The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-06 00:00:00

foreign Power. Re could not doubt that the existence of the difference between the state of things at the present
large British fleet would have a tendency to avert the time and at the period at which I made those obser-
danger.—(Hear hear.) He would now state what was vations. At that /time this country was engaged
the present amount of the naval force of this country, in a state of warfare in North America, in
which he certainly thought totally inadequate to the China, in the Persian Gulf, and in India. Al-
wants of the country, even in a state of profound peace, though not then in the active service of the Govern-
much more under the circumstances to which he had re- ment I was frequently in communication with Lord Hill,
(erred. The whole navy of England at that period, as ; and never failed whenever he asked my opinion to freely
respected line-of-battle ships, consisted of nine ships. Of advise with him concerning the state of our fleets and
these nine ships, two were upon a very distant station, armies in all parts of the world. The Noble Lord had
one was in the West Indies, one was under orders to rather misquoted what I said on a former occasion.
sail for the Pacific. They had, a short time ago, three What I complained of was, that being engaged in exten-
ships of the line in their home ports ; there was a flag- sive wars in three parts of the globe, those wars were
ship bearing the flag of the Admiral commanding at carried on with a peace establishment, and the conse-
Cork ; and their ninth ship was the Mediterranean fleet, quence was that the whole peace service was starved. I
a Medterranean fleet consisting of one ship-of-the-line! will not go into details of the number of men and ships
—(Hear, hear.) Was that, under any circumstances, a —into naval details lam not competent to enter; lent,
fit state of things ?—(Hear, hear.) Could their Lord- my Lords, we know very well the amount of estimates
ships conceive a state of things which could make it to- voted—the number of men, and the whole naval strength
lerable that the Mediterranean fleet should be reduced to —and if the number of men for whom naval supplies
a single ship ? He certainly felt that this was a condi- have been voted in this Parliament be considered, I
tion to which the navy ought never to have been re- think it will be found equal to what it was
duced—a state of insecurity in which the country never in a much more warlike period—equal to
should have been placed. It was true that the Medi- what it was in the years 1837, 1838, 1839,
terranean fleet now amounted to three ships-of-the- and 1840, during which time we carried on great
line, having been reinforced by two line of-battle- operations in America, in China, in India, and in the
ships, in consequence, he presumed, of the state Persian Gulf. Ample means everywhere exist for per-
of affairs in Morocco. Now he did complain of forming those services which ought to be performed by
this state of things as a wanton sacrifice of the safety her Majesty's navy, and for affording protection to her
and honour of the country. Great complaints were Majesty's subjects wherever commerce, or their other
made in 1838 of the inefficiency of the naval force at concerns, may carry them. I will not allude to the
that time; but in reply to such complaints, he showed recent eccentricities in a distant part of the world—
that there was as large a force available as could be re- (Laughter)—carried on under circumstances protested
quired. It was then a time of profound peace, there against by this country, and disavowed by the Govern-
was nothing to cause the least anxiety, and yet the force meat of France. Those who have been engaged in these
was ~Such larger than it was at the present moment, eccentricities will be responsible for them to their Sove-
there being no less than eighteen ships of the line in reign—they will;be held answerable to the extent of their
commission. el Noble Friend of his (Lord Melville) responsibility, and which will be carried into execution,
complained at that time that though the force might be and they will be required to answer for their conduct in
sufficient for the service e'.N.oad, yet there was not a those eccentricities. Your Lordships surely would not
sufficient reserve of ships maintained for the defence of expect to see a fleet maintained in the Pacific, nor would
this country. Now at that very time there were six your Lordships, lam sure, consider it prudent to coin-
ships of the line in our home ports, and two more at Lisbon. mence a contest under such circumstances.—(Hear,
There was the greatest difficulty in getting good sea- hear.) It is impossible for me to say that the
men, England was the last country in the world that fleet in the Pacific was sufficient, at the time
ought not to be provided properly with seafaring men. these events occurred, to enter into hostilities ;
As an instance of the manner in which the English had hut I will venture to say it was sufficient
been treated by foreign nations, in consequence of their from all purposes of service. Ido not pretend to say
not having a sufficient fleet, he need only advert to the whether Mr. Pritchard was or was not Consul at the
case of Otaheite, where the Consul of this country had time, nor whether he merited or did not merit what hap-
been treated in the most disrespectful manner. The de- pened to him—these are questions I will not enter into
position of Queen Pomare in Otaheite did not deprive on this occasion. My Noble Friend has stated that a
the Consul of this country of the powers he possessed; great outrage has been committed. I have no doubt but
and the course that had been pursued towards him op- satisfaction will be given for that outrage, and it is
peared a great disgrace to this country. He thought better there had been no naval contest there, than that
that the acts of violence that had taken place any attempt had been made by the naval officers on the
at Otaheite showed great want of perseverance on spot to enter into a conflict.—(Hear, hear.)
the part of this country. Did not all these Lord CLANRICARDE said he would not enter into
things show that some protective force ought to be kept any details, but surely, however weak our fleet was in
up—one that would ensure eespect and not allow this the Pacific, it was not so weak as the arguments of the
country to be made the laughing s:e'ck of the world? He First Lord of the Admiralty.--(A laugh.) It was quite
was satisfied that the present Ministry of France meant clear there was not at present a sufficient force in the
well, but he was doubtful of its durability. He I`2:aught Pacific—there was not a fleet there as there had been,
that the state of the fleets of this country ought to be sufficient to ensure respect and proper treatment for a
strengthened in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of British' 9fficer. The Noble Lord said ships were in
keeping up the position which the country held in the readiness and could be dispatched in a mo-
scale of nations. The Noble Earl concluded by moving ment, but they had not :been ready when
" a return of her Majesty's ships of war (other than they were wanted, and an outrage on a British
those reserved for harbour duty) in commission on the officer had been perpetrated. He had heard that the
31st of July, 1844 ; and also a return of her Majesty's Caledonia was sent from Portsmouth the other day with
ships of war present at Otaheite from the Ist of Septeme 300 men on board, 150 of whom were marines; and this
her, 1842, to the latest period to which advices have been was instanced as a proof of dispatch. An agent of our
received, specifying the date of the arrival there and de- Sovereign had been insulted—there was no delicacy
Failure from thence of each ship." about that. Tho Prime Minister, and the Noble Lord
The Earl of HADDINGTON said the Noble Earl had the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had taken a proper and
impressed on the House the sense of deep responsibility a manly tone, and one much more befitting the occasion
he felt in bringing forward such a question at an incon- than that assumed by the First Lord of the Admiralty.
venient moment ; he said also that he was quite aware As he understood, the Dublin left Otaheite in January ;
of the inconvenience of the present time; he then pro- had she been there, no such outrage, he firmly believed,
ceeded to remark in what that inconvenience consisted, would have occurred. The tone assumed by the French
and he then committed himself, on his own showing, a officers in Otaheite should have warned the Admiralty,
great impropriety, by drawing the attention of their of the necessity of having the British Power respect-
Lordships to what he was pleased to call the deplorable ably represented at Otaheite. He thought the Noble
state of the naval defence of this country. He (Lord Duke had very much exaggerated the state of our rela-
Haddington) was also well aware of the inconvenience, tions with foreign countries during the years 1837, 1838,
at the present time, of a discussion of this nature. He and 1839. He cordially joined in the Noble Lord's hopes
should therefore make it his duty to abstain from any that there was no danger or necessity for warlike prepa-
observations which might at all add to that inconveni- rations; but the Government should not be blind to
once—and he should occupy their Lordships' attention what was going on on the coast of Morocco; and it was
for as short a time as possible. He should only touch by having a respectable force there that the chance of
on such parts of the speech of the Noble Earl as he war would be best avoided.
thought necessary for the defence of his department, The Earl of HADDINGTON explained.
and of her Majesty's Government. The Noble Earl The Earl of HARDWICKE considered the answer
mid he was not for keeping up an unnecessarily and explanation given by his Noble Friend (Lord
large naval force; but that making such reductions Haddington) perfectly satisfactory. In consequence of
as might be necessary was a very different the dissatisfaction evinced by the public at large, and by
thing from what he was pleased to denominate Parliament, at the condition of the navy during the time
a truckling submission. He was most anxious to know the Noble Lord opposite (the Earl of Minto) was at the
in what this truckling submission consisted. The Noble head of the Admiralty, that Noble Lord seized every
Earl did not particularise, he gave no instances of it ; opportunity of applying the to quoque. He (the Earl of
he merely said, that nothing could justify the reduction Hardwicke) did not think that debates of this kind would
of the nary to its present state. Now he (Lord Had- lead to any good result. He had always felt that, in addition
diugton) had about him a return of the number of her to the disposable force which was stationed abroad, it
Majesty's ships in commission in the three years of was necessary, at all times, to have in this country a
1839, 1840, and 1844, and the result was that disposable force of ships, that, on any emergency arising,
the number of line of battle ships in commission in the the Government might be enabled to send out additional
year ending July, 1840, was greater than the number in ships to any foreign station, and he felt perfect
commission in the year ending July, 1844. But then confidence, that at no period within the last few years,
the House should remember, that at that time they had the naval profession been more effective, either with
were carrying on hostilities in the Mediterranean, and respect to the home-yards or those ships on foreign
were bombarding the town of Acre. But this state of stations.
things had passed away ; this country was at present The Earl of MINTO replied. He eulogised the
in a condition of profound peace, and to keep up any- character and gallantry of Sir C. Napier, and said that
thing approaching to that establishment now, would be there was no man in whom he would place so much
an extravagance, which however it might be approved confidence with respect to naval matters. He had been
by the Admiralty, which never disliked a large force led to this opinion by the gallant conduct of Sir C.
afloat, her Majesty's Government would not be justified Napier when in command of the fleet in the Mediter-
_in entertaining. In 1838 the Noble Lord said, they had ranean, when he (the Earl of Minto) had the honour of
eighteen line-of-battle ships in commission ; of these corresponding with him. The Noble Earl then entered
eighteen, three were guard-ships, which were then into a comparison of the complements of the ships in
manned as fifth-rate frigates, and were, as ships, to be the last war, and those which were at present stationed
sent to sea, perfectly useless. This reduced the eighteen in the Mediterranean. There were five 74-gun vessels
to fifteen ; and these fifteen were of that under-manned in Lord Vincent's action, with a complement of 575 men
class in which the Noble Earl so much delighted.— to each ship ; in Lord Duncan's action there were 554.
(Hear, hear.) Those ships which were in the Mediter- At Trafalgar there were sixteen seventy-fours, divided
ranean were greatly under-manned ; so much so, thakit into two classes, but the average number was 598 men
was with extreme regret that he heard it declared for each ship. Sir Robert Stopford had seventeen ships
at the time, by no less an authority than of the line, in which there were 775 marines, which gave
Commodore Sir Charles Napier, that if they 54 to each ship. Those, together with the crews, gave
had then unfortunately gone to war with an average of 607 men for each ship. He had heard it
France, we should have been beaten in consequence of said in another place that the present armament was of
our ships being under-manned. Again, by the navy a superior description. That might be true with regard
estimates of 1838, it appeared that the whole number of to the shot, but it was not so with regard to the weight
sailors voted was 23,165. But be it observed the of metal which the vessels carried. The complements of
number voted in the present year was 36,000.—(Hear.) ships were always less in time of peace than in time of
Now that was a very large peace establishment. The war, and he had the authority of Admirals Martin,
Noble Lord had insinuated that the present number of Parker, and Stopford, for saying that a full complement
nine ships of the line was the number to which the in time of peace was an impediment. When he suc-
Government was determined to restrict itself. But he ceeded Lord De Grey he found the state of the navy in
protested against the Noble Lord's holding out this as such a condition that he was obliged to ask for an in-
the intention of the Government—that it would never creased estimate for men and stores, and almost every-
be necessary, in time of peace, to exceed nine ships of thing requisite for a ship.—(Cheers.) He hoped he
the line. With a great deal of what had fallen from the would not again see the navy of the country in such a
Noble Lord he was disposed to agree, as to the employ- condition.
went of line-of-battle ships. Taking a general view of The Earl of HADDINGTON explained.
the matter, he thought there ought to be a certain The motion was then negatived without a division.
number disposable. The Noble Lord had repeated the COMMON LAW COURTS (IRELAND) BILL.
complaint he made on a former night as to the force in Lord CAMPBELL moved the order of the day for
the Mediterranean; and he (Lord Haddington) only had resuming the adjourned debate on this Bill, and moved
to repeat the answer he had then given to it. The Noble an amendment that the words " Chief Justice," or
Lord said the fleet in the Mediterranean consisted only " Chief Baron," be substituted for the Lord Lieutenant.
,:;?:f, Duke of RICHMOND hoped the Noble and
of one line-of-battle ship. Now when they were in pro-
found peace with France, and were likely to continue so, Learned Lo;7l_ would not persevere in his amendment.
it was by no means necessary that they should apportion He thought thejpatrj:.7age would be much better placed
their own force in that sea to what the French might in the hands of the Lord Isil;;:l'aant than in the hands of
consider necessary for their interest there. By their the judges.
possession of Algeria they had great interest on the The Earl of WICKLOW did not see why
:his patron-
other side of that sea ; their principal pert, Toulon, was age should not be in the hands of the Irish judges as
in the. Mediterranean, and there was much more neces- well as of the English judges. If it were better in the
city for them to have a considerable force there than hands of the Crown in one country, it would be ales)
this country had. If they thought it necessary to exer- better in this country. He would be anxious to assinii-
cise their ships there, it was no reason for England late the law in both countries.
always keeping there a force equal to it. What they The LORD CHANCELLOR said he knew the Irish
bad to look to was, the protection of British interests ; judges were anxious for this patronage.
and he was not aware of any case in which they had The Marquis of NORMANBY said that if the judges
been neglected. The Noble Earl had made out no Par- were anxious to receive this patronage, he knew that the
iiamentary case, though he had made a most incon- Lord Lieutenant, as far as he was concerned himself,
venient speech—(Hear, hear)—not inconvenient to him- was anxious to get rid of it. He thought it would be
self, for that was but a small consideration—but, taking better to assimilate the law of Ireland to the law in this
his motion coupled with his speech, alleging the number country.
of ships at present employed as a cause of complaint The Duke of RICHMOND said he was prepared to
against the Government, lie should ask their Lordships support a measure taking away the patronage from the
to decide the question by voting—as he should do him- English judges, and vesting it in the Crown.
self—against the production of the return moved Earl FORTESC LIE concurred in the view taken by
for by the Noble Earl The Noble Lord had his Noble Friend.
net shown that the safety of England ye- The amendment was then agreed to,' and the Bill
quired more, for they were at peace with France, passed.
and if wa: was probable, it was not likely but that such
a " coming event" would " cast its shadow before." For
that event, he contended, this country had ample means.
They had thirty advanced ships in ordinary, with all
their fittings up, and rigging, and stores, ready: to be put
on board—wanting nothing for sea but manning: ; and,
though that could not be done in a day, it might be
effected in a comparatively short time. Nor had they
neglected the new element of destruCtion—steam ; they
were building new-war steamers, and making consider-
abte progress in erecting steam establishments, both
at Portsmouth and Plymouth. He thought he had said
enough to prove that they were not careless of the safety
of the country. The Noble Lord had thojeght proper to
tannment on the delicate subject of the recent events at
Otaheite. He had stated that the French established a
protectorate there in 1842, and he blamed the Govern-
ment for not having had a sufficient force there to prevent
it. But nothing had occurred there previously to call
she attention of the Government to that island, and
when it was directed to it, it must be remembered that
the distance to that part of the world was enormous,
nearly half the globe. There was not a force there at
time, but the Talbot arrived there shortly afterwards,
and remained till February, 1843. The Vindictive
arrived when the Talbot left, and remained there till
August ; and when she left, on the 6th of August, the
Dublin took her place, and remained till January, 1844.
In fact, Otaheite had never been without a British pen-
vent to look after British interests. The Noble Lord
bad said, if the Vindictive had been there, the occur-
rence would not have happened. But the bublin was
there when Admiral Dupetit Thouars did that act which
his sovereign had since disavowed; and when the acts of
officers were' such as to be disavowed by their
sovereign, he thought it was with these last that this
country ought to treat, rather than risk a collision
in the individual cases which would involve the whole
eiriliscd world in war. Captain Tuckett protested
against any step that was taken, but he 4,eted with the
greatest discretion, and did nothing that would 'evolve
Vie risk of hostilities ; and he did not believe that if the
Vindictive had been there the outrage on Mr. Pritchard
would have been prevented. Their force was stationed
there to watch over 13ritish interests, but not to interfere
with foreign Powers. He maintained that they had
performed that duty, and that those interests had not
suffered except in the case of that vial.ent outrage, of
which, considering all the circumstances, he we :1d not
say a word. He concluded by resisting the motion of
the Noble Earl.
The Duke of WELLINGTON—The Noble Earl op-
posite has alluded to some obseleations made by me two
years ago respecting the state of the navy, and lam now
induced to trouble you with a few remarks just to show

manity. Now he had had some experience of the working
of the two systems, and he had no hesitation in saying, that
under the present system the poor were infinitely better
off than before.—(Hear, hear.) It had been stated, that
in consequence of the medical attendants being under
paid, they neglected the poor ; there might be cases of
this neglect, but generally the poor were better attended
to than before. Under the old system, they scarcely
had any medical attendance at all. They would also
remember, that when a poor man applied for relief,
there was a kind of dispute or controversy between him
and the overseer, whether he should be relieved or not.
But now, every one who was entitled to relief received
it with the greatest regularity ; nor was there any
indisposition to deny relief to the aged. There was
no disposition to drive the poor into the workhouse.
A great deal had been said about the separation of man
and wife, but this existed in all well-regulated work-
houses under the old poor-law. Generally speaking, as
far as respects the old and married, the former were
better off, the latter as well off, as before. A great deal
had been urged against the Commissioners of the Poor-
law, but he felt convinced that that board was the
greatest security the poor could have, that they would
be treated in a proper manner. When it was attempted
to cry down a particular law, and when that law did
not deserve these taunts, it was the duty of any honest
man to state his convictions regarding it, and
support it if he believed it to be just.—
(Hear, hear.) Although there were cases of
hardship occurring from time to time, he would like to
know what other law could be devised which would an-
swer the same purpose. He hoped their Lordships would
excuse him for going into the subject at such length,
hut, from the frequent attempts which had been made to
cry down the law he thought it right thus far to intrude
on their Lordships.
The Duke of RICHMOND said there was not a word
of truth in any of the statements which had been made
in the newspapers regarding the union of which he was
chairman. With respect to the law of bastardy he
would not vote against the amendment introduced in the
Government Bill, as bastardy was so much on the in-
crease in the manufacturing districts. With respect to
the relief of widows that was a very delicate subject to
legislate upon ; they should be careful not to give out-
door relief to widows who were earning much money, or
were leading an immoral life. He thought it was right
that the unions should be diminished in extent, as they
were at present productive of great inconvenience.
There was a feeling in the country that when the As-
sistant Poor-law Commissioners came to the boards of
guardians for the purpose " of screwing the law a little
tighter," officers should he appointed by the Secretary of
State, not only to attend the boards, but to visit the
workhouses at times when they were not expected.
When a boy ran away from the workhouse with the
workhouse dress on, he was charged with felony for
stealing the clothes. This was a great injustice, and the
law with respect to it ought to be altered. Another
imperfection in the law was that with respect to the
removal of a pauper for receiving parish medical relief.
A woodcutter might obtain enough money for his family
to live upon, but if a portion of that family became ill,
it would be impossible for them to pay for medical aid,
and if they applied to theparish for it they would heliable
to he removed to their own parish, perhaps miles distant.
The board of guardians of which he was chairman never
refused medical aid when applied for. Another point
of objection to the present law was that with respect to
operations to be performed by medical men in
workhouses. He thought that no operation ought
to be performed in a workhouse without a
second medical man being consulted.—(Hear, hear.)
He had, however, great objections to operations being
performed at all in a workhouse where there was a
county hospital near. He also objected to pauper boys
gaining a settlement by apprenticeship. He thought,
too, that overseers ought to be empowered to remove
pauprs to other places besides their native parishes. He
knew himself a case of a poor girl, aged 17, living in the
town of Brighton as a domestic servant. She caught
the typhus fever, and was removed to her parish for
medical relief. When she recovered, the overseer said
that he had no doubt from her good character that he
could get her a situation, but she replied that she did
not want one, as her mistress in Brighton had kept her
situation open for her. Now such was the law that the
overseers had not the power of sending this poor girl to
Brighton, and the only way she got there was by a sub-
scription being raised to defray her expenses there.
—(Hear, hear.) Now he thought this was a state of the
law which required alteration.—(Hear.) Upon the whole,
he thought the present Bill was a great amendment of
the law as it now stood, but he thought it might be
made susceptible of still further improvement.
The Earl of FORTESCUE considered that the law
as it stood, was a great improvement on the old law, and
he looked on the present measure as an amendment of
the existing law. He thought that the appointment of
district auditors and the establishment of district houses
for the reception of the houseless poor, would prove
highly beneficial. He could not sit down without ex-
pressing his opinion that the Poor-law Commissioners
were deserving of the gratitude of the poor and the con-
fidence of the country.—(Hear.)
The Earl of HARDWICKE said that, notwithstand-
ing the efforts made by a certain portion of the press,
there was a general feeling amongst the poorer classes of
the agricultural districts, that this law worked for their
advantage. If they looked to the contrast between the
condition of the people under the old law and under the
present law, they would find that the existing law was a
benefit. It had been said that this was a grinding law.
Why, under this law, or under any other, a system of
grinding might exist, but it was not to be attributed to
the law. In the union in which he resided, when a per-
son sought for admission into the workhouse, he was
asked if he could not get employment, and if he said not,
they gave him a paper which he was to get filled up,
No doubt he might come hack and say he could not get
more than so much wages, but he would then be ad-
mitted, and if the poor labourers adopted this system,
and entered the workhouse for some months, they would
compel the farmers to give them higher wages, for they
would not pay the high rates, and the condition of the
labourers would be better than ever it was before. He
would not at that late period enter more at large upon
this subject. He concurred generally in the Bill, which
had been introduced by the Government, and particularly
in the bastardy clauses, except that portion of the fifth
clause, which allowed a sum of money to the mother of
an illegitimate child. He thought that was a
clause of very doubtful tendency.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought it would he much better to make the money
payable to the parish, and that it should support the
mother. He thought also that the people ought not to
be taxed for district schools at the will of the Com-
missioners. This taxing power he thought very ob-
jectionable ;it was an entirely new principle—a power
that ought not to be given to the Commissioners. He
should nut move any amendment, but he wished the Bill
had been a little longer before the House.—(Hear, hear,
from the Bishop of Exeter.) He wished they could have
submitted it to a Select Committee, in which it might
have been carefully digested.
Lord LYTTELTON also regretted that more time
could not be given for considering the measure. He,
however, should not offer any opposition to it.
The Bishop of EXETER moved that the House do
adjourn.
The Earl of STRADBROKE had great objections to
the bastardy clause. But when the Poor-law Bill
had passed a great stimulus had been given to employ-
ment, and the condition of the poor on the whole had
been better since that period. Regarding the separation
of man and wife, he thought a better provision could not
he made than under the present system.
The Earl of RADNOR approved of the new poor-
Li.-w; but he protested altogether against the bastardy
ciausea in t 442 proposed amendments. Every part of the
present measure werketl well except the bastardy clauses.
The great mischief was, firstly, that of the women
swearjng to fathevs I and secondly, the number of cora-
rnit for non-payment of the allowance con-
tractedais to i;:!
for. He would say non-content to any bastardy
clause introduced by the Government.
The Marquis of lal'Oftivf4.NfsY cordially participated
in the sentiment, and expressed his cone4rence in the
opinion of many of his Noble Friends, that a Rill of tbis
magnitude should not be introduced at so late a period
of the session.

The Bishop of EXETER would persist in his motion.
The Earl of WHARNCLIFFE had no wish to hurry
the House, at the same time he thought they should
now proceed with its discussion.
Lord CAMPBELL thought the Bill might have been
introduced into their Lordships' House at first.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no
division took place.
The Bill then went through Committee pro forma, and
was ordered to be recommitted tomorrow (this day).
On the motion of the Duke of RICHMOND the
Scotch Salmon Fisheries Bill passed through Committee.
Several other Bills on the paper were forwarded a
stage, and the House adjourned at Quarter-past One,
till Half-past Three o'clock to-morrow (this day).

POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that in moving that
the House should resolve itself itself into a Committee
on the poor-law, he felt it necessary to detain their
Lordships for a short time. Their Lordships must be
aware that one of the most difficult subjects connected
with the present poor-law, was the law relating to bas-
tardy. By the law, as it stood at present, the overseer
of the parish could take the mother of a bastard before a
justice of the peace, who had the power of mak-
ing an order for support, and if the father sup-
ported the child it was all right, but they had no
power of compelling him to do so as the law now stood.
One of the great objects of the Bill was to give to a
woman a summary means of obtaining redress from the
father of her child. Another part of the Bill related to
apprentices, and provisions in that respect had been in-
troduced for the purpose of placing the system upon a
better foundation. Then, with respect to the giving re-
lief under the Bill, he thought it was a great mistake to
say that no able-bodied person should receive relief out
of the workhouse. There was another clause in the Bill
by which the widow of a pauper could receive relief
from a parish in which she was residing without going
back to the parish in which • she had hitherto resided.
The next point was the appointment of district auditors,
in which respect the Bill was a great improvement on
the old law. Under the old system, by the defalcation
of overseers, both the parishes and the poor were often
robbed. The auditing of the accounts by one person,
with regularity and certainty, would be the saving of a
considerable sum of money. Formerly, there was an
auditor to every union ; but the present Bill provided
that one auditor might superintend the accounts of a
district consisting of several unions. The next object
was the establishment of district schools, on the same
plan as that at Norwood, the effects of which had been
highly beneficial, and district asylums provided for
furnishing a refuge to those who were found totally
destitute. Then came clauses stating the duties
of existing boards, and the powers given to, them.
The last provision to which lie had to call their atten-
tion, was that which gave the power of separating
parishes from unions. When the poor-law was first
passed, he thought there was a miatalEe made in forming
' them to large.—(Hear, hear.) But by this provisiml
this defect could be remedied, and without the consent of
the guardians. These were the principal objects of the
Dr6swit Bill. He knew that the poor-law was a great
4,iect of vitupergagn with many persons in the country.
—hi not help thinking that those who so treated
But he co— • -vils of the old law. lie could not
it, must forget the -.Qtimated too lightly the
help thinking, too, that they
Itiler! The
difficulties of dealing with the subject aL,,',Ze
supporters of the poor-law were accused of great mint.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 5.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'Clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Viscount VILLIERS took the oaths and his seat for
Cirencester.
DUKE OF HAMILTON'S ESTATE.
The report on the Duke of Hamilton's Estate Bill was
brought up.
LORD CR ANSTOUN'S ESTATE.
Lord Cranstoun's Estate Bill was read a third time
and passed.

R
MTSTATE.
Merton's Estate E
Bill wO as N'S E
read a third time and passed.
SWANSEA IMPROVEMENT.
The Lords' amendments to the Swansea Improvement
Bill were agreed to.

LONDON AND CROYDON RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the London and Croydon
Railway Bill, No. 2, were agreed to.

LEEDS VICARAGE BILL.
Mr. BECKETT moved the third reading of the Leeds
Vicarage Bill.
Mr. HARDY expressed his high approval of the Bill
and passed a high eulogium on the Rev. Dr. Hook.
Sir R. PEEL expressed his concurrence in the eulogium
which had been passed upon Dr. Hook. He thought the
members of the Church of England in Leeds were de-
serving of great credit for the manner in which they
had co-operated with Dr. Hook, and he hoped the
example of Leeds would be followed in other large towns.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
PETITIONS.

Mr. DARBY presented a petition from some place in
Sussex in favour of the corn-laws. . _

Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from certain Pro-
testants against the' Rov.nan Catholic, Penal Laws Repeal,
Bill. Also a petition from the Bristol chamber of
Commerce against the Insolvent Debtors' Bill.
Mr. DILLON BROWNE presented a petition from
the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, and from
four Roman Catholic Bishops, against the Charitable
Donations and Bequests (Ireland) Bill. The Hon. Gen-
tleman
moved that the petition should be read by the
clerk at the table, and it was read accordingly.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 6, 1844,

ROMAN CATHOLIC PENAL ACTS REPEAL
BILL.
Sir R. PEEL, in moving the second reading of this
Bill, trusted that the House would throw no impediment
in the way of the passing of it, notwithstanding
the late period of the session at which it had come down
from the Lords. A petition had been presented by the
Hon. Member for Birmingham against the Bill ; and
from the wording of that petition he feared that many
persons were labouring under a mi,,understandinp;
as to the meaning of the measure. He wished it to be
distinctly understood that no security that had been
taken by the Act of 1829 for the Established Church was
touched by this Bill. The effect of the measure was to
place all Roman Catholics taking the Roman Catholic
oath on the same footing with respect to franchise and
civil rights as her Majesty's Protestant subjects. This
Bill did not touch any of the securities of the measure of
1829 —it merely went to repeal certain laws which had
long been a dead letter, and a discredit to the statute-
book, and from the penalties of which any Roman Ca-
tholic might escape by taking an oath which any Roman
Catholic might take. The House of Lords had thought
it advisable to repeal some of these laws. One of them
made it a high crime to maintain the spiritual supre-
macy of the Pope, and this statute had been given a very
wide interpretation in " Hawkins's Pleas of the Crown."
Another punished Catholics for not attending Divine
service on the sth of November ; another punished a
Catholic for sending his child abroad for education ;
another punished any man not born a Roman Catholic
for educating his child in the Catholic faith. These
were at variance with the Relief Act. There were other
Acts still more absurd—one was a law banishing Popish
recusants from London, or from any district within ten
miles thereof; another forbade him from being more than
five miles from his home ; another prohibited him from
having a horse of above the value of 51. It was true a
Catholic might escape from these penalties by taking an
oath, but if he refused to do so, would it be possible
to execute such laws ? He did not consider they were
conferrir.g any favour on the Catholics, but they were
clearing their own statute-book of laws which
were a disgrace to it.--(Hear.) The measure
had been long before the House of Lords,
and it had been stated that if it could be shown that the
Bill would repeal any law which ought to remain, that
law would be suffered to remain. None such had been
shown. Some he knew considered these laws as the
bulwarks of the Church—but so far from being outworks
of the Church, he thought they were outworks to be
seized by reason and ridicule, to be used by reason and
ridicule against the Church. They were adapted to
other times, and the Establishment must now be de-
fended by others means—namely, by reason and the
affectionate attachment of the people.--(Cheers.)
Mr. HAVES wished to know if the obsolete laws re-
lating to Protestant Dissenters would be also repealed?
Sir R. PEEL could not pledge himself to any mea-
sure. This Bill had come down from the House of
"Lords, and he hailed it as a satisfactory proof of the
spirit by which that House was actuated. He did not
propose it as a complete measure ; but if there were
any laws imposing, for instance, heavy penalties on con-
scientious Dissenters who absented themselves from
Divine service, he should support the repeal of such
a law.

It would also convenience those who introduced Bills
into the House, because it would enable them to shorten
those Bills. The clauses of the model Bill were about
350, and all Railway Bills which passed that House
contained from 300 to 400 clauses. The expense of
printing and engrossing those Bills cost a considerable
sum of money. He did not propose that those Bills
should pass into a law during the
.present session.—
(Laughter.) He would not have the courage to make
such a proposition at the present period of the session ;
but it was desirable to have them printed, so that the
attention of the parties, Parliamentary agents, and
others interested in these Bills, might have their
attention drawn to them. By having the Bills printed,
they would, if susceptible of improvement, have the
best advice and the soundest suggestions on the
subject, and at the opening of the next session they
could pass those Bills at once, so that the private Bills
of the next session might derive the advantage of the
improvement. The advantage of those Bills would be
that instead of consisting of 300 or 400 clauses, the
number of clauses would now be reduced to a moderate
number of intelligible ones. He would now state what
those Bills contained. The three Bills he proposed to
lay on the table of the House comprised the whole of
the model Bill, as to its substantial enactments. But
they broke up the subject matter of it into three parts,
because it had reference to three classes of under-
takings. The first Bill he proposed was a Bill which
would apply, when it became a general Act, to all pri-
vate Bills that might be introduced into the House
for the purpose of incorporating trading companies.
In the second, he intended to include all those
provisions with respect to companies not merely seeking to
be incorporated, but requiring compulsory powers to pur-
chase and hold lands. This Bill would include railway,
harbour, canal, and gas Bills, which require compulsory
powers. With regard to the third Bill, that would be
still more restrictive in the range of private Bills,
to which it would be applicable. This Bill would
specifically correspond with the recommendation of the
Railway Committee. It would be applicable in its pro-
visions to Railway Bills, in respect to those features
which belonged to them exclusively, and not in common
with other Bills for the execution of' public works.
Having described the general purview of those Bills,
be had to say that in the first Bill, he did not
mean to propose anything worth mentioning.
except what was already in the model Bill. In the
second Bill he proposed to introduce an enactment which
had been frequently recommended to Government—
namely, the introduction of an exceptional provision
in the present law which provides for the compensation
for lands by reference to a jury. Now he proposed
that where the value of the land in question was
not more than a certain amount—l,oool., the
parties might have the option of settling the question by
arbitration. He did not take it from the jury as a matter
of course, but it would be optional for either:of the parties
to remove it from a jury and refer it to another tribunal.
t happened, singularly enough, that the proposition had
often been made to them both from railway companies
and from landed proprietors, that they should be allowed
to submit these small valuations to arbitration. He, there-
fore, proposed to insert in the Bill a proposition to
this effect. In the third Bill he proposed to add a
second proposition, giving a discretionary power to
the Government and the Board of Trade, of allow-
ing certain deviations in engineering works from the
prescribed models, in cases where it was proved
this could be done with increased advantage to the
public, and without any detriment to private rights.
In consequence of the advanced state of science, the
estimates for public works could now be made
with greater accuracy than they could be
a few years ago. Another very important
matter he proposed to include, was a general provision
with regard to what was called the equal rates clause.
At present there was not a perfect uniformity of privi-
lege as between the different railway companies
as to the power of varying their charges.
Some companies had no power of varying
the rates of their fares at all ; others had the power to do
so, provided the rate was made uniform throughout the
whole of the company's line. That clause was
now subject to some ambiguity. They could not
devise a clause that should exactly define the
rate in all cases, but it was obviously a subject of great
importance and great difficulty. Sometimes it was for
the interest of the public that there should be a power
of varying the rates. At present, in some cases,
it might be varied, but only to a rate that should be
equal and uniform all along the line, though it might
be more advantageous to have a lower rate along one
part of the line than along another. He therefore pro-
posed to insert a clause giving power to make these
variations with those exceptions and reservations in cases
which experience had shown ought to be so limited. The
power to vary the rates applied also to the carriage
of goods, but also with certain restrictions. He did not
think there was any other particular which he had to
mention to the House, and he therefore simply begged
to move his propositions, and also to propose a slight
alteration in the title of the Bill.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether any power was
taken by Government of interfering with the accommo-
dation for third-class passengers. It was quite a
disgrace to Parliament to sanction a monopoly
which obliged the poorer class_ to stand like
cattle, exposed to the air. It was impossible to see a
railroad, without feeling ashamed of this country, as
compared with Belgium and other continental countries.
Mr. GLADSTONE would not say that this might
not be a fit matter for consideration at some other time,
but he did not think it a proper occasion, when they
were discussing the general principles of railway mat-
ters.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME asked whether any power had been given
by the Bill which had been passed in that House, of re-
fusing the remission of the taxation of 5 per cent., when
the accommodation provided for third-class passengers
was not considered sufficient?
Mr. GLADSTONE said he believed that under this
Bill a discretionary power of that kind was vested in the
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
Leave was also given to bring in a Bill for consoli-
dating in one Act certain provisions usually inserted in
Acts of Parliament, authorising the taking of lands for
undertakings of a public nature.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND ACTS.
The House then went into Committee on these
Acts, when
Mr. GLADSTONE rose to move for leave to bring in a
Bill to amend the law relating to the relief and support, in
certain cases, of merchant seamen, their widows, and chil-
dren. The Right Hon Gentleman said the Bill which he
wished to bring in affected the interests and prospects of
a class of men which that House, as well as the whole
country, regarded with feelings of great interest—he
meant the merchant seamen of this country,
a class who were the least disposed to caniplain.—
(Hear, hear.) They were, it was true, dissatisfied
with the state of the seamen's fund, but his only surprise
was that they were not a hundred times more so. They
did not object to the compulsory payment of a tax out Of
their wages, but they did:wish to see the:fund placed on a
more satisfactory footing. He thought that the pensions
that were given to these parties ought to equalised.
The fund was in the sissiiire of an insurance,
and it . ought to come back to the subscribers.
anesintohsoyna savings
=
r
Tlt was contrary to all principle to consider it as a cha-
r
were administered. They ought to make the best
of it. It ought to he uniformly administered. He
thought too ruusili was devoted to the expenses of
shouldl
w as
" be notadministered of elaemanagement, there was nothing like wilful mismanage-
ment of the fund, but the exzenae would be less if
it were taken into tit? hands of a public department.
'Then with regassi to the remedy, there was a
gyeat want of data on which to found calculations.
He proposed that a measure should be passed for not
less than seven, nor more than ten years. Ile also
PrCpSed that the pension should be equalised.
The effect of this would be, that there would
be a uniform system of pensions all over the
country. It was proposed that the pension should
be 41. It year, hut the seamen who were sixty-three
years old, and therefore disabled, should be entitled to a
pension of 81. As to widows, it was proposed that in-
stead of continuing their pensions, a gratuity should be
given them. All that he meant to propose was to se-
cure the fund in the best and most efficient manner,
and to give the seamen all the benefits which could pos-
sibly arise from the appropriation of the fund. He would
*recure move fbr leave to bring in a Bill to amend the
laws relating to the relief and support, in certain cases,
of merchant-seamen, their widows, and children,
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought there was no class of
her Majesty's subjects mo-s entitled to the considera-
tion rf that House and the Government, than the class
proposed to be benefited by the Bill.
After a few words from Mr. Hume, Lord Sandon, and
Mr. Gladstone, leave was granted to bring in the Bill.
The H 9 then adjourned at a Quarter past Seven.

Mr. M. MILNES said that if the Ecclesiastical Courts
Bill had passed, it would have repealed many of those
laws.

Mr. HAWES—Which of the Bills ?
Mr. M. MILNES —Both.
Mr. SPOONER thought the fears of the petitioners
would be removed by the statement of the Right Hon.
Gentleman ' • but when they saw the way in which former
concessions had been received by the Catholics, Protes-
tants might have just cause to fear the fruits of further
concessions.
After a few words from Mr. D. BROWNE,
Mr. CHRISTIE suggested the insertion of words in
the Bill exempting Dissenters from Penalties for non-
attendance at church.
Sir R. PEEL hoped the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man would not press his amendment, as it might en-
danger the passing of the Bill.
The Bill was then read a second time. and ordered to
be committed.
CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS
(IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for the third reading of this
Bill being read,
Mr. DILLON BROWNE expressed a hoped that the
Bill would be postponed. It was opposed by the
Catholic hierarchy of Ireland, and one of the grounds of
his opposition to the Bill was that it continued the out-
lawry inflicted by the Relief Bill on the Jesuits. All
the regular clergy of Ireland were excluded from the
operation of the law, and the fact of the Hon. Member
for Waterford expressing his approval of it was no
reason why it should pass. That Hon. Gentleman did
not possess the confidence of the Catholic clergy of
Ireland. Ire did not conceive that the Irish Members
in that House had given this Bill either a manly support
or a manly opposition.. Some Irish Members would
have to account to their constituents for not giving this
Bill a more efficient opposition. He believed that the
Bill was proposed in a spirit of conciliation ; but that
was not a sufficient inducement for him to support it.
The Hon. Member concluded by moving that the Bill be
read a third time that day six months.
The amendment was not seconded.
On the question that the Bill be read a third time,
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said it had been his intention,
if there had been a larger attendance of Irish Members,
to move an amendment to the Bill. But while he ad-
mitted that the Bill contained great defects, he had felt
it his duty to abstain from joining the opposition, after
the best consideration which he had been able to give to
the subject.--(Hear.) He liked the spirit which this
Bill displayed, and this he thought of more importance
than the words. The Bill was after all not compulsory ;
property left for Catholic purposes in future would not
necessarily come under the operation of the Commission,
and he believed that, in voting for the measure, he would
be doing no harm either to the religious or the political
interests of Ireland. It conferred a substantial benefit by
raising the worldly condition of Catholic ministers,
whilst at the same time it did not diminish their influence
over their flocks.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
The Transfer of Property Bill was read a third time
and passed.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS BILL.
The report on the Insolvent Debtors Compensation
Bill was brought up.
On the motion for going into Committee on the In-
solvent Debtors Bill,
Mr. HAWES said he had a petition to present from
the officers of the Insolvent Debtors Court, London,
praying for compensation. Before presenting it, however,
he wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Gra-
ham), whether that Court came under the operation of
the Bill, because, if it did not, he would withdraw the
petition.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the clause was so framed as to
include all the officers of any courts whose emoluments
were diminished by the operation of the Act.
Mr. HAWES said, under those circumstances, he
should withdraw the petition.
The House then went into Committee on the Bill.
Clauses 51, 52, and 53 were agreed to.
On clause 54 being proposed,
Mr. M. PHILIPS said he objected to the sweeping
change made by this clause, abolishing imprisonment for
debt under 201. He opposed the clause, not as a master
manufacturer, but for the benefit of the poor themselves.
It would greatly diminish the credit which would be
given to that class of persons. The Hon. Member con,
eluded by moving the omission of the clause.
Sir J. GRAHAM defended the clause, the words of
hich had, he said, been so framed as to give every
facility to the creditor to recover his debt by proceeding
against the goods of the debtor,
air W. cpivy believed the anise would tend only to
diminish spurious credit, whilst safe and sound credit
would be enconriTedt
as the clause abolish-
ing imprisonment for debt was the essence of this Bill,
he thought it would be better to postpone the clause,
411,4,_ take the general discussion on the third reading,
'rho clause was then postponed,
Several other clauses were agreed to.
Clauges ott, aila 71 Wire 2gl'ee4 to with a few
verbal amendments. The schedules were also agreed to.
Several new clauses were added, and the Bill was ordered
to be reported to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

Captain PECHETIT., wished to know whether it Wgs
the intention of the Right Honourable Baronet at the
head of the Home Department, to renew in the next
session the County Courts Bill ?

Sir J. GRAHAM would not pledge himself to the
adoption of any course until he had seen the effect of
the working Prthe present measurp.
On the question that the Lords'amendments to the
County Coroners Bill be agreed to, some short discus-
sion took place, which terminated in the House disagree-
ing with the Amendment of the Lords, giving the ciprong
9d. a mile, instead of Is.
On the motion of Mr. DARBY a Committee was ap•
pointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the
Lords.

The Right lion. the Speaker of the House of Com-
mons gave his usual entertainment previous to the adjourn-
ment of Parliament, to the officials of that branch of the
Tleirishltlini, on Saturday last, at his residence in
Eaten. square. The party consisted of Mr. Ley,
Sir William Gossett, Mr. William Ley, Mr. Clementson,
Mr. Booth, Mr. L Ley, Mr. Dorrington, Mr. Jones, Mr.
William Rose, Mr. Whitbam, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Gibbons, Mr.
J. Rose, Mr. Pole, Mr. C. Gunnell, Mr. Frere, Mr. Gudge,
Mr. Rowland, Mr. Postlethwaite, Mr. Gray, Mr. William
Ley, jun., Mr. Gunnell, Mr. G. Gunnell, Mr. Hawes, Mr.
Vardon, Mr. May, Mr. Gossett, and the Rev. G. A. Andrews,
ohaplain, and Mr. Lefroy, secretary to the Speaker.
Another Cabinet Council, which was attended by
all the Ministers, was held at the Foreign-office yester-
day at two. The summonses for holding this Coun-
cil were issued, by the direction of the Earl of Aberdeen,
on Saturday evening.
WHAT RICE WILL WHEAT FETCH ?—The only
time (1826) when reaping commenced so early as the
22d of July, it was succeeded by a very wet season.
This may be the case in the present year. Nothing
but extraordinary bad weather can prevent abundance,
or sustain prices of wheat from falling very considerably
below their present level.— Welshman.
FIRE.—On Saturday morning a fire broke out in
the house of Mr. Webb, cooper, in St. Thomas's. place, Old
Kent-road. The family were roused from their beds by the
alarm, and were saved with difficifity by being got out of the
window of an tipper room, the lower part of the house being
in flames. By means of the engines, the fire was prevented
from spreading; but the house and everything it contained
was destroyed.
NEW BRIDGE AT COLOGNE.--A letter from Co-
logne, of the 27th ult., states that the Government is about
to erect a double bridge at that city across the Rhine, whigi
will be unique of its kind. The two strvictur.es will he'Piaced
ins over the othor, the height of 'the upper one being 144
feet above the river, The lower bridge will be traversed by
the railroad from Berlin to Cologne ; the upper one will be
for horses, carriages and foot passengers. In the vacant
space between the bridges will be placed Paixhans guns for
the purpose of breaking the ice in the river when necessary,
and of defending the city of Cologne in case of siege. Baron
Cristian de Hartmann, the engineer, will be entrusted with
the erection of this work.

different part; of Ireland against the Charitable Dona-
ti nMd.BJe.qOu'eCsOtsNßNilEl.
Ol‘ LL presented 202 petitions from
rs a
nr.the motion of Mr. HAWES, a return was ordered
of the titles of all public Bills introduced in the course
of the present session ; the date of their several stages ;
distinguishing those introduced from the House of Lords.
The same for theyears 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842.
The Committee on the Lords' amendments to the
County Coroners Bill brought up the report of their
reasons for disagreeing to certain of those amendments.
The House then adjourned till Five o'clock.

The House resumed at Five o'clock.
NOTICES OF MOTION.
Mr. HAWES gave notice that next session he should
move for certain returns relating to savings banks. Also
for a Committee to inquire whether the Royal Academy
had been favourable or prejudicial to the progress of the
fine arts in this country; and also for a Committee to in.
quire into the proceedings of the Trinity-house, at Dept-
ford and Stroud, and how far they bad carried out
the recommendation of that House made in 1834.
Lord WORSLEY gave notice, that next session he
should move for leave to bring in a Bill to facilitate the
inclosure of commons.
PRIVATE .
Mr. GLADSTONE then roseILLS, for the purpose of '
bringing forward the motion of which he had given
notice some days ago, and which he hoped would meet
with the general approbation of the House. The mo-
tion was founded on the recommendations of the
Select Committee on Railways. It went beyond these
recommendations because the function Qf the s°e/3
Committee were confined to Railway Bills. It was
found desirable to apply the same principle which had '
been applied to Railway Bills to private Bills of
other descriptions. The present measure was in order
to establish greater certainty and uniformity with re-
spect to the law on this subject, and to make ,
it more acceptable and intelligible to the public.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, AUG. 4.—The Excellent gunnery ship,
Captain Sir Thomas Hastings, Knt., still bears the flag of the
Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Rowley, Bart., G.C.8.,
G.C.H., &c. ; it will be removed, however, to the Queen, 110,
Captain Martin, on the latter leaving the harbour for Spit-
head, should the St. Vincent not be ordered from Devonport.
Mr. Thomas Howels, gunner, R.N., has invented a new
" pointer " for concentrating a ship's fire, which, having been
submitted for the approval of the Board of Admiralty, their
Lordships' directed a trial to be made on board the Excellent ;
consequently, yesterday five guns were fitted with the
pointers, and a large target twelve feet square being placed at a
distance of 400 yards from the ship, at the first fire all five
shots pierced the target and tore it to shreds. It is believed
that had the shot being directed in a similar manner against
a ship, and struck her near the water-line, she must have
sunk in a few minutes. The experiment, which is considered
eminently successful, was witnessed by a large number of
naval officers and spectators.
The Collingwood, 80, Captain Eden, flag of Rear-Admiral
Sir G. F. Seymour, is ready for sea. She was to have re-
ceived two months' advance on Friday, but some delay oc-
curred, and it is consequently postponed. We are informed
that the recent transactions in the South Seas will probably
alter her route on sailing, and that she only waits the answer
of the French Government to the application from her Ma-
jesty's Ministers for satisfaction for the conduct pursued
towards her Majesty's Consul, Mr. Pritchard. We are also
informed that Mr. Pritchard will be reinstated in his Con-
sulate duties at Otaheite, and that he will return to that
island in the Collingwood.
The Scylla, 16, Commander Sharpe, sailed from Halifax on
the 14th ult., for St. John's, Newfoundland, where she would
relieve the Eurydice, 26, Capt. G. Elliott, ordered to Halifax.
The Pique, 36, Captain the Hon. M. Stopford, touched at
the Havannah, on the 15th ult., for water, &c., en route from
the coast of Mexico to Halifax, with specie.
The Illustrious, 72, Commodore R. Sharp, arrived at Ha-
vannah on the 20th of June, from Jamaica, to demand, in
conjunction with the British Consul, satisfaction for some
gross outrages put upon some English subjects in the island
of Cuba. The Pique was ordered to remain to co-operate
with the Illustrious.
The Nimrod, 20, Commodore Glasse, was at Bombay on
the 18th of June last from Trincomalee, where she left the
COrnwallis, 72, Captain Richards, flag of Vice-Admiral Sir
W. Parker, G.C.8., on the 27th of May, refitting for her re-
turn to England.
The Clio, 16, Commodore Fitzjames, left Bombay on the
19th of May to join the Cornwallis at Trincomalee, whence
both ships would sail for England.
The Alligator troop-ship, 22, Master Commander J. N.
King, arrived at Madras from China on the 25th of May,
with troops.
The Fox, 42, Captain Sir H. 'Blackwood, Bart., touched at
Tangier (en route for the East Indies), to land important dis-
patches on the 16th of June.
The Comet steam-vessel, Commander Prettyman, on pay-
ing off the Vindictive, will proceed to Plymouth and Devon-
port with such of her crew and marines as reside in those i
localities.

In Harbour—The Excellent, the Queen, the Victory, the
Vindictive, the Seafiower cutter, the Fearless, the Comet, and
the Echo steam-vessels.
In Dock—The Prince Regent, the Athol, the 'Wanderer,
the Dwarf, and the Scourge (building).
In the Basin—The Victoria and Albert, the Lily, the Fly-
ing Fish, the Daring, the Osprey, the Pantaloon, and the
Waterwitch.
At Spithead—The Collingwood.
DEVONPORT, AUGUST 2.—The Crane packet, 6, Lieutenant-
Commander T. A. Lewis, sailed on Thursday for Falmouth,
whence she sailed the same day with mails for the Brazils, via
Madeira and Teneriffe.
The Apollo troop ship, Commander Maclean, sailed on the
26th ult. for Newfoundland and North America, with two
companies and a detachment of the Royal Artillery aboard,
for service in those regions. On the same day the Hamoaze
lighter sailed from Milford Haven, with Mr. Henderson, As.
sistant Master Attendant of this dock-yard, and a party of
riggers, to rig and navigate the Juno, 26, recently launched,
to Chatham.
The Nile, 92, was docked on Wednesday to have her cop-
per cleaned and examined.
The Madagascar, 44, Captain J. Foote, is ordered to be
paid off to-morrow. Joseph Noble, the marine, who was
sentenced to be hanged last week for stabbing Mr. Prothero, a
midshipman of this ship, has had his-sentence commuted to
transportation for life.
The Superb, 80, advance ship, was undecked on Wednes-
day, and will be taken to her moorings in a day or two.
In Harbour—San Josef, Madagascar, and Confiance.
In Dock—Kent, Ranger, Actaeon.
In the Sound—St. Vincent.
SHEERNESS, AUG. 2.—A court-martial was held on Mon-
day on board the Ocean, 80, Captain Fisher, flag. ship pro
tem. of Vice-Admiral Sir John Chambers White, K.C.8., &c.
to try the master's mate of the Spy brigantine, Lieutenant-
Commander Wooldridge, recently arrived from the coast of
Africa, for acts of repeated drunkenness. The charges were
fully proved, and the prisoner was sentenced to be dismissed
her Majesty's service.
The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered a new second-
class war steamer to be built at this yard, to be called the
Fury, of the following dimensions :—Length, 190 feet ;
breadth, 36 feet ; depth, 21 feet ; tonnage, 1,123 ; horse-
power, 460.
Captain Superintendent Peter Fisher, R.N., went on survey
on Tuesday to join the Harbour of Refuge Commission.
In Harbour—The Ocean and the Raven.
In Dock—The Monarch, the Vernon, and the Herald.
In the Basin—The Amazon, the ulture, and the Cro
codile.

PROMOTIONS.
Commander—John Marshall (a), and F. D. Schap*, fron
he retired list of 1830 to that of 1816.

APPOINTMENTS.
Lieutenants--Justus B. Kooystra* (1841), from the Mada-
gascar to the Collingwood ; R. Jones (b), to the Victory;
A. F. Kingston (additional), to the Collingwood ; W. Southey,
to the William and Mary yacht, for the Lightning ; J. R.
Baker, to be agent for mails.
Master—ll. B. Yule, to the Porcupine.
Mates—M. F. O'Reilly (of the Excellent), to the Albion ;
W. F. Bishop, to the St. Vincent.
Second Master—H. D. Beach to the Victory,.for service in
the Emerald (tender to St. Vincent); H. Pennington, to the
Porcupine.
Assistant-Surgeons—D. Dugare (acting), to the Victory,
for service at Hasler Hospital; J. T. U. Bi emner, M.D. (ad-
ditional), to the San Josef, for service in Plymouth Hospital;
W. Fasken, to the Illustrious.
Clerk in Charge—J. C. Alldridge, to the Meteor.
Midshipman—F. Egerton, to the Excellent.
Boatswain—John Robinson, of the San Josef, to the Sheer
Hulk at Chatham, vice Flynn, appointed Master Rigger of
that yard.

COAST GUARD.
Appointments—Lieut. E. J. Voules, R.N., to command
the station at Richam, vice Allen, removed.
Removals—Lieut. J. Allen, R.N., from Richam to Challa-
borough Station, vice Tozer, to Gorram Haven, vice Lory,
to Porthpean, vice Vallack, D.D. ; Lieut. J. O'Reilly,
from Farnborough Head fo Hornsea Station,
7„e-
Leicester, superannuated.
M.
* We are informed this officer was tvififLy.five years a mate.
_ _

LAW INr:e.;- LLIGENCE.
OF BANKRUPTCY, Aug. 5.
A 121.4C:v0 UR
ate meeting of the creditors of the late Rumford
r
„ank was appointed before Mr. Commissioner Evans this af-
ternoon, but was adjourned, without entering upon business,
till this day week.
No matter of importance came before the Commissioners.

. _
POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
CLERKENWELL.
Mary Anne Hartwell and Harriet Holmes, about 18
years of age, were charged with breaking sixteen panes
of glass, value 2L, at the Clerkenwell workhouse.
Inspector Barton deposed that the prisoners, who have
been up to a recent period inmates of the Clerkenwell
workhouse, were, about two o'clock on that morning,
sitting on the door-step of the Clerkenwell workhouse.
The whole pavement near them was strewed with broken
glass. Witness asked " who has broken all these win-
dows ?" Both prisoners exclaimed "we have." Witness
thereupon inquired how many they had broken? They
answered " all we could reach." Holmes' arm was
bleeding. He asked them if they had broken them with
their bands? Hartwell replied "she did, but I was not
fool enough ; I broke them with something else." Wit-
ness took them to the station, and charged them. They
walked quietly thither, and were locked up. They
added, at the station, that they had broken the glass
about five minutes before witness came up.
Mr. Hamet, the master of the workhouse, proved that
when he went to bed the windows were whole. The
prisoners had been paupers in the house, and were very
bad characters.
Mr. COMBE (to the prisoners)—Well, what have you
to say ?—The prisoners replied that it was quite true
they had broken the windows, but what were they to
do ? they had applied for admission to the workhouse,
and were refused it.
Mr. COMBE—What time did you apply for admission?
Prisoners—At eight o'clock in the evening, Sir.
Mr. COMBE—Who did you see ? Prisoners —We saw
Mr. Hamet, and asked him fora night's lodging, but we
were refused it. He told us to go to the overseer ; we
did go to the overseer's house, but we could not see him.
We returned tathe workhouse, and again applied for
admission, stating that we could not see the overseers,
but we were refused admission. We sat on the flags
at the workhouse door until nearly two this morn-
ing, and then we broke the windows. The door-keeper
told us we must not go there any more.
Mr. COMBE—Is it true that they were refused admis-
sion to the workhouse? Mr. Hamet—Yes ; I refused to
receive them. They threatened my life.
Mr. COMM—Have they any means of supporting
themselves out of the workhouse ? Mr. Hamet—Not
that I am aware of ; but one of them was relieved on
Saturday night.
Mr. COMBE sentenced them to a month's imprison-
ment each in the House of Correction, in default of the
payment of 11. each.
They were committed accordingly, and seemed very
glad at being sent to prison.
A man named Ward was charged with begging and
assaulting a police-constable.
It appeared from the evidence of Baker, 108 E, that
being on duty in High-street. Bloomsbury, on the pre-
vious day (Sunday), at ten o'clock, he saw the prisoner
asking alms from several persons, and in a peremptory
way, something like the beggar in " Gil Blas," for the
prisoner was armed with a stout bludgeon, which he
flourished in a menacing manner. Baker watched a•nd
saw him go up to a gentleman who resides in Bedford-
square and ask for money, the gentleman refused; the
prisoner repeated his demand in threatening language ;
the gentleman still persisting in refusal, the prisoner
followed, overtook, and standing before him on the
footway, struck him so violent a blow on the chest
as made him reel back against the railings. Baker then
ran up and arrested the prisoner, who no sooner felt
himself seized than be struck the constable a severe blow
on the face, and another on the chest. They struggled
for some time, both being powerful men ; at length the
prisoner, seizing Baker's thumb, pulled it baeti with all
his might, and nearly broke it. liaker roared with pain,
but the prisoner twisted i& the more. At length assis-
tance arlived and the fellow was secured.
Bii,ker showed his hand, which was terribly swollen
and inflamed.

Mr. CoMBE—What have you to say to this brutal
conduct? Prisoner—Nothing, and loooking jeeringly
at the officer said, " You have got that!"
He was sentenced to a month's imprisonment.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
James Thompson, a young: man, disguised als q groom, but
who is known to be the common esspoiateof convicted thieves,
was committed for two months' bard labour, on a charge of