The Express. — London, England, 1849-02-23 00:00:00

:!. °/l. lllesion, if this elks had been abolished, mad tty-it was retained ; but his Rant Highases Prises las estimated to it without aay the Chan 'Wks a the Duchy had bees pea a oaken el SOW. • ar e . The peanut Chancellor, Mr. Timbales Leigh. whose Iseal knowledge end &Nifty woe well hamwa in that house, sew the duties of the. tinge without • Islay. ger ; wi therr oaken hang ben aggellated before the asonsion of her present Mejesty, it would sot ba right to detain thew viduak et their can Although the W ee i es Mad be paid dur:ng the lives of the pretest holden, those Olivia would be abolished. The property being sawed by in members of the mused sad the eseneary, tee whole of the email acted without salary—the setrotary, of coarse, bad • salary. The ate members of_:cenneil were—Prises Albers • the Chief Ccamksioner of Woods sad Forests, • menthen: ex officio; the chancellor of the diocese; hir.Penis baton Delp, ; Mr. George Edward Anne, who held the cffin cf keeper of her Majeay's privy paw, and seal as treasurer to his Roma Highaimi the Prince of Weise ; and there were two private members of the coon : Lord Portmaa gad himself (the Earl of Lice +m). He• believed they had find the salaries at a minimum, end then was ao property to the same eztent which was ma naged at so small an expense. The whole of the proceeds of the duchy, after paying the expense, were invested for the benefit tat the prince. The same would be deem in the ease of any other miner. He could mean the hos. gentleman, that sotwithstanding his complaints, there had been angular inenw every year sloes the introduction of the new system, altheaghcf course the snit m 'fantasias the reseipt of tithe to the syt t of abolisning all tithe, made the receipts much Its, this If the old et stem had bean persevered en. Bat he would now tell the hoe. gentleman why the balance-sheet was not go favourali'e is the last two or throe as in others— and here he mast ssy that he thought his hon. friend had not acted a ith complete fairness as regarded the duchy. As act was paned, which he defied tuna* cosonted with Corn wall not to approve of, the Stesionable Mason Commission Act. In order to put the whole property of the county is sedebetery position, it was moat essential to dela, the rights of the derby, as distinguished from the Waits of the of inhabitants. Undoubtedly, there had been a very peat pull oa the purse el the ditch , and it had been ( or earning out this ant. X y it would be of advantage to the dunby of Corn wall. Whoa these sneaks wen mode me the Duchy of Cerawall it ahead have been fairly represented that although these had bees abuses, the ease e **longer existed, or if they nand, they were merely nnacants of the old system, MI there was every prospect that in a 'Sett time the position el the Dube of Cornwall end the country would to most nedsable. He must my a kw wads se to the Duchy el Lancaster. He admitted to the hon. gentleman at ones did the Derby of Lancaster was sot at the present moment la • Wiest-trey position ;at the estate time he was quite Bare that Lord Camp's, 11 was most anxioas, whenever the 00111• WI eared, to remove eve ry abuse that existed in t 1 elacliy. The hem. entlesnan woeld hodly forget that the deskablasees of placing this duchy in a more favourable patios was felt by the crown shout • ear and • half aeo. A nonce' was appointed to etfeet sometime like• perms cut management of the duchy, me therefore tl soy appointed gen tlemen of this sad the other hou e, who should give their gratuitous services. He conidered that the malt of the new management would be to increase the remise, Put her M.j.ety would derive no benefit during her life. When the hoe. gentleman said that he considered it was understood that the duchy of Lancaster was te be is eluded in the other paste, the hon. ataienten was set de ceived, bat eleeeivod himself. The duchy of Lamar was held sneer • totally Menace title Irma the net of the pro perty, and soles it was speeisliy m otioned would n- t ee s with Le reminder of the crown property. The boa. gentleman bandit his attention drawn to it an the seceesiss of William IV. did not endeavour oa the secession of her present Majesty to obtain the sr. reagenteat whit' be said was promised him on • termer cotesion. Hs (Lord Liaeoln) could not think that parlia mat was ailed epos to rectify his mistake, anal mow appoint a stamina of the hones to interfere with the management of property which, by a deliberate act of parliment, was placed use a differen: footing during the life of the sovereign. The bee. gentleman had stated that in this duchy 12,0001. only hid been t aid into the privy purse out of • pose revenue of 31,1401. • year. He admitted that it wee a very small propertioe, and there was coosideraVe room I. r improvement; but he was perfectly confidant that ao committee, if it had a right to interfere, could place this duchy on the footing on which it ought to he placed. It must not be expected, es regatdsd the duchy of Lancaster, that it could ever ;ley to the public purse or the purse et the energize anything like the proportionate income which • private indivWual iteriesd from his estate, because it con sisted of a number of minute properties scattered all over the country, which required more expensive agency than in the ease of private property. He admitted all the incenvenitnees of the property, but as loog as it remained is its present position it could not be more economically administered. la reference to the ease mentioned by the hon. member for Stoke, the duchy had nothing to do with the conduct of that case except this It wen held that the lessee, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, bad au Equitable claim not to be left to fight a losing battle with an immense number of powerful oppo nents, and the duchy undertook to snot the lessee. It it was considered unfair and improper that the owner of manorial property, possession the right of manor under lands on which parties had keowinely and after due caution built expensive houses, whin were subsequently injured by the working of the mica below, if it was coraidered an aorta thing that the owner of these mines should be enabled to work these mines without being relied on for compensation tor damage, let the hos. member for Stoke introduce • bill to rectify that defect in the lite, but let him sot bring it forward as a metal com plaint sgainst the duchy of Lancaster. He had only funny to say Wit he trusted that the house would give a decided negative to the motion of the hon. member. Mr. BASS bore testimony to the efficient manner in which the Oaks of the duchy were adminktered„ AN Hoc Hamnan eomplained that a gentleman wholly ussonneeted with the county Palatine had been appointed clerk of the peace lor Lancashire, by the late Lord Holland. Mr. TRELAWNY, in reply, disclaimed all pereml soothes. His only of jert yea to snake the Doke of Corn wall a priori of 50,000 k a year, a consideration el come importance when the question of the yens, prinee's main tisanes ems before the house. After a few words from the Berl of lancet ...4, the Masi divided.—For the motion 27 Asainat 74-47 STEAM MARINE. Oa the notion of Mr. ANDBMION, a select emeanittee ens appointed to inquire tato the practicability of yrovidiap, by saimae of the cosateretal stem wise of the .miry, s TIMM steam am, available fcv the Italians' de'enco want required, sad of thereby effecting s large reduction of the naval expenditure. VANCOUVER'S ISLAND, Mr. HUME .Deed an address for copy of the correspon d'ses between the lindson's Bay Company and the Berm. —ln for the Colonies, in which the case submitted to her 1114sety's attorney sad solicitor- general, and opinion the n rerposting the ca pabil i ty of the Hudson's Bay Company to hold laud as a grant from tt e crown on the mirth west sort of America, was specially forwarded and referred to is the letters of Mr. Hawes and Sir J. H. Polly, printed in the parliamentary papers presented to this holm in August last, respecmg Vancouver's Island. He thought it was proper they should lays this Wassail* previous to the disassioa on the entiett. He was lasesasd that the mama to Who.. government had coded this terri tory eo of a Saw isetividnals only. who WOO without money sr mesas milicient to enable them to saissiaa the island or transport emigraats thereto. Siam esengslice of California by the United states, Weems's'. blind had become of even .are thin it had been Wise, M amas* as P. was the, es when we could wilablieh a poet for refitting shipping is ewe el a war es the whets lime el that side of the i..lsss most ben CAps Hess to 3a. iMg's Straits; and itappeissibe hint that Ho Osiesial-eMee and the Adminhy wen their duty to the country in glide, it away to the 'a Bey Cempaay. Kr. II /MIN soured lie lea. Mead that lt wee sot ia 1 the power of the Colosiaballee (awl be disked whether it walla the purer of pethesest) to obtain the Math le resaired. The aphides alai* to is the nesespadathe sow before Forbears* was 'baked by the Theissa's Bay Garay is a case etheabled by then to the Mimey sad doliettor Generale la sesserpasee of the Celeaisl•othoe havieg required his these is awsrease, Welded by legal opialm that they einild receive the great if aade. They obtaisted that spkies, sad is the eathori or the Attersay as - 1 itheike•Geserale laid dows, the Celesithedthe was &WNW, sad s thereines takiled the islead to the esespeay, who were sew is pc*. Mai* Ili it. Bat if It were sot eo—if the opiates were is their ads of the Colodisl-othee3t wood, seracthas to ell pre :Easao refused. It wee sot usual to ky bikes the here the °tasked boa the kw odors of the wawa raw y lee the 'althea of the goverathiat. Der did he Walt it advitaW that each a pesellee &sold be alablithed. He dared" Lie his. Mad would set pew his met s. the legal irks ellode be ri r t s o ci Crt bad so eenespeadethe es ldel: wee Nth' already ea the table IN =it the ether which had be r ea side at the Lame of smother has. bleak sad which would be predated pethisas to the die owls.. If the power of the keys te inks the pith was &petal, it was open to the war age*, to etheis ether lope! thliteritY ow the owidith Kr. ILGLIONBY said that as maid the power of per 'dearth to ceder MM. that wee a maim Si eese_tff: tease, sad o rs l thew ware prinisle of the of the kw of the sews Virg 1.11114 he i sa r—. . If he mes cot nistahnon • very mini itowdea the of the Awarasy.eastad is the of the Fenny Let lad lmema pentad le t. however, woe an the peat ; here the had net ben Wm& bf bat by emetber . lad UWE, An' wat t IMES SIM MO the awledy of lele rine gnaw an% the wimilleamam whether they Weald to produes IL liar seamy an, he 1114 4.4 .1.1 be wars eibl. te men tan iaMoa i lied Iwo slake pained wy the Odsois des the Isdeath Ike Gamy, senwpaing whisk mem a nee awl *dm mewed to fa lb Inn sad whin wee *awarded toots he Ombakinhee to pfd. their *linen At it a} poi ta bin, Ihmodiso, nese deeeands had bees part of Oaf" an eat* to he prestand with ft. Mr. WTI.I) Ora la a one EN the t, where a part of the liW il deulaisai bed bon his they =say, fa seeps* to when it mon diailled minim they M e l iZole sc o e s .Pe wh t ret I L * " la Salli b i ld illimift. " the - 16. lII= iodised to &lib tao boostood Itto Intim to opiallestmo. 'Do Imo olloorood at 110 Wastes to 1 yds& 1..,!,E1it Symms. • LULL The =Me * Perth Momles. sad the vital I. trltl be welle ensktor. the 23rd The toft lboadlioe, to the illeattarsatas, rapt. Adsh. o, ol7t i z i mlllagioag, 141 le =vie op ea the emit* The mile kr Tim Opirts, LMu.. Iledeka. Mils, art 011ealhe will le op cm the ChM e mad e The Nona Ow . the Woot el Wes Madeira win be ma. ep oh the mono et *OM I. lb W Mak Wake Ilwasoe, Sow. Item; 11 N Odom. lig audio. lad WOO ix 6=7 J . oleatimmor. Ormile. ChM, art Ten, wain so es dr wombs el die Itml Mai The =lute ter New ilsalb Wakik Tao viemot's land, aid lteo Toolord via be aria q oh the melee at the lollnarth. The nib ere arse.. the inai. ad balm £7l will sate to ea the fi r, er 40 Haw& The molls b. epee" die 1i Wade. TOM w &dia. ds Otylos. Howpalavo. awl .0t a. Ws ihnthaaotos. he op as the aft ol the Nth March. MOH WATZS AT LONDON SUDO& Tor DreW. Te NIP pot I; Ariortea, ti or. pre & TONAAArt—Nonr,t, f air prt is Atterowt, sel.. pao & LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 23. WE are at length able to congratulate ourselves on a decisive event in the campaign of the Punjaub. Reinforced by the 8,000 or 10,000 men, under General Auclimvry, and already commanding an army of regular and irregular troops to the extent of more than 20,000 men, General WHISH bas contrived to produce an irapreeston upon tits fortress of Mooltan. The concluding operations of the siege will be for ever remarkable in the mutate of the Indian army for the complete and enormous appliances wielded by the besiegers, and for the pereeverusg and chivalrous courage of the beleaguered party. We suppose that at the very utmost the numerical strength of the garrison upon which Moonier could depend wee below 10,000 men. With thee, be had to 'maintain an extensive circuit of ramparts, and keep in check the impatient daring of one of the finest armies that ever followed the British standard in the east. Prom the batteries established by General WHIM, oaths 27th December, within the circuit of the Duarte, there was an in cessant volley of shut and shells, sad rockets, and every other specks of missile invented by the gentas of scientific warfare, until the morning of the 2nd of January—and bearing in mind that the range of these batteries was gradually diminished from five hundred yards on the 27th, to eighty yards on the 29th De -1 °ember, and that they contained as many as 160 !pieces of cannon, a larger proportion of which were of the heaviest calibre, it is certainly a matter of astonishment that the garrison were able to keep their assailants at arms' length, even for the short space of two or three days. 'The I laceount of an officer who took part in the whole of these operations describes the exertions of the garri sonl as almost beyond belief. One man weaned to do the work of a dozen, and in spite of the extensive gaps inc e ssantly made by the teary allot of the British gins in the walls of the fort, there was fur some time apparently no abatement in the ardour of the defenders. The despatches so far received bring no detailed account of the casualties sustained in the as.ault of the 2nd January. The loss arising out of the occupa tion of the suburbs on the 27th December is exceed ingly trifling, and certainly appears to corrobo rate the allegations of most defective manage ment in the attack on precisely the same points in the early stages of the siege. The strength of these defences has been increased rather than diminished during the interval, and tt is nevertheless found a comparatively tasy task to occupy them, with the loss of a third as many men as were in the first instance sacrificed in an unsuccess- ful enterprise. We cannot doubt that if the urgency of the regular earviee bad permitted the authentic' at Bombay to detain the steamer for twenty-four hours longer we should have been informed of the final capture of the citadel LB well as the town of Meehan. Emulating the Sultan of Mvsoaz, it is probable that MOOLHAJ will relieve the British column which is first to effect an entrance lute his stronghold from the necessity of making him prisoner. When General Batas inquired for tho terscat of Tirroo SULTAN, he was referred to the pile of 'Ain beneath a sally port ; and the resolution of our present antagonist is every way calculated to suggest a repe tition of the same result with himself. Should a less cruel fortune deliver him as a prisoner of war into the power of General Whim, we cannot permit our selves to doubt that while effectual precaution■ are taken against his future machinations, some method will be within our reach of combining magnanimity with the supremacy of conquest in the case of an antagonist so eminently distir guiahed by his skill and valour. Leaving Mooltan either dismantltd or in the safe custody of a British garrison, the effect of these successful operations upon the lower Chenaub will be toeicee up one outlet of the insurrection, and to con centrate the fortunes of the war upon a single point. Presuming no impediment to occur in Scinde, re quiring the presence of an imposing force, the whole of the Mooltan division will be at liberty to move northward, and take part in the tactics of the grand army; and if the concerted movements are executed with precision and vigour, there is everything in favour of terminating the operations in the field before the occurrence of the motsoon. A host of contingencise, however, intervene be tween our present success and so desirable a consum mation. It is reported, with more or less of positive assertion, that a body of 12,000 At ghans, with some 10 or 12 pieces of cannon, had actually set out upon an expedition directed against Shikarpur, in Upper Scinde, and an important military post in that part of the country. Any diver sion of the tribes occupying the west of the Indus would lead to very serious consequences; and while we fully recognise the possibility of events of this ague in the present unsettled state of the whole region of the Indus, we are not disposed to accept imele a statement except upon very precise evidence. The incursion of Doer MOHAMED into Peshawar is entirely another question. It was scarcely likely that the Cahoot rulers would permit so favourable an opportunity as the present to par away without attempting some diversion in behalf of a scheme to which they are very warmly attached. The repossession of Peshawar is a project of some standing and of considerable popu larity among the Affghans, and it is pretty certain that, in venturing so far out of his dominions as to invade that province, Doer MOHAMED cares little for the fortunes of Caurroa 81zon, and would be ex ceedingly glad to enter into negotiations with any party, Sikh or British, able to bold out any tangible tope of guaranteeing to hint a legitimate hold uppoon Piehavror. It is already affirmed in reepeetable Lilian circles, that the Governoe-Omseral is not in =to regard a restoration of Peshawar to the and a cession of the ragged country west et the Jhelum to some of the native chiefs, se the bases of a settlement in that quarter of the country. The policy of such a measure would be altogether determined by the extent and character of the interference undertaken by the Affghans in the present struggle. In the meantime the grand army under Lord Govan remain encamped within a few miles of the ' enemy, and it is said are restrained from any active measures by the positive orders of Lord Deutousta, who ie unwilling to receive any more of Lord Gouoa's formal despatches until he has under him an army which cannot be beaten. The Best India Company will not hear of these pretended proceedings without some twinges of dis miy. Their revenues are already in deficit, and at a very moderate computation, the war in the Punjaub sub them 6,0001. a day. THE question of factory legislation seems intermix able, and it is so chiefly because it was commenced and oondected in a hostile spirit, and dealt with on princi ples which are unsound. The session of 1847 saw the triumph of Lord ASHLEY over the sensible portion of the Hones of Commons, over the mill-owners, and in teak it may be said, over the freedom of our manu facturing industry. The Ten Hours Bill became law through the weelame of the government, and the vindictive feelings excited in the minds of the country gentlemen in parliament by the samosa of the Anti-corn Law League. But friends and foes of the resume bad the satisfac tan of believing that for a time our northern mean- Ilesturers might go on in peaca and that lords and iodise at the west-end would content themselves in the swam they had achieved. This, however, is far from Wing the ass. The question is again What ; the Haas of Cornmeal is to magas the whole ques tion; end *patio is epee MON the role in the mom THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EYENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1849. feettertng districts. 'The advocates of the Tea HMS Bill are net content that any person ender 18 years of age, or that any womeadwhateoeverage shall work more than tea hears in any day, bot they insist that no machinery asp/eyed in nulls to which the Factory Ad applies, shall work more than ten hours, if women' Lid young persons are employed to tend it. They know that neither cotton, nor woollen, nor silk, nor flax mills can work without the aid of women and young persons tender 18 years of age, and they still moist, that beyond the period of ten hours in any one day none of these classes of work people shall be permitted to work in connexion with machinery employed in such mills. When the subject was before parliament in 1844, and again in 1847, it was argued by the advocates of "short time" as a gentian of benevolence. They did not wish, they professed, to diminish the productiveness of the mechanical investments of the north, or to cripple our home or export trade ; their on:y object wu to limit the working timed the classes included in the bill to ten hours per day, so that health and education, and morals, and social comfort, might not be sacrifi ced to great profits for the capitalist, and high wages for the workman. Bat if this was not mere pretence why the agitation now against the system of " relays" ? It is not proposed that women or young persons should work more than ten hours per day. It is not proposed to deprive them of the leisure, which the Factory Act professed to secure them. The whole matter, which has recalled Lord ARBLZY from his sanitary labourr, and Mr. °AVILES front his judi cious °beauty, is the extension of the practice of em ployingalarger number of hands to do:the same amount of work, by kcepir g machinery employed eleven or twelve hours, as the case may be, without the neces sity of any of the protected classes of wet kpeople being engaged more than ten hours per day. For the information of our non-manufacturing readers, we will state a case. A certain mill employs 100 heeds, or workpeople; of these all the women and young persons of both sexes, under 18 years of age, are prohibited by law from working more than ten hours in any one day. We will suppose this pro tected class to number 60 individuals out of the whole number employed in the mill. The object sought is to run the machinery twelve hours per day instead of ten, and to do this an addition of one-filth must be made to the hands limited by law to ten hour. Twelve more hands will be required, making 72 of the protected class, or 112 in all. With this addition the costly machinery and premises de manufacturing establishment can be made more productive by one-fifth, or 20 per cent., out of which of course will be afforded an increase both of profits and wages. Now, where is the objection to this? The avowed objects of the advocates of " short time " are attained, and the capitalist is saved no small portion of the loss with which he was menaced. We confess we are no little surprised that any man of the slightest pretence to common sense should object to this mode of meeting the difficulty of reconciling the interests of the employed and the employer. Bat Lord ASHLEY M not satisfied. Mr. OASTLER is not satisfied. Mr. liisnLEY is alike discontented. This last named gentleman is est ecially violent in his attempts to stir up ill feeling in the cotton districts. If we mistake not, he worked his mill 14 hours per day till the law interfered, and ever since the passing of the Ten Hoare Bill some portions of his establish ment have been at work for 12 hours per day. Mr. HINDLE! became virtuous when the law compelled it, and now insists that everybody else shall be virtuous. He reminds us of a tippler, who, when his poverty or his ruined constitution compels him to be sober, insists upon all the world joining the temperance society. It appears there is some doubt as to the interpretation of the law. The opponents of the "relay system" rely upon the 26th section of the 7& 8 Vic., chap. 29. That section runs thus: And be it enacted, that the hours of the work of children and young persons, in every factory, shall be reckoned from the time when any child or your g person shall first begin to work in the moming in rue% factory, and shall be regulated by a public clock, or by some other clock open to the public view, to be approved in either case in writing under the hand of the inspector or sub•inspector of the district. They argue from this that if a mill began to work at six in the morning, and a particular "hand" do not commence work till eight or ten o'clock, the time of this " hand" shall be computed from the hour when the mill commenced: that is, if A begin to work at six, and B at eight, B shall be deemed to have been employed from the time when A began to work, and cannot legally work more than ten hours, reckoning from six o'clock. The clause we have quoted is somewhat ambiguous, and lawyers will doubtless read it differently. The ma gistrates before whom the question has been brought have, however, in nearly every case, decided it in favour of the liberty of working by " relays," and it is to remedy this that Lord ASHLEY has given notice of a declaratory bill, by which he intends to prohibit the working by " relays." A deputation from the muter spinners and manu facturers of Lancashire had an interview with Lord JOHN Russeu. and Sir GEORGE GREY on Thursday, but we believe they did not receive any positive answer. We a-e, however, in a position to announce that it is not the intention of government to interfere with the " relay system," and that a bill is already drawn which will remove all doubt as to its legality. The bill will recite the several acts to which it refers, and will authorise the working by sets of hands under certain provisions, to guard against any infringe ment of the spirit of the present factory acts. It will order a register to be carefully kept of all "hand," employed in sets, and that lists of them be fixed up in some conspicuous place in the mill. It will also order that due notice is to be given to the factory inspectors of an intention to work by "relays.' Care will be taken that no female or young person shall be employed in more than one factory on the same day, and a declaration that the regulations are complied with will have to be signed by the occupier of the factory or his responsible agent. There are other provisions included in the bill, among which is a scheidale of the registered hands employed in " relays," and the utmost precaution is takes to ensure that no violation of the spirit of the act of 1847 shall take place. We cannot for a moment hesitate to approve of the course taken by the go vernment in this matter, nor have we any doubt that the bill will receive the assent of a very large majority of the House of Commons. It may be a question whether an arrangement for eleven hours might not have been more convenient and ad vantageous for all parties interested, but in the posi tion in which they are placed, we think the govern ment have made a wise decision. Cbt Court. THE LEVEE. The Quin brad tame (dm and thin Pennon) yew tardily afternoon in St. James's Palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albertanived from Beekinglsom Palmas shoed, bt fore 2 oUock, attended by the Ditcher of Norfolk, the Countets of Charlemunt, Lord C.amweys, Lord George Lennox, Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, Colonel WyLle, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Colonel &mom Before the levee, the Queen gave audiences to Sir John Hobhouse, Lord John Russell, and Viscount Palmerston. Ls Comte Collared° had an madhouse of the Closes, and bad the honour of prasenting his credentials as Envoy Retreat.- dinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from hie Majesty the Emperor of Austria. Toe Duke of Cambridge was present at the levee, attended by Major Stephens, Equerry in Waiting. The Prince of Orange alto attended toe levee; Rear-Admiral Arrive, Aide-de-Camp to his Majesty the King of the Netherlands, and Capt. de Goedecke, ale-de•ounp to the Prince of Orange, were is waiting on his royal highness. The Queen and Prince Albert entered the Throne Room accompanied Ly their royal visitors and attended by the ladies and gentlemen in waiting. The levee then com menced by the introduction of the foreign diplomstic circle, when the following presentations to her Majesty toik place : —By the Turkish Ambassador, Taves. Effendi, hie Excel. loamy'. Privet* Secretary; by the Belgian Minister, Mona. Nnewers de Ls Tour ; by the Fortuities Minister, Le Che valier de Hurts; by the Swedish Minister, Mons. Sibbero, SI critaire de Ligation de S. Id. Lill Rai de Snide et de Nor sage ; by the Sardinian Minister, Count Corti, Attachi of the Legation. 'the following noblemen and gentleman had the honour of being presented to her Majesty : Sir James M'Adans, on being appointed Deputy Lieute nant fur Middlesex, by Earl Grey. Sir Roderick J. Murchison, on his return from abroad, by the Marquis of Breadalbane. my. Frantic Vanderlure Mills, on his appointment to her I Majesty's Hon. Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, by Lord Foley. Mr. Horatio Waddington, on his appointment ea Under secretary of State for the Home Department, by Sir George Grey. Mr. Henry Stanhope Illingworth, on appo:ntment se Apo• thecae, to the Queen Dormer and °slur members of the royal famdy, by Earl Howe. 'Mr. Philip Solomon,, on his appointment as one of her Majesty's Hon. Corps cf Gentlemen at Arms, by Lord Foley. Lord Say and Sale, on his accession to the peerage, by his grace the Doke of Norfolk. Viscount Chowten, on appointment to the Scots Fusilier Guards, by Colonel Berkeley Drummond. Right. Hon. Thomas Wyse, on his atpantment to be Minister P.enipotentiary at ths Court of Greece, by Visct. Palmerston. Earl of Clare on his appointment of Lieutenant of the coenty and city of Limerick. be Lord John Russell. The Lord Mayor, by Lord John Russell. Earl Talbot, c n succe e ding to the Ws, by the Marquis of Anglesey. Mr. Baines, M.P., President of the Poor Law Board, by Lord John Russell. Mr. Norman Matdonald, on his appointment as Governor of Sierra Leone, by Earl Grey. Alderman Lawrence, by the Lord Mayor. Mr. George John Ceyley, by his father, Mr. Cayley, M.P. Mr. John Wood, High Sheriff. Hants, by Lord Ashley. Mr. Porter, llag.teerate, Head Police-Aloe, Dublin, by the Eight Hon. Sir William Somerville. Mr. Augustus Kepprl Stephenson, by his father Mr. Stephenson. Mr. Hamilton Aide, onrpromotion, by,LGeneral Lord Aylmer. Me. R. Madoz, Bromley, on his appointment as Secretary to the Audit Beard, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. George Anderszn, on his appointment to the govern meat of the Mauritius, by Earl Grey. 11r7.4. 6 4,... ' Mr. Knowlys, on his appointment as Deputy-Lieutenant for the county of Lancaster, by Mr. J. Wilson Patten, M.P. ' Mr. Vaughan, on his appointment t. the Regius Profes sorship of Modern History in the University of Oxford, by Lord Jobs Russell. Mr. Gustavus Cornwall, by the Marquis of Clantiearde. Mr. Mental', Vader Secretary of State lour the Colonic', by Eul Grey. Mr. Edward Dandy, on being apoointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, by hie Grace the Earl Marsha Mr. Belford Hinton Wilson, her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires to the lit-public of Venezuela, on has return to Enelanil, by Viscount Palmentm. Rev. J. Prothero, on being appointed Chaplaintrltnr. Prince Albrrt. Sr John Lundy, Bart., Captain, R.N., on succeeding to his title, by Lord William Fitzroy K.U.B. Sir Percy Nugent, Bart., M.P., b.L., by Vint. Ebriogton. Sir Henry Litton Bulwer, on his marriage, by tke Mar quis of Salisbury. Sr Joshua Rowe, C 8., Chief Justice of Jamaica, on re ceiving the order of Civil Companion of the Bath, by Earl Grey. The Rev. Dr. Vaughan, of Harrow, by Viset. Ebrington. Dr. Mscloughlio , by the Earl of E ssex. Dr. Nuttall, by Sir James Me °rigor, Bart.:l The Rev. S. O'Sufivan, D.D., by the Earl of St. Germans. Rev. Charles William Lodi., by the Hon. Keith Stewart. Mr. Thomas Phinn, on his appointment as Recorder of Portsmouth, by Sir George Grey. Mr. Serjoant Wallinger, on voceiving the .liegri l ik of the Coif, by the Lord Chancellor. The Rev. Alan Gardner Cornwall, on his appointment as a chaplain in ordinary to her Majesty, by the Lord Chain hernia. Mr. Robert Wm. Kennard, on his appointment as a coca miscinner of lieutenancy of the City of Landon, by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Cornet Edward Melville Lawford, 4th Madras Cavalry, by the Right Hon. Sir Francis Baring, First Lord of the Admiralty. Lieut-General Sir Janes Maodonell, on appointment to the 71st Regt, by Field Marshal his Grace the Duke of Wellington. Major-General Sutherland, on appointment to the com mend of the troops at the Mauritius, by Field Marahal h. s Graze the Duke of Wellington, commander-in-chief. Lieut.-Colonel Goul•iurn, on his promotion, by the Right Hon. Henry Ooulburn. Lieut.-Colonel Hon. 0. Cecil Forester, on his promotion, - - by F. M. the Marquis of Anglesey. Lieut.-Colonel Trevelyan, on appointment to t 6 .7•317- stream Guards, by the Duke of Cambridge. Major-General Wood, C. 8., on his appointment to the eoloneley of the 3rd West India Regt., by the Duke of Wellington. Colonel Taylor, on promotion and appointment to the corn mend at the fele of Wight, by the Duke of Wellington. Colonels O. P. Wymer, C. 8., A.D.C., and Giravenor Kirby, by Sir J. Cam Hobbouse. Captain Bingham, on appointment Royal Amillay, and M 'aui J. Ashley Maude, on p:dement Royal Hone .rtillery by Lieut.-Genen !p d 84 Thomas Downam. • • - • Maio-General Sir Frederick Stavin, on appointment to the 83rd mgt. ; Colonel Grant, on promotion • Colonel H. W. Gordon, on promotion ; Captain Anderson, on promo. tion; Captain Trelawny, on promotion ; and Lieut. Boothby, en appointment to the Royal HMO Artillery, by the Mar quis of Anglesey. L'entenant Sydney Carden, on return from foreign ser vice; Lieutenants Dashwood and Arthur H. Vernon, by the Marquee of Alesej. Admiral Sir BIM.n Cori, ea appointment as commander in-chief at Portsmouth ; Vioe•Adatiral Sykes, on his pro motion to Vies-Admiral; Rear-Admiral Sir George Sep moor, on his return from foreign sank*; Captain Henry Chads. R.N., on promotion and return from foreign ser vice; Camila Maxwell, R.N., on his return from New Zealand ; Commander Powell, on return from the command of the lakes of Canada ; Commander Henry D. Rogers, on return from foreign service; Commander G. Levi., on pro motion sad return from foressu service ; and Lieutenant J. A. Hodgskin, R.N., by the First Lord of the Admiralty. Commander R. T. Bedford, R.N., of the Queen Dow ager's household, on kisy_romotion, by the H. W. Ashley. Captain M'Quhst, B N., on return from foreign service, by Rear Admiral Dundee. Captain Edward Stanley, R.N., on return from foreign service, by Admiral Dundee. Captain Michael Seymour, R.N., on his return from foreign service, by Earl Spenser. Captsin Chambers, MN., on promotion, by Bear-Admiral Nadas, C.B. Captain Peel, R.N., on promotion, by Sir Robert Pml. Cornet Jolliffe f by Lieut.-colonel Lord George Paget. Lieutenant Williamson, Madre. army, on his return from India, by Colonel Wylde. Lieutonant Thomas Roles, by his father, Mr. Bribes. Lieutenant Windsor H. Humphreys, on his appointment to the Royal Canadian Rifles, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam e. Cornet George Feamley Whittl e :4sta% on appointment to 12th Royal Lancers, by Lord Roke Major Percival, by Lieut-Gent ILord Fitsroy Somerset. Capt. Andrew Green, on promotion, by his father, Captain Sir Andrew Green, R.N. Capt. Ross, on promotion and feints from Ceylon, by Sit John Burgoyne. Norfo Capt. Compton, on his marriage, by his Grace the Duke of lk._ _ Capt. Murray Cowell, on promotion, by Colonel Bentisek. Capt. Edwards, M.P., by Sir Charles Wood Bart. Capt. J. D. M'Andrinv, on return from foreign service, by Lieut.-General P. Andrew, C.B. Brevet-Major H. B. Harvey, on promotion and appoint ment to the Staff, by Major-General Lord Frederica Fits clarence, G.C.H. Lieu..-Colonel Campbell on return from foreign service, by Majoi-Genarel the Bight Hon. Lord Frederick Fit:- dames. G.C.H. Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Sykes, of hie return from Italy, by the Marquis of Lansdowne, K G. Myer Bards Gordon, on promotion, by the Earl of Abe:m. Colonel James Jones, on receiving the Peninsular Medal, by his Gram the Duke of Norfolk.; Lieut. John S. Cannon, on return from foreign service, by Lieut.-General Sir Lewis Grant, K.C.H. Capt. Colonel Eenti Geor nek.ge Thomas Danoombe, on appointment, by apipointswint, by Col. HO/Ma. Lteat-Col. T. Chau Farr, by the Bight Hos. T. Pember ton Uh. Copt. g Chutes Wadi, by Gem. Sir Janes Law Lashing 's% G.C.B. Ur& Mound Farm, by Uotid.-Goa. Sir Jame Law Imadostia. Ikat mai Adjutant Porogrlso Hwy FollowtS on n ame a rz igai onia• of oppoistmod to star, by his JAW. ft Timm Yawls, at ., &o. Ufa IF. 0. &irk ItyPti. am. Lieut. Wilbraham Limo:, on appointment to Royal En. pirem by Lord =Lennox. Ensign aft l 7 Fraser, on appointment, by Limit-- Gm Sir Alexander Woodford. _ _ _ Basins Alfred John Ford, on appointment, by Lient.-Gen. Sir Lewis Grant. iieai.AO;;;Zuv T. 8. Cattle; on his appointment, by Col. Owen, C.B. H.H. Lieut. H. Walla*, by the Duke of Beaufort. Ensign Edward Nageat Norton, by Sir J. Last biota'. Cornet K B. Carew, on his appiintment to 10th Humus, by the Hon. Gen. Luton. Captain Witliam Pearce Stanley, R.N., oa retain from 'reign service, by Lora John Ray. Commander H-rinet 0. Austen, Royal Navy, on his re. turn from foreign senior, by his father, Admiral Sir Francis Amgen K C.B. . . Comiaandar Frederick Campbell, on return from foreign service, by the Marquis of Breadalbans. Commander Eau; RN., on promotion, by his father, Major-General Ewart, C.B. Commander William Moorman), R.N., by Lord Colchester. Lieu•enant Charles T. W. G. Csrjat, R N., by General Sir. J. Macdonald. Lieutenant W. T. Rivers, RN. late commander of her Majesty's brig Nautilus, by Admi ral Sir C. Adam. Lieutenant Arthur Hood, R.N., on lie return from foreign service, by his father, Sir Alexander Hlod, But., M.P. Lieutecant Fredrick Partridge, MN., on return from foreign service, by the Earl of Clare. Aster the lives the Queen gave andier.ce to the Earl Talbot, when his lordship delivered to her Majesty the nband and badge of the most noble order of the garter worn by his father, the late Earl Talbot. Her Majesty acd Prince Albert, attended by the ladies and gentlemen in waitioe, returned to Buckingham Palace. The Bishop of London, the Rev. Thomas Ainger, and other gentlemen, from the Servants' Provident and Benevolent Society, had the honour of an interview yester day with Prince Albert. _ Prince Albert inspected a model of portion of the counties of Lat.ceahire York, Derby, & c. end part of the town and harkutr of Dundee, by F. A. Carrington, of which his royal highness was pleased to express his approbation. A cabinet council was held at half-past three o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office. CHOLERA.—Yesterday the following fresh cams were reported to the Board of Health;—Bethnal-green Lunatic Asylum 6, 5 fatal ; Limehouse, 1; Refuge, Hack ney-road, 3 fatal; Peckham. 1 fatal; Woodford, Rims, 1 fatal ; Resham, 6, 3 fatal; (Rogow, 19, 7 fatal; Gressock, 4, 2 fetal ; Rente2n, Dumbarton , 6 , 3 fatal ; Cardros, 12, 4 fatal; Kilmarnock, since Ist inst., 81, 2,, fatal ; Oldmonk land, 15, 1 fatal; Newton, Dalkeith, 1 fail; Stow, 1; Stir ling, 7, b fatal ; Hamilton, 6 fatal ; Biccarton, 9; dalashieh, I.—Total, 174 new cases ; 67 deaths. INQUESTS, YEATERDAT.—SVICIDE.—Bt fora Mr. Baker, on the body of Mr. B. B. Nash, of No. 94, Brick lane, Sphtlfields, who committed suicide under the follow. ing circumstances The deceased had been, for the last 12 years, suffering from asthma, and occasionally his pain was so intense that he lost all control over himself. During the last few weeks he had ben very low and desponding, and was at times scarcely able to breathe. On Sunday morning, the 11th, and while kis fatal y were absent, he in. &Ueda severe wound on his throat with the large blade of a penknife, end immediately rang the bell. His daughter quickly went to him, and found him bleeding must pro fusely. Mr. Hodgson, a surgeon, soon attended, and applied the usual remedies. On examination the surgeon disesvered seven wounds on the chest, over the lower ribs. The deceased afterwards ad mitted that he had done it himself, and said be was much easier in the throat. 110 gradually lank, and expired on Tues day last. Verdict—" Temporary Inanity."—Dig-se race[ DILO `4114 INCE —Before Mr. W. Carter, at the It Al L'on Tavern, Church street, Rotherhithe, on Alex ander Ferguson. It appeared that the deceased was an ap prentice on board the Jane and ?dart/net twig, of New castle, and, en Monday night, whilst stepping from the side f the vessel into a small boat, he missed his looting and fell overboard into the water. An alarm was raised, but b.fno assistance could be rendered he had disappeared. The drags were brought into requisition, but the body was not recovered for upwards of an nour, when all efforts to testore animation were useless. The whimsies concurred in opinion that the deceased's death was purely accidental. Verdict--" Accidental Death." CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR AT EPSOM. Yesterday, at Epsom, the magistrates re-assembled to continue their investigation of the charge of violation pre ferred by Miss O'Grady against Mr. Bartlett, solicitor. Mr. Owens addressed the bench at some length for the defence; alter which the chairmen, in pronouncing the deci sion of tho court, said: We have come to the conclusion that there was a criminal intimuy—of that there can be no doubt. We need not look to the evidence to know that fact; it is admitted on all hands. We have come to this conclu sion. that from the evidence there is but too much reason to think and to fear that this unfortrmate young woman has ban very ill used; that where every generous and manly feeling should have been called forth to protect and defend her, she bas been sacrificed. I do not know that she is the first victim ; but, looking at the whole of tho evidence, ctid at all the circumstances of the cas.^, we have come to this conclusion—and it is not without doubt on our own minds that we have conic to it— that there is not enough in the evidence to raise that lair and "probable presumption " that the legal crime of rape has been committed by the prisoner to induce us to send the cue for trial ; the prisoner Is therefore discharged. Mr. Goose, the magistrate, said, We have not come to this conclusion without a strong and painful doubt in our minds, but it is slime satisfaction fur us to know 164 even after all, what we have now decided is not absolutely and completely final. It is still in the option of parties to prefer a bill of indictment fur this very offence. Mr. Bartlett, having been formally discharged, was here retaken into custody by Mr. Keane on a civil process for the debt on which he had origiaally Wen placed in Hone monger-lane. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. PORT PHILLIP.— VW China, accounts have been received hem Melbourne to the beginning of November. The public ;awash WWI "haft osenpied in discussing the elections' asuman of the legislative email of Ire So sile ttf g Wales e and also the ward elections for the town council. For the ham bdy Munn Leughlea M' = se ca, -• ca James Williamsoa, John so James Frederisit and Edward Carr, had been returned, and His Emmikney err titled the return. The types, prows, &a., of the Mellfreerm Argus had been sold by the sheriff to situ[ y pageant for libel I. the eat of Moor v. Ken. A light- has been erected on Cage Otway, in Boas Straits, in let. 311 deg. 51 min. mouth, sallAjadeg. 29 maim eat ; the light is of the revolving revolving case round in 2 ablates 39 seconds, will, It is estimated, be seen at the distance of eight leagues. Agricul ture, for some miles mad Melbourne , was reported to be in good eenditirm. and very luxuriant crops were expected. The quantity of lend under cultivation was iscreasing, and likely to tonne renunerative. The late arrival' of eani greats hod redoesd the rates of wages. Servant girls, who • math or two previous were asking 181. as house servants, were glad to obtain employnuat at 121. The wages of men as feria servants ware armada fall sa seen mike shearing was elate the lenfaning of November have over.a to female The seleMble have memorialised Her Majerfre eaffilkikelkai, elSlaittatby the Mel bournevailingpoetise smigradia prasseding to el- As settlers et the western Auld not partici pate in a fair distribution of the labour available. NEW Z ALAND.—Frommostinsta wit bavoreceived to the end of October we Isom that all was quiet, and likely to renal* so, the goverow laving had an interview with Beagikasta, who admitted that his people were anxious to adopt the *Atoms of the Sigh* and were averse to war. The disputes between the New Zeslaad Company and the had doiseants bid beta marred te the geometer for his dsaid g e s i a nt Ms emsellsoop had detained to undertake the task, bt u lipsiat a board for the purpose. bemob to his eztelleasy to exercise the pewees AMA la Ma, sod meats a legislative amiably, bat ids swami desilsed, amignies as a ream that the eireumetamess et the Aim were cue Ask as to require it. MIBMIATION TRISTILAD OP WAlL—Yesterday a publie meeting was lshl at the British Behool-rosats, Com m-stmt. Citproail, he the_ purpose of adopting a petidoe W partisan& is form of lb. notice for spodel treaties of sollittatisa to oareamods tha poorest war muss. lfr. C. Okla la Or Air, sad a raoohttioa la favour of the a pr doption tlia woo ea podia' to partisavat la suppat Kr. Cobiloa's opoi oral to. oo FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. The usual monthly meeting of this association was held ea Wednesday night at the Culvert hall, Liverpool. Mr. Charles Holland in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the breast of the meet ing, congratulated the audience upon the fact, that not only were the principles of the association being adopted by the manufacturen but also by the agriculturists, who had now deserted the Duke of Richmond ; they had now adopted the Cobden budget, especially that part which ref erred to the re peal of the malt tax. After having shown some incenset-ncies in the conduct of Mr. Wilson, the editor of the Economise, is one of his financial statements, he stated that the words of the old toast—" Ships,Colonies, and Commerce"—meant quite the reverse of the meaning attached to then by the pries of the old school, and he objected to colonies being established for the support of the lazy drones of society; in proof of this he quoted the eases of the colonies of Demerara, Ceylon, and British Guiana, which he stated oat the country nine shillings in the pound upon the oat of the articles of con sumptioa. Altar a [moral allusion to the state of the 0010 ni a abroad, the Chairman next adverted to the state of Great Blinds and Ireland, and stated that if there was a free trade in land—at last is the management of the land in Ireland, which at present was only half cultivated—it would be attended with the greatest benefits to society. He pointed out an abuse not nodose in the trate of the association • molumenta derived by the conveyance of silver from South America here in British ships of war. The amount of this aura of income was one and a half par cent., which was divided into three portions—one quarter went to the admiral on the station, one Ulf to the captain in command, sad the other quarter to Greenwich Hospital. But chinas sash as these were only given to some few favoured parties. He thought this was only a step in the right direction. By the Express of that day, he saw that there was to be a reduction in one branch of the expen diture; and what did they think it was? Why ; a reduction in the naval expenditure of scarcely 400,00 W. per annum. (Hear.) Having advocated the abolition of all monopolies the Chairman, after speaking threeluarters of an hour, con cluded by expressing a hope 'hit this country would not, by her laws. make herself the laughingstock of the world— (loud cheers)—and that they would carry out Mr. Cobden's budget in it, full integrity. The SECRETARY read the report, which, amongst other things, stated :—" The daily accession of members, from all grvters. testifies to the strong impression already made on the public mind. lir. H. K. CLAYPOLE, after eluding to the late de premed state of trade in this country, which hod been attri buted to various muses, said that he ascribed It to excessive and unequal taxation pressing on the industryef the country. He drew the attention of the meeting to the difference be tween direct and indirect taxation, observing that war uni formly increased the national debt, and, as the result, this country bad ban saddled with a debt the interest of which amounted to twenty-eight millions annually. The escala tion had been charged with a desire to remove that burden; bat they desired to repel the insinuation and to pay honestly that debt, and maintain the faith of the country—and, in seeking to promote an equitable adjustment, they would best serve the interests of all !lamed. Mr. J. H. MACRAB referred to the many encou ragements the association had to proceed in its labours. One eccouragernent he said, came from the irony of Disraeli; another from the fright of Lord Brougham. The council had just another encouragement given them, in an address just handed up to the platform, signed by two hundred people. The object of the If.natioial Re fora Avocation (strange as it may sound) is to encou rage you to 'rind your own business. (Laughter and applause). Hitherto you have mast lamentably neglected that. It is strange that a nation composed of individuals so remarkable for sagacity and succor in the counting-house should yet neglect the public expenditure so much as they have done. (Applause.) We ma be iadividually great, but, in this respect, we are y soft. (Loud laughter ant{ applause.) It is also a strange anomaly that you should find men, no doubt of the highest character—men who are bravest In the field, even almost to rashness, for their country's good, as they believe—absolutely content, must I say to cheat the soldier, but certainly to make a profit out of his elethisi. And when the regiment is abroad, if any men die off, they actually tax the public puree to clothe men not in existence. (laughter and ap plause.) Then look at the woods and forests. If you know nothing about their management, let me recommend the tracts of the association to you • they are worth reading, and, when yea have read them, d y : them to somebody else. Then read ohs trait just honed a t the Admiralty ; it con tains the mom extraordinary facts I ever heard. A an went with a plea of cloth to a bungling tailor, and told him to make a suit from it. The tailor said there was not Buff- Meet, it would (SIT make a coat and pair of trailers. Hs was told to proceed with them, but he came afterwards and said the sloth would Nay make a mat. He afterwards thought t►ere was not sufficient even for that, but said It would make a pair of gaiters. The gaiters were made, but they were tom small. (Load laughter.) Now Ibis is I just the case with the Admiralty ; they bn'ld a ship—it won't suit. They eat it down and it sails as well as ever. (Laughter.) They then cut it taw a small trivets, I think they call it. Ern then it won't do; it must be cut in the middle and pieced. Then it is nett sea-worthy—the guns go Rader water. It is turned nest into a corvette; at last it won't sail, and they tern Uinta a dingy, cock-boat, or tome thing of that sort. (Loud laughter and applause) This may make us laugh, but remember that you and I have to pay for it. I am sure that we are all willing to pay a fair day's wave for a fair day's work ; but then we mu-t have a fair day's work. (Land applause.) Now it is our business and yours to see that we get a fair day's work fur the fair day's wage,' which public officals receive. (Applause.) Mr. FRANCIS BOULT then addrated the meeting at considerable length. A complimentary vote to the Chairman closed the pro ceedings. IRELAND. DUBLIN, FEB. 72. We are threatened with a new agitation in this country. Great efforts are being made to stir up the people of Ulster again 4 the rate in aid. The press of the north unmet' a very fierce tone about it—mutters about repeal, and affects the tone of violent passion. Mr. Macartney, of Lisaanoure castle, has called upon all classes to come forward and struggle against the ministerial proposal being passed into law. The Solicitor-GeLeral yesterday made a very strong speech against Mr. Duffy. He was interrupted in one part of it by the fair writer of one of the articles in the indictment, but her maiden speech was not listened to by the court, and her voice was drowned by the police crying, " Silence !" The lady wished to assume the responsibility of having written the article complained of, but Mr. Duffy himself took that responsibility on him. Judge Ball commenced his charge to the jury at ten minutes past two, and con cluded at twenty minutes atter seven. His charge was lucid, calm, and comprehensive. It was impossible to detect the least bias, and he placed the balance of arguments pro and con with perfect fair ness. In reading some of the incendiary articles in the indictment, hut manner wee, perhaps, too demon strative, but the charge was worthy of distinguished abilities. As I told you more than once there is no likelihood of a verdict. At eleven o'clock the court was adjourned to ten this morning, when the jury will probably be discharged without further delay. The Cork Reporter contains an account of a priest being horsewhipped by a person of whom he had spoken severely from the altar, for taring interfered in the alleged conversion of a catholic peasant. GOVERNMENT AID TO RAILIVATII.--DEPUTATION TO LORD CLARaNDON —DUBLIN, SATURDAT.—A deputation of railway directors waited upon Lord Clarendon to-day for the purpose of laying before him a memorial asking for go ternment aid for the purpose ofcompleting the lines which they severely represented. The c empaniee for which they appeared were the Cork and Bandon, the 'Dublin an I Rei fies' Juncttou, the Waterford anal Lmerick, the Midland Great Western, the Londonderry and Enniekillen, I and the Londonderry and Coleraine, and the de putation comprised directors representing the reveral companie., together with Mr. Saunders (Secretary, Waterford and Limerick), and Mr. Frederick IL lime mina (S,cretoy, Londonderry and F.nniokillen).— The am lication stated in the mrmerial was to the effect that the government should advance to the several companies en loan the amounts which they were entitled to borrow by act of parliament, namely, one third of their computed capital. This loan is applird for order the following terms: interest at 31 per cent. per annum, repayment to commence at the expiration of flee years from the bet advance of the loan, and to he extended over a period of fifteca years. One of the principal guarantees offered by the companies for the payment of the interest was the amount whsch the companies would he entitled to receive from the government for the conveyance of malls. This teing held by government, in their own hands, would always be available by them, even if the companies, which is extremely improbable, should be unable to meet the half-yearly demand. Toe creditor could pay himee'?, and as the sum would in every case be very considerable, there could be no fear of defalcation on that ground. The Lord Lieutenant, who re ceived the deputatie n very grarieuedy, expressed himself as being wereely in favour cf government a sXtance t 3 Irish railways. The mail guarantee, he deemed a very intpor ant feature, and desired that he might be furnished with the probable amount, which each lire might be entitled to receive to its services to the poet office. Ile concluded by stating that he would forward the memerial, and it la believed will support its prayer. The deputation then reired.—Cork Southern Itworter, Feb. 20. SCOTLAND. Mr. Home has written to the provost of Brechin, stating that he expects to be able to prevail on the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to remit scme part of the teiada claimed from the ]ewer heritors. FLIGHT OF A BANKER'S CLERK TO CALIFORNIA.-- A. young teller in the Clydeedale Branch Bank in Wife, went off by railway on Friday afternoon last, leaving hie employer, his father, relations, and friends, in utter ignorance of his intentions. It is stated that he his abstracted 3.501. Irons the bank safe, of which he had charge. The bank agent, until he absconded, was highly satisfied with his conduct, and had lately offered him an advance of salary to 70i. to continue in his employment. Nor has any other charge of improper conduct been brought against him of any kind vs hatever. He is only 19 years old, and it is suspected that he and two other lads have had their imaginations so fired by what tin y haws read about the treasures of California, that they kale set off for that new Dorado. PROVINCIAL. LANCASHIRE. ALARMING COLLISION ON THE EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY.-00 Tuesday night, as the passenger train to Manchester, • little after eight o'clock, was slackening speed to run into the station at Haalingdon, it was met by a heavy goods Maio, coming from a siding. The two engines, on coming in contact, were dreadfully 'shattered, and both thrown off the line. The first passenger carriage was of the third-class, and contained eighteen persons, but the force of the collision was broken by the fore-part of this carriage being lifted up, so that it rode partly upon the tender. The under part of the carriage, however, was much shattered. There were about 60 or 70 passengers in the entire train, bat happily none of them suffered any in jury beyond contusions of the head and knees and severe shakings. The goods' train was a very heavy one, of 17 waggons, some of them laden with iron ; and 'several of them waggons were knocked to pieces, the frag ments raising a heap of ruins scrota the double line of rails, which completely blocked them up. Most of the passengers were much frightened. It was a dark, bitterly cold, and rainy night, and the whole of the lights being extiumusbed by the collision, nothing could be seen until the lapse of some minutes, when the Invents of the company brought lamp from the station, and assisted to get the passengers out. One of the worst of the sufferers wee a mu, partially intoxicated, who had lain down at full length on one of the seats of the third class carriage, and the colluno• drove his forehead against the opposite seat. Ultimately an engine and train of fresh carriages was brought up to take the passengers on to Manchester, where they sr rived about halt past ten o'clock instead of nine, most of them beming in their hands fragments of the broken carriages as joyful memorials of their providential escape from an acci dent which might have been much more serious in its cone,- quences. The cause of the accident was, it is said, that the goodie train was too long for the siding, and did not clear the nearest or up line, though it had allowed of a train pass ing along the down li ne. WARWICKSHIRE. ASSESSMENT Or RAILWAYB.—MEETING OP SHARE HOLDIIRS.—Testerday an influential meeting of gentlemen interested in the great lines of England was held at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham, for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning both houses of parliament for an alteration in the present mode of assessing railway pro petty • Samuel Thornton, Esq., mayor, in the chair. The first resolution, condemnatory of the present mode of rating, was moved by J. F. Latium, Esq., and seconded by Mr. David Relies, who took occasion to expose the present sys tem of assessing railway . property, and instanced several cases wherein wooing assessments had been re duced from large to nearly nominal rates at the expense of railway companies. lie was of opinion that the legislators and the public required too much from railway proprietors, whilst they were unwilling to give their claims that consideration to which they were entitled.—Mr. Alderman Beale followed in the same strain, and urged the necessity of a general effort to effect an alteration an the rg ail im ain d l ure dt ti n tat e ril ns v e rfy r tij a in th alr. t m e e r r Aidos e o s f t t eerzaan o o v p f e :th io e lasn u M eo irtin t i e n at tsc lian na , ud ita r w wel l y se th t a terai t d e under takings were so vast that they were adequate to any burden that might be imposed upon them. He alas was of opinion that • combined effort ought to be made to obtain a redress of their grievances.—Mr. Alderman Matthews suggested to the meeting the propriety of directing their arention to the general law of rating, and to endeavour to effect an alteration in that law rather than seek for any specific arrangement in their own favour. Rail way property ought to be assessed like other property, upon the sum for which it would let ; and the question was, what would be the tenantable value of a railway if all the carriages, trucks, machinery, Ac., were removed off it. Petitions to both houses of parliament, praying for an alteration in the present mode of rating railway property, were unanimously adopted. 81/BEET. A FARMERS' CLUB PETITIONING FOR REFORM.— The members of this club met at the Duke's-head, Bear green, Capel, on Tuesday last, and after dimming each clause seriatim, unanimously adopted the hallowing petition to the House of Commons, David James, Esq., in the chair ; Richard Weller, Esq., in the vice.chair, and • lA% • morons and respectable body of members being " To the honourable the Commons of the United __, ,--r.A4is Si of Great Britain and Ireland, in the present par kw '.:•)',-,-. - Si .0 ':• sembled.—The petition of the members of ~ Fuson' CIO, fa the county of Surrey, sad of . /fa! . , I: ikr 4 i ylers ~,,..x.;.e.,.• 4 .,.,, ~•,,. 4%.1...i cn Of II