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

LITERATURE

ANALYSIS of the AUSTRALIAN CO LO-
NIES GOVERNIIIENT BILL. By A.
Mackay, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Author of the
" Western World," the " Crisis in Canada," 6-e.
This pamphlet, which is published by the Society
for the Reform of Colonial Government, contains not
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 Mr.
Mackay, are entitled to most 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. lie is in favour of two chambers, both
elective, on the plan of the Senate and Congress of
the United States. lie 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 Vict., c.
77 (the Encumbered Estates Act) with introduction,
explanatory notes. The Act, new general rules,
forms, and directions for regulating proceedings
for sale of 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 Vict., 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 cau confer a valid title behind
which it will not be necessary to go on any future
occasion, and from 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 elucidations. Mr. O'llowd
has been recently appointel 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. A. legal review is not
precisely the subject to encumber with a criticism on
the mode of distributing political patronage.; but
we cannot avoid saying 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 official', who frequently crowd
the lists with the names t,f 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 who 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 we shall see imperial favours conferred alike
upon English, Irish, and Scotch. We 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 STEEPLECHASE.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, and 5 only
if declared on or before the sth of April.
Yrs st lb Yrs at lb
British Yeoman a 11 7 Leo a 9 10

Sir Peter Laurie a 11 5
Th• Victim
Proceed a 10 10
Fugitive
Miss Collingwood a 10 2
Little Paul
Rachel
Maria Day
The Oaks
Thurgarton
Spangle a 9 10
Ace of Trumps a 9 10

Falcon a 9 10
The Thrush ....
Bayonet
The Last Forester a 9 6
Ploughboy
Skim
Alfreda
My Precious Betsy 5 9 4
Molly
Lansquenet a 8 12
Little Fanny

NEWCASTLE-ON-
Acceptances for the /
Yrs et lb
Canezou 5 9 2
Ellerdale 6 8 4,
Jan Cosier 5 8 2
GleTidower 5 7 11
Malton 5 7 11
Nunny kirk 4 7 11
Ballinafad 6 7 8
Sylvan 5 7 8
Elthiron 4 7 7

TYNE MEETING.
gorthumberland Plate.
Yrs st
(The Knout
Jenny Lind 4 6 4
Reality ......5 6 2
Roland 4 6 2
bh by Don John 5 6 0
Lord Saltoun a 5 10
Gullivor
Deicoon
Countess of Albe-

Wanes 4 7 7!
Miss Ann 4 7 5
Belus 4 7 4

marlo 3 5 8
Seignor of Holder-
!less 3 5 5

___
Raby 4 7 2 Mark Tapley
Snowstorm 4 7 2 Knight of Gwynne 3 5 2
Westow... 4 7 2 First-rate 3 5 0
Ve
Dul:z 4
de Brabant 4 67 °
8 trocheEquiria
3 4 10
3 4 10
Testator 4 6 6 Aegean
Castanette 4 6 G. Wallace

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—FRIDAY.
THIS NORTLIADIPTONSHIRR STASES.-7 to 2 agst Os-
terley (t). Gto 1 agst Mounscer (t), 7 to 1 ugst Har-
riett (t), 9 to 1 agst Multratta (t), 9 to 1 agst Belus, 11 to
1 agst Chantray, 15 to 1 agst 13allinafaid (t), 20 to 1 agst
Halo (t), 20 to 1 agst Velos (t), 20 to 1 agst Sylvan
(take 25 to 1).
THE ALTHORP PARK STAKES.-2 to 1 agst Prestige
(take 5 to 2), 5 to 2 ugst Buckhound (take 3 to 1).
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP-2 to 1 agst Cheerful (t),
25 to 1 apt any other.
CHESTER CUP.—Nothing done. Offers to take 1,000
to 70 about Cossack, and the same About Pcep-o'-dsy
Boy.
DERRY.—Not a bet laid.