The Express. — London, England, 1846-12-15 00:00:00

gbe Court. - The Queen and Prince Albert walked early yester- jay in th • plantations vaf Osborne House. .The non. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay loft Osborne House yesterday. Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps cud Taxes, bad e n interview with the Chancellor of tho Exchequer yes t e rday, at his official residence, Downing-street. Mr. C. at the Colonial-office. . Warner had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the G .yernor of Gibraltar. The Chancellor of the Excher and Lady Mary Wood left Bowood-Park, Wilts, t he n seat of the Marquis of ' Lansdowne, yesterday morning, for town. Mr. C. °Emilio goo left yesterday for London. The Earl of Clarendon will Hare Bowood-park to-day, for his seat, Grove-park, Herts. DISTRESSED NEEDLEIVOINIEN"S SOCIETY. A meeting of the committee and subscribers of this institution was held yesterday . at the Crown and Anchor Tavern; Luke Hansard, Esq., in the chair; convened by ad vertisement from Alderman FurArother, to consider a charge w hich the Alderman preferred against Lord Ashley, of a wish to damage his reputation by sending the following cir cular to the subscribers to the institution, and to the Ald , r. men and others of the City of London ; bat although the proceedings were protracted for several hours in a long ad areas from Alderman Farebrotner, and the reading of a volu minous correspondence, the real merits of the case, as Lord Ashley said, " lie in a nut-shell;" and no resolution or mil lion of any description was come to. The following is the circular complained of : Nov. Is.--Lord Ashley, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Jeffreys, and Mr. Cowper, base deemed it to be their duty to notify to the subscribers to the So sway for the Aida Distressed Need:CW[lMM their withdrawal front ' the ommlttee in July List. They do so in of a speech re in the Times of 28th Oeiriber, and attributed to the president, )Ir. Alderman fandmither. The Chairman is rcportei to have said, age weed to express Ids regret at the loss the Institution had sus • iglied Irma the reaftement of Lord Ashley front its mantatement ; but . at the sane time, he believed the noble lord continued to have the best wishes for its success. . . . And he believed the reason of his 11'61%30 retirequent was, that he did not wish to be chairman of iwo froristies of a similar land at the same tune." This erroneous state : mint requites correction. The reason of the retirement of Lord , matey sod of the three othergentlemen was set forth in the following biter horn Lord Ashley to the president, the decision in which was matioefed be letters from each of them : d 7 G_jir , The result of the meeting of the committee fur eon * apenng the atitits of the Needlesomen's Society was so unsatisfae : aray, the accounts appeared to be in such dborder, and the registra ' dell so imperfect, that lean have no hope of any benefits to arise to theabjects of toe institution, or of credit to ourselves ms patrons or 'rder peertdcntr. I must therefore request you, as president, to wits draw my name from the list of the othee-bearers of the sociely.-I v. am, ad, %mar very obedient se rvant, Asitte (r. Alderman Farebrother. After leading the circular, the Alderman suggested the unfairness of privately giving it currency without forwarding *copy to hint, or appending to it the answer he had sent to the letter of Lord Ashley. This he thought was due from one 100(10111ln to another, especially as it seemed to convey . the imputation that the Alderman was cognisant of the • mismanagement which led to the resignation of Lord Ashley and the other gentlemen named. On the other head, Lord Ashley . contended that he was not only justified, hut bound in fairness to him self and to thos he h o e induced to subscribe to the institution, state the real cause of his re signation, in contradiction of the cause assigned by • Alderman Farebrother, the President, in a speech made ny dim, at a meeting of the subscribers in October last. In that speech the Alderman alleged that the retirement of Lord Ashley, as Vice-President, arose from his being also Pre sident of the Des makers and Milliners Society, and think ing that the duties of both were incompatible. But his lordship would still continue to be a z alous supporter o the institution, as an instance of which he stated that Lady Ash . . by had sent her subscription since his lordship's re-ignatiou. His lordship said he had been greatly misrepresented, for it was the duty of the president to have read to the meeting, his (Lord Ashley's) letter ut resigna tion, which he had previously received, and which set forth the real grounds, namely, the unsatisfactory state of the accounts, and the general mismanagement of the affairs of the society, which lid also to the resignation of kr. Shaw, the late treasurer, and the other members of the committee named in the circular. It was found impossible to procure from Mr. Roper, the honorary secretary, any statement of satisfactory accounts. and his lordship, tbere• fore, coup:di:red that it would be lending himself to a great irregularity if he any longer continued to be vice-president, or did not acquaint the subscribers with the grounds of his dissatisfaction. As to the Alderman not having received any copy of the above circular, it must have been, his lordship sid, an accidenl oission on the part of the perso a n who unde t rt a ook m to forward it to all the subscribers, and with no wish to damage the alderman; nor was there any . desire or inten tion to involve the alderman in the irregularities of the accounts, further than that as president it was his duty to see that they were correctly kept. Alderman Farebrother contended that it was as much the duty of his lordship and the others of the committee who resigned to attend to the state of the accounts as it was his, instead of flying away from the difficulty by a resignation. As to Mr. Roper, the alderman admitted that he was an incompetent person as to accounts, but still, as far as those accounts had lately been audited, they were found to be correct, and no such ground of complaint could in future exist, as Mr. Roper had been removed, and a paid secretary appointed. Lord Ashley having agreed to a resolution of thanks to Mr. Roper for his past zeal and actisity in the interests of the society, the lion. W. Cowper, Mr. Shaw the Rev. Mr. Browne, and others of the committee, addressed the meeting in complaint of the state of the accounts and in support of Lord Ashlez's views and course of proceeding; after which Alderman k arebrether made a short reply, end apologised to Lord Ashley for some unseemly observations he had made towards his lordship in the course of his statemen, which the noble lord acknowledged the courtesy of, aad thanks, on the motion of his lordship, having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated, without any practical result. The late Lord Mayor, and Mr. Laurie, late sheriff, were present during the proceedings, but took no part in them. FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM, WESTMINSTER-ROAD. —A special court of governors of the above charitable institution was held yesterday at the Asylum, for the pur pose of electing ten children juts) the school. At twelve o'clock, W. Shadbolt, H.q., J. P., took the chair, and the balloting was proceeded with. At four o'clock the success ful candidates were declared • to be—Allen, 1,659 votes ; • Craven, 1,538 ; Rye, 1,245 ; Bantus, 1,239 : Norman, 1,15.5 ; Harrison, 1,133 ; Furness, 960 ; Burt, 939 ; Seyfang, 826 ; Gisbome, 767. The candidates were numerous, and, judg ing from the crowded state of the room, and the active can vass going on throughout the day, the election excited very considerable interest. The total number of female orphans now enjoying the benefits of the charity is 106. WesTMINSTER-eitIDGE.—A public meeting Was held at the New Inn, Bridge-road, Lambeth, last evening, to consider the proposed erection of a bridge at Charing moss, B. Hawes, jun., Esq., M.P., in the chair. The room was thronged by the most respectable inhabitan s of West minster and the locality. The chairman, in opening the pro ceedings of the meeting, mid, that there had been no mani festation of public feeling in favour of the proposed new bridge to Charing-cross, although the money fur erecting it, amounting to upwards of 2,000,000/. would be taken tram the public purse. The new bridge h ad not been sanctioned by the government, further than that a public department had consented to give certain notices prior to the introduc tion of the bill. Ile hardly thought any member for Lam beth, Westminseer, or Surrey would be fou nd to su pp ort such a measure; and it might reasonably be asked whit public reason was to be ass'gned for it ? He understood the architect of the new Houses of Parliament thought the present bridge an eye-sore ; but could it not be repaired and beautified, or rebuilt on the existing site ? There were many reasons for retaining it: first of all, on the ground of economy. All the approaches to the pee• sent bridge were the property of the bridge commissioners. In the next place, a bridge lower down, as was proposed, must be longer and larger, and all the approaches would have to be bought. But was it jest to existing interests to build a bridge elsewhere ? There were at present two private bridges close to the site of the new bridge—Waterloo and Hungerford bridges—the first of which did not pay a farthing to the sebseribers, and the other paid but very badly. From the proposed bridge to Waterloo-bridge there would be a distance of only about 200 feet, whilst the Hntsgerford-bridge would be close to it; and Westminster -bridge being taken down there would be no accommodation for the public from the thasing-croasbrisige to Vaeshall-beidge—a distance of about a mile. When the prevent bridge was built, the site was a matte of cosiderable discussion, it was, moover, selected as the r n most beneficial for the public at large re ; and, he be lieved, that from the corner of York-road over the new bridge to Charing-cross, would n ot be 20 yards nearer than by the present route. Besides this, there was a great traffic westward over Westminster -bridge to Belgrave-equare, Pimlico, Knightsbridge, &c., and access to the Houses of ' Parliament, and the law courts. He pledged himself to *Rose the bill in every stage, and he did not believe that dee gentlemen would be found in parliament to sanction such an unnecessary waste of public eroney. Mr. Edwards charged the honourable gentleman with being a member of the "select committee on Westminster-bridge and the New Pidace," which had sanctioned the erection of a new • bridge, and he was therefore inconsistent in presiding over a meeting the object of which was, to prevent it.—The Chair- Loan stated that although he was a member of the committees I he did not vote in favour of the erection of the peopled neve the aims bridge.—Mr. Wilkinson stated that th e report of mittee was decidedly in favour of the existing site —Amble of resolufions condemnatory of the erection of a new bridge at Charing-cross, and the removal of Westminitee-bridge, was then moved and seconded by Messrs. Arehbutt, Page, Wood, Elliott, Withal!, Wilkinson, and Wiltshire, and tins adopted.—Mr. Offesell stated that as frequent re ("tine had been made to Mr. Barry, the architect of the ▪ new Rouses of Parliament, he begged to say that gentlemen had had nothing to do with the proposal of a new bridge to Chanligewoss, and he had reason to believe that he was In favour of the present struttnee.—Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE 'THAMES.--The Coos mimioners of Woods and Forests have given notice that it g: is their intention, early in the ensuing season of parlien to make app lication for an set to alter , amend, and re7e it the several acts of p" li• t passed d u ring the reigns of is George 11. a n d ill . rela ti v e to Westminster -bridge; also e s to transfer and vest in the Commissioners of Woods, Forests, ; he . Anal Revenues, Works, and Buildings, all the estates, ma set fad effects belonging tithe Commissioners of West eas — ITIA and to empewerehina to pull down and re tea 1 / I "Zlaisridge, and sell the estates, fends, and effects, Alas materials of the bridge, and appropriate the pro 'awe, after satisfying and discharging all just claims and de- / THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 15, 1846, mends, towards defraying the expenses of building a new bridge; likewise to make a new street from the south-east aide of Charing-cross, neer the southwest side of Northum berland House, to the north bank or shore of the Thames, near the end of Whitehall-place, the said street crossing Angel-covet, Craig's-court, the east end of Seotland-vard, and Whitehall-place, all in the parish of St. Martin-in-the- Fields, and within the liberties of Westminster, to the north bank of the River Thames. Also to construct a bridge from the east end of Whitehall-place to the south bank of the River Thames, in the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth, and to make a new street front the intended bridge in a direct line, or nearly so, on the south side of the river to the York road, at or near its junction with Sutton street, in the parish of Lambeth. The commissionsrs likewise to be empowered by this act to purchase any dwelling!, buildings, heredita ment,, wharfs, &c., which lie in the line of the proposed improvements, or in an alteration in the proposed plan that may be made by the Houses of Parliament. CHEAF NEWSrAPERS.—Iiere arc a few words of encouragement from the other side the Atlantic—spoken ' by one of those who first started a cheap paper, the circula tion of which paper now exceeds fifty thousand copies a day ! The London Daily News is a new cheap English daily paper, conducted with great skill and ability. The more expensive journals have taken alarm at this effort to meet the growing wants of the British people.—Like the shrine makers of old, they have raised the cry ' Great is Diana of the Eplicsians.' Thesoatt are alarmed, nor will they cease their outcry without 4 great struggle. But to the Daily News, we say, go on our transatlantic brother ; the Press, to fulfil its legitimate end, most be the general, the great bene factor. Exclusiveness is the curse of the Pres+, and nothing but a cheap and widely diffused circulation can snake it the blessing it should be. You have entered, fur the time being, a thorny path. Heed not the unmanly opposition; we have passed through a similar pruscrip•ion league ; but when the decree of the people goes forth, the interdicts of your oppo nents will recoil fearfully on their own heads. An eleven years' war made us the victor, and inspite of floating clouds the Sun always shone brightly. Let but the community of London sustain you as oobiy as New York has sustained us, and you may dam up the whole tide of opposition." — The American Sun. CHEAP Newsr.teEns. —Here arc other words of encouragement spoken nearer home : " The world of news papers iu Great Britain is agitate d ' our reader' calls for cheapness, and the ' we' most distinctly object. They are not disposed to give up the quiet, easy-going monopoly of the good things of dear prices, without a s'ruggle. So far, so good: but the ides of March for all such have come; the preposterous absurdity is at length exposed ; and the dogs must he contented, as all proper dogs betore them, with the day which has been allotted to them. The pioneer in the change, so important to the community and to the age, is the Daily News. It has undergone the risk of the experi ment, and it is reaping all the rewards of priority. The mystery of its financial success is explained by a reference to the past. In circulation it is inferior only to the Tinies,—in general excellence, as a newspaper, inferior to none ; and the profits accruing to its proprietor must, we think, next year, exceed (the Times excepted) those of any other morning jour nal. Its influence, as an example, is already felt. • • • Newspapers can claim no exemption from the eternal law of mundane things—perpetual change ; ar.d we, sedulous fur the public good and our own interests, have determined to escape inevs•able compulsion by anticipating, with becoming deference, the great change now approaching in journalism— cheapness. The success of the Liverpool Journal in two years has, we believe, been unprecedented in the history of the provincial press. We are deeply sensible of the kind and ample patronage extended to us ; and we are the more grateful because success has put ns in the enviable position of being able to meet tl.e change now almost upon us. We beg to announce that on the first Saturday in January next, the journal will be sold at the price of TIIItEgYENCE.--Li rerpool Journal. OUT-DOOR RELIEF. A circular, dated the Bth inst., has just been issued by the peen-law commissioners to the metropolitan hoards of guardians, relative to the ad ministration of out-door relief to this poor, of which the fol lowing are the principal clauses: — The attention of the poor-law commissioners has been directed to certain cases, In which It is alleged that relief has been wholly refused or inadequately supplied by boards of guardians to poor persons, who, through the operation of the late statute relating to the removal of the poor, have now become immovable from parishes in which they were resident, though settled elsewhere. The commissioners believe that this conduct has in part resulted from an erroneous supposition that poor persons so circumstanced are not entitled to relief in the parishes where they reside. The, commissioners desire to impress upon the gusrdians that a long course of authorities, consisting of legal de cisions, and the minions of the ablest text writers upon this subject, has established the rule, that the poor are to be relieved us their necessities require in and by the parish where they are resident. I am desired to request the guardians to point out to the relieving offi cers the effect of these observations, and to warn them that the corn missionets will consider any neglect of the poor who may be resident within their respective districts, although not settled therein, equally culpable with the neglect of the settled poor, and will not hesitate to treat any refusal of relief to the immovable poor, on the ground of their settlement elsewhere, as a gross violation of their duty. REFUGE FOR THE DESTlTUTE.—Yesterday evening, in consequence of a resolution of the committee of directors of the Refuge for the Destitute, the several houses belonging to the Institution, situated in Playhouse-yard, Whitecross street, Upper Ogle-street, Marylebone, and Glasshouse-yard, St. George in the East, were opened fur the reception of the houseless poor, there having been for the last few days nume rous applications for admission. These asylums can afford accommodation for nearly three thousand individuals, each of whom is provided with a bed and a ceunterpane and blanket to cover them; the women and children being in rooms separate from the men,while one and all have a slice of bread on admission and another on leaving in the morning. Tue. INDICTMENT OF AN EAST INDIA 'DIRECTOR. —This indictment, founded on a true bill found at the last sessions by the grand jury against Sir William Young and others, for the sale of cadetship?, has been removed from the Central Criminal Court to the Queen's Bench by e'er- tiorari. Tint WELLINGTON STATUE.—Yesterday work men commenced preparing footing fur the scaffold-poles in the open space west of the Horse Guards, for the purpose of erecting a pedestal for the Wellington statue, which is to be taken down forthwith, and subsequently placed upon an appropriate resting-place in the above locality. HOW' TO CONVERT FRENCH INTO ENGLISH PRICES. —The following communication as to the means of convert ting the continental prices of corn into English denomina tions is from Mr. W. Tate, a well-known authority in matters of commercial calculation:—" The anxious attention which is now directed to the prices of corn on the continent giving rise to frequent quotations of these prices in France, I beg to inform those of your readers who mey not be acquainted with the manner of converting such prices into those of this country, that assuming the par of exchange to be 2.11 francs per pound sterling, if 229 shillings be multiplied by the number of the francs in the price per hectolitre, and the pro duet be divided by 100, or the two lower figures be cnt off, the result will be the number o f shillin g s per imperial garter, Thus a recent quotation for the price of wheat being 26 francs per hectolitre, 228.. multiplied by 26 equals 5,700, giving 575. for the equivalent price per imperial quarter. It may be serviceable further to mention that a variation of 1 franc per hectolitre is about equal to that of 2s. 3d. per im perial quarter."-3fark-lane kapros. NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY.—The express due at 11 o'clock last night did not arrive at the Euston-station 11111 2:3 minutes before 12 o'clock; and the quarter before 9 o'clock, and the quarter past 10 o'clock trains, did not arrive till a quarter before 12 o'clock. We understand the cause of the delay was the breaking down of the engine of the quarter before 9 o'clock train, at Leighton, but we are informed no further accident occurred. The mail train from Newcastle, we most add, doe at the Euston Station a quarter before 6 on Sunday morning, had not arrived last night at 12 o'clock. We understand that the snow on the line below Darlington lies from 8 to 9 feet deep. Labourers are employed in clearing the rails, but the snow drifted in heaps again almost as fast as it was cleared away. THE WEATHER.—FATAL ACCIDENT.—The frost returned on the night of Thursday, after a thaw of five days, and the cold on Sunday night was intense. At no period of the day was the thermometer higher than 30 degrees, and as early as seven o'clock in the evening it had fallen to 26 de grees; at ten o'clock it was 21, at midnight 22 degrees ; at eight o'clock yesterday morning, the mercury was down to 18 degrees, or 14 degrees below freezi n g point. Yesterday the sky ailia titer, and the bright. sun raised the mermuy to 28 degrees. At seven o'clock p.n., the thermometer at the Royal 'Humane Society's receiving-house, Hyde-park, had again sunk to 2.7) degrees. Yesterday the ornamental waters of the metropolis were frozen over, and several persons got a ducking from venturing too soon on the ice. One young' man, named George Wright, a potboy, was unfortunately drowned in the wafer of St. James's-park. He was on the ice with two others: they were between the island and the fountain, when the ice gave way and ell three were plunged into the water. The two others were rescued, but in 19its of great exertions made to cave him he was dtowued. His body was speedily got out of the water, but all the efforts used to restore animation were fruitlres. INQCESTS, YESTERDAY.—DEATH FROX STalitlA- 1 TION.—At the Two Chairmen, Dartmouth-street, Westmin ster, before Mr. Bedford, on the body of Elizabeth Dodds mede. aged 70. The room occupied by deceased and her husband was a front kitc hen , at No. 16, Daere-street, so low that a man with his hat on could not stand' viipeght. The approaches to It were ao inconvenient , that the jury had much difficulty in viewing the body. There was no furniture ; • heap allay, straw, and rubbish, used as a bed. My in ono earner of the room. S. Barber, landlord of the White Sweatt Little-street, Andrew-atreet, Seven Dials, said doomed was his sister, and - was the wi bo o a jobbing carpenter. She Wes in estate of iditatcy, broun, he thought, des btitutlod. Marband was very Imprudent man, and wouldapend in ovary foolish manner whatever money was given to biol. -- Demand had been in want of the common necessaries of lick he same cite past. She and her husband have been in the receipt of relief from the parish of Marylebone, but it had bees napped for some time. They had been iHer 'Other bro.n a starving Mg& .They had no way of getting money. 'then were unable to assist them, and no one would Indeetake to make them any provision after the pa ds al l George-st re were ' stopped . Mr. .1. Levies, surgeon, of Cheat reet, 'said that he had made a post worsens examination of the body of the deceased, and found it very much attenuated. There was no organic dines? to account for death. Sonaaof the internal g were auluxated. a common .were thing when there had been paucity of food. The muscles of the body pellid, and there was an absence of the ordinary cellovelular' es orbit betweenthemuseles. He never saw such h of wretchedness as deceased's dwelling. He sivr no food Mato ever. He heard from the husband that he mig h t havegono loco the workhouse, but, as he hid a little work, e refused to go;: Margaret Eleanor Richardson said she resided in the te host e as the deemed, but hid not seen her leave her incite for the last two years. Dr. Wright attended heeled /esti and said that the only thing she wanted was food, not physic. Her husbend was there at the time, and he id he would do the best he could for her. Mr. Thomas, the~ elieving-officer of the parish , also saw both her and her husband this time last year, and advised them to go into the workhouse; but they tall that they would nut, as they should be separated. Deceased had told witness several times since that the feat of being separated from her husband, with whom she had lived f,r so many years, prevented her going into the work house. They had no outdoor relief from the rarish. The husband earned a little by jobbing as a carpenter, and one of his brothers paid 4s. per month for his ldging. The de ceased was deranged, and the husband not right in his mind. Ann Diggle, of No. 13, Dacre-street, saw deceased lying in the area completely naked. When the parish officers were called, and the room was entered, she was band with her husband's shirt on, hut nothing else. The officers wished to take her to the workhouse, but her husband would not let them. James D uldesned:a the husband of the &ceased, whose wretched, half idiotic appearance excited colaiderable sampathy, said that he had been in a very destitute state fur the last seven years, and that a sum of 4s. 6d. per week which he had been allowed trim Marylebonc was stopped last April because he would not go into the " house." I lived upon what I could scratch toaether. When I could get work I earned sometimes Is. 6c1., sometimes Is., and sometimes 9ii. per day. I did not apply for relief for the last year ; but the gentlemen of Marylebonc knew how badly I was off, for Mr. Lantley came and taw me, and wanted me to go into the workhouse. The coroner : Why would you not let your wife go into the workhouse ? She begged me never to let her go, and I promised on the word of a man that she should not. Mr. Robert Thomas, relieving officer of St. Margaret's and ht. John's, said that his atteatiun was called to the case of the deceased and her husband in last February, and he offered to take them into the workhouse, but they positively refused. They had no relief because they would not come into the house. No application had been made to him since then. We wrote to the authorities of Mary:ebone, train which they had been receiving relief, t: presenting their destitute state. The husband said he had a claim upon the Admiralty, but could not get it settled. He had been many years in the Royal Navy, and been in many engagements. Verdict " Died from the want of the necessaries of life." - DEATH tunas DRINKING BOILING WATER.—By Mr. W. Basil., at the Jane Shore, High street, Shoreditch, on the body of Robert Cluley, aged four years. On Wednesday afternoon, a kottlo of boiling water was standing on the tire; deceased placed his mouth to the spout of the kettle and drank a portion of the contents. His screams brought his parents to his assistance, and a surgeon subsequently attended. Ile gradually got worse and died on Friday. Verdict, " Accidental death."--Iseactrictuu — By Mills, at the Bull and Mouth, Bury-street, Bloomsbury, resumed after two adjournments, on a male infant, the offspring of Caroline Mitchell, a married woman, resid ing at 10, Gilbert-street, Bloomsbury. The mother was married in June, and soon afterwards she appeared to be far advanced in pregnancy, and in November gave birth to a full grown child in the water-closet, where it was smothered. The jury returned a verdict that the child was smothered in the soil f.f the water-closet, and that the soother wilfully and culpably concealed its birth. The mother remains at the - 'louse under the surveillance of the police. IRELAND, DUBLIN, DEC. 13. Without ministering to the exaggeration which prevails on the condition of the country, there yet remains enough in its actual state to fill the mind with the most dismal pros pects. As we pass into the winter the shadows thicken, and each day now brings intelligence of distress and deinoralisa. lion, which inspires us with strung feelings of uneasiness for the future. There can be little question that destitution, in its most aggravated forms, has seized on the poorer classes, and advances with fearful force, more particu larly in the southern and western districts. We net little value on the habitually swollen accounts from the south. There appears to be a rivalry in the language of exaggeration between the organs that represent opinions in the county ease where the greatest amount of suffering exists —language not at all calculated to produce those sedative effects which are so necessary in the present crisis of the public mind. Still there is a sufficiency of misery to alarm and appal the most resolute ' when to starvation are added insubordination, rohberies, and murders, with fever and pestilence appearing in ' the back-ground. We must regard the future with solemn apprehension. The government is blamed in not having interposed at an earlier period and prevented the I possibility of famine by the profusion of state food. It is the ' duty of a nation to support a government, and not a govern ment' to support a people. We want a little snore fortitude and %elf-reliance, instead of standing as mendicants at the doors of the treasury ; —as barren and demoralising a condition as could well be connived for an entice people. There is no immediate probability of improvement. Money is abund antly lavished on public works. Scarcely a barony under the Labour Rate Act that is not supplied with wages ; and yet the mouth of complaint has net te m stopped up, nor does society move on with more quiet and contentment ? We must only wait and seek to mould CiECuMAMEC s to a more fortunate issue. One of the most improving towns in the British dominions is Belfast. The energy and enterprise of her merchants have found excellent materials to work upon in the thrift, eco nomy, and laborious industry of the surrounding population. Since the establiahment of commercial freedom, short as the interval has been, the trade of Belfast has advanced in a striking manner. Within a few months, eight vessels under the American flag entered the port with valuable carve.. They ha on board 4,900 tons of Indian corn and wheat, 5,000 barrels of ft Air, and large quantities besides of tallow, lard, pork, beef, oil, cheese, and cotton. There is also a regular fine of packets to trade between Belfast and New York, the first gi which the Glenmore, belonging to the Messrs. Richardson, sailed on Wednesday last. She carried a full cargo, with her complement of passengers, amounting to 18.5. She had about 800 boxes and bales of linens, muslins, and cottons, with 200 tons of pig iron, 43 puncheons of aliskey, &c., &c. The direct export of their linen is a matter of much importance to the active merchants of the north, and it is not unlikely that a great increase will soon take place in the direct foreign trade of Belfast, under the stimulating influence of free exchanges. Nino vessels have arrived within the week at the port of Galway, laden chiefly with Indian town. Four foreign ves sels, with similar cargoes., have reached the Shannon, but r. mained below the city, being afraid to lie along the quays. From the unfinished state of the Limerick docks, the cargoes are to be delivered by lighters. The people of Dingle, a poor and barren district in the south-eastern angle of Kerry, have received from her Majesty's frigate Andromache 35 tons of Indian corn, for which they are very grateful. This is one of the districts where, in the absence of the small retailtrader , trader, the government undertook to supply proviaions. The government, it is said, meets with some difficulty is paying money wages to the labourers on public works. Are they apprehensive of its creating any sudden change in the circulation ? PREAENTMENS Sesistoom.—An extraordinary presentment sessions were held a few days since at Enniatymen, county ' Clare, Major Maenamara presiding. There were also present Mr. C. O'Brien, M.P., Mr. John O'Brien M.P., and other gentlemen. The chairman complained that the persons named es stewards on the public works were " in famous characters," axed that one of those persons who had been sent by agreement two hunched men to put to work, was not to be found when the men arrived at the place where the work was to have been pro tided. Mr. J. O'Brien complained that in several parishes in the relief district the labourers should have to travel in such inclement weather font or five miles to the public works, and Mr. Cornelius O'Brien, adverting to • former proposition made by him that the labourers should be employed in cultivating the land for the small farmers as being a good and necessary publ ic work, stated that if fiord Llessborough and Mr. Labouchere refused to sanction such a mode of employment, " the high respect he entertained for their wisdom and humanity would be very much shaken." Captain Wynne, of of the Board of Works, stated that there were 7,000 men employed in the district, and that many of them were persons who could subsist without public wages, a statement which met with a general denial from the gentry. A sum of 13,488!. was then agreed to be assessed under Mr. Labouchere's letter, the disburse ment to be upon such works as are indicated in the follow ing passage of the report of the proceedings in a local paper, and which it will be seen in accordance with the views of Mr. C. O'Brien, M.P.:—" The Chairman put the question, whether it was the opinion of the meeting that the sum apportioned upon each electoral division should be expended upon useful and profitable works, on the holdings of small farmers within each 'division, particularly in making perma nent fences and preparing the soil for the reception of seed, to secure food for the population, now in a state of destitution, during the next year ; and it was unani mously agreed to.—Mr. John O'Brien, ?S.F., then pro in d 'the adoption of a resolution wresting an improtement the Drainage Act, by which parties duly served with notice, calling for their assents, and not dissenting within a reason able time should be considered as if they had given their assents, and being seconded by Mr. C. O'Brien, same was unanimously adopted. A presentment session was held at PaII&SgEMM, county Limerick, on Friday, when it was agreed to prxeed er Mr. Labouchere s letter for reproductive works.—The county surveyor said, There remained unexpended on Satur day last, 6,573rfr0m the four districts of the barony, namely, Boon, Pallasgrean, Oulagh, and Kilteely. At a meeting of the relief committee of Boon it was stated that 3,0901. would be required to give employment in that district thirteen weeks ; it would require 8001. pet week to pay the men, at the lowest wages 'they could receive, one shilling per day. There are 860 now at work in Doon, and 160 in want of emplOymint. This sum was remaining out et . '!le 3reaent ments made at spreceding sessions , and it was chat it was a sum sufficient to afford employment to.gs7whole of the destitute labourers of the barony for three months. The second adjourned extraordinary sessions for the barony of Costlea ' was held at Kilfinnan county Lithmerick, an W It ed nesday. was resolved to proceed under e Aet 9th and to the 'amount 10th Vienna, and presentments were passed of 1'2,7381. Swims:G.-Idr. B. H. Peesse, of Longhrea, compkine that although liable to an ammanient of 1,5901. for 20,0001. presented as the baronial extraordinsry sessions, he is ten able to prewar -a relief ticket fora ede poor Ma* on his property, while a more f o rtunate neighne has all his men on the public work's. Tien Paimaires Cr DlSOBaktilEATiwc—The provi_neial journal's meolved to-day contain' the whinge ' , Moms of pluirdet Of corn and. provisions, attacks on betakes, and de struction Of sheep and*cattle. The fffilawleigg iere the More grievous -records of ontrage they Wig —On Tuesday ' , knit* fonts men, , thestr facie partly disguised with hand kerthiefi and .blacking, emh armed' with :a guts, pro *Medea 'to the l ye o[ Corrthae, near CTOMU, vre sixty 'tuft are -employed under the Board bf Worts. • They eslionlyedletor a for few the Ini eh n ee ue k e -:lerk reii , J oui ames to H, ythtarnelh who Imd ra. They then asked for °nein. one Of .the acting steitarda, and,' having discovered bite eh' adjoining cottage they dragrd the poor man out, pladed him on his knees, lest Mu severely with the butt end of Altair guns, and helbeted four deep cuts on his head. Having tomunanded him to employ every man and boy that wanted work in that lucidity, they retired, firing shots and re-load ing as they passed off. They crowed the Rev. Mr. liarnett'a orchard, and fared towards Patrick's-ea 11. On Tuesday night three horses were shot at a distance of two mile, from I Ennis, sifter they had brought earn into market, the pro perty of Thomas Sampson, E.g. It is remarkable that Mr. Sampson offered the corn to the people of his neighbourhood at one shilling a stone, but they desired he should take it to market, this he did and sold it at Is. Bd. A sale of oorn and cattle, seized for one and a half year's rent, due to Mrs. Ellen Hastens, was advertised f r Thursday, at Kiladrown s near Frankferd, where a large mob was aesemeled. Met. Haslam and her assistants were driven off the lands, and assaulted. Several of the mob were well aimed with guns and pistols, and fired upwards of twenty shots. One of the ruffians discharged his gun at Mrs. Haelam's herdsman, but fortunately without effect. Mr. Drought Haslain was very badly beaten, and received five severe wounds in the head. On Sunday last about one u'clock, while the Rev. Mr. M'Grath, of Settermullen, was celebrating divine worship, his house was forcibly entered by a max named ' Patrick Mullin, who stole a trunk containing a cheque fur 1001., 16/. in notes, 2/. in silver, and wearing apparel, with which he emended. The Galway Vindicator says of the murderers of Mr Lynch that they left such evidence behind them as will lead to their discovery, and adds that there is ' every . reason to believe the murder was not the result of any agrarian confederacy, or of any combination of the people generally against the lives of their fellow-creatures or the peace of society. The same journal says that the pound of filltulla is crammed with cattle seizid fur the May rent. PUBLIC WOlLKS.—tinder the present important a-pact of Irish affairs, the fallowing additional observations from the Globe and the correspondent of the Chronicle, referred to by the former journal, may . be acceptab.e: 'The expendi ture on puulic works in Ireland —in other words, the advances made from the national treasury for the single purpose of puttng money in Irishmen's hands to buy food with, has already reached nearly 120,0001. a week, or half a million a month, or 6,000,01)01. a year. That is to say, observes the Economist, "We arc now expending in charity, in Ireland alone—nay in portions only of Ireland—a sum equal to the whole cost of our army or of our navy—a sum exceeding by one-fifth our whole poor-law expenditure, exceeding by one-fifth the pro duce of the income tax for the United Kingdom,—a sum half as much again as the produce of the led duties or the sugar duties.-1 sum, in tine, equal to one-ninth of our whole yearly impeii:A income. We mei employing, more- over, on these public (and useless) works, 300,000 labourers,' who represent probably, 1,500,000 of the population ; and' ' things hare reached this fearful height within two months from the last potato harvest, and consequently when ten months have to elapse before the gathering in of the next crop. Unless some vigorous measures are taken speedily, the expenditure, before that period arrives, will be at the rate, not of six, but of ten millions a year.' What is even more startling than the inordinate proportion of the new barthen to the most impor tant branches of our public expenditure, is the feet that the present public aid to the diminution of Irish distress is actually diverting Irish labour from the indispensable cul -1 tore of the soil, and thereby conducing to the indefinite continuance of that distress. It is very difficult to say how this could have been avoided, nor do we know that the case would have been much better, as regards cultivation, if the hands which formerly car. reed it on had simply been rendered powerless by , want, instead of (some proportion of them) being employed in a different direction by government. But however dif ficult to have been avoided, it is not less startling as a feet, that spectacles such as the following are, at the present hour, witnessed throughout Ireland : " On my journey to and from Tulle," writes a correspondent of this morning's Chronicle, " a distance of twenty miles, in a country most favourable to all the operations of agriculture, I observed exactly three persons engaged in tilling the land. Field after field lay fallow and deserted, while thousands of strong men were busy in the midst of them tearing up and breaking stones on an old road." " Every one," says the same writer, " wants to get on the public wosks—every one wants to get his son or his brother, his relative or his friend, on the public works. They all seem to think that it is so much money to be given away about the country, and that they may as well get their share. From the poor cottier up to the small farmer of sixteen or eighteen acres, with two or three cows, this seems to be their chief aim and ambition ; and veils seance is vowed against those who attempt to thwart it." ,' From Ennis to the town of Tulle , he contin ues, the road 'for ten miles passes through a gently undulating country with a wide extent of amble land, divided at intervals by patches of bog or marsh land, susceptible of great improve ment by the •Implest operations of drainage. At a short dis tance from the former town my progress on this road was interrupted by the first of the public works which I had yet witnessed. About fifty men and boys, the great mass of whom were apparently farm labourers or email cot tiertenanhewere employed in breaking up one portion of the roadway, leaving just space enough between the hedge and the scene of their operations fur the car to pass. l'our, famine-stri.ken creatures, the most of them were—tall, sinewy men, shrunk up as it were with hunger, but working with all the strength they had left. They worked in gangs of about fifteen, each gang being superintended by a person appointed by the engineers of the work. The boys and old men broke stones for road metal, while the able-bodied men were cutting down the surface of the road, and wheeling it away in barrows to fill up a hollow, where it ran down the base of a gentle hill. They appeared for the most part to he worki, g with all their strength, lmt occasionally a few might be observed who did not seem to lie particularly energetic. It struck me that all those of whom this observation was true were generally better clad and more comfortable looking than the rest of the men, and on making inquiry, I have been informed that those were small holders, who had been put on the list, but who were not disposed to work as hard as the others, not being so much in need of the extra sums gained by unusual labour on the task-work system. There are in the county of Clare at least 270,000 inhabitan's, a considerable increase having taken place in the population since the census of 1841. Of these 138,000 are males, of whom about 70,000 are fifteen years of age and upwards. The numbers employed on the public works in Clare at this very moment are close upon 40,000 souls. As the proportion of women and children is very small, and making allowances for the better classes, gentry, trades people in towns, and farmers, it is not too much to say, that, at the very lowest calculation, three-fourths of the peasantry of the county Pre at this time employed in repairs on old roads, or in making new once, while the remainder are clamouring for food and work. The sum expended on these unproductive works in this county alone amounts to about 17,0001. a-week. THE REPEAL RECONCILIATION. LErrea FROM Mn. OTONNELL.. -- The following letter from Mr. O'Connell was addressed to the editor of the Free man's Journal in the course of this afternoon, and to his courtesy I am indebted for a copy. It concludes all hope that Mr. Smith O'Brien will return within the Repeal con federacy ; nor does there seem much prospect of the Young Ireland( ni who assemble at the Nation office coeleecing with O'Connell : Menton-square, 12th Deeenther. Sir,—l return you tne resolution' which you sent me, unsought for on my part. I return them, lest, by retaining them, I should be sup. pond to acquiesce in the gross inaccuracy they exhibit of the real state of the question teuching the conference proposed by me. In one of these emulations, you talk as of a mater of donut whether any loyal question would arise at the cortterence. It is, perhaps, my duty, at all events it is my inclination, to inform you, that the primary, if not the exclusive, object of the proposed insistence b W ascertain and define matters of law. In truth the affair stands thus Tint—The Repeal Association is, beyond any shadow of doubt, a lawful numbly, not impeachable kr any breach of tho law. My proof is this. The Repeal Association has stood the ordeal of the state trial—not only without any prosecution, but without any officer of the crown, or any one of the court intimating against It the slightest charge of illegality. The Repeal Association is a legal body, because it disclaims any use of force and arms to :whim the repeal of the Union statute ; bemuse ft disclaims the use of physical force to achieve the repeal oi the Union Mat/Ate—every member of the Repeal Mmo elation is at present perfectly safe from any prosecution. Would the members be equally safe if it were to admit any intermixture of the ph vsical force principal as part of the means for obtaining such repeal! Lem decidedly of opinion that tho members would not, in each a case, be safe fi oin a well-founded promotion- flake these proposition le be clear in law : That any assembly admitting any species of physical forcer pot of Ire means of obtaining a repeal of an act of parliament, is s law ful neembly, liable to be dispersed by any magistrate, sad its members to Is punished by indifferent. That any such aseemtaly la not only unlawtul, but that any act done by it in Authentic* at Its object ooastitutes a treasonable fast, rendering the members liable to eonvictrt pad execution he treason. This opinion, in per of law, I have it egrated public partneri. No one hea had the harbor* deny ha . It follows, if I be right, that the enethits grad eery into the Repeal Association, online ame am IRO& disclaimer of veering to any her seers to olden the repeal of the Union. In ceder to UMWse teethe the sisesdos iota the Repeal namodation again, eseertained beyond a doubt whether I am right In point ef law Sr sr At riser periods, is my struggles for ativanctin the porter muse, ay' judgment in nutter of law was bond eminently useful; and my opinion of the state of the law was trusted to-with implicit confidence. And I have the comfort to know that such KM fideme was never regretted, nor shown by any fact to be misplaced. Now my most anxious desire is to lay the (urination of perfect °r etrials ; or, If that be refused, to have the universal people under stand ebo it is Ito whom the corinuance of the dimension is justly attributable. I stead altogether upon the law. My sole difficulty rests upon the legal objection to the admission of the senders yond a What then is to be don! Is it actin wi2ie Marie to ascertain be- doubt what the law is upon the subject] If the law will admit of any relaxation I am quite ready, of coons I am, to give the seceders the full benefit of that relaxation. I repeat the question. What le to be der I My answer is rewly, ant I propose to do the thing—thee Is, to bold an smicable oonference—to ascertain, in the Br insure the state of the law. This should be a preliminary to ry. It would be idle to talk upon the terms upon which the Would be re.admitte , i, if we are prevented by the law from re-olmitting them et all, except at the peril el stir lives. let us then sees stein most amicably the state of Use law, and neve mery other question ( o question there be) mori bund. ler the state of th e law le amour* It was with a view to rarer thus aininatily the law of the case that I proposed the conference. I selected the most maws. cepticeine peters to be members of that conference, including even • myself ;• br I named before me Mr. Smith O'Brien. I also named fear barristers —ghats of them more eminently samurai in pro ' horn titan Say gentlemen et their storks; ba **British dominions ; the longs penessid ot talent, equally ekes to a succor in hla Pnifeesion. ern I believe night n distant. The. four are :—Sir Colman. O'Logbitse. Mr. O'ller Mr. °Wager and Mx. 1111 am It is not likely that ang min will In found who win dispute the accuracy of Owls eendolat legal order •If thati apron be Werke' with mine, *we are rayd the seceder who will anuisece and submit to the law, end join the assoentinfl ore rain In its struggles for Irish nairdity. If throw be declared atherwian thin I it it ix I shall sannetioa at ono* and admit mr error. But in either cask, no intros of terms an vele - until the law Iri &abstained. and fully and ' unequivocal: submitted to. Tow can Si. no .pelterieg W h datable• seine. Tbe taw, When once alCOMAtlit tenet be the NM at all oar soros ; else word- or bs nst ; nothing e would be NUM ; else until be safe. The noference cannot do say hails ; it may, and I think must, do good. ;term show *el sin seedy to carry ant concillation to tea ma extent at Ilse law. It will she show who they are who would never .oencillatine ; et. at ell squib , not wail themselves of its inform°. I am sw ay that ; have not uott enti of been met with a spirit enextepoding Ito be dbein not i /' / an end to dissensket. A mod respeetable elergyman, of the mildes nontiliatery demeanour, and a high order of intellect, Such men as he, Give grace to holy ministry," took the trouble of going down to the county Limerick to' Mr. Smith O'Brien, with my message of peace. lle, alas! his journey in vain. I have his authority for saying, that Mr. tonith O'Brien decidedly re jected the conference. I regret it extremely ; but it maker it only the more imperative duty upon me to redouble my exertions for the sole remaining object of ray political life—the Repeal of the Union.- -I am, Sir, your obedient servant, llaerteL O'COANELL. T. l)ecin Reilly, Esq. The following are the chief passages in Mr. Crawford's letter to Lord John Russell: The records of Irish history—the statutes of parliament — the reports of c iminittees and commissions—all join in establishing this one undoubted fact —Mgt every evil in the present conditima of the people of Ireland is directly traceable to the system in letting lands, adopted by those proprietors on whom the forfeited estates were originally conferred, and as continued by their successors. The middle tenant svetem— the 4o'nt tenancy—the cotter takes—the conacre—the rack , venue;:—all these practices, the names of which are unknown, and almost unintelligible to Englishmen, sprung from the reckless conduct of these proprietors; and from hence arises all those evils which we now suffer—excessive population in some districts—extended wastes in other (al -1 most contiguous) parts—bad cultivation—bad housing— . apathy, indolence, nod idleness of the people—want of em ployment—want of manufacture—in fact, the &been,* of every element of prosperity. This state of things prevails generally over more than three-fourths of Ireland ; and, if what I have here asserted requires any confirmation, it is found in the fact, that, in the nottli.eastern portion of the province of Ulster, in which is situate the town of Belfast, I where the relations of landlord and tenant were established I on more just principles, a prosperous, happy, and well employed population eahibit all the beneficial fruits of in dustrious enterprise. Such was the mischief created by those proprietors on I whom the state conferred those leads. They had no feeling of moral responsibility fur the welfare of the people, and no legal responsibility was created by the laws of the country. Why ? Because these landlords were themselves WO the government and the legislators ; they had supreme power in the Irish parliament, and worked together solely for their own selfish objects. But the landlords of the present day will say, we are not to blame for this; it was the landlords of former generations whOwere the authors of the evil; we are sufferers in common with the rest of the community. Very true; but if we, the landlords cf the present day, have, by inheritance, the estates of our forefathers, ar.d enjoy the rights and privileges attached to the possession of landed property, can we throw off the responsibility attached to their misdeeds? Injustice we cannot. I, for one, shrink not from the full acknowledgment of the responsibility. I have briefly stated the causes of our diseased system. I next inquire for what defect in our treatment was this diseased condition suffered to take rout, and progress, ar it has done? I answer briefly—Because no leyalresprmsibilty was imposed on the property of the country, for the emp:or men, of the people. Then what is the remedy ? I answer as briefly.— lmpose this responsibility in its direct and simple form, throwing aside the mischievous complications of ad vances from, and debts to, the state, and the accumulating pressure mashing from such a course. I would impose permanently on the property of the country the responsibility of the employment of the 1 people; but, under the extraordinary and unexpected 1 pressure existing at this time, I would propose that a' l temporary discretion should be vested in the govern ment, in case the demands on any particular union ex- I eeeded a certain amount on the valuation; and, in case the government should he satisfied that all due exertion had been made in the locality, to order a contribution, in aid from the public funds, to such extent as might be necessary, not to be chargeable on the union. The state, being reap .n -sable for its neglects, as well as the landlords, may be fairly expected to contribute its quota; the principle of the ordi nary responsibility of the property of the country being fiat established by a permanent law. But the Employment Act of the 9th and 10th Victoria has directly opposite effects to those I have described. It encourages lavish expenditure, by furnishing the means far that expenditure, without the control of the present pres sure of taxation ; and, as it is now acted on in Ireland, It encourages the execution of works from which no profit able return can be expected, either to the state or to indivi duals. The pressure of distress induces the acceptance of the state money, without considering the effects which must be produced in the swamping of property, and curtailing the means of future improvement; and, in many cases, I believe it is grasped in the hope that it never will be de manded, or, if demanded, that it will he paid by a discharge under the insolvent act. Instead of stimulating enterprise, it creates apathy in all classes as regards the use of their own means to give employment, or to advarce their condi tion. Landlords, tenants, merchants, and all classes, high and low, are looking for government money in one form or other, not considering, and some not expecting, that a day of reckoning is to come ; and thus that want of self-reliance 1 and self-action, which is the great fault of the Irish charac ter, is encouraged and perpetuated. The application of ' British money in this way is no boon to Ireland; but it would be a boon to expend it in useful public works, which would make a return of profit to the state for the money applied, thus co-operating with individual exertion in the employment of the people ; and, among these public works which might be undertaken, none would mike a more ample or useful return than the occupation and reclamatien of the waste lands, now lying to so great an extent unproduc tive alike to the owners and to the state, by which means would be also obtained of relieving over-populated localities. But, if the duty of employing and feeding the people be im posed on the property . of the country, the owners of pro perty have a right to claim such other enactments as will re move all impediments to the free use of the income derived from the lands of Ireland ; and the tenantry class have a right to claim such laws as will ensure the full recompense for their labour and capital. I shall briefly refer to some of these measures : I. Ample and easy powers of charging the hthetitance of settled estates with money, expended on every kind of permanent improve meas. 2. A power of charging mortgages, annuitants, and rent chargers, with their proportion of all local tulatiun paid by the land owner. '3. Ample powers to sell or exchange settled property subject to the mica of the trusts. 4. power to the tenant to obtain v it al ure ue of lir compenmitiou for hi whose right, arising [rent the expend labour and capital in improvements. Space does not permit me to refer to various other measures of the improving and ameliorating character pointed out in the poor inquiry and land commission reports, which are entitled to the instant attention of the legislature. If the measures of relief to the landlords of Ireland which I have referred to above were , I have no doubt that the in come of the country, ca lled into action by a labour employ ment act, in conjunction with such public works as the go vemment might undertake, would give ample employment to the whole population requiring it. SCOTLAND. NATIONAL EDI:CATIOS IS SC O TLAND.—Sir ' —I have read with considerable interest the letter of" S. T. S." which appeared in the Express of the Bth instant, relative to na tional education in Scotland, with your own remarks thereon ; and I trust you will allow me to add a few words on the sub ject, dictated, I can assure you, from no combative feeling, but solely from a wish to assist, however humbly, in forward ing a greet and glorious cause. The desire of your cones p,:ndent is that the present parochial schools should be so ex ten,led as to overtake the entire wants of the community, and he is L'd to propose this, partly because these institutions a lready f o rm ,!?1e nucleus of a national system, and partly because the mind a the country is greatly prepossessed their favour. I do not deny either position, but being strongly impressed with the nreeeaity in all cases of proposed change of grappling with things as they really are, instead of treating of them as they ought to be, I am afraid that due allowance has not been made for the difficulties that stand in the way of the contemplated extension. Concessions are no doubt offered to opposing parties, but 1 question much if they are sufficiently extensive to neutralise opposition 7 and I shall et once point out where " the shoe will pinch," pre mising that on the reasonabl eness of the opposition I offer no o pi n i o n, being desirous of discussing the point on abstract gr ounds end free from all party feeling. fiootland has parochial and extra-parochial schools, and in legislating for a new system, "Is blahomet to go to the mountain, or the mountain to Mahomet ?" in other words are the endowed schools to be assimilated to the unendowed, or vice reran To test this, numerical strength must be considered, and in the absence of any later authentic information, we mast fall back on the " re turns from the several presbyteries of Scotland, regarding the state of education in the year 1834, made pursuant to an address of the House of Co mmons," which, although approximative, were nevertheless made by the official guardians of the proehial system, and therefore quoad it 'must be regarded as impartial. Number ot Parochial rebools .-u • 4047 other Schools Greatest number attending PatTaddiehOda 79,484 other Saimaa 107,310 Since 1834, the disruption of the Established Church has added to the extra schools, and the proposed education scheme of the Free Church, will materially increase them, so that numerically a formidable opposition frowns upon us at the outset. The returns furnish no information as to the quality of instruction in private schools, nor do they give any information on other important particulars, which may or may not be in favour of the parochial schools, but making full allowance for all that, enough remains behind to in dicate that the elements of opposition exist, should occasion call them forth. Then the whole fees, salaries, and ether emoluments of parochial teachers do not average 5.51. per num, so that as a high kind of education cannot be - p an ected for such a sum, reco u rse must be had to the ex ex chequer for augmenta tion ; and this cannot be done without offering a scheme generally acceptable. Your corres pondent, indeed, suggests with commendable liberality, that parish schools should be th rown o p en to dissenters, I bat, then, teachers are to be instructed under the surveil ' lance of the "presbyteries and synods ot the bounds," which, of course, means the luclieatories of the estabhshed church ; an arrangement which the present ecclesiastical divisions would never admit of be carried into effectmore particularly would this not be the cue, after the offer of Dr. Hook to relinquishthe claims of the church of England, in o rder that dissenters in the southern part of the kingdom Welt be conciliated and won over to a nati tem. I onal sys greatly fear therelbre, that to insure harmony, government su i t subsidize existing school witsblishnsenu, or take all education under its own control, and allow each sect to sup ply religious training to its own adherents : at all events, candour obliges me to state, that, personally, I can see no other way of smoothing difficulties. lam sorry to see your correspondest deprecating normal schools. Lam not pre wed to say what success has hitherto attended thew institu tions in this country where they have been so recently established; but I cannot under stand wh y systematic instruc tion should not be equally favourable for rearing maiden as as well as other professions. Ordinary teachers ars shoed" too much employed to teac h their brethren; and, el tbough clerical presbyteries have to do with clerical payee. OA% it is mostly is Ole way of text, as theology is regularly taught in the universities, and, therefore, no analogy of this kind will bear out the argument. I leave the subject in the best spirit, and am, Sir, yours truly, S. X.—Castle Douglas, Dec. 10, 1846. SABBATH OBSERVANCE AND DRI.INIRINNESS.—Sir : In your journal of Saturday last, I observed an article givieg an account of the number of public-houses upon in Edin burgh un Sunday. This account, lam sorry to say, is per feeuy cornet. in Glasgow, the state of u.atters is mach worse ; it seems, in fact, a day devoted to drunkenness. The only cause to which we can ascribe this is, the over strained observance of the Sahbath, which the authorities nod the clergy endeavour to keep up. Sheriff Alison, in some evidence he lately gave to a committee of the House of Commons, said that he was decidedly of opinion that the debauchery which prevailed in Glasgow and other manu facturing towns in Scotland, was owing to the cause above mentioned. In Edinburgh we have a botanical garden, to which government grants an annual allowance of upwards of 3,0001. The collection of beautiful and rare plants in this garden is not equalled in Scotland : as a whole, it is one of the moat beautiful spots in the neighbourhood of the city, and yet the public are denied admission on the Sundays. We have also a zoological garden, an excellent museum in the univer sity, and galleries of painting and sculpture ; yet so far as the working classes are concerned these institutions are a dead letter; everything that would tend to refine and elevate the worker is denied them : rational recreations, such as taking a walk into the country, or an excursion up er down the Firth of Forth are scowled down by the Agnewites ; and any one attempting to uphold 11w necessity of such things, is imme diately denounced as an enemy to God ! The populace have, of course, no places left open to them to pass their time on Sunday excepting the chard' and the tavern, and, unfor tunately, whether it be owing to defective education, or from their lazing worked too hard throu.:hout the week so as to unfit them for listening with the requisite attentien to the preacher, they prefer the latter place of resort, I h :ye ven tured to address you on these matters because, from your articles on the neces,ity of national education, I consider you a real friend to the working man.—M. J. Du s.INAOE WORWS.-1 he Earl at Caithnem has applied, under the Drainage Act, for a sum of 3,0,01., to be made use of in the improvement of his estates of Noy, Doreen, and Tister, in the pari.hes of Canisbay, Bower, and Olrig. Sir George Sinclair, Bart., of Cibster, has applied eir 1,5001., for the improvement of Ulbeter, in the parishes hurso and Halkirk ; and for 3,5001. for the drainage of lands called tilbster and 'f annoth, in the parish of Wick : and of Clyth, in the parish of Latheron. Kenneth Macleav, of Wick, has also applied for 1,6001. for the drainage of Baster, in the parish of Wick. II ANVICE.—SuNDAY TRAINB.—The magistrates and town council of Ilawick have, by a majority of 14 to 4, resolved to memorialise the directors of the Edinburgh and Glesgow railway company in favour of the resumption of the Sunday trains. The resolution was moved by the senior, and seconded by the junior, magiatr..tes. PROVINCIAL. LANCASHIRE. DISTRESS IN DlXERPOOL.—Throughout the last fortnight the arrivals of vessels in our port have been very few, owing to the prevalence of easterly winds and the number of ships windbound in foreign ports. On one or two days note single vessel from abroad has entered the Mersey, on occurrence of great rarity. The coistiquence has been great ,carcity of employment amongst those who depend for their support on the proceeds of their labour at the docks. Large bodies of porters, dock labourers, and the men usually employed by lunapec., have been entirely destitute of occupation, and de prived of their usual resources at a time when the incle mency of the weather renders them len able than ever to bear up against privation. No doubt the officers of our numerous excellent charitable societies arc exerting them selves to alleviate the distress of the poor as fir us their means will permit, and it is to be hoped that the a/smithy, who are not permitted to feel the pinch of cold, or the sting of poverty, will take care that those means are sufficiently ample. TOHKSIIIRE. THE SALE of the effects of Lord .lexborough was brought to a close at Mexlemough-park, on Saturday, the auctioneer having been engaged in the business for a period of 18 days. The proceeds of the sale ore stated to be between 8,0001. and 9,0001. DtiVoNstilltr.. lterkEsevrierioN or DARTMOrTII.-The Western Times says - " The recent decision of the registration on the appeal case of Beenh•n r. Hockin, adds 47 votes to the Liberal constituency of 1). runouth ; and, in consequence, Mr. Moffatt's scat is secure beyond doubt, in ease of an elec tion during the next 12 months. The majority, it is believed, will be at least 70." CAMBRIDGESHIRE. THE DEATH IN THY. SPINNINO.IIOI:SE ha., it appears, led to a correspondence between the coroner of Cambridge and the Home Secretary. The coroner sent the verdict of the jury to Downing-street, expressing, in addition, his own doubts as to the power claimed by the proctors of the Uni versity to imprison without warrant, " especially as the University of Cambridge is not mentioned in the third sec tion of the 6th Geo. IV., c. 97 ; but, as the power in question has been exercised fur a lung period, I did not leel myself warranted in directing the jury that the imprisonment of the deceased was clearly illegal." The caroller also directs attention to the fact that the keeper of Robsou'sWorkhouse, commonly called the Spinning-house, is allowed to sell pro visions to the prisoners under his charge. The following is the official reply : Whitebait, Ike. 10, 1840.-Sir-1 am directed by Secretary Sie George limy to atictioickdge the receipt of your letter of the 7th Intent, intim ee itt g him of the verdict of a jury, on an inquest held by you, a s coroner, in the case of Elizabeth Howe, lately dmmsed ; transmitting Apo, by the remmt of the jury, copies of the deposi tion., taken at the im p ost. %nu have further coniniunieitted to Sir George Grey the rentimenta of the jury exposed on that onnion, with reference both to the practice of apprehending lemidee not offending against the general Law of the land, and to the unlit state of the prison in which they are minim,. Sit George Grey iiireetn me to inborn you, in reply, that the several particulars to which you base railed hip attention will be airefully conidered by him, and be will make an curly communication upon the subject to the Vices Cluiruklur.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant, S. M. SUFFOLK. CONI'LAORATION AT FLIA HALL.-EsTly on Sunday morning Flitton-hall, the residence of Sir It. S. Adair, Bart., near Bungay, was found to be on fire. The discovery was made by a lad walking in the neighbouring village of Homerslield, who went as quickly as possible to the house and roused the inmates. These were only two women and one groom. By some means two hours elapsed before an alarm was given in Bungay, and it was nearly threa a.m. before the parish engine from that town reached the fire, followed by one from Messrs. Grout's factory, and another from Harleston. Little substantial good could be effected, except to save a range of kitchen offices recently erected, and by hive o'clock the building was completely gutted, three only of the outer walls remaining, of which one has since fallen. The building was erected h Inigo Jones, and has been for the last two or three years undergoing extensive repairs, which would have occupied several more years. The extent of lo's will h 9 t , p robabl y , be so large as might be ex pected from the magnitud e of the conflagration, as only a portion of the mansion was tt for occupation, and the family was not resident. It is report Sir It. Adair is insured to some extent. The origin of the fin; is at of paipresent unknown. ntings, many The suite of rooms contained a collection porte ads of d to of them of great value. The whole of them ti:e re be consumed, as also a library containing some thaw: volumes. Besides innumerable articles of vertu, Sir Shia? possessed a rare collection of china , the gathering of years, all of which shared the same fate. NORFOLK, REPRESENTATION OF NORFOLS.-The Norwich Mercury says :-" It is generally believed that the gentlemen who now represent the Western Division of this County will not offer themselves to the electors at any future dissolution, and specu lotion is rife as to which of the leading landed commoners will be selected to contend for the representation of that district. Rumour speaks of meetings held at the residences of several gentlemen for sporting, at which the discussions are said to have tamed on future events, and particularly upon the point most important to the fanner-the repeal of the malt tax. Opinions are said to have been diverse. The next point is who are to be the candidates -It is well known that on more than one occasion the attention of the agriculturists has been directed towards Mr. Remand, of Westacre, and that gentleman has been alluded to 11$ one of the candi dates. But we doubt much if he will ever be induced to undertake a position so contrary to those rural pursuits in which, as a practical agriculturist, he is excelled by no gentleman of his station. The name of Sig William Folke has also been mentioned by some clearer deserving that confidence which he has never justly forfeited-for no representative ever was more devoted to the beet interests of his constituency, and cerrialy-rione served them more faith fully. Again, is there no son of Thomas William Coke in whom may once again be recognised those sentiments of patriotism and that liberal policy which animated the father, ' and which were wont to have so soubetirring an effect en the " Independent Yeomanry of Norfolk ?" To the hoese of' Letton a large body of the yeomanry, sad no small session of the proprietary, direct their kopes,and inposi teldst son of that family,they possess a gentleman whose ion and whose character are so well-known and estimated as to need no description. To the second son of their Thomas Wm. Coke, conjoined with the gentleman to whom ne have last alluded, we call the attention of the Liberal elcetoni of the Western Division. We cannot avoid the impres sion, that the same powers, whose meetings we hire al ready alluded to, hays not passed by the hastern quseOon- To Mr. Wiodhem, se an old tried and steady supporter of Liberal opinions, and of those m easures which are in advance of the times, the freeholders of the east will netu rally recur. The Conservatives in the west bpaat of Mr. Bowyer Smyth r their candidate, complain not of his want of persons, but of the difficulty oi selection." sirsafiX. • A PETMOM is in cows* of signature, in Brighton, teethe Lord Chancellor, praying that the District Courts about to be established for the_gecovery , of small debts, may also be extended to the hearing of bankrupts . , and insolvent cases, now taken to Londe,- The .petition, a'ter steep; that. Brighton. has a. medal= emeedong 60,000, eamplag on s most extensive TO lode. roam& to est fortk.iima- • Tee promo gam stealth* r his bwinapeey, edipeowesting petitions in.bwittiney, * as woes, is sewed with .o mo b montexpems eel inalio sad aleetablit. inillassily apiece ware MWe sway et Weir edam Ilia .SI'S dee me EllifffeellElSSlSSl Of iimicliddithalitaggilealsatelbe lin awe; ail it to tag ta waodiens.awail easihall bailee eislElMSWElWOMPai:L=r ielhalk"h ' =be ailed tbs Y • • *aisle nit nig We aphelioa et imdtlsas Mari* la Wats in alitatibeassitleal deb* lwasoloillt inawies • Watielowlas alp weds toy immitsollish they al nithaveirea • A ,WA r tral t. : o, 'saw lesd perwes thew. wild Wee • se ve r e •.. • ..6 e a V4llyiat lie agony walla was, • • • Wen del, bins bee eleitoL Tunic:mut -To Tan Lam. Tumuli meeting was held at Woodbridge on Mand a s: t pose ~ieShe r ape. of taking • into eotusidtratton the propri WWI*: • • some testimonial in FialfotNl chnrolt W the -e. ,- F ....., / "'"" 4r win but lb* t. th• go.