The Express. — London, England, 1853-02-16 00:00:00

gfte erprefss TO CI )I.I:XSPONDENTB. paned [ALGA of " The Ferrer; esewAyie tM usies swains .6, nag( tit," u lothishest sw.ey Thesis, 1 Frits, Wert. is A, As • t. A ..tiereests feweked ter The repress; Lisle' Iveeisti Near, A' be et •hr ere, le, Ellt•lriFlittic Two Vele.* ae She ey of pebaseitioa. 111611 WATER AT LONDON BRIDOI. 71. SAL... ..... .Allatses. 71. 24/A. —vitamin. 716 Oa. rftsrasce. es. 200. LONDON, 11 - ED.VESDAY. FEBRUARY 16. Sons misapprehension seems to have arisen with regard to the meaning of expressions used by Lord JOHN RUSSELL on Thursday last, when adverting to the Income Tax. Most of his hearers were left under the impression that Reform of the Schedules was likely to be postponed until 180.1 along with Reform of the Franchise. By others a different, and we trust a more accurate, interpretation is new put upon the words of the noble lord, and he was un derstood to have intended rather to convey an inti mation on the part of the Cabinet that they con ceived two such legislative undertakings impracti cable in the same session. If this version be correct, it follows from the postponement of Electoral Reform that we are entitled to look for the realisation of the Iserdeferred hope of fiscal re-adjustment, and that ase may weeks elapse the House of Commons will be invited to consider the details of an amended act for taxing more equitably property and income. The Act under which the taxes are now levied ex piemearly in April next. If, therefore, all discussion IS AR subject be postponed until after Easter, but a Ism slays will be available for consideration or dis coidal of the modified scheme which may be con templated by the new CnsNeehhon of the EXCHE QUER. It will almost of necessity follow that the practical alternative to his plan, whatever that plan may be, will be the immi nen t hazard of losing the tax altogether, or of renewing it in its amended form for another year, in order to prevent its falling to the ground. It would certainly have been preferable in every point ot view had the alterations about to be proposed by Mr. GLADSTONE been laid before Parliament previous to the Elater nom the country would thus be better able to judge et their tendency and working, and the discussion which must inevitably ensue within the walls of Parliament would be morn likely to assume a delibe rate and useful character. It is but justice to Mr. DISRAELI to recollect that the course which he adopted was open to no objection in this particular. We own we think it is much to be regretted that his example therein has not appeared worthy of imita tion by his successor; though involving great princi ples of justice between class and class, and be tween man and man, the affair is essentially one of manifold details. Until, therefore, we shall see is black and white the amended schedules of our present Finance Minister it will be impossible to give even a surmise as to the efficacy or worth of the changes which he may introduce. And until there shall have been time to investigate fully the practical bearing of such changes, it will be really impossible to form any well-founded decision respect ing them. In the face, therefore, of an expiring law, the friends of Financial Reform wiU be placed—and we are compelled to say unfairly placed—at no little disadvantage by the arrangement in question. On the other hand, however, it cannot have escaped the acute mind of Mr. GLADSTONE, that by risking all, as he is thus doing, upon the immediate impression which his forthcomingscheme may produce, he in some degree creates for himself an opportunity for doing something greater and more original in the way ot amendment than would otherwise have been open to him. By driving things to the last in this fashion he doubtless makes up his mind to satisfy popular demands at a single coup. We may fairly presume, therefore, that he means to grapple with statesman like courage, and in the spirit ot a high ambition, with a question whose difficulties have successively battled many of his most illustrious predecessors in office, from the days of Pirr to those of PEEL. The great financier of GEORGE the Titan's time eluded the duty of drawing a just distinction between realised property and a fluctuating income by the constantly reiterated declaration that the tax was imposed solely for the purposes of war, and that its temporary necessity must consequently cover all its defects. As a mere matter of prudence, and to abate somewhat of the swell of popular impatience, Mr. Peer drew an arbitrary line of exemption at a point which would exclude all those who live by wages not exceeding a pound a week. Without the justification, Sir ROBERT PEEL, when he proposed the re-imposition of the tax, felt the necessity of exempting all incomes under 1304 a year. But his defence of the glaring anomalies which he left untouched above that class of incomes were admitted by him to be defensible only on the plea that the tax itself was intended to be levied only for a limited time, and consequently that its inequa lities ought to be borne with patience and temper. At each renewal of the term, however, this plea has been received on the part of the public with diminished satisfaction and dis position to endurance. Two years ago the House of Commons, in a fit of unmistakeable ill-humour on the subject, came to the resolution of voting the tax for twelve months only. Last session a similar course was pursued. Meantime Select Committees have been sitting for the purpose of taking evidence on the question, and the publication of the result of their labours has served to strengthen and to stimu late the popular conviction—not only that between fixed and fluctuating incomes a distinction with re spect to liability should be drawn but that the dis tinction should be a wide and a bro ad one, graduated according to the degrees of difference between permanence and perishability. Already has the principle of such modification been adopted and avowed by several influential sections of the Legislature. The changes proposed in the schedules by Mr. DIBIIAELI were doubtless liable to some exception, but they con tained a great principle, the principle that a chstino tion ought to be drawn in equalizing taxation between toiling industry and inert opulence. To that Principle, though propounded by the leader of the Tory party, many influential Liberals gave in their grateful adhenon; and there cannot be a question that upon this po rtion r of his Budget the late Chan cellor of the F : chequer would have been able to command a large majority. The matter is not, therefore, and cannot be, treats& as a party matter. It will be found with the Income Tax, as it wee found with the extension of the House Tax, that public opinion overleaps the narrow fences of faction, and that against the growing conviction of the intelligence of the nation, neither the interests nor prejudices of party, whether in office or in opposition, are able long to stand. In every free and educated constituency the determination has long since been come to that if the Income Tax is to be renewed it must be radially re-modelled and fundamentally reformed. We hope for his own sake and that of the country that Mr. GrAneronz is aware of this. An ineffectual or faltering attempt to patch u p the present unen durable system can only end in disappointment and failure. Ar last the Canada Clergy Reserves question is fairly on the way for sctticment,—u our Parliamen tary report bears witness. To be satisfactory, the meas ure on this subject must be full and unhesitat ing; it must leave to the people and Parliament of t h e province complete power to deal as they please with these reserves ; to apply their proceeds also as pis,they think best, even to secular and lay if such be their wish. The question at Issue, SO far as we arc concerned, is simply and purely one of political government ; its ecclesiastical and religious ingredient is entirely matter for t h e eons. 'deration of the Canadian Parliament. Th e province of Canada has won for itself something more than an ordinary Colonial Con stitution ; it has obtained, nut only a representa tive system such as many other of our dependencies possess, but, addition, responsible government. Th e Quiis s Representative in Canada, like her MAR -qv at home, is bound to choose for his Mi nisters men who, for their policy and proceedings, mu obtain a majority in Parliament. On their ad vice he acts; it is their measures which are presented to the Provincial Legislature; it is they who conduct th e government and distribute the patronage of Ca nada. The province has consequently a full Parlia mentary system. Two subjects only were, in 1840, withdrawn from its jurisdiction—the Civil List and these Clergy Reserves. The Civil List has since, however, been wisely and usefully consigned to its care and authority. And on what pnnciple the Clergy Reserves can be continued u the solitary ex ception to its legislative power it is impossible to conceive. The opponents of the repeal of the existing Im perial law do not, indeed, affect to argue the question o n principle. They treat the continuance of the sta tute 3 and 4 Vier., c. 78, as a matter of agreement and compact ; they regard it as an act of finality not to be disturbed, at least by Colonial legislation; they refuse to run the risk of having property, set apart for the religious instruction of the people, " diverted "—we UN Sir JOHN PAKINGTON'S pious language—"for ever from its 'sacred purpose . But their premises are unfounded in facts, and their sequences are un tenable. From 1791 down to 1840 there is no trace of an agreement or compact. It was the Imperial Legislature in the former year that reserved (without consulting the wishes of Canada) these wastes for the support of a Protestant clergy; and from 1791 to 1810 the proceeds of these lands were applied to the exclusive maintenance of one particular clergy, in a manner which the QUEEN'S Judges of West minster Hall pronounced to be illegal in the latter year. In legislating in 1840 the Imperial Legisla ture did so, not in accordance with, but against, the wishes of the colonists. The very Ministry in Ent land which at last assented to have the messare that year forced on them, declared it, whoa= receiving the sanction of Parliament, to be dent. And from the day of its enactment to the present hour, it has been deemed offensive in prin ciple and unwise in details by the people and Legisla ture of the provinces. To clothe it, therefore, with the character of an agreement or a compact, is wholly to misdescribe it. The act of 1840 arose out of a compromise of parties at home, to which the people Of Canada were wholly opposed. To treat such a measure as an act of finality, would be absurd. Since its enactment, the world has been moving; nowhere more rapidly than in Canada. The Act of 1840 in reality established two Churches, those of England and Scotland, in the province. But the Church of Scotland, then powerful and numerous there, now scarcely exists. The Canadian Presbyte rians have almost to a man adhered to the Free, and left the communion of the Established, Kirk of Scotland. If, therefore, the Statute of 1840 be final and unalterable, a large proportion of its funds will have to go to a Church which has scarcely as exis tence. But that is not aIL In the meantime, the Canadian Parliament has passed a declaratory sta tute, placing all religious communities on an equal footing in the promises. dissimulating them all from connexion with the State, and reducing them to a voluntary status. Such a provincial statute is wholly at variance with an imperial act conferring great and exclusive wealth on two of the religions bodies thus affected. The principle thus solemnly adopted by the colony requires either the secularisation of the Clergy Reserves, or their distribution amongst all religious communities. At all events, that act can not, in the presence of circumstances so materially changed, be considered final. Let who will take this finality view of the case, the members of the late Government cannot. For, though they refused to repeal, they were willing to alter the provisions of the 3& 4 Vim., e. 78. "It may possibly be desirable," said Sir JOHN PARING TON, " that the distribution should from time to time be reconsidered. Any proposals of such a nature her MAJESTY'S Government would be willing to en tertain." And this admission of the DeaßY Cabinet wonderfully simplifies the question. For if the act of 1840 within twelve years of its enactment be so inapplicable to the present state of Canada as to re quire revision, and if, looking again forward, it is probable that the distribution of the fund should "from time to time "be reconsidered, surely we on this side of the Atlantic must be far leas competent to select and re-arrange " from time to time " the distribution, Han a people so active and alive to their own interests as our fellow-countrymen in Canada? And if they are the best judges of details, they are also the fittest power to settle the principle at issue. To my, that in religious matters alone we will manage their affairs for them, is to insult and ent ity* the Canadian people. The Act of 1840 is their collar of servitude and bondage to a policy abandoned inemly other question. They have achieved for themselves every freedom but that which relates to Public Worship ; and that they will also win, by Independenc e an d S e p arat i on , if mammary. " I have DO hesitation," Mr. HINCKES told Sir JOHN PARING. TON, "in stating it as my conviction that the Canadian Parliament will n o t invite the legislation of the Imperial Parliament regarding the distribu tion d a local fund." In those three words lies the gist of the whole case. The fund is local, the ques tion is local, the principle is local, the details are local. But mixed up with these purely local con siderations are our own ecclesiastical polemics. The Church at home regards the Acts of 1791 and of 1840 moot-works of its own defences; and, therefore, it arouses the passions and the prejudices of its parti san to refuse to Canada what, were not its interests apposed to be concerned, the Imperial Parliament maid be permitted to surrender almost with mieertel approbation. been more admirable or more _ the conduct of the Canadian Par question. In temperate and moderate session after grunion, addressed repeal of the Act of 1840. But v anticipation, pledged themselves the fund from religious purposes. when Mr. BROWN moved a resolu its application " to the support of a secular education," that resolution majority of 71 to 5. They have not as a religions but as a consti have they grown angry or violent 'delay and disappointment; and in they agreed to they assured her in thus givint e ee:ression to the the country, t are actuated by gs or loyalty to MAJESTY, and to prevent those lamentable con . must be the result of a collision Imperial and Provincial Parliaments, on which very strong feelings are known nag the people of this province." irreirstib:e in principle; temperate and ct, their claim of right can only be of losing a province so strong and 'toned, and, as yet, so loyal. TTF, EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1853. . . power could not prevent the circulation of the ob noxions pamphletot is rather hard that a vanquished party should be held responsible foe the aberrations of an obscure advocate of the Preview bar. The Gazette de Prance says: "We protested formally I against the publication of the Lettres Franques' and we can affirm that in our reprobation of that ' pamphlet we were the organs of the whole legitimist party. It is painful to us to see a purely individual work imputed to our party, when the disavowal of this work has united in one unanimous sentiment of blame all shades of legitimists, unfortunately so di vided on other political subjects." The Meniteur announces that M. de Kisseleff, En voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Russia, has had tho honour of a private audience of the Emperor to deliver the reply of his sovereign to the private letter addressed to him by his Majesty. A_petition is now being signed at Rheims praying the Emperor to have himself crowned in that city The petition says: Rheims being the city of coronations, invested by the Pontifical Bulls with the prerogative of anointing and elseining the sovereigns of France, the coronation of your Majesty will be still more august in the Christian world if it takes place in our cathedral, where so many kings hays rem* to receive that unction which makes them the elder sone of the church. Emperor, your Majesty who entitles yourself by the grace of clod and the national will, has a right to pr,reed am the monarchs of divine right did before you; heir and restorer of the fourth dynuty, the crown lawaits you on the same altar from whence Rogues Cepa received it. Se hieihttioa," Mr. HlNcta "in stating it as Chadian Parliament will et the Imperial Parliamec tha of a Local load." In ald of the whole case. TI flww is local, the principle Leal But mixed up witl Mentions are our own eec Mirth at home regards th , aiout-vrork• of its own d arouses the passions and t sans to refuse to Canada w supposed to be concerned, Woad be permitted to universal approbation. Nothing can hare been eseetitatioael dna the con lowans the question. ileM e they havo, maim Ste for the sepal they have never, by Wlcsl buy alienation of the foe Oa the contrary, when MI lea is flavour of its applic someal.wystem of secula r was rejected by a majorit treated the subject, not as tational one. Nor have thi consequence of delay am the last address they agri MUMS' " that in thus public opinion of the coun the stronge feelings of toy by sincere st desire to prey sequences which most be between the Imperial and a question on which very topevail among the peop Sound and irresistible is !moderate in conduct, their refused at the ride of losini a Ptople so enlightened, an RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS ON STANDING ORDERS. Yesterday the standing orders were declared com plied with in the following awes: BAJTIAN UNION RAILWAY.—For amalgamation, capi tal, and preform, shares. ENNISSILLIN. AND SLIGO RAILWAT. —Pm eaaotreWn► al lino from Enniskillen to Sligo, with • braes' iloordesah at as estimated cost of 297,0001. Loans FOYLII AND LOLTOR SWILLS RAILWAY.—For eonstraetioa of lice bon Lough Swill y to river Foyle, near Londoadern, estimated expense 39,0001. OILAAT WzamnN, 8111ZWINVILY, AND BILLYINGLIAII AND CNISTIN RAILWAY.—For teethe arrengentents. INS DUBLIN AND WY-IVO/41 RAILWAY, AND Co*,n MIDDLITON, AND 100011 AL RAILWAY bllls Wen reported withdrawn. Haswtcs Dods AND Pina.—Forconstruction of docks, pier, and other works, at •cost of 100,0(101. BtusstaaaD Docus.—To make a branch line, and sell or lease undertaking to Great Western, London and North Western, or other railway oompany—costiof broach, 12,0001. The other bills passed were:—Castlemain Estuary and Reclamation ; West London Waterworks (supply of water to western districts), met 60,0001.; Wakefield klarket and Stockton Dock. CONTROVIRTID ELECTIONC—The general committee of elections have fined Tuesday, lit March, for the election committees to be chosen from Panel 3, in the case of Wigton Burghs, Kingston-upon• Hull, Gloucester, and Derby elec tions; and Wednesday, 2nd March, in the ease of Guild ford, Rye, and Huddersfield elections. Souvnaisevolv Towx Etzertox.—A petition has just been presented b Mr. A. D. It. W. D. Cochrane against the return of Sir A• Cockburn, on the ground of bribery and corruption. CARLOW ELICTION.—A petition has also been presented by the electors of Carlow against the return of Mr. Ales antler, on the ground of bribery, intimidation, and illegal majority. TUE DESPERATE, screw steam frigate, Capt. W. W. Chambers, was inspected on Monday morning by Admiral Sir J. A. Ommannsy, at Devonport. The Admiral expressed himself pleased with the seal and ability mani fested by the crew, and the general appearance of the ship. On &recent trial of her machinery, her engines were found to answer admirably, and the vessel obtained • speed of 10.02 knots per hour. FRANCE. PARIS, TOP.SDAT ETZKINO. As I mentioned yesterday, the public was not re presented at the ceremony of opening the legislative session at the Tuileries. There was, however, a very large attendance of official personages and their ladies. The Moniteur gives the following account of the proceedings: "To-day, at one o'clock, the Emperor opened the legislative session in person, at the Palace of the Tuileries, in the Salle des Marechaux, and received the oaths of the Senate a n d C or p s LCgislatif. The throne was placed at the bottom of the hall, on an estnde, a little in front of one of the windows looking into the garden. On the right a chair of state was placed for Prince Jerome Napoleon, and on the left a chair for Prince Napoleon. A little in the rear were placed pliants for the princes of the im perial family designated by his Majesty. The win dow recess was set apart for the households of the Emperor and the Imperial family. On the right and ou the left were seats for the ministers. On each I side near the seats reserved fur the ministers were others set apart for the president, vice-presidents. and presidents of sections of the Council of State, Behind were places for the other members of the same body. On the right of the throne at a right angle with it were placed seats for the diplomatic corps. In front of the throne on the right, were the seats reserved for the Senate, and on the left those for the Legislative Body. Behind the Senate were seats for the deputations of the clergy, of the Court of Caseation, and the other law courts, and for the staff of the army of Paris. A wide passage lead ing to the throne had been left vacant between the seats of the Senate and of the Legislative Body. The gallery above was appropriated to the Empress, the Princesses, and the ladies invited. The diplomitic corps and the three great bodies of the state, all in full uniform, arrived at half-past 12. They were received by master and assistant-masters of the ceremonies, and conducted to the place destined for them. At five minutes to one a deputy master of the I ceremonies came forward and announced " The Empress," and immediately every one rose to receive her. Her Majesty passed through the centre , of the hall to the place appropriated to her„i preceded by the officers of the household, and followed by her ladies of honour. Ou the right of the Empress was seated the Princess Mathilde, and on the left the Countess de Montijo. At each side were the Princesses of the Imperial family designated by the Emperor, and the Mar quise Bartholini. Also were to be seen there the wives of the ambaseadors, of the ministers, of the marshals and admirals, of the great officers of crown, of the members of the bureaux of the Senate, Legisla tive Body, and Council of State, and the ladies attached to the households of the various members of the Imperial family. The Empress was received with marks of the most respectful sympathy. Immediately after her arri val a salvo of 101 guns was fired to announce that the ceremony was about to commence. Then the grand master of the ceremonies went to inform the Emperor and his Majesty's cortege moved forward in the order indicated in the programme of the cere mony. On the entry of the cortege, an assistant master of ceremonies announced "the Emperor." At this moment the assembly unanimously cried " Vire rEmpereur! Vivo l'lmperatrice r' Empe roe wore the uniform of a general of division with the grand cordon of the Legion of Honour. He took his place in the front of the throme, having on his right Prince Jerome Napoleon in the uniform of mar shal, and Prince Napoleon in that of general of divi sion. On the left of this latter was Prince Lucien. The household of his Majesty was behind the throne. At the foot was the grand master of the ceremonies, having a master of the ceremonies on his left. The other master was in front of the diplomatic body, and the assistant masters were at the doors. The entire assembly being standing and uncovered, his Majesty sat down, and, the grand master of the ceremonies having first taken the Emperor's orders, said " Cien tlemen, be seated." His Majesty then rose and, in a firm voice, pro nounced the following speech [already given in the Daily News]. Then, the grand master of the cere monies, having received the orders of the Emperor, went and intimated them to the minister of state. That functionary announced that he was about to proceed to administer the oath, and that each of the senators and deputies would, when his name was called out, have to raise his right hand, and reply individually with the words "I swear," to the fol lowing form of oath: "I swear obedience to the constitution, and fidelity to the Emperor." The minister then proceeded to call over all the names, commencing for the Senate with the members of the bureau, the cardinals, the marshals, and admirals, and then the other members; and for the Legislative Body, with the members of the bureau, the ques'ors, and then the other deputies. ,When every member present had taken the oath, the Minister of State de clared the session of 1853 to be duly opened. lam not sufficiently acquainted with the attri of the various great officers of state to be able to give Toe the name of the high official whose province it is to describe the degree and nature of the applause with which the Emperor's speeches are received. Whoever he may be it is impossible not to give him credit for zeal and ingenuity in the performance of his duty. In the official report of the Monileer the following phrases are judiciously distributed at pro per intervals, "profound emotion r "loud approba tion;" "prolonged assent;" "loud and unanimous applause r " marks of general satisfaction ;" " gene ral assent ;" " Viva rEmpereur ! Vice l'lmperatrice." The /lenience publishes, not the names of the senators and depuies who were present at the cere mony, but of those that were absent. The list in cludes very few senators, but as many as sixty-four deputies, and among them M. Moutalembert, the Duke d'Uzes, and most of the legitimist members. Dr. Venn was also absent. Count d'Haussonville, a nephew of the Duke de Broglie, was arrested yesterday, under circumstances described as follows by the Constitulionnel : Count d'Haussosville, who was implicated in the affair of the But/etas Francais, being in a carriage this morning near the Pont Royal, wanted to cross the file of car riages of the Corps Legislatif proceeding to the Tuileries. Upon mane observations being made by an agent of authority to inform him that he could sot be allowed to cross the line of procession, C unt dliausaonville replied in terms insulting to his Majesty the Emperor. He was arrested, and banded over to IL Bosilly, the commissary of police. Lord Cowley has left Paris for London. The Italian Opera is densely crowded this evening, on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor and Em press. The performance is "I Puritani." A company has been organised in Paris to establish a line of screw steamers immediately, between Bor deaux, Havre, Dieppe, and Rouen. The vessels will be about 400 tons, and 100-horse power each. The report of the committee appointed to consider the " fusion " of the Eastern and the Normandy rail roads, just about to be published, is declared to be favourable to that project. At Berlin the latest rates are thus reported: Four and-a-Half per Cents., 1021; ditto Old, 1021; ditto, 1852, 1031. Three-and-a-Half ditto, 931. Frank fort : Fives, 851; Four-and-a-Half, 781; Fours, 691; Threes, 52 ; Two-and-a-Half, 431. Bank, 1522. PARIS, MONDAY Evaxixo. The charge against the conductors of the Northern Railway, who, as I mentioned on Saturday, were I arrested, for clandestinely currying political corre spondence, is not a political one. They arc simply amused of a fraud upon the Post-office regulations, by taking letters for the conveyance of which the Post.office has a monopoly. It can, however, scarcely be doubted that the arrests were made for the pur pee of annoying and frightening correspondents. Many of the Belgian papers have long been in the I habit of receiving corresponlcnce through the hands of the conductors, in order to save time. The practice was no secret, and the breach of the law was till now connived at by the authorities. The ',dependence and Emancipation of Brussels were de prived of their letters for two days in consequence of this razzia. Several persons, bearers of packets to the conductors, were arrested at the same time with them. Two correspondents of English journals have at tended M. Brault, the juge a'instruction, in pursuance of subpomas, to giro evidence relative to the prosecu tion of some of the persons supposed to have given them political information. All the legitimist journals protest against the im putation of the Moniteur that the " Lettres Franqucs" is the work of the legitimist party. The Union says, with much reason, that, if the government with ail its SPAIN. MADRID, Fas. 9. The result of 303 elections is now known. The government has returned 24i of its members, and the opposition, composed of the moderate and' progresista parties, only 59. The returns from Catalonia and Galicia have yet to come in, but they have lost their interest now that the composition of the new chamber is so clearly exhibited. Among the public men who have failed to secure seats in the new Cortes are MM. Olozags, Escossurs, Pacheco, Moyano, and Noceda. The opposition has returned among others MM. Mon, Fidel, Cortina, Seijas Lozano, and Rios-Rotas. The equivocal un derstanding upon which the new chamber has been returned forbids us to draw any very positive conclu sions respecting the probable disposition of the new chamber. What can be augured of a government which inscribes on its electoral lists the name of a strongly pronounced constitutionalist like M. Mar. tinez de la Rosa, and by its side those of MM. Bravo Afurillo and Betrand de Lys, the men who fell in attempting to make the constitutional throne of Isabella as absolute as that of Ferdinand ? Until the opening of the Cortes then we may suspend speculation, which can only be fruitlessly exercised on the most characterless Cortes which Spain ever saw. SWITZERLAND. A letter from Aargau of the 9th states that MM. Franscini and Kurz have declined the appointment of federal commissioners at Ticino: the first, because he is himself a member of that canton ; the second, because he believes tho need of federal interference to be greatly exaggerated. Meanwhile events are rendering the mission itself unnecessary. ITALY. MILAN. The following is the text of Itadetalt3's proclama tion, a summary of which we published yesterday : TO THE INILADITANTS___OPTiII LOMBARDO-VENETIAN KINGDOII. In the evening of the 13th a gang of malefactors, armed with daggers, attacked isolated. °facers and soldiers with murdeoua intent, killing 10, and more or ler dangerously wounding 64. Filled with the deepest disgust et that most abominable of crimes—hired assassination—l am necessi tated to employ severe measures against the city of Milan, and therefore ordain— 1. Tho city is to be placed in the most rigorous state of siege, which, with all its consequences. will be mai nta i ne d with the very . preateat severity. 2. All susp icious strangers to be dismissed from the city. 3. The city of Milan hu to provide for the maintenance of the wounded as long as they live, as also for the families of the killed. _ _ 4. Until the ringleaders aad instigators of the crime which has been committed are delivered up, the city of Milan will have to pay the extraordinary expenses attendant on the unusual exertions of the garrison; from this contri bution, however, such individuals as are notoriously at tached to government—whatever class of society they may belong to—are exempt. I reserve to myself to subject the city of Milan to such farther punishment as the result of the investigation to be begun shall show to he deserved. To calm the fears of the public, it is made known that no disorder has taken place is any other part of the kingdom. Verona, Feb. 9, 1853. The Official Vienna Gazette admits its error in stating that n►ne persons taken with arms in their hands had been executed. The number was seven, of whom six were hanged and one shot. A letter dated Milan, the 10th inst., states that M. Crivelli, one of the chiefs of the insurrection, had been arrested, but that no other leader had been taken. It was said that amongst the prisoners made were English, Swiss, and Piedmontese. The Vienna Gazette only states on this subject that some of the seditious are Swiss, and adds that the government had established a military cordon along the margin of the canton of Ticino. Some of the Italian papers contain a report of an alleged outbreak at Monza, a town of 8,400 inhabit ants, twenty-four miles from Milan. A body of in surgants, it is said, attempted at first to surprise the garrison of the castle, while another attacked the vice-regal palace on the Piazza del Duomo. A heavy fire was opened by the troops upon the assailants, which forced them to retire. Their stilettos were chiefly directed against the officers, several of whom were killed or wounded. In opposition to this, the official bulletins of the Austrian authorities state that nowhere except at Milan was the public tranquillity disturbed. GERMANY. The Imperial Gazette of Vienna gives the follow ing warning to the Presse, of the same capital : " The Presse of the 10th instant contains an article, in which it is intimated with tolerable plainness that the Imperial French government had mitigated the disorders at Milan. Since this article appeared at a moment when the Presse could not possibly be in possession of correspondence front Milan, received by post, while the messages transmitted by telegraph furnished no ground whatever for a conjecture so calumnious, it :a clear that this monstrous inculpation of a government friendly to Austria had its origin nowhere else than in the imagination of the writers in Or Presse, who will further be held accountable for the liberty they have taken." The Neue Prussian Gazette state, that the rati fication of the Austro-Prussian commercial and ens. toms treaty will take place without difficulty. By this convention the two great powers of Germany legally bind only themselves. No mention of the Zollverein is made in it, but it contains a provision leaving to every German government an option of acceding to its stipulations within a fixed delay. Letters from Hanover of the 10th state that the ministerial crisis, which had lasted for several days, was at an end, and that all the ministers would retain their portfolios. A telegraphic despatch, from Berlin, dated Mon day, says:—" The Zollverein Conferences were re newed upon the initiative of the Prussian minister. The decision upon the convention with Austria will be come to very speedily. DESTRUCTION OF A VESSEL BY FIBS.—A French vessel was destroyed by firs on Saturday morning, off Dan genets. She was a fine schooner, called the Selinia, Viaud, muter, and was hound to London from Nantes, with wine and a general cargo of merchandise. She was wending her way up the Channel off this coast, when the crew were alarmed on dircrvering a fire to be kindling somewhere in the bold. Every effort was made to arrest the progress of the flames, but to little purpose ; and with a double view of preserving their own lives, and as much as possible of the vessel and cargo, it was determined to make for the shore in the west bay of Dungeness. ller approach had been ob served from the coast, and assistance sent off to her. She at length took the ground between No. 3 and 4 stations, some four miles to the westward of the Ncss, when, with the aid of the coastguard and other parties from shore, in creased exertions were made to extinguish the See. It had obtained, however, too powerful a hold of the LI fated craft to admit of her preservation. She was burnt to the water's edge.—Sortfla &slats Gazette. gin Court, The Queen will hold a Privy Council on Monday salt at Buckioghans Paler*. flutrunonses were issued yes terday to the Ministers and Great Officers of State. Prince Albert, attended by Colonel the Ilan. Charles Grey and Lieut-Col.mel the lion. A. Gordon, went yester day morning to the Trinity House. In the afternoon His Royal Higher's, attended by Lient:Colmiel lion. A. Gor don, paid a visit to the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester house, Piccadilly. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Mar chioness of Ely, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, Lord Rivers, ord Alfred Paget, and Lirut-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, honoured the Princess's Theatre with their presence last evening. The Marchioness of Ely has relieved the Ccuntess of Charlemont in her duties as the Lady-in-Welting to the Queen, _ Lord Rivers has relieved Earl Somers in his duties of Lord.in-Waiting, and Sir Edward Bowater bu relieved Captain the Hon. Mortimer Backville West as Groom•in- Waiting to Her Majesty. A Deputation, consisting of Lord Hatherton, Lord Wrotteeley, the Hon. E. IL Littleton, Mr. Hordern, Mr. Rutter, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Waters, and Mr. Williams had an interview with the Right Hon. H. Cardwell and Lord Stanley of Alderley yesterday, at the Board of Trade.: Mr. Ross had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Colonel Forester and Mr. Toogood had an interview with the Right lion. E. Cardwell yesterday, at the Board of Trade. Mr. Monsen, M.P., had an interview with the Chancellor of :he Exchequer yesterday. Mr. Alexander Spearman had also as interview with the right hon. gentleman, at his official residence, in Downing-street. (rlOlll LAST MONT'S ()AMITE.) FOREIGN -OFFICE, FEB. 9. - The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Andrew Buct.anan, Esq., now her Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Confe deration, to be her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Denmark. The Queen has also been graciously pleased to appoint the lion. Charles Augustus Murray, now her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in Egypt, to be her Majesty's Minister Ple nipotentiary to the Swiss Confederation. FOREIGN -OFFICE, FED. 14.—The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. John Rapp. as Agent and Con sul-General in London for tho Swiss Confederation. The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr. Jos. Augus tus Henriques as Consul at Melbourne, in Australia, for the United States of America. The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr. Edward Bernard Neill, as Con sul in London for the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay. DOWNING -STREET, FEB. 13.—The Queen has been pleased to make the following appointments for the Colony of Victoria, viz., Edward Eyre Williams, Esq., to be Second Putout Judge of th e S u p reme Court; William Foster Stawell, Esq., to be H.r Majesty's Attorney• Gen eral ; James Croke, Esq., to be her Majesty's Solicitor- General ; Henry Field Gurnee, Esq , to be Crown Solici tor ; Robert Williams Pohlman, Esq., to be Commissioner of the Coui tof Requests and Chairman of General and Quarter Sessions; Frederick Wilkinson, Esq., to be Master in Equity of the Supreme Court and Chief - Commissioner of Insolvent Estates. WAR-OFFICE, Fait 15. 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons.—Comet Harrington Astley 1 revelyan to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Brinkley, who retires. Ist Regiment of Foot.—Lieutenant Spencer George Angus tea Thumb, to be captain, by purchase, vice Anderson, who retires; Ensign William Bellew to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Thursby. 6th Foot.—Eesign William Grove Annssley to be Ileum ' neat, by purchase, vice Robertson, who retires. 9th Foot —Lieutenant John 11. Lothian to be captain, by purchase vice Fenton, who retiree ; Ensign William Daunt to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Lothian. 15th loot—Lieutenant C. Theodore de Montenach to be captain, without purchase, vice Graves, deceased; Ensign Richard Roxburgh Moore to be lieutenant, without pur chase, vice De Montenach. 19th Foot.—Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Upon to be Major, by . purchase, vice Caney, who retires ; Lieute nant Frederick Charles Ashworth to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Haiti. Ensign George Ridge Beadon to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Ashworth. 25th Foot.—Lieutenant Douglas John Dickinson, front half-pay of the 2nd Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice F. J. B. Pritetly, promoted, without purchase, to an unattached Company. Ensign William Robert Goodall, to be lieute nant, by purchase, vice Dickinson, who retires. Ensign Charles Gun Ranson, from the 69th Feet, to be ensign, vice Goodall. 57th Foot—Lieutenant William Fowler Jones to be Captain, by putchue, vice Monro, who retires Easign Arthur Maxwell Earle to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Jones. 63rd Foot.—Ensign William John Alexander Stainer has been permitted to retire from the Service by the sale of his commission_ 67tisPOOT.isjor Thomas Edmond Knox, from the 3rd West India Regiment, to be Major, vice Murray, who ex change*. let West India Regiment.—Ensign Edmund Patterson, to be lieutenant, without purchase, vice Jones, deceased. Ensign George Thomas Miller to be lieutenant, by pur chase, vice Searle, promoted. 2nd Wtst India Regiment. Captain Henry Was. Whitfield to be Major, by purchase, vice Elliott, who re tires. Lieutenant JamosOwen Bovill to be captain, by purchase, vice Whitfield. 3rd West India Regiment—Major Samuel Hood Murray, from the 67th Foot, to be major, vice Knox, who ex changes. MIIIOIIISDON. Comatesastrizr. Deputy-Asaistant _ - Commissary-General James !Lichen has been pennitted to resign his commission from 15th September, 1852. NEW DEPUTY-LIEUTENANTS. Roes-earan. William Rauh Manay, Esq. WEST RIDING OF TIIR COUNTY OF YORK, AND OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF THE CITY OF YORK. The Right Honourable Lord Hawke Viscount Milton, the Right Honourable Sir Charles Wood, Bart., theßight Honourable Matthew Talbot Baines, Sir William Ridley Charles Cooke Bart., Sir Charles Slingsby, Bart., Sir George Goodm a n, Hat., Edward Akreyd, lisq. William Ablaut, junior, En , Joseph Benyon, Esq., Th omas Davi. son Bland, Esq., James Brown, Esq , Samuel James Brown, Esq., Edmund Calverley, Es., Thomas Clapham, Esq., John Cooper, Esq., Ralph Creyke, Esq., John Crossley, Esq , Francis Darwin, Esq. Joseph Dent, Esq., John Dent Dent, Esq., Joseph Eastwood, Esq., (Franca liewksworth Fawkes, Esq., John Foster, Esq., John Fullerton, Esq., James Milner OaskeU, En., John Gott, Esq., John Bea wick. Greenwood, Esq., John Hague, Esq., Alfred Harris, Esq., Joseph Holdeworth, Esq., Ralph Markiand, Esq., Joseph Marshall, Eat, Wil iam Milthurp Maude, Esq. William hiordaunt Edward Milner, Esq., Richard Musick ton Milner, E William Nicholson Nicholson, Esq., °reread, Esq sq., ~ John Rand, &q., George John See- Jamison, Esq., John George Smyth, E'sq., Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope, Esq., Joseph Mason Tennant, Esq., William Bradley Waiaman, Esq., Edmund Warter ton,Req. John Thomas Wharton, Lamplugh Wick ham Wickham, Esq., John Wilson, Es Esq., q., Dull Thomas Woodd, Esq. John Yorke, Esq Hugo Charles Me/neU Ingram, Esti., Hugo Francis Meynell Ingram, James Garth Marshall, Esq., Henry Cowper Marshall, Esq., and John Gylby Uppleby, Eqs. SPORTING. TATTERSALL'S.—MoNDAY. Through earelmenees in transcribing, the quotations on the following nce were omitted in our paper yesterday : NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 12 to 1 art Mr. Luniley'ehlaria 12 to 1 Mr. Harrison's Lindrick 15 to 1 Mr. ()resale's Muscovite LATEST BETTING AT MANCHESTER. TUFADAT. The transactions at the rooms this morning show no ma terial change since our last; the horses most in demand being (lacer, View Halloo, and Due-an•Durras for Liver pool Steeplechase ; Contentment and Snowdon Dunhill for the Metropolitan; Cineas and Honeywood for the Derby. Closing prices: LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE. 7 to 1 agst Oscar (t to 601.) 8 to 1 Miss Mowbray (t) 11 to 1 Sir Peter Laurie (t) 14 to 1 View Halloo (t to 601.) 141 to 1 Duc-au-Durras (t) 20 to 1 Maurice Daley . 25 to 1 Houton (t) 25 to 1 Betsy Fria (t) LIVERPOOL SPRING CUP. 8 to 1 agat Doubt (t) 10 to 1 Bellewstown (t) 10 to 1 Charity (t) 10 to 1 Pride (t) 14 to 1 Mr. Norton (t) NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 6to 1 on the field (offered) METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 7 to 1 apt Contentment (t) 25 to 1 Snowdon Dunhill (t to 1500 25 to 1 Lampedo (t) 25 to 1 Pug Orrock (t) 30 to 1 Wedding-dap filly (oil) CHESTER CUP. 25 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn (t) 25 to 1 Trifle (t) 3.5 to 1 Black Doctor (t) 40 to 1 Indian Warrior (t) 40 to 1 Truth (') 45 to 1 Saint Michael (t) 600 to 6 Talfourd (t) 600 to 6 Ammonia (t) 500 to 5 Madeline (t) TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 4 to 1 agat West Australian (t) DERBY. 10 tit 1 agst West Australian (t) 12 to 1 Cineas (t) 25 to 1 Illucywced (t) 40 to 1 Orinoco (I) HEREFORDSHIRE STEEPLE CHASES. The Clerk of the Course informs us, by electric tele ' graph, that the meeting is postponed until Tuesday sad Wednesday next. OBSTRUCTIONS TO FREE - TRADE PRoo It ESS. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting at the Town-hall, Manchester, on Monday, when the chief topics of COOTHIAIiIiII were the obstruction' thrown in the way during the past year (and which for the first time since 1842 bad been successful) by the late government. Mr. THOMAS BALLS; president of the chamber, in opening the busier's, said that during the pest year this great community had happily been in a state of unprece dented activity. Labour had been a b un d ant , t h e l abouring classes never before enjoyed the extent of comfort which ' they bad partaken of, arid upon the whole the capitalist bad bad a fair remuneration for the employment of bis skill and those funds which he had embarked in the proem of manufacturing, trading, and commer cial enterprise. He almost feared that there might be at the present time too much commercial and manu facturing activity, for on every hand he found the element of cost was rapidly increasing, coals were dearer, raw mate rial" were higher in price, labour was both scarce and dear, and the prime cost of our manufacturing produce certainly was raised very considerably. There were extensions going on perhaps beyond what the immediate prospects of the future demand might warrant ; but there wns a self-regu lating principle abroad, that perhaps would afford a timely correction to any undue extension. The commercial charter of this country in its freedom might be dated from the year 1846, and from that time to the present there had been an augmentation in the consumption of cotton wool actually greater thou the extent of the consumption which existed at the close of the great war in 1815; tor during the period that he alluded to, from 1946 to the present moment, there had been an augmentation of little short of 10,000 bags of cotton per week; and at this moment we might possibly be consuming to the extent of 40,000 bales of cotMn per week. It would become those embarking in extensions to inquire how far the raw material could continue to be supplied in a ratio commen surate with their extensions, and how far labour could be procured to enable them to extend in the ratio we seemed now to be acting upon. Prudence would dictate inquiry into these subjects. He hoped that we should have an abundant supply of raw material, and that the labour of the country would be found adequate to its wants; but in the meantime, care and caution might be advisable. They were aware that the East India Company's charter terminated in the year 1854, and that at the present time the directors of the chamber were engaged in looking to the renewal of that charter with considerable anxiety. He was glad to in form them that in this extensive distiect there seemed to be an unanimous opinion that from the B tent of Control or the East India Company there should be obtained, if pos sible, conditions that would extend our cornn.creial rela tions with India, and that would raise the people of that couutry, our fellow subjects, in the scale of civilisation. (Hear, hear.) Their neighbours of the Commercial Asso ciation, he believed, were prepared to act with them in seeking the commercial and industrial regene ration of India; and he looked forward to obtaining the assistance of the Chambers of Commerce of Glasgow, Liverpool, Bradford, and other places, and he trusted that they would be able to concentrate their demand in so rea sonable a form that the concessions e hich they sought would be duly granted. We must look to India for an ex tended supply of cotton ; unless we hod pu!.lic works esta blished in India our hopes would result in disappointment; we could only expect through the aid of government the facilities that would give us the increased supply of cotton which we evidently required. During the last 11 years America had supplied cotton to an amazing extent, and the increase had been so astonishing that it amounted to 77 per cent; but in that period, from the East Indies we ac tually received a diminished annual supply, averaging as much as 16 per cent. With these differences palpably be fore us, we must arrive at the c onc l us i on t h at t h ere was something egregiously wrong in one country, whilst in the other we saw the development of immerse energy Ind in dustry. In the United States of America, during the years which had passed, they had been sedulously plying atten tion to the construction of railways, and they had in existence now, probably, railways to the ex tent of upwards of 30,000 miles •, but, at the pre sent time, in India, we had them out even to the extent of 100 miles in existence, construction, and pros pect. Glancing at the one and then at the other, we really ought to feel ashamed at the want of energy and en terprise, either on the part of this community, or on the part of the governing power in India. He had to express his regret that they had lost their Indian commissioner, the late Mr. Mackay. (Hear, hear.) Ile bad sent to the directors, previous to his death, very ample reports, con firmatory of the views generally expressed and entertained within the walls of this chamber ; and those re ports would very shortly be laid before the public. There had been, unfortunately, delays from various circumstances, but he hoped that in the course of a few months, or even weeks, au interesting publication would appear as the result of Mr. Mackay's labours in India. They would join with him, he felt sure, in sympathising with the less that Mr. Mackay's family had sustained, and that the com mercial community had sustained ; fur if he had been spared to continue his services, he would probably these found a place in the British House of Commons, and might have been there of immense use in the development of tho resources of India. (Hear, hear ) Mr. THOMAS BOOTHMAN, secretary to the chamber, read an able report, which he had drawn up, upon the proceed ings of the chamber during tho past twelve months, includ ing the subjects of quarantine, life amurance, decimal sys tem acceleration of mails, our relations with Siam, sip , pointment of a United States consul in Manchester, &c. Mr. M. Cowrie moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. LANONVOZTHY. The auditors and directors of the chamber for the ensuing year were then appointed, and the proceedings terminated. UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL OXFORD, FEB. 15.—The committee appointed by the Beard of Heads of houses and Proctors, "to consider and report upon the recommendations of her Majesty's com missioners, so far as they apply to the cue of the Uaiverity,” request that members of convocation, who may intend to favour them with communications upon the subject, will have the goodness to send them to the Vice-Chancellor not later than Monday, April 18. Short copies of verses in English, Lstin, and Greek, to be recited in the theatre at the emitting Eueeenia, by under graduates or Bachelors of Arts, may be transmitted to the Vice-Chancellor on Sr before the lit of May. In • convocation to be holden on Thursday, the 17th in stant, at 2 o'clock, it will be proposed that a delegacy be nominated by the proctors, to consider what museums, lecture-rooms, and ether buildings are required for the study . of natural history and physiology, and to give such a description of them, both in kind and extent, as may be sufficient to be laid before an architect—the report, to in clude an estimate of the probable cost of the buildings re commended, to be delivered to the Vice-Chancellor and printed for the use of members of convocation, and on a subsequent day to be submitted to the approbation of the house. In the event of convocation agreeing to the appointment of the above delegacy, it will be proposed in a convocation ta be holden on Thursday, the 3rd of March, at 10 o'clock, that the Vice-Chancellor acting with the delegates of estates, be authorised to treat for, and if he sees fit, to purchase a plot of ground not exceeding four scree, at the southern extremity of the parks, as a site for new museums and To nu CHAPLAINS TO THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OP DM LAND.—Ven. John Armstrong (Archdeacon of Clonfert) ; Ven. Marcus demise Beresford (Archdeacon of Ardagh); Rev. William M. Brady, M.A. ; lion. and Very Rev. Henry M. Browne (Dean of Lismore) ; Rev. W. Caulfield ; Min. and Very Rev. Lord Edward Chichester (Dean of Raphise) ; Von. H. Cotton, D.C.L. (Archdeacon of Cashel); Rev. M. Le Courcy, D.D. ; Rev. Charles J. Dickinson ; Rev. William Fitzgerald ; Rev. Henry Griffin ; Von. M. J. Keatinge (Archdeacon of Ardfert) ; Very Rev. U. M. Kennerly (Dean of Clonfert); Rev. Thomas P. Knox; Rev. Rumphry Lloyd, D.D.; Very Rev. Henry Newland, D.D. (Dean of Ferns); Rev. R. O'Callaghan ; Hon. and Very Rev. Henry Pakenham, D.D. (Dean of St. Patrick's) ; Rev. H. Perceval ; Veo. John A. Russell (Archdeacon of Clogher); Veo. J. W. Stokes (Archdeacon of Armagh) ; Rev. Edward Tighe-Gregory, D.D. (Rector of Kilmorc) ; Rev. Somerset Townsend; Very Rev. William Warbur ton (Dean of Elgin) ; Ven. John West, D.D. (Archdeacon of Dublin). NAVAL. PORTSMOUTH, FED. 16.—The Agamemnon, 91, screw steam ship, Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, has not het got rid of the sickness , scarlatina, among her crew. Sh e as been ordered to send another party of men, whose cases are worse than the others, to Haslar Hospital to-day. The Rhadamanthus, steam transport, Master-Commander Belam, arrived from Plymouth to-day, with stores and sea men. She came into harbour this afternoon. The Sprightly, steam vessel, Master-Commander G. Allen, returned to this port to-day from Liverpool. The Baracouta, 6, steam sloop, Commander George Parker, which arrived yesterday from Chatham with men paid off from the Castor, sailed again to-day. The Banshee, steam packet, Lieut.-Com mander Halton, was taken out of dock into the steam basin to day. The Fury, 6, steam sloop, Commander Tatham, sailed from Spithead yesterday for Lisbon. A detachment of Royal Marines and Marino Artillery embarked on board the Duke of Weilington, 131, screw ship, Captain H. B. Martin, C. 8., yesterday. THE MILITIA. (FROM LAST NIGIIT'S GAZETTE.) The following commissions have been signed : Francis Darwin, Esq., to be captain, in the Ist Regiment of West York Militia. Francis Salvin, Esq., to be captain, in ditto. Francis Frederick Whitehead, Esq., to be captain, in ditto. Ensign Thomas Pollock, to be lieutenant, in ditto. William Walker, gent., to be lieutenant, in ditto. John William Whale, gent., to be an , igu, in the Ist Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Owu Militia. [This article is substituted for that which appeared in the Gautte of February Bth.] John Still, Esq., late captain 30th Foot, to be captain, in the Dorset Regiment of Militia. LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—The first monthly meeting, since the annual general meetiug, was held on Monday, in their office, Exchange-buildings, when Francis Shand, Esq., was elected president, Thomas Bouch, viee•preaident, and 6amuel Still, Esq., treasurer.