The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-18 00:00:00

SUMMARY OF NEWS

AND

titibitt Optnton.

" Who runs may read."

PDXXXtki.C.

On Thursday evening their Majesties the King and
Queen of the French received M. de Varennes, the
French Minister at the, Court of Lisbon; Count de
Bondy, and M. Odier, Peers of France ; Generals Bou-
genel and Dc Saint Yon ; Baron Rothschild, and M.
Brogniart.
Prince Elim Mitchersky, Chamberlain of the Emperor
of Russia, died two days ago, aged 36, at his residence,
in Paris.

A Marseilles journal states that the schooner Curieux
of that port has been captured by an English cruiser, on
her way to Goree, o❑ suspicien of being a slaver. The
journal asserts that there was nothing. on board to war-
rant the capture. The schooner had, it says, ten empty
casks and twelve sacks of rice on board, but they were
down on the manifest, and were fur the use of the crew.
The vessel had been confiscated, and was abuut to be
sold when the account left.

By a letter from Guadaloupe of the 9th September,
we learn that since the earthquake not less than 429 new
houses had been built, of which 118 cost each 15,000 f.
and upwards, exclusive of the purchase of ground ; 166,
6,000 f. to 15,000 f.; and 115 under 6,000 f. At the date
of this account 173 houses more were in the course of
construction.
The following curious circumstance, says a Dunkirk
paper, happened a few days ago in the burying-ground
there. While the sexton was digging a grave, a skull
rose from that which adjoined it, and which was also
open, and as the terrified man started back, advanced
towards him. lie then fled on to the road, crying aloud
for mercy. Another man hearing the alarm, and being
told the cause of it, had sufficient courage to go to the
spot, and there saw the head still moving. Undaunted he
took it up, and, on examination, found within it two
moles, which had made it their retreat, and had given it
motion.
The Second Chamber of the States General of Hol-
land has come to a resolution to send back the address
to the First Chamber in its primitive state, with a slight
modification of the paragraph objected to. It remaits
to be seen whether it will finally be adopted by the First
Chamber.

The following lamentable accident happened a short
time ago in Piedmont. The Countess de Samaz, wife of
the Grand Master of the Household of the King of Sar-
dinia, in opening a drawer at the top of a very high
chest, drew the whole piece of furniture upon her, and
was crushed to death. She was found a lifeless corpse
by her son-in law, Count Maurice de Samaz, en his en-
tering the apartment shortly after the accident.
M. Sallior, the Commissiary of Police at Calais sus-
pected of having murdered the English physician, all
the circumstances of which we have given, is ordered for
trial before the Court of Assizes for the Pas de-Calais.
The Marseilles journals announce that a grand ban-
quet is to take place on the arrival in that city of Mar-
shal Bugeaud, in honour of the illustrious visitor.
The price of bread in Paris, for the second fortnight
of November, has been fixed at 31 centimes the kilo-
gramme for the first quality.
GOVlLT—rAsinollAnzam.
The Prince of Saxe-Coburg, Prince Albert's brother,
is expected this day at Windsor, on a visit to her Majesty
and the Prince. His Serene Highness was to embark at
Ostend early this morning, and cross the Channel to
Dover in the Black Eagle steam-yacht.
Earl Delawarr left town on Saturday last for Bourne
Hall, near Easton, Cambridgeshire, where the Noble
Earl and family are expected to remain until the close of
the month, and thee' return to Buckhurst Park, Sussex.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam
bridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklen-
burgh Strelitz, are expected to honour the Noble Earl
and Countess with a visit shortly at Buckhurst.
The Duke of Newcastle, accompanied by the Ladies
Clinton, and Lords Robert and Charles Clinton, arrived
at Clumber Park, Notts, on Wednesday last, from Brid-
lington, Yorkshire, where the Noble Duke and family
have been residing the last month.
The Duke of Leeds left the Clarendon Hotel on Satur-
day for his seat Hornby Castle.
The Marquis of Salisbury returned on Friday evening
to Hatfield House from Burleigh House, where the Noble
Marquis had been among the visitors during the sojourn
of the Queen and Prince Albert at that princely seat.
The Marquis of Salisbury intends shortly to receive a
succession of visitors at Hatfield. _ _

The Earl of Shaftesbury has had a select family circle
assembled at St. Giles's House, Dorset. The Hon. Cap-
tain and Lady llarriet Corry, Mr. and Lady Charlotte
Sturt, having been among the visitors.
The Earl of Lonsdale has arrived in town from White-
haven Castle, his Lordship'eseat in Cumberland.
Dowager Lady Holland left South street on Saturday
last for e.Brighton, where her Ladyship 'intends to pass
the winter.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, Lord Ashley,
and Lord Earnest Bruce, were among the nobility at-
tending Divine service on Sunday, in the Chapel Royal,
St. James's.

1n11303310611111M01T5.
The election of the Lord Rector of the Uni-
versity of Glasgow took place on Friday, Pro-
fessor Hill presiding in the absence of Principal
Macfarlan, who was unable to attend from indisposition.
The candidates were the Earl of Eglinton (Tory), and
Andrew Rutherfurd, Esq., M.P., late Lord Advocate for
Scotland (Liberal). The numbers for Mr. Rutherfurd
were 277, and for Lord Eglinton 185—majority 92.
Mr. Charles Laffitte, head of the house Charles
Laffitte, Blount, and Co., has arrived in London. It is
understood that the object of his visit is connected both
with the French loan and with the formation of a com-
pany for the railway from Paris to the Belgian frontier,
and that he has already received proposals from different
influential parties.
It is proposed to erect a lunatic asylum for Cumber-
land and Westmoreland, by way of a memorial to the late
Earl of Lonsdale.
At a full meeting of the British Archeological Asso•
ciation, held on Saturday, it was resolved that the second
annual meeting should be held at Winchester, in the
summer of 1845.
Mohun Lal, a distinguished Oriental traveller and
soldier, is at present on a tour in Ireland. He visited
the Bank of Ireland on Thursday last, accompanied by
one of the Directors.
One night in August, 1843, there were several mail
bags either lost or stolen from the Dublin and Cork
coach, via Cashel, and although Government at the time
offered a considerable reward for their recovery, no clue
to them was traced, until by the exertions of Mr. Dann,
the postmaster at Fermoy, there appears now every
likelihood of a discovery, which may lead to the regain-
ing of the property lost by individuals in the letters con-
tained is these bags.

On Friday a Court of Sewers for the City and
Liberty of Westminster and part of Middlesex, was
held at No. 1, Greek-street, Soho-square, for the con-
sideration of the steps necessary to be taken for ob-
taining contracts on the Ranelagh and Counters'
Creek districts, and for other business, T. L. Donald-
son, Esti , in the chair.
The orders of Court, on the Ist and Bth of Novem-
ber, having been read,
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the next business
before the Commissioners was to order the payment
of 2,0001. to Messrs. Bennett, the contractors, on ac-
count of bills to Michaelmas.

Mr. LESLIE oltjected to that vote. The Court was
hound to make inquiry before making further pay-
ments, and as Messrs. Doull and Jenkins were not pre-
sent, he should wish them to be called into Court that
he might ask them one or two questions.
The CHAIRMAN' before calling those officers, would
wish to know what specific purpose Mr. Leslie had
in view ?
Mr. LESLIE wished to raise the question of the
measurement of the sewers. He wanted Mr. Doull
to explain to the Court how that measurement was
really done, and what was done. He (Mr. Leslie)
would undertake to prove to the Court that the width
of the digging was never measured. Now there were
three dimensions necessary to be taken before arriving
at the cube, namely, the length, the depth, and the
idth. Mr. Doull took only one of those measure-
ments—namely the length, Mr. Jenkins supplied the
average depth, and the third, the width, was taken
not from actual measurement, but from a table by
Mr. Rowley. He (Mr. Leslie) wanted to hear how
Mr. Jenkins did his share, and then he should be pre-
pared with an amendment if necessary.
The CHAIRMAN did not think the Court could en-
tertain the proposition of the Hon. Commissioner,
unless he advanced something more grave—as that
the contractor had acted fraudulently. Granting the
2,0001., would not invalidate any further inquiry, and
in order not to retard the business of the Court, he
thought that unless something stronger should be stated,
than what the llon. Commissioner had yet advanced
the Court could not attend to it. It would be a pity to
stop the general course of business.
Mr. LESLIE entered a motion upon the subject, and
intimated that if it were overruled, he should put up an-
other. _ _ _

The motion that Mr. Donll and Mr. Jenkins be called
into Court was put from the chair, and lost by a
majority of four.
Mr. LESLIE had wished to investigate the method in
which bills involving an amount of 40,0001. or 50,0001
of the public money had been got up, but the Court had
refused to allow its own officers to be called into Court.
He would, therefore, put in an amendment ; but in the
course of his experience—and he had been connected
with many public bodies—he never had seen the officers
of any Court refused, where the grounds of the applica-
tion had been so clearly stated.
Captain BAGUE rose to order. That subject had been
already disposed of by the Court.
The CHAIRMAN apprehended that the Hon. Commis-
sioner's remarks were merely preliminary to putting his
motion ; and, if so, he was quite in order.
Mr. LESLIE—They were so ; and
The amendment having been seconded by the Hon.
FREDERICK BYNG, was read by the clerk, Mr. liertzlet,
and was to the following effect :
" That as the contracts held by Messrs. Bennett were
originally obtained on tenders sent out from the office of
Sewers for Westminster, in 1841, containing a bill of par-
ticulars of entirely fictitious quantities, the gross amount
of Mr. Bennett's tender for such fictitious works, making
his appear to the Commissioners in Court assembled to
be the lowest and most favourable to the public, when in
point of fact the real quantities show that his tenders
were not the lowest by many hundreds of punds, and
it having been discovered that under the contract so
obtained the bills of works done contain many errors and
charges contrary to the terms of the aforesaid contract,
this Court do delay before it signs any further orders
on the treasurer in discharge of the bills, until a full
and complete investigation into the circumstances, docu-
ments, and vouchers be made, and that for the purpose
of an immediate inquiry this Court, at its rising, do adjourn
till to-morrow at ten o'clock, and, if necessary, continue
its sittings on Monday and following days, until the
investigation be completed."
The CHAIRMAN did not see that that was an amend-
ment he could put. It was, in fact, a substantive motion,
containing new matter, and therefore objectionable in
point of form.
Mr. BRANSCOMBE thought that a particular day should
be appointed to investigate the subject.
The CHAIRMAN would put it to the Hon. Commissioner
(Mr. Leslie) if it was really an amendment he could put
there? If it had indeed stopped short, and said that

OURT OF SEWER

the payment should be delayed, it would be a good and
valid amendment.

Mr. LESLIE—The Chairman was going to put to the
Court that the sum of 2,000/. be paid to Messrs. Ben-
nett, and his amendment was to delay that order until
certain investigations were made. The delay would be only
till to-morrow, or a day or two longer. He (Mr. Leslie)
had no wish to resist payments fur work really done.
The CHAIRMAN was still of opinion that it could not
be entertained, and refused to put it to the Court.
The order to pay Messrs. Bennett the amount in ques-
tion was then carried, and signed by six Commissioners.
A further sum of 9501. to Mr. Thomas Cubitt, on ac-
count of works in part of the King's Scholars' Pond
Sewer, was then ordered ; as also a sum of 41. ss. to
Mr. J. Fluin.

Mr. Hertzlett, the chief clerk, then read a letter which
he had received during the discussion from Mr. Jenkins,
the second clerk of the works, praying leave to resign his
situation.

Captain BAGUE would wish to have Mr. Jenkins called
into Court to know his motives for resigning. He (Capt.
Bague) had learned out .of doors that that officer had
been goaded into this course by an Hon. Commissioner.
The CHAIRMAN thought/ it would be derogatory to the
character of that Court to call upon any officer to ex-
plain his motives for throwing up his situation.
After some discussion as to " the right" of any Com-
missioner or Commissioners " to goad" the officers of
the Court, it was finally put to the vote, and carried,
that Mr. Jenkins should be called in, and that gentle-
man was accordingly introduced. His own letter, and
the resolutions of the Court were then read, and to
questions from Captain Bague as to his motives for re-
signing, Mr. Jenkins replied, with great naivete, that he
had got a better situation, and had accepted it.
Mr. LESLIE had not replied to the remarks which had
been made I.y lion. Commissioners, but now that they
had had Mr. Jenkins's answer, he would ask those Hon.
Commissioners if they had meant him (Mr. Leslie) as
the person who had goaded that gentleman on to resign.
The question was unanswered, and the subject dropped.

A letter was then read from the Holborn andifinsbury
Commission, expressing its satisfaction at the resolution
come to by the Court of Sewers for Westminster re-
specting the depth of sewerage on the new line from
Long-acre to St. Giles's.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY moved that a resolution should be
placed on their minutes, disclaiming the inference that
seemed to be drawn by the neighbouring Commission,
namely, that that Court, in consenting to the increased
depth of sewer, had only a desire to consult the interest
of that Commission, without any regard to the wants of
the ratepayers in Westminster. He was the more
anxious that the Court should express such a resolution,
lest the concession should be urged as a precedent at
any future time.
Mr. BEECH seconded it, and the resolution was ordered
to be entered on the minutes.
The CHAIRMAN then directed attention to the neces-
sity of taking some measures for the immediate re-con-
struction of the defective parts of the Ranelagh sewer in
Gloucester-road, Paddington, which had been already
ordered, under the superintendence of Messrs. Tite and
Rennie. He had hoped that contractors would have
been named by that time, but as the parties had declined
to accept the works, it appeared to him that that Court
should direct Mr. Jay, the contractor on the eastern and
western divisions, to proceed with the sewer, under the
supervision of those gentlemen. If the matter were fur-
ther deferred, at least a delay of a month would take
place, and rather than such should be, he thought they
might with great propriety make the offer to Mr. Jay.
A letter was read from that gentleman, offering to do
the works in the remaining districts at the same rate that
he did the eastern and western.
Mr. LESLIE thought that the letter was read in the
wrong place. It ought to have been reserved until the
subject of the contracts on the Ranelagh and Counters'
Creek was taken into consideration. The letter of Mr.
Jay had reference to the districts, and not to the parti-
cular work in the Gloucester-road.
Mr. GuTcH said that the property on the line of
sewer was greatly injured in consequence of the delay
in re-constructing it.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY was, under the circumstances of
the case, disposed to adopt the plan suggested by the
Chairman.
Mr. BAYLIS had heard that there was a report in one
of the newspapers, that the state of the Counters' Creek
sewer was exceedingly dangerous, the body of a man
being found in one part of it, and a carriage and horses
in another.
The CHAIRMAN -supposed that the report had arisen
from a person having incautiously driven a gig into it.
It was determined to re-consider the subject after dis-
posing of the question of contracts for the districts.
The CHAIRMAN having introduced that subject, and
Mr. Hertzlett having again read the letter from the con-
tractor, Mr. Jay,
Mr. LESLIE rose for the purpose of proposing that that
Court should adopt the plan pursued by the Holborn and

HOLBORN DIVISION.

THE CALAMITOUS FLOOD AT FLORENCE.—The fol-
lowing account is given by an eye-witness :—" The rain
began on the 3d, and continued nearly the whole day ;
during the night it increased, and fell in one continued
torrent. Kirly on Sunday morning the alarm was given
that the Arno was inundating the town, and in about
half an hour all the lower parts of Florence were six
and seven feet deep in water ; so sudden was the rush of
water that there was barely time to take the horses
out of the stables, and several were drowned. Those
persons who were in the streets rushed into the
houses ; and many who were in the churches were
obliged to stay there till the following morning. In
Santa Croce there were two feet of water, and the
Piazza was inundated to the depth of ten feet. All this
happened between seven and eight o'clock. Many per-
sons who slept on the grohnd floors were awoke by the
water forcing open the windows or doors. All this
while the Arno kept rising—windows, chairs, tables,
pictures, in short, every article of furniture
came whirling past in the torrent. At ten o'clock
a tremendous crash was heard, the upper iron
bridge had given way, and the whole wood-work
of it came dashing past the Ponte Vecchio, where the
jewellers have their shops ; it was expected every mo-
ment to be carried away ; but luckily, it resisted the
shock. The consternation was at its height, for here
was a mother inquiring for her child, here a father
asking for his son; the rain still falling in torrents, no
boats to be had—all carried away. At last two were pro-
cured, and rafts were made to succour those parts of
the town that were inundated. Seven persons were
drowned in the streets. At 2 P.M., the Arno began to
subside, still no one could get to the inundated quarter;
more than two-thirds of the town were without bread,
and no help reached them till evening. It was dreadful
to hear the cries of " Bread! bread!" from the streets
that were inundated. At last the rafts were able to take
bread. In many streets remote from the centre they
were from Saturday evening till Sunday night without
food. All the cellars are full of water; all the merchan-
dise iu the douane ruined; shops have been completely
cleared; a picture dealer found but a mass of sand in
his shop, all else swept away. At the Cascine the
hares, &c., have been drowned, and the walks, &c.,
ruined. In the country it is much worse ; whole towns
are under water, and without food. It rains incessantly,
and another flood is expected every day. No English
have perished. The streets are still full of water. The
damage at the douane alone is estimated at 2,600,000
lire (above 100,000/.)"
ALARMING ILLNESS OF GENERAL NOTT.—We
have much regret that we cannot report at all favourably
of the present state of General Notts health. The gallant
officer has had a relapse, and is now very ill. It is con-
jectured that this change for the worse has been brought
about by the change in the weather, the atmosphere now
being very humid. It is bowel-, r satisfactory to know
that the Gallant General possesses from nature a very
strong constitution, and it is confidently believed, that
he will not only soon rally, but be, ere long, fully re-
stored to health.— Welshman.
BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, NOV. M.—Buyers have
come forward more freely this week, and the purchases
have been on a larger scale than for some time past ;
both refiners and grocers have shown a disposition to get
into stock, and the sales in West India sorts reach 600
hhds. and tierces, at very full prices. A good business
has also been done in East India descriptions, the trans-
actions in Bergals and Mauritius reaching 3,000 bags
and mats, at prices not previously attainale. In ruin
there is nothing doing.—Bristol Mercury.
The very extensive cotton mills, well known as the
Salford mills, the property of Messrs. Phillips and Co.,
have been taken as a bonding warehouse for Manchester.
MANCHESTER TESTIMONIAL TO MR. ROWLAND
HILL—The amount received in this town now exceeds
1,400/ We should be glad if the public of the sur-
rounding districts, who have also participated in the
plan of cheap postage, would assist in raising the sum of
2,000/ This would be a worthy gift to Mr. Hill.—
Manchester Guardian,

27,716 -
;rpinning

To a question from Mr. Barry Baldwin, M.P.,
Mr. LESLIE said that Mr. Roe, the surveyor to the
Court of Sewers for Holborn and Finsbury, drew the
plans, &c., and furnished an estimate of the expenses of
any projected new work to that Court. A very important,
New
River, 28 feet deep, part of which was to go under the ew
River, was estimated for by Mr. Roe. When the tenders
came in, however, none of them were within 300/. or 4001.
of Mr. Roe's estimate. The Court said, " Mr. Roe, your
estimate must be wrong.l 'None of them can do the
work for what you say. How is that ?" Mr. Roe re.
plied, " Gentlemen, I cannot help that ; but the work
can and will be done for that if you order it, and make
the contractor for the division, who is bound to do so,
supply you with materials and labour, and so forth."
Well, then, Mr. Roe completed that work at 100/. less than
his own estimate. Let them, then, observe the advantages
of that plan. They had correct details before they
began the work they bad plenty of time to
consider what they were to do and having
agreed on a thoroughly digested plan, it was open to the
whole community to propose for the work in question.
He (Mr. Leslie) was quite charmed with their specifi-
cations. He had them beside him, but would not tire
the Court any further. Let their surveyors in like
manner give detailed plans, and an estimate of the ex-
penses in each work. He would make no observation
then upon their late contractors, but when he saw the
Messrs. Bennett tendering some seven or eight times for
works in the llolborn and Finsbury district, although
only accepted twice, it proved to him, that if, as had been
said in this Court, they had ever burned their fingers,
they seemed very anxious again to return to the same fire.
The CUAIRMAN hoped that Mr. Leslie would conclude
with a resolution.

• £21,224 6s. 9(
00 feet of old Sewl

' Undei

Hon. Commissioner; and why then, he asked, should they
again renew that discussion ? Then with respect to the
two districts already disposed of, it was out of the power
of the Court to adopt the motion put on the table by the
Hon. Commissioner. Let them wait a year to give the
system lately adopted a fair trial, and he would then be
as ready as any Hon. Commissioner to try further improve-
ments ; but he could not consent to overturn all that
they had so lately created. Any further discussion of
the matter then would only have the effect of distracting
the Court, and wasting the public time. The reason
why contractors did not come to that Court was simply
because they were afraid that some Hon. Commissioner
might come down, and take from them the very marrow
of their contract.—(Cries of " No, no," and " Hear,
hear.") He said, yes, those gentlemen were afraid,
and with good reason—he did not blame them—that
the Court would play them a trick, and they said,
" When you pretend to give us a whole district, you
only give us the dirty part of it." They had, he re-
peated, come to a decision on the subject of Mr. Leslie's
motion, and although three contractors had been already
scared, he was glad to find that Mr. Jay was not, and
would take that from which the others shrunk in dis-
may. He had not been an advocate for the plans which
had been lately adopted, but having been once‘adopted,
in the name of common sense, let them give them
a fair trial. The lion. and Learned Commissioner con-
cluded by moving that Mr. Jay's proffer be accepted.
It was seconded by Mr. GUTCH.
Mr. B. BALDWIN, M.P., would endeavour very suc-
cinctly to
_reply to the Learned Commissioner (Mr. Wil-
loughby). The Hon. and Learned Commissioner had
said that it was out of the power of the Court to make
any alteration.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY thought the Hon. Commissioner
mistaken. He did not say " power."
Mr. BARRY BALDWIN had taken down the words. The
next thing was as regarded time. He thought that time was
most opportune, for the form of the sewer had no-
thing to do with the lion. Commissioner's (Leslie's)
resolution. The form was nothing ; the contract could
still be entered into in the manner desired by the Hon.
Gentleman. lie proposed that he should merely take
the work in the block instead of piecemeal. He pro-
posed that details should be placed on the table, and
that contractors for the works should view them. The
Hon. and Learned Commissioner said " Let us go on
for one year." He (Mr. Barry Baldwin) was a young
member of that Court, but, as far as he could see, the
thing had been gone on with too long already on the old
system.—(Hear, hear) Delays were dangerous, and it
might be said at the end of that one year, " 06, let us
go on for another year," and so they would never attain
nearer to perfection. If a gentleman wished to build a
house he would not contract for its being done piecemeal;
he would contract with some one to build it out for a
certain sum, and so they might do there.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought that the very best time for the Hon. Gen-
tleman's motion. lie (Mr. Baldwin) had never spoken
to the Hon. Commissioner (Mr. Leslie) on the subject
before, but his resolution did certainly appear to him
feasible and worthy of support, and he should support it
therefore. They might depend on it, they would always
find men—respectable men, too—ever ready to accept
their contracts if they only gave them a fair and reason-
able remunerating profit, and that could be done as well
in the block as by piecemeal. Let them adopt the plan
proposed at least in one division, and see how it did there.
The system might be new, but if it promised to be of
use to the rate-payers they should try it.
Mr. BEECH quite agreed with the propositions so ably
laid down by his learned friend Mr. Willoughby.

Mr. LESLIE, after a few words, concluded with a reso-
lution to the effect, that all works in the Ranelagh and
Counters' Creek district, excepting small day jobs, should
be carefully estimated, with prepared plans and sections,
including every expense, such as side entrances, gullies,
&c., and that all works done should be the subject of
particular contract, invited by public advertisement.
The Hon. F. BYNG seconded the motion. He with
pleasure supported a resoltition which would throw open
their works to general competition. He was very glad
to find himself in a position to sign his name to the pro-
position of the Hon. Commissioner.
Mr. WlLLoucnnv, while giving the propounder of the
motion credit for the industry he had evinced in bring-
ing such a mass of evidence before them, could not yet
help thinking that that evidence had been brought for-
ward at the wrong time. Ile felt sure that a shrewd
man like the Hon. Commissioner must bo aware that the
end and aim of all talk was to come to some conclusion,
but that seemed to be another instance of the faculty which
the lion. Commissioner seemed to possess iu such a great
degree, namely, the bringing of a proposition forward
at the wrong moment. The Hon. Commissioner tried
to show that by adopting the Holborn and Finsbury plan of
contracting fur their works that Court would derive a
eerbzin benefit, and that a beneficial result would also
accrue to the rate-payers. But the Court had come to a
conclusion upon the subject before that day. It had
altered the form of sewers after a long discussion. It
had already received public, tenders, and already dis-
posed of two of the districts. The Court, therefore,
ought to give the system it had so very lately adopted
a fair trial. Let them not then occupy the time of the
Court by again considering that which had been so fully
discussed before. Not long ago when Mr. White's
motion for an alteration in the form of sewer was before
them, the subject of adopting the egg shape, as in the Hol-
born and Finsbury distriet,had been fully suggested by the

Finsbury Commission in receiving contracts for works
to 195 done ; and he was bound to express his obligations
to the officers of that Commission for the very important
information he had received from them—received, toe,
without let or hindrance. He (Mr. Leslie) would not
trouble the Hon. Commissioners with isolated cases, as re-
garded the practice in Holborn and Finsbury, for, by
great exertion, he had prepared from their books and
documents returns of works amounting to the enormous
sum of 23,000/. ; and he thought he would have the
support of the Hon. Commissioner, the District Surveyor
for Marylebone, who was present, in carrying out the
proposition he would make to the Court. The plan of
the Holborn and Finsbury was not a new or mere
experimental plan, for, under their able and intelligent
surveyor, Mr. Roe, they had built of the new form
twenty-six miles of sewer, six miles of which were only
half-brick thick, in blocks firmly united with the best
Roman cement, In their works none but hydraulic
mortar was used, and the very best Roman cement. Every
builder, every surveyor, and every man of property, was
concerned in this important question of public drainage;
and he hesitated not to assert, and that without fear of
contradiction, that for every lineal foot of sewer put in
by the Westminster Commission, the same amount of
money, under their better plans, the Holborn and Fins-
' bury Commission had put, in two feet. What was the
cause of this mighty difference between two adjoining
Commissions of Sewers ? One cause was in their Act of
Parliament. About thirty years ago the Holborn and
Finsbury got into debt 30,0001, and they ventured to
make a shilling rate, the rate-payers rebelled, meetings
were held all over the districts, and, under the advice of
the present Mr. Sergeant Wilde and Mr. John Wilks, a
new Act of Parliament for those divisions was obtained.
They were bound under their Act of Parliament to
give twenty-one days' notice to all the vestry-clerks
within their district of the line intended, the day, time,
and place, when the Court would assemble to consider
as to the propriety of ordering the work to be done. In
short, he (Mr. Leslie) said that the most complete and
scientific measurement of the proposed works took place
before the Court were called upon to vote that the work
should be done, so that the parties who had to tender
knew what they had to do. The case in this Court was
just reversed. An estimate was presented by the sur-
veyors, often voted the moment it was read, without any
time for deliberation; the works were all measured after
they were done, and the Court had this day refused to
allow the officers who had measured the works in Bow-
street, included in the accounts, upon which they had
paid 2,oool—he said they refused to allow Mr. Doull, as-
sistant surveyor, and Mr. Jenkins, the clerk of the works,
to come into Court to explain how they performed that
important duty. What were the consequences to the
public of the system in this Court ? The surveyors' esti-
mates were mostly exceeded by the actual expense,
often a large amount, sometimes 50 up to 140 per cent.
more than the sum the Court had ordered on those
works. Why, on the Bow-street line, included in the
bills partly paid to day, the estimate was 1,4001, the ac-
tual expense upwards of 2,0601 nearly 47 per cent. more
than the Court had ordered. But to return to the more
business-like plan of the Holborn and Finsbury Com-
mission. After the plans, estimates, &e., had been
approved, public advertisements for each particular
work were made. It required, first, the fullest public
notice of where they intended to lay the money out ;
and,- secondly, they were bound to advertise the
Contracts for the works in question in a certain
number of papers. He would read over not one,
two, • ten, or fifteen, but twenty sewers, formed by
that Commission, amounting in all to above 23,000
feet, namely, 12,185 feet of the first, and above 15,000 of
the second class of sewers. He had taken the number of
parties tendering. He had taken the highest and the
lowest tenders, but he did not think it fair to give the
names of the parties. Among them, however, he found
the Messrs. Bennett, to whom they had that day paid
away 2,0001, contrary to his view of the matter. The
plans and specifications, he might there state, were
accurately drawn out ; the when, where, and how, the
works should begin and terminate; the depths, the levels,
and everything else. The parties who intended to tender
paid a shilling for a printed form, which contained all the
instructions and information required. It seemed, to
him a sort of providential interference that the parties
who had tendered for the Ranelagh and Counters Creek
district should have withdrawn those tenders, for that
Court might now save a vast amount of money by adopt-
ing the plan he was going to point out to their conside-
ration. The Hon. Commissioner then read the following
particulars of work in about twenty sewers made under
the direction of, and by the orders of, the Holborn and
Finsbury district, at prices greatly under those of the
Court of Sewers for Westminster. One or two might be
taken as a sample of the whole. One in Museum-street,
for which Messrs. Bennett contracted, came at (every
expense included) 14s. 2d. per foot. Another, a first class
sewer in Kentish-town, in length 3,465 feet with five
side entrances, twelve junctions, twenty gullies, and at a
depth generally of 26 feet, was built for 165.:7d. per foot

t LI ,t
..-1 ...:
0 4
c) I
.048
,-;
f.. 1 ~. Total. '-. zr,
PLACES. 14-....rca) Highest and Lowest Tenders. t'>*&"; ;4" u ' t'-' Side entrance. *--1 --- a.
-g I .... 0 48 81 s c., -
0 0 0 E '
1 ,i4 1-2. ..)
-....-...-
._...... 1
£ s. d. Ft. In. £. s. d.l £ s. d. £. s. d. s. d.
Great Russell-street and Mu- / a 1,230 0 0
scum-street s' 890 0 0 Bennett's. *lOO 1,235 2 altered 3 6 15 9 890 0 0 ..• 890 001 14 2
Kentish-town-road and Grafton- 11 4,915 0 0 '
place 2,881 0 0 Cotsworth. 3,465 •• 5 12 20 26 0 2,881 0 0 Tunnelled. 2,881 0 0 16 71
443
Batton-garden 7 , 319 00 0
0 Green. •.• 400 none None. 6 18 0 319 0 0 None. 319 0 0 15 114
Chancery-lane 'B 938 810 Hill.
(Contribution 3501 by Inn) 1 - ••• 1,320 1 and 1 lowered 10 12 19 0 933 810 121 7 2 1,054 16 0 15 114
New-road and Seymour-street 7 3,1884 00 0
Ward and Son. 2,750 600 3 8 22 24 0 3,188 0 0 104 0 7 3,292 0 7 19 7/
Charlotte-street and Bedford- 10 1,330 9 0
square .. 800 0 0 Cooper. ... 1,380 2 2 8 16 6 800 0 0 219 2 802 19 2 11 8
142 0 0
King's-road, Gray's Inn ...... ... 3 132 00 H. 185 0 1 3 13 9 135 0 0 61 3 141 1 3 15 0
•• •
Ferdinand-street
(115. 6d. per foot contribution) 5 392 0 0 Mutter. ... ' 786 1 1 2 12 0 392 16 2 None. 392 16 2 10 0
FINSBURY DIVISION. •
Macclesfield-street South 535 0 0
460 0 0 Ward. ••• 700 1 2 10 12 0 474 0 0 None. 74 0 0 13 61
Battle-bridge and llolloway- ( 8
tl2 2,230 0 0
road 1,246 12 6 Wood and Probatt 300 2,200 2 6 2 16 0 1,246 12 6 None. 1,246 12 6 9 111
1,823 0 0
Collier-street, Pentonville
1,391 0 0
Hall-terrace and Windsor-place 12
6,97 6 9 Medworth. ... 1,150 1 3 16 12 r 0 697 6 9 None. 697 6 9 12 1i
4,683 0 0
Pitfield-street 7 3,190 0 0 Bennett. 3,440 580 3 5 30 18 0 3,190 0 0 ••• 3,806 4 7 18 64
1,490 0 0
Great Cambridge-street ...... . 12 1059 10 0 Green. 1,600
••• 1 6 0 14 0 1,059 10 0 None. 1,059 10 0 13 24
, 1 960 0 0
High-street, Islington
4 771 0 0 James. 630 230 1 3 10 18 0 771 007616 11 847 16 11 19 8
Parkfield street, Islington
} 8
566 0 0
384 0 0 James. ••• 640 1 3 0 15 0 384 0 0 116 7 385 16 0 12 0
Battle-bridge and Holloway- n 275 0 0
road '' 211 0 0 Threadgold. ••• 340 1 0 2 15 0 211 0 0 None. 211 0 0 12 5
,
Baker's-row
/"' 20 0 0
250 0 0 Johnson. •.• 300 1 2 4 16 0 250 0021 7 6 271 7 6 18 1
Brick-lane 1,294 0 0 James. -- • I 2,005 3 6 20 17 0 1,294 0 0 133 1 1 1,427 1 1 14 21
---- -
,-- ---
12,185 115,531 31 81 181 21,224 6 9
12,185
k _-
27.716 - £21.224 6s. 9d. = 15s. 3111. per foot lineal, including every expense.

Mr..WILLIA3t DONALDSON, the Chairman's brother,
followed on the same side. The question had
been mooted at the former meetings of that Court,
and argued with great ability by the Honourable
Commissioner (Mr. Leslie). It had then been set at
rest, and it was quite impossible, he thought, that the
public business could be carried on, if on every fresh
opportunity the question were started anew.
After some words from Mr. Baylis and Mr. Chambers,
The CHAIRMAN went at considerable length into the
merits of the question. He contended that the
law binding on the Holborn and Finsbury Com-
mission was in effect the same that guided that
Court. But that very contract was essentially, and in
principle, like Mr. Leslie's, for he admitted that they
must have a contract for " job work," and every item in
these particulars was likely, at some time or another, to
be called into requisition by these same job works. The
lion. Commissioner had thought proper to bring for-
ward that information, in order to induce them to accede
to his resolution, but he (the Chairman) greatly doubted
the correctness of the llon. Commissioner's figures ;
they were certainly very puzzling, for they were not
classed so as to enable one at once to see what sewers
were cheap and what dear ; and he was the more doubt-
ful of their correctness when he saw some second class
sewers charged more than others of the first class. He (the
Chairman) k new many persons who were losers from taking
jobs by the lump without being well advised what they
were doing, and the consequences were that the sewers
were made from the pockets of private individuals, than
which he knew of nothing more dishonourable, more
cruel, more ungenerous.
Mr. G RIFFITHS —HOW are contracts for churches taken?
The CHAlRMAN—Churches were built under that
system ; and it was most revolting and iniquitous that it
should be so. They ought, between man and man, to
give a fair price for the work of his hands, for the sweat
of his brow—and not to take steps which might even-
tually involve his ruin. The Hon. Gentleman then went
on to argue that works taken at low contract prices, as
in the Ilolborn and Finsbury district, could not be well
done, for the men were inclined to " shirk" the
work, and the whole system induced a sort
of antipathy between the officers of the Commissioners
and the contractor's workmen. He thought that by ac-
cepting Mr. Jay's proffer they would be saving, as he
was lower than the lowest of the three candidates who
had resigned the contract for the district. It was sin-
gular, if Mr. Leslie's figures were correct, that these
men, who would be enabled to make a fortune by their
contract prices, should so readily let it slip through
their fingers. He thought it furnished another proof
that the lion. Commissioner was mistaken.

Mr. LESLIE shortly replied. It had been said that it
was he who had induced the contractors to resign their
contracts. It was not he, for unf4tunately he was ever
in the minority in that Court. But it was of the majo-
rity they were afraid, for they could not confide in the
honour of the majority of the Court, in which he agreed
with them, and from a dread of that majority,
they had given up the contract. His own opiniAl
was, that all the works in the district could be legally
claimed by the contractor ; but their legal adviser said
no, and their Chairman said no also. He had done his
duty in bringing the matter before them, and he now
left it in their hands. _

The amendment and the original motion were then
put, when the former was carried by a majority of five.
Mr. HERTZLET, the Chief Clerk, intimated that he
should be ready with a precept for a new rate on the
Western Division at the next Court.
The Court then adjourned.

IRELAND.
MEETING OF THE ROMAN CATIIOLIC
BISHOPS.

DUBLIN, Nov. 16.—The following announcement ap-
pears in the Dublin Evening Post of this afternoon:—
" The Prelates this day concluded their deliberations
on the Charitable Bequests Act. • We understand that
a resolution to the following effect was adopted, on the
motion of the Primate, the Most Rev. Dr. Crolly, se-
conded by the Right Rev. Dr. Egan, Bishop of Kerry:
—"The Prelates assembled, after mature consideration
of the enactments of the new Charitable Bequests Act,
having taken different views Of its operation, it was de-
termined that each Prelate should be left to the gui-
dance of his own conscience on this measure.' As Dr.
Egan, the seconder of this resolution, had signed the
protest against the Act, we may infer that the Prelates
were nearly unanimous on the occasion. As we have
already stated, the Prelates were unanimous in consi-
dering that modifications were required in certai❑
clauses of the Act affecting discipline, as regards the au-
thority of each Bishop in his own diocese. It is under-
stood that the Government have expressed their readi-
ness to amend the Act in such manner as to avoid any
interference with the discipline of the Catholic Church;
and it is their imperative duty to do so at the earliest
possible moment. There can, we think, be little doubt
that such alterations as are required will be made."
MAYNOOTII COLLEGE—DEPUTATION TO THE

LORD-LIEUTENANT.
The Evening Post also contains the following:—" This
dap a deputation, consisting of the four Archbishops, with
some lay members of the Maynooth Board, waited upon
his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant, by appointment, at
the Viceregal-lodge, Phcenix-park, with an application
for an increase of the Parliamentary grant to that esta-
blishment, on the present terms. The total insufficiency
of the present miserable grant has long been admitted,
and the time has arrived for an augmentation to an
extent commensurate with the claims of the Catholics of
Ireland for a grant from the State towards the education
of their clergy. Ilis Excellency received the deputation
most courteously, and appeared to coincide with their
views, promised to forward their memorial without delay,
but gave no pledge of any sort on his own part, or on
the part of the Government. Lord Eliot was present at
the interview."

THE STATE PROSECUTION-REVERSAL OF
THE JUDGMENT.

In the Court of Queen's Bench yesterday, in the case
of the Queen r. O'Connell and others, Sir Colman
O'Loghlen moved, on the part of defendants, that the
judgment of reversal had in this case should bo entered
upon the record, and that the recognizances of the de-
fendants be handed over to be cancelled.

Mr. Justice CRAMPTON—Of course this application
will be granted. It is regular, I believe.
The Clerk of the Crown made an intimation to the
effect that he never knew of a similar application being
made.

I Sir COLMAN O'LOGMLEN—The affidavit on which the
application is founded states that there is no judgment
now pending against Mr. O'Connell
Judge CRAMPTON—You need not trouble yourself by
reading any affidavit. The application is granted.
The Clerk of the Crown made an observation to his
Lordship.
Judge CRAMPTON—The officer says that the formal
documents have not yet been laid before him.
Sir COLMAN O'LOGIILEN—We understand that the
judgment of reversal was entered upon the transcript,
and the transcript returned to the office.
The Clerk of the Crown observed that the necessary
documents were not yet returned.
Sir COLMAN OTOGRLEN—I don't exactly know, my
Lord, what the practice is, whether a discharge should
be entered thereon, or the recognizances be vacated.
Judge CRAMPTON—I believe a vacate is the usual
course. But your application will be complied with as
soon as the proper document is laid before the officer.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY—THE MINISTRY.

The Warder, an Orange organ, has a very fiery com-
mentary upon the recent meeting in Cork, to establish a
provincial college. That journal says—" The sword is
drawn. and the scabbard thrown away, between Sir
Robert Peel and the Irish Protestant Church, and the
Protestant people of Ireland. One or other must be put
down." The Warder adds—" The divinity students of
Trinity College intend to meet publicly next week, in
the Rotunda, to protest against any interference of Sir
Robert Peel with the University, and the Ven. R. J.
M'Ghee will be requested to take the chair. A pamphlet
on the crisis of the Church of Ireland, from the pen of
the Rev. Dr. Millar, of Armagh, was published yester-
day, making a powerful appeal on behalf of the Church
against the traitor Premier."

IRISII RAILWAYS.
The Dublin Gazette, published last night, is the
largest published since the Anti-Tithe agitation, when
the peasantry, is thousands, were sued by the Crown
for tithe arrears, many of them for two or three
pence. Last night's Gazette consists of fourteen
sheets, containing. notices of various kinds, emanating
from railway and other public companies, corporations,
and Government boards. Altogether there are forty-
seven notices. The railway notices amount to no less
than twenty-two, and are as follow :—Extension of the
Ulster Railway to Armagh ; Wexford, Carlow, and
Dublin; Dublin to Mullingar and Athlone (two separate
notices); Londonderry and Coleraine; Londonderry and
Enniskillen ; Kilkenny Junction ; Newry and Ennis-
killen; Dundalk and Enniskillen; Branch from Dublin
and Drogheda to Howth ; Waterford and Limerick;
Waterford and Kilkenny; Extension from Athlone to
Galway ; Kingstown and Waterford; Dublin and Cavan;
Limerick and Ennis; Cork and Limerick; Coleraine and
Enniskillen ; Cork and Bandon ; Dublin and Belfast
Junction; Irish Great Western from Dublin to Galway;
North and North-Western from Dublin to Armagh and
Enniskillen.
LORI) LONDONDERRY ON FREE TRADE.
The Marquis of Londonderry, on Monday last, enter-
tained at dinner, in the Assembly-rooms, Newtownards
" the clergy and gentlemen resident upon his estates,
and the tenantry most distinguished by their efforts in
agricultural improvement and for generally exemplary
conduct." The Noble Marquis Presided.
After the customary toasts,
The Noble PRESIDENT said it gave him great satisfac-
.

tion to meet them on that occasion, at a diiiaer which he
was anxious to give them, as his tenantry, in order to
celebrate the return among them of a man who was
fondly and devotedly attached to them, Lord Castlereagh.
He congratulated them on the flourishing state of the
country, which, he said, was mainly owing to the ad-
ministration of Sir R. Peel. Sir Robert, when he ac-
cepted of the Premiership, bad laid the axe to the root
of the evils under which the country laboured. lie set
his mind to the consideration of the finances, as the
first step in the legislative policy which he intended to
carry out ; and he had, in consequence, instituted a
property-tax, which, he ventured to declare, not-
withstanding all that had been said against it, was
one of the most just taxes that ever was laid on the coun-
try; for it placed the burden upon the rich, and relieved
those who were not in circumstances so fortunate.—

(Hear, hear.) Other questions of moment had occupied
the attention of the Government during that time, such
as the poor-law, the Irish Registration Bill, and various
other difficult questions ; but there was one matter above
all, which had occupied their attention, and that was the
great question which had taken up so much of the time
of the law courts in Dublin. Those were difficult ques-
tions for a Ministry to manage, but he believed they had
brought all to a favourable issue, and that he (the Noble
President) and*they might congratulate each other on a
better state of affairs than when they last met. There
was one question which had agitated the country a great
deal since the period to which he had alluded, and to
which he felt it necessary to allude—he meant the (corn-
law question.—(Hear, hear.) And he did solemnly
adjure them not to depart from those means to improve
their agricultural position which science had opened up
to them, lest the question which be had alluded to shou!d
be carried. lie did not understand how any Minister
who thought right to introduce into his policy free-trade
at all—he did not know how that Minister could make
corn an exception.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.)
He implored them to consider that that might
be the case ; and, in order to prepare for such a
change, he implored them to go on cultivating the soil
on which their existence depended.—(llear, hear.) They
had seen during the last twenty years many changes—
they had seen the Minister, by the force of circumstances,
by the pressure from without, obliged to follow out a
course of policy which was contrary to his mind to pursue;
and having seen that, he could not sit down, without im-
pressing them with the fact, that similar things might
take place with regard to the corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.)
Ile wished them to bear in mind that when everything else
was free, they could not expect that corn alone would
be an exception. The Noble Marquis then lauded the
foreign policy of the Government, and referred to the
visits to England of the King of the French, the Emperor
of Russia, and the King of Prussia, and continued:—But,
passing by these events—the having of those potentates
among them—they had had the satisfaction of seeing
their own good and gracious Queen braving the
breeze—braving the difficulties and inconveniences of a
sea voyage—visiting France and Belgium, and going
twice to Scotland. Would to God she would come to
Ireland.—(Cheers.) lie would say, though it was alto-
gether unnecessary, that between Mr. O'Connell and him-
self there was no sympaty of feeling—that they did not
entertain the same political views ; but be would do Mr.
O'Connell the justice to say that he believed that, had
her Majesty come to Ireland, the breath of repeal would
not have been heard from the heights of Ennishowen to
the Lakes of Killarney—no, not a word of repeal would
have been heard during her Majesty's stay in her own
little island.—(llear, hear, and loud applause.) If she
had come there, to see her
" First flower of the earth,
First gem of the sea,"
not one breath of repeal would have been heard.—(Loud
cheers.) Mr. O'Connell had long been engaged in the
agitation of the question of repeal, but he had told them
on a late occasion that he preferred federalism. Now,
what was his object in stating so? Why, he was simply
holding out a feeler to the Protestants, to see whether
they would
,join him or not. The Protestants and Pres-
byterians of Ulster knew him too well; they were aware
what his objects were, and their answer to him would be,

" Time() Danaus et duita ferentcs."

—(Tremendous cheers.) He did not believe that the in-
telligent, influential, and commercial people of Ireland
would ever join Mr. O'Connell in so balderdash an ex-
periment.—(Cheers, and cries of " Never.") Lord Lon-
donderry then congratulated his tenantry on the im-
provements which had taken plum in their farms and on
their comfortable appearance, praised the Pour-law Act,
and proceeded—With respect to the commission that
had been issued to inquire into' the relations between
landlord and tenant, he would state that, whatever ne-
cessity there might have been for such an inquiry in the
south of Ireland, such a necessity did not exist on IliS
estates.—(Eear, hear.) With respect to the nobleman
who was at the head of that commission, he had suc-
ceeded to a property iu this country, but he knew
nothing of Ireland. The commission, as he had observed,
could be of no use in this part of the country, and be