The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-05-20 00:00:00

itmptrial Varliamtnt.

isor
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TirupsnAY.
The following railway bills were read a second time :
London and Croydon Railway (Enlargement); London
and Croydon Railway (Chatham and Gravesecd); London
and Croydon Railway (Maidstone, Ashford, and Ton-
bridge) ; London and Croydon Railway (Orpington
Branch) •, London and Croydon Railway (Chatham to
Chilham) : the Great Western Railway, Ireland (Dublin
to Mullingar and Athlone) ; and the Birmingham and
Gloucester Railway (Wolverhampton line).
Mr. WAKLEY, in pursuance of h's notice, brought
under the consideration of the house the management of
the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and also the
charter granted to it in the year 1813. He thought that
Sir J. Graham was now well aware that he had made a
false step in granting that charter, and regretted that he
would not retrace that false step by making those changes
in it which the profession required. The hi-tory of the
conduct of the Council of the College of Surgeons was
one of continued injustice from the year 1826 down to the
year 1843. During all that time their conduct had been
incriminated by the profession, and medical associations
and clubs had been formed in every part of the country to
guard against its arrogant and oppressive regulations.
In 1843 the profession was informed that a new charter
had been granted to the College, in which new and extra-
ordinary privileges were conferred by the crown on that
very council whose conduct bad proved so very obnox-
ious. He pointed out the various hardships, which this
new charter inflicted on more than 10,000 members of
the profession. It was laughed at by every member of
the profession who did not suffer by its injustice as one
of the most absurd and irrational measures that had ever
been concocted by the wit of man. They felt deeply dis-
contented at its arrangements, and they had shown their
discontent by petitions to parliament, by remonstrances
to the council, and by memorials to Sir James Graham.
Nobody was satisfied with it, not even Sir James himself.
The language of Mr. Guthrie, himself a member of the
council, was worthy of the consideration of the house.
That eminent surgeon denounced several of its provisions
as illiberal, exclusive, and unjust; and yet all the memo-
rials directed against it, and sent to the Home-office, had
been answered secretly there by a minister of the crown,
who allowed himself to he deluded by some member of the
council, on whose judgment he unfortunately relied.
After condemning the obnoxious power of self-appoint-
ment, which was given to the council, be proceeded to
point out at great length the different grounds on which
the profession complained of this charter, and to insist
that if prerogative charters were to be thus recklessly
granted, it was fitting that they should be rigidly scruti-
nized by parliament. He would reduce the whole ques-
tion now in dispute to this issue—" the charter having
been granted, ought it to be continued in force?" On the
face of the charter itself he said that it was evident that
inquiry must be granted, or that the minister must say
that the charter could not stand. He therefore asked Sir
James Graham whether it was his intention, first, to re-
fuse inquiry into the management of the Royal College of
Surgeons ; and, secondly, if it was his intention to refuse
that inquiry, whether he intended to maintain the charter
in its present odious and obnoxious state? He could not
believe that Sir James would voluntarily take such a
course ; but he had made one ;false step. and would per-
haps endeavour to redeem it by making another. Mr.
Wakley then proceeded to make a most violent attack
upon the council of the college, and accused them of hav-
ing betrayed the trust reposed in.them, and of having in-
jured the interests. and of having attempted to degrade
the character, of the great majority of their professional
brethren. He insisted that it was a matter of great im-
portance to the nation at large, and more particularly to
the poorer classes of it, that there should be dispersed
over the whole surface of the country a large body of well-
educated and competent medical practitioners ; and enu-
merated several lamentable cases in which irreparable in-
jury, and even death itself, had been inflicted by the in-
capacity, inexperience, and downright ignorance of indi-
viduals who had been permitted to exercise surgery, phy-
sic, and midwifery, under the existing system. He
pointed out several defects in the medical bills recently
introduced by Sir James Graham, and concluded by mov-
ing two resolutions, inculpating the management of the
Royal College of Surgeons, and calling for investigation
into the circumstances which led to the grant of an addi-
tional charter to it in 1843, and into the effects produced
by its operaton on the profession at large. If those reso-
lutions were negatived, he should propose another resolu-
tion to the effect that the general practitioners were fully
entitled to enjoy an equality of professional station with
the newly created fellows, and that a deep injury would
be inflicted if a College of General Practitioners were to
be founded as an institution inferior to the College of Sur-
geons. . _

The house was counted out when the hon. gentleman
had concluded his speech.

minutes before four p.m. the oscillations began, from
north to south, and lasted two minutes, giving a succes-
sion of shocks more severe and terrible than was ever felt
there before. The throng of people in the streets instantly
prostrated themselves in prayer and terror, the trees were
swayed, buildings oscillated, and everything presented the
appearance of immediately impending ruin. Almost
every house is said to bear in arks of the catastrophe. It
is mentioned in the paper from which the account is taken,
that San Lorenzo, La Misericordia, Tompeate, Zapo, and
Victoria streets and the Grand-street have particularly
suffered. The aqueducts were broken in several places.
The bridge of Tezontlade is demolished. The hospital of
Saint Lazarus is in ruins, and the churches of San Lo-
renzo and San Ferdinand greatly injured. The magnifi-
cent chapel of Saint Teresa no longer exists. At the first
shock the Cupola, a building of astonishing strength and
great beauty, fell, and was soon followed by the vault
beneath the Tabernacle and the Tabernacle itself. The
multitude inside this church succeeded in escaping.
Seventeen persons had been taken from the ruins to the
hospital. At a quarter before, and a quarter after seven
the shocks returned, but they were much milder.
The annexation of Texas continues to be the topic of
general discussion.
On the evening of the 29th instant, the Bowery Thea-
tre, at New York, was for the fourth time laid in ruins by
fire. The properties, wardrobe, banners, scenes, &c. all
belonging to Mr. Hamblin, fell a prey to the flames, as
also the extensive wardrobe of Mr. Scott, valued at two
thousand dollars. No part of the premises was insured.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Bill, and the
Birmingham and Gloucester (Worcester Extension) Rail-
way Bill, were severally read a second time.
Captain BERKELEY called attention to the present s}s•
tem of manning her Majesty's navy, and the difficulty
that arises in procuring able seamen for her service. The
gallant officer contended that, under the present system,
there was no opportunity for training able seamen, and
that, consequently, the navy was gradually losing its
characteristics as the main defence and power of the
country.

The regular army of the United States amounts only to
9,012 men, but the militia numbers upwards of 1,5C0,000,
and of these 300,000 are annually armed and trained.
The will of the late John Randolph, of Roanoke, Vir-
ginia, giving freedom to 300 negro slaves, has just been
established by an act of magnanimity on the part of Judge
Leigh, who relinquished a large property under the will,
in order to bear testimony to the sanity of the testator.

The Morning Herald reiterates its stateme It, that in
the district of arrondissement of Cogniac forty communes
have conformed to the Protestant Church of France, the
good old Huguenot Church ; and, that, in several in-
stances, these communes have followed their clergy.
CANADA GOLD.—GoId, in "almost its virgin purity,"
has recently been found on the margin of a small lake in
the wilderness in the vicinity of Sherbrook, C. W. The
fact, however, does not at present open a very brilliant
prospect to the adventurer, as it is found in very limited
quantities, in a locality exceedingly difficult of access,
being under the side of a shelving mountain only to be
reached by ladders.

BURIED ALIVE.—On the 18th ult.. the whole popula-
lation of the little town of Augoisse, France, were placed
in the utmost alarm and consternation, by a report that
mysterious sounds had been heard to issue from the ce-
metery of that place. At last it was suggested that it
might be Pierre Malet, who had been buried the preced-
ing evening, and who twice previously had been thought
dead, but had returned to life. Acting on this idea, his
friends repaired to the church-yard, when a dull but con-
tinuous noise was heard proceeding from Pierre's grave.
Spades were speedily obtained, and the coffin dug up and
opened, when the unhappy Pierre was found still living,
although in a most deplorable state, his bands and feet
bleeding from the violent efforts he had made to call the
attention of the passers by. The poor youth was not
restored to life again for long, as he had scarcely breathed
fifteen minutes when he rendered up his last sigh, and this
time in reality.—Paris Constitutionel.
A ROYAL FETE IN SPAIN.—The guests were invited
at half-past four, p.m., and it was not till after ten at
night, by which time most of the guests, who had taken
nothing for twelve hours, were perfectly ravenous, and
many of the ladies really ill, that any refreshments were
to be had. The rush that was made to the supper table,
and the scramble that ensued as soon as the eatables and
drinkables were in sight, beggars all description; and in a
few minutes there was not a crust of bread nor a glass of
wine to be seen any where. The nature of the passtirnes
in which the early part of the evening was spent was of a
very simple and innocent description ; they were unfor-
tunately attended by one or two untoward accidents.
The venerable Duke of Castroterreno, a man of 84, was
enjoying the diversion of riding on a woode❑ horse in a
merry-go-round, when he unfortunately became giddy
and fell off, injuring himself considerably, so that he had
to be bled on the spot. The Countess of Montijo and a
party of eight others were upset in a boat in the canal,
which runs through the grounds, but escaped with a se-
vere ducking. The Duke of San Carlos, and Senor Mar-
tinez de la Rosa amused themselves with wheeling the
Queen about in a light carriage, to the great admiration
and contentment of all parties.—Correspondent of the
Morning Chronicle.

Sir O. COCKBURN defended the existing system as quite
adequate for the necessities of a peace establishment. The
character of the navy was rapidly rising in estimation ;
the seamen were protected from the plunder of crimps,
and the supply through the medium of the merchant ser-

IRELAND

On Friday week, the corn lofts of Messrs. Ronayne,
at Youghall, fell in, and several workmen were buried in
the ruins. One man was killed.

On Sunday, as a boat containing four men and one
woman was proceeding from Cahirciveen to Dingle, the
boat was upset in a sudden squall of wind, and all on
board perished.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT.—On Tuesday James Gallagher,
the bailiff of Colonel Enery, was shot, near Ballyconnell,
about duskish, by two men, as yet unknown. He pur-
sued them, but fell with loss of blood.—Fermanagh

paper.
On Saturday week Colonel Shelton, an aged officer,
who has seen much service, was thrown from his horse in
the Barrack-yard, Dublin, and so seriously injured that
he died on Tuesday. Colonel Shelton commanded the

vice would. tie found adequate to any emergency that 44th regiment, stationed in Dublin.
might arise. MR. O'CONNELL'S REPEAL LEVEE.--The Drogheda
A discussion ensued, in which Mr. Somes, Mr. Lamb- Journal makes the following announcement :—" We
ton, Captain Rous, Captain Pechell, Lord Ingestre, Sir have just learned that Mr. O'Connell will hold a levee on
C. Napier, and Mr. Williams took part, after which the 30th of May, for the purpose of receiving addresses,
Lord PALMERSTON drew attention to the state of the congratulating him on the result of the late prosecutions.
slave trade, contending at some length that the late and renewing the pledge of the Irish people to continue,
government had exerted itself strenuously to effect treaties under his guidance, their struggle for the repeal of the
with a view to its suppression, and had in effect concluded legislative union. The corporations of Ireland will at-
no less than thirty such treaties with various countries in tend in their robes. Members of the 'B2 Club in their
all parts of the world, while the present government since uniform ; all others in evening dress. The trades of
it came into power had not concluded a single treaty on Dublin will have a public procession on that day."
the subject. On the contrary, by its supineness it bad THE IRISH ACADEMICAL BILL.—The Freeman's Jour-
lost the opportunity of obtaining the concurrence of stai, the Romish organ for Ireland, denounces this bill in
France, for had they signed a treaty which had been ne- fierce terms ; another proof, amongst a thousand others,
gociated by him (Lord Palmerston), as they might have that no concession will ever satisfy the rapacity of Po-
done before the meeting of the French Chambers, they eery. That paper says—" Each college is to be a collec-
would not have exposed that treaty to all those intrigues tion of lecture halls—not a living being, except the prin.
by which it had been subsequently defeated. They had cipal, is to reside within its precincts. Not even a pro-
also lost the opportunity of obtaining the accession of lessor is to find a home there. The hundreds of young
Hanover, Belgium, and Greece, and, in fact, the whole lads who may be attracted to it are to be cast out upon
course of their proceedings was calculated to neutralise or the city in which the college may be located, to find sub-
defeat much of that which had been effected by their pre- stitutes for homes where they can, and to pick up religion,
decessors. He hoped that Ministers would take a wore morals, and good habits just wherever they may light upon
lively interest in this matter than they had hitherto done, them, the officers of the college being strictly forbidden
in which case they would, if they did not extinguish the even to inquire whether they ever enter a place of wor-
limits
slave tr
thou .
Godless education.' We cannot disagree with him. Pro-
Sir R. PEEL said the noble lord had passed a very testantism having failed to allure Catholics, the trial is
strong eulogium, and a very deserved one, upon himself now to be made what virtue there may be in infidelity.
(Lord P.), but he seemed to think that his exertions to Mr. O'Connell also condemns the plan in his usual coarse
suppress the slave trade, which certainly were very great language.
and very creditable, were, nevertheless, not sufficiently
appreciated by the house or public, and he, therefore, THE QUEEN'S VISIT TL IRELAND.—The Lord Mayor
came down about once a month to insist upon the meed of Dublin, with several members of the Corporation, had
of praise due to his merits. When, however, all the papers an interview with Sir James Graham last week to invite
connected with the subject should be on the table, he her Majesty to visit Ireland. Sir James, after hearing
would find that the present government had not been the deputation, said, " that he was not aware of her Ma-
lukewarm on the subject. As to any steps likely to be jesty ever having expressed an intention, as yet, of visit-
taken by this country, in conjunction with France or any ing Ireland ; she had never expressed such intention to
other nation, his lips were of course sealed, but he would him, nor had there been any communication made on the
observe that when France declined to ratify the treaty al- subject to the Irish Government." He added, that he
luded to byithe noble lord, it was not thought advisable to did not see " bow it could be expected that he would ad-
ask for a ratification on the part of Belgium, Hanover, and vise her Majesty to proceed to Ireland, after it had been
Greece, particularly as no vessels under the flags of those announced that the horses under the royal carriage were
countries were in any way engaged in the African slave to be affrighted in the streets of Dublin with the shouts
trade. He denied that the present government had un- of repeal—that the sound was to force like a shot into the
done any thing which had been done by their predecessors, royal councils—that certain gentlemen were to appear in
~ ..,

or that they were at all indifferent to the great object of
suppressing this monstrous evil, which was a disgrace to
the civilised nations of the world.

FoREIGN AND COLONIAL.

AMERICA

The steam-ship Caledonia, Captain Lott, arrived in the
Mersey at a quarter to twelve o'clock on Tuesday night,
bringing nine days' later news from America. The tone
of the commercial portion of the New York press, for
nothing of an official nature has yet been published, is of
a peaceful, conciliatory nature, as our extracts will show.
The following article is from the New York Courier and
Enquirer of the 30th of April :
" We have an abiding conviction that fairly informed,
appealed to, and consulted—the common sense of this
nation would decide, that in respect to the Oregon ques-
tion there is nothing in it that should lead to, or can jus-
tify war with England.
" The language of Mr. Polk's inaugural address, as we
remarked at the time, was strong and not in good taste—
not so much because it repeated what had been over and
over again declared as true in congress and out of it, as
because the matter to which it related had been committed
to amicable negotiation, and therefore any official execu-
tive declaration, which might be construed as implying,
that although made a matter of reference our claim was
past all doubt and could not be modified, was ill-judged
and misplaced.

their repeal uniform of the Eighty-Two Club at her Ma-
jesty's Levee. If her Majesty went to Ireland, and were
to be met in this way, did they imagine she could give any
assurance on the question but the one her Majesty had
already communicated through her Minister to Parlia-
ment ?"

" As the language, moreover, of a president just come
into power, and who in this address was foreshadowing
bis views and scheme of public policy, which might or
might not tally with those of his predecessor, it assumed
a grave character, and being his first official act moreover
—official as to the people of this country—it can hardly
be wondered at that it attracted the notice of the British
parliament.
" At present it is notorious that our military and naval
armaments are sadly inadequate to the emergency. We
have not the means of defending ourselves, in any quarter,
where we should probably be attacked. Our whole At-
lantic seaboard is open to an enemy ; our western frontier
is exposed to the fury of some sixty thousand Indians,
which the intrigues of a wily foe might easily bring upon
us ; and on every side as far as repelling hostilities is con-
cerned, as yet we are essentially weak."
The Courier further says :—" With Brazil we have got
into trouble, though it is almost impossible as yet to un-
derstand its nature and extent. It seems clear, however,
that the vessel of a Brazilian merchant was forcibly seized
by the United States vessels of war, on suspicion of being
engaged in the slave trade ; that it was finally surrendered,
at the formal demand of the Brazilian government, and
that her re-surrender to the American minister has been
refused. We have as yet seen no sufficient data for ad-

judging the case, nor can we form any opinion as to the
extent of the misunderstanding from the few farts which
have hitherto reached us from a reliable source."
A very severe shock of an earthquake visited, and terri-
Wy alarmed, the city cf Mexico on the ith. At a few

ACCOMMODATION AT MAYNOOTH.-It was stated by
Sir 11. Peel, amongst other grievances which the students !
at Maynooth had to endure, that they sometimes slept
" two or three in a bed." The following short extract,
however, from the letter of a gentleman, who has visited
that college within the last three weeks, represents a very
different state of things :—" I went through its chapels,
refectories, class-rooms, library, and into some sleeping-
rooms. There is not one solitary instance of more than
one student sleeping in one bed; and, if I am to believe
the Dunboyne student who politely attended me over the
building, such a thing had not occurred during the eight
years he had been there. This is the arrangement I
found,—each student has a separate bed, but all have not
separate rooms. The Dunboyne students have, moreover,
fires in their rooms. The exception to separate rooms
are ten good large rooms, in which are four beds each,
about thirty other rooms, in each of which are placed two
beds ; but in every instance only one person sleeps in
each bed. The remainder, as I understood, had separate
beds and separate rooms. The rooms are light, airy, and
of a good height."
THE CALL OF THE HOUSE.—At the repeal meeting on
Monday, Mr. O'Connell alluded to this subject, and said
that he had made up his mind that the speaker had no
authority to issue a warrant to call the members over
from Ireland. He said that the act of the Irish Parlia-
ment of 'B2. declaring that no power on earth, save the
Sovereign of Great Britain and the Irish Houses of Lords
and Commons, had power to make laws for Ireland, was
still unrepealed, for those concerned in framing the Union
Act did not take the trouble of repealing it. The new le-
gislative body created by the Act of Union obtained no
authority over Ireland but that which it acquired by the
express words of the statute. It could not have any power
over this country at common law, for the institution of
the Imperial Parliament did not go beyond the memory
of man. The Imperial Parliament being a fact within the
memory of man, it was clear it enjoyed no power by pre-
scription or in virtue of immemorial usage, or any other
than what was defined within the four corners of the union
statute. The British Parliament might have power to
issue warrants in England, but he utterly denied that
they had any such power in Ireland. (Cheers.) If the
Court of Queen's Bench in England were to send a war-
rant into this country against a person for contempt, it
would expose itself to ridicule. Just so it was with the
British Parliament, and for his own part his resolution
was already taken. The moment the Sergeant at Arms
approached him, armed with Mr. Speaker's warrant, he
(Mr. O'Connell) would desire him to carry his authority
into operation by laying hold of him as his prisoner, and
when that was done he would apply to the Court of Ex-
chequer for a writ of habeas corpus, and try the question.
The repeal rent last week was £420.