The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ANALYSIS of the AUSTRALIAN COLO-
NIES GOVERNMENT BILL. By A.
. Mackay, Esq., Barrister-at-Lau•, Author of the
" Western World," the " Crisis in Canada," 6-c.
This pamphlet, which is published by the Society
for the Reform of Colonial Government, contains nut
only an able analysis of the Government Bill, but
strictures and comments on its provisions, which,
coming from the pen of one whose authority on these
subjects stands so deservedly high as does that of Ale:
Mackay, are entitled to mast respectful attention.
Mr. Mackay is decidedly opposed to the plan of
one chamber, in which Government nominees shall
sit in conjunction with representatives elected
by the people. He is in favour of two chambers, both
elective, on the plan of the Senate and Congress of
the United States. He likewise objects to the Go-
vernment plan of federation, and expresses his disap
proval of leaving open questions of boundary between
the colonies, seeing that the Anglo• Saxon race have
everywhere shown themselves peculiarly sensitive on
questions of boundary. lie therefore suggests that
the Imperial Parliament should in the present Bill
settle the question of the boundaries of the various
Australian colonies wherever practicable, so as to
prevent future boundary disputes arising among the
settlers. In conclusion, we recommend this pamphlet
to the careful consideration of all who take an interest
in this subject.

THE LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING
TO THE SALE AND TRANSFER OF
ENCUMBERED ESTATES IN IRE-
LAND, as regulated by statute 12 and 13 Via, c.
77 (the Encumbered Estates Act) with introduction,
explanatory notes. The Act, new general rules,
forms, and directions for regulating proceedings
for sale rf encumbered estates, and a very copious
index. By James 0' Dowd, Esq., Barrister-at-
Law.

This volume, though of small and convenient size,
is a very able and comprehensive commentary on one
of the most important Acts of modern legislation in
reference to the sister country. The necessity for
such an enactment had been long felt. The embar-
rassed state of a large body of the Irish landed pro-
prietors, whose estates were so overcharged with en-
cumbrances as to render it impossible for them to
properly cultivate and improve the land, and thus
give employment to the labouring population ; who
had no other resource in a country without trade or
manufacture, eminently called for such a measure.
Wisdom and sound policy dictated that the Legisla-
ture should interfere to facilitate the transfer of pro-
perty from a proprietary no longer able to discharge
its incidental duties to a more wealthy one, capable
of giving employment to labour, and by this means
of relieving the country from ruinous taxation and
overwhelming pauperism. The Act, 11 and 12 Viet.,
c. 48, which attempted to effect this object through
the old machinery of the Court of Chancery, was
found inefficient for the purpose, and the present Act,
12 and 13 Tict., c. 77, was passed " further to facilitate
the sale and transfer" of estates so circumstanced.
The present Act creates an entirely new tribunal,
which transcends in power, as it almost supersedes in
practice, the Irish Court of Chancery. The immense
extent of its original jurisdiction may be inferred
from the fact that it can confer a valid title behind
which it will not be necessary to go on any future
occasion, and froth its decisions no appeal will lie
without the permission of the Court itself. A prac-
tical and useful book on a subject of such vast im-
portance must be deemed an acquisition of great
value to the practitioner, and we may congratulate
the talented author on producing► such a book. There
is no point likely to come under the cognizance of this
new court left untouched ; and in some parts of the
Act itself, where the meaning is not very definitely
.expressed, the able writer explains the text by the
most happy and apposite elucidation!. Mr. O'Dowd
has been recently appointed to the office of Solicitor-
General of Tobago, an appointment quite incommen-
surate with his legal knowledge, his professional stand-
ing, or his public services. 1 legal review is not
precisely the subject to encumber with a criticism on
the mode of distributing political patronage.; but
we cannot avoid esaying that the Whigs have never
been hitherto very famous for advancing those most
capable of serving them ; and though Mr. O'Dowd
may be sent to Tobago as Solicitor-General, or Mr.
O'Neil to the genial climate of Sierra Leone as
Queen's advocate, we do not think the Irish bar re-
ceives a fair or legitimate share of patronage. In-
deed the whole system by which Government
patronage is at present managed requires correction.
The heads of departments seldom know the fittest
candidate for office. They take the report or recom-
mendation from minor officials, who frequently crowd
the lists with the names of their own friends or their
nominees, to the exclusion very often of more com-
petent candidates. We seldom trouble ourselves
with such matters, but a sense of fair play, as well as
of justice to gentlemen Is he have rendered services to
the Government and the country, induces us to throw
out these hints, and will further induce us to keep a
watchful eye on patronage managers in every depart-
ment till Ne shall see imperial favours conferred alike
upon English, Irish, and Scotch. IYe shall, mayhap,
on a fitting occasion, return to this subject, and give
some instances both of abuse and neglect which have
come to our knowledge through authentic sources.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
EPSOM METROPOLITAN STEEPLL'CII ASE.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sous. each, 10 ft. and 5 only
if declared on or before the sth of April.
Yrs at lb Yrs at lb
British Yeoman a 11 7 Leo
Sir Peter Laurie a 11 5 Falcon a 9 10
The Victim
Proceed a 10 10IBayonet
Fugitive
Miss Collingwood a 10 1 Ploughboy
Lit'le Paul
Rachel
Maria Day
The Oaks
Thurgarton
Spangle a 9 101 Little Fanny
Ace of Trumps... a 910
NEWCASTLE-ON.
Acceptances for the
Yrs at lb
Canezou 5 9 2
Ellerdale 6 8 4
John Cosser 5 8
Glendower 5 7 11
Malton 5 7 11
Nunnykirk . 4 7 11
Bullinufad 6 7 8
Sylvan 5 7 8
Elthiron 4 7 7
Gluten 4 7 7
Miss Ann 4 7 5
Bolus 4 7 4
Raby
Snowstorm 4 7 2
Westow 4 7 2
Velez 4 7 0
Duc de Bratitut 4 6 8
Testator 4 6 61
Castanette 4 6 61

•TYNE MEETING.
gorthumberland
Yrs at lb
The Knout .
Jenny Lind 4 6 4
Reality 5 6 2
Roland 4 6 2
bh by Don John 6 6 0
Lord Saltoun
Gulliver
Deicoon
Countess of Albe-
marle
Seignor of Holder-

ness 3 5 5
Mark Tapley
Knight of Gwynne 3 5 2
First-rate 3 5 0
Equiria 3 4 10
Isuthe
Angean
I Wallace

BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—FmnAr.

TRH NORTH ARPTONSIIIRII STALES.-7 to 2 agst Os-
terley (t), Gto 1 agst Mounseer (t), 7 to 1 agst Ilar-
riott (t), 9 to 1 agst Mahratta (t), 9 to 1 agst Bolus, 11 to
1 agst Chantrey, 15 to 1 agst 13allinaftscl (t), 20 to 1 agst
Halo (t), 20 to 1 agst Velox (0, 20 to 1 agst Syl►an
(take 25 to 1).
TRY A LTIIORP PAnL STARES.-2 to I agst Prestige
(take 5 to 2), 5 to 2 agst Buckhound (take 3 to 1).
METROPOLITAN 11 ANDICAP-2 to 1 agst Cheerful (t),
25 to 1 egst any other.
CHESTER Cur.—Nothing done. Offers to take 1,000
to 70 about Cossack, and the same
.about Peep•o'-day
Boy.

bEnur.—Not a bet laid.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS,

Duke of Cleveland's hds., Tues, Greta•loridge; Fri.,
the Groves—at 11.
Bramham Moor hds., Mon., Paper Mill Bar; Wed.,
Byrum; Fri., Bishop Wood-10i.
Captain H. Lewis's hrs., Mon., Morton•bridge; Wed.,
Stephen's Cross, Marton Moor; Sat., Wild Goose bleb 1
Uurwith hds., Thurs., Ovardinadale-101.
Cleveland hds., Mon., Lythe—o ; Fri., Ormeiby-10i.
Tindal hds., Mon., ileyside-10.
Durham County hds., Mon., Willington; Wed., Pen-
shaw ; Fri., Maiden Law-10i.