The Sun. — London, England, 1846-09-02 00:00:00

1 ;f 3' ftt ;ie4 . ,!ceitticulated to disarm Roeas, in some measure, of his .!t cunning weapon —falsehood. agoTtio,_vilify the Intervention, to throw ridicule on its stir 14, to fix the odium of pirates and incendiaries o 4t onnaval officers —this is his great aim, for he thereby once Works on the passions of his countrymen and wh ys ton the cre d u li ty of people at a distance . And furl me ans so powerful for its accomplishment as his f ace °us tirades, first thrust on the .Minister, to acquire a truth, as diplomatic ommunications, and after m7B dissemi nated far and c wide in the columns of t his ittsPapers. Henceforth, no communication will be ad - Plat e d w hich has n o t in view the pacification of the of th is a necessary preliminary to which is the evacuation 41 territory by the Argentine troops. t e ,,, 1 6 . — The French war steamer Chincire, arrived of s t cmaY morning from Toulon. She brings accounts i 4 11, e ill successes of M. Saratea, Rosas's agent at Paris, ha h is successes to have Baron Deffaudis recalled from -„,nzsslo u Por ts "' Rio Janeiro we have London papers, with re -231 of the speeches in the House of Commons on the iter tlarc. British a matter of wonder here by what means the of th is Government expects to effect the independence tr owo tate in the ab sence o f en adequate expedition AQUATICS. Th e DEPTFORD REGATTA. hOtelt " A lt race at Deptford on Monday po....;•es3ed a feature of Oer,l3:l'3.lfrording "those of the olden time" an opportunity dat e. to the exclusion of the watermen of a modern Ave h,, _ee race was, as usual with below-bridge wagers,. Th e kg, with six competitors, and the assemblage immen..e. hvatiltitude of all grades, who had heard the " old ones pecrtiZ their training, condition, lasting powers, and otherthe i t l o o til we b v a e t r es . t : e uuki tT to the locus in quo to ascertain whether r 44 1 - ' 4 were half as good as they affected to be, o " light of other days had faded." There was, toi lte ;r, but little fault to find, the race being quite,das afford itl R co ks Led i ,, a s could reasonably have been expected, an k, South ' e * more amusement than wagers amongst those a, in their favour generally do. tern' h First Heat. Upper Watergate. D aarn, at_Johnson, aged 62 Ar e hi 'v all, aged 56 Th e l 'owles, aged 67 years ( ( L g a bias)h r ( k t G b r e l n e ) 0 2 1 ea ch ezt ist.,,,, a - .- was ' from Upper Watergate, twice rou t n . d e , s teele, "'tang the whole river front of the town, from h wtaoath veryhe Queen's Yard. actie a good start, and for a few strokes . the s eta certainly must have laboured under the impr b e t they Ct the YCoombeses," and no abatement ; obe r , c a found out their mistake, and dropped into a vet%) 15 Y to o le Dark blue then took the lead, kept it, and won ecgths. ~a,rues Second Heat. Lower Watergate. _ Ti n lifir eba r€ l2 , aged 61 . (Pink I oh gasnel, aged 51 .. (Orange 2 " Thee, aged 68 (Red) 0 !he ti gOt b. Nvay tidily, kept together for some distance, oiret winner put on a scientific spurt, and went abo u t as thotialagths ahead. The other two kept close . together, u. re rsati o n as some ill-natured fellow observed) in deep co tight blue Third Heat. .......... 1 I Orange ••• ........ 2 1- ke ttle Ic ss mettleand a little more applause, then a doien hil atitl taPidl Y , and a " crab." After this the winner showed S in front; won by four lengths. 'ark hi Fourth Heat. 2 A see p cry ..................... 1 I Light blue by a see o ,/ ,good race, the whole of the party having got fen', w th l nd." The contest was close throughout, and won 0. only. "ark blue .••• Final Heat. ... l en A . ... onl capi tal ............. 1 I Light blue gth s start, and at a very good pace. Won by two y. Ttip . MOORS AND DEER FORESTS. „ (Prom the Ross-shire Advertiser.) qer -4 by a continuance of the most favourable wea iu portsinen on the moors and in the forests are now 11 1 411 11 h ' act ivity. At Strathvaich, Sir St George Gore, t u t e With great success, bagging on the 17th, 77 ,u r a k e rse greuse, 13 hares, and 2 snipes ; on the 18th, 76 of grouse, 1 woodcock, and 3 hares. On the 19th, ktalkV in pursuit of red deer, and ended a successful eth er 3' capturing three at once. Later in the day an ztt t wits sh at ; and on the following day a very large fell t 4 R a F, with ten points on wide branching horns, RO eThe Kilian party continue to have tre e "' SPort, rifle, On the 22d, Mr. Majoribanks shot 40 tor t i e) ,Lerd E. Hill 37, Sir Thomas Munro, 33, and st AVosvenor 33 brace. During four days last week, tf RO re ' A• P. G. Cumming Esq., bagged 130 brace At I us e , four ducks, some s ' nipe, and twelve hares. fellol4l.wer Killin, Mr. King shot in four days as 44,1 2'~Onthe 12th 48i brace of grouse, a snipe, harp, har es; on the 14 t h , 33 b race , 2 snipes, and I St h „; en the 17 t h , 38 b race an d 1 h are; ou th e ek t i 6 1 bra ce and 4 hares. On the 12th, at Darnaway 2 3 in a few hours the Hon. George Stuart bagged t h a t e et 2 hares and a snipe; and on the afternoon 15 th, 17 brace of grouse and a hare. Mr. th' a g u n and Mr. Creyke, at Corrymony, had 60 brace 4 1r i e t '4t h, and the 14th, 52 brace. At Dunvegan, Skye, roa,,,, e arY Bernie and Lord St. John shot 28 brace of 'lkek - ' a nd 3? couple of snipe, from 12 to 4 o'clock. A. Lag. banker shot 23 brace of grouse at 2 r oe t 4 "; and on ' the following day, the 22d, 1 stag, and %el / tr. Deer -stalking has not yielded to sportsmen bet S e; e neice antl ere d h ea d s. ow i ng t o t he stags I vlfi e t - ,' n g in most forests clear of the velvet coverings Lord ,I o verlay th e new h orns. I n A rma d a l e F ores t go i „, 'accionald has shot 6 s t ags . 'O n th e 21 s t. a t Ard sta, ' Mr. Montague and H. St. John, Esq., killed 3 1 3 --..7 l ;tie of them with t en ant l ers, an d anot h er w i t h 4 oui t i cl a clear of th e ve l ve t . A t E rchless Castle, Mr. Ilaw;erson got a stag w ith t en b ranched horns, and Mr. Ile K ° er another on th e same day ; and, at Torridon,t' , b P we shot a. well- conditioned stag. N 'eebraes of Atholl se ems to b e well supplied with ioli , e this season. At Donavourd, near Pitloehry, Mr. b 1 Pier and Mr. George Fergusson, in six days' shooting t;'ed 30U brace and a half of grouse, tw enty - one hares, Ta r ° pve snipes. The sport was chiefly o n th e h i ll o f v• Another gentleman of the same party, s h o oting 1 5 ,, the most part on the hill of Donavourd, bagged fifty ace of grouse and four hares in a few short walks. 41:21E LAMMERMOORS.—The accounts from the sports -0o n the Lammermoors this season are of a most unfa ;,t,,able description. "Everywhere" writes a corres t4°,-,,ment, " the grouse are more or less affected with the (. 4. 1 ,; w oral, producing such a state of emaciaion as to ren aud h e ,ett t for use. The healthy birds . are so strong shot "F as not, or very seldom, to be within the reach of oaf a nd Y the y ounger b roods, cheepers, the old cock the na tur a l fit fit to be bagged—he (poor fellow) from his ti n t feeling s , never f a i l i ng to fall a victim i n t h e cao lllS tatice. The mother seldom rises until almost b til At f the pointer, and, when shot, is also i ß li r ca ti b o a t i ° o r n. use, not having recovered the effects of In fact, we may almost say that f ail ure s hooting on these moors has been a total ilio ta • It is recommended that a jubilee be given v a ecou n ll t el e t Year, through the districts." Nor are .h the m u erla ud a from the moors in the counties of Nor . . 4 S rep e atsd Durham of a very flattering description, the number of birds. They are repreaen . ted , t hat e in rather small coveys, so strong on the wing ` 4B sible. "'eY will soon pack, and as becoming very HERRING FISHING. ; e 'Y e it te '," , Ana. 28.—The fishing here is still not roT, • „ g The take on Monday morning was Ro o 'd l u to 20 crans-13 boats out. Tuesday morning a fishing; highest take, 30 crass. Since then the Ahi t C n , 'as been liht, ancl some of the fish spawned. A li, hed °l.ll ing the boats appear to be still very poo t y `,!ns. the exception of a few who have about 10 d "-NeXt week will determine what this station . littl e as if the fish do not set in then there is li o rsPeet of any good being done this season. I, t ' e eid - dI,! 6 LAND, AUG. 27.—The fishing has this week . ttt e , e- ,', 7 7 Improved, being more general, and the shots ',;,y L i 'Tan formerly. Our boats were not off on Sun redtil..,• On Tnesday the highest boat was 24 trans. ,u4t 4 ; ‘ , 414 3 7 the highest 18 crans. This morning g'e4 the all the boats are well fished. The fisher 411d IIOW in better spirits as the prospects are good, lioe weather is remarkably fine. i ler e SUNDERLAND.—Very few herrings were got Bey er In Pride Y and Saturday. On Monday morning th ey - 1 of the boats had a few barrels, e in genera 0 klarl none. Tuesday the boats were a r l ie c e l l a 4 n s , texce pt ol6s . pe r 1 5 3 that had about 20 barrels each. P c am e arrel. Wednesday morning b the boats in general hr in with from 10 to 13 b arrels , two or three th %co, • t 5 ,4 in from 30 to 40 each. Price 13s. Thursday La, t4 ke ranged from 5 to 20 barrels ; two top boats 35 ki,, i l ‘ ( ls each. Price 1 ls. Curers ere and have been fiq ) ! l g lls, per barrel from the commencement o f t he i n Inc AUG. 27.—Since the 21 st inst. the fi s hin g Il k ; improved daily, for although several of the boats e r epeatedly returned with none, and many had but fo t i' w f hundreds, a still greater number have had from era t 0 twenty crans. On Tuesday one boat had seventy ta co s' At present the fishing is but a very short clis 110t1 °ff the harbour. To-Light (Thursday) there can " fewer than from five to six hundred boats lying th a ( ,60 es 12s. to 14s. The foreign curers are pur- N,svng freely. —Berwick Advertiser. 25.—There are great hopes of the fish tlii3""'s Week. The appearance has not been so good iale a son; but yesterday there were very heavy h e ' s-50 , 60, and 70 crans, and a great many blanks. keat4erage would be about nine crans. To-day the ie 41 3 , l ' 4 Ve not all got out; the average will probably spen tell ( lu ten crane. They are very bad this morning, e kb ett - The average for the season will . now b At 1, The trans. Sales are still beingeffected %ill] 8. 6d * full brand, and 18s. 6d. eight days old. The th e 01 the potato crop in Ireland will no doubt affect sale Parke of herrings there, and being the principali t, the curers are much afraid of a fall in prices tnediatel goToeh „ v? t ato crop in thi s quarter is all but completely afr a id t ue few th at are st ill un tainted the people are T he u to eat, f or fear of the potato di sease affecting t . hem t ,hztt l) ,-, N ,, ces s is goina on so rapidly, that it is . beh . eved r le course of two or three weeks there will neither T - 1-IV r ea ting or seed.—Ross-shire Advertiser. 141 - CORNISH PILCHARD FISHERY, &c. aught ouNvs o „ l3 ".—Since our last report, the . boats have - as v er y- Ylew pilchards. For several days the . weath „s er l`rid a y boisterous, and the boats did not g . o to sea. yn *h a .? last, the weather was more promising, butthe Dileh ' fleet of boats returned without having taken 100 meat, the On Monday last, there was a slight improve aad f 'me On taking each from 1,000 down to 100, 841. °1 / I , t w° to three score of hake. Pilchards sold for ST• lvor ulindred, and hakes at ss. per burn. small number of mackerel were taken l'l`u est feK, which rea li se d 15 s . per hundred. This a thoT 43 ' ) Mornings. P about 200 mackerel were brought Penzance aild sol Gazet t e. fo '9 O per hundred. No pilchards. — r Shor e ne AUG. 29.—The Rosebud, Lums.lin, on doh _,ar the island f h lin 26th inst. 113§ gone .44 yteen 9 IIC C 9 r Miter! TIM MAGAZINES. BLACK WOOD'S MAGAZINE. No contribution could have "been selected as a more fitting and appropriate commencement of Blackwood, just at this particular period, than the identical one which opens the number for September Mexico and its Territory." We have perused the article with the closest attention, and have de rived from that perusal more than mere satisfaction and inure than mere entertainment. It is a per spicuous,'condensed, and yet detailed narrative of the history—political, social, and geographical—of that splendid portion of the Western Hemisphere, which extends northwards to the river Columbia, and southwards to YUcatan. From the succinctness of its manner the paper might be termed an epitome, while, from the copiousness of the matter contained in it, it must be regarded as something more than a mere epitome,. In consequence of the recent inva sion of the Mexican territories by the army of the United States, and particularly in consequence of the discreditable and disgraceful character of that invasion, the eyes of every civilised and thinking being are di rected to that quarter of the globe. A paper descrip tive, therefore, of this country will be welcomed as a boon by thousands, especially if it contain in itself 'an evidence of its authenticity and accuracy. Such a paper is the one which we have mentioned as the preliminary contribution in this month's Blackwood. The writer has manifestly taken no superficial view of his subject; he penetrates to the core, and yet does not altogether discard the husk as superfluous. He affords us a lively conception of the national cha racter and political constitution of the Mexicans, and in doing so (or we might even say fur the express purpose of doing so better), depicts the little eccen tricities and peculiarities visible upon the superficies of Mexican society, just as a botanist illustrates the properties of vegetation by the delineation of a leaf, or estimates the fruit by dissecting the pistyls and! petals of the blossom. From the first dis covery of terra firma by Colombo, and the invasion of Mexico by Hernan Cortez, down to the last procla mation issued by Pare'les, the history of this beautiful and opulent, but unfortunate and ill-cultivated region is crowded with vicissitudes and coloured with ro mance. On the appearance of Cortez the primitive inhabitants were populously and peacefully distributed through its forests and over its prairies, large and prosperous cities studded its shores and nestled in its inland seclusion—proportionally, however, with the advancement of the Spaniards the population dwin dled down to comparative insignificance, the debauch eries consequent upon the lawlessness of warfare inoculated the doomed race with fatal diseases ; pestilence and the sword devastated the soil and deci mated its inhabitants ; the entire aspect of the coun try, as far as its indwellers were concerned, under went a complete and startling transformation. Where formerly the blithesome and active aboriginals sported in the woodlands, their Spanish conquerors, thirsting only for money and ease, plied. the mattock on e moment, and slumbered in slothful abandonment the next. Cane wigwams were demolished, and sum ptuous palaces erected in their stead ; the spot • in which three or four hundred individual temples were clustered together over so many different idols, was gradually beaten down into a shapeless mound of bricks, and on the summit of that solemn and in tructive ruin a Catholic church erected. Gifted by na sure with a fruitful soil, a delicious climate, a profusion of mines, rich with the purest silver, and in some places mingled with the rarest gold, its fruitage succulent and flavorous, its spices neither scarce or unprecious; plentiful in cochineal and silk worms, and bees-wax and the like valuable produc tions, Mexico has presented every facility for the establishment of a magnificent and prosperous empire. Nevertheless, the natural indolence of its European settlers, and the sluggishness of their descendants, have nullified all these extraordinary capacities for national dominion and opulence. The Mexicans derive sufficient gratification in drinking glass after glass of their favourite pulque ; they find sufficient occupation in the faro-table and the vicissitudes of roulette ; they derive sufficient excitement from a little professional or amateur brigandage. With such a people no vast or stable government could ever be anticipated. Turning from the degenerate popula tion of this remarkable country, let us glance with the writer of the article at the aptitude of that coun try for higher and nobler things. Of the geographical position of Mexico we tran scribe the following description : " Washed on the east by the gulf which bears its name, and on the west by the Pacific, it thus possesses direct access to two oceans, and by them to the most opulent regions of the globe. On the soath it can dread no rival in the struggling state of Guatemala. But the north is the true frontier cn which the battle of its ex istence is to be fought, if fought at all, for beyond that barrier stretch the United States. The extent of its territory startles Eur.pean conceptions, extending in north latitude from fifteen to forty-two degrees, and in west longitude from eighty-seven to one hundred and twenty- five degrees. Its surface, on a general calcula tion, contains about a million and a half of square miles, or about seven times the dimensions of France. Yet, though thus approaching the equator, the climate of Mexico is in general highly favourable to life and to the products of the temperate zone: the incomparably larger portion of its surface being a succession of table-lands or elevated plains, where, with the sun of the tropics blaz ing,' almost V ertically, the evenings are refreshingly cool, the breeze is felt from the mountains of the ocean, and the days are scarcely hotter than those of Europe." With such a luxurious, opulent, fruitful and gigantic territory within reach of the Republic, the Government of the United States will scarcely be sufficiently self-denying to aggrandize its own terri tories by the acquisition of so much accessible wealth. Upon this particular the writer in Blackwood saga ciously observes, that " Jonathan, who thinks himself born to lay hold of every scrap of the globe by which he can turn one cent into two, looks, of course, on the whole shore of the gulf—towns, mines, and mountains—as his own. He frees himself from all scruples on the subject by the ob vious convenience of the conception. " No spct on the earth,' says one of those neigh. hourly persons, 'will be more desirable than the soil of Mexico for a residence, whenever it is in possession of our race, with the government and laws which they carry with them wherever they go. The march of time is not more certain than that this will be, and probably at no distant day.' " And, on this showing, the man of government and laws' proceeds to sink, burn, and destroy,' in the great cause of humanity,' edifies the native by grape shot, and polishes him with the cutlass. In those ex ploits of a free and enlightened' people, our only sur prise is that diplomacy itself takes the trouble of offering any apology whatever. The comparative powers of re sistance and attack settle the conscience of the affair in a word., The' seizure is easy, and therefore why should it not be made? The riflemen of Kentucky and the hunters of Virginia, the squatters of Ohio and the sym pathisers of Massachusets, all see the affair in the proper light; and why should the philosopher or the philan thropist, the man of justice or the man of religion, be listened to on subjects so much more easily settled by the rattle of twelve-pounders? The right of making war on Mexico has not yet found a single defender but in the streets; not a single ground of defence but in the roar of the rabble; not a single plea but in the conve nience of the possession. Eves the American journals have given up their old half-savage rant of universal conquest. Every drop of blood shed in a war of aggres sion is sure to be avenged." This is, we fear, too accurate a portraiture of American cupidity and republican lawlessness. The enlightened citizen of the U-nited States has "calculated" himself to be the monarch of all terrestrial creation so long and so inces santly that he appears to have almost deluded himself into a credence of his own vain-glory. He will, therefore, like the bygone legitimatists, look upon the Mexican soil as his " by Divine right ;" and assuredly he can scarcely dread much patriotic antagonism in a land peopled by such indolent bipeds as those depicted hereafter. The writer is speaking of the inhabitants of Vera Cruz : " Vera Cruz is as sad as a dungeon, as silent as a m onastery, and as sickly as a hospital. The s en o r a s, a race of periectly Spanish-visaged, black-eyed, and very coquettish beauties, sit all day drooping in their bal conies, like doves upon t he housetops, perhaps longing for a hurricane, an earthquake, or anything which may break up the monotony of their existence. The sound of a guitar, a passing footstep, nay, the whine of a beg gar, sets a whole street in motion, and there is a general rustling of mantillas, and a general rush to the windows. The men bear their calamity better; the senor, when he has once a cigar between his sallow lips, has made up his mind for the day. Whether he stands in the sun shine or sits in the shade—whether he wakes or sleeps, the cigar serves him for all the exercise of his animal functions." After commenting upon the squabbles which arose between the Spanish settlers in Mexico and the Creoles, the writer proceeds as follows ; and in the subjoined, be it observed, are condensed the various changes which have illustrated the political history of that vast empire : " Another race soon rose, the children of ,Spaniards by native women, the Mestizos. They, too, were ex cluded from all employments. The revolt of the United States would probably have applied the torch to this mass of combustible matter but for the jealousy of the two races. As the men of Old Spain despised the Creole, the Creole despised the Mestizo. Thus the power of Spain remained guarded by the jealousies of tooth. " But a new period was at hand. The infamous seizure of Spain by Napoleon, in 1808, roused both races to an abhorrence of the French name, and a determina tion to separate themselves from a kingdom which could now be regarded only as a French province. Again jealousy prevailed, ; the Creoles demanded a national re presentation, the Spanish troops and employes a royal government. In the midst of their disputes a powerful enemy appeared. The Mestizos and Indians united under a village priest, Hidalgo, and overran the country. This incursion brought the disputants to a sense of their own peril ; they collected troops, were beaten by the bold priest, rallied for another field, beat him, took him pri soner in the battle, and put him to death. " But the spirit of revolt bad now become popular, and another priest, liorellcs, v* f Mud to head another insurrection. His talents and intrepidity swept all be fore him for a period, and the independence of Mexico' was declared by a ' national assembly' in November 1813. But Morellos was finally unfortunate, was at tacked by the Spanish general Colleja, who -seems to have been a man of military genius, was taken prisoner and shot. The old Spaniards were once more masters, and Apodaca, a man of intelligence and concleet, was sent from Spain as viceroy. " But sudden tumults broke out in Spaint. &self. The Constitution of 1820' was proclaimed, the parties in Mexico followed the example, and a constitution strongly tending to democracy was proposed. It pro duced a total dissolution of the alliance between the Creoles and the Old Spaniards, the former demanding a Government virtually independent, the latter adhering to Spain. In the confusion, Iturbide, a young Creole of an ancient family, and of large possessions, pushed his way into power, and, to the astonishment of all Western Republicanism, in 1822 proclaimed himself Augustin the First, Emperor of Mexico. " But he instantly committed the capital fault of qua relling with his Congress. By a rash policy he dissolv, d the assembly and appointed another, composed of his adherents. But Cromwell's boldness required Crom well's abilities to sustain it. The army had been the actual givers of the throne, and what they had given they regarded themselves as having the right to resume. The generals revol•ed against Iturbide, overthrew him, pro claimed a new constitution, and sent him to • travel in Europe on a pension " The constitution thus formed (October, 1824) was republican, and took for its model that of the United States. Its two assemblies are a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate consisting of two members for each state ; the Representatives, of two for every eighty thousand inhabitants. All must be natives, and have landed property to the amount of eight thousand collars, or some trade or profession which brings in ten thousand dollari annually. The Congress sits every year from the Ist of January to the middle of April. The senators holding their seats for four years, gene rally ; the representatives for two. The executive is vested in a president and vice-president, both elected by the state Legislatures for four years. The ages of the several functionaries are curiously fixed. The repre sentative must have attained the age of twenty-five, the senator of thirty, and the high officers of state thirty. five.* The whole territory forms one Federal Republic, go verned by ono Executive, a marked distinction between Mexico and its model ; the several states of the Ame rican Union retaining to themselves many of the privi leges which, in the Mexican, belong to the Government of the capital." Intimately associated with the modern portion of this eventful and instructive history is the name of a very remarkable and gifted man— a man still alive, and towards whom the eyes of his fellow-countrymen are now turned, in anxiety and hope, imagining,- as a large part of them do, that under his guidance they can alone find the salvation of their common country. We need scarcely observe that we here allude to —SANTA ANNA ! In some particulars Santa Anna bears no small resemblance to Bolivar—in others his position and character are analogous to those of Es partero. As a colonel in the Mexican service, Santa Anna first emerged from obscurity in 1823, when marching against Iturbide, on the return of the latter from banishment, he intrigued with the forces of the ex-Emperor, and caused them to desert to his own standard, leaving the luckless Iturbide utterly de fenceless. For that act he gained considerable credit. Again, in 1829, Santa Anna vanquished, partially by force, but principally by diplomacy, a powerful Spanish armament, under the direction of Bar ratios. He was thereupon regarded as the saviour of Mexico, and retired to his enormous estates in the vicinity of Vera Cruz, amidst the grate ful acclamations of his fellow-countrymen. In 1841 he was again summoned from his seclusion by the popular voice, and having advanced upon the capital, removed the obnoxious President Bustamente from authority. In consequence of this achievement, Santa Anna was raised to supreme power in the state, and continued for some time to govern it in the capa city of a dictator. An enemy, however, unexpectedly arose in Texas, and, aided by the forces of the United States, hurled Santa Anna from office. Then the belligerent Texas was proclaimed "Independent," and shortly afterwards its "Annexation" to the United States displayed the perfidiousness and cupi dity of the latter republic. It was, as almost every body is doubtless aware, in consequence of the Mexi cans pronouncing this annexation to be a breach of the treaty, that the Americans have recently invaded Mexico. Of the integrity of the motives of Brother Jonathan who can entertain the shadow of a doubt, after a candid consideration of the foregoing statements ? The intelligence conveyed to this country towards the conclusion of last week by the steam-ship Hi bernia confirms the impression already produced by preceding occurrences. America has proposed a treaty of peace on condition of the annexation of California. Texas went first—California seems des tined to follow.—Mexico appears doomed to be broken up by piecemeal annexation until its gigantic territories are merged into the already gigantic terri tories of the United States. Some fortunate and unex pected interposition of a superior power can alone pre serve Mexico from this unenviable destiny. The writer of the article in our Edinburgh favourite has suggested these reflections by the very nature of his clever and honest production. By a bird's-eye view of the ter ritories and character of the Mexicans he has afforded the reader the cullings of information, and he has given him food for serious meditation upon the con dition of a vast principality in this globe. Mexico has already proved itself the Western Poland by its heroes and its misfortunes : may it not bear out the resemblance by its dismemberment ! We have de voted so much space and attention to this important and interesting subject, that we have allowed our selves no opportunity of doing more than individualise a few of the other contributions. The magazine, according to its honourable usage, is neither deficient in variety, elegance, pleasantry, nor instructiveness. Its character for keen and yet graceful criticism is well sustained by a second letter on " English Hexame ters." An unequal but fascinating poem upon a " Summer Day , ' by Thomas Aird, scatters quite a bloom of verse- through several pages. " Alge ria," and " Cabrera," are useful and agreeable es says upon a remarkable man and a glorious country. " How I became a yeoman," is a tale facetiously told, and " How to build a house and live in it," a disser tation facetiously conceived. " The Gentleman Com moner" is brought to a conclusion, and " Hydro pathy" affords a very readable and gossiping termi nation to an admirable number of this admirable Periodical. TAIT'S MAGAZINE. After an interval of a month we are delighted to perceive the criticisms of George Gilflllan resumed. There is an earnestness about his manner most plea sant in a time which partakes somewhat overmuch of literary frigidity. Even where, to the thinking of most individuals, there would be the least opportunity for rising into enthusiasm, his ardent emotions are kindled into a flame of words ; and he here, for ex ample, presents us with many fervid sentences of eulogium and censure upon the character and writings of "James Montgomery." We cannot but conceive that the introduction to the paper affords us a very sorry and painful spectacle—a man of un doubted and elevated intellect, like the bard of Shef fieli, standing forward (in accordance with the an nouncement of a placard) upon a platform in a Scottish city " to address a meeting on the subject of Moravian missions"—mouthing there by the hour to the gaping curiosity ofa very scanty and unselect audi ence, and winding up his oration by long quotations from his own poetry ! There is something degrading in all this; it evinces a mean and morbid appetite for the most vulgar description of fame; it is peddling for popularity. Well may the writer inquire in astonishment, " Is this progress of his (Montgo mery's) altogether a proper, a poet's progress ? Would Milton, or Cowper, or Wordsworth have sub mitted to it ?" Was it worthy the author of the " Pelican Island," " Greenland," the " World before the Flood," the " West Indies," the " Wanderer in Switzerland," or those solemn and thrilling " Verses from the Grave ?" We cannot think of this hunger ing after the very meanest kind of mob adulation in an old man, of so much purity and elevation of thought, without a feeling of sorrow and astonishment. James Montgomery has never written any continuous or sustained poem capable of perpetuating his name, but among his fugitive verses there are many that cannot well be forgotten, or that the world will willingly let die : his linee, breathed, as it were, from the grave, and his " Stanzas at Midnight," for instance. If his ideas are ever quaint or contorted, James Montgo mery is, even then, if possible, more plaintive than ever. Take, as a specimen, those verses upon Autumn —beautiful verses, which, like a pet fragment of music, has been transformed into a spirit "haunting," as Bulwer has exquisitely said, " the halls and gal eries of our memory :" " Sweet Sabbath of the year ! While evening lights decay, Thy parting steps methinks I hear Steal from the world away. " Amid thy silent bowers, "Cis sad, but sweet, to dwell; Where falling leaves and dropping flowers Around me breathe farewell." Again, what can be more quaint and yet more eminently mournful than the following comparison in the same poem ?-- " A deep and crimson streak Thy dying leaves disclose ; As on Consumption's waning cheek 'Mid ruin blooms the rose. " James Montgomery has a mind too gifted and a snail too sensitive to derive any real or permanent satisfaction from the triumphs of a vagrant lecturer. Let him remember this, and henceforth shun such asperities. That most indefatigable writer Mrs. Gore, not contented with producing nine volumes of ordinarily-sized novels during the past season, a Christmas story in December, a book of sketches, an effort at poetical celebrity, et cetera, actually begins another romance in the present number of 7'ait, en- * There have been some subsequent changes in these matters. titled "Temptation and Atonement." Although it is generally difficult to' predicate with accuracy from the commencement of such a production, we cannot but anticipate, from the liveliness of the first chapters, a very pleasant and amusing fiction. Mrs. Gore has a marvellous facility both of imagination and descrip tion. "Rings and Posies" is a delightful paper of antiquarian and bibliographic lore; it is daintily and neatly arranged in the form of a miniature disserta tion. " Love's Seasons," but for the halting of the four lines at the end of each stanza, would be a charm ing bijou. • The most important paper in the whole number is one written by our old favourite, Thomas De Quincey, respecting the " System of the Heavens, as revealed by Lord Rosse's Telescope." It should be read, or rather devoured, by every one ; and it will be. We have long thought upon the false science of Scripture just as De Quincey declares himself to think, in a note appended to this contribution : we have long thought, as he here beautifully expresses it, that "to have uttered the truths of astronomy, geology, &c., at the era of new-born Christianity was not only below the purposes of a religion, but would have beerragainst them." The reasons subjoined for this opinion are sensible to the very uttermost. "It was impossible," says De Quincey, "for any messen ger from God to have descended into the com munication of truth merely scientific, or economic, or worldly. First, because it would have degraded his mission by lowering it to the base level of a collusion with human curiosity, or with petty and transitory interests. Secondly, because it would have ruined his mission : he that in those days should have proclaimed the true theory of the solar system and the heavenly forces, would have been shut up at once, as a lunatic likely to become dan gerous. And, thirdly, because to apply the light of revelation for the benefit of a merely human science, is to assault capitally the scheme of God's discipline and training for man." That is plain, honest logic. All the babble that has ever been uttered about Joshua commanding the sun to stand still, and about the creation of the world in six days, is the veriest trash that was ever conceived. Revelation was too vast and sublime and eternal to be degraded into the mere horn-book of any earthly science. Thomas De Quincey has afforded us the deepest pleasure in giving voice to ideas which have long lived in our own imaginings. The " Feast of Poets for September, 1846," though of no inferior merit, does not contain as usual any single fragment sufficiently admirable to deserve a distinct quotation. "Der Railber," from Uhland, is the most delicately pencilled. With a variety of copious and elaborate literary notices Tait this month has, if possible, more than its average ability. ' '` BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY. What Charles Dickens is to the Cockneyisms of " London Life" that is Albert Smith to those of " Pa risian Life." His conclusion of "Mr. Ledbury's Adven tures" in the present number is full of broadly hu mourous but most truthful sketches of life in the " Quartier Latin." His description of the dinner " Chez Viot" (in our student days Flicoteau was the patronized of the Paris students) is as minutely graphic as an interior by Teniers. Dr. W. C. Taylor brings down the history of the Albigenses and the Troubadours to the time of the defeat of Raymond VII., and the destruction of the Albigenses by the establishment of the Inquisition in Toulon, where the renegade Bishop Folquet prac tised a system of cruelty and plunder, dooming men to torture as heretics because they were suspected of being suspicious, until science faded from the land and literature disappeared; but, as Dr. Taylor justly observes, " a remnant of the reformed religion sur vived in the mountains of Cevennes until Louis XIV. completed the destruction which Louis IX. had com menced. The war of the Camisards was the com pletion of the war against the Albigenses." The history of that most iniquitous war, of the intrigues which led to it, of the manner in which the superstitious fears of that drivelling old bigot Louis XIV. were worked upon by the sanctified demirep Madame de Maintenon and the designing Jesuit Pere la Chaise, has yet to be written. No living author is so fitted to do justice to this theme as Dr. W. C. Taylor, and we beseech him to set about it straight. Under the title of " Shots from an old six-pounder," we have some agreeable re miniscenses by an old soldier of the Great Marlow military school in its infancy (1808). The next paper, " Travels and Travellers in Italy," should be studied by everyone who travels, not only in Italy but in any other country, and who wishes to derive the greatest pos sible amount of benefit from his travels. The fol lowing observations on the ignorance and presumption of certain modern tourists are not more severe than just " There is no country that has not suffered under the injustice of ignorance ; none that has not been wronged and insulted with a levity that, between man and man, fear of consequences renders impossible. But the un generous, the presumptuous, and the reckless know that they may calumniate a whole people with impunity— alas! with success and advantage. This is a war in which the battle is pre-eminently to the weak. The un calculating levity of a sprightly woman, or the discom posed habits of a self-indulging one, or the mortifi cations of a vain one, have sent streams of gall flowing through all the hidden channels of society, and added to the difficulties which the masculine vices of lust of power, of glory, or of blood, are continually raising up in the way of tnose who sacrifice their own peace to the peace of the world. While people think it lawful and expedient to publish their impressions' of a country, of which they do in fact know nothing, and which they are, nine times out of ten, incapable of judging ; while these impressions' are almost always communicated by the most impressionable, consequently the least reflect ing, part of society ' • while conscience is not even con sulted about the truth, this evil will continue, and will increase ; till, at length, the public will turn round upon its pleasant deceiiers, and will ask for more trust worthy guides." This paper is from the pen of Mrs. Austin. The Doctor's story is continued in the present chapter of Brien O'Linn, and then follows " An In dian Tragedy," by Agnes Lascelles, which would not be un worthy the pen of Cooper. "The Flaneur in Paris" continues his agreeable sketches of Parisian life, while Alfred Crowquil gives us an amusing peep at society in London. The illustrations to the present number are " Mr. Ledbury in an awkward predicament," by Leech, and a portrait of Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish novelist, accompanied by a memoir. " Scenes of Italian Life," "Doncaster," by the author of " Gaming, Gaming; Houses, and Gamesters," and Military Punishments of the Romans," by Everard Clive, are all well written articles. The number concludes with a personal narrative by Mr. C. Kean, of the unfortunate attack upon Heki's Pah, in New Zealand, in 1845, in which Lieutenant Philpotts and Captain Grant were killed, and our troops defeated with considerable loss. FRASER'S MAGAZINE. In an article on National Education, which may perhaps be considered as the manifesto of the more enlightened portion of the Conservative party, it is candidly admitted that it would be impossible to de fer longer the consideration of this subject, in com parison with which all others must be considered as unimportant. The writer also admits that the oppo sition to the plans proposed by the two preceding Governments was ill-judged and bigoted, and agrees with Dr. Hook as to the necessity of the State undertaking to establish a system of education, and as to thenecessity of mutual concessions being made by the Church and by the Dissenting bodies ; but he does not approve of the purely secular State education proposed by Dr. Hook, and albeit he would give up the Church Catechism, and consent not to use the Bible as a school-book, he insists upon the Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer being taught in the schools. He admits that the teaching the Creed would exclude the Unitarians, but thinks that a matter of no importance, because they are a small body, exhibiting in this a little of the old Tory leaven, which concedes a right, not because as a matter of principle it is proper to do so, but because those to whom the concession is made are strong enough to wrest by force that which may be refused to their entreaties. He, moreover, forgets, that the Roman Catholics will probably protest against the use of the Church of England version of the Ten Commandments. It is, however, gratifying to find that the Conserva tives are now disposed to consider this question rather as a national than as a party one. The other articles of this number, with the exception of a smartly written sketch of Mr. T. S. Duncombe, among the contemporary orators, are of a purely literary cha racter. The first, entitled " The Life of a Strolling Player," is an interest in g ske tch (interspersed with original letters) of the career of John Cunningham, the actor and pastoral poet, whose sweet song, " Kate of Aberdeen," will live as long as the English lan gunge shall last. Poor fellow ! he was the greater part of his life a strolling player, and seems to have made friends wherever he went. In jvstice to the me mory of a true-hearted man, we cannot omit giving the following letter from Digges, the actor and manager of the Edinburgh Theatre, to poor Cunningham. Digges must have been one of nature's own gentlemen, for he knew how to confer a favour with delicacy on a man of genius, so as not to wound his sensitive feelings : " So much for business," he writes from Edinburgh in August, 1762 ; " and now for your affairs. I am very sincerely concerned at the disappointment you met in London. I hope Dr. Hawkesworth will prove a sincere friend. However, permit me to beg you will not be chagrined, let what will happen. Mrs. Digges and my self shall think ourselves really happy if you will imagine yourself related to us, and come and stay with us as long as you please here. I have great want of a companionable man like yourself. I have suffered much sorrow and misfortune in this odd world, and, there fore, can easily imagine what y o u must suffer under the oppressions you are daily exposed to. The life you lead must be a life of anxiety. This invitation is not the result of whim or a start of fan cy ; we have talked u a r n e d y ru ou an t y o writeeven g ins e , w a o ll ;d l. whether you at la,t, I am asebtoudtoywonutomcaonnyj are at present in Northampton. I hate friendships by halves, or in a mean way conferred. lam very open to you, but my intention is what you would thoroughly esteem me for could you see its basis. " A dependence in London," the generous DiT,ges continues, " may be precarious. You shall have money to bring you to me, and shall command what you want to make your appearance as decent as it ought to be. Now if you have that solid understanding I think you possessed of, you will accept what I offer, with as much frankness as my offer is made. I live much at home. I have prepared a snug bed-chamber under my roof for you, and we will live like friends and philosophers L together. D— strolling! leave it off. Come to me di rectly. I don't want you to play, for our company is full ; but, for God's sake, take time, and look about you before you go up to London. A man is always re spected in this mean world just according to the credit he seems to have with his tailor. Now I have, in my life time, been out of my tailor's good graces, and so may you be, or any honest fellow, without shame or scaNdal. Look you, my good and grave sir, do not hesitate, but take a friend's advice whose heart beats to servo ycu. Write to me by next post ; not a letter of thanks, but a plain declaration that I shall see you. We are at my old house at the bottom of the Canongate, which I have taken for a year • there we will sit down and alter plays and amuse ourselves, as well as we can. " No negative, but write to your assured friend, " W. DIGGES. " Mrs. Digges' kind compliments to you. I will send a small bill directly to bring you by return of post." Honour to the memory of high-minded, true-hearted, generous IN. Digges. This is followed by an Essay on old Montaigne, which is very pleasant reading. We have also two stories of French romance —one, "The Pretty Old Woman of Vevey," a legend of the Revo lution," ' and the other the " Ecrivain Public," a ro mance of the present day, both of which we commend to the attention of those industrious gentlemen, the "Dramatisers :" the first would furnish materials for a stirring melodrama, the second for a domestic drama of " intense interest." The papers on the Shet landers are continued, and M. A. Titmarsh concludes his proposals for a continuation of Ivanhoe, addressed to Alexandre Dumas. This paper is full of rich humour, and shows up the gross impudence and grosser ignorance of the French historical novellists (historical ut /ucus a non lucendo) in the most amus ing manner. Colonel Mitchell, the prince of bores, proses away after his wont concerning the campaigns of Napoleon, proving, of course, that he, Colonel Mitchell, is an infinitely greater General than.Napo le:,n, and that if the Austrians had but been blessed with the presence of Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell at head-quarters, every one of Napoleon's victories would have been defeats. We cannot conclude our notice without mentioning " A Glance at Prague during the Feast of St. Nepomuk." It is a delight fully graphic account of a fine old town, which is not known to our English tourists so well as it deserves to be known. SMUGGLING AT SHEERNESS.-011 Friday afternoon about half-past two P.M., as Edward Sargent and Alfred Bell, two of the coast-guard officers, were on the look-out off the Lampnell, they descried a boat with two men in her, which, on boarding, they found to be the Blossom, belong ing to Rochester, and, on searching, they discovered several gallons of rum in stone and glass bottles under the cabin deck, which they seized. Anxious for the attendance of their superior officer, Sargent was left in care of the boat and men, whilst Bell went to Sheerness to fetch the tide surveyor, Mr. George Batten. Availing themselves of this opportunity, the two men attacked Sargent, and one of them held him whilst the other commenced breaking the bottles and throwing them overboard. A struggle ensued, but, before the return of Bell and Mr. Batten, they had succeeded in getting rid of the whole of the seizure, saying it should not be known to whom it belonged. The revenue officers then procured the assistance of aconstable, and the prisoners were safely lodged in the lock-up house at Sheerness, and the boat taken to the Custom-house. On Saturday morning the prisoners were brought before the mayor and magistrates at the Guildhall, Rochester, when they gave their names John Thackray and George liPMullen. On the application of Mr. Buckett, the Controller of Customs at the port of Rochester, the prisoners were remanded for further exami nation. The prisoners are labouring men belonging to Up church. EXTENSIVE FlRE.—About one o'clock ycster3ay, an alarming and extensive fire broke out in the Patent Saw Mills of Messrs. James Taylor and Brothers, No. 5, Main street, Anderston. An alarm was instantly given, and the West of England and Anderston fire-engine were soon on the spot. They were speedily followed by the Glasgow Fire Brigade. The fire (owing to the combustible nature of the materials) spread with great rapidity, and presented an alarming appearance, the whole of the adjacent buildings and streets being brilliantly lighted up, while the reflection in the sky was seen at a great distance, and the means of col lecting an immense crowd of onlookers. At three o'clock the fire (which was confined to . the range of buildings in which it originated) was completely extinguished. The amount of property destroyed must be considerable • but the proprietors, we understand are insured.—Glasgow Sat. Pap. ALARMING FIRE AT SMITHFIELD BARS.— Monday night, between eleven and twelve, a fire broke out in the premises occupied by the London Hat Company, No. 16, West Smithfield Bars, adjoining the extensive building be longing to Mr. Edgington, the rick-cloth and tarpauling manufacturer. The fire commenced in the front shop, in which a llrge stock of hats were deposited. Owing to the combustible nature of the goods a very few minutes elapsed before the flames had obtained possession of the shop and its contents. The upper portion of the building was occupied by numerous families, and the smoke being so dense, the parties had great difficulty in effecting a retreat from the place. As it was, three or four children were taken from the top of the house by a sergeant of the City police. The firemen, as usual, exerted themselves vigorously, and the flames were got under soon after midnight, but the damage done was considerable. WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET, A tra. 28.—The arrivals of grain during the past week have been rather small, con trary winds have disappointed vessels from entering the Humber, coniequently the show of new wheat to-day is ex tremely small, the little offered is sure to. find ready sales, and fetches full prices. Old is slow of sale; holders, how- ever, evince no disposition to give way, and prices remain the same as before. Barley nominal. For new there is an active inquiry. The value of oats and shelling is advanced. Beans are Is. per quarter higher; other articles remain the same as last quoted. Tim PORTION OF A FEMALE FOUND IN THE THAMES OFF GREENWICH.—There is every reason to believe, from circumstances that have come to the knowledge of the police, that the legs and trunk of the female recently found off Greenwich, are the remains of one of the sufferers by the accident at Hungerford-market steam-boat pier on Easter Sunday last. EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.—The fourth general meet ing of the Evangelical Alliance was held on Monday evening in Exeter-hall. The hall and galleries were completely filled, and also the platform. At a quarter past six o'clock, on th motion of Sir C. E. Smith, which was seconded by Dr. Alder Thomas Farmer, Esq., was called to preside, and who stated that the great object of those meetings was to extend the knowledge of the principles and the proceedings of the Evan gelical Alliance, to ensure a larger amount of Christian sympathy, as well as to afford to friends who came from America and the continent of Europe the opportunity to ex press those sentiments by which they all ,professed to be associated. The meeting was subsequently addressed by the Rev. Thomas Mortimer, the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, of Bangor, United States, P. D. Hady, Esq., of Dublin, &c. The re- solutions were adopted, recommending that the first Lord's day in each year should be observed by the members and friends of the Alliance throughout the world as a season for concert in prayer on behalf of the objects of the Alliance; that orthodox Christians of all sects should exercise Christian charity towards each other, pledging thempelv,es in their controversies to avoid all rash or groundless insinuations, and to maintain the meekness and gentleness of Christians by speaking the truth only in love. EAST INDIA HOUSE NOTICES.—The following notices were on Monday issued from the East India House :—" By the Judicial Committee .of the Privy Council, 'Whitehall, August 28.—Upon a motion made this day to their Lord ships for a peremptory order requiring the Judges of the Supreme Court of Justice of Van Diemen's Land to appear to the appeal of Sidney Stephen, from Van Diemen's Land, their Lordships are pleased peremptorily to order that the respondents do enter an appearance within six weeks from the - date hereof, otherwise their Lordships will proceed to hear the said appeal er-parte. Upon a motion made this day to their Lordships for a peremptory order requiring Sir Edward John Gambia, Ent., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Madras, and the Hon. Sir William Westbrook Barton, Ent., one of her Majesty's Justices, to appear to the appeal of James Machin, Esq., of Madras, their Lordships are pleased peremptorily to orer that the said respondents do enter an appearance to the said appeal within six weeks from the date hereof, otherwise their Lordships will proceed to hear the said appeal ex. parte.—C. C. GREVILLE." ASCENT AND DESCENT OF THE GREAT NASSAU BALLOON.—On Monday evening, a little before seven o'clock, Mr. Charles Green, together with a party of ladies and gen tlemen, amounting in all to twelve, ascended in the Great Nassau Balloon, from Cremorne Gardens, Chelsea, and after a Toy pleasant voyage of rather more than forty minutes, safely descended in l'regast-green, a short distance from Norwood. Mr. Green returned to Cremorne Gardens about eleven o'clock, and announced the result of his very pleasant voyage. DERBY ELECTION.—The Tories are starting Sir Digby Mackworth against Mr. Strutt, who has addressed the con stituency, calling on them for a renewal of their confidence. A YORKSHIRE " PROTECTIONIST GATHERING."— A large and influential gathering of Protectionists in the East-Riding of Yorkshire is said to be in contemplation during the Parliamentary recess, at which Lord George Ben tinck, the Marquis of Granby, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Hudson, and other leaders will be present.—Yorkshireman. ENGAGEMENT OF MR. MACREADY AT THE SURREY THEATRE.—The spirited lady who conducts this favourite place of amusement, Mrs. Frances Davidge, has engaged for a few nights that eminent tragedian, Mr. Macready, who will, it is expected, commence his duties next week. MERCHANT SEAMEN'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.—The half yearly election of chileren into this asylum took place on Monday, at the London Tavern, Eishopsgate-street Henry Nelson, Esq., took the chair, when the election of six boys and three girls was proceeded with, and terminated at three o'clock, when the result was stated to be as follows : Rutter, 2,768 •, Watson, 1,762 ; Robson, 2,248 ; Glover, 2,074 ; Edwards. 1,965 ; South, 1,687 ; Minton, 828 : Nichols, 1,127 ; and Griffin, 1,731 votes. The report was then read, which stated that, from the low state of the funds the committee were precluded from electing on the present occasion more than six boys and three girls, although there was room for many more inmates. The committee felt grateful for the munificent gift of 333/. 6s. Bd., from Mrs. Somes, widow of the late Joseph Somes, Esq., once a vice-president of the society. They also acknowledged the gift of 100/. from the Honourable Corporation of Trinity House, and 501. from the Honourable East India Company. At the annual dinner held at the London Tavern, (the Right Hon. Lord Ellenborough in the chair), a sum of 9001. was collected in subscriptions. A further sum of 53/. 3s. Bd. was collected, after a sermon, at the St. Mark's Church, Ken nington, by the Rev. S. Bridges, M.A. The report con cluded by a vote of thanks to the treasurer and honoraty officers of the society, and to the ladies' committee. The adoption of the report was followed by a vote of thanks to the chairman, when the meeting separated. LAMENTABLE CATASTROPHE IN THE CHANNEL.— Information of a most melancholy nature has reached us. The steam-ship Hibernia, which arrived on Friday from America, while on her passage up the channel, in a dense fog, ran down a small vessel. We regret to state that tlqee or four of her crew, together with her captain, were drowned, though the steamer's boats were lowered, and every effort was made to save the unfortunate men. No authentic particulars have come into our possession.—Liverpool THE CONVICT JOHN SMITH. TO THg , EDI7'OR OF THE SUN. Sra,—The case of the convict John Smith is one in which every one, even an advocate for capital punish ments, may interest himself, becauso there were ex tenuating;circumstances in his case which induced the jury to recommend him to mercy. Why, as is the case in France, is that recommendation not considered deci sive ? Sentence of death is never passed there after the jury have pronounced that there were extenuating cir cumstances in the case. How is it that we who boast of that palladium of British liberty, trial by jury ? allow a judge to unite in his own person the judicial and executive powers, for it comes to that if the solemn and ever-to-be-respected recommendation of twelve English jurymen is to be overruled by the opinion of one man. Now, how has Baron Platt's mind been influenced in this case against Smith? It is said he was leaning to the side of mercy until the use of the knife was urged as a reason for hanging Smith. No doubt that cowardly weapon has been too much used of late, and ought to be put down by the most stringent measures, but I deny that Smith comes under that accu sation, even although he did kill Sarah Tolleday with a knife, because the knife is almost the symbol of his occupation. He carried it about his person fir necessary use—for professional purposes. He did not go in search of it. He used it in the heat of passion, finding it at his side or in his hand. lie did not think or pause to meditate the rash act; it was the result of a sudden outburst of wrath, which tqe constant provocation and annoyance to which he was subjected naturally excited. Besides, let us take into consideration. Smith's occupation. He, as a cools, was necessarily exposed to a scorching fire, con fined in a steaming atmosphere, and no doubt anxious about and harassed with his duties. I may say confi dently, as a medical man, that the occupation of a cook must produce a greater amount of cerebral irritability than almost any other trade; indeed, it is notorious that cooks are extremely irascible ; their occupa Lion is the cause. Combine, then, the provocation with constitutional irritability, and the furious passion is easily accounted for, and ought to be considered as an extenuating circumstance, especially when it is remem bered that the knife was Smith's legitimate weapon, and was neither sought for, snatched up, nor unclasped with premeditation. Lord Tenterden sentenced a gentleman to be hung for Shooting a fisherman on the banks of the Thames, be cause he went home for a gun and came back and shot the poor man. His Lordship said that act was the main thing which constituted the murder, for it proved malice with premeditation. If, therefore, Lord Tenterden was right in that case, Baron Platt is wrong in this ; for he ought, according to that interpretation of the law, to have recommended the jury to bring in a verdict of manslaughter, because Smith seized a weapon which he was compelled to carry about his person, and without premeditation or malice, but after sufficient provocation, committed the rash deed; therefore, I maintain that he is only guilty of manslaughter; and, in my humble opinion, if he should be hung a legal murder will have been committed to all intents and purposes. rthink, Sir, in conclusion, that the solemn recommen dation of a British jury should, at all times, affect a sentence. Their powers want extension. If the chances of death were left in their hands none, save such monsters as Burke, Greenacre, or Tawell, would suffer. Justice would be administered with mercy, rather than with vengeance. We would cease to be accused as a people of possessing the most sanguinary code in Europe. The demoralising and barbarous scaffold would be re moved with horror and disgust, and that dark and foul feudal stain, capital punishments, be for ever blotted out oche criminal code of a powerful, civilised, and commer cial people. Sincerely trusting that public opinion may at least save one scandalous scene, I beg leave, Sir, to subscribe myself your obedient servant, P. M. M'DOWALL. 6, Wellington-place, Newington Butts. SEDUCTION, SUICIDE, AND RE- VENGE. A young lady named Eulalie, now aged 18, about two years ago lost her widowed mother, whom till then she had never quitted. She came to Paris on the invitation of an aunt, who undertook to find a situation fur her. She was presently offered, and she accepted, the place of superintendent of the house of one Barnage, a bachelor of 45, who promised to be as a father to her, and ulti mately to provide for her, should her conduct be satis factory to him. Eulalie was beautiful—Barnage soon manifested intentions which were anything but paternal ; he left untried no means of success, and finally the young lady became his victim. In a few days, however, she bitterly repented her fault, and at once determined on the course she would pursue. She declared to Barnage that nothing should induce her to continue in a position so repugnant to her feelings, and so contrary to the principles in which she had been brought up, and consequently that she would instantly return to her aunt. The attempts of Barnage to induce her to remain with him were un availing, and it was with a sort of savage spirit that he witnessed her departure. Returning to her relative, the poor girl, saddened by the remembrance 11 of ,- , r ault, applied herself diligently to the task of needlework, de clining to partake of those pleasures and amusements so natural to her age, and which were frequently proposed to her. In this way did two months pass. It happened that in the same house there dwelt a young man, a work - ingjeweller. He had often noticed Eulalie; and struck with the modesty of her appearance, as well as by her assiduity at her work, he, after making certain inquiries con cerning her, asked her hand in marriage. His offer was accepted ; he became more and more enamoured of her ; and the wedding-day was fixed. They looked forward to a, life of happiness ; but, alas ! who can command the future ? One morning the bridegroom received a letter, which informed him that a person, who had his interest at heart, would make certain re velations calculated to induce him to pause ere he fulfilled his promise of marriage to Eulalie. This letter was from Barnage. Instantly the young man presented himself at his house. Barnage related all that had occurred between himself and Eu lalie, but falsely boasted that she adored him, and that to captivate him she had had recourse to every mode of female seduction. The lover desired some proof of this, which the other being unable to supply, he, in a paroxysm of rage and indignation, struck Barnage to the ground and fled. Returning to the object of his love, he related to her what had occurred, and asked, " Was there any truth in the allegations of Barnage ?" Eulalia would not be guilty of a falsehood. Her afflicted lover declared that the engagement between them was void. In hopeles despair the poor girl resolved upon suicide. She lighted a pan of charcoal, and after writing to her lover these few simple and tcuch ing words, she prepared to die :—" I have at once lost your love and your esteem. I have no hope but in God, who sees into my heart, and by that will he judge me. Adieu! adieu ! or rather let us hope to meet above." Fortunately, assistance was at hand, and the life of the unhappy girl was saved. The news papers, continues the Gazette, have related this attempted suicide, but without stating the motive of it. This day the young man appeared before the correctional police, to answer for the blow he gave to Barnage4who laid bis damages at 3,000 f. The President, after having in the severest terms commented on the conduct of Barnage, asked the accused if the marriage would yet take place? The young man, with tears in his eyes, replied, " I shall never marry." He was adjudged to pay a fine of 16f. and the expenses, as sufficient compensation.— Gazelle de Tribunaux. TUE MOORS.—The accounts from the hill continue to be as favourable, as to the success of the sportsmen, as at first. Last week, the weather was dry and wet each alter nate day till Thursday ; but, subsequently, it has been fair and more seasonably cool. The moors attached to Blair Castle were strictly preserved last year and this, it is under stood, for his Royal Highness Prince Albert.—Perth Courier. SKYE —DEER-STALKING.—MacIeod of Macleod has at present among his visitors at Dunvegan Castle, Lord St. John and his lady, Mr. Henryi Baillie, M.P., and his lady, Sic. After a few days at grouse shooting (in which the party have been very successful) they are now going off to deer stalking among the precipices and ravines of the Coolin Hills, and to fish the streams that issue from them. Lord Mac- donald has been highly successful in that sport in the same direction, having already killed eight deer, some of which were noble animals with full grown antlers. Such is his Lordship's fondness for this sport that he has converted the Inn of Sconser into a shooting lodge, where he and his Lady have been residing fur some weeks. The loss of this inn to tourists is not felt, as that of Sligichan is only three miles distant, and two inns were rather near each other on a road not greatly frequented.—lnrerness Courier. ANOTHER FIRE IN ESSEX.—On Saturday morning, between one and two o'clock, a fire broke out at North Ockenden, on the premises of William Eve, Esq., of Ocken den-hall, in consequence of the heating of a stack of clover. The fire was speedily communicated to four other stacks, all of which burnt with fury for three hours before assistance could be procured, when two engines belonging to the Board of Ordnance arrived from Purfeet, closely followed by one from Romford. By great exertions the fire was confined to the five stacks, although fourteen large corn stacks were so closely adjoining the burning masses, as barely to allow room for a carriage to pass between them. The property is for nately insured. _ DEGRADING PUNISHMENTS IN THE Anion—Under a recent order of the Commander-in-Chief, commanding officers of regiments, battalions, or depots, are empowered to sentence military offenders to solitary confinement in the cells, or " black holes," as they are technically called. In many cases, as soon as a prisoner is delivered over to the garrison proviit of the Royal Artillery, that functionary has orders to crop the hair of the delinquent as close as possible. On Sundays the whole of the men who may chance to be thus confined are marched to the barrack chapel in charge of an armed escort, and placed in the chapel in a conspicuous place, with the armed escort on either side of them. A TEA PARTY POISONED.—The practice of making the best teapot a repository for small articles was nearly pro ductive of a fatal result on Sunday evening last.. It appears that Mr. Chappell, a carpenter, residing in the Cheltenham road, his wife, and four friends, had been taking tea together, when one of the party complained of sickness at the stomach. Almost at the same moment two of the others likewise felt unwell, and a fourth was seized with vomiting. It suddenly occurred to one of them to look into the teapot, when, to her surprise, she discovered a packet of a substance labelled " Butler's Fly and Insect Killer—Poison." They all became alarmed, especially when Mrs. Chappell remembered on the instant that she had placed the said packet some weeks pre viously, in the teapot, out of the way of her grandchild, and had forgotten to take it out when she made the tea, not having even rinsed ont the teapot. A person lodging in the house, hearing some confusion, came into the room, and find ing that poison of some sort had been taken by every one of them, and that they were all more or less affected by it, im mediately ran off for a medical man. Mr. Bartley, surgeon, of Stoke's-croft, was fortunately at home, and on arriving at the house administered to each a powerful emetic and afterwards antidotes, and continued with them until nearly ten o'clock. The remedies used were successful, and with the exception of Mrs. Chappell, who is still suffering from the effects of the poison, as well as from much mental anxiety, as being the innocent cause of the accident, the other parties are convalescent. Mr. Bartley, it appears, tested the contents of the paper,'and found that it contained arsenic.—Bristol Journal, ATTEMPTED MURDER-SUICIDE THROUGH JEALOUSY. (From the Manchester Examiner, Aug. 29 ) An inquest was yesterday held by Mr. Chapman, the borough coroner, and a respectable jury, at the Bank of England Tavern, Pollard-street, Manchester, relative to the death of Abraham Ashworth, a weaver. The evi dence showed that twelve mouths ago, yesterday, the deoeased was married to a young woman seventeen years of age, who was employed in a factory ; that he was of a jealous temperament, and that his weakness was turned into a source of mirth by his fellow-work men. He frequently charged his wife with being too intimate with a man named Royle, and on this score beat and quarrelled with her ; but he, nevertheless, seems to have loved her, and when he was in a play ful humour she endeavoured to disabuse his mind of the foul thoughts that had fixed themselves there. Her efforts, however, were vain, and seven weeks ago the unhappy pair separated, and she went to live with her mother in a cellar in Junction-street, occupied by a married couple named Gregory. On Tuesday night last the deceased went, for the first time s'.nce the separation, to see his wife, told her that he was going to Bury-lane, near Leigh, and asked her to accompany him to the railway station. She went, and just before starting he bade her farewell in a friendly manner, and promised to return in about a fortnight. In the course of the following night, after having been for some time asleep in Mrs. Gregory's, she awoke, and to her asto nishment, saw her husband near her, " looking very vicious, and turning his eyes away from her very savage." He seemed to have had some liquor. She got up, and offered to prepare him some supper ; but he refused to have any thing to eat. He requested, however, to have a quart of beer ; this she went for, and he drank the whole of it, with the exception of a teacupful, which was divided between Mr. and Mrs. Gregory. He then began to accuse his wife of im proper conduct with Roy le, w h o wor k s i n th e same factory with her. She offered to go to the factory, and have the whole matter cleared up, and to this the de ceased consented, declaring that reports of her infidelity were current through the mill. He soon after went to bed. In the morning, at five o'clock, the mother of Mrs. Ashworth, Gregory, and his elder son went to work. In about half an hour after Ashworth sat up in bed, and his wife saw him take something from the pocket of his trousers. He asked her to lie with her face upwards, tied her cap. strings, and seemed in a more affectionate mood; and this opportunity the young wife seized to beseech him not to listen to the silly tales which he had mentioned on the previous night. He burst into tears, and attempted to jump out of bed; but she caught hold of him, and he had to rise. He then threw himself back, and attempted to raise his arm, as though he was struggling with powerful emotions and a deep resolution. The action, however, was sufficient to disclose to the alarmed wife something bright and flashing in his hand ; she thought it was a penknife, but it was a razor, and she screamed out violently. He caught hold of her, and mingled his cries with hers ; but, when he was unable to hold her any longer, he raised both his hands, and inflicted a ghastly wound on his throat. Terrified, the young wife ran screaming into the street ; he hastily followed her ; but she had the presence of mind to close the door, and she held it so firmly that he failed in his efforts to open it. A man, attracted by her screams of " Murder!" came from a cellar on the opposite side of the street, and as soon as she saw him, she ran towards him, fainted, and fell. On recovering she found that her finger had been cut. Several persons soon entered the cellar. The unfortunate man was sitting on the fender, in his shirt ; t:round him was a pool of blood, in the midst of which lay the razor with which he had, no doubt, in tended to murder his wife, and with which ho had in flicted on himself a wound, of which he died in about an hour and a half. The cellar, in almost every part of it, bore marks of blood. No one knew where he got the razor ; but there can be but little doubt of the object for which he had possessed himself of it ; for he had often threatened, as he expressed it, to put both himself and his wife out of the road. On one occasion, about two or three months before the separation, he was fondling his wife, as they sat alone •, and when her head was resting on his lap, he took out his penknife, and pointing it at her throat, said, "Jenny, I want your throat." He made a movement with the weapon, and it penetrated the skin of her neck. The jealous man had evidently for some time entertained the notion of put ting an end to his own misery and life, and of punishing the supposed infidelity of his wife. The jury brought in a verdict, that the deceased had cut his throat with a razor when in a state of unsound mind and distraction. THE MURDER OF THE CHEVA LIER STEWART. (Extract of a letter dated Ancona, August 1.) If you have not already heard through the public papers of a shocking crime that has been perpetrated in this vicinity, it is my painful duty to communicate the sad and atrocious deed. Our mutual friend, the Chevalier Abbe Stewart, was, on the 17th ult., most inhumanly and deliberately murdered on the shore between this and Sinigaglia. Poor Stewart put up at Casabrugiate for a few days, for the benefit of sea bathing, previous to visiting the fair of Sinigaglia. On the morning of the 17th he bathed at a secluded part of the shore, when a peasant approached him and tendered his services to hold an umbrella, which he accepted, and remunerated the man for his trouble, upon which the peasant in quired if Mr. Stewart intended bathing again in the evening. He replied he should, but would not require his services. However, the peasant dodged him to the shore between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, and waited his opportunity for committing his premeditated mime, having prepared, and partly manufactured, a long stiletto since the morning. He took advantage of the moment that Stewart was passing his shirt over his head, and inflicted three stabs, which Stewart received on his left arm, arid at once faced his murderer, without weapon or covering to his body, and demanded his intentions. The wretch replied " Plunder." Poor Stewart pointed to his clothes, watch, ring, and money, and besought him to take everything and decamp, and spare his life. The monster h esitated for a moment, and that rushed again upon Stewart, and stabbed him eight times more, two of which wounds extended to the whole length of the stiletto. Stewart fell, and the murderer made off with his things. Then poor Stewart rose to his feet, ,wrapped himself in a sheet, and proceeding nearly half a mile to the nearest cottage, falling twice before he could accomplish the distance. Medical aid from Monte Marciano soon reached him, but mortal aid was of no avail ; about an hour after midnight ho expired, praying fervently, and wonderfully composed to the last moment. Half an hour previous to his last gasp he took up a pen and wrote to his brother, who, I believe, is his heir—" Dearest George, I am dying. T. Stewart." By poor Stewart's descrip tion, the , assassin was arrested within an hour of the bloody deed. Though there is all necessary proof of the identity of the culprit, yet I ap prehend the extreme penalty of the law may not reach him, being under age (nineteen), according to the hies of this country. I understood that in the case of great atrocity the Pope can lend (as it is called here) a few years to the criminal. The British Consul has re presented this case to Rome, as one requiring the exer tion of this power, and awaits the decision. The Cousul has had poor Stewart's body embalmed, and placed in the church of Santa Maria, preparatory to embarkation for England. Now comes the extraordinary and almost incredible sequel to this most melancholy and dreadful deed. The priests (I presume) having learnt that the deceased belonged to a rich family, began as usual, to speculate upon what might turn up most to their advantage. All at once a child, a cripple from its birth, was cured by crawling over the coffin, and left his crutches there. The fame of this miracle spread throughout the town and neighbourhood, and the lame and halt flocked in from all sides. Numerous other miracles are said to have been performed—offerings of wax began to drop in to the church—scores of children were brought in to be cured of all kinds of diseases. At length the crowds of deluded beings reached such an extent that the British Consul feared they would destroy the coffin, and accordingly ordered it to de removed out of the body of the church to a vault ; but this was an undertaking of some difficulty, and he was obliged to call in the aid of the gendarme* theto c c ! or crow d the ou t c b h y i e a f a c e n i t c r w a n a c y e , a t n o d t p h r e o c e h n u t r t c h h and e, populace l g a c e e t outside from rushing in. By half-past nine o'clock at night they succeeded in clearing the church, and re moving the coffin. Next morning the church was again beset with crowds, who kissed and adored the ground upon which the coffin had been plac-d, and strewed it with flowers and garlands. It is said also that tie ground has wrought miracles. It is also said that the priests will endeavour to oppose the Consul when 'a e claims the body for shipment, as they hope the family will canonise their relative, and let them reap the ad vantages attendant upon such ceremonies, leaving the , body with them. NEW CA7.:tOLIC COLLEGE IN SCOTLAND.—Th. Scot tish Guardtou states that the estate of Delbeth, about three miles to the east of Glasgow, comprising upwards of seventy , imperial acres, has been purchased for the purpose of esta blishing a Roman Catholic College. DANGEROUS FRACAS ON A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE.— On Saturday evening, when the 6.30 A m. mixed train from Bristol was between Steventen and Didcot stations, on the Great Western Railway, a quarrel arose between Temple, the engine driver, and Poole, the stoker. A fight ensues on the engine, and if both had fallen off the consequences 'lust have been dreadful, as the train was going at the rge of nearly thirty miles an hour, and there was no possibiliy of the guards getting to the engine to stop it, the high turd class carriage being between them ; nor were they aware of the fight until Temple, finding himself worsted, stopped the engine, to endeavour to throw Poole off, when the guards alighted, and succeeded in obtaining a cession of hostilities until their arrival at Didcot, when they were reported to Mr. Bishop, the superintendent, who gave them into custody of the guards of the fast train, and conveyed them to Pad dington, where their conduct will be investigated by the directors. Their places were supplied by others at Didcot, and the train reached Paddington in safety. Both men have very irritable tempers. SHOCKING COOL.—MOSt people have heard the story of the Irishman who, on being awakened one night with the intimation that the house was on tire, coolly turner: hintsell, and as coolly replied, "It is nothing to me, I ass only a lodger." The anecdote has generally been looked upon as a joke, but the following incident may prove that it may have been no joke at all. One day last week, as the stage coach was being rapidly driven past a small village between Ayr and Maybole, a child, apparently between four and five years of age, was Observed playing in the middle of the road, un conscious of the _approaching danger. The driver, having given the alarm without effect, succeeded in pulling up just in the nick of time. A woman, who was observed lasily resting herself against the wall of a house, and looking upon the whole transaction with the utmost composure, while every person on the coach was painfully alarmed, on being asked by the indignant driver why she had not rushed to the rescue of a child in such imminent dane•er, replied, with s look of surprise, and in tones of innocent bairn's no mine." Improbable as this may appear, theleas a fact.— Glasgow Examiner. it Is never.. • 13 ri he gib on land ritY the aai° )oP s ' rat e int' r ;e°' t j.o ll ' r ge (1.04. ,0 1 ' did 00, ar e )0; t ol o : i..V