The Express. — London, England, 1847-09-17 00:00:00

Interest at stake is small, cheapness, perhaps, may be more important than any other consideration ; but, as a general rule, the most indispensable want of society is, that justice should be done between man and man. Our present common-law system makes it imprudent, in the majority of cases, either to attempt to enforce a right, or to resist an unjust claim. The occasions have not been few, on which we have endeavoured to suggest partial improvements in the system of which we complain. The experiment of dispensing with juries in public trials of issues of fact would, if successful, increase the efficiency of the courts to an extent which is di ffi cult to calculate. It is right to take an opportunity of repeating, that the subtlety of the bench is produced in a great degree by the converse defect on the part of juries. Rough justice, or injustice, such as may be looked for from twelve promiscuous laymen, is counterbalanced by excessive astuteness in the court which receives their verdict. First, the litigant has to rely on the throw of the dice in the jury-box, and then, perhaps, on the skill of his advocate in making the next move. Judges hearing evidence will give it due weight, and will not find - their judgments questioned after wards on the ground that they were probably influenced by some matter which was im properly brought before them. The introduction of jury trials for civil issues in Scotland some years ago, has been almost universally considered a failure, though the system which it superseded, of taking evidence before special commissioners in private, was in every way less satisfactory than the trials in open court, which we propose. We have no doubt that the converse cheer in England would confirm the expe rience of the sister country. Another improvement in the law, which we have often urged in simplification of pleading, would be greatly facilitated by the abolition of juries in those cases where there is most room for technicality. The cases of tort in which we propose to retain the pre sent system involve few niceties of pleading. The object or this wonderful engine of artificial logic is to eliminate a definite issue ; and it is evident that a judge will know what he has to decide without the exceedingly elaborate assistance which is thought necessary for a jury. A court of equity makes a decree on the facts according to their actual and legal bearing ; and there seems no reason which should preclude a judge at Nisi Prime from a similar effort of the understanding. We by no means think that all the absurdities of pleading ought to be kept up, even if juries are to continue to be indispensable; but we believe it would be easier to make both changes simultaneously, than either to adapt pleading to the capacities of juries, or to leave judges to be troubled with it as it stands. We believe that a large portion of the legal pro fession is disposed to agree with the opinions which we have expressed as to trials at common law. Perhaps they will be not the less active in carrying out the changes which they approve, if they fertile r agree with us, that by simplifying the law, litigation, though not the grounds of litigation, would increase, and with it the necessity for their services. There must be twenty issues in fact or in law disturbirg the community for one that comes into court. If five of the twenty were legally settled the profession would be legitimately benefited, an argument which we only use od ordinein, and the public would enjoy a right of which they are at present in a great degree deprived. LORD DALHOUSIE'S speech at the dinner given to him by his Edinburgh friends, is very pleasant read ing, and to listen to it, especially if the wine were good, must have been still more agreeable. It is full of that real cordiality, tempered by gentlemanly taste, with which the speaker's character is so thoroughly imbued. But, like the book in the Apo ealypee, which was as honey in the mouth and bitter in the belly, the after-taste of the speech is not quite so pleasant. There was a manly good humour about Lord DAL - HOLISM'S allusions to the disappointment of his first aspirations after parliamentary honours, well adapted to smooth any asperities that might have been left by a mere party contest. But the whole tenor of the speech was too much after the fashion of a public man with whom the electioneering success of persons is all in all, and the principles they profess too much mere counters for playing with. There were important principles at issue in the contest Lord DALHOUSIE refers to. The ministers under whom he accepts office were regarded as the especial champions of the principles diametrically opposed to those of his supporters. Yet Lord D ILHOUSIE de clares that the opinions maintained as sound and true by Lord RAMSAY, the opponent of a whig administration, are in every respect the principles maintained as sound by Lord DALHOUSIE, the official colleague or ally of the same whig ministers. The declaratien is obviously too sweeping and com prehensive. For example, Lord RAMSAY maintained as sound the principle of the corn-law, which Lord DALHOUSIE has helped to destroy. Were it not for this recollection we might have feared that ministers had entrusted the destinies of India to a statesman who entertained very different views of the respective rights and duties of governors and the governed from those which themselves pro fess and act upon in England. Bat though in express stipulation they annexed no condition to his accept ance of the Indian viceroyalty, we cannot bat think that before offering it to him they had taken care to ascertain that his constitutional was quite as much modified as his commercial toryism. This may appear, to some, hyper-criticism on an after-dinner speech. But whenever delivered, the ora tion on which we are commenting, is too much tined with the old conventionality of the mere electioneering politician, not to jar with the earnest and practical temper of the time. It would have been a very good speech in that locality where his political friends first made the experiment of his powers of public speaking —the worshipful Canongate Kilwinning lodge—for there the orator is only expected to warm and elevate the audience by rhetorically embellishing a vague sentiment of universal brotherhood amid all discre pancies of opinion. Bat for a real governor, about to set out on an earnest practical mission, it has rather too much of the tone of a nobleman who expects to have his policy tolerated because he is a good fellow, and not of a statesman, who proposes by his policy to command the respect and approbation even of those to whom he is personally distastetsL We have received our Paris letters and the journals of Wednesday. The government has put forth another of its trim ming manifestoes in the Rerue des Deux Moncks, in which it abuses Lord Palmerston, eulogises the Pope, whom the other day it called a firebrand in another of its organs, and endeavours to sail in a middle course between Austria and Italy in the Ferrara question, taking especial care, however, not to say a word which can affect the most delicate susceptibili ties of the cabinet of Vienna. Advice' from Algiers to the 10th have brought some further intelligence respecting Abd-el-Kader. The Meniteur Algerien says : The courier from the went has not brought any news of • more unfavourable character as to the situation of Morocco. It is true that the communications between Tau and Onehda appear interrupted, which proves that there still exists a state of disorder and of crisis in that waketwasee country ; but whatever may be the agitatiVe stew Ili a decisive battle between the Emperor and liaises:NU not have been long in reaching our frontier, had any such event taken place. It may, therefore, be supposed that the po go absence of news is the indication of a anger . Algeria continues to enjoy the most profound ty. In the east, the Cheikh Boa Anima has die with his own simple resources an assemblage excited y the Cherif Muley. Nothing better indicates the progress of our authority, than these repressions exercised by Muuulmans os members of their own religion. A subscription has been opened in the department of the Gard to pay the fine of M. Teste. " This (says the Nallonaf) is the most insolent outrage on public feeling that we have ever had to notice. Everything is done with the utmost solemnity, in the open face of day, and even a triumphal arch has been erected at Bagnols with this inscription :—A Teste, k dims dos Peupk .'" We find in the Echo du Midi further re counts of this matter : " Lists prepared in Paris (loyal that journal), and divided into cantons and communes, arc hawked about by M. Teste's friends, by mayors, and other functionaries. But that is not all : M. Teste himself, from his prison, writes letters to thank the zealous, to animate the lukewarm, and to scold those who hang back. It is truly a pity that the prevari cating ex. Minister has not placed as motto, at the head of each letter, the phrase by which he thought • • to jastify his attempt at suicide:—' Honour wcs al , ways dearer to me than life: " ----- - The Madrid mails of the 10th have arrived, bat Domain little matter of general interest. The vacant Y. headship of the cabinet, and the portfolio of foreign affairs, still continued unappropriated, and seemed likely to remain so until the arrival of the Doke of Victoria, unless some coup de main should be mean while ventured on by Narvaez, who still continued in the capital, keeping all the engines of intrigue at work. The Duke de Friu had arrived on the 9th, and was to have had an audience at the palace on the nest day, but no intimation was given that the presi dency, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would be accepted by him. Nothing can exceed the viru lence with which Mr. Bulwer is assailed by the moderado press, the journals of which affect to believe, and desire to persuade the public, that the recent ministerial change, and con sequent measures, are the result of a base intrigue concocted in the hotel of the British em bassy, and directed by the British minister, whose real object, it is alleged, is to place the Count de Montemolin on the throne. A long article on this theme, expressed in language of the most frenetic violence, appeared in the Faro on the 10th. On the l ather hand, the journals of the progresistas are not less rabid in their diatribes against the Afrancesados —the creatures of Christina—the agents of the French embassy, and the hired promoters of the designs of Louis Philippe. A furious article on this subject appeared in the Eco del Comercio of the 10th, headed " Pretensions of the Freach cabinet," and commencing —" Catastrophe ! Eventualities! The throne va cant! Behold the dreams of the slaves of Louis Phi lippe, to place on the Spanish throne one of the sons of that monarch!" In short, both parties are lashed into such a transport of rage, that it is not without the greatest difficulty that a dispassionate and distant inquirer can collect the truth from the comparison of their most discordant reports. The moderados and French party affirm that there is a strong dissension among the members of the existing torso of a ministry ; that MM. Goyena, Cor dova, and Roe de Olano, lean to moderadoism, while MM. Salsmanca and De la Escosura give their voices for progresistaism. The late minister, Pastor Diaz, is named rector of the University of Madrid. El Correo contradicts, in the most positive manner, the statement which our correspondent gave on Wed nesday, on what he considered good authority, that the Duke of Glackstierg had protested, in the name of the French government, against the amnesty. That journal affirms that the French ambassador never made any such protest, either verbally or in writing. General Concha had arrived at Valencia, en route for Catalonia. Narvaez is charged with intriguing still to get into the cabinet, and to have induced MM. Cordova and Roe de Olano to favour his views. El Clamor Public° says that these ministers were to have pro posed him, and, in case of his being rejected by their colleagues, to offer their own resignations ; that mean while two active emissaries were employed to conquer all repugnancy towards him in the palace, by offering the most humble protestations on his part. After these preliminary steps the duke asked a second au dience of her Majesty, but was refused. Everything, in short, depended on the speedy arrival of Espartero. The intelligence which for the last few days we have given respecting the popular movements in the Italian peninsula will doubtless have prepared the public for events of even more serious importance in that coun try. In truth, an effervescence prevails from the Alps to the southernmost points of Calabria and Sicily. The effects vary according to the relative sentiments and strength of the people and their rulers. Where the governments, whether by policy ass by sentiment, have thrown themselves upon the current and float with it, all is exultation and ovation. The churches resound with Te Deums. The clergy bless the popular banners and consecrate the guns. The sovereigns cast off the Austrian cockade of their families and assume , : the tricolor of Italy. The soldiers fraternise with the people, and females and children mingle in the triumph, clad in white robes, and decorated with ribbons of the na tional colours. Where the government is powerful and despotic, the troops and police assail the people, blood flows, and the movement is subdued for the present ; but the fire smoulders under the ashes, and will infallibly break out again. Where the people are strong and enthusiastic, and scattered over distant parts difficult of access, the struggle is more equal, and the country is the scene of general and permanent insurrection. The Tuscan, Roman, and Sardinian states afford examples of the first; the Milanese of the second; and the Neapolitan of the last. The following is a summary of the intelligence re ceived in Paris by the Italian mails on Tuesday. At Milan the events are thus related: After the rejoicings which took place on Sunday, Sept. 5, on the occasion of the entrance of Monsignor the new archbishop, the population wished to renew both the festivities tad illuminations on the Bth Sept. A grand illumi nation had beets prepared on the Piazza Fontana, under the archbishop's windows. The new pastor was saluted in the early part of the evening by repeated acclamations. About ten o'clock, some young men began to shout " Viva Pio 1 X !" and sang the "Hymn of the Pope," which has been prohibited by the Austrian police. Excited by a commis sary, called Count Balza, not over popular at Milan, the police guards fell, in the most brutal manner, upon the singers, striking them on all sides with the fiat of their sabres. The crowd, incensed at such conduct, fell upon the police, and great confusion ensued. The guards withdrew into the court of the archbishop's palace, and this prelate, having exhorted the people to remain quiet, all further die turNance ceased. On the 9th, the police, informed that the people intended to amemble in the evening on the Piqua Fontana, and that a kind of plot had been formed to be revenged on the gen darmerie. by attacking them wherever they should be met, fearing the scenes of the eve should be renewed, thought it necessary to place the maintenance of public order in the hands of the military authorities; in consequence of which Milan has been occupied by the soldiery. Numerous detach ments of infantry and cavalry have been posted in the prin cipal squares. Several arrests have taken place, and the citizens have been ill-treated by the troops in several parts of the town. At the departure of the courier, the population, highly incensed, could with difficulty refrain from open re volt, and the most serious disturbances were dreaded for the ensuing days. We have before us the Naples Journal of the 6th, givinij its version of the affairs of Messina and Reggio; bat when it is remembered that this paper is nothing but the mouthpiece of the government, it will be evident that no credit can be given to its re port. The article, besides, is written in the worst spirit, and demonstrates how little ground there is for the sanguine hopes entertained by those who give ear to reports representing the King of the Sicilies as approving the measures of Pius IX. It is greatly to be feared that no measures of reform will be adopted in the Neapolitan section of the peninsula, except such as may be extorted by force. The following letter from Palermo of the 6th is worthy of more credit than the statements of the Neapolitan government organ : On the Ist, the officers of the garrison at Messina gave a dinner in honour of Colonel Busmen, who had just been promoted to the rank of general of brigade. At this moment the plot broke out: the insurgents intended to make pri soners of all the officers who were at the dinner, but, by a fortuitous circumstance, they were delayed, and when they presented themselves to surprise the officers, all of them had departed. They only found General Sesame, who had just sot into his carnage. They fired several shots at him,which inflicted serious wounds in the neck and shoulder, and they mortally wounded his servant. The carriage of the general was pursued to the fort; but the troops taking arms, repulsed the assailants, who received several discharges of grape shot. The attack was conducted with great resolution. The fight was kept up from six in the evening until nine, at which moment the authorities had the upper hand. There were, it was stated, 40 persons killed, among whom were eight or ten soldiers. Numerous arrests took place. During the r'nzeitte a monk traversed the streets waving a flag, which some declare was tricolour, others red and green, and on which wan remarked a yellow cress, sprinkled with stare. The people fought to the cries of " Liberty for ever !" " The Constitution for ever !" " Long live Pius IX. !" Tne combat recommenced on the 2nd; but this time, the troops being on their guard, the insurgents could not maintain their ground long, and they sought refuge in the country, end on the hills in the environs of Messina. It was rumoured at Palermo that disturbances had also taken place at Canna and Syracuse, and that the telegraphic line was interrupted between Sicily and Naples. It may have been interrupted at aft.: Rio, a town situated almost opposite Mesaina, where, as we base already stated, an insurrection had broken out. At Reggio there was only one officer quartered, who was killed, as well as eighteen men, forming the garrison, which explains the success of the insurgents. The flag of the in ' surrection, black, red, and green, floated for twenty-four hours over the town. It only disappeared when the steamers arriving from Naples with 2,000 men, as reinforcements, were perceived by the insurgents, who then retired to the mountains. On the 6th, Palermo was still calm, but the authorities took greet precautions. The troops were on foot all the night of the 4th, and spread themselves through the teen. All the gunpowdi r was withdrawn from the gun midis, and the police effected arrests each day. No vessel coming from the coasts of Calabria, Messina, Syracuse, and Catena, was admitted without previous examination. The authorities had even thought, it is said, of calling out the national guard. There was much discontent among the people, and of distrust among the rich. Money was with drawn from the bank, and on the 3rd, the day on which the first imellisence from Messina was received, 116,000 dumb' ' (about 000,000 t) wire re demanded. At the time of the de parture of the courier, it was rumoured at Palermo that an THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 17, 1847. insarrestional tomtit...tit had broken out at Cadre Giovanni, en Important town in the interior of the island. The advice. from Leghorn give a moat animated picture of the celebration which took place there on the Bth: Early in the morning the drum called under the banner of each parish the inhabitant, who were to go and meet the deputations of the towns and villages convoked for the 7's Denim. They left at eleven o'clock. Every parish was pre ceded by its peculiar banner, adorned with banderolles of the Italian tricolours. Ten thousand persons filed off, ex changing buzzes and lieu with the spectators, who were waving handkerchiefs and flags at the win dows. Between the rows of men were placed ladies crowned with leaves and flower., and cotiFee a la Henri IV. They were adorned with triooloursd ribbons. The vicars and clergy of the different parishes were divided in groups, wearing the Italian colours as scarfs or round the arm. Each deputation was preceded by a band of musicians. The whole mass marched in a military step, in the greatest order, under the direction of al chiefs. When by any circumstance the march was arrested for an instant, the groups, women, and even the clergy, marked the step u soldiers under arms. Foreigners attended this ceremony, divided into companies, according to their nation. The French were remarked by their extreme good order. The English were more turbulent. They bore small tri coloured flags adorned with inscriptions alluding to the liberty of Italy, and endeavoured to obtain - the plaudits of the crowd. After the Te Hewn and the sole= blessing, the procession moved again. The effervescence was at its height, but want of food dispersed these masses of people. About four, the population was again called oat by the drum, to attend in cohorts the ceremony of the inauguration of the statue of the Grand Duke, which was saluted by an immense shout, when the sculptor placed upon it a scarf of the national colours. In the evening other scenes of rejoicing were going forward. Soldiers who had fraternised with the people, priests, monks, women, marched in rows, singing the Etyma of Pius IX. Capuchins gave to the females the kiss of fraternity ; priests excited with joy, men in rags, extended a fraternal band to the passer-by. Vopular speakers, who had been overpowered by fatigue and by heat during the day, now spoke to the people about the love of their native land, and excited them to stand up for the independence of Italy. Leghorn will long treasure up the remembrance of this day. Another letter, doted Leghorn, the 10th, says— Crowds are still assembled in the streets. The clandestine press has resumed all its activity, and preaches up the neces sity of a constitution. The news of the manifestation which took place at Genoa on the Bth, when known at Leghorn, gave • fresh impulse to the popular effervescence. The arrival of the Prince de Canino from Rome, who, wearing the uniform of the National Guard of Rome, has been the object of a popular ovation, added not a little to keep up the excitement. Much anxiety is felt on the subject of the movement at Florence, which, as I mentioned yesterday, is to take place on the 12th. It appears that the radical party wishes to bring about another ministerial modification, and to have a constitution proclaimed. In the meantime the Grand Duke has ordered his troops to wear the Tuscan cock ade, and has adopted it himself, after giving up the colours which he bore as Archduke of Austria. Tae people exprcsa great satisfaction at this change. Letters from Turin, of the 9th, say that M. Corboli Bassi, envoy extraordinary of Pius IX., had arrived there to negotiate an alliance offensive and defensive between the Roman and Sardinian states. The letter of King Charles Albert, which we mentioned yester day as having been circulated at Genoa on the Bth, was, as it appears, authentic. It was written to M. Castagneto on the occasion of the agricultural con gress held at Casale, where it was first read, and afterwards printed. It concludes thus—" It seems, then, that we are at war. If Austria does not give satisfaction to the Pope, I will proclaim a war of independence, which I trust will be successfuL" An address was voted and signed by 400 members of the congress. Speeches were delivered in which the de sire for political reforms, and the institution of the national guard, was expressed. The Alba, of Florence, says that Count Ferretti, the brother of the cardinal, was arrested at Pavia, on his arrival at that city. The Augsburg Gazelle, under the date of Turin, says, that - - • - . • Shortly after having received news that reinforcements were about to be sent to the garrison of Ferrara, the Pope had written a letter to King Charles Albert, praying him, in case Austria should invade the Roman Staten, to give his Holiness an asylum in Sardinia, end to place wale ve:aela at his disposal, to enable him to withdraw to a port of Sar dinia. This shows that not only the lower, but even the most elevated, classes in Rome, had conceived the moat erro neous ideas as to the intentions of Austria with respect to Italy. The King of Sardinia sent a most friendly answer to the Pope's letter, and has given him the assurance of his most lively sympathy. The same journal, under the date of Malta, Aug, 24, says:— We are assured, from the very best authority, that a plot has been discovered at Palermo, which had for its aim to declare the independency of the island ; of the kingdom of Naples; and to declare Prince Charles of Capua King of tne Two Sicilia*. It is even stated that seine artillery officers (Longo and Orsini) are implicated in this affair, and have been arre.ted at Palermo. Is the Prince of apua quite innocent in this affair? It has never been said he was au object of particular affection to the kingdoms on either side of the strait. But his refusal to be reconciled with his brother must have another motive than the pride of Miss Penelope Smith. ROME, &err. 8. This was a heavenly day in Rome. At 10 o'clock this morning, Pins, with a host of cardinals. came down from the Quirinal Palace to celebrate the birthday of the Virgin in the church emphatically called our Lady del Polo. I must tell you that this church is eo called because, in the year 1099, a raven was observed to roost in an old yew tree on this spot, and the neighbours being agreed that the ghost of Nero (whose grave was known to be thereabouts) tenanted the carcase of the dark fowl, got alarmed accordingly. Pope Pascal 11. exorcised the bird, cut down the tree, and built an oratory, which became the favourite re sort of the people. When Luther visited Rome, in 1510, he resided in the Augustinian convent, of which it forms part, and therein officiated. It is adorned by the frescoes of Pintoricchio. _ . . - ----- The monks, of whom some are Irish, had splendidly decorated the portico with silk hangings and greenery After divine service, the monarch, sur rounded by his court and the diplomatic body, took up his position on a splendid throne erected for the nonce in the open air, at the west end of the grand Piazza del Popolo, facing the Pincian.hill, and backed by a row of tall Cypress trees. There eat Pius IX., to receive the homage of the newly-appointed officers of the guard, who were all presented in succession. The square (or rather lozenge) was densely crowded, as were all the terraces which rise with their balus trades to the summit of the overimpending hill : a solemn spectacle ! On this very spot wholesale murder was to have been done two months ago. The timber of the framework meant for pyrotechnic pur poses on that memorable occasion was sow converted into the structure on which the father of the faithful sat enthroned. A large awning, stretched out over half the piazza, shielded the court from the mid-day sun, and the bayonets of the nationals glistened be yond its shadow in thousands. All the regular troops having marched to the northern frontier, we have no force here but them and the cavalry dei nobili, whose steel helmets danced in the solar beams. Then up rose the pontiff to bless his people. Which impressive act concluded, out burst the shout long compressed in the general bosom. Hats waved on the top of muskets ; the upper terraces on the hill, garrisoned by fair dames, gesticulated their enthusiasm; and, shortly after, the dense assemblage dispersed, in the joyful consciousness of " happy homes and altars free.' Monsignor Corboli, who left for Florence some time ago, has succeeded in his negotiation with Leopold for the total abolition of frontier duties between Rome and Tuscany ; and though this fact is not pub licly announced, you may rely on its accuracy. From the banks of the Arno this clever diplomatist has since genet() Turin, and has confirmed Carlo Alberto in his anti-Austrian policy. We shall soon have an Italian Zullverein on a most extensive scale. And the King of Piedmont is reported to be pia Italiano the mai. The King of Naples, like Pedemella, is the creature of circumstances, and pulled by strings; his wife Judy is an Austrian, but he himself is just sow in a most miserable plight, surrounded by insurrec -1 tionary movements, and alarmed at the thought of the Prince of Caput taking one of his two Sicilies out of his management. Letters from Ancona, in the Pallude of yesterday, exult in the presence of the Rodney, Vanguard, and Albion, riding at anchor in that noble harbour, and dispatches front Civita Vecchia announce the arrival in that port of the Antelope, French frigate, com manded by Cavalier D'Alteyrac, OD the stb, placed at the order of Coact Rossi.. The notorious Gregorian reprobate Bertoni was captured and brought into Rimini on the 3rd inst. by the civic guard.—Bilaneia of the 'ith. The municipal authorities at Ancona have pur chased 1,500 muskets for their nationals, to spare the government resources. Meantime, advices from Ferrara represent things in stabs qun. The Austrians have not evacuated tho city of Tease, and their hostile bearing towards the citizens is described as insufferable. The crowned heat, of Europe appear to look on much after the fashion of the gods in Homer, who are described by the poet as sitting on Mount Olympus, and calmly oontemplating the beleaguered town. 01 it xpereeit ikaramsr ite,Bexa7 l alanAous rperr eiroporrret. Wan, book 1, Ir. 12. The daughter of Curran was buried this week in the church of the Irish friars of St. Isidoro. The lady has been alluded to in the course of this corre spondence, and possessed much of her father's intellec tual gifts. The Pope gave permission to inter her remains in the Irish church (in which the heart of O'Connell ought also to rest, as his remains do), at Glasnevin, by the side of Curran ; but Fathers Kirby and Miley seem to have decreed otherwise, and it is kept at St. Agatha of the Goths. The accomplished Dr. Cullen, rector of the Irish College, is much im peded by his bigot deputy in this, as in other matters. Lambnuochim is here from Civita Vecchia, but keeps secluded from public gaze ; the last few months have altered his appearance from the stalwart half military strut, to the decrepitude of premature old age. Abbe Gioberti, the pious and enlightened denouncer of the retrograde policy which in evil hour the Jesuits have adopted in Italy, is invited to deliver a course of political lectures in the Roman University. FRANCE.—PARIS, SEPT. 15.—THE PRASLIN MckleeD.—Mdlle. de Luzai was interrogated . yesterday by M. Browse* jugs d'instruction. It is said it was only then that she learned from that magistrate the death of the Duke de Praslin by poison. The intelligence caused her a violent nervous attack.—The Sebastiani family, it is said, have jut obtained from the government the use of the Pingouin steamer to transport to Corsica the remains of the unfortu nate Duchess de Praslin. THE BEAUVALLON DUEL.—The Chambre des Mises en Accusation has decided that M. Rosamond de Beau vallon shall be sent before the Court of Assizes to take his trial for perjury. MARSHAL OUDINOT.—The following is a short sketch of the military career of the late Marshal Oudinot, Duke de Reggio entered the army when only 16, and in 1792 having obtained the rank of chef-de-bataillon of the volunteers of the Meuse, he resolutely defended the fort of Bitch for some time against the Prussians. In 1794, having become general of brigade he took Treece, and was mule commandant of the garrison. In a night attack in October, 1795, he received several severe sabre wounds and was taken prisoner, but was exchanged at the end of five months. At the blockade of Ingoldstadt be was shot in the thigh end re ceived several sabre cuts in the arm and neck. In 1799, he was made • full general. At the camp of Boulogne, in 1805, he commanded the grenadiers. He afterwards entered Vienna. carried the bridges of the Danube, distinguished himself in several other battles, being again wounded, and took • prominent part in the battle of Austerlitz. He was alto at that of Jens and entered Berlin ea the 25th October, 1306. Going into Poland, he gained the victory of Ostrolenka, on which Napoleon created him a count of the empire and presented him with • million of francs. In 1808 he was governor of Erfurt. In 1809 he distinguished himself again in the battle of %Vagrant. In 1810 he took poseur on of Holland, the crown of which country Louis Bonaparte had abdicated. He also made the Russian campaign. At the Restoration, Leiria XVIII. made hint colossi-general of the grenadiers and governor of Metz. Daring the Hundred Days he remained in retirement. In 1815, Louis XVIII. made him commander-in-chief of the national guard of Paris. In 1823 he was in the campaign of Spain, took Madrid, and was appointed governor ef that city. The marshal has left a son, the Marquis Oudinot, who i. a lieutenant-general, deputy, commander of the Legion of Honour, and member of the consulting committee of cavalry. Tile CAMP AT COMPIEGNE.—A letter from Com piegne states that the Duchess of Orleans, with her two sous, the Count of Paris and the Duke de Chartres, are to pro ceed there on the 19th, to remain there to the 28th with the king and queen, who will not arrive till the 22nd. The performers of the Opera Comique, Gymnase, and the Variete. theatres are to give each a representation at Com pegne during the visit of their majesties. We have re ceived an account of the movements of the troops at the camp of Corapigne to the 13th. Excepting on the 11th instant, which was ordered to be observed as a rest day, the whole of the past week has been taken up with manoeuvres of various kinds, sometimes by divisions, and sometimes with all the different corps united. On the evening of the 9th, Loyal's equestrian performers gave a representation to the troops of the Ist division, by order of the Duke de Nemours. A roped-in ring wax formed in the hollow of a natural amphitheatre, so that all the spec tators were able to see perfectly well. The Duke de Nemours, the duchess, and their children, were present at the performance. The representation was repeated the three following evenings for the other divisions. On the 12th there was a grand review of all the troops oa the Plain of Cor bssulieu, the Duke de Nemours taking the command, and on the 13th there was a mock fight. A NEW DAILY PAPER.—A DOW morning journal has just appeared in Paris, under the title of the Conserva teur. Its name indicates its politics. PARRICIDE.—A horrible parricide was committed last week at Anneau (Eure et Loire). A man named Leroy, 72 years of age, had given up to his son the whole of his pro p rty, reserving to himself a certain annuity, and a lodging in e the house with his son and daughter-in-law. As the sti. pulated allowance bad fallen into &ries?, until a sum of 1,200 f. was due to the old man, he was obliged to summon his son before the juge de pain, who established the demand and made an order for its payment by instalments of 100 f. a month. This proceeding gave rise to constant quarrels be tween the father and son, and even to blows. As the father was net seen for two days, the neighbours suspected foul play, and called in the magistrates, who, on entering, found the body of the poor old man mutilated in the molt shock ing manner, the skull being fractured so that the brain pro truded, and sewn of his ribs were broken. The son and his wife were taken into custody, and have been committed for trial. POTATO DISEASE IN FRANCE.—The Minister of Agriculture and Commerce has addressed a circular to the prefects of the departments, in which, after stating that, according to recent reports Dentin to him, the potato crop was beginning to show symptoms of the disease with which that plant had been attacked for the last two years, he calls on the prefects to disseminate as widely as possible a recom. mendation to all landowners and farmers to freouently examine their potato-fields, and to dig up and immediately house all such parts of their crops as might appear to show signs of being affected ; also, to use them quickly u food for man or beast, or in the manufacture of retitle, or for any other beneficial purpose. The minister further states that it is desirable that all the stalks of the potatoes taken up should be immediately burnt. SPAIN.—GENERAL Stanntio.—The following no tice of the public life of one who at present fills so large a space in the eyes of Europe will be read with interest : —ln 1833, M. Serraao having obtained a commission in the Royal Guard, trod his way in this carps, without .jclat, but with success and rapidity. At the epoch of the events of Bar celona, in November, 1842, he was entrusted for some days with the post of chef d'etat-major of the army then orga nised in Catalonia. Eight months after, on the lath of May, 1843, M. Serrano, then marechal de camp, deputed to the Cortes, figured as Minister at War in the Lopez cabinet ; and after ten days' existence this cabinet requested the Regent Espartero to send in the dismissal of the General Linage and Ferree, his intimate friends, and on his refuting to comply with this request gave in their resigna tion. General Serrano, who had remained inactive at Ma drid, since the moment of hie resignation, repaired suddenly to Barcelona on the 28th June of the same year, accompanied by M. Gonzales Bravo. Nearly the whole of Catalonns had already declared itself against the regent; the deputies Prim and Milton del Bosch were at the head of about 16,000 men. The fort of Monjuich, at Barcelona, and the place of Lerida alone remained faithful to the regent. General Serrano was received with joyful reclamation' by the inhabitants of Bar celona • he addressed& discourse to the people, who replied by cries of, " Down with Evader° ! Down with the tyrant! ' On thst very day General Serrano, the sole member present of the Loper cabinet, first cause of the revolution, consti tuting in himself the whole provisional government at Bar celona, addressed to the Spaniards a manifesto, in which he accused the regent of the most excessive ambition, and de dared him to be the only obstacle to the happiness of Spain. After • few days pared in military marches through Cats- Gen. Serrano returned to Madrid, and again resumed the post of Minister of War in the new Lopez cabinet, till the 20th November, 1843. At this date the ministry was re placed by that of M. Glossas., and Gen. Serrano alone of his ex-colleagues remained at his post. The signal fall of this cabinet, after a reign of a few days only, is well known, as well as what happened to its president, who esteemed himself happy in being able to reach in disguise the frontiers of Portugal, and to find an Asylum in that kingdom; bat a cir curnstance of thisepoch which has perhaps passed unnoticed, and which de erveii to be remarked, is, that two days before the fella the cabinet, M. Oloraga had an altercation with M. Ser rano, in consequence of which the latter declared with a certain degree of vivacity, that he should send in his resigna tion ; hl. thongs replied in the same tone, that he was at liberty so to do, and that he would take upon himself tohave his resignation accepted by the Queen. The remainder is well known. H. Glow& retired, and M. Serrano remained. Replaced oa the 6th December, 1843, by General hlasarredo in the cabinet presided over by M. Gonzales Bravo, whom we have already seen figuring with him at Barcelona at the time of the pronunciamientos against Repartee°, and who then pawed for one of his most intimate friends, General Serrano disappeared from the political scene till March, 1847. At this epoch, the cabinetof Sonamayor nutted General Serrano inspector general of the Basque provinces : he de clined this high distinction. The Duke of Sotomayor then thought it his duty to demand of the senate, of which General Serrano was himself a member, the authorisation of entering proceedings against him for refuel of obedience to the government. This prenatal was warmly seconp c d . b il y Generals Narvaez, Concha, Berm daMeer, and es y by the Duke de Frias, and was want measly adopte , except by one voice, that of M. Lusuriaga, the intimate friend of Oen. Serrano, who alone dared to take his defence. Some days after, the cabinet presided over by the Duke de Sotomayor resigned. General SOMMo is about 32 years of age; his physiognomy is agreeable, and stature about the middle size. Being born at JaiSn, he possesses, to a high degree, what is called in Spain the Andalusian spirit. He has always professed his opinions in the sense of a moderate progrestist, and passes for a man being a friend to public order. PRUSSIA.—BERLIN.—TIIE Poo DISEASE.— A correspondent informs us that Dr. Klotatch, of the royal herbarium, at Berlin, has discovered such a new method of Whir:till the potato m exempts it from the disease. He I planted, early In this year, a field in alternate rows, one at. cording to the wmal plan, and t'e other, with his new treat ment. On coming to maturity the former were diseased and the latter unusually healthy. Our correspondent does not state the nature of Dr. lElobssch'a discovery, which the doctor has petitioned the King to appoint a commission to investigate. RUSSlA.—According to accounts Iron Odessa, to the 22nd ult , the cholera appears to have a l most entirely subsided at Tiflis, and to have diminished at Taganrock, but, on the other band, it has invaded Rostof, riennPelie. and several other towns of Southern Russia. At R. wtof, out of a population of 8,000. in three weeks the disease is said to have carried off 2,000. The terror of the disease was SO great that all the post-houses along the road from Itoetof to Ch:eolla were abandoned. STATISTICS OF AUSTRIAN COMMERCE. Having in a former article presented to our readers a view of the trade of Austria with England, we proceed to indicate the amount and value of its commerce with other nations. We begin with France. Other territories intervening be tween the two countries, the only direct and satisfactor il y i ascertained traffic between them s that carried on by sea, which is not very considerable. Of the indirect traffic, through Italy, Switzerland, and the Germanic Confederation, we can only form a rough estimate. Austria hu no treaty of reciprocity with France, and its trade is therefore subjected to the full rigour of the French navigation laws. And it may be here zemarked, that in general the resident envoys of Austria with foreign govern ments appear to regard industrial and commercial questions with aristocratic contempt. The consequence is, that Aus trian trade is left to the tender mercies of these govern ments, its expansion crimped and retarded : its present ex tent and activity only show what, with lair play, it might become. . . The value of Austrinn sea-borne commerce with France amounted in 1844 to 542,8001. for the exports, and 3;2,3001. for the imports. This trade wu carried on chiefly with Marseilles, into which port during 1844 there entered 331 Austrian vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 80,791 tons. Their cargoes consisted principally of timber (to the value of 125,9002), tobacco (199,8001.1, hemp (13,6001.), oilseeds (19,8001.1, steel 03,0000, glass warn , leeches, skins and hides, silk, wool, tallow. The Austrian imports, from Mar seilles, consisted of madder, teasel, flint, wines, brandy, hides, silk goods, cambrics, raw sugar from the colonies, lead from Spam and Missouri, indigo, &c. The imports of French goods by land, which in the official returns are included among the imports from the Bavarian, Swiss, and Italian frontiers, amount in value to about 600,0001.; and the smuggled goods also estimated at 600,0001., consisted of brandy, teazel, madder, ail, wines, mustard, cork, flints, implements, wearing apparel, per fumery, jewellery, paper. hangings, silk goods, &c. Of the Austrian exports by land about 1,000,0001. may be estimated as the value sent to France, consisting chiefly of raw silk, wool, steel, sumac, &c. The total amount of sea and land traffic with Francs is 3,950,0001. The following table shows the value of the trade between Austria and the Zollverein from 1840 to 1845 inclusive .—.—.— Import. Export. Transit. Total. 1840 3,007,132 3,815,432 1811 1842 3,129,130 3,638,150 3,014,871 9,792,134 1943 3,012,310 3,337,090 3,173,711 9,82 3 321 1844 3,326,000 4,211,200 3,024,300 10,361,700 1813 3,060,240 6,630,902 2,961,647 18,892,189 The estimates are taken for the first five years from the Austrian official returns. That of 1815 is from the official Marna of the Zullverein, which cantain more minute in houtition on this subject. For the English public this sub reemeetes great interest, as the territories of the Germanic MIMS union will probably be the highway of our future temmeraal relations with Austria. There was not really during 1845 so large an increase as the figures in the table would lead us to suppose ; the differ ence resulting chic fly from the fact that the estimates of the Zollverein are formed on a higher, and, we presume, a more correct valuation than in Austria. This increase is also at tributable in some measure to the transit trade of Austria being included, and partly to the smuggling trade of Austria, a portion of which is included in the export returns of the Zulverein union. According to the official returns, the chief articles of import into Austria during 1815 were : From Germany. By transitth y rougb Woollen goods £600,000 Cotton goods 510,000 Cereals, leads, ks 371,000 ...... Yarn Manufactures in wood bilk goods . latanufseturos In silk goods 70,000 ..., 1 Manufactures in icon 66,000 ~, 1,200 000 ... 120,000 Coffee Hardware ....... ....... Tobacco, raw Sr rounufacturei Sugar 200,000 1:0,000 99,600 90,000 It is obvious that this table does not include the whole of the Austrian imports, for if we take, for instance, the im portations of yarn and cotton goods, we tind that Germany imports these goods to the value of nearly 10 millions ster ling, while Austria has only 800,0001., or less than 1-10th Iron or through the customs union. Now, it is well. known that the German spinners and cotton manufacturers produce more than the Austrian, and, consequently, the demand for foreign goods must be larger in Austria than in Germany, the more so that the demand comes from a larger population. The chief articles of export front Austria to the states of the Zollverein, were:— Cereals £OOO,OOO Wools Glare ware ..... ......... -....- 730,000 Raw silk Salk goods ... ....... ..... 300,000 Linen goods ............. . ......« 291,000 Cattle 930,000 Worsted goods Manufacturelimn aid Neel ___ 117,011 Linen yarn .......... 313,1 03 Skins and bliss Fruits Flax, hemp, is Tobacco 35,111 Oils Draught cattle 31,000 lace Copper and brass The grain imported from Austria into Germany, in a great measure makes up for the quantities exported to Great Britain from Stettin and Hamburg. A large portion of the I glass wares, wools, and silks included in the exports from Austria to Germany, ere in the natural course of things brought from thence to England, part of the wool and silk takieg the form of manufactured goods during the transit. The intercourse between Austria and Germany presents a strong inducement to invite Austria to enter into more direct and liberal commercial relations with us. At pres,nt, both parties are dependent on the transit regulations of the Zoll verein, and the produce of both countries is subjected to • tax in favour of the merchants, bankers, and smugglers of' the Zollverein. So long as the Austrian tariff encourages the system of smuggling and puts a stop to legitimate trade, Great Britain is of course indebted to the smugglers for their mediation in the sale of her manufactured goods, or bre colonial produce. But, under this arrangement, timings, direct intercourse with Austria, we do not, except in son. few instances, receive her goods in exchange, and consequently the profits of the Russian and Hamburg merchants are de ducted from our returns. Now, when the competition of the whole world meets in a country as it does in England, and when, moreover, our customer is situated in the centre of industry, as is the case with Austria, the advantages to be gained by saving an expense of an intermediate agent ren dered necessary only by unwise and arbitrary legislation, are obvious. This view will be strongly corroborated, by turning to ex amine the amount and value of the trade between Austria and Russia, with reference to the number of their inhabi tants. The sggregate value of the trade between these ex tensive empires—including the transit trade of each — amounted, in 1844, tone more than 2,032,0001. • and their po pulation exceeding one hundred millions, his gives an average interest in the traffic of law than 6d. a head to every individual. The only obstacle to the trade between these countries is that offered by their own systems of commerce. Although enabled by nature to exchange the produce of every climate on the face of the globe, their intercourse is limited to little more than a kind of peddling retail trade on the frontiers ; and although qualified by the richness and variety of their own products to pour a continued stream of wealth and civi lisation into each other's ports, all they seem to do is to counteract their natural advantages, and shackle the progress of their natural welfare and their moral happiness. One half of the little intercourse that does exist results from the transit of goods to and from Russia and other countries, so that, in fact, the exchange of native produce between Austria and Prussia does not exceed 1,000,0001., or at the rate of about 21d. to each individual. A glance at the Russian tariff will account for this singular circumstance. The articles prohibited in Russia are ale, spirits, porcelain, wearing apparel, some linen goods, canvas, printed cotton and mixed stuffs, nankeen, parasols, pig iron by see, hard. wares, as table knives and forks, sugar, except raw sugar im ported by sea, prepared hides, furs, carriages, and ornaments. The following list will show the high duties fixed uponsome of the articles imported : Coffee, about 88 percent. ; raw sugar (by Sea) 126 per east; wine (Austrian), 83 per cent. ; pig iron (by land), 171 per cent. ; iron plate, 88 per cant. • leather, 250 per cent. ; cot ton yarn, 27 per cent.; worsted yarn, 186 per cent. ; earthen ware, 92 per cent.; window-glass, 278 per cent.; crystal glass, 256 per cent.; razors, penknives, and steel pena l 2,51. the cwt. ; fine steel goods, 12.51. the cwt. ; maaafuctimes of gold and silver, 35 per cent . ; watches of geed or with golden ornaments, 14 0 . each; lhanufactures set cotton Or mixed, 171. to 2001. per cwt. ; linen, 471. per "wt.; cambric, 1201. per cwt. • laces, bobbinett, &c., 140 , ... per cwt. ; cloth, 701. per cwt. ; blankets, 24!. per cwt. ; 'M ar as, 2003. per owt. ; silk goods, 601. to 6007. per cut ; wlovee, 171. to 2001. per cwt. • paper, 11. to 181 • per cwt ; boobs of later edition than 1801, 11. 16i. per cwt., if they are allowed by the censors. Goods free of duty are ax, hemp, skins (which are not otherwise enumerated), machines as d node), books printed before 1801, pictures, geograplii cal and astrono mical instruments, raw gold and silver ; consequently there ••• wareelY comooditie 4 exclulnfl•d l ,etween Austria and Russia except raw materials. Of the it spo to Austria the principal articles are—cattle, amount, ,g to about 250,0001. ; rts wool, 40,0001. • and Muscovy ex ports from Austria to Russia we 1 -ea th —r. .7, 40,000/. In the have to mention—silk, 40,0001. • timber, 30,0(001. ; corn, ? ,2 , 0001 . ; flour, 12,0001. ; Iron gooks, 65,0001. • and it is r atlas!. surprising, that not withstanding the h i gh ditties, ',here are includ ed in these experts glass ware to the amour ,t o f 9,0001 • wors t e d goods, l cotton Pods, 4 . 000 % • linen gooks, 9,0001. ; silk 5,001:1. ; and le athery 0 ,4 5 . 6,0001. s troa of the tied* With Russia Is carried on, at fhe i on the Blau' 4 Sea, and the trade at these ports I antria was 1' J arrivals and 182 departures. The Isla% tt ; places on the Black Sea, amounting in all to only 24,0001., consisted of stone, oil., figs, wines, std. phur, &c., in return fur which Austria received - value to the amount of 260,0001., consisting mostly of cereals (which, of course, were not for home consumption, bat for trans-ship ment), hare-skins and leather. Russian-Poland has a large share in the intercourse be tween Russia and Austria, and seems especially dependent on the latter country for salt, receiving 61),0001. worth o f t h at article annually. The export of wheat from Austria to Po land, which is considerable, is regulated solely by the crops in the latter country, and has vaned during the last few years from 120,0001. to 20,0001. The commerce between Austria and Cracow was by na mesas unimportant, amounting in value to about 300,0001., and consisting of cattle, timber, horses, and linen. The im porta from Cracow are estimated at about 50,0001., 12,0001. being in sine. Cracow was the centre of an extensive smug gling trade to Austria, and also to Russia. We now come toe brunch of the foreign trade of Austria, interesting not so much on account of its extent as on account of its value in illustrating truths of economical science, by pleeing an entirely free and a highly restrictive system of commercial policy in direct connexion and contrast. We allude to its commerce with Switzerland. But this subject must be reserved for another article. die Court. ARDVERIKIE, SEPT. It —Yesterday afternoon ter Majesty and the Prince, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, and attended by the Duchess of Norfolk and Major. Gen. Wemysi, drove to Cluny Castle. Her Majesty and his royal highness walked in the grounds at an early hour this morning. The Duke de Broglie, French ambassador, had an interview with Lord John Kuserll yesterd,,y, at his official residence, in Downing-street. Lord Hatherton had also an interview with his lordship yesterday. Mr. J. Wood, chair man of the excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Col. Maherly had also an inter view yesterday with the right hon. baronet, at his official residence, in Downing -street. The Earl of Auckland has arrived in town. Despatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colonial-office, for the governors of the West India colonies. TIIE QUEEN'S DEPARTURE FROM SCOTLAND.— Her Majesty, it is arranged, wid leave Ardverikie with the royal children, at two o'clock on Friday(this) afternoon, and may be expected to arrive at Fort William about six o'clock. Her Majesty will embark either in the royal yacht or the Fairy, but the officers do nut expect that a distance further than Lismore or Oboe can be accomplished the same even. ing. Next morning the royal party proceed to the Crinan Canal, and will move through the artificial water in the royal barge, as upon the occasion of the arrival. In the meantime, the Black Eagle and [incline steamer will have proceeded round the mull of Kintyre to await the arrival of the royal party at Loughghilphead, on the other side of the canal, from which_ the Black Eagle will convey them that day as far as Campbelltown, in Argyle hire, where anchor will be cast for the night. Although her Majesty is not desirous of moving on Sunday, the officers are of opinion that, in order to reach Fleetwood in a favourable tide, the remainder of the journey must be accomplished during that day. An official notification has been received at Fleetwood that the Queen will arrive at that port at 6 o'clock, that being the hour of flood tide, and the royal squadron is to anchor in the bay, the Queen and her royal consort remaining on board all night. On Monday morning, at eight o'clock, her Majesty will land, and proceed direct to London by special train. The train is now in readiness, and consists of the royal carriage, the carriage of the Queen Dowager, and two new six-wheeled carriages, four carriage trucks, and two luggage vans, belonging to the London and North Western Company. The royal train will proceed from Fleetwood ria Preston, Parkaide, and Crewe, to Stafford, where it will leave the line of rails and pass over the new Trent Valley line, arriving in London about three o'clock in the afternoon. Her Majesty, it is said, will proceed thence immediately by the South-Western line to Southampton, and reach the Isle of Wight the same evening. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL PRIVILEGE OP EXEMPTION PROM ARItES'T FOR Derr.—Yesterday Mr. Anderton gave notice of motion, " That the court petition the House of Commons that the members of that house shell not, by virtue of their being so, be privileged from arrest upon writs of execution issued against them by their creditors for enforcing the payment of their judgment debts." Tuff OFFICE OF UNDER-SHERIFF.—Mr. it. Taylor brought up the report of the Secondaries and City Courts' Committee, to which the subject of the last appointment of the clerk of the county of Middlesex was referred. The report stated that the committee, upon proceeding in the inquiry into certain statements to the effect that a judicial appointment had been disposed of for a sum of money by one of the under-sheriffs, who had served in the office some years ago, were led to believe there were grounds for the imputation from the fact that the gentleman alluded to as the principal in such transaction had refused to /mower the questions put to him by the members. But upon further investigation, and upon the solemn denied of the suspected official, and additional testimony in proof of the incorrectness of the charge, the gentleman supposed to have been a party to the sale of the place was completely exonerated from re proach or insinuation.—The report was ordered to be entered upon the minutes of the court. T R P URCH ABE OF SHAILSPE ARV'S HOUSE. ^ Mr. Thomas White brought forward his motion that the court sub scribe a sum of money in aid of the subscription for the pur chase of Shakspeare's house. Other public bodies had, he said, some forward to contribute to the purchase, and he trusted that the corporation of London would not hesitate to join in the attempt to prevent the destruction of that national monument. (" Hear, hear," and some murmurs )—Mr. R. Taylor seconded the motion. He thought that every means should be adopted to render honour to the greatest name in this or any other country. The court had expended a large sum in the purchase of a single signature of Shah/Team, and they could not consistently refuse to join with a number of other bodies in saving from destruction the house in which the greatest genius the world ever produced was born. — Mr. Anderton said he had ae much respect fur the genius of Shakspeare and for the character of the country and of the Court of Common Council as any man, and, impressed with that feeling, he was convinced that the honour and dignity of all would be beet consulted by an acquiescence in. the amendment that the question be not put. It was said as an argument in favour of the motion, that the money was to he paid fora house in which Shakspeare had lived. It was sot the only house in which that great man had lived, and, if they were to join in the purchase of that house, it might be reasonably expected that they would subscribe to buy up every house in which he had resided at,d every theatre in which his masterly performances had been represented- With regard to the autograph, that related to property within the City of London, and was a literary curiosity coo sleeted with the transactions of the corporation itself. (Revs, hear.) Very different indeed was the subject of the present discussion. It would reflect but little honour upon Shakspeare to put a large sum of mosey into the pockets of the present owners of the house. — Mr. Blake was in favour of the motion. He wished to know whether it would be consistent that in one page of the cor poration records it was set down that in the year 1844 the sum of 1401. was given for the autograph of Shakspeare, and that in 1847 the same corporation refused to aid in prevent ing the destruction of the house which had been always re cognised as the favourite residence of the poet.—Deputy Pea cock seconded the amendment.—Mr. White hoped the cor poration would not be influenced by the objections which had been raised to the proposition to do honour to themselves, but would at once aid the subscription fur the purchase of the house, which was at that moment about to be disposed of.—The question was then put, and the amendment was carried by a majority of 31. MONUMENT TO SHAILSPEARE.—SiT Peter Laurie, who entered the court at the conclusion of the last discussion, rose to give notice of a motion that a sum of money be subscffieel , by the court towards the erection of a suitable monument in , the metropolis, in honour of William Shakspeare. (Hew, hear.) HO bad lately returned from Scotland, when he • had seen with admiration a great monument to the simnel of Sir Walter Scott. From that moment he detenniesd to . submit a motion to the corporation on the subject of raising • monument to the greatest man that e ver lived, and he knew that he should obtain the eager assistance of ectsy man who knew anything at all about the poet of Enema. BANK OF ENGLAND. A general court of the proprietors of the Bank et England waa held yesterday, to madder of a dividend, sad upon other affairs. The envoi:lance WAS 'nth MI" numerous than usual, probably a expectation that scow thing intimating might transpise in refs/ewe to the late serious eenbarremnsents in the mercantile world. The James Morris, Eel. the deparyigovernor, G. F. Rai., end mod of the directors, enterdd th."" rt " mast twelve o'clock, and alter the minutes of the last eeenftbed been read by the seenetary. Vs• Goviturson rose sad said: This is one of war MIA Yearly coasts for the pupae* of declering a ddend, and sae of the quarterly coasts appointed he the charter • end! ()nth the plerm re to inheres you that the Court el Direeisa• upon a renew of the state of the affairs of the hash, kos resolved to recommend that a div.idend of 41 per oat ia• tenet and profits les paid for the half-year aloft GRIM 10th of October nest—(great cheering)—wilheld lof the income tax; and it gives me gr eat ereisheddlS II able to state, that after the payment of the basal there will be a sum of 26,4111. te be added to the rest. (cheers). It is necessary that I shoals' inform yoe, Oat this isnot a dividend of 44 per cent., but • dividend of 34 P cent. and a bonus of 1 per cent., that the proprietors vibe have a life interest only might participate in the profits si the half year. Although, therefere,-1 now tell it a dividet of 44 per cent., it is only one of al per cent., with a boon 1 per cent. I mention this lest you might suppose Rita are to go on permanently with a dividend of 44 per NIL We have no such intention, unless the on affairs o jof the DA should be in such a prosperous positi as tustify dist dividend. Mr. FIELDER The statement that has been made is highly satisfectory. Mr. CLARKE: What will the 'test be ? The Goviturroa: The Rest will he 3,270,7541. It end that on August - oLitre deronnhich the half yearly accounts were made up. It was 3,270,7.5.1 1 . after the deduction of the amount of the dividend of 41 per cent. There will be a see plea added to the Rest for the half-yeas of 28,4121. Kr. Coo's: The great point for the coot a catiaalk how much is it necessary to have se • Bagg-alU= 'edged by every one that 3 , 000,0001. of I cannot therefore see why the 270 1 750. of a mirl7lll-Ibirli It