The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-15 00:00:00

return relative to the British Museum, National Gal-
'Sce• (so tar as elates to ihe Jewel Odle in the Tower).
Ir 7 SEWERS OF 'PRE METROPOLIS.
jc.!..u1.11E moved that a return to the order of 15th of
for returns relative to sewers of the metropotis, be made
vrthwith.
REFUGE FOR PRISONERS.
a‘ ACI‘INNON wished to know if the Government had
titer their steps for providing a p!ace of refuge for prisonersf
eir discharg,e frcm custody. This was a matter o
to
of and one in which the Sheriffs and Corpora-
f Loridon toil great interest.
9E°RGE GiIEY said that the matter was under con-
atter,.

had conducted themselves in the most praiseworthy manner.
The opening of the Mus- um on Sunday, even though it might,
on some of the grounds stated by the Honourable :Member
be desirable, could net be done without occasioning the
extra labour of a great number of servants, who at
present were at liberty on that day alone. He was, therefore,
against interfering with the present mode of managing the
Museum, as to the opening of it to the public on Sunday.
Mr. W AKLEY thought the speech of the Noble Lord
in the main, was decidedly in favour of the motion of his
Hon. Friend, and the only reason he had given against it,
was the fact of being ob.iged to employ the servants of the in-
stitution on Sunday, as well as during the week. This diffi-
culty could easily be got over, by employing for that day
persons of the Jewish persuasion.—( Laughter.) He was quite
sure there would be plenty of cancidates found for the situa-
tions. He (Mr. Wakley) was sure - that another year
would not elapse before the Museum would be opened to the
public, and he advised the Noble Lord to give way at once, and
eo-operate with his brother trustees, in order to effect that
arrengement.
Mr. WILLIAMS briefly supported the motion.
Mr. SHAW thought that, as a Christian community, they
should oppose the opening such institutions on Sunday. If they
opened the Museum on Sunday, it would be impossible to stop
the opening of the theatres and other places of amusement.
He thought the Noble Lord had made a wise distinctlon between
gardens and in-door institutions. He (Mr. Shaw ) thought
it right and expedient, as a matter of health, that the public
gardens should be open on Sundays, not so the Bri ish Museum
or the National Gallery.
Captain PECHELL supported the motion. It had been
said that if the Museum were opened to the public cn Sunday,
it would lead to the opening of the theatres on that
day, but he Captain Pechell) could not at all see
how that would follow, aed he, therefore, did not
consider it a tenable argument. He felt satisfied
that the question was duly appreciated by the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government and he hoped that the NoMblre
Lord would vote for the motion if his Hon. Friend (.
Hume) pressed the House to a division.
Mr. GOULBURN could not consider it a politic or wise
course to grant this motion,which would, in his opinion, lead
to a great desecration of the Sabbath. At the same time
he would be most ready to give his support to any other
proper steps which might be taken to humanise the people of
this country.—( Hear, hear.) The late Government had in-
tended proposing a project, having that object in view, and he
hoped that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government
would carry it into effect.
Sir W. CLAY said that he was quite sure that the Govern-
ment would be very glad to carry out the humane suggestions
of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Goulturn).
Dr. BOWRING said that much had been said about the
desecration of the Sabbath, hut in his opinion it was one of
the best ways of consecrating the Sabbath.
Mr. HUME said, that after what had fallen from the Noble
Lord at the head of the Government, he would Lot press his
motion at present to a division.
The motion was accordingly withdrawn.
SUPPLY.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply,
Mr. GREENE in the chair.
The first vote was that a sum not exceeding 132,0001. be
granted for the purpose of purchasing meal, potatoes, &c., for
those disiricis in Ireland afflicted by the potato blight.
Mr. WILLIAMS protested against the justice of the vote.
He contended that the landlords of Ireland should be com-
pelled to feed their own poor. The land of that country was
quite fertile enough to support its people, if it were properly
cultivated- If this vote were granted, it would be a grievous
injustice to the poor people of this country. There was no secu-
rity for the repayment of this money by the people of Ireland. He
distinctly asked the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the
commencement of this session, whether any more money than
the sum then granted (50,000!.) would be required, and he as
distinctly told him that it would not.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that as
there would be a full discussion as to measures affecting Ire-
land at twelve o'clock on Monday next, when he would
propose a further grant ; he therefore hoped that all discus-
sion at present might be postponed until that period.
The Earl of LINCOLN said that he was quite willing
to justify the conduct of the late Government on this subject,
but if it was agreeable to the House he would abstain from
saying anything until Monday.—( Hear, hear.)
The vote was then agreed to.
The sum of 20,000/. was then voted for the relief of the
sufferers from the late fire at Newfoundland.
30,0001. having been proposed for the relief of the sufferers
from the recent calamity at Quebec,
Mr. HUME said that in his opinion the vote was too small.
The vote was agreed to.
20,000/. was then proposed for enlarging and improving
Buekingham Palace. to which
Mr. BAINE objected. He did not see the necessity of the
change, and the sum proposed was too great.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained
the grounds on which the sum was asked. Her Majesty had
been subjected to very great inconvenience from the present
want of proper accomodation at the palace, and the same in-
convenience had been felt by her predecessor. He
wished tke House to bear in mind that this was
the first sum ever asked by her Majesty for any improve.
ments since her accession to the Throne.—( Hear, hear. )
The total expense of the improvements at the palace would
amount to 150,000/, but the sum asked for at present was only
20,000/., leaving 130,0001. to be provided in future years.
Mr. PROTHEROE said that the present building was not
at all befitting the dignity of the British Sovereign, and he
thought that the better plan to accommodate her Majesty
would be by assigning part of St. James's Park to her exclu-
sive use, and that the public would agree to such an arrange-
ment, if Pall-mall were continued, so as togive a direct commu-
nication between Trafalgar-square and the Chelsea-road.
Mr. BERNAL said that the present site of the palace was
one of the worst in the metropolis. The neighbourhood would,
however, be improved by judicious arrangements. He denounced
the system of the Governmeht in erecting a building without
taste, and in the most undes-rable situation, and afterwards
coming to the country for continual bits and bits of money,
until a perfect monstrosity of art was the result.—( Hear, hear. )
Captain PECHELL trusted that, as the people of Brighton
surrendered, some years ago, one of the principal entrances to
the town, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, now that he was
providing comfort and accommodation for her Majesty, which
he by no means objected to, would take steps to place the
inhabitants of Brighton in the same position they were in pre-
vious to the erection of the Pavilion.— (Hear, hear. )
Mr. HUME thought, before they laid out any more money
on Buckingham Palace, they ought to consider whether the
building was placed in such a position as to
be convenient far the public. He did not think it
was, and he, for one, would be glad to see
the question postponed till next session.—(Hear, hear. )
It was not out of any objection to the architect that he was
opposed to this Bill, but merely from a conviction
of the advantages that would result from a further in-
quiry into this subject. It could not be said that
Parliament was niggardly with respect to palaces, for within
his own time 2,000,0001. had been expended on this subject.
He thought that until there had been plans laid before them, they
ought not to lay out a farthing on Buckingham Palace fur-
ther than was necessary to keep it in repair. These ought
to be placed before the proper tribunal to decide upon this sub-
ject. He thought that 4,000/. or 5,0001. was rather too much
for broken glass.—(Laughter.) He would, therefore, propose
that the House should postpone the consideration of the matter
till next session.
Lord LINCOLN said, he thought it was only
necessary to state to the House that her Majesty was not at pre-
sent properly accommodated. He could assure the Hon. Gen-
tleman, that if they (the late Ministry) had remained in
r face they would have proposed this very vote
When he held office his attention had been directed
to this matter, and it was found that the palace was
by no means suited to the wants of her Majesty, and
a commission was appointed to inquire into the mat-
ter, amongst whom were Mr. Barry and Sir James
Clark, the architects, who were of opinion that such
was the case. He trusted that under these circumstances
the Hon. Gentleman would conceive it right to withdraw his
opposition.—( Hear, hear.) It was perfectly impossible to over-
rate the manner in which her Majesty acted with respect to de-
mands on the public, and when he was in office he had even to
suggest the necessity of making such demands.
Mr. HUME said he would pull down Buckingham Palace,
and put it where kensington Palace was, where they would
have a good soil. If they expended a million on Buckingham
Palace, they would never make it useful for the purpose they
proposed, but they might make it a museum for the public.
Mr. WILLIAMS said he had never known of such pro-
ceedings as the votes which had been granted for such purposes
as the present. He had a- much regard for the convenience
of her Majesty as any one, but he thought the present vote un-
called for, particularly wheir there was so large a portion of her
Majesty's subjects in a state of utter destitution. He thought
that those who were complaining of these expenditures were the
true friends of monarchy.
The Earl of LINCOLN would put it to the House whether
the extra expenses that had taken place had not been for the
benefit of the public, and at the suggestion of a majority of
that House ?
Mr. WILLIAMS admitted he had never found a more
efficient officer at the head of the Woods and Forests than the
Noble Lord.
Lord J. RUSSELL was happy to hear the Hon. Member for
Coventry make such an admission, but bethought, when he took
upon himself to make assertions he should take care to be more
am: ite ; nothing could be more incorrect than the statement
he bad made that eight palaces had been kept up for the sove-
reign. He believed, considering the convenience that the
Sovereign required, the country could not do less than keep up
the Palace of Windsor and Buckingham Palace; and
as to the suggestions of the Honourable Member for
Montrose of appropriating Buckingham Palace to a
public museum and building a palace at Kensington, he
thought that entirely out of the question. He trusted that
next year they would have something more handsome to look
at, and something more commodious for the comfort of her
Majesty, than Buckingham Palace at present presented.
After some observations from Captain PECHELL,
Mr. PROTHEROE said he would vote against the grant
under the hope that something better would be done for the
accommodation of her Majesty than the grant, if carried into
effect, would accomplish.
Mr. HUME said that his only object was that the further
consideration of this grant should be postponed till inquiry
could be made upon the subject. He thought he slaculd be,
only doing his duty by dividing the House upon the grant if
the Government persevered in it.
After some observations from Mr. GOULBURN and the
CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER,
The Committee divided, when their appeared—
For the vote
Against it
Majority for the vote —49
4,500/. was next voted to make good the damtge to palaces
and public buildings by the storm of the Ist of August.
30,000 e, was next proposed in payment of part of the ex-
pense or works in Portland, recommended by the Commis-
sioners of Harbours of Refuge, in their report laid before Par-
liament in the last session.
Mr. HUME said, as he understood convicts would be em-
ployed on these works, he wished to ask the Right Hon: Baronet
(Sir G. Grey) whether the plan of marks for good conduce
would be introduced ?
Sir G. GREY said the harbour would afford excellent means
of employment for those unfortunate persons. He hoped they
would be able to adopt the plan referred to by the Hon.
Member.
The vote was then agreed to.
On the vote for a grant of 10,000'. for the erection of a
model prisonzi
Evi
rni
ssloarniedsl attnhhdaa
In theon
taking Government
m measures
seemed efd.
rmo
preventingr e
oC
rniAMPI providing
He wished to know where the plan of that prison was.
Sir GEORGE GREY said that he could best answer
that question by referring to the substance of a letter which he
lied addressed to the Treasury on the subject. It was the
custom in Ireland to ship off the transports as soon as possible
after the sentence. The letter contained a recommendation
for the erection of such a prison ; but it did not state whether
it was to be in Dublin or elsewhere. The Government would
shortly be better able to give more explicit information on that
subject.
Mr. WILLIAMS was sorry that the present Government
was about to take up the crotchets of the late Home
on this subject.
was Secre-
taryy been at in erect-
i n lyheeryexpe larg ne, se
and there had been no evi-
g
modelprisor)s
dence whatever produced as to their utility.
`S,r GEORGE GREY vindicated the vote, and showed the
necessity for such a prison as the vote was required for.
Mr. HUME thought there was no use in having a model

MILLBANK PENITENTIARY.
the
oortrrl WILLIAMS wished to know why, in the issuing
tkk„r'ision for inquiry into the malpractiscs alleged to htve
Aru place in the prison at Millbank, the name of the Hon.
lie fer Finsbur • (Mr. T. Duncombe) was not included.
tile'44l assure the Government that neither the House nor
country would be satisfied with toe Commission unless that
list
kieritleman's name was inch ded .
G• GREY
'tags said that a commission had been issued in
tier4iluence
of the presentation of the petition of i
the Hon.
hfin er for Finsbury, but he did not conceive that if an nvi-
-14 had been given to him that that Hon. Member would
ip theaeuePttd it. The members of this Commission would be
*hi Position of jurors, whilst the Hon. r for Finsbury
elk '1 that of an accuser, and it seemed unFair to place an art-
bee: 'o the position ola judge. The gentlemen who had
Ltd V°lnferi were the Earl of Chichester, Lrrd Seymour
ofd B. Escott, all gentlemen whr,, from their knowledge
11, Pun discipline, were most likely to carry out the object.
sktuid not say that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. T. Duncombe)
oft6n't cffic,ent, far from it ; but his name had been left. out
ll' commission foi the reasor s stated.
lir• WAKLEY quite concurred in the view taken by the
on
C,.te Member for Coventry, and thought that his Hon.
4 ague ought to have been platted on tie commission.
WILLIAMS thought that the bist person to put
e commission was one who knew mvel of the subject.
etttkr' DUNCOAI BE said that if he had been asked he should
tili„,.uly have served on the Commission. He had several
fore.tet to make, and should, if not on the Commission, go be-
t d
al with Mr. Baker to substantiate the charg i
es which hey
intde, and into the validity of which he had carefully n-
red.

Re_rx VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.
..
said that he had presented a petition the other
seals'lll • -AE ost respectab'e tareinhabitan f
eel signed by 4,500 of tfter
most respectabe inhabitants of
°lony, praying for the establisreent of a -
l'ett'ssntehtiti9ivneY' lerigisalyaitiu'wgrea.s Tathe whole of the influence
present in the hands
of
the Homecolony Government, through the governor.
4h adoption of the represi ntative legislature. they considered,
tlie'bsolutely necessary for the protection of the property of
e°lenists The affairs of the colony had, from the want of
eiZ.legisla.ture, been mismanaged, it, trade__ injured, and its
,4"naure materially increased. In 1827, the expenditure
the 53,0t10f. ; in 1843, it had increased to 166 000'.
expenditure having actually increased during that period
ah4(l°(• He had intended to move that each of the colonies
Legieat have the power of electirg arepresentativet that
late luel but he should content himself a
."111.1, Period of
the session, Government
14opt es?.l',:nquiry, state what measures they intended to
intended
do better government of the colonies ; what they
this u,,;(,). "o for the future to render the colonies valuable.to
rne°m,',, instead of a burden, as heretofore, attended with
floaere-n—s expense. The time had dime, he thought, when the
It Verri-Initat mleht to take the whole subject into consideration.
sated D'emon's Land there were 35,010 freemen, and there
eeekt.'e no doubt it was a colony of the utmost importance and
ter,. "i?,t be properly managed without a represen 1 isla-
itaht state that
theels ° show the importance of the colony.
to r°rtsfrom this colon vamounted annually,hrien mrougn d numbers
fereoeTee,is millions anda
.half There were ..)2. colonies of die-
" Ass 'nos belinging to this country, 25 of which had Houses
to, tioeeirahiliv, but the ethers were regulated. .by Orders in
'4 Coq e might also state that it was requisite that Orders
with r pect to the colonies, should be published int-
tht‘desieii after the were issued, in order that the parties whom
vtitii,;lgilt affect might ht take measures in accordance with them,
t,:ht,tlonecessarygdelay. It was impossible that the air
the,Xiarße colonies could be properly managed at homelands
ate the petitioners prayed for a representative G. overn-
Pstitfojhe Hon. Gentleman concluded by presenting the
the• HAWES said the Hon. Gentleman had, in presenting
litth,retition, entered into much discursive matter, which had
the.or no relation to the sentiments of the petition. For
thlt jafortnation of the Hon. Member, he might state;
thebest Government considered a representative Government
ethne
Noble ; that the subject had occupied the attention of. _
C,e;\ Lord at the head of the Colonial Department (
,seta' " tad of the Governor-General of Van Die-
se,l:le -and, and that in the course of the recess
subject would be carefully considered. A
Ilthe wovluieAve_ rnor-General had been recently appointed,
he impean no doubt attend to the desires of the colonists, and
Cover e and trusted that the result of the deliberations of the
thet
Writnent would meet their wants. The Government,.
bamb:sh of the colonists, had endeavoured to dimhhe
sae rof convicts, but the experiment had proved a
.failure,
sYster74fPre there many difficulties in the way of adopting the
Lordreinted out in the petition. .
4.!title2OßN RUSSELL had no hesitation to tell the Hon.on
!kier -"than (Mr. Flame) that, generally speaking., he
_c -
I'4 !'dose
—at re r.ertativeheianrsti_tutions ought to be introduced
114111:tour colonies—) but he could not agree with
Atilffer t.,hat one general Hear,measure would apply to colonies
"satr:-Y situated,and used ro different customs.
stneisy r
c'ur colonies were inhabited principally by free
r4en, who bad resided in th >m for a length of time,
tistntlitstY of the inhabitants are Spanish and natives of ether
Periods' and by others who only resided in them for a limited
4'441 therefore, he said it would be impossible to apply one
tamer measure to the whole of the colonies belonging to this
van 1.4„. Re wished to say one word with regard to
(Mr, fiainere,e Land, h respect to what his Hon. Friend
°ember wte:o) had truly said, that the I.lan of reducing the
'eretnesee evicts from year to year 1714 d failed. The Go.
were .
New South wales to put an end to transportation to
and to ad ales; but they intended to go further,
respect to opt Part of the policy recommended,. w!th
Hie (Lordtransportation, by the Arcolishop of. Dublin.
to be m J.ells opinion was that transportation otg t
introd uch diminished ; and with that object he intended to
continue is
measure to abolish transportation for larceny, and
tutted toittroannlsy with respect to cases were death was corn-
portation. Thu., instead of 4,000 persons being
in the course of a year, the number would be
Greatly
diminished.—( Hear, hear.)
ue subject jectthen dropped.
UE TO THF. DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
r• C. BKELEY said he had received a note from
tht‘TATER e Noble Lord (Lord Morpeth). aging him to postpene his
motion t He considered this rather unfair, as
hadke put it SOUffb fromec .time to time, at the request of the
Government.
Lord MORPETH was understood to say, that he should be
)tepared to answer the Hon. Gentleman on the subject before
the termination of the proceedings.
SOLDIERS' KNAPSACKS.

Sir DE LACY EVANS wished m ask the Hen. Gentle,
man the Secretary-at-War if a better description of knapsack
Than that in use was intended to be adopted in the army. The
tee now in use was most cumbersome, injurious to the health
et the soldier,
and frequently caused consumption ; besides, it
ruld not be put on without assistance. They suffered much
orellt it during and after a severe march, as it weighed heavily
their chest. Many officers were also of this opinion. He
tti
ee_rennended the attention of the Medical Board to the subject.
it_Vaain
whic L AYA RD sa, a Mr. Barrington had invented a
iti"Pn ptck h obviatedid the inconveniences of the old one,
wellttiuth as they could put it on without assistance, and wear
oae ren ease, and without injury to their health. i
The men in
patent tried it, and ran up and down the stairs without n-
oeztr veenience. After trying it in this way they said it was
loaderY light and easy, but it would not be so if it were
is loaded„ Barrington said, Look at it—open it—it
The-p: and. in truth, the knapsack was as he said.
(Rear, l,tee,",. xhtd entirely dispensed with the old knapsack.—
tgh°allltg over The used a cress belt, which, instead of
shoulders,y went round the loins. He trusted
merits board would be formed to inquire into the
si 4t LACY !he knapsack.
ctt, r EVANS said they had considered the sub-
eanomdiltahr •
one.
French Minister of War had decided upon the use
After a f
reach the
geawllerwyo.rds from Mr. FOX MAULE, which did not
Lord he
goin i • BENTINCK gave notice that, on Monday next, on
he into Committee of Supply, he should call the attention of
tneeaJes.tfa Government to the state of the carrying trade be-
oppon this country and the Spanish colonies. He also took that
to rtunily of stating that it was his intention
kik his Right Hon. Friend the President of the Board of
4ntrol a question with respect to the appointment of Chief
k'tice at Bombay He should also ask the Noble Lord the
.O.IIZ Minister of the Crown a question with respect to the ap-
ilju_l'lnent of magistrates by the late Government under the
, 3' of Lancaster.
it ,"le CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that
thWla not the intention of the Government to proceed with
n naval estimates until Monday.
Mr. WAKLEY said that he was glad to hear that the Se-
w-intLary-at-War intended to give. t,he knapsack a trial. He
4.ed to know what sort of a trial .
Mr, FOX MAU LE said that there would be no objection to
receive whatever evidence had been collected on the subject.
NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
On the motion that the Speaker do leave the Chair to ge
kilo Committee of Supply.,
, Mr. HUME moved that, with the view of lessening the
nptations to drunkenness and immorality, and of promoting
therebyl
the welfare of the working classes especially, and al so
0
t.;society generally, it is the duty of a Christian Legislature
mutejlen the Britishl Museum, the National Gallery, and all
"re public p aces calculated to afford innocent and instruc-
tiveho, creation, for the reception. of visitors on Sundays and
e„st,claYa at such hours after morning service as giwhop_s and
r„,itn•hiouses are open. The Hon. Member said that it was
;'ln :a view of benefiting those who were occupied during
'lays in the week, and who were peculiarly exposed to the
trlptation of entering these places on Sundays. He thought
*ste every psible encouragement should be given to the
to induce him to avoid one of the most fertile sources of
Rasin this country, namely, drunkenness. He thought that it
1,1%e question for the Cabinet to consider, whether the crime
raeg,., not be prevented or lessened to a great extent. The
to he had proposed were in some degree calculated
consider that effect, and he trusted that the House would
spi,-;er eorieusly of the matter. Let all those places of in-
ru,;e'len be opened, and then the people would be much im-
,tr°"h"• In all cases where public institutions had been opened
t?tlret:l),llblic at reduced rates, a great increase of via:tors had
--71,l'eee • it had been so at the Polytechnic
‘lnstitution,
-"e r' a d any' of the principal exhibitions of
I.4,:ette;roptl;s n S'mmilar results had taken place all over the
rut,. where the 'public had been admitted at cheap and easy
- to public institutions, and where hey had been accessible
en the stirmay.
As a means, therefore, of checking thie proo:
tZsst of the gin-palaces, and checking anddrunkenness_h
hem
n'had
'-7, he would submit the motion, the terms of which
alrev
uy stated.
Lord
*iect `ought JOHN RUSSELL was quite willing to promote. thed
ght to be carried out by the Hon. It.lernhedr,hin regard
°Petli,ig national institutions to the public, an
''llserve none had done mere than himself to forwardethat de-
stlitable end. He was clad to hear of the great improvement
'
al
had taken place throughout the country, as to the increased
to
4,:lundanee at pub is institutions. With respect, however,
",e British Museum, it did not appear even from the statenien.
i!
the Hon. Member him-elf, that any serious restrictions
it;lsled on the week days ; and the real question
eY had to deal with was the opening of the
e
Institution on Sunday. Reearding gardeni, he
wentd at once say that they ought to be opened on Sunday, as
were a great means of promoting health ; but this did not
Zled good of such an in-toution as the Museum. But
Gallery Member said the opening of it and the National
would be a great means of putting down
drunkenness and immorality. To that he (Lord J. Russell)
but d so woied the acting of a play of Shakespere;
ustll did it follow therefore that the t heatres should be opened on
thilenduaYe ? He did not think it would be expedient for
sh„„1(1se at least to interfere in this matter, but they
1,4",`"". leave it to the directors of the Museum to
_, ire such arrangements as they thought best and most expo.
!Ilent. One thing, however, he must say, which was, that he
tdptrhehended no danger from the opening of these places freely
NV public, He must bear testimony that on all occasions
here they had been admitted to such places, they

prison in Ireland, seeing that they had one at Pentonville, ,4; GREAT 'WESTERN RAILW AY.
which was intended for the United Kingdom generally. ) The directors and proprietors held their usual half-yearly
Mr. DUNCOM BE said that the prison at Pentonville was meeting on Thursday, in the board room of the Bristol ter-
conducted in a most admirable manner. The solitary system, minus, Mr. Charles Russell, M.P., chairman of the board, in
as carried out at the prison at Milibank, inflicted the greatest the chair.
miseries upon those who were subjected to the erocess. When The CHAIRMAN said—lt has now been my duty for a great
those indieiduals were admitted to the sight of a fellow creature
number of years to lay before you, in the month of February
they became so much affected that, in several instances, they in each year, a statement of the progress we have made in
fainted. Parliament witlko the affairs of this company, and in the
Mr. HUME wished to know whether the same system as month of August in each ysar to report the result of those
was carried on at the Pentonville Prison was to be carried out proceedings; and upon the present occasion 1 trust that the
in the proposed model prison for Ireland ? Because the expense report we have to lay before you will prove most satisfactory,
'
of keeping each prisoner was between 14s. and 15s. weekly. notwithstanding that our progress through Parliament, in
Sir G. GREY—Twelve shillings. ' what I may now call the late session, was carried on under
Mr. HUME—And at the lapse of three years they put
circumstances of great diflioulty and disappointment; and
this country to the expense of sending them to one of you will bear in mind that it was the commencement of this
the penal settlements abroad, whilst they refused to advance to session that the report of the Gauge, Commissioners was first
virtuous and industrious young men sufficient to enable them laid upon the table of the Hells.? of Commons ; and if the recom-
to go abroad for the purposeEof obtaining employment, which mendation contained in that report had been carried out and
they could not meet with here. such a system was an Maw- adopted by the Legislature, I need scarcely tell you that the
lute encouracement to the criminally minded young men of result would have proved deeply injurious to the broad gauge
this country, and he should be sorry to see such a system generally, and particularly :0 to the interests of this cons-
carried out in Ireland. pally.—(Hear.) Tire Governineat and the Legislature how-
Mr. HAWES said that he had seen letters that day which ever, have not Seen tit to adopt that recommendation, for they
spoke in the highest terms of the good conduct of the convicts did not think it would be wise, or just, or fair to interfere so de
trimentallv as that recommendation, if adopted,would -
,'
who had been lately transperted, and he thought it most unques-
dientexpe-
to extend the benefits of the system to Ireland. i tionahly do, with rights and property which had been called
into existence and had grown up under the sanction of an
Mr. HUME said that there were many persons who desired
to get out far tire purposes of emigration, but that they could : Act of Parliament. The adoption of that recommendation
not go, by reason of the expense, unless they committed some would not only have that effect upon the Great Western
offence. The system appeared to him to give an encourage-
' Company, but it would in fact operate as a discouragement
ment to crime instead of doing anything else.—( Hear. ) to all enterprise fled improvement in railways.—(Hear.)
The item was then agreed to.—The House resumed. , But we must admit akat the question was one of great difli-
In reply to a question from Lord LINCOLN, 1 cuity and embarraanea,t, fin- the Government, in dealing
; with it, had to compare and to reconcile a great many con-
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
his intention, the first thing on Monday, to call attention to fiicting interests and adverse statements, and I believe their
intentions were honest, anti that they had no desire but to
the distressed state of Ireland, and immediately after that
question was disposed of the Small Debts Bill, and Navy Esti- r act fairly by all parties and by the public.—(Hear.) But I
mates, would be proceeded with.
- The report on the Small Deb.s (Salaries and Compensation) think that the resolutions of the Gauge Commis loners were
! premature, for, in recommending the Legislature and the
Bill was brought up, and agreed to. i s
, Government to determine what should be the future gauge
The report on the Lunatic Ayslums and Pauper Lunatics for all railways in this country, due regard should have been
Bill was brought up, and agreed to. had to existing railways. Of course the intention was to
The following reports were then brought up and received: diminish and do away with the inconvenience attendant
—County Works Presentment (Ireland—No. 2) Bill (third upon two gauges, and though that inconvenience has been
reading to-morrow)—Public Works Commissioners' Bill (Ire- greatly exaggerated, still it must be admitted that great
land) (third reading to-morrow).—Public Works, Fisheries, evils would result from a break of gauge.—(Hear hear.)
&c., Bill—Public Works (Ireland—No. 3) Bill (third time But notwithstauding that, the Government and the Parlia-
to-morrow— Public Works and Fisheries Bill. ment did not deem it of sufficient moment to warrant them
The Public Works and Fisheries Bill was then read a third in adopting a course which involved a question of such
time and passed. moment to .the future regulation of this important branch of
The House then went into Committee on the House of science, and one of such deep interest not only to this cone
Commons Officers' Bill. pany but to the country at large.—(Hear, hear.) At the
The clans, s having been agreed to, commencement of our labours in this session we met
The House resumed, and the Cnetaetels reported progress, with some obstacles and difficulties, but I am happy to
and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow. be able to state that these have been more than
NAVAL AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS BILL. counterbalanced by the success which has since
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that crowned our efforts.—(Hear, hear.) And if you will but for
this Bill should go through Committee pro forma. a moment consider the position we were in at the commence-
After a few words from Dr. BOWRING and the CHAN- ment of the session in February last, and compare it with the
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, the motion was agreed to. . position in which we now stand, Ido think you will find
The Bill then went through Committee pro forma, and ample ground for satisfaction and congratulation.—(Hear,
was ordered to be recr.mmitted to-morrow. hear.) It may, however, be desirable that I should give you
The report of the Contageous Diseases Prevention Bill was a short outline or summary of those proceedings, which I will
postponed till to-morrow. endeavour to do; and if you will accompany me while I doso
PRIVATE BILLS BILL. down the Great Western line, you will find that the broad
This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be corn- gauge has been deemed to be the most safe, easy, and rapid
mated to-morrow. railway that can be constructed, and you will say you have
RATEABLE PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. had every reason to be pleased at the results of our labours.—
The House then resolved itself into a Committee on this Bill. (Hear, hear.) Suppose, then, we start from Paddington, the
The clauses, with a few verbal amendments, were agreed to, first opponent we had on our line was the line proposed to
the House resumed, the Charman reported progress, and the be made called the D,irect Oxford line. That project under-
Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. went a most clear arid patient investigation by the committee,
DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM (IRELAND) BILL. and the result was that it was found to be a project so full of
The Committee on this Bill was postponed i ill Monday next. engineering difficulties, and the gradients were so steep that
ERROR IN THE CORN BILL. the route by Didcot, though it was admitted to be somewhat
Mr. VILLIERS rose to move for a Committee of the whole more circuitous, vet it was in fact deemed to be shorter, and
House to inquire into the operation of the Act lately passed for ' was preferred, and therefore the Committee rejected that
regulating the averages and the duties on rye, peas, and beans. project, and the district through which the line was to pass
Some error had arisen from the careless manner in which is now proposed to be accommodated by a short branch from
the Bill had been drawn up, and he trusted, as this was no party our line.— (Hear.) Well, then, in the southern district, and
question, he would have the support of the Hon. Member for
proceeding westward, we had no fewer than four opponents,
Lynn (Lord G. Bentinck). He would, therefore, sit down by amongst whom were the Richmond and Staines, the
moving that the House do resolve itself into a Committee of
London, Staines, and Windsor, and the Atmospheric,
the whole House, with the object of placing the articles about which was a line proposed to be run from Lon-
which the representations were made under the provisions of don to the west, and on to Newbury, and which
clause 4. was therefore a rival or competing line to the Great Western,
Messengers from the House of Lords brought down certain and every one of those, I have the satisfaction to inform you,
Bills, amongst others, the Grand Jury Cess (Ireland) Bill. were rejected by the Committees of the House of Commons.
Lord G. BENTINCK said that he readily admitted that it _(Hear, hear.) Well, then, further on the line, we found a
was a blunder which had been committed by the late Govern- project brought forward for affording a railway cornmunica-
ment—by Gentlemen, who pretended to be the only prac- tion between Oxford and Cheltenham. That was one of the
tical men in the country—and that after having the Bill five first projects about which we felt anxious, and we felt a deep
months under their consateration. Ridiculous as this blunder regret at its failure; but owing to the vast amount of railway
was, he would not give it up without another fight, because he business which came before Parliament this session, it was
would hold whatever portion of protection was left to them. found impossible to go on with it, or to hope that it could be
By the present Bill, while barley was cheap peas and beans passed. The gentlemen of Cheltenham felt this, and they
were dear, and when barley was dear peas and beans were placed the utmost reliance on our good faith, and the result
cheap. About 6,1,00 quarters of peas and beans were intro- is, that another company will be formed for the prosecution
duced every week, which returned about 30,0001. a year, of this project, to whom the delay will be advantageous, in-
which he did not think the Chancellor of the Exchequer could asmuch as it will afford time for the consideration of a better
afford to give up : but if he were willing, he would oppose it plan, and the Cheltenham people will have a line suggested
to the utmost, and he would—though it was at the end of which will be more in accordance with their wishes.—
August—debate the question as uncompromisingly as if it —(Hear, hear.) I shall now, having disposed of these, take
were at the coemencement of the session—a task which they vou to the west, where we had not the good fortune to carry
would not much desire. the Hungerforcl Extension and other lines by which to afford
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he a more direct communication with Exeter and the west; but
did not think the question was of sufficient importance to enter in reference to that I have only to say, if it was thrown cut,
into at that late period of the session. there were several other projects which shared the same fate
Mr. GOULBURN said that it was not a blunder, but —(Hear)—and the question is still left an open questicn,
merely a clerical error, which was of frequent occurrence when which may be decided in the next session.—(Hear, hear.)
a large schedule was attached to an Act. I feel great confidence in our project for that district being
Mr. VILLIERS begged to know whether the Noble Lord deemed the most useful to the public, for the object is to
would persevere in his opposition. The first person who dis- make a shorter line, and I have no doubt it will be passed
covered the error was Ibrahim Pacha, when examining the in the next session, when a Bill will be also introduced to
details of the measure. amalgamate the lines. We will come before the Legislature
Mr. ELLIOT YORKE said he would support the Noble next session with those advantages in our favour—(Hear.)
Lord in his opposition. Well, then, with regard to the Cornwall and West Cornwall
Mr. VILLIERS said he would divide the House upon the lines they are certainly of great importance in regard to the
question, only he found that there were only thirty-seven mem- relation which they bear to us. The West Cornwall line pro-
bers present, which were not sufficient to make a House. He poses to pass through a district of country, the most popu-
would
therefore withdraw his motion. lous and industrious that exists in that direction, and it will
The motion was then withdrawn. open up resources of traffic which have hitherto not only not
NEW ZEALAND. been developed, but which, in fact, are not yet known.—
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought in (Hear, hear.) It will not only be a means of affording ac-
a Bill to amend an Act of this session, for authorising a loan commodation to West and East Cornwall, but it will also be
from the Consolidated Fund to the New Zea!and Company. of :, rest benefit to the west of Cornwall, as the packet station
Air. HAWES brought in a Bill to make provision for the and will be the means of bringinggreat additional Mille upon
Government of New Zealand. The Bill was for laying the our line.—(Hear, hear.) It will be of importance to us, not
foundation of a local Representative Government, at the same only in relation to the immense accession of traffic which it
time retaining sufficient control on the part of the Home will bring to us, but it will also be made upon the broad
Government. gauge, which it is now admitted is the gauge which must pre-
Mr. GOULBURN said be did not object to the intro- vail throughout the whole of the west of England.—(Hear,
duction of a Bill fur the improvement of the Government of bear.) And I cannot quit this part of the subject without
New Zealand, but he did not think it was judicious that at expressing my regret that the Company which was formed
such a late period of the session such an intricate question for making a line for the north of Devon have failed before
should be discussed. the Committee of the House of Commons, for that was a
Mr. C. BULLER said that the Bill was brought in upon scheme which was calculated to afford ample accommodation
the same principle as one which the late Government to the whole of the north of Cornwall, and the Taw Vale was
sanctioned. Ihe late Government were prepared to concede passed, the effect of which will be to throw impediments in
a representative Government to the inhabitants of New the way of the formation of more useful and comprehensive
Zealand. schemes. However, it is impossible that the line can be done
Mr. J. SMITH made some observation which did not without, for the north of Devon must have the accommo-
reach the gallery. dation it requires; and I feel confident that the Great
Leave was then given to bring in the Bills. Western Company will get that line into their hands if you
COURT OF EXCHEQUER (IRELAND). will only come forward and aid the undertaking with that
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER obtained zeal and determination to carry it out which have always
leave to bring in a Bill for the further regulation of certain marked your proceedings.—(Hear, hear.) I now turn from
offices attached to the Court of Exchequer in Ireland. the western districts in order to congratulate you upon the
Mr. MORGAN JOHN O'CONNELL obtained leave to success which has attended on our efforts in the late most
bring in the following Bills :—Bill for altering and amend- arduous contest we had with the Oxford Company.—(Hear,
ing and registering Deeds and Instruments affecting Real hear.) That contest was not sought for by us in any spirit
Property in Ireland—Bill for facilitating the sale of encum- of aggression upon our part; it was forced upon us by cir-
bored .Estates in Ireland—Bill for preserving in repair, cumstances over which we had no control; however our Bill
letting, and generally managing Real Property in Ireland, has passed the Legislature •, it has received the sanction of the
pending suits regarding such property in Courts of Equity in Crown, and it will accomplish all the great and useful pur-
Ireland—Bill to enable Tenants for Life and Mortgagors in poses for which it was intended.—(Hear, hear.) Well, now,
possesson of Lands in Ireland, to pent Leases ; and to enable having disposed of those subjects which occupied our atten-
Tenants for Life of Lands in Ireland to make exchange ; and tion during the past session, I will next take up those mea-
for giving a summary remedy for Partition of Lands in all cases sures which we propose to bring on in the next session, and I
in Ireland—Bill for Registering Births, Deaths, and Mar- will divide them into three classes : the first of them will be
riages in Ireland—Bill for converting the renewable Lease- the short branches, which we propose to make from our own
hold Tenure of Lands in Ireland into a Tenure in fee-simple. main line; the second will be those various lines of railway,
and for apportioninc, rents issuing out of Lands in Ireland, and by which we propose to connect Exeter and the western dis-
for authorising the redemption of fee-farm rents—Bill to tricts (and here I may mention that this is 'a subject which
enable Tenants holding Lands for limited interests, mediately has undergone our most serious and deliberate consideration);
or immediately, under aggregate bodies politic, corporate and and the third class has reference to the main line from Oxford
collegiate, ecclesiastical and lay, or trustees for charitable or to Cheltenham, which is a line of great importance,
other public purposes, in Ireland, to acquire estates in fee- inasmuch as it proposes to afford a through means
simple in the same lands, and for other purposes. of communication, by Oxford and the south of Wales,
The New Zealand Government Bill was then read a first to London ; and I cannot mention the south of Wales
time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. without remarking upon the great importance which that line
The remaining orders of the day were then disposed of, and will be to the Great Western Company, in fact, it would be
the House adjourned at Halt-past Seven o'clock. impossible to overrate the importance of it to our line, not
only in regard to the traffic it will bring to us, but also as a
means of communication with the whole of the south of Ire-
land ; and, therefore, it is of great importance that we should
advance that project by every means in our power; and we
have also the satisfaction of knowing that while we partici-
pate in the advantages which may follow the formation of
that line, the company who propose to undertake the for-
mation, will also undertake all the risk and liability.—
(Hear, hear.) We therefore propose to enter into a negoti-
ation with that company, the details of which will he laid
before you at a special meeting to be called for that purpose,
before the terms shall be carried into effect.—(Hear, hear.)
Having directed the attention of the meeting to the table of
the income and expenditure of the company for the last half
year as compared with that of 1845, and adverted to the fact
of the company having reduced their fares, he went on to
say that, notwithstanding the reduction of fares, there would
still remain a balance of 189,9561. at the disposal of the share-
holders ; and he would beg of them, at the same time, to
bear in mind the fact that those favourable results arose rom
a line which was yet unfinished and undeveloped, and was as
yet receiving no tribute from the south of Wales. This
company were now, for the first time, about to get lines of
communication with the coast and the west of England, and
also from Staffordshire and the north, and when these ad-
ditions were taken into consideration he felt assured
that the proprietors would not say he had been
over sanguine in saying that the property would
pay eight per cent. and that in a very short time
they might look still higher.—(Hear, hear.) Now, in
order to meet the expenses to be incurred by the works on
toaflni
tdnhewe
h61i,7c9/h7.
the new lines, it would be necessary to raise a sum of money,
which the directors proposed to do by means of an issue of
new shares. By the Act of 1844 a line was proposei to
Oxford and Cheltenham as au amalgamation line, the ca-
pital for which would amount to 8,160,0001., and the amount
ssiltiO:wr ela4ss:—lle )
leaving about
proposed should 1
He now came to the consideration of the question of the
liabilities of the Great Western Company. He did not
(b 1) f:eBWpr O,ON shares
0i
0 1;
issued
t o
bbyet provided,
think it would be necesary for him to dwell upon that sub-
ject at any length; but the reason he alluded to it at all
was, because some statements had appeared in black and
white in reference to these liabilities, these " enormous lia-
bilities," as they had been called. These statements, he
understood, first appeared in e railway paper. Now it might
fo ri
s stuhea
be considered a matter of bad taste in him, or might be
deemed a dereliction of duty on his part ; but be it what it
might, he should certainly plead guilty to the charge of not
having read that paper.—(Laughter.) Bnt his attention
having been called to the statements set forth in that paper
in reference to the liabilities of this Company, he would just
say this : that at wereben of lastsession the Great
Western Company te have made the Cheltenham and
Oxford line, fur which they were to raise 9,710,000 e, and
they were to borrow one-third of that sum, namely,
about 3,237,0001, which would make a total of over
12,000,000 e, and that was to constitute the whole of the
liabilities of the Great Western Company.—( Laughter)
—and in that sum was to have been included the branches
he had already mentioned namely, the South Devon
Branch, which was to cost 150,000 e ; the South Wales
Branch, 560,000/.; the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth,
500,0001.; the Cornwall, 75,0001.; the Gloucester and Forest
of Dean 25,0001.; and the West London, 30,0001. ; making
a total of 1,340,6001, which would make about 14,000,0001.
altogether, through he bad good reason for knowing that
12,000,000 e would be more than sufficient for all these pur-
poses; and now, he would ask, what was to become of the
statements in Mr. lierapath's Paper, in which it was set
forth that the liability of the Great Western Company
amounted to the enormous sum of 43,000,000/, sterling?—
(Laughter.) He hart been informed that the secretary had
received a letter from a proprietor of the company, in which
the writer stated that be had it " upon authority" that the
liabilities of the company amounted to 70,000,000/.—
(Laughter)—and that he was therefore deterred from making
airy further ieveatuaenta by such reports.—(Laughter.) Now,

METROPOLITAN LABOURERS'
SUBURBAN DWELLINGS SOCIETY.
A public meeting was held on Thursday, in the Temperance
Hall, Waterloo-road, to explain the objects of this Society.
Mr. WILLIAM FOWELL having taken the chair at half-past
eight o'clock, introduced
Mr. Ouvan KELLY, who explained the objects of the
Society. He said that a society would be formed, consisting
of a chairman, secretary and treasurer, and committee of
management, &c., having fur its object the bettering of the
condition of the labouring classes. This object would be
sought by purchasing ground some five miles along the
different railways, on which to build cottages, having an-
nexed to each of them a plot of ground suitable in size to
the wants of the family. The cottages would vary in size from
two and four to six rooms, and would be let at the same rent
with the ground attached as the working man was at present
paying for a worse lodging in the unhealthy atmosphere of
the worst parts of London. He said, they offered them thus
country air, a plot of arable ground, and a cheap comfortable
cottage, instead of the lodgings in London, which, in some
cases, were worse than the miserable huts in which their
fellow subjects in Ireland eked out their sad existence.
These he said were the points on which they rested their
claims. He then referred to an article which appeared on the
12th M !y• last, in the Liverpool Mercury, in reference to the
village of Crewe, which had lately started into existence, in
connexion with the Grand Junction Railway. In that vil-
lage it was said the rent was from 2s. to 3s. 6d. a week ; and
to meet doctor's expenses, a boy, if he received 10s. a week,
was taxed a penny, or a halfpenny if under this sum, a single
man one penny, and a married man three halfpence; that
was all the charge made for de,ctors' attendance. Such, said
Mr. Kelly was something similar to what they intended to
erect. Ile then referred to an article which lately appeared
in the Medical Times, describing the filthy and unhealthy
dwellings inhabited by the poorer classes in London, and the
catastrophe to which they might, be exposed, in case
a pestilence, such as the cholera, should invade the locality.
Mr. Kelly said that the rent proposed by the society
would include the charge of going to and from by
the railway, which charge, according to an offer made
them by the Railway Companies, would be one penny;
and in case any of the tenants wished to go out or in at
other hours, the society would endeavour to get the charge
of conveyance reduced to the same sum as the society paid.
Of course no bond was entered into, the tenant was under
no constraint, if the terms did not suit him he could leave.
He added, that among those already on the committee, was
Earl Grey, Lord Ashley, Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Ricardo,
M.P., Mr. D. Wire, Mr. Douglas Jerrold, Mr. Grisell, and
Mr. Smirke.
Mr. littEAnY then addressed the meeting on the advan-
tages of the society's project, and answered some questions
tending to elucidate the working of the society.
A WORKING MAN suggested that the opportunity should
be added of becoming the owner of his cottage; that if he
should pay 2s. or 2s. 6d. as interest on the money laid out on
the cottage, perhaps 10:V., and 4s. or ss. rent, the rent should
go to rubbing off the value.
The CHAIRMAN said, that had not been considered by the
originators of the Society.
ANOTHER WORKMAN expressed his apprehension that he
would lose the franchise if he went out of the borough, unless
he became a freeholder.
A show of hands was then taken on the merits of the So-
ciety, when a large majority of those present voted in favour
of the project, and none against it.
Mr. BREAREY read a petition, which he proposed the
workmen should sign, praying their employers to become
members of the committee of the Society, in order to protect
the interests of their workmen.
A vote of thanks was then unanimously accorded to the
Chairman, and the meeting separated.

SCOTTISH TARTANS.—The Grand Duke Alexander of
Russia has sent an extensive order to a mercantile house in
Inverness for tartam.

it was impossible for the directors to deal with such shadows
as those reports; but the best answer that could be given
them was to lay before the proprietors the actual state of
the accounts of the company, which accounts were pre-
pared by the executive officers of the company with a de-
gree of care and exactness which, when compared at the
end of every month, did not vary to the amount of even
one farthing; and he trusted that it would not be neces-
sary for him here to say anything in vindication of the
directors of the company.—(hear, hear.) The directors
were not bound to take any step in vindication of themselves
in respect to any such reports, beyond answering any questions
winch might be put to them, but he did think it necessary
to say this much in vindication of them from such malignant
statements, and to clear themselves from such false and scan-
dalous aspersions as that the Great Western Company had
incurred such monstrous liabilities.—(Hear, hear.) But lie
believed the best course to adopt would be, to use no harsher
terra than to say that they would treat such statements in
future with silence.—(Hear, bear.)
Mr. CHARLES Sauxians, the secretary, read the report,
the substance of which was to the following effect :
" The traffic of the Company has continued to increase very
satisfactorily during the last half-year, as compared with the
same period of last year; the comparative earnings having
been 496,428/. 12s. Id., in 1846, against 433,296/. 16s. 2d.,
in 1845. The former sum embraces the receipt from about
twenty- five miles of additional railway, worked for nearly
four months and a half longer in 1846 than in 1845. The
expanses on traffic have been heavier than usual, arising
from the necessity of augmenting the establishments of the
company, to carry on the increasing business of merchan-
dise, and especially for the more efficient inspection and re-
pair of the carriages, waggons, &c., having due regard to the
public requirements and the importance of that service. The
result of the half-year, as will appear from the appended
statements, leaves, after providing for all interest on loans
and rents, the net sum of 189,956/. Bs. 7d. disposable
by the proprietors, from which a dividend on the
total nuns called, viz., on 4,670,656/., at the rate of four
per cent. for the half-year, will abstract 186,826/. 4s. 9d.,
and leave 3,1301. 3s. 10d. to be carried forward in
the usual manner. An Act has been now obtained for
amalgamating the Oxford and Rugby, Berks and Hants, and
Monmouthshire and Hereford Railways, with the Great
Western Railway, as authorised by a previous general
meeting of this company. The amount required for the con-
struction of those lines may hereafter be created as Great
Western stock, in addition to that which was previously
sanctioned as the capital of the company for the Great
Western Railway, comprising the Cheltenham and Oxford
Railways. As more than one-half of the whole capital has
been paid up since the recent call on the quarter shares, a
formal resolution will be submitted at this meeting to autho-
rise the directors to borrow on mortgage upon the security of
all the amalgamated linespithe remaining sum to complete
the amount of 3,236,666/., which may be raised by such
mortgage debentures. The out-standing calls on shares
already created still exceed the amount required to pay off
those debentures and loan notes which were issued in antici-
pation of calls; but the directors think it expedient upon
this occasion, in order to provide for the construction of the
other lines sanctioned by Parliament, to issue new shares to
make up the capital from 6,975,000/. to 8,160,0001., which
latter sum was the aggregate authorised to be raised in
Great Western shares before the recent Amalgamation Act
passed. To carry this intention into effect, the proprietors
will be entitled to receive a new share of 171. in proportion
for every 100/. of existing shares held by them. The number
of such new shares, in order to bring them within the
Parliamentary sum, must be 69,700, instead cf 69,750, to
which may be added five extra shares of 201. each,
to adjust the small fractional difference arising from the
subdivision in their nominal value—which can be easily ar-
ranged in the final appointment of them. It is recommended
that these shares shall be offered to proprietors who may be
registered on the sth of September, and a deposit of 21. per
share be made payable on the 7th of October. The dividend
will be made payable on all calls on the 17/. shares, pro rata
with the calls made on any other shares of the company, and
the future calls will be made as the money may be required
for the construction of works. The share capital will then
consist of 25,000 shares, 1001. each, 2,500,0001. ; 28,000 shares,
50/. each, 1,400,000/.; 93,000 shares, 25/. each, 2,325,0001. ;
37,505 shares, 20/. each, 750,100/. ; 69,700 shares, 17/. each,
1,184,9001. Total, 8,160,000 i. The broad gauge extension
lines from Plymouth to Falmouth and Penzance, have been
santioned by the Legislature, after a very protracted opposi-
tion, and the construction of them to the most westerly ports
in the Channel, must bring considerable traffic to this line.
The Birmingham and Oxford, and the Birmingham,Wolver-
hampton, and Dudley Companies have already determined,
and given orders to proceed with their works with the ut-
most dispatch, in order to have this second independent line
for a portion of the London traffic opened at the earliest mo-
ment. These important extensions, in addition to those
sanctioned in 1845, cannot fail to insure, in due time, to the
shareholders of this company, a valuable increase upon the
present rate of dividend. In the next session, it is proposed
to apply to Parliament for a short branch line to connect
Windsor with Slough, besides renewing applications for such
of the railer ays already approved by the proprietors, as
may still seem to be required for public accommodation
with benefit to this company.
" C. RUSSELL, Chairman."

ENGINEER'S REPORT.
" Of the three lines of railway sanctioned by Act of Par-
liament last year, and undertaken by the Great Western
Railway Company, namely the Berks and Hants, the Ox-
ford and Rugby, and the Monmouth and Hereford—the two
first requiring no alteration and amendment, have been im-
mediately proceeded with ; the works on each of these lines
were let in one contract, and have been undertaken by con-
tractors of experience and responsibility, who have brought
a very large and ample supply of plant upon the ground,
and have shown both judgment and activity in the distri-
bution of that plant, and in the mode of setting out the work
for execution. Difficulties have in many cases occurred in
obtaining possession of land—difficulties which have been
much aggravated by the provisions of the new Acts, which
have so much complicated the proceedings necessary for
obtaining possession when parties are desirous of throwing
difficulties in the way, and creating vexatious delays; but
whenever possession has been obtained, the works have been
immediately and actively proceeded with. Upon the Berks
and Hants Railway, extending from Reading to Hungerford,
and from Reading to Basingstoke, a total length of forty
miles, although some of the land was obtained so early as
last December, which allowed of a commencement of the
works, other portions, and some of the most important, have
not been in our possession for two months. During this pe-
riod, and principally during the last six months, considerable
progress has been made, about one-half of the total quantity
of earthwork, about 1,250,000 cubic yards, have been exca-
vated, and from the good arrangement of the work, and the
quality and position of the principal cuttings, every facility is
now afforded for the rapid execution of the remainder. the
brickwork and building generally of the various bridges and
works are also well advanced. About seven miles of the line
are ballasted and ready to receive the permanent way. The
timber for this is in course of preparation and carriage to the
spot, and the rails have been already delivered on the ground.
Two locomotive engines are employed on the works in carry-
ing on the earth-work when the lead is considerable, and
every exertion is making to expedite the completion. Upon
the Oxford and Rugby line, of the length of about fifty-
two miles, from many unavoidable circumstances, the
works could not be commenced so early. The necessary
preliminaries were completed, and the contract entered into
last autumn ; but it was some time before sufficient land
was obtained to allow of any real progress. The contractors
have, however, taken possession, and entered upon the
works whenever they have been able; and I have no
reason to complain of their want of activity or of their ex-
ertions. The works are now proceeding over nearly the whole
extent for 35 miles, and at upwards of twenty seperate cut-
tings nearly 300,000 yards of earth-work have been exca-
vated, and a considerable amount of brick-work and masonry
executed. Bricks are being made at such parts of the line
as afford good materials, and the ballast is being prepared
and set asido at all convenient points. The rails for this
permanent way are in course of delivery, and the timber and
other stores are being prepared at Bristol. Upon the Mon-
mouth and Hereford Railway the same progress has not
been made ; at either extremity a considerable portion of the
railway depended upon a Bill for amendment, and also for the
junction or extension into Gloucester, applied for this session ;
this last has now passed, and arrangements have been made
which determine the course of the line near Hereford. In the
mean time the works have been set out and all the necessary
preparations made for proceeding, so that nearly the whole
of the line may now be let by contract. The works upon
the two other principal railways, in which the Great Western
Railway Company are most directly interested as lessees of
the line, namely, the Oxford, :Worcester and Wolverhamp-
ton, and the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railways, are
proceeding with satisfaction.

" I. K. BRUNEL."
NUHIER. OF 3iLallEii ENTITLED TO ♦ DIVIDEND TO 30TH
Julia, 1846.

Capital Amount.
25,000 shares 1001. each, 851. paid ...... ... £2,125,000
28,000 half-shares 501. each, 501. paid... 1,400,000
93,000 quartershares 251. each, 5/. paid 465,000
Fifth Shares, viz. :-
2,118 4/. paid, and both calls deferred 8,472
4,432 12/. paid, and one call deferred 53,184
30,950 201. paid 619,000

Capital called £4,670,856
Four per cent. dividend is £186,826 4 9
GZITERAL ANSTRACT OF EXPENDITURE - HALT-YEARLY

STATE DIE N TII.
Dec. 31, 1845. June 30, 1846. Total.
Expenses befbre the Act • • .. £89,436 • • • • £89,436
Lend and Compensation • • .. 759,383 £5,394 764,777
IC,eorintri.acetnftorwlaVyo,Timber,......u.,:
an.d. 3,859,921 •
43,694 3,895,616
all other materials • • .. • . 1,119,657 1,094 1,120,75'
Locomotive engines:, carriages, &c.,
deducting 95,000/. received for
depreciation .. • • • • 54,,, . 5, ~
Engine-house, machinery, tools, &c. 29,66 a
Engineering, surveyors, &c. ~
Advertisements, printing, &c. ~1
Travelling expenses .. .. ..
Land valuers, purchasing land ..
1,
Law charges, conveyancing, and
costs of title
Stamps for debenturesA ~
.. :: ::
Parliamentary expenses • • • • ,C
Maps, plans, Sce. .. .. .. ,6
..
Office expenses, salaries, direction,
~
postages, &c. .. .. .. • •
Experiments of Mr. Wood and Mr.
Ilawkshaw .. • • • • • • • -
Reconstruction of portion of perma-
molt v. ay between Loudon and ~
• •
,G
2I
Maidenhead 75,651 12,912 83,563

543,668 48,714 532,382
. 29,663 2,831 32,494
.. 155,203 . . 155,203
• 3,865 .. 3,865
4,427 4,427
20,003 178 20,182

82,473 .. .• 82,473
14,935 •• .• 14,935
27,043 8 27,052
1,677 - 1,677

42,679

3,201 . • • •

£G,822,892 £114,127X6,937,719
The CHAIRMAN then, in answer to several questions, stated
that the Worcester and Portdynllaen line had become ex-
tinct in consequence of the present position of the gauge
question; that the Great Western Company were to admit
the Kennett and Avon Company as shareholders; that the
Oxford and Birmingham line would undoubtedly be made
upon the broad gauge, but that it had been rejected in the
House this session upon special.grounds, and would be intro-
duced next session.
Mr. Goocu, in answer to some questions, said that in the
recent experiment as to speed upon the line, one engine
drew 110 tors the whole way to Bristol, while the other went
only as far as Didcot.
The CHAIRMAN expressed a hope that the large engines
would eventually be applied to the ordinary trains in order
to afford an acceleration of speed to them all.—(Hear.)
After some few other observations, Messrs. Crossthwaite
and M'Almont were appointed auditors, the report was
adopted, resolutions founded upon it agreed to, and the cus-
tomary vote of thanks was prssed to the chairman and
directors.

A GREAT GUN.—The largest piece of ordnance cast,
it is said, has just been turned out at Alger's foundry, South
Boston. It is heavier by 5,000 lb. than the " Peacemaker."
The weight of the gun, when finished, will be 25,000 lb.;
length, 10 feet; diameter, at the base ring, 39 inches; length
of chamber, 13 inches; diameter of chamber, 9 inches;
length of bore, 9 feet 1 inch ; diameter of bore, 12 inches.
Will carry 230 lb. round. shot, and 180 lb. shell. Range of
shot or shell 3i miles, being a quart2r of a mile greater than
the recorded performance of the largest and latest invented
mortar in England, and half a mile beyond the reach of any
gun in the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa.—Lewington True
American.