The Sun. — London, England, 1852-03-24 00:00:00

Pura) - ' baton GERMANY. We learn from Berlin that L':.ron Linden, Ambas sador Extraordinary from the King of Wurtemburg, has had a private audience of the King, to ,. whom he delivered a letter from the King of Nit urtemburg containing a satisfactory explanation of certain .. words used during the late political excitement. After the audience the ambassador was invited to dine with the King at the Castle of Charlottenburgh. It is stated that the question of the succession to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Baden has bee n settled, and that the Prince Frederic wsll be sum moned to the Grand Ducal office. In Bremen the Constitution is abolished. The senate has published the resolution of the Germanic Diet of the 6!ti of March, by which that assembly adopted the moliac proposed by th e S ena t e . L;tions It consequently repeals the Constitution, and an nounces the grant of a new fundamental law. In Vienna the Ministerial Pr es id en t h as f o r me d a comm itt e e to ciosely investigate the military budget, and to mike any proposals for retrenchment in the e xpenditure that may seem at all feasible. It is generally expected that the committee, which is com posed of experienced and clear-sighted men, will propose certain reductions which will tell upon the finances. A telegraphic dispatch says 1,700 men from Sera jeno have marched into Livnor. All the Greeks and the Roman Catholics are being disarmed. All the Roman Catholic and Greek clergy, and the heads and two principal magistrates of every town and village, have been arrested. Concealment of arms is punished with instant death. The Turks alone are excepted. Troops are expected at G-rahowr, Glamock. and Duvno for the purpose of suppressing the alleged Panslavistic movement. Travellers, even those pro vided with Austrian passports, are exposed to the greatest inconveniences. Many Christians, quite op pressed with the expenses of quartering thel troops, have quitted their homes, and are wandering about. The military commander of Prague, Field-Marshal Count Clam dallas, has issued a proclamation, under date of the 14th, which suspends the right of associ ations, and recalls to mind the prohibition of either possessing or distributing exciting or revolutionary pamphlets or papers. Every transgressor of either of these laws is amenable to the cognizance of the court-martial. In Upper Austria the tide of emigration is greatly on the increase, and this is by no means con fined to the mechanics or the lower classes of the population, bat large farmers and persons possessed of considerable landed property leave their native soil for the purpose of trying their fortune in America. Dr. Anthony Warren, ofNew market, formerly Dsputy to the Austrian Diet, has united with himself above 100 highly-respectable persons, who will leave for their distant transmariae home in the course of a few days. In Bohemia, in a district of Blowitz, an emigra tion society has been formed , the object of w hi c h i s t o establish a Bohemian and Moravian colony in North America. — The illness of his Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden has assumed such a serious character that he is not expected to survive many days. ITALY. The latest accounts from Cagliari are of the 17th. The greatest tranquillity prevailed throughout the island, but no intelligence had yet been received from the expeditionary column sent to the Nurra district. The number of muskets collected at Sassari is 3,800, of which 800 only belonged to the National Guard. The rural populations, it appears, has refused to join in the disturbances at Sassari. General DURANDO has returned to Cagliari ; the rigour of the state of siege has been abated at Sassari; only 35 persons ere under judicial examination. The Chamber of Deputies of Turin was discussing the Civil Pension Bill. On the 19th the Minister of Finance had presented five projects of law to the Chamber. One of them authorised the National Bank to increase its capital by 8,000,000 of livrey, another proposed certain modifications in the tariff, and a third was relative to the construction of a rail way between Turin and Suz=y. The tliilan Official Gazette of the 18th inst. an nounces the arrival of Marshal Radetzki at Cremona on the 17th. The Roman Journal of the 15th inst. states that the Pope had held a Secret Consistory in the morning of that day, at which four new Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church were appointed. Amongst them was the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Monsignor Don❑et. After the Consistory, Count Thntivoglio left for France to convey to his Eminence the news of his elevation. The Piedmontese Chamber of Deputies met on the 18th inA., to hear the int‘4ellations of M. F , irraccin relativ3 to the recent events at Sassari. M. Ferraccia rose and said:— " Having been summoned, with the other deputies of Sardinia, by the Minister of the Interior, I did not think proper to offer any opposition, the state of siege being already decreed. Any observation I could have made would have been tardy and useless. Besides, I was not in possession of the inforrealou I have since received. I am now enabled to state will certainty that the deplorable events of Sassari were brought aboet by petty persona lities and insults offered by the riflemen to :peaceable citizens, who were under the necessity of defending themselves. The proclamation of the state of siege is, on the part of the Cabinet, an abuse of power. If any body be responsible for the recent commotions in Sardinia it is the Government, which never thought of organising the police or replacing the troops guilty of insubordination. The Ministry asserts that Sardinia is infested with secret societies, whose object is to separate the island from Pied mont. The Sardinians are animated with sentiments of union and fraternity. The disorders and offences, re pressed o* certain points of the island, have been pro duced by want of foresight on the part of the Govern ment, by the &testable mode of assessing the taxes. the obstacles thrown in the way of industry and trade, and by the apathy of the constituted authorities. I will never approve measures of an exceptional character, for they recal to my mind the period of vice-regal despotism. It would be preferable, in my opinion, to favour the intellectual, moral, andaicivil development of the country. I conse quently consider that I am fulfilling a duty, in calling the Ministry to account for suspending the effzcts of the Constitution in the province of Sassari, without having been previously authorised to do so by a law:" M. Pernati, Minister of the Interior, replied— "The stat e o f s i eg e i s only a concentration of power, to p n r s evide for extraorditevy eases by extraordinary c ` 4 0 7 50 , • If thet concentration of power should abrogate atutional liberties and vuppress the guarantees of justice . ~ and individual liberty, it deserves the censure of Parliament. conf i ne z ft_e e. _ But, it it should respect those rights, and a eli tary Z it il l to concentrate in one hand the civil and the latter erity belonging to the Executive Power, the ConstitutieOn not exceed its attributes or violate decree plaeina This opinioa is confirmed by the and by a tuber in a state of siege in 1849 , from French juris of texts which I might borrow yoked the Sarart en"' I moreover twice con- ' Gov :ales to apprise them of the intention of the a:ent, and they unanimously agreed that the measure frau a i sdndispensable. Thus the Government acted with February and loyalty. A few weeks before the 24th of co r n y serious excesses had occurred in the province. attacked, and we had afterwards of riflemen was sass e ar e s. deplore the oc currences at Cagliari and there is one decide whence not yet sufficiently certain data to i . I f . we have came the provocation, il!•treatea thing Positive, namely, that soldiers were • --• some wounded and one killed. P, was consequently evident that thre checked. g ene , t ° 11 1 : prevailed in the province a spirit of insubordination required to be energetically decree establishing the state of siege, o f vh ,_ rn the execution is confided to General Durando. Liberty it , doubt should be respected, but it does not exist "'heath, Government cannot protect order against all attack., from whatever side they come. M. Stills, who spoke next, said : " I expected that the Minister of the Interior, in order to justify the measure, would cite conspiracies, reac tionary intrigues, or dema gog i c excesses. He adduced no such facts. If ordinary offences be sufficient to justify the proclamation of martial law, why not extend it ta Piedment, where such offences are daily committed? The occurrences at a masked ball at Sassari were mere individual offences, and did not constitute a revolt. The Courts of Justice alone were Competent to try them. I consequently propose the following order of the day The Chamber, consider ing that the Cabinet had no right to deprive the inhabi tants of the town and province of Sassari of their consti tutional franchises, passes to the order of the day.' After a few words from M. Asproni, General della Marmot?, Minister of War, rose and said— " It is my duty to refute insinuations tending to repre sent the citizens as having been assaulted by the troops. A person perfectly worthy of credit, who left Sassari ha the 24th February, certified to the Government that it was trio soldiers who had been ill-treated and me naced in their barracks. Officers and soldiers were in-' stilted by the citizens and the National Guard. Cul pable violence was exercised towards them. A corporal was wounded by a pistol-shot fired by an advanced sen try of the Natiolial Guild. The troops behaved rith germ osity and magnardmity." M. katezzi and M. Decondia k•nbsfquently vindi gated the conduct et' the Government. The latter declared that the National Guard had dishonoured its uniform by b ecoming an instrument of assassi nation. M. Sults protested against those words, asserting that the shots were not fired by the National Guard, but by citizens armed with fowl ing-pieces. M. Lione then moved an order of the day, by which the Chamber reserved its judgment on the measures adopted by the Government, but it was not supported. Finally, on the proposition of M. Gustave de Cavour, the simple order of the d a y was put to the vote, and adopted by a Considerable majo rity.v af 4. .rwarda • The Aseerubi -- adjourned. LORD DERBY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR.—Can you spare me a small space in your valu able, highly-interesting, and most impartial journal. If yes, I will venture a few words on the position of the Ministers and the Opposition. The latter complain—or would make us believe that they do—that Lord Derby has not been sufficiently explicit in his explanations. Has he not been rather too much so for them? It ap pears to me that Lord Derby has said, as plain as words can speak, as clearly, I may say, as A B C, and as cer tainly as that two and two make four, that his own indi vidual opinion is not in the slightest degree changed as regards the impolicy of free trade, and I conclude that he speaks the voice of his party, and the following may, I think, be considered as a fair summary of his Lordship's speeches:—A great experiment has now been going on in this country for some years, of the =policy of which neither I nor my party entertain the smallest doubt. On the other hand we are well aware that a very large and influential body of men who have a majority in both Houses are of a different opinion, and we are, therefore, quite aware that it would bo impossible, even if it was advisable, and the wish of the country, to reverse this system with the present Parliament. Consequently, as soon as what we consider the necessary and most impertant business of the country has been transacted, we purpose to appeal to and teke the sense of the country; not on the mere question, however, of a corn-law, but upon the broad principle of protection to British interests and British industry. As far as re gards protection, we do not even in the next Parliament propose to meddle with it, unless the voice of the coun try is expressed most decidedly in its favour, and then in bringing forward our measures for protection, wemost certainly do not mean to exclude the agricultural interests. On the other hand, again, should the decision of the country be against us as regards protection, but in our favour on other matters of hardly less importance, we propose—not most certainly even then to resign—but to endeavour to carry out the policy decided upon by the country, fully and fairly, taking care that no one parti cular interest shall suffer more than, or be sacrificed to any other; endeavouring to equalizs the weight of our heavy taxation over all branches of industry and all property equally, whilst at the same time relieving all, as far as possible, by a strict economy and a steady pur pose in our policy. We hope, in short, the great expe riment having either passed away or become a fact and a reality, to guide the nation onward in the path of glory, and not to be driven forward by a perpetual howl of discontent. —I am, Sir, your admirer, FAIR PLAY. ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. On Monday evening the usual meeting of the society was held at the Royal Institution, Albemarle-street. Sir R. J. Murchison presided. The Earl of Yerulam, Captain Pullen, and Captain Washington Carr, were among the new members elected. Captain BEATSON was introduced by the President, and read an interesting paper in explanation of the objects of the expedition on which he is about to embark in search of Sir John Franklin and his brave companions. He gave a minute description of the steamer, the Isabel, 250 tons, in which the search will be performed, the pre cautions used to enable the vessel to resist the pres pre of the ice, the number of boats, among which is a life boat, and the general equipments, which are most complete. He stated that the crew would consist of twelve persons besides himselr, and provisions were provided for five years, and could be made to last seven years, if necessary, while abun dant ammunition had been supplied by the Board of Ordnance. His course, on leaving England, will bo to proceed direct to the Straits of Magellan, thence passing into the Pacific to Callao, and from that point proceed ing to Behring's Straits. Arrived at the ice, Captain Beatson proposes to push forward to the north and wee, along the Asiatic shore, and to get to the north as far as possible this year. As soon as the winter com mences he will endeavour to explore to the east and north-east with sledges. In the event of not getting so far this year, he intends to winter as far to the north-west as possible, previous to starting in the spring. Opportunity will be taken to erect cairns on every available cape or hill, in which will be deposited a bottle containing a notice of his inten tions. Every endeavour will be subsequently used to get to the eastward, but should this be impracticable on account of the condition of the ice, Captain Beat son will make to the north. entertaining, as he does, the conviction that if Sir John Franklin has arrived in or about the 150th meridian, he would probably try to proceed westward in a higher latitude. This course he propo , es to follow year by year, until he deems that region sufficiently explored, which the missing naviga tors are by competent judges believed to have reached. In conclusion, the captain expressed his hope that he would be favoured with moral and physical energy to perform his task; but should he not be fortunate enough to meet with traces of Franklin and his crews, he should at least return with satisfactory proofs of their not having reached the parts he proposed to survey, and with the consciousness of having performed his duty. Thanks were voted to Captain Beatson for his paper, the President observing that the plan was peculiarly his own, and that the exhaustive process of search now in progress would leave no means untried to discover our missing countrymen. A paper, by Mr. P. L. Simmonds, " On Animal Life in the Arctic Regions," was then read, which was strongly confirmatory of the views and de tails given by Mr. Petermann on the same subject at a recent meeting. Some discussion followed, in which Sir Thomas Phillips, Dr. Trueman, and other members took part, a very strong opinion being generally expressed with regard to the present safety and ultimate discovery of Franklin and his companions. Adverting to a state ment in some of the papers, that Captain Ray, of the Hudson's Bay Company, had picked up a portio❑ of a fhg-staff with the Admiralty mark upon it, the inference being drawn that it was from the wreck of one of Franklin's ships, the President expressed a de cided opinion, founded on the last intelligence beard of the expedition, that this conclusion was wholly errone ous, an opinion in which he was supported by the best geographers. A paper was read by Mr. Gassiot, descriptive of his travels in Southern Africa, which concluded the business of the evening. CITY OF LONDON GENERAL PENSION SOCIETY. The anniversary festival of this useful charity was celebrated last evening at the London Tavern, Vis count Mahon, M.P., in the chair. The Noble Chairman having given the loyal toasts, with a few appropriate remarks, in proposing the " toast of the evening," said such meetings as the present were peculiar to this country, and it was cheering to perceive that gentle men of opposite political principles could unite cordially in supporting a charitable society. In pleading on be half of this institution, he noticed its value in seeking out and supporting he decayed and unfortunate, who were deserving of receiving its benefits. And he considered that it would be much better if individuals were to contribute to such charities where the merits of the re. cipients were strictly inquired into, instead of mis takenly encouraging those impostors who abused their benevolence. He drew an amusing pic ture of the tricks practised by professed mendicants from Sheridan's play of The Critic. Mr. Thomson, the chairman of the directors, proposed the health of the Noble Chairman, and stated that Earl Sainhope had ac cepted the office of the president of the society, and had been pleased to send a donation of 101. and to double his annual subscription. The report stated that the sum of 56,9941. had been distributed by the society since its commencement to 882 pensioners. There were at pre sent 56 persons receiving assistance. The donations col lected in the room amounted to upwards of 4001. The following legacies were also announced :-1001. from the late Mr. J. Thomson; 1,0001. Three per Cent. Consols, from Miss E. Bebbon; and the reversion of 2,0001. on the death of a lady, whose name did not transpire. Having responded to the toasts of the " Corporation of London," the " Stewards," &c., the company separated. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. Genge, assisted by the Misses Wells, Mr. Perron, and Mr. F. Smith, who presided at the pianoforte. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN TEE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MARCH. 20, 1552. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*l9B Diseaus of Uncertain Seat ... 44 Tubercular Diseases ... ... ... 224 rise;se - s — of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 145 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 51 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• 269 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... ••• ... •••• ••• ••• 74 Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. •• > „. ..• 22 Childbirth, Diseases of le Uterus, &c. ... ... 5 Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ••• 14 iftease i , aof the Skin, &c. ... ... ... ... 1 " ° ' a lforraatzion.s... • ••• 4 p, emature Birth ••• ••• •• • •• ...,, AtrOphy ••• ••• t ii• ••• ••• uu old Age ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •• •31 Sudden ... - - ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• 62 Violence, p iiv •••. ••• •• ••• ••• ••• 1 Causes not vec a tig e n c i Cold, • and Intemperance • ... 31 ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• 2 DEATHS plu m A. _ ~, '''" atm= . - 1 208 Em u ., rolnilati , e n to m tru e d, the in eorre- Deaths 1851, spooding wee k West Districts... 376,427 of 1851. in the Week. North Districts.. 490,3116 • • 236 ... 195 Central Districts 393,256 East Districts ... 485,522 ... 2n5,.0 ... 208 south Districts .. 616,635 ... 4 3 , 7 , 5 a ••• 230 .--.......- •.. 338 _ ..... 2,362,236 ••• 1,412 Males ••• ••• ... 1,208 652 Females ... ••• ••• 556 THE SUN, BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males ... ••• . 60 ••• ••• 897 Females ... ... ••• ••• ••• 813 Total ... ... ." — 1 ,710 *ln this number are included 20 by Scarlatina, 32 by Typhus Fever, and 19 by Diarrhoea. THE KROLL WINTER GARDEN at BERLIN After this splendid establishment had been consumed by fire last year, its re-opening, after complete recon struction, took place on the 24th February. A spacious entrance, capable of acco mmo d a ting two coaches, lea ds the visitor through a vestibule to the entrance, where the bureau and the wardrobe are situated. To the right, an elegant winding staircase of iron leads to the corridor and the boxes of the first saloon. This, called the Roman Saloon, has a length of 80 feet, by 36 feet of breadth, and 25 feet . high. It is p a i n t e d g old, white, and red, and the ce i l ing has casottes, which surround teo large fresco paintu3ga. The walls are ornamented with groups in medallions. Large mirrors, 12 feet by 6, ornament the walls. By a colonnade, which divides the saloons, we reach the King's Saloon, which has a length of 100 feet, by 78 feet bread, and 40 feet high. Six chandeliers spread the light of 900 gas tapers over the space. The saloon and the surrounding boxes are painted white, gold, and green. The architecture is that of the Renaissance style; grooved out gilt pilasters end into caryatides, which support the ceiling; they are modelled by Professor Fischer. The ceiling consists of a network of gilt ornaments, containing medallion por traits of poets, painters, and architects. The third apartment is called the Knights' Saloon, and is of the same dimensions as the former. The ornamentation consists of paintings representing sports and mediaeval gymnastics in eighteen arched niches. The other ap purtenances of the new Kroll Winter Garden are of the same character, and the whole ornamented, more over, with plants and shrubs. The very large atten dance on the opening and subsequent day, proved the liking of winter gardens by the large populatio❑ of the Prussian capital.—Builder. LONDON, MERCIFUL JURIES. A girl named Alexandrine 1141lanel was tried four days ego by the C curt of Assizes of the Aude, sitting at Montpellier, for the murder of a sub-lieutenant of 2d Regiment of Hussars, named Anceaume. When in garrison at Tarascon, in 1849, Anceaume made the girl his mistress, and she followed him in 1850 to Carcas sonne. At that place he bec,me acquainted with a young girl of respectable family, and resolved to marry her. The wedding was fixed to take place in July last. This greatly exasperated the prisoner, and she frequently menaced Anceaume with vengeance. In the night of the 2d July the report of a firearm was heard in the lieutenant's room, and on going to it he was found wel tering in blood. In a few minutes he died. Suspicion fell on the girl, and it was ascertained that she had a key to his room, by which she could let herself in with out his knowledge; that she had a few days before been making enquiries as to how firearms were loaded; that just after the shot was fired a girl had been seen mining from the house towards that in which she lived; and that a ball, similar to that by which the officer was killed, was found in her room. But, notwithstanding all this, the jury returned a verdict of acquittal. During the trial, the girl repeatedly protested her innocence, and heard the verdict without the least emotion. A peasant girl, named Th 6 ase Chuchu, of Etourvy, department of the Aube, was also tried three days ago by the Court of Assizes of the department, sitting at Troyes, for an attempt to kill a lover who had aban doned her. By this man, named Prunier, she had had a child, and he undertook to give her 5,000 f. to pro ♦ido for it; but after subscribing a document to that effect, he contrived to get it away again. Having broken off with her, he paid his addresses to a girl named Lar bouillat, and a marriage was resolved on. One e►ening in January, as he was kissing this girl on taking leave, a shot was fired at him from the adjacent garden, but fortunately he was not touched. The prisoner lived in the next house, and it was proved that just before she had bought a pistol. In answer to the interrogatories of the President, she readily admitted that she had fired the pistol, and that she had formed a deliberate design of killing Prunier because he had dishonoured her. But nevertheless the jury declared her not guilty.— G aliynani, FRENCH RAILWAY TRAFFIC. The following are the last returns of the gross re ceipts of the principal French Railways : NORTHERN.—From March 4 to March 10: Passengers, 203,9921.; goods, 265,605 E; total, 469,597 f. ROUEN.—From March 7 to March 13 : Passengers, 66,6721.; goods, 97,874 f.; total, 164,5461. LlivuE.—From Marcia 7 to March 13 : Passengers, 23,5771.; goods, 46,019 f. ; total 69,596 f. ORLEANS.—From March 8 to March 14: Passengers, 77,900 f. ; goods, 141,296 f.; total, 219,196 f. BORDEAUX.—From March 2 to March 8: Passengers, 44,4539 f.; goods, 69,7541.; total, 114,2431. VIERZON.—From March 8 to March 14: Passengers, 38,958 f.; goods, 52,990 f.; total, 91,9481. NANTES.—From March 4 to March 10 : Passengers, 23,9851.; goods, 31,4601.; total, 35,445 f. ST R ASBIT RG.—From March 4 to March 10: Passengers, 93,6641.; goods, 118,670 f.; total, 212,3341. BALE.—From Feb. 23 to Feb. 29 : Passengers, 17,9741.; goods, 29,0071.; t0ta1,46,981f. MONTEREAU.—From Mar. 4 to Mar. 10: Passengers, 8,056 f.; • goods, 14,5061.; total, 22 5621. MARSEILLES.—From Feb. 26 to Mar. 4: Passengers, 42,4201.; goods, 35,497 f.; total, 77,9171. CHAnTREs.—From March 8 to March 14: Passengers, 21,7911.; goods, 23,5901.; total, 45,651 f. THE LONDON GAZETTE, March 23 BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. Lorens Theodor Wang, merchant, Sunderland. BANKRUPTS. John Branch, corn dealer, Camberwell, to surrender March 27, at eleven, and April 30, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Bssing hall street; Wilson ,Gresham-street, City. William Stevens, upholsterer, High Holborn, April 2 and May 7, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Aldermanbury; Taylor, South street, Finsbury-square. John Wood, brewer, Putney, March 31, at half-past twelve, and May 4, at twelve, at flag Court of Bank ruptcy. Graham, official assignee ; Laurance, Flews, and Boyer, Old Jewry-chambers. Charles Henry White, china, glass, and earthenware dealer, Southampton, March 29 and May 8, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Braikenridge. Bartlett's-buildings. Richard Chamberlain, draper, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, April 3 and May 3, at half-past ten, at the Birming ham District Court. Bittleston. official assignee, Bir mingham; C'x, Sise-lane, London; Motteram, Knight, and Emmet, Birmingham. John Cadman, grocer, Derby, April 2, at half-past ten, and April 30, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court, Nottingham. Bittleston, official assignee, Not tingham; Vallick, Derby; I.k.lotteram, Knight, and Emmett, Birmingham. James Luxford, draper, Market Rasen, Lincoln, April 14, an d May 5, at twelve, at the Leeds District Court. Carrick, official assignee, Hull; Tweed, Lincoln. Robert Tomlinson Carlisle, builder, Sheffield, April 3 and May 15, at ten, at the Leeds district Court. Free man, official assignee, Sheffield; Broomhead, jun., Sheffield; Fernell, Sheffield. William Todd and James Todd, provision merchants, Liverpool, April 5, at twelve, and April 26, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official as signee, Liverpool; Holden, Liverpool. Anson Hardy, general and commission merchant, Li verpool, April 2 and May 6, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official assignee, Liverpool; Holden, Liverpool. George Foster, joiner, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Lan cashire, April 5 and 28, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester; Messrs. Whitworth, Manchester. INSOLVENT DEBTORS. J. Banks, s tereotyper, Castle-street, Holborn. E. L. Levy, attorney, Mecklenburgh•square, Gray's Inn-road. Wm. Patterson, coal dealer, Grundy-street, Poplar New Town. W. Alired, corn dealer, Harper-street, New Kent-road. T. B. Loader, map publisher, Princes-street, Stamford- street. J. Ainslie, draining engineer, Earl-street, Blackfriars. G. J. Brown, land agent, Victoria-grove, Kensington. I. Smart, dining room keeper, Somerset-place, Rother- hithe. W. Killick, share broker, Gower-street North, New-road. G. Wheatcroft, a Lieutenant in her Majesty's 6th Regi ment of Enniskillen Dragoons, Southampton-street, Bloomsbury. J. Fuller, beer retailer, Hillingdon, Middlesex. C. R. Storey, Captain in her Majesty's Army, Francis terrace, Hampstead-road. W. Haggis, beer seller, Woolwicb. J. Fleming, grocer, Berry Edge, Shotley-bridge, Durham. J. Smith, innkeeper, New bottle, Durham. J. Southall, book-keeper, Liverpool. J. Craven, corn and flour dealer, Leeds. A. Fish, tailor, Heaton-lane, Heaton Norris, Lancashire. T. C. Goodall, licensed victualler, Salford, J. Tattersall, grocer, Burnley, Lancashire. H. Bentley, roller maker, Salford, Lancashire. J. Caldecoit, licensed victualler,' Heaton Norris, Lan- cashire. J. S. Dick, ship owner, North Shields, Northumberland. W. Dick, boot maker, North Shields, Northumberland, J. Leadbeater, bookkeeper, Heywood, near Manchester. H. Riley, overlooker, Bolton•le-Moors, Lancashire. J. Shaw, plasterer, Huddersfield. T. Thompson, master mariner, North Shields. P. Walmeley, jun,, boot maker, Mackerfield, Lancashire. J. Forman, assistant to a farmer, Heckington Fen, Lin- colnshire. D. Howell, publican, Swansea, Glamorganshire. Edmund Lee, brick maker, Manchester. W. W. Milnes, assistant grocer, Lockwood, Yorkshire. Thomas Lett, victualler, Stoke Prior, Worcestershire. Edward Boyer, jun., Brooklands, Lancashire. DIVIDENDS. At the Court, Basinghall-street. J. Harrop, Crasseroft, Yorkshire, clothier, April 16, at eleven—H. J. Ellis, Rotherhithe-wall, Rotherhithe, ironmonger, April 16, at one—H. R. Sabine, Poppin's court, Fleet-street, cardmaker, April 16, at twelve—J. Murray, Graceehnrch-street, Manchester warehouseman, April 16, at twelve. In the Country., J. Robinson, Henley, Yorkshire, dyer, May 4, at eleven, at the Court, Leeds—J. Duggan, Maryport, Cumberland, draper, April 21, at half-past twelve, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—J. Storey, Hartlepool, Durham, draper, April 19, at twelve, at the Court , Newcastle-upon-Tyne. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS. J. Phillips, Birmingham, druggist and grocer, on any Thursday, between eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Christie, Birmingham. T. E. Slate, King's Head-court, City, and Hatton garden, bookbinder, ls, 7id., on any tween eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, BaEieghall-street. Wednesday, be- J. Barker, Exmouth.street, and Pleasant-row, Clerk cheesemonger, 6 d., on any Wednesday, be tween eleven' and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Ba singhall-street. J. Franckeiss, Portsea and Llndport, woollendraper, second dividend of on any ' Wednesday, between eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basing hal l- street. F. F. Vouill on Princes -street, Hanover-square se cond dividend o f •20., 0n w eleven and three, a t the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basing hall-etreet. Wedn e sday , bet ween , J. H. May, Breoknock-terrace, Camden Town, draper, s econd dividend of 5d., on any Wednesday, between eleven and three , at the office of M r. Whitmore ' , Basing. E. Lee, Glossop, Derbyshire, cotton manufacturer, 24. sid., on Tuesday, March 30, or any subsequent Tues day, between eleven and one, at the office of Mr. Pott, M.anchester. R. Heardman, Manchester, wine and spirit merchant, 4-d., on Tuesday, March 30, or any subsequent Tues day, between eleven and one, at the office ut Mr. Pott, Manchester. T. Birch, Manchester, common brewer, 6s. 4d., on Thursday, March 25, or an) subsequent Thursday, be tween ten and one, at the office of Mr. Lee, Manchester. R. S:?ymour, Sunderland, linendraper, 45., o❑ Satur day, March 27, or any subsequent Saturday, between ten and three, at the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle upon-Tyne. NOTICES OF CERTIFICATES. At the Court, Basingball-street. W. Clapham, Strand, licensed victualler, April 15, at half-past eleven. In the Country. J. Duggan, Maryport, Cumberland, draper, April 21, at one, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—W. Bel shaw, Manchester, joiner and builder, April 20, at twelve, at the Court, Manchester—H. Glad win, Not tingham, draper, April 23, at half-past ten, at the Court, Nottingham—J. Furniss, Almondbury, York shire, woollen cloth manufacturer, May 3, at eleven, at the Court, Leeds. CERTIFICATE GRANTED. S. T. Jay, Badley, Suffolk, miller, certificate of the third clasi. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. Coulthart and A. Coke, Blackburn, drapers—Jane Edwards, Anne L. Edwards, and W. L. Edwai Colwyn, Carnarvonshire, grocers—J. Russell and G. Russell, Hoyland Nether, Yorkshire, tanners—J. Mit• shell and T. E. Sykes, Worsbrough, Yorkshire, coal miners—H. Balch and H. Knowlden, Lichfield-street, Soho, water gilders—W. Roberts and J. Wagner, Bull's Head-court, Newgate-street, perfumers—B. Hainsworth and W. Tetley, Liverpool, brewers—J. F. Kennedy and Harriet Spence, Kingston-upon-Hull, woollen drapers —W. J. Robinson and M. Cull wick, Birmingham, grocers—J. Gibbons, S. Gibbons, and W. Brown, Sal ford, manufacturers (so far as regards J. Gibbons) — S. Lewis, E. Allenby, and R. Whitehouse, Leaming• ton Priors, silk mercers—W. Hobbs and W. Side botham, Gibralter Mill, near Hyde, Cheshire, cotton spinners —J. Garlick and J. Hirst, Lockwood Berry Brow and Springwood, both near Huddersfield, coal merchants—J, Dyer and T. Wigley, Belper, Derbyshire, joiners —H. Butterfield, W. T. Fisher, and L. T. M. Roche t, Victoria -street, City, merchants—J. Hughes and Charlotte Pack, Aldersgate•street; coffeehouse-keepers— P. B. Gow and Katharine Gow, Bishopsgate-street Within, lace manufacturers—R. Peate, Diana C. Peate, and M. Tomlin, Ashton-under-Lyne, milliners (so far as regards M. T om li n )—J. B. O rre ll an d J. J. Brierley, Manchester. fancy dress mixed goods manufacturers. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. R. Miller, West Derby, Liverpool, bricklayer and builder. John Packett, Liverpool. J. Perks, Bootle, Lancashire, ironmonger's assistant. George Dawson, Hulme, Lancashire, butcher. Thomas Warr, Manchester, Lancashire, coach driver. Samuel Burman, Hulme, Lancashire, plumber. John Bratley, Wragby, Lincolnshire, farrier. Joseph Dent, Castle View, Leicestershire, law stationer. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATION. T. J. Adams, Glasgow, professor of music, to meet within the Glasg ow S toc k E x ch a n ge Room, Glasgow, on March 25 and April 15, at one. SHIP NEWS. NOTICE TO MARINERS. Office of Committee of Privy Council fJr Trade, Whitehall, March - 18, 1852, Sir,—l am directed by the Lords of the Committee o. Privy Council for Trade to transmit to you, for the in formation of the Committee for Managing the Affairs of Lloyd's, the accompanying copies of two notices that have been received from her Majesty's Consul at Rot terdam, and which were published in the Netherlands Staats Courant, No. 56, of the sth inst., respecting the shallows off the Island of Texel, and alteration about to take place in the existing coast light at West Capelle. (Signed) G. R. PORTER. Capt. Geo. A. Halsted, R.N., Secretary to Lloyd's, B,:c. Marine Department, the Hague, Feb. IG. The Minister of;I Marine having taken :into con sideration the numerous strandings and shipwrecks which occur on the coast of the island of Texel, hereby informs and cautions mariners that the coast of the island of Texel is, for the purpose of avoiding the shallows extending from the said coast, known under the appellation of the Eyerland Shallows, and also designated by fishermen as the Gardens or Orchards, not to be approached within a distance of two to three German miles, or a depth of 16 to 18 fathoms, as has of old beon intimated and published. The shallows to the north of the eastern part of Texel are very dry, and extend about one mile from the shore, and the ebb stream coming at this part of the coast from the north-east and east-north-east, by variations of com pass is apt greatly to mislead. Ships coming west about in thick weather and at night are therefore especially recommended to make timely and careful use of the sounding line, in order not to approach the coast of Texel within the aforesaid 16 to 18 fathoms; the result shown by the sounding line being the safest guide to keep out at sea, in order to avoid the aforesaid coast and shallows. As the charts of the North Sea are in this respect less extensive, and as no special chart of the Eyerland Shallows is in existence, it is intended shortly to cause accurate soundings to be made of the aforesaid Eyerland Shallows, which will then be included in the Charts of the Mouths of the Sea. The Minister aforesaid, (Signed) T. ENSLIE. The Hague, March 20, 1852. The Minister of Marine hereby informs mariners that the existing coast light at West Capelle, composed of argand lamps, with parabolic reflectors, will, in ell probability, have to be temporarily extinguished at the a powerful c ata di optr i c li ght of the first class. commencement of the en su i ng mont h o f May, to be re- I Vr a o c in e d the by time when the present light will be ex the tinguished up to the lighting of th e i m p rove d li g h t ( ca l, culated to embrace a period of ab ou t s ix wee k s ) an auxiliary light will be exhibit e d f rom th e a f oresa i d a catadioptric li g hti ng a pp aratus classbeteatchoenfocu°rntshisting of (small size). The ti me o f li g h t i ng th as also the horizon thereby to distance at which it will be vi s ibl e will be publi shed later, Th e Mi n i ster aforesaid, (Signed) T. E NS U E . e b a e f i o ig re h s t a e i d d , auxili ary and d l i i s g t ah Light-house on the Ponta da Atelite, province of Para. directed by t h e B raz i l i an Government to Brazilian Consulate-G enera l , Li verpoo l , M arch 17. Sir,—l am make public, for the information of all parties whom it Brazil, may concern, that a light-h ouse , o f w hi c h I b eg to h an d you the particulars, has recent l y b een ' erected on the Ponta da Atalsia, in the S a li nas, prov i nce o f P ara, i n and that th e sa id li g ht-h ouse was intended en F e bruary last. operation on and aft e r th e 15th o f (signed) J. M . BRAGA, V i ce-Consul, em de p d ire to of be in Capt. G. A. Halsted, , , Acting-Consul-General. R.N., Secretary, Lloyd's. Particulars of the light-house recently erected on the Ponta (la Atalaia, in th e S a li nas, prov i nce o f P ara, empire of Brazil, lat. 34 S. long. 33 32 of the meridian of the Ilha do Ferro: —The light is visible at 17 miles $ and p resents t h e f o ll ow i ng p h ases: — ob scurity during 16 ditto—I ncreasing and brilliant li ght gradual ly An other eclipse, 22 di tto: total, 120. The phases suc ceed each other at intervals of two minutes. " MUDDLE." -- An y real endeavour to defeat muddle" (expressive and distressing dissyllable) has our heartiest good wishes. Against muddle—the muddle of ignorance, the muddle of idleness, the muddle of want of order, the love-destroying and comfort-killing "muddle of inexorable cleanlines s ," against muddle in the drawing room, the studio, or th e workshop—we wage war eternal and unsparing. Unhappy victims of muddle, who shall re count your miseries or obtain you redress? Muddle cannot get for five pounds what Order, Judgment, and Energy can get for one: muddle makes fortune of little avail, and takes the shine out of a life which might otherwise be all bright ness. "Lucky Jones has married a wife with 3001. a year; but then she is a sad muddle." Miserable Jones! do you know what you have done? Muddle would he dear at rest in—no sympathisin g comforter to advise. In the temple wheredouble muddleo rneeiy. Muddle will provide for you no home to g ns th ere w ill b e f oun d no peace, no b eauty, no good. Against m u ddl e t h e d ower we i g h s not . A n ob serving eye, a calculating head, a ready hand, a gentle step, a loving heart. external neatness, internal purity, are more to be considered than hundreds a year, trashy accomplish ments, lofty connexions, and unhealthy apings of the class above. Mothers, be wise ; make your daughters able women, real help-mates Builder. ; not useless toys, joy-destroying muddles.— ACCIDENT TO A CLERGYMAN.—We regret to state that the Rev. Charles Oxenden, the respected rector of Bar ham, met with an accident in the course of last week, which will, we fear, incapacitate him from fulfilling his parochial duties for som e t i me to come. Mr. C . O xendon was walking in the garden of the rectory, when he slipped down an ab rupt terrace bank fronting his house, and in the effort to re cover his footing, snapped the tendons of the leg, just above the ankle. To a gentleman of his active habits this is a most unfo rtu nate occurrence, seeing that though neither da ngerous nor painful, the accident is one which requires entire rest and perfect quiescence. Our readers may remember that some months back we recorded an accident of a similar nature, which befel Mr. Charles Vernon Oxendon, of the Rifle Brigade, son of the above gentleman, on the St. Lawrence cricket ground, when playing the match between the gen tlemen of Rent and the gentlemen of England.—Dover Telegraph; THE GAUR-LAl9B.—The amount of crime, misery, and co st, r esu l t i ng from supera b undant game-preserving and game- laws, which is shown during the present assize cir cuits, calls forth grave reflection. That noblemen and squires,by their infatuation for sup era b un d ance o f game "(which amounts to a sort of mania or madness), should bring upon the commun it y a ll th e ill s an d ev il s w hi c h they do, is truely disgraceful, and it is impossible that it can be much longer endured. No reasonable person would begrudge their tern 'of ratio n al sport an d di vers i on, b ut t h e con trary ; yet game preserving: has grown to such a hight tha t the country justly consequences most serious. It is, also. too b ad that the condemns it, and because it beget inj uries and public should have to pay, in any shape, one farthing for prosecutions arising out of the 'game-laws. The time is hastening on wh en some p res erves will have, as they ought to have, the en ti re cost o f t h ose prosecutions to defray them selves ; and they ought to be at the expense of maintaining the prisoners, and exonerating the ratepayers from charges of the convicts' wives and families. This being accomplished, "My Lords and Gentlemen" would then act differently to what they now do.—( From a Correspondent.) Tna SEA SERPENT'S RivAL.—A monster fish, of an unknown species, has been exhibited during the week in five to six fe e t the old corn mar k e t. It had six gills on each side o f it s head, measures 16 f ee t in length, and from in girth, and weighs about two tons. It was caught off th e Start, on Sunday, the 14th inst., by the crew of the sloop Jessie, Thomas Middleton, master, and, in consequence of its enormous size, was towed 11' that "M e l i n t ° liarhotir•— Devortport Indepe n dent. • . WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 1852 . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 23. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his scat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. LilW OF WILLS. The LORD CLIZINCELLOR—My Lords, I rise to move the second reading of a Bill for the amendment of the law with resrect to wills. When I introduced this Bill the other night, I stated to your Lordships the diffi culties which it was intended to guard against. By a statute passed in the reign of Charles 11., all devises in writing were to be attested and subscribed by three or four witnesses in the presence of the testator; and it WBS said that a will was:good if the name of the testator was found at the head of the will; and therefore, if a man, for example, began in these term s —" I, J o h n S ty l es, d o make this my will," that was held to be a sufficient sig nature. Now, my Lords, this was thought to be an abuse; and, in order to guard against such an abuse, a new Act of Parliament was passed in the first year of her present Majesty, for the amendment of the law of wills, which provided that every will should be signed at the foot or end thereof by the testator, in the pre sence of certain witnesses. I had stated to your Lord ships that the effect of that enactment was (and I dare say it was a surprise upon those who framed the Act) that unless the name of the testator followed im mediately atter the disposition of the will (if there was, for example, a little more than an inch of space lefe on which the name might have been introduced), if the name was placed a little lower, the ease was tried, not by the rule of law, but rather by a rule of space, and the will was held to be void; and, upon that construc tion, my Lords, hundreds of wills have been held to be invalid, and misery and wretchedness have found their way to hearths where wealth, and peace, and comfort ought to have found their liabilities. My Lords, the proposition is to amend the present law by providing that where the name of the testator is found after the will, so as to give, by its place and situation, a sanction to the will itself—so as to show that it was intended to sanction the will by the signature after the will, that shall be held to be valid. Now, my Lords, no question ever arose in the vast number of wills which were made after the Statute of Frauds in the reign of Charles 11., which I have mentioned—no question, I say, ever arose as to whether the name of the testator being after the will was in its proper place or not, and therefore the removal of the obstacle which has been occa sioned by the decisions will remove all the difficul ties, and no question hereafter can arise, as it ap pears to me, my Lords, with regard to the execu tion of such a will. My Lords, I believe there will be a general concurrence in this measure, and I be lieve that nothing can be more desirable, as people die daily, and as men must have made their wills, and as a great majority of w ill s wou ld b e h eld to be valid but for the rule of law I have referred to; and, indeed, I know that many of your Lordships, in consequence of what you have heard, have done exactly what I have done myself, namely, I have looked at my own will to see whether it was executed so as to carry my own inten• tions into effect, having a very great doubt in my mind whether the appearance of the thing upon paper might not invalidate it, for I might have put my name a little lower than the rule of law required. And I think, my Lords, that it is of the utmost importance that a man's will should be considered valid and sacred where the mere form only is in question, and the substance is not in question. Therefore I propose, with your Lordships' permission, to carry the Bill through all its stages now, so that your Lordships may be enabled to pass the mea sure before Easter, and send it down to the other House immediately. My Lords, there are other points which I have endeavoured to cope with, and which may be open to more observation, and which may draw from some of my Noble and Learned Friends objections to its pas sing without more mature consideration ; and, my Lords, if that should be so, I can only say that I should at once feel myself bound to withdraw those clauses, because I mean to put forward nothing that in my opinion shall endanger this measure, which is one which I think so exceedingly important. My Lords, the two clauses to which I refer will, I think, remedy a great abuse. The Act of Parliament of her present Majesty, as I have told jour Lordships, requires a will to be signed at the foot or end thereof, in the presence of two witnesses. That my Lords, I have disposed of. It then goes on to require that the signature of the testator shall be made or acknowledged in the presence of the witnesses. Now, my Lords, this difficulty has arisen upon that—it was not required by the Statute of Frauds: but this difficulty has now arisen. Your Lord ships will bear in mind that what the Act requires is, that the signature of the testator shall be made or ac knowledged in the presence of the witnesses. Now, my Lords, it often happens that when a man has made his will and called in the witnesses to attest his will, he is anxious that they should not see any part of the provisions of that will; — suppose, for example, that it is written on a sheet of letter paper—you have it before you, and two servants, perhaps, come into the room to witness the will, and the testator desires that they shonld not read any por tion of the will by glancing over that part which is above the signature, and that has induced a man fre quently to hold down the will so as to hide from the witnesses the portion above the signature, and in doing so they have folded down the signature itself. And, my Lords, it has been held, that as the statute requires that the signature, not the will, should be made and acknowledged in the presence of the witnesses, that unless they have seen the signature the will is void. Now, my Lords, that was never the intention, and with your Lordships' permission I propose to amend that state of the law in this manner—by enacting that if the signature of the testator be in its proper place, and it is not proved to have ben placed there after the witnesses affixed their signatures, and if the testator at the time acknowledged the instrument to be his will, that that shall be sufficient. Now, my Lords, I enter tained a hope—which hope I have rather abandoned within the last quarter of an hour—but I had hoped that this proposition was free from objec tion, and would meet with none from any of my Noble and Learned Friends, because, if a testator ac knowledges an instrument to be his will, and if the will come to be examined, and the name of the testator is found to be in its proper place at the end of the will, where is the danger? What is it, my Lords, that you have to guard against? There is the signature—the testator has signed it, and properly speaking it is not his will unless he has signed it. If, therefore, he did that which was requisite at the end of it, which is ne cessary to give effectual operation to it, I ask your Lord ships whether it is reasonable to allow men's wills to be set aside upon a distinction of that sort. I should pro mise your Lordships that if any obstacle be opposed by an y o f my Noble and Learned Friends to this provision being carried now—a provision which I should think it not proper to attempt to force upon your Lordships—if any of my Learned Friends should have any objections to offer, I shall think it highly improper to attempt to ask your Lordships to pass this provision without full consideration being given to it; and therefore I shall withdraw it, so as not to endanger the ultimate success of the whole measure, though undoubtedly I shall intro duce it for further and more mature consideration upon another occasion. My Lords, there is another improve ment, if your Lordships should think proper to concur in it, that I propose to introduce. The statute requires that the witnesses should sign in the presence of the tes tator; nod, my Lords, it has very often happened that when a man is making his will in extremis—when he is lying in bed, and is incapable of being moved, but still in a state of perfect capacity of mind—it has frequently happened that witnesses who have come round the bed side, and witnessed the execution of the will, and seen it signed by the testator, all due solemnities being ob served, in order not to disturb him, have retired to the adjoining room, and there attested the will; and then the question has arisen—is that, or is it not, a com pliance with the statute, which requires that a will shall be signed by the witness in the presence of the testator? Now, my Lords, in order to meet the difficulties of the case—with a natural desire to give effect to men's wills where there is no fraud, and where the statute has been substantially complied with, the courts have made this distinction, that if the witnesses sign in such a position in an adjoining room, that they are within the line of light, so that the testator, if he liked, might see them (although nobody pretends that ho did see them) the will is good; but if they happen to retire a little beyond the line of light, the table, for example, being out of view, and they all sign the will, then the will is void. Now, my Lords, what has been the consequence ? Why, my Lords, this—that juries have not been found who would, though upon their oaths, find a will so signed to be void. They would not find a will to be void, though it was clear that the tes tator was not in a position in which he could have seen the witnesses sign. And, my Lords, we have had several instances of this sort. Several trials have been sent down to juries once, twice, and thrice, to decide that question upon a will, in cases in which there was no doubt about the fact that the witnesses were not within the line of light, and the juries have upon every ry occasion returned a verdict in favour of the will, re fusing obedience to the law, because theyt thought Now, this verdict according to the rule of law wouldeel! gshtritphpaitnga the rightful owners of their just posses h sl e o ld to juries to is an invitation which should not be compel them to come to a verdict at . :aria own consciences. My Lords, there is La their Lordships what it dif ficulty ; but before I . state . to y and ludicrous. variant© undoubtedlywith a blind man ' swill, is, I must state that it is almost absurd as well The statute applies to as to the will of a man who, t h e refore, that under the statute, although the is possessed of his eye sight ; and it has been held ew i tness es are to sign in th e p re sence of the testator, y e t if they sign in the pre man a good signature. B ut acne() of a blind ma n that I. ill be astonished when y ou r Lordships w you— although nobody would find fault with it, because it was i n furtherance ofatea tamentary power, an d i t would be hard, beca use a man was deprived of hi s sight, that he makin g a testamen tary shou ld be deprived of the p ower of disp os i t i o n of his property—th a t the courts have ma d e this rule, which surely must startle most people— viz., that the same same rule, that which I have spoken of to your Lordships as to the line of light —applies as well to a blind man as to a man that can see; and the courts have decided that it a blind man is not in a posi tion in which if he was blessed with sight he could see, his will is void. And so, in the case of a man being wholly incapab!e of seeing, if the witnesses are there, his will is good if' they happen to sign within the line of light. Now, my Lords, surely these are anomalies in the law of England which ought not to be allowed to prevail; and I must say that the first case that I put to your Lordships, in which men's wills have been held to be void because the signature was not put in the proper place, is a case arising under a law which in its opera tion is a disgrace to the country. My Lords, it is very easy to point out what I have been stating to your Lordships upon the last head. It will not be perhaps so easy to persuade some of my Noble and Learned Friends that I have provided a satisfactory remedy, although I bava often and anxiously takes the subject into consi deration; but, my Lords, this is no busty conclusion of mine. I have no doubt some of my Noble and Learned Friends will think that I have not provided in the most satisfactory manner for the solu tion of this question; but what I propose to provide for is this, that where witnesses, without fraud, end as part of the same transaction, without quitting the house or place where the will is signed, do sign a will after see ing the testator sign it, all due solemnities being observed, that shall be held to be a valid will. Now, my Lords, no doubt it may be said that this would open a door to some fraud, or to a substitution of one will for another. My Lords, those are not the dangers alter all which we have to avoid. It may be said that because the dangers have not occurred these laws have prevented them. But the lsw has not stuck at fraud; the law has destroyed a man's will, which was open to no substarvial objection. The law has not prevented the frauds which, whenever the parties had been determined to carry them into exe cution, they have been able to do so in spite of it. Ido not say that they have all been successful—men have at tempted it skilfully, and it may be successftely in some cases, and they have taken care to adhere to all those rules which would destroy men's wills, in attempting to impose the solemnities required. Now, my Lords, I must state in conclusion that if any of my Noble and Learned Friends object to either of these two latter clauses I will not retain them. But if I should have the concurrence of my Noble and Learned Friends to the first clause, which I heartily expect, I shall be very well content to have the Bill passed in that shape; if not I shall liste❑ with respectful attention to what they have to suggest. But, my Lords, I cannot promise that I shall not, upon a future occasion, bring into your Lordships' House a measure founded upon the two last propositions, which may then be more fully con sidered. And, as lam addressing your Lordships upon the subject, and speaking of future measures, I would draw your Lordships' attention to a measure as to wills, which may require the attention of this and the other House of Parliament. The statute of the first of Queen Victoria for the first time imposed the same solemnities upon the disposition of personal estate as in the time of Charles IL (with variations) were imposed upon the disposition of real estate, and it was said, how very ab surd it is that you cannot dispose of half an acre of land without three witnesses, and yet you may dispose of 100,000/, of personal estate which is even fluctuating without any witnesses at all. Yet, people do not desire every day to alter their testamentary dispositions; but they make variations in the disposition of their personal estate by codicil or by legacy to be payable out of their personal estate, however large it may be; but now no man can make the slightest alteration in his will—he cannot give 51., nor alter a certain legacy, without call ing in two witnesses. It was said of a great man, that the faults which we denounced in him died with him; but I might say with greater truth, that owing to the difficulties which the law throws around them, many codicils die even in thinking. These are points, how ever, which we must consider hereafter. The Noble and Learned Lord then concluded by moving the second reading of the Bill. Lord BROUGHAM agreed with his Noble and Learned Friend that at all events the first provision of the Bill should be passed. With reference to the pre sent state of the law some test must be taken. It had been decided that if the witnesses were in a position to be seen by the testator that was sufficient; and it was difficult to see how the law could be otherwise construed. He recollected that a question arose on the Duke of Roxburgh's will, as to whether the witnesses signed on a particular table in the adjoining room, where they could be seen by the testator, or not, which was decided by a court of law. He did ❑ot object to give the whole Bill a second reading; but if there were doubts-as to the second and third clauses, it would be well to withdraw them for the present. Lord CRAN WORTH did not object to the first clause; but he thought the other clauses required further consi deration. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII thought that all the statutory provisions having reference to wills should be embodied in one Act of Parliament. The Bill was then read a second time. THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. Lord BEAUMONT rose to put a question to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs relating to the ' present state of the Argentine Confederation. It was not his intention to criticise the policy of former Go vernments with regard to this Confederation, but simply to obtain information as to the present state of our rela tions with that quarter of the world, and to press upon the present Government the absolute necessity of commencing negotiations in that part of the world, and not to lose the present golden opportunity of extending our commercial intercourse, and to attempt to establish there a permanent peace. The Noble Lord then proceeded to contrast the progressot greatthe etwenotginseenatt races, Anglo-Saxon and Spanish, in the of America, and attributed the inferiority of the latter to the propensity of the Spanish Government to exclude as much as possible all European intercourse. The independence of the Banda Oriental had been established by a treaty between Brazil and Buenos Ayres, in 1828, which independence it had always been the policy of the English Government to maintain. In the year 1830 war existed between France and Buenos Ayres, and during the period of the war the French used I to avail themselves of the independent country of Monte Video, in order to make it the basis of their operations, and carry on their hostile movements against Buenos Ayres. General Oribe happened to be the President of Monte Video, and ho objected to that country being made use of by France. A revolution arose—he need not say how—in Monte Video. General Oribe was driven from there, and General Rivera was appointed in his stead. He joined the French in their operations, and an invasion of Buenos Ayres took place, In which he as sisted. At that time, as well as since, there raged tsto violent parties in the Argentine Confederation, going by the names of Unitarians and Federalists; and so hostile were they that not a single proclamation of the Govern ment was issued without being headed " Death to the savage Uuitarians." There was no doubt that the Uni tarians from Buenos Ayres went over to Monte Video, and carried on their hostilities against Buenos Ayres, for, alter the French had left, General Rivera continued the war, and invaded part of the Argentine Curt federation. General Roses availed himself of Oribe, who was then in Buenos Ayres, placed him at the head of a large body of men, and sent him to meet General Rivera, who was completely routed. Oribe continued to press on the Banda Oriental, claiming to be the legiti mate President; he roused the whole country of Uru guay; he surrounded and besieged the town of Monte Video, and it being thought necessary to interfere, we sent out Mr. Gore Ouseley, as the successor of Mr.Man deville, and the French Government also sent out a ne gotiator. They went to Buenos Ayres, but could not get Roses to adopt any terms of peace, in consequence of which they went over to Monte Video, which was then engaged in hostilities against Buenos Ayres. which was blockaded by an English squadron, and an English force was landed to defend Monte Video. In spite of all this, Generals Rosas and Oribe maintained their footing, and pressed Monte Video extremely hard. Mr. Ouseley proposed terms which Roses did not then think proper to accede to. After that the British Government sent out Lord Howden, and with him went out, on behalf of France, a :distinguished person who was now the ambassador to this country. After a short time Lord Howden, although that was a joint intervention, thought it better at once to break the blockade and do away with our interference, leaving Buenos Ayres and Monte Video to fight it out as best they could. They ac cordinglyfretnthat moment did so, the blockade was withdrawn, a n d the joint intervention must have been considered to have come to an end. This state of things continued; and after that another person was sent out, and finally Mr. South ern, who was the only negotiator who seemed to have anything like success. At that period a treaty was framed between General Roses and this country ; and that treaty, as was well known now, had merely for its object the acknowledgment of the independence of Monte Video and the inducing of Roses to withdraw his force from that country. In all these treaties, not withstanding the instructions originally sent out to ne gotiate for the opening of the River Plate, and te notwith standing on one occasion we forced the opening of the river t m h s e t m an e d n i t n neverriver d Parana, id t e s y s et at no a t n; and u l ; was Roses rivers. Mr. Hood proposed to open the Paraguay, as internal rivers, yet so suspicio and no that he objected to do so; the negotia failed , h tli oZ rivers. When notwithstanding to th O S a p r tr a eF s t t h i l s e attempt had since been made to open those our interference affairs had come to this point, had gained no ad matter; and up to that moment 'nt of view, although we had was concerned, there was au vantage in a commercial po t ' s) the treaty of 1828, and ac ppaoswsteeadr to be an end of the of Monte Video. After knowledge the independence w hich totally changed our rela tionscompelled Roses to act up that circumstances arose d ened up an o relations. After Rosas had withdrawn hie as to that country, an oP pportunity of rawn atd the independence of Monte Video had his troops, acknowledged, the Brazils entered into four or five been e tr st ea ab ti l c i s sh w in it g h n M eownte which he trusted would be laid on t he table of the House. Some of t h ose treaties were treaties of commerce, and oth ers urged the Corrientes to raise the flag of rebellion. Corrientes was not in a con dition to be successful. It was supported by Brazil (which had never declared war) very much in the man ner we supported Monte Video on a former occasion. General Urquizs next went to the Parana and defeated Rosas, who was abandoned by all his followers, and Was obliged t o escape with his daughter on board the Locust, one o f our vessels. Gneral Urquiza was at this moment in the Banda Oriental, and he (the Noble Lord) was informed by letters ho had received that the Brazi lian flags and Argentinaliens wore now both flying in that country. In this state of affairs Brazil, having assisted Urquizs, would, of course, demand high pay fur the services she had done his cause; and it was stated that the Gibraltar of the Parana was to ha surrendered to Brazil; and that a large portion of the Banda Oriental had been ceded. It was to ascertain, then, who was to be considered the proper authority—whether the Argen tine Confederation was to be consider the proper autho rity—in the Banda Oriental, that he bad asked the questions he had risen to put to the Noble Elea Ile would also strongly urge on her Majesty's Government that, in the present state of affairs, the should lose not a moment in entering into negotiations with the coun tries which were touched by the rivers Parana and Pa raguay for free navigation through all those countries; amongst which he included not only the Argentine Con federation, but also Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay—which we had not yet, but which we ought to have, considered independent— (Hear, hear)—and the Banda Oriental.— (Hear, hear.) Under these circumstances, he begged to ask the Noble Earl whether he could afford them any r i n f o rmation on the subje c t ; an d also whether he could g ive them any hope th a t th e great object they had in out t e m ete s n u s ion e ee s o s f f n e l t y r t c h o a m n m i t e had rce wasview—namely, ew - - likelyn a m t t y n , , theea i r e i g ed iti before been under General R.asas i—(Cheers ) The Earl of MALMESBURY reworked that, after the detailed account which the Noble Lord hadgiven, it would be perfectly y unnecessary for him again to go id through the transactions to which the Noble Lord ha alluded, and which had extendA over so many years. It was not very likely that any G ov ernment in which her Majesty placed confidence would have neglected to see the vast importance of these transactions, both as respected the subject itself, and as respected the oppor tunity which had been offered to her Majesty's Govern ment to interfere, with a view to the interests of British commerce ; but it had been a subject which had (Neu - E., pi v e e d ri th so e laotntegntsigoon as s f Itshoes.G:.vheernnmthernitiofmore pmoapnhyamyears• made an attack upon Buenos Ayres, it was shown befi'Ciarde a court-martial how invaluable it would be as regarded the eomeiunications with those rivers which fell into the Five, and certainly it would be most desirable, to have an unbroken communication between all the coun tries through which they ran and the Atlantic, and dins with this country.—(Hear.) The independent Rep but u rns of Paraguay, which we bad not yet aekn owled g e, which he thought we ought to do as soon as possiblte-- (Hear, hear)—and which appeared to be Upheld at his moment by a man who was the most advanced of bis race, had agreed to accept commercial relations with this country.—(Hear.) It appeared that when Sir Charles 'lota= went up to the Parana, he had Com rats: si u ti n ahe i c tE a o t ri i ,) o g. r i l ta s on w dfi e ;o t I d t the ia chiefthat the t e l ) % f , that o gr e at countryst - of these rivers were in favour of coni2rteclits intercourset itntneuse advantages that England and the other Euro pean countries ws:uld derive, he thought that there could and when they further considered tbo be no doubt that all the nations in Europe would take the same view as that which the Noble Lord and /ter Majesty's Government entertained. (Cheers.) a ! h e heed now, in answer to the quest i ons which the Noble Lord had put with respect to the political state of ° clic ' countries at the present moment—officially the Govern', went bad no account of anything beyond the ton" defeat of Roses, ships. They had no accounts, either official or ()te!: wise, as to the flags which the Noble Lord bad s!il e a perti?i! were flying in the Banda Oriental; or that any and his eaht on board of one of our of that territory had been ceded. They had no {heist or private information as to what the Noble Lord said i li . l been given up, but he had reason to believe that it u t' f, remained what it was by the last a rrangeineh t • --( eetaa hear.) With respect, now, to the conduct of her bad jesty's Government under these circumstacces. I t tha been siml tis. Within 0 4 hours after receiving us commercialuwn saotui nations duasrr of contribute news of Hosas's defeat, he (the Noble Earl) lit ° P t n a. gtE interests i p n ur g reos p se Europe.—(Cheers.) b t (o h ethh himself in communication with the Government of t o % French Republic, and invited that GOVeratl6llt t 0 ). as ,—... , ,er5.) could not answer thexpect Lord, and he thought their Lordships question would not him to enter into the details of s r u ti Ch hi plane as the Govern.' negotiations op efact peace i soef oietthrelotuahnnetdsreyt shoteantaod the! r_ meat lied in contemplation upon a subject which thhelt Furher a t o b f e Ilt t h a t r e considered to be of as much importance as ens t hing t now occupied the civilised world.—(Chee rs.) he bad The Earl of ABERDEEN remarked that* 11 , 9 ,1, - , t be frequently had occasion to refer to this suuJ e— 'i e g could not help taking this opportunity of expressing the great satisfaction he felt at the tg liiirj w il A in which had taken place of the war. 11 , 1 , e ,,,, - had object of the interference of this ee entre . ned. only now for the first time been fully °L)t" tel. namely, the entire independence of the Banda Oriene_ta (Hear, hear.) That was not the case with the last tr 1 ,2 0 between t,his country and Roses, because, ettlaotiell the independence of the Banda was recognised in term % or army of Roitte was left in the Oriental States in a übad dition to pursue hostilities against them; and it it rebellion not been for the interventioof Brazil and the r etie.; s ef o Corientes (as the Noble Lord bad called it) ag,, u n :., heeded sas, it was very probable that he would havne,s_el) ceded in obtaining possession. He (the Noble v" was most happy to hear from his Noble Friend tb a t _t l l Government had proposed to renew with the Fre: top Governmentby the those negotiations which were put a etrY to - —a proceeding separate treaties concluded with thi"leeel) proceeding which at the time he (Lard Aber( and had taken the liberty of saying was not justified, which the French people might 0 a certain degree,rf sent, and to which they had testified their g reat, .ne,° : _t content. He thought that nothing could exceed IN perfect cordiality and good faith with which th e Fr , whole Government had acted throughout the this the he therefore hoped that in reeewing • tbe flexion and concert with them we should proceed in s 1 --(Cheerrst.. same manner that we had hitherto done. No doubt it was impossible to exaggerate the itnl )° ,, e ance in a commercial point of view of free access to ore internal rivers of South America: but, although l " I t exceedingly easy to declare the navigation of A riv e _ free, much remained to be done after such declarat iou : He recollected when the navigation of the Rhine wa s declared free, but it took twenty years to regulate thu conditions upon which that free navigation should tail place.—(Hear, hear.) He was exceedingly glad to fiL', t h e various states in favour of free communication wita Europe; but the Eastern _Republics bad never been de ficieut. Tney had always the utmost liberality, and 11° trusted that the Argentine Confederation in their new condition might share in this very sa lutary . feeling." (Hear, hear.) He thought it would not be wise to enter more particularly into the specific acts of the Govern went. No doubt the Noble Earl was very fully iresfero; with the importance of the object i n view. aith h the o ne would give them credit for pursuing it w. g reatest assiduity.—(Hear.) He hop ed that he (Lci Aberdeen) was not carried away w ith the venicTooic 1 authorship, bat it had that day happ ened to him to long j l a at the instructions, which he had not seen r 1 fo 84 5 ; ai .., years since he bad first drawn them up in there wee he really thought, as far as he might judge, nothing in them that he would alter at this moment. a u i 3t a After a few words from the Earl of lisaaows Lord STANLEY of Alderley, had Viscount CANNING inquired if the Government of any information with respect to the independence Paraguay. a- The Earl of MALMESBURY answer ed in the Deg five. Lord BEAUMONT had listened with great pleasure to what had tidies from the Noble Earl, and erg'cit..% h to ad know whether the Government had any paP, T vi e -le not already been laid on the tthe PoLyt li- ' table o a nat ., The Earl of MALMESBURY said they 113— ea a except the di s p a t c h es r e l a t e d to the defeat of Bosse, e his escape to the Locust. Lord BEAU 01'1T was understood no t to p the :4 teas for pr(Auction of these dispatches, and T heir Lordships adjourned. - HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 23 ! he Mr. KEOGH gave notice, that on Thursday nex t er ' it Act would ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer wheth was the intenti on o f t h e G ove rnment to repea l the relating to the grant to Maynoeth. In reply to a question from an HoN. MENDSB , it Mr. STAFFORD said it was the inten tion of the Government to send out the expedition in search of J. Franklin, which was now fitting out. HOP DUTIES. Mr. FREWEN brought forward a motion to the, effect that, in the remission of taxation, the repels' of the Excise duty on hops ought to be taken into serious consideration by the H o use. Though till, duty brought comparatively a small amount into the Exchequer, yet it pressed with excessive severity upnd on his unfortunate constituents. W hat with free trade a the imposition of this duty, there was ruin and distress in every direction of the hop-growinir districts, end he thought the sufferers were entitled to demand redress. T he fact of there being such a ta% gave rise to excessive gueabling as to what would be the amount of duty paid or Bayingfcmg year, and he had the best authority for forthaht large bribes wera given to the Excise officers _ _t e perpoie of ascer , gathered in Pe r ' taming the number of pounds of hops titular Mr. 1101)(xE.S corolla y d supported the motion, end hoped that the remission of the h the early attention of the next-Popardlivatrynewnto.uldlreg;:gri third year 5 4)001819, when the current eheng" of distress among w t a h s e Cher© bad been complaintsgrowe r9 of hops. The CHANCELLOR bough t of the EXCHEQUER t eine h i s Hon. Friend had proposed a very modirate ari r d f r i c tlY perate res ilution. aware of the sufferin The i Government were P e re presented by his II g to the part of the cour?lr, ' . on. Friend, and if it their w ere le power by a proposition to remedy the suffer in g s °f 8111° class of her Majesty's subjects, they would rete et only b ° readyCasi,,htise H come forward. , nourable Friend had justly stated - • w ould be improper any d_,•l3. to press the Government t t. °l :. . ee, ite expression of opinion " en the el% " (Hear, hear.) All he asked was ; tu ° if a revision of taxation took lace the question of hoP: might not be overlooked; tied he coolant sure him tblo such would be the case. '.rhe Governme and consider it their duty to give their utmost attention would alway! consideration to any representations which might be' made to them from any class of the Peop le ' Mr. HUME said, though this was bro u g ht for duty °el a e s . an agricultural question, he consider ed the f, on hops pressed most unequally uP°llo,ed, class, and therefore ought to b e re t - and They had freed the food of the poor man from ts' ioe ? why should they not relieve his beverage 01 t°llt 0 13 ' In Belgium and Bohemia beer was untaxed and la Gen' to a large extent for the purpose ° Gen' venting intoxication.—(Laughter.) notrourabo'eld eb tlemen might laugh, hut when a man tain good beer ho would seldom have recoutlectouerd,,eautt spirits, and if the House sincerely wished toy earrteroDuce its social and- free-trade policy, they woud a To abolish the tax on malt.—(Hear, lle ar) a al ea Protectionists protested that they sv 3a f th is opportunity to relieve :the farming interest °loot country from unequal taxation, and if they reilliYhowie; what they said, here was a capital chance for that they were in earnest.—(Hear, hear.) ,he Mr. DRUMMOND said, the speech ef ,'" be nourable Member was one of the most emberextrsorale had ever heard, when he remembered the Hon. had antecedently, for year after year he an d othercepieor been attempting to obtain a repeal of this tax, sp t J t ee• after year had the Hun. Member voted against 03 tion.—(No, no.) tee' Mr. HUME—I always voted in favour of the tion.—(Hear, hear) Mr. DRUM ,lOND admitted this splendid elCeP s o p. but Mr. Coblen and Sir James Graham had sl e w r a L t hers posed it.—(Hear, hear.) Both those Ho n. !be when they were advocatieg the repeal °` corn-laws told the farmers that the w ere tax could not stand after the corn -law° their gone, and he now called upon them to fulfil prophecies.—(Hear, hear.) a to % Mr. COBDEN disputed that the malt-tax wea c od upon the tamer. It wee paid by the co neef f e eo r, for s he therefore it was a tax upon the people. cbs hop duty, it was certainly of a very obnoll lly o • sig' ' n rawer, while the amount it produard was zot. nificant ; but when they came to tre at of tu.:(Liott tax it became a much larger cillot i°il iof, 0 04 4 40 J prOcluoicl a largo gum on" 4 ~~. ~~ ~ ;~ Y ~~ , 4 6;