1848-9.

Bank

3 per Cent.

Cent.

Cent.

Last year we gave a list of the reigning sovereigns and principal states of the world, remarking that what was called "The Settlement of Europe," such as was effected in 1816, appeared then "crumbling into utter confusion." We repeat the list to show the alterations that have taken place.

STATES AND REIGNING PRINCES, Nov. 1, 1849.

Regular

Population.

Army:

GERMANIC CONFEDERATION (exclusive of Austria,
Prussia, and Bavaria)

AUSTRIA (Empire and Kingdom of Hungary)
Francis-Joseph, b. Aug. 18, 1830; r. Dec. 2, 1848.

PRUSSIA

Frederick-William IV. b. Oct. 15, 1795; r. June 7, 1840.

3,206,804 100,000

Nicholas I. b. July 6 (June 25) 1796; r. Dec. 1 (Nov. 19) 1825.

TURKEY (Europe)

Asia and Africa

Abdul-Medjid-Khan, b. May 6, 1822; r. July 20, 1839.

8,900,000 300,000

15,500,000

4,658,868

146,270

Victor-Emanuel II., b. March 14, 1820; r. March 23, 1849.

Isabella II. b. October 10, 1830; r. September 29, 1833.

PART II.

THE LEGISLATION, STATISTICS, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND CHRONICLE OF 1849.

XI.-ABSTRACTS OF IMPORTANT PUBLIC ACTS

PASSED IN THE SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

INLAND REVENUE.

[12 Victoriæ, c. 1.-February 27th, 1849.]

An Act to consolidate the Boards of Excise and Stamps and Taxes into one Board of Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and to make provision for the Collection of such Revenue.

THE Boards of Commissioners of Excise and Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes are by this Act (§1) formed into one Consolidated Board of Commissioners of Inland Revenue, such Commissioners to be appointed (§2) during her Majesty's pleasure; and all the powers heretofore vested in the said Boards to be now vested in and exercised (§3) by the Commissioners of the Board of Inland Revenue. The powers so given (§4) may be exercised by any three or other prescribed number of commissioners. The chief office is to be held at such place as the Board of Treasury may from time to time appoint (5), and to be called 'The Chief Office of Inland Revenue.' The limits of their power to be the same as those given to the Board of Excise by the 7 and 8 Geo. IV., cap. 53, An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Collection and Management of the Revenue and Excise throughout Great Britain and Ireland.'

The offices of Receiver-General of Excise and Receiver-General of Stamps and Taxes are, by § 6, consolidated into one office of ReceiverGeneral of Inland Revenue; and by § 7 those of Accountant-General of Excise and Accountant and Comptroller-General of Stamps and Taxes are consolidated into one office of Accountant and ComptrollerGeneral of Inland Revenue, with the same powers (§8) as full and effective as were given to the previous offices.

The Commissioners of the Treasury are empowered (§ 9), if they think fit, to abolish the office of Comptroller and Auditor of the Excise, and to cause the accounts of the Excise revenue to be passed before the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts.

All commissions and appointments (§ 10) under the two former boards are to remain in force, the persons holding the same to be officers of Inland Revenue; and all bonds and securities given for persons so employed are (§ 11) also to continue in force. Where deposits of Stock or Exchequer Bills are made in lieu of giving security by bond, they are to be placed (§ 12) in accordance with the regulations of 6 and 7 William IV., c. 28, and 1 and 2 Vict. c. 61, under the management of the Board of Inland Revenue, and such deposits to be made, and transfers effected, in the Bank of England, in the name

of the chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue; to whom is also to be transferred (§ 13) the Stock standing in the names of the chairmen of the Boards of Excise, and of Stamps and Taxes. All lands, buildings, &c., now vested in trust in the Secretary of the Excise ($ 14) to be vested in the Secretary of the Board of Inland Revenue on the like

trusts.

By § 15 the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are empowered to appoint officers to be collectors and receivers of one or more branches of the revenue or duties in such districts as they shall determine on. Licenses (§ 16) may be granted by such persons as the Commissioners shall appoint.

By 17 it is declared that terms used in former Acts, and in documents relating to the Revenue, are to be construed as applying themselves to the purposes of this Act.

INCLOSURES.

[12 Victoriæ, c. 7.—March 9th, 1849.]

An Act to authorize the inclosure of certain lands, in pursuance of the Fourth Annual General Report of the Inclosure Commissioners of England and Wales.

This is one of the annual Inclosure Acts of the session; it authorizes the inclosure of the commons of the following twenty-two places, arranged under their counties:

Brecknockshire-Cefn Ertham. Cheshire-Bickerton Hills, Chorley Green. Cumberland-Langwathby Moor. Devonshire-Black Torrington, Holster Yard. Dorsetshire-Buckland Newton. Hampshire -Abbot's Wood, Headley. Herefordshire-Cradley. Kent-Westwell Leacon. Lancashire-Cadishead Moss. Norfolk-Bramerton Common. Nottinghamshire-Mansfield Woodhouse Forest, Oxton. Oxfordshire-Cowley Open Fields, the Marsh, Bullingdon Green, and Elder Stubbs; Oatlands, Botley, and Osney; and Pyrton. Suffolk -Bell, Swan, and Silverlace Greens. Westmoreland-Firbank Fells. Yorkshire-Dent, Oakworth.

LARCENY ACTS AMENDMENT.

[12 Victoriæ, c. 11.-April 3d, 1849.]

An Act to amend the Laws in England and Ireland relative to Larceny and other Offences connected therewith.

After reciting the provisions of the Acts of the 7 and 8 Geo. IV., c. 29, and 9 Geo. IV., c. 55, § 1 declares that from May 1, 1849, the punishment of transportation is abolished in the case of simple farceny, but every person convicted of larceny to be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be otherwise punished as by the said Acts provided. Tenants and lodgers (§ 2) stealing from houses to the value of more than 51., and larceny (§ 3), after two previous summary convictions, to continue liable to the punishment of transportation. In indictments against persons twice convicted (§ 4) it shall be sufficient to state the fact, and certified copies of conviction are to be received as evidence.

PAUPERS MAINTAINED BY CONTRACT.

[12 Victoriæ, c. 13.-May 11th, 1849.]

An Act to provide a more effectual Regulation and Control over the Maintenance of Poor Persons in Houses not being the Workhouses of any Union or Parish.

The first section of this Act empowers the Poor Law Board "to make and issue all such rules, orders, and regulations for the management and government of any house or establishment wherein any poor person shall be lodged, boarded, or maintained, for hire or remuneration, under any contract or agreement entered into by the proprietor, manager, or superintendent of such house or establishment, or on his behalf, with any guardians, overseers, or other persons having the ordering or management of the poor in any union or parish, or for the education of any poor children therein, in like manner and to the same extent as the said Commissioners are by law empowered to do in the case of any workhouse belonging to any union or parish; and all such rules, orders, and regulations, shall have the like effect as other rules, orders, and regulations, of the said Commissioners, and shall be obeyed accordingly, with the like penalties on any neglect or disobedience thereof, to be enforced upon summary conviction, as penalties under the 4 and 5 William IV. c. 76." Lunatic asylums, hospitals, schools, and other institutions supported by public subscriptions are exempted by § 2.

By § 3 they are empowered to direct their rules to the managers of such houses, and by § 4, on finding just cause, they may forbid the reception or retention of any poor in such house, and after giving notice in writing no guardian or overseer is to send any poor person to such house. The Poor Law Commissioners may also (§ 5) remove or dismiss any officer employed in such house whom they may deem unfit or incompetent to perform his duties, and (§ 6) they may regulate the mode in which any contract shall have been made for the lodging, board, or maintenance, of the poor in such house. Section 7 empowers them to appoint a person, either temporarily or permanently, to inspect houses or establishments used for the reception and maintenance of such poor persons, to be paid by the guardians or overseers of the several unions from which such poor persons shall have been sent; any justice of the peace also (§8) has power to inspect such houses whenever he pleases, and the General Board of Health may authorize a superintending inspector to visit any such houses, examine its state and condition, and report thereon to the Board.

Sections 9, 10, and 11, are the interpretation clauses confining the Act to England and Wales, and empowering an alteration during the session, if necessary.

POOR LAWS, IRELAND (RATE IN AID).

[12 Victoriæ, c. 24.-May 24th, 1849.]

An Act to make provision until the 31st of December, 1850, for a General Rate in Aid of certain distressed Unions and Electoral Di visions in Ireland.

The first section of this Act declares that it is expedient for a limited time to make further provision for the relief of the destitute