The Express. — London, England, 1850-03-02 00:00:00

- tut expreni. But the fact is, that Mr. Ilvme's motion, like all parliamsotary movements that do not immediately threaten to put ministers in a minority, is met by them with no very elaborate or coneiateet defence. a tn snatch up the first impose that are to their he first arguments that offer, and think any or pretext good «sough to fling at a trouble somth yet net a enacieg intruder. OUTGOING MAILS. Tb goads tee Were the Besid eßasch, aad Brass Apes, will 6, so k se ra the mare el 4. Ter wads kr Liles, Open, and Gibraltar will be made ep op March 7. us meth et.l llarrille„ to the Media/mesa, Rost. c q trie. lade Bong-Keag, *t., will be made up al the rein et Starch 7. The 101111 for British North Almeria aad the Baited Fates will be tea up sa the resins es Martell, The West lade Wale nestling Breath, Basere, same . no. dares. New Odessa, mod Mere, and Whale. 0 . 0 kir moans, St. Juaa-de-Niaaressa, New (heads, Chili. sail Vern:will be zeds up sa this 17th last. The emit for Gibraltar, Yalta, Gem, the balsa go C e yloa. sad Ches. se Illeseaaptea, ida : be eels up ea the asoestai et Kara S. 1110 M VAT= AT 101113011 MUM& TaN I...—VAnues, 4A. 4105.... Alimems, Ai. Is. wawa. SC Altassesa. We. LONDON, B.I7TRD4r, MARCH 2. Tns February misting. of railway companies are now over. Convenience as well as law fixes the half yearly meetings ter Maury and August in each year, unless special statutes otherwise appoint in the case. of particular companies. Fee 'else half-yearly accounts are made up to the 31st et December and the 30th of June respectively, and as the railway clearing house is generally a Math. at least, in sneer of the actual thinesetious it se *thirdly arranges, and u railway accounts are la themosives affairs of greet magnitude and some , the legislature has allowed railway boards II mem* at least to prepare their %dame stints, and to bays their accounts audited, in order to lay before tier proprietary a scheme whereon the shareholders themselves (not the directors) shall declare a dividend. Runs the columns of newepapers overflow with re ports of railway meetings in the maths of February mil August, not very interesting. we fear, to the general reader. The meeticgs of the month which has just closed hays been characterised by two features equally sada theory, viz., by improved relations between shaft holders and their directors, and by an slolost total oblivion of such a proposition as a government audit. At the North-Western meeting, for example, the shareholders went so far in the exhibition oetheir well-bestowed confidence in Mr. GEORGE GLYN, SO to refuse a dividend which he had not recommemian and, by way of supporting him, tkeyactuslly reamed their own profits. At the South-Western, Mr. CIIAT• LIN and his old opponents were so much recoseiled as to induce that gentleman, who not many seemthe ago prayed for the intervention of government rather than the then prevalence of spear and animosity, to declare that the meeting was one of the most encouraging he had ever at tended. At the Eastern Counties some of the most vociferous of Mr. Henson and Mr. WADDINGTON'S former opponents were to be seen foremost in their support of the new board of direction. At the Mid land a proposition to reconstruct the board was sig nally rejected. At the York sad North Mioland, both directors and shareholders united to devise means of making Mr. Henson refund to the company the larp profits he had illegally made in its service. At the Great Western, the prudence of appointing melt men as Mr. Wiu.ieii WILLIAMS on the consultation com mittee was made appoint ; for, having made a thorough investigation into the company's affairs, and ascertained their soundnem, Mr. %Valium continued active in re-establishing good understand ing between the directors and their constituency. And at the Great Northern a motion for a committee of investigation had not half a dozen hands held up in its favour. This improved feeling is the more encouraging, be. cause though not of course undeserved by Isamu boards, it does not appear to have been actively aught for by them. It is very much the natural rebound from a state of things to which passion and excitement, tattier than reason or consideration, were the ocatives. At several of these meetings of great interest to the welfare of the dif larenro—oropanies have been discussed, and though apes them important differences of opinion, both as to c)icy and to detail, arose between directors and their on larg est shareholder., yet, a poll being resorted to, it ' ld not appear that the board had in any ems canvassed for or even bad received proxies. Thus, at the Midland meeting, the director had a majority of nearly . 2.000 votes, without registering a single proxy ; whilst their opposes; Mr. WYLIE, had such little influence over those he addressed, that of the 2,400 votes polled in support of hi amendment no fewer than 1,800 were ghee through proxies by persons who of course did not hear the conclusive reply given to that gentlemen by Mr. Ewe. So, at the Great Norther& inesting. proxies were use d, but not one was held by a direatdr; the two parties, entertaining apparently such inecon cileable views as to proceeding with the line between Askerne and York, reopectftely canvassing for votes, whilst Mr. DENPON was quite content to abide by the decision of the shareholders after they had boat his frank and full explanation of the views of the Board. This is a preferable pectic* to thatof the Brightes l . lleard at their late meeting. • For, though it be tens, as Mr. Wen then stated, that railway meetings are not attended by majorities of the peens incorporated; yet their nonatt end ance does not impose any duty on the directors, such as convening for proxies in favour of measures promoted by themselves ; and it yet re mains to be shown that the conclusions come to at these mutings do not substantially represent the spokes of the shareholders u a body. Wean the propositions of a railway board require • =van for proxtes by directors, to carry them through the e dged of a public meeting, at which there is gene rally (times such as the last eighteen months excepted), • @agog tendency to airport the executive of the sompay, those propositions are, shareholders may Wyse it. of very doubtful policy ; and on such par- NW quakes as the appointment of directors, the nerve punned by Mr. &Minh LAING and the other members of the Brighton Board is in reality destruc tive of the rights of shareholders, even though it affect to have the exercise of their rights in view. The serious position in which railway pro perty is at present, has bad another good effect at these meetings; it has driven into the background the stock centers, or professional opp,- skim which woe was rampant, and has brought heard a class of speakers deeply interested ,and sisal at important objests. Disunion at the Emthe co-partners of them great commercial in their real affairs, is, of course, most u desirable, indeed, that there can be homily too much of it. On the other hand, there Mast be too little of vague declamation and of un prolkabb talk on thus ommeions; for thereby atten [ don is diverted from what is important, the directors are coveted and protected when in error, and those ithersally could be of service are driven away from Owes deliberations. New there is scarcely a railway company of any =the meetings of which have not been in their very origin withaelass of shareholders whetopar to 010 them as a debating club, to prac tine thin all the arta and tricks of an unscrupulous pa irmintary opposition eager for place, to move meson mats on every imaginable question, and to wpm the directors merely because they are di nettes. They consist almost invariably of persons idle hold very small shares in the companies, and who 7=e di to hold only ea a qualification for spouting. g to them, everything that is is wrong. Now the remedy for all this, noir as they are concerned, is, to cease to be proprietor in a concern of which they have so ill an opinion : not to make bad worse by adding to errors which do exist, mistakes that have no foundation except in their own fertile imagination. Adversity is, however, narrowing the opportunities of this order of shar eholder. When there was no thing but prompsrity_ to talk of, they had the field all to themselves" ; and the rest of the company listened by way of amusement. But when there is real business to be transacted, the Chairman generally ewe shareholders of another stamp arise as speakers ; sad when the old hands do contrive at the end of the day to get in with their amendment, the auditory, that once was amused by their noise, will now scarcely enders them. At none of the recent meetings was the Audit Quellsa one of prominence ; at none of them was then prolonged discussion on it ; and at only one, the Great Northern, was there a proposition made in favour ei" open system of government audit." There, too, it was wade by a member of the oratorical class jag rehered to, apparently because it afforded the only available . opening for a speech; and the report add% "only s ix proprietors voted for it." Such, taw, appears to be the state of this question : that at the February railway meetings of all the companies, only six shareholders voted for the interference of govern ment in their affairs; whilst at every meeting a com mittee of shareholders was appointed to devise improved machinery of independent audit. It is in vain, then, with this result of the February meetings. to argue that there is any change of opinion on the audit q uestion amongst railway shareholders. Wronged and defrauded in some cases though they have been, deluded and disappointed in many more, railway shareholders do not fly to the arms of govein mut for future protection ; they repel Lord MONYEAOLIS'S advances, and rely on their own RFFORNIERS have RR ream@ to be downcast at the division oo parliamentary reform. It indicates pro gress—not very marked or rapid, it may be—but still progress. In 1149 the vote on Mr. Humes motion stood : A r m, l'2; noes, 288; majority, 186. In 1850 it stande :—Ayes, 98; noes, 242; maim its., 146. The pi pporters of reform in the House of Commons, as indicited by this vote, are wore numerous this year ;bon they were last, its opponents fewer, and the mitjority teeniest reform reduced by 40. A Yr-inti' of the division list shows that 29 mem bers hire voted foe the motion in 1850 who did not vote on the question in 1819. It also appears that 18 members who voted for reform in 1849 did not vote for it on Thursday night. But not one of the 1. rota against it, and with one exception all of them are still in the house. We are therefore en titled (including the tellers) to estimate the minority' is the House of Commons, friendly to Mr. Humes plan of reform, at 115. The number of members of the House of Commons who have by their votes avowed their approbation of Mr. Home's plan of parliamentary reform, is only two short of the number who went into the lobby with Mr. DISRAELI on the largest division he con trived to make in his factious opposition to the Irish franchise bill ; although on that occasion he was backed by Mr. GLADSTONE and the rest of his sec tion of the Prelims, who, tired of wandering in the dry desert of rational conservatism, have wended their way hack to the flesh-pots of the tory Egypt. It is only 23 short of a full half of the majority of Liberals who saved ministers by rejecting Mr. Dm- Lieu's notable scheme of financial reform. It is a melt greeter number than the few AZDIELS who r iu maintain unshaken their allegiance to Sir ROBERT PEEL. if the state of the vote is thus encouraging, the tenor of the debate was still more so. The conserva tives kept a mischievous silence, pleased to see minis ter, fighting their battle in opposition to their most trustworthy supporters against re-action in our com 'swig policy. And ministers conducted the argu ment against their own professed principles, as Mr. Baum: tauntingly told them, "in the spirit of a p ries lawyer." Toe parliamentary reformers complain that the Commons of England are not represented in the House of Commons. The counties swamped by the tenants at will, and backed by the small nominee and corrupt boroughs, enabled the landed aristocracy, titled and tattled, to pack the house. The mercantile and manufacturing interests, the liberal professions, and the small capitalists, are in a helpless minority in the home, and tne intelligensad industrious artisans are utterly unrepresenteL The laws are made, aid the taxes =posed, in accordance with the prejudices and to subserve the interests of the great landowners and the cadets and dependents of their families who are saddled on the country in the characters of mili tary aid naval ofE,:ers and churchmen. There is no chance of steady consistent legislation and financial administration spore equitable and national principles so ;aog as the House of Commons remains composed oat pres-et. The parliamentary reformers do not ask a House of Commons in which the moneyed or mercantile interest shall preponderate ; they ask a Home of Commons in which all classes and interests shall have their due share in the representation— which shall legislate in harmony with the national intelligence. Ws wise do ministers the justice to say, that we believe them perfectly sensible of the necessity of prole portMning representation at least to property, and el giving sash kind of property, imbeciles industry, its dee weight in Bee-tang the important question of tazatioe. Bat all Lord JOAN said (the house miring the minimize, and acknowledging its truth with marked applanse),if heattempted to weigh endear aid screed his mils without a strong popular breeze bowing at the time, he and his party might drift on the rocks. Never was the necessity of aplation more clearly poitted out to the country. Theirs shall be reform and equal taxation, as soon se they bee& them selves to demand it. After such a confession it would be very cruel to anathematise ministers for resisting Ilr. Hunts motion; very gratuitous to expose the utter want of scope or me_ anin g that characterised Sir CrtaiLGE GRET'i 'Meted horror of democracy. Is fists any need of refitting Lord Joan Ressates affected fears that extending the franchise would auntie the public securities! Has the Reform Bill, or as now constituencies, benught in ens man who era broached snob a doct rine? If repudiation is to be feared. it is surely nothons the- ranks of reformers, hat from those of their ultra-oppcinente. Has the el.dest cha r ti s t ever known in England, tretidoctrines ball se subversive as these of etir Derattoen 1 0 Even Sir JAMES GRA atm got astride his old earreacy ideekthe other day, in the house. If Lard 'oar had said that the oleo total franchise should be widened, in ardor to secure property and credit, there would bare been more tenet and fairies, in his demand, than in the false Etathat the landowners are the sole stanch up rsasof all state liabilities. Lord Juns extenuate, his reluctance to act upon hie own principles, by professing an intense longing to devote himself to practical administrative reforms. Ile affects to fear that if popular attention is devoted to the question of a new Reform Bill, it will be impossible to find time for administrative improvement, which are urgently rcloired. Experience does not warrant these apprehen nom The great administrative reforms of our day —the new poor-law, the emancipation of the slaves and of mere repidlyadvanced to maturity daring the Reform Bill agitation than at any tonna prided. The progress of administrative reform bee legged in the interest in meatitutimal reforms C a ges= as and grown languid. AM *bat are the administrative reforms in promotin width Lord JURY bep not to be distracted by Um for parliamentary reform ? The memere will he and his colleagues are pushing forward meet nee lo,ely, upon which the moat obstinate battle of the swim has been fought, is the bill for extending the Irish franchise. Lard June Rees= sought to meet the wawa for representative reform by another argument certandy as Loyal as it wee untenable. He endeavoured to show that if we did something to equalise representation re should be throwing power into the hands of the ilifftcaltunra, and thereby increasing clam dill,- mew. Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and Dereaddra, mid the noble lord, are not represented in properties to population. If they are not, by all means let them be so. hilt the illustrations are ill chosen. Derbyshire btf, ma the Reform Bill retuned 4 members to the zl'Acti of Commons. It now sends 6. Lincolnshire re tuned 12: it now sendel3. Devonshire retuned IC it how sends 22. These counties, therefore, ream es mazy ultrebas as they ever did, and when use ems to look ciustr at the case, it will be found that peeper tiotately they return too many. The West Riding of Yorlcatur e h as a population of a million and a quarter, --it returns two members : those three counties united Lana population very little exceeding a million, and they return twelve mem b ers . S o muc h for Lord J "!!‘' , pet counties. The noble lord defeats his own of in defending marked inequalities by such 11, 44p;e5. The three counties which he cites return aa w e shown no lose than 41 county and borough re- Presentativrs to parliament. Lancashire, with a po- Pistlon nearly one-half larger, returns 24; mem ''rrr ; and all Yorkshire, with d ouble the population . , "4 :r; member s . Th e counties, therefore, on which !' 4 d JI,IIN lays such stress, return, compared with to !,ac,4.1, re, or Yorkshire, half as m a l l more members Ihiriiiunent as they ought to do. THE FXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING. MARCH 2, 1850. determination and energy to save themselves from the recurrence of such " plessantriee," as Mr. Hutoote and his creatures practised on them. Had it been other wise; had railway shareholders rushed to government fee safety in the hour of their distress, the whole sys tem of oar society and government, would have re ceived a shock ; and that spirit of self-reliance, on the malt of which we have for centuries prided our selves, would have been damaged. At one of the meetings, it wu observed by Mr. Gums( HUTCHISON, who stated that he wu one of the largest railway pespristors is the kingdom, that "n 0 audit bill would be of the load use unless it secured to shareholders 'amassed Rowers." In this remark oar residers will fled to opinion repesadly pressed on their attention. A proper system of audit is of emcee most important, bet it is not all impor tant; for even with a system of really efficient audit, the affairs of a company may be very ineffi ciently conducted. The best Imam of audit that can be devised is but a system of verification; and con tains within itself no adequate security foe good mam~emeat. It will, of course, prevent accounts from being " cooked," " things" from being " made pleasant," and dividends from being paid oat of capi tal, and such other Hudsonian rogueries. But it will not prevent extravagant expenditure, unwise con tracts or injudicious arrangements; it sill not name skate the closing of the capital account ; it will not settle the much disputed questions of what (Amgen ought to be made spinet capital, what against revenue; it will not compel directors to lay before shareholders half-yearly estimates of coming expendi ture, alter the manner of • parliamentary budget. And these are platten of quite u much importance as improvement of the audit system—matters which it is much to be hoped will not be overlooked by the committees recently appointed. &dose of the armistice by the Imes of arms as is desired, is riot merely • protease, but • real este Is. Prowls. Deabshady the trade of the Bahia sass isteasively from the mere deaunciaties perked of six weeks, bemuse it un settles all orders. If the Prussia* governmeat, therefore, could have eared the esuatries is question from that km by weds( to the Danish eenditkar, it would have deem se without hesitation ; that It did sot de so fully the impossibility. It maned possibl be o how small were the amass at the disposal of the Prestos severnmest for this eldest; that Denmark shook' have been three wish • renewal of hastiltiles the Meads of the moieties asset amsredly would not deem advisable. On the other head, we have nude as &amebas which could have compensated Denmark for the psalms dos, salsas we had at ones thrown aside the *sly mesas of negotiettim the pease. Nevertheless, the Pram= ranso med, r we are rightly inferred. an orti t i g eslia sad ae • no* resavoubsg to orals is speedily as and in the peeper way, a formal proleagatioa of ardedee, in Nall le Mare to re trade aged shlppiag lateness en their deer at least Is, the dandles of the summer, that essarity "Shoat wide they would sass extern/Ave aa Theism the most important points ea v i rt a rtke ens mittes have expressed a desire for explanaties. It met ap pear, Wisner, unadvhable to bring on a dlemassioa en the oubjest k the ;lumber itself; the present isomer that aseethies, cal course should be pained, M ell o: sa satiAls. sae ; and • ll.eurka might from many parts ef the house be carried on bath with respect to Denmark sad the duellist without that reserve wki& the interests of pokes aid for.. with this view of the government eonsmiss' loner, the net decided at once not to propose lay delibera tion as the subject in the chamber. GREECE AND THE LEVANT. The Neapolitan steam-frigate Erode MALTA arrived hare on the 19:h, from Palermo and Lampedusa. Upwaeds of seventy vessels took advantage of shift of wind and this weather yesterday to put to sea. Among them were seventeen bound to Cork, with wheat and Indian corn. Daring bet night the wind shifted again to the westward, blowing fresh, and no doubt eke greater part wilt put back again. Some of the vessels have been trying since the middle of Decem ber last to get to the westward, bat without success. A letter received last night from Athens, by the French steamer Leonidas, to the 18th, states that the Greek question is in stabs quo, the government having decided to wait for and act upon the opinions of the courts of Paris and St. Petersburg. Meanwhile all commerce is impeded; every vessel caught at sea or in harbour under Greek colours is immediately taken to the Bay of Salamis, and placed under the guns of the fleet. Then are upwards of eighty vessels thus detained. The Greek corvette., Amalie and Ludovico, said to have been by the Rag limb cruiser', are still at liberty. One is reported to be at Previa', and the other at &denies; no doubt they are in some neutral port, where they cannot be touched. Some *of the Greek journals are very severe in their attack upon the English. The poet Alexander Soutzo has written an article in the Riede, intitaled "The impious English." "See," :says he, "these ravishen, these Car thaginians, who have seized the ships of Greece. The troth of their crime can be seen floating on the sea; but whilst a single Greek exists, he will hand down to his posterity a relation of this disastrous epoch." This 'pouter goes on to ay, " Courage, my friends, courage ! There is a God in heaven, and the earth has not been given up to the tyranny of Great Bri tain, like the sea. " Diplomacy at Athena and at Constantinople is generously working in oar favour. Already are steamers ploughing the waves, and carrying to other courts the news of this crime of England. Behold the Emperor Nicholas raising masses of men to crush the Ottoman. FRANCE. PARIS. FRIDAY 5.30 P.M: Eight regiments are to be moved to the eastern de partments. Two of these are to be furnished by Paris. They leave to-morrow. To-day they were reviewed on the Plaoe de la Concorde, by i the Presi dent in person. Upwards of 10,00 0 people were present. and demonstrations of loyalty greeted the president from a great majority. Several Monts gaud members who were on the ground raised the cry of " Vire la Republique," but the mention of this un fortunate institution did but increase the ardour of the majority. The preliminary elections of the Union Electorale commenced to-day, but little animation was visible, however, at the pulling-places. The Bonapartist com mittee and the legitimist@ have put forward their several candidates in great placard.. It is supposed that the preparatory votes will eliminate all but Bonjean Lahitte and d'Arbouville. To-day in the Assembly Id. Barrot laid on the table of the Chamber the long-looked-for project of law on the mayors. It gave rise, however, to no debate. M. Bertholon opened fire against the government a-propos of a project of law granting a sum for ex penses of couriers, in order to enter into a general exhumation of the policy pursued for the last year by the executive. Cries of " Question" did not induce M. Bertholon to stop, whereupon the vice-president, General Bedeau, consulted the Assembly u to whether they would allow the speaker to proceed. The Assembly decided in the negative, and M. Banns ascended the tribune. He begin by saying that he had a right to treat of foreign again d-propos of the subject then under debate. He had a right so to do as long as the Roman affair remained undecided, and se lug so any danger was to be feared for the inde imbue. d Switserland, which was being invested ea all Wes ; so long, in fact, u the ministry gave dm to enspiFion. The minister of foreign Ralik, interrupted M. Beau to inform him that the state of external rels doss was not such as he supposed. for foreifn powers were giving every usurance of friendship. With regard to S witzaland, it was easy to state what was taking place there. The federal council had been invited to remove to a distance from its frontiers a number of refugees, whose proceedings caused a certain anxiety, and the federal council had done what was requested of it. In this there was nothing to slam, nor anything to show thit the inde pendence of Switzerland was threatened. The law then passed, and the Chamber resumed the deliberation on the Avignon Railway. M. Barthelemy St. Hilaire, who spoke in the same ems as M. Letrane yesterday, was at the tribune at post-hour. It will be sun from the returns of the Bank of France that the metallic reserve continues to augment, being nearly 21 millions more In Paris, and about a million more in the branch-buks. 'he discount accommodation is greater in Paris by about 71 millions, and less in the departments by 11 millions; the amount of the former being 46,687,0831 r., and of the latter 85,849,829 fr. The protested bills in Paris have decreased about 40,000 k., and in the provinces about 20,000 fr.; the amount of the former being 1,880,097 fr., and of the latter 1,481,185 fr. On the side of the liabilities, the notes in circulation have in creased in Paris about 81 millions, and in the pro vinces about 1 a million. The account current of the treasury has augmented 41 millions, the present amount being 87,758,641 fr. Private accounts-current have declined in Paris about It - milieus, and in the departments about 120,000 fr.; the amount of the lama being 73,286,119 fr., and of the latter 91,9111,1101 fr. The whole amount of the metallic re igns now amounts to 472 millions to 4761 millions of IMAM is circulation. The idnieter of commerce, with the authorisation d the Proddent of the Republic, has formed a com minion for the purpose of organising the measures siceeseary for the interest of such French manufac tutees as may wish to take part in the general exhibi tion to be held in London in 1881, and to come to an understanding with the English committee an the subject. 11. C. Dalin, president of the central jury of the national exhibition d 1849, is president. BOUM. "Citizens of free Greece, prepare yourselves. The English compel us to beanie another Alexander, to out this Gordian knot--this important Eastern ques tion. "Let us recommence the war, and the nation be come an entire army ! Let us, under the auspices of France, Austria. and Germany, restore the empire of the great Constantine, and thus be in po s session of Western Greece from the &rotas to Inns, and of Eastern Greece from the Nile to the Euzine, with three capitals—Athens, the seat of learning ; Constan tinoplei, the seat of government; and Jerusalem, the seat of religion." The poet forgot another capital—money. Would any one credit that such bombastic rhodomontade could have been published at learned Athens in the present age ? The Puma is still blockaded ; no Greek Tees' can leave. The Bulldog steamer has blockaded Syra. General Mamouri, aide-de-camp to the king, and military commandant at Phthiotide, pnblishectan ap peal to arms to the people of his department ; when Otho heard of it he immediately removed him from his command. The islands of Sapienza and Cervi have not yet been made a subject of discussion ; they will remain uatil the preasntquestion is settled, when, it is mid, Great Britain will take possession of them by force if denied by the Greek government. The cold at Salonica has been intense, the thermometer for days standing at from 10 to 14 degrees below 'Zero. A o letter received here (Malta) from Smyrna states, that " the French squadron is still at Gude*. Nothing is known is to its fature movements. The French brig Seraphiu has been lost on the Isle of Cervi. The brig Maurice-Antoinette, Caphtin Clavier, is also lost on the coast of Miteline ; all the crews were saved. Business is dull. Opium, of which there are some 250 chests, is selling at 108 1 piss. the reequi. Yellow grains keep up prices.l There are about 300 sacks in depot, selling at 19 toi 22 pies the oke. Cottons are in demand ; nO . bales of Kirksgats have been sold at 295 piss. the muter. There ape 1,600 toles in depot. Some little afire have been does in galls ; white at 315, green at 325, and black at 545. Gums have fetched 30 piss. the oke. Colonials and manufactures calm. A few par cels of coffee have sold at 810 to 815 pim. the hun dred okee, in bard cub. Exchange on London, 1111 piss. • Letters from Constantinople mention that the cold still continuos, the thermometer being !morally below zero. The government disbanded for the winter about five thousand troops, and gent them home. Rostand's steamer came in this morning from Mar seilles, and will leave in the afternoon for Syria, Smyrna, and Constantinople. H.M. steamer Merlin will take up the next Indian mail to Marseilles about the 25th. The council of government proceeds with the discussion of the new criminal mdse. loft Amount. - Lower. Clods' -- - 8 per Oesu. 8 per Ceuta- 6 do. MT Loan- „ . ~ ~ • te par Coots.- ...- - ~ , . • • • 4 par Oasis • •• Enemas 011 Louvi ~ Los: : SO 4120, U 453 88 dspo,23 324. 3•72D3, 5, 1640 -.. 96 atom. Duro DwAso... - Nom Do. I, 160 Do. 611 Trosoury Rads - . Do. 3 Fiadmcat 6 per Cents. 67 20 WU% Masai 1. Tor Hooey. Oar Highest, u$ 10 .... 94 90 .. n • n Bocrasa.—Paria sad 07:4 A aad Maradika; 197 SO ; Threw, ; Osisaas : aad lardess dad litswkaalg. 7 s; Tom aad Troyes, 107 SO. ark and Room 530 ; Avignon hod Be* 11l 76; Wenn and , 457 60; North, 443 75; park Mato. 250; Montanan and SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN. [Comladed from the Express of yesterday.] - - - The following is the conclusion of Here Von Use dom'e report to the Upper Chamber at Berlin : It has been remarked that anarchy reigned in Schleswig, that it was a lasting revolutionary iosurreetion, which might be suppressed in the same manner as those in Saxony end Baden were by the Prussian troops if it was really desired. The affairs of the duchy are, however, not to be :of so tinily. What is generally denominated " revo taloV tine blind resistance to every, but more puticulasly to monarchical authority, is, in fact, not to be found in the duchies. So far as Schleswig Holstein is German it is peopled by a wise, prudent, and in every respect worthy roes of North German nature. It is true that there exists between this rase and the Danish element a violent hatred, which has shown itself most powerfully at several periods of their existence. That hatred is however towards Danish nationality and Danish rale, mad not towards the monarchical principle cc the person of the monarch. The Schleswig- Holstainer holds with extraordinary tenacity to what he con siders his good old rights ; he defends " fueros " not only with democratic fire bat with aristocratic obsti nacy. This piesliarity may be carried too fez, it may, in eatain oirmunateness, where it might be neces. nary to give way, endanger the very interests of the country which it endeavours to preserve; but a conscientiosui ob server cannot enrol such a movement in the category of com mon revolutions. It is to be hoped that the Pran PolieY and the Prussian army will be able utterly to destroy the eery existence of low state•deatroying democracy. It ham been asked, what means have been employed by the government to bring about a prolongation of the armistice ? The reply to this question is, that Lord Palmerston, as minister of the mediating power, proposed • short time ago in Copenhagen a prolongation of the armistice for another six months. But the Danish govern ment made it a condition of agreeing to this propoW. that the armistice should be thoroughly carried out in Schleswig and that its fulfilment should be guaranteed by different parties. For the reasons developed above this condition mid not be accepted by the Prussian government, because the promise of fulfilment could not have been kept. Who. ever will rightly weigh the circumstances can from this algae judge that the impossibility of carrying out the coo- The Courtier di Athena mays The sufferings of our commerce, and of all those connected with our shipping interests, are increased by every day's de lay. Employment is wanting in consequence of business being at a stand, sequence, payments are made with difficulty, and threaten, if some change does not moon take place, to be dlttlnitively suspended. To these calamities may be added dearness of provisions and the rigours of a winter unexampled in this country." The Malta Mail states that M. Zsimus, a relative of M. Londe', the Greek minister of foreign strain, has been appointed consul in that island, in the room of M. P. Roque, who has been named secretary of the Greek legation at Paris. , DEA= FROM HYDROPROBlit.—Yesterday an in quest was taken before Mr. W. Baker, at the Acorn public house, Great Cambridge street, Hackney-road, es to the death of a child named Alias Smith, aged five years, who died from the effects of a bite from a mad dog. The de ceased lived with her parents at No. 7, Albsrt•treet, Bethnal green. On the 15th of November the deceseed was being washed by her sister, when she suddenly got away and ran out into the garden at the beck of the house screaming. A small terrier dog which was kept in the yard, flew at her left leg and bit it most severely in three places. The father of the deceased, on hearing of the oc suirrence, instantly shot the dog as it had bitten another child on the previous day. The &aims' was usually fastened up, but on that morning the deceased had, unknown to the family, let the dog loose. The mother bathed the wounds with warm water and also poultised them. In a few days the wounds healed and no farther notice was taken until Friday last, when the deceased was suddenly attacked with sickness, and complained of violent thirst. On water being offered to her she went into violent fits, and at intervals she howled like a dog. Mr. Wilt, a surgeon, was called in, who said the deceased was sulfating from symptoms of hydrophobia, and prescribed the usual remedies, but she languished in intense suffering until Sun day afternoon last, when she expired. The dog hail not ex hibited any signs of canine madness until the day previous te its biting the deceased, who was constantly in the habit of playing with the animal. Mr. West said the deceased had died from hydrophobia, which he had no doubt was produced by the bite of the dog in November last. She ex hibited unmistakeable symptoms of that disease, which was incurable. The jury returned • verdict of Death from hydrophobia, resulting from the bite of a dog, supposed to I be mad." be Court. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode ont on horseback yeeterday morning, attended by Col. Bouverie. Prince Albert presided yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the genissimion for promoting and eneousaging the Fine Arts 1* *the rehandle, the Pekes of Westminster. His Royal Highs.. arrived at the new Palace at three o'clock, auseded Out &scoria. The Consatimionere present were—the lbw quis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Aberdeen, Theenuit Canning, Lord Colborne, the Right Has. the Speaker of the Home of COlllinenal Viscount Mahon, M.P., the Right Hen. Sir Robert Peel, M.P., the Right Men. Sir James Graham, M.P., Sir Robert H. Inogglis, M.P., and Mr. Hallam. The Ogaden, Mr. , was in attendance . During the meting the Primo end the other Royal Commisaionen went to the Upper Waiting Mall end Inspected the fracas. The meet broke up at a gamer past five o'clock. The Queen had a dinner party yesterday evening at Buck ingham Pekoe. The company Winded the Duke of Wel lintels, Led Gough, the Had of Malgrave, the Right Hon. Sir Rebut sod Lady Pest, the Right Hon. Sir John Hob = aad 6:: ei Slight &bright Lowell's. Sir nod Lady . Seymour, mad Colonel the Ron. C. B. Mts. Phipps Lord Aißed Paget (Clerk Marshal) has relieved Colonel Barkley in the duds' of Equerry in Waiting to her Mikity, and Colosel Boaverle has relieved Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Aleaander Gordon in his dudes as Equerry in Waiting to his Royal Higlutese Prises Albert. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the Foreigc-oilloe. It was attended by Lord John Russell. the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Paimenton, Earl Orey, Sir John Robhouee, Lord Campbell, the Right Ron. H. Lebo=here, the Sul of Cu sad the Marpis of Claariaarde. The etteadl eat one beer. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was rofficiently recovered gestarday to take a carriage drive for the first Wm dace his recast Weer. The Doke of Cambridge visited the German Hos pital at Masten yesterday, and after inspecting the whole establishment, and convening with most of its inmates, en premed himself highly satisfied. We understand that the Rev. Dr. Vaughan (head master of Harrow School) will shortly lead to the hymeneal altar MN Kate Stanley, youngest daughter of the late Bishop of Norwich. LORD 00130 H returned to town from Bath on Thursday afternoon, and in the evening was present at the Marchioness of Londoadenfi. dui darisanle at liolderners house, where the noble and gallant veteran was very warmly ereeted. MMat Edwardes was also the guest of the noble marchioness, and came in for a full measure of congratula. tion on his rote return to Old England. Yesterday morning Lord Gough went to Buckingham Palace end bad an inter view, by appointment, with his Royal Highness Prince Albert. At the interview his lordship received from the Prince the Queen's command to dine with her 'Majesty last evening at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Wellington, who returned to town from Strath. heldsaye on Thursday night, called on Lord Gough early yesterday, in Upper Brook-street, and had a long inter view with his lordship. (Tram list Gazette.) Wrinzamx, P. 28.—The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be paned under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Baron of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland unto Sir Albert Denison Denison, Knt., commonly called Lord Albert Deninon De nison, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begot ten, by the name, style, and title of Boron Loadeabo routh, of Londesborough, in the East Riding of the county of York. Also to direct bitten patent to be pawed under the Great Seal, grantiort the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom of Oryat Britain and Ireland unto Samuel Jones Loyd, Erg., and the heirs male of his body lawfully begot. ten, by the name, style, and title of Baron Overstone, of Overmans and of Fotheringhay, both in the county of Northampton. WHITEHALL, Fan. 28.—The Qneen has been pleased to appoint William Slott, gent., to be lienten►nt in the Artillery Company of London. EXHIBITION OF L\'DUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS IN 1851. The committee appointed by the royal Commission to advise on " all matters relating to the building," having received the sanction of the commission, are desirous of ob taking from all parties who an dispo sed to mist them, suggestions for the general arrangement of the buildings and minims required for this exhibition. Upon the general formal the building in plan, the distribution of its par.', the mode of access, end the internal arrangements and eontriv maces, will depend the convenience and general fitneu of such a building ; and it is upon these points that the committee seek information sad suggestions, and wish to encourage the most extended competition in the preparation of plans. The com mittee do not propose to offer any pecuniary reward for. seta plans; they rely upon the desire which men of all semidries will feel to forward the objects of the proposed exhibition. The committee think it probable that, when the pleas are received, they may not be limited to the selection of any one plan, bat may dens, useful ideas from many ; and that the best plea may be determined upon by the help of this general amistauce. As the credit of any such plan will be due solely to the contributors, the committee propose to make a report, in which they will acknow ledg e by name those whose plans had bun ',holy or p,rua T adopted, cat who had afforded the most useful suggestions ; and the committee hop* to be able to offer such other honorary distinction to the successful contributors es the circumstances may appear to warrant. In order to guide the contributors in the preparation of ' such plans and . designs, and to facilitate the examination and the comparison of them when freeeired, the committee have enumerated coacisely; the principal "desiderata " for such a building ; and have laid dowa certain rules end con ditions, to which they earnestly request the contributors to conform; as the committee will be under the necessity of abiding strictly by the regulation of not acknowledging any plans which may be sent in • form inconsistent with these roles. Copies of the engraved plan of the ground referred to, may be had on application to the secretaries of the com mission, at the New Palace at Westminster. The rule, and conditions to be 'Wetly observed in prepay 11 leg a ground plan and section of the building to be erected in Hyde-perk, are 1. The communications from contributors must consist of • single sheet of paper, not larger than the accompanying engraving, with • simple ground plan upon a scale of 1.1,000 th of the full size, with such elevations and sections only of the building, on the same sheet, as may be necessary I to elucidate the system proposed—such elevations and sec tions not being intended to convey more than • general idea of the building, end not entering into details of construction or of architectural decoration—to be accompanied by a short written clear explanation of the system recommended, on a sepirate sheet. Any contributor wishing to send two dnigns must send separate and distinct communieations, each conforming to the above conditions. No communications made incon sistent with these conditions, or any plan prepared upon a different scale from that prescribed, an be received. The plans, dc. must be seat on or before Bth April next, addressed to the secretaries of the exhibition, New Paiute, at Westminster, London. It is suggested that the most convenient mode of prepsnng the plan, elevation, and section, would be to draw them upon one of the engraved copies of the plan of the ground which accompany these instructions. 2. The building is to be erected upon the space marked A B C D and must not extend beyond the boundaries of the shaded portion. The maps of trees shown on the plan must be preserved. The pried* public approaches are by the roads BIF and H. The read K L will be available only for foot passengers. There will be no objection to the formation of crossroads between the two last, U K sad K L, if the design of the Dallas.: requires it. 3. The roofed portion of the building is to cover a space of 700,000 squire feet, or about 65,000 square metres; and the whole building must not °soupy, including open spaces, en area of more than 900,000 square feet, or about 84,000 square metres. The building generally will be of one story only. 4. No space will be required for cattle, or for shrubs or flowers. 6. It may be assumed, so far as it affects the ground plan, that the light will be obtained entirely from the roof, and the building will be constructed of fire-proof materials. The general requirements ate simplicity of arrangement, economy of space, capability of extending or curtailing the building, without destroying its symmetry as a whole, or interfering with the general arrangement,—it being impos sible to determine the exact extent of roof required until a late period of construction; adaptation for the erection of separate portions of the buildiug at different periods ; con veniences of ingress and egress, with facilities of acme to all parts of the exhibition, either from the exterior or interior. Means of classification of the various objects of different de partments. Wall space for the display of articles requiring it. Means of affording private access and accommodation for exhibitors, with counting-houres, if required, committee rooms, council-reoms, public refreshment-rooms, and all other public and private accommodation. (This portion of the building may be in two or more stones if required) Internal aerangemeats, by which, under proper regulations, large crowds of Tilden may circulate freely, and have con venient access to all parts of the exhibition, and uninter rupted means of examining the various objects exhibited. DEVON AND EXETER SAVINGS BANE.—At the annual meeting of the trustees aid managers of this estab lishment, which was held in Exeter on Thursday, it was stated in the report that the actuary of the concern had mixed up his own accounts with those of the bank, and that practice had tentinued from 1825, to December 1849. In December, 1849, there was a balance due to the bank of 1,4711. The committee required that that sum should be immediately paid, which was done, and a detailed statement since 1825 was furnished, by which the average monthly amount due by the actuary to the bank was 1,3861. The loss which the bank has sustained is the interest these sums would have produced, if they had been invested with the rest of the capital, and the committee suggest that the actuary should be called upon to pay that interest. The report also stated that the business of the bank was con• ducted in the most admirable manner, and the concern was placed upon as firm a foundation as any establishment of the kind in the kingdom. The re e ort also censured the Audi ton fur having overlooked the irregularities committed by the actuary. The report was adopted. THE GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' BILL. The following is an abstract of the new Gas Bill now before parliament, and which hu already given rise to so mad► disenseiea. fisspesusble recites that by a deed of settlement, dated Aug. 23, 1819, the persons therein named established them selves into a company, under the name and title of the Greet Central Gas C.nsumers' Company, for the purpose of manufacturing, purchasing, and supplying the City of London, and the liberties thereof, and other places adjacent thereto, with pa ; and the said Company had been com pletely registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act. The fret clause incorporates the Compnies Clauses Act, the Land Clauses Act, and the Gas Works' Clause. Act, with the act. 11teind,3rd, 4th, sth, and 6th clauses provide that powers for the compulsory purchase of land ,hell not be seed. define the title and limit of the act, and the incorpo ration of the Company. By clauses 7,8, and 9, the amount of capital is fixed at 250,0001., divided into 25,000 shares of 101. each ; and 21. per share is the greatest amount of any one call on the shareholders; two months to intervene between each all. Clause 10 authoriees the company to borrow any sum of money not exceeding 25,0001. By clauses 11, 12, and 13, the qualification of directors is limited to fifty shares, and the number of director, is to be eleven, with a p.m.r to inertias or diminish the num ber to say number not exceeding sixteen, or ins than eight. The persons who at the time of passing the act art the directcrs, shall be the Ent directors of the corporation thereby created. By clause 14, contracts entered into before the passing of the act may be enforced afterwards. Clause. 16 and 16 authorise the porch ase of the land and the construction of gee works. By clause 17 it is enacted that all the gas 'applied by the company shall be of such qaality u to produce from an argand burner, having fifteen holes and a seven inch chimney, and consuming five cubic feet of gee per hour. a Brat equal in intensity to the light produced by twelve wax candles, of six to the pound, bortuig 120 grains per hour; and s uch gas shall be superior in quality to the gra in common we. Clause 18. The price of ass supplied by the company ie not to exceed 4s. Der 1,000 cubic feet. Clauses 19; 20, and 21, declare that contract' prior to the set are binding, though not under seal, and provide against interruption of the workmen, &c. By clause 22 the company are not to break up the street; for laying down their pipes, except between seven o'clock in the evening and eight o'clock in the morning. Clause 23 provides that notice shad be given to the Metro politan Commissioners of Bowers, of any interference with their drake. Clauses 24, 25, 26, and 27 provide for the alumna °foam act, declare the penalties therein mentioned are not cumu lative, include the interpretation clause, and declare the act to be a public act. it is also intended, in the committae, to inject various other clauses, insuring the most beneficial results to -the public, and enabling the Board of Trade or the Commis sioners of Sewers to appoint inspectors to teat the quality of the gas, and to audit the accounts of the company. THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. THE TEN HOURS' AGITATION. MANCHESTER, MAUS 1. - The first public meeting which has taken pace in this town on renewed agitation for a ten hours' factory act, was held last evening in the Cora Exchange, a bu lding capable of holding upwards of 2,000 persons • and the room, which was from the fi rst pretty well tried, afterwards became crowded. theiie;:6:ls WRAY, senior canon of the chapter, tact the chair, and seeds lengthy address, in which he condemned the shift system, observing that one object of the ten hours' bill war, that both father and children might leave the mill together, the father to enjoy his fireside and the children to receive education. The system of working shifts entirely defeated this object. Education to a certain extent wee as necessary to them as to any other clap, and he called upon them to persevere for an efficient ten hours' bill. (Applause. ) He said it had been stated that they wished fur 12 hours' pay for their 10 bents' work. (Cries of " No." I Would they De satisfied with 10 boon' pay for 10 hours' work ? (" Yes.") J. BALLANTYNE, a workingman, moved " That the recent decision of the Court of Exchequer having rendered further legislation necessary, this meeting declares its firm bet mast respectful determination never to relax in their exertion till the intention of parliament, when the bill of 1847 was passed, be carried int, effect ; and that it is our opinion that nothing short of an efficient ten hours' act of continuous labour, a Jay regulrion (except meal times), be made the law of the land, will ever satisfy the jest claims of the operative,." Re had worked 30 years in factories, and he oottld say with truth that he never was so comfortable u he ha, been since the Ten Hours' Act bad been prated. He wee rj,:ite 111/re the operatives were determined not to give up this bit., and expressed a conviction that the agitation must be seetemAil. E. WORSLEY, an operative. seconded the resolution. J. SUTTON, an operative, moved the second resolution "That this meeting condemns, and is entirely opposed to to the mode of working in factories by relays and shifts, which compel youog pane= and women to go to work very early in the morning, and to remain occupied or lingering about the mill until a late hour in the evening; thus de priving them of time for the performance of their household duties and that recreation and moral improvement which the Ten Hours' Act was intended to insure to them." HEPWORTH. GREEN, an operative, seconded the motion. Hr. JOHN FIELDEN, brother of the late M.P. for Oldham, in supporting the motion, said he could say no thing that would add force to what had been already put forth by previous speakers. •J. DONOVAN, an operative, moved: "That this meeting is firmly c onvinced than the Ten Hours' Act, where honestly observed, has proved most conducive to the interests of all concerned in factory labour, sad therefore pledges itself to the most determined efforts for securing for all young persons and women the entire practical efficiency and integrity of that just and righteous law • and this meeting most earnestly requests those menu hattin who have observed the Ten Hours Act as intended, sad all others who think tea hours' labour per day suffi ciently long enough for females and young persons, to lend as their powerful and undivided assistance in the ensuing straggle on behalf of justice and humanity, and thereby enure to themselves the good wishes and heartfelt thanks of a grateful people." He was glad to see so many of his fellow-workmen present (though sorry for the occasion of it), hems, he recollected the time when a factory operative would have been dis charged from his employment, for no greater a crime than attending a meeting like this. He recollected the lime when he worked from 6 in the morning, and when the mil ran unoeuingly till 8 at night, except half an,hour for din ner, and when miserable slavery as this was be wu dis charged because he went to the employers to see if some relief from it could not be obtained. Ile was proud to think that now they could stand in a public meeting without those feelings of awe towards the factory•owner which used to be upon them. Mr. PHILIP KNIGHT seconded the resolution. Mr. RICHARD WALSII,..• manufacturer, in supporting the motion, expressed his opinion that ten hours was long enough to work in a factory, and called upon the operatives to persevere in asking for the amendment of the act. (Applause.) Mr. JONES, another manufacturer, supported the motion, and sai d he was convinced that ten hours was long enough to work, though when he was a factory boy tney had not a limit of ten house, nor twelve, nor fourteen, nor seventeen hours a day. (Hear, hear.) He had gone at half-peat two in the morning and worked till seven or eight at night. There were no poor man's friends then. MICHAEL BAXTER (operative) moved the adoption of a petition to the House of Commons to be presented by Joseph Brotherton, Esq., bI P., for Salford. RICHARD ANDERSON (operative), seconded the 71“ o. lution, and it was supported by Mr. Tear. Mr. 6. FIELDEN (son of the late M.P. for Oldham), also supported the motion, and said he was glad to see that the working men were determined to stand by their charter—the ten hours bill. (Cheers.) They were not prepared to go to ten and a half yet? (" No.") That was what brought him there. It was more than probable that he might have to state what were their holing; to night; and he was glad they wore de termined to stand by that good and righteous measure. The resolulions were all cursed unanmoutl.v. and Mr Grant having moved, Mr. Evens seconded, a vow of thanks to the chairman, The Rev. JOSEPH RAYNER STEPHENS, of Ashton, was loudly called for, and said,—to talk about ten hours a day, whether it be long enough; to talk about whether the factory operatives were prepared to concede another Isen ' hour or a quarter—aye, even a minute — for any man to open his mouth against the sanctity, inviolability, lind finality of that measure, must require more hardihood than any one on that platform possessed. (Cheers.) On that question he had not a word to say. lie bad risen to say that though not going with them he did not go against them he went with - Mr. Thomas Fielders, who wu an right houre' man. (Cheers.) lie never could get more than eight hours work out of a horse, and how could it be expected that a man, much leas a child, could be capable of more work than • hone ? (Cheers ) The meeting terminated at about half-past 10. EItIORATTON.—During the last two daps our quay; her been quite alive with emigrants and their friends pie p!ruag to start for Liverpool and from thence to America. esterday morning, at seven o'clock, upwards of 100 per sons sailed, or rather steamed, on board the William lean, sad at twelve o'clock about four hundred on board the Foyle, Liverpool steamen. Should this expatriation conti nue for some months longer from the verions other ports of Ireland in the same ratio as from this, our population will not only be decimated, but demisted before the end of the present year. Such is the extent of emigration from this and the neighbouring counties that we are credibly informed we shall shortly have American liners trading between Wa terford and New York.— Waterford rgorosED LooGuto-llocses IN CIIELSE.I.—The rector of Upper Chelsea, the Rev. Richard Bargees, has arranged to build several lodging-houses in that parish, the rooms in which, with various conven i ences , will be let at ts. 6d. per w,ck. The state of the London lodging-bowies for the par calls loudly for legislative esisetaeat.—the Builder.