The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-05 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1853.

was instructed by an agent in London to sell the
iron, advised the sale by letter; but it appears by
the evidence was instructed by the London agent to
advise the sale by telegraph, and the consequence
of his not doing so was, that the principal sold the
iron to a house in Glasgow, and refused to acknow-
ledge the sale in Liverpool. Upon this the Liver-
pool merchant, whose purchase was thus repu-
diated, had to pay a higher price, owing to the
subsequent rise in the market, and sued the Liver-
pool broker for the difference. The principal in
the transaction, whose name was not disclosed at
the time of sale, deposed on the trial that his in-
structions to sell were dependent on his receiving
advice by telegraph the same day, and not having
done so, he sold the iron elsewhere. The question
was left to the jury •whether the Liverpool broker
was properly instructed, and the verdict being in
the affirmative, the Liverpool merchant lost his
action on the ground that the broker, who was the
defendant, was not responsible. His only remedy,
therefore, is to sue the London merchant, and,
should his evidence be believed by another jury,
the result will be similar ; but if on the con-
trary, the remedy of the London merchant will be
to sue the broker for exceeding his instructions.
In justice to the London merchant, it should be
remembered that he made no advantage by the
transaction, inasmuch as the sale to Glasgow was
at a lower price. The simple question that arises is,
that in an ordinary transaction of every day occur-
rence, in which mercantile operations to a large
amount are involved, the peculiar construction of
the law as elicited at this trial is made the vehicle
of positive injustice, the Liverpool merchant, ac-
cording to the evidence, being actually without a
remedy, although his conduct in the affair was
business-like and honourable. The question really
at issue was the validity of the instructions given to
the broker to sell, but this was between him and
his principal, the purchaser being necessarily an
innocent party ; and the result of the trial has been
to make the latter a victim not only for his first
loss but for the costs of the proceedings. It is
evident that a remedy is needed, or transactions
through brokers cannot be conducted with safety;
and the case affords a strong instance, among many
others, of the necessity for the establishment of
local tribunals, to which all commercial questions
shall be submitted upon clear and well-defined prin-
ciples. In the demand for Law Reform, this point
presses with an urgency which ought not to admit
of delay, and both merchants and brokers of Liver-
pool are interested in pressing it upon the attention
of the Legislature.

The advices by the overland mail report the mar-
kets at Bombay and Calcutta to be dull for manu-
factured goods, notwithstanding an abundance of
money. From China the accounts are more favour-
able, and prospects at Shanghae were considered
good.
It is stated from Calcutta that a vessel had been
chartered there to take 350 Lascar seamen to Port
Philip, on account of Liverpool shipowners, to fetch
away the vessels detained there in consequence of
the desertions to the gold mines. The Lascars have
been engaged at about £l5 per head.
The return from the Bank of England,. for the
week ending the 26th of March, gives the following
results, when compared with the previous week :
Public deposits .. £8,468,758; Increase £265,203
Other deposits .. 12,721,782 ; Decrease 152,916
Rest .. 3,630,638 ; Increase 4,273

On the other side of the account—
Government securities £13,464,535 ; the same as before.
Other securities .. 15,931,447 ; Increase £484,175
Notes unemployed .. 10,790,310; Decrease 341,785
The amount of notes in circulation is £21,793,695,
being an increase of £328,855 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £19,122,996, show-
ing a decrease of £40,150, when compared with
the preceding return.

ISSUE DEPARTMENT

Notes issued .. £32,584,005

£32,584,005

BANKING D
Prop.'s capita1.£14,553,000
Re5t.......... 3,630,638
Public deposits. 9,468,758
Other deposits . 12,721,782
7-day, &c. bills. 1,351,108

Govrnt. Debt... £11,015,100
Other securities 2,984,900
Gold coin & bu1n.18,564,851
Silver bullion .. 19,154

£32,584,005

higher prices might be expected. Our views have
been fully borne out : there has been a very active
demand for all descriptions of Wool, and sales have
been made to a considerable extent, both on the
spot and for arrival, at an advance of 5 to 10 per
cent.; and, from the unprecedentedly light state of
stocks, we see no reason to doubt that present
prices will be fully maintained."—Messrs. A. GART-
SIDE and Co. report :—" The activity now general
throughout the manufacturing districts has caused
an excellent demand for most descriptions of Wool,
which the extreme lightness of stocks has rendered
it difficult to supply. Australian, Cape, and other
fine kinds, fully maintain late rates; but consumers
have less anxiety about future supplies." Messrs.
Jos. ROBINSON and Co. state that "the position
of the Wool trade has become such that more than
ordinary attention is directed to it, owing to the
rapidly-increasing value of the raw material and the
extraordinary consumption going forward in all
quarters for some months back, and the operations
of the month are such as to warrant the belief that
all kinds of Wool will go much higher yet."
IRON.—The quarterly report of the Scotch Iron
Trade refers to the extraordinary fluctuations since
the Ist of January, the price of Pig Iron having
been forced up to 755. 6d., and gone back to
525. 6d., the present rate. The stock in hand is
computed at 475,000 tons, which is an increase of
25,000 tons since the Ist of January, notwith-
standing the augmented shipments of a large home
consumption. At the Iron-masters' meeting, at
Wolverhampton, the price of Bar-iron was reduced
£1 a ton, though the reduction was submitted to
with much reluctance.

THE LIVERPOOL PILOTAGE COMMIS-
SIONERS AND THE PILOT COMMITTEE.
IMPORTANT MEETING YESTERDAY.

Yesterday, at noon, a meeting of the Pilot Committee
and the Pilotage Commissioners was held in the Council
Chamber ; the MAYOR presiding.
Mr. ROWLANDS, secretary to the Pilot 'Committee,
stated the object of the meeting, which was to take into
consideration the bill introduced into the House of Com-
mons by the President of the Board of Trade relative to
the amending of the law of pilotage, as it bears upon the
port of Liverpool, and to determine whether any, and, if
any, what opposition should be given to the bill, or what
exemption should be sought from it.
The MAYOR said, as he was not a nautical man, it
would be presumption in him to offer any remarks. He
might, however, say that, by the bill now before parlia-
ment, a great change was proposed to be made in the
system of pilotage; and that, while all admitted that the
pilots were exposed to great hardships and danger, he
must testify that a better educated class of men, generally
speaking, could not be found in our country. Of the
38,873 vessels which, during the year 1852, passed into
the port of Liverpool, being an average of 110 per day,
only two brigs and one flat had been lost. (Hear, hear,)
Mr. T. B. HortseAss, rose, at the call of the ayor,
to move the first resolution. Agreeing entirely in the
judicious observations of the Mayor, he thought it was
their duty to take exception to the bill now before parlia-
ment. He heard the President of the Board of Trade
introduce the bill to the house, and he (Mr. Horsfall)
would do him the justice to say, that he did it with con—
siderable talent, though he confessed he was disappointed
in the tone of his observations. There were many clauses,
he believed, to which exception was taken. He conceived
it was not the pilots only who were interested in the bill,
nor was it the underwriters only, nor the shipowners,
neither the shippers of goods, but it was the public • and
he held that it certainly was their duty to watch' over
their interests as well as the interests of the under-
writers, the pilots, and the shipowners. The ship_
owners had already addressed the House of Commons
on the subject. They say, and he quite agreed with them,
that the powers and authority to be granted by the bill
to the Board of Trade was fraught with serious and evil
consequences. He would now refer to the petition emana-
ting from the pilots themselves, and he would allude to
that which had been presented by the underwriters. The
latter, stating their reasons for opposing the bill, said
they were of opinion that it would be dangerous to grant
such certificates to masters and mates, ,and that they
would not insure the ships which would be exempted
from taking pilots. This exception, taken by the under-
writers, is entitled to very great consideration ; for, if it is
not safe fon ships a fortiori it was-not safe for passengers.
(Hear, hear.) That was one of the strongest arguments
against giving power to the Board of Trade to grant
certificates to masters and mates, on the local pilot autho-
rities refusing to do so. He thought some consideration
was also due to the pilots. if masters of steamers or sail-
ing vessels were to have the privilege of piloting their own
vessels in fine weather, surely they ought not to have a
right to demand the services of a pilot in rough weather.
(Hear.) There was also some consideration due to the
shipowners,who did not choose to avail themselves of those
clauses, for they would be obliged to incur considerable
additional expense in providing themselves with pilots on
all occasions. Those would have considerably greater
expense who always took pilots, than those who only
took pilots occasionally. There were two other clauses
to which exception was taken : one of them was the four-
teenth, relative to the returns to be made to the Board of
Trade. For his own part, he thought it was right that
those returns should be made to the Board of Trade. The
other elsoixak. 4,"
powers given to the pilot authorities. The question was,
how were these pilot authorities to be constituted ? They
had been constituted in this port for he did not know how
many years, and he would not say that the constitution of
their Pilot Board was perfection ; but he did say that if
there were abuses, they ought to be remedied. If there
were rules or regulations to be altered or reformed, they
ought to make every endeavour to do what was necessary.
He held that it was not necessary to take away the
Power from that board to give it to the Board of Trade in
London. It was an attempt to extend the system of cen-
tralization, which had been endeavoured to be adopted in
the Mercantile and Marine Bill,. which, however, was
successfully opposed, as he hoped and doubted not this
would be also. (Hear, hear.) The same also was done
with regard our customs' regulations. Against this system
of centralization, he thought it was their bounden duty to
protest. (Hear, hear.) It was- a matter worthy of the
consideration of the Corporation of Liverpool, and the
Dock Estate of Liverpool, that, if the Board of Trade
were to get the whole power of the Pilotage into their own
hands, it would not be long before they got the funds of
the Dock Estate also into their hands. (Hear, hear.) On
these grounds, he thought it wasessential that they should
give their opposition to the tenth clause of the bill.
(Hear, hear.) He had, for the reasons stated, great
pleasure in moving, " That the bill now before the
House of Commons, for the farther amendment of the law
of Pilotage, and for conferring power on the Board of
Trade to grant certificates to masters and mates, on the
refusal of the local authorities, would, in the judgment of
this-meeting, tend to impair the efficiency of the Pilotage
in this port."
_ _

Mr. 'SHAND seconded the resolution, showing, in: the
course of his speech, that the bill would be productive of
very considerable injury to the general interests and com-
merce of the port, and that the Pilot Committee did not
consider themselves justified in taking upon themselves
the responsibility of allowing this bill to pass without
appealing to the general body of Pilot Commissioners,
who had taken the subject up with a spirit, which, he
hoped, would prevent the damage of which they were
apprehensive. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. WILLIAM MANN moved the next resolution :
" That the petition now produced be adopted,. and pre-
sented to the House of Commons by the members for the
Borough." He referred to the fact that no single com-
plaint had been made against the pilots of Liverpool ;
expressed his conviction that the coasting steam-boat pro-
prietors had put forward the desire that the Board of
Trade might license masters and mates '• and with Mr.
Shand deprecated the idea that the pilots. were only to
reap the fruits of, storms and tempests.
Mr. JENKINS seconded the resolution, which was sup.
ported in lengthy speeches by Mr. BINGHAM and Mr.
FISHER, and carried unanimously. Mr.,Bingham, in the
course of hia.remarks, described the reception which the
deputation who waited upon Mr. Cardwell met with. All
the remonstrances and arguments were listened to by Mr.
Cardwell, who, though he still expressed his adherence to
the whole bill, very smoothly, and quietly, and oilily
bowed them out. (Laughter.) Mr. Bingham, in the
course of his speech, pronounced an eulogium upon the
Pilot Committee. He had gone into it, at the request
of his friends, to seek and expose abuses supposed to exist,
but he found none. It would be impossible to find a
committee more active, devoted,. and useful. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. LOWNDES read the petition, a copy of which we
append :

TO. THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARMA-

MENT ASSEMBLED.
The humble Petition of the Commissioners of Pilotage of the

Port of Liverpool
SHEWETII,—That a bill has been introduced into your
honourable house, intituled " A Bill further to amend the Law
relating to Pilotage."
That, by the 10th clause in the said bill, after reciting that,
by the Act of the 13th year of the reign of her present Majesty,
cap. 88, provision was made for enabling a master or mate to
pilot his own vessel, without the assistance of a licensed pilot,
upon his passing an examination before or under the direction
of the proper pilotage authorities, and obtaining a certificate
as therein mentioned, but the institution of such examination
was left to the option of the said authorities, and that it was
expedient to extend and amend the provisions of the said act,
it is therefore proposed to be enacted that if, upon complaint
to the Board of Trade, it appeared to such board that any
such authority as aforesaid have, without reasonable cause,
refused or neglected to examine any master or mate, who has
applied to them for the purpose, or, after lie has passed, have
refused or neglected to-grant to him a certificate, the Board of
Trade may, if, in their judgment, the circumstances appear
to require it, appoint persons to examine such master
or mate, and, if he be found fit to pilot his vessel within the
limits for which he is examined, may grant him a certificate
setting forth the limits and the vessel for which he is certified,
upon such terms and conditions, and subject to such regula-
lations as such board may think fit, and such certificate shall
be in force for one year, and may be renewed from year to year
either by the said authorities, in the manner and upon the terms
in the said act mentioned, or by the Board of Trade, if such
board so think fit; and all certificates granted under this act
shall have the same effect as certificates granted under the said
last recited act.

That, by the 17th clause in the propsed bill, after reciting
that it is expedient to give facilities for amending the system
of pilotage, and for reducing or otherwise altering the rates
payable in respect thereof, it was proposed to be enacted that
it should be lawful for every pilotage authority, by regulation
or bye-law made with the consent of the majority in council,
amongst other things, to fix, and from time to time to alter.
the rates and prices, or remuneration, to be demanded and re-
ceived by pilots licensed by such authority, or to substitute
other rates and prices in lieu of those for the time being de-
manded or received, or to alter the mode of remunerating
pilots, in such manner as such authority may, with such con-
sent, as aforesaid, think fit, so that no higher rates or prices be
demanded or received from the masters or owners of ships
than the rates and prices which might, if this act had not
passed, have been demanded or received : and to exempt the
masters of any ships or vessels, or of any classes of ships or
vessels, from being compelled to employ pilots, and to annex
any terms or conditions to such exemptions; and from time to
time to revoke and alter any exemptions so made, and to revise
and extend any exemptions now existing by virtuei of any Act
of Parliament or charter, upon such terms and conditions, and
in such manner as such authority, with such COUSellt as UNIT-
;Aida shall thiult

That the approaches and entrances to the port of Liverpool
are extremely difficult and intricate, and subject to continual
and considerable changes, and that the requisite knowledge of
such changes, for the purposes of navigation, can only be kept
up by uninterrupted and almost daily oservation.
That in the last report of the conservator of the river Mersey,
delivered on the last day of January in the present year, Capt.
Evans observes that the changes continually occurring in the
quick sands and channels of the river Mersey have rendered
it necessary for Lieutenant Lord, R.N., marine surveyor to
the dock trustees, to resurvey the entire bay and port of Liver-
pool during the past year, 1852, and also to shift many of the
buoys in order to indicate the present directions of the channels.
That the strictest superintendence is exercised over the pilots
by the committee and officers of the establishment, and their
efficiency is abundantly manifested by portions of the same
report of the conservator, in which he says :—" The returns
state that about 38,873 vessels passed in and out of Liverpool
during the year 1852. In the confusion which, of necessity,
must occur from such a prodigious number of vessels, averag-
ing more than 100 per diem, passing through the Channels, it
is most gratifying to observe that only three vessels, namely,
two brigs and one flat, were lost in Liverpool, Bay during the
year 1852."

That the present earnings of the Liverpool pilots, for ordi-
nary service, is very moderate, and are much below the average
remuneration of skilled labour to many classes of artisans on
land, without the attendant risks.

That it is proposed by the bill to enact that if, at any time, it
appear to the Board of Trade,or to any pilotage authority, that
any master or mate to whom a certificate has been granted by
such board or authority has been guilty of misconduct, or has
shown himself incompetent to pilot his vessel,"such board or
such authority may thereupon withdraw his certificate.
Your petitioners submit that, under such clause, the Liver-
pool Pilots Committee would have no power over masters and
mates certificated by the Board of Trade; and, even if the clause
were altered so as to confer such power in unquestionable
terms, your petitioners, from experience of the habits and pur-
suits of masters and mates of merchant vessels, are very con-
fident that they would not keep up the chain of communication
with the Pilots Committee by reporting every casualty which is
now observed with the pilots themselves, and which is essential
to the maintenance of proper superintendence and control.
Your petitioners, therefore, pray that the'pilot establishment
of the port of Liverpool may be exempted from the operation
of the proposed bill.
That there are peculiar local circumstances connected with
the pilots establishment of the port of Liverpool, which distin-
guish it from any other pilot service in the United Kingdom,
and which entitle it, therefore, to be legislated for on grounds
peculiar to ii self.

And your petitioners pray that they may be heard by their
counsel, agents, and witnesses before a committee of your
honourable house to show the nature, hardships, and dangers
attending the pilot service of Liverpool, the education required
and now received by the pilots, the efficiency of the pilot service
of Liverpool, and the imminent danger of impairing its effi-
ciency by giving the certificates of pilots to any persons not
regularly apprenticed and bred up to the service.
And your petitioners pray that they may be heard by them-
selves, their manse!, agents, and witnesses, before the com-
mittee to whom the same may be referred against the preamble
and such of the clauses of the said bill as affect their interests.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor, for his conduct in the
chair, concluded the proceedings.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A SPANISH
CAPTAIN IN LIVERPOOL-APPREHEN-
SION OF THE. SUPPOSED MURDERER.

' Our readers may remember that the captain of the
ship Providentia was found dead in his cabin, on Sun-
day morning fortnight, the morning after he had received
' some money from his owners. The circumstance gave
rise to considerable suspicion,• from the fact that none-
of his money was found upon him or in his desk.
On Saturday Espiro Lazzorowich, one of the crew, was
apprehended at a cook-shop in the neighbourhood of Wil-
liamson-square, with a large quantity of doubloons and
other coin in his possession. On being questioned, he ad-
mitted that he had taken them from the captain's bed after
he was dead. He was brought before the magistrates at
the Police-court yesterday morning. He is a young
man, apparently under, or about, thirty years of age, and
by no means bad looking. He was steward on board
the Brazilian brig Providentia, of which the unfortunate
Vicento Antonio was captain.—Detective Sullivan, who
had the management of the case, said that, in consequence
of certain information received by Mr. Clough, he and
police-officer Marsh went to apprehend the prisoner.
On apprehending him, there was found upon his person
4r sovereigns, upwards of 60 gold doubloons, and other
coins,. including 18s. in English silver ; also, a paper ad-
dressed to the late captain by the consignees of the Pro-
videntia.—Mr. Superintendent Clough said the deceased
had been found dead in his cabin, in the Queen's Dock,
on the morning of Sunday, the 20th of March. It ap-
peared that he had been ill with a bad cold, and that he
had directed Lazzorowich, the prisoner, who was steward,
to kindle a charcoal fire in his cabin ;. and the sulphur
arising therefrom caused his death. The coroner's jury re-
turned an open verdict. It now appeared that the pri-
soner went into the captain's cabin on Sunday morning,
and finding him dead, robbed the place of the money,
which the captain had obtained only the previous day.
There was no cause whatever for the suspicion that the
deceased came by his death in consequence of unfair treat-
ment. One of the consignees stated that Vincent Antonio
had the day before his death received from them the sum
of £5O in sovereigns. The following day the cabin was
examined, and none of the money was found. The pri-
soner a few days afterwards, applied to them for money,
and also stated that he wished to be discharged. With
this request they refused to comply, and-told him to go
back to the brig and resume his duties. Two days after-
wards it was discovered that he had paid a certain person
two sovereigns ; and from that individual it was likewise
ascertained that Lazzorowich intended to desert the
vessel. Immediately on the consignees being made
acquainted with this fact, they gave information to the
police. The moment witness saw the prisoner, he asked
him who possessed the money which had been found upon
him, and to this direct query Lazzorowich at once
responded that it had been the captain's money.—The
prisoner was here examined through an interpreter. He
admitted that he took the money. and-did so with the
_a emery, ."c4 a • as floaculvoir
p...- 1-- Wino lit,
s took it .17;m the bed on which the dead body lay.—De-
tective Sullivan produced various articles which had been
found upon the prisoner, and among which the chief mate
of the Providentia recognised a pair of drawers belonging
to the deceased captain. In the same bundle was a
variety of new vests, trowsers, ties, &c., which appeared
to have been freshly purchased, and which Lazzorowich
had no doubt bought with the fruits of his robbery.
Admiral Grenfell, who attended as Brazilian consul at
this port, said he certainly would not prosecute unless he
were bound to do so.
The magistrates ultimately sentenced the prisoner to
two months' imprisonment, at the same time acquainting
him with the fact, that had the ship not been proceeding
immediately to- sea, with the witnesses on board, he
should certainly have been put upon his trial for a more
serious offence, which would, in all, probability, have
entailed upon him a much heavier penalty.
After he had been sentenced, the prisoner, who mani-
fested very little feeling either one way or another, ex-
pressed his anxiety about his boxes, which were on board
the brig, and which he desired might be left behind, a
request which will be complied with.

THE REFORMATION.-At St. Paul's Church, St. Paul's.
square, the P.ev. G. Read, one of the ministers, received
into the Church two males and two females, who publicly
and formally renounced the errors cf the Church of Rome.
This solemn and impressive ceremony took place last
Sunday during the evening service. One of the converts
had been baptized a few months before by the same
minister. The text was from I Tim. iv. 1-3. The
attendance was very numerous ; , and this is one proof that
the services at this church are not quite so useless as one
of the speakers at the vestry meeting, last week, wished
to make jt appear. _

THE MUSICAL ASSOCIATIOX, on Wednesday evening,
gave their first public performance, in the lecture-hall of
the Mechanics' Institution. The music chosen for, the
occasion was Haydn's oratorio.of " The Creation." The
solo singers were Miss Jessie Hammond, Mr. Wray, and
Mr. Pierce. Mr. W. B. Rcgers conducted, and Mr. G.
Hirst presided at the organ.
THEATRE ROYAL.—Sparkling French vaudevilles, most
of them familiar to English playgoers, have been wit-
nessed,by numerous and fashionable audiences during_the
past week. The French crtistes from St. James's Theatre,
London, gave the most unmingled satisfaction.;, and we
trust that a growing appreciation of these delightful en-
tertainments will make the two enterprising managers pro-
long the stay of their company beyond a week when they
next visit Liverpool.
FRIGHTFUL CoLmszoN.—On Saturday night, about
nine o'clock, as the Prince Arthur steamer,, with the mail
and a great number of passengers, was on her course
towards Holyhead, she was, when about 15 miles from
lingstown, run into by a brig, about 200:tons burthen, in
full sail. The bowsprit of the brig ran into the starboard
paddlebox of the steamer, but the vessels got clear, or
both might have gone down together. The steamer, after
lying for about an hour in a crippled condition, burning
red lights, was taken in tow by her Majesty's steamer
Paisley, and brought to Holyhead. The brig, which was
not much injured, proceeded on her course.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 4

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

SUNDAY.—The Prase states that the King of
Sardinia has sent instructions to his minister at Vienna
to demand the removal of the sequestration from the pro-
perty of all the persons in Lombardy who are become his
subjects, and if this demand be not immediately complied
with, to apply for his passport.

. -
ST. PETERSBURGIL—Weather exceedingly cold. Navi-
gation was expected to open at the end of the month.
HAMBURGR, 2ND APRlL.—Business dull. Exchange
on London 13.3. The Elbe was free from ice, and navi-
gation actively resumed. The Danish waters were still
blocked up with ice.
NAPLES.—The King has ordered the Sicilians resident
at Naples to be expelled, in consequence of a Swiss soldier
having been murdered at Palermo.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Lord CAMPBELL asked whether the late address, pre.
seated to the Emperor of France from certain merchants
and others of the city of London, was under the sanction
and authority of the home government ?
The Earl of CLARENDON replied that the address was
certainly not under the sanction of government, and if his
opinion had bean asked, he should have said such a decla-
ration was perfectly unnecessary, as there was not the
slightest ground for thinking that any unfriendly feeling
existed between the two countries.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH, Lord AIALMESBURY, and
the LORD CHANCELLOR having added a few words, the
subject was dropped.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the Arme-
nian population of Calcutta and Bengal, which, after
some remarks from Lord ELLENBOROUGH, was ordered to
be referred to the committee sitting upon Indian affairs.
Lord ABERDEEN gave notice, that on Monday next he
should present a copy of the evidence taken before the
Canterbury election committee, for the purpose of moving
an address to Her Majesty upon the subject.
Adjourned at thirty-five minutes past six o'clock.

on Monday, the 18th instant, he should make his financial
statement. (Hear.)
In answer to a question from Mr. D'lsraeli, Lord J.
RUSSELL said he should move the third reading of the
Canada Reserves Bill on Monday next, and the third
reading of the Jewish Disabilities Bill on the following
Friday. He was not prepared to state the time at which
he could make a statement as to the intentions of govern-
ment concerning the government of India.
Lord J. RUSSELL then proceeded to state the views of
government on the subject of education in England, and
to move for leave to bring in a bill for its extension. The
noble lord commenced by an historical retrospect of the
progress of education since the establishment of the
National Society and the British and Foreign School
Society, to the period of the origin of the Committee of
Privy Council in 1839. He then described, from a return
obtained from the Census Office, the present means of
education in private schools and public schools. From
this return, he said, the average attendance at the public
schools of the country, in 1847, was 93 ; that there were
19,856 schools belonging to different denominations con-
taining 1,281,077 scholars, and an income of £1,100,000.
Of this income he found that no less than half a million
i arose from school pence; considering that, half a century
ago, there were none hut Sunday schools, this result was
satisfactory : that the working and lower classes should
contribute a sum of half a million yearly towards the ex-
pense of the education of their children, must be con-
sidered gratifying ; and it appeared to him that a system
which had so grown from voluntary effort should be
strengthened. He then proceeded to describe what had
since been done by the Committee of Council for the
education of teachers, and for making provision for their im-
provement; the character and position of the schoolmaster
had thereby been greatly improved, as was testified by
reports of inspectors. He now came to the question,
what should be done with this system ? It should be
continued, as he conceived it could not be dispensed with
under existing circumstances. It appeared, then, to the
Government, that it would be possible to give power to
the Corporations of municipal boroughs to impose a rate
for the purpose of educating the children of the people;
but, in so doing, certain conditions should be imposed.
In the first place, Government thought it right that two
thirds of the Town Council should agree to the imposition
of such a rate. Next, that the rate should be applied,
not to establish schools in substitution of former schools,
but in aid of the voluntary efforts of individuals, and of
the school pence contributed by parents. The rate, for
instance, might be applied to pay twopence per week for
each scholar, provided that fourpence or fivepence were
contributed from other sources. All schools receiving
this assistance should be schools which, under the minutes
of Council, might receive assistance ; and it was proposed
that the powers of the Town Council should not go
further than the appointment of a committee to dis-
tribute the sums according to the minutes of Council,
but such a plan, it was obvious, could not be gene-
ral, as there were numerous schools not in municipal
boroughs. It was, therefore, proposed, in such cases,
and minutes were now under consideration, that a certain
sum should be allowed per head, in proportion to sums
contributed from other• sources. These were outlines
chiefly of proposed measures in respect to these schools,
but there were numerous charity schools under trusts
which were now in a very unsatisfactory condition. It
appeared to government that, in respect to these schools.
there were two powers required :-Ist, that there
should be a judicial power to declare whether any of
the •trusts had been abused„ and to take measures for
remedying them, and another power to superintend the
administration of the trust. It would, therefore, be
proposed that there be vested power in the Committee
of Council to superintend these trusts, and to vary them,
if the trustees consented to vary the trusts, then the alte-
ration would take effect upon it being recorded. If the
trustees did not consent, then a bill should be introduced
into parliament for the purpose. It was also proposed
that the department of art and school of design should be
united. He had stated, on a former occasion. that he
should mention at this time the views of the government
as to the university commissioners. Government should
decline stating any scheme of their own until the
universities had had an opportunity of considering
their recommendations, but with respect to Oxford,
he would state that, in the opinion• of government,
it was- desirable to make a considerable change in
the constitution of the University, and in the form of the
governing body. The attention of government would be
directed to the subject, but they would be ready to receive
any suggestions from the University. Government at the
same time had a decided opinion that the opening of
Universities ought to be more free and general. (Hear.)
With regard to Cambridge University, the report of the
commissioners was satisfactory ; and the hope was, that
the business would be continued in as satisfactory a man-
ner. Lord John Russell concluded by moving_for leave
to introduce a bill.

Mr. EWART expressed a general approval of the scheme,
but regretted that it did not include such schools as Eton,
Rochester, and others.
_ _

Mr. HT ME approved of the plan, but wished it had
been more especially directed to secular education.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON wished to ask if it was the inten-
tion of government to rescind the minute of the 12th of
June, 1852, passed by the previous government..
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was intended to cancel
that minute, and to substitute another regulation to meet
cases where immoral conduct was alleged against school-
masters.

Mr. W. J. Fox was glad to find the principle of an
educational rate recognised at last.
After a few words from Mr. EDWARD BALL,
Sir ROBERT H. INGLIS said, Lord J. Russell need not
look for his support, as regarded his views with respect to
the two Universities.

After some discussion, in which Lord J. Manners, Mr;
Phinn. Mr. Wigram. the Chancellor of Exchequer, and
Mr. Apsley Pellatt took part.
Leave was given to Lord J. Russell to introdnec-the bi •
The Pilotage Bill was read a second time.
The house adjourned at ten minutes to eleven.