The Express. — London, England, 1849-12-13 00:00:00

vie etrpreog. r i WOK WATIS AT LONDON MUM/ Two I).—lfendag. ...... Alweems. IL. Via Twoossom—orroimA, IL ash..........Arreess. 2A. IVA °MOOING LULL TM stale ler lints! Noe* Amines sad the traced Oases will b made up temerveor emsity. Die. 14. TM West ledia MUM stsbedles Bensuls. ilavaanab. reisa. Hoodlum. Nry Orleans. awe lassies, sad Mclean, kiss libideles, Juswile-Niesessm, New Gnosis, Chill. s k id Pau. will be dmptcbed es Dee. 17. will In The sem mails l7 kr Lie" epic. sat Gihndtar mule up es Dos . The was ies Oi4ralua.ll4ll6, Onus. the leeks Islsa4s. Igypt. Cupeylon, ladle, sad Cw Ilesthemples. will bo mode sa the mendas la ef Dot. 20. TM milk aid Illarmilles. to tb• liediternimes. Nuys, Cellos. lad* Hestlssi, Its., will be made up es toe overlap el Des. IL TM mak Ilisieris, the Brock, wed Balsas Ayrsomill be made up es Jae. 4. LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13. Matesterza evidently is in no great alarm. Though the world is big with rumours of protec tionist triumphs and even whig reaction, the men ef M anc h es ter do not believe the p eril. Dmitsau and his million of tenant farmers do not roupeothem. The whisper that the stoat hearts of are failing, has no contagion for them Mr. Yoram's statistic missiles seem not to have reached them. We never saw men more blithe, more confident, more sanguine. It we have faults to find, indeed, with the men and the members for Manchester, it is that they are too tymist, too congratulatory , too ready to assume that shall have the world their own way. We be lieve indeed as fully as they, that their principles will triumph and the great muse continue to prevail. We perceive, however, more storms a-head than they are able to descry, more danger than they are willing to admit, and consequently the necessity of more efforts than they seem immedistely prepared to make. Mr. MILNER GIBSON, for example, mekes very light of the existence, either in the present or the future, of a protectionist majority in parliament. He thinks as satisfactorily of the present House et Com mons as Mr. DISRAELI does. and searcely desires or hopes to see a better. Both aaree in estimating that there is a hrge aristocrafc majority opposed to the best rights and interests of the people, and ready to resist, whenever it durst, the ci.eapnesi of the loaf and the extension of the franchise. Mr. GIBSON counts that their fears will make them wise; but Mr. DtsnAtu sees a chance, that their losses will so make them smart, that the suggestions of an empty purse may prevail over those of pJlitical prudence, and that pro tection may resuscitate, just sa corn was made free, Ina panic. We must confess that this appears to us a very un satisfactory state of things. It is the enjoyment of oar dearest boons and most cherished rights on a kind of sufferance. It is petting the people In possession of what they have struggled for, more as a kind of holiday privilege, than an in alienable possession. And, indeed, we object to the whole theory of public op inion being so paramount and so irresistible, that it is very little matter how aristocratic the government, or the parliament, or the Lords may be, seeing that they always yield to a sufficient quantity cf pressure, and are always opts to the ;peat argument of popular intimidation. The system of working the state, like a steam engine, by a powerful oscillating motion, by a popular propulsion forward and then an aristocratic repulsion backward, appears to as as pernicious is Orration,asdangeroasinfinalresult&With thestren g th of a flood it certainly dote force open the sluice-gates of the constitution, to carry great measures and to necessary reforms; but it allows these gates to be closed, immediately after the first rush, against all those smaller requirements acd measures, so necessary to complete the great one. Take, for instance, the example of the Reform Bill. And now that the great questions of free trade, corn, and eager, and ships, have been allowed to pale, that aria basilic phalanx which opened to let them pass, can any day reknit.their order and recluse their ranks, to tell you, as soon as they thirst do so, that the great experiment has failed, and that English trade and i tn i t ge ieh men must return to their old state et The efforts of the great liberal party mast therefore, we are of opinion, be directed sea say to the defence of free trade, to the wpm, end correction of administrative and financial abuses, bat also to the still greater aim of placing the legis lator, of the country in connexion and harmony, rather than in antagonism with popular opinion. bleati ng . Giesos sees well done by intimidation operat upon parliament, we would see done by a hirer and mote direct system of representatics. And instead of panegyrising the consti•ution as • felicitousjuggle, we would strive to make it as Vest representation of the country's interests and ideas. Two speakers at the Manchester din; sr fully en tered upon this. We allude to those of Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. Fox. Mr. BRIGHT, however, seemed to think that it was only in C 409 of the aristocracy re-enacting the corn laws, that the public would be induced stre nuous:y and seriously to call in question their right to pack the Hose of Commons exclusively in their own interest. We dare my that Mr. BRIGHT spoke truly, and that he was per fectly right in repret . enting some reactionary mea sure on the part of tones, as requisite to arouse the people of England to exertion. If this be so, we can only repeat that semi-jocose, semi-serious,but all sensible observaiion of Mr. COBDEN, since made the theme of so many diatribes, that he was almost cony that the corn-laws had been repealed so soon, for w ith a little more obstinacy on the part of the land lords, we should have wrested from them not only the repeal of the corn-laws, but of the power even to menace their resuscitation. There is one portion of Mr. GIBBON'S speech which we cannot well pass over, especially as we re cognised in it so much of our own information, and so many of our own ideas. Mr. 011330 N, in recapitu lating some of the moat startling abuses and waiver sations in the department of the Woods and Forests, spoke of the crown lands as capable of being turned into a large and fertile source of revenue, fully equal to compensate, in addition to other economies of expenditure, for the repeal of the most odious and onerous of the excise duties, such as the taxes on soap and cleanliness, on paper or psi-di cky, on advertisements, that is, on the humblest wants of the commercial public. We must return thanks to Mr. Chaos for this practical portion of his speech, although we think he might have wound up his hour of oratory on the subject of crown lands and soap, made up from the columns of the Express, by a moral more appropriate and lair than a oomph mat to the Morning Chronicle. TEE government undoubtedly did right in issuing e new Charity Commission : which, however, we re gard u but a temporary measure. Deriving its authority, not from parliament but from the crown alone, those whl act under it have no power to com pel the rectification or even the discovery of abuses. They must therefore be thankful for comparatively small mercies in the way of infermation. IVe have assisted these gentlemen now and then by di recting their attention to some instances of flagrant iniquity investigated by the former commissioners, but remaining still undressed. "It is nee wary," said Lord Chancellor ELDON, " to have it perfectly understood that charity estates all over the kingdom dealt with in a manner amounting to the direct breach of trust." As a sample, take the case of the Meer Hos Lincolnshire; an hospital established d years ago, in the reign of HENRY IH., with the Hone of Commons ; but never distinct and as rational in its objects as if it erected in our own time. The founder, e HOPPELL, settled it for the becefit c f cer• brethren, who, with an attendant functionary, chaplain-warden, were to be maintained at board as inmates of the hospital. It was a emphatically foe the poor. The ehap!ain not an object but an instrument of the bounty. By the charter or deed the patronage of this ancient este was vested in to Bishop of LINCOLN; declaration that if the see should at any .e vacant, the right of nomination should there belong to the dean and chapter. The bishop, - was constituted visitor of the foundation. chief reliacee of the pious bentfectur - reposed in the dean and chapter, whom, solemnity, he " implores, in the name of are dealt IN most direct let us to pital, in I six hundred and coeval vi theless u du had been er Blume DE R po3r bre called a chat bed and ban charity emp warden was founder's t of gift, 1 I blishment w but with ad time be eaci upon belong moreover, w But the ehi apparently with great I THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 13, 1849. Christian charity, to follow up and abide. by the di rection of his charter in all respects." In the year 1816 the well-known Di. PUTMAN, the tutor of Mr. Prre, was Bishop of Lipeoln. He bad two seas, of whom for the twe shall men ties bat one, the Be'. It tlit a i l l en s to PUTMAN, WM bad the good fortune to be appointed 2.h p r ain. right reverend father, thirti-three years go, • Imago of the Year Hospital. an oinca which be still retain', being at the same ambercp of Lincoln CatWral, and, as each, of the ceeporatioa it the dean and . The re verend gentleman had illumine ve sted his single pees" by thiamine parental nomination, no less than Mar separ_ste rectories—those of Stoney Middleton, in Clihire, of Walgrave and Hannington, in Northamptonshire, and of Wroughrov, in Wiltshire. What may be the value of these several pieces of pre ferment it is difficult to ascertain, because the re verend incumbent has made no return of them, bet, OR the contrary, declined to give an account of his emoluments to the Ecclesiastical Commission. We have, however, good grounds for believing that his income from the church is certainly not less then 4,0001. a year. The property of the Meer Hospital granted by its founder consists of 875 acres of land lying in a ring fence, tithe free, and within four miles of Lincoln, the annual value of which, at a moderate computation, is abort 1,4001. Our readers will asturally suppose that with so liberal an endowment a great number of poor and meritorious persons are eemfeetably supported, and that the 'lepton-warden, as his name would intimate, watches with a tender care over their interests, both temporal and spiritual. Very different, however, are the facts. Under the benign auspices of the bishop and of the dean and chapter of Lincoln, this ancient hospital, committed so solemnly to their care, has been ea ten dto become a ruin, of which even the traces are now scarcely discernible. The worthy chaplain warden gives a pension of 41. a year to each of six persons, generally farm servants or decayed doman de*, chosen by his bailiff; and subject to this annual expenditure or 241, he appropriates the rest of the income entirely and exclusively to his own private purposes. This is a short but true account of this reverend divine's administration since the date of his appointment ; and we do not mean to allege that he has materially deviated from the example of his more recent predecessors; who, however, were not warned, as we shall presently show he has been, of the illegality r f their proceedings. In 1818, when the House of Commons appointed a committee to in quire into ohm lees, the abuse of the Meer Hospital tot med a prominent feature in their report. In Lord Breuvonmes celebrated letter of the same year to the greet and good Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY it is stated that "at Meer, in Lincolnshire, is an endow - Iment for a warden and poor brethren of a very ancient date. The warden seems to be well provided for ;and 241. ay ear is the whole sum allotted to the I poor brethren. The bishop of the diocese is both pa- Mel and visitor. He has given the wardenship to hi ew e and the former warden resigned it on being es~by the same prelate to a living in his g ift. 17 11811 36, one of the charity commissioners repaired to Lincoln, and having there ascertained that an exem plification of the deed of foundation was preserved in the register of the dean and chapter, he, in virtue of his authority, demanded an inspection of this important document. The answer of the cathedral dignitaries was that they would not produce it without the consent of Mr. PRATT MAN, and that Mr. PRETYMAN bed written to them from London, saying he would not consent, and desiring them to refuse the produc tion. Fortunately a copy of the deed wes afterwards found in the Public Library at Cambridge. The case, coorequently, notwithstanding all impedimenta, was very satisfactorily investigated; and, upon the commissioners report, an information was filed in Chancery by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL against the chaplain-warden, the bishop, and the dean and chapter, chapter, who ade a defence, not only feeble, but frivolous; and Lord LANGDALE gave judgment condemning the leading defendant, Mr. PIrETYMAN, in a sum exceeding 22,0001., and falling little short of 23,000 d., the ascertained amount of his mdappro priations which he was decreed forthwith to make good to the charity. Finding his fate sealed, the chsplain-warden resorted to the expedient of an ap peal ad tnisericordiam, but he was told by his lord ship that the court must do its duty, "for that this sum of money, beyond all doubt, belonged to the charity." On the 17th November, 1841, Mr. PEETYMAn's counsel informed the court that his client was insolvent, and that a decree against him was io fact, little better than a mockery, for that he could pay nothing. The result, we take leave to say, was a little unusual in a court of justice. As we learn from Mr. BEAVAN'S report, "the case ' after some not very hostile discussion , was referred to the consideration of the Attorney-General." In other words, to the plaintiff in the cause. Not very hostile discussion, indeed ! We should be glad to know %hen a di scussion ought to have been hostile, if not in such a case as this. And as to the plea of poverty —how could a clergyman, without culpable extrava gance, and perhaps something worse, contrive, with such an income, to get into difficulties? The world has of late been satiated with the spectacle of clerical delinquencies. But the question which the public I will desire to see answered is this. What steps did Sir FREDERICK POLLOCK, who was then Attorney- General, take, under the reference of the court, to vin dicate the rights of this much-injures charity ? Did he put the livings of the defaulting chaplain-warden under sequestration ? And, if he did not, how can he justify such neglect as a public servant. ap pointed by law to give help to those who are unable to help themselves ? The poor, we trust, have not been sacrificed at the shrine of politics. And yet we are not sure of this : for the indignation of the local press seems to point at some thing of the kind. At all events these facts are cer tain. The Meer Hospital is still a ruin—its pen ateliers are still the same is number and allowances— and the Rev. RICHARD PRETYMAN may now laugh heartily in his sleeve at those costly but inefficient remedies which he has managed so dexterously t Icets, I elude and to defeat. FRANCE. PARIS, WIDPIWIDAY, 6.30 r ti M. Fould in opening the debate on the excise on drinks, yesterday, remarked that he had to apply to the Assembly to declare urgency on the di, comion now about to open. (This was agreed to.) Before the discussion opined, the go vernment thought it its duty to come for ward and declare its opinion with frankness and simplicity. The government proposed to have the duty on potable liquors maintained during the yeir 1850. It was indispensable that no change ghoul be effi cted in the tax until a solemn parliamentary inquiry had been instituted. He was aware that the tax in question was severely attacked in the country ; but the government could not, for the sake of a tem porary popularity, consent to run the chance of dis turbing the whole fiscal position of the state. Tee hon. gentleman then briefly recapitulated the heads of his financial statement of the 14th November last, and after showing that the revenue of one hundred millions of francs arising from the duty on potable liquors was absolutely necessity for the wants of the cawing year, asked how, if it were taken off, it with toile replaced? Was it by an income-tax—by that measure which bad called forth such universal com plaints? Was it by additional burdens on land? But agriculture was already too much weighed down, and the government was infinitely mere inclined to alle viate the burdens pressing on it that to augment them. Were any new measure to be proposed to throw additional taxes on land, a universal and legi timate protest would arise throughout the country. Was it from the floating debt? ' t hat was impossible, as the financial statement which he had made last month must have proved. There was in faw no mode of replacing it, and why, he would ask, should a duty be taken off which presead so lightly on the bulk of the consumers ? He maintained that the duty cas potabllliquate was butm alight burden on the mass el the people. No doubt petitions bad been seat in, but it was by no means clear that eery expressed the opinion of the country. Consi derable agitation had been got up on the sub ject, but the petitions almost all came from the same district.. It spoke well for the warning tran quillity of the country that, though this agitation was thus so excited, no dnturbance had tak .71 place. Out of 63 councils-general not fewer than 64 had declare d themselves in favour of keeping on the duty. In order to show that the tax on potable liquors was not Illyailigssap to t i t Zq i ef uw e a rine, or to the ire foreign gave the fo e anllowi. irtialts draws fr om :Adel manta :In 1788 deny were 1,636,400 beeline of vineyards in caltiestica ; is 11184 then were 1,90,000 hectares; aid at the penast time 2,137,000. The quantity of wines thus (erred to foreign oonsomp tion showed a constantly progressive increase from 1,144,000 hectolitres to 1,660,000 hectolitres, and from 44 millions to 64} =Moos—that is to say, of 33 per cent. on the quantity, and of 18 per cent. on the Take. The home consumption had followed the same rate of increase, and it was important to state that the revolution cf July had done what that of February bad not done, although the cironmstanoes were quite as serious; thus, in 1848, far from the consumption and the receipts stopping as they did in 1830, they reached the quantity lof 10 million hecto litres, which they had never before attained. The increase in spirits was not lees remarkable. The quantity exported had risen between the years 1831 and 1848, in the proportion of three to five. The difference was still greater on brandy. He would now point out the consequences of the step the Assembly was about to take. It would be im possible to carry on the government, if, while the ex penses increased, the taxes were diminished. That was the path that had been followed for the last two years. Since 1846, 156 millions had been added to the budget of expenses for public assistance, and that at the time when the disturbances of the country had decreased the receipts by an equal amount. The abolition of stamp duty on journals had cost the country 4 millions; postal reform, 12 millions; and the reduction of the duty on salt, 40 millions. It was necessary to stop on that fatal declivity. If the tax on potable liquors were to be abolished, a fatal blow would be struck at the finances of the country; confidence would cease, and the country would fall into a crisis of which it was impossible to foresee the end. 'the first effect of the abolition of the tax would be the suspension of labour, and the working-classes would be exposed to sufferings for which they might justly reproach the Assembly. The finances of the state would not only be disorganised, but the communes would be prevented from receiving the octroi duties, and they would be dept iced of the resource of the additional centimes. " Happily," said the minister in conclusion, " I feel not the slightest fear of the result in an Assembly so enlightened. We reject all the amendments, which are but an encroachment on the parliamentary inquiry which we ro Prse. i. Fonld was followed at the tribune by M. An thony Thouret, who, in an amusing speech, which ex cited much laughter, alluded to the danger attendant on the present measure. It had at one time caused a civil war in some of the departments, and had caused the royalist Gironde to choose a democratic socialist to represent it in the Assembly. (All eyes were here turned towards M. Legarde.) During the empire the duty was loudly cried out against, and the restoration I was compelled to promise its abolition, though the promise had not been performed. The Assembly must beware lest the people, tired of waiting for the bnprevetsents which were their due, should one day come and demand the sudden psym - nt of them. The tax on potable liquors was a real inqsisition ; the only difference was, that the inquisiti' n struck en mese while the modern law distributed its doctrines in det ail. The tax would end by devouring the land, the vine, and the vine-grower himself. M. Tliouret was followed by M. Depose, and the debate was adjourned to this day. It was resumed by M. Prodier, who spoke against the law, and conti nued by M. Chareneey, who thought it good, inasmuch as it took from every purse and not from a class. M. Charencey was spea king mien post-hour came. 101111111. , PARIS, Des 12. For , For Account. honey. il h Openers Highest. Lowed. Clammy. ---- 3 yet Cents. 56 40 ,36 63 36 70 SG 50 56 50 5 per Cents. 9l 65 l 91 90 92 9 51 99 91 95 5 do. New Lone.. „ It n or n 49 per Cents. 99 90 n n n 4 per Lents .. , 99 91 , 99 99 Kw:bangs on London : 30 days, 25 45; 90 dam 23 1129. Belem, 3, 1840 Do. 0, INI 57 „ Roman Loan Do. Do. . „ Bank share. Botlass.—Paris and Orleans, 762 5 0 ; Paris and Ranee, 532 9 '0 ; Rouen and Dane, 24125; Mignon and Pdarsellka, 120; etras bourn and Basle, 103; Centre (Viertoo), 33..; Bordeaux, 406 23; Nark, 451 23 ; Paris and etrasbonnr, 362 50 ; Tours and Nant es, 2PO; Nonterean and Troyes, 115; Anvers and (land, 260; Ver sAlles (right bank), 207 I/0 ; Versailles (left bank), 167 30. GERMANY. We have received our Vienna correspondence and papers of the Bth and 7th inst., from which we ex tract the followings VIENNA, Die. 6. The Reidagesetsblati contains the text of a con vention between Russia and Austria, which fur nishes a new instance of the complaisance of the latter power towards its powerful ally. By this agreement the extradition of Jewish fugi tives is stipulated on either side. But the motive is evidently entirely one-sided. Recently a vast num• bar of Jews have crossed the Russian frontier into (Wide to escape the recruitment. Theee poor wretches are to be handed back to the Muscovite ser geant and the knout. Austria having in the March con stitution promised equality of political rights to all reli gious sects, by concluding a treaty in which the Jews are singled out to be exempted from that protection which is extended to other?, is evidently acting in consistently with the pledge alluded to. The liberation of Kossuth's relations from prison is extended to his children, who were provided with a protestant tutor. His mother and sisters, who have just been dismissed from their prison at Pesth, are expected in Vienna, where it is believed they will apply for passports for Turkey. A singularly tragic occurrence rivets public atten tion at this moment. In oonsequence of a judgment of the Court of Exchange ( Wecheel-gericht), an exe cution was to be put in the house of a grocer in the Stadt. The bailiff, finding the door closed, caused it to be broken open, when a fearful spectacle was pre ' sented 0 those who entered. The man and his wife, in bed, were labouring under the operation of poison, which soon took fatal effect upon the first. The ' woman was recovered by medical means. What the poison was is not mentioned. The Cologne Gazelle announces, in a telegraphic mange from Vienna, dated the Bth inst., that the military governor of Vienna has suspended six of the evening papers during the continuance of the state of siege. The Preen is one of the six. TURKEY. The Levant mail, which arrived in Paris yester day, brings news from Constantinople to the 23th ult. The question of the refugees was as far from advancing as ever. The difficulties arise from the continuance of demands on the part of Russia and Austria which the Porte refutes to concede. The Porte consents to send into the interior all the refugees included in a list presented by Count Sturmer, but desires the list to be completed at once. The listalready contains the names of thirty four persons, and Count Sturmer wants it to remain open, and further that Austria should remain judge of the time the refugees are to be kept in durance vile. This the Porte will not allow. Count Stunner further requires that the Hungarian renegades, Kulman, Stein, and Kmcty, should be interne, whilst Russia demands the satne thing with regard to the Polish renegades, Hem, and others. The Porte replies that it knows no such person as Bern; but there are Mourai Pacha and oth.r Musulmano, who must not be - meddled with Russia continues to insist on the expulsion of all the Pules who have been staying in Constantinople pro tected by foreign passports. The Porte replies that it sees in thr se people, not Poles, but foreigner, which it cannot touch. Such are the replies of the Porte to Russia,—replies which are embodied in a note that was sent off to St. Petersburg by special courier on the 22nd ult. Warlike preparations are still being made ; and fears exist, which of course are unfounded, that a war may ensue from all these complications. All the Turkish troops have been concentrated at Schoumbe, Erzeroum, and Constantinople. Moldavia and Wallachia have been evacuated by Turkey, and their force reduced at Bucharest, according to treaty, to 0,000 men, and at Giurgevo to 4,000. The Rut sians have still 30,000 men and 42 guns in the Danubian provinces, but they are concentrating their force in Little Wallachia, on the confines of Servia, where a revolution is said to be imminent. The present Prince of Semis is in favour of the Porte, and has eent:his eon-in-law, Nicolaiewitch to Constantinople, where he has been received, the Sultan having named a special agent to concert measures for improving the condition of the Sela vonian population. 'The Russian agents who are at the bottom of the proposed inturrection, openly de &gnat° as the man who is to carry it into effect the Austrian-Sclavonian, Knicjanin, who fought against Hungary under Jellachich. Such is the news received in Paris from Constan tinople te-day. There is no news from Athens. THE UNITED STATES. The British and North American Royal Mail steam-ship America, which left New York on the 28th ult., and Halifax on the let anived at Liverpool yesterday, as was announced in our yesterday's im pression. Our New York Correspcndent's letter contains all the news of any consequence brought by this mail : NEW YORK, Nov. 28. As the sitting of congress approaches, we are be ginning to prepare ourselves for new excitement. Mr. Clay has just left the city, after in vain striving to avoid all public demonstretione. If he went oat he was cheered, if he was hungry every mansion was open to him, it he stood still for a moment he was surrounded by thousands who clamorously demanded that he should speak to them. When he re tired to rest bands of music serenaded him ; in short, he was the idol of the hour, indeed he has always been the idol of the hour—hours that have extended to months and years. While he was here there was much anxiety to know what course he intended to take with regard to the administration of General Taylor. He has avowed two things— first, that he will make every possible effort to com promise the slavery question ; and next, will sustain his friend Mr. Clayton, the Secretary of State, at all hazards. Scarcely had he left the city before General Cass made his appearance. It is evident that the demo- cretin party mean to make him their candidate foe the next presidency. lie had arrived but a few minutes in the city before the news of his arrival spread through it like wildfire, and while he was 1 walking in Broadway with his friend Mr. Bred head, a committee from Tammany Hall chased after' him, OT ertook him, and presented their congratulations to him in the street. Upon his course and that of Mr. Clay, much of our future depends. ithink both those gentlemen will agree as to the necessity of a compro mise on the slavery question, and it Mr. Benton can be made to forego some of his schemes, it will be effected. One of the plans now proposed to " kill ebolitieeisea," is to cede back the remaining portion of the district of Columbia, to tee state of Maryland. A part of it has already been thus ceded to Virginia. In this way one constant source of irritation will be re moved. On the incorporation of the new Pacific states into the union, the question will arise, whether they sired be allowed to regulate their "domestic in stitutions" after their own pleasure or be restricted by the Wilmot proviso. The agitation of this ques tion is therefore at hand. The present administra tion wish that the new states shall act as they like in this matter, for they know that practically slavery cannot exist in the new domain. The southern states contend that their citizens have a right to remove there with their slave property and be protected. Tele will be the issue in the next Congress. One of the most grievous annoyances under which the commercial public now suffer, is the variety of stringent regulations adopted by the new Secretary of the Treasury with regard to our various custom hou«s. They are so numerous and vexatious as to have excited the general displeasure of our merchants. For example, when goods arrive here from a foreign port without an invoice, it. has been the practice, as a matter of course, to have them examined by the government appraisers, who fix the rate of duties ac cording to the value. Now it has become neces.ary in such cases to send a written application to the secretary at Washington for an order to appraise, before an appraisement can take place; and this causes great delay, and often a very serious injury. A fe iv days ago a cargo of fruit arrived from a foreign port, and the consignee was without an invoice. The goods were seized, and, because they were perishable, they were immediately sold by the government fur what they would bring. The eimingLeo previously asked for au appraisement, uttered to pay the duties, no matter what they might be, or to give bonds to produce the invoice, in vain. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. (From the New lark Courier and Enquirer.) New Iroitx, Nov. 28.—The commercial, manufacturing, and anicultural Interests of the country have rarely, if ever, presented at thin season of the year so great a degree of prosperity as is now ex hibited. The weather is unusually mild and pleasant. Produce to pouring into the cities from Ml quarters, whilst goods are still finding , their way into the interior in return. At the south, the cotton plant ers have not failed to avail themseivesof the genial weather, and "the ' picking" has been carried on touch later than was anticipated some time ago. This Ms added materially to the crop : still we cannot find that it Is likely to go much beyond the estimate of 2,100,000 bales. We have men numerous letters tram the south, all written pretty much in the same strain. We have conversed with a number of in telligent gentlemen from Miesittippi, and they all agree that the crop in that state is infinitely superior to the eroo in MinassippL The crop is Louisiana and Texas are reported to be far short of an average 7aGeorgia appears to be the only cotton growing state that make anything like an average crop, and notwithstanding the favourable accounts of the crop in that state, which are given to the public by news pees. )et theme are many let. Ingeut planters in Georgia who estimate the crop of the state at less than three-quarters of an average crop. Corms—The market closed on the 19th inst. as advised per Cumbria, with a dull feeling and an anxiety on the part of holders to realise. Our quotation at that date was for middling fair to fair Uplands Plc. to Ile. For the five days suomedir,g, the sales ara•unted to 10,210 bales, prices gm:Malty yielding ; the lowest point reached was on the 24th inst. when sales were made of lair Uplands at 10Ie , gully fair at lOic. , and good fair at 101 e. This was under the general anticipation of le. decline per Caledonia. Her &deices were reetived on Sunday the 22th inst., and their tenor beteg the reverse of anticipations, the mirket opened with an active demand ou Monday at lc. to Ic. advance, with sales to the extent of 2,200 bake. To-clay the inquiry ban been very animated, and all the cotton offere.. has been taken. The Pales reported on 'Change were 2,700 bales, and tub es quently 1,500 to 2,000 bales on the basis of 11c. for fair Uplands. The quotations at foot are adjusted to conform to the business doing. The buying during the week has been chiefly for export and home use. The disposition to speculate hi checked by the course pursued by I the planters in forcing their crops to market, causing heavy accumulations at Southern ports and leading from increased receipts to increased estimates of the crop. But the point of uttered I for the holder of cotton in Liverpool is the quantity cleared from the United States. The exports to Great Britain (as per statement at s fiat) since the Ist September amounts to only 01,000 bales, against 190,890 same period lad year. Of this quantity, 14,303 hales have • been cleared sham the let inst., amine. 100,000 during the same period BM season. In reference to the growing crop, kilieg frost ' occurred at Cheraw. South Carolina, Maraca, and Columbus, Georgia, . on the 9th inst., and at Montgommy, Alabama, on the 10th. Still public opinion here inclines to a yield of 2,250.000 to 2,300,000 bales We have no tido ices of killing frost either In Alabama (except at Mont i dowry. which Is believed to have been local), Misineelppi, or Louis , iana time diApoPitioo, therefore. to Increase estimates in come - quince of the mild, One weather, which prevailed at th e latest dates, is becoming inure general bell at Motile and New Orleans. We still ' believe that the benefits tesulting from a late and open fall are over . estimated, and that the dispoxiion of planters to hutry their crops to ' market, to realise the high prices current, induce enormous concha , *ions of the aggregate yield. ATATIMY.NT Or ar.CFirril AND KLIVITs. Receipts. Uports to Gt. Britain. To Prance. • 1049 417,340 81,103 47,011 1010 469,013 196,390 41,366 Decrease 32,229 113,287 blame, 1,625 Merida and N. 0. Texas, Upload. and Mobile. Inferior .. ... ..... ............. to 9i to Ordinaty . to rood"r;a: Mid. to good mid. Mid. lair to Or Volt). rdr to tine /*tektite to Liverpool wire at 7.3. d.; to Ilarte, active ut C. The goods were sold, because the delay in obtaining the °Mk ° dmes. nat ilisvil - 7 . 77' . ' s * k. the requisite order might deteriorate the value of the o r Canadian , t h e e g os wk i e f t - k ;fec t ivirt l et as cargo, and it brought a price which not only ocea- bond ior wi e tl le onet ere ce ter: 3 ssnall ° vers a." f •- ao r . : l t se at gloried a loss to the owners, but seriously affected the L",_" 4 do.. 12ie. to 4 dols. 23a. for one, 4 dais ' . 1114 t. i r 4r.n2. market, So much for having an unpractieed lawyer sour, 4 dole. 62. e. to 4 dots. 73e. for cceueeetkat : o6 ., 73e„ tor at the bead of the Treasury. A storm is brewing in reter, e, 4 an cigat ri 24 s o. d: i le i fgr o rtr . 2 s s ift;. c rid mass se m :', l pizst consequence, and Mr. Meredith will be displaced, if • remains dull at 5 dot, , 230. to 5 dots. 370., fo rre °mew s, C Wh im; very powerful influence can succeed in effecting its B y. Roca Is tive at 2 dole. 94e. to 3 doh. purpose. Coin blast dull at 3 dots. to 3 23c. for Jersey am Brand l m et . It is believed that there will be found quite a large Gllll _llC—Wheat is in moderate supply and holders Lira la d tl e ta fi t ci rlaan cy inofofraroentre2lrte73dOmmielillgithones com i ngilbe year, and si i °23 iii i" "or tBGentg ere 4ad e, in w :eal lante6 . l"o ß 3 r bet :E .ma rnF er a tt t ° 6oe. W°l" rd le ir e 7 lekaads :Z gail4 'zed,: smil ee; from the present congrees. The cause of this will be r e. Oa* have a gr"lfln !t g c 6l" NWthan4 found to be the unexpected balances due far the ex- utc.Tf.or nut ( Teak w ate. for round rene t . for thane 4 et, u s: penes of the Mexican war. Mr. Meredith it is hem& New Yora Courier and Bordreri said will recommend specific duties on some Agim• - A"ut " 0 bb " Can'aa Vol have been tenfred the past week, a portion at which were said at 7 doh. articles now levied on the ad valorem principle, and m inder skip= hunt first hands . New York insp ecteg ', o - - t r,ra. the laying of duties on many articles now e dote. 311 c. to 6 dais 5240 . per 100Iba • pearls a t 're (Mr' admitted flee. I think this modification will be ap- 5 „.,„ .- - rbe market for the mot three de haiteen proved of. Meantime, the question arises, shall the dull, and r pewee have declined te. per lb. an straseep l e m readi deficit in the interim be made up by a loan on the r 3 ; . l%f° an iZet: k moatit!°slti C 4l t , s of to i lic.; New O ceota P t issue of Treasury notes ? The latter would certainly Lea men kinds is estiswo a be the best form, for now, since our territories have rcohic priers h ream. the -Se ir m adraneed 4c. per ar k et a e b t ou has t liii:ll67serieznpleircineteirtam(n car t., become so vast and populous, we are much in want 12 000 of a lees cumbersome medium of exchange than gold 3,000 bags, sells at 10 5 . to Ile.; St. Domingo, Sc. to ; 6 61 k s am* a re n in d o s te ilv c e i r re . ul O at ur ion l , oc w a h l ii c e ur T re re n u cy ur :; n b o t oe ci i tic are ulat e e v d er f y or . of 1 9, y sates o t• ib r itrpo _ ritomeghfot, ezpontiee. hisphirieltd. oat where sought for, and furnish the safest modes of re- to ahave b e ffe h eli e a f old i mi e li r in e the last t h r „ =Mance and exchange. These Treasury notes would emist!ilmeaten. Tar, 1 dol. 75c. To I dor - 877,. f0rN-Th °vie pass freely at par and above par, without bearing PROTIPIOI.I. -Pork is rather dull, and may taiuoted atle,.V.i.e. more than two or three per cent. interest. f o r mess, and 8 dole. Vic. to dole. 50c. prime. prime beef, 16 dots . ; city barrels, 10dols. for mere and 7 Cols f A singular fact may here be alluded to, and it is country inspected ditto, 6 dots. to 6 dols. 21c. for Whine, ~74s quite appropriate, that Holland has reduced the ...a we to l6 9 : . lo t t ne. for ; mr ther B d u ese tte r f p r one ivel r.g frer e ly ft. i MS S,. to qu i et es current value of gold in payment of debts in conse quence of its abundance. 74c. -Me —theWi : sit:faint . te — Che: N r r ' pr e rle:e l l i;: f e oirn bu ch 7li keae t: l°l e l' al i ters ;Lar"i tio tel : klul t 4 o vebftblien"dt6l:4 Nearly all the gold which is brought from Cali ttutlae To - fornia to the United States is purchased in our flour le taken at 25.• lard, 23..• woad , 276 ed.; ehasse , c t u o rr l e 6 n d c o y le m . p ay er b o e unoceb. , grain 4d . M dd- ,i , 10; La . T ur e e rlr eme l n . 4 e Cottoik eszd% o a l t s. fr o ' f in ou l r 4 le d g o al le. currency while here th l e e re d ' taioed for it. If tne supply continues to be as large ashes, rice, &c.. S dole. To Ants cap 3lc. To dew. as is anticipated, it must have its effect on our legal °Pt i ta tur . Per i n ere e' 35 ce mttotren, this packe t hie been standard. And as I have already written you, there increased quantity of bite having a tendency still further I to depra TT* rte toT Prance, is n i ) ruivemlit e in specie exmp t tia tras is no doubt that California ie full of gold, and those itio.°f raver oco or MAW dollar, but as this is ur Tr ua e ll p y a : k o e n t skrrc e "ri' English papers that declared the first etores of Pa abundance to be Yankee lies mast by this time have of merchandise between the two countries, it does not I.9e ct ij o found out their mistake. market except in times of great warmly. 01100:4 Excitssons.-On London, 1061 to 109; Preis, h We have some scraps of foreign intelligence from se 25e.; Bremen , rel to 701; Amsterdam, Cita 401; various quarters . We have, by the way of New to 35 4* Orleans, dates from the city of Mexico to the 20th ult., and from Vera Cruz to the 22nd inclusive. The story of the insurrection at Cmula, and the disper sion of the rebels, is confirmed. It was a small affair at best. The members of the Mexican Congress have been openly charged with being bribed by some atcck capitalists, in order to prevent the passage of a law which would affect their interests. Tne Apaches were again ravaging Durango, the inhabitants appa rently unable to defend themselves. Robberies and murders are on the increase through out Mexico, and the authorities are powerless to check them. The country is indeed in a shocking condition, and is really to be pitied. The wealthy inhabitants continue to deplore the absence of the American armies. From Yucatan the news is of the same character. Hostilities between the Indians and the whites have been resumed. The following brief abstract of letters recently published in this city may eery k as a brief chronicle of the latest events. Gold is taken in large quanti ties, but only witn hard labour. It is very plentiful at San Francisco, where much of it is bought up on English account. The facilities of communication between San Fran cisco are to be increased, by the addition of two steamers to Howland and Aepinwall's line, one of them, the Unicorn, having already reached her station, and the other, the Tennessee, being about to depart for hers in a few days. The Senator, an oppo sition boat, has arrived out safely; the Isthmus and Gold Hunter go in a few days, and the Sarah Sands , follows en the 10th of December. At present the, roads on the isthmus are almost impassable, so much so, that the express lines here have declined for the present taking any heavy freight. The forwarders (Spaniards and negroes) at Chagres have nearly doubled their prices of transportation, charging 30 cents a pound for goods. They are pe rfectly faithless in their contracts, and there is no remedy, except to trust them no longer. The rains have been unusually heavy and prolonged, and under all these inconve niences, the friends of the Nicaragua and Tehuante pec routes are urging their scheme., with fresh hopes of success. One of the last remittances of gold dust, addressed to a house in Baltimore, was found deficient in quantity about 10,000 dole. A hole was discovered under one of the iron straps of the box which con. tallied it, and it was at first believed the ore had been abstracted on its route. On further examination, however, it was ascertained that this must have been a rude by the thieves in California. The box con tained several eanieters,and it was perceived that those which were full had made deep indentations in the box where they stood, while the empty canister had made no impression on the interior surface of the box, ergo, and must have been empty all the way. In conse quence of this theft our insurance offices have &- I mended, as I learn, one per cent. additional for in surance where the clause respecting robbery is re tained in the policy. A few days ago the crew of the United States' ship Germantown, lying at the Navy-yard, in Gos port, Virginia, broke out into a " sudden mutiny." The cause of it is still unknown, but for the first time in our naval history, has a national vessel been in the hands of mutineers. The officers were unable to main tain their authority ; and it was only when a boat pushed off for assistance to the other ships on the station, that an order to man the starboard battery was obeyed, and the ring leaders were seized and put in irons. The few officers on board are said to have behaved with the greatest coolness and courage. We are to have a new Spanish consul-general at this port. It has long been occupied by an American of the name of Stoughton, but since the "secret ex pedition" it has been determined that a true Castilian ,s to keep watch and ward over the Spanish interests in New York. We have a large number of Spaniards with us-merchants, importers, students, and even editors! COLONIAL. CANADA. The only news of moment from this colony relates to disturbances by the Indians at the mines of the Quebec Mining Company. The Quebec Gie we j e k states that the Indians had taken possession rf the mines, and killed two men. The truth of U sgat,. went is doubted. Accs,unts from Toronto represeet that soldiers had been sent to the scene of Li-tort. aoce, and order restored. From our New York car rel:student we have the following communication re lattve to this and other Canadian affairs : _ " We have later intelligence from Canada in nil, tion to the difficulty between the Indians and the Quebec Mining Company. They are so seri,us as to have required the interposition of the military nutho• rities. Their history, as it is derived from Ai..erican sources, is as follows : "About four years ago the Canadian government issued permits for the exploration of the mineral lands in the neighbourhood of Lakes Huron and Supe rior. The Indians finding that some of these ei. plorers not only made examirations but began work, and that some of the companies, such as tl.e Quebec, actually made purchases ot these lands, some .4 then consisting of cultivated farms, remonstrated a ith the government on the injustice of its proceedingq- and a delegation repaired to Montreal to seek redress. The delegation returned with promises only, and carried back a spirit of discontent, which was soon followed by the desire of revenge. They openly dm .arced the treatment they received from the governor e, to which they had been so loyal, and compared it with hat which their reit brethren on the A merit:ea side receive from the President. An here let me remark that however we hare at various times overstepped the bounds of ha. manity in our conduct to the poor India,' recently our policy has been a most kind one. A de. legation of Indian chiefs, when desirous ot ‘ihitiog Washington to retirees a grievance, is always a -ended by a gown meat officer and interpreter, and is cot veyed free of expense going and returning. It feasted and feted every step of the way, and every care is taken to make the chiefs as happy as prssible during theM journey. The President receive a them in due form, hears their complaints, and sees that they are attended to. All our acquisitions of their lands are paid for handsomely,—a large sum doer, lad annuities as long as the tribe exists. In this way some of the survivors of formerly powerful nation receive each very large sums ot money, and the pos. session of this induces them to give up their former °sotto, and to lean to civilisation and religion. The Canadian Indians have not failed to obArve this. Last autumn, however, two British commissioners appeared at the Sault; but instead of fixing a time and place to meet the Indians in council, ss is cus tomary, they endeavoured, during a journey around the lakes, to settle the impending difficulties by indi vidual bargains. Finally, however, a council wee hastily summoned, not a large one, when it appear. ing that the commissioners had no authority t. offer any price per acre, the chiefs dissolved it, wi: cat coming to any conclusion, except that of taking the first opportunity of a - tacking the miners. A Awl time since a body of Indians and half-breeds, heeded by a Scotchman named McDonald, with a six.p..under stolen from the Hudson Bay Company, set off from the Sault, to capture the works LI the Quebec Com. pany at Point la Maine. The English Coilector of the Customs at the Sault immediately started in a canoe to reach the scene of action before the Indians should come ap, and, as it was supposed el Detroit he would be enc. credal in his attempt, and be able to prepue the miners, 200 in number, for a vigorous defence, a bloody conflict was anticipated. One company of British regulars from the Upper Lake had been despatched as fast as possible to Point le Maine; some troops at Toronto had teen sent up, and four companies were on their way from Montreal. It appears that the Canadian government have sold the location to the miners for about 400 dollars, and have received as their per tentage from the works about 60,000 dollars, while the Indians themselves hays been diepsse.sed of their lands, and have not received for them a single penny. If this statement be true, there has been a great lack of fairness and good management on the part of the Canadian authorities. "We have, by telegraph, another curious piece of information from Canada : that the change of the seat of government to Toronto has been found to be illegal, and that Lord Elgin has offered the catholic priests to give up to them the celebrated Jesuit estates in the lower province, if they will agree to put down annexation. BERMUDA. The following has reached us from New York : suspect, however, it is but an inaccurate version of the late Trinidad riots. It would be strange if the same blunder should have been committed with the same results by the legislatures of two of our coleniee so nearly at the same time: " From Bermuda, we have accounts by the way of Charleston, of a etrarge character. It seems that the legislative council having attempted, by the intro. duction of a law to place debtors - in gaol with erd' nary criminals, and subject them to the vote discipline, a riot took place at Hamilton, and before it could be quelled several lives were lost. Wo have not yet heard the particulars. It is certainly very curious that any body of legislators should di sire to consider debtors as criminals. Not satisfied with the expensive ms' chinery of the law now at work to aid creiitois is the collection of their dtbte, debts voluntarily per mitted for the sake of a profit only, and not ler the public good, they seek to Once insolvents on the s o ne tooting as thieves and murderers. No law compels auy men to give credit to another. It is bis oaa folly if he does eo, and the public should not be eons• gelled to part with its money to repair his want of sense. Better make all debts mere debts of honour . , than continue this system. A nun who gives wed to another, should do so on the character (?f t h e buyer, and not on the security of a prison uniturp2. Caveat enipt,,r, says antiquity. Good sense, replies caveat vendor." PORT PHILLIP. REFUSAL TO RECEIVE EXILES. The Randolph, 664 tons, W. Dale, from Wooitittit 29th Aim!, wan vides, and a detachment of the j.,SM and 11th regiment% arrived at Port Phillip on the Bth Latrobe Witt esi notwithstanding an order had been given by blr. that no coLviet vessel should pass the Heads, the Batalolo SPAIN. MADRID, The Gazette of to-day contains a decree of the moat scandalous and cynical illegality, by which it is ordered that the estimates which have been submitted to the examination of the Cortes shall have effect on the let of Januari. The decree is founded upon the pretext that the Corte will not have the time to dis cuss the estimates before that time, and that much ' disorder would consequently accrue in the finances, because very great modifications have been proposed in the expenses. This measure cannot fail to excite warm debates in the Chamber's, whose attributes are thus laughed to scorn. The election fur members for Calatayud is taking place again. You will remember that the ministers were left in a minority on the question of the validity of that election. All the members for Galicia voted egrinet the government, disgusted with the coercion employed by its agents in that province. Menai% Dec. 6.—Three per Ceuta, 29 15.16 ace. Four per Ceuta., 12f paper Five per Centa,l3 ace. Coup one, 8 paper. Bank of B*. Ferdinand, be paper. Exchange on London, 5015. ITALY. ROMAN STATES.—me Concordia of Torln, of the Bth, states, on the faith of private correspondence, thtt the Colleges of Jesuits at Ferrara, Forli, and Faensa have been re-opened, and that those of Tivoli and Loreto will soon follow. The fortress of Spoleto, according to this account, is full of political prisoners. TUSCANY.—We read in the Conatituzionale of Florence that 62 refugees had arrived at Leghorn on the 4th, on beard the French steamer Antiope, in wilding to claim the benefit of the amnesty. VENICE.—The Corriere Mercantile of the 7th inst. quotes letters from Venice, stating that the fi,r titicittons at Verona are proceeding with great acti vity. No hopes are entertained of saving the free port of Venice ; it is even believed the arsenal will be transported to Pola. Taxes are so heavy, that several communes of the Venetian territory have proposed the dismissal of all their employs except the clerk, and the suppression of all expenses of charity. SWITZERLAND. Our Paris correspondent writes as follows : "It is given to me as certain that the King of Prussiawill enforce his claim according to the treaties of 1815 to the sovereignty of Neufchatel. 'this is a matter which I should not touch upoo, did it not in volve interists in which France, or rather its govern ment, is concerned. Negotiations have long been going on between Paris and Berne, and Switzerland had done to please France all that was required with respt-ct to relugees. As as equivalent, the govern ment at Berne desired and asked for the interven tion of toe French government to arrange the Neuf chatel affair. France promised to obtain what was asked of it, and :%1. Briffault had to concert measures on the subject, in addi tion to his more private mission with Ge neral Dufour. Another humiliation to France, however, may be anticipated, from the fact that the King of Prussia has determined to push vigorously for the rights given to him by the tre%ties of 1815 over the canton of NeufcbateL He has already sent gold medals to all the persons who cuffered from im prisonmont during the war of the tionderband, and decisive measures are shortly expected. Such is the present state of things as regards Prussia and Switz erland. The latter, whose government is really must timid, will yield, there is no doubt; and fresh courage will be instilled into the Sonderbund party r by the success of Prussia." HAMBURG, DECEMBER B.—The early frost &se done incalculable injury to our comnr roe, many ,foreign vessels destined for our port being unt,ble to gain it in cats •queucc of the ice : 300 vessels, laden with rich cargoes, which left in the spring for India, are now on their way home. the Elbe is now crossed with sledges, but the ice is not yet very strong. HOLLAND.—TnE HAGUE, DECEMBER B.—The Provincial States of Oserjeal hate votkd tut: sum of 300,000 francs for making a canal from Zevottle to Almon°. P I 11/1 *its L as se ins !,_a; wow *, ' Doris car. d ' , wo of 8 ., for —.Raba Th. Osbc Ws WEN Thou SOC t t 11 t t c t 1 (Ru Et a Glc Eli chat