The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-09 00:00:00

THE SUN,

LONDON, FRIDAY

EVENING, MAY 9, 1851.

complete immunity from small-pox. The registrar
remarks:—

" I have registered one death from small-pox—that of
a child, five years of age, which had lately been brought
over from Ireland, and had not been vaccinated. It is
now more than three years since I registered a death
from small-pox, out of a population of between 12,000
and 13,000, which I attribute to the appointment of
public vaccinators, and the attention parents now pay to
the vaccination of their children."
In the same county the people of Runcorn offer an
example of criminal negligence, which is a reproach to
the religion which they profess and the country in which
they live:—
" Births, 132; deaths, 112. Small-pox has prevailed
during the last 3 months; in the above number, 40deaths
are from that disease, and only 3 of the deceased had
been vaccinated. There appears a great want of atten-
tion on the part of parents in not taking their children
to be vaccinated. I trust that stringent measures will
be adopted to compel parents to have their children vac-
cinated. The disease has been prevailing in this district
five months, and at the present time very severely.
There have been 11 deaths during the last ten days.'
At Wigan the same negligence was observed. 189
children under 5 years of age died; and 25 were left des-
titute of medical advice. In Burnley 179 persons died;
the cause of death was not certified in 40 instances, and
31 had no medical attendant. Small-pox, scarlatina,
measles, typhus, or influenza were prevalent in Man-
chester, Prescot, Ashton, and Oldham. The same
z ym ot i c
The
diseases
mortality
was in districts of
York-
shire.
abovemany
anthe average in Brad-
ford,
vaguelyl
btnywhat Leeds,eNorthernan a tt and
hSheffield
aaccident.sD too
ivTishi
Ine son we observe the loss of 27
iv
looenxgpbloeseinontshien minespracticeartoo
now
tolerably well understood; and with proper care and good
arrangements could rarely or ever happen. Hooping-
cough and bronchitis (apparently influenza) have raised
the mortality in Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Bedlington and
Morpeth have suffered from scarlatina and typhus;
more than fifty persons suffered at one time from the
latter disease in the lower part of Bedlington town.
The mortality in Wales was generally below the ave-
rage. Scarlatina and measles prevailed in Newport,
Cardiff, Merthyr Tydvil, and raised the mortality . Scar-
latina also prevailed in districts of Pembrokeshire.
Eighteen persons died of small-pox in Holyhead, Angle-
sey ; only two had been vaccinated.
Mr. Glaisher's description of the atmospheric condi-
tions of the unusually mild, variable, and rainy winter,
deserves attention. Cholera is scarcely mentioned in
the registrars' notes. The registrar of Oldham records
three deaths from English cholera. No trace of the
great epidemic is left except the diarrhoea.
No pains should be spared to deprive another outbreak
of half its terrors by sanitary measures. If the towns
were supplied with pure water, the streets and old houses
drained, the slaughter houses removed from the neigh-
bourhood of dwellings, the dead buried in distant
places, the progress of medical science, and well-ordered
medical organization, would diminish the mortality not
only from cholera, but from all other epidemics.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
CONFERENCE OF DEGREES.

The annual public conference of degrees and presen-
tations of honours and prizes, iby the Chancellor and
Senate of this University, took place, before a crowded
and fashionable assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, in
the spacious library of University College. This was
the second occasion of this interesting ceremony having
been performed in public, as it was previous to last year
limited to the senate-room of the apartments occupied
by the university in Somerset-house. In the absence of
any special building belonging to the university, the
senate, on the last occasion, accepted the use of the
lecture-room of King's College, but the recent comple-
tion of the new library at University College opportunely
presented the means of equalising their favours between
the two chief London colleges, both of which, with
several others in various parts of the country, are de-
pendent for the acquirement of degrees upon the Uni-
versity of London.
At two o'clock the Earl of Burlington, Chancellor of
the University, took the chair, and near him we noticed
Mr. J. Shaw Leferre, Vice-Chancellor, Lord Monteagle,
Lord Overstone, Lord Saye and Sele, the Bishop of
Hereford, Sir S. L. Hammick, Bart., Sir Phillip Cramp-
ton, Bart., Sir James Clark, Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay,
Mr. G. C. Lewis, M.P., Professor Brands, Professor
Faraday, Professor Malden, Professor Graham, Pro-
fessor Miller, Professor Sharpey, Dr. Hodgson, Rev. Dr.
Gerard, Rev. Dr. Stowell, Mr. Macmurdo, Mr. Barcot,
Mr. Grote, Mr. Hallam, Mr. Warburton, Mr. Walker,
Mr. Kiernan, &c.
The Rev. Dr. Rothman, Registrar of the University,
then read a short report, which stated that during the
past year 160 candidates bad been admitted to matri-
culation, nearly all of whom had distinguished them-
selves by their attendance when under their various ex-
aminations for degrees, honours, prizes, &c. Of the
number that had matriculated, 23 had passed the first
examination of the degree of 8.M., and 12 had passed
the last examination. Three candidates had passed the
examination for the degree of Bachelor of Laws, 58
candidates had passed the examination for the degree of
8.A., five had passed the voluntary examination in
Scripture and Scripture llistory, 10 had passed the exa-
mination for the degree of M.A., 13 had obtained the
degree of M.D., and one candidate had obtained the
degree of LL.D., with a gold medal.
At the conclusion of the report, professors represent-
ing the various colleges and institutions at which the
candidates for the degrees had received their academic
education, presented to his Lordship the gentlemen on
whom the respective degrees were to be conferred.
The following is a list of the successful candidates, the
degrees conferred upon them, and the colleges at which
they :studied :
Edward Steere—LL.D., University.
John Burford Carlhill, William Thomas Edwards, and
William Henry Ransom—M.D., University.
Matthew Baines, Peter Eade, and Stephen Monckton
—M.D., King's.
Edward Enfield Barron and Samuel Wilks—M.D.,
Guy's Hospital.
William Henry Octavius Sankey—M.D., St. Bartho-
lomew's Hospital.
James Newton Heale—M.D., St. Thomas's Hospital.
William Ayre—M.D., London Hospital.
George Birkett—M.D., Charing-cross Hospital.
Charles Elam—M.D., Leeds School of Medicine.
James Bealey Fletcher, Robert Nicholas Fowler,
Uriah Brodribb Randall, William Rushton, Matthew
Atmore Sherring, Rev. William Rawson Stevenson, and
William Bower Todhunter—M.A., University.
John Hutton Taylor—M.A., University and Man-
chester.
Rev. George James Hall—M.A., Highbury.
Rev. Charles Wills—M.A., Homerton.
William Fowler—LL.B., University.
Rev. William Kirkus—LL.B., Lancashire.
Daniel Smith—LL.B., Spring Hill.
William Filliter, William Morse Graily Hewitt, and
Charles James Shearman—M.B., University.
Henry Hyde Salter—M.B., King's.
Robert Cirowse—M.B., Guy's Hospital.
John Sy er Bristowe and James Robertson—M.B., St
Thomas's Hospital.
Robert Benson Lewis—M.B., Leeds School of Me
dicine.

Edmund Manley and William Henry Thornton—M.B.,
Royal Manchester School of Medicine.
James Jones—M.B., Royal College of Surgeons of
Ireland.
George Aitchison, John Purdue Bidlake. William
R. Boothby, Edw. Josiah Evans, Evan Evans, Josh. Gir-
hng Fitch, Samuel Lindoe Fox, Wilson Fox, William
Giles, William Thomas Greenhow, Francis Guthrie,
Henry Holden, Edward Hunt, William Flavell Hurndall,
David Kinnear, Russell Martineau, 'William Henry Pol-
lard, Francis James Roscoe, Alfred Daniel Sprange,
James Charles Whitehorne, and John Brand Winter-
betham—B.A., University.
Daniel Hooper—B.A., Caius College, Cambridge.
Wm. Hen. Farthing Johnson—B.A., Corp. Chr. ColL,
Cambridge.
John Morgan Salter, Henry Robert Silvester, and
Richard Wright—B.A., King's.
Charles Kennedy, John Lawson, Richard Payne, and
Thomas Porter—B.A., Stonyhurst.
Vernon Darbishire—B.A., Manchester (New).
William Gill and John Hardwick Smith—B.A., High-
bury.
Frederick Creak, Robert Willianci Dale, Edward
Gardner Glanville, and George Marslan d—B.A., Spring-
hill.

John Jones and Henry Oliver—B.A.,, Caermarthen.
Isaac Haycroft and George Short—B .A., Stepney.
Alexander Anderson, George Hall, Joseph Stutch-
bery, John Wadland, Joseph Waite, Wi) liam Halo White
—B.A., Cheshunt.
Patrick O'Donovan and Thomas Toseph Power—
8.A., St. Patrick's, Carlow.
Thomas Spencer Baynes—B.A., Baptist (Bristol).
James Wm. Conrad Cox, Robert Stet ,henson, Samuel
Danks Waddy, and James Anstey Wild .—B.A., Wesley
(Sheffield).
John Evans—B.A., Western (Plymou th).
le "Wm. Fletcher and Henry James Pigg ott—B.A., Wes-
yan Coll. Inst.
prGope%rgeeh.Corney—B.A., West of Engl and Dissenters'

PRTEhSeEgliraTduAaTtelsOet,
haling HONOURS AND PRIZES.
Chancellora,ntlade_.
then.
untioyo,krispitlyane
ymg been severally presented to the
presentation. of scholars , exhibitioners,
medalists,
order:—
Edward Steetire,zerleaa;
receive Medal. C( i:illetgheesf,°ll:cw.,intgo
Samuel Wilks, M.Dmistry. ~ G ufa Hospital, Medal for Che-
William Bower Todhunter, 3,1
in Mathematics. -IL, Un .iversity, Medal
John Hutton Taylor, M.A., u • .
niver say and Man-
chester, Medal in Philosophy.
William Fowler, LL.B., University, L aw Scholarship
John Syer Bristowe, M. 8., St. Thol saws Hospital,
Medal in Physiology and Comparative A natomy.
Robert Growse, ALB., Guy's Hospital, Medal in Phy-
siology and Comparative Anatomy.
John Syer Bristowe, M. 8., St. Thou I as's Hospital,
Scholarship and Medal in Surgery.
Robert Benson Lewis, M. 8., Leeds& :.hc pol of Medicine,
Medal in Surgery.
Robert Growse, LLB.. Guy's Hospits il,
Scholarship and
Medal in Medicine.
Charles James Shearman, M. 8., I: niversity, Medal in
Medicine.
xami
E c. —John
Examination in the Text of the Sc riptures, es
B rown ,_ , Paton, Spring-hill, Prize; B obert Ainslie Red.
Lori, Spring-hill, Prize.
Thomas Ki 1117ExsurNATio N.
to receive Eichng
ibi • Hornidge, M. 8., St. George's
Biology. tion and Medal in Anatomy and Phy-
Joseph Lester, ALB
Medal in Aire_ , University College, -
to receive
'""Y and Physiology,

Frederick William Headland, M. 8., King's College,
to receive Medal in Chemistry.
Thomas B. Washbourn, M. 8., Guy's Hospital, to re-
ceive Medal in Chemistry.
Frederick William Bevy, M. 8., Guy's Hospital, to re-
ceive Exhibition and Medal in Materia Medics.
Frederick William Headland, M. 8., King's College,
to receive Medal in Materia Medics.
Joseph Lester, M. 8., University College, to receive
Medal in Botany.
Francis Guthrie, 8.A., University, Scholarship in
Mathematics.
William Flavel Hurndall, 8.A., University, Scholar-
ship in Classics.
Edward Hunt, B. A., University, Prize in Chemistry.
MATRICULATION.
James Savage, University College, to receive Exhi-
bition in Mathematics.
Frederick William Farrar, King's College, to receive
Exhibition in Classics.
Henry Power, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, to re-
ceive Prize in Chemistry.
Edward Dowson, private tuition, to receive Prize in
Botany.
Henry Power, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, to receive
Prize in Zoology.
The degrees having been conferred, and the honours
and prizes presented, the Chancellor of the University
declared the business of the day terminated, and the dis-
tinguished company separated.

THE CASE OF POISONING BY PARENTS AT
MANCHESTER.
The adjourned inquest respecting the death of Mary
Hardy, alias Waddington, was held by Mr. Herford,
the borough coroner, at the Manchester Royal In-
firmary, on Tuesday last. It will suffice to repeat
here that the deceased was sixteen 'years of age, an
illegitimate child, and lived with her mother, Ann
Waddington and her stepfather, James Waddington, a
lamp-lighter. After her death, which took place sud-
denly on the 24th ult., it was ascertained that she
had taken a large quantity of arsenic, that she had
had no medical assistance, while very contra-
dictory statements as to the nature and duration
of her illness were made by her parents. The
deceased was also in a burial club, from which 71. was
received on the day of her death. James and Ann
Waddington, the parents of deceased, were at present
in custody. A number of witnesses were examined
in addition to those previously produced, and the
coroner went through the whole of the evidence,
pointing out how contradictory the prisoners' statements
were within themselves, as well as the great extent to
which they were contradicted by the witnesses. It would
be for the jury to consider whether the evidence as to
the treatment of the girl, taken together with some
of the expressions said to have been used by the
prisoners, was such as to show that they felt a
desire to rid themselves of the burden of her support. It
was a remarkable thing that before death there was an
admission that it was believed the deceased had taken
arsenic, while from the time that Dr. Brown was
called in there was no reference to it, until
it had been ascertained that death had resulted from
arsenic. The jury, after a consultation of half-an-hour,
returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against both pri-
soners. The prisoners were immediately committed t•
take their trial at the next Liverpool assizes.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

Edmond Wood, 18 years of age, was brought before
Alderman Hunter, charged with having stolen valuable
books, the property of Mr. Preston, a gentleman who has
chambers in Tokenhouse-yard.
Mr. John Preston said—l have been in the law, but
have retired from business, thcugh I still have chambers
at No. 12, Tokenhouse-yard, on the second story and
attics. I have there, among other things, a library,
which contained the " Statutes at Large," bound in calf.
I have missed five volumes of the "statutes." They are
not consecutive volumes, but I consider them as of the
value of about 101. They cost me from 21. 103. to 3/. a
volume. I have seen the prisener before; he was a clerk
in the offices of Mr. Valiance, who has chambers in the
same building.
James Brown, bookseller, of 35, High Holborn, said—

I know the prisoner. I bought of him, in the early park
of December last, two parts of the " Statutes at Large.'
It was a little after nine o'clock at night. He said he
had taken them to the Chancery-lane shops, but they
were shut up. He said he wanted 30s. for them. I said I
thought that sum too much, but as the volumes hap-
pened to be of a late date (1849), I thought I might buy
them upon speculation, and I offered him 195. I asked
him whether they were his own ? He said " No;
it was for his brother he offered them," and he said his
brother lived at Canonbury-road, Lower-road Islington.
I think he brought to me, on Christmas-eve, or about
that time, some volumes of Bacon's works and " Horne's
Discourses," which I sold about ten weeks or three
months ago. On the 30th of December he came to me
and showed me four volumes of the " Statutes at Large."
They were not uniformly bound. He said he brought
them from his brother. I told him it was foolish to se-
parate the volumes from the set, and that as the volumes
were odd volumes they were useless to me; that in fact
I considered them as nothing more than waste paper.
He then said that his brother must have some money
that night, and he asked me to let him have 11. on them.
I told him they wero no more than waste paper to me,
and I could let him have only a few shillings. He then
said, " Let me have 10s. upon the four volumes," and I
did. Ho then asked me whether I would go to see the
rest of the volumes at his brother's house in Canonbury-
road, and I consented, but he did not keep his appoint-
ment. I waited four or five weeks, but I heard no more
of it, and did not see him, and I thought his brother did
not wish to part with any of the other volumes. I then
ticketed the four volumes and placed them in my win-
dow, and I sold them for 12s.

Alderman HUNTER—Do you know to whom you sold
them? Witness—No.
Alderman HUNTER—Had you no suspicion about
books of such a description being presented by a youth
like the prisoner ? Witness—No; I know nothing of
law books. lam in the miscellaneous trade.
Huggett, the officer who apprehended the prisoner,
said he had circulated cards, of which the following is a
copy, among the booksellers and stationers and pawn-
brokers, and that he had left one at the shop of Mr.
Brown, the last witness:—
" Stolen, within the last three months, the undermen-
tioned books:—' Statutes at Large,' vols. 14 and 15, from
the 99th to the 43d of George III.; voL 22, from 60th
George 111. to 3d George IV.; vol. 29, from 2d and 3d
Victoria to 4th and sth Victoria; vol. 33, from 11th and
12th Victoria to 12th and 13th Victoria. The whole
bound in calf and quarto size."
Witness received from Mr. Valiance a letter directed to
Mr. Le Cren by the prisoner.
Mr. Henry Wellington Valiance said—l am a solici-
tor, carrying on business at No. 12, Tokenhouse-yard.
My offices are on the first door and ground floor. The
prisoner was a clerk in my office. The letter produced
was given to me by Mr. Le Cren, who had been em-
ployed by Mr. Preston and myself in painting the pre-
mises, and whose labourers had been suspected, which
caused Mr. Le Cren to make inquiries respecting the loss
of Mr. Preston's books. The letter produced is in the
handwriting of the prisoner, and is as follows:
" 14, Greville-street, Brookes-street, Holborn.
"Sir,—Tbe five books lost by Mr. Preston were left
by me with Mr. Brown, bookseller, Holborn, nearly op-
posite Chancery-lane, a day or two before Christmas-
day, for the sum of 10s., which he lent me on them until
I brought him the intermediate numbers, when he was
to have bought them of me ; but I have not been there
since that day. The name in which I left them was
' Wright,' of Canonbury-place, Islington. I hope Mr.
Preston will forgive me, as it cannot do him any good,
and he will only be incurring additional expense by pro-
secuting me for the theft. If Mr. Preston does forgive
me I intend enlisting in the East India Company's ser-
vice, that being the only thing I can now do for a living,
for I cannot get any situation without a character. I
hope you will see him and speak to him to that effect,
and if you will be so kind as to write me an answer as
soon as possible I shall ever be grateful, and never for-
get your kindness.—l am, sir, yours, &c,,
" Mr. Le Cren. " E. H. Woou.
" P.S.--If you write, please address the letter to me at
the above address."

Huggett produced a pocketbook which he had found
in the possession of the prisoner. In it were notices of
money betted on races and bagatelle playing, and very
liberally distributed among acquaintances.
It was stated that the prisoner had been plundering
his master, not only of books, but of money during the
time he was occupied in robbing the premises of Mr.
Preston.
Alderman HUNTER—This is a most flagrant case, and
I consider it most necessary that it should go for full in-
vestigation before another tribunal. I do not wish to
excite any prejudice against anybody, but I trust:that a
very strict inquiry will be made into the disposal of the
property, and I hope, too, that the valuable books which
have been sold will be returned to the gentleman who has
been plundered, and to whom, as he is in possession of
the rest of the " statutes," they must be of great price.
If a gentleman purchased them I am sure that this publics
intimation sill be attended to.
Huggett—The prisoner told me that Mr. Brown, the,
witness, had had all the books he had taken.
Alderman HUNTER—Did he say that without havin g
been cautioned by you? Huggett—l cautioned him a s
to what he might say before he said so.
Mr. Brown—l never saw the card which has been
handed in, containing the notice of the stolen property.
Alderman HIINTER(tO Mr. Brown)—Did it never °cow
to you to inquire at Canonbury-road about the gentleman
chased the odd volumes of such a work? Mr. Brown--
whom the prisoner called his brother, before you par -
No. I did not think the volumes of any value.
The prisoner, upon being asked whether he wished to
say anything, said—No, Sir; I have nothing to say.
Committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court.
BOW-STREET.

_ -
her arms) were charged with havng a quantity of base
Joseph Farrell and Ellin, his wife (who had a baby in
i
coin in their possession.
Constable Attwood, 152 F, saw the male prisoner in
conversation with a notorious " smasher" in Drury-lane
on Monday afternoon. He watched them, and presently
saw w Farrell go to 3, Barlecourt, where he lodged wits
his wife, the female prisoner. Later in the day he pro-
ceeded to their lodgings, accompanied by a brother offi-
cer (F 57),
also in the room. Witness saw what he believed to be a
and found Farrell in bed, the woman being
quantity of counterfeit shillings and sixpences on the
bed, but the prisoner instantly snatched them up and
began swallowing the coins. Witness secured one of
the six
Ponces, but the woman seized him by his hair
and kicked him with great violence to prevent him get-
ting more. The male prisoner sail, " The
-- has
only got a tanner;" and when the wife picked up another
shilling he swallowed that also. He must have swal-
lowed between thirty and forty bad shillings and six-
pences. Both the officers were roughly treated by the
prisoners before the latter were effectually secured.

They afterwards found two packets of base coin in other
parts of the room.
Mr. HALL committed the prisoners for trial.

THE COUNTRY MARKETS.

BIRMINGHAM, MAT B.—At Gloucester and Worcester
markets on the 3d, although the supply of English
wheat was short, the currency of that day se'nnight
was barely maintained for any description. Barley, is
per quarter :lower, with very little inquiry. Oats held
for an advance of 6d per quarter, and beans realized
rather higher prices. During the present week we have
had less wheat offering, and in some instances a trifling
improvement has been obtained on fine qualities, both
of English and foreign. We have rather more doing in
barley, at the nominal rates of last week. Oats in de-
mand, and the turn dearer. The same remark applies
to beans. At this day's market there was a short sup-
ply of wheat from the farmers, and rather higher prices
were obtained for all fine qualities, but not sufficient to
raise our quotations. We had more demand for grind-
ing barley at fully the rates of this day week. Oats sold
readily at rather more money. On beans the turn was
again in favour of the seller. Peas more inquired for.
LOUGRIOROUGH, MAY 8. Oar market to-day has been
firm for all kinds of grain, at last week's prices.
DERBY SIIITHFIELD MARKET, MAY 6. The supply
of fat beasts to-day was again on the decrease, and higher
prices were asked for all sorts of beef ; the quality of the ani-
mals generally was of the middling sort, with the exception of
those from the north of England, which were in excellent con-
dition ; the demand for beef was good, and a clearance was
effected. The number of sheep was not more than the ave-
rage, and was readily disposed of. Pigs were plentiful. The
show of fat and store calves was not so large as it has been on
some previous markets, yet we thought there were more
buyers. Beef, 4id to 5d ; mutton, 5d to sid ; lambs,
11 to 113 s ; veal, 4d to 4id per lb ; pigs, 76 to Os Od per
score. Rough fat, 3s 6d per stone of 141bs. Hides, lid to
2d per lb ; calf skins 2d to 4d per lb.
UMNGHAM, MAY 7.—Wheat 36s to 40s; barley 22s to
253 ; oats 18s to 22s ; beans 27s to 30s Od per quarter. Butter
7d to 8d per lb ; eggs 24 for 19.
BOSTON, MAY 7.—Wheat, red 27s to 39s Od, white 39s
to 41s, extra 43s to 00s ; barley Oos to 03s ; oats 15s to 20s ;
beans 26s to 30s ; peas 00s to Oos per quarter.
NEWARK, MAY 7.—Wheat, white 4')s to 465, red 38s to 42s ;
barley, malting 23s to 255, grinding 20s to 225; oats, 225 t.,
22s to 2.35, 245 t., 24s to 265; beans, 30s to 325; tares 32s to
348 ; malt, 54s to 561 per qr.
LYNN, MAY 6.—Wheat 28s to 345, fine 36s to 40s;
barley 20s to 235, fine 265; oats 19s to 21s, fine 22s to 24s ;
beans 27s to 295, fine 30s to 31s per qr.
LOUTU, MAY 7.—Wheat 32s to 38s; barley 21s to 245;
oats 14s to 16s ; beans 22s to 26s per qr.
GLASGOW, MAY 7.—Coastwise and from Ireland the sup-
plies have been quite insignificant, and from abroad, up the
Clyde only about 605 quarters of wheat, and via Grange-
mouth only about 278 quarters of wheat have been reported.
Notwithstanding light arrivals, the trade has been flat during
the week, with the exception of oats and beans, which met a
fair demand at improving rates, and lower grades of flour
taken for shipment to Ireland. This day's market was well
attended. Wheat and flour were held more firmly, at fully last
week's currency. Barley unaltered. Oats and oatmeal have
to be written 6d higher per boll or load, respectively. Beans
and peas were the turn dearer. Indian corn unaltered.
EDINBURGH GRAIN MARRY; MAY 7.—We had a good
supply of grain in the market to-day. Sales were generally
brisk. Wheat rather hung at the opening, but went off better
towards the close. The top of wheat Is up, and the
average 3d down. Barley on the top same as last week, and the
average is 6d up. Oats on the top same as last week, and on
the average 3d up. Beans on the top 6d up, and the average
Id up. Unsold-240 qrs wheat, 33 qrs barley, 13 qrs oats,
and 00 qrs beans.
Top of Wheat
~ Barley
„ Oats ...
~ Beans

... 64}11b. 45s Od
.. 56i1b. 318 Od
... 46 lb. 233 4d
..,_ 6741 b. 32s Od

EDINBURGH CATTLE MARKET, MAY 7.—The number
of cattle was 634, or 18 less than last week. Top price
of the best cattle, 6s 9d; current, Os to 6s 6d ; secondary
and inferior, from 5s Od to 5s 6d per Dutch stone. A good
clearance was effected. The number of sheep this morning
was 2,559, or 78 more than last week. Top price of the best
mutton, 6d per lb ; current, sid to Od; ewes and inferior
sorts, 4id to 5d per lb. Lambs selling from 19s to 22s a head.
At the close a clearance was effected.
DUNBAR, MAY 6.—Wheat, weighing 00Ibs, brought 425,
and prices to 335 Od. Barley, weighing 55ilbs, brought
27s Od, and prices to 26s Od. Oats, weighing 441 b., brought
20s 9d, and prices to 18s Od. Beans and peas, weighing
00Ibs, brought OOs Od, and prices to OOs Od.
CORK, MAY 7.

Barrels. Currency.
0 White wheat OOB Od to 003 Od OOs Od-20 stone
0 Red wheat 00s Od to 00s Od OOs Od-20 do
21 Barley los 6d to 11s 6d 00s Od-16 do
0 Bere ..... Os Od to Os Od 00, Od
126 Oats .. 9s 6d to 118 3d 103 10d-14 do
0 Pigs oos Od to 00s Od 008 Od per cwt
Quantity sold at the Highest Prices:-
0 barrels white wheat ; 0 red ; 1 barley ;1 0 bere ; 6.eats,;
0 pigs.
Quantity of Grain and Number of Pigs sold last week:—
Wheat, 19. Barley, 269. Oats, 793. Pigs, 17.
PRICES OF BUTTER.
CANT. CURRENCY.
irst quality ...
i econd quality
T hird quality ... 74s Third quality 6ss
II ourth quality
ifth quality OO3 Fifth quality
; ixth quality oos Sixth quality
Return of Cattle sold for the week ending May 3 :
Pigs, 375. Sheep, 419. Cows, 62.
Coax.—Flour—First 11s 6d to 121 Od; extra 12s 9d :
s e conds, 1086 d to 1110 d; households 9s to 10. Od; thirds, 78 to 9s
; u• cwt. Oatmeallos to 1036 d; Indian meal 7s6dto 8s Od; wheat-
r a sal, 9s 6d to lOs per cwt. Indian corn 715 s Od to 7112 s 6d per
t o n. Bran 80s Od to 85s per ton. Hay—Farmers 178 to 255; average
2 t !s; dealers 408 to 003 Od; average 008 per ton. Straw—Farmers
1 Od to 30s Od ; average 26s ; dealers 40s Od to 00s Od;
av wage 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf bod to 6d ;
c ,usehold loaf 4id to 5d per 41b. Fresh butter, 10d to
1 A per lb. Eggs-33 4d to 3s 6d per hundred. Coals—
ewnort 143 Od ; Lydney 158 ; Landore 14s ; Neath Cohn,
1 ;s 6d per ton. Tallow 388 Od to 408 per cwt
Whisky, 25 0. p., be 9d per imperial gallon. Meat
-- Beef 4d to 6id ; mutton 5d to 7d; veal 4d to
5 d ; pork 4d to Od ; bacon 7d to 8d ; sausages 5d per lb.
Elt vs 6110 s to 01 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 312, 6d to 315 s per
tc as i. Bark—Barbary 71 Os to 8/ Os; Valonia 151 to 01; French
61' Os ; Spanish 0/ per ton. Fleece Weroll4ste 158 per stone.
H.s 'rap 321 t 0341 per ton. Fish—Scotch herrings 19; to 008; red
dirt to, 26s to 001 per barrel ; Newfoundland, 10/ Os to 111 per
tc it +. Timber—Memel, 80s per ton ; red pine, 31 108; yellow
dirt to, 21 15s per ton; deals, 128 to 15. per 100. Hides—
his trket 248 to 345; salted 258 to 34s per owt ; calf skins
3 Ito 3id per lb. Potatoes, white 8d to 10d ; Minions,
Ito 13d. Guano—Peruvian, 11/ lOs; Ichaboe, 8/ to 910 s
pes • ton. Tar—Archangel, 19. per barreL

SEABORNE MAILS.
t N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-02111
by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.]

When made up in From what
PLACES. GeneralPost-offlee port dis- When
London: patched. due.
LTC .eries (by Brit. plct.)N May 9 .. Liverpool .. May 20
Ar r :erica (by U.S. pkt.) N May.l3 .. .. Liverpool .. May 13
Ao si Arica (by U.S. pkt.) MlMay 21 Southampt.
Al ica (West coast)•• N 14th of the month Plymouth May 3
Ale xatdria* ........ *l9th Ss 30th of mo. Dover .. May 18
Bc 11 glum *Daily .. Dover .. Daily
Bo • .. All9th of the month Southampt. May 12
B 1 to on Ayres .. 31,9 th of the month Southampt. May 12
Cs d ifomia(viaChagres) 31117th of month Southampt. May 20
Ca F.e sf Good Hope Nll4th of month Plymouth. • May 3
Coo stantlnople* •• N,7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. May 10
Ce a nal America .. 2112 d & 17th of mon. ,Southampt. June 5
Ch s .nnel Islas •. *Mon., Wed., & Fri. Southampt. Ta. Th.S a
Chi U . Mi 17th of the month Southampt. May 20
Fr. a rye 31 &*Twice daily .. 'Dover • • Twicedally
Grpece* N,7th I 7th27thef mo Dover .. May 10
Has ;burgh N,Taesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat.
Rol land 311Wednes. & Satur. London .. Mea.Thcr
Hoc duras . Nll7th of the meath Southampt. May 20
Ire f: and M& N Twice daily .. . . Holyhead .• Twicedaily
Indi a (via Southamp.) hf 20th of the month Southampt. May 28
Ind' a (viahlarseilles) N 7th& 24th ofmonth Dover • • May 17
Med iterranean (via I
Sot ithampton) 31,20 th of the month Southampt. May 28
Me 4 iterranean (via MI
rseilles) N.7th&24tk ofmonth Dover .. May 17
Mel deo 21:2d of the month.. Southampt. June 5
Me leira 9th of the month Southampt. May 12
Ml
ta. ri7th,l7th,l9th,27th 1 Dover May 10
1 &30th of month
Na p lea* N;hth 15th 25th of moDover .• May 12
Pa? al States* .. N Isth 15th 25th of mo, Dover .. May 12
re a insular.. Mi7th 17th 27th of mo Southampt.lMay 16
Pe nu 31117th of the month Southampt. May 20
Tu la cony* N sth 15th 25 th of mo Dover • • May 12
W, is t Indies 31117th of the month iSouthanapt. May 20

Tu any* I.Tlsth 15th x 5 tit of mo
Wm t Indies Dfll7th of the month
Wt 0 t Indies (except
H u 'mans & Nassau) Mild of the month ..
The mails to those countries thus marl
Fr a ich packet via Marseilles.

rSouthaaapt. June 5
Led (*) are conveyed by

LLIFOANIA.—MaiIs to and Prom Californli
art now despatched and due by every Ameri,

la, via the United Slates
ican packet.

SHIP NEWS.

GRAVESEND. MAY B.—Wind, S.W., light, fine.
Arrived—John Wesley, from New Zealand; John
Ni rood, from China; British Tar, Commodore, and
El e ctra, from Jamaica; Nicholaus, from Denmark; Ann
Heil es, from Bahia; Johanna, from Dantzic; Palambang,
from n China; Pauline Houghton, from the Mauritius;
Yr.i 'id, from Demerara; William Jolliffe, from Havre;
des twerpen, from Antwerp; Fame, from Calais; Rain-
tol r, from Rotterdam; Earl of Auckland and Lord John
R u ssell, from Harlingen; Lionne, Lion, and Neptune,
from Gravelines; Susan, from Bahia; Richard Cobden,
!irc,m Calcutta; Legerdermain, from Trinidad; James,
!rom Bermuda; Elias, Veritas, and Navarino, from
Guernsey; Maria, from Callao; Washington, from the
Cape; Ellen, from Denia; Breede, from Aalborg; Speedy
and Julia, from Guernsey; Caroline, from Denmark;
Nagler, from Stettin; Earl, from Riga; Johanna Emilie,
from Memel; Laura, from Denmark; Unity, from Guern-
sey; Erswell, from Rouen; Nordea, from Liebau; Iris,
from Ceylon; Franklin, from Colombo; Ann Wise, from
St. Domingo; Graaf Kagendorp, from Callao; Wilward,
from Guernsey; Robert Stephenson, from Berbice; Corn-
wall, from Calcutta; Killermont, from Jamaica.
Sailed—Sirius, for San Francisco; Christian Au-
gusto, for Norway; Odessa and the Conservative, for
Elsinore; Sultana, for Cape Coast; Harriett Humble,
for Calcutta; Calista, for Honduras; New Express, for
Trinidad; Louise Charlotte, for Dantzic; Fynenoord,
for Rotterdam; Venezuela, for Havre; Menai, for Ca-
lais; Soho, for Antwerp.
VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.

American ship Richard Cobden, April 9, in lat. 19 N.,
long. 33 W.
Dahlia, from Ceylon for London, April 7, in Ist 21 N.,
long. 34 W.
Ship Conquerer, from Calcutta for London, April 16, in
lat. 35 N., long. 36 W.
Brig Globe, April 16.
Barque Viscount Sandon, from Sydney, New South
Wales, for London, April 21, in lat. 41 N., long.
33 W.
American ship Shark, outward bound, April 28, in lat.
48 N., long. 13 W.
British brig Herald, from Cadiz for Newfoundland,
April 23, in lot. 43 N., long. 31 W.
Cornwall, outward bound, with emigrants, April 2, in
lat. 7 N., long. 27 W.
Luna brig, of Dumfries, April 29, in lat. 47 N., long.
12 W.
Norma brig, from Havannah for Greenock, April 3, in
lat. 30, long. 47.
Rapid brig, of Liverpool, from Africa for Liverpool,
April 22, in lat. 45, long. 29.
Sarah Arm barque, of Liverpool, steering W.N.W., in
lot, 45, Icog. 3s,

ELECTION COMMITTEE.
HARWICH.

The Committee sat again yesterday,:and proceeded:with
their scrutiny of the votes polled by Mr. Princep. The
petitioners did not succeed in striking off a single vote.
At;four o'clock the Committee adjourned until to-morrow
(this day) at eleven.

done nothing to remove it. fie ens found himself ,
gushy
unable to vote for the re-imposition of the income .tax
for three years, and for its abolition. In the division
on the window-tax he had taken no part whatever.
It was notorious that tbe beer consumed in the metro-
polis and throughout the kingdom was seriously adul-
terated, and it was manifest that that adulteration was
caused by the heavy tax which was imposed on malt.
Sir Robert Peel had said that it the corn-laws were re-
pealed the malt-tax must be abolished and Sir James
Graham, and other Honourable Members expressed a
similar opinion. The Hon. Member for the West
Riding of Yorkshire placed the repeal of the malt tax
at the head of the Budget which he published some time
ago, yet he and several Members who entertained the
same views, when the motion was brought forward last
year thought discretion the better part of valour, and
did not appear in the division. It had been said
that the public credit must be sustained; he
entirely agreed with that; but there were many sources
of obtaining revenue besides imposing heavy burdens
on the agricultural interest. It could no longer be de-
nied that that interest was in a distressed state, and it
should be recollected that one branch of industry could
not be affected injuriously without in some degree af-
fecting others. While those dependent on the cultiva-
tion of land were in distress commerce and manufactures
would suffer. All the legislation had been in one direr
tion. All attempts to revise taxation had been in the
same direction, and when those who wished to change
that mode of proceeding made some effort to accomplish
that object, they were met with the charge that they
wanted to return to protection.—(Hear, hear.) There
were only two principles upon which the country could
act. They must either protect home interests or reduce
the taxes, and he for one was anxious to see the burdens
of the nation reduced to the ratio of its means. The
land was suffering from the operation of free trade,
while others were benefiting from it, and he therefore
insisted that this was ono of the imposts which ought to
be transferred from the agricultural to the manufactur-
ing interest. The malt-tax he should show before he
sat down was a tax upon the producer, whom it grie-
vously oppressed, and ultimately reacted upon the con-
sumer.—(Hear, hear.)
[At this stage of the Honourable Gentleman's address
a message arrived from the Lords requesting a con-
ference with the Commons. This request was complied
with, and managers were at once selected to conduct the
conference. On their return from the Lords they an-
nounced that the conference had been held in the Royal
Gallery. The result of the conference was a resolution
that in future the present system of communication be-
tween the two Houses by conference should be dispensed
with.]
Me. CAYLEY then resumed. He said none of the
manufacturing interests of the country would be inter-
fered with by the repeal of the malt-tax. In conse-
quence of the credit required under the existing law
small maltsters could not find bondsmen; and, therefore.
the malting trade was in practice a monopoly. It was
the same with tbe brewing trade; the consequence of
which was an enormous increase in the cost of beer.
His (Mr. Cayley's) object was not to embarrass the Ex-
chequer, but to relieve the consumer; and he should
propose, if the House went into Committee on his mo-
tion, to repeal the malt-tax as soon as possible, the re-
peal to commence at two different periods—the first half,
for instance, in October, and the second in six months
after. That would not interfere with the commercial
system of the country, while it would get rid of a most i
oppressive, inquisitorial, and unjust form of taxation.
It was impossible for the producer to compete in this
eountry unless his hands were free, and the system of
taxation altered, which would enable the labourer to live 1
on the reduced wnges as well at least as he did before
their reduction. With such a huge taxation as existed,
the employment of the labourer, at remunerative wages,
was impossible for the farmer.—( Hear , hear.) At the
present price of wheat it was utterly impossible for the
farmer to carry on.—(Hear.) That was the cause of the
enormous emigration now in progress, and which had
been alluded to by the Hon. Member for Derbyshire.
The worst was that this emigration took those who
had some means still left, and only the poor remained in
the country. He was satisfied that a stop would be put
in a short time to the present oppressive system of taxa-
tion which produced these lamentable results; it was
impossible it could go on. What effect had the malt-
tax on the condition of the poor? It had the effect of
increasing the poor man's beer 500 per cent.—(Hear,
hear.) Hon. Gentlemen talked of the consumer, but
here was the producer sacrificed to an abstraction. That
indeed was the tendency of all recent legislation, money
laws, commercial systems, taxation, &c. The pensioners,
the annuitants, the drones in the hive, were helped and
sustained at the cost of the best interests of the produc-
tive classes.—(Hear, hear.) Before the present tax
existed the poor man produced as well as consumed his
own beer; for many centuries the poor man's wife was
his brewer, and he had a good and cheap beverage; now
he was driven from the domestic hearth to the beer-shop
and the gin-palace in consequence of this tax. Much
sympathy was affected for the public morals, and the
Legislature was constantly busy in putting for that pur-
pose a check upon beer-shops and gin-palaces, but if
they wished to improve the morals of the poor they
should go to the root of the evil and repeal the
malt-tax, which drove the poor from their homes to
these places. When the Committee on drunkenness sat
acme 17 or 18 years since an Oxfordshire magistrate
deposed before it that in his opinion the repeal of the
malt-tax was the best preventive that could be adopted
for that vice; and last year no fewer than 92 clergymen
of Essex petitioned for its repeal on the ground of public
morality. Between the cost of the beer that could be
brewed by the labourer if the tax was repealed, and that
purchased by him at present, there was a difference of
500 per cent. With the bushel of malt at 4s. the la-
eourer might for ss. have 36 gallons of beer.—(Hear,
hear.) Had Hon. Gentlemen any idea of the amount of
the malt tax as upon land? An average acre of barley
lend would produce about five quarters of barley. The
malt tax on that, however, was 51. 10s., while the land-
lad did not receive on the average more than 255., and
the farmer perhaps only 155., or, at present prices, it
might even be less. This, in addition to the maltstere'
and brewers' profits, caused by the existing monopoly,
made the price of the produce of an acre of land, to the
consumer, equal to 501. 103.; whereas, if the malt tax
were repealed, the same quantity could be obtained
for 10/. 14s.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") But,
grievous as was the oppression on the poor consumer,
it was still more so on the producer. When the re-
duction of duty took place on tea and coffee, the con-
sumption increased from 300 to 800 per cent. Beer
was the natural beverage of the country; and, notwith-
standing legislation against it, the taste for it still con-
tinued. If, therefore, the malt-tax was repealed, the
consumption would at once increase, at least to the same
extent as that of tea and coffee. The consumption of
halt at this moment was 3,000,000 of quarters. An in-
crease of 300 per cent, alone would create a demand for
10,000,000 of quarters of barley over and above what
was now consumed. The complaint of the agricultural
interest was that the importation of 10,000,000 of foreign
corn was the cause of their present distress; if malt
was set free, therefore, that complaint could no longer
be made.—(Hear, hear.) It had been stated that the
national taste for beer was giving way to a taste for
tea and coffee; but this would imply a corresponding
decrease in th consumption of all strong drinks, espe-
cially spirits. If, however, he could show that the con-
sumption of spirits increased with the reduction of the
duty, while that of beer diminished, he felt bound to
infer that it was the malt-tax which was driving beer
out of the market, and nothing else. In Scotland he
found, for example, that iii 1792, when the tax was 'lid.
par bushel on malt, there were 5,000,000 of malt con-
sumed, while in 1821, when it was 3s. 6d. per
bushel, there were only 1,785,000 consumed. Since
that time there had been a reduction of the malt-tax—
within 1822 and 1826—and the consumption of malt rose
300 per cent. In England, unhappily, they had little
experience of the diminution of duty; but in Ireland si-
miler causes produced similar effects. In Ireland, in
1792, the malt-tax was 2s. 6d. the barrel, and 1,280,000
birrels of malt were consumed; in 1801, when it was in-
creased to 6s. 6d. per barrel, the consumption had fallen
to 272,000. But what was going on with regard to spi-
rits in the meanwhile? During the last 45 years the
consumption had increased twofold in England, fivefold
in Scotland, and sixfold in Ireland; because in that pe-
riod the duty on British manufactured spirits was 7s.
10d. per gallon; on Scotch spirits, 3s. Bd. per gallon;
and on Irish spirits, 2e. Bd. What was the cause of the
low price of agricultural produce at the present moment
but the excess of produce beyond the demand? The
most efficient remedy, then, for them, if they did not
re-
trace their steps, was to increase the demand; but then it
was said that this was a barley question, and that oat soils
and bean-growing soils would derive no benefit from it.
He said there was not an acre of land in the country
which would not be benefited as much as the barley lands.
The increase in the demand for barley would raise the
price of barley, then that would lead to an increase in the
number of acres; then that could not occur without in-
ducing an increase in the price of oats and beans. He
pledged his reputation that if the malt-tax
the benefit would not be confined to the barley lauds.—
(Hear.) But then it was said that foreigners would send
malt here. Now, the reason they would not send malt
here, though they did send flour, was this, that a sack
of flour could be sent as cheap as a sack and a half
of
wheat. That was the reason that the French sent here
not only the flour of their own country, but also the
flour of other countries, which was ground there. The
dryness of the climate enabled the French to make flour
better than it could be made in this country; but then
malt required dampness, and in this respect the English
malt had in the climate is great advantage. Besides,
malt was an old-established manufacture in this country,
and it was therefore one in which foreigners could not
well compete with the English. It was his belief, that
however great might be the demand for barley, there
would not be more than 500,000 quarters of good barley
imported into this country. Let them look to what bad
been the importation of foreign barley since the repeal
of the coru-laws. In 1847 there had been imported 772,000
quarters, when the price was 425.; in 1848, 1,054,000
quarters; in 1849, 1.381,000 quarters, when the price was
275. 9d.; and in 1850, when there was a fall in the price to
235. 5d., there was a decline in the importations from
1,381,000 quarters in the previous year to 983.000 quar-
ters. This showed that there was no likelihood of im-
portations on the part of the foreigner interfering
that
gwith
the home trade in barley.—(Hear.) It was d
the persons the most distressed in this country ntryiwerethe
hop-growere. Well, if they increased the consumption
of barley threefold, they would increase the consump-
tion of hops threefold, and doing that he should like to
know what better relief could they give to the hop-
growers?—(Hear.) But the hop-growers
would not be
the only class benefited. There wouldbe an increase of
employment for 100,000 persons; and counting their
families with them, there would be an increase of benefit
for 500,000 persons. Such would be the necessary
effects of the adoption of his proposition.—(Hear.) Such
an increase of employment would be relieving agricul-
tural distress according to the most legitimate process;
it would be giving to Olt) cOnsUll:Wra in $l4lB country their

natural Vverage eOO per cent. cheaper teen they could
.(, ,
now obtain it. The interests of the country would r
advanced, and the morality of the people would be pro'
moted, by the adoption of the proposition he then
tured to submit to them.—(Hear.) To that Leouse,.vol
appealed for justice; but if that House did not
we.to
then he would appeal from that House to thoose..
theca b
bf
bitter experience knew what was the extent
af.
justice done to them—to those he would apptesi for re
dress—to the people he said he would make i
wrong.—(Cheers.)
redress
concludedwhich was a w
trho s s
proposing atd er? iti3hge
motion of which he had given notice.
Mr. ALCOCK hoped that this
tinue to be brought forward in that House until
v70,1°,03
thing definite was done to remedy that wrong
the
i:;301
the farmers had just reason to complain. W
levied ell
astonishing, he asked, that the farmers found
soup t
question would
s_e_on;
one single article grown by them as large as a
taxation as was levied on the whole propertyroen4t,
United Kingdom?—(flear, hear.) The wholFnePo_Fseto',
of the country was 170,000.0001.; by the wv
01 the
there was raised on that 5,000,000/. or 5,500,0:1....
same sum that was
(Hear, hear.) And this sum, too, was raised.were
pail on barley in this country
1,000,000 of acres out of the 17,000,000 acres trifein,
under cultivation. He comlained of
hers opposing such a motion as this by their_et.
aericulturotes !fand
speeches; and he complained, too, of some 0f.6130e017 tbs
sconding from the division. He complained also maize
part taken on this subject by the Members Tr i. 05,5,
cheater and the West Riding of Yorkshire; 213.1iirepres
much astonished at the course taken by the Irish ;euts-
sentatives. Where, he asked, were the Irish tepees ,bat
tives that night?—(Hear, hear.) He did not ex_Praway
the 5,000,000/. malt-tax would be at once den.uolee if
with. He believed that every one would be stetißeco
the Chancellor of the Exchequer recognized the:1E11;1y,
that was done, and then as an earnest of his e'rotsed
reduced the tax 10 per cent. this year, and, Pro goose
next year to reduos it 20 per cent. But I, f,'sg•
would not do this, then he hoped that the people,
land would compel them to do it.—(Hear, heere')osee of
Mr. PACKE said that though he might be 8
inconsistency in the course he should take on the 7 The
yet ho would not shrink from taking that course jo the
question might be regarded under three heads. 00 ob-
first place, as regarded revenue, he should bare _ „octal-
jection whatever, but would go to any extent gierVoll
ing taxation, it he could thereby compel the Gre.., regard
to give up their free-trade policy. Next, witopas%
to the consumer, he admitted the repeal of the con"
would be a considerable advantage t.) the fartiletyon the
sidered as a consumer, but then came into oPerAto Ores
third consideration, the effect that measure we ea that
on the farmer as a producer, and he was convince roes!
for every ss. he would gain as a consumer by the„old;
of the malt-tax, he would as a producer lose A,YO, st
for the importation of foreign malt which at ovee
present prohibited would, he had no doubt, be alit into
permitted, and the foreign producer be breegive of
competition with the home producer if the 113,ev) ors
the Hon. Member for Yorkshire (Mr. CePT ,bat
carried. In 1846 it had been stated confideeelorty
there was no ground fur apprehending a large l'-soivo
Lion of foreign corn, but experience had since° d
them that French wheat and French flour De be the
largely imported. The same would be found le, eilo,
case with malt. Having, then, only a choice 00 sup"
he chose the less; and, however willing he was
e,
port the motion of the Hon. Member for Derby duet
oev
Bass), for a reduction of one-half of the duty, beber for
oppose the motion of the Honourable Mee'
Yorkshire.
Mr. AGLIONBY said, that, however desirebiebritsige
repeal of the malt-tax was, it was impossible dor
forward a motion for that purpose at such an unse;,ste
able time that even the advocates of the lees
,- the
should oppose it on that ground alone. Such waytba
case at present; he had always voted in favour ;oh
repeal ot the malt-tax, but under present circulustnd
when the Government Lad repealed the window-111,x 0 ttie,
two other taxes, one of which was beneficial 'Ol
agricultural classes, and the other to the great floe'
the community—and when the House did not Ye/ fl °'
what would be the effect of the success of the
Member's (Mr. Hume's) motion on the inconle'sioll
with such financial difficulties before them, he eer'ooe
could not vote in favour of the motion of the
Member for Yorkshire.
Mr. FLOYER could not concur in the reasoni4b/).
the Hon. Member for Cockermouth (Mr. Iteliltbe
For though he had voted iu favour of the motion ?hoe
Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. flume), he aboulniies,
preferred the success of the motion of the Bight icce
Member for Stamford (Mr. Herries) for a gradasie
minution of the income-tax. The House, however' uso
i
ing come to a decision adverse to that motion, he
nselfr°se
support the proposition for the repeal of the ;
ore
The maintenance of that tax was at direct Ytir :ery
with one of the main principles by which the
ell,
ment professed to guide their financial policy-131' JP
the reduction of taxation of articles of prime necessall'esi
was at loss to know on what principle the Govereelitei
asked support for their financial policy, when 0
0
maintained such a tax as the malt-tax, and be oil
therefore venture to suggest that the principle is
should adopt should be reduction of taxation apPlievee
the various articles of consumption which formed
main expenditure of the labouring classes. It made ices
difference to the working man, if he paid ls. in taxsl
whether that shilling was spread over a dozen atticl
or was concentrated in one article of consumPo 0,
r
i
There were many occupations of the agricultural 0
bourer where he was exposed to damp and wet, such.ai
works of drainage and irrigation, where he would I:l`ii
the support and wholesome stimulus of beer, the 1004
beverage to which he had been accustomed from 'to
youth; and in the exhausting fatigues of summer and 140
harvest, beer was equally necessary to recruit 134
strength. He should then have that primary article yid
necessity—his beer—untaxed and cheap; and that coil),
only be effected by the repeal of the malt-tax. Ag.tie
regarding the matter in a manufacturing point of vivo
the repeal of that tax would enable English brewery 0
expert and open a new market for English malt drip
on the Continent, where at present such wretched keel,
was pre duced, and where the superior English arose
be sure to command a market. Unless 5(70
measure of redress were adopted, the distress tinuo
which the agriculturists were labouring would bait
the effect ot diss:pating their capital—an el'
which he had reason to fear had already hegoo
to come into operation; and though it had been obe
that it could be readily replaced by other capital, yo
denied that they could look with any hope of pertese'n,
success for the cultivation of the broad lands and eXTof
sive fields of England to the application of the capita,
tradesmen, manufacturers, and merchants to thatll7a
e 0
pose, however advantageous in a small way the infuelit,
of the capital of an amateur tradesmen, agricultull.o
or retired manufacturer, might be in their respeello
localities. He admitted that, on the face of the poor-lt,
returns, there was an appearance of the distress en 1;,,
plained of by agriculturists having diminished. But
et
returns of pauperism were not conclusive as to the 5,,,,a
of the agricultural population, for they only affe%.
those classes of persons who were so far sunk in the -00
cial scale as to become applicants for relief. There v/ a
another and a much larger class of labourers, who 1311
yet so much of English courage remaining as to proven
them from applying for assistance from their parisbe;
and who nevertheless had, during the past winter, bee
,ij
suffering very severe privations.—(Hear, hear.) He
not deny that labourers ie full employ meat and at die'
former wages were deriving very considerable advantes
from the low prices of provisions.—(Cheers from the 31-
nisteriel benches.) He had bad some experience of alo,
condition of the poor in his own immediate neighbou,r.,
hood, and he could state from his own knowledge that td
no previous winter had there been so large a proports
of the labouring poor compelled to work short time.
might be told, perhaps, that but for the low price of 10,,°-
visions these men must have been driven into the work'
house; but ouly let Hon. Members consider seriouelif
what the effect would be of the partial employment °
the labouring poor; how the days heretofore spent fn
healthy though constant occupation in the fields mite''',"
from want of employment, be passed in the beer-boaw
to which the testimony of judges of assize and the eelPe;
rience of the magistracy taught them to look as tP-
sources of crime —(Hear.)
Mr. SEYMOUR said he had made a point of visito
the unions in his OWII district during the late recess, to
consequence of the statements which had been
111"46
that there never had been so little employment for the
labouring poor as during the past year. Among this
was a union on the borders of Dorsotsbire, and, on meld
inquiry of the master of the workhouse, ho was told tbo-
there were scarcely inmates enough to keep the house is
order; the inmates, he said, had diminished from bei
tween 70 and 80 down to about 40, nearly every one f,
whom was either an old person, or incapable of woes"
or else a child, and the only case of an able-dodied 0311
in that workhouse was that of a man with a wife on
three children, because he could not get a house in the
parish in which he lived. He went to the employe',e
of this man, and was told that he was an excellel3"
workman, and that his employer would be happy 1,1';
take him again, if the owner of the parish (for it 0'..;
belonged to one man) would find him a house. He bad
also made inquiries in another union, in Somersetshire;
and there he admiaed the number had slightly increased
but the rates had diminished in two years from 7,0004
to 5,400 L, and the master told him that there was nes
one single man out of work who was of good character'
There were twenty-six parishes in the union ti'l?d
twenty able- bodied men in the workhouse. How did
it happen that the labouring population were Mewls
worse off when Protectionist gentlemen resided near?'
(Hear, and a laugh.)
Mr. FLOYER explained. He had only stated tbsC
ho never knew so many obtaining only casual ampler
ment and living upon partial wages,
Mr. P. BENNET said the able-bodied poor in the Vs'
rious unions of the western division of huffolk in the
quarter ending March 25th, 1850, were 109, while in the
corresponding quarter of the present year theys
amount. d to 317. The question before the House We-
oee of justice to the agricultural interest; and he er
pealed to the free-trade party to carry out their ow°
principles by supporting the motion, and making thei
beverage of the country as free as the consumption e
corn. The duty en malt was so high and pressed 0°
heavily on the producers of the crop from which it we°
made, that the labouring classes were unable to obtain
that quantil of beer which was necessary for their
health. Their wages were reduced still more than the
price of corn, and they were thus in a much we"'
position than ever.
TRELAWNY characterised the motion as 11'
dangerous appeal to the masses.—(oh, oh,) He meifi:
taired it to he so, inasmuch as it held out a prosper
'
that an article in great consumption amongst thera
would be reduced in price to a great extent. This Aleos
not a very consistent course for Conservatives to pursue-
For his own part he could not understand how the egris
cultural classes could be benefited by a repeal of the
malt tax, which must ultimately be paid by the con'
sumer. At all events those who proposed to strike off s°
large an item of taxation were bound to provide a
_nub`