapprobation of the proceeding, and it was
not to be wondered at that after this the direc-
tors did not work well with the Manchester com•
mittee. As regarded the opportunity of investigating the
accounts, a meeting had been held on the 23d of January,
since which time the committee had enjoyed ample opportu-
nities of seeing them, but, in their corp rate capacity, until
the three weeks afierwsrds, when, by theirown conduct, they
had precluded themselves from this benefit.
In reply to an inquiry, Mr. NEALE said he believed that
there was out little difference between the two deeds alluded
to, though he could not recollect precisely their terms; but
still he could say, from recollection, that he had been obliged
to hunt througfi them both.
Mr. DEFLINNE was about to reply to Ur. Neale's remark
on slander, and stated that he bad been informed by a
large shareholder, but after some confusion he refused to
give the name, and the previous question was moved.
but Mr. Detlinne persevered, and proceeded to read a letter,
requesting his attendance is London to prevent amalgama-
tion with the companies alluded to. The letter ascribed
great blame to Mr. Neale; it was dated Carlton Club, and
signed LI. P. Gibbs.
The whole of this affair teemed to be disapproved of by
the bulk of the meeting, and Mr. Neale, after requesting the
',ote, warned Mr. Dtflinne to retain the note, and to.produce
t on a future day.
The resolution for the adjournment was then put, when

Mr. FIELD begged to kow whether in the course of his

investigation of the accounts Mr. Neale discovered any rea-
son for the directors dissolving the Company, to which that
gentlemen replied that it depended upon whether the Com-
pany would put up with the losses already incurred.—(Loud
cries of " Dissolvt?, dissolve.")
Mr. Ca otastx said he was quite ready to take the money
uh;ch he could obtain from the directors, and lie repudiated
any responsibility on account of the adjourned meeting.
Mr. FIELD then inquired whether it was Mr. Neale's legal
opinion that the whole of the money could be recovered from
the Directors, to which that gentletnan replied that he should
not attempt .z.ny such process.
. . .

Mr. FIELD then moved that the resolution be amended so
as to state that the Directors having expressed their inten-
tion to call a meeting, that this meeting do now adjourn.
Mr. 5,11 AW (of Huddersfield) expressed his approbation of
the amended resolution, and stated that he had the otherday
seen Mr. Churchill, who had given him every opportunity of
investigating the books and accounts of the company, and he
believed that those gentlemen were highly honourable.
The motion was then carried almost unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. YATES, seconded by Mr. SOLOMON,
a motion was also almost unanimously carried, expressiog
the thanks of the shareholders for that gentleman's assist-
ance, and their confidence in his honour.

Mr. NEALE briefly replied, thanks were voted to the
Chairman, and the meeting separated.

TATTERSALL'S—THIS EVENING.
SDK o'CLo CK.

CHESTER MY.
12 to 1 age Sweetmeat—taken
14 to 1 agst Weatherbit
20 to 1 agst Miss Burns
20 to 1 agst Vitals
20 to I agst polish
30 to 1 agst,Pedometer—taken
30 to 1 agst Corranna
31 to 1 agst Inheritress—taken
30 to 1 agst The Magnet
40 to 1 agst Clumsy—taken
50 to 1 agst Glossy

2,000 GUINEAS STAKE&
6 to 5 agst Tom Tulloch
4 to 1 agst lago
4 to 1 agst any other
DE2tBY.
9 to 2 agst Sting
5 to I agst Torn Tulloch
25 to 1 agst Spithead
20 to 1 agst Brocardo
30 to 1 agst lago
40 to 1 agst Crown Prince

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took bis seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'ckck.

THE SEES OF BANGOR AND ST. ASAPII.
The Bishop of ROCHESTER presented a petition
from the Dean and Chapter of Roc:Jester against the
ucion of the Sees of Bangor and St. Asaph.
The Bishop of HEREFORD presented several peti-
tions to the same effret.

The Bishop of BANGOR, presented similar petitions.
SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON
SUNDAY. •

Lord KEN YON presented a petition from the church-
wardens, the overseers, and guardians of the parish of
Lambeth, praying that a better observance of the Sab-
bath might be enforced in the case of tradesmen.

The Bishop of S I'. DAVID'S presented a petition
from the parish of Swabey, in the county of Lincoln, to
the same effevt.

The Marquis of ANGLESEA presented similar pe-
titions.

EMPLOYMENT OF DISCHARGED CRIMINALS.
The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S presented a petition
from the mayor, the aldermen, and town council of the
borough of Carmarthen, praying that occupation might
be found for prisoners on their discharge, so that they
might nut be thrown back upon their former vicious
'courses.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE preEented a petition to the
same effect.

CORPORATION FEES.

The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from
the corporation of coopers in Glasgow, complaining
that by the Act contemplated by the Governmentenforcement of fees on taking up a trade
.nthecitythoef
iawayux with.f
competition,
a n
d petitionerstheywhear
thuse
Glas
exposed Glasgow
was
t o done
the influx
no power of checking such a ruinous extension in their
trade. He (the Duke of Richmond) thought that while
these fees were exacted in London and Glasgow shculd
not form the exception.
Lord CAMPBELL would be happy to see that these
fees were abolished over the country.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented similar petitions
from the CiP mporation of Ilammermen.
Lord BROUGHAM presented similar petitions from
the skinners and gloKers, to the same eff-ct.
SUNDAY SPIRIT TRADING,
against tl e
Lord-COTTEN HAM presented
sale of intoxicatinv, spirits on Sunday.
THE CORN BILL.
The Duke of RIUIIMOND presented a petition from
the ministers of the Presbytery of Lorn, in the Synod
of Argyll, complaining that, os their stipends were de-
pendent upon the market pike of corn, the Government
Bill would injure them, and they prayed, therefore, that
such measure should not be permitted to pass into a law.
TAX ON INSURANCES.
The NOBLE DUKE presented a petition from Forrest
in the north of Scotland praying for a repeal of this tax.
THE NEW POOR-LAW.
The NOBLE DuKE also presented a petition from a
place, the name of which we did not hear, praying that
in the New Poor-law Bill a clause might be added
making it imperative on the officers to provide a super-
annuation fund.

THE CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from
Pavensey, in Sussex, against the Charitable Trusts Bill.
Lord KINNAIRI) presented a petition from the if a-
aglow Tract Association against the same measure.
Lord COTTENHAM presented a petition from the
governor and officers of St. George's Hospital, praying
that that institution might be exempted from the ope-
ration of the Act.

Lord STRADBROKE presented a petition from a
congregation of Independent Dissenters to the same elfect.
Lord STRANG FORD presented a petition from the
Skinners Company, against the same Bill.
Lord DEN MAN presented similar petitions from 33
Baptist, and nearly 1,000 Dissenting congregations in
England and Scotland.
Lord CAMPBFLL presented similar petitions from
the Sadlers Company, and the Deaf and Dumb Asso-
ciated Charity.

LAND TAXES.
Lord GAGE presented a petition from Sussex, pray-
ing that rates on cottages of 61. annual rental should be
levied, on the land.

LORDS' SUMMARY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the woolsack
at Eva o'clock

The Earl of DAI Rousts then rose to introduce his
Bill, concerning the dissolution of railway companies,
notice of which he had given befaire E aster, and
also to propose a series •of resolutions identical
with those proposed by Sir E. PEEL in the House of Com-
mons, which have already apyeared in The Sun. The Noble
Earl, in his speech, recapitulated the arguments used by Sir
PEEL, and concluded by propo,ing his resolutions.

(urzr arrrixo.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the chair at Pour o'clock.

REPORTS. -----
The following reports were brought pp, the amend-
ments and alterations agreed to, and the Bills ordered
to.be engrossed, viz.:—

West of Seotland Junction Railway.
Exeter, Topsham, and Exmouth Railway.
Eastern Union aid Harwich Railways and Pier.
Saint Austell Small Debts.

Western-super-Mare Pier.
Numerous petitions were presented, some in favour
of, and others against, different railway Bills. •
Mr. LABOUCHERE moved that the report on the
Rugby and Huntingdon Railway Bill be presented this
day, notwithstanding the resolution of the House of the
7th of April.—The motion was agreed to.
METROPOLITAN SEWERS.
Sir R. INGLIS p:esented a petition from the Dean
and Chap er of Westminster respecing a Bi l which was
now pending before the House for the better regulation
of the Metropolitan Sewers. The petition complained
that the deposits of the common sewers were vely
noxious and productive of great disease in the metro-
polis.

Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Coventry, expressing their satisfaction that
a Bill had been introduced into the house for the entire
removal of the penalties and disabilities to which per-
sons professing tie Roman Catholic rtligion were liable.
Sir G. STRICKLAN I) presented three petitions in
favour of the Ten Hours' Bid.

EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
Mr. MILES presented a petition from the Church of
England Association in the town of Shypton Mallet, in
favour of Church Education in Irrlaud.
BISHOPRIC OF MAN ..RESTER.
The lIoN. MEMBER presented a pekiiton, in favour of
the establi.hing a bishopric in Nlancht•ster, without en-
croaching on the resoutces of the Welsh dioceses.
THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT.

The HoN. MEMBER al,o presented a petition from the
guardians of the poor in Wellington. complaining ot the
Law ot Set,lemen brought lora ard by the Government.

GOVERN M ENT FLEE-TRADE MEASURES.

The Hort. MEMBER further presented a petition from
the county of Somerset, against the commercial plea•
sures of the Government.

RAILWAY BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.

Sir R. PEEL rose and spoke as follows:—Sir, I gave
notice,' two days since, that I should feel it my duty to
call the attention of the House to the state of the rail-
way business now pending before Parliament. *No one
is inure impressed than I am 'with the conviction, in
the ordinary current of affsirs, of adhering to
the great principle of permitting, in a com-
mercial c.)untry, the free application of individual
enterprise and capital, and although, in the application
of capital for purposes of commercial enterprise under
the existing law, it has been the practice of Parliament
to favour inchoate companies who applied to Parliament
for large powers, still the general principle is so valuable,
even in respect to commercial enterprise, that were
the circumstances of an ordinary character. I should
not seek or deem it necessary to interfere. The better
rule is in the application of capital in individual enter.
[rise, and the usage of Parliament has been to grant
powers for the formation of railway companies where no
strong opposition from landowners was given, and where
no competing lines urged reasons sufficiently strong why
such powers should not be given. Even in respect to
those I should not deem it, under ordinary circum-
stances, rin advisable rnle for Parliament to in
terfere. But at the same time, at the risk of
:zreat public inconvenience. I seem it advisable that
Parliament should depart from those principles in the
present state of the country, in order that its capital
may not be needlessly applied to railway specula-
tions, which confer no great public benefit, and which
would paralyse all other commercial engagements.
In doing so it will be necessary, before asking
you fur that qualified interference with this rail-
way speculation, for me to describe the circum-
stances, and detail the reasons why I think it
necessary to depart from the ordinary course observed
in such matte's, in order that what I now propose may
not be taken as a precedent on future occasions. In the
first place I shall state to the House the amount of ca-
pital already pledged for the Railway Acts already ob-
tained from Parliament; and also the amount of capital
which would be necessary for the Bills now pending.
in order to carry out into effect those projects. 1
find that in 1844 the number of Railway Acts which
obtaii•ed the sanction of the Legislature was thirty-seven.
the capital authorised to be raised by share ainount‘d
to 13,900,0001, and thit authorised to ie raised by loan
amounted to 4,600,0001., being a total amount of capital
authorised to be raised by share and loan by
passed in 1844, amounted to the sum of 17,988,0001. In
1845 the number of railways were 150, and the share-
capital authorised to be raised by those Acts amounted
to 45,585,0001. ; and the total amount of loan wa,

14,635,0u0/ ; being a total am mut of capital authorist d
oy Acts in 1845 of 60,400,0001. I have a return of the
names of those Bills which were under the consideration
of the Committee, and I find that the number of Eng
fish Ws amounted to three hundred and sixty-i ine ;
that the number of Scotch Bills acre one hundred and
seven, and that of the Irish the, e were forty-three, being
a total of five hundred and nineteen Bills tOr the United
Kiegdom. I find from these that ninety English Bilh
have capital to the amount of 184,000,0001., and, supposing
they received the sanction of Parliament, an additional
loan of 58,000,0001. might also be raised. The capital
proposed to be raised by the Scotch Bills amounted to
28,500,000/., with a loan of 9,500,0001. By the Irish
Bills it was also proposed to raise 18,400,0001., and loans
to the amount of 5,000,0001. would be sanctioned. So,
therefore, the total amount of capital authorised to be
raised by English, Irish and Scoth bills amounted to
231,322,0001., and the total amount of capital authorised
to be raised by loan amounted to 72,000,0001., making a
total, independently of invested capital authorised by,
Acts, in 1845, of 304,000,000/. I know it is quite hue
that many of these bills are delusive, that many of theta
are of a competing nature, and that the carry ing out uf
many of them would be unnecessary for the public interest.
But a very great reductio- must be made of that total
amount ; and certain it is that Parliament will reject
many of the Railway Bills submitted for its considera-
tion and approval during the present session. In short,
Many of the Bills are incompatible with the wants of the
public; still, whatever deduction is made in the number of
Bills Ciuring the present session, the total amount of capi-
tal, if there be no interference of Parliament—the total
amount of capital which will be sanctioned in the courst
of the present session will be much greater than, having
a due regard to the public interest, ought to be applied
to the construction of railways. Now, I am afraid.
owing to the number of Bills, unless there be most rigid
inquiry by the committees appointed to inquire into the
subject, I far that at the end of the session, Bills will
pa,s which, under ordinary circumstances, would
not receive the sanction of Parliament.—(hear,
hear.) Now I will proceed to state what
amount of capital has been paid up out
of the amount which has been authorised to be received
by the Bills which have already received the sanction of
Parliament. Now, in respect to Bills which passed
before the year 1844—1 am speaking of the Bills which
passed before the session of 1844—the sum of 20,867,000/
has not yet ken called up upon the shares in the rail-
ways which obtained before this period. Again, that
must not be taken as the real amount of capital autho-
•

rised to be raised and ready to be called in, but never
theless remaining unpaid, because, in many cases,
money has been raised on loan on the security of out.
standing shares—a course which has been frequently
adopted instead of calling upon shareholders fur pay-
ment for the shares which have been issued to them.
What proportion does the amount, raised by loans, bear
to the amouttt of shares on which the capital has not
been paid? I can only state the fact that there re-
mains, an unpaid capital connected with railways,

which received the ;auction of Parliament before

1844, to the amount of 20,867,0001, suppos-
ing no loans to have been raised on outstanding
shares for the purpose of completing works. With
respect to Bills passed in the session of 1844, the amount
of capital stock that is still unpaid amounts to 5,293,0001
In respect to the railways which passed in 1845.
118 in number, on the capital stock or
shares authorised to be raised, there remains
an amount of stock which is still unpaid c t
nearly 28,0030,000/.,0r in more general terms 27,900,0001.
which added to the amount remaining unpaid, or Bills
which were passed before 1844, gives a total amount of
capital stuck to be paid up of 33,242,000/.—(llear.)
course in addition to the amount of capital which will be
authorised to be raised in the course of the present session.
'Therefore, even with regard to this amonnt of capital
may we not safely lake the opinions of those patties,
who have entered on these speculations, and be guided
by that opinion which shall determine whether or no
these speculations shall go on before they get sanctioned
by Act of Parliament. There is one reason for
doing this, and for calling for the retraction of
these p.ertiee after mature inquiry and conside-
don. There has been a great change in the circumstances of these projects since many of these par-
ties had committed themselves. In the first place, I
must refer to the opinions of a Committee appointed by
this House in coming to a decision on a Bill which %vas
brought before them. I understand that when Mr.
Brnnell—a gentleman whose name must be fami-
liar to you for the great ability, great ex-
perience, and great acuteness exhibited by him,
when you heard him in being examined before. think the Committee on the London and Oxford, and
London, Worcester, and Rugby Railways, gave
evidence :—" The prices are so increased, that the lines
mentioned (the London and Oxford) cannot be con-
structed at their setled prices. The materials for the
construction of railways is now 50 per cent. higher
than at this time last year." At this point of the pro-
ceedings the Chairman said that the Committee thought it
unnecessary to hear any more evidence on the London
and OxfOrti line ; and after the room had been cleared
ad,l
enotd obeen h proved.ese. kinds fetfh eexpe ns
materialse
necessary for the construction
for a few minutes, the CemiaitVee "dechired thar the
labour—of course the estimates of the rail-
way company must
hp
ar esa
som by
al ea ot
ef r
land, and
be
affected. The cost of executing
of rail way—such as iron,
thatiall y aiNtivchr ca
that these circum-
stances of their pro-
wou wg
ld rnuit a withdrawal
the line must be increadsoedh,oatndsatyheprospeet of profit
must be diminished. I