The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-07 00:00:00

that at Langley the men were swore that IL goods train would pass between twelve and one o'clock ; be must have seen it if it had gone by. They were not going at a greater stated than fourteen or fifteen miles an hour e t the time witness reversed the engines. When it was rat foggy they . could see the signal in ample time to prennf, them from going into a station when they were a qua , ter of • mile short of it. When they passed Boxmoor ste,, t i on t h e fi r e. signal was red , the danger signal, upon seein g w hi c h h e reversed the engine; the red signal was then rio",,eved and the precautionary green signal, which indicated that they were to go steady, wee put on. He ace •ril..ngis proceeded, rel reinz his speed ',or, four or it ", inn. , an hour until he came again to the. danger s etal ...segley, when he reversed the engine a.. before, lied as already stated. 13ruy'ire here observed, that if the delver of engine Ile. 115 (Assup . , the deceased), had doe., his duty, by re 'sensing the engine at the same time as Owen, there would have been no occasion for the present inquiry. He quoted from the book of Signal Regulations, which enjoined the most extreme caution on these points, particularly when near to a station. The witness was of opinion that the steam had been turned of, as in the other case he thought the force of the train would have been far greater at the time of the collision. W. Hearer, stoker to the last witness, corroborated hi. statement with regard to the manner in which the accident occurred, the two statements agreeing in all essential par ticular. In jumping of the engine he fell upon his shoul der, and was insensible f several minutes. Police constable T. Smith, 211, deposed that he was in the service of the company, and was on duty at Langley sta tion. Had beet on the line four years and four months. His , duty, on the arrival of attain, was to turn on the right signals, I and to see that all the doors are fastened, and the lights in the carriages, and if not, to report the omission. On Monday night last he expected several luggage trains; there was a coal train of eighteen carriages due between twelve and one o'clock; his did not know when the next train was due, they came eo irregularly. In answer to further questions from the Coroner, who commented severely on the existence of any urn rtatitv with regard to the arrival of trains, the witness added that the coal train came in about one, and stopped for the purpose of having five carriages detached. It had not been at the station more than three minutes, and the car riages were being removed into the sillier, when the colli sion took place as described by the other witnesses. He had , put out the danger signals the moment the coal train came into the station, and they were on when the collision took place. The night was extremely foggy. He had fog signals to use when necessary, but had not time to do so on the pre sent occasion, although be considant them highly requisite. He went immediately and informed the guard of what had PO:en place, and gave hint his red lamp, as a signet to stop any other train which might arrive, despatching another man, with a similar egeal, in the opposite direction. lie then consulted with the star lion-master as to what was best to be done, and advised him to go himself for assistance, which he did, taking the coal train for the purpose, leaving the carriages on the line. Meantime witness wejked backwards and forwards among the ruins, until some one came to his assistance. Saw Owen, but did not see where he came from. Heaver leapt exactly epporite to him. He inquired of Owen where the other two (deceased) were? He said they were somewhere among the engines. An hour elapsed before anything else was done, because it was • long time before they could approach the ?vine, on account of the steam and fire. As soon as he could, he went with his lantern to look for them. He found them crushed among the engines in the manner described by the other witnesses. Police-constable Patrick Torney, 2;2, deposed, that he was in the serrioe of the company, and belonged to the Boxmoor station. It was very fogey en Monday night. He remembered the coal train coming into the Boxmoor station at 26 minutes to one, and knew that there was • special train coming by the red signal lamps. On the train step ping, he attached his danger signal and went along the line to the rear of the train with the red signal, until he heard the anted cry " All right." The train went on at a steady pace, and shortly after kis return to the station he heard another coming. Before it got to the station, the driver saw his signal and heard his whistle, and to the best of his know ledge slackened its pace. After the red light had been oat eleven minutes, he removed it, and put oat the green, which he conridered caution sufficient, and was of opinion that if the coal train bed kept on at a proper rate, the other would not have overtaken it. The next witness called was John W foreman of the locomotive department of the line. deposedlie to some facts relative to the regulations of the company with regard to signals; he examined the men on the line once a month as to their knowledge of the sig nals, and at his last examination on the 29th of December the deceased, Aesup, had a book of regulations in his pomm ies. Aamp had only acted as 'driver fur tbe tart five months, but he had undergone a tong coarse of training, and milmeee believed him to be a fully competent man. The lever @Elbe engine which he drove was wow placed on the ICVSIIIII, motion, bet not entirely so—not sufficiently to stop the engine. It was, however, impossible that Asom could hams moved the lever, as he was found on the other side of the engine ; neither was it probable that the stoker had done so, as tt was not his duty to interfere at all is that department ; it was probable that the position of the lever had been pro duced by the cone...mica, but could not give any certain opinion on the subject. Isaac Daniels, porter to the company, dewed that he meted as guard to the coal train on the occasion in question. He corroborated the particulars of the concussion, as before stated. Richard Ashby, engine -driver, deposed that be drove the coal train, and saw the lights at the Boxmoor station, as stated by Torney. They proceeded at a rate of about 16 miles an hour, and were not detained between the station.. This being the whole of the evidence, the Coroner said that he thought it needless to investigate the matter further, as, in his opinion, it had been very clearly proved that if anybody was to blame it was the unfortunate man himself, who had caused his own death and that of hie companion. It was unnecessary to go into the details of the case. The only question to consider wee, whether the deaths were not accidental, mad whether any person at all was to be blamed in the matter. He (the Coroner) begged the jury to remember that the law of deodand had been abolished, and had been anggifed by the Accidents Compensation Act, an act which be gem& "treed opposed to every principle of common sense end semen. He wondered if the hon. member for Sunderland was in the house when it was weed. The jury then deliberated for a few minutes, and without retiring returned a verdict of " Accidental death," 11100010. panied with a recommendation that the company should have more servants at the Langley station. The foreman added that " if the lame maven had been exercised theft as at Boxmoor, the accident would not have happened." SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE AMENDMENT OP THE Law.—The above society met last evening at eight o'clock, Lord Brougham in the chair. 11r. James Stewart, Q.C., proceeded to read a communication which the society had received from Mr. Boyle, United'States, advocate, rela tive to the law and practise of registering deeds and instru ments in the United States of America. The paper treated the subject under four heads—let. What constitutes • re gister of the instruments in question.-2nd. The instruments entitled to be registered.— 3rd. How they beeomesoentitled. —4th. The legal effects of registration. With respect to the first, it appears that the states are divided into ceswilsw,im each of which there is a county clerk elected by the peepie, commissioned by the executive, and quali fi ed by oath of office. Registration is defined to be the filing of a aid in the offices of this officer in the county in which the property is situated. The fees are six cents for every hundred words transcribed into the records. Secondly, the deeds requiring registration are all deeds or other instruments in writing creating an interest in land for a longer term than one year. No bargains for a longer term than one year to be valid, except when recorded in writing, and under seals, with one subscribing witness, or two in the Call 3 of • free hold. Thirdly. To entitle a deed to registration, one of the subscribing witnesses must appearbefore somejudgeorjuatice of a court of record, either federal or local, and make oath that he saw the grantor subscribe the deed. This Is technically called subscribing the instrument. Fout. The record of • deed renders it binding to all the and any defect in the record or authentication, is to creditors. It is absolutely necessary that every deed should be recorded. For aseertainipg title, it is necessary to examine the records in the county clerk, office, or if it ooneerna devise or inheritance, in the surrogates office, where • perfect history of the property will be found. In making this search some patience is necessary, but the system is so complete that mistakes seldom occur, and even the most intricate title, dating from the Snit settlement of the country, eau generally be ascertained in a few hours. The charge made by the most eminent solicitors for making out titles, seldom exceeds fifty dollars. Rarely, reference to counsel is necessary, but actions on title seldom occur. The /earned gentleman having finished reading the paper, of which the above is an ontliae,—Lord Brougham said that the society was much indebted to Mr. Boyle for his com munication, and the question was, whether the time had not Arrived, when something of • similar system should be established in this country. The meeting adjourned at half past nine o'clock. REPEAL, OF TOE WINDOW DUTIES.—MEETING OP ISE METILOPOLITAX DlLEOATES.—Yesterday a numerous meeting of delegates from the various metropolitan parishes was held in the Court-house, Marylehone, for the purpose of devising the beat means of forcing upon the etteation of the present government, in proposing their financial schemes in the ensuing aemion of parliament, the acceseity of carrying out a total and immediate repeal of the window duties.— :Mr. John Williams, of the Regent-circus, occupied the chair, and, in addition to a large number of the vestry and influen tial ratepayers of Marylebone, Mews. Keith, Dentin, Ewens, at., attended from St. James's, Westminster; Mr. Newton Crouch and a deputation, from St. Pancras; Mr. Ashby and • deputation, from St. Anne's, Soho. Deputations were also present from St. Martin's in-the-Fields, St.George'e, Hanover "lmre, St. Mary's, Paddington, St. James's, Clerkenwell, de. Mr. H. C. Wilma saidhe Ulged to trespass upon the meet ing for the purpose of proposing a resolution. It appeared that in consequence of the approach of the ensuing session all classes were at work endeavouring to impress upon the minister the necessity of a repeal of those taxes which they tonaidered pressed upon themselves; but whether it be • repeal of the malt ton, of the duties on tax or any other tax whatever, they must all sink into the shade as compared with the necessity of a repeal of the obnoxious window tax. In the first place, the window tax ought immediately to be re pealed on account of its great inequality and consequent in justice. It did not ones upon those who were the moat capable, but upon those who were the most incapable of pay ing it. Secondly, in a monitory point of view, it was the gTeatest drawback upon the health and com forts of the people. It was this abominable tax that was the sole cause of the bad ventilation of the houses in our poorer neighbourhoods, and which Wetted those abodes of filth, miieryouid immorality existing to various puts of the metropolis and other large towns and . ..._ cities throughout the kingdom. Wan rects h o d been shown to, and admitted by, the waiter s re ports, and it was a COotmissioners in their &sire t o any government to persist in the continuance of sue an impost, It was absurd to say, that if the minister of the crov,n gave up this tax, how was he to supply the deficiency ? When they reflected that the minister Met at his ec'nun'ad five or six millions per year, derivable from a newt' levied income tax, he thought the Peoifie of England o aght to call for a repeal of a tax which wet only impose d . as a war-tax, without suggesting any sub 'stitute for it. Another grand point for the consideration of her Majcsr: f 's government, and showing the neces. city foe an Moruediate repeal of the window tax, was its operation upon the elective franchise. Why, no less than one.seventlt of the rate-payers of Marylebone had been last year disqualified from being on the re gister of voters, solely in consequence of the operation of this tax. In fact, in one street containing 20 houses, rated at from 301. to 401. per annum, there were only two persons, on account of the window duties, qualified to vote. Some would say that it was through their own neglect, but he (Mr. Wilson) considered that no such fiscal regulation ought to be permitted by any government, let alone a liberal one, to constitute the timing of electoral rights. The repeal of this tax would have the effect of doing away with all the trouble and litigation experienced by voters annually in the Revising Barristers' courts; and he sincerely hoped that the present government, if they wished well to the country, would have this tax repealed. Another proof of the inequality of this tax was, that whilst the inhabitants of towns and cities had to pay it, the agri. ultural body were comparatively exempted. All farm-houses in England under a rent of 2001. per annum were exempt front this tax. Ile (Mr. Wilson) could not, nor did he believe the . government could, assign any reason why the agricultural interest should be thus exonerated, unless it was that the bane of this country, class interests, had interfered, and the window tax had been made to suit that class to which the chief portion of the legis lature belonged, and to keep up their high rents. When the deputations went before Sir Robert Peel last Sear, the right hon. baronet quite agreed with them as to the necessity of repealing this tax, but regretted they were too late, his financial arrangements for the year being already made. They were determined not to give Lewd John Russell the same opportunity of getting out of the matter, and he (Mr. Wilson) did hope, and believe, that if the matter was fairly put to the noble lord, he would endeavour to carry out an object se condu flee to the benefit of the people at large. Mr. Wilson concluded by moving • resolution to the effect —" That a meeting be convened for the ensuing week, to whip the members for the borough of Marylebone, the City of Westminster, and Lord Duncan, the member for Bath, be invited, to consider the propriety of appointing a deputation to the government, urging the necessity of an immediate and total repeal of the obnoxious window tat. '—After several speeches, a vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the resoktions haring been ordered to be adratised in the morning papers the meeting se'earated. LONDON COACII MAKERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITC TION.—Last night the yearly meeting"( the members and supporters of this society, was held at the rooms of the institution, King-street, Golden-square. The secre tary, read the report, which stated, that the society's funded pte l seity amounted to 3001., exclusive of 1001. in the hanker's hands; and that the subscriptions of the year, including a ' previous balance, figured 611. 17s. fiel. leaviag • general ' balance of 4211. Upon the motion Of Mr. Lee the report was adopted, after which, and the announcement of sehli ' tional members to the society, thanks were voted to the chairman. ---- bOVEREIGN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.—The first ordinary general meeting of this company was held yester day at the Thatched Rouse Tavern. Resolutions to the following effect were then unsnimoally adopted : - - That se much of the sumer whirl has already attended the opera tions of the company may be attributed to the syston of advancing to the reared the sanount ad his policy num avraikible security, and as this part of the compenri burner might be greatly extemied by an Increase of capital, it Is the opinion of the meeting that it not b ins in contemplation to make any further call, the difference between the shares already issued and the entire capital of the company should be rated, and in It* Bret instance offered to such of the present proprietors as may be dermas of increments their interest ix the company.—Thit the directors be at liberty to allot to nen applicants such number of the shares as may after 21 days renter undispered of to the present proprietors, and t►at a preference be mom to referrerl men and ethers likely by their influence to ex tend the betides and promote the welfare of theeonspeny. Other resolutions, pledging the proprietors to use their best exertiiins to advance the business of the company, and thanking the directorsfor their efficievicy and care, having likewise been unanimously adopted, the meeting separated. - - CITY OF LONDON LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY..—The first annual meeting of this society was held at the London Tavern yesterday, the Rev. C. Lane, rector of Kenaingten, in the chair. The report stated that during the past year 187 policies had beer granted for the insurance of the sum of 85,4141. 14s. bd.. yielding en income to the society of 2,300 t. per annum ; and 24 proposals had been declined es unsatisfac tory. Certain officers having been re-elected, and other routine business transacted, the meeting dissolved. ROYAL SANTIAGO MINING COMPANY.—The usual half-yearly meeting of proprietors was held yesterday at the Company's officea,lßroadotreet,buildiegs, Alderman 'Thom p eon, M.P. in the chair. The report was read, from which it appeared that the quantity of copper ore obtained in the six months ending the 31st of August last, was 2,411 tons, of which 2,181 tom were sold, and produced 19,6651. lbs. bd. The remainder woul I be sold at the end of the present month, which being taken into account at the estimated net proceeds of 1,5002 made, with the interest accrued on the unemployed part of the working capital lent on security, a total of receipts amounting to 21.7921. la. Bd. The expenses for the same period, including the income-tax and law ex penses, were 17,04-51. 7s. 3d., leaving • profit of 4,7461. 14e. 3d. The report also stated that since August last, the monthly expenses and the force of the establishment had beeu greatly reduced. In reply to observations from proprietors respect ing the dispute between the Santiago Company and the Cobre Company, the chairman said that it had not been yet determined, in consequence of the mode in which Spanish law was administered. Tbe directors bad made the fairest and most sincere proposals for a settlement of the dispute, but the fact was that the Cobre Company had not the power to arrange. That remained elsewhere. Neither did it suit M. Onate, who was a part owner, to arrange. The report was then adopted, a vote of thanks to the directors was agreed to, and tho meeting separated. SCOT TIM HOSPITAL—The annual general court of subscribers to this charity was held yesterday at the hospital in Crane-court, Fleet-street, Sir Walter Sterling in the chair, and a numerous body of the hien& of the institution. The ' rhich was read showed that the of the oe report wt, _ expenus charity in 1844 were 2,567/. ; in 1845, 2,81111.; and in 1846, 2,761/. Ic 1845, 2,837 cues were relieved, and in 1846 the number increased to 4,611. In order to meet the increased expenses consequent thereon, a resolution was adopted en tangling the committee to sell out 1.6001. stock. The Lasted death of the late P.M. Stewart, Esq., h a ving caused & vacancy in the office of treasurer to the tharity, Sir W. Sterling was elected, and a resolution was passed highly eulogistic of the great virtues and merits of the deceased, and expressing great regret at his loss. A great deal of time was then consumed in • squabble which resulted in nothing, and the meeting concluded by the customary acknowledg ment of the chairman's services. MARYLEBONE GENERAL DISPENSARY. The monthly meeting of the committee and subscribers to this excellent institution was held yesterday at the dispensary in Welbeck-street, and was made special for the purples of ffilling up the vacancy in the surgical department of the establishment. There being only one candidate (Mr. Norman), and that gentleman having produced testimonials in every way satisfactory, he was unanimously chosen for the office, after which the routine business, for ihe month was transacted, and the meeting separated. TnE DAILY NEWS EXPREs , .—The Daily News of Saturday anticipated Be contemporaries in the receipt of the Overland Mail from China. Several of the other daily ppaappeers copied in second editions the intelligence from the Daily News.—Lirerpool Standard. Owing to the energy and perseverance of Lieut. Waghorn, an extraordinary express, rid Trieste, in anticipa tion of the India mail, reached London on Saturday morning. A late edition of the Daily News containing it reached us on Saturday evening. The latest dates are—Calcutta, Nov. 22, and Bombay, Dec. 2, thus reaching England in one month. Cluster Courant. We have to express our thanks to the spirited proprietors of the Daily News for their attention in forward ing to ns express copies of their paper of Saturday morning, containing, exclusively, the news by the Overland Mail, ex pressed to them by Lieut. Waghorn, rid Trieste.—Greenock Advertiser. THE FROFORED NEW CITY HOUSE OF COBJtEC nosr.—The inconveniences arising from the want of space in Oiltspur-street Compterr, which has thereby long hem found wholly inadequate to carry out a proper system of classification will speedily be remedied, the Gaol Commit tee keying, with the approbation of the Court of Aldermen, issued a notice signifying their wish to receive tenders for the sale of not less than five acres of freehold land, not to be more than five miles from the Royal Exchange, and in a suitable situation for the erection thereon of a New House of Correction for the City of London. One chief cause of delay has been the objection of many of the aldermen and common council to erect one of the city gaols out of the city, but these objections have at length sriven way ; the imme diate necessity of remedying the existing evils being ad mitted, while it has been found impracticable without a very immense outlay to obtain the requisite space of ground within the city boundaries. EMPLOYMENT OF THE POOR DURING THE WINTER MONTHIL—NATIONAL PH ILANTHROPICAINOCIATION.--Yee terdsy the above society commenced their operations for the promotion of improved paving, cleansing and drainage thereby tending to ameliorate the condition, and contribute to the health of all classes. The plans of the society's opera tions, last year under the sanction of the City Commissioners of Sewers, who allowed them to demonstrate their operations as an experiment, was most fully evidenced. The praident of the society (Charles Cochrane, E.q.) had, during the last few days, nude a most liberal offer to the parochial authori ties. That if fifty able bodied men were employed through out the day for the space of three months, at the rate of from 12s. to Its. per week, and if at that expiration the boards should entertain an opinion that the expenses were not amply compensated by corresponding advantages and a üblic meeting of the rate-payers should decide, by a rn toria ty, that the money was not laid out to their advantage, e (the chairman) would undertake to pay the whole amount. The society yesterday put on a number of hands in the perished of St. Margaret's and St. John's, Westminster, who are to be employed throughout the day at the rate of 12s. per week. As an exemplification of the benefits of the so ciety, on the scavengers, or contract system, having removed and carted the manure through those parishes above-enu merated, within two hours after the men employed by the society collected no fewer than six loads of manure—demon strating the efforts of the society, keeping up a continual cleansing, with that of the present system of once s-day. Amongst the recent 'autuicriptions to the institution are his Royal Highness Pat Duke of Cambridge, the Bank of Eng land. de. CONVICT", UNDER SENTENCE OF TRANSPORTATION. —A letter., of which the following is a copy, has been trans mitted to the visiting magistrates of all the county and borough gaols in England, and has caused considerable dis cussion at the several quarter sessions, many of the prisons not being sufficiently capacious to accommodate more than the usual number of prisoners sentenced to short terms of im prisonment Whitehall, Dec. -Gentlemen,—l w Meted by secretary Sir of suspension P.L.teit..l l .7 l =ti.t.l*. requisite to maw ai Imesellstejnisidees firt m. vat and im rcesTeillit'Alitate the measu th. requisite tar Sbaf t ac " ...:m h pth t of this *at it appears to Sir George Grey Out the temporiser im prkwemrt la He leanly aid borough prima et a proportion of male andsis Slaw amass sies g o L s =wlngissi may be necesuary Oboe lbw le eighima he Irk neeption, and where groper arrogemestseiht miumelsel en dleet i r d.; I am, therekee, to request thst you WI state for the of slr Osseo Grey what number of prligners can M ssinasnleietly lodged le the Rkaa seder poor sepertelesiseee, without fessltrine with iu ire sod end sear- whet his Wen the puled sweater of or:- BMM sir* NOW In Os wises teeny or ems ger*/ the past yar awl what spews at elesigilas is now In ben In the prison. Sir o.orey directs me to inform yea that a rote baring been taken in the Lna: session of parliament lar &fraying the coot of :maintaining convict prisoners is gaols, no additional expense will be imposed upon the counties and boroughs in respect of the maintenance of of prisoners who may be retained in, or sent to, any prLons in peso. once of the convict arrangements.—l am, gentietnen, your most obedient servant, S. M. Fundaers.—To the Visiting Justices, Re. By the adoption of this plan the Millbank prison, which bas now between 1,000 and 1,600 or:evicts under sentence of transportation within its walla, will be prevented from being • ever crowded. " Posen's " MP.SSAGE TO CONGRESS.—Orntlemen, —Brevity is the soul of Punch ; he will not therefore, like Polk, write ,ou a letter as long, but not so lively, as a volume of Sant Slick. Your thanks are due to your national stars fat the successful settlement of the Oregon Question. You will learn with regret that you are in a decided fix. With a view to business you have marched into Mexico; but you have no business there. You arc likely to meet with more drubbings than dollars. You had better imitate a former king of France, with his thirty thousand men, and march back again. If you do not take care, you will in volve yourself in a national debt. You owe quite enough already; and I recommend you to paw it as soon as possible. I advise you to repudiate —not indebtedness, but—slavery. Industry is more profitat,le, and less hazardous, than an nexation. The amendment of the law of Lynch is worthy of your coneideration. Gentlemen, 1 wish you a merry ses sion, and a happy New-year—Punch. THE WAR WITH MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES.—Yesterday an office was opened in the vicinity of Tower-hill, to Grant letters of marque sad reprisal, according to the decrees of the Mexican government, against the United States. A similar occurrence has not taken place in England for upwards of forty years, THE FAMINE IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.—Iip t.O yesterday the total amount contributed towards the relief of the distress in the remote parishes of Ireland and Scotland was 13,6511. 14s. 6d., of which her Majesty contributed 20001., end Prince Albert 600/. To the Irish and Scotch Famine Relief Society 1,1521. 10s. 3d. has been recently for warded, making 6,9311. 15e. 2d. placed at their disposal. In addition penny subscriptions are actively carried on by tradesmen in the metropolis, the sums thus raised being also weekly forwarded to the distressed districts. DISGRACEFUL JOKE.—On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Joseph Healey, of Commereial.place, went into the parlour of the !Castle Tavern, Kentish-town. Mr. Carter, the land lord of the tavern - Mr. Coldwell, a baker; and a young mace named Georg Parker, tradesmen to the neighbour hood, were at the time sitting in the room, and in the course of conversation Mr. Healey said he was queer about the ohest, and wanted an emetic. Shortly after, some of the parties mentioned quitted the room, and procuring the ser vices of a labourer, sent him, in the first place, to Mr. Healey's brother, who is a chemist in the town, telling him to ask for a strong emetic; the strange appearance of the man, however, induced Mr. Healey to refuse to serve him. The labourer subsequently went to the shop of Mr. I Thompson, another chemist, and having told him he wanted a very strong emetic for himself, and being a very powerful I man, he was served with four grains of tartarised antimony (a dose stated to be enough for four persons). This was con veyed back to the Castle, and introduced into the unfor- Innate Mr. Healey's ale, who, in the course of a short time, was so ill that he was conveyed home in a state of insensi bility, in which condition he remained for several hours. Se veral medical practitioners were called in to see him, and but slight hopes are entertained of his recovery. On Tuesday night Mr. Healey was so bad that he was not expected to survive for five minutes together, and becoming sensible, he named the parties engaged in the transaction, against whom his family intend to institute legal proceedings forth with. NOTE OP WORK FOR 1547.—The coming year pro mises to be a buoy one. A revised buildings act, the me vention of interments in towns, the abolition of the window tax (a tax on cleanliness, health, and morals), the prevention of smoke, and general eanitory regulations, will probably come before the legislature, and will demand our attention. The new buildings commenced and projected are numerous. Amongst these, in the metropolis alone, we may mention the additions at Buckingham Palace, concerning which the public, up to this time, are entirely ignorant; the Carlton Clubhouse; Bridgewater-house new Westminster-bridge, or whatever else it may be called, if the preposterous pro posal to remove it be notlefeeted ; Covent-garden Theatre ; the new theatre in Leieekeraquare ; a building for the re cords; improvements in the City ; a score of churches of more or lees pretension ; and works in connexion with the railway*, of surprising magnitude. In the provinces, too, much is contemplated.— The Builder. CLOSE OF THE VACATION.—Lord John Russell, St. Stephen's House, Westminster, will expect to meet his Young Friends, to resume their Liberal Studies, on the 19th instant —Punch. FIRE AT IRONOATE WHARF.—WEDNESDAT NIGHT. —From inquiries instituted, of Mr. Coleman, the occu pier of Irengate-wharf, it was ascertained that the work man who has been missing since the night of the fire was named John Brown. It appears that it was Brown who was the innocent Muse of the disaster. He had been sent to examine one of the bales of goods, and not being able to see the number or letter on the same with the light of the lantern, he took the candle out, and a spark Sew from It and set the mill waste in a blaze. Mr. Coleman informed the reporter that when the accident took place he was stand ing on the wharf at the river -tide, talking to the age& of one of the vessels, when he was suddenly astonished et swim a bale of goods fall from the loop hole in a general Mei& The wife of Brown and his brother are in a dreadful state of mind ; the only conclusion that they can come to is that be has perished in the flames. The firemen as yet have net been able to find say trace of a human being in the and some of Mr. Coleman's workmen state that they had heard of Brown having been seen alive as late as Saturday morning. Mr. Coleman, however, is perfectly satisfied that the fire was purely accidental, and should the man be alive, be says that he need not fear any ulterior measures being resorted to. The outer walls of the wharf are in such a dangerous condition (they having bulged out several inches) that they are obliged to be shored up from the bed of the river. INQUEST, YESTERDAY. SUICIDE. Before W. Carter, Esq., the Coroner for East Surrey, at the Prima Charlotte, Albany-road, Camberwell, on the body of Mrs. Gregory, aged 60. Mrs. Burgess stated that the deceased resided at 1, Albany-place. She was the aunt of Mrs. Smith. of St. John's-wood, who left a fortune for the educa tion of her children, and the witness, was executrix. Wit ness stated how deceased had taken poison. —Coroner : Did want possibly cause this ? Mrs. Burgess : Oh, no ! She had a private fortune, bat even whilst she lived in private lodgings, she denied herself the common necessaries of life, The witness had no doubt her mind was not in a proper state. The deceased was under the impression that every thing they had for dinner waste* expensive. She would say at a common dinner, " why, :can we afford this, Martha ?" when in feet she was the trustee for children of great property, and powering good property herself. The Coroner observed, it was a strange case of monomania. Ver dict, 't Temporary insanity. " DIVISION OF PROPERTY. (From the (hierterty Review.) The enperficies of France (exclusive of Eresish acres. Corsica, which we shall leave altogether out of the question) is about 128,000,000 Of these, roads, streets, rivers, lakes, and the public forests and domains occupy about 8,000,000 Remains of land more or leis productive 120,000,000 The population of France in 1836 (the latest account given) was 33,333,021, or nearly one person to every four uses. Now, it appears by theDocumens Statistiques, published by the French government in 1835, that there existed on the Ist Sept., 1834, no less than 123,360,338 different lots craw oaks of land, each a distinct division on the cedeafre of something less, on the average, than an English sore of the cultivable soil. This fact, however, though it evidences an almost incredible subdivision of the soil, is, it is admitted, no index to the present state of property. In the first plum It will be observed that houses and buildings, of which fifty might stand on an acre, are each reckoned as at least MO percale, and there are 7,000,000 of them, with, we Fume, their subdivisions, to be deducted from the gross number, leaving, of merely territorial parcelks, perhaps . shoat 110,000,000. But the number of these pumas+ is of ass great importance to our present inquiry, because though mass separate or derived under different tithe, tbega a r bona frequently and extensively reunited in gumbo end the reel question is as to the number, not of • , _bet of proprietors. But that unlueldly cannot - meet ice d with as degree of precision, from the hareafritY, as staled the ministerial reports, of disoovexing how many of these cute pacelks, scattered over the face of France, and under a constant process of alternate reunions and diviaions, may new belong to the same individual ; but some approximate estimates have been attempted: for instance: There are about 11,000,000 (10,83(,794) persons rated to the land-tax (cote Atka re), being proprietors of any number of parcel/es situated within one commune, This at once reduces the number of proprietors to one-tenth of the number of porrelka of land. But as the same person may, and most of the sealer classes do, possess land in more than one commute, " those who," say our authors, " have studied the subject, have arrived at the conclusion that there are about live millions and a-half (5,446,763) distinct proprietary families in France." We find in the table of communal rates (p. 100), that there are no less than 5,163,000 proprietors rated at less than 5 francs, = 4a. ; and the averaje of the contribution fawn . re for the whole of France being 24 francs per hectare, equal to 10d. the English acre, we have thus upwards of 5,000,000 of proprietors whose average hold ings would be under 5 acres, and a great majority of course considerably under ; and there are 3,300,000 other communal I proprietors, whose taxes indicate their poisemione to be on an an average under 10 acres. We should not tipsier: have thought it likely that there were amongst thew small proprietors any great number holding property in different communes, and we are therefore led to suspect that the calculation of 6,600,000 of distinct proprietor, is, at all events, not exaggerated. Assuming it, then, to be just. our surprise I at even that number is not diminished by the con sequences that fallow. In the first plate, it appears from the official returns that the whole value of real property (its- Ineuables) of France is estimated at 39,515,000,000 franca, equal to about 1,580,000,000/. sterling; and its annual reve nue at 1,580,030,000 !rands, about 63,000,0001. sterling,— about 4 per cent ; so that the average income of the five and a half million proprietors would be about 287 francs, equal to 111. 10s. sterling; but this average, low as it it, gives • much more favourable view of the case than the following more detailed estimate of the several classes of income, which reduced into pounds sterling will, we think, surprise our English readers: 3,602,705 families whose revenue does not exceed £2 873,997 4 737,120 369,603 12 342,082 20 276,615 40 170,379 90 23,777 200 16,598 400 6,681 families whose revenues exceeds 400 5,440,763 Vol. i. p. 101. We ate sorry the estimate is carried no further ; it would on every account have been very desirable to have had some, even conjectural, classification of the 6,600 incomes above 400/. a year. We read occasionally in these volumes of strands propriaaires. It would be very essential to the general argument to know something specific of tnese large landed Iffrtunes, their estimated number and ainnunt, how they have contrived to outlive the Code Napoleon, and whether there is any possibility . of their continuance, or any chance hereafter of making similar accumulations in other quarters all this, we say, would have been important to the argument, and without it our view of the Mate and influence of landed property in France must be very imperfect. We find, however, Beni other documents (p. 116), that, of the 13,000 highest rated (and of course largest) properties, the average income was 17,260 franca, about • and as there are near 4,00') in that number of lesethan 4001., there are probably, in the higher series, someiconsiderable fortunes which help to furnish even that average. But however tkat may be, it is obvious that under the unremitting action of the law the ten thousand 6901. incomes of one generation must become in the next (on the calculated average of three children to each inheritance), thirty thousand of 230/. ; and although there is at work an antagonist process of recon struction or accumulation by marriage, purchase, and colla teral inheritance, it is altogether inadequate to stem the dispersing torrent. The effects of the 'accumulating process by marriage, purchase, or relationship would naturally be most frequent and strong amongst neighbour ing properties, hut we find that, notwithstanding all such influents, the numbers of the communal cotes arc rapidly increasing. In the ten years from 1826 to 1835 the Cote* lonciires exhibit an increase of 60,000 prop:Tiles being 6,000 additional onnrcellemens (as they are technically spd emphatically called) per annum; and that the balance of dispersion over accumulation is progressing in an alarming ratio a proved by the fact ~that, whereas the increase for the ten former years was but two per cent., they were in the next decennium six per cent. on the number of rated pro perties (p. 117). Of coarse this increase of number neces eerily implies a general diminution of amount; but another document proves that it was on the larger properties that this division was acting most powerfully : in ten years the pro perties paving less than 16s. in taxation increased in number by one-ninth, while all the higher classes diminished by one third. Under the same processes all must gradually become ; less and less. M. de Ville', said in 1826—" Fortunes perhaps may be reeonstructeel, but not properties. It is easy to divide the soil, but it is impossible to reunite it. The greatest 'seri fices which one might be disposed to make to reconstruct a divided property. would often fail of success. Man attaches himself naturally to the spot of ground he has bought or inherited. The smaller it is, the more obstinately he gene rally clings to it. You might cover it with gold without persuading him to accept your price. And, accordingly, there is no instance of a great property formed again from the fractions of one which has been divided. Small properties are no doubt necessary, but i should wish to preserve the middling class, and prevent the higher from being alto gether dismembered."—Vol. i., p. 77. There is another proof of the progress of this ssorcelk men!. The landed property of France iv, as we have stated, valued at 1,580 millions sterling. Now on all changes of property there is a registration and an ad valorem duty, and Irom the offieial accounts it appears that in the same ten years, from 1826 to 1835, the value of 938 millions ster ling, or 59 per cent. of the territorial property of France, actually changed hands (p. I 11). The whole extent of these prodigious mutations' is, it is obvious, not directly attribu table to the law. By the course of nature, great changes on so large a surface in such a number of years are inevita ble ; but the law had been lung before cutting up the ter ritory into those small fractions which facilitated or neces sitated such extensive mutations. About 40 per cent. on the whole were changes by inheritance-50 per cent. were sales, exchanges, forfeitures, &c.—about 10 per cent. were gifts. This latter head was only another form for executing or evading the laws of inheritance, which Mly, therefore, be fairly calculated to have directly influenced nearly half of the entire change—besides, as we have just said, creating indirecUy the multiplication of other transfers. The 50 per cent. of sales, tic., our authors consider as the most alarming feature of the whole case, as being evidence of the distress of the agricultural interest, which found itself driven, most reluctantly, to such extensive sacrifices (p. 118). What, in deed, should we think of the state of England if one-half of the landed property had changed hands within ten years, and that one-half of that change had been by sheriff's ales? There is yet another element of computation to be drawn from an analogous sourer. In France all these changes of property, of whatever kind, are executed before notaries. Now it appears from • report of the Minister of Justice to Louis Philippe, 10th April, 1842, that in the year 1840 there had passed in France the enormous number of 3,500,000 notarial seta, being in the proportion of about one transac tion for every ten souls—on an average two families—of the whole population—evidence, our authors allege, and we believe truly, of not merely a great change and subdivision of property, but an extravagant burden of law expenses—an important point, to which we shall recur by and bye. The general result of these verious computations is this That there are in France 33,000,000 souls, composing 7,000,000 families—that of these '27,000,000 souls belong to 5,600,000 families, each possessing landed property. IRELAND. DUBLIN, JAN. 5. The committee of landlords having issued their circulars, appointed a sub-committee to report on the temporary measures necessary for the immediate re lief of the country. Measures of that character were recommended in the first circular, but a fuller report was necessary to lay before the general meeting of proprietors. The report has been drawn up, and I believe you will find the following outline in the min correct : The object of the report is twofold— let, To inquire intoithe extent of the present calamity I and the resources of Ireland available towards its re lief; and, 2nd, the measures which the urgency of' : the oonsion requires. The seeond head is resolved into four divisions—let, the means of facilitating the introduction of food, and its proper economy; 2nd, the distribution of relief; 3rd, remunerative modes of employing labour ; and 4th, the funds to be charged with the expenditure. On the first general head, the report states the total failure of the potato crop, which, in ordinary ' , seasons, supplied from three to four-fifths of subsist ence to nearly five millions of the people, and the pro bable cost of a substitute calculated at nearly thirty millions sterling. The estimated loss is about twelve millions, which would afford but insufficient data fee estimating the cost of the substitute. That, it is stated, must be purchased at higher prices—the expense attending a new and costly article of food, and the machinery for its distribution, is one of the chief reasons for the high estimate above referred to. As to the internal resources, the result of the inqui ries instituted by the committee is, that the capital, applied to commercial operations and milling power, is miserably deficient, when compared with the public requitcmcnts—that such capital as does exist is chiefly confined to large seaport towns, and their immediate neighbourhood, and that the expense, and other difficulties of transit, oppose almost insur mountable obstacles to the diffusion of the benefits flowing from such capital to the remote inland parts of the country where distress is most severe. The next available source is the income derivable from the soil. Mr. Griffith has estimated the total rental of the land at 12,000,0001., and if from this be deducted one-third for incumbranoes, and one- sixth for arrears, and in the present year there will remain only 6,000,0001. to be received by the pro- 1 prietors, which is not much more than 11. per head, if rateably distributed among the wholly destitute. As to the second general head—namely, the mea sures to be adopted, the report notices the public and private institutions of the country. The former only are deserving of notice, which are the relief committees and boards of gu ardians. It is proposed to extend the relieving powers of the former by re quiring of the state to add an amount equal to that raised by private contributions, and in districts where the food markets are few or insufficient, that pro vision depots should be established Ly the govern ment at the point of the sea-coast next adjoining the district. These depits to be also available, at cost prices, to the boards of guardians. It is, with respect to the latter, proposed diet where the house aeon s modation may be insufficient, either now or hereafter, to modify the poor-law act, so as to enable the board to give extern relief to all applicants found deserving after proper inquiry. The measures to facilitate the sappLiefs of food are the abolition of the present duties on gratin, sose to throw open the bonded warehouses; the suspension of DUBLIN.—The beer and ale-brewers of Dublin met yesterday, and resolved, in consequence of the great advance in the price of grain, to raise the prices of ale and beer to their customers—the former by six shilling., the latter by five shilling., per barrel. DREADFUL FIRES IN DI:MAN.—Loss oi . 'AFL—The following details of two cases of fire, each unhappily attended with loss of life, are given in Saunders's Ames /eller :—This morning (Tuesday), about half-past two o'clock, a fire broke out in the shop of Mr. Hearts, boot maker, Dame-street, opposite the Lower Castle-gate, from what cause we could not ascertain, which spread with such alarming rapidity that in less than twenty minutes, and before a supply of water was obtained, the entire building was enveloped in flames. The engines be longing to the offices of the West of Englsnd, Sun, Royal Exchange, National, and Pelee, ware, by the aid of Alderman Gavin's fire-plug, under the direction of Mr. Laurence, speedily at work, and, from the plentiful sup ply of water afforded, the rice was providentially prevented from extending to the Italian warehouse of Mr. Clarke, neat door. The parish engines of St. Mary and St. Andrew were also present. We have the painful duty of announcing that wo of Mr. Meares' children, and a niece who was on a visit to him, unhappily perished in the flames. The police, under Col. Browne, with Superintendents Walsh, Guy, and Eaton, Inspectors Walpole and Stokes, and the fire brigade under Serpent Maxwell, were promptly en the spot, and rendered the most efficient service. A party of the 3rd Foot, from Ship-street Barracks, were also in attendance. CONFLAGRATION IN CANTLE-STREET.—TOTAL DEATRUC VON OF CLIFFORDR DRUG HALL—While the engines were still playing (half-past four o'clock) upon the smoulder ing ruins of Mr. Meeree's establishment, the alarm sou given that the house of Mr. Clifford, opposite La Touche'a Bank, Castle-street, was on fire. Leaving one to play upon the ruins in Dame-street, the remaining engines were quickly con veyed to Castle-street, where another terrific scene presented itself in the lower part of Mr. Clifford's concern.. From the inflammable nature of the goods the building was speedily enveloped in flames, and in a short time was totally consumed, together with the house of Mr. Cowley, trunkmaker. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, with his staff, arrived at the commencement of *the fire and was most active in his exertions. The fire continued to be played upon by the whole engine power of the city until a late hour is the day. Happily it did not spread to any other premises, and all danger is now at an end. It has been ascertained to day that a female servant of Mr. Clifford's is missing, arid it is supposed she has also fallen • victim to the destructive element. About 9 o'clock this morning, a fireman attached to one of the engines, who hod mounted a ladder, and en tered the upper part of the ruins of Clifford's house, was un fortunately precipitated into the burning mus beneath, and perished. It is said that a servant-maid in the house of Mr. Meares is also missing. The premises in both cases were insured. CASES OF SUDDEN DEATH —Mr. Isaac Burke Bethel, a 1 1 member of the Irish bar, and who had for some years been living upon a small retiring pension, contributed by his brethren of the long robe, died suddenly last night. Mr. Bethel was the contemporary of the Irish celebrities of the last century, with most of whom he was on intimate terms. His reputation as a lawyer was never very great, but he was a convivial gentleman, andmuch relished in society. Healways enjoyed the friendship of Lord Plunkett, of whom he was the contemporary. Mr. John Mackay, another member of the Irish bar, also died suddenly last night, at his house in Leeson-street. Inquests were held this day on the bodies of both gentlemen. THE LADIES COMMITTEE or DLBLIN.—The ladies of ' Dublin have formed themselves into a committee, following the laudable example of the ladies of Belfast. Over 2001, have already been subscribed to the ladies' fund, of which John Angerstein, Esq., contributed 1001. The proprietors of the Freeman's Journal have contributed a sum of 601. to the Central Relief Fund. At the last meeting of the Repeal Association a letter was read from s Mr. - Holland, stating that the citizens of Philadelphia, headed by the mayor, were taking active steps towards the relief of Irish distress, and added, that a sum of from 10,0001. to 12,0001. would be raised for that purpose. FERMANAOH.—The Enniskilkn Chronicle states that most of the civil bills tried at New-town-Butler Sessions, were for the price of oatmeal, and that the cases were not defended. There were 1,420 civil bills entered for the dis trict of Enniskillen. the Navigation laws; and the employment of a por tion of the British navy in the importation of food The stoppage of the distilleries is not recommended as interfering with the free diffusion of capital ; and in other respects would be of questionable advantage, both from the numbers which it would throw out of employment, and the fact that the high price of corn will of itself soon cause a stoppage without any com pulsory interference. Early emigration, which was mentioned in the circular as a means of alleviation, finds no favour, for two reasons : first, as being rather a permanent than a temporary remedy ; and second, because the expense of sending out a family to the colonies, even the nearest, would be three times greater than feeding them at home. The employment of labour on the remunerative principle, is of course inquired into. There is a draught of a bill ready on this subject, of which the following is but an imperfect sketch : At the presentment sessions, the rate-payers will present an amount on the barony, adequate to the dis tress and employment. This will be apportioned on the principle of the poor-law valuation on every here ditament, above a certain sum, within the barony. The proprietor, under which term is included every occupier with an unexpired term of 14 years or one life, to present for his portion, to be expended in per-' manent improvements defined by the act. The money to be gradually advanced by the state, on the credit of the land. The Board of Works is to exercise a mural supervision, but in every instance the proprietor or tenant is to execute the works. There are several other clauses 1 improving the Labour-rate Act, and removing the ob jections contained in Mr. Labouchere's letter to the Agricultural Society, all of a very liberal nature. The most stringent powers are also given for the recovery of the instalments, strongly resembling those u'.der the Million Act. Such is a rough sketch of the report in its original shape. Perhaps the committee may modify and im prove it in parts: but its general features will remain untouched, as they correspond chiefly with the origi nal suggestions of the committee. CLARE.—The public works have been stopped in the pariah of Rtma, on account of an assamt committed upon Mr. Harrington, clerk of the works there. The Clare Journal states that there were more civil bill processes at the late sessions fur Ennis :ban were ever re membered at any previous sessions by the oldest practitioner. Most of those wcre fur rent, and in many instances, the journal adds, the pro iecdings were taken t recover the rent due in November last. _ IMPROVED FISHERIES. Sir,—As I find you have inserted my first letter, you will probably add the further account which it promised. Allow me to say that I would recommend no speculation for making fortunes from the risks and labour. of the poor. This is not the time for such schemes: besides improved fisheries are not likely to return large fortunes very soon to those who embark in them. Let all who long for sudden wealth look another way, and let cone but those who wish to waist the poor in a reasonable and convenient manner turn their attention to our Irish fisheries. Yet I am not recom mending the scheme merely ae a work of charity. I believe it may be made, with prudence, a source of some fair profit to speentlatista, and in order that it may be so, I add the following suggestions. In the first place, the company must select the best fishing stations, both with regard to eroductivemess and the facility of finding a ready market. Let men of tome Judgment, and yet not too old sad wise to learn n e w ts.ines, be appointed as masters at the Aide( vessels. s u pply , the best nets for the shoals et mesa fish, and aa the larger ,csh follow these shoal., let a mimmunies ekm b e k e pt up by % •he steam-tug supplying fresh baits from the nets %the vessels employed in di ep-wa fishing with lines. The steam-tug will, of course, be also engaged in car rying the fish ashore. In the building appropriated to tackle, let suitable per sons be employed in mewling nets, fitting up lines, &c., and elan is k eo pi ng bucks c&an and shag), which will be a great advantage to your i c ishing. Another suggestion I would offer is with regard tr.. the use of long floated lines carrying a number of soap ended lines and hooks, for deep sea and mid-water fishing. These lines may be fitted up in various ways, of which I will describe one which seems to me se good as any. Ler a long and strong cord be attached to a fishing-vessel, kni either float away on the current or be made fast to a boat ~ n chored at some dis tance. This horizontal line is to lie on the surface—of course, if it is not fastened to a boat it must be floated by large pieces of cork. Along this line, at such distances as you find proper, should be tied a number of iron rings of about an inch diameter, and through these rings the lines with baited hooks are to pass. In order to do this rightly, every perpendicular line must have a cork float attached to the top, near the ring, which rioat will be drawn under when a riot, bites. The end of the line should not be fastened to the ring, but only sec i fl; • staple, or another ring too large to pass through the sing on the strong line. This mode of fishing is, of course, for such full as halibut, skeet, and others which take a bait slowly, and pouch or swallow it, so as generally to catch them selves without a stroke of the fisherman. A boat will attend to this floating line attached to the vessel, or two boats, according to the number of the lines and hooks employed When • float goes down, of course, the boat will wait on that line and draw in the fish. In thin way a great number of lines may be suspended, and the chances of taking fish thus multiplied to any extent for which you have a sufficient number of hands. In still water you may notice that the kept fish may be collected about the lines by throwing in lilts a considerable quantity of small fish (sprats, herrings, ig e rebarsb)—of course, these bait-flh must be dead, but In fresh-water angling, it is well known that erlllb gregarious fish sport u often increased a hundred hid by using what is called a ground-bait. Why &wad it not be so in still salt water ? With ra ped le the prospects of enlarged fisheries, it cannot Iss MAIM that the extension of railways will open a great arose at markets,i 13th thaa lecue lre a ko re r n ... u a n t present . eratinaee Arica i r ter , now very dear, even on th e masts where it may be Wien e figradarce. For instance, at rt. uourrroil sad X 0,905 - --- - 11.,turn, elbowing dr maw of in Ireland, for ihstwilkadi Lamina. Chrlow thi 'a g eda' Thvii a — 1,961 Dublin,ty at Ci.... — Kildare 9,32 i Kilkenn y , City of 376 King's Co. .......... 3 , 999 Longford Louth 3,693 Meath 9,628 Queen'. Co. weetineaUt Wexford ........ .-... 13,375 Wicklow 2,363 69,583 Ilmorifk Oar! .....-....- 40,778 Cork, EL 20,032 pork, W.R. ..- ..... Cork, Oty al ..- ....... ' Kerry I.4onick Limerick, Clar et e47o Tipperary, Li._ Tipper., p y N.lt W aterford 8,533 Waterford, City at 163,200 [We expect to he able to g for each province tor the monl 65,467 Canotarsor. Olevray, 2.21.. MAN Galway, WA. Osbray, Tweet 21,444 Mays 14440•0140 ..... .....- 32,546 BARD ...... N:l2 119,916 Ifixuter ..... ..... . . .69,585 !; r: : : 1~~3, 200 I Uwe" ***** 1.95'4: ingii - Dee. 4114,21$ re to-naorrner the expenditure ending December 26.) SCOTLAND. IMPROVEMENT OP THE WORKINO CLA6lsEe.—Another instance of the beneficial results attending the popular exhi bition of works of science and art, and of the perfect safety with which the public may be admitted to inspect them, has just occurred in Glasgow, under the auspices of the Philoso phical Society of that city. The machines, manufactures paintings, and antiquities, were exhibited in the City Hall. •' exhibition," says the Srottiah Guardian "wu thrown open gratuitousl to the working classes on Friday the Ist, Saturday the 2n d, and Monday the 4th of January. On Friday, 16,200 people were admitted; on Saturday, 18,606 ; and, on Monday, the number amounted to above 19,200. On the first two days a considerable proportion of the people were from the country, hay ing come by the railways, several of which advertised cheap trips for the occasion. The number in the hall was usually between 1,000 and 1,600 at a time; and it would have been impossible for persons in any station of society to have shown more anxiety for the safety of the objects con fided to them. It could not be observed, at the close of the period, that a single object, amongst the thousands exhibited, had been injured or even moved from its position. The various departments of the Exhibition evidently afforded c: satisfaction; and any attentions or explanations ten. Ist the visitors were acknowledged with a courtesy sod sorMslity highly creditable to their good feeling." In Flan Cnniat.—The Sustentation or Central Fund by wild theyorgme angeeptioas of this body are supported, having mkilitted symptom of decay, a large public meeting is WWI to take place in Edinburgh on the 6th inst., for the l i d zo of devising the best means of resuscitation. From an Source we learn that the half-year between Assembly WM std Nov. of that year, produced 39,6091 . 10s. 10d. The suresponding period of this {year bat produced only 38,6001. 80. 2d. So that the deficiency on the air months of 1846, compared with the same period of last year, is 9091. 2a. Bd. This deficiency is thus accounted for :—The direct donations for the period now mentioned have de creased by the sum of 5001. 14s. Bd. The produce of asso ciations has decreased by the ram of 4081. Be. ; making, as above, • deficiency on tho six months of 9091. 2s. Bd. The missionary income exhibits a different result, as appean from the following comparative statement 1343. 11146, 4. 41 . llama Minks Edemas ............. 746 13 2 3,825 17 2,369 0 2 3,212 14 6 Y lai= —...-- 6,104 4 6 2,801 3 8 4,04712 2 4,814 4 9 10 0,7t52 14 17,283 12 1 24,927 17 9 being an income at Nov. 16, 1846, of 7,6441. 61. Bd. HIOKLAND DIRSTITUTION.-81r,—Advertiog to the am of the Highland Proprietor, stated in your number for the let of January, which forcibly trills attention to the real causes which expose en OlCONtile population to the horrors of starvation, I beg to call your attention, and that of the public, to the necessity of looking to the future as well as to the present. Let ma ask, when, and how, is the miserable population of the highlands to be removed from all risk of starvation in future ? Is that population to he a perpetual burden en the public ? Are highland proprietors to be encouraged in the folly of separating the people from their fellow-subjects by language and dress ? Are the people to be left to be instructed in religion by men for the moat part unfitted for the duty, merely because the Gaelic language is to be regarded of value, while it is useless, and operates as a dead weight against the improvement of the country ? Few, I believe, will deny that the preservetion of distinction is ease lively injurious to the people them selves. How are the eyes of highland proprietors to be opmad? The condition of many pares of the ennity la mil as to require acute observation, prollamd warsige, and constancy, to see the nisi:- mg evil, to devise a remedy, and to carry it into effect. The lesson which seat a race as the Celtic will derive from the usistanese sow ordered to them will be, that they may, at all times depend es pal& aid, and have no need to make mmaks ler tbsereleas It is certain they will go on ultiplying; and this NOS to be kept constantly in view. Large as We the sobeselpliess, they can but afford a tem porary relief, gm • lbw Meath' perhaps. Dependence on the potato asp met bo lase away with, and reaance trans ferred to Wage of wet *My as may be kept for years unim paired; sod sea on the serealta. The government mat eoealidm the odds* of emigration; and highland jrroprie tem must posesoi Sok ph • economy and learn to = Mee lad 1... 17 r°?!" •. : themselves not as „ 71 " Tee • •.lagq of the great aglismitf• ‘ 1, 4 ". _ z . v.! ' - • to • e ea other places on the Durham coast, you miglit generally In quire in vain for fiat good and cheap ; though I find a com pany has lately proposed to do away with this scarcity. The plan thus recommended is by no means despisable as a means of finding employment for the potr, and safely in vesting capital, in certain localities. I cannot agree with a Dutchman, of whom I have read, who esteemed fish as our best diet; but I think it far better than living —or rather starving—upon uething. Fishing remains capable of great improvements, both as to science and art. Many things may yet be learned with regard to the instincts and habitats of the finny myriads; for, after all our researches, it is but little that our hest natural ists know of that great and wide sea, wherein are living things innumerable, both small and great." AN OLD FISHERMAN. BOARD OF WORKS-EMPLOYMENT. The following return shows the number of men employed upon public works during each of the four weeks terminat ing on the '26th December last, distinguishing the provinces and counties. Return Phowlng the number of Ireland for the week en Lri NTI tag. Carlow. . ..... Drogileds, Town of ('ty of Kildare Kilkenny City of King'. Co Longford Meath Weetrnesth Wexford Wicklow sons employe4 os Public Works 12 g the Ste Ikw•mhrr, 1646. ■rwnrrl Clare Cork, E. K Cork, W. It. Crk„uty d Frry 9.38,5 7,374 3,757 8,199 limerick, City of 'Tipperary, S. R Tipperary, N. K Waterford . Waterford, City of "443 - 10,549 041 ;159 13,7311 111 30,133 CONTIAL'4IIT. Galway, E. It 1 Galway, NV. R. Galway, Tows . Mayo Itcooamino 12,909 Leitrim run., Antrim, &Main Tons Aims& Cavan Dane* Inn.:onderry Monaghan Tyrone Return showing the number of p tu huland for week e turnerra. Orbs 1,408 =O4, Tumor 849 Iktkiin, at, ....... Klliere 2,103 fillkensy 4388 11‘117142111 e 253 3,108 Lonefoed 7,033 1-outh Me.itla (I oern'e 1:7488417 41179 u wines& kin Welfoni 11,986 Weekkor 1,150 cmpinyed on public worlui luc. 12, MN: Mon,ca. a.; Cork, .It. .. .. • W Crk, City et Tippera r y, Tipperary, MJL.. Waterford Utorr.s. Antrim Bettwt town Carrick...pa ram* Alt Omega Down Fmeanagb -- Monaghan Tfion. . - COsNArOWL Galway, 1.11. 12,043 Galway, W.A. 17,343 G.i way, Wawa at 2,079 P4Jyo 21,3:9 1 Itowawaswe 27,907 Ni —ro Lettrua _ . Return 'boning the number elm Ireland for week ending I Lammas. Carlow 1,915 Daybed*, Town of — Düblin INK^ City of Kiidar: Kilkenny Kilkenny, City ci 447 Kings Co. Longford Inuth Meath Queen's Cb. WeAustesilt M exford ll,OBO Wicklow 1,223 lOW on dorm on pnb', works in 1914 -intorr, Miwnen Ont. R. . Oork,W.R. C.A. City of Kerry . Limerick i2,27i Limerick, at, d Tipperary, tkR. Tipperary, MIL Waterford Waterford, City d Corm. 61,387 C0,01.41r.11. Galway, E.L. 12,136 Galway, W.A. Galway, Tows a 19, 1,462 Mayo . koacommos ...... 29,296 Stir Leitrim ........ ...... 9,931 Belfut Twin _...... . cr.*r+rer.►, Ana* Onvia Dom liamkahiny - 1,905 942 214 14062 3,273 6,011 2,628 lii... peewee employed on public erceirc • tie 26th December, MU. Utrrea 305 moron lk Ifeel Tons Carriekkegue 2,302 Cavan Donegal Donn 129 11,196 Periwig 4.1113 LagarJury Seal Igcnegb29 1,301 320 1,735 "In 140 106,090 3;,473 119,1 W 2R,257 1..743 17,8341 216 14,846 24,46! 134,103 515 17,505 166 4,3311 1,064 4,212 1,001 30,748 5022,7 18,05.5 13,352 247 14,M2 27,448 291 10,679 9,591 7,690 150 133,100 MS IS 423 190 4,140 3,337 5,50.9 2,131 35,601 30,M0 16;673 29, 761 4111 1 9A14 2,041 7,1110 Isll,Boll THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1847. ~. 1