The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

BVENING PARTIES. . —H. FARLEY, 31, Fleet drove, Of ll/Oilie ft Deftwo'.. Church, return. hi. most grateftil k, to the Noltildeg Mai aultry he the eery liberal support he ho. met with last, and dm hi Items at mason. nod begs to dote he still continues to AI TEND EVENING PA RTIE-1, both In town and tawdry, with his Mechanical Tel is. lie also provides the Chro- Menem, as exhibited at the Roy . I Poldechnic Inaitition, the Dis daring Views, Pantoceinl Figures ad the M.lTic Lantern. N.ll A great variety of soyeittes Cur Instruction and amusement, Mid an extensive assortment of OP tea sad Con toring Tricks jXETER HA L L.—CONFERENCE of ~ ,A MINISTERS on mm of the fIUEFEItINGS and PRIVA. r ONS et the PEOPLE la the th. ited Kingdom. Tellies into thasiaeration the frigh.fui amount of distress ant femine existing in all parts of the 'nit.' Kingdom, but mare t•speri ally in Ireland sod the llighlands ml Is:an...sof Scotland, a MEET ING will to convened at Exeter-h. ;, on WEDNESDAY, the 13th of limitary, 1017, condsting of Clem , men and Ministers of all denotni anthem whom professional duti. • renter them more intimately mega-sinter' with the edgencies o' the people than any other elms of the Majesty's subjects, for the purls.. of consulting no to the moat desirable worm to be pursued, to atintrate the immense amount of privation and suffering dady Invert ..log throughout the country with a rapidity truly appoiing. Among the benevolent ministers who hare tendered their zealous thoperation may be numbest th • Hon. and Hey. Baptist W. Noel, Rev. d. G. (arrant, Nov. Henry H. tinsmith, A.M., Re'. R. 11. Her m-hell, the lion. and Rtr. .S.O. 0 .torne, Rev. Weldor Channneys, Rev. Francis 'Minoan. Rev. V. A. Cox, iter..l. V. leifohild, Rev. J. H. Weeks, Rev. Robert spr.mmr, Iter. /Award &atoll. Re , dePti oa Ramey, Rm. Sydney Turn , r, Rey. I/r. Reed, Rey. J. 11. 11,11, Rey. J. Cornea, Rey. James Smith, Rm. J. Richardson, and Rev. W. Moulton. The clergy arc rrapretfUlly bat , rgeotly requested to forward their names and iumnt to the propm I Conference as soon as possible to gm undermentioned hon. secretari •s, as it will greatly facilitate the arrange tents of the committee If they are apprised of those who pro pose atteldints, the meeting; as tho miseries of the people arc being greatly aga ravened by the inclemency of the mown. All letters and communication , to be Wilt easel to the honorary earetaries Rev. 0. 11. sToODA HT, M.A. Rm. J. R. BARBER, D.D. 11, Cambridge-terrace. lfyde-prrk, or 40, thiersteraquare. N.B. No collection will be made oa the day in the meeting. N EGLISII MUSIC, EX lz-' 1;1. '" "' - Committee -•-• -- - AiNGLINII MUSIC, EXETEIt- HALL. The -1.1 Committee of the IWtlat Testimonial Fund b'e 10 00 to alinounee a Series of FOUR CON.IERTS, illustratho of the Ifiator7 of Enrish `focal Muse. 1 New I`rran wdt b.: erected by Mr. Robson:, =t y for th concerts ; an cracient Orchestra will also be pro ew r the *eon I, Third, and I' mirth Concerts. The VIKIT CON CERT will be hold on MON D.lll KifENIN.L January 18. Principal Voce' rformers : Itainforth, Mks Dolby, Mr. blanvers, ant Mr. Leffler. Tickets—Area. ?.., for the an: - 1, ; W. 1.11 Pikry. GC for this serve. 10s. hd.; reset red sr, s, 75., for the series. 21*. —may be had of atz. Parker, publi.h,, H. , West :draw!, and of the princi,hal SACHET) HAIINI()NIJ SOCIETY, EXETER HALT.. —On TI'EsDAY El ENING, J.. 19. 1817, will be per formed MAYDN9I OdATORIO, CREATION. Principal Vocal Prrformim—l% it Ilirch, Mr. lockey, and Mr. 11. Phillip. The Band alti Chorus rill coorbil of ',brim auo Performers. Tiekttl4 3, each; Itrarrved le WI, tid, may br had of the principal Music-rearm; of Mr. Morley, ..3, Marina-craw: of Mr. Mitchell, ail, Miring-croon ; and of Mr. 81,, PM, strand. opponte Euter-hall. TIIOMAB BREWER, Mon. Bee. CROSBY -HALL.--E FHII>YIAN SERENADERS. -PO4ITIVELY the I.V4T NIGH f but TWO of the eelebirged ETIIIOPI tN SER-INADEK 4 , fell, IlArringtna,White, Stanwood, and Germ on (from (ho St. :ullol'6 The% ) rill repeat their inimitable EN f ESTAINMEN IS at the above Hail on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FiIIUAT Eveitintp next week, being positively the:r I wt appearAnces. -Doom open st half-pant Seven, the perhirmAnee minutemen Eight o'elnek.-Tiehets may be recured at the Libniry of the Institution, cut at the doom, on the nights of ygr hirmance. NATIONAL HALL, 242, High Holborn. — POPULAR EDUCATION.—On MONDAY Evening, January 11, 1847, a LY.'"TURK will he &Overeat to working own un Education, ohowiiig the neccwit• of ?gate interference, and or the separation of reit/riot. from onalar hwiroction, by M. A. GARVEY, R.A. To eimmence at half-pod eight o'clock. Mlm fr free. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, GI)VEN r- GA RDF.N.—Tbe Nobility, Oentry, and Public are mapectfully informed. that the NEW THE VII - RE OPV.N the FIRNT WEEK APRIL, for the perfornanee of the LYRICAL DRAMA. on a scale of edieit nvy in every oensrun-nt never beim attempted in thin tountry. 7bc Ballet will Include the MMe+ of the roost celebrated what.. A pmqicetus for the ari angementn of the ,eanon will be inati.4 to due mum. Mr. ISE \LE, Director. humeri 9, 1947. IHEATRE ROYAL, lI.kYNIARKET. —Triumphant omen of the new rand fairy entraraginsa of INVISIBLE PRINCE, the protect hit ore made (side the public pees).—ln order to give a" much variety se poicible, THE ROUND OP WRONG Tili be performed on Monthly, Wedneaday, Friday, and three tics . ■ week. —THIS EVENING, LONDON ASSURANCE.; on Tinvilay and Thus lay, MONET.— EVERY EVENING the grand fairy extravaganza of THE INVISIBLE PRINCE; with magnificent scenery and drrvwc. J. T. ARCHER, Bos•hookkerper. qhe erpreoo. MAI LS. The mails foe Vigo, Oporto. Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, will he made up on the mornmg of the lath January. The Wept. India mails, en Biding those Mr Mexico, Howlona and the Havannah, will be made up on the morning of the lath January. ml overland mails for Oihrultax, Malta,Oreree, the lonian IsLtnels, VAden, Ceylon, India, thong-Kong, end China, sin Southampton, 11 . made up on the evening of the morning of the 20th January. The overland clonal milt rio Marseilles, to the Mediterranetn, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong Kong, the., will be made up on the evening of the 2'dh inmates . . The mails for New Sou'h Wales, Van Disanen'a land, and New Zealand will be made up on the evening of the 91st January. The mails for British North America, Bermuda, and the United Wales, will be made up on the evening of the Ird February. The omits for the Brazils, the River Nate, Mende Video, Pernam buco, Bahia, Madeira. and Buenos Ames, will be dispatched on the ending of the 4th Yebru“ry. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Adrartiaententa Welded for Me Elprest, London evening paper, mast be at tbo Moe 1,7 Two o'olock on the day of publication. HIGH E %TER AT LONDON-BRIDGE. Two DAT. —Morning. 49 min. pot 6; AR4719 4 141. 4 9 min. Pad 6. To-Ileasow--alorniag, 19 min. pot 7; A/tem:a; 44 man. pile 7. LONDON, SATURDAY, JAN. 9. INFINITELY more than is in general contemplated depends on the result of present and future experi ments on the subject of prison discipline. It is not merely the best and fittest treatment for the convict or the outcast, that will be ascertained in these re searches, but the best mode of dealing with that much larger class, at present unequal to the task of self provision and self-conduct. If experiments are now confined to those, whom their own crimes and failings have thrown into the meshes of the law, it is that on these alone we hive the power of experimenting. If from the treatment of these, and upon its results, any thing like solid principle can be evolved, we shall soon have the principle applied to workhouses and to education: we shall see it inspire a multitude of legis- Wive matters, and, like other political and economical maxima, we shall find it in every one's mouth and every one's thought, sincerely acted upon and pre scribed. That we are far too dogmatical in the application of such maxims might be easily proved. And it may be asserted, without fear of contradiction, that in the formation of these maxims, the present age, however benevolent and charitably inclined, has still been led, by a certain generalising tendency and habit, to incline mor' to the severe and mechanical solution of hum= difficulties, than to the mild and moral. The extreme of physical severity we i.iaeed eschew. The very thought of it grates upon sympathies now so universal. To burn a heretic, or rack a mar darer, would in the present time throw the whole of society into convulsions. The punishment of death, wren to those convinced that it is a n pre serration to their own security, is too e l:l i o be tolerated. Our sympathies will not permit of it. And we may be certain that capital punishment will not survive the discovery of an efficient substitute. Short of this, the tendency has been to aggravate the severity of the prison and the workhouse. And the diminution of extreme pain has not, perhaps, been in proportion to the increased infliction of privation, of stern and starving discipline, upon numbers who, ender the old system, would have been spared such severity. The immediate result of all our prison experiments seems to be the adoption of the separate or cellular system. And we by no means oppose it, especially when accompanied by lenients, and limited in time. It is, however, most important to consider well the nature of the success and the results of it. The effect of separate confinement is no doubt to break the spirit of even the most hardened criminal, and to incline him to contrition. Such an effect is most valuable, and it is one that instantly converts all those interested and employed in prison cares for religious Pu to be partisans of the separate system. Te e Zare, however, two kinds of religious principle and spirit, the active and the passive ; the latter isthe resigned, the ascetic,the lazy, awakening and rendering active the in powers and sympathetic faculties, but scarcely stirring the moral ones. The active religious principle is something of a very different kind. It is one which deals with the world and with society, and considers both ; which does not extinguish nor supersede, but whick, on the contrary, excites and calls forth the exercise of kindred moral principles. It does not base itself on oaths, or vows, or tempo rary excitement, or mystic relations between man and the spiritual world around him. It applies itself to the duties and necessities, and ideas of our common condition. If a criminal be condemned to perpetual punish ment; if his crime has been such as to forbid his ever mingling again with his fellows, or taking part in the business and relations of life, then the application of the ascetic, and passive, and imaginative system to his mind may be the most humane, most consolatory, raid refining. But if the criminal be destined to go sees more forth upon the world, the motives which are best calculated to preserve Aerie force and appli cability in that *WM dilistnot be extinguished. A man, even a criminal, must be fitted for the future, at least not unfitted for it. And if we work a man up in solittele to a kind of ecstasy of Platonism and I contemplation, and then turn him out to earn his i bread am ingst the dregs of the people, untutored but 1 by pi ivation, envy, the most brutal of enjoyments, and the meanest of passions, we have but garnished the human temple for the more perfect and easy reception ' of the worldly devil. The changes made of late years in our system of secondary punishments have been, first of all to abolish altogether the penalty of transportation or condemnation for life. To the worst criminal has been held out the hope of a term when his sentence will expire. The words" for life" have been inter preted to mean a certain number of years, and only half that computed number need be passed by the contrite and obedient convict in the most irksome, secluded, and probationary stages. Then the system of discipline has been brought to such perfection in certain prisons, that there is left no room for a fault. In the reports and their appendices respecting Pentonville Prison, we see that almost all 1 the prisoners gain the badges upon their sleeves that I denote good conduct ; two or three frantic and refrac tory prisoners alone resist the crushing effeets of the separate system. All put on alike the exterior of complete reformation. But it is this very same ness, this commonlivoryof good conduct, which makes one suspect that the reformation is but superficial and that the semblance of virtue is produced by the suspension of the moral motives and powers, not by their being restored to healthful activity. We are far, indeed, from wishing to condemn either Pentonville or Parkhurst, because the prisoners sent from them were unable to resist the demoralising atmosphere of a convict colony like Van Diemen's Lend. But we do still think that the degree of per fection reached in those establishments is more seem ing than real ; and that it would be moat desirable to introduce, at least in the last twelvemonth of an eighteen-month's confinement on the separate system, such new motives of action, and such consequent means of discrimination amongst the convicts, as Cap tain M.scosoceele recommends. It is, however, at the same time, to be borne in mind, thot there are inconveniences even in the sue cuss of these experiments. If all criminals can be reclaimed, and humanised, and spared, and if the disgust of the punishment of death gains ground, which it no doubt will, terror ceases to exist as a preventive to crime. If the young outcast convict taken in street theft can be instantly conveyed to an establishment where he is taught good conduct, moral principle, religious belief, is endowed with a good education, and the knowledge of a trade—there will then be a temptation for even respectable families to send their oiispring through the moral education of a gaol. Nay, we do not know to what length the perfection of discipline and the deterioration of freedom might arrive, if pauperism, ignorance, insecurity of employment, and the hundred other causes operating on the poor of this country, are allowed their full impulsion down ward, whilst a contrary and wholesome impulse is as sedulously applied to the population under the sen tence of the law. If our efforts at regeneration and education be confined to the gaol, and not extended to the village, we shall arrive at a paradoxical state of society, which, instead of calling forth the appro bation of the philosopher, might provoke the satirical exposure of Swlrr. A tcnt•rEß in the Q , arterly Reri , to has itiolortaken to terrify its agricultural readers with an account of the subdivision of land in France, and its conse quences, which it represents to bo the aim of many liberal statesmen of the present day to introduce into this country under the guise of gardens fur the poor, peasant proprietors, and similar heresies. The writer proves, and unfortunately has no diffi culty in proving, that agriculture is very backward in France, and that the land, whether divided between small proprietors, or owned by large proprietors, and cultivated on the half-produce or ,nftaycr system, is little productive. Not a doubt of it. The improve ment of agriculture in England has been brought about by the accumulation of capital in the hands of the mercantile classes, and then by the application of a portion of this capital to land by a body of men akin to the mercantile classes, viz., the tenant-farmers. In France the small accumulated capital of the middle classes has been sunk in the purchase of land, not spent in speculating, and with a view to profit, in the cultivation of it. Land in France has, in fact, not yet been mercantilised, and the marketable produce of its farms has not increased. The revolution, however, and its great consequence, the opening of the land to the citizen and peasant,!hao produced the great result of giving a sufficiency and a security to the lower classes of the population. They neither beg nor starve, nor arc interested in exciting disorder. They are neither revolutionists, nor Chart ists, nor even Radicals. The bit of ground, or the facility of obtaining it for him, who, in his trade or ' earning, can save from 20/. to SoL, acts as a premium, which, though not attained by one-tenth of those who desire it, still acts as a glittering prospect on which the eyes of all are fixed ; and this forms the content, the aim, and we might almost say with truth, the god, of the French population. Now, this us certainly not the best way to make the country produce most wheat, or most cattle, to make it prime in races, chevaline or bovine. It is unfavourable to the privileges, and consequently to the existence, of a landed gentry ; it is not compatible with game laws, and requires a paid jape de pair and a government authority, in lieu of the J.P. and the grand jury. In short it is, and it requires, quite another order of things from what exists in England. Now, we are to a certain extent admirers of the state of things in England. And we are not blind to the defects of things in France, But legis lators have not always a choice. How could the French legislative assembly or convention, in 1790, Lace established an English organisation in France? Where was the capital, where the agricultural science, where the middle classes, the wisdom and the wealth overflowing on the land, the equitable law and rights to secure their just return? These did not exist. The French revolution could only do what it did, viz., distribute amongst the indigent and unprovided clas ses, for purchase, those lands which the owners did not know how to cultivate, or to use, or to render profitable to the community. Noris this picture altogether foreign to us. The state of Ireland at the present moment is very like that of France in the first year of the revolution—the owners of the soil, ignorant, or incapable, of turning it to their own account and to the emp loy of the poor ; ' many of them ignorant, many of them bankrupt, or absent, or, if at home, idiotically wringing their hands in helplessness, unable even to grasp the means of safety held out to them by the state—in this, indeed, the Irish landowners are most unlike the French of 1790. _ _ _ In Ireland a revolution like that of France is impossible, unless indeed Repeal could be realised ; and that indeed would prove the signaL England must, however, keep the peace of the sister country. But government, in doing so, will be obliged to do at least the beneficial part of the work of revolution. It has but two alternatives. It must either raise Ireland to the level of England, by sending away half her popu lation, substituting a middle class, with capital and experience, amidst it, a new race of farmers, all able and capable of employing, and raising, by fit employ, the remaining portion of the lower class. Government must either do this—and it cannot do any such thing—or it must, from pure necessity, not choice, lapse into the French mode of locating and feeding the population which exists, by giving it land. Such writers as he of the Quarterly may lament this latter alternative as derogatory to aristocratic organisation, as not making the most of the land, as quite unorthodox and contrary to the science of farm ing. All this may be very tree, bat it cannot be helped. It is not in the power of any government to pack off to Canada or Australia one-half of the peasant population of Ireland. It is not in the power of the most furious anti- Celtic politician to stifle or to strangle them. There they are. What will you du with them? Your Poor-law could no more deal with them than it could with the army of XERXES. They will not cluster round your soup-pots within pri so n walls. And if you give them alms, or public pay for parish labour, they will only give a make-believe of work in return. One thing alone can you give them, and that is land—land in property ; land in lease; land on some certain tenure, or in some way that will offer a surety and reward to industry, and will procure the peasant some rest and content for a mind, which for centuries has been intolerant of the present, and rockle,, ~f the future. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. documents,published in this country in April last, it is shown, on the evidence of the Chief Justice of Van Diemen's Land, that the convicts have not lately been controlled u they used, and ought to he; on the evidence of the Bishop and others, that from the exees• rive number of convicts that have lately been sent there, and from the want of sufficient control over them, the place is not wow tit for the residence of any one who his the least regard for his own highest interests; on the evidence of the Governer, that the tRIMI, which have in late yews been imposed on the free settlers chiefly to meet the ex• pen,. nt establishments rendered necessary by the presents of convicts, have been utilise and oppressive; and on the evidence of an affidavit, sworn to at Hobart-town, before the Chief J unties, by two of the most respix:Jble t.alocasts, - THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1847. There are extreme ills in the body politic which are beyond the power of common remedies, and which at all times have defied statesmen to cure. When a country is left to itself, and has not taken precautions and remedial measures in time, the result is revolu tion. The country works out its own cure, and often times its own salvation, though a century of suffering may be gone through, by revolution. If Ireland were abandoned to itself, were English power, and supre macy, and assistance withdrawn from it, as some of the maniacs of that country demand, the consequence, the inevitable consequence, would be a revoluti,m, a great social revolution, proceeding from causes alto gether apart from difference of either religion or race. The power of England prevents this, wisely and humanely, and cannot do other than prevent it. But the power of England must be exerted to supply the remedy that Ireland would work through fever and horror fur itself, by measures not so violent or expensive, but still measures partaking, by their bald ness, and universality, and necessity, almost of the nature of one of those social catachlysma which nature offers as a fearful remedy, when a political state has reached its worst. We see that Dr. BOWRING has given notice of his intention to bring before the (louse of Commons the subject of alteration in our weights and measures, and the introduction of the decimal system. Few of our readers have any distinct notion of the inconveniences of the present system, or of the proper mode of dis cussing the balance of the loss and gain which a change would produce. We could easily till a column with these; but not wishing to waste time, we shall only endeavour to place before them a few fundamental positions, on which a very large majority of those who have attended to the subject arc pretty well agreed. A decimal system of measures and coinage is one in which all subdivisions are tens; in which, to borrow existing names, a pound is ten ounces, an ounce ten di achms, a drachm ten grains; a sovereign is ten shillings, a shilling ten pence, a penny ten farthings, and so on. Nobody questions that if a system were now to be established, none who have a right to look at the outer wall of Bedlam would vote for any thing but decimals ; or a pure binary system, in which every thing proceeds by tiros. There are a few who think that the natural tendency to halve, and the great convenience of successive halving, give to the latter system a right to stand up against the former; but we think they are a small mino-ity. However, as it is, we are hampered with a motley system, in which gold and silver, as money, the same as bullion, drugs, other goods of weight, measures of content, of length, and of surface, are all subdivided in different ways, with neither the natural simplicity of the binary system, nor the artificial simplicity of the decimal one. And the questions which arise arc, should this medley be reduced to decimal uniformity ; and if so, what is the eas , est way of doing it? On the first question the public must decide for itself. Facility is not facility except to those who think so ; and we are afraid the common sense which faces a small inconvenience that posterity may have a great advantage, is not yet quite so strong as the League was this time last year. Still, firm in the belief that the change will come, we gladly lend our aid to promote it , discussion. Now it so happens that all who study the subject are agreed that the change, when it is made, must begin with the coinage : and that all its other parts may be deferred until the effect of this one is seen. If the coinage were once decimalized, there is little doubt that the public itself would soon demand the rest of the system. We will suppose a person well disposed to think that those who have given this subject their attention know better than himself what will be best in the long run : and yet a little afraid that he shall be a victim to the change ; that his poor head will be made giddy by having to reckon new-fangled money. To him we will put three questions : 1. Would it veil much distress you it government w. re to call in the hall-crowns. irme two-shilling pieces under some short and easy name, and allow a couple of years to familiarise one to the change. 2. At the end of the two years, could not one in two years more contrive to understand a coin of the value of twopence halfpenny: not five to the shilling, but five to the shilling halfpenny, ten to two and a penny ? 3. Last of all, could one contrive to forget the halfpenny on the shilling, and the penny on ilia two .billings, by virtue of an alteration of four per cent. in the copper coinage, which would make the shilling exactly five of the new coins, and the two shillings exactly ten If this could be done, one could endure the change to a decimal coinage. The a...cret is that the pound is now 960 farthing*, and it would be made a thouaind, by alteration in the copper, not in the silver nor the gold. We can easily imagine our examinee, after a little consideration, boldly declaring that a year, or even six months, would he enough to learn each step in. We could easily deal with honest fears. But we arc apprehensive lest innovators of too much boldness should attempt to carry the whole change at once, in coinage, weights, and measures. And this attempt, we predict, will utterly fail. So we say, coinage first—the rest when you can. The leading article of the Journal des DRsats of Thursday, leaves no doubt as to the course which will be followed by the French Foreign Minister on the subject of the Spanish and Polish questions before the Chambers. In the last number of the Rerun des Deter .Vondes, appeared an article, which we noticed at the time, upon the " affairs of Spain and Cracow," bearing the signature of M. d'Haussonville, a member of the Chamber of Deputies. The chief part of this article is reprinted in the leading columns of the Debuts of Thursday, and that journal says that the sentiments expressed in it arc such as it, the organ of the cabinet, approves and adopts without reserve. The article from the Revue des Deter Monde:, which may now be regarded as a ministerial manifesto, is much too long for quotation. The following, how ever, is its conclusion : In various parts of this rapid examination of our situation I have expressed an opinion that the dissensions with England would not last, but rather that the good under standing between the two countries would soon be re-esta blished. Many persons share this opinion, supposing, how ever, that that pod understanding must evidently be pre ceded by the fall of one or the other cabinet ; and it is easy to see that they hope that it is ours which by its fall will be made the sacrifice of the reconciliation. I can hardly believe that the English cabinet has • hand in this rather too apparent game; should it be so, I should be sorry to hear that our government attempted to defend itself in a similar manner. Besides that, it would not probably find on the other side of the channel so many willing hands to second it in its patriotic work, its cause is such a good one that it can submit it to the judgment not only of the adver saries of the present ministry in England, but to its advocates in parliament. IThis entire administration, and the statesman who represents it in its foreign relations, appreciate too well the honour and the intercede of their country not to understand that which, in the questions arisen between France and England a sentiment exactly analogous to their's swayed the actions of the French cabinet. This great Whig party. the eminent leaders of which they are at present, was always en roped with three great matters which have characterised lb policy—great reforms in its own land, the propagation of liberal ideas in Europe, and a taste for the French alliance. Owing to circumstance., for which, however, it is not re sponsible, it had not the honour in the last few Tears of re pairing, whilst in power, the abuses for which ft demanded redress. It is known what the Whigs did with the French alliance on last coming to power, and how they found them selves leagued against us with the northern powers. It is impossible for me to imagine that they can give another denial of such a nature to their old traditions of party, so powerful in England. The moment would be ill-chosen. The etrugele between liberal ideas and absolutist and retrograde inclinations was never so evident since sixteen years as at the present day. England does not wish to leave us the honour of being their only champion in Europe. Should that, however, become the case, let us hope that our government will not shrink from its task. The situation would be serious, it would not be alarming. Such causes are never left to themselves; the Almighty watches over them mid guides them by paths which are known to him. When he leads them in the world nothing can impede their progress; they advance rapidly , and irre sistibly, like the waves of the sea, but of a Pea without tides, and which never quits the ground it has washed over. Individually I shall never despair of the success of the policy of my country, as long as at home it enjoys the confidence of the Chambers, and abroad the sympathy of the free nations of Europe. - - The eve of the opening of the Chambers is signal ised by manifestoes and disavowals, proceeding from every party _through their respective organs of the press. While the Dtshats adopts the programme of M. dllaussonville, and anticipates the expression of the sentiments of M. Ouizot, the Constitutionnel consecrates its leading columns to an article which bears the unmistakeable impress of the pen of M. Thiers. This manifesto of the leader of the Centre-Gauche, disavows in terms the schism in the dynastic opposition, on the exist ence of which the ministerial party has been felicitat ing itself. The Coastitationnel admits that at the first im.v.inent, after the announcement of the marriages, a difference of opinion might have been manifested among the leaders of the Opposition respecting acts, i the circumstances and consequences of which were then imperfecly known, but even then one fact was flagrant—namely, that the gortrnment in a sin4le day hail overturned what had been the basis of its policy for six years. It was foreseen that this act would be followed by humiliating sacrifices, hut when the destruction of Cracow had rendered the improvidence and selfishness of the cabinet evident, and had exhibited the price paid fur a family alliance, all doubts were dissipated among the Opposition, and all hesitations and dissensions disippeared. lint while the Constitutionnel thus disavows the differences imputed to its own party, it retoits the charge upon the cabinet, which it declares openly to be divided against itself. " Who does not know," it says, " that the good sense of the Minister of the Interior revolts against the Spanish mea•ures, and especially against the rupture of the English al liance." The Constitutionnet concludes as follows: But what are now the questions of persons or partirs? The opposition will not be divided; it will hot justify the hopes, it wiU not merit the disdain, of the Journal d's Ikbests. Speeches are nothing at this moment, and mere words have little importance. It is not with the opposition that Government will have to strutgle, it is with the events which they have created, with the political situation that they have made, and with the consequences of their own fault. France has never been in a position more grave and Allure critical. Never has her future been more uncertain. Liberty menaced, absolutism fostered, the rtvolutinn trampled under foot at Cracow. a burning struggle at one very doors in Switzerland, conflict* with England which may spread over the whole world, European law enfeebled, and force brought to bear ataiast treaties. These are the adversaries that our Cabinet has raised against it.Ji Unhappily also they are terrible for our country and our misc. A report was current in Paris, and found admission into some of the journals, that a difference had arisen between the King of Prussia and the members of his family, on the ssbjeit of the constitution proposed to be granted to his states, his presumptive sacc;ssors contending that whatever his individual opinions may be, he ought nut to adopt measures of organic and per manent change in the principles of the Goeertunent which would afterwards restrain them. - " A general rise in the markets round Paris has taken place, as was expected. Wheat and barley row 1 franc per hectolitre on Wednesday ; rising in the same proportion. Wheat is now higher than it has been at any time since the harvest. A curious article has appeared in the Aressbury, Gazette on the confiscation of Cracow, in which that journal gravely states, that public opinion in Germany has been manifested in a very unequivocal manner, both in the press and other ways, in favour of what the Gnzelle denominates the non-establishment of the republic of Cracow, a novel synonym° for confiscation. It is also announced that Sweden, as one of the guntardeting parties of the treaties of Vienna, has transmitted to the Austrian government the pro testation of King Oscar. Oscar, while he admits the necessity of the measure, hopes that it will be the last necessity of that kind, to which the three pro tecting powers will find themselves forced to yield. Since the above was written, we learn that a cabi net council was held nt the Tuileries on Wednesday afternoon, at which the king presided, when the royal speech was decided on. It is said that there are three paragraphs in it which will give rise to important de bates in the chamber. The first is the foreign rela. tions of France; in which, instead of saying, as that he continues to receive the pacific assurances from foreign powers, the King is made to announce merely to the t .tubers that his relations with foreign powers allow Inn to hope that he will be able to maintain peace. The paragraph on the marriage is very explicit. The King felicitates himself on having effected a marriage which will contribute to strengthen the permanent alliance between the two countries. Ministers have come to a determination on the wording of the paragraph in the King's speech reelecting Cracow. It speaks of the resolution of the three powers ixintrary to the treaty of Vienna, as "an event to be regretted." It concludes with a formal announcement that the King has protested against the incorporation of Cracow, and that he will lay before the Chambers all documents relative to the affair. On the 12th inst. M. Ouizot will communi cate all the notes on this subject exchanged between France and the three powers, as well as between France and England. The Madrid mails of the let were received in Paris on Thursday. A fall of snow, a most rare pheno menon at Madrid, took place on that day. The Chaniber of Deputies had chosen two commissions for the verification of powers. It had been reported that the Queen-mother would leave for Paris, - but in the event of her Majesty being enciente, this movement would not take place. El Clamor Piddle° announced that advises had been received from Catalonia, on the 31st, from various quarter., that four Carlist bands were sweep ing through the country. One of them consisted of not less than 500 men. Although Cabrera himself was not known to be personally present, it was not doubted that he directed the movement of these forces. Government had marched several regiments into Catalonia and the Basque provinces, and had sent two battalions to reinforce the garrison at Ma jorca, where it was supposed an attempt would be made. PARIS, JAN. 5, The financial situation of France in gene'ral, and of Path in particular, is becoming somewhat alarming. The funds and railway shares are falling. The Bank's resource in gold bas again diminished, and on the 26th of December amounted to 71,000,000 of francs only. By means of a purchase of piastres made in London, by M. Hottinguer, to the amount of 20,000,000 of francs, hopes are entertained of a re storation of the eluilibrium in the Paris monetary system. The position of the treasury is better than it has been. The account of the Bank, which had fallen to 20,000,000, has risen to 54,000,000, and if the Minister of Finance would give treasury-bills at six months, at an interest of three per cent, he would soon be in possession of as much money as it would be convenient for him to receive. It had been ru moured on the Bourse that Government found itself under the necessity of contracting a loan, but such is not the ease. Mr. Lacave Laplagne has positively declared to the principal bankers that government had intentions of contracting a loan, and that the resources of the floating debt would be sufficient for all wants. The payments required by the railway companies are being punctually made. The Lyons Company has already received 28 millions out of 30, and the Northern Company had received in advance nearly a million of franca before the appointed time. No other company seems likely to want funds before April. Discount is active, and though a crisis had been pre dicted as likely to take place in December last, it did not arrive. At the close of December, the sum of 51,000,000 f. was due to the Bank of France for dis count bills. These payments have been made with the greatest facility, and commerce never was on a more solid basis. It is said that ministers wish the Bank not to give such heavy discount; but the 13-tnk will do well to neglect any such imprudent injunction, as by an impeded cir culation the chances of a crisis would be increased. Money is not wanting in France, and specie is abun dant : confidence only is wanted. A few words re garding this want of confidence. The excess of rail way speculations has been felt through Europe, in England and Germany more than in France ; but, of course, Francchas had to feel the consequences of impru dence in other countries. We have felt the injury done to public credit at Berlin and Vienna. Germans who had shares in our railways have made a wholesale trade of them, and numerous failures at Vienna, Frankfort, and Berlin, have caused loss to our bankers. Add to this, the uncertainty of our political prospects. The alliance with England is threatened, and France is opposed to the conspiring courts of Northern Europe. Every one must see the proba bility of a European conflict on the decease of Louis Philippe, who is now seventy-four years of age. The corn question too causes serious alarm. The price, which had been for some time declining, is now rising, and it is feared that the deficiency of the crop, instead of being a twentieth, will be found a tenth, or even a seventh, of the consumption. In this ease we must add to the 3,000,000 bushels already imported, from 3 to 6 millions more. Where shall we find this pro vision? At Odessa, New York, or Dantzie ? For my part, I think the deficiency is exaggerated, and that importation may easily supply it ; but the cost of this foreign corn, as well as of our domestic produce, is so serious, as to give me some uneasiness. If France expends for bread in 1846-47, five or six millions of francs more than in ordinary years, that money must be deducted from the consumption of our manufactures; and, of course, our labJuring classes must suffer. If labour were thus discouraged, it would be a most serious evil, from which, how ever, it is to be hoped France may escape. MEXICO. We have received the following letter from our cor respondent in the capital : Nov. 29. • • • Since the taking of Monterey no time ho. been lost by the authorities ; and Santa Anna had now certainly some 39,000 men at his command. On the 7th of thi. month General Taylor informed Santa Anna that the armi.li agreed upon at the capitulation had not been r. cognised by his government, and that he intended to resume his military operations on the 13th. Consequently on the 14th was taken possession of by the American forces. Santa Anna's order to General Parrodi to evacuate Tampico, the see runt seaport in the republic, has caused a considerable sen sation. This order was obeyed in such haste, that several cannon, with which the Mexican army are by no moans well sapplied, were sunk in the river, there bring no time to remove them. Six days later, the American fleet took possession of the place. We have the most contradic tory accounts of the force under the command of General Tay! ,r. Some say he has 6,030 regulars and 15,000 volunteer' with eighty guns; while others assert that the whole of his force amounts to no more than 1.5,000 men. Suitt' Anna has placed a brigade of about 2,000 men under General Urea, at Tula de Tamaulipas, to watch the mos e ments of the United States forces from Tampico upon San Luis, and two other brigades are stationed on the road to S iltillo ; the great hotly of his army remains at Son Lobs. Yesterday (the 28th), we received the official information that General Taylor had addressed a letter to Santa Anna, requesting him to use his influence in promoting a negotia tion for a speedy peace, he (General 'Taylor), being willing to await the decision of congress as to any agreement they (the Generals) might enter into. To this letter Santa Anta has given an answer: That so long as the cony's of ',lexica were threatened by American fleets, and a portion of the country actually occupied by American troop., he could not possibly listen to any proposals for peace, and he was convinced that the congress about to unet in the city of Mexico would be inspired by similar sentiments. General Taylor has two roads before him, by which he my advance from Saltillo upon San Luis. The one of 110 kyisas, through au uninhabited country, in which water is only to be met with at intervals, so that triselli vs are often compelled to divide their journeys most unequally. The only town of any consequence on this road is Villa de Ca'orce; all is one immense plain, inte.rutted here and there by deep ravines a dangerous rie°, I should think, for an army. The places where water is to be found ar known to everybody; they are not rivers or brooks, but tanks, into which the water runs during the rainy season, an.l which can serve only a few human beings, are principally used for cattle ; and even this poor resource could easily be destroyed, either by letting toe water e.cape, or by throwing some carrion into it to render it useless, when the march of an army through the district would be rendered next to im poe"ible. The second road leads through Ziamterws, almost the same distance, and throuah an • aterruptel plain, somewhat more peopled, and until now quite free from any enemy. We shall soon see, whether General Taylor means to seek the Mexican army, and by what road. The notion that Santa Anna had i Yen while vet in the Havannah, undertaken to make peace with the United States, still obtains credit here among many .li-li-in formed and sensible people, and it was supposed that an op.air tunity would have been afforded him to gain some trifling victory of which he might boast, and which he might rope,- sent as t'te foundation of the peace to be concluded. 1 be lieve that , Sa n ta Anna is bad enough to have made some such agreement with hit country's enemy, but I also believe that he will iio just what seems to him convenient at the moment, tota:ly disregarding any previous promises. The great bar to every improvement, and to every effective stop, is want of mon. y, and no way Mean opus to bring matters to any tolerable conclusion. The Minister. of Finance are either rogues or fools, and therefore no reasonable course is pur sued ; at the same time even British officials add their share to increase the &trendy deplorable corruption. The scandalous arrangement concerning the English loan, was confirmed by Aro, the Minister of Finance, without the knowledge of the President, fir which feat he is said to have received 250,000 piastres. It is revolting to sec the representative of a nation which is so proud of having itself placed in the van of civilisation art in a manner decidedly opposed to British interests, and seduce the miserable ever-greedy facials of this country by the offer of money to do that which is against the interest of all except Meyer.. Maintosh, Escandor, and Schneider, who gain about a million of pounds sterling by this transaction, while the shareholders must of necessity loose because tlexic o is unable to fulfil those conditions relying upon which they have given up a large portion of their claims. To-morrow the new Congress will hold its preliminary meeting; and will most likely be formally installed in the course of next week. PEItU.—TIIE FLORP-4 EXPEDITION. Extracts from private letten rceived. via Panama, by the Clyde steamer, dated Lima, 10th of N ovem b er: . . I hove been rather surprised to irc that von do not say a word on the subject which is in everytwalia mouth here; I mean Flores Expe- Wu. to the Ecuador. Mad and Imm...in-able a. the scheme appears to be, it has mused no little alarm in the minds of the brave Peruvians, and they are already beirinuing to Who( waiting with Chili and Bolivia Mr the partauw of asguing the kkuadur isms against the udo. (old ,paniards). Mr. C—. bedewn that limes will he joined by 2,000 men in his own country as soon as he makes his appearance there that he will then march on Peru with 10 or 16,000 men. Chili anti Bolivia will join with Peru, and then it is to be feared that the three repolilits might determine to bare three commanders, all which might enable Flores to conquer them in detail, proclaim himself king, and there we hove him a south American Napoleon. Sonic people believe It to tea farce from beginning hi end, and that by the nest packet we shall hear that M. Vlore. has returned to bin wawa. lam glad to say the country minia iCrreelly quiet. No revolutiona nor any Mew ut them now. Wird 11th November, 1010. The Per.. of the nth i sa t, canons a long account of Flores' meditated expedition, to which I refer you. I hove beard to-day that the said expedition i. no joke, and that Flores really intend, coming to the Ecuador. Ills fnenda here are of opinion that he has only got to present himself in his own country and he will he inimodiatelvjoincd by hundreds of his party, in which case be will find it no difficult matter to carry all before him, and of course once more proclaim himself president. Colonel %loom don ca reLnicn of norm's who is here just now) intends starting by the steamer to-day far Panama, where he will kohl himself in roads nem to rein More.. The excitement here on this subject is immense, and will continue till the arrival of the nest pocket, when we shall see what steps General Claina intends to take—Prom another letter the pro noted expedition of (Ramat Flores and Santa Crux has caused no little stir in this place. However absurd we may think the scheme, It will be well for the motile to be on their guard ; and i think from the circulars they ore issuing to the other state., that they are =winced of the neorreity of this. Whether be really intends coming or not, this announcement will do Donn, for it puts into these people's heads Ideas of wars and revolutiohs again, after they had once more sub sided into a state of the utomat peace and tranquillity. - - CHlLL—Papers and letters to the 26th of October have been received via Panama, from Valparaiso, but their contents are without interost. Senor Pardo, the newly appointed Envoy from Peru, had presented his credentials to General Baines, the President. COLONIAL. WEST INDIES. JAMAICA.—TunL - m;tat.ail.fia:Yie election for St. Thomas in the East, vacant in consequence of C. 11. Dar ling, Esq., having accepted the office of secretary to the Go vernor, was held at Morant Bay on the 3d of December. It was previously understood that Captain Darling was to I withdraw from the contest. Accordingly, though nomi nated, only two electors tendered their votes for him, and nineteen for his opponent, Mr. Davidson. The uhjections to Captain Darling arose mainly out of local party matters, but it seems to have been doubted whether he would go far enough in the retrenchment of pub lic expenditure. Petitions had poured in upon the Assembly, calling for an entire revision of the system of parochial taxa tion, the surcease of all public grants to any religions sect, &c. &c. An act for the reduction of salaries was rapidly making its way through the legislature. The committee appointed to inquire into the state of the island had reported, and on the 33th of November its report was adopted by a majority of 16. The committee state, as results of their in quirks, that " the reduction which has already taken plac • in the value of sugar has rendered it a profitlessaiticle in seven eases out of ten, proofs of which have been laid before your committee; and their attention has been most forcibly drawn to the consideration that, inclusive of a few estates, ruined in 1833, from the effects of the rebellion in that year, the total number thrown out of cultivation up to this period since the passing ef the act of emancipation, exceeds eighty, two of the parishes of the island, formerly in productive cultivation of sugar, having almost totally ceased to export ; that notwith standing the improvements in our agriculture, and in the process of manufacture of the great staple to which the de spatches of ou. late governor have borne willing testimony, it has been stated, on authority in parliament, to ho the in tention of many absentee propnetors to abandon their estates—intmtions which they had followed up, by direct ing preparations for further cultivation to be stayed. The committee, therefore, leave it to the candour of the hotik and the world to form a judgment of the nature of the task now imposed upon the remnant of our cultivators, when they affirm that the article of sugar , cannot be generally produced in the colony under from 20 or T 2 shillings per cwt. ; and which rate, including the value of the rum, cannot be reduced below 18s. Your committee, therefore, must advert to the facts, that the annually de creasing differential duty, which is to wholly cease in Bye years, will throw the cultivation of that article entirely into the hands of slave-owners and slave traders. That the island of Jamaica has no other source from whence support is derived. That the cultivation of coffee is almost abandoned, and that article will shortly cease to be exported, except from one peculiarly favoured district of high elem. tion. That ginger and pimento are precarious products, upon which there can be no reliance, from the limited and fluctuating demand for them, and from their very doubtful production, which is dependent upon circum stances over which c ul neaten have no control." The reduction of public expenditure is zealously recommended. The report commences by stating, "that Asiatic immigration should be abandoned because too costlyfor competition with slave.labour, but which, under other carumstauces, would have cont t. buted greatly to the support of sugar cultivation ; and that African immigration, at the cost of the British nation, ought to be urged as the cheapest and most direct mode of putting an end to the slave-trade, by establishing the fact of free, bring cheaper than slave-labour, and. as the only mesas left, unless a further reduction take place in the duties impo sed on British colonial produce, of saving this ancient and ones valuable colony." Cants.—The weather had been favourable, especially in the parish of St. Mary. The canes, however, were reported not to be yielding well. The canes for next crop were looking remarkably well. With reference to Pimento, the Despatch says " As there has been no pimento crap this year, the trees have recovered themselti .0..1 are looking very promising far next season Indued, if Providence favour. the peu.ketoers and settlers with his benign bless ing. in the way of favotuahle seasons, the next crop win be the largest gathered in 'or the Ina fi.n or six years." lastiottavion.—The African imnagraws landed from the Indus were in high health, only three inva:Os nut of 337. They Men to he plq.cipally settled in Blue Moninnin Valley district. The ludo.. Log table shows the distrabutiou of nu. migrants up to December last : Africans. Asiatic. 31314. Kingston 977 -- 977 St. Thomas Last .. 261 _ 291 14:t.dre 223 233 st. Nary K. JAW, . B3 SI 489 313 W., tmosel_ind Bid harbour l4O 623 672 HON OURAS.—Tnn TRIAL. Or blcsusaa. CONNt.LL AND STIIONu4.—In ► private letter, dated Belize, Nov. 20, it is mated Lieut. Conn-II and Mr. Symonds remain in gaol, the new trial will commence on the 2.5 th inst. A new Attorney-General has come from Jamaica to prosecute in the new trial. The lion. Mr. Gray, Queen's Advocate, died after Aix days' Miles% deeply regretted. His death is at tributed to over excitement at the trial of Mew's, Connell and Symonds." From the fiunduras toserr , r, of 21th October, we further learn that mine discussion took place previous to the discharge of the first jury. When the fore man, on the seventh day of the trial, steed that they had not agreed, and were not likely to agree on a verdict, the late Mr. Grny moved that the)• he discharged, "on the ground that the court had over-ruled hi. right to the peremptory challenge of jurors, before the entire panel quad Liven gone through ; and ales because sufficient time lad elapeed since the jury had retired, to render a verdict if they intended doing no." This motion was objected to by the relici•or for the prisoners. The jury were then ordered to retire until C.c. cloning of the court, when, not haying firmed, they were dismissed. Ju-t an they hail been or!Cred to retire "the superintendent," sop the Otomerrer, having entered the enurt, was rolled upon to give his opinion. Ths Chief Jua tit* explaiiied the difference existing between him and the judge•, each of whom was alt.o called upon to piec his opinion an to the position of caw. Ills Excellency iu hie opiuton coincided in the decision of the Chief Justice." GUIANA.—Tits LIVIP.L.trumE. —lt is rated in the packet summary of the Guiana Times, that—. There bare been frequent meetings of the Court of Policy during the fortnight, and some important business has been got over. The bill to facilitate arrangements between debtors and creditors, the Rent Bill, end that for regulating the relations of employers and employed, hey,' all been unanimously pa • ed. We would call the particular attention of the friends of the colony at home to the pneelamation published to-day, extendina the bounty upon emigrants to the Azores and Western Isiatide. This is a measure which has been lung called for. There are in the.° islands at least 60,003 souls bendable for immigration, to whom the chine, to this colony would be of the greatest possible benefit. These ielanels are no farther out of the course of running ships than Madeira, and therein no likelihood that so many obstructions, if any at all, will b e thrown in the way of their inhabitants leaving, .15 have been opposed to the Marleirians by the Poreguese Rescreening. Teta INDICOIENTIS roa Szoireen.—The Supreme Criminal Court opened its evasion in George Towa en CI. 23rd November. The individuals against whom the indict ments were issued were the Reverend E. A. Walbridge. a Londe - en Missioesary preacher; Mr. John Emery, and Mr. JaMe3 Alters. The two latter were the p,:lelishers of a local paper, celled Enteru't Journal. The indictments framed against Mr. Emery, who had leR the colony &emend weeks be fore the commencement of the ses,.ioa, did not come on to be tried. Under the Dutch law, and an ordinance regulating the publication of newrpapers, the Attorn e y-G er .eral applied for a warrant of apprehension against Mr. Emery, which the court ',fused for various legal reasons, The ease against Alters went off on a none prosepei, one or two error. of orthognpy having been committed by the copying clerk in the registrar's-office in the indictment ; nor, from what we learn, is it likely that the prosecution will he resumed leggiest him. Mr. Wallbridge's ease has been pest paned, on his swearing that Emery, now absent from the colony, was • material witness for his defence, and that he would probably be back next January. IM•4IOIIATION.—A proclamation was issued on the 3rd of Dec., by the Governor, naming the Azores, Cape de Peed, and Canary Islands, as places whence emigrants may be brought to the colony at the public espeese. It may be proper to mention for the guidance of shipowner and others, that to entitle the importers to bounties the regulations of the Imperial Passengers' Act must lan complied with, and that the voyage of a transport must not exceed four weeks from the place of embarkation. The bounties are thirty duller* for each adult, and fitteen fur each child between Is., and fourteen years. Ton Clauses.— the weather had been rainy, hut (enur ed. during the fortnight. however, should it continue much longer unchanged, it will prove detrimental to the young canes. In the meantime agricultural pruspeets were brightening, and next yeais crop, should no untoward casualty occur, will be the largest shipped for many years. TRINIDAD —Tun LBUIIILATVILE.—At • meeting of the Legislative Council on the Ist of December, L oral Harris read a despatch from Earl Grey in reply to a report from his lordship on the subjeat of emigration. The substance of the most important parts of Earl Grey's despatch were to the effee: that— His loribhip preferred the fourth plan of his Excellency's, a. it I WU 1114114 ClVlCtllifli to combine with secular inAtruetion such robin.. as could be linpartel by tile respect ire si inevers A seir,rate da. and hour in the week should be allowed to each sect At school, on 0111 , h the Minister should be expected to attend to instruct the children id his congregation, and ..hould b• paid a sum for each child. In timid , lug the school Milne.% a overate room might rutty be set apart fur the Repair, or the minister might be alluwid to have the ire of the whoa roam for an hour or two etch week. That It wan most important to connect haltuttrial occupation and teaching with that of general Mo. cation; he should br indooed ta reconunend that in a portion of them sehoolathe childrim should br weekly beerdent, gohit home to their parents on ttitunbir morning rind returning to school on Monday morning, so that the reboil master should have the interval for his lei(ure and comfort, Se. With revect to the establishment of a ionise for the upper and middle cl.oses, he agr.rd in thinking that cook a place would be desirable if it codd be accomplished, but doubted the practicability of effecting It at pment. Lord Harris intimated that on the lvt of February he would bring forward a plan for general education in the colony. Oa the motion of the Attorney-General, the report of the com mittee on public offices, of which we gave an outline in our abstract of the news by the previous mail, was adopted. 'fee following amendment, moved by the Attorney-General, on a motion by Mr. Scott, alto parted That a committee be appointed to consider end report what no. provernents niay be ItrAtk In the general system of taxation end mares, of revenue of the colony, or in the manner of levying and (A lecting the talc% customs duties, and other charges upon the ship ping, or the import., and exports of the colony and that such com mittee have power to call for all persons* and papers. Tux COCOA CROP.—The following paragraph appear in the Trinidad Spot-War : A friend of ours, who Ma lately paid a visit to the cocoa distrkt, informs us that in mere quieter the trees present a most luxuriant appearance, and that the planter. were looking forward full of the hope of an abundant crop. The fruit and blossoms were never be fore known to have been in such plenty; and an almost immediate and non-intermittent picking may be expected, which will, moat likely, continue (*semi months. A little sunshine is now all that is required, and we have every primmest of it. - • - • WINDWARD ISLANDS.—BARIUDORS.—TuE Goys'. won.—The Globe of 3rd December states : The steamer Hermes, with his Excellency our new governor ang suite, isespected to arrive here tomorrow, or CM Saturday at forth's*. On the Hermeo hearing In sight of her Mojedy's ship Hyacinth, now lying in Carlisle Ray, she will be rernmunielted with by tele graph; ani should Colonel Reid be on board—the fact will te announced to the public by the discharge of two guns from the Hyacinth and the hoisting of a gag —which signal will b at ones taken up at the Commercial HA, and by the earmus signal stations throughout the island—on rack of which will be displayed a unton mek with a red pennant over It. Tug Wr.Arrien.—ln the report of the St. Phillip's District Agricultural Association for November, it is stated that : --- The weather, during the month of Nerember, was favourable is wane parts of the district, In others no rain fell until about the middle of the month, but dm* that time fair showers have been of frequent occurrence and general extent. The report of the canes mud partake of the .411 e varied character in those places which hid the bencat of rain early in the month, the unfarourable weather of Octobrr did ad produor serious or !satins( ill effects, but in those leas fortunate the canes suffered a great deal, and have not recovered. The proapert of the crop, on the whole, Ia much better than it was at this period of Ind year. I n the report of the Leeward District Association for ar same month, we read : . . The weather for the past month bar been very elvishle in its cba meter. On the lit ass anumially heavy rain was experienced in W northern part of the district, which Inundated a comiderable tract d the lower lands : and from that date to the present period no want d rain has been felt. The cane. generally are very fine, and promise large return. In the southern part of the diatriet the drought which commenced in October, preys/1M until the 16th. (In that day some fine showers fell, which continued with but little intermission to as close of the month. The canes on the hills had suffered en/alders/ft from the protracted dry weather, but have resumed their naiad colour, and are now growing stemmed,. ST. LUCIA.—The LIWISLATISUE.—The Palladium of Dec. .5 says There wan • abort sitting of the Board of Legislative Ikon, it Oil yesterdar for the special purpose of taking tamely steps to good against the threatened recurrence of those evil, which :E tre bra more than once experien nil from the absence of our tax onlinmee a the opening of a new year—probably again owing to del. at Barb. doom. A provisional ordinance has been accordingly ;weed he gm purpose of enforcing the present tax ordinance next year, in the event of the one sent home for her Majesty's approval not being reared beer before the Int of January. THE CILOP.—On comparing the quantity of anger shippwl this year with that shipped in 184-1, there appears a fallifm off of 1,183,800 lbs., or a little more than 1,000 hhels. Tks total quantity of produce exported this year is given as fol lows in the books of the colonial treasurer : sugar, 5, 59 7. 425 lbs. ; molasses, 1,036 puns. ; rum, 30 puns. ; coffee, 51,431 ; COCOS, 106,283 lbs. ; firewood, 2621 cords ; chafes'', 12.5 barrels ; dogwood, 94 tons ; raw hides, 449. In cora there is an increase of 9,667 lbs., and in cocoa 28,3061 h. LEEWARD ISLANDS.—AwrIouA.—The new gofer nor-in-chief, accompanied by his private secretary, Chula Henry Higginson, Esq., arrived on the 12th ult., and the same day a privy council was convened, when her Majesty's commission was read, and his Excellency took the oaths of office, and his Excellency Lieutenant-Governor Cunningham' embarked for the island of Saint Christopher the following morning.