The Express. — London, England, 1852-03-09 00:00:00

ghe erairefso. A 911111111 Adidas ;1 — .71; Uprea.." — ;;;laldaa '... tie are earaines Wit', pabildhed every 'Noisy add YAW Wed, la taw In :sid Me Zaproa." Lauda& Avesta( paw, gaud be at tar Oft% 10. liaavaramartat. b y Two 'West an Qs day dr pabilaatisa. MGR WATER A? LONDON DEMON !NU Ore—Alfdag. 414 lie. —....Aftersara, 40. Um. toasaaama—Marakag. u ihm..........atismosa. LONDON, TUESDAY; MARCH 9. Tin statement of the Pattie. MINNTER, that, in his present opieimi,eorn, when imported, ought to be tared, and his farmer conduct when he helped to levy an income-tax in order to lessen Customs du ties, are so much at variance with each other that wo are driven to believe that his mind on the subject of taxation is a mere chaos. Other stateamen, and not a few public writers, arc equally at fault. Tax• atiun is subject apparently to no rules : it may be anything that a minister imagines will bring as much money u he desires to waste under his control; and, totally distinct from all the works of nature and all the products of art, has no rules but the caprice of statesmen. Hence our system of taxation is a great jumble of direct and indirect taxation, and sometimes the one branch is indignantly curtailed, as by abolishing a window-tax, and at other times the other branch his something lopped utf by abolishing a wool duty. In this chaos, however. there is one principle which, kept steadily in view, will guide us correctly through many difficulties. Whatever may be the form of a building, if the principle of gravity be carefully attended to in putting together all its materials, it will last for ages; and what gravity is to a building the principle that every tax should take as small a sum as possible from the people be yond the suns it brings into the public treasury is to taxation. Accordingly, if ono tax levies 1201. on the people, and nets only NM to the Treasury, and if another yields 100/. to the Treasury, and only takes 101!, from the people, we may be quite sure that the latter is in all respects,—as freer from restriction and corruption,—the preferable tax. There is no more discord, in fact, in the principles of taxation than in the principles of building, and a tax which costs 11l per cent. more than another is es injurious to a state as a beam which, by its weight, helps as a lever to tumble a building to the ground. The whole of human existence would not suffice duly to consider all the possible contingencies which the imagineion can conjure up. and man would stand uncertain and bewildered if he might not follow with full reliance every path to its end which begins in truth. righteousness, and justice. Now, the direct taxation which Lord DEBBY helped to establish in 1812, though it is not well organised, is levied, according to the Finance Accounts for 18.10, class 1, No. 1, at the rate of 31. 3s. 33d. per cent., while the Customs duties, which Lord DERBY now proposes to extend, cost 51. 15s. 80. per cent. Stamps cost still less to collect than the assessed and income taxes, according to the Treasury account only ill. :6. 71d. per cent : but that does not express the whole cost of levying stamp duties to the people; while tho 3/. 3s. 3 . 1 d. does, or at least might, express the whole cost of levying the E rect taxes. Every 1004 then, gathered by the Customs costs the people 105/. IJs. Nil, ac cording to the statement of the Treasure, while every 100/. collected by the income and . assessed taxes costs only 1031. 3s. 31d. But the net Customs duties amount to 20,442,1704 while the net amount of the assessed and income taxes is only 9,743,215/. Before the income-tax was imposed, when the Customs duties were levied at a charge of 5/.134.5d. per cent., it cost .d. 10s. 3d. per cent. to levy 4,800,0004 of assessed taxes. Though the amount was more than doubled by the income-tax, the cost of collection was only increased from 308,529/. to 321,4231. It is clear that double the present amount of direct taxes, or even ten times the amount, could be raised without any considerable increase of the cost of collection. Wo must consider, therefore, that the cost of collecting an amount of direct taxes twice as great as at present would not exceed the present cost, and the real difference in the cost at which each 1001. of the cusbms and 100/. of the direct taxes might be levied, supposing the sum levied by both species of taxation were equal, is about 44 4s. per cont. Twenty millions of direct taxes levied at the pre sent cost of levying ten millions would be 11. 11x. per cent., which deducted from .1/. las. leaves 4/. 4s. as the difference. As the taxes are now imperfectly organised, the people pay 21. 12s. Id. to collect 1004 by the Customs more than they pay to collect 1001. by direct taxes. Taking, however, only the present otBcial difference, which gives but a faint and feeble image of tho reality, if the amount now levied by Customs and Excise duties, 38,000,0004, were levied by direct taxation, the public would save at least 990,0001. per annum. That sum would enable the state, without in any degree lessening the efficienty of its services, to abolish the paper duties or the soap duties. What an immense advantage would accrue from liberating either of these branches of industry from the Excise we need not now stop to state : but that immense advantage might be gained by merely substituting direct for indirect taxation without losing a sixpence of revenue. In fact, however, the official statement gives a very imperfect account of the national loss caused by indirect taxation. We are indebted to the Liver pool Financial Reform Association for a complete account of the cost of levying the tea duties, from which we rosy infer the general cost of levying Customs duties. The result of its calculations, which will be found in a tract recently published by that praiseworthy body, is that the tea duty, which yields 5,273,8301. to the Exchequer, actually takes from the public 7,521,7984; or it costs to collect 5.273,8304, no Ices than 2,247,9684, or upwards of 50 per cent. The tea duties arc levied as cheaply, and cause as little embarrassment to trade, as any Customs duties. We may therefore affirm of all Customs duties that, like the tea duties, they actually cost 50 per cent. to levy them, or take one third more out of the pockets of the people than they yield to the Exchequer. Yet this wantonly wasteful plan of taxation is to be extended by Lord DERRY, if the enlightened public will permit him, and the plan which he unwittingly supported in 1842, of sub stituting direct for indirect taxation, is to be over turned. Them is a surplus revenue, and Lord DEIST, not requiring any additional funds, can only eentemplate the extension of the duties as corn es a better means than the present of levying the necessary revenue, not as a means of increasing it. He must contemp late, therefore, abolishing some other taxes in lieu of the new taxes he is to impose on food. Ile is to have a new system of finance, let us try to sketch an outline of its extent. The lowest rate of duty which would satisfy the protectionists may be assumed to be 7a per quarter for wheat, and in proportion for oats and barley, and 4s. for peas, beans, Indian corn, &c. Now, there were imported last year 5,0444,914 quarters of wheat and Boar, which at 7s. per quarter would yield a revenue of 2,045,730/.; of barley, oats, and rye together, 2,070,500 qrs., which, at a duty of 6e, would yield 617,6401.; and 2,142,807 qrs. of peas, beans, Indian coni, &c., which, at a duty of 4s.,would yield 428,661/. Altogether, without including taxes on seeds, pota toes, cattle, &c., which must be imposed if the rela tive advantages of the different species of cultivation are not to bo deranged, and the whole agriculture of the nation thrown into confusion, the matter would stand thus : iiiiitataTsti Boar. ... 6,844,944 qrs. at 76. C 2,048,730 Barley aad oats .... 2,070,660 qn. at as. 617,640 Peas and beans .... 2,142,807 qn. at 40. 428,661 Total Now, uwe may assume that the 480,000/. now raised by the Is. duty on wheat, &c.. would be ba lanced by the duties on seeds, &c., we may conclude that Lord DERBY would raise at least 3,000,0001. annuallysby a new species of indirect taxation. Ile might possibly contemplate, with such a sum in his. possession, the abolition of the malt duties; but as that tax, with duties on foreign corn, would then all fall into the pockets of the landlords, such a scheme would never be sanctioned by the intelligent public to whom the noble lord is to defer. Of course, ho would not abolish other Customs duties ; he would therefore be obliged to fall back on some direct taxes, and probably would gratify the opulent classes, not by modifying, but by repealing, the property and Immo tax. Thoa ha would aabstitete a tax 001. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 9, 1852. lectcd at the rate of 61.16.. 81d. per cent. fee one collected at the rate of 94 3e. 31d. i a tax nearly certain in its amount foe one vary ing to amount with the seasons, and falling heavily in proportion as the harvest was deficient and the country not prosperous 1 a tax, taking as much or more per head from the very poorest man as from the very richest ; a tax which it is not safe for the state to rely on, and which when most wanted might be from stern necessity resigned. Looking at Lord DERBY'S announced scheme, therefore, solely as a means of raising a revenue, dis carding for the present all consideration of the effects of duties on corn to limit the supply of food, and to starve some portion of the community—discarding, too, all consideration of their monstrous injustice as' well as cruelty—a wilder and more mischievous plan could not be ptoposed. Indirect taxes of any kind are only tolerated because they exist, and were they now to be inflicted they would cause such a derangement that society could scarcely outlive it. Business has gradually modelled itself to the restrictions of indirect taxation, but Lord WADY proposes new duties and new restrictions— proposes to interrupt and derange the whole foreign trade of the country, aye, and the agricultural too, now fast settling iuto prosperity—and proposes to do that which has only become bearable because society has grown into it. Ever since 1523 the tendency has been to repeal, lighten, or abolish custom-house duties; Lord Merle, once the Hotspur of politicians, is to reverse that course, and make society go back on its steps. lie is to extend and sharpen Customs duties by levying them on food, of which even Lord LivrapooL was ashamed before he died. Against Lord Dituir's proceedings science is arrayed as well as feeling and justice, and he will not find the people such slaves as the Germans and the French, though he aspires in his way to bo a SCIIWARZENBERG, a MANIEUFFEL, or a Louts NAPOLEON. FRANCE. (BY SUIIMAItEkiI: TELEGRAPII.) PARIS, TCISDAT MORNING, 8 o'CLoci. /4.lault, Deputy, is named President of the Legislative body. PARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The most salient feature of to-day's news, if I ex cept perhaps the complete silence of the official part of the Moniteur, is the visible preparation of the public mind, by semi-official organs for the proclama tion of the empire. With this view M. Amedie de Comm has penned an article in the Public, of which he is editor in chief, and which has absorbed . the Jfuniteur Parisien. At the end of this ominous composition ho informs his readers that " the en thusiasm of the people makes it the duty of Louis Napoleon to conquer by the acts of his presidency a place between Louis XIV. and the Emperor Napo leon I." The numeric adjunct to the emperor's name is noticed as tho more significant, as M. do Cesena has been, since Dec. 2, what M. Grimier de Caasag pax was before that epoch, the prophetic herald of the Prince President's decrees. In connection with this demonstration I invite your attention to the first of a series of banquets to be given for the inauguration of Louis Napoleon's bust in the 38,000 communes of France. I leave von to compute the expense of this enormous multiplication of the President's features in marble, which has been imposed upon the muni cipalities of France. But if the idea originated with the lady-sculptor who has procured the lucrative monopoly of issuing such an extensive edition of her own work, she deserves credit, if not a fortune, for the ingenuity with which she has contrived to tax Franco for the benefit of her own pocket and the glory of Louis Napoleon. The present ceremony took place at Sonnets, in the Seine-et-Oise, and was followed by a banquet, at which several patriotic toasts were drunk. M. L. Couture des Troismonts proposed the "Bonaparte Family" in an eloquent speech, in the course of which he said : The august ceremony which now unites us will, in the course of a few months, be reproduced in every one of our 38,000 communes of France. It is, then, important that we should not mistake its veritable character. Wherever it may be celebrated, you will bear the seven million and a half suffrages which have maintained our beloved prince ' at the head of the state, constantly spoken of ; but von will, perhaps, not fiod it noticed that that is for the fifth time in fifty years that the people have personified their sovereignty in the Bonaparte family. Gentlemen, we should only judge of the surface of things if we were not to see that the true force of Louis Napoleon, that which is destined to hut, is less in the number of " Yes," which were deposited in the urn Oh the .oth December, than in the five Napoleonian elections which, at a distance of fifty years, have found the sons in accord with their fathers. Velum, gentlemen, we see su•b a fact--when on five different occasions the same family has been invested with the mission of governing the state, we should be blind, indeed, not to perceive in it the manifestation ors new political law—the establishment of a new tradition and a new legitimacy. In other words we are told that since the uncle was chosen three times and the nephew twice by the suffrages of France, the Napoleontan dynasty may now be considered as legitimately established. Thus the inauguration of the bust is seized as the fitting occasion to prepare the public mind throughout France for the usurpation of the imperial sceptre. Meanwhile the health of the Prince-President is given out by La I}anee Napoleonienne as offering no further motive for alarm. On Saturday ho got up early, worked with the council of ministers, had a long interview with Dr. Vents, and drove out after wards. Yesterday ho was present at a steeple-chase at Ville.d'Avray, and afterwards attended a grand banquet, at which the Council of State assembled in their new liveries. The Sleek says that several Swiss staff officers have received orders from the Swiss government to return to their country. Of the two elections which remained to be known, that of Milhau (Aveyron) has been decided in favour of the government. M. Kolb Bernard, the candidate of the uidependent conaervtives at Lille, has retired from the contest " in the interest of conciliation and pacification, thus leaving a free field for the election of the government candidate, M. Itichebe. It is said that the session of the Corps Legislatif and Senate will be opened by the Prince-President in person, at the Tuileries. As I previously stated, the budget will bo pro mulgated by decree before the convocation of these bodies. It is pretended that the expiration of the delay for the collection of the provisional taxes neces sitates this usurpation of the chief office of the leOlature. Last night at half-past eleven a large body of po litical prisoners, destined for transportation, were es corted by detachments of lancers and gendarmerie mobile from the Fort d'lvry in several vans with their baggage to the terminus of the Havre Railway. On arriving at Havre these unfortunate victims of the coup tend will be embarked for the penal colony of Lambesea, in Algeria. Notwithstanding the late twee of the hoar several spectators gathered about the Place de Havre, but, in the presence of the strong military force, they abstained from all demonstra tion. The standing rules for the organisation of the Senate, which, in the ordinary course of things, one would have looked for in the Moniteur, are published to-day in the Debate. Theare signed by Marshal Prince Jerome Bonaparte, President of the Senate. The principal points have been borrowed from the regulations of the old Chamber of Peers. They define the duties and powers of the grand re fcrendary (now General Hautpoul), which are under the authority of the president of the Senate,lto watch over the safety of the Senate, to direct the police of the palace, the gardens, and the dependencies; to prepare plans and estimates relative to the repair of buildings and the undertaking of new works found to be necessary; to prepare the budgets, and to give directions touching all expences; to supervise the treasurer and all other accounting officers; to ex amine vouchers, register the decrees of the President of the Republic, granting dotations to senators; to deliver certificates of identity and passports, and to regulate ceremonies. The chaplain, architect, libra rian, military commandant, director of the adminis. tration, apd chief usher of the Senate, arc all placed under his direction. The rides also define the duties of the secretaries and other officers. No ono can hold office under the Senate who is not a born or naturalised Frenchman, if he is not of age, or if he is more than 70. After the installation of the Senate every candidate for an office will be subjected to an examination, to ascertain his fitness. The state mes sengers arc to be chosen in preference from superior officers on the retired list, who have been deco rated, and for all the other pests officers of different ranks ; retired non-commissioned officers and privates will also have a preference. No officer of the Senate can be dismissed without a re- port iron the head of his. department and two other oilman appointed to examine him by the preddent et the Senate. It is said that most of the functionaries and inferior employes of the old Chamber of Peers have already received appointments in the Senate. The minister of state is about to issue regulations relating to the Corps Leeslatif: The Dana. states, perhaps somewhat maliciously, that the budget of the Senate will not exceed that of the Chamber of Peers. Indeed, there is no reason to suppose that any branch of the present government will be want ing in dignity, so far as regards expenditure of pub lic money. Tho Assemble. Nationale continues to agitate the Stria question, and to advocate French intervention. It to-day revives the question about the hospitals of St. Bernard and the Simplon, concerning which ne gotiations were going on when the revolution of 1848 Make out. It alleges that the Swiss government is even now selling some of the lands of the hos pitals, which France, as the protectress and be nofactreas of the hospitals, has a right to prevent them doing. There is again but little change to notice in the state of commerce. In Paris business is completely stagnant. Whatever activity exists seems to be con centrated in the manufacturing districts, and in some few country markets. Within the last day or two some people fancy they have observed a greater dis position to buy among foreign agents. But the movement is too slight to be considered as evidence that the dead season, this year unusually protracted, is over. Large orders for exportation generally begin to come in in March, and they are looked for with great anxiety by the manufacturers. The Ex hibition of London tended to retard these orders last year, but this year there is no such cause for pre venting foreigners from coming to France to make their purchases. The reduction of the Bank's rate of discount has been favourably . received by the trading community. It is obvious that if the I rise in the funds the natural consequence of such a measure should continue, capital 1 will flow from the Bourse in search of investments in commercial and manufacturing en terprises which may produce a better interest. Itouen and Mulhouse articles have during the last week im• proved in demand; and the wholesale dealers in calicoes and stuffs have effected some considerable sales. The advice, from Lyons and St. Etienne are pretty favourable, and business generally is rather brisk. Corn has experienced a fresh fall in almost all tho markets of Europe, but speculators do not think that the fall will last. They are now looking with interest towards the German territory, the real state of whose wants will perhaps regulate the prices here for many months to come. Thu decision of the King of Prussia to suppress import duties upon corn and vegetables until August next is considered as an indication that the very large exports that have already been made from France to the banks of the Rhine have been insufficient to produce abundance in the markets of those districts. Colonial pro; duce in our markets, as in most of the fo reign ones, continues as dull as it has been for se veral months past. There was a considerable rise in cotton at Havre in the middle of the week, owing to exaggerated telegraphic advice' of the rise in America; but letters from the United States having corrected this intelligence, and announced that ten more vessels had been freighted for Havre, the move ment was stopped. Business has not been very active in wines. The recent cold weather has had an excel lent effect in checking the too early growth of the plants. This favourable prospect has hail the effect of inducing some growers to offer their stock of 1850, which is not a favourite one, at a reduction. There has been a fall of as much as 10fr. in 3-6 brandy, owing to the over-speculation to which alluded last week. It is reported in soveral quarters that M. Clutase loop Loubat will be the president of tho Corps Le- At the Bourse the Fires rose 5c., closing at 103.50 ex div.; the Threes rose 30e., and closed at 68.90. Bank of Franco Shares fell .sc. Railways were higher; Versailles (left bank) rose 10fr. SWITZERLAND. The Independanee of Berne states that tho dif ficulties between the French government and the Swiss confederation have been arranged for the present. The Secretary of the French Legation at Berne has arrived in Parts. The government of the United States of America has resolved to accredit, for the first time, a perma nent chargé d'affaires to the Swiss confederation. In Switzerland this act of a . powerful government of decided non-intervention principles gives the liveliest satisfaction. The federal council has resolved to send to America a piece of granite from the valley of Ilablern, near Interlacken, to form a part of the intended monument to Washington. The Revue de Gnsew says: Paha ' is deeply excited at the present moment, in by the rumours of menaces directed against . AU the journals have taken up the subject. The Mew has given currency to an exaggerated version, whisk kr the moment produced • great effect. It an asuesal that the Nob& division formed at Lyons was des , limed MMsw tks_maidesis of Geneva and Vaud, while Aside ire/ immikimemmely to occupy that of Ticino. We bon *lady auessatly stated the facts. Up to the present many* tks Pnash government has acted alone, and all seems to WWI, that its demands receive but small sup port from ether powers. The Imo Journal of tho Bth inst. says : Tbo mikes owed Wen Oingress in support of the pro posal to soma ea mberaerbse to Switzerland are u fol lows:—Switzerland boo been die imt souros of all liberty, and is the only republie ezielioals &rope. In 1848 she poet herself a eonstitutioa similar to tbst of Amok& Ala am bassador repreeen • the United Salm adB be • wane of Emit help to the an refugees tron orprolos ; and, lastly, the commercial relations of the two eonnlelse reader this measure necessary. BELGIUM, In the sitting of the Belgian chamber of the sth, the Deputy I who had just arrived from Luxembourg, asked permission to state what ho had observed on his journey. Pauperism and desolation had there attained to a degree unknown, even in Flanders at the worst epochs. The total loft of the potato crops, the high price of grain, and want of employment were to probes this desperate state of things. M. Plano n asked what measures the government bad tam or propowd to take to ameliorate the' situation d the *dam M. Ro gier, the Minister of the Intriisn mid tbat he well knew the depth of the distmospondling banns. bourg, and had sent thither a snia r saphgli of dm administration to collect facts. lie atadd see that the budget of public works sot wan to give employment to the working dunes. lbaboold probably ask asupplementary credit for thiamine. At the close of this discussion the Charator vorrived itself into a secret committee to oansider tire tsenlyof navigation concluded with England. Upon *Amu resuming for a division, the treaty was adoptod oita nimonsly. The report of M. Van lipegbris en this treaty has been published, and is spokes of as a valuable and most able document. The anther do• Glares that now that the additional protocol Iwo beat added no objection can be raised against the treaty, which must prove advantageous to both the contract les. wg says that MM. Odilon Barrot and Berryer will go to Brussels to defend the Bea ktin Francais. M. Montalembert has arrived in the Belgian capital. DENMARK. Advices from Copenhagen of the sth, represent the prorogation of the chambers as a very probable event, the ministers meeting with considerable opposition from the advanced party, which has tho majority there. The prorogation, it is said, will extend to next June, in which month the ministry intends to propose important modifications in the consti tution. In the sitting of tho Volksthing, on the Ist inst., M. liarfod inquired of the ministry whe ther it had come to any arrangement with the Ger man commissioners respecting the frontier; also, whether it did not mean to allow tho Danish popu lations of Schleswig and Holstein to vote at the next election for representatives at the National Legisla ture; and, thirdly, whether the government supposed that it possessed the right to make over Holstein to Germany without the consent of that chamber P The minister was to reply at the next sitting. GERMANY. On the 2nd inst., in reply to a question pat by a member of the Second Saxon Chamber, the Minister Benet made the following statement on the subject of the Zollverein : My honourable friend is aware that the government of Prussia concluded a customs' treaty with Hanover in Sep. 1 tember last. As the other states of the Zollverein had no opportunity of becoming parties to this treaty, the government of Prussia found itself compelled to ter :Masts the present Zollverein, as its obligations to wards the states composing that union and towards Hanover would otherwise come into conflict. In giving the required notice, the Prussian government at the same time informed us of its intention to appoint a conference of all the Zollverein governments, with a view to renew the union and its treaties. It oleo promised that full par ticulars should be forwarded to us of the propositions which it intended to make at such conference, and re quested that we would inform it of our opinion concern ing the most convenient time for holding the ineetina. Wo replied that for our parts we deeply lamented the notice ter minating the present union, but that we cherished at the same time the hope that it would be re-established, that n e were ready to co-operate for that purpose, and that we should see with pleasure the meeting of the conference not later than February 1. Wu added, that as it was necessary to give our representative the fullest instructions, we should be glad to know the character of the propositions to be made as soon as possible. Since that time we have not heard anything from the Prussian government concerning the measures to be proposed at the conference—tot so flinch as the day of its meeting. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, MARCU 3. A telegraphic despatch, dated Verona, March 1, at midnight, informs us of the arrival of the Emperor at that fortress. Ile left Venice at 7 o'clock by special train, and was received at Verona by Marshal ltadetzky, who had left Venice six hours before his master for that purpose. The despatch states that his Majesty was received with acclamations of wel come at Verona,as wellas at Vicenza and Padua, by which ho pawed. This year, at least, Lord Derby will hardly find it necessary to restore the protective duties on foreign corn, since we are more likely to be importers than ex porters for some time. Troubles and bad government seem to have deprived humble men of all heart or energy. They have left their fields uncultivated for miles, lest the rude hands of some hateful soldiery should seize or destroy the fruits of their labour. The consequence of this is something very like a famine in many parts of Europe. The accounts from Poland are most disheartening. In the Qtrpathians people are literally starving. (here is no bread at all. 'Me inhabitants are said to be living on a soup of some kind, which they call " reit kamuka," a compound of fat and milk ; or they cook a sort of thick oaten pap, something in appearance like the Italian pnlenta—this they call " kulasha," and eat it in the place of bread. As in all times of great want crime and dissipation of all kinds come to swell the list of horrors, it Is not surprising to learn that something very like anarchy is raging in the districts most affected by the famine. The men, callous and desperate, get at the fiery Branntwein of the country, and murders and robberies of the weak and defenceless naturally succeed. Tho go vernment, we are pompously informed, have made the most strenuous efforts to discover Dome means of alleviating this terrible plague, and no doubt can be entertained that they have done so. But it is their perpetual paternal meddling which has mainly helped to bring it about. They will not leave people alone. Not content with compelling the corn grower to receive doubtful paper for the produce of his fields, they will not even allow prices to find their natural and healthy level; and the result of this melancholy mistake is, that the country is plunged into poverty and despair. NASSAU. We find the followinf appeal by the Duchess of Nassau, on thesubjectot the famine in the Wiesbaden journals of the .sth inst.: Moved by the extreme distress which now afflicts so many parts of our duchy, I appeal to all noble hearts, and par- Unduly to the women of our land, to co-operate with me in taking measures fur rendering help to the starving peo ple. Every effort, every gift, however small, will further our object. I expect to receive a degree of support which will prove a blessing to the sufferers, and doubt not that the benevolent disposition of the inhabitants, which has so often manifested itself, will understand and adopt every wish. ADELAIDI DUCHESS or NASSAU. Wiesbaden, March, 1842. HESSE-DARMSTADT. In consideration of the high price of potatoes, con nivently with the general dearth of provisions, the government of the (;rand Duchy of }fosse has for bidden the consumption of potatoes in the distillation of spirits. AMERICA. The following is from oar Now York corre spondent: • NEW YORK, FEB. 25. Since my last we have had some very interesting news from Chili. Our dates aro to the 26th De cember. The following aro extracts front letters published in this city, and I give them to you as I find them : In the latter put of July last, Cruz left the capital and embarked at Valparaiso, for Talcahuana. Upon his arrival in Talcahuano, he proceeded to Conception, where he ad dressed the people from the portico of his own house, telling them that the day was nigh at hand when they should be free. He then retired to his own estate, and all was quiet until the appointed day arrived. The revolutionary party then set about raising an army, and in less than six weeks Crus had about five thousand men in the field. The go vernment at this time was busily employed keeping pos session of Sant ago and Valparaiso, and strengthening their forces at Coquimbo and also raising an army to quell the rebellion in the s outh. The two hostile armies met on the fertile plains of Longa mille, lying between the riven Nubla and Monis, when one of the meet sanguinary battles known in modern warfare was fought. We have, as yet, no detailed °facial account of the engagement; but eye-witnesses report the fighting to have been desperate and daring in the extreme, leaving on the field 4,000 men killed and wounded, out of a combined force of 9,000 strong. One entire reKiment is said to have been cut to pieces —not a man surviving the fight. This slaughter wee mostly effected at the point of the bayonet. From the beet information we have, the loss on both aides gems to have been nearly equal ; but General Crue, after maintaining his position for ten hours, retreated a short distance, leaving the government force in possession of the field, and claiming the victory. Satisfied with one day of carnage and death, the belligerent generals afterwards entered on the more sensible and agree able employment of negotiating for peace, which ended in concessions and compromise, granting, it is said, to the re- ' volutionists, all daisy dammaded nearly—restoring Cruz to his rank and is the army and thus for the present at least dm sword and ' terminating this domestic quarrel. no dottilo of the compromise have not yet been mode knows to He die, but probably will be as soon as it la rolls& by dmpxaidevt at Santiago. News of the emseies et besellides wee greeted here by all the lovers of law owl order whit much rejoicing, and celebrated by Me -1 minaliono. meek te. Commodore 14 , Cauly and hie squadron lave ben active and efficient in affording all ne cessary protection and safety to American citizens and pro pert, on this coast daring these times of exciting danger. Kossuth is still in the west, and is said to be in the receipt of at least ono thousand dollars daily to wards the Hungarian funds. He still maintains his position in favour of intervention, but he will not be supported by the government, no matter what may be resolved either at public meetings or by local legislatures. Al a remarkable circumstance, we must Notice that the birthday of Washington has been celebrated throughout the country with more than usual respect, and this is to be attributed entirely to the feeling that this country's safety and prosperity are absolutely dependent on tho observance of his wise policy. I believe we shall adhere to it in spite of all temptation, except when England finds herself alone, in • battle with European despotism. When that day shall arrive, we shall intervene, but not before. Kossuth, at the last dates, was at Covington, in Kentucky. Mr. Webster received the visits of the citizens yesterday at the City Hall, and presides to-night at a meeting to be held in honour of the memory of I Cooper, the novelist. Kinkel reached the city yesterday, and addressed a large meeting of his countrymen in favour of the national loan by which Germany is to be regene rated. He is about returning to Europe, with some thousands of dollars, obtained by subscription. SOUTH AMERICA. Advioes from Buenos Ayres to the 7th Jan. havo reached liavro by tho Bias, Captain Hillard. They announce that it was rumoured that the advanced guard of tho army of Hoses had abandoned him, and that Urquiza was only at a distance of from 40 to 50 leagues from the capital. THE FIGHTING AT RANGOON. DZSC/1131D IT AN EYE WITXIIIIII. The following letter, from a correspondent writing from Rangoon River on the 13th of January last, fur nishes a succinct and graphic account of the chief events of the recent collision between our naval squad ron at Rangoon and tho Burmese, and of the cir cumstances which gave rise to the hostilities. " About sunset on the 9th inst. the Phlegethon re turned with Fox's launch in tow, after having con veyed some of the merchant ships down past the stockades, which they were allowed to pass without the threat of yesterday being put into execution. There were numbers of men, however, at the stock ades, who were seen to be employed mounting guns, and they nro now being hourly reinforced by very considerable parties that go down past us in largo canoes, who carry with them both guns and mus ketry. The largest of these boats that 'passed down displayed a broad red flag, which the Burmese never use except in defiance. " The Governor of Rangoon in his communication with the Governor-General, through the Commodore, lays the whole blame of the present condition of affairs on the Commodore in a very specious but flimsy account, - or resume, of all that has taken place. lie begins by stating that differences having arisen between the English and the Governor of Rangoon, in consequence of the latter's ill treatment of some of their subjects, representations were made to tho court of Ava, which weto immediately at tended to; and that the request of the Governor- General, that the Governor of Rangoon should be removed, was attended to. That he, the Governor of Promo, was sent down by the King of Ara as Governor of Rangoon also, in which latter place lie was to hold his residence; that ho was supplied with power sufficient to bring affairs to an issue ; and that on his arrival, ho had every wish that the issue should be amicable. That the second day after his arrival at Rangoon it was his intention to have sent for the Commodore, so as to settle matters at once, but that on the day in question a man (Edwards, the interpreter) called to say that tho Commodore meant to send him a depu tation, which was the very thing that ho (the go vernor) did not desire, as in consequence of the inter ference of a third party he was apprehensive that misunderstandings might arise, and so the amicable intentions of the court of Ave be frustrated ; that on the same day four subordinate officers did arrive at his house in a state of intoxication, whom he could not see, and that thus the unhappy malt that he bad feared had arisen out of tho extremely injudi cious conduct of the Commodore. This statement was accompanied by a message to Commodore Lam bert, intimating that if the Royal ships were taken further down the river, they would be tired on from the stockades. Aa all the ships were to leave Ran goon on the following day, the programme was as follows :—At i a m.,11.N1.5. Hermes was to take the Fox in tow down the river, opposite the stockades, where she was to leave her at anchor, and then re turn for the Burmese ship, which she was to tow right down to nearly the mouth of the river, and then return for the Fox, that would most likely begin to move down after the Ilermes had passed with the prize in tow, so that the Phlegethon with armed boats from the Fox and Hermes, should remain with the rest of the merchant shipping until they were out of danger. From the very great interest which the captain of the King's ship has excited, it may be suspected that her recovery is a life and death affair with the governor, who has informed his soldiers that unless they recover her, they will have to account for her loss with their heads. No doubt the governor feels apprehensive about tho consequences of her loss, as she constituted the entire navy of the King of Ave, who may dic tate to him the same terms as ho does to his soldiers. " At daylight on the following morning (10th) the Hermes had her steam up, and had already begun to tow the Fox down to the first stockades that are on the left bank, and about four miles below the place where she had anchored the night before. These stockades, which lie close to the river, are about fourteen feet high, and formed of vast piles of teak driven into the ground, close to each other, having intervals at their base for guns, and higher up wide embrasures, with platforms behind them, for musketry. Ono front runs along the river for about 500 yards, from the lower end of which another runs at right angles to it, following the course .of a deep creek or nullah that serves to protect it on that side. As the Hermes approached with the Fox the stockades were seen to be all alive, and every preparation had evidently been making for an attack. The ground before them had been cleared away of all the trees and shrubs that grew between them and the river, guns were already laid, numbers of men were seen moving about near them or looking out from the portholes, while at least a dozen large canoes, with about 200 men in each, were at the mouth of the creek, all ready and apparently eager to dash forward to the rescue of the royal ship under cover of the guns of the stockade the moment she appeared. Leaving the Fox at anchor opposite the stockades at Chokee-point, as these are called, the Hermes returned for the prize. " The river at this timepresented a most animated', appearance. First came a fleet of merchant vessels of every size ; brigs, barques, schooners, and ships of larger burden, all crowding down the river under the covering of the armed boats of the Fox, that pulled easily on their oars abreast of each other, and kept in the rear, as well to protect them from inter ference as to hurry the laggers on. Above these, and about two miles up, lay the royal ship at anchor, under protection of the l'hlegethon steamer, that kept moving round about her like some beast of prey round its victim, and as she kept every now and then puffing and screaming off her spare steam, she ap pearedto be either savagely growling over her spoil or hissing defiance to any enemy that would seek to rob her of it. By eight o'clock the Hermes had started with prize in tow, the Phlegethon following, and no two in any of the ships in the same mind as to whether the stockades would attack her or not. Everything was got ready for retuning it if they did. The drum was heard to beat to quarters, and the men were all seen to be standing by their loaded guns ready for action when the word should be given. About this time two boats were seen to leave the creek carrying some person of consequence, as was evident from the two gold umbrellas in the one that led the way, and it was thought that seeing the admirable arrangements of the Commo dore, those officers had been down with orders for the palisades not to fire. As the tido was ebbing fast, and the steamers were at full speed, they were not long in coming down the river. The first part of the stockades had been passed by the Hermes and her prize without any molestation ; the Fox was between them for a second or two, when it was remarked that not a sound was heard from her decks, for the usual stir and bustle of a large ship had been suc ceeded by a pause, and through her port-holes the men could be seen standing with the gun triggers in their hands. The Hermes had passed her, and was again in sight of the stockades. Still they were silent. No sooner, however, did the king's ship open to view than bang went a gun from the port, and a ball went whistling between the funnel and mainmast of the Hermes, and dropped outside of her. They had not to wait long for a reply ; for the Fox had beaten to quarters an hour before, and all her starboard Buns were already laid for the stockades. In an instant she opened upon them, and the clouds of dust both within and around the pallisades showed what execution she was doing. The Hermes, too, had her share of tho action; for instantly rounding to with her prize, she let drive with her tit. pounders at the palisades, within which some of her shells burst with terrific explosions, and then, according to orders, proceeded to put her charge in safety. About a mile further down there was another stockade occupying De Sylva's Point, on the side of the river opposite to the last. This one was of much greater extent, reaching for more than a quarter of a mile up and down the river ; and no sooner did the Hermes get abreast of it than it in stantly opened fire, forcing the steamer to heave to a second timo with her prize, which she did, and Ocean attack of about ten minutes, succeeded in silencing it, when she proceeded to put the Burmese ship in charge of her Majesty's steamer Serpent, so as to enable her to return to the stockades. On her way up, she stopped to engage the De Bylva's stock ades a second time, as they had commenced firing on some merchant vessels that were dropping down. A few dozen shells thrown right into the fort again silenced it, and tho Bermes proceeded to the first stockade. The iron shower from the Fox that had been sustained for above twenty minutes, had quite silenced the firing from the palisades, and she had already begun to drop down the river. Armed boats in company with the Phlegetlion now firing grape and canister up the creek, and destroying tho boats, which the Burmese lost not an instant in leav ing after the Fox's first broadside. Before the tiring they had shown the greatest eagerness to fight, hold ing their arms up in the bouts and shouting de fiance to the Fox, while they pointed to the guns of the stockade, which they no doubt thought would sink her. On ono occasion that morning thee. had even dashed out to attack the English barque Ararat, and which they were only prevented from doing by her suddenly coming to an anchor under the guns of the frigate. As the Fox floated slowly doun past tha second stockades she kept up a continued fire into tbeni, throwing shut and shell alternately with ad mirable precision, while the Hermes was employed discharging rockets right up the creek that flanked the first stockade. After the firing front the shore had been effectually silenced, all the ships dropped gradually down to the mouth of the river, where they kept arriving and anchoring til! a lute hour of the night. " The forts or stockades were manned by be tween 3,000 and 1,0(W) men, whom th e p resent governor had brought down with him front l'rome„ In the action they had killed and wounded between 200 and 300 men, according to their aerteint. No casualties occurred in any of the ships engaged. " It was evident the Burmese had never antiei pitted anything like the warm reception they met ' with. A report had been spread abroad by some of their people that had been on board that the guns were all made of wood, in the ready belief of which they were convinced by seeing two wooden muzzles or quakers, as they are called, in the cabin, where the Commodore received the various deputations. All 'they knew of ships was learned from the merchant ships that came to their ports, and they beingfrequently insufficiently found and manned, and only carrying some muskets, were not very likely to fill them with much apprehension about danger in attacki them. The second day after the fight, the governo rs inter preter (Moatpago) came down the river, no doubt to collect some information for his master about the movements of the ships of war. lie implied that the governor was quite ready to come to terms, amid there is no doubt but that the late defeat must have sub dued much of his arrogance. It is thought that ho will be afraid of the consequences to himself, if he report the real state of things to the King of Avg, and that, instead of doing so, he will boast of having driven the 'great captain' and his ships out of the river How he will account for the loss of his royal master's ship, it is hard to say. Meanwhile, Commander Lambert leaves this warning (13th) in her Majesty's steamer Hermes fur Calcutta, to ec. port in person the state of things to the Governor- General, who was expected at Calcutta on the lath inst. If the war is to ho prosecuted, very much may be done this year; indeed, with the number of steamers at command, if troops can be collected, terms might even be dictated in Ava before the com mencement of the rainy season, which is about the beginning of May. One thing is certain, no reliance can be placed on professions of Burmese good faith or sincerity, so without a force no concessions will ever be made to us." .Rangoon River, Jan. 13, 1852. VW Court. 0813ORNE, MONDAY. llcr Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Walei and the Princess Royal, atteaued by the lathe,' and gentlemen of the household, went to the morning service at Whip gingham Church yesterday. The Itcv. Mr. Protherat officiated. A deputation from the Corporation of London. consist ing of Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. Masterman, M.P., Mr. Deputy liarri , on, Mr. Deputy Bower, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Blake, the City Retnembrancer ' and Mr. Un ler- Sheriff Millard, had an interview with Mr. Secretary Walpole yesterday at the Home-office. The Oxford University Commission had a meeting yester- day at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing -street. Present—The Bishop of Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Muter of Pembroke, the Rev. H. 0. Liddell, J. L. Dampier, Esq., the Rev. G. 11. S. Johnson, and the Rey. A. P. Stanley (secretary). The Right lion. J. W. Henley, President of the Board of Trade, left town after the Cabinet Council yesterday afternoon, to attend his election. Lieut.-Colonel Trevor had an interview with Sir John Pakington yesterday at the Colonial-office. Mr. Parker, Mr. O. Moore, and Mr. J. Larchmere, all of Northampton, and Mr. A. H. Dymond, of London, had an interview with Mr. Secretary tValpole yesterday, at the Home-office, on behalf of Elizabeth Pinckard, now lying under sentence of death in Northampton County Gaol. Despatches were received from the Lord High Commis *loner of the lonian Wands, and from the Governor of the Falkland Islands, at the Colonial-uttice yesterday. , Despatches were sent (by the overland route) to the Go vernors of Hoag-Kong and Ceylon, and also to the Go- Vernon of Gibraltar and Malta. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office, Downing -street. The ministers present were the Earl of Derby, the Eurl of Lans dale, the Marquis of Salisbury, Mr. Secretary lVal. pole, the Earl of Nialtuesbury, Sir John Pakington s the Right lion. B. Disraeli, the Duke of Northum berland, the Right Hon. J. W. I lenley, the Earl of Hardwickc, the Right Hon. J. C. ilerries, and Lord John Manners. Tho council sat three boom ['AMY REPRESENTATION. The following tabular view of the numbers of the population and houses in the several counties, boroughs and towns of Great Britain returning members to parlia ment, according to the census of 1851, is made up from a return just presented to the Rouse of Commoan by the late government u explanatory of the system which their re form bill was intended to amend : Members Retuned, lahsbsted lyre Ibtal Male Comeriza. population. Bedford 59,533 Birka 81,381 Buck+ Cambridge 92,501 Chester, N. and & 221,268 Cornwa11, E. sad W.- Derby, N. and 8. 147,737 Devoe, N. and 8. 209,381 Dorset Durham, N. end 8. ....... Biers. N. and S. 163,190 Gloucester, E. and W 217,829 Hereford Iler.funl 93,61 Huntingdon 21,939 Kent, N. end O. bladder, N. and & 991,091 Leicester. N. and 8. [swots, N. and 8.. .... Middlesex Monmouth. 92,349 Norfolk, Si. and W. ... Northampton, N. end 8. Northumberland, N. & 8 149,434 Nottingham. N. and 8. 134/181 Oxford Rutland 14.901 Salop, N. and H. Somerret, E. and W. South 'opt= or limits, N end 8., including the Isle of Wight Snead, N. and & 5,9,900 Ouffo'l, P. not W. Ramey, E. and W. 329,917 Names, E. and W. 183,772 w.t. d W . erwlcha. and S. 99.09 Wilts, N. and 5..... Worcester, E. and W 130,938 York (the three riding.) Wales Obeli counties) 498,139 Scotland (32 counties) bouars. Co. Cit y Total 24,'03 3 2 4 33,27 , 4 s 33,23 J 3 8 11 37.(47 3 .1 0,160 4 6 10 47,987 4 10 14 24,763 4 3 11 34,171 4 2 11 118,387 4 18 22 16031 3 14 61,877 4 11 6 18 73,326 4 6 IS 66,271 4 11 13 33.890 3 4 7 32,70 3 4 7 13,313 2 2 4 107,744 4 14 18 340,939 4 22 26 4. 1 ,123 4 2 6 61,333 4 9 13 239,362 2 12 14 211,914 3 1 3 93,344 4 8 12 43,642 4 4 6 47,737 4 6 10 33,603 4 6 10 31,360 3 fa 9 4,3%8 3 2 41,648 4 1 , 12 43,034 4 9 13 75,215 6 14 11“,114 4 1 4 .9,295 4 5 105,422 4 7 65,663 4 14 96731 4 6 11,217 1 1 51,7:6 4 14 51,639 4 6 416,22 i 6 31 2 6 . 6 .457 13 14 311,605 30 24 The population and number of hon=es an the boroughs are also given as distinct from the counts,., but, hating al ready given this information a. intl.:ration of the inequali ties in the existing system of borough representation, we do not repeat it. • Including the Uniursity. DEATH OF LADY MARGARET MILBANK.— The demise of this accomplished lady took place in Eaton pleco yesterday morning, in her 27th year. She was the only daughter of the late Lord Grey of Gro!,y, and sister to the Earl of Stamford. Her ladyship married, 1817, Henry Milbank, Esq., by whom she has left an infant family. DEATH OF Du. KEATE.—ETON COLLEGE, '.lf trielf s.—The Rev. Dr. Keate expired this morning at his huuso in Hartley Wespall. In him Eton his lust the most dis tinguished of her scholars. During nearly a quarter of a century he guided the studies and preserved the disciplino of this school with unparalleled success. FIRE AT C.tßLlsLE.—About 4 o'clock on Sunday morning the extensive biscuit manufactory of Mr. William Slater, situate in the West Walls, Carlisle, was discovered to be on tire, and the whole has been destroyed, the walls only being left standing. The manufactory is insured for 5004 ; but it is understood that its destruction alono in volves a lass of at least 1,0001. '1 he building is also in sued.