The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-25 00:00:00

RAILWAY SHARES.

Versailles, R. 8...• ...... • • 390 .. 390 .. 390 .. 390
L.B• • • • • • • • • • • • 243 75 .. 245 .. 242 50 .• 245
Rouen..•.••
Rouen to Havre• •• • •••• • • •• 760 •• 761 25 .. 760 .. 761 25
Orleans • • • • ••.• • • • • • • • • • • • 985 • . 986 25 • . 985 .. 985
Strasburg to Bale• ••••• • • •• 241 25 .. 241 25 .. 240 .. 240
Avignon to Marseilles•• •• •• 766 2.5 .. 766 25 • 766 25 .. 766 25
RAILWAY SHARES FOR TIIE ACCOUNT, 31sT OF JULY.
St. Germain .. •• ..... 892 50 .. 892 50 .. 890 .. 890
Versailles, R. 8... ....... 400 .. 4CO 383 75 383 75
L.8.............245 .. 245 .. 242 50 .. 242 se)
Konen.••••••••••••••••••• 987 50 .• 990 .. 987 50 .• 990
gotten to Havre.• ••.•• •• • • 762 50 .. 762 50 •• 761 25 •• 761 25
Orleans •• •• • • ........ • 985 •• 985 .. 983 75 .. 983 75
Strasburg to Bale• • • . • • • • • • 241 25 •• 241 25 .. 240 .. 241 26
Avignon to Marseilles• ••• • • 765 .. 766 25 .. 765 .. 766 25

THIS DAY'S NEWS.

CLERKENIVELL.-(THIS DAY.)
James Grainger, John Donovan, and James Tisdale, were
charged as follows :
Police-constable 124 E swore he saw the prisoners fighting
in Little Coram-street. He cautioned them to desist, but
they became more violent. He attempted to arrest them,
but the three prisoners fell upon him and struck him on the
face so that his nose bled violently. They kicked him on
the legs and body so as to cause him great pain. He called
police-constable 28 E to his assistance.
Police-constable 28 E deposed that when he attempted to
assist his brother officer, Tisdale threw him on the pavement,
and his back was much hurt in consequence.
The uniform of 124 E was much torn and soiled. The
prisoners are idle, disorderly fellows, who are well known to
the police.
Sergeant Lester said,a memorial had been recently pre-
sented to the Commissioners of Police from the inhabitants
of Little Coram-street, complaining of the annoyance occa-
sioned by the prisoners and their gang.
They were tined ss. each, or five days' imprisonment.

UNION-HALL.-(THIS DAY.)
John Kilpatrick was charged before Mr. Traill with exces-
sive cruelty to a dog. It appeared that the defendant was
observed leading a small spaniel along the street with a string
round its neck. The animal seemed tired and heated, when
the defendant dragged it along by the neck, and he was seen
to lift it up and dash it with violence on the pavement.
Several persons who witnessed the brutal conduct of the de-
fendant cried " shame," but he treated their remonstrances
with ridicule, until at length a policeman on being apprised
of the facts, applied and obtained a summons against the
aggressor.
The defendant, who denied that he acted with such cruelty,
was fined 203., which he refused to pay, and was locked up.
A man named Brown was charged with an indecent as-
sault on a young female named Hill, residing with her parents
at Walworth.
The prisoner took advantage of the absence of the com-
plainant's parents and treated her in a most shameful manlier.
She complained of the conduct she experienced to her mother,
who procured a warrant against the assailant.
The defendant contradicted the complainant's statements,
but the Magistrate said that he was satisfied with the truth
of her evidence and immediately inflicted a fine of 51. on the
defendant, and in default of payment committed him for two
months.

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.)
HAT 7/I.A.TASETS.
SMITHFIELD.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 3/ 12s to 4/ 4s ; use-
ful ditto, 4/ 5s to 4/ lOs ; fine Upland ditto, 41 12s to 41 16s;
Clover Hay, 4/ 15s to 6/ 6s ; Oat Straw, 1/ 12s to 1/ 14s ;
Wheat Straw, 11 14s to 1/ 16s per load. The best Hay and
Straw moved off steadily at full prices, but otherwise the
trade was inactive.
CUMBERLAND.—Coarse Meadow Hay 31 15s to 4/ ; use-
ful ditto, 41 4s to 4/ 14s; fine Upland ditto, 41 15s to 5/ ;
Clover Hay, 4/15s to 6l ; Oat Straw, 1/ 143 to 11 16s ; Wheat
Straw, 1116 s to 1/ 183 per load. A moderate supply, and a
steady demand.
WRITECIIAPEL.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 3115 s to 414 s ; use-
ful ditto, 4/ 53 to 4/ lOs ; fine Upland ditto, 4112 s to 4/ 15s ;
Clover Hay, 41 18s to 6/ 108 ; Oat Straw, 1/ 12s to 1/ 14s ;
Wheat Straw, 1/ 14s to 1/ 16s per load. Supply tolerably
good, and trade rather dull.
MEAT IVIAILKETS.
HAILSIIAM, JULY 24.—With the exception of the best
old Downs selling steadily at full prices, the trade was in a
very sluggish state. Beef, from 2s 6d to 4s; Mutton, 2s 8d
to 3s 10d; Lamb, 4s to 4s 8d ; Veal, 3s 2d to 4s ; and Pork,
2s fid to 3s 6d per 81bs.
ARUNDEL, JULY 23.—There was only a moderate busi-
ness doing here to-day, at our :quotations :—Beef, from
2s 4d to 33 10d; Mutton, 2s Gd to 4s; Lamb, 3s 10d to
4s 10d ; and Veal. 33 to 4s per 81bc.
CDICRUSTER, JULY 24.—The demand here to-day, for all
kinds of stock, was inactive on the following terms :
Beef, from 2s 6d to 4s ; Mutton, 2s 8d to 3s 10d; Lamb,
3s 10d to 4s 10d; Veal, 3s 2d to 3s 10d; and Pork, 2s 6d
to 3s 6d per 81bs.—Suckling Calves 18s to 30s; Quarter old
Store Pigs, 16s to 19s; and mulch Cows with their small
Calf, 161 to 18/ lOs each. In store stock a fair business was
transacted. _ _ _

SOUTHALL, JULY 24.—For the time of year, we had rather
an extensive supply of each kind of fat stock on offer to-day,
yet, owing to the tieir attendance of buyers, the demand was
tolerably steady, at fully last week's quotations. Beef, from
2s 8d to 4s; Mutton, 2s 8d to 4s; Lamb, 4s to ss; Veal,
3s 2d to 4s ; and Pork, 2s 4d to 3s 8d per 81bs. Supply—
Beasts, 41 ; Sheep and Lambs, 3,029 ; Calves, 60; Pigs, 44.
ROMFORD, JULY 24.—Prime Beasts and Sheep were in
steady demand, at very full prices; otherwise the trade was
inactive. Beef, from 2s 6d to 4s; Mutton, 2s 4d to 4s;
Lamb, 4s to 5s ; Veal, 3s 2d to 3s 10d ; and Pork, 2s 4d to
3s Btl per Blbs. Suckling Calves, 18s to 328; Quarter-old
Store Pigs, 16s to 19s ; and Mild Cows, with their small
calf, 161 to 19/ 5s each.

CORN AVERAGES.
1
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN,
For the Week ended July 20, Mt, made up from the Returns of
the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and
Imperial Wales, per
Quarter.
375. 7d
37s 3d
AVERAGES OF THR LAST SIR WEEKS.
Weeks ending WHEAT. BARLEY.' OATS, I AYE. BEANS.
4 5I ddißye Oats
...... 4d 1 21s. 51.
Pease Beane

2 EASE

June 15 — 9 31 4 22 6/ 32 4 3,i 11 34 1
...... 8 32 10 81 34 2 37 10 3', 2
29 55 9 34 4 22 3i 0 38 0 1
July
13 10 34 10 22 3 34, 2 3/ 8 37 3
20 5l 1 xi 5 21 5 36 4 37 7 37 3
IMPERIAL AGGREGATE AVERAGES OP THE SIX WEEKS
Wr.eat ......554
225. 5,1.1 Beans .........5 8d
Marley.. ...... 33, 82.1 Oats
RYe ...... ••• 345. Odd Pea5e.........365. 18.
BUTIiS ON FOREIGN CORN.
Wheat .........173. 0,1. °a" ..... •••• 6g. Od.l Beans 6cl
Barley I 51. Od. Rye ......... 6d.1 Pease
3J. 1

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)
LONDON, JULY 25.—W25.--Wind southerly, light breeze, and fine.
DEAL, JULY 24.--Wind E.S.E., moderate.—Arrd. Mary,
Moore, St. John's. Sld. Hoppet, Vander Werf, and Christina,
Agatha, Batavia ; Burmah, Portland, United States ; Tropic,
Quebec ; Heppars, Surinam. The Elizabeth Antionette, from
Amsterdam to Batavia, got on the Goodwin Sands last night,
but was assisted off with loss of anchors, &c.
PORTSMOUTH, JULY 24.—Wind S.E.—Arrd. Southampton,
London for Calcutta. Sid. Choice, Quebec. Off, Margaret,
Bohreus, Porto-Cabello for Hamburgh, sailed 21st ult.
OFF SCILLY, JULY 19.—Isabel, Quebec.
OFF SALCOMBE, JULY 23.—Rob Roy, Allen, Rio Janeiro.
PLYMOUTH, JULY 24.—Wind S.W.—Arrd. her Majesty's
ship Apollo, Chatham for Newfoundland, and Quebec. The
Spermaceti, for Quebec, did not sail as reported.
PAL.mount, JULY 24.—Wind W.N.W., fresh breezes.—
Arrd. Flora, de Putton, Ichaboe, sailed May 26. Off, Alliance,
Harper, Cape Coast Castle, sailed May 28 ; Lord Keane,
Roberts, Port Phillip ; Mannier, Baillie, Madras ; John
20.—Princess
Thomas Carr, Faddy, Mauritius • Mary Elizabeth, Trinidad;
Jamaica; Gertrude,
NFoec
orl scot, eurcn,
dotal
K•nA,d r.
JULYt hr, Tobago;r
ss Royal,-
Acre, Mobile; Hero of
Savannah.
OFF DOVER, JULY 23.—Forager, Slightholm, St. John's
New Brunswick, was in contact, at three P.M., with the Nile
of Boston, which received trifling damage.
OFF BRIGHTON, JULY 23.—Clara Anne Maria, China for
Dordt ; Antony, liatavia for Rotterdam ; Javaan, Horn, ditto
for Amsterdam ; Henriette, Porto Rico for Bremen ; Char-
lotte, Wellman, New Bedford.
OFF PLY:um:Tu.—Romeo, Pollock, Calcutta.
OFF SCILLY.—I7, Binet, Rio Grande for Hamburgh ;
Highlander, Carrel, Buenos Ayres.
HOLYHEAD, JULY 22.—S1d. Ariel, Ichaboe.
BRISTOL, JULY 24.---,Arrt: Susan, Penton, Demerara.
SwiussEA, JULY 23.—Arrd. Harlequin, and Isabella and
Ann, Valparaiso.
LlvznrooL, JULY 24.—Wind, variable and light.—Arrd.
Competitor, Poole, and The Duke, Bissett, Bombay; Conner,
Elliott, Bahia; Caspian, Torrey, New Orleans, Sld. 23, Vic-
toria, Aden ' Anne, Avon, and Ganges, Ichaboe ; Belfast,
Africa ; Lord Anson, Vera Cruz ; Tarolinta, New York ; John
Huton, Montreal. 24th, Pearl, Jamaica ; Elizabeth, New
Orleans ; Cansillia, New York ;'Greenock, Quebec. Off, Earl
Grey, Calcutta; Adriana, Barbiidoes.
CORK, JULY 22.—Arrd. Columbine, Brocklebank, and He-
roine, Hewitt, Ichaboe.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING THE GUANO ISLAND OF

ICIIABOE7 SOUTH AFRICA.
Extract of a letter from Angra Pequena Bay.
"The westernmost point on the south side of Angra Pe-
quena Bay is in lat. 25 deg. 39 min. south, and lon. 15 deg.
7 min. 30 sec. east, one league north of which is Ichaboe
Island, the latitude of which by lunar observation, recently
taken, is 26 deg. 24 min. 15 see• south, and lon. 14 deg.
46 min. 45 sec., variation of the needle 26 deg. west ; rise and
fall of the water around the island from sto 6 feet. This is
the place of loading. The island is only one mile in circum—
ference, and twelve from the shore, on the east side of which
vessels can lie all the year round in perfect safety and smooth
water, riding in five fathoms water.
" The safety and convenience of this harbour are owing to
the following circumstances :
" A point of land from the continent extends from 3 to 4
miles into the sea, to the south of the island; and from the
extremity of this point a reef puts off in a north-westerly
direction, until it nearly meets a reef that projects from the
west side of the island. Another reef puts off from the north-
east part of the island, consequently a bay is formed in which
a ship may lie the year round in safety and smooth water ;
but in entering this harbour or anchorage care should always
be taken to pass round the north end of the island, giving
its north-east point a berth of about half a mile which will
avoid all danger. In working into the harbour, the shore on
the main may be approached within two cables length. The
wind generally is from the north. The current sets in a
northerly direction, about three quarters of a mile per hour.
Vessels may load at Penguin Island, which is at the head of
Angra Pequena Bay, but Ichaboe Island is preferable, on ac-
count of the safety of the harbour,"
Extract of a letter received at Lloyds, dated Ichaboe, Mayl6.
" I wrote some time ago about the nature of the anchorage,
so that I have only to add that the more I see of the place
goes to a confirmation of its being anything but a safe har-
bour, for many ships have lost anchors and cables and some
half anchors, and is a truly destructive place for boats."

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.--A work is, we under-
stand, in 'Preparation, to be called " The Calumniator's
Guide; or, Every Man his own Apologist." It will contain
copious directions for backing out of slanderous assertions,
acid Trill be dedicated to Dir. Wodehouse.--Panch.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

CITY,_QUARTER TO THREE.

The general appearance of the Cotton market at Liverpoel
was the same. Prices were firm, but the article was very freely
offered. The sales were 6,000 bales, of which 300 American
were for exportation. The sales included 150 Egyptian, at
6/c1 to 7d, and 500 Surat, at 3d to 3id per lb. The rest was
American, at 34cl to 6id per lb.---A good demand was expe-
rienced for Shares in all the leading lines, and a large busi-
ness was done. Birmingham and Derby, 714 ; Ditto and
Gloucester, 1044 ; Eastern Counties Registered, 144 ; Ditto
Greenock Preference, 42e ; Lancaster and Carlisle, 4i ; Liver-
pool and Manchester, 230 ; London and Birmingham, 227 ;
Ditto, 321. Shares, 384 ; Ditto, Quarter Shares, 27 Man-
chester and Rossendale, 74i ; North Midland, 100 ; Sheffield
and Manchester, 78 ; South-Eastern, 38* ; Trent Valley, 121 ;
Paris and Lyons, 2113 s 6d; Paris and Rouen, 38*; Orleans,
Tours, and Bordeaux, 216 s 6d ; Tours and Nantes, 19s.

An attempt is being made to induce parties in the City
to invest capital for the completion of the Illinois Canal ;
the inducement bein&, that if this work is accomplished the
interest upon the capital already advanced, and to be sub-
scribed, will be regularly paid. No question it may be a good
scheme on the part of those who have already advanced cash
upon the security of American bonds and shares, especially the
creditors of Illinois to get others into the boat with them.
But the Yankees are not a set of people to let a good thing
pass out of their hands, and if the canal will, pay such
splendid profits as are anticipated, the contractors would
be the last people in the world to give others
an advantage. There are plenty of bona fide public
works in this country, secure against the chances of
repudiation, to which those having money at disposal, might
direct attention, without placing it in jeopardy, simply be-
cause 1 or 2 per cent. is now offered by Americans or others
for it. _ _

There are accounts from Buenos Ayres this morning, but
there is no intelligence worth notice, either in the letters or
papers.
A slight re-action has occurred in the quotations of the
British Securities to-day, a large speculative operation hav-
ing been commenced for a re-action in prices. While, how-
ever, money is so abundant as it is at the present moment,
all such attempts must fail. The case would be
very different if Stock was plentiful. On the con-
trary, it is as scarce as ever, if, indeed, it be
not more scarce than ever before remembered. Consols for
Money have varied from 991 to 991; and for the Account
from 991 to 991. These quotations show that Money Stock
has a preference as to price, over Time bargains. A good
deal of business has been done in the Three-and-a-Half per
Cents. Exchequer Bills have advanced to 80s. premium.
The Commissioners bought 10,0001. Consols at 99j.

Buenos Ayres Bonds have improved to 37: Brazilian
Bonds have been flat, at 83i ; and Mexican at 36k. The
high price of 20 per cent. above par has been paid for Russian
Bonds—the Five per Cents. In other Bonds there was
no business done this morning.
The advanced prices of yesterday of Railway Shares has
scarcely been maintained this morning, the Great Western
and one or two others excepted. In other Shares the busi-
ness done has been trifling.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
Bank 200
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities ........... 100%%
3 per Cent. Consols. Annuities " 90%%%
3% per Cent. Reduced Annuities
New 3% per Cent. Annuities.........
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan. 1860 l2se 9-16
Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan. 1860. l2 5-16
India Stock
India Bonds, 1,000............ .......... 96
Ditto under 1,000
Console for Account 99%%

Exchequer Bills, I%d. I yid.
1,0001. 000000 ..0.••••••••• 000000 79 80 pm.

, ----- ......... ..... ............ . - -- ,-
5001.••- ••..• ••••••••••••••••• -•..»....«.. 79 pin.
Ditto 5ma1f.......... ... . . •••••••••••• '79 81 pm.
FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent. .........
Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account 36%
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Converted 44X
Ditto for the Account
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent l2O
Spanish Bonds, Five per Cent 1840 •
Ditto Passive Bonds.
Ditto Three per Cent. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 33'
Dutch 2)6 per Cents 62
Dutch 5 per Cent 5................. .......... • 10136%
New Loan, 4 per Cents. (1844)
PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE,
RAILWAYS. PAID. PSI Swims.
Birmingham and Derby lOO '72% • to
Birmingham and Gloucester lOO .....«.. 104 to
Bristol and Exeter 7O .....«.. 80 .. to
Chester and Holyhead ........ 5 ....... 5)6
Chichester and 8right0n............ 5
Dublin and Cashel...-. ........ ... 2)6 5 to
F.astern Counties
Edinburgh and Glasgow 5O ..... .... 64
Great North of England.
Ditto New 5 B)4 to
Great Western

Ditto 34 Shares
Ditto Fifths

London and Brighton 5O 4831%ji to
London and South Western 41% ...... 87
London and Croydon
Manchester and Leeds ....... '7O
Manchester and Birmingham ... 40
Ditto % Share.
Midland Counties lOO lOO6 to 99%
Newcastle and DarlingtonJunct. t'l .... ..... 3t-h%
Northern and Eastern 45 to
Dh.to 4 Stares
Norwich and Brandon
South Eastern and Dover ......... &2% 38% %% % to
__ . _

Ditto New
York and North Midland

Ditto 34 Shares
Orleans, Tours, and Bourdeaux t

MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, JULY 24 —We have a
buoyant market, and an increased demand for shares gene-
rally. London and Birmingham, Quarters, 27 ; Manchester
and Birmingham, 56k, cum quarters; Sheffield and Man-
chester, 77i ; South Eastern, 38i ; Trent Valley, 9i ; Hud-
derdield and Manchester, 225. 6d. to 235. 9d. prem. ; Dub-
lin and Cashel, ; Manchester and Buxton, 365. ; Man-
chester, Bury, and Rossendale, 4-1 a; Blackburn and
Preston, 3a.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
THE CONVICT DALMAS..

Mr. EWART gave notice that he should to-morrow
put a question to the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, with respect to the convict Dalmas.
POOR-LAWS.

Sir J. GRAHAM then moved the further considera.
tion of the Poor-law Amendment Bill.

Mr. S. O'BRIEN postponed the following clause, of
which he had given notice :—" Provided always, and be
it further enacted, that whenever it shall appear to the
board of any district school that the space within such
school is more than sufficient fur the accommodation of
poor children within the district for which such school
shall have been built, it shall and may be lawful fur such
board, subject to the approval of the Poor-law Commis-
sioners, to make order for the admission of so many
other children residing in the said district as shall seem
expedient to such board ; and the weekly provision for
the maintenance and education of such children shall be
fixed by the board at such rate as shall in their judg-
ment be amply sufficient to cover every expense on ac-
count of such children."
Sir C. NAPIER then moved the following clauses :
And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the
guardians of the poor to give a higher rate of out-door
relief than that now given, at their discretion, to aged
people above sixty years of age, who have paid their poor
rates.—And be it enacted, that in the event of a married
couple, or a single man or woman, possessing a cottage
wider the value of 51. annual value, and having paid
their poor rates, and being no longer able to work, they
be eligible fur out-dour relief at the discretion of the
guardians."
Sir JAMES GRAHAM admitted that nothing could
be more praiseworthy or generous than the object of the
Gallant Officer; but he did not think th,A, the object he
had in view would be gained by the House adopting
these clauses. He decidedly objected to the first clause
as it was entirely superfluous, and as to the second
clause, the law as it at present stood enabled guardians
to give out-door relief to persons above 60 years et age.
Mr. R. YORKE said that if his Gallant Friend went
to a division upon the clauses he should have his sup-
port, but he thought he would exercise a wise and sound
discretion in withdrawing the clauses.
Mr. R. SPOONER. thought some steps ought to be
taken to inform guardians of the state of the law. If the
Gallant Officer pressed the clauses he should give his
support to the second, but he could not adopt the first.
Lord ASHLEY would supp,irt the second cl.iuse if it
was pressed by his Gallant Friend.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER would withdraw the first
clause, but felt compelled to divide the House upon the
second.

Mr. DENISON said, if the House adoptcd the
second clause, it ought to be carefully guarded.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that it was no answer to a per-
son who was destitute and who applied for relief, for the
guardians to say that he had a cottage under the value
of M. He would go further and say, that should death
ensue, the officer who had refused the relief would be
criminally responsible. Destitution was the cause for
relief, whatever it might arise from.

Mr. WODEHOUSI would support the clause. He
was happy to see the spirit with which the Right Hon.
Baronet was determined to carry out this measure, and
he would advise him to ride the Poor-law Commissioners
with a curb instead of a snaffle, for, if he did so, he
would get the thanks of the country.
Captain PECHELL trusted the Gallant Commodore
would press this clause to a division.
Mr. B. ESCOTT had as much objection to the second
as to the first clause.

After a short discussion, the House divided, when
there appeared—
For the clause 2B
Against it 42
Majority against the clause —l4
The clause was consequently lost.
Col. SIBTHORP then moved the following clauses :
—Be it enacted, that, from and after the 31st day of
March, 1845, the Commission appointed by an Act of 4
and 5 Wm. 4, c. 76, intituled, " an Act for the amend-
ment and better administration of the laws relating to
the poor in England and Wales," shall cease and be
abolished, and the several unions and union workhouses
that have been created or established for the mainten-
ance of the poor, under the aforesaid or any other Acts
relating to the relief of the poor in England and Wales,
shall be exclusively and solely under the management,
power, and control of the several boards of guardians,
constituted and appointed for the management of each
separate union or union workhouse, without any inter-
ference, power, or control:of the aforesaid board of Com-
missioners. And be it also enacted, that at the period
aforesaid, if any dispute, complaint, or other matter re-
lating to the management of any union or union work-
house shall arise, the same shall be referred to and be
taken cognisance of by the justices of the peace as-
sembled at the next petty sessions within the district in
which such union or union workhouse is or shall be
situate, and it shall be lawful to appeal from the deci-
sion of such justices to the justices of peace assembled
at the next general or quarter sessions of the peace for
the place or county, or division of county, in which such
union or union workhouse is or may be situate, arid
there finally adjudicated upon. Notwithstanding the
law had been in operation for ten years they still were
ignorant of what the law really was—guardians, magis-
trates, and overseers, were all in a mist, and the Com-
missioners were in a greater mist than any of then-. He
protested against this system of centralisation, and

,44.

against handing over the management of the poor to
persons who could possess no local knowledge. It was
an insult to the magistrates of every county to
suffer them to be interfered with as incompetent by
these Commissioners. These Commissioners were
now to act as schoolmasters, and to interfere with
clergymen in the management of their parishes. Per,
haps, in the present days of the march of intellect, the
knowledge of the clergyman might not be thought suffi-
cient, and they might think it necessary to send down
an Assistant Poor-law Commissioner, to teach the pau-
pers the Polka.—(Laughter.) He wanted to know where
this centralisation was to end. It set a poor man against
his natural protector, and led to attacks upon property.
His advice was to send the Commissioners out to grass
altogether—shoes off—harness off—let them be turned up,
be paid off, and got rid of altogether. He could not see
why they could not gradually go back to the old system
as they had gradually departed from it. If they would
do away with the whole of the Assistant-Commissioners
at once, he would consent to their retaining the three
Commissioners for a year- longer, for he did wish to do
the thing in a liberal way.
Sir J. GRAHAM said this question had, on more
than one occasion, come under the consideration of the
House during the present session. A great deal had
been said of the expense of the Commissioners. The
number of Assistant-Commissioners bad been reduced,
nearly one-half. The expenses of the Commission was,
it was said, 50,0001. a-year, and he should be glad to
know how 50,0001. a-} ear could be expended more eco-
nomically than in effecting a saving of two millions an-
nually. The House bad invariably testified their confi-
dence in the Commissioners by enlarging their discre-
tionary powers whenever the question was brought before
the House, and that had been done by the present mea-
sure. The carrying the motion of the Hon. and Gallant
Member would be equivalent to doing away entirely
with the present system of poor-laws. He partly agreed
with the Hon. Member for Lincoln that when the Com-
mission was first appointed, too much had been written
by them, and much of it had been written in a party
spirit. Since he had been in office that error had been
corrected ; he had had no necessity to exert any influ-
ence to bring about this effect, as the Commissioners
themselves had anticipated every wish on the subject.
When they were first appointed their position was a new
one, and allowances ought to be made for it. The Com-
missioners possessed his entire confidence, and, as"he
believed, the confidence of Parliament, and he trusted
the House would not agree to the motion of his Hon.
and Gallant Friend.

Mr. BERNAL hoped his Hon. and Gallant Friend
would not press his motion.
Col. SIBTHORP certainly would.
Mr. BERNAL was sorry to hear such an announce-
ment. He believed the state of the law was little under-
stoodin the country, more especially as regarded the
power of guardians to administer out-door relief Now,
that ought to be rectified, and the guardians fully in-
structed on the point. A clear, brief statement of the
law, should be drawn up and circulated among boards of
of guardians throughout the country. This ignorance
caused the law to be unpopular, and took away all con-
fidence in the decisions of the boards of guardians, or
of the tribunal of Somerset House.

Mr. R. SPOONER supported the motion. He thought
the object to be gained by the motion was a very de-
sirable one, and that any difficulties which might arise
ought to be met, in order to gain it. The Right Hon.
Gentleman said the Commissioners possessed the confi-
dence of Parliament; but could he say they possessed
the confidence of the people ?—(Hear, hear.) He
had always objected to the delegation of such
extraordinary powers to this extraordinary Commission,
and, therefore, he supported the motion. The Commis-
sioners had introduced the workhouse test— the very worst
test that could be applied ; and he had the authority of
William Pitt for saying that all the difficulties with
which the question of poor-law relief was encumbered
arose from the departure from the provisions of the Act
of Elizabeth. He called upon them to return to the old
constitutional provision of that law. The spirit of the
law was that every man who was able to work, and will
ing to work, should have work supplied to him. Now,
the poor man out of work was called upon to break up
his cottage, separate himself from his wife, come
into the workhouse, and become a pauper for
life. The instructions of the Commissioners had
been framed with a covert design to go beyond the law,
and that was the reason of the ignorance existing on
the subject of the law. He hoped that the Right Hon.
Baronet would adopt the suggestion of the Hon. Member
for' Weymouth, and cause a short and clear account of
the-law to be drawn up and circulated throughout the
country. He had always had a great feeling against the
continuance of the Commission, and the statement of
the Right Hon. Baronet that they had power to interfere
with Local Acts, made him the more anxious to prevent
their continuance. He said this at the risk of being
charged with Radicalism. It there was any mistake it
was on the part of those who imagined that because he
was anxious to prevent interference with the Local Act
of Birmingham he was therefore a Reformer. He
begged pardon for having trespassed so long on the at-
tention of the House, but he had felt it his duty to take
the earliest opportunity of stating his views on this sub-
ject.

[LEFT SITTING.I

PARLIAMENTARY UIV ISI.ONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of C.MIMORS.)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24.
POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

Report further considered:—Clause (And be it Enacted,
That when any two persons, being husband and wife, both of
whom shall be above the age of sixty years, shall be received
into any workhouse, in pursuance of the provisions of the said
recited Act, or of this Act, such two persons shall not be com-
pelled to live separate and apart from each other in such work-
house; and that to this end suitable and decent accommoda-
tion shall be provided in every workhouse for each man and his
wife so of the ages aforesaid, any thing in the said recited Act,
or in the rules or regulations for the government of any work-
house, to the contrary notwithstanding) brought up, and read
a first time ; Motion made, and Question put, " That the said
Clause be now read a second time :" The House divided :
MINORITY—AYES, 32.
Ackers, James Fleetwood, Sir P. Newdegate, C. N.
tiarnard. E. G. Forman, T. Seaton O'Brien, A. S.
Baskerville, T. B. M Gardner, J. 1). Palmer, G.
Beresford, Major Gore, Montague Pechell, Captain
Bowes, John Hanle, J. H. Sibthorp, Colonel
Chetwode, Sir John Hodgson, Richard Spooner, Richard
Collett, John Liddel, H. I'. Williams, W.
Colvile, C. Robert M‘Geachy, F. A. Wortley, Hon. Jn. S
Dodd, George Manes, Richard
buncombe, 'l'. S. Morris, David TELLERS.
Egerton, W. T. blunts, G. F. Borthwick, Peter
E (it,Bickham Napier, Sir Charles Manners, Lord J.