The Brevet includes the following Members of the House of
Commons. To be Generals—Sir John Fitzgerald, the Honourable Hugh Arbuthnot, Sir George Berkeley, Henry Wyndham. To be Lieutenant-General—Sir De Lacy Evans. To be Major-Generals—Sir Henry Davie, Jonathan Peel, John Hall. To be Colonels—The Honourable Lauderdale Maule, the Honourable James Lindsay, Lord George Paget. To be Lieutenant-Colonel—Lord Alfred Paget.
Viewed in the light of a lawyer's question, the case of the Baron de Bode- had the preponderance of legal opinion on Tuesday. In favour of Mr. Mon- tagu Chambers's motion were—Mr. Bankes, Mr. Henry A. Bruce, Mr. Isaac Butt, Mr. Thomas Chambers, Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Craufurd, Mr. Esmonde, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Ingham, Mr. Keating, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Laslett, Mr. Lucas, Mr. lit‘Mahon, Mr. Melina, Mr. Murrough, Mr. John O'Connell, Mr. Digby Seymour, Mr. Sergeant Shee, Mr. Walpole ; Mr. Montagu Chambers and Mr. Bowyer, Tellers-22. Against the motion—Mr. Barrow, Mr. Bland, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. George, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. Reran= Mr. Ma- guire, Sir Erskine Perry, Mr. Robert Phillimore, Sir Frederick' Thesiger, Sir Alexander Cockburn (Attorney-General), Sir George Grey (Colonial Minister), Mr. Keogh (Solicitor-General for Ireland), Mr. Robert Lowe (Secretary Board of Control), Mr. Ilayter (Secretary of the Treasury) Teller-15.
An additional war estimate has appeared, under the bead of " Prisoners of War." The sum to be asked is 20,0001.; • consisting of 6000/. for the purchase of the House of Correction at Lewes for a place of detention, and 15,000/. for maintenance and other expenses.
The official return of the Railway traffic of the United Kingdom, for the half-year ending 31st December 18,53, exhibits under every head save one an increase as compared with the returns for the corresponding half-year of 1852. The exception relates to the number of holders of periodical tickets, which was overstated in the previous return. The aggregate length of rail- way has increased from 7336 miles to 7641 miles ; the passengers of all classes, from 49,886,123 to 57,206,344; the passenger income, from 4,360,000/. to 4,821,0001.; the revenue from general merchandise, cattle, &c., from 4,154,836/. to 5,023,600/. The total receipts from all sources have in- creased from 8,515,003/. to 9,844,690/.
Sir William Molesworth's relaxation of the previous rule regarding the opening of Kew Gardens on Sunday has told well on the attendance. In the return for 1853, it is stated that 210,741 persons visited the gardens; and a separate list gives the number who availed themselves of the Sunday privi- lege, from the 15th May to the 18th September. That amounts to 12,0,469 ; showing a total of 331,210. In 1852, the number was 231,210. In the "Exhibition year" of 1851, the visitors amounted to 328,161; being 3000 fewer than the visitors under the new rules in 1853.
The number of visitors at Hampton Court in 1853 was 180,753; being about half the number who appeared in 1851. Compared, however, with 1852, there is an increase of 7000.
From an official return it appears that 946 convicts under sentence of transportation have had licences to be at large in the United Kingdom. The return is made up to the 15th May, and comprises a period of seven months.
The Commissioners appointed to inquire into the operation of the mercan- tile laws of the Three Kingdoms, and particularly into the law of partner- ship as regards limited or unlimited liability, have made their report. Upon the question of liability, opinions had been sought for at home and abroad. Abroad, opinion preponderated in favour of limited liability ; but at home, so great is the conflict of opinion, that the Commissioners hesitate to recom- mend a change in the existing law. Their apprehension is that limited liability. "would have a great tendency to induce men to embark in specu- lative adventures to an extent that would be dangerous to the interests of the general commerce of the country." Some modifications are suggested, with the view of encouraging the outlay of capital in large works, such as docks, railways, and extensive operations in shipping; and in the smaller enter-
prises of baths, washhouses, lodging-houses, and reading-rooms. Limited
liability is recommended in tln se cases, but with the precaution of a previous inquiry. The conferring of charters is advised to be continued; the appli-
cations to be made to a board, with securities for opposing parties being heard and expense kept down. A repeal of the Usury-laws, in so far as personal securities are concerned, is considered expedient.
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