The Express. — London, England, 1849-01-23 00:00:00

isremest maw which the (Xmases might seserdlog to their notions et y, is woe he 'leek sad reprise the development rif like capabilities of a misty eciaposed it toon settlers. Were the ems or Ike government is Ceylon manna to quo- Owe emetitsticeal law, it would be each to sea ism them without reserve er allowance. Bat gar MMus is admialtratisa ; gee plead sad persevireass is a palsy alike diebtale of Italians and equity; ler lmaglaty esalsmipt of simplisin ea the pest of the simnel ;and gee vinirdca malt e[; temper, the diffeadee with whisk goviamel fuse le Weigle ia los afford so . Sims fiats a mi go two memorials apology were treammillei Ban Colimbe to Berl OUT me emanated from a entirmesieg of the inhabiteats, the ether from the et Commerce. The 'satiate of the former, as migtml at a pahaa siestiag, were patent to the whole community ; the latter was not published is the Wed until attar the sappressisa of the late lases Maim The former related to the geassal adminis Wan of public again; the latter related szoletively M the prevailing economical distress d the island. The only answer vouchsafed to either is a dissipate to Lord Tow/tons, to which Barl Guy has ap pended his signature. In this document both memo rials are when of as having proceeded from the Chamber of Commerce ; and on the strength of this essfissioo, that body is accused of havisg contributed to the kaiaks among the natives, in which the in surrection had he source. This affectation of deeming it below the dignity of the Colonial Minister to reply in plasm to a body so numerous, intelligent, and Masada from its wealth , as the Colombo Chamber of Commerce, is paltry in the extreme, and calculated to give serious umbrage. The attri lmung to the Chamber of Commerce a memorial with which they had nothing to do, and on the strength of this misstatement (showing either that the memorial had not been read or that its contents were wilfully mia represented) charging that body with having emelt huted to provoke an insurrection which had been sup pressed before their memorial wee published, and was mossioned by grievances epee which it did not touch, is calculated to lead the inhabitants of Ceylon to despair of obtaining justice at the hands of the British goverement. The haughtiness which dictated We unfair and lalirect reply to the complaints of the merchants and planters of Ceylon, is a repetition of the fatal error which cost us our American colonies. And this is not the only point on which the present colonial ad ministration adopts toward Ceylon the same unjust and unwise policy which the colonial administration of 1766 adopted towards Massachusetts and its sister colonies. Throughout the despatch upon which we are animadverting, the home colonial administration identifies itsel f with the local government, and indirectly gives the memorialists to understand that any complaint against the governor and his councillors is regarded as an affront to the minister who appointed them. It so happens that a protest by a minority of the Chamber of Commerce accompanied the memorial, and it is assumed in the despatch that the testimony of the minority outweighs that of the ma jority. This is the very pretext upon which Lord HILIABOROUOII vindicated his 'tippet of Governor litrrcatmeos against the complaints of the legislature of iiimeachusette. The lapse of well nigh a century, with all its varied experience, has failed to make our Golonisl-office one iota more wise or equitable. The dispatch to which Earl OBEY has appended his name expremes the most unreserved approbation of the measures adopted by Lord Toast/401.05, at the suggestion of Sir ERBIUM TINNENT—" I have much came to be satisfied with the judgment sad vigour with which the affairs of the co lony have been administered by your lordship, with the assistance of the executive and legislative council." Yet one of the first steps of the local government after the suppression of the insur rection, was to rescind and re-enact in a modified form the immds to which it was attributed, and of which, the Co lon ial-affix so highly approves. This retractation I roved the sense of the local government that its tams sores bad been unwise and practically oppressive, though the Colonial Secretary deemed fit to expose his warm approbation of these measures. It is not surprisisg to find the local government of Ceylon, thus encouraged by the avowed and mow promising partisanship of the home government, per sisting in their offensive policy. With an imarreo don that had been provoked by the impunities of taxes which galled the natives much, and from their imperfect apprehension of their scope and teasse7 frightened them still more, barely suppresrd, Sir Exiutsos TRNSENT, at the time the kit mail was despatched, was forcing through the legislative coun cil a general land tax, an impost open to the same objections se the gun and dog taxes. The speech with which he introduced this measure was couched in a tone of defiance of public opinion not unworthy of a STIA117011.1); and several of his user lime were contradicted by an official member of the isomoiL The necessary consequences of such 'seeded were beginning to show themselves. Through out the planting districts the Europeans were labour ing under the conviction that fresh disturbances were impending. The sight before the mail was made up a memenger from lardy reached Colombo bearing the intelligence that a military force had been emit off to Martell*, and with it supplies of ammunition for the plasters of the diarist, and urging the imme diate despatch of a reinfumement of soldiers. It is to be hoped that the state of affairs in Ceylon, sad the conduct both of the local and home colonial administrations will be brought under the notice of parliament as soon as it meets. The revenue of Ceylon has been rapidly decreasing even in a state of perfect order aid tranquillity. The deficit will be immeasurably lammed by a seseemioa of insurrections. If parlia ment do not interfere to arrest government in the policy it has hitherto pursued in Ceylon, the expenses of native war is that colony will soon equal, if not exceed, those at the Kaffir wars at the Cape. le the case for electoral reform in England and Scotland be enwg, that in Ireland must on all hands be admitted to be irrefragable. Calculations vary as to the • which the constituencies of North and Britain bear to the male adult population. On the other side of the Tweed the per centage is usually armed to be from ten to twelve; on this side it has been estimated at sixteen or seventeen. In Ireland, previous to 1846, the total number of regis. tared deetors in thirty-two counties did not amount to sixty thalami, which out of a male adult popula tion of about a million and a half, would hardly give bur par coat. Yet peoplewoader at the Irish being dis costented, and marvel at the domed for a repeal of the anion. We may argue against the erreriume of the countries upon other grounds, and believe, as we =y do, that the evils it would entail upon herself would far counterbalance the good that such a change is expected to produce. Bat to defend the perpetuation of inequality like this appears to as to render the maintenance of the union itself lade:male. To pretend that Ireland is a partner on ,jset er equitable terms in the legislative firm while pommel of no better franchise than that we have described, is the mere insolence of usurpation. And English:ass, who desire to do politically to their neighbours as they would be done by, are bound by their consistency m repudiating fraud and wrong, to see an end pat, without farther delay, to so monstrous an *judge. The changes which the famine has wrought, more over, in the condition of p-operty in most parts of Ire land, render the exigency of the case still pester than it was three years ago. In many counties the number of holdings has, during that period, rapidly decreased. Consolidation of farms has preluded at a pace hitherto without parallel or precedent ; and although it is tree that the larger proportion of holdings thus added to others consisted of patches too small to have conferred the 101. franchise author the Reform Act, it nevertheless is equally certain that great num bers of the once enfranchised clue have disappeared, and that their farms can no longer be found as sepa rate and distinct tenements. To what extent this recent deduction ought to be taken into our new and corrected calculation we as yet possess no adequate data for determining. Probably some account may be laid before parliament at its re-amembliog by authority of government : for we can hardly suppose It possible that the whip will again defer the settle ment of this peening qinstioe,orprolongthe existence of the pesent creaky for another year. A it may be recollected, was brought in about u m , ;sickle of last session by Sir W. Sostaavitte w hi c h mooed to found the suffrage, no t on th e w ore . * "wfach lend is held, but en the amount of poor-law ra ti ng . Th . ' principle, if properly carried out, would be • greet =pavement p. that contained is the Bikes Bill. All the evils swearing as to intrinsic or improved vales in the registration court would mi awe be got rid et. The nun of every qualified person woad be pissed upon the electors' list, or rulet er, the 4s4onr list would be a mere transeript so mach of the rate-book. The bill of lest esseiss was indeed deteetive, imam& as it dl I net exteed this beneficial ohmage of system to the towns where the mirage is, eenontllY sproklog, earedto me limited a motion et the emnrannity as ia the imjerity et our English boroughs. But It semi to Wiwi very general satisfied= sa a begin s's* ends In the right direction. No ties wheleur was offered within the walls of while in Inked the project was hailed with geared Whereupon it was, of cures, abse iled tri her Majesty's minister% who seemed to have resolved that even in their own way they would be betrayed into no one act of canoes don to popular with which popular demands were aecompaided with wild mimosa and wilder mi nim on the part of those who assumed the office of being their expounders. We deplored at the time the error of confounding the reckless talk of a hand ful of saucy but shallow with the delibe rate judgment at a whole peep We believed that whatever power the advocates of anarchy wielded for a time was founded en the prevalent sense of neg lect and inju stice , . and the feelings of deep discontent naturally arming therefrom. And we are convinced that if the same or a worse species of political ineen diarism is to be averted in for the future, the grievances which are its apt and inexhaustible materials must be swept away. Of theme it is impossible to name cue more signal or more shameful than that of a praotioal denial of the ordinary rights of represent ation to the great mass of the community. We sometimes bear it said that it is not the number of members from Ireland, or their coincidence in opinions with particular clams or creeds, that is the thing most needed, bat an improvement in the sort of men whom Ireland sends as her representatives is the imperial senate. There is some truth, bat there is a great deal more of cant, in this objectias. The people of an Irish county or town have rarely the opportunity of really making a free selection of the sort clams whom they would have to representthem. Between the balance of parties, the expense of elec tions, and the predominant influence which cliques or individuals are ever sure to exercise in small consti tuencies, little if any room for choice is left to independent voters. They have only to determine between the Orange enemy or the condescending friend—between the open foe to the concession of their rights and the lukewarm proselyte to the doo trine that popular claims ought not absolutely to be refused esi , .n—in a word, between aristocratic liberalism and aristocratic toryism. The consequence necessarily is, that each party looks out—not for the best or ablest candidate—but for the richest or the least obnoxious man. Personal unfitness or un worthiness is not °mid( red so much as what are the chances of winning the seat t and thus the character of the Irish representation is lowered, and its utility destroyed. But let the free action of the representa tive system be restored—let the people feel once more that they may elect whomsoever they will--and then, no logger balancing between miserable jealousies of family or property or creed, they will instinctively I seek out men of more ability and zeal to utter their desires and proclaim their wants. GERMANY. PRUSSIA.—We have received letters and jo. from Berlin under date Jan. 20. The &oats Anssiyer of that date publishes two projects of law relatin g to the administration of com munes, and of provinces and districts. Those bills (which will be laid before the Chamber shortly after their otavooation) set forth that all exemptions from the comma land or house taxes are abolished (ex cept in ewe where the state taxes of the above kind are not required) ; that every Prussian, 24 years of age, who has been a resident in his commune daring one year, and who is in full possession of all his civic rights, le eligible for all the offices in the communes, and that the qualification for communal electors are land or house property of the value of from 200 tha lers (30L) to 500 *dere, according to the population of the respective communes ; or clear yearly incomes, varying also according to population, from 150 thalers (about 221.) to 200 thakrs. It is proposed to elect the members of the communal councils for three and to pay the burgomasters. Some of the eaadiiafrr in Silesia are holding out to the peasantry the paw pect of a division of landed property. General Wrangel has issued • proclamation, threat eniag to prohibit all assemblages of the electors hit which political subjects, not referring to the similar, are introduced. With such a threat, the liberty of election is a mere farce, so: far as Berlin is enneersel. In fact, the government, whilst straining every nerve to deprive their opponents of all chance of @mem at the fortheominkelections, are not over choiee in their mode of promoting their own views. In some parts of the country it has transpired that the to& Cary officers have summoned their men, and have urged them to elect so-called "men of confidence,' with the commission to choose the electors in the second degree, those who immediately t led the ems didate foe the .scared chamber. By this manceuvre Ithe government render the mode of election even less direct than it is now, and raise up a body of men as primary electors, over whom the officers (who, as a body, are reactionary) may exercise immediate and overpowering influence. The Roman catholic bishops hi Prussia have given great offence and no slight sammial (even to their own flocks) by their direct in tedlisesco with the liberty of election —their pastorals (without one exception) insidiously conveying . the idea that the opponents of the government are irre ligious and godless, and promoters of anarchy. AUSTRIA.—We have intelligencefiom Vienna up to the evening of the 10th. Ihe goverr or (Baron Welden)had published another army bulletin(thelsth) from Prince Windischgrits, stating that a column of the rebels" alder General Bem, after having failed in their attempt to enter Gallia', ad Kaschau, proceeded towards Klausenburg, with the view of penetrating into the Bukowina. The insurgents (it is added) devastated the entire neigh bourhood, and drove back to Kinpolung the few troops under Colonel Urban. The latter retreated further into the Bukowina. where he was reinforced by the troops of Lieut. Field-Marshal fdalkovrsky, who were assembled around Cxarnowitz. He again acted on the offensive, and drove the insurgents as far as Watra-Dorna. Meantime Baron Hammerstein had amembled a great number of troops and stationed them near Stry. It is stated in the army bulletin that the " brave peasants" supported the military placed along the Gallioian frontiers, and vowed death to all insurgent@ who should attempt to padres. All the passes leading to Hungary are striedy guarded by the imperialists. On the 13th In stant, Count Althann's troops entered Paps, she "clearing" the Oldenburg and Bisenburg consitats. It was his (Althanu's) intention to push on in the direction of Wessprim and the Bakonyian forest, in which some of the dispersed troops of Percerl had assembled. On the 13th, the brigade of Baron Nenstadt had an engagement near Assod with a por tion of thiem, during which the impirialists lost e d' Lient-Colonel Baron Geramb. It is ease in the proclamation that the imperialists successfully returned the fire of the enemy. A brigade of General Simonich's had marched Irma Meant towards Verebelly. The Journal of Austrian Lloyd's announces the arrival at Trieste of the Turkish ambassador at the court of Athens (Museums Effendi). He was re ceived with the usual honours, and was to proceed to Olmutz, in order to congratulate, in the name of the Sultan of Turkey, the Emperor Francis Joseph on his accession to the throne. _ _ It was asserted in Vienna, on the authority of letters from Stalin, that several thousands of Berman troops had crossed the Danube, with 30 pieces of artillery, in order to join the imperialists. Moonlit g to accounts from I emberg, the imperial ists, under Lieut.-Col. Springesfelt, had attacked the insurgents near the frontiers, and driven them back into Hungary Proper. Cossacks were stationed all along the Moldavian frontiers, in order to repel Gen. Bern if he should approach them. According to other l intelligence, however, it would appear that Bern had ismeeded in reaching and taking posemion of Czer novits, an important town (in the Bukowina), situated on the Pruth, near the "frontieri of Gallicia. BAXONY.—The Saxon Chambers were opened on the 17th inst. by the King in person, who, in the course of the speech from the throne, expressed the hope that the now all but completed work of the German constitution would prove advantageous for the rational freedom, unity,and stren#th of Germany. His government would contribute all in their power to the attaining dm& ends. It was cielsially stated by one TiIR EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 23. 1849. al the ministers laming the &Use that. like all the other laws peel by the National Amenably in Frank fort, throne midis( to hills of mchaap would have (I kea Ilaza! some prmaisas Y , didk r et that law m -1 that =s providoes mania submitted withcat k = the chambers. With rasped to the fundamental rights of the German nation, es voted by the Frank fort Assembly, the Barda governinimt did not feel Lured in publishieg them until they had sabatitted to the Usarehen with a =l ll d e eti Peci ara al lea l rel them. This e a n t lfdiee to which is disallowed by the Frankfort Assembly, vis., the right of the separate government to wine to a concordance with the above assemblize nt peoting the future meditatioa for Germany. the in ternal r. forms announced by the King in were the separation of the administration of rst e it from the state, the simplify i n g of the law and the rending it cheaper, and the removal of several bar %lens on land. An improved system of national edu cation is also promised. In several parts of Bavaria and Wartemberg, reso lutions have been passed at public meetings in favour of the election of the Emperor of Austria as Emperor of Germany. BOMB, hair. 12. The utmost indifference is the feeling here as to the menace of excommunication head on the Ist Jan. from Meta. Thaw who advised that step had no accurate knowledge of the amount of importance likely to attach to that document in the venous circles of Roman society. This is the last and crowning blunder eta series of felse steps, beginning with the flight of the Pope, which I repeat over and over again was the meet fatal mistake ever committed. The ministry or provisional government continue to exercise vigorous authority. For the last night or two they have ordered doable patrols of the civic guard, as a number of degenerate Romans had pur posed to burn the Pope in effigy before the portico of the Pantheon, or somewhere else. Bands of civic bayonets in twenties and thirties paraded the town all night of the 9th to prevent any such unseemly exhi. bitten. Two decrees have been issued by their au thority this week—one abolishing moetmein outright; and another the tax levied on oorn pound anywhere but in the seignorial or manorial mill, an equal rem nant of obsolete feudalism. The Roman papers of this morning are vehement in censure of the manifesto from Gaeta ; they deny al' the right of the former sovereign of these teentories to rely on a decree of the council of Trent, which, they say, has only reference to the assailants of church property or ecclesiastical prebtnds and livings—a category which it would be monstrous to rank the whole people of Rome and the legations among. These journals enter into a variety of semi political and semi•canonical topics, with which it would be tedious to trouble you, but the upshot of the matter is, that the three millions of people forming these states are not a parish, or an ecclesiastical bene fit', bet a nation determined on self-government. The elhot of the last act of the Pontiff will be to nullify the efforts which his adherents hoped to make is the working of general suffrage. Lest night a strong patrol of civic guards came apse a mob near the foram, where it was engaged is pulling down the pontific insignia from a public ofilee. The detachment did not hesitate a moment in the execution of a formal order from government, and fired a volley among the disturbers, scattering them, wounded and routed, in every direction. If the Papal power is to be confined within spiritual attributions, there is every determination that such a result shall not be the act of rioters, but of & deliberate resolve el the community. The Minister of War has ordered a body of cavalry, 800 strong, to be ever accoutred seall Is readiness to pounce at once on either foreign or domestic breakers of the public peace. The Pope has ordered from his stables at Rome two whits Ara bs , lately presented to him by the Sidten, l slag they are now the property of the King of Naples. Formerly that monarch was obliged to moot al whits steed annually to the Pope, as a feudal homage he the tenure of his realm. The grandfather of the present king refused to continue that avowal of m ontage, and used to be annually excommunicated by the reigning Pope until the matter dropped out of 7. 111111111101 Talking of excommunication, there is a rumour that the monitory anathema of the Ist of January is to be followed up by a formal " interdict " against Rome, and of course against all the other towns which have given in adhesion to the political arrangements thereof. Already the windows of the parish Incum bents of St. John of Lateran and of St. Mary Major have been broken, because these eergymen bad exhibited a copy of the monitory aforesaid; but an " interdict " is a more serious affair. The people are now peaceably disposed, and the churches attended, and divine service proceeds in profound tranquillity; but if the powers of darkness had leagued together for the suggestion of a measure likely to produce bloodshed, murder, and confusion through town and country, n othing more infallible could be devised than an " interdict." If the parties who have got Pins IX. under their manage ment (it is necessary to cross seven drawbridges to get at him, and public prayers for him as a prisoner, and for averting . the consequent perils of ehristendom are put up in Rome) can terrify him into launching forth this bolt of bitterness, the upshot will be that the refusal of christian rites (baptism, marriage, anheepulture) will be visited on the un fortunate clergymen by violence, outrage, and perhaps essessination ; mobs will beset churches and sanctua ries; blood will flow on the altar, and the horrors of September, '93, be re-enacted. Can any end justify the use of such means ? It is most true that an immense number of the clergy would, on principle, refuse to take cognisance of this interdict, but this would only aggravate the regular vengeance against the few who would feel dhposed to consider it as something real, and as such worthy of their incurring in its sustentation what they would fancy the glory of martyrdom. It is the moat melancholy thing in the world to consider the position to which the present advisers of the best pope we have had for centuries have con trived to Wing him. Personally, he reigns in the hearts of the Roman people : of this I have the evi dence : everywhere I move the man is beloved, the Pontiff revered—the Prince alone is questioned. It is enough to draw tears from any eye to read the effu sions which he has put forth from his citadel of Gaeta : it is the priest alone who speaks ; the prince is silent altogether throughout all those documents. Never was the hierophant of Apollo more eloquent on his griefs in the opening of the Iliad ! Timor AMOS ton &own note. *Wow s. MADRID, Jaw. 15. °Mgr= reeented its sittings th-day. All the ministers were premmt wish the exception of Ronde Togores, who is said to be at this moment dying of cerebral congestion. Of course there are hundreds on the alert for his place ; but on whom the portfolio of Maria*, in cue of his decease. will fall is as yet warmly predicable. The Ministers of War, Finance, interior, and Public Works, in grand uniform, saocenively amended the tribune to read projects of law, chiefly bills of indemnity for the legal confirmation of decrees pureed during the recese—suth as tee various pensions granted, the antici pation of the 26,000 soldiers corresponding to the quinta of 1849, to. Sanchez Silva addressed qualms to the Minister of Public' Works on the diversion of the 12 millions of reale granted for roads from its assigned destinatioe, to which Bravo Murillo replied. Ganes Carnes* questioned the Minister of the Wirier, upon the shootine of some pulsate at Villareal, in the district of Castellon de la Plana, without any form of trial. To this Sart°. rine replied, that the government had this morning despatched a general to that district, with inatrustions to investigate the matter and bring to trial the n of the outrage. A debate wu expected on the sin of Cats kola, bat the sitting broke up at 4 o'clock, without farther Da Teen appears in to-day's Gaze. a decree of amnesty to all those who have been transported to the Philippine Islands. Ships will immediately be sent to bring home u many as choose to return. SWEDEN.—The large sugar manufactory of Messrs. Magnus and Co.fall a prey to the flame on the night of the 7th. It wu insured for 100,000 marks Swedish Banco. It is said that the Emil& losuranoe Campania alone will be the toasts. None of the German. Iwo put. out owned by Mr. hats Wbltniy, of Bt. Joao (N B.) ohy. boo boos yoraboood by dos Um. Mr. Cunard, of WA; for 10.0001. UNITED STATES. A summary of the aura by the Europa, Capt. Lott, received by eleetzie !elegrapb, wu pubished in our iveterday's *mum The Euro pe' . dater arefrom New York to tho 10th, and Halite: to the 13th inst. A resolution has been adopted by the House of Representatives, instructing the proper committee to report a bill abolishing the slave trade in the district of Columbia. It contained a preamble denouncing, in very strong terms, the general principle involved in slavery, and had of course created 000siderable excitement. The report of Mr. Calhoun, referred to by our correspondent, related to this que stion. The cholsia had entirely disappeared from New York, but it still raged in New Orleans, with great intensity. The number of deaths there has been from 80 to 80 per day. Aooording to advice' p telegraph to the Bth, there was then prospect of its abatement. The letter of our New York correspondent is so ample in its details that it is unnecessary to advert further to the newspaper news : NEW YORK, JAx. 10. _ From Washington we have nothing of greed interest to English readers. The project of making California a state will be antacid:slut at present, and the committee who have the subject in charge will report against it. Thus one mode of settling the slavery question is defeated. The southern members of Congress still hold frequent meetings among themselves to decide upon their course of action e this subjee tl , one to them of apparen vital importance. It is understood that Mr. Calhoun wi ll make a report of their views for the consideration of the American people. It will be ea fiery as to prevent its general acceptance, even at the loath. .Another measure before Congress for its consideration, is the establishment of a board of claims, for the settlement of rivste demands against the government. This is a most desirable policy, foes claim against the United States by an individ=l, who is without remedy except by the passage of a bill for his relief, is absolutely inn= nothing. Thousands of men have been ruined by not haying justice done them by the government. This inaptitude to relieve private arks vane= at the seat of gov. =mint Brien from the fear of ini poeition, and a desire to guard the public treasury. Nothing will destroy a public men here more readily than the fact that he votes for useless appropriations. He is at once sus pected of having some pecuniary advantage at heart. There has been some excitement in the Rouse of Representatives, in consequence of a disclosure recently made by a mern ba, Mr. Greeley, in the columns of his own paper, the Tribune. Re obtained access to the treasury reeve* and there ascertained how much the members were in the habit of receiving_ for each mile of their journey to and from Washington . This is allowed them by law, in edditi= to their per diem allowance. The result, though anticipated by all who know anything about Congrees, was rather astounding to the people at large. It was ascertained that the members generally made out their bills fur the longest possible routes of travel, although they themselves took the shortest routes. Thus, a member from the West, who expended weber 200 dollen in Journeying to Wash ington, mieht drew 2,000 dollars for his expenses. Of course, ibis sort or peculation, sanctioned by long usage, ai.d grow log out of the real difficulty of reaching Washington before railways and steamers were common, had ceased to alarm the virtue dikes greatest =moods= of the public money. When the bets came out, however, there was much /parr/dreg in the house. Taking men and their motives as we find them, perhaps it would be well enough on we =- want to permit a liberal allowance for mileage. Certainly it is an object to have the more distant parts of the Union re presented at Washington as well as the most central. If the greater the distance the greater the pay, the less re pugnance will there be to take a seat in Congress, and there may be that natural competition for it which will make our leading men of talents from the outer districts true to the central organisatkm, even for their own sakes. As lam one of three who, while they are enable to satiety themselves as to the origin of evil, yet believe that good generally comes with it and out of it, I should be in favour of making the re maceration of members of Congress ample, both by daily al lowance and mileages, though it might take a few thousand dollars extra out of a treasury which Wm fair to have a se cond plethora. Gen. Case's son Lewis, quite unfitted for the place, has been confirmed as minister to Rome, and much to the dis satisfaction of the public and the democratic party. It is one of those disgraceful acts on the part of Mr. Polk which have I meted him in pub is estimation, notwithstanding his general edmisistration of affairs has been highly successful. Explain this if you can, how two such very small men as Mr.,Tylor and, Mr. Polk, personally . odious, and =entail/ week, have been so successful in their general c ireer. It seems as if these " small men " when on the procrustean bed of state are stretched out and kept out until their term of office expires, when they collapse, and scares fill their ori ginal nut-shells. It is an old maxim, of high authority, that when the bad bear sway; the people mourn. This is not true in the United States. When bad men rule at Wash- ington, the people get angry and kick them out. The postal treaty with your government will be ratified. The correspondenes has appeared in print, as nearly all our official papers do, and the Postmaster-Osseral has relaxed the former rats. charged as retaliatory under the act of Congress. The present rates ere better than they were, and the reciprocity of kindness greater ; but, after all, it is a sorry business for two great nations to make such heavy clam s ea a piece of paper, with a few ink marks upon it. Five cents for ship postage would have been quite enough. But we, too, have a great idea of making everything pay. Indirect taxation must be resorted to to secure revenues, since the people will not bear the visits of tax gatherers. If they can be allowed the option of writing and sending •letter they will pay for it ; but if there was, for example, a pol l-tax to support the Post - office, "their dander" would be up • con siderable." This idea has its effect on many measures that we 'rut of, but I will not allude to them lest the narrative of what I have witnessed may be mistaken for that which I wish. One thing rejoices us greatly, that we can send our news papers and periodicals cheaply to your country. Oar editors begin to talk of their English circulation. Look out for some " tall specimens "of newspapers. We have heard that there is one published in the far west, where ink and paper are so scarce that the types are blackened with bog mud, and the journal is printed one pocket handkerchief. Alter the subscriber has read the news he washes the paper and sends it back in time for the next number. We do not, of course, anticipate the circulation of such newspapers in England—to any great extent! We have just received the annual report of the comp troller of this state, the same gentleman who has been elected Vice-President of the United States. The financial concerns of the state of New York are becoming very important, and in magnitude surpue those of many . European countries. The property of the state is, for convenience, divided into the general fund, the canal fund, the literature fund, the coal man school fund, and the United States deposit fund. There are also separate trust knob, vin., the bank fund, the free bank "scanty fond, the Emmen' fund, six separate funds of railroad campanile, to which the public have lent as sistance, either by advances of cash, er of the credit of the state, and two fends in aid of the remnants of the Indian tribes in nu' territory. Under these various heads accounts are keA sad every year their coadidon is made known by the publication of the official documents. Out of theneral fend, the expenses of the state gems- meat are The payments out are on warrants draws by autho officers. The fund is kept up by the staples revenues, and transfers from other funds. This year there is a small delicieney,..a circumstance which is av it is recom mended to provide for by direct taxation. The general fund is est imat ed to produce the present year about 771,000 dab.; to be derived from the state tax, 235,000 dole. ; surplus canal nesse'', 200,000 dole. ; duties on salt manufactured at the state sprigs, 17,000 dole.; antes ' duties, 100,000 dole. • tax an of reign insurance companies, 4,600 dole.; pedlars' licenses, 2,000 dole. • sales of land far taxes unpaid, 200,000 dole.; and other sm al ler items. Out of this fund are to be paid—Salaries of the officers of the state government, 40,000 dole.; salaries of the judges, 90,000 dole ; per diem. allowance to members of legislature, 76,000 doh.; incidental expenses of leg sisters 15,000 dole. • support of deaf and dumb asylums, 25,000 dole ,• supp ort of blind asylums, 17,000 dole. • New York hospital, 22,609 dole. ; foreign poor, 10,000 dole. • expenses of state prisons, 17,000 dole.; state library ( annu ally), 3,000 dole. ; agricultural societies, 7,000 dole ; state lunatic asylum. 11,9eff ifols. • apprehending of fugitives from Justice, 6,000 dole. ; aerial school for training teachers, 16,000 dole. ; and other charges, making up the total at 565.000 dole. It will thus be seen that humane, and literary and scientific institu tions, receive the care of the state, and to an extent Tin large in prg to its revenue. A slaking fund, to pay off the principal of the general fund debt, is also I. operation. Our canals have cat the public 31,763,467 dole., and their annual is 3,033,570 dols (The great Erie Canal is slowly going through the operation of enlargement for boats of about 200 tons capacity.) The amount of the debt remaining for their construction is about 17 millions, while the value of the works, taking their surplus revenues at 6 per cent, se a guide of valuation, is about 40 millions of dollars. This balance of the debt is expected to be pall off in 1866. Without going too much into detail, I may add that the Income of the Literature Fund is divided among those academies of the state which have a certain amount of property of their own, and hues a certain number of scholars. The Common School Fund has a capital of more than two millions of dollars, the income of which is divided among the common schools. The Bank Fund was an accumulation of a per centers levied on the capital of the old banks, and was called the safety fund. It is nearly de strayed by the failure ofinnintiens under the old system of chartering. The new system of free banking requires an actual deposit of state stocks with the comptroller to the amount of the circulation of each institution. The bills are all countersigned in the comptroller's office, and the metal plates are required to be left in his possession. In this way there is ample protection to the holder of the note, both against over issues or frauds. As an illustration of the character of our people, I will mention one circumstance within my own knowledge. The Europa takes out today a tin box addressed to her Majesty Queen Victoria, containing a work of art, having relation to Niagara Falls, and a small package from another quarter for Prune Albert. These presents are sent evidently with a hearty good-will, and they show that though we are warm republicans, we honour royalty where it is adorned with every virtue. The Queen, as I have already informed you, is much admired here, COLONIAL. BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.—The provincial legislature of the island of Prince Edward is summoned to meet fur dove& of business on the 20th of F.bmary. The New Bripmeicker of 6th Jan. *ratans the following paragraph : —•• We learn by the electric telegraph that a gentleman ar rived at Calais yesterday morning, from Bangor, who reports that the Augusta Bank, at Angusta, Maine, has been robbed of 40,000 ddlars. Ne particulars pmts." From the same paper we learn that the steamer Unicorn, which has been warthog between BAUM and Nowfonntilard for .s oral s a:d riim probehl r y ortrab ezeitee d ia b ar w e . a in e tereet isausess fa mex the Il ub t:ite r d risee lltate o s i weettamm l. Ire m ba hr ve shi tTn i j bmudib leed mr : t m esnee im l th tli e e scommbe appenu bizir: . Ikea la any other esterstry of the world, that la which already erg advanced in their respective trod a a --' wee ve to us, and vesithave wake, and Tel beads; her ellgy, are •eZ= mem of Ilailhead the mom= ii Ids mormile l ,g , i_ seen. Yenzoodeee theme Mee ails hew Mlle the edam dregs In the nepenthe et non there hia annaley, in our helloes towards those who tremennagammunt which they tikes* to Steamer% wee, molly rage their dignities. sonisse the hat soothed*, yeethe-1. The ventehapia...""' Ws ewe Rowe from varicose quarters, but not much that is ,_hols ealooplied. sad we hed . cogesaa 0iN w 0 .,..._, Interesting lelegliek readers. • late arrival at Charleston r l sind. be villa g e or t : i fiflualw iaterdi o c r t m ds =7 , o , e s or d i „ .Mll4 s hvin troug H , l had itibliall edvaseed imihn"" on the eity th" ef th. Se li Dt a i:g irat o, sea r' " tfal i i: haw e vo Taso alledilis hst aiorsa.tha la ia m is ne u ril t ig: r IM: noinw beta beooo"b9af:kulat7ti:dru.—thkc'SueratedoefLk'thotbilrolj:gpitiu_lap jaw4 7 4421. 0- 7 1 .ftee l " pre were seeking to receive them warmly. igloo appears to be quiet, bet we have some Intelligence from Tampico, not of late date, however, which indicates 000tribution. great uncertainty is the result of the political differences There ars at Mettray 609 colonists, who weal brim existing there. The American battalion raised in New the revolution distributed thus-358 emp l oyed ga "*"..., Orleans for the HMCO of Yucatan had reached its destine, culture, 68 gardeners, 10 wheelwrights and cer'wei g b lon, and had proceeded to the scene of action. The in- blacksmiths, 6 farriers, 20 makers of wooden shomy . 0 . / .2 habitants spree to think themselves quite enure with this makers, 26 tailors, II shoemakers, 3 masons, 4 used at i; j : addition to their strength. makers. In November, ex c ept by • few sitkaigrs, no.. One of the latest pious of domestic news is a statement and a couple of farriers, the workshops were deserted • vi e r, which appeared yesterday I. our papers, in regard to the tools and materials lying idle, and the profit tam thei r do views of Gen. Taylor, expressed in a conversation at Hilton utterly lost. Hour, the headquarters of his military command. He is The maintenance of Mettray is by no means a kcal mt, reported to have positively declared hit intention not to re. ter, appertaining to France. Seery einii te d „,..._ move persons from office in eoesequence of their political is interested in it, and has 'lowa ati its "wa opinions. He reiterated his determination not to forget in it. At Mettray the problem what i s that be wee the president of the whole people and would act with the young criminal has been solved l a de accordingly, and that ht intended to select the bast men to manner highly gratifying to every lover of good, I ts . 1 .2 811 the oScee within his gift. No further indications of the have bean imitated in Oermaty, Holland, and i n this eel `-" persons to fill hie cabinet have yet appeared, beyond those try ; hence your readers will not. I think, believe you alreedy_communicated in my letters a anterior , anterior to the present space with a few details I am ahle to furnish raperfi a . k one. There seems to be an excellent feeling entertained with a view of showing that if the impolitic commuciagli a ' towards General Taylor in all quarters, and we cannot help against the sale of its manufactures be taken off b y *. anticipating a prosperous state of things for the next four French government, the colony may still flatfish nit/ins% years. pecuniary support. An attempt is making in Congress I. iatroduce the pro- You ere already aware-from Mr. M. D. HOPI interesting dun of Canada into the United States at • nominal duty, in charge u recorder of Birmingham, a part of which use mg consideration of some reciprocal advantages. Several hilted some time since-that for the estate there 4no nub rear i e k es e nt s b ee lis rui hro n et: m ers ber tse.; southern members oppose it on the ground that it is giving pay ; it laving been generously ceded by the 'V' free trade to the northern states at the expense of the B. De Courtedles. The colony itself consists o p ~,,.. southern. A strong effort will be made to carry the project, fourteen buildings in the Swiss style, ran ge d - : but with what amass remains te be man. There is no each side of a handsome church, schwreap,,hpligs,ioed:ofouleli:fr,l;noiafaminuildyebtfficeub,i.elDiste,ataohja: doubt but that the Canadians are more and more dearous of to form three sides of an immense square. The is." g oo ; t drawing closer their commercial relations with the northern of each are workshops, the upper one. mese/WM and &nal. successful operation between the city of Troy, at the head of aid each of these htuas is inhabited by a family mag i ? ravigetion on the Hudson, and Like Champlain at White of about 40 members, with a chtf de fonille, a mow, Hall. Taus a communication by steam roger is now clniplete ported separately by various m unicipa lities, upon the coo& s be ti t t w e een A th rli e:c mad ity o h f u N il e u w it Y bee or u k Here no one doubts that this route will, for all ordinary put , boys from the local prisons as cilonists. The habitation poses, supersede that by the Gulf and River St. Lawrence. thus supported are inscribed in letters with the nu. c g Another railway will soon be finished between Boston and o ac" th ul e d Dt e o e:lo: datilig y ny ou sc o : Burlington, on Luke Champlain, with a similar intention of " Strasbourg," &c. One-if not more-of the houses is sup, diverting the Canadian nude. t French nobleman, whose name I am sorry to hive forgotten, completed,a and i "' and o f n w M o n treal. i n terries . and tbtP l' oe ts s : 1 :1 : 1 1 : a l ;esti)hex meaehiatifaiteettonplaed constitution a l tleei these Y e ciis tli:"lae got facts church, sc sattuiprivate r i:n ts plrM n epao o d°r w rt le: government showt individ uals, t e ch i o c ; hieft h t w tnu i l ie ea c t is " 1e D t i 41 p parents, d y a thousand sitters. s the directors again to sell the manufac urn, would beam* them perhaps better than by renewing, the annual 4, tab. ventioa." From the commencement of the exp.riment in 1040 te July, 1848, the number of children received into the °okay has been 967. Of the 373 who. have lett the establishment 29 have relapsed into crime, 19 have conducted themselves tolerably well, 5 have 'mowed observation, and 330 have re. stained inwproachabls in respectable stations in :it,. k other words, that number have no longer itjured society with their crimes, or burthened the state wit the expels of keeping them in prison. Their ref,rm lots been effected at a cost, it appears, of only 54f. re: bead 1110111 per annum than it costs the vverement to sapped young criminals in prison —not for to snort a period es takes to reform them ; but in moat cases during abut ea► half of their lives. "Thus, then," exclaims Id. Fall Rout, in his " Ttree Daysat Mettray," " for 1 fr.oz llcentimula day the state furnishes a permanent recruiting etaf d sharpen, thieve', and museum, while for three sous per diem more a e have already (this gentleman refers to the year 1847) presented to society 369 honest young men, 369 useful citizens." It seems that in the central prisons sede Mews costa 426 francs 95 cents a year, while each of the Mettrey cdonista is reformed and maintained Kr 400 nue per annum, of which the government contributes 13 MOM than 160 francs exclusive of his earnings. With these facts before no, let us hope that the sale of the Mettray manufactures will b 3 no longer interdicted, and that the municipalities will consult their lost interests by affording additional support to the colony, and render it independent of the grant which government is alma to withdraw.—W. 11. W. • It should be here understood that s Would Is allowed, rbee received Into the establislunent, to choose hie own trifle, and N , oi trill. be does not like It, to change it for !mother —onee. Ebr Olrourt. WINDSOR, MONDAY.—Prince Albert enjoyed the sport of shooting this forenoon. Her Majesty and Prince Albert dined this evesig with the Duchess of Kent, at her ruidenco, Frogmen Houle. The royal party from the Castle, "company* sad attending her Majesty and his Royal Highness, consisted of the Duchess of Suth, viand, Lady Constance Leveloa 123tft Hon. Miss Murray, Hon. Miss Macdonald, the Earl of Morley, Col. the Hon. A. N. Hood, Lieut.-Col. the Rat C. B. Phipps, Capt. the Hon. A. Gordon, and Major•Gm Bowles. The Duke of Cambridge, attended by Baron Kato beck, left his residence at Kew, yesterday. to honour tie Marquis of Winchester with a visit at his sect, Ampit , house, Hants. The Duchess of Cambridge, attended by her lady is waiting and Mr. E. M ild may, left Kew, yettaday, to homer the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort with a visit, at Mali ton-house, Gloucestershire. The royal duchess proceeded to Paddington, and travelled by the Great Western Railway. Sir J. Pelly had an interview with Earl Grey, yes terday, at the Colonial-office. Despatches were received, yesterday, at the Colo. aistoffice, from the Governor of the Falkland Islands. Count Sehimmelpenninck was at Blackwall very early on Sunday morning, and at 8 o'clock the Generel Steam Navigation Company's mail steamehip Ocean arrived with the Dutch mail and his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange and suite. MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOSEPH TIIACKWELL.—This gallant and distinguished officer entered the service of his country so tar back u the year 1800. His first COMMIASiOI), a cornet in the 15th Light Dragoons, bears date 21rd Apnl in thatyear ; he obtained the rank of lieutenant in 1801; captain in 1807; major, 1815 •; brevet lieut..col., 1811; lient.-col., 1820; colonel, 1837 ; local rank of major-general, in India, in the same year; and in England in 1846. He served with Sir John Moore in Spain, was engaged et Coruna, Vittoria (wounded), the Pyreners, Oahu, Ton louse, and Waterloo ; in the latter he lost an arm. Daring the above service, it appears, by the Records of the 15th Humus," he frequently greatly distinguished himself, and was several times specially recommended for promotion. From 1820 to 1832 he commanded the 15th Humus, and hn services were oftentimes required in quelling riots at Notting ham, Biriniiigham,tko. In 1837 he proceeded to I ndia,and beis( promoted '.o the rank of major-general, held important and distinguished commands in tke first Atfghan campaign, the campaign In Ow.tlior, and on the Sutlej in 1846. He bore a conspicuous part in the actions of Ohuznee, Maharsjptes, and Sobraon: in the last his leading the cavalry witn such effect against the Sikh batteries is fresh in the memory of our readers. PRISON DISCIPLINE. The diecusion on the propositions laid down by Mr. C. Peanon, M.P., the city solicitor, in his lectures el Monday and Tuesday last, a report a which appeared in the Express at the time, commenced last evening, at the Literary Institution, Aldersgate-street. The theatre of the institnuon, in which the discussion was held, was crowded on the occasion. The CHAIRMAN (M D. Hill, Reg a Q.C.), in opening the proceedings, stated that the committee, who had the cars 54 the arrangements of the lectures, and the discussion of that and the ne evening, had drawn up certain resolutioer which moutons read and submitted to the meeting. The solutions were read by Dr. Rice, the mooretary to the cow mine*, as follows : 1. That the number of commitments and recommitments to price in Englael and Wales on criminal charges has increased during die present century upwards of 400 per cent., whilst population hr IF creased only 85 pee cent. 2. That GO per cent. of these commitments and recommitments an for larcenies, vagrancies, misdemeanors, juvenile offence', and Min petty delinquencies, punished by short time sentences of Irwin* meet, varying from seven days to eix months. 3. That to habits of indolence, imprcridence, and self indulge the origin of a large portion of these offences may be traced; and la the opinion of this meeting the improvement Is the beauty and cow , fort of our gaols, and the substitution of short imprisonment far graver punishment is the fruitful source of Increase both of committed and recommitted prisoners; ea English gaols no longer create either terror cc shame, but are often regarded as a place of shelter for the unfortunate, and for the idle criminal • congenial home. 4. That the elegant model gaol and House of Correction at Readings with its cellular system, is calculated, in the opinion of the meeting, !nether to immerse the number of petty offender' within the range of its influence. By the rules of the gaol hard is tour is excluded. By this system no direct means of reformation except religious teaching, are employed. Cellular separation is the sat Duniebm=t — and every prisoner is provided with a spicier* weU.warmed, and ventilated cell, with an abundance of wholeness and palatable food without himself making a single effort to ewe it• and with ten hours for sleep and the remainder of his time at knows disposal, for instruction in reeding, writing, and arithmetic, or secs light occupation, not enjoined but only permitted, for his recoatios and 'moment. 5. That, In the opinion of this meeting, in order to check the in crease of crime It is necessary that a total change of sy.tern should take pboe; that the aspect of our prisons should be made rather sad and repulsive than cheerful and attractive; and that not one ehiikK should be expended the beauty or convenience or strength of a =more than is required for the health and security of the 6. That while it ought to be en emential part of prison dieciplbte 15 endeavour to eradicate the seeds of crime by the moral and religious Watruction of mimeses, no system can be sound that does not attempt at the same time to counteract its proximate camel—halo. knee, imagendence, and self-indulgence—by endeavouring to create and casein the antagoeinic habits of Industry, fvothought, dependence, and witoontroL 7. That besides the con of building gaols, the annual metres of maintaining the criminal dames in the prisons of England and Wake amount to upwards of 400,0004, while their productive labour dote not realise above 30,0004 8. Teat 83 par mat. cf our wale criminals annually committed are between the ages of 15 and 45—the ego when in a free condition men not only maintain themselves, but supply a large portion of the sur plus labour and Industry by which the females, the children, 'Mother non-preitteltig dames of the community are supported. 9. That the iminabs in some of the American prisons entirely, and In Fromm and Belgium they near; y maintain themselves and defray the charges of the administration b , y their own labour and industry, moved by the etimutants of rewards for exertion and good conduct. 10. That while imprisonment is used as a means of punishing and MONEY AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Niw lioax Jaw. 10. —There has been no variation in quotations of seiturities within the mat month. The financial state. meats of the governors of the different Mates are, in general. satis factory. Th e message of the Governor of Pennsylvania to the O t t of lature that state gives a full and succinct amount of the flnancos, end the future financial macerate of the treasury. The aggregate indebtedness of the state on the IN Dee.. 1148, was 0,424,736d15. 94e., elsesifled as follows : PINANCJOI OF 112001TLYAIIIA.—Pantie Dirt. S. Dos. e. 6 per cent. stack do. do. „ 3025,801 lb 388911,1130 24 Relief Notes in circutidlon 702,664 00 Interest certificate' ostatendlnd 220,769 32 Intense& sortrikiates andebsed Interest ea mialined end ontideadlng oer Oersted bobs added to them 'lna banded 14,163 89 Domestic creditors 69,318 93 1,031,386 74 Total amount of pulls debt, Doh 1, lan .. 40,424,736 93 Of the above there is en sal dimmidahle at the Ma Re m osis io Mows: —....—...................- ......... 702,064 00 Domande aredltoes.. Interest certificates 41411 Idols .................» 939,403 79 1,031,386 71 'FM amount of Mkt maim lithe lona part of the Ueda; debt, nlll sot pram Immediamly masa thstreemery, as they will be emcd Item time to time as pramist. The makes 896,722 dole. 7k., is due sad deemadabie. Of the fended debt, 20 47,796 dole. Da are due and demandable, making the present lility of the treasury, 2,370,319 doh, 950. The mama of Interest on the public debt, pay able in 1849, is estimated se sanmed Interest oo the public debt, 1,887,349 dole. k. at 6 per Dols. e. cent. per annum 113,252 94 37,305,801 dots. 18e., at 3 per mat. 900,000 do's. at 14 per mat. 9,000 00 Regular annual Interest on the Imes se they stood Dee I, 1848 On a portion of the above touts there will be to pay 34 years' interest on February 1, 1849, which It is _ estimated will mores= Um amount 7,000 90 Is whatever amount or Interest certificates may be funded between the tat et Fibre/ay mg dr let of August neat, there will be bat Ike YAW period 4 yesre' ta.erest, estimated s ................................. 12(00 00 Probatde mount o 4 intend to 1849 _ 4006,542 99 To which add guaranteed interest on Ilauviliaand Potts ville Railroad, and Bold Yegle and Tioga Navigation Companies 2,089,042 59 The estimates of receipts and expenditures for the current year show an excess of revenue. after meeting all the urdinmy expeame, includ • ing the above sumfor interest of !AM dote. Among the expenditures is the sum of 200,0eu dots. fur emu:ening relief notes. The floating debt of the stale will soon get to be so large that it will have to be funded, and thus increase the permanent inels. The ordinary revenue has sot been suflkieat daring the past four years to meet the ordinary expeaditures ; sad melees additional sources of Income are created, the entraoedinary expenditures of the treasury win become too liege to manage. It will be aeon by the above tubW es,, that a portion of the old funded debt has become due and desadsYq and en im mediate liability, which must be provided for 1. some way, as more then a million of dollars of the new funded debt falls due before the close of next year. New Yoax, Jaw. 9, r.m.—Corrow.—The demand con• Unites active, and pries have further advanced j cent. The sales of the last three days amount to 3,300 bales. Upland and Mobile, New Florida. Orleano, & Tex. Inferior llOOO once Ordinary to good ordinary Middling to good middling .... Middling fair to (air Fully lair to good fair 7l to 7/ 8 to 81 Fine nom. nom. . ... _ . . . flint* the sailing of the last steamer there has been an advance mu Heed of 30e. per barrel as Sour, the market closing much erm ines, and a still further upward tendency. The exaort demand has almost ceased, but for lame use and eastern trade there has been considerable inquiry. The average prioe of Clennessee flour in this city, fur ;he last 26 years, has been 5 d 97e. For the year 1844 it was 4 dole. 61c.; 1843-4 dots. 99e.; 1846 -5 dole. 7c. • 1847-6 dole. 79e. ; 1846-6 dais. 92c. On the 12th of Dec. the sto c k in our city wan taken se many is possible, and the result was 462,000 barrels of all kinds of flour, and 478,000 bushels of wheat. The city and eastern trade takes not far from 4 000 , barrels per day, wl.ich, eith light receipts, is rapidly diminiihing the amount. The exports to Great Britain and Ireland, from this port, far the fortnight ending December 31, were 1,524 barrels corn meal, 29,192 bushels wheat, end 123,693 bushels earn. From Montreal, for 1848. the exports have been 127,585 barrels LOW, sad 179,207 bushels wheat. All state stocks and railway ..hares have improved materially, and the rate of exchange for the packet to-day is MI to 109. There has been a gradual improvement, establish ing the advance noted. Holders are firm, sad but little desire shown to sell at present rams. The range of coalman brands Western and Ornerier has been 3 dais. 23c. to S dole. blic. ; and the better kinds from S dots. 376 c. to 6 dais. Baltimore and Georgetown, Richmond county, &a, am now selling at 3 dots. 500. to 3 dole. 381 c. Bye Flour brings 3 dole. 12je. to 3 doh. 25e. Jersey men meal, 3 doh. Cum.-Whist, owing to the rise in flour, is firmly held at 10 8* . to 116 c. for Illinois and Ohio, and 12k. to 126 e. for Otneseee per 601bs. Rye is dull, at tBO. per kilba fluky is held at 64e. to 66c. per 4816 a. Oats have advaneed, and bring 44e. to 46c. for Northern. Indian corn, since the Runspa's arrival, has been in request et an advance of 2e. per bushel, with sake; new southern while at 60e., and yellow, 62c. to 636.; northern yellow, 63e. to 66e. ; and old mixed west ern, 620. to 64e. Faoruoosh-Puck continues to have an upward tendency. dales of mem have been made at 18 doL to 18 dol. 50e. for new mem, and 14 dd. 50e. to 15 doL for prime-the stock is light, and the demand active. Country inspected beef Is Ohm st lit dot. to 17 dol for mess and prime. The receipts of lard ars light, and transactions limited. Warsaw Is in fair request. Isles of drudge have been made at 23 cents. and 234 mats on time, adding interest; barrels, 24 cent*. Agars have advaneed. 100 barrels Canada pots sold to-day at 7 dais.; New York pots may be quoted at 6 dole. 75e., and pearls at 6 dots. 60c. Naval Brous are without change. Rough turpentine *Meg moderately at 2 dada 50a, spirits of turpentine 33e. to 360. Futu.-Dry oidikit have arrived freely ; sales have been made at 2 dole. 370. to 2 dole. 50e. Mackerel are selling at 8 dots. 30e. to dots. 25e., and 3 doh. 50e. fir Nos. 1,2, and S. Warm On. Is held at 36 mats be shipping qualities, and 40 to 41 cents tot Ideated. WITALZIONI may be quoted nominally at 30 cents, but the principal holders refire to acme a pries at width th ey will se l l. Famours.-The rates are to Liverpool foe cotton In square bales 5.16 d., and in round end. per lb.; flour, la. grain in bulk, baekd pan ad y To 7 Ltdat I'6' 8 g tr,L. AL per Mt. far flour, ;n . =the r r es" arti c cles li pro portion. To Haves : Cotton,_l cent per lb. PEILLDELPHIA, JAN. V !le -The market for flour has be eery dull today, and t he =4 sales are 1,200 brie standard Pennsylvania breads, at 6,23 dole, which Is the now firm a4dng rate; Lae wee soemeldng et a speculative inquiry at 5,124 dub., but no seller could be found. Rye Sour quiet at 8,12 e dole. Can meal beery at 2,75 to 1,874 doh. for Pennsylvania and B-andywine. Wheat in demand at 110 e. to 1120. for good reds, sellers want more. 03111 warm, at 66c. for southern yellow. Oats, southern, Is worth 320. Cotton is looking op since the news, mom small lots have changed hands at 76e.t0 71e. for Uplands. Prwhinos, no Mock In market. Butter sells at 110 to nee. Seeds, darer in demand, at 3,30 to 4 dole. Whiskey la selling at 26e. for Wk., and ewes. Freights very du IL METTRAY AND ITS THREATENED DISSO- LUTION. Sir,—l read with Tier - Vieiret the paragraph in your paper of yesterday which announces that the French government have notified the withdrawal of the annual sub suiptioil in support of the Reformatory at hlettray, and that the colony is in danger of Wog broken up. After the almost romantic benevolence which prompted oce of its founders to give up his patrimony fir the sole purpose of trying one of the most interesting experiments in reforming criminals on record —of er the comparatively liberal manner in which the experi ment has been an-ported by a few municipalities and private individuals—atter eight years of success—let ns hope that the colony of Mettray will not be abandoned ; but that in default of governmental support, private and municipal benevolence will extend itself so uto render it independent of the national treasury, which, in its present impoverished condition finds itself unable to spare even the poor pittance now contributed. _ . . . A visit to the colony so lately as November showed me, however, seeds of dissolution even more deeply seated than want of contributed funds. The fallacious doctrine of com munism introduced at the revolution deprived the colony of a main support. The government forbade the sale to the public of articles manufactured in prisons and asylums, lest these should compete with the products of the ateliers nationaux. The ordinary markets for the sale of the meet profitable articles manufactured at Mettray were therefore closed, and the skilful young artificers were obliged to be turned out to work on the farm. In notifying this interdict, the directors, in their last report, thus set forth *Ltd effects : i