The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-24 00:00:00

--------- ---------- ---r of Ireland, not the 1 ,More nor less than reli ev i ng th e gentry es,,ople of Ireland, at the expense of the in his i people of this cou . ntr . y . 4 % SHEIL said that, when Sir Robert Peel brought n,rcss.:i great measure for the repeal of the corn-lags, he had „, e e : I stated that Ireland was entitled to sonic compensetio.. M r. IL ESCOTT denied the fa A. de'aelirt.hsi ` e s HEIL wes, on the force of this aeiertion, inclined . naenaory, but he hada strong coev:ct:on that such was i th tPurpert of Sir R. Peel's argument. osr. T. DVNCOMBE had objected to this Biil in its tP!evions steps, on account of its unconstitutional character, as Ling, in fact, command of a standing army to the Lord gesiNenant. He did hope, however, that there would be no cessity for the use of these extraordinary powers, but that ee er Aralesty's Ministers would now take an thatth new , urse. He believed that they would do so, and a t . hey should seat n n o 0 more of coercion Bills, and the exasperation arising 111 °l am, and ho saw an earnest of that new line . of conduct p e w reetoration of those gentlemen to the commission of the mac e „ p i s , Ch an ~0 had been deprived of that office by the late Lord 1,,.._ ceder. He trusted also that in Ireland, were this mea d,7° was duly appreciated, that the landed gentry would be in arid 8 0 to act as to render those on their estates an honour clan advantage, instead of, as they too often were at present, a mischief and a- disgrace. . what LABOUCHERE said that this Bill was brought in on tt the resent Government considered a pledge on . the part of _their predecessors ; but they did themselves conceive it to boshgOopf h „ , and wise, and necessary measure.. So far from its . -5 an unconstitutional measure, it was precisely consti tational wh L , , for it gave the Lord Lieutenant the power to do that e' 4 Was the paramount duty of ev y Government—the etote et • is .,_ gin of the lives and properties of her Ma'esty's 5ub ',..74 in Ireland, through the aid of the peace force j of this 1 watitry. he l s 4 e l c s i se A e K ti L r EY I thought,, etl th so at fa tl i i r e ly, lrish Members had be and so nobly on the herre- VII of generously, :or ° n u - s la Y ; corn -laws, Ireland was entitled, throug at h en _ _ Lerabers and it was hut right that every advantage heid ~.7 given' that could be given to the Irish gentry; yet ee ls , ro es laY that the people of this country . would rather see so.;" Vent in Ireland for any other object than that for VI this grant was to be made. I 11-• B ROTHERTON quite agreed with the . Hon. Member Op pis s , the Quautiry concerning the conduct of the Irish Members f o i l s:_,e rn-law debate, but he thought that the benefit would a sZt:.tlPori themselves, for they had by the removal of the re reosifts on trade only given f greater opportunity for their own th -e e to consume more food, for it was the Irish labourers i n 4: Man ufacturing districts who, together with . the manufactur- V 0 alas's, , were - " the great consumers of Irish provisions, Zn J. P P. B I O ° RTHWICK was also glad to hail a pacific policy i e me , pars of her Majesty's Ministers, not on the ground h s e ,,,gea by the Hon. Member for Finsbury who approved t eir t e ""lset for the restoration of those gentlemen who had at ta.-bded certain Catholic demonstrations, but because th • ey h s a o el e'Qtored those who had been deprived for attending meeting r . t eel- 46 , 1 e_ le opposite character. This policy would, he co i 'a, be as successful as it was pacific. ÜBLIC WORKS (IRELAND) No. 4 BILL. Thinsll was read a third time and passed. l'ltt„, POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS. s . A W ARLEY presented a etition from a gentleman reag(Cruetbeee.n chairman . of the quarter p sessions, and the oldest Peor.s eer rs tu Berkshire, praying . the House to dismiss the lid met • 'lnn issioners, and to impeach them for their con- PUBLICwith r e sPect to the Andover Union. „. WORKS (IRELAND) BILL. These Bills LEASES (IRELAND) BILL. were read a third time and passed. Th e other orders of the day were then postponed. M e I, GENERAL POST-OFFICE t li be ll ,.. se . t' sz ; tb D e IThICOMBE wished to call the attention of the as enerc po petition of Thomas Mitchell, late sub - sorter in -sein ed b :office, complaining that h e i r s e d r i s s a m tt i o s n sa s l a w n a d s . e o o c t.. - rupe es Y proving in evidence certain o et s u eu behalf of his superior officer!. He had pointed be i b iu s e great many previous abusesthis large este l'ere Pt, and had been told tha . t in all his complaints respeetitheffectual, and that nothing could , be done instituted, bef ore ug them. An inquiry was, Per son the solicitor to the Post-office, who cert ainly Point" qualified to inquire into the matter, although his ap 4buserae" d id not give general satisfaction. , any of the Th e 8 had been remedied, and in fie coulee of the inquiries kd ter 4 D as t i‘l ell was called be;ore Mr. Peacock. eon as n e n stisoir°•ection if he should speak the truth, andd certain rtnio statements that he should be protected he m Islay with .with reference to the mat-ractice a s madee of Mr. ane h'inesof those statements were furnished to . Mr. Kelly, tsark s ed u rt S afterwards it was whispered that Mitchell . was a *as it , .I'Llan• On ano' her inquiry being instituted Mitchell, Zete; al e called, and on a fresh assurance that he .should be r• Ic. t he gave information that 70,000 of the circulars of de rrie s e r )! had been sent through the Post-office f ree, thereby vtith e ,,,N the revenue. He had become a marked . man b . e h , Itho "Yeonaplaint havino be enmade against him. giving his evidence, 4 riot in good health 'was so fatigued after giving .n that he was compelled to go home, and on reach' g Sse s ts 'ne he was so ill that he was compelled to end to the hg t ; state that he should be unable to attend to his duties. hnte receie ,altstrictly within the rules of the establishment, h I t h, ethLia dismissal very shortly after, the letter stating that 1,404471'41 was in consequence of his having absented , s 4e ekt: °l ° duty without leave. Another grou . ncdhad since Zilier ies ° uP, and it was stated the man was dismiss, ti s in wcoenre roots - iof insolent conduct. These subterfuge nthori t Z the weakness of the . case of the Post-office . vl ted s ' and since this dismissal Mitchell had .re 17ttilltleg l at beiptointment as a general letter . carrier, mitigation of his punishment Itited, v4 , 34 ; had negle w c a t s d his in duty he was quite unfit tohtbet "be leitos;l'.l--( Hear, hear)—and ) and if he had net, heought to to be l 'alllt s ' e " le his original r position, — and not be degraded . ealledifea letter-earrir Othe sub-sorters had since been t a vid euce rt " Ur. Peac e oc . k, and they had declined to give any -' k r - against 'Mr, Kelly from fear of being treated lflo e , Isis Mitchell was. He had with him . a petition .e i r :atilt is , e s " ) ,Ployed in the establishment, complaining of tn s'elleit..reeeatsWienlerhell _had received, _ and expressing a fear of the he , I f er called 1 1 ' 0 ' 1 .7themselves.. The case was one which cer- Mej ett eror e , 10 the severest investigation of the House, and mea t Y, , 0 ,. • ved that an bumble address be . presented to her oils tae th e -I PR her to appoint an inquiry into the manage ezi2-4, of ,ps sseneral Post-office, the particulars of the dis c ~.,. "qoas Mit II and also with regard to a certain ectlti rluesl etli ation in ( tlll7l Office, and whether it ought to be Ille p on ° r not. 'ee man 'l, ‘/THEROE seconded the motion. He did not think I bsen" ' l ad been properly treated. A dismissal for one day's P„"`e, seeing that he had been ten years in the service of he tiit' 4 ;lee, wits_ most harsh and unjust. Whatever was the th e : of the charge, wheth er . true or false, he did not think treaost-offiee authorities had conducted the inquiry in , ke"titttble manner . H e wou ld conclude by seconding the x on. the " n it '' PARKER, on behalf o f the Noble Lord at the head of the' ° 't'olfice department, said he had to explain and defend toorpt which was complained of. W hen the present Noble lledth o presided over that establishment came into office he the, ."reirn the discussions that had taken place in this House, the i r °era, unsatisfactory feeling existed among those engaged mass - In fact the whole establishment was fouedto . be in a f the .husatisfactory condition. Jr. regard to the getting up o steT'ost-offiee Directory." while some thought they were bene. I, al others considered t hemsel Yes aggrieved, and in consequence to e°Qt Uncomfortable feeling existed. He was, however, happy ie , Y that arrangements were in progress which would tend th e Peat degre e to allay the spirit that existed. Respecting dem Particular Ca se in question, no doubt a grea Arleen " ill feeling existed between him and the Post betted aUhorities. Several papers htd been ea re y_ sevd on the subject and others were yet to be r g ase epe%bLefore they could ' have the whole facts of thec on l esot i , l " o . It was said that this man was dismissed ore llls ° A of his givin g evidence before the Commission - 'tte lilte , - Nit a t° 4 4, 17 1 ireidinti? th r e e z i r e i e ia te ge . ment of the Post a that fifty other eee ( Tel . Wer e 1 , i examined,. w e hile this appeared to be the only t 4 ru e U t e k e l ! 3 / 4 , quo It could ot, therefore, be for giving the evi sw 4 of theKm that the party wa;dismissed. The whole ° allegation depended on the authority of I 'll o4 Persons „f the name of Rae and Russell, pla ced • e s i denee - r the circumstances they were e wool 'A+ s n ' 'l ' u uld ' be looked on with great caution. H 14 "er- G gge 't that the motion be as . the Post taater, r p e ls.. rai was undertaking an s investigation into all the w as T 2 liVii n E g t t h o the management of the Post-office. i was necessary, as the House i tie nce " n n f d ,t 0 defendo i t t a e n ss n e i s ci who were called on to give_ e t v - e Ptl blie 3-e; the abuses that existed in any depart d me . nt ß o u f ssel h o l ' i nela , ' l ee. He hoped the Noble Lord (Lo! J allo w ' , e th e en . Ler ae ', qui,. tatt be into his most serious consideration, and ‘l.le d j°lll lYßoU nl E a f r e : bad full confidence in his Noble if tit " ' th e Mar • tio..ere was till!s of . Clanricarde, and he was quite sure that li on that N:Zelnjustice wit id reeard to the individual in . ques ''ve him redress. He, himself, fie ell t iala to Pronounce would e any op g i l nion one way or the other, on is e eo ° l - ,l 'l "°f that individual. With regard ' to the Commission, ste el-.‘ered that it had too wide a range to effect any whole oo tltiestiueld.ered h would be much better to leave t e I l eeld h rl in the hands of the Government, whose attention I th ee-e,..eoast.antly directed to the working of the Post-once, st ape 'vw to its more efficient management. He himself 'did 4 4 t °Se of the whole system of management there, her t eoeld assure the Hon. Member for Montrose that the dr es s tetition of the Government would be given to the ree ,is „, ARV,' every ilTegularity and complaint which might be 14 r 'brought against it. l lt ref . * FRENCH instanced the case of Daniel Tonor, in Iltieb of the necessity of keeping these subordinate officers , et: P.„ .. r o per contro l. uete 7ARBURTON hoped that the claims of Mr. Row ttsiellel would be again considered, and his system fully lti r oat. tree d WAKLEY designated . the treatment of Mitchell . as kp h . Y unjs, and hod hp w ould be provided for by being 4 1 „ tt ted to as good asstation before next session. ti ekil e %MIL defended the course adopted by Lord Clan. dCa e P ai n LAYARD hoped Mitch e ll would be provided for. es, id no ord t thin Clanrica k that there was any imputation on the con -4:4 rde. Th 1% DUNCOMBE replied. Motion was then by leave withdrawn. Thils42°R EMPLOYMENT (IRELAND) BILL. - '"1 was read a third time, and passed. , The R AILWAY COMMISSIONERS' BILL. I° be; re Port on thi s Bill was rece i ved, and the Bill was ordere d 11 1 H ad a third time on Monday next. PAVSTRICTS LUNATICS ASYLUM BILL, THE (AsNN.„P„IIO3C.ERS' BILL, AND THE WASTE LANDS , Th e ' n ALIA) BILL. he rees ru se rt sills passed d through Committee, and were ordered to 00 Monday next. ~ %rip ,i, BUCKINGHAM PALACE. ii e / ( t a :`IIENCII gave notice that on the first day of the ' ll '. gi'swe he vvouldmove, that it appeared from the unfit t t fo o r f , t h,s r esi 7e, the architect that this palace a . vas M w eete eer ebce of the Sovereign ' of this empire, notwithstanding ery ilit erati e eaPense might be incurred thereon i e n t _ toke grant of i to 41 fe tons aud enlagements, and that . ins e d. I f ilees isurti:elepense upon it, the House imme iatel the s tiest y tfutli . for the erection of a suitable residence for her rhe t i , wind., ° are then adjourned at Four o'clock. , Obil t A ..... tt '4141% COLLISION OFF THE SPURN LIGHT.- 1 - at llrday a as 4e eldees notice was received at Lloyd's, announcing a ~ by is , o ff the Spurn Light, late on Wednesday night Wit 'l rie v !'“elt the brig Retrieve, of London, from Shields' d lb e. it tlY Of t li s t ° by a understand, much larger vessel, and totally lost, an 48 he; the Crew drowned. The Retrieve, we tt' lt tate t v. "3' laden in coals, under the care of Mr. Scott, the utia:roitl44uktieGtierduots,:n seamen. On the night in question she was I t v ls h e B o lee.(Ple Charlott she came in 'to violent collision with the re4inizo c i land. %ll:faster W. Stevens, bound for St. John's, shock is de scr ibed to have been most ,w th4,„l',,the ch ariotte le striiingthebri g amidships. The crew "tiee e _ "'algae contrived-to save three of the crew of the Re s'tild t; w nert the vessel disentangled itself from the barque, qnt Men l ) Posed to have immediately foundered, for she was tat,ia,fteis Among those who were left behind, were the tlk N,,11'.,8,..eWard, and four seamen, who are expected to have ,tileesd i l s" s _the vessel. The Charlotte, it seems, had only geed ( 1 1. 4 ' 111 Unit on the previous day. In consequence of the Ivlse,ltage she sustained,' th 3. ptain put back to Hull, oei,°: he landed the survivors of e the a ßetrieve. There is, no ill sne'S great blame attributable to one of the parties, but !t 114,Z;lsl be point out the actual aggressor. The vestel is '''. 4 tit 1 , 44 • tired 4 shiouv, SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. YORK AUGUST MEETING.—FtDAY. The Convivial Stakes of 30 F;ovs. each, 10 ft. T.Y.C. (9 Sub.) Mr. A. W. bf, by Plenipo, 7st 111 b ...... ( Marlow) 1 Mr. Ilesscdtine's Torn Tit, Bm , 41 ti 2 5t02 on Twilight filly. Won easy by a length and a Sweeps of 30 sovs. each. 10 f - ir three-yrs old colts, Bst 7 lb, and fillies, Sit 11b. One , • •:,.! and a quarter. (10 Subs.) Mr. Bank's Duke of Richmond—, ............ ....b.( Llolmes) 1 Mr. Meiklam'z Alliance Lord Westminster's Caprice Mr. L. Fox's Shelforth . : ..... . ... ...... Mr. Iskiklam's b c, by Touchstone, out of Laura 5 Won in a canter bY four lengths. Betting-7 to 4 agst Slielforth, and 5 to 2 agst Duke of Richmond. The Filly Sapling Stakes of 50 sous. each, 20 ft, Bat 41b each. Ode mile. (6 Subs.) Mr. W. 11. Brooks' Luminous .... ... (Lye) 1 Mr. Jaques's Diphthong Won in a canter. The Consolation Scramble of 501., added to a Handicap of 5 sons. each. Five furlongs. Mr. T. Walters's Ratcliffe, 5 yrs, 7st 71b (Wintringbam) 1 Mr. F. R. Price's Kismet, 3 yrs, sst 101 b ... 2 Lord Stanley's Abdiel. 2 yrs, 4st 61b 3 Mr. Ramsay's Mid-Lothian, 4 yrs, 7st 71b; Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy, 6 yrs, Bst 61b ; Mr. Boynton's Poussin, 6 yrs, 7st 61b ; Mr. S. L. Fox's Psalmsinger, 4 yrs, ist 410 ; Mr. Mostyu's The Premier, 3 yrs, 7st; Mr. Fox's Little John, 5 yrs, Est llib ; Mr. Allen's Lady Alice, 3 yrs, 6st 41b ; and Mr. Jaques's, Spur, 3 yrs, sst, also started. 3 to 1 agst Abdiel, 5 to 1 agst Kismet, 8 to 1 agst Ratcliffe and 10 to 1 each Mid-Lothian and Trueboy. Won by a neck, The Great Yorkshire Stakes of 10 cove. each, with 100. added; fur colts, Bst 71b, and filles, Bat 210. The second to receive 501. out of the stakes. One mile and three quarters. (116 Subs.) Mr. Meiklam's Poynton (Templeman) 1 Colonel Anson's lago Lord Glasgow's f by Retriever, out of Emilia The following also started, but were not placed Allen's Fitzwilliarn—Mr. Banks's Charcoal—Mr. Brown's Sheraton—Lord Chesterfield's Spanish Jack—Mr. llarland's Cossack Maid—Mr. E. R. Clark's The Conjuror—Mr. Reed's Alliance—Mr. Ramsay's Malcolm—Mr. Wormald's Quad ruped—and Earl Zetland's Ada. Betting.—Even on lago, 4 to 1 agst Conjuror. 5 to 1 agst Poynton, and 16 to 1 each agst Quadruped and Emilia filly. Won by a head, lago beating Emilia filly by a neck. The Gimcrack Stakes of 10 sot's. each, and 100 added, fur two yrs old colts, Bst 71b, and fillies, Bst 21b. The second to receive 251., and the third to save his stake. One mile. (28 subs. ) Capt. Harcourt's fby Lanercost, dam by Tomboy (Lye) 1 Mr. Ped:ey'i Foreclosure ... 2 Mr. J. Scott's Tim Whiffler 3 The following also ran :—Mr. Jaques's Sir Martin—Mr. Meiklam's Deloraine—Mr. Osborne's Hyderabad—Mr. W. Scott's Dashing White Sergeant—Mr. S. L. Fox's Chapeau Rouge—Mr. J. ilL,rry's Limestone—Mr. Mostyn's f by La nercost, out of L'Hirondelle—and Mr. Whitelock's Prince Alfred. Won by a length. The Members' Plate of 50/. ; 3 yrs old, 6st 101 b; 4 yrs, Bst 31b ; 5 yrs, Sit 101 b ; 6 yrs and aged, 9.st ; mares, &c , allowed 31b; winners once, 31bs, twice, slbs extra. Heats one mile and a half. Mr. S. L. Fox's Waxliolme, 3 yrs Lord Chesterfield's Snake, 3 yrs _ 2 2 Won b}• a head. BETTING AT YORK ON FRIDAY ➢IORNING. ST. LAGER. 5 to 1 agst Sir Tatton Sykes(t) 10 to 1 agst Fancy Boy (t) 8 to 1 agst Brocardo ( t) 14 to 1 agst Sting 8 to 1 agst Traverser (t) Oa Thursday night 20 to 1 was laid agst lago, and 1,000 to 30 agst Free Lance. The purchaser of Lord George Bentinck's stud is the Hon. E. M. Mostyn, who received possession on Tuesday last; the price for the lot, in which was included brood mares, stallions, horses in training, and young stock, and the entire materiel of the establishment, was 10,000 guineas. EGHAM RACES.-TUESDAY. Nominations for the Member's Plate—ch f by Sir Hercules oat of Taglioni, 4 yrs; Master Stepney, 4 yrs; Bonny Lass, 5 yrs. WEDNESDAY. The Egham Stakes—Subduer, 6 yrs; Master Stepney, 4 yrs; Bonny Lass, 5 yrs; .11, , ,wland, 6 yrs. The Queen's Plate—ch f by Sir Hercules out of Taglioni, 4 yrs; Tragical, 3 yrs; b c by Hetman Platoff out of .Nannette, 3 yrs; Oliver Cromwell, 3 yrs; Nubia, 5 yrs. PAISLEY RACES.—T/SURSDAY. The Trial Stakes of 5 Povs. each, 3ft and 25 added. One mile. (4 Subs.) Mr. Kennedy's b fby the Doctor out of Mildew's Dam, 3 yrs, 7st 21b (Prince) 1 Mr. W. 11. Johnstone's Marian Ramsay, 4 yrs, Bst 41b... '2 Mr. Wilson's Mestneria, 4 yrs, Bst 41b .. 3 Mr. A. Hill's Sir Charles, aged, 9st 111 b The Burgh Members' Plate of 50 guineas. Heats, two miles. Mr. Merry's Pilot, 4 yrs (Robinson) 1 1 Mr. W. H. Johnstone's Roper's Daughter, agecL 3 2 Mr. A. Ccok's Surety, 5 yrs The Glasgow Cup, 100 sovs., added to a Handicap of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, and 5 only if declared. Two , miles. Mr. Merry's John Harris, 4 yrs, 7st 51b (Robinson) 1 Lord Eglinton's Plaudit, 4 yrs, 7st Mr. Murland's Elemi, 5 yrs, 7st 21b The Selling Stakes of 5 sovs. each, 2 ft, and 25 added. Heats, once round and a dis. Sir J. Boswell's Claudia, 3 yrs (Rutherford) 1 1 Mr. A. Hill's The Bashaw, aged Air. Donaldson's Maid of aged Mr. Harvey's Saddlebow, 5 yrs ... • . 3 dr The Paisley Cup of 40 Boys., added to a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, h ft, was won in two heats by Mr. Merry's Badinage, 4 yrs, Sst 41b (Robinson), beating Marian Ram say, Bst 41b. ABERYSTWITH RACES.—WEDNESDAY. The Johnny Raw Stakes, of 5 soya. each, 3 ft, and 20 added. One mile and a half. (8 Subs.) Mr. Parr's Faith, 3 yrs ...(W. Butler) 1 Mr. Goddard's British Grenadier, 4 yr5.........._ 2 The Cardiganshire Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, and only 5 if declared. Two miles. (9 Subs; 6 paid.) Mr. Parr's Faith, 3 yrs, Est _..walked over The Crosswood Stakes of 5 sovs. each, 3 ft, and 15 added. Heats, one mile and a half. Mr. Protheroe's Chance, aged, 12st (Williams) 1 1 Mr. Marshall's Needwood, aged, list 71b Mr. Bullin's British Grenadier, 4 yrs, lOst 10Lb 3 3 Mr. Davis's Waterloo, aged, list 31b The Borough Members' Plate of 251., added to a Sweep stakes of 3 sovs. each, one mile and a half, was won in two heats by Mr Bullin's Ulysses, 7st 131 b (Ennis), beating Mr. Parr's Lady Harriet, 4 yrs, 7st 131 b. THU P,SDA Y . The Tradesmen's Cup of 50/., added to a Sweewtakcs of 10 sot's. each, 3 ft, and only 3 if declared. One mile and a half. (9 Subs., 4of whom declared.) Mr. Parr's Faith, 3 yrs, 6st 51b, walked over. The Gogerddan Stakes of 10 soya, each, sft and 20 added, for hunters, 4 miies, 2 subs., were won by Mr. Builin's Ulysses, 4 vrs, (Mr. Thomas). beating Chance, aged. The County Members' Plate of 25/., added to a Sweepstakes of 3 soya. each. Heats, two mil es. . _ _ Mr. Parr's Faith, 3 yrs, 6st 61b (W., Butler) 1 1 Mr. Bullin's British Grenadier, 4 yrs, 7st 71b 2 2 The Hack Stakes of 1 soy. each, and 10 added ; the second to receive V. Heats, one mile.. Mr. Davis's Waterloo, 1 Ist 61b...( Mr. Williams) 4 3 1 1 Mr. Marshall's Mountain Maid, lOst 41b ... 5 1 2 2 Mr. Bullin's The Lady, 9st Mr. Sadler's Landseer, list 81b Mr. Powell's Charley, 9st The Ladies' Plate, by subs. of 3 sovs. eac ti, one mile, was won in three heats by Ulysses, Bst 41b (Ennis), beating Lady Harriet, 9st 61b. THE POTATo DISEASE. TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POTATO CROP IN WARWICKSHIRE. BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY.—" The potato crop has failed, totally failed. Three months hence we doubt much if there will be a good potato in England." Such was the startling statement made to us yesterday 'by a gentleman most extensively engaged in the corn trade, and inti mately acquainted with the state of the crops in every part of England. In as far as regarded th e condition of his own crop, he said, " I have tried tile m, and found that two out of every three were gone." Such a startling announcement has been confirmed to day by several of our most extensive potato growers; and the high and increasing price of potatoes in our market affords another proof that it is but too well founded. LITERATURE. E QUARTERLY RE VIE W, !V°. There is an ambitious charac;.er about this publication which cannot fail to elicit very considerable tilent, told to arouse no inconsiderable interest. If we felt inclined to pronounce any wholesale cond,mnation upon the pre sent nuaf,er, it would simply be for a blemish arising cut of an advantageous quality, namely, for discursive ness. In regard to variety of materials, there is., indeed, anything but a deficiency ; hut, from that very circum stance, there is, too generally we conceive, a lack of solidity in the contributions. From their brevity and multiplicity, the reviews bear too frequently the appear ance of superficial smartness than of astute and search ing analysis. This, however, is not applicable to every individual article ; on the contrary, some might be par ticularised for their penetrant and philosophical acumen. One pecularity in this periodical we must, nevertheless, specify forthwith, inasmuch as it might be so readily rectified, and constitutes such an intolerable deformity, We allude to the extraordinary indifference to the orthography of names and places ; whether arising from the deceptive memory or execrable penmanship of the reviewers, or the egregious carelessness of the composi tors, it is impossible to conjecture. "Don Juan" contains an adroit sarcasm at military glory, where it condenses it into a wooden leg, or having " one's name mis ' spelt in the Gazette." Byron overlooked the evan escence of literary glory in the same blundering of a critic—though, true enough, the New Quarterly was not then in existence. In speaking tkus we are not battling with a shadow ; the flaws and errors of this description obtrude themselves upon our attention from many of the pages new lying before us. We will not, however, con tent ourselves with simply entering a protest ; we will substantiate our accusation by very credible witnesses. For example : in a paper entitled " Melville's Residence in the Marquesas" the writer calls Nukuheva, Makaheva ; he blunders taboo into tafoo ; Merheyo into Marhego ; Fayaway into Fazawaz ; and the rest in like manner. Such sins of commission are absolutely without the slightest palliation ; they are the very converse of the precision of those asetic caligraphers to whose punctitious exactitude in orthography, we are indebted for the preservation of many of the most important his torical facts, and thousands of the most precious poetical beauties of the ancient hi-torians and poets. Subordinate as this failing may be, it is entirely divested of excuse, and requires the most scrupulous avoidance. According to our view, the examination of " Prichard's Physical History of Man" is the most meritorious and valuable article in the present number. It condenses the pith of that very extraordinary work into an agreeable and readable compass ; it occasionally does • justice to its learned and most industrious author, but occasionally also casts a flippant derision upon theories which have been generated by many years of arduous me ditation. In the astonishing scope of his sub ject -- in multifarious accomplishments —in scho lastic and scientific erudition—in rigidity of judg ment and fecundity of imagination, the mind of Dr. James Cowles Prichard hears some affinity to that of the renownecrLiebnitz. The extent to which this one work upon the physical history of mankind has swelled, and the astonishing fund of learning which it has plun dered from all preceding writers, cannot but remind the readers of Liebnitx of the disquisitions, and essays, and histories, and memorials, issued by that wonderful ' genius. In these particulars, but in these particulars alone, do we feel ourselves justified in hinting at an analogy between minds otherwise so eminently Liebnitz was an universal genius; his capacities ap peared to be exhaustless; no one could, or can conjecture, the profundity or strength of his intellect. Dr. Prichard, on the contrary, has presented us with the gauge of his own mind in his researches upon the physical history of mankind. We iseow precisely its depth, and it is not shallow; we perceive precisely its hue, and it is not de ficient in lustre; we feel precisely its force, and it is not feeble. Whether the whole human race—the black negro, the tawny Arab, the fairest of the northern na tions, the red Indians, the dun Laplanders—are all the offspring of one common stock, is one of those startling questions which can never fail to exeite the inquiries of the thoughtful. That question is to be answered either by reference to revelation or by appealing to the judgment by an array of facts and arguments logically placed. Dr. Prichard has evidently acquiesced in the scriptural intimation that the human family has sprung solely from Adam and Eve; and not only that those are our exclusive progenitors, but that the descendants of Noah alone survive on the face of the globe. Never theess, Dr. Prichard has not contented himself with that very indolent mode of settling the matter: he has argued the question as one of the problems of natural and moral history, of psychology, of anatomy, of geo graphy, ethnography, and physiology. To elucidate its merits he hes devoted to it 37 years of his valuable life, and still the matter remains incomplete. The arch still lacks its keystone. May Dr. Prichard live to con sumete his very remarkable and protracted exertions ! The dissertation on the " Odes of Horace"—those are besques of poetry !—is a charming and scholarly paper. Some of the latter pages seem powdered with the dia monds, and emeralds, and pearls of literature, in the shape of quotations. Of a geographical character, we are treated with articles upon " Stokes' Discoveries in Australia," " Overland Route from India," "Expedition to Borneo," &c. ; of romances we are granted a flavour" in notices of Miss Pardee's last novel, of" Emilia Wyiid ham," and of Niccolo de' Lepi. With other interesting papers the New Quarter'', is singularly attractive. LETTERS FROM MADRAS. By a Lady. Murray's Home and Colonial Library. No. .VXXV. A volume of this delightful series is equivalent to an excursion in a steamer. It carries its reader in imagina tion to the most distant and beautiful quarters of the world; it does so with the utmost rapidity; and it con veys to his mind all the most striking characteristics of those countries—their scenery, their inhabitants, their customs, their amusements, their religious ceremonies-- as vividly us the most faithful memory and the most picturesque pen can delineate them. With a number of the " Home and Colonial Library" in our hands we can at pleasure follow Malcolm to Persia, Borrow to Spain, Hay to Morocco, Father Ripa to China, Lewis to the We t Indies, Bishop Heber to the East Indies, Melville to the Marquesas Islands, or the fair authoress, whose lucubrations are now lying upon our portfolio, to Madras; and go thither, moreover, without the trouble of removing our slippers on rising from our elbow-chair. A map sketched before us on the table, a paper-cutter, and one of the works just enumerated, and, hey presto !—this brick Babylon of London is forgotten, and we are strolling at leisure under cork trees, among pagodas, by wigwams, or in any other extraordinary locality we may please to select. By issuing such a periodical Mr. Murray is performing a service to his subscribers and to literature; he is en larging the minds of the former, and counteracting the effect which might otherwise be produced by the spurious products of the latter. These letters from Madras are remarkable for the discursiveness of their descriptions, and the utter lack of symmetry in their arrangement ; and yet those very blemishes are the source of the principal beauty of the performance. What is lost in primness and neatness is gained in naturalness. This is not one of those speci mens of book-making which are too often palmed off upon the public as veritable originals. The narrative is that of a voya2er; the accounts are those of an eye, witness; the paintings are copied from nature; and, best of all, the narrator is a woman—a young, lively, chattering, observant woman. From the moment when she is overcome with sea-sickness in the Bay of Biscay, and exclaims with horror, at the entrance of her Irish servant with a great plateful of beefsteak and potatoes, "0, what is all that for? Oh, dear me!" to the period when the dinner table, at Samuldavee, is covered with ntyriads of black bugs, and a man walks round the table with a dessert-spoon (!) and a napkin to take them Off the shoulders of the company, our authoress is always in excellent humour, her descriptions are always piquante, her observations always on the qui vive. Nor does she neglect, whenever an opportunity occurs, to intersperse her tittle-tattle with s , rious and sometimes most benevolent commentaries. For example, her animadverskris on the trade in Hill Coolies—a trade by which those unfortunate people are trepanned from their native land, torn from their fami lies or deluded by fallacious statements to servitude in the Mauritius—are to us most welcome. They are morever of especial interest just at this juncture, when the Sugar Duties Bill is receiving the sanction of the Legislature, and when the names and misfortunes of the Hill Coolies are thereby attracting a considerable share of public attention. We can commend this little volume to every one, but especially to those whose relatives are sojour ners either in Madras or its vicinity, and they are, we conjecture, " not one, but legion." inflicting the slighest pain ? If you do not, you ought. It is still shame ! shame ! To turn from the aggregate and individualities of professional pride, insincerity, ned resklessness, let us call to this invaluable periodical the prompt attention of the public (who are the most int.'- rested in the question of pain or no pain), and of so much of the medical profession as prefers the honest and useful exercise of their art to a spurious re putation for the profound know ledge of it ;--hesidea act counts of operations effected without pain, and with in variable success as to the result, at Cherbourg, in Ame rica, the West Indies, England, and Ireland, all authen ticated upon unquestionable evidence *—that of public functionaries, professional men of high standing, and others—the cases communicated by Dr. Esdaile, of Hooghly (East Indies), the head of the Government medical establishments in that place, will be found to place the happy efficacy of mesmerism, in this respect, entirely and fir ever beyond doubt. The cases are very curious, and they are (with the exception of some inter posed atrocities on the part of two sceptics) as gratifying, we'sh:Juld say delightful, as they are curious. Dr. Es. (lade had never seen anything of mesmerism, when e native patient in the hospital g iol, being in great suffer ing, was brought to him, and he thought the case was one in which he might give mesmerism a trial. We have not space for the detail ; but the experiment was suc cessful. During the operation, usually attended with excruciating pain, the man was motionless as a corpse. When his wounds were dressed, and he was roused from the mesmeric trance, he declared that he was wholly unconscious of all that had been done, and knew only that by some means his tumour (of 40Ibs. weight) was gone. Subsequently Dr. Es4aile, having from this moment persevered, without failure in a single case, removed a number of similar (scrotal) tumours, of weights varying from 81bs. to SOlbs. In these cases, which are more commonly fatal than otherwise, the wounds healed, by what is called the first intention," and the recovery was rapid. Up to the last report, published in this volume, from Dr. Esdaile, upwards of a hundred operations, amputations, &e., wese performed by himself or his assistants, in the Government Hospital, in the presence of the authorities and most respectable resi denss of Hoozhly, whose solemn testimony is likewise published. In one case, to gratify Dr. Bedford, who wished to ascertain whether the patients were not natu rally insensible to pain, a poor creature was subjected to cruel tests, which we shrink from relating. It is im portant to observe, that in all these cases, as well as in the French, American, and British cases, recorded in these pages of the Zoist, cure followed the operations. It is by no means uncommon to see recorded the fact that " Mr. So-and-so, of such and such an hospital, performed the most difficult operation with his usual skill, and to the admiration of all present. The patient suffered se verely, but is doing well." Such flattering and gratify ing report is not at all unfrequently followed next day by another to the effect that—'` We regret to say, that notwithstanding the favourable symptoms, which•at first appeared, the patient gradually sank, and es- pired at, &c. &c." But it was asserted by a high authority, and cheered, at the Medical and Chirurgical Society, that the suffering of pain during operations, " is: according to the i,tentions of nature, that it would be wrong to prevent it, and that it does them good." (.! !) It is a fact that a Dr. C. said so, speaking in the character of an infallible authority, against mesmerism, which prevents pain. Is it not, however, probable, if even the facts did not prove it, that an operation which is unattended with pain or irritation is less likely to be followed by fatal inflam mation than one which was inflicted with torture, and immediately succeeded by a total prostration of the vital powers? Nor is it in respect to operations only that the Zoist establishes, upon incontrovertible facts, the efficacy of mesmerism, but, in respect to numerous acute and chronic diseases, the rceionale of the cure being clearly enough explained in the reports. For these the publi cation must now be left to speak for itself. The truths which it announces are before the world, and must make their way. Patients will not much longer submit to needless torture ; and operations without previous mes merism, will become as obsolete as the application of red hot iron to a bleeding stump, notwithstanding the wise and pious maxim that pain is ordained by Provi dence, is salutary, and ought not to be prevented. The important cases of cure in glandular, vascular, and nervous diseases of the most formidable kind, communicated by Dr. Elliotson, Dr. Ashburner, (of the Middle sex H os pit a l), Mr. Widdell, Mr. Chandler, andothers, would be sufficient to convince any person who would take the trouble, or rather give himself the pleasure, of reading them. But we must particularly refer to operations performed by Mr. Thomas Bell, Professor of Zoology in King's College, and lecturer at Guy's Hospital, the mesmeric phenomena of which are certified by Mr. E. Forbes, Professor of Botany, King's College; Mr. W. Ferguson, Professor of Surgery, King's College, and surgeon to King's College Hospital ; Mr. James Luke, surgeon to the London Hospital; and Mr. John Adams, Assistant Surgeon, London Hospital. Mr. Thomas Bell is to introduce the cases to the notice of his pupils at Guy's Hospital in his lectures next session. How long will the " reflex motion" and " useful pain" doctors hold out? and the surgeons who swear in courts of justice that blundering and fatal operations cannot be htlped, and that a man must wade knee deep in human blood to surgical eminence? That sworn statement was distinctly applied to blood fatally shed! LAYS AND LEGENDS OF GPRMANY. By Ella Louisa Harvey. A very pleasing volume of fugitive pieces, by the ac complished daughter of the Bishop of Jamaica. In fluency of versification, and analogy of expression, Miss II rvey's translations from German poetry aro frequently equal to the most successful performances of John Oxenford—and, to our thinking. that is no mean corn mendation. Neverthelvss, the fair authoress is some times singularly unequal in spirit. One stanza is spon taneous and unaffected, while the very next is forced and unnatural. Her version of that tenderest of all tender ditties (" Most musical, most melancholy") Mignon's Song," is a striking example of this defect ; the second and third versos are altogether unworthy of the first ; it is the merging of a delicious melody into discordance. In the minor fragments ►Miss Harvey is generally eminently successful. " Ye never shall possess it The free, the German Rhine," seems beating with the pulse of a love for fatherland. Sometimes, by the novel pensivenes with which she in vests even a trite idea, our authoress writes in a tone sin gularly touching. Thus, after revisiting " The Scenes of Childhood, and, after musing on their unaltered verdure and beauty, she exclaims : " Ye are the same —but in my heart There dwells a world of change ; And all your glories but impart A feeling cold and strange. " To me the woods, and rushing streams, The wild and beauteous shore, Are shadow s I ary c o l ung rememberednomore!"clreams. I Many of the legends are striking and original ; and the historical ballads, written in emulation of those glo rious lines, beloved of yore, by Bishop Percy, are pleasingly and sometimes nervously composed. Miss Harvey has shown herself an adept in all the myste ries of rhythm, and because she has not striven for the attainment of too much she has been successful. THE TORY CAUSE IN BRADFORD, YORKSHIRE.—A circular has been addressed to the wealthy Tories in Brad ford, to say that, unless they double their subscriptions, there can be no stand made for the West Riding at the next elec tion, as the Tory funds are much depressed. REPRESENTATION OF MANCHESTER.—It will be re collected that at a meeting of the committee of the Manchester Reform Association, on Wednesday week, a resolution to put Mr. Cobden in nomination, notwithstanding his reluctance to offer himself as a candidate, was met by an amendment, to the effect that the meeting regretted exceedingly that Mr. Cobden should decline to become a candidate, and that it was advisable to seek some other gentleman to offer him self as a candidate. It was then agreed that a special meet ing of the committee should be held on that day week, to consider the whole question. The special meeting was held on Wednesday last, and there was a very large at tendance, including nearly all the members of the commit tee. Mr. George Wilson moved that Mr. Bright be invited to become a candidate at the next general election. Mr. Edward W. Watkin seconded the motion. A long discus sion ensued; those who supported the motion urging the claims of Mr. Bright to the honour of representing Man chester, while on the other hand those who were in favour of putting Mr. Cobden in nomination, contended that no good reason could be shown why the same course should not be taken with regard to him, that was pursued towards the late Mr. Poulett Thomson, who was put in nomination and elected without his consent. On the other hand, it was urged that the committee had only a week before—(we believe, by a majority of 13 to 6)—negatived the course now recommended by the majority of those present. Ultimately, it was resolved unanimously that a meeting should be held that day fortnight (Wednesday the 2d September), to con sider the propriety of rescinding the resolution of Wednes day week, and of reconsidering the whole subject.—Man cheater Guardian. In almost every case the destruction has been rapid and general. We have examined several large fields in the district, and found the roots in most c:ases reduced to a pulpy mass. Previous to the late rains the stems and branches were luxuriant and promising—now they are lying dead on the ground and appear as if they had been killed, not so much from any taint fro is a poisonous atmosphere as from the effects of some , cankerous dis ease at the roots. The smell emitted frcai the fields, in several instances, is most offensive, ands ufficient in low lying marshy grounds to produce ape stilence. This was more particularly observable to-dray, when there was strong sunshine and heat, the action of which on the ground, saturated as it has been with rain, produced a species of fermentation among the dis , 3ased roots, and a kind of smoke which rose from the sur.Face like a thick ground mist. The only potatoes in this neighbourhool we have yet seen that hAve entirely escaped the disease are growing in a field in South Staffordshire, from seed which lay in the ground all winter. The farmer iu this case did not lift his last year's crcp at:all. A good many of the po tatoes were then diseased, and he thought if he left the whole in the ground, those that might - withstand the frost in winter would be free from disease, and grow up in the spring. The field in May was covered with early plants. These he carefully cleaned and hoed up ; they now promise an abundant crop, and should the experi ment succeed, it may prove highly useful. Concurrent with the progress of the disease in this quarter has been a growing increase of English cholera amongst the population, not in the town merely, but in the country around. The impression now is, that the bad quality of potatoes in use occasions English cholera. This is a difficult point, and should be 'carefully con sidered. One thing is clear, there has not been so much English cholera in Birmingham for many years as at the present time.— Warwick Advertiser. THE ZOIST. A Journal of Cerebral Physiology and Mesmerism, and their application to Human Wel fare. Islos. 13 and 14. The last hsilf-yearly volume of the Zoist demands im peratively the most solemn and careful attention of every man who desires to advance science and to pro mote the welfare of mankind. The physiological facts which are here collected surpass in their importance all that may be found in the " Transactions" of Royal and Medical and Chirurgical Societies, or in the " Reports " of Academies, from the invention of printing to the pre sent time. They are produced by patient observers of nature—earnest inquirers after truth—men of high personal and professional character and extensive ac quirements, in all parts of the globe. They are esta blished by authority so conclusive, so far above sus picion, that none who can appreciate the force of ! evidence will honestly deny thew. They are of such transcendent value to suffering mankind that it is both cruel and iniquitous for those who live by professing the healing art, to withhold their benefit from those whom they are paid to relieve. It is, in fact, vain any 1 longer to decry MesmeriQrn as a delusion, or stigmatise its disinterested and (happily for the world) indomitable champions—the champions of now triumphant truth— as impostors or toots. The day is gone by, and for ever, when a heartless joke or a malignant sneer may turn aside the attention of the world from phenomena, which are not less precious in their practical utility than instructive in their relation to the science of life. Let the jeerers make their own of Clairvoyance ; let them pit the " Mysterious Lady " and the " Scotch Boy " against Julie and Adolphe. Whether and with what limitations, Clairvoyance may be true, is a question which can afford to stand over. But the amputation of limbs, the extirpation of tumours, and a thousand minor operations of surgical art, must, in the mean time, be performed every hour. What torture, what agonies, what miserable deaths attend them ! Do not, then, stand and jabber about abstruse questi:ms of imma teriality, like the pretended followers of Aristotle in the old schools, whilst the patient writhes and screams under your reckless knife, until the depth of your lore and the prodigies of your skill are testified by a man gled corpse. Shame ! shame ! Do you not know that there is not one case of surgical operation, from the most complicated and hazardous to the drawing of a tooth, that cannot be readily and certainly performed without FINSBURY CHARITY SCHOOL.—The fifty-fourth an niversary dinner of this institution was held on Thursday last at the London Tavern, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair, supported by the Rev. J. Saunders, rector of H. W. Elder, Esq., St. Luke, Rey. L. Marcus, incumbent of St P au l' s, Fi ns b ury, The dinner was The cloth re move d , "N on nobis" was sung by Messrs . S p orle, Kenny, Smith, and King. Messrs. Bathe and i i served e . e L in E ea s a ci s,. ' s E t t r i . Breach, and gave great satisfaction to a numerous an d lqae.s,uhrjieg.ri,islEye.ele3, creditableEg Robinson,. Et o av c S respectable company.being After the usual loyal toasts, the chairma n rose and expressed the gratification he felt in occupying the chair on so interest ing an occasion, pointing out to the company the most pro minent features of the institution. His Lordship then alluded to the importance and advantage of a Scriptu ra l e d ucation of the poor, and the social guarantee it afforded, and urged the assembly to give a practical proof of the estimation in which they held the charity.. He then gave the toast, "P rosper it y to the Finsbury Charity Schools, amid great cheering. The children were then introduced, whose neat appearance and behaviour elicited much approbation. After an appropriate address by the Rev. L. Marcus, the health of the treasurer was given and acknowledged, a han,isome subscription was then mede ; among the donations was the L or d M a y or , 10/. 10s. ; J. Thomson , Es q ., :Ji• as. ; 11. W. Elder, 5/. 55.; Messrs. Lee, 10/. 101., &c. Other toasts followed, and the party broke up, delighted with the evening's entertainment. DISEASE AMONG CATTLE.—Our Nefitil correspondent informs us that an extraordinary and unheard-of disease has attacked numbers of cows in his neighbourhood. and that the milk •s i hich they yield s so fetid as to be totally unfit for use.— Wolsh»lan. EGG LAW.—A somewhat ludicrous exhibition of this mode of procedure was witnessed in Stamford butter market on Friday last, and whic h was inflicted upon a female vendor of eggs—one of those who visit this m ar k et evidently with the intention of defrauding the public. This honest woman, it appears, had stood in the market that day with a basket of putrid eggs, part of which she succeed e d i n pa l m i ng o ff at the usual market pr ice, hoping, no doubt, to get clear off before the purchasers found out their mistake; but she had good reason to lament her dishonesty, for before she could make her exit her enraged customers returned, and, possess ing themselves of the remainder of he r ware, pelted her with them so lustily that she was obliged t o retreat i nto a tradesman's shop close by to avoid a further inflicti on o f thi s not very agreeable punishmen t, which has doubtless taught her that, after all, "honesty is the best policy."—Lincolnshire Chronicle. THE POTATO CROP IN WALES.—It is 'with extreme regret that we are obliged to add to the testimony of many of our contemporaries, that the disease, which was so destructive to this vegetable last year, is aga in making sad ravages. Until last week, we were sanguine in hoping that the Principality had escaped the infliction. On inspecting the crops in Anglesey, Carnarvonshire, Denbighshire, Merionethshire, and Montgomeryshire, they then appeared healthy and luxuriant ; now, in many localities, whole patches of the earlier crops are blackened and withered ; and, from indications which show themselLv.vs in the later crops, we fear the result will be more dis astrous than 1, - .et season.—Carntirron Herald. THE CROPS. —We regret to say that, in consequence of the changeableness of the weather, a groat portion of the wheat crop will be materially injured, in some instances the grain has begun to grow in the ear before the crop has been cut. The sample of barley will be very bad- In most cases, the grain in our field presents three different appearances— one part nearly dead ripe; a second, just coming to hand, whilst the third is quite green. The potato crop is nearly, if not quite destroyed ; and from the early app'aarance of the disease, the effect upon the neighbourhood will be much worse than last year.—Somerset County Herald • THE SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—On Saturday the South-Lambeth Brewbouse, situate in Bond-st reet, together with all the outbuildings, as well as a great - many houses, were sold by Mr. Chadwick, of St. Mart - m's -lane, to be pulled down to make way for the South-Western Railway, which ie to be extended to the vicinity of Vcaterloo-bridge. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 24, 1846? THE FRED; CSI IN OTAHEITE. VALPARAISO, MAY 30, 1843. The following- are extracts from a letter received by a vessel just arrived from Otaheite :—• OTA APRI L 15, 16 , 16.-0.: the 22d of March, about three o'clock hi the afternoon, a few of the natives found their way into the town, and set fire to the houses of Major Fergus, a Polish gentleman, in the service of the French, and Idamoi, a native chief, in the French interest; the latter they killed before the French were able to interfere. The French soon turned out to check and ehastive the natives, and a general firing commenced on both sides, which was kept up till near seven o'clock in the evening. So sudden and unexpected was the attack, that the inhabitants were all struck dumb with consternation, and a scene of the greatest confusion en sued. The foreigners began immediately to remove their familes from the town on board the vessels; some hurrying away from the scene of the conflict with their wives and children, and others escaping with their books, papers, and what money they could lay their bands upon. There was a loss in killed and wounded on both sides, but the precise number I have not heard. Next day, being Sunday, there was a cessation of hosti lities, but almost every day since shots have been exchanged ; and totday they had another engagement. The plan adopted by the hostile tribe appears now to be to bang about the neighbourhood of the town and to harass the French with out coming to anything like a pitched battle. This morning [the dates of the writer's letter run on consecutively from the 11th to the 15th of April] a party of the natives in the in terest of the French went, by permission of the Governor, a short distance from the town, and attempted to plunder the provisions, vegetables, &c., of the enemy, when they were attacked and repulsed by the latter; they had one man shot through the liver, who is now dead, another badly wounded, and a third is missing. The other side lost one man killed. In the second engagement above mentioned, which was the most serious, the French had a force of about 250 men. After a sharp firing of about an hour and a half, the French and their allies (Kanakas, as the natives are called) returned with two poor devils prisoners. The opposite party lost men in killed in this engagement also. I cannot help alluding to the cruelty of this wretched war of a powerful nation with the poor inoffensive natives, and I do think that the adoption of more conciliating and politic measures on the part of the French would at least mend matters. The azreement entered into between the Governor and Sir George Seymour wa3 broken soon after the Admiral left, by the sending of the L'Uranie to the Leeward Islands, and destroying the beautiful little village on the Island of Huahine. To give a particular account of the events of the last three weeks would require more time than I can spare; but I may remark that the situation of the French is insecure, end that of the British residents is extremely critical and unplea sant. Neither our lives nor our property are safe, and what makes it worae for us is, that the French accuse us of insti gating the natives to renew hostilities, and with supplying money and ammunition for them to carry on the war with ; and so strong is the feeling against us, that the French, even our old acquaintances, keep aloof from us. This feeling of hostility has most unfortunately been communicated to the •• French natives, or allies," as they are called, as will appear by the fact that about a fortnight ago, Dr. Henry, of the Salamander, while walking in Dr. Johnstone's garden, was fired at by a French nativ e , and woun d e d i n t h e b ac k of the head. The cloth cap he had on directed the course of the ball upwards, which saved his life. The ball took with it a part of his scalp. The native was tried by court-martial, and acquitted. The verdict was, "Shot by accident." Dr. Henry is now almost well again. What the British Admiral will say to this verdict when he comes here, is a question of deep interest to us. In the event of the French troops being beaten by the natives and driven within the outposts, the commander of our own man-of-war, the Salamander, is strictly forbidden even in that case to send his boats to our assistance. We were told publicly by the "Director of European affairs" (a French functionary), that, should the troops be beaten, French boats would be sent to our relief, to which we should be conducted by a guard of French soldiers, or to the square of the Government-house, at our option. But though all this seems very fine, we don't much relish "a guard of French soldiers." Our countryman had a narrow escape. lie, with the rest of us, sent his property on board, and shortly after wards a 32-pounder was shot slap through his house! He landed his goods a week ago, and was obliged again to pack up from the uncertainty (in which) we all are in as to the result of all this fighting. Every one is obliged to keep within doors from six in the evening to six next morning; and as for the pleasure or comfort of living here we are obliged to subsist entirely upon sated and preserved meats. The following appears as an article of news this afternoon in one of the Valparaiso newspapers:— " OTAnErrE.—The Hamburg!' brig Vigilant brings us news of two attacks of the natives and French. One was in a valley, and both parties had several killed and wounded ; the other was at a tower defended by a small (un corto) num ber of French, who made a sally, attacked (the natives) Kith the bayonet, and took from them a piece of artillery which they had brought." The same paper adds:— " There was a scarcity of all kinds of provisions. Flour was at 20 dolls. a barrel, and biscuit at 15 dolls." _ _ The Vigilant has cone here, chartered by the French Go vernment, to take provisions hence to Otaheite. She has brought from Otaheite a cargo of molasses, and 20,000 dol lars in specie on private account. Another letter from Otaheite states that a small schooner of 62 tons burden, sailing under the flag of .the " Navigators' Islands," chartered by two British subjects, of the names of Evans and Paynter, to trade amongst the Islands, is sup posed to have been run away with by the crew or by the crews and captain jointly. The schooner was called the Malolo, and the master's name is Turnbull. While the char terers were on shore negotiating for a return cargo to take to Otaheite, on the sth of March last, they saw the schooner stand out to sea, and they have had no intelligence of her since. Evans, and another Englishman, a passenger, after waiting ten days on the island, procured a native boat, and proceeded to Otaheite, and gave information of the circum stance to Captain Hammond, of the Salamander, in the hope that he might be able to render assistance in recovering the schooner. It is with the same view that I mention the fact, as if inserted in the papers the publicity given thereby to the affair may lead to the discovery of her fate. V. English merchantmen just arrived—The Ann Rankin, from Glasgow, in 110 days; the Corsair, from London, in 91 days; the Ann Mary, anchoring, from Liverpool, 135 days.—Val paraiso, May 31st. THE 9th LANCERS at the BATTLE OF SOBRAON. We are requested to publish the following copy of a letter addressed by Major-General Sir Harry Smith to Lieutenant- Colonel Fullerton, commanding her Majesty's 9t'a Lancers, in refutation of a calumnious statement which has obtained circulation respecting the conduct of Colonel Campbell at the battle of Sobraon. Although the statement referred to did not appear in our cohimns, we have much pleasure in giving publicity to so complete a vindication of Colonel Campbell's character : "Simla, June 18, 1846. " Sir—ln reply to your letter of the 14!h inst , this day re ceived, representing that some vile, calumnious, and wicked reports are in circulation by certain newspapers in England, to the effect that her Majesty's 9th Lancers did not do their duty in the field at the memorable battle of Sobraon ; I have the satisfaction to record the following facts, although I had heretofore believed that a regiment of British Dragoons was protected from insult and indignity by its own appellation. " On the celebrated morning of the 10th of February the division of Infantry under my command was directed to post itself on the banks of the Sutlej, fronting the left of the enemy's position, and near the village of Guttah, as near the enemy as possible, but not to get within range of his cannon. " The brigade of cavalry under Brigadier Campbell, of the 9th Lancers, and in which this corps was, I had received instructions would he placed in support, to the rear of the left of my division, and to the right of General Gilbert's. " At daylight in the morning Brigadier Campbell rode up to me with his staff, and pointing out his brigade, requested to know if it was posted as desired. " I highly approved of its position. Not certain that I was with my division near enough to the enemy, I directed Brigadier Campbell to move up a squadron of the 9th Lan cers which he, instantly did, for the purpose of ascertaining the range of the enemy's cannon. " The squadron was commanded by Captain Read, who handled it in a masterly manner, moving up to the enemy's position with skirmishers; rapidly a heavy cannonade was opened on this squadron. My object as to distance was at tained, and I withdrew the squadron, which Captain Read again brought back in the steadiness with which it had ad vanced, although at the time under a sharp cannonade, and when this squadron rejoined the beautiful body of men the 9th Lancers, I saw that flash of the British soldier's eye which is not to be mistaken, and a sort of pulsated motion in their saddles, evincing that eagerness for the fight their national courage inspired. " Ary division was ordered to the assault of deep and strong entrenchments—no field for cavalry, difficult enough for in fantry—and I directed Brigadier Campbell to remain where he was, to support my division and General Gilbert's, in case we were beaten back; an event I did not anticipate, although I provided for it. .6 After the victory, I ascertained that so eager was this brigade for the assault, that it had been moved forward, and had lost some men and horses by the enemy's cannon. This I regretted, but could not animadvert upon so laudable a de sire to participate in the danger and glory of victory. Had I made use of this brigade in the assault of entrenchments, it would have been madness; while I assert, with veteran con fidence and the knowledge of British soldiers which expe rience acquires, that never did our country, so famed for gallantry in its soldiers, possess a regiment better animated with every noble feeling of the brave, from its officers to the privates, than the brigade of Brigadier Campbell, of which the 9th Lancers formed a conspicuous portion ; or never did the revered Sovereign of our realm p'ssess a regiment of Dragoons more efficient in physical strength, or better animated for war, than her Majesty's 9th Lancers. " I have entered into a lengthy detail, almost unnecessary, for our noble and gallant Commander-in-Chief's dispatch contains all that I have recorded in a few words; and the world may rely on it, that such a General would never com mend the craven-hearted—an appellation, I thank my God, in 41 years' experience, I have never seen applicable to a British regiment in the most daring deeds of arms.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, H. G. SMITH, Major-General. " To Lieut.-Colonel Fullerton, commanding her Majesty's 9th Lancers." Letters which have just b4en received from Gibraltar mention a report, that General Cavaignac had in the pro vince of Oran surrounded and put to death an Arab tribe, consisting of 600 men, women, and children; that the war is now carried on on the principle of extermination, and that the French soldiers receive ten francs for every pair of human ears they bring in, whatever the age or sex of the original owners of these ears may have been. It is but justice to the French people that the publication of such rumours should give their rulers an opportunity of contradicting or explain ing them. It is with this view we make the statement, and it will be gratifying to every friend of humanity if the Dgbats, or any other paper speaking from authority, could be enabled to contradict this reporb —Chronic/e. COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE ELECTRIC TELE GRAFIL—The fact of the suspension of the Leeds Commer cial Banking Company's business, which took place at twelve o'clock on Monday last, was known in Birmingham in about a quarter of an hour after that time, by means of the elec tric telegraph, which has been recentl y comp l ete d on t h e Midland line of railway. Immediately on the arrival of the intelligence it was forwarded to the various banks and pub lic offices in this town. The advantages of such an almost simultaneous mode of communicating intelligence so im portant to the mercantile world is too obvious to require any comnfent, and great praise is due to the railway officials for the promptitude with which they communicated the news to the more interested portion of the public.—Binainghant Journal. COLLISION OF THE STAKESBY AND LUZON.—lntelli.. gence was received at Lloyd's on Ftiday morning, by means of the electric telegraph upon the South -Eastern Railway, that the ships Stakesby and Luzon had been in contact, and r put back to the Downs damaged. STATE of the MINING DISTRICTS. The following are extracts from the report (just pra sented to Parliament by command of her Majesty) from the Commissioners app'Oit:ted to inquire into the opera tion of the A. - A sth and 6th Victoria, c. 29, and into the state of the population in the mining districts, 1846. This report is extremely lenghty ; and the following are only a few of the portions of it which well merit quotation and special attention. It commences thus:— TO THE RIGHT HON. HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRE TARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT,. Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, in this, my third annual report, that the Act of Parliament by which femal , !s are excluded from working in mines and col lieries, and other regulations made for the benefit of persons engaged in that species of labour, is generally observed in the portions of the mining districts to which I have this year been able to give my attention, some localities excepted, where either the neglect or opposition of a few employers, or the inveterate habits of the people, oppose an obstacle to the uninterrupted observance of the law. I have reason to believe that the employment of females below ground in any part of the mining districts is reduced to a small number ; and I have received in creasing testimonies to the good effects arising to the mining population from the discontinuance of that de grading occupation. In my two previous reports I have had occasion to men tion that legal proceedings have been frequently necessary to cause the removal of females from the large collieries at Clackmennan. In consequence of communications from me the Procurator-Fiscalof Allots commenced another prosecution against the oversman and one of the work men in that colliery. The cases were submitted to the Crown agent in Edinburgh, and the Advocate-Deputy was sent by him to Alloa to conduct them. The result was, on the 15th of December, a conviction, and a fine of Si. each upon the oversman and the workman. On that day the proprietor of the colliery, Mr. James Ray ner Wilson, as stated by the Sheriff Depute, John Tait, Esq., " appeared before the Sheriff Substitute, and de posed on oath that the employment of females at that time had taken place without his consent, concurrence, or knowledge." Notwithstanding this, the Fiscal informed me that two days only after this trial, no less than forty females again went into Mr. Wilson's pits to work. A lengthened and laborious investigation took place, and the case was reported to Crown counsel, who, on the llth of March, instructed the Fiscal "to serve a com plaint" upon Mr. Wilson. The complaint was accord ingly served, charging Mr. Wilson with " having em ployed, or having allowed or permitted to be employed, within the pits at Clackmannan colliery, eighteen females." The case came on fur trial on the 21st of March, before Mr. Sheriff Tait. Mr. Wilson appeared, and pleaded guilty to having permitted the employment of two out of the eighteen. The Advocate Depute, who had been sent from Edinburgh to conduct the case on the part of the Crown, deemed it prudent to accept this plea, and the Sheriff then sentenced Mr. Wilson to pay a fine of 20L, and failing payment, or sufficient distress by " pounding," to be committed to Allen prison for the period of one month. There was a large attendance of colliers in the Court, and one or two coal masters from Fifeshire and the surrounding neighbourhood. It is satisfactory to see that since the termination of the strike in July, 1844, more activity Las been mani fested in building school houses, providing trained teachers, and opening schools, at which the payments are so moderate (Id. and 2d. per week) as to leave no excuse to the parents for neglecting to send their chil dren. The old private schools, where the payment re pired was from 3d. to 6d. per week, were often pre ferred by the parents to the old description of national schools, where the payments were much less, but where the children, left chiefly to the monitors, advanced slowly. The new schools, under properly qualified teachers, unite cheapness with excellence. Some of the young men now conducting these schools have passed through the prescribed course at the institution for training schoolmasters at Durham. One was trained at Batter sea. They will be found valuable assistants in the im portant work of enlightening and forming the minds of the rising generation. At nearly all the large mining villages in the two counties where exertions of this kind were wanting, they have been made within the last two last years with every promise of success; and additional efforts are in contemplation in behalf of localities still insuffi ciently provided for. The Marquis of Londonderry has adopled very liberal and effectual measures to place the opportunities of a sound education within the reach of all the inhabitants of his populous mining villages. His Lordship's managing agent, Mr. Hindhaugh, informed me that the cost to Lord Londonderry, of the schools now in operation, will amount to no less a sum than 300 L a year. By his Lordship's directions, Mr. Hindhaugh Racer ' tamed in the course of last year the number of children of an age for education in the villages of Pensher, Rainton, and Piddington. On his Lordship's property they were found to amount to about 1,000, of whom about 600 are now, and have been since January last, at good schools, at hich they pay only one penny a week. The schools formerly in existence were partly supported by Lord Londonderry, at a cost of about 401. a year. MONMOUTHSHIRE AND BRECON. Wich respect to Monmouthshire and Brecon, the Commissioner writes:— The demands of duties in other quarters had, until December last, prevented my giving attention to the manner in which the Act of Parliament, with the ad ministration of which I am charged, is observed in the mineral district of Monmouthshire and Brecon, or to the state of the mining population in that district. I proceeded thither on the 3d of that month, having previously intimated to the proprietors and managers of the various iron and coal works my intention of visiting the district, and bespeaking their co-operation, if neces sary, towards giving full effect to the law. I found that the main provisions of the Act had not been generally attended to. In a few of the principal works they bad, I believe, been pretty strictly observed, and in others partially; hut the employment of females under ground was acknowledged to have been continued in eight of the works, and also of boys under ten years of age in several more. The payment of wages in public-houses, by contractors, was also very common. About seventy females were, as I was informed by the respective managers, dismissed from their employ ment under ground, in the works alluded to, immediately on the receipt of my letter on the subject, and many boys under ten were removed from the mines at the same time throughout the district. The — demand for labour being still so great, and wages so high, it is to be hoped that nothing more than a slight and temporary inconvenience may have been suffered by any parties in consequence of this change. The managers or proprietors of the various works, with whom I communicated on the spot, most readily undertook, almost without exception, to do everything in their power to prevent any future infringements of the Act in these particulars. All parties, how ever, were anxious that an impartial vigilance should be exercised throughout the district, to prevent any laxity arising in any 'quarter, by which the rest might be subject to disadvantage. The facilities which exist for avoiding compliance with the law, especially in some localities, make this the more ne cessary. I have therefore been in communication with professional gentlemen, residing on the confines of the district, who have taken steps under my direction towards enforcing the penalties of the Act in the above particulars, as mentioned at the commencement of this report. EXTRAORDINARY FACT CON NECTED WITH THE POTATO DISEASE. WINDSOR, FRIDAY. The following most singular fact in connexion with the alarming disease now so prevalent amongst the potato crops throughout the kingdom cannot be too generally made known. Publicity being given to the circumstance may be the means of causing other persons than the party in question to adopt similar measures with, it is to be hoped, equal success in reference to the preservation of their crops. In the early part of last year Mr. Giddings, who, until recently, held an appointment in the Lord Steward's depart ment in the royal household, and who now farms some land in the parish of Clewer, about a mile from this town, planted some potatoes upon a portion of his farm. They, however, were so seriously affected with the disease which so generally prevailed, the haulm becoming decayed and covered with black spots, that they were considered entirely useless, and dangerous even to give to his pigs. He therefore determined upon letting them remain in the ground throughout the (then) ensuing winter and the following spring, in order that they might rot, and thus act as manure for the land. After remaining in the ground for upwards of eighteen months, he had the land upon which they were grown dug up; and then, to his great surprise, it was discovered that the whole were entirely free from disease, and that every potato, without a single exception, was perfectly sound, and in the best pos sible state. Mr. Giddings's crops of potatoes, this year, are in the same diseased state as they were last season, scarcely one being fit for human food. li e h as , therefore, determined to adopt the same plan he formerly pursued, by letting them remain in the ground until the spring of next year. Several of the neighbouring farmers, whose crops are similarly affected, have likewise determined to try the same experiment, with, it is to be hoped, the same successful rr.s Its CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL.—It is Witt much pleasure we are able to state that the effigy and table tomb of Richard Bishop of Chichester, who died in 1252, which was in a sad state of mutilation, has, after some months' labour, been re stored by Mr. E. Richardson, the sculptor, and replaced in its late position under the shrine, in the south transept of the cathedral ; where, with much pomp and ceremony, Edward I. with Queen Eleanor and the Court witnessed the translation of the Bishop's remains and the setting . up of the present tomb, in the summer of 1276. A rose window has been placed in the east gable of the cathedral.— The Bulkier. We learn from Posen that, in consequence of the scarcity of provisions felt in that province, and which the presence of a large body of troops could only aggravate, the King of Prussia has' countermanded the grand review which was to take place this year between Franstadt and Guhrau. THE BRITISH MusEUM.—A notice has been posted at the British Museum, announcing that the institution will be closed from the 31st instant to the Bth of September, after which the hours of admission till May next will be from ten to four, instead of from ten to seven. REAPERS.—During the last ten days great numbers of reapers, from Donegal and the west of Ireland, have left this port, chiefly by the Glasgow and Ardrossan steamers, for the harvest in Scotland. The Londonderry and Isabella Napier steamers, on Monday last, freighted each nearly eleven hundred of them, and we understand that six hun dred more were waiting at Portrush to go by the same ves sels. In consequence of the numerous railroads in progress aflbrding employment to able-bodied labourers, hands for the harvest in the sister countries are in great request just now, and good wages are paid. Those who passed through this city showed, both by their general appearance and the im proved state of their clothing, that their condition has under gone of late considerable melioration, notwithstanding the great failure of the potato crop of last season.—Londonderry Journal. _ NEGRO CONDESCENSION.—A paper in Philadelphia, edited by coloured men, says :—" If a white girl is sober, careful, and industrious, she should be as much respected and taken care of as a coloured lady. HIGH TIDE.—On Friday about noon the river pre sented an unusual appearance in consequence of the tide, which rose to a very great height, causing much damage to property placed in all the log lying warehouses near the water side. BAND OF RO_I3BERS IN CANADA. EXTRAORDIN ARY DLVELOPMENTS. We learn from the Toronto Colortis4 ',that some thieves belonging to a notorious band of robbers. known as the " Markham Gang," have been arrested, triea; eeel_ ese . victed ; and that their arrest is likely to lead to the in esrceration of others, and possibly to the breaking. up of the gs,hg. The existence of this horde of robbers was first discovered in the township which has given its name to the combination, but it is ascertained that their operations extend through the entire province, from the townships of Lower Canada in the east to the State of Michigan in the west, with branches in the States o Vermont, New York, Illinois, and lowa. The Colonistf says, that the long impunity which this association en joyed gradually magnified their power, by increasing alike their numbers and their daring, until they became a terror to the communities-in which they resided ; the whole country was held hail state of intimidation. Some of the magistrates, and constables, and jurors, were alike afraid to do their duty ; and even their victims were de terred from taking proceedings against the robbers from the fear that the greater evil of fire or murder would be inflicted upon them. During' the examinations, many facts, such as the following, were disclosed:--A country magistrate refused to grant a warrant against B-- and J (two of the most formidable of the gang), for breaking into and stealing goods from a shop, on the ground that he was afraid to do so ! A constable of Markham. in whose hands a warrant was placed for the apprehension of one of the gang (now in the peniten tiary), immediately sent private information to the culprit that he had the warrant, and would not execute for four or five days, evidently for the purpose of giving the man ample time to escape ; the rogue, however, more courageous than his rural official, refused to run, and sent word to the constable that he had no fear of being convicted. Ile was subsequently brought before the neighbouring magistrates, the burglary was proved, the prisoners's identity sworn to, and the magis trates discharged him on bail ; an accomplice in the bur glary* being one of his bail. The culprit was again ad vised to run, but again refused, declaring his belief that the jury would not convict him, and even if they did, and if he should be sent to the penitentiary, he would soon " get out again on petition." Contrary to his expecta tions, however, the prisoner was convicted—is now in, the penitentiary, and he has not yet " got out on peti tion." These, and other similar facts, sufficiently demoe strate the influenceofintimidation upon some of the officers of justice in the country ; while it is well known that several of the gang, who were convicted at the late As sizes, openly boasted that had the jury been from their part of the country, they durst not have convicted them. A singularity of this association is, that the parties to it are all apparently in fair circumstances, and in a condition of life which divests them of the plea of necessity for their crimes. They are all persona (saving phrenological developments) of good appearance, and as well dressed as the generality of the better class of our farming population. Some of them are owners of farms; many of them are the sons of freeholders, strong, able bodied, well dressed young men ; some are tavern keepers; some are owners or lessees ofsaw mills; and all of them are in a condition of life, to be able to earn an honest livelihood. Some of them since their convic tion, have confessed that they have " never had a day's good luck" since they joined the gang; that pre viously they were well off and well respected, but that since their own rightful property has gone to wreck, while that acquired by dishonest means was always quickly dissipated; and that they are now, even in a pecuniary point of view, in a much worse condition than they would have been had they pursued an honest career, while their characters and their liberties are sacrificed for their crimes. From what we have learned of the gang, we should be disposed to divide them into two classes—the cavalry and the infantry. The former, who are generally mounted on the best horses in the country, figure only in the higher branches of roguery, such as burglary, horse stealing, and in the wholesale dissemination of " boodle." Boodle being the flash term of the gang for counterfeit money. To the infantry is deiegated the lower order of thievery. Some of this infantry division are occasionally intrusted with the retailing of boodle, which they pass off upon the farmers, tavern keepers, &c., of the back townships. This they manage with great dexterity and caution. They never carry more than one bad note about them at a time; having at the same time several good notes. If the note, when offered, should be detected or suspected, the fellow who offers it, with expressions of surprise, regret, doubt, &c., immediately offers a good note, and all is right. Or, if the parties should proceed so far as to have the fellow searched, all the money about him is good except this one note, and he is usually discharged. But if the bad note, when offered, be taken without suspicion, which it generally is (among the class Of persona to whom such notes are usually offered), the fellow gets - his change, supplies the place of the note which he has just pissed with another from the boodle bank, and repeats the experiment somewhere else. There is one precautionary measure of the gang which is never departed from—the thieves never take the property which they steal home to their own houses. Hence search warrants, which have often been immediately issued against the premises of the right persons, have always failed. If the stolen arti cles are bulky, and not easily removab:e to a distance, they are always taken to a hiding place, previously pared, generally in the wools, where they are kept I " until the storm blows over." Articles of considerable value, an easily removable, such as horses, watches, bank notes, u lich it is feared may be identified, &c., are often taken to Lower Canada, to the townships of Sheffurd and Dunham, where there is a wholesale establishment fur issuing counterfeit money of all sorts, and fur receiving stolen good, and where the stolen articles are d isposed of in exchange for boodle, at the rate of 100 dolls. worth of boodle for ten dollars worth of valuable property, or fir five dollars of bankable paper. This boodle is brought back and dis piked of at an advance of one or two hundred per cent. to the small fry of the gang, by whom it is put into cir culation about the country. Toe boodle, or counterfeit paper, which is thus put into circulation, is of different descriptions, but a large proportion of it purports to be of the Bank of Kingston, Hudson River, " New York Safety Fund," in small letters, being engraved thereon. The "operation" of horse stealing is skilfully performed, and is always done "in duplicate." The horses to he stolen, and the places where they are to be found, being previously well known, the two thieves start simul taneously in opposite directions in pursuit of their prey ; one, perhaps, to the States, and one to some distant part of this province. Each obtains possession of his horse, and they meet each other with all possible dispatch, at some intermediate point, where they exchange the stolen horses, and each returns to his own neighbourhood on an unknown horse. A very curious circumstance of this kind was disclosed during the recent examinations. Two of the gang (whom we will designate as A. and J.) agreed to steal two horses, which were previously known to them ; one in the Newcastle district, and one in the western part of the province. A. proceeded to the latter point, and J. to the former. Each obtained his horse ; A, a fine grey, and J. a fine black horse. They then proceeded with all possible expedition, through the bac - it conces sions (these gentry never travel on the main road on business of this kind), to a place of meeting near Brantford, where they exchanged horses ; A. re turning towards the west on the black horse, and J. returning on the grey to the very neighbourhood where he had stolen the black horse. J. having dis posed of the grey horse, and having learned that A. had sold the black horse to a farmer beyond Brantford, proceeded to the spot, claimed the black horse as his property, which he said had been stolen from him by A., and threatened to take out a warrant against the farmer. The poor farmer, somewhat frightened, offered to give up the horse, if J. would " prove to it." J. ac cordingly made affidavit that the horse was his property, and had been stolen from him by a person answering the description of A., upon which the poor farmer gave tip the horse to J., who rode it off to the westward, and sold it again in Michigan. There is one plan of operation adopted by this gang, which is somewhat more scienti fic than any to which we have yet alluded—that is, the eml?yment of uriers. tain p information. avant Thes co e gentry consist of tailors, who r a who F o befoz . .e, to ob stun per day, an go about to farm-houses to certain th a e n i d r trade,lodging fo ; of pedlars who visit to their w r h k o a a r t d farm-houses, under pretext of selling small articles of finery to women and children ; and in one instance, of a rascal who professes to have the gift of prayer and "psalmody," which he dispenses liberally in exchange for provender and lodging. These rascals respectively avail themselves of the opportunities which these visits afford them, to ascertain who has money, where it is kept, and at what point of the premises an entry may be most effectually made. There is but one other matter concerning this gang which we propose to advert to at this time ; and that is, their obligations to each other. It does net appear that any oath is now or ever has been administered in the association. But on the first introduction of a novice to the leaders or "old hands" of the gang, he is required to pledge him self that he will adhere to their rules, and never betray their secrets, on pain of certain death. In the event of any one of the gang being arrested, the other members are bound to do all they can for him ; to procure him bail, to give evidence for him at his trial, and to "prove him clear" (as they term it) by swearing to an alibi. These are the only obligations which we have heard of, and these are generally understood and adhered to among the " Markham Gang." * This fact was not known by the magistrates at the time, but it was known by them that this man was one o f the gang. SINGULAR CASE UNDER THE SMALL DEBTS ACT.— On Friday, at the rising of the Palace Court, an application was made to discharge a person named Samuel Shaw, who had been some days in Horsemonger-lane Gaol as Sylvester Shaw. It appeared that the prisoner had been summoned as defendant in an action, " Ridsdale v. Shaw," under the Small Debts Act, which summons he did not attend, and on Tuesday last he was taken into custody and commitnedlito Horsemonger-lane Gaol, where he had since remained. Affi davits were read, showing that the person in custody was the father of the debtor, and he had stated that he was not the person against whom the action had been brought. A ques tion arose whether an application should not have been made to a Judge at Chambers, but it was urged by Mr. Locke that, as he was committed for contempt of the Court, he could be discharged. The Court eventually ordered the party to be discharged from prison. FATAL ACCIDENT AT A Cl LLIERY.— On Tuesday last an inquest was held at the Turk's Head public-house, Gravel Hole, Thornham, by the coroner for the Rochdale district, respecting the death of a youth of seven:nen years of age, of the name of Pickey. On Saturday last vthil t the boy was at work in the colliery at Hanging Chadder, Thornham, belonging to Messrs. Holt and Co., a large quantity of earth accidentally fell upon him, and he was immediately killed. The earth fell-Lion the roof of the mine, and yet it was stated that precautions had been taken to prevent such accidents. The deceased was an orphan boy, and a story is current m the neighbourhood that when a child he waspnrchase4 by his adopted father, a miner, for one shilling ! The j u ry _ returned a verdict of "Accidental death."-.-Manqhester Examiner.