The Express. — London, England, 1847-12-27 00:00:00

...many in smoking tobacco, and seem u pesionately fond • • Teei,v tbrir continental friends the Chinese; that which arid in am me, however, of a wretched quality, and af. ,„ the opportunity of gratifying them with same of a .„, ei eier kind. Sweet wine war also found to be acceptable; ilejseve it was given to their wives, for we never observed d i a they drub it, though I urged it upon them as a media Jo, Of the mysteries of the healing on they appear to be Ondly ignorant, trusting almost, it not altogether, to in the progress of thau maladies." COLONIAL. CAPE OF 000 D HOPE. The followingam tint of the entrance of the Kaffir m.k omo into Port Elisabeth is copied from a private i d e m eeeeived in Southampton, dated from the former place, 00. 27, and written before the surrender of Sandilli was awn "The Kaffir chief Makomo arrived here this morn s.. Considerable excitement was manifested by the lithe ... *mats to witness the arrival of one who had played so active oi l important a part in the present war. Ile was attended by ewe of his sons and the son of souther chief (I believe * Ame n), firs of hie wives, among whom was his principal et i*(inkosikua Omkulu) with their children. The party a ltogether consisted of It men, 22 w.nnen, and 51 children. it g men were on horseback, accompanied by the field-cornet sad t he government interpreter. There followed two wag with their goods ; the women and children bringing up r m ar on foot. On arriving at the Fingo huts, whim they were to be toeited, a number of the t e nabitants of the town were seen floating to the hot The Kaffir+ were met here by a person appointed to show them the meet desirable spot for building their huts, sad to conduct them to a temporary habitation. The situa tion chosen for their future residence is close by where the rapes reside, who will take care and keep a watchful eye seer them. Th e supposition that the Kaffirs would be guilty * treachery is not very extravagant, tines if any * a d va ntage accrued to the Brltish, Makomo would without doom be glad to j..sin his comrades again, and in that case **powder magsmne (unguarded as it is) would present a rest temptation to him and his followers. A few hours' ride would enable them to gain the bush and defy any pur suit; at present I do not believe the chief has any such views, Ile is shrewd and quieksighted, and bee no doubt calculated that the Kaffir% have no chant* of successfully competing with the British, and has therefore withdrawn from the contest. It is difficult to my in what light Makomo'i residence in this place may be regarded. Ostensibly, he and his followers are sent here to obtain work, bat in reality they are prisoners of war, though left un guarded. They are at present receiving rations from govern ment; and, though it appears as an act of their own fns choice, yet everything tends to show that they are removed bars to be away from the immediate scene of war during the impending crisis. Makomo, in person, is spare, and rather below the middle height. Ile is very reserved when spoken to; he continues nodding his head, indicative of his atten tion to what is said to him, but he seldom makes a reply maw be is asked a question, and then a considerable interval &pen begun. he answers. There is certainly some dignity in his manner. This was observable in his conduct on arriving. The person appointed to meet him stated what means had been taken fir his present accommo dation, and his readiness to do all i.t his power to contribute to his comfort. Makomo received his communication in silence, merely nodding his head from time to time. This took place at • little distance from where his wives were mated on the erase. 5 ,, 013 after, when he had retired, the principal wife inquired of • Fir.go what had been said to the chief, and on its being repeated tx her she acknowledged it she by a slight inclination of the head, but made no reply." TEE MAILS DUE AT SOUTIIAMPTON.—The Trent sew acme day, overdue. The weather and the arrangements mesequent on the new route to ho performed by the West India Company may have had the effect of retarding ber arrival. The Iberia, from the Peninsula, is not expected at Southampton until to-day (Monday). She was two days longer than usual on her outward voyage, on account of the weather. The Hindostan was expected yesterday (Sunday) from Malta, but had not arrival at Southampton at six o'clock last night. It has been blowing very hard from the eastward, in the Channel. On Christmas-day it blew quite a gale. An Irish steamer was off Portland at eight o'clock in the mornie.g on that day, and did not arrive at South ampton until four in the afternoon, on account of the wind. Mt Court. SUNDAY.—Her Majesty and Prince Al bert. the Lscliss and Gentlemen in Waiting, and the Do. mestic Household, attended divine service yesterday, in the private chapel of the Castle. The lion. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay officiated. The royal dinner party yesterday in cluded the Duchess of Keat, Viscountess Canning, Lady in Waiting of the Duchess of Kent, the Dowager Lady and the Hon. Miss Lyn. Iton, Baroness de Speth, Lady A. Bruce, Mr. G. E. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, Col. Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps, Sir G. and Lady Conner, Gen. Wemyss, Dr. Meyer, and Mr. Glover. Capt. the Hon. A. Gordon had the honour of joining the royal circle after dinner. At the con clusion of the banquet, her Majesty and her royal and dis tinguished guests retired to the Green Drawing-room, where there were tire trees, between 7 and 8 leet in height, placed in ornamental stands ; the trees beiag in imitation of lir, and the leaves Wilted to resemble saw. Suspended from the branches were hundreds of elaborately ornamented baskets, boxes, &c., for presentation as Christmas gifts by her Ma jesty, Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and the royal Lenity. Each sf these mimic trees was illuminated with upwards of eighty wax lights. The finished proof from Mr. Edwin Landseer's picture of" The Stag at Bay," engraved by Mr. T. Land seer, was submitted on Thursday, by Mr. M'Lean, to her Majesty and Prince Albert, who were graciously pleased to express their approbation. Hie Excellency the Duke de Broglie left the French embassy, in Manchester-square, last evening, for Paris, in order to be present at the opening of the French chambers, and the debate en the aJdrus. His excellency is likely to be detained some weeks in the French capital. Count de Jarnac, daring the absence of his excellency, is to discharge the diplomatic functions of the embassy, with the rank of minister plenipotentiary, as when the Count de St. Aulaire was absent en cony;., just prior to his final resignation as ambassador. DEATH OP ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE PARKER, K.C.B.—Our obituary records the death of Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.8., which took place at an early hoar on Friday morning, at his seat at Great Yarmouth, front an attack of influenza. The gallant admiral was in the 81st year of his age, having been born in 1767. Sir George was second sun of Mr. George Parker, of Wexford, who was third son of the late Admiral Christopher Parker (brother of the celebrated Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Bart., who so eminently distinguished himself during the American war), by Miss Gore, a connexion of the Arran family. He entered the navy at a very early age under his gallant uncle, Sr Peter Parker, and served on board the Pheenix on the Ma labar coast, and took part at the capture of the Cannanon; wu senior lieutenant of the Phrenix at the capture of La Rrsolue, French frigate, and of the Crescent in her gallant action and capture of the Reunion in 1793, previous to which he brought to England Admiral Cornwallis's despatches. He was then ap pointed to serve with the squadron under Lord Duncan in the North Seas. In 1803, when commanding the Stately, in company with the Nassau. he destroyed, after a running fi ght of two hours, a Danish line of-battle ship of 74 guns. He was appointed in 1808 to the command of a squadron in the' Baltic. On his return to England he was appointed to the Aboukir (74), which he commanded in the Walcbcren ex pedition. The gallant deetased had distinguished himself in several minor engagements, and his services bad on nume rous occasions called forth the approbation of the naval authorities at the Admiralty. He married in the prime of life Miss Butt, daughter of the late Mr. Peter Butt, private secretary to the Duke of Cumberland. In June, 1833, he was nominated a Knight Commander of the Meet Honour able Order of the Bath. The date of his commission was se follows: Lieutenant, March 13, 1782 ; Commander, Nov. 4, 1793 ; Captain. April 7, 1795 ; Rear-Admiral, June 4, 1814; Yice.Admiral, July 19; Admiral, Jan. 10. 1837; and in Nov., 1841, attained the rank of Admiral of the Red. Up to his recent attack of the prevailing epidemic, the de ceased limiest had enjoyed excellent health, so that the melancholy event wu a severe shock to his family. ELECTION OF THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD. In reference to the exciting event which is to take place in the Hereford Chapter-house to-morrow, a corre spondent, who dates his letter "Hereford, Friday night," says t " The all-absorbing topic is the forthcoming event of Tnes• day neat, namely, the election of Dr. Hampden. The dean (Dr. Merewetber) having issued his manifesto of disapproval of the appointment, it is the general opinion that a warm discussio:i will take place. Some say the dean will absent himself. Othen believe that the very rev. gentleman will, albeit steut language has been uttered by him, be the very man to carry the election, and plead his very delicate situa tion as excuse. Should an opposition to the Queen's rongi d'ilire be attempted, the following will, 1 believe, be the result: five, including Dr. Zderewether, will rots against Dr. Hampden , so that if it were a question of number', the election would be certain. It appears, however, that should the dean command three supporters, the chapter must risk the pains and penalties of a premunire. It has been asserted that the protesting bishop. have been tampering with cer tain members of the chapter. If this be true, the threatened opposition will probably be offered. The clergy of the dio cese of Hereford have manifested great interest in the goes tion, and have abused one another sorely in their discussion. The choir of the cathedral has been fitted: up for the elec tion." Another correspondent writes as follows : HEREFORD ' SUNDAT.—The forthcoming election of a bishop for this diocese, creates a moat lively interest here, which has been materially increased during the lut few days, in consequence of the determination of the Rev. Dr. Merewether, the dean, to summon to the election proceed ings not only the canons residentiary (in whom the election is generally vested), but also the non-resident canons and prebendaries, most of whom have expressed their hostility to Dr. Hampden in the most unqualified terms. The following is a copy of the citatory letter, calling upon the canons to attend : Chapter. house, Hereford, Dec. 22.—T0 the Kew. You are re quired to attend on Tuesday next, Dec. 24,in the quire of our cathedral church of Hereford, for the purpose of then and there proceeding to the election of a bishop of the aid we of Hereford, the same having theme vacant by the translation of the flight Rev. Thomas Mus grave, D.D., to the archbishopric of York, end at the same time and place (eleven o'clock in the forenoon) to proceed to the whole hued ness of the said election, with all its I.d.thts, emergencies, and do- pendeocies whatsoever, until the anal despatch of the Bald election, fiad willing, we ought to proceed. For some days past meetings of the canons residentiary end seek et the yrebeadevile ee milt fa the immediate aelahlmeetheed have boa held he the ponies of deeweiler lag the anew it wadi be whiratie raleid W the 1,416- waft eleteila voter the pewileety dotal elewaremma Thew Niewitatime love, ler etwiew messae, beta beld with lined Own, awl the esedwila le wltiatbat waseabie holy bia amid °mew therefore he oeeld with an, degree et ealberity. A renew has been very paerally circulated that k lathe intention et Dr. klemerether is absent himself hem the eathedrel ea the day of the ehmtles e and leave on the Ample the ty of the eleelisa m rejection of Dr. Rmayess.lia r bewever, is totally unfounded. Dr. lierewedher b knows te be oppOsed to the appointment of Dr. Hampden, mid therefore there is not the slightest doubt that he will appose in his stall on Tuesday as Our head of the chapter, and record his vats aginst the regius professor should it be deemed advisable by the chapter to come to a " decision " ea the mildect. Judging from circumstances which have already treaspired, it epees» more than probable that no vote will be taken, but that when the congi d'elire and the letter missivehave been read the canons will retire with out making anp election, thus leaving it in the hands of the Queen to exercise her royal prerogative. The proceedings connected with the election will take place immediately after the first lemon of the morning service, in the open spice in the Lady Chapel. The proceedings will be com menced by the dean rea di ng the following letter missive : To the Very Rev. the Deam and the Rev. the Chapter of the Odle dm! :Morels of Hereford.—Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you welt—Whereas the bishopric, of Hereford Is at preterit void, by the translation of the Right Rev. Father in Ood Thomas Musgrave, D.D., to the archblehoprie of York, late bishop there, we let you knots that for certain onneklerations mat this peeeent moving, we of osix princely disposition and real beam derlroue to prefer unto the same see a perms meet thereunto, and coniddertsg the virtue, learning, wisdom, sod other the good gifts wherewith the Rev. Rees Dickson Hampden. D.D., Is endued, we breve been phased, by there our let ters, to name and recommend him unto yea, to be elected and chosen to the said bishopric of Hereford. Whereupon we rreeqquire you, upon the receipt thereof, to proceed to your election aeevdlag to the laws of this our realm, and our cow Oen, herewith sent unto you, and the same election so made to certify unto as, under your common ant—Dived under oar sign, The dean will then read the rouge d'aire. There can be little doubt but that the interest in this matter will increase as the day of election approaches. All the vacant apart ments in the city have bier secured, and letters from all parts of the country, addresaed to the principal innkeepers, have been received, requesting that accommodation may be secured. Amongst the parties so applying are several eminent dignitaries of the church. LORD GEORGE BENTINCK ON THE FINALITY OP TRa REroast BILL.—Lord G. Bentinck has made the fol lowing reply to • request made that he would allow his same to be placed on the list of vice-presidents of one of the committees established for the purpose of poocurine the ' bender of the right of representation removed from Sudbury W the western districts of the metropolis: blz,-1 am very sony I cannot isomer in sour views. I voted for " the MD, the whole hill, and nothing hut the bill " Asa anal settlement, Lvsith Lord John Russell, that " the country cannot afford to • revolution once a year," or I would say once even in twenty years. 1 am, therefore, for teasing the Reform Act alone, looking open It as a measure calculated to fulfil all the rational wants of the country for at legal half a century from the date of its enactment. With these views, I anent agree to have my name placed on the net of your vice-presidents.-1 have the honour to be, sir, your humble Servant, G. Bearfetha. SIR It. PEEL AND THE DUTIES ON FRENCH WINE. —M. Leland., Secretary of the Free-trade Association, of Bordeaux, states, in Naturday's Economia, that he has re ceived a communication from Sir R. Peel, in which that statesman "manifests his intention of attentively consider ing the subject of the duties on French wine, with a view, it is presumed, to their abolition." " There is not as English yeoman," remarks Dr. 'fiowring, in a recent number of the IVestnainster Review, or good shopkeeper, that ought not to drink his pint of claret daily, it he likes it, if the com merce between the two countries was free." MR. OAK ELEY.—Five individuals have come for ward with 1,0001. each, in order to build a chapel for Mr. Oakeley, in New Oxford-street—Churcit and State Gazette. TESTIMONIAL TO MR. GEORGE CRUIKSLIANK.—A testienonal to our eminent comic artist bas been set on foot in Liverpool, and the movement is spreading to the metropolis. A SHAKSPEARE FANCY BALL.—We Yarn from the Literary Gazette that • fancy ball is contemplated, under high and favourable auspices, to aid the Shakspeare Fund, which is still minus. "The ball in aid of Scott's monu ment realised 1,2001. or 1,4001.; and when we imagine hose brilliant such an entertainment would be inShakapenan cha racters and costumes, we cannot doubt, at least, a similar result. Meanwhile we trust the contributors will not lan. guish ; for as a national memorial for ever, there is much desirable to be done at Stratford-upon-Avon." MR. GEORGE JONES AND THE CITY STATUE TO SAAKIIPZARIL — There has been a " Shakapeetre Memorial Night" at the Leeds theatre, under the direction, as the bill sets forth, " of the People's Central Committee of London." Who the People's Central Committee could be, puzzled us on first hearing of the announcement; but we were willing to think it might be a manager's puff to fill the house for so good a purpose. It appears, however, that • certain Mr. George Jones was the chairman of the so-called People's Committee—zed that the ultimate object of that committee was to erect in London a public statue of the poet, It is important we ohould state this—and that the London and Stratford committees have nothing to do with a statue to Shakspeare ; because there cannot be a übt that the two objects have been confounded. Mr. Prichard, who gave the theatre at Leeds for the Shekspeare Memorial Night, has written to the London and Stratford committees expressing his surprise that the produce of the benefit is sot included in the list of subscription" advertised by the committees "for the purchase of the house:" and he expresses his further surprise that his own subscription of 101., and the produce duo of the benefit at Hull, are not included in the same list of subscriptions ! A statue in London is Sir Peter Laurie's pet project; but we rather think he will decline recognising Mr. George Jones as his travelling agent and collector. — Atheneum. WHOLESALE DESERTION OF WIVES AND FAMILIES. —On Friday, the parochial authorities of St. Luke's, Chel sea, and St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, issued descriptions and rewards for the apprehension of 64 men, charged with de serting their wives and families, leaving no fewer then 217 individuals • burthen to those parishes. The men are de. scribed as good mechanics, and able to earn from 234. to 30e. per week. CARLYLE'S CROMWELL'S LETTERS.—Sig,—Can you spare room in your columns for • few remarks on the letters which Mr. Cathie has lately given to the world sa genuine productions of Oliver Cromwell? My first impression on reading them was, that they were forgeries, and the more I examine their strange history the more I feel convinced that they are so. As you have already noticed the principal cir cumstances which throw doubt on their genuineness, I will merely adduce the internal evidence of two or three pee wees, which seem to me to betray a modern pen. In No. XV. Oliver commissions a friend to buy him "a new Naval." This article of dress was, we believe, first intro duced into England at the restoration. No. XXXV., "stand no nonsense " is modern slang. I doubt whether such a phrase can be found in any writing of the 17th cen tury. Scrap 2 contains a list of men's names, and among them I find • " Kesiah Donnell." Now Job's daughter was called KeziaA, and this word is still in use as a woman's christian name; but I never heard of any mare being so named, and Puritans were, of all persons, the least likely to fall into • mistake in matters of this kind. LJ.D.—Dce. 23. A FRENCH CLUB has just been established in London, for the use of the French nobility , gentry, and pro fessional men. Its rules are similar to those of the English clubs, including the ballot for the admission of members. The inauguration supper took place on Thursday at Du hourg's Hotel, the Marquis Bouffet de Montauban presiding. It is to be called the " Cercle Francais." THE JEWISH MISSION CHURCH, in Halkin-street, Soignee-square, established in coanexien with the Church of Scotland, for converted Jews, was opened on Christmas day, with the ceremonies used in the church of Scotland, in the presence of a crowded congregation. The preliminary !services were performed by the Rev. J. Cumming and the Rev. H. Douglas, the Rev. .1. Tod Brown preaching the inauguration sermon. FIRES.—IN DRURY-LANE.—A fire broke out lent evening, at No 2, Drury-lane, in the occupation of Mr. Smith. A lodger, in the first floor, leR her two children, one three years, and the other a few months' old, alone for a few minutes, and during her absence screams were heard pro. melting from the room where the children had been 144 t. The door was found to be locked, and no assistance could be readered until the arrival of the police, who broke open the door, and found the furniture in a general blue • and in one corner was the eldest child completely envelop ed in names, which were not exting uished until life was extinct. The infant was saved .— Ix BISILOPSOATE4IIIIZT.—A fire brake out, yesterday morning, on the premier a of Mr. H. Lmky, cigar importer, No. 9, Bishopsgate-street Without. The in mates had a narrow nape, being rescued by one of the ma chines of the Society for the Protection of Life from Fite: two of them, the shopman and a lad, in their hurry to get into the escape, fell over the aide, but were caught in the police jumping -sheet, which was held below. All the upper portion of Mr. Losky's premises was destroyed, and the adjoining houses on either side were week damaged. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY , EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1847. clamed as follows :—Clam 1. Mea Mem throgb 111 low 4 1 other cause. Class 2. ANabsdied mss sad ratlike Aim ' 16 years. Class 3. Boys abyss 6116 ese of yeses sad Lander l that of 16. Class 4. Waimea faint through age or say sem am B. Class 6. Abbe Wiled amen and girls above I 040 01 16 years Clem Gide above the sip of 7 ' years and under that of 15. Clam 7. Children seder 7 years of age. To each alms shall be assigned that ward or separate building and yard which may be best fitted fee the reception of such clam, and tubeless of paupers shall remain ! therein without communication with those of any other class. The guardians shall, 60 far as circumstances permit, fur ther subdivide any of the class enumerated with reference to the moral character or behaviour, or the previous habits of the inmates, or to such other grounds as may seem expe dient. That nothing in this order shall compel the guardians to separate any married couple, being both paupers of the first and fourth dames respectively, provided the guardians shall set apart for the exclusive use of every such couple a sleeping apartment separate from that of the other paupers. The master (subjected to any directions given or regulations made by the guardian') shall allow the father or mother of any child in the same workhouse who may be desirous 1 of seeing such child to have an interview with such child at some one time in each day, in the said workhouse, and should there be more than one workhouse in the parish, and the members of the same family are separated, they are to have occasional interviews with each other, as may best suit the discipline of the several workhouses. The casual poor wayfarers are to be kept in a separate ward, and to be dieted and set to work under regulations of the guardians. No pauper of unsound mind is to be kept in the workhouse for any period exceeding fourteen days, and to be removed to some aßylum or licensed house as soon as practicable. The paupers belonging to the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and Bth classes are, from the 26th of March to the 29th of September, to rise at • quarter before six, and to go to bed at eight o'clock. They are to work for ten hours, and the remainder time is to be divided for the breakfast, dinner, and sapper ; the other period of the year they are to rise one boor later. The diet Is to be the same as laid down in the dietary table, except Christmas day, or unless the medical officer deems a temporary change in the diet essential to the health of the paupers. That no two paupers above the age of oven years are to occupy the same bed, unless in the case of • mother and infant chit. dren ; and that they are to be kept employed wording to their capacity and ability ; but no pauper shall be em ployed or set to work in pounding, grinding, or otherwise breaking bones, or in preparing bone dust. The boys and girls who are inmates of the workhouse shall, for three of the working hours at least every day be instructed is reading, writing, arithmetic, and the principles of the Christian reli gion, and such other instruction 'hall be imparted to them as may fit them for service, and train them to habits of useful ness, industry, and virtue. No written or printed paper of an impropertendency, or which may be likely to produce ipso bordination, shall be allowed to circulate or be read oat among the inmates of the workhouse. No game of chance, or cards, or smoking, be permitted; and that no work, except the ne 'weary household work and cooking, than be performed by the paupers on Sun lay, Good Friday, and Christmas. day. In the case of disorderly paupers and which are enumerated, the master, without the interven tion of the guardians, can punish, by substituting for a period sot greater than forty-eight hours, for his dinner, eight ounces of bread or one pound of cooked potatoes, or boiled rice, and by withholding for the same period all butter, cheese, tea, sugar, or brotb,whick he would otherwise receive, while the guardians may, by • special direction, punish any refractory pauper by confinement, for a period not exceeding twenty-four hours, with or without an alteration of his diet. That no pauper shall be confined between eight o'clock in the evening and six o'clock in the morning, without being furnished with • bed, clothing, &c., suitable to the season, That no child under twelve years of age shall be punished by confinement in a dark room during the night. No corporal punishment shall be inflicted on any male child, except by the schoolmaster or master; no corporal punishment shall be inflicted on any female child, the article to be used in the punishment to be a rod, unless ordered otherwise by the guardians; and before the punish ment is awarded two hours are to elapse from the eommisaion of the offence ; while those who are above the age of 14 years • are to be exeMpt from flogging. In all oases of paupers punished without the direction of the guardians, the Mimic(' and punishment to be entered in a book, and which book is to be laid on the table at each meeting of the guar..iaas. Should the board consider the punishment to bare been im proper or illegal, the case to be forwarded to the commis ' sioners, while the punished pauper can come before the • I hoard, if he or she wishes. THE EARL OF ELLESMERE ON OUR NATIONAL DEFENCES. The following lengthy epistle was pnblished on Saturday by one of our contemporaries. "Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen l" Sir,—Asthe subject of this letter stands for early discus sion in both hones., of parliament, the propriety of this intru sion into your columns, on the part of one who hss de 'ure a voice in the legislature, may fairly be questioned. I trust my justification may be found in the circumstance that the state of my health allows me no prospect of a defaces exer cise of the privilege I possess. It is now rather too late to consider whether a gentleman who assumes the initial of " P " for his signature has been governed by a -ice discretion in communicating his appre henaions of invasion, and the grounds of those apprehen sions to the public. I confess myself to be one who, having long entertained those apprehensions, and having been equally cognisant with " P" of the facts on which he vindi rates them, have hitherto, fir reasons which seemed to me imperative, refrained from publishing them to the world at large. I have not, however, abstained from stating them in ether quarters, and I do now see reasons for contributing what support 1. can to an appeal which, whether discreetly or sot, has been made to the common settee and patriotism of this great country. Whatever may be the result of these discussions, or what ever the fate and fortunes of this enormous empire, future historians will have to record and explain the fact that for a considerable period, of which it is difficult to fix the precise commencement, the instinct of self-preservation has been in abeyance and suspension in this country. It is difficult, I sa, to fix the precise limit of the commencement of this ec lipse of the common sense and foresight which Providence has given to reasoning man for his guidance—to the coward dike who flies from danger, and to the brave and wise who anal themselves to meet it. Some may date it from the year when the report of a parliamentary commission first gave gelentific assurance that the Irish Channel might be crossed with equal safety and with greater speed and certainty by steam than by canvas'. When Sir A. Campbell in the Rangoon river made use of a war steamer to convey troops, to batter stockades, and to run down the war proem of the Burmese, I think it was time ler military and naval men at least to look forward to the further develops mint of the agencies so employed. When, however, Sir R. Stopford made Ilia feint at 13eyrout, and Sir C. Napier dashed across Djouni-bay, and effected the lodgment of the force at his disposal in the teeth of the hosts of Egypt, I think the reign of judicial blindness had manifestly set in. From that hour to this, the professed economista have pur sued their old habit of pressing for furt..er reductions. With in a few days of the time I am writing, one who has acquired no inconsiderable influence over public opinion in this coun try, in an address to an important constituency, has held out to them the old and hackneyed delusion of the feasibility of wanking large reductions .a the expellees of the army, navy, and ordnance. The mere fart that such a topic can be so handled by a popular orator before an applauding assembly, atone demon strates the prevalence and intensity of the torpor with which a long peace and the absence of visible and conspicu ous danger have benumbed the faculties of the nation. For the man who thus gives tha /eight of his authority to such dangerous delusions I entertain, in his character of political economist, a respect founded on accordance with We view', as well as on the acknowledged ability which he brings to their advocasy. With him I look forward with hope and confidence to the eventual consequences of that in• area and multiplication of our commercial relations which • endeavours to promote. Can any man, however, be Imo gene enough to suppose that these results, whatever their eventual value, will be arrived at per nation, or imagine that, when attained, they will eradicate evil propensities, obliterate recollections of former national rivalries, or stifle every cause of fresh dissension ? It is the failing of succese-1 lkl propsfators of systems that they almost invariably ascribe universal as well as specific efficacy to the offspring of their invention, their talent, and their perseverance. This propensity has now led Mr. Cobden, while he vol proposes to denude this country of the notoriously tient means of defence she now possesses, to deemed freen the station of a leader of the intelligence of the people le that of a representative of its ignorance. There are two modes of refutation or consolation by which Mr. Cobden, and the disciples who cheer to the echo the dangerous doctrine he has uttered, may endeavour to scabs the apprehensions or confute the predictions of Cassandra like myself. They may hold that the attempt at an invasion of these islands is either absolutely impossible, or too impro bable to be admitted into calculation ; or, secondly, that, if attempted, this country has already the means to frustrate and chastise such attempt. The first mode appears to be that adopted by Mr. Cobden ; the second, no person of any authority has yet been rash or ignorant enough to maintain. Mr. Cobden's opinion on the naval and military question of Mai possibility of the landing of an invading forae in this Mookry being worth as much as mine would be on the uswita of a new mordant fur printing calicoes, time would merely be wasted in its discussion. The possibility of such an operation rests upon authority entitled to as much weight as human authority can claim. The probability of each at Sept is certainly one of those political questions ' which detract calculation, end which afford no data to ths witairty. The expediency of affecting an insurance, and the mesh of sacrifice to be incurred for that purpose, are to be measured rather by the magnitude and value of the stake themby the probability of the occurrence. That Oho is neither Ron nor less than our capital, our arsenals, war lives, out' property, our wives, our children, which I, for one, believe a few hours might, in our present state of mili tary preparation, place at the mercy of an unscrupulous and resentful enemy. Ido not believe that it would be impos sible, in our present state of preparation, for a French mi nister of war, favoured by circumstances, to land on British ground a force sufficient in numbers, discipline, and equip ment to march in any direction along the turnpike roads of England. I bat direction might depend on the place of landing—lt might be Portsmouth, it might be Chatham, it might be the capital. In each, in any ease, with our present means of de fence, I believe resistance would be hopeless, and an attempt at armed opposition only productive of useless bloodshed. To oppose in the field such a handful of muter troops as we could muster, scarcely provided with trWlery, and totally destitute of a reserve, to a French army, such as under my supposition would be brought against them, would be an act of sunless desperation. if the French were to appear at one REGULATIONS OF THE NEW POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS. Voluminous instructions have been lotted to the various parishes and unions. The election of guardians is in future to take place between the 15th and 26th of March, and the polling papers are to commence being cast up on the 9th of April and succeeding days, while the first meeting is not to take place until after the 15th of April. In ail cues where the permanent pauper obtains medical relief, the guardians shall ones et least in every year cause to be prepared by the clerk or re lieving officer a list of all such aged and infirm persons and person' permanently sick or disabled as may be actually receiving relief, and such list to be furnished from time to time to each district medical officer. The clerk is twice a year—namely, four weeks at least before the 25th of Murk and the 29th of September respectively in each year, to ascertain the costof the relief of the poor, for the parpose of laying before the overseers the amount of money that will be required for the relief and maintenance of the poor. With respect to the admission of paupers into the work house, he shall, as soon as he is admitted, be placed in the reception-room and examined by the medical officers. If ill or diseased in mind to be plactd in the sick ward. While , if free from any disease , he shall be placed in the part of the workhouse assigned to the class to which he may belong. On the pauper's admission he is to be searched, and all articles prohibited by any act of parliament or by this order , which may be found on his person, shall be taken from him and, so far as may be proper, restored to Unfit his departure from the workhouse. The paupers, as far u the workhouse admits, are to be end ef Load's, the wisest Movement the Guards could make would be to mesh oat at the other. Fee the rest three howiture would be sufficient, and the Lori Mayor would li g t NW be with the details of billets, and WhmiSEra contri belles he accepted, as a commutating/se indiecrimi- Mike thus . sum I Ass Isms It sold; disy will never re- I los. Does .1..,;; _bet le dig is. 1 4 thers Mon as Ism so they est be biwesi le do so. I really do wet seeelty they &koala partisehei7 wide it. In the yire eileilsaele of this country 50,001/Freeicemen would find Eng- MA es nib and pleasant a domiedle as any in which the 'MMus of Napoleon ever luxuriated ; but if not, the country Mfideh sent them here would consider the mere insult to perfidious Albion cheaply purchased by their ultimate sacri fice. It is necessary to look at facts as they are, not a. they *eight to be, or as we could wish to make them. ' Thirty years of peace, of dose and pacific, if not cor dial intercourse, ought, I admit, to have obliterated the aneelimadon of former quarrels, and stanched the old lINIPIOS of bitterness and ill-will. In England much MMhi effect has been produced. There is neither contempt nor hatred here for France or Frenchmen. In France I know not which feeling predominates towards England. Both are rife enough. In England, if she were to be in volved in a quarrel with France, which Lord Palmerston could not justify on the strongest and most palpable grounds of stringent necemity, a unanimous vote of the House of Commons would deliver him over to be torn to pieces and devoured by Mr. Urquhart. Let id. Cluiset tell the Cham ber of Deputies " I have insulted England in a manner which no nation can be expected to put up with," and a war supply would be voted by acclamation, and the conservative minister would be carried home to his hotel on the shoulders of the people. This is very unfortunate, but it is neither un accountable nor unnatural. In the first place, there Is the old standing grievance of the long and bloody game which was played between the two countries, and which was won by England--fairly won, so we think, by pluck and perseverance —won, as Frenchmem sew cairn, by a combination of accidents which can never again recur. The aspiration to balance this account will not be come extinct with the generation which has seen the Eng lish encampment in the Bois de Boulogne. These hinnies memories of the past are bequeathed from father to son. It is not confined te the partisans of any political creed, or to any clam of the community. Rich and poor, Carlist and Philippiste, alike entertain it—none more than those who in their own persons, or those of their kindred, shared the pro tection and the hospitality of England during Use emigrates*, and who, Waterloo apart, have, in some butanes, at least, a kindly recollection of that circumstance. " Une bonne vie. tars," said one of these, " et now sums la essilleursamis de monde." Is the intercourse with travelling and migratory England calculated to remove or mitig to these unfortueuths feelings ? For reasons too many now to enumerate, and too many of which it is not pleasant for an Englishman to ad mit, still leas to detail, I can only answer such a question in the negative. On these grounds and many others, sir, I am not of opinion that the mar of the French nation (I do not speak, I have not spoken, of its sovereign, its statesmen, or its philosopher, —peace to and with all such) would be loth to take the first opportunity to strike a blow, the deadlier the better, at the vitals of England. That the present condition of sue de fences presents a direct and positive invitation to such an attempt, real upon better evidence than I new think proper to quote. As things stand, the adventure may be hazardous • but it would not be deemed mad, scarcely rash, when thi object to be attained is measured against the risk of failure. It is in our power to render it both. The dormant power of England is such as no country ever yet possessed. Clive her time to collect the inert elements of strength and resistance she possesses, and against the world, L who now tremble for the future, would have no fear for the result; but the French, as assailants, are not famous for giving their enemies time to reflret. My fear is for surprise and surpeise alone ; but for such an operation the Freed; are as well fitted by natural aptitude as, I believe, they are well provided with the means to effect it. We have erased to be an island ; we have approximated in the opinion of all observing and refiewing men to the condition of • conti nental state. We cannot afford, any more than any other member of the European family, to invite that aggression which our position forbids us to provoke. A wise economy would deter us from incurring the risk of having to do in hot haute, imperfectly, and at enormous expense, that which should be done at leisure and with reflection. What is that something which ought to be done ? I have no hesitvion held as it may seem, in answering that question. First and foremost, add a sufficient increase to that body of police which you now call the regular army in these islands. The necessary amount is a matter of detail for the government to propose and the country to discuss. It should be sufficient to enable you, by the asststance of railroads, to direct upon any points of the coast menaced or invaded, disciplined forces of all arms in such proportions t each other as military experience and science pronounce to be best suited for co-operation. I any emphotically, regular troops. I earnestly advocate that increase of the regular army on every ground of efficieney, of adaptation to its purpose, and even of economy. Cempara that strange and anomalous production, the British so"dier, with his counterpart in any other service. In a financial point of view he will appear a high-priced commis. elite. Look at the service he performs and the man ner in whish he performs it, and he will be found the cheeped article of his class. It is supposed to be the intui tion of her Majesty's government to re-establish, under each altered regulations as may appear desirable, that old militia force which contributed so much to our military resources during the late war. I wish it every success ; but I shall look on this measure with grave apprehension if it is to he adopted as any succedaneum for my own nostrum. Inter , mixed with, or behind regular troops, not only the militia, but the still more irregular descriptions of force—yeomanry and volunteers of all descriptions—may contribute effectually to the common defence. Alone and unsupported by that leaven of old soldiers whose qualities were so well described by the Duke of Wellington in the Lords' de• bate of last year ' they could only encounter a disciplined French army to their own inevitable destruction. The annals of war present no instance is which courage end patriotism, without thorough training, and unweaned by those accidents of ground sr appliances of fortification which do not exist in England, have premuted any serious obstacle to regular troops. The case of the Tyrol affords for obvious reasons no exception to this rule. I men tion it, however, because the true came of the failure of that gallant resistance of s nation of riflemen is in one solitary re , sped germane to my subject. Those who take the trouble in investigate closely the history of that transaction will Sal that the immediate cause of the ultimate failure of that re sistance was the want of a few squadrons of regular cavalry, and a few batteries of regular artillery. Let the Ordure, look to this ' • let that department look to the recent affair in Switzerland. In that country there were all the elements at a long and murderous struggle. On the one hand, thaw were indeed numbers, but on the other there were position. strong by nature and improved by art, great exasperatioe, political and religious fanaticism, sad familiarity with the use of arms. The contest was decided, sad decided quickly, by the superior force and weight of metal of the Federal artillery. We are neither Swiss nor Tyrolese. We are by our habits the least warlike nation on the face of the earth. Increase, then, I repeat, your regular army to that amount which will make an enemy pause before he attempts to set foot on the beach of England. Reorganise your militia on the best and least onerous system you can devise. Encourage the yeo manry cavalry. Fortity your arsenate, and such harbours us an enemy may most probably attempt by surprise to occupy. But remember that parapets without men behind them, and guns without hands te work them, are worse than useless. You will find that all this may be done for an expense scarcely equal to that which you have annually lavished, not in the prevention, but in the aggravation, of the horrors of the slave-trade. Do this, and you will have some security for the continuance of peace, unpurchased by the sacrifice of national honour or interests, but which, otherwise, even such sacrifice may fail to secure. EGERTON' ELLESMERE. BLACKBURN COI ASSOCIATION. - --- - The first annual meeting of this association was held at Blackburn on Wednesday; M. J. Feilden. Esq., president of the association ' in the chair. The meeting was convened agreeably to a rule of the association, which re quires the committee to report its proceedings throughout the year, and exhibit a statement of the accounts of the sassociation to an annual general meeting of the members in December. In addition to the business referred to above, the advertisement calling the meeting announced that the ' following important subjects would be brought before it for consideration—via.: 1. The redaethe at the tatacat duty ea tea. 2. The abolition of the East Whet Clematmers mat sad *se auseipollea. 5. The =ld : ration of cable In Lit ant aller NOM pemialcaut. 4. The eye tern at hypothantlaa tatrelmWoyy tha art lulls Chummy, es well en the meat Yale* of ma& afoftl by *a mann for private mercantile lib tess abaft at On ratalfte Ilia 5. Ile cur rency glandes eol seihrsz . a. The ohm that bare in duced *a pima MimmullMn theataetarlag Matzoh ' ' TLe Citmaiult imported the accounts of the emaciation to be in a highly satisfactory position. After some further pre liminary matter, the chairman entered on the consideration of the subjects set forth in the advertisement. With respect to the dory on tea, the committee were unanimous in their opinion that a great reduction in the import duty was neces sary, and that such reduction would be unattended by any loss to the revenue, while it would most materially promote the comforts of the poor, and greatly improve the commerce of the country, particularly with China. Another reason far bringing this subject before the meeting was furnished by a communication which had been received by the secretary of the association from the commercial association of Manches ter, soliciting the co-operation of himself (the chairman) with the Manchester association, in an effort to obtain a re duction in the duty on tea. The matter had been brought before the committee, and it had been agreed that be (the chairman) should represent the sasociation at the meeting to be held in Manchester. He now came to the most important question perhaps on the tist—the abolition of the Eaat India Company's salt and •pium monopolies—in connexion with which he read the draft of a memorial which had been pre pared by the committee for presentation to the House of Commons. [The memorial, which was of considerable length, entered fully into the merits of the question, parti cularly u concerns the salt monopoly. The oppressive opera tion of this monopoly on the condition of the population of India—lts baneful effects on their health, on commerce, and, through the poverty it inflicted, its obstruction to the spread of Christianity in India—the violation of the company's charter by the monopoly, and its inadequacy to attsin its professed purpose, were all set forth and illustrated by argu ment.] 3. PLLIINOTON, Esq., M.P. expressed his entire concur rence with the opinions embodied in the memorial, but ob jected to its length, which made it unfit for presentation in the House of Commons ' where it would not, on that account, be read, and would be laid on the table, to be no more H heard of, unless printed with the votes. e would rather recommend that the memorial should be presented to the Board of Control, and that the spirit of it should be con denied into • short ps be poseallilli to the House of Commons. If the areal tiene glatelenfieli to the Board of Control, and a aleeldille Mae alpeleitel le ingnire into the operation of the salt manepaiy, UM msneerisl might then be heard In evidence. The CHAIRMEN said they had already memorialised the Board of Control, and also the East India Board of Directors, but no notice had been taken of their memorials, and they thought now of trying the House of Commons, which would take the matter op they hoped. After some conversation ' the Chairman resumed, and showed from statistics of the salt trade in India, extending over the last fifty years, that the company would have derived a greater amount of revenue, as shown by their own statis tics, from an import duty of three rupees per mound, than they had done by manufacturing, As regarded the oppressive nature of the monopoly, it was enough to remind the meeting of the price of salt in relation to the value of labour. The yearly supply of salt absorbing the labour of three or four months of the year, left the labourer in such poverty that he could purchase the veriest trash only for food. The demoralising practice of smuggling was also festered and encouraged by the monopoly, and the great facilities for smuggling furnished by the extent of sea cease and land on which it could be practised made ft a wonder how the East India Company derived any benefit from salt. The Chairman then referred to the loathsome Mutates gene rated by the dearness and deficient we of this antiseptic, and, amongst others, the cholera generated in India, and ex ported se a scourge to other countries. He then referred to the abolition of the bonded regulations in India, but de clared this a paltry boon compared to those to which its at tainment should stimulate them. With regard to the third subject to be discussed, "the cultivation of cotton in India," although he (the chairman) had been resident in India, he would not speak on the subject in the presence of his friend Mr. Aylwin, who was so much better qualified to do it jus tice. He would only say that he believed their sentiments would urns that in air, soil, and climate, no country could compete with India ; and that if the requirements of that country wore supplied, and its resources developed by rail. ways, ladle could supply them with cotton cheaper than any country in the world. With regard to the system of hypo. themation, he could la from his own experience that no measure could to in juriously affect their exchanges as that system. He was impressed that it raised prices, by en couraging overorpeculation, the advance of nearly three fourths on value being an inducement for merchants and manufacturers to send out more goods than their capabilities would allow. Their improved navigation should also put them on an improved footing from what they occupied fifty years ago, when bills at ten months might be necessary, ships taking seven and eight months to perform the voyage, whereas they could now perform it in four months, while they had an overland communtration, oc copying one month to Bombay and six weeks to Calcutta. "The currency and railway expenditure" were subjects of such importance that he would not make any attempt to open them up. So far as he had seen, however, he had been led to approve of the principle of the Banking Act of 1844, al though on this subject great difference of opinion existed. With respect to railway expenditure, it had done a great deal of good and a great deal of harm. It had done good in the amount of labour it had employed, but bad, ae to it was in a great degree attributable the depression under which they were now labouring. All felt convinced that the bad pre. ponderated. To show some of its benefits, he would quote a few figures from "Burn's Glance," from which it appeared that the 3,300 m les of railway opened last year had em. ployed 47,000 persons, of whom 27,000 were workmen and labourers, while the railways in course of formation and not yet opened had employed 250,000 persons, of whom 240,000 were labourers and workmen. From this it appeared that the number was greater than that employed in cotton manufacture. In England, the number of hands employed in factories was 227,000, in Wales 230, and in Scotland 85,000; in all 312,230. Tho hands employed in the manu factories in Lancashire were 201,500. Although the number employed on railways appeared greater than those em ployed in the Lancashire cotton mills, it should be borne in mind that the employment in the one case was perma nent, while in the other it was only for one or two years, after which it was difficult to say how these labourers could be provided for. With regard to the last subject, it would be pre mature te express an opinion, and he would suspend his. The evidence to be produced before the Howe of Commons, which would be made public, would probably elucidate the causes of the present depression. He believed they were to be found in the last celebrated speech of Sir Robert Peel, vix., in capital sunk and squandered in speculation, and by the famine which had lately so extensively prevailed. But wheresoever the true causes were to be found, he (the chair man) felt satisfied that one boon would remove from among them their present depression, and with it they would no longer see standing mills, heartrending bankruptcies, and prevailing distress—and that boon was justice to India. (Applause.) Soiree PILYINOTON, Em., M.P., said: The first sub ject they were called en to consider—s reduction of the import duty on tea—was the most important one, as from it they might look for most immediate relie f . He confessed, however, that he had not much hope that the couotry would soon obtain a reduction in the duty on that most important article of commerce and con sumption; but although this was the ease it would be folly to sit down content without a persevering effort. The Chancellor of the Exchequer would tell them that he could not opus the duty. They might recommend other taxes for revenue, but might feel, like the flogged soldier, hurt, whe ther flogged high or low, or in the middle, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer might tell them they would complain of the burden wherever it was placed. The tea duty was a pecu liarly burdensome one, inasmuch as the dealer was obliged to add to its amount, as he had to compute his profit, not on the original 100 f. of first purchase money, but on the additional 4001. or 6001. of duty imposed by govern ment. With respect to the East India Company's hypothecation system, its nature would be dearly un derstood if they supposed, for illustration, that during the late high price of cotton the American government had made such advanc,s to the American cotton planters and merchant' as made it more profitable for them to retain their cotton in America Than to export it to Eng land: what would have breathe consequence 1 You wo uld have been without cotton, or would have had a smell quaa tity at such an immense price as would have disabled you from competition. You would feel directly, in tine instance, the effect actually produced by the hypothecation system. The hon. member concluded by expressing his opinion that the other points would be better left for the consideration of the committee. ECCLES SHORROCIE, Esq., recommended the immediate preparation of a petition to parliament for a reduction of the tea duties. Mr. PILEINOToN said he bad seen the president of the Liverpool Association, who informed him that It wee intended that deputations should proceed to Leaden from all parts of the country to compel ma wily consideration of this important question ; which was worthy of concentrated efforts, as it promised the most immediate relief. By the mail from China which had arrived last night they learned that their goods were declining in price, while Chinese produce was at the same time rising, an advance in tea and silk of nearly 50 per cent. having taken place in China during the last four months, this being the rule, that as goods fell tea and silk rose in China. Ile could not see how they were to receive relief from any other quarter than this. D. C. Ayeentr, Em., said, that without a reduction of the tea duties they might depend upon it they would never have a trade with China. He could, from Ins own unfor tunate experience, vouch for the truth of Mr, Pilkington's statement, as he had found that as his goods declined tea advanced. Some conversation emoted regarding the proposed petition —whether It should be a petition from the association or the public. It was ultimately agreed (as we understood) that a petition publicly signed should be transmitted, and that the association also petition and support the petition by a depu tation to London. Mr. ATLWIN was then invited to address the meeting on the subject of the salt monopoly and cotton culture in India. On the firm point he said that the whole of the gentlemen present were, he believed, already conversant with the sub ,' ject ; and if they could not understand the enormity of the 'evil from the fact that three or four months of a man's labour Ia the year were necessary to obtain him an inadequate sup ply of salt, leaving him the remainder to furnish food and clothing and every other necessary, be confessed he had little hope anything he might say would produce any en feet. With regard to the culture of cotton in India, that had been regarded as a theory ,• but there was now no ques tion that ladia could furnish a larger quantity of cotton than New Orleans—equal to it in staple, strength, and fineness of fibre, whi h might be laid down inthia country at 3d. or 34d, per lb. He had lately lost • great deal of money by cotton eakintion in India, but the reason of it was, that he had :114ein a thing he knew nothing about. But he win d eatleilked that in the same locality he could make a great tlealeffeeeney by cotton cultivation. They had lost in India, Issamo is America 400Ibe. to 5001bs. per acre were pro ddd; while in India they produced 401ba. to 50lbe. per may, the influences militating against them—quantity ope rating also spinst the quality. But now they had the secret of Dr. White ' • other results might be produced, and they had here a demonstration feT the adnn damnable, of commerce, for the Manchester Chamber el bid led to the discoveries which would devetrpilmeigmbillieseg India. But for it the system which has boa boalsidem from father to son would have coatinued from sea to dame. ant without interruption. He (Mr. Aylwin) had sash im plicit confidence of the capability of India, from a nine years' residence in it, that he had ordered 300 tons of cotton seed from America, 150 tons of which he believed were now on their way to India. Next to a famine in bread, they suf fered from famine in cotton. He was enough Englishman to say that he would prefer to have his supplies of both, if he could to advantage, &cm his brethren, and they might rest assured that for every bale of cotton they took from their brethren in India, bundles of pieces and cases of shirting? would be taken in exchange, and he believed that they wet willing to be a present help to this country in its time o trouble ; but they must take those nations which take their goods at present. In three yearn, he believed, if trade pros pered, there would be Indian cotton sufficient to supply the wants of this country. Mr. Aylwin referred to the East India Directors' Report for 1834, which gives statistics con cerning the celebrated Decca muslin made from cotton grown in the Deceit district, and allowed to be the finest cotton pro ducted in the world. Mr. Aylwin extolled India as equal to compete with any country in the world for the production of silk, indigo, cotton, &c. His opinions, he stated, were shared by nine-tenths of the manufacturers of Manchester, and although some differences of opinion existed whether the eastern or western districts should be preferred, he would be glad to admit himself wrong when those who differed from him proved themselves to be right. Some conversation was entered into regarding the printing of the proceedings of the directors, and it was agreed that at a future time their proceedings would be printed for circulation. Mr. Ecciaa stated some interesting particulars of a con versation ho had had with a friend just rotarDad from China, who had stated the population of China to be now mom tained to be four hundred millions. The gentleman had noticed persons in China with twelve, thirteen, and fourteen pieces of Cloth of Engliah manufactory rolled round their bodies so clothing, and gave this as en illustration of the demand there might be for British manufactures if the tea duty was reduced and the consumption consequently in creased, by which Mr. Eccles remarked the consumption of sugar would also be increased, and the revenue thus hummed in another direction. Mr. AYLVIIII said that Sir Henry Pottinger had remarks& to bins the injustice end pernicious tendency of the unfa ir reception of Chinese produce, b 3 us taxing it so severely. while they imposed a merely nominal um upon our manu factures. Mr. Aylwin remarked that a feature of the opium traffic with China was, that the East India merchants took no returns, but drained them of their sugar, silver, and their gold. Mr. PILILINOTON remarked that the treatment of China was indefensible, their tax on our produce being about Am per cent., while our tax on theirs was 200, 300, 400, and 600 per cent. The CHAIRMAN having acknowledged the resolution and again congratulated the aisociation on its prosperity, the meeting separated. LITERATURE OF TIE LOWER ORDERS. BATCH THE 61EVENTII. To the various serials enamerated in our last as the available resources for the substitution of the deleterious existing literature of the inferior chums, must be added the various publications of Mr. Charles Knight. This publisher has, indeed, no ordinary claims upon the confidence of the public teacher in these matters. While the idea of creating a popular literature was wereely more than a theory, and the possibility of a cheap literature, at least a hazardous ex periment, he took a vigorous part in achieving both the one and the other. For fourteen years Mr. dharles Knight pre sided, with refined cosmopolitan taste, and sorted critical judg ment, over that wonder-worker in the cause of general en lightenment—that pioneer in the path of all the high.clase puple's periodicals which have subsequently appeared—The lousy Meantime. That work has at length succumbed to its rivals—but the interest which it excited, the read ing habits which it fostered, remain. It expired, as all undertakings which are not vitally ex - panties in their or ganisation most tecessarily do, when the idea on which it was based was worked out—when the state of popular feel ing and popular intelligence existing at the period of its commencement, and to which it was peen ' Harty adapted, were outgrown. But the Lime care jut taste, the same enlarged sympathies, the same adventurous but prudent spirt, which conducted it through a career of unexampled success, continued, and still continues, to cater well and wisely for the popular wants. The cause demand and thcap literature owes a debt of gratitude to Charles Knight, which can sever be too fully acknowledged, and the insisting upon which might seem to be enact of super erogation. But there is a pleasure to generous minds in renewing the acknowledgment of an obligation ; and a gene ration is now rapidly rising up to whom the sense of services rendered several years ago is little more than a tradition. The lanes which are at present proceeding from the Lud gate-street press, and to which we would address the atten tion of the reader, are—The Industrial Library, The Land we Live in, Hal . f l ow-swath I/bobcat Authors, The National Reclopedia o Useful Knowledge, • cheap re-issue of P • • History of England ; A history of England since the Peace of 1816; The Pictorial Shakspere ; The Farmer's Library and Cyclopedia of Rural Affairs; The Pictorial Bible. All these works pawn the two essential attributes which are required in books for popular and cottage reading—high quality and low price; and may be recommended in all cases where their substitution for an inferior literature is practicable. The Industrial Library consists of a series of admirable guide-books to the different services in which the children of the labouring classes may be brought up. For example: "The Housemaid ;" " The Ladies Maid ;" "The Oar dener ;" "The Ploughman;" "The Groom;" "The Nur ser y Maid; " " The Maid-of-all-Work ;" " The Clerk," end so forth. The necessary qualifications, duties, and responsi bilities of these, and other various situations, are emitted out; and very plain, sound, and rregusut advice given respecting them. They are written by experienced Femme, contain a greet deal of accurate and useful information, and . we will venture to say that there are very few persons wbo would not benefit by their instructions—either of the class of the employed or employers. The Land we Live in is an attempt to form a literary end pictorial sketch book of the British empire—not an elaborate and minute topographical account on the plan of the cele brated antiquary, John Leland, but a stork which, when completed, shall convey by means of letterpress and illus trations, by eminent authors and artists, a fair, and where the importance of the subject requires it a full, descrip tion of the land we live in. In some respects it is to be a sequel and counterpart to thc same publisher's popular work on " Old England." What, ever is moat venerable and pictureiej,e in the menu meets of the past—whatever is most magnificent and sug gestive in the creations of the present—whatever is most beautiful and romantic in natural scenery, sod striking in the characteristics of the people—is here brought together and present, din line and letter. Mr. Knight 'spit is his aim to seize upon the more prominent and most universally interesting of these features -- in the desire to amuse as well as to instruct—to advance all safe and benevolent progress, and to nourish a just love of eountry. In the parts which have hitherto appeared, we must acknowledge that this pro mise has been well redeemed. It is admirably adapted for the reading of the better cluses of artisans and labourers. The volumes entitled Half-hours with the best Authors are also particularly well adapted for the use of the tame darn. Indeed, we know of no more pleasant and profit able reading for all ranks—but it is pre-eminently the cue with those who have net the command of a finsrate iibrary. These halthours" are passed in communion with the must celebrated writers of all ages and countries—with poets, preachers, historians, dramatists, eons ists, and other mis cellaneous authors; the selections are made with nice judg ment and ample knowledge—Greece, Italy. England, France, Germany, and America, are each representeu HI ex tracts from the productions of their distinguished was. The translations are conscientiously rendered; and, in addition, a short biographical sketch of each writer is prefixed to the selec tion from his works. The book is very handsomely printed and; got up. Each volume is illustrated with fine en gravings : altogether it is probably the beat, as it certainly is the cheapest, book of excerpts ever published. The National Cyclopedia of Useful Knowledge is a re markable monument of enterprise, ability, and cheapness combined, and well deserves the epithet of national. Never before was such a work produced at such a price: and no one but the bolder of the copyrights of the material of the Penny Cyclopedia could possibly have entered on such a venture. The last-named work is generally acknow ledged to be one of the best, if not the very best, book of universal reference and authority existent. As its name Implied, it was originally intended to form a book of gene ral information for the mosses ; but the execution far out grew the design. The ablest writers in the different departments were engaged upon it. It forced its way into the libraries of the rich and learned, and it became too large and catty for the people. It was fourteen years in coming out, filled nine and twenty ponderous volumes, and sold for nine pound. in sheet. Now, however, the proprietor can redeem his original intention. By a careful condensation of the information contained in that work, and by adding new articles so es to bring it up to the state of progressive science, history, and general knowledge at the present hour, he is actually forming a work whose appearance will constitute an epoch in cyclopardign literature. Its cheapness is marvellous—its ability not less so. It appears in weekly numbers of sixty-four closely-printed pages of oc tavo —at threepence each being, in fact, twice the amount of excellent matter, on sped paper, and well printed, as is given of the veriest trash of Hulysrell street for the tame money : To these who have not acmes to • well-furnished library, this National Cyclopedia—a library of no mesa extent and variety in itself—must be in valuable; and even to those who have, it would also prove a no email economiser of time in giving clues to especial refe rences. The Pictorial History of Englund needs no recommenda tion from us. The verdict of high criticism has already as signed it • prominent place in the standard literature of our country. Its original feature is, that it is a history of the people as well as of the government—of social as well as mi litary movements and events. It is only necessary to state that the re-issue is sent forth at exactly one-half the cost of the first editions—thus bringing it within the reach of • much enlarged circle of readers. TAe History of England since the Peace is an entirely sew work, intended as a sequel to the foregoing, and re blued in the same manner. The records of this period have not hitherto been written. All general histories end with the downfall of Napoleon ; but • generation has sprung 1111 to which events long subsequent to the battle of Waterloo ere not matter of memory. Such a book had therefirc net d le Is written ; and there are few person+ to whom the read * public could trust with greater confidence for a faithful and judicious compilation on the sahject than to Mr. Charles Knight. TAs Pictorial Shakspere and The Pictorial Bible, are Will which are already to o well known and appreciated by is• pablie to require any further notice here—other than Illm ist that re-issues of them are now proceeding from the e; street press. The Farmers' Library and Cycle- Rural Affairs, is a deserving work; but, being in tended for a special class of readers, does not enter into our odegery of literature, which may be judiciously substituted for that of • noxious character amongst general readers. No man has done mere for the people in his particular sphere—and no man is more entitled to gratitude and sym pathy from all earnest movers in the cause of popular educa tion and improvement—than Mr. Knight. May he lire and labour long in the same honourable arena. of IRELAND. STATE OF THE COUNTRY.—We (the Drddin Erenin. Pod) deeply grieve to state that further accounts of insub ordination have been received since our last, and from dis tricts heretofore comparatively free from agrarian crime. We have repeatedly stated it u our opinion that the parties engaged in the perpetration of the frightful outrages that disgrace the country are, in almost all cases, idle vagabonds, altogether regardless of the sufferings of the poor, bat who take advantage of the prevailing destitution to organise , secret confederacies. Up to this time we have not heard of a single cue where persona really distressed have been con cerned in this system of atrocious crime. Some of the beet landlords in the country have become obnoxious to those miscreants, and threatening notices have been served upon them. Dairy or A MI:RDERZIL—COtitiIO, who was tried at the last assizes at Nenagh for the inhuman murder et Thomas Hayes, near Toomavara, and who had been for sone timewoodranger at Caatleetway, died on Saturday night,.