The Express. — London, England, 1853-10-29 00:00:00

on the veyage haring been 83, and the dea . hs 198 : i t b, &mh and , 61 and 45 w ere u 2 were adts ; 9 were between the t s et 1 7,under 1 year. Tile „wore mortality w'^ thus at the rate of 4 per cent. Of the 1.9'4 who .:rrived, 1,1;34 males ab d 1.910 tensely', making a total of 3,311, o are g love the age of 11 years. In additiun to these LL.. Le i the cost of wose pasaged to th,. L L ,4 ilcfraye Iby th e government, there also arrived the iiumigrants enumerated in the itsg pl eagrayl:, who wire introduced from Gcruiany wahr t:.e Notation., of April 7, 1817, the coat of et!: ..e hither has been partially defrayed by the goverument —ll years and upwards, Baths. 121: kaiaks, 1 . 20. Between 1 and 11, males, 40: femaks, 19. l oder 1, make, 8; total, 319. The cost w the eulutoy of its:emit:el:lg those immigrants hi; b een 23.54/.,wlmh, when added to the amuunt of ear, account of imusittra- C o n Jur' ti.e same periud, from the United King t .1. 'Luse a tots ! . cxpenaiture during the year ni Joint of rig4sted immigration Lio this c0i'7,747r. i'7,747r. 2.. 9;1 The report ireludes a return. which shows that d ti : : :g the fifteen ye:irs eliding the 31st of December I s ", I; ;.212 assisted inimigrauts and 1,;81 nesssistrd di:to Lev.. arrived in thi, tniuny ; and also, that the bu m paal for the passisgeri of the assisted immigrants lac:tiding the test of ealleetiun in the case of thou; intl.:Need under the hainty setem, and those Intro dvell from the comment k.nrope under toe regu lations of the Tth A:ail, lel7, was 99.3,bbb1. ISti Old Anethar step in the extension of steam navigation is about to take place. 'fhe Peninsular and Oriental enspany have annuni...d their intention of placing die steamer Attu on the line between New Zealand and Sydney. THE NEW CONiTill'f lON FOR TUE COLONY. Oa the 29th eh. (rays the Sydney 1 ruid) Mr. Wentworth, as chairman of the eeloct committee of the Legislative Council, appointed in May last to prepare a cuestitu'itio 10: New South IYales, ',relight up the report of the conerittee, and a bill, and the draft of a prop— •I act of the imperial parliament, which will be necessary to give it legal validity. In submitting' to the house the bill to confer a constit it Conon tat: colony, and to grant a civil list to the Qaetn, foe committee stated in their report that they had found it necessary to suggest some alterations in es.c measure brought up by the committee of the last session : they fully cuncureed nut only in the scheme of legislation recommended by that committee, but also for the most part ir. the provisions of the proposed tut of parliament, anal the bill to be appended to it as a schedule, by which, unitedly, this new constitution is to be legalised and established. The committee observe that the mos! important alterations made in the measure recomuiroded by the committee of last session, relate to the constitution of the legislative council. and the civil list tobe granted to her Majesty upon the surrender to the colony of the waste lauds and royalties, which are, at present, vested iu the . . . . . The committee then submit that, actuated by the views so set forth, they have introduced into the bill " to confer a cons i tut tt,n on the colony, and to grant a civil list to her lii.jtisty," too clauses, which to a certain extent are framed in accordance with analo gous clauses to be found in the imperial act 3 George 111., c. 31, "for making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Queb.:e." With respect to the elective franchise the com mittee recommend a very large extension. They submit their opinion tLat. in addition to the fran chise established b 1 the 1:1 and 14 Vietor's., e. 39, the right of voting for the- Jection of members of the Assembly should be given to all persons having room or lodging, paying for their board and lodging, or 10/.. a year for their lodging only; and, in recom mending this, the committee express their telief that such an enlargement of the franchise, in combination with the franchise now existing, will be a very close approximation to universal suffrage. rhe committee further recommend that the num bers feinting the assembly shall not exceed the num ber of the present Legislative Council, and that the eighteen additional elective members who will be suletitwed for the nominees shall be distributed among the electoral districts constituted by the Elec toral Act of Mil, in strict accordance with the prin ciple of distribution established by that act. To one important feature of the bill, the committee particularly invite a:tendon, viz., the I:th clause, which contains a power to alter the present electoral divisions ' as well as the apportionment of representa tives to be chosen by each, whenever there shall be the concurrence of a majority of the upper house end of a majority of two-thirds of the lower house of our future parliament in favour of any such alteration. The committee submit that this provision is ample to meet any possible requirements of this kir.d that may from time to time arise from the various con stituencies of the colony. They further draw attention to another clause of the bill, which reserves a full constitutional power to alter the proposed form of constitution whenever there shall be a majority of two-thirds of both houses of parliament in favour of any such alteration, re serving to her Majesty the right of assenting to or dissenting from any bill for this purpose that may be presented for the signification of her Majesty's plea sure thereon. M ith this report the bills referred to therein were presented to the council, and the discussion of the whole question was opened on the 9th of August, when a call of the house was made agreeably to notice. In the meantime an attempt to protest against the form of constitution proposed by the select committee of the legislative council has been made by a party in Sydney, who, having convened a pr eliminary meeting moved and carried the fel loui3g resolutions : That this meeting visws with surprise and strong feelings of nppo.:',on the saunas proposed for the political constitu tion of the colony, especially in respect to tho establish tent of an Upper House of Crown Nominee., and f-e unties of en anpriceilintcd hereditary orar of mlonial nobility, and sun the manifestly unjust distribution of the ants by 'hien the preterit representative system is sought to be slut ded. _ The! in opinion of this meeting the inhahitante of the calmly shoidd be to le.iemt.lo forthwith, to record their protest against a neraure so repugnant to the feelings of Bneust.. subjects. and fr.ught with so much danger to the political rights at the people. That the usdermi ntioncd gentlemen be appointe.l a coa lmine*, &c. That the committee be instructed to communicate, by their secretary, with such country gentlemen as may be deemed favourable to the great objects contemplated by this meeting, with a view to securing their cooperation, and originating similar movements in the country districts. . . Last the Local Legislature has had under its con siderstinct the important principles embodied in the proposed form of a new constitution, it has dealt a heavy blow upon that municipal franchise which, for eleven years, Sydney has so sadly misu,ed, The corporation of Sydney has been universally declared to be a nuisance, and an attempt made by Mr. Thor low (a member for the city, and also one of the most active members of the corporation), to introduce a measure which might be called the "Sydney Corpo ration lteform Bill," has been rejected by the council by a majority of 27 to 3: and Sydney's municipal institution is accordingly doomed. NEW ZEALAND. Our advices from Auckland are to the 13th Of July. They contain literally nothing but election news. Lieut.-C.)lonel Vinyard had beat elected superintendent of the province. He received 922 votes; his rival, Mr. Brown, 820. None of the council elections had been decided. VAN DIEMEN•S LAND. LAUNCESTON, Avt.t,T 16. A aced deal of internt has been excited in lEbart Town by the rause! of Mr. li:.-clay, •f that city, ti pry the rate and empling hb refusal i y a threat to shoot the rate col /Woe, should he latent; t to levy upon any articla on Mr. Barelay'e premises. The threat so far succeed.d in inti midating that functionary that he weaved, at the relict cdAce, he was afraid to renew the experiment. The 1- Line-Hag, which the ladies of your city presented to the hauacestonians, errs healed down on the evening of the 10th August. It was righey thought that no more fitting occasion could be chosen for the perfarmance of such acerematy. There is no change in the market. Wheat m:y be quoted at lls. ; dour at 28/ ; cam, Um. 6d. to Ile. We have received the Yen Divraen'e Land I'a?crs to the lith inst. Mr. N ,rtie, the Irish state prisoner, hu revived per mis.ion to reside in the district of Brighton, under the usual parole restrictions. The Cornwall CAA:wiles states that on Friday :ant, two female emigrants. who arrived in this colony under the new Emigration Act, applied to the police magistrate for special clearances to proceed toMelbourne in the steamer Cairene,. 'the police magistrate refuse•! to grant th.!:!neuments with out a certificate from the emigration agent; alleging as a reason, that the agreement into which they had entered bound them to remnin in the colony a stipulated period, (which period Las aut yet ( - spine:), or to pay a por tian of the:: parasite money oskr to the emigration audio ities: We have received by the Overland Mail despatches from Sidney to the 28th t,f July; Melbourne, to the ':rd of August ; and South Australia to the Bth of August. alley were conveyed to Singapore by the Chusar., avid contain nothing that is nut to be found in the whim:sof the Argo. EXT/LACTS FROM PRICES ( URRENT, de., RECEIVED PER ARGO. [From R:s iew of the Markets of Victoria, by Jacob Monte ti Te and Co.-11rilmurne, August 16 We had last this pleasure on the 12th ult., since which nor markets have been ear tearised by a in depression, anainz from a variety of exusea operating at the saw* time. Foremost ainmAst thts.., we must mention • rapidly increasing stock of goods brought in from neigh bouring markets, toe natural result of the prices lately ruling here; the large thipments advised, as shipped from the home markets; end a general a, , prehen,ion that the extravagant prices of April and May will induce rill further and heavier supplier. 'theft impression , . acting on a market which is always dull at this season of the year, and eoml6-..id with a great scarcity of storing ICC:111010111%. tiara, his induced new arrivals to inapt any terms, l'AlLlf than incur the (Tonneau charges. The old established bowies, however, Woo do not feel this pressure so much, prefer holding goods for fair prices. eunflient in the bony 'lacy of the market, and of a general revival immediately on Oa opening of the roads. Gold supplies come forward steadily, and we annex par ticulars of nen/in.—Gold received siace our laot Per Government Escort. Mount Al:xand..: and Bendigo. Baliaarat. Ovens. Melvin 23,149 8,87 s 16,39) Per Private Escort. Mount Alexander and Ecadigo. Mayor. 29,901 8,336 Total, 218,218 ounces. The amount received this year is larger than that of the same period last year, though latterly the moutuly re ceipts have shown a decrease on the same periods of 1652. We have the pleasure, howtscr, to r.i.te an improvement during the past few week', and a general 6 (Tog prevails, that as the season advances, and the diggers become more ended, we shall have an extended production. Until this peeled the miners have been unsettled by political slit lerences, and hampered with bad weather, but the extended prospecting has resulted in the discovery of several new mines which are highly spoken of. The price is now firm at 31. 17s. Oil. to U. 18s. 31., at which it becomes a mere qu.eion of nnsittance. The bankitg and monetary interests of the colony could not he in a np.re satisfactory state. We append an official return of the ;..sitila of the five banks of Melbourne, from which it will be observed that the bullion and specie on band is no leas than 4,700,0001., while the deposits bearing no interest are at this period not leis than 5,500,0004 1852. 1653. Circulation (notes) Deposits not bearing interest Total Liabilities 2,698,866 .. 7,560,381 Paid-up Capital 1,918,35n) 2,275,450 Reserved profits Dividends paid Specie, coined money Bullion, une4ned metals 137,151 1,691,150 Debts and discounts due to banks 823.615 .. 1,744,691 Total assets 1,G33,345 6,723,756 . . It ie with pleasure we note the rapid advance and antis• factory position of the local Bank of Victoria, the able management of which has brought it into general favour. Money is worth 10 to 12 per cent. on mortgage ; the rate of diacount for bi;:s under ninety days is 6 per cent., above that period 7 per cent. In Sydney,6 per cont. is the cur rent rate, but the London Chartered Bank have intimated their intention of reducing it to 4 per cent. Credits have experienced a slight check of late—the late heavy fall in prices, combined with existing high rents and the dulne-s of trade, having caused the stoppage of soma small houses, and the circulation of rumours reapecting others of more standing. We are of opiaion that this limitation of credits is a wise precaution on the part of the beaks, and will be likely to bring about a better system of businese than was general of late. The insplrt of specie for July era 220,1001., and up to this dste sn August, 3j,11001. The revenue of the colony is indicative of gigantic pro gress, and continues to iacresse every quarter. 1852. 1863. Revenue for quarter ending June 30, £2.111,499.. £967,176 year 1;714,679—L2,440,235 Increase on the quarter Lits2,l4o 11 year £1,736,566 Our population is now estimated at not less than 240,000, the balance of arrivals over departures for this year being 32,312 up to July 30, since which, 3,793 persons have been added to our population. The labour market is well supplied, but the great demand for sk.lled artizans and agricultural labourers settee to maintain Ligh rates of remuneration. Dottie servants, especially females and worried couples, are readily engaged. Clerki and shop assietauts are still in excess of the demand. The mining population is estimated at 80,000 to 100,000, and as a body are doing tolerably well. Considerable peli lead feeling has of late been manifested, but, as a rule, they are an orderly and well-disposed class. It is principally in the towns that we hear of cases of robbery and intent. During the past month two daring robberies have been committed ; one of a box of blank forms of the Union Bank notes, most of which, however, are recovered, and the offenders in custody. The other was the robbery of the private escort of geld and specie to the value of 9,000/. None of this has as yet been recovered, but several of the suppose,' culprit. are in the hands of the pulite. Land continues a favourite speculation and investment; we note no decline in the high prices advised in our last. Rents are still on the advance, but building 'operations are prosecuted with vigour, and before next winter the city of Melbcurne will present a very different aspect. On the whole we consider our position as most 'satisfac tory, and we look confidently to the future for a brilliant development of our political and commercial position. For Lisa moment trade is limited to the mere bane and mouth wants of toe towns, but stocks at the mines are very light, and immediate on the opening of the roads we shall see a brisk revival in every department. We do not anticipate a return of the extreme rates lately ruling here, but it is to be surmised that shippers will wait for the results of their late large operations before sending any further supplies ; and it is not improbable that the close of the summer may find us run bare of many articles that are now almost un saleable. Customs Duties.-All spirits, 75.; wine, is. per gallon; tobacco, in all, forms, 2.1. per lb. ; tea, 3d. per lb.; coffee, 10s. per cwt. All other goods free. Ports all free. Rates 01 Eachange.-Banks issue bills at 30 days' eight on London at 2 per cent. premium; ditto purchase, par; ditto, issue sight bills, Sydney and Adelaide, 1 per cent. premium. Insurance.-Gold, per steamer to London, 21 per cent. Freight.-Gold, 41d. per oz. ; wool, Id. to Id. per lb. Charges.-Lighterage, 40s. to 455. per ton; cartage, Bs. per tun ; storing, 4s. per too per week ; bonded goods, 551. per toss. (From Price Current of Shellinglaw and Wilson, Mel bourne, August 11.) Since the publication of our last circular by the Chum, which left this on the 2nd inst., we arc unable to record any improvement in our market. The greatest depression still prevail. in almost every branch of trade, with a downward tendency in many articles which up to the present time have maintained a steady and highly remunerative price. Credits, both on the part of hankers and merchants, are greatly curtailed, and much more caution is exhibited. Thee, though causing a temporary inconvenience to some at the outset, will doubtless lead to a much sounder and more wholesome state of things in future. The depressed state of affairs may be accounted for by the rapid increase of our imports, whereby (at this season oi the year especially) the supply has been far in excess of the &maul ; and this evil must necessarily exist until the supply and demand are placed on a more regular footing, which can scarcely be effected until we have an established and continuous open means of transit to the miuie aid the interior-all inter course thereto during the winter months being almost com pletely cut elf in consequence of the bad state of the roads, or ratner the total want thereof. From the above circumstances, coupled with the great want of bonded accommodation (causing forced sales), the prices of many articles quoted in the d circular may be considered as merely nominal. Sales, except to supply Immediate want., are not to be effected, and those only at Mooed rates. In the spring, however, we anticipate a change, and brisk trade, at remunerative rates; but the high prices obtained before the winter set in, must not be again expected. Freights from the Bay, owing to the great scarcity of lighters, still continue exceedingly high-4.55. to 30s. a ' ton being the common rate. This, combined with the high price of storage, and] difficulty 01 obtaining the same, causes parties to accept reasonable cffers rather than hold. Gold, owing to the demand for shipment, has advanced to 31. 17s. 91. to 31. Its. per ounce. The supply still con tines steady-99,781 ounces having been brought in since the 2.5 th July, and tho accounts from the various diggings on the whole satisfactory. Reports have reached town of new digriogs having been discovered of a very rich kind, Out as yet we have nethii.g authenticated on the subject. LABOCR IKARILET AT MELIJOVR24II. Rates of Wages for the week endiag Aug. 11, 15.53.-In consequenre of the large arrivals of immigrants this week the supply en the labour market has been full, and the de mand scarcely corresponding. A considerable number of hands were therefore lett unemployed, and a strong effort has been made to reduce wage., but as yet they remain firm, and quote ae they did last 'seek, which is as follows, viz. :- Married c mp:ts ;without family), per annum with rations, 701. to 100/.; ditto, with family, 601. to 901.; Shepherd., ' per annum, 3.51. to 401.; hutkeepers, ditto, 321. to 35/. ; general useful servants, with rations, per annum, 701. to 751; bullock inia ers with rations, 21. 10s. to 31. per week on farms ; bullock d , for the roads, per week, 21. lee. to 31. 10s. ; gardeners, per annum, with rations, 70/. to 801. ; ceoks, max. 21. to 41. per week ; waiters, per week, from 20s. to 300. ; grooms, from 60!. to 701. per annum ; carpal ten, good house, town work, per day, 20s. to 255. ; masons, 255. to 30s. per day ; wood splitters and fencers, 15s. a day, with ration+ ; stock keeepers, ditto, 551. to 751. ; black smiths accustomed to country work and to horse- 1• • 1. tv TIIE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 29, 1853. shoeing, from 2Oa. to 25a. per day ; good farm labparera, weekly, 11. ss. to 11. 165., with ra , ions ; ploughmen, 365. to 40a. per week, with rations; labourers on the roads, 10s. per day, with wood, w aver, and tent accom modation; seamen, for London, for the run home, 45:. ; seamen, for Calcutta, for the run, 401. to 451. ; sea men, for Caliao, lot. ; coasting 9!. to lot per tirnith. Fe male servants—Thorough servants, 2.51. to 351. per ar.nora ; housemaids, 241. to 301.; laundrssoes, Sol. to 401.; Luria,- maids, 201. to 161.; cooks, 351. to 501. In casts where ra tions are vup••ied, they c,usist of Ithb, 4 , ur, 101 he tu• at, 2 lbs sugar, ; lb tea, weekly, each person. with salt, Sc., required. Tees• rations are generally found to be more than aufficicut. LORD PALMERSTON ON .N ATLON AL The Presbytery of Edinburgh wrote, through their Moderator. to Lord Palmerston, swing that th members of presby•ery were of opinios that it WIIP under the ClTCl.ll2lttats:ef, that a national fast would be ap pointed on royal authority. For this revolt (the cumniu oie r•iun proceeds to say) they delayed milting au appoint- mint for tide !milt!, and directed me, in the meehame, respectfully to r. quest that you would I.e pleass•l to sly—if you Gel yuur„•ll at lidtrty to do so—wUether the appoint uout of a 13-1:i011:: fait by the Quzen is in cuntemi lama." In r -ply, the foi!owilth letter was receitzd from the HOMO Office : " Whitehall, Oct. 19. 1817. "Sir,—l am direct dby Viscount Palmerston to utmost lenge the receipt of sour setter of the ljith inst., relocating, on behalf of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, to be minimised whether it is proposed to appoint a day of national fast en account of the visitation of the cholera, nod to stste that there can be no doubt toot maridestations of bumble resig nation to tl.c 'Mine Will, nod sincere acknowledgments of I.Wdllllll =venni:aces*. tao never rn re appropriate tt - an when it lc.; pleased P.or.denee 4. attlet mankind with some severe visitation; but it dens not ap,n ar to Lord Palmer ston that a national fist would ha s.a.tahle to the circum staacts of the present moment. "The Maker of the Universe has established certain laws of nature for the planet in which we live, and tl weal or wee of mankind depends upon the observance or the nvgleet of those laws. One of those laws connects health with the absence of those gaseous exhalstions whirl, proeeed from ever-crowded human bcinp, or front decom posing substances, whether animal or vegetable ; and those same laws render sickness the LIMA( inevitable coneetinonce of exposure to those noxious iafluences. But it has at tit^ same time pleased Providence to vises it witimt the power of man to make such arrangements as will prevent or dis perse such exhalations so .- to render them harmless, and it is the duty of moo to attend to those laws of nature, and toexert the faculties which Providence has thus given to I man for his owu wePare. " The recent vieitatiun of their:Li, which has for the moment been mercifully ehecYed, is an awful warning given to the people of this realm that they have too much neglected their duty in this respect, and that those per sona with whom it 'wed to purify towns and Ole?, and to prevent or remove the causes of disease, has, not been sufficiently active in regard to such matters. Lord Palmer. ston would, therefore, suggest that:the best course which the people of this country can pursue to deserve that the further WISMAR of the cholera should be stayed, will be to e:uploy the interval that will elapse between the present time and the beginning of next spring in planning and executing measures by which those portions of their towns and cities which aro inhabited by the poorest classes, and which, from the astute of things, must most need purification and improvement, may be freed from those causes and sources of contagion which, if allowed to remain, will infallibly breed pestilence, and be fruitful in death, ' in spite of ad the prayers and fastings of a nutted but inactive saner. When man has done his utmost for his own safety, then :1 the time to Menke the blessing of Heaven to give effect co his exertions. I am, sir, your obedient servant, " HENRY FITZROY." The reading of this letter from the Home Secretary excited a good deal of sensatien among the members of Presbytery. Rev. Dr. Otte:: said—l feel called upon to say that I totally dissent from the doctrines contained in thee letter. I do not wish to make any remark on men in high places, but it is the first time, and I do hope it will be the list, that an, Secretary of State has ever made any communication of this kind to any Presbytery. Bev. Dr. /4 in—l am sure we all concur in the statement made by our excellent friend. Rev. Dr. MACFARLANE—Concurring as I do in the views expressed in regard to this communication from the Homo Office, there is required no further expression of opinion from me on that subject. Dr. MITIt expressed his surprise and regret that any latter should be sent from such an authority to the Presby tery of Edinburgh, and c Attended that the Moderator's letter called G r no such reponse. Rev. Dr. STEVEN also •Aid that he regarded the docu ment as unworthy of any Christian government or go urmet. On the question being put, whetter the decummt should he engrossed, Dr. CLARK moved that it should not, but that it should be kept in relestas, which was agreed to. The Moderator was imtructed simply to acknowledge that the letter had been received anci laid before the Pre.. bytery. GREAT CENTRAL OAS CONSUMERS' COMPANY. Yesterday evening the fifth half-yearly meeting of the shareboidcrs was held at the London Tavern; Air. DAMN in the chair. Tho report stated that although the balance-sheet did not realise the complete success which had been looked for, it it might yet he considered meet satisfactory. It showed • balance in hand amounting to 7,2071. 31'. 10d., after paying all charges up to the 24th of June het; out of whizh the directors recommended that a dividend, at the rate of 71 per cent. per annum, be d:clared for the half-year ending June, 1833; after payment of which, 1,6821. 10d. would re main in hand ; out of which the directors proposed to carry the sum of 6001. to a depreciation account for the half-year, as recommended in the report of April last, and agreed to by the shareholders. The sum of 1,2901. a year the directors believed would meet any contingency that might hereafter arise be. yond the provision mad, with the contractor to keep the works and mains in repair. This declaration being mule, a balance of 9421. 31. 10d. would remain in hand available for future dividends. The number of consumers burning the company's gas showed a steady increase. The adds tion in the half year was 207 consumers, burning 2,491 lights. The increase for the last quarter, coding Sept., escceded that of the previous half-gear, being 227 con sumers, burning 3,760 lights, and making the total number of eanaumen 6,035, being nearly the number who origi nally signed an agreement to take the company's gas when they were engaged in the arduous conflict with the mono poly interest. The directors hut obtained from the commis sioners of sewers, the contract for the supply of the larger portion of the city public lights for the next three yeses. This, being obtained by tender, was not equally ptofitable with the general lighting; but, while it effected a saving to the public for the three years of 9,3991., it still left a fair remunerating profit to the company. During the last month the marked committee of the corporation had, upon an application, unanimously granted to this company the supply of the public markets of Leadenhall, Billingsgate, Farringdon, and Ne•egate, thus recognising, to some extent, the see. vices which the company had rendered to the public. The Citentarete, in moving the ad‘ption of the report, replied at some length to an attack made upon the com pany in print by a shareholder, named Pearce, and is doing so said the statements put forward were wholly unfounded. The affairs of the company were in • state of unmixed prosperity; and the last quarter was the m^st successful one the company had ever had. They were uow lighting up the large establishment of Messrs. Cook, in St. Paul's. churchyard; they had the public lights anti markets of the City ; and the directors were making all possible efforts to extend the usefttlness and increase the prosperity of the COMM. The report was adopted unanimously. Mr. Tvitsn moved the declaration of a divit:ecd at the rate of 7 5 per cent. per annum. Mr. 'WATSON secoaded the motion. Mr. PEARCE moved as an amendment that the dividend should be 6 per cent.; bat this having fallen to the grossed fur want of a seconder, the original motion passed with one dissentient. On the motion of Mr. PRITCHARD a vote of thanks ws a given to the chairman and directors, and the proceedings terminated. EXPLOSION. -Oa Saturday night last (says the Sunderland Herald) • singular pheta sancta occurred in Bi.hopwearmouth, in the locality named the Alley, situated at the back of Factory-square, at the north end of Queeastreet, which is inhabited by the poorer class of people. About five o'clock a loud noise was heard, resembling the report of a cannon. At seven o'clock suddenly a roaring noise, like • salvo of artillery, was heard, and the surrounding houses shook to their foundations. In one house the clock stopped, owing to the pendulum being thrown out of its equilibrium ; an ' old woman sitting by the fire in her arm-chair seas ei they thrown on the Moor, or fell from fear ; and • quantity of crockery ware was thrown down and broken. The women seized their children, and rushed, screaming, to the street, in the wildest bewilderment, and in a hew minutes a crowd of 100 to 500 persons were assembled on the spot, but we are happy to say that none of the parties received any serious injury. On an examination of the alley there was found to he a rent of 150 feet in length in the ground in front of the houses. In some place,' it am, about 1 inch in width,and,ia others,between 3 and 4 inches. Abaut the centre of the ti.ure, the boil was found to be scattered about, as if thrown up with great force. At the north end of the alley there was a circular hole in tl • ground of shoot two and-a-half inches in diameter, and about two feet in depth. It appears that a similar occur rence to the present took place an this alley about a ve tr and a half ago; hut the cause of it still remain. a mystery, and there are different opinions on the subject. It is said there is a drain from Mr. Grimahaw's chaudling establish ment, which passes through this place. It is supposed thbt this drain bad been thoked up, and that the gas confined therein caused the explosion. The other opinion is, that the working• of Moukwesrmouth Colliery pass imme diately under this place, and, there being a fissure in the strata, a quantity of gas escapes from the mine, and gets vent at that particular place. TUE IRISII RAILWAY COLLISION.-11 is stated that the total loss the Great Southern and Western Rail way Company will sustain by the late fearful accident at Straiten, will not be less than 80,0001. Vbe Court. WINDSOR, Oct. 28. The Queen held a Chapter of the Moat Ancient and hoer Noidu Order of the Thiele at 3 o'cluck this afternoon iu the Caitle. ller 'Majesty entered the Threne B.om (Where the Chap ter eras heat), accenepinied by Prince Albert. Bee Majesty wore the kirtle, fzeoutle, and eol:ar cf the order, and his royal highness tie mantle and culler. The Queen beirg seated in a chair of state, the Knights Brethren of the Thistle, 111 their moat . ..e and hoods of green velvet, ...caring oido the collar of the order, baring been Colic r by the secretary, passed into the Throne Room, and by the graeicus permission of her Xijesty toe k their seats at the table. 'the Knights present were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Mansfield, and the Eerl of E:gin. The Sovereign sirm.h..d 9.er royal p:e4sure touching the election of a knight cum the tiler, mid the Knights Brethren proceeded to thii cloven. , nod the suffrages having been collected by the secretary and presented to the Queen, her Majesty remiaar.:cd him to declare thr.t the Bight Hm.Thomos Ler' ut el....eitlirmton hod th en duly elected a Knight of tha illuot Auciett. act Most Noble order of the TitialleL. The Earl of Iladdirgtou was received nt ar door of the Chapter•reom by the Earls of Mensti and Elgin, the two I swim. Knights Brethren present, end N.es conducted between them to her 31. , jesty, preceded by the s;eretary (bearing the Riband and Bs,'..te on a cushion) sod the Gentleman Usher of the Green It al. The Sword ef State (borne by Sir William Martins, Cilentiecuan Usher) was delivered to the Queen by Prince Albert, the Senior Knight presoit, add the Earl of Rad dingtau kbeeling, had the honour of koh;11! hood conferred e,) n hint, and bi: lordship having. kin d her l: jesty'e hand, the customary oath was zent:u:stered to his lordship by the Seer, tory. The noble Earl again ho.:lt near the Queen, and the Soerotary presenting her Majesty the Iti-tand and few,l et ;he order, the Queen plated the same over his lord ship's lei. d:ouhler ; after which his lordship had again the honour of kissinq her Mnjsty's baud, and having received the congratulations of the Knights Brethren, retired. Chapter proceeded to a /40.1.1 ti election. On the suf frages having been collecled her Majesty wr,s pleased to tie . dare that the most noble George Augustus Frederick John Duke of Atholl I ad been duly elected a Knight of the most ancient and most Neble Order of the Thistle. His Grace was introilticed between Knights, was knighted by the Queen with the sword of state, and the oath having been adminidtered, was invested by her Majesty with the ribband and badge of the Order. The noble duke having net ived the congratulations of the Knights Brethren, withdrew. The Chapter proceeded to a third election. On the suf frages having been presented to the Sovereign, the Queen was pleas-1 to decldre that iLe Right Hon. Fox Lord Im mure had been elected a Knight of the must ancient and most Nob!e Or.!cr of the Thibtie. His lordship was introduced be tween the Earls of Mans field and Elgin, and knee ling near the Queen received the huauur of knighthood the sword of state, and her Ma jesty then invested the noble lord with the ribband and jewel of the order in the same manner and with the like ceremonies as the prcceiiing, are! Lord Pann.ure having I received the congratulations of the Knights Brethren retire d. The Chapter being ended, the Secretary, by command of the S.ivereiga, again called over the knights, who, with the Officers of the Order, retired from the Royal presence. The Officers of the Order present were Sir John Stewart ] Richardson, Bart.. Secretary ; and Frederic Peel Round, Esq., Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod. Both gentle- men wore their Mantles of Green Satin, and carried their ' respective Badges. Aiber; William Woods, Esq , Deputy-Secretary, was pre sent, and assisted at the Ceremony. The Prince of Waler, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, and the Princess Alice, and also the Duke and Duchess of Br.i.bant, the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, and the Count of Flanders, were prestnt in the Throne Room during the Investiture. _ _ Too Court was attended Ly the Countess of Desert, Lady in Waiting, the Marquis of Breadalbane, K.T., Lord Cham berlain ; the Duke of Wtlliegton, Muster of the Hone ; the Marquis of Abercorn, Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert; Lord Ernest Bruce, Vice Chamberlain ; the Earl of Mul grave, Treasurer of the Household ; Viscount Sydney, Cap tain of the Yeomen of the Guard ; Lord Camoys, Lord in Waiting; Sir Fred. Stovin, Uroona io Waiting ; Colonel the lion. Charles Grey, Equerry in Waiting ; Culauel Wylde, Groom in Waiting to Prince Albert; Sir George Philip Lee, Lieutenant of the Yeomen Guard ; Colonel the Hon. Horace Pitt, Silver Stick in Waiting; Colonel Hay, Field Officer iu Brigade Waiting ; Lieut.-Colonel Fozensuriee, Adjutant t.l the Yearns a Guard ; the Pages of Honour in Wafting ; and Lord Drumlanrig, Comptroller of the Household. Her Majesty's Yeomen of the Guard lined the approach to tns Throne-room, under the command of Major l'hibbs, the Breslin Waiting. A Guard of Honour of the Foot Guards, with the Band of the Regiment, was on duty in the Quadrangle of the Ow le during the Chapter. The Queen gave a dinner in the evening in the Waterloo Chamber to the following illustrious circle, vie.:—The king of the Belgians, the Duchess of Brabant, the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Atholl, the Belgian Minister, the Marquis of Breadallaane, the Marquis of Ahercorn, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Haddington, the Burl of Elgin, the E irl of Mansfield, the Earl of Mul grave, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Brabant, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, Lady Caroline Barrington, the Hon. Mrs. Grey, Baroness de Speth, the Rev. Cord and Lady Wriothesley Russell, Lord Panmure, Lieut.-Colonel the Hoe. N. and Lady Mary Hood, Sir George Couper, Colonel Dixon, commanding officer 2nd tattalion Scots Fu'ilier Guards, Lieut..Colouel Parker, com• manding officer tat Lite Guards, Count Gustave de Launoy, Colonel Moerkerke, Baron Prise*, Monsieur Maui, and Mr. Glover. The King of the Belgians, the Duchess of Brabant, and the Belgian Princes returned from Loudon about kis o'clock lasi evening. Prince Albert went out shooting this morning with the King of the Belgian., the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Flan'era, and the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by the Duke of Atholl, and the Marquis of Abercorn. Col. V. and Count de Lanny were in attendance on the ltaiyal artyp. The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk left the Castle this morning. The Dinner party yesterday included the King of the Belgians, he Duchess of Brabant, the s Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Flan ders, and the Duke of Cambridge, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchees of Bralwtt, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, Baroness de Speth, the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, the Duke and Duchess of Atholl, the Belgian Minister, the Marquis Abercorn, Count Gustave de Lsnnoy, Baron Prisse, and Monsieur Ricken. The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards was in attendance in the Castle during dinner. The Queen's private baud afterwards attended, and played the following composi tions : Overture—ltGastave" Introduction: Remance a Deuz Vat Le Prophete" Selection—“Jereph" Itocheeita Blanch Aire de Ballet—" Straddle" Plotuw. A deputation from Southwark, consisting of Mr. Alder man Humpherp Mr. Thomas Rider (Warden of St. Sa viour's), Mr. hli Richards, and Mr. Herbert Stormy (Ves try Clerk), had an interview with Sir William Molesworth Whitehall-place. at the Office of Works and Public Buildings, in Whitehall-place. The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday, for Windsor Castle, on a visit to her Majesty. MINERS. RIOT AT WIGAII. ._.. - TELEGRAPII.) SATURDAY MORNING. Last night there was a riotous assemblage of miners at Wigan. The lights were put out, and many windows were broken. Troops were sent for land arrived at 1 o'clock this morning. All quiet. PROGRESS OF STRIKES IN THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. There is reason to believe that the number of operatives on strike in the cotton districts has now been increased to between 60,000 and 70,000. Taking the number out of employ at Preston to be 23,000, and those in Wigan at 5,000, we have now to add to them 15,000 in the Bacup district, and 20,000 at Burnley and Padibsm, making a total of 65,000. Besides these, there are 1,000 bands on strike at Bury, and %enrol thousand (including dyers) at Manchester. Altogether, therefore, the number oat of work is little short of 70,000. The Bacup district include■ the townships of B.tcup, Newchurch, Rawtenstall, Shun- Ind, and Shawforth. At these places about 33 mills, in cluding some of the larget concerns in the manufactur ing districts, were stopped by the masters on the 20th I inst., under circumstances analogous to those which have brought about the lock•out at Preston. There are only four other mills in that district, and they stop this (Satur day) evening. The class of goods manufactured in this district are mostly thole which are taken for export, in cluding madapellams, light T cloths, and shirtings of India qualities ; but there are some producers also of the better class of heavy domestics, such as are taken by the home trade. Good sheeting cloths are also made by one or two houses there. The employers had a meeting on Wedaes day, at which, however, nothing was done with any view to recommencing work, and an adjournment took place until the 23rd of November. A meeting of operatives was held the sante evening, when they were addressed by delegates from other towns, end some flattering statements made to buoy up their spirits. Amongst other things it was stated that Sir John Tyrell, Bart., M.P., had sent to the operatives on strike at ['triton a cheque for 5001. A rumour was in• austriously circulated after the me., •icg aleo that the E;.:I of Derby had promised 2,00 CL At Burnley, the m:111 stopped yesterday. An ovorttue was made by some of the workmen, ut one mill, with a ♦icw to on accommodation ; bu. they were informed that the employer. did nut meet apiu until the 19:h isiavember, and that, to the meantime, individual firms did not possess the pow, rto negoti tte for a resumption of labour. The number of mills dared at Burnley is .SS. ani sense of them are very extensive establishments. At l'adiham, MI the mills stopped yesterday except two. Of those contiauing to run, the prineipal one is that of Mr. Wecle:icgton ; the other is a co-operative establishmeut, having about 31 1 0 looms only, and 120 wurkpeople. Various causes of fabrics are produced at Burnie'', including a considerable quantity of printing cloths. At Accrirgton, the centre of another district, the em ployers Lad a meeting on Thursday, when it appeared that a portion of them were disposed to close their miils, but the proposal met with some opposition, and the proceedings were udj , urned for a week. 'rite Lattice made here include a good runny of the Letter class of jaceonsts, suel. us are used fur !tune consumption, shirtings for the saute trade, sod domestics. The disposition of the employers here is to close rather than run r.t the increased wages, because at present market prices th.y have no prospect at con:issuing at a profit. As the hauls at one of the mills at Acariagton were leaving work on Wednesday evening, some of them took advantage of the confusion and the partial der:mess arising from a great portion of the gaslights hating been extinguished, to draw knives across the warps of unfinished pieces of el dh in the loorns, thus seriously damaging the prokerty of their employers. Under these dr. cumstances the millowners refused to allow the en gine to start next weenies uulese the operatives would diselese the names of the offenders, or undertake to pay the dating:. A portion of the workpeople (about half) agreed to pay their abate, but the others demurred. and had not been allowed to resmue work up to neon on Thurs day, the date of our last ucceunt. 1 At Bury the operatives out of employ are ehi.fty in the 1 fustian trade, and amount to about I,ovet ; but the em ployers of a I.rge Lumber of other Cotten spinners and weavers have given notice to their hands of a leek-out un less they discontinue their contributions to those out of work in their own town and at Preston. The fustian weavers appear to have been out of work on strike bra long period now, and on Watley the tenth weekly report of the committee tendered "their sincere thanks for the very liberal spirit which has been evinced towards us during this struggle, not only by the various branches of ear owe trade, bat also of the iron trades and the public generally." They say " that the Lhourer is worthy 51 his hire " is a truth recognised by all except those who are blinded by self-interest; and among the lat. ter are to be found a large number of our manutaeturere, and more especially those who have risen from ilia ranks. To all who hold the opinion that man was not oedatned to be the slave of his fellow-msu they say—" Go and take your stand es a cold winter's morning in the heart of our ma nufacturing population, and witness the pale and !magma countenances of the class called factory operatives, who have for along time been compelled to labour fur wages barely sufficient to keep body and soul together, half f d half clad, and we feel assured that their sympathies will be called forth in .heir behelf." Bad as is the food and cloth ing of these people, however, the committee can speak d:f • ferently when they think proper, for in another part of the Isame document, when complaining of these who wid not centribute to [bile feuds, they speak ci' the non contributors as enjoying every day " rich blessings which their men, Ithe turn.oute " have won for them. The words are : There's yet a few at linoly Cough, To tel their names wouldn't he enough. They deserve to be eapoved— And all their evil deeds disclosed. They will not to the ttin.-Ou!, pay, h .tigh they're evjoying every day Rich blessings which thew men have won Through noble deeds which they have dune. In a balance-sheet, attached to this report, it appeals they have raised in the last week 1691. Os. 11d. by subscrip tion. Bury itself had given of this 91/.; Heywood, 144 ; and Radcliffe, 151. The payments made to the turn-outs out of this turn were 45. 61. each per week to 632 weavers, 2a. each to 181 testers, md 2s. Gd. each to three other operatives. THE PRESTOS STRIKE. PRESTON, Fran.tv. Another body of men, who have been deprived of the means of subsistence by the closing of tho mills, namely, the overlookers of power-looms, have just published an ad dress, in which they throw themselves upon the sympathy of the public. Yesterday afternoon the throstle spinners had a meeting at the Marsh. The members of this branch of the cotton trade are almost in a state of destitution. Last week the fund placed at their disposal was only GU. 2s. 40., out of which the bands were paid according to the earnings when in work, the majority receiving Is. 61., whilst some only obtained 91. The chairman of the meeting gave an exceed ' ingly gloomy account of the situation of the throstle beads. Those present were aware of the small sum per head paid to the hands on Monday: it would not keep life in them for a week. Some of the throstle hands got ls. 6d., others Is., and others 9d. Was that sufficient for them to live on for a week ? lie said it was not. Tlot y, however, had entered the field, and must either fight on or return to wink, at the old prices. The 10 per cent. was what they set out for, and they were determined to have it. He had no doubt the weavers would get it, but what good would it do them un less the throstle spinners get it also. After a few other re marks, the chairman introduced Mr. Beever, a delegate belonging to the weavers. lie said, he believed it was their own fault that the throstie•spinners of Preston had not received a larger amount of pecuniary assistance. It was for want of advocacy. He suggested, that their secre tary should communicate with the weavers' committees throughout the country, requesting them to render assist ance, by collecting from the throstle loom hands in their various localities. If that were done, he had no doubt, that instead ef 60/., they would obtain WI. They must also apply for their share of the public money contributed tc wards the support of the unemployed. In conclusion, the speaker urged his hearers to be united amongst themselves and to observe the law. The meeting then dispersed. MEETING OF THE SCNDERLAND SHIP- 0 Tr-VERS. A crowded and influential meeting of the ship owners of this port was held in the Commission-room of the Exchange on 'Wednesday evening last. It had been con vened by the committee of the Shipowners Society, to con sider the means of counteracting the injurious effects of the arbitrary regulations put in force by the Sailors' Union. Mr. Lonie occupied the chair. A number of resolutions which had been previously agreed to by the committee were submitted to the meeting. They were to the elf, ct that it was necessary to establish an cfEce " fur the purpose of providing vessels (without expease) with crews consist. in; exclusively of seamen who are not members of the Union, and that the funds necessary for defraying the ex. pease' of establishing and conducting such an office should be raised by voluntary subscription among the shipowners. That sixpence per cent. on the value of the shipping seems to be a fair rate of contribution ; and that no shipowner be allowed to avail himself of the advantages afforded by the office who dues not contributed to its support." The resolutions received the unanimous sanction of the meeting, except so far as they related to the raising Of funds, the meeting being of opinion that the best method of ensuring universal contribution from those shipowners whose vessels were insured in the port would be throuth the medium of the Mutual Insurance Association. It was therefore resolved, " That the Secretaries of those Associa tion, be respectfully requested to draw sixpence per cent. on the full value of the shipping insured therein for the use of the sub-committee appointed by the above-mentioned reso lution ; and that circulars be addressed to those shipowners whose vessels are not insured in the port, soliciting them I to contribute in the same proportion." Thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting broke up. AUSTRIAN INSULT TO TILE JEWS.—The Jewish C . III unirle mtains an trtiele ou the resolution of a number of leading Hebrew firms, to sacrifice their interest, as far as may be necessary, in evict to vindicate their brethren in Austria, who have just been so ill-used by the imperial government. Taking. up Shikspeare's gutty: in the Merchant of Venice, "It yon wrong u., shall we not re sent ? " the writer says : " Yes, we shall resent. Not, however, such resentment as might be construed into vin dictiveness, tut such resentment as—being a sacrifice of money—w.ll tell the despots that they dare not trample upon the Jew's liberty with impunity; that they are not privileged to break their solemn pledges to an nnoilending people, without incurring the risk of destroying their al ready questionable credit, and without redeeminx first these other pledges which they have given to the pubic on paper, and respecting which they exist on the public confi dence and intelligence." SIR CHARLES WOOD AT HALIFAX. On Thursday evening the corporation of Halifax, 'entertained their chief magistrate (Samuel Waterhouse, Eml.) to dinner in the New :A.sembly Rooms, liarrs3n road. All the members of the town council, except three, were present, ai4o the two borough members, the borough and resident NV, st liidi:,; magistrates, kill some of the leading inii:il:;tants of the town. The chair WAS ably filled by Mr. Alderman JOHN' CRONSLEY, and oa h:s right and left sat Samuel Water house, Esq , the Mayor ;F. Crossley, E-q , M.P.; John Waterhouse, E , q. ; Remy Edwards, EN.; the night H7ll. Sir Charles Wood, Bart, M.P.; George Pollard, Esq.; James B:arafeld, Eati. ; ead Edward Arkreyd, The CII.IIIIMAN having proposed else tout " her Majeci's Ministers," Sir CUAILLES Wools responded. Ile said lam sure that I sholl must faithfully represent toe ntenein et my col leagues, as will as own feelings. evlseu I endeavour to say hew nkteful we feel for the kiud reeepton of this toast by the yre sent company. We te..os office under p i cu . liar circuinsea.:ces. We here called upon to make great personal sacrifices in er.:ec to effect the juactieu of ten parties who, though noimated by the same principles, had beansi•parated by circumstances fist ray, to thedetri ment, 311 believe, of the service of this (*salary. Yet it was not without p.in that these sacriticis seer: made. Still I may, I believe, say for every one of my teleogues, a- well as foimyself, tbat"we were actuated bi oue tjdahg only— that we wuul.l do that which we believed er be (truly as we thaug:v, mistakenly as others may thiii%), for the Lyn. tit of the cuuntry. We took that place mad ii.:ed that part which Gil the when,: was thought most aderiaahle and moat likely to coneallidute the mlnsinistration and to carry OW tf, prin ciples which we had for yearn professed. We have been rewarded for our eacrilices by an amount of support in a House of CMUIIIMiii Out tea under the auspices of our op ponents—we have been rewarded with the pupped of the country- to as extent 1 am proud to acknowledge, and may hail Al a ;,roa that Out Conduct was approved by the par liament :tad the country. Gentlemen, I know how wrong it would be, how highly improper, me this occ. slot' to hooch into any subject of party or coutrovorsial polities. Fortu nately fur me., the MA of addresseig you upon public mat tets is rendered far easier by the circumstance of the pre- sent time, when the proceedings of the hut twelve mouths have put an end over to those nut:teens which for the last twelve y• are had distracted mull, s in this country. I am very glad that the government of which I formed a part two years ego wero turned out of oth e, and succeeded by Lord Derby't govern ment, and that again enceeeded by toe psi rumeot of Lord Aberdeen; for 1 donut whether any other circumstances leas narked caul.' have put an end to that controversy n leizh had sa long distracted the country, but which you will agree with me—whatever views we may have on former occasions taken—is cow set at rest for ever. Taos' parties which were distinguished by the watchwords of t' Protee tisn" and Free Tiede" have merged their differences him one uniform feeling of approbation of the course of legless lion upon this subject. We have had a singular proof of ibis in a meeting which took place tecentip in a county in the tomb of England, and in a letter addressed by a 111.111- r of Ste protectionist party, of whom my friend her: (who has knower him in parliament) will spea l / 4 as tho staia hest advocate of protection in the house. At a meeting held in tl:e comity of Essex, at a place coiled Castle Ileilinghain (where two advocates of protection had put forward their scheme for a system of indemnity and compensation —both of which are now at last scattered to the winds)—a lettter was read which had been addressed to the chairman of the meeting. Most of you may have read this letter of Sir John Tyrell to that ai:eting. He admits that the principle they advocated can no longer be maintained in this country, and that no taxes can henceforward he impoacil against le many for the benefit of the few ; that no longer can duties be pro posed to raise the rents of the lauded proprietors, or increase the receipts of the caloaial proprietors. But more than this—we have it by the admi.sion of the party themselves that those schemes of inak ',laity and conip.mbati.it so long t diced of are put aside for the best reasons lure sibL—that those who called for compensation to theioselsis have found, as some of us ventured to state several years ago, that 'heir prosperity did not depend up..n nets of par liammit, but upou the prosperity and welhbeing of their fellow-citizi as. The farmers have found out that high prices dill not depend upon the corn laws; and even the West India proprietors have Annul out that their prosperity did not ulteget'ter depend upon the protective system. Strong as sll this is, still greater proof is furnished by the state of the shipping interest in this country. Au interest was excited—a great and deep anxiety was felt—amougst those who Mid co.-lured in the ',helium of the corn laws, who believed that our maritime superiority, and the pre-eminence which this country has occupied, depended nixie the maintenance of our mercan tile marine in that protected state in which it had existed fur y.ars. Many of those who voted for the abolition of the corn laws entertained doubts as to the ahoiitiou of the navigation laws. Most melancholy prophecies were made et the disastrous results of that measure—that the vessels would rot in our harbours, that the seamen weuid be die charged, that distress would prevail in our porta from the north to the south of our country, and that absolute ruin must ensue from the repeal of the navigation laws. And these sentiments were held by many of thus.: who had Luken sounder views upon the cern laws. Gentlemen, 1 will appeal to you whether more utter disappointment of opponents, whether stronger proofs of the soundmis of the views of advocates—could by possibility have been fur nished, than have been witnessed by all in the course el the last twelve months? Every ship that could be found in our ports has been employed—every foreign vessel that came into our ports has been taken up at extravagant rates of freightage—ship-Willing goes on to au extent perfectly unparalleled; and if there be any drawback to the com mercial intercourse between this country and other talkies, it is, that the rates of fr, ight are so high as to ieterfere:with the transit of commodities uotween this country and those with which wo carry on our commercial intercourse. (" Hear, hear," and applause.) These most melancholy prophecies have been must signally disappointed ; and in this branch of free trade the result has proved, far beyond the anticipations of its most sanguine advocates, the sound principlesimon which all restrictions upon that'as well as other branches of our industry, were removed. Well, gentle men, it is a great point, I think, that these matters should have been so satisfactorily settled, to the conviction of all, advocates and opponents alike. Whatever future poicts of dispute may arise—and that such will arise no man who looks back at the history of this country can doult—(and without party I do not know how we 6M:old get on)—what ever points of dispute shall hereafter arise, this we may cougristulate ourselves upon, that those which have formed a topic of dispute for years, litre now been quietly put to rest, beyond the possibility of Ming resuscitated by any circumstances which we can anticipate. Well, her Ma jcsty's late ministers had left us little else to do than to maintain and consolidate those principles which had been begun by others ; and in furtherance of these principles, I believe, my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward a budget which did moat deservedly meet the approbation of the country. As my worthy friend the chairman has told you, there is much to get through this evening, and therefore I will not detain you any longer with any further reference to the transactions of the last session of parliament. Eut the chairman has also very properly said there never was a time when the due and efficient exercise of the functions of government, and of sound discretion on the part of those who are the responsible advisers of the crown, were more r.ecessary and important to the well-being of this country. This I believe to be the case ; fur there is no ore who has looked around him, and wbo is acquainted with what has recently been going on, but must be aware that the most vital of all questions for the welfare, not only of this, but of every other country in Europe, is just now trembling in the balance—l mean the question of peace or war. Now, sir, I know not that I can say much more on this subject than probably many, if not all of you, who have attended to the progress of events so far as probabilities are concerned, know; but the eyes of the country sad of all Europe are now turned to what is called the Eastern question. (Rear, hear.) I hope I am not too sanguine in saying that, in spite of adverse appearances, I do still entertain a strong belief that we shall yet be auto to avert the most fearful calamity of war—qapplause)—at least I am sure of this, that the must tamest and unremitting efforts will, as they have already been, be directed towards this end. The conduct of Russia in occupying the Principalities have, wo must acknowledge, given just cause of war to the Sultan, and he is perfectly justified in declaring war, and drawing the sword in defence of his rights. But in public as in private matters it is not always expedient fur say one to insist on his extreme rights ; therefore, by the advice of the Pour Powers, as you are aware, when the occupation of the Principalities took place, the Porte abstained from declar ing war, iii the hope that by their joint efforts a peaceful so:utian of the matters in dispute between Russia and Turkey might be arrived at, and that terms of arrangement might be agreed to and accepted by the Sultan without at all interfering with the independence of Turkey. I grieve to say that those efforts have not been seta:sale), and that the Porte has made a declaration of war which, however much I may zegre t, one can hardly feel surpcisod at ; for the Sultan has shown an tuncuut of for bearance which entitles him to our admiration and sympa thy. But there is such a thing as a state of uncertainty, which may be even mote injurious mad galling than the evil of war ; therefore I am net surprised, though grieved, that the Porte has taken a step which is against the advice of its hest friends. Bus, sir, we du not despair even yet of being able to avert any formidable war from arising out of these circumstances. That some acts of hostility may occur, is masibly to be apprehended ; for we cannot tell what acts large bodies of men actuated by bitter hostility to each other,. e z w ai rag i t h h t o a du r m rthi s m i id% tat their a &tlo nd . ethr s e , i rl rtn , may l a d ,‘ t c a a e commit. d r r t u. imme diateh tiwhich they ers difficult to pals, the winter sewn is approaching, and there are great hopes that, even after the declaration of war, actual hostilities may not he commenced at present; and that the season which is approaching will give time for reflection, ;and for the interposition of the efforts of every power in Europe, which by their posi tton arc able to exercise an itilluence in the matter, and which are interested in endeaveuring by some means, con sistent with the honour of both the opposing parties, in preserving the peace of Europe. This I hope will be the erse ; but, however that may he, I can confidently assert, that, as from tha beginning of these differences, no eff att has been spared by her rtline,ty's ministers in concert with her Majeste's allies, so no efforts will be wanting in future to bring about that end which we all so earnestly desire. It will probably be said, by some parties who esk what we have to de in the matter, that we should abstain from all interference in the quarrel and let matters take their own Oa-