The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-13 00:00:00

THE 'SUN„ LONDON, SATURDAY i EVENING, MIX 13, 1861.

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.
The Hamburg-American Company's screw steam
ship Bavaria, Captain E. Meier, which left New
York on the 29th ult., arrived off Cowes early this
morning, and proceeded to Hamburg after tran-
shipping mails, &c., for this port.
A despatch from Washington, of the 28th ult.,
has the following
The belief of an impending advance in force upon the
rebels still prevails among the officers of the army of inva-
sion. General M'Dowell and acting Brigadiers Hunter and
Heintzelman, however, were all on this side of the river
until late this evening, a fact which does not seem to augur
well for an immediate advance of troops.
"The Secretary of War is busily engaged upon his forth-
coming report, and will see no one except his immediate
officers until it is completed. It will be one of the most in-
teresting and important documents that ever emanated from
that department, exhibiting in full the number, condition,
and efficiency of the immense force now in the field, num-
bering altogether nearly 300,000 men. The alacrity with
which the people have responded to the call of their coun-
try, when its very existence was menaced by rebels and
traitors, will be referred to and commended in the strongest
terms. A clear statement of the enormous beef and other
contracts that have been made to carry on the war will be
interesting.
"Already practical measures of legislation are being pre-
pared, to be proposed to Congress at the extra session.
Senator Wilson, it is understood, has been in consultation
with Congressmen, as well as high officers of the Govern-
ment, and, as chairman of the Military Committee, at an
early day of the extra session of Congress will produce a
series of bills, proposing—
"#l. To legalise Executive action concerning the present
defensive or warlike preparations ;
" 2. Giving the sanction of law to the plan already an-
nounced for a permanent increase of the army ;
" 3. Retiring infirm and disabled army officers ;
" 4. To organise from the militia a hundred regiments as
a national guard, to be all clothed and armed alike ;
" 5. To increase the number of cadets to the extent of 68,
or to the number of Senators, and authorising the President
to fill the vacancies caused by resignation or otherwise in
that institution.
it Besides, it is designed to recommend an appropriation
of 200,000,000 dollars to carry the defensive measures into
effect.
" The above are substantially the objects contemplated.
" The State Department is actively occupied now with
foreign affairs. By the last arrival from England there are
no indications that she has changed her views respecting
affairs on this continent. Neither has she shown any dispo-
sition to reply to the proposition of our Government, giving
in its adhesion to the Paris Conference respecting pnvateer-
ing, notwithstanding it was submitted more than two
months ago. This fact, taken in connection with other im-
portant naval and military movements along our extended
coast and on the Canadian frontier, has opened the eyes of
the Administration. Her secret designs are perfectly ap-
parent to the Government, and a most vigilant watch will
be kept as to her movements. Additional instructions are
understood to have been despatched to our naval comman-
ders, and in the event of any interference on the oartof her
Majesty's squadron with our blockade, no matter. what the
pretext on their part, her Majesty's Government will be
taught a lesson which she will not very soon forget.
" Respecting the Dominican imbroglio, Spain has not yet
replied to the note of our Government. While England
and France seem fully to understand the purposes and de-
signs of that Government, and are quietly lending their
countenance to Spanish aggressions on this continent, the
United States are unable to get one word of explanation."
On the question of raising the supplies required
by the Government, another despatch from Wash-
ington says :

" The Secretary of the Treasury, preparatory to the meet-
ing of Congress, is devoting al' his energies and time to the
financial affairs of the country, examining the estimates, re-
vising thl receipts from customs, and deliberating as to the
best means to provide for the extraordinary expenditures
already made and hereafter required to carry on the war
and to sustain the Government generally. The precise
manner of providing ways and means of course absorbs
Secretary Chase's most earnest thought. Ho pot itively
declined seeing any callers to-day, except members of the
Cabinet, who frequently visit each other to confer about
public concerns.

" It is understood that the Secretary has three plans for
-meeting the financial requirements of the country :
" 1. A popular loan, in sums of 50 dol. and upwards, bearing
7 3-10ths per cent. interest. It is believed that the patriot-
ism of the people in the various cities, towns, and commu-
nities of the country will prompt the taking in this way of
all that will be required by the Government, and the rate of
interest proposed renders the calculations of the simplest
character. Thus 50 dols. would be one cent. per day ; 100
dols. would be two cents. per day ; 1,000 dols. 20c. per day,
and so on. The honest mechanic, operative, or farmer possess-
ing the slightest degree of intelligence, instead of packing
his few hard-earned dollars away in a stocking-leg, or hiding
them in the stone wall, because of a fear to risk them in the

bank, or of being cheated out of them by the financial

sharks, can easily see that by depositing them with the
specified agent of the Government they will be safe, will be
earning them something handsome, and at the same time
they will be rendering a valuable service to their country.
" 2. This plan, not favoured so much by Secretary Chase
as by other members of the Administration, is for a foreign
loan. There is undoubtedly a policy in this, which is appa-
rent to every one, and is no doubt wise. If the plan suc-
ceeds, it will exhibit the farsightedness of President Lincoln
who proposed it. The opinion is that such a foreign loan
can be obtained at an interest of froth 6 to 7 per cent.
" 3. A plan is to isme smaller Treasury notes, bearing
'something like half the interest of the first of the above-
named plans. It is argued and believed that such notes
would enter largely into the circulation of the country.

" The amount of money to be asked for will not exceed
250,000,000 dols., and it is believed now that sum can be
reduced 25,000,000 dols. It is confidently expected that,
with the three plans thus set forth, the amount of money
required can be easily obtained. The best assurances of
this have already been given by representatives of the
money power of the country, and by those who reflect in
the truest sense the real sentiment and wishes of the loyal
people."

The Herald's correspondent on board the United
States' steamer Pawnee gives the.following report
of the engagement on the Potomac, in which Capt.
J. H. Ward, who commanded the flying flotilla,
met his death :
" United States' steamer Freeborn, off Aquia Creek,
Potomac River, June 27, 1861.

" A terrible fight took place this evening between the
Freeborn, some of the men belonging to the Pawnee, and
the rebel troops at Mathias Point, resulting in the death of
Commander James H. Ward, commanding the flying flotilla.
He was pierced by a rifle bullet while pointing the fore-
castle gun. Four seamen belonging to the Pawnee and
three of the Freeborn's crew were wounded, some of them
'very seriously.

" Yesterday, while running between the Wicomico river
and Britton's Bay, Captain ward sent a tugboat he fell
in with up to Aquia Creek,
of despatches to Captain
Rowan, of the Pawnee, the substanceofwinh'echawas ton
t
request Captain Rowan to send a force
o
Mathias Point, to meet the Freeborn there, withnthewview
of taking measures to effect a lodgment at the print, and to
destroy the thick woods that fringe the high banks over-
looking the river, and which could serve to conceal rebel
troops, and to mask such batteries as they might erect there.
In the evening the Freeborn ran up to Swan Point, and
anchored there for the night. At daylight, the Reliance,
one of the flotilla, arrived at Swan Point, having in tow the
first and third cutters of the Pawnee, with 24 men, under
the -command of Lieutenant J. C. Chaplin; and immedi-
ately the Freeborn weighed anchor and ran into Nangemoy,
where a 12-pounder howitzer was taken from the schooner
Dana and placed on board the first cutter, with the view to
it being placed in position behind a sandbag battery, to be
erected on shore. The Dana was then lashed alongside the
Freeborn, and the Pawnee's first and third cutters were
towed by the Reliance, and the whole expedition moved off
In the direction of Mathias Point. Considerable time had
been expended in getting the Reliance off a shoal, on which
she had grounded, within rifle shot of the shore where the
rebels were encamped. They "did not, however, fire on
the Reliance.

"On reaching Mathias Point the Freeborn anchored,
broadside on, opposite the wooden building so often fired on,
to the left of which is a gentle slope, leading to the top of
the table lands, and in the left of that a ravine called
Jotank Swams. Beyond the ravine, still further to the left,
is a dense thicket of pines, running a considerable distance
along the high bank to the extremity of the Point. The
Reliance anchored a little lower down than the Freeborn,
while the Dana anchored further out. On board of her a
hawser was made fast, connecting her with the Freeborn.
"The Freeborn then opened acannonade from both guns,
throwing in shot and shell in various parts of the land
to check the advance of an enemy while the boats
landed,
ti:ncd. About a hour after we had opened fire a flag
u; truce was seen waving oa shore, considerably to the
anuelro, andvai hoot being tent on shore soon returned with
Ile 5,;,„_11 reported himself a runaway from Dr. Hoe.
slid the eiie
landing was so,n3Y consisted of at least SOO strong. The
Ile effected, the boats employel being those
of the Pawnee,
The londirq Wasal3st:rin Ward going off in the first cutter.
soon gained, when theelyrebaccolnplished, the table land was
which the latter returned.el(pliekets opened fire on our men,
seeing this the Freeborn's
but, with eight men, the coxswain
and your correspondent,
under command of Master'semate j-01,11
from the Freeborn. On grounding, the other
other boats put off,
Captain Ward telling Mr. Kellogg to cra• put off
cover the retreat of
the other boats, which he did. enemy appeared, and
the men Jay on their oars between the Freeborn and the
shore. Meanwhile Captain Ward Went on board the Free-
born to superintend the xs orking of the guns to cover our
second landing, which was effected by the three boats,
when, the acclivity being climbed, pickets were thrown out
to the right and left, extending to the right considerably

beyond the wooden building, and to the left beyond Jotank
Swamp,
" The former was composed of the Freeborn's men ; the
latter of those of the Pawnee. The erection of a sandbag
battery by the Pawnee's men, under the superintendence of
Lieutenant Chaplin, was then commenced at the summit of
the table land up the acclivity, at the foot of which the
landing was effected. The ground was well chosen, for a
strong fence ran across, with an embankment and a ditch
on the side of our party, forming a ready-made defence,
under cover of which our men could check the advance of
the enemy. Only one little spot, forming an angle of about
45 degrees with the fence, was left exposed, and it was at
, this spot that the sandbags were being laid as fast as they
could be filled.
"The landing was effected a little after 12 o'clock, and an
incessant cannonade was kept up till 4. From the right of
the wooden building, looking from the river, a view of the
rebel encampment was obtained, about three miles off, and
men could be seen moving to and fro. Some of them were
on horseback, and one man was seen galloping down the
road leading to the camp. To this point the Freeborn's shots
were directed, under the information furnished from the
shore by Mr. Kellogg. The shots were well aimed.
" At 4 o'clock the Freeborn ceased firing, and resumed at
5, the bow gun throwing in round shot and the after gun
five-second shell. Capt. Ward stood on the gallows frame
directing the fire, which was very excellent. Several of the
shot and shell were distinctly seen to strike the Whitehouse,
belonging to Mr. Grimes, at some distance;above the wooden
building, in which it was ascertained that rebel troops were
concentrated, and it was consequently the object of the
second cannonade.
"The battery on shore was now nearly completed, and a
large quantity of branches of trees was placed over to mask
it. A number of the Freeborn's men were now seen running
in the direction of Mr. Grimes's house, and the thicket had
no sooner concealed them from the view of the Freeborn
than four shots were fired at them from the house, which
were returned by our men. The voice of Mr. Kellogg was
distinctly heard, shouting Rescue and some men were
then seen working to aid him. Presently they all returned,
and Mr. Kellogg subsequently reported that the rebels had
been all cleared out. The Freeborn had ceased firing, so
as not to hit our own men, when on their reappearance
Capt. Ward gave the order to train the forward gun sharp
forward, as it had been trained sharp aft all along. He
was on the gallows frame all this time, bit whether he
saw the rebels when he indicated the pointing of the gun
he never lived to tell. The gun was trained when he
sounded the whistle, at the same time hailing the shore,
All hands on board.' The order was obeyed, and they
were making for the beach when a rifle shot was fired from
the thicket to the left of Jotank creek, at the picket sta-
tioned near by, going through his cap. He fell back on the
main body, discharging his rifle before doing so, Two or
three shots, and next a terrible volley, were fired from the
rebels from the extreme point to the left, all the way to
the commencement of Jotank creek, on the men, who
were fast running for their boats and the Freeborn. The
shots flew as thick as hail all around Lieutenant Chaplin
and men. The major was among the last to leave the beach,
seeing that the men were safe off. Several of the men had
to swim for their lives ; among them Mr. Chaplin, who, as
well as all the rest, succeeded in gaining their boats. Not
a tool nor a weapon was left behind.
" Coxswain John Williams, of the Pawnee's first cutter,
behaved nobly. He was badly wounded in the thigh, and
the flag of his boat, six feet by four, had no fewer than 19
shots through it, and the staff was cut in two. Seizing the
stump in his hand, he waved the flag, saying, Boys, the
American flag never shall be lowered ; don't allow any of
our men to be left behind.'

" The men now lay on their oars, and took on board the
swimmers, the rebel shots flying thickly around them.
Lieutenant Chaplin was not yet taken on board, when Wil-
liams called out, ' Mr. Chaplin, throw away your cap, it is
a mark for the enemy.' Mr. Chaplin coolly turned on his
back, fastened his cap to his suspenders, turned round again,
swam and reached the boat.

" On board the Freeborn, when the enemy opened fire
Captain Ward came down from the gallows frame and
seized a rifle, which ho fired at the enemy, vs did pilot
Pierson and myself. We fired several shots, when the cap-
tain ran down to the forecastle deck and began to sight the
gun, first ordering it to be loaded with round shot. He had
got the sight and was about to withdraw and give the
word to fire, when he was struck by a bullet, saying to Harry
Churchhill, the boatswain's mate, Churchill, I'm killed.'
He fell into one of his arms, while Churchill pulled the
string with the other, throwing the shot clear among the
enemy. A five•second shell and two rounds of grape were
then fired from the bow gun, while the after gun fired about
the same quantity.
" Slip the cable and start her,' was now Lieutenant
Lee's order on assuming the command. It was done, and
soon the Freeborn and all the boats were out of range of
the deadly rifles and muskets.

" The Pawnee was now ordered alongside, and Dr. J. A.
Moore, our surgeon, who had been sent on board of her in
the morning, came on board the Freeborn, accompanied by
Mr. Frederick Ward, the captain's second son. Dr. Moore
immediately pronounced the wound mortal. The ball had
entered the umbilicus, and come out on the right side, near
the back, perhaps passing through the liver and other

"The captain was first laid on the quarter deck, but sub-
sequently removed to a more convenient position. In re-
moving him he said, "Why remove me ? lam quite com-
fortable.' Here Lieutenant Lee asked if he could do any-
thing for him. He only said, Raise my head a little
h;gher.' To Dr. Moore he once said, 'Doctor, the wound
is here,' pointing to the pit of his stomach. The captain
lingered for about three-quarters of an hour, when he ex-
pired, after a few gasps. His son was by him when he
breathed his last. The most profound grief pervaded the
whole of the officers and crew of the Freeborn.

" When it was known that the captain was mortally
wounded George Conch, captain of the after gun, exclaimed
—' Boys, let us have our revenge.' The gun was then
pointed true, and the five-seconds shell burst right in the
midst of the enemy. He was about to fire again, when the
Doctor forbade the disturbance of the captain's last mo-
ments, and Conch desisted.

" Thus fell, in defence of the glorious Stars and Stripes,
the noble, kenerous, and intrepid James Ward, the origi-
nator of the scheme of the flying flotilla, and who never
spared himself in the performance of his duty, nor shrank
from personal danger, though tender of the safety of his
men.

" Several of the men of both vessels had narrow escapes,
being shot through their caps and various parts of their
clothing. A round bullet went through the engine-room,
cut a broom handle in two, and fell on board. It is supposed
that there could have been no fewer than
.800, or 1,000 rebels
present.

" During the night the Freeborn went alongside the
Pawnee, at the entrance to Aquia Creek, and Lieutenant
Lee reported to Commander Rowan. First Lieutenant
Lowry was sent on board to take temporary command of the
Freeborn. The Pawnee then left for Washington, with
the remains of Captain Ward, Mr. Frederick Ward, Dr.
Moore, your correspondent, and 12 seamen of the Freeborn
went as a delegation to see the remains of their commander
taken to their last resting place. The men on board the
Freeborn made a 'request that the corpse of their beloved
commander should be conveyed to Washington on board
his own vessel, where he gloriously fell, but this was not
allowed, as the exigencies of the service would not per-
mit it. •

" Ihefollowing are the names of the killed and wounded :

" ON BOARD THE FREEBORN.

" Killed.-1. James H. Ward, Commander of the flotilla.

" Wounded.-1. George M'Kinney, shot in the thigh,
dangerously, shattering the bone. 2. Michael Heaney
shot in the thigh, badly.

" ON BOARD THE PAWNEE.

" Wounded.-3. John Williams, shot badly in the thigh.
4. W. J. Beat, shot in the thigh, hand, and body. Ampu-
tation necessary and not expected to survive. 6. Jerome
Jackson, coloured, wounded slightly in the ancle. 6.
Robert Roily, one Eager slightly and part of his musket
stock shot off.

" Jacks The whole of the wounded men are seamen, except
on, a boy.
The object of Captain Ward in throwing up tae breast-
works at Matthias Point was that his boat's crew might be
able to hold the place, with the aid of a small howitzer bat-
tery, and covered by the 32-pounder guns of the Freeborn,
until his force should be reinforced by the New York 71st
Regiment, which he had sent for to come to his support.
It was thought the regiment, once there, could fortify
themselves and hold the place against any force short of
vastly superior numbers. The Pawnee, however, arrived at
the Navy-yard with Captain Ward's corpse before the de-
spatch reached the 71st. The remains will go to New
York under a marine escort to-morrow morning.

BANKRUPTCIES THIS YEAR.—As was to be ex-
pected, the number of bankruptcies in the first half of the
current year is considerably above the average. In the
Liverpool district 63 bankuptcies were gazetted ; in the
Manchester, 56; in the Birmingham, 130 ; in the Leeds,
78 ; in the Bristd, 43 ; in the Exeter, 25; in the New-
castle, 11; and in the London, 321, showing a total of 727,
or at the rate of 1,454 per annum, as compared with 1,123,
the average for the preceding ten years. The only district
which is below the average of the previous decade is New-
captle, where the bankruptci a have diminished to the ex-
tent of 39 per cent. In the Liverpool district there has
been an increase of 59 per cent. ; in the Manchester an in-
crease of 26 per cent. ; in the Birmingham an increase of
34 per cent. ; in the Leeds an increase of 48 per cent. ; in
the Bristol an increase of 26 per cent.; in the Exeter an
increase. of 19 per cent. ; and in the London an increase of
17 par cent. After all, however, these statistics afford by
no means a complete view of the state of the commercial
world, an immense number of "private arrangements"
being now made between debtors and creditors. '
:7[AnvEnTl:3 E KEN T. ] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Di.arrhcea—Bowel Complaint.—The wet weather, defective
drainage, and noxious vapours are now producing an un-
izsual amount of sickness, which should have early atten-
tion. In all com!laints affecting the stomach, liver, or
bowels, Holloway's Ointment has a most salutary effect
when diligently rubbed upon the abdomen. It penetrates
to the seat of evil, and soon removes the indigestion and
flatulency, which warn us of approaching disease, It is
safer in urgent cases to take the pills while using the oint-
ment, as both, used together, act more energetically. A
few days of this treatment will stop every case of bowel
complaint, in its early stage or acute form, and spare the
sufferer a long and tedious 'convalescence.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

TRANSMISSION OF BRITISH GOODS TO
CANADA.

In reply to the Earl of CARNARVON,
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that he had placed
himself in communication with the Foreign Office and the
Board of Trade, but he had not received information which
would enable him to g►ve an answer to the question of the
noble lord.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Sir John Simeon's (Leasing) Estate, Stockton and
Darlington Railway (Capital), Leven and East of
Fife Railways (Extension, &c.), South Wales Mineral
Railway, East Suffolk Railway, and Conway and Llan-
rwst.

STANDING ORDERS.
Lord REDESDALE, in pursuance of the notice which
he 'had given, moved the following amendment to the
standing order 185, formerly 223 :—" That no provision
authorising any company to raise money or to subscribe
towards or to guarantee any money in the undertaking
of another company shall be introduced into any bill which
is not brought in by the company authorised to raise
money, or to subscribe, or to guarantee, or of which such
company is not a joint promoter with the other company,
and shall have been named as such in all the notices re-
quired by the standing orders prior to the introduction of
the bill to Parliament. He contended that the alteration
which he proposed would facilitate the progress of private
business.

Lord PORTMAN moved as an amendment to the previ-
ous motion, "That when in any bill a provision is inserted

authorising a company to subscribe towards, or to guaran-
tee or to raise any money in aid of the undertaking
of any other company, which bill is not brought in by the
company so authorised, proof shall be required before the
examiner whether the company so authorised has any bill
before Parliament in which such a proviso could
be inserted. In the event of there being such a
bill before Parliament, the examiner shall report
the name or short title of such bill to the

house ; in the event of their being no such bill before
Parliament, the examiner shall report whether proof has
been given that the company so authorised has consented
to such subscription guarantee or raising of money at a
meeting of the proprietors of such company held spe-
cially for that purpose, and that such provisions
were approved of by the proprietors of the ordinary
shares of the company present in person or by
proxy, holding at least three-fourths of the
paid up capital of the company represented at such
meeting, the said proprietors being qualified to vote
at the meeting in right of such capital only ; in case no
such proof has been given, no such bill shall proceed with-
out the special order of the house.
After some discussion,
Earl GRANVILLE suggested that it would be advisable
to refer the subject to a select committee.
Lord REDESDALE replied, and said that he had no
objection to accede to the proposition of the noble lord in
referring the subject to a select committee.
TURKEY.

Lord S. DE REDCLIFFE, in moving that an humble
address be presented to her Majesty for copies or extracts
of any correspondence which has passed between the
Foreign Department and her Majesty's Embassy at Con-
stantinople in the last and present years on the subject of
financial or administrative reforms in Turkey, especially of
such as were proclaimed in the late Sultan's Hatt-i-
-homayoon of the year 1856, and more particularly since the
accession of the reigning Sultan, strongly insisted upon the
policy of our encouraging the Sultan to carry out the re-
forms instituted by his brother.
Lord WODEHOUSE said he thought it better, as the
Sultan was showing himself an energetic reformer, to let
him have all the credit of it in the eyes of his subjects.
Such would not be the case if it should appear that he was
stimulated to it from abroad. He had no objection to
comply with the motion if the noble lord would strike out
the concluding words of it.
The Earl of HARDWICKE expressed himself gratified
at what had fallen from the noble lord, the Under Secre-
tary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The motion was then agreed to.
COAL AND WINE DUES CONTINUANCE BILL.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY, in moving the
second reading of this bill, stated it was to continue those
dues to the City of London, for ten years, to defray the
debt incurred in opening Cannon-street, the surplus to be
applied to the embankment of the Thames. The area, how-
ever, within which these dues were to be charged, was to be
reduced frome one of 20 miles radius from St. Paul's to the
Metropolitan Police district.

The Duke of ARGYLL presented a petition in favour o,
the bill from the parishioners and churchwardens of St
Mary's Cray.
The bill was then read a second time.
LABOURERS' COTTAGES BILL.

The Earl of DEVON moved the second reading of this
bill. He explained that It woula enalTle lanaea piovitotorS,
who were tenants for life, to borrow money from the Loan
Commissioners, to be expended, under the sanction of the
Enclosure Commissioners, on the building of labourers' cot-
tages, and to charge the owners with its repayment by in-
stalments.

Lord PORTMAN thought the house would hesitate be.

fore it passed this bill. It was proposed that no cottage
should cost more than £l2O, but the machinery was so
cumbrous that the preliminaries of the loan would cost such
a large portion of that sum that the,balance would not be
sufficient for the building of a cottage anywhere else than in
Devonshire. He moved that the bill be read a second time
that day three months.

Lord GALLOWAY supported the bill. Parliament had
already recognised the principle of it in the act for the build-
ing of the labourers' cottages in Scotland.
Lord REDESDALE considered the bill unnecessary, as
everything it proposed could be affected by existing statutes.
Lord DUNGANNON did not agree with the proposals of
the bill in its entirety, but its objectionable features might
be removed in committee. There was, no doubt, some le-
gislation required to improve the domiciliary condition of
the labourers.

The committee divided and the numbers were—
Contents
Non-contents
Majority
The bill was accordingly lost.
FOREST OF DEAN BILL.

This bill was passed through committee.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY
NOTES (IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, the
Commons' amendments of this bill were agreed to.

BOOK UNIONS BILL.

Lord BROUGHAM, in moving the second reading of
this bill, explained that its object was to extend to the dig.
tribution of books the principle of the Fine Arts Union Act,
and was almost in the same words, ample provision being
made against the risk of the provisions of the bill being per-
verted to gambling purposes.
Earl GREY opposed the second reading of the bill. It
was not called for by the public, and the house should not,
except on some exceptional grounds, depart from the recog-
nised principle of legislation, which discountenanced
gambling.
Lord DENMAN supported the bill. While he desired
to see the law generally obeyed, he considered it undesirable
that its letter rather than its principle should be enforced.
Earl GRANVILLE suggested to the noble lord the pro-
priety of withdrawing the measure. He considered the ob-
jections of the noble earl to the bill insurmountable.

Lord BROUGHAM said the bill had, in the House of
Commons, received the support of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and he was at a loss to understand the part now taken
by the Lord President of the Council. If the bill were lost
it should not be through any act of his.
INCLOSURE (No. 2) BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

TRANSFER OF STOCKS ANNUITIES BILL.

This bill was read a third time, and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned at 20 minutes to eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-YESTERDAY:

The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
PAROCHIAL AND BURGH SCHOOLS (SCOT-

LAND) No. 2 BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
Upon clause 9, which provides that pardchial school-
masters should not be required to sign a confession of faith,
but should make a declaration that they would not incul-
cate opinions opposed to the Scriptures, or to the Shorter
Catechism of 1648,
Mr. HADFIELD opposed the clause, on the ground
that it enforced an unnecessary test.
Upon a division, the numbers were—
For the clause
.15
Against it ,

Majority
—36
Tho clause was then added to the bill.

Ou clause 10, which transfers the jurisdiction of the
Presbyterians to the Sheriff in cases where charges of im-
nioral conduct or cruelty are preferred against a school-

master,

Mr. DUNPOP objected to the provision in the clause
that the complaints of the schoolmaster to the Sheriff should
proceed from the Presbytery, and proposed in all cases it
should be presented to them by the heritors, ministers,
or elders.

The LORD ADVOCATE could not consent to the
amendment. He admitted that the Presbytery did not
form a convenient body to sit in trial upon a schoolmaster,
but there was nothing objectionable in giving the power to
complain to the Sheriff of immoral conduct, cruelty, or ne-
glect of duty.
Mr. BLACK said the position of the schoolmasters was
very unfortunate.

After a short discussion the amendment was withdrawn,
the Lord Advocate having suggested an alteration of the

clause limiting the time to three months for which any
schoolmaster might be suspended.
The next amendment to the same clause was then taken
into consideration.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill was
ordered to be reported.
IRREMOVABLE POOR BILL.

The committee resumed the consideration of this bill,
and the provisions moved on a previous occasion by Sir J.
Pakington to be added to clause 9—" Provided also that
extra parochial places which have heretofore paid no con-
tributions to the common fund of the unions in which they
are comprised shall notwithstanding anything herein con-
tained, be hereinafter exempt from such contributions."
Mr. HENLEY moved that the chairman report progress.
Mr. VILLIERS and Sir G. GREY resisted the motion.
After some conversation the committee divided—.
For the motion
Against it
Majority —B2
The motion was therefore lost.
Mr. KNIGHT thought it would be unfair to proceed
with the consideration of Sir J. Pakington's proviso, the
right hon. baronet being absent.
Mr. PEACOCKE thought the proviso required further
consideration, and moved that the chairman leave the chair.
The committee divided—
For the motion
Against it... lO4
Majority —BO
The motion was lost, but it being now.four o'clock the
sitting was suspended.
At six o'clock the house resumed
TERRACE OF SOMERSET HOUSE.

Mr. SLANEY asked the First Commissioner of Works
if permission would be given to open the terrace at the back
of Somerset-house for respectable people to walk there, at
such hours and under such rules as should be thought
right, according to the recommendation of the Committee
on Public Works in 1833, and if there was any prospect of
a public walk or open ground being made and kept in the
south-east of London, near Bermondsey, or in Southwark,
as suggested by that committee ?
Mr. COWPER said that every public place in London
which would afford a pleasant view of the river ought to be
turned to the best account, that the terrace of Somerset-
house was a place of that description, and that it would be
exceedingly desirable if it were thrown open to the public.
But there were objections made to that, in consequence of
the occupation of Somerset-house, and those objections
could not be well obviated. With regard to the second part
of the question, he had been well pleased to witness the de-
light which Battersea-pack afforded the public, and would
be gratified still more if another park could be opened in
the south-east of London. but he was sorry to say there
were no funds at his disposal, and he could hold out no
promise that it would be effected.
INDIAN FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
In reply to Mr. KINNAIRD,
Sir C. WOOD said he was at present unable to name the
day on which he would make his financial statement with
regard to India.
REVISION OF THE STANDING ORDERS.

Col FRENCH asked the chairman of the Standing Orders
Committee if, after the experience of the plan for facilitating
public business in the House of Commons recommended by
the select committee during this session, it was his intention
to move for a committee to revise the Standing Orders.
Col. W. PATTEN said he had not been directed by
the committee on Standing Orders to make any motion on
the subject to Is hich the question referred. He had con •
sulted with the right hon. baronet the member for Carlisle
and other hon. members, and he believed the general im-
pression was that the plan for facilitating public business
had net been as yet sufficiently tested. As far as experience
had gone it worked, in some respects, very favourably. The
taking of supply on Tuesday last, for instance, had been
productive of beneficial results, and he believed that there-
commendations generally of the committee would tend to
promote public business. Under those circumstances he
would not take upon himself to move for the revision of the
standing order.
AMENDMENT OF CHURCH RATES BILL.

Sir C. DOUGLAS asked what course the hon. member
for Preston intended to pursue respecting his bill for the
amendment of church rates, which stood for the 24th inst. ;
and whether, after the opinions expressed on the with-
drawal of a similar bill on the 10th inst., he would perse-
vere in moving the second reading at so late a period of the
session ?

Mr. E. ESTCOURT said it was not the intention of his
hon. friend the member for Preston to proceed with the bill.
INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES

BILL.

Mr. SLANEY stated that it was not his intention to pro-
ceed with this bill in the present session.

TARIFF ARRANGEMENTS OF BELGIUM.

Mr. W. FORSTER asked the Secretary of State for Fo-
reign Affairs the cause of the delay of the Belgian Govern-
ment in applying the new tariff arrangements between
France and Belgium to this country. He stated that the
operation of the present arrangements was most injurious to
England, and that the delay of the Belgian Government in
applying the new tariff was a subject requiring the imme-
diate attention of the noble lord the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs. The duty imposed upon the importations of Enc-
ash woollens was higher than Belgium imposed upon the
fabrics of other countries. England had a right to expect,
at the hands of the Belgian Goveirnment, fair and impar•
tial treatment, and a mode of dealing founded on principles
of justice.

Mr. PAGET expressed his regret at the advantages
offered to France by the Belgian Government over those
extended to England.
Sir F. HEYGATE quoted illustrations of the difference
between the tariffs so far as French and Znglish goods were
concerned. He feared that English trade with Belgium
would become almoet annihilated unless some change was
made by the latter country.
After a few words from Mr. NEWDEGATE,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that in the early part of the year
the Foreign-office was informed by the Belgian Government
that the latter was negotiating a treaty of commerce, and an
assurance was given that whatever terms were agreed upon
England should share in the advantages. The Belgian
Government had declined bringing the matter before the

Chamber this session because there was no chance of a law

being passed in so short a period. He considered the con-
duct of the Belgian Government as extremely ungrateful to
the Government of this country in return for the liberality
with which they had been treated.

either to the German Confederation or to Austria or Prussia,
by which he hoped that the federal execution would be post-
poned, and that arrangements would be made—though upon
what grounds he was not yet prepared to say—to settle the
matter, it was to be hoped satisfactorily. Certain require-
ments having been made, it was fair that the King of Den-
mark should have an opportunity either to comply or to state
his reasons for declining. He trusted either that the matter
would now be settled satisfactorily, or, at all events, that
some time would be allowed for further negotiation. He be-
lieved that the meaning of the treaty was this :—Different
titles could be set up to different parts of the Danish mo-
narchy, upon the death of the present Sovereign ; and in that
case the Emperor of Russia might prefer a title against other
claimants: Russia would not be likely to fare the worst among
the claimants, and a great part of the Danish monarchy
might fall to her share. Under these circumstances, it was
thought desirable that there should be some agreement,
by which the Danish monarchy should pass whole and en•
tire to an heir, who should be named; that thus the ambi-
tion of claimants might be terminated, and Denmark con-
tinue to exist as an independent monarchy. That, he
believed, was the intention of the treaty. If Russia, on the
death of the King of Denmark, should put forward a claim
to Holstein, then all the other powers would be entitled to
say that Russia had signed treaties by which she was pre-
cluded from realising that claim. He would not go further
into the question, but he thought it was not desirable to
give any further papers at present.
DANISH CLAIMS.

Mr. MACAULAY rose to call attention to the several
addresses to the Crown by this house; and the Treasury
minutes issued thereon, empowering the commissioners for
Danish claims to receive, examine, and judiciously deter-
mine the claims of certain British subjects for losses aris-
ing out of the confiscation by the Danish Government of
ships and cargoes in the year 1807. The bon. and learned
gentleman dwelt upon the fact that after such losses had
been judicially determined, and the commissioners' adjudi-
cation and report thereon had been presented to the house,
the House of Commons, by its address, June 10, 1841,
prayed her Majesty to advance to the claimants the amount
of the losses so adjudged, with the assurance that the house
would make good the same, but that nevertheless such claims
remain unliquidated ; and after reviewing the facts, he ad-
vocated the justice and propriety of fulfilling the prayer of
the address and satisfying the claims of the petitioners.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought that the hon.
and learned gentleman had shown a wise discretion in con-
cluding his speech without submitting any motion to the
house. It was well worthy of the consideration of the
house how far a limit in time should be put to the
bringing forward of such claims as those referred
to. This question was now fifty-seven years old,
and for the last fifteen years had been allowed
to slumber undisturbed, (Mr. Macaulay—Ten years.)
Well, ten years was a very good nap. (A laugh.)
He thought that the course adopted by successive Govern-
ments with respect to the question was perfectly justifiable.
On the admission of his hon. and learned friend, the case
of these claimants was wholly untenable, for his hon. and
learned friend had admitted that one of the most obvious
rights of a belligerent was to confiscate the property afloat
of the subjects of its enemy. He should feel alirmed if he
thought the house would act upon the argument advanced'
by his hon. and learned friend. That argument was, that
war being entered upon, the house was to vote out of the
taxes of the country compensation to a person whose pro-
perty had been confiscated, because, in the opinion of that
individual, the war had either been unjustly entered upon
or illegally carried out. A broad distinction existed between
ships and cargoes afloat and goods or book-debts on shore
—a distinction that was admitted by the highest authorities
—and he therefore could not admit, with his hon. and
learned friend, that the same principle applied to both those
kinds of property. Government, he thought, were justified
in satisfying certain claims without pledging themselves as.
to other cases. It was said that they might satisfy these
claims without establishing a precedent. But he held that
every precedent established a principle, and if they yielded
these claims he did not see how they could resist auy future
claims in which it was alleged that the claimant had suf-
fered in consequence of an unjust war. It would have been
establishing a most mischievous precedent. It was right to
bear in mind, with respect to these claims, that, according
to the statement of the claimants themselves, their claims
had been three times rejected by the house, and the matter
had been allowed to slumber for ten years. It was better to
be guided by the more recent judgment of the house than
to go back to the decisions of many years ago. The question
was reduced within the narrowest limits, and be should nut
intrude on the house further with the matter.
Mr. LOCKE said the Attorney-General was pleading,
as it were, a statute of limitations, and though that course
might do well in the courts of law, it was no answer in this
house to say that because an injustice had not been reme-
died for many years, it was not to be rectified now. He
hardly thought that even in a court of law the case for a
defendant pleading the Statute of Limitations would be held
to be proved on such evidence. It was a curious fact that
the claims which were now admttted had been resisted for
27 years. The arguments now alleged might be the law of
nations, but they were not common sense, nor did he be- i
lieve that they were the law of nations, for that law like all
law must be founded on comm.n coaao. Thoro woo nv evi-
dence that the rgoods had been seized at sea, Were they
now to be told that these claims were not to be allowed,
when the goods were not afloat, but had been put on the
quay, when formerly it was maintained that those which
had not been landed, were not to be allowed for ? The ar-
gument of the Attorney-General was weak, for though he
told them that something might be said for the conduct of
the British Government in 1817, he did not state what that
something was, or attempt to vindicate the conduct of the
Government in 1827. The whole expedition was secret, and
was in fact a trespass—an illegal act—for which compensa-
tion ought to be given to those British subjects who suf-
fered by it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
if his hon. and learned friend the Attorney-General had
rested the present case, as it was alleged he had, upon the
statute of limitations, his opposition to these claims would
not have been satisfactory to the house. It was a very se-

rious state of things that almost all power of tracing these

proprietor's rights had almost disappeared. It was not upon
the statute of limitation simply that the Attorney-General
had taken his stand, but it was mainly upon this, that upon
three distinct occasions the house had distinctly refused to
entertain the question of compensation for these claims.
The house had, in fact, taken a less and less view of the

claims every time the subject was discussed, and never
since 1846 had it lent a favourable ear to applications in
their behalf. In 1851, when the subject was discussed, the
numbers in favour of the claims were 49 ; and those against
them 126 ; and the authority of such a vote as that was a
great fact in the history of the case- Common sense had
been appealed to by some of the supporters of these claims,
but the misfortune was that it was a very difficult thing to
discover where the common sense lay, because every speaker
seemed to think that he alone was possessed of it. (A
laugh.) It was not at all an unfair course, then, to fall back
upon the law of nations, and the concentrated wisdom of
recognised authority. Sir James Mackintosh had dealt
with the question of the goods on shore, for which compen-
sation had been given, and the goods on the water, from
which it had been withheld, and he absolutely disrated the
house from the power of recognising the claims for compen-
sation which were set up for the goods on water. Under
such circumstances no grounds had been laid for inducing
the house to go in the teeth of precedents and a combina-
tion of authority, and he trusted they would very generally

agree that it would be wrong to give any further constdera •
tion to these claims. (Hear.)
Mr. MACAULAY explained. He had not said the war

was unjust, but that a confessed and admitted trespass had
been committed towards Denmark, and that the State which
inflicted a wrong was bound to indemnify the subjects to
whom that wrong was done.
The subject then dropped.
UNIVERSITY ELECTIONS.

On the order fur the third reading of this bill,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
was not his intention to make any hostile motion, but he
ventured to suggest that a prudent course would be to allow

the bill to be recommitted. He thought that many hon.
members did not see how much the principle of the bill had
been altered by details agreed to into committee. The bill
was at present no longer a bill to allow University voters
to vote without personal attendance. It authorised all
voters to give proxies which would enable the holders of
them to vote in the way they might think fit. He had
never heard of a more striking change in an electoral law,
' and a time might come when such a principle would be
taken as a precedent by other constituencies. He could not
disguise , from his own mind the possibility, however great
the improbability might be, of the system of proxies giving
facilities for fraud. Under the present provisions of the
bill any number of voters might empower any proxy to give
their vote; with solely the provision that the proxy must
be acquainted with the voters, and to that especial provision
Ihe now wished to call the attention of the house. Besides
these provisions, every voter might run a race against his
own proxy, but it would depend on accident who should
first vote, and for whom the vote should be given. In fact,
both the voter and the proxy might vote at different polling
places without possible objection. (Hear.) The door would
be opened therefore for error and for inconvenience, and
that for no purpose connected with the bill. In addition to
these objections, there would be a disposition to college
combinations which would execcise an undue influence over
candidates. Having been returned himself by a majority
of resident as well as non-resident voters, he of course had
not made these observations with reference to his own case.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. DODSON did not think that there would be that
concentration of voting papers which the right hon. gentle-
man feared there would be.

Mr. W. HUNT, whose observations were rendered
almost wholly inaudible by repeated cries of "divide," and
ironical cheers, was understood to support the bill, and to
justify his own conduct its crying "no" to some observa-
tions on the other side. During the whole of the time that
the hon. member was speaking the house was in such con-
fusion that it would be absurd to attempt any rendering of
even the general effect of his speech.
Lord PALMERSTON would not detain the house with
any arguments, but was unwilling that this bill should go
to a third reading without his taking the opportunity as he
was in the house of observing that he concurred in the ob-

*lions to this bill, which would open the door to much
abuse,

Mr. CONINGHAM made some observations, which
were rendered wholly unintelligible by tumultuous inter-
ruptions.
As the Speaker was putting the question Mr. Coningham
was understood to say that he intended to conclude with a
motion. (Order, order.)
The SPEAKER said the hon. member (Mr. Coningham)
was perfectly in time.
Mr. CONINGHAM then moved that the bill be recom-
mitted.
The house then divided, when the numbers were—
Ayes (for third reading)
Noes (for the recommittal)
Majority for the third reading —B5
The announcement of the result of the division was re-
ceived with loud cheering.
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
The report on supply was then brought up and agreed to.
THE NAVAL MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUND

SOCIETY BILL.

This bill passed through committee.
THE VACCINATION BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES BILL.

The order for the second reading of this bill was dis.
charged.

COUNTY VOTERS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

DEALERS IN OLD METALS BILL.

This bill as amended was considered and agreed to.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORS (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE moved for leave to introduce a
bill to prevent the disfranchisement of Parliamentary elec-
tors in Ireland, by reason of their letting portions of their
holdings in the ordinary course of the occupation of the
same.

Mr. VANCE and Colonel DICKSON respectively objected
to a bill of such a nature being brought in at this late
period of the session, and at that late hour, when so few
Irish members were in the house.

Mr. BUTT and Mr. HENNESSY thought there could be no
harm in allowing the hon. baronet to introduce the bill.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD strongly objected to a billof such
a nature being brought in at such a period of the session.
It was a bill of great importance, and which would require
more consideration than ,at that period of the session could
be given to it.
The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the motion 2O
Against it
Majority —2
The bill was according lost, and the announcement of the
numbers was received with much laughter.
HIGHWAYS BILL.
_ _

Mr. DEEDES wished, in the absence of the right hon.
gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
to ask the First Minister of the Crown what the Govern-
ment meant to do this session with the Highways Bill. It
was an important measure, and he was anxious to know what
course the Government meant to pursue in relation to it.

Lord PALMERSTON said that on Monday he would
undertake to state the intentions of the Government with
regard to the bill.
The house adjourned at 25 minutes to two o'clock.