The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-17 00:00:00

Tilt SUN, LONDON, -WEDNESDAY MORNIVG, JUNE 11, 1846.

that should be incompatible with the interests of the public
and the companies concerned. Now these were the simple
conclusions at which they had arrived. And the Hon. Mem-
ber opposite would hear in mind that, in the first instance, the
Caledonian was considered to be the best for Scotland at large,
and they left the question as to the best railway accommodation
for the western district to a future decision. They were de-
cidedly of opinion that that district should be immediately p
vided with railway accommodation. He had felt himself called
upon to lay this short statement of facts before the House.
Mr. ESTCOIJRT rose, and was almost inaudible in the
gallery, but we understood him to say that he was glad he had
heard the opinions of the Chairman of the Committee
last year. He begged the House to recollect that that Com-
mittee hail given its oecesinn on evidence such as was laid
before them, and th.' facts as they were there stated no doubt
appeared to justify that decisi n. Both schemes went into
Committee, and that Committee it seemed preferred one of
them on the grounds then laid down. But that evi-
-1 denee was also introduced, no doubt. by the Ntths-
dale Cemp,ny, and that was the time when the Caledonian
ought. to have opposed it ; now to come in and oppose it,
however good a lice it might be, however coovvnient for the
country, was too much. All that had been done by the com-
mittee of this year was, that they disallowed one expression
used in the dec sten of last year's committee, "that there was
not sufficient traffic for both lines," and gave it as their opinion
in the decision they had come to, that there was traffic enough
for both lines.
Mr. AINSWORTH said that an impression seemed to have
been made on several Members of the House that the Corn-
mitteto Of this year refused to hear evidence ; such seemed to
be the impression made on the Hon. Member for Perth.
What had been said in that. Committee was simply that they
were ready to receive all information that might be offered on
the merits of the line, but they had nothing to say with
ought that had been done by a Committee of last year.
They listened with the greatest attention to the whole of the
immense quantity of evidence atiduced before them in order that
they might come to a just decision on the merits of the Bill. It
had been stated that the Caledonian and \inlaid ale were rival lines
but this was not so, and he considered the distinction drawn by
the Hon. Member for Oxford was a fir one. The Caledonian
was given last year as a direct line to the north, and without
the slightest regard to affording railway communication to the
eastern and western district sof Scotland; it was not granted with
any view to intersect those rich mineral and agricultural dis-
tricts. They had the evidence of parties from Kilmarnock
and from the mineral districts, and of every landed
proprietor, all of whom were praying that the Nithsdale
line might be made, as it would promote the interests of
the country at large ; in short, they had the evidence,
it seemed, of the whole population, whose prayer was. to the
same effect, and the country from Dumfries up to Kilmarnock
had been illumninated by the decision of the Committee.—
( Hear, hear.) And there could be no doubt that it would he a
very great. benefit to the whole country at large. It appeared to
him the: the Committee lest year looked forward to this
Caledonian line as connecting the South with the North of
Scotland, and the Committee this year viewed it in this light
when they refused to pass the North British Railway. as
they considered it would cempete with the ('ale-
d .nion Railway; out they could not take that view of the
Dumfriesshire line, as no reason was adduced why the im-
portant districts of Dumfriesshire, Kilmarnock, and Ayrshire,
should not have the communication with the Dumfries line.
—( Loud cries of" Divide, divide.")
Mr. LOCKHART considered that the Committee were
justified in passing the Dumtrit sahire project, brit that they
were not justified in cutting off branches projected by the
Caledonian, which in the aggregate amounted to seventy miles.
Mr. EWA RT said, as he represented the district which the
Nithsdale railway was proposed to traverse ( Dumftiesshire), he
wished to state that upon its Success depended in a great mea-
sure the prosperity of those large districts. He would not say
one word more, except to express his hope, that after
the unanimous opinion of the House and of the Honour-
able Member for Oxford in favour of the project,
the Hen. Member (Mr. H. Johnstone) would not per-
severe in his motion. ( The Hen. Gentleman sat down amidst
loud cries of Divide, divide ")
Air. CUR:FELS wished to ask the Honourable Member for
Renfrewahire whether he was a reader of the Edinburgh Ad-
vertic,r.—;Cries of " Divide, divide ") He wished to ask
the Honourable Member this question, be-ause he thought it a
most unbecoming thing for any Hon. Gentleman so go to a
public meeting and say chit the decision of the C .mmittee
was a partial one, for that was what the remake of the Hon.
Gentleman amounted to. Ile stated that the e-mmitiee had
been dazzled by the case attempted to he made nut
by the promoters.—(Loud ores of "Divide, divides")
He did think there was something very in im-
proper, and indeed something very unfair, the
remarks made against the cha'rman of that Ce emit-tee. He
did nor care one farthing whether they set asitit• the decision
of the Committee or not; he did not care in the
slightest degree whether or not they upset the vote
of the Committee; but he would say what was
the use of sending Bills before a Committee when
the decision of that. Committee was to be opposed in that
House by Hon. Member. for no other rea'en than that they
differed from that decision? All the Scotch Members in that
House were up in arms against the decision of the
Committee.—(Great confusion.) He believed that there was a
Gentleman who had just entered the House who expressed
himself very strongly at a puhlie meeting astainst the decision
of the Committee, and ice believed that the Hon. Member
went so far as to say that the decision of the Committee was
not a fair one. He would not allow any oe to say that he had
been influenced by any but the most impartial motives
in voting in that Committee, and he would take the
first opportunity of fully contradicting that imputation when
he met that gentleman in private. He thought such conduct
was most unprecedented and unworthy. He wished to know
if the Hon. Member had rest the report of that meeting in
the Edi,tburyk Act-rtiser. He would hand ,he paper to the Hon.
Member for his perusal.—( Leud cries of " Divide, divide,"
during which the Hon. Member handed the paper to Mr. P.
Stewart.) TU. Hon. Member proceeded amidst great confusion.
Hon. Members ought not to g t to public meetings where all
were on one side, and there attack a Committee who could not
be present to deny or con raven what wa‘ stated.—(Hear. )
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw.
On our te-admissiow, aler an exclusion of nearly two hours,
we found that the numbers were—
For the motion that the report be considered ll9
For the amendment
Majority
Mr. HUVIE then objected to the votes of some Hon. Mean.
bens, as they were interested in a pecuniary manner in the
railway.
A long discussion then ensued, and the House again divided,
when the numbers were—

permit any line to be made upon any other than the gauge of
4 feet 811 inches. This recommendation the Government pro-
posed to carry out with certain modificaiious, which could be
seen from the resolutions he was about to submit to *' :house.
He knew it would be difficult to resist the a, ~station, which
would doubtless be made, for making lines in connexion with
the Great Western. fle hoped, however, that if the House
should sanction the resolutions which he would propose to the
House, that it would elf ctually prevent parties from coming
forward to construct bread gauge lines in the country north of
the Great Western Railway. It was owing to the utter im-
possibility of effecting any uniforrnil of gauge by any
equable mode of proceeding—either by compelling
the Great Western to lay down the narrow gauge
on their line, at their own expense er at the ex-
pense o the Crowe--chat the Government felt it their
duty to propose ft: the consideration of the House the resolu-
tiot of which he had given notice. The House must bear in
mind that the Great Western Company had led the wey in all
the great improvements whict, had taken place in railway tra-
velling. The narrow gauge had nosv nearly coma up to the
speed of the bread gauge. Taking all the circumstances into
considextion, he was not prepared to state that. there was any
superiority in the case of the broad over the narrow gauge.
He would, therefore, mova the resolutions of which he had
given notice:-
1. That no line shall hereafter be formed on any other
than the four feet eight and a half inch gauge, excepting
lines to the south of the existing line from London to Bristol,
and excepting ant-ill branches of a few miles in length, in
immialiate connexion with the Great Western. Railway ; but
that no such line as above excepted shall be sanctioned by
Parliament, unless a special report shall have been made by
the Committee on the Bill, setting forth the reasons which
have lad t.he Committee to advise that such live should be
formed on any other than the four feet eight and a half inch
gauge.
2. That, unless by the consent of the Legislature, it shall
not be permitted to the directors of any railway company to
alter the gauge of such railway.
3. That, in order to complete the general chain of narrow
gauge communication from the north of England to the
southern coasts, and to the port of Bristol, any suitable
measures should be promoted to form a narrow gauge link
from Gloucester to Bristol, and also from Oxford to Ba-ing-
stoke, or by any shorter route connecting the proposed Rugby
and Oxford line with the South-Western Railway.
4. That the South Wales line, and its branches to Mon-
mouth and Hereford, should be permitted to be formed on
the broad gauge, as sanctioned by their Act.
5. That the Rugby and Oxford line, and the Oxford, Wor-
cester, and Wolverhampton line, should be permitted to be
formed on the broad gauge, as sanctioned by their Acts :
that the Lords of the C rn:nittee of Privy Council for Trade
shall exercise the powers conferred upon them by the several
Acts, and shall require that additional narrow gauge rails
shall forthwith be laid down from Rugby to Oxford, and
from Wolverhampton to the junction with the Birmingham
and Gloucester line; and that if it should hereafter appear
that there is a traffic requiring accommodation on the narrow
gauge from the Staffordshire districts to the southern coast,
any suitable measure shall be promoted by Parliament to
form a narrow g.iuge link from Oxford to the line of the
Birmingham and 61,1w:ester Railway.
Mr. LA BOUCHERE said that the question which the
Right Hon. Gentleman had submitted to the House was one
of the most important with respect to the railway interests of
the country that could be submitted. He confessed that if he
thought that it was necessary for the public interest of the
country that all the railways throughout the country should be
on the narrow gauge, it would not be the expense of the
alteration of the gauge that would deter him from supporting
the alteration He did not wish to enter into any discussion
of the merits of the two gauges. But any one who had
travelled on the Great Western must have felt that it was an
easy mode of travelling, and that the railway was a great un-
dertaking,. Look, again, at the effect of competition on rail-
ways of different gauges. Taking these circumstances into
consideration, and looking at the fact that the railway system
was still in its infancy, he should feel no difficulty
in pronouncing an opinion against the broad gauge. He
thought there were eels in a diversity of gauge, which would in-
duce the House to say. neto is paribus, that railways of different
constructions 'o the p, esent might be created. There was one
part of the resontion- on which he would venture to threw out
some hints for the coesideration of the Right Hon. Gentleman.
There was one point which recommended that both the broad
and the narrow gauge should be constructed on the same line.
He was of (Tinier' that that doubt.; system should be admitted
or:ly in special cases. In the case of the Birmine.am and Ox-
ford, and the Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolverhampton Rail-
ways, he would suggest to the Government whether it
might not be allowed to establish the double line, and
also in cases of the like description. He held that the decision
on the gauges should he decided by public opinion alone, and
that no hoard, whatever might be their authority, should be
suffered to pronounce a dictum which could not be appealed
from. The Hon. Gentleman then briefly adverted to the ex-
ercise of the powers conferred on the Board of Trade, and
concluded by saying that he was of opinion that the Govern-
ment had adopted the hest course under the circumstances that
it was possible for them to adopt.
Mr. HUME could not. agree with the Government in the
course that they were now taking. He would fully confess
that formerly he was in favour of the broad gauge, and it was
only since he had perused the report of the Board of Trade
that he was at all altered in his opinion. He thought
the Commis-ioners had come to a wise judgment—they had
stated that it. break of gauge was a great inconvenience. The
broad gauge had been carried on with great public spirit, but
still he was not satisfied that it was the more proper. The
railways extended, he believed, to 2.200 miles, and he wished
to ask himself whether it was possible to have a universal broad
gauge? He thought that every additional mile that was added
to the broad gauge, was only increasing the difficulty of rail-
way legislation. He hoped that the House would agree to the
first resolution of the Commissioners, that the gauge of rail-
way should not exceed tour feet and a half. He thought the
intentions of the Government, if carried out, would only in-
crease the difficulty in which the gauges were already enve-
loped. Perhaps an intermediate gauge might be found, in
after years, to be superior to either the broad or the narrow
gauge. The opinion of the House ought to limit, at least for
the present, the construction of railways to the narrow gauge
alone. He would submit, in answer to the motion of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, the following amendment:—That the
gauge of 4 feet 81, inches be declared by the Legislature to be
the gauge to be used in the cer.struction of all railways, in
after years, in Great Britain.
*lie G. Cl 2 & V thn.ght, in order to prevent the Great
Western Company from completing their continuous line to the
Western Coast, by means of the Cornwall and South Devon Rail-
way, it would be necessary to allow the Right Hon. Gentleman's

For the motion
For the amendment
Majority against the Bill _.--4 only increase speculation in the market, and he thought that
Mr. EW ART suggested that the motion should be post- until some tangible schemes were produced, the House
poned for a week. It was in van for the House to purify its should suspend its judgment. He should decidedly object to
Committees if it admitted of such verdicts in its own body ; the fourth resolution. The South Wales railway had already
verdicts obtained by the most indirect motives. been passed, ard the broad gauge line had been declared to
After some remarks from Mr. GREENE, which did not be the proper gauge for it. The same remark applied to the
reach the gallery. Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, with the excep-
Mr. CH RIsTIE said that under all the circumstances this tion that the Board of Trade possessed the power of corn•
second division must have been anticipated. 'The motion was yelling the company to lay down rails on the narrow gauge.
lost by a majority of two, and it wpeared that there were two With these exceptions he was prepared to support the substance
directors of the Caledonian Company amongst the maj=ority. of the resolutions.
The HOH,P ought to alto x further time for consideration. Mr. E, ELLICE had adjourned the Committee of which
Mr. WARD said, that the observations made by the Hon. he was chairman that day in order to get at the
Altmber were most unfair. 121 Members had vied on one opinion of the House with respect to the gauges
side, and 119 on the other. How ma-1 Members did the on the Bristol and Birmingham line at the Gloucester
Hon. 31ember require to give their vote• in order that the and Stonehouae Junction- The Midland Company proposed
senseof he House en a private all might la, ascertained ? to alter the broad gauge between Storiehouse and Bristol to
Lord PALMERSTON suggested 'he adjournment of the the narrow gauge ; hut such a proceedir'r was contrary to the
debate, which would mere fairly meet the views of all parties, spirit of the resolutions of the fituse. He had been teased
and eoncluded by mnving the adjournment of the debate. with the opinions of counsel on the subject, and had heard a
The SPEAKER then put the question, and after some multitude of witnesses, but could not form a competent opi-
further eonversation. nion. He bail at'j ,urned his Committee for the opinion of the
Mr. LA BOITCHERE strongly urged upon the House the Government. sa that he might be guided in coming to judg-
necessity for supeerting the decisions of its Committees, and ment on the subject.should be most happy to let the House have another opportu- Mr. CHARLES RUSSELL
of herSSELL Majesty'swassaid,itGovernment,
obviesinteentti, and
ntde
nity of considering this question. support the v.sout
Mr. P A KING TON agreed with the Hon. Gentleman should oppose the
ottersain en
of
tiethe broad gauge to alter et.ltwouldbe aagery theireatinjguastuigece
that it was most important for the House to sui•port and to compel the supi'
respect the decision of its Committees, but this was a very par- to the willow line, after the imme .se sums they had expended
ticular case. It in fact established a dangeroua precedent, and in the broad gauge. He had no objection to the repoi tof the
showed the inconvenience wsich resulted from a Committee of Board of Trade ; it was plain, short, and above all it was prac-
this year reversing the decision of the Committee of last year. ticable. The broad gauge was to have possession of one side
For his part he was ready to agree to an adjournment, but he of the country, and the narrow gauge the other; and the report
confessed he felt strongly disposed to support. the Committee of ordered that in particular cases the narrow gauge should be
last year.—( Hear, hear.) laid down in addition to the broad. The Government he
Mr. AINSWORTH psinted out to the House that the evi- thought had acted wisely in not binding themselves to either
denee brought before the Committee of last year was entirely gauge; that was in not expressing itself in favour of the narrow
different to that which induced the Committee of this year to gauge. The broad gaOge had advantages over the narrow,
pass the Bill. He should support the motion of the Hon. independently of speed and power. It afforded more accom
!Member for Kilmarnock. modation to trade, and was far more convenient for passengers.
Sir T. COL EBROOKE complained that their legislation He admi ted that a break of gause was attended with some
with regard to railways was most. defective. There was no degree sf inconvenience, but he thought the evil, it evil it
principle to guide them. and the consequence was the decision could be calied had been greatly exaggerated. They had as
of one Committee wa., not binding upon another. Something yet only the experience of one break of gauge, and that occurred
ought to be done to render their system more binding and at the juiettiou of two lines whose proprietors were opposed to
uniform. and more in accordance with the principles of common each (steer, or rather the narrow gauge company adopted
sense,
a policy - antigenistic to the broad gauge company. The
The House then divided on Lord Palmerston's motion for bread g.uge, it had been proved beyond a doubt, could he
adjournment, when there appeared— worked more ecouosnisally than the narrow, and this enabled a
For the motion
• .
Against it
Maj airy in favour of it
On our return to the gallery are found Great Western district, ought to be changed. The Great
Mr. PARKER suggesting tha, both the Bills should be Western Company had done all they could to effect that object,
postponed for R twei„,non,e, and then parties would have an bnt hitherto with,,ut success. They had offered to convert the
opportunity of reconsidering their respt etive pttsitions.
Mr. HU%IE said there had been a goon deal of crimlnatir n narrow into the broad gauge, or to lay down an additional
and restaintnatien indulged in in the progress ot this discussion ,
on the part of some Hun, Members, but tieingthe humble ; line on the broad gauge, but it had been refused. Still, how-
ever, the Great Western Company did not object to the reso.
to assure the douse that he did it upon principle, and vitaduit.
vidual who suggested that the votes should be ed.begged`m lutions. and he, for one, should glee them his most cordial
rested, hesupport.
the sliehest intention of wounding the feelings of any Hon. Mr. CHOLMONDELY said it was important that some
MeAmftbeerr.a—fe(wHweaarr,dabefaror..)
Mr. BOUVEPIE, tribunal should be established to whom should be referred dis-
puted questions as to the applicability of either gauges to par-
ticular districts, or great injustice must eventually be inflicted
Mr. HUDSON expre•sed it as his opinion that the uestio
ought to be discussed, not. in the light of a private measure, bunt on many parties. He would mention a case where injustice
as a .natter of public policy. He protested against being through the
done through the want of such a tribunal, or rather
thought to have any shares in this undertaking. At the same h the decision of the Board of Trade. The House was
time he believed that shareholders, if there were any in the awate that the Great Western line already went to Oxford,
while last year a Bill was passed for extending it on to Wor-
House. and if they voted at all, would Tote on public grounds,
aud consider only the public interests. The Hon. Gentleman center and Wolverhampton. Now after, or perhaps before, the
sat down amid lairs
After a few words from the mover and seconder is reply, be a gre t public advantage, particularly to Irishtraffic,
traffic, if that line were continued on from Worcester,
the House divided, when there appeared—
through Wales, to Portdynllaen, but it was discovered that the
Against the amendment
In favour of it
Majority against the amendment
Deny. Ultimately however the Great Weatern Com an seeing
the necessity of shortening tne cummunicatton between the
were ordered to lie on the table.
metropolis and Ireland, were induced to take up such a scheme,
BATTLE OF THE GAUGES. and last session it was sanctioned by a Committee of that
Mr. GREENE pre•ented a petition from a number of House, and it stood in the other House in the position of apri-
carriers of the metropolis praying the House to adopt some vileged Bill. Now, if these resolutions were carried, the line
measures to secure the uniformity of gauges. could riot be made upon the broad gauge, and might in con-
Sir G. CLERK r'se to call the attention of the House, sequence be altogether abandoned, or at all events, if it were
carried out, it would involve another break of gauge at
pursuant t.o noiee,to
oafegaaseugeof.
acnodnstiodedreavbislee
some means
tfhove
Worcester. Now he thought this was a hard case, and it
question of uniformity
ihrougtiout the country of a uniform coarse- I served to convince him, he hoped itwould convince the
and
getanngmauisgseion was appointed last year, upon the motion House too, of the necessity of establishing some board or tribunal
to what measures to whom such cases as these could be referred.—( Hear.)
s port, consider
A report had been made Mr. NI. GIBSON saidthe d 11 Railway Company
by
Port yn ean
upon this subject.
e oronat
leastteit
ought not,
should be adapted
and the Board of Trade were requested to having obtained an Act from that House to make
for Sto k
by that Cornmisoinn•thought
by
°tObfrjahieniAnHon. Member .
their resolutions into eff..ct. Their
the
measures coureldobrei andaodpbteedenfelraicdarbr.ylvinrea ,thei
not,tcouldlingtoaubgeeinterhfeered with
consider what practicat
At the same time, when it was question, which might perhaps be a question of law rather than
the House. No person could doubt inconvenience of having ' these resolutions. But he rose for the purpose of asking a
a divetsity .-4- break of gauge.
considered the large sums of mossy which had been ex- .3 a question coming under these resutions. He wanted to
pen led by these companies in constructing their lines, it was know if a railway company, having obtained power to make a
hard to ccompel these parties at their own
sure narrow as well as the broad, although there is no mention of
expense line on the broad gauge, had the power of making it on the
to alter the gauges. It was also a mea
not to be entertained that the charge branch railway was sanctiened on the broad gauge
expensetr of the Crown. Several ingenious mechanical con- last
_a. .
yeyr. a ii and Taunton, and now he understood that the
should he made at the the narrow gauge in their Act ? He asked this question because
ivances had been laid before the Committee fur ti.e purpose from (nv •_. • .
of obviating these evils. The
Government had to consider ! Great Western Western, which was on the narrow gauge, pro-
readythe whole bearing of I;South-
t e case, both with respect to lines al- 1 and the Railway proposed to carry their line to Yeovil,
constructed or those about, ro be constructed The Cain • i osed to carry theirs
merely a continuation of the Great Western Railway. should be ; to make . the last session were anxious
missionere considered. that the South * t the branch passed in
Devon line, which was !promotersp o
,
t o Taunton,
narrow
a s wel
l andas
the
ee
hcroonasde consequence was the
it upon the
allowed to remain a broad gauge GE ULEBK
line. They also GEO a
desirable that the South Wales should be enable him to j
allowed to be con- ; ledge enough to
Member. He begged
strueted on the broad gauge. There Honourable •
were two lines which ' the •
question of the
.said he had not legal know-
the Honourable Baronet
were passed last year by the Parliament in which I
were inserted compelling the parties to lay down, clauses t, who asked, in reference to the
it was required. a narrow gauge upon these lines. Theslef ' the Member for Devonpor
power was already given to lay
lines were the Oxford and Rugby and the Oxford, Wor- ' Oxford and Rugby line, where
whether it would
l leave to state also, in answer to
ceser, and Wolverhampton. It was proposed by the Com- I -down sanction of the Legislature,
rnissioners to compel the parties forthwith to lay ,be necessarto receive again the
The Member
roots on the broad and narrow gauges,
;that any additional
down the narrow gauge according to the terms of their Acts.for the construe-
Withfor Coventry, the
.chairman of the company
regard to all railways hereafter to be sanctioned, the tion of the the north of
sanction was unnecessary.
connectmg trunk of railway between
roird of Inds proposal Vat to Goveramoat should so gpsitag al va
• A9V". mut, -a has trail Liogby, sqpite4 tht

the terms of the resolutions should be more general.
Be ( Sir G. Clerk) thought it would be better for him to ap-
ply directly to the Board of Trade on the subject, fur the line
betwixt Gloucester and Bristol was peculiarly circumstanced,
and he was certain the Board of Trade would give it their
earliest consideration.

LITERATURE.

TRAVELS OF LADY HESTER STANHOPE.
3 Vas. By her Physician.
What the author of these volumes had commenced in
his previous publication, he has completed in these
Eastern Travels—namely, a copious biography of Lady
Hester Stanhope, the beautiful, accomplished, and ec-
centric nieces of William Pitt. We conceive that in so
doing he has discharged himself of a very important
duty which he owed to his contemporaries and posterity.
Fur it is precisely from works of this description that
we obtain the most correct notion of those domestic re-
lations which not unfrequently influence the p,llVcal
movements of statesmen, and change the whole condi-
tion of an empire. It is from the memoirs of Sully that
we glean our most correct knowledge of the otherwise
hidden machinery of the Government under Henry the
Fourth ; it is from the autobiography of Madame de
Maintenon that we peer into the secret chambers of the
French Court under Louis the Fourteenth ; it is from
the remarkable scholarship of Anna Comnena that we
obtain the principle portion of our information respect-
ing the Byzantine Empire under her brother, the Em-
peror Comnenus. Indeed, if we survey history from
the most antient to the most modern periods, we shall
invariably find that our truest guides to the actuating
sentiments of a legislator are discoverable not in State
documents, not in official statistics, not in dry debates,
but in those lively, anecdotal, and almost flippant bio-
graphies which are given to the world by the minor
actors in the great scene—by men or women who
have associated in familiar life with the more dis-

Air. LABOUC :IERE, who concurred in the views of the

Government, thought, however, it would be more convenient

•
if they would consent to adjourn the present debate and recon-
sider these resolutions, for he thought alter the discussion which
had taken place any amendments that might be introduced
would be very defective. He thought that too much was left
to the dicretion of Committees, and that more should
depend directly on the sanction of the House. Hi 3 principle
was, that the broad gauge ought not to be extended ; always,
of course, presumit.g that no engineering difficulties interfered
to prevent the construction of narrow guage lines. But in the
re,elution proposed, exceptions were made in favour of certain
short branch lines running into the Great Western, which
were to be permitted to lay down the broad eauge. Now, there
was a short line connected with the South Wales Railway—a

short line trom Portsmouth to the Bristol Channel—but it ap-

peared to him most vicious to lay down that line on the nar-
row gauge. He mentioned this only to show the House how
these resolutions would operate in certain cases.
Sir WILDE said, it was the general opinion that the
object of the resolutions was to avoid a break of gauge, and
that these resolutions should be reconsidered. Defects in

them had been suggeste dWhiCh-lie.tl;ouidit attached to them,
but he had heard no answer given upon the subject. These
resolutions ought be reconsidered, for in his opinion they
were deficient. The second resolution, for example, made

certain exception•, yet in reference to these excepted lines,
which had already got the sanction of the Legislature, it wag
said that they were not to alter their gauge without the
sanction of the Legislature. He did not understand what was
meant; they had already gotten the sanction of the
Legislature, and they were compelled to apply for it
again. Again, by the fourth resolution, the South
Wales line and branches into Hereford were to be sanctioned

anguished personage. Hence it was that the pre-
vious publication respecting Lady Hester Stanhope—
though crammed with ridiculous exhibitions of
her vanity and prurient with frivolities—possessed never-
theless an importance, and attracted an attention en.
tirely apart from the literary merits of the composition
or the personal character of the heroine. Every one
turned very naturally to such volumes for some glimpse
of the Prime Miniiter in his morning gown and slippers;
they expected to hear the great orator chatting about
his opponents over the tea-board; they yearned to listen
to his views of contemporar legislation and contempo-
rary legislators, when incited to freedom of remark by
the abandon of social conversation. Nor in these ex-
rectations were they altogether disappointed: much as
we might have experienced a feeling of annoyance at
the interminable harping-upon-self in his niece, we ex-
perienced pleasure notwithstanding at the casual peeps
we thereby obtained of the renowned Prince. In the
travels, however, which conclude the Memoirs of Lady
Hester, we are compelled to give ourselves up entirely
to the romance attrched to that tair adventurer. Pitt
has spoken his last harangue, has plotted his lest in-
trigue; Pitt has drawn his last sad breath in solitude,
in desolation, and almost in obscority; the great Minis-
ter, whose mandate was so recently the guiding voice of
the anti-Napleon monachs, is rotting unremembered in
its coffin.
_Lady Hester Stanhope discovers that the

on the broad gauge. Why, he asked, should these lines be
sanctioned again when they had gotten the sanction of the
Legislature already. The effect of the sth resolution was
equally irregular. For if the House intended to do somethings
as the resolution presumed, why should the Board of Trade
recommend them to do that—why should the House be com-
pelled to do that which it was willing to do ? Surely, he said,
the propositions might be stated in a mariner more worthy of
the dignity of the House, and, therefore, the resolu-
tions might be reconsidered with advantage. The last
resolution was most unparliamentary, for it proposed that
the House should compel the Board of Trade to do some-
thing recommended by the Gauge Commission. The Learned
Gentleman proceeded to comment upon the first resolution, il-
lustrating the inconvenience which would arise from it if ear-
ned out. The Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhsmpten line,
be said, joined the Great Western at Oxford. Was that line,
he wished to ask, to be considered as a connexion with the Great
Western Railway, and would that be among the exceptions
allowed in favour of some short branches running into the main
line of the Great Western ? It was doubtful whether
they would so consider it. Bat if it were, he submitted
that branches cf a few miles in length, though not directly
connected with the Great Western, yet running into the
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, were as much to
be looked upon as branches of the Great Western as thoFe
which fell into it immediately, and therefore to be made excep-
tions under the resolution. He therefore thought that the
words of that resolution ought to be general, and he was sure
that the Right Hon. Baronet would lose no time, and would
consult the general convenience, if he withdrew the resolutions
that they might be reconsidered.
Mr. E. DEN ISON said the House seemed to be almost
unanimous in thinking that the last three resolutions ought to
be withdrawn, and that the first two should be amended as had
been suggested by the Honourable Member for Devonport
He wished to insert the Board of Trade in the resolutions.
He thought there could be no objection to this course. With
that slight alteration he thought the resolutions should be
allotted to pass.

tilistpan which has hitherto obtained her so much adu-
lation (viz. influence !) is for ever shivered into atoms.
Her heart mines with a feeling of disappointment, and
of pensiveness, and of unusual tranquillity. She re-
solves to dissipate her moodiness by going in quest
of adventures, and to distract her memory by visiting
foreign countries. The consequence of this resolve is,
her migration with a suitable suite (among whom is the
writer of the narrative) to the laud of the Orientals.
Of her singular mode of life in that remote region there
is assuredly no Englishman but has listened to some
gossip, or who has had his curiosity excited by mysteri-
ous iruendoes of her magnificence, her loneliness, her
hospitality, and her munificence among the Musselmen.
That curiosity may be fully and elaborately appeased by
the three volumes just published by the anonymous
physician of the expedition. His descriptions of the
rather uncleanly inhabitants of Syria, of the somewhat
unprepossessing females, of the singular customs of the
people, of the scenery and of the various cities, are
peculiarly lively and as peculiarly graphic. The book
is better than a score of ordinary novels for interest,
and is preferable to a thousand works of travel for the
truthfulness of its delineations. We only regret when
the author forsakes the beaten track of his subject, to
meddle in matters upon which he only betrays his
ignorance. For example, he mentions an hospital at
Jaffa, " which is said to have been the grave of many
Frenchmen poisoned by Buonaparte, when he raised the
siege of St. Jean d'Acre." Here is the old trumpery
libel raked up again, and actually thrust upon the
credulity of the reader, after the charge bas been so
elaborately refuted by Las Cases, O'Meara, Savary,
Hazlitt, and even by Sir Sidney Smith himself, whose
silence alone would have eonstituted its triumphant re-
futation. For the satisfaction of those who may be
inquisitive in such matters of costume, we transcribe
the following description of Lady Hester Stanhope's
eastern dress:—

Sir R. PRICE thought it unfair that the broad gauge
lines should be confined to he narrow limits assigned to it
by the report of the commissioners. He hoped they would
shortly see one of these broad gauze lines going to the north
with double the speed, and carrying three times the load which
the narrow gauge company could.
Mr. DENISON thought that there should be no time lost
.n deciding this question. He had the honour of being chairman
of a Committee in which one portion of country between
Exeter and Yeovil was contested for by the broad and the
narrow gauge. If it was the pleasure of the House that only
the narrow line should be laid down on this district, they would
of course know what to do in the matter.

Mr. W. COLLETT considered that, although the broad
gauge had been a very pretty and successful experiment, and
had produced a spirit of competition among railways which
had been of great advantage to the interests of the public, yet
with reference to the starement4 of the Hon. Member for
Reading (Mr. Russell) of the economy of the broad gauge,
he would say that it was a statement utterly unsupported by
pvidence. The Commissioners had decided quite the contrary
in their report. After hearing all the evidence which could be
adduced before them, they declared that the narrow gauge was
ihe more economical of the two, and better adapted for the
interests of the public. He hoped the House would at once
come to some resolution upon the matter, and not allow the
present state of uncertainty to hang over the Committees
having to dee,de upon the tailways brought before them.
Mr. HAYTER considered that with reference to the South
Wales Railway the present resolutions would prove highly ob-
jectionable, as the Tenhy and Saundersfoot, and other branches
belonging to the South Wales, must be constructed upon the
narrow gauge if the resolutions were carried out in their in-
tegrity. The same would apply to the Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton, and even to the Great Western Railway
itself. He hoped the Government would make those resolu-
tions more perfect and more adapted to the circumstances they
were required to meet.
Mr. F. SCOTT wished to know why the three resolutions
had been abandoned. He thought the whole of the resolu-
tions should have been passed as they were first proposed.
Sir J. CLERK stated that objection was taken to the word-
ing of these resolutions.
Mr. F. SCOTT—Does the third resolution stand as
originally proposed?
Sir J. CLERK—It does not.

"In addition to her more splendid habiliments, Lady
Hester had, whilst at Cairo, procured a travelling Mameluke
dress. It consi'sted of a satin vest, with long sleeves, open to
the bend of the arm, which reached to the hips only, and
folding over at the chest was attached with a single button
at the throat and waist ; over this again she wore a red cloth
jacket, in shape like a scanty spencer, with short sleeves,
and trimmed with gold lace. The trousers were of the same
cloth, gorgeously embroidered with gold at the pockets, as
well before as behind. They were large and loose, as is the
fashion in Turkey, and, when worn, formed, by their nume-
rous folds, a very beautiful drapery. Over the whole, when
on horseback, she wore the burnooz or white-hooded cloak,
the pendent tassels and silky look of which gave great ele-
gance to her figure. The turban was a Cashmere shawl, put
on with the peculiar fulness which the Mamelukes affect in
their head-dress, and which is very becoming. This dress,
as far as regards the sherwals (or trousers) which were of
the same colour as the jacket, is peculiar to Egypt : for
throughout Syria the sherwals is almost always blue, and
generally dark. But this Egyptian costume was more proper
for her ladyship, because hersaddle and bridle were Egyptian ;
being of crimson velvet embroidered in gold."
As some palliation of what might otherwise appear
like indecorum, we sive the author's account of the lady's
reason for abandoning the habiliments more suited to her
sex :

Air. F. SCOTT—Then I object to the alterations the
Right Hon. Baronet intended. He Was supposed to adhere to
his second speech.
Dr. 130 WRING wished to know whether the short branches
of railways from the South Wales lines, running towards the
sea, would be allowed to be constructed on the broad gauge.
The sea wouk' be an effectual boundary, and they could not
run into the narrow gauge country.
Sir 0. CLERK said that provisions had been made in the
resolutions for that circumstance. Under all the circum-
stances he saw no reason why they should not be constructed
on the broad gauge.

Mr. HAWES-thought that it was of some importance to
conclude the discussion on these resolutions as early as pos-
sible. He could not help remarking that during the whole
evening not a single Member had supported the amendment of
his Hon Friend the Member for Montrose, yet the system pro-
posed by him was one of considerable value. The Board of
Trade had taken into consideration all the circumstances con-
nected with railway companies, and had come to some deter-
minations with respect to the broad and narrow gauge. It
was most desirable that the Government should press these
determinations upon the attention of the House.
Colonel ANSON said that the gest of the argument of his
Hon. Friend was, that some discretionary power should be left
to the Government to continue the double line further than
was conveyed in these resolutions. He would be glad to sup-
port such a plan, but at the same time he thought that no
mixture of the gauges should take place ; but that the lines
should run entirely and strictly separate.
Lord PALM ERSTON said that he had heard of a curious
invention for the purpose of obviating the inconvenience of a
break of gauge. The principal inconvenience arose, not from
the transfer of passengers from one gauge to another,
but from the transfer of goods. It consisted of a waggon,
the trunk part of which was separable from the truck
part, and the trunk part when loaded could easily he
transferred to another truck on the broad gauge. In
this mariner a merchant could toad his own waggon and send it
down by the ordinary waggon to the railway, where it would be
transferred to the truck on the line. He thought that the
House should have some report upon this subject, in order to
see how far the principle was applicable to break of gauge.
Mr. HUME said that he would not then press the motion
he had made to a division, but he would allow it to remain
upon the paper to mark his sense of the conduct of the Govern-
ment.

"It will be thought by many persons, that Lady Hester
Stanhope violated too far the regard due to her sex in the
resolution she now adopted of equipping herself as a man,
and as a Turk. But let it be recollected that she had lost
everything in the shipwreck, and that even the cities of the
Levant, had she been in one, had neither milliners nor
mantua-makers, who understand how to make European
female-dresses, nor materials for them, could she have made

them herself. The impos,:ibility of getting what she wanted
was therefore so evident, that she unavoidably made choice of
the Turkish costume, in which the long robes; the turban, the
yellow slippers, and pelisses, have really nothing incompatible
with female attire.

Nor can we refrain from entertaining the reader with
a very gorgeous narrative of a procession of the sultan
at Constantinople. It runs (the narrative, not the pro-
cession) thus :
"First came some dozens of water-carriers, who bore skins
of water across their backs, with which they laid the dust as
they advanced. On the right and left of the street was a
double file of janissaries. Bostangis, with knotted whips,
kept the crowd from pressing on the procession. Net to the
water-carriers came a group of nondescript persons; grooms
to hold horses, servants to unrobe their effendis or masters,
and other hangers •on or attendants of great men. After
these, upon a finely caparisoned horse, surrounded by a dozen
valets on foot, followed a fierce-looking Turk, with a black
beard; and I and my companion exclaimed, Here comes the
Sultan:'—it was only his coffee-bearer We made the like
remark at a second, and a third ; but they were his stool,
sword, and pipe-bearers, who, with the emblems of office in
thair hands, passed in succession.
" The surprise which the splendour of these inferior officers
of the palace excites is increased, when the Captain Pacha,
the Reis Effendi, the Kakhya Bev, and the Grand Vizier, pass
by, muffled in pelisses worth 2001. each, wearing in their
girdles hangers or daggers studded with diamonds, and
mounted on horses almost sinking under the weight of gold
housings. Our ideas were confused by the magnificence
which we saw displayed. And now, on a sudden, the crowd,
which had been noisy and making their remarks on the
scene before them, was hushed. A solemn and really an
awful silence prevailed, whilst only low whispers were heard
that the commander of the faithful was near . Ever Turk
immediately folded his long robe over his breast, crossed his
hands before him, dropped his head on his bosom, and, in a
tone of voice just audible, prayed Allah and Mahomet to
preserve the perpetuity of the royal race. Our object was
curiosity, and we looked eagerly for the Sultan, but could
hardly obtain a glimpse of him. His person, too sacred to be
gazed on, was almost hidden by the lofty plumes of feathers
of the attendants who surrounded him, each of whom wore
a vest of glittering stuff representing resplendent armour,
and on his head a crested helmet. Fancy must assist the
reader in imagining the gorgeous housings, studded with
rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones, on a ground of
gold, that covered the Sultan's horse, which was a milk-white
stallion."
We congratulate the author on having removed from
himself a responsibility—namely, the exclusive know-
ledge of circumstances which should not be kept from
the world. He has written with an agreeable sparkle of
style, and with a very valuable brevity. The six
volumes are a curious innovation upon the usual manner
of biographies ; and as they relate to the niece and fa-
miliar associates of the celebrated Pitt, they cannot fail
to secure a multiplicity of readers of this and of other
.enerations.

The first resolution was then carried, with the exception of
the words " South Wales " being inserted after the words
" Great Britain."
The second was then proposed.
After a few words from Lord PALMERSTON,
Sir G. CLERK E consented to add the words "that it is
the: opinion of this House that no directors shall hereafter alter
the gauge of their hne without the consent of Parliament,"
before the words " that no line shall hereafter be formed."
Sir R. PEEL suggested that the best way of wording the
resolution would be this—" That it is the opinion of this House
provision should be made by law to prevent directors of rail-
ways from altering the gauge hereafter."—( Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. Ricardo, Sir T. Wilde, and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the suggestion was adopted, and
the resolution as amended agreed to.
On the third resolution being proposed,
Mr. T. BARING said he was afraid the spirit of the reso-
-

lutions might be misconstrued, and parties who were promoting
particular schemes, such as the Manchester and Southampton
line, seriously injured by such misconstruction. He wished,
therefore, to add these words to it, 88 Without prejudice to
the formation of any other railway connecting the north of
England with the southern coast."
A short discussion ensued upon the propriety of more spe-
cifically defining the line from Basingstoke to the south, or
rather the part in the South, whence it should be carried.
Colonel ANSON moved that the words specifying the line
from the north to the south should be omitted altogether.
Mr. C. RUSSELL said the resolution was sufficiently plain
and explicit, and he was prepared to support it as it stood.
Mr. B. HAWES supported the resolution upon the same
ground.
Mr. E. DENISON protested that he would divide the
House upon the resolution, if it were persevered in, for it was
understood at an early period of the evening, that its consider-
poned, with a view of defining more
whichex-
it alluded. It was the knowledge of
this
consider-
ation
aywc
tto
which
ee
induced dsuteed him to resist its adoption now,
Mr. HAYTER hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet would
not submit to any alteration in the original resolutions.
Colonel ANSON said he would withdraw his amendment if
the Right Hon. Baronet would consent to the reconsideration
of the resolution.
Sir G. CLERK said what they proposed was to lay down
the narrow gauge to Oxford, and rails on both the broad and
narrow gauges along some part of the North Western.
Mr. HAWES said the object was to harmonise the two
gauges, so that the country should be shared between them.
He granted that the narrow gauge had got the lion's
share. Yet a line had been fixed of demarcation between
them, but the effect of the resolution of the Hon. Member for
Portsmouth would be to break in upon that.
The galleries were ordered to be cleared for a division, but
it was afterwards agreed to adjourn the debate.
Mr. HUME mowed for leave to bring in a Bill for procuring
accounts of receipt and expenditure by all persons administer-
ing charitable trusts in England.—Agreed to.
Mr. FREWEN moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the
more effectual administration of justice.—Agreed to.
Captain PECHELL postponed his motion for taking into
consideration the petition of the rate-payers of the parish of
Winkfield, complaining of the conduct of the Poor-law Com-
missioners, and the proceedings of the board of guardians of the
East Hampstead Union, till a future day. The Honourable
Member then moved for a copy of the minute record-
ing the dissent of one of the Poor-law Commissioners to the
issue of the Order of the Bth day of November, 1845, pro-
hibiting the employment of paupers in workhouses in pounding
bones. Also, a copy of a report of the Secretary of the Poor-
law Commissioners on Bone-crushing.—Agreed to.
CHURCHES BILL.

HOME AND COLONIAL LIBRARY, No.
XXXIII. Memoirs of a a Missionary in Canada.
In conducting this very valuable series of publications
Mr. Murray is careful to appeal to the various literary
tastes of his subscribers ; and so to alternate the
themes as to beautify and diversify the collection.
The present volume, which is pleasantly and
unaffectedly written, initiates the reader into the
domestic life and the social condition of the
inhabitants of that gigantic colony, while it en-
livens the narrative with the incidents encountered
by the narrator—the vicissitudes and adventures of a
Christian missionary. There is a novelty about the
scenes described, and an air of truthfulness about the
manner of the descriptions, which invest the page with
of
some now
haunted interested
man by
a peculiar fascination. We travel on through the suc-
cessive chapters, now involved in a snowdrift, now
providential escape from robbers, n a
-w d
bst e
yartl
o decoyed
dby anearthquake,
the account
until we are suddenly surprised to find our
selves at the termination of the volume, vinthd our
sin-
cere wish that the obnoxious finis had not tol m
appearance until after the intervention of
anothaer 150 t
pages. As an agreeable, chatty, and yet reflective por-
trait of Canadian life, these memoirs will be read
with profit, and, we are confident, with pleasure.
As a specimen of the natural and spontaneous tone of the
sketches, we give the following description of an earth-
quake :
" It was in the depth of winter, in the month of January.
We were on a visit to my wife's brother. The night was ex-
tremely cold, and as still as the grave ; there was not a breath
of air stirring. My brother-in law and myself were sitting
talking by the stove in the hall; my wife had just left US,
and had gone up stair to bed: when all at once we heard a
rumbling noise, precisely like that produced by astree ht. eavi
Al t
y
paved
laden cart driven at a rapid pace along a
first the sound was faint and distant, and then came nearer
and nearer, till it seemed to pass close under the windows ;
and as it did so it shook the house violently, and thengradu-
ally receded and went off again into the. distance. We rose
from our seats, and looked at each otherg fear and amaze-
raelat,_gs we tinLlF • I
all§ Q the how mayisg

The second reading of the Churches' Bill was postponed till
thi4 day.
COUNTY WORKS PRESENTMENTS (IRELAND)
AMENDMENT BILL.
The consideration of the report on this Bill was postponed
till Thursday.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
unso Ootu%ad a LIW-p&O Oa o'cicd._

to and fro. My poor wife, in her fright, rushed out of her
room to the head of the staircase. Her first impulse, dic-
tated by the inherent principle of self-preservation, was to
make her escape; but she recollected that her little daughter
and her two boys were in bed in an adjoining room, and the
feelings of the mother predominated over her fears for her
own safety. After calling to us to know what was the mat-
ter, but without waiting for our answer, she ran back to
them, and found her little girl fast asleep, but the boys were
sitting upright in bed, perfectly bewildered, and wondering
what had awakened them. I have said that the noise was
like that of a loaded cart passing rapidly along a paved
street; but it was vastly louder, and its duration longer, for
it passed very slowly by. No damage was done to the house,
save some cracks in the plaster and cornices of the lower
rooms."

Nothing could be more simple as a composition, but
the impression.conveyed is singularly vivid. The author
has seen, and thought, and written well.

RIO DEL MONTE MINES.

Received Bth June, 1846, per the Tweed.—Extract of
a letter dated Mineral del Monte, April, 1846 :—I have
not failed to notice, for some time past, the advantage
which Mr. Bowring's process has obtained over that of
Moreno, and you will have perceived by the accounts
that the patio at Regla has been wholly conducted on
this plan, since Mr. B.'s departure, by Mr. Woodfield,
and with good effect, particularlyin the last three months.
The barrels continue to give very uniform results,
both with respect to the loss of silver, quicksilver, and
cost of benefices ; and as by this method all classes of
ore can be equally beneficiated, I think that after awhile
it will probably supersede the patio entirely ; especially
as by Mr. Spangenburg's improved method of calcining
the ore, the barrels will in future be discharged once in
twelve,instead of once in twenty-four hours.
Mr. S, has consented to take this department for a
short time under his own special direction; and from the
favourable result already obtained since this improved
method of calcining has been introduced, not only is there
a less loss of silver, but the time is materially shortened,
and cost less. For instance, formerly the furnaces were
generally changed once in each eighteen hours ; at pre-
sent the operation seldom exceed five hours; and again,
the quantity of salt is reduced from about 7i to 4 per
cent.

I beg to hand you enclosed a letter from Mr. Span-
genburg to Mr. Taylor, dated 24th instant. The results
of this first trial on 58 quintals of ore, it will be seen,
are very satisfactory ; we are now making preparations
to increase this establishment for reducing a larger
quantity. In the first trial the process proceeded very
slowly, but Mr. S. hopes to be able to overcome this ;
it will, however, still be necessary to augment the num-
ber, and put up larger tines than those at present in nse.
A great number of people in this neighbourhood
have anxiously watched these trials, and I believe
nearly all parties are of opinion that it will very
soon supersede all other methods of reducing silver
ores in this country. Considering such may pos-
sibly be th case, I am hesitating with respect to the
completion of the sixteen new barrels proposed
to be erected at Sanchez. Nothing, however, will inter-
fere with the speedy erections of the water-wheel, and
if this new beneficio should be found to answer better
than the barrels, we might then attach 20 or 24 stamp-
heads to the wheel, thus increasing the quantity by
water, instead of by mules, as proposed at present.
In order, however, to avoid being thrown much out of
our calculation with respect to this hacienda, I have
given instructions to continue the works now in hand for
the barrels, which will not cause much extra expense,
even supposing the wheel should eventually be used for
grinding instead of working the barrels.
I noticed in my letter of last month that the grinding
power at Sanchez, when the additional arrastres are
completed, would be equal to about 560 cargas per week ;
but if the 16 barrels now in hand are completed, and
discharged twice instead of once in each 24 hours, we
shall require nearly double that amount of grinding, for
which means must be devised hereafter.

,10.11 .••••••r...

COLONIAL AND EIVIIGRAT:rON
COMMISSION_
The following are extracts from the sixth O'neral
report of the Colonial and Emigration Commis:to ners
(just presented to Parliament by command of her -Ma-
i es ty)

NEW 8011TH WALES : ITS FINANCIAL STATE.
In our last report we noticed the gradual improveoent
which has taken place in the general state of the coloo7,
and we are happy to perceive that each account since reP
ceived tends to confirm our expectations that we should
soon hear of its returning prosperity. The GOllll.-
nor, in a dispatch transmitting the abstract of th,e
revenue and expenditure for 1844 and the esti—
mate for 1846, says, that he considered the
finances of the colony to be in a very satisfactory
state. The ordinary revenue, which in 1843 fell short
of the expenditure by 11,895/. 19s. ld. in 1844, ex-
ceeded the expenditure by 8,9331. Bs. lid., and &hi:to-ugh
their was not in either of these years any contribution
towards the ordinary revenue from the Crown revenue,
at the commencement of June last, there was then in
the Treasury about 70,0001., of which something- more
than 20,000/, was Crown revenue. There is, however, sr
debt on the Crown revenue of 100,0001. for immigra-
tion, bearing an interest of six per cent. This debt was
incurred'to pay for the last immigrants sent out, under
an arrangement sanctioned in 1843, before the depressed
state of the colony had rendered it necessary to put an
entire stoppage to emigration at the public expense.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

During the year 1844, the quantity of land sold was
3,428 acres, and the amount reEdised 5.666/. 13s. The
extent of land surveyed was 6,680 acres, at a cost of
about 41d. an acre. This is considerably higher than
the average of the preceding year's surveys ; but Captain.
Promo explains that the whole of the 6,680 acres con-
sisted of detached blocks of land, lying in different
parts of the settled districts ; and that the excess' of
expense is accounted for by the small size of man);
of the blocks, and the incessant movement of then
surveying parties from one part of the colony to
another. The total quantity of land surveyed and
open for settlement on the 31st of December, 1844, was
663,553 acres. Further accounts, however, have been
received of sales effected in the colony up to the 31st of
May, 1845, amounting to 124/. 125.; and we have every
reason to believe that much more considerable sales have
since occurred. In this country, also, as much as
20,0001. was deposited during the past year in the pur-
chase of land by the Australian Mining Company, be-
sides 1,1001. by other
firm the statements we'
depositors.
Sub'equent accounts, we
mentioneda r o gls dl
at: t roe
fp otrht ,e fullydisco vcoenry-
of valuable mines of lead astidcopper.
Appendix an extract fromeGovernor We place
Grey,eA inu the
o
both Re-
port
of onr
the mines
containingnesa n
d obthe generally
minteresting
favourable observations
pros-
pects of the colony.
The source of wealth thus unrxpectedly opened to the
colonists appeared to offer a favourable opportunity of
providing for a revenue, which, without being onerous,
might keep pace with the growth of. prosperity in the
colony. Accordingly, in compliance with Lord Stanley's
directions to consider the subject, we consulted with
different gentlemen connected 'with the management of
mines in Eugland, and with others desirous of embarking
capital in mining operations in South Australia; and we
submitked our views to his Lordship in a report, dated
the 14th of May last. His Lordship referred the whole
matter to the Governor, authorising him', to establish,
with the advice of the xecutive Council, such rules as
might appear best adapted to the circumstances of the
colony, subject, however, to their being confirmed, dis-
allowed, or modified by her Majesty's Government.
By the latest accounts the demand for labour *una-
rmed particularly for agricultural labourers, shepherds,
mechanics, miners, and female domestic servants ; sad
notwithstanding a considerable; influx of labourers
(amounting in the year 1804 to 809, and in the first
quarter of 1825 to 613), the previous high rates of wages
were maintained.

By Mr. Woodfield's letter to ,Mr. Taylor, dated the
24th instant, you will perceive that the returns from
Regla patio of last month were considerably less than
the estimate, Mr. Woodfield having deemed it expedient
to delay the washing of 3 or 4 tortos, in consequence of
their not being properly rendido, but which, in the
earlier part of the month he expects to have
brought in.
In the first three months of the year there were 927
montones ground in this hacienda, whereas only 730
were washed, leaving a surplus of 197 montones for the
second quarter. By the statement of costs and returns
for March, it will be seen that the total silver produce
amounted altogether to only 27 bars, comprising 12
from Regis patio, 9 from Fundiciones, and 6 from
Sanchez ; total value, 32,000 dollars. The mines
cost amounted to 25,400 dollars general expenses ;
charges on produce, minerals, &c., 6,689 dollars ;
the haciendas to 2,270 dollars; making a total of
54,360 dollars, thereby showing a loss of 22,380 dollars.
The reason of the small returns from the Fundiciones I
explained in sly letter of last month ; namely, the
breaking of the main rods in the Dolores diagonal shaft,
which prevented the working in the Santiago level west,
and in the San Enrique and San Pablo bottoms, and
which compelled us for upwards of a fortnight to sus-
pend the workings of the Fundiciones.
During this time also, it should be borne in mind, that
Acosta Mine was nearly full of water, while Terreros
engine was being erected ; and besides which there was
not less than 8,200 dollars for stores at Regla brought
into this month's accounts, which should have been en-
tered two months before. There were also 2,820
dollars charged for materials, Sce., for San Antonio
hacienda. For the present month the returns will,
I expect, be something better than the estimate ; say,
about 42 bars. Even during this time we lost nearly
one week's work on the best laborer, on account of the
Semana Santa. However, after all these misfortunes
and drawbacks, I have the satisfaction of informing the
directors that our prospects of future returns have of
late decidedly improved. The raisings of this month
have been as follows :

Azoque. Fuego.
April 4
~ 11
), 18
„ 25

In the last week there will be seen a notable in-
crease, both of Azuque and smelting ore. The latter,
however, is at the present moment of the greatest
importance ; and as you will perceive by Captain
ltatling's report, that the lode in Santiago level west of
Dolores is about of a taras wide, a large portion of
which smelting ore, assaying 150 mares per mouton, while
the remainder is Azoque, containing from 25 to 30 marci
per monton, and taking into consideration that this
place is about 15 varas east, and 17 varas below the San
Pablo winze, there is reason to expect that the whole of
this piece of ground will turn out to be productive. I
therefore venture to make out the estimate for next
month as follows :

Cost 5 weeks
Returns 58 bars

Dollars.
56,300
69,600

Profits

13,300

And, as the ground seems to be lengthening in the
Santiago, there is every probability of its continuing for
a considerable time to come. I expect, therefore, we
shall go on making profits for the remaining part
of the year ; if the ore continues as at present, there
can be no doubt about it.

By Captain Skinfell's report you will be informed that
the east new engine at Acosta was put to work on the
2d instant. We have had some difficulty in forking the
water, in consequence of a pump having broken out ; I
trust, however, we have at last overcome all difficulties.
as the engine works remarkably well, and keeps the water
very easily. The puropmtn are now employed fixing
the two new plunger lifts at the Aviadero level, which
Captain Skinfell calculates will be finished about
the middle of May, after which we shall resume
driving the new level twenty-four ♦arcs below the
Aviadero, and also with the sinking of the shaft—
two most important works which have been delayed
so long a time owing to the increase of water:
You will notice that Captain F. speaks of a winze
called San Pascul, situated 246 varas south of Acosta
below the San Antonio level, in which there is a branch
of smelting ore about a foot wide, which assayed on
Saturday last upwards of 200 marks per monton., This
winze is in the neighbourhood of San Cayetano, where
we rose some very rich ore in May last ; but the lode is
very bunchy, and we cannot, therefore, place much re-
' liance on the continuance of this class. Although of
azoque, there is great probability of its being found in
abundance.
By the statement on the other side you will observe
that at Rosario the raising of ore has got up to near 350
cargas per week. The mine essays average from 9i to
10 mares, and I expect will give about 8 in hacienda.
The quantity of ore might easily be increased, but at
present there are no means of reducing it. I propose
confining the raising to nearly sufficient to supply
Sanchez.—Railway Herald.

CAUTION.—A correspondent states that it may not be
generally known that a law is still unrepealed, which was
passed very many years since, fir the protection of the brass
button trade, and which makei it a fineable offence to manu-
facture buttons of silk, cloth, &c. Taking advantage Of this
Act, a person has been hard at work endeavouring to extort
money by threats of action. Amongst Others, he has called
upon the Messrs. Nicoll, both in
buttons,
Regent-street and Cornhill,
who are most extensive manufactuer rs
re of
with Llama cloth, fir their re it I Paletot, and whom,covered if
r
liable, are so to an enonots extent.
e The Me6sN. Nicoll
have, however, expressed theirl determination to resist to the
uttermost, and thus put the question at rest, should the
movers in it carry out their threats.
A RABID DOG.—On Monday, between twelve and one
o'clock, a terrier dog, seemingly in a rabid state,
run-
ning along the Vauxhall-road, biting and snapping at everything
was observed
that came in his way. On reaching Millbank he seized a man named
Joint Phipps, a bricklayer's labourer, by the call
Meted a seve'-e wound. Phipps, who had a 5h0i,...,1 histofiitihelefi,and,d
ell-directed blow
im-
mediately attacked the dog, and fortunately by
gsu surgeon.
HORRIBLE stunned the animal, whom he itninedistel
was at once incised and cauterised by a nog
Y-
dispatched.hbou r
Chatham, were walking through the
HORRIBLE DiscovEay.—On Sunday morning, as a
shipwright and his son from Cthey discovered the body of a weil-
Bridge Woods, Maidstone-road.lying
d on his face, with his hat on his back,
They immediately proceeded for dressed man near a tree,
rent to the coroner's office, Mr. Ggewith both his arms extent e .
as-
sistance, and an express
wh7on arrival_ , discov;Ted the remains forks
Braddy, at Rochester,
ark. a married man, 1 ving at No. 14, Ord-
tbose of Mr.
Chatham, and who has been missing from his home
nance-place,
for the last fortni;ht. It was conjectured
that he must have fallen in
a fit. The man has been flighty in his mind for some time; he is
about fifty years of age. The body is in a state of decomposition,
and was kept from falling to pieces by his clothing. The remains
were conveyed to the Royal Geerge Inn, on the Maidstone road, to
await a coroner's inquisition.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]---DROPSIES.--ANY CASE OF
DBoPST MAT BE CEBED sr Ilouoway's l'uxa.—Females at a cer-
tain period of life are subject to this dangerous complaint, which
drat makes its appearance by the swelling of the feet, legs, and
hands, and so gradually making strong inroads on the constitution.
Hundieds of dropsical patients, even when their cases are pro-
nounmd as hopeless, are cured by taking Holloway's Pills: initanee
Mr. Robinson, the wealthy farmer and grazier at Wootton, Bed.
lordshlre (and which at the time was made so public): this gen-
tleman cured himself by Holloway's Pills after he had been told by
his medical attendant that he cruld not survive three days.--sold
by all druggists, &ad at rrojeabox gaoway's ist4lr Imeat, 244,
strand, IMO:, .