The Express. — London, England, 1846-11-05 00:00:00

1 c ~i THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 5, 1846. But this was more easily overlooked, so long as the business of Administration could be carried on along the track of established routine; and while the chief attention of statesmen was devoted rather to party Politics than to the progressive demands of society, which, although growing daily, were at first but faintly heard in high places. This, however, is no longer the case. The business of Government has been mainly transferred, by imperative circum stances, from the contest of rival ambitions to the practical treatment of serious questions: on which the maintenance of social order, the healthy existence of the commonwealth, the very bases indeed of civil society, have a direct bearing. In such circum stances, when the paramount inquiry in every de partment of Administration is, What shall be done ? rather than, What political party shall hold office ? when the necessity of meeting face to face the diffi culties which have grown up, unheeded, under the old system, is startling all men, of all parties, out of their sleep, and compelling them to use a new language, and entertain, or at least profess, a concern for the fulfilment of duties hitherto neglected — in this state of things we can no longer afford to suffer ignorance or indolence to gain admission to any, even the smallest, division of the public service. For it is of little advantage to choose well the ruling heads, if the subordinate hands are unfit for the work. There must be industry and intelligence in the whole machine, to second properly the directions of the moving power; and to supply, indeed o the very means of its useful activity. This is so like a truism, that it might seem idle to insist upon it; were not our established practice, and the neglect which it shows of any care to secure the appointment of men properly qualified for public duties, a notorious proof that the conviction, if it exist, has no actual influence whatever upon our system. It cannot, therefore, be deemed superfluous to urge, that the integrity and skill of the work ing class of public servants, are conditions quite as necessary to good administration as are the same qualities in those who must direct them. The supreme head of an office must, in a great mea sure, use the eyes of those beneath him for the informa tion required to guide his plans ; and he must wholly rely on their hands to carry many of them out when matured. In the vast mass of details collected from the furthest ramifications of the system, transmitted upwards through different official stages, and subject, at each moment of the process, to be confused or cleared according to the capacities of those who have to forward it,—the influence of error, though not im mediately seen, can hardly fail to be infiuite. The ruling decision is exercised on a general re sult, derived from a composition of materials, which may be either vitiated, or truly presented, according to circumstances, by various hands at various points of the deduction, before they arrive at the final process; and it may depend upon the rec titude or faithfulness of a very inferior department, whether the Minister, on whom the business waits, at last shall proceed upon false assumptions or on well grounded truth. In the execution of his measures, again, how much of the success of everything new must be hazarded upon the diligence, willingness, and discretion of those who are to conduct the details of the operation ! The best arrangements may be made to fail, by the fault of those by whose means its trial must be made. To render any investigation fruitless, to defeat any practical improvement which has to be carried out by servants of the State, it is not necessary that it should be positively opposed. It may be as effectually thwarted by merely inert resistance ; still more fatally by flat stupidity, or a settled dependence on forms ; in those who are charged with its operation. In this latter respect it is, that our system of electing untrained men seems likely to be the most mis chievous. Having first to learn their business at the moment when they are called to undertake it, they are naturally led to grasp at the directions of routine; and relying cn this as their only rode-nierum,--and being too often, at the same time, wholly unfurnished with any other resources applicable to the business, or capable of enlarging their general aptitude,—they become, by the time they have grown to be masters of their work, so built up on the forms of office, and so wholly confined to their common-places, that it is all but impossible to tear• from them, afterwards, a single fraction of the stay on which they have been forced to lean. Deprived of it, they must become helpless, confused, and discontented ; and cannot be expected to prove cordial or efficient agents in a process which destroys the sole foundation of their skill, and renders it necessary for them, to their great trouble and dis comfort, to exert general powers of intelligence and dexterity, which they have never learned to cultivate. This description may not apply to all the officials whom chance or interest has provided with State employment. There are honourable exceptions, no doubt; men whom their own energies have rendered superior to the accidents of a defective system. The fullest admission of such exceptional merits, however, will not require us to deduct anything from the charge against the system itself. It is sufficient to show that its tendency is against the production of what is now required, and will every day be come more and more indispensable in all State employments. The necessities of public business ought not to be left to the chance of its finding, here and there, a grain of the right material, amongst the nines of less useful stuff which is now swept, with so little discrimination, into the doors of office. The wants of the day require the beet service ; the method by which we now choose and appoint the servants of the State, gives no security that they will even be tolerably good ones. Of the practical truth of this assertion, we think there will be no very general denial. It may, then, be inquired : if the system be defective, in what manner shall we amend it? What means can be devised for obtaining a better choice ? To this question we shall address ourselves : in the hope of offering on the subject some considera tions, at least, that may serve as materials for a further inquiry into a business of no little national importance. MOST persons will admit that, in our preceding articles, we•have described a great existing distinction between a Savings Bank and a Benefit Society: we say a great existing distinction, with stress upon each word. And, not doubting that this difference of con stitution is the cause of the difference of repute in which the two things are held, we suggest as a re medy that the government should take the Benefit Societies into its own hands. The government owes the poorer children of the state some acknowledgment for the general good temper with which they have borne that bitter pill, the new poor-law: like other children, they have a right to a lump of sugar after their physic, and, in all well-regulated families, the greater the necessity of the dose, the better the right to the gratification. All can see how fast the time is approaching when the poor man will be the child of state in good earnest: he is so, compared with what he was; he will be so, compared with what he is. The time must come when the legislature will look on his struggle to avoid the workhouse (that is, on his whole life) with an interest beyond that which examines witnesses, fills blue books, and engrosses directoryacts of parliament ; with an interest which lends active help, on no other condition than submission to as mach of regulation as will make help effectual. Why should not that time come at once ? The sooner it arrives, the less and the fewer will be the difficulties. Oh ! then, there are difficulties, are there ? " I see a difficulty," says the wise man, and away he walks— without adding (indeed there is no occasion) " and my heart is not in the matter." There are impedi ments to be got over ; these require consideration ; and we do not bind ourselves to suggest the best plan of getting over them. There is a little time, though the case is somewhat urgent. We are not of those journalists who seem to think that they will drive the Home Secretary to go without dinner at night, that he may work out their suggestion of the morning. The preliminary difficulty is not in the collection, or rather reception, of the payments—the Savings Banks will do that for the merest trifle towards their expenses of management: and how many such trifles go towards these expenses in the Benefit Societies as the matter now stands! It is not in the dis bursement of the benefits due—which again the savings banks can do for a very small per cent age ; one more trifle. It is not in the apportion ment of the rates of payment: ask Mr. FIN LAl sos. The preliminary difficulty is how to arrange with the existing societies. Some of these may be working on insufficient rates; though we think it most likely that, even where there is such insufficiency with the present expenses of management, the scale would be turned by the cheaper system which a large government measure would at once introduce. But this is of its own nature a difficulty for inquiry, not a difficulty for discussion. First make good rates; then call in by proclamation reports of the affairs of the societies which will be willing to listen—mind, only to listen—to a government proposal : and then ex amine the states of those societies. It is impossible to say, until this is done, how much or how little the preliminary difficulty will amount to. These are the questions which may arise : Shall this society, or rather its existing members, be allowed to continue at their old rates? Shall the accumulations, which they can bring to the common fund, be held sufficient? If not, shall admit tance to the government scheme be conditional upon a further subscription ? or shall the plan include an indemnity for all past errors ? These questions, and others which may arise, are questions of amount ; and opinion upon the proper answers will be regulated by the notions which may be formed of the general principles of our scheme: that is, if the amount, when determined, should turn out to be large. For these principles we refer to our next and concluding article. In the meanwhile we desire it may be remembered that what we ask, in the name of the poor, at the hand of the executive, is guidance and co-operation, not charity. If the ministerial press of Paris be a true interpreter of the feelings and designs of the Cabinet and the Court, neither the one nor the other can fairly be charged with pursuing a furtive course. These journals are, from day to day, in alternate strophes, each in its own key, and according to its peculiar taste, chanting one accordant song of minis terial congratulation and national triumph. The praises of M. Guizot are eel( brated for the accom plishment of the most magnificent political measure which has been effected under the dynasty of the Barricades. He has,—not married the youngest son of Louis Philippe to the sister of the Queen regnant, —not obtained for the wealthiest family in Europe, the richest dower in the world to augment the heap of their uncounted treasures,—no, these are not the things now praised. What he is lauded for is,—that he has resisted English dictation; that he has banished British influence from Spain ; that he has established in the Peninsula the sway of its nearest neighbour, its natural ally, and best friend ; that ho has, with rare courage and firmness, broken the entente cordiale, and released France from an alliance which brought her only shame and dishonour ; that he has rendered it impossible that a connexion so mischievous can ever be re-established ; that he has prepared her for combinations with her natural allies, the despotic courts of the North and the East. It is true that these (*nits have not vet proffered to her the hand of friendship. But no matter, says these jour nals, France has only to wait, tranquil in her dignity. Time, and the force of things, will bring these alliances to her. Then, allied with the autocrat of the Neva on this side of the Atlantic, and the democrats of the Potomac on that, France will wield a power which will keep in subjection the common enemy of mankind—England! Such is at present the theme of journalists, the breath of whose nostrils is drawn from the secret funds dis pensed ut the nod of the lute august guest of Windsor and the royal host of Eu! No one surely can say that there is any unworthy concealment in designs thus declared. • _ . _. . _ _ ------- Meanwhile, the royal pair which form the link of connexion between the nations on either side of the Pyrenees are approaching Paris, surrounded with the usual exhibition of theatrical triumphs. The drama got up at Bayonne has been already described in the journals of London. The episode of the British consul at that city has been given with different versions. The Consfitationnel of Tuesday has it as follows: " Letters from Bayonne were generally circulated on Mon day in the city and at the Bourse, to the effect that on the occasion of the file there, the consuls of the foreign powers had hung ouftheir respective flags at the consulates, as is cus tomary on days of rejoicing; but that the English consul formed a sole exception. Having been requested by the sous-prefet to follow the example of his colleagues, the British agent replied that be obeyed the instructions of his government, and could receive no directions from the civil authorities. Thereupon arose a sharp altercation, ending with a menace that the British consul would repent his re fusal. An opportunity for retort was not slow to present itself. The next day (Tuesday), a regatta was held upon the Adour, in honour of the Royil pair. In the arrangement of the boats carrying the flags of different nations, things were so managed that the last place was assigned to the English flag. This was received as an insult by the consul, who, it is said, immediately demanded his passport." The Bayonne journals do not hint at this incident. The free-trade agitation progresses. A meeting was held on Saturday, in Paris, for the organisation of the central association, at which M. Anegnon l)uperron gave a sketch of the object and spirit of the association, evidently with a view to allay the alarm of the monopolists, and to win over the support of the timid. " Free-trade," he said, " was the object of the association, but it did not seek to attain this end by any means which would shock or injure existing interests. Improvement would be effected by degrees, by successive modifications of the tariff ; due regard being paid to the wants of the state and political exigencies. Our object (said he) is freedom ; but, in arriving at it, we will use all reasonable care, we will march to it step by step. There is one thing, however, which we will immediately claim : it is the abolition of pro. hibition. This barbarous term must disappear from our tariffs as confiscation has disappeared from our criminal code. Prohibition is the death, competi tion the life, of human intelligence and activity. But, in desiring competition, we desire the means of sustaining it. We must have the elements of production on as good terms as our competitors. We must have the raw matenal, and, above ail, iron and coal, at the lowest possible price. The principle of free trade is founded in truth ; we maintain it, and will continue to maintain it, but we will only ask the prudent and progressive application of it." The Duke d'Hareourt was elected president of the society. MM. Kceehlin and Bossom, manufacturers; Ortolan, professor of law and member of the Council- General of Commerce ; Le Clere, and others, were elected to the council. M. d'Eichthal, regent of the Bank of France and Deputy of La Sarthe, was elected treasurer. Admiral Duperre has just died at Paris. Lord Brougham, who has arrived at Meurice's Hotel from his chateau at Cannes, had an interview with M. Guizot at the Hotel des Affaires Etrangeres, on the subject of the claims of the Spanish bond holders. The French government is about to establish a new professorship of Le Mecaniquc celeste for M. Le Ver rier, whose mathematical calculations led to the dis covery of the new planet. The combination of the London morning papers against the Daily News is exciting the attention of foreign journals. The details of the conspiracy appmed in La Presse of Monday. The provisional government of Geneva tendered its resignation to the Grand Council on the 28th October, in case the latter should disapprove of its measures. The Council declined accepting the resignation, and passed, almost unanimously, a resolution to the follow ing effect : ' Considering the decree of the Council-General of Molar& the Grand Council does not accept the resignation of the members of the provisional government, otters them its thanks for the services they have already rendered to the country, and requests them to continue their office. Letters from Basle of the 31st ult. state that the Council had adopted on the 30th, by a large majority, the proposition to revise the constitution. A com mittee of 15 members was appointed for the purpose, the majority of whom were decidedly in favour of reform. _ _ --- The city continued perfectly tranquil. The lesser council had assembled on the 28th, and had resolved not to take any military measures, but to leave to the citizens the care of maintaining tranquillity. The Madrid mails of the 29th ult. arrived at Paris on the afternoon of Tuesday. A Royal decree had been published prescribing rules for the punctual execution of the amnesty. A letter from St Jag°, of the 21st ult, announced that the troops in that city had marched in the direction of the frontiers of Portugal. The Captain-General gave a magnificent banquet at Barcelona, in celebration of the marriage of the Queen. Among the toasts were" Louis Philippe, the pacificator of Europe." The Consul of France pro posed the health of " Her Majesty, Victoria, Queen of England ;" and the Captain - General , " lina Maria da Gloria, and God deliver her from her enemies." The reports of a change of ministry which had pre vailed proved to be without foundation. Tranquillity was established at Saragossa. News had arrived from Lisbon of the date of the 24th, which gave hopes of the submission of Oporto. Private correspondence, published by some of the journals, announce that Va lencia, Chaces, and Viana had sent in their sub mission. The funds sustained themselves, and it was expected that they would do so until decisive news should be received from Portugal. These mails are otherwise destitute of interest. FRANCE.—RECEPTION OF TIIE DCKE AND DUCHY-48 TIE MONTPENISIER AT PAC. — The M,nsorial of Pau gives a long account of the arrival of the Duke and Duchess de Montpensier at Pau in the afternoon of the 29th ult., at about four o'clock, passing through treble ranks of elegantly-dressed ladies stationed in the gardens on each side of the road into the town, and through a dense assem blage of the people, all betokening their satisfaction by loud acclamations. The streets were decorated with flags and draperies, the windows were filled with ladies, and the , cannon fired a salvo of twenty-one guns. In the middle of the Besse Plante was a triumphal arch, under which the Mayor received their Royal Highnesses, and delivered an address of welcome, to which the Prince replied as follows :—" It is always with deep emotion that I return to this fine town of Pau, the cradle of my family. The reception given me three years ago will never be effaced from my memory, and that which I this day receive adds to my feelings of gratitude. Assured of the sympathy of the gene rous population of Beare, I was impatient to introduce to them the descendant of Henry IV. She joicut me, sir, in thanking you for having associated her in • manner so affecting with the wishes you have been pleased to express for my happiness." The Duke wore the uniform of Major ' General, with the grand cordon of the order of the Golden Fleece, and the Duchess a dress of Lyons velvet, with a white , hat and feathers. Fine rich black hair with beautiful blue eyes give a great effect to her delicate features, and her coon tenance declares her descent from the house of Bourbon. Ilaving replied to the Mayor, the Duke with his bride entered a carriage prepared for them, and followed by others, in which were the numerous personages who attended them, proceeded at a foot pace to the Chfi ' tcau, where they were received by Colonel I'oque, the Commandant. The young ladies of Pau were first admitted to present the accustomed basket of flowers with an address, delivered by Mlle. Castemau, the daugh ter of the first deputy-mayor. As the Duchess was unable to reply in French, she made her acknowledgments by graciously saluting on the cheek Mlle. Castelnau. Their Royal Highnesses retired to their apartments to take a short repose, and then made their appearance in the grand saloon, where were assembled the Duke De cares, Grand Referendary of the Court of Peers, the Count de St Cricq, and the Marquis d'Angosse, Peers of France ; M. Laviclle, deputy, the Count de Gestas, and Lieut.-Gen. Baron Janin, who had the honour of being presented. On this occasion also the former suite of , their royal highnesses were present. Addresses were then presented by the First President of the Cour Royale and the President of the Tribunal of Commerce, to which the Duke gave suitable replies. Commandant Payoo presented the officers of the National Guards with , an address. M. Ricau, cure of St. Jacques, likewise congratulated the royal bride and bridegroom in the name of the clergy of the town, and the rector, in pre ' Renting to their Royal Highnesses the Academic Council and the Professors of the College, delivered a speech which brought from the Prince a reply couched in the most gracious terms, eulogising the university. , There is now exhibiting at the Mint of Paris a medal engraved by NI Borcl, and struck to commemorate the marriage of the Duke de Montpensier. On one side are the words, " A. N. Ph.-L. d'Orleares, due de Montpensier : Louise Ferdinande, infante d'Espagne ; " and on the other, surrounded by a wreath of laurel, " Manes a Madrid, le 10 Octobre, 1846." THE LATE M. OUVRARD.—We find the following curious account of the army contractor, M. ()untied, in the :—" The fame of Ouvrard was founded on his singular aptitude for realising millions; the eclat of the part that he performed was entirely produced by the talent that he dis hplayed in the mode of spending his money. There wits in im the complete financier, and—what is very rare—the financier in this case was also the homme d'esprat. Born in the middle class, he had the rare advantage of making his fortune at an age when it is well to be :ich, viz., at twenty. The revolution having broken out, he foresaw that the con flict of political discussion would cause the production and distribution of an immense number of books, pamphlets, and journals, and, by contracts cleverly made, he monopo lised all the paper that could be manufactured for two years at the paper-mills of Poitou and the Angoumois. His an ticipations were realised, and he gained three hundred thou sand francs by the first affair. He was then scarcely nine teen years old. The revolution, however, which struck the wealthy as well as the noble, checked his progress, and in order to escape the danger which menaced him, the young financier fled to the camps, and sought protection under the mouths of the cannon. As soon as the worst days of the revolution were over, he threw off his uniform and returned to Paris. It has been said, but by way of necrological rail lery, that Ouvrard was a grocer. He was no more a grocer, however, than by having, under the Directory, speculated largely in colonial produce, by which he realised a profit of three millions of francs in the year. At twenty-six years of age, Ouvrard was worth ten millions of francs. He was at that time tall, well-made, of a remarkably handsome face, and full of wit, imagination, and ardour. One day when Bonaparte, who had only just received the baptism of fame, was at Madame Tallien's, a numerous circle surrounded the young general, listening to his conversation, but suddenly the door opened, and M. Ouvrard entered. The circle al most instantly separated, leaving General Bonaparte alone, in vain attempting to find a listener; everybody crowded round the idol of the day. Onward little dreamed what a powerful and irreconcilable enemy he had thus created. home time afterwards Bonaparte, who was soliciting the command of the army of Italy, went one morning to Barran, at the Luxemburg. Ile was told that he was engaged, and was obliged to wait two hours, burning with anger and impatience. At length he heard a loud laugh, and the door of the director's room opening be saw him come out with his visitor—this visitor was Ouvrard. When Berms had taken leave of Ouvrard in the most friendly manner, he turned round to Bonaparte and said, ' You were there then ?' Bonaparte replied, that he had been there for two hours. diable,' said Barns, you have shown great patience ; I did not know you possessed that virtue, which, however, is a very useful one for any man who hopes to make his way. You will rise, mon cher.' ' I hope so,' replied Bonaparte. Barran then added, ' But if you have waited two hours, you owe it to Ouvrard. There is no leaving him when you have once listened to him. What a delicious cam:cur he is! what talent ! What anecdotes he tells! He knows all the secret history and adventures of our pretty women ; they hide nothing from him, which is not surprising, fur he is young and rich, and thus has the key to every heart. But this is not his sole merit. If he shines in frivolous things, he excels in serious ones. I know of no friend so precious for a Government that wants money; with him I am never at a loss ; he is able to create resources under all circumstances, and can find veins of gold in the moat sterile ground.' These eulogiums from the lips of Barrio were not of a nature to remove the aversion which Bonaparte already felt for Ouvrard. As soon as he had be come first consul, the persecutions of the financier com menced. Ouvrard, however, had protectors and powerful friends. He had lent fifty thousand, francs to Bernadotte on his marriage with Mademoiselle Clary, the daughter of a merchant at Marseilles, and had rendered numerous services to Madame de Beauharnais, before and after marriage with Bonaparte. All the heads of finance were attached to him by interest or gratitude, and his cause was warmly pleaded with the Consul, who made the following reply to Collet, who was the organ of Ouvrard's partisans When a man has thirty millions and does not care for them, he is too dangerous for me in my position.' Ouvrard was arrested ; seals were put upon his papers, which six counsellors were ordered to examine, and the hatred of the Consul received fresh food from the discovery of several letters written to the financier by Madame Beauharnais and Madame Bona parte. These letters were urgent applications for money, and Ouvrard had become a creditor of the property which Bonaparte had with his wife. These things are not easily pardoned. When the First Consul became Emperor, the persecutions against Ouvrard recommenced. Ouvrard strag gled valiantly. The edifice of his fortune resisted the most violent attacks and rose upon its ruins. The financier made the most splendid use of his opulence; he displayed the greatest luxury, and received the most brilliant society at his hotel in Paris, and at his magnificent chateau at Rainey, formerly the property of the Orleans family. In the country, he used to say with a laugh, ' I have three ministers of state for porters.' The fact was, that Talleyrand, Berthier, and Decree each occupied one of the elegant pavilions which formed, as it were, the lodges of the park of Rainey. Dis contented with the imperial government, Ouvrard went to Spain, where his talents as a financier were so well appre ciated, that King Charles IV. did not disdain to enter into a partnership with him for a trade with America. But the hatred of Napoleon and his ministers pursued him beyond the Pyrenees. Ouvrard was compelled to dissolve his part nenhipwith the King of Spain and to return to Paris, where he had not been long before he became the victim of fresh chicanery, and was imprisoned in the chateau of Vincennes. He never recovered from these last blows; the restoration, however, lent him a hand, by appointing him mnnitionnaire general of the army of Spain, commanded by the Duc d'An gouleme. Onward had still a good number of millions, but his debts were considerable, and nothing could induce him to part with his property to pay them, which would have left him, perhaps, with only five or six hundred thousand francs a-year. He preferred to this honest mediocrity a factitious and stormy opulence. His system consisted in paying no body. He sold all his estates and turned them into money. Lawsuits and judgments did not terrify him ; at last, how ever, he was arrested, and shut up at Sainte Peie for a debt of five millions, due to N. Seguin, another millionnaire, as great an original at tirmself. Ouvrard passed five years in prison ; this was a million a-year that he gained, for at the end of the five years fixed by the law. his debt was paid . by his incarceration, and his creditor gained nothing. After the episode of this captivity, Ouvrard fell into complete obscurity and his death became necessary in order that he might be again talked of." THE INUSDATIONS.—A letter from Roanne, in the Gazette des Tribunaux saTs .—" Upwards of 200 individuals have been arrested for taking away articles carried down by the Loire. A peasant of good property hlO/ been lodged in prison for having seized on several casks of wine. Other persons, living along the banks, seized on beds, furniture, trunks, &c. The prison of Roanne is so full that a grea t , n umber of the occunanta have been sent off to Charlie°. ' The Journal du Loire( states that the disaster which has just occurred to the valley of the Loire had been previously an nounced to the authorities as imminent, and that they were called on to guard against it. The Council-General of the Loiret had strongly supported these representations, but the central authority had refused to listen to the protests sent in. The above journal also declares that matters went so far that I the commune of Sandillon had formally signified to the Pre fect of the Loiret, that it should hold the government respon sible for any damage that might ensue. PRICE Or BREAD IN PARIS.—The Presse says: " The last tariff of bread was made upon the official declara tions of the flour brokers, sent lu some days previously. The price, however, is under the really current price of flour and wheat, and the Paris bakers therefore sustain a loss. In order to prove this, it is only necessary to state that the average is now 51fr. 24c., which is 2fr. above that on which the price of bread for the first fortnight of November has been fixed at 43 centimes the kilogramme. It is probable that a rise of several centimes will take place for the 15th inst., unless there should ba in the meantime a sudden fad in the price of wheat." Silvio Pellico, whose name is so well known in Europe by the account of his sufferings, is now on a visit to 11. de Lamurtine, at his chateau in Burgundy. ITALY.—hour:, OCT. 20th.—The Romans still entertain hopes that on the Bth November, the day fixed upon by the lope to take formal possession of St. Jean de Liman, an ordonnance will be promulgated containing the proposed refi,rms in the papal administration. Unhappily, the retrograde party offer great resistance to reform, but the people place implicit confidence in the Pope and the govern ment of Cardinal Gizzi. His holiness has appointed a rail way committee. All the beggars which infest Rome are to be put in asylums, and provided for. NAPLES.—The Gazette qf the Two Sieilies contains the treaty of commerce concluded between Austria and Naples on the 4th of July, and ratified on the 3rd of Octo ber. 'inc commerce of the two nations is placed on an equal footing. It appears by the List accounts from Palermo, that the rumours of diststers in Sicily from floods were grossly exaggerated. Several houses at Mellazzo and Mar sole were, however, washed away, and nine persons lest their live-. GERMANY.— Curiosity is excited, says the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, to know how the Russian government will act in the affair of the Spanish martinet. The French journals are of opinion that the Russian cabinet approves of the line of policy followed by Louis Philippe and the 11ontpentier marriage; it is not, however, likely that Russia has made so sudden a change in its policy. As yet Russia has refused its approbation, and for sixteen years has, by its silence, condemned the accession of the Orleans dynasty. How then could it suddenly stand up in defence of the dynasty and the policy of the house of Orleans? Russia will always be jealous of the aggrandisement of France, if it were only on account of the sympathy felt in France for Poland. Should such a combination take place, Austria and Prussia might rejoice at the occasion fur deliver ing Poland from the Russian yoke, and of forming I'oland into an intermediate state between Hussies and civilised Europe. In such case, Poland would willingly resign the territories belonging to Austria and Prussia, which formerly belonged to Hungary and Silesia. England would side with Germany. All this is self-evident, and the dangers of a European war inevitable. It is not, therefore, likely that France and Russia will form an alliance on the subject of the Spanish marriage. THE ARCHUCKE PALATINE.—It is stated in a letter from Pesth of the 24th ult., that the health of the Archduke l'alatine of Hungary had improved so much that no more bulletins would be issued. The Nuremberg Correspondent of the 29th ult. mentions a report that the Uovernment of Mecklenburg intends to form part of the German Customs' Union. EXPLOSIVE INVENTIONS.—A letter from Vienna states that Dr. Heller, of that city, has prepared tow in the same way as has been lately done for cotton, and that its explosive force is far more considerable. SCIILESWIG-HOLSTETN, OCT. 28.—1 n the bitting of the 28th inst. the Duke of Augustenburg made a propo• sition for a new constitution. A committee was appointed to take the proposition into consideration, by 39 votes against 2. A committee was accordingly formed, consisting of the Duke, Count Reventlow, of Jersbeck, Dr. Gulich, Privy Councillor Falek, and the Advocate Riinnenkamp. Privy Councillor Dullard' then proposed a separation of the administration of the duchies, as regarded the army and the finance, from that of Denmark. A committee was ap pointed to take this second proposition into consideration, II 32 votes against 8. The 8 dissenting votes were, MM. Jensen and Nielsen, of Flensburg ; Jepson and Lorenzen, of Lillholt ; Pewit, Flack, Staten' Councillors Rumohr, and Weber, of Rosencranz. The discussion on the question of joiaiva tho G..rman Confederation was to come on in the next sitting. The King of Denmark has issued a royal letter patent to Schleswig and Holstein, dated 19th Oct., ordering the election of new deputies to the assembly of states of the respective duchies, as the six years, for which period deputies are elected, expire on the 31st Dec. of the present year. THE NETHERLANDS.—THE HAGUE, Nov. I. The first chamber of the States General had a sitting yester day, in which it gave its assent to the address in reply to the screech from the throne, adopted by the second chamber. 1. his address will be presented to the king to day by a depu tation of members of the two chambers. The first chamber likewise adopted the project of law for proroguing the law of the 18th of Dec., 184.1, for the importation of provisions. The section of the second chamber of the States General are engaged in examining the project of law for the employment of the surplus of the colonial funds. Nov. 2.—ln the of the second chamber of the States General on Saturday last, Mr. De Mann made his report, in the name of the committee appointed to present to the king the address in answer to his Majesty's speech. The report stated that the committee had been received by the king in the usual manner. After hearing the address read, his Majesty answered: " I wish, with your high mighti nesacs, that this present session of the States-General may contribute effectually to the real welfare of the country. His Majesty has just made the following appointments in the diplomatic body of the Netherlands. By a decree of the 31st October, the king has appointed his Excellency Count G. Schimmelpenninck his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, in the room of Baron S. Dedel, deceased. By a decree of 28th October, Baron N.W. Mollerus,latcly Charg d'Affaires of the Netherlands to the court of Portugal, is appointed Resident Minister at the Ottoman Court, as successor to Mr. Testa, who has obtained his honourable discharge, with a pension and his Majesty's thanks for his long and faithful services. OCT: 30.—The herring fishery on the English coast appears to take a favourable turn. Yesterday a vessel arrived at Kattoyk with a cargo of 113,000 herrings, and the day before yesterday another arrived ct Nordwyk, and since our last accounts three vessels have arrived at Scheveningen, one laden with 41,000, the second with 71,000, and the third with 52,000 herrings. The half of the property of the Hande/sb/ad teas lately sold at Amsterdam for 250,000 florins. A Dutch jowl's.' having affirmed that the purchase had been made on Belgian account, M L. Keyser, one of the purchasers, has formally protested against this assertion ; he declares it to be false and malicious, and intended solely to excite doubts respecting the national spirit which has always character. ised the Ilandelsbled. Mr. Keyser declares besides, that no foreigner can have, or ever shall have, the least influence over that paper, so long as it retaics its present directors. In the sitting of the second chamber of the States General on Saturday, a report was received from his Excel lency the Minister of Finance to the King, respecting the employment of the revenue for the year 1844, together with tke receipts and expenditure for the years 1843 and 1844. This report was given in compliance with Article XXVI. of the fundamental law. It was ordered to be printed and distributed among the members. It is immediately to be laid before a special committee to make a report upon it. THE CAUCASUS.—On the 26th of September last, the Russian Commander-in-Chief arrived at the camp of Fontanga, and inspected the newly erected fortifications there. Owing to the activity of the men under the orders of General Labinhoff, the works are nearly completed. The troops under his command amount to 7,000 men. Although Schamyl vowed destruction on the fort, he had not made his appearance, and not a shot had been fired since the 18th of September. The Nekochanges had refused to join Schamyl. On the 30th of August, Soliman Effendi, a priest of high repute, and a friend of Schamyl's, passed over to the Russian side with all his family. Last year he was Sehamyl's prin cipal agent oa the other aide of the Cuba:. On the 15th of September, a skirmish took place at about six wersts from Alschoi ; the garrison of Ofen were attacked whilst cutting forage, but the mountaineers were repulsed with lose. In Southern Daghestan, Lieutenant-General Prince Argutiacki is following up his operations, and keeps the enemy in check. He has had different skirmishes with the enemy. The only event worth mentioning in the other dis tricts is the attack made by the N.iib Duba on the detach ment of Colonel Drisch. The mountaineers fought gallantly, and bad one piece of artillery, but they were driven back with the loss of their gun and five killed. On the Russian side two were killed and twelve wounded. The plain of Kumok is commanded by the fortresses erected on the Jarik, and a reserved body of cavalry is stationed there. . COLONIAL. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—We have received files of the South African Commercial Advertiser to the 29th August, but they add nothing to the intelligence from the frontier concerning the operations against the Kaffir', beyond the following details from the Graham's Town Jour nal, of August 22 Poet arrived from Kaffirland this evening, viii Fish River mouth, brings the intelli gence of the lose of fourteen of our men, killed by the Kaffirs. The particulars of this affair show that our men cannot be too wary , of the crafty enemy, and that, though he has retired and will not face our troops, yet he is watching with the malignant eye of the panther, their every move ment, and will take every opportunity which may present itself stealthily to spring upon any who may unguardedly place themselves within his reach. The details of this un fortunate catastrophe are given in the following communion- Lion :—Col. Johnstone and Sir Andreas Stockenstrom have gone on with near 3,000 men, with twenty waggons of provi sions • they go on until they come up with the Ka ffi r cattle. I am a fraid they will do but little, u they have no mounted force. Col. Johnstone is, I think, about the best officer we have in the field, so that if they have an opportunity of doing anything, they will try their best. A few days ago twenty-one waggon drivers left the general's camp, to go in search of Kaffir corn ; but when they had got about eight miles off, seven of them returned, thinking that it was not prudent for them to go any further from the camp. All the Hottentots persisted, and went on until they found that they were surrounded by a large body of Kaffir'. Only one of the party escaped, the thirteen were all butchered. About two weeks ago the Kaffirs killed three poor Hottentot lads, who went out after some goats ; their bodies were found, and were buried at the camp. It appears that since that time the Kadin have taken the bodies out of the graves, first mutilated them, and then carried them to the Buffalo river, and hung them on a tree at the drift, through which the troops had to pass. Cabala and Macomo have again sent in for peace, but their messengers were not allowed to enter the camp ; and were driven off. It is supposed that when Col. John stone returns from the Kei the Governor will recommence operations. This will probably be in October.—From an other quarter we lave the following: Capt. Hogg, 7th Dragoon Guards, arrived with express from Col. Hare, to the effect that Macomo had sent in to ask for peace, stating that many had been killed on both aides; that the ploughing season was fast passing away; and they wished the troops to return home, that he might return also to his place near Fort Beaufort. The General is as firm as a rock, and re turned for answer, that he could not take his word, as he had already forfeited his oath. Nothing can equal the firmness and decision of the General towards the Kaffirs ; while to all in camp his kind and unassuming attention makes him a general favourite. He always lends a patient ear to our little grievances and complaints, while he bears an equal share of the privations and hardships all have to endure. He metes out that just treatment to the Kaffirs they have so long merited. Women are constantly coming into camp, some with the excuse of begging food, others to ask for peace. To the former request they are referred to ask food of their husbands ; to the latter, that the general does not treat with women on such matters. They complain of the Fingoes depriving them of their trinkets, but are informed that if they fear the Fingoes, they ought to get at a greater distance from them. They are always remarkably ignorant; do not know where their husbands or cattle are—have not seen them for a month ; but all agree that Tola's and Eno's people are still in the Fish River Bush. Umhala has sent in several messages, to the effect that he is still ' sitting still,' but was informed that if really anxious for peace he must come into camp him self. This will not do. The general opinion here is, that the Katfirs will be driven over the Kei, but nothing has fallen from the General to warrant this assertion. The Kaffirs at first showed in great force at Murray's Rock. We went out and tired a few cannon shot at them; they returned the fire, but as it was late we returned to camp. The next morning when we returned they had decamped. One of the camp followers, a Kaffir of Umkey's tribe, a most faithful creature, under a promise of cattle, set off with a few letters to Colonel Johnstone in tho mountains, but the poor fellow has never since been heard of. A moat awful ease has again occurred: Fifteen waggondrivers went out to-day to seek for plunder on their own account; one only, a man named Sam, a Fingoe of MeLucas's, has returned to tell the tale. They were surrounded by some 300 Kaffirs, he only made his escape. These men were drivers of Commissariat waggons. Several introls have been out, but only the body of one man has yet been found. Stockeustrom is at the Kabuzi, Dohne's Station, with his division. Col. Johnstore, with part of our division is to join him to-morrow, and proceed to Kreili'a country for cattle. The General remains here (Fort Beresford)withthe infantry to patrol the mountains. Colonel Somerset, you are aware, I suppose, has returned with his corps to Fort Peddle. This is a judicious movement, ashis horses are too poor for active service; 60 have already beea shot. Thursday. Commandant Onkruydt arrived in Gra ham's Town to-day from the Fish River mouth,where a party of his burgher force have been stationed, and gives a most encouraging account of the lively appearance of affairs at Waterloo Bay, and the facility with which goods are landed there. Four vessels were in the port or roadstead, the whole presenting a scene of cheerful, active, commercial industry. Immense quantities of supplies of all kinds were on the beach, and there is now, it is said, no fear of any want being felt by the troops in the ficed for at least several months to tome. Some losses of cattle are, however, re ported in the immediate neighbourhood of the camp. Four or five spans of oxen, in the employ of the commissariat, have been adroitly carried off by Kettle mar uders, many of whom still lurk in the bushy ravines in that quarter. Let ters received in town from the camp to the 19th inst., represent the Kaffirs as having again made their ap pearance in the neighbourhood of the Ohemie in some force. It is said that a patrol of one hundred Burghers found it necessary to retire before them, and that a Fingo patrol was nearly surrounded, and with some difficulty escaped being cut off. Capt. Sutton with the Kat River Legion had been directed to move upon this quarter, and was ex pected to be there yesterday, and if so, there can be eo doubt, should the enemy remain, hut he will give a good amount of I him Accounts from Fort Peddle state, that the chief stock hail sent in to say it was his intention to deliver him self up to the British authorities. Ho was expected tither at Colonel Somerset's camp, or at Capt. M•Lean'a quarters yesterday. Saturday.—Report came in, that on Thursday a patrol of the Stellenbosch burghers, under Capt. Hugo, and who commands the post et Manley's Flat, had fallen in with a small party of Kaffirs in the Fish River Bush. Five of the marauders were seen and tired on, and two are supposed to have been wounded. The whole, however, succeeded in escaping into the bush, leaving behind them twenty-eight head of cattle, some assegais, several pairs of ladies' shoes, a lady's dress, karosses, and other trifling articles. Received also a report that two or three spans of oxen had been captured by Kettles on Quagga Flat, and it is said two persons, who were in charge of them, wounded. Mr. W. Stubbs, with the Sporting Club, returned about noon to-day, after a most suceetsful pursuit of the marauders, who swept off, on Thursday evening, Mr. Pankhurst's cattle from the Graham's Town flats. It will be seen that this party started from town early on Friday morning, and got on the spoor near the old road over Botha's-hill. Thence they took the direction through the Fish River Bush towards Koester's Drift, and thence to the Kings (Lemon Kraal) on the Fiah River, where, after eight hours' incessant I riding, they first sighted the cattle in the valley below them, at the edge of the bush. Screening themselves by the bush, the party with great judgment contrived to wind their way down the height, towards the point where the cattle were obeerved, and having reached a convenient distance, they left their horses in charge of a few men, while the rest en tered the bush, and soon got a glimpse of four Kettles stand ing quite unconscious of danger around a fire, and another a little distance from them. Approaching these marauders until within about ninety yards, they gave them a volley, and the whole fell forward over the tire, every one supposed to be wounded. They however sprung upon their feet and tied, but two of them were seen to be severely hit in their flight, and again fell, hut eventually recovered themselves, and escaped into the hush, where the party were too jaded to follow them. The marauders left everything behind them ; 18 assegais, karosses, knapsacks, veldt-shoes, tinder boxes, &c., falling into the hands of the pursuers. The assegais were brought away, but the other articles were burnt. A beast had been killed, and part of it eaten, the rest the pursuers destroyed. They also recaptured 13 head of cattle, a horse, and two foals. A party of mounted men is again ordered daily to petrol the Haut around Graham's Town for the protection of the cattle still kept upon the commonage. AUSTRALIA.—Accounts received by way of Singapore from the scene of operation in the Mur ray district, Western Australia, report, that coal has at length been discovered in the colony. The follow ing is from a supplement of the Swan Riser News: ' SWAN RIVEIL—We delay the publication of our journal on account of dispatches just received, of such im mense importance, as to demand the instant publication of an extra sheet. By the streneus exertions of F. C. Sin gleton, Esq., M.C., our advices had been expressed to the Overland Mail, but by some accident the Marseilles dispatch was mimed • but, nothing daunted, our correspondeut hur ried it forward, after the Southampton Mail, in company with a packet of supplements extra of the Inquirer, which we were requested to distribute. We leave these truly startling documents to speak for themselves : DISCOVERY OF A STRATUM OF COAL !—Mr. Samuel Moore, in a letter to the editor of the Inquirer, dated July 30th, states that a drain running N.N.E., 100 yards long and about four feet deep, having been cut in a clay plain, on the lands of Mr. Beacham, thirty-five miles south of Freemantle, and within a short distance of the Murray river, a stratum was discovered about three feet from the surface, of clay, Si milar to the shale of Lancashire, running nearly horizor.tally along both sides of the drain, and containing shining sub stances like fractured coal embedded in it, which, when burnt, produced gas and flame. On digging some yards east and west, the stratum was again met with, dipping to the west about two inches in the yard. On the east side, a depth of fourteen feet and a half was reached, and the following strata passed through :-1. A yellow sandy clay. 2. Yellow clay containing reddish spots. 3. Shale clay containing black shining substances resembling coal. 4. Brown clay. .5. Azure blue clay, about six inches thick, con taining veins of a black substance, in which the marks of large leaves were discernable. 6. Blue clay, rather lighter than the last, and three fret thick. 7. Dark brown clay, forty-six inches thick. 8. Hard sand, two feet and a half thick. And 9- strong adhesive clay. Here the operations were stopped by the accumulation of the rain in the small shaft that has been sunk, but samples of the various strata were submitted to Mr. Birch (a chemist from Staffordshire), who at once pronounced them to be coal Mr. F. C. Singleton accompanied Mr. Moore in his expe dition of discovery, and gives a similar report. Both gentlemen have sent, for the Swan River news, full particulars of their impressions on the subject; and Mr. Moore informs us that he intends to send down a boring in strument forthwith to the field of operations. DISCOVERY OF A Naw PORT.—DI Mangles Bay, at the south extremity of Cockburn Sound, and at a distance of three miles N. by E. from Peel's Harbour, a depth of water has been found of five and six fathoms, at 100 yards from the sandy beach, and ten to eleven fathoms at a cable's length further out, " On a bottom," says Mr. Roe, the surveyor ! general, "of the best possible holding ground, con sisting of soft clay ; " the frontage of the splendid anchorage is the proposed town site of - Rockingham, and the country around being of a level character as far as the forests, Mr. Roe suggests that railways could be easily made to bring down the timber and shift it into the ship, which would be in perfect shelter with her bow or stern warped • close to the shore. This port is to be named after the ex-colonial minister and to be called " Port Glad stone." The Surveyor-General was engaged in making the chart of this port, which is so well calculated to supply ' tho want so long felt, of good and secure anchorages on the Mr. Singleton writes to us on chi, subje ct , 04 " It remains now for me to say a few word s con Gladstone—a discovery which cannot be ore °ZI t v ic i f i li l esson h ugn4 h yenle e wsill r n; r tcceh°4l' w :t a ttha p °' erit:tturruheetieP°l irruption " the ea--..nitfn os i olby t ni o tore n tif it to say, that the largest steamer afloat, could m ist , a jetty of a few yards long, and take in h er „ co jetty. ' STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH %slut Are. ethali th se e yhr i e h tenlice n i f l4l .. l47l : " - cli;" Mr. Singleton had been deputed by the Colonur s ,,, to make arrangements with the Penimulae 1 ,7 Steam Navigation Company for the extension of route to Western Australia, and bad bee n d uputi tunatel Champion, colonial schooner, to Shigy he was also en a bl e d to carry up oft o , i i different indications of coal, which were i n,c. agent of the Company, and will he f orwarded in steamer to the Board of Directors in London ssf, invited to inspectit. This is a remarkable opport cideace—the discovery of the oval . simuya sseuutly commencement of these negoeutt io ns — just as , splendid port is discovered—and when all ha e l, port charges have been aboli s h e d . Thereis eves,„ i now of the fortune of the colony bein g sealed! sj ton was armed with full powers and ample proein, fecting this important arrangement. bt salt . ' WINDSOR, WEDNESDAT.--lier Majeatr Albert took their usual morning vralk. isti u I accompanied by the Duke of Bedford, the Earl Spencer, the Right Hon. C. Wood and Capt. the Hon. Alexander Gordon, Equerry i o w joyed the sport of shooting. The Royal family accustomed exercise this mor n i ng . H er Ittli the Princess Helena was taken an airing to-day, Mr. and Lady Mary Wood left the C ast l e , Her Majesty and Prince Albert rode afternoon in a pony carriage and pair, the prig In a second carriage were the Duchess of Bedford chionesa of Exeter, the Countess Spencer, and man. The Equerries in Waiting to her !la' Royal Highni WI attended on horseback. The Royal dinner party at the Castle ti l l will include the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, th and Marchioness of Exeter, and the Earl mat I Spencer. The band of the Scots Fusilier fitia during dinner. Her Majesty's private band attend in the Castle. tier ltoyal Highness the Duchess of C arrived at Gloucester House, on Tuesday, from A deputation from the London 31issianar consisting of Mr. Sheriff Cha Mr. Cooo, Morison, Rev. John Burnet, and the Iter. (secretary), had an interview with Viscount Pal the Foreign-office yesterday. The Earl of Auckland gave a dinner to th Ministers yesterday . evening, at his residence in ralty. The Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in t afternoon from his seat, Bowood-park, Wilts, and colleagues. The Lord Chancellor, Lord John Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Noe Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Lord Campbell, Viscount Morpeth, the Earl of and the Marquis of Clenricarde, were also peewit The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrivo yesteriay from Windsor Castle. Mr. Kcr Hamilton had an interview Grey at the Colonial Office 7est*rday. 'lhe Right lion. E. Strutt had an inter the Earl of Clarendon yesterday at the office of Trade. A deputation from the Directors of the Staines. and South Western Railway Comm, hi view with Viscount Morpeth on Tuesday, ai th , the Woods and Forests in Whitehall-place. The consisted of Colonel Reid, M.P., Mr. Lam, Mr.& Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Home, and Mr. Drake. A deputation consisting of Captain Bad man of the Windsor railway; Mr. C. Ruswll, C the Great Western railway; Messrs. Fowler, Bari and Hamill, of Windsor ; and Mr. Saunders, seen Great Western railway, had an interview Witt Morpeth ,yesterday at the office of the Woods and The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for EN a general meeting yesterday. There were preiem bishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, Me Ely, Lord John Russell, the Judge of the I Court, and the Right Hon. H. Goulburn. Sir John and Lady Shelley arrived at 1 Hotel, Upper Belgrave-street, yesterday, from DEATH OF LADY MANNERS.—The dema Manners took place at the seat of her son, Lod Fornharn Hall, near Bury St. Edmund., en Ma ing last. Her ladyship was born on tke 15 Au and was accordingly 67 years of age. Her so was Jane Butler ; she was sister to Richard, i Glengall, Viscount and Baron Caller, county of On the 28th of October, 1815, she was married Manners Sutton, Baron Manners, late Lord E cellor of Ireland, brother of the late Archbishop bury, and uncle of Viscount Canterbury, late Spt British House of Commons. The grandfather of Lord Manners was Lord George Manners, county Nottingham, third son of John, third dt land ; and of him the father of the present but Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was sixth son. COURT OF COMMON COUNCT. Yesterday a court was held for the de business and for the purpose of electing officers. THE LATE SIR R. SALE.—The LORD lIhTOI he had received the following letter from the sou Sir Robert Sale: Simla, 31a AN My Lord,—lt was with fee lings of the atm.' pride and that my lamented Luther looked forward to the arrival with the freedom of the City of London. That satislienca to him by the eventful battle of Moodkee. The ea, he Simla, and my mother has made it over Is me, to be etas heirloom, and to descend down in our Lundy a prowl of the esteem in which Sir Robert Sale was held be the I and Corporation of the City of Loution.—l bare Me boa main your lordship's most obedient and (meld *maw, I 9th Regiment and 2nd in command Glr.diOr noth His I , lllship also laid before the court a letter fro General Thackwell, late commanding the mule army of the Sutlej, acknowledging the receipt of the of the City voted to him by the Corporation. II( were ordered to be entered upon the journals. GRAND JVRIF.I3.—Mr. AN DERTON gave notice o that it be referred to a committee to inquire and re . Court the utility of grand juries within the jun the Central Criminal Court, and whether such j not be dispensed with, to the advantage of the without injustice to individuals committed by t upon charges for criminal offences. Mr. PRIOR brought up front the Coal, Corn. st Committee, reports recommending grants of WO! respectively, to the Society for Improving the the Labouring Classes, and to the Scripture Am elation. They were agreed to without divas Court then proceeded to the election of clerk and the coal market and housekeeper of the Old Bailey Farmer, a gentleman who has been clerk to I Pearsall, the late clerk and register, was elected office, and Mr. Hoard, an old member of the Cou moo C..uncil, wan elected to the second. THE LORD MAYOR'S FAREWELL TO THE C the close of the election, the LORI, MAToI fa Gentlemen, as this is the last court in my =yen ' this opportunity to bid you farewell. I cannot he ing my thanks to you for the distinguished kin which you have uniformly treated me; and I mu I have felt the highest satisfaction in performing of my office amongst you ; and I hope you have hi . eion to fi nd fault with me. (Loud cheer) len happiness. (Cheers.) Mr. WIRE said the Court reciprocated the which the Lord Mayor had uttered, and declare lordship had presided over them with ability, ant kindness. They wished him the long possessiot and happiness and prosperity. (Cheers.) The court then broke up. TOTAL REPEAL OP THE DUTIES ON COW meroua meeting, chiefly composed of the world was held last night at the South London Hall, I road, for the purpose of impressing on the gover necessity of immediately abolishing the duties c all other descriptions of human food: Mr. Step chair. Af.cr some brief observations by the cha meeting was addressed by C. Cochrane, Esq., w; detailed to the meeting the circumstances which on presenting the memorial on Tuesday last, to Russell, proceeded to say, that as the noble colleagues were made of squeezable materials, a wanted to get the ports open was a vigorous and agitation. (Cheers). He hoped, therefore, thai would be made throughout the country to have on corn and all descriptions of human food remote intended that meetings should be held for this j ' St. Pancras, in the Crows and Anchor Tavern, • lieved in Finsbury. It was said that the duty ws hibitory—that it was only 4s. , but of what use when the people had not the 4s. to pay ? (Cheer they not told to pray to God to avert the famine were they to believe in the sincerity of those who so, when, by their legislation, they made food des naturally would be ? (Cheers.) He had told Lord that a great deal of the present scarcity was owi corn speculators, who wished to make money by cry of famine. (Hear.) Some time ago there leaders in the Times newspaper, telling the pi there was a scarcity of corn in the country, and should put themselves on short allowance in time few days after there was another leader telling I there was no fear of famine—that there was an a of corn in the country_, and that there was no nee opening the ports. He read those contradictory a Lord J. Russell with indignation and disgust. (Re lordship might with perfect impunity relieve 0 from those money lovers by ordering the ports to b The order in Council enjoining a national prayer I fession of the alarming state of the country, and mode of meeting it was to admit food free from (Hear.)—Mr. Savage proposed, and Captain . Ha conded, a resolution expressive of the necessity and immediate abolition of the duties on food, at propriety of addressing a memorial to the Lee Treasury on the subject. —A Mr. Kidd proposed Loa to the resolution, to the effect that all lan capitalists possessed of 600/. a year and upward., on to surrender one-tenth of their income to fe , ' ,l ° their destitute fellow men—that the price i *: •