452 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Jury 1, 
drawn for the present session, by the Earl of Egremont, who, in 
the dismissal of Irish magistrates.—The Earl o} 
the second reading of the Apprehension of Offenders Bill, the 
object of which is to give the sanction of this countr: 
i i ystem of ing offenders, to be established 
between this country and America. Lords Brovenam and 
CamrpeLt made some observations on the Bill, which was read 
a second time. 
HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
Monday.—On the motion for the House to resolve itself into com- 
LEMENTS made a speech com- 
of some returns, but moved no 
opposing 
a bill which he had hitherto supported, and which, instead arhene 
coercive, was much milder than the Arms Act which he had sup- 
ported when himself in power.—Mr. Hume expressed his satisfaction 
that Lord J. Russell was now going to oppose the bill, and regretted 
that hehad not done so when the late Government was in office.— 
The House then proceeded with the bill, or rather attempted to pro- 
ceed with it, for the first six clauses produced lively discussion and 
several divisions, The third and fourth clauses were postponed ; the 
fifth clause was agreed to, but the sixth was opposed, and Mr. R. 
Yorke moved that the Chairman report progress. On this div 
there were—For the motion, 24; Against it, Majority, 2 
The committee then divided on the clause—For the clause, 167: 
i i 5 ajority for the clause, 71. Another discussion 
ensued on clause 7, the result of which was that was 
reported, and_ the Chairman obtained leave to sit again on Thursday. 
Tuesday—Sir T, Witps moved for a select committce to inquire 
into the subject of Post-office improvement, with reference both to 
what had been and to t might yet be done. He said that 
ostage and 
employment had now been chiefly in as 
upwards, without one Post-oflice among them all. This defect had 
been repeatedly brought under the notice of Government, but th 
answers had n only that the matter was under consideration. 
Various mistakes committed by the Post-office had been represente: 
to the ‘Treasury; the Post-office had been referred to, but the Post- 
office authorities had in each instance eyaded the questions, or 
returned incorrect answers to . His object was to secure the 
presence of an officer whose duty it should be to prevent such errors. 
Ministers had doubtless received explanations from the Post-office, 
to which they themselves gave credit ; but the question was whether 
after the past experience of such explanations they deserved that 
credit ; and this was a question most properly to he determined-by a 
commiitee, The motion for a committee must not be resisted on 
the ground of revenue, for the state of the reyenue was the very 
ground of the motion. Of Mr, Hill’s proposal, that part only had 
been adopted which had tended to dimmish revenue; his sugges- 
tions for compensating that diminution had not been carried into 
effect. Mr, Hill was willing rather to serve the public gratuitously 
than not to serve it atall. 
The Caancettor of the Excueavuer referred to the terms of 
the Treasury minute under which Mr. Hill had originally been 
engaged, and contended that it clearly showed he was engage 
porarily, in order to carry ou! : 
farther or enlarged plan which he might hav 
coming into office he found that Mr, Hill had been engaged for only 
another year, which was the result of the scrupulous care and can- 
dour of Mr. F, Baring, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, not to 
fetter his successors ; and for this, and many similar instances, he (the 
Chancellor of the Exchequer) publicly thanked his predecessor. If 
in the dismiss Mr. Hill he mistaken Mr. Baring? 
‘ews, he assured him and the House that it was not intended ; but 
it had heen found inconvenient to have Mr. Hillsuperintending such 
a department as the Post-office, virtually superseding the Chancellor 
of the Exchequer; a similar principle might be applied to every other 
department. S Taxes, andsoforth iling¢ r 
® 
that they had been hostile to the plan of Mr. Hill, and could not, 
therefore, be left entirely to their own control in carrying it out. In 
stating that sums to the extent of 8,000,000¢. passed annually 
through the money order department the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer probably spoke from information furnished by the Post- 
office ; but there was a material error here; thesums were multiplied 
by two: they had reckoned not only the money paid in, but the 
money paid out, which was like calculating the quantity of water 
passing through a pipe by what was poured in at one end and out at 
the other. He was glad that the committee of inquiry had been 
agreed to, as it would test the hostile and contradictory allegations 
and ti —The CHANCELLOR of the admitted 
that in stating the amount passing through the money-order office 
he had cast his eye on the wrong column of figures; but it did not 
is argument whether the amount were 4,000, 
8,000,000/.—Mr, Warnacr remarke e obstructive system 
formerly pursued in the Post-office, and highly lauded the present 
Postmaster-General, Lord Lowther.—Sir Roperr Pee. had never 
doubted the great social advantages which would result from the 
enny postage; he had only hesitated about 
i on considerations i 
gave the fullest credit to the motives and qualities of Mr. Hill. 
If the Post-office functionaries were as adverse as Mr. Baring had 
represented them to the plan of Mr. Hill, the proper course for Mr. 
Baring would have been, not to keep Mr. Hill as a yearly servant of 
the Treasury, but to make him Secretary of the Post-office, so as to 
give him the means of overruling all these official obstructions. Lord 
Lowther being known to approve i an, it was not likely 
to meet with discouragements under that nobleman. For himself 
and Mr, Goulburn he would say, that while they should continue in 
office they would exert all their influence to secure the fair working of 
is great social and commercial experi t.—Mr. AGLIONByY pressed 
upon the consideration of Ministers the subject of the rural dis- 
tricts ; and announced his intention of asking hereafter for some 
information about the security of money-letters, and the effect of the 
late enactment respectin: transmission by post of notices of 
objection under the Voters’ Registration Act.—Mr, Goutnurn gave 
some explanation.—: ME did not think Mr. Hill’s calculations 
so extravagant as they had been represented ; for while all the other 
branches of public income were falling off, the Post-office revenue 
was still increasing. e disapproved of the principle which placed 
the Post-office under the Treasury, but bore his testimony to Lord 
Lowther’s able administration. He rejoiced in this committee, 
which he hoped would show how the Post-office might best be made 
useful to the public.—Mr. Hurr spoke in praise of Mr. Hill.—Sir 
T. Wits, in reply, said that all the purposes of his motion would 
be answered by the committee which Mr. Goulburn proposed to sub- 
stitute, It had been intimated that Mr ill was blameable for 
having thus published the information obtained by him at the Trea- 
sury; but it was not ofa confidential nature, for it related only to his 
own plan, Nor had it been brought forward with any hostile feeling 
to the present Board of Treasury; the only objection was, that the 
Post-office authorities were allowed to exercise too strong an influence 
against all reforms.—The amended motion was then agreed to. 
MacKINNON moved for a select committee to inquire into the 
means and expediency of preventing the nuisance of smoke arising 
from fires or furnaces, which was agreed to.—Captain Pecnen. 
brought on the next motion, which related to the claims of indivi- 
duals on the Admiralty, to which Capt. Gorpon ard Mr. Corry 
replied, After a short discussion, the motion was rejected on a 
division. The rest of the evening was occupied by a brief discussion 
on a motion of Mr. Sergeant Murrny, relative to ‘ Ministers’ 
money’? in Ireland, which was withdrawn. 
Thursday.—The first order of the day was the adjourned commit- 
tee on the Irish Arms Bill, which was moved to be resumed before 
five o’clock. Mr. Smirn O’Brien asked f 
& 
granted: and after some matters 
committee on the bill, commencing with the seventh clause, to 
ed a lively dis- 
cussion. It professes to regulate the mode in which persons not 
keeping arms at the time of passing the Act, but who may afterwards 
wish to do so, may apply for a license twenty-one days before the 
then next session, 
Sir R, Ferauson moved an amendment; and as the Attorney- 
General for Ireland did not seem clear on the subject, and Sir J. 
Graham proposed to remedy the clause by a proviso the effect of 
which was not understood, several other amendments were proposed, 
to postpone the clause, and also that the chairman report progress. 
—Sir J, GraHam refused to postpone the clause, which provoked a 
retort from Mr, M. J. O’ConneLu.—Lord J. Ru LL declared his 
on the country, and interfering with the duties of th ibl 
tionaries. Efforts were making to increase facilities of communica- 
tion by an arrangement to establish rural posts wherever the number 
of letters justified i ut Mr. Hill’s plan for giving additional 
facilities of delivery was not universally applicable; as in London, 
its operation would involve the employment of a great 
intention of supporting the postponement of the clause, on account 
of the i conduct of the Government.—Sir R. Pern 
endeayoured to soothe the House, and said that if the course were 
pursued of debating every clause on the merits, it would be fatal, 
not merely to this bill, but to all legislation whatever.—Lord PA- 
MERSTON, Mr. Watson, and other members, expesed the ab- 
surdity of pressing a clause, the meaning of which was doubtful to 
additional number of postmen, at an expense not by 
any advantage. The system of transmitting money through the 
** money order’? department of the Post-office was superior to the 
plan of registration; and the public were now availing themselves 
largely of it, for if the amounts sent during the first three months 
of the present year were to be taken as data for the entire year, it 
would appear that no less than 8,000,000/. was transmitted annually 
by means of money orders. This was a proo the present 
Government were not indifferent to improvements. Another proof 
of this was the selection of Lord Lowther for the office of Postmaster- 
yeneral—a nobleman whom Mr. Hull had eulogised in his first 
pamphlet as one of those enlightened individuals who were zealous 
for Post-office reform and improvement. They had not, indeed, 
rushed into multifari of imy , involving great 
expense, which must be defrayed out of the general taxes, and be a 
boon to the letter-writing portion of the community, at the expense 
of those not so much interested in epistolary correspondence; but 
they were gradually introducing whatever alterations might be 
thought advisable. Great expectations were held out as likely to 
result from the adoption of Mr. Hill’s views; Sir Thomas Wilde 
the itself—Lord Exxor made some explanations, but 
Mr. More O’Frrnaun remarked that with nine lawyers, two Secre- 
taries of State, and an hour and a half’s discussion, they were more 
distant than ever from understanding the clause, which was a very 
sufficient reason for postponement.—A division took place on the 
question of reporting progress, which was rejected by 252 to 92.— 
Lord Crrmenrs persisted in moving that the chairman do leave the 
chair, and Sir R, Peel ultimately consented. 
‘riday.—Mr. G1sworns moved for a committee to inquire into 
the allegationsof the late Nottingham petition, which gave rise to 
observations from Lord LiNconn, Sir R. Prex., Mr. T, Dun- 
comer, and Mr. F. BartnG. The latter moved an amendment 
limiting the inquiry to the alleged tampering with the witnesses, but 
the original motion and the amendment were ultimately withdrawn, 
On the motion for going into a committee of supply, Mr. Hume 
brought forward a motion for discontinuing the grant of 21,0000. 
a-year to the King of Hanover, as a waste of public money, and 
unjust to the people of England. Mr. Wru.1ams seconded the 
motion, which was opposed by Sir R. Pes, Lord Worsiny,&c., 
the ground that it would violate public faith. On a division, 
the motion was rejeeted by 197 to 91. 
EY 
Money Market, Friday.—Consols closed at 938 to 3, for 
the opening ; Bank Stock, 180} ;} Three per Cent. Re- 
f king a verbal confining 
the investigation to the manner in which the penny postage had been 
carried out.—Mr. F. Banine said that though the Treasury minute 
engaging Mr. Hill referred only to the penny postage, yet both he 
and the late G certainly hended under that expres- 
sion the entire of Mr. Hill's plan, in order to its gradual adoption, 
duced, 943 to 4; Three-and-half per Cent, Reduced, 1012 ; 
Exchequer Bills, 54s. to 56s. prem. 
HMetropolis anv its Wicinrity. 
Her Majesty's Coronation. —Wednesday being the 
anniversary of her Majesty’s coronation in 1838, the 
morning was ushered in by the ringing of a merry peal 
at the different churches throughout the metropolis, The 
Royal Standard was hoisted at the Tower, Somerset- 
house, the Opera-house, and the usual public buildings. 
At 1 o’clock the Park and Tower guns fired a royal salute, 
and the vessels in the docks and river, English as well as 
foreign, hoisted their colours, in honour of the occasion. 
Accident to the Duke of Wellington.—Wis Grace met 
with a slight accident on Thursday afternoon. He was 
mounting his horse at the corner of Waterloo-place and 
Jermyn-street, when a carriage drew rapidly up, and the 
pole caught his right leg, and very nearly precipitated him 
between the horses, who reared and plunged violently. 
His Grace, however, recovered his seat, and rode off. 
Sale of the Duke of Sussex’s Property.—The sale of 
H.R.H.’s property commenced last week, and will con- 
tinue until Wednesday week. The portion sold on Satur- 
day comprised a collection of royal and noble portraits in 
oil, historical and royal miniatures and enamels, and en- 
gravings, mostly proofs. The buyers were chiefly dealers, 
nor was there much anxiety manifested by the public to 
become possessors of any of the lots. The whole day’s 
sale did not realise more than 770/. The engravings were 
sold for about 73/., the enamels for 42/., the paintings for 
2411, 9s. 6d., and the miniatures for 412/. 5s. The sale 
of the plate took place in the early part of the week ; the 
trinkets and orders were sold on Wednesday, the rings 
and seals on Thursday, and the snufl-boxes yesterday. 
Many of the articles realised high prices. 
Court of Aldermen.—On Saturday Alderman Brown 
brought up the report of the committee appointed to 
inquire into the connection of Alderman Thomas Wood 
with the Talacre Mining Company. The report stated 
that the committee had examined with care the docu- 
mentary matter submitted to them, which they agreed to 
lay before the Court, together with a statement of facts 
drawn up from the papers supplied to them; and they 
found that Alderman T, Wood’s connection with that 
Company, which appeared to have been formed without 
any pecuniary foundation, was established. The com- 
mittee offered no opinion on the conduct of Alderman T. 
Wood, that being a duty which they considered to apper- 
tain to the individual members of the court. Alderman 
T. Wood considered that the statement which had been 
read, although professing to be fair and candid, omitted 
the answers which the evidence contained, at the same 
time that it detailed the imputations against him. He 
quoted several of the imputations, and spoke at consider- 
able length to show that the documents were garbled ; 
and that in all his transactions with the Talacre Company 
he had acted with the greatest probity. Alderman Cope- 
land denounced the Talacre Company as a fraudulent 
concern, and asserted that the committee had acted with 
remarkable forbearance. Alderman Brown expressed sur- 
prise at the tone in which Alderman T. Wood had met a 
report so indulgently drawn up. He would call upon the 
Court to examine the statement which had been drawn up 
from the documentary matter submitted to that committee, 
and then say whether there was any want of candour, or 
fairness, or indulgent feeling to be attributed to him who 
drew it up, or those who agreed to it? After an angry 
discussion the Court came to a resolution that, if any 
member intended to bring forward any motion on the 
subject of the report, a regular notice should be given, 
so that a full deliberation might take place. 
Election of Sheriffs. —On Saturday Alderman Musgrove 
and Mr. F. G. Moon, the printseller, were in a Common 
Hall unanimously elected Sheriffs of London and Middle- 
sex for the year ensuing. 
Entertainment at the Mansion-House.—On Wednes- 
day the Lord Mayor gave an entertainment to the Judges 
and members of the bar. The guests were more numerous 
than on any similar occasion at the Mansion House, 
upwards of 150 individuals being seated at table in the 
Egyptian-hall. Several ladies were among the company. 
Diocese of London.—The Bishop of London has 
addreased a pastoral letter to the clergy of his diocese, 
explaining his remarks on the subject of the offertory at 
his late confirmations. His Lordship states that he only 
recommended his views to the clergy, leaving it to them 
to adopt his wishes or nof, according to their own dis- 
cretion. He states that on occasions when charity sermons 
are preached for specific objects, and when there is n0 
communion, the practice of collecting from pew to pew 
has very generally prevailed in various parts of the 
country, and that when the collection is so made it is more 
proper to make it while the offertory sentences are rea 
than during the singing of a hymn. ‘I belieye,’’ he 
says, ‘‘ that in almost all cases where this method of col- 
lecting has been resorted to, its advantages, in respect of 
propriety and solemnity, have caused it, after no very long 
time, to be generally approved of. At all events, my 
recommendation of this method, which, after all, is nothing 
more than occasionally applying to the whole congrega- 
tion a form to which those who communicate submit 
without question or demur, ought not in fairness to be 
regarded as indicating a disposition to favour any peculiar 
theological opinions, least of all those against which I may 
venture to say few persons have protested more distinctly 
or emphatically than myself.” 
€ Gresham Lectures.—A new building, in the 
enriched Roman style of architecture, with a theatre 
capable of accommodating 800 persons, has just bee? 
completed at the corner of Basinghall-street, at a cost of 
7,0002., for the delivery of the Gresham Lectures: . 
Peace Convention—This Convention held its last sit- 
men, 
world was adopted, together with a resolution in 
of a congress of nations to settle and perfect the ces et 
international law, and a high court of nations to inter Tis 
and apply that law for the settlement of all national 
