The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-13 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY.) Two young men of highly respectab!e appearance, named Geo-ye Grn and Henry Smart, were charged with assaulting the police at a promenade concert, at Covent-garden Theatre, on Saturday night. It appeared from the evidence of policemen A 17, 179, 110, and 20, and of Superintendent Pierce, that on Saturday night there was a disturbance at the concert, which originated in a dispute be• tween the police, headed by Superintendent Pierce, and a gentleman who had been seen by him to pick up a trinket that had been dropped by some person in the promenade. This person reusing to give up the trin ket, the police attempted to take him in custody, but were prevented by the crowd, who " hustled" and hooted them. While this was going on, the prisoner Smart came behind policeman A 17, and knocked his hat down over his face. He was immediately seized by policeman A 179, who took him to the station-house. About the same time policeman A 110 was endeavouring to keep back a mob who were driving him and the other policeman from their places, and preventing them from arresting the person who held the trinket. This policeman was several times pushed and hooted by the prisoner Griffin, who several times warned him that he must take him into custody if he did not desist, and he ultimately did take in charge. Both prisoners went quietly to the station house. The disturbance was so great that the police were obliged to send for a reinforcement. The prisoner (Smart) said that lie certainly did at tempt to bonnet the policeman, but he had no intention either of creating a disturbance or of hurting the police man—in fact he only did it in fun. The other prisoner said that he did not intentionally push against the policeman; he was thrown against him by the crowd, who pressed on him to that he could not help it. In support of this statement he called two witness- s. Mr. Jones, the parson who was observed to pick up the trinket, was t'.en examined. He had several times attempted to force himself on the attention of the Court in the course of the case. He stated that in the course of the concert he observed a person near him, who had a stick in his hand, attempt to " hook up" a trinket which was lying on the floor. He said that " two could play at that game," and accordingly picked it up. The superintendent (who was in private clothes) imme diately came up to him, and said he must give that up. Witness did not know that this was a superintendent of police, and he refused to give it up. The police then seized upon him, and took him to the station-house. He left the trinket at the station-house in the charge of the inspector who was there on duty, and he was then discharged. Mr. HALL commented at great length upon the case, and remarked particularly upon the fact that Griffin treated the charge with levity, and laughed while the evidence was being given. Ile said he must make a distinction between the person who acted thus and the person who showed contrition for his conduct. In carrying out this principle, Mr. Hall fined the prisoner Smart (who " bonneted " a policeman) 51. ; but committed Griffiths (for merely " pushing" a policeman) to the House of Correction for nine days. The prisoner, and indeed every person in court, was astounded at this decision, which was followed by a general murmur of uncontrollable indignation. The prisoner Smart immediately paid the fine. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. - - - PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY.—The Rodney, 92, Captain Collier, is ready for sea, and will go out of harbour on Monday. It is reported that she is to go as flag ship to the East Indies. The St. Vincent, 120 flag ship, will be ready to pro ceed to Spithead towards the latter end of next week. She has been removed to her usual moorings, and is now taking in her guns. The contemplated improvements,in this ship have been abandoned for the present, as it would require so long a time to complete them, that all hope of her joining in the summer cruise in the channel must, in that case, be given up. An addition of about six inches to her false keel is all that has been done. The Phcenix, steam sloop, Commander Dennis, sailed this afternoon for Gibraltar. _ The Endymion, 44, Captain Lambert, arrived at Ber muda on the 24th ult. On the preceding Sunday, in the afternoon, while running with a fair sind, she was over taken by a tremendously heavy squall. The men were aloft on the yards reducing sail, when the force of the wind struck the ship; in an instant the eye-bolt on the mainmast head, to which the foreyard brace-block is attached, gave way, the fureyard broke in the slings, and the weight of it carried away the fore-topsail parrill, and before the men on the yard could secure themselves, seven of them dropped into the water, and were lost; the ship then running ten knots through the water. The Sampson steam-frigate, Capt. Henderson.—The following is an extract of a letter from an officer be longing to this vessel, which we give in order to show the injustice of those parties who decry our steam men of-war. The letter is dated Madeira, March 4th, 1846 . —" The engines work so smoothly that there is not the least jerking with them, and they have done their duty well in this last gale—such a gale as I hope we shall never have to encounter again. The Tweed, one of the crack West India mail boats, sailed from Southampton on the 17th February, and the Sampson sailed from Plymouth on the 20th following. The Tweed got to Madeira twenty hours before us, so that we beat her three days. The first five days she had fine weather, whilst we had scarcely any, and this should be reckoned relative to our comparative speed. Our name is up as being a fast vessel. We went twelve knots an hour under steam alone, coming into this port —when we got smooth water the engines making eighteen and a half revolutions. I never was in a vessel before where we had to ease her going head to sea. We have been glad to give all we could on purpose to make them steer, but the Sampson goes too fast, so that we have been forced to aid the engines. The Tweed could not stand the gale, but it well tested our sea quali ties ; and we all like the Sampson, as being a perfect steamer, and a good sea boat, and the Captain is highly pleased with her." The Contest man-of-war brig, constructed by Mr. White, was launched from the projector's building slip at Cowes, this morning, and was directly taken in tow by the Comet steam vessel, and brought into the harbour to be fitted for commission. She is 450 tons burden. The Apollo, troop ship, Commander Radcliffe, is in the harbour, under orders to refit. At the time of her departure from Monte Video, Rear-Admiral Inglefield's flag was flying in the Vernon, 50, Captain Fitzgerald. The Dock-yard artizans employed on the Apollo, are ordered to work from six in the morning to seven at night, to expedite her. It is understood she is to take troops to the East Indies. The Excellent has been again at practice this week in testing and trying the range of new guns, among which are a number of long-short guns, designed for the use of the brigs hitherto denominated la•gun brigs, which are in future to be armed with only twelve of these guns of 32-pound bore, instead of the 32-pound carronades which they have previously carried. The trials have been very satisfactory. These guns weigh only 45 cwt. each. DETERMINED SUICIDE —Ye terdal morning, between tea and eleven o'cloc g k r , o a om de t t n er t n i :i s ned s uicide . was committed by James Branch, a the serv ice of Candon, Esq., of Little Chelsea. The unfor tunate master man had, . on Saturday, received warning from his quit his service in a month. Afterwards he stated to h g i i s v t f e e e ll9w-servants that lie him i a . character, and was fearful his master would not gig fn ir m t o i rning he received he appeared much dejected. Yesterday ie tt stables to the orders to bring the horse and the foot .house, and, having been gone a considerabl e man WILS sent to the stable to know the cause. trn . tein entering the stables, be discovered the groom suspended b y a rope to a beam, quite dead. MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN AT BARRIN G . --An inquest was h eld on Saturdayr before C. C. L ew i s Esq., Coroner for S outh Essex, at Ba rking, mg, on the bod y o f a p ers on, name at present unknown he inquest w as fi rst o pened on Wednesday las t, and adjourned. From the evi dence it appears that the deceased crossed the iron bridge a t Bromley late on Friday nig ht, Foing in the d irection of Barking, having a hat on at the time. The following morn ing a labouring man, whilst passing down the lower road from Barking to Dagenham, pickel up a pair of black kid gloves which were lying by the side of a ditch. In stooping to du so lie saw the body of a man lying face downwards in it. With assistance it was got out and conveyed to the Harrow beer-shop, Barking. Search was then made fur the hat, but it could nut be found, nor was there anything in the pockets of the deceased. On the jury re-assembling on Saturday, no additional evidence was forthcoming, and they returned an open verdict of " Found drowned." The following deacrip. tion of the deceased was given :—lleiglit about 5 fe . et 4 inches, and age from 30 to 34 apparently ; his dress consisted of a blue body coat, nearly new, with gilt buttons, black trou sers and waisteoat, and clarence boots, nearly new. AQUATICS.—F. Lett, of Lambeth, and T. Cook, of Westminster (two first-rate rowers), are matched to my from Battersea to Hammersmith, on the 28th of April, for 50/. DIVIDEND UPON A BANKER'S ESTATE.—Some hall century ago there existed in Bond-street a banker's establish ment, known as Messrs. Strange, Dashwood, and Co. About 45 years have elapsed since the house suspended payment, and several dividends upon the estate have at considerable intervals been paid. Within the last few days we understand a sixth dividend of Bd. in the pound, making in all 13 s. 4 d. , has been in course of payment. The firm, we believe at the period when it stopped payment, comprised two M.P.'s, and two, i f not three, Scotchmen ; and (some of the elder mem bers of the banking fraternity will probably recollect) stood, if we mi s t a k e not,inthis wisellessrs. Strange, Dashwood, Welwyn, Agnew, and M'George. GAMEKEEPER SHoir.—llenry Jackson, head game keeper to Sir George Sitwell, Renishaw-hall, and who has only recently bee n appointed such, wen t ou t near the hall on his rounds on Tuesday before three men suddenlyei t.He had not been out long came to'vards him, and one of them fired a gun at him, bu t mis sed his aim. The same man fired again, and shot him in the thigh. By some means he got into the hall, when med ical aid was soon procured for him, and about a dozen of the shots extracted. Information was forwarded to the Sh ILI had a kno wledge of the in localityt he m o a r n n d i n i g t e , and an officer wh o ' eeh ' police early inhabitants was promptly di spatched -to apprehend the policemiya offenders, who were known the wounded man. In the policeman succeeded in apprehending course of the day the four of the persons, who were suspected to have been T w w o were taken at con cernedEck- in the murderoas attempt. ington, and two at Mosborou g , were al,o found in th e posse lion of these powder and shot, gun!, . w ith some men. They were taken before a magistrate, e . at Eckington and remanded to Sheffield, where they arrived on Wednes: day.—Sheffield Mercury. te sorry to F ALL OF A RAILWAY BRIDGE. —We are London Newcastle l an nounce thrt the trallic on that portion of the n and Carlisle Railway leadin g from the s tation on road to the canal , has s uffered a tem p or ary suspension , consequ ence of the bridge having given way. Thee in bridge or i g inally was erected upon piles , and the recent i4e heavy hoods have deepened the river at one of the piers to such an extent that the piles have given way, and two of the arches have sunk on the lower side of the bridge fully two feet, and thus rendered the line impassable for the trains. A tem porary wooden bridge will be immediately erected to keep up the connexion with the canal navigation, and, in the meantime, wooden planks have been laid across the bridge to admit of the waggons being drawn across by horses to the canal. WATFORD FARMERS' CLUB. DISCUSSION ON TENANT RIGHTS. On Tuesday, the Watford Farmers' Club held its half yearly meeting, when the question of " tenant rights" was introduced for discussion by Robert Clutterbuck, Esq. There was a good attendance. Mr. CLUTTERIMCK, in introducing the subject of " tenant rights," made the following remarks:—lt is quite undeniable that the establishment of farmers' clubs, has not only called forth during the last few years a very considerable amount of local and general information, bat has enabled the individual members to impart to their brother agriculturists the result of that experience, which is the basis of all improvements; —they have effected, perhaps, even more positive good, by offering to landlord and tenant that neutral ground so long wanted, on which both parties have a fair opportunity, in the spirit of ami cable discussion of drawing attention to points of prac tice, which they may have found either to be prejudicial to, or as likely to advance t hose mutual interests which ought to be inseparable. Investigations carried on ilenmtltiais spirit cannot fail, whilst the y elicit much oyre closely feelings, and ge m th u e s r t h t e a r ; e t o a e n n a c t o u u r a r a l gtee ten those n g e r y o w t t o h d o r f a k w i n m d I those in whose union lies their real strength. All will admit that in these times the farmer can only hope to obtain a living profit from his occupation, in proportion to the amout of capital he has invested; to the energy and intelligence he employs in carrying out such a system of husbandry and rotation of crops as are best adapted to the peculiarities of the soil he cultivates. Increased ' production and economy of management must, in future, be his sheet anchor. The well-being of individuals, and the general interests of the community at large, demand equally, that when the period or mode of occupation can be shown to deter the tenant from adopting an improved mode of husbandry, such relaxation or change should be made without delay, as might promote those mutual advantages, which, as between landlord and tenant, I have before stated to be identical, and can only be per manently advanced by their cordial co-operation. The result of experiments prove, day by day, that we have yet further to develope the productive powers of the soil; but in no point of view are they of more importance than as involving the solution of the problem whether agri• culture, as yet in its infancy, may not, by affording in creased means of support to the labouring classes, absorb in its onward progress a large portion of what has been so long called our surplus population. While the manufacturer, by the aid of machinery, can in crease, as the tide of prosperity serves, his power of pro duction, and during periods of depression may contract at will his sphere of operations—the routine of hus bandry, comparatively monotonous in its details, admits of no such interruptions. Every step in advance entails the necessity of employing a greater amount of manual labour, which must in itself be of better quality, and would therefore be fairly entitled to more liberal re muneration. The management of valuable stock and implements imparts to labourers a feeling that they form part of a well-organised economy, and they are thus raised in the social scale. Who then is to fix limits to that spirit of inquiry now so generally lighted up through the length and breadth of the land, as to the means of substantial comforts and contentment, or of physical, and, consequently, moral improvements, we may thus be the means of providing for this portion of our fellow-countrymen ? The philanthropist may devise plans, whether of colonization, emigration, or the allotment of land, calculated—in his opinion— to afford temporary relief ; but employment is the legitimate, the most natural source of en couragement to those whose capital consists in the. labour of their hands. It is in this most essential, most vital point of view, that the science and practice of agriculture offer the greatest inducement to us to redouble our combined exertions. We can never impress too earnestly upon landlords, tenants, and labourers, that in thus working together we not only ad vance the public good, but must best forward those indi vidual interests which come home s 3 naturally to each and all of us with such peculiar force. On referring to the discussions of the numerous farmers' clubs through out the country, it is impossible not to be struck with the importance so very generally attached to the subject which I am to bring before you this day, namely, "Tenant Rights." I shall confine myself to giving as shortly as I can a general outline of the question as it now stands, and leave others more competent than my self to fill up those blanks which-can only be supplied by long practice and experience. They say a " fellow feel ing makes us wondrous kind." I am myself in occupa tion of some land from year to year. I have felt and do feel the uncertainty of the tenure ; that it cannot fail to be detrimental to the investment of capital and the ad vancement of agriculture ; whilst, on the other hand, as a landlord, I shall endeavonr to point out those relations which appear to be mostconducive to the mutual advantage of both landlord and tenant. After some consideration, it is my deliberate opinion that it would not only be im practicable to frame a legislative enactment which would meet the difficulties of the question. but that, by the agitation of that point not only much valuable time would be lost, but that during the discussion feelings and expressions might possibly find vent, which might in reality postpone a final settlement satisfactory to both parties. In every instance where a tenant is prepared with sufficient capital, I entirely agree with Mr. Cuth - bert Johnston—there can be nothing like " a good, a long, a liberal lease." Indeed, I can hardly conceive that, under ordinary circumstances, any man would be rash enough to invest a large amount of capital in a farm without a lease ; but even then great care must be taken that the covenants are drawn by a person of prac tical experience. On the other hand, the landlord who grants a term of twenty-one years, and thus parts with all control over. his property for so long a period, must necessarily, in self-defence, make for his own safety such arrangements as may guarantee him not only the im provement of the farm, but such as will provele for its being handed over to him at the end of the term in as good condition at least as it was at the commencement. It is clear that there must be many instances in which existing tenants could hardly be able to give this guaran tee ; the difficulty of the question lies in this point only, how those tenants who hold from year to year can re ceive a guarantee for that outlay of capital which at the time of their quitting may fairly be said to be exhausted. in the land, and which would fairly entitle them to com pensation. If practical farmers will attentively consider this question, and bring forward each his own views? there is but little doubt, looking at the anxiety on the subject so generally expressed, that any judicious land lord will avail himself readily of such information, and feel himself bound by interest, as well as a sense of jus tice' to forward, as far as in him lies, the settlement of this question of tenant right. It would be the best safe guard against the uncertainty of that ill-defined term, " customs of the country," which leads so often to liti gation, causes, in many instances, feelings of irritation and dissatisfaction, and, when investigated, generally fails to protect the landlord, on the one hand, from the deteriorated condition of' his farm at the end of a term, thereby rendering it more difficult for him to procure a good tenant to enter on a bad holding; and where a tenant has already expended money which gives him a fair claim to compensation, it is equally incompetent to enforce payment by the landlord of what, under a better understood system of" tenant rights," would be enforced as a matter of simple justice. Lore ESSEX thanked Mr. Clutterbuck for the manner in which he had brought this subject before the Club. He was ready and willing to give his word and his bond to remunerate his tenants for all permanent and unexhausted improvements, or to afford any other security to his tenants to induce them to farm in a liberal manner. His Lordship also stated that the late Lord Leicester would only let farms at the rate of one acre to every ten pounds of capital, and his Lordship also thought that one drawback on the land in some localities was the fact that farmers held too much for their capital. After some discussion, Mr. CLUTTERBUCK proposed the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to :—" That the pies sonneott,lfrad'lltyenant rights' is well worthy of consideration, a agrAiciateltrur iec:a,l,culated to promote the interests of both landlord and te nan t, an d t h e a d vancement o f ' pract i ca l a t the Earl relative o A f r the cloth was rem ', discussion,Arens, the members dined together the Earl of Essex presiding. When The t E o s t o s i n v ie e x d rose. and after some prefatory re marksurlives, at no of the club, said—At no country, has it ever be period of 0 neces sary for all who are con t necte ti d lin w k i en p l eriod in the history of our g a r b i e s n o l l t u n t , th so a themselves to the utmost, reel absolutely ° e s t; in the profession they have n ve ot only to advance themselves their heads abuve water. chosen,hi but even to keep r, hear.) That prop on which you have been accustomed years past, and which you have been s accustomedomedtolean for to con sider as conducive to your success tlias prop, is about to be removed. That broken reed —protection Ir o b tt elie .oi ve, which you have long been accustomed to depend about to be taken from you, and therefore I think you will agree with me that if ever it was essential, it is now more than ever essential that you should exert your selves.— (Hear, hear.) No doubt, by a great mea sure of this sort, as by all great measures, however beneficial they may be to the groat mass of the by all great change, I say, country at large ll h ) must suffer—(ear, hear. such as this, some persons On this occasion the re are two c l ass es of farmers who are more liable to be i n j ured than any others. The eb first class comprehends all those who have hitherto been farming without capital — men who, I should say, and I say it with greater freedom, because I believe there are none here who are in that situation—men who never should have been farmers at all ; because it is clear that if there is an occupation in which, owing to the vicissi tudes of the seasons, capital is absolutely necessary, it is the occupation of farming. I, therefore, frankly and freely say that if those who are farming from hand to mouth, as it is termed—men who ought not to be farmers, should suffer from this change, however much we may be sorry for the individuals, yet we shall not be surprised.— (Hear, hear.) The next class of men is those who, hav ing capita!, possess not sufficient confidence in their own energies, or in the productive powers of the soil, to em ploy that capital to the best advantage. With regard to that class, I must say, that if, in addition to their unwillingness to employ capital, they should also feel an unwillingness to throw over their deep rooted prejudices, and many of those antiquated ideas which still exist in the breasts of many farmers ; if they feel unwilling again to go to school, and to benefit by the advantages of science, and the expe rience of others, both of which are now so lavishly offered them ; it' they are unwilling to enter the race of improvement which is now so general throughout the country—to those men I must say, as their best friend, that they should leave their profession before they lose the remainder of their fortunes.—(Hear, hear.) For if they determine to stand still while others are advancing, they will find that those who are possessed of more energy and enterprise will outrun and cast them down. —(Wear, hear.) These are the classes of men who I believe will suffer most from the great changes which are about to take place ; but there is another class who have capital, and who, I believe, cannot better.employ it than i b f y y p o u u t t b i n et g a o v n e t l h i b e e l r a a n u d f y; and of dr handsomely this am I te land will return a liberal and handsome interest. Those men who have the courage to avow and to throw over their ancient prejudices. and who possess minds sufficiently to induce them to adopt all known improvements—those men, I believe, will live to see the day when those mea sures will confer the greatest benefit upon themselves and the country, and they will arrive at a pitch of prosperity hitherto unknown. They will find that which they have hitherto been disposed to depend upon is most fallacious ; they will find that it robbed them of one half the energy which, as Englishmen of intelligence, they ought to possess ; they will find that they have hitherto been ignorant of what they themselves are capable of doing, and of what the soil of England is capable of producing ; they will find themselves as ig norant in those respects as a man who, having been ac customed to go upon crutches all his life, is of what he could do if the use of his limbs were restored to him ; they will find that what is commonly called " high farn.ling" is the course which they must in future pur sue ; that they must not fear liberally to use the great advantages of farming with sheep and artificial manures, which fast I look upon as a positive gift of Providence ; above all, they will find it necessary to increase their quantity of live stock ; they will find it necessary to have such crops of turnips that they may still continue to keep as large an amount cf sheep as they now do, and still be able to carry a third, or a fourth, of the crop to the yard to fatten bullocks, and thereby make such an increase in the quantity and quality of the dung as shall repay them.—(Hear, hear.) I believe it is more for the advantage of all of us to grow four quarters an acre at forty shillings, than three at fifty shillings. So, with regard to meat ; I should wish to see so great a quantify of meat raised in this country that the farmers could afford to sell it at two-thirds of the prices it is now fetching. What would be the consequence of that ? Why, that those who now eat meat once or twice a week at the utmost would eat it two or three times a week, and thus, as re gards the producer, the increased consumption would more than equal the diminution in price. Now, with respect to the manufacturers, I believe that this measure will prove most beneficial to them, and I am firmly con vinced, from the sympathy which exists between the ma nufacturing and the agricultural interest, that, whatever is advantageous to, and conduces to the prosperity of, the manufacturer, must conduce to the interest of the agriculturist. One great cause of the prosperity of the manufacturer was this—notwithstanding he has had taxes of all sorts to contend with, and also a high tax on the raw materials which he manufactuaed, he has proved himself superior to all the other manufacturers of the world, and has competed with and beaten all the world ; he has employed Isis capital liberally and skil fully: On all occasions he has adopted the new improve ments in mechanics, and invariably profited by the advantages which science, in its various branches, could confer upon him. And I would venture to hold out the same inducement to you, and say, the judicious and liberal employment of capital will enable you, as it has enabled the manufacturer of this country, to compete —and that successfully—with the wide world. Many of you, no doubt, have been surprised, after hearing me address you not long ago at the meeting of St. Alban's on the subject of the corn-laws—you must have been surprised, I say, to hear me express the sentiments I have just uttered.—(Hear.) Gentlemen, I own—and I do so with a feeling somewhat akin to shame—that the sentiments I then expressed were adopted by me at the time when Providence first cast me among you, previous to which period I took but little interest in this subject. I found myself cast among those whose lot was fixed to the soil, and whose whole interest and prosperity were dependent on the soil, and at a moment when the subject of the corn-laws first became most interesting. With that facility which most people are too apt to show in adopt ing opinions that apparently favour their own interests, I adopted the opinions of those among whorl I was classed, and I take shame to myself when I say that I did so without duly inquiring and fairly considering the subject. I continued to maintain those opinions until I saw that the questisn was coining to a crisis, and then I found, after deep consideration and strict inquiry, that those opinions were erroneous. I saw that the crisis would shortly arrive, when, in the House of Lords, I should be called upon to give a vote upon this question, and I then felt that my pre-conceived opinions, however honest they might have been, were not sufficient grounds on which to give a vote on this deeply important subject. I felt that as a Member of the House of Lords, I was bound to reconsider the ques tion—as an honest man to give an unbiassed vote, and therefore, to devote the same attention and give the same good consideration to every argument and state ment made on one side of the question as, I am ashamed to say, I had hitherto given only to those on the other. The result was, that I came to the conclusion that the fears which are entertained on this subject will prove erroneous. I have already stated that I believe the new measure will be productive of great good. When I consider the progressive state of the population of this country—a population increasing a thousand souls a day—l cannot believe that the farming of this country, however much it has improved, can possibly keep pace with the increase of the population. When you con sider that the first want of all people is a sufficiency of food, I think you will allow that the measure is jus tified by the circumstances of the times; and I would have you take my word for it, that the employment of capital and the exercise of skill will not be injurious, but will produce this effect—that both the employed and the employer will be ultimately more happy and prosperous. I beg, in conclusion, again to propose " Long success and prosperity to the Watford Farmers' Club." R. CLUTTERBUCK, Esq., proposed the " Health of the Earl of Esgex," which was drunk with hearty cheers. The Earl of ESSEX returned thanks. S. MAJORIBANKS proposed the health of Mr. Clutter buck, which was drunk with cheers, and suitably re sponded ,to. N. HIBBERT, Esq., differed with his Noble Friend (the chairman) in the view he had taken of the corn-law question. He was not disposed to take the most gloomy view of the effects of the Government measures, but ho thought that they bad been introduced with a rapidity and precocity which would occasion extreme difficulty to those whose capital was engaged in agriculture. "I, for one (continued Mr. ilibbert) will not despond, for I think that when these measures shall have been fully brought into operation, at the end of that time, either by the increased demand which will arise in consequence of these measures—(' Hear, hear,' from Lord Essex) —or in consequence of the increased facilities which will be given to some of the operations of farming; or, perhaps, in consequence of all of us coming down in s ome of our demands—(Hear, hear) —agriculture may, at the end of that period, be as progressive as it is at present." After a few other speeches and toasts, The Earl of ESSEX proposed " The health of the Tenant Farmers," advising them to keep their courage up, and assuring them that, in the end, " they would be more prosperous and better farmers than they had hithertD been." The company then separated.—Hertford Mercury. MEDICAL REFORM. On Saturday evening a large meeting of the general committee of associated surgeons was held at the Free masons' Tavern. The meeting was especially convened to deliberate on the steps advisable to be adopted at the present conjuncture in furtherance of medical reform. Mr. .Borromev, surgeon of Croydon, and president of the committee, took the chair ex-officio. Mr. Orrixv, the secretary, announced that Dr. Fer guson, of Bath, and Mr. Noble of Manchester, had joined the association. He also stated that some time since a deputation from the association had waited upon the council of the Royal College of Surgeons to inquire as to any measures the council contemplated, and al though the deputation was promised an answer early in February to their inquiries, and to their suggestions of medical reform, no reply had as yet been received. A meeting of the National Association of Medical Prac titioners was to be held shortly, and though its manag ing members had volunteered no communication with that committee, it was desirable that there should be combination in their efforts. As to the council of the College of Surgeons there was a hope of amicable agree ment with them ; therefore it was wisdom for the com mittee to act for itself with the sanction and support of the profession at large, and with powerful unanimity place their grievances, and the remedies for them, before the legislature. Mr. LEWIS considered that the Lancet, in the thirteen resolutions it had published, had fully explained the points requiring the co-operation of the faculty. He feared that Mr. Wakley did not receive upon the subject efficient support in the House of Commons, and wished to know from the lion. Gentleman whether, under the circumstances, he was prepared to bring before the Legis lature a Bill on medical reform? WAHLEY, M.P., said it was his intention to do so w aited merely e w r h el e y th t e o r s s e u e p w p h o a rt t ed ste in s P th a e rl p ia r. m of e e n ss t io o n r at totan e a rly iie te w generally wished to take, for he knew that p no Bill would be carried u r n n le e s rk si el t e were strongly and generally sup ported by medi ca l men . Si r J ames G ra h am h a d t o ld him the Bristol yLP" when they presented to signaturesmemorial,wteorewhaitcthacahtehdo,ustahnadt he e ed ( i s ca ir l any s measure suggested by ie himpractitioners' anal s Gr ‘ it i ha m) would iiear, hear.) Let agree upon a Bill, and he them,th e therefore, majority f the support profes M would n fulfil l handshis promise , o f the I and oe use ( h is influence would i Secretary , ni who, no in passing it. As lon g as there was dissension amongstuence doubt, plac e it t h e members of the profession nothing could be done. He relied upon Sir James Graham, hampered though he was by hasty pledges given to corrupt medi cal corporations, provided the general practitioners were unanimous. If they were, the Minister would feel it his duty to bring the amelioration of their condition, as sug gested by themselves, to a successful issue.—(Hear.) With respect to the council of the College of Surgeons, the faculty at large would recollect how it had been humbled and insulted by that exclusive body, whose privileges, granted by Parliament, were intended for the benefit of the whole profession, and by consequence, of the public, and not for the advantage of a few self interested and avaricious individuals. The power ?ar liament bad granted to the council Parliament could take away, but it would not do it unless the profession en masse urged the necessity of it. The voice of the profession should be universal and general in demanding the alteration in the constitution of the council. They could not expect Parliament to interfere in their behalf so long as dissensions prevailed amongst themselves. Distinct meetings were held in divers places—there was neither regularity nor unanimity in their proceed ings, and so long as they were absent their exertions would be futile. He advised the formation of one ge neral body acting harmoniously, the result of whose simultaneous and harmonious efforts would end, he confidently predicted, in complete success.—(Cheers.) He would suggest a general convocation or medical con gress, to be chosen by members of the faculty in their several counties, and to sit .and decide upon the items SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EV.ENI;N'G APRIL 13, 1846. which medical reform required, and explain them to the Legislature. The favourable inclination of the Minister should. be taken advantage of, and a Medical Reform Bill, drawn up under the general sanction of the profession, should be placed in his hands. He begged to state em phatically that he considered it quite useless to make any further communication to the council of the College of Surgeons, and he offered to take any part, no matter how humble, difficult, or active, the committee should assign him.--(Cheers.) Mr. JONES, of Portland-street, agreed that this object could only be accomplished by amalgamation and unanimity. If Mr. Wakley had but hitherto been shut out from the deliberations of the committee, they would have bad by that time the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons at their feet.—(Hear.) He hoped to see the distinctions disappear and the profession merge into one general faculty. A member suggested the drawing up of a Bill by the Committee. Mr. WAKLEY, M.P., said his Bill was nearly ready to be produced before an aggregate meetingof the surgeons of the united empire. He would recommend the forma tion of a sub-committee, to ascertain the resolutions about to be proposed at a meeting of the National As sociation, in order to submit them to the next meeting of that committee, to which meeting delegates from the different medical associations should be invited. This next meeting might be made the promoter of a great movement, provided unanimity were made the order of the day. A sub-committee was then formed, consisting of the Chairman, the two Secretaries, and Messrs. Bloxan3, Yearsley, and Lewis, to carry into effect the sugges tions of Mr. Wakl e y, a f ter which the Association separated. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, SUNDAY.—Yesterday the Queen and Prince Albert took their accustomed early walk in the vicinity of the Castle pleasure -grounds, and returned in a pony phaeton. In the afternoon his Royal Highness Prince Albert drove her Majesty out in a pony phaeton, followed by a pony landau and four, with the Lady in Waiting, the Marchioness of Douro, and the Maids of Honour, 6,, Hon. Misses Murray and Napier. The Equerries ill Waiting, Lieut-Colonels Grey and Seymour, attended on horseback. The Royal Family all walked in the pleasure grounds yesterday. The Royal dinner party yesterday included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Lady Augusta Bruce, Baroness de Speth, and Major-General Wemyss. This morning her Majesty and her Royal Consort promenaded within the Castle precincts, accompanied by the Princess Royal. The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice, took their usual early exercise this morning in the grounds around the Castle. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, and the domes tic household, attended Divine service this morning in the private chapel of the Castle. The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated. The holy Communion was afterwards administered. Lady Augusta Bruce was in attendance on the Duchess of Kent this morning. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager attended Divine service yesterday afternoon, in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Wes ley. The Anthem was " Sing, 0 Heavens" (Kent). Sir George Smart presided at the organ. The Marquis and Marchioness of Worcester, the Earl and Countess Howe, the Countess of Kinnoull, and the Earl of Shef field were among the nobility present. At the daily service in the Chapel Royal, the sermon was preached by the Sub-Almoner, the Rev. Dr. Jelf. The prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Sleath, and the lessons by the Rev. J. V. Povah and the Rev. Dr. H. Dakins, and the Communion service by the Bishop of London. The musical service was Boyce in A. The Sanctus Crofts in A. The Anthem, " 0 give thanks," (Greene) was sung by Messrs. llawkins and Bradbury. Sir George Smart presided at the organ. Lords St. Germans, Can terbury, Ernest Bruce, C. Fitzroy Vivian, and Colville, the Bishop of St. David's, Ladies Vivian, Ernest Bruce, and Colville were among the nobility present. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George, visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager on Saturday at Marlborough House. MASSACRE OF THE CREW OF THE SHIP MARY. We regret to state that information has at length ar rived announcing the wreck of this vessel, and the dreadful fate of her crew, who sailed on a whaling ex • pedition about three years since to Sydney, thence to Woodlark Islands. The particulars are obtained from a survivor, named Valentine—the only one—seven of the crew having perished in the shipwreck, and the re• maining 28 were horribly massacred by the natives of Woodlark Islands. The escape of Valentine is most extraordinary. He is now on his passage to England, having been rescued by the crew of the brig Tigress. From his statement, it appears that the ve.:sel arrived at Sydney in September, 1843, and proceeded in a few days direct for Woodlark Islands, and reached them in the month of November, having had favourable winds all the time, as well as remarkably fine weather. The Lady Anne and the brig Tigress, he says, accompanied them. They cruised upon the north-west side until the 21st of that month, when the weather changed, and be fore 12 at night an awful storm came on. It sprung up at about 9 from the westward, and afterwards veered round to the north-west with such fury as to destroy their small-boat, galley, bulwarks, &c., and sweep away all on deck. The next morning matters were worse. At 12 o'clock their main and mizen-masts were carried away by the force of the hurricane, and at four the ship struck on Loughlin's-reef, where she became a total wreck. The crew took to the rigging, where they remained exposed nearly forty-eight hours before the sea had sufficiently abated to enable them to construct a raft to gain the shore. In the meantime several of the crew, including the chief mate, Mr. J. Settle, perished. On reaching the shore, several natives came down, and kindly treated them, by furnishing cocoa-nuts and provisions, and after wards conducted th em t o their village. The master, Captain Stein, ju g with a shi p , resolved to buil d a small vessel that on finding there was no chance of speak would enable him and his men to proceed to sea. Ac cordingly all hands were set to work to save as much of the wreck as possible, and in this they were fortunate. For nine months they enjoyed the utmost friendship with the natives and received a good supply of such provisions as the island afforded. Suddenly, how ever, just after the launching of their newly built schooner, and within a few days of their intended departure, they (it it was supposed in retaliation for some offence committed by one of the crew) came down upon, and murdered Captain Stein and six of tine men. Having no provisions whatever on board, and being with out water, the survivors endeavoured to treat with the natives ; the latter, however, resisted their relanding, and they made for Woodlark Island in a six-oared whale-boat, a journey which occupied five days, during which they subsi s t e d on sea birds and fish. Here they were kindly received, and remained preparing for a lengthened voyage, until some natives of the Loughlin Island arrived, and apprised the chiefs of what had occurred there, when the natives rushed to the spot where they were encamped, and massacred the whole of them. Valentine, who it appears was in an adjacent wood, escaped. The poor fellow endured tho greatest privation, being compelled to make the wood his habita tion for several weeks. Having been the means of sav ing the life of a native, he contrived to make the party aware of his perilous condition, who assisted him to a distant part of the island, where the Tigress brig soon afterwards anchored to obtain water, on board of which he instantly found refuge. N ORKSHIRE: THE RIPON 11011;B:0WEIL—The oldest relict of the Corporation of the old borough of Ripon, Benjamin Simmonds, departed this life, aged 82, on Thursday last. For nearly 30 years ho had filled the situation of horn blower. The deceased wasuas camp colourwell•knownmanch aracter,to h and e had always many attendants an d a dm irers among the tn. t e s a t e back juvenile population. He is Ripon Volunteers and the Claro Local Militia during the whole time they were in service. In his office con nected with the Corporation he always took precedence in all processions; and on gala days he bore the state horn, tipped with gold, the emblem of the borough and city arms. The horn, which he blew each evening at nine o'clock, at the Mayor's door and the Cross, was not of such costly material. It is stated deceased excelled all previous blowers for th e length and stren g th of blast, and whic,l,lfroetqouoewntnbo, moreattract-d the notice of strangers. B For Benjamin has blo wn his last." The t a s o the r horn r o b f y th a e n c e u a s r to l ymof writ e r b l blowing m follows:—"It the horn in was Ripon s in deedd c ustom of the vigilarius, or wakeman, to order that theblowing loss ofw thewas ob h l o i r g n e , d ti t l o l thebe risingmade which good of e th e se vt eo r sun e to double the ; why sufferingthen. should be blown every night at nine o'clock; i lae c i i g b i e n d and if any hous e or sho p was br o k en open or robbed , after h n habitant. For this obli ga ti on , or i nsurance, every househo lder used to pay 4 d. year aefysm t ill perse vere but if there , t a dodoisrutuoutainnuoted ; her street, re mightinr be tthe supposed, said h then uur of g it wasnight, h t t o, three times Bd."be cr os s The x i s s i nce at the mayor's door, and th r i ce at the market dang er blowiu a the steam vessel, Ma s t er - commander Petly, is ----- N AVAL INTELLIGENCE.—W OOLWICH APRIL 11. The l tr L o ig rd il e t r a s in to g leave Woolwich to - morrow, to convey the widow and family of the late Captain Clavell, one of the cap t a ins of the Royal Hospit a l at Greenwich, to Whitby. The Dragon steam-frigate was towed down the river to-day from Blackwall. The Athol troop -ship arrived at the dock yard, Woolwich, to-day from the West Indies, having on board 111 jor Rowland's and Captain Torrikyns's companies of the Royal Artillery. The Ordnance Corps : The men returned unfit for duty assembled at the Ordnance Hospital at one o'clock on Saturday, April 11, for the inspection of the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, to be pensioned according to their various services. The men are to be discharged on the 14th, and will commence their pensions on the 16th of THE LATE BRIGADIER •GENERAL TAYLOR —l3riga dier-General Taylor, C. 8., 29th Regiment, who was killed IE the late battle on the Sutlej, Was grandson of the late John of St. Baker, Esq., Stephen's, near Canterbury, many years M.P. for this city, whose eldest daughter married Captain 1 r killed at the battle of Vimeira, and who aftewards —Rent Herald. united to Colonel Munro, commandant at Dover, and itTgODOX DOG--An old shepherd in one of border parishes where there are sometimes the Twaa sy it o r a e t s, Dubline nt m now at 0 q uadrupeds outlying g than bipeds in church on a Sabbath-day, attender, with his old dog, at the parish church, moreto e s e r ‘: s o rt t u eoag t b 1 i i h i n ent, and joined the Free Church. His dog, t u l l ie ar disruption. But at that evenful era he quitted however, no friend to newfangled highflying notions, could by no means be persuaded to change, but, while his master trudges every Sunday to hear the minister of his choice, away he tro t s doggedly to the place a n d t h e preacher he has been ' 4. ~ gouiv ~.,ato,—Border Fratch. ou THE RAILWAY RELIEF BILL. Public attention here is as much occupied as ever with the " Railway Relief Bills," about to be brought into Parliament, and numerous suggestions are offered both in discussion and in the letters of correspondents, calculated to strengthen its provisions, and to render it perfectly effectual for the object in view. None are so earnestly advocated, perhaps, as th a t a l rea dy a d ver t e d to, which would throw the onus upon directors and provisional committees of obtaining a new authority from their con stituents before being permitted to advance any further. This, it is hoped, will have Lord Dalhousie's most fa vourable consideration. That great difficulties will attend any course whatever which Parliament may adopt is certain, and, what is worse, there is no scheme within human wisdom to devise which will not, amidst such complicated interests as those connected with railways, the instant it is announced, lead to jobbing, and intrigue, and speculation, on an extensive scale. This ought not, certainly, to stop the Legislature in the benevolent and necessary attempt to find a remedy for the enormous evil which at present exists, but it is right to prepare the public for the introduction thereby of another evil, of a less important kind, but of which there were indications already on all sides as soon as it was intimated in what mode the Legislature intended to interfere. This may be left to itself until the new Bill has assumed a definite shape, but it will then be brought prominently into public notice. There is nothing so instructive in cases of this sort as an insight into the position of some of the associations upon which the new measure is to operate, and as one of a class, we cannot do better th an se l ect the following, which is supplied by a correspondent:— " In order to give some idea of the relative position, in law and equity, of parties connected with projected lines of railway, who are to be protected by the wisdom of Government, I beg to submit the present state of affairs of a projected line of railway now before Parlia ment, in order that you may judge how far the proposed Act contemplated by Government will effectually reach them; or, whether, supposing such Act to pass, we shall . . • .. not for the next ten years be under the necessity of an nually passing ' An Act to explain and amend an Act already explained and amended by an Act passed in the . • - previous year.' " No. 1. Are the respective trustees named in the sub scribers' agreement of two projected competing railways, with whotii each subscriber lilts entered into covenants for payment of his deposit, that the directors therein named shall have the exclusive management of the afiairs of the company, and that he will abide by, obey, and confirm the acts and deeds of such directors in all respects. " 2. Are the respective directors of these two projected companies appointed by their deeds, and under the powers of which they have amalgamated, to avoid un necessary expenses in opposition to each other, and have bound themselves and their shareholders by various re solutions at board meetings, and by subsequent deeds or agreements, to proceed to Parliament for one Act only, which by suitable clauses therein shall confirm such amalgamation, and secure to the shareholders in each company an equal interest in the undertaking. "3. Are the original shareholders in each of these companies who still hold their scrip. "4. Are original shareholders in these two com panies, but who have sold the scrip, or placed it in the hands of other persons as a security for money ad vanced. " 5. Are the scripholders by purchase or loan in one or both of these companies, but no legal assignment or transfer of such scrip has been made by any document rendering them liable in respect of such scrip. "6. Are the trustees and directors of another pro jected railway, who were disabled from proceeding to Parliament for want of paid-up capital; and such being the case, and their line approximating to that contem plated to be made by the: two first amalgamated com panies, the directors of this latter line sold their plans, &c., to their opponents, who paid for them partly with the funds and partly with shares of the amalgamated company, free of deposit. " 7. Are the directors of another company who hold the engagement of the amalgamated company, to take up 10,000 of their shares within a certain period as the price of peace in Parliament. " 8. Claim to be creditors of the amalgamated com pany for a very large sum more than they have been paid, for services rendered one or both companies in some way or other, and who have all commenced actions against the committees of one or both of the amalga mated companies, and expect to obtain verdicts. " 9. Are the solicitors to the amalgamated companies who have been sued by various parties for work done for them, in respect to one or other of the undertakings, but which claims are considered illegal, and therefore are resisted, and the amalgamated committee have autho rised such actions to be defended, and passed resolutions to indemnify their solicitors therein. " 10. Are the finance committee of the amalgamated companies who have equally contributed (out of their respective capital) to the deposit now in the hands of the Accountant-General, and the deposit has been made in their joint names. _ _ °'These are the relative positions of parties connected with two companies who have amalgamated, all of whom, be it understood, are to be protected impartially by the means proposed by Government. The first neces sary proceeding to become entitled to this protection is to sign a petition to Parliament not further to entertain the proceedings of their deliberately constituted trus tees, in direct breach of their covenant to abide by and confirm such proceedings, or to forfeit their deposit. The effect of this petition in Parliament will be to hang up the undertaking until an Act is passed for putting an end to it ; the committee or directors, and all other persons connected therewith or interested therein, in the meantime to remain shackled with their liabilities to each other in all matters regarding the affairs of the undertaking. I beg your readers again to peruse and understand the relative position in law and equity of the parties I have enumerated, and then say how far it is likely the measures proposed by Government will meet their case. The Act may put an end to future proceed ings in Parliament, and may direct the affairs of an undertaking to be wound up, but can it do more than this ? What tribunal is to have power to settle matters of contract so intricate and so weighty as those I have enumerated *: What will be the situation of the directors and committees, supposing an assignee to be appointed by the Act to receive from their hands the last shilling they hold as an indemnity for their engagements and liabilities, contracted for the advancement of their un dertaking, and no one competent to release them there from ?" It is unnecessary to pursue further the observations of this correspondent, the chief object in quoting him being to show what Parliament will have to deal with, and the entangled state into which these companies in their des perate attempt to pass the threshold have been brought. In the City, people look with a degree of hope to any measure which may facilitate the defeat of railroad schemes now before the Legislature, and compel the winding up of their affairs, because a great many will be thus disposed of, and this is a benefit to be hailed with gratitude, even though some companies which ought to be broken up still manage to maintain their ground. The great difficulty in obtaining payment of calls will also dispose of a great number without any such exter nal aid ; and thus the money market, which is the only matter thought of here, and not the railway system, will obtain some relief. There is another class of correspondents, differing from those above referred to, who anticipate that whatever form the Government measure may take, great injustice must ensue by stopping, in many cases, good schemes and allowing bad ones to go on ; and these would apply the remedy in a later stage of the proceedings, making it, in fact, form part of any Bill to be obtained hereafter by a railway company. From one of these, in order to assist in preparing materials for the approaching discus. sion, we select the following : " If a cure of the railway disease is to be effected, it must be by gentle and not violent means ; a sudden winding up of companies, be they good or bad, will injure alike tho public, the revenue, the subscribers, and locali ties. After the declaration of the Duke of Wellington that every village would have its railway, well directed efforts were made by the principal inhabitants of almost every town of consequence to bring their district into fair competition with their neighbours. Every place, the trade and traffic of which had been torn away by the diversion of the travelling population, promoted under takings from which a partial restoration of their former prosperity might be expected. The Lou d fide supporters of these'' improving and restorative projects still hold their shares and are willing to proceed with tho lines which they have adopted ; but the effect of the measures now proposed is to destroy the good schemes, and to leave those only which are too slightly subscribed for to be worth the breaking up. The scrip shares of the really good companies having been more freely dealt in, are in the hands of the many ; a small outlay in scrip at pre sent prices by a competing company already established will secure a majority to destroy a rival, and the neigh bourhood to which the line was to run will have inferior railway accommodation, or none at all for the next ten years. " Would not public interest be secured by— " 1. Allowing all existing Companies to go through Committee at as little expense a s p oss ibl e ( t h e great ex penses having been already incurred)? "2. Inserting a gener a l c l ause t h at a ll s h ares shall be registered within four months after passing of the Acts; all shares not registered, and the register to lie open for inspection, to be forfeited? "3. That within two months after the passing of the Act a general special meeting shall be held, a t w hi c h a majority in value of registered shareholders shall deter mine whether the undertaking shall proceed, or shall be abandoned? "4. That in case of proceeding the subscribers may complete portions only of their line at one time, having ample time allowed for commencing and completing the other portions, but being com p e ll a bl e to ta k e at any time on notice any lands to which the compulsory powers may apply, or to abandon the same, so that landowners may not be hindered from improving their estates?"— Times. EAST INDIA MUSEIIM.—On Saturday this interesting establishment, attached to the East India House, in Leaden hall-street, was visited by nearly 1,000 persons. There have lately been considerable and valuable additions made to the Natural History department, particularly , in the collection made by Major Harris, in Abyssinia. A new room is being fitted up for the reception of the Mineralogical and Geologi cal stores received from India, amongst which are the rich treasures of extinct and gigantic species found iu the Hima laya mountains and other hilly districts, which will shortly be thrown open for public inspection. THE MANCHESTER CUSTOM-HOUSE.—WC have seen a return of the amount of duties received at the Manchester Custom-house during the quarter ended on the sth instant, which shows a great and rapid increase in the business of the bonded warehouses here. The amount received during the last quarter, notwithstanding the general depression in busi ness which has existed during a considerable portion of the time, was no less than 38,427/. ss. 3d ; whilst that received in the corresponding quarter of 1845, was only 11,0431.55. 7d. showing an increase, in twelve months, of about three •and a-lialf to one.—Manchester Guardian. . RAILWAY WINDINGS UP. The Norwich Mercury contains the following account of two railway meetings, at Yarmouth, for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the company:— On Thursday evening last a meeting of shareholders in the Great Grimsby, Lincoln, Louth, Horncastle, and Midlands Junction Hallway Company, residing in Yar mouth, was held at the Star Hotel—Philip Pullyn, Esq., in the chair—to take into consideration the present posi tion and future prospects of the company. It was stated that a portion of the line had been already abandoned, and that the remainder thereof was likely to be warmly and powerfully opposed. After a very brief discussion it was unanimously resolved to request the provisional committee to discontinue the prosecution of their Bill, to defray the expenses already incurred, and to return the balance of the deposits to the scripholders. A series of resolutions were agreed to, and a copy thereof forwarded to the Mayor (Samuel Palmer, Esq ), who was in London, to be presented to the provisional committee of the com pany. At the time the resolutions of the Yarmouth shareholders were presented, a communication of a similar nature was received by the committee from some shareholders in the manufacturing districts. On Tuesday evening a meeting of shareholders in the Ipswich, Norwich, and Yarmouth Railway Company was held at the Angel Inn ; William Johnson, Esq., in the chair. Having stated the object of the meeting to be to express their desire that the company should pro ceed no further in the prosecution of their Bill, the chairman remarked that there was no feeling of dis satisfaction at the conduct of the professional promoters of the Bill, they had no intention of reproaching any parties; he believed they had been as honestly dealt by as the generality of railway companies, but it was the general opinion, that if the Bill passed, the line could not possibly be made. A series of resolutions were unanimously agreed to, requesting and urging ,the directors to withdraw their Bill, to stay proceedings, to make up the accounts of the company, to defray the present liabilities, and divide the surplus. It was also resolved, should the directors not respond to the appli cation, that another meeting be convened to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament to throw out the Bill ; that a correspondence be opened with shareholders in other places, and that a committee be formed to carry out these objects. A committee was accordingly formed; a copy of the resolutions was signed by the chairman, and forwarded by the mail of that night to the chairman of the board of directors. FATAL ACCIDENT AT HUNGER FORD STEAM-BOAT PIER-FOUR LIVES LOST. _ _ Yesterday afternoon, between five and six o'clock, a melancholy accident occurred at Ilungerford-pier, causing the sacrifice of four lives, and the narrow escape of a filth. This accident arose through the fragile and insecure structure of one of the platforms which com municate with the dumbies forming the gangway to the lighters used for embarkation and debarkation. At the time mentioned Mrs. Mansfield, aged 50, of 112, Jermyn street, St. James's ; her brother, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. W. Mansfield, her brother-in-law, were amongst other persons proceeding along the gangway. There were at that time many people on the floating pier ; two Chel sea boats and one Woolwich boat came up simultane. ously. which caused a considerable swell, and the ebb tide at the same time flowing rapidly, produced great oscillation on the whole structure of the pier and caused the staple to give way which secured the platform on which Mrs. Mansfield and friends, with two other persons, then stood ; the lighters consequently parted, swung round, and the bridge fell, precipitating all five into the water. Police-constables who were near the spot immediately rendered every assistance the Humane Society's drags were procured from the Swan Tavern, and Mrs. Mansfield was promptly rescued, after being in the water about three minutes, and con veyed on shore at the Adelphi-pier, and thence to the house of Mr. Nichols, the St. Martin p u bli c -h ouse , Duke-street, Adelphi. She was not dead, though in a dreadfully exhausted state ; but by incessant exertions during a period of an hour and a half, she was restored to life and consciousness so as to give an account of her self, and she was then sent in a cab to her residence. A few minutes after Mrs. Mansfield had been rescued her brother was also got out, but quite dead, and his body was taken to the Swan Tavern, where it awaits a coroner s inquest. The bodies of the other three sufferers, though the drags were kept in constant use, had not been IT covered at half-past eight o'clock. • FREE TRADE. The principles of free trade, so efficiently demonstrated in the measures of Sir Robert Peel, have, wo have many reasons for believing, already found an echo on the Con tinent. The large mass of population embraced in the Zollverein, or German Customs Union, are impatiently awaiting the final accomplishment of those measures, in order that they may demand a corresponding reduction of the import duties which at present press so heavily on many articles of consumption. They will not, after England gives the example, continue to suffer under the penalties of restrictive, or, as they are improperly called, " protecting duties." Tho cloth and the cotton which we can furnish at from 25 to 50 per cent. cheaper than the native manufacturer must ere long find their way into all the German markets. The good of the many cannot be sacrificed to the benefit of the few. And the mistaken policy by which some millions of people arc condemned to purchase an inferior article at an exorbitant price will receive, even in its stronghold of the Zollverein, a speedy condemnation. The King of Prussia has taken the first step in this important affair. Ho has addressed a note to all the members of the Customs Union, impressing on them the necessity of yielding to the spirit of the age, and of re vising the tariff. It is true that the southern states of the Union receive those advances with much coldness, and that the influence of the capitalist-manufacturers is for the moment predominant. But those local interests must give way before the principle of free trade; and if the Prussian Government follow up this first step with sufficient vigour, public opinion will triumph over a par tial and selfish opposition. The influence of England is great, her moral power is the wonder of the world; but never have their effects been more sensibly felt than in the rapid adoption of the principles advocated by Sir R. Peel, and supported by so great a majority of the louse of Commons, throughout an union of states where mo nopoly and protection apparently were most firmly esta blished.—Times. THE SWELL MOB IN THE PROVINCES. The facilities which railways now afford are eagerly taken advantage of by that very " industrious" class— the " Swell Mob" of London. The members of thisfra• ternity take their usual perambulations in the various fashionable parts of the metropolis, at certain periods of the day, for the purpose of exercising their calling, and in the evening are frequently to be found at some great attraction in distant parts of the country. Of late the eastern counties have been favoured with visits by these candidates for transportation ; and it is not improbable that when the projected lines of railway are completed. even the northern parts of Lincolnshire, on certain oc casions, will not be forgotten by them. A few days ago, a concert was given at Cambridge, and during the even ing several empty purses were picked up in the room, the contents having entirely disappeared w ithou t the owners' sanction. Several, strangers were noticed in the room, but their apparent respectability did not at the time attract suspicion. Towards the latter end of the same week General Tom Thumb visited the town, and at the exhibition in the even ing the same strangers who had visited the concert again made their appearance ; some empty purses were here also picked up, and the un known parties were watched. They were soon disco vered hustling people in the room and attempting to pick pockets ;t hree of them were immediately taken into custody. On being searched money to some amount was found upon each ; one had a gold watch and another a 5/. note of the Berkhamstead bank ; they represented themselves to have come to Cambridge that afternoon for the first time from London, and that they were soli citing orders in the tobacco trade. They gave addresses in town. The day after their apprehension a police officer was dispatched to London to make inquiries re specting them, and from the information he obtained it seemed evident that they were a part of the swell . mob. The names they gave were James Hawkins, lliam Green, and William Butters, only Butters gave a correct address (7, Francis-street, Newington) ; and on the Cambridge constables going to that house to inquire for him he was told by a female, who said she was his sister in-law, that he had gone out of town, b u t s h e expected him to return in the evening ; and upon the female being asked what profession Butters was, she said she did n ot know ; that h e genera ll y l e f t home in the morning, and did not return till the evening. On the constable's return to Cambridge the magistrates con victed the three men as rogues and vagabonds, and sen tenced them to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. They gave n o ti ce o f a pp ea l aga i nst t h e convic tion, and were bailed out. The 5/. note found upon Green was advertised in the Hue and Cry, and it was challenged by a person named Charles Bailey, of Berk hamstead, who it seemed bad been robbed at a public house in the Strand of two 5/. notes, and that found upon Green was one o f th em . G reen was th en ta k en into custody on the charge of picking Mr. Bailey's pocket, and on the 2d instant was trie4 at the Central Criminal Court and acquitted ; a person having been produced in Court, who swore that he had given Green the 54 note for a gold chain, and that he had received it of a person in Smithfield-market for some pigs. On the following Monday, Green, Hawkins, and Butters, sur rendered to their bail at Cambridge Quarter Sessions, when the Court confirmed the conviction of the magis trates, and the appellants were sent back to the treadmill to complete the term of imprisonment. QUERN'S COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM.—The Rev. and Worshipful Chancellor Law, the Vice-Principal, has most handsomely taken up his residence within the walls of the College, in order personally to superintend the proposed ex tended system of collegiate medical and surgical education. The Rev. Gentleman has offered to the resident students the following munificent' prizes, viz. :-501. to the student who may carry off four medals ; 201. three medals ; 71. two medals ; 51. one medal. The Dean of the Faculty, William Sands Cox, Esq., has also gone into residence in order to assist the council in carryingout thelimportantarrangements. POSTAGE REFORM AT THE CAPE or GooD HoPE. The Governor of this colony has just issued anvoordritimnaenncte, establishing a uniform rate of postage in his o n l e eha t r o ged pa w y i o t n h e a p L y which was to take effect from the Ist of Ani.i,Zg°•by'ltlilice post between 1 rates are as follows :—On all letters Iran ti between places within the colony, half an ounce, fourpence ; excoe .11f c for every ounce above every f l se an letter r ounce,not e exceeding d i n n o g t exceeding one ounce, nce • every fraction of an one ounce, an additional eigh pe _ . ounce above ono ounce to be charged as an additional ounce. ro b . y pa st id am t ps b or stamped covers as eightpencte , t te l (p i l a n the pre-paid rate. Newspapers abroad post- The postage is to te b e- e rsh l e e til v fo i ageinEgnrgelaatnedr. byLoeiti post if not exceeding an ounce, and a half btoyptaz oi:ille..pdenny; newspapers from . penny fox each additional mice. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING. NEWMARKET, SUNDAY AFTERNOON.—The engage ments for the ensuing week exhibit a flattering promise of sport, amounting to no less than twenty-three in stakes and matches, with the certainty, from the num ber of horses in preparation, that most of the proposed handicaps and plates will fill. Seeing, therefore, that the racing will combine variety with abundance, and that the directors of the Eastern Counties Railway offer every possible facility for a cheap and expeditious trip, in the shape of daily special trains to and from Ches terford, and by well-horsed conveyances between that station and the town, we may fairly anticipate that no inconsiderable portion of the holiday makers will turn their steps hitherward during the recess ; of the regular frequenters of the meetings we look for a full muster. Tho races standing for to-morrow are several in num ber, in addition to which there will be the usual intro ductory Stakes—that is, the Craven, the DX., and the T.Y.C. handicaps. But there is no Riddlesworih, an event that, for a long series of years, formed. the most exciting three-year-old race of the meeting ; fortunately the hiatus created by its disappearance from the list is filled up by the Newmarket Handicap, for which, ac cording to present calculations, there will be a field of three or four-and -twenty. The programme also in cludes a Port and a Claret Stakes—the latter, however, looking very like a walk ever for Alarm—a good Column ; and several other three-year-old stakes, all of them likely to come off. Most of the matches will also produce rases. The following horses have arrived sire , our last : Duke of Richmond's Peasant Lord G. Bentinck's Miss Elis Lord G. Bentinck's Discord Lord G. Bentinck's Blackbird Lord G. Bentinck's Binnacle Lord G. Bentinck's Marquis of Conyngham Sir It. Bulkeley's Chertsey Mr. Copeland's Arthur Mr. Good vin's Dexterous Mr. Irwin's Ould Ireland Sir G. Heathcote's c by Amato, out of Countess Sir G. Heathcote's Akbar Mr. Waller's Crown Prince Mr. S. Herbert's Pet colt Mr. S. Herbert's Ajax Mr. Drinkald's Elemi Mr. R. Clifton's Minus Lord Chesterfield's Jenny Wren Lord Chesterfield's Poor Soldier Lord Chesterfield's Snake ___ Sir W. W. W ynn ' s C ymyn i on Nothing has arrived from I)awson's or Lord Glasgow's stable. APPOINTMENTS FOR MONDAY. An asterisk is prefixed to the horses now at New market. The Craven Stakes of 10 sovs. each, three-year-olds, 6st ; four, Bst 41b ; five, Bat 131 b ; hix and aged, 9st 51b. A. F. A Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each for three and four-year-olds. D. M. A Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, 10 ft, for four-year-olds and upwards. T.Y.C. Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h ft, for three-yrs•old fillies, Bst 71b. (D. M). * Duke of Bedford's Lady Constance * Duke of Rutland's sis. to Flambeau * Lord Stradbroke's ns. Blackbird * Colonel Wyndham's sis. to Nora Creina Lord Exeter's (dead) f by Beiram, out of Marinello Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, for fillies out of mares or by stallions which never bred a winner, Bst 71b each. (I). M.) * Duke of Bedford's Lady Constance * Lord Albemarle's Wrynose * Colonel Peel's Samphire A Sweepstakes of 100 sovs each, h ft ; for three-yrs old colts, Bst 71b ; those by untried stallions, or out of untried mares, allowed 41b ; but only one allowance. Ab. M. *Duke of Bedford's Piet Whitefoot Lord Chesterfield's Birkenhead *Sir J. Hawley's Prospect (41b) *Mr. Payne's Collingwood Mr. Phillimore's Oxberry *Sir G. Heathcate's c, by Amato, out of Countess (4 lb) *Lord Lonsdale's c, by Bay Middleton, out of Miss Miln (41b) *Sir W. W. Wynn's Cymynion Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three-yrs-olds, not en gaged in either Riddlesworth, Two Thousand Guineas Stake, or One Thousand Guineas Stake; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 41b. D.M. Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Joinville "Lord Lonsdale's Joy *Lord Chesterfield's The Free Lance *Mr. Mason's Pawnbroker Mr. Batson's c. by Plenipo out of Revelry. MATCH.-500 sovs. 200 forfeit, Bst 71b each, D.I. *Duke of Bedford's Minotaur, agst Mr. Payne's Queen Mab. MATCH.-200 sovs., half forfeit, 1).M., weight for age. *Lord Chesterfield's Lady Wildair, 4 yrs, agst *Lord Orford's Prussic Acid, 3 `rs. MATCII.-100 sovs., half forfeit, 7st 71b each, Y.C. *Mr. Clifton's Brown Bess, agst *Mr. O'Brien's Tribute. MATCH.— 300 sovs., half forfeit, A.F. *Mr. G. 11. Moore's Wolf Dog, 7st 101 b, received 50 sous forfeit from *Mr. Greville's Alarm. The match between Tribute and Dlillwood is post poned until Tuesday. (RECEIVED THIS DAY.) NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING. NEWMARKET ' SUNDAY NIGHT, 11 O'CLOCK. The Craven Stakes not having filled, the match between Tribute and Brown Bess having been postponed till Tuesday, and Lady Constance and Wrynose having, paid to Sam phire in the D.M. Sweepstakes, the bill of fare for to-mor row is reduced to eight races, all of which have appeared in print, except the two handicaps ; for these the following horses stand : Handicap of 20 soya. each, and only 5, &c. D.M. King Cob, Bst 121 b Nell Cook, 3 yrs, Est 21b Paultons, 4 yrs, 81t 71b cby Miran'', out of Agnes, Footstool, 3 yrs, 7st 31b 3 yrs, sst 121 b _ _ _ 'easant, 3 yrs, 7st ! Two declared forfeit. handicap of 25 sovs. each, 10 ft. T.Y.C. Discord, aged, Bst 121 b Cocoa Nut, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b Garry Owen, aged, Bst 121 b Beaumont, 5 yrs, 7st 161 b Espoir, 5 yrs, 7st 121 b Hawkesbury, 4 yrs, 6st 101 b The Craven Stakes did not fill. Lord Chesterfield's Birkenhead, Duke of Bedford's Piet Whitefoot, Sir G. Heathcote's Amato colt, Mr. Phillimore's Oxberry, and Lord Lonsdale's Miss Milner colt, are scratched for the A.B.M. Sweepstakes, and Joinville and the Revelry colt for the D.M. Stakes ; both in the first day's list. Soldier's Joy and Vol-au-Vent are scratched for the New market Handley. New Match for Friday—Corranna, Bst 101 b, agst Oakley, Bst 71b, T.M.M., 2001 i ft. As yet we have bad no betting ; in fact, the town has been thrown of its balance by an accident of a most alarming nature that befel the special train this afternoon. From the hasty ac count we have picked up, it would appear that the train consisted of two engines, three horse-boxes, with hacks, and eight or nine carriages, and that it had proceeded not more than nine or ten miles from Shoreditch before the first en gine jerked the other off the line, and the horse-boxes be coming detached, were overturned into the water at the side of the line. Of the carriages, all went over but three, some on their sides, and others over those in advance, with the wheels in the air; The wreck is represented to have been awful, and it is miraculous that the consequences should have been so comparatively trifling. One horse was killed, another had his back broken, and two or three others were dread fully maimed. One of the guards was also very severely hurt, but we are happy to state that the passengers escaped altogether. What would have been their fate had not the horse-boxes been placed between the carriages and the en gines it is frightful to contemplate. It was full half an hour before the unfortunate horses were extricated, or the full —...... . extent of the mischief ascertained; one of the engines was then sent back to the Shoreditch station, and fresh carriages having been forwarded, the passengers, amongst whom were Lords Chesterfield and Maidstone, were sent on, and, about two hours after the proper time, reached Newmarket. A SOLDIER'S Doo.—Sergeant O'Neill, of the 3d Light Dragoons, writing home to his friends from Ferozepore on the Bth of January, communicates the fall of his brother in the battle of Moodkee, and add., " he had a little dog that was with him through the whole charge; and his comrades in C troop came the next day and asked me not to remove it from the troop, and they would respect it in remembrance of him, which 1, of course, acceded to, and it accompanied them every foot during the next two days' fighting, and is again safe with them." ROYAL HARWICH YACHT CUM.—The Swedish Charge d'Affaires at the Court of London has just forwarded to the Rear-Commodore of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club the following letter :—" Baron Rehausen presents his compli ments to Mr. William Knight, and has the honour to inform him that his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway has been pleased to grant to the Royal llarwich Yacht Club the same privileges in the ports of Sweden and Norway as those already conceded to other yacht clubs.—April 11, 1846." The Royal Harwich Yacht Club is now exempt from port charges in Prussia, Lubec, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, llamburgh, Hanover, Bremen, Holland, Frankfort-on-Maine, Belgium, France, Portugal, Sardinia, and Egypt. The same privilege will, it is expected, be soon granted by Russia, Oldenburgh, Spain, and the Mediterranean Powers. Sardinia and Egypt, as we have just stated, have already granted the privilege. DEATH OF HENSIIA W LATHAM, ESQ., BANKER. It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we have this day to make the painful announcement of the death of our llolisgsliv,lyi-i-lrebsepaecstseedvteorewlynsfmelatnas, H i e t nh w s il a l w be Lm, E r i s i a , ll) s,q ,d . , e p w l o h r o e d s e . Mr. Latham was takes ill yesterday morning at his resi dence, Maripe-parade, Dover, and expired about an hour afterwards, from an attack of apoplexy. Mr. Latham was, we believe, in the 64th year of his age. During very this nt to many yearswn, an d he had been been n n lsooevkeeradlutpuntoes mayor. e r l leading; g was a man onet° of of the Barons of the Cinque Ports , who were deputed bscrved. He was last occasion when that ceremony bear the canopy at the coronation of Georg was ° B Bremen, Lubeck, Consul at this port for France, 1 olland, rsorway, and Mecklenburgh ; Vice-Consul for Sweden , Sardinia, Sicily, George the Fourth the Den mark, America, Hanover, Prussia . cw as ß uss i a, gent to Lloyd's, and Spain, and Rio de la Plata. I 'cad of the and highly late lamented father, tie wee IA firm oi Latham am Co ., ICo Dover.—Dorer respected banking' Treasurer of Dover Barbour: and since the decease of his Chronicle. UNCLE SAM TERMINATING THE " J Nen , York Herald has a pictorial device of " OINT Occir- PANCY. — The U nc le Sam painting a new sip and name for the " Oregon Di spe nsary," and undernea th is printed, " Uncle Sam, chief partner in the late first of Sam and Bull, announces to the world that lie is resolved to set up business in Oregon for step p en up having adverse adv w ers ar e claims Departmentt othe anterd rhimself, and terminate the joint occupancy which has here foitrory, e existed.wi please Gen t receive payment in powder and ball. He believes himself fully capable of giving perfect satisfaction to all such cus tomers. Ills chief clerk, Mr. Polk will will attend to the matter." MRS. WALKER FERRAND. —This lady died on Sunday, at Paris, in which city she has for some time been staying for surgical aid, having a cancer in her breast. We regret to state that her last sufferings were very • great, the cancer having extended down her arm. Her remains will be brought to Bingley for burial on Saturday (this day). She was the daughter of Mr. Moss, banker, of Liverpool. Her loss will be greatly felt in Binglcy, where, amongstother acts of bene volence, she allowed several fields to be set out for spade husbandry.—Leeds Mercury.