The Express. — London, England, 1848-08-09 00:00:00

fiend change if we adopted the same system as prevails thee. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman behind me referred the other day to the practice of the clubs in L on don, and other institutions of • like nature, where he said the ballot was generally adopted in the election of members. The hon. gentleman who has just spoken has, however, denied that that is now the practice 111 the Chihi ; but whatever may be the fact as to that, I hold vat that practice refers to • c an entirely differ ent from that sero are now discussing. The clubs are coin prsad of some 400 or 600 members, and when a gentleman i a pplies to he admitted the question s, not whether he should Ice the sole r e presentative of the club, but whether he would be a fit companion fur the members to associate with—that is, whether his manners, convereatioe, and habits are such is would make him a desirable companion. There is, there fore, a great difference between choosing • member of • club and electing a member of parliament. In the fleet place, it is not a great distinction to ho one of the 300 or 400 members of • dub. In the next place, it is nut agreeable for a man to say directly and pointedly that he does net wish to associate with the party propoecd, and there:ore secret votirot is properly resorted to. The case of an election is totally different. There you have to choose betook n two persons of ono set of political opiniona—that in, in a place which re urns two mult i* and two of another; mid the question is not whether these are parties with whom you would like to associate, but whether they are fit to represent your political opinions.ying I can understand the case of a man sa to another,Known 1 ou long ; and, person ally, I have great respect for you 1 know nothing of your opponent but that his politic-1 opi nions are mine and yours are net; therefore I eh ill vote for him, because he can repre sent my opinions in a ie laical msembly which you cannot." There would be nothing personally offer Alva in that, nor anything at which any man could reasonably take offence. This is not like electing a man as a member o f a club—it is a matter of public duty and trust. It is • question, in fact, who will, in my opinion, be the best man to represent me in parliament, and to assist in earning on the affairs of the country in the great council of the notion. I hold, therefore, that the case of choosing members in a club is nu parallel to that of the election of members of parliament. The hon. gentleman brought for ward ail* an example of a more sacred kiwi —the election of the apostle in the room of Judo'; but that was • question between two persons who should best interpret the will of heaves, and is no parallel to the present. The proposition now is not for leave to bring in • bill to establish certain chum in the mode of voting at elections, but that a resolution should pus decleriog that such a change is expedient ; but as that change can only be effected by a law which must be anented to by parliament, I hold that it would be most in expedient for us to pass a revolution condemning the present mode of voting, when no bill is propane d by which the pro p-wed change is to be effected. It such a change is to be mole let a hid be introduced, end let us consider it in its various stages, and decide on the second reading whether its principle shall be adopted or not; but for the house merely to place in its journals that it is expedient that venting be members of parliament should be secret and taken by way of ballot would be nit very consistent with the usages of parliament, ~or of any public advantage. If the honourable gentleman were to follow up that resolution (should it be carried) by • bill, I certainly should oppose it, fur I think such • change would be injurious and not advantaiteout to the country; it would be a change which would profess at least to depart from that openness and publicity which is an enclitic feature in our institutions, and to adopt seeresy as the rule in one of the most important functions of our civil polity—it would be • change which wou'd utterly fail to its effects, for you would never by such a law succeed in changing the open manly unreserv.d habits of the people t hear, bear), and though so to I should rejoice in the &there, I do not think its effect would bo merely nugatory. 1 think those who had adopted this plan—those who found intimidation was still rife, and that corruption prevail.d would say " this change has failed, because you have not accompanied it with other ciianges, which we thiuk necessary," and we should be called upon to adopt something else as an accompaniment (Cheers from the reform party.) The hon. gentlemen allow then that this change would not be sufficient ? (Hear, hear.) Then, if that he the case, I think it would he far better to have at once such a proposition as wait made by the hon. member for Montrose. (Hear.) I was not one of them who found fault with the mode inshit;; the hon. gentleman iieroduced that motion; he said "let us have a change in the qualification for the franchise—let us shorten the duration of uoluiment—let us alter the electoral districts and adopt the ballot as the mode of voting." Whether that scheme was wise or not, we had the whole scheme before us; and it is now confessed—and I would urge hen. gentlemen who are favourable to this change only hot to lose sight of the fact—it is now avowed that this change alone would not produce the good effect of making popular elee time pure, but that it is brought forward rue one of a series of changes, nut white those other changes ore to be—what is to be their character—whether they are to include household suffrage or universal suffrage, we know not; we are only told th at if see adopt th is change, it will be wholly and entirely insufficient, and having this avowal, I shall conclude by earnestly inviting the house not to adopt the proposition, and by declaring that it will be satisfactory to me at least to give my vote against it. (Hear. hear.) Mr. COBDEN reminded the noble lord that when Mr. Hume brought forward his motion he was censured for including so many chances in it. Tne noble !lord found fault with the ballot because it wu calculated to give to one-seventh of the people the power of the Venetian oligarchy ; hut were those who wished to extend the suffrage beyond the seventh of the population to be answered by that argument? lie 'jeered the question of the ballot with lees interest than he did twelve years ago. Had it been adopted at that time it would have done much to put an end to that corruption in the boroughs and subserviency in the counties which they had now to deplore; but it was now too late to remedy mum of the evil. He believed the ballot was the best mode of taking vette in this or any country; and he should vote for the question by keen* as he had done when it was proposed in connexion with ethers, because he believed a large portion of the electors were favourable to it. The question must be on its last legs when no better answer could be advanced against it than that which they had heard from the noble lord. (Hear.) The noble lord began by saying that Reef et votaig was con trary to the man and free consti:uo. n of the coun try. It was true the mode of election was open; but would the noble lord tell him it was tree ? The noble lord had referred to the practice in the courts, and had quoted the case of the jury giving their verdict in open court; but that was an unfortunate analogy, for though the jury must be unanimous when it convicted it we , net necessary that it should be so when it did not, nor were the votes of each juror published. Then, as to the grand jury, which was the first tribunal, that woe a together a secret tribunal. In Scotland, too, when the ver dict deoenaed on the majority. there was no publicity of the votes of the jurors. Ile denied that the judge who tried, et the witnesses who gave evidence, ever incurred obloquy, as the noble lord had inferred, on account 1111 the judgment and evidence given in a court Ohm; but no CAPP of voters was Ire from the obloquy which open voting brought on the elector , . Still leas was the noble lord happy in the analogy he had drown from the pro ceedings of that house. The members of that house were sent there to perform by delegation certain duties for their constituents, and they were held respon sible for their acts ; or why were they subject to periodical election? And how were the coutituencies to form • judgment upon them if they did not know what they had done? But were the electors responsible tot nomele et ors ? (Hear, hear.) If they were, then the non.' lectors must be competent to judge of the'' woy its which the trust was exercised ; and Oki+ was an argument fur extending the franchise to them. (Hear.) But the fact war they we re responsible not to the non electors, but to the Marquises of Exeter and the patrons of the borough. (Hear.) The noble lord appeared to forget toe theory of the constitution he lauded so much. The theory was that every freeman and householder ohould be entitled to vote. The noble lord argued that with the ballot we could not maintain our institutions, and then be went on to show that the ballot would effect but little change. (Hear.) Then where was the great objection It came back to thin, mat the effect would not be merely negative, but that it would create 'demand for the extension of the suffrage. The hem gentleman referred to the ease of lb, East India Cowpony when the election of the director who orocured 100,000,000 'ilieu of men was taken by the ballot. With. regard to foreign countries, the ballot was adopted in almost all conti nental countries, hut he would not admit the analogy of coon. tries 50 years behind our own. If an analogy was to be drawn, : he would take the New England states, and he would irk what had been the result of the ballot there ? In every one of those states it had been adopted and was in full force. There was but little chance of corruption in a country bee the United States, where universal suffrage was the rule—wages were high, land cheap, fortunes were nearly equal, and the emoluments of the government low. The hon. gentleman referred to the case of Carlisle and Sral ford as stowing the necessity for the ballot in this country, and referring to the speech of Mr. Urquhart, said he had at all events redeemed the pledge he said he bad given to his constituents, that he would be in parliament unlike all other members. (A laugh.) So honestly had the hon. gentleman carried out his promise of agree ing with nobody, that he ought to be elected free of ett'ense the next time he offered himself as • candidate. Hear, hear, and laughter.) But it was not so much for the boroughs as the counties that he whihed to see the ballot in Operation. (Hear, bear.) It was a question of vital im portance to the county constituencies, for he believed if they mewled the ballot they would send some of the best repro. sentatives that the country could afford to that house. !Hear, hear.) How many contests for counties bad there been at the last election ? That was a good test of the in dependence of the county voters • for if they found in counties with 5,000, or 6,000, or 7,000 nominal electors on the list that there was no contest in nine-tenths of a t= they might m i ke u p their minds that the election was e oy nix or seven gentlemen sitting at a comfortable fireside. Indeed, Lord Stanley, with that frankness which Imished his character, told them that the election was a question of acres, and that they had only to tell out the number of acres to ascertain the personto be elected. (ber.) If county members would only tell the house what *sr knew from their own experience of county election', what tales would they not hear. In 1835 the noble lord at the ' head of the government stated that when he was a candidate for Devonshire some of his own committee, who had pro mised him their votes, were obliged to vote against him. (Hear.) He had seen at the election for Lan cashir e in 1837 persons in the Ormskirk district coming up to vote with blue ribbons who at the next election marched up in yellow colours. In 1841 the colour was changed again because the property had changed hands in the interim. The farmers were marched up like so many cattle decked for the shambles. He wanted to see the farmer class in this country men of more character, dignity, and self-respect than they ever could be under so degrading a practice, (11441.) it was for the she of the counties, therefore, in particular that be wishe: to me the ballot carried into effect. He did not believe that the ballot could be carried alone now, but he found in the arguments adduced against it additional rea gens for the changes proposed by his hon. friend the member for Montrose. (Hear.) Hewes glad that the hon. member for Bristol hod brought the subject of the ballot before the house, breaues it answered the cavils brought agaiegt tho motion of his hon. friend. (Hear.) The decision of the house, dad , verse to the motion of the hon. member for Bristol, would add one to that catalogue of blew:ten which showed the want of harmony between the legislation of that house and the opinions of the great body of the people; and would tend, amongst other things which they now witnessed, to bring about that change in the representation which the noble lord so much deprecated, be; which he thought would he for the interest of the country and absolutely necessary to enable them to get out of that dead-lock in legislation to which the present system had brought them. (l,heets.) Mr. HENLEY said that the lest speech of the hon. mem ber surprised him • great deal more than even former speeches delivered by him. Hi. course had of late been a little eccentric. liebelieved the people of the country would give the noh,e lord more credit for acquaintance with the principles of the constitution than the hou. gentleman, and also for remembering them better. The hou. gentleman denied that there was any intimidation of witnesses. But did be recollect that witnesses were intimidated in Ireland? (Hear.) The hon. gentlemen alluded to the grand Junes. But it the hon. gentleman knew the constitution of grand juries. he must be aware that the object of secresy there was to protect the prisoner on the one hand, if the evidence was not sufficient to send hint to trial, and the crown on the other hand. It was for the advocates of the ballot to show the necessity of that system. But he deni .d that they had done so. He heti-Ted that if this chat ge we re made, it would only forma steppingstone to other changes, ! and that it would nut remedy the evil which its advocates prof, seed to have in view. Mr. MUNfZ said that he believed the country wanted •he b.illot; and it ought to be suf fi cient to show that any Len could not exercise petition' tights openly, in order to .educe them to concede it. . . , Mr. W. P. WOOD did so extremely differ from the idea that this was a " fantastical " motion, that he could not kelp saying that, in his opinion, it was of the deepest importance to the country that this and other reruedi questions should be seriously copal dered. The Reform Bill was carried as a question of " confidence," and it little mattered then what was the eye• tem of voting. But it was when that bill was fairly passed that thin question became one of the first importance, mid a time had come now when they must consider whether they were disposed to trust the people or not. The large mass of the middle classes—the shopkeepers of the country towns— who telt the bad influence of corruption and intimidation, had great reason to complain of the existing system. The noble lard spoke of the caprice and irresponsibility of a vote under a ballot. Caprice was a wrong word to use, and as to responsibility, to whom was the responsibility owing ? If to the non-elector,, then surely there was no good reason for excluding that class from the franchise. Hear.; After all the delay and dawdling which they had witnessed on the part of the house respecting the Barough Elections Bill, it was time they took up this or some other measure se same indication to the country that they intended to check hrib .ry. Then as to intimidation he held in his hands the report of the Stamford election committee, which, although it stated many of the facts alleged in the petition had not been proved, yet declared that the effect of former ejectments had been very prejudicial to the freedom of election in that borough. Wes it not time, then, to do something ? Was all the bribery and menacing to pass for nothing, because, as the noble lord said, freedom of election from such influences would produce no other electoral re• sults ? No! He was bound to say that he believed the question came bark to this—confidence or no confidence; and, for his part, prepered as he was to trust the people, he should gladly vote in favour of the measure. Mr. NAPIER vindicated the claim of the English people to exercise their electoral suffrage openly and fairly, in ac cordance with their open and frank character of mind. He saw no more r( aeon why voters should vote in secret than why their r. presentative in parliament should vote in secret. Mr. VILLIERS folly admitted the frank and inde pendent character of the Englieh rople, and it was this very character which made them when they saw an abase insist upon its removal until it was removed, as they were now deieg in regard to the abuse which open voting had engendered. This was eminently a practical question, and ss such it must he treated. The vote by ballot was proposed an a means of preventing that bribery and intimidation which had been proved to constitute such rea.erial elements in the election of that b. use; and no one denied that practi tally the means so proposed would put an end to the evil so denounced—denouneed alike in the house and out of the house. There could be no question that it was desirable to have property end rank legitimately repress nted in that assembly ; and it was his full cceviction that prop. , rty anal rank would stand as full a chance of their legitimate repre sentation with the ballot as without it. I Mr. H. BERKELEY telt called upon to ray only a v er y •few words in reply. The arguments had been pretty much on one side, and the country would be of that opinion. The noble lord had taunted him with bringing forward a resolu tion instead of a bill, but if the resolution were to be carried a bill would very soon follow, and a great step would be gained if the noble lord would give his consent to the 1 , solu tion. Nothing but assertions against the ballot had been I heard, no proof of its inefficacy had been brought for ward. He had been six years in America, where the ballot wan in use, and he had never heard one word against its ' operation. The house then divided—For the motion I Against it The numbers were announced amidst loud and reiterated cheers. CHRISIINA RAO OF BARODA. Lord STUART laid that although he was aware there were many circumstances favourable to the Chit= which he had undertaken to advocate in the person of Chriahna Rao, he felt the at /talon was too tar advanced to proceed with the motion of which he had given notice, for the appointment of • committee, and be therefore begged leave to with draw it. Sir J: DORMOUSE commendei the course pursued by the noble lord, which he said would be advantageous to hie client. GOVERNOR OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Mr. ANSTEY was about to bring forward his motion for an address on the conduct of Sir W. Denison, the governor of Van Diemen's Land, but in the absence of the Under Secretary for the Colonies postponed it until • future day. NEW BILLS. The ATTORNEVGENERAL brought in a bill to con firm the incorporation of certsin boroughs, which wu read a first time. Mr. BOUVERIE obtained leave to bring in • bill to ex plain an act made in the first year of King William and Queen Mary for exempting their Majesty's protestant sub jects dissenting from the Church of England (rem the penalties of certain laws. COLONIAL EXPENDITURE ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. COBDEN, in the a.mence of the hon. member for Southwark, moved the resumption of the adjourned debate on colonial expenditure. Mr. F. SCOTT was about to address the house in support of his amendment, when Mr. B. OSBORNE suggested to him whether it was not better at so late an hour and with so small an attendance to postpone it Mr. SCOTT consented to postpone it to that day lortnight. The house adjourned at five minutes past 12 o'clock. PABLIAMENTARY HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. VOTE BY BALLOT. Drcusioa on Mr. Berkki's motion, "That it is expedient in th elec tion of members to serve in Parliament that the Totes of the elec toral be taken by way of Itadlot."—Ayes, , Noes, 81. AYES. Adair, R. A. 8. Pox, W. J. Hewett, F. Smyth, J. A. Anderson. A. Gilson, T. M. Hunts, G. F. !Smith, J. B. Barnard, E.G. Glyn, G. C. Norrens, Sir D. J.Spearman, IL J. lierkeley,Fln.C.F Orrene, J. Nugent, Lord Stuart, Lord D. Bernal Greek& C. W. O'Brien, T. Tittered, Bouverie, , Hn. E.Hastie, A. Opt S. C. 11. Tenison, E. K. litiwrinz, Dr. Ileuillem, T. E. Osborne, R. Thompson, G. Boyle, lin. Col. henry, A. Paget, Lord A. Tbornay, T. Bright, J. Heywood. J. Paget, Lord C. Townstiend,Capt. Brockahurat, J. 11111, Laid M. Peareon, C. Torte, Co.. C.J.K. Brothel ton, J. llobhoure, T. B. Probe& Capt. Villiers+, lion. C. Brown, W. Hodges, T. L. Pet°, 8. M. Waists", T. Clay, .1. Hume, J. Pigott, F. Ward, IL 0. Clay, Sir W. llumphery, Ald. Pilkington, J. W. ' , t h e w, 3 . P . Cobden, R. Kershaw, J. Power, Dr. Willcox, B. M.O. Collins, W. Lockr, J. Raphael, A. Williams, J. Demme, Hn.T.V.Lushington, C. Reyesilds, J. Wilson, M. Dracaena, J.T. MtCullagh, W. T./tic:ado, 0. Wood, W. P. Divett, E. lisGregor, J. Rice. E. R. Duncan, G. Manatee, It. D. Roberta., J. A. eattess. Mind" Adm. Milner. W. M. E.Rornilly, Sir J. Berkeley, H. Mane, Sir De L. Mitchell, T. A. Salmi, Col. I hompson, eel. Fagan, W. Morris, D. NOES. Ansley, T. C. Duncuft, J. Heald, J. Palmerston , Arkwright, G. Dwane, P. P. Heathcote, G. J. Patten, J. W. Aabley, Lord East, Sir J. B. Hiklyard, T. B. T.Plowden, W.H.C. Baldwin, C. B. Ebrinaton, Visa Hobbouae, Sir J. Prior, Sir It. Bentinek, IA 0. Edwards, H. flood, Sir A. Renton, G. W.I. Birch, Sir T. B. Elliot, Hon. J. &Mothers, Lord Rumbold, C. E. Bourke, It. 8. Fergnaon, Sir &Howard, P. H. Rumen, Lord). Bowie., Adm. Fitzgerald , W. Illloward, Sir H. Benders, 0. Brosdley, 11. Fitzpatrick, J. W.Jones, Capt. Beot,, Ho Lord n. F. Buller, Bir J. Y. Faye?, J. Lacy, H. C. Seymour, Burrell, Sir C. M.Forbee, W. Law, Hon. C. E. Shelburne,Earl of Carew, W. 11. P. Forester, Hu. G. Legh, G. C. Smith, Hon. ILV. Chaplin, W. J. Fox, 8. W. L. Lockhart, W. Somerset, Capt. Oodrington,Sir WErtwen, C. IL Lowther, Hn.CoLSturt, H. G. Coles, 11. B. Gaakell, J. M. Maffiterman, J Urquhart, D. Corry,Rt. Hn.H.Gladstene, W. E.Maunacll, T. P. Wad:lington,ll.B. Courtensy, Lord Goddard, A. L. Moody, C. A. WeLesley, lA. C. Cowper,lln.W.F.Granby, Marq.ef Morgan, 0. Wood, Sir C. Cubitt, tV. Grey, R. W. Morpeth , VireL n•' M• Denims), J. E. Hall, Col. Noel. Hon. G. J. Henley, Dodd, O. Hampton, G. A. Palmer, R.. Napier, DUBLIN ELECTION COMMITTEE, YESTERDAT.—Ar nun:tents respecting the validity of the pipe water rate were further heard. APPROACH OP THE CHOLERA.—The number of deaths in London during the week ending August 6 was 1,038; the average being 972. Of this excess 21 deaths are ascr ibed to cholera, and 97 to scarlatina,--the ge deaths from the latter being only 37. The moot noticeable tact, however, in this last return of the registrar-general 41 the grist increase of mortality from diarrhcea and dysentery. During the last three weeks in May the deaths from these diseases were only 12, 16, and 15, respectively; during June they had increased to 37 ; and now, for the week ending August 6, we find they have risen to the serious number of 154 ; which is more than double the average of the season. It should be remembered that diarrlicca was the forerunner of cholera when that scourge made its last visit to London ; and no time sh ould be lost in making sanitary preparations for the impending visitation. THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9, 1848. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY, 11 A.ll. The speech of M. Leon Faucher, delivered in the assembly yesterday, on the subject of caution money of the journals, is the text of various comments in the papers this morning. Laudatory in a high degree in those of the moderate party; the reverse, of course, in the organs of the ultra-democrats. The Journal des Debuts says:—" Of the six orators who occupied the tribune, four opposed the decree. The pro ject was, however, defended by M. Faucher, as it ought to be , with remarkable talent and thorou g h knowledge of his subject. M. Leon Faucher spoke on the question, not only as if he were a veritable journalist, but he spoke as a profound legislator and statesman." A proposition to the following effect:was yesterday distributed to the members of the Assembly : " I de mand the Assembly to authorise proceedings against me.—LAMENNAIS." It has been referred to the com mittee of justice, who will report on it in regular course. Yesterday the Sardinian ambassador and the Mar quis Albert Ricci had another conference with Gen. Cavaignac, at which they made an explicit demand for the immediate intervention of the French army in Italy. It is understood that Gen. Cavaignac re plied by staving what I have already announced, that the French government have resolved to join that of England in offering their immediate aid, that the basis of their proposals had already been settled on conditions which, while they would satisfy all rights, would omit no means of saving Europe from the evils of a general war. The journals to-day repeat what I mentioned in my despatches last night, that negociations have been opened between the parties in the chamber, with a view to the suppression of the documents and evidence on which the report of the committee of the insur rection is based. According to these reports, it would seem to be the object of parties to smother the inquiry and stop the debate, so far as respects M. Ledru Rollin, and to leave the tribunals at liberty to deal with MM. Caussidiere and Louis Blanc. If the go vernment anould consent to sanction its law officers in apple ing to the assembly for liberty to prosecute Caus. sidicre and Louis Blanc, it is not impossible that such a compromise may be adop ed, but at the same time, considering that a large portion of the documents and evidence are already in the hands of the printers, and have been transcribed by some 30 or 40 persons, it is very difficult to see how their suppression is practi cable. A modification of the ministry was spoken of yes terday in the Salle des Conferences of the National Assembly. It was said that M. Marie, the Minister -of Justice, would be appointed First President of the Court of Appeal, in place of M. Seguier, and be re placed as Minister of Justice by M. Sknard, who would be succeeded as Minister of the Interior by M. Marrast. One of the journals, on the eontrary, says this morning that M. Bethmont is to succeed M. Seguier. - We have received the Madrid mails of the 3rd inst. Our correspondent writes : " Just when many fancied that ministers had really . set their shoulders to the wheel to mend the public Interests in connexion with the bank, as well to save that establishment, lo ! all at once the bank notes are up again, or rather down again at 10 per cent. discount, for this is the price de manded for changing in the shops, although they are quoted at Bi." Munson, Arc. 3.—Thres per Cents,after Bolen, 1 caah. P2O cash; after Bolus l assi 9 i cash Five per Cents., 111 paper 1 ves, 4 paper; after Bolsi, 31 cash, Coupons, 61 cash. Bank of Isabel* 30 cash. Discount of notes, 74 8 per cent. k:xchaolfe on London at 60 days, 45 cash. ITALY.—The report which I announced to you by telegraph last night of the capitulation of Milan is repeated in the journals of this morning, but has not been confirmed. The fate of that capital is still uncertain. We have, however, news from it to the 4th inst., which have arrived by express. It appears that the following proclamation of Alarshal Radeteky addressed to the inhabitants of Lombardy, had been circulated : Inhabitants of Lombardy,-1 am arrived on the Lombard territory, at the head of a valiant and victorious army, to deliver you from a tyrannical and revolutionary domination. !Wining to perfidious iminuetiens, many of you have for- gotten your duty towards your legitimate sovertiffn• Batt= to your duty subjests under the protecting sceptre of the Emperor and Kieft. I offer you my hand in token of sincere reconciliation. Lombards, listen to my friendly counsel; receive with confidence my valiant troops. They will guarantee to the peiceable citizens the greatest security of person and property, but the laws of war will be applied in all their severity to those who, in the blind delirium of rebellion, shut their ears to any exhortation. You may take your choice. My duty is punctiliously to keen my word.—Valeegio, July 27. On the 3rd, the Piedmontese army fell back from Lodi to Milan, under the walls of which capital they were encamped. The next day, so far as can be col lected from the advice' received, they retired into the city, and the Austrians were encamped under its walls. It does not appear from the accounts that in this march of the Austrians from Lodi to Milan any resistance had been offered ; it would seem that the Piedmontese retired before them without striking a blow. It is necessary to observe, however, that we are without detail or tic:orate information of any kind. No bul letins were published, and the correspondence from the Sardinian head-quarters has ceased to arrive. Milan was declared in a state of siege on the 3rd, and terror prevailed throughout that capital. A despe rate resistance was likely to take place, in which all ages and classes and both sexes would join. Vie erprtgo. the malls for British NoitriAineilea, and the United States, will be made up en the evening of the 11th Aug. The Wen India Malls, excluding Bermuda, Nassau, Havana, Honduras, New Orleans, Vera Crux, Tampico, and Porto Rico, and including three for Madeira, Jeemel, Certhagena, Seats Martha, Myna, Panama, Wee' Coast of South America, and At Jusn-de- Nicsragua, will be made op on the morning of the 17th August The made for Vigo, Oporto, lasbon, Madeira, Cod* am Gibraltar will be made up on the:monung of the 17th Aug. The overland mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong-Kong, and China, ohs Southamp ton. will be made up on the evening of the 19th August The overland closed made, via Musette., to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon., India, Hong-Kong, ize., will be made up on the evening of the 21th Aug. The mails for New South Wales, Van themaies Land, and New Zealand will be made up on the evening of the 31,4 August. The mails for the West Cow of Africa and Madeira will be made up on. the evening of the 31st August. The math for the Bruits, the Inver Plate, Monte Video, Pernam buco. Bahia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made up on the evening of the Ith September. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. The number of STAMPS issued by the authorities of thr temp-office, during 1847, to the DAILY NEWS was 3.447.009 This, we believe, o within eight per cent. of the number issued to the Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Pose, ALL PUT TOOETHIII, In addition to the above, issued to the DAILY NEWS, Morning Paper, there were issued for the Evening Edition, THE EXPRESS 778.714 Which wee more, we believe, than were issued either to he Okbe or Standard. Eyeshot Papers. 01011 01 ATZR AT 141010100 8111101. Tate DA,—Mont. LIS Inf. pug I; Aheralltle. Si Wia. pml I. To. —6lo=loo I nla. poet 10; ifters•on. 44 0 10 . 0 444 10. LONDON. WEDNESDAY. AUG 9. WE record with great regret, what is too likely to be true, even if premature, the entrance of the Austrians into Milan—not that the vindication of the old mili tary glory of one of the German eagles is unwelcome —but that the cause of peace and Italian inde pendence is thereby seriously jeopardised. The fate of Lombardy is, however, not decided by the present triumph of RA.DETZRI. His reception of Mr. ABER CROMBY is said not to have been a refusal to treat, but • declaration that he could best treat after Aus trian honour was satisfied, by the entrance of his army into Milan. Mr. ABERCROMBY could not have been charged with any special mission or instructions to mediate. Time and distance do not admit of it. And, indeed, we learn, that the joint proposals and plan of media tion made by England and France, could not have left Paris before Monday evening. Innspruck, Vienna, ItspETzel himself, and probably Frankfort, must all consider and decide. And what they will have to decide is war or peace. For peace, with the con tinued possession or occupation of Lombardy by Aus tria is, as we before said, impossible. A contemporary casts some slight degree of censure on the government for not having mediated sooner, and for not interfering, whilst victory was yet unde cided between contending armies, and procured for Austria the line of the Adige and the Venetian terri tory. However desirable that may now seem, it was not to be attempted at the moment when the King of Piedmont bad repulsed the Austrians a: Goito, when the Italians were still full of confidence and frowardness, and when the word " treason" was in their mouths against CHARLES ALBERT, as it would have been against us, for con senting to the snrrender of Venice. The refusal of England to mediate upon M. HUMMELAHER'S proposi tion, did not prevent the Austrian government making such proffer directly to CHARLES ALBERT. The govern ment of Vienna d.d send Count HARTIG to do so ; but ItADETZKI would not hear of it, till he had vengeance. A mediation then would thus have failed in every way, and would have been opposed both by the Italians and by the Austrian commander. It is now undertaken, not indeed under such promising auspices; but it is at least sure of Italian assent, whilst it appeals most forcibly t.:l Austrian prudence. We still retain the opinion, however, that as long as the Austrians keep Venetia, there will be but a truce between Germans and Italians, should the latter retain the spirit and pursue the scheme of regenera tion. This we have no doubt they will, if a power ful, constitutional, and liberal monarchy be formed in North Italy. Great blame is cast upon the Lom bards for their present inertness. But that they are not wanting in spirit, the revolt of Milan shows. That they know not how to direct that spirit, and to organise numbers and wealth into real force, proceeds from their having been benumbed or kept as children by the leaden rule of an Austrian cabinet. Italy has thrown away a golden opportu nity. Instead of achieving its own deliverance, it has left that to be accomplished by foreign protector ship. No prince save CHARLES ALBERT did his duty, or showed himself an Italian. The POPE acted as the high priest, and more might not be expected of him ; but it shows the absurdity of a high priest's temporal rule. The King of NAPLES showed him self what he is by birth and nature—Austrian. The Grand Duke of TUSCANY has played the part of a lay-pope, willing to slumber on the pillow of idle popularity, but without energy, or compre hensive patriotism. The Italians must do justice by these rois fitineans. And the example and quiet working of a great constitutional state in the north can best do this. What is most important to us, however, are the hopes of peace, and the manner in which the proffer of it will be received at Frankfort, Innepruck, Vienna, and in RAURTZNI'S quarters. The powers who preside over the councils of all these places will have to choose between the re tenVon of Lombardy and their plans for restoring Ihe stability and connexion of the rest of the empire. Like many a hero, Austria has conquered, whilst in the very agony of dissolution. Should the deter mination to retain Milan compel the French to cress the Alps, we do not see how South Germany is to be regenerated, at least under its present princes ; for the French cannot but appeal to democratic passions and interests, which are on tiptoe to answer such an appeal. Monarchic Europe is, for the present, at least, a crazy old vessel. These recent shocks have shaken every timber, and it requires the greatest care even in patching and caulking, to keep the ocean out and the old ship afloat. As to monarchic Europe going to war, the idea is impossible; she would founder under the first broadside. MR. FEARCCS O'CONNOR is so hugely delighted that an official accountant hes reported (what his' private accounts d ) n.t appear to have shown) the National Land Company to be upwards of 3,000/. in his debt as to declare be will never accept pay ment of the sum. Unfortunately, however, this liberal resolution will be of no earthly value to the 32,7970 t its members who have not got allotments on the land on which the money has been spent; it will benefit only the 536 who were lucky enough to draw prizes in the Great O'Connor Lottery; and consider ing that it was chiefly from the larger number that the sum so expended came into Mr O'Cossion's possession, that gentleman's conscience ought, we suggest, rather is require payment of the money from the company, in order that he may divide it amongst the former instead of making it a present to the latter ; at least that is what our sense of justice would dictate; and not merely be cause Mr. O'CONNOR originally acquired the cash so spent from the 32,797 unlucky members of his com pany, but because its division amongst them is all the return they are likely to have for their subscrip tions and their membership. Mr. O'CoreNoa, it is well known, is the proprietor I of the Northern Star, and it is through that publica tion only that members of the National Land Com pany can learn its proceedings, or the state of its affairs. In its columns they are informed of the weekly increase of its funds, of the estates in which Mr. O'CONNOR has invested their money in his name, of the preparation for allot ment, of the mode of agriculture by which a starving weaver may, at five minutes' no tice, be converted into a thriving farmer; and, above all, of the place at which they are to gamble for the allotments, the cottages, and parti cipation in that rural felicity with which Mr. O'CoN NOR proposes to do such wonders in the way of social regeneration. The Northern Star is, therefore, a paper of the utincat importance to those who have such faith in Mr. O'CoNNert's specifics as to take shares in his Land Company. Its members, accord ingly, club together their pennies to learn when they have any chance of admission into their leader's, or as he calls himself their "father's," happy valley. Just then as the numbers of the Land Company augmented, so did the circulation of the Northern Star increaser until it came to yield its proprietor an income at the rate of 4,00 W. a year at least, a sum, we believe, larger than Mr. O'CoNNoR receives from those paternal acres in Ireland about which he so frequently talks. Thus deriving so handsome an inoome, we are entitled to say that the money so spent by him on the various estates of his Land Company, originally came in a great measure from the 32,797 persons who have not yet obtained allotments. And it is therefore we suggest that a division of the 3,00 W. amongst them would be a greater act of li berality on his part than making a present of it to their 630 successful rivals. _ _ _ And justice as well as liberality (now that Mr. O'CONNOR is in the humour to be generous) requires this appropriation ; for it is, we repeat, the only return they are likely to have for the sums they have subscribed to the company. Large as the funds subscribed to it have been, they are nearly all in vested in land ; and all the land in which they have been invested has been allotted. So that Mr. O'CoN NOR has no more land in hani on which to locate the 32,797 persons who are still onlocated, but who have an undoubted claim on him for land. Fresh subscriptions from other persons would of course enable Mr. O'CoNNoit to buy other estates, but their purchase would of course increase his obligations to furnish allotments, and diminish the chances of his clients in the ballot box. Or suppose the " repro- ductive principles," on which Mr. O'CoN:son has established the company, to be success ful, as each allotment costs nearly 2501., it will require (so the financial secretary, Mr. WORATIT, told the committee) a reproduction of 8,000,0001. at least before the 33,333 persons Mr. O'CONNOR has undertaken to provide land for can all be located ; and this sum it is admitted by other witnesses the utmost succe , a could only produce in more than 100 years from the present time. So that we are entitled to say that the chances of the 32,797 to anything hut a rateable proportion of the 3,0001.1 Mr. O'CONNOR' , 3 generosity has given the company is small, and their chance to that is, we fear, not very great. Mr. O'CONNOR, we know, threatens to mortgage the estates on which he has located his fortunate gam blers to buy other estates with the money so raised. to divide them into similar farms, and to locate other allottees thereon. And so he says he will go on repeat. ing this system of buying, mortgaging, and buying, until he discharges the claims for land under the weight of which he now staggers. But be forgets that mortgagees in this country require the regular I payment of interest on the sums for which they hold land pledged—that the receipts of rents by mort gagors is a condition precedent to the payment of such interest—that up to this time he has made no pro- vision for the payment of rent by his allottees —and that whenever he does fix their rents and name a rent day he may whistle for the money. It is exactly this question of rent which will burst the gay bubble he has blown. Hitherto the fundamental principle of the allotment system has been that it shall be in aid of wages only—that the land shall be allotted in quantities so small as to be cultivable at the leisure of the allottee—and that the greatest care shall be taken that the allyttees do not become de pendent on it for subsistence. But Mr. O'Cossort's fine theory reverses all this ; his object is to convert weavers into small farmers, and to make them dependent for existence on the land. He gives to each of his allottees on an average three acres of land, with a cottage thereon ; and out of its produce and by their labour he expects them not only to live comfortably but to pay' a rent equal to 4 per cent. on the cost of their allotments. And this is Just the impossible part of his scheme; it is what can not be done. Mr. REVANS, the poor-law sub-com missioner, who is himself an agriculturist of large experience, states that out of three acres of land a man cannot, with nis wife and family, subsist, even it he pay no rent.' This statement is probably an ex treme one. But all experience has shown that he cannot live if he have to pay rent and taxes. And under such circumstances—under a system the be all and the end all of which appears to be the extension of pauperism wherever adopted—who will advance money on the mortgage of these estates ? What, then, is to become of the National Land Company ? We await Mr. O'CoNsoa's reply with some curiosity. But our own opinion is, that the sooner he gives the present allottees a title in fee simple the sooner he will be out of the greatest scrape into which he ever got, and that then his escape will be founded on dishonesty and injustice to the 32,797. GERMANY. AUSTRIA.—We have dates from Vienna of the 3rd of August. Count Stadion has resigned the governorship of Galicia,which has been given to Wen seslaw Von Zsleski, who, in addition, is to be gover nor of the districts of Cracow and Bukowina. Count Von Rothkireh has been removed from the govern ment of Bohemia, and Baron Carl Von Mersery ap pointed in his stead. Our correspondent at Vienna writes : VIENNA, Arcs. 3. During the last few days the general diasatisfaction has been increasing, and if the ministry had not exerted itself to soothe public opinion by every means in their is wee, and if they had Lot entered into intimate connexion with nearly all our newspapers, we might certainly have had a new edition of bunks. There exists here at present but one completely independent journal, the Allgemeine Oestreiehiselse Zeitung, which espouses the democratic monarchical party. The general dissatisfaction at present proceeds, however, not so much from the press or the ministry as from the Emperor's refusal to came back, a refusal which we are afraid will be confirmed by the deputies who have left Vienna to offer the address of our national assembly to hie majesty. In expectation of this refusal different parties are collecting their forces to settle the question after their own fashion. _ . _ There are two decidedly opposed parties. Count Stadion, who, as they say, has already a new ministry in his pocket, is the chief of the aristocratical party . They are the staunch friends of the Emperor, for they know that there is no aristocracy without an emperor, whom they ear eider here as the first aristocrat; and they know, also, that there is no aristocracy but by the historical right. Both rf aeons prompt them to profess the exclusive s ivereignty of the Emperor, and to protest against that of the people. The other party, which is the larger one, disregartie aris tocracy and historical right, and knows no other law than the weer igoty of the people. They tolerate the dyne. ty hut as far as it rules, subject to the powerful majority of the house, which decidedly takes the liberal view. The ministry sheet to be of this popular party, hut there are strong doubts of their sincerity. The ministry and government in general is in a very singular position with reference to Germany. If Austria is to be kept up, it is quite clear that we cannot obey the na• tional assembly of Frankfort. The Austrian German repre sentatives in Vienna are no more than shout one-third of the whole Austrian constituted assembly, and if they adhere to everything which may be legalised at Frankfort, the Poles and Bohemians would of ..tourse decline to sit any longer with them. One of those unfortunate questions has just been started, which may have the most dangerous effect on German unity. Th.• new German Minister of War, M. Peukert, wanting to become popular, has sent an order to all German governments, that their soldiers should wear the German cockade. M. Latour, our Austrian minister of war, declares that he does rot know anything of the existence of a German central government, or of a central ministry. M. Schmeriug, our ambassador at the now dissolved Diet at Frankfort, has quite forgotten to inform us officially of the change which has occurred, and the Emperor of course has nothing to ratify. Latour is most happy tot ave such a good excuse for refusing to obey M. Peukert. And, in truth, it iv a delicate question to make our soldiers in Italy wear the German cockade. It may be th.t the Bohemian regi ments wouldrefuse ; and it is clear that the Austrian soldiers, considered as Germans, it is no more Austria but Germany which is at war against Italy. A placard, circulated yesterday in Vienna, was sold to the number of 50,000 copies, expressing the public opinion, and menacing the declaration of a republic if the Emperor should not come tack. The communal deputies wanted to prohibit it, but the com mittee for public security declared that they did not ere anything illegal in this proclamation, and ordered some hun dreds tat national guards to defenerthe printing and the sale of the document. Last evening a catholic priest refined to let the bells be rung on the occasion of a poor student's funeral, for which only 17 donna had been paid instead of the usual 30 florins. In consequence the mob Socked together and began to de molish the house. The mob is still assembled, and has beaten the national guards, who wanted to interfere. There are 10,000 to 20,000 men still assembled : they want to hang ' the priest. Our hank is growing worse daily; it ►as no more than nine per cent. cash against the issue. Still it is scarcely to be feared that it will not fulfil its engagements ; but the government will be obliged to settle with the bank in ene way rr the other. After the main conditions of an amicable settlement of the Hungarian-Croatian question had been settled and confirmed by the Archduke Palatine and the Baron Jellachich, the former returned yesterday to Peath and the latter to Agrem, to communicate the same to their respective Diets. The minister Wessenberg, who retains his seat in the cabinet, is expected at Vienna immediately. From Berlin, trom which place our dates are to Aug. 4, we learn that the English envoy had made representations to the cabinet for the amicable settle ment of the Schleswig-Holstein affair, and a note from Sweden to the same effect has been received. From Carlsruhe, under date Aug. 3, we learn that the number of volunteers to take part in the war against Denmark is so great that it was impossible to admit them so rapidly as they arrived. The same has ec+•.urred in several other garrisons. The troops will embark at linielingen and Mannheim, and go down the Rhine as far as Cologne, from whence they will be transported by railway to the theatre of war. We have news from Munich to Aug. 3. The an nounc, went that the Bavarian army is to- take part in the war with Denmark had given great satistacticn. NEGRO INSURRECTIONS IN THE ANTILLES. It is not easy to conjecture what measures can be adopted by the Spanish governor of Puerto Rico when be learns the events which have occurr. d in St. Croix ; for on the bare receipt of the news respecting the movements in the French islands he appeared to have exhausted all the ex pressions of angry consternation. The following proclama tion emanated front him in the trepidation of his soul Inhabitants of the Island of Puerto him—By the arrival this day of the French schooner, Argus, from Martinique, I have been in. formed of the occurrences which have taken place in the Frenen colonies of Guadeloupe and Martinique, in consequence of the late decrees of the provisional government of France, relative to the emancipation of the cloves in her colonies. The unfortunate emi grants who arrived by the aforesaid schooner, after abandoning their faradic, and interests, came to this island to eeek that safety and protection which they could not find in their own country, thus affording the most evident pro f of the lamentable sate in which those colonies are plunged, and of the fermatans stupidity of the African ram, who, neither conscious nor capable of conceiving the clemency which their government bad conceded to them, show their gratitude by surr.ndering themselves to those propensities which, is them, are innate—Ntt'MllaTlem, aseassination, deetructivencell. Happily this Wand, ie every point of view, is ins very different pa kten but, as the news brought by the above-named vessel will ' , mead through thL, capital, and will rapidly go through the whole island with all the additions and exaggerations usual In similar cases, it becomes my duty to din el all fears which such accounts might create in your mind., and to usure you that your Captain-General watches constantly fur the maintentuxe of order and tranquillity in the territory, which our moat gracious Queen (may Heaven guard her'.) has been pleased to confide to me, as well for the safety of your persona as for your interests. With this view, and in thee that sparks of the conflagration which consumes the French islands, should be thrown and be propagated in the ihni h ialthils of St. Croix and M. Thomas, I have tans day derpatched one of my aidesAle-carap, to offer, in my name, to the governor-general of those islands, that efficient aid, by armed (cortex, which he may require, in case of so dlrefu, an event, insider to eater. urinate the ill-disposed who might meditate the ruin of those settle meats. Inhabitants of Puerto Rico, be tranquil; confide in the bra very of Spanish soldiers, and in the valour of your captain-geaera.. —(Sigtied) Cover be Rues.—Puerto Rico, May 31, 1040. Inhabitants of the Wand of Puerto Rico.— The critical state of the times, and the afflicting position of nearly all the neighbouring Wands —some labouring under civil war on account of their institution; aril others under • lathe of extermination between the different nee: — compel me (in order to prevent such misfortunes es are now desolating our neighbours in a high degree from introducing themselves into oar peaceable and loyal island) to establish laws to punith promptly amt severely those crimes which may be committed among us. Therefore, using the power which our most gracious Queen (whom may God protect) has thought fit to invest me with, as well for the security of our island as for the welfare of its inhabitants, I do decree :—I. That offences of any kind which, after the publication, may be committed by individuals of the African race resident in this island, free or un free, shall be tried and punished in • military manner by a court-mar tial, which this government shall name, to the absolute exclusion el any other tribunal-2. That should any individual of the African rose, whether free or slave, take up any weapon against white persons. though even provoked so to do, be shall, if a slave, be shot dead, end if free hare his right hand cut off by the common executioner; but i. the white be wounded, then the free shall also be shot dead.-3. That ebould any individual of the African race, free or slave, insult by word or action, as by threatening with sticks, throwing of atones, or other wise offend any white person, he shall, if a slave, be condemned to five years' imprisonment, and if free, be punished in a penalty corresponding to the offence comraitted.-4. That ()wises of slaves are authorised by this proclamation to punish and chastise minor offences committed by their alarm, and no Ruble other nor any authority shall have a right to inquire into the cow, as thaanhoriv wes Maly wars% if apxcaosy, le 040 OR the conduct of any owner towards his slave—S. That if any elms (which in not expected) should rebel against his master or employer, the latter is allowed to kill the °Renckr on the spot, in order to pro. yen', by such prompt action, others from rising. -6. That it devolves on the military commanders of the light depurtraente of this island to take the necemary steps to institute inquiries Into the offenors asainst public security or perabns that may be committed by individuals of the African race these proceedings to be summary, and nerve to nova twentyvfoar hours after the committal of the trine; a summa y et the process to be wet to me by express in order that I may pronounce the scalene. in Keeping with the punishment established in this publication. And In order that it may be known by everybody, and that no one may plead Ignorance, I have ordered that this proclamation be aftixed in all public places of this city and el the neighb iurins towns, and also that it *ball be inserted in the governmen rosette, in order to be complied with in every respect, am] that nobody may set on the non trary.—(Sigised) Conan as Ram St. John's, capital at tie istand of Puerto Rico, May 30, aft N.R. Respect this 'Ube court. OSBORNE, TUESDAY.—Mr. Nash had the honour of laying before the Queen and Prince his views of Windsor Castle, which were much admired by het Majesty and hia Royal Highness. The Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn left Osborne for London this morning. The Duchess of Kent arrived at her residence, Clarence-house, St. James's, at four o'clock yesterday after noon, from Frogmore-house, Windsor. The Royal Duchess on her way to town visited the Duchess of Gloucesttr at her residence in Richmond-park. The Queen Dowager received a visit on Monday, at her residence,Bushy-house,Bushy-park, from the Duchess of Lett. Prince Lowenstein had an interview with Sir 0. Grey yesterday at the Home-office. A deputation including the Hon. F. Scott, M.P., Mr. M. Boyd. and Mr. C. D Logan, had an interview with Berl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office. Mr. I. Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an inter view wit► the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday at his official residence in Downing -street . The Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President of the Coundl) arrived in town yesterday from his scat, Dowood park, Wilts. PORTSMOUTH, TURSDAY.—Her Majesty arrived off the mouth of the harbour this afternoon at 4 o'clock, for the purpose of witnessing some of the matches at the re gatta, towards which her Majesty and Prince Albert graciously presented 501. as prizes for the watermen and boats in ordinary. The ships at Spithead were decorated with flags, and fired royal salutes as the royal party passed Spithead. The guns of the platform battery fired a royal salute as the royal yacht neared the town. The scene on the arrival of her Majesty off the starting vessel was s xceedingly brilliant, there being upwards of 100 yachts lying-to to greet her Majesty, while the Rolla brig-of.war, and a number of yachts dressed in flags, with their yards manned, loudly cheered, accompanied by the discharge of their small guns, the water being completely covered with a whole host of smaller sailing and rowing boats crowd ed with weltdressed visitors. The bands of the regiments in garrison were afloat, and played God save the Queen" and " Rule Britannia" while her m jesty was pigging the starting steam.vesgel. The royal standard, admiralty flag, and union, were flying on hoard the royal yacht. (From lut night's Gaulle.) DOWNING -STREET, AUG. s.—The Queen has been pleased to appint John S. bounders, Esq., to be Clerk of the Circuits and Clerk of the Crown on the Circuits, and George Botmord, Esq., to be Clerk of the Legislative Council for the province of New Brunswick. FOREIGN-OFFICE, AUG. s.—The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Horatio J. Sprague, as Consul at Gibraltar for the United States of America. FoRLIGN-OFFICE, At'G. 7.—The Queen has been pleased to approve of M. Hippolyte Flury, as Consul at Malta for the French Republic. THE EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE IN ALBANY-STREET. This disastrous occurrence, of which a hurried notice appeared in our yesterday's impress•on, has been far more destructive in its consequences than was at first antici pated. Happily the sacrifice of human life has been greatly exaggerated, only one person being a,tually dead and three others severely injured ; but the destruction of property oc casioned by the explosion is most serious. Of the house itself, in which the accident or;ginated, not a vestige remains. That portion of the building not immediately destroyed by the explosion was wholly consumed by the tire which oc• mimed subsequently, and not one brick remains upon another. The two adjoining houses—the Windsor Castle Tavern on the lett, and a hosier and glover's shop en the right hand, are shattered to their foundations, and the front wall of the latter was expected to fall during the whole of yesterday. The surrounding property is injured to an extent which would not be credible to any except an eye witness, and how so much devasta tion could have been accomplished without a greater sacrifice of human life is extraordinary. The surveyors who emanated the district yesterday report that 100 houses have been more or less injured by the explosion, and it is certain that up wards of 2,000 squares of glass have been broken. Thirty houses on the opposite side of the street, and about a dozen on each aide of the scene of the accident, are shattered : the damage also extends over a number of bousesin Ernest-street and Little Albany-street, and even so tar as Chester-terrace, in the Regent's-park Thsre seems no reason to doubt that gas and gas alone war the cause of the accident. It appear, that Mr. Loten, the owner of the premises, with his wife and child, had been spending the day in the country, leavia g his brother and sister-in-law, a young woman named Jane Bird, in charge of the premises. During the past few days a strong smell et gas had been experienced on toe premises, and workmen had made repeated examina tions of the maia pipes, but without being able to trace out the cause. On Monday night about nine o'clock the house was closed, and Mr. Loten and his sister retired up stein. Whilst there they found the smell of gas gettirg stronger, but as it was of such frequent occurrence very little rotten was taken of it. At a few minutes before ten o'clock Mary Bentley, the nurse maid (since dead), went to the upper floor, and informed Mr. Loten that the supper was ready ; at the same time another servant went out to purchase some tire wood, leaving the nurse-maid at the door whilst she went. The parties up stairs came down, and having catered the back-parlour they found a candle burn ing on the table and everything appeared perfectly sate with the exception of the strong smell of gas. They went to the front shop, and the moment they opened the door the explo sion occurred, which blew Mr. Loten and his sister through the back.parlour window into the garden. At the same time the nurse-maid, who was standing at the street-door, was blown completely over the road, and forced with such violence against the iron railings round one of the kitchen areas as to break the solid metal into several pieces. A man, who was pas sing alnag with his cart, was forced out of his vehicle, and severely injured; a lad, named James Stan lite, in the employ of Miss Warraker, the bookseller, of the same street, was blown across the carriage-way and also severely injured. He is still remaining in the hospital in a very precarious condition. At the name moment the iron gratings and window shutters of Mr. Loten's premises, together with chairs, tables, and other articles of furniture, were forced over the matt, and having carried away the shop front of the premises opposite belonging to Mr. Ciihbonn, No. P 3, sundry pieces of furniture were carried into the latter pre- DliteP, and heel! g made their exit at the back ',truck the houses in Cheater terrace, a distance of nearly 200 feet, where &considerable quantity of window glass was also demolished. The ft aoring*cf the adjoining house, belonging to Mr. Brown, lineodmper, were lifted up, the walls were shattered, the furniture hurled into the street, anal a female named Orrick was thrown down and severely injured. The whole of the windows and frames in the Windsor Castle Tavern were de stroyed, and the building in several places set on fire. Several of the inhabitants residing opposite were struck by the bricks and tu-riture entering their premises ; but fortunately none of them were dangerously injured. The motrent Mr. Loten's brother could extricate himself fr.en the ruins in the yard, he succeeded, after considerable trouble, in getting his sister from beneath the rubbish, and, by scab' g a wall 10 feet high, he mansged to draw up his relative. Both were very considerably burnt, and were re moved to the hospital. It has been ascertained that no other parties except the three before alluded to were in the pre mises when the disaster o: tuned. During yesterday afternoon , , Mr. Toplis, the suiveyor tG the Sun } ire-office, and Mr. Hodgman, the sesessor of losses, visited the ruins for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of mischief done. They were of opinion that no explosion of similar violence had ever taken place in the metropolis, sad it wan a ma:ter of astonishment hoe no large a quantity of gas as must have accumulated in the shop could have occurred. The moment at which the accident took place is accu rately marked by several clocks in the neighbourhood, and especially by a large dial at the Windsor Castle Tavern, which stands precisely at seven minutes par 10 o'cl ock. The inquest upon the unfortunate deceased in all. probability, be held this evening. THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY AND THEIR ENGINE DRIVERS. Last evening an adjourned meeting of engine drivers on the London and North Western Railway was held at the Railwry Tavern, Hampstead•road, to consider the question pending between them and the direetore.-24t. James Brown occupied the chair, and about 150 drivers were present —The Chairman read a speech, which recapitulated the grievance resulting from the new classification of wages proposed by Mr. :si'Connell, the superintendent of locomotives: " We an perfectly satisfied, he said, with our wastes, but our move is made because we see in the background the real object of the new system—that of being subjected to the caprice of the superintendent."—A variety of statements were made to show that great danger resulted to the public from the course being pursued by the company. 250 resignations had been sent in, and the men intended to adhere to them.— After thanks to the chairman the meeting separated. THE FIRE IN AMEN-CORNER. —The origin of this fire has been traced to the following cause :—The none who had been attending Mn. Dale, on leaving one of the rooms i ll with a lighted candle in her hand, accich.n4 i sited the curtains of the bed, and in an instant the retie came en veloped in flames. Fortunately, Mn. Dale.= child were got out in safety. Owing to tb.e storettga4 ilaheir buildings the fire spread so furiously that at mee Hme *I. ) neighbouring residences appeared doomed to destruct! The firemen, however, by scaling the wife of the adjellik ing premises, succeeded in cutting lof f Atte finhtt_epretbet qi , thirear the destructive element ; but the Kadv..ll4lA— prestirm ii nr7 maiusrstAti --•--,.., -- .'. . 4 . ) 5 , /,.. ::r.. c . • .1 - 'N. 14' ..... :, .11 \ 0 I l 1