The Express. — London, England, 1848-07-25 00:00:00

that the hon. gentleman, the member for the University of Oxford, alf rded him an opportunity of reiterating his ob jections to the principal of the bill. Sir R. FEROUSSON said he was very much pained by the manner in which the petition was quoted. The petition implor.d the House of Commons not to pass this bill be canae it held out an idea that the money would be paid back again. That idea they repudiated. He did not think it fair under such circumstances to quote the petition. Mr. URQU IIA la said that the criticism on the petition enhanced its vein , . Sir I). .1. NOItREYS objected that the payment of ad vances were made general while the advantage would in evitably be local. lie thought that the bene fi t derived by narticular counties ought to be correctly ascertained. Mr. STAFFORD made an explanation. Sir H. WILLOUGH BY concurred in the views of the hon. gentleman the member for Liverpool on the ground that no money should he voted by parliament unless, the mode in which it was to be expended was specified in the estimates. The CHAIRMAN then put the question as to whether the blank for time should be tilled up by the words " three years," which was agreed to. The house then divided on Mr. Ooulburn'a amendment. k'or the clime lOB Aga it On retuning t the gallery we found Mr. HUDSON objecting to grants of money made without any promp et of repo) meat. Mr. GOI:LBURN reminded the hon. member that the house had ale, rely affirmed the principle of the grant. Col. SIB MORI% as one of the gusrdians of the public purse, obj' cted to this mode of frittering away the public money. lie looked upon the present bill so the smuggling act of a smustqlinn government. (Laughter.) After a short discussion clauses 2 and 3 were agreed to. The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill was or dered to be rorted on Thursday next. SPIRITS (DEALERS IN) BILL. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the .Excittut - xx, the committee on B this bill was ONDED CO posRN tponed until Friday next. BILL. On the motion 4.4 Me. LABOCCHERE, the order for the committee on this bill was discharged. The right hon. member stated that he had ascertained from the hoard of Customs that legislation would not be necessary to enable parties to grind corn in bond during the next three months, and therefore he begged leave to withdraw the bill, which he had proposed with a view of legalising that operation. SAVINGS BANKS IN IRELAND. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER nvored that a select committee should be appointed to inquire into and report on the laws regulating savings banks in Ireland, and on the large deficiencies in several branches of those banks, in consequence of frauds committed by the officers. A(ter a conversation the motion was agreed to. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. CARDWELL moved for copies of any reports made to the government by the revenue departmeata, with a view to the proposed alteration in the proportionate duties upon refined and raw sugars respectively. He made this motion in consequence of the proposed alteration in the government plan, to he prepared for the committee on Thursday. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there were no official mules such as were alluded to, which it was in his power to lay before the house. The information on which government had proceeded had been chiefly obtained by communication with individuals in the trade. Atter a few words from Mr. UOULUVILN, the motion was withdrawn THE NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. EWAIt V rose to submit • motion on the subject of the accommodation in the new house but a motion being made that the house should be counted. and there being only 33 members present, the house stood adjourned, at a quarter after 1 o'clock, until noon this day. ELECTION CONIMITTEES.—YESTEaDAY. DUBLIN. —Scrutiny resumed. One vote struck off the sitting member's majority. Noun' CIIESIIIRE.—The committee met and pro. 'seeded with the case of treating against Mr. Leigh, the sit ting member. The evidence went to show that each voter was supplied with a voting vird, which was exchanged for a refreshment ticket after he bad polled. The refreshments supplied to the voters consisted of cold mesh, beer, and brandy and water. One of the witnesses stated that he had promised to support Mr. Leigh's opponent, but the prospect of a good dinner, which Mr. Leigh's friends held out to various electors, induced him to vote for that gentleman. The evidence had not closed when the committee adjourned. The chsrges of b. ibery contained in the oetition are aban doned. Vitt erIIVEISIS. MAILS. The mail. for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar will be made up on the morning of the 27th July. The matt. for British North America, and the United States, will be made up ea the evening of the 28th July. The mails for Yew South Wales, Van theman's Land, aad New Zealand will be made up ou the evening of the 3lst July. The mails for the West Coast of Africa and Madeira will be made lap on the evening of the 31st July. The West India Mails, including Bermuda, Nausea, Havana, Honduras, New Orleans, Vera Crux, Tampico, and Porto Rico, end excluding Owen for Madkra, Jacmel, Carthagena, Santa Martha, Mayes, Panama, Went Coast of South America, and St. Juanwle- Nicaragua. will be made up on the morning of the 2nd August. The mails for the Brazils, the River Plate, Mane Video, rerMllll. burn, Bahia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made up on the evening of the Ith August. The overland closed mails, cia Marseillm, to the editerranean, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong-Kong, lac., will be M made up on the evening of the 7th Aug. The overland mails toe Gibraltar, Malts, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, Aden, Ces lon, India, (long-Kong. and Chins, rise Southamp ton, will he made up on the evening of the 19th August. NOTICE TO ADVE2TISERS. The number of STAMPS issued by the authorities of the Stamp-othee, during 1847, to the DAILY NEWS was 3.447,009 This, we believe, is within eight p.r C 611.1. 01 the number issued to the Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle, am: Morning Post, ALL PUT 10013TH813. In addition to the above, issued to the DAILY NEWS, Morning Paver, there were issued for the Evening Edition, THE EXPRESS 778.714 Which was more, we believe, than were issued rithcr to the Globe or Standard, Eveninit Papers. HIGH WATER AT T.I. DAs -14,nros. ala. PsstLONDON Afters..., BRIDOI. tsts• Ps. 9. TP•11101.101F —WM., s 7 tam put 9; AIMING. 31 611. WI ID. LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 25. - - - - THE most important point in Mr. HUME'S plan of reform is the equalisation of the electoral districts. This one thing would do more towards diminishing the undue ascendancy of landed and moneyed wealth than all the other points, even of the charter, without it. It would reduce the nominees of the landlords in the House of Commons from about two-thirds of the whole assembly to about one-third. And by making every electoral body too numerous to be bribed, it would put an end to the obtaining seats by mere ex penditure, an object for which so much virtuous zeal is so ineffectually professed by all classes of half re formers. This, then, being, of all the " points," by far the meet disagreeable to the present ruling powers, the opposition to it is proportionally more obstinate than to any other. But as it is not convenient to say that the real objection to the measure is its efficacy, every encouragement is held out to the invention of senti mental objections. Electoral districts are said to be mechanical, pedantic,arule-andquare system; and all the other phrases usually employed to throw discredit on precise and business-like modes of conducting any transaction. Serjcant TALFOURD, the " good poet bat bad politician," lent himself as an organ for this style of declamation ; and clenched his first specimen with the passage, known to all reeders of poetry, from COLERIDGE'S translation of SCHILLER'S, " Wel lenstein," in which the crafty (Mario Piemlonuni inculcates on his high-minded son the superiority of tortuous courses : Straightforward flies The lightning flash,aml straight the ninnombalL Shattering that it may reach, and shattering what it reaches. So, because the lightning and the cannon-ball fly straight to their mark, nothing else should. Straight. forwardness and directness of aim are declared to be 1 discreditable things, and whatever takes the straight road to its object is an agent of destruction. Le , us rather say that directness and power are the same thing. or always accompany each other. If the object be to destroy, the means which are most direct are the most effectual; and so they are when the object is to preserve. When a person is in the water and drowning, Mr. TALFOURD would hardly quote SCIIILLER in favour of going round about, instead of straight in to deliver him. If it is absolutely neces sary to have an illustration from visible nature, the sunbeams move in straight lines as well as the light ning ; indeed more so, for the lightning makes no objec tion to twisting and turning in order to accommodate itself to the direction of the conducting medium. A steam-ship, also, would have been a more appropriate exemplification of rectilineal movement than a cannon ball. The poet goes on to say that the road on which blessing travels Winds round the corn field and the hill of vino, Honouring the holy bound. of property; but the very words of the quotation suggest that the illustration and the philosophy are both antiquated, and that roads, in these days, are not made on the principle wh;ch the poet patronises. Does it not occur to the admirers of crooked paths that we are living in an age of railroads; and that, now-a-days, rather than not go straight to our object, instead of winding round the hill we even tunnel through it? The spirit of the time requires that its machinery, whether for physical or for political pur poses, shall be efficient. It is not reckoned a merit in machinery to imitate the pleasing irregularities of nature. Its beauty is in its accuracy : it works by straight lines and right angles, and works best when its lines are most correctly straight, its angles moat exactly square. COLERIDGE himself, though fond of quoting the passage which Serjeant TA LFOURD cited from him, is an authority in favour of electoral districts. He recom mended, we think in his " Church and State," a new administrative division of the country, describing the present one as barbarous, and a great obstacle to im provement. Even SCHILLER is against Serjeant 'AL- Fot•nu; for the fine "knee put into the mouth of PIC COLOMINI do not express SCHILLER'S opinions; on the contrary the whole tragedy is a demonstration, not for, but again.: Piceotoutsi's maxims and conduct. Electoral districts are mechanical. And why not? In whatever manner members of parliament are elected, there must be mechanical arrangement of some sort ; and what these should he is not a ques tion of poetry or the picturesque, but of means to an end. What is the right end, and by what means can it be accomplished ? Is it the proper end of a House of Commons to make the landed and monied aristo cracies the masters of the legislature? If so, Keep the system as it is. Is it the object that no class shall predominate, but that all sec tions of the community shall be powerful in proportion to their numbers and their intelligence? A new division and constitution of the electoral body is then imperative; and the mole nearly equal the number of electors in each constituency the more nearly is the end attained. There is a sentiment con cerned in the matter, without doubt, but it is that of justice. When just ends are aimed at by just means, and means well adapted to their attainment, all other sentiment will take care of itself. Sentiment, and of the best kind, is sure to gather round all things which are large diffusers of good among the human race. Unlortunately, reformers no more than anti-re formers have yet leatned :o make great principles their object, and in this lies the secret in the affairs of communities no less than in those of individuals, of ineffectual struggles and mean results. The world will rally round a truly great principle, and be as much the better for the contest as for the attainment ; but the petty objects by the pursuit of which no prin ciple is asserted. are fruitless even when attained. To any one who believes that dullness is the por tion of the " truly blest," an opportunity now offers, which certainly ought not to be neglected. In one of the new committee rooms looking out upon the Thames—rooms which have, as it' in tantalisation and derision of the occupants, a glimpse of t''e day light and the sunshine out of doors—there sit, from 10 to 4 every day, five gentlemen, members of the House of Commons, engaged in what is jocularly called the Dublin Election Scrutiny. It would be of inexpressible benefit to any eager aspirant for parliamentary honours, would he pay a short visit to the scene of this investigation. Even Mr. CHARLES COCHRANE might find substantial reason in this room to avoid enter ing upon a legislative career. There, for six or seven hours daily, ma five members tied to their chairs—there have they thus sat for row between fifty and sixty days—and there, should the parliament continue unprorogued so long, it is pro bable they may have to sit some fifty or sixty days to some. Unhappily for them this is not the only painful duty to which these gentlemen are condemned. Ranged at a long table opposite to them are an array of learned counsel, to whom the proceedings are admir able sport, each of whom, on an average five times a day, repeats for the edification of the members in question, arguments which won't bear dissecting here, on the corstruction of some such interesting legisla tive enactment as the Dublin Local Paving Act. It appears that in order to be qualified to vote at an election for the City of Dublin, a resident in that blest metropolis must be assessed to somewhere about fifteen local rates of the object, end, or purpose of which, he may or may not have any knowledge. But not only must he be assessed in order to be qualified, but, what is infinitely more provoking, he must have paid before he can vote. Thus, if a local rate of a farthing in the pound is made to erect a new pump, or rebuild a new watch house, a ten-pound householder, assessed to the extent of twopence halfpenny, would be a bad vote unless he had paid the amour'', of his rating ! And this has to be repeated fifteen times over! And the object and business of the Dublin comlnitt c is to see that each voter objected to has been regularly assessed, and has regularly paid all these trumpery locc.l taxes, and the dull and dreary proofs i.nd arguments upon points of such interest and importance are the sum and substance of the business of this committee on the Dublin election. Well, as we have said, for more than fifty days this wretched proceeding has dragged its slow length along—wearying to the very soul the members engaged in it —stupifying the reporters who are necessi tated to attend—and driving from the neighbourhood, as from a plague, even those habitual attendants who seek committees when the courts are shut,for no conceiv able purpose that it is possible to divine, except a strange taste for legal argument, or an urgent need of the warmth and shelter which the rooms afford. We are afraid to say whether this is the 10th or 12th Dublin Election Committee that we remember to have sat in the same way. There was one of them, in 1835, the business of which, if we rememb,r right, was not brought to a close for two years. On that committee there were no less than thirteen luck less members. The committee met: very soon they got so tired of their business that they thought it right to recommend to the House of Commons that a commis sion should be appointed to examine into the facts upon the spot. A commission accordingly proceeded to Dublin, where they held their court all the winter, of course conducting their proceedings at the charge of the parties. Haying reported tee sta'e of the case, the committee next year re-assembled. They met, we remember, in the rice-Chancellors' Courts, and there they sat for 80 days, going through j ust such dry details as the present committee are appointed to investigate. At last, if we recollect right, one of the parties gave way, in consequence of want of funds to prolong the contest. It is a dangerous thing to impute motives, and we are consequently far from saying that the same ob ject is aimed at now. But it is by no means impro bable, at any rate, that the same result will be effected. The member against wham the pre sent petition is presented is Mr. REYNOLDS, a gentleman engaged in commercial pursuits in Dub lin, who was elected for the city last year against his inclination and to his personal inconvenience. Mr. REYNOLDS entered the House of Commons with no prestige in his favour; but it is not too much to say that there are few members within its walls who have gained in so short a time so many political and personal friends. We cannot give stronger evi dence in his favour, than by remarking that, amid all the personalities and criminations of last Friday night, Mr. Reynolds' speech stood atone for temper, argument, and freedom from invective. It is against this gentleman that this pocket attack is made, as will be found more circumstantially narrated in the following outline of his case, which some of those friends to whom we have referred have thought it right to place before the public : DUBLIN ELECTION PETITION.—Mr. Reynolds at the lost gi ne•ral election was requested by his teilow-citizens to become a candidate for the representation of the City of Dublin in parliament. Being fully occupi,d in bu"iness, he was unwilling to engage iti the contest if any other gentle man entertaining the same political opinions would come forward, and in that event he offered to contribute liberally to a fund to defray the legitimate expenses of the election. As no other candidate was announced, Mr. Reynolds, only forty-eight hours before the nomination, accepted the requi 'Won, and became a candidate. At the election Mr. Rey nolds polled 3,229 votes, and his opponent, Mr. Gregory, 3,125 ; leaving the former in a majority of 194, exclusive of 29 votes not totted correctly on the poll books, and which will make the majority 133. The election was ['comely over wnen a petition was threatened against Mr. Reynolds's return—although that gentleman felt confident that his seat could not be fairly impeached, he had every reason for believing that his opponents would follow uo their threats, sleculating upon the inadequacy of his individual resources to engage in such an expensive contest. He, nowever,wasdeter • mined to vindicate the freedom of election thus attempted to be violated in his person, and he made vigorous preparations for the meditated attack, by employing solicitors, clerks. and arnts, at a great expense, to prepare materials for his de fence. In due time the petition was presented ; it eid not pretend to impute to Mr. Reynolds either intimidation, bribery, treating, or any other corrupt practice. It professed to dispute his property qualification, and impeached tome hundreds of the electors on his poll, on the alleged ground that they had not paid certain municipal rates arid taxes, although a larger number of those who voted for Mr. Gregory are impeached by Mr. Reynolds on similar and much more serious grounds. From the commencement of the pro ceedings betore the committee, it became manifest that it was to be a contest of pocket, and not of principle. As an in stance of the harassing nature of this scrutiny, it may be remarked, that out of a class of 395 voters objected to by the petitioners, they only succeeded in striking off thirteen votes after twenty days' inquiry,and they then abandoned the r.maining 382. And ►nother class, containing upwards of 300, was given up altogether without the investigation of a single vote. Mr. Reynolds having witnesses in London to verify his qualification, challenged his opponents at once to proceed with that part of the petition; so, if they failed, he might be relieved frog. the expellee of maintaining his wit nesses in town, and if they succeeded, all further expense and trouble would be at an end. His opponents resisted his challenge, and have been allowed by the committee to ear r em their right of marshalling their case, thus exposing him to the greatest expense in paying witnesses who may never be called upon, and at all events not until the scrutiny shall have terminated, The inquiry has now lasted five weeks, forty-nine votes only hive been struck off Mr. Reynolds's poll, upon the ground of non payment of taxes and local rates, amounting in the whole to less than 301. ; whilst the expense of the in quiry has been little short of 10,0001. Mr. Reynolds has to defray the daily charges of a numerous array of counsel, solicitors, and agents, and also the travelling expenses and subsistence of a number of witnesses from Ireland. It is obvious, that in this unequal contest Mr. Reynolds may be dofea'ed, although he have truth and justice on his side. The attention of a few gentlemen having been drawn to these facts, they have been!induced without party, political.or per sonal considerations, to commerce a subscription to uphold Mr. Reynolds in this contest, and to enable him to vindicate the freedom of election, and to stand up against the heavy expenses of the conflict. it is new nearly four weeks since this document was first circulated, and the expense's, of course, have increased in proportion, whilst the result seems as distant ea ever. Last week five drip absolutely passed without the committee moving one inch. Every eingle vote objected to during those days was retained. Objections, too, were taken to voters for non-payment of a rate, the legality of which was incapable of proof ! Why, are not such prom edinge perfectly monstrous? Would it not be an absolute act of shame if the ruin of Mt. REYNOLDS were effected by such a perpetuation of litigation ? The parliament may not be able to step in and protect a private individual even from the per petration of a public wrong; but the public may do so, and we hope they will. It is a most grati fying circumstance attending the appeal on Mr. ItevreoLns' behalf, that it is made by a body of Eay/isle members of parliament and gentle men, several of whom are not altogether of Mr. Iternot,u , ' political opinion. This is, indeed, an occasion when men of all shades of party may unite to show their feeling of the infliction of a public penalty upon a private person. Members of the legislature are es:teeially bound to look with favour on the appeal, for Mr. Itmvouts' case may to morrow be their owe; and unless something be done front some quarter or another to check so great a wrong, the election to a seat in parliament will be come an insupportable inflict ion, and it will be only ne cessary to threaten the cost of a scrutiny to make any member vacate his seat. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 25, 1848. FRANCE. PARIS, Molnar, 11 a.m. ; The environs of Paris within and witho..t the circle , of the fortifications, present a curious spectacle. Ex tensive lines of encampment swarming with sol diers gird this great capital. On Saturday I made a tour of the northern suburbs. The spaces within the bastions of the fortifications, from the , llatignolles to the point where the cannls of St. Martin and POurcq intersect the fortifications, present an unbroken line of tents. Thousands of soldiers are seen occupying themselves in various ways, drinking in cabarets improvised for the occa sion, cooking their food in temporary kitchens, cleaning their arms and vestments, or amusing themselves with a vari. ty of sports. Sentinels are posted from point to point at distances of less than a quarter of a mile from the line of encampment, standing generally on elevations, so as to command a view of the sut rounding ground. Outside this line of encampment the detached forts are filled with military, and so placed as to sweep the spaces between them. Yesterday I made an excursion to St. Maur, in the Bois de Vincennes. There a still more remarkable spectacle presented itself. A vast pain of several miles in circumference is literally white with tents and covered with military as far as the eye can reach. Being Sunday, the holiday folk abounded in 'he wood, and innumerable pie-nice were seen around the encamp meat. The bands of the regiments stationed at a variety of points were performing. and added much to the effect of the scene. The committee of finance held a meeting yesterday, and resolved to assent unconditionally to the project of loan proposed by the minister which 1 annonneed in my despatch of Saturday evening. This project is in substance to create as much Five per Cent. stock as will represent an annual revenue of 13,131 0 500 f., leaving it, however, to the minister to fix the price at which such stock will be granted. The project is understood, however, to involve the condi tion which I have already announced, that of vali dating the coupons for the instalments paid on the former loan. It will ne brought before the assembly to-day, and will probably give rise to an interesting debate. The situation of Northern Italy continues to be the subject of serious conversation in the bureaux and committees of the assembly, and the impression be comes daily more strong that events will inevitably lead ' to French intervention. Some of the journals have even ' already me, tioned, that an order has been given to Gen. Oudinot to cross the Alps. If this be not so now, suet a measure will become unavoidable upon • the first reverse of the Piedmontese army. • It is stated that M. Emanuel Arago has exhibited his disposition to propagandism at Berlin in a man -1 ner not altogether pinging to that court, which has consequently offered to accredit a Minister Plenipo -1 tentiary to Paris on the condition that M. Arago shall be recalled. A general amnesty in favour of the prisoners incul pated relative to the late insurrection has been spoken of for several days, and a paragraph appears in the journals of this morning, which says that the clergy of Paris intend in the course of this week to proceed 1 in a body to Gen. Cavaignac to present a petition to • that effect. SPAIN.—We have received the Madrid mails of the 19th. Reports continue to be received of the de feat of small bands of Carlis's in the provinces, and of the summary execution of theiroffieers. Maoroin June 19.- Three per Cents., 20 19; ; after Bolea, 192 coin. kire per Ceuta., 103 paper; otter 1 101 ., 'of cash- Parsivee, 4 paper; alter tint-a, 3; cacti. Bank of St. Ferdinand, 70 paper, count of note% 41 c per cent. Exchange on London, ninety days, 43.75. GERMANY. AUSTRIA.—We have the Vienna journals of the 19th. On the lith the Archduke John arrived at Vienna. The formation of the new ministry as sanc tioned by the Archduke John, has been officially an bounced. It is as follows :—President of the Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and of the Household, Baron Von Wessenberg ; Minister of the Interior, Baron Von Doblhoff ; Minister of Justice, Dr. Alex ander Bach; Minister of War, Count Latour; Mi nister of Finance, Baron Von Krans (provisional), with Baron Shift as under secretary in the depart ment of Finance ; Minister of Trade, Theodore Hornbostel (manufacturer) • Minister of Public Instruction, Baron Von Doblhoff (pro tem.); under-secretary of state to the minister of instruction, Baroc Von Feuchtereleben ; minister of public works, Ernest Von SchwargLn, editor of the elltgemeine Oest. Zeituny. The Wiener Zeituny likewise contains a simi-offi cial article, as to the programme of the new ministry, in which the principles are indicated which the minis try intend to follow. The conviction appears to pre vail that the elements of which this ministry is com posed are too heterogeneous, and, in fact, otfer too few guarantees to satisfy the requirements which may be made in these relations. With the exception of Bach, Hornbostel, and Schwargen, the members of this ca binet are the same which formed the ministry of Pil lersdortf. A letter from I'esth, of July 14, says, " The Hun garian Ambassador at the German parliament in Frankfurt, M. Ladislaus Von Szalai, has been com missioned by the ministry to form a diplomatic con nexion with the ministry of the regent, so soon as it shall have been formed." The Russian Ambassador at Innspruck, in reply to the interrogation of the ministry respecting the ob ject of the movements of the Russian troops at the t'ruth, returned the somewhat menacing answer that the Russian government will remain on terms of friendship with Hungary, bat only so long as they perceive that the llungarians adopt no hostile measurts against the Russian frontiers (Danubian principalities). This appears to have reference to the numerous fugitive Boyards who have Bed to Transyl vania from Wallachia, and thence watch the further progress of the Wallachian revolution. The ministry replied to the Russian Ambassador, that, although Hungary offered an asylum to every political fugitive, the Hungarian government would nevertheless pre vent any hostile armaments or conspiracies which might endanger the peace of the neighbouring states. According to intelligence from Jassy, the Russians have thrown a bridge across the Pruth. The commander-in-chief of the Hungarian army in the Banat, General Buhthold has again granted the Servian insurgents au armistice of ten days. The ministry has sent an order to the generals as well as to the commandant of Peterwardein, Marshal Hra bowski, to rise the utmost exertion in putting down the insurrection. The lengthened negotiations be- tweeu the ministry and the court, at Innspruck, have given the insurgents time to concentrate a con siderable force. Tney are at present stationed at five different quarters, viz., the, so-called, Roman trenches, Carlowitz, Perim, K 11lin, and St. Tho mas's. This latter city has gone over to the insur gents within the last few days. This has afforded an opportunity to the opposition in the lower house, which, although it does not number more than forty, includes .he most influential and talented men, to make an attack upon the ministry for their negligence, and it will require all the exertions of the powerful Kossuth to prepare the discussions upon the address. The ministry expects shortly to obtain a decided ad vantage over the insurgents, whereby the keen edge of the sword of the opposition will be blunted. FRANKFORT.—By an ordinance, dated the 16th instant, the minister of the empire for the depart ment of war has notified to the ministers of war of the different states of Germany that the Archduke, regent of the empire, has taken the supreme com mand of the entire aimed force of Germany. Ho de sires the different ministers of war to assemble on I parade, on the Gth of August, 1848, all the federal troops of their respective garrisons; to inform them that the Archduke Regent of the empire has taken the supreme command of all the federal troops; to read to them his highness's " appeal to the people ;" and to make them give three rivals in token of homage to the regent. From this day the federal colours will be worn by the German army. PItUSSIA.—The Berlin papers of the 22nd an nounce the arrival there of a papal envoy. The corn mission of the constitution has proposed to sweep away game laws and seignorial rights. This did not excite so much annoyance with the landed proprietors as the plan of throwing more taxation upon them. The eastern provinces, which represent the agricul tural interest, declare they are sacrificed to the west, or manufacturing provinces. The raising the duty on beetroot sugar; is a great grievance. M. Bulow Cummerow is the Lord Chorge Bentiack of the Prus sian landed interest. HESSE DARMSTADT.— Considerable agitation prevails in Darmstadt, the minister deferring to make any radical change in the constitution, the liberals de manding it. DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES. We have intelligence from Hamburg of the 21st. The following letter from Appenrade of July 20 says : "To-day a prolongation of the armistice for three days tranquillity to the 23rd was egret d upon. It is furtter stated that there will be another pro- loogetion of the armistice for three days, if nothing positive has been effected by the 23rd. PORTUGAL. The Oriental Company's steam-packet Montrose, Cspt. John Bowen, arrived at Southampton yester day, and landed her mails under the charge of Lieu tenant Wm. I'. Newenham, R.N., Admiralty agent. her dates are: Gibraltar, 15th July; Cadiz, 10th; Lisbon, 19th ; Oporto, 20th ; Vigo, 21st. Notwithstanding the apparent tranquillity of matters at Lisbon and Oporto the general and poli tical aspect of affairs in Portugal are very gloomy. Th , re is, however, a degree of restored confidence in bank paper at Libloon, the discount on which from various causes has fallen. The following is the letter of our correspondent : LISBON, slums 19. The ministry as it existed at the date of my last cornmeal cation is in stain pus, with the insignificant alteration in the M:niatry of Marine, Baron Villa Nova de Ourem having been superseded by Gomez de Castro. The cause of the upset in the intended reconstruction of the ministry is to be found in the alarming news from the north of Spain, which has com pelled Costa Cabral to hold off for the moment. I mentioned to you that many Carlist officers of tank had passed through Lisbon, defying the vigilance of tke police. The moult is seen in the formation of Carlist bands on the frontier. In the Chamber of Peers the other day the Duke of Saldanha was interrogated upon this subject by the Count de Taipa. The duke's reply was marked by his cha racteristic reserve : a belly of horse, he admitted, had been heard of in that neighbourhood, but he had reason to believe they had been, or shortly would be, destroyed. Since then a telegraphic despatch has been received, in which the commandant at Badajm an nounces to his neighbour of Elvas that a rebel cavalry column had been come up with, attacked, and dispersed with the toes of some nine of them, killed in the skirmish ; the fact is, that the entire southern frostier of Portugal swarms with small parties of Carlists in arms, bidding defiance to the feeble strength of the Portuguese commandants. These bands are said to be anal ing the arrival of a chief, presumed to be Gomez. From the northern provinces of Portugal, particularly as respects the Tres os Montes, all accounts concur in repre senting the people as in a state of extreme agitation, and the generally received opinion is, that the month of August will not pass over without an outbreak. Events in Spain—the most trifling successes of the Carlist arms—may however Precipitate events. I believe, at the same time, that the Miguelite leaders will use every possible influence to avert a prematur.• outbreak. The publication of Csimera's proclamation caused profound sensation ; to the government it has been pregnant with alarm, and the most severe pre cautions have in consequence been taken—the unfortunate political prisoners confined in the Lisbon gaol are subjected to more rigorous surveillance, and scarcely a house but is sub jected day and night to domiciliary visite and a search for arms. The Lisbon journals are naturally more taken up just now in discussing the affairs of their Iberian neighbours then with their own concerns. liar Majesty and the court will shortly take their departure for Cintra, there to pass the hot season ; but the Queen will, it is said, be present at the ceremony of the closing of the Corte s. A death occurred last week amongst the moneyed magnates of Portugal, that of a Mr. Brandao, or (as created by Donna Maria) Baron Folgosa. Brandao was a small we'll's& or haberdasher. Ile has left behind him something like one hund cd and fifty thousand pounds in sterling coin, besides large estates, was created a baron by Donna Maria, sad be decked with half a d.'zen orders. The discount upon Lisbon bank notes is much the lime, the fluctuations just now are but trifling, just sufficient to distress the public and enrich the Aglota folks, nothing more. English sovereigns are 4,500 ; dellan , 920 ; and ex. change upon London, at 30 days, 521 ; at 90 days, 53. UNITED STATES - MEXICO. We were enabled last evening to give an outline of the news by the Cambria, which reached Liverpool, from Boston and Halifax, yesterday morning. The proceedings in Congress lave been of little importance, if we except the presentment, by Mr. Polk, of a message, accompanying the ratified treaty. The message is accompanied by a general procla mation declaring the peace with Mexico, and general orders to the elf. ct that the President presen'a his public testimonial of approbation of the valour, ge nius, and success of the American army ; directs that the commissioned, non-commi , siontdofficers, and men of the ten additional regiments raised for the period of the " war with Mexico," be honourably discharged; and the volunteer troops mustered, paid, and also honourably discharged. The ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the monument to Washington, at New York, took place on the 7th. Gen. Pillow has been acquitted by the court-martial of the charges brought against him. Another court martial would soon assemble in New Jersey to try Gen. Scott. From Mexico we have dates to the 17th June. Senor Yanez marched on the 11th, at the head of GOO men, to put down the attempted revolution headed by Paredes aid Jarauta, at Lagos. Should this number be insufficient to quell the revolt the government would despatch 2,000 tromps more, with fourteen pieces of artillery. The legion of St. Pat rick formed a part of the 600 men. General Minon had marched to attack the revolutionists at Lagoa, but having only 4.00 men, while Jarauta had collectedtvrice that number, Minon deemed it prudent to fall back to Leon. This revolt of Jarauta is giving the govern ment more trouble than the papers like to confess. When Pena v Pena left Queretaro, under an escort for the capitil, scores of people took advantage of it to make the journey in safety, the roads in all directions being beset with robbers and outlaws. I A It was reported in the city of Mexico that a revo lution would, upon the conclusion of peace, break out in Vera Cruz, and that the intention of those who would participate in the movement was to establish a new republic out of the states of Tamaulipas, Coaha illa, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi. The coopera tion of the Americans was confidently relied upon. The cabinet of Herrera commenced its sessions in the palace, in the city of Mexico, on the 13th inst. The Yucatan commissioners had addressed an able communication to the Mexican government, dated the 15th June, at the city of Mexico, detailing the atrocities in that unfortunate peninsula, and imploring aid from the parent couwry. The Arco Iris copies from the 3fonitor a long de cree, dated the 14th of June, at the National Palace in Mexico, and signed by the President, Herrera, the Secretary of State, Rive Palacio, and the officers of both housed of Congress. The Ist article enacts that the government shall not, without special authorisa tion from Congress, alienate, hypothecate, nor pledge, in any manner, the twelve millions, nor its revenuts, which are to be paid by the United States, nor die count the same. By the 2nd article the government is authorised to employ the three millions out of the fifteen millions which are to be received immediately, in defraying the ordinary expenses of the nation, sanctioned by existing laws. By the 21st article, the government must place at the disposal of the Governor of Yucatan 150,000 dollars, to be used in defeating the Indians, a - .d also 200,000 dots. to each of the states in the interior which may be threatened with invasion by the sa vages. By the 22nd article a fund of 200,000 dols. is set apart for defraying the expenses which may be incurred in the removal of all Mexicins in the ceded territories who may desire to to re-enter the limits of Mexico. of much good; for though the parents might sometimes object he had never known a care where a child had not eagerly embraced such an offer. He hoped that the present proposal might be the commencement of a great system of colonisation in connexion with industrial schools. which would have collateral effects upon society equally beneficial with its effect upon the children themseives. He combated the objection which had been expressed in some quartere,that the institution of ragged schools had • tendency to render parents careless of thi charge entrusted to them, and too apt to place reliance upon their children being provided for without the necessity of exertion on their pant. There never was a time when the people of this country were more dis posed to receive assistance from the higher classes; for he knew it to be the wish of the poorer classes to unite amicably with the representatives of property, rather than to Jun with demagogues to overthrow them. The ltev. Mr. ChAMPNEYS stated that the exper.ae of prosecuting criminals in the county of Middlesex in 1847 was 15,8051., while the annual cost of the pr. posed refuge was estimated at only 2,0001. ; sa that eight refuges migist he supported at an expense no greater than that which was now re° aired for only one branch of erimit'ai work, and which did not embrace the cost of police and prisons. It might, therefore, be interred that 30 or 40 of these refuges for the prevention or crime might be supported at a cost not greater than that now incurred in punishing i: in one county. The Secretary then announced a list of subscriptions which had been recelvcd towards the object is view, aisounting to 2161. 10s. Lord KINNAIRD dilated on the advantages of the eystera:in uneconomical point of view,hishad been Exhibited by itswork ing in the towns of Dundee and Aberdeen. He was utis fled that if they succeeded in estabiishmg the school in Londonithe establishment of simiiar institutions would follow throughout the country. AU the resolutions were adopted. They will be f:und in our advertising columns. The Secretary then announced the receipt of 10'. from Mr. Bevan, the treasurer, towards these ct,jects. Thanks having been voted to the Lord Mayor and Mr. Alderman Johnson the proceedings closed. BRIGHTON AND CONTINENTAL STEAM PACKET C .• .—The directors and proprietor of this company held a meeting yesterday at the Loudon-bridge Stati ,n. The Hon. Captain Hotham took the chair, and the secretary read the report, which stated that this company was formed under the expectation that it would be supported and its interests identified with those of the London, Brighton, and South Cost Railway; but as an injunction was obtained to prevent that railway company from affording such support, and es parliament had retuned its sanction to the bill, to effect such latter object, the dinners have only one cruse to recommend, namely, an abandonment of the undertaking and the winding-up of the affairs of the company. The accounts stated the liabilities of the company amounted to 66,4521. lies. 2d. The assets were stated to be—. balance at beakers', 1,5101. 13e. sd. Due on the four calla, 3,0901. Packet accounts, 50,2221. Ss. 93. The chairman said, chat their boats on the station ran from July 1847. until last October. During the early part of that time they se perfectly succeeded as the directors could anticipate under the circumstances of a new company taking up the ground against one which had long been esteblished. They were laid up daring the winter, and the directors were in hopes that the Brighton Railway Company would be enabled by their bill to have identified the interests of the two com ps ie., because in all the substantial poin's they were iden tical. The establishment of the steam communication would be to the interest of the railway company ; there was no question whatever that the railway company lost several hundreds per week for want of a proper steam communi cation between their line and the French coast. The Rouen and Dieppe railway was nearly finished and would be opened in the present week. Mr. Blunt, the manager, came here for the purpose of endeavouring to make arrangements with them for the running of boats to communicate between Br'ghtoa and Dieppe. Even in the present state of Paris there was greater traffic between the two countries than most people were aware of. The directors would not im pugn the decision of the House of Lords, but lamented that their lordships bad come to an unfavourable conelsaioo; and the only thing they had now to recommend was Ike wind ing up of the concern, and the dieposal of the boat.—The Chairmen then put to the meeting the adoption of the report and the accounts.—Several questions were then put by pro prieten to the chairman, and were anewered to their perfect satisfaction. A discussion took elect as to the propriety of leaving it .o the discretion of the proprietors to work the boats to the advantaee of the c .mpany before they had an opportunity of selling them well. This suggestion, how ever, did not meet with the ninon of the meeting.— The report and accounts were then unanimously adopted.— Mr. then moved "that the directors be and are hereby authorised to dispose el the Neck of the c:mpnny, either by public auction or private contract, and wind up the affairs in such a manner as they may deem advisable." —The motion was seconded, and unanimously adopted.— Six retiring directors having been re-elected, and the thanks of the meeting having he-n voted to the chairman, wbo ' in responding, recommended the gt ntlemen present to explain to the proprietors of the railway company who were friends of theirs now mistaken they were as regarded their own interists in not supporting the hill which tad been thrown out ray the House of Lords, the meeting se parattd. Tlll CHOLERA AND TILE HEALTH OF TOWN , —The radical defect of the Health of Towns Hill is the omission of the chin: of London and Wcetruiester and the rest of the metropolis—than which no part of the king dom stands in greater need o; improved eanitary provisions —from its operation. In the face of the shadow which ad vances No menacingly from the East, a solemn rispeesibi lit, rests, as we have paid, on those who hate contributed to delay this measure or denude it of its poweis. Something must be done—and soon—by the inhabitants of London, at least in the spirit of this health bill which they have per mitted themselves to be juggled out of, if they would net have the horrors of the last cholera visitation renewed. At Constantinople, in Wallachia. in Moscow, and at St. Peters burg this tearful scourge of sanitary sins is raging—and slowly, but certainly, it is tending to the West. Arrange- ments may be made in the English provinces, under the new act, for baffling the destncyer when he shall appear. There will, at least, be some unity of effort—some ruling intelli !lnce presiding over the catty of the country towns. But d the city of two millions of inhabitants—la, would seem, to be given up to the avenger. It is de clared by municipal wisdom to be already su ffi ciently clean, well drained, end salubrious. To combat assertions like this in the face of the evidence would be as idle as it is to make them. Let any man walk through Westminster under the shade of its al bey ever, St. Gate's, St. Olave's, Bethnal green, and Lambeth—and then pronounce whether London he in a condition to receive the visits of a specie.. of cholera so malignant as that which is now ravaging Russia, Turkey, and the Danubian states—and feeds on tool cents and espours. We have no desire to create a panic by continually pressing this important subject on public attention. rye have before pointed out that the ordinary waste of human life is much greater in any given year than the occasional havoc caused by an epidemic. We recocniee in the threat ening pest an ad ;Akins], but, comparatively speaking, not an overwhelming danger; and we borrow as argument from the fears of the public not so much fora sanitary reform as for an instant reform. It is we who would prevent panic, for we know by experience how ill measures of precaution eon be taken when the enemy is on our hearths. The work should be done now ;—six months hence it may be in a great degree too late. —Atheneum. SALE AT STOWE.—The statement in a Sunday pa gee that the mortgagee of this property bad been paid out by relation of the Duchess of Bockinehem is untrue. The sale will take place, as advertised in this day's paper. BORING FOR WATER.—" If you please, sir, the man', called again for the water rte." —Punch. CHILD FOUND IN A BAND-BOY.—About 12 o'clock last night as the watchman of the Joint Station, London bridge, was going his rounds, and when passing by the Lost Property Office, he fancied he heard a chi'd cry which induced him to make a search, but not hearing the voice again, and seeing nothing suspicion..., he was about leaving the office, when he heard another taint cry evi dently proceeding from a band-box tied with tape and ad dressed to a party at Croydon, which, upon exemioation, was found to contain a tine male child of some eight or tea days old, fast asleep. It was immediately conveyed to Guy's Hospital, where some food was administered, and the child seems none the worse fur its long journey (supposed from Dover). Foua LIVES LOST ON THE RIVER.—At en early hour cn Sunday two young men hired a wheny from Alexander'. yard, et Chelsea, for the purpese of rowing two young females to Kew. On their return home, while approaching Putney-bridge, about nine o'clock in tee even ing, the tide was running very strong. the river being much Hooded by the heavy nine,when from some acc'dentel cause, either it is supposed the inexperience of the. young men or want of caution, they Tin against a barge moon I on the Middlesex side of the river near the bridge. The boat im mediately upset, and all four were immersed in the river and carried under the barge. The seetdent we- %gunned by a number of persons both from Putney-bridge and the shore sod several boats were put off to their assistanee, but, owing to the strength of the tide, without any effect. Yee terday the boles of the two men were picked up and con veyed to the Swan Inn at Fulham, but were Lot identifier' The bodies of tht women have nut yet been men , •• although every exertion was being made for the pup. ad, INQUESTS ' YESTERDAY. -- ALLEGED NIA' . 4 e- Before Mr. H . Baker, at the Royal Mason, Poe dreg the death of John Doherty, aged 19, abe tar, Te.i'vr tb. employ of the Trinity-house Corpore east getter, in alleged to have been forced into the river b. lion, who was On Monday, the 17th inch, the deceased f George Green. went to Blackwell to witness a rowinr with his parents ceeded in a boat to a be:lest-barge bel. , mecca. 'inn° pre house, lying off the East and West " ' gin to the Minty was made fact to the harp The boat la dle Decks. his deter went on boar , ' . a nd Me deceased and the boat. The deceasee . e a their parents in barge Green was site' „'leav i ng t he gunwale of the deceased attempt- went t hl -' is and on the to alone . 1"g he da w itds as n°l et Green hethe desired him long , to th• service • . gave them ooe ' r e e eplted that . to be on ' then rl. Anal t e L e t: •he decea,ed, tVe" r bIOW, and be go ceenee ot rt ar °Te el ' g t ° e uen him ns a The bye mit \ Green _ sins: dto,Tat : ..x,ry ion hat, e. • t.a .. % 1111 t, the T"'" on s e ; who stnicl th e d _xi r . rel. of fi,e,rrftea,tl,...norsod the.belletaiie th iltem, uritecrptrobilk:eu7,7 educate barn, .eses who °4° „ le e urns- . t eat Creep conto f Of the accused, s_tetrehen ne d w., of theT witness heu.l the ( I' er g ' U re' '- ce „„, eon— seve „ fl ute_ his b rothe rhe abecnce of the magistrate, rori n atter that h ot the te rr° :,'„ e sed that tu 4 r. lisiumtine, the the purpose c e ; ee ee :erg T"0:1--P°°"4.°len-tbtee e4 r e w g: e :::bh°l:ls l ih e : f ▪ n eedy we: but n 191 Oa he " efaetil sembl.edbethtes ken tor 11 .0 a.... t0 un til this day, ca d Wooed ain the eololl oi v a to t he colo°l c onduct, lasing the pr ow ' to berr e : rsoorp.c:Ttbeidelhe would be GeOrrre,"bcomer &PM° foe , ° I few c hildren for t t' — pcoductiN e Wil liam , one the otner toth .o las to Ih t l e ,, e g vrould t c • tt he s ei • s COLONIAL. WEST INDIES.—JaMAICA.—The financial state of this island may be gathered from the fact that, the revenue being st.ort of the expenditure, a proposal had been male by the board of commissioners of accounts to raise 15.0001. on certificates. The following wu the motion, of which notice had previously been given : That the ReeeivacChneral do leant loan earlideates ander the Rth lie. c. 15, to the extent of 11,31111. les. td., being the amount of the defleieney in the ways and means of last action, as shown by the votes of the boil-s; and that tuck eertifleates be in autos not seined. ing 601., bearing inU,rnst at the rate of a per sent. per annum, such interest to he paid half-yearly, and the principal mum in three years. An amendment was aubmitted : That it is unwarrantable and improper to propose to borrow money without knowing from what sourer farther debts ineurrest can be re funded to the lenders by this colony, and that the gove rn or he requested to cell the legislature to meat for the purpose of adaptive the expenditure of the island to its miserably reduced means, w hub is the only jot mode of combating the embarriasinenUi imposed on us by tar measures Icing pursued by the imperial parli.nent. A very long debate ensued. The board divided, when there appeared for the amendment, 13; f.,r the original mo tion, 11 ; majority, 2. The motion was therefore lost, and the amendment adopted. The roads all on( r the island were in a very bad state since the rains and inundations, - - - " - . The barque Margaret, from Santa Martha, which arrived on the 18th, brought as passengers,Gencral Pace, his son, and suite. CANADA.—We hare papers from our North American colonies to July 14. Th. it contents indicate aeon siderabie amount of anxiety as to the i Aux of emigrants during the prevent season. Meetings had been held, and the opinion very freely expressed that steps should be taken to forward to the scantily peopled settlements the superabundant labour which, when allowed to stagnate in the irontier towns, pro• duced the most a rious evils. Steps had also been taken to promote railway works, and to open for settlement large tracts of government lands. Tne Toronto Globe states that the Crown Land Commissioner had matured, and was about to catty into operation, with the sanction of the ministry, a scheme for the settlement of the lands of the crown which lie to the north-west of Toronto, and which have not hitherto been surveyed. The basis of the plan is, the formation of as direct a road as possible from Toronto to Owen Sound. This rood is opened and partly plankrd through Etotiicoke and Albion, to the Hurontario-road, a distance of 40 miles. Beyond that point it will be opened through the unsurveyed townships of Melanchton, Luther, Amaranth, and Proton, striking the Owen Sound-road about the township of Holland. Another road will be from the lower part of Islottawasaga Bay and, going west, will strike the Owen Sound-road at nearly the tame point as the one from Toronto. It will then be continued to a point on Lake 'futon, about 40 miles above Goderieh, called Pine Brook. The advantage to Toronto of this scheme is evidust. It brings Owen Sound between 20 and 30 miles nearer Toronto than Hamilton, besides opening up a large tract of country, the trade of which will inevitably find its way to Toronto. The land on each side of there roads will be laid out in lota cf 60 acres each, with one-eighth of a mile frontage; they will be granted on the same conditions as those on the Owen Sound road, which require the clearing of 16 acres within five years, the keeping the road in front of their lot in repair, ikc. We believe that in all 114 miles of road will be opened at a cost of 301. a mile, and that immigrant labour will be employed oa the work as much as possible. FREE GRANTS Or LAND—Ina communication to the catholic Bishop of Montreal it is stated that the authorities intend to commence a plan of colonisation in a portion of that part of the province usually called the Townships. The letter which gives this intimation explains that the tract of land selected for this purpose caw with little expense be made accessible for rattlers from all directions. The sta tute regulating the disposal of public lands places it in the power of the governor. general in council to grant to actual settlers allotments not exceeding in quantity fifty acres each, upon or in the vicinity of leading public tousle. RAILWAYS FOIL CANADA.—A meeting wan held on the 19th of June, at Prescott, to adopt measures to build a rail road between Prescott and Bytown. One of the speakers stated that the people of Ogdensburgh were willing to subscribe all the money, all they wanted was the charter. The distance was stated at 54 miles, and the route said to be very level. The following are the resolutions passed: I. That the construction of a railroad from Prescott to Bytown would greatly contribute to promote the trade and facilitate the num n,uninition between those places and the adjacent country, and would open up a ❑rge tract of fertile land for Improve ment, and would tend much to advance the prosperity of this portion of the province. 2. That the present railroad cOtt. Wooing from Ogdeneburgh to Boston fully exemplifies the necessity of having a corresponding communicadon between the waters of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa. 3. That a committee be formed to corre spond with the people of Bytown and other places on the subject, and to solicit their co-operation therein, and to draft a petition to the legislature, to be presented *tits neat session, for an act of incorpora tion, and to procure signatures to the same. It was mteadol to commence laying some of the rails on that portion of the Portland line nearest Montreal in the course of last month. Two or three of the :arriages intended to run on the line were in a state of forwardness. Cht Court. The Queen and Prince Albert took an early walk yesterday morning, accompanied by the royal children, 1 whn rod, and walked in the grounds at Osborne. Lord and Lady Cowley had the honour of an invitation to dinner. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a dinner party yesterday evening, at Cambridge House. The cram. pany consisted of the Belgian Moister and Madame Van de Weyer, the Bavarian Minister and Berone,,s de Cetto, Prince Castelcicala, the Neapolitan Minister, Prince Lowenstein, the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, the Duchess of Inyrr rues, the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Earl and Countess Bruce, Viscount arid Viscenntess Combermere, Lord and Lady John Russell, Lord Frederick and Lady Augusta Gordon Hallyburton, Lord Elphinstone, and the Hon. W. Cowper. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the Foreign-office. It was atteLded by Lord J. Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Mint's, Sir G. Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Esrl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl of Auckland, Sir J. Hobtouse, Lord Campbell, the Right Hon. H. Labauthere, the Marquis of Clanncarde, and Viscount Morpeth. The council sat two hours. Despatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colonial-office for the governors of ilong.liong and Ceylon. RAGGED SCHOOLS UNION. A public meeting, convened by the Ragged Schools Union, for the putpoee of forming a ksvenile refuge and school of industry for the Eastof London, was held yesterday in the Council Chamber, Guildhall. The LORD MAYOR occupied the chair. His lordship con cluded the observations which lie made on the eu , ..ject of the meeting by calling on Mr. Locke to real an address trom the Ragged Schools Union. The committee therein stated that in four year , the num ber of ragged schools in London and its suburbs had in creased from 20 to more than GO. In those schools about 80 paid teachers are now employed, and about 800 voluntary teachers. The average attendance of scholars for the past year was 5,800 on Sunday, 3,900 to week days, and 3,500 on week evenings. The committee had in the course of last year opened a school in rye -street, Westminster, where the advantages of food and industrial instruction were included, and where about 100 boys and girls were there taught and fed every day, the annual expense of each child being about Gf. 10s. or 71. The committee proposed that the new institution should be formed in Rosemsry-lane, Minories, where there was a suitable building which they could easily adapt to their use. They reckoned that the annual expenses for 250 or 300 children would be 2,0001. They considered that the refuge could be very advantage ously employed as a preparatory institution for emigrants to the colonies. Lord ASHLEY pointed out the evils that rendered its adoption desirable. No one could walk the streets of London without becoming aware of the frightful am• of crime and depravity which abounded the in order fully to ascertain its extent, it vary that they should penetrate into the crime and destitution, in which ignoe. hibited its worst features. The pi the children, both morally a" • might be afterwardss , ' either at home • admissie moo . ep&1• de d foz utter tsble,