The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

HAMBURGH MAIL.

POSEN, MARCH 25.—The measures of precaution in this
city, have been relaxed for some time past, The number
of piquets fecNced, and as we hear, ofders given entirely
to suppress them, though without exposing the city to the
danger of an excess, which is still possible, but wculd cer.
taiuly be soon suppressed. It is now also date mined gra-
dually to withdraw the regiments that have been marched
into the Grand Duchy. Thus, then, the history of the con-
spiracy may be considered as so far terminatscl, yet we can-
not hope, after the elkileilence of late years, that a satisfac-
tory state of things will be permanent, since the late events,
and the necessary arrests of nobles and clergy haft excited
the hatred of the Poles to tha Qoveinrnent and to the Ger-
mans, such as never was since the province belonged to
Russia. It is generally believed here that the: Icing will let
mercy take the place of justice, and will mitigate the penal-
ties incurred by the insurgents as much as possible.
MAacit 27.-.... The Warsaw Gazette, received here to-day,
announces that the landowner Pantaleon Patoeki was con-
demned to death, and that the sentence was executed, on the
17th cf this month, at Siedlee.
IlittcsLAw, MARCH 27,—0n the 2Gth of this month the
sentence pronounced in the Criminal Court on Dr
Thenier's pamphlet, "The Reformirtorisehen Bestrebungen.
in du Kalolischen Kirehe ;" the sentence is that Dr. ThetEier
is not liable to punishment for the contents of this work—
that he shall be free from the costs, and that the sequestra-
tion of the worlc by the police shall be taken off.
ST. PETERSBURIIH, MARCH 21.—His Majesty the Em-
peror set out late on Wednesday evening from St. Peters-
burgh for Moscow. His Majesty Is accompanied by his
Aids-de-camp General Count Orloff and Van Adlerbnrg.
CRACOW, MARCH 27.—The Russian camp of 10,000 men

is near Afieehow, in the kingdom of Poland, and a body o;

10,000 men is posted in the frontiers of Gallaoia, and another
of 10,000 men is to be stationed on the frontiers of Podolia,
in the district of Cracow, and In Cracow itself the Russians
are forming large magazines. The Russians are daily ex-
pected in Cracow.
IlilariusWieliezkaer set out yesterday evening for Warsaw;

this is the best proof of loyalty that he can biro.
Via Nara, Menet' 28,—Prince Frederick Schwarzenburg,
who is appointed to assist the Governor-General, Arch-
Duke Ferdinand, is come to Vienna for some days.
He is said to have brought a complete account
of the melancholy state of things in Gallacia.
While the Freneli Chambers Indulge in angry language re-
specting the causes of the murders of Polish nobles, and
bitterly attack our whole system of Government, and while
European journals are disputing pro and con whether the
pretended distribution is true or not, the plain statement
of a patriotic peasant, which is confirmed in all quarters
may perhaps throw the most light on this melancholy episode
of the Polish history. A person of distinction, who is every-
where received with joy by the peasants, asked them why
they had not sooner given notice to the magistrates of the
arms which were given them by the nobles in every possi-
ble way, by which they might have prevented the insurrec-
tion. They answered, if they had done so, the magistrates
would not have believed theta. The nobles and their officers
would have protested their innocence, and declared the dis-
tribution of weapons to be a calumny ; and we should have
been punished and only have del97ed the rebellion, We,
however, informed the magistrates in the month of January
that the nobles were arming; but we were not listened to,
and we therefore waited, for our own safety, to tee which
course things would take.

Posnx, Matzen 27.—A private letter from the kingdom of
Poland lies before us, which affirms that numerous arrests of
nobles have taken place there for some days past.
TRIESTE.—The convention between the Austrian Lloyd
and the English Government for forwarding the Indian
mails, for the space of six months, has lately been altered
on account of the uncertainty of the weather in spring, and
it is now agreed that the Austrian English mail between
Trieste and Alexandria shall not commence on the Ist of
April, as was at first determined, but on the Ist of May.—
Hamburyh Papers, April 3.

IRELAND.

THE PROVISION SCARCITY.

DUBLIN, APRIL 4.—The following instructive conversa-
tion is reported as having taken place at a meeting on Tues-
day of the Cork Poor Relief Committee. That the farmers
have in many instances contributed to the prevailing scarcity
by holding back their stocks with a view of extorting famine
prices there is no reason whatever to doubt, and if, from the
precautions taken by Government, they have discovered that
they have overshot the mark, few will be found to sympa-
thize with their disappointment. Why " Peel ought to be
hanged" for checkmating these forestallers is a riddle the
solution of which must be left to the two enthusiastic gen-
tletnen who suggested this ignoble termination to the Pre-
mier's existence
Mr. Alumna. said that when it was found that the meal
(Indian corn --.1 ne,,,„„„N ..,. ,eee;‘,
struck the farmers. and he was informed that last Sunday a
ou.iuer or them waited upon a gentleman to know whether
they should send their produce at once to market.
" Mr. G. C. FEATS was told the previous evening that the
selling of Indian meal had struck terror into the hearts of
the country people, and they were asking advice as to whe-
ther they should send their produce to market, as they had
previously kept it up for high prices.
" Mr. CorrEa—Then Peel aught to be hanged for bring-
ing it here.—(Laughter.)
" Mr. CRAIG—He ought to be hanged, whether he did it
or let it alone.—(Loud laughter.)"
EVICTION OF TENANTRY. Mat
The Tipperary Vindicator contains the following :—" A
reporter from this establishment proceeded yesterday (Fri-
day) morning to Gorthore, between Nenagh and Limerick,
to witness the eviction of tenantry—or what is technically
called the execution of a "habere"—on the property of Mr.
Tuthill, where 120 men of the 72d Highlanders, under
Captain Pollard, 41 police, under the Sub-Inspector Lewis,
of Newport, and several bailiffs, went at an early hour. Our
reporter returned at five o'clock, p.m. He informs us that
nine poor families were evicted from their tenements.
The day was particularly wet, cold, and inclement,
more in fact like a mid-winter than a spring day. No re-
sistance was offered to the executioners of the law.
The people in the neighbourhood, lie says, did not expect
the visit. Those who were present showed every courtesy
and kindness to the military officers and soldiers, who well
merited the hospitality manifested fay the poor cottiers, who
boiled eggs and gave what refreshment they had to them.
The men of the 72d seemed ashamed of this distressing duty.
" The names of the persons evicted were :—Patt ick Mara,
4 in family; Patrick Clancy, 9 in family (who showed his
receipt to our reporter for his cent up to November); John
Fennell, 5 in family ; Denis Brien, 5 in family ; Pat
O'Brien, 5 in family; Patrick Clancy, 7 in family; William
Merbert, the amount of whose family our reporter was un-
able to ascertain, but supposes it to be at least 5. In all 39
persons.
" Our reporter says that it was generally stated that the
tenants had paid the rent up to May, 1845—but of this he
had no accurate knowledge. The fact, however, was that
Fennell, above-mentioned, had bank-notes for rent in his
hands, which were refused—and the day ended by the
tenants being put out, the doors of their cabins closed and
locked. Our reporter was informed that Mr. Tuthill has
fourteen evictions against fourteen other tenants. Our re.
porter heard it stated from Mara, above mentioned, that Mr.
Tuthill promised them possession again ; but this he does
not know of his own knowledge."

RE THE APPROACHING CHANGE IN THE CORN-LAWS.
—We had, in our journal of yesterday, the opinion of a
gentleman, that necessarily will carry great weight with it,
in respect to the contemplated change in the corn-laws. We
allude to Mr. George Robins, who has taken an early oppor-
tunity to place his opinion upon record, in his announcement
of the Willenhall Hamlet, Manor, and Estate (near 800
acres) of first-rate land, near to the city of Coventry. This,
it will be perceived, shows in unmistakeable terms not only
his opinion, but the reason that guides him to such a con-
clusion. In alluding to the safety of landed investments, he
enforces his feeling in the following strong and unanswerable
terms :—" Hear it all those who incline to be dissatisfied with
landed investments, that there is not, nor has there been, an
arrear of one guinea during the last ten years;" and as it re-
gards the general prejudice that has too long existed in re-
spect of reduced rents, he pointedly rebukes this feeling by
the following quaint observation. He says, by way of con-
clusion, that it affords the writer very great satisfaction to
join in, and express a very concurrent opinion (and one that
has become an every day assertion now-a-days), that " THE
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY lIAVE BEEN MUCH MORE
FRIGHTENED THAW HURT; a fact which will be demonstrated
past misapprehension in a few weeks." We shall watch Mr.
Robins's sales, and give to our readers the benefit of the
results.

THE HISTORY OF MARGARET CATCHPOLE.—By THE
REv. R. COBEOLD.—THIRD EDITION.—Not only is truth
often more wonderful than fiction, but it is always more
interesting. The conviction that the facts of a strange
eventful history have really happened, and are not the mere
creation of the narrator's fancy, adds a tenfold zest to the
story; and this very great advantage the history of Mar-
garet Catchpole has, for its truthful character wins the faith
of the reader. The chief incidents are of so extraordinary
a nature as abundantly to gratify the most craving appetite
for the wonderful and exciting ; the literary execution is
such as to satisfy the most criticaltaste
taste;
and the moral of
asserters of poetic
the story ought to content the sternest
justice. Much valuable instruction may be derived from
the perusal, which the liyely st,le o
The previous editions f the narrative renders
eminently pleasant and interesting.
which the history of Margaret Catchpole has gone through
have already established the Fork in very high and general
estimation ; and it rarely happens that we have the oppor-
tunity of recommending to the notice of our readers any
work of this kind with so much confidence as we do the
story of this extraordinary female.—Leeds Intelligencer.
We paid a visit to the Adelaide Gallery on Monday
evening, to witness the performance of the Bell Harmonists,
and we really had no idea that such beautiful harmony could
be produced on hand bells. Most of our readers will re-
member a set of ringers who played at the Adelphi Theatre,
some three years back, while under an engagement with
Mr. Anderson, the Wizard of the North ; but those parties
only performed with one bell in each hand, whereas the
party at the Gallery above mentioned have four bells each,
or two in each hand, and by following the different notes in
succession produce the most delightful harmony. it is very
evident they have had it vast deal of praotice, We under-
stand they are only engaged for a fortnight, as they have to
appear in a few days on the continent, where we have no
doubt they will be well received by our musical neighbours. ,-
CAB ACCIDENT IN Bow-STREET. —Monday evening,
shortly after six o'clock, a serious accident occurred at thecoorgribetreeoTf,
Bow-street and Long-acre, to Charles Drlscole, a young man
years of age. He was running by the side of a cab soliciting a gen-
tleman to purchase a playbill, when his foot slipped, and he fell tc
the gtound. At the moment another cab followed, the horse and
wheels of which passed over tidily, inflicting such extensive In.
juries that be was removod to the hospital in a most precarious

MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON,
AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAIL WAY.

A Special General Meeting of this Company was Lela
id.17:16.: the
in -
yesterday at the King's Arms Hotel, Br
minster, at four o'clock, G. F. Mentz, Es gqe. , 8
chair, for the purpose of consideriag the prof riot of
dissolving the Company, and returning one half of the
deposits to the subscriberg,
After the adveatiseraerkt convening the meeting had
Inn read, Mr. Hettit.l, the solicitor, on the requisition of
the Chairman, read a report to the meeting, which was
very lengthy, but the substance of which appears in the
course of the e•planations which eusned in the course
of the meeting.
Before going into the veport, it was suggested
the atat:e of the several am.- Mr.
...ens, both at
Several gell.tiMell wail)
1:w andin equity, should btej
aid
lore the meeting.
the reports, ..toed of not having received
Colonel r
eolgeSoN said that he was little of an ac-
e9l"tant., and knew little further than to understand his
~alt-paylist. He thought it would be unfair to load the
Chairman and the membars of the Committee with the
expenses arising out of the dirty actions brought against
them on the part of the Committee,
After some altercation, it was decided that the ques-
tion respecting the several actions should be answered.
In this reply it appeared that only six of the Committee
had been made parties to Mr. Parsons' suit in equity.
These six had put in their answers; but it was the duty
of the plaintiff to serve all the Committee, and until
these services hid been made, and the answers put in,
the suit could not proceed. 1,0001. had been proffered
to the Court of Chancery, to meet Mr. Parsons' claim.
With respect to Mr. Doyle's suit, both the charge and
the replies were very lengthy, and the Master had
allowed a certain time for the purpose, which would
expire about the Olst of the present month.
Some further conversation ensued, in which several
gentlemen appeared desirous that Mr. Parsons' claim
should be settled as a preliminary measure, when
The CHAIRMAN explained that the Committee had
refused to settle this claim because in their corporate
capacity they would not do that which they would
hesitate to do individually. They were quite ready
to meet this claim in a fair way, and submit
to reference before the Court of Chancery. This, it
appeared from that gentleman's conduct, was not what he
desired. Mr. Parsons had brought an action against
him individually; that he was prepared to .defend, out
of his own resources, and as the company were not to
be responsible, they of course could not interfere. Cer-
tainly he felt assured that he would rather have given a
cheque for 5001. than have had anything to do with the
concern. The object of the action, commenced by Mr.
Parsons, was to recover the loss which Mr. Parsons had
sustained upon the 2,000 shares allotted to him, al-
though the letter of allotment itself had been destroyed
by consent.
Mr. CRADocR complained that the Committee had
taken such a small interest in the concern. Among
others, the Chairman had agreed to take a hundred
shares, but had only signed for and paid upon 25.
Some of the Committee had proposed for 400, and others
of them for 100 each, but these gentlemen had taken a
much smaller number.
The CHAIRMAN explained that he had paid upon 25
shares and was quite ready to take and D?..y on the 100
shares, but the fact was that Mr. Parsons had filed a bill in
the Court of Chancery to compel him to take up 300
shares. To this he should demur, but he was quite
ready to pay on his 100 shares as soon as Mr. Parsons
paid upon his.
Mr. CRADOCK Well, then, pass by the Chair-
man's case and go to that of the other directors, and read
a letter requiring the production of the letters of allot-
ment to the directors.
After some conversation the Chairman, who had fre-
quently expressed his readiness to give the minutes,
produced the minute-book, and read a statement of the
allotments to the directors, and the payments made by
the parties, by which it appeared that the reserves
and payments had been made on behalf of six of the
directors. By the rest of the provisional committee no
application had been made. On the 17th of December
it was decided that twenty shares should be the qualifi-
cation for a directorship, and that a reserve of 300
shares was made for each of the directorships.
Much confusion and angry altercation ensued, in which
it was alleged that the directors ought to have taken up
their 300 shares, but this was met by a declaration on
their part that they would take up their shares so soon
as the Bill in Chancery was removed.
A SHAREHOLDER alleged that he had lost 3s. Id. per
share on 200 shares in consequence of the directors not
having taken up their shares.
Mr. TURNER explained that out of 27,400 shares as
many as 23,443 had been allotted to the public, and that
the capital had been reduced from 900,000/. to 600,000/.,
and that the failure of the company was owing to the
change of public opinion and not to the deficiency of
the provisional committee.
Mr. CRADocK wished to know why the amalgamation
had not been made ?
The CHAIRMAN explained, to the effect that it was
Mr. Parsons' own objection which had prevented the
allotment of shares in the first instance, and it was only
owing to his own determination that any allotment had
been made whatever. After the arrangement had been
made with Mr. Bethel!, it was discovered that his en-
gineering was so deficient tkat there was a fall of thir-
teen feet in one place, and a rise of two feet in another;
so that there was no moral possibility of getting through
the House. He had himself taken the plans to Mr.
Bethel!, and had desired him to explain. Then the
arrangement with the Andover line was made ; but
here there was a deficiency again; and he believed
that if the three companies had been amalgamated, this
wee.. nave men one .}r the best lines in the kingdom,
and that it would yet be so. But it would have been
clearly madness to have gone into Parliament under the
circumstances, for the probability was, if they had done
so, instead of 30,000 to return to the shareholders, they
would have had nothing.
Mr. CHANCE and Mr. PAyNE, both of them directors,
declared that as soon as Mr. Parsons removed the
Chancery suit, they would pay on the remaining 75
shares.
Mr. POCOCK, in answer to a question, stated that on
receiving the letter of allotment, he immediately re-
turned the letter to the secretary, and distinctly stated
that he would take no more than 25 shares.
A SHAREHOLDER—Then you are justified
Mr. PococK—l think so.
A SHAREHOLDER wished to know whether the pay-
ments by the Committee had been made at the same time
with those of the other allottees ?
Before however this was decided upon, the secretary
was requested to read the several letters of the directors,
excepting the allotments, by which it appeared that Mr.
Chance had agreed to take 400 shares, Mr. Oliviera 400,
Colonel Ellington 400, Mr. Payne 400, Mr. Williams
425, and Lord Rossmore 425 shares; but of those only 25
shares had been paid upon.
Mr. HEALD explained, that by the reduction of the
capital to 600,000/., the shares had been reduced to
28,570 in number. Of these, it appeared that 23,560 had
been allotted, and 23,443 had been paid upon, leaving
only 5,010, and 10 shares reserved, and dividing these
by 17, the number of directors, it left 178 shares for
each of the directors, and thus set aside practically the
original allotment of 400 shares.
On further inquiries, it appeared that four of the pro-
visional committee. Mr. Coape, Mr. Fitzgerald, the Hon.
R. Gore, and Mr. Spicer, had each accepted 100 shares,
but had paid nothing. •
It was afterwards shown that the time of payment by
the allottees had been the 9th of October, and the suit
commenced by Mr. Parsons began on the 17th of De-
cember; but it 'was explained that the money paid by
the directors was advanced, not as a payment, but for
the purpose of meeting the daily expenses.
Mr. CHANCE here stated that he wished he had paid
upon the 100 shares, and that he was now ready to do so.
Another Director stated the same thing.
A SHAREHOLDER wished to know whether Mr. Tur-
ner had paid upon his 100 shares, to which that gentle-
man replied that he had never agreed to take more than
suggested by Mr. IL BLARE that, with
twenty-afivethsehnareasn.gg
a view to winding up the concern, a committee of the
shareholders should be appointed to investigate the af-
fair, with power to call for all the documents in the pos-
session of the officials of the Company. This was the
more necessary, as it appeared that the chief difficulty
arose from the ill feeling existing between the late soli-
tor of the Company and the present officials, and he
thought that the business would be better settled in that
way, for he believed that if Mr. Parsons bad been paid
the whole of his claim he would have suffered infinitely
more in his character than be would gain by any present
success in his present suit.
The CHAIRMAN stated that his only reason for refus-
ing such a course was the probability of having been
placed in a false light before
and he thought that the shareholders
the directors in such a position.
the
C oou ought h f not Chancery
t o e
best course
he was taking the very to relieve
ceived that
Cmorl.oßn eLlAJitoEnsrttsilol Np
ee
rxspi
sr
teesds ed
tothheissasmogegoop3itnioinon. ,
and
con-
ten to that effect.
dhe wou ,
the Comm from ofrnaumsetoa which they were liable,
an
This being seconded,
The CHAIRMAN explained that the motion before the
t shaaitd t he
he reportat tthis
mb ea
trienene received and
not adopted.
meetingtaitrleci,lifowErAaLns no subject could be mooted which had not
been advertised.
After some conversation,
Mr. HEALD
assentors
rateollfrnuswsaensnddida
ttnaendv dissentientsdnt
thetah, tea onlyndadoptiona pt
aha eipgeohrrwt iwgsaaiisngs anpul
prepared
et
pmbh
auaarrt
eteetdhhl
ultimately
sl
meetingders
ethoeul
car-
riedthe
unanimously.
tnheea resolutionpper ro production
hu ca was
trieons
hoofu
ithensticrbiep
,rpeabtsuus
trend considerabledt theo t
othe effectsh adr
ieffhetorhi
es
iante
difference
eas
gonuAi
ensued as to whether a release should on this payment
be granted to the directors for all their past acts, and it
was ultimately decided that as the fund to be distributed
was 30.000/, and the amount to be distributed was only
20,000/., that such a release would be improper, and Mr.
Chance thought that on this point, the solicitor would
yield.

Mr. R. SPOONER, M.P., was quite ready to meet the
shareholders, and act as candidly by them as the direc-
tors had acted. If there was any charge to make
against the directors after the money waa paid, he
trusted that it would be brought forward now.—(Hear.)
The business mode of doing the thing was to give a
receipt on the payment of the money.
Further conversation then ensued respecting stamping
the scrip, as had been done in the case of the Rugby,
Derby, and Manchester Company, and at last it was
settled that a receipt should be given on the payment of
the. dividend, and that the payment should oommence
within fourteen days from the present day.
mr. )31,,A5E desired to press his motion that a Com•
mittee of shareholders should be formed, but it was
decided that the business of the meeting was concluded,
and thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meet-

ing separated ; the several members of it appearing re-
solved to carry Mr. Blake's intention into effect. Cer.
tainly this was the most stormy affair of the-kind it has
ever been our lot to witness, and was only brought to
a cool conclusion by the tact, coolness, and uninterrupted
good humour of the Chairman.

TOO MODEST BY 'HALF.. The great fault of Young reland is that he is too
modest. He wants self-
his
de H
dearest vind .eiiariceL. His dependencies for
powers.
~‘lve objects are never on his own.
aeon— sd does not play the braggart on his own
he brags of foreigners. He is like a woman
who threatens you with what this man or that man will
do to you.
__

On; time Prince Joinville was to make minced meat
of us. Thirty thousand Frenchmen thrown on the Irish
coast were to expel the Irish invaders. Now how eN-
cessively modest it is in an oppressed nation of eight
brave millions to hold thirty thousand foreigners essen-
tial, indispensable to her liberation !
Next Brother Jonathan was looked to as the avenger,
and Ireland's battle was to be fought in Orcgcn. Again
this is modest to the malus pudor, for if any other third
of the kingdom really felt that it had a just cause and a
battle to fight, it would full surely fight its battle nearer
home, and fight it with its own hands, and trusting only
to its own hands, and trusting only to its own right and
might. Hampden and Cromwell did not look to
foreigners to champion their cause.

The Seikhs have been the last hope of too modest
Young Ireland. The Notion bees them sweeping us out
of India with 200,000 blazing scynaitars; but, unfortu-
nately for this cheering and encouraging view, it was
hardly published before the arrival of the news of the
complete overthrow of the enemy, whose blazing scymi-
tars are pawned for.the expenses of the war—
_

"From the whole facts we arrive at the conclusion that the
hopes of the invading army are now very low, and are
-wearing lower every day—that Sir H. Hardinge and Sir C.
Napier will probably never meet—and that if the people of
Lahore and the' protected' states on the Hindoo side of the
river make good use of their time, and have ordinary sagacity
to see the value of union and co-operation at such a crisis,
the game is in their hands—that the whole Moslem population
of Northern India, who are only waiting for the first
raverse that befall the British arms to raise the cry of
Deen ! Deen !—the Faith ! the Faith !'—and fall upon their
oppressors with all the fury of vengeance hoarded well for
thirty years, will clear the way to Bengal with 200,000
blazing scymitars ; that ere twelve months shall have gone
round, not the Sutlej only, but the Jumna, and possibly the
very Ganges shall be no longer overshadowed by the robber-
standard of the tyrants of Southern Asia; and that the
blood-stained Company—the plagues of the East—the plun-
derers of Hyderabad—the scourge of the Carnatic—and the
poisoners of China, may begin to set their house in order at
Calcutta. Allah Bismallah God is great—Amen and.
Amen."

How really poor in spirit is all this vicarious ven—
geance.

- It was a song of a certairi Jacobin worthy, that
He fled full soon
On the Ist of June
But lie bade the rest keep fighting.
Young Ireland bids the rest keep fighting, not having
fled, indeed, for be has not taken the field. He is mar-
vellously strong, nothing can resist him, and yet he un-
accounntably submits to what he represents as the most
intolerable tyranny, and contents himself with calling
on foreigners to go to war for him, or on Indians to
revolt, "if they have the ordinary sagacity to see the
value of union and co-operation at such a crisis."
Young Ireland is quite right in not playing the rebel,
but Young Ireland should not talk- the rebel which it
does not play. The dialogue without the action has
the most abasing effect. It i 3 too obtrusively " making
the dare not' wait upon would,' like the poor cat in
the adage."
Ireland has many grievances, but none worth blood-
shed ; she has many claims, but none to be advanced by
bloodshed, or the diabolical desire for it without daring
to share in the peril. The redress of Old Ireland's
wrongs will come in due course if the malus pudor of
Young Ireland do not unfortunately excite feelings
calculated to retard it. Young Ireland only wants
a little manly pride. He must not be always
exaggerating and enlarging on his sores. He
must not make out his case worse than it is, so as to
make its recreancy to bear it while he is bragging of his
potency. He must not count, too, upon the alms of
foreign valour for his deliverance. There is no case, no
occasion whatever for valour, foreign or indigenous.
Nothing is wanted and wanting but a little good sense
and right spirit. You have nothing to do with blazing
scvmitara— no, nor with blazing shilelaghs either"
things much apter for combustion and broil.
Let there be an end of the foreign look-out for
mischief to England, and let your hopes live 00
your own means, not on the loup-de-mer Joinville
one day, and a lion of Lahore another who turns
out to be pared of his claws by theliiit advices. M
the homely old proverb says, " Let eTery herring hanii
by its own head, every tub stands on its own botton,
and let Young Ireland pluck up a little of the honest
pride of independence—independence of foreign aid
and self-reliance on righteous means righteously di-
rected.—Examiner.

IRISH PRODUCE.
It will be seen from the subjoined list of provision!
which have arrived from Ireland at the ports °'
London, Liverpool, and Bristol during the past week,
and since our last notice on the subject, that the l 01:
portations from that quarter continue of an extensive and
important character. On the 25th the arrivals is
the river Thames from the Irish ports consisted of asp
quarters of oats, 808 hampers of bacon, 231 packages 0,
butter, 604 of lard, 40 of hams, 646 of pork, a quantity °'
tongues, and various other articles. On the following elf?:
the importations comprised 32 packages of hams, 344 VW',
ages of bacon, 220 of malt, 124 of butter, 87 of eggs, 129 o'
lard, 27 of provisions of different kinds, 20 of pork, 37 °f
middles, 62 of rumps, 55 packages of porter, 40 of whisky'
and various other produce, including linen, rags, paper, and
other merchandise. On the same day 5,724 quarters of oats
were imported into Runcorn from the port of Ballina. 011"
the next day, 1,550 barrels and 1,340 quarters of oats arrived
in the river Thames; and the imports into the port of Brisi:
tol from the sister country at the same period consisted 0,
40 barrels of pork, 187 firkins and 10 kegs of butter, severy,-.
packages of hams, 282 of lard, 41 sacks of pollard, 180 o 1
bacon, 674 barrels of oats, 55 of general provisions, 34 pack./
ages of whisky, several packages of flour, hams, and variol
other articles of minor importance, the produce of that count' :f'
On the 28th ult. 2,202 quarters and 867 barrels of oats 1% I!:a
imported into the port of London. The following is the 11/1'
of articles of consumption imported into the port of Li ver"
pool from the Irish ports during the last week, being,. frail
the 20th to the 26th -ult. inclusive :-2,853 firkins, 14,4 half'
firkins, 502 baskets, and 131 boxes of butter ; 98 I„)ags,
tons weight, and 2,323 bushels of wheat ; 5,485 sacks sl,
75 tons weight of flour; 48 tons weight, 130 bags, and 231
barrels of oats; 20 bags, 150 other packages, and 75 l°°44
weight of oatmeal; 532 sacks and 100 quarters of malt;
barrels of beef ; 18 barrels and 14 kegs of general provisio
64 kegs and 157 barrels of pork ; 49 hhds., 9 tierces, 8 ball;
and 4 barrels of hams ; 20 packages of tongues ; 403 bar re l 6
of bacon ; 715 boxes and tierces, 59 bales, and 1
other packages of linens and cottons ; 98 punchoon:
13 hhds., and 2 other packages of whisky ; 38 casks''
70 firkins, and 358 kegs of lard; 60 sacks of farina, and otbtr
articles of minor importance. Several vessels arrived
the River Thames on Monday, having on bo.-Ard co"
lectively, 2,003 packages of bacon, 531 of lard, 3 a,19
„i•
paper, 622 of butter, 187 of farina flour, 849 packages
eggs, 63 of malt, 687 sacks of oats, 44 packages of hams, ,7
of general provisions, 62 of tongues, 695 of pork, 26 of
in id
tiles, 20 of shoulders, 81 packages of merchandise, 72 n
linen, in addition to numerous packages of porter, whit''
skins, leather, hides, feathers, yarn, and indeed every o t 114?
description of food and merchandise of Irish productior
too numerous a nature to be further particularised. Fir.uVY
the arrivals at this port from Ireland on Tuesday, the. 3,1,
ult., comprised 149 barrels and 20 tierces of pork, 34
packs
ages of lard, 465 packages of bacon, 446 firkins and 1,4 key 9
of butter, 28 packages of general provisions, 479 r,acksg`,4
of eggs, 40 hhds and 118 kilderkins of porter, 135 Pt,
loose, and 9 crates of the same description oC r
besides numerous packages of linens, whisky, and otkeo
articles. It will be seen that there is evidently nt
falling off in the variety or extent of the differexi
description of provisions furnished to us by the sister
l,
island, notwithstanding the distress and want of 50
articles which exist in many parts of the country wlle 5
theythey are produced. We do not !mention these importationa
an view of a political nature at the present time, Whe
the Legislature have the country to which they refer under
their especial deliberation, and when the attention of the
people of this country is so particularly and forcibly dralo;
to the distress existing among the numerous poor of tha.t
fruitful island, but simply to give a correct and authentic lib§
of them, as affording a subject of peculiar interest and imp
portance at this period, in order to show that there is /3_",
lack of capacity in the soil of the place to produce food, P
the extensive exports from all parts of Ireland to this coati'
try most abundantly prove, leaving the further consideration
of the matter for other parties, to whom the subject is of
paramount interest and importance.

3,h1 rvf.re—o
from
hadisn oc
oe some
t°ou r2g,oOo:od 'c
peratt chbheoe
as t
,fiosfhwehirni fishermen
ra.l:hief;
varying T
Mount'sHE
Fnßirgagylni nightly
realised from 9s. to 13s. per 120. The latter price was °":
tamed on the day preceding the sailing of the steamers for
le
Hayle to Bristol. Many cart-leads (in raaunds) we'd
taken hence to Hayle, and forwarded to the markets
Bristol, Bath, &c., and we are informed met a rcauJ
sale at remunerating prices.—Hook fish have also rile;
very plentiful ; the fishermen at the Quay contt
to bring ashore from twenty to forty fifty
and even
ming'
ling and cod per boat nightly. On Friday
nl°es
several boats left the pier and proceeded a mile or two Zero
ward, and in the evening returned each with the nut11:0,
above stated, and finer fish we never recollect to have $
The lings vary in size from about 121bs. to 601bs. Such
season for this kind of fish has not been for the last forty
years. The fisheries of Mount's Bay will be eonsider4,o;
enhanced when we shall have a railway to the metrogo,' to
fish brought ashore here in the morning may then be sow
Billingsgate-market the same day.—PenzemeeVazette. 5
Lord Frederick, Lady Augusta, and the Hon. Alias
Fitzelarence, have left Etal House for the season. His LordshiPt,
for several months been suffering from a violent attack of g°Uat
much so, that It was deemed advisable by his medical attend44,ing-
remove him. Sir David Davies, together with an easy frotweeX
carriage belonging to the Queen, were sent express to Etal hot
whence
he
to convey the Noble Lord, by easy journeys, to town, vvhen
proceeds direct to Winbourne, Dorsetshire.
„Lob
The duty on oranges amounts to 70,0001. per ao'
and on currants to 270,0001.
Ait
ROBBERY ON BOARD PIER MAJESTY'S Snip rr..AFjot
GAit.—Whilst the ship was lying at Plymouth, in Septellib.?rd gold
Lieutenant L. C. H. Tongs lost a gold repeater watch a",ainee
brequet chain, the disappearance of which until lately lies reO:h11 p at
wrapped in mystery. It appears that on the arrival of the ;
Sheerness In November, two privates of the Royal Marines, 1,, atr
Dennis and William French, obtained forty-eight hours' leave u'ri.
sence, during which time the chain was sold by Dennis for five ii to e
lings to Mr. Stigant, pawnbroker, at Chatham, and the wets latter
Watchmaker at Dartford for thirty shillings, and the De-
disposed of his purchase to a Jew on the 29th °f
.0111
cember. Through the vigilance of the metropolitan
nrcito
it was ascertained that the watch case had been the
down about three weeks since, and thiti the works o
watch had been sold to a Jew in Houndsditch. In conser
that e
an investigation on board the ship, Lieutenant Tongs state °let
suspected the prisoners of having comitaitted the robbery, atoughr.v
were accordingly given into custody, and on Saturday were
_L.': ss ,
before the Mayor and magistrates at the Guildhall, Roches.tceer, 4steo
geant Kendell, of the A division of the metropolitan polid ro
to Pl,l
that if the prisoners were renw,sded he should be _ .10 _
duce the works of the watch, and Lieutenant Tonge said hytotre,r
then be able to identify the remains of his property by tile_ 51,0
and maker's name. Sergeant Kendell stated that since thst
Boners had been in oustody, Dennis had not only confessed toe
f
was the guilty party, but that isa had been concerned.
""
Moor
robberies, The primers wore accordingly remanded uutil
dig next.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
fiOUSE OF LORDS, April 7.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Woolsack
at Five o'clock.
SELLING SPIRI I'S ON SUNDAY.
The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions from Llantres-
San, in Glamorgansh:re ; Sunning-kill, in clerks; Northaller-
ton and other towns in Yorkshire; Seaham Harbour, in Dur-
ham ; Lanark, and other places, praying that a clause should
be introduced in sonic Bill to enforce the elo,ing of houses for
the sale of spirits from the hours of twelve on Saturday night
to one on Sunday. The system had been found to work well
in London, and petitioners prayed that the same might be ex-
tended to the provinces.
Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills.
THE OREGON TERRITORY.
The Earl of ABERDEEN laid on the table several papers
and documents in reference to the negotiations between this
country and the United States of America respecting the
Oregon territory.
SUPPLY OF WATER TO EDINBURGH.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented a petition from the
Sanatory Association of Edinburgh, praying that the supply of
water in that city should be placed in the hands of a public
trust, and not a private company. There was no town worse
supplied with water than this city, and the petitioners were
desirous that the supplying of it should not be left in the hands
of speculating companies.
FREEDOM OF SCOTCH BURGHS.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Edinburgh in
favour of local free trade, and in support of the Bill before Par-
liament for the doing away with the present system of freedom
in Scotch burghs. His Lordship stated that many of the peti-
tioners were possessed of the freedom of Edinburgh them.
selves; nevertheless they cordially supported the Bill.
Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition from the royal
borough of Dundee, on the same subject.
THE LAW OF DEODANDS.
Lord CAMPBELL laid on the table of the House two
Bills, whose object was to abolish the law of deodands, and
to enable parties injured by gross negligence to insti-
tute civil actions for compensation. His Lordship
said that he took this step with considerable reluc-
tance and he,itation. He had been persuaded to do it at
great hazard. The maxim of the common law of England
was, that wherever a wrong was done there should be a remedy,
but there were two strange exceptions. The one was where
death took place, or a limb was broken; but if the party injured
could not prove malice, there was no liability. Another
maxim was one which he admired very much ; and it was this,
that wherever there was an injury there wag a civil remedy.
One of the Bills which he now introduced was to abolish the
present superstitious laws of deodand, which it was strange still
continued in the middle of the 19th century. The other Bill
was to substitute a civil action, whereby, although there should
be no no negligence, which would make it a case- of manslaugh-
ter, a railway company, or the proprietors of any other public
undertaking, would be compelled to make compensation to a
party injured by the negligence of themselves or their ser-
vants. A law similar to that which these measures would
establish in England was already in force on the other
aide of the Tweed, and it was a matter of great
surprise to him that the Legislature had not before this altered
the law in this country on this subject. It was quite unneces-
sary in this stage further to explain the object of the Bills.
He earnestly entreated the consideration of her Majesty Go-
vernment to them.
LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.

The Earl of HARE WOOD presented a petition against the
London York and Railway. Ile moved that the petition be
referred to the Committee on the Bill.
RAILWAY BILLS.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that he took that oppor-
tunity of rising to enter on the subject referred to by
the Noble Lord ; and he intended to offer to their Lord-
ships some observations on the proposal he had to make
to them. He wished to draw their Lordships' atten-
tion that evening (and he ought properly to have
given notice of his intention) to the subject of railways, but
he thouglet it most desirable that whatever proposition Govern-
ment had to make should be made forthwith. —( Hear, hear. )
With this view, therefore, he wished to direct their attention
to the state of the railway Bills now before that and the other
House of Parliament, and the course which it was proposed
Parliament should adopt upon the subject. It would be
hardly necessary for him to request their Lordships' re-
collection, even incidentally, to the state in which the
country was placed during the last twelve months. Even to-
wards the close of the year 1844 the public mind was in a very
feverish and excited state on this subject. In the last session
248 railway Bills were introduced before Parliament, which at
the time was looked upon as an immense number, as unprece-
dented and unmanageable, and many Hon. Members thanked
their stars that suella state of things would not continue.—
( Hear, bear.) In this, however, they were mistaken,
for so far from the number of Bills diminishing spe-
culation in these matters, they waxed more hot
and fierce. During the summer the excitement was
on the increase, and in autumn this spirit spread through every
class in the community, young and old, rich and poor ; and he
was sorry to add that it extended to the one sex as well as the
other.—( Laughter.) The practical result of all this was, that,
as was shown in the report of the Joint Stock Registration-
office, the number of Bills brought forward was greater than
before. On the 31st December the number of schemes pro-
visionally registered amounted to upwards of 1,400. He need
not state the large capital which was supposed to be involved,
because +chat, in fact, had no existence. In November not less
than 800 of these Bills were brought before the Board of Trade.
By the 3 Ist of December this number had slightly diminished,
although not to a great extent, as the number of projects de-
posited at the Private Bill-office was 700. The attention of
the Government was very early directed to this subject, and
they endeavoured to make such arrangements before the meet-
ing of Parliament as would facilitate legislation with re-
spect to them. But it was nut in the power of her
Majesty's Government to come down to the Houses of Par-
liament at the commencement of the session with any definite
plan, as the facts on which they were to recommend the adop-
tion of any new line were not fully developed. They
could not take any steps until those projects had
been submitted to the tests of paying the deposits
and passing through the Standing Orders' Committee.
The adoption of this plan had enabled them to ascertain that
slot more than one-third of the whole number of projects would
ever conies before the consideration of Parliament. They felt
that it was their duty, as far as practicable, to save the time of
Parliament by not delaying their intentions with respect to
them which would certainly come before Parliament in the
hresent session, and the Right Honourable Baronet at the
ead of her Majesty's Government ( Sir Robert Peel)
moved the appointment of a Committee to consider the course
to be adopted in this session with respect to the great number
of railways which had been submitted for their consideration.
He (Lord Dalhousie) also moved for and obtained a similar
Committee of their Lordships' House. These Committees sat
several weeks, and came to the determination that it would not
be prudent to make any selection from those Bills during the
present session, or to arrest the course of them, It
was net for him to make any remarks on their decision,
as he had on all occasions, both in that House and in Com-
mittee, held this opinion, that it would be both unsafe and
unfair to interfere with the voluntary specteation of indi-
viduals in railways.—(Hear, and cheers.) But he thought
there was a wide distinction to he drawn between interfering
with persons disposing of their capital without the assistance
of Parliament, and to interfere with parties who applied for
special, and in many instances most objectionable, powers to
.carry into effect railway undertakings.—(Cheers.) As the
Committees were of this opinion, arrangements were
accordingly made to divide the railway business
as equitably as possible between both Houses of
Parliament. Since that period Parliament and the public
had had their attention constantly directed to the subject, and
much discussion had ensued in both Houses with respect to it.
Recently, however, these discussions had assumed a substantial
form, through the consideration of Parliament, and from the
statements and opinions contained in the petitions and memorials
which had been presented both to the Government and Par-
liament. These memorials stated, that great injury had been
occasioned to all branches of trade, and to the promoters of
railways themselves, by the undue speculation which had taken
place. The price of material was greatly enhanced as also the
price of labour. To the latter he had no objection if
be thought it would be of
permanent character, and not
operating injuriously on those
weeinnoldwere engaged in those
-works. But it was because be of a temporary, and
not of a stable and permanent sit would
it would be
injurious. In addition to the increa price of material
and the price of labour, there would be, further, great de-
mand for money, which would exert an injurious' ienadflaunendce on
every other branch of trade, which would be cram
to suffer. But it was not onlyb theb other interesteps he referred
e
shares in
to ,that would be affected,ad beent t found that railway companies already
pushedo
in eristence. Itfallen the
many of the old railway companies had
considerably ; and if. many of these new schemes Were in value
from the state forward, it would b
impossible,former companies to make any
the
money market, fur the
e
branc Th
crease of their accommodation h
by
n
b t at itew would hes.
be found
effect of the whole woulde ,
1. and extension of old lines
the calls sought for those new Ines
iec
a__y
the
case
would
could not be obtained. In Ireland,. especially, _
Ise understood from abe worse than in this country.
G vs]. ment had received
No-
ble Friend of his that her Majesty's o .ynn
of the best
applications for assistance from ta
Waterford
schemes in Ireland. He referred to the
Ireland, and the
Jewry and The Waterford
and Limerick, in the south of ,
D
Enniskillen in the north. le
in its origin, an
• and Limerick was represented to be a most valuabledin
undertaking ; to be Irish
those who had subscribed capital for it,
the
and one that ought to be accomPleshed. It was one
in 18371 yet both
which was laid down by the
Commissioners
iskillen were in the most
this scheme and the Newry and Inn
depreciated state, and called upon the Government for
assistance. In the beginning of the present Session of
Parliament many Irish Bills were brought forward, and it
was held out that the passing of a number of these
would be a great boon to Ireland as a means of employ-
ing labour. In consequence of this feeling .many Bills passed
greatest facility ; and if they
the
through Committee with
were agreed to by Parliament, they would only, he
the companies
was persuaded, interfere prejudicially with
already sanctioned, and thus the object sought to be obtained,
the giving of employment, would be defeated. At present
many of the schemes agreed to last session of Par-
liament could not carry forward their wishes from the
difficulty of obtaining the necessary capital; and if any
other schemes were pushed forward, the difficulty would be
much increased by the greater demand for money. With regard
to the general question in the last session, the passing of a
Bill operated immediately on the Stock Exchange to raise
the value of shares, whereas in the present session a fa-
vourable decision hail entirely an opposite effect. He knew
this to be especially so in Scotland, the country
with which he was connected ; for he had been in-
formed of two companies who had carried their
Bills through the Committees of the House of Commons,
after which they called their shareholders together, and
agreed to wind up their affairs. It was not necessary
for him to say to their Lordships that it would be unwise for
Parliament to interpose and restrict the flow of capital in any
way swinish the public might reasonably desire; it would not
only be very objectionable to do so but it would be absolutely
unjust.—( Hear, hear.) If parties desired to free themselves
however from the trammels and obligations into which they
had entered, he did not think that Parliament would be doing
its duty if they did not assist such parties to enfranchise them-
selves.—(Hear.) The law as it at present stood was to this
effect. There was an Act for winding up joint stock com-
paties, but before they could do so, it was absolutely necessary
that they should first become bankrupt, and then that the con-
sesit of every individual shareholder should be obtained before
thee could wind up their affairs. It would be manifest to their
Lordships that it was impossible, in many of the great under-
takings at. present existing, to obtain the consent of every
shareholder. A case had been stated to him the oilier day, in
'which 600,0001. had been subscribed as the capital of a certain
railway undertaking, and they recently declared that they had
am desire to persist in their project. They desired to wind up
their -affairs, but in consequence of some of them
it was found impossible to wind up their affairs,
although not more than 10,0001. had been expended ; and
fir the 21. 10s. which they had deposited on their shares,
they would have hail 21. ss. returned. The law required that
there should be the actual consent of every individual share-
holder, and in many instances it was the cause of much in-
justice. The law, as it was at present, was on this subject
'both unjust and unreasonable.—( Hear, hear.) It was the
intention of the Government, after Easter, to introduce a Bill,
the object of which would be to enable railway companies now
before Parliament to wind up their Weirs if they should

think proper. It could not be expected that he could
at present lay before the House the provisions of the
Bill in detail. It would be sufficient if he stated the
principles upon which the Government proposed to legislate
upon the sulsject.—( Hear. ) The Bill would provide the
means for thoe.s who were the actual ho'llers of the stock in
railway companies of calling a meeting of the proprietors, for
the purpose of determining whether the affairs of the Company
should be wound up or not. That meeting should determine
what course the Company should pursue with respect to the
winding up of the affairs of the Company: if the determina-
tion should be in the negative, of ccurse the Bill would be pro-
ceeded with. If the determination to wind up the affairs should
be come to, then, under this meataire, an official assignee or
trustee would be appointed to take charge of the funds of the
Company. He would hold them for the purpose of satisfying
any demands of creditors agaiust the company ; and when these
were satisfied, the remaining portions of the funds would be
divided rateably amongst those who were entitled to receive
them. If it so happened, which he did not anticipate, that a
liabilities with re-
deficit should result, it was not proposed by this Bill that the
parties should be exempted from their
speet to the expenses which
pta 'on.
in-
curred. It was not proposed to give any
might have been
He thought that by such a Bill every facilitya-
• companies with which they were connected. nit
to parties who are desirous of winding up the would
of rail.
way
would be manifest at once that whatever speed—supposing
such a Bill to be sanctioned by that and the other House of
Parliament—whatever speed was exhibited it was clear that,
some little delay must occur before the measure could pass.
The Government therefore proposed that a resolution should be
passed in both Ilouses of Parliament, that where a petition
should be presented to Perhament from a given number of
shareholders, praying a suspension of the progress of their Bill
or Bills till they should have time to consider the state of their
affairs in relation to such railway Bills, that they should have
power to act accordingly. The Bills which had commenced
in their Lordships' House and in the other House were to be
alike affected by this measure. The object of the Bill was
to give the shareholders power to wind up their affairs should
they see fit to do so. The Bill would also propose, at the same
time that this power was given to the shareholders, to have a fell
security given for the liquidation upon the funds up to the
time of the wind up of their affairs under the provision of the
measure. When a petition shall be presented by a majority of
shareholders, praying that they should have the benefit of the
Bill, both Houses should have the powers of granting the
prayer of such petition. It would procure a little time to pre-
pare the measure, and immediately after Easter it would be
introduced, and then it could be discussed in its details.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that hehad informed the House
sometime since of the evils which were likely to arise from the
reckless manner in which railway schemes were progressing;
and he was not at all surpris_d that such a measure as the one
proposed by her Majesty's Ministers was now required to put a
stop to such a system of wholesale speculation. He had had
various interviews with shareholders—many of them of great
importance, from the amount of shares they held—and they
expressed their ignorance of whether they had power to
wind up their affairs, as they had already made some progress
in Parliament. He was glad to find that some measure
was proposed to put a stop to this state of things.—(Hear.)
The necessity of their interference in some shape or other had
originally proceeded from persons who, of all others, are con-
sidered the most shrewd in matters affecting their pecuniary in-
terest, lie meant the people of Scotland. They wished now to
retrace their steps, and they asked their Lordship; to suspend
the progress of the Bills. He thought they acted wisely in so
doing. He thought that a measure like the present, in which
he mosf heartily concurred, should however be conducted with
great precaution. Persons for instance might cry down the
merits cf any line for the purpose of purchasing the shares at a
very low discount, upon which large sums had been paid, and
then reapirg a arge benefit by the transaction. He hoped
sech conduct as this would be guarded against. He thought
their Lordships should not allow shares of too small amount in
these transactions. While this continued, he thought these
gambling transactions would stillbe carried on. He hoped t here-
fiire, that on grounds of public morality, some step would be
taken to stop this gambling.—( Hear, hear.) He thought the
House should adopt some measure to stop these "little go"
speculations. He did not think that the lower classes were
competent judges of what schemes were likely to
be useful and beneficial to themselves. Persons of both sexes
and all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, had
not been exempt from this gambling fever. The Government
were bound to put a stop to this ; they had the power of doing
so, and they would be held responsible if they did not, by
adopting some stringent measures, secure the public credit. The
Noble Lord had not exaggerated the mischief which had arisen
from the paralysis, which had taken effect on the general
commercial and banking interests of the country. That mis-
chief was indiscribable. Let their Lordships just suppose the
case of a bank holding a million of deposits—this million of
deposits representing every class of their customers; a great
proportion of these classes are engaged in railway specula-
tion ; and the banker' knowing that A B and C
were considerable shareholders, would be aware that
the deposits which he held oh their account would be the
very first available fund that they could draw on, and he
would not dare, therefore, to use any portion of that fund for
discounting purposes; he could not discount with the same
freedom and unreserve as in other circumstances he would have
done. Their Lordships probably knew that the profits of a
banker mainly depended on his lending money on good se-
curity ; and the result, therefore, of these banking engage-
ment', would be to suspend all power on the part of the
banker of [Bing with freedom the deposits which he held in
hand. Now, how did the case stand with the trader? Let
them take the manufacturing interests of the country. Suppose
a manufacturer engaged in railway speculation to a great extent;
his mills would still require to be attended to, his machinery
would require constant repair, and a constant drain on his
capital would he required for the extension of buildings. But
how could he provide for these repairs, and these extensions,
with an unascertained number of calls impending over him?
The manufacturer had certainly entered into these speculations
with his eyes open, but that did not lessen the effect of the evil
produced. That evil pressed on the bankers, on the manufac-
turers, and on the other classes! it had suspended and cramped
the application of capital, and it had been augmented—and he
said this without any intention of reflecting upon the Noble
Lord opposite—by the course which her Majesty's Govern-
ment had taken on the subject of railway speculation. The
case was repeatedly urged upon them—(" Hear, hear," from
Lord Kinnaird)—that the practice of compelling parties to
pay the deposits in money, to invest that money in stock, and
to sell that stock subsequently for the purpose of making the
railways, was an aggravation of the mischief. He could not
help saying that it would have beer, better if they had at as
earlier period introduced the measure which they proposed to
introduce now. He would now advert to the measures which
the Noble Lord proposed. The Noble Lord had undoubtedly
felt that some observations might be made on the want of a
definite scheme on the part of her Majesty's Government. He
stated what had been the general effect on the trade of the
country, and he added that it was not the wish of the Govern-
ment, as he (Lord Monteagle) was sure it was not the wish of
Parliament, to interfere with the free application of capital.
His Noble Friend had stated that if the present sum proposed
to be applied in the construction of railways was permitted to
be so applied, the greatest mischief might ensue ; but why did
not his Noble Friend come forward at an earlier period of the
session to propose some remedy ?—( Hear.) He quite admitted
that no imputation ought to be cast upon his Noble Friend
for not having taken this course previously. But he must at
the same time say, that the course which had been taken was
wholly without precedent, and unjustifiable, and might lead to
the most serious results. He had understood that in the Com-
mittee up stairs, his Noble Friend, on the part of her Majesty's
Government, had proposed the course to which he (Lord Mont-
eagle) had given his entire consent, and that proposition was
that the different railway Bills which must come before them
should be classified. It was suggested that those Bills should
be classified, and that those comprised in number one should
have preference in consideration to those included in number
two, and those latter over those comprised in number three, and
so on. That course he believed would have been a just one.—
( llear, hear.) And he should have been glad to know that
that course had been adopted in the House of Commons,
because the mode at present acted on was an anomalous
and inconvenient one.—(llear, hear.) But what were
they called upon to do now ? Why was it that Isis Noble
Friend had postponed until the present time, the lastday before
the Easter recess, the proposition that he had submitted to
their Lordships ? If he did attempt to interfere with capital, he
should come forward prepared to say what amount of capital
her Majesty's Government thought it would be wise to expend
in the construction of railways. Let his Noble Friend say
what was the amount which should be so applied before he
called upon their Lordships to express an opinion upon this sub-
jeet. Parties had been allowed to proceed with their Bills in
the usual course, and now, when it was asked to amend the
law on this subject, he (Lori Monteagle) contended that the
limiting of the amount to be subscribed was incidental to any
such amendment. If his Noble Friend had come forward, on
the part of her Majesty's Government, with his present propo-
sal an earlier period of the session, much mischief would have
p
ionbtvhi ae t
proposal.ed B there
There wasw nothinga
s nothing tangible,clear,tha t oo ru defi-
nitecould
beUnder the preos an
weighed or fully considered, or anything that could be measured
ness and indistinctness, gd t amount of money which was incalculable.
had her Majesty's Government ennt state of things•this subject was left to vague-
commencement ofall of whith ought have been avoided,
itthe session. but, by introducin ernment moved in this direction at the
The Bill was a simple one,
mediately on the adjournment at this late period of the session, and im-
he holidays, it innuuTdment of the Houses of Parliament for
amongst the parties not be printed and circulated
if it was possible tinterested in its provisions ; but,
of it without Bela riot
print and circulate an ab-
stractfail to result ; but abovaPalFrietat public advantage could not
the intentions of the Government, and
parties notice of
un-
certainty which prevailea. But the Nobleznd do away with the
to effect the object which he had in viewl Lord said he wished
hereafter, and by allowing parties to comer m
beforeeans to
theirt e taken
Lord-
ships and to make an appeal. This, however, would throwerd
those parties into utter confusion by its vagueness ; for a p
position of this magnitude, affecting such an amount of capital,
he would venture to say, was never allowed to be brought for-
ward by a Minister in his place, without bringing forward, at
the same time, resolutions and enactments by which persons
what way they could be effected. He
might know know iu
d 1 11 therefore
exceedingly, g
the wou • urge his
gretted this
Noble Friend—as one really in
• terested in the subject itself—
if the Bill could not be given to the public in extenso, at least
•
to furnish them with its mutt material
fpoints. He would throw
which he saw some
immediate one suggestion, for the adoption
this showed the
immediate necessity. They ought—
and
necessity of the Act—to limit decision on those schemes
which had been profitable over those which had not,
been profitable, or were unlikely to be constructed ;
because, if they did not do so, one or two rival projects might
purchase shares in the other to an extent which would enable
them to stop its coustruction, and consequently cause the
greatest confusion to the parties. They did not wish to have
their remedial measures turned into instruments of fraud; but
if they did not guard against their abuse, they would enable
parties who had the disposition to do so to harass the pro-
moters of a competing line, in order to get a majority in the
proprietary. He could name many measures which had had
this effect. in his opinion, the Bill ought to have effect front
the date of the resolution, because they did not wish to give
advantages to one railway which they did not extend to an-
other. He did not think the adoption of this recommendation
would have the effect of preventing the carrying out of legiti-
mate projects. An unfinished railway was a great nuisance.
Some had been got up with the most absurd pretensions, and
simply for the purposes of speculation. Imag ne a Columbian
and a Sandwich Fishery Company ; but he put it to their Lord-
ships to imagine large dry ditches in a country without
rails, or with any probability of the works being executed.
Further, respecting property , these railway companies pos-
sessed compulsory powers to take land, and if they would not
make their lines, what a position these landowners would be
placed in. This was one great difficulty which he appre-
hended. But the worst of it was the direction of capital from
a profitable to an unprofitable market, and thereby involving
the condition and interests of all classes of society. He hoped
it was the intention of the Noble Lord to stop the further
progress of all railway Bills till after Easter, as nothing could
be more absurd than to pass any of these Bills, or forward
them any of their stages, if they were told that her Majesty's
Government intended a course of legislation that would here-
after neutralise any progress that might be made. Tni; was
a matter they were bound to consider; they should not send
Bills into the other House of Parliament, and leave that
House to provide a remedy. lie did not know what that
House might propose, but their Lordships were their own
masters, an'l should act accordingly. It was his
decided opinion they should riot at present advance a
single stage, or at least to a definite stage, until the question

involved in the Bill proposed by the Noble Lord was settled.
He should call upon their Lordships not to take any definite
step respecting these Bills till the decision on that Bill was
known. There would be difficubies attending this measure.
For instance, there would be no means of ascertaining whether
the names to the petitions were those of bona fide shareholders.
Lord KINNAI RD did not attach any blame to the Govern-
ment for not having brought this measure on before. On the
contrary, he thought they had wisely delayed it until now.
He would, however, ask whether the existing powers of their
Lordships could not be extended to meet the difficulties of this
subject. By the existing orders of their Lordships' House, any
new Bill which was brought in, with respect to an existing
railway company, had to be submitted to the proprietors before
it could be passed. Why not extend that standing order to
new companies ?

Lord WHARSCLIFFE expressed his satisfaction with the
propositions of the Government. He regretted, however, that
that it had not been brought under consideration before. They
might have brought it in immediately after the ordeal of the
payment of the deposits had been passed. He would ask his
Nolb2 Friend whether he intended to propose a new standing
order with respect to this subject ; and he would tak that op-
portunity of also asking whether it was intended to it.troduce
into all railway Bills of this session a clause subjecting such
Bills to the operation of general railway Acts..
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said, that such clause was in-
troduced into every railway Bill. It was his intention to pro-
pose a standing order with respect to this Bill. A resolution
kad been adopted in the other House for postponing the third
reading of all railway Bills until the 27th of April, and on the
first day after the recess he should move an order similarly
postponing those Bills in that House. With respect to the ob-
jection to the time at which this proposition had been made, he
might state that, as early as December last, the Government
had entertained a suggestion to classify the railway Bills, and
to recommend to Parliament to adopt the best of the Bills so
classified. Circumstances, however, prevented this course
being carried into effect.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY wished to know what
was intended to he done with the Bills which were on the table
waiting for a third reading?
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said he would, on the first day
after the recess, make a motion for postponing the Bills until a
certain day.
The subject then dropped.
On the motion of the Duke of WELLINGTON, the House
adjourned until Tuesday, the 21st inst.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 7.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes to Four.
NEW WRIT.

A new writ was moved for the borough of Mallon, in the
county of York, in the room of Mr. J. W. Childers, who has ac-
cepted the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.

SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to
be committed, viz.:—
Schoolmasters' Widows' Fund.
Campbeltown Harbour, Waterworks,; Paving, Lighting, and
Watching.
Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and Loughor
Railway.
Port Gordon llarbour.
Kilmarnock Waterworks.
Gorbals Gravitation Waterworks.
Hamilton Gas.
Kendal Union Gas and Water.
Rotherham Gas.