The Principality

NAVY ESTIMATES. Mr. WAUD proposed to obtam voted for the excess in the navy estimates. Mr. HPME protested against proceeding with so important a mat er at that time of night (twelve o'clock). The House had voted ;E-20,000, the amount of the estimate last year, for the ex- pense for arming and enrolling the artisans of the dockyards and tue excess in this item was no less than £ 52,000, the expenditure incurred being t,2,000. He requested that this vote might be posiponed until Friday, in order that he might bring the subject before the House. Sir F. BAKING was understood to say that the votes could not be postponed, but, After a few words from Colonel SIBTHORP, Mr. WAIID consented to take a vote on account, in order that the hon. member for Montrose might have the oppoitunity he re- quired. A vote on account was then taken. The Larceny Acts Amendment Bill was read a second time, after a bnef debate. On the nomination of the select committee on the Marriage and Registering of Births, &.c. (Scotland), bills, a division took place o« a motion of Mr. HUME. that Mr. Hasti's name should be finlwtitu.ed for the Lord Advocate's, which was negatived by iiJ to 4. The House adjourned at one o clock. ,o;¿,t:<r::o.t:t" :?'W;

THE EXETER PRELATE AND HIS VICTIM. IF the great body of Dissenters, and all other friends of religious Uberty in the kingdom, dp not raise such a storm righteous indignation about the ears of all parties directly or indirectly concerned in the imprisonment of the Rev. Mr. Shore, as wiU make them glad to liberate their victim, then we have greatly mistaken our men, and shall despair of any speedy reform in our hateful ecclesiastical laws. We can- not toe often impress on the minds of our leaders, that no Government, trammelled by a Church Establishment, can be expected to take a single step, voluntarily, in the direction of religious liberty-a principle which is the very antipodes of political priestcraft. The distinctly expressed opinion of united and deliberative multitudes is absolutely necessary to rouse one fulers into an attitude of attention, when cases of conscience are to be considered. The voice of the CtttKY has never yet been silent in the great and holy cause justice aud freedom.* Let it now give forth an utterance worthy of itself, and,, of <tn occasion which demands its full energy. L(1t.. The dwellers in tho-valeg and in the roeVs Sliout to vuuU other," and. summon such a gathering of piety, intelligence, and eloquence as old Wales shall be proud of, whilst the turbu- lent arch-priest of Exeter aud his myrmidons quail at the ku-e echo. We laugh to scorn-the paltry quibble, that Mr. fihorc is imprisoiied fox* costs, aud not for preaching in an It #iLcousecra-ted"' chapel. How were-'thoricosts IVcurred P A whode suit are they now attenrpted to be enforced? What is the real head and front" of Mr. Shore's offence ? These questions are easily answered by every unm and woman of common understanding. A clearer case of persecution- malignant, resolute, Bonner-like persecution for conscience sake-has never been recorded since the law for burning "heretics" was repealed. If such bishops as Henry of Exeter be permitted thus to wreak their dark-souled vengeance upon clergymen who, like Mr. bhore, presume to think for themselves, and preach the Gospel "without conferring with flesh and blood," even though clad in purple and fine lim-rt, and capped with a gilded toy, called a mitre,—if the land z!1 boasting its PROTESTANT REFORMATION permits this, we must, though in the midst of tearful expostulation, inscribe on the fabric of our national honour, Icii visou, the glory is departed!" But never shall this melancholy inscription deface the fair structure, for the sanctuary of our; Christian faith stands in its very front, and there is no profanity in saying, ou such an occasion, In the name of THE LORD we will set up our bannei-s

THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON CHURCH RATES. WHAT ignorance is sometimes displayed in the House of Commons! There is never a debate in which nonsense does not kick the beam. Discussions on Church matters form no exception to the remark. In proof of this we need onlv refer to the late debate on Church-rates. We have neither room nor inclination to enter into an ex- amination of the various sentiments uttered on the occasion. We deem it, however, our duty to note down and expose a fallacy that was then advanced, and which passed unchal- lenged, if not sanctioned, by the Liberal members who supported Mr. Ti-elawney's motion, for their entire aboli- tion. Lord John Russell, in defence of these iniquitous exac- tions, said, that as Dissenters purchased lands subject to Church-rates, they were bound to pay them, because the charge was allowed for in the price, and as occupiers of land they paid a rent regulated by the amount of Church-rates and other taxes they, in addition, were bound by law to pay. Now we contend, notwithstanding the dictum of my Lord John Russell, that Church-rates are not a charge upon land, and never were that the amount of Church-rates is never deducted from the value of land, and that it dees not, in fact, enter into the consideration of price. Church-rates are charges upon persons, as parishioners. The gross amount required for the purposes to which Cnurcu-rates are applied, and the mode of assessment, or the specific amount in which each individual parishioner shall be assessed, are determined by a vote of the vestry. Tne mole of assessment generally adopted is a calculation of poundage, according to the annual value of occupancy but in this case the rate is Jiot made upon the land occupied, but upin the occupier, in respect to the land, taken as a gauge of the amount which, according to his means, he is enabled to pay. Sometimes, however, or in some places, Church-rales are assessed upon stock in trade but even when assessed only in respect of lands occu- pied, until a very recent enactment, there was no remedy, in cases of defalcation, except against the person and, indeed, up to the present hour, there is no other remedy, when the suit is taken out of the Civil Court and disputed in the Eccle- siastical. Were Church-rates a charge upon land, as it is alleged, then surely, in cases of default, they would bo reco- verable from the land bat in no case have they been or are they so recoverable. The fact is therefore clear, that Church-rates are a charga not upon land but upon persons. Originally they were a tax voluntarily imposed upon themselves by the people in sup- port of a Church whose anathemas and excommunications they feared,—a tax so long continued to be voted and paid- that the Church at last assumed a legal right to,it. The assumption is thus supported The people have fov-tigsee) paid Church-rates; immemorial custom proves a law; to grant and pay Church-rates is, therefore, a legal duty. Admitting this doctrine to be sound, as we must do, becaitse the judges have so decided it, still it does not prove that Church-rates are a charge upon land, It proves simply their legality. But even were Church-rates a charge upon land, and were land bought and sold subject to them, why surely that is no reason why Church-rates should not be abolished. Land, in every case, is bought aud sold chargeable with the taxes at the time of the transfer it is legally subjected to j but will any man in his senses say that the land so bought, because those taxes might have been a consideration in the price, must be for ever subjected to the same tlx-6 P, It is perfectly monstrous. Land, and every other property, is bought and sold contingent to the repeal of all laws that might have been passed concerning it, and to the passing of other laws which might affect its value by enhancement. Had Dissenters and others who complain of Church-rates, purchased the property, or routed their dwell- ings with a specific understanding that the Church-rate; should for ever be a charge upon their property, in addition to the value of the fee simple on the annual rent, then the matter would be altered; but it is not so. We know of no such tenure in the present day consequently the plea urged by the First Lord of the Treasury in support of the most iniquitousand odious of taxes is as baseless as it is dishonest. If Church-rates are to be supported by such arguments as these, they cannot long stand. We are not amongst those who urge an agitation for the abolition of Church-rates. We should like to see them for ever done away, but still we have no desire to see any association for the purpose of accomplishing it. Our ener- gies must be devoted to the grand question of separating the Church from the State. That done, the Church will be a harmless thing. All her iniquities will be speedily purged. We shall hear no more of her exactions. Tile time for her purification we hope is £ it haud. To this gieat question the people of. Wales have nofyet addiessed themselves We;: did hope that some urlc would; haAe. tollo.wed Mr. Miails visit amongst us. There is abundant excuse we know in the fact that we have been engaged in combatting another phase of the same abominable principle. But now tliat "-the State-Education question is pretty nearly settled, it behoves us to be up and doing. We trust that the Welsh people will' at once take the matter In hand, and give vigorous proofs of the sincerity of their adherence to the voluntary principle.

THE LATE MEETING OF THE CARDIFF STREET; COMMISSIONERS. < EACH successive meeting of the Cardiff Street Corripiis- sioners tl at we have attended has discovered to us, more and more, of the imperative necessity that there exists for the constitution of some other board, to take under its managei; cut the' affairs of the town. To our minds the Street C. tnmissiohers, for the; most part, appeal to he care- less of tLéir trust, or hicohiiJeien' -to t'lie di$L' lat. je of, its. duties; a nc'' as it is'lio oi-ious that do tet lhigS hnd wishes, of the inhabitant-. ^uT the to\ w u ii- ceive it to be their (hity'to resign thdr pow t is into thy; hands 01 ot)iers, Or}llOr'('omHetellt(and: wild 1. of, may to a greater degree possess the confiden t ot iluir fellow-citizens. In default of the Street Commissioners uof thus pop* larising their body, and making- themselves useful thau they have ever yet been, we woidc3_ urgeJour good tovk nsfolk at once to petition for the extension of the Health of Town> Bill to our borough. We dislike many of thu provisions' of the bill, but really -^ny-thittgrjwltt than our present system, we never near oi any improve- ment being effected. We have reports of meetings, it is true but of what good are meetings if nothing is done at them ? Our readers will remember having recently seen, in our columns, a report of one of these meetings, at which, after a very noisy and most irregular discussion, a committee was appointed to investigate the merits of the various plans sent in for draining the town. In the committee, it now appears, that a serious difference has arisen. It is this—that one party was desirous of sending the whole of the plans, with- out. any accompanying statement, to the Secretary and Sur- veyor of the Metropolitan Sewerage Commission, for their de- cision whereas, the other wished the plans to be submitted to some practical engineer, who should visit the town, and see for himself which of the plans was best adapted to the locality or if they were sent to London, in that case, the plans should be accompanied by a statement, written by the clerk, detailing the peculiar circumstances of the town, and giving such information as would be essential to guide the judgment of those to whom the plans should be submitted. Messrs. C. C. Williams and Coffin were for the former pro- position, and Messrs. Vachell, Reece, and Watkins for the latter. Without any notice of the course they intended to pursue, and without even a meeting of the committee, for the purpose of coming to some definite conclusion, the mino- rity in the committee, calculating upon a majority amongst the whole of the Commissioners, proposed their scheme for the adoption of that body, at their last meeting. This was a most unheard-of course, and insulting alike to the majority of the committee, and those that had appointed them. If the committee could not agree, they should have so reported, and thus concluded their labour; then it would be for the Commissioners to take the question into their own hands. But until, their report had been. brought in, the Commis- sioners ought not to have been asked to interfere. They were asked, however, and that too by the minority in the committee, the very last persons that should have done so. The answer returned was most fitting, and we rejoice at it, although it resulted in the somewhat pettish withdrawal of the Chairman and Mr. Coffin. As to the merits of the case itself, we have a very strong opinion. We doubt much the propriety of submitting the plans to any London engineer, much more so to one who has never seen the town; and as to submitting them to anybody at all without a statement of facts toguidehim in ascertaining whether the data upon which the plans, are based are true, would be perfectly absurd. But we protest altogether against submitting them to the decision of the Secretary and Sur- veyor of the Metropolitan Sewerage Commission, for the reason that one of those parties is referred to in the report of one of the competitors as being favourable to the scheme of drainage proposed by him. We regret that the difference to which we have now ad- verted should have led Mr. Coffin to resign his connexion with the committee. A gentleman so well acquainted with business, and the economics of public works, could not but render valuable assistance to their important deliberations but since he persists in his resignation, the Commissioners have only now to supply his place. As to the retirement of the Chairman from the committee, and from the active management of affairs, that is unimportant, inasmuch as his place can be much more easily supplied.

CARDIFF. TOWN CmJNCIL-An adjourned meeting of the council was held yesterday at noon. There were present, the Town Clerk, C. C Williams, C. Vachell, J. Pride, W. Harris, W. Pntchard, D. Lewis, W. A. Bradley, W. Bird, G. Phillips, Capt. Morgan, M. Lisle, J. Lewis, J. Williaitis, Dr. Moore, Geo. Bird, and R. L. Reece. In the absence of the mayor, Mr. C. C. Williams presided. The town clerk read a communication from Mr. Langley, relative to the time the Heath property is to be paid for. ° It was agreed to postpone the time from the first of May to the first of June. Mr. Charles Vachell then called the atten- tion of the council to the desirableness of purchasing the house known by the name General Nott," at the end of Duke- street, which had been offered by the owner for JM-50. Mr. V. said that a party was anxious to take a lease on the house, and urged, as a matter of economy, the immediate purchase of it, otherwise they'might, at a future time, be obliged to compen- sate the tenant for the lease. He further showed the grtat advantages of removing the house, which is not only a diagram? to the to wn, hut an impediment to the thoroughfare, -to. pro- posed that the town council take measures for the purchase u. the house. Mr. W. Bird seconded-the proposition, and in a speech dictated by sound sense, urged the immediate adoption of the course proposed. Unless they made a beginning some- where they would do nothing. He knew of no place which so demanded their attention as the one under consideration. Mr. Charles Williams madeseveral objections to Mr. Vachell's proposition. He said they could not entertain the question, and that it belonged to the Street Commissioners. Mr. R. L. Reece said that the committee appointed at the last meeting of the Street Commissioners had abandoned the project of pur- chasing the property by subscription, it would therefore be useless to put the matter off until the next meeting of that board. Mr. Reece then presented a memorial, numerously an respectably signed, recommending the council to purchase the property, and replied to the various objections made by Mr. C. Williams. A desultory conversation followed, in which several gentlemen took part. Dr. Moore, Mr. Lisle, and Captain Morgan supported the proposition. Mr. David Lewis opposed it. Mr. James Lewis spoke for and against it. The town clerk was repeatedly appealed to, but some how or other he managed to pass everything off without giving all opinion. Mr. C. Vachell complained of the aniaius displayed by Mr. C. Wil- liams, and intimated that every proposition which did not emanate from him was objected to. Mr. V. thought the peti- tion of the inhabitants had not received that respect which it was entitled to receive, and again urged the importance and desirableness of immediately purchasing the property. It was stated in the course of the meeting that Mr. Lvans would be willing to allow the money to remain on mortgage, the meeting then closed without coming to any decision. [We understand that it is in contemplation to call a special meeting of the council to consider the subject.] A SINGULAR INCIDENT occurred in the Welsh Independent chapel, in this town, on Sunday morning last, during divine service. It seems that after Mr. Powell, the respected minis- ter, had given "ut the first verse of a hymn from Mr. Roberts's collection, at the commencement of the service, the old gentle- man became so affected with the.hymn and the subject of it, that he completely failed to read the second verse. His feel- ings so overcame him that he was obliged to sit down, when he fell into a fit of hysterical crying which created an extraordi- nary sensation in the chapel. The whole congregation was by this time in tears, evidently believing their beloved pastor was dying. Mr. Powell in a short time recovered himself, and the fears of his relatives and people were removed. The service was afterwards conducted by Mr. Thomas Davies, of the PitIN- ciP.vLiTY Office, who happened to be in the chapel at the time. Mr. Powell is, we are glad to say, quite well. He would rather have given a hundred pouuds if h had. not occurred in chapel, but the sensation produced-was of more value than .&■- thousand pounds." BUITGL-UtY.r^-Qri Saturday night last, the house of Mr. Evan John, farmer, Pwllcoch, near Ely, was broken into and several articles were stolen therefrom among which was seven cheese, bread bacon, butter, sugar, beer, (some of which the thieves helped themselves to before they left,) and a breast of veal which had been purchased at the market for Sunday's dinner. The thieves entered by means of the dairy window, the bars of which were made of timber. No clue has been received of their whereabouts. TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.—An opportunity now presents it- self for effecting one of the greatest-improvements in this town, and which, we hope, will not be allowed to escape. .The General Nott public-house, between Smith-street and Queen-street, has been offered to the corporation, by Mr. Evans, for, we believe, something above X500. We hope advantage will be taken .of his liberal offer, and that the pur- chase of the property may be made by the town, and the house be immediately pulled down to widen Smith-street at that point. We believe all are agreed as to the advan- tages of the improvement, the only difference of opinion is as fto tlm time for carrying Q.ut.. the, pfOpored purchase. No time-is like the present.: If wt Wait tiU the house be let an -lease, then it w ill be impossible topi cure it for the sum now offered, and the tenant will also u< line compensation, j We say, there foie, to the influential mhabitants of the town who wish for its improvement, seize the present favourable opportunity, aud commence t once. The reve- nues of tbe corporation are surely enoug h, and more than enough, to justify the purchase we ho; e, therefore, to see it carried out, as a gre^it public improveii eut. One step in the right will lead to another. letter-press printers of this town have agreed to petition the House of Commons for a repeal or reduction of the duty all paper, the stamp duty on newspapers, and the duty on ad- vertisements, as inflicting injurious restrictions on their pro- fession, by which large numbers of them are out of em- ployment. PETITIONS in favour of Mr. Cobden's motion for arbitra- tion instead of war were signed in all the chapels of this town, last Sunday. The same course has, we believe, been adopted generally throughout the country. We regret there- has not been a public meeting held on the subject. Mr. BurritiV proposed visit is, we presume, the reason why it has not been held. A PETITION in favour of the introduction of the provisions of the Health of Towns Act into this town is now being. signed. A PUZZLE.- We hear the Archaeological Society intend to hold their meeting for 1849 in this town. WHERE-wili they meet ? CARDIFF ATHENJEUM.—On Tuesday evening a meeting of the members of this Institution was held in the reading-room, for the. purpose of thanking T. W. Booker, Esq., for his late handsome present. C. Vachell, Esq., presided, and opened the proceedings with some appropriate remarks. The following resolution was then moved by Mr. Grierson, seconded by Mr. Coleman, and carried nem. con. That the best thanks of this meeting be tendered to Thos. William Booker, Esq., for his munificent present of forty-nine volumes of valuable books, a geological map of Glamorganshire, a map of England and Wales, a set of Ordnance Maps, &e. thus demonstrating, in the most practical manner, the interest he takes in this Institution, so lately honoured by his acceptance ofthe office of Vice-patron LAST NIGHT, about nine o'clock, the attention of the inhabit- ants of this town was directed to an extraordinary illumination of the atmosphere north of the town. Fears were at first enter- tained that some houses were on fire; scores immediately wended their way in that direction, but it was discovered to have been the furze on the heath having taken fire. The sol- diers from the barracks were dispatched thither, who soon put- the fire out, and the parties who had walked to the spot had the pleasure of wending their way back again.

PONTYPOOL. MELANCHOLY Occu town has been thrown into a state of the greatest excitement by the tragic death of Mr. John Mabyn Read, ironmonger. He left his home on Saturday evening, about half-past eight o'clock, as had been his custom of late, and not returning at his usual supper-hour, a search was commenced, which was continued till long past midnight, but which was ren- dered hopeless by the density of the fog. At daybreak the search was renewed, and about seven o'clock on Sunday morning he was found a short distance from the town, at the bottom of a high em- bankment, quite dead. He had a wound in his neck, one of his arms was broken, and near him lay a penknife clotted with blood. Mr. Read, for a long time past, had been subject to fits of depres- sion. For many years he had given ample proof of the possession of genuine piety, and he distinguished himself through life by the interest he evinced in all benevolent and religious objects, and the exertions he made on their behalf. Two years ago, on leaving Helston, in Cornwall, with his numerous family, his fellow-towns- men, headed by the Mayor, presented him with a silver salver and several Christian Sucieties in Helston and the neighbourhood testified, by gifts of books, maps, &c., their regard for his person and their admiration of his character. The town of Pontypool hag lost the services of an excellent man, and his family the counsels and affectionate attention of a tender husband and father, by a shocking and violent death. An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday morning, and a highly respectable jury empannelled. Miss Read and several other witnesses were examined, and the jury, after » short deliberation, returned the verdict, Suicide under a state of temporary insanity."

NEATH. HOTJSE-NVARMIK& DINNEiiL.-On Thursday evening last, a large party of the friends and supporters of Mr. Phillip Daviea met at the Lamb Inn, to testify their respect for him, and to celebrate his entrance upon the old-established business of that Inn. The Rev. D. Jeffreys occupied the chair. Mr. R. Evans presided over the second table, and Mr. peters acted asvi ce. The evening was spent very agreeably, and the company sepa- rated pleased with the entertainment they had received. THE BUtTON FERRY IRON WORKS are going on, and the company are taking on a great many men, which they have some difficulty in procuring. A few weeks ago applications for employment were numerous. Since then, most of the parties have got work in other places.

LLANELLY. THE lecture for last week was delivered by Mr.E. V. Ravens- croft, of this town, on Orthography and Phonetic Spelling." The lecturer endeavoured to show that the present orthography of the English language failed to express the sounds of that language, and was successful in proving that no Englishman can'tell with certainty how to pronounce any English word which he has only seen written nor to spell any English word which he has only heard spoken. lie then pointed out many of the disadvantages which resulted from the use of such an orthography, and reverted to the spelling-reform now making such rapid progress in the literary world, the adoption of which would remove all the difficulties of the Romanic orthography and besides conferring other advantages, rendered the art-- of reading and spelling so easy, that they may be attained with correctness in a space of time varying from one day to three months, according to the intelligence of the learner. The lecture proved highly interesting, and was listened to with marked attention. The Rev. Thomas Roberts and Mr. B. Howell, in proposing the thanks of the meeting to the lecturer, strongly recommended the subject of Phonetic spelling to the attention- of the audience. Mr.oiiANics" Iss-rrffTioN.—The .1f\1 WeeMy Wit., delivered by the Rev. David Hees; Of this town, the subject,, under notice being the Period of Youth." This being a very useful subject, it was treated on at great length by the reverend gentleman, and the various topics introduced were well handled. The lecturer very forcibly recommended the cultivation of can- dour, integrity, honesty, and industry for young men engaged in commercial and other pursuits in life, as sure channels whereby they can arrive at real respectability. He also related several instances of men of the most distinguished eminence, who entirely owe their advancement and reputation to the course they had adopted during the spring time of their lives and stated that most people of even ordinary capacities can attain to eminence, by strict application of their abilities at the proper season and, in conclusion, recommended the three fol- lowing suggestions to be adopted for the formation of proper habits during the period of youth, namely, a careful arrange- ment of your money, a diligent use of your time, and strict attention to be paid to the formation of character. The reverend gentleman was requested, and has promised, to deliver the same lecture in Welsh at a future period.

LAMPETER. SUICIDE. —On Sunday evening, a melancholy case of suicidd occurred at Tyngwndwn, near Lampeter. It appears that a young woman, aged 18, daughter of Mr. John Daniel, joiner, who lived with her grandfather, Mr. Thomas Evans, at the above place, left the house about four p.m., and was not absent more than ten minutes before her grandmother went to call her to tea, when to her great horror she found her suspended by a: rope, in the cow-house,and life waii quite extinct. As yet r no reason can be assigned for this atrocious deéd;, but it is sur- raised- that she was ewiente by a young man from the neigh- bourhood, and who wus objected to by her parents. •

NEWPORT. FATAL ACCIDENT.-On Tuesday evening Mr. James Spencer, a b.iker, living in George-street, came into his house about seven o'clock, having been that day in the county court held at the town hall, and proceeding down stairs to the kitchen, his foot slipped, and he fell backward and died in about a quarter of au hour. CATTLE MARKET, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2IsT.-The market this week was well supplied with fat stock of all kinds. The sheep department was excellent. Cows and Calves were more plentiful than usual, but rather a heavier sale. The pig market was also well stocked. Prices-Beef, 4d. to bid.; mutton, 5jd. to 6Jd. calves, 5d. to 6jd. per lb.; pork, 8s. (id. to 10s. per score ship- ping price of beef, iC I 4s. to E4 6d. par cwt.

ABERDAIZE. THE BUILDING COMMITTEE of the Aberdare British School were highly gratified this week by receiving a donation of I 10 from Sir J. J. Guest, Bart., M.P., towards liquidating the debt remaining on th school premises. The committee beg to express to the worthy baronet their sincere thanks for his very liberal donation. MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.—We are glad to see that the mem- bers of this young society are moving in the right direction, by having a series of popular lectures delivered for the benefit of the inhabitants generally. The first will be delivered by the vicar next Tuesday evening on H Ancient Britain." We sincerely hope that the young men of Aberdare will appreciate this effort for their benefit.

vol inteer corps; £ 7,UU0 for rewards for distinguished service.,i £39,OOU for the pay ut general officers*; a sum of £2S.00i! for the full-pay of retired officers £ 2o0,000 for half-pay and military allowances; £ 22. iOO for foreign half-pay £64,000 for widows' pensions; £4<0100 for the compassionate list; i 17,000 for the hospitals at Chelsea and Kiiiiiaiiiiiaiii CjOO,000 for the out-peu- simer.s. On the last vote Mr. HUME wished to know the tiumoer, of out- :p1:W)1\er" who were enrolled Mr. F. MAULE could not tell the exact number of out-pen- eirM>ers; but the numiier enrolled last year, consisting of those above 4;") years ot'a.'e who were fit for service, was 20.000.. Mr. HUME inquired how many there were in Irelaud Mr. F. MAULE said, the number was 3,000. Sir H. VERNEY inquired whether the right horv. gentleman had investigated the possibility of employing pensioners in subordinate situations, as carriers, messengers, &c., in the public departments. Mr. F. AIAUI.E said that many were employed by private indi- viduals, and every year he received applications from pensioners to be exempt from enrolment, on account of the twelve days ser- v.ce which was required interfering wi h the appointment* they 1-.eld, A vote of £ ■ 0.000 on account for superannuation allowances was then agreed to.