The Express. — London, England, 1848-02-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. BUSINESS OF THE WEEK. ROME OF LORDS.—No busier. Siid. BUSINESS OF THE WEEK IN THE COMMONS. THURSDAY.—Foi. 3. ORDER OF THE DAY.SIBOOND RIADINO goners' Nemo JAL NOTICES OF MOTION.—Tine Arroasier-Goragtr, MD to heal. tate theme Perhemence of the duties of Nations of the pewit set el me. ▪ owl thigiend end W with to emotes with iedieleide einem • IM eb* bdilMe th rasped e nerhemillete of t wi t UmofNeardYepasseid entimes whits Mentsmil end Weir with Teepee le gemassoy esadoWeeo and seders LW regniele Os MIME et isens ot lisle mad pan/ miens; mien AIM= ef *epees tem wagon' asthma ear NW Mee hy them% eagentime a d s Week ellew—Lent o. riectftwc:. abet pie le *deer e We za t endidea and prospects of the Moor acemeeled whit ewe =and ware peedlng M har listreersiot end Wen and the Mavaritim, mid to enedder whether wird vliat =mew an be mimed by _perilement kr *dr refit —Mr. Bore, la the wont of the noes *need elf bre gash mei" mere th a t the hew erM Teethe Welf lege a cam. lathe ea thee.. Dena Altai ISM. and leprepoie in We MM. Wan i restitica is the is that it is ezpoilint Yap pew Meg ash twig the gentles el seek dome et the sot of MS as Nide lea dememilleg mode of Oaths now levied on agar shell he trimpmded end hidM asps" ami time the amount of duties wow lend en sugar dells levied men yardmen. shall hare considered the Eggert of Weeded omminttise Frgedt be appolated.—Mr. Hun= sbowkie doe seer of mob wawa, ter which sets hare been In ewe et the yew OK 1446, lid, and 1317 • the length at are rap, end haw mesh et therm is sow ; the amemetof Welk sad the sem ..,teemed le be berrowedineder ttreestas aele et bemperatiss; the amount deo& et made by every amp Deny, with the date tbered dietingulshing the armed yews ht wee}} NOW sdlawlear the proportion of each of towhee& ea Iwo been pi; ad the ewes remaining to to paid; the dale wed mimed cf gem farrowed order the several sem, end wldah remain owing. Meld ides in separate columns for each year, Mgether with balance °templed Imealled for, and of en which ash magemy have still authority le borrow ; and the for which v railway company may hew definitively post making further calla with the totals of each.— Mr. Bates. that the petition of the lion. Edward Richard Littleton, ha relation to the petition of Michael Coate, touching the return of the mid Edward Richard Littleton, as member for the borough of Walsall, beWnted with the votes.—Colmel Drs.., that the petition of John ear, EN., member for the borough of Carlow (presented Dec. 21)), be printed with the votes. FRIDAY, Fee. 4. ORDERS OF THE DAY.—New Zealand Government Bill, com mittee; Supply, committee. NOTICE OF MOTION.—Mr. Wilmer, to nominate the select com mittee on medical registration mad medical laws. Tax Commis- ghe enarto. MAILS The Malls for the Braille, the River Plate, Monte Video, reruns. bum, Bahla. Madeira, and Buenas Ayres, will be made up on the eriniag of the 4th February. The malls for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cella, and Gibraltar will be made up on the morning of the 7th February. The overhead aimed mane, Ma Marseilles, to the Mediterraneea. Egypt, Aden. Geylos, India, Rang Kong, Bs, will be mods up on the evening of the lth February. The mails for British North America, Bermuda, end the IMAM Btates. will be made up on the evening of the I I February. The West India Mails, excluding Bermuda, Naeoau, Honduras, New Orleans, Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Porto Rico, and including thote for Madeira, Jazmel, Carthagemi, Santa Martha, amerce, PL111111214 West Coast of south America, and St. Juan-de- Pilau-ague, will be made up on the mornine of the 17th February. The overland mails for Gibraltar, Malta, times, the lonian Leland& Rupt,Aden, Ceylon, India, Ilong.lioaci, and China, Me Southampton, will be made up on the morning of the 20th February. The mails for New South Wales, Van themen's laud, and New Zealand will be made up un the evening of the 29th February. The roadster the West Coast of Africa and Madeira will be made up on the evening of the 29th February. TO CORRESPONDENTS. --- Tne number of STAMPS issued to the DAILY NEI% by the authorities of the Stamp-office, during the year 1847 was : From JAN. 1, t 3 Dec. 31, 3,447,009 This, we believe, is within eight per cent. of the number issued to the Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Post, ALL PUT TOGETHEIL In addition to the above, issued to the DAILY NEWS, Morning Paper, there were issued (or the Evening Edition, THE EXPRESS, From JAN. 1, 10 DEC. 31 778,714 Which wu more, we believe, than were issued either to the Glose or Standard, Evening Papers. °: Levertlaments lateaded fee Tea !spear,. Lefties elyslas paper. matt - be at the Oaql. Ilaaverieatnet.ae Tees Weise ee ea 8100 Nan' AT LONDON ISiUGE. T.,. Day—Musing, Fe Ada. ..t 0 Afteraem 3Ns past 1. To-Aloasas—Disn.mg, 28 Ed. MK SO i• LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 3. PALERMO has added its name to the list of cities which, in gloriously resisting the military force of tyrannical monarchs, have freed their country, and achieved a revolution by a few hours of stubbern valour. It is astonishing how, in the three great cases of civic resistance—in Paris, Bru.ssels, and Palermo—the military commanders seem to have e similarly lost self-possession, and wasted their strength I in ill-directed and ineffectual efforts. But the people of Palermo, as of Paris, deserve int mense credit, and have reaped immortal honour by their courage and resolution. In Paris the boldness and the risk were chiefly confined to the I people. In Palermo, the greatest names and the I greatest fortunes shrunk not from presenting them- I selves in the front array of insurrection. Honour to the Sicilians of every class! The events of Palermo have de- : ided, and at the I critical moment, one of the most important and doubt- I ful questions, with respect to Italian liberty. I It is evident that Austria, however reluctantly, ] had still consented to tolerate without open hostility a certain development of freedom in the Italian states. 1 Ent one obvious restriction was, that this freedom ' should not amount to representative government. Although the intimate alliance and accord between I 111. GUIZOT and Prince METTERNICH date from the e Spanish marriages, still upon the theory of govern- i went there had always existed similarity of sentiment i between the French and the Austrian statesman. For instance, when the form of government for Greece was under discussion, METTERNICII and GUIZOT both agreed that a foundation of municipal councils in the provinces, with the superstructure of a senate in the i capital, was far preferable to any constitution of two chambers, with popular election and freedom of the press. Lord PALMERSTON, who joined actively in the controversy, always stood out for the more liberal ineti tutions at Athens, as at Madrid. But M. GUIZOT 1 stickled for his senate, or, where a repre- ' sentative government did exist, as in Madrid, I for rendering it as motionless, and as courtly, and in every way as like to a senate as possible. This idea of senatorial government, or of an assembly com peaed of the notabilities of a country, these notabi lities chosen by the government rather than by the people, has been for some time the prevailing idea of that liberal party which has been formed in abso lutist courts. It exists at Vienna ; and the King of Pitussts has made it the guide of his constitution. mongering at Berlin. When the Italian population began to move, and Italian sovereigns to feel the necessity of moving with their people, France was at hand with her counsels. And these have invariably been to establish senatorial institutions, or in the language of the country, consolers. fhe Pope and other powers, Naples included, had adopted these consuita, and it is quite evident from M. Guizol's fine speeches that these were to be the be-all and the end-all for Italy. The Pslermitans have, however, by one blow struck to pieces the fine fabric of M. GUIZOT'S doctrinaire system. The four decrees sent them by the King of Naples were the very acme of the consuled system, the last concessions in the GUIZOT and METTERNICII spirit. The Sicilians have at once and frankly rejected it, and fortunately they have not rejected it for any wild or democratic scheme of government, like the constitution of Cadiz, proclaimed by the Neapolitans in 1820. They sim ply demand the English constitution granted to them in 1812, and which very much resembles our own con stitution from the epoch of reform. That simple and fair demand the King of NAPLES seems to have no power of refusing. Nor, in granting thief to Sicily, can he give less to Naples. It is also evident from the tone of the French press and Chambers, and even from that of M. GUIZOT, in his reply to the most noble and eloquent speech of M. TIMES upon Italy, that the French govern ment cannot shrink from supporting the southern Italians in their constitutional demands, and durst not consent to an Austrian intervention. M. THIERS said that an union of France and England could alone save the peninsula. Bat that union of sentiment and of force between England and France does exist, and despite of the French government or, as one may say, over the heads of the French govern ment. For English ideas prevail, in a great measure owing to the frank and liberal attitude which the English cabinet has taken ; and the French minister finds himself, whether he will or no, yoked to the car of Italian liberty and forced to drag it onward. The triumph, for we can anticipate no less, is glo rious for the Italians, and glorious for England, which is bailed not only in Palermo, but in the French Chamber of Deputies, as having alone pursued the frank and liberal course, and alone served the Italian cause. Nothing could be more complete than M. TITTERS' vindication of England from the charge of M. GUIZOT, that this country had guaranteed the inviolability of the Austrian dominion in Italy. The English despatch insisted on the inviolability of littn states, great and small, the respect of the latter being the condition of any respect for the former. There is great cause for congratulation in the tone and turn of the debates in the French Chamber. It is evident that *reconciliation, blued on their common love of freedom and their common interest in it, is taking place against the detritus and wishes of court and minister; and that M. Guinn himself is more likely to fall than to prevail, in any attempt to defeat it. So, Dr. M'Hatz's poor rates have at length been paid ! What no other influence could extort, public expoeure, has accomplished. Hardly ten days have elapsed since his grace 's dereliction was exposed ; and already we have a tender of the reluctant monies, wrapped indeed in several shabby folds of clerical equivocation, but still entitling the defaulter to an acquittance of the lawful debt. It is of course boldly asserted now that the whole affair wu a mistake, and that there was in reality no default at all. Credit, indeed, was not gives in the books of the union for either the current rate or the previous one ; but an unhappy curate of St. Jarlath's comes forward to take all the blame upon himself, to aver that the im pugned prelate had left the payment to him—and that he forgot to pay. Credat Jutkeus Apella ! A scape-goat MI thus offered to save the lion ; and the guardians of the fold thereupon resolve, nemine eon tradieente, that the explanation was as satisfactory as could be given, in which we are disposed entirely to concur. As for the previous rate, overdue some twelve famine months or more, that is still more in controvertibly disposed of A rate-collector died some time ago of fever. The amount bad been paid to this poor man, who had omitted to enter it in his books as paid. Very likely ! It is certainly not strange that men should ask, Are all the Irish Catholic bishops like Doctors O'HIooINs and APH&LE ? The question is anything but an idle one. Not enly those whose days are destined to be spent in Ireland, but those to whom the lot has fallen on the pleasanter side of the Channel, are in a certain sense concerned to know what manner of men are they who wield the chief ecclesiastical authority over several millions of their fellow-sabjects. Are all these men, or the majority of them, mitred demagogues, like my lord of ARDAGR or his grace of TUAM • or are they but conspicuous exceptions to a loyal and devoted order? The peace of Ireland and her progreea—the reno vation of her moral and industrial health—the acqui sition of soul-liberty, and the generation of an abid ing and vigilant spirit, capable of appreciating fully and using wisely, that inestimable treasure—these are objects dear to every right-thinking man in England; for in these lie at once the realisation of his most generous wishes for Ireland, and the attainment of the beet guarantees that can be desired for thckper petuation of like blessings in England. The misery of the one realm is the weakness of the other its confusion, the perplexity its darkness, the continual cause of misgiving and of gloom. On the other band, no greater source of new and lasting strength could be given to the empire than the esta blishment of tranquillity and the promotion of in dustry, enterprise, and contentment, in a realm so cir cumstanced with regard to Britain. Every obstacle in the way of each a consummation is naturally re garded with antipathy or regret ; and few greater obstacles which are bounded by individual power, or circumscribed within the limits of one m ischievous will, can be imagined than that which a hierarchy would present, if, banded together for common purposes, they were to be regarded as truly represented by such a man as Dr. WHeLte. For if it be the province of a priesthood to minister to the moral wants of man, to mediate between conflicting passions, and to hold faithfully a light to the ignorant and wandering—how grievously may such wantebe ag gravated by badexample—how fatally may evil passions be exasperated by evil counsel—and in such a land " if the light that is in it be darkness, how deep is that darkness !" Happily for Ireland, however, her catholic bishops ere no more represented by the two or three talka tive arid turbulent ones of whom we have lately beard semuch, than the honesty of the English church is re presented by SAMUEL OXFORD, or its charity b i z HENRY EXETER. The great majority of the Irish prelates are obedient to the sacred mandate, and, " seeking peace, ensue it." The simple, candid, and truly pastoral spirit in which Dr. BROWNS, the Bishop of Elphin, recently replied to Lord SHREWS BURY'S questions, instructively contrasts with the swaggering rhedomontade of his metropolitan. Of the venerable archbishops of Dent's and ARMAGH it is unnecessary to speak. No breath of party rancour or sectarian bigotry has ever sullied their reputation for wisdom, benevolence, and devo tion. Nor is a less tribute of honour due to Dr. DENVIR, the Bishop of Down ; Dr. KENNEDY, Bishop of Rillaloe ; and the fearless and faithful monitor of a misguided populace, Dr. RYAN, Bishop of Limerick. These and many others have long undeviatingly sus tained against the factious and the fanatical minority the cause of national edacation ; and as this truly sacred cause has recently been anew assailed, we gladly call attention to certain public proceedings in its vindication, in which another eminent catholic prelate bore a conspicuous part. A numerous and influential meeting was held some days ago at Newry, a town of considerable wealth and population situated on the confines of the eastern and northern provinces, to celebrate the lay ing the foundation stone of the fleet District Model School, intended to be built under the National Board of Education. Lord GOSFORD, who is Lord- Lieutenant of Armagh, one of the counties for whose benefit the institution is designed, expressed his con viction that he could do nothing more strictly within the scope of his public duty than to preside on the occasion. Mr. FORTESCUE, whose property in Louth is equally extensive, and who habitually discharges the duties of his station equally well, cordially tendered his suf frage of approval and contributive aid. Both are members of the established church ; yet both in con cert with the Very Rev. Dr. BACOT, a dignitary of the same communion, were cordially welcomed by the assemblage as they successively came forward to express their deliberate and unreserved opinion, that un-exclusive education was a thing much to be desired and diligently to be promoted in Ireland by all who love her enlightenment and peace. Of a truth it was time for Mr. FREDERICK SHAW to retire from parliament. As a representative of into lerant protestantism he had long a function and a mission. But intolerance is dying the death of the law—the law of equal rights and franchises ; and the right hon. gentleman's "occupation's gone." But what part did the catholics take in the recent assemblage? One in every way creditable to them selves, and fall of good omen for the country. Num bers of the laity were present, several of the priest hood •, and by much the best of many good speeches delivered on the occasion was that of the Catholic Bishop of DROMORE. Like others of his order in Ireland, Dr. BLAKE was warmly attached to the late Mr. O'CONNELL, whose pre-eminent claims to gratitude and respect for the great services he had rendered to the followers of the ancient faith no change of time or circumstance could cancel or destroy. Like many of his brethren also, the Bishop of Deoatoee has ever manifested strong feelings of sympathy with popular suffering and wrong; and knowing what we do of the social and political con dition of the mass of the inhabitants of Ireland, we frankly own we can hardly conceive how a good and intelligent man in a similar position could be exempt from such emotions. But unlike the denunciatory prelates of Ardagh and Tuam, Dr. BLAKE prefers showing a good example to his own flock, to wounding that of his neighbour. Dr. Bum, we will venture to say, never abused a viceroy, or refused payment of a lawful tax, in the course of his life. He is a man of disciplined intellect and consistent devotion. He believes what he preaches ; and his practices consequently coincide with his precept& If Dr. WHALE and Dr. 0'1110w:es are equally consistent, the hapless communities of their respective episcopates will be trained to disre spect of rulers and violation of the laws. No wonder their lawless lordships should love dark nese rather than light, and that they prefer abusing provincial colleges to supporting national schools Dr. BLAKE is a very different man. Prompt in every ease to show obedience to the laws, and to rebuke those who infringe them, he is found ready to co operate with those of other religions persuasions on all fitting opportunities for the promotion of charity and the dissemination of knowledge. The resolution which was moved by him at the late meeting at THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1848, Newry contains too clear and comprehensive a de claration of adherence to greet principles, and too hearty an acknowledgment of their practical good fruits, to be pined over silently. 1. Resolved—That we feel deeply grateful to the oom missioners of national edam** for laving resolved on build lag their Ant distil st need Mad in Newry ; and we hail the cordial Amnia* Wilk width ministers and members of every religious dseendeatiou have this day met to celebrate this event, Si in itself one of the beat results of the establish ment of the national system, and as affording the best proof that it is the only one which has been as yet devised calcu lated to prove acceptable to persons of all parties and deno minations in Ireland. The resolution was seconded by the Rev. A. REMIT, a presbyterian minister, in • strain of reasoning founded on experience, and appealing irresistibly to the uninflamod and unprejudiced judgments of men. Truly, there is a well-spring of life and hope in assem blages like this. LORD lisnmscn has been enabled, by his own talents and good fortune, to make a noble valedictory address to the people of Calcutta. He tells them that "British ascendancy reigns undisturbed, and act uated by treaty, from the Khyber Pase to Cape Comorin," and that " future triumphs in India must be those of peace." This forms, indeed, an en for Hindostan. The soldier takes his leave with the re mark that war is over, and that the next campaign must be that of the schoolmaster. The. civilian suc ceeds, with the express purpose of applying to India those principles of economy, and of alleviating the burdens of the lower classes, which are uncontro verted at home. The chief news looked to from India was, however, some account of how the commercial world of Calcutta bore the disastrous tidings of bankruptcies and em barrassments. The arrival of the European despatches of the 24th of October had very naturally been the signal for a suspension of no small part of the ordi nary business of the exchange and the bazaar. So terrible and indiscriminate a destruction of es tablishments which had survived many former periods of disaster, produced the natural re sult, which we find chronicled in the accustomed phraseology. Money became tight, not because the banks were poor, but because their customers had become suspected. Prices fell, not certaialy from any sudden revolution in the relations of supply and demand, but because the holder was haunted with the apprehension that the next steamer might deprive him utterly even of his present beggarly chance of realisation; and because the merchants, full of means and full of caution, who somehow or other always rise up in these seasons of great bargains, too well understood their own power and interest to be anything but reluctant customers. It would seem, however, that even during the thirteen days which had intervened between the former mail and the present, the darkest part of this critical path had been passed over. Indigo and sugar were still cheap, but they were no longer un saleable, andcottons and hardware were again regarded as descriptions of property at least worth preserving. In the midst of all these difficulties, it is either a good or a bad sign that only two additional firms have gone down, and these will neither of them leave a wide gap behind. Commercial distress does not, however, absorb the India press. The journals, indeed, seem to have lost their stock subjects of war and of government policy. There is little to record or to complain of. Minor subjects occupy the places of the great de ones the quarrels of Indian officials with Erigli d sh judges the astonishment of the commu nity at the report of six new bishops being sent out to them, when they are so sadly in want of working clergy—the efforts of most sects to further education, and of the Roman catholic' to prevent it; these, with roads and improvements, especially in the l'unjaub, form the items of those " Indian mails" which Lon don newspapers so lately disputed the honour of pre senting first to English readers, but which any reader may read now or a week hence, without find ing the least advantage in early knowledge, or incon venience in late. The triumphs of peace are not those which furnish wings to MERCURY. NEAPOLITAN REFORMS. We give the remainder of the ordonnancee of the King of Naples. Founru ORDONNANCI.—FERDINAND ll.—Art. 1. We name the Prince Royal Count cl'Aquila, our well-beloved brother, our Lieutenant-General in Sicily. Art. 2. We name as his minister, the councillor ' Minister of State, Antonio Luertimi Patti, Prince of Campo Franco. Art. 3. We name Director of the Interior, of Foreign Affairs, of Agriculture and Commerce, and of Public Works, the Duke of Montalto, on whom we confer the rank and dignity of minister. Art. 4. We name Director of the Finances and of Eccle siastical Affairs, the Advocate General of the High Court of Accounts, Joseph Bisangiardiaco. Art. G. We name Director of Grace and Justice and of the Police, the Councillor Giovanni Cassisi. Art. G. The directors above-named will receive the same pay and salary as they now enjoy.—Naples, Jan. 13, 1848. (Signed) FERDINAND. The decrees which have been just read were published on the first day. The following decrees relative to the amnesty and to censorship, did not appear, as we said above, till the 19th. " His Majesty, obeying the generous impulse of his royal mind, has vouchsafed to ordain that the Ministers of Grace and Justice, and of the General Police, should present to him without delay the names of the persons condemned or imprisoned for political crimes, in order that be may extend to them his royal clemency. His Majesty has further ordained that the measures the most proper to establish public tranquillity be immediately adopted. ORDONNANCE.—FERDINAND 11., by the grace of God, King of the Two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, Duke of Parma, of Piacenza, Castro, &c. &c., Grand l'rince Hereditary of Tus cany, &c. desiring to establish throughout his kingdom a complete and uniform system of censorship, as well for the writings printed in the kingdom as for those coming from foreign countries; and likewise • censorship upon engrav ings, or other similar works, and theatrical productions of every kind desiring, moreover, to put aside all arbitrary tendencies which time may have introduced into the prac tices observed up to the present day: desiring, finally, to en trust a new system of censorship to committees composed of illustrious and distinguished men of letters, and by these means to facilitate the progress of the useful labours of intel ligence : after having read the decrees and regulations which have emanated at sundry epochs on this subject; considering the labour relative to this matter, and the opinion of the council of the kingdom ; having finally heard our or dinary council of state,—we have resolved to sanction, and do sanction, the following law: Art. 1. A superior committee shall be formed at Naples, under the immediate dependence of our Secretary of State to the Department of Agriculture and of Commerce, entrusted with public instruction, to examine preventively the publi. cation of every species of writings which may appear in our states, or which might be brought into them from abroad, :as well as drawings. &c., and all sorts of theatrical productions. The said committee shall be composed of 20 members, cen sors (reoisori), chosen either among the clergy or laity, and presided by the director (il presideiste) of public instruction. At Palermo there will also be formed an especial committee, composed of 12 censors, ecclesiastics, or of the laity, likewise presided by the director ( preridente) of public instruction. Besides, in every province of our states, on either side of the Straits, there will be formed, in every chief place, a commit tee, depending on the two superior committees, and corn posed of five censors, ecclesiastics, or of the laity, with an ecclesiastical member, who is to be the vice-president of the committee, which is to be presided by the prefect (intendenle). Art. 2. In order to hold deliberations in these committees the ballet least of the members who compose them must be present—that is to say, ten in the superior committee of Naples and six in that of Palermo. In the provincial com mittees three members at least must be present for the de- —...„. liberations to be held. Art. 3. All memoirs (nsemorie) relative to the affairs now pending before the general council and before the judiciary and administrative courts of the kingdom are excepted from the censorship of the committees. (Consequently the system in vigour up to the present time shall be maintained.) Two or more persons shall be adjoined to the prescribed number of the censors of the two committees for the periodical cen sorship of journals, both home and foreign, as well as for the publication of any manifesto whatever, or other printed Paper , . Art. 4. The censors, as well those of the superior commit tees of Naples and of Palermo as those of the committees established in the chief places of the provinces, shall be named by us, on the proposal of our minister, Secretary of State, of agriculture and commerce, entrusted with public inetruction. For the censorship of the theatres there shall be an especial committee (delegazione), and the censors who compose it are held obliged to attend all first theatrical performances. No play which is not allowed tobe performed en the capital can be represented in *provincial theatre, and no theatrical production can be there represented without having been previously examined by the censors of the ca pital. Art. 5. The duration of the office of censor shall at first be limited to two years, at the expiration of which time the cen sor can, however, be maintained in office. Art. 6. The publication of every article shall be allowed (without excepting such as may treat on matters of public administration), providing it has been previously authorised by the authority entrusted with the office of censorship. The authorisation of publishing shall be granted to all such whose works or writings contain no offence—neither to reli gion, nor to her ministers, nor to public morals, nor to the rights and prerogatives of the sovereign, nor to the govern ment, to the form of government and to its functionaries, nor to the dignity of reigning persons, nor to their families and representatives, nor to the honour of private individuals as well as to the works and writings, which will in nowise injure the regular march of government, whether in its in ternal or external relations. Art. 7. The acts of government cannot be published pre vious to their official publication. The article 8 and following (the ordonniume comprises 28 articles) contain dispositions relative to the creation of journals and periodical collections, which cannot appear without the authorisation of the Minister of Public Instruc tion. Finally, the last articles of this ordonnance, in which has been carefulli imitated whatever bee been done in the a l re ady reformed states of Italy, refer to the bail, to the obligations laid upon the manager (girant), to the manner in which the censors are to proceed in the examination of writings intended for publicity, and to the divers penalties Incumbent on transgressors. THE REFORMS OF THE POPE. The following despatch from M. Onizot to M. Rossi was read by the former during the debate in the Chamber of Deputies on Monday last Pasts, Dec. 1,1847.—1 f I understand correctly what is minim in Rome, and what you told me in your despatch and pnvate letter of November 18, the Pope, as well as our *elves, has approached a critical and decisive moment, when it is absolutely necessary to me clearly and to act decisively, or else either to incur danger, or to arrive at a negative re sult. I congratulate myself and you on the order which reigned dunag the installation of the Consults, and on the attitude which the Roman government has Mimi to insure its continuance. Amidst what is passing in Italy we must take into account the extreme vivacity of the people and the necessity . which they are under of indulging and venting their passions. The government must show that it en courages and sympathises with the newly awakened national sentiments, taking care, however, of two things. 1. That it does not create in its popular manifestations habits and practices incompatible with the order and peace of the country. 2. That the government make itself manifest in this popu lar movement, and that its rights, its function*, and its action is net suppressed or usurped by irregular powers. Either of these circumstances would be an immense evil, end would give rise to difficulties which would cost much trouble to surmount. There are many reasons, on divers points, from what is passing in Italy, and even iu Rome, for dreading such an evil. The Pope sad the Cardinal Ferretti effected a great benefit both for themselves, and for their cou.itry, in departing from that path at the time of the installation of the Consults, and have shown all the foresight and firmness which you describe. The Consults consolidated the principal reforms which the Pope proposes to carry into the condition and general forms of his government; into the civic guard, the muni cipality, ' and the consults . There are certainly still in the leg islation, the administration, the Judicature , and the finances of the Roman states many reforms and improvements to be made, which the Pope no doubt foresees. And he has created institutions, by the aid of which he will doubt less accomplish them. He has determined on their nature and their limits. He has distinctly expressed his intention of amelioratiog more and more the government of his states and the condition of his people. But he at the same time firmly declared that he will maintain entire the pontifical sovereignty. He invited the members of the Cousuita to give him their confident support in his work of reform but he cautions them against allowing themselves to be ruled by perturbators,whom he intends to repress—or seduced by mu taken utopian notions, which he does not intend to follow out. It is said that the impression produced by this allocation was not one of unmixed satisfaction. It has been more e sp ecially considered that there is visible in it a determined design not to admit laymen into the itoman government, but to maintain exclusive possession thereof for the ecclesiastics. I can discover nothing of the kind in the language of the Pope. He declares that he will not share the pontifical government with any one. But he does not say that he will not admit all classes, laymen as well as ecclesiastics, into the government, whether it be into its superior councils or into its various functions. lie not only says nothing to lead to this supposition, but he proves that such is not his intention. For what is the Consults it self but an amembly . of laymen called to take part in the government ? It is true the Pope announces that he will not share it with any of them. But neither does he intend to share it with the ecclesiastics. The cardinals, the Sacred College, is thus merely a government council—a council needful in certain cases—never a collateral and sovereign power in its own right. Most assuredly if the Pope inclined to limit the executive government to the ecclesiastics, if he wished to place none but ecclesiastics in his' cabinet, and in high offices. he would in our opinion, commit a gross error, and would incur great danger ; he would put himself in open opposition to the spirit of the time ; he would de prive himself of his most necessary support. The good un• derstanding between enlightened laymen and ecclesiastics is not too much to resist the advance of radical theories and passions. The Pope, in all departments and in all grades of government, under his own immediate view, as well as in the provinces, must oppose his sovereignty against all the elements of revolutionary and anarchical spirit, without ap pearing to favour either the laity or the ecclesiastics. Unless he bring about this work of order, I much fear that he will soon find himself too weak for the struggle which he is called upon to maintain, and with which this allocation proves him to be already such occupied. WEST INDIA MAIL. By the arrival of the West India mail steamer Avon, we have dates from Santa Martha, Dec: 20; Nicaragua, 25th ; Chagree, 29th ; Carthngena, 31st. Puerto Cabello, Jan. 3rd; Santiago and Demerara, sth ; LaGuayra, Jamaica, Tobago, and Trinidad, 7th ; Grenada, Bth ; Barbadoes and St. Vincent, 9th ; St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica, 10th ; Guadeloupe and Antigua, 11th; Nevis, Puerto Rico, and St. Kitt's, 12th ; Tortola, 13th ; and St. Thomas, 14th. The mails came in charge of Lieutenant Brown, RN., admiralty agent. The Avon made an unusually quick passage, and experienced fine weather through out the voyage. She brings as freight 268,276 dole., 130 pounds British coin, 1,017 oz. gold dust, 4 serons of indigo, 40 tierces of coffee, 74 begs of pimento, 1,3001b5. arrowroot, and the foil )wing passengers : Mr. Arameyer, Mr. Gautier, Mr. Costa, Mr. Arbeltier, Mr. Garcia, Mr. Marquis, Miss Marquis, Sir Baldwin Walker, R.N., Capt. Smith and lady ; Mr. Mark, vice consul at Bogota—from Chagres. Commodore Lambert, Mr. Harley, Mr. Bortbwick, Mrs. Elmes ; Lieut. Cafe, Ist W. I. Regt. ; Rev. Dr. Masson, lady, and family; Mr. Taylor, Mr. S. W. Taylor, and Mr. West—from Jamaica. Mr. Coats, lady, and fami ly—from Demerara. Mr. Reddie and lady—from St. Lucia. Mr. and Mrs. Souniet—from Trinidad. Mr. Baiwac—from Martinique. Miss Mr. Rieflcohl, and Mr. Barkley—from St. Thomas's. Mr. Espina—from St. Joao do Cuba. By this arrival we learn that the West India Islands were generally healthy, and the weather ge nial ; but we regret to announce the death of Major- General Lambert, commander of the forces in the island of Jamaica. The commercial advices brought by the Avon are of no great interest. On the Bth of October last, at midnight, the city of Chagres was entirely destroyed by fire, including the custom-house, which at the time contained an entire cargo of merchandise, which was landed during that day by the schooner Disengano, valued at 60,000 dollars, appertaining to several English merchants residing in this island. No lives were, however, lost. It is astonishing to reflect, says the Jamaica Despatch, that the government of New Gre nada should not have had a suitable fire-proof edifice as a depot, similar to that which has been constructed by the Royal Mail Steam Company, with the eole view of encouraging the transit of metallic property, by way of the Isthmus, distant from that city. Al though we feel ashamed to assert it, the custom-house was nothing more than a wooden hovel with a thatched roof, and this was the place wherein was deposited the valuable property which the directors of the customs received from the different mer chants at the moment of their as rival in port. We understand that the interested proprietors, who have suffered in this event, are preparing to present their claims before the Grenadian government, and it is to be hoped that it will recognise its justice, and order its payment without delay. As respecting the British property destroyed, the British authorities will extend their merited assistance. It is reported that this dreadful conflagration had been intendedly done by a black man with a view to robbery, and who has since been apprehended. JAMAICA.—On the 28th of December the mem bers of both branches of the legislature met in the Council Chamber and in the House of Assembly, at one o'clock, when his Excellency the Governor gave his assent to the 40 following hills, vie.:—Rules and Articles of War, Embargo en Arms, Commissioners of Public Accounts, Embargo on Provisions, Gunpowder Tonnage, Disposal of Petty Thefts, Process during Martial Law, Prevention of Riots, Amended Pound Laws, Import Duty, In Aid of Towns and Commu nities, lu Aid of Banking Companies, Police, Vere Loan, In Aid of Trust Funds, Public Hospital and Lunatic Asy lum, Purchase of Houses for Curates, Erection of Iron Bridges in Trolawny, Amended Coolie Tax, Manning's Hill Turnpike Road, Sentences of Seven Years' Imprisonment, Amended Appeal Act, Amended Ferryßoad,Amended Ligua neaWaterworks Company, Amended Recovery ofS mall Debts, Amended Lunatic Asylum, Court of Chancery Proceedings, Regulation of Elections for Vestrymen, Clerks of the Peace Fees, Public Landing-place in Falmouth, Insolvent Debtors, Process Law, In Aid of the Penitentiary. Immigration, Rum Duty, Regulation of Pawnbrokers, Kingston Town Dues on Imports, Clerks of the Peace Salaries limited in payment for a certain period, Collection of Taxes, Tax on Stock and Trades. The assembly was then prorogued. A complimentary address was voted by the Chamber of Commerce, on the sth Jan., to Mr. Borthwick. We have to record thegleath of Major-General Lambert, commander of the forces in Jamaica, on the 4th of January. The disease under which he suffered is said to have been a fever of a highly malignant type. The senior fficer in command immediately announced the lamented circumstance to her Majesty's troops in this command, and orders were issued for interring the remains of the late major general in the evening : The deceased officer was much beloved by all classes in this island, for his gentle manly deportment and kind consideration to all who had anything to do with him. Cu BA.—The Jamaica Dispatch publishes the fol lowing statement of the sugar crop of Cuba, for the year 1847, which, it says, may be relied upon as authentic. It is mid to be by • great deal the largesterop mew exported from that Island, and it is most certainly an increase of fully 200,000 boxes upon the crop of the merious year :—From the let January to the 28th December, 1847, there were cleared from Havana and Matanzas 1,004,498 bone,; and from other parts of the island, as far as heard from, 280,308 boxes; total number of boxes, 1,284,804. The total crop of Cuba for 1847 was, as neer as can be calculated, 1,320,000 boxes (264,000 tons), and it is calculated that the crap of the present year will be still larger. Salutes, Skit. 7.—FLova.—The sales of this article dime car het have been 000 barrel* New Orleans, at prices frost POI. and HA 335. per barrel In bond ; 300 barrels and 00 b in d. &adman, at Ina.; sad 300 herrehi in lute from the same Owe. at 40a, dirty paid. The Pock on hand is light. Rim—A largo at Carob= has been kr the awn part diapoerd of—. say 120 tierces end 30 half deems, at 22a. 6d. to of the sales open. M I , at the latter Agues. A sulsequent pared of 40 tierces, received ru Baltimore, wee placed at 23e. per 10011 w. The demand for thia description of rkehas now elaekmak and sales are dull at our lowest quotation. A very superior sem* of East India realised 201. per IUOIts. Mr 150 beum..—The dry goods Mimes was Minks. Emblems on hondoer—Bank MN', 90; 4 per cent. dh. Cite Court. A deputation appointed to present to Lord John Ruudl a memorial upon the subject of the duty apon teas adopted by a public meeting of the inhabitants of Liverpool, had an interview with the noble lord yesterday at his official residence in Downing-otreet. The deputation was accompa nied by fai r T. Birch and Mr. Cardwell, and consisted of the follow gentlemen : Mr. R. Gladstone, Mr. 11. Littledale, Mr. B bb, Mr. J. R. Jeffery, and Mr. Crossley. The Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord President of the Council, will sire a grand dinner on Wednesday, the 9th inst., at Lansdowne House, to the cabinet ministers and also to the great officers of state of the Queen's household. The roll of sheriffs for the present year will be settled at the meeting. Lord Ashley had an interview with Sir 0. Grey I yesterday at the liome.ortice. A deputation consisting of Mr. Colvile, Mr. Hib bert Mr . Anderdon, Mr. C. ?darryat, Mr. Biggins, Mr. ' McChlery, and MeMacgregor, had an interview yesterday with Lord J. Ruse& Mr. Hastie had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Strutt on Tuesday, at the office of the Commissioners of Railways in the Board of Trade. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Despatches were sent off Last evening from the Colonial-office for the governors of Ceylon and Malta. Mr. Adair had an interview with the Right Hon. H. Laboachere yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. Pattison, M.P., and a deputation had an in terview with Lord John Russell yesterday. TUE PARLIAMENT.—The period of adjournment &peed to on the 21st Dec. last expiring this day, both houses will assemble, at their usual hours of meeting, for the despatch of business. EAST INDIA HOUSE. Yesterday a special court of proprietors of East India Stock was held at the company's house, in Leaden hall-street. The court was unusually crowded. In the strangers' gallery were several ladies.—Henry Sc. George Tucker, Esq., in the chair. Mr. Home said he had long taken a deep interest in the case of the Rajah of Satter*. There was a desire to stultify the proceedings of the directors on the part of the govern ment. He had paid great attention to the affairs of India, to which place he first went fifty-four years ago. He had peculiar sources of information relative to what took place in India. Our power there, though obtained by the eword, had been consolidated by the sound principles of justice. If they were now to break through treaties into which they had deliberately entered, the natives of India would lose all con fidence in them. The case of the rajah was one which was favourably viewed, he believed, by more than one-half of the directors, particularly by the honourable ,gentleman who then filled the chair. He disclaimed all hos tility to the directors or to the government of India. He attributed to the government of Bombay the whole of the disgraceful proceedings adopted in reference to the case of the Rajah of Sattara, and the directors would make them selves parties to the gross injustice that had been done to him if they persisted in refusing all inquiry into his case. Ho complained of the continuance of a secret committee, which completely usurped all the privileges of the court of proprietors, which on many occasions had exceeded the powers with which they were invested, got the company into debt, and risked the permanence of the company's ter ritory in India, and in the present case had for years kept back papers of the utmost importance, without which no correct opinion could be formed on its merits. Now that the forgeries that had been committed were discovered and the truth was known, it was the ditty of the court of directors to revise the whole of their proceedings, particularly as the whole evidence against the Rajah,to say the least of it, was unworthy of credit. In such a case the pre vious character of the Rajah ought to hays had some weight, and the excellence of that character had been testified by a resolution of the court of directors, and which was followed up by the presentation to him of a sword of honour. (Hear.) His death was no reason for stopping all inquiry into the coarse of proceedings that had been adopted towards him. The inquiry must proceed. Had they had all the information which they now possessed the di rectors would not have acted towards him as they had done. Why, therefore, should they not retrace their steps ? It was said now that all further proceedings rested with the Board of Control. Let the directors do their duty, and in stitute as inquiry, and if the Board of Control refused to allow such an inquiry to proceed let the disgrace rest with them. He did not ask the court to affirm that the Rajah was innocent ; all he asked for was, that a full inquiry should take place. The Governor-General of India had given orders that he should have an open and fair trial, but which order the government of Bombay refused to obey; they also refused to let him have copies of the evideace that had been taken against him. One of the witnesses had since admitted that some of the documents which he had produced against the Rajah were forgeries. Was that not a sufficient ground for further investigation? For the honour of the service, he hoped an inquiry wolffi take place into the conduct of Colonel Ovens, by whom moot important evidence in favour of the Rajah had been kept back for upwards of eleven months. That court, he was sure, would never make themselves parties to any such proceed ings. If the directors could not control the acts of their ser vants they were unworthy of the confidence that was reposed in them by the proprietors. He concluded by saying that he would never cease advocating the cause of the Rajah until full inquiry was granted. Before the motion was seconded the CHAIRMAN rose to give an explanation on one point. No application had been made for the removal of the Rajah from Benares on account of his ill-health ; he was ill, but not from his residence at Bemires, which was as healthy a place as any in India. Had such an application been made it would have been imme diately granted.—Mr. LEWIS seconded the motion. Mr. SAVAGE said a few words in favour of the resolutioa. He knew of no case in which similar injustice had been done, except that of the unfortunate Baron de Bode. Mr. WEEDING opposed the resolution, and in doing so re plied to many of the observations made by Mr. Hume. He denied that any witness had admitted that any of the docu ments exhibited against the Rajah were forgeries, or that any important document had been withheld. Ile defended the government of Bombay from the charges that had been brought against it, and expressed his conviction of the guilt of the ex-Rajah, and deprecated any further discussion with reference to his case ; and, in support of his opinion, read some long extracts from a letter written by Lord Auckland. He hoped the resolution would be met by a motion for an adjournment. Mr. THOMPSON repeated the charges he had before made against Col. Ovens, and openly charged the colonel with in tercepting and keeping back documents and evidence that would have proved the innocence of the deceased rajah. Mr. FRINSP.P and Mr. FIELDER having made a few remarks, Col. SEERS said the political rights of the late rajah had died with him. His knowledge of the laws of the Hindosis made him acquainted with this fact. The CHAIRMAN said he wished to support the decision of the majority of the court of proprietors. He would move an adjournment, as that decision had been confirmed by parliament and the Board of Control. The chairman moved that the court do now adjourn. Sir .1. L. LI/MINI:4EON (the deputy-chairman) seconded the motion. Mr. Hurrs, in reply, appealed to the court of proprietors as the respoasiblegovernors of India, to vote for the reopen ing of the inquiry. The hon. proprietor, at considerable length, addressed the court. The numbers were then taken, when there appeared : For the adjournment, 63 ; and against it, 26. The court then adjourned. JEWISH DISABILITIES. A very numerous meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Finsbury was held last evening at the Belvidere Tavern, Pentonville, to petition parliament in favour of the ministerial measure ; Mr. Richard Taylor in the chair. The CHAIRMAN introduced the business by expressing the pleasure he felt in presiding on this occasion. One of their representatives, Mr. Duncombe, was ill; and Mr. Wakley bad been prevented attending by an engagement at the National Hall. In a letter to the secretary, that hon. gen tleman assured them that he should be at his post when the measure came under discussion. (Applause.) Mr. W. PAYNE moved the first resolution, as follows: That this meeting is of opinion that religious belief ought not to exclude its possessor ftom the enjoyment of civil rights. The Jews were not a few mushrooms, of the growth of yes terday; they were the ancient and beloved people of the Deity, by whom they had been, and still would be, pro tected. ( Applause). God had invariably destroyed their enemies, the mighty Roman empire not excepted. It was a positive injustice to exclude these people from parliament ; and he rejoiced that Lord John Russell had carried out his principles by the introduction of a bill to do away with this last remnant of intolerance. It was absurd to allege that the admission of iJews to parliament would un-Christianise the legislature. (Bear, hear.) The object of this meeting was to strengthen the hands of ministers, in order that this great measure might not be lost through the supineness of the country. (Applause.) Let the bill be backed by the unanimous voice of he nation ; and the lords would be very chary about rejecting it. Dr. SIMI , SON seconded the resolution. Mr. J. Witsox moved a .9 an amendment—" That it is not expedient that unbelievers should be admitted to legis late for Christians." As Christ was the " Xing of kings, and Lord of lorda," it would be en indignity to hi m to give the Jews seats in the legislature. He maintained that the Christians were under no obligetign to the Jews, m that had done all in their power to suppreia the goepel of salvo, Intim. England had more to fear from a Jewish Uemia, than from a French invasion. (Laughter.) The eprej t , then proceeded to read a long statement, which was vim impatiently listened to, and au his using the expess i ,,,i " vagabond Jews" a perfect tumult of disapprobation broly out, mixed with cries of "Turn him out," "p u g hi lt I dawn." At length the Chairman put it to the meths. whether he should be heard any further, and it was deeid e il in the negative by a large majority. As be persisted is speaking he was removed front the platform amidst grata uproar. Mr. T H. Notiuts supported the resolution. He °Nereid that the Jews cheerfully acquiesced in the payment of pea ? , rates and church-rates; while to the latter impost severs) Christian sects objected. After the removal of catholic din. bilities and those of other sects, it would be a shame to e l . dude the Jews front participating in the same liberal me, sure because they were small in numbers and not forisido* in influence. (Hear.) Whatever might be the fate of th e government measure, he was confident that the citizens st London would re-elect Baron Rothschild again and mai c in order fully to assert their freedom of choice. (64 applause.) The resolution was then put and agreed to, with very fig dissenfienta. Ye. TS 01616 moved : That the Jews having for many years been reerired snd tread as eitiacas in thin country, thee eac;usion from wannest of religious opinions is repugnant I the genuine and tolerant tog of Christianity and injunous to Ili • !yid interests of the m a j, " meeting, therefore, riews with natin'acuon the intrcluction of a big by Lord lobo Russell into the Commons Home of Parliament Sor the removal of Jewish &inabties,. Mr. E. MULL seconded the resolution. Be believed that the people were the only legitimate source of power, and that taxation and representation ought ta b e to _ ottoosin. these grounds all classes and all religions tb ol h o d to brat the expense of government, hod a natural and inali ena bl e right to their share of representation. Cbristianity bad in no case set the example of refusing po litical rights to on / ear or creed; and it was only the fact of our havi ng an m t . Wished church in this country that had led to such tuba. sions. (Rear.) Christianity had nothing to do with sew, civil rights, beyond inspiring is them an ardent dears to tie to others as they would be done by.. (lieu ) Petitions founded on' the foregoing resolutions wep t Agreed to, and ordered to be presented to both holism eipn. liament.—At the close thanks were voted to the chairman. f A CUSTOM-ROUSE ORDER has been published di. recting many improvements in the mode of examining luggage of passengers arriving is England from the casts neat. The object avowedly is to lessen the delay and es. pense heretofore incurred is the landing, examination, std delivery of travellers' baggage. GOLDEN GLEANINGS.—" We believe," says tlit Daily News," there is now a probability of a sweeping r t . form being applied to the ill-managed sod expensive este. blishment called the Mint." We should be very glad ta have some of the sweepings of this reform, as Mint-dust, es should imagine, must be valuable. We heard lately of et establishment in which gold and silver are largely wised, sad of which the proprietors make some 3001. a year out of thus washings of their workmen's hands. We would dirmt thus attention of the servants of some of our millionaires to thus contents of their master's wash-hand-basins, which, consider. ing the deal of money that passes through the hands of thins capitalists, are, we think, very imprudently thrown away. We would also suggest that the linirgs of the pockets of thus same gentlemen, properly treated, may yield a considerable quantity of the t recious metals ; and thus, we flitter OS:- selves, we have opened an entirely new mine of perquirire to their footmen.—Punch. FIRE AT MR. APSLET PELLATT'S GLASS Worn This morning, about a quarter past 12 o'clock, a fire tiros, out in the extensive premises known as the Falcon Gime Worlo, the property of Apeley Pellatt, Esq., situate new liolland.street, Blackfriars. An instant cry of tire no raised, and messengers were despatched in various direction' for the engines. As soon as possible the brigade engine from Southwark-bridge-road arrived, followed by the West of England and others from Farringdonstreet and Waterloo-road. The firemen then found that the flames were furiously raging, apparently in what termed the cutting-shop," immediately over the swan. engine-house. The hoot of the engines were quickly drawu out, and everything was in readiness for work, but, unfor. tunately, not a drop of water was flowing from the fireman' in the district. To obtain a sufficient supply, the engines were taken down one of the wharfs and set to work from the Thames. This, of necessity, took up considerable time, and the II imes meanwhile con tinued to travel—so much so, that the immense pile of buildings appeared doomed to destruction. The moment the engines could be charged with water, a powerful stream was scattered into that portion of the premises where the flames appeared to be raging, but without producing any impression upon them. The firemen eventually cut a number of holes in the upper window shut. ten, and by inserting the hose pipes into the spur. tures they were at length enabled to reach the fire, but it was not entirely extinguished at two o'clock this morning, although all danger of any further extension waist an end. The origin of the fire or the extent of the damage cannot at present be ascertained. The mischief, however, from the outside of the premises, appears to have been con. fined to that portion of the building in which it began. THE MIRPIELD MERDERS.—Respecting M'Cribe, who was tried at York in conjunction with Patrick Reid for the murder of Mr. Wraith and his wife and servant, and sentenced to death, a communication has been transmitted from the Home-office, intimating that Sir G. Grey has recommended that her Majesty should commute his sentence to transportation for life. INQUESTS.—MYSEERIGES DEATIIS. —Before Mr. William Baker, by adjournment, at the Queen Catherine public-house, Brook street, Ratcliff, to inquire into the Mr cumstauces attending the deaths of Mr. Andrew Witham, an engineer, aged 68, and his wife Ann Witham, aged 59, who died at their residence, 45, Caroline-street, Commenial road East. Mr. Buchanan made a post reorient examina tion, and forwarded the contents of the stomach to Dr. Letheby, lecturer on chemistry at the London Homital.— On the re-assembling of the jury yesterday, Mr. Frimley, a solicitor, who appeared on behal fof the relatives, said a will had been made only a few days before the death of the deceased, Andrew, and that he had left the whole of his property to his nurse, Elisabeth Taylor, who had attended him during his illness. He was instructed that the deceased was imbe cile at the time, and that he had two brothers living. This circumstance had caused great suspicion, and the sadden. ness of their deaths had caused rumours to be circulated that they had died from unfair means.—Mr. Doane, a soli citor, said he framed the will according to the direc tions of the deceased, who, he considered, was in a sound state of mind. Elizabeth Taylor applied to him on the 19th ult., and informed him that the deceased re quired his services. She told him that he wished to alter his will, and the manner in whichhe intended to dispose of his property. He went on the following day, and the will, which had been made, leaving the whole of his propertyto his wife, was altered, and made over to the nurse. Hi wife was in a dying state and died two days afterwards. His brothers visited the deceased on the day he died, and be told them distinctly that he should not alter his will.—Mr. Buchanan said he attended deceased first about 18 months since, when he was attacked with a paralytic stroke, and since that period he bad been in an imbecile state. Whet witness called on the 21st ult., the deceased was in bed, and appeared in the same state. His wife was also very ill, and died the same night. Witnes was called in by the constable in consequence of the sudden death and the reports that were circulated in the pa. rish. Witness placed the contents of the stomach in bottles, and forwarded them to Dr. Letheby. Dr. Letheby stated that he examined the stomach belonging to Andrew Witham. It contained about half an ounce of a thick, brown ish-green matter, which had the appearance of mucus mixed with some vegetable extract. This matter had a peculiar heavy odour, strongly resembling that from mice. It was examined by six others who are conversant with the odour of medicines, and they all agreed that it was strictly idea. tical with that from hemlock and its preparations. Winter could not affirm positively that the deceased Andrew Witham died from the influence of poison, but be enter tained strong suspicions of the existence of hemlock, or of some preparation thereof. He had also analysed the stomach of the deceased Anne Witham. It had the same dull au cotte odour as that from the stomach of her husband. tipon analysis he was unable to detect the presence of any mineral poison, buthe thought the existence of the odour of hemlock was a suspicious circumstance.—Mr. Buchanan considered deceased was decidedly imbecile when he saw him, and not in a lit state to make a will.—The Coroner said it was a very peculiar case, and required further investigation. The in. quir' y was accordingly adjourned until Friday next. IRELAND. DVELIE, FEB. 2. The circle of candidates for the vacant seat in the university is now narrowed to Mr. Napier and the Judge of the Prerogative Court, whose canvassers are out in all directions ; nor is Mr. Napier less active. There was a private meeting of his friends last night, to arrange the plan of the campaign. Among the gentlemen named as best fitted for the honour, and whose elevation would reflect no stain on the univer sity, has been Mr. Whiteside. He is brother-in-law of I4lr. Napier, and, if the latter should resign in his favour, there could be little doubt cf his success. Mr. Napier, however, has no idea of withdrawing from the field. Mr. Whiteside would give effective sup port to the present government, whose principles were the principles of his youth, and, after an interval of gentle conservatism, are strain become the principles of his mature age. Mr. W hiteside is devoting his spare hours to a work on Italy, from which he has re cently returned. Its publication is looked forward to with' much anxiety. The primate, I hear, will not interfere, which gives Mr. Napier greater assurances of success. The advocates of a milder criminal code, including many of the Society of Friends, held a preliminary meeting yesterday, to consider the course to be taken respecting the forthcoming executions in the south. A memorial will be presented to the Earl of Cla rendon after the general meeting of Thursday, over which the Lord Mayor will preside. Should his excellency assent to the prayer of the memorial,which is not very probable, there would be sufficient time to respite the first of the Limerick executions