The Principality

Ess VY.—The raavor of Worcester has offered three Prizes, the first of £ 1 0, and two of E5, for essays on the follow- subject: the tendency of mental cultivation in the several departments of science, literature, the arts. morals, and religion, to promote the social and personal happiness of mankind, and to counteract or eradicate those propensities to idleness, drunk- enness, and other vices, which load many to the degradation of Pauperism, and not a fe-v to the commission of crimes which involve themselves and others in ruin and protracted sufi'-niig. subject to be illustrated chiefly in its bearing on the ira» r)t and elevation of the working classes.

SUPPOSED POISONING NEAR HASTINGS. On Friday afternoon a jury was summoned before N. P. Kell, coroner, to inquire into the circumstances attending the deaths of three persons suspected to have been poisoned. The circumstances of the case are as followsOn the 13th of September last a labouring man named Richard Geeringj aged fifty-six, living with his wife, Mary Ann Geering, on the Green, at Guestling, after lingering some little while, died, but no particular suspicion was entertained at the time, although the body was observed to be in a very bad state after decease. On the 27th of December following a son named George, aged twenty-one, living at home, also died and on the 6th ult., a second son living at home, named James, aged twenty-six, likewise died. All three suffered from vomitings, and were attended during their illness by Mr. J. I. Pocock. Latterly a third son, of about twenty years of age, named Benjamin, has been in a state of ill health, accompanied with unnatural hunger and vomitings. Mr. Ticehurst, having occasion to attend the latter, was suspicious of something wrong, and had the patient's diet consequently altered, when he soon began to recover. This made the circumstances attend- ing the previous deaths look so suspicious that the coroner issued a warrant for the exhumation of the bodies of Richard, George, and James Geering, which had been interred in Guest- ling churchyard. On Friday morning the coffins containing the bodies were dug up and removed into the church to await the disposal of the coroner. The jury having been sworn, proceeded to the churchyard. The three graves from which the bodies had been taken were on the east side of the church, and were very watery. The coffin containing the body of Richard Geering was first brought out of the church and placed on a tombstone. The lid was then unscrewed, and on its removal the body was found to be in an advanced state of decomposition, except in the region of the abdomen. The features of the deceased were too much impaired to be recognised, but the identity of the coffin was vouched for by the maker, who was also the sexton at the time of interment. Mr. Ticehurst, Mr. W. Duke, and Mr. F. Duke, then proceeded to make a post mortem examination of the body. The effluvium was dreadful, and the body swimming in the water. To remove the latter holes were bored in the coffin. The whole of the deceased's intestines were removed and placed in jars. The coffins containing the bodies of the two sons were then brought o-ut and opened. The face of George was but little disfigured, while that of James was far gone. In each case the inscription on the coffin lid was discernible. The in- testines of the two sons were also removed and taken into the possession of Mr. Ticehurst. In all the bodies it was found that the stomach was in an unusually good state of preserva- tion. From the stomach of George Geering a small piece of white, gritty matter, resembling arsenic, was produced, and gritty matter was also observable in the case of the father. On the whole, the appearances presented by the different bodies seemed to be strongly indicative of death by poison. The ex- amination being so far concluded, the jury assembled in the church, where they were addressed by The Coroner, who stated that Mr. Ticehurst was of opinion that the analysis of the contents of the bodies could not be complete until Thursday next (yesterday), and perhaps would not be ready even then. Supposing the suspicions entertained in this case to prove well-founded, this will form one of the most appalling circum- stances that ever took place in this part of the country, and serve to swell still more the already fearful catalogue of crimes which has been presented to the public during the last few months. The woman Geering was apprehended in the course of Thursday morning at her house.—Hastings News.

ALLEGED POISONING AT BATH. During the past week rumours have spread through the city of Bath involving the poisoning of a husband by his wife, and from authentic information which we have received this day, we are afraid the rumour will turn out to be only too correct, as we may state that Mr. Herapath, analytical chemist of Bris- tol, to whom the stomach of the deceased with its contents was submitted for analysis, has discovered the presence of a poison- ous body. Indeed, it is by no means improbable that a whole series of poisonings may eventually be brought to light, inas- much as the bodies of three wives of a man named Harris, sup- posed to be implicated with the woman, and who have all died within the last thirteen months, will, we are given to under- stand, be exhumed. The facts of the case, and the evidence taken as far as it has hitherto gone, may be briefly summed up as follows :-It appears that a man named Henry Marchant, who resided at 13, Angel-place, Lower Bristol-road, died on the 7thinst. under the following suspicious circumstances :—On the previous Saturday his wife made him some tea, which she was not accustomed to do, and in about an hour after partaking of it he was seized with a violent retching, and was sick for a considerable period, after which he gradually sank till he died. He was buried on the 13th, and on the following Monday his widow was married to Harris, a man upwards of 70 years of age, and with whom for six weeks previous to her husband's death she had been on the most intimate terms. A singular thing, too, is that Harris buried his own wife only five weeks before. In consequence of these facts being duly represented to the proper authorities the body of the deceased (Marchant) was disinterred and opened by Mr. Lloyd, surgeon, who at- tended him during his illness, and also in the presence of Mr. Barrett, surgeon. On opening the stomach the mucous mem- brane appeared of a red colour, as if it had suffered from inflam- mation, and there was also a greenish fluid in it, perhaps as much as half a pint; there were also marks of ulceration on the mucous membrane. The stomach was carefully sealed up in the presence of two witnesses. Li consequence of a communica- tion made yesterday by Mr. Herapath to the authorities at Bath, the parties have been taken into custocly.-Timos.

EDUCATION MEETING AT MANCHESTER. CT A meeting to promote Voluntary and Religious Education was held at Manchester, yesterday week, in the Corn Exchange. James Sidbottom, Esq., in the chair. The meeting was large, and amongst other gentlemen on the platform, were observed —Revs. A. Wells, Dr. Halley, James Griffin, Dr. Nolan, J. L. Poore, A. E. Pearce, Joseph Fox, G. Hoyle, Carnson, W. Stowell, D. E. Ford, Lee, Jones Messrs. George Had- field, James Watts, S. Morley, E. Baines, Dilworth; John Hewitt, A. Prentice, James Wells, Rumney, Shuttle worth W. Morris, and Dr. Jarrold. The proceedings commenced by the Rev. James Griffin offering up a short prayer. The Chairman, in the course of an excellent and highly appropriate opening address, paid a most merited compliment to the Free Church of Scotland, stating, that since the disrup- tion of 1813, they had built some 800 chapels, and, at the same time, actually reared upwards of 400 schools, while they were now erecting from 350 to 400 manses, or parsonages, for their ministers and, while doing all this, they raised for their Home and Foreign Missions during the past year, £ 24,211, being £ 4,000 more than had been raised for the same objects in previous ye-irs while their receipts last year, for the mainte- nance of the ministry, amounted to £ 8S,300, to which was to be added the annual sum for the schoolmasters' support, amounting to £10,258, that was for the year ending March, 1848 and the gross amount raised for all purposes, since the disruption to March 31st, 1818, was £ 1,950,462. The chair- man applied this fact to the Voluntary principle, showing that the entire performances of the Scotch Establishment prior to the disruption were a thing of nought, compared with the efforts now made by the Free Church alone. The Rev Algernon Wells, who was received with much applause, made one of his noble and comprehensive speeches, bringing forward the whole question in all its bearings, which was greatly cheered throughout. Edward Baines, Esq., of Leeds, who rose amidst general applause, next addressed the meeting in one of his characteris- tic all-grasping orations, exhibiting in a popular form the entire 11 Z!1 statistics of the question. Dr. Ilallev, Samuel Morley, Esq., George Iladfield, Esq., and Dr. Noland, addressed the meeting. The Rev. John Kelley, of Liverpool, was to have taken part in the business of the night; but, from sudden indisposition, was compelled to return home. The speech of Dr. Halley was copious and decided. We have heard from other sources, that Manchester has engaged to raise, for the Congregational Board of Educa- tion, the sum of £ 500 per annum, for the next three years, whiie Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, and other towns in the north, in which excellent meetings have just* been held, will do the same; so that the sun of this project seems at length breaking through the clouds. Mr. Baines, at the above meeting, having expressed his readiness to discuss the subject with any gentleman of antago- nistic views, the challenge was accepted the next day, by Mr. John Watts, of Deausgate, on the first mutually convenient evening. The gentleman undertakes to prove the inefficiency and injustice of the present Voluntary system for the education of the people." Pubiic meetings have at-'o been held with great success at Norwich and Yarmouth, to which Rev. J. Kennedy and C. Reed, Esq., have formed an e;i,Lient deputation.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY, APRIL 26. The Leasehold of Land (Ireland) Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Lord Chancellor. Certain returns on the subject of the Navigation-laws were ordered on the motion of Lord Wharncliffe. Their lordships then adjourned, after disposing of some unim- portant business. ————

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY, APRIL 26. Lord J.RUSSELI. moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the acts passed for the more effectual relief of the destitute poor in Ireland, explained the alterations he proposed to make in the ex- isting law, the general nature of which he had stated in the Poor- law Committee, without pressing for their decision, and he now proposed these alterations upon the responsibility of the Govern- ment. The most important alteration he' proposed was a maximum both with respect to the rate upon separate electoral divisions, and the rate upon the aggregate divisions included in each union—a provision which, he admitted, was contrary to the general principle of the English Poor- law, but which was unavoidable in the pecu- liar circumstances of Ireland at present. He proposed that the rate should not exceed 5s. in the pound in the year in any electoral division, without subjecting the other electoral divisions in the union to contribute to the extent of 2s. in the pound. He pro- posed, further, to give to the Poor-law Commissioners power to settle past liabilities in certain unions; and with respect to de- ductions on account of jointures and rent-charges, whereas those settlements were made iti contemplation of a state of law different from the present, lie thought their exemption from the rate should cease. With regard to the division of the rate between tenant and owner, he proposed that, in future, the tenant should have the power of deducting half the rate to which he was liable, but should not have the power of making any further deduction; and to obviate the complaint against revaluations on account of improve- ments, he proposed that there should he no revaluation for a period of seven years. Lord John concluded by some consolatory ob- servations upon the existing condition of Ireland in respect to the number of its able-bodied paupers as compared with the past year. Mr. STAFFORD regretted that the Government should -have proposwl to legiiJlate pleceneal--t,hat they had not embraced all the objects in one bill, so that the people of Ireland might know what they had to expect. In a speech full of violent invective, Mr. GRATTAN imouted to Sir R. Peel, in his scheme for the settlement of C'onnauWit an apparent design to expel the Roman Catholic and substitute a Protestant population in that province. Sir R. PEEL disclaimed in strong terms any such design, or any sectarian spirit in his suggestions, which, he observed, had been greatly misconceived. He had offered these suggestions in a spi- rit not of party feeling, but of the deepest sympathy with the suf- ferings of the Irish people. It had never entered into his mind to substitute Protestants for Catholics his aim was to elevate the Roman Catholics, not to drive out any man. It was his deliberate opinion that rates-in-aid and alteration of the poor law would be of no permanent avail, unless a remedy was applied to the great social evils of Ireland. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said it was idle to talk of imposing a tax of 5s. in the pound in Ireland, inasmuch as that so-termed pound had dwindled down to 13s. Mr. O'FLAHKIITY, speaking from the opposition benches, said he could no longer support the ministry, because they would not wait for the report of the committee on the Irish poor laws before bringing forward this measure. Mr. BRIGHT thought the last speaker had done the House some injustice, but at the same time was free to admit that all those who had been in office, and those who held office, might take some blame to themselves in the matter. Although he had found as much fault with the House as any member for its legislation with respect to the sister country, he was now willing to forget past differences, and trusted that one side of the House would not waste time in blaming the other, but proceed at once to an honest consideration of this important subject. Lord J. RUSSELL urged upon the House the propriety of allow- ing the bill to be brought in, which might be discussed at the proper stage, in order that the Solicitor-General might introduce another Irish bill. Leave was then given to bring in the bill.

ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND). The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then moved for leave to bring in a bill further to facilitate the sale of encumbered estates in Ireland. After briefly detailing the objects and the provisions of the act of last year, which he had admitted had proved wholly ineffectual, he developed in a. very lucid manner the plan proposed by the Go- vernment to deal with the difficulties of the subject by means of a commission, that should perform the functions of fhe Court of Chancery without the expense and delay attendant upon its cum- brous and antiquated machinery. It was proposed that this com- mission should consist of three paid commissioners, empowered to frame rules, to be submitted to and sanctioned by the Privy Council of Ireland to require the production of titles and to sell property in such proportions as they deemed fit, but only when application should be made to them by owners or incumbrancers. It was proposed that a conveyance should be made by the com- missioners, by certificate, in a short form, to the purc haser, which should be good against all the world, and be the future root of the title. In order to obtain possession of lands, the commissioners were to have the same powers as the sheriff in case of execution, so that no action of ejectment. would be necessary, and the pur- chaser could not be evicted. It was deemed expedient that there should be an appeal from the commissioners to the privy council of Irelaad, giving, however, to the commissioners authority, in order to prevent dilatory appeals, to say whether cases were pro- perly appealable. The Solicitor-General concluded his explana- tions by briefly noticing and obviating objections. Mr. KKOGII commended the measure, and believed tint the Chancery bar of Ireland would not feel the slightest objection or offer any obstacle to it. Sir R. PEEL expressed his cordial satisfaction at the general purport and principles of the measure. He justified the appoint- ment, of a special tribunal, by referring to the success which had attended the tribunals appointed to deal with the Welsh tolls and the commutation of tithes, as well as the West India Commission. Mr. BnrmlT complimented the Solicitor-General for his most lucid statement of the provisions of the bill, a measure with which lie could not find the slightest fault, either that it went too far or did not go far enough. He was of opinion that nothing could be more fatal than an attempt to maintain the property of any one class as against any other class, while measures based upon sound principles must be, as this measure evidently was, advan- tageous to all classes in the country to which it referred. Leave was given to bring in the bill. The SOLICITOIVGENEUAL, after a few words from Mr. J. STUART and Mr. SADLEIR, obtained leave also, to bring in a bill to enable persons having perpetual and limited interests in land in Ireland to make grants in fee or demises for long terms of years. This measure was brought in as an auxiliary to the Poor-law Amendment Bill. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned. ————

RATE-IN-AID BILL. The House went into committee upon the Poor-laws (Ireland) Rate-in-A id Bill. Upon the first clause a discussion of some length took place. which was not confined to the details of the bill, but embraced the policy and principle of the measure. An amendment, proposed by Captain JONES, in the body of the clause, was negatived, on a division, by 81 to 28. Several other amendments were moved, which, after i. ng and discursive debates, interspersed with a few spicy personalities were negatived by large majorities. The bill was then reported. The House having resolved itself into a committee of supply, on the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER a sum of £ 52,173 was voted to replace the escheated property of the late John Turner, which had been paid into the Consolidated Fund, in default of heirs, who had since appeared and established their claim. The Ecclesiastical Commission Bill was read a second time. On a motion of Mr. REYNOLDS for the nomination of the select committee on savings-banks, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, by way of amendment moved the re-appointment of the committee of last session, as the only means of terminating a difference between himself and Mr. Reynolds as to the composition of the select committee. Mr. H. HERBERT complained that he had been unfairly treated by the Government with reference to this subject, and supported the original motion. After a discussion, in which Mr. R. Fox, Mr. GOULBURN, Mr. KEOGH, Mr. HUME, Sir H. WILI.OUSHBY, MR. J. A. SMITH, LORD C. HAMILTON, and Mr. REYNOLDS shared, an attempt was made to amalgamate the lists, omitting certain names but a division took place upon the retention of Mr. NAPIER'S name in Mr. REY- NOLDS'S list, which was negatived by 111 to 74, whereupon Mr. REYNOLDS gave way. The House adjourned at half-past one o'clock.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY. The Dublin correspondent of the Times says :-The ac- counts from the southern and western provinces continue to be of a most deplorable character. In truth, matters are getting from bad to worse. The task of reading the pro- vincial organs, Repeal and Tory, has really become painful. They are all in one story, and set to the same dolorous tune —bankruptcy in the upper and middle classes the sons of the gentry squabbling for situations which the butler of their progenitors would scarcely deem worthy of acceptance Pro- testant clergymen reduced to the most pitiable state of des- titution, the landlords being no longer capable of paying the tithe rent-charge Roman Catholic priests shorn of their dues," and flying to the relief lists, their flocks being either inmates of the poorhouse or the grave, or wanderers to other lands, in the hope of gaining that subsistence which is denied them at home. As for the peasantry, it is needless to recapi- tulate their sufferings for the last three years they are patent to the world. And when to all this is added the early prospect of another deficient harvest—for in the west there are already unfavourable symptoms—the picture of Ireland in 1849 is complete, and the sketch sufficiently ap- palling to shake the nerves of statesmen disposed to push the reigning Administration from (heir stools of office. The journals of the two parlies into which Irish society is di- vided have each a distinct theory with respect to the causes which have forced on the inevitable crisis. The Liberal papers, with one accord, cast all the blame on landlordism and insecurity of tenure. The Conservative organs fasten on the Poor-law, and the withdrawal of protection, as the roots of the evil; and, with such discordant opinions, it is no great miracle that the Irish members can never be brought to agree upon any one course of policy which might be produc- tive of benefit to their unfortunate country. Protection," however, has its supporters in the ranks of Whig and Itepeal representatives. Witness Mr. Burke Roche's display at Raudon, the other day, and Mr. Saclleir's more recent lament in the House of Commons. A correspondent of the Evening Mail communicates the following, amin.jst a multitude of analogous cases, as illus- trative of the progress of desolation :— In the once thriving town of Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, during the quarter sessions just ended, there were over 1.200 prisoners to be tried, and it occupied the court but three days to try them all. And why ? Simply because they all pleaded guilty, in the hope of being detained in prison; and two who were discharged were the next day accused of riot, com- mitted in an attempt to break into gaol. On his former visits the assistant-barrister had comfortable lodgings in the town on the present occasion the offer of a guinea a night could not procure him a bed, even in a cabin. All, all had fled from a rate exceeding 20s. in the pound." A Waterford paper thus describes the state of the town of Carrick-on-Suir, a locality which acquired some notoriety during the insurrection of last summer "Such is the frightful depression of trade and business in Car- rick-on-Suir, that between 70 and 80 shops have closed in one street only they appear at mid-day as if the occupants were in bed—a complete wilderness of shutters The Cork Examiner contains the proceedings of an in- quest, held under peculiarly melancholy circumstances, upon the body of a man who died from maltreatment in the Black-hole" of Youghal workhouse. The facts of the case are set forth in the Examiner as follows:- On Friday, the 20th of April, a weak, tottering man—or the skeleton of what once might be called a man-staggered into the workhouse of Youghal. He was lean and hungry, with the vora- city of a wolf. On Friday and Saturday he was supported by the bountiful charity of the Poor-law, and on Sunday morning, instigated by hunger, this wretched being attempted—what? To commit what terrible crime? Murder? No,—to steal a morsel of bread This was the sole crime of which the pauper Patrick Conolly was guilty. Reader, understand this well Con oily was caught in the act of abstracting an additional morsel of bread from a basket-nothing more. Well, for this crime the Draconian punishment was death! It is as true as it is horrible. His punish- ment was death—death by cold, starvation, and mental torture- a death of lingering agony. It is a positive fact. Listen: he was taken by one official into the presence of another, and then handed -over to the custody of a third, who placed him in what, without the least stretch of fancy, is rightly called the Black-hole—a den "Without air or light, and measuring eight feet by six Into this hole the Starving mail was thrust, his miserable meal having been torn from his hungry eyes and wolfish appetite! When the hour came for the paupers to thank God for porridge, Conolly's prison door was thrown open, and he was led forth—to pray Mad- dened with hunger and nervous horror-for his cell adjoined the dcadhouse, and he had been locked up for a while in the chamber of death, where two coffins lay-this victim of workhouse disci- pline was bidden kneel down before the altar, and offer up his thanks and adoration to the Father of Love and Mercy! When he staggered up from his trembling knees, he was led back again to his cold, dark, airless cell, to tenant it with his raging hunger and unutterable sufferings. The day rolled on-the day dedi- cated by the Christian world to thoughts of peace, and love, and holiness; and at two o'clock, death-more merciful than man- laid its cold hand on the heart of the victim pauper. Before he fell to the earth he murmured, in broken accents, the touching remonstrance, that it was not fair to deprive him of his food; that while others had their breakfast, he was put into a room where coiffns were He fell; his head and side struck against the hard walls, and he lay insensible on the floor of his fatal cell. Then an outcry was raised the shattered frame was lifted from the cold floor; officials bestirred themselves; nurses hurried to and fro the doctor was sent for, but all in vain--tlie blow had heen struck too home—and, after lingering for a few hours in speechless prostration, Conoll v, the pauper, yielded up the ghost! An inquest was held on the body, and the following was the 'Verdict of the jury We find that on Sunday, the 22nd of April, Patrick Conolly, a pauper in Youghal workhouse, was confined in a place called the Black-hole, being at the same time deprived of his rations, and while so confined, being seized with sickness, shortly after died; and the jury find that said Patrick Conolly came by his death in consequence of being so confined in said Black-hole, and being deprived of his rations; and the jurors wish to put ru re- cord their marked condemnation of the Black-hole of the Youghal Workhouse.' The skeleton frame of Conolly the pauper was submitted to the exploring knife of the surgeon, who declares on oath that 4 not a particte of fat could be found beneath the skin or in the abdomen of the miserable man

THE WRITS OF ERROR. A day being now specifically named for the last struggle between the Crown and the State prisoners, the interest in the issue has begun to revive here. A variety of statements have been made with regard to the counsel engaged to conduct the case of the appellants, but the following, from the Freeman's Journal, is believed to be the correct one "The counsel for Mr. Smith 0 Brien on the occasion will be Sir Fiizroy Kelly, Q C., and Mr. Napier, Q.C. Sir Col man O'Logh- len will probably be selected to argue the case un the part of Mr. M'Manus. No writ of error has been issned in the case of Mr. "Meagher or of Mr. O'Oonohoe. The impression generally prevailed that the gentlemen who appealed to the House of Lords Would be brought to London to be present at the argument but that supposition was erroneous. They Mill remain in Richmond Bridewell pending the disposal of their cases."

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY, APRIL 27. THE NAVIGATION LAWS. A large number of petitions was presented against the bit! for the repeal of the Navigation-laws amongst which was one from Cardiff by Lord STANLEY, and auother from Newport by the Duke of BEAU PORT. Lord STAXLHY took the opportunity of saying that, concurring as he did in the prayer of the petitions which he had presented, and in the reasons assigned for that prayer, he should give to the measure which they opposed, when it came regularly before their lordships, the firmest and most uncompromising opposition in his power. He should omit no effort to throw out this bill, and hp hoped that no threats which might be held out to their lordships, and that no risk which any persons might anticipate, wuuld pre- vent their lordshi s from rejecting, as he intended to reject, a measure which in his conscience he believed would be fatal to the best interests of the country.

AFFAIRS OF ITALY. Lord BEAUMONT asked when the long-promised Sicilian corre- spondence would be laid before the IIOLI,,e. He also wished to know if the Government had received any official information as to the atrocities which had attended the recent capture of Catania. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied that the correspondence would be laid on the table as soon as the labour and diili u'lty of sorting such an immense mass of papers had been overcome. He had seen despatches from Admiral Parker connrming the accounts which had been published respecting the sack of Ca- milla-. Lord STA-XLEY complained that the noble marquis made pre- cisely the same answer ten days ago. With regard to the atroci- ties committed at Catania, similar scenes occurred in al! wars, more especially in civil wars where the passions of the contending parties were exasperated. While talking of atrocities he might observe that a more meagre report was never furnished than that sent in by the British Consul at Messina, and he trusted that, efter the experience which the House had derived from the first set of atrocity papers, the noble marqu.'s was not abou: to furnish them with a d batch, ———————————————— king the answer oi tte The Earl of ABERDEEN agreed in tllh,h it doubtless Marquis of Lansdowne most unsatisfactory, im. 'heeorre* required the exercise of some dexterity to manufacture spondence demanded by the House. Lord EDDISBURY indignantly denied the insinuation contained in the observations of Lord Aberdeen. After some further discussion, in which Lord BROUGHAM and Lord MINTO took part, Lord BEAUMONT said that he would move for some additional papers respecting the Sicilian question. This motion was agreed to, and the matter dropped. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Duke of BEAUFORT, after considerable discussion. Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMM ONS.—FRIDAY, APRIL 27. A new writ was ordered for the borough of Sheffield, in the room of Mr. Ward, who has accepted the Chiitern Hundreds. Mr. MOSTYN presented petitions from the clergy of the dean- eries of St. Asaph. Llangollen, Oswestry, Holywell, and Llan- rwst, against the Marriage Bill. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Brecon in favour of Mr. Shore.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY, APRIL 30. THE FINE ARTS IN ITALY. Lord BROUGHAM again called the attention of the House to the fact that the Financial Minister of the Revolutionary Government at Rome had left that city with the avowed intention of raising money by the sale of the inestimable works of art in the Vatican. He hoped, after what had been said on the subject, that this scheme would meet with no encouragement in England. No love of the fine arts was a sufficient justification for men laying out their money in acquiring works of art. the produce of public rob- bery for they must know that by so doing they became nothing eke than purchasers of stolen goods.

IRISH DISTRESS. Lord WHARNCLIFFE then moved for "copies or extracts of any correspondence that might, have taken place between her Majesty's Government and the Government of Ireland, or between her Ma- jesty's Treasury and the Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland, rela- tive to the steps taken, or to be taken, tor the relief of destitution in certain parts of tho country, since the last papers were pre- sented to Parliament on this subject, at the commencement of the present session." After some discussion, the motion was put and carried. Some other business was then disposed of, and their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, APRIL 30. RATE-IN-AID BILL. On the order of the day for the third reading of this bill, Captain JONES moved that it be read a third time that day six months, resting his main objection to the bill upon the ground that it would interfere with the working of the Poor-law. Sir J. WALSH repeated his objections to the bill, which he ber lieved to be as pernicious in its tendency as it would prove inef- ficient in its provisions. He even doubted the urgent necessity for this measure—the chief argument put forth in its favour. W;t much distress in Ireland, there existed much fraud and imposition, against which the present system of out-door relief provided tO check. Lord CASTXEREAGII, premising that there was no disinclina- tion on the part of Irish members to submit to such an alteration of tho system of taxation as might be required by the circumstances of the country, applied himself to proving from Parliamentary documents that, relatively with England, Ireland was overtaxed. Lord J. RUSSELL rose, not to discuss this bill, but to state th?:% in consequence of the distressing accounts received from Ireland, and of the whole of the £ 50,000 advanced being now expended it would lie necessary to make a larger advance from the civil contingencies than he had before stated, in order to re- lieve the exigency of distress during the iiitet-vil between Ulo second reading of the bill and its receiving the Royal assent. WxA the recent accounts from the Poor-law Commissioners before then:; he did not think that the Government would be justified in limitu g their advance to £ 6,000. The conclusion of Lord CCistJerengL >I speech, he observed, had inspired him with no alarm, havi¡4 lately read a most excellent letter from the Marquis of London- derry, who declared that, whatever objections might be entertain- to the rate-in-aid, í; was nude sure the loyalty of the people suffer no change. Mr. BANKES was not su-prNr-d at Lord J.din Ru?*ell's an- nouncement. The aggregate sum p.or,)S('d to be advanced w,iv totally inadequate; but he wanted to see a »eeuri!y for the repay- ment of the money, and he found none even for tins small sum, and a much larger would be required. Mr. S. CRAWFORD referred to the appalling accounts of t! e misery in Mayo, and contended that raising money by a rate-m- aid would not furnish employment—on the contrary, it would drive a greater number of substantial people out of the coiuitry. The House having divided, the third reading was carried vy 129 ayes against 55 noes. The bill then passed.

COMMITTEE OF SUPP"-Y.-N iVY ESTIMATES. The House then went into a Com mi tree of Supply, Air. Berr-r.1 in the chair. The following votes were agreed to 1 to defray iiie- salaries of the officers and the general expenses of the Admiralty- office £H,772 for the General Register and Record-office of. Seamen; and Z52,847 for the scientific branch of the naY); £ i 14,416 for the wages of artificers, labourers, and others eT ployed in the naval estalJlishmems at home; £ 1,168,869 fornavut" stores, building, repair, and outfit of the fleet, and for ste.mi' machinery. Sir H. WILI.OTJGHBY complained of the works that had b. p:i carried on at Keyham. Already £ 479,000 had been spent upon them, and now ;C 120,000 more was required. Sir W. MOI.ESWOP.TH thought there had been great waste and extravagance with regard to these works. In 1844 Parliament, had been informed that certain works were to be commenced Kt Keyham. These were to cost £ 300,000, and on [he faith onhat estimate Parliament had voted £ 30,000. On the 25th of Septem- her of the same year a Mr. Baker, a contractor, had proposed <o the Admiralty a plan of operations at Keyham which required £ 713,000 for the completion of a portion only, not of the whole "f the intended works, and the Admiralty approved of the plan, an I entered into engagements with Mr. Baker to that effect. 7n virtne of those engagements the Secretary of the Admiralty had stain I that Parliament was pledged to expend that year at least £ 120,00:> at Keyham. Nevertheless, the next estimate in 1845 had been only for £ 675,000, though the Admiralty must have known atsb;tt moment that the whole of the works in contemplation at Keyhft'n could not be completed for much less than twice that sum.' in 3 81-6 and 1847 the same estimate of £ 87.5,000 had been laid before Parliament. At length-last year—the estimate had been in- creased to £ J ,225,000. He thought, with respect to these works at Key ham, that tne wisest plan would be to step them, and to pay a forfeit to the contractor, for by doing so there Would pro- bably be a saving of £ 700,000. He therefore moved that u\ amount of the vote be reduced by £ 120,000. .Mr. CORKY deleuded the course pursued by Government, AND said that those works were undertaken solely in order to maintain' the efficiency of the steam navy, which in case of war was essential to the safety of the country.