The Express. — London, England, 1848-02-22 00:00:00

--qu i her . re- portion he addi carp• A mu m of in some but It last for , years ------ tux on an income to continue for ever, is a monstrous ou trage on justice. When this consideration was u rged with reference to the temporary tax of 1842, it w as perhaps lees attended to, from the knowledge that the tax would in fact be permanent. Surely it is not intended to admit on the present occasion that the new per tentage is also to last for ever. DECIDEDLY the moat important pasaage in the In dian despatches of yesterday is the h:ief and modest notification which, under the date of the last day of th e }'ear , sweeps away t he pernicious and compara tively unprofitable tax upon the export of raw cotton from all the ports of India. There is something pecu liarly graceful in the mummer in which this decisive amelioration has been announced. It is the dosing legislative act of an eventful year—of a year which as pointedly, perhaps, as any that aver rolled away, has . shown the uncertainties and the hazards of the pursuits of commerce, and the urgent ne cessity of hampering by no artificial impedimenta a description of enterprise already beset with mani fold dangers. It is also among the latest acts of authority of one of the mixt remarkable men who have ever repre , ented the royalty of England in the greatest of its colonial possessions. Lord HARDINGE will live in something better than the military chro nicles of the East. Fortune has decreed that his days should be consumed in camps and bivouacs, but his heart has ever yearned after peace, and the blessings and the arts which peace alone can give, and while the European community of that land of exile may perpetuate his fame by statues of bronze and marble, he will receive a better tribute from the spontaneous gratitude of the whole people. The natives of the broad and fertile plains of that far country will couple his name with the memories of CORNWALLIS and Lord WILLIAM BENTINCIi, and he will be known as a great Englishman who had the mind and the capacity to become a father of his people. the abrogation of the export duty will not affect the European cotton trade of India, but it will have a decided influence upon the large trade carried on with China, chiefly at Canton. The export to Europe, both under British and foreign flags, has been free for a long period, but, until this alter ation, a duty of 9 lianas per maund has been levied on all .hipments of cotton in British vessels to countries eastward of Ceylon, and a dirty of 18 aunas (or doublo if the commodity was conveyed in foreign bottoms. 'them rates resolved themselves into an ad valorem duty, varying in pressure according to the price of the article ; and for some time past we be lieve that the nail weight of the tax has not been less than 6 or 7 per cent. The mere abolition of the export rate is not the whole of the innovation—the distiuction formerly raised between ehips navigating under British and foreign colours is utterly swept away ; and in truth Lord liAnDINGE, by this measure, has paid a two fold homage to the genius of free trade, for he has not only annihilated the Custom-house, but he has also reformed the navigation laws as far as they concern the article of cotton in the Indian seas. The following figures will convey some idea of the magnitude of the boon thus extended. The figures represent in pounds avoirdupois the I •tal exports of cotton, and the exports to Chino in 1543-14, the last year for which we have complete rcturas from all the presidencies: Total export. F.xport to China. Calcutta Madras '3,202000 ..... 11,803,000 Bombay 1;1,367,000 . 77,331,000 226,181,000 104,793,000 Later returns from Bombay—the great emporium of this branch of the China trade—give results more decisively illtistmti. e of the importance of the change. The researches and the agitation relative to the growth of cotton in India, which have produced this satisfactory amendment, aided as they have been by the very efficient management of the subject by Mr. BRIGHT in parliament, may be considered as having settled decisively the preliminary and most vital part of the problem. It is abundantly certain that an adequate supply of cotton (wit be grown in India, The question of possibility is set at rest. There is no longer any atmosphere of doubt surrounding the vital considerations of soil, climate, or agriculture. It is a settled point that the one is prolific, the other congenial, and the last, in the language of the very able Bombay report, "as well adapted to the circumstances of the country and of the climate as can reasonably be expected." Starting, therefore, from the Straits of Ceylon, and proceeding northward by Tinnevelly, Mysore, Hyder abad, the collectorates of the Deccan, sot forgetting the Gnzerat peninsula on the left; Beret and the valleys of the Nerbudda, until the eye rests upon the broad and ample spice which is subject to the lieu tenancy of Agra, and then branching west and east, and from the Dooabs of the Sutlej to Arracan, if not including every one of that vast array of provinces, at least Jesting with peculiar satisfaction upon many a district between Bundelcund and Dacca—taking we say, a survey of this comprehensive field through out the whole of which the cotton plant is an indige nous shrub, and its produce by most ancient custom an article of commerce, the natural questions which arise, are as short as they are simple : why has not India hitherto—but, at all events, why does it not at present, supply us with a commodity which every motive of sell-interest impels us to obtain from the moat abundant and most secure sources ? was simply the result of an infelicitous combination of parts—that fund of common sense and mere humanity which falls to the lot of every genuine Englishman, rendered the result sure and easy. But the Indian exchequer is the victim of a perennial poverty ; and it has been the constant presence of that gaunt and terrible goddess, which has wrought the dis comfiture of so many admirable schemes for render ing the revenue of Ilindoetan a model for the imita docket all financial lawgivers. We are not sure that this very notorious and sig nificant fact is even yet as familiar to our fellow countrymen as to have become an article of that circumscribed fund of information which all re spectable people are supposed to possess. We are rather disposed to think that the notions of India which turned the heads of so many of the grand fathers of the present generation are still in the enjoyment of a vigorous existence, and that the visions of golden palaces, mines of pearl, and streams of nectar with which the contemporaries of CLiva and HASTINGS were in the habit of associating the name of India, are by no means extinct hallucinations. Wherever these primitive and we must add -vulgar errors still obtain any acceptance the broad and emphatic an nouncement that India is to all intents and purposes a paw ewentry will necessarily excite surprise. Poor, however, it is, and the boundless wealth and prodigal luxuries of theseearly legends are no more to be trusted than the invirations of Irish rhetoric or the marvels of Arabian romance. It is the misfortune of poor countries to possess only one object of taxation, and that object perhaps the least eligible of any that could be brought within the reach of a fiscal burden. A rude people I have little commerce, because they have neither skill to produce artificial fabrics nor laws to protect the cultivators of valuable products from the invasions of I avaricious power or treebooting licentiousness. Their imperfect civilisation saves them from soy intrusion of an excise, and the happy innocence of the mass of the people in all the arts of luxury leaves no room for those devices of raising revenue out of these foibles of our nature which have rendered such excellent service to modern Chancellors of the Exche quer. Relieved of all thole minor perplexi ties, the ingenuity of the fiscal minister of a poor country is confined within a very narrow field. lie has before him the land and its 'puss prntluer, and he has nothing else ; and of course he seizes upon as much of this gross produce as his power or his conscience permits him to grasp, and he appropriates it to the replenishment of the treasury. This is the universal law and custom of India. The land is the great source of revenue. In many dis tricts it is almost the exclusive source of revenue. In those particular districts for example which are pre. eminently distinguished in the catalogue of cotton lands the proportion borne by the land assessment to the entire revenue is very great. The land tax of the whole of the Deccan is 82 per cent. In the collect(); rate of Ahtcednuggar, one of the four revenue divi sions of the Deccan, it is 89 per cent. In Dharwar, 83 ; in Kandeish, 84; and in Poonah, 78 per cent. We have in this fact and these figures a glimpse of the first and greatest of the impediments to the ex tension of the cotton culture of India. The govern ment depends upon the revenue—the revenue depends upon the land—and to raise the revenue the land is taxed to the highest pitch. Lessen this rate of taxa tion, and where there is no other taxable object you at once jeopardise the government by jeopardising its indispensable supplies. This is a predicament to which the government have the strongest possible aversion, and with reference to which they have the keenest perception. We believe it to be quite possible to hit upon some expedient which shall reconcile the necessity of dimi nished assessment with the integrity of the finances of the state. And this is the first and vital change which must be accomplished. We do not stay at present to discuss the controverted question as to whom the land of India belongs, but, assuredly we are more inclined to the doctrine of Mr. STILL than the opinion of Colonel SYKES, nor do we say anything concerning those different schemes of collection which since the time of Lord CORN WALLIS have filled so large a space in the discussion of Indian questions. The Zemindary, the Ryotwar, and the Mouzawary system of revenue may be con sidered with more profit and greater propriety at a stage of the subject when it is important to descend into specific details. In the meantime we rejoice in the reflection that there is every probability of this momentous question being conducted to a successful molt. THE news from Canton of the murder of six British subjects is not likely to be received with apathy. On the contrary, it is earnestly to be desired that some self-control may be exercised by the public at home to resist the contagion of the naturally exag gerated feelings under which the English residents at Canton and throughout our settlements in the Eastern Archipelago were labouring. At Canton, llong-Kong, and Singapore—among civilians as well as sailors and soldiers—nothing less appears to have been anticipated as the result of this melancholy event than a renewal of the war with China. Throughout our Eastern territories and stations our ships of war are ruffling their sails, as water-birds ruffle their pinions when disturbed. Sir JOHN DAVIS is reported to have written home for immediate and large reinforcements, naval and military. We con fess oar inability to discern the casus &Ili. It does not appear that the Chinese authorities, hitherto ap pealed to, have defended, or even palliated, the con duct of their countrymen, or refused redress. Their views of what is due to the British people and crown may . differ from those entertained by our plenipo tentiary, but nothing has yet passed between the legitimate authorities on either side calculated to prove either the necessity or expediency of breaking off negotiation and having recourse to arms. In thus recording our protest against huff, vapour, and nonsense, we have no intention to under-estimate the melancholy importance of the event, or deny the duty of insisting upon a thorough and searching scrutiny of all concomitant facts, with a view to the stern exaction of reparation, should reparation be found due. The facts, so far as known, are these :—On Sunday, the . - ith of December, six gentlemen left Canton on a short excursion up the river. As they had not returned on Monday evening serious apprehensions for their safety began to be entertained, which were increased by the circulation of rumours that a party of foreigners having been involved in an affray with villagers, and having used fire-arms in their defence, had killed three Chinese, and, in return, bad been over powered, wounded, or slain. On the morning of Tues day, the Sib, the body of one of the missing gentlemen was brought in, and in the course of the day three more • on the following day the remaining two were received. All of the bodies were pierced with numer ous mortal wounds, and some, if not all of them, were said to have borne marks of mal-treatment inflicted before death. No European witnessed the affray. The only ac counts that have been obtained of it—vague and con tradictory in the extreme--are those which the officers of the Chinese government on the one hand, or brokers and compredors connected with the English residents on the other, professed to have received. It is impossible to distinguish in these statements what had been learned from eve-witnesses and what was unauthenticated rumour. 'Even the statements of eye witnesses it is obvious in such a case could not be implicitly relied upon. Partiality for their country men, and fear of consequences for themselves, are biases almost too strong to allow us to hope for frank straightforward truth. Nor was the manner in which inquiries had been conducted on the part of-the British well calculated to arrive at the truth. Throughout the whole affair angry precipitancy and discreditable irresolution ap pear to have alternated rapidly. The tith and ith of January, notwithstanding alarming and well-accre dited reports. were allowed to elapse without any rational or decided step being taken. And this not withstanding there was good reason to believe that during the first day at least one or more of the victims wero still alive, in the custody of per sons who were eudeavouring to keep them out of the hands of the infuriated rabble. When the bodies had been recovered, it wasonly after a suggestion of • chance visiter from Houg-Isong (the editor of the China Mail) that the idea of holding inquests on them was entertained ; and the inquests held are, we will venture to say, unsurpassed in English annals for the lax and peifunctory way in which they were got over. Sir JOHN Davis himself repaired to Canton; but his time appears to have been chiefly occupied in telling the merchants that he knew all about the matter, and squabbling with them on points of eti quette. It is not difficult to give at least an historical reason why the raw material of Lancashire has been derived from the tropical regions of the western instead of the eastern hemisphere, at the period when the British people first entered upon that notable career in the production of calico, which, to the late witty canon of St. Paul's, appeared to be the special mission assigned to these islands. The circumstances were infinite which fostered our intercourse with America, and repressed it with the countries beyond the Cape of Good Hope. Westward, there was no bar or dis couragement to the prosecution of any scheme of en terprise. In the opposite direction a giant and power ful monopoly jealously exercised privileges which were utterly hostile to the permission of any rival participators in the commerce of its expanding possessions. That it made the most of tbat com merce, even under the circumstances of the time, is an assertion which at this time of day would attract few defenders. But if we fully admit that the mer cantile servants of the company—their dignified senior merchants and their paramount supercargoes — were a tardy and a paltry race—the perpetual victims of detail and narrow views—we must not forget that the very framework of the system of which their pe culiar orbit tbrmed a very inferior circle, was in daily jeopardy. Our eastern power was still vibrating from the fierce assaults of Ti£Poo SULTAUN, and we had not yet become accustomed to speak with certainty of our dominion as extending beyond the original patrimony acquired by the daring and the sagacity of Co% E. Throughout the whole of that wide field which we have just indicated we were still either strangers or conquerors, and in neither capacity very much disposed to relax the tenacity of any present hold upon the resources of the country in behalf of problematical schemes of future development. Here and there, were men whose piercing vision enabled them to read the signs of the time aright. MLNRO, during the many years he served as collector under the presidency of Madras, never ceased to urge the necessity of reducing and adjusting the iTsesaments under his jurisdiction. The supe rior authorities did not gainsay the justness of his views, but the reply was decisive. The perpetual exigencies of sell-defence left no leisure for dubious innovations; and although the ryots of the ceded districts might possibly have a fair case, it was not consistent with the safety of the whole community that it should be listened to. The interval has not been a long one since language and feelings of this complexion became no longer justifiable, and during that interval it would be neither true nor just to assert that no efforts have i been made to reduce into some allegiance to equity and order the motley and indiscriminate pro cedures which were the reproach of every part of our Indian administration. We have done much to amend the laws and the system of judicature, we hare succeeded better in our regulation of the military and civil establishments : and certainly we have not permitted the vital matter of revenue to remain stag nant in all the eccentric and repulsive deformity of its on incongruities. But it must not be concealed that the exertions of the fiscal reformers of India have lain under au incubus from which the promoters of almost every other scheme of improvement were totally exempt. So long as amelioration could be obtained by re-arrangement—so often as injustice THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1848. For, the conduct of the Chinese authorities, though perhaps not exactly what might have been expected in European authorities, appears to have been, allow ance being made for Chinese views and character, sincere and straightfor ward. On the 7th and Bth, Dec., rewards were offered by the Cninese authorities for information respecting the nature and origin of the affray, and for the detection of the murderers. The bodies, which had been sunk in the river, wore reco vered through the agency of officers of the Chinese government. On the 20th of December four men were executed for participation in the mur ders, the British having been invited to be present on the occasion. Had a European govern ment acted thus, without iaviting the presence of Eng lishmen to the trials, it would have warranted a sus picion that the executions were got up to smother inquiry. But from what we know of the Chinese, the natural inference on this occasion is that in their eagerness to give satisfaction, they omitted the pre cautions Europeans would have taken to elicit the whole truth, caring little themselves for each fasti dious exactness of inquiry. There is nothing in the whole transactions calcu lated to throw a shade of suspicion on the friendly dis position and good faith of the Canton authorities. They are obviously free from participation in the outrage, and have been doing their best to punish it. Whether the outrage have been the result of a deli berate plot or of a casual affray does not alter the merits of the case so long as the government acts in good faith ; and the evidence, as far as it goes, pre ponderates in favour of the view that the affray w, s casual. Two other English gentlemen had landed at a village not far off, and were warned away by some natives, as an affray had taken place in the neighbour hood. The brother of one of the murdered men visited every village in the district to inquire after him— alone, and with no other safeguard than an intimation in Chinese characters of his relation to the deceased, and the object of his visit—and was nowhere either molested or insulted. All these circumstances tend to corroborate the statements of those natives, who re present the murder as having arisen from accidental collision. Public opinion will not and ought not to be satis fied without a thorough investigation ; but it is be neath the dignity of a great nation to begin by bluster, much more to make warlike demonstra tions before anything has occurred to warrant them. Lola Montes arrived at Bonn on the the 16th inst., and left on the 17th for England. She had reached Zurich, from Lindau, on the 15th. According to the Ulm Sehnellpost, the King of Bavaria had given or ders that a steamer should be kept ready at Lindell, to convey the Countess of Landsfeld to the Swiss ter ritory. On her arrival, however, at Lindau, the fair fugitive declared that there was no necessity to be in so great a hurry, and expressed her intention to await the arrival of her luggage, &c. from Munich. The two police commissioners who had accompanied her from the Bavarian capital then left her, after having consigned her to the protection of the local authori ties. The Nuremberg Currier adds that his Majesty despatched a superior officer to Lindau, in order to prevent the countess from leaving that place until further orders. It appears, however, that the mes senger arrived too late. On her arrival at Bonn, ori the 16th, Lola was refused accommodation at the head hotel (where the Prince of Saxony was staying). The students gave her a rharioari the same night, and she appeared at the window of her room with a cham pagne glass in her hand. On the following day she continued her journey en route for England. The entrance of the Barer Strasse, at Munich,where the countess resided, was still occupied by picquets of cavalry, and a small corps of infantry kept watch be fore the house itself. The traces of the attack upon it are still very visible, but the damage done was not very great. Several valuable things inside have been untouched, but a parcel of papers was taken, consist ing of petitioas from various persons who would never have been suspected of seeking protection, patronage, or influence in such a quarter. Several persons of standing are gravely compromised in the eyes of the public. These petitions have been copied and widely circulated. Munich remained perfectly quiet, and patrols of the civic guard went through the streets to see that no interruption to peace oc curred. Workmen have been constantly employed, it is said, by order of the King, in repairing the house in the Barer Strassc, and restoring it to its former appearance. A deputation of the seniors of the five regular Landsmanusehaften was to have an interview with the Minister of Schools and Public Worship relative to the constitution of these bodies into companies for the purpose of assisting the na tional guard in keeping peace and patrolling the streets. From Vienna, under the date of the 14th, there is intelligence that Field-Marshal Radetski having prayed to be allowed to retire on account of old age, a successor has been named to him in the person of Field-Marshal Hrabowski. The Spener Zeitung announces the fact of a courier having passed through Berlin, bearing despatches from Lord Palmerston to the Austrian government, notifying that intervention on the part of Austria in Italy would be looked upon as a caszu belli. The fact of such a despatch having been sent has already been stated by us, and this announcetrent of the Spener Zeitung is corroborative of it. The Suabian Mercury says that the money trans actions proposed between the Emperor of Russia and Austria will not be in the shape of a loan. It is well known that upwards of thirty millions of florins have been expended during the last few years out of the sinking fund, for the purpose of assisting holders of shares, by buying up their securities. The Emperor of Russia now proposes to the Austrian government to invest part of his immense accumulations in specie in the Austrian funds. COLONIAL. CEYLON. Our latest dates from this colony are to the 13th of January. Letters from the central province represented the weather as favourable for curing and transporting. The quality of the coffee crops was said to be unusually fine. The roads were improving, and freights decreasing. Lord Tor ringtam's last is thus recorded in the Colombo Examiner : We learn that Capt. Beat, of the C.K.R., riding on the Calle race course, was met by the governor's hones where they ought not to be. Coot. Baits, we have heard, was placed in danger by the awkward. nee, of a horsekeewr, at whom he made a cut with his whip, but did not strike him. The bonekeeper complained to the governor—the governor complained to the race stewards —the race stewards wrote to Capt. Rent --Captain ltaitt replied sharply—and the stewards have intimated to him that., until be apologises, he will not be per mitted to enter a horse fur the races, or himself appear on the rare stand! This is tau ridiculous. We fancy Capt. Itaitt will test the power of the stewards to keep him tram the race.tend. was afraid to land, the place being the head-quarters of the village braves, or mob militia. From the evidence of &jou man or priest, belonging to the village Fetch—who confessed that he was an eye-witness of the outrage—it would appear that the Nanhas magistrate passed close to a joss -house, where one of the victims was confined, and alive. The Nanhse magistrate returned to Canton without farther information than that a party of foreigners had landed, and that a dis turbance had ensued. On Monday evening, a party of Eng. Ilth gentlemen from the factories prepared to go up to the villages in the email steamer, Firefly, but abandoned the idea. on • debortation being circulated by the consul. Oa the 7th, Mr. Wade, and subsequently the vice consul, pro ceeded up the river to Fateh, where the Nanbas magistrate was famed in bis boat below the village, and who stated that all the information he could obtain was, that a disturbance had taken place, and that two foreigners had been killed. At noon on the same day (7th), news of the affair reached Hong Kong, when H.M. brig, Columbine, from Singapore, which arrived there on the 4th, was despatched to Whampos, followed, at 4, p.m., by the Vulture at-G.—Capt. McDougall, of the latter vessel, on arriving at Canton, sent a party of 70 with rockets, &c., to defend the factories. On the morning of the Bth the elder brother of Mr. Rutter procured a docu ment, written in Chinese, end, attended by &Chinaman, passed through the five villages, intimating that his sole de em was to search for his brother if alive, or his body if dead; probably out of respect fee fraternal affection, Mr. Rutter was allowed to pass unmolested, but could obtain no infor mation respecting his missing brother, the villagers declaring that the lex foreign, rs had proceeded towards Fushen. The leading Chinese ovate dealers at Canton stated, on the night of the 6th, that a rumour prevailed that the whole of the six gentlemen had been murdered. The report unhappily Will too correct, for on the morning of the 7th the body of Mr. M'Certe was brought ia, end at about 11 a.m. the bodies of Balkwill, Small, and Brown followed. The arrival of the bodies, fearfully disfigured by spear wounds, served to increase the excitement; the flags of the British and American factories were flying half-mast high, and every one looked inquiringly at the other, but could scarcely utter an expression. On the Bth, the merchants at Canton wrote down to the commanders of vessels at Wham pea to send up a force for the protection of the factories, as little confidence could be placed in the power of the Chinese authorities to maintain peace, owing to the fury of the popu lace. On arrival of the force at Canton all was quiet, but the greatest excitement prevailed. Coroners' inquest. were held upon the bodies as they arrived ; and the bodies were examined by Drs. Majoribanks and Moir. The medical gen flame a were of opinion that the victims had been put to a lingering and cruel death, as the marks and wounds were much inflamed, which could not happen after death. On the 10th the remaining two bodies were brought in: n one 42 wounds were counted, 25 of which are said to have been of • mortal character. The Chinese report that Mr. Balkwill was the last survivor; that up to the 7th he woo alive, having only been scourged with split rattans, and that speaking a little Chinese he offered 10,000 dollars to spare hie life. The gong was sounded, and on the result of a consultation being unfavourable, the poor fellow was taken out, secured to a tree, and struck on the head with a hammer; after which his body wee thrown into the river. To add to the outrage, the bodies were sent down in leper boats. The bodies were all interred at Whampoa, four being buried on the 10th, and the other two on the 11th. On the 9th, H.M. steamer Vulture returned to Hong. Kong for troops, and after receiving on board 50 men of her Ma'esty's 95th, arms, &c., steamed again fur Canton. Early on the morning of the same day Sir John Davis sailed in H. M. S. Daedalus. On the 12th Governor Davis landed at Canton, shortly after which a notice was seat round by the con-ul, that he would be happy to receive any communications the English resident in Canton might have to make to him. Some of the mercantile community waited upon his excel lency to mare him of their support in whatever measures he might adopt, or is any manner in which they could strengthen his bends with the Chinese government or the authorities at home. Sir John Bevis did not state his own views, but expressed his opinion that the demands he had made upon Keying were such as, if complied with, would satisfy every one. These demands are stated (in a private letter received front a good source) to be " the delivery up of the mandarins or elders of the guilty villagers, and the persons of the villagers who were principals in the affair ; that they should he executed on the scene of the outrage, the villages destroyed by tire, a suitable monument erected to the memory of the deceased on the spot where slain, and that the villages should for ever remain a heap of ruins, abandoned end desolate." On the ills December a public meeting of the British community was convened to consider any and what means might be recommended to Governor Davis. The majority were of opinion that as a guarantee for the future as well as reparation for the past was indispensable, • war appeared •almest inevitable, and that the most active measures ought to be adopted in the present crisis. Mr. Gilman, in the absence of Mr. Jardine, as chairman of the meeting, said they must consider that, as merchants acting for others deeply interested in the continuance of the trade, the in terests of their constituents rather than their own feelings should be consulted; remarking at the same time that Governor Davis had expressed himself to the effect that he had made demands which Keying might not be able to accede to." Whet these demands were he did not explain, but said that neither the execution of six of the murderers nor the whole of them, nor the ruing of the villages, would be considered sufficient. The result of the meeting was an address representing their precarious and exposed condition, and expressing a hope that no aggressive measures taken at the moment should preclude a future demand fur repara tion on the part of the British government. Ae it was feared that hostilities might be hurried sooner than anticipated, the ladies and children embarked on the 17th en the :teducer, accompanied by her Majesty's brig Columbine, the latter having on board a large amount of treasure which the Oriental Bank at Canton had refused in the present state of affairs to take charge of. The Ardaseer and Columbine reached Hong-Kong on the 18th. Sir John Davis returned on the 24th, and on the 26th sent a circular to the British community, intimating that part of his de mands bad been acceded to. Trade has of course stopped at Canton, and part only of Sir John Davis's demands having been granted it is pretty certain that recourse will be had to hard measures so soon as ships of war and troops arrive in China. A few par ticulars of the execution of four Chinese are annexed, but it is the avowed opinion of well-informed parties that the executed men were not the guilty parties, but taken from the Canton gaol, a circumstance which is strengthened by the fact of the victims being gagged, an addition heretofore unknown in the history of criminal punishments in China. " The first of the criminals that was brought out, seemed to be about 25 years of age, decently dressed, tall for a Chinaman, and strongly made. He had good features, but was ghastly pale, he was gagged, and had his hands tied together behind his hack, and his feet were fettered in the Chinese manner. He had a piece of wood, about two feet in length, with a slip of paper at the head of it, sticking down between bis clothes and hie back. This piece of wood is called Cha.peeou ; and the slip coutains the criminal's name, a description of his crime, &c. The executioner, who on his being brought out came running from where the mends. rins were stationed with his naked sword in his hand and his sleeves tucked up to the elbows—was by this time at him, and, after palling out the Cha-peeou from his back, raised him up into a kneeling posture. He then took hold of the criminal's tail which had been previously rolled up into a knot, with the left hand, and by the help of this hold and by pressing the right foot on the criminal's hands, or on the small of his hack, brought his head and neck into the requisite position, striking almost straight out and horizontal from the trunk, hut slightly bent down. He then, retaining his hold of the tail with the left hand, brought his sword down in the right hand, so as almost to touch the criminal's neck, which I sup pose he did in order as it were to mark the exact place at which to strike. He then raised the sword quickly up, and at one blow severed the head from the body , only leaving it attached by a small piece of skin, which he afterwards sepa rated by a tug. The policeman now took the trunk and put it into a Chinese coffin, which some of the other policemen had brought forward while the beheading was going on. This criminal being a stout-bodied man, the policemen were obliged to force his body into the coffin, by stamping it in with their feet, which, from the cool way in which they did it, was to me the most disgusting sight I witnessed during the morning. After the trunk had been completely squeezed in, one of the policemen took the head from the ground by the tail, and put it into the coffin, into which another put the Cha-peeou. The second and third criminals who were brought out close behind the first man seemed to be about 50 years of age, and meagre-looking people. They were gagged and fastened in every way like the first man and were as roughly handled. The fourth pre sented much the same appearance." Sir John Davis having returned to Hong-Kong in H.M.S. nodal" his Excellency (says our correspon dent), referred the matter to the home government, and will await a reply ; in the mean time, it is understood that Governor Davis has recommended that, if warlike mea sures are adopted, they should be on the most comprehen sive and decisive scale. All trade at Canton having stopped, ministers will not be long in deliberating as to the measures to be taken. The sloop of war Scout, and the H.C. steamer Pluto, have successfully engaged a fleet of Chinese pirates in the neighbourhood of Amoy; a great number were killed and wounded, and several prisoners captured. The affair was a gallant one ; the pirates attacked the sloop in the most daring manner, threw a quantity of fire balls and stink pots on board, which, with great difficulty, were removed. The Lapwing, supposed to have been lost with 300,000 dollars on board, is reported safe at Formesa, for which island she is said to have bore up after losing both masts in a severe CHINA, SINGAPORE, &c. Our dates from our Eastern settlements are—Hong Kong, Dec. 30 ; Singapore, Jan. 7 ; Labuan, Dec. 20. The painful occurrences in China already detailed had induced Sir John Davis to insist that the steamer should remain no longer at Singapore than was indispensable. The Pekin, in consequence,got under weigh from that port after remaining only 22i hours. Fier Majesty's ship Ringdove was still in the harbour, the admiral having given instructions that neither the Straits nor Labuan were to be left without a Teasel of war, except on the utmost exigency.—The French Consul at Singapore (M. Fontanier) was about to proceed en a diplomatic mission to Batavia. This movement had given rise to considerable speculation at Singapore. At the time our Singapore correspondent closed his le:ter the Spanish steamer from Manila had not made its appearance. HONG KONG, DEC. 30, 1847.—0 n the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 6, after returning from church, several gentlemen connected with the factories arranged to go to the gardens at Fetch, which have been open to foreigners for many years, and to return to Canton to dinner. The party consisted of the following I —Patrick McCorte, William Brown, and Henry Balkwill, assistants in the house of Bien kin, Rawson, and Co. ; also Alexander Small (of Turner and Co) ; John Bellamy f F. B. Birley and Co.); and Wm. Rutter, jun. (of Hug li esdon and Co.) ; in all six. They took a Hong Kong boat about 3 p.m., and proceeded on their excursion. Not returning towards nightfall, much anxiety was felt, which was augm ented on the following day, when some tidings were reeeivedat Canton from one of the boat men, who stated that the party landed at Wong-chuh-kee, a village about a mile above the Fetch gardens, or four miles from Canton. Shortly after landing, the man in the boat heard the beating of gongs, which was repeated at 5 pan which circumstance, co upled with the non-return of the party to the boat caused some anxiety. Shortly afterwards, a Chinese man inquired of the boatmen if they bad brought the Fanquis (foreigners) in their boat) On their answer ing in the affirmative, the stranger advised them to escape, or they would be killed for having done so. They shoved off from the shore, but remained within sight, still sup posing that the gentlemen would return. d At eight p.m.. the gong again sounded, when observing a boat pulling o to them full of men, yelling, they fled up the river, expect- ing the gentlemen to come off in the morning. Not appearing in the morning, one of the boatmen got into a barber's boat, proceeded to Canton, and informed the consul, Mr, Mregor, of what had transpired. He reached Canton at noon on Monday (Dec. 6). The consul imme ' dietely communicated with the authorities, and expressed fears for the safety of the party, whereupon the Nanbae magistrate with 50 so'cliees despetched to the spot, but typhoon. By the Pekin, Chief Justice Hulme proceeds to Englam., having been suspended by the Governor of Hong Kong. The particulars of this affair exhibit the most buttoned and scan dalous conduct on the part of the judge's accuser, and have ensured for the latter the contempt of the English population in China. Under cover of • confidential letter to the home authorities, Sr John Davis insinuated that Judge Hulme I was habitually intoxicated on the bench and elsewhere, and afterwards recommended that no notice be taken of the affair, the judge having abandoned his vicious habit on the arrival in China of Mrs. Hulme. The colonial secretary would not become a party to the foul slander, but insisted that Sr John Davis must either establish the charges, or apologise for the injury : On the receipt of the allies/slum, a commission was appointed, consisting of Sir John Davis, Major-General d'Aguilar, Major Caine, and. Mr. Johnston. The general protested against the proceedings. Witnesses were called for the prosecution ; but these, with the excep tion of tke governor's creature, Major Caine, bore testimony to the contrary, while a host of witnesses, comprising offi cers, civilians, attorneys. &c., declared the judge's habits to be sober and correct. Notwithstanding the evidence, Judge Hahne was suspended. I have seen • confidential letter, which states that General d'Aguilar and Mr. John ston did not vote, to that the judge was convicted and suspended by his &Smear. The announcement in the official organ (the Chinese Nail) of the suspension of Judge Hulme, and the appointment of Mr. Charles Molloy Camp bell to the acting chief justiceship of the colony, surprised the community of Hong Kong, the leading members of which forthwith waited on the ex.judge, to express, their sympathies for the persecution he had endured. Before leav ing, the attorneys of the court presented to the ex-judge a gold snuff-box, accompanied by an address. The inhabitants of Hong Kong—English and Chinese—the British residents at Canton, and the gentlemen of the special jury, also pre sented addresses, expressive of their sympathii s for the judge and their disbelief of the dander. Sir J. Davis has, since this affair, been cut by every one, except the officers of go vernment, who are his dependants. Mr. Dent is the only English merchant in China on speaking terms with the go vernor of Hong Kong ; the latter has alienated the affections of the British community at the very time when, from the state of our relations with China. unanimity were most de voutly to be wished. On Dec. 30, when Judge Hultne em barked on board the Pekin steamer for Europe, be was ac companied to Pedder's Wharf by almost every one of the community of Hong Kong, whilst the Chinese residents ex hibited their respect by discharging crackers, &c. Such public demonstrations speak volumes. SINGAPORE, JAN. 7.—The Europe mail of Oct. 25, which arrived here Dec. 27, bringing accounts of the many serious failures in the commercial world, has made every one downcast ; happily, however, no house here has yet telt the pressure, but as all firms here have branch houses in England, Calcutta, China, and elsewhere, fear has not yet subsided.—Captain Cuppage, 27th Madras Native Infantry, noticed in my last as about to resign the post of police magistrate here, has quitted much sooner than was antieipsted, having to appear before a court-martial in a de licate case, arising out of an occurrence which took plate at Penang, in which a brother officer, Lieut. H. H. M•Leod, of the same regiment was concerned in a trim. con. with Captain Cuppage's wife. M`Leod is to be tried by a court martial, the result of which will not merely affect him but Colonel Tweedie, who at that time commanded in the Straits, the colonel having foolishly given Lieut. hd•Leod a written paper to the effect that no inquiry should take place into the affair, which document the colonel now alleges was obtained from him when non conipos ; so that a second court-martial will take place. consequent on Captain Cuppage's departure to Madras, Mr. Duidnan hsa been appointed officiating superintendent of police and police magistrate, with Mr Simonides as assia tant-superintendent of police. Piracy is again rife iu the old Strait of Singapore, and even is the harbour itself. Two Malays were committed for trial on the Bth Dec., for piram within the Units of the harbour.—On Dec. 12 the Americium ship Great Britain arrived here, from China, having es b ,ard Capt. Genouilly and 3.50 men, including officers and crews of the two French frigates lost on the coast of Corea on their way to Japan. After completing sundry repairs to the vessel, she proceeded to Brett. The Great Britain is chartered by the French government, and is entirely under the control of Capt. Oenouiliy, like a ship of war, the American captain proceeding as a passenger until the arrival of the vessel at Brost.—On Dec. 13, Admiral Ingle field, naval commander-in-chief, quitted Singapore, en route to Madras and Bombay, in H.M.S. Vernon, 60 gun.; on arrival at the latter place the flag-ship will require to be docked, and a portion of her copper replaced.—On Dec. 16, H.M.S. Medea left this for Littman, and on the same day the H.C.'ssteam-fricrate Auckland quitted to cruise about the northern entrance of the Straits.— 0 n Dec. 18 the Straits Times received and published exclusive intelligence from Canton of the murder of six English gentlemen by the Chinese : this intelligence was brought by the ship Charles Forbes, and was subsequently confirmed by other arrivals. On receipt of this intelligence Colonel Butterworth, governor of the Straits, immediately forwarded the Times extra to the supreme go vernment at Calcutta, and expressed a desire that troops and steamers be got ready, in the event of another war breaking out in China. Oa December 29th the Sylph arrived from China with despatches to the governor from Sir John Davis, urgently requesting that all vessels of war, and whatever Snaps could be spared, should be sent without delay to Canton. Immediately all was active: a council of war was held, at which were present the governor, Capt. Campbell, C. 8., H.M.S. Melempw, and Capt. Inglelield, H.M.S. Ringdove, when it was resolved to despatch H.M.S. Marina. pus to China, and send the Royalist to Labials with orders for M.H. steam.frigate Medea to proceed direct to China. The arrival, on the 30th, of the Hon. Company's steamer Phlegethon from Labium modified these movement., and it was resolved to send both the Melampue and Royalist to China direct, which vessels left this on the morning of the ird inst.; but, having to beat up the China Sea will not reach Hong-Kong before the beginning of February. The Hon. Company's steamer Hoogbly was despatched on the 4th inst to Penaug, to bring down from thence the European (Madras) Artillery for service in China, and with orders for the steam-frigate - Auckland, expected to be at Penang, to re turn hither ; immediately on her arrival she will be de• 'patched to China. Except the European Artillery, no troops can be spared from the Straits, as we have only one native regiment (21st M. N. I.) for the three settlement'. Sir John Davis wrote to the governor here to spare a portion of the infantry, but Colonel Butterworth very properly de clines, since we have at Singapore nearly 1,700 convicts and about 30,000 Chinese, with only four companies of infantry and ore-eighth company Native Madras Artillery to keep them in awe. •- LABUAN.—Our latest advicee from this quarter extend to Dec. 20, and were brought here by the Hon. Comp iny'e steamer Phlegethon, which had been temporarily relived on Dee. 19 of the duties of guard-ship by her Ma jesty's steam frigate Medea. Operations were still active in working the seam of coal at the north-east point of the island ; nearly 400 tons were already stored. The crew of the Pblegethan had been actively employed in constructing jetties at two or three place. in Victoria Bay, and in erect ing buildings on shore for storing coals. Nothing has yet been done towards clearing the island. At present, however, no one is allowed to land at Labuan, except to stretch his legs for an hour, and this strict surveillance will probably be maintained until the arrival of Mr. Brooke and the officers of his administration who are now sojourning in England. We are about to experience the advantage of Labuan as a coal depOt tar our steamers. ARRIvAL OF Sl'ECIE.—The New York packet ship, Montezuma, which arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, brought 1,1501. in specie on freight. Cbt Court. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Cobourg, left Claremont at ten minutes past three o'clock yesterday afternoon, in a carriage and four, escorted by • party of the 12th Lancers, for town. Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and Count Arthur Mensdorff, and the royal suite followed in three carriages and four. The august party arrived at Buckingham Palace at twenty-five minutes before five o'clock. Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke of Saxe Cobourg and Count Arthur Mensdorlf, visited the Duchess of Rent yesterday afternoon, at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Mary, and his Serene Highness Prince Frederick of Reese, visited the Duchess of Gloucester on Saturday evening, at Gloucester House. The Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Princess Mary, honour. d Messes. Hunt and Henkel' with a visit yesterday, to inspect the service of plate presented to the Earl of Ellenborough. A cabinet council was held yesterday afternoon at the Fortign.office. The ministers present were Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl of Auckland, Lord Campbell, the Marquis of Clanricarde, Viscount Morpeth, the Right Hon. H. Lsbouchere. and the Right Hou. T. B. Macaulay. 'Fhe council pat one hour. Mr. Vernon Smith had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. A deputation, from the South Wales Railway, had an interview with the Right Hon. Edward Strutt yesterday, at the office of the commissioners of railways, in the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Mr. Charles Russell (chairman), Sir Josiah J. Guest, M.P. (director), Mr. D. A. 8. Davies, M.P. (director), Mr. D. Morrie, M.P. (director), Mr. Hunt (solicitor), and Mr. Armstrong (secretary). Sir Charles and Lady M. Wood had a dinner party on Saturday at their residence in Downing-street. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo nial office front the Governor of Hong Kong. Mr. E. Ellice, Jun., 31. P., had an interview yester day with the Right lieu. E. Strutt. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday, and heard an appeal from Ceylon, " Anstruther v. Arabia." RESIGNATION OP A MASTER IN CHANCERY.—Sir Giffin Wilson, one of the masters in the Court of Chancery, has reigned. The salary is 2,6001. THE EXPRESS PROM LONDON TO EDINBURGH. — The express train ran by Mr. W. H. Smith, of the Strand, left London at 35 minutes after 5 on Saturday morning, and arrived at Derby shortly after 8 o'clock, bringing with it the Daily fete's, containing the " Budget." The express tra veled from Rugby to Normanton in 2 hours 6 minutes, being at the rate of 51 moles an hour. It reached Edinburgh at 4 minutes before 3 o'clock in the afternoon, performing the dis tance from Rugby to Edinburgh at the rate of about 57 miles an hour, the distance from London being 431 miles,which was performed in 9 hours and 20 minutes. Thus, by the enter prise of Mr. Smith, the citizens of Edinburgh received a full report of the financial statement which appeared in Satur-• day's Daily Netts within twenty hours of its delivery by Lord John Russell. This included all stoppages and losses of time during the journey from every cause. Mr. Smith's expresses may be said to have beaten the electric telegraph. The local papers (like those of Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool) had made arrangements to, obtain the speech by electric telegraph ; but in consequence of the company attempting to give it too much in detail the signals had scarcely done working when the newspaper report made its appearance. SOUND MADE VISIBLE---A method has been die- covered and matured ty which sound will be made visible to the human eye, its various forma and waves demonstrated to tight, and the power to discriminate between the tones of I one musical instrument and another be as complete u toob servetthe action of watt'r when diqurbed by any material cause. Th e experiments are likely to be ere long repeated in the Royal Society. The exhibition of , Huts on fine sand has probably led to this astonishing issue.—Literary Gazette. TUE CALIBRE AND CONVENTS OF TUE SEWERS.— Mr. Henry Austin, now the consulting engineer to the cont. mission, advocates the um of small drains. When questiosed by the new commissioners se to the probable dagger of their choking up, be said:—Under proper regulations, lasi tied that no stoppage erhatevr would occur in any cm. It ' is true that large substances of various kinds—broken china, cinders, oystershells, vegetable refuse, brushes, rags, and • host of other matters—are constantly found in the sewers, being thrown, either carelessly or mischievously, down the yard.drain, Into the sink, or down the water-closet. It would be rather surprising if it were otherwise, for not the slightest precaution is used to guard against it. No im mediate inconvenience results, and there is plenty of room and to spare, we miy be sure, when we hear from the City surveyor of sewers, in his evidence before the Health of Towns Commission, that even coffins and tombstones, a bed steadiand the beadle of the parish, lie in them, tote detected only in general explorations. Under a proper regulated system, how easily would these abuses be prevented.— The builder. FIRE.—At half-past one o'clock this morning a fire broke out at Mr. Hoare's, the Red Lion public-house, Red Lion court, Fleet-street. The sleeping inmates were aroused by the cry of " Fire !" and en alarm being given, a " jumpinrsheet" was brought from the police station, by means of which, it was stated, six persons effected their escape. Several engines were quickly in attendance ; but the supply of water was very scanty, and no impression was made on the fire until the premises is which it originated had been destroyed. INQUEST, YESTERDAY. ANOTHER SUICIDE IN THE MILLBANE PRlSON.—Before Mr. Bedford, in the Millbank Prison, on the body of Patrick hlorgaa, aged 23, • prisoner under a sentence of 15 years' transportation for robbery, with violence. Edward Batson, a warder, said he had charge of the deceased, and observed him to be of cheer ful disposition. He left him in his cell on Saturday evening s and the next morning found him hanging by the ropes of his hammock to • peg on which his towels were hung. De ceased was quite dead. Two of the prisoners confined in the note gallery as the deceased, said that he gave away unknown to the warders, the hest part of his food, and would cry like a child. They thought him out of his mind, but never told the warders so. Tne jury having returned a ver dict of " Temporary insanity," Capt. Groves, the governor, mid that since the last suicide in the prison the warden had received strict orders to give instant notice of anything strange they might remark in the conduct of a prisoner. IRELAND. DUBLIN. FIB. 19 Yesterday, in a recent communication from the poor law commissioners of Ireland, one of the objects which it was intended to promote by the operation of the law was stated to be to communicate to us Irish men more confirmed habits of acting together for social purposes, through local organisations. It has had that effect to a very considerable extent. An in stance of this is mentioned in the Belfast journals, where an association was formed soon after the amended poor law came ieto operation for relieving the town from the pressure of the maintenance of stranger paupers transmitted to Belfast from Scot land and other places, all of whom of course, but for the operation of this voluntary association, would be thrown upon the rates of the Belfast union, and must speedily reduce it to bankruptcy. By means of the operation of this body there have been removed from Belfast and transmitted to those unions on which they have legal claims not less than 6,613 paupers, landed on the quays of Belfast, chiefly from Scotland, and persons who, having visited Bel fast to seek employment, had been smitten with fever, and thus become chargeable on the rates. I am aware that similar associations for the like purposes have long been in operation in Dublin also. The funds are voluntary contributions, aided, to some extent, by grants from the general relief committees of each place. IMPORTANT LETTER FROM THE CATHOLIC PRIMATE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE. DUELIN EVF.NINO POST. Dear Sir,—Although I am inclined to believe that the controversy concerning the word "diffnmationibus" in the late Rescript sent from Rome to the tour R. C. Archbishops of Ireland, has already occupied a sufficient portion of public attention; yet, as it appears that, in transcribing that admonitory document for the information of the Right Rev. Dr. O'Higgins, I wrote the word "defootafionitoos," I deem it my duty to declare distinctly, that " dyfasentioni bus" is the word in the original. Before Dr. O'Higgins published his letter on that subject, I was under the impres sion that I had accurately transcribed" diffarrintionibus," as well as every other word of the Rescript, in the copy which I sent to his lordship. In obedience to the present illus trious successor of St. Peter, and in the spirit of fraternal charity, my communication was not intended for publication in the newsoapers, but for his lordships perusal—in order that be might reflect on the pious, prudent, and practical directions which it contained. If the word "depino tionibiss," inadvertently written by me, could in any manner augment or diminish the force of the salutary admonitioa given by the holy see to some ecclesiastical politicians in this country, I should be extremely sorry for my unintentional mistake. At all events, as the unimportant error is now corrected, I trust that the pious injunction of the venerated head of the catholic church will be strictly attended to by all those persons for who•is instruction it was intended.-1 have the honour to remain, with the highest esteem, dear sir, your obedient servant, W. eltOLLY.—Armagh, Feb. 18, 1848.—F. W. Conway, Esq. EXECUTION OP JOHN CROWE FOR CONSPIRACY TO PROCURE THE MURDER OF MR. WA:MON.—ENNIS, SA TI:RDAT NIOE - C.—This day John Crowe was executed in the front of the county gaol, in presence of en immense as semblage. Every one seemed impressed with the awful na ture of the scene, and, save a murmur of commiseeration or prayer, there was no sound to indicate the presence of at least ten thousand persona. The Rev. Messrs. Quinlivan and Mahony were unremitting in their attendance on the un happy man from the time of his condemnation. On Friday he was visited by his wife and brother, but the firm ness of Crowe never deserted him; he urged upon them the necessity of bearing up against " the blow with which he was visited," and strongly advised them to harbour no feeling of revenge against any person concerned in his prosecution. Last night he was oceapied in prayer, and this morning, soon after six o'clock, he walked with unfaltering steps across the prison yard from the con demned cell to the press-room. In consequence of the ab sence of the sheriff, the execution was delayed for more than an hour beyond the usual time, at which the unhappy man exhibited symptoms of impatience, and on hearing the prison clock strike two he exclaimed, with a slight shudder, " I suppose I shall never here it strike another hour, and I don't wish it." In pasi , ing a grated window he looked out on the assembled multitude, and in reply to an observation addressed to him by one of the officers, he exclaimed, " Well, it's no matter ; 'tis only a moment ; man a better man than I have gone this way , and perhap s I c ould never be better prepared." He walked along the corridor and up the stairs leading to the flat roof, giving the responses to the litany for the dead in a clear and audible tone. Ar rived at the fiat-drop, he absolutely assisted the executioner in the various necessary preparations; and then, the bolt having been drawn, he died without a struggle. Ile made no public confession of his guilt or innocence. The body was subsequently placed in a coffin, provided by his friends, and conveyed immediately to Kaiak*. Some members of the deceased's family attended the hearse, but there were no public manifestations of grief. EZPRIEVE.—Howard, found guilty of the murder of Johanna Hourigan had her eon, has been reprieved under 1 circumstances worth noting. His strong protestations of in nocence suggested to the parish priest of the district in which the murder was committed to pay a visit to old Houri gan, and choosing the moment at which Renehan was hanged for another crime, but who admitted he wee present at the murder of Hourigan's wife and son, he extracted from Hourigan an admission that he had not seen the murderers enter his house as he swore be bad, but that at the time of the murder he was at the house of his brother. He admitted that he had sworn to Howard's pre sence because a girl had come to him and gave him informa tion that Howard had solicited her brother to go with him to murder Hourigan, and he " thought it too bad not to have revenge." The priest brought a magistrate, Mr. Max well, late High Sherif, to hear Hourigan's statement, but be by no means made to him the same admission. Ilow• ever bis manner, shuffling and stammering, created suspicion in the magistrate's mind, and on going to the place whore Hourigan swore on the trial he was concealed from the mur derers when they entered his house, Mr. Maxwell saw that it worn impossible he could have lain perdu there—that he most have been seen by any parties approaching or leaving the house, and he concluded Hourigan had not sworn the truth. Add to this, that Hourigan's brother had made an affidavit that he we,s in his house at the time of the murder. All these circumstances induced Lord Clarendon to decide that the unhappy man's life should be spared, though there is reason to believe he desired, if he did not compass, the visit of the murderers to Hourigan's house. The whole tale is sadly illustrative of the state of society with which the executive and the law in this country have to deal. PROVINCIAL. LOCAL OPINIONS OF THE BUINJET.—" The pre cious budget opened by Lord John Russell, and the debate, which thereupon ensued, we (the Leicestershire Mercury) commend to the careful attention of our readers; anti we call upon them, one and all, to be ' up and doing ;' to aid our borough representatives and the great free-trade leader, Cobden, in preventing the Whig minister from carry ing out his intended increase of the income tax and our war establishment—two steps fraught with immi nent and long-continued danger to the peace sad prosperity of the country."—The Liverpool Albion of yesterday says: "As one proof amongst many of the strong feelings of disapprobation with which Lord John Russell's financial statement, was received in Liverpool, we may mention that on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the reception of the morning papers, a full meeting was held of the committee of the Association for the Reduction of the Tea Duties, at which a resolution was passed to the effect that the meeting had perused with the deeA t iliaappeint ment and moat untningled regret the state made by Lord John Russell in his speech on the bul l i ca rlai i th the principle of indirect taxation, which is the elastiO spirit of the country's industry, and on John ) 71 . ; mainly relies, is pertinaciously and painfnfty adhered to, without say diminution of the eaistiag *xesbasas duties on articles constituting the neceisarics it life ; sod in which, Cos -it tilf nd let Ita, de, fa ied herer caw, ad a ered, such turns 0 or .elate 'at of esent , per )f the its to a this Par' itable t the ustice trdie- CotiVell dee of tsions come, taxed tte as divi- I one ary to vident House fficient embers the enance i