The Express. — London, England, 1847-03-19 00:00:00

r ..dgmg wore nor lew than • very lbw meal, and In it was • iboat two 'sin old (a description, we believe, not o pmsaly Emend to frequent our harbours), we bail it as a iK ma rable twos, in which light, we andentand, old esp.- „wad esalosi, and other well versed in thew matters. are Winked to yiew . it, sa giving promise of an early and abua mast eramoa.—beiefoundland gbr ttoirct. Th . Quo, accompanied by the Prins of Wales s ad the Triaiess Royal, took an awing yesterday afternoon epee carriage and four. His Royal Highnees Prince Oert rode out on horseback at the mane time. Lord J. gamma had as au dience of the Queen yesterday, at Buck shot pilaw. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent listed the queen yesterday, and remained to luncheon with tkiety and her Royal Consort. Their Royal High ▪ prism Alfred, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Ideas took an airing yesterday in the royal gardens. The mat diaper-party at Buckingham-palace yesterday, in daded her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Excel ling Coent de Reventliw, Lady Fanay Howard, Rareness Y firth, the Earl of Aberdeen, the E irl and Countess cosy, limount and Viscountess Falkland, Viscount and limonites' Mahon, and Col. the Right Ron. 0. L. Daw ma Doter. Her Majesty and Prince Albert inspected yester ag the finished full-length engravings by Mr. Atkinson bas g, Winterbalter's pictures of tlm Queen and her wait Consort in the robes of the order of the Garter, panted for the royal collection which were submitted by yr Macs. BALI!. the Duchess of Cambridge visited her Majesty the Qum' Dowager yesterday at Marlborough House. lL H. N. the Duke of Cambridge visited the Genus assent yesteray. The Commissioners for Metropolitan Improvements held a meeting yesterday at the office of the Woods and Forests, in Whitehall-place. There were present Vis e:vont Moreeth, Lord Colborne, the Lord DI ayor, Sir R. H. laglis, Six C. Lemon., Mr. Aid. Humphery, M.P., the Hon. C. Gore, sad Mr. A. Milne. A deputation from Birmingham had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Struts yesterday relative to railway ad d easel amalgamation, at the office of the Commiseieners cif Railways, in Great George street. Sir Howard Douglas had sa Marries twainwi Lord J. Russell yesterday, at his official rodeos* la g-street. Viscount Torrington had sa iaterriew with Earl Grey yesterday, at :he Coloaial 'See. The Forlesiastical Commissioners for England had a general meeting yesterday, at their office in Whitehall- A la &potation from the Great Metropolitan Cattle Menet and Abattoir Company, accompanied by Mr. Lane, deputy chMrman, and attended by Ildr. H. F. Richardson, die lobo-nor, waited oil Viscount Mos - peth, at the office of the Woods sad Forests, yesterday. BANK OF ENGLAND. One of the most interesting meetings of the pro wino, of Bank of England stock that has occurred for at Ma tie years put, was held yesterday. A more numerous soesisses of capitalists, both connected with the London sod the parriscial banking establishmesta, has scarcely ever bees nea. Thera were representatives from the Liverpool, the Mensbeiter, Leeds, Halifax, Glasgow, and Edinburgh looks, the Bank of Inland, and a vast number of share holden el almost all the principal banks. The business of the day we. to declare a dividend for the half-year ending the 27th of February last. At twelve o'clock the Go rnto!, Mr. Heath, the Deputy-Governor, Mr. Robin sea, ad several director., entered the room.—The Oornutialt proceeded to address the proprietors. He mid: Gentlemen, bearding to the form prescribed by this mart, it hay duty to acquaint you that this is one of the belt - mely general courts appointed by the bye-laws, for the pupae considering a dividend ; and I have further *1 smut* you that the directors, having considered the seals sidle yanking accounts, an of opinion that a dividend NM I be if the mart think fit to agree to it, of 31 per cwtl kunst, parable on the 7th of April next, without any de. denim. I have to inform you that on the 28th February,i 1846, the Rut was 3,09,4301. ; on the 31st Aug., 3,839,7534; ea the 27th Feb., 1847, 3,899,2221. ; making an Menses es the half-year of 69,4691., or an increase to b' added to the Rent on the whole year of 209,7921.—A PROPRIETOR wished to know whether thin was a outlined and farther increase till the 6th of March ? The Oovennott said they were dealing with the question of the 27th of February, on which their proceedinas were hued, and could not therefore affect the period referred to by the hon. proprietor. —Mr. Le', asked what was to be the bonus? They had been led at the last meeting to ex. peet a large increase on this year, and he thought they had a right to expect it —The GOTBREOR explained that what ha had stated to the proprietors on the last occasion was, tire the governor and the court of directors would have much plea. mare in meeting the views of the proprietors, when they thought that could with propriety and with a due regard to other interests be done. As this was probably the last time when be abould have the honour to appear before them as governor, be should have been proud and happy to propose an increased dividend : but he thought the proprietors would me that there were peeulier circumstances abroad at that asesseot which rendered caution and prudence more than seer necessary on the part of the directors. Mr. P. De W ',non was Berry to find that so small a divi dend was declared as 3/. 10s. per cent. With respect to the pro lb on this half year, he could show they would amply justify aa increased dividend to the proprietors ; for deducting the Rest of October 10,184.5, from the Rest of February, 1847, he head that they had realised no less a suns than 506,0621., which would give them very nearly 4 per cent. Under these sireametesees, he did sot see that they should not have 4 F ee seat. He, as en old banker, well knew, and was folly sow *aced, that 4,000,0001. was as much se could be required he working this establishment, with a profit to those eennesied with it. He should therefore propose as an enosatimost, that the dividend, instead of being 31. les., should be 41. per nat. The Bank had now an amount to work upon of lOW ales lbso 24,000,01101. which they might turn to ACEOREt limy lei also the interest of 3 per cent. on 11,000,0001. of inns gennment. If they made 4 per cent. on their 21,1160,0001., and I per cent on their 11,000,0001., they would seem in the year 1,290,0001. He thought that the pre. piston ought to derive sense present advantage from this peva...state of ths, Instead of leaving all to their ens. ulna He would mato the CORK the state of the Rest at egged periods until the present time: TY lot was am the led Oftober, 11143 A4816,8115 Oa Se 38th or racism 1148 • 3,889,430 Om Ihe lath of s epbmh ISM 3,078,9.1 Oa fee nth et February, 1547 3,899 222 dad on the 6th March,.elthough the governsr did not quote es the basis of the dividend, there was en increase in one short week of 52,7001., which made 3,951.9211., or nearly tsar millions of Rest. (Hear, hear.) Under these dr eamt:awes, he saw no reason why a dividend of 41. per eget shockl not be declared out of the Rest of 3,899,3201. referred to by the governor. The reduction which his pre pontioa would effect would not be great, as the Rest, after the pa et of 41. per cent. for the half-year. would be 3,18,900/. Bat be wished it to be dietinctly understood that he did not find fault with the way in which the present Governor and the directors or their predecessors, had ma ssed the affairs of the Bank ; because he considered that their management had been excellent. Still he thought it his ditty to persevere in the amendment he had pro posed. In order to show that the capital of the Bank was amply 'efficient to pay an increased dividend, be in o tt stat , that the capital etoek of the Bank on the 1 of October, 1846, was 15,280,0001., including the imam, wh on the 27th of February, this year, it had hike to 19,440,0001.-Ins by 2,387,0001.; but the capital of the Banks of Ireland and Scotland was only 5,000,0001., and yet they paid a fair dividend. He bad had consider able experience as a country banker, and he was therefore is a condition to state that as the Bank Charter of 1844 limited the issues of country bankers, those bathers had been compelled to issue gold and silver and beak now to meet any excels over their ordinary circula tion ; but the working people employed on railways—and a great many were so employed at the present moment—were obliged to be paid in gold and silver ; thus a greater amount of bullion had been called into circulation than heretofore, sad great draws were made upon the banks for it. Certainly in th e part of the country with which he wasconnected, bank totes were at a premium so compared with gold and silver, yet as math as 1,000/. a day was paid gokl in wages to perms employed on the Wail in his neighbourhood ; but Wheaever hank notes were made scarce, geld and silver came set from the Bank of England in shoals ; but, as the waking classes had an aversion to hold sons, they had in amiably to be paid in gol d He should persist ia hie motion. Me. YIELDER seconded the motion. lie always under eked that the three.and-a-half dividend we, only to be tem porary, and that they might look forward to one of 81. per MI. for the year. That time last year, the governor came forward and stated, that he had great pleasure to inform Ikea that they would be exonerated from the payment of the ineomestax, and the proprietors thanked him for the intimatioa ; but at that time the Rest was 3,689,0001., just sne million more than at the time the proprietors remind 81. per cent., and its increase to 3.899,2221. thit„ year was an additional reason why they Austad have the increased to 41. per cent. for the half-year. The di Bence between the property-tax and 41. per cent. was hen Wharf to be considered as any great advantage beyond the divielatid they proposed to declare. The gradual in anus in the Rest was one of the strongest arguments he mold arse in favour of the amendment. He thought th a t it was the duty of the Court of Directors, i f the Proprietors were satisfied that they could safely receive a dividend of four per cent, to allow them that dividend, ulPecially when, as he had said, the difference between that ram and the property tax was so trilling. —The GOVERNOR : The hon. proprietor said that the difference was very small. The income tax would amount to 30,0001., while the differ- Mee of one per cent. would make an increase of 14.5,0001. Surety such a sum could not be called trilling.—Mr. 'mne laid that be also thought the mod* of levy ing the tax was incorrect. The GOVRRNOR mid that if the honourable proprietor bad may complaint to make he had better refer to the commissioners .. °rilt ePlrePerty-tax at Somerset House.—Mr. FIRLDEN said that, in conclusion, he would stab that he had great pla in to hearing the amount of the R es t, and if the proprietors , tho ught it su ffi cient to warrant a dividead of four per cent. wow paid, it was for them to take the responsibility ; if the neuters did come to the cencluaon teat a dividend of air per nat. should be paid, he hoped no further objee hoes would be made. 14r. Cooustaid that, as one ef theproprietors, he unmated i s the opinion of the gentleman who had just spoken. There :t , h_ltintioa which he wished to ask the governor, and that it h" the corporation had not received considerable 411 "7 from the meant of wren dAy bills, and whether the Chancellor of the Exeltequir had taken any effectual steps to aback the issue of these bills t—The GOVIIIINOR said that the hoc proprietor knew just aa much on the subject u the directors did. He had Been the letter which the Chancellor of the Exchequer bad addressed to them.—Mr. Coorta : There was another question which he wished to ask ; that was—Whether the Corporation had not bun in come degree injured by a practioe Which had been stated lathe public papers , to be taking place—namely, that the secrets of that estabWlF , mut crept out of it into the Money Market, to the injury of the proprietors and the public.at large ? Re wished to know whether there was any truth in that statement? If there were, the business must be conducted in a most inefficient manner; and if inch transactions did get abroad, it was most important for the interests of the corporation that some alteration should take place in the mode and manner of election.—The Govaason assured the hon. proprietor that the report was without foundation—Mr. Cocoas wee very gin I to hear that it was untrue. Mr. Wu-Lummox did not think it would in any way in terfere with the funds of the establishment by allowing • dividend of 4 per cent. Mr. CLARKS said that he was adverse to any increase of dividend, but he was not adverse to a bonus being given. They were two very different things, for the dividend might be considered as a sort of annuity, which might be better terwards diminished by adverse circumstances, whiles bonus was always under theeontrol of the directors as to it, amount. Mr D. 5A1.0310116 said that, whatever turn the discussion might take, they should oonsid-r that those who had an in terest in the partnership should derive a benefit from it. It had always been a great mistake to suppose that the AT.- tem of keeping a large rest was • beneficial one. It hin dered the parties who entered the concern from receiving env benefit from it during their lifetime, and the only parties who derived sny benefit from it were their heirs. He thought that on that side of the bar they ought not to be parties to • permanent increase of dividend, believing that it would be most injurious to the establishment. Mr. PAIIILY DC Witvox, in reply, thought that a rest of upwards of 3,000,000 was amply sufficient to meet any con tingerciesof the Bank, and he should therefore persevere in his amendment. The Goyim:vox then pat the amendment to the court, and, upon • show of hands, declared it to be lost by • large mniority. The Governer then put the origiaalmotion, upon which Mr. Cumin moved, as an amendment, " That in addition to the 34 per cent. dividend the proprietors should have • 1 per omit. bonne." He believed that they had • sufficient rest to give a 2 per cent. bonus, but, under the present cir cumstances of the money market, he would only put it at 1 per ant.—Mr. BAL01110:411 asoonded the amendment.—A Paoratirron doubted whether such an amendment could be moved. The amendment of Mr. Clarke was then pat to the court by the Governor, snd declared by him to be car ried by • large majority, amid much cheering. The Clovanrioa said, in consequence of what had taken place, he mast move, in addition to the motion for a divi dend of 34 per cent., that a bonus of 1 per cent. should be paid, and that a general court should be held en Tuesday, the 22nd lost., and a ballot taken from eleven to four o'clock upon that proposition.—This motion was carried unani mously.—A specific vote of thanks was unanimously carried to the governor, and the court broke up. THE WESLIYANS AND THE EDUCATION QUESTION. —The Patriot says that the United Wesleyan Committees of Education and Privileges have resolved to oppose the government scheme of education. RAGGED SCHOOLS.—A Ragg ed School was, on Monday last, opened in Fennings's- uildings Kensington, a loca li ty situated on the south side of the High-street, in habited by numerous families of the lower order of Irish. REMOVAL OF THE SMITHFIELD NUISANCE.—A deputation from the Great Metropolitan Cattle Market and Abattoir Company, had interviews yesterday with Lard Robert Grosvenor, Mr. B. B. CsbbeU, M.P., and Mr. Mackin non, M.P., at their respective residences, on the subject of the removal of Smith fi eld-market, and the selection of a suitable site for the new market THE GENERAL FAST.—JEWISH FORM OF PRAYER. —Yesterday evening the Rev. Dr. Adler, Chief Rabbi of the members et the Jewish persuasion in these kingdoms, issued • form of prayer to be used in the synagogues within his control, on Wednesday, the 24th inst., being the day ap pointed 1g her Majesty for the general Fut. MR. BI NN AND JENNY LIND.—The following letters contain the answer of Mr. Bunn to the offer made him by Jenny Lind. They are addressed to Mr. Jennings, that lady's legal adviser: Sir —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of roar letter, dated the 13th inst., end have onl to °team, that en receiving t he original la from Mlle. Ling addressed to me), which yen elate to be year bends, and of wbbkhlltteerrhhhh you have thawed me a copy, I will instantly nmlito it. (Signed) A. Been. Hr. Amino waited upon me, and showed me a latter, sot written l ii ti s tel=enny Lind," which he retuned to leave with me, to me. To that letter I have scot an answer, &lag a aegatirc to the professional points therein sought to be main- label; but making a propceition, which, If MdlY. Lind has that same of Maleterestednem and goad faith claimed br her, she will not ; hssabl to accept. at the non-emstenoe of any lepl claim, from wider alleged to have been delivered by the law °Horn of the crews, I beg to my I have acted upon the judgment of the first Is o r in England and Prussia, and feel moored that no each offer as gaff. would be made, if their ornion tine contract signed at In the pretence of the British minister, were quartionatile.— I have the honour to be (Signed) A. Burn.--London, March 17, 1e,17. ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE SIREN STEAM-BOAT.—On Wednesday afternoon an accident took place on baud the Syren, when off the Isle of Dogs, on her way to Woolwich. A noise was beard in the engine-room, and immediately afterwards it wan discovered that a tube or tubes had given way in the boilers, by which a volume of water escaped into the furnaces beneath, forced out a quantity of hot coals into the engine-room, and had dreadfully burned the'. sad and bodies of the engineer and stoker. The vessel drifted until it reached the pier east of Greenwich Hospital, when the unfortunate sufferers were put into a waterman's skiff, aad, without lots of time, conveyed on board the Dreadnought, Seaman's Hospital ship, where the most prompt assistance was rendered by the surgeons on board. The poor fellows remain in a very bad state, but their lives are not deepaired of. Their names are Green, engineer, and Jackson, stoker. . . INQUESTS, YESTERDAY.—DESTITUTION. - Before Mr. Carter, at the Duke of Wellington Tavern, Wellington street, Newington-causeway, respecting the death of Sarah Stocker, aged 69.—E. Barter stated that the deceased was her cousin. They had lived together in a small room, where they employed themselves by making shirts, for which they reoeived 4d. each. Witness received 2a. 6d. per week from St. George's parish, and with their joint labour they could only earn, on an average, about 2e.. which amounted to 4a. fid., out of which they had to pay 2a. weekly for rent, leaving them only 2a. 6d. to subsist upon and purchase fuel. The deceased had been under the care of Mr. Babbage fot fever and cough, who prescribed for her, and she got better. About six weeks since the deceased became unable to work, from weakness and the want of nourishing food, which wit ness was unable to give her. The deces.ed sod witness were often without food. Sometimes they managed to get a little coffee and bread but very often were compelled to have only bread and water for days together. On Saturday week wit ness and the deceased took a lodging at No. 42. Wellington. street, in the parish of Newington. Witness then went to the relieving officer of St. George's for a surgeon's order for the deceased, and was in formed that, as she had removed into another pariah, they could not assist her. Witness then proceeded to the poor-house at Newington, where she saw two gentlemen. They offered to take her into the holiest, but, having a dislike to the rules of a workhouse, she refused to go in. On Friday last the deceased complained of sore throat, and could not swallow anything. On the following morning she was no better. She became worse, and died at 12 o'clock the same night. Before she died, witness made an application to Mr. Jones, the surgeon, of Southwark-bridge-road, who had known them for several years, but not having any 1 1 money to pay, for medicine, witness could not have any. He advised her to make • gargle for the de ceased, but she died soon after the application of it. The jury, who, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of , "Natural death," and added that they were of opinion that 1 the deorasod's death had been accelerated by want of food.—AN UNSAYS BOAT.—Before Mr. Carter, at the Bells Tavern, Pitney, upon the bodrof John Elliott, aged 38 a waterman, and coxswain of the Neptune Aquatic Club. John Robinson, a waterman, living at Putney, deposed that on Tuesday afternoon he sow the deceased and a gentleman in a wherry. They were both rowing, and the tide was ebbing. The water was very rough, from the wind meeting the tide, and witness was fearful that, as the boat had no covering ever her, as accident would occur. He rowed after them, and had gone about three parts of the way same the river when the boat us which deceased was was swamped by the waves passing over her. The demised sank, and did not rise again. The gentleman was saved. An immediate search was made for deceased by the witness and others, but the body was not found until upwards of an hour had elapsed. The boat belonged to Mr. Searle, of the Stangate, and was what is called an " outrigger." From its construc tion, he considered it not seats one for any person to venture on the water in, even if the water was perfectly smooth. A clerk to Meant Searle wished the coroner and jury to understand that the firm would not have let out a but of that construction, on such a day as Tuesday was , under any circumstances; but Mr. G. Hatfield had hired the boat a week previously, and they had no control over her, The coroaer said thejury could no longer inflict deodands or this would have been a proper case for o n e . It was evident such boats were not safe, even for an experienced watermsn to row in. They were altogether too frail. The jury were of the same opinion. Verthet—" Accidental death." PUBLIC MEETING AT LEEDS IN OPPOSI TION TO THE GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. LEEDS, MARCII 18.—,We gave, yesterday, an ab stract of the proceedings at this meeting. Mr. BAINES said it afforded him the mod sincere pleasure to see the Mayor plated in his proper poaition, presiding over a meeting called, not to support one side of a' . question or another aide of • question, but at the head of a meeting called for the purpose of deliberating and deciding upon all sides of it. (Hear, hear.) And it afforded him not leis pleasure to see the people there assembled in great numbers to deliberate upon a question of th e hi g hest importance, a subj ect involving the education of their children, and perhaps children in ages to come ; and he hoped that they would arrive at • conclusion that would be sound, and that would do credit to them, and that would promote the advantage of those whom they might be sup posed to represent, and whose interests they so deeply sustained. The requisition upon which the Mayor had con vened this meeting, and which he had just read, declared that she education i creed to be given by evernment was an education of that which very deeply involved a consti tutional question. The meeting was aware that there was a protection thrown around all the proceedings of parliament, which in this ease had been entirely superseded. (Hear.) There wee the prstectie& of no fewer than its different THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1847. stages of every bill in each house of parliament, but Matted of that, this measure wee intended to be carried by a single vote and expression of one house of parliament. (Hear.) Was that the way in which a great nail mat question ought to he treated ? Wee that the way that they ought to be dish with when they were engaged in the consideration of • most mumentousquestion, involving their own happiness and the happiness of their children, and their information and F r r enlightenment ? Why not bring this question before isment with as much courtesy as they would bring • hay ball before parliament ? A highway bill was read , Is six different !tape; hut • measure of national education was to be read in only one stage. This was, he said, a sub- motion of the constitution. (Hear). They bad heard of those, to whom they might be supposed to he opposed es this oration, exclaim, " Thank God, we have • House of Lords;" but in this case it might be said, "Thank God, we are without a House of Lords . ' The House of Lords was sot 'floe ed to deliberate upon this subject. The House of Lord., according to the proceedings which had taken place, was rendered a nonentity ; and if they could do w.thout the House of Lords upon this occasion, why could they not do without the Renee of Lords altogether ? (Hear.) He had always been of opinion that the House of Lords was a great safeguard of English liberty, though they might, to a made extent, sometimes be disposed to assert the prerogative, they were always disposed to protect those safeguards of the constitution which were mynas] to domestic happinees. (Hear, hear.) But this was not a question which he had to submit to the meeting upon his own responsibility. He founded himself upon no lees se authority than that of the Archbishop of Canterbury. ( Hear, hear.) Ile founded libuelf also upon another, who is, or at least was, pre-eminent is the estimation of many of the gentlemen on his right—he mut Sir Robert Peel : and he founded himself upon the Zzton of another, who was deserving of high esti h he differed with him in polities, and that wa= titaney. Aad what did Lard Stanley, the Archbishop 111 Canterbury, and Sir Robert Peel say of this Committee of Council for Education—this nondeeript ; this thing unknown to the constitution ; this fungus, conjured up to retry a cer tain purpose, a purpose utterly incompatible with the rules and usages of state ? He would tell them what Sir Robert Peel said of this Committ!e of Council. He said that the proceedings of this committee, and the committee itseU, were a departure from the general principles el' the constitution. Were they not, then, jute tiled in saying that this was a violation of the constitution, and that the measure was unconstitutional ? And whet was said by Lord Stanley upon the subject? Why, that it wail's irresponsible, au unfettered, end • des potic body. And were they upon a subject involving the stbacation of their children to allow an irresponsible and des potic body to dictate to them the course of education which they should pursue ? But the Archbishop of Canterbury clenched the whole matter, and he says that this committee of council has engaged in proceedings which usurp the func tions et the House of Lords, and supersede one brusch ef the legislature of this country. In reality, it superseded two beeneless; not only the House of Lords had nothing to do with it, hut the Queen would have nothing to do witn it, and would have no power to give her assent or dissent to the measure. But what be wished to establish in the first instance was, that this was an unconstitutional measure, and if it had been se good as it was bad, if it was ise fraught with advantage as it was pregnant with mischief, he would have opposed it on amount of its unconstitutional character. (Cheers.) He was not there to impugn the motives of the administration: it was well known that to that ad ministration he, for the most pert, had been strongly attached for the greatest portion of his life ; that he bed been amongst those who, by their bumble efforts, had added as much of strength as they had been able to. add to their policy, but he thought that in the present case they were pursuing a dangerous and mischievous policy. They were pursuing a policy that would endanger their pontion ' and was calculated to subvert the princieles the: brought them into power; and if it was only from friendship for the admieistration he would oppose the mea sure they had propounded. But here he thought it neces sary to make an admission. There was something so alluring and so captivating in the idea of insisting the educe. lion of the people, that be was of the number of those who were taken in by that feeling, and therefore when a measure was brought before parliament in the year 1839, he was one of those who said that he thought money might be voted on the recommendation of this committee of council. (Cries of " Hear, hear," and laughter.) But there was this difference between the measure brought forward in 1839 and the pre present measure. Then it was proposed to vote a sum of 30,0001., but now a scheme was brought into opera tion, which, if fully carried out, would require 1,700,0001. (" Howmuch is voted teethe army matey ?") A (need below , asked how much they voted for the army and navy : his answer was, that the more they voted for the army or navy, the less they would have to vote for duration. There was I another feature of the measure which he deemed an impor tant one, and It was this—The measure brought forward in 1810 only proposed to build schools, but the present one proposed not only to build schools, but to educate the people, and to educate them in the catechism. (Cries of " No, no.") Did anybody say no to that ? (Cries of" Yes," and " No no.") Did the church party say no to that ? (" Yes.") If they did, all that be could say was, that they did not understand the nature of the proposal they supported. That proposal was, that they should be instructed in the church catechism in all the sthools—("No, no")—in all the church schools. There was nobody who had read the minutes of the council who did not know that. (Murmurs oe disapprobation.) Then, also, this measure was not only a measure for the purpose of giving education, but it was a measure for the pur pose of giving a religious education ; and on that ground was objectionable in a way that the measure of 1839 war not. list he had told them, and with great cacdoar, that, he had changed his opinion as to the legality of those ma tures. Had not Sir Robert Peel changed his opi•ion as to free trade ? (Hear, hear.) And if Sir Robert Peel might change his opinion as to free trade, surely he (Mr. Seines) might change his opinion as to free education. ("Hear," and &laugh.) And, in addition to Sir Robert Peel'. change of opinion, he believed that the worthy vicar of Leeds had also changed his opinion. In 1839 the vicar of Leeds wee opposed to the order in council, but he bad now been in London to tell them that he was in favour of it. Therefore, if they had their Rowland, he thought he (Mr. Beier.) might have his Oliver. (Laughter.) But there had been a most extraordinary assumption put forward on this occa sion, and that was, that those persons who opposed the government grant for education were the enemies of educa tion. (" No, no.") There was not a man in that assembly who was more the friend of education than he was. For fifty years he had been fighting the battle of education. He bad fought the battle of education when the high church party said, " Do not educate the people ; it will make them discontented with their station.' ( Cheers.) (Cheers.) What was the answer to that? The answer was, " We will educate the people at all hazards; we believe it will not make them seditious ; we believe it will not make them dis satisfied with their petition ; on the contrary, we believe it will make them better children, better parents, and better masters." And they proceeded in that coulee for some time, the work being in the hands of those who are now said to be the enemies of education. But the question, now. was not that which it formerly was—Shall there be education or none—but, shall there be education founded on parental feeling, and upon the assistance that Christian communities can render to their neighbours and those who belong to their communities, or shall it be confined to state education, combined with a great deal of state influence ? (" No, no.") Hitherto they had done without this control—and had they done ill without it ? He would tell them how the quertien stood. In 1818 there were in the public day 'wheels of the country, speaking in round numbers, 600,000 pupils; in the year 1833 they had in creased to 1,200,000. and at the time he was speaking, they bad increased to at least, he thought he might say, 2,000,000. If that was so why not let them alone ? Were they not going on well ? And were they not improving in the quality as well as the quantity of their education 1 Why then should they have the interference of government to arrest their progress under the pretence of State Education ? There never was a time when education was making more progress, both in quantity and quality, and therefore they had no occasion for any of that interference. And why in the midst of thin should they cover the country with an army of pensioners—young pensioners ? They had all their life time been declaiming against placemen and pensioners, and now they were going to select one hundred thousand to distribute them over the country, to make them subservient to political or religious purpoms—(Hear)—and in that way to give rime to a great disparity in the ranks and conditions of men, that ought to be preferred by their own industry and their own eusrgy. (Hear.) The government measure was calculated to give to the members of the Established Church great asoendincy and pzedoaiaaat power. It could not fail to do so. The clergy wan to give certificates in all the schools of the Church ; but as to the Methodists, the bidependents, the Baptiste, the Catholics, and the Unitarians, their ministers were never once mentioned, but they were utterly shut out. Was not that a positive injustice ? (" Yes, yes.") Was not the minister of a congregation as able to judge of the pro gress of pupils as a clergyman ? (Applause). But the church had an advantage in another way ; church men could put their hands into the public funds for the advancement of their purposes, but there were certain Dissenters who, from conscientious scruples, could not take advantage of the proposal of government. (" Hear," and laughter.) Mr. Baines then referred to the effect the measure would have upon the Methodist body, mid said that though the Methodist Committee of Privileges had 110010 to no final decision upon it, the subject had been dis owned in London on the previous day, when the Rev. W. M. Bunting had designated the measure as unjust in prin ciple aed pernicious in operation. In like manner, Mr. Baines adverted to its operation on the other dissenting bodies, and exhorted them, if they did not wish to Tibet' conscience, to oppose it with all their might. Speaking of the Unitarians, with some of whom be had been accustomed to act with great seal, and to whom he owed obligations he could never repay, he was sorry to see them now associated with men to whom they had been strongly opposed in homer educational movements. (Hear, hear, hear.) But It was said that adversity brought men acquainted with strange bed-fellows. Arampt those on his right to whom ' they were opposed, he observed his venerable friend Mr. Tattle, and if there was any man in that assembly for whom he had a high veneration, it was Mr. I ottie. Me was sorry to see him there. He bad seen him is better company. (Cheers and laughter) Mr. Term .—I am not ashamed to be here. Mr. BAINES said he was glad to see that the Unitarians I , generally had • proper appreciation of this measure. He had a letter in his pocket from Mr. Frederick Schwan's, of', Huddersfield, which stated that at a meeting of the Uni tarian congregation, held at Huddersfield last week, it was unanimously agreed to oppose the government measure es unconstitutional in spirit, unjust in principle, and highly religious freedom. He understood, also, that ttTitT to rien ministers of Bradford and of Halifax, were decidedly opponents to the government scheme. Mr. Baines then proceeded to argue that if the proposed scheme had been in operation emu years ago, it would have greatly impeded, If not wholly obstructed, the rapid advances which had ►een made in the cause of parliamentary and municipal reform; and be addressed himself at some length to counter act the notion which he said was entertained by that section of politicians which advocated the principles of the pe?ple's charter, that the extension of education wou'd inevitably procure an extension of political privileges. With this slew he referred to the electoral statistics of Prussia, Austria, Prance, and other place', where the government had charge of the education of the people, to show that no such result had followed in those countries, and he concluded by moving the following resolution: That, in the opinion of this emoting, the education of the entire population is of paramount importanoe to the welfare and happiness of our country ; this meeting therefore Moires 1n the Increasing number of all roses of the comentusity who an under the means of instruction ; but, at the same time, regarding public liberty r of inestimable value, it protests, in • most energetic manner, avert the provost 111<ftUre of government, as unconstitutional in its form, partial and unjust In Its operation, and calculated encionously to increase the influence of the government, and to destroy the manly badependence of the people. Mr. Alderman Citatory, in seconding the resolution, referred to his experience of the effect of state edu cation in Germany, which he mid was more calcu lated to destroy than to promote public liberty. After urging various objections against the government scheme, he concluded by seconding the motion of Mr. Baines. Mr. AWL STAMIFELD said that, when they lest met upon that arena, the struggle was for food for the body ; now it wee for food for the mind. (Hear.) Then it was to provide for their natural wants; now it was fee their intellectual improvement, by promoting education. It might be now, as at the commencement of that struggle, that they did not see their way clearly to their hest interests; but this he was cer tain of, that England would never rest satisfied till her sons took rank among the best educated people upon the face of the earth. (Cheers.) But being confined to the voluntary principle alone would not place them in that petition. (Cries of "It will.") He was there as an advocate for government aid, if administered impartially to all, aud with out restraint upon the religious convictions of any. (Hear, hear.) But, as had been said by previous speakers against the scheme, what was the um of trusting the scheme with those who had no scheme at all ? It was waste of time. He admitted that the scheme was open to tome objection. Who was to blame for that ? Not the government, who were deterred from bringing forward a more comprehemive scheme and submitting it to the ordeal of parliament, by the opposition of those litigious parties who bad been so fickle minded as to protest against that for which, io 1833, they had petitioned. The real question to be determined was, could the whole body of the people be educated by means of the voluntary pnneiple ? (" Yes, yes ' " and " No, no.") But in the promotion of the cause of education he for one would willingly enlist and join the ranks, even if those with whom he had worked politically all his life, and whom he should be ready to join spin in the cause of liberty, imputed to him inconsistency of conduct. He must be allowed, in his own vindication, to retort upon them, and to say, that it was they, and not he, who had been inconsistent. He found himself amongst those who admitted full liberty of con science, by assenting to the government granting aid for edu cational purposes to all meta and denominations. The prin. ciple was grand, was sound, was just and true. (Cheers.) He stood opposed to these, the main body of whom would not tolerate that government should grant aid to those who differed front them in religions belief. Was that religious liberty ? It was intolerance, which always was opposed to liberty; it was sectarianism, the natural enemy of religions freedom, which, by leading man to look open hie brother man with anything but good will, was opposed to that test of our Saviour, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples." Those sectarians who were now most o pp osed to the government plan of education did not, in 1839, entertain any ohjection to its aid, because at that time they petitioned for such assistance. They did not object when the British and Foreign School Society received a pant in aid of its building fund to the extent of 6,0001., besides 7501. a year for salaries. Supposing a law were framed enacting that each sett should provide for the education of Its own body, would there be any thing in such 'regulation a ff ecting conscience ? Parties might object to being compelled to make such provision, but there would be no violence to conscience. Now the working of the proposed scheme was the Name ; each contributed to the taxes, and just in proportion to its numbers and wealth, would each sect draw out its proportion of the common fund for educational purposes. It was this equality which cen stituted the excellency of the scheme, and any interference with it would materially impair its efficiency. The ques tion for the consideration and the determination of the meeting was, would they support the measure pro- I pteed by her Majesty's government for promoting the education of the people of this country? If they did not support it, the government might give way ; but he must tell them that he had just returned from town, where he had conversed with several members of parliament, but he had not met with a single member who would advocate extreme opposition to all government aid. He had conversed with the President of the Council, aid with the Secretary to the Committee of Council, and be was satisfied that the measure was based on the strictest impartiality. (" Hear, hear," and "No.") If this meeting supported the measure, it would be carried, and then their friends who now opposed it, find ing themselves shackled by a measure so distasteful to them, would juin with him, and those with whom he was acting would join with him (Mr. !Benefield) in going for a better measure. As free traders they had been taxed, — yet what was the bond of union amongst free-traders? Why, that there shall be no monopoly that the ground shall be free to all. (Hear, hear.) When he heard of the apprehensions to this scheme (which he considered to be equally for the benefit of all) that it would be injurious in its operation to the cause of education. He was reminded of the objection of Sir Edward Knatchbull, that the repeal of the corn-laws would lead to the loos of the portions which they would require for their daughters. It was said to be a state and church measure. But it was based upon the prin ciple of giving aid to all and to every sect alike, and there fore be supported it. If the working classes wished to raise themselves in the scale of society—if they wished to have their children well brought up, well-instructed, intelligent, an honour to their parents, a credit to the country, and worthy of the name of Christians, they would give their support to this measure. (No, no.) Dissenters, free traders, and liberals, be called upon them to support the scheme of government. He asked the support for it on the ground that it was not a church-and-state mea sure in principle ; that it was impartial in its applica tion to all ; and that it was based on the soundest maxim of justice to each and to all. He was satisfied, from his recent interviews in London, that equal justice would be done to all. Upon these grounds did he support it—upon these grounds did he ask the public to support it. (Cheers and disapprobation.) As an amendment to the mutton which had bean submitted to them he begged to propose the following • _ . . . . That this ineellsos sessible of the lift ,s slob of seitaticti t o this =Wry, boll al ripe* ossatity sad (mot apssisily)ipolity, ,to.. with estisiotiss da NS that hos boot by oswest. Worts as this mot importsot wheat. NM is to sisood its Worts as keg as lbsy nodose to be liberty, both civil sott rabgloss. Dislolog Wit to all the 'Moils. this tosstior ot *As tha er - pimi of domain proymiloi by the osessiost tosi to Models. supsrwdlog,_ tolsoloya. tins. NA that it silos semi allsooteges to allorldoset taselArlo sr s with Ow :raglan sylioos at wq. That a yeti*" flag this ressooko. Mooed by die mow ca behalf of ths wissollog, prestotod to the Soon of Commis by the two Womb members. - • • - Mr. Gorr cordially supported the amendment moved by Mr. Alderman Stansfeld. Mr. JAMBS RICHARDSON was beard in support of the ori ginal motion. He would tell the men of Leeds, if they allowed this plan to be carried out, and had not courage to stamp it to the ground, they would in a few years find the people of this country corrupted by bribes offered to their children Is schoolmasters, pupil., teachers, or stipendiary monitors, and by such means the most alarming inroads would be made upon the liberties and independence of the people. Rev. Da. Hoox said, that after the speech which had just been addressed to them, he should almost be afraid to appear before them if he did not come with a certificate from the hon. gentleman who had introduced the motion, and who had borne his testimony to the fact that he (Dr. Hook) had progressed in the cause of education whilst the ben. gentleman himself had retrograded. (No, no, and cheers.) He was happy to say that he had laboured diligently for thirty years in the cause of education, and he was very well content, as a clergyman, to go on SI he had done. He had been ten years in Leeds, and in the cause of education, the church, during that period, had spent 20,0001., and had provided the means of instruction for upwards of nine thousand children. l liear, hear.) When he considered how their churchmen offered education to one part of the community only, he was per fectly willing to go on and educate their own people in that manner. He was not at all desirous himself of soy state interference—(cheer)—he was not by any means de. sirous of that ; but if the question wu whether they should provide for the purple a sufficient and good education with out the amistance of the state, he could only say that though some years ago such a measure might have been opposed by the archbishops and the clergy, they had now given way, because they wished to see the people better educated. Certain statistics were in opposition to the measure; but with reference to them all he asked of the people was, are you satisfied with the quality of the education which you can now give to your children ? (Cries of " No, no," and " Yes.") Now, what did the government do? It said, or supposed, that there ought'to be an improvement, both is quantity and quality, with respect to the education of the people. The ineetimg might think otherwise, but govern ment had that idea; and the object of the proposed measure, (which was only carrying out a little further the plan which had been acted upon for some time) was, to afford to all the means of obtaining a better education for their children. There could be no harm in aiming at that object. The next thing was as to the means. The means proposed were by the anti of voluntary scorn. No person was compelled to receive an inspector ; no person was compelled to receive government aid, but the government was willing to assist. If they thought that the ir schools ware ro well conducted, that they needed no assistance, then they would not ask it. The next object was to provide safe-guards. Now any gentleman, or any class of persons of any denomination, had only to state to the government their objections to any of the details of the measure, and to point out where there was any want of Leiner or equality, and the government would be willing to redress it. He understood the pro posed measure in that way : persons had only to state to the government what their objection was, and it would be attended to. The supporters of the sea. sure who met lately at Leeds, had an objection to one particular point, which was stated to government, and it was redressed. He understood that the Methodists had an ob jenion, which, when stated, would be taken into considera tion with perfect fairness. The only point of difference which had been noticed was that in Church of England school., the clergyman was to assist the inspector in the examination, and in the Diss' entiog schools the managers were to do the same. In some schools there was no minister attached, and that was the reason why they were not men tioned ; but lithely was any vitamin in *et it should be represented to the committee of council. He had may thought it necessary to allude to these two or three points, that they might understand the matter neatly, and be pre pared to say whethtr they would accept foe the education of their children, assistance from the goventment. (" No, no," and " yes.") All that he could my was diet this was a m►tter which concerned those before him, and if they did not want madame he did nat. The MAYOZ then read over the motion and the amend ment, and called for a show of hands for and against the latter. The majority, though small, was against the amend ment, but it was decisive. The mayor declared the amend meta lost. Mr. Bunn' then moved as another amendment That this meeting deems it regaieite to decline that any plan or as *ma education. to be efficient, Just, and ratisfactury to ell porn., loom be tree from metarlenben, and likewise pre the people the power, through kcal boards, to levy rates for, and to superintend the management af, the several erbooln " • . Mr. T. 8. MACILINTOIIII seconded this amendment. On a show of havda, it woo negatived by a considerable majority, and the original resolution was &Homed. The Rev. J. ELY moved : That, to addition to the spiel& objections entertain-d wing the mranure Month, forward by the committee of council, this meeting met emphatically denies that it is the right and duty of government to interfere in the education of the people, and would express its arm confident* in the suflleisney of voluntary efforts to furnish all the aid winch the exigencies of the nation may require. Mr. P. F.lll/11111101 seconded, end Mr. 11•NNELIT sup ported, the motion. and it wee carried with f: w dissentients, the supporters of the government having left the yard. The Ker. T. SCALES moved : That petitions to parliament, praying that the scheme of edocatke which has been proposed may not be culled into execution, and that all grants of public mosey fur the purpose of education may hence firth be withheld, be adopted by the meeting, and submitted (or diestare to the inhabitants of tlieborough, and be presented to the Home of Lade by Earl Fitswilham, un.l to the House of tkintro b :ms u l the members fur the borough ; and that the members for the.og e l and Wert failing be warily requested to comply with the prayer of the mene . . . . The Rev. Josue Permits seconded the motion; and it was adopted. Thanks were thrn ♦oted to the Mayor for his terrines in the chair; and the meeting, which had lasted upwards of five hoar*, then broke up. IRELAND. DUBLIN, Maseru 17. The meeting of the citizens, yesterday, is the subject of general conversation. Speeches and reso lutions in a public assembly, where such aggregates are not =frequent, demand no special attention, but the pictures of actual distress among the trading classes, represented by those who know them best, and in which they were themselves sharers, have pro duced a deep impression. Bad as the present is the future is contemplated with more painful alarm. Heretofore the poor were the sole objects of public interest and sympathy, but now the infection has touched the middle-classes. The circle widens, and none sees the true means of escape. At the meet ing yesterday a respectable druggist gave a deplor able account of the condition of the tradespeople. The meeting was adjourned to Friday. It is to be regretted, that though there does not seem to exist any combination against tillage in Mayo, still there is very little cultivation. The Mayo paper received to-day states that a tilled field in that county is " like an oasis in a desert." It is much more to be regretted that the probability of greater exertion depends upon a chance not at all likely to be realised. While the small landholder is dependent upon the public works for subsist ence, and cannot afford to purchase seed, there is a third obstruction, which the Mayo Con stitution states to consist in " a disinclination to undertake tillage, unless, perchance, the suggestion of Mr. John O'Connell were adopted—that the landlord should forego all claims for rent, &e., in the coming year." This overstates the suggestion of Mr. John O'Connell. What he did suggest was that the land lords should undertake not to sweep away the whole harvest in satisfaction of rent and arrears. Did Lord John Russell make in hie place in Parliament some declaratio4 upon this subject, it would not be without effect in smoothing the way to some such understand ing, if the subject shall be deemed improper for spe cific legislation. lam happy to say, however, that the accounts from the south of Ireland, Cork, Lime rick, and Tipperary are of a much more pleasant cha racter : tillage is prooecding. The order of the Board of Works, requiring the dismissal of 20 per cent, has begun to operate on the public mind, and appears on all sides very un popular. The papers from Mayo, Tipperary, Lime rick, Down, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Cork, all con demn its peremptory character rather than the prin ciple. At the Cork assizes on Monday, the foreman, Lord Bernard, stated what is quite true, that • very large per centage of those employed on the public works were never engaged in agriculture, so that a strict adherence to the 20 per cent. will deprive numbers of employment whom the farmers will not take to any great extent, and the landlords cannot. The following resolution was unanimously adopted : That although it is expedient to discontinue the employ ment of the labouring classes on public works, under the 10th Tic., cap. 107, as soon as circumstances will admit, particu larly where agriculture seems to be neglected, yet, 001211i denng the evil which would arise from suddenly discharging a vest number of persons before they could find employment in farming operations, and also considering that many roads would be left in a useless, and some in a dangerous, state, if not finished, the grand jury are of opinion that works al ready commenced should be completed, and no new roads sanctioned. _ _ _ ----- The rejection of the clauses in the Million Act re lative to the erection of farm buildings, led to the following resolutions, which were forwarded to Lord J. Russell : That the grand jury have heard with the deepest regret that the clause is the Property (Ireland) Bill, manor ming 'landlord. to borrow money for the erection of farm buildings has been abandoned by her Ma jesty's government. That we consider the said clause the most important. part of the said bill. That its withdrawal will materially impair its beneficial effects, and that we earnestly implore her Majesty's government to reintroduce the clangs, That we consider the erection of farm buildings to be the preliminary step to all agricultural employment, and calculated to encourage profitable employ ment with the cultivation of the lend. That the county of Cork has great water power, but a deficiency of mills, and that the want is not likely to be supplied by private enterprise. M. Soyer is busy with his organisation. On Sa turday he attended one of the parochial soup kitchens, and from the same quantity of materials he pre pared a soup which was declared " fit for the table of any nobleman in the land." But what the pariah values quite as much as the excellence of the soup is the rapidity with which it can be manufactured. One hundred gallons can be produced in three hours, whereas the ordinary time of preparation was from fifteen to twenty. Thus from one boiler the distribu tions can, if necessary, be tripled. The cost of the 1 00gallons which" nobles might relish" wasabout 4;d. per gallon, the quantity of bed need being 521 be., at eid. per lb. To-day M. Boyer repeats the trial, and purposes sending some of his soup is the principal clnbe of the city at the request of the parish committee. ST. PATRICK'S D•r.—This is the anniversary of the paMon saint of Ireland. Of yore it was a great day for Ireland; the consumption of whisky was excessive, an d the number of broken heads and other manifestations of enjoy. meat was unusually great. To-day the scene was wanting in those indications of the old mint. The Castle guard relief, which opened in former years this mid-lest Irish carnival, was to day a very quiet proceeding. The Lord-Lieutenant, the ladies of his family, and his Auden de-camp appeared is the balcony at the Castle wearing tremendous bouquets of shamrock. The commander of the forces and his sides rode through town similarly decorated. The accustomed airs were played, the customary cheers were given—sad the display was over. I saw no sign of drunkenness. EDINBUROH, Maim 17. A steamer arrived in Greenock on Sunday with another importation of some 300 young Highlanders intended for railway employment. Such of them as we have seen have a strong hardy appearance, and are better clothed than the Irish who visit our shores for a similar purpose. Fever is represented as prevailing extensively in Glasgow. In 1845 the whole cases reported by the district surgeons only amounted to 194, or seventeen cases a-month; in December last the number reported was 257, in January 233, and in February 255. In one single close of the High-street it was certified by the inspector of the poor that there were no less than forty-four cases. Mr. J. B. Smith, along with Mr. Bright, visited Dunfermline on Friday ; the former was coldly re ceived. Besides assisting Mr. Smith in his canvass, Mr. Bright bad, while in Scotland, a conference with the committee of the East Lothian Anti-Game-Law Association. The emaciation has offered a prize for the best away on the " Evils of the Game Laws," for which a great number of competitors have come forward. Mr. Bright and some of his parliamentary friends are to act as arAjudicatere. A correspondent of the Scotsman relates that on Monday last he " met a poor:woman carrying in her arms to the grave the coffin which contained the body of her child, a ttended by a couple of policemen , and some straggling spectators," and he complains , very reasonably, against the parochial board, for al -1 lowing such an exhibition. Rutastcaala DISEA/lE IN 811Eltr..—A Career in Rath well, Dumfriesshire, lost about half a score .4' sheep lately ; and, on an examination bring made of the come of death, it was discovered that the intestines contain d a number of loch or horse leeches. These animals had probably been swallowed by the sheep when drinking, end appeared to have eaten through the coats of the atom .ch until they reached some of the vital organ,. whereby death was pro duced. Mortality among sheep has been very prevalent in this district: one farmer in the neighbourhood of Anima has lost forty sheep, and another thirty, this moon. WALES. •• Tux new LAW OP SETTLIMPNT.—UpWartiIi of 340 families have already become chargeable to the parish of Merthyr Tydfil since the alteration of the act of settlement. Very tew families have been during the same time trans ferred from Merthyr to the charge of other parishes. The evil is constantly increasing—scarcely a week panes but con siderable aomben of papers become " due." PICION . II MoNvmser.—ln consequence of t►e frost the rebuilding of the monument has been suspended for Goole time, but the works will be recominenei d nor the weather is more favourable. The money sub. cribed is sufficient for the comp!. bun of the monument according to the original design, with the exception of the four lions to ornament the base. To meet the expense of these a further rain will be required. PROVINCIAL. IBCINDIAZTEM BAS AGAIN BECOME BRIQUE/Mt in several neighbourheods. On Saturday se'rotight, tl inhabitants of Leighton Buzzard were thrown into a f tate of con sternation by two fires breaking out in differ, at and oppo site parte of the place. The first was di/befriend in the farm yard of Mr. Bushel, of the Swan Inn, North-street, which war fortunately extinguished without effecting soy more mischief than the destruction of a bean-rick. The other, on the premises of Messrs. Claridge, raged furi ously from eight o'clock until after midnight, and oar rimed nine ricks of beans, prate, and hay, and an agricultural building. These tires would have destroyed a large portion of the town, had it not been for the favourable direction of the wind, the abundant supply of water, the ex cellent working of the engines, and the united efforts of the neighbours of all ranks end rictus. The yroperty ants insured. We regret also to state that, an ' , riday ae'n night, a barn containing a large quantity of straw, situate in the village of Wing, the property of Mr. Barrie. of Wing Mill, was set on fire and totally acinsunted, with its contents. A hayrick near was likewise in jured. The wind fortunately blew in an opposite direction from the house, and other premises; and by the strenuous exertions of the inhabitants, the flames were prevented from ext nding further. On Monday se'nnight, moodier tiro occurred on the premises of Mr. Fountain, Wing-bury Farm, Wing. A bean-risk, three or four hay-ri ks, some hovels and cow-houses, were destroyed. A now also perished in the flames. The dwelli-g-hoase was pre served. A correspondent at Newport Paine' eays I regret to have occasion to inform you that, within the last ten days, we have had five or six incendiary f in this neighbourhood; and on Saturday evening, about II o'clock, we were all disturbed by aay of fire. It wee at Willem, about a mile and a half from here, when about 80 loads of wheat in the straw was entirely destroyed. lamat a loos to as:merit fur this infatuation, as our labouring population are pretty well employed, although, I fear, at wag. s toolow for the present high price of provisions." Another fire has occurred at &ham, and two boys, one 16, and the other only 13 years old, have been committed for trial for burning. a clover Mack at Culfurd. As. extensive fire took place, last week, on the premises occupied by Mr. P. Barber, of Arley Mn.., by which calamity no fewer than fourteen head of cattle were destroyed. out of a stock of twenty-eight. Thera is no doubt that the fire was wilfully occasioned, but no clue has yet been obtained likely to lead to the appre hension of the culprit. GOITINMENT liClllllEr OP . EDUCATIOL—PHDLIPP MEETING AT W•ILEFIELD.—A public meeting of the in habitants of Weld field was held on Tuesday, in support of the ministerial scheme for the extension cf education. The chair was taken by George Sanders, Esq. The Rev. Samuel Sharp, vicar of Wske fi eld, moved the first resolution : "That this meeting considers it the duty of government to contribute from the public funds in aid of local efforts for the education of the people." The rev. gentleman said it used to be a question whether it was right and expedient to educate the people; but that question bad, he hoped, long I ago been answered in the affirmative ; for although there might possibly be some who thought that ignorance was the parent of devotion and submission to proper authority, the great body of the people of England, be believed, considered that it was not only right but expedient to educate the people generally. There were three methods of accomplishing this great object: the first was by voluntary exertions ; the second, by grants from the State; the third, by the union of those two means. Either the education of the people must rest entirely upon voluntary efforts, or upon grants from government, or the government must assist them who were dispelled to give their voluntary assistance. The voluntary syseem had, been tried for • long time, and it had done moth good. (Hear, hear.) Of that he could speak foam experi ence, as he had now been before the public for t.early half a century. But still there was an immense mars of people in the country that were not educated at all, end there were more that were not sufficiently educated. The question ap peered to him to lie in a nut-shell. Government had @twi lled themselves, from the inquiries that had been made is late year, that the voluntary system would not meet the wants of the people, and they had come forward to ascertain how far they could assist those voluntary effort.. And they had done tlsis in the moat candid and fairest way potable— in a way that enabled every man in the kingdom to accept the proffered boon without any sacrifice of principle. After other speakers had expressed views favourable to the government plan, a question was raised, whether amendments opposed to that plan could be enter tained by the meeting. After some discussion, Mr. Those Rogers, one of the secretaries to the committee that had called the meeting, explained that the meeting bad been confined to the friends of the measure, because a meet ing of those opposed to it had recently been held is the West Parade Wesleyan Chapel. But the supporters of the mea sure had no objection to meet its opponents in public discus sion. He moved—" That thin meeting do adjourn, sine die, end that steps be taken for causing a public meeting of the inhabitants of the borough to he convened, fur the purpose of expressing an opinion open the ministerial plan for aiding • in the education of the people." The resolution was carried THZ COAL-PIT EXPLOZION NEAR BARNSLZY.-011 Tuesday the adjourned inquest was held on the unfortunate men w ho perished in the Oaks pit on the 6th inst. The in quiry occupied the coroner and jury from seven in the morn ing until past seven in the evening, when it was again adjourned.—Mr. W. P. Roberts, solicitor, of Mancheiter, attend, don behalf of some of the sufferers, and put several quettions to the witnesses on the subject of the state of the pit at the time of the calamity, hie object apparently being to discover whether or not any blame is to be attributed to the proprietors of the colliery. On Monday last the body of William Walton was taken out of the pit, leaving only one of the whole number not yet discovered. Joseph Northorpe and Joseph Littlewood, who were pre sent when the body of Walton was found, were examined, and stated that Walton was working with a candle at the time of the explosion, and that it was generally sate to work with candles in that pit. Witness had frequently cautioned the men, and Walton among the Teat, againet going to the old break in the pit with a candle. The wit ness had himself recommended another shaft to be made, in addition to the two, by which the pit is at present ventilated. In reply to Mr. Merits, solicitor, who appeared on behalf of the proprietors of the pit, Littlewood st. ted that Walton had no business at the place where be was found. Henry Hewitt, a collier, was in the pit at the time of the ac eident. He worked with a candle, and considered that the air in the pit was good at the time. The hole he worked in appeared safe previous to the explosion. Witness had re ceived instructions from Littlewood to be sore and use the lamp on certain occasions when the air was thick. The air was good on the day of the snidest. Witham thought the two shafts of the pit were too near together. The next wit ness was Mr. Benjamin Byrom, the superintendent of Earl Fitzwilliam's eateries, who bad been dented by the coroner to examine the Oaks-pit. He said he had been down and examined that part where the fire commenced. Came to the conclusion that the fire had taken place at the old break, from the falling in of the roof forcing the foul air upon the candles ; but from the position in which Walton 's body was found, he had become somewhat doubtful. Ile now thought it quite as likely that the fire had originated from his candle, if he had one that day. There was a very strong current of air when he was in the pit. Mr. Edward Wrigley, of Manchester, colliery viewer, considered the shafts amply sufficient for the ventilation of the workings in that pit, even including the stoppages. Had been in this pit in January last, and the only fault he found with it was that it had too much air. He went all over the works with a candle, and was perfectly satisfied with the ventilation. Believed it might be considered con clusive that Walton bed fired the pit with his candle. If not he could not have been found where he was. Sir Henry de la Bich' and Mr. Worthington Smythe, who hive been sent down by government, have within the last few days made a searching .personal examination and inquiry into the matter. The event has caused the greatest consterna tion in the neighbourhood, and a public meeting is called for the purpose of opening a subscription for the families of the sufferers. SPISSEr. RIPIIWIZMTATIOIC OF BAST STROZZ.---Thu Brigheoll Gazette of yesterday contains an address from Mr. C. H. Frewen, one of the members for the eastern division of the county, announcing the determination of that gentleman at the next election to retire from parliament. It will be re membered that when he originally came forward ascandidate for East Sussex, Mr. Frewen did so reluctently,expressing his readiness and wish to retire, whenever a succemor of the same principles could be found to replace him. Such a successor has now been found in Mr. Lucia Shads ell, a strong protectionnt. ELICTION FOR EAST SOMERSWL—Yesterday, in CORSO gamma of a circular Waned by the seenneries ache Rest Be saweee Liberal Registration Society, a amines raft el dogma was held at Bah, for the purposed selecting a au dible in the place of the late Col. Owe Lure. The ithr wen taken S.- Olgeein bed already , 7 1 “ gad uZ i r 'Pinney, of lam eseceried ded wised them dielss, Mk ad wpm= civil a= Mid= Iliad was then =whaled, , with Cape= essisa eleake. S 1 I 4 - 114 ili•nler;bcr 7.; ielle, — gr:ileiteT. ll neemeeaded for their eboice a gentleman lady est In parliament for the borough or -a isnitisman of sterling liberal . • itllolll sod banourable charader-41r. : • • tleametaa. Sir Heavy • . ....,,,, •• . heil the teriehitioa, Yr. "*".7. vr ..''' rit 1. • *dem wised We ea . r .. i ll '' 4 /i or espreered lie warn eihereges ' ' ;.! 4, e - ,, loos liberty. The ransintkei Lif •. ". '''''' ' "..: dmonsly adopted, sad ea • . : 11,-, _,. %obeli as chairman, eppelated,p ' we 4. • , Q....-. -ri :r . , .ti,•__7l. -0