The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

, • n with his benign bless tons, the next crop wi'l be tii, or six ears." t migraine Gide.] from the three inenli.ls out of 337. I in 131ue• )fountain Valley DM/ the ilietributiom of im- Asiatic. iss.s.L 223 4t4 4810 313 90.3 171 211: 4003 ir!tlLSsßa. CONNELL AND ited Belire, N•ov. 29, it ie Symonds remain In pal, a the 2•lth Lurk A new lam/ties to prosecute in the , Queen's Advocate, died .trotted. Ili* death is at he trial of Meson. Connell Mums iMserrer, of 24th some discussion took place rst jury. When the fore trial, stated that they had agree on a verdict, the late " on the ground right to the peremptory 'tire panel ,had Len gym, knit time Lad e!apsed since a verdict if they intended !tied to by the solicitor for hen ordered to retire until t baring agreed, they were 'n or tere.l to retire " tho err, " having entered the 'opinion. Th. Chief Jll9. sting between hint and the led upon to give, hi. opinion is liarellC.:cV in bin opiuion destice.' • itc. -It is eared in the Times, that - There bare :'ourt of Policy during the bosinem has horn got over. tents between debtors and for regulating the relations We all been un inimously articular attention of the tits proclamation publirhed nu emigrants to the Azores is a measure which hos are in there islaida de far immigration, to rolonv would of the idands ate no farther out of an Madeira, and there is no ions, if any at all, will be itants leaving, as have been Poregues. government. tantri Supreme a in George Town on tie L. against wham the indiet mend E. A. Wal.orialge, a fr. John Emery, and Mr. ere the pahlirher. of a local The indictments framed the colony sneer"' weeks be osrion, did not come on to unl an ordinance regulating .n, the Attorney-tier.cral enaion agaiort Mr. Emery, us legal tearoom% The cue prosevii. one or two I committed by the copying the indictment; nor, from it the proserution will he bridge's case has been pont ndoewfrnacebs:matndfrtoume the he oa was issued on the 3rl ing the Azores, Cape de ices whence emigrants may nthlie It may ho ce of shipow•lers ant others, bounties the regulations of ust be complied with, and wt not exc.. at four weeks The bounties are thirty n fur each child between utd been rainy, but favour swever, should it continue II prove detrimental to the agricultural prospects were crap, should no untoward t shipped for many p.m". ATURE.-At a meeting of t of December, L ird Harris in reply to a report from his ition. The substance of the rep's despatch were to the plan of his Facehence's, as it cube instruction such . religion Mink...era. A rep-irate day and t each meet at school, on which tend to instruct the children of a solo for each child. hi bud& might easily he set apart for the wed to have the nee of the school That it was mod important to chin, with that of general eda m:l.lW that in a portion of those boarders, go'ly home to their turning to whoa on MOMlrly till have the interval for his to the eatabh-hinent of a coheir ctr.rd in thinking that such a accomplished, but doubted the he Ist of February ho would education in the colony. On eral, the report of the Cord ell we gave an outline in our ious mail, was adopted. The r the Attorney-General, on a : o consider and report whit Ow general syatem of taxation and t the manner of levying and e. d. id other charge. upon the ship. the colony : and that such coco on. and paper, swing paragraph appears is aid a chat to the cocoa district, tree. prraent a moat luxuriant tare looking forward full of the it and blown... were never be aity ; and an almost immediate be esriectett, which will, moat httic aunshine it now all that is t of it. BARHA DOIIB.—THE Gol'ti• Jer gates : —•— • *limey our new governor and erase, or on Saturday at farthest. her Majesty's ship Hyacinth, fe esirornunkital with by Gle be on burl—tbe fact will be scheme of two guns from the g —which signal will be at ones II by the carious signal etainn 6 hiCh will be displayed a unto- !port of the St. Philip's for November, it is stated Neceniber, was favourahle is o rain fell until about the middle r showers have been of frequent report of the cane, mu.t partake e pew. which hod the benefit of table weather of oetober (lid not but in thone lea. fortunate the not recovered. .the proved of ter than it wan at Ibis period of District Association for the uta been very variable in ita cha ry rain sr.o eaperkuteed In the aundated a congiderable tract of to the prvent period no want of illy are very hoe, and preview . a 4 the diatrirt the drought which tit the 16th. On that day wow Ith but little intermimion to the e hill+ had au/renal conaifterable hot have resumed their natural at:kn.—The Palladium of 0 " of IA eedatthe Council held f txking timely strps t 3 guard three ease which I. ire a.•+ thrice of our tax ordinance on again owing to delay at ltglas been accordingly lamed for the ardinance neat year, In the event es approval not ►eing received he quantity of sugar shipped 44.1, there appeal, a falling" more than 1,000 hhds. The n 1 this year is given as fol- Measurer : sugar, 5,697,4 25 a, 30 puns. ; coffee, 41,431 , too I, 2621 cords ; charcoal, raw hides, 449. In coffee and in cocoa 144,306 lbs. NTIGUA.—The new gover s private secretary, Charles on the 12th ult., and the tvened, when her Majesty's Excellency took the oaths of ,ant-Governor Cunningham M Christopher the following LANI). ilished in this country a the evidence of the Chief , that the convicts have not used, and ought to others, that from the excel save lately been sent there, lent control over them, the widener of any one who has est interests; on the evidence s, which have in late yearn lens chiefly to meet the co ed neotasary by the presence ind oppressive; and on the tA , at Hobart-town, before most [tripe,. taloniots, Int <So wt. -- - - The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Prince‘s Royal, the Prin.cvs Alice, and the Princess Helena, arrived at Clare mont, nt a quarter-past four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, from Windsor Castle. Yesterday morning H.R.11. Prince Albert enjoyed the sport of shooting, attended by some of the gentlemen of the royal suite. Her Majesty and Prince Albert walked yesterday in Claremont Park. - - A Cabinet Council was held at twelve o'clock yea terday, at the Foreign-office. The ministers present were Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Miuto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, Earl of Auckl nd, Lord Campbell, Earl of Clarendon, and the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay. Lord Campbell arrived in town on Thursday night from York. The Earl of Clarendon arrived in town yester day morning from Grove-park, Herts. The Earl of Minto and Viscount Palmerston also arrived in town yesterday morning to attend the council. The council sat two hours. The Marquis of Lansdowne left town after the council for his seat, Bowood-park, Wilts. A deputation, including Sir J. Rae Reid, Mr. Hankey, jun., Mr. C. Marryatt, and Mr. Macgregor, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial office. The Archbishop of Canterbury had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Mr. F. Dundas had an interview with Sir G. Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. Despatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial-office for the Governor of the Mauritius. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office from/ the Governors of the West India Colonies, and also from the Governor of St. Helena. THE. Anonass.—The address in reply to her Ma jesty'• speech will be moved, in the House of Commons, by the Hen. C. Howard (Eut Cumberland), and seconded by Mr. Ricardo (Stoke -upon-Trent). From Last Night's Gazette. WHITEHALL, JAN. 7.—The Queen has directed letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto Sir H. Wheatley, K nt., late Keeper of her hisjesty's Privy Purse, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten. FORLION-OFFICE, JAN. 7.—The Queen hen ap proved of M. A. F. Gautier as Consul at Gibraltar for his Majesty the King of the French. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, JAN. 6.—ROYAL REGI MENT or ARTILLIRY.—Second Lieut. A. W. Grayson to be First Lieut., vies Frye, resigned. WAR-OFFICE, Jon. 6. Ist Dreg. Cids.-1. Peile to be assiat vice Meekenzie, prom. on the Staff; Cornet E. Bradbury to be adjt eurg., , vire Moore, who res. oiljwy. only. 17th Dreg. Oda-Lieut. A. D. Wigoell to be cant., by par.. vier • who ret.; Cornet A. P. Gore to be lieut., by par. ;B. Young (r.cutruit.) to be cent, by pur. 14th F.-PAa. B. Drew to be lieut., by pur., vice Warm, prom. in 56th F.: T. Segrase to be ens.. by pur. 20th V.-Capt. C. H. L. Tinting, from h..p. 7th F., to be rapt., pyg. differ., site Moller, app. to 50th F. 36th F.-Fmk l i . Ellis to be lieut., without per., site Barnston, app. adit. ; W. Low to be ens. 46th F.-Lieut. W. H. O'Toole to be capt., without pur. vice Mar. tin, prom. in Ceylon Rifle Rept. 30th F.-Capt. J. 0. Moller, from 20th F., to be apt. vice A. C. D. Bentley, who ret. on h.-p. 7th F. meg. differ. nth P.-Lieut. IL J. Warre, from 14th F., to be wt., by par., vie, Keane, app. to 91st F. 59th F.-Lieut. 0. Maxwell, from 11.4. 07th F., to be lieut., vice W. W. Williams, who each .; Ens. C. 8 . Baker to be lieut., by pur., site blaunsell, who ret. ; S. it. Chapman to be ens, by pur. 62nd 0. J. Ambrose to be Heat., without pur., vice Sim lair, who ret. ; J. O'Callaghan to be ens., by par. 67th F.-04pt. J. Menem, from h..p. Vast., to be mt., vice 11. J. V. Kemble, who exch. 78li P.-Capt. E. L'Esarange, from b.-p. list., to bo rapt, vb. C. F. Gibson, who each. net P.-. Capt. lion. J. A. Keane, from 56th F., to be apt., vice Berney, who rya. Ceylon Rifle Rent-Major 0. A. Tronebell to be Lirut.-eol., with out pur. To be Majors, without pur. tkes.-Major R. Marne, form 46th F.; arCl.-MajOr G. Cochrane, s tet yrseaaag. To he captidn,., without pur. Licata. G. R. Csinosic, from Ist IP.; A. Gray, from RI. CillYllian Rifle Rcpt; IL B. Keane, IL 0. Remmett, If. A. Raitt, and lA'. 11. Underwood, vice Cochrane. To be Met Lieutenant', without our.: Lieut. A. P. Smith, from 2nd West India Reg.; Lieut. C. O. D. Anuesley, from 57th F. ; Engin. 0. 8. Pearson, from 10th F.; 8. Shaine, teem SOth F.: R. T. Irwin, from 10 F.; W. R. Gray, from 3oth P . from 99th F.; F T. P. A. MacDomx4l, from 10th F.; and J. A. Butler, from Seth Y.; Sec. Lieut. O. 8. Dwyer, J. Henderoon, T. Cochrane, 1). D. Grgeotree, vice Keane; J. Meade, vice Rennnett; G. A. Tranehell, sire RAM; mod W. L. Braybrooke, vice Underwood. To be See. Lient ,by Dues' C. P. Teesdale. To be gee. 1.14.14., without ;J. W. M'Earlan. C. K. smelt, It. P. Wigroore, J. Inman. 14. W W. Gorman, lee vies Dwyer; W. Derbiehire. it. H. Brook. Coehr.mi ; A. Rutherford. vs • i • , entree; W. Winn nice stvege, .1. cos, vice Traricuril ; and i Atherton, Gm limp:v.3 , So. Clan Mo altod Mimes --In be Copts., without pur. Undo. C. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1847. that in this rote of things, landed property has fall; s to a third or • foe oh of the value which it bore up to 1810. It is shown, to , . in the same papers, on the evidenee of a former gover. or, that before the convict system of POO was adopted, the colony was in a proeperous mate, and life and property nes: ly u secure in it as in England. 1 think, toy it is satisfactorily shown by the same papers that all these calamities hose resulted tram the convict system, seta' abed by the house government in 1810; but I would now el-tree, that if her Majesty's r presentative in the colony b.• I done his duty to the colonists and to the British public, by representing to the home authorities, in a clear and a 'tine manner, the ruin that woo Ming nets ironed by this system, it certainly would hove been put a atop to long „o. The Colon Al Legislative Council, as at present consti tuted, consie*3 entirety of members who are appointed to it by the hen government ;or rather, in practice, by the Governor, an l confirmed by the home authorities. It will be seen, fro: what follows, that such a council is not effl- Ment nor bei.ofteial to the interest:sof the free colonists. One of the mem sera lately moved in it, " That, consider ing the di-ceased and bankrupt state of the colony, • committee should be appointed to inquire into the amount of the expenses that arc annually im posed on am colonies fur the meinter once of the convict csta osliments." The Governor, shortly after this motion e ss rude, admitted in the council, or rather the Colonial Seer tary did no on his behalf, that the burthens so imposed cm:masts were unjust and oppressive ; yet he re fused the ri mired committee, awl one half of the mem bers of the c oncil Icing paid servants of the government, and all of liens b. ing subject.lo be dismissed by the Gover nor nut only from their seats in council. but Mao from the ether offices tir which they receive salaries, if they refuse to give him tl iir support in the council—the committee II referred to was never formed; not, I believe, hue the infonultion required by the mover of it ever been eomniunican 1 in au official boon to the home authorities. No one, I believe. doubts that her Majesty's sues:visite government , since 1810 have, in all they have done for Van Diemen's Ls id, considered they were actinx fairly towards the free celoaists ; but the reverse, as has been shown, has been the set: .ad result. Since 1840, the convict system of that year—• •tabliabed by the home govinirsout, without the consent knowledge of the colonists—has driven a hall of the See i ,habitanteo from the island, after baying sold their proper lie in it for a third, or even fourth, of what they Sere • rth up to 18-10; and, if the other half have not follioveil the - example, it is only because they have nut been able to seli their properties in the island on any terms. Considering. however, the bishop's description of the place II i.e., that it i • not fit for the I -e sislenco of any one who regards his own bee intertats—tho injustice done to this latter half of the colon Al is even greater than to the dormer. If a far legislative vaincil had been granted to the colonies:, when they petitioned for it in 1935, the Measures , -high have proved so disastrous to the colony would wirer have been brought into operation; or, if they h id, would speedily have been put a stop to by the repress: Wines of that council; for it cannot be that either of he Majesty's late go' ern runts wool -I Lave allowed the colony to have been distrused, as it has been, if the local authorities hid given them full information with regard to the disastrous carets that ware being produced by their =n acres. Sinalar disasters may occur again, and it will he acting rants icy to the rules which prudence dictates, if the 'Monists are not now allowed to be go:riled by a legislative loaned, chorea by themselves, from the effects of such occur- Mete. It may b • said, in opposition to free institutions, that the Colony is a pen...l settlement, and that therefore the eolonisto who have eons there have no right to expect to be governed by free institutions, cr that the colonists are not yet ripe for such institutions. In 1840, Sir J. Franklin the then gover nor, stated, in the Legislative Council, that • coneidi red the oboists wire quite capable to govern themselves ; and es he had much better data on which to form his opinion than say one in Enalend can possibly base, I think what he has said on thus head should be conclusive. With regard to the colony being a penal settlement, I think it has been folly shown that that circum stance alone makes a free colonial council India pensable, because ito bein,.; so induces the home authorities to interfere with the interests of the colonists in ways which they would not otherwise think of. I do not propose to enter into a detail of all the grievances oft ,e colonists ; but in regard to taxation I would observe : the number of free colonials still in Van Diemen's Laud may be about 18,003, of whom Kay one-half consist of persons from the better clears of gaiety at home, who went to the colony with considerable funds daring the prosperous and judicious government of Sir G. Arthur, and the other halt of emancipated convicts. In Adelaide the number of inhabitants is about 23,000, and they are taxed to the 'mount of 23,0001. per annum, whereas the free colonists in Van Dicman's Land pay taxes (65,000/. of them in import duties) to the amount of 100,000/. per annum! The salary of the governor at Aaelaide iv 1,5001.- per annum; that of the governor of Van Dientan's Land was some years ago tined by the Home Government at 2,5001.; but the present anomalous is gislative council, one half the members of which have no intention of being per eminently connected with the colony, have raised it to 4,0001. When the free settlers now in Van Dieman's Lind went there, they did so on the recommendation of the ministers of her Majesty's predecessor. They went, too, under the as surance coutained in the Governor of the colony's official report, that the colony, though a penal settlement, was nearly as safe for life and property as England; and that It was still rapidly improving. By the wording, too, of the act of Parliament conatitutang the present legis lative council, they were led In believe that the island would, at no distant period, be favoured with free institutions. The colony has now suffered certaiuly very heavy reverses; but as these reverses are entirely owing to the errors of the home government, ouch a state of things should not preclude the Colonists from the advantage of a free local council, anil which, as I have already attempted to show, is the only means they have to protect themselves from the effects of such errors in future. It will be seen, too, from what is said in the preceding paragraph, it is time the free colonists were removed from the control of the present ano malous council. It is now proposed se a general system, that crown land be Siren to the convicts on " easy terms." In reference to this proposal I would wish it to be kept in mind that for the last 16 years at least, the government have been selling the 111 . 0W1111111de in the colony to the free settlers, and that, in con sequence, large sums have been invested in this way. One family, so far back as 1832.3, bought in one district (and at One sale, I think), crown land to the amount of 23,0001., sad on which they must sine' then have spent 5, 0001 . or 10,0001. in knees, buildings, And other improvements. From 1833 to 1810 this land could have been resold, at any time, to considerable advantage, soy, with the improves Meats, at at least 40,0001. ; but, owing to the effects of the convict system of 1840, it is not now worth 10,0001. I do not speak at random. but what is actually known to me; besides which, what is just stated is fully confirmed by the affidavit before referred to. and which has already been submitted to the inspection of her Mejesty's laic Colonial Secretary. This, then, is what I consider wholesale injustice to the family in question. But that is Puled and cannot be remedied ; for the free colonists, who have been hunted out of the island by the convicts, cannot Row be brought back ; nor, now that the place is full of con victs, can life and property be made as secure as they were in lie G. Arthur's time. The only thing therefore to be done is to guard against mishaps in future. At the time the family referred to purchased their land, they were assured, by the Government regulations, that crown land would not there after be sold but by auction, and to the highest bidder. If, then, her Majesty's government now allow men, merely M euse they have been convicts, to select the beet smell bits of mown land in the island at a low Notre, are they not there by cheapening the price of all land in the colony, and hea p . ing further injustice on the head, of all those who have pur etimed crown lands in the course of the last sixteen years? All this, too, shows clearly, that a free legislative council is absolutely necesary for the well being of the colony ; be canae such a council could moot effectually oppose any pro posed measures of the home government which the colorists Ina_y_consider inexpedient. With regard to the proposed mode of disposing of land, I would further observe, that if, after • short probation, you make the convicts, free men, and induce them to settle on small properties of their own in the interior of the island—you render the state of the free settler even worse than it is at present. While convicts are in the looked ley of the free settlers they are usually tolerably well after ; even when they are in the government gangs there is some care taken of them ; but if you make them free men and distribute them all over the colony, wherever they find a bit of crown land to their fancy, or rather wherever they conceive they can live by plunder, you do great injustice to the free settler. B. :—The family be fore referred to, have 30.000 acres of land in • favourable situation in the centre of the island, with say 15,000 sheep upon them. Now, supposing 100 or 200 of these convicts, on being emancipated, get crown land, and build a village in the vicinity of thus family, at the end of the first twelve months there would probably be few of the 15,000 sheep remaining. Icy far the largest fortune that ever was made by any man, bond or free, in the colony, was Made by a convict cattle stealer; end now that the police is so:totally inefficient, and us many convicts at large, no doubt the convicts will keep their saroir faire in stealing in practice. In March last, when a petition from the colonists in Van Diemen's Land wan presented in the House of Lords, the late Colonial Secretary justified his proceedings towards the colony, by stating that before he acted, be had consulted two parties, who, he conceived, should have been able to give him advice. Neither of these parties, however, were actual colonists, nor had any interest whatever in the colony. The only real excuse that could then have been offered was Zce ; but if her Majesty's present ministers pro , ecd to rn i re the value of land still further ;n the colony, as they appear to intend to do--they will not unw have even that excuse to offer. If they do so proceed, and a member of the family before referred to, come to London and I resent a petition to parliament, praying that his purchium of crown land is 1832-3 may be cancelled, and his funds returned to him, on the grounds, that his agreement with the government in respect to the land had been violated, and the land itself ren dered nearly valueless, entirely by their proceedings ; and if he should suhatantiate his eau, as I doubt not he could do fully; 1 cannot see on what grounds parliament could refuse to giant hie request. Certainly it the mutter were referred to tray two merchants in London, they would gore • decision in his favour. What should be done for the colony, then, is this :—Let the home government provide. at their own expense, a full sad sufficient police for the protection of the tree settlers. mill in • That the emigration of which our correspondent 'peaks is =appears from the following paragraph In the Potnere. er, of I Sib July laid :—.• liwaisrervor.—The following return din n s th e umber of persons who have left tuts port during the last eronths:—Mdea, 1221; female., 357; children, 270. A/10 lb d4 nOg the same period: 304 ; females, at; ehlldrells 37 . H of arrivals, ...VI; total departure, 1,04.11 i excess of departures, Send a second Sir G. Arthur to rule the convicts, and be will soon put them in very different training to what they are in at present. Let si free legult tire assembly be given to the colony. Let the governor be instructed to form a committee from such assembly, to inquire what part of tho establishments in the is'and are ren dered necessary by the presence of convicts, nod let the expenses of such, or at least the greater part of them, he defrayed by the home government; and let the governor further be instructed not to impose any taxes on the inhabi tants, beyond those that are usually paid in the neighbour ing colonies. If all this be done fairly, lam persuaded that the revenue of the colony will net uuly be equal to its expenses, but that there will he an annual rurplus of from 20,0001. to 40,0001.; and wL,eh ought to he employed ax the legislative assembly !air deem to the ad. vantage of the colony. The debt contracts by the Gorernor, amounting to upwards of 110,0001., stioull be paid off by the home government. If all this be done, the state of the colony will soon be very different from what it is at present. Cone iets have already ceased to be sent to it. Wages are now high at Port Philip, say 301. per annum to a time-expired convict, beside board and lodging ; and an the number of sheep there is still ie. waving rapidly, it is likely that 2,000 time-expired men will have gone there and to Adelaide in the enure.° of the present year, and probably an equal number will go in the name directions in 1847. This will relieve Van Dietneu's Land of a great part of its present over-atoek of convict labour ; and if, in the mean tune, the colonial goveruuscut do not give too many pass tickets to the crinvies, those a ho now hold such ticket or tickets of leave will all dad em ployment or, fair terms. If, on the contrary, the govern ment do, as they have done in late yearn., continue to press pass-holders on the labour-market when there is no demand for them, they will only force these men to take to the bush, and to live by plunder. If the home government now pay a fair proportion of the expenses of the convicts in Van Diemen's Land, such propor tion will, for the present, amount to a very large sum ; but every year the amount will be consi lerabiy diminished. If the price of wool c,intinue as ut present, I expect that three years hence every able-bodied convict then remaining in Van Diemen's Land will find satisfactory employment in it. The police force may then be greatly diminished, as it is the road gangs and idle pass holders now render the lives of the free settlers uncomfortable. When the con- ewe come to be fewer in number, and to be deposed over the country, employed in agricontural labour, or in tending sheep, they will be, in a groat measure, out of the way of temptation to recur to their old balks. As to the aged and ineafahle convicts, am they have been sent to to.e colony by the home government they must remain at their espense.— I em, sir, your obedient servant, G. M. Exeter, - Dec. 31. There is one subject which I find I have omitted to notice. Van Diemen's Land is a grain-growing country, where. many small shipments of wheat have in late year.. been sent to England, though freight is seldom under IR*. per quarter, and the duty till lately has been ds. per quarter. There were several distilleries in the colony up to 11438, the spirits made at which paid • trifle less duty than the ruin imported from the West Indies via England. In that year the Governor, considering that the duty on spirits would he woe" easily collected, if rum only were drank. pre vailed on the legislative council to prohibit shoe, cher distil lation from grain. This measure, however (the impolicy of which, in a young grain-growing colony, must be mani fest), was not carried through the council without much oppoation. One of the members, a paid servant of the government, would not vote fur it, and, in consequence, bat his seat in council, and his salaried appoint ment. Another member wan allowed to resign his government appointment and seat in the council while the bill was on the tape, in order that the Go vernor. with a council so modified to his will, might pass it. This bill is still in force, hut a petition has lately been cent home from the colonists praying, inter also, that it may be annulled. No sitequate compensation has ever been wade by the Van Diemen's Land government to the distillers for the lob of the use of their utensils and other property, rendered value less by this act, though their case was brought gully before both the local government and the legislative council. I mention this as another proof that a free legislative council is urg'ntiy required by the colony. I h tee reason to believe that tue right hon. lord now at the bead of the Col nisi-office has given much attention to the affair, of Van Diemen's Land ; and is writing this letter it the furthest from my wish to say anything disrespectful to him or to any one else. In stating my case, I had to attribute all the disasters that have assailed the island to her Majesty's late government ; but I think I have proved all that by evidence that will not hear to be dis puted. In stating my case, I have el, weed some few faze, without referring to proofs: this I did merely to avoid pro lixity: but I am quite ready to prove all I have advanced. My chief object in writing this letter is to fulfil a promise I have mado to some of the respectable settlers in Van Dienarn's Land--viz., to protect their interests as far as I can. I have myself some property there still; but I am so tired of waiting for justice to the colony, that I have lately instructed my agent to sell one farm, if 4,0001. can now be i got for it—though 20,0001. was at one time offered for it. My impression is that if either the Governor, who has lately been sent out, be not fitted for the situation ; or if the place do not get a free legislative council, or if that council be not allowed to manage the colony and convicts as it may see right, the island must continue as it is at present, according to the bishop's showing—" a hell upon earth." Leek here upon this pictore, and on this." Look at the picture drawn of the colony by Sir George Arthur in 183 G, and on that by the bishop in 180 ; and say whether the free colonists have not reason to curse the day when they gave credence to the representations of the Colo nial-office in London, or put themselves and their properties in any way under its control. G. M. IT. Somerset and J. Arnistrnne. To be Lieut.., with out pnr. : Emen, C. E. Phi!Motto, J. Kale, and J. R.Donisell, vice Armstrong'. To be Ensigns, without pur.: E. M. Jone., D. I:WM, A. T. Armstrong, vice Phi noon.. ; W. If. C. G00(16014 vice Sada ; and H. J. Palmer, Moeal 'Donnell. Ilimver.—The name of the undermentioned oaf oer was tanitte3 in the let of those prodiuled by brevet in the Gazette of Nor. 10, J Crvehtort, an h... 59 th F., to be a l.ln the army. To be majors in the a, my: Capt.. J. 11.,M1104 of 6ith P.; E. L'Eatriume, of 70th F.; C. H. 1.. Thiling, of 28t6 F. ; and J. E. Dupuis, of it .yal Artillery. Moments. Brew.—Amet.—Sura. W. 0. Mnekrnale, 1.1.0., from Ist Drag. Wm, to be staff sore. of are. clew, vice J. F. N1•i.41. who mt. no ; M. Tweddell to be assist.wurg. to the forte; W. 0. Ildelmon to be vand..aurr. to the( umes. Co3llll , 24lllLlAT.—Dep.4bm.-Gen. C. Palmer Mho earn.-gen. Assist. Cams.-lien. J. E. Daniel, W. Tbornron, and J. Bland to be dep.- , T. Turner, J. Campbell, J. Pat) G. Shepheard, R. Neill, W. H. Maturin, J. W. Royal, R. Routh, M. Mabee., and P. TWIN, to be assist—cone lea. Coe. Clerk!. F. S. Parker, T. lirowne. P. W. Waklion. C. Potwieter, H. More, I'. Coxworthy, J 11. Tubby, W. Tinting, 11. Bartlett, A. C. Cieeksliank, and H. Robinvon tore din.-aviist..eums..en. EllitAtt wln the Gown, of May 1, 18 In 20th P.—For J. W. lbw tuck to be Ens., by pur., viol Barry, wbo eel ; reed, vice l'arry, who ret OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, JAN. RI. Artillery—See. Lieut. A. W. Drama to be llnt lieut., vice Frye, TUE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE COURT OF ALDER- Ras AND Comitos COUNCIL—The sub-committee of the Common Council met on the subject of the refusal of the Lord Mayor to put. the questitm for the third reading of the bill to alter the qualiticetion of the candidates for the Com mon Council. Mr. Peacock in the chair.—Mr. Ashunt said he had requested that the former reso!uti ins might he read, that the meeting might act consecutive, by redeeming their pledges to their cumnitoents. The difficulty with a popular and numerous body was to preserve unity of action. The only question before the Court of Common Council at the present moment was, the refusal of the Lord Mayor to put a question regularly moved, arid the right of the court to insist upon his putting it, or having it put by . an offeer of the court. The Lord Mayor was merely the minister of the court, to preserve order and regulate the speakers, not to license or suppress discussion; but if he could refuse to put a question to the court he possessed the power to suppress any law improvement, or even an effort to make one, and the court must asaemble to discharge such (Wits as it should please him to permit. The present question was a lawful question. The Lord Mayor had submitted it twice to the court—on the first and second rendinz of the hill, and would, they all knew, hove put it upon the occasion in ques tion, but that tit.? &Wenn. n wished to raise the struggle which they knew must come open that bill rather than upon others a Ilia were to give the freedom without fine to all the rated inhabitants residing in the City, and to control their pre sent irromonsibility. They hod an instinct which told them that if the corporation were thrown open, elections for life and irresponsibility would come. They dreaded parliament, but if they would not allow 'armlet to come from within, it must come from a ithout. The committee were under obli gation to his friend for suspending the requisition. They needed not to do mu: now than to insist upon having the question put. If they did not insist upon that they would surrender the primary right upon which all others depended. Mr. it. L. Jones argued earnestly in favour of iusisting upon putting the qui stion. Neither the Lord Mayor nor the speak.i of any legallycimstituted assembly could say " you shall not proceed with the business of a, report you have received." If such were the ease the Lord Mayor might practically suppress the court, and say that no question should Le put for receiving n repult of which his lordship did not approve. The committee then proceed, dto tin a day for bringing up the information required frost the several oqicers, and appointed Wednesday tne 14th inst. to call together the general committee of me when. DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN's SOClETY.—Yester day a meeting of the supporters and friends of the society ee :St held at the llanover-square Rooms, Mr . J. L. Hansard in the chair, for the purpose of considering the expedii ney of presenting some mark of respect to Mr. Alderman Fate brother, the president, and Mr. Roper, the hon. secretary of the society. A resolution, approving of the object of the meeting, and appointing a committee to carry it out, was unanimously adopted. Subscriptions, amounting to 391. 125., including 101. lOa. from the chairman, were announced, after which the meeting separated. SOCIETY OF LICENSED VICTUALLERS.—On Thursday afternoon a court of governors was held at the %Worn, Ohl- Kent-road. From the report read by Mr. o..irt, the secre tary, it appeared that during the quarter the sum of 9561. 13s. had been distributed amongst 25.5 distressed members, and that 721. was weekly dispensed to those objects of benevolence. ST. PANORAS r. TIIE I'ooll LAW COMMISSIONERS. —On Thursday night a crowded meeting of the parochial committee, of St. Fames., took place, when Ir. Midis moved the following resolution, which was adopted Ttua this minrolti.e. fully convinced that the interference of the Poor law Vorninaseitinert with the man,gement of the parish will tend neither to the advantage of the poor nor the Interne of the rate payer., most medially rejoice that the ve,trymen and directors of the pout are of opinion that theironler ought not to be obeyed, :mil giving regulations tor the government of the workhouse is dkiral, trust that the vestrymen and direct," of the poor will peracverc and ire every means in their power to frustrate their attempt to destroy the man agement of parochial affairs by the vestrymen freely elected by the rate-payers. THE MARVLERONE GUARDIANS AND POOR-L.IW COMMISSIONURS.—Yesterday, a meeting of the directors and guardians or the poor of St. Marylebone was held in the board-room of the workhouse. The chair was taken by Mr. Minis, and the secretary read a communication from the joint committee of the directors and vestrymen to the effect: That this committee, while duly impressed with their local arta, are of opinion that information aboulti not he withheld when required by the I'mo.lsev Cunumveinneros but •Imukl any order, rule, or modes Dos named he the Poor-law Vonmessiuners, virtually affect the repeal of our local Privileges without the ("peeved enactment of the him- Wore, that such unconstitutional proceeding be meted to the utmait. This communication was signed n C. Flood, Vestry (Jerk for Marylebone. Jan. 7, 1847." At the conclusion of this document, a protracted discussion took place between dif ferent members of the board. Mr. Potter mo ved: That the foregoing communie.dion be deferred until Friday neat. He considered the matter required consideration, and the hoard ought not to come to any resolution upon it hastily. Mr. Daniel reminded the board that the Poor-law Comm,. stoners had limited the time for the production of the docu ments. The resolution haying been seconded, Mr. Laurie moved as an amendment .. . . That this board agree with the committee f. their report, and that the information required by the Poor-law Commissioners be trans mitted to them forthwith, in accordance with the report. When, on a show of hands, there appeared for the former resolution two, and for the amendment fifteen. It was then moved and secmded that a copy of the resolution carried be sent to the Poor-law Commissioners. The question was put and carried by a large majority. The board then adjourned. CHANGES IN ST. JAMES'S num.—For the ac commodation of the public, a very handsome portico and a noble Night of stone steps is now being constructed at the north end of the private gardens attached to Buckingham Palace, intended as a public entrance for foot passengers from Grosvenor-place to Constitution-hill, St. James's park. It will be a very great convenience to the inhabitants of Dei gn's-square and the vicinity, and is expected to be cora. pleted in • month. The statues on the north and south wings of Buckingham Palace, together with the architectural frontage to St. James's-park were yesterday removed for the intended enlargement, the excavations for which are already complete. , TIM ADELPHI THEATRE is about to be rebuilt on a larger scale; adjoining properties have been purchased for that purpose.— The Budder. VAIMIRES.--" The singular creatures, which are productive of so much annoyance, constitute the genus phylloatoma, an named from the leaf-like appendage attaches! to their upper lip. They are peculiar to the continent of America, being distributed over the immense extent of ter ritory between Paraguay and the isthmus of Darien. Their tongue, which is capable of considerable extension, is fur nished at its extremity with a number of papilla., which appear to be so arranged as to form an organ of suction, and their lips have also tubercles so arranged. These are the organs by which they draw the life-blood both from man and beast. These animals are the famous vampires of which various travellers have given such redoubtable accounts, and which are known to have nearly destroyed the first establish ment of Europeans in the New World. The molar teeth of the true vampire, or spectre-bat, are of the most carnivorous character, the first being short and almost plain, the others sharp and cutting, and terminating in three or four points. Their rough tongue has been supposed to be the instrument employed for abrading the skin, so as to enable them more readily to abstract the blood, but zoologists are now agreed that that supposition is wholly groundless. Having carefully examined, in many mien, the wounds thus made on hones, mules, pigs, and other animals, observations that have been confirmed by information received from the inhabitants of the northern parts of Brasil, I am led to believe that the puncture which the vampire makes in the skin of animals is effected by the sharp hook - nail of its thumb, and that from the wound thus made, it abstracts the blood by the auctorial powers of its lips and tongue. That these bats attack man, as well as animals, is certain, for I have frequently been shown the sears of their punctures in the toes of many who had suffered from their attacks, but I never met with a recent case. They grow to a large size, and I have killed sonsethat measure two feet between the tips of the wings."— Oardner's Trarels in Brazil. INQUEST, YESTERDAY. DESTITUTION.— Before Mr. W. Baker, at the Horn of Plenty, Globe-road, Mile-end, on the body of John Gould, aged 53 years. The deceased had been oat of employment for a very considerable time, and was wandering through the public streets without food, or any clothes to cover him. His body had become frighfully at tenuated, and he was in • deplorable state of destitution. On Wednesday morning last he was discovered by a labourer ly ing in the street, opposite Shadwell church, in a dying state. He was conveyed to the Mile-end work-house, where he ex pired on the following morning. Mr. Storey, a surgeon, said, that he bad no doubt but that the deceased had died from starvation and want. The jury returned a verdict of " Natural death." REPEAL OP TILE. MALT TAX AND StE KNATCH- RuLL.—The Kent Herald of Thursday says:—" Ma east Kent farmers are pretty generally in favour of pressing the repeal of -.he milt tax on government, hut apparently with out any very definite notions of how the gap in the national revenue is to be supplied. The ex-minister, Sir Edward Knatchbull (the fanners' ez-" friend "—for we believe the title is scarcely allowed him after his sanction of Sir Robert Peel's initiatory measures), has delivered an opinion on the subject which we suppose will scarcely be palatable to the enthusiasts for repeai. It is contained in a letter addressed to Sir Brook Bridges, the chairman of the East Kent Agri cultural Association, and was read at the recent meeting of that body; the following is a copy My dear Sir, —The vast importinee of the quention to be conaldered at the email meeting of our Agricultural Moreistion on Saturday nest, leads me to regret, blond what I can ,sprcaa, my inaboity to attend. I am not well enough to venture to Imre home for the purpose of engaging In the expeetrd diseurnion, I desire, however, ah every reapeetful apology from me, that the mare, and the only eau. of in, ahrience, may he elated to the meeting, and, at the vme time, 1 hope I may , e alio eed, with deference, to submit the opinion entertain upon the great question bey re us. Under feelings of great irritation, excited not without eulficient muse, the whole agricultural body is disposed to make every exertion for the repeal of the malt duty. I hope the meeting at Canterbury viii not, without fill and deliberate consideration, eon-hide that each a room' no regards the general in. tern-la of the country, but especially their own particular Intermits, is either prudent or expellent. It from the to carrot they have re ceived, the fanners of England are angered, and are careless of what conarvpienecs may follow, from the ellneendni exercise of their power in effecting the repeal of the malt tax, I 01 . 41 not deny that they have hod enough of provocation to lead them astray, but I Mall lenient that they have adopted a mane, which appears to me to be unwire end impolitic. It should be recollected, that the repeal of the malt tax le not the only speedo* to be considered, at last by thoec to whom your Interesta In parliament are confided. The win rum. of 5,000,000 i. annually from the public income, will com pel the government to resort to male other at, necessary to meet the expenditure of the country. If your representative vote for the repeal of the malt tat, no doubt ouch a vote, under the (cellos which now prevails, would be highly popular—but they will then have ',reformed only half their duty —they will be re quired to rote upon the propindtioo fir some other tax, and will then pri.lcab!y gad that their find vote has placed them in a initiation of dif- • fieulty, from wh!th we ought to endeavour to relieve them. In the present elate of the country, and in the preen' state of the public mind. if the agriculturists emceed in their attempt, they must, think, he prepared to cement to an increase of the property tat. its other course is open to them—lt is weaknea+tu euppose that at pre met they can carry the re-imposition of the taxes repealed in the last nod former realms of parliament. The change from the malt duty to an int-named property tam will not benefit the landed interest or to. country in general. fo meet the deficiency the property tax mutt le doubled in the mac of all those who ore now subject to it, or it may be, a comiderable increase will be made to their present payments, while a proportion of what is requited, will he hemmed upon those who me now altogether exempt. If the latter mode, which I think moot likely, should he adopted, the whole people of England would he liable to Ihi tax, which would be fined upon them now and for ever. I think it will be found that the mem* from the repeal of the man tas will be much than the amount required to be paid in direct taxation. It is mead in favour of the repeal of the malt tax, that the situation of the labourer would be greatly im proved, and that he wouw, no he is mid to have done in former Enna, have the enjoyment of god beer. with his own family, in his own cottage. This etanddemtion would have great weight with me, if I believes! that this advantage woukl follow --It might to • certain, tint to • very limited extent—their benefit, Wrongly as it is urged, is greatly overrated. I do not expect to witness u return, to who, in thin matter, a mid to have been the former habits of the Labouring claim s. any mare than I expect the time to aeries, when the tercatoccupici s of load shall receive their farm set rants in their own houses, midi dine with the mat the rase table. ]ti mid fun thee In favour of the repeal of the melt tax, that great benefit will result to the farmer, from the unretracted use of barley in the feeding of cattle. Ido not presume upaa this punt to offer any deckled amanita,. It is, I believe, a disputed queweton, and one mem which much difference of opinion exists— but admitting all that a presucuid, the numbers benefit.' will be comparatively few, whatever may be the amount of advantage. I do not think it should he relived for more than It to worth In de ciding Upon the present most important emmtion. Upon the whole, I can come to noMher ton elusion than that which I have metered, adverse make present cirrountaurn, to any attempt to obtain a re peal el the malt tax. it w ill not, I hope, be supposed, from anything I Tune 4,:0re,11, lb,d I approve of the measurtw of the last radian of parliament, or that I am esti+fied with the conduct of those who sue mdeil in caret ing those measures. Whatever may be our trollop, innakVef opinion, we may entertain, the immediate question is, how docs it become us now to set! My de 'ire is, that the agriculturists should take a courr, tight and safe for themselves tend for the country. The government and the left-lature have adopted mea sures which we disapprove—each party is confident in the awfulness of its own policy -our opponents have previdlrd. All that at present we ought in my judgment to do, is respectfully but confidently to oaf irm our opinions- to al low the measure• which we condemn to have a fair Viet h they sweets!, and are not productive of the a vile we apprehend, all will he right -but let us Cisirovolle to have it under . ..trod, that It irt these 1311,SLIFV14, In their entirety, as passed hy ptrliament, to which go are willing to give this fair trial-those measures are the rep al of the corn laws, the change of the custom laws, together with !ha imposition of the property tax, fora limited tame, to prevent aLy tn eoaveniesee and loss to t'ic revenue, during the transition f one one to anther system of Lotation. It will be but for us to reeme our strength, to refrain from any violent measure% till the merits of the n•w system have been tested-if the new policy prosper% of atone the property tax will mime at the promised time. An attempt to it.muntie the property tax, will be on admission of the Colon: of the new experimental policy. It appear. to me, that what I have suggested is the strongest pAtion we ran os,upy, but it is one in which we -hall nor toil ourselves placed, If we mmeorsl in abolishing the malt tax. I perceive, though I have omitted much that I could have aided, while I have host ly and imperf ec tly en prnrvl w h a t I base neaten, that I have troubled you at math no great a length-it t roe in ettaclusion add one w.,rd for myself. My o;,diems respecting thelustioe and policy of protection to native in dustry sc,nnus unchanged. 1 Mill think •it is t f the highest im portance to the welfare of all dames in this country, that the main source of our supply of corn should lie de rived from domestic agriculture! I think, if I had con sidered the policy of sir Robert Peel's government in 1543 (I acted under a trnictly opposite conviction', m preparatory to the measures of the last nice of parliament, 1 should bare jwv, In forfeited the good opinion and tonfldence of those, whom I had for ill, ntaty yeara the honour of reoresenting in the House of Commons. I non certain, that if, as has leen as-erted, the mainlertinee of the rem low was unjust, I must for a ling time have barn acting under ip not met. great and unpardonable, or eke under something like dis simulation, Dot much to be approved or admired. I do nut beliere either Imputation attaches to me.-I era, Sze., E. Ksszassru. IRELAND. DUBLIN, JAx. 7. The Southern journals still fasten attention on 'the fearful condition of Skibbereen. That is the centre of piiinful attraction, but other districts along the coast, on both sides of the Bay of Bantry, are 'educed to a state fully as destitute, though the complaints are less loud and frequent. South Ries, of which the condi tion is represented to be most miserable, is one of the most barren districts in Ireland, and in years of ordi nary abundance, scarcely supplies its population with food. Farther to the south-west is another district which suffers in comparative silence, though I am in formed by a gentleman just returned from that county, that there is absolutely no food even among the beat conditioned farms. A statement in behalf of quiet suffering Dingle has been made to the Central Committee, and it is to be hoped relief will soon be at hand. Mayo and Donegal are not much im proved, but public sympathy has been directed from them to other complaining localities. Wherever onetunis onlystarvation and horror are to be seen. In reference to the state of Skibbereen, one fact is worthy of grave attention. The Rev. W. Townsend, who lately re turned from London, moved at the presentment ses sion', for the barony of West Carberry, on Saturday last, that a presentment should be made for the pur chase of eqffins ! Mr. Becher, a magistrate, in sup porting the application, said: In the extreme west of this county, in the parish of K ilmoe, the Roman Catholic clergymen of that place told mo within the last week that the condition of his people is such, that a single coffin with a false bottom is taken from house to house, iu which the bodies are carried to the grave, and there deposited in the rags that covered them ; whilst the coffin is taken to the next house, and made answer a simiLtr purpose. The elements of an "Irish party" are beginning to assume a cohesive form. The letter of such a mode rate politician as George Alexander Hamilton, has stiffened the nerves of many, and parliament may expect, for the first time since the union, a regular Irish organisation. How long it is likely to continue is quite a different question, for contending and oppo site interests cannot but supervene on the resent desire to harmonise, and create diversity ol f action with diversity of opinion. All insignificant passions are now merged, and the first and great interest of all is to save the property of Ireland. I informed you of the issue of circulars yesterday, requesting a meeting of the peers and representatives on the 13th. These circulars, signed by the Marquis of Sligo and George H. Moore, Req., late candidate for Mayo, embraced a series of resolutions, setting forth the reasons for the meeting, and the necessity of an Irish combination. The resolutions are calm, temperate, and well considered. None can object to the princi ples on which they arc based, and many will approve of the creation of a new element of power, whose absence heretofore was the disgrace and weakness of Ireland. The following are the resolutions : That at this awful period of national calamity It becomes the first duty of every Iriehman to devote his individual effort. to the internde of Ir eland, and that neither politica, parties, nor pen dud melodic. should influence his mind In the disc harae or such . duty. That so we feel deeply co/Printed that our own divisions have been the lending mums of our own misfortune', and by weakening our influence in the councils of the empire, Pave deprived us of our share in the ptorpWty, so we are no less firmly persuaded that General is by union alone that we sae repair the evils that die mension hue created. That if the necomity of joint and united sedan he urgent and Important to Ireland, under onlinary eirconi stancea It at this moment become' imperative and vital, as not only the future fortunes, bat the present Ines of millions may depend on our exertion., and that dimension at such as hour n not only a re. mooch bet • crime. That to make such a union binding and effec tive, It will he necessary not only to feel but to set together, to take steps to ensure an united support or united oppinitine to such m-.- awn as may be produeed with regard to Ireland during this linnets laden of parliament. That for this purpose we venture to sanest to the Irish member', of the leitialarure to meet torts.r at such time as may be considered most proper and convenient for the purpose of fanning an Irish party for the protection of Irish intensts ; and see earnestly entreat that every member of that body shotict resolve ' so far PP ins poolble, to consider and modify his own opinion PO as to meet the united feelings of the geme nt body. and should banish from his mind all consideratinin of party or prejudice , at a time when the line and linemen of his countrymen arc no deeply penned. That we feel confident a union thus formed and carried on for the protection of &annexes will receive the support and co-operation of all—the aid of the rich and the confidence of the poor. We pray Divine Providence to bless our efforts in the cause of our a filleted country —to promote amongst on that feeling o: united exertion and .elf-rellanee which can alone raise us to out proper place in the great empire to which we belong. There are two chief committees at present in vigorous action in the metropolis—the central com mittee for all Ireland, and the metropolitan for the I exclusive relief of the city. Large B=B are being subscribed to both. To the metropolitan, the Chief Secretary has subscribed 1001., in addition to 300/. to the central; and the Hibernian Bank a sum of 2001. Nearly 7001. have been lodged within a few days at the different banks, to the credit of the " Central." At the meeting of the committee oil yes terday, a sum of 2501. was voted to another bene volent body called "The Irish Relief Committee," to enable them to complete a cargo of meal about to be shipped to the north and west of Ireland. An active spirit of benevolence anteing the gentry is no where more necessary than in Galway, where destitution is great, and liberality not eery conspi cuous. There is, however, one remarkable excep tion. Mr. Walter Joyce, of Merview, has offend 1,000/. to the relief of Galway. Since the govern ment undertakes to give one priund for every pounds subscribed to relief committee's, the combined fund of 2,0001,, aided by other sources of alleviation, will add considerably to the relief of the poor. Mr. Joyce, who gives the largest sum yet contributed by any in -1 dividual in Ireland, is not of the kunled clue. He was an eminent distiller in Galway, and retired from trade with a fine fortune, which he knows also how to apply. Ulna a remarkable contrast between the duke and distiller! While Mr. Joyce gives 1,0001., the Duke of Manchester, who owns eight town lands in one parish, in the county of Down, will not coutribute a shilling to the relief of the poor of his district. Party is a more powerful stimulant to quicken man's generosity than gentle charity. The duke was more liberal in supplying the northern Orangemen with muskets than in saving their be lies from the grave. A gun club is more deserving of support in the esteem of the Duke of Manchester than a relief com mittee. The drowning man and the floating straw arc pretty well illustrated in the conduct ot• the landed gentry. They grasp at every the slightest hope of extrication, but though every feather has been clutched the ascent is not more rapid. The last report is that the legis lature has called for a return of the property in the public funds, with the view of an assessment such as as imposed under the Labour Employment Act ; but unhappily for the real, and happily for personal pro perty, the rumour has no truth. Ro such inquiry has been instituted. The Lieu rick Chronicle, an authority of no great mark, states that the jurisdiction of the civil hill courts will be extended to 301. ; the present limitation is 201, with some exceptions. Such a measure would empty the files of the superior courts of one-half their declarations, and precipitate the bar, in self-defence, on the small courts. I may add that the law-officers of the crown have their hands sufficiently full with other matters, and that no such bill is now in prepa ration. Notwithstanding the general destitution of the labouring claws in Muin.ter, it is satisfactory to know that the trade and commerce of the great entrepiat of West Munster are steadily improving, as the following returns fur the port of LinieriCk exhibit : Gross receipts of Customs, year ended sth an. 1546 t 192,973 Ditto ditto ditto 1547 214.44 Increase year coded sth Jan. 1847 6ro-• receipts year ended Sib Jan. 1925 te4929 Number oi wont In in•ard, from foreign porta. year ended Sth Jan.. 1846 Ditto ditto year ended Sob Jam 1817 .. 14S Increase, year ended Sth Jan., 1847 Maoh greater (says the ehroniek) would be the number of foreign shipping, had Limerick the long desired advantage of floating ducks. I may add, that those docks the government have lent money to con struct, and they will be speedily in progress. Lord Carew, it is stated, will second the Address in the House of Lords. DOWIC—AnSENTLE LAN DU/RMS.—The Venerable Arch deacon, Saurin at a recent relief meeting held at Ssagoe, aunty Down, made • statement, of which the following is the substance, arid the matter of which is not creditable to the landlords Denied by him ,—The distress among the poor (the rev itentleman said) was rapidly extending itself. A meesi... would have been held sooner, but he was waiting to receive replies from the absentee landowners of the place, to whom he had written, in order to wezertaii, their feelings on the subject. It was nearly a month sine. he wrote to the Duke of Manchester, who holds eight townlands in the parish, and up to the present mom( nt he had not received an *meter. He wrote to Messrs. Moore and Bulliek, pro prietors of Herniae, and ,they, in like manner, declined to answer him. lie also wrote to Mr. Atkinson and Dean Adams, owners of Edenderry, but they ntasolutely refused to lend him any assistance From one landed proprietor only had he got any aid, and that gentleman was Mr. James Itobiuson, who suescribed a pound for establielting a soup-kitchen. The kitchen was in existence since the 12th of December, and upwards of 3,000 persons had received a pint of soup each. He (the chairman himsell) had esta blished that soup-kitchen, to which the landed proprietors had subscribed one solitary pound ! SKIRHEREEN.--fLISTILENCH ASU F.V4IN B.—The fearful condition to which the t eople of this miserable district have been reduced, the mortality which threatens to decimate the inhabitants, and the spread of pestilence and disease, which famine necessarily products, have frequently been before your readers, but I cannot notwithstanding do the English public the injustice of withholding the following statements from the Cork Examiner, and for the truth of which an appeal is made to Mr. Downing, a solicitor, and Mr. Well ply, a Cerk merchant, both connteted with Skilibereen. The account is written by u special reporter of the Examiner: " I have seen children reduced to skeletons, in some in stances; in others bloated beyond expression by hideous dropsy, and creeping around the damp wet floors of their miserable cabins, and like the meaner brutes of the creation, unable to stand erect, or even articulate. In other hovels there were crawling, jabbering idiots, whom disease and hungvr had deprived both of strength and reason, who re ' warded with horrible apathy their own sufferings and the pries ' tions of their friends, and looked with unmeaning and incr.- ' pressi ve cou n tee ances on those who approach to afford them re lief. There are at present in the workhouse of Skibberecu 1.000 inmates; of these there are 126 in the fever hospital, 128 in the infirmary, and there were admitted on the last board-day 12i. (Jut of that number seven have siuce died, and up to this day the Rev. Mr. Hayues has administered the last rites of religion to thirteen mere, of whose ultimate recovery there is not the slightest hope." The reporter visits a house of woe : " On entering we found the lifeless body of Sullivan, stretched upon a little straw, pale, worn, and emaciated, his eyes half closed in the sleep of death, ' and his mouth gaping horribly, fur he had just expired. On the same wretched sop, and covered by the same scanty cloth ing, we saw his wife expiring, the death rattle in her throat, her glazed eye and distorted feature. betokening the sufferings of her last mortal agony. At the feet of their dead and dying parent were stretched four young and helpless children, prostrated by malignant fever, and faintly imploring for something to moisten their parching lips. Sitting by a few rods of turf in the corner, was a miserable-looking girl, who only that day had risen off her fever bed; and crying, madly and frantically, was the remaining daughter, who had three times relapsed into fever. With an exprearion of grief and frenzy she malted out of the cabin, tearing her hair, scream ing wildly--" My father and mother are dead—and 1 em left alone Another rase of a like nature :—The night before last (Saturday) I was called upon by Mr. M•Carthy Downing, to visit for a few minutc-s a house at the distance of about half a dozen door , from the hotel, where he had accidentally heard that a child I,ad been for some time dead. On enter ing this miserabli. place, I saw an infant, three or four years old, lying upon a pallet of rotten straw—it s little limbs ex tended in the rigidity of death, and its body scarcely crrered by Re scanty clothing. At the further earner of the cabin was a sick child, about seven years of age, who had been obVged for three nights to lie alongside its dead sister, and endure the cold and terror of contact with the li feless clay. At ten o'clock on Saturday night, the hour at which I entered, the wretched mother was absent, begging the price of a coffin to inter her child, and rescue her only sunning daughter from contagion. He visits a dispensary patient, in company with the doctor. In the first house that we entered, which belonged to a widow-woman named Sullivan, there were six children lying down together in fever, the wretched mother unable to previde them sustenance of any description. She declared to Dr. Donovan that not one of them had tasted a morsel of food since an early hour the pre vious morning, and that they had not a farthing or a farthing's worth to purchase even the smallest quantity of bread. As a matter of course, this hovel contained but the straw on which these children lay, and the wretched clothing that covered them during the day when in health, and at present constitute their only defence against the cold at night. The reporter proceeds to detail several other cams of a like hor rible nature, and states that on Monday last the Roman Catholic clergyman administered the last rites of his church —never communicated unless to persons supposed to be about to depart this life instantly—iu eleven houses out of a village comprising twenty-three houses. In moot of those, two patients were lying, and in sonic more than two. But the strongest corroboration of all is contained in the gal lowing document, with which the account concludes: Daniel Donovan ittelareth, that he knew the wife at Jeremiah Leary, of Bridgetown, to have been for three days in labour, in a roofless hnusc, and on the day after her COL. finement he saw her, whilst labouring under fever, begging about Skihbercen ; and he has within the last fortnight known her to offer her only bed covering—an old coverlet,— to a rag-collector, for a few pence, which the latter refused from an apprehension that it would spread contagion. And he further declareth, that within the last week he has sena the body of a man lying for days uninterred —that decom position had set in, and that on the same wad of straw, twin persons, his son and daughter were stretched under th• same sheet that covered the corpse. AOHADA RECTORY, CLOYNE, COVNTY CORK, JAN. 4, hall. air: I beg to send you a list of some of my poor pople, whom I ventured to visit, having merited a kw pounds to &tribute, aid bee to appeal to your charity to make their Platt known o lobapathit you will be side to aidme in this terrible trait. The mom I witnessed were heartrending. I went into searorly _a MUM Whigs I could learn then was even mew employed at ltd. or 10d. a day, tLusd this he all to support famines of sin and often more "MET mini is 2.. M. a stone, and the kit sufficient for maintanance este* pounds weight per he ad. Two pounds in not sufficient for a working nmn. But such I almost invariably matt over, Monett certna the deprivotsos must be great in inimfficieney of food, independent of fast, attune, bed-clothes, kite.ben, ne., but whatever its extent in men ewes I could not enter into it, having no means of relieving any such want. I mw enclave a list of two days' inspection. than skated mmany mauve since. Their penury..indigeste. destitution, poverty, mietvy, nor mime any thing I can write. Iso generally thought to be able to ramie my thought •n public and in private writings, but bete I am at a total lose. Famine in s word that does ant do it. Their Joy of heart when I as pre them even one shilling, or a quarter stone of Indian meal ! feud help them : The great majority are living on one meal of turnips a day, and often not that. Late last mewing I was in a hone when the damffier owne in with three tenths, a gift Man a neighbour. The dtlerht, the joy of them all at thin ;me:- pected provision for supper was goon a light in the house. In all eases the bending maul wretched: where pomade they have a I clean sheet, and mime shift for a blanket. In every hone everything pawner:de passim'. I treat eon will be able to proems wane relief for I there wrstetted people. What shell I call their state 7 Misery does not convey it, destitution, nor tn. • •lon. Lvory want le lure.—Yintrs, WILIAM. 11 , 01 Re,:de Mirada. [The r • o by the writer contains a statement of th .utched condiuon of the families visited.] SCOTLAND. RZPRISEXTATION OP GLAPOOW.—Rurnouti having lately been circulated that it is the intention of one or both of our present memlaas to retire from parliament, we have autho rity to state that, iu the event ol a dissolution, Mr. Oswald and Mr. Detistoon Mill again come forward an candidates for the representation of Cilaagow.—Gkogow eltronicle. PROVINCIAL. lANCASHIBZ. ACCTORNT ON THE NORTH UNION MAILWAT.-011 Wed nesday last the down-train to Preston, of eleven o'clock, was as usual proceeding on its route between Chorley and Eon ton, when the stoker left the tender, and got upon the roof of a horse-box immediately adjacent. The guard seeing his perilous position, motioned hint to fall down on the roof of the carriage in consequeoce of the train rapidly approaching a bridge. The stoker, however, appears not to have seen the signal, ter bi leas them a minute the bridge struck him on the forehead, and the train passed over his body. His arms were both cut off, and he died on the spot, the body being dragged by the train for many yards. COLLECTIONS IN FAVoe It Or DiSTRESSED Irtcsu are in progress in the Wm). of Pontefract. Among the contributors the Doncrarter (Serene mentions the Rev. R. Stain weal, the vicar; the Society of Friends, the Independents, and Metho dists; many of the ladies of Pontefract, r.nil also the tradespeople. 'fhe gross amount of the whole money and articles of cloth inc would amount to considerably above 20W. Sermons have been preached in t h e parish churl and the Independent Chapel, whi re a considerable suns was collected in furtherance of the object. Ou Sunday last a sermon was preached in the Pontefract parish church by the vicar, at the request of the mayor and other members of the corporation, after which a collection was made for the dis tressed Irish amounting to 271. 6s. On the same d.y a ser mon was preached in the Independent Chapel, in this town, by the Itev. J. E. Million, in aid of the above, whom the sum of Ni. was collected. No doubt a larger sum would have been obtained, but the town had li:en previously canvasird, and subscriptions from all pers./us obtained. CONsClaNce. MONIST. —The 11o:waster Gazelle says, On Christmas-day, Mr. William Clarke, Omitr and beerier, Bridgegate, East Raiford, received a letter from Leeds, in which was a card csotaining tau half sovereigns, and also • letter, of which the Milo shin is a copy air,—come time 1440, in sum, truisactiona I hail with you I de frauded you out of suie-cien. I now take Una upp,tunity of making restitution. You will nod two h.df sovereigns embedded ia the curd which 1 have endou a in this lettsr, R.Y.LIEP OF 'RIM! Di —Preliminary meetings were held at Bradford and at Leeds yesterday, on the subject of the existing distress in Ireland, and the best =Ale of aid ing in its mitigation. A public meeting has been held at Halifax, at which a sum exceeding 400/. was submeribcd, with a prospect of still further inerca,e. SIMUIBE, A Ftae broke out nt Chester on Wednesday morning, in the centre of a laity range of buildings, known an the Dee Mills. These premise. ore used as corn-mills, and are in the several occupations of Me•ars. Cameo, l'a'in, and MUM. The mills were originally of great antiquity, haying been in existent* as early 35 the year 1119, when they Mooed to the Crown, who g ranted them to Sir Itivhard thitton, to whose family we believe they still remain. The fire was discovered by the driver of a coach, returning to the Albion Hotel. The man instantly gave the alarm, and, in a very abort space of time, the city engines were on the spot, and commenced playing up-sn the devouring element. Every room was filled with grain to the very roof, and it is a me lancholy fact, that scarcely a mingle bag has been rescued un injured from that portion of the pile which was the scene of the conflagration. The outer walls are all that is now stand ing, end these are momentarily expected to Gill. The lure sustained is supposed to be "bunt B,OUOI. Nornsumix. SUPCOSED Posy o);ll!lic;;;War.—The 2Vottiosy/inns Review states that, en the t 4th of last month, seven 1311,4 of exchange and promissory note., of the value of 4811. 3s. 104., and one other bill representing 1,7441. 14s. Bd., tetra trans mitted through the Nottingham post-otlice, by the executors of the late firm of W. and S. Cheetham, of this town, Edinburgh being their intended destination. Nothing sine. then has been seen or heard of them by the parties whom it concerns, and it is supposed th have been stolen. Pay ment of the same has been stoppe d, awl reword of twisty guineas has been uttered for the recovery Ada property and detection of the offenders. Cuatous CuArox.—.l correspondent of the Nottingham Journal calls attention to a custom which he thinks, wah ull due reverence to the reverend clervynian, church wardens, and all the other ecclesiastical functionaries, ought long since to have been Aboli4ted. Un ChM,Arms , : day, alter diiine service had been performed, the reverend elem.!) man and communicants having taken their places around the altar, the terries was just commencing, when the clerk hastily walked to the huddle aisle, and us loudly As his lungs would, permit him, bawled out—" Tho Duke of Itutlenirs tenants tae requested to come up to DAlvoir, and pay their rents on Friday, the llthhf January," THE LATII ACCIDIENT AT Z..ll:;TlVAT.—During the last week the government sent a eernmissiouer to the workings at Oldbury, where twenty men and Grls lust their lives a short time ago by fire. The result of his isaminatiun will no doubt be published in a short time. Srante or CoLucea AT DUDLEY.—The Ten Towns llessenver says—Their notice having expired on Saturday night last, the colliers of this district have struck for a re , ductiun of the hours of labour. They propose beginning at seven in the morning, and leaving off at five in the after noon. Thu the masters seem determined to resist. CHEAP OMNIBUSES are to be started in Wolverhampton, a company being formed fur that purpose. The charge is a penny a mile, and percale are to be carried at an equally low rate. THE MALT TAl.—Yesterday,a mcetiug of the members and friends of the Essex Society for the Protection of Agri. culture and British Industry, was held at Chelmsford to consider a communication • :itch had ken received limn the Central Society in London with respect to the malt tax. The Rev. J. Cox, MA., rector of Fairstead, moved That in order to give the people of the greatest benefit of soy remission of taxation, it Is reeentially neotesay to reduo, the I MY.' in preference to the customs duties. He was quite aware of the importance of the subject they were met to cuusider, and of the agitation they were shout to commence. Heretofore he had never joined any society or hotly of men in demanding the repeal U the malt tax, which, however, he was aware preaaed very heavily on the labouring classes. lie had little hesitation in asking now for its repeal, when the protective duties which the termer. had enjoyed were entirely and most unfairly removed. C. T. Tower, Esq., thought it wt.. inexpedient at present to agitate the question, but declined to move an amendment. The re solution wu then adopted. _Music. CONCERT TOR THE WESTERN OPRTIIALIfie INwriruriow.—This concert was given last evening at the Hanover.eqr.are Rooms. Like must charity concerts, it was of an ordinary description ; the performers, who (we pre sume) gave their services gratuitously, having naturally per formed such things as were most familiar to themselves and consequently to the public. A number of vocal and instru mental pieces were given by the Misses Williams, Madam. Albertaxxi, Mr. Lockey, Miss Kate Loder, Mr. Day, the Messrs. Distin, and others. We were much pleased with two young singers, whom we heard fur the first time ; Mr. T. Williams, who snug with his sisters a pretty trio by a new composer named Desaages ; and Miss Lockey, who sung Boethoveu's song, " 0 beauteous daughter of the starry race," one of a set of beautiful sacred songs, which, though published in this country, with English words, morn than thirty years ago, are still very little 'mown. Mr. Williams has a sweet tenor voice, which blended finely with the soprano and contralto of his sisters; and Miss Loamy deserved much credit, not only for selecting so fine a compo— sition, but for the excellent m .nner in which she sang it. We regret to add that the room was but thinly attended.. and that the concert will be of little (if any) hearth to what we understand is a very praiseworthy institution. CLERICAL. raIIVIOURNIS.—The Rev. R. L. Brown. Curate of All haireriCbarek St John'e Wood, to ititleford V. with Melon V. ; value 361 J. ; both In the county of Hertford, and Ilatint by the death of the Kw. T. W. Thirteen% The Rev. IL S. Jolene, Mieeionery to the Jews in to the CbapLiincy at Chester 0.u,. Michaernon-Wyre V., dio. Muter ; valae,. 78W., with reddisee, by the death of the Rev. Hugh lloreby. NAVAL. Davoriroar, hi , . T.—Estimolai alollese torn her Meieetys. &lip Styr.—Clareare Cove, Island of Verb l'n, Oct. f, le te...A few day& kefore we mime away from the Bight of Benin, we captured a Broxillon slove-rent, :he &dia. She Is sow me bee way to M. Het tires for adjudication. I memos , en will he oondeinneeL You ovoid be earprired to know the dreadful oetethat take place on the mem of Africa, in consequent of the chiefs not being able to Milt their slat es; not many week. num 3,001 &iv,o were beheaded m loge% and their lreadspot on stakes ; a short user before that 500 we re murder d et Porto only bemuse they cannot eet them slaty dear of the theists and Yrtsteh ships of war, noted; organdie, that Mans are constauily kept reedy for shipment au the Slat f •morableoppornmiry ; W any %Vend of Immunity think of this, end wok hisonelf which is the Fender evil, sash srholnel . e murders or the Wm-Uric? Yeeterdey, I had e long milk, or rather hunt, after Net. lilies and spiders; smiled the taatiLS orrhptains Bird, Allen, and ironer, who died m that illeoted expe dition op the Niger in Intl, Wm the grave of one of the Landers. The is an estraordinsry place, of volcanic produethn ; en. deed we an mow at anchor In on extinct enter, the minima are called Book.- a *range kind of people. The lace irt a square, with the eagles pat roundel td, and they enhance their bean; by covering theineelves with a mixture at yellow clay end palm oil. On the heal they wear the skin of a monkey, decorated with toe bona of the same animal. They either come themetirer with the hide of • remedy killed Erotica, or make apnoea of green leaves, thuerteepiag up the primitive onetume. On the left ten they have • narrow strip ot nes skin, which maters two parpcees, that of a telMman (or grigri,, and a sheath to a knife. Seems made of wood serve either for offence, eefenee, or fa tithing, ut which they art eery expert Gene rally, they are • quiet. inoffensive people, but, when rowed, Perm and vtailative. The island belongs to the titantek eovernment the govereor an Fougashmen, the vioegovernor • GUMMI. There me some missionaries here; one, a Mr. isturgem, died • few days arm In consequence of injuries received when the Doer (a onaismary rem* wen rawly leas m the Breaker, es the most of Ohm. There are Mae • mot number of Sierra Lome blacks, who are squint and industrious people. Although this lea Seenieh plate, there is not • Spooled In the Wand. Idu hope that the levee hse now taken to departure from Win ship; everything that human beings could device to reedit tent healthy ban been done , however, we AO mm see, after Margie ChM place, bow far we may easgrabilate earrelres. Maine, 12, taut Beton Tryoe, arrived this morning ha POWllP mouth.: -if Ihiag ... Cent 0. Y. Devi% was =shekel,* end Shrift picket, heat-Cum. J. Douglas, taken into daft t l l: l = • defects. Poinsworrn, Jig. It-- H.M.S. Ilya int.., IS, - • this afternoon from the End Indies; and H.M.S. ' • fa il tre free4 t esetward. Both ship tainted the 'daimon eon • a Prat. Moser. —LOXIMAI. Joy. 8.-21oUoe loge • . 400.• .• Bt. -' Hoare, and the officers and crew of H.M.S. it ir ere. Wally on board and entitledto share in the p... • •.. o. - the. . capture of , lee Move easel Zuhaire, on the lid 0,.. ~.= th e clistrii,M,A "All he snide on t. C 22th Jae last, at . • y .-. . . . 5,:i:~ .~ >. . r