The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-21 00:00:00

s~. ~-_ MAIL . to-day e( 0 ; e Minister he schools 0, ing the ref.? l ; terior by the Minis 4 religious 113; L the Bishct ear publl' h " ;, for closir° a d s co,ole t r, colltalr ,f dis rOCe Cw- Ri p __Ad this el° 0 yer v tenant ein; tb ! , clothes, with 11 Lion edil •oss recce h— of cam id nes t s he a nd, m ade o' grog re' ie hi! from ale oak' a d o ol k ill # - I l s. therthe W an iw a th e Mr --- ,dote over" — en us r - „,0 011 .,,,d have d le lo ga ,:tet P 5 gr' ol o/ WV ° w ig ieo the °- • eyed nie to pre P nob al.f h ueen n o f ;0 1atj' iiir g for 13''g o bigb . 6 4 re . will b e o °1 A bets etc' •D, leeke, ll— ed """ -B A. $ll5A‘ -GO I Ifni' TI EE SUN, LONDON, FR IDAT HEN Ft TIIE REGICIDE. rtrik,'hr of .a et Ctato a,.:- Jr Peers met on Tuesday, to receive the I. .Laplagne-Barris, on the case of Joseph the ree icicle: The report is a N'Cry )ut we select from it the following- as the most intereste extraete.- ~After stating that the. Chamber of Peers had a{ pointed a . 'cOtirt fOr the trial - of Henry . for high tr " , v9e. end, that a Committee had been- appointed to draw iip rt:Tok on tbe case, the report proceeds to give the following details of the attentat:— "On the of July, at half past seven in the even - 'fig, at the Moment when the concert of the Tuileries was commencing, and before the King, who on entering the balcony of the Pavilion de I'Horologe saluted the people, had taken his seat, two reports were heard, ! a ee'eding each other so rapidly that many persons in the ' neighbourhood thought there was • only one, A streak of smoke was observed extend i"g towards the balcony. The King with his ac customed firmness, refused to quit his place. The crowd, moved and indignant, saluted him again with the most enthusiaStic aLchunetions. The author of the attentat had been seen t,y several persons pointing the Pistols, and firing towards the balcony where the King wan standing. Ile had afterwards let the pistols fall quickly' bchind him, and put his hands in his pockets. He anseeted ac fast who aished to arrest It Was,not I; you see I have nothing,' at the same time oPeniug his cee, to show that he had no arms; but his denials were contradi:neci by those who had seen him n firing, an d b y 111 . V eyrenc, who p i c k e d up t h e p i sto l s ""te was seized by M. Quentin, a shopkeeper's clerk, by the sergeant-de-ville, Legros, and by the drum-major of the 9th Light Infantry, who were standing by. The m an was pale and trembling, and said several times, -uo not do me any harmi if you choke me I shall net be able to say anything. I shall say nothing.' Before the attentat the brothers Lecomte had ob served the paleness and agitation of the accused, and that he always kept his hands in the pockets of his pantaloons. No attempt to rescue the accused Was made by the crowd ; but, on the contrary, the agents of the public force who had taken him into cus tody had some difficulty in saving him frcm the public i ndignation. Haying been taken in the Tuileries, he was searched, and seven Napoleons and six francs in silver were found upon him, besides a watch, and some Paper folded up in the shape of wadding. The person arrested declared his name to be Jo s eph H enr y, age d fifty- one years, residing at Paris, at No. 8, Rue de Li moges, wh e re h e was a manufacturer of articles in Polished steel. He avowed himself the author of the attentat. In answer to questions put to him he de clared that be had been induced to fire on the King by the great misfortunes which he bad suffered, and t for six years he n c to commit suicide, but his courage failing, he determined to commit a crime Which would oblige others to kill him. In answer to the question why he could have committed so abominable an act as to fire on the. King, he replied, "It was necessary to fire at some great person age. To fire is not to kill. If I had touched or Made a contusion, I should have been satisfied. In leaving home, I said to myself, fire, touch, or do not touch, it will come to the same thineg .' In answer to the question as to what his political opinions were, his answer was, To be an honest man, to my mind, all ° Pinions are division.' Several further questions were Put to him, to which he replied, that he usually read the Siècle, that no one knew of his project, and that he fired on the King because he knew that, however slightly he touched his Majesty, he would be condemned to death ; and that he had acted with premeditation, having Previously wr itt e n a n d s i gne d hi s p l an . H e sa id t h at the pistols were each loaded with a piece of iron and a *ong wadding of white paper. He added that he had Meditated the act before, and was prepared to execute it on the Ist of July in mourning guard, but that he was revented by the fear of bringing disgrace on the Nationl Guard. DEFEAT OF THE KATIRS. We have been favoured with .the following sipple 'went to the Cape' Toon Mail of the 13th of June, which gives the full particulars of the caw:gement of the British troops with the Kafirs " JUNE 15, 1846. " The Frontier post, which arrived this morning brings _intelligenne of an engagement having taken place near Fort Peddie, in which the Katirs have at last felt the weight of the arm they had so long and daringly provoked, and which has been so unwillingly lifted against them. • " The Frontier Times of the 9th instant contains the fol lowing particulars, which we hasten to lay before our readers : " DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY, NEAR FORTPEDDIE. " TUESDAY, SIX EX. " As we were going to press we received intelligence of a brilliant engagement that took place yesterday between the division under Colonel Somerset and a numerous body of the enemy, near Fort Peddie. The particulars, as they have come to hand in private letters, are as follows. The dispatches were brought in to the General by Lieutenant Bisset, Cape Mounted Rifles. "FORT PEDDLE, JUNE 8. "Colonel Somerset has just arrived from the most success ful trip against the Katirs which he has taken yet. A party of the Burghers and Fingoes were ordered off last night to scour the Fish River Bush in the direction of Stock's and Umkai's Kraals, and Colonel Somerset himself joined them to-day early with the Cape Mounted Rifles, and two great guns. Not far from here (I think about the place where the waggons were burned) the Kafirs were 'seen in great force, and then commenced the day. The smoke of the guns could be distinctly seen from the tower, and from before nine A.M. till about two r.m. the firing from cannon and small arms was kept up without ceasing. At last Colonel Lindsay sent out Captain Hogg with his troop, and King and his gun, which turned out a most fortunate circumstance, us it seems that Stock, with whose men they were engaged, sent off mounted expresses for Pato to come to his assistance ; but just before they ar rived Somerset had driven Stock from the bush, and met the others under Umhala,. with Captain Hogg in their rear ; so that they could not retreat, and were thus between two fires. This was somewhere about Mount Somerset—the dragoons charging through them, forming, and then charging back again. The Katirs being so knocked up with running and fighting, they could do nothing, and were cut down by scores. The flats are covered with dead, and all the kraals on fire, and very strong suspicions of Stock himself having fallen. I have not heard the estimated number of slain, but it is thought about 500. Sir Harry Darell is wounded in the arm and leg by assegais. Bunbury also wounded in the arm and leg by assegais. Cap tain Walpole, Royal Engineers, is wounded in the thigh by a ball, and severely wounded in the neck by an assegai, which laid bare the windpipe—none of the officers, however, are dangerously hurt. Five of the 7th wounded —one, I believe, dangerously, the assegai having entered about the small of the back, and coming out opposite in front. " A Cape mounted sergeant was killed—the only one,—so this is all the casualties on our side. Two prisoner s h ave been taken, who say that the Kafirs were just assembling in the bush to intercept the waggons from '1 rompetter's to-morrow. All the Burghers, when coming in, had bundles of assegais, and captured guns. A great many good-looking horses were also taken. " FORT PEDDIE, Juin 8. " Colonel Somerset has been out to-day in the 7 direJtion of Stock'i Kraal. About an hour after he left we heard heavy firing, which lasted for two or three hours. It appears that they were challenged by a lot of Kafirs in the bush; they went in after them, and gave them a regular mauling, shot a great number of them, and coming out on the flat when they had polished these gentlemen off, they fell in with a body of about 500 to 600, whom they also charged, and shot like so many dogs. I believe, at the lowest computation, 350 were left dead on the field. This last body that they fell in with were Pato's Kafirs, who heard the firing at Stock's Kraal, and were hastening to his assistance, when, luckily tor us, they were caught upon the open flat, aul the 7th Dragoons and Cape Corps charged them and literally rode over them. I trust that this affair, coupled with the attack on Peddie, will cool their courage considerably. One corporal of the Cape Mounted Rifles was shot dead, and Sir Harry Darell, Captain Walpole, Royal Engineers, and d.. Bur bury, together with some men of the 7th, are slightly wounded, I think four of them slightly, and one very dangerously. Colonel Somerset seems the only man that can bring them to their senses. They were all going down to attack supply waggons that were to come up from Trompater's to-morrow morning, but I fancy, after to-day, they will not attempt it. "The report then goes on to describe the papers found at Henry's house, which show that politics had nothing to do with his crime. In one of them—a letter written to a friend—he says, I have suffered morally for 18 rears. I should have been obliged to become bankrupt. Wish to die, but I do not wish to kill myself.' In another he says, Intriguers have killed me; this is the consequence of the libertinage of my wife.' And to his eldest son he writes, Charles, my son, be wise and la borious. Obey and you will make your way. Fatality bas united us; it divides us. Adieu, adieu. God forgive ale. I die to be useful.' No political papers of any kind Were found in Henry's house, excepting a religious P a mphlet by the Abbe de Lammen a i s , en titl e d th e Words of a Believer.' The report then describes the spot where the crime was committed. Henry was 62 rnetrep from the balcony where the king was s tanding, bat the bullets had not b een f oun d, nor was there any mark on the balcony that could be supposed to have been caused by them. The pistols, it was ascertained, had been purchased on the 30th of at ne, in the P assage d e !' Op era , f or 25 f rancs. H enry at the time of purchasing them had them loaded by the shop boy,bo, with powder, saying he wanted t o f r i g ht en seine one who was in the habit of stealing his flowers. The pistols were examined by two gun-smiths, who reported that they would carry at the very furthest one hundred metres, but that they were not at all to be depended on, and that it would be impossible to take it correct aim. R p r e , report then gi ves t h e f o ll ow i ng part i culars of Ys life ' l ' .- "Ph Henry was born at Charmes (Haut Soane). lie He is ag e d ance. 51 , small in size, and of a debilitated appear came to Paris in 1811, with his father, a journeyman key -maker. Henry himself worked at the same business. Afterwards, by his intelli gence, his address, and his spirit of economy, he was enabled to form a small establishment. He married, but some years afterwards ne was aban doned by bis wife, whose bad conduct appeared to have caused him much pain, and which, according to his own account, was the origin of all his mis!brunes. He continued, nevertheless, his manufactory, which was principally for articles in polished_steel. His affairs " FORT PEDDIE, JUNE 8. " I must now give you an account of the slaughter that took place shortly after. We were all very tired, having been on our legs from 9 o'clock last night to mid-day to-day, with hardly any refreshment. We therefore hastened to the camp; however, we were disappointed in having re• freshment. We saw the Colonel's division a mile or two ahead, marching quietly on. Presently we saw a party ride ahead, and soon after a race. Then firing com menced. I rode up as fast as I could to the ridge; a spectacle was then presented to my view which I shall not forget. A large party of Kafirs had collected near the Kies kamma, intending to move to-day towards the Fish River to intercept the waggons and stop the communication. This party heard the tiring, and thought that the waggons were attacked. They hastened to help. but what was their astonishment when they found a large force in front of them. Fortunately there was no bush to shelter them ; they fired one volley and dismounted from their horses—about 300 mounted and 700 foot. The dragoons then charged them, and killed many ; a panic seized them—they ran off and were shotlikesheep—Dragoous,CapeCorps, Boers—all firing at them, following them up full six miles. They became com pletely exhausted—they could not run. The slaughter was awful! They were followed up to near the Kieskamma. The slaughter was on the Gwanga, near Mr. Tainton's late place. The lowest estimate is, I believe, 300 killed; very few were seen to get away. " We took three priooners—one at Umpakati, belongirg Creili. He said the intention of the Baths was to drive the Umlungu into the sea. We asked bow it was To 7 da3. He said it was all finished today. Pato has crossed the Kieskamma. tiinhalo and Seyolo were with this command. How they fared we cannot tell. It is supposed that Stock was this day killed. " FORT PEDDIE, JUNE 8. "Colonel Somerset's division left this morning to attack Eno's Kafirs, and f'ell in with the enemy in great numbers, who were, however, in the Kloofs. The infantry, Hotten tots, and Fingoes swept the bush, killing an immense num 'her. As the party were returning they fell in with about Kafirs on a flat near Somerset, Mount, killing at leist 350. The enemy were pursued for four miles, the colonial forcei riding within ten paces of them, qu i e tly di smount i ng and shooting at them. The Kafirs fought with great deter mination until turned. -were selch,m in a prosperous state, He employed gene rally 25 workmen, but at the time of his arrest he lied only 17. lie was a good master, but he was sombre and melancholy, and he had more than ordinary pride. lle _showed no affection for those around him. He had two sons; one with the army in Africa, and the other living: with him. During his examinations they were never rne:ttionee, but he abused them. . The same was the case ;with respect to a sister who lives with him. He seems never to have occupied himself with politics, and the opinions that he has from time to time expressed on political subjects are in formal contra diction with the attentat. In the National Guards he " One of the Cape Mounted Rifles killed. Captain Sir. H. Daiell, Cornet Buubury, of the 7th, Captain Walpole, Royal Engineers, were wounded—none of them dangerously. " Sir H. Darell was wounded with an assegai in the thigh and arm ; Captain Walpole by a spent ball, and by an assegai in the neck. Captain Donovan had a harrow escape of being-dragged off his horse, but was saved by the bravery of a man named Brown, formerly of the 75th Regiment, who rushed up and killed the Kafir. One of the 7th Dra goons was badly wounded. Lieutenants J. O'Reilly, Bisset, and Armstrong behaved gallantly, killing many Kafirs each. One Kafir killed himself in battle, to prevent himself from being killed by the troops. The Chief Stock is reported to have been killed, and there seems reason to believe that Colonel Somerset's success had baulked a preconcerted scheme of attack on Trompetter's post, so as to cut off all supplies from this place. One Fingo was killed. Upwards of 100 stand of arms (muskets) were taken; also 200 bundles of assegais, and 20 horses, several of them Cape Corps horses." Was considered as a vain and strange man, ~ but of moderate opinions. Henry's wife died some years ago, when separated from him. For some time past Henry's affairs have been in a bad state. He had in stalled in his house a concubine, with whom he had en tered into a deed of partnership. The relations between Henry and this woman had, however, ceased for three or four years past. It appears, however, from an exa- Ininatipn of his books, that his affairs were in a bad state, and that he was on the eve of b an k rup t cy . Si x years ago Henry, who wished to extend his manufac tures, found a money-lender who advanced him 86,000 :francs. This money was all spent. The money-lender W,:kti dead, but his mother was pressing for payment; she had, _however, agreed to take 25,000 francs in lieu of all demands, on condition of that sum being paid before the month of October next. The desire to get this money occupied Henry's mind for some months, and i n t h e Papers found in his house there are continual allusions to it, and to his horror at the idea of bankruptcy, In the hope of getting These 25,000 francs he first ad dressed himself to the ;Ting a long petition, of which a copy was found in his house. In the petition he prayed his Majesty either to lend him the money, or to speak to some banker, who, at the request of the King, would have pleasure in advancing the money to Henry. To justify this strange request, Henry said that he had some great discoveries in his possession, which would tend to the happiness and prosperity of the whole world. Henry does not appear to have been angry at the answer hey got from a n employ 6 i n th e Ki ng ' s C a bi net. H e k new th a t his petition had not b een l a i d b efore his Majesty. He then applied to M. de R ot h sc hil d for the 25,000 f., and was very much displeased at getti ng no answer. H a ft e rwards addressed Si milar request s t o M. de Lamar in - tine and M. Raspael, which he spoke of his dis coveries and projects for the fabrication of aventurine, which he said would be a- substitute for coals on " TUESDAY, JUNE 2. "In consequence of a report received that several houses in the neighbourhood of the Kareiga were on fire, a party of Stubbs's corps were sent in that direction to scour the bush. Mr. Maloney, who happened to be in town, accom- panied his party. No Cape post. The Malay volunteers arrived in town at six r.ai., with their banners flying, the crescent Milted to the union jack (the crescent and the cross), the first instance on record of such an intermixture. They appear td be a very fine body of men, and will no doubt do good service. Their priest and lieutenant rode at their head, with his rifle slung at his back. They were marched up to Fort England, where the General himself saw them com fortably lodged. The night was remarkably fine and calm ; the unusual, but not unwelcome, sound of sailors glees were heard along the moonlit streets. - " WEDNESDAY. "Intelligence received of the safe arrival of Colonel So- merset at Tort Peddie. It appears from a Kafir spy has been taken that Colonel Somerset - had a very narrow escape in conducting his long waggon train through the bush. The liafirs had been informed that Colonel Somerset would march by Trompetter's, and it is said that th e w h o l e of the immense body of the K ars who attacked Fort Peddie was lying in ambush for him in the bush beyond Trotnpet tare's, where they attacked the waggon train under Captain Campbell. Perceiving their mistake a large number of them wheeled round to Committees, and just reached it as he was passing through. Had the whole body been in readiness for biro, as they intended, the struggle would have been a severe one; indeed it is very doubtful whether it would have been possible to defend IUS waggons against such a force. The recent attacks upon Fort Peddle appear to have been attended with a greater loss of Kstirs t!;an was supposed. Many bodies have been tbuud near the "post, and their loss is now estimated at from 400 to 500 men. The number of the Kafirs who attacked the post has been ra ther under-estimated in the dispatch of Col. Lindsay ; it h as been ascertained that there were at least 9,000 men in the Ltilways, and prevent explosions. He aLso thought of getting a wife with money; a widow, or one that was deformed, provided she had 25,000 francs of for- tune, would suii his purpose, and he inserted several advertisements id the newspapers to that effect, and had communication with several marriage agents. The peti tion to A.I. de Lamartine, shows a degree of exaltation amounting to madness, produced by the fear of bank ruptcy, the difficulty of accounting for his lossei, and the badness of his books. He appears also to have had a horror at the idea of labouring as a common workman, after having been so long the head of an establishment. He finishes this document by what he calls his confes sion. He says he has two culpable ideas; the one to destroy himself, and the other to coin false money, to get himself arrested and convicted, at the same t i me ac ting so as to be thought bereft of his senses; but he finishes by hoping that his inven• tioas will at length make his name known, and that a powerful protector will come and deliver him from con finement in .the madhouse in which he was placed, and that he should at length be placed in the position of a rentier. There is another paper which Henry calls his prenieditation, and which was written shortly before the attentat. It showed a great degree of wildness, and is filled with the idea of committing a real or an imaginary crime. He also expresses another idea in it, that his own example and that of Lecomte may tend to do away. with the punishment of death, as their fate is a proof L ' . 4iat the fear of death does not prevent great crimes. He _finishes the premeditation by saying that he does not wish t.' escape death, but he wishes the public to look on him with less horror." The repo."t concludes by stating that whatever were the views of lienry, whether to attempt the life of the King, or to wound him slightly, the act came within the e,sth article of aie penal code, which punishes attempts on ti.e life or person of the King with death ; but it adds that it will be for the consideration of the Court whether thi facts of the case do not show that Henry was insane at the time he committed the act. In favour of the suppositioti of insanity is the extraordinary nature of the act itself, which was i n t en d e d to mer i t d eat h, rather than to be guilty of an actual crime, the nature of the writings tonnd in his possession, and the means adopted to meet his difficulty. dn. the other hand, however, was the fact of his being, up to the very moment of committing his crime, at the head of an establishment employing a considerable number of workmen, which he conducted to be sure, without much hut %ill. care and intellige , ; anti, its far as Ow inv. , stigations into his past life had gone, and they had been very minute, there WO AOn to show mental aberetious --- --- field ; the loss of cattle has also been understated, the Kafirs having carried off upwards of 6,000. A chielof the Slambie tribes is believed to have fallen in the second attack, as the usual cry of lamentation when any great chief is killed (an unearthly prolonged i yell) was heard from the large division, supposed to be Dushani's tribe, as they retreated. Those acquainted with the Kafirs imagine that Susani, Nonibi's sou, the great chief of Dushani's tribe, is the person killed. The Satire attacked the Fingoes' cattle the same night as it was supposed they would, but were repulsed, the Fingoes killing four of them. We have heard the good conduct of the Fingoes spoken of with approbation; one instance of generous forbearance should not pass unnoticed. Several Kafirs had been, pursued by the Fingoes until from exhaus tion they fell, and endeavoured to creep off on their hands and knees; the Fingoes would not shoot them in this de fenceless state. . . . . Dysentery appears to be prevalent amongst the Kafirs; either from this cause, or from exposure and want of proper food, most of the bodies picked up are much attenuated. •'COLISBRRG, MAY 20. " Our district is beginning to be alarmed from the im mense number of Katirs (I believe, Tambookies) that are congregating near the.` Witbergen,' where they have droves of cattle, and many of the Karim are coming amongst the emigrants in that part of the country. The emigrant Field-Cornet Weber, who had volunteered to assist the Government, has now declined, as he is preparing to defend that part of the country from any attack of the Rallis, and has written to Colesbeyg for advice. Thus you see the Katirs appear to have spread themselves along the whole border of the colony. However the country about the Witbergen and Kraai River is destitute of bush, and the Boers being well mounted, would very soon cut them up. Besides, artillery could be brought to bear with great execution, the country being so well adapted for its use. The Witbergen are situated at least 150 miles from here, therefore need have no apprehension of danger, the country between being occupied and very open. You can see a man colon - 1g for miles. •" The emigrants of the Modder River are busy making every preparation to attack the Griquas. They openly de clare their intention of taking the cattle that were captured at Zwart Kopjes and distributed to the Griquas. John Kock, their leader, has written to the Griqua captain to sur render up the cattle, which of course he politely refused. Captain Warden has sent for the two field-pieces and a sup ply of ammunition, all of which went last week, but he has only 46 Cape Corps, therefore how he intends • acting with the cannon I cannot conceive. What a j o k, if. the Boers, .were to capture them! The Be: : always declared imme diately the troeps were remove,: icein Colesherg they would have another bby at the Griquas, and the latter have, since PF Of" GOOD HOPE. ! the letter received from Kock, driven their cattle nearer, Phillippone, and, by order of Captain Warden, have patroles in various parts of the territory." We learn from a communication from Reit Fontein dated June 7th, that " the Kafirs have passed this with about 20,000 sheep and goats, belonging to the Dutch at Nei's Lager, which have got safe through into Kafirland. The authorities at Fort Beaufort have used the inhabitants very badly in this neighbourhood, never, on any occasion, giving them any assistance until it was too late, and then only for nights, so that they have been left entirely to the mercy of all Kafirland. Sir A. Strockenstrom seems to have gained the esteem of everybody round the neigh hood of the Kaja and Bavians river, aiding and assisting everybody that applies to him." (Grahain's Town Journal Extra.) dire have'the satisfaction of announcing that dispatches have just reached town, brought by Lieutenant Bisset, Cape Mounted Rifles, containing particulars of a very spirited en gagement with the Kafirs yesterday at the kraal of the Kafir chief Stock, and in which the enemy was utterly defeated, with a loss variously estimated from 300 to 500 men. There appears to be no mistake as to the character of this engage ment, and which may be considered a fair trial of strength between the combatants, and who appear to have been very equal in number. The vast superiority of our forces was never for an instant doubtful. The Kafirs, seduced by their recent astonishing successes, appear to have - exhibited at the outset great daring, not shunning the engagement, but chal lenging the troops to come on—an invitation which, in this instance, there was no backwardness in accepting. This ap plies, however, only to Stock's Kafirs, as in the subsequent and most successful engagement, the enemy was taken en tirely by surprise, and appears to have been almost totally destroyed. The following dispatches refer to an action previous to' that above described : OFFICIA L DISPATCHES. Head-quarters, Graham's Town, May 30. The Governor and Commander-in-Chief publishes the fol. lowing dispatch, which his Excellency has just received from Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay, 91st Regiment, commanding at Fort Peddie " Fort Peddie, May 29. " Sir,—l have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that on the 27th instant, about one o'clock the resident agent informed me that his spies had come in to say that there were parties of Kafir about the hills north of the post, who would pro bably try to take off son►e cattle grazing furthest from it. I directed the troop 7th Dragoon Guards, with fourteen Cape Mounted Rifles, and the light six•pounder, to patrole round the hills, and protect the cattle. About an hour after this the gun was fired several times from the direction of the north-west bill, about two miles and a half from this; and I at once caused the infantry to be turned out, and sent out two companies, amounting together to one hundred men, of the 91st Regiment, with the view of affording the cavalry and gun some support if necessary. I ordered Major Yarbo rough out to take command of the whole. The infantry arrived on the ground where the cavalry were about half past three o'clock, and met the gun retiring to the post die. abled, in consequence of one of the wheel-horses having been shot. The cavalry were then in extended order engaged with the enemy near a dense bush. " The infantry advanced, and extended one company, and commenced firing. Major Yarborough after some time ordered them to retire, so as to draw the enemy more into the open country, which succeeded, and Captain Sir H. Da rell, who had retired behind the infantry and closed, had opportunity of charging with his troop, and reports having sabred from 15 to 20 of the enemy before they could get to the bush. " The infantry then advanced again, and afterwards tried the same plan of retiring; the enemy came out a little way, keeping up a brisk fire though at long range. The 91st then halted, and ceased firing, waiting for the enemy to come on, but as they did not do so, and it was getting dusk, the whole came back to quarters. " Major Yarborough reports satisfactorily the steadiness of the men, and the conduct of the Fingoes, about 100 of whom were skirmishing on the left. He thinks the number of the enemy actually engaged was from 800 to 1,000, and considers about 30 or 40 were killed or wounded in the skir mish and charge, besides those who must have falle n f rom the effects of the shells, which were thrown into the kelof before he came up, where Captain Sir H. Darell reports the Kafirs were in great numbers. The only damage sustained by the force sent from this was-1 troop sergeant-major, 7th Dragoon Guards, wounded through the shoulder; 1 charger (Sir H. Darell's), wounded; 1 troop-horse, 7th Dra goon Guards, wounded; and 1 horse, Royal Artillery, killed. " The enemy expended a great deal of ammunition. Their skirmishing was perfect—hiding themselves in advancing and retiring behind the smallest ant-heaps and cover. " I have further to report that this post was attacked yes terday by about 8,000 of the enemy. About ten o'clock A.M. the look-out on the tower reported that there were Kafirs on the ground where the skirmish took place the day previous; and hbout half-past ten o'clock a dense body of Kafirs made their appearance on the southern hill near the Graham's Town road, with another body some distance to the right, composed of horsemen. These moved a little way . down, as if to entice the troops out. I was aware, from the information of Captain M'Lean, that the enemy were in great numbers all around us, and, therefore, was not, drawn out to leave the post open. " All the cattle were driven below the Star Fort, pro tected by the Fingoes, The wives and children of the Fin goes were in the ditch of the fort. About half-past eleven o'clock an immense number of Kafirs, horse and foot, ap peared on the south-west hill, arranged in three dense masses with detached clumps of horses; other large bodies were also on the hills all around. " The force at the post was distributed as follows :—The cavalry, with 20 infantry, were at the cavalry barrack, and the rest of the infantry were in the barrack and Star Fort, a sergeant's party at Mr. Webb's, and pickets in the officers' and engineer range. "At twelve o'clock the whole of the enemy moved down to the post steadily, preceded by clouds of skirmishers. When they came within range I directed Lieutenant King, R.A., to send a round shot at one of the masses, which killed three men. A shell was then thrown and' a 12-pound rocket. The latter frightened the cattle, which rushed down towards the Katirs, and were easily driven off by the Katirs. The Fingoes pursued them, and succeeded in capturing a good number. " The enemy, as soon as they found our shot so well di rected, scattered and got into the kloofs and hollows. One party of some hundreds got down the deep trench to Mr. Webb's house, from which the defeated party had been withdrawn, and began to plunder what little was left by the owner, but a shell pitching into the yard, they quitted it, but got into the ditch and gardens about it, and tired ,at the :barrack gild fort, without doing any i n j ur y ; but several of their number were shot frOrn, the Infantry Barrack. "A large body came down the small kloof on the left of the Beaufort-road, but were dispersed by shells from the Tower, and by shells and rockets from the Fort. Some of that body came so, near the Tower as to be shot by musketry from it. " Whenever 'a body of Kafirs wereseen together, a shell or rocket was sent at them, generally doing damage. I take this opportunity of saying that Lieutenant King's practice, which was under any own observation iii the Star Fort, was much to my i tiatistacton. . _ "The Kafirs, finding that their attack on the post had failed, except as regarded the capture of cattle, retired to the kloofs about two o'clock, when I sent out the cavalry to cut up any stragglers, but they did not succeed in getting near any. -"The resident agent has reported that 4,000 head of cattle were taken off. " The attack was made by the combined Gaika and T'Slam bie, and the numbers who came down as reported above are Hot overrated. " The enemy's loss was severe ; 92 dead bodies have been reported, and many more must have fallen, as the Kafirs were seen putting their dead and wounded on horses, and bearing them off the field. I• should think their loss may be safely estimated at 200 killed and wounded, most probably more. " There has been no casualty on the side of the troops— two Fingoes were killed, and three wounded, in the attempt they made to recover their cattle. " I beg to enclose a sketch of the scene of labour yesterday, which Sir Harry Darell kindly did for me. " I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient, humble servant, " M. LINDSAY, " Lieutenant-Colonel, 91st Regiment, com manding Troops at Fort Peddie." The Deputy Quartermaster-General, kc., Graham's Town. " CHARLES LENNOX MAITLAND, " Grenadier Guards, " Acting Military Secretary." " Head-quarters, Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, May 29, 1846. " His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief publishes the following extract from a report of the Civil Commissioner of Cradock " Very tew depredations have yet been committed in this division, and where such has been the case, the enemy has been repulsed with loss. Assistant Field-Cornet P. S. Van Heertien had been attacked twice in the night, and his cattle and horses carried off. In both instances he has fol lowed up the thieves, and captured his property, killing several 01 the enemy.' "Acting-Field-Ctinimandant Alcock reports that a patrole of 27 men, from the upper part of Sunday's River. with some waggons, under the command of Mr. Michael Muller, of Malinaison, who was proceeding to Courney for for age, was attacked near Swaneupoel's Kraal ; the enemy were gallantly beaten back, with a supposed loss on their part of 10 men killed, besides wounded. The enemy made two attacks on the waggons during the night, and another at dawn of- day. Mr. Muller succeeded in securing the forage waggons, and speaks very favourably of the conduct of his men. "sir Andreas Stockenstrom has been patrolling with his force, from the North to De Bruin's Drift on the Fish River,'and has reported to his Excellency that the enemy have left that part of the country. Sir Andreas also states that some of the farmers beyond the border had joined the force assembling on the Tarka frontier, against the common enemy. "The Commander-in-Chief regrets having to notice the loss of a large detachment of waggons conveying com missariat supplies, which were captured in an attack made by a numerous body of the enemy on the escort in charge, in the pass between Trompetter's Drift and Fort Peddie. His Excellency notices with approbation the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Dickson, of her Majesty's 91st Regiment, and of the small advance-guard under his command on this occasion. " Colonel Somerset reports to his Excellency that he pro ceeded with a strong patrole, on the 22d inst., into the Zuurberg, where he found no spoor of Katirs, nor any traces of there having been there fur some days. The Colonel fur ther adds, that on the morning of the 23d, at daybreak, he moved forward 400 infantry in the Bushmen's river roort, detaching 100 incunted Burghers, under Field Commandant Muller, into the Zuurberg, and down the Tootobie stream to its junction with the Bushman's river, and proceeded himself with the cavalry and guns to the left bank of the river, passing the head of the Buffalo and Swartz Kloofs. The whole of this force met on the following day at the farm of H. Bezuidenhout, on the New Year's river. " During this movement the infantry, under the command of Field-Captain Size, fell in with a body of about 20 Katirs, of whom four were killed by his men, and two severely wounded. " Field-Captain Size also succeeded in recapturing a horse and 66 head of cattle. " Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson, 7th Dragoon Guards, acting in concert with Colonel. Somerset, has patrolled the ridge between Hilton' and the Bushman's River Poort, 'and states his conviction that no body of Kafirs are at present harboured in that neighbourhood. " Ih consequence of a communication received from Field- Captain Melville, stating that the Kafirs were reported to be in considerable numbers in the Hell Krantz he was directed to scour that krantz and the adjacent hoofs; he reports that he saw no Kafirs, but the spoor of graat numbers, and of a few norse6 going towards laat rla.nd; - that he examined th? aid every footpath, and feels confident that not a single Kafir is now at Hell Krantz. Captain Hogg, 7th Dragoon► Guards, ,was also detached with a party from Colonel 80n:term's 'NORM camp, at Cypher Fontein, to reconnoitre in the neighbour hood of Hell Krantz, and reports having seen the spoor of about 100 Kafirs going out to the colony, as well as the spoor of horses, but of no cattle. "Colonel Somerset's division reached Cypher Fontein on the 26th inst., and encamped there. Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson march&, with the troops under his command, into Graham's Town, on the 25th inst. "CHARLES LENNOX MAITLAND, "Grenadier Guards, Acting Military Secretary." The following "summary of the week" is given in the African Journal of June 11. It must be observed that the summary was written before intelligence of Captain Somer set's last success had arrived The events of the past week have been of a less exciting character than for several weeks that have preceded it. As we intimated in our last journal, the Kafirs have retired, glutted with the spoil of , the colonial farmers, across the border. There are still a few struggling parties on this side of the border, chiefly infesting the bushy country between the Zuurberg and the Addo, and which keep that district in estate of alarm ; but it seems to be pretty certain that these are not in any great force, and that the great body of the in vaders have been recalled to concert some new enterprise, and which it will be well for our Government to consider with the most careful attention. The power of the confe derated chiefs should be accurately estimated, and arrange ments corresponding thereto be at once made to meet it. '1 he following, though a rough calculation of this force, will be quite near enough for all practical purposes : Creli's tribes ...... Sandilli, Alacomo, and others of the Gaika tribes Umhala and others of the T'Slarnbie tribes 8,000 do. Pato, and the Congo tribes Illapessa, and part of the Tambu tribes Total.. If we allow for all who may remain neutral of this host, 2,000 men, it is, we apprehend, as far as we can go, thus leaving 38,000 infuriated savages to be resisted, driven baek, and, if possible, subjugated by the power of the colony. It should also be borne in mind, that the principal Tambu, .or Tambookie Chief, Umter ara , i s a t present d ou b t f u l ; but should he join in the league he will throw an additional 12,000 men into the scale against it. To meet this large force we have, according to the estimates made, say 20,000 men, including 4,000 disciplined troops of all arms. But then we have other resources. We have several ships of war upon our coast, and reinforcements of military may be speedily expected. We have a right, too, to expect the co operation of Faku, the Fetcani, or Amaponda chief, and who, if he take the field, Ix ill at least furnish full employment for Creli, and thus diminishing by 10,030 warriors the estimated force opposed to the colony. Besides this, it must be borne in mind that all the warriors in Kafirland cannot possibly engage, any more than all the men among us, in the active duties of the field. The wealth of the Kafir is cattle, and these must be tended, an employment in which the woman and children are never permitted to engage. Subtracting, there fore, all so employed, it is probable that the total amount of the Kafir force which may actually take the field will amount to 30,000 men. And when we reflect that these are all prac tised to the use of arms from their childhood—that their mode of conducting warfare is extremely harrassing to dis ciplined troops; when we estimate their boldness, and the tact displayed in all their enterprises, and then add to all this the difficulties of the country, the result may well make our Government proceed with the most watchful circumspec tion, as well as awaken a full determination to carry forward whatever measures may be resolved on with that determined courage and perseverance without which the colony cannot reasonably hope, ultimately ; for decided success. It is un derstood that his Excellency the Governor will quit Graham's Town in the early part of next week for Fort Peddie. THE WEST INDIA MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY NHODT.—Th;Teviot, Royal mail steam-ship, Captain Allan, arrived this evening, with her usual unexampled punctuality, shortly after seven o'clock, bringing the fortnightly West India mail. And it is here worthy of passing remark, that Captain Allan, when he left this port nearly five months since, on his outward voyage, engaged to return and dine with a party, at the house of a friend, this evening at seven o'clock precisely. Although the engagement was not fulfilled to the letter, the circumstance goes to show the confidence Captain Allan had in his noble vessel. She was descried rounding Calshot Castle at half past six, and by delaying the friendly meal just one half hour Captain Allan was enabled to meet hi s friends at the social board. This is far from a solitary instance, and we feel bound, as an act of justice to the Royal Mail Company, to notice this extraordinary circumstance in connexion with the celebrity these matchless steam-ships have now attained for their good management in every particular. The latest dates brought by the Teviot are—St. Jago de Cuba, July 19 ; Demerara, 19; Trinidad, 21; Laguayra, 22 ; Jamaica, 24; Barbadoes, 24; Grenada, 25; St. Thomas, 30; Fayal, August 13. Her freight consists of 163 ounces of gold dust, 102 serons of Havannah tobacco, 29 tierces of coffee, 14 chests of Ha vannah cigars, 12 bales of sarsaparilla, 30 barrels of ginger, and 50 packages of arrow-root, succades, &c. Asc. Her Majesty's ship Electra has lett Port Royal for Belise and the Gulf of Mexico; her Majesty's brig Daring also left Port Royal for Bluefields and the Gulf of Mexico on the 21st of July. Left at Port Royal her Majesty's ship Imaum, and schooner Pickle. At Fayal, on the 12th of August, her Majesty's ship North Star, from Australia, for England. The Severn, Company's steam-ship, sailed from Kingston on the 16th of July for Chagres, &c. The Eagle was at St. Thomas's on the 29th July, with the home mails from the northern islands. She was to be taken on the slip for repairs on the 31st, and afterwards sail for Porto Rico. The Tweed arrived at Grenada, with the English mails, on the k sth of July, and thence sailed for Trinidad. The Medway sailed from Grenada for Tampico and Mexico on the 25th of July. The Reindeer left Bardadoes for Demerara on the 24th ult. The Teviot brings no news of material consequence from the West India Islands. They were all in a healthy state, and refreshing rains had fallen generally. In Jamaica the r:-ins had effected a complete renovation, and everything was favourable for the next year's crops. There was, however, great depression in the money market, consequent, no doubt, upon the expected admission of slave-grown sugars into England, the settlement of which question was looked for ward to with much anxiety. In Demerara heavy rains had fallen, as also at Trinidad, and all the northern islands. The same remark applies to Barbadoes, St. Vincent, and Antigua. All was quiet in Hayti, and the Government was sup ported with much more confidence. At Saint Lucia, on the 26th of July, a heavy squall cap sized a nogger, with twenty-one hogsheads of sugar on board, and all hands perished, with the exception of one. The Teviot reports a sad casualty happening to the American-built steamer Genie, plying between St. Jago de Cuba and Batabano, with Malls on board. It appears she was on her p.ssage from St. Jago when two of her boilers sud denly burst, and soon afterwards became a total wreck. ; . The commander, engineer, two passengers, and ten of the crew lost their lives, and eight more were very aeriously injured. The mails are also reported as lost or destroyed. A large American frigate was seen on the 15th of July at the east end of Jamaica, under all sail, steering for the west. The Jamaica Dispatch of the 21st ult., announces that his Excellency the Lieutenant• Governor has been pleased to is sue his proclamation, further proroguing the Honourable House of Assembly to Tuesday, the Ist of September next. The Teviot spoke the following vessels on her voyage homeward :—On the 3d of August, in lat. 24 16 N, long. 60 40 W, the brig Hamburgh, No. 64, with emigrants, steering westward. August 10,-in lat.'34 38 N, long. 40 14 W, the barque Heath, steering E.N.E.; also, in lat. 34 54 N, long. 39 30 W, the brig William and Lydia. The brig Lucretia, Perry, from Hamburgh, had arrived at Kingston. Tlie following is the list of passengers brcught by the Teviot:— Nethersole, Esq., Rev. Mr. Irish, Lieutenant Neville, R.A., and Mr. Mauder, from Inchmel ; Mr. Nunes, lady, and family, Mr. Stubbs, lady, and family, Mr. Dacastro and family, Mr. Masons, and Mr. Dulmedz, from St. Thomas's ; Hon. Robison, Mr. May, Mr. Howes, Mr. Burke, Mr. and Miss Smith, and child, and Mr. M'Neigh, from Demerara; Mr. Strand, lady, four children, and three servants, Mr. Dunbar, and Mr. Woolley, from Antigua; Mr. May - cock, lady, brother, child, and servant, Lieutenant Newman, Lieu tenant Hell, Mr. Denny, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Da nacott, Mr. Hobson, Rev. Mr. Garland, three children and servant, Mr. Bailey, 11l Swap, Mr. Lamont, Mr. Rema heur, Mr. Berne, Mr. Fontaine, \ Mr. Rarponing, Mr. Dollace, Mr. De Ronzi, Mr. M'Farlane, Mr. Cunningham, and Miss Forbes, from Fayal. JAMAICA MARKETS. (From De Cordova's Mercantile Intelli;e neer, July 24.) Flour—We report the following sales since our last :-900 barrels Philadelphia at 255. 6d. cash ; 700 ditto George town 300 ditto Richmond ; 1,000 ditt o G eorgetown a t 27 5 . ; 500 ditto Baltimore at 28s. ; 300 ditto ditto (nearly five months here) at 245; 1,000 ditto Philadelphia, at 255. 6d., on terms of credit equal to cash; 140 ditto New Orleans, " hard " at 245. 6d. Some parcels, which were laid in during the last month at about 28s. per barrel, are now being re• sold at 21s. to 225. The stock is still very large. Cornmeal—This article remains in a very depreised con dition. Some few days back a parcel of 2,800 barrels was refused at 145.; subsequently about 1,000 barrels were placed in lots of 50 barrels, at 15s. The sale, however, of 1,000 barrels, which arrived here afterwards, at 16s , four months, has caused a greater degree of firmness in the market. Bread is very abundant. We note the following sales :- 80 barrels Philadelphia Pilot, "Buddy',," at 16, ; 70 ditto, Navy, ditto, at 15s. ; 20 ditto, Crackers, ditto, at ;202. ; 100 ditto, Baltimore Pilot, at 155.; 100 ditto, Watson's, at 17s. ; 400 ditto, at 14s. 6d.; 200 ditto, Navy, at 145.; 150 ditto, Crackers, at 20s. Rice continues to decline; we have heard of two sales amounting to 1,200 bags best Bengal, at 15s. per 1001bs. There have been no operations in Carolina, which is held at 205., but ineffectually. Butter-The stock of Irish butter is unusually large for this season; and the sales are limited to parcels for imme diate consumption, at prices varying from 7d. to 9d. Hali fax commands 7 1 4 d. to Bd.; 59 kegs Philadelphia have been parted with at sd. per lb. Lard-The best American cannot command 5d.; 144 kegs Philadelphia soft have fetched only 3,1c1. per lb. Candles-The stock of all sorts is very heavy • the last sales of Baltimore were _at bid. per lb.; 700 half boxes and 25 boxes " Lty:don olive oil wax candles" have been parted with at Bd. per lb. Codfish-The immense receipts have caused a still greater decline in the price of this article, which has been selling at Bs. to 9s. 6d. in casks, and 12s. to 15s. in boxes, according to quality. There are two entire cargoes and portions of others yet unsold. Mackerel-Nos. 2 and 3 are dull at 345. per barrel, and No. 1 at 365. The demand is light. Alewives-The stock of this article, as well as of all other articles of pickled fish, with the exception of salmon, is very large. We report a sale of 200 barrels at 10s. Herrings have been sold at 6s. to 145., according to quality. The late arrivals have been very inferior. A parcel at public sale brought only 2s. per barrel. Salmon-There is none at market. Soap-There have been some large sales in Olden's at 10s. 6d. to lls. for 60111. 10s. for 50th., and Bs. 6d. for 181 b. boxes; 200 boxes Steel's, 481 b., have been taken at 10s. 6d. per box. The stock of this brand is enormous. We have heard of no transactions in Stockdale's. Pork-100 barrels prime American were placed at 645. The principal holders are now firm, at 665. to 685.; the stock is very heavy. There is no demand for Irish. Hams- The large quantity of other sorts interfere with the Lancashire descriptions, which may be quoted at Bd. Cumberland has been sold at Bid., and oacon at 9d. per lb. American fetch 4id. to bid. • Cheese-I) Gis worth 10d. to lOid. Pigs' Tongues command 48s. per half barrel They are very scarce. • Philadelphia have changed hands a t 6 s . 6d. Corn-450 bags P per bag of two bushels. Oil-The stock is 80 heavy that ls. 6d. to Is. N. is with difficulty realised for cod. Lumber-The 'market is very inactive, and no inclination is evinced to purchase. Salt may be quoted at 7.. 6il per sack. EXTORTS. Rum-15 puncheons have been taken for exportation, at 2s. 3d. per gallon and 3d. per laud KGs AUGUST 21i 1846. Sugar-4/ogshaads, tierces, and barrels were sold at from 225. 3d. to 28s. per 100 lb., according to quality. EXCHANGES ON LONDON. Jamaica Bank-60 days, lA 3 per cent. prem. Colonial. Bank--60 days, IA per cent. prem. 30 days, 1 per cent. prem. Planters Bank-90 days, par. 60 days, IA per tent. prem. 30 days, 1 per cent. prem. Commissary's per cent. prem. THE NAVY. THE RETIREMENT AND PROMOTION. We this day present to our readers the Admiralty scheme of retirement and promotion as introduced into the House of Commons, on Mondai , night, by the civil mem b er o f th e board, the Ho n . W. F. Cowper :•—• THE PLAN OF RETIREMENT FOR TWO HUNDRED CAPTAINS, 1846. First—The rank of retired rear-admiral to be given by seniority to such applicants from the 14s. 6d. half-pay list as may be willing to accept it, with the pay of 255. per day, and the correspondent pension to their widows, under the usual restrictions. Second—An addition of 7s. Gd. a day to be given to ap plicants, by seniority, from the 12s. Gd. and 10s. 6d. half pay has, tieing captains of not less than 20 years' standing and 55 years of age, officers from both lists to be promoted to assume the title of rear -admiral at the period when they would have obtained the flag by seniority had they re m Ind upon the active list; their widows to be entitled to a pension of 1101. per year, and to the pension of rear admirals' widows when the rank of rear-admiral has been attained. Third—T'ie vacancies upon the IL list to be filled up by officers now accepting the 18s. per day ; but the permanent retired list to be reduced to 100, by making one appoint ment for every two vacancies, and no higher retirement to be given hereafter than 1/. per day, with the right of assuming the rank of rear-admiral when entitled to it by seniority. Fourth—The active list of captains to be reduced to 500. A corresponding reduction to be made of the 14s. 6d. and 12s. 6d. half-pay lists. The first to consist of 75 captains, and the latter 100. Fifth —Good service pensions to be retained by captains until they reach the rank of rear-admiral, or of retired rear admiral. Sixth—No flag promotions to take place until the plan of retirement is carried out. The admirals' list of 140 to be then completed to 150, and to be maintained at that number by continuous promotion of qualified men. Thirty admirals, or 10 of each squadron. - Forty-five vice-admirals, or 15 of each squadron, and Seventy-five rear admirals, or 25 of each squadron. Seventh—ln the event of a general promotion, such officers as may have served the time required to qualify them for their flag, to be placed on the active list of flag-officers, and those not qualified for their flag to be placed on the list of retired rear admirals, the active and retired lists not being increased until they shall, by deaths or other causes, be reduced to the original numbers of 150 or 100 respectively. Eighth—The plan of retirement to come into operation on the Ist of October of the present year, and all letters relating to it to be treated as strictly confidential. On the above plan the Morning Herald remarks : This is the plan on which Mr. Cowper made his state ment; but we have much gratification in announcing that, from the objections taken to some portion of it, the injustice and harshness of which we took occasion particularly to point out, that part of the 6th paragraph printed in italic, and the entire of the most obnoxious 7th article, upon recon sideration, have been expunged; and that too, it should be stated, by the Admiralty themselves, before the interview of Sir Charles Napier, yesterday, with Lord John Russell on the subject; which circumstance gave the Noble Premier the satisfaction of most agreeably anticipating the objec tions which it was the Gallant Commodore's intention for cibly to urge, by informing Sir Charles that they no longer existed. The above alterations have not, however, reconciled the navy to the amended plan, and it is generally held that its susceptibility of further alteration is very great, that its only recommendations to notice are its obnoxious provi sions, and if they were removed it would then be merely a clumsy, useless, and inefficient measure. For the last two or three years the general inefficiency of our flag list to provide admirals to command our fleets and squadrons at sea has been insisted on; but, although the number was reduced far beyond that on the list since the year 1800, no promotion has taken place to recruit it, whilst the num ber of captains have been periodically increased. In fact, the number of admirals at present on the list is ac tually thirty-four below the number on the list in 1841, before the promotion, and the captains' list which should have been reduced by the promotion of one to three vacancies has been increased to the extent of thirty officers; so that the service has suffered by the growing infirmities of the un-recruited admirals, the captains' chances of employment have been re- ' duced by the large additional number made to their rank, and the seniors have had the mortification of standing still at the head of the list, witnessing the growing decay of their superiors, and, at the same time, feeling their own infirmities of age coming on with rapid strides, and debarred from suc ceeding to that rank which they had earned so many years before, and in which only they could be usefully employed. A reduced flag-officers' list, and a crowded and overloaded captains' list, compelled the suggestion of a scheme which failed only from the small proportion of money to the num ber required to retire, but, doubtless, would have answered if the money voted had been given to a smaller number; points of form, narrow-minded scruples, and a too strict adherence to exploded precedence, have combined to prevent the adop tion of just and liberal views, and thus the old officers have been kept on the tenter-hooks of expectancy month after month, until such a measure is brought forward as the above ill reflected shadow of what the old officers deserve, and the nation desire they should have. It is naturally remarked that the naval officers at the Admiralty, including Vice-Admiral Sir C. Adam, Rear- Admiral Dundas, Captain Berkeley, Lord John Hay, as members with Captain Baillie Hamilton as one of th e secre taries, and Captain Eden as private secretary, ought to know what is required to make an efficient flag-officers' and cap tains' list, and must be well aware of what is due to captains of 1808 down to 18.0. In some quarters it will not be believed that naval officers have had anything to do with the formation of the measure, or the veterans of the service would have been better consi dered, whilst in other places, where its failure is confidently predicted, the flattering hope is entertained that finally it will be left entirely to the Board of Admiralty to remodel it, and nothing short of a most complete revision of the rule of naval promotion will be made. This measure is objectionable in very many respects, and clumsy and inefficient in most of the others. To say nothing of the absurd test of eligibility and ineligibility by which captains, some of them having 40 years of seagoing service, are to be measured, grossly inconsistent, inasmuch as those who are considered not qualified were to be retired, and not reckoned in the active list, whilst the admirals' active or efficient list would actually contain the very officers who were formerly retired, we will point to the ultimate remuneration of the permanent retired list. The officers are not to have more than 20s. a day ; awl to force them to take this at once, 25 have been cut off from the 100 at the top of the list, on the pay of 14s. 6d. a day, and 50 from the next 150 on 12s. 6d. a day. This " save-all " re tirement is to be at the expense of the 2s. a day promotion from the junior to the senior lists—a sort of stealing from Paul to make Peter poorer. And what inducement, we would ask, is there to the 123. 6d. list to retire, containing as it does officers who, in the event of the adoption of the scheme, must, in regular course, succeed in about eighteen months or two years to 255. a day, and the rank of rear admiral? It is well known that the captains of the upper portion of the 12s. 6d. list are, for the most part, quite as aged as those on the 14s. 6d. list. They are, in fact, the incubus which forms the barrier between the young and active captains and the old experienced officers who should be on the admirals' list ; and that plan must be considered clumsy and ineffective that should fail in its offers to induce the officers on that list immediately to take the re tirement. In order to make the proposed retirement acceptable to the service, and at the same time to insure the completion of the object in view—that of causing the old and ineffective officers to retire—it would be much better that the first 100 who are to be entitled to the rear-admiral's rank and half-pay should not be limited to those on the 14s. 6d. list only, but it should be extended to such of the 12s. 6d. list also as had cempleted 30 years' rank as post captains. Further, it is considered that with the view of inducing those old officers to retire, who, though they have served the time to qualify them for their flags, are too old ever to ex pect to serve again, they should have guaranteed to them the higher rank and pay as flag-officers, it they should live long enough to attain them, which they would have received had they remained on the active list, by declining to accept of the proffered retirement. This proposition we hold to be in every sense fairer and more just, and therefore, in order to carry out this act of jus tice, and at the same time to benefit the service thus essen tially by the removal of these gallant officers from the effec tive list, we hope the offer will be made to them, and our be lief is a great number will accept of it, inasmuch as they will lose nothing by doing so. We submit these remarks with deference, but with a strong sense of what is due to the gallant and much neglected officers on the captains' list, and to follow up the exposition of the " eligible" and " ineligible" distinctions, we invite from the latter a statement of their services as cornnasuiders and lieutenants. The Archbishop of Dublin, accompanied by his family, Lady Mary Hope, and suite, and Captain Campbell, R.N., were among the distinguished passengers that arrived on Wednesday morning by the General Steam Navigation Com pany's steam-ship Soho, from Ostend. In announcing the arrival of the America, 50, Captain the Hon. John Gordon, from the Pacific, with freight, we are happy to have it in our power to give a contradiction to the many absurd rumours which have been so industriously circulated to the pre judice of Captain Gordon. It bas been stated that that gallant officer had left the station on the coast of Mexico at a time when his ship and his own services were doubly required, as the then existing state of the Oregon dispute warranted the supposition that war with the United States was inevitable ; that he had left without the orders and, indeed, against the will of the Commander-In-Chief on that station, for the purpose of deriving the pecuniary advantage accruing from the shipment of a freight. We are authorised to state that Captaiu Gordon left the station solely at the urgent entreaty of the merchants who had intrusted their money to his keeping, they being convinced that their property would not be safe in an 18-gun sloop. The idea of a freight having any influence in inducing the gallant captain to bring home his ship is monstrous, the very amount giving the lie to the reports which have been put in circulation.—Times. EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH- WESTERN RAILWAY.— Preparations for the extension of this railway to the vicinity of Waterloo-bridge are actively progressing; a number of houses in the Wandsworth-road and Vauxhall-gate are already demolished, and the occupiers of premises in the Westminster-bridge-road are now vacating them. It is intended to cross this thoroughfare by a via•iuct extending in a diagonal direction from the Upper Marsh, near the Old Marsh-gate, towards Waterloo-bridge. PEDESTRIANISM:RICHARDS AND BENNETT.—James Richards (of Sneplierd's Bush) and J. Bennett (ot Ealing), walked their seven mile match on Wednesday, for 20 goys., at Bedfont, over a measured mile, near the Black Dog. By the conditions, Bennett received half a minute start ; the " Novice" made good use of this advantage, gaining full 125 yards. Richards went off speedily, and in the first mile and a half had lessened the distance consider ably, but from this time he fell of. The pace told on him, and Bennett, so far from losing his given lead, increased it steadily. At the turn of the sixth mile the " Novice" led by some 200 yards, and at a quarter of a mile from home Richards gave up the contest. Time lb. 2m. 15s. Bennett, fOr a first appearance, gave good pro mise of proving an excellent pedestrian. STEAM COMPETITION.—Within the last few days the town and vicinity of Richmond have felt the advantages of steam competition by some of the steam-boat companies carrying pas sengers for Bd. The fare is to be reduced by some of the boats to 6d. next week. HORSE STEALING IN THE METROPOLIS.—Wednesday the police received information that a gentleman, named Rushton, residing. in Laurie-terrace, Walworth-road, had been robbed of an Iron-gray horse, worth .100/., which he had entrusted to a m an t o convey to Barnstable s livery yard, Blackman-street, Borough. Gentlemen ought to be very carefill of leaving their horses in strangers in the streets of London, as th e p rac ti ce o f steal ingem uiider similar circumstances has become very prevalent°ll the of of late. THE POPULATION OF ROME.—According to official year 1816, the city of Ho me i s di v id e d I nto 54 parishes, 35,988 families. There are 41 bi shops, 1,533 priests, returnsinhabited for by the 2,845 monks, and 1,472 nuns. The Jews, who are about from 8,010 to 10,000, are not comprised in this census. The whole population in 1537 woe 156,552; in_ 1540, 154,6321 in 1845, 167,160; and In 1846, 170,199, ÜBLIC DINNER toJOHN BRIGHT, ESQ., M.P. DuratAat, NITEDNE'SDAY MORNING.—On Tuesday evening a public dinner was given to John Bright, Esq., M.P., by his constituents, the electors of this city. The dinner originated with the mayor and corporation, and was intended as r. mark of respect to' the Hon. Gentleman, and also to evince their sense of his services in the cause of free trade. It took place in the Sale and Exhibition Rooms (the largest room for the purpose in the city) which was well filled. Mr. Bright arrived punctually at five o'clock, the time appointed, and was received with enthusiastic applause. The mayor (J. Bramwell, Esq.) presided, and Alderman Hoggett, ex mayor, filled the vice-chair. On the right of the chair were the honoured guest, Captain Wetherby, George Crawshay, Esq., of the firm of Hawks and Co., of Gateshead ; John Crawford, Esq., W. Shields, Esq., &c. On the left W. Brockett, Esq., J.P. ; Alderman Moore, Thomas Sell, Esq. In the room were several influential gentlemen from the neighbouring towns. The room was decorated with ever greens and flowers, and the device of a crown, with the motto " Free Trade," were formed in dahlias above the prin • cipal table. After dinner, the CHAIRMAN read a letter from Henry Morton, Esq., principal asent to the executors of the Coun tess of Durham, expressing regret that a previous engage ment, which he could not postpone, precluded his attending. He considered the entertainment a very proper acknowledg ment to Mr. Bright for his able and indefatigable exertions in the cause of free trade, and it was most assuredly owing to the unparalleled efforts of Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright that the struggle was brought to a triumphant issue. The MAYOR then proposed " The Queen," observing that to her Majesty they may have been indebted for smoothing the prejudices, overcoming the objections, and bringing into order the highest branch of the Legislature on the question of free trade.—(Drank with cheers.) Other loyal toasts having been drank, The MAYOR again rose, and in flattering terms proposed the health of Mr. Bright, which was very rapturously cheered. Mr. BRIGHT immediately rose, and after the cheering on his rising bad subsided, addressed the company in a speech which occupied an hour and a quarter in its deli very. He expressed his obligations to the Mayor and Cor poration for having invited him to that entertainment. He took it as some proof that the inhabitants of Durham were willing to give their sanction to those great measures which have passed the Legislature during the present session. It was an accident which brought him to the city, and although the schism which had taken place in the ranks of their opponents had weakened them and strengthened the free traders, yet it must b e a d m i tte d there was something in the principle which was held out to the electors which roused them to virtuous action, and tended to bring about the suc • cess of that great and memorable struggle.—(Applause.) That principle was one which at that time was not univer sally recognised; and yet he believed the more they exa mined it, and the longer they lived, the more they would be compelled to acknowledge that no principle could be more beautiful and true, none more natural, just, and simple. It was opposed by an organisatioa of almost every other party —by those who were interested in the accumulation of rent, by those who sought to maintain the supremacy of party, and also by a large class of persons who suffered neither pecuniary or political considerations to weigh with them, but who were deeply prejudiced and ignorant, who had not intelligence to examine the question, or public spirit to ar range themselves with the popular party, for the pur pose of overturning the great national evil of the corn-laws. They were also opposed by men who say they have much more religion than others, because they profess a deeper attachment to the church, and who are generally not willing to admit that those who would move in any political question are even fit to live in a country which they have governed, and which they would fain govern for ever. The Whig party, too, were long before they adopted those principles ; many adopted them at last with the greatest possible reluctance, and many, he feared, are not altogether plessed that a great political ne cessity has made those principles triumphant. Up to a very recent period there were not in the House of Commons more than 100 who voted for the total repeal of the corn laws, and in the House of Lords, according to their own confession, not more than six, and yet that measure had been successful. The three estates of the realm have ac knowledged that the corn-laws were a great evil; twe prime ministers have declared them a grievous and intoler able injustice; two cabinets have decided against them; and throughout the kingdom there is all but an universal admission that these laws were an error from the beginning, and have been marked by nothing but mischief to the people, to whom they promised to be unmixed good.—(Applause.) He reminded them, however, that this had be en d one not b y the Crown, nor Mi n i s t ers, nor Parliament, but by the middle and industrious classes of the country. The remembrance of this would show them hereafter how they might be success ful in any just struggle in which they may be engaged, for there are struggles a -head from which the people cannot escape, and in which they must be either borne down by the conflict, or by united and energetic effort again succeed. —(Applause.) He then alluded to the pacific policy which had characterised the Anti Corn-law League, and said that in this country and in this age no beneficial reform can ever be eflected by force; and further, the employment of force would bring with it greater maladies than those which it healed. He next adverted to the important influence which his election fur Durban), followed as it was by the return of Mr. Pattison for London, had on the Anti 'Corn law movement. Since then blow had succeeded blow, until at length the rock which seemed to be immovable had given way, and industry set free.—(Cheers.) Some thought the sugar monopoly would require another association to de stroy it; but no sooner were the corn-laws destroyed, tban it was found that the sugar monopolists' brazen image had feet of clay, and even now, without a shot being fired at it, the sugar monopoly had been virtually abolished.—(Loud cheers.) But they had not only to congratulate each other on the passing of free -trade measures, but on some of their effects. Only a few months ago they looked to America with apprehension and dread, but no sooner did Sir Robert Peel's free-trade speech reach that country, than the men who were for all Oregon or none, and for fighting their father-land, felt that they were stricken, and could no longer make head against those great interests which knew that it was a thousand times better to trade with Englishmen than to fight with and destroy them.— (Applause.) It was not free trade that did this, it was the shadow of it only. He stated at the last election that the protective system in England was the cause of the protective system abroad, and that any relaxation of it here, would be followed by similar steps on the part of other countries. Already onr example is being imitated. There was the tariff which had been introduced into, and which had recently passed, the legislature of America. Mr. Polk had been rezurned at the last presidential election ill consequence of his adherence to the principle of that inea sure, which had passed the Senate by a majority of one. that one being the vote of the President himself. It was the opinion of the leading merchants of Liverpool and Man chester, that that t a riff wou ld b e h i ghly beneficial to the• , trade of the two countries. Wit h the duties reduced, in man` cases one-half, in some cases two-thirds, there could be nn doubt by the time the measure came into operation, the) would find a great impetus given to the trade of that country. as well as to that of this. But there was nothing that was more consolatory to his mind, when he looked back upor his labours in the recent struggle for commercial freedom, than the fact, that whenever the principles of free trade became universal, they should have nations not separate and distinct as they were now—one man saying he was born an Englishman, and therefore could have no so sym pathy with the Frenchman ; and when all nations would feel as one people over the earth, separated perhaps by mountains—not separated but united by seas—when they should all consider themselves as branches of the same uni versal family, governed, indeed, by separate Governments, but not characterisetrby a warlike disposition, rather as suming the character of municipal institutions. The pro gress of free trade extended the intercourse of nations, and was the best security for peace. Then, "Ours the triumph be Round social earth'to circle fair exchange, And bind the nations in a golden chain. But the prospect was not more delightful at home, and in a domestic view. He had come down from London yesterday, and he had observed, what was the case everywhere, that the country through whist] the railway passed was only half cultivated. He might safely assert that when these railways were formed, the parties found the land in much the same state as it was in two or three hundred years ago. The operation of free trade would give an impetus to agri culture which would soon be conspicuous in the cultivation of the land. The Honourable Gentleman then referred to the alleged burdens on land, and showed by facts and argu ments that the single burden arising from the preserva tion of game was greater than all the other burdens on land— including all the local and general taxes put together. He instanced the case of the Duke of Rutland, who in one year Intl paid his tenants 916/. - for damage done by game over 398 acres of his land. And yet the Marquis of Granby, at a recent meeting of the protectionists, complained that it was impossible for agriculturists of this country to compete with the foreigner owing to the peculiar burdens on land, while the burden arising from the preserva tion of game was greater than all the others put together. The Honourable Gentleman then ad verted to the recent changes in public opinion, and con gratulated the meeting on the progress which the fr e e .trade principles had alre a dy ma d e . Th e present . us rernment, on corning into office, showed itself an io ns to obtain the sanction and approbation of that portion of the public who had been acted upon by the Anti-Corn-law League. They offered offic e s to two mem bers of the League who were then in Parliament ; and one of them accepted office. He was willing in part to take that as a pledge of what would be the career of the new Go vernment.—((;peers.) The Government might not be able to carry out their intentions to the full effect, which the members of the League wished; still he was inclined to be lieve that the great principle that Government was meant for the people, and not for classes, must be followed out. The public was becoming more enlightened; and with the pro gress of enlightenment the Government of the country must always keep pace.—(Cheers.) He came now to speak of himself in connexion with their city. He came here openly as the advocate of some opinions which he knew were not in consonnance with those of some among them, who had given him their disinterested support. But his pledges to them had simply had relation to the question of free trade ; and those pledges he trusted he had amply redeemed.— (Loud and repeated cheers.) He had never in Parliament missed one single opportunity of recording his sentiments in favour of free trade since they had sent him to Parliament; and now he was delighted beyond measure that his meeting with them was to celebrate the fulfilment of their joint wishes. For himself he could only say, that he had not ne glected one important thing which had devolved upon him in the representation of this city.—(Cheers.) One great source of satisfaction to him in the prosecution of the last election in which he had been engaged in this city, was, that neither he, nor any of his friends, were connected with any act of which they could be accused as unworthy of their cause.— (Cheers.) An attempt had been made to get up a charge of bribery; but after raking up all the sinks and sewers of the town, with an assiduity which would have been com mendable in a better cause, the charge was abandoned. Their own cause was pure ; but a cause which was in itself good would never be stained by improper means.—( Loud cheers.) He would expect them, then, never to stain that character for purity which they had gained on that occa sion—not to again submit to that stain which was affixed to so many boroughs throughout the kingdom.—(Hear.) Here argument was the only weapon used by the League, and it had been triumphant, for it not only obtained a vic tory here, but was soon afterwards productive of another victory in London.—(Cheers.) The old system of election was productive of sad remembrances, both to the corrupter and the corrupted,' and he hoped that they would never see its re-establishment in this city. The Hon. Gentleman saw through the various influ ences he bad to encounter before he was successful at the last election, and alluded to the disgraceful conduct of the elec tors of Sunderland at the list election there, which he placed in strong contrast to that of the electors of Durham, where no pledge had been forfeited. But he had been assured that the electors of Sunderland were prepared to redeem their character. He now came to the most painful part of his duty —to tell them that he could take no future part in the elec tion for this city. From causes which he need not go into now—some of which were personal to himself, and some of which had reference 0 parties, indiyidualo , awl opinions S Kt•2'i fp4,10../ which prevailed i n AN ~..1611V-Deli ' , - ctlY understood that he - present - - before them as a candidate . • enerar- ration should arrive. He could not .e itu er the farther c tion or the further Nig_ Ovham; but entertained a firm coati ,a o hg, had witnessed from his connexion with this city , that they would persevere in eschewing the one and maintaining the other. He had no doubt but they would purely, honestly, manfully, and determinedly perform their duty; and he had no doubt that whoever might be his successor, the espousal of principles which had taken place between himself and them, would not be broken. The Hon. Member resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. Mr. SHIELDS pro...ed the health of the Hon. C. P. Vii- Hers, Mr. Cobden, r. Wilson, and their fellow-labourers in the sacred cause of the corn-law repeal.—(Applause.) Mr. CRAWSHAY gave "The Constituency of the city of Durham, and may it preserve its independence." Mr. BuocKsTr, in proposing the health of "Her Majesty's Ministers," expressed a hop e th a t th e y wou ld practice in office what they had preached whilst in opposition.—(Ap plause.) Sir R. Peel had no doubt done much good, and he for one was grateful to him for it; but it was pitiable to find that his opponents could charge him with having vio lated his pledges. He trusted no supporter of the present Mi nistry would ever be able to charge them with doing po. Mr. KELL, the town-clerk of Gateshead, gave the health of " The Liberal Constituencies of the county of Durham." The county, he said, is represented . by ten Members, eight of whom are Liberals, and it behoved them to attend to the re gistration, and consider whether those who returned so large a proportion could not return the whole.—(Cheers.) " The Bishop of Durham" and other toasts were then drunk, and the company separated shortly before nine o'clock. [The Hon. Member was expected to address the inhabit ants in the market-place yesterday evening.] THE SEASON AND THE CROPS. FAILURE OF THE POTATO CROP. The present week has opened well for the securing of the corn crops, Sunday having been a fine drying day, with bright sun and a gentle breeze, and yes terday fair, though scarcely fine. The wheat and oats were still in the fields yesterday morning, in this part of the country, owing to the wea ther having been too much broken during the last week for housing :them, although they were nearly dry more than once. The grain is, in general, in good con dition, and very little sprouted, e xce pt un d er t h e trees and hedges. Should we now have a fine week, many thousand acres of grain will be secured in good condi tion before Saturday night, in Lancashire and Cheshire. In consequence of the alarming reports of the existence of disease in the potato crops, we took the opportunity at the end of last week of examining that, and at the same time all the other crops very carefully, in a range of country extending about fifty miles in length along the valleys of the Mersey and the Irwell, as well as several miles on both sides of these rivers. This includes some of the districts in Lancashire and Cheshire, and we regret to be compelled to say that the result of that examination is a conviction that the potato crop is everywhere extensively diseased, and in many places it is threatened with total destruction. The corn crops and all green crops, except potatoes, are looking well. Starting from Liverpool by the line of the railway, we find that about Broad green and Huyton the wheat crops are all cut, and that the number and size of the sheaves give promise of a large produce. The second crops of clover are in flower, grass is abundant, and turnips promise well. In the midst of this general luxuriance, the potato crops are all more or less diseased. In some fields the tops are en tirely withered, as after severe frost, and every where they are blackened. The smell of decaying vegetable matter may be perceived in passing every field. It is certain that the disease must proceed in this neighbourhood from general causes, and not from any defect in the soil, or in the cultivation of it, for the soil is perfectly open and dry, and the cultivation as good es that of any part of England. On the stiff soils extending from Rainhill to the west side of the Sankey Valley, the signs of disease are also everywhere perceptible in the potato crops, but the decay is not yet so much advanced as in the earlier and dryer soils. As this land is so stiff and undrained, and therefore unfit for the growth of roots, we should have thought little of the existence of the disease if it had been confined to this neighbourhood. The small quantity of wheat grown on these cold soils is unripe, and still uncut. About Newton the soil again becomes dry and open. Here all the grain is cut, and will be housed before the end of the week. Every crop looks well except the potatoes, which are giving way in almost every field, and becoming black and offensive to the smell. About Warrington the soil is remarkably open and rich, and here the farmers understand the cultivation of all kinds of potatoes as well as in any part of Eng land, if not better, yet here the disease is nearly universal,, and the loss must be ruinous. The early crops have yielded very badly, and the late ones seem likely to yield still worse. In this neighbour hood yellow turnips are always grown after early potatoes, and the young plants are already looking re markably well. The potatoes have taken little nourish meat out of the ground any where, and wherever the tops are quite decayed, it would be good policy to take them up, and to sow yellow turnip seed, broadcast, on the same ground. Before Christmas the bulbs would be very large. In Kenyon. Culcheth, and Leigh, the soil is in general stiff, though there are some patches of good open dry land. Here the potatoes are decaying on the good soils , Ls well as on the bad. We know this to be the case in one instance, in which the land has been dug two grafts deep, to insure perfect dryness and openness in the soil. On the peat moss farms in Barton township the disease has hitherto only shown itself in the gardens. and as potatoes grown on peat lands last year escaped both in England and Ireland, the moss farmers have some hopes of being equally fortunate this year. We fear, however, that they will be disappointed, for the disease is much more violent and general this year than it was last, and the peat soils are already affected in Ireland. Following the line of the old road fr. m Manehester to Liverpool, through the villages of !flaw and Carlish• ad to Hollin's Ferry, the potato crops, ii the open field!, are less affected than in most parts of the county. th( ugh they are far from being free from the disease. The soil in the whole of this district is open and peaty. After crossing the river Mersey, at Hollin's Ferry, into the township of Warburton, in Cheshire, the ap pearance of the corn, grass, and turnip crops is very fine, but the potatoes are much worse than in Lancashire. We only saw one small field in this township in which the disease did not exist, and in many there was not a single green leaf on the tops in a whole field. The farm and garden cultivation in this district is excellent, and the soil open, friable, and rich, so that there is no pre• tence for charging the evil on local causes. After passing through Dunham Massey Parfe w e come to the neighbourhood of Bowden and Altringham, where the land is the finest in all Cheshire. Here the failure in the potato crop is many degrees worse than it is in any of the districts of which we have yet spoken. In numerous fields there is not a single green leaf on the potato plants, the stems of which stand up like rows of blackened sticks. From the height and strength of the stems, the growth must have been most luxuriant previous to the blight. Indeed, we were assured that the potatoes were never known to be more luxuriant, or more richly covered with blossoms than about three weeks since. We heard of one farmer here who estimated his loss in one field, in a single week, at 501. In Carrington, on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, and in Flixton, which lies bet ween the Mersey and th e I rwe ll, the destruction is not so great as about Altringham, but the farmers say that every field is diseased, and that the only reason why the crops look better at Altringham is, that they are planted later, and are therefore not so far advanced in their growth. In the midst of this deplorable, and all but universal failure of the potato crop, it is gratifying to be able to say that all the other crops look well in the districts of which we have been speaking. Still, the loss of food and property is enormous, and the potato plant is so universally affected, that it is very doubtful whetber it will be either prudent, or even possible to cultivate it in this neighbourhood in future years to any great extent. Since the above article was written the weather has again become very wet and unfavourable for the harvest. _...,Li ver .poot Times. Tuz PoTATo DISEASE.—For some weeks past there has been a talk, beginning with a whisper and gradually swelling into the loudest tone of confident asser tion, that the potato rot is again showing itself to a great extent in this year's crops. At first we were inclined and willing to believe that the rumour was merely the echo of last year's panic work. ing upon the proverbial timidity of the farmers. Bat we can no longer cling to such a hope. We have, at the present moment, letters before us from Ireland, Scotland, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Devonshire, and Jersey, and, although written fr om so many dif ferent quarters, they all agree in the melan choly anticipation that the failure in the present potato crop will far exceed that of last year. It ist remakable that it is showing itself in the same sorts which 'suffered before from it. " The Scotch reds," and " the shaws," as they call th e common white po tato in some places, are generally affected, while ." the Prince Regents" almost entirely escape. What ottn be the cause of this distinction? Is it that the last named species has been more recently introduced than the other, and, therefore, the seed not worn out? But what is the cause of the disease at all? Last year it was ascribed, as a matter of course and without much thought, to the heavy and continued rains. The present season, however, has been marked by peculiarly favour.. able weather. How is this same result from exactly opposite causes to be accounted for?—Liverpool NATIONAL GALLERY.—The visitors to the national Gallery, it is shown in a Parliamentary paper yesterday printed, numbered 456,105 in 1843; 681 845 in 1844 ; ; and 696,245 in 1845. The pictures purchased for that institution araounted to 114,8041. 165.. fa' 27 of which 57,8041. 16s. was paid. Tiz Wwow's TALE.—At the petty sessions at Woodstock. on Tuesday last, before Mr. T. Thornhill, Lord Dillon. and the Rev. H. J. Passand, and S. G. Seagrove, on the complaint of the assistant overseer of Ensham, Elisiabeth Banbridge, of that parish, widow, was summoned for a poor's rate amounting to 2s. 5d.,, said to be due to overseers of the said parish. She pleaded poverty. and said she was not able to pay. The officer said she did not be long to the parish, and they were determined to make all those pay who did not belong to the parish. This declaration drew forth the following telling statement from the poor creature :—I have !bur small children ; the parish allows me eight loaves to keep them. r sell two of these loaves to help me to pay the rent. I sit up hours tes keep myself. I have had no othft pay since two weeks after Whitsuntide. I c innot earn more than about Is. 104 per week at glove sewing. I work for Air, Thompson, of Reusing ton. I should not have the work if 1 did not take goods far my pay. We are expected to take goods, lily husband has be,en dead six years, and I never had more of the parish than 2s. or six loaves a week. I belong to Northleigh, in the same union as Ensham. neve can I pay out of eight loaves of bread ? I cannot live in the partstt where I belong, or I would. I have tried times and times lo got a place, and cannot. I have not one farthing in the world. My poor children were hanging round me when I left home this morning. They said they should not see me again. I pay 2s. !per week rent. I have but one loaf now to last till Saturday, Lord Dillon paid the he had another dem an d Of Is. rate, and the clerk forgave his fees Sal . this the poor wid ow ap. 7 pe d ore L d o v rd ery p t in h o a n nkf o ul. i.ed Th h her to ce into the poorhouse. M r. SeagraTe Tetahlgeil ilia she wou_.;', nave to pay flours rates. The efer [lege. w ital. sTRY , Guy's ersitl [gilt and wit .. f o 3