The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-05-27 00:00:00

After severarother members had spoken, the house di-
vided, when there appeared—For the third reading, 317 ;
against it, 184 ; majority 133.
Mr. DUNCOMBE then submitted a clause limiting the
operation of the bill to three years, whith was opposed by
Sir R. Peel, and rejected by a majority of 243 to 145,

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY

Lord BEAUMONT moved for certain papers connected
with the state of affairs in Greece. He complained, that
the real interest of the country were lost sight of in party.
quarrels, and that, not content with internal strife, the
government had allowed its troops to make incursions
across ►he Turkish frontier. The noble lord then pro-
ceeded to describe the position of the three parties into
which Greece was divided, and quoted passages from
Lord Aberdeen's despatches to Sir E. Lyons, from which
he tried to prove, that from the principles there laid down
the British Government was bound to interfere in the af-
fairs of Greece.

Lord ABERDEEN begged to assure the noble lord that
he was quite in error in supposing the marauders on the
Turkish border to be Greek troops ; they were, in fact, a
band of two dozen robbers, who bad crossed the frontier,
robbed a house, and killed two people. This was the in-
vasion which the noble lord called on the three powers to
unite in repressing. It was true that the Turkish Go-
vernment was incensed at incendiary proclamations printed
in Greek newspapers, but, as the press in Greece w:is free,
the government could not prevent such publications. In
regard to the sketch drawn by the noble lord of the inter-
nal affairs of that country, the state of things might be
lamentable, but if King Otho chose to have a bad mi-
nister, the British Government could not be expected to
interfere in the matter. The noble lord went on to deny
that British interests were sacrificed in Greece, and con-
cluded by refusing to produce papers which in fact did
not exist.

The motion was then withdrawn.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then moved the second read-
ing of the Charitable Bequests Bill. In 1818 a com-
mission had been appointed to inquire into the charitable
trusts in England and Wales, which had been renewed at
various times till the year 1837. It had discharged its
duties with the utmost ability, and its reports contained a
digest of all information that could be brought to bear on
the subject ; but, having only powers of inquiry, no prac-
tical result has yet followed from its labours. The pre-
sent measure was intended to remedy the abuses which
had been detected in the superintendence over charitable
trusts. At present the Court of Chancery was the only
tribunal which took cognizance of breaches of trust, but,
though eminently fitted for fulfilling this office in the case
of large endowments, the machinery of the court was in-
applicable to small charities. The noble lord then proved
the truth of this by several cases taken from the report,
and proceeded to state that his measure would consist in
the appointment by the Crown of commissioners who
should have the power of filling up vacant trusteeships.
It might be objected that considerable political influence
was attached to these offices, and that the commissioners
would use it in favour of the minister for the time being;
and every precaution should be taken to make them inde-
pendent, and to raise them above the temptation of per-
verting their influence for political purposes. He sug-
gested that the funds for the support of these officers
should be raised by one per cent. levied on the charities,
or, if, this were insufficient, the deficiency should be
charged on the consolidated fund.

The bill was read a second time, on the understanding
that it should be referred to a select committee.

--e.
HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY.
The Duke of WELLINGTON moved the first reading of
the Maynooth Bill, and fixed the second reading for the
2d of June.

The Earl of RODEN presented a large number of peti-
tions against the bill, and gave notice that on the second
reading of the bill he should move the appointment of a
select committee to inquire into the nature and character
of the text books used at Maynoeth College.
The Earl of CHARLEVILLE thought the second read-
ing of the bill should be further postponed, to give time
for the presentation of the numerous petitions against the
bill.

The Duke of WELLINGroN, considering the advanced
period of the session and the length of the discussions
that had taken place in the other house, did not think
it could be further postponed.
Earl FITZWILLIAM moved for a select committee to
inquire into the practicability of establishing a definite
principle of compensation to owners of land taken for
railways.

Lord STANLEY feared it would be impracticable to
establish a definite rule to indefinite circumstances, but
he would not object to the appointment of the committee
if it was thought that any good could be derived from it.
The committee was then appointed, and the house ad-
journed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.
Mr. STEWART WORTLEY brought forward a resolu-
tion to compel all railway bills passed by that house to
abide by any regulations that might be adopted in any
general railway measure to be hereafter enacted.
Lord Howicx approved of the resolution and moved
an amendment to include a revision of the rate of tolls
and fares.

Mr. LABOUCBERE hoped the government would state
what plan they meant to adopt with regard to the nume-
rous railway bills then before parliament, and without
which it will be impossible to pass them during the pre-
sent session.

After some discussion, the debate was adjourned till
Monday.

Sir V. BLAKE gave notice that, on the 16th of June,
he would move two resolutions—first, that it was indeli-
cate and inexpedient for the enemies of the government
to sit on the ministerial benches; and secondly, that
members habitually using language inconsistent with the
usages of civilised society, ought for the first offence to
be reprimanded by the speaker, and, if found incorrigible,
expelled the house.

Mr. HLME intimated his intention not to press his mo-
tion for a call of the house ; and,
At the request of Sir It. INGLIS,
Sir J. GRAHAM said he should postpone the second
reading of the Academical College (Ireland) Bill till
Friday next.

On the order of the day for going into committee of
supply, _ _

Sir C. NAPIER called the attention of the house to the
state of the navy generally, and insisted more particularly
that the construction of our armed steamers was so faulty,
that they would be quite inefficient in action, and no en-
gineers would venture to work them, from the danger of
their blowing up in the event of a shot reaching their
boilers.

Mr. SODS ES contended that the steam navy of Great
Britain was superior to that of any other country in the
world, and that all the large class of steam-frigates now
building would be able to carry stern guns on their main
deck.

Captain PECHELL thought the country was much in-
debted to Sir C. NAPIER for bringing the state of the
navy before the country. He strongly urged upon the
Admiralty the necessity of establishing places for the re-
ception of sailors when not employed afloat.
Sir G. COCKBURN could only repeat a hat he had on
several occasions stated in reply to Sir C. Napier, that
the smaller steam-vessels of the navy were not intended
to go into action, but to assist in manoeuvres and convey
troops and stores. There was, however, a larger class of
steam-frigates now constructing, which would carry much
heavier guns, and be much more efficient in naval
warfare.

After some further conversation, the house went into
committee of supply on the navy estimates.

POREIGN AND COLONIAL.

WEST INDIES.
The Royal Mail-packet Company's steamer Avon ar-
rived at Southampton at half-past five, p.m., on Friday
last. She brings mails of the following dates From
San Juan Nicaragua, up to March 30; Chagres, April 3;
Carthagena, April 8 ; Santa Martha, April 9 ; San lago
de Cuba, April 18 ; Jamaica, April 23 • Demerara, April
20 ; Trinidad, April 21 ; Barbadoes, April 21; Grenada,
April 25 • Antigua, April 27; St. Thomas, April 30; and
Fayal, May IG. On freight 300,000 dollars, on mer-
chants' account, and sixty-nine passengers.
The news relative to the crops is of an encouraging
character. In all the islands the progress of sugar mak-
ing was very satisfactory, and the appearance of the crops
for the next year was as good as could be expected. At
Trinidad the exports from the Ist of January were 9,000
Idids., and about the same quantity was supposed to be
on board the vessels which were loading. The entire
crop would, it was feared, be rather under previous
estimates, but yet, nevertheless, 23,000 hhds. appear
to be reckoned as the gross product of the season.
Labour was in demand in some of the districts, and
wages were advancing. Here, as well as in Demerara,
they were waiting the arrival of the Coolies. At St.
Lucia there was scarcely sufficient rain for the young
canes, which were not in a first-rate condition. Vessels
were fast loading with new sugar both there and at Do-
minica. The weather is described as sultry in these lo-
calities, and at Castries, the capital of St. Lucia, the
shock of an earthquake had been experienced. At Ja-
maica and Barbadoes the yield of sugar is stated to be on
the whole satisfactory, both in quantity and quality.
The political affairs of the West Indies are not of a
character to attract interest at home. A scale of new im-
port duties had been published at Demerara, but it excites
no comment in the papers. The judgment of the Supreme
Court ordering the " retaking and resale" of 11 estates,
for which the purchasers had neglected to pay the stipu-
lated prices, had been stayed by a notice from Lord
Stanley. The money, upwards of 200,000 dollars, to re-
lieve the several properties from the disadvantages of sale
had been offered and refused by the authorities before
the arrival of the order in arrest of judgment, so that
the parties interested have very luckily escaped pay-
ment for the present, through the refusal of the
law officers to take the money when asked. The inha-
bitants of Guadaloupe and Antigua have very hand-
somely subscribed for the sufferers by the fire at Barba-
does, and the thanks of the Assembly of the Barbadians
have been voted them for their seasonable gift. The
French corvette Proserpine had arrived at St. Lucia from
Martinique, with Lieutenant-General Daulle on board,
who was paying a visit to several of the English settle-
ments. The cause of Lieutenant-General Daulle's pre-
sence at Martinique was to investigate, in his character of
Inspector-General of French finance, accounts in the en-
gineering department of that island, which were not con-
sidered perfectly agreeable to the Finance Commission in
Paris.

The Missouri papers speak of extensive lead caves re-
cently discovered in that state. They are in Jefferson
county, about six miles from St. Louis, and riot far from
Herculaneum. They are so rich, according to the ac-
counts, as to seem " made out of lead." Five have been
already discovered, but there is reaso❑ to belieie that a
great many more will be found.