The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-15 00:00:00

VI. -PEINCI METTERNICH TO M. DE THOM. VIENNA, Nov. 6, 1616.—The gravity of the events which I were brought to light at the commencement of the present ,ear, in Galicia, in the Grand Duchy of Posen, and at Cracow, has implied on the courts of icnna. Berlin, and St. Petersburg the duty of searching into the immediate muses of these disturbances, as well as the means of pros veatin: their recurrence. The three courts interested in an equal degree in the re-establishment of tranquillity on a base solid enough to ensure its duration, come to the deter initiation of holding a conference at Vienna, as being the meet central point, to take into consideration the events which hod just tr.thepirksi ; to view theta in their origin and their consequences ; to decide what would be just and ne cessary to dreCt in order to prev ent their return, and to adopt resolutions in conformity with the duty of the three monarchs to promote the internal peace of their states, and to consolidate that peace by all the meats in their power. These resolutions, which are the result of an examination as sincere as it was tenons, have just been adopted, mid they are coutained in the subjoined document. This communication of an act irrevocably decided upon, and required by the most absolute necessity is not hoverer sufficient fur the feudino at confidence which the three courts are always desirous of expressing towards France ; they deem it thi it duty to go farther on a question with which are connected con siderations of general policy. Cracow is in reality only a geographical atom placed in the centre of the three great monarchies. The small state of Cracow, created by the three sovereigns in 1813, within limits aad under conditions of existence which they had considered to be conmatible with the repose of their own states, soon deviated from the line of its duties towards its founders and protector. The noise which a faction hostile to the tran quillity of the three great bordering states has made, and Sall continues to make, in Cracow, has exceeded the import ance of its Otject. There is, then, a wider question con maled width' that covering. We think that it is equally urgent on the part of the first powers of Europe to free the question from whatever is unknown, false, or dangerous. The measure taken by the courts of Austria, Prussia, and Rumba, is a measure of moral and physical necessity, mid a duty they owe to themselves and their people; they cannot longer tolerate in their etetee an ever burning focus of insurrection for the bordering provinces, of o utrage and calumny for their governments,—e. den and a secure refuge fir the emissaries of an active, anti-social pro• paganda. they can no longer, after such long and rude trials, allow a point situated in the centre of their territories, which is indebted to them for its existence and its mere -clay life, to remain under the inliu mee of a hidden government established at a distance, and out of their reach, and hostile to their existence. This point established, Air, the three courts did not neglect to ttlee into consideration the fact that they hum presented to the Congress of Vienna, for registration, the convention which had passed between them. The consi deration of this fact induces them to be explicit towards the courts of France and Great Britain as to the necessity they are under of sot recalling to life and recoustitutiug a state of their own creatiog, which, after having worn out the for bearance of its founders, dissolved itself. Have the good ness. sir, to communicate the present despatch and its annex to M. Guizot, and to present him with a copy of the same. ANNEXED DOCUMENT TO PRINCE MITTEILNICIA DESPATCH, DATED NOV. 6,1846. The free city of Cracow having herself, with her own hands, destroyed the conditions on which she held the poli tical existence which had been granted her, the three courts of Austria, Prussia, and Russia were naturally called upon to assemble a conference, for the purpose of taking into con. aeration the following questions: I, The state of Cracow has just precipitated itself, with oat being thereto incited by any external physical force, into the gulf of the vast conspiracy which, having (or its object the re-establishment of the ancient republic of Poland, bad made Cracow the provisional capital of the revolutionary government, which was to direct the movements of the insurrection. 11. Would the re-establishment of that state, such as it bad been founded by the treaties of the 21st of April (3rd of May), lels, signed by the three courts of Austria, Prus sia, and Russia, be compatible with the safety of their monarchies ? 111. If the examination of this question proves the abso solute impossibility of the re-establishment of the state, what is to be dine with the free city of Cracow and its territory ? IV. thee the three courts the exclusive right of de riding without the intervention of any other power, the, future late of the town and territory of Cracow ? To find an answer to these questions the three cabinets re solved to call a tenference at Vienna, and they naturally, from their very first meeting, recurred to the period of the year ISIS, which had given birth to the state of Cracow, and placed it under their particular and special protection. They had, then, to examine: 1. The priumples which had served as a basis for their creation. 2. The use which Cracow had made of its liberty in the course of its political ex istence, from the year 1814 to the month of February, 1844. 3. The circumstances which have caused its disor ganisation and attended its destruction. The statement which is to follow, in the form of an historical narrative, will develop the facts and the motives which dictated to the con ference the resolutions which it adopted. At the time of the dissolution of the ancient kingdom, the city of Cracow and the territory which had been allotted to it had been, in vir tue of the convention concluded at St. Petersburg on the 24th of October, 1794, placed under the dominion of Austria. The troops of his Imperial and Royal Apostolical Majesty took possession of it on the bth of January, 1790 This event took place pursuant to the agreement established between the three courts without the intervention of any other foreign power. During 14 years Cracow and its territory remained peacefully under the dominion of his Imperial and Roya' Apostolical Majesty. The treaty of Vienna, of the 10. h of October, 1803, detached Cracow from Austria, to transfer it to the duchy of Warsaw, then belonging to the King of Saxony. The WAYS of Napoleon in Poland brought about the formation of the duchy of Warsaw. If the original ides which presided over the formation of this new state could have been the restoration of ancient Poland, Napoleon doubtless shrunk as much from the difficulties which Poland herself threw in Ida way as from those which ho would have found in the position of the powers. The duchy of Warsaw became then nothing other than a fourth share set apart its fewer of n fourth occupier. The issue of the campaign of 1812 put the Emperor Alexander in possession of the dif ferent parts of the territory which had served by their re union to form the duchy of Warsaw. It is known to all the cabinets in what manner this military occupation brought about the formation of a kingdom of Poland, and how, and on what conditions the town of Cracow was permitted to exist as a free and independent state. After the three powers had come to this determination, inserted an the treaties of 21st April (3rd May), 1815, the other powers, subscribers to the treaty of Vienna, only ac cepted such combination as the result of direct netotiations between the three courts, without interfering in that terri torial arrangement which was no business of theirs. Although the lest events of 1816 *Mike to show the spirit which domi nates that population, that spirit will be shown in a much more evident meatier by the examination of what took place in that town since 1910. There were, before the pried of the insurrection of the kingdom of Poland in 1830 symptoms of excitement in the state of Cracow; au hority was feeble and of equivocal conduct, in opposition to the axitation of mind which it was its duty to suppress. The protecting powers, unquiet at this state of things, hid formed the reso lution of reinforcing the troops of Witervation on the fron tiers of that state, to have it an their power to smother an outbreak if it took place, and to re-establish order. Meanwhile the insurrection of Warsaw of 1930 broke out. The disposition of the public mind hailed the new" with the most pronounced enthusiasm, each skirmish fa. e arable to the revolutionary army w as celebrated. Bit the popula tion of Cracow did not stop at these demonstrations. War with Russia was proclaimed a holy war by all those whetted made it their mission to speak to the people. A leg on of students was *rased and equipped for the war; arms and ammunition were manufactured, and what could not be made in the country was bought from the foreigner. The merchants of Cracow took charge of the manufacture of equipments fur men and beasts. Count Stanielas Wodziki, the president of the senate, having (attempted to put a stop to this infringement of treaties, a popular outbreak was the consequence. The presider.t was threatened with death, and obliged to resign his situation and leave the territory. Whilst the war lasted,. the hue of ea toms between Cracow and Poland was consider° I not to exist ; and the tradespeople of Cracow inielc use of the circumstance to make illegal profits. After the destruction of the revolutionary army and the forced submission of the kingdom, the state of Cracow was occupied by a division of the Russian army, for the purpose of pursuing and d i sarming the wrecks of the Polish army that had taken refuge there. This war being at an end, the three protectine powers began to consider the means of re establishing order; taking into account the difficult circum stances of the moment, and continuing to act in the spirit of • g enerous protection, which had ever animated them in favour of this state, their creation, it was in their name that a general amnesty, • without any restriction, was proclaimed at Cracow, so that the inha bitants of that town retained no other remembrance of this period than that of the pecuniary . advantages they had derived from it. This circumstance is one of the principal reasons which have rendered since then the population of Cracow so accessible to all attempt+ at a revolution. The return of the disturbances in the neighbouring provinces promised them the hope of finding there all the advan tages of which they still retained • remembrance. The benefit of the amnesty, far from calming the minds, only gave rime to • feeling of ingratitude, which became so much the more active as it was a speculation. In avowed opposition to the treaties, those of the Poles, sub jects of the throe power., compromised in the revolution of the kingdom of Poland, who wished to seek art allurn on the territory of Cracow, were received there, and all their machinations were protected and supported. The meet re-1 marlmble ernes. tries who have shown themselves since in all the ancient province* of Poland, such as Zaliwski, ZEIWI.Z 2 , the brother* Zalewski, Konarski, de. Ace have ell left Cracow, where they were for several months prepared for their journey of propagandism. They are two bro thers, merehent+, who had taken upon themselves the direc tion of their journey, and engaged to Fiend clandestinely to the neighbouring states numerous inceenditry pamphlets that the principal focus of this propagandism forwarded to them. It is during this p^rioill that the demagogue societies, known by the name of " Numa." " General Confederation of the Polish Nation," " Assembly of the Polish People " and "Anonymous Society," were organised in the state of Cracow, and spread themselves throughout the neighbourinz pro 'ince+. The effects of such a state of things soon manifested themselves through the whole extent of the ancient Polish ie nit°T.cei and in comparing it with the preceding 'situ- Con, it was not difficult to comprehend how tho idea el a general imiurrection begun to manifest itself openly. Th.:senate of Cracow woo the first to acknowledge that it could not perehly put an end to much a (RIMS of things, in compatible with the treaties which formed the basis of the existence of the free state of Cracow, and which must ensi by courts,com p s t i n ie g fte al t h l e n e o n n i s o i y w e e,th of f t e be. t h e rle et. protecting Courts. It wan t h e n , a ft er si x earo of forbearance, that the three protesting power, taking into consideration the dada Teton that the senate of Cracow made of its weakness, re spliaceivedso. l a di s e a n alem in the sta st t r ,, c e, i fel y r de actw ali , in rt ofordretrhttoirreomwnoyme safety, to a l l t l w th u ere in fure e in w i h n o th die e t f u l th e ed heu itf ey n , el i to si re t; . , 7 h ts e b t l t is h h e ll e te u r p. th t e i r e e n of this territory by the troops co the combined powers took place. Upwards of 2,000 refugees were found there, who had established themselves there under false names imiloccu pations. The population tried every means to prevent the removal of these individuals from the territory. The authorities charged with the verificati n of the identity of persons had to defeat the intrigues of a culpable compli city false certificates were constantly pouring in upon them, and almost all the parish registers were falsified. In one parish alone, that of St. Mary of Cracow, more than two hundred and thirty register, of births were found to have been forged. After the expulsion of the Polish refugees, and other exile, from this country, it was considered pos. sible, by revising the conditution of Cracow, made in 1833, to estahlise public order on' a firmer basis. To render this occupation as free of expense as possible for the state of Cracow, the number of troops of occupation was limited, and a small detachment of Austrian troops, in cluding cavalry, alone remained. Notwithstanding the confidence which it Was thought necessary to accord to the re-establishment of order, end to the senti ment which the population of Cracow mud finally have had of the conditions nee, 'testy to its welfare, the police was not long in acquiring num rous proofs of new revolutionary machinations. The authorities. and the tribune's, intimidated by secret menace& not anger ful lilted, or only did so negligently, the duties M their office. It was finally found necessary in 1878 to reinforce once more the Austrian troops that occupied it by a second detachment of troops of that power. It was only alter a new cleansing and a new feminization of the police and of the militia of Cracow, and after a revedon and modification of the laws of the correc tional and criminal police, that it was thought pot sible, at the beginning of the year 1841, to leave the city of Cracow to herself, and to withdraw the troops that occupied it. However, neither the preenntions which had been token to remove all the Polish refugees, stranger to the territory, nor the system atic modifications, whose object was to give more strength to the established authorities of the republic, nothing suf ficed to maintain seder; the germs of the evil were not only foreign, they had roots in the population of Cracow itself. Thus, as soon as the military occupation ceased, all the revo lutionary machinations were renewed with new vigour, and by the same means. Numerous foe's, authentically proved by the most clear publicity, and which can only he denied by men who, without scruple'', arc alwaj s ready to deny the truth, furnish, therefore, the meet evident proof that the free city of Cracow, and -11 its territory, were, since the year 1830 to the year 1816, in a state of permanent conspiracy against the courts which had called it into existence. As a last proof in support of this, we will again quote the fact, that in the space of the last ten years, eight political assessinations were committed in the streets of Cracow. Five of those crimes were followed by instantaneous death ; and the three indivi duals left for dead upon the spot were only recalled to life by the timely help given to them. The names of thine inch ',duals are the first, l'awlownki, Cellak, Komar. the com missary of police, Weinberger, and the gendarme Slateyko ; the second, the commissary of a district, Luszeyneki, an em ploye in the Chancery Homulka, and an employe on the rail way Lukieeeh. The military occupation had lasted till the year 1841. The time had been turned to account by the protect ing power', to aid the government of Cracow in re-esta blishing order there by the strengthening of the laws. The labours then done, furnish the most evident proof of the earnest desire of the three cabinets to prevent the renewal of circumstances which would have made anther intervention on their part necessary. All the measures taken to reestablish an order of things which would in heel( con tain a g uarantee of duratien,again proved insufficient against the Polish revolutionary propaganda which endeavoured to preserve the city of Cracow as the principal focus of its acti vity • the political power of so small a state was too small to withstand at once the machinati ins of the propaganda and the complicity of a great portion of the inhabitants. A conspiracy, which included in its combinations the whole of the Polish territory, burst out in the month of February, 1846, on these points where it thought it most easy to act. Cracow, independent, more free in its move ments, became the centre point of action. All sorts of ag gressive measures, organisod beforehand, received an in creased activity by incendiary pamphlets, by proclamations, by the importation of arms, of ammunition, and implements ~f warfare of every description, by legions of emissaries, by the establishment of a government which took the title of revolutionary, which took upon itself the direction of all the movements of the provinces called urn to revolt, and the government of those that succeeded in enfranchising them 'elves. These events are known to all Europe. If all the cabinets have condemned the acts of violence committed by the author. of that revolt, ea much as they deplored the bloody dinsatern which were the result, the three powers had more difficult duties to fulfil, for they had at the same time to seek the means of re-es tablishing some order or other at Cracow, and of guaran teeing their territories against a return of similar events as those of which Cracow bad become the focus and metre of all species of devastation and disorder. In so grave a situa tion, the three courts were not free to show them selves indulgent ones again ; they had to ask themselves if the cop of indulgence were not empty ? if they could arm the republic of Cracow with the same means as they had so perseveringly used, In a manner so dis loyal to carry desolation into the neighbouring pre:einem ? By what right in fact by what title did the free city dare to claim once more the franchise of which she made such a wicked usage? Without recurring to the numerouo proofs now in the hands of the commissioners proofs which will be published in due course, the identity of character and the simultaneousness of the causes which pro &teed the events of the Duchy of Posen, Cracow, and Galicia, prove without a possibility of denial the exist ence of a well organised plan; the rise to arms, hosti lities commenced, and the proclamations which excited them,—all these circumstances constituted a complete state of war, the success of which use alone wanting to ensure its admiration by those who protected that cause. The three powers together, including Austrin, which wan most attacked, would by this fact alone be at liberty to net aenin.t an enemy, which, however, had only shown how far the ma'lness rf its courage and the temerity of its enterprise may lead it. But the town of Cracow cannot be made to undergo the law of the strongest ; such a law can scarcely be applied where there is such a disproportion. The point to be carried by the three powers in the rewetablishment of peace and order in their dominions, and a participation by Cracow of these benefits. Could they continue to protect a free town which has ceased to he independent and neutral as the treaty of Vienna had wished it to be, since it has fallen under the dominion of cono,n , rators who hold it enalaved ? But let us see what are the facts. One of the results of the revolt of Warsaw was to cause the departure from Poland of a vast number of those men who had been its most ardent ' supporters, and 'served it sword in hand. Public charity enabled the Polish emigration to give itself a form and • regu lar organisation; it constituted itself as government of all old Poland, its special object being, to under mine the allegiance of the separate immune of its ancient country, living under the 'sway of divers governments ; its public aim seat the restoration of Poland and the annihilation of the stipulations of the treaty of Vienna, which had once more confirmed, in a most solemn manner, all territorial arrangementn resulting from the division of that political body which had been so lone entirely diwolved, The efforts made by the Polish com mittees to excite this revolt amongst the provinces inlet by the three powers are publicly notorious; they have not yet ceased, the committees being still occupied in sending pe titian' to constituted ',tidies, printing proclamations, giving meet instructions, assuming the direction of the people, levying contributions in all the territories of Poland, and or ganising a system of moral constraint which ensures their pay ment. They get up subscriptions, the public objector which is to assist those emigrants who want, and to form depots of arms and ammunition, to pay emientiss, and defray their travelling expenses. It is thus, that, in the midst of com plete peace, they organise rebellion and prepare for war; they have formed themselves into a kind of nomad government, the minion of which is to real into life by the most culpable means a political body which no longer exists. All this is done with impunity, openly, and in the broad day: and no means have been formed by those governments in the Polish emigrants have found refuge and entablished thole cue of their subversive mmuturee, to repress a force orogen rectedagainstthe order and internalpeace of the threspowen. The history of the fifteen yea.' having proved how au the enterprise of the Polish emigrants is on the increase Imposes upon the three powers the necessity of putting a stop to a state of things incompatible with their internal security. The state of Cracow has been, from its attitude of extreme in dependence towards the three powers, more easily led to sub mit to a revolutionary government established in a more remote country. To pretend, therefore, after facts such as these, that Creel., should always remain, aaj:it were, on a permanent basis of insurrection in the centre of states, the governments of which are charged with the difficult office of protecting it, is to exact that those governments are to support the continuance of a republic which only desires enough independence for conspiring against their repast. This is a demand at once impossible and absurd. It was the belief of all the cabinets, that the treaty of Vienna was a gage of peace end not of dissension. Now the Polish refugees have violated the institutions of the republic o ' Cracow in a way inimical to that peace which the conditions of the treaty of the 21st April (0. S.), 1815, hod made it an especial object to create and main tain. They prevented Cracow from remaining independent, and neuter, as the treaty had ordained it should be. They endeavoured to make her fictions and ennewive. From that time they themselves destroyed the fabric which the three protecting powers of Cracow had raised. With these facts before them, the courts of Austria. Pravda, and Bootie, having to deliberate on the part which they had to take to prevent the recurrence of such events as had already taken place, were unanimously of the opinion that the poli tical fabric created in 1815, and recently overthrown by the revolt itself, had produced a result too fatal to the mainte nance of peace—had shown itself too incompatible with a condition of peace within each of their territories, as well as with the maintenance of general tranquillity, to render it practicable to reconstruct it [the political fabric of 1815) without assuming in the eyes of their subjects and of Europe the responsibility of culpable imprudence. As it is impost/ale for the three powers to combat the evil where it organises its means of action, and which they could only effect on the theatre of its actual operation, they have felt themselves under the necessity of destroying the focus of that activity pla-ed as it is in the centre of their states. The only det - intimation which it was possible fee them to arrive et was, then, to annul the terms of the triple treaty of the 2nd April (3rd May) 1815, and to re-retablieh th e order of passe . ion as it existed before the year 1809. The conditions of the existence at Cracow once violated in their essence, its institutions annihilated, its pledge of neutrality broken, its THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15, 1847. executive disorganised, it was nothing more than in the natural course of things to re-establish that which bad ceased to exist. Though that existcnoe rested on a principle 01 pacific neutrality, Cracow would lave nothing hut war. That vest, Cracow has mule during lateen years of machinations, sometimes underhanded, sometimes open, and sustained up to the moment that arms were taken up in a genera rising. By a consequence naturally resulting from its situ ation, the town and its territory will return to the powers t whom it formerly belonged. That re-union is prompted by a conviction of the three courts, which amounts in their eyes to en absolute necesaity, their declaration of which they have not hesitated to make public. VII.—M. OUIZOT TO COUNT JARNAC. PARIS, Nov. 19, 1846.—Monsieur le Comte,—The charg4- d'affaires of Austria came yesterday, and communicated to me the despatch and a document of the Prince Mett'rnich, dated the 6th of this month, annour.cing the resolution taken, in common with the courts of Vienna, Berlin, and St. Peters burg, to put an end to the independent existence of the re public or Cracow, to unite this cite and its territory to the Austrian monarchy t and exposing the moti yes of this re solution. I entered open no immediate discussion, nn receiving this communication ; I simply said to K. de Thom that I would render an account of it to the king in his council, and I re mitted to him, word for word, the language I held, the 2nd July last, at the Chamber of Peers, on the situa tion of the republic of Cracow, and on our own situation with respect to it. I added that the ideas I had thus expressed would be necessarily the basis of my conduct. The same communication must be made, and probably already made by the time you receive this letter, to the English government. I should request you to go to Lord Pahntraton, and to ask him in our name, what conduct be intends observing in this affair, and whether he is disposed to come to an understanding concerning it with us. It is important to us, and evidently of no less import once to the serious question thus started, that we should ro ceive prompt information on the subject. Place also before Lord Palms reton my epeeth of the 2nd Jul; last, of which I here subjoin a copy. I desire to receive your answer with out delay. OUIZOT TO THE COUNT DE FLAHAULT, PARIS, Dec. 3, 1816.—Monsieur le Comte,—The charge d'affaires of Austria communicated to me, on the 18th of last month, the despatches of the Prince de Metternich, dated the 6th. announcing to the government of the king, that the incorporation with the empire of Austria of the city and territory of Cracow, had been resolved upon by the courts of Vienna, Berlin, and St. Peteriburg, and explaining the motives of that resolution. I transmit you a copy an n.:F(l On the 20th the Swiss minister and the charge d'alfaires of Russia made mea communication exactly sim il ar. I made the king acquainted with it in council. The govern meat of the king felt a deep and painful surprise. We received in February and March last, as in 1836 and 1938, au assurance that the occupation of Cracow by the troops of the three powers was a measure purely military, not political, commsnded by necessity, and which would end with the necessity. They say now, that a temporary occupation is not sufficient, and that the measure adopted by the three morns is indispensable to guarantee definitely in their states order and peace, incessantly disturbed by conspiracies and insurrections, of which Cracow was the universal focus. But while the suppression of the little state of Poland put an red effectively to these disorders, it was necessary that its independent existence should be the unique, or at least the principal cause of it. This supposition is ant admissible. The fermentation of the ancient Polish provinces, so frequently springing to birth, proceeds from a cause more general and more powerful. These are the eeparafed members of a great state, violently destroyed, which agitate and rise rebelliously again. The treaties which recognise such deelf,do not muse to disappear all at once the aeguish and the social complaints which result from it. Time, justice, a kindness unequivocally active, a good prolonged government, win only succeed there, for they are the only means that the civilisation of Europe renders at this day possible or practicable. The sovereigns and statesmen united in the congress of Vienna had so judged of It. They wi-hed, at the same moment, when united Europe consecrated the division of Poland, to give to the Polish nation and to the conscience of Europe, disturbed by the division, a certain moral satisfaction. They had at the same time opened before their Polish subjects perspectives of amelioration for the institutions and the in terior government of the country. Grave troubles were ahlo to interrupt the coarse of this policy, at once wise and generous, but not to cause it to be entirely abandoned and abolished. Nothing compromises a power more than to declare itself unable to accomplish slowly and with time its own promises and hopes given to itself. The destruction of the little state of Cracow could remove some means of acti in front the spirit of I'oiieh conspiracy and in surrection hut it can also encourage and even irritate the sentiments which bring to birth so obstinately there deplor able undertakings. And, at the same time, it detracts from the authority of the influences which could prevent them. It weakens throughout Europe, in this sad question, the principles of order and maintenance, for the advantage of blind pensions and violent designs. The 9th article of the treaty of Vienna imposed upon the republic of Cracow an obligation to banish from its territories pudic disturber', and the three protectiug powers had, without doubt, the right to require this obligation to be fulfilled. But had it no other means for the attainment of its end, than to abolish the independence of this little state, and it self to suppress it? The boundaries of the republic so narrow, the immense force of the three great powers in the states by which it is confined, the rights of protection conferred ulna these same powers by the 6th article of the treaty, all lead us to believe that measures, combined with care and guarded vigilantly in their execu. tinn. would have been sufficient to combats the evil aka ciously, without having recourse to these extreme Means, which, in suppressing mute dangers, create from them very frequently new one., and sometimes more weighty. It was in every case the incontestable right of all the powers who concurred at the treaty of Vienna, to interpose in the delibe rations and decisions of which the republic of Cracow was the object. The Prince of Metternich says in his despatch of the 6th of November, that the three courts have created for themselves, 3rd May, 1815, the little state of Cracow, and that they . had forthwith presented to the mi mes' oeVienna for regestration the convention passed between them." The government of the king could not admit sostrange an assertion to the prim iplet, and even to the language of the great transactions which constitute the public nght of Europe. Independent powers, who treat on a footing of perfect equality, and deliberate on common interest., are never called upon to register determinations and actsadopted without their participation. In the matter of Cracow and Poland, remembrances and public documents attest that prolonged uncertainties, long discussions between the re presentatives of all the powers at the congress of Vienna, preceded the conclusion of this special treaty of the 3rd of May, which governed, they say to-day, the interests of the three participating pawers of Poland without any meeting of the other powers of Europe. Even the text of the treaty of Vienna, that the fate of Poland was decided by an European deliberation. It is Poland that this treaty is occupied on, in the first place, as the molt important of the general questions upon which it ought to declare itself. Articles 1, 2, 3,4, 6, determine the portion of each of the three co-partaking powers in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. There is not the slightest difference between these articles and those which give to Prussia a por tion of the Mates of the King of Saxony. The foundation of the re public of Cracow is placed in the same tank as the stipulations which have formed other states, instituted Vuie (10111,1, recognised the free towns of Germany, create . the Germanic Confederation. Two articles only of the special treaty of the 9th of June, viz., 10 and 118, mention the spe cial treaty concluded between the three powers on the ltd of May, and they declare that the dispositions containe.i is this treaty shall have " the same force and weight as if they were word for word inserted in the g eneral aft." Certainly, far from rendering the existence of the republic of Cracow more precarious, these words, adopted and signed by all Europe, had for their object to give it stronger and more authentic guarantees. The go vernment of the king then makes use only of an evi dent right, and M the same time it accomplishes ask imperious duty in protesting solemnly against the suppression of the republic of Cracow, an act positively contrary to the letter as well ae to the meaning of the treaty of Vienna of the 9th June, 1815. After long and mighty agitations which have so deeply shaken Europe, it is by the respect of treaties and of all the rights they consecrate that the order of Europe is founded and maintained. No power can free itself without freeing the others at the same time. France has given no esample of a similar blow to the policy of conservation and peace. France has not at all forgotten the melancholy sa crifices imposed upon her by the treaties and of 1815. It could rejoice in an act which would authorise it, by a just reciprocity, to consult for the future only the foreseeing Cal culation of its interests. And it is it that re calls to a faithful observation of these treaties the powers which have reaped the principal advantages of them. It is that which preoccupies itself (specially in the maintenance of the rights acquired, and of the respect of the independence of states. I charge you to give Prince Met ternich communication of this' despatch, and to send him a copy of it. OVIZOT TO COVNT ST. AIIL•IIIE. PAIN, Dec. 3, 1846.—Monsieur le Comte, —By my despatch of 19th November last, in informing Count de Jarnac of the communications made to me by M. de Thom on the subject of the republic of Cracow, and of its incorpo ration to the Austrian monarchy, I requested him to wait upon Lord Palmerston, and to sr& him for us what line of conduct he intended following in this circumstance, and if be felt diepoeed to come to an understanding with us, Lord Palmerston replied to M. de Jarnac, that having received a few days previously • similar com munication, he had already prepared a reply which the cabinet had approved of, and which would be dispatched the day after, or the 23rd November, a copy of which would be sent to Lord Norrnanhy, to be communicated by him to me. Lord Normanhy came, in fact, on Friday last, Nov. 27, to communicate to me, wiihout leaving me a copy—a despatch dated the 23rd, addressed by Lord Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby, and in which, establishing that the suppression of the republic of Cracow did not seem to him jus tified by necessity, and that the courts of Vienna. of Berlin, and of St. Petersburg, hove not themselves alone, the right of accomplishing it. The English govern ment protests, in virtue of the treaty of Vienna, of June 9, 1815, against the execution of this measure, which had been announced to him. I have just, according to the orders of Ste king, addressed to his representatives at the three courts the expressions of the sentiments of hi+ government on the destruction of the state of Cream, and our formal protests tion against that measure. I send you herewith my despatch, requesting you to communicate it to Lord Palmerston, and to leave hlm a copy of it. BELGIUM.—BRI'SS. El.q, JAN. 13.—The Minister of th , Interior laid before the Chamber - of Representatives, yesterday, a bill for increasing the number of members of both chambers. Before the Christmas vacation, a leading member of the opposition, M. DeMoe, gave notice that he would move for official information from ministers relative to the number of relisimas communities in this country, the number of inmates in each, and to other 'objects respectihg those congregations. Yesterday, the Minister of Justice stated, in reply to the questions, that the number of realer nked religious institutions would be fond in the bulletin officiel, but that he could not state the exact number of inmates, because the heads of those establishments were only bound to give an account of their revenues, and not of the parsons who might be residing in them. With respect to non-revogoised religious cow , . unities, he would refer the honourable member to the Alninnac Royal, a copy of which was distributed to every deputy.—M.Delfusre remarked, in reply, that ho was not at all satisfied with the minister's explanation. There was a very easy way to procure infor mation respecting the number of inmates in religious insti tutions, viz., by means of the annual C9llllll which takes place in every commune. Every year he (M. Delfosse) was tolled upon by the police to give his name, his age, his pro f( ohm, &c., and to answer similar inquiries rapecting all the persons in his houso. He did not understand why he (a representative of the nation) should he required to enter into such details reap-sting his household, whilst members of re. Heiman communities were, it appears, left untroubled with such questions. Ile had anticipated the refusal of the go vernment to enter into the details asked for, and he could only attribute that refusal to its desire to envelope in mys tery everything relating to the clergy.—This afternoon the Chamber was engaged with the diwussion of the budget of the Minister of Justice.—The average price of wheat for the week ending Jan. 9 was 271 27c., and of rye 21f. 71c., being au increase of S4c. on the former, and of 10e. on the latter, compared with the quotations of the preceding weak. ITALY, ItomE.—The Diario di Roma, of the 2d of Jan., rays :—Our city has once more been the scene of those acts which speak of the love of the subjects for their sove reign. On New Year's-day an immense multitude assembled on the Pismo del Popolo, with the intention of proceeding to the Quirenal to wish his Holiness many returns f the year and all possible congratulations for the universal good of the church and of his states. At eleven in the morning, the whole population, preceded by music, and chanting hymns, went to the Quirenal, passing through the Cerro, and the streets leading to Monte Cavallo. A large crowd occupied the heights of the Quimial mount. When his Holiness ap peared on the balcony of the palace, a cry of joy and satis faction arose on all sides. The holy father gave his blessing to the people, who replied in one Amen! His holiness re mained on the balcony to hear a hymn, composed expressly for the ocnsion, and expressed his satisfaction to the car dinale that surrounded him. The crowd then quietly dis persed. GERMANY.—Caaoow, JaN. s.—For some days the frontiers of the kingdom of Poland bordering upon the former republi^, as well as those along Galicia, have been occupied by a large body of Russian troops, consisting 10,000 men under the command of Lieut.-General Rudi ger. The staff of the army is stationed at Michaelswiteh. The object for assembling so large a body of men has not yet transpired, as no events at that place can have given rise to it. SWEllEN.—Srocialow4.—We learn from Stock holm that the English government had consented to defray half the expenses for the running of a steamboat between England and Sweden. One of the principal merchants of Goldenburg has arrived at Stockholm for the purpose of settling this affair; and it is hoped that this regular com munication will commence in the sin itg. THE RIVER PLATE—The Chaim, from Monte Video, arrived in the Mersey this afternoon. She sailed on the 14th of November. In politics or commercial matters nothing new had transpired since the last amounts. MEXICAN LETTERS OF MARQVF---It is understood that three privateers have been fitted out and despatched. They sailed under Spanish names. The object is said to he to stop outward-bound American shipping which may have specie on board. The report, or the fact, is already creating a difficulty in insurances. COLONIAL. BRITISH. NORTH AMERICA. CANADA.--We have papers from Montrevl and Quebec, to the 28th ult. ; from Toronto, to the 23rd; and from Hamilton, to the Mid. They have all fairly assumed the colour of the season, as hares do in arctic regions. Everything about them is redolent of winter. The curling clubs of Montreal seem to have been driving their channel. atones over the ice, as eagerly as ever their Scotch kindred did on moorland lochs ; and advertisements of " lines of stages " intimate that " the sleighs will start." Politica, like dormice, appear to he slumbering during the cold weather. The only sign of vitality was an announce ment which appeared simultaneously is all the Montreal newspapers, about the 23rd of December, that a requisition to the Mayor, desiring him to prepare an address to he pre sented to his Excellency Lord Elgin, upon his arrival, was lying for signature at the News oom, and some other public places. The controversy as to who was Mayor of Montreal, noticed in our arrivals from Canada by the previous packet, had been decided in favour of Mr. Mills. On the 21st of December it was intimated in the Ga zette that the provincial parliament was further prorogued from the 24th of December to the 2d of Fehruary. NOVAt SCOTIA.—EMIGRANTS.—The Nora Sro lion furnishes soma distressing accounts of the con dition of a number of emigrants on board the vessel Tennessee. The vessel had put into Halifax, owing to her leaky condition, and the passengers took the oppor tunity to lodge a complaint against the muter of the vessel, for not having provided them necessary provisions and fuel for their comfort, and having demanded from each a rum for head money. From the statement of these passenger', it appeared that the daily allowance of food to each adult was one pound of bread, meal, or rice. The case mu examined before his worship the mayor, and the statements from both sides received. After patient investigation it was found that the city authorities could not interfere, further than to en force the captain to obey the letter of the law. Several benevolent individuals, however, proceeded to the spot where the poor people were staying, in order to relieve their distress. - ---- BERNIUDA.—STEAM NAVIGATION.—The Royal Gazet:e publishes the prospectus of the West India aad United States Steam-boat Company, proposing to establish a semi-monthly line of steamers to ply between New York and the West Indian Islands. It is intended to have the steamers arrive at New York, ao as to connect with the Liverpool line. 'Mk &um The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by their RR.III I. the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Prince sa Alice, and the Princess Helena, and attended by the Marchioness of Douro, Lord Waterpark, Major-General Bowles, Lord Alfred l'aget, and Colonel Sey mour, left Claremont at half-past two o'clock yesterday afternoon, for Windsor Castle. In the forenoon H.R.H. Prince Albert. attended by some of the gentlemen of the royal suite, enjoyed the sport of shooting. WINDSOR, Titunsnay.—Her Majesty and Prince Albert returned to the Castle from Claremont at a quarter past four o'clock this afternoon, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Prin cesses Alice and Helena. The royal suite consisted of the Lady in Waiting, the Marchioness of Douro; the Lord in Waiting. Lord Waterpark; the Equerry in Waiting, Lord Alfred Paget; the Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert, Colonel Seymour; and the Master of the Household, Gen. Bowles. Count Schemrnelpenninck, the Netherlands Minis ter; Baron de Besot, the Saxon Minister, and Baroness de Beset; Viscount Palmerston; and Sir H. and Lady Sey mour, are expected to arrive at the Castle to-day, on a visit to her Majesty. The Royal dinner party at the Castle this evening is expected to include H.R.R. the Duchess of Kent, his Ex cellency Count Sehemmelpenninck, their Excellencies Baron and B 'rosters de Brost, the Lady in Waiting of the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Spetto, Viscount Palmerston, and Sir H. and Lady Seymour. The band of the let Life Guards attend during dinner. Her Majesty's private band will afterwards attend in the Castle. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office. The ministers present were Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. the Earl of Auckland. Sir J. Hobhonse, Lord Campbell, Viscount Mar peth, the Earl of Clarendon, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Right Hon. T. B Macaulay, and the Right Hon. H. Lahouchere. The council sat two hours and a half. Archdeacon Hoare had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday, at his official re sidence in Downing-street. Mr. George Alsbnry bad an in terview with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Despatches were received yesterday, at the Colo nial-office, from the Governors of the North American pro vinces. Despatches were also received yesterday from the Governor of the Mauritius. Lord Netherton arrived at tho Brunswick Hotel, Hanover-square, yesterday, from his seat Teddesley-park, Staffordshire. GRAND ENTERTAINMENT TO LORD JORN RUSSELL AT TRIS WiIAVESS . COMPANT.—Thia company, under the presidency of Ald. Wilson, for the second time gave a splendid banquet to the Premier ' on Weaumdsy last. After the accus tomed to-sts were dispssed of, the Upper Bailiff gave " The Health of Lord John Russell." Lord John Russell rose, amidst great cheering, and responded to the toast, taking for the text of his speech the motto inscribed on the company's banner—" Weave truth with trust," @hewing that the expe rience of the nations, both of the old and the new world, bore testimony to the great truth that, in proportion to its fidelity ti its engagements, in proportion as it did weave truth with trust, were the distinction and eminence to which anv nation or community attained. Acknowledging the kind and liberal sentiments advanced by the chairman, his lord ship freely admitted the right which the nation had to expect to be governed by the political party most able and willing to do her service. and concluded, amidst general cheering, by proposing " The Health of the Upper Bailiff." —The Upper Bailiff having returned thanks, proposed "The Health of Mr. Hagerman and the Representatives of the City of London.—Mr. Masterman expressed his high grati fication at the compliment, and his belief that his election as one of the representatives in parliament for the City had resulted more from the opinion that be would prove a faithful and experienced exponent of its banking and commercial interests, than from politiesleonairlerations; and on those grounds he hoped the confidence of the consti tuency in him would suffer no abatement. (Cheers.) The Upper Extliff neat gave the health of" Mr. Ormsby Gore, and the House of Commons." Mr. Gore, after alluding to the fact of his haring est in parliasneet for forty jean, ex pressed his di ep anxiety at the present crisis, and espectwfte that the measure' of her Majesty's ministers might Woo& the !deter kingdom, with which, although now representing an English county, Ilia feelings were identified both by birth and by his earliest political associations. The Upper Bailiff then proposed the " Msgistracv of the City of London," which was responded to by Alderman Hughes Hughes. The Upper Bailiff then proposed the health of " Sir George Larpent and the Merchants of London," and alluded to th , services of the hon. baronet in the choir of the Property and Income Tax Comnabvion, and to the welcome report that he intended to come forward at the next election for the repre sentation of the Cita of London. The company separated between 10 and 11 o'clock. 111 E COURTS OF ALDERMEN AND COMMON COUN ctL.—The General Committee of the Common Council as sembled to consider the cour-e to be pursued by them at the next court, in consequence of the refusal of the Lord Mayor to put a question which had been moved and recorded. The sub-committee heard the several reports of the 4ffiet TA, and resolved that Mr. Ashurst should be requested to state the views of the sub-committee to the gener a l inert ing of the members. They then adjourned into the Council Chamber. —Mr. Ashunit having been called to the chair, and the minutes of the last meeting, with the resolutions to assert the right of the Common Council being read, raid he WEa, requested by the sub-committee co state to them the course which they thoueht it desirable should be pursued by the court when it should be ass ,mbled. From the nature of the contest that had arisen, •-nd the circumstances which gave rise to it, the motives of the Court of Aldermen had been cenvassed, and mu t h that was not strictly pertinent to the real question at that moment under discussion had been brought into dew. That committee were not uneonstitu. tional in their views, AS one of the m sobers of the Court of Alleenten had proved himself to be, who had proposed that the Lord Mayor should net even summon the Common Council, but should do without that body altogether. Such an arrangement would doubtless be very convenient to the views of many of the members of that court, but as the suggestion happened not to be consistent with law, the per son who made it was soon corrected in that respect by his more discreet fellows. The committee, however, had resolved and no doubt they would be sustained by the court, to Midst upon their right, and to assist that right, firmly, steadily, legally, and peacefully, to have a question when moved, pus by the Lord Mayor. The only difficulty they apprehended, was one which the present meeting would be likely teobriate. The committee wished particularly that he should earn' ally impress upon the members, that the only point before the court was, whether the Lord Mayor could suppress all dis cession by refusing to put a lawful question. If that power were once conceded to the Lord Mayor, there was an end to the power of the representative body, and the sue nee they left the court the better, for they would be dependent upon the' opinion and notions of the Lord Mayor for the time being. If such a power should ultimately be established, it would be wholly useless to continue members of the court. They would be merely a registering body for the aldermen. The committee felt it was most important not to introduce ' into the discussion any of the other questions that were coming before the court. Of these other questions different members might have different views, and nothing ought to be concluded on these subjects until the subjects themselves came regularly before them for discussion. If the right con tended for by the Lord Mayor, to suppress the discussion of any measure he did not approve, were submitted to, he forme , would unite with those who would support him out-of-doors. Parliament must be then applied to ; but in that respect be spoke as an individual, and not as the organ of the sub committee. Their recommendation was to confine them pelves at the next court to one end only one question, and to preserve unity of purpose in the assertion of their right to be masters of their own proceedings, and to have all legal ques tions put to the court. (Loud sheen).—Mr. Low, chair. man of the City Land committee, then moved a resolu tion approving of the course taken by the sub-committee. LONDON JOINT-STOCK BANK.—The general half yearly meeting of the proprietors in this company was held yesterday noon, at the company's banking-house, Prince.- street, City. The attendance of shareholders was consider able ; the Right Hon. T. Ormsby Gore, M.P., occupied the chair. A report was submitted by the directors, which set out with the gratifying information that during the last six months the bank had realised a net profit of 31,580/. 17s. The directors haring come to a resolution to restrict the guarantee fund to 120,000/. (except by the accumulation of its own interest, and of ouch sums as may be too small to apply to a bonus have dererruined to divide the surplus pro fit amongst the shareholders annually. On thin occa sion, a bonus of 2s. per share was announced in the report, in addition to the usual dividend ; the guarantee Grad amounting to 120,1171. 14s. 3d. The Chairman begged to move that the report be received and adopted. He congratulated the shareholders upon the fulfilment of what he had foretold, at a general meeting nine years ago,— that they might certainly look forward to prosperity. (Beow.) The report of to-day confirmed the prophecy he had then made. The following calculation showed the manner in which the prosperity of the bank had plog,,a-,d. A curious fact shown by this statement was, that there was a great similarity in their profits from the beginning to the present moment. Thin was their tenth anniversary in 1837 their dividend was but 4 per cent. ; the average dividend on the first four yearn, on a capital of 300,0001 . , was 71. 12.. per cent ; in the next year it was 54 per cent. ; in the next four years it was 6 per cent.. and I per cent. divided as a bonus, making 7 per cent., giving an average dividend for the last six years of 71 12s. 64. on a gross cranial of 600,000., averaging 586,0001. Thus the profits made during the first four years and the last six years, averaged 71 per cent. The guarantee fund was now 120.0001. and a fraction. He moved that the report should be received, and printed for the use of the shareholders.—Capt. Lochner seconded the motion.—Mr. Hodgkinson said he must con gratulate the shareholders and directors on the extremely prosperous state of the bank, by which the directors were enabled to declare a larger dividend than usual. One thing appeared to him a alight incongruity—the amount to be divided as a bonus under certain stipulations. They mid "it was not expedient for the guarantee fund to exceed 120,0001 , except by theaccumulatiea of its own interest, and such sums as might be too small to apply to a bonus; but that at the end of each year, in addition to the dividendof six per cent., the surplus profit should be divided amongst the share holders, provided such surplus should amount to 2a. per share in the capital of the company; otherwise that it should be added to the guarantee fund." It was not clear why the bonus was fixed et this amount. If a surplus profit of 58,0001. were made, that would not give 2s. per share; but, added to 120,000/., it would considerably increase that sum which the directors had declared sufficient. Might they not, under such circumstances, give Is. or Is. 6d. per share ? He did not wish to found any motion on this subject, or to express dissatisfaction with the director., but be was anxious for some explanation.—The Chairman said the view taken by the directors was, that it would not he better to divide the fraction over two shillings.— Mr. Hodithinenn : Why not have made the bonus Is. per share ?—Mr. N. Foster said it was not contemplated to declare bonuses half-yearly, but yearly, by which there would always be a surplus of more than ts. per abase. Any smaller amount it would he unadvisable to divide, as showing too nearly the exact amount of ban kinr profits. A little further conversation ensued, and the report was then adopted.—The Chairman next declared the vacancies in the board, and the candidates who had come forward to supply their places. He paid n high compliment to Mr. Stooks, the refiring director. Of the four candidates who had come forward, Mr. Blount retired. The remaining three who had 'erred before were unanimously re-elected, as was Mr. George Meek, one of the new candidates.—A gentleman demanded a ballot on behalf of Mr. V. Knight. This was granted, and an adjournment till four o'clock was decided on for the purpose. Thanks were then voted to the directors, to Mr. Pollard, the managing director, and to the chairman.—lt was afterwards held that the effect of the poll being granted, was to throw open the whole four elections ; and the poll accordingly took place for four directors ; the whole, except Mr. Blount, being voted fur, with the following result:— For Mr. Cur-hart 4,001 ; Foster, 4,001; Taylor, 4,001 Meek, 2,430; Knight, 1 , 5 7 1 . The four first - named gentle men were accordingly declared duly elected. ROYAL FREEMASONS' FEMALE SCHOOL.— A quarterly general meeting of proprietors was held yes terday at the Institution, Westminster-road, John Udall, Esq., in the chair. The minutes of last quarter's Proceed ings having been read and confirmed, the treasurer was authorised to give cheques to the amount of 2831.95. 4d. fee the payment of the quarterly accounts. Mr. Patten wished that the number of girls educated in tke school might be increased from sixty-five, the usual number, to seventy, particularly as the institution was in a prosperous condition ; but on its being stated that the house would not afford comfortable accommodation for the additional number, he did not press his motion. It was agreed that six girls should be admitted at the next quarterly court. The applicants were called in and informed that as TlerWeiell had been declared for the number who applied they would be admitted attar next quarter's court, without ballot. H. W. White. Esq., was elected a trustee in the room of J. Ramsbottom, E'q.. M.P., deceased. Thanks were voted to Mr. Gordon, of Cheltenham, for a present of books, and also to the chairman, when the meet. mg separated. BUTCHERS' CHARITABLE INSTITUTION.—The 18th annual meeting of this institution took place lost evening at the Freemasons' Tavern; John Sharp, Eq., the president, in the chair. The report stated that. during the past year eight pensioner, had been elected, which increased the pre sent number to 123. The committee had invested 4001. since the last general meeting, which raised the amount which they now had to their credit to 9,827/. 16s. 3d. The report further stated that 101. had been granted to the or phnn family of ;he lute Mr. Wm. Jackson; end mentioned the death of Andrew Gibbs, Esq., one of the founders and a trustee of the institution, who, by his will, had bequeathed nineteen guineas to the charity. The committee recom mended Mr. Robert Rouse, surgeon, Fulham, who had gratuitously attended the pensioners in the alma-house, to be admitted an honorary member, with the privilege of a vote on all occasions. It appeared by the accounts that the sum received during the past year had been 2,062/. is. Id., and the expenditure had amounted to 1,567 e 4s. 3d., leaving a balance in the treasurer's hands of 4941. 16e. 10d. Mr. Sharp, the president, and the other officers for the ensuing year, were then re-elected, after which the meeting separated. THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS.—ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF BRITTSR SPlRlTS.—Yesterday, a numerously attended meeting of the licensed victuallers of the metropo lis (convened by public advertisement), was held in the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, for the purpose of adopt ing such measures as might appear necessary to meet the great advance made by the distillers on the price of British spirits. The chair was occupied by Mr. George Smith. of Sloane-square, who, on opening the proceedings, stated that the proposed increes• of price by the retailers wan called ft r in consequence of the advance which had been made to them by the distillers. On the motion of Mr. Homer, seconded sir. Young, a resolution to the effect that the price of gin .h.uld be advanced one shilling and fourpence per gallon, was agreed to with only one. dissentient. A second resolu tion (suggested by Mr. Homer), that the price at which rum was retailed should be raised in the manse proportimi as gin wax advanced by the .receding resolution, was, after some slight conflict of opinion, also adopted. It was next resolved that Loth resolutions should take effect from Saturday next, and the meeting separated. ItOYal, SEA BATHING INEIRMARY.—ThP annual cceniernl meeting of the subscribe» to this charity was held yesterday, at the Leaden Coffee-house, the Rev. 1/:. Russell in the chair. The usual routine of business was traa.acted ; the charity was represented to be flourishing; a new medi cal boned was appointed; and the meeting separated, after a vote of thanks to the chairman. WESTMINSTER ELECTION. A Meeting of the electors and inhabitanta of the parishes of St. Margaret and St. John took place last evenine, at the Coach and Horses Tavern. North-street, to consider the mast eligible representative for the city of Westminster in yarliament. Mr. A. Wright then moved the fleet resolution That in the opinion of the meeting, Mr. Cgurse s appears to he the most eligible person en represent the city of Wodirart, pirlsonent, and we bee Ware to colt the stet Intim ethe tyestmlnstcr Reform Swirl< to the propriety of reeonsting that gentleman to allow himeeti to be put in nominal= at the next election. Mr. Stewart seconded the re solution, to width en amend ment,:setting forth the superior qualineations of Mr. C.Coeh rane, was pmposad by Mr. Da fry, 111[4 seconged lay Mr. Strachan. In the end a show of hands were taken en the question, when a majority of 10 was declared in faeour of Use original motion. EXPERIMENTS AT THE Excisr.-OFFICE.—EIIEWING AND DISTILLATION PROM ORAIN.—In obedience to orders received from her Majesty's government by tee Commie stoners of Excise, a variety of experiments have, during the past and present week, taken place in the private laireneory oldie Excise department, under the superinteedence of Mr. Genesee Phillipc, an' lytical chemist to the board, asaleted by Mr. Dodson, surveying examiner general, fur the purpose of mcertaininghow far it meg be possible to stipera de the use of grain for purposes other than food to which it is at pre sent applied. The tint proem. was an experiment as to the necessity of the use of malt in the produc• f ale and porter, and the substitution of sugar or molaue. It appears that a very superor wort has been obtained from the above articles, which, when flavoured with hops, prod a very excellentthbeueseoragebtain, obtained is iesdreersttivdbeiinngthdeceEm.elied sfactorywarehouses,..The beer . to be produced when occasion may require. Th , - ~bsequent experiments were the distillation of sugar, by fermented wash. . to supersede the use of malt in the manufacture of whiskey; and it is believed that a pure spirit, superior ;n strength, may he had from sugar to what is now obtained in the or e'inary way from grain. The results of these experiments, it is stated, will be communicated in the course of a few days. The only difficulty that appears to present itself in the adop tion of the plan is, the consequent advance that will neces sarily take place in the price of sugar, which it has been the great object of the last and prownt government to reduce. Should this project be carried into effect, there is but little doubt that a bill will be brought in to prevent altogether the distillation from grain. ACCIDENT TO THE CITY CHAMBER: alN.—Mr. Brown, chamberlain of the City of London, met with an accident on Wednesday. He was in his carriage, passing along near the Mansion-house, when a heavy cart came in contact with the wheels of his vehicle and turneel it cam pletely over, throwing the chamberlain vielent'y upon the pavement. Mr. Brown was immediately talon into the house of Messrs. Kenner and Co., the next door to the banking-house of Mean. Smith, Payne, and Smith, in Lem bard-street, where he was speedily visited by a surecon. Re sustained some injury about the forehead, bat we are glad to say that it is considered to be unimportant. GRAY'S INN, JAN. 13.—Samuel Simpson Tonlmin, Esq., was this day called to the degree of barnsteret-law by the honourable society of Gray's Inn. INQUESTS, YESTERDAY. DEATH OF A CHILD THROUGH MEDICINE TAKEN Ili THE MOTEL:l.—Before William Carter, Esc' , at the Mason's Anne, East-lane, Walworth, relative to the death of Sarah Elizabeth Brom field, aged ten weeks, the daughter of a brushmaker.oll ury- Ann Bromfield stated that she lived in a travelling illbw at ma. ent remaining st Pleasant-row, Ea.ststrect, Newington. On the morning of Thursday, the 31st alt., w itnese was un well from her recent confinement; she therefore proceeded to the residence of Dr. Hughes, of Guy's hospital, who , gave her a prescription, which witness took to a Kr. Wane, of East-street, chemist, to make up accordingly, 'remising to call twain ; witness returned, and then asked Mr. Wade for • pennyworth of anti , bilious pills, when he gave her four in a piece of paper. Witness took two of them the same night, On the following day she said to her husband the pain had ehiftid from her stomach to her head, making her mouth as if she had swallowed some scalding water. Der tongue was much swollen and the whole of her teeth w, re quite lONIC. Witness, at first, thought it was an attack of the toothache, but she grew much worse, and the water ran out of her mouth, which was of a very o ff ensive and nraisenes chase ter. Witness then said to her husband "If you don't take me to Dr. Hughes again I shall go mad.' , He accord ingly placed the witness in a cart and drove her to that gentleman, who informed the witness that her state had arisen from the pills she had taken from Mr. Wade, which bad thrown her into a Mate of great salivation. In the mean time she 'continued to suckle the deceased, but two days afterwards she found that the child, who was preeiovsly in good health, was likewise effected by the pi:ls she the mother) had taken. Witoem finding that the deo axed was getting worse called in Mr. Hewett who prescribed for her and sent medicine, hut all efforts on his part tu save the deceased were unavailing, es she died on the morning of Saturday last. Other evidence having teen offired to the court of a similar nature to the shove, the coroner then sum med up, and the jury, after a brief consultation, returned the subjoined verdict—" That the deceased died teem the effects of mercury imbibed through the mother's milk, she having been in a state of salivation, by taking two enti-bilious containing not quite two scrams of mercury. At the same time we do not find that blame was attributed teeny person." Ma. YOCATT, THE VIITENINART BUDOSON. 137 Mr. Mills, Deputy-coroner for Middlesex, st the King's Arms, Frederick-street, Regent's-park, on the body of Mr. William Youatt, aged 71, veterinary eurgeon, of 1, Ornabureb-plarce, Elirebeth Jones said, she had been servant la the faini"y of Mr. Yountt for two years. On Saturday last, about two in the afternoon, she went into her deceased master's stud to call him to dinner, and found him fitting hark in hb chair with his spectacles on, as if he was ash cp ; but, on closer approach, he appeared lifeless. She relic. d nn einem, and Mies Youatt, who was the only person in the home, came up, and witness ran for a surgeon,who pr .nounced life extinct. On his writingtable witness discovered a phinl coda cup, and saw that the former had a printed labe' on i'. !wiring the word" poison." The deceased had been intolheCit io the morning, and came home at one o'clock. He then appeared the same as usual. fie bad been very low in spirits for the last three months, and would sametimes make sty, age obwrra tions. Witness never heard him threaten to hens or poison himself. He kept all sorts of chemicals used in :.is profession. Mr. Thomas Porter, surgeon, of 32, Euston -wit •rc, deposed that he was celled to see the deceased on the allernoen of Saturday. His assistant had previously seen deceased, and from the phial and cup expressed his lieuef that he had taken poison. Deceased was quite dead. Ho heel since made a post martens examination of the body,. and in the stomach there was a strong smell of prosaic acad. The contents of the stomach had since been tested at t`e laboratury of Uni vetsity College, and were found to contain that poison. The minus parts of the body, on being opened, also smelt strongly, and he had no doubt but death resulted from manic acid.—Miss Elizabeth Youatt said her father had lately complained of great pain at his hetet, and had for the last six months been no strange in his manner as to be unsble to perform his duties es ditor of the Veterinarian. She had no idea that he would commit suicide, or that he kept poisons. The coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict " That the deceased destruyeel himself, being at the time in an unsound state of meld." IRELAND. DUBLIN, JAx. 13. The formation and proceedings of the Irish proprietor party form the topic of the day. A long list of mem bers has been published. There are forty-six peers and thirty members of parliament. Mr. Sharman Crawford has refused to attend the meeting to morrow, and, in a letter to the secretaries of the com mittee, states his reason to be the exclusion of the public press. In his letter, yet unpublished, he re marks : Consider the consequences of such an exclwion ! Your meelutions are to be published—the names of those attending the meeting are to be published—every thing else is to be does under the seal of secrecy. Every man then present at this meetirg will be committed to all the resolutions, whether he approve or not. If you have a con(' emir from w hich the prom is excluded, you ought not to publish the resolu tions. Will the exclusion gain you respect or confidence in England, where the elevation of the character of Irish public bodies would he the main instrument of your obtain'ng the measures you suggest? The levee, to-day, was attended by the gentry from nearly every county in Ireland. About 1,000 persona were present. The accounts from the west are still most painful. The Mayo Cmintitation, received to-day, announces eight more inquests, the verdict in each being death from starvation. The central relief committee and the government have in every way facilitated the import of provisions into the unhappy district., but the relief was either too late or too inadequate. The public works afford employment, but with so poor and abundant a population, stripped of all resources end unable to accomplish sufficient task labour, such a source of employment cannot remedy an universal evil. An illustration of the social disintegration whiah is now going on is the state of the quarter ors:dons courts, in which the civil business has increased enormously. In two divisions of the peaceable county of Kerry—Killarney and Tralee—the number of t ivil bill entries has been 3,000. The actions in most cases have been brought for the reccvsry of small outstsading debts secured en promissory notes, for last year's provisimik Kerry is tranquil in its suffering, whi e Tipperate,• 'as usual. indientes a more restless temper. In Nenagh *ere are 247 prisoners altogether confined, of wbotirTBt, are for robbery. The disorganisation 'ispeerf.„Mi sa n Tipperary than in any other county, 44 n ,