The Sun. — London, England, 1837-04-21 00:00:00

HIS MAJESTY'S DRAWING-ROO:VI ne faing, attended by Sir Henry Wheatley, left town on Wednesday evening for Windsor Castle. His Majesty re turned to town at one o'clock yesterday, attended by Sir Henry Wheatley. The King held a Drawing-Room, the Princess Augusta officiating for the Queen, in consequence of her Majesty's in disposition. A Deputation of the Governors and officer; of Christ's Hospital School, consisting of Mr. Alderman Thomson, the President ; It H. Pi g eon, Esq., the Treasurer ; Mr. Al , der- Inan Farebrother and John Lane, Esq., Governors ; Mr. Mat thew Cotton, the Receiver ; Rev. Wm. Webster, the Mettle- Imatical Master, and Mr. John Back, the Drawing Master, I tccompanied by forty boys of the Royal Mathematical Foun dation of Christ's Hospital, arrived at the Palace, and were ushered by Mr. Martin, the Gentleman Usher in Waiting, to the presence of the King. The boys exhibited their charts and drawings. His Majesty was graciously pleased to ex. press his approbation of the great improvement made by the boys in t h at branch of their studies which his Majesty had ex amined and the liv e ly i n t e r es t h e t oo k in an institution xvhich had done so tnueh for the good or the navy, and which pia iVlajesty trusted would continue to do se for years to come. His Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms acre stationed at the entrance to the State Rooms, and also at the doors in the rooms reserved for the Royal Family. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria came in gate to the Drawing-Room, escorted by a detachment of the Royal Horse Guards. Their Royal Highnesses were attended by Lady Mary Stopford, Baroness Lelizen, Sir John Conroy, Sir George Anson, and General Upton. Their Royal Highnesses entered the Palace by the Colour Court, and were received with the usual honours by the King's Guard. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria wore dreszes of Irish manufacture, made for the occasion. The Duchess of Kent presented in the Closet Lady Mary Stopford, upon her appointment to be ono of her Royal High ness's Ladies of the Bedchamber. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland attended the Drawing Room. The Duke of Cambridge came, attended by Sir J. Reynett. The Princess Augusta left the Queen's House shortly be fore two o'clock, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the Queen's household, and took her station in the Throne Room, t i l io e l a d r the King. The following members of the Queen's house were in attendance :—The Countess Mayo (in waiting) 11 ,nd Lady Barrington, Ladies of the Bedchamber; Miss Mit %loll, Miss Hudson, and Miss Eden, Maids of Honour; Earl 131 Denbigh, Master of the Horse ; Hon. Mr. Ashley, Vice- Chamberlainin ; General Macdonnell, First Equery tto the 17 u s c en; Major Wright (on duty), Captain Vincent, Mr. Mel lish, and Captain Curzon, Gentlemen Ushers. bliss Wynyard was also in attendance on the Princess Au gusta. The King was attended by Lord James O'Bryen and G en. Sir William Lumley, the Lord and Groom in Waiting. The entree company was first admitted ; the ladies, after being p resente d to t h e King, were presented to the Princess Augusta. The general company were afterwards introduced. The following presentations took place : Madame Dedel, the Lady of the Netherlands Minister, and Mrs. Stevenson, the Lady of the American Minister, by the Countess de Ludolf. T he Turki s h A m b assa d o r and suite. Two Austrian officers, by Prince Esterhazy, the Austrian Am , • bassador. Count do Bille Brahe, Attache, by Baron de Biome, the Danish Minister. T he Chevalier de Kantzow, Swedish Charge d'Affaires in Portugal, by Count 13jornstjerna, the Swedish Minister. taron de Herding, Chamberlain to the King of Bavaria, by Baron d e C etto, t h e B avar i an Mi n i ster. it Dedel, Netherlands Minister ; and Baron Bentinck, Cham berlain of the King of the Netherlands, by M. Dedel, the N etherlands Minister. I'4l'r. Stevenson, the American Minister; and M. Wikoff, At tache to the Legation, by Mr. Stevenson. C hevaliisr de Aguilar, the Spanish Minister ; and M. de Pam pillo, Attache, by Chevalier de Aguilar. Chevalier de Ribeiro, Charge de Affaires from Portugal ; and the Chevalier de Carvallio, Attache, by Chevalier de Ribeiro. Count de Moiran, Charge d'Affaires from Sardinia. Th B aron de R o tb erg , by th e W ur t em b erg Mi n i s t er . e Lady Mayoress, by the Countess of Mayo. Lieu tenant. Colonel Wellesley Ashe, by General Sir Frederick Wetherell, G. C. H., &c. The Drawing -Room was attended by all the Foreign Am bassadors, &c., &c. D rees—Wellington, Rutland, and Somerset. Duchess of Somerset. Marquis Camden. Il laxemosasses—Sligo and Lansdowne. EARLS—Kinnoull, Bandon, Hillsborough, Plymouth, Craven, Wicklow, Mayo, Amherst, Longford, Brecknock, Stanhope, Roden, and Morton. COUNTESSES —Sefton, Craven, Plymouth, Rosse, Breck. flock, Morley, Albemarle, Kinnoull, Verulam, Morton, Wick low, Amherst, Euston, and Cowper. ViscouNTs—Grimston, Powcrscourt, Loftus, Alford, Bar. ring ton, and Strangford. VISCOUNTESIES—Powerscourt and Howick. Bisitoes—Salisbury, Ripon, and Durham. Lottoe—Worsley, Kilmaine, Saltoun, Dacre, Lovaine, A. Lennox, Euston, Nugent, Prudhoe, J. Haye, and Col thester. Lamss—Elizabeth Reynell, Louisa Molneux, Maria Mo- Pletix, Worsley, Wheatley, Conroy, Fitz y Wygram, Yarde TBullet, Colville, Caroline Towneley, Bateman, Johnstone, ierney, Catherine Cavendish, Anne Beckett, Saltoun, M. Urimston, Cartwright, Geary, Seymour, Louisa B row n e , A. 'Lennox F. Douglas, Townsend Farquhar, W. Stanhope, J. Richardson, John Russell, Howden, Cumming, Vivian, F. Cowper, Bateson, H. Clive. H. Paget, Aldis, G. Bathurst Amherst, B. Browne, Rolle, Stopford, Dowager De Clif-, ford, Parise, Hardy, J. Hay E. Howard, R. Stewart, Fitz roy. G. C ann i ng, coieheder'. Ta ß yl l o G en o ry et 1 a ,A 8 3 1 - . Es.—Sir Alexander John s t on , Si r B roo k HONOURABLES.—Lady Blackwood, W. Cowper, Miss Smyth, Mrs. J. T a lb ot, Mrs. Fraser, General Phipps, Cap tain_ Forrester, E. PhiPps, H. Percy, E. H. G r i mston , W. Fraser, F. Curzon, Capt. Hood, Mrs. R. Thompson, Lady Sinclair, SIRS--R. M. Steuart Seton, of Staffs, Bart., Wathen Waller, G. Hodson, Bart., R. Fitz Wygram, J. Y. Buller, F. H. Doyle, C. Aldis, J. Colquhoun, Bart W. W. Knighton, Sinclair, H. Verney, T. Troubridg;,' W. Geary, F. F orbes,Wa W. Cumming, Batesori,.J. S. Richardson, A. Farquhar, Dean of Windsor. Docioes—Aldis, W. Barry. Rey. Messrs:ties—H. J. Maltby, F. Frere, H. R. Slade, W. Russell, B. Bray, A. E. Sketchley. Massieues —Robert Hale, M. P., Richard Crowder, Charles c'vreeley Campbell of Islay, Charles Cavendish, W. E. ,issu,rtees, Hartopp, Pollen, Crane, Turnbull, Riddell, Alex -per, E. V. Neale, W. Russell, Lister, A. Gossett, A. laekinnon, Elphinstone, W. Powell, F. Calvert, J. O'Brien, e Yrnour, W. S. Sands, Gosselin, Clive, C. S. Grey, F. Kelly, Fleming, R. Glyn, Cary, Hargreaves. N" lta rnesses—Brand, Thesiger, Graydon, Wall er, Erskine, ftillett, Hodgson Cadogan, Campbell of Islay, Henry, Tut"- tr l t t , General Vansittart, S. Bathurst, H. Daniell, Greathed, Allen, Gosset, Seymour, Lister, Aldis • m ieurrell, M or i er , W . P owe ll , Cl ements . , Nss, is 'Es—Flore nce C ann i ng , Fi tz Wy gram , Au gus t a Fit z _ Jo'gram, Conroy, Victoria Conroy Wheatley, Mary Wheat- LoSelina Doyle, Fraser, Caroline , Erskine, Selina Erskine, tt stone, Frederi ca J o h nstone , L ong W e ll es l e y, E mma T. pnrs, lerney, H. Tierney, W. Wynn, M. Beckett, Horatia Pollen, Parke, Henrietta Stopford, Ellice, Laura honen, Greathed, Hay, Montagu, E. Bateson, L. Percy, F. 'Tuget 11. • Harriet Paget, Disbrowe, Stewart, J. Stewart, Mack- N°o(Z.Lister, G. Cummincs, Riddell, E. Stopford, Morier, hY. Hardy, Powell, g. Ilardy, A. -Ellice. Si r Z"ALs—Sir G. Cox, Bart., Anderson, Sir H. Cumming,. . Houstoun, Sir E. Paget, Sir J. Russell, Sir C. Sri jrnten, D rummond, Salmond, Boardman, Lord Howden, Th s „CO n v age, Sir A. Dickson, Sir G. Drummond, Sir W. Rey sie il J. OHalloran, Earl of Effingham, Sir T. Hon. p' • s C. Colville, Sir S. Hawker, Sir T. Hawker, A. Caldwell, t, Sir R. Dick, Hill, Dyson, Prendergast, Sir Colase I , V • Ash' El ' s ' „ W. Jones, Milman, Stovin, Mercer, S. Cowell, re a , d° ll es. Raikea, Sall, Wood, Sir H. Townshend, e yidr, al, Hill, Walton, 'Sir H. Ross, Richardson, W. Green, Ke su b n ' G Sir J. llope, Lautour, Sir G E. K , . Williams.. Benreenwood, Findl av , C o pl an d, Sir G. 1 eesdale, ,AlAParke tinek, Stanhope, S. Stanhope, Llewellyn. Sweet s— J. C. Griffiths H• nke Hode - son, Cadogan, -.ma n s • Y) tr, C A p TA :, "'um; Butler, Whyte. Polhill Al N. , -- P , Neville, Hon. G. A. Browne, Freeman, ilr ander, r • . Ewart, Walter, Cooke, Caldwell, G. Murray, D avies. , Fawcett, Daniell, E. Freke, A. Shirley, Isacke, D. malsekutitn...leaeTs—Rawlinson, Tierney, D. Pack, E. Freke, Mons, •\"‘,O,:),;11:yrell, Graydon, Parke, Teesdale, C. F. Sey •'eroses ?i,iliwodoe•L__,Freeth, Chambre, Lucas, Farquharson, I NI II• Duff, Haart G. Mundy, Munro, a s t orredevA4.l,‘eV. Bradford, Lord . Blantyre, E. Hill, reathed, CORNETS ymour. J. Anson, Duff, Bradford, Perceval, Ibbotson, H. V. Tuthill, R. Lawley, \Vedderburn. " ay 's, /3, •Yates, L. Wyke, West, Molloy, G. W. T. D oti'•'ary• ss rown ' t e l-s—Sir E. King, Gosselin, Thompson, Hall, West, Si r kv. Sir A. Drummond, Sir \V. Parker, Sir E. Brace, H alsted, rtirham, Sir C. Bullen, Sir J. A. Gordon, Sir L. ,S.:! S. Warren, Sir H. Pigot, Hawker, Sir H. Sir R . c,. T. Hardy, Jackson, APKiiiley, Sir P. Malcolm, Stopford. ks: Sir ISO) J. Herbert, M. Grant, M. Seymour, o Cosset, N. Duff, A. B. Branch, Collier, Grey, mpson, J. \V. Gabriel. T- t Lei g l h A , N e l ' r as—Loc . , C. Buckle, F. Boyce, J. Alexander, Th asts x . rvx ease, Milward, Scallon. t '`ANT-11:NT— Oldmixon. -e rvetra wing Ladies were presented to the King, and af . :(:,,ostirtlotetshseoPfripnicycni,ss Augusta : Guth, on coming to the title, by Mrs. 'TiGetlolsl) Vansitta-rt. Countess of Craven, on her marriage, by the Countess F' of Sefton. by , the Countess of Verulam. l'adY Carolina' yTColvilie, by Lady Elizabeth Rcynell. , nor! Sefton. e owneley, on her marriage, by the Countess :YBates aan „ Katherine Stewartrtwrl'h by Lady Wheatley. Lady Gea ry, Ey the Countess of Brecknock, Mrs. Campbell, of Islay, on her marriage, by Lady Char lotte Bury. Miss Florence Cumming, by her mother, Lady Cumming. Miss Victoria Conroy, by Lady Conroy. Miss Augusta Fitz Wygram, by Lady Fitz WyE,rram. Miss Selina Doyle, by Mrs. Tufnell. Viscountess Powerscourt. on her marriage, by Lady Howden. Hon. Miss Smythe, by the Duchess of Northumberland. Mrs. Waller, on her marriage, by Lady Wheatley. Mrs. Graydon, by Lady Yardc Buller. Mrs. Thessiger, by Lady Verde Buller. Mrs. Brand, on her marriage, by Lady Catherine Cavendish. Miss Fraser, by her grandmother, Lady Saltoun. Miss Caroline Erskine, by her mother, Mrs. Erskine. Miss Selina Erskine, by her mother, Mrs. Erskine. Miss Williams Wynn, by Lady Harriet Clive. Lady Seymour, by Viscountess Howick. Lady Arthur Lennox, by Lady Charlotte Bury, The Countess of Brecknock, on her marl Inge, by the Coun tess of Kinrmil. Lady Loui! i Browne, by the Countess of Wicklow, Lady Francis Douglas, by her mother, the Countess of Morton. Lady Townsend rarquhar, by Lady Cumming, Lady Wilhelrnina Stanhope, by Countess Stanhope, Lady ! Stewart Richardson, by the Countess of Kinnoul, Lady Frances Cowper, by Contacts CoWper, Lady Elitabeth Browne, by the Countess of Wicklow. The Duchess of Somerset, on her marreige, by the Countess of Albemarle. The Marchioness of Sligo, on her return from Jamaica, by the Countess of Wicklow. Lady Mary Grimston, by the Countess of Verulam. Mrs. Allen Gosset, by Lady Vivian. Mrs. Riddell, by Viscountess Howick. Mrs. Greathed, by the Hon. Lady Blackwood. Miss M. Becket, by Lady Anne Becket. Miss Horatio Morier, by Mrs. Morier. Miss Parke, by Lady Parke. Miss Hay, by Lady James Hay. Miss H. Stopford, by her mother, Lady Stopford. Miss Anne Ellice, by Mrs. Walter Burrell. Miss Powell, by her mother, Mrs. Weyland Powell. Miss Gordon Cumming, by her mother, Lady G. Cumming. Miss Lister, by Lady John Russell. Miss Laura Pollen, by her mother, Mrs. Pollen. Mias Louisa Percy, by Countess Amherst. Miss Greathed, by her mother, Mrs. Greathed. Miss Harriet Paget, by her mother, Lady Harriet Paget. LADIES' DRESSES. H. R. H. THE PRINCESS AUGUSTA. A superb dress of rich white satin, with deep blonde flounce, the corsage splendidly ornamented with diamonds and blonde; train of rich green velvet, lined with white satin, and tastefully trimmed with blonde lace. All of British manufacture. Head- dress, an elegant Monde toque, with diamonds, plume of osti o feathers, and blonde lappets. H.R.H. THE . DUCHESS OF KENT. An elegant net dress, richly embroidered in gold, over white satin, the body and sleeves superbly orna,nented with diamonds and blonde; train of beautiful Irish tahhinet, bro caded in gold, &c., blue flowers, lined with white satin, and trimmed with blue velvet and gold. (The dress of English and train of Irish manufacture.) Ilesd dress, feathers and diamonds. H. R. H. THE PRINCESS VICTORIA. An English blonde dress, over rich white satin, the body and sleeves ornamented with ribbon and blonde ; train of handsome pink figured Irish tabbinet, tastefully trimmed with ribbon and tulle, and lined with white satill. Headdress, feathers and pearls. DUCHEIS or SOMERSET. A dress of superb Chantilly blonde over a very rich satin slip, handsomely trimmed with a deep flounce of blonde, looped at the side with a bouquet of magnolias ; body a la Christine, richly trimmed with deep blonde, flowers, &c. ; sabots of very rich Chantilly blonde ; train of rich white satin elegantly trimmed with wreaths, and blonde, and lined with rich white satin. Head-dress of very superb ostrich feathers, with a most costly comb of diamonds and Orange flowers, magnolias, &c. ; necklace, earrings, and brooch, a la Sevigne, of the same costly and beautiful jewels to correspond; lappets of very rich blonde. MARCHIONESS or SLIGO.—A Court train of rose-coloured satin,.trimmed with blonde ; dress of white poplin, elegantly trimmed with satin ribbons and blonde ' • sabots and mantilla of splendid blonde ribbons and blonde. Head-dress, barbes and feathers, and diamond suit. MaseitroNEss or LANSDnWNE. - A beautiful Court train, and dress of black satin, trimmed with tulle and ribbons. Head dress, blonde lappets and feathers. COUNTESS OF JELSEY.—A dress of grey coloured tulle, over a rich white satin slip, elegantly trimmed with a deep flounce of rich Chantilly black blonde, looped at each side with an agraffe of jet, and trimmed on each tide with grebe, a beautiful silvery fur ; body in superb satin, a la Reins, richly decorated with blonde ; train of superb satin, a la Reine, with grey vel vet, richly trimmed with the same as the dress. Head-dress, ostrich feathers and diamonds; lappets of rich blonde. COUNTESS OF 101tLET.—A rich black velvet train, orna mented with lace ; a beautiful dress of watered Bros de Naples, mantilla and sabots of very rich black lace. Headdress, diamond duite and feathers. _ _ COUNTESS - STANHOPE.—A Court costume, composed of a white crepe lisse dress, embroidered in gold and colours, body and sleeves richly trimmed with blonde ; train of lilac bro caded satin, of British manufacture. Head-dress, plut'ne of feathers, blonde lappets, and brilliants. COUNTESS OF MAYO.—White brocaded satin dress, trimmed with blonde; body and sleeves a la Louis XIV., ornamented with blonde ; mantua of sky-blue satin, trimmed with swans down, lined with white satin, the whole of Spitaifields manu facture. Head dress, feathers, diamonds, and blonde lappets. His Majesty gave audiences yesterday to Viscount Palmer ston and the Earl of Albemarle. The Duke of Cumberland arrived at his residence in St. James's Palace at a quarter past twelve o'clock on Wednesday night. His Royal Highness paid visits to the King and the members of the Royal Family at their respective residences yesterday morning. The Duchess of Gloucester visited his Majesty yesterday. The Earl of Mayo's name was omitted as being one of the Irish Peers who presented the Protestant petition to his Ma jesty on Wednesday, the 19th instant, with the Marquis of Downshire, the Earl of Roden, &c. MR. WARD'S "ILLUSTRATIONS OF HUMAN LIFE."—The first volume contains " Atticus and St. Law rence," the second and third are occupied by " Fielding." " Atticus" is a practical disciple of the nil admirari school. Moderation is his maxim and his motto. A successful politi cian and Statesman, he retires from public life to cultivate philosophy and his garden. It is a pleasing picture and full of the pure philosophy, the refined tastes and benevolent habits which distinguish the favourites of Mr. 'Ward's pen. There are few who will peruse " St. Lawrence" without enjoying the pleasure of strong intellectual excitement. " Fielding" is more miscellancou3 in character ; it is, indeed, multitudinous and panoramic. It gives a great number of brilliant sketches . of London characters and London Life. Each portrait re sembles not an individual, but a class ; or, if an individual, it is because the class consists of so many that each reader may claim his own.—Morniny Post. If only for the great variety included in them, " the Standard Novels" is the most remarkable collection of works ever embodied in one series. In this admirable collection of the best modern fictions are found the graphic national ro mances of Cooper, the splendid oriental narratives of !gorier, the polished wit and profound interest of Bulwer, the tragic energy of Banjul, the georgeous imagination of I3eckford, the subtly-contrived plots of the Misses Lee, as evinced in their " Canterbury Tales." the stirring military incident in the po pular " Stories of Waterloo," Theodore Hook's laugh-exciting ?medy in his " Maxwell" and " the Parson's Daughter," Irela wny ' s life-like adventures, the inimitable Eastern novel of , Hop e . (" Anastasius,") Washington Irving's poetical Spanish and Moorish tales, Galt's sly humour and truthful portraiture of characture, the pictures of modern society by Miss Austen, the historical romance of James, the liumourous satires of Peacock, &c. This is in itself an invaluable library of entertainment—it is also the cheapest publication of the day. The public are enabled to purchase the works of any particular writer whom they prefer, and any volume may be obtained at the reader's convenience. EVENINGS wITII PRINCE CAMBACERES.- There is something at once characteristic and ludicrous in the excess of enthusiasm with which the author of this work ( Baron Langon) and his friends speak of Napoleon. Were the impe rial idol still living and reigning he could hardly be more flat tered in person than he now is in memory. 'roc are told by the author that " To us Napoleon was not a mere King or Empe ror—he was a being of a hielier order—one of those sublime creations that, perhaps, help to exalt our idea of the Cre ator !" What will the Quarterly Reviewers say to this? Of course they will pronounce the whole work a forgery—but this will not cause it to be l ess rea d ; an d, certa i n ly, whether it be fact or fiction a more interesting. one has not appeared since the publication of the celebrated Las Cases. The revelations, indeed, arc so extraordinary that we will venture to say the work will very soon be more in demand at the circulating libra ries than any fiction of the day. LADY uIIARLOTTE BURY'S NEW NOVEL, " TIIE DIVORCED."—This novel is one of superior excellence. The style is good, the incidents interesting, the plots well contrived, arid the moral unexceptionable. The purpose of the historian is excellent, and the execution is equal to the design. Truth, nature, fine feeling, and feminine tenderness pervade the work. A woman's heart sheds a delicate grace over every page—and the soul of a mother and a wife beams forth from every reflection which it contains. Glasgow Courier. THE CROWN IMPERIAL—This noble flower is said to have been introduced into England in the time of Shak speare, who has introduced it in his Winter's Tale. On this family of plants modern botanists have bestowed the name of Fritillaria, of which this, from its commanding deportment and brilliant colours, is considered the sovereign. The lily's height bespoke command, A fiur imperial flower ; She seeded: designed for Flora's hand, The sceptre of her power. We, therefore, consider this distinguished member oldie flowery kingdom to b 2 the emblem of majesty, and the repremtative of power in our floral sentiments. A farmer's servant, residin g near Sutton, was last week distracted with the tooth-ache, and requested a fellow workman to eittraPf the troublesome memb er . Th e rust i c , unprepared .w ith th e nrn i ta ltiimilernents for su c h a process, set to work with his pocket-knife. 4 1 44 Irit2in t .o: the gum of the patient, with one hand he applied a brag, 9.1 , ga a na il to the tooth, and at one stroke with a brick-end, succeeded in ring the sufferer of his troublesome compauion.—North De von Chronicle. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDA I, APRIL 21, 1837. should be printed upon the particular or catalogue; and no sale should be held by a written particular or catalogue. Are not the auctioneers bound either to present a printed or written catalogue at the Excise-office? Yes. With respect to the mock auctions in the Strand, the Poul try &c., do you suppose these people give a catalogue ? No, 1)o you suppose that they take out a licence ? I suppose not. At present the Excise depend upon your return of the pro perty sold ? We used to make oath ; now it is a declaration, and if there is any informality in the declaration, we are liable to a penalty. Has the Excise officer access to your sale-book, or particu lars of sale ? Not at present : a copy of the particular or catalogue is made, and we pass our account every month. Do you consider that the duty itself is a very great check npon the transfer of property by auction ? Certainly, upon estates it is a very serious check ; the duty at present, on a sum of 100,0001., being 2,9161. 135. 4d. Mr. Goulburn's Bill went to take a graduated scale, decreasing as the amount of the sale increaled ; but that the duty should at tach, whether the estate was sold or not. Was it opposed ? /- Yes, and the impracticability shown of carrying such a measure into operation as regarded estates, as no one would offer an estate at auction with such a liability, and the Bill was abandoned. Do you pay the money yourself to the collector ? I do. Is that done with case and facility to yourself ? Yes : I think it is very well regulated. What is the course of proceeding ? First, the particulars or catalogues are delivered to a clerk in the auction office at the Excise Office, who calculates the duty ; then the auctioneer makes a declaration as to the cor rectness of the account ; a pay-paper is prepared by the Ex cise clerk, which is taken by the auctioneer to the comptroller in the hall, who enters the amount stated in his book, signs the pay-paper, and hands it over to the receiver, to whom the money is paid ; and he enters a statement in his book, and signs a stamp-receipt, if required. In order to do that, how often must you go to the Excise Office? Every month. Do you think it would be desirable to pay more frequently ? I think once a month is often enough ; and if the sale is one of importance, it takes sometimes nearly a month before the accounts can be wound up. Are you aware of the great number of exemptions to the duty ? Yes ; and I think many of them ought not to be al lowed, and for this reason, that although the property for sale may not be a bankrupt's, or under execution, the party selling may be equally under distressed circumstances, but now he is made to pay the daty ; whereas property which is sold under execution, bankruptcy, the Court of Chancery, Exchequer, .lice., is free, and I never could discover any justice in the dis tinction. It is a question how far it may be reasonable to charge an auction duty upon produce sold for the first time on account of the importer, and liable to other duties. Do you suppose that there are many frauds in that branch of the business by things being sold a second time under the pre tence of being the first. My impression is, that the brokers conducting that branch of the business are so respectable that it is not likely to hap pen very frequently, and I sincerely wish that other depart ments were as free from unprincipled interlopers, adventurers, and disreputable practices; but I fear that no effectual remedy can be applied without the aid of the Legislature, by similar enactments to those which exist as to other professions of con fidence. ALEXANDER RAINY. .Extract from the Evidence of Mr. DEIIANY, the Solicitor to the Board (y' Excise. Mr. DEFIANT says, " I know no subject of the excise re venue, which requires more investigation, and is susceptible of more improvement, than the auction duty, if it is retained, at the same time, there are several difficulties, as experience has proved, to contend with. You are I believe aware of my opi nion, that respect to real property, it cuyht to be entirely done away. Large amounts of property are put up to auc tion, on which duty is never paid, it being bought in to avoid the duty. It is moreover in direct opposition to the revenue deriveable from the stamp duties on conveyances." THE FINSBURY DINNER to MESSRS. DUNCOMBE AND WAKLEY. On Wednesday the Electors of Finsbury entertained their Representatives, Thomas Duncombe and Thomas Wakley, Esqs., at dinner, in the Assembly Rooms of the White Con duit Tavern, to testify their approbation of those gentlemen's Parliamentary conduct, and of manifesting their continued support of the great principles of Reform. At five o'clock about four hundred gentlemen sat down to dinner.—U. G. Ward, Esq., M. P., in the chair. He was supported on the right by Mr. Duncombe, and by Mr. Wakley on the left. Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed Daniel O'Connell, Esq., M. P. ; Joseph Hume, Esq., M. P. ; Dr. Lushington, M. P. ; Charles Buller, Esq., M. P. ; Mr. Bish, M. P. ; Mr. Ward, M. P. ; M. J. O'Connell, Esq.,• M. P. ; D. C. Brady, Esq., M. P. ; Tennyson D'Eynecourt, Esq., M. P. ; Mr. Williams, M.P. ; Mr. Rundle, M. P. ; Major Revel, A. Gal loway, Esq., &c. &c. The cloth having been removed, and " Non nobis Domine" sung by the professional gentlemen present, The CHAIRMAN called for a bumper, and said that where there were five •hundied Englishmen gathered together the first toast ought to be the King.—( Applause.) He had double pleasure in proposing the health of his Majesty on the present occasion, because it was under his reign that the Re form 13111 was passed—( Hear, hear)—a Bill which had given such ascendancy to popular principles in our Constitution as to enable the people of England, if they used their rights, to work out every change which the most liberal person could desire in the institutions of the country.—(Cheers.) Air—" God save the King." The Hon. CHAIRMAN, in proposing the Queen, expressed a hope that if any political associations ever passed their minds in connection with the name of her Majesty, they would now forget them—( Hear, hear)—and only remember when they pledged the toast that they were doing honour to a Lady, and that Lady was the first in the land.—( Applause.) The CHAIRMAN said that the next toast which he found before him, was the name of the Princess Victoria—(applause) to whom he was convinced the whole people of England, Ire land, and Scotland looked up with sentiments of love and af fection. Admirably brought up as that Princess had been under the eyes of a mother, who did not conceive that her high rank exempted her from the discharge of those duties which in England were always associated with a mother's name, she had been taught to look—in order to study the elevation of the people over whom she was one day to rule—not to the nar row limits of a Court, but to a free intercourse with her future subjects of all classes and of every shade of public opinion.—. ( Applause.) He was convinced that she might rely on the loyalty and devotion of every one he was now addressing._ ( Hear, hear.) In the annals of this 'country they had two Queens, whose reigns had added to the glory and the pride of the country ; and he hoped that the reign of the Princess Vic toria, whenever she should be called to the throne of these realms, would be signalized —not by military triumphs like those of Elizabeth and Anne—but that it would be remem bered in the minds of our children's children, as a period during which good legislation prevailed, and peace and industry tri umphed in the lard.—_( Cheers.) He found connected with this toast the name of a distinguished individual —one, who was the steady and unflinching friend of Reform, when that word was not so fashionable as it had now become, and one whose exertions for the cause of the people he remembered with gratitude—need he say that he alluded to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.----( Loud cheers.) tie would, therefore, propose " The health of the Princess Victoria. the Duke of Sussex, and the rest of the Royal Family.— ( Applause.) Air—" Hail smiling Morn." The CHAIRMAN said that he would now call upon his Hon. Friend Mr. Hume, to propose the next toast, " The Sove reignty of the people."--( Hear.) Mr. HUME was received with great applause. He said that, owing to the unavoidable absence of Sit' 'William Molesworth, who was prevented by indisposition from appearing there that evening, he was called upon to propose the toast wleieh had been alluded to by his Hon. Friend in the chair. The toast was one which no good Reformer could either refuse to give or decline t o ac k now l edge.—( Hear, hear.) " The sove reignty of the people" we, a proposition that ought to occupy the thought s o f a ll t h e thinking men in the community, for' upon the power of the people depended the salvation of the country.—( Hear, hear.) Heretofore the people had been crushed and kept down by the Tories, who 'triumphed iu their prostration.—( Hear.) The Reform Bill had however given the people a portion of the power that belonged to them, and it was for the people themselves to say if that power was to be extended.--( Hear, hear.) He remembered when the toast which he had risen to propose used to be given with a very different meaning from that which he was in the habit of attaching to it. Matters were now, however, changed. The people were not in the degraded position that they had been, and it only remained with themselves to say whether the pre sent advantages which they enjoyed should not be increased to such an extent as to make them what they ought to be " the sovereign people."—( Hear, hear.) When that happy mo ment should arrive, then would the Aristocracy of this country, which had for such a length of time lorded it over the people, be disposseSsed of the supremacy which they now so improperly enjoyed—then, indeed, would our glorious Constitution work for the benefit of the community in general, instead of being warped to the advantage of the few. The struggle, however, had begun, and the question was whether the aristocracy or the de mocracy shall be triumphant—( Hear)—whether the Peers and the Squirearchy shall succeed, or whether the represent a ti ves of the people shall maintain that position in their own Ch am b er which th e y oug h t to h o ld ?—( H ear , hear.) He could n o t help thinking that if the pe c o ci p:e in w: p re ite bi o it f ti e u v e er t y ci o ti: p i o n s s i e ti l o v n e s. iftl,ez,h:.nertehelsy.isme u a s r, t d su p e r c u e dent—that the day was not far dis tant( Hear, hear.) For the last two years the Peers in the Upper Chamber havo been doing everything in their power to put a stop to measures of a liberal character. The Court, too, act ing tinder the influence of bad advice, had arrayed itself in op position to the cause of Reform. In the House of Commons they had also :WO Members out of the 658 opposed to the people ; but notwithstanding all these difficulties, he had no doubt but the people would triumph, and although vietcv s e qas delayed, it was yet certa i n.— ( Ch eers. ) \`l t i A the licqle had the power, it would be th c i r duty to'remove the Peers as a nuisance.—( Applause.) . In calling them a nuisance, he de eitcred that' lie 'meant what he said.--( Laughter.) Have they not :topped every measure of a liberal tendency from becoming the law of the land ?—( Hear s hear.) Were they not at that moment adopting means for the purpose of saying whether Peel or Melbourne should be at the head of the Government —(Hear, hear)—whether Don Carlos in Spain and Welling ton in England should dictate to the people ?—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman, after adverting to the conduct of the Conservatives, in oppressing the people and limiting the power of the King, called upon the meeting, as they respected their rights as Englishmen, as they were anxious that their example should be followed by every nation of Europe, to maintain their privileges, and never cease until they had fully and com pletely established "the sovereignty of the people."—(Loud cheers, in the midst of which the toast was drunk.) Mr. O'CONNELL here rose, and was received with tremen dous applause, waving of hats, and other demonstrations of respect. He proceeded to read an extract of a letter. It was as follows Rochdale Election : Close of the Poll. Ma jority fur Fenton, 44."—(Loud cheers.) The CHAIRMAN said that he now came to what might fairly be called the toast of the evening, Ile meant " The health of his Hon. Friends Mr. Duncombe and Mr. Wakley." —( Cheers,) He would in a few observations advert to the public conduct of these gentlemen. It was not his intention to indulge in any exaggerated statements upon this subJect I but he would tell them what he thought of their representae tires as public men, and as persons in whose hands were en trusted the interests of that large community.-e( Hear.) He knew well .that public men could do but very little for the cause of the people ; but that little was done ably and un flinchingly by their Hon. representatives.---( Hear.) He had the happiness of a long acquaintance with his lion. Friend on' his right (Mr. Duncombe), who, with a determi nation and courage that did him great credit, succeeded in opening a close borough in his (Mr. Ward's) county—he meant the borough of Hertford.—(Hear.) He knew him to be a firm and tried friend of reform—( Hear, hear)—he knew him to be a man of talent and ability, and his qualities as a debater were justly appreciated in the House of Com mons.—( Hear, hear.) His Majesty's Attorney-General would not soon forget the conflict which had taken place last session between himself and his (Mr. Ward's) lion. Friend in respect to the question of personal tithes.—( Hear.) Sir J. Campbell had declared to his friends that Mr. Duncombe would have made an excellent lawyer.—( Laughter.) In the present session his Hon. Friend had also proved himself an effective representative of the interests of the people.— ( Hear. )•• ,He had succeeded in carrying through its first stage a Bill for the alteration of the rate-paying clause—(Cheers)— and he had no doubt that in the next Session, at least, this measure would become the law of the land.—( Hear.) The second matter to which he alluded was the notice which his Hon. Friend had placed on the paper of the House of Com mons, against the mode of voting by proxy in the House of Peers. The tact and taste of his Hon. Friend were mani fested in the course which he had adopted in respect to this notice ; for he had proposed, should the motion be carried, that the result:he communicated to the House of Lords—(A laugh)—and he trusted that hint thus given would not be lost upon their Lordships.—( Hear, hear.) lie would now turn to their other representative, Mr. Wakley.—( Cheers.) When that Hon. Gentleman first entered the House of Commons, he (the Chairman) although no very squeamish politician, viewed his appearance there with some little apprehension—( Hear and a laugh)—but from the moment that he had an opportu nity of witnessing the conduct of his Hon. Friend, he found that the representations made in reference to his Hon. Friend's views were founded in mistake.—( Hear, hear.) He consi dered Mr.- Wakley to be the most rational Radical in the House of Commons.—( Cheers.) He did not think that that gentleman had sacrificed any one opinion that he had ever ad vanced, and yet he had acted in the House of Commons in a manner that could give offence to none— even those most vio lently opposed to him. The Hon. Chairman then referred to the conduct pursued by Mr. Wakley in reference to the Dor chester labourers, and to his able speech a few nights since in respect to the removal of the taxes upset knowledge ; and pro ceeded to observe that the electors of Finsbury were hound to stand by their representatives when the time arrived that made their support necessary..—( Hear, hear.) He hoped they would set an example to the other metropolitan boroughs for firmness and uniop that would be followed with advantage.---( Hear, hear.) They had some experience of the consequence arising from three liberal candidates. He was sure they would profit by that experience, and not allow any loop-hole to occur in the borough by which a Conservative could creep into its repre sentotion.—(Hear, hear, hear.) He understood that they were threatened with a visit from Lord Mahon.--( Hear, and a laugh.) That Nobleman had been already pitted against his lion. Friend Mr. Duncombe, and they were all aware of the result.—( Hear, hear.) He did not think that that Nobleman —who, although not a very prominent, or very distinguished individual, was, however, a very indefatigable member of the Conservative party in the House of Commons—would wish again to come into politic al collision with his Hon. Friend on the right.—( Hear.) The Hon. Chairman concluded by pro posing " the Healths of Messrs. Duncombe and Wakley, the Representatives of the Borough of Finsbury,"—( Applause.) Mr. DUNCOMER was received with loud cheers. He said, that the flattering manner in which the toast that had been proposed by his Hon. Friend the Chairman had been received by the company, was sufficient to satisfy his Hon. Friend and Colleague, and himself, that the conduct which they had pur sued during the period that they were in the House as the re presentatives e*that borough had given satisfaction to their constituents—(Applause) —they had not betrayed the interests of their constituents, or forgotten those duties which properly devolved upon them.—( Hear, and cheers.) The Hon. Gen tleman then proceeded to observe, that since he last had the honour of meeting them little of local circumstances had occur red to .excite their attention, except the establishment of a Conservative association in the Borough, to preside over which Lord Mahon had been invited. He supposed that this selec tion was made out of compliment to him (Mr. Duncombe.) His Lordship was well known to him, and no doubt he was sufficiently known to the company from his talents, which he had displayed as an electioneering personage, owing to whom the borough of Hertford was kept without representatives for two years. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to an address which had emanated from the association that was supported by Lord Mahon and his Conservative gang—(Cheers)—and after commenting upon the language of the document, ob serve 4, in reference to some allusion made in it to the relaxa tion of the law, and the necessity of a different principle being acted upon, that the only laws he was aware of having been re laxed were the Test and Corporation Acts—the penal enact ments against Catholics—the laws relating to slavery, and the old Corporation system which oppressed this country.—( Hear.) Did the Noble Lord and his Conservative gang mean to say that these laws should be re-enacted ?—( Hear, hear.) He was glad that this address had been put forward, and he trusted that at the next election the constituency of the bo rough would stand forward and show their contempt for the insult which had been offered to them by this all.sufficient as sociation.—( Hear.) The lion. Gentleman then adverted to hie Bill in respect to the rate-paying clause, and said that al though no practical result might at present arise from it, he had no doubt but ultimately the principle of his Bill would pre vail.—( Hear, hear.) With respect to his Majesty's Ministers, he was bound to say, that although they did not go as far as he thought they ought to go, still that they were very far from being either inactive or insufficient representatives of the people.—( Hear, hear.) They displayed more honesty and sincerity than he had ever witnessed in any previous Adminis tration.---( Loud cheers.) They had carried through Parlia. meut a Bill for Reforming the Municipal Corporations for England, and they had honestly endeavoured to carry a simi lar measure for Ireland. —( Hear.) They had introduced a plan for the amelioration of the poor of Ireland.---( Hear.) And then their conduct in respect to Church-rates was de serving of the highest praise.—( Hear.) He did not hesitate to say that a bolder measure than that for the abolition of Churchsrates never was proposed it, Parliament.—( Loud cheers.) If any one thing more than another could induce the people of England to give this measure their determined support, it was the indecorous and indecent cabal of the 15 Prelates who had denounced this measure as olio of spoliation. The Hon. Gentleman, after some further remarks, concluded by expressing a hope that he would always enjoy the confi dence and support of such men as he had the pleasure to see before him.—( Applause.) WAKLET then proceeded to address the company, who received him with loud cheers. The Hon. Gentleman, after adverting to his inability to do justice to his feelings upon so interesting an occasion as the present, proceeded to say that he was the same man in principle arid feeling as he was seven years ago. No change had taken place in his political opi nions ; and it was his firm belief that the views which he then entertained would descend with him to the grave.—(Hear, hear.) But it was said by some old and tried friends of his in that borough that he was less of a Radical than he used to be. This was a mistake ; but he felt that in the line of con duct which he should pursue, he ought to sink all ephemeral popularity in the love which be bore his country.—( Loud cheers.) He went into the House of Commons determined to support any Administration that would give good measures to the country.---( Hear, hear, and cheers.) When the Con servatives came into power he thought that they would have done something for the people. He did not think that the Tories—the blood-stained Tories—( Loud cries of " Hear, hear")—would have still continued to endeavour to delude with false promises—( Hear, he ar )—b ut he was mistaken ; for wh a t was the amount of Sir Robert Peel's speech after the opening of Parliament ? Why just this—that when the Municipal Com missioners made their report, that that report would be laid upon the table of the House.—( Hear, hear.) He saw no good measures emanating from the Tories, and then he became a party. man. He joined that party which had separated from such Whigs as Sir James Graham, Lord Stanley, the Duke of Richmond, and Lord kipon—and that party had introduced measures in reference to Ireland that had reflected the highest credit on them. The Hon. Gentleman then asked if he could, under all the circumstances of the case, hesitate to ally himself with a party that had proposed measures so well calculated to benefit the country ?—( Hear, hear.) He admitted that the Ministers did not go so far as he could wish, but they were helping him up the hill. The Hon, Gentleman then ad verted to the conduct of the Tories, who, night after night, were opposing every little reform that emanated from the Mi nisterial side of the House. The Tories were anxious to ca jole the people. They said, " Shut your eyes and open your mouth, and see what God will send."—( Cheers and laughter. ) But he would not shut his eyes nor opett his mouth for their unsavoury treat.—( Laughter.) The lion. Gentlemen then said that he would support the Ministers, because by doing so he"would be conferring a benefit upen hie country, and he would consider their rem ova l ccp,„ll edict a great injury to it.— ( Cheers.) He sing s seweep see the Tories prostrate at his feet than spre, s'eem again in power, for he considered their ,I,.4kerpfes hostile to everything liberal and honouratst —everything that was hostile to the .noble ot man.— ( Cheers.) The Tories were now oat of power. It was their duty to keep them out, if (44 k'r the sake of Ireland, for the sake of that country that had always been foremost to join England in her struggles for freedom.—( Cheers.) If the present Ministers were out of office, he should very much fear that blood would flow in torrents in Ireland, unless indeed the people of that country would continue to take the sdric • of his Hon. and Learned Friend near him.— (Hear ) The _ Hon. Gentleman then adverted to the arguments used by .S:r Robert Peel, upon the occasion of the passing of the Ca:holic Relief 11111, and contended that his opposition to the Irish Municipal Bill now was a violation of the arguments used by him on that occasion. The Hon. Gentleman concluded very able speech, which we regret w e h ave not b een able to do justice to, owing to the crowded state of our columns, by thanking the company for the cet,fidcnce !ditch they bud ro. posed in him, and by assuring them that their confidence tt.tttid never be abused.-.-( Applause.) Dr. LUSHISGTON rose to propose the Tint toast, fl e ite corded with the opinion expressed by the Poi. Chairman, that there was a time when the toast of Itestitse to Ireland would never have been tho u ght o f a t a public dinner in EnglarA, He was sanguine e n oug h, h owe v er , to h o p e that the.time W a s not far distant when justice to Ireland would he nn isit.grr asked for and no longer refaced, Their sucCe! , v t.'01.11,1 only ho• prevented by the irresponsible body oVel' k‘ll'ich they had nfl euntroul. But he had no fears co the mu)t, es the calms Itj's fo.n.deti In truth and eVerlatiltiSt jUtilice. Ile had lived i cing political life' amid thalt fi Stritggle, and thirty yeals - ago he had iroted fur Emancipation —that GA ittliplied, and he could not doubt the conseque' sees that must felloW from that . . victory. TheP'e had trl' people of I 'eland must enjoy tin equality of civil privileges with the per' 'le of England. H e concluded by proposing " Justice to IrP.,aricl." Mr. O'CONNELL rose amid tn themoa t deafenin g pl au di ts, an d waving of handkerchiefs, in whic:i the ladies in the gallery joined, and which was prolonged for several minutes. When the Hon. Gentleman could obtain a hearing, he said he be‘satt to think he sho u ld he grateful f or a ll this kindness ; he must confess, however, he had not been of that opinion, it was indis creet, he admitted, to say to, as an orator he ought by every means to conciliate his audience, but he was bound to declar - e he had not arrived at a proper pitch of gratitude et. As he was coming there to-day, the recollection of au acquaintanc e of his shot across his mind. He was one of those march of iutol leet gentlemen who sold newspapers, and was besides, wbot i Ireland is called an amphibious animal, as he never drank water; his characteristic name was Paddy Kelly. Now Paddy was one day walking up Grafton -street, in Dublin, 'at a time when a troop of dragoons was passing, and just because it was dangerous, Paddy attempted to cross and fell, and the horses having more sense than him, jumped over him. A friend coming up said, you ought to be very grateful. " Grateful for what ?" said Paddy. "Is it for being rode over by a troop of dragoons?"—(Great laughter.) Now Ireland was rode over by troops of dragoons, and he ( Mr. O'Connell) would be grateful, as he understood that gratitude meant a lively sense of' future favours.—(Renewed laughter.) He had no doubt, if the English people could be got to once well set derstand the case of Ireland, that they would make still greater exertion to obtain justice for that country. The people of Ireland had struggled honestly for the English Re form Bill, and yet so short a Reform Bill had been got for Ireland, that the franchise of the people there might be said to be ia the holy keeping of a Tory clique in the House of Coin mons. A Municipal Reform Bill had been got fur Sot-eland and England, and Ireland had got none.—( Hear, hear.) The last time he was in that room, it had been promised by some persons to petition Parliament in favour of just:ce to Ireland, and he watched front that day to this. but the promise was not kept. But it was time enough yet, and he would hope better things it he saw the electors of Finsbury sending up a petition to the Lords, telling them to give the Irish Municipal Re form, or else -- (Great cheering.) He ought not to blame the English people for not being very vivacious upon tlrse subject of Irish grievances, as the most benevolent person can endure with Christian patience the misfortunes of his neigh. hour. That was a fortitude they all possessed, and when the people of England had got their own Nluaicipal Bill they could bear with a saint-like decorum the disappointments of others. He would much rather, however, have them look like sinners, and to effect this they must undergo a lints agitation, mixed with anger, just to sweeten it, as Padd.y threw the spirits into the porter.—( Great Laughter.) Toryism must' be frightened before it relaxes its hold. They might insert the iron under its paw, but it cor:,d never be made to lift it until it was necessary to do so to cover its head. —(Great cheering.) He spoke not ir, the accents of despair, nor did he forget the great exertion' s made by many -English men, especially by t h ese w h o surrc ended him. There could be no firmer friends of Ireland than those they had met to honour.--( Hear, hear.) He never knew them absent on any occasion when their vote tould serve Ireland, and he never knew them give a bad bne.—( Loud cheers.) Therefore he ought to be, and wrs heartily thankful. If in sorrow he re membered the of ctions which his country endured, he still acknowledged tile sympathy and services of the friends of Ireland in Xngland, and the b e n e fit d er ived front their wis • dom and ksiowledge. He understood that the representatives, -of Finsbury, at the next election, were to meet with a Conser vative opposition—they bad given up the name of Tories as being too bad. Now, it was only yesterday that he had 'oc casion to look into an old Act of Parliament—the 10th of Wil liam lll.—which was entitled, " An Act for the Suppression of Tories, rogues, and raparees."—(Great laughter.) Now, the Conservatives had suppressed the name of " Tory," as they were ashamed of it; but though the Tories were gone they continued rogues, but it was not polite to call them so. They might in future be called raparees—" the Finsbury raparees." —(Great laughter and cheering.) They had been originally plunderers, and were so still, at least in disposition. Oceans of blood, and myriads of human lives had baen offered at the shrine of the Moloch of Toryism.—( Hear.) The Jug gernaut of India was meek as a lamb compared with the To ries of England.—(lmmense cheering.) The Tories had contrived to run them a thousand millions in debt. He was told the people could endure it; but why should the Tories do it ? Where was the money gone ? They appropriated the most of it; and the people had no more account of it than of the Thames water that flowed from Richmond a week ago. Mr. O'Connell then took a rapid view of the state of the ma nufacturing districts, and the evils to be apprehended from the vast number of individuals throes out of employment. God (said Mr. O'Connell) never intended that men should do tre mendous mischief, without it re-acting on themselves. The dis tress that existed once before had been the means of advancing the Reform Bill, and would again prevent the Tories from tainting the pure air of liberty. He had risen like a double charged blunderbuss for two purposes—first, to express hit gratitude, and next, to propose another toast—" Civil and Pse ligious Liberty all over the Globe."—( Cheers.) He was struggling to elevate the condition of England, and he would insist that Ireland should be put on the same footing.. If he ever asked more, let him be opposed ; and if ever Ile con tented himself with less, despised. Whilst he was upon the subject of civil and religious liberty, he might say that he sought perfect freedom of conscience, riot for any sectarian purpose. He preferred his own religion, to be sure, or he would not belong to it; but if there was a single Protestant there who would resist Catholic ascendancy, he would find an energetic colleague in hint. The success of liberal mea sures would be of equal use to Dissenters in England, unless the Tories succeeded in establishing Carlini there, so use ful to the Protestants in Spain, and the Christinos in Con stantinople. They should do as in America, and religious Buds would soon be at an end, and a man's religion only known on Sunday, by seeing what house of worship he went to. Sir. H. Hardinge could not think of giving Ireland ame liorated institutions; the would injure Protestantism by letting in the horrors of Popery. " Our consciences," said Sir J. Graham, " are quite affected by the idea." They will sup port Don Carlos in Spain, and is he not of the worst class of bigots ; and they wont let the Catholics be free in Ireland. When the Catholic is a bigot and a despot, they will support him ; but when, like me, who struggles for civil and religious liberty to all, without distinction of creed or colour, their Protestant ism comes over them like a fainting fit, and while other people's eyes are turned up in pious horror, their hands arc turned downwards for another purpose. Mr. O'Connell then enume rated the good acts which had been already done by the pre sent Government, a n d amongs t t h e rest t h e purification of the Irish Bench. Talk, said he, of letting in the Tories for a while to power--men with passions virulent arid irritated—to rush in and share in blood the plunder of which they had been for some time deprived. He implored them to rally round the Government. They did not go far enough to be sure; but they wets: going the same road, and let them proceed on their way until they could pass them. Mr. O'Connell sat down . amid the most boisterous applause, which lasted for some time after. Mr. C. But.i.Eic, the Member for Li.keard, in a speech of great ability, then proposed, "" Short Parliaments, extention of the Suffrage, and Vote by Ballot." The CHAIRMAN proposed " Lord Melbourne and his Ma jesty's Ministers," which was received %.,ith grest cheering. Mr. fIEwITT proposed the health of the Chairman, which was warmly responded to. After Nshich, the Members being obliged to attend the expected division in the Commons on Sir Henry Hardinge's motion, the Chairman, Mr. O'Connell, and the others retired—the company standing up and cheering them as they passed. A number of toasts were afterwards given, and the festi vities kept up until an early hour in the morning. TIIE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY AND LORD KEITH.—It appears that the two most improbable incidents which h:Lve startled the numerous readers of the new novel of " The Gambler's Dream" are actually true. One was com municated to the author by the late Lord Keith—the event having taken place on board his Lordship's own ship, and the other is an adventure which greatly redounds to the honour of the present Marquis of Londonderry, who figures in the work, as Ivan Davidowitch, and who rescued a lady from the bruta.. lity of some Russian soldiers on one of those days of horror which marked the disastrous retreat of the French army from Moscow. We think that the author of " The Gambler's. Dream" has only done justice to himself in disclosing these truths in the new edition of his work just published, in order that the other remarkable adventures, which arc founded. on facts, may not by their air of improbability, be stripped of tb'eir due power and interest." MR. THOMAS CAMPBELL'S NEW WORK, "LET-, TEES FROM THE SOUTH."— -There is a charm in everything written by the Bard of Hope, whether he chooses to express himself in verse or prose. His compositions d'.spiny a mind. cha:,te and elegant, teeming with the richest stores of informa tion, and caplble of clothing its thoughts in the most beautiful and appropriate language. The two volumes before us differ not in this respect front his otker works. He describes with great vividness the city and suburbs of Algiers, the manners. and custom.% ui its inbzbitants, the climate and .productions or the Regency, the various events of the French campaigns, atai Ole effects to which their seizure of the Algerine territory ift likely to lead, The volumes are filled with entertaining gcasi.p as well as with living sketches.—Edinburgh Advertiser. The amount of subscriptions to the monument to be erected to Armand Carrel, the Republican journalist, is 15 ,451 francs (about 6181.) The family of the deceased are er idea vouring to obtain permission to remove his remains fra Paris to Rouen, his place of nativity. COMMISSION OF EXCISE ENQUIRY. AUCTIONS. 14th of August, 1834. Mr. AI.RXANDETZ RAINY called in, and examined. You have been an auctioneer and agent in general business for some years, and you are therefore acquainted with the ex cise laws and regulations affecting your business as an auc tioneer ? Yes. Which of the branches is it you are chiefly enEst;ed in ? Chiefly real property. Hav© you any suggestion to make with reference to the ex cise regulations and duties? I beg to submit to the consideration of the Commissioners the expediency of abandoning the present auction duty of 7d. in the pound on estates and other property transferred by deed or writing, and taking it in another mode, if the state of the revenue will not admit of relinquishing it altogether; it has al ways appeared to me to be an unequal, oppressive, and impoli tic tax. Property may be sold by private contract (the stamp duty upon the conveyance being equal in both cases) without any duty hunching ! whereas, if any distinction is to exist, it should be In favour of auctions, for, independently of this duty, the GovernmentAerive a duty from advertisements, and also upon paper, for the particulars of sale, from which most transfers by private contract are free. Again, a consi derable portion of the venders who resort to the public market, have charges upon their estates, and may be compelled by circumstances to sell ; and it seems unfair that they should be exposed to a tax of 7d. in the pound, whilst other vendors differently placed arc exempt. It is also a tax which the Government cannot be certain of collecting ; because, a n estate may be put up with an understanding that it shall be bought in, and then the tax is not payable, although the estate may be sold immediately afterwards by private con tract. What I have therefore to propose is, that the tax should be entirely abolished ; and if the amount of revenue at present received cannot be dispensed with, that there should be an additional ad valorem of one per cent. upon all trans fers of real property conveyed by deed or written instrument, whether sold by auction or private contract, which the Go vernment would be certain of realizing, because the convey ance would nut be valid without a proper stamp ; and I con ceive that the proposed additional duty of one per cent., riding over the whole mass of property so tranferred, would more than reimburse the Government from any loss they might sus tain by giving up this portion of the auction duty, besides placing all vendors and purchasers of real property on an equal jooltny. In point of fact, are not very few large estates sold by auc ion ? Many that are put up by auction are bought in and many sold, but the duty operates as a fetter upon the market, whereas everything which can tend to give elasticity to it (and which would I presume, result from removing the existing impedi ments, and bringing the vendors and purchasers fairly into the field) must benefit the revenue ; at present there is a reason, on account of this high duty, why vendors and purchasers ,hould not meet in the public market, and it is a great check to competition. I believe that the tax was originally levied under the impression that the vendor at public auction obtained an advantage by competition, and that therefore, he ought to pay for it ; but the tax deprives him of it, and prevents many purchasers from appearing at auctions, both vendors and pur chasers endeavouring to avoid the payment. The liability to this auction duty appears in the front of the transaction ; but in the case of a stamp on the conveyance, the revenue is derived indirectly and also impartially. What is the amount of the present auction duty upon an estate of 10,000/. Time auction duty at present is 2911. 13s. 4d. What is the tax upon the conveyance at present?-1101. Perhaps at no period could the remission or alteration in this tax be more called for than 710 W, as there is every prospect that the transfer of property will be very considerable in the next few years, owing to the incumbrances and charges which were created during the period of agricultural provenly and an extended currency and credit ; and when the incumbrancers or mortgagees imagine the security to be doubtfal,from the al tered valua a variety of circumstances have led to produce, they will press the owners for a settlement of the accounts ; and many estates, or portions of them, will pass out of the hands qffamilies who have possessed them for ages. \\That do you propose with regard to other kinds of pro perty ? As respects personal or chattel property, I cannot separate from it the object of suppressing fraudulent or mock auctions. Hitherto the duty has been 5 per cent, upon chattels and effects generally, except plate and jewels, which are liable to 7d. in the pound ; and lots bought in have been allowed to pass free of duty—where however the property is genuine, there is comparatively a small portion bought in. For the benefit of the public, both in their capacity of vendors or purchasers (and as they are perpetually changing position, all are equally interested), it would be desirable to put a stop to all mock or surreptitious auctions ; and if the vendors of genuine property bad only a duty of 2i per cent. to pay upon all chattel pro perty put up for sale, whether sold or nut, the reduction of half the present duty would be a compensation ; still I would admit that any special lots which the owner might not choose to sell, except at a certain price, should be put up at that price —and if there was a bidding, the duty should attach ; other wise the lot might be withdrawn and should lot be liable to duty. This would be the means of destroying mock auctions. Unfortunately, that which may be termed a mock auction, is not confined to such as are daily carried on in shops, to be ob served in passing along the Strand, the Poultry, and other places ; but the practice has been, and is, indulged in very ex tensively in many other quarters; and the public confidence has been most shanufidly abused by gross deceptions and every species of trickery and quackery. Would not your plan make it quite as easy or even more easy to evade the duty ? I think, on the contrary, that the operation of it would lie that the Government would get the duty. Many persons who have genuine property for sale might prefer the risk of pay ing the duty on a few lots bought in, to declaring the upset price, especially if they had only 23 : per cent, duty to pay on lots sold instead of 5. But in this case, are you not, in some degree, imposing an additional tax, because at present when a man buys in he is not liable? I think it could hardly be called au additional tax ; but then the genuine vendor will get more than an equivalent by the reduction of the duty from 5 to 2f per cent, upon what he sells. Supposing that his buyings-in are greater than his sales ? That is rarely, if ever the case, except in mock auctions ; and I am only suggesting what may appear beneficial for fair and honourable transactions, and with the desire to put an end to those which are otherwise. I will suppose that the amount of genuine chattel property brought to sale in one year by an auctioneer to be 50,000/.—my belief is, that the average amount bought in would not exceed 10 per cent., or 5,000/. ; 2} per cent. payable upon 5,000/. is 125/, , and the amount the vendors would save by the difference of duty upon the re maining 45,0001., would be 1,1251.: but then, in proportion as the public confidence increased in the equitable nature of auctions, and the security afforded against imposition, the re venue would be improved by the number of them. In conse quence of the difficulty of distinguishing between mock and genuine auctions, a jealousy exists in the public mind, which it is the interest of Government, and of those auctioneers who lay claim to respectability, to remove; for, whilst it remains, the real vendor has not that fair chance in the market which otherwise he would have, nor do the Government obtain so large a revenue. Can you offer any other suggestions for the improvement of the Excise regulation as to your profession ? Some respectable auctioneers have been very anxious, that an arrangement should be accomplished, by which the charac ter of their professional pursuits might be relieved from the prejudice and disrepute which have been brought upon it : at the tame time, it is not sought by them to establish any mo nopoly, or to exclude the respectable person of moderate bu siness ; on the contrary, whatever is the nature of the profes sion, the fair opportunity Should be afforded to every man of proceeding to the highest branch of it ; and, as a preliminary step to the attainment of this object, sonic improvement should be adopted with regard to the licences. At present a certain sum is paid fur the licence to act as an auctioneer, another li cence is required to sell plate, a third for wines, and other distinct licenses for different commodities : but I think it would be better to consolidate them ; and I proposed that each auc tioneer, who shall be entitled to sell estates, and all kinds of property, shall pay 501. per annum for his licence, and that the amount of the securities should be increased ; but that any auctioneer intending to confine his business to chat tel property should pay for such licence 251., per annum ; that, instead of the license being taken out on the sth of July, it should be granted on the Ist of January in each year ; that every auctioneer should give three months previous notice of his intention to take out a licence, with his address, and the names and address of his sureties, which should be written at full length in a book at the Excise Office, and open to the inspection of the auctioneers ; and any auctioneer should be at liberty, on any subsequent Ist of January, by giving three month's previous notice, to take out the larger licence ; but it should be in the power of the Board of Excise to refuse a license to any person, upon its being shown to their satisfac tion that the application for a licence comes from a disreputable person. By this plan an additional security would be given to the public, and also to the Government, fraud - or imposition. Were you regularly articled to the profession ? I was ; and there are several other auctioneers who have served a regular articled clerkship ; b u t t h e greater port i on are interlopers, who, having failed in their original calling, designate themselves estate-agents and auctioneers ; they • open shops, and placarded their windows with announcements of property (the particulars being obtained under false pre tences), and represent to applicants that they are authorized to act for owners whom they never saw, or who probably never heard their names ; others seek to establish themselves and have obtained much business, by entering into a compact, which is styled 'the reciprocity system,' (kept secret from the owners), to allow a share of the commission, or a portion of their charges, to solicitors, architects, upholsterers, and others, who grasp at the patronage of the nobility, gentry, and per sons of property, to barter it for gain, and attempts are made to exclude these auctioneers who will not condescend to any such arrangement. It would, therefore, be desirable, and for the interest of all persons of rank and property, to keep their patronage in their own hands, and to dispense it direct, in stead of through intermediate channels, What is yoav ee to the notices? Mr. Forrest, of the late firm of Messrs. Skinner, Dyke, and Forrest, recommended, and I concurred with him, that, in ex change for the notice-particulars or catalogue, the Excise should grant a certificate for holding the particular day or days' auction, and that the auctioneer should pay 11. for every day's auction he may leold. This regulation would shot up the rlock auction shops, aritrOuglit nor to be objeete'd tO`byinY able auctioneer. The real name and address of the auctioneer