The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-03 00:00:00

IM.ILERIAL PARLIAMENT.

The awe famous cattle and ~heep market at Morpeth,
which for a long series of years was :ei.ond only to
Smithfield, may be said no longer to exit. It has
literally dwindled o nothing, all its hu,tness having
passed over to its formidable neighbour of Newcastle-
Von-Tyne.

The Earl of Falmouth has contributed 501., and
Lady Bassett a donation of 100/., to the local fund for the
extension and improvement of the Penryn Docks and Fal-
mouth Harbour.
CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.-From accounts issued by
order of the House of Commons, it appears that in the year
ending January 5, 1844, there were 1,881 officers of the
several grades and classes employed in the Customs depart-
ment in the port of London. The expense in salaries and
pay was that year 248,350/. Ifis. 2d., and there was a further
expense of 11,281/. Bs. 11d. for extra clerks and extra day
pay officers, whose services were occasional. In the year
ending sth of January last 1,858 officers were employed in
the like duties; and the expense was 251,8051. Bs. 4d., and
13,8441. Is. sd. for extra clerks, &c. Thus, in the last year
there were fewer men than in the preceding twelvemonth by
23, and increased expenses by upwards of 6.0001.
CHAIR or Music, EDINBURGH.-On Saturday, the
29th inst., the Principal and Professors of the University of
Edinburgh elected John Donaldson, Esq., to be professor of
the theory of music. We understand that there were in all
fifteen candidates for the vacant chair, two of whom, however,
Sir Henry Bishop and Mr. Muller, withdrew their names be-
forethe election.caied
oan Mercury
PRIZE Noneercuorfyt.he other candidates were nomi-
nated.-PRIZE MONEY.-BURMESE Boom-The receipt
from India of a further sum of money, on account of
her Majesty's ships Alligator, Arachne, Boadicea, Cham-
pion, Larne, Liffey, Slaney, Sophie, Tamar, Tees,
engaged in the Burman war during the years 1824,
1825, and 1826, having, by direction of the Lords Com-
missioners of her Majesty's Treasury, been made the
means of remedying some irregularities in the
scheme framed in India for the former distribution ; notice
is given to the officers and crews of the said ships, and their
legal representatives, that payment, on the adjusted scale,
calculated according to the prize proclamation, will be
made at the Naval Prize Department at Somerset House
in the first week in May. The following sums of prize
money, for the undermentioned captures, will be paid to
Lieutenant J. Foote and the officers and crew late of the
Fawn, at J. P. Muspratt's, Abchurch-lane, London, on
Friday, April 18. For the Portuguese slaver Venus,
captured on the 29th of April, 1841, 1,322/. 3s. :-Flag,
821. 12s. Bd. ; Lieutenant commanding, 154/. 18s. 10d.;
second class, 1121. 16s. 10d ; third, 56/. Bs. 5d ; fifth,
18/.165. Id ; sixth, 12/. 10s. 9d. ; seventh, Cl. ss. 4d. For the
Portuguese slaver Dandade, captured 30th Jan., 1840, 964/.
14s. Id. ;-Lieutenant commanding, 1601. lls. 9d. ; second
class, 123/. 10s. 7d. ; third, 61/. 15s, 3d. ; fourth, 41/. 3s. 6d. ;
fifth, 20/. 1 ls. 9d. ; sixth, 13/. 14s. 6d.; seventh, 6/. 17s. 3d.
For the Portuguese slaver Rosa, captured Feb. 24, 1840,
6441. 6s. 10d. :-Lieutenant commanding, 801. 10s. 10d.;
second class, 69/. 12s. 10d. ; third, 31/. 6s. sd. ; fourth,
20/. 17s 7d. ; fifth, 10/. Bs. 9d; sixth, 61. 19s 2d. ; seventh,
31. 95. 7d.
"I HE SCOTCH BANKS.-- The principal features of
the contemplated measures of Sir Robert Peel, in reference to
the Scottish banking system, are said to be, that the existing
banks are to be limited to their present circulation, and that
they will be forced to keep an amount of gold equal to one-
tiftfi of that circulation, with the option of having one-
fourth of that fifth in silver ; so that if a circulation of a
bank be 200,000/., it must keep 40,000/. in sovereigns to meet
the demands upon it, or else 30,000/. in sovereigns, and
10,000/. in silver. Any bank that exceeds its present circu-
lation must have gold to meet every pound of such excess.-
Caledonian Mercury.
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS - On Saturday last, as a pas-
senger train was corning up the Halifax branch, and when
just coming out of the tunnel, a stone fell into one of the
third• class carriages, which considerably alarmed, but fortu-
nately without injuring, the unprotected passengers. On
Thursday morning an early luggage train coming up met
with an accident from the same cause. A stone had fallen
on the rail, and with the jerk of the engine running against
it, the chain connecting the train broke. Ihe carriages, laden
with fine fat pigs, of course, ran down the steep incline, ac-
quiring such ce in the descent that they ran (it is said)
nearly to Brighouse before they stopped. Fortunately no
train was passing at the time, or the consequences might
have been awful.-Halifax Guardian.
SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-011 Sunday last
as the pilot engine was proceeding towards Loughborough,
and when just beyond the Barrow station, a hawk, attempt-
ing to cross the line at the moment, was knocked down by the
engine. On returning from Loughborough, the hawk was
found on the spot with its head cut completely off, and a
snipe in its mouth, which, from the wounds at the back of
the head, had evidently been killed by the hawk, and
being too heavy, prevented the hawk's flying with its wonted
rapidity, and thus was the cause of its death also.-Leicester
Chronicle.
BRUTAL CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER.-011 Saturday,
a man, named David Leigh, was committed to Chester gaol,
for the manslaughter of Peter Whittle, aged 24, at a village
called Enterpogy, in the above county, under circumstances
of a very brutal character. From the evidence at the coroner's
inquest on the body of the deceased, who was a blacksmith, it
appeared that on the 20th ult. a party of nine young men,
among whom was David Leigh, the accused, went to the
Bull's Head public-house, in the village, for the purpose of
collecting chat are termed the Easter pennys. 'Whilst
there they met with the deceased, and after merrymaking
with them for some time, he invited the whole party to
his own dwelling. In a short time they returned to the
public-house, where they commenced wrestling and run-
ning races together. In the midst of their sport, it seems,
the deceased felt aggrieved at something that had been
done to him, and whilst he was engaged in scuffle with
the prisoner, he pushed or threw him to the ground, and
then struck him with a stick. Leigh instantly jumped
up, and both being evidently in liquor, a serious fight
ensued. The deceased was ultimately knocked down by
his adversary, and the stick having been wrenched from his
possession, Leigh commenced hitting bins violently over the
head and ears. On ceasing, the deceased was found to be
utterly insensible. Medical assistance was promptly called
to his aid, but he never showed the slightest symptoms of
recovery, and expired in less than twenty minutes afterwards.
Mr. Renshawe, the surgeon, who was called to the deceased,
stated that the blows of the stick over the head had caused
the rupture of some of the principal blood-vessels, which
had produced death. The jury returned a verdict of " Man-
slaughter" against Leigh.
IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.-A scientific gentleman,
residing at Ipswich, Mr. Frederick Ransome, engineer, has
lately discovered a method whereby the hardest stone can be
brought into a consistence resembling common putty, so
that it can be cut and moulded into any shape, for useful and
ornamental purposes, without altering its general character
and appearance ; for it becomes as hard, and in some in-
stances even harder, than when subjected to the process. An-
other peculiarity of the process is, that any colour, or variety
of colours, can b. 2 imparted to its solid substance, so that an
endlt.ss variety of shades can be produced, and, a., :t is capable
of being polished, it effectually resists the action of the
weather. It can also be used as a cement, and can be brushed
ever the surface of wood, so as to render it fire-proof.-
Sheffield Mercury.

---- -
HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 2.

The SPEAKER took the chair at Four o'clock.
The "'whey Gas Bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. W. PATTEN presented a petition against the
Liverpool Guardian Gas Bill.
THE GRANT TO MAYNOOTH.
Mr. ORMSBY GORE presented a petition from
Wrockwardine (Shropshire), against the increased grant
to Meynooth College.
Mr. SIL; ET presented petitions to the same effect
but the designations of the petitions were not heard in
the gallery.
Lord RENDLESHAM presented similar petitions
from Wycombe and several other places.
Lord ASHLEY presented several petitions to the
same effect, and also several against the sale of intoxi-
cating liquors on the Sabbath.
Colonel VERNER presented petitions from places in
the north of Ireland against the grant, and in favour of

the Church Education Society.
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN and other Hon. Mem-
bers presented petitions against any increased grant to
Maynooth College.
Mr. M. GIBSON presented three petitions from Bury
St. Edmund's, Sudbury, and dnothi r place in Suffolk,
praying that no grant of public money should be given
to any description of priests whatever.—(Laughter.)
PROSECUTIONS FOR POOR-RATES.
Sir J. EASTHOPE rose to present petitions from
Ann VVard and Thomas Lakin, prisoners in the House
of Correction, in the county of Leicester, complaining
of their imprisonment, with hard labour, for the non-
payment of costs arising out of their inability to pay
poor-rates. These persons were now undergoing a
sentence of imprisonment, with hard labour, in the
prison of Leicester for the non payment of poor-rates,
and he was so convinced of the illegality and injustice
of the whole proceeding, that he had requested his Hon.
Friend the Member tor Finsbury, in the event of his
(Sir John Easthope's) absence, to present these
petitions, so that not a moment might be lost in
laying before the House the case of the petitioners.
When he explained the nature of the petitions, he
thought the feeling of the House would be so generally
in favour of the prayer of them, that no impediment
would be allowed to interfere with the speedy redress of
the grievances complained of. Thomas Lukin,it appeared,
was assessed in the sum of five shillings to the poor-
rates of the parish. He could not pay it, owing to the
poverty of his circumstances ; he was summoned by the
magistrates at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and a distress war-
rant was issued to raise the amount u;'on his goods and
chattels. He had not, however, sufficient in his house
to defray the assessment, and he was in consequence, on
the 11th of July, committed to the gaol in Leicester.
The inhabitants of that town, hearing of his great poverty,
paid the rate, and he was released from prison. In a short
time after he was summoned for the costs, at least four
times the amount of the principal ; but if he had not
had sufficient to pay the rate he certainly could not be
expected to pay the costs. He was not heard before
the magistrate, but was again incarcerated in the gaol
of Leicester. The petitioner prayed that imme-
diate redress should be given. He (Sir J. East-
hope) might add that the petitioner had a wife
and tour children. He could refer to his employer, and
all wbo knew him, for the excellence of his character.
The next case was that of Ann Ward, and it was very
nearly similar to the other. She was a widow, her
husband having been killed eleven years before. She
lived as al, )dger with her daughter, and was assessed
to the poor-rate in the sum of three shillings. She was
also committed to prison, and the people of Leicestershire
interfered, and paid the money. A distress warrant was
aftera arils levied for the costs, and the petitioner was
committed, with hard labour, a second time to prison, in
default of payment. It was his impression that these
cases required redress, and he hoped the House would
take the earliest opportunity of giving it.
The SPEAKER said that according to the rule of the
House, the Hon. Baronet should have previously given
notice that he would move that the petitions be printed,
before calling the attention of the House to his motion.
He could now move that the petitions be printed, and
then take the first opportunity of bringing the matter
before the House.
Sir J. EASTHOPE lamented exceedingly that he had
not done so ; but he would now move that the petitions
be printed with the vo.es, and to-morrow he would bring
his motion before the House.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Lord SANDON presented a petition from Liverpool,
signed by 1,400 persons, praying for the repeal of the
enactment abolishing imprisonment for debt, passed last
session, upon the grounds of no equivalent punishment.
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from the calico
printers of Stockport, praying that the Bill brought in
by Lord Ashley, should not be passed into law.
NAVY HALF-PAY.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition from one
hundred masters and paymasters in the Royal Navy,
complaining of the manner in which they had been
treated b) the Board of Admiralty, in not awarding to
them that portion of half pay which the late Com-
mittee of Inquiry into the state and condition of
naval officers had awarded to them. The Hon.
and Gallant Member 'tit the same time intimated that
he would draw the attention of the House to the case
of the petitioners, when the navy estimates came under
discussion on Friday, on which day he would move that
the petition be printed with the votes.
DUTY ON MALT.
The HON. and GALLANT MEMBER also presented a
petition from . the maltsters of Brighton and Lewes,
praying the Howe to abolish the duty on malt.
NOTICES OF MOTION.
Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS gave notice, that on the
House going into Committee on the Army Estimates, he
would call attention to the present condition of regimental
staff officers, paymasters, &c., with a view to Parliament
taking into consideration the expediency of extending to
that meritorious class of officers the privilege of retiring
under certain circumstances upon full pay.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT.
Mr. H. BERKELEY gave notice of his intention on a
future day to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend
the Insolvent Debtors' Act, passed in the last session of
Parliament. The Hon. Member also gave notice that
on the 25th instant he would move for a Select Com-
mittee to inquire into the past operation of the same law.
MAYNOOTH.
Sir R. INGLIS presented several petitions from places
in the counties of Oxford, Cornwall, and other parts of
England, against any further grant to Maynooth.
Colonel SIBTHORP presented petitions from the
mayor, clergy, and a great number of the inhabitants of
the city of Lincoln, and from another place in the county
of Lincoln, to the same effect.
SMOKE PROHIBITION BILL.
Mr. MACKINNON moved the second reading of this

8....
Mr. lIAWES opposed the Bill as impracticable, and
be should therefore take the sense of the House upon it.
He hoped that the Hon. Gentleman would withdraw the
Bill for the present, and wait for the general Bill of the
Noble Lord opposite.
Mr. BORTHWICK supported the Bill.
Mr. ORD had but one or two observations to make in
reference to this measure. The Hon. Member assumed
that there existed a smoke nuisance which could be put
down, and the provisions of the Bill had particular
reference to the occupiers of chimneys and furnaces.
Who were occupiers of chimneys?—(Laughter.) He
and other Hon. Members on that side denied the practi-
cability of complying with the requisitions of this Bill.
The Earl of LINCOLN said that a Bill should be
introduced for the purpose of constituting local bodies to
take into consideration the effects of smoke in their dis-
tricts ; it would be peremptory to appoint inspectors
before that could be done If the Honourable Gentle-
man still persevered in his intention to refer the Bill
to a Select Committee, he (the Earl of Lincoln)
would vote for the second reading of the Bill.
He was sure, when the Hon. Gentleman reflected upon
the large amount of property destroyed by the smoke
nuisance, he would not be inclined to throw any impedi-
ment in the way of legislation upon this subject.
A short time ago a nursery-gardener in the neighbour-
hood of this metropolis was iu the habit of raising ex-
pensive and valuable plants, but, from the erection of two
extensive chimneys, he was compelled to abandon a
lucrative occupation. Now by the introduction of
some patent apparatus into the two chimneys be
believed the gardener was afterwards enabled
to resume his business with his former success.
The experiment was tried, and the nuisance was abo-
lished. He did not wish to tresms longer on the atten-
tion of :he House, but would con@lide by saying that if
the Hon. Member pressed his motion to a division he
would vote for it, but ho would earnestly recommend the
Hon. Gentleman to postpone the second reading until
the Sanitary Bill had been introduced.
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought the best mode would
be to withhold the consideration of this matter for the
present, as the Government had announced their inten-
tion of bringing forward a measure which would embrace
it. It would be a mere waste of time uhder such circum-
stances to refer the matter to a Select Committee. He
would vote against the second reading of the Bill.
Mr. SPOONER hoped his lion. Friend the Member for
Leamington would postpone the second reading of this
Bill. Suppose the most complete apparatus were to be
employed for effecting the object which the Hon. Gen-
tleman had in view, there was nothing to compel the
workmen to put it into effective use, and without their
co- operation it would be utterly futile to at-
tempt to carry the Bill into effect. Besides,
there was a very great doubt whether the
consumption of smoke would not compel a very much
larger consumption of fuel. The Hon. Gentleman oppo-
site (Mr. Hawes) had complained that this Bill was a
mere waste of legislation, but he (Mr. Spooner) would
go further and say, that if they attempted to carry this
Bill into effect they would excite such an amount of op-
position throughout the country as would not only entirely
prevent any benefit being derived from it, but which would
also very greatly militate against any really good mea-
,ure. Another inconvenience arising from the measure,
as it stood, was, that every manufacturing interest was
claiming to be exempt from its operation. He believed,
indeed. that there was a notice on the books for exclud-
ing the iron trade ; and if the iron trade, why not the
glass trade, or any other trade ? He trusted,
therefore, that the Honourable Gentleman would not
press this Bill to a division, for he believed that
it was quite an impracticable measure. He did not be-
lieve that the smoke from manufactories was any greater
nuisance than that from dw,lling-houses, even if it were
a nuisance at all; and he trusted that he would therefore
withdraw it, and leave an opportunity for a really good
measure to be introduced at a future period.
wd FRANCIS EGERTON said that he could not
possibly assent to the assertion that the smoke from
manufact Ties was no nuisance, or even a small nuisance,
for he knew that in the place which he had the honour
to represent it was felt to be a great nuisance, and he
conceived that to talk of this period for legislation
on the subject being too early, or that discussion was
unnecessary in that House, was quite beside the facts
of the case. Ho was favourable to the object of