The Express. — London, England, 1849-03-29 00:00:00

I Mr. PUSET begged to Worts the loused stottootaa that the ototiositt.oy Mit boot rovi4ol fee. Mr. PACKS sow Frost potties! dilficultits io the way of i fist Italia. of the bM Mr. 8. - DRUMMOND said that Ow taunt•6mm looked arm tt•s whale bill as a delasioa. (Ilter. boa.) L w au nit, slaw ire previa oas would b. at so appli swim Sir. HENLEY was opposed to the amendment. He thought the weeds Imposed to be left out should noels, WI wished they bad been mom clearly deSsed. Kr. it. PALMER coincided with the hon. member for Oakird, sad alseald oppose the amendment. 91r 0. STRICKLAND was oppes:el to the inesmils of the weeds, is oesseersense of the impossibility of clear &G -uides. All qweedess of sampssession must be decided by snlosts, a alma of Fences ha whom he had sot the slightest temadeam, having hosed assaberless eomplaints of the in- , ury awe br their lemmata er parthdity. Now, tha he.. amber toe lierk.liire was a seat exteemee pig feeder. (A Ineadt.) Why bad le left that moat tesporteat oimemser of Seed oat of his bill. He would tab the Imam the aunties ; were pies cattle ? (Lesybkr.) They might laugh. but that would met settle the point. It would be left to the wolnere. ea two of whoa weld agree to the same del. akin. (Hear. hear.) Ca. SIIITHORP seed hie eyeing disapprobation of the Wire hi!. laslsai 111 imprariag et was calculated to &Mutt ell the Maine hawses Radioed and tenant. Mr 0. GREY theegbt that the mass of the mannittee eight eon be taloa so to vibe**, the words otieeted to ahead ha inserted er Dee. (Seer. hear.) If the committee derskied who* tank amirdea, bk Dow friend the member Medishim wee gemmed m make the elterati m sug;ested by the right boa. beeemet the member for Tantworth. Mr. BENLZY vaggested the adjoomment of the debate ha order that time might be isrea to reconsider the dame. (No, ae.) Mr. PUSSY wished before the adjournment of the debate Mat a *deka should be taken ea the insertion of the verde. Atter some farther enrressiition, the chairmen nponed =gr, it being understood that Mr. Posey should intro ate amendment suggested by Sir R. Peel resins to the Manse being again brought on for discussion. The cow ndtke to sit again on the first Wednesday elm Rester. INSOLVENT MEMBERS BILL. Mr. 1110liart awned that this bin be esounitted pro Avow, in two that e minidrama( sraGgested by be rotoet 11011Mitte, to which is had been refused, sight be intro darned. WE W. CLAY protested against the MU being brought on at all at an hoar when it oeuld not bs dhoused. Nr. OSBORNE mourned in the objection, but he found the bill as it now stood totally different, not only in Its pro. visions, but in its title, from what it tole se original y Limo- domed. The title of the bill now wee • Bill to facilitate the Rooms, of Debts from Persons pr tossing the Privilages of Parliament sad to exclude Issolvatt Members from Parlia ment. Was it iotendod to convert that house into a court of law, sow the Palms Court was to be dose away with ? Who were to premiss is it—who wen to be the attorneys 'ad emine.ll (Hear, bear.) Rut there was a rumour in the tows that the men» was loosed in to point at a par *War member of parliament. (Hear, bur) That was net, however, the ground °this opposition to the bill; bat if it was brought la far such a purpose it ought to be known, aad the toms ought not to submit to be nude the tool of say ben. "oedemas who might desire to exclude certain nem variables from the house. (Rear, bear.) Mr. MOFFATT had hoped the indapamissit mares ha had pursued, aver einem ha had bad the honeys of a mat In that house, would hare protected him Ikon each a chirp. Hear hear.) It was now insinuated dial the bill was t is to affect some particular samba Against whom he (Mr. Moffatt) had some giro. (" Ham, hear," and a No, no.") Tlur 1.1.1111179 was pointed at as iadiviiaal in =:lr, but was breaght famed as pane puma; aid e considered Ka diarist to. Mid bow that it *NU los a sanctuary Ice insolvent debtors. (Haar, bear : ) - - - - - - - , The SOLICITOR-GENERAL observed that the object wu not to take any step with the bill, bat to go into committee pro forma, to latitOdUoll attain ta, NMI of which he had suggested; which asseismats weed be taken into conside r ation at the neat SW& fir. lIENLItY esafolded that it was not fair to ask the boase to pussy l imilde • bill which had been so materially tuned la tM sannsittes up stain, without full time being gives kw andelsostisa sac discussion; and suggested that the memos should be postponed altogether wadi after Lew. Mr. V. MOTH observed that the bill had nava yet been alessesed by the how; and, es far as he understood, these When Rea Menses of opinion in respect to it r e i =- Mimi En the 'sleet aommittee to whisk it had been ami Met 111161111111 of the divisktne had run very dom. Without giving any opinion ea to the bill itself, there could be no doubt that its principle was an important one, and might In terfere materially with the privileges of the cematituenedis ; sad he should like to know what was the opinion of the go vernment on the subject. Yr. 8, WORTLEY looked upon the bail in its present Asps se misidemem and ludictotr., sad union materially abered it wail antaialy b• pposed by him. But if the abject teas new merely to g.ve the opportunity to introdnee the and to tale the diminsion st a tunas time, It. ehmeid met Mr. B. PALM= wu *Anions that it should not go forth he the drift bill woe directed ageing say particular 11•1 brought is for say private purpose. Pe lla= bid boss polosied from Liverpool, Plymouth, and Ow bap Wm. pmt such measure is public peeads. Lard J. El the right boa. gentleman the number kr North.'tapas had asked for the spin* of the Seeseseetat, be WON shortly state that he (Lead J. Bee• ea) moldered the eldest of the bill was geed, mad ashi will the Mass would de weU to esquisare. (Hear, beat.) flat while this wee la he eosiadved there wed* be peat aloft ha worgiew up a bill eli tide Wad te the said Lark. k mask a state es that me grave mid lie sake et It It would he dangerous sad able Is sand to the Hesse of Lords a bill skinks le the Id et that ham, and whisk the Lads meld ask smad, unless ft wadi be likely is without *elks. His *ka, Ikea." altlemidy era ea the shows whisk sight he lakeiesed late the b 1, sad the dame of its passing the Hem of Oseammi la a uaelgoetkasble able, ad if th e el4estims le whisk it was sew liable were net re amed it would be Ye key to vote against its !hither liir. WHITEY balm& that the rowan to whisk the hen. member for Illiddhom had Winded were not vague, nor were they my ement Me bad bead mem of the minutiae et the bill ememiluiele auk Ware, as it would esabi. per ms to rearm Ile dell Ina la them from outala eau is vibe elm mimben et pediment. He obieaaed to promeMeg_ attar with this bill at all, and; it supported, veuM divide agelnit the committal. Cal. THOMPSON add the lAll unlined two Important 11111•111•1 wend ill ewe. It professed to make mentbets ct pediment per air Saba, and, secundo, to do ocateMbig elm to this Ala the law bed bad its practice them. Then was sunethirg netatuaate in the title—them was nesuithing mistuable to it. If any alteration in the law ware eteginsod, baying dm Abet of eompelling members to pay Mir debts. be did nes thiak Sere were de gentlemen itlat Mose who wadi ebeeet tio ol any sympa thy far those who would be .heed by it; bat if the qua eke wee whether an Mikhail awl wawarditutienal gloat& Mt Mewed, that me a Maim, gairdem Pimal Z thought Mere la with the Wire geed seams he Mt peessaileg pmeipi tely it Tie SPEAK= OW; the awe einnesiest wane would be le wi ear the MU, eel ilwiw maw with the weselmals ; the paled* weld Sea be epee he &MINIM ea the weed mike. The semeeliew, after wane toarrrelidea.llllll adepted ; wad lose &ea to twins the sew bill was ~bed. Xr Aserst• lettered's that he *gall take the ewes oldie hewn against the ant roadies. Barnum OP THE HOUSE. Lord J. Rlllliiil.l.failaiiii.iarepfyicTitieelliso pet te Id" that &weld he met have an epportmality et with the a the eemeallbe elm* twaterew ilines :=. was la esesequesse tbe ematiee et modem w la the "epos, be email le se the Sol aft eie Was, sa whidi le would propose te me ea with Or ageodeleee ea the Rate fa Ate the milk the reedadeee Ike satbookisi the groat. Doe boom acljoursed at 6 o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. 3111418Thit" MONEY (=LAND). Dims wandisa " That tab bow wv tozawnow twelve HeeV tale a emelase le lois late emeiieretiee the law release to the rele sr is alba aleleliee rata la Diked. with the view to the meg deo melt Send es view te We eald ate or tai; eae hether. le aim esoldwalin let it 4 WILL 1 9 /.. e. 114. veil the Cho& Ilimenedleat kal. be the porno et wassibig Os am. el le walls therebe • eitielbels eel Otto "mem et Se leehrielled es a eledslea Ur the pro bable oldies le sena empeeele I.wa. le Woad. la Um al Ile meet gene eire neolvedl ow theeirtme eel by *too el s o me 17 W ar. IL L a 7 e • PoWomo__,AoleOla lear ihet Sat psalm be sow pet." Moe ammo —Am 46 ; Nee. IL ATM Vise* 11. a. OEM"IB. O'Brise. Straw .L ILW.Orsese. CrOmilk J. al* Alm IL I.2lislome, R. A. J. Szywnia• o,lll antt ~,1 111. 1 P aik°A• D. risywgek. aim% , . Owes. CA Mark Peerom. Wriwa,". ftorhed. W. S. Korehm. J . 111deetea.L Willem B. WO. Deweee.Ba.T.V.Lewlew. Mew C./Iperar, Wyld. Deveares, J.?. elelloh k W. Dlipmeart, C.T.llatemer, T. W. mamas. MO. Moen, O. IL Iletuhr, Fare, W. . J. Norm% Mr D. J.BQIiYvd, 111:0.de. L DOM M m ts T. D. DkA. Q. Merema. W. abb. N. ,C. D. Dassolt, J. Bobbin 7. B. IlamonMs, IBM ,D. Dad" Ms. Batas , W. B. Bodwasa.ll. B. Asall.oo.lLDrais, O. nors, A. Itaand. L. DoseAav, J. Darlagoss l / 2 VIAL =Mr J. = L ila. D. lksiskg. Dr IP. 7. Mwerde. M. lia. Q. IL Q. Minn& 7. UK Moo. J. E. Lorankmain. W.Tordl. LT. Le T n a rt" . l. L Iremos. Sr B. Low% O. C. Tam DAM loco,llz Z. Lab," W. Thin. J. l. Immo% T. W. Tete" W. Maraks. EL IlmILIMMion I. L. Morder. NW 41 . IllorA. IMmeroUßaJ.P.WdrherEl. . Carter, 111=fiC. O. limeys. Mo. I. Moon, L OmenMO. W1.C.01 , 7, O. IsAfts, J. W E. Owed* HA.o.ofelPm. 1. Devi C. N.Word, Mr C. °Minter, 141.1.1111010 L E. G co s % sa t k. Toms, lir J. 8 . A. rigst, lArd A. I* ffa. H. A. Holiatas, 1 .4. o.7mmifibia. The. swim D = ILL ihoLgeyros Toolier,J. JIM, Lard IL W. ma Lac h roma Jo W. Orrh Mr. Wit Orpregig• OUTGOING MAILS. Tee math Mt Yee Ilewth WO^ Yea MY% lAA OM New TeelleA will be sisas op eagle fowls.'" Ss Ed MM. The Welt MY ae. lidollett_lemeee. threreas. hem% w eft Pew Odes. est Waft sal m those ter hithaeatieleree, Sew eseeele, OM. ewe rem *II be mole se ea the mitt et the 30/ et *IL MaLl• win le min hp kr Noble% Oge Writhe kloatle, Serra teem, sea Aterathiti, le be him *NW eilemed "°1 • leohohes Mars LA: ee lho melee of the lel of herd. The mile Sr Milo. ihe Welk ire Br.. Ayr% eM.aaa up es the arise of dr MI of AhoL Tbe arjle ke NNW Ileelb Aitedel Not the Voted Illetes will be mole up ea the swiss et the Mt et April. bNMI ter Mew) Ohm% NEM% cute, Sad Malta • emile imp PS ra ftssnlag et Se 111 of Apr% The mho Mr Olhoolue, 0181111 k la kids. Plum* las, Ad" Oaflee. the swi Ilseipiehh eel Oink vie douthaorton, wi ll be ones mos ft et the Nth .11.11. not WAT &T LONDOK 111.13)011. Tar Div -Mseeiss.l3 I p. past s u er mia... &I eds. gait & Te-Miailw-ibsis,i. ata. poial Ida pia S. LONDON, THURSDAY, MAR. 29. Timm =1 be little doubt, whatever the result of the probably brief campaign in North Italy, that the Piedmontese have been out-generalled, and that the monarch, as well as hie Polish generalissimo, acted upon erroneous or insufficient informntioo. CILARLES Ammar, to be sure, by his voluntary rupture of the armistice, was necessitated to advance,' and arnme the offensive. And it was but natural to suppose that he would do so, as had been done in the preceding campaign, and by NAPOLEON, namely, advance along the right bank of the Po to points beyond its cooffnencs with the nn merman rivers that now from the Alp.. If CHARLES ALBERT did not adopt this course, there remained for him bat to march straight upon Milan, and, if un resisted, raise the hardy mountain population of Lom bardy, more enthusiastic and inimical to the Austrians than those in the towns upon the Po. It might have been insagined that the Piedmontese general would have dons either one or the other ; but wto could have sus pected that he would have done both? If there was not fatuity in his declaration of war, there has been fatuity in his fleet operations. Marshal RAI:m.l.Bo shoe ed more skill. He gui , ted Mi!an with a rude, bat public adieu. He talked of going to Turin, but he marched northwards to Paris, as if to oppose and watch the progress of the Pied montese south of the Po. This was but a feint. Learn ing that,whilat the right wing of the Piedmontese was advancing from Alexandria, its kft was many miles off, erosion the Tessin to proceed to Milan, the' marshal flung his wh le force across the ricer, and took post between them at Mortara. Thie to called the Piedmontese, and has led to a series of battles between RADLTSKI and that portion of the Royal army which was maraud upo3 Milan, or was observing the movements cf the Aust. ians along the river. In one of these actions it is admitted that the Pied montese bad the advantage; that the Duke of SAVOY and General Bus eucomded in routing the Austrians and in making many prisoners. In another combat the Piedmont/me not en'y admit they were repulsed, but censure a part of their troops for not having taken their due share of the fight, whilst others actually ran away. This is frank, but is not calculated to inspire hopes of Piedmontese triumph. These actions took place on the 21st. The 22nd was apparently spent by the Kura in concentrating what troops his orders could reach. And rumours have come of a more decisive battle on the 23rd, in which the Piedmontess are said to have been defeated. In a bulletin, which we published yesterday, we were led toexpecta redeeming and scientific maxceuvre, l by which Geo. CIIRZONOWSKI would unite his severed wings,and cutting off tte communication of the enemy force bim to return and attack. The aeccunts which arrive, however, of the engagement of the 23rd, afford no traces of this', but represent the fight as one under taken by the Piedmonteae to &puts the advance of Ranirrsia upon Turin. In all this there seems to have been a lamentable deficiency of purpose and of skill, and indeed the ex perience of the year tends to show that armies are led to slaughter with even less sagacity and aim than is shown in taxation or repression, or any of the other bungled duties of internal administration. Mn. COBDEN calls the attention of parliament this evening to the desire of a large, growing, and influen tial number of persons, that arbitration clauses should be introduced into treaties, and that the settlement of differences arising out of them should be provided for by other means than the extreme of wer. The first objection to such a proposal will no doubt be started by those who can imagine nothing fusible or good that has not been sanctioned by routine. Arbi tration clause., these gentlemen will argue, are un known in diplomacy :—natural enough, as diplomacy of old was of that kind of empiric medicine which merely gives temporary easement to a malady, afford ing at the same time every facility for its breaking oat afresh, and for the physicians being called in again. Arbitration clauses were unknown at Utrecht, at Munster, at Aix-la-Chapelle, and at Vienna in 1814 and 1815 ; and had they been known they would have been scouted. The negotiat ing parties at these oongresses were, in act, not na tions bat monarchs and dynasties • and to monarchs and dynasties war is a game of c hance that they like :mislay, or have the menu of playing with opportunities. The game, in fact, forms put of the profession of the abooluest monarch. Soldiers are his pawns, knights and rooks his field marshals and diplomatists. To propose arbitration in lien of war to such people wore much the same as to bid the Sciatic Amen to plough up their hunting grenade, or one of our squires to threw open his pre serves. Their occupation would be gone. But whenever congresses become, as they cannot fail to become, the meetings of the representatives of meow, and of national and popular interests in lien of merely dynastic ones, then, we will be bound to say, that proposals for arbitration and arbitration clauses in treaties will be not only brought forward, but lis tened to and entertained. 'the unbounded privilege of wades war is a monarchic end aristocratic fashion; the lasesased facilities for keeping peace are a demo tes& invention, and we are not surprised to see the Iln width the Americans take in cherishing and the idea. P however, by these arguments, we are not • git to parliament. A majority that in sists on twenty millions sterling for military expenses in pesos must be opposed to a scheme of arbi tration. This, however, will not be said ; it would be too outrageous an argument. We shall therefore be told that our columns are full of mili tary bu l l etins, that armies are moving , generals scolding each other like Homeric heroes—kings carried away , here by popular, there by the military ant--end that an eclogue on a battle-field were not mere incongruous than discassiug arbitration louses daring the very heat of a campaign. To lids we need but reply, that the apteet time der discussing the best kind, spirit, and condi tion at treaties, is precisely that which necessitates and therefore preludes the conclusion of, fresh treads". War must end in negotiation, and war would not take place if equitable negotiations were at the conimaad of both parties. Cusaims Auinnes, best excuse for going to war has been the reheat of his foe to negotiate. And it is n t unrea sonable, in the present unsettled state of Europe, to put leeward a great principle that offers a moral gurantee to stipulations, which are evidently at prwat at the mercy of the great powers to up hold or interpret them as they please. We mina that it may be difficult to get these rat powers to consent to clauses of arbitration. We adroit that, even after having consented, many may be tempted to set them aside: Tet we always see them Itemises to set themselves right with public , *Um, especially at the commencement of hostilities; and setting sale an arbitration clause would be so de cidedly the way to declare themselves wrong that we do think the most violent would shrink from it. We are also willing to admit that there are coun tries and cases to which arbitration treatise are inap plicable. The tight ci Russia to sequester Poland, of Austria to rob and crash the Italians, can never be upheld by , anything but the sword. And arbitra tion is as idle, as treaties themselves are void, when founded on the denial of the plainest right of latices and of humanity. But because an arbitration treaty cannot be concluded between the lion and the lamb, it does not follow but that powers not necessarily unjust or inimical to each other may conclads them. Nay, in this way, the possibility and the existence of the arbitration guaranteed in treatie would be proofs of the fairness and justice of these treaties and of the relations sanctioned by them. THE FXPRESS; THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, 1849. Acd thereby public men and public opinion would be enabled m dieting ,i , h at once between tbomt inter national delimitations and relations, wl kb were na tural:remittable, and fair, and tbote being founded on violence and °premien could be expected to endure no longer than tte strength of arm and obstinacy of will that enforced them. Turas is nothing so common with our implant leAidatore, as to spend the lab cur of one y. ar in un doing what was done the scar before, meleng laws with precipitate p.s4 , ri at first, then repenting, and amending them at lerare. This was the only jour nal, which exclaimed at the time against the unfair ness and absurdity of oonfouoding political crimes with the meaner and more heioons ones, blinded with the name of felony. We said at the time that no law could make either the prisoners or the public confound such offences, or consider them in the Jame category; end that the law, by doing this, was merely putting itself in contravention et h genital opinion, and defeating its best aims. Sech tibjectione as there were scouted at the time. Parliament pro. seeded to treat Irish repealers aa ban Moos and passed slaw which neither government ter its dicers could bring themselves to execute. In fact, bons Wrenn., though c mdemnel as a felon, was not trmted as one. British officers would not so demean themselves as to be ungenerous. And the felon law for conspiracy, pealed in name, became from the first a dead-letter In reality. The trouble and incongruity of a solitary case era, however, slight. But at the resent mo ment we have thousands of prisoners to deal with. The usual annual number of transport able cases in Ireland being six or seven bemired, there were 2,000 additional CAM last year. These additional crimes were evidently the pre:duce either of political excitement and aberration, or of the irre sistible impulse to steal food in a season of famine. Surely none of these men, however worthy of pu nishment, deserved to be mark. d with that brand which was to prevent them, at the expitation of their confinement, from mingling once more with their class of fellow-men. The Irish traitor, escaped to America, adores the bar, if an educated man— beoomes a thriving trader and egriculturist, if of humbler life. Why should the colonial depen dencies of the crown be deprived of scch energies? The protest of the inhabitants of the Caps of Good Hope against the importation of emancipated Jelons is natural. Bat how s:upid and unjust to raise colo nial horror end aversion of men who really do not meat it, by condemning es felons men guilty of another specie of crime. Talk of the classification of criminals—very just and very rrecessary. But let not the task of classi fication to left exclusively to gaolers. Trust not to them to discriminate, whilst you m:suse the law and its ex pressions to confound and misrepresent. Let the Lew, the . proaecutlon, the judge, the jury, show some pre liannary fsitness and discretion, instead of huddling into one deck and into one prison the traitor, labour ing under monomania, the stealer of a turnip to satisfy the cravings of hunger, and the hardened pro fese.onal robber. Of t::.e 2,000 supplementary Irish convicts of 1848, there are full two-thirds who, if not crowded and contaminated after conviction, might be an aegulaition to any colony. Nor should they have ever been placed in a category which precludes their return to society, remote from the peculiar temptations and remembrance of home, and in a land where the soil with the materialsand the reward of industry afford all the elements of moral and well regulated life to the good-iatentioned. Unfortunately there is on this aeon most sub jects too much advocacy in parliament and too little argument. One gentleman gets up to represent and flatter the opinions of the colonists, another to ana thematise treason, a third to abuse the Irish, a fourth to be their spokesman, a fifth to make a hit at Lord Gary, whilst the sixth is of course an official to defend him. But, in the midst of all this, the pasionate in justice of the law, the di ffi culties w hich in the case of transportation it has flung in its own way, and the necessity of carrying out and prejudging the great problems of secondary punishment, are totally for gotten. With respect to convicts, the result stems to be, that the people of England will not have them at home, and that the colonies will not have them abroad. Economy and the plainer motives of hu manity and morals offer objections insurmountable in the way of an exclusively penal colony, such as North Australia. So that, in fact, we shall be driven to the prevention of crime by eke übbyluld lily of dealing with any great mass of condemned, and then to measures for reforming and purifying, so as to render emancipated convicts aceeptAge under some designation or another to the colonies. It is a good rule that the wishes of the colonists are to be consulted; in this the colonial office has shown a wise and liberal deference. Bat all these circumstances only demonstrate the necessity of proceeding constantly and zealously with the experiment for which Lord GREY has made pre parations. Whether Lord STANLEY be tight or wrong, protectionist and Peelite ought in fairness and patriotism to cease making this a party question, as Lord MAHON did in his recent speech. We are always boasting of the fixity of monarchical institu tions, and the continued uccertainty of republican ones. But the fact is, that in all such questions as these, the democratic assemblies of America steadily pursue the same aim of improvement, without being led aside by party quarrels, whilst we, with all our legality and fixity, are continually tampering, haggling, and unsettling, never allowing even a fair experiment to be made, so impatient are the STAR LETS, and the LINCOLNEL and the other candidate cocks for office to pick each other's e yes out, and get possession of the miniediried dunghill. HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, MARCH 28.—Yes'erday morning the whole diplomatic corps was admitted to a solemn audience of the King, when the ambassador of the Queen of Great Britain addressed his Majesty in the following words: fiire,—At the moment of your Majest) 's amnion to the throne of the Mtherlands, I hays the honour in my capacity of dean of the diplomatic corps now assembled its your pre sence, to offer the impression of those feelings with which the allied powers and friends to the Netherlands solute year accession to the throne. By the decrees of Providence, the illustrious House of Orange and the whole nation is plunged in profound grief by the sudden removal tram the affections of your Majesty and the attacheamis of his people, and of a beloved father, a vcameted king whose virtues and whose labour will mew a a bright page in oar country's history. The heir of his *. tun will also be the inheritor of the attachment with Irbil& he inspired his people. Permit us, mire, while mernmeserag ourselves to your grade= favour, to request that yon will be erto e pt the respectful homage of our ardiust wishes t . hl ty and glory of your reign. His . made the following reply : I see with gratings the segernem of the diplomatic corps to wait era no, LAN cdrenattesees of two-feld weighty ha port—the death of the King, my father, and my own ao comion to the throne. Your felicitations menatarallyneinglcd with grief; end I seed not say how deeply Islam year sorrows and yourjust requests. You yourselves are witnesses of the erlef r of the matey and the tears of my family. You how teadedy say father was beloved by the country, end you are able to 'predate our regret and oar eanstersatioa. The friendship of the allied power is one of the Warne gIISESS MN of the iccompliehment of the wishes which yea have expressed for the prosperity of my reign. By walking in the siege of the late king my father , and being sustained by the love of the Naa f t mi ce : providence will I trust bless my efforts for the welfare of my country. Gentlemen. I howdy thank you far the noble steps which yon have taken, in the same of the sonetry and of famil. His Majesty afterwards received the feeling and beautiful address of the First Chamber. All the generals in active service now in the resi dent*, the sidesde-camp of his Majesty, and his royal highness the field-marshal, u well as all the chiefs and officers of the staff, have taken the oath at the hand of his Majesty. The other officers, in pre sence of the troops who were aseembled for the same purpose, took the oaths at the hands of the Ministerof War. The taking of the oath was preceded by read iodae proclamation, which has now been generally FRANKFORT, MA= 26. After the rejection of Weicker's proposition that of Eisenstuck was adopted. This, which was intro duced in the name of the Left, was to the effect that, considering the dangers which menace the country, the second reading of the constitution should be voted without discussion, together with all the amendments of the minority of the committee of the constitution, as well as all amendments signed by 60 members. After thus accepting the constitution, the Assembly will pose to the consideration of who or what shaY form the chief of the executive. This proposition is certainly the most reasonable ogle that could have been made; but what is also eertvin is that a por tion of the Left has allowed itself to be duped by 'the Austrian and nitrite:tutu° party. 'The attn of this party is evidently to prevent any positive result being arrived at. It hopes by the means to bring about a sort otregiration of the old Germanic) Diet, and thus to overeats the revolutionary spirit by de monstrating its impotence to create anything whit ever. The leaders of this party have again promised the Left a good electoral law if it will withdraw i proposition for voting the met:talon without &emis sion. The Extreme Left allowed itself to be tempted, and got:M. Eisenstuck to withdraw the proposition. The Moderate Left (or, if you will, the Right of the Left, MM. Simon, Raveaux Venedey, &c.), has not followed this example, but has brought on the motion of M. Eisenstuek, which gained • tolerable majority; but the inejority wts gained only because the e 1.4 ministerial party Teed with the moderate Left. By this mentenvre the Left-left has again put arms into the hands of the Right. Instead of a complete victory, through the Eirenstuck proposition, the Left has been beaten with its own weapoos, which, in its joy at having conquered, it had cut down upon the field of battle. The constitution is now, as a matter of course, voted each day of sitting. The altramootane party has again attempted to make tee entire constitution depend on a final vote, on a last intrigue of parties. It has proposed to take a final vote on the ensemble of the constitution, after having voted on each chapter and article. +he aim of this proposition was no other then that of once more, and at the last moment, re-uniting all the disocntented or neuter members, in order, by a single blow, to drteroy the work of a year. This then would have been a emiplete victory for the enemies of German unity. The Left fill into this snare. Many of i s members had spoken in favour of the proposi ion, when M. Venedey unveiled the project they were pursuing, adding that M. Sehmer ling had told him that ho was going to M. Camp- Wiesen to propose to him to unite with Austria to octroy a charter for the German empire. This fell like a thunderbolt upon the intriguers. M. Von Schmerliog fell back upon a mere word made use of by M. Venedey, but dared not deny the fart. When after this blow the vote was taken upon the proposi tion of the Austrian ultra-montane party, it obtained only a very few voices. The Assembly then commenced the final voting of the constitution; section by section. The voting of the first section itras the consecration of the victory of the Left over the programme .of Gagern. Tole pro gramme admits of two Germanism : one reunited in a single state, with Prussia at its head, and the other, under the influence of Austria, united with Pruden Germany. The proposition of M. Wekker was founded on the same system. This system of Gegern then has been thrown over by the fall of Welcker's motion. The Committee of the Constitution had likewise adopted the system of Gaem in the first section of the constitution by ad mitting a separate position for• Austria in the German constitution. A considerable majority of the National Assembly rejected the amendment of the com mittee of the constitution, by accepting the principle that the German empire is composed qf the entire of the ancient German confederation. Thu has the system of Gegen, which was no other than that of Prussian diplomacy, been condemned and over thrown. By the second section, as adopted by the majority, the Asesmbly has alio defeated the doc trinaires, who desired that the German constitution should accept the doctrinaire term of " Per sonal union (the anion of various countries solely in the person of the Emperor-King), as characterising the relations between the German and the non-German countries of Austria. The ma jority iejicted this nonsense, saying that the German countries having the same King or Prince as the non- German, should have their constitutional government and German administration. Since these questions were decided, tie constitution ' has rogressd rapidly. In throe or four days it will be finished. Then, to return afresh to the head of the government. I almost think that in the long run the King of Primes will always have the best chance, for he is the sole affirmation against three or four negative parties who oppose everything, and especially oppose each other, and who are united only in their hatred to the revolution, to royalty, and to Prussia. I as yet kaow nothing positive as to a new ministry. All that is known is that the regent has resolved to take a ministry which shall be neither Austrian nor Prussian, bat German; and that he will seek a leader cut of parliament. Tide Is well Judged. It wee said yesterday that M. Camphausen had ret out for London. I have not had time to discover whether it be so. But many people here believe it not impossible that the eastern and Italian complications may lead to an Anglo-French Prussian Alliance. This would be a great blessing for all Europe, and especially for Germany. HAMBURG, MARCH . 24. The merchants met this afternocn, at half-past two o'clock, at the Exchange Hall, being summoned the Chamber of Commerce to receive communicati ons arrived from the ministry of commerce at Frankfort. It was the first time Israelites were seen at such a meeting; they did not, however, muster very strong, being their Sabbath. The chairman, Mr. T. Schiller, said the labours of the parliamentary committee on the project of law on the customs of the empire had been progressing steadily, and the tariff question only remained to be settled. 'fhe:ministry wanted to hear the opinions of merchants on the duties to be paid on woven auods and hardware. The Climber had applied to the unions of those two branches, and the former appointed Messrs. A. Sanders and Rebfardt, the latter Messrs. Schemmann and Glaser, to corres pond with the ministry on those subjects. The second communication they bad to make (the chairman went on to say) was of much more conse quence, the commercial situation of Hamburg being affected by it, as it is relating to the connexion which they arc going to form with the Zollverbund, that must, of necessity, pradoce an alteratiOn more or less serious in the commerce of the place. It appears, by what Mr. Schiller stated, that at first it was resolved at Frankfort to annex the Hansa towns without any distinction of other countries belonging to the league. Considering, however, the importance of the places, and the difficulties such an annexation would create in executing it, and the pecuniary means re quired for building warehouses, &c., which could not be raised so easily, the resolution was withdrawn, and it was determined to have the matter investigated on the spot by commissaries to be appointed. Custom-house officers of experience are to be sent here for the pur pose of examining the localities, and to report upon the best mode of connecting their cities and their ter ritories with the Custom-house league : whether by simply annexing them, and what facilities might be granted them in that case; whether constituting them as free ports, or introducing the bonded IMO housing system wouldbe preferable; and, in ceseit was thought advisable to leave one or more of these cities out of the connexion, where the line was to be drawn; to report, likewise, on the expenses likely to be in curred in either of these eventualities,. Concluding his speech, the chairman said the Chamber had thought it their duty to acquaint the merchants with these circumstances, and would be glad to hear their opinions about them. In order to give them time to consider all these points, they had got their chief secretary, Dr. Saetebeer, to draw up a series of queries In the form of a circular note, which would be sent round to the principal houses of each branch. Copies of it are to be had at their office. He re quested the merchants to fill up those blanks and return them with the least possible delay, be cause the mid oommisearies are to be expected within a few days. The Fres Trade Association will have another meeting on Tuesday evening, at the Tonballe. We do not hear anything positive about the hostilities to be recommenced. The rerts from Copenhagen and from Berlin on this sub ject are as oontradictory as ever. Troops keep on passing to Holstein. The 511 h vessel to California sines the opening of the saloon will mil at the beginning of next week, if the Danes will permit. At the last blockade they did not detain emigrant ships after they had convinced themselves that there were no goods on board. DansucrivE Film.— On Tuesday night, a fire broke out at mane works known m " the Braids," between Oldbury and Dudley. The manufacture carried on is chiefly in steel and iron wares, and such was the nature of the eon flagrance, that at one period fears were entertained that the immense range of buildings and machinery would have fallen a sacrifice. By great exertions, however, the fire was got under, but the loss will, it is believed, exceed 7,0001. Mews. Hunt & Cs., the proprietors, are insured fa the Bir mingham Fire Office. COLONIAL. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. We are in receipt of Cape Town newspapers to the 23th, and of Graham's Town to the 21st of January. The local news is posecssed of little general inte rest, but the ,following paragraph, which (if true), concerns the mother-c,untry as much as the colony, appears in the Graham', Town Journil, a paper which strenuously supports the administration of Sir Harry Smith, and may not impossibly be in its confidence : It will be highly gratifying to the colony to learn that the Queen has been graciously pleased, in consideration of Sir posoa Harry , to satSnraite'sto Ladd gallant sm su it p h pr ir es o s m ion the of ei r v u i e l L in is su t. rr au set a i l on low a - t m Boom Pleats, and the pomel danger to wh'clt he was ex , iv a r4 r laUtti. per annum. This distinguishina token of her Majesty's approbation was communicated to his Excellency, we are told, in a letter from the Premier, Lord John Russell, and cannot but be viewed as an act of royal munificence and of donate consideration, that reflects, as well remarked by a contemporary, as much honour upon the "Counta,n of gems and favour," as upon her who is this instance is the object of the royal regard. • A government notice appears in the Cape Town papers of the 24th of Amery, containing a long head roll of regulations for the conduct of "civilians " in British Caffraria. gbe Court. Lord John Rumen had an audience of the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palsies. The Queen of the Belgians, attended by the Countess d'ldulst and Major de Moerkerke, visited the Queen yesterday. Her It?yal Highness the Duchess of Kent also visited her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Pekoe. - The Queen had a dinner party yrsterday. The company included her Royal Highness the Ditches& of Kent, the Marquisof Northampton, Lady Augusta Brace, B tronws de Speth, the Berl and Countess of Clarendon, the Berl and Countess of Harrowby, Lord Ashburton, the Right Hon. Sir James and Lady Graham, the Rig ht Hon. William Sebright Lascelles, Sir Charles Lyell, A dmiral Bowles, and fdr.pf. B. Anson. __ . ;r y and Pricca Albert did Sir George c est--- .11ayter the **our to inspect his two last sacred historical pictures at the Palace on Tuesday. The Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager yesterday at Marlborough-house. Sir C. MaeNa j gleen, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. McNeil. had an Interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday at his official residence in Downing street. A deputation from St. Gibe's Paving Baud, con sisting of Mr. Waring, Mr. Moore, Mr. Willicras, Mr. Fitllll3. and Mr. Birch had an interview with the Earl of Carlisle :y.sterday at the office of her Majesty's Commis 'loners of Woods and Forests in Whitehall-place. The Chairman of the Custom had an interview yeaterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.—The Post- Master General had also an interview with the right hon. -- ----- Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonia% office from the Governor of the Mauritius, and Klan from the Governor of Ceylon. Mr. Francis Cudd, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Dublin, accompanied by Mr. Reynolds, M.P., bad in interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yes terday, on the subject of the soap duties . Lord and Lady John Rossell bad a dinner patty yesterday, at their residence in Cbesham•place. THE LATE GOVERNOR OF GIBRALTAR, General S:r Robert B. Wilson, arrived in town yesterday, via France, after having completed six years' service on that station. THE MARQL'Ii AND MARCHIONESS OF NORMANDY left town by special train yesterday morning for Dover, ac companied by the earl and Countess of Mulgrave and suite. Her M.jesty's steamer, the Vivid, was waiting at Dover to convey their excellencies to Boulogne, en route for Paris. Tug QUEEN OP THE FRENCH STEAMER sailed from Folkestone for Boulogne yesterday, having en board tit: outward India mail and 77 passeneers, amongst whom were the Countess of Cardigan, Lord Charles Bruce, Count Jame, &e. CANADA COMPANY. Yesterday a general court of proprietors was held at the Company's House, in St. Helen's place, for the pur pose of electing four directors who go out by rotation, and one auditor, fot receiving the annual statement of their af fairs, made op to the 31st Dec. last, and on other business. Charles Franks, E. , the governor, in the chair. Hr. PERRY readthe advertisement convening the meet ing, and the minutes of the last court. The GOVERNOR then me and said that the proprit t •rs had heard stated the objects of the meeting, and that as gentlemen who retired from the direction were eligible for re-election, and offered thems2lves accordingly, no ether can didetes being in the field, they would, in conformity with the charter, monied to the election, which must be determined by a show of hands. He would real the names . • they were as follows : — Robert Biddulph, Etq. • Sir W. 34into T. Farquhar, Bart. ; James Goolen, 1 and Alexander Stewart, Esq. ; and, as auditor, Thomu Poynder, E-q, On a show of hands, these 'sorties were declared to be re elected. The GOVERNOR said be would now read the report for the year ending 31st Dee. last, ermmeneing with a statement of lands sold and leased in the year 1848 : Batas Acre,. Crowe reserves 3,409 at an average of 16a. 6d. per sere Huron tract. 9,714 I' • 13a. 4d. 0u. A .,... - 13,123 producing £9,209 • Town and park lota is Guelph 231 29 Town iota in the Huron Trait w 335 t9,Sed LEMIII. Acre*. Crown reserves 16,121 Producing an annual Valued wbcn leased at Hs rental of C 584 per acre on average Huron Tnet 41,211 Ditto 1,739 ♦alaed when leased at 16e, 4d. per acre on average --- 59,337 42 Town lota in the Huron Tract at an annual rental of Total sold and leased 72,460 acres. E 2,363 The cost of management lest year was, in London, 2,0931., and in Canada, 4,8554 Theincome tax was 5281., and the assessment and road-tax 3,9851. The assets in London amounted to 7,9551. sterling, in cash and securities, and in Canada to 283,5471. currency, including, as the principal items. 15,4831 . in the hands of the commissioners, and due by sundry persons; 133,2341. in bills receivable bearing in terest, and secured by mortgage on the lands, with the im provements made thereon ; 63,4461 . interest due on those bills ; 68,2951. for lands leased for 12 years, estimated at the present value, and with arrears of rent thereon; 13,5681. for arrears of rent on lands leased for ten years, &c. This gives • total of 283,5471. sterling; the land leased represented the sum of 231,4671. ; and unsold, 428,085/. The amount due to the company In the year 1848 for rents on ten years' leases, was 9,4851. currency, and there had been received to the 30th December, 5,5431. The assets would be subject to the current rate of exchange, if realised and remitted to this country, the premium of ex e.bange paid for remittances made last year being equal to about 2,4001. The debtor aide included the capital, amount ing to 289,7371.; the debentures, 125,200/. ; dividends due to proprietors, 1,3031.; interest due on debentures, 2,1961. ; amount deposited by sundry persons with the company to be remitted to Canada, 4,3801. ' • bills of exchange drawn on the company for money deposit ed with the commissioners in Canada, to be remitted to the United Kingdom, 9061. ; sundry debts due by the company in .Canada , 14,3541. ; and amount still to - be expended in Canada according to the agreement with the government, 3,0201. The 1 1 result was:that the balance of the company's assetsjafter 'providing sufficient to pay off the capital at par, the deben tures, and other liabilities, was 509,7521. This was esti mating the land unsold at the very reasonable average of 46. per acre, a good deal being set down as worth no thing, although probably it would ultimately have a value, and the company making its sales at about 15s. and 16s. per acre hitherto ; it was in reality worth much more. The proprietors would observe that the sales of lend in 1848 were leas than those of 1847, but the latter wee an unusually favourable year for the company, while 1 1848 had been remarkably otherwise, and considering the different c'rcumstanees which had affected the Canadian pro vinees, it was surprising that the company's affairs had not been more damaged. There had been nearly 18 months of un precedented distress in the colony, during which the me ans of the largest merchants and of the smallest lumberer had been affected. Every interest had Injuriously experienced the influence of the events in Europe. In 1845 and 1848 the imports of goods had been unusually large, sad when -the banks restricted their circulation, the measure pressed argent) y on debtors. During the suns period, owing to the fiscal law, of the United States, all goods imported thence bad to be paid in specie. He (the governor) called the attention of the pro prietors to these points, to show that, under the circumstances, the company really stood in a very good position. The failure of the sprint{ wheat crop in Canada, last year, had occasioned much difficulty among the smell farmers, espe cially is the Huron tract. Perhaps, however, it Would have a good effect, in compelling them to depend more for the future upon the growth of fall wheat ; and, indeed, it was andentood that more than twenty for one of the latter grain had, in consequence, since been sown. Nothing would tend more than these facts to show the sound position of the company's affairs, which was partly accounted for by the continual stream of new emigrants who sues. s p a s f a ij au l required their wants to be supplied, and took up lands y cleared. But for this, the company might, last year, not have been so ecoemeful. The directors had the satidaction of stating that the agricultural and commercial affairs of the province were improving, and nothing would add more thereto than the construction of the great trunk railway, which would at once raise the value of all property in British North America. One effect would be the extension and formation of branch lines in various directions, bringing an increased amount of traftio. It was alike the interest and the duty of all persons connected with the provinces to assist government in carry ing this important undertaking into effect. He would now hatedapropose that the the acproprietors. egunts submittf be printed, p o d 4 . 416 among Thisbeingri to A PROPRIETOR asked if the tursen due for ren, the bill. receivable, were perfectly safe and p o d . t 'hi The GOVERNOR.—There is no eras .n to doubt it. company bats security by its lien upon th e l and anal TMsums due are pail, and which are owed by tenants who hp,,. the liberty at any time to buy the l an d, if they pay: Parties might certainly leave th, laud wh ere t h ey held ii -r• an agreement for ten year., bat as the land wall 'OM than when sold, the company would be a Omr by th: doing. The tenant had no legal praesston when was in terser, and the company could tell th e land, ""4 Another P/LOPRIETOR expresseu himself will liciartfelasa, the sate of their affairs, and t nly wi=hed the puble elated it more fully. Their shares were worth in the apPic, - 71. or 81. more than at this time la , t, year ; and, cdetaite l to give coniLleoce he wpuld suggest that the name of t*, directors should be published at the bead of the nnet for the; were or Brat-rate standing in the ate. t a n d e i n ourn v.., ed ted . to the govpp ikrim Tlie GOVERNOR slanted, And 9cd that as to the 'ep ee the company's shares, ev.ry one who belipved In their alp% meat of amounts, could judge for h,mself. Tilers lift large surplus even upon a very moderate estimate. direaTheorsus,uanaldthtahnekarantwereing THE NAVIGATION LAWS. MEETING AT POPLAR. Last night • public meeting of persons inter es t s ,' in British navigation was held at the Tewn-h a ll , p„plooy„, the purpose of taking into consideration the ein em I ; pending in parliament fur the repeal of the n velem ea It., The meeting was very sums ously attend e d b y obi and shipwrights. The chair waa occupied by g icum GIMEN, Esq , an extensive shipowner. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, pig 04$ having been requested by a great number of shimwei n preside on the present °tension, he had waived all pe lbasl considerations and swotted. His motto was " sehon, not words," and therefore he hoped that ti e meeting %rig an atten ti ve he a ri ng for every to businese, sneaker. and support him i n o b taining Mr. OREVES propo ed the first resolution, which wie to the effect that it was the opinion of the meeting that and organic chances in laws should only bs und o oto. Azi necessity, in acoorlance with public opinion unigameally expressed, and in n temperate. cautious, and rodent assan k Mr. JOHN RICHARDSON xxonded this rewhitien. thought it very unfair that the shipowners of England, abs had enormous taxes to pay, should be i driven into competin g with foreigners, who had no heavy imposts is wast. petition in favour of the repeal of the navierati tn Inning yea wee only signed by 500 from the port of London, inei t ai., 50 foreigners ; but the petition rpai..e , it was elegant hymn: thousands of the merchant', bankers, and sbipseeng i g r t i; metropolis. This year there was the same preponderant ma on the side of those who °N. ettd to the repeal; and he advised the mercantile interests of Poplar t o die if they died at all, with harness on their backs, and to si n their dependence, not upon the House of Combnes, bra upon the Reuse of Lords. Mr. D. DUNBAR snored the second resolution, 'kith was: That the sweeping measure now before parliament 'or the vi rtu abrogation of the navigation laws had not been proved to le - for the ie tenets of commerce or the community, ..ad had km demanded by the voice of the people; that its introduction Wu ptel, phate, and its provisions crude, inconsistent, and dangerous He said the meeting woo aware that the v.romittee ay. pointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the opera. tion of the navigation laws was a fret-trade committee. fi t had been examined before that committee, and its amnesty that n mere unjust one bad never been appointed. Waht giving his evidence, an American captain hid been called is and loudly applauded, inasmuch as he !tithed that Eadielt captains made longer voyages than any others, beetles they were paid by the month. (Cries of " Shame.) Then a captain in the navy was examined, and he gave en. deuce that the mercantile marine was of FO advantage to the British navy. (" Oh !" and renewed cries of" Shaw") The next testimony weer, that foreign labour wu sares valuable than British. (" Oh! eh!" and a voles "We would do more work than three Muir:mere.", He fund that if the navigation laws were repealed, many a cume would he fired ; and he confessed that ono of his resume N supporting these laws was, that he wished to see England major domo, and the mistress of the world. (Laughter sod cheers.) He believed that the rep -al of the navigation lave would do less injury to the shipowner than to the ship. Wright, for dried fish and black bread, in all probibility, would be the food of the working mechanic if Kr. Ls. bouchere's plan were carried. At present, the shipowners kept the eighth of their profits, and gave the m, change the ninth part. (Ironical laughter, and cries of "Oh ! ok!" and " Where do you buy your ships i") Mr. S. TURNER seconded the resalutinn. Mr. TUD(IAY supported it; and quoted Adam Smith, u eulogist of the wisdom which aictued the enactment et the navigation laws. He thought the Laboucheres were a pared of snakes in the grass, and he hoped the mariners of England would unmoor their reason—(lou I laughter)—and oppoee the destructive policy now proposed. Mr. J. ROBINSON moved the third resolution amid great uproar, cries of " Sit down Cockney," imitation at the crowing of a civic, and loud laughter. Mr. T. H. BLUCK seconded the third resolution, which was " that the bit tor the repeal of the navigation Lou would produce most disastrous effects on the maritime is. terests, that its effects would be ruinous to the employm al labour, and the industrious classes in the parish of All Sinn and on the banks of the Thames, displacing operatives, di. fusing distress, pauperism and discontent, increasing the burden of the poor rates, and lowering the condition of ill who were dependent upon shipping." Mr. J. HOOPER supported the third resolution. Mr. N. GOULD moved " thst it be recommeni.ed to all persons to unite in a firm and determined resistance took. bill, and that a petition, founded on the foregoing nada. Gone, be signed by the chairman and transmitted wise legislature." Ile read the speech of Mr. Henry Drummond in the House of Commons against the bill, and said that Sir Robert Peel was worshipping the cotton idol set up by the men of Manchester. Copt DRAYNOR seconded the adoption of the petitim. Mr. G. F. YOUNG supported it, and 'toted that he as prepared on that platform, or in the Free Trade H.ll d Manchester, to meet any advocate of the repeal of the me vigation laws, and to prove that that re;seal would be a disastrous to the interests of Eneland. He said net according to the Customs' entry of list Saturday, then had been imported into the port of London 2,4001. worth of cotton manufacture., 1,7501. of woollen manufacture, 5,600 boot fronts, and 299,000 pairs of gloves. Why inset under circumstances lik• these, that 1,400 bootmaken hid been discharged at the West-end on Saturday night, or that there should be great distress in Leicester, Nottingham, se Birmingham ? But, tesides all this, there had been arm large quantity of needlework imported. Why then Mould surprise be expressed that the slertmakers of London were working for a paltry, insignificant trifle daily (lieu, hear.) He was Informed that on Saturday no fewer the 116 foreign vessels had entered the West India docks lade with foreign corn. (Hear.) He stood there as the advocate of the rights of Englishmen ; and now he would tell the meeting the dodge the free-traders were working. They (the free-traders) had not dared to attack all British lateens at once, but they had torn down one interest first, then they had made an assault upon another; and now the nisritise commerce was the last selected for attack. He was glad it, for the maritime commerce was the pivot upon which m action would tura, and these men would be spurned who hod nearly ruined every class in England. (Applause.) He the referred to a variety of statlstics,with theme of showing est British shipping had really decreased under reciprocity treaties, and that the shipping of foreign powers under siouhr treaties, had enormously increased. If, then, the naval pew of Great Britain continued to decline after the navigation laws were repealed, what would become of her greatness oa the ocean ? England now possessed 3,700,000 tons of skit ping, but the secretary of America had calculated that in the year 1857 the United States would have 7, 926 , 371 Sea' What then should England do? (Hear.) The petition presented in favour of the repeal of the navigation laws this session were 12 in number, containing 3,156 gorillas. while 107 petitions had been presented on the protettiordet side containing 118,218 signatures ; and the petition from Manchester, a city of cotton-idols, which Mr. Milner Gies like Mr. Cardwell for Liverpool, would never miry/poet again, contained the enormous number of 376 eiguature (Laughter and cheers.) He concluded by expressing a her that the present accursed bill would be thrown out of per latent by the united voice of the British public. Mr. BOWKET said that the only persons who had Pd. fited by the navigation laws were the shipowners , ended the unfortunate shipwrights, for the former made lideOL profit, while the poor man could scarcely obtain a last. Nat one man in twenty in Poplar could educate his child without sending him to a charity school ; and if this were the rash of protection, the sooner it was abandoned the beton (Cheers.) The several resolutions were almost unanimously adopted, and atter a vets of thanks to the chairman the meeting RP rated. PROFESSIONAL LIFE ASSURANCE.—Yesterday the annual meeting of this company was held at the offices of the institution, 76, Cheapside. The chair was taken by MO H. Stones, late of the 13th Dragoons. Edward Baylis, Et the manager and actuary, read a very flourishing riper, .1 the state of the institution. It stated that although samblar in times of extraordinary difficulty and distress, at a pesla when the commercial world appeared involved in ruin, tfi" society in so short a period had made unexampled psollesl . ., 171 policies having been effected since the last general "',."`" ing, making 271 policies in the aggregate, producine, ll . 42 deducting those lapsed and discontinued, en income of 2,4031. lls. 3d. per annum Upwards of 6,280 therein the capital of the company had been taken up since the last 0; nual meeting, or which 3,145 had been disposed of since the Ist of January last, showing that the public wen now more than ever ready to appreciate the advant 4 B l offered by the' company. The subscribed capital sr! amounted to 171,0601 . 10s., being an increase since the, meeting of 78,6004 10s., and including nearly 230 additional shareholders, making the total number 310. The directes recommended a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. persons en the paid-up capital. The ebjecteof the society tress LI ably advocated by Mr. Hart, Mr. Hesseltine, Mr. Cooper, w; Williams, Mr. Teuton, Major Stones (the cbairman) ,lo° also by the aetuary (Mr. Baylis), who particularly dwelt 01 the value of the clause of the deed which gave the directors power to appropriate for the relief of aged and distrease4r . praetors holding policies of flee years' duration, their widows and orphans, one-tenth of the annual profits of the eon' pany. The report was adopted by acclamation, sad the fol lowing gentlemen were re-elected directors:—The Rev. J. W. Okada, MA., Henry Hart, Esq., and Wm. Seerism e l Esq. E. 61. Winthrop, Esq., was also elected a director.