The Express. — London, England, 1849-11-14 00:00:00

r' FREEHOttI.I LAND socurrnts. cosrimtirijk GREAT A? EIRMUTORAM. Lea algal from en elaborate report la the Dilly Neve.] BI AM INCill AM, TniaDAT. I The confsretce of the friends of this movement emeane.4l here tbis morning, Wd. Scisohdriahn, MP., in the chair. Amass the 11114711 distinguished persons ononat one Mr. Cobden, M.P.; Mr. Bright, M.P. • Mr. b.. h e eleson, M P.; M M. C our. Joeepti Starve • Mr. Aldirman Gogh, Bermlegbam ; ncillor ll:admit', us; sad impart the delegates were Maws. Charles Waxer (Itoehellae) ; Joseph Reckia and A. Practice ((Yea. &ester); 8. heartland, (Braintree, Rues); N. Hoedridp Ice ) Timm ( Lsadoa)i Robert Remelt ed°. ; John Coma (imaciony ; e. Widttern 1i. 1 .2 1 "- ) . .seta Bray (Covaatry); Joha Riches (Wolves hhassse); Robert Adams (Leeds) ; Wellmm Manatt Dye=Sm r); R. Rawlins end W. mel H. Daly (Wrexham); ith (Leedom) ; Him Bromley flitantsfry) gain P.a-e (Drer iia~t s); F. Crowley (taldas); C. H. Whin (lienfordakW); &glued Horded (Halifax); F. if. MeCoaaell (Olessester): D. Holm*, Derby ; Abrshass Adm. (Vistvermapta ) ; D. Bodine" (Comets') ; H. Wore sad W. Germs. ( Bradford ); R. Owen sad W. Boma (Staarbridp); Thomu Madeley (Derby ), &a. Mr. Taylor, the ncretuy of the Birmirehme Society, Ina the &glow's% report : The Conealuse of the Birmingham Freehold Lend &deo , have the hamar of oubasitting mamas in rapiers. etsa el their calling the promo eou:erence, and which th e y ehlak will afford subjects for your coneideratices. That the evareleelaing enemas of correspondasce row being carried ashy year seetnyteith searly every largetown ne nitests that • great interest is betas Yams fa the her hot.; land move ment, and at the same time eakibis a west sr correct la- Strastiou awe the subject. That by Whole the conforteem. It is hop d that the seceded nee may be im:.ortel, a farther interest created, an addideral etiau'as applied, sad ON menet yearn:am and tine-obsurbian cor respondence fa part readend tame-wiry. That it Ina apprehended eeeistiss may be formed upon wrong principles for weal of knowledge, sad la • euseequento materially damage the progress of the cause. nit some orgaaleadem, U peseday, be immediately effected, to frigillate I. every toss and county sutler instits loss end by their intrumestality make the suffrage seffitiertly exteneive to enable the peep 4 to hate their !gamete sea feel mutt , twenty representation; sad that under the ametioa of such a united hely, correct biterstation might be diffused as to the spread of these principles aid the este• blishmeat of such bonnie., sad, if the Inn de apo t un. s t ea d, ~,t h w i asele, to suppert a j rum; 1 (wanly or other wise), to be called the Freeholder, a. el devoted ti this movement. The *enmity a aduptenq some legitimism plea for the gm difying and registering the members and mem for oras counties, and the elestood of raising a limns.. pad for .h• prenatiag at appeals to the Court ot Common Pala Teat the same plea whch is adopted by the Bin gdoshani Ihreelisil Lend S ci ry WWI IMO premmiusot lIMNIN may set be exactly suitable for every lotalky, or oppliesbl- ti every district; es that by bringing gendarme from ell pule into penal ermessrissuca wise tack ether, suss plAn might be devised to meatthe nosh. nioll. , et ash district. Sees rHrienea described tko condition and nnopecta of As Frarkel4 Lend &minim lodine e mums locelitms. Thew Mane were at a very cneeleagine character. float shoess.) But what the theory of our constitution ? them ire that tee people an represented in relismena g beers it ie assumed that the people send then the mein who are calculated to represent their interests. (Hear, hear.) But if you acknowledge that the members for agricultural constituencies are not seat by the people, but nominate themselves, or are nominated by ✓est aristneratio bosses, by the same rule you must awl elide that it is tee interests of theme houses which will be moulted, and not the people's. (Hear, beer.) They do se in every creation that comes before the noun of Common", for it is not merely questions of taxation to which I have rebind. Take any other great question in which the generous sympathies of Englishmen unconcerned, take the nuii bee of yam Mahe a member of parliament is allowed to run without eels, am mune to those who seat him, sad you will And that jot in the eroportion u merriher are rosi-ooseroiw of veal mew stitaenciee, will they jot. in support of a curtailment of that period. I like the freehold land enovensent,and I will till= why. It is a movement by which you tan ear yearselus. (Hear, hear.) And, mark me—if you do not edranehme yourselves, if you do not raise reveilles by (How* right arm, I am afraid nobody else will raise yea. ear, hear.) You may petitien parliament for the reform st parliament. Why _you are asking parliament to eat et IN right arm, to eat off its own nose. (Laughter.) I feel en moth obligation as any one to those who dentonotrate fa rob- Ills mufter, the great defects of our present representation. I thank my friend Sir Jealous Walmethy for what he is doing to expose thole defects. He has gut some facts and Mures which I hope he will !ripest here to-night. I hope he will repeat them everywhere till they an altered. (Cheery.) .n't let bin, be daunted by being Sold that he constantly repeats the same story. You must go on rimming that two and two make four, so long as people tell you that two and two make five. (Laughter.) But wh.le 1 thank him, and these who with him are nelson. Mate( the defective state of our representation, I tall him, sad I tell you, that the surest step towards remedliag the evil is by toll wing in the path of Mr. Taylor in this town, and extending the freehold qualification. (" Hear," and shests.) Jon in proportion as you can multiply the number of routiturnte, will you have a chance of envying Out them MOTE'S whisk my !amoral:tie friend desires se me estahli.eed. (Hear, bear.) I do not stead here to advtosee the titolllloll of the 40e. suffrage as a per feet eittem-. I hove recorded my opinion in favour of the gaol old principle of giving every Saxon householder a vote. (Cheers.) That is the oldest franchise in this country. It 12 a thousand years old. The franchise which we come here to advoeste—the 40s. freehold—is tour or five hundred years old; but the household franchise is one thousand yeses old. Way, then do I advocate Mr. Taylor's plan ? Because ft is a plan of doing tor yourselves what I despot of par. lisenent doing for you. (Hear, beer.) I have often won. 411sed that our governing powers left this 40s. freehold in the Itelurm But. (Lsughter.) I think it was a great blunder if they wished things to continue as they were. (Renewed laughter.) They old not a'low Ireland to have ft, and S seethed GCTOT bad ; and it illustrates what abet , &ties are still left fa our se stem, notwithstanding all that the Breuinghain reformers did ia 1832, that a flootelontsa who pays a rent of 0/. 19s. lied. per annum is not considered as geed es ea Engtishsuia with a "40s. freehold." (Hear, bear) This 40s. Iranian was establ.shed when money was worth ten times se much as it is sow, and when it was nal emit to provide • subsistence for • family. At that time, • man who Inn a forty shilling freehold was en indepe edent man, and the franchise was limited to 401. because he wee an independent man. We all know 'hat 40s. a year is now, e onparioively, a small income, and yet the 40s. franchise is retained. Let it be well underetoud, that you are not surely going to pay 40s. a year fora vote, but that booed of investing your mousy exclusively in the settings' bask, you are going to invest a part of it is a garde's, a field, a plot of ground, or a site for building. It is the easiest fraartise in the world, therm it does sot re quite you to live is a 101. house or in any particular thealith, where you must sabmit to all the calls of tee tax gatherer, or within seven miles • JOUT busiarso You may live in a cellar or a guest ; you may live within ono hundred miles from the place oh re your vote is, and yr.o need not pay any poor rat. s—nulemy will make any inquiries about you. (Laugh ter.) It Oster ably about the easiest frauchbe yea could have wiloo you had the franchise for nothing ; and when pm are tired of your vote you may sell your property for ell the money that you gave for it, end in setae eases for even more. Now, I would advise every man, not only in Birmingham, but everywhere else, and every woman who has a sun, to Co their utmost to qualify the male members of their family. (Hear, hear, and e mu.) I advise it, as • matter .1 economy. It is not merely that there is an investment of mousy bunging • certain amount of Interest. (Hear.) If ell the men in this country would qualify for 'he aunties, as I believe they might do within the neat flee years, they might so change the legislation of the country—they might so reform the wasteful extrava gance of our government—that I declare my belief of this on toy honour, after long raked in on the subject ; every heal of a family, beside the 40s. a year which he received from tie investment, might save soother 40e. a year through the reduction in the price of articles required for daily subsist ence (Loud cheers.) But I do not shut my eyes to other and collat ral advantages which will arise (rum this franchise. A man who to-comes a freeholder becomes invested with other privileges of a freeholder bead's that of voting. (Hear.) I will not dwell on this part of the subject; for I shall be followed by a gentleman who has considerable law, and who delights to expatiate on the old privileges of freeholders. He will show you how you may acquire all the prielleges of freeholders, and not merely that of voting for county members of parliament, by becoming poeasesid of this constitutional franchise. (Cheers.) But "hire are other advantages arising from this movement, which will, I think, commend themselves to every humane mind-1 refer to the habits of industry, thrift, and fore thought which it will neeesearily produce amongst the people. (Hear, beer.) I wish to an the great mum of the working classes of this country sleuth themselves by increased tem perance, by increased modera'ion, and by increased fore. thought. (Hach cheering.) I tell you candidly, that no people were ever yet elevated except through their own advancing wealth, morality, and intelligence—(hear, hear) — end any one who tells the working men of this country that they may be elevated by any other proem than reformation is themselves is interested either in flattering or in deceiv• lug them. (Hear, bear, and cheers.) It you watch the nag and progress of the middle classes in this country, you well see that in proportion as they became intelligent, on properties as they accumulated wealth, in proportion as they improved ia morality, did they rise in political and facial importune. (Hear, hear.) And I must confess I love this movement for another reason. I am moat anxi ous that there should be a larger proportion of the people of this country p»sessed of realised property. (Chen.) I am not one of those who think that the safety of a state can be consulted by the continuance of great disparities in fortunes, by having enormous muses of property in few hands, while the masses paw. none. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, I think that if you want to make the axial edifice secure you must widen the advantage, of th..se who are at the base of it; and, therefore, whatever en. wears the people of this country to accumulate wealth, -1 of wasting it, whilst tt !Olds to their own elevation, tends also in my optowo w we safety and preser vation of everything that is valuable in the state. (Great sheering.) It is from these considerations that the working class of this country will have the 00-operation of all that is! estimable, all that is humane, all that is benevolent in the middle classes in carrying forward this movements I seek, from this platform, being one who takes en interest in Nose questions in which hon. members who sit near me, and myself have taken an interest and a leading part in the House of Commons. I ask them to tome forward and help us to help them by joining this Freehold Land A'sociation. (Cheers.) I tell them that we can do nothing for the people unless the people suede us to do it. (Cheers.) It is as idle as the Ctiwind for you .to address us who are bottling in the of Costume, never stronger than 80 men on • vote —these 80 beige always members representing the largest unstituencies—it is useless to ask us to carry this or that memos in parliament. No great or useful measure was oyes carried except by the peop:e themselves; and woom they join this moment, I verily believe that they will not eany either a parliamentary or any other essential reform which they are now essinag. (Hear, hear.) I wish erg friend Mr. Joseph Hume was hers to night. (Much deserieg.) You do well se to receive him name. (Renewed' Maas.) A more indefatigable, a more devoted, a more disinterested patriot never lived in this or in any other maw try. (Chien.) I wish he were here to night that he mkt give you the result of nearly 40 years' experience in thellmass er Commons But he his absence I will give you It very words which I have based hi. me again and a the las t six years. " You cannot," he thus mid, " malt, material redaction in the burdens of the country, =this the people themselves bestir themselves out of doers; and if we were to easseed la the Hew of Commons, it would snip be ropeetiog what was dose In 1835: we should redress the expenditure by a great effort only to see the country atter w .rds return to its former emus of wasteful extravegasore" (Caen.) Why, goadusen, Mr. Hume has boon kg forty years fighting against majorities is the House of Comatose. But it is given to few lrfw to poems his ithysthisl strength, his massive ends rams, his powintal energise, his impassive thespian meat. But few men have the power to do what he has done. I confess that I have not physically the power of doing one-ballot what he has accomplished, and therefore I lay that if you leave your representativee in parliament to contend motet majontise, you may see them sacrifice their health in the straggle, bat it is physically impossible that they can seamed. I ask you then, and not only you who reside in Birmingth you ass indeed doing your duty nobly—bat I ask every one who is Inte rested In the measures which I advocate. every belief dual who is anxious kir geonomy in the public expenditure, anxious for peace, anxious fee the all phrase* political, social, aad finandsl, I ask all such to so-operate la the extension of this 40e. freehold quallithaticm. (Prolonged cheers.) Mr. Alderman WESTON spoke in favour of the move ment and In support of the reeeintion. Mr. TOULMIN SMITH, is eupporting the resolution, de died that there was any mbetaatial objelotoon to then SOadielP. STURGE herd that when their Mends obtained the franchise, they would um ft In snot • w . 7 as to obtain their it for less fortunate brethren. (Chun When the raelftold him that of the 19,0001. recede , he believed 40001. had been moil from the public-beau, it was to him an MUM We argument la favour of the movement. (Cheers.) It possessed, is fiat, so sessiderable ea adult ' tap, in a moral and social peat of view, that he gave to it his cordial support. (Cheers.) The resolution was then pat to the meeting and tarried, amidst lesuess enthusiasm. Mr. BRIGHT rase, but was unable to retried for some minutes in coosequeue of the loud wed emithmed cheering with which he was received. When order was restated he THE PUBLIC MEETING. BIRMINGBA3I, Tarawa Moat. The pabde mediae is connexion with the owitereses lash plate ia the Tewasbell hue to sight. At 7 o'clock lb. fear was !Jun by W. SCHOLL/MD, Seq., M.P. 111 r. COLSDRN thou came to the Iron. of the platform, eml was *wowed with wear 111.1011.1 eh.erirg. H. said—The emehatina +huh I held in my bend is as 1111i0,11 , That tie Cenieresc• is of ("mime that the fr. ehold lad movement is deserving the boom support of ad who igloo In • 2.1111.1 the PialkalllbUlly repainn umbra of the oginneey, sad to Jeer. the naval and political eunditioo of Use Weir Vises and now anenfrenchised claws. (Chan) birrniagliam on • toms r occasion, 1113 the avails of a gnat reform movement. I sin not owe who will se. that the reform in parliament which was elf uteri mainly from this great c arise was en tirely valueless. (Bear, hesr.) I believe it was awry great step, SDI • 'necessary first seep to other arid still greater 1110TIO* IL title °misery. (lie.r, hew.) And I ak Aid be very swank, myself to toe men of Birmingham, sad I disk that every member of parliament as this plat - *am would be ungrateful if they undervalited the importance of that reform, for I believe that not one of them would now be • member of parliament Uaw. re not for that reform. (Loud chain) Bat, sir, although I admit that the reform of 1531 2 was must im perfect. I am rot here to my that it was a final reform. (Loud cheers.) Why, we lint...WlG another generatiun. men who are men sow were babies in ern .a attliat time, and shall we be told that the measure of 1831 is so be etereutj ped and reserved for all posterity. No. them see times, peon. liarly times in which you writ anrieue to reform, for the moment you cease to reform, you begin to eotruat (Low: cheers) I feel indebted to the men of Birmingham for originating the Freehold Land Society, 'nmate I come from the 11nuat of Commons, where I tonne six months of the present year, and I feel the neeeseity of support out of driers. (loud Cries of "Hear, hear.) I have thanked you for the Reform Bill you passed before. Ido not thank the House of C..mnioss of that time for posing it ; it was ptred .rut of doors, as the corn law. were repealed oat of doors. (Tremendous cheer fag.) Asti yon may depend upon it that any further or *Mashie felons which is to be sehit 'eel for this eountry fur the future must be achieved by the men out of doors, and not by the lintoot of Commons. (Cheers) I erne here to ad man an eremite of the suffrage, as • means to en end. I de sot think Vial this or that orgsaie change is in itself suffi cient to satisfy you or me ; whet I went 1., the Woos 01 reform in practical good and substantial measure.. (lieu, heir.) I roof. is that one of the leading objects I have se a politician to a Induction of the extravagant expenditure of our government. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) I consider r hat the affairs of this country—l mean its govern mental stfors—are not wiled au with that regard to a pro. dent economy which we are obliged to exercise is our own private mill ye. (Hear.) When Imy we, I speak of you, myself, and men of our class in society. ( Cheers ) 1 egoism that I feel more and wore the importance of this question of the reduction of our governmental expeadinre, when I see whit is sot. gen everywhere around us. I want to avert from this country the daneen and dis asters which haw fallen ow other countries, owing to mis government, for I consider that extravagant and wasteful expenditure has been in all times lien the erase of th e ro w and (Wiwi of states, and I farther believe that in modern times it has been the great partnt of revolutions. (Loud cheers ' sad "hear. ') I come here, therefore, , to take part in • seemessent which lea practical rebels, t o e extending the franchise and giving to the people of this country a greater control over the aatiunal expenditure, as I believe that in proportion es thee ha.. zu.bre over iL e representation in this proportiri will they be enabled to procure a reduction of wasteful expenditure. (Hear, hear.) I have come to that concludes and I will tell you on what I fried conviction. I kind that when I or any other independent 'amber of parliament bring forward • motion in the House of Com mons. having for its object • really practical and tangible reduction of the expenditure of this country, I find that jet in proportion es the members of the House of Commons are responsible to numerous and independent eonstituencies, in the same proportion do I find them voting for messurcs of substantial economy. (II ar, hist.) brought forward a motion at the commencement of last see. sioa—l shall repeat to you the terms of that mottos, which I recapitulated to the house. I sail is effect that we were spending ten millions more than we bad spent in 1836; sad I made • motion that we should take steps to return with all practicable sped—l pat it in them moderate terms—to the amount of expenditure whisk was found sufficient in 1835. I showed that the isoreami expenditure had arisen from increased ar. maments 'shin out of disputes abroad, which disinters bad all been settled ad . practically eloped for ever, and yet that them amasses. whisk had hem raised fora rpecifie purpose bad never dam been sabstantially reduced. (Bear, bear.) Nobody la the bones attempted an answer to ay smer:lea. It may not be necessary to refute it. The mem were ready, and a majority of four to one in the Home et Caissons dogsled thee we should not, and could net, return to the expenditure of 1835. (Loud cries of "Shame.") Bet when I come to look at the division list, what do I and ? All the representatives of the large constituencies hod voted for me, the metropoli tan boroughs, Manchester, Birmingham, Lancashire—infect, all the large please were with me, but I was outvoted by the members for nominee boroughs and nominee counties. ("Shame.") Tske say large free censtituescy at say point of the mamas. Take Sosthampton in the southwest, and Absalom is the aorth-ged, or this borough in the centre of insisadd, sad wham, you find a large and Bee examislag their privileges w in& sal bey am' the power of corruption, INNI will Ind that the memben voted with me on every Noise fur a redestim of the expenditure of the etuntry. (Leal elms.) Whet then It I conclude from that mind- Meei Why I is.. II this enninicai, which nothing la MT shake me hem, that if yea can extend the inindilk awl glom the esewituessies generally on the same bobs as them hese senstlYieseiss I have mentioned, you • Gad their asembees voting for retrenchment, and owy will at last have subraatial sad *moony pre blis expenditsre. (Lend diem). I Mb: l umbers voted with miss dm that media. sad 277 against it. There was only easety imembiee mat with me, and of these si • x ropes. eindelt saandidarZi ssk eseatltueseies, sad not three were !em egricultural (Hear.) Why was it so ? lip. Wide of ISO Minty mashers voted sided hew was It t I wilt tell yon. I shall be frank ; I may be bleed for it, hut it is right that we Amid @peek eat and *soh the truth as this subject. (" Hear, hear," and *gips of "Never alai the reeses.") The members who eat for *see egrieeltmal esestinseasise were all nominated by' pea Walks or great yropriemrs In their respective emu des, sad than pest houses bad an interest ia expenditime by whisk they sad their families i t21:1! They would set vote fee redoedea of taxation, became they ttYon by patronage y save a Mae s taxation. (" Skase. than the ") II am would t .Id by that my statement is illiberal, sad not trae, I give mike that I ma show fare foe what I state ad that lam ready to prove the truth of every word I say. (Cheers.) I de not think it Palmlike as a general rule to mix up with this disc mien astrait Qua l m of p ffaleTt Mkaf lol of Pausal rellisisatio• ; b;t if a eontrove= that theras be reme don me, I nadertake to rem I my by ter referee,* to the greet hanks la seen meaty. • • • THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. NOVEMBER 14, 1849. addressed the 'stet* at cot siderable length, sad oonalsded by moving the wood reardutiont : " That, in order to promote the =tansies of freehold land moieties, it is desirable that a plural moist of the Meads of tM freehold movement be formed, on which should devolve the daly of uking such steps as may appear neemesty to spread isforaavon on the subject,. sad to easestage the for of motion societies on sound prataples." Mr. LUSHINOTON, M.P., dalared himself a warm friend of the movement., and that in his salad its SUMS/ wee certain. LATTIMER, of Hertfordshire, &aid that it was only by the forty-a:Ailing franchise that the forty-pound or tenants-at-will could be eafran chimed. One great object of the meeting to-day was to onnentran and promote a happy union of all classes of their fellow countrymen : It was well be the aU ateh ..wenee the ...; : I .": eke freedom of the people had ever beta won. (Cheers.) It was a delusion too aboard to suppose that commercial men had interests hostile to the farmer, sad he hoped that mi. delusion was happily at an end. (Cheers.) Talk of the want of representaiiou in towns they were mush better off than those in the counties. There was said to be two hundred and fifty millions of capital employied by the farmers, and he put it to Mr. Disrsoh whether any other chess in the country were without a voice in the representation of the people. (Rear.) Hitherto they had no kgal existence whatever. Tn. y now sought to join the tom:Nereid mes in securing order, good government, peace, and economy. (Cheers ) Sir JOSHUA WALMSLRY, M.P., who was received with much enthusiasm, acid that the gratifying reception which he experienced enured him that they sympathised with the principles of the into nation with which he was closely identified. (Cheep.) And it also led him to hope that the members of the nutlet: of this association would early have the opportunity of sub. mining their opinions, views, and principles, and testing them before the enlightened men of Birmingha m. (Cheep.) In the observations he intended to mete he had been fcrestalled ty hie eloquent friend the member for Manchester, and therefore the figures to which Mr. Cobden hail referred would not on the pre sent occasion be repeated. (line, hear.) Sir Joshua Walenaley concluded by moving the following resolution : tt Thu this conference requests that the committee of the Birmingham Freehold Land Society will consent to be the executive counsel of the Birmingham Freehold (Lend Union with power to add to their number, and it recommends to the council to issue a publication, to be devoted expressly to the subject cl Freehold Lsnd Societies and the OILPIASUII 01 he forty shilling freehold franchise, and to an exposition of the advantages which such sentrities are calculated to con er upon the now unenfranchised classes, and upon the country at large," Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON, M.P., seconded the reso lution, wnich was then put, and carried amidst much ac clamation. The proceedings did not terminate until nearly midnight. The hall was densely crowded throughout, and it is moo, yeah since so enthu.iastic a political pith. ring took place in Birmingham. It was uudersto id that tor certain Kennel purposes the proceedings of the Conference will be continued this day (Wednesday). SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF AN UNPRO TECTED FEMALE. (From Punch.) Soese 3.—Custom house-wharf, with Boulogne boat along ad.. The Us proteetad Female is gradually recovering from the discomposure of the voyage. Her luggage is, u mod, voluminous, and her money all French. Captain - (on paddleAsz).—Rese her! Turn Warn ! a—at—ar—n. (Captain signals.) Tu a—h—ads. (Captain signals.) Btp—e—rr. [die to Pbmast blows MI . Unprotected Female (alarmed at the nois e , olite sender).—Oh, is anything going to blow up ? Polite Passenger.-oh, no, ma'am ; that's the cylinder ma'am, always nukes that noise—or the piston—that's the lately valve, you know. P.trfO.:l4 safe, meas. 1s flight of Porten descend upon the boat, and appro priate the luggage. Unproteeted Female (attempting in vain to sit upon all of hen at once).—Oh, •de stop him (to Polite Passenger) That's my bonnet-box. Thoss are all my trunks. [Pelite Passenger rushes after his own luggage. Pater.—Cnit'm-'oase. Unprotected Female (resigning berself).—Oh, do be par deader. [liar luggage is taken from her. Mate.—Now—Gangway. [The gangway begins to perform evolu'ions in the air. Unprotected Female plates herself conveniently to re- Wee it on tier head. Mate.—Look out, ma'am. Unprotected Female—Oh! [Screams and all but rushes into the river. Mate.—Now then—shore! -- liroiittpii7ga;;Vai curio the Unprotected Female along with it. Mate.—Ticket [To Unprotected Female. Unprotected Footsie (searching herself). Here—ne, that's my hotel bill. Here —no, that's my ex:lesion ticket. Oh, where an I have pat it Impatient Passenger.—Move on In front there! Unprotected Female (under saver° pressure from behind, succeeds at last in finding her ticket in some remote recess of her rtnaints). Here! [She gains the wharf [Sone changes to waiting-room and marcher's room in Custom-house. with • door communicating between the apartments. Clerk (at dour of Searcher's room).—Now thcr, pus ogee with—one article I (Unprotee•ed Female makes a rash for the door. Clerk.—One article, mean ? Unprotected Female (rapidly).—Yea, one bonnet-box—one earpeabsg--ene leather trunk— Clerk (repaid-1g her oontemptuously),—This way with one article-- Three Paveneery (at ogee) —Hire ! Clerk.—All right. [The three pie in. The doer is shut to violently on the noses of haltallozen who press on after them. °Melon. frislDE. Impatient nurgenger. Now, First Searcher (to Second do.) — then, look sharp! I'll thank you for the Times [Hicks violently at the door. when you've done with it. Fourth Searcher (examining Se- DespondingParsenger (tocrowd coed Passenger's trunk).—lloll , ,! generally).—]] was once kept here —you've FA IMO tunny caries. from 10 in the morning till 13 at tures here! night. [A general examination of the Impatient Passenger.—By Jove caricatures by all t searea ra writs to the news). lacks era with elaborate humorous violently at door.) Iloilo! comments. Third Searcher (to First Pawn. ger, holding up Daguerreotype ap paratus).—Hullo! what's thud [First Posenger nulled 'moo to explain principles and practice at Daguerreotype, and does so at some length. See. Searcher (to Firettlearcher). —line's the news (To Pu rengem).—Now, Gents, anything o declare? IleasonablelPaseengrr.—Doe'tbe la a tinny, Se. Tie men inside must have time to do their work. Cheerful Passenger (to' ram- tected Female).—Autuslog teens, this, them. i Unprotected Frinate.—lt's very distressing for Ito Unprotected Female, ELL Impatient Pentenner (looking at his watch). al. ready, and I have to be at the liouse of Commons in an hour from this! Paseengera —Nothing. Second Seneher.—That'll do— Half-a-crown, plume. [Exeunt the three Passeagers with their three articles, the united mimberd which am.unts to t n. First Searcher.—Call in Ike two articles. [Eater two Passengera. Second Searcher (Searching First Passenger's trank).—llleas met now what may these he [Handling e p trees carelessly. First Passenger (eagerly).—Take care, pray. T hey're curious beta. Meal specimens. dem nd Searcher.—Look here! Jones. Here's queer things PM man to carry about. [The Herbarium is passed from Searcher to *archer. Clerk (at door)—Two articles! [An latmethate rush is made by everytady—oaly two arc let In. Unprotected Feelsle.—l wonder bow low It will be before they come to Ahem articles—l think Pre fifteen, If they count the little ores. Do they count the 011 S, flirt (To Impatient l'assenget.) Impatient Paantuirer.—Cuared if don't think they c tint the brim,. headed nail*. (Kicking violently.) Mho ! Do you thank we are s itting to wait here all day I I'll write to the times. Ckrk (at door.—Tkree and four articles. Pint Pawesger (in agony).— Ob, pray, mind. They're very deleate. Dear, dear youers breaking the pistils. First dear, her ((authoritatively looking op from f 4 .emnd Naves gcr's trunk).—Tots ought to know better than to carry firearms ;Omit Ins o c u o V i uggsge, Sir. Searcher (together).— Ha! ha! ha! Why they're dowers. I say, here's Tomkina has male web a ram usista.ia. LAllthetlearcherigather round to hear the story, and pose ens at Tomltlns. [Dm uto .1 raw% takes place. Clerk (V. Impatient Praeger.) Ilow many ankles? Impatient Parrearrer.—Urran. You aid three and four articles. Three and four'a actin. n bel a Clerk as collect himself tl refutehlms. s t .mal Garr, (pillow him. Enter Impatient ?weenier. Unproteeted Female (soliloquis- Impatient Porringer (thumping ing). How dreadfully chill and oaths counter).—Now,then. some damp thiltisee is. It s enough to body, or I'll write to the Timee, give one one's death of cold. I by Jove. There are my keys, wonder when I shall ge• home 1 I've seven packages. Fare nuibi og They'll be expecting me. I'm afraid to declare—you had better not shall be late for chance. I wonder break anything—or I'll write to wheLber there'll be a deal of duty the These,. Now, some of you— to pay. Oh! MMUS goodness ! look sharp—or write— there's that lwe inside my dress. [A rush of Searchers takes They'll never find that surely. Oh! Amor, and the Impallest here's that man aguin ! Paseinger is &snood of with singular rapidity. Clerk at dear. Other parties. A rash takes place, wish the Unprotected Female at the CITY COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS. Yesterday a caurt was held, Mr. DEPUTY PEA. coca i■ the their. The CHAIRMAN said the members were aware that a epeeist court had been convened for Monday in consequence of the application of Alderman Sidney and others far the pur pose of discuising the annual report of Mr. Simon, the medical officer of health upon the sanitary state of the Cit . It had been loud however that the day of appointment was too early, and as hit. Simon was not ready, and the subject was one of deep public interest, it would appear to ba ad- Liable to postpone the question to soots day next week, and o make the appointment special. (Hear, hear.) The do cument was an extraordinary one,and required extraordinary attention. After some discussios, it was arraulieil that tilt document should be considered on the 21st inst. The inspectors reported that the inhabitant in each of the districts were generally attentive to the direction.- iuned for insuring cleaulinese, that the dust contractors performed their duties with increased vigilance, and that the sewerage was daily improving. There we., however, con- siderable difficulty encountered in reconciling SOON of the residents in the ease unventilated courts and alleys of the City to the pocky of the 'iteration. One of the inspectors stated to the court that in B.mm-step-alley, which had been long notorious for the filthy babas of the inhabitants, although everything offensive had been removed, and new and commodious water-closets or out-houses had been con struct• d, and a plentiful supply of water had been obtained, on the very next day the whole locality was dirty and abomi nable,as it had been when complained of; that again and again the place had been cleansed, and on the succeeding days everything dropped into its former filthy condition. Mr. DAW (the chief clerk) informed the court that he had communicated with the agent of Lord Delaware on the subject of the draining of his lordship's property in s me of the crowded localities of the City, and the result had been moat satisfactory, his lordship's agent having intimated that improvement suggested by the commissioners should be as speedily as possible carded into effect, and that the deity in draining had been only caused by the necessity which was believed to bay, existed for not disturbiez sewers during the itstasuce of Ow epiderna.. Complaint Tag mums that the supply of water to Dome of the courts and alleys of Csipplegate Ward, although the New River Company had bent down a great additional supply, was scantily obtained in many parts of the neigh. bourhood. It appeared from the representations made that whenever one side of a district was well supplied, the other aide was dry, and that some houses, each of which con tained two or three isesilies, weir.: obliged beg water of those who resided on the opposite side of the way. The Court immediately issued orders upon the subject. Application was made by Mr. Moffatt to be alloyed to 001211110 t the sewer of St Andrews Hill with the tacks row being erected by him, under the sanction of the commission, at Paul's wharf, tor the conversion of sewage water into The SURVEYOR stated, that he viewed the experiment as an important we, inasmuch as it would enable those interested to bring the sewage manure into the market, and into ormpetition with the ordinary manures of the day, whereby its agricultural and commercial value would be tested • and he recommended that permission should be granted to Mr. Moffatt to take up the pavement to mako the connexion nquired. The order was then issued to the effect of the surveyor's recommendation. The SURVEYOR said he had another application. It wee from the poor men who were employed is working in the sewers. As Thursday would be a day of thanksgiving there would be a cessation of general work, but they could ' ill afford to give up the day's pay, and therefore they prayed ' to be allowed to work on that day, if their wages were to be, under other circumstances, curtain& Kr. BLAKE said that it was but fair to give a day's pay to men whose labours were exerted in the very places fr-on which eontay,ion mast profusely issued. I Hear, hear.) He "'fn . !!! th a t th .! !!!;'; pay twa glven io ti :gm employe! in the City Sewers. Mr. Deputy HARRISON seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK. In the meek ending last Saturday, we learn from the Itiristrar General's Weekly Report, the deaths re gistered in the metropolitan disthees were 893 ; a number which shows an excess of 66 on the return of the previous week, but a reduction of 289 on the corrected average of five autumns. It the present renal be compared with that made in the same week of each of the years 1840 8, it wilt be found that, with but one exception (in 1841, when the deaths were 841), the mortality ranged formerly from 910 to 1,166, and therefore wee co..siduably higher than in last week, though the population in these years mu las. The increase of 66 now observed oa the week ending No veaber 3, partly arises from pneumonia and bronchitis. the deaths from which become more numerous as the winter advances, having been 104 in the previous week, 127 In the last. The total camber of deaths hem chola.' in the week was only 8 (6 leo than in the previous week) ; in the same week of 1848 there were 62. The steady decline of diarriscee and !treater, is shown by the numbers of the last two weeks which were ....mainly 105. 63. 61.40, and 29 A hes died of ilorrisusi in Peteroerviagn.TOW, FYIISSOB, whose father had been carried off by cholera in Septem ber; a boy of the same disease at 13rudenell-plash, New North-road, from an unwholesome condition of the house ; and e girl at Meidstane•place, in the house in which a death from cholera, reported in the former week, occurred, and in a locality then described as " low and ill-drained." Of the six deaths from cholera, one occurred at Water-lane, Ho. marten; one at Westherhesd-gardens (Hackney road), a place low, undrained, and drenched by waste water ; one in Christchurch, St. Saviour's ; one at Drummond-read, St James, Bermondsey ; one in Walworth ; and one in Lam beth. A death from apoplexy, on which an inquest was held, occurred in Huntingdon-street, Hoston. The de owed was a tamale of 66, who for the last four years kid lived in an underground cellar, which is only 11 feet in length, 8 feet 6 inches In width, 6 feet 9 inches in beiiiht, and sunk 6 feet 7 inches below the surface of the street. A small window rarer gives light or ventilation, and " th. walla (says the Registrar) are es damp that you might brush the water from them." The MOM daily reading of the ba rometer was above 80 hakes on the last three days of the week. The mean of the week was 29 732. The tempe rature on the last three days was considerably higher than the avenge of the same days in seven years. The mean of the week was 60 . 2 deg., which is higher than the average by 4•1 deg. CURIOUS Cafiß OF THUT.—To s charger, with the wwwww , 7 wrilwasst, is an set of ambition cona. mon enough in this world, but it is rarely indulged as in the case we are about to record. A boa, about fourteen years of age, named Johnston, from the air of Culloden, was in the town a Nairn on the Lair day, about a fortnight ego. lie sew standing masterless at a duor a steed not quite Arabian in appearance, but the claire to panes it seems to have drink him, and whilst the owner was enjoying his glass thu boy quietly mounted the bare•backed charger, and g ir r a s:t . ng the stable-oollar It wore, at once rode off home- From that time till last week he fed the horse by Lading it at night from field to field, and at intervals stole from different quarters a pair of spun, a bridle, a whip, an cotler's jet kat and treason, and some oats—all to mike his " turn out " more genteel. His ambition has led him a step too far—that is, to the goal, for he was apprehended a day or two sae by Donald Noble, county_ constable, and after an nvongation was an to Nain Gaol on Tuesday to answer the charge of hcessitealing.—lnowness Cowie. head of it. First Searcher.—Now,n;ieshigh Is yours? Uiiprottcttd Female (running about all over the room.) — Oh, wee this, and this, and this, and that in the corner, and yen uncle r then., and these. [Her luggage is gradually collected into a single pi:e. Seareaer.—Au., thing to dicier' ? Unprotected Female (evasively.)—There's my keys. Eh ? n i—those are the keys at home—hen'srry luvgage'keys. Searcher (struggling with mveral Gordian kuote.)—l wish to friodness, ma'am, you ladies world learn to make knots that 'll untie. Unprotected Female.—Ab ! Then's a bandbox bunt, ai d all the !Wei smacked into my muff! DJ mind how you handle than bonnet, sir. Pius* let EN fold those things is again. Don't 'geese them in that way. Oh, gracious ! mina when you're going. [Searcher rumples, tumbles, tones, discomposes, and Ily upsets the trunks of the Uoproteeted f'emale. _ _ . Searcher (in loud voice).—Twente-four nein fine French • • StOCIIIII unworn, fin dna"! iarr,y ...a, up, being 011b11- facture(' silk felines, twelve pairs French kid gloves, eight pairs French leather boots, sixteen ceps unworn. Unprotected Female.—But they're all for my own wear ing ! Searchrr.—Quantity'sunreasonable; butyou can complain, and then you'll be examined into. Unprotected Female (aside).-ok, that lace Searcher (having made out hi. list of articles liable to duty).—Now ma'am, if you'd walk into that room. Unprotected Female (in agony of apprehension).—Oh ! what for? Who with ? (Aside.) It's that lace In my— that's all I've got, Sir. Searcher (sternly).—This way, ma'am. [Pointing to aide room.) Unprotected Female (aside).—Oh ! never—that's all, I unto you, Sir. Searcher.—Come, ma'am ; I can't Demoting time here all day with you. Unprotected Fetuals.—But you're surely mot going to do it yourself, Sir ? Seuther.—No ; there's a clerk there who'll take your Uaisroteeted Funsle.—Take my mosey, too Bealahu.—Yes • the dooty on these articles. Unprotected Female.—Oh, thank goodness—if that's all. low mush will it be Sir, please? Beareber.—Four fourteen, Unprotected i.ass bought 'sm. str as entity again in Oxford street. esarther.—ln nouns, ma'am; that's what all the ladies ads eat. Now, ma'am— _ _ Unprotected Female.—Well; if ever I bey any French articles again (Aside.) Bet they are not going to lcok for the lee*. . _ _ . [Exit, much relieved, into dde room. Scene closes.] FIRE IN inn Crff.—Yesterday morning, between sis and soma o'clock, a fire broke out in the promises be. longing to Mr. John Jenkins, undertaker and packing•eme maker, at Ne. 2, Lieerpool•street, Bithoptgate. The fire men were enabled to confine the tunes to the premises in which they commenced, but before they were extinguished the workshops were nearly destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr. Jenkins wee in the San and General Fire office,. FIRE AT CIBENCESTEL—AiI alarming conflagra tion took place at about a quarter before six o'clock on Monday morning at Cirencester, on premises occupied by Mr. Daniel Thomas, hatter, Cricklade-street, and which could not be subdued until tier the entire stock had been dist, ryed. Both Mr. Thomas and his wife were severely burnt, and in ceasequenee of the fierceness with which the flames raged, narrowly tamped with their lives. The diluter appears to have arisen from a spark falling from a candle upon some paper while Mr. Thomas was parking up • quantity of goods for Fairford Fair. We understand that the stock was insared,—Chatenharot Journal. _ _ . first of the groat tubes of the Britannia-bridge was finally lowered down again by a three-feet fall on to its permanent bed of plates and rollers, the operation for effeeting a junction with 00 tube on land having occupied about three weeks. The event was cheered by the assembled workmen and specta tors, sad hailed by the firing of cannon on the Carnarvon shire side of the straits. The hydraulic presses end lifting apparatus is now being removed from the Angles,' to the Carnarvonshiro shore in order to raise the next tube ak sun u it is floated to the pion, an operation which, weather and tide permitting, will take place on the led of next month. The operations unaided with this msgsilicent work have now been serried on for several months both by day and night, under the superintendence of Yr. E. Clarke, the acting 'ninon; lir. L. Clerk, the resident engineer ; and Maus, Tooter and Wild; and from the strenuous exertions made there appears to be little doubt but that the first line of tubes will be opened for trials as the Ist of Much nut. RAILWAY MEETING. PROPOSED STOPPAGE OF TRAFFIC. SAMBRE AND MEUSE. A special meeting of shareholders was held yesterday,. at the offices, 61, tdoorgateestreet, for the purpose of considering what steps ehoold be taken towards improving the prospects of the company ; Mr. W. P. Rectum:on in the chair. There was a tolerably good attendees' of shareholders, but there were only two director present, ineluding the chairman. The CHAIRMAN stated, in opeoieg the proceediuge, that the directors had no report prepared for the occasion. It unfortunately happened that several gentlemen who had originally embarked in the direction had left it. Many of them had been promoted to edam which rendered it impos sible for them to attend to the business of the company, whiLt others had retired through certain differences which had arisen at a public meeting, and a large number had left is cousequence of differences with him (the chairman) in matters of economy which he had thought necessary. He did not attach say Mune to those gentlemen ; but their seceseion from the direction bad left him the sole exponent of the acts of the company. He could not, however, com plain in any respect, because he had received the assistance of several gentlemen, some of whom bad been r leaned by the proprietors, and others had volunteered their services at a enisequent period. He was wrong to say that the condition of the co npany was such that he had now no assistance to depend upon except that of Mr. Sheward. These circumstances rendered his position one of extreme difficulty, but he would endeavour to dis charge the duties entrusted to him in a manner satisfactory to the prom ietoes. He might take this opportunity of stating that before this railway was commenced every care was taken to ascertain what the traffic was likely to be. Information was obtained front Mr. —, who was employed to collect facts fur the Belgian government, and • gentleman inter ested in the strife of the °employ had remained in Belgium several mouths for the purpose of ascertaining the probable advantages of the line, and he bad confirmed the report originally received. The Information furnished by tb• gentlemen to whom he alluded was collected, not as it was in England under ordinary circumstances, but was drived from important documents which bad been procured in the various districts through which the lino Lad to passe The Undertaking wee considered a good one lei ProOlt who resided in the country, and some end it wo"..et be 'the best line in Belgium ; whilst many persons bad congratulated them upon haying secured it. In short, the opinions of all were in favour of the scheme, and there were none against it. Thera was every reason to justify them in expecting a large amount of remuneration. The point next to be considered wet the convention, and in order that this might be properly carried out, great care and attention was paid to the tolls. Under that convention, the tolls allowed them were much higher than the tulle of the government, on account of the difficult works they had un dertaken. At length they applied to the Minister of Public Works for permission to work the line, and he (the chairman) was exceedingly surprised and an noyed at the treatment they then received, when he contrasted it with the kindness and blandness they had experienced in the first instance. lie counselled the board not to open the line under them circumstances, but the majority of the board differed from him, and the reasons they assigned for doing so were so cogent that he yielded to their opinion without any regret. The convention was to continue fur 12 months, and to be determined by a notice of 6 months. The railway had now been in existence 11 months, and the receipts had amounted to 1701. per week, whilst the expenditure averaged 2101. —that was to say, if reduced to the lowest possible sum—hut up to the pre sent time there had been a much greater loss than them calcula tions pointed out. The company was dreads 60,0001. in debt, and they were adding to that amount every week. Under these circumstances Mr. Sheward had given notice to the Belgian government that at the expiration of the 12 months they should eau, to act upon the tariff which bad been fore. el upon thou. This determination on their put bad led to a great deal of resentment on the p art of the minister of public works. But this they could not help ; they had been disappointed in the tariff, and the result of the uedertalking was in every respect very different from what they had anticipated; they had therefore no option but to give notice that they would diecentioue to work the line unless the government shill place them in a more favourable ;aortic)... Then came the question, what were they to du for the time to come 1 Trade in Belgium was in a very de pressed state, and he saw no prospect of immediate impose meet, nor was he in a situation to prophecy whether any improvement was likely to take place. The rim @don for them to deide to-day was, whether they should entirely stop the tra ffi c on the line, or whether they should prated with it. He believed that the opinion of the Belgian government, as felt and exproied by the minister of public worts, was most unfavourable to their interests. There had been—to say the least of it—a want or considera tion towards them on the part of that government which was most disheartening; and he could not help hoping that further reflection would induce them to alter the opinion now entertained. The Belgian government ought to re member that the English natito had made great efforts to improve their condition: when the country was oppressed by famine, England had coutzibuted largely towards their relief. Another consideration might fairly be put forward, viz , the fact of the difference between tae present state tf Belgium and its condition at the time the railway was pro jected. Its manufactures were now completely parelysed, )and the state of the counte; oak each as to render tt: Prospects of the company extremely diteouraging. .1 1 .7 therefore thought the meet desirable course they could adopt would be to impress upon the Belgian government that thereseould be an entire rearrangement of their con nexion, Led that it should be put upon is lair and equitable footing. It wan with a view of determining this question that the trued,' bad been celled ; but really the firm ire. portsnt point to be considered was whether they should go on with the bee or whether they should abandon it. He would, therefore, suggest theta proposition should be agreed to authonsieg Mr. Sheward (who had lately tete rned from B algium, anal was well acquainted with the affairs of the company), to close the line unless the government should meet them on equitable terms. Atter some slight discussion as to the present liabilities of the company, Mr. SHE WARD mid that if he consulted his own con science he should follow the crowd and tender his resigna tion as a diteetor ; but after the confidence they had been phased to ensue in him, he should be doing them an in justice if he did not continue in his present position so lung as they expressed themselves satisfied with his conduct. Having been resident in Belgium since the establish ment of the line, he was enabled to give them some in formation upon the eulj ect which had called them together to day. The Belgian government acknowledged the right of the company to maintain the tariff ; but they oetieve had placed them in such a position that they could not wore the line. Ho was happy, however, to say that, from the general outcry which had taken place in the country, he thought the government must give way. Since the- last meeting of the company the monthly expenditure on, the line had been reduced from 19,000 francs to 10,000 francs, but they ea! . e . tea.that the 40,0001. which t s ".. .. - eg . eneer Lad asked for would not be ell required by the positive opening of the line; and he thought he ought not to take more then 20,0001. in the first instance, and wait for the remainder until they saw what the trade was likely to amount to. The cones quence of the ;arrangement they had ultimately agreed to was, that they were left without a shilling in their pockets. They had been occupied since February last in negotiating with the contractors with the view to the settle mint; of their account—an agreement was drawn up beet was igned in consequence of a gentleman named Bid. dington having refused to give up a claim which he had upon the company for services. The cempany had made an advance of nearly 24,0001. to the contractors, and as security for that debt they had taken the shares of the contractors, together with a mortgage on the iron works and a mortgage on the coal works. They ought to have raid back 60,000 francs per month, but they were not in a condition to pay that amount in a twelvemonth. The Iron trade of Belgian' was in seen • state of stagnation at this moment, that what in more prosperous times might be worth 100,0001. would not now fetch 10,0001. If they (the shareholder) should be of opi nion that their affairs ought not to be thrown to the winds, it was absolutely necessary that they should came to the as siatance of the directors, and give them that power which a diminished board did net possum. PROPRIETOR inquired whether it was probable that if en offer were made to the Belgian goveinment, they would take the line off their hands ? The CHAIRMAN replied, that the proper plan would be to authorise Mr. Sheward to tell the government that if they did not come to terms more favourable to the interests of the company, they would be compelled to abandon it. The following resolution was premised: " 'rutin the present position ofthe affairs of the company it is inexpedient to continue the working of the line wises some new arrangements be made with the Belgian govern. meat leading to a reasonable conclusion that it wid be worked at a prat!" A SHAREHOLDER said the company had spent 600,0001 , and were in debt to a very large amount. Was it in keeping with the character of Englishmen that they should throw their peon/sty to the winds wi th out making some effort to secure it ? He should therefore have great pleasure in seconding the resolution. The motion having been put, was carried unanimously; and the following resolutions were alto adopted. " That the notice given by the directors of their intention to class the line be confirmed." " That • committee of shareholder be formed for the purpose of assisting the directors in negotiating with the Belgian government, with a view to further arrangements more favourable to the company." A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman, and the meet aids separated. EAST AND WEST INDIA DOCKS AND NORTE WESTERN y t ' h s an l line lying ly te ing d ßa eri M se w n it t r in Jc fo u r cr th r e ou to .— nna Tli ti er on e w o e f r thb e no co f m ew pan er between the Lea Cat Canal and Blackwell, and the difference between the highest and lowest tender was no less than 16,0001. CALEDONIAN, AND EDINBURGH AND GLABOOW LINES,— The Caledonian Mercury states that various conferences have been bold between a deputation of the Edinburgh and O. gow Directors acd the Committee of Investigation lately ap pointed by the shareholders of the Caledonian Railway, with a view to the amalgamation of these companies. The result is that the above parties have agreed that an amalgamation ion fair terms would be mutually beneficial. In the meantime, ' and to Ivey matters open it has been @greed to give the ne cessary parliamentary notices for a bill to sanction the amal gamation. But of course when the terms of the amalga mation are farther matured the shareholders of both comps nie must be respectively convened to give their opinion en the expediency of this amalgamation, which we need not say if eventually carried out, of which there is a strong probabi lity, will be an important era in our Scottish railway annals. IRELAND. Ductile, Now. 13. A speed correspondence between Mr. Ltfroy, the Speaker's Secretary, and Mr. Pierce Maliony, relative to the mistake in transmitting the writ for the Cork election, hu appeared in the columns of the Evening Mail. Mr. Mahony rays: The writ was only delay( d r few hours. On examioing the warrant, I find the, as originally printed, it stood ad aniseed correctly to the Clerk of we Crown, in Chancery, and that was changed to the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland, Ohs. This account. for the mistake of the letterearrier, as there is no clerk of the moon, strictly sprakiair, for Ireland, and lam popularly called 'the Clerk of the Crows.' If the words 'in Chaucer,' had remained unaltered, the letter carrier would have delivered it at Mr. Filsaime r e r a ,ffie r , instead of at mice —and, at ell events, I should 116,0 done so without breakiog the seal. SPORTING. BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—Tunsp.ty. AYLESBURY STEEPLE CHASE. 3to 1 spat Marla Day. Even on liriti'b Yeoman and Vain hope. LIVERPOOL STEPLE CHASE. 7 to 1 mat The Youngrun (t) Sto 1 Knight of Owynne (t) 10 to 1 The Oaks (t) DERBY. 10 to 1 eget Mr. W. Edward. as Bolingbroke (t) Hto 1 Duke of Bachmend'a °Mine Callum (t) 18 to 1 Mr. Metelant's The Italian (t) 10 to 1 Mr. Pedlerit Sweetheart $0 to 1 Mr. Graonck's Tho Nigger (t 33 to 1) 1,000 to 78 Yew Tree (t) 1,000 to SO TM Swede CHESTER CUP. 1.000 to IS apt Mr. St. George's Whim Colt (t). 1,000 to 9 apt nab or the following : Boc-Flanter, Donut, gad Mart Tapley (t). A SHIP ON FIRE.—VENTNOR, TUZISDAY.—A reed passed here this morning on fire. She was evidently trying M make Shanklin Bay. I hare since learned the following patinalen ..—She is &Dotal% galliot, laden with turpentine, and bout& from NIA! Orlon , * to Lymingion. The pilot rah her ashore at Shanklin, where she is lying on the rands, and is being rapidly consumed. The whole of the crew are safe. • RAGGED SCHOOL LlBlLiftlee.---Mr. J. Imray, in his evidence before the Committee on Public Libraries, maid : I have taken lately the sup. tinter denim of a ragged school in:the Idaryleb me district, and in connexion with that school we have centbhtheel a small library and reading room, and theses that have attended have attended with great regularity, and read the books with the greatest quietness and attention; the room is open every evening but one in the week. There have been 100 there ; at this season generally only 20 or 30, of from 16 n. 30 or 3.5 years of age. We throw it open to anybody, without restriction; gcaerally those that attend the library are the same that attend the school. The school master acts as librarian. We have a room that can conveni ently hold 160. The people appear ti enjoy reading the books they have there,and it they had mere books they would enjoy it still more. Since the mecca of emigration have been provided for those classes, and many have gone from that school, the inclination amongst them for reading works which will give them informatiou regarding the countries to which they toned to go has been very groat. A great number of those mime persons who frequent the ragged school library had been in the habit of reading before. but they had read the bad cheap publications which are circulated in tiionsauds among those classes. I mty say that amon g those clerics there is perhaps a greater amount of reading than amunget the better classes in London, but it is reeding of the worst description. The institution of good libraries would with draw the population, and especially the most dangerous part of the populetion, from bad reading, to which they at present apply themselves, and not enly from worse reading, but tram won. pundits. Moat of those classes have no homes to go to, and no raional pursuits of any kind, acid therefore they take to immoral penults. The book. in the library are not above 150 yet. The people conduct themselves in the read ing.room with the greatest order and quietness, although many of them ere persona who would, under any othe r cir cumstances, be most noisy and rude in their conduct. I have known men of from 20 to 30 who, when they came, smoked the it pipes in the schoolroom, overturned the forms and did ail kinds of miscl.iet, end now they are perfectly quiet del or. derly, and they dress better ; instead of regs,they come with whole clothes ( hough of the poorest kind still), end they sit down in the library with the greatest quietness and detto rum, and read the books. We have malty pupils above the age of 20; I have seen as many as 60 men, men having wives and families. Of the:bad description of books 1 spoke of, many are published in London. They are little books, per baps selling at • half penny each ; many of them periodicals, containing horrible stoner, %Ph muck of the nurvelloin and a good deal of the disgusting in them ; one sort of b oks which seem to be sought for very much by that class are me. moire of notorious rogues, and extracts from the " Newgiste Calendar," all of which, I think have the wont tendency; perhaps a worse tendency than books positively indecent or immoral. Trend-dons from foreign needs, I think, are perused by a rather higher clam. 0. books con. meted with the principles of socialism there are a few, but I do not think many. The institution •••• sound libraries Is Very d. grime t? lead in. m &war nom those various deviations from one proper bath in point of reading to which you have adverted ; it I. desirable " in the highest degree. Another great object is, that a library ' being provided, containing good books, is a tern..tati , n to many to learn to read, and afterwards to come arid read; ' they see that their friends who come to the library evince the possession of informeion which they themselves do net pos y sew, and they naturally feel sedum to re ad ; they come to the school and learn to read, and then they frequent the I library. They system of itioeming literati a could be adopted in towns. There might be libraries itinerating from district ,• to district in London. Fur instance, in certain districts in ' London where there are now f rigged schools, it , would be a very great advantage if the lehrary of one selool were transmitted to another for a time, exchanging from the one to the other. if a better class of books were sold at the same price, they would supersede the b..d books, bu not at • first; a taste for cod works requires to be Una. d he fore I they can he apireciated. Amongst there people such works • as the Penny Magazine and Chambers' Journal are much liked. When they have read books of that class, they prefer • them to the date of books I have spoken of ; so much so, • that I d s not think they would ever return to the lower class of hooks, alter having read the other hooka. Works of I fiction Ido not think are more attractive than popular works I of science. It is impossible for this dm to make a small r su%scriptisia in aid of the Medi for the library, lam afraid; !bey are too poor for that; we have to provide them almost I with everything in order to attract them to the school ; we gu ar are ,ntho t ey o u t l y were oblig e d,ry ro l e e makeanti them . nothing, hutll but imitt we ey I ere obliged occasionally to give them entertai nm ent, — supper or a tea-party. At We when the system ro+ unmans... metare with the greatest cone cay, politeneis, and quietness, r I The persons I describe are not in regular employment. I Many lit hem are persona selling things in the street. They are rather the class you meet he the street selling vegetables, ' oranges, and such things as those. There are portions of these schools appropriated to wemen, and a large number attend. My opinion is, that in ell these cases, IV) far from ' making them pay anything, we ought to do everything to attract them at first ; draw them to the school , and then in struct them afterwards. I have bestowed some attention to I the construction of public libraries. I have wade several drawings, c ineideriog the subject as to the cons.ruction and arraugtment. The estimate for a fair public library for a t country town must depend very much upon its eaten.. For ' a town that has a population of 10,000 inhabitants I should soy that for the mere building and shelving to hold the books, for 1,0001. a very good building might he put up in a I country district. I include in that plenty of room for boles, and also accommodation far reading. The only thing from I which I can draw any analogy Is the cost of churches, which 1 have seen built in Scotland, in country districts, capable I of containing a congregation of 1,200, well built and well • seated for 1,6001. For 1,0001. you might build a public library to accommodate a population of I think 20,000 or - more, if the construction were carefully studied with a view I to economy and simplicity. It may be assumed, without material error, that a square foot of wall surface can ac commodate ten average volumes, allowing for decide g and r fittings; a tier of shelves may extend six feet six inches in height without requiring a ladder to reach the upper , shelves; one foot rix inches may be left vacant below to r avoid stooping ; and in the cue of successive tiers, one foot in height may be allowed for galleries and their fittings; so that each tier would occupy in all seven feet six inches in height, five feet of that being available fur books. A room, 60 feet square and 30 feet high, lighted entirely from , above, so that all the wall unlace may he available for shelving, might be fitted with three galleries entirely Our , rounding the interior, so as to provide four tiers of convenient shelving. The total surface for book accommodation would thus be 4,000 square feet, which would contain 40,000 volumes, without any projec ' ing presses or partitions. Ac , cess might be given to the galleries by steircases at the , angles of the room; further, a width of five feet railed off around the room would be a passage for the the lib:try, and a central area of forty feetpqaussa squar e r.egttables, t wo ( a uld be left for a reading-room, capable of accommodating hundred o re sl ad lOw n ing wit s h ixte sp en ice fee fo t r an catalogue, catalogue, sh reader. I have little doubt that such a room with all its fittings, and with some additional accommodation for the servants of the library, could be plainly coreeructed in the country for 1,0001. or 1,2001. And I imagine that an ar rangement, like that which I have briefly indicated, would, , in point of appearance, be in no way objectionable ; for while it is extremely simile and capable of being decorated, ft would, I think, have a better effect than such a disposition of the shelves in separate chambers, or in provers projecting from the wall., as necessarily conceals mere then half of the books from any tingle point of view. The warming. lighting and ventilation, and even the fire-proofing of mach a room , might be simply and economically effected. To be upon the fire proof principle I am afraid would come to more money; but I think that with proper arrangements in the original , construction, the fire-proofing would not add very materially to the expense. Ido not see any advantage in making the . building of iron, but I think the furniture might be made of iron, and the shelving might be made of iron with great ad i vantage. It would be more expensive in the first instance than wood, but it would soon repay itself by free d om from . had spent all his lite (sixty tour years) in Morpeth, had danger, sod there would w m o vi u n ld g be th n e o ms dan t ge or r o r fTre ir w . hrt y ttv il e a ;! °g iron . StoriT-eeenco.—A very respectable old man, who . lately occasion to visit a neigh oaring town. In detailing en his return the wonders he had seen, he mentioned, as a r remarkable fact, that he had actually seen several men - employed in sweeping the streets I This was something , perfectly novel.—Newcastle Journal.