The Express. — London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

; hen naked —he attended all the meetiugs I l g ,„_ been held b the government, when they were roi; th , liniabary tS uf relict to be adapted, and his CAL. /0 •,s mostly listened to and followed. lie did not jabb nut the government were mistaken in listening to lo g &oboe oiah's advice, or that Lord Beeaborough ei . menet. ti in his suggestions. The feet was that tee to rge•,y wes tar greater than could be foreseen, and too t e r.:e ter :my measures to control. lie admitted that "gig ti the e strut of the calamity—owing to the eircum gene that the proprietors of Ireland could not come to • j..paseetiote decision on the works of relief to be owg t e d, end that they could not be properly carried out p i VA MUM tea' potpies and children who were to execute ft,me.the Labour Mee Art bad not answered the expecte to„,o,gegh wee. - formed of it—(hear, hear)—but it should that the main object in view was the saving of the i c of tic people. (Hear, hear.) Finding that ths leued they turned their attenti ato other measures yi j prod the a rt which was known u Sir J. ltureeynes ,to .. eat Sir C. Trevelyaa had to carry it out. Now, there go , a. less than 700,000 persons employed under the Belief g,t, ad it was • matter of no trifling consideration to have t wince that number. Yet the House of Lords committee that though the system was changed in March, nay paean w. re receiving relief up to June. Fur his pan ~,,,e gp ea el surprise that in so short o time they had Nes able to tam number of 700,000 and turn them ° .,r to another system of relief. (Hear, hear ) He felt t ei.eil comfort when be received the to suranee of Col. Jones use: be thought his could carry the o;•eration into effect • oit do:int:Aug the peace of the country. But he did • icy that he would reduce these 700,000 persons in one In June upwards of 3,000,000 persons had Lees re. e ,.i.ac ration.. Thai, facts showed the immense extent of tad wall which they bad to deal. (Hear, hear.) hirer' might bar, been committed—that the evil land out. eau their geLe ,petions he alinatted, end they woula have Min•ii.l oiler mcasurcs it they could have foreseen the oi , o ., te j e of ih- uthenity which they had to deal with. (11,0, hear.) Bat hating committed errors, he did not thee that tlic p. r• its who were engaged in carrying out guyouths t Were dunning ut blame for the art The persons employed by the Board of Works wof , m o t e of thi in new to the work, and several were no deebt acne tnr tit , potation in which they were placed. ot4 1...„ cou ld ..! new was that it was not • question on watch it was tittle; to throw blame on any of the parties „ ee , e n e d, end it was at least • source of satisfaction that ss mety lives lied been saved during that year of calamity, sail th it a me then that so many of the people of Irelani, either by the riv.ipt of wages in their own country, or by c : oe to other lauds, had been enabled to maintain them ggeeh With respect to the immediate motion before the horse. he trusted that the statement of his right hon. friend tee Chine - 110r of the Each, quer would be sufficient to in dite the hoit.e not-to prveceil to any final motet:on at the ?west moment. It was • matter that had been under the c.r.ederation of the government, and his right hon. friend t e .e.s than • fortnight would state the vices of the poenotent, arid it was impossible, even if the ✓o.lotioa was agreed to, that any action could rake place upon it. The whole of the present room rested on acts of parliament, and by acts of paella peat only could it be altered. If, when his right hou. fr , ed nude ho statement, it did not appear to members eusatcted with Ireland that the course proposed we. the lime, sue, they could bring in an, bills they might think to mike • c h ange in the saw. What he could not concur a was the statement that because the government took the shoh respoesibthty on themselves, and that the proceed leo were sot carried on by the gentlemen of Ireland, and teat the sets in gentian were not done by them, that there in? the whole debt should be swept sway. When his right Iva /rived m e t e d the views of the government, then would he the proper time to discus the question ; and he hoped that is tenure it would be discussed without reference to the past, awl with • view to what is best for Ireland for the lame. Br. li. A I I Eltßh IFT,in explanation, said that he had not 1 mesa: to Nuke an attack on any one. Calomel DUNNE expressed hi. surprise at the absence of the Secretary for Ireland, and of every Irishman connected with the government. He regreued that the Chancellor of the Seek, quer and the government did not see the justice el the arguments which had been used, and he could only lope that they would reconsider the matter and alter their spas& Mr. J. BALL had beard with regret the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, fur while he postponed the exposition of his views, it was clear that he had formed a pretty strong opinion on the eubject. 11. (Mr. Ball) bones been engaged in the administration of the relief to Ire sad in 1/316 sod 11147, he thought be should be wanting is his duty if he allowed any blame to be cast on these who were also engaged is it. There was in Ireland as there was in England • strong desire to afford the best kind of relief ; but he was sure that the Labour Rate Act, of ad the means which could have been em ployed, was the most disastrous in its immediate operations sag its ultimate effects. _ Csptsan LAFFAN should support the motion of the hoe. member tar Mayo, but he could not but espress his resat that tbe how gentleman had used a great national qsatioe as a vehicle for a personal discussion. Mr. V. SCULLY supported the resolution. He consi dered that this discussion would be of great advantage, whether they weal to a division or net, but he should for his own part like to have some distinct understanding from the government that they would consoler the matter fully. Mr. GEORGE said that the real question then was, sot as the noble lord had rut it—whether moral blame stt•intel to the government at whose instance the Mat Act was passed, and he (Mr. George) entirely 'equated them of soy but the purest and inset benevolent sotives—but whether the entire burden was to be borne by the proprietors, who had no power to check or regulate the espeoditure. As to what was now required, he not not think the terms of the resolution of the House of Lords altogether met the justice of the use, and he hoped when the subject was gone into it would also be considered whether • portion of the advance made for building the workhouses in Ireland should not also be borne by the country at large, as well as a proportion of the relief ad vances under W s Labour Rote Act lie should vote for the notion. _ _ _ Mr. WHALLEY, who was interrupted by repeated calls for the division, as an English member, held that the people of this country, who voluntarily contributed so liberally for the immediate reli, f of their starving fellow-subjects in ire laud in 1847, were quite prepared to charge thenoelves with so much of the expenditure under the act in question &shad reference to the miring of life. As far as the proprietors of the land were emu:cruel, he believed that expenditure had beta worse than toeless. Mr. I. BUTT, regarding the question as one of justice and not of finance, could not consent to make it depend cut upon the budget, as suggested by the Chancellor of the Eschtekeer. Sir C. WOOD observed that the grounds which had been taken by differeut hon. gentlemen daring the evening End been eo various that he agreed with the hon. member who had just letdown that it would be perfectly impossible to come to any decision that night open any ions of them. Be was glad to observe that the boa. gentleman had avoided any of that personality which had characterised • meat mat of the debate. During the first half of the even. log the dissuasion had turned for the most part upon the 'hooter of Sir Charles Trevelyan, • gentleman than whom ao one could have exerted himself more, or worked barder in order to relieve the distreu which h ad prevailed in Ireland. (Hear, bear.) But it was not right to attempt to fix opon him that responsibility which properly be *fled to the government who had introduced the mea same. (Rear, bear.) From that responsibility he (Sir C. Wood) was not disposed to shriek. After the announce sent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer he did not see sash advantage in pressing the motion,. hut if it were pulsed he hoped it would be negatived. Under these dr emastances he thought it would be unwise for the house to sleepy longer time in discussing the motion. (Hear, hear.) S. NAPIER contended that there was a well-grounded claim for 'tenth., what the motion 'eked, which was finely amen equitable settlement. He imputed nothing to the government or to Sir Charles Trevelyan—whose waded was perfectly satisfactory to himself. The real eseetioa was this: Sir C. Wood had just admitted that the set had been a total failure ; experience having shown them that what was intended for • boon for Ireland had tamed out quite the reverse, the question was whether there were not ground' for asking the government to take the natter into their consideration, with • view to ea equit able settlement. The Chancellor of toe Reargue: said the presentments were entirely in the heads of the parties loftily interested ; but from the account given by one of the winsome* before the Lords* committee, it appeared that the Minas's was dine in • very hurried manner, wider the moue of starvation, as It were • and whoa the works' sore ordered, the grand juries ba d no mitred whatever. &nog what had been the result of the act, there was a unsay claim ea the consideratioa of the goverausent ; and , &the hon. gentleman went to • division be should vote with him. (Cries of "Divide.") Mr. MOORE, ea reply, said he had made no charge Maoist the penoisal character of Sir Charles Trevellyan, ..ot had merely spoken of his public conduct, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer meowed too much if he sap. Pod that members of parliament were to be excluded from nesaming the coadoet of public servants. Though Sir tholes Trendy., was not in that Mw, ko appeanA to be everywhere elm, and he would seem to be an adept in " the wile art of self-defence," as far as that meant assailing ethos. (Lesphter.) The hoe. gentleman justified the use bed made of the report of the Lords' committee, and 'Lamented the names of its memben. Every speaker on tre other aisle had admitted that the act had failed, but 't•ttetth the government was warned b their own servants a N smasher that Cie s stem had eons etely broken doers, they esatinued to em millions o men in this way for se mouths alter. ( ear.) The Chancellor of the Ez ell' quer had, on • former oecaaioe, promised to give an an te,' On this qucs pia ',More the budget was brought for " sod . hut now he declined to do so. Voles. the right • • gentleman would agree, to take the matter into eon 'Aeration, with a view to an equitable adjutant, he model press his motion. lb. home thea divided, For the motion 95 Against Majority against the motion —4B I:. house than At Id o'clock adjourned. Tim this OF TUE EFFECTS or lIER MAJESTY'S hrialta.—Yeast eddy was the day appoint. d for the con of the sale of the properties and fittings her ttbmtp's Theatre, bat inimediatelyafter the sale had cow. merd a eer.ort present made an offer of the amount UiLC4 for the whole is on. lot, via , 11,0001., lees the meant realised by the two days' sale which have already ""piste. Mt. &Loth on behalf of the mortgagte in Pt•weetion, immediately accepted the ofi'r, sad the proceed %minced. gitt enn'eOL TO CO aItESI'ONI)RNTS. t •Wcond Tetitins et " The Tapers; containing OM aaeu entstreo " thaette." 4 pubitoliad envy Towday and friday night, to tine ter pow. a me intended !a" Ilse Y.l mew," Landow hvtpiiT papa, nine at the Waco, 10. 314.uverleuret, by Two o'clock on taw lay of patdisation. RlOll WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. !■n DAv—lllornlign SI 15... Aftesona. 2 31e. Ss. 4Y w.. in. -Im-. LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 8. MR. GL.WSTONE is about to attempt a monetary coup trtliat. Our readers will be quite prepared for this announcement, since we have already ven, from day to day, in our report of the Money Market the rumours as they arose on this buhject. We are now able to confirm what we have hitherto publblied by reprinting in another column " The Resolu tions to be proposed by Mr. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in Committee, on the Acts relating to the National Debt." The document is somewhat long and somewhat obscure, but very important. If we were to sum marise its purport we might say this official paper attempts to explain the mode by which the Goverumi nt propose to take advantage of the present state of the Money Market for the benefit of the tax-payer. Such is, of course, the object of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and the only differences of opinion that can arise will be on the success likely to be secured by the plan pointed out. The whole nation is naturally interested in every attempt to reduce the weight of the debt, but the nation is, if possible, still more deeply interested in maintaining the public credit—unsullied by even the breath of a suspicion that any steps would be taken by which the spotless monetary reputation of England could be lowered. With our increased resources from the discoveries of gold—with our growing industry and wealth from the establishment of free-trade, we are, perhaps, more than ever able to bear lightly the irksome burthen of taxation. But no amount of BSc- Mil or prosperity can be reason enough for resting quiet under any needless imposts, and if our present condition is such as to offer an opportunity for at once upholding to the full the national credit, and, at the same time, relieving the hurdles of the na tional debt, men of all political sections can do no other than congratulate themselves and the country when a minister prudently but boldly declares his readiness to undertake the task. there is no originality in Mr. GLADSTONE'S object. Railway Corporations have of late been able to pay off old five per cent. mortgages by money borrowed at four per cent - one per cent. being saved to the shareholders. Mr. GLADSTONE contemplates the performance of just such an operation out another scale with the mortgages of that wealthy and respected gentleman Mr. JOHN BULL. A little while ago those floating liabilities of that honourable individual, known as Exchequer Bills— bearing interest at the rate of lid. per diem per hundred pounds—were changed by a small, but fair, monetary ruup (flint for bills bearing interest at the rate only of one penny per diem per hundred pounds. No such change could. have been made unless the state of the market had been such as to assure any supply of money the Government could want at the reduced rate. The Cabiret being able to borrow on those annual I 0 Li's called Exchequer Bills as many hundred pouuds sterling as it wanted at the rate of a penny a day for each of such hun dreds—declined to pay more than a penny a day, and everybody said " Well done," except on the one point, that Government information had been got early, and had been made use of by a certain favoured corporation for private purposes. By the reduction of interest on Exchequer Bills about a hundred thousand a year is expected to be saved, and, encouraged by this success, we have our CHANCELLOR cr the Excuequxa coming forward with a scheme for riding full tilt at the solid burthen of the Three per Cents. Free trade and the importations of gold enabled Mr. GLADSTONE to cut a halfpenny off Exchequer Bills —and now he leaps at higher game, and proposes to pay off certain Three per Cent. liabilities by burrow ing money fur the purpose at about two-and-a-half. the resolutions to be submitted to the House of Commons for this purpose are twelve in num ber. The first of them indicates certain portions of our public liabilities, which it is proposed to pay off. They include South Sea Mock, Bank Annuities (1726) and Three per Cents. (1;51). Everybody will admit it to be time that all these relics of the days of South Sea fisheries and State lotteries,—these legacies of those periwigged monarchs GEORGE L and GEORGE H., should be got rid of. But whist seek ing release from antique ineumbrances, let us take all our steps wisely, and with the deliberation that shall secure us from after repentance. The second of Mr. Gl4os7osffs Resolutions is the one on which the Parliamentary debate should, and will, take place. It contains the three propositions which arc the vital points of the scheme. They may, perhaps, be briefly characterised in a few words. The CHANCELLOR of the ExcnEttt:Eit first offers those public creditors who snap his terms at once—that is, before the 6th of next month—a nominal 3) per cent. in exchange for their Threes, giving, however, only 821.105. for the hundred. This really means 2L175.6d. per cent.—which interest is assured till 1894, and as such will be accepted by many . aged holders, and ' by others not deeply interested in taking care of posterity.. On this the nation will save a nominal 221. 10s. in the forty years.—the resolution suggest ing that Parliament should take power to deal with the question of redemption after that date as they may deem wisest. In the present aspect of the Money Market there is much room for questioning this proposal to raise rates to 3) per cent., even on the terms suggested ; but the diminution of the ca pital of the debt involved in the proposition is good. The second proposition in Resolution 2 is the most vicious part of the scheme, since it proposes an in crease of the capital of the debt. It offers 1101. in a new Two-and-a-Half per Cent. stock for every 100 in the present Threes. This is equivalent to an offer of 21. 151. certain, for forty years to come, with ten pounds down at the end of that period. The pro posed transaction might be thus stated : Present Debt I Prepaid Debt 100. 110. Yearly charge, 31. I Yearly charge, 21. 15s. Redeemable at 100. Redeemed at 110. On the annual payments under the new scheme there will be • reduction of 3s. per cent. per annum for forty years, but at the end of that term ten pounds will have to be paid extra " in a lump," and as ' forty times five shillings is equal to ten pounds—the scheme is really an increase of the capital of the national debt, for the mere satisfaction of putting off five shillings a year on each hundred until 1894,—and then having to pay it altogether. This seems a bungle and a mistake, and may surely be removed from a plan otherwise good. The third proposition of Resolution 2 is the gem of the whole project. It is sound and practical, and will be popular—with the exception of one point. It proposes the issue of • class of secu rities, to be called Exchequer Bonds, pa able to bearer, and carrying interest at the rate of 21. 16s. per cent., payable half-yearly, for a period to be named in such bond. It will be noted that in the 31 and 21 per cent propositions the year 1894 is named, but in reference to the Exchequer Bonds a date is to be put into the bond, not later than 1864, at 21. 15s. per cent. If the Bonds ate issued to ran to later dates, they are— aeoording to Mr. GLADSTONE'S plan, to bear only 21. 10s. per cent. and then to be limited to 1894. We specify this poin tedly, because in this, the very best of all the proposals, in this last limitation, and in the suggestion that they "be subject to redemption at par, at the option of the holder or of the 'treasury, as shall be named in such bond," lurks a weak point. Into these Exchequer Bonds will inevitably flow a very large amount of the floating capital of Europe. In the present state of the Continent, the monied men hesitate to tako largely any inscribed debt. Not ' knowing what may happen, they want in their pouches the rash, and with the present character of English securities—the best at thia moment in the whole world—men will be only too happy to take Exchequer Bonds which will be literally Bank notes bearing interest, for which, when due, it will be only needful to snip off the CMlpOl4 and get it cashed in any city in Europe or America. Capitalists, large and small are sure to welcome such securities—and all the more readily in these days when men can't THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 8 - , 1853. tell round what figure interest will hereafter fluc tuate. Why name 1894 in this part of the proposi tion at all ? Why not say, in reference to it, as is said in another part of the plan—after that date "subject to redemption by Parliament?"—at par of course. These bonds may be found so popular as to replace the great bulk of our permanent debt at 21 per cent.—bearing that interest absolutely for the forty years certain—and I for such further future period as the country may think fit—but redeemable after 1894 at par, or, if holders prefer it, by conversion into stock, as may in the then state of the Mosey Market be acceptable to the wisdom of Parliament and most for the benefit of the nation. Mr. GLADSTONE and the House of Commons should consider this. Another remark called fur by the Resolutions is this, that the limit put to the soundest branch of the plan—that about Exchequer Bonds—is thirty mil lions, whilst the lets sound branch has no such limi tation affixed. It is by no means improbable that the Continent al , me may absorb suchen amount ; and since the whole arrangement is based on the present fa vourable state of the market for re-arranging our debt, we clearly ought to take full power to do tho roughly that which we may do well. If we can, by selling bonds to foreigners, save or 1 per cent. upon a larger sum than 30 millions of our National Incubus, it is clearly unwise not to do it. This will be another important point for Parliamentary consi deration. With one more word of explanation and opinion we may for the present close these remarks on the scheme of the CitAxemoa of the ExciteQuEtt. It is, that the creditors holding the condemned portion of debt who arc positively to be paid off, are to have the option either of hard sovereigns for every hundred pounds of debt, or of any one of the three new securities the Two-and-a-Half— Three-and-a-llalf, or Bands. That beyond these who are positively to be settled whit at par, there is to be an option by which holders of Consols may change their stock for any of the new securities ; and lastly, inasmuch as some of the good people who are thus to be paid in full may elect to take the hard money, the Government propose to have power to sell Exchequer Bonds, to make upany deficiency from such claims of any creditors who decline to take •"new lamps for old." We may possibly see all the old Exchequer Bills replaced by the new Bonds, and by a wise Parliamentary arrangement, the future may—with out any monetary discomfort or financial derange ment—find us with our huge National Debt leas an in scribed than a bond debt—the interest lessened—and the consequent burthen on the people reduced. Mr. GLtDSTONE is a fortunate Minister. He gains power at a time when great things arc opening upon us; and if he handles his tools of finance with the wis dom and dexterity of a master, he can, without the shadow of risk to our spotless commercial honour, positively raise the national credit still higher than ever ; whilst reducing national burthens, and open ing still further a way for unfettering national industry. THE FINANCIAL PROJECT OF GOVERNMENT. The following are the resolutions to be proposed by tuc Chancellor of the Exchequer in committee on Acts relating to the National Debt, this evening : " 1. That the capital trading stock of the Corporation of the Governor and Company of Merchants of Great Bri tain, trading to the South Seas and other parts of America, and for encouraging the fishery, which is called and known by the name of South Sea Stork: the capital stocks of the 31. per tetanal Annuities, called and known by the name of the Old South Sea Annuities and by the name of the New South Sea Annuities; the capital stock of the 31. per Centum Annuities, created by an act patient in the twelfth year of King George the First, intituled 'An Act for granting to his Majesty the sum of 1,000,0001., to be tamed by way of lottery,' called and known by the name of the Bank Annuities, 1726: and the capital stock of the 31. per Centum Annuities, created by an act passed in the twenty-fourth year of King George the Second, intituled 'An act for granting to bis Majesty the sum of 2,100,0001., to be raised by annuities and • lottery, and charged on the sinking fund, redeemable by parlia ment.' called and known by the name of the N. per Cen tum Annuities 1751, shall be paid off and redeemed. " 2. That every person, body politic and corporate, who now is, or , hereafter may be, interested in the capital stocks of any of the said 3/. per Centum Annuities, who shall, in manner hereinafter directed, give notice at any time on or before Friday, the 6th day of Msy, 1853, of his assent to receive other government securities in lieu and in place of the said capital stocks of the said annuitie=, in stead of being paid in money, shall, at the option of the said partiee, receive for every 100/. thereof, 821. 10s. in • new stock of Three-and-a-Half per Centum An nuities, which said annuities shall be paid at the rate of 31. 10s. per centum per annum until the sth day of January, 1894, from and alter which day the said annui ties shall be subject to redemption by parliament; or for every 1001. of the said capital stocks of annuities the sum of 1101. in a New Stock of Two-and-a-Half per Centum Annuities, which said annuities shall be paid at the rate of 23. 10s. per centum per annum until the sth day of January, 1894, from sad after which day the said annuities shall be subject to redemption by parliament; or for every sum of 1001. of the capital Stocks of the said 31. per Centum Mau him an Exchequer Band for the lika amount, payable to bearer, and carrying interest at the rate of 21. 15s. per eentum per annum, payable half-yearly on the Ist day of March and the let day of September in every year, until the let day of September in a year to be named in such bond, and not later than Ist September, 1864, inclusive, and thenceforth 21. 10e. per centum per annum, payable half yearly in like manner, until and including the Ist of September, 1894, and thereafter to be subject to redemp tion by parliament at par, at the option of the holder, or at the option of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, se shall be named in such bond. . 3. That the dividends and interest ptyable on sack New 3/. 10s. per Centaur Annuities, on such New 21. 10s. per Centaur Annuities, and on such Exchequer Bosch, shall be charged and chargeable upon the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain aad Ireland. " 4. That the dividends now payable by law on sth July and sth January in every year on the said capital trading stock and on the said capital stock of New South Sea An nuities, Annuities 1726, and Annuities 1751, shall continue payable until the 6th January, 1854, inclusive, and no longer. " That the dividends Dow payable by law on the 10th October and 6th April in every year on the said capital stock of Old South Sea Annuities shall continue payable until the 6th April, 18.54, inclusive, and no longer. "6. That if the Corporation of the Governor and Com pany of Merchants of Great Britain trading to the South Seas and other parts of America, and for encouraging the fishery shall at any time on or before Friday, the 3rd day of June, signify to the Commissioners of heel Majesty's Treasury their assent to commute and exchange the said capital trading stock, or any part thereof, into any . one or more of the said new 31. 10e. per Centnm Annuit ies, New 21. 10s. per Centum Annuities, or Exchequer Bonds, the said corporation shall be permitted to make such commu tation and exchange upon the same terms, and subject to the like conditions, as are granted to the person or per sons, bodies politic or corporate, interested in or entitled to the eapital stock of W. per Centaur Annuities now proposed to be paid off and redeemed. "G. That all and every person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, possessed of any part of the said 31. per Cal lum Annuities, and who shall desire to signify his, her or their assent to receive the said New 31. We. per Cent um Annuities, New 21. 10s. per Centum Annuities, or Exchequer bonds in lien thereof, shall on or before the 6th day of May, 18.53, but within the usual hours of transacting business at the Bank of England, or at the South Sea House, by themselves or some agent or agents for that pur pose duly authorised, signify to the Governor and Com pany of the Bank cf England, or to the Governor and Company of Merchants of Great Britain trading to the South Bess, as the case may be, such assent in writing under his, her, or their hand or hands, or the band or hands of his, her, or their agent or agents, together with the amount of his, her, or their respective share or shares in the said 31. per Centum Annuities, and which said assent shall be entered in a book or books to be opened and kept by the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, and l by the said Governor and Company of Merchants of Great ' Britain trading to the South Seas for that purpose ; and in ease of any transfer of nth share or snares of such annuities, or any part or parts thereof, after such assent, the part or parts of such &n -unlike so transferred shall be entered in the said book or books separately from the said 31. per Centum Annuities, in respect of which no such assent shall be signified, and every such person or persona so assenting, or his, her, or their assigns, or the executors or administrators of such assigns, under idly such transfer, shall be entitled for every 1001. capital stock of the said 31. per Centum An nuities to 821. 10s. of the capital stock of New 31. 10s. per Centum Annuities, or to 1101. of the capital stock of the New 21. 10s. per Centum Annuities, or to an Exchequer Bond of 1001. bearing interest as aforesaid: provided always that if any person or persons holding any such 31. per Centum Annuities, shall not be within the Itmita of the United Kingdom at env time between the Bth day of April and the Gth day of MaT, 18.13, both inclusive, but shall be in any other part of Europe, it shall be law ful for such per son or persons to signify such assent at auy time before the 30th day of July, 1853; and if any such person, or persons shall not at any time between the Bth day of April, 1853, and the 30th day cf July, 1853, by within say part of Europe, it shall be lawful for bin., her, or tea m to signify such assent at any time before the Ist day of Feb nary, 1844, such person or persons proving to the satisfac• ironof the governor or deputy-governor of the Bank of England, or'to the goverinir of the South Sea Company, hi., her, or their absence fretu the United Kingdom, or out of Europe, as above specified, and that his, her, or their shore tr shares of such 31. per Ctntum Annuities stood M his, her, or their name or names respectively, or is the name or names of any one or mere trustee or trustees, on hie, her, or their behalf, in the books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, or Govern u• end Company of Merchant Traders to the South Seas on the oth day of May, provided also, that such preen or persons so absent from the United Kingdom, or out of Europe, shall signify such hie, her, or their anent, within ten days after his, her, or their return to the tailed Kingdom. "7. That every person or persons, body politic or corps ! rate, who now is, or herea ft er ma y b e , i n t er ested in or en ' titled to any part of the capital stock of the Consolidated 31. per Centum Annuities, or of the Capital Stock of the Itedueed 31. per Centum Anauities, payable at the Bank lof England, or at the B an k o f I re l an d , an d w h o s h a ll at any time berme the 10th ?ay of October, 1843, sigoiry to the Goveruur and Company of the Bank of England, or to the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, by an entry to be made in ba c k s t o b e o p ene d f or suc h purpose, his desire to commute and exchange any or all of tho sad annuities to which he may be entitled, into any one or more of the raid New 31. 10s. per Centum Annuities, New 21. 10s. per Centum Annuities, or Exchequer Bonds, shall be permitted to make such commutation sad exchange upon the same terms and sulject to the like conditions as are granted to the perron or persons, bodies politic or cor porate, interested in or entitled to the Capital Stocks of 31. per Centum Annuities proposed to be paid off and re deemed as aforesaid. " 3. That the Commnsionrrs of her Majesty's Treasury be authorised and empowered to issue at any time between the sth of April, 1853, and the sth of April, 1854, Exchequer Bonds, payable to bearer, upon the like terms and condi tions as hereinbefore described, and titer publielnotice in the London Uoz e , from time to time to sell such Bache quer Bongs, or any part thereof, arid to apply the proceeds in redeeming any part of the capital training stuck or captital stock of annuities now proposed to be paid off and redeemed, or in purchasing and cancelling any Exchequer Bills, or in exchanging such bonds ter Exchequer Bells, upon such terms as the said co.nmissioners ciall think proper, or in purchasing and cancelling soya the Consoli dated 3!. per Ceotum Annuities, or Reduced 31. per Centum Annuities, payable at the Bank of England or at the Bank of Ireland, as the case may be. " 9. That the interest on such Exchequer Bonds shall be charged and chargeable on the said Consolidated Fund. " 10. That no amount of such Exchequer Bonds shall be issued exceeding in the whole the sum of thirty millions. " 11. That it shall be lawful for the Accountant-General of the Courts of Chancery in England and Ireland respect ively, and for the Accountant in Bankruptcy in England, at any time balm the Gth day of May, 1853. to signify to the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, or to the Corporation of the Govern3r and Company of the Mer chants of Great Britain trading to the South Seas aud other pars of America, and for encouraging the fishery, on behalf of any suitor er suitors, or others interested in any such 31. per Centum Annuities hereinbefore referred to, standing in the names of such Accountants-General and Account ant respectively, their assent to accept and receive shares in the said New 31. 103. per Centum Annuities, or New 2/. 10s. per Centum Annuities, or Ex chequer Bonds, in lieu of all such 31. per Ceotum An nuities standing in their names respectively ; and the said Accountants-General and Accountant respectively shall be fully indemnified against all actions, suits, and proceedings for and in respect of any action, matter, or thing done by t:iem respectively in pursuance thereof. " 12. That all executors, administrators, guardians, and trustees interested in or entitled to any part of the capital stock of the Old South Sea 31. 'per Centum Annuities, of the New South Sea 31. per Centum Annuities, of the 31. per Centum Annuities created by the Act 12th George the First, of the 3/. per Centum Annuities created by the Act 24th George the Second, of the Consolidated 31. per Centum Bank Annuities, and of the Reduced 3!. per Centum Bank Annuities, whether payable at the Bank of England or at the Bank of Ireland, as the case may be, whe shall signify their desire to convert the Annuities to which they may be respectively inter( sled into any of the New M. 10s. per Centum Annuities, New 21. 10s. per nentunt Annuities, or Exchequer Bonds, shall be in demnified." FRANCE. rams, THURSDAY EVENING. The Ifoxiteur contains a decree making numerous changes in the magistracy. "A heavy blow and great discouragement" is ad ministered to the ultramontane party to-day by the following paragraph in the altoniteur : Great paihs have been taken to circulate a report that the government thinks of proposing a modification in the condi tions of civil marriage. There is no foundation whatever for this report. The experience of sixty years has conse crated the wisdom of our civil legislation in this important matter. This official extinguisher upon the machinations of M. Sauzet, M. Vatimesnil, and the Unkestr, may safely be taken as an indication that all hope of in ducing or forcing the Pope to come to Paris for the coronation is abandoned. It is only within the last day or two that the government has made up its mind to this disappointment. You may now expect to see a totally new line of policy with regard to Rome, and I will venture to predict that the corona tion will take place long before August. The itssemblgo Natsonak has received a second warning from the Minister of Police for an article published in its number of March sth, tending, as thu warning says, to disavow the national sove reignty. As this, the most serious attack upon the press that has occurred for many years past, menaces the existence of a first-clew journal, in which it is understood that M. Guizot often expresses his opinions, I send you a translation of the incrimi nated article. It is as follows: The Count de Chambord will return to Frobadoeff on the 20th of this month. The Duchess of Orleans has just left Claremont to return to her residence in Devonshire. Her Hoy .1 Highness went to Claremont to take her son, the Count de Pubs, to pus Easter with the Queen. The Duchess of Orleans will again come to Claremont at the end of May, to be present at the first communion of the Duke de Chartres. All the members of the royal family of France are in good health. There is nothing more in this trivial legitimist court circular than we have seen over and over again in all the journals of that party. "Once an Emperor always an Emperor," was Napoleon's argument at St. Selena, when he complained so bitterly that Sir Huds on Lowe would only call him Gene ral Bonaparte. Upon the same principle the Bourbons, though not now the reigning family, may still innocently be styled the royal family of France. It is, however, perfectly understood that this insig nificant paragraph, which nobody noticed at the time, is but the pretext for the warning given to the Assemblee. The real cause is the stinging article about Louis Napoleon's " four years' speeches and messages," an abstract of which I sent you. Ibis journal may now set its house in order. Its sup pression will not long be delayed. M. de Maupas has also given a second warning to a legitimist Journal of secondary importance " La Mode," for "having so far from p . aying . attention to the first warning of March 1, p ers is ted in the course which led to that warning . ' Nothing can show more clearly than a vague charge of this kind, that, although the laws &gamut the press have been al lowed to sleep for a brief period, there is no legal security whatever for newspaper property. At the Bourse to-day there was an active market for Rentes and Bank Stock, with a general rise in prices, which closed firmly, and with an upward tendency. For cash the Three per Cents. advanced 60c., and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 30c.; for the account, the rise in the Three per Cents. was 43c., and in the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 35c. Bank Stock advanced 16f. At the conclusion of bu ness the prices were :—For money, Three per Cents., 791. 80c.; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 30e. For the end of the month, Three per Cents., 791.85 c.; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 35c.; Bank Stock, , 2,713 f. - . Railway shares also participated in the general improvement of business, the prices having advanced in all the principal lines. Northern. closed at 903 f. 30c.; Orleans, 1,0461. 50c. ; Paris and Stras bourg, 813 f 30c.; Paris and Lyons, 932 f. 30c. ; Paris and Rouen, 1,030 f.; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 8131.; Western of France, 752 f. _ _ . _ • Latest quotations received by telegraph :—Berlin. New Loau, Four per Cents., 991; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 ; Bank Shares, 1091; Rhenish Rail way, 901. Vienna.—Metallignes, Five per Cent., 941; Losn, 1831, 107 ; Lombardo Venetian, 1004, ; Bank Shares, 1,407; Exchange on London, 10.30. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. A number of owners were arrested yesterday for distributing a lithographed manifesto signed by Felix Pyat. There hare also been several arrests of carriers belonging to the celtbrated establishment of Godillot, entrepreneurs of fetes, Sze ; and also of others, labour ing on the Strasbourg railroad, for being engaged in a strike. And apropos of strikes, there is an immense excitement throughout the manufacturing cities of the north, growing out of the report, generally be lieved, that the government is about to modify the duties on cotton. SPAIN. A short telegraphic message dated Madrid, April 2nd, announces that on that day the Senate decided by a majority of 8 votes against further deliberation on the complaint of Marshal Narvaez. ITALY. COMPLETE REJECTION OF PIEDMONTESE CLAIMS BY AUSTRIA. _ The Debate of yesterday published the following: "To-day we receive the intelligence that Count Baol, Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Austria, has refused in the most formal manner to redress the' complaints of the Piedmoutese government concern ing the sequestration laid upon the estates of Lom bard and Venetian emigrants naturalised in Sardinia. Count Revel, Sardinian minister at Vienna, is making preparations for leaving that city for Turin.' The tete de pont of Casale, on the P., one of the' finest works of modern military architecture, is com pletely terminated. Every day heavy artillery ar rives there to be mounted on its rampart.. The bat teries llegli Orti and of the C.eiona Tower aro pro gressing rapidly, and the walls of the former citadel are being reconstructed with the greatest activity. In the 13th and 16th centuries Casale was reputed th* most important fortress in Italy, and one of the largest in Europe. It will constitute a formidable portion of the defences of Piedmont. SWITZERLAND, The Ticino Gazette gives the following account of a mistake which in the present strained relations of Switzerland and Austria, might easily have led to the most serious consequences: LUGANO, APILIL In order to prevent all exaggera• tion, we consider it expedient to announce that last night an Austrian patrol, coosiv lug of two soldiers, two frontier guards, and a non.cornusi,ioned officer, was arrested on the territory of Ticino, near the Uandria line, towards Like Lugano. After it hod been ascertained that the ter. ritory was accidentally ♦iolated, through ignorance ofeth , real frontier line, those soldiers were restored to liberty. The arrest was effected by the federal frontier guard." The Nuremberg Correspondent of the 2nd inst. states that, whatever Swiss journals may affirm to the con trary, it is seriously contemplated by the southern states of Germany to establish a blockade against the Helvetic Confederation. Negotiations have for some time been in progress, and the issue will not be long delayed. Contradictions are freely exchanged just now among the Swiss and German newspapers on the addition—first alleged by the Basle Gazette—of a clause to the London protocol about Neufchatel, giving the assent of the powers to any employment of force which Prussia may deem necessary in vindi cation of her right. The Suisse of Berne denies that any such clause exists. But the Ordre of Berne of a subsequent date repeats the original asser tion, which is also found in the Augsburg Gazette. GERMANY. A despatch from Berlin of the .sth states that on that evening the Minister presented a bill to the legislature for preventing the excessive subdivision of estates. The Second Chamber also adopted by a second vote the i.mendment of the Polish fraction, requiring that the void produced by striking out Art. 103 of the constitution shall be Sled by special laws on the organisation of communes, circles, and pro vinces. CONSTANTINOPLE. A telegrapbic despatch, received in Paris from Constantinople, dated March 28, says: Prince Menschlkoff has presented • project of a conven tion, and has received from the Grand Vizier satisfactory immune's. The Rusailtt corps d'armec has received orders to retrograde. The finnan relative to tho e.tiblishment of the new bank has been published. A Turkish functionary has left for Paris, on a mission relative to the indemnity to be given to the holders of the Turkish loan. BERNE, APRIL G. Afarshal Radetzky has been authorized to treat with Col. Bourgeois. HUNGARY. A letter in the Union, of Paris, says: The trial of Kottuth's sister, Mad .me Metslenyi, has taken such a tarn that it is thought the judges must in evitably pronounce sentence of death. VDe Court. lIEALTII OF 11ER MAJESTY. The following Bulletin of the Queen's health w ironed this morning : " Buckingham-Palace. April 8, 1853, Nine o'clock, a.m. " The Queen has passed an excellent night. " Her Majesty and the Infant Prince are going on favourably. " JAMES CLARK, M.D. CuattLas Lococx, M.D. " ROBERT FEaorsos, M.D." At 3 o'clock yesterday, a Privy Council was held at the Council-office, Whitehall, attended by Prince Albert, Earl Granville, Lord President; Lord Cranworth, Lord Chancellor; the Duke of Argyll, Lord Privy Seal ; the Earl of Aberdeen, First Lord of the Treasury ; the Marquis of Lansdowne, Viscount Pahnerstot, Secretary of State for the Home Department; the Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the Duke of Newcastle, Secre tary of State for the Colonies; the Right lion. W. E. Gladstone, Chancellor of the Exchequer ; Sir Charles Wood, President of the India Board ; the Right Hon. Sid ney Herbert, Secretary-at-War; the Bishop of London, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Steward ; and the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord Chamberlain. At the Council, the Archbishop of Canterbury was ordered to prepare a form of prayer for her Majesty's safe delivery. The Hon. William Bathurst was Clerk of the Council in Waiting. Prince Albert, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Seymour, after the Council, returned to Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Cambridge called at Buckingham Palace ; and the Duchess of Glouccster, and the other members of the royal family, sent to make inquiries after the state of her Majesty. The Duchess of Kent remained in the Palace throughout the afternoon. _ Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Countess of Dornborg together with the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, the Hanoverian Minister. the Russian Mi. nister and Baronets Brunnow, the Bavarian Minister and Baroness de Cott°, the Swedish and Norwegian Minister, the Danish Minister and Madame Bale, the Prussian Mi nister and Madame Bunsen, and other members of the diplomatic corps, called at the Palace to leave their re spects. The following members of administration and gentlemen oonneeted with the royal households, with the ladies of their respective families, also called to inquire after the health of her Majesty. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Sir James and Lady Graham, Mr. and Mrs. W. Gladstone, Lord and Lady Stanley of Alderley, the Right lion. E. and Mrs. Cardwell, and Miss Cardwell, the Right lion E. and Mrs. Stroll, the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the Wight Hun W. G. Hayter, the Right Hon. M. T. and Mrs. Raines, Sir C. and Lady Mary Wood, Countess Granville, Viscount an I Viscountess liar diage, Hen. W. Bathurst, Latly Cranworth, countess Palmthsten, the Earl and Countess of lleuborough, Lord and Lady Alfred Paget, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, the Marquis of Ormonde, Lieut.- Colonel and Lady Mary Hood, the Duchess of Wellington, Lord and Lady Foley, Lord Elphinstone, Lady Catherine and Min Buckley. Lady Clark, Dr. Lynn l'layf air, Mr. and Lady Mary and Miss Stanley, the Countess of Charlemont, Sir George and Lady Couper and Miss Couper, Lieut.- Colonel and Mrs. Gorden, Colonel and Mrs. Bouverie, Sir George Bowles, the Marchioness of Br:adalhane, and Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Lyttelton. The Archbishop of York and the lion. Mrs. Musgrave, the Speaker of the Home of Commons and Mn, Shaw Lefevre, and great number of Peers &La Members of the House of Commons, also attended at the Palace to make their dutiful inquiries. A deputation from the Royal College of Physicians had an interview with Viscount Palmerston yesterday, at the Home-ofßee. The deputation consisted of Dr. Paris (pre ' sideat), Dr. Monro (demurer), and Dr. Hawkins (regis trar), (Elects) ; Doctors Todd, Crawford, Webster, and Owen Rees (Censors); and Doctors Meryon, Waterfield, Nsirne, Wilson, Copland, Alderson, Daniell, Chambers, Tweedie, Farre, Aldis, Bennett, Sutherland, Barlow, Bayer,Spurgin, Borrows, Goolden, Philp, Johnson; King stun, Basham, Peacocks, Thompson, Barclay, Sieveking, T. A. Munro, Weber, Rigby, and Gull. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Beaumont, M.P., Mr. Blackett, M.P., Mr. Liddell, M.l'., Mr. Taylor, M.P., Mr. Collinson, Mr. Brodrick, Mr. Dunk , rlcy, Mr. Philipsen, and Mr. Wilson, had en interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell yesterday, at the Board of Trade. Lord Lovaine had an interview with Viscount Palmer ston yesterday, at the Home-o ffi ce. The President of the College of Physicians presented the report from the Na tional Vaccine Establishment to the nob', viscount yes terday. Despatches were received at the Colonial- Ace yesterday from t h e Governor of Hong-Kong and front the Governor of Malta. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE T.XTEAO7:DINART. Buckingham Palace, April 7, 1853. This day, ct ten mikutes after one o'c:eck, the Queen was happily delivered of a Prince. Its 11,yal highness Prince Albert, several Lords other 11.1;“* .1-•, Most ILinoue. ab.e Privy Council, and the Ladies of her Ma,tsty's lied chamber, being present. This greet and important news was made known to the town by the firing of the Park and Tawer guns, ut.il the Privy Council being assembled us soon as possible there ' upon, at the Council-chamber, Whitehal, it w o: dere d, that a form of thanksgiving fur the Queen's sore delivery •if a Prince be prepared by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be used in all churches and ehspels through out England and Wales. and the town of Borwiek-upon- Tweed, on Sunday, the 10th day of April, or the Sunday Ales the respective ministers shall receive the same. Ha r Majesty and the infant Prince are, God be praised, both doing well. At the Council-Chamber, Whitebait, the itla day of April, MI Br the Lords of her Majesty's Must Honour able Privy Council. It is tuts nay ordered by their lordships, that Ilis Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury do prepare to Fin LI of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Alruignty God tor I.o:r Mojesty's safe delivery of a l'rince; and that rich Form ol Prayer and thanksgiving be used in ad chnrelics .and c:: ,pals an Eng (and and Wales, and in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, upon Sunday the 10th day of this iustout April, or the Sun day alter the respective ministers of such churches and chapels shall receive the same: And it is lureby further ordered, that her Majesty's printer do forthwith print a competent number of copies of the said Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving, that the same may be forthwith sent round and reset in the several churches and chapels in England anal Wales, mud of the to ala of Berwick-upon-Tested. W. L. I.saritritsr. At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 7t:i day of April, 1 4 13. by the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. It is this day ordered by their lordship., that every minister and preacher, as well of the E,tabh•hed Church .n that part of Great Britain call••.! Scotland es those of the Episcopal communion, protected and allowed by an act passed in the truth year of the reifOlot her Majesty Queen Anne, entitled '• aot to prevent the disturbing those of :he Episcopal condaunion in that part of Great Britain raked Scotland in the exercise of their IN ligi me worship, and in the use of the li orgy of the Church of England; end for repealing the act passed in the parli.au, nt of Scut ,and, entithd ' An act against irregular buoisms and mar riages,"' do, at some time during t o o exercise of divine service io their churches, congregations, or hs,cm!,lies, on Sunday, the 10th day of this instant Aprii, or on the Sunday after the ministers or pre chers of such churches, congregations, or assemblies, respectively, shall le enabled so to do, put up prayers and thauksg.viugs to Almighty God for her Majesty's safe delivery of a pi Mee. W. L. BATHURST. Vinci:Yr ENFIELD is about to be summoned to the House of Peers by the title ut Baron Straffor.f, of liar mondsworth, in the county of Middlesex. The Marquis ut Stafford is to bo the Lord Lieutenant of Crotaaty iu the place of Roderick Macleod, of Cadboll, Esq., dectaud.— Globe. ELECTION COMMITTEES. .RTE ELECTION COMMITTEE. Yesterday this committee, the proceedings having been adjourned over the Easter rcc•rss, re assenikkd at three o'clock, Sir J. Pukington, chairman ; Mr. Moan ricff, Cll. Knox, Mr. Corbally, and Mr. Tutlway. The committee, it will be remembered, after deeming on the 7th March Mr. Mackinnon Oct duly elected, aiid gui!ty, by his agents. of treating, reported to the house the expe diency of instituting further inquiry into the col-top: ic tices alleged t,) have prevailed at the last election. The opinion of the law officers of the Crown was obtained to the effect, that the committee were so empowered to proceed, under 5 and 6 Victoria, an act not gen. rdly acted on hitherto, and which invests a committee of this Commons with powers for this purpose tantamount to these of a com mission. The Hon. Chairman asked the parties entrusted with the prosecution of the case what steps had been taken since the committee last met. Mr. Venables replied that since then two gentlemen had been at Rye almost constantly making inquiries into the constituency and into the circumstances connected with the lest election, and the result was that they hail to give in the names of a great many additional witnessts proposed to be examined before the committee. The Chairman—When can we resume the inquiry ? Mr. Venables replied by Thursday. Notices to attend had been given to the present Mnyor and the late Mayor of Rye, who was the returning officer, to attend. The Chairman, having signed between forty and fifty summonses for witnesses to come up front Rye and be exa mined, adjourned the committee until Thursury. A meeting of the inhabitants was held at Rye on the sub ject last week, when a petition was signed by Omit 400, praying that the writ mtgbt nut be sukj entkil, and alleging that there was no ground for the charge of corrupt practice, against the constituency. THE DECIMAL COINAGE COMMITTEE. It is generally understood that the Decimal Coinage Committee, to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has assented, will consist of the following gentlemen: Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Tufnell, Mr. John BAH (Cll.low), Mr. Wm. Brown, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr, Dunlop, Mr. M. Forster, Lord Stanley, Mr. Moody, Mr. Davison, Mr. ltaikes Currie, Sir Wm. Clay, Lord Chandra, Sir Geo. Goodman, and Mr. A. Kinnaird. MURDER BY A MOTHER. BIRDHAM, Aram 7. Oar neighbourhoud was to-day thrown into a state of intense excitement by the supposed verification of ru mours which hove prevailed here since Good Friday, that the wife of James Robertson, a carpenter, residing in half of a double tenement, his own property, near the church, bad given birth to a child, and destroy( d it. Robertson is supposed to be a man of consideralde pro perty, and is said to be extremely penurious. By his first wife be has • son, who is at sea. She died iu chi,a-bed. By his present wife he has bad six children, lire of whom are living. The origin of the rumour was this : Mrs. Ro bertson had been known to the villagers to be likely to in crease her family ; and the appearacces existed up to the eve of quarter-day, when she was known to he ill. When next seen the appearances had vanished, and singularly enough, two days after the Thursday, she walked to Chi chester and back, a distance altogether of eight miles, al though, it has since transpired, that on the former day she had been delivered of a child. As soon as the rumour had attained some degree et substantiality, the parish authorities called on Mr. Jones, of the firm of Duke and Jones, Chichester, to Investigate the case. He told her of the rumour. She denied its truth ; hut, after a long conversation, she said it was true, and showed him into a small duck pantry or cellar, where, covered with rubbish and h,:avy articles, most artistically concealed, they found some recently re moved bricks, and on digging up the earth at the depth of a foot or 18 inches, found a shawl containing the dead hod of a full-grown female child, with a deeply indented mark round the neck, apparently produced by a ligature. In fact no doubt existed that the child had been strangled. This morning a jury was impanaelled at the Bell Inn, and after the examication of a number of witweses, including some medical gentlemen, who deposed tha' the it died from congestion of the brain, probably produced by strati ' gulation, a verdict of wilful murder against the woman was returned. ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH DEVON RAIL- WAY.-NARROW ESCAPE. On Monday morning an accident occurred to the 7.39 down train, which, but for the remarkable pre sence of mind of the engine•driver, and the promptitude with which he acted, might have been accorn;ianied with fearful results. It will be remembered that when the immense mass of rock fell at the Parson and Clerk Tunnel near Dawlish, a ',onion of the line and sea-wall was carried into the sea. Since then men have been engaged in the regain ; and to facilitate the progress of the Werke, steam road was laid bent een the sea-wall and the line of r railway, on n„icn a truck, with a large crane upon it, trimmed backwards and forwards. Sometimes this truck was upon the main line ' • but on its removal ro the tram way, it was the duty of a man named Monk instantly to adjust the points, so that the line might be clear. On the occasion in question,tit appears he neglected that duty, and the down train approached with the switch in its wrong position. Most fortunately before reaching it, toe driver saw his danger—immediately reversed the engine, and warned the guards to put on their breaks. Tee speed was very moderate, great caution haring been always ob served on passing this point; but the train running on the tram-road, the engine came in violent collisi ,n with the wall, ;and there received the check se•ich prevented a most frightful calamity. Part of the well wes knocked away, and the two leading wheels of the engine were suspended over the tide-way. But for the concurrent circumstances of the danger being seen by the driver as he approached it, the slow rate of travelling, and the ob struction of the well, an accident, the most a : palling of any that has yet been recorded in connexion with railway travelling, would have occurred. The entire train must have been can ed over a precipice of at least thirty feet into the sea. The magistrates fined Monk 5/. for his taro lessnese. On the saute day, the crank connecting the driv ing wheels of este of the up trains snapped near llsinton Tunnel, and delayed toe train for two bouts ' • and tne down passengers were kept waiting in the wet and cold, at the scene of the accident near the Parson and t jerk, till this up train Lad arrived to take them on. Dawlii-h stiition was but half a mile II; yet the considerate superintendent at this place thought his own ease and comfort of more importance than proper accommodation for passengers. TILE COPPER MINERS OF ENGLAND CONIP.A.NY.-.. At a meeting of the proprietors in this company,heid yule!. day a dividend of 71 per cent. on the preference shares, and at the rate of 2 per cent. on the united stock of the com pany ,was declared. The progress of the undertaking was very. sathfactory. and the profits fur the year from March, 1862, to March, 1853, amounted ta 20,7181. The negotiations with the Bank of England had been surecoduhy concluded, and minor details on!), had to be arranged. 'rhe whole of the proceedings were approved of by the proprietors peLeect with the exception of Mr. Lord, who has certain claims 113.1 in course of arbitratica. 1 I , H