The Express. — London, England, 1851-02-12 00:00:00

thcstate meet of the hos. gentleman that the labouring classes werenot noose welloffasthey hadbeen, hebegged the houee to allow him to rood the followittg statement of reductions. The right hon. gentleman herercad the following extract . o During th.• war the beet wages of the labourer in the noethren counties was les., 125., las. ; now it is 12e, 10e. 8.. The price of the best loaf was then 1641. • now the price i s bd. bupptoe a man, his wife, and three children used 10 insets per week, on wages of 16a., the war surplus would be e s . 6d. • un wages of 10s. now the surplus would be 6P. 10d. The mire of corn arrived at by the corn law of 1816, 80s. le.. reduced to 12e., or one-fifth; as well off if corn was at 64.., he reduced to fo., or one-fourth, he was as w e ll off if corn was at 60s. • and it was now 40..." Thew hole diff • erence between els. and 40.. was clearly a pin to the labourer, who was quite as well off at 6s. a we ek, with corn at 405., than on N., a week when corn was at 'se.. a quarter. All the advantages were in favour of the 10. e. price. He would now call their attention to the reductions in the price of other articles of common consumption in poor families ; they were the lol l...tine, not in thue of great agricultural prospe rity, ha' more recently, in IMO, before legislation began: d. bed Hour (per stone), in 1840, 3a. • in 18:s0, Is. 1011. ; records (per stone) , 1810, 2s. 104. ; DOO, Is. 84. ; oa t mea l (per atone), UM, 2e. 44.; 18.50, Is. Bd.; lard (per lb.), 11 1 40, fkl.; 18.50, 6}.1. ; best sugar , (per lb.), IMO, 91d.; 1650, 64d.; beat treacle (per lb.) , NO, id. ; 11440, 2(d.; best coffee (per lb.), IMO, 2s. 4d.; DCA, 1.. ed.: candles (per Ile), 1840, (ltd. ; 1850, lid. ; tea (per lh.). 1640, from Is. to 6s. ; MO, 35., 45., to be." ?here was scarcely an article consumed by the poor man which hof o u t been reduced from a third to one-half; and, On the ar:ier hand, his wages had not been neluced in any Haag like the same proportion, and his condition was better thaa h 1....1 been is what were called the times of agricul mow' prosperity. Mhutever might he the effect upon the own ..r. and occupier., the benefit upon the whole work tag lalsoaring clan, and other claws of the community, from th. .. the tion of price, had been far greater than the p m/ 501i...1"f any reduction in wages. lle must my he did not think that the distress among the santieultunsta was either so gnat or Ulll%l Ma as had been coutentled for. He had he ant, too, that in Scotland, where corn rents were paid, the n• was great compilation for farms, and that rents were neteer rising than falling. Ile believed that that was the ease is England as well as Scotland. In Cumberland there were five or six competitors at a time for a farm, and in sensed the re seas no ditiicnlty in obtaining for the same farm the •anie e.nt it had brolialit in before. Ile hail been interne .1 that the istate• of mare than one treat proprietor in this country had he. n %alto .1 within the last ten or threw month, sold the valuation showed no reduction in the rental.. It was Alward, therefore, t.e say that ruin was over runniug the owner. and oetaipi. re in the reduction of rent. The bon. gentleman (Mr. Di.raelij had alluded to the euli ji et o f 11,, cultivation of too"u• eo. lie had mid that this war n most fartaunal clime fa- its cultivation, and that it had he e a cultivated once in this country with "eat sunray.. It was true that it had been grown to a small extent here some few yeare ago, and that untEr cover of a very high pnateetion- that was that it paid no duty-(hear, hear)- and Inn ien totem.. paid a daily of 4s. per pound. (Hear, hear.) Ihe pnaluctimi 4.ltaalucco in this country had how ever, he . n (Lund of so hazardous and gambling a character that it had :tet u I ntirely alrandoned. Thia question hail On a former occasion Ist n raised. In 1829, or 1b29, he did not rema.aular which, a nwinvittee of the House of lam moms had Sequin ale Art fully into the subject, and they had Mood that it was quite impossible that lobate° could be groan in 111:. country with 3.llUtattge Oil equal term. with f o reign tobacco. Fanners it had been ("sand could only grow it provided they had an enormous =own of pram- WIA. (hka:, hoar.) Mr. Ilaskioson had retomm. mini the Ilou.s. of Commons to prohibit the growth of tobacco in Inland, as it had lain don. in England, in order to pnant ain vs tow of liar and a half million.. About half a mil li.. of I p o i lt V was the whole benefit which could pusseibly turnse to the; iotrieulturists from the growth of failure° at bow, and yet tor such a bs no fit to the agriculturists the hon. e• ottoman was petrol to •acritlce a revenue of four aaa i a wall amnion., which sum they must exact from the community at large, and, perhaps, in some meamin., (roan the aura olturists thennelses, and the supporud boon of to rib, MI/ .0 much for on slight a consideration must, he fliocalat, ot nen erty impose a much heas ler burden. Such WA, the advantage which the agriculturists would derive from th. cuit.sation of Palmer° in this country. The hon. in nth IU3III (Mr. Okra. li) hoed not insisted moth on the renenal of thr prohibition which existed against growing Purer in this country, and p. that. for this remain, that he Mil wet know much about it. All the world were allowed to swiLe motor from Is et-read. They could make sugar in this a...mitre :nom this angle, on the same imolai JJJJ • that they cold do in t ranee. (Item., hear.) The nation snail mg go on without a revenue, and he (the ( lannalior of the exchequer) conceived that taxes should be rain .1 in a nwnn. r bearing as easy as possible on the community, and that they ought to avoid, if they could, t ikilia ..... ra. out of the pockets of the people, than went into th ;odd. , exchequer. 'I here might sometimes exist Ism., ;or a contrary tourie, hut he maintained generally that Janie, ought only to he levied fur revenue parlous', should I, matle to proms as lightly as possible on those who pay the tit, and, sa• far as might lie, benefit the eachequer. That a, hi. main of the principle of free trade. lle (the I lianeellor of the Exchequer) admitted that there was wins, 1.1,4,i reuriction on the cultivations of barley, ores aia.neal by the poseihility of unlimited &animal. They niu.t, bow/ever, n.menilicr that malt might Is' made from foreign as well as English harli y, and lac had seen it argued that wheteter might has.. !wen the can. before the Lae le gislatio clump., the Fouli.ll agriculturists had small inn" st indeed in the abolition oaf the tax sine.• the adrui..- snail aaf fon inn barley into this country. The rialieulous paradox alluded to fay the hon. gentleman (Mr. Itisrueli) was twee. tly true, for he (tb. Chancellor of the Each,- num.) a as marbled to state, on the authority of two ..r flint' respatalal.• malt-len, that to a small anal limited extant the exist. ina of the duty on malt was a protection to the Y.nglidi leo ley. 1 his argument was equally upplivahle to spirit.. 'I la.. how gentleman had not said much in reference ta spirit., lout he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) might aarremler the duty on •parits on the same prineiple. The km. iiimils r for Ituckinichanishin. in liringing forward the present motion, and in ilarOallf 414 into hi. speech every pi .alii. .atittect, hail entirely igaional the queetion that the c0n50....•r aa. the m rani a Ito paid the tax. (Hear, hear.) Whet the hot,. o teutlentatt wou ld Ito a hen he had got rid of th. &Iv. .., tobacco and milt, anal leaving him with a de b. cof 'Moen or sixteen millions he hail not coanalescendsal t.....q. The hon. gentleman isaal sugeestiel :no mode of as ikon: up the deficiency. On this point allter were left in complete ignorance. The hon. gentleman hail next come to the solaria of local mecum., and had statell that seven out of twelve IllilliOtts of the rate.. were phial by the land. Throughout the whole of his speech he (Mr. Disraeli) had 3,1.11 many former osenteiune gut into a good deal of eon fusion of anrument. He (Mr. Disraeli) hail alleged that the ovano.n of laird were in a distressed state. Ile ...alai softly not maintain that the owners of property in r a sa. and in the neighbourhood of towns were in a distrenied state. lle (the Chanuillor of the Exchequer) would nut he contradicted when he said that the 110 oven of land of a large proportions Otitis asountry were not even alleged to be in distrasa. (Mar, h. er.) When he (Mr. Disraeli) had talked of the owners of land and of land he siring he se burden., he had certainly 1.1 ao e%il I.t .1144 , 11 of owners of property who were not owners of agricultural land. (Hear. hear.) It was a pialcit fallacy la say that anything like seven out of the twelve millions were borne by thane owner. of land whose caw hadhern stated and for whom relief was sought. nem had been a time when by far the greatest amount of the real liroperty of the country seas in laud. The propor tion, hammer, was diminishing year by year. In 11115 the whole of the property of the country had been assessed at fifty-three millions. Of that amount the land had been arm soil at thirty-foor millions. In 1849 the amount of property alMeSAell hod hero 94 millions. Of that sum Ow bud had composed 42 millions-that was to say, that in !elf. land was est per cent., and in 1849 only It per cent., of the real property of the country-if they remitted 11.101. from the public exchequer, aitif. went to other property aad ugly 411. to the land. (Hear, hear.) Or, baking the target...mu stated by the hon. gentleman '. supposing that tee. millions per annum were remitted from the public eftheapier, only eight hundred and eighty thousand Mould go to the land, and one million one hundred and teems- thousand to other descriptions of property. When the's- prolapsed to take from the exchequer such a large suns they were bound to look at the matter in all its bearings, and they could not avoid the fart that a large proportion of the sum would go to owners of property who had no claim whatever. This just proved that owners of land were part and parcel of the general community of this country. (Dear, hear.) The owners of land could not be benefited by any special legislation of this kind. They must consider how they could best benefit the community at large, and the owners and occupiers of land would come In for their full and complete share. (Hear, hear) One of the topics which the hon. gentleman had suggested in his speech a:l' the law of nada ment. The hon. number had stated that farmers had been reeonunendeel to employ more Labour, but that the law of settlement interpesed impedi ments. Ile (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was very glad that a gentleman belonging to the party which the hon. me mitt. dill-a country gentleman-(laughter). should "commend an improvement of the law of settlement, and tf the country party were prepared to amend the law of settlement he had no doubt that his honourable friend at the head of the Poor Low Board would afford every facility in the matter. It was not however for gentlemen of the class to which the hon. member (Mr. Disraeli) fit long.l to reproach other persons or any other government on this subject. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gen tleman had charged the meaPure of 1814 with presenting fanners bum employing capital. Had capital ben so scarce Were 1841 ? Ile (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) remem bered that a remonstrance had some time ago been addressed In government, complaining of the rate of interest being re duced en low that capital was so superabundant, and that speculation had been encouraged by what had been done. (Ile", hear.) Since the act of 1841 had been pamed, the interest on all mortgages had been natured, aa he did not think that any gentleman 'eine lido the City would find it difficult to obtain any amount of capital. (Hear, hear.) He did not remember of capital .aer being so plentiful or so cheap for many years sines the pawing of the act referred to. Ile would not fol low the hon. gentleman throughout his argument regarding partn. r•iiip or joint-stock enterprise in the cultivation of the soil. lie confessed himself very doubtful as to the advantages which would result from such a proceeding. The hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) had next talked Of a mammal rate for the support of the poor. • He ("l i . , Disraeli) had not, however, said much in its favour. tem. member far Suffolk had stated on a former occasion to that house that each a measure would be the greatest possible evil that could befall the country-that it would he Convert...at into a great national lal. (Hear. bear.) If the speech of the hon. member r. Disraeli) meant any. ho thing at all, it meant that relief should be given from what Wore termed those tutjust burdens sa ogrietlltnet. the THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1851. customs duty on tobacco and the Excise duties on malt and spirits. Now, how did the honourable gentleman propose to supply the deficiency which the remission of these duties wuuld occasion? Ile (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) repeated that no method at all had been pointed out. (Hear, hear.) How would the hon. member (Mr. Disraeli) arrange matters with the leader of the protectionist party in the other house (Lord Stanley) ? He (Laid Stanley) had ignored the repeal of the malt tax — be was not prepared to secede to it. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) should have liked that something more definite had been brought before the house. The honourable gentleman referred to the excise duties levied on the produce of land, and moved for aconunittee with a view of removing those grievances, and imposing in some way or other those charges which he 'imposed to abolish. Now that could but be done by:reversiog our legislation ; and before they did that, be begged of them to consider what had been the effect of that legislation ? He would not go further back than the year 1819, the year which the hon. gentleman himself selected. It was not necessary to go into details to convince the house of the general pro , perity of the country. The lion. gentleman who denied it in 1819 admitted it now. Now, what was the result, fir-t, with regard to homer ? Ile found that for the year ending Jan.& 1831, the revenue was 48,48 , 1,0001. In 15.50 it was 52,810,0010/., showing an increase of 4.726,0001. (Hear, hear.) Now, what had been, in the course of those years, the relief from taxation—what had been the taxes repealed and reduced—and what bad been the taxes imposed ? lie EVERT PATLIBDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE PUBLIANND i T HE EXHIBITION EXPRESS, limp of • Daily Morning Double Paper, Pitli V. SOCK. ENCE, Containing every possibleinirsiatioci relative to the titiE it EXIIIBI'IiON OP IXSI, Its ObjeMA Exhibitors' Proeforeta, Intended Contents, Arrangements, Appeariume, Fromm., panned future. The anorrnmis Lumber of persons intoreeted in the fart emning Great Exhibition of the Worl Ps lod airy harms HO ,no had no Slitiofartor - orreP.ntittiW in the press —no paper sulfliimitly large, sad with vac:lonians comprehensive enough to grasp and exemplify led fsirikeomine comet:int with fulness w rthy of PO grand on event —the proirictars of tee PXPREISS have determined spas lowing, every Saturday &Biennia% a double sheet of that paper, to contain the fattest and latest information relative to the Estiihittork, together with a rasa of over matter acceptable to the multitude of persons interested either as general sod Isgal corarni!teeMPll and iecretaries, members of provincial travelling clubs, exhibitors, friends of exhibitors, rivals of and the stail larger and wider circle of those who are to he the hundreds of liac•eads of Coil°. s to the metropotis during the troll coming Con gress of Industry all Nations. In adilition to everything relative Notts* Exposition ties douLle sheet will glee general sews, sag will, moreover, moo i illy attend to all curtest events in literaiiiie, science, mid art. On every day except Paturday the price of the EXPRESS will be I kirscpence, as hereto!, e. AtIVEMISEMFNTR. Thermal sales of the tXiitBITION tht'llF.S3 as a medium must mident to sit; rtrerv. All altertirrmen•s ra'ot be at the dike in harriers at or before MIA in , be eeenice -I each Inkier, to secure insertion 111 the number A the following ear. la, rosieeinetrett, Met-street Ehe •:p*' $. TO CORRESPONDENTS. AdsetvonaentslntenSed for " The Express" London E•ening paper, must be at the (Kee, It, Loaccrnsatrcet, by Too o'clock ma tbs day of publication. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins Dor—Wornint. 105. ant. Aftnrsaon, 100. 47a. To-itossow—lfurning, 11b. tea Aternooo, 1211. LONDON, IYEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12. THERE is not a doubt of it. The cultivators of the soil have encountered hard times. Of certain por tions of their produce the price is low. But farmers throughout the country--those who could do it-- have maintaincsl a stout heart against that turn of fortune which certainly in this realm, as in the world, has spared no condition, no calling, no trade. There is evidence, that at the same time the land owners have but little lowered their demands or abandoned their advantages. Whilst the effect of low prices upon one class of occupiers has been to compel them to concentrate their capital upon smaller holdings, a larger class have nought to compensate diminished profits by extending the area of their occupation ; competition for laud has not diminished. And we know, from irrefragable proof, that more labour, more capital, inure manure, have been spent upon the land. Now, in giving the cultivators of the soil full credit for this spirit, this energy, and this enter prise, let us consider what results could naturally and justly be expected frpm such efforts? Were these efforts made in the hope of high prices? Who will say so? Were they not rather made with the view of so increasing and cheapening pro duction, that the current rate of prices would he made remunerative? Agricultural orators in parlia ment may compare the price of cattle and the price of corn in one year and in another, but they forget to tell I 1-.4 how much more can be raised from the land, or how many more cattle were brought to market from the same fields, in consequence of the great and acknowledged efforts of the British farmer. Without this, we submit that the calculations of Mr. Dim: %ELI are wanting in the essential figures. They go altogether upon the as,uniption that there has • been effort without improvement, and speculation volunteers from the opposite side. In such sallies we can only wish Mr. DISRAELI every success. Whtn we are quite sure what he means, it may be that we can give him cordial support. But really in the present session of parliament it has become no easy task to ascertain exactly what are really persona' polities or aims. IT is understood that the CHANCELLOR of the Ex cnEut Ea has determined on proposing some measure fur the repression of the fraudulent adulteration of coffee. The satisfaction which this announcement has created is not without alloy. Not satisfied with the restraints which the law already imposes upon the fraudulent practice, and the penalties by which it enforces these, it is said that Sir CHARLES WOOD means to superadd new measures of a fiscal kind, whereby coffee the taxed, and chicory the untaxed, may for the future be placed on the same level of market price, and the encouragement which the actual disproportion of value now offers to the frau- duknt substitution of chicory for coffee be removed. This he proposes to do, not by taking the customs' duty off coffee, but by laying an excise duty on chi cory. We seriously doubt the fitness of such a tax ; and we arc quite sure that it is by no means neces sary to the accomplishment of thi; desired object. It appears to have been assumed that the de crease in the consumption of coffee is attributable to one of these causes—decreasing supply or decreasing demand, or to both. Upon that assumption it is argued, not without plausibility, that the diminution or even the total abolition of the import duty on coffee will he found effectual. Since 1846 there has been a reduction of the prices of cofti•c of from 15 to 22 per cent. consequent upon the reduction of duty; and yet, whilst the increased consumption of sugar and every other taxed article has, during the same period, furnished conclusive evidence of the sound ness of the doctrine that every judicious reduction of taxes must eventually compensate, and more than compensate, the Exchequer for the temporary sacri fice of revenue, coffee alone has presented the anomalous and exceptional instance of a com modity whose consumption has not only not increased but has actually decreased as its price has diminished. Of this striking fact, the parlia mentary returns fur 1849 and MO, leave no doubt whatever. It appears that in 1816. there were entered for home consumption, 36,793,001 lbs. of ooffee, and in 1819, only 34,431,071 lbs. In 1830, as appears by the returns of the Board of Trade, the quantity entered was down to the 3th Ilecember, 20,003.273 lbs. The revenue derived from coffee has of course also fallen off—from 730,838/. in 1846, to 746,436'. in 1817; from 710,270!. in 1818, to 043,218/. in 1849, and for the eleven months ending with the 3th December, 1830, to about 3.10,000/. It is therefore to be intbrred that any further reduction in the price of coffee consequent upon the reduction or remission of import duties will be as inefficacious in stimulating consumption as experience has shown it to be fur the past. Hut the same returns also show that the effect of the reduction of duty has been to stimulate produc tion at least, and that, whatever may be said or thought of the alleged fulling off in de . mand, there has been, on the contrary, down to the last Spring sales, a very prodigious increase in the supply. 'faking the same period of years, for an example of ' this, the following is the o;; ciul account of imports: Years. 144. 1846 51,813,(411 itit7 65,341,011 1418 57,001,431 1849 63,320,106 1850 (elerea months) 48,731,137 By this abstract it appears but too probable indeed that in 18;i0 there will him , been no increase as in the preceding years, but rather a falling off in the amount of imports, a result not to be wondered at if the discouragements and losses of so many succeed ing years of dimished consumption are taken into account. . without return. It was the more unpardonalde of Mr. Disitsrts to omit this in his comparison of recent years, when he so fully admitted it with regard to the past. lie pointed with exultation to what had been done in Pinner years in the Lothians and in Norfolk; whilst he rufwies to take into account what may have been done in the saute dirsetion, and by similar efforts, throughout the whole breadth of England in MO and 1850. After all, the prices of February, 1851, differ very little from these of February, Pia/. On February the 4th, IMSO, the London overage of wheat was 425. 10d.; on February the ith, 11 , 51, the London average of wheat was .11s. 11d. (we quote the Econo mist). Last year, on the same day, best Scots cattle are marked 31.1. 101. per Blbs.; this year, 3s. Bd. With prices thas so little changed, has not produce increased? Have not skill, and care, and augmented sharpness, had their results? Have not inanutius tured cottons lowered in price, whilst the expense of the raw material has augmented? Yet exports in crease; and the manufacturer, taking the world and necessities as they go and come, never thinks of coming to parliament for redress, or to the CILtIc- CELLOR of the Ext.:lmo:En for annual favour. Mr. I)isast:Ll made, in truth, no case for the legislature either to interfere or go back in its reforms, on the ground of the temporary depression of agri culture. He only fathomed and exposed half the circumstances of its condition. Had he, how ever, even proved the first part of his thesis, the more difficult remained behind, which was to show the interests of owners and occupiers of the soil to be identical. This, however, he took for granted, and, , wisely, did not seek to prove. All the taxation, local and general, incident to the landed interest, according to Mr. DISRAELI, upon the occupier, nay, ought to fall upon him. For rent was an " economical ' result," quite beyond the consideration of the fiscal en quirer: out of it nothing would come, or ought to come, not even tithes. These as well as all burdens fell upon the farmer, who took no notice of them whatever in the rent he stipulated to pay, and who in conse quence was overweighted, so that neither his corn nor his cattle could bring remunerative prices. This mass of assumption is really not worth an swering. Local burdens have been tune out of mind portions of rent paid for certain special purposes of road-making, poor-relieving, and church-supporting, to persons charged with seeing to these necessities, in stead of their being paid to the landlord. They are in truth no burden either to him or to the tenant; for neither can prove a jwevious or indefeasible right to them. That it might be a boon and a relief to whomsoever they were made a present, there is no doubt; but that they would be a gift, and not a re mission, is plain. And it is for parliament to exa mine what claim is made out for becoming the object of such generosity. As to that immense ocean of a question in which Mr. DISRAELI fully launched afterwards, whe ther the greater part of general taxation was paid by the land or by industry, that is neither to be fathomed or traversed in a night's debate ; and all that Mr. Dlsaasst chose to say on the subject was a mere series of irrelevant sophisms. Thus it was alleged that the landed interest paid the five millions of the tobacco duty, merely because it was forbidden to grow it. The House was not told how much tobacco the British farmer would grow or sell, if the importation was free. Far from ad mitting that the land or landed interests pay either tobacco duty or malt duty, we opine that both are paid by the working classes, struggling and in dustrious, of towns and of places where agriculturists are few indeed. Half of the 50 millions sterling that Mr. DISIIAELI spoke of are raised on drinks, such as beer, spirits, and tea. What proportion the landed interest consumes of these any one is statistician enough to tell. Had Mr. DP , RAELtS speech been confined to such arguments as these, there would be little novel or striking in it. It must be confessed, however, that the hon. member for Bucks did, towards the close of his oration, make a remarkable and successful effort to escape from his antiquated notions. After such reasonings and assertions as those we have com mented on, Mr. Disasho turned round and declared that he was no longer craving for agricultural alms us he was wont to do. Protection he had long since abandoned, free trade being an achievement that par liament could not reverse, whatever the country might; and that, however he hail argued the ease, he would not wind it up by repeating even his demand of last ;year. What he was anxious for was to close the old feud between town and country, and to demand for the country those fair consequences, that freetraders could not refuse. If they were to have free imports. he would demand THE STEAMBOAT ES TI OSION AT GLAIIGOW.—Cos free labour and free capital, an abolitiou of the law son, the fireman, so purrrely . injured on Wednesday morn of settlement, ant facilities for the application of tug by the explosion on board the Plover, has since died in money to land. For such proposals as these ; the infirmary , whither he wa:, conveyed . after the accident. Mr. DlsaaEtt cannot fail to tied man? . abet- i T ch hs y u ca the see T ed lost understands emont the authorities tors. And though we doubt the possibility of here have received a repo . it un fw:m two competent engineers his dragging his bucolic friends into a path so new as to the probable cause of the explosion, which has been to them, he will probably supply their places by I transmitted to Edinburgh.—.Kert/i Britialo The material point of inquiry therefore is, what has caused this gradual diminution in the consump tion of an article, the supply of which has been ut the same time so hugely increased, and its price so much diminished. The evidence furnished by the parliamentary returns leaves no doubt on this point. All the memorialists who have addressed the Trea sury—all the officers of government whose attention has been called to the subject—all the mercantile and commercial men who have any-thing to do with it, concur in testifying to a eery great ine..ease in the home demand for (lee, and in the home consumption ?f what is called eget ; and they also agree in rating the amount of this increase as equal to that of the supply. It is, therefore, to the systematic frauds of the wholesale and retail deuleis here that in their judgment the actual de cline in the quantities of coffee entered for home consumption is to be attributed. On this head they ' are unanimous. Mr. SAMUEL YOUNGER himself, who with just pride boasts of being the first' to adulte rate with chicory, and claims impunity for that wholesome practice, does, nevertheless, join with the rest in demanding that none but his shall be allowed, and, above all, that chicory itself shall not be adulterated, and furnishe:i some very curious and use ful information of the extent to which these fraudu lent practices are carried, showing that bad as the chicory root may be it is not answerable for above one-half of the mischief. " There are other roots, prepared in the same way," he says, " which, when kiln-dried curl up and assume the same appearance as the chicory root ; the parsnip, the white carrot, the beet-root, the radish, or any such. Many of the growers of chicory have hit upon the plan of adulte rating the chicory by adding these roots to the extent of nerer less than 25 per cent., and frequently to Wiser cent." This precious parcel, thus prepared by the British farmer, and " for which," he says, " the full price is given, and bought by a respectable house, whose principle of trade is to go with the i times," is forthwith adulterated anew by the' respectability aforesaid "with pulse to the extent of sometimes 25 per cent.. sometimes 50, and some times 75 per cent., according to the price at which orders may be obtained. By the time it gets into the possession of the grocer the identity of chicory cannot be traced :it is lost." Mr. YouNGEtt has reason to be indignant against this shameless viola tion of the purity of the chicory root. But we are equally solicitous for that of the coffee berry ; and whether the preparation be of the radish or chicory or pulse kind, we equally object to having it mixed with our coffee in unknown quantities by the grocer, who sells the mixture to us under the name of "best Mocha," and makes us pay for it, too, at " best Mocha" prices. According to the most moderate estimates con tained in the parliamentary returns the extent to which chicory (real or mock) is employed by the grocer in the adulteration of coffee cannot be less than 33 or 34 per cent., and probably is as much as 60 per cent. Of course this epuriowi ingredient dis places an equal quantity of the genuine article. Thus, but for the baneful impunity accorded to the practice, the amount of home deliveries fur 1849, would have been, instead of 34,431,0741b5., at least 46,000,00011 w, and perhaps as much as 53,000,0001b5., whilst the total loss of revenue thence arising cannot have been less than 250,000/., and probably has been' as much as 500,0001 for that one year. It must be quite evident that the cure of this tre mendous mischief is far beyond the power of a new excise. On which of the vegetable ingredients of the mixture will the duty be imposed ? For it is clear that to tax chicory, and to let acorns, and pulse, and parsnips go scot-free will be at once absurd and unjust. Nor do we think that there will be any practical advantage gained, even if all these useful inventions of the agricultural mind are included in the same excise law. " Torrefied vegetables" are not the only . fraudulent substitutes for coffee, nor the most deleterious. It is stated be the Messrs. BARING, and a host of London memorialists of equal respecta bility, that the substances most largely used, "according to the conscience or fancy of the ven der." are roasted acorns, peas; beans, red pottery, earth, sand, mahogany, sawdust, colouring matter, and fininys." Are all these to be excised ? If not, the proposed tax must be abortive. It will be better fur to take off the duty on coffee altogether, and let competition do the rest. If ; I Por Account. PARIS, Yee. 11. 1 Pie I Wary. pistils litoiseer Lowest amiss. —— per Cent.. —..l 66 SS SS IS SR 33 IS 15 58 35 per Cents. do. New Lams as ... ... . is ... ... ... .. • st,. do. ... ... per Cents. ..... If if 1 ... - -- 3 per Cent'. —. 38 IS 5 per Cents. 3 do. New is 6 dd. do, 4 per Cvnts. Padang/oos Lemke: at debt, 14100 g Mdgti 64 if!. Belgian, S. 1840 181 Wry Naples IWO Money. Do. 5, 1813 Roman Lam 1650 77 Do. 40 Do. St Picdmovt 5 p.C4 1111 7 3 ... Bank Mares ...... 2211 ... Dot ISA —Teraalliss OA bank), Irtl 75 ; Paris and Oritane, 88$; Rouen and Havre, 377 St ; klatoilles and Avtgunn, 197 50; Stras bourg and Bale, 162 SO ; Dvntre,(Orleans and Bordeaux, 400; North, 480 ; Ports and Strybourg, 378 75 Tours and Nantes, 555 ; itontervau and Troyes, 94 23; Dieppe and Vectunp, 22025; kW deaua and Taste, 40. WLDRTD, Fan. s.—Three per Cents., 34 7-15; after Bolas, 341 cash, 30 paper. Four per Cents., 12k. Fire per Cents., 10; after Volga, 10 cash. Coupon., 8; after balsa, $, Passives, 5 ; after Bolsa, 51 cash. Bank of St. Ferdinand, 97 cult. Exchange on London, 50.65 GERMANY. The sitting of the Federal Diet at Frankfort will commence under the presidency of Count Buol Behan enstein, the Austrian agent. BERLIN, FEB. 10.—Voluntary Loan, 106 i • New Loan, Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 1001 ; Nation al Debt, 841 • Commercial Manna Society's Premium, 1W ; Hank Shares, 961. VIINNA, FRB. B.—Five per Cent. Metalliquea, 97 ; Pour-and-a-Half per Cents., Sal ; Bank Shares, 1,194. litcluoge on London, 12.36. thought the hon. gentleman would Ne • titat, yeur by year, no ineon,iiderable relief had been given to the country in the remioion of taxation. In 1812 them were taxes . re- pealed or reduced, the estimated produce of which was 1,596,000 e; in 1813, 417,000 f. ; in 1814, 438,0001. • in 1845, 4,535,000/. • in 1146, 1,151,000 i. • in 1817, 344,6001.1 in 1848, 581,0001.; in 1849, 388,000). ; in 1850, 1,289,0001. ; making a total of 10,763,0001. repealed since 1841. (Hear, hear.) The taxes imposed were the income tax, and two other taxes which bad been subsequently repealed; but as he had taken credit for them in the repeal it was right that he should debit them. The amount of taxes imposed wu 4,661,000/. ; the amount reduced or repealed was 10,76.3,0001. ; leaving a balance in totem, of the country of 5,108,01101.; and in the face of that repeal of taxes to the amount of five millions and upwards, there had been an increase in the revenue, as he had stated, of 4,726,01014 h e ar.) Ile thought then, as regarded finance, he had proved the good effect of that policy. In those years we had lone through a fainii,e in Ireland, we had had failing crops in this country, and we had pawed through worse commer cial crises than bad ever befallen a commercial country be fore. We had gone through war in almost every conti nental date, utterly . disturbing our commercial relations. The (Iceland valiie of all our exporte in 1841 was .51,017,000!. The hon. gentleman in 1149 mistreat* another I year as a year of great prosperity, before these mischievous measure. were carried into effeet, the year 1816, in which the export. were 47,786,00111. In the year 1818 they bail fallen to 52,1100,0:10/. In 1849 they had risen to 01,590,00111. Assuming—berause we had not got the complete re turns yet—that in Ifeld the total exports bore the same proportion to the principal articles as they did in 1819, and he knew that was pretty nearly cor rect, the total exports of this year would be of the value of 'Tweeds of 70,000,000/. (Haar, hear.) Well, then, com paring it with any year, even the year of the greatest prosperity before this legislation commenced, there was an increase of exports perfectly unexampled, proving the employment of our people, the prosperity of our trade, and the tureen of our commercial as well as of our manutheturimr interests. (Hear.) Well, if this were so, and he did not think any man could controvert a single position he had laid down when they found that in three years, :Liter an almost unt;andleledcommertial crisis, capital was seeking investment at a rate of interest so low as to tempt speculation—if the manufacturing interests were in this state it prosperity, if the working classes, not only in the manufacturing but in the agricultural districts, were well employes', well paid, well fed, and contented-4f this were a true description—andel it be true that this legislation was wrung? Could it be that the house was prepared to revoke this legislation ? Could it be that the hope expensed in her Majesty's speech would not be realised -that the prosperous con t don of other slaws of her Majesty's subjects will have a favourable effect in promoting the interests of agriculturists? Theme of silk was familiar to everybody. There was a loud complaint that the bilk manufacturers were reduced to ruin when protection wax taken from them. 'there were just the same complaints of accumulating ruin to the manufacturers of leather and gloves when protection was taken from them. If it were true, as the bon. gentleman said, that the legislation of this country was based upon protection to agriculture, it wan based upon protection to maimfactures as well. It was taken from menueti.tures which had prospi•red in spite of protec tion being withdrawn, and why should not agriculture prosper too? Agriculture was certainly suffering lad, but that was because it had protection the latest. It SSTs 31 years since protection was taken Inns silk. Had the pro d uce of silk been diminished in coneequence ? Nut only did we supply our own country, hut we entered into competition, and close competition, too, with the very country of whew products we had le•en afraid. Our silk went to them and theirx CAW to us ; and in many fabrics we actually M.at them. Look to the exportation of silk goats only for the last three years. Ile would tette the first article cif btufr, and he found that in 1818 the &eland value was 2148,000!. ; in 1819, 306,0•10 f.; and in 1850, 487,000/. Of mixed stuffs, the value was, respectively, 156,0001., 213,0001., and 323.0001. 'then there was no branch in which probable ruin WAS more confidently prophesii.d than in the glove trade, Well, he found that an 1818 the quantity exported was 10,000 lbs. weight, in 1819,1.1,000, and in 1860 the quantity was actually trebled, the amount exported being 31,000 11w. weight. That was no great article ; hot what had taken place with respect to it was an answer to the argument that it was impswaible for our productions to go on without pro tertion. Then there wee an mrieultural article in repeal ing the duty on which, in 1842, he took an active part—the article of wool. At that time nu little apprehension was felt by the wool-growers of this country of the mischievous effects which would arise from repealing the duty. Now what had been the result? Why, that ism'. since the duty had becu repealed the price of lynglieh wool had increased, and, more than that, the export of English wool had in crewed. Take the last three years, in which the exports were—in 1818, 3,900,9001 U.; in 1849, 11,200,00011 w.; in 1830, 12,010,00011 w., trebled in rtsree sears. Was that a proof of the &dress of agriculture? On the contrary, it was a proof of the benefit which had accrued from the abo lition of the duty on the importation of wont 'the consequent prosperity of our manufactures led to a demand for British wool, which again led to an increased supply at home. No doubt the same effect would follow with regard to other agricultural products. Ile had no doubt that the same re sults would attend improvements in agriculture as had attended improvements in other branches of industry, by a judicious outlay of capital, and improved modes of produc tion, which lie was happy to say were going on throughout the country ; there being hardly a part of the coun try in which the owners and occupiers were not making improvements, notwithstanding the discouraging butguagu tothcm which was occasionally used. With respect to the motion of the hon. gentleman, he begged to repeat what he hail said a short time ago. Ile could not but view it in one light, namely, that however much the hon. gentleman might disclaim the intention, it would have the effect, if parliament were to carry it, of re-imposing NMI(' or all of the taxes which had recently been repealed or reduced. Ile called upon the house to negative that proposal. Ever since the speech of Mr. Huakisson, on which their policy had been founded, that policy had been steadily acted upon; and, notwithstanding that it had often been attacked, it had received a greater impulse from the government of Sir I R. Peel, who had introduced a measun• on the subject in 1812, and had subsequently been in a position to carry it fully into effect. Deeply did he (Sir C. Wood) lament that they were deprived of that aesistanee of the right hon. baro net which had so often been rendered to them on similar' and former occasions. The proposition of the hon. gentleman was sulutantially the %Me as last year. The house had rejected it thou. rind he called upon them to negative it now. (Hear. hear.) Ile called on a majority, whether on that side of the house or on this, to stand up in defence of Me trade. It had been subjected to many trials, but in a little time they would cease; mid free trade r = prove itself to be as beneficial to the agriculturists as it had up to this moment shown itself to he to every other clam of the community. and especially to the working population, front one end of the world to the other. (Cheers.) Mr. HOIRiSON instanced the depression of landed pro perty and of the wages of agricultural labourers in CMOs berland as evidence that Sire. Wood had been misinformed. A remedy for the distress in the country might be found in the reduction of taxation and the reform of the pension list. Mr. 0. BERKELEY supported the motion, and contro verted other portions of the epeceh of Sir C. Wood. He thought the greatest boon that could happen to the country would be a dissolution. Throughout the land there was a general feeling of distrust and disaff,ction. Unless some thing was done for the agricultural interest this country would be plunged into considerable confusion. Mr. G. SANDARSlikewisegave his support to the motion. He questioned various allegations of Sir C. Wad; he showed what be coneidered to be the injurious working of the present commercial policy, and insisted upon the inability of the British grower of corn to contend with the foreigner, referring, in support of his argument, to a variety of figured statements. He did not urge a reversal of our present policy; but he contended that it was the duty of the government, as they had admitted the distress of the agricultural interest, to do all that was practicable to relieve it. After a few explanatory observations from Mr. W. "Mown, on the motion of the Marquis of GRANBY, the debate was adjourned until Thursday. SUNDAY TRADING IN TILE METROPOLIS. Mr. W. WILLIAMS moved for leave to bring in a bill to prevent unnecessary trading on Sundays in London. The motion was opposed by Mr. B•HING WALL, but, ipon a division, was carried by 70 to 19. The bill was subsequently brought in and read a first Me, and the second reading fixed for the 4th March. The other orders hav i ng been disposed of, the house --fled at half -post 13 o' A&YE,"ME\'TS TOIL THE PROPERTY AND INCOME I TAIL —Yesterday a return, obtained by Mr. Cornwall L ew is, M.P., was printed of assessment. ander Schedule " A" for the property and iihcome tax in England and Scotland. Sonic alterations arc expected to be made in the ' mole of collection. The assessments in 1814 and 1815 amounted to 53,495,3761. in England and Wales. In 1842 they were 85,8112,7341. In 1845 to 88,724,2541. ; and in 1848 to 94,538,4721. Tithes have decreased under the Com- Inntation Act, and railways have increased. In 1842 the assessment. on railways were 2,417,6101., and in 1848 5,790,3861, The aso , ssm4mts in Scotland were in 1815, tinder the Schedule " A," 8,642,051.; in 1842,9,481,7611. ; is 1846, 9,734,4461. ; and ia 1848,10,714,4731, FRANCE. PARIS, TVESDLY EVIIMING. The coalition have struck their blow; and, whe ther their refusal of the I)otution be founded in jus tice or not, there can be only one opinion as to the short-sightedness of people who think they have cut the wings of the imperial eagle with such a pair of shears. M. Thiers has simply given Louis Napoleon a fair stage for appearing beam the nation ia au attitude which will move their sympathy and respect. The President has immediately caught at the opening to make a generous sacrifice of his personal feelings and interests to the cause of public tranquillity; and no doubt he will p.mved to put into operation those csionomirs which will probably add greatly to his coulTort, without depriving him of a single adhe rent who is other than a trencher friend. Vt"hat mat ters it to him whether a hundred Louis d'ors be saved in champaigne and ices every Thursday evening, or whether he has only a dozen of horses in his stables instead of sixty-three? But it is a business of im 111CUIIC importance that all France should say: "Ile might have got the money by asking us instead of the Assembly; but he has refused a national sub scription in the interests of our tranquillity." A national subscription would evidently , have been impolitic in more than one point of view. If not successful, it would have made the President cut a pitiful figure; and in all cases the new appeal would never have broadened the base of popularity which was afforded by ail millions of votes. Meanwhile the President rides about to markets, establishes military bakehouses, and affects the encouragement and promotion of all that can contribute to the bien etre of the army and people. You may take the tollowing personal experience as a test, to a certain extent, of public opinion among the middle classes with respect to the dispute be tween the President and the Assembly. An elderly French physician, who has an extensive practice in ' Paris, where he has resided a great number of years, tells me that among the families of the middle classes whom he attends, there is but one opinion, and that opinion is in favour of the President. lie stated that he had been present at a numerous meeting of medical practitioners on the day before, and there was scarcely a dissentient voice among the fraternity, so far as their own opinions were concerned, and they gave exactly the saute account of the tone of feeling prevailing in the families which they frsquented. Everywhere the opposition of the Assembly to the President was described as a factious, unprincipled coalition, grounded, in the party of M. Tillers, on the personal ambition of a knot of parliamentary leaders. I take this on the whole to be a significant fact, well worth your attention. In the division of yesterday the Duke de Broglie and M. Dupin abstained from voting. M. Mole voted against the notation. The Anillcur publishes the following eommuni- I tutted note : In anticipation of the rejection which has just taken place on the subject of the expenses of representation, numerous subscriptions have been organised. This was au imposing and manifest testimony of sympathy for and approbation of the conduct of the President. Ile is deeply affected at it, and cordially thanks all those who had the idea; but he thinks it his duty to sacrifice a personal satisfaction to the repose of the country. Ile knows that the people will do him Justice, and that is sufficient for him. The President, therefore, refuses any subscription, however spontaneous and national the character of it may be. Yesterday, between two and three o'clock, the Pre sident of the Republic, accompanied by M. Fleury, one of his aides-de-camp. left the Epee, and drove himself in a phaeton to the ground on which it is proposed to erect the new market. After going along the Boulevards, he . proceeded through the rues Poissonicre , Neuve Sa int-Eustache, and Mont martre. On reaching the Pointe Saint-Eustache, he walked his horses slowly over the site of the markets, and the; proceeded towards the guava by the rues Rambutean and Saint Penis, and the Place du Chu telet. Ile returned along the guns to the Louvre, and visited the place clearing away for the prolonga tion of the Rue de Ricoh. Throughout the whole of the way he was received with strong marks of res pect and attachment. The President of the Republic, on the report of the I Minister of War, has ordered he re-establishment, with improvements of the " Service Manutention naive" (military bakehouses), in all the fortresses on the frontier, and in all other places in which the strength of the garrison shall render them advan tageous. The minister states that this re-establish ment has been recommended by the majority of generals in command of divisions, and colonels and other superior officers of regiments; also by a com mission of generals. commissaries , and medical officers. specially appointed to examine the matter. The minister likewise states that the measure will be advantageous ti agriculturists, by rendering necessary large purchases of corn. A report prevailed last night that Gcn. Baraguay d'ltilliers was to be dismissed from the command-in chief of the army of Paris. But it seems likely that this rumour originated in a remodelling announced in the Menit,or of the divisions of the troops. The troops assembledandmaintainedat Paris,instead of remaining separated into two divisions. one of them three times more numerous than the other, and in brigades not less unequal, they are to be formed in three divisions, and in brigades of about the same force. The fibmi tear announces that the first of the new divisions will be commanded by General ('armlet, who com mands the first military division ; the second by General Guillabert ; the third by General Levasseur. which a ex dalll s li o e , rs er i t s rat hew t ho ze o hrl th i e n his comt Gen m em an l d ßaragu , y military division, by this measure. Give no credence to the rumours about the Mar quis de la Valette replacing General Aupick at Constantinople. The idea of appointiong M. de la Valette French ambassador to the Porte has been abandoned. It is at this moment quite uncertain who will succeed General Aupick. For the rest, that minister has not been yet recalled. The sitting of the Assembly did not present any feature of interest. A bill was adopted by 379 votes against 16 for granting an extraordinary credit of 60,000 fr. to the ministry of marine and colonies for the construction of a dyke at Sainte Maris of Mada gascar, for giving salubrity to the air. The order of the day next brought on the discussion of the propo sition of MM. Lopez I)ubec and Favreau, relative to a prolongation for ten years of the term allowed to French proprietors of slaves in foreign countries for divesting themselves of such property. After several amendments had been rejected, one proposed by M. Marichal in favour of a prolongation of seven years was adopted. The ensemble of the bill was adopted. Then the Assembly's sitting broke up. The report of the committee on the bill for assimi lating Clrilian vessels to national vessels in French ports was presented yesterday. The adoption of the bill is recommended, and urgency demanded for its discussion. The Bourse was good. The Fives rose 20 centimes. BOURSIL ITALY. NAPLES. Our correspondent states in his letter of the 4th, that the state trials came to g close on the 31st ult. The sentences passed were as follows:—Settembrini, Agresti, Faueitano—death. The following were con demned to the galley's for various terms:—the ex minister Carlo, Baron I'ocrio, 2-1 years; Captains Disco and Margerhit, 30 years; Catulani, Veltuoci and Brieco, 21 rears; Pironte and Romeo, 21 years; Antonelli, Cavtilieri, the Canon Errieello, lk Shnone, Tedesco, Dono, Caprio, Colombo, Cocoa= and Nardi, 19 years; Caratft, Pacifico, Torassa, l'etcrn, 1 year's imprisonment; Mondella, 15 days' imprisonment; Nlolincio, 500 ducats fine. Fender., Palotta, Seriale, Gualtieri, and De Giovanni, acquitted. Batelle and - .Mazza solitary confinement in irons for life. •The crime of Settembrini was that he drew up the celebrated " protesta." Faucitano was instrumental in preventing the papal benediction, by exploding some combustibles against his person. Great efforts were made, particularly by the di plomatic body, to influence the king, then at Casata,to spare the prisoners condemned to death; and they were ultimately attended with Pruevesa, the punish ment of death having been commuted into confine ment in the galleys for Faucitano was only pardoned at the last moment. COLONIAL. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE A portion of the contents of the following private letter Goan the CVO was given in yesterday's Ex. press CAPE TOWN, Du. 5. You may recollect that when Sandill reftria4l to attend the meeting, Sir Harry resolved to dept., him from his chieftainship, which he did by having lain depasitiim mud before• his people. After thin a commimioner (Mr. Browidee) wan appointed to emceed him user the Gaikas, and it is from Mr. Brownlee* jurisdiction that we have amounts of wore di•turlattres having taken place. The eiretiminimee was that an os was stolen from near Fort Hari and traced to a Kaffir kraal, and on the theft being investigated, a tictaelune't of police wan sent to the kraal to demand bier head of cattle which were immediately paid. An the police were driving them away a number of Kitttim, some with muskets, collected together to rescue the cattle, which they did, as the police were not nutticientiy numerous to resist them. Mr. Brownlee investigated this outrage, and nen . towed the bead num of the km - al, called Quariinli, to Kivu up to hint the as and guns that were and in the attack, and to pay a tine of 211 head fur the outrage; with which demand Quarana said he would comply. 't the second out rage occurred within a few miter of king William's 'town, to the drivers of two mule waggons, who wen• attacked by Kattirs, and, what gives a peculiar complexion to this cane, wen• robbed of their guns only. 'fh.w• report., with others that the governor heard by last night mail, but which have not yet trauvpired, have decided the governor to depart inintediately for the frontier, and to take with him four eurnitinies of the 73rd regiment, with 30 Artillerymen, and two tieldpiee..s. 'flwy are ad embarking ut this moment on board the Berms, that leiven for Bast London, tlw wet of Buffalo, and the Key of Kalfraria, thi. afternoon. Zbe Court. WINDSOR, Tr esn.tx, Ern. It. The Queen held a Court and Privy Council at half past two o'clock at the Castle. The Privy Council was attended by his Itojal Tlifshneks Prince Albert, the Marquis of La 116110% ay (Lard President), the Earl of Miuto (Lord Privy Seal), Lord J. Russell (First Lord of the Treasury), Sir Deorge Un•y (Secretary of State fur the Boma Department), Viscount Palmerston (Secre tary of State fur For•iltu Affairs), the Earl of Curlislo (Chancellor of the Duchy oi Lancaster), the Marquis of Chutricarde (Postmaster General), the Marquis of I Vest minster (Lord Steward), the Marquis of Breadalbune (Lord Chamberlain), the Duke of Norfolk (Master of the Done), and the Marquis of Abel-cum (Groom of the Stole to the Prince). At the Council her Majesty pricked the li4 of Sheriffslor the ditferent counties of England and Wales fur the prcscut year. ller Majesty having been pleased to appoint Sir R. Wil liams Bulkeley to be lonldieutenant of the county of Car uarvon, the oaths annulated to be taken thereupon were administered to the Imo. baronet. The lion. William Llothurst WWI the clerk of the council in nailing. _ . . The Duke of Nevresuitte had an audience of the Queen, and delivered to lice UM...sty the Insignia of the moot noble Order of the Clatter worn by his Lather, the late Duke of Newcastle. The Marquis of L.n.downe (Lord Pwsident) had an au dienceyf the queen, . Lord Locat, Lord Dormer, and Lord Van: of narrows den, had an audience of her Majesty. Lord John ltu,sell had an audience of the Queen. Iler Majesty was attsmdml by Lord Dulterin, lord in Waiting, and Lieut.-Colonel the lion. 14. Boyle, Groom in Waiting. A drjrurk , was served in the Castle to the ministers and ofSeces of state present at the court, :old also to the pro testant dissenting ministers of the three denoniinations. The Marquis of Lansdowne, the Luke of Newcastle, Lord John Russell, the Earl of Carlisle, the Marquis of Clan ricarde, the Marquis of Westminster, the Earl of !Mobs, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston, and the lino. W. Bathurst, trave lled from town to attend the council by a special train on the Great tVestern Railway, arritiug at tho Castle at eight minutes past 2 o'clock. The ministers took their departure from the Castle at five minutes before 4 o'clock, and returned to London by a special train on the Gnot Western Railway. 'the royal diumr party this evening included the Duchess of )(tilt, liarotte , s de Speth, the Mantuis and Man:Worley. of Breudalbanc, mud the Marquis and Marchisnoos of Aber corn. The School of Design had a ineetinpr yesterday, at tho Board of "trade. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-offieo from the Governor of Gambia. (From last night's Gazelle.) NOTIFICATION.—FuItEIGN-OFFICE, FMB. 11.—It Lt hereby notified that Viscount Palmerton, her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has received from Sir Stratford Canning, her Mujii , ty's Ambassador at Constantinople, a despatch, enclosing un official notification from the Ottoman Minister for Foreign Affiiirs, dated the 18th of January lust, of the blockade of all the ports and coasts of Samos by the naval forces of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan. Such blockade to commences• twenty days after the said 18th of January. BUCKINGHAM-PALACE, FEB. 3.—The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon James Meek, Esq., late Comptroller of the Victualling and 'f ran gport Services in the Admiralty. CROWN-OFFICE, FEB. IL—Member returned to serve in this present Parliament for the borough of New Windsor: The Right lion. John Hatchet', of Merrion square, in the city of Dublin, Attorney-biencrid for Ireland. ADMISSION TO VIEW TIIE HOUSE OF LORDS.— During the sittings of parliament the public will he admitted to view the House of Lord* every Saturday, betwen 10 and 4 o'clock, by tickets, to be obtained gratis at the Loa Chamberlain's office, Abingdon-street (which opens this day), on any Wednesday between 1 1 and 4 o'clock. GREAT ERIIIIIITION.—The season tickets are arc stated to be in course of preparation, and, as soon as they can be prepared, the Executive Committee will give notice where they can be obtained. Tint PAPAL AGGRESSION.—Yesterday her Ma. jolty received at Windsor-Cantle a deputation from the three denominations of dissenting ministers residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, when they pre sented an address expressive of their conviction that we are indebted, under God, for our national prosperity and great- ness, and especially for our civil and religious liberty, to those principles of the protestant reformation which placed the House of Brunswick on the throne. The address expressed the deep regret with which they viewed the recent Ltomish w en-neon, and the causes which have conduced telt, among which they . specified the legislative pittronage of popery and the anti-protestant teachings and practices in the esta blished church. They stated their claim for the rights of conscience for themselves and for all classes of her Majesty's subjects. They did not consider that these rights would be impaired by her Majesty's disallowance of territorial titles and jurisdiction conferred by the Pope. To this address her Majesty returned the following reply:—" I receive with much satisfaction your renewed assurances of loyalty and attachment to my person and government. I fully.appre ciate the importance of a Arm adherence to the principles of the protestant reformation, and you may rely on my earnest desire, in asserting the just prerogatives of my crown and the constitutional rights of my people, to maintain unim paired the blessings of civil and religious liberty which are so justly dear to this country."—The deputation was composed of the following : The Reverend Dr. Steane, the Reverend R. Littler, the Reverend Edward Manncring, the Rev. James J. Freeman, Rev. William Griner, Rev. George W. Fiabbourno, Rev. Josiah Viney, the Rev. William Brock, Rev. J. C. Gallaway, A.M., Rev. William Alexander Blake, Rev. Clement Dukes, A.M. (Dalston), Rev. Joseph Rothery, Rev. Robert Itedpath, A.M., Rev. S. B. Borgne, the Rev. John Stoughton, Rev. John Iloppus, LL.D, Rev. George Smith, and the Rev. Israel May Soule. MONUMENT TO SDI ROBERT PEEL—The BUM of 2,7001. boa been subscribed in Rory for the erection of an architectural design in memory of the lat e Sir Robert Peel. The committee having invited the competition of the most distinguished sculptors of the day, the result has been the transmission to them of about tufty models from various artists. These productions are arranged for exhibition in the new town ball, and attract a good deal of attention. WHAT IS THE WINDOW DUTY ?—Why, tbs duty of government to take it off—Pwwia ._ ~ 1