The Sun. — London, England, 1837-12-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. A numerous meeting, called to petition Parliament for the Ballot, was held in the Town-hall, Sheffield, on Thursday last, at which Mr. Ward, one of its representatives, was present. An attempt was made to mix up with the question for which the meeting was called Universal Suffrage, and shortening the duration of Parliaments. But many who were friendly to an extension of the Suffrage said they would sign another requisition for a meeting to consider that subject, but they objected to travelling beyond the subject for , which the meeting was called. The motion was carried. We regret that our limits will only allow us to give a brief outline of the proceedings of this important meeting. Mr. Ward entered into a history of the opinions delivered by Lord John Russell on the subject of the Ballot, and ob served that however unseasonable Mr. Wakley's amendment might be, there was nothing in that amendment, or in the speeches in support of it, " to warrant or excite the strong feeling which appears to have influenced the mind of Lord John Russell, and led him to commit a double wrong ; for his speech was unfair to his true and disinterested supporters, the Radical Reformers, between whom the Ministry he erected a wall of principle that had never before existed, converting those which had been questions of time and expediency into questions of principle, in such a manner as to render it as unpalat able as possible to those who feel as I do. I could not then, and I cannot now, understand:what could induce him to appeal from the town constituencies, by whose aid the Government have done every thing that they have been able to accomplish, to those landed inte rests which have opposed him from the first day of his Ministry, and by whose votes he stands judged and condemned at the present hour." But, instead of re commending the course proposed by the Birmingham Political Union and Sir William IVlolesworth of direct and open hostility to the Government, he considered it to be by far the wiser and more practical course, to bring the opinion of the country to bear upon the Govern ment, and force them back out of the false position they have taken up. When Lord John Ruesell "is shown his mistake," observed the Hon. Gentleman, " I am sure he will be the last man to set his private wish against the national judgment." We quite coin cide with Mr. Ward in opinion that " we must press on in our course step by step successively, for nothing can be done in this country by sudden jumps and starts." " I advocate the Ballot," lie observed further, " because I believe it will be the road to everything else." We ourselves have no doubt, that if this pru dent course be followed, and the country make one general declaration in favour of the Ballot, it must be carried. We have often observed, and we now repeat the observation, that the Ballot is the real test between a sincere and a pretended Reformer. We can well understand how a Tory, whose principle is to govern by foul influences of ail sorts, should oppose the Bal lot ; but we cannot understand how any man who thinks that those who ale in possession of the fran chise ought to exercise it independently, and who knows that they are not allowed to exercise it inde pendently, can refuse to support a measure for afford ing such protection to electors as will enable them to vote according to the dictates of their consciences. No other mode of ? prorecting electors than the Ballot has been pointed out ; and, therefore, lie who is against the Ballot is against Reform, and is opposed to the principle of the Reform Bill.—Morning Chronicle. It has not been very usual for the House of Com mons to sit on a Satuolly, which the day before yes terday they did ; but still less usual had it Bien, until the advent of the present Government, to commit a blunder such as that by the repeated exposure whereof this Saturday's sitting kYIS signalized. On Monday last a message was presented to the House from her Mejesty, recommending to them an increased provi sion for the Duchess of Kent. No time was lost in bringing it under consideration, which was done on Tuesday ; and on that night a Committee of the whole House resolved that her Majesty be enabled to grant, out of the Consolidated Fund, an additional yearly sum for her Royal Highness, not exceeding 8,0001. Such a resolution, by the usage of Parliament, is a necessary precursor of any Bill for authorising a grant of this description. The proposal was not perhaps a very popular one ; but there was no division upon the resolution, and consequently nothing to frighten or flurry the Ministers—nothing to disturb the calm exercise of their legislative wisdom. More over, the course of business being that a resolution, passed in Committee, be reported on a following day to the whole House, they had a second opportunity of considering their resolution, with reference to the Bill which they intended to found upon it, ere they pro ceeded to report it, which they did on the Wednes day. On that night, before they introduced their Bill, Mr. Herries, who, in his successive offices of Secre tary of the Treasury and Chancellor of time Exchequer, had acquired' a knowledge of financial and Parlia mentary business, apparently not transmitted by him to his successors, good-naturedly warned them that they were getting into a difficulty. There was great doubt whether that portion of her Royal Highness's income of 22,000/. which was given for the education of the Princess Victoria had not ceased on the accession of the Princess to the Crown ; and, at all events, it was clear that as £6,000 (part of the 22,000/.) had been given expressly for the life of the daughter, and not of the mother, it would cease in the possible, though we trust improbable case, of the Queen being taken from her people during the lifetime of her illus trious parent, in which event, therefore, the 22,000/. would be reduced to .16,000/. Thus the proposed Act of Parliament was not merely to increase the former provision of 22,000/. by a new grant of 8,0001. more, it was also to prevent the lapse of 6,000/., part of the ,original 22,000/. ; and, consequently, for the purpose 0 4rounding a Bill which would secure to the Duchess of Kent both the 6,0001. (part of the 22,000/.) and the fresh annuity of 8,000/., it was clearly necessary that a Resolution should be voted by a Committee of the House of Commons for the 6,000/. as well as the 8,0001. Nay, even as to the remaining 16,000/., al though it was hers already and absolutely for her own life, yet, if it were to be the subject of a new settle ment by an Act consolidating the whole into one pen sion of 30,0001., it might very properly be required to go through the usual stages of a Resolution prelimi nary to the Bill, in order that the Resolutic, - .1 and the - .8,..11 might, upon the face of them, correspond hi amount. Min esters, however, disregarding the timely admonition of M. Herries, proceeded with their Bill, read it a first timet on Wednesday night, and a second time on Thursday night, but named it for Committee 'for F r id a y, a d a y on which there was too much business to leave it a chance of coming on. Now this gave having made a blunder, they had them time, amp if , possessed candoeir and good sense enough to profit by a hint for its correction, here was plenty of op portunity to set the mistake right. But that might Lot be quite convenient. Indications had appeared svhch showed that the grant was not a very popular one, and any new resolution voting, not 8,000/., but 30,000/. and rcqu;.riog a good deal of discussion and explanation, might perchance have put the whole in hazard ; so it was found expedient, in postponing the commitment of the Bill, for which, as even/body had foreseen, the other business of the House left no time on Friday, to appoint the Committee for Saturday, a day on which, as Mem bers in general expect no sitting of the House, the Government might reasonably calculate upon a thin a:tesidance, and, consequently, upon a safe and easy passa t ire of the Bill through this its most difficult and critical stage—the stage in which the blank fir ithe sum of money was to be filled up. But, unfor tunately for this ingenious calculation, Mr. Goulburn said Sir E. Sugden were in their places. They ex posed the whole matter in detail ; and at last, after :tome uneasy demonstrations from the Chancellor of jthe _Exchequer and Lord John Russell, the Ministers vs eri .compelled to admit their blunder, and withdrew time Bie ! It must now, therefore, be begun anew, 41rld passed again through all its stages, just as if no thing had been done : which is not, hewevcr, exactly ' - the case,• because scmething has been done which is Atw s 0. er worse than nothing. The Ministers, however, pik• tth.lited, in the strongest light, bile, though . we ), 1 --.; r - t- - I' , rsh, , --.- ' ( ?q t u h a e l i i r t i c o s w n w s h u i c p l . l . ' .:L2ll-14k7' cite esLrethewmhitcoblhe of t favourhe two of tr. Y 7 42:7-4 4 ; 4 - . :ii" . — tie firmness which disdains to correct an er j .4.. w ., • , -i're9 ...; 77. , * *i l / 4 : i i ..- able loungers,' by walking along the floor, made a noise that interfered with Divine service, to the indignation of some pious persons, this Sunday admission is again re stricted to the hours of service." The whole tone of the Report, in short, is that of arrogance and bluster. The Committee seem to have thought that the way to success was to proclaim themselves determined invaders ; and to assume by anticipation the air of triumphant conquerors. There is no Institution, however venerable or useful—no authority, however exalted—which they seem to think entitled to the smallest degree of respect, with one solitary exception, that exception being the London Mechanics' Institution, to which they devote a very long passage of somewhat fulsome panegyric. The Report, however, notwithstanding the faults we have pointed out, is worth reading, as any docu ment must be which embodies statements and rea sonings upon subjects with which they are well acquainted of two such persons as the Duke of Wellington and Dr. Ireland, and which present such statements and reasonings, as in this instance, with all the advantages of contrast. The Duke of Wellington, as Constable of the Tower, was con sulted by the Board of Ordnance as to the expe diency of affording to the public easier or cheaper, and therefore more general, access to that fortress. His Grace gave an able argumentative reply in oppo sition to the project. But the authority of Lord J. Russell, and Mr. Hume, and Mr. Foggo prevailed at the Board of Ordnance over the official experience and professional knowledge of the Duke of Wellington. This is in excellent keeping. It was fit that the opinion of the Duke of Wellington should be sought to be disregarded in an affair which had drawn upon the Dean of Westminster the sneers of Lord John Russell, sod upon the p ious worship pers at St. Paul's thoce of Mr. Hume and Mr. Foggo. It is sufficiently plain that if the object in view be attained to any considerable extent it will not be by the exertions of Mr. Hume and Mr. Foggo, or by the patronage of Lord John Russell, but spite of them. That, within certain limits, it is a desirable object we admit. We are of opinion that the public should be admitted gratuitously to the inspection of our national edifices, ecclesiastical, military, and civil, except in such instances as that of the Tower of London, in respect to which the reasoning of the Duke of Wellington seems to us to be perfectly con clusive and unanswerable. But the gratuitous ad mission to cathedrals ought to be so regulated as to guard against the possibility of disturbance to the sacred duties to which those edifices are dedicated. And nowhere ought gratuitous admission to extend over so large a portion of the day as to deprive those who are willing to pay for the chance of being mixed with a less indiscriminate assemblage of fellow visitors to our national monuments of that privilege. -Morning Post. error, or the cunning which rejoices to smuggle an enactment—Tam Marte, quam Mercurio.—Times. There is an advertisement in this day's Morning Advertiser, to which we beg to point the attentiou of every Reformer in the United Kingdom. It is from the electors of 'Westminster, and it is fit that, upon an occasion of so much importance, not only to the electors of the United Kingdom, but to the cause of Reform " all over the world," they should show an example to all others to follow in their steps. We need not mention that the object to be attained is the defeat of the Spottiswoode conspiracy against the Irish Libe ral Members, who have been fairly and honourably re turned to serve in Parliament the special interests of their constituents. That what has been attempted by the Tories in this matter is an unconstitutional pro ceeding, no one can doubt for one moment ; but it is one thing fora proceeding to be unconstitutional, and quite another to prove by law or by precedent that it is so. What, then, remains for the Reformers of the United Kingdom to do, unless a special ex post facto law can be carried, but to meet one unconstitutional proceeding by another ? We do not approve of the principle that evil should be met by evil ; but there are times and events which will justify its adoption ; and if any event more than another could justify it, it would be the attempt on the part of a conspiratory gang to upset the voice of the people, by combining to raise a fund for nullifying elections which ought to stand, and to replace them by others which are wholly unsound. That the people of 'Westminster have taken the lead in this matter is a subject of as much gratification to us as it is an honour to them. It is as worthy of their high and long standing as the political leaders of the people of England ; and it cannot fail to afford the highest gratification to the people of Ireland, as proving to them the sympathy felt in their cause by the people of England, and their determination that justice shall be done to them. The meeting, as ad vertised, will be held in a few clays, and no doubt can be entertained that it willl be numerously attended. The subscription will be upon a large scale, and no Reformer ought to withhold his mite. The first men in the kingdom will support it ; and we know too well the energy, the determination, and the perseverance of the people of Westminster, to dream for a moment that every object contemplated by them, will not be accomplished.--Morning Advertiser. Post-office Reform, which we recollect when we first introduced it, Has anything but a fashionable subject or one which received that attention, either within the walls of Parliament or out of doors, which it deserved, is now becoming rather a favourite question. Not only has the Corporation of London—a body which has invariably been the first to come forward upon every occasion when the amelioration of the con dition of the people, or the improvement of our in stitutions required its countenance and support—led the way, but other influential mercantile bodies have followed its example ; and if the country continue to perform its duty, and the representatives in Parliament urge upon the Ministers, not chimerical and unreason able proposition's, but substantial and useful changes, we have no doubt that much real good will in a very short time be effected. There should be no attempt t.) advance a just cause by exaggerated statements, or pre ferring unfounded charges against public officers in the employment of the Post-office : in short, nothin; should be done that could give ground for suspicion that insult or injury was intended to particular in dividuals, rather than the correction of the general abuses of a defective system. We have been led into this train of observation from the perusal of an excel lent petition which has been presented to the House of Commons by Mr. Wallace, from that respectable class of men time publishers of London. The petition ers complain, with great justice, of the evils of a SV3-. tem which is not more injurious to the revenue than prejudicial to the best interests of society, by checking , the diffusion of useful knowledge. Is it not a pre posterous thing that a newspaper shall be delivered at Edinburgh, and even remunerate the Government for the carriage at the charge of one penny, and yet the London publishers be obliged to pay the large sum of six shillings and nine-pence for the carriage of six letters that will hardly weigh so much as time single newspaper. Of course, we should not expect that the postage of ordinary letters would be reduced to any thing like the small sum charged for the carriage of a newspaper ; still we contend that the trade lists and catalogues of extensive publishers should be sent upon moderate terms, and at a price much beneath what is now demanded for their transit. We should fondly hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will press his Post-office Reform Bill with vigour, and leave the disgrace at the door of the House of Lords, should the inmates be unwilling to bear it, of again throwing it out.—Morning Advertiser. The reports of the meeting held on Saturday of the Thatched House Tavern of the Committee appointed to procure free admission for the public to the national monuments in the metropolis, and throughout the United Kingdom, will be found curious and interest ing. The object for the promotion of which this Commit tee was appointed by a public meeting held on the 29th of May last, at the Freemasons' Tavern, is, WO think, with certain restrictions and qualifications, a desirable one. Therefore it is that we regret it should have fallen into the hands of persons of precisely the manners, disposition, and intellect calculated to ren der failure, or delay, to the utmost possible extent a matter of necessity. This remark applies with equal justice to the Committee, whose eloquence and wisdom are breathed through the lips of Mr. Foggo—and to her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department—who undertook, as the ally of the Committee, to urge upon the Deans and Chapters of our Cathedrals the demand of the meeting at Freemasons' Hall, that those sacred edi fices should be thrown open to the free and indiscri minate admission of the public. We would especially refer to the letter of Lord J. Russell in reply to the Dean of Westminster. It is an exhibition of flip pancy, pertness, and self-conceit, which would have offended against good taste from whomsoever it had proceeded, and to whomsoever it had been addressed. But when it is considered that it is Lord John Rus sell, the minutest homunculus that ever filled a public station in any country, who thus addresses himself to a very aged Churchman, who has been one of the most distinguished scholars and most eminent divines of his day, the arrogance and folly are seen in their most re volting and ridiculous aspect. It is not thus that favours are usually sought by those who are sincerely desirous of obtaining them, or that men of sense and experience set about to encounter and subdue what they believe to be the prejudices of others. It does not distinctly appear whether the report of the Com mittee is drawn up by Mr. Foggo or Mr. Hume ; but, whoever be its author, he has placed upon disputable grounds his own qualification and that of the body whose sentiments he expresses, and whose transactions he records, to co-operate in any undertaking with the Right Hon. the Secretary for the Home Department. Lord John Russell deals out such sarcasm and menace as he can to the Dean of 'Westminster, because the chapter of that cathedral has refused to comply with the demand of the meeting at the Freemasons' Tavern; and the report of the Committee of that meeting irreverendly sneers at the pious persons who are in the habit of repairing to St. Paul's Cathe dral for any other purpose than that of seeing the curiosities, although the Dean and Chapterof St. Paul's have done all that they can, and more than they ought, in order to satisfy the demand of the meeting. Considering that this Committee have a favour to ask of the Dean and Chapter of every Cathedral in the United Kingdom, is there anything like ordinary discretion (higher feelings or motives we place, of course, entirely out of the question) i n the foll o win g manifestation of its respect for the public service of the Church of England, by which it shows, at the same time, its sense of the voluntary condescension of the authorities who govern the arrangements of that edifice to its wishes ? " The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's have ordered that on week days those who enter freely during Divine service shall not, as heretofore, be driven out at its con clusion, but remain, if they please, the remainder of the day. The Canon Residentiary has also promised on hour each week day additional free entrance. The fee is, how ever, still levied on those who enter at other times, whilst no service is being performed. For two or three Sundays St. Paul's was open the whole afternoon ; but on time complaint of the Senior Verger (who receives one-fourth of all entrance fees) that a prodi6ious crowd of fashion. --- CHARGE OF MURDER AT CHELSEA On Saturday the prisoner, William Jarman, the keeper of the Haunch of Venison beer-shop, Bu,kland's-lane, Chelsea, was removed to Kensington for further examina tion. His left arm was in a sling, and during the length ened examination, a profuse perspiration rolled down his checks in large drops. The office was crowded to excess. William Robinson, a surgeon, in Regent-street, Chelsea, who had been in p , actice about twelve weeks, stated that he had known the deceased and her husband about a twelve month. On Wednesday he was desired by a person, Sal feld, to c4ll on the prisoner, who had received a severe con tusion on the arm. Witness went, and prisoner told him that the injury had been inflicted by his wife with a poker. On again visiting him witness saw Mrs. Jarman also, who was labouring under erysipelas and inflammation of the cl est, and, on seeing the state she was in witness suggested the removal of blood from the arm. The deceased told him she hal been dreadfully beaten by her husband, that she was sore all over, and that she had been turned of doors two successive nights. After bleeding her witness applied ligatures to her arm, and left her. On going there again he was informed that the ligatures had given way, and, on going up stairs, he found her right arm, which had been blooded, lying under her. The pledget (a piece of linen folded over the vein) had slipped, which might have been removed by design or accident. Her arms were bruised in several parts. When witness left the prisoner was lying on :he bed. I❑ answer tq further questions from the Magis trates, witness stated that some of the deceased relations complained of his having bled her ; had not the pledget got displaced by some means or other no further hemorrhage would have taken place. Mrs. Esther Sedford, the daughter of the deceased by her first husband, deposed to finding her mother in a bruised and bleeding state on Monday, and that the de ceased informed her that she had been ill-treated by the prisoner. Witness then proceeded as follows :—On Wed nesday I left my mother, who said that she was very weak from the bleeding ; she was perfectly sane. About nine o'clock I again returned, and knocked at the room door. On opening it I saw the prisoner lying on the bed. I said " Mother" twice, but received no answer. I then felt her face, which findin ,, cold and clammy, I put my hand down her stays, when I thought she was in a great perspiration. On pulling my hand out, however, I found it all over blood, on which I called out to the prisoner. He jumped off the bed and called Mr. Robinson. We then got her out of the bed, which was one gore of blood. I sent the servant for some tape, which the doctor asked for, and when I came back held her head on my shoulder as she sat on a chair, while Mr. Robinson tied a bandage round her arm, after which she was lifted into bed again. The doctor then felt her wrist, and said there was no pulsation. The witness was here strictly cross-examined by the Bench as to whether Mrs. Jarman's arm was under her, as described by the witness Robinson, or not, when she per sisted that it was not, and that the doctor had, at the same time, not said anything about the pledget having slipped. Three other witnesses were then examined, whose evi- dence proved various acts of violence by the prisoner to wards the deceased on last Monday, &c., and The prisoner then denied 'laving been at all accessory to his wife's death. He described her as having been of a most violent temper, which was, however, denied by the pri soner's own witnesses, who described her as having been a most respectable and quiet female. The Bench then said that the evidence was conclusive enough to remand the prisoner until after the Inquest had been held. The prisoner was then conveyed in a hackney-coach to New Prison, Clerkenwell. HAYMARKET THEATRE.-Mr. Ranger, who plays a Frenchman at this house, is a very . clever person. He had, before Wednesday, appeared only in the Romantic Widow, which, though a very dull and heavy affair, he, by the dint of his smart, brisk, and unembarrassed style of acting, made to run a triumphant course of some thirty nights. On Thursday he had a much severer trial to undergo; a new piece, called Pierre Bertrand, was produced, by the side of which the Ro mantic Widow is a fine specimen of dramatic literature. It is constructed on the gold-beating principle, its extension ever increasing its meagreness. Pierre (Ranger) is a reduced Frenchman, who is compelled to break stones on the road for a livelihood. He wears a portrait of his mother, whom he has not seen since childhood, and upon which he dilates for about twenty minutes. Madame Clement (Mrs. Glover) is a French lady resident in London. She has been privately married in her youth, and entrusted a son to the care of a tu tor. Of this son she has not heard for mazy years. (Of course no one can yet see through the plot.) Pierre leaves the stone-breaking line, turns " wandering minstrel," and plays a clarionet before house doors. Madame Clement hears him, and sends her footman, to invite Lim to a house where a young lady (enacted by Mrs. Waylett), and whom he had loved in better days, is on a visit. A little ex planation takes place. Pierre (who could have guessed it ?) turns out to be the son of Madame Clement, everybody em braces everybody, and there is an end. The dialogue was, if possible, worse than the plot, and yet Mr. Ranger was clever to a wonder ; his ,gestures, his accent, his pathos' were ex cellent ; then he played " The last Rose of Summer" on the clarionet, with a feeling and expression which went to the hearts of his audience, and made them for a moment forget the drama. It was, however, but for a moment. A gentle man in the boxes had burst into a hearty laugh at one of the pathetic scenes, and on hearing a suggestion from several parts of the house that he should be " turned out," excused himself by vociferating, " It is so funny I" The audience, struck by the critical acumen displayed ix this remark, adopted the sentiment, and from that moment every pathetic situation was acknowledged by the heartiest roars of merriment. Laughter was followed by hissing, and the curtain descended amid a perfect storm of disapproving sounds, contrasted by a very small minority of plaudits. The Moniteur announces that the state of the Duke de Nemours is as satisfactory as possible. Yesterday the bandages of the fractured arm were removed by M. Baudens, assisted, by his own express desire, by Dr. Majorlin, Dr. Pas quier, and his son. It appeared that the swelling was abated, that the setting was perfect, and that even already the point was capable of a slight degree of movement, whence there was every reason to expect that the cure would be complete. The King and the Duke of Orleans were present at the ope ration. Their solicitude was anxiously excited, and on the result being ascertained they both declared their satisfaction to M. Baudens in the kindest manner. —Galignani of Thursday. The cup pigeon match, open to all England, did not come off on Friday, but a snuff-box was substituted. Ten entered, seven at twenty-five yards rise, and the re nainder at twenty-one. It was won by Mr. Reid, who ki'led all his birds (s►x), THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1837. PRICES OF CANALS,DOCK STOCKS. ASSURANCE COMPANIES,&c. &c. &c. LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 15. Price Number Dividend ef per CANALS, p er %bares. Annum. Paid. Sh‘rs. 1,766 7 per cent. Ashton and Oldham...Average 97/. ISs. sh. 135 1.182 44. Ashby.de-le- Z ouch Average 113/. sh. 65 1,260 Basingstoke lOOl. sh. 5 1,005 5/. Brecknock and Abergavenny 1501. sh. 100 1,000 1-16 sh, 9/. 6s. Birmingham, I-16th share Bfl. & 711. 220 4,000 Ditto and Liverpool Junct...l2s/ sh. 100 pd 26 &XI 31. Bridgewater and Taunton ....100/. sh. all pd 64 400 41. Chelmer and Blackw ater 100/. sh. 102 500 481. Coventry ' 004 sh. 700 4.545 Croydon 2, 060 ; 41. Os, Dudley lOO/. sh. 63 600 77, Derby 1001. sh. 133 20,000 3 ,5751 31. Ellesmere and Chester Average 133/. sir. 700 7 231 40/. Eyewashsti. '7 1 , 2 97 28/. Forth and Clyde Average 4001.165. h. 610 11 ,9 0 0 12/. Grand Juncti o- 1004 sh. 225 2,849 i 1/, Grand Union ICOI. sh. 2520 1.500 Grand Surrey .'... ....., lOO/. sh. per cent. Ditto (optional) Loan l6O/. '7O 20,0001. 44 3,096 6 00 134 12s 6d. Glamorganshire, Average cost 172/. 13s. 441. 230 '749 10t. Grantham l5O/. sh. 202 6,236 21. Os. Huddersfield Average 57/. 6s. 6d. sh. 37 100 Kensington 100 sh. all pd. 10 2 5,328 11. sa. Kennet and Avon, Average 39/. 18s. 10d. sh. 24 2,8971 244 Leeds and Liverpool 100/. sh. 590; . . 5451 131. Leicester l4Ol. sh. V 25 1,897 4/. 10s. Leicester and Northampton... Aver 53/.los. 91 2,400 104 Monmouthshireloo/.sh. 20 ) 150 10/. Melton Mowbray 100/. sh • 200 500 254 Mersey and Irwell 1001. sh. 565 3.000 1/. 10s. Macclesfield 4 100/. sh. all pd. 52 247 174 Neat h 1001. sh, 325 1 , 78 6 30/. Oxford 1001. sh. 530 2,400 5/. Peak Forest Average about 781. sh. 104 1 . 416 12s. Regent's (or London) Aver. 331. 16s. Bd. sh. :6 5,669 6/. per cent. it ochdale Average 85/. sh. 111 500 8/. Shropshire / 'l5l. sh. 138 800 91. 10s. Somerset Coal 150/. sh. 1511 MOO/. 41 per cent. Ditto Lock Fund Stock 121.101. sh. Ilt 700 404 Stafford and Worcester 500 91. Shrewsbury 125/. sh. 280 1451. sh. 330 300 91. Stourbridge 3,647 21. oi. Stratford-on-Avon ...Average 791.95. bd. sh. 50 533 121. Swansea 100/. sh. 230 3,762 11. 15s. Severn and Wye and Railway ...Av 351. sh, '261 2,600i5h. 321. 10s. Trent and Mersey, } share 1001. s h. 560 8,149 Thames :.nd Medway... Aver. 194 ss. ad. sh. 2 I,ooosh. 1 000 ., h 1 151. Warwick aid Birmingham 1001. sh • 265 060 1 Is. Warwick and Sapton lOO/. sh. 185 6 ,00 0 4/.os. Worcester and Birmingham... Av. 78/.Bs. sh. &ij 5,000 255. Wilts an.. Berks .. Average 671. 108. Bd. sh. 22 100 34 Wyrley and Essington 1251. sh 75 ozo Wisbeach . 1051. sh. 45 905 le. Wey ant Arms llO/. sh. ' DOCKS. 2,600 k } Bp. C Commercial OOO/. sh. 1,06515 h 408,6871/. 6 per ct. East India Stock 107 3,233,310 t/. 50s. p.ct. London Stock 5:3 1 Ditto Bonds 99 1,3.0,000/. 4*/. p. et. West India Stock 95 2,009 2/ .195. Bristol 68,324/. Si. per cent. Ditto Notes , v a rious amounts ll3 stock 99 ' 352,752 41 per cent. St. Kathari ne 500,000 4f per cent. Ditto Bonds lOO 'lOO,OOO 4 per cent. Ditto Bonds ItT 10 years 99* Shoreham /Labour 2 500 ........ Deptford l'ier BRIDGES. 1,500 Ifs. liammersmiti: 5O/. O. 221 7,2'31 Southwark, Old Av. t3l. Is. SO. sh. 2 1,700 D. 15s. Ditto, New. of 7i per cent. 5O/. sh. 111 5,000 ... ...... Water l oo lOO/. sh. 3 5,000 18s. ltd. Ditto, Old Annuities of 21. 6Ol. pd 10 5,000 I6s. 40. Ditto, New Ditto of 7 ' 4O/. pd 161 60,000/. 51. per cent. Ditto Bonds ll6 5,943 17s AVSauxhall Avsrage 70/. 10s. 3d. sh. 161 •,URANCE COMPANIES. 0,1100 3/ lOs Albion 500/. sh. 501. pd 51) 50,000 fl n e ,, 15 n 2. 1 Alliance, B ritish & Foreign 100/. sh. 101/. pd 13 50,000 6 per cent. Ditto, Marine 103/. sh. Si. pd 51 24,000 1 / per sh. Atlas 1,200 Ish. Si. Birmingham t ire 0 50/. sh. 551. pd 1071 20,000 41 percent. British Fire 9 50/.sh. 50/. pd 42 12,000 61. per cent. British Commercial 55/, s 5. 5/. pd fi 5,000 51. per cent. Clerical, Med t,.-al, Fa. Life, Mash. 12/10s pd 4 4,000 2/ les County 1001. sh. 10/. pd 42 20,000 ss. Eagle -. {5 per cent.looo/. sh. 250/. pd 375 •Jkl Economic ana 30/ bs. } Idle 2,271 225. per cent. Eurepean Li. • 0 0/. sh. all pd 22 50,0553 es. Ditto, New '2ol. sh. '2l. pd lt 1,000,000/. 7/.per ct. Globe Stock 155 20,000 51. Guardian lOO/. sh. 27*1 pd 33 10,000 6s. I'd. Hope 50/. sh. 51. pd 6 .2,400 51. 7s. 61. Imperial Fire 500/ sh. 50/. pd 125 7,500 9s. Imperial I.i te 100/. sh. 10/. pd 10 13,458 4!. per cent. Indemnity Marine 11 90. sta. Si. psi 19 2,020 31 10: Rest Fire 50/. sh. all pd lil2 3/. Ditto Life 79 10,'00 I 6s. Law Life 100/. sh. 10/. pd 251 5 000 10s. London, Fire ... ......... ...251 sh. 12/. 103. pd 151 3,900 10s. London, Ship 251. sh. L?/. 10s. pal 151 3e,0 0 5/. per cent. Palladium 1:M , 50/. sh. 21. pd 0/ Os Od 50,003 4/. per cent. Protector Fite 00/. sh. 2/. pd 17.00 '1,500 11. Provident Lne lOO/. sh. 10/. rid 191 100,000 ss. Rock Life 0 01. sh. 11. pd 61 6341,22.01 Si. per cent. Royal Exch.aigQ Stork- 226 e,llO 5 per cent. University Life lOO/. sh. 51. pd 51 50,000 4 per cent. Unite d kin g dom Life 2l. pal JOINT STUCK BANKS 25,110 ti percent. Agric andC,anni. of Ireland 25/. sh. 10/. pd 14 5,050 Australasia 4O/. sh. 40/. pd 53; 10,006 10 per cent. Bank of Birmingham se/. sh. 101. pd 13 10,000 10 per cent. Birmingham Bank 5O/. sh. 51. pd 161 30,000 5 per cent. I iondon and Westaninster...loo/ sh. 20/. pd 2(1 3,000 4 per cent. Lancaster... 100/. sh. 20/. pd :ill 2.5, , 450 Liverpool 1001 sh. IW. i:d t. 3 50,000 71 per cent Manenester and Liverpi.ol} inn ,. _„ :,. , , ~,, iau sh. 'at pd <l3 Discount 20,006 7 per cent. Manchester. 100/. sh. 25/ pd 07 20,1100 Provincial Bank of Ireland-(00/. sh. '251. p 0 40 20, 10 'rational Bank of Ireland ...5 0 /. sh 171/. pd 14; 1 0,110 5 per cent. National Prwincial Eng. ...1001. sh. 35/. pd 32 0,00) Gloucestershire 5O/. sh. 10/. pd 20 6,000 10 per cent. Hampshire 50/. sh. M. pd 9 GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES. 2,500 1/ .5s 60 Bath 2O/. sh. II'!. pd 24 5,000 British 4Ol. sh. 161. pd 21 5/.ercent.' • 5, "" / an d Bs. ss. j D a Provincial 2O/. sta. 19 d 221 928 5/ 10s Birmingham 50/. sit. 1)6 1,250 '2l Os Bristol 1,500 3/ lOs Brighton 0 01. sh. 11 750 31 lOs Ditto, New 2O/. sh. 181. pd Pi 2,471 41 per cent. Brighton General 9 0/. sh. all pd 17 4,000 4/. Continental Consolidated lOO/. rag pd 85 1,000 10/. City of London lOO/. sh. all pd 180 1,103 61. Ditto, New 4,000 4/. 111 s. Equitable 'O/. pd 301 0, , 00 21 per cent. Imperial 5O/. sh. 45 sou a per cent. Isle 'if Thatiet 9 51. sh. 201. pd 20 2,350 61. per cent. Independent '3O/. sh. all pal 481 9,000 3/, per cent. Phrenix 50/. sli. 39/. pd 21 1 1,00(1 4/. per cent. RatclifF 100/. sh. 80!. pd 56 4,000 South Metropolitan 501. sh. 19/. pd 17 8,200 51. per cent. United General 5O/. sh. 461. pd 24 240 5/. per cent. Warwick 501. sh. 50 400 101. per cent I Vattefield 12,000 3/. Westminster Chartered 6,000 12s. Ditto New 5ll. sh. 101. pd 81 86A/ Yarmouth 20/. sh. 18/. pd 9 WATER WJRKS. 1,200 9s. Birmingham 25/. sh. 25/. pd 011 1,434 6/. East London lOO/. sh. 145 5,500 21 105 Grand Junction ....Average 411 13s. 4d. sh. 54 2,000 2/. Kent 100/. sh. 43 372 101. Liverpool Bootle 2201. sh. 3:16 1,500 21 106 Now River London Bridge Water Annuities 58 6,486 11 15s Manchester and Salford lOO/. sh. 53 1,000 4 per cent. South London 100/. sh. 87 8,294 41, West Middlesex -.Average 63/. 12s. Dd. sh. 83 1,360 11 14s York Building Co. Lessee Prop 100/. sh. 35 IRON RAILWAYS. 6,000 Birmingham and Derby l5/. pd 61 9,500 Birmingham and Gloucester l2l/, pd 2 7,500 Birmingham, Bristol, and Thames Junction Oi 15, 1 110 Bristol and Exeter 100/. sh. 10 pd 2! 1160 Calcutta and Saugur 501. sh. 2/. pd 0 1 7,500 Cheltenham and G. Western...lool. sh. '7ll. 11 3,000 Clarence lOO/. sir. 100/. pd 30 12,000 8,000 Dublin and Kilkenny 100/. sh. 21 pd 0* 60,000 Eastern Counties • 25 /. sh. 3/. pal 11 Grand Junction 1001. sh. 95/. pd 181 .... .... Great North of England 7l. pd 51 25,000 Great Western lOO/. sh. 55/. pd 67 1 2,000 Hartlepool 100/. sh. 100/. p 0 100 6,000 Hull and Selby 501. sh. 10/. pd i 10,000..... ... Leeds and Manchester 1 0 01 . sh. 5 /. pd 14 2,100 31.. per cent. Leeds and Selby 100 sir. 4* 1,500 11.55. Leicester and Swannington -.501. sh. all pd 70 5,100 10 per cent. Liverpool and Manchester...lo( /.sh. 100(. pd 195 10 per cent. Ditto Quarter Shares 9 5/. pd 01 36,000 London and Brighton 50/. sh. 5/ pd 31 12,000 London and Blackwall 50/. sh. 31 p 0 Os 20,000 3 per cent. London and Greenwich 2O/. sic 5201. pd 141 25,000 ...... ... London and Birmingham ...lOW. sh. 90/. pd 161 ... ...... Ditto Quarter Shares 5/. pd .241 20,600 London and Southampton....sol. sh. 591. pd 351 Ditto ditto New...... 7,000 7,000 Ditto Scrip 14!. sh. 2/. pd Fil 12,000 London Grand Junction 501. sh. 5/. pd 01 10,000 North Midland 10 0 /. sh. 25 /. pd 251 Northern and Eastern lOO/. sh. s/. pd 94 2,600 Preston and Wyre 50!. sh. 30/. TA 28,000 South Eastern and Dover 71. pd 31 1,000 101. per cent. Stockton and Darlington lOO/. sh. 240 9,000 1,400 6,000 MINES. 5,000 Albion Copper 5/. sh. 31/. pd 12 4,000 11. ss. Alten 151. sh. 121. lOs pd 111 10,000 .... Anglo Mexican, iss. 5!. pm.... 1001. sh. all pd 3 Ditto Subscription 2.51. pa 4 2,000 FL Bolanos 10,000 11. 10s Brazilian Imp. iss. 5/. pm .35/. sh. 201. pd 20/ 6,1 k 0 Macaubas ti; Cocaes United 25/.sh. 231/. pd 6 11,000 Ditto St. John Del Rey 20/. sh. 91. pd 4 10,000 Bolivar Copper Company, 201. sh. 20/. pd 5 10,000 .......... Ditto Scrip 101. sh. 81. pd 6 20,000 British Iron 5Ol. sh. 50/ pd 37 6,000 ... ...... British Copper 5l. sh. 4l/. p d i I Cata Branca 6 //. pd 1 Candonga 7O. pd 6 10,000 11 Copiapo 2Ol. sh 121/ pd II 8,500 ... Columbian, iss. 51. pm. 2,850 31. English l2/ ICs. pd 20,000 Gtneral Mining Association...2ol. sh. 151. pd 30 6,155 Mexican Company 1001 . sh. 5511. pd 2 3,000 Polberou Consols . lOl. sh. 8/. pd 21 11,500 Real del Monte Unregistered l 4/ Ditto Loan Notes l5O/. pd 1121 30,000 United Mexican, iss. 2 pm..... 40!. sh. all pd 21 Ditti, Scrip 2l Ditto New Scrip West Cork 50/. sh . . 50/. pd 38 LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. 1,000 1,500 London University 1001. sh. all pd 23i 700 King' College 1001. pi 28 MISCELLANEOUS. 10,000 15s. Australian Agricultural....loo/. sh. 2cll. pd 31 6,000 4/, per cent. British American Land Company 23/. pd 14 10,000 61 per cent. Canada Company 1001. sh. 261. pd 200,000 51. per cent. Upper Canada Loan 99 i City Bonds 4 per cent .... loi _ 15,000 101. 1/. Os. cent. Hudson's Bay St General StearriN ock avigation ... 151 sh. 131. pd 22 per 11. 2,000 London Corn. Sale Rooms Av. 75/. sh. 19 8,000 Caoutchouc Company 251. sh. 2j/. pd 11 New Brunswick Land Company 431. pd 11 2,754 51. per cent. Reversionary interest 50c...100/. sh. 1001. pd 125 2,633 5/. per cent. Ditto New 100/. sh. 70/. pd 66 4,000 10,000 Os. Van Die.ner.'s Land 1001. sh. 171. pd ICI LIST OF SCOTT NOV 29. I ISH COMPANIES' PRICES. . 837 BANKS. / .5 00 , 0094 6/. p. ct. Ban% of Scotland S 3/. Os. Sd. sh. all pd 1911. 2,000,0X1. 51 p. ct. Royal of Scotland 1001. sh. all pd 161/, 500,00 N. 4p. ct. British Linen Company 1001. sh. 411 pd 2371. 3,000,000/. Si. p. ct. Commercial 5OOl. sh. 100/. pd 1731. 5 ./ 00,000c :, n. et. tistional lOO/. sh. 10/. pd 16/. 2,000,0001. 61. p. ct. Glasgow Union '230/. at. 501. pd 70/. 4,0 00,001. 4p. ct. Western of Scotland ..- -2001. sh 30/. pd 39/. INSURANCE COMPANIES. 250,0005 h 6}p. ct. Scottish Union 201. sh. 1/, pd 27s 7,500 61 p. ct. Hercules lOO/. sh. 10/. pd 131 10s. 100, 000 sp. ct. Insurance Co. of Scotland ....10/. sh. all pd 81 s 50 , 000 6p. ct. North British 2001. sh. 10/. pd ln. i s ooo sp. ct. Caledoni in Fire 1001. sli. 10/. pd 16151 5, 000 6p. et. Edinburgh Life 1001. sh. 101. pi 14/10s 100 , 000 Si p. ct. West of Scotland lOl. pd 5t Oa MISCELLANEOUS 4,810 Edin. Pnd Gins. Un. Canal 501. sh. all pd 22/. Ditto Allocated 96/. eh. all pd 651. 5,400 5 per cent. Edinb. Joint Stock Water 251. sh. all pd 341 Carron Iron Company 2')o/, sh. all pd 451 . i,ooosh 15 per cent. Shotts Iron Foundery 501. sh 381. pd 431. 10,060 3 per cent. Edinburgh & Leith Glass 2O/. sh. 161. pd SiL 4,500 10 per cent. Edinburgh Coal Gas 251. sh. all pd 594 4,450 10 per cent. Glasgow Gas 251. sh. all tad 611. 750 7i per cent. Leith Coal Gas 20/. sh. all pd 45/. 1,295 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway...s ol . sh 551. spoo 5 per cent. Equitable Loan Conwany.,.2s/, •lz. 91, pd 101. LAW OF PATENTS We perceive that Mr. Mackinnon has given notice of a motion on the subject of the present defective law of pa tents. Our readers will recollect he brought forward a similar measure last Session, which was frustrated, as many other useful measures were, partly by a delay whic h the Lords could have helped if they had pleased, and partly by a public event over which they had no control. The amendments already made in the old law of patents by the legal authorities of the Government, are admitted by everybody to be very deficient in remedy, however well intentioned. They are inadequate in almost all cases to produce the objects intended. There is no subject of deeper importance to the blended scientific and commer cial interests of this commercial country, and more worthy of the talents which the Honourable Member has brought to bear upon the subject, and of the persevering zeal with which, Session after Session, he has followed it up. Ur. gent and expedient as the object is, its consideration by the Legislature is accompanied with considerable difficulty. The great problem to be solved is, to reconcile the indivi vidual rights of private property with the general claims of commercial freedom. Minute and explicit distinctions are therefore requisite in defining the provisions of the Bill. We infer that Mr. Mackinnon has been alive to this dif ficulty, and has taken the adequate course for obviating it in his proposal for a reform of the present law, of which he has given notice. He stated on Thursday night, " that he had found it necessary to divide the Bill into two sec tions—one, relative to the alteration of the law with re spect to patents ; and the other, with respect to different scientific inventions." At present the law of patents sub jects any given inventor of some useful discovery to too heavy an expense, and too much obstruction ; and, after being subjected to both, he is by no means secure from imitation. On the other hand, it must be admitted that useful or necessary inventions might be generally locked up from the nation, and especially in particular locali ties, by individuals alleging a right of discovery who have no exclusive claim, but whose claim it is difficult to impugn. The incompetency of the law of patents to pro tect invention, was one of the prominent grievances esta blished by the evidence last year before the " Select Com mittee of arts and manufactures." Mr. Martin, the cele brated painter, and several architects and sculptors, pro duced curious and startling examples of the total incompe tency of the patent law to protect the property of individuals engaged in art or science. Some of the first manufacturers of the country, on whose combined prosperity its general commercial prosperity depends—such as iron-masters, brass-founders, calico-printers, Staffordshire potters, and the principal manufacturers of silk and cotton goods—all demonstrated that the present law of patent was deficient in adequate protection. Invention in their several depart ments of commercial enterprise is as badly protected by the patent law, as the laW of copyright (as urged by Mr. Ser geant Talfourd last night) is incompetent to protect literary property. Having examined this evidence in detail last year, and in a series of articles expressly devoted to the purpose, it is not necessary now to repeat the investigation —to analyze the facts again—or to recapitulate the argu ments we founded upon them. We trust that Mr. Mac kinnon's Bill may go far to supersede some of the chief grounds of complaint, the justifiability of which was then attested by numerous respectable witnesses, and the exist ence of the abuse undeniably established. Those great benefactors of the human species who apply the discove ries of science to social comfort—who invent useful machinery —or give impulse and pre-eminence to staple branches of national industry and commerce, ought to be protected in the acquisition of the remu neration they deserve for their useful labours —in whatever way the question is considered, individually, socially, or nationally. They are not for the most part men who can afford the sacrifice of their time without a fair pecuniary equivalent. It ought to be proaided them in such a manner as to throw as few impediments in the way of obtaining ample security as possible. Their labours are more exhausting than any other labour, and ought at least to be repaid with compe tency to those whose health and youth have both been sa crificed to the accomplishment of their object. We are all indirectly interested in this result. Society, when it repays them, reaps usurious benefit from encouraging those arts which conduce to its comfort, wealth, and refinement. That is another reason for securing protection to its benefactors. It is dictated by self-interest as well as ha manity. Finally, there are discoveries by which the whole nation benefits, and for which the discoverer (looking to the permanent, universal, and national advantages of his la bours,) can never be too highly rewarded. We might in stance the steam-engine and the spinning-jenny. What inappreciable benefits to society have they produced. For these inventions wealth and power have fallen to the lot of the inventors—it is true. But how many inventions have there been which have equally benefited society, while the inventors have languished in poverty or died in misery ? The inventor of gas-light died in a workhouse. The first constructor of a steam-boat died in a gaol. These things are calculated to make the heart ache. Yet these examples are only two out of myriads which might be adduced of private merit in the public service being martyred or aban doned. A just and paternal Legislature should apply it self promply and anxiously to the redress of so great a private wrong, which is never inflicted without consecutive prejudice or ultimate injury to the public which permits it, or to the nation wherein it occurs.—Morning Advertiser. NAVAL GENCE. (From the Hampshire Telegraph.) PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 16.—The Hastings, 74, Captain Shiffner, arrived yesterday from Lisbon, after lying at an chor in the Tagus 1,257 days. She left on the 28th ult., and has been detained by contrary winds. Vice-Admiral Sir W. Gage came home in her, his period of service having expired. Lady Howard de Walden and family also returned to England in her. The Hastings is or dered to Chatham to be paid off. Extract of a letter from her Majesty's ship Rainbow , dated Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nov. 12 :—" We sailed from St. John's, Newfoundland, on the 4th of October, and arrived at Bermuda on the 18th, at which place we found the Seringapatam and Pearl ; the latter ship had s uffered severely from fever, but when we left they were fast re covering We here received orders to proceed direct to Halifax. and left on the '2lst, but experienced tremendous gales, at one time partaking of the nature of a hurricane ; and we had the greatest difficulty in preserving the m asts, but we arrived all safe at Halifax on the sth of November, where we found her Majesty's ship Wanderer refitting, having got aground on her return from Quebec, and having remained so a whole night, fortunately without material damage. The Comus is also here ; she has experi e nc ed the same weather, and one man on board died fro m board during the gale. Our orders here are to receive on lumber, &c., for Bermuda." The Racer, 16, Commander Hope, arrived at the fsa vannah, on the 9th Nov., in a very distressed c ondition. _ She had been sent from Jamaica to Belise, with a party of Artillery to be exchanged, and on her return expe rienced • bad weather from the 21st to the 29th of September. Fo r three days it had been blowing a gale of wind, and sail was gradually reduced till none whatever was set. On the even" ing of that day the vessel laboured much, and at sunset the wind blew so loud that it is described as "like a steamer letting off her steam." Soon after sunset she was thrown on her beam-ends, and remained so for five or six minutes, until the mainmast gave way, when she righted. Jam" Martin and Henry Longmead were washed overboard and drowned, and Charles Gainbridge, a boy, was killed by the fall of the mast ; a soldier's child was also killed below. Everything in the hold, cables, shot, beef and pork, fetch ed way to leeward. The wreck was cleared away as soon As possible, but it was found the vessel had seven feet water in her hold ; by one o'clock this was pumped out, when the vessel was again thrown on bar beam-ends, but as the f ore- . mast was at the same time carried away, she righted go on, though the lower hatches were thrown up, and some peoP le below were bruised. By dint of great exertion jurym as" sufficient to carry her to the Havannah were rigged, bu t it was found all her bread was spoiled, and the water lost;, she, however, a few days alter, obtained a small supply °f water and bread from a vessel which left Belise with her, but which had escaped all disaster. The people of c ourse had only flour and pork to subsist on, with a very scant) supply of water and bread until she got necessaries from the Romney. She was, at the date of the last aceounts from her, fitting for England with the Romney's main and foremasts, and may shortly be expected. By information from Bermuda of the 28th October, we find that the Dromedary hulk was placed under strict qua rantine, having a contagious yellow fever on board. Mr. Charles Wilson, a quartermaster, and Mr. T. Davis, a guard, both have fallen victims to its influence, and about eight convicts out of 100 cases. Mr. John Gold, second master of the Coromandel, had also died. The Cornwallis , 74, was there, but would, of course, immediately go to sea. The Edinburgh, 74, has reached Lisbon from Cork ; the OreStes, 18, from Gibraltar, was also there on the 4th De' cernber ; and the Minden, 74, was hourly expected from Gibraltar. The Melville, 74, with the flag of Rear-Admiral the Ron. George Elliot, and President frigate, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Ross, are ready for sea, and will be paid ad vance and sail in a few days. The former will call at Ply- mouth, as will the Thunder surveying vessel, now likewise , d - - ready. The Seaflower cutter, and her tender the Cracker, are daily expected from Jersey, the fall dredging season having closed. The Tyne, 28, Captain Townshend, is moved out of the basin alongside a hulk, and is getting fast ready for sea. The Nautilus brig is taken out of dock, and lies in the basin ready for commissioning. The Blonde frigate is taken into dock, and to be refitted for commissioning. The Gipsy tender arrived on Monday, from Sheerness, with supernumeries, and on Wednesday the Gossamer ten der, from Plymouth ; the former returned yesterday. Th e Cornubia (freighted troop ship) arrived on Thursday from London, and sailed to-day for the Mediterranean. The Hotspur, transport, Lieutenant Levett, agent, ar rived yesterday from Gibraltar ; from contrary winds, she had been twenty-nine days on her passage ; she took o ut a company of sappers and miners, and brought home a com pany of the same corps, with old ordnance and naval stores , with which she is to proceed to Woolwich. The free trader Sir Edward Paget left Madras on the 18th of August for England, full of passengers ; on the following evening she was dismantled in a sudden but short-lived squal, but was enabled to return to Madras to be re-equipped. PROMOTIONS AND APPOlNTMENTii.—Lieutenants Tho mas Coleman, G. W. Lydiard (late of the Blonde), an d Lord F. Russell (late of the Belvidere), are promoted to the rank of Commander; Messrs. John Willoughby Con' way, George Kenyon, and George Western, to the rank of Lieutenant ; Lieutenant C. Richards to be Flag-Lieu tenant to the Honourable Rear-Admiral Bouverie , Lieu tenant R. H. Bunbury, to the Princess Charlotte; Lieutenant Philip Bisson, to the Coast Guard ; Lieu tenant H. W. Johnstone, and Mr. James Jeffery, Acting Master to the Racehorse ; Mr. R. S. Godden, Second Master, to the Royal Adelaide ; Mr. J. W. Burney , Second Master, Mr. Henry H. Hammond, Assistant-Su r ' geon, and Mr. Walter Lornar, Clerk-in-charge, to the firi•• tomart ; Mr. Roger Lucius Curtis, Mate, to the Pan .. ? .. loon ; Mr. Arthur Kennedy, Mate, to the Britannia ; M r ' E. O'Maley, Purser, of the Excellent, to the Britannia; Mr. James Street, Purser, and Mr. Lilley, Boatswain, the Excellent ; Lieut. Wm. R. Payne, and Mr. John Bulman, Purser, have invalided from the Childers. N l. ' Thomas Parry, Gunner, to Semarang ; William Tarrant' Boatswain, from the Minden, to be Supernumerary Boat swain of the Victory, for harbour duty ; Mr. John John son, Boatswain, to be Supernumerary Boatswain of the Or dinary at Plymouth ; Mr. Thomas Jones, Carpenter, t° the Electra. The following Mates and Midshipmen passed for V et : tenants at the Naval College on Tuesday :—Met r Dudley Sinclair, D. H. M'N e ill, Th omas Davis,Art y . H. Henry, Osmond C. Feaver, J. B. Willoughby, H. Pawle, Thom as J. S m yth, no s hi p ; L or d W. Col ton, Melville ; Mr. J. B. Keust, Tyne ; and Mr. J• Bayley, Vestal. (From the Devonport Independent.) s:r PLYMOUTH, DEC. 16.—The Malabar, 74, Captal ti , ; „g ' William Montagu, ar r i ve d on F r id ay f rom Lisbon ba- - a l o de called off Santander on t h e I st i nstant, w h ere s he 140 marines. '5 r The steam-ve sse l, C omet , Li eutenant G or d o n, dered to the North Coast of Spain, and is expected to this day (Saturday.) for The Canopus, 84, is ordered to be t a ken into d°°"' the purpose of being brought forward for commission- be The Genoa, 74, is ordered to be taken into dock, to broken up. ))/ The Britomart, 10, was commissioned on Monday'' Lieutenant Koupar, first Lieuten an t o f the Alligato r, tender to that ship. leav e e The Edinburgh, 74, Capt a i n H e nderson, was t- _ t 0 ., Cork on Sunday last, having c o mpleted her complain*" seamen for Lisbon. ilf de It is currently reported at Pembroke that Capta i l e tie w Parker, now in command of the Rodney, is to be . t o liote l " superintendent of that establishment, but no o°' ligence thereof has yet arrived there. ,i m irel Su- Rear-Admiral Sir T. B r i ggs , G.C.M.G., 1 4 -" - Car perintendent of Malt a , w ill b e s up erse d e d shortly "J Woolwi ch tain Sir John Loui s , B ar t., Sup er i n t en d en t of t unti l Dockyard. Sir J. L ou i s w ill h o i s t a broad., pe e " °° he gets his flag. f Gam' The Lieutenant-Governorship of the settlement ° o f gr' bia, Sierra Leone, has become vacant by George Randall, of the pestilential fever. T he f a llen t° nant-Colonelcy of the African Colonial Corps has devise the the patronage of the' Commander-in-Chief, by of Colonel lingston." &lea been a e The following Captains of the Navy have b y tk. creaoeffiti to those who have pensions from the fund, of Officers 'eld d abolition of the sinecure General and Fl Sheppard ae the death Lieute, Marines, Capt. Francis Mason, C. 8., Capt. Capt. R. Henderson. acial Ir s On Thursday a contract was made at the N 5 00 Quarer o f tualling Establishment here, to deliver '6olb „per bushel • Wheat in a month, weighing not less than at 58s. per quarter, or 1 4 /. 10 s. a load. at weovin, is ar Mr. Hall, Foreman of the Coopearls William Victualling Garters pointed Master Cooper at the Roy Yard, in this port. On Tuesday the sth instant, t hy, of the Murp , were awardc.4l to Sergeant James s for a long and merl e mouth Division of Roy al Marlfnew'hich he has been a $ r rious service of 43 years, 33 o Fusee" San Jose f , . geant. Royal Adelaide, Ships in Harnoaze— Comet steam-vessels. horse, Columbia and and Britornart. he medal end grata In Barnpool—Alligator, a 'lie Sound—Malabar and Pique. thirty . arm. Letters lately received from Milan announce that ♦ery recen tly the diligence of that city was attacked by about, young men, and that one of the passeng,crs via 4sl44llll.kttd with poignards,—Frankfort Paper. -------- - SAM SCOTT, THE LEAPEft. (From the Liverpool Standard of Tuesday.) Yesterday this daring and rash individual again per formed his fool-hardy feat of leaping from the mast head of a vessel. The town during the week has been plentifully placarded with announcements that he intended leaping twice from the mast head of the Oriental, lying in the Prince's Dock, a height of 193 feet : the first jump to take place at one o'clock, and the other at three. In conse quence, however, of the authorities of the town having been called upon through the press to put a stop to such a rash hazard of life, a notice was yesterday morn ing posted at the Prince's Dock gates, stating that no such exhibition would be allowed in that dock ; and in consequence great numbers of persons returned. Scott, however, obtained permission to leap from the mast head of a barque, the Ellen Mary, moored in the river, in front of Prince's Pier, and the news soon spread that the scene of action had been removed there, and an immense crowd collected. At a few minutes past one o'clock, we un derstand Scott made his appearance, and leaped head fore most from the royal-mast truck into the river. The Prince's Pier was crowded by an immense concourse of persons, and amongst them a collection was made for his benefit. It having become known that he had leaped once from the vessel in question, an enormous crowd assembled to witness the second leap at three o'clock. Prince's Pier from nne end to the other was one dense mass of human beings, through the centre of which it was with difficulty a person could make his way ; whilst facing the wall, wherever a glimpse of the water could be got, was jammed as tight with people eight or ten deep as they could be squeezed together. The scene was more like the crowd round the stand of a race-course than anything else. The " full, true, and particular account"- men were not even wanting. We heard several crying " the life and adventures of that stonishin' leaper, Sam Scott ; written by hisself ; with a true and partickler ac count ov his peculiar sensations, when he wos a-mid air." Three o'clock passed, and no Scott appeared. About half past three a sailor ascended the mast-head, waved his hat, and came down again, and many thinking that this was a signal that Sam Scott was not coming again left the pier. Four o'clock arrived, and it was beginning to be dusk when he was pulled in a boat to the vessel. He soon after ascended the rigging to the mast-head, where he balanced himself for sometime on the " truck," or extreme top. There was, however, no signal-staff for him to balance himself by, so that he could not stand upon it ; and after remaining there a few minutes he came down to the top gallant yard, along which he ran, and lept off the end into the water, a height of about sixty feet, to the grievous disappointment of the horrible sight lovers, who looked with supreme contempt on this comparatively insig nificant jump. The reason, we understand, that he gave for this was, that the vessel had not " list" (leaning) enough on the side he was to jump, though the mate averred that it had full as much as the first time he jumped. The fact, however, we believe to be that the man was tipsy, and a conscious feeling that he was unable to balance himself with sufficient steadiness, without support, while he threw himself from the mast-head, was the cause of his not doing so. In deed, his running on the naked top- g allant yard to the end, without any hold, at a height of fifty feet above the deck, was not the act of a sober and sane man ; and he had nearly paid for his temerity by losing his balance. We, however, highly commend his prudence in acting as he did, if he felt that he could not clear the vessel. We sincerely hope that such a senseless hazard of life will not again be made. Not less than 25,000 persons were assembled, and Ithe river was studded with boat-loads of people in every direction. John and William Hore, father and son, were on Wednesday committed for wilful murder to the Leicester county gaol, in consequence of the verdict of a Coroner's jury, held at Aylestone, near Leicester, on the body of a young man named Joseph Torsers, a framework-knitter, who died by a stab which severed the femoral artery of the right thigh, during a drunken quarrel. A very simple method has lately been adopted to render the surface of paint perfectly smooth, and eradicate the brush marks ; it is done with a small roller covered with cloth or felt, about eight inches long and two inches in diameter, worked in pivots, similar to the common garden roller. The flatting coat, by this method, is made beautifkitly ;men, and looks exceedingly well., ..., thei 11,,er dee: t or for M,