The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-06 00:00:00

11 N, FEBRUARY 6, 1846.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)

THURSDAY, FEB. 5.
The following Petitions for Railway Bills were referred to the
Select Committee on Petitions for Private Bills :
Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway (Barnsley

•
Branch). - •
Sheffield, Ashton under Lyne, and Manchester Railway (Whaley
Bridge and Hayfield Branches).
Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway (Dukinfield,
Worsborough, and Glossop Branches and Sheffield Station).
Manchester and Hyde Railway.
Richmond Railway (Kew Branch).
Wilts, Somerset, and Southampton Junction Railway.
Midland and Eastern Counties Railway (Cambridge to Weedon).
Derby, Gainsborough, and Great Grimsby Junction Railway.
Chester and Manchester Direct Railway.
Shrewsbnry, Oswestry, and Chester Junction Railway Extension and

Deviations.
North Wales Mineral Railway Deviation and Branches.
Mi.. ...field and; Manchester Railway and Canal (Bradford Branch).
She Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway (Ashton
Can • rchase).
Manches and Leeds Railway Extensions, Sze.
Dunblane, Donne, and Callander Railway.
East and West India Docks and Birmiegbam Junction Railway.
Shrewsbury, Osweatry, and Chester Junction Railway.
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal (Oldham Branch).
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal
(Huddersfield
Diversion and Cooper-bridge Branch).
Bristol and Exeter Railway (Crewkerne Branch).
Edinburgh, Leith, and (iranton Railway Amendment.
GlaSgow and Belfast Union Railway.
Derby and Crewe Junction Railway.
Mildou, Witham, and Braintree Railway.
Lynn and Ely, and Ely and Huntingdon, and Lynn and Derebam

Railway Companies Amalgamation.
Thames Haven Dock and Railway.
Midland Railway (Burton-upon-Trent to .IsTuneaton Branch and

Ashby Canal Purchase).
Ilidland Railway (Leicester and Swannington Alteration and

Branches). _
London and Brighton and London & Croydonßailways Consolidation.
Eastern Counties Railway ( Hertford to Huntingdon).
Midland Railway (New Cross to Newark).
Eastern Counties Itatiwsy (Tottenham to Barnet).
Aftalgnd itauway (Darfield to Eisecar and other Branches).
Wiltts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway.
Monmouth and Hereford Railway.;
West Londnn Railway Improvement and Extension.
Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction Railway.
Launceston and South Devon Railway (No. 2).
Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Carlisle Branch Railway.
North Gravesend Railway.
Norfolk Railway Extensions (Thetford and Reedham Branches).
Dundee and Arbroath Railway Extensions.
Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway and Tyne Dock.
Manchester, Midland, and Great Grimsby Junction Railway.
Glasgow, Barrhead, &Neilston Direct Railway (Branches to Paisley).
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Polloc and Govan Branch).
Scottish Midland Junction Railway Branches.
Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow Direct Railway.
Scottish Midland Junction Railway (South Inch of Perth Branch).
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan Railway.
Bridgewater and Taunton Canal, Railway, and Harbour.
Birkenhead and Llangollen Railway.
Grand Trunk, or Stafford and Peterborough Union Railway.
Norfolk Railway Extensions, Yarmouth Extension.
Bedford and Cambridge Extension Railway.
Midland Railway. Nottingham and Mansfield Railway.
London and Blackwall Railway (Widening).
Cambridge and Lincoln Extension, and Lincoln, York and Leeds

Junction Railway.
Taff Vale Railway.
Furness and Windermere Railway.
Birmingham, Lichfield, and Manchester Railway.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh, and Direct Glasgow Junction

Railway. _
Edinbuagh and Perth Railway.
West Cornwall Railway,
Manchester and Poole Railway (Luggershall, Salisbury;and Poole).
Dundee and Perth Railway Amendment.;
Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway (Extension, No. 1).
Worcester, Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway.
Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction Railway.
London, Salisbury, and Yeovil Junction Railway.
Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway Extension (No. 3).
Eastern Counties Railway (March and Lincoln Extension).
Midland, Barnsley, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Leeds, and Bradford Railway.
Chichester, Portsmouth, and Faraham Railway.
Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway Extension (No. 2).
Eastern. Counties Railway (Epping Extension).
Waterford and Tramore Railway.
South Yorkshire Railway and Canal.
Dublin and Kingstown Extension Railway.
Enfield and Edmonton Railway.
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Bridge of Weir Branch).
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Harbour Branch).
Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction Railway Terminus.
Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway (Branches to

Thornliebank, Househill, and Hurlet).
Oldham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birkenhead Junction Railway.
Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, and Nottingham and Grantham

Junction Railway.
Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway.
East Coast Railway.
Dublin and Enniskillen Railway.
Goole and Doncaster Railway.
Dartmouth, Brixharn, and Exeter Railway.
North of Norfolk Railway.
East Lancashire Railway Deviation and Branches.
Macclesfield and Lichfield Railway.
East Dereham and Norwich Railway..
West LancaShire Railway.

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE.
' THURSDAY, FEB. 5.
Glasgow Harbour Mineral Railway—Committee on Petition, Fri-
day, Feb. 13.
. Gloucester' Dean Forest Railway—Committee on Petition,
Friday, Feb. 13.

Bridgewater and Minehead Railway and Pier—Committee on
Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
=Chelmsford and Bury Rallway—Committee on Petition, Friday,
Feb. 13. _ _

Welsh Midland Railway-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13. i
Lancashire and North Yorkshire Railway--Committee on Petition,
Friday, Feb. 13.
London and Croydon (Thames Junction Branch) Railway-Com-
mittee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
• Direct Northern Railway-Committee on Petit!Oraleriday, Feb. 13.
East Lothian Central and Tyne Valley Junction Railway-Com-
mittee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
York and Carlisle Railway-Committee on Petition,Frlday, Feb.l3.
Hull and Selby Railway Purchase-Committee on Petition, Fri-
day, Feb. 13.
Cornwall Railway-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway-Committee on Petition, Fri-
day, Feb. 13.
Shropshire Union Railway (Newton to Crewe, with Branches)-
Committee en Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Chester and Wolverhamp-
ton llne)-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Shrewsbury and Stafford
Railway)-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
London, Warwick, Leamington, and Kidderminster Railway-
Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction Railway and Pier-Com-
mittee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
South Staffordshire Junction Railway (No. 4-Willenhall and
Bleswich Branch) -Committee en Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Lincoln, Wainfleet Haven, and Boston Railway-Committee on
Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
South Staffordshire Junction Railway (No. 3-Showhill and Porto-
bello Branch)-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Asholme, Gainsborough, and Goole and York, and North Midlands
Junction Railway-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway (Peak
Forest and Macclesfield Canal Purchases)-Committee on Petition,
Friday, Feb. 13.
South Staffordshire Junction Railway with Branches-Committee
Junction Railway (No. 2 -Bilston or Priest-
onsLiettihtiositert, Friday, Feb.
ju
Priest-
field Branch)-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway (Chesterfield and Gains-
borough Canal)-Committee on Petition, Friday, Feb. 13.
Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway (Caledonian
Junction)-Committee on Petition, Monday, Feb. 164
-Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway (Bathgate
Branch)-Committee on Petition, Monday, Feb. 16.
Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway-Committee on
Petition, Monday, Feb 16.
Monkland and Kirkintillock Railway (Chapel Hale Branch)-
Committee on Petition, Monday, Feb. 16.
Ballochney. Railway (Shotts Branch)-C ommittee on Petition
Monday, Feb. 16.
Carnwath and West 4 Linton Railway-Committee on Petition,
Monday, 'Feb. 16.
Limerick, Ennis, and lClllaloe Railway--Committee on Petition,
Monday, Feb. 16. •
Mountmellic Junction Railway-Committee on Petition, Monday,
Feb. 16.
Great Southern and Western Railway (Cork Extension)-Com-
mittee on Petition, Monday, Feb. 16.
Killarney Junction Railway-Committee on Petition, Monday,
Feb. 16.
Staines and Henley Railway-Committee on Petition, adjourned
till Monday, Feb. 9.
London and South Western (Salisbury Junction) Railway-Com-
mitttee on Petition, adjourned till Thursday, Feb. 12.
London and S outh Western (Basingstoke and Salisbury Extension
Railway-Committee on Petition, adjourned till Thursday, Fob. 12. i

SELECT COMMITTEE ON RAIL

WAYS.

The following is a copy of the report anxiously looked for,
of the Committee of the House of Commons on Railways.
It was laid upon the table of the House last night :

FIRST REPORT.

The Select Committee appointed to consider the mode in
which the House shall deal with the Railway Bills proposed
to be submitted to the House during the present session,
and who are empowered to report from time to time to the
House. have considered the matters referred to them, and
agreed to the following Report :
That for the purpose of facilitating the dispatch of railway
business during the present session, it is expedient that a
portion of the Railway Bills should commence m the House
of Lords.
That with respect to say Railway Bills which, in pursu-
ance of the resolutions, shall commence in the House of
Lords during this session, this House will net insist
on their privilege with regard to the clauses fixing and re-
gulating rates and tolls in such Bills.
That with a view of affording early and increased means
of employment in Ireland, it is expedient to give facilities
for the early consideration of Irish Railway Bills.
That, for the attainment of this object, it is expedient that
all Irish Railway Bills should, in the present session, com-
mence in the House of Lords.
That it is expedient that all Bills which compete with or
ought to be considered in connexion with any Bills, the pro-
moters of which shall prove themselves entitled to the pri-
vileges agreed to be granted in certain cases by the resolu-
tions of this House of the 7th July last, shall commence in
the House of Lords.
That the parties promoting Railway Bills which, by the
above resolutions, are to commence in the House of Lords,
may (notwithstanding any proceeding respecting such Bills
in the House of Lords) prove before the Committee on Peti-
tions of the House of Commons that they have complied with
the standing orders of this House, and the report of such
Committee shall be ordered to lie on the table. If the Com -
mittee should report that the standing orders have not been
complied with, their report shall be referred to the Com-
mittee on Standing Orders, whose report shall be ordered to
lie on the table.
That when a Railway Bill shall have commenced in the
House of Lords, and shall be sent down to the House of Com-
mons from the house of Lords, it shall be read the first time
in the House of Commons, and shall then be referred to the
Committee on Petitions, to ascertain whether the Railway
Bill so sent down is substantially in accordance with the
standing orders, as determined by the House of Commons.

A NEW IRON STEAMER.—On Thursday a party of
gentlemen made an experimental trip from Blackwall to
Sheerness in a beautiful new iron steamer called " Le Che-
min de fer Beige," which has just been built by Messrs.
Ditchburn and Mare for the Belgian Government. The en-
gines have been supplied by Messrs. Maudesley, and are of
the finest construction. The distance between the two
points was run in little more than two hours. The Belgian
Chargé d'Affaires; M. Drouet, the Secretary to the Legation;
M. Delepierre, Major Lahure, and Lieutenant Quiette, were
on board, and expressed themselves highly pleased with the
speed and accommodation of the vessel. The " Chemin de
fer Beige " is intended to run as a mail-packet between Ostend
and Dover.
A BOY SHOT BY nrs BROTHEL.—On Thursday
morning, Augustus Hopeton, aged fourteen, the son of Martin
Hopeton, Esq., of Broomfield Villa, Holloway, was accident
ally shot by .a younger brother, whilst they- were firing at
sparrows in their father's garden. The youth was wounded
on the thigh and legs by the shot, but not dangerously.

EFFECTS OF SIR ROBERT PEEL'S MEASURES.
DUBLIN, FEB. 4.—The most absurd alarms prevail, in va-
rious parts of this country, as to the immediate tendency of
the measures proposed by Sir Robert Peel in producing
ruinously low prices for corn and cattle. As an example of
the extravagant delusions on this subject the Cork Reporter
of yesterday says :
" Such has been the effect on the markets in this city, in
consequence of the enunciation of the intended change in the
corn-laws, that they are at present flooded with provisions.
At Saturday's potato market there were 400 loads brought
in for sale, against 307 the previous week, and every
anxiety was evinced to dispose of them at reduced prices.
The cattle market on Saturday was also crowded with
beasts of all descriptions, there bs,ing over 2,000 pigs on
sale, and offering at a reduction of 3s. a cwt. on the pre-
vious day's prices, yet buyers did not evince any desire to
purchase even on those terms, and many of them left the
market unsold. The number in the market yesterday twelve
months Was 800, and yesterday it amounted to over 1,300.
Black cattle and sheep were exhibited in proportionably
Aarge numbers. This increase has been caused entirely by
the proposed measures contemplated to be brought into ope-
ration by the Minister, the country people being under an
apprehension that there will be such an influx of foreign
corn and provision as to reduce the prices considerably of
home produce."

These alarms will ba dissipated before many days. In
Dublin, and generally throughout Ireland, the grain and
cattle markets have been scarcely affected, and an adv-ance,
instead of a serious reduction, is likely to take place early in
the spring. Indeed, there actually lies been an advance in
the Dublin cattle market within the last week.
THE FREE-TRADERS OF BELFAST.

The Northern Whig contains the following gratifying
statement :—" It is with the highest gratification that we
have to record the extent of public feeling in Belfast in
favour of the abolition of the corn-laws. A short time
since a petition was prepared praying the House of Com-
mons to pass a law for 'the immediate and unconditional
abolition of all duties upon foreign corn imported—a mea-
sure required alike by sound policy, humanity, and com-
mon sense.' This petition has been signed with a prompti-
tude, and to an extent never equalled in the case of any
other petition from this town. On Saturday W. Pirie, Esq.,
carried it with him for London, to place it in the hands of
our very worthy representative, Mr. Ross, who will give it
his cordial and able support; and Lord John Chichester, the
other Member for the town, has been written to, with a re-
quest that he will also support it—a request which we hope
he will, after such an overwhelming expression from his con-
stituents, feel it his duty to comply with. The petition was
upwards of 36 yards in length, and had 14,400 signatures, in-
cluding those of persons of all parties, religious and political.
Among the names were those of the great body of the leading
gentlemen of Belfast. The signatures in the Commercial
News-room, which the leading commercial and manufactur-
ing gentlemen of the town are in the habit of frequenting,
amounted to 300 ; and from this fact the extent of support
to free trade given by the merchants and manufacturers of
Belfast may be estimated. The Dublin Evening Packet,
sneered at the 90 gentlemen who invited Mr. Cobden to Bel-
fast ; we request our Contemporary to let his readers know
that 14,400 names have been affixed to a petition from Bel-
fast in favour of 'the immediate and unconditional abolition
of all duties upon foreign corn.' The Dublin Evening Mail,
in a paroxysm of excitement, asks, foolishly, what the flax-
spinners of Belfast, among others, will think of Sir Robert
Peel's measure. We reply, that there is not one flax-spinner
in Belfast who is not a free-trader."
THE POTATO DISEASE.
NENAGii, FEB. 4.—We continue to receive the most dis-
tressing accounts of the fearful progress of the disease from
various quarters. In the King's County the complaipts are
universal. In this county the disease has gone on with
amazing celerity within the last three weeks—many persons
on examining their pits have found their potatoes, in some
instances, altogether useless—not even fit for pigs or cattle.
In several districts the poor are pining in the utmost misery ;
but with unequalled fortitude and patience, hoping even
where there is nothing but religion to assuage their
wretchedness. The heavy and constant rains of the last few
weeks—raining almost without intermission—have done
great injury ; and the softness of the weather otherwise
tends, in a great measure, to produce that fermentation of the
potato, which causes its destruction as an article of fowl.

CLOSING OF THE PORT-HOLES.
The ports have not been opened, but the Government have
determined to close the port-holes in their absurd fortifica-
tions erected throughout Ireland during the state trials. The
following curious paragraph appears in the Tipperary Vin-
dicator :
" CLONMEL. —Whilst the public mind has been in a state
of agitation here on the subject of the corn-laws, and whilst
politicians were busy discussing the political consistency of
Sir Robert Peel, an order arrived from head-quarters to close
theports ; and her Majesty's Honourable Board of Ordnance
have commenced operations already, for the port-holes in the
barrack walls are all closed, and there is no more siga of
Clonmel being a fortified town at the present moment, than
if millions of stalwart repealers never had pledged them-
selves to repeal the union; even those unightly show-boxes
which overhang the barrack-gates, are about to be removed,
and not a wreck will be allowed to remain behind to prove
the vigorous efforts made in '44 by the' strong Government,'
in the futile expectation of coercing the patriots of our loved
island-home into forgetfulness of their country."

RAILWAY SHAPE IVIARKETS.
11A.NCEIESTER, ns. 5.

STOCK E XCHANGE. The sales are -Birkenhead and Holyhead
Junction, I%
.dis. c.— Clitheroe Junction, Is. p.—Direct Northern, 3
dis.—Eastem Counties, 112% Grai d Union, 14 p.--Hudderstleld and
Sheffield Junction, 13% p.—Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 5-16
p. c.—Leicester and Birmingham, % die.— Liverpool and Bury, %
p.—Ditto, New Shares, 3 1-16 p.—LiverpooLi Manchester, and
Newcastle Junction, % p. —Liverpool, Oruisklrk, and Preston, 2% p.
—Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, and Southport, %
don and York, 1% p. e.— Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Mid-
land, 17 p.— Manchester and Biz mingluun, 78 —3d anchester and
Birmingham Continuation and Welsh Junction, Ni dis.—Manchester
and Leeds, Fifths, 11 p.—Ditto, Extension, 37 p.—Northumber-
land and Lancashire, % dis.— Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters,
No. 2,614 p.— Shrewsbury and Herefordshire, % dis.—West Lanca-
shire Coast, par—West Riding Union, 4% p.