The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-16 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.

The centenary festival of the hospital was celebrated yes-
terday by a public dinner, given at Willis's-Rooms, fit. James's -
street, previous to which a sermon was preached at All Souls'
Church, St. Marylebone, by the Lord Bishop of London.
Upwards of 300 gentlemen afterwards sat down to dinner;
among others were—Lord Dartmouth,. Lord Robert Gros-
venor, Lord Aylmer, Lord Harvey, Lord Teignmouth, Sir
Thomas Herbert, Bishop of Llandaif, Dean of Chichester,
John Astell, Esq., W. Astell, Esq., M.P., B. B. Cabbell, Esq.,
Captain Fremantle, Dr. Tenfold M. Pepys, Esq., J. N.
Aruott, Esq., and many other distinguished professional gen-
tlemen. Lord Prudhoe presided, at the special request, and
as the representative of the Duke of Northumberland.

After the usual loyal toasts,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of the President of
the institution, the Duke of Northumberland, who very
much regretted his inability to attend that day.-(Applause.)
Glee-" A generous friendship no cold medium knows."
The CHAIRMAN then said he had to propose to them the
toast of the evening, " The Middlesex hospital, an:l success
to it:" He much regretted that their President vas unable
to preside, as he must have fulfilled the duties of the chair
in a much more efficient manner ; he would, however, throw
himself upon the generous feelings of the company. The
hospital, as might be seen from the report, was of an exten-
sive nature, and required extensive funds to support it. It
was a charity that blessed him who gave, and him who re-
ceived.-(Cheers.) It was not established merely for the re-
ception of sick persons, but patients who were already con-
valseccnt were retained within its walls until they had per-
fectly recovered their health, and were enabled to return
to their daily labour with renewed strength, and with thank-
ful feelings towards those who had enabled them so to do.
Lord DARTMOUTH proposed the health of the Chairman,
which he shortly acknowledged ; and proposed the health of
the Vice-Presidents, coupling with the toast the name of
Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., who returned thanks.
The Treasurer's reportwas then read. Among the subscrip-
tions read, some of the larger ones were as follow :-Her
Most Gracious Majesty, Patron, 105/. ; her Majesty Queen
Adelaide, 101. ; Iris Grace the Duke of Northumberland,
President, 300/. ; the Right Hon. Lord Prudhoe, Vice-Presi-
dent and Chairman, 2001. ; Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq.,
Vice-President, 1001.; Sir William Weller Pepys, Bart.,
Vice-President, 1001 ; the Earl of Egmont, 50/. ; H. Merick
Hoare, Esq., 52/. 10s. ; T. T. Rennell, Esq., 50/. ; Edmund
Stansfield, Esq., 501.: Messrs. Clout ts and Co., 501 ; Thomas
Hunt, Esq., 42/. ; Charles Wardell, Esq., 1051.; Rev.
J. G. Foyater, 1001.; Earl Amherst, 501.; the Lord
Chief Justice Tindal, 50/. ; John Pepys, Esq., Vice-
President, 501.; Charles Piesehell, Esq. (annuity), 100/.;
Sir B. Bosanquet, 31/. 10s. ; Charles Gibbes, Esq., 311. 105. ;
Major-General Mercer, 311. 10s.; W. Poynter, Esq., 31/.
10s.; Viscount Beresferd, 31/. 103.; Robert Vaughan Rick-
ards, Esq., Q.C., 20/. 10s.; Dr. btewart, 311. 10s.; Hon.
P. S. I'ierrepoint, 31/. 10s.; Rev. Thomas Halford, 21!.;
Dean of Chichester, 25/.; Dr. Mervyn Crawford, 31/. 10s.;
W. Ranscim Lettsom, Esq., 31/. 10s.; Thomas Copeland,
1 Esq., 311. 10s.; William Fox, Esq., 311. 10s. ; Edmund
Pepys, Esq., 201.; General Caulfield, C. 8., 31/. 10s. ; Wm.
Northage, Esq., 20/. ; Major-General Briggs, Esq., 311. 10s. ;
General Clarke, 251.; Miss Curier, 20/.; W. C. Towers,
311. 10s.; F. Thompson, Esq., 31/. 10s. ; J. Laboucbere,
Esq., 21/. ; Wm. S. Jones, Esq., 311. 10s. ; and many others,
amounting to upwards of 3,000/.
Several otker toasts followed, including "The health of
the Stewards," and the company did not break up till a late
hour.

COVES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROIrI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
At a public meeting of the inhabitants of this town at the
Town-hall, on Tuesday, the following address to her Majesty
was unanimously agreed to, and the Chairman, the Rev. J.
B. Atkinson, was requested to sign it in the name of the
meeting, and forward it to Sir J. Graham for presentation :
" ADDRESS.
"TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, VICTORIA I.
" We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the inha-
bitants of Cowes, beg leave to approach your Majesty with
the most fervent assurances of our devoted attachment to
your august person.
"Next to these sentiments of loyalty, which, in common
with the rest of our fellow-subjects, we owe, and are happy
to profess, we entreat your Majesty will permit us to testify
our peculiar sense of joy and gratitude arising from the cir-
cumstance of your Majesty having been pleased to become
the proprietor of a residence in our favoured island.
"And we fervently hope that, under God's blessing, these
salubrious shores, which -we have reason to think afforded so
much delight to your Majesty in the days of your childhood,
may likewise conduce to the health and enjoYment of your
royal offspring, who are, with your Majesty, the objects of a
nation's hearty prayers.
" At the same time that we deliver to your Majesty this
grateful testimony of our feelings, we should be deficient in
that respect which we owe to your illustrious Consort if we
did not add the assurance of his sharing in all those expressions
of loyalty and attachment which we have the satisfaction of
conveying to your Majesty."
Her Majesty and suite embarked this day (Thursday) at
two o'clock, on board the Lightning steamer, under salutes
from the Castle and R.Y.S. battery. It is expected that the
royal party will return to Osborne in about three weeks.
During their stay the Queen and Prince Albert daily walked
out through Osborne Park and grounds, and also through
East Cowes Park—(it is surprising that none of the beautiful
houses lately erected there are neither let nor sold)—and took
drives to Carisbrook and its neighbourhood.
A project is on foot to form an atmospheric railway from
East Cowes to Ventnor ; from thence one branch is to be laid
along the shore to Black Gang Chine, and thence over the
cliffs to the Needles, and another to the eastward to Beim-
bridge-point, and under the Haven to Hyde! Next we shall
have a !midge from the main to the island, or a tunnel under
the Solent.

WooLwicn, MAY 15.—Sedi Mahomet Mustapha,
at present in this ccuntry on a mission from the Emperor
of Morocco to the British Court, visited the Royal Arsenal

yesterday-.
mar-
riedTo
her.• She turned out to be a perfect virago, but died in
o f ours courtedEN TLEabilEaNdy TfogrAtwlen ety-AeNigihrt 3‘l:eaArisT, andtAhenfrend
ttoiniee,w,e,dsdeeingw—h:tNlenh•a,'v'
esaesidcaopuedr frbiyenda,
in a
a
long
THE COAL TRADE.—NEWCASTLE, TUESDAT.--The
stceuoltfo,-,gr3t'seahatirpus.l
regulations so long established by the coalowners of the north
after the
American Messenger.
of England, iu respect to the supply of coal to the London
market, are now at an
eexnpde,catntdo
be henceforthsupplsupplied
witht he inhabitants
of use on more reasonable terms
yl7. The circumstances out of which this state
otPotiffeanttnsahhiefbningresmeatlertrartis arisen are manifold, but confined chiefly to the
trade itself. Many of the large coalowners having refused
to bind themselves to the proposed conditions, which have
been some time under revisal by the Coal-Trade Committee,
after several meetings, and much discussion, the Committee
determined this day to leave the trade open.
STEAM-BOAT COLLISION NEAR GRAVESEND.—A
collision of a very alarming character happened on Tuesday
afternoon in Sea Reach, just below Gravesend, between the
Prince of Wales, Margate steam-boat, and a collier brig,
Flora. It appears that the steamer was proceeding down
the river to Margate, with a good freight of passengers, at
her usual speed, and in endeavouring to clear the brig, which
was running across, the latter came upon her with most
considerable
NvEisn
anAuj,
pardYi,Ei.
evßde
terrific violence on the after part of her paddle-box, causing
the most extensive mischief. The alarm of the passengers on
board can be more easily imagined thanttooadlesotsthcierreairbeteeadaivts.e.tedTlNaThh,eeryia.ye
were, however, speedily removed from her, and taken on
Docks to
atoonforNtellpeaarliersvhv.ese.rasseldtaahnneldangcoeb.rnovig,yhheetd
buorping
gwAeitEtiroCanirtnl
so:ma
nsa.dk—itihT,
gehateti
IT) oaZpodsmost
herei s
beingow
remarkablyabundantlyTlE
gratify-
ing progress. Every description of crop looks
the grain crops being equally and richly braded.
Clover grass is finer than fur several years past, clover
plants 'being wore abundant, and both clover and rye
grass unuitikily
healthy and luxuriant. Pasture lands
are fresh and close in the roll, and afford an ample sup-
ply of food to grazing stock. The weather being highly
fat ourable fur the preparation of summer fano% s, great
progress has btu' made, and altogether the prospects
both of the grower and consumer are of the most cheer-
ing desctipt ion.—Sectanon.
WILL OF GENERAL ROBERTSON.—Probate of the
will and two codicils, as far as respects the property in Eng-
land, of James Robertson, formerly of Hill-side, but late of
Canaan-bank, near the City of Edinburgh, a General in
her Majesty's army, has just been granted to his nephew,
John Russell, Esq., one of the executors, a power being re-
served to Lieutenant-Colonel David Robertson Alactionald,
the brother, and William Robertson, Esq., a nephew of the
deceased, to prove hereafter. The personal estate in Eng•
land, sworn under 4,000/., bequeaths annuities to his sisters,
legacies to his nieces, the Countess of Minto, Lady
Adam, and Lady Nicholson, and others, his relations;
leaves 1,000/. to his nephew, Licnt. James Robertson. East
India Company; also a legacy to his wife, and 100/. to each
of his children ; leaves to his own servant a legacy of 400/.,
and all his apparel, and legacies to all his other servants;
bequeaths all his property at Canaan-bank (including plate,
pictures, furniture, and moveables) to his nephew, J 112,1
Russell, and leaves Lim a moiety of the residue; the _
moiety to his brother, Col. Macdonald, and his family. The
-
• will is dated December 1, 1855, and the second codicil No
vernber 9, 1842. The deceased, who was of Principalson
‘.ch
•
Robertson, the historian, died on the 29t of a.
The will was approved in Edinburgh on the sth of

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
!1 USE OF COMMONS, Macy 15.
The SPEAKER toA. the Chair for the first time after
the Whitsuntide rec ss, at Four o'clock.
Colonel THONIAS WOOD presented a petition
against the 'Westminster Improvements Bill.
ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY.
Sir G. STAUNTON presented a petition, sigled by
upwards of 16,000 persons, in favour of the application
of the atmospheric principle to railways.
Colonel WEMYSS presented a petition against the
Edinburgh and Northern Railway.
Mr. BRO HERTON presented a petition against the
Chichester, Guildford, and Portsmouth Railway.
CROYDON RAILWAY.
The following Bills were severally read a first time,
and ordered to be committed:—London and Croydon
liailway (Enlargement); London and Croydon Railway
(Chatham and Gravesend) ; London and Croydon Rail-
way (Maidstone, Ashford, and Tunbridge); London end
Croydon Railway (Orpington Branch) ; London and
Croydon Railway (Chatham to Chilharl).
SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS.
The Southampton Docks Bill was read a third time
and passed.
IRISH GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
On the motion of Lord I'ALMERSTON, the Dublin,
Mellinger, and Athlone Railway Bill was read a
second time and ordered .to be committed. The
Noble Lord remarked that the Bill had excited an
extraordinary interest in Ireland, and gave notice that,
to-morrow, ho would present a petition fr, .m the Cor-
pore' ion and Lord Mayor of Dublin in favour of it.
Mr. B. BALDWIN presented petitions against the
Brighton (Horsham Extension), the North Midland, the
Mellinger end Enniskillen, and she Dundalk and Ennis-
killen Railways.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' BILL.
Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from Tunbridge
and oth,er pieces praying for an alteration in the Insol-
.vent Debtors' Bill passed last session.
6ir J. DUKE presented similar petitions from Boston.
PAROCHIAL SETTLEMENT BILL.

Mr. TENNENT presented a petition from the Board
of Guardians of the Cambridge Union against the Paro-
chial Settlements Act ; also petitions against the Union
of the sees of Bangor and St. Asaph, and against the
grant to the College of Maynooth.
GRANT To MAYNOOTH. •
Mr. DUNDAS presented peti7ions praying for an
increase of the salaries of paro•hial schoolmasters in
Scotland; also petitions against the grant to Maynooth,
ritizainst Sunday travelling.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented petitions from the parish
St. John the Evangelist in Westminster, against
6unday trading, and the grant to Maynooth.
Mr. BOUVERIE presented petith‘ns from Scotland
against tha grant to Maynooth.
Mr. SUMMERS presented petitions from several
places in Ireland against the Roman Catholic Bequests'

Numerous petitions against the grant to Maynooth
were presented by Colonel Powell, Mr. Buck, Mr. Greene,
and Mr. Arkwright, but in no single instance could IN C
heap the designations of the petitions.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
Mr. DUNCAN presented a Bill from Dundee against
the Statute of Limitations Bill.
MAYNOOTII.
Mr. HAWES presented several petitions against the
grant to Map( oth, and one in favour of it, signed by a
single individual, the Rev. Mr. Ballagar, which, as it
presented the question so shortly and so strongly, he
should move that it be read at the table.
BIRILINGHA,M, GLOUCESTER, AND WOLVER-
HAMPTON RAILWAY.
Mr. SPOONER moved the second reading of the
Birmingham, Gloucester, and Wolverhampton Railway
Bill.

Mr. PARINGTON said that this was a Bill for the
ontensioa of the London and Birmingham Railway,
and he hoped the House would extend its indulgence to
him whilst he stated his reasons for opposing the second
reading of this Bill. It was not merely on private grounds
that be opposed this Bill, nor would he ask any favour of
the House, but on behalf of other landowners as well as
himself, he should oppose it. This railway would pass
foe 2i miles through his own ground, and he would hear
every engine from his drawing-room s indows. When
this scheme had first been brought forward, he had
inquired of hie surveyor respecting it, and had bren
informed that the standing orders had been violated in a
hundred instances. The Bill had been proposed, and was
then vrithdrawn, when after two or three months it
was again brought forward by an entirely dif-
ferent company. Last January it was again intro
d•iccd to the notice of the public, not by the original
company, but as an extension of the London and Bir-
mingham line, when one was prepared to oppose it ; and
he should, therefore, certainly take the sense of the
House on the second reading.
Air. SPOONER opposed the motion on the ground
that his Hon. Friend had not given notice to the parties
of his opposition. The promoters of the Bill had been
put to the expense of summoning their witnesses and
retaining counsel. The Bill had been referred in one
of the groups to the Committee, and before that Com-
mittee the case of his Hon. Friend would be fully inves-
tigated.
Mr. PAKINGTON explained. He regretted that
he had not been able to give notice of his intention t
oppose the second reading, but in consequence of the
period at which the Bill was moved he could not give
notice.

Sir R. INGLIS said he did not understand his Hon.
Friend to object to the Bill, except upon the ground of
surprise, but as he understood the facts, it was his Hon.
Friend the Member for Droitwich who was taken by
surprise, and he would, therefore, support the motion of
his Hon. Friend the Member for Droitwich.
Mr. SPOONER explained.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the Hon. Gentleman
brought the case very fully and fairly before the House ;
bat still he thought that his objection to the second
reading of the Bill, merely on account of the surprise
which at would cause, should not induce the House to
r.efuse the second reading of the Bill.
The House then divided, when there appeared to be—
For the motion 4l
Against it
llaj,:rity in favour of the motion —l9
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
Mr. WAKLEY rose to move, " That a Select Com-
mittee be appointed, to inquire into the management of
the Royal College of Surgeons of England : also, to
investigate the circumstances which led to the grant
of an additional charter to the Council in
1843, and into the effects produced by the operation of
that charter upon the interests and professional rank of
the great body of the members of the college." And should
that resolution be negatived, then to move the following:—
" That in any charter which the Crown may be advised
t 6 grant for the incorporation of the general practition-
ers, those gentlemen are fully entitled to enjoy an
equality of professional station with the newly-created
Fellows ; that a deep and lasting injury would be in-
flicted on many thousands of scientific men if a College
of General Practitioners were to he founded as an insti-
tution inferior to the College of Surgeons." The Hon.
Mt mber said he submitted the motion to the House in
cenferinity with a great number of petitions which had
been presented to the House from members of the
College of Sargenns resident in every part of the king-
dom, and in censquence of a great number of communi-
cations from the same body of gentlemen on the subject.
But he was chiefly actuated by the fact that a
petition had been presented on the 31st of March by
him free) surgeons resident in the county of Glou •ester.
The petitioners stated that, by the charter granted in
1843 by her Mnjesty, the Council had the power of
electing a certain number of the member.; of the Col-
lege, who should be entitled to the general principle of
el, cting the Council in all time coming; and they added
that they lo.,ked on such distinctions as unjust to the great
body of surgeons, and they entered their most indignant
protest against the principle. They also stated that the
charter required that all existing members should
undergo areaher examination, or be excluded from the
bonours of a fellowship in the College. They also
prayed that no Bill should be allowed to pass until
inquiry bad been ordered into the circumstances
connected with the granting of the charter. He be-
lieved that the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of
State for the Home Department ISM by that time aware
that he had taken a false step in recommending the
granting of this charter, and the division to
which the House had come the otliar night
ras a sufficient proof of that fact.—(hear, hear.)
fie was as yet really ignorant of the effect of the changes
which were intended by the Government measure ; and
he supposed—he was under the necessity of sup-
posing—that the Bill which had been formerly in-
troduced was in substance the very same with
that which would be now introduced before the
Ruse, but that they would have soon an opportunity of
examining these alterations. The history of the Col-
lege of Surgeons—the history of the conduct
of the Council rather was characterised as
one of injustice to the professors by the
self...elected gorerning body. The College was
4.randsd by a charter granted in the rar 1843, and from
that year to this the Council had on various ocea,ions
passed rsgulati.ms extending their own powers, and,
fact, Creating to themselves a monopoly of
the :cost Unjust and oppressive character. In the year
182 re i consetreuce of the abuse of these powers,
there had been a large assembly of the profession who
expressed great dissatisfaction at the conduct of the
Counal. After much discussis-n the meeting parsed
two reseluticese, he might say itnanimou!ly, expressive of
their sense in the first place, of the oppressive mode inwhieh
the Council had acted ; and, in the second place, that
the regulations which had been passed in 1821)3, rer'spect-
ing the taking up of diplornasriere highlyTes detrimental
resolutions
to the interests of the profession.
vgiore passel in a meeting in which
Ant.atrieiree 2,000 t than
these.
1,500 individuals were present.
resolutions were passed it was a univelmrsta'l im-
pression that, however energetic their e presen-
tations ruie,lit be, there was little chancer of
obtaining attention or redress, except by an appeal to
the House of Commons ;
and accordingly the last reso-
lution of that meeting was a determination to appeal to
that House, and they accordingly did so. The result of
that petition was the appointment of a Select Committee,
of which his Hon. Friend the Member for Kendal (Mr.
Warburton) was chairman, and he believed the night
Honourable Baronet opposite (Bir James Graham)
was a member of it. Before that Committee
a great mass of evidence was taken, the whole
purport of which was to show that the whole
establishment was in a state of disorder. The
museum, a most valuable one—the Hunterian
Museum—which was allowed to be one of the finest in
Europe, and for which a great sum:of public money had
been paid, was in such a state of disorder that it was per-
fectly useless. From that time till 181:3 nothing was
done, but in 1815 a great injury had been done to the
medical profession by the operation of the New Poor. law.
The profession had every reason to expect that they
Would obtain redress from that House ; but in

1843 they found to their amazement that a new
charter was granted to th college, in which ex-
traordinary and unconstiutional powers were con-
ferred upon the Council. When it was first re-
ported that such a charter had been granted, he
dia not think that a hundred men in the profersion
throughout Great Britain, believed that ir. was true.

But, unfortunately, tame showed that it was true, and
that a charter had received the sign minual con-
ferring those extraordinary powers on the Council.
It contained provisions which gave extreme an-
noyance to upwards of then thousand men. In
the last fifty years the science of medicine and
surgery had made greater progress than any other art
or science in the whole range of human knowledge. It
was admitted by every %Inter of eminence or ability
that medicine and surgery constitute but one science, of
which pharmacy and midwifery are important depart-
ments. But by the extraordinary provisions of the new
charter those members of the College of Sur-
geons who practise midwifery and pharmacy are
caaluded from the governing body of the College.
In fact, the qualifications were looked upon by the mem-
bers of the College of Surgeons as inferior and degrading
occupations, and the rules of that institution wire such
as cast a slur upon the professional avocations of those
practising midwifery that never should have been cast
upon them. Those rules and by-laws had been made by the
Council of the College of Surgeons, but they had never
been included in any statute or ever received di;; sanction
of the Crown. One of the clauses in these rules was to
this effect, that ro member of the College of Surgeons
should be eligible to become a member of the Council
while practising midi Very or pharmacy, or IA ho
had practised those branches of the profession
for five years, or, in ether words, that any person
who had practised midwifery or pharmacy- for four
years, from this time, would be disqualfied for a seat
in the College of Surgeons. This he should call a most
monstrous and ridiculous propos tion, and such a one as
never would have received the sign manual of the Crown.
Well, the rule went on to say, further, that those who
professed midwifery and pharmacy could n( t be entitled
to a seat in the College unless they resided within 5 miles
of St. Martin's-le-Grand. Now, he knew many members
of the profession practising those branches who could
not be equalled in Europe, and many of them were
superior to any in the empire, and yet this
disqualification was put upon them by this ridi-
culous rule. The rule went on to provide, that
if a member who had a seat should cease to
reside within the definite distance, then he should be
removed from the Council. This, he would say, was
carrying such absurdities to a most preposterous length.
It was for those reasons that those members of the me-
dical profession who practised midwifery and pharmacy
had sought for the abrogation of those bye-laws. They
sought it by petition to that House, and by public
declarations, and by remon, trances to the Right
Hon. Gentleman opposite himself. He (Mr. Wakley)
would contend for it, that no person in the profession
could approve of this charter. The Right Hon. Gen-
tleman himself did not like it, though it was his own off

spring; and he (Mr. Wakley) could assure the Right Hon.
Gentleman it was looked on abroad as an ugly production.
Two petitions had been presented for an inquiry
into the circumstances which 1,1 to the passing
of the charter. The proceedings of the Council
were carried on in secret—no one knew what
motions were proposed, or what amendments Ni ere spade
to them, nor was it known what was decided. The
Right llonourable Gentleman had made them
a representative body, and he should also take care
that the members should know what the conduct of their
representatives was. The language of Mr. Guthrie was
worthy the attention of the llouse. He stated in his
petition which was presented last year, that though in
his collective capacity he was compelled to accept the
grant of the new charter, a copy of which had been laid
en the table, yet he considered several of the provisions
to be illiberal, exclusive, and unjust. In his petition this
year lie sought for an inquiry into the conduct of the
Council, and states that he was aware of the unfitness
of the charter for the purposes for which it was
intended, and that many of the provisions were as de-
ceptive and illiberal in their nature as could be expected
from even a purely arbitrary Government- That was
the language of a member of the Council of Health,
and he hoped that such an explanation would
be given by the Right Hon. Gentleman as would
preclude the necessity of the appointment of a Com-
mittee of Inquiry, and that the Right Hon. Gentleman
would be prepared to say that such a charter would not
continue to exist, to the annoyance of the profession.
Even the majority of the Council spoke of the duty
imposed on them by the Right Hon. Gentleman as an
invidious duty. The Government had, therefore, abso-
lutely forced on the Council of the College of Sur-
geons a charter for which they entertained the
greatest dislike ; and, of course, which they
had no desire to receive. Now the circumstance
was very extraordinary, considering what had been
the conduct of the profession for a long series of
years. In his (Mr. Wakley's) opinion the Right
Hon. Baronet exercised, in 1843, relative to this subject,
a very unconstitutional power, and he thought he had
most unjustly exercised that power with reference
to a very large number of deserving professional men.
C =plaints had been made by Sir Astley Cooper and
other distinguished men, and all were agreed that the
rule prohibiting men from becoming members
of the College until they had arrived at a
certain period of life was a great hardship.—
(Hear.) These complaints had been laid before the
House, but how were the petitions of these men an-
swered ? Simply by a Minister of the Crown, who rely-
ing on some private representations, and guided by
some influence at the Home-office, granted a
new charter to the Council, and instead
of punishing the Council for misconduct n hid' they had
committed during a long series of years, invested
them with new powers, and enabled them
to exercise such powers to the extreme annoy-
ance of many thousands of their professional
brethren. The profession and the House had a right to
complain ; and, if prerogative charters were granted in
this way, the sooner such powers were extinguished, the
better. He knew the Right Hon. Gentleman would
say that ho did it for the best. He (Mr. Wakley)
had no doubt but that was the case, at the same time he
felt quite sure the Right Hon. Gentleman had been mis-
informed by one upon whose judgment he should not
in future rely. But the charter had beea granted, and
granted under extraordinary circumstances. Was it
to continue in force? Tho Right Hon. Gentleman ought
to make some alteration in the standing of the fellows.
The present plan was the most absurd and ridicu-
lous that could be conecived. The Committee
were empowered according to the provisions
of the charter to elect 300. members to the class of
fellows within the first three months of its operation.
Upon the 14th December, 1843, the Council was required
to select from the body of members not less than 250

nor more than 300- members, and these members
were selected in the most arbitrary manner.
Now, the fellows constituted the body from which the
future Council was to be elected, the fellows themselves
being the electors; and by this system it was absolutely
impossible for the names placed lowest on the list to be
elected to the Council of the College. Could
any one suppose that an arrangement of
this kind could be satisfactory to the pro-
fession? Could it give rise to any other feel-
ings than those of disappointment ? There were im-
mense numbers of men, who had endeavoured to dis-
charge their professional duties with credit to them-
selves and advantage to the public, thus by the
whim of a dominant party placed in such a position,
that they were deprived of their just rights and privi-
leges. The council of the College had seen proper to
give the world an analysis of the mode in which they
had discharged their duty, and the result according to
their own showing was as folloNs. They had appointed
229 surgeons in the general hospitals in various parts
of the country. They had created fifty-two teachers in
the various branches of recognised science, recognised
as such by themselves. Tney had created as fellows
ten men, who were distinguished by their contributions
to medical literature. Forty members who had formerly
practised pharmacy or midwifery, were created surgeons
without examination. Then they said that 113 persons
in the country had been recommended by the heads of
the respective departments ; and then, out of thousands
of professional gentlemen practising in the provinces—
men not surpassed for their scientific acquirements by
any body in Eerope—only sixty-seven, out of all the
provincial practitioners, were recommended as being ea-
petite of being attached to a general hospital, although
some of their, diplomas dated later than 1822. And was it
not apparent, on the face of these farts, that seine inquiry
was absolutely necessary? It was impossible to look at
the principle on which the college was governed—it was
impossible to look at the paucity of individuals elevated
—without feeling throughout convinced and persuaded
that such a state of things could not remain in tha same
state without occa.ioning feelings of dissatisfaction and
heart-burning in those who lied done no wrong, and
were only guilty of demanding the rights to which they
were justly entitled. Though that statement was made,
not one of the sixty-seven surgeons has chosen, whose
diplomas dat©d since 1824—a period of twenty one years.
And it was also a fact, which appeared from the analysis of
the list, that thirty were created to the rank of fellows in
the first 300 appointed, whose diplomas dated between
18'33 and 1837. The inequalities established, as he
considered, in a thoughtless manner in the Bill of the
Right Iron. Gentleman were of an outrageous character.
A feeling of dissatisfaction would prevail, unless the
demo to which he referred was removed, namely, the
clause relating to the present condition of the charter.
The Right Hon. Gentleman excluded those who prac-
tised pharmacy and midwifery from sitting in the Council
if they practised within five years antecedent to the day
of election. There were persons of the highest au-
thority, however, who acknowledged that the
medical practitioners, in order to exercise the
functions of their profession with security to
their patients, ought to be educated in the whole of
the branches of the profession. The expression of Mr.
Abernethy, in 1828, had been often quoted, that medi-
cine and surgery were one and indivisible. What was
the opinion of several men who were examined before
the Committee in 1834? If the Right Hon. Gentleman
had referred to the statements made by the eminent
men who were examined before that Committee, he (Mr.
Wakley) did not think that he would grant a
charter:
con-
taining such provisions as were in the Bill before them.
Mr. Lawrence, a member of the Connell, was ,
examined
l
before that Committee, and what was his evidence . He was asked, " Is not a large share of the actual practice
of London, surgeon medical practice?" and what was
the answer ? Why, it was, " Unquestionably, surgical cases are principally treated by means called
medical."
Sir Benjamin Brodie was examined on the
same subject
1L
and he was asked this question, " Is it not a very
im-
portant part of the business of a surgeon to resort to
medical treatment to prevent hemorrhage." The answer
was, " Yes, many cases which are treated as surgical,
may be remedied by medical treatment." Sir,
Astley Cooper, and Mr. Travers, another member
of the Council, gave similar testimony.—mearo
This testimony was given in 1834, and it was seven.

years since this had occurred. The surgeons were
stigmatised at that time, but Mr. Travers stated that
though he objected to the system, yet he had suffered no
inconvenience, for his colleague was too gentlemanlike
a person to interfere with his cases. Now, it was well-
known to all who had paid any attention to the subject
that it was the surgeon who was the complete me-
dical man. The physician only practised in a part of
the profession. lie could, it is true, cure all the evils
generally called medical evils, but the surgeon
had not only to heal the abrasions of the flesh,
but also to quell the fever which so frequently
attended upon wounds. From these circumstances
he trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman would see that he
had taken a backward step, and that he had been misled
by the information of persons who were either inte-
rested in making c rroneous statements to him, or too de-
ficient in knowledge to direct him rightly. The medi•
cal practitioners were another of the stigmatised parties.
Mr. Lawrence, who was one of the Council, had stated
that midwifery was a subject which ought to be espe-
cially attended to, and he did not believe that it was
possible for any man to become an able midwifery prac-
titioner without examination and instruction by persons
who attended to that practice only. Sir Astley Cooper,
who was also ono of the Council, had borne testimony to
the same effect, and expressly stated it as his opinion,
that unless instructed by individuals engaged solely in
the practice of midwifery, he would never be aide to ful-
fil his duty properly in that branch of the profession.
He thought the best constructed Board would be formed
of those men who had studied midwifery almost exclu-
sively. He was sure the Right Hon. Gentleman could
not be aware of the danger he was creating by the pro•
eeeding he was adepting. It ought to be the duty of
the Legisisture to find competent medical practitioners
for the million. The wealthy would never do it. The
Government was bound to take care that among the
million there was not one unqualified practitioner.
Case, had taken pl we, in consequence of inexperienced
practitioners, that were disgraceful to the House and
disgusting to society. The poorest classes of the people
were the most interested in the proper education of the
general practitioners. The middle classes also had not
less anxiety for the welfare of their families than the
highest aristocracy in the land. And he was able to
state that the great body of surgeons in this
country were competent to the discharge of their
duties, and they ought not to be' placed on a lower
scale than persons younger in years and prac-
tice, and not superior in academic attainments.
If the Right Hon. Gentleman granted the Committee
he would prove that the number of the parties who had
been elected to the class of fellows had obtained no dis-
tinction whatever, and were unknown as practising sur-
geons, but wlio in general practice had attained, per-
' haps, a considerable and a high moral character. tinder
the circumstances. he would ask the Right Hon. Gentle-
man if it were his intention, in the first place, to refuse
this inquiry, and, if he should refuse it, he would, in the
second place, ask him if it were his determination to
maintain the charter in its present odious aspect? As
medicine was but a science, was it fair that they
should have so many medical corporations ? If
such, then were the facts (and it was now admitted that
they were facts), was the Right Hon Gentleman pre-
pared to say to these professional gentlemen that
though they were members of the college they should
not be admitted to a scat at its councila because they
practised certain branches of that profession? The
Right Hon. Gentleman admitted that those members
had rights, but yet they would not be permitted to enter
their own college. In fact, the Council acted as if the
college were their own private property; but he looked
upon them as a public body, and acting only in the ca-
pacity of trustees for the members and the public. They
were appointed by law to perform certain important fune-
tions, and he would ask how had they discharged their
duties? He denied they had discharged their duties in any
thing like a satisfactory manner ; for if they had, so
long ago as :the year 1815, the members would have
been in the possession and full enjoyment of their rights
in this institution, and when they attempted upon a for-
mer occasion to assert their rights they were turned out
of doors. And, now, when a law was about to be pro-
posed affecting them, the Right Hon. Gentleman oppo-
site told them still that they should not find a home in
their own institution, but that he would provide them
with another establishment which would not be per-
mitted to enter into high and honourable and distin-
guished rivalry with the present one. He (Mr. Wakley)
did think that those gentlemen had great cause to com-
plain of the treatment they received in that House, for
it was there that laws were made affecting them, and it
was there that care should be taken that competent
professional persons should be provided for the public.
In whatever point of view he looked at the con-
duct of the Council, he could observe that it

presented but one characteristic, and that was a neglect
of the duties imposed on them by their obligations and
by the law • in fact, he could not point to any one act
that that body ever did for the advancement of the
medical science. The I-lon. Member then alluded to
some instances, where individuals who were highly de-
serving and meritorious had been suffered to live in
neglect, and were kept out of the Council, though they
possessed all the requisites that constituted a claim to a
place in it. He then went on to illustrate the bad effects
of keeping back members of the profession in this way.
He belonged to the profession himself, and had had
many opportunities of witnessing them in the persons of
some very talented men in some of the greatest hospitals
in the world. He looked upon the profession as the
noblest that the mind of man could be devoted to, and
therefore he did think the House was bound to
confer all the honours upon it that it deserved.
—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Before he concluded
he would entreat, he would implore, the Right Hon.
Gentleman to retrace the steps he had taken on this
subject. Never did he (Mr. Wakley) make an appeal
with more earnestness for its success than this one.—
(Hear, hear.) He would beg of the Right Hon. Gentle-
man not to listen to the prejudiced representations of
interested parties, but to act for the benefit of the public
at large, and enable himself to say that he thanked God
he had been instrumental in passing such a measure.—
(Hear, hear.) He had two resolutions before the House
and it was upon the second that he intended to take the
sense of the House.

The SPEAKER was then about to put the question,
when an lion. Member moved that the House be counted,
when it appeared that there were not forty Members
present, and the House adjourned.

RAILWAY CO_OLVIITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

Group F.
THE LONDON, WORCESTER, AND SOUTH STAF•

FORDSHIRE RAILWAY.

(Cnntinuelfrom our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. Joseph Chester, examined by Mr. llorE—Lives at
Leicester. Is engaged in the wool and coal trade. Believed
the water-carriage for wool better adapted than the
ralway under the present arrangement of the line. The
break of gauge on the Gloucester line was very inconvenient to
the traders on the line. The inconvenience arises from the
great and unavoidable delay occasioned by the break.
Mr. W. 11. Lloyd, examined by Mr HOPE—Is a merchant
at Birmingham. Trades with Gloucester, Bristol, and Hull,
and other places. A meeting of the merchants of Birming-
ham was held on the 20th of December last. The meeting was
convened by themselves. It was a very important meeting,
and its object was to consider the propriety of having a con-
tinuous gauge from Birmingham to Bristol. The first reso-
lution was moved by Mr. Muntz, M.P.
CHArnmix—Here comes the Hon. Member to answer for
himself.

Mr. 51mitz here made his way to the table amid much
bzughter.

,
I:xamination continued,—The resolution was favourable
to a continuous gauge. The meeting was unanimous for an
unbroken gauge.
Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT.—One gentleman named
Chance, who attended the meeting, wrote a letter by desire
of the meeting to Mr. Laing of the Board of Trade, in favour
a a continuous gauge from Bristol to Birmingham.
Mr. Chance spoke in favour of the broad:gauge, but the
meeting did nit approve of it; their immediate object was
a continuous gauge, and not as to whether it should be
broad or narrow. Was himself in favour of the narrow
gauge, though if the gauge were to be continuous the
inconvenience would be materially diminished.
Re-examined by Mr. HOPE.—Competition would be
very beneficial if it could be kept up where two
lines ran together. This would, however, be very
soon got rid of by the two Companies combin-
ing. Would prefer a Government regulation to any
other for the security of fair rates. There would be
more trouble in loading the trucks on the broad gauge than
on the narrow; the loading would be far more inconvenient.
The small gauge would be generally more compact and un •
objectionable.

by the CHAIRMAN—On the whole, if he had his choice, he
would give the preference to the small gauge.
Mr. Hopi: said he would have to claim the indulgence of
the Committee. At that moment he was unable to call any
further general evidence, in consequence of the witnesses
being under examination in another Committee. He would,
therefore, propose to put in the tables of traff.z.
The tables of traffic were then put in, and a few witnesses
►ere called, who were briefly examined as to their general
accuracy.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-
morrow.

Group V.
THE NEWARK AND SHEFFIELD.
(Continued from our Afteenom Edition of yesterday.)
Mr RUNES, on the part of the promoters of the Bill, read
extracts from the report of the Board of Trade recommend-
ing this line. He stated that it was intended to extend it
to a distance of thirty-two miles, and that it would connect
the producing districts of South Nottingham and SJuth Lin-
colnshire, with the markets of Yorkshire and Lancashire. By
forming a junction with the TN' idland Railway at Chesterfield,
they could communicate with Manchester, Leeds, and Barns-
ley; and he would produce evidence before the Committee
to prove that the traffic world be amply sufficient to
maintain the line, and return a profit to the Company. The
line would not interfere with any existing interest. The
Learned Counsel, after giving returns of the export trade of
Newark in the articles of malt, flour, coals, lime, &c., pro-
ceeded to call witnesses in support of his position.
John Thorpe, m !lister and coal merchant, proved that a very
considerable export trade existed between Newark and the
market of South Lancashire in the articles of malt and flour,
5.41 that coal was imported in great quantities from Derby-
shire and Nottingham. He was certain that if the line were
made it would increase in a very great degree the value of
property in Newark. The popular feeling was strongly in
its tlivour.

Mr. Bramston, Mayor of Newark, gave similar evidence.
The Committee adjourned till to-morrow.

Group E.
NEWCASTLE AND BERWICK LINE.
Mr. Hudson, the Chairman of the Company who promoted
this projected locomotive line, occupied the attention of the
Committee during the entire day in showing the immense
local advantages which would be derived from its adoption.
llis evidence chiefly tended to prove that the atmo-
spheric system of railway would not work the same
quantity of goods as that worked by the locomotive, and that
the public would not be convenience(' by having such fre-
quent trains as were advocated by the- Northumberland At-.
mo spheric Company.

Dispatches from the Governor of the Mauritim were
received yesterday at the CvlQuial-office.