The Express. — London, England, 1853-01-20 00:00:00

- - IHE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF TO Till IDITOIL 07 TNI =PRON. sis,—To the many memorabilia of 1832 may be a dded the fact that the Chapter of Rochester have s ignalised its close, .by augmenting stipends which, h h irring the diminution of one to three-eighths of its s ummit, and the discontinuance of another for three gnu of a century, had remained unaltered since 151.1. The details are these:—The four students are to have 301. 10s. each, instead of 61. ; the twenty whalers 16/. 13s. 44., instead of 21. 13s. 4d. ; t h e siz bedesmen 141. 13s. 4d., instead of 61. 1:1s. 4d.; and the preceitor and sacrist, 101. and 61. respectively, instead of 21. each, making a total increase of 4421. a year. Excepting the four s t u dents (and perhaps to two of them) the augmen tations were actually paid last Christmas; the bedesmen further receiving the re-payment of 15s. each, previously deducted on account of their cloaks. To appreciate all this it must be remembered that f o r 60 years 401. a year was paid to the cathedral D o mes, instead of the bedesmen, although, indeed, Pr. Lushington suggested that the Chapter would not have benefited thereby if it had not been 40i., but 4,0001. a year. Moreover, the average income of each canon for seven years before 1849 has been proved to have been not 6801., but about I.OOO L a year. However, a substantial beginning has been made; privileges have been partially con ceded, which the Bishop said " had been in abeyant* for 300 years, if they ever existed ;" and although justice hue not yet been done, nor the statutes as yet fulfilled, enough has, I think, been granted, to re lease me from the obligation of going to Chancery to ascertain the amount to which every member of the cathedral is entitled. Considering also the pledge which has been given for Cathedral Reform by the commission of the late government, and the prospect of legislation thereupon under the pro sent, I think that there are additional reasons against a Chancery suit between the Chapter and my self: Still, there are observations in their recent letter, and in the Bishop's judgment, which I wish to notice, premising that they had previously ad dressed la o other letters to his lordship, bearing date respectively, June 29, and Oct. 29, 1849. Well, in their last letter they "earnestly request to be informed what are the statutes which have not been carried into strict execution." Now, after the Bishop's caution, I will not here republish my charges, but I may, of course, defend his judgment, and state, that, out of thirty-nine, there are at least a dozeu "not strictly executed," an answer which his lordship may safely return to the Chapter, though 1 could not so readily assist him, if he were requested to inform them what statutes have been "strictly executed." However, in 1849, they drew a very different conclusion, from the fact of the Bishop haviug sent me to Chancery. From this, said they, " we are perhaps entitled to infer that your lordship did not appreheud us to have been guilty . of any violation of our statntable duties, since an infringe ment of our statutes would have made us immediately arm noble to your jurisdiction as our visitor." If then they are not " erroneous" in their " data," and the Bishop is right in his judgment, who has neglected his duty but the judge . who has punished MO so severely for exceeding mine. Again, say they, " We never rejected Mr. Whiz ton's claims, &c." But on July 21, 1849, they " dis sented from the conclusion at which they presumed I wished to arrive, and desired to close the cor respondence, since they could not admit the princi ple upon which my application was founded. This I thought a conclusive rejection : and the corres pondence directly contradicts their additional asser tion that "in December, 1849, my claims for the scholars were encumbered with a variety of others," and proves indeed that they never were. Then, say the Chapter, " Since 1848, we have been prevented by Mr.Whiston's proceedings from adopting any specific conclusions ;" forgetting, perhaps, that the Bishop and themselves once pleaded the "interest of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners," and the " necessity of consulting a higher authority," as a reason for de lay. However, they may now easily make due re paration, by paying the arrears of augmentation to every boy who has been on the foundation for the last four years, or even by founding an additional scholarship with the amount, plus the arrears of salary which the Bishop has kindly relieved them from paying to me. Another of their statements is, " We have merely followed the appellant into the courts of law before which he brought us." But they also commenced against me two actions in ejectment: one they could not prosecute from informality of service, the other they abandoned after putting me to the expense of preparing to defend it. They plead also " Their duty to maintain the visitors' jurisdiction, ex y . provided for the toady and inexpensivedetermination of such ques tions,' on which grand, indeed, our judges have hitherto upholden it. But as the last appeal was made in May,lB3l, and not heard till April, and not decided till October 19, 1852, there really seems some quiet irony against the Bishop in talking of his "readiness;" and as for the " inexpensiveness," I will not criticise it, because the Chapter may insinuate thereby that counsels' fees and lawyers' bills have oast much more than the graceful concession, under good advice, of my claims would have done. I now proceed to the declaration in the judgment that " cathedral trusts" is libellous. I admit it ; and so is anything which reflects injuriouupon say man. But then Judge Pennon said, Whether there is &justification for the libel is a very different question ." and if, as one of the chapter commiesion, he will mill before him the other members of cathe drals, as well as deans and canons, he may readily determine it. Next, the Bishop and his assessors say that I was "misled by legal opinion of high authority, though given on erroneous data." Did they, then, ever see the case submitted to counsel P If not, how could they declare judicial that the "data " were "erro neous?" If they d id, they must have had some es parte communication with the Chapter or their agents, for no one else had a copy of it. But, anyhow, the following letter to myself is con clusive on this subject : Oct. 28, 1862. My dear Sir,—l can have no hesitation in ansTering your inquiry as to the nature of the partiesslan or "formats, upon which the opinion upon your case was given by Sit J. Busily and myself in November, 11148. I well recollect that the only documents upon which weasel then advised were the Letters Patent and Charters of Henry VIII., in the original Latin, with an English epitome of them, and the Statutes 3 sad 4 Vict., c. 113, and • general statement to the effect that the income of the cathedral estates at the time of the endowment was very nearly exhausted by the apportionment of the statutable stipends, but that it had sines increased, so as to raise the question how the surplus was applicable. La nearly as I can recollect, these alone were the Ingre dients in the formation of our opinions. But you will, of course, understand that I speak only as to the papers which were laid before counsel, upon which the advice was given and I write this upon my own authority merely, without any communication upon the subject from the distinguished person with whom I bad the honour to be joined as, your eonaeol. I am, Lc., WILLIAM DAVID LZWIA. The only possible error, then, must have been in my statement, that "the annual value of the cathe dral estates was originally exhausted by the statu table allowances;" upon which was founded the opinion of counsel, "that the income of the rents became applicable to the augmentation, pro rata, of the various specific payments." But this question of exhaustion is quite ez abundanti : for any one may learn that the Court of Chancery applies this prin ciple as a test of a founder's intention, on which I have throughout relied as the chief support of my claims. A pro rata augmentation I have never once demanded, whatever may be the legal right to it, well knowing that summum jut may be stemma en- Juna. Nor was the assertion of the "erroneousness" of the data unfounded merely: it was unpardonably at variance with the facts. For the Bishop, and Baron Parke and Dr. Ln s hi ng t on were bound to ex amine the opinion, and if they did they must have seen that, so far as I was misled by it, it was inde pendent of any data but those given by the founder. " We are of opinion (say counsel) that the Dean and Chapter are, by virtue of the letters patent and charters of Henry VIII., respectively called the Dotatio, and Statuta, under an obligation in the nature of a trust, to allow to the four students a M/11:1 of money sufficient for their maintenance at the Laiversity." So again—" We are of opinion that ander the same letters patent and charters, they are under the like obligation to defray the costs of the maintenanceof the 20 foundation scholars." here, then, are the erroneous data; unless, in deed, the Dean and Chapter have no title to their own menace? Bid further on this heal The judgment pronounces upon the " legal rights" of the Chapter, although the assessors said repeatedly that all they had to decide was, whether my offence was a gravisss dellettem, and that point only was it competent for them to determine. Nor is this all. My original I appeal in 1848 was on that very question, whether or not the Chapter "had illegally taken a disproportion we share of the Cathe dra l revenue." Upon this the Bishop sent me to Chancery, wad, so, in 1849, they spoke of "those legal questions which he had not considered to fall within his pro vince as visitor," i.e., when specially cad upon to determine them. So again, "as to the division of the surplus income of our estates, this we conceive to be one of the questions which your kniship has been advised to remit to another tribe meL• Then in October, 1849, they said, "As to the tenure of our corporate property, your lordship had been advised upon high authority (Lord Lang dale's, and coincident, it would seem, with other high au thority), that the consideration of such questions did not fall within your province as visitor," i.e., when these questions only were before him. Now, my object in all this is to prove that the judgment is worthless as a precedent, and that it does not derogate from the value of the legal opinion which did not mislead me, and which I utterly repu diate as an excuse for my " misconduct," and deny to have furnished any materials for my " calumny." Even if the interests of truth did not demand this other considerations would, especially when it is represented, as it has been here, that the augmenta tions are gratuities and acts of bounty for which the recipients have to thank the Chapter, not the Founder. Were Rochester alone concerned, this might pass as of no practical bearing. But there is Canterbury, with 60 boys, reduced from 41. to 11. 16s. Bd. each ; Worcester, with 40, lately raised from Ss. 10d. to 2!. 13s. 4d.; Ely, with a lay clerk (if I mistake not) for second master, and 24 boys, still at 31. Be. Bd., and a canon on the Chapter Commission. There is Peterborough, too, with 20 boys, at 21. 13s. 4d.; and Chester, with 24, only just restored to their long lost 31. 6s. Bd. All this will now stand before the public, illustrated by the ex ample of Rochester, and soon to be contrasted with the exhortations of cathedral dignitaries, to " liberal contributions," under the Queen's Letter in aid of the National Society for the Education of the Poor. If these dignitaries can learn and practise wis dom and justice, they will at once turn the edge and blunt the points of such a con trast, by following that example, and grant ins of their own accord what will otherwise be exacted by the law or the legislature. If they doubt this, let them consider what the world must think of them, when a Solicitor-General, and he a Chancery lawyer, has publicly proposed to apply their revenues as a substitute for church rates, with out a voice being raised against him. Well, indeed, after this, may it be said, in the words of their own advocate, that " if Chapters had done their duty—if their visitors had applied themselves to their legiti mate powers, those bodies would have held so high a station in the opinion of this country, that it would have then impossible that we should ever have had such a measure as this suggested. But so it is : first we neglect and abuse the institutions of our ancestors, and then we turn upon them in anger, or in hastiness, and destroy that as useless which it only rested with ourselves to make most useful." Let us hope it is not too late to prevent this. If chapters and their visitors will even now, in this their eleventh hour, awake to discharge their duties, and with a generous activity emulate what has been begun here; if the Capitular Commission, one-sided and unsatisfactory as it is, will but act with a due regard to the wants and intelligence of the age, and in the liberal and comprehensive spirit of the authors of those statutes, which the Bishop of London says have been " notoriously disregarded," why then we shall cease to hear of capitular estates being taken for church rates, and our glorious cathe drals, with their " service high and anthems clear," may yet remain a possession to us for ever, winning the respect and the affection of those around them, ministering not to the aggrandisement of a few, but to the welfare and so to the loyalty of the many— enduring monuments of the piety of our forefathers, the stout bulwarks of our protestant faith, and the strong towers of our national church. Should these results follow—and what well-wisher of his country but will hope that they may P—l trust I may with out presumption feel that I have not laboured for an unworthy object, nor altogether in vain. I 11111, air, your very obedient servant, Rochester, Jan.l7. ROBERT WI:LISTON. LETTER FROM THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THE LORD BISHOP OF ROCHES- TER. CRAFT= HOVIII, ROCNISTiIt, Nov. 30, 1362. MY Lono,—We hare received a copy of your lordship's judgment, "mitigating the sentence of removal," which we had considered it our duty to pronounce against the bead master of our Cathedral School; and we cannot dose oar present general chapter without assuring your lordship of oar dutiful obedience to your decision. The sentence, indeed, in its present form, as your lordship cannot but be aware, is one which we could not ourselves pronounce. Under our statutes we could only admonish, or remove from office. But we defer implicitly to the decision of our visitor. Upon the emaiderstioss which have lama your lord ship to mitigate the sentence we de set rams to ass any remarks. Bet siege it is slated mem *gee as esidess dans " that seem at the aftestes girths outbid's' but net been carried into strict exesetke= t se& Meese may have been sanctioned by presage daring a leap series of years, and in es* seepage by spines of the late Archbishop of Castativey," we would esamsdy legume Is be informed what the estates are to whisk this pusege refers. The last of them amass, indeed, obviously relates to what took place in November, 1836 ; when the chapter re solved "to defer the gimes of two miser canons," to supply micencies shish bed recently occurred, "in con formity," m it wee gensifiered, " with ea act of parliament peeled on the 21st of August. 1836, for protecting the reve nues vacant divides, sesemies, during the lag . rte ggegieg the state of the • end re is expesmags et immures to be meow mended miler the &se Weds' Regal Osemileisst gelatin to the Mare appelistmest and diAge of mime assess. The j ahopew, hewer, being divided I. °pinks tapes the sub jpeeplicatiou was made to the late arabbishey as the &o tz hmmeter slabs Mantes • sea Ms grace was of opinion that till absermselissei giesktisis of the chapter wee " sot repormat to abs sletntee." thee " the existing eirseaseness appeared to be a reassemble mese quite sufB - ter peetplaug the amass et-that time," and that " should the same circumstenees essitinne to exist, there may again be sufiicient grate& dee the farthertpone- Meet el filling up the vacuoles." The segend Report of his Majesty's Coatmneioners, in which they reemmended a reduction of the number of aims einem appeared in March, 1836. And this quinase was finally set at rest by the Act of the 3 and 4 Victor a, a. 113, see. 46. Your lordship may possibly refer also to an irregularity which existed some time slam in the payment. to the grammar boys ; but this we observed and corrected in 1843. If the statement in the judgment refers to any other statutes whieh are not at present, but which ought to be, carried into strict execution, we are anxious to have them pointed out. Our desire is, as we have often stated, to com municate with your lordship without reserve. in order to the due fulfilment of our statutes. But if, as we rather presume, the other statutes alluded to are such as cannot any longer be executed strictly, and whose disuse has been sanctioned not merely by long prac tice, but also by successive visitors, then it may be right that with your lordship's consent we should at once apply to the crown, to which the power of altering our statutes be. been reserved by the founder, for the explicit correction or repeal of obsolete statutes of this deeenp . tion. Many reasons render such a course desirable, and it is clearly un desirable that statutes should remain which cannot be car ried into strict execution, but which may Ripply excuses for misconduct or materials for calumny. And now, at length, since the judgment of your lordship and your learned assessors has relieved us from unjust im putations, and bas recognised our legal rights, we are at liberty to declare our intentions relative to the claims ad vanced by the appellant, in the first instance on behalf of the exhibitioners at the universities, and some months later, on behalf of the glummer boys. These claims, as we have more fully stated in our letters to your lordship of June and October, 1849, we re jetted ; and they were under our consideration eacumbered as they then were with various other claims and questions, and based upon principles to which we could not accede, when the first appeal was made to your lordship in 1848. We rejoiced at that appeal, trusting that it would lead to a more satisfactory determination of all the questions which had been raised than any at which we could have ourselves arrived ; but, disappointed in that expectation (your lordship having been advised to refer the appellant to another tribunal), we have ever since been prevented by legal proceedings, and by the second appeal to your lova ship, from adopting any specific conclusions upon the subject. It was thought necessary to wait the issue of these inquiries. these investigations having now been closed, we may freely state that we think the allowances to the exhibitioners and the grammar boys ought to be increased. And we enclose • The set of the S ifs II William IV, eh. SO. The preamble of dm set Mates the intention of hit Majesty, of the two archbishops std divers of the b:thoya, to deter any nootimition to vacant dignities, end b !pekes without cure of era* Is their re•P•Mive Patf9• 3 lso diving MIO Paging inT4iliii• THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26, 153. a copy of a minute of chapter to W. effect ; in relation, indeed, to all the ewes in which the ancient statutable allowaisces to different paWie;l;s 7 e LI been hitherto au& mated. We need scarcely add that if your lordship will &your us with any suggestions or directions on these sub jects we shall gladly receive then. In concludes, we would again express our deep concern that these painful discussions should have ever occurred. We have been accused of harassing the appellant by ex pensive and vexatious litigation. On the contrary, we have moldy followed him, and most reluctantly, into the courts of law and equity before which he brought us. At one time, indeed, we sought to recover possession by pro cess of law of our schoolroom and the master's house, which the appellant withheld from us, and, we may add, even now withholds, as if he had never been removed from his office,jor were already restored to it; but the pro ceedings in that action we suspended W wait the issue of the main cause. The oily delay we interposed was by maintaining the ex elusive jurisdiction of our visitor. Not that we wished to impose a painful duty upon your lordship, or desired better judges than those of Chancery or the Queen's Bench ; but we were bound in duty to your lordship and to our WM:tee *ors, and to all other bodies which have special visitors, to maintain the visitor's jurisdiction which the founder had expressly provided for the ready and inexpensive determina tion of such questions. We trust that a period has now been put to a very perai cious litigation, which none can have regretted more than ' we have. We may, perhaps, be permitted to state that although we have been subjected during the last four years to continual attacks and misrepresentations, we have re frained during these proceedings from every reproachful word, and we are now prepared to act under your lordship's judgment in its letter and iu spirit. Signed on behalf of the chapter, Ozotto• Esstu., Chapter Clerk. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Rochester. "CAPTAIN" JOHNSON AND MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS. Amongst the numerous letters and varied corres pondence brought forth by the apprehension and examina tion of Captain Johnson, in connexion with the adroit swindling transactions of that remarkable personage, are the following, which hare been received by Mrs. Stewart, and which hare been handed by that lady to her solicitor, Mr. Sinn.. The letters are given verbatsms, with the exception of the name and address, but these, for obvious reasons, ars omitted: " House Castle, Palverhateh, near Shrewsbury, Jan. 15, 11153. " Madam, —Hering seen, a short time since, an adver tisement in the Hereford paper of a matrimonial advertise ment of en English retired officer, advertising fora wife, I immediately answered it in behalf of • young lady, and, in reply, received the enclosed letter, which now I have every reason to think was written by the person who goes by the name of Captain Johnson, who was last week brought up for conspiring with other persons to cheat and defraud you Kseveral railway shares. I should feel greatly obliged if pis would favour me by writing a few lines, stating window the enclosed letter end the advertisement cones pat with his handwriting and appearance. " Ever yours, truly, " Mn. Stewart, 20, Brunswick-plan, Canonbury road, Islington, London." The following is the advertisement alluded to, which bad evidently been cut oat of a newspaper, and which was in closed with the preceding and following letter " Matrimony.—An English retired officer, with a foreign title, in which his wife would share, is desirous of forming an alliance with a lady of education and accomplishments. The gentleman is in the prime of life, and enjoying excel lent health; speaks several foreign languages, and is other wise highly talented ; travels much in the finest climates of Europe, and is in the possession of • genteel income. The lady will be expected to have an adequate fortune ; she will be treated in every way most affectionately, and ren dered as happy as the most ardent mind can desire. Ad dress, iu the first instance, by letter, pest free, in the strict est confidence, to L. A. F., 13 Frances-street, York-road, neer Waterloo-road (care of Mr. Miles), London." (Confidential). " December 31,1837. "Dear Madam,—l am in receipt of your letter. It is not sufficiently explicit, but I have no doubt you will rectify that point when I shall next have the pleasure of hearing from yea. I can assure you everything stated in the adver tisement is boosofide true. As to sending my picture, it is at present aleng with uniforms and other valuables in Paris. In a correspondence of this nature, of course, I am aware it is necessary to be exceedingly cautions, as there are many idly disposed persons who write merely to prac tice a hoax, although I do not for one moment suspect you of anything of the kind. With regard to myself, imagine a young-looking man of 36, fair, middle height, moustacbios, and a dishing hussar uniform; have been presented and kissed hands; accomplished, eloquent, and of the kindest disposition. You will find me disposed to meet you in the most candid and liberal manner. What do you say to an interview with the lady? At Paris? London ? or half-way between this and your present address ? Let me have your decision and speedily. " Ever yours faithfully, FRIEDIRICI Di ••••••••.'' The handwriting and style of this note is decidedly more mercantile than gentlemanly, and does not resemble in any way the specimens of his writings that have been put in during the hearing of the case, but at the same time ft should be mentioned that the captain could vary his writing and style in a very surprising manner, so much so that very , excellent judges could not, on comparing two notes of his, discover that they had been written by the same hand. COLLISIONS ON THE LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. On Tuesday two collisions took place on the Bolton and Preston line of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, bat fortunately did not result in any loss of human life. Ia the morning, as • goods train was standing at the Charley station, on the down line from Manchester, a coal train came up behind, sad ran into it with such form as to make considerable havoc with both trains. Mr. Blackmon, the superintendent at Manchester, was sent for, and was present during a consi derable portion of the day, for the parpese of taking the most prompt steps to get the rails cleated, to prevent inter emptier& to the regular Maio. It appears that the collision resulted entirely Net the neglect of persons in charge of the Chorley station ant turning on the proper signal. Mr. Blackmon was deeding on the platform at the Claseley statism fa the evmdag, ready to return to Ilan ebesesr, whet Ishemilea meshed him that, three quarters of a mile Ain of Math the express train from Preston to MaaikmArt bed cart isle a cattle train coming in the ease Iheellee. The latter etweieted of 19 waggons filled with MIK sal lie express train, which left Preston at 6 o'clock, eseeleted of lee grit and second class carriages. It appears that the cattle train was ascending one of the steeped on tie Ye s, at the time, and had been impeded retrati pperiasii et the rails. The exproes train came Spit it in • very earn of the line, and, consequently, its conductors mid oat see any great distance in advance, bet the biter euesewleil he atreetote the train so as to pre med tba esibien kaki • severe one. Throe of the cattle tube were maul, sag six sheep were killed, but in the mem tab the pmeenness were, some of them, scarcely omissions se the Asa. lease ladies in • first-class carriage said they MA cast linti it at all. A gentleman tumid Dalrymple, trent Marebeeter, who was travelling in sassing elms earriage, set a Miewekthe latlebeek henembleh Wakened Ms eye ; and king M a delisele slate Si health, and anger medical treelms•Lbepsebens hit the sheik sore severely tbem he etberwfas would have done. Mr. Black eners procured the amisteame of • surgeon from Chorley, sad Mr. Dalrymple, after the train had - been detained about an hoer, wettable to go on to Manchester by it, and ap. peered to be defog well. None of the carriages of the ex press train were *area off the line, nor were they appa rently in any way Wend. A strict investigation into the circumstances by the directors was expected to take place yesterday. TEE RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR OXFORD.—The passengers who were injured by this accident are, with one exception, progressing favourably. The report at the Rad cliffe Infiraoary this afternoon (Wednesday), where nine of them are still lying, was. that eight were going on well, bat that the old man, Faulkner, was in a most dangerous state, so much so, that great fears ars entertained for his recovery ; the poor man has not spoken since the accident. He received a serious concussion of the brain. Thomas Money, who had his cheek, noes, and forehead eat, and his thigh much injured, has so far recovered as to be able to leave the Infirmary for his own home in Berk shire. Edward Jones, of Marlborough, who Is staying at the Anchor Inn, near the scene of the accident, is also pro gressing favourably, and should he continue to do so until next week, he will leave Oxford for Marlborough. Kineb, the guard, against whom a verdict of manslaughter has been returned by the coroner's jury, is not yet in custody. WET SEASON Ix 1348.—Accidentally looking into Holinshed a few days ago, I found that our present unu sually wet seams is not without a parallel, indeed much ex ceeded ; as on that occasion the harvest mast have been a complete failure, and dearth and disease consequently en sued. Providence, however, has kindly blessed us with an average harvest; and, exclusive of the disasters attendant upon storms and floods, I trait we shall escape any further visitation. I annex an extract of the in Holinshed :—" In this 22 years [of Edwarr i r, A.D. 1348), from Midsummer to Chnstatasse, for the more part it continuallie rained, so that there was not one day and night drie togither, by reason whereof great Bonds , bunted,. and the ground therewith was sore corrupted, and mania anconueniences insued, as great siekenes, and other, insomuch that in the years following, in France, the people died wonderfullie in diverse places. In Italic also, and in mania other countries, as well in the lands of the infidels as in Christendome, this grieuous mortalitie reigned, to the great destruction of people. About the end of August, the like dearth began in diners° places of England, and espeelallie in London, continuing so for the space of midge =meths following. And upon that insued great barren nesse, as well of the sea as the land, neither of thooyielkl, be ing such plentie of things as before they had done. Whei : vpon vittels and earns Demme scant and hard to come —" The Chronicles of Raphaell Holinshed," fol., V3l. 4 p. 378 (Mirk letter).—Frons " Notes and Queries." MARIA ANTONIA RAILWAY —7'raino for week end. 1 bag Jan. 0, 1833, 1631.; 1852,1801. CHEAP OCEAN POSTAGE. HON. ABBOTT LAWRENCE'S CORK nor BNCE WITH THE HON. DANIEL WEBSTER, ON CHEAP OCEAN POSTAGE. To the Friends of Cheap Ocean Postage throughout the United States. Your attention is now called to the necessity of reducing the rates of ocean postage, which have Ws been felt an intolerable burden by all who have correspondence with the Old World. The mgmetaat dommient now placed before you shows that it has seem Om attention of dis tinguished minds in Europe, and km been the subject of di plomatic correspondence between the government and oar late minister to the Court of St. James. Mr. Lawrence, in his letter to Mr. Webster, has shown that he understands and feels the importance of cheap ocean postage, and his facts and arguments are worthy of the attentive considera tion of all chimes, and especially of those who have the power to remedy the evil complained of. Let us look at the rate of postage now imposed on letters between the United States and Great Britain. The post age on • single letter in a mail steamer is twenty-four cents ; if it weighs over halloo ounce, and under an ounce, forty-eight emits ; and should it weigh the smallest fraction over an ounce, it will be charged ninety-six cents. A let ter, if conveyed by • sailing vessel to Great Britain, will cost sixteen cents, and wheal:ought from thence to the United States the postage is twenty-two cents. Hence little is gained by sendir.g letters in sailiog vessels; for by either conveyance the postage is enormous. But this is not the only tax. On the continent of Europe there is an additional hdani_postige, varying according to the rates mind lyre awaimat governments, so that a letter sent 1 is, or frees Francs Or Germany, before it arrives at its place of destination, is liable to two or three additional post ages. By a recent treaty with Prussia, the postage is that kingdom has been fixed at thirty cents, which is at least six times more than it should be. The postage to France via Eng land is enormous. The ebargeon • letter weighing oz., be tween Dover and Calais, two ports within sight of each other, is thirty-one cents! which added to the charge from New York to Liverpool is fifty-five cents. The freight charged for carrying letters, compared with other articles of value, is exorbitant. The Liverpool mail steamers c wry goad; for thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents per ton, while a ton of letters, at the rate of twenty four cents the half ounce, pays the enormous sum of fifteen thousand three hundred and sixty dollars! and yet no more care is required for bags of letters than for boxes and bales of silks or calicoes. Our finest packet ships will carry a barrel of flour to Liverpool, weighing two hundred pounds, for forty-five or fifty cents, but two hundred pounds of letters by the same ship will be charged ten hundred and twenty-four dollars! Even at the rate of two cents postage the freight paid will be twelve hundred and eighty dollars per ton, a stun vastly disproportioned to that charged on other articles of freight. According to recent information the number of transat lantic letters conveyed by steamers and sailing ve-sels, during the put year, was about four and a half millions, and the postage collected on them nearly one million of dollars. One-fourth of these were mercantile or busi- ness letters, the other three-fourths were letters of friend ship. Here then we see that a tax of three-quarters of a million of dollars is levied on the exercise of the social af fections, and paid principally by the most indigent classes of our country. It now costa a poor labouring man nearly the price of a day's work to send a letter and receive an an swer to it, from his friends in Europe. Let us contrast the difference between inland and ocean postage. In Great Britain a letter is conveyed to any part of the United Kingdom for two cents, and in the United States a distance under three thousand miles for three cents, but a letter carried throe thousand miles by water, from one country to the other, is charged twenty-four cents, and if it weighs a fraction over an ounce it must pay quadruple this rate, or ninety-six cents. The object of this circular is to place before you these facts, which are sufficient to awaken your attention to the neces sity of reducing the rates of ocean postage. The advan tages that would result from a reduction to twb cents are in calculable. No one can fully estimate the religious, moral, literary, commercial, national benefits, which would follow the adoption of this rate of postage, and, in view of this, the Christian, the philanthropist, the statesman and mer chant should co-operate in the accomplishment of this all important measure. The question is, what can be done to effect this object ? I answer: 1. Prepare a petition and get your immedMte friends and neighbours to sign it. Any person who Gan write is com • potent to proper. a petition, couched in respectful terms, asking Congress to reduce the rites of ocean postage to two cents. _ 2. When the petition is signed by all you can obtain, both male and female, old and young, becau'e all sexes and ages are interested in cheap postage, then send it by mail to Washington, addressed to She member of Congress from your district, or to either of the vitiators from your state, requesting him to present it immediately to Congress. 3. If practicable, call • public meeting in your town or village, and adopt resolutions requesting your representa tives and senators in Congress to use their influence to ob tain a reduction of the rates of ocean postage. 4. Those who are acquainted with senators and members of Congress should address them by letter, soliciting their aid in promoting this important measure. 6. Endeavour to obtain the aid of the press in your neigh bourhood, that all-powerful engine which moves and directs public opinion, to advocate cheap ocean postage. If the press will speak out boldly and fearlessly in this cause, our legislators in Congress will nut turn a deaf ear to its voice. 6. The influence of the clergy of every denomination should be exercised in favour of this cause, but especially those who are closely connected with our adopted citizens and the millions of emigrants who are now coming to make this country their horse. They have left behind them hundreds of thousands of relatives and friends, anxious to hear of their welfare, but the present high rates of postage, and their limited circumstances, prevent them from enjoy ing this pleasure. Encourage the getting up of meetings and petitions to Congress, in favour of cheap ocean postage, for in doing this you will be instrumental of good, and the widow and fatherless, and the stranger in the land, will rise up and call you blessed. I am aware that some persons wil object to the rate of two conte, as being so low that it will not pay the expense of carrying the mails in ocean steamers. To this! would reply, that while the transit of • letter by water shall be charged two cents, I propose to add the inland postage to it, whatever that rate may tie. Hence, accordinit to our pre sent rates, a letter to Great Britain from the United States under three thousand miles, would be charged Ave cents, and over that distance eight cents. To yield • revenue equal to what is now collected, would require the number of letters to be increased about four fold, and that this increase would speedily take place, if the proposed reduction was made, may he proved by the following facto : 1. There are in the United States not less than seven millions of i persons who have relations, friends, and corre spondents n the old world, and yet the number of letters has remained nearly stationary at four and a half millions, notwithstanding the vast number of emi gra nts who have arrived here every year. Why is this ? Beause the high rate of postage is a barrier to correspondence. Reduce it as proposed, and where one letter is now written there will be at least three. 2. Again, this high rate causes hundreds of thousands of letters to be sent by passengers, which, if the postage was cheap, would be sent by the mails. There would then be no inducement to seek any other mode of conveyance. 3. Should the postage be reduced the practice of writing on thin paper and encloaiag several letters in one envelope, would in • good degree cum. They would be seat directly to their address through the post-ofilce, instead of bag enclosed to correspondents for delivery. 1 hope not to be charged with exaggeration, when I may that, in lees than !our years, the number of transatl antic letters, instead of remaining at four and a half millions, as they have done for several years past, will be increased at least to twenty millions, which at fire and eight cents will yield en amount of revenue equal to what is now collected from ocean postage. Let the experiment be tried, and, I em persuaded, it will prove as successful as it has on inland Polar. The limits of this communication will not allow me to ea upon the necessity and advantages of the proposed reduction. M object is to place before yea a few hoes* demonstrate t h e importance of this change, and to urge yen to adopt active measures to accomplish it. Respectfully yours, BARNANIAII BASIS. Legation of the United States, London, May 7, 1862. Sir,—l have had the honour to address you on seve ral occasions on the subject of our postal arrange ments, and to transmit my correspondence with this government relative to the rate charged for the transit of postal matter in closed hags through England to France. In my despatch No. 134, of the 24th of October last, and in some others of a subsequent date, and in pri vate letters to the Postmaster-General, I expressed the opinion that the postal rates between the United States and the United Kingdom were too high, and should be reduced About four-tenths of the postage between the two countries is paid in Ireland, and the ratio is steadily increasing, in consequence of the large Irish population in the United States and the emigration still going forward. The revenue derived from this branch of the postal service is no longer principally of a commercial character, but is obtained to a large extent from the correspondence of the most indigent classes of society. The tax falls mainly upon the adopted eitisens of the United States, or upon those who have sought oar shores with the expectation of becoming citizens. The present ocean rate for letters is heavy, and very dis proportionate to the low inland rates adopted, beth in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is • great im pediment in the way of the free correspondence so impor tant to the moral and material interests of the United States. I am unable to understand why • half-ounce letter should be transported three thousand miles in the United States (often in coaches, wagons, or on the backs of horses) at a charge of three cents., or to any part of the United King dom at a charge of two cents; while the rate for transport ing the same letter by ship (much the cheapest mode of conveyance known) the saute distance across the ocean, is sixteen cents. I have thought, in view of the great advan tages enjoyed under our system of cheap postage in the United States, and the long and happy experience in this country of the workings of • similar system, that the r present time might not be deemed unfavourable for pro posing to extend it to the ocean. I had supposed that probably this would not be considered a financial question by the government of the United States, but one of • deeper interest to the people. Considering the vast extent of our country, the character of its inhabitants, its consti tution, its laws, its free institutions, and the great and growing numbers of British-bora persons smong us, cheap postage between the two countries must produce the most beneficial results. We. have much to gain and nothing to loss by adopting it. Our security for the preservation of our popular institutions rests upon the enlightenment of the people and the extension of knowledge. Perhaps no "airbus men to diffuse that knowledge than the COG- 4 dead altengunismes which takes place among the people lithe Untied States; and were it extended these islands, ▪ eserespendag advantage would be gained, u well as a I bander toreadation laid for the maintenance of amicable sad happy relations between the two governments. After our experience in the great increase of correspond ence consequent upon the reduction of the inland rates of Postage, there cannot, I think, be much doubt that a cur responding increase would take place, were • reduction made in the sea-rates between this country and the United States. It would seem that the treasury of the United States is in a audition to try this experiment—if it be an experiment. During the first two or three years, perhaps some aid from the treasury will be required. But it seems to me that the amount which may be temporarily neces sary, will be of small importune compared with the im mense benefits to result from it. If anything is to be done immediately in this matter, the example must be set in the United States. I think that the great body of the people of this country are in favour of the system; but I have some doubt whether the government will not view the question en tirely in • financial light, sad be unwilling to make any sacrifice. They maintain a steam navy, in part by their high ocean postal rates, to almost every part of the globe. During the great Exhibition of 1851 an association was formed for the purpose of promoting a cheap and uni form system of international postage for letters and printed papers, and a large committee was appointed,which has had the subject under consideration. A few days since several of these gentlemen called upon me, as a deputation from the general committee, for the purpose of discussing the question. Lord Ashburton is the chairman of the general committee, and was to have been the chairman of the de putation, but was prevented from attending by illness. The deputation consisted of Sir John Boileau, Ban., Sir John Burgoyne, K.C.8., William Brows, E.q., M.P., ' H. Cole, Esq., and several other gentlemen of high character and standing. They stated that the system of cheap oceanic postage must begin in the United States ; that when commenced it would, in their judgment, , be adopted here from necessity, as, in case of refusal on the part of this government, all the correspondence between • the two countries would be transmitted by American yes- sets—aince no government, in the present state of opinion, would probably wish to renew the measures pursued towards the Washington—and that their efforts would now be given to effecting a cheap international postage between the United Kingdom and the United States. I will not dwell further upon this subject, but close with expressing the hope that at the present session of Congress the question may be brought before it; and that, in its wisdom, it may adopt such a measure as will conduce to the best interests of our country. I have the honour to be, Sir, very respectfully, your obe dient servant, ABBOTT IAWRINCH. lion. Daniel Webster, Secretary of State, Washington D.C. Legation of the Unit ed States, London, Oct. 24, 1851. Sir,—Our continental correspondence, already very great, is daily increasing, by the continued emigration from Get. many and other continental states. The correspondence between the United States and the United Kingdom also, particularly with Ireland, has become of vast importance to the citizens of the United States, and is likely to go on increasing for many years to come. In view of these facts, I respectfully suggest that it would be expedient and just to effect a large :reduction in the ocean postage be tween the two countries. I have the honour to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ABBOTT LAWBBNCB. Hon. Daniel Webster, Secretary of State, Washington, D.C. LONDON AND BANK. Yesterday the annual general meeting of this company wns held at the London Tavern, is consequence of the alterations now going on at the bank premises ; Mr. J. D. Di VITRII in the char. . The following report was read : From the statements attached to this report, the pro prietor will perceive that the net profits of the bank during the last half-year have amounted to 42,4701.75. 6d. Out of these profits the directors now declare a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the paid up capital of 1,000,0001. They also declare a bonus of Bs. per share, being equal to 2 per cent. on the capital. After these pay ments are made, the surplus fund will amount to 109,1641. 7s. 10d., which is an increase in the course of last year of 5,0121. 6s. 9d., notwithstanding the sum of 4,0001. has, during the year, been set apart towards the buildings in course of erection in Lotbbury and Bloomsbury. The three directors who go out by rotation are Frederick Burmester, Esq., Henry Harvey, Esq., and Charles Gibbet, Esq., all of whom being eligible, offer themselves for re election. To proprietors for paid up capital £1,000,000 0 0 To amount due by the bank for deposits, circular notes, &c. To rest or surplus fund To net profits of the past half•year £6,740,870 19 3 By government stock and E;clTequer Bills £1,119,477 10 0 By other securities, including bills dis counted, and loam to customers By cash in hand £6,740,810 19 PROFIT AND LOSS. Da. To total expenditure of the six establish ments, including rent, taxes, salaries, stationery, &c £19,917 11 10 To payment of the dividend now declared, at the rate of six per cent. per annum, for the last half-year on the paid up capital of 1,000,0001. To bonus of two per cent. on the capital 20,000 0 0 Te balance of unappropriated prate £179,081 19 8 By balsnee of unappropriatetr profits on the 30th June, 1832 £116,694 0 4 By gross profits of the last half-year, after paying the income tax, and making provision for all bad and doubtful debts 62,387 19 4 £179,081 19 8 By balance of unappropriated profile brought down The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that it would be unnecessary for him to say much on the present occasion, as a good report—and he trusted that the proprietors would feel with hum that the present report was very satisfactory—recommended itself. (Hoar, hear.) It was not the least pleasing part of his duty to be able to state to them, on the present occasion, that the position at which they h ad arrived was not the result of any specula tive transactions, but of what were strictly banking opera tions. (Hear, hear.) A strict adherence to banking trans actions was that which enabled them to appear before the proprietors in their present position. With regard to the amount of rest, the directors were unanimously of opinion, that looking to the increased and increasing amount of business transacted by the company, the present rest was much too small. (Hear, hear, and " No.") In 1848, the rest amounted to 100 , 0001., when tt e deposits were 3,089,0001. In 1849, the deposits increased to 3,680,0004, ; in 1860, to 3,969,0001.; in 1851, to 4,677,0001.; and in 1852, to 6,681,7061. Yet, although their responsibilities had increased from 3,098,0001. in 1848, to 6,681,0001. in 1852 , the amount of rest was the same. Now, he would put it to them as men of business whether the directors had not done wisely and prudently in increasing the reserve fund by 6,0001., and he asked therefore for their support of this proceeding. An increased business was attended with increased risk, and increased risk ought to be met by an increased reserved fund. (Hear, hear.) The directors asked for nothing to their advanta ge and to the disadvan tage of the proprietors, for they were all equally concerned in the prosperity of the bank, but they deemed that would be for the benefit of all, if they had such an amount of rest as would give stability and permanence to the dividend and confidence to the public, in case days of adversity should arise. (Hear.) He would not ask them at the present time to name any fixed sum for the rest, because a revolution was taking place in the value of property of every kind, owing to the discovery of the precious metals in various parts of the world. It was impossible to say what the effect of these discoveries might be. No two men were agreed on the probable result, but in banking it would be the object of prudent men to observe caution, for with all that caution they would have to go through a greet deal of anxiety. Therefore, an annual and a gradual increase of the rest was a step, of which prudence dictated the necessity. (Hear, hear.) He would now sty a word or two on the subject of the capital. The bank was approaching its nineteenth year. In March, 1834, it opened its doors for business, with a ca pital of about 64,0001. On the 31st of December of that year, it amounted to 182,2651. ; and since that period it kept gradually increasing till it reached the present sum of 1,000,0001. The amount paid during the same period to the proprietors was 880,9261., being an average of 6} per cent. from the opening of the bank. (Cheers.) During the last two year., as they were aware, the dividend had been 8 per cent. upon 100,0001. (Hear.) That was a state of the bank on which he might safely congratulate them, and he hoped that the prosperity of the past might be taken as a lair ground for anticipating prosperity in the future. (Cheers.) Mr. Levi seconded the motion. fir. TITB said he had nothing to urge against the re port, which was a satisfactory one ; but, with great re spect to the opinion of the directors, he did not think that it was at all necessary to give stability to the bank or confi dence to the public • but, on the contrary, that it would be highly detriment al to their own interests, as proprietors, I to increase the scat by taking a certain sum of money out of their pockets. (Hear.) He understood from Mr. Alderman Salomons, who presided at one of their former meetings, that 100,0001. would be about the limit of the rest. lie considered that amount might be useful as a safety valve to preserve the balances, and to give confidence to the public. But to go on increasing the rest in proportion to their busi ness, might lead, as in the case of the Equitable dace, to such au accumulation:of property, that they would not know what to do with it, sad might lead further extravagant expenditure. (Rees) Mr. Tourisme said he thought it would meet the views of the greet body of the proprietors :if they were to under stand %bathe s rpins should so to the auntie! and gradual increase of the reserve fund, after a dividend of 8 per cent. had been secured. The CHAIIMAIc said that was the way in which the board wished the matter to be understood. But the pro prietors were not to go away with the idm, either that the directors pledged themselves that the dividend should be 8 per cent., or that they would emu the whole surplus that might be above that to the rest. (Hear.) Mr. TITS expressed himself satisfied with the statement mad, by the chairman. Mr. HADOW expressed himself favourable to an increase of the rest in proportion as the liabilities increased. Mr. litooes said that with 1,000,0001. of capital and 100,000 i. rest it was idle to say that anything more was wanted to secure the confidence of the public or the pro prietors. Bat, as it was thought necessary to have 100,0001. to secure a dividend of 6 per cent, it was but reasonable to have a larger rest to secure a permanent dividend of B per cent. (Hear.) It was not fair to say that the money which went to increase the rest was taken eat of the pockets of the shareholders, for it gave increased value to the shuns which they held. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Cnoven, who had given notice of a motion for di minbliing the capital of the company, said that, in come . quenee of the dismission which had taken place, it was r,4 his intention to persevere with that motion ; t. tat he still entertained the opinion that it was not at all necessary for them to be possessed of so large a capital, as the public con fidence was not so much regulated by the esti nt of capital as by their opinion of the honour, respectability, and in tegrity of the company. In proof of this he instsnced the example of the London Joint Stock Bank, the Union Bank, the London and County Bank, and the National and Pro vincial Bank, which, with capitals not half the amount of the London and Westminster, yet divided 9 per cent. If they diminished their capital by half they would be in a position to divide 11 per cent. Mr. KENS/MAD said it might be true that they wauli get 11 per cent. from half the capital ; but, suppesing they withdrew hell the capital, and invested it in the funds, they would only get 3 per cent., so that the question via, as broad as it was long. Mr. Alderman SALOMONS said that the proposal of the board did not arise from any contingency which they ex pected, but from what some perhaps would cumider over prudence. Having considerably increased their liabilities, they thought it but fair, and just, and prudent towards the public, end towards the proprietor., to carry the reserve fund, with the express approbation of the meeting, to • higher figure than 100,0001. (Hear, hear.) He believed that their large deposits had some connexion with their r large capital, and he did not think they could reduce that capital without a breach of faith, certainly not without dis credit. (Hear, bear.) lie thought the time would arrive when those other banks to which the hon. proprittor had referred, and each of which he believed to be as stable as their own, would see the necessity of following the example of this bask. The motion was then put and carried. The then retiring memb•n were re-elected, and votes of Thanks pared on the directors, the chairman, Mr. Gilbert (the principal manager), the other managers and officers of the company ; after which the meeting separated. ANNUAL RETURNS OF FIRES LN LONDON. The following return of the number of fires within the metropolitan district, which wile attended by the Lot.- don firemen during the last 12 months, is made or. the au thority of Mr. Braidwood, superintendent of the London Brigade : . . . . . . . Apothecaries and dealers in drugs but having no che mical works carried on bad 6 tires ; bagnios, 2 ; ba kers, 13 ; ditto biscuit, 1; ditto muffin, 1 ; ditt, pie, 3 • basket makers, 1 ; barge and boat builders, I ; benliopt, 5 ; blacking makers, 1 ; bleachers, 1 ; book sellers, binders, and stationers, IS ; bottle merchants, I ; brewers, 1 ; brokers and dealers in old clothes, 9 ; builders, 9 • cabinet makers, 15 ; carpenters and workers in wood not cabinet makers, 56 ; chemists, 2 ; chandlers, 15 ; coach makers, I ; coopers, 2 ; currier, and leather dressers 2 ; churches, 2 ; corkcutters, 1 ; coffee roasters, I ; coffee-shops and chop-houses 18 ; cotton wool warehouses, 1 : chocsilate makers, 1; charcoal and coke dealers, 2 ; confectioners and pastryc'eolis, 3 ; cheesemongers, 7 ; Cao'utelioue manufac turers, 2; cane dyers, 1; cement works, 1 ; colour makers, 1; distillers (illicit), 1 ; ditto tar, 2 ; ditto turpentine, 1 ; drapers, woollen, linen, and mercers, 33; druggists, whole sale, 6 •, drysalters, 1 ; eating-houses, 14 ; engineers, me chanical, 3 ; firework makers, 2; farming stock, 3; founders, 4; furriers and akin dyers, 1 ; fire annihilator works, 1 ; grocers, 7 ; gas works, 4 ; glue maker., 1; hat makers, 1; hempdressers, 4 ; horse-hair merchants, V ; hotels, including club houses, 2 ; japanners, 3; lampblack makers, 2 ; laun dresses, 3; lodgings, 36; Weiler match makers, 5; Man chester warehouses in London, 6; marine store dealers, 7 ; musical instrument makers, 2 ; milliners and dress- I makers, 9; nuts, dealers in, 1; oil and eolourmen, not colour makers, 13 ; oil works, 1; private, 219 ; paper stainers, 3; pasteboard makers, 1 ; printed baize makers, 2; pipe makers, 1 ; printers, 5; ditto, copper-plate, 1 ; public buildings, 1 ; pawnbrokers, 1; painters, plumbers, and glasiers, 3 ; paper mills, 2; rag merchante, 4 ; railways, 3 ; rope makers, 3 ; sale shops and offices, 37 ; saw mills, steam, 7 ; ships, 5 ; ditto builders, 2 ; ditto chandlers, 1 ; ditto steam ships, 1; stables, 16 ; soot merchants, 1; straw bonnet makers, 2; sugar refiners, 2; steam-boilers, 1; schools of industry, 1; silk merchants, 1 ; tanners, 1; tallow-chandlers, melters, was-chandlers, and soap-factors, 4; tailors, 14 ; tarpauling makers, 2; Outrun, braziers, and smiths, 7 ; tobacconists, 7 ; toy warehouses, 3; unoccupied, 6; under repair and building, 11; upholsterers, 1 ; varnish makers, 3; victuallers, 40; warehouses, 6: weavers, 1; ditto, mats, 3 ; wine and spirit merchants, 4 ; wood mer chants, 2 ; wharfingers, 1. From the above it will be seen that during the year the total number of fires which occurred was 923, which are divided into two classes, vie., those totally destroyed aid considerably damaged, and those slightly injured. Of the former there were 263, and of the latter 666. There were also 93 false alarms, and the engines were called 89 times So what turned out to be chimneys on lire, making 182 extra calls for auistauce. The engines had likewise attended at 22 fatal fires, one of which was in Haydon•egnare, Minorite, where Alfred Wilson, and Crampton, another fireman, were crushed to death by the falling of one of the lofty walls. For sixteen years before the Brigade bad lost only eight men by ac cidents. LITERATURE. • The Shahsepeare Repository. Edited by JAMBI{ HAMIL TON FIINNEL. A miscellany, intended to contain various curious facts, and such stray notices of Shakespeare as are scattered in various quarters, old and new, and which, from their diverse character, do not oome within the natural scope of any other connected work. We have a number of authorities for the spelling of the poet's name, in the manlier that was customary before Mr. Charles Knight established the orthography which has been used latel7. Shakes peare's bequest to his wife forms the subject of an other discussion, which is relieved by several quota tions. Interesting information concerning Shakes peare's chair and mulberry tree; the editions of his works; and the theatres where his plays were per formed, will also be found in the present sheet, which is evidently intended to be followed by others, pe riedically. The patrons of "Notes and Queries,' and many others, will sympathise with the author of this publication, and desire his success. THEATRICAL REFORM. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS. Sts,—lf I were the manager of a theatre (which heaven forefend!) this is the way I should attempt to carry one the reforms, which—to judge from the loud complaints of your correspondents—are so much needed in public ac commodation at theatres and exhibitions. I should begin by increasing the rise of the pit, so that even the little boy on the hindmost benches might enjoy an uninterrupted view of every one of clown's subtlest tricks. By the present arrangement, the suppositious little boy alluded to is sub jected to the tortures of Tantalus : clown, during three fourths of his hilarious orbit, being eclipse d to the juvenile vision by the interposition of a dense adult 'body' in front. Then I would cushion and put backs to all the seats In the pit, instead of confining that atten tion, as now, to the alternate rows ; for, I defy you or any men to enjoy either Shakespeare or Pita ball (a wide range) with • " crick" in your back ; and this you are sure to get after an hour's penance on these " tribulation beaches." But my grand improvement would be to number every seat in the theatre. Aye ! even in the gallery, for why should the gods be compelled to secure their Olympian thrones by bard knocks ? The checks should be similar to the railway tickets, printed by Edmonson's machine, with consecutive numbers, to be sold by the money takers in regular order; so that the earliest comers should have the lowest numbers, corresponding to tho beat places.. This would at once and effectually put a stop to box-keepers' impertinence, inasmuch as the posses Sion of your cheek would give you an unquestionable title to a particular sest, be perfectly fair to the public, and en able the management to exercise a much more efficient con trol over the money and check takers than under the tire sent no-system. Perhaps on some special occasions this plan might keep money out of the house by restricting the number of admissions; but it would render every body comfortable and contented who got in, and thus secure a steady flow of regular customers, which must surely be more profitable than an intermittent series of "crams" and "empty benches." The free orders might then bear only high numbers, not generally used for money cheeks; thus dnving the non-paying people into back seats. I don't saya word about the shilling-for-booking swindle, because of course being a manager of brains, lb I should necessarily be, my first act of authority would be toe, we" the nuisance away utterly. In the mean time, as the above reforms ~,,Hkeix • , be accomplished before my advent to the • al it emu, and as that's much too long to wait fen : why do nel some young briefiese lawyers (there must be' plenty such ie these County Court days) do a good active by tayinit ditto against the first theatre that attempts to shirk the of finding • seat in return for teensy duly paid and received, and so settle the question of tight at oncetted for ever? Roping your love for the drama wiliaduee you to tad apace for these Lints towards rectifyinz some of its abuses.—l am, &e. '