The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-06 00:00:00

•T
E-A FEBR It 6,
r
_
S OND T S Al' VENI

to the rectifying-house through that pipe. Mr. Smith
said that it was impossible, as it would require a ,
left-handed cock to do so, and he defied them to find a left-
handed. cock on his premises. The officers said that they
would make the experiment with a tub of water. Mr. Smith
said if they succeeded, they would do more than any one else
ever did or thought of. They made the experiment, however.
Having connected the tub, containing sixty gallons of water,
by a hose with the pipe, and having stopped off the cocks of
all the branches except that leading to the vat, No. 17, in
the rectifying-house, the water passed from the tub to the
vat in about a minute. Witness and Cameron remained
in the distillery attending to the tub, while the
officers went into the other house to watch the result
at the vat. Some of Mr. Smith's servants and he himself
were present. After the water was gone from the tub Mr.
James Smith came in, and said that the conduct of the
officers was diabolical. Mr. G. Smith said that they had
put some water in the tub, and that they had made it dis-
appear as if by some magic of their own. After this ex-
periment, the officers said they would repeat it with spirits
They asked Mr. Smith's permission, which he refused to
give. He said that to pass spirits in that way would be
illegal ; he would not oppose them by force, but would hold
them responsible for whatever they did. Witness procured
a pipe eleven feet long, with which he connected the spirit
vat No. 8, in the distillery, with the vat No. 17, in
the rectifying-house. The strength of the spirit in No. 8 had
been first ascertained by the other officers. The spirit
was then permitted to flow from the vat into the pipe,. but
after a short time it ceased to flow. This was ascertained,upon examination, to be occasioned by air in the pipes.
This was remedied by permitting water from the water-tank
to flow through them, as there was a great pressure ;
and the leaks being stopped with putty, the spirits
in the vat No. 8, was examined, and it was found
that about 33 gallons had been used in the first trial. The
cock of No. 8 was then turned, and the spirits permitted to
flow into thepipe. Whilst it was running he went round to
No. 17, in the other house, and four.d the spirits coming in
very fast, and of a great strength. gradually increasing
to eleven above proof. Ile bad samples of the spirit
in Court. He had not himself tested the strength
of the spirit in No. 8. When they were satisfied with the
experiment they got out the spirit that remained in the
pipes, by causing the water from the tank to flow through
them, which forced the spirit out. They afterwards tasted
the water, and found that it had no flavour of spirit. When
they were about to make the experiment, Mr. G. Smith
said they would contaminate all the water on the
premises with spirits, and the horses would be drunk for
weeks. Subsequently, on the 30th, Mr. Smith toll him that
his family had not been able since the experiment to get a
drop of water free from the taint of spirits. Witness said lie
would taste the water himself; but Mr. Smith would not
allow him, and asked " By what right he attempted to enter
his (defendant's) house ?"
To the CIIIEF BARON-The quantity of spirits which re-
mained in the whole line of pipes after the flow from one vat
to the other had ceased, would be about 450 gallons. These
might (if allowed to remain long in the pipes) become mixed
with a little water.

The CHIEF BARox—Then every time the machinery was
employed to pass spirits from the one house to the other 450
gallons would be placed in jeopardy ? Witness (to Sir T,
Wilde)—The mixture of the water would not be of
any consequence, because all the spirits had to be
re-distilled in the process of rectification. After
the experiment, it was found that there were 3,5001 G
gallons in vat No. 17, which had before been empty. Eleven
hundred gallons of water were afterwards passed through
the pipes to show that no spirit remained in them.
Sir T. WILDE said that he was now about to examine the
witness on another part of the case.
The Lora) CHIEF JUSTICE said that it would be more ex-
pedient to adjourn the examination till to-morrow, as it was
now beyond half. past four.
Mr. RELAX submitted that it was highly desirable that the
jury should examine the premises in person, as it was evident
that the model, elaborate as it was, did not enable them to
judge correctly of the evidence.
The Somerton-GENERAL said that, if the application had
been made before the trial had proceeded so far, he should
have been disposed to accede to it. But he thought it would
now be highly inexpedient.
Mr. LtnTrN could not see what was the objection. The
defendant's friends could exercise no influence or misrepresent
anything, as the premises were entirely in the hands of the
Excise.

The CHIEF BARON thought it would be necessary now to
go on as well as they could with the assistance they already
possessed.
The Court then rose.

LONDON AND COUNTY JOINT
STOCK BANK-
The Directors and Shareholders of this establish-
ment held their usual half-yearly meeting at their
office, 7, Lombard-street, yesterday.
The SECRETARY read the advertisement conven-
ing the meeting, and the Directors' report, of which
the following is the substance :
" Your Directors have again much pleasure in laying
their half-yearly report before the Proprietors.
" Your Directors are happy to report the business of
the Bank continues to improve and to increase, and they
recommend the payment of the usual dividend at the rate
of 5 per cent. per annum on the capital stock of the
Company for the half-year ending Dec. 31, 1844.
" The Proprietors will recollect, that at the last
meeting the Directors reported, they had, by a second
verdict, maintained their right to hold the Scrip of the
Royal Mail Packet Company, which had heen lodged
with them fer advances bona fide made to Messrs. Coils,
the brokers of Messrs. Acraman of Bristol.
After alluding to the law proceedings (the trial
against the assignees of Messrs. Acraman) the report
stated that the present head office could not afford the
accommodation required by the great increase of the
Company's business, and that they had obtained the
more extensive premises, 21, Lombard-street, to which
they intend to remove during the ensuing month.
The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to address the meet-
ing at considerable lengths. He congratulated the
Shareholders on the prosperous state of the affairs of
the bank for the past half year, which he said had
not only been very satisfactory, but far exceeded the
most sanguine expectations of the Directors. He then
alluded to the state of the Branch Banks, which he
said were equally satisfactory and profitable in their
!malts. With regard to the legal proceedings in
which the Company were likely to be involved, he
said this was the third time they would be compelled to
take their position as defendants, in order to submit to a
jury of merchants the question as to whether they
had a right to dispose of scrip, of which they had
become the holders. He next read the balance-sheet,
by which it appeared that a large suns was to be
placed to the credit of the Company. Having
spoken at considerable length, and congratu-
lated the Shareholders upon being the pro-
prietors of so prosperous and profitable a con-
cern, he next answered several questions that
were put to him by some proprietors upon matters of
detail, and the replies appeared to give general satis-
faction.

The meeting unanimously adopted the balance-
sheet, re-elected the out-going members of the Board
and auditors, and having passed a resolution to the
effect that the directors be paid 1,5001., to be divided
amongst them as remuneration for their services, the
usual votes of thanks were passed, and the meeting
separated.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
;FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAT.
STANDARD.—The debate in the House of Com •
mons last night was—as always happens on the second
night of the session, when there is no amendment to the
address, and scarcely a formed opposition party—very
flat, and, if we may apply so undignified a word, " rag-
ged"—a thing of shreds and patches. We regra that
the Premier was not able to give a more encou-
raging reply to the question put to him re-
spesting the proposed refuge harbours in the
Channel ; but we are bound to own that we feel more
regret than surprise at the Right Honourable baronet's
hesitation. lie knows that the construction of the har-
bours will involve a considerable expense, probably five
or six millions stering, and he knows, no minister ever
had such good reason to know it, that a surplus of re-
venue over income is a principal spring of national pros-
perity ; that surplus his wisdom has secured, and with
it the inseparably attendant prosperity ; and he must be
!sorgiren if he is reluctant to risk them—at all events
reluctant to plei'ge herself to any expensive measures
until Parliament has given him security that the means
of effecting it should not fail without encroaching upon
his surplus. On the other hand, we cannot help seeing
that the Channel refuge harbours are a necessity created
by our augmented commerce, and by the change that
me am navigation must effect in thesystem of maritime war.
Nor can we be blind to the fact that if they are not under-
taken by a minister as bold and successful in his financial
policy as Sir Robert Peel, they never will be undertaken
at all. The sum proposed is large, say six millions
sterlirg, but these six millions could not be expended in
one year, two years, or probably in less than six years.
The expenditure until all the harbours should be com-
pleted, would, therefore, scarcely exceed one million
per annum in the whole six years—little more
than one year's produce of the property-tax. Is
it possible, however, to imagine any money so
well laid out ? Had Mr. Pitt realised his
plan of a refuge harbour at Dover, which in the
then imperfect state of constructive science it was calcu-
lated a ould cost four millions (though it is now esti-
mated at no more than two millions and a half), there
is no doubt that the four millions would, before this,
have been re-paid five times over in vessels (lives
out of question) saved from shipwreck ; five times
over again, in facilities afforded to the river com-
merce, and twenty times over in the advantage it
would have afforded during the late war. The
Channel harbours, accompanied by the increase in our
steam navy in progress, would in fact double—more
than double the power of this country, offensive as
well as defensive, in any future war a ith
neiabouring nation of the Continent. We
do not, however, contemplate the subject in a military
light. Preparation for war is no doubt the best guarantee
of peace, but there are other guarantees of peace much
pt
,whichharbour
Channel nierle lui
sa ribuo ur s
full,
measure
er
es p. e
Fl.lcl ye
communication and active commerce are these pleasanter
guarantees, and the harho •of
doruarwsindeearly all the coasting
of the Channe }urs which we speak
trade of Western Eukrovi:eutlod
pla,cod as that harbour is
Dunkirk,
sometimessatpr een t Raasms
an
geantter,epi lobe t
boldlybut Havre and Rotterdam ;
DeeonveDri,e
psptaendaiiindg Dunn'
in the Channel, flanked by Dungenessas it does stand out
the noble roadstead, the Downs,
on one side, and
with a safe, capacicus, deep-water the
other, would,
the universal entrepot of the Channel harbour, become
for both sides. This is a subjectecoasting trade
the elder readers of the Standard uponeo which, as
long held very strong opinions ; but if it were ewree havep
sible to strengthen our previous convictions the
would be strengthened by a glance at Mr. Wyld's
recently published and splendid post map of Europe.
In this map the distances of the several ports in the
Channel from each other are carefully laid down, and it
is impossible not to see in a compansen of these dis-

tances, the enormous amount of coasting commerce that
this country sacrifices in not providing a safe, capacious,
deep water harbour at Dover.

TATTERSALL'S.-THIS EVENING

of what had passed. The representative of the
French Government had more ample means in his
power of presenting an accurate record of what had
passed, but no such record existed as far as the Eng-
lish Government was concerned. He could assure
the House that he did not shrink from the production
of these papers, because he thought their production
would be injurious to the Government, but he
did hope that if the feelings of the House
and of the country were favourable to the
principle of bringing these differences to an amicable
conclusion, and as each party had made concessions,
forjthe sake of bringing the matter to that amicable
conclusion—if the House was satisfied with the course
hich the Government had taken, he trusted they
would he content with the production of the result of
those communications, and would not press for the pro•
duction of those portions of the correspondence which
were of an irritating character.—(Loud cheers.) He
felt obliged for the nianner in which he had put the
question, and he trusted that after the announcement
which bad been made, the Right Hon. Gentleman I
would not press for the production of the whole of the
papers.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the production
of the results of the correspondence would be satis-
factory. It would be irregular to press for the pro-
duction
of papers, the production of which would be
injurious to the public service, and as to the produc-
tion of any irritating correspondence, he would not
press for it.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL.
Mr. F. BARING seeing the Right Hon. Gentle-
man the Secretary of the Home Department in his
place, would ask him if it was his intention to intro •
duce, during the present session, any measure for the
regulation of the Ecclesiastical Courts.—(Cheers.)
Sir JAMES GRAHAM had already given notice
of the introduction of several measures of very great
importanee during the present session ; but, from the
experience of the last two sessions—(A laugh)—
he despaired of being enabled to bring
in any measure for the regulation of Eccle-
siastical Courts, which would be satisfactory to
the present Parliament.—(Cheers and laughter.) He
knew not what might be the intention of his Hon.
and Learned Friend the Advocate-General—(A.
laugh)—but he himself had no intention of bringing
forward any measure on the subject.—(Laughter.)
Lord J. RUSSELL put a question relative to the
charter of the College of Surgeons, which we could
not catch.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the Hon. Member for
Finsbury had given notice of a moti, n for the pro-
duction of the charter to the College of Surgeons.
He had offered no opposition to the production of
other papers connected with the subject. These
papers would be laid upon the table.
Mr. WAKLEY said the Right Hon. Gentleman
had not correctly interpreted the nature of his
motion, which was for a copy of the memorial pre-
sented to the Crown from the Council of the College
of Surgeons.
MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES.
Mr. EWART said he would feel obliged for an
answer to the question he was about to put, if it
were convenient to the Government to answer it, if
not he would put the question on some other occasion.
He alluded to the trade of the river La Plata which,
had been so much obstructed of late, and it would
give him great pleasure to hear that there was
even an approximation to an arrangement of
the subject. The British merchants entertained
great apprehensions regarding the trade with these
parts, as the Government of Buenos Ayres had inter-
fered with the navigation of the River Plata. He
had hoped, from the aspect which things presented
last session, that some combined operations on the
part of the Governments of France, England, and
Brazil, would be attempted.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he regretted exceed-
ingly the prolongation of those lamentable hostilities
between the inhabitants of the two small powers
whose quarrel disturbed the commerce of Eu-
rope. He could assure the Ilonourable and
Learned Gentleman that this question had
occupied the attention of the Government during
the recess. He had a communication with the Go-
vernment of Brazil, and with the Government of
France on the subject. He mild not better illus-
trate the importance of a cordial co-operation be-
tween France and England, than by mentioning what
had occurred on this subject. When the proposal for
interference was made to France, that Goverment at
once hearkened to the call, and joined in their efforts.
He trusted that, with the concurrence of Brazil, the
three Governments, by acting in complete concert,
would make such representations to the belligerent
parties as would terminate these disestrous events.
He hoped the good sense of the parties would not
reject such mediation.—(Hear, hear.)
ASSIZE EXPENSES IN IRELAND.

Lord CLEMENTS wished to know whether the
expenses of the going judges of assizes in Ireland had
• been increased, in consequence of any recent arrange-
ment?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said the Noble Lord was not present last
session when the votes regamling law expenses in
Ireland were under the consideration of the House.
The grounds for seeking an additional allowance
sere simply these. By an Irish Act of Parliament
' the judges were allowed 201. Irish to provide them-
' selves with lodgings in the several assize towns in
Ireland. The sum was found inadequate to obtain
lodgings in which the judges could decently reside;
and it appeared therefore to the Government that an
estimate should be submitted to Parliament for an
increased allowance. Accordingly an estimate was
submitted in the course of the last session,
Parliament acquiesced in the amount fixed, namely,
6691. for the thirty-nine assize towns.
Lord G. SOMERSET moved for leave to intro.
duce the six following Bills :—the Companies Clauses
Consolidation Bill ; the Lands Clauses Consolidation
Bill ; the Railway Clauses Consolidation Bill ; the
Companies Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Bill
the Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) 8111 ;
the Railway Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Bill;
the object of the Government in introducing Bills was
to emboiy the statutes which already existed in one
uniform Act. Great uncertainty had hitherto pre-
vailed in reference to the matters which were em-
braced by their provisions ; s.nd on this ground it
had been thought desirable that some general Bills
should be introduced. The Noble Lord spoke, in an
extremely low tone, of the proceedings of the Board
of Trade. He could see no objection to fourteen days
being allowed, after the reports of the Board had
beE n published for allowing parties to decide whether
they would proceed or not. For his own part, he
should never consider himself bound, either as repre
senting one constituency, or in his more general cha-
racter as a Member of that House, to follow in the
track of the Board of Trade. He wished it to
be understood that those Bills would not be com-
pulsory;
1 • but they would be found to be so useful
that he scarcely apprehended any opposition
to them, and therefore he trusted the House would go
further than he had at first expected, and give them
the support they merited. He did not think it would
he convenient if he troubled the House with any fur-
ther observations, and therefore he would conclude
with this observation, that the copies of tha Bills
would be in the hands of Members by Saturday
next. _ _

Lord HOWICK thought the explanation given by
the Noble Lord opposite quite satisfactory. He did
think that fourteen days' notice after the reports of
the Board of Trade were before the public quite suffi-
cient. He thought he also understood the Noble
Lord to say that it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government, when there were two competing lines
reportel on, those reports should be referred to a
Committee of the House. This was a point of ex-
treme importance, in order that the report should
have a full and fair scrutiny; so tha` if this point be
conceded, he was quite satisfied. He would also
wish to remark, in reference to the Bills which the
Noble Lord now proposed to bring forward, that
the country should feel greatly indebted to him
for them, as they would tend greatly to les-
sen the expenses hitherto attending those
meaeuree; but before he sat down he would
beg leave to ask when these Bills would be laid
upon the table of the House ? There was one other
observation he had to make. In order to carry out
substantially those arrangements he had been alluding
to, regarding the reports of the Board of Trade, it
would be necessary, where there were reports on two
competing lines, that that which had been unfavour-
ably reported on, should have precedence before the
Committee of that m hich had been favourably re-
ported, for this would be only fair.--(Hear, hear.)
He thought that a company should not be allowed to
carry a Bill through the Committee, where there vvai
a competing line, without giving the latter an oppor-
tunity of putting forward their case, whether the re-
port of the Board of Trade had been favourable or not.
Mr. lIODGSON wished to say a few words upan
what had fallen from the Noble Lord, who
had said that the line in favour of which the
Board of Trade had reported, should not be proceeded
with in Committe until the Board should also have
reported on the competing line. Now,
one he thought
this might in some cases erate unfairly. There
might be two companies, of which, although
ready to proceed, would prefer delay, in the hope of
forcing the competing company to come to a com-
promise; what he should recommend was, that after
the Board of Trade had reported in favour of one
line, the other company should be admitted to appear
in opposition before the Committee with plans and
drawings.
Sir GEORGE GREY thought that the delay
suggested by his Noble Friend was only reasonable,
and would not operate materially to the inconvenience
of the Company favoured in the report of the Board
of Trade.

Sir It. PEEL had said that the Government would
give the subject their impartial consideration, and
they had done so. What he proposed was, that the

parties should be allowed to present their petition
whenever they pleased, but that they should not be
obliged to present them before fourteen days.
He had that day had an interview with his Right
Hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, and
he thought it would not be desirable to cost I.oep the
presentation of those reports that related to railways
that might be considered to belong to a particular
class, not immediately bearing on other railways,
till the whole of the reports should be ready. His
Right Hon. Friend would be prepared in the course
of the next week to take one particular class of rail-
ways—say the Kentish lines—and present, during the
week, the report on that class, and then proceed with
various other classes. The whole would thus be
divided into six or seven families, if he might so call
them, the interests of which were neither competing
nor connected with other lines, and periodical
reports of them laid before the House. It
was never contemplated that the Board shouldin any way fetter or control the dis-
cretion of Parliament. The intervention of the
Board of Trade was for a specified purpose, for afford-
ing information to the House, and that intervention
did not at all involve the Government in any neces-
sity of taking any other part in questions connected
with railroads than it had hitherto done.
Col. SIBTHORPE said it was pretty well-known
to that House and to the country, that be was not
tpoaratisckullyaargoestpioanrt,ial
in
too ilonsreagoreonacdos.
of some
rose now
somoreports
that had been circulated in reference to certain
members of what was called the Railway Commis-
gsiooont.lemTehneooLupesotsiioong
the Commissionany of
wereth
e four
directly or indirectly, with any of those railroads
was
if
which had been brought under their consideration ?
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said it had
never struck him that the question which had been
put by his Gallant Friend would have been asked.
He was not consulted with regard to the formation of
the Committee. All he knew from the communica-
tions which had been given was, that parties always
expressed themselves satisfied with the fairness and
intelligence with which the casesthat came before the
Committee had been discussed.
Mr. WAKLEY said that the question which had
been put by the Hon. and Gallant Colonel was not
answered by the Noble Lord. He did not expect
that it would, because the Noble Lord did not possess
the necessary information on the subject. It was
true, as stated by the Hon. and Gallant Colonel,
that reports were actively circulated in the
City to the prejudice of holders of rail-
way shares. It was stated generally and
openly by parties acquainted with railway subjects
that private information in the market or parties
could not have made such enormous sums of money
within a few weeks.—(Hear, hear.) The Right
Hon. Baronet opposite alluded to the circumstance
how dangerous to the character of the Government it
would be if such an opinion were circulated and
not contradicted or capable of being contra-
dicted. But the Right Hon. Gentleman wished
to have something like a tangible accusation. There
was great difficulty in obtaining such information, but
this was clear, that certain parties in the city who
were engaged in the sale of railway shares happened
to be right in their speculations, and were not wrong
in any one instance for several weeks ; and one gen-
tleman made 40,0001. by the sale of shares in a single
day, the shares having gone from a small premium to
a premium of 91. 105. or 10/. in the course of a few
hours. The Noble Lord the Member for Sunder-
land had opened the question last night in a
most able and practical speech. The Right Hon.
Gentleman paid that attention to it which it deserved,
and showed by his decision of adjourning the subject,
that he was himself influenced by prejudice, but was
open to receive impressions from either side of the
House. But the question then opened ought
not to be thus abruptly terminated. If the
the only result to be obtained by . the speech
of the Noble Lord, was an extension of the
time with regard to the introduction of Private Bills,
he would feel greatly disappointed as to the benefit
which he anticipated from the speech which the
Noble Lord had addressed to the House. If he (Mr.
Wakley) recollected rightly, the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman, when sitting on his (Mr. Wakley's) side of
the House, said that he had sat for 63 or 65 days on, he
believed, the Stafford and Rugby Railway Committee.
During the whole of that time was not one gigantic
company fighting another company, and beatingjus-
tice and principle out of doors.— (Hear, hear.) The
Right Hon. Gentleman had stated that that iniquity
had been perpetrated yesterday ; the Right Hon.
Gentleman, in reply to the Noble Lord who had so
ably discussed the subject, stated that it was most
difficult to control barristers in their addresses
to Committees of that House. That was a most
extraordinary declaration for the first Minister of
England to make ; a Minister, be it remembered, who
influenced Foreing Powers in no ordinary de-
gree.—(Hear, hear.) How extraordinary that he
should complain, in his place in Parliament,
of the difficulty of controlling barristers in their ad-
dresses to Committees of that House.—(Laughter.)
He did deny that the conduct of Committees of that
House with regard to private Bills was not only inju-
rious to the best interests of the country, but disgraceful
to the cause of justice and detrimental to the
character of that House.—(Hear, hear.) They could
not be ignorant of the practices carried on there.
Why it was well known that barristers of moderate
ability, during the last session, earned their 68 and
12,0001. in the Committees of that House.—(Hear,
hear.) The difficulty of controlling barris-
ters ! Why, the Right Honourable Baronet
were he applying his vigorous mind to find a remedy
could do so in less than four hours, and it was only
for want of that application that they had not
the remedy before them. They need not expect
it from the law officers, for barristers had too much
respect for the law, to throw out insinuations
against barristers. The common sense of the people
of England found out the best mode of transacting
bnsiness—of accomplishing their objects. Supposing
the Right Hon. Baronet employed a physician, and
said, "As long as I am in good health I will give you
ten guineas a-day." Why, when did they think the
Right Hon. Baronet would be ill ?—(Laughter.)
Supposing, again, that he got into a cab at the end of
Oxford-street, and said to the cabman—" I
wish to see the Lord Mayor's Mansion-house ;
but I don't know, perhaps you don't, but
drive me about the streets till you find it, and I'll
give you a guinea a day."—(Continued laughter.)
He ,vould, I am assured, be a very long time
in finding it. What was the common rule with
barristers ? This. They got their ft o for a
particular case, and how long did they think
the trial lasted. It was, indeed, a lengthened one if
it went over a couple of days. It was, at all events
brought to a conclusion within a very limited period.
But iu the Committee of that House the case was
very different. Ilis (Mr. Wakley) information said,
that barristers in Committee were paid by the day,
divisions in each clause. The senior barrister, to
which he alluded, commenced arguing the question
on the first sub-division, and he commenced a kind of
circle, for their was neither beginning nor end to his
argument, but he continued during five hours
upon the first sub-division, and at the end
of that time it was intimated that the
Speaker was at prayer. On the following day one of
the Committee said, " Good God, when will there b 3
a termination to this affair! I really think I shall
ensure my life—he has not got through one of his
subdivisions—l am sure it will kill me." And
yet there were 183 clauses to go through with.
The junior barrister in a Committee frequently asked
for time, in consequence of his senior being absent,
and it was a perfectly notorious thing that seniors
frequently required Committoes to be adjourned
from day to day, and witnesses to be detained,
at an enormous expense, until it was conve-
nient for them to be present. He (Mr.
Wakley) had been informed that a junior
barrister, very young, addressed a Committee some-
thing after the following effect:—" Mr. Chairman
their
. da
le ne-
cessary and Gentlemen, the Bill I hold in my hand contains
183 clauses, and each clause contains a distinct subject,
and that subject, I find, on being sub-divided, will em-
brace 13 subdivisions." 183 clauses and 13 sub-
thirteen subdivisions in each. When they applied
common sense to such a practice as this, he thought it
would be seen that it called for immediate remedy, in
every view in which the subject conld be taken. There
was not an aspect in which it could be placed
before the mind that did not cry for a
remedy. Somebody was robbed. Members of that
House were robbed of. their time, robbed of their
comfort, robbed of their health, and robbed of their
convenience ; while other parties were robbed of
their money, and might be ruined by these disgraceful
proceedings. He thanked the Noble Lord (Lord
Howick) for having introduced the subject, and he
trusted the Right lion. Gentleman opposite would
endeavour to apply a remedy to the evil complained
of. He would only trouble the House with one more
remark, and . that was, with respect to the
secret proceedings of the Committee of the Board of
Trade. The Noble Lord had alluded to the vast
amount of property that was placed almost at
the disposal of that Board. The Noble Lord
also justly stated. that every trial in which
property was involved was made public. They
must recollect that the character of the Go-
vernment was implicated in these rumours. II
Gentlemen opposite, he was sure, could *not obn.
aware of what was. said on this subji.ct.—(lfeare,
ien g
absolutely
hear.) What objection could there be if
tacted r honestlywing the
randdo
or
s uprightly,operi_ f throwing rwo,
were
the Committee of the Board of Trade,
open, and letting the public see all that trans ir
doors
(Hear, hear.) . If there were insuperable 'opbste
that the tribunal should he a secret tribunal,
would be better that it should be at once aboulnial, dit
because its continuance,. under such circumstances,se
would not only inflict great injury upon individuals

but would bring the character of the Government
itself' into disgrace.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE said that the lion.
Gentleman had made many forcible remarks on the
delay which took place in the conducting of the pri-
v,if@ business heforis Cc,,mmittc,' rt that
he had also asked why mat dcpart nt of tl-e
Board of Trade did not conduct their business %,%ith
open doors. lie would give the Hon. Gentleman one
reason only, they did not do so. If the railway de-
partment of the Board of Trade were to conduct
their business in public, the lion. Gentleman would
find that there would be the same complaint made of
the delays, the dilatoriness and the expense of con-
ducting investigations before that Committee that
he had so justly made of the manner in
which private business was conducted before
Committees of that House. He admitted the great
difficulty which existed from the not conducting the
inquiries before the Board of Trade with open doors ;
but on the other hand, it should be considered that
these inquiries were not final; they were merely pre-
Ihninary inquiries. On no other grounds could the
constitution of that tribunal be defensible.—(Cheers.)
The real question was, if, on the whole, it was not
expedient that some such preliminary inquiry should
be made. He confessed that he was of opi-
nion that however doubtful might be their decisions
in some instances, on the whole the experi-
ment had worked well. He admitted that any
inquiry involving secrecy must be necessarily imper-
fect, and therefore he fell back upon the dec'earation
which had been made last session, that these inquiries
before the Board of Trade did not profess to
give any definite result.—(Cheers) He hoped
the House would look at the question not upon
abstract principles, but with a view to practical re-
sults. They were at present in a great crisis in
railway matters. A mass of proposals had been
brought forward. The whole speculative action
of the country seemed to be concentrated
upon railways, and although fault might be
found with some of the decisions of
the Committee of the Board of Trade, valid objections
might be urged against those inquiries not being
conducted in public, yet he would ask the House in
what condition they would have found themselves if
no preliminary inquiry had taken place, but
if, at the present moment, they had had 240
railway Bills laid en the table of the House of Com-
mons without any clue to guide them in the investi-
gation of their respective merits, but leaving the
whole of them subject to those delays of which the Hon.
Gentleman had so justly complained in the conduct of
the private business of the House. The subject would,
no doubt, undergo further investigation at a future
time, and there could be no doubt that where such
immense interests were idvolved certain parties must
be disappointed. The Hon. Gentleman had alluded
to certain rumours, but he would express a confident
opinion that up to the present moment,:on the
whole, the public sentiment was in favour
of those decisions to which the railway depart-
ment of the Board of Trade had come.
The arrangements had been made with a view to
candour and impartiality. He must say on behalf
of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade,
that the utm st possible precautions had been
made to insure secrecy. The Honourable Gen-
tleman said that notions had gone abroad
as to what the nature of these repots
would be. A very small part of the Hon. Gentle-
man's sagacity would enable him to see that that
was no proof, nor even a very strong presumption,
that anything had been divulged from the railway
department.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS

The following are the results of "A Table of Mortality
in the Metropolis, showing the Number of Deaths from
all Causes registered in the Week ending Saturday, tilt
Ist of February, 1845." The Table is issued from the Office
of the Registrar-General:—.

CAUSES OF DEATH Weekly
. Total. Average of
e Years
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases 200 Fl`
184
Diseases of variable or uncertain seat llO 106
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses 155 159
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration
Diseases of the Heart and 8100d-vessels 29 24
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other
Organs of Digestion ..
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. lO 10
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles 4 6
Diseases of the Skin, &c. ...... .
...
Old Age, or Natural Decay
89 70
By Violence, Privation, or Intemperance
Causes specified ...............1004 954
Deaths from all Causes ...... . ................... 1011 963
DEATHS FROM THE PRINCIPAL DISEASES INCLUDED UNDER
THE ABOVE HEADS.

Total. Weekly Average
Consumption of Five Years.
121 147
Scarlatina 35 36
Pneumonia ..........
Dropsy ..... .. ..
Hooping Cough 26 33
Typhus
Small Pox
Disease of the Heart
Measles
Apoplexy .......... ... .... ... 26 19
Diseases of the Brain ......
Diarrhoea..
Sudden Deaths
DISTRICTS.

Deaths Weekly Births
in Average of in
the Week. Five Years. the Week,
West
North lB9 176 199
Central
East 221 209 274
South

Total .... ......... ..... 1011 963 1236

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The followingpara-
graph appeared yesterday in a morning Contemporary
whose abject servility is but ill-rewarded by its patrons:
" Our well-informed Contemporary, the Times, stated yes-
terday morning, in its leading columns, that Sir George
Clerk was to be the Vice-President of the Board of Trade. In
the House of Commons, last night, Mr. Young moved for a
new writ for the borough of Stamford, Sir George Clerk
having accepted the office of Master of the Mint. So much
for the early and accurate information of the Times!
Neither Mr. Cardwell nor Sir George Clerk has been ap-
pointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade, although our
Contemporary first gave the appointment to one, and then to
the other."
The stupidity of our Contemporary is, if possible,
greater than usual. The office of Master of the Mint is
always held conjointly with that of either President or
Vice-President of the Board of Trade: There is but
one salary—two thousand pounds a-year—specifically
all,,Wd for the Board of Trade, and the office of
Master of the Mint, which has no duties attached,
is annexed to either of these appointments as may be
necessary. Mr. Gladstone was President of the Board
of Trade and Master of the Mint, receiving the salary
of the latter office, which is also 2,000/. per annum.
Lord Dalhousie, previous to Mr. Gladstone's retirement,
was Vice-President, and received the salary attached to
the appointment in the Board of Trade, which he still
retains. The office of the Master of the Mint is in con-
sequence held by Sir George Clerk, in conjunction with
the Vice-Presidency. And the writ for Stamford was
moved for on the acceptance of office as Master of the
Mint only, as it is not usual to confer the appointment
of " Vice-President of the Committee of Privy Council
for Trade" upon any person until he has been sworn in
as a Privy Councillor, which Sir George Clerk has not
yet had the opportunity of doing. Mr. Cardwell is
Secretary of the Treasury, and lies taken his seat at the
Board in the usual manner.—Times.
COLD WATER CIIRE.—A singular incident occurred
during the fire at the warehouse of Messrs. M'Crea and
Boord, which took place last week in this town. Amongst
the individuals who laudably gave their assistance on the
occasion, was Mr. John Brier, hairdresser, and landlord of
the Labour-and-Health house, Southgate. For some years
Mr. Brier had laboured under deafness, still more so on catch-
ing cold. On this occasion, whilst actively engaged inside
the burning building, one of the engines played into his ear,
and knocked him down. On recovering from the stunning
effects of the accident, Mr. Brier found, to his great surprise
and gratification, that his hearing was completely restored,
and finding the benefit to continue, gave the firemen a treat,
declaring they had done him more good than all the doctors
in the town.—Lralifax Guardian.
ASTOUNDING ! The following will amuse our
readers :—" The Havre and Rouen Railroad Company,
founded by Charles Laffitte, is thus composed," says the
Courrier Francais:—"the principal engineers are English,
the overseers are English, the operatives are English, and the
machinery has been fabricated in England. Everything in
the concern is English, even Charles Laffitte himself, who
voted for Pritchard."