The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

CO UHT CIRC ULAR.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Queen and Prince Albert yesterday morning at Buck-
ingham Palace, previous to her departure for Frogmore.
The Royal Duchess left town at half-past one o'clock,
attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George
Couper, for her residence at Frogmore.
Her Majesty had a dinner party yesterday evening at
Buckingham Palace. The company included his Excel-
lency Mons. Drouyn de Lhuys, their Excellencies the
Baron and Baroness de Brunnow, the Marchioness of
Normanby, the Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare,
the Earl and Countess of Ilardwicke, the Earl and Coun-
tess Granville, the Right Hon. William S. and the Lady
Caroline Lascelles, Lord George Lennox, the Right Hon.
Sir James and Lady Graham, Colonel the Hon. C. B.
Phipps. and Colonel Wylde.
The Queen's private band attended in Buckingham
Palace un Tuesday evening, and performed the following
pieces:--

Overture, " Foust"

Spuhr.

Selection from " Faust"
Ballet music, "Guillaume Tell" Rossini.

The Royal Children took pony and walking exercise
yesterday in the garden of Buckingham Palace.
Sir William C. Ross, R.A., had the honour of taking
the first sitting yesterday, for a miniature of ber Royal
Highness the Princess Louisa, to be painted by command
of her Majesty.
A deputation from the Quebec and Melbourre Rail-
way Company, consisting of Mr. W. J. C. Benson, Mr.
George Pemberton, Mr. Edward Burstall, Mr. Edward
Ryan, Mr. George Beswick, and Mr. Edmond Mackie,
of Quebec; and Mr. William Chapman, and Mr. Robert
Carter, of Londor, had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday at the Colonial-office.
A deputation with reference to the bonding in Man-
chester, consisting of Sir Elkanah Armitage, Mr. Alder-
man Watkins, Mr. Alderman Bancroft, Mr. Councillor
Gibbs, and the Town Clerk of Manchester; and also
Mr. Atherton (on behalf of the Manchester Commercial
Association), accompanied by the Right Hon. T. Milner
Gibson, M.P., and Mr. Bright, M.P., and also by Mr.
W. Tatton Egertor, M.P., Mr. Brotherton, M.P., and
Mr. Kershaw, M.P., had an interview with the Right
Hon. H. Labouchero yesterday, at the office of the Board
of Trade.

The Cabinet Ministers dined with the Right Hon. H.
Labouchere yesterday evening, at his residence in Bel-
grave-square.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday, and resumed and concluded the hearing of en
appeal from Bengal, " Grant v. the Chief Justice of
Bengal" (part heard).

LOCOMOTIVE SLEDGE.
(FRomACORRESPONDENT.)

In order to toward the searches of the Arctic Expe-
dition, a novel mode is suggested for travelling on ice,
which appears sufficiently feasible to warrant a trial.
The vehicle proposed for that purpose is a light loco-
motive sledge, capable of containing one person, pro-
pelled by the rotatory action of a single wheel, placed
in front, and prepared with small cogs. The moving
power is composed of the combined agency of double
springs, one fixed on each side, and a mechanism some-
what similar in principle to that used in the common
spring jack, but perfected with superior ingenuity. As
the success of the whole contrivance depends entirely on
the efficiency of the springs, the utmost care, skill, and
judgment must be employed in the manufacture of these
indispensable articles. Vast improvements have lett ly
been introduced in this branch of business, both with
regard to the form and application of springs, as well as
the quality of the steel, which is of a promising character,
and leaves little room to doubt the attainment of the
object desired. The surface of ice being in general
smooth, level, and slippery, presents less friction than
any other substance with which we are acquainted, and
the necessary force and traction will, in consequence, be
proportionably diminished. With a moderate weight,
and few encumbrances, a sledge set in motion, will
rapidly glide along, traversing in a short period an ex-
tensive range over a wide field of frost, and can be easily
guided, regulated, or stopped. The process of winding
up the works can be performed with facility by means
of a key and lever, whenever occasion demands the ope-
ration. It may be requisite to have the aid of two or
more men, which can always be supplied, as prudence
would direct that no journey should be undertaken for a
distant length except in parties. A portable engine of
the kind described is simple in its construction, can oe
executed at a trifling cost, seeds no replenishing. and
requires only to be kept in order. Its nature and design
are exactly adapted to the peculiar circumstances sad
exigencies cf the case in question, uniting the advantages
of safety, speed, and convenience, while it removes a
want and supplies a deficiency, long experienced in
exploring the froz9.n regions. The scheme, however,
deserves notice, with a view of testing its practicability,
even should it prove merely calculated to afford
pursuit,h
e3n or occupa-
tionye leewvneild
and pa
sn
crews,ma t
animating
go:
constitute a new and refreshing source.
fromandudtpyl.eassunroehtoathohe
egoarlfloaln
Theexercise of an excursion is well suited to invigorate
the health, and to exhilirate the spirits of individuals
nnaocucrussot oo mf
lei
Edo
ipnr ingvnlaotirisiooonl
uars,t adbn
position,
s solitarysi
ttlibo jndteuder
intnotgeraa
prolonged
sufferingrooleno t
Undoenroutubsese impressions the project is respectfully
submittedPrisged feonrgeagexanimeinnattiionna, accompanied with the indul-
gence of an anxious hope, that no untoward or unfore-
seen obstacle may arise, or defect appear, that shall
clef at its purpose, and mar the prospect of a fortunate
and happy result.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.---We understand tur
Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert have sig-
nified their intention of honouring the theatre with their
presence this evening, to witness The Island of Jewels,
and Lie would be an Actor.

RAMSGATE.—A seaman named *John Hunter was
landed at this port last week, by a fishing smack, having
been picked up in the North sea, floating on a small
of wreck, end from his statement it appears that
he belonged to the brig Anne Maria, of and from South
Shields, for London, with coals, and that his vessel was
run foul of by the.bar qua Ben Nevis, off Yarmouth, during
a gale of wind in the night. The brig having received
much damage, the crew with difficulty could only succeed
in keeping her afloat until the middle of the next day, when
she foundered, and the whole of her crew (excepting
himself), together with two of the crew of the barque who
had got on board during the collision, were unfortn,-
%WY droyuedowNaidatons Gazdki

_ .
IM PERIAL PARLIAMEN T.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 20.
SMALL' TENEMENTS RATING BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. BAINES did not agree with the Honourable
Gentleman who had just sat down. At present a
great many cottages were let upon the supposition that
the tenant was to be exempt from the payment of the
rates, and, upon the faith of that representation, the
landlord always succeeded in getting higher rent. Now
the poor man did not benefit by it, but there was no
doubt that the general public did. What was proposed
to be done by this Bill had not yet been dis-
tinctly conveyed to the House. It was no compul-
sory measure rendering all owners liable to be rated,
-but simply permissive, and in his opinion the Bill did
not go far enough. By Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act power
was given to vestries to exempt the tenants of small
occupations, varying from 201. down to 61. per annum,
from the rates, and imposing them upon the landlord,
apd what this Bill proposed to do was to get rid
of the minimum. On looking at the Bill, however, he
saw that the power was confined to two-thirds of the
vestry—that was twe:thirds of the vestry must consent
to the provisions of the Bill being put in force before
the mode of rating could be changed, but he thought
the matter ought' simply to be left with
the majority. It had been said this rating the owners
of small tenements in Liverpool had proved a failure.
Now, he did not know the circumstances of this parti-
cular case; but, since the local Act passed, many other
towns had applied for similar Bills, and in Kiddermin-
ster the experiment had been most successful.—(Hear.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON bad heard, with great satisfac-
tion, what had been said by the Right Hon. Gentleman
who had just sat down, and it was decidedly his inten-
tion to give his support to the second reading of
this Bill. Ever since he had been in Parliament
a Bill relating t - small tenements, and a Bill
oa the subject- of the highways had been an-
nually introduced, but he hoped now both those ques-
tions were likely to be disposed of.—(flear, hear.) With
regard to the rating of small tenements at present there
was a great inequality and great injustice, and he was
glad therefore that this Bill had been introduced, but it
ought to be made compulsory and net permissive.
The vestry was the last body to whom he would entrust
the carrying out of such a measure as this, and as Par-
liament was now convinced of the necessity of a change
in law, why .not make the Bill compulsory at once?—
(Hoer, hear.) Another suggestion he would make
for its improvement was that the compounding
elause which had been found to work well should be in-
troduced into it, but all these things were matters of
detail which could be disposed cf in Commiftee.—(Hear.)
Sir GEORGE PECHELL had always voted against
a measure of this description, but now he thought there
was good reason for giving his support to the Hon.
Gentleman opposite, who certainly deserved great credit
for having introduced it.—(llear, hear.)
Mr. ROBERT PALMER said it was the desire of
every landed proprietor to provide comfortable dwellings
for the poor, and to a certain extent the provisions of
this Bill were now in operation. Hu could see no
reason therefore for opposing it. (Hear, hear.)
He did not mean to offer say further opposition to the
measure; but he must say when the Bill went into Com-
mit:ee, it would be his endeavour to insert a clause to
provide that a man, shall not pay rates upon any greater
sum . than he paid rent. There was a growing
opinioa in trie country in favour of this mea-
sure, though he could not help considering
that it was intended to operate as an ex post facto mea-
sure, to bring a certain class of eersons within the obli-
gation to pay rates who had hitherto e,caped.
Mr. SHAFTO AD AIRI supportel the Bill. He
thought that the proposition of the lion. Gentleman
with regard • to ' the making the receiver of the rent
ihargeable with the rate was a reasonable one. Passing
over the difficulties which existed in the country in regard
to property of this description, he would refer to a case
which had come within his knowledge, showing the ex-
ceeding hardship that arose to the poor in these cases.
He held in his hand a statement having reference to the
county of Cambridge, showing that in the year
ending Michaelmas, 1846, a sum of about
4501. was in arrear from the occupiers of certain
small tenements. They were summoned for the
rates before the magistrates, distress warrants were
issued against them, and the consequence was, that the
occupiers were put to about 781. for expenses, or about
171. per cent. on the amount of the rates. Now, a ease
of that hardship would not have occurred had the rates
been levied on the landowners instead of the occupiers.
Mr. DEEDES supported the Bill. His experience
was, that it very often happened that it was not the
poor industrious man who was exempted by the over-
seers ; but it commonly turned out that the people so
exempted were men of idle and irregular habits ; and
further, when the cases came before the petty sessions
to be confirmed as the law required, they should be with
the concurrence of the overseers, upon investigation it
frequently turned cut that the reason that they could
not pay the rates was, that they paid so exorbitant a rent
for the very houses for which they were assessed.
SLANEY said, instead of the Bill being likely
to be prejudicial to the working classes, he
thought it. would be highly beneficial to them. It
frequently. occurred in places where the working
classes were receiving good wages, a specula-
tive builder came and ran up a number
of small miserable cottages, and thus brought
in a fresh inundation of paupers, who became competi-
tors in the labour market with the independent labourers,
and brought down their wages. Such a system as
that, instead of being a benefit to the labouring classes,
was a positive evil to them. He did not say he
wished to interfere with such building specula-
tions, but he asked the House not to give
a bonus to them. The owner of small tenements in large
towns and their suburbs was invariably •the man who
resisted all sanitary measures, or such as tended to ame-
liorate the condition of the poor. This Bill would ten
to put a stop to the selfishness of the landlord class, and
therefore it had his cordial support.
Mr. AGLIONBY thought that unless they supported
this Bill they would be making a great mistake. He
had always had the greatest confidence in the Hon.
Member for Hull, who gave his assistance to this Bill,
and unless they carried it through they would be, in his
opinion; taking a great step towards reducing the fran-
chise. —(Hear.)
Mr. BAINES said that the question cf the franchise
ought in such a matter as this to be left totally untouched,
and read an extract from the Reform Act to show that
the franchise. was not affected by a refusal of the Bill.
He should, therefore, vote against the Bill.—(Hear.)
Mr. REYNOLDS said that there was evidently a mis-
apprehension respecting this Bills It proposed to exempt
certain buildings from the poor-rate, and the principle
adopted seemed to be to exempt such buildings 213 were used
for the purpose of getting a living. He had taken the
opinion of eminent counsel upon the effect of the Bill,
and that was entirely against its working utility.—
(Hear, hear.) He had himself been rated for a counting-
house, and yet his vote- had been impeached simply be-
cause it did not look like a counting-house. He had in-
quired, on -taking the place, whether any rates were due,
and was told there. were not; and he was shown the books,
by which such appeared to be the case. But, after all, it
turned out that this acknowledgment was only what they
called in Ireland a paper receipt—(Laughter)—and con-
sequently his vote was impeached.—(Hear, hear.) It
might seem somewhat impertinent in him to speak upon
a Bill which only affected England and Wales, but Hon.
Members on both aides of the House, who were only
English Members, had continently interfered iu the at-
fairs of Ireland, and had spoken as if they meant
o minister to all their social diseases on the other
side of the water.—(" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
He did not complain of such quack doctoring. On the
contrary, he felt much obliged to them for it, and was
only anxious that they should not, by the adoption of
this Bill, reduce the franchise. It might not affect the
rural districts, but by taking the small tenements in cor-
porate towns out of the rate-book they would be cutting
off a large and very useful class from their political pri-
vileges.—(" Hear, hear," and cries of " Divide, divide.")
Mr. BRIGHT said that he had received a long and
very valuaple communication from a body of persons
who were deeply interested in the security and extension
of the franchise, and from that it appeared that the
throwing the payment of the rates into the hands
of the landlords would have the, effect of greatly
reducing the number of persons at present en-
titled to vote for Members of Parliament.—(Hear.)
Aa far as it was connected with rates this Bill would
give great facility to the collectors, but that was no rea-
son why this measure should be hurried through the
House, which would lead to such &great extent of dis-
franchisement. Ile should wish to know from the Go-
urnment whether, It the House consented to the second
reading of the Bill, and if any suggestions for the ob-
viating of this objection should be proposed in Com-
mittee, the Government would oppose those amend-
m‘ts
'Sir G. GREY would be very sorry to give counte-
nance to any measure which would have the effect of de-
priving any man unjustly of his franchise.—(Hear.)
Mr. HENLEY would support the second reading of
the Bill, if it were persevered in, on the principle that
this Bill would allow each neighbourhood to adapt
the measure tb its own energies. He certainly
agreed with the Hon. Member for Berkshire, that the
House was beginning to alter the incidents of taxation
in a way that would affect the poor.
Mr. HASTIE having replied,
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and a division
took place, when there appeared—
For the second reading
Against it 2
Majority —lBo
The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to
be committed.
BENEFICES IN PLURALITY BILL.
Mr. FRIIWEN, in moving the second readingi of this
Bill, said he should not detain the House at n ength, since
y
a return which wasobteined last ear bythaeYHon. Member
for Montrose made out a strong case in its favour.
That ,return showed that subsequently to the passing
of the
last Act on this subject no less than 189 clergy-
men had -been presented to two livings, and he there-
fore called upon the House to affirm the principle
of this Bill, and declare the existing lawwa s
not sufficiently stringent. He had no objection
to a clergyman enjoying two livings that adjoined each
other, and where the populations were Small. This Bill
be introduced Lat 4 session, but 'there was no time for
passing it, and he hid takerrthe earliest opportunity of re-
viving it this year. ,Elifitv it had been brought in he had
received many communications from different parts of
the country.pointing out the abuses that existed under
the present system, and the necessity there was for a
more stringent law upon the subject.
Mr. SLANEY asked if the Bill was prospzetive cr
retrospective.
Mr. FI.EWEN said it was nrespeative.
Sir G. GREY was und rstood to say it was his wish
that before the Bill went into Committee some little
time should elapse, in order to enable him to consider and