The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-23 00:00:00

interest is unabated throughout. The whole history is stirring end animated, thou in many places highly improbable—scarcely within the bounds of possibility, but then we mu3t remember " le vrai n'est pas toujours le vraisemblabie." The fo lowing is one of the artful strata gems of the m:st artful of men. The Bushrang , r has been betrayed and given up during his sleep, by his com panion (Grough), tempted by the promise of a high reward. Suddenly awakened, and finding himself a cloie prisoner, Mark's sang froid and ready wit do not desert him:— - ---- " The soldiers instantly placed handcuffs on the Bush ranger, and then they considered that they had him hard and fast. Mark submitted to this ceremony in silence. Ile made me reproach to his comrade; disembling his thoughts he bent his whole soul to the taking of a sure revenge. There was a general pause for a few moments ; after which, the soldiers intimatvd to Grough that, notwithstanding the service he had performed, he must consider himself their prisoner; and without further parley they placed handcuffs on him also. " Brandon lo(led at the handcuffs on his partner's wrists, and l,oked at the river, and smiled complacently He had formed his scheme. Then he spoke:— " You have betrayed me ; but I will not reproach you; the reward was too great a temptation.' " ' Lord love your heart,' said Grough, 'its all in the way of business! If I had not done it, Mark, somebody else would; better fora friend to get the reward than a stranger. " said Mark. "The soldiers said nothing; they had their duty to do, and they would not insult their captive. They rather pitied Mark, and they looked on his comrade with the disgust with - which all generous minds regard a traitor. "Brandon and Grough were standing a little apart; the former took the opportunity to wink to the latter. " What is it?' said Greugh, coming nearer, but keeping out of Mark's reach. " The sovereigns,' whispered Brandon. "'What sovereigns?" - " The sovereigns from the brig; a thousand of them; I planted them. You may as well have them too.' " Hah,' whispered Grough, his avarace excited by the gold; ' Mark, you're a trump ! where are they ?' Come a little this way,' said Mark. He advanced to the edge of the river. The foaming waters hardly allowed Grough to hear what Brandon said; he advanced nearer to him. " There are a thousand of them,' repeated Brandon. "' Where are they ?' eagerly asked the greedy Grough, bending his head towards his betrayed comrade. " ' Come nearer,' said Brandon. " Where are the yellow hove?'_ _ _ In hell !' suddenly exclaimed the Bushranger, darting his body against the huge frame of the burly traitor, and precipitating him into the raging tide Go,' he said, raising his voice, 'and seek them there!' " 'Help!' cried the wretch, struggling with his manacled hands in the furious; help! my hands are fastened! help!' "The soldiers ran to the water's edge, and while the con stable remained by the side of Mark, they followed down by the bank of the river, with a vague idea of rescuing him But whether it was that their hearts were not in the work, and that they thought it served the rascal right, or that the furious waters too suddenly overwhelmed their prey, they could do nothing to save him. But the agonised shrieks of the dying wretch broke fearfully the solemn silence of the wilderness; and when his last convulsive cry rose in the air, even the stout hearts of the soldiers shuddered for a moment at the sharp echo of the adjacent woods!" THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF DEAF .NESS AND DISEASES OF THE EAR, AND THE TREATMENT OF THE DEAF AND DUMB. By William Du ton, M.I?.C.S. Until within the last few years the diseases of the ear appear to have been treated with inattention and neglect by the members of the medical profession. In oases of deafness, if syringing with warm water did note remove the complaint, it was looked upon as incurable, and the patient was told that his case was beyond the reach of medical or surgi, al assistance. Under such circumstances, the unfortunate patient was almost forced to have recourse to the quack, who, if be did harm in most cases, did also in some, it must be confessed, cure that disease, which the regular bred medical practitioner had declared to be incurable. This opprobrium medicorum, however, is now removed. Sir Astley Cooper seems to have been the first who scientifically investigated the pathology of the ear, and brought the dis , ases of that organ within the domain of surgery. His labours have been followed up most diligently by many other scientific surgeons, not the least among whom is Mr. Duften, of Birmingham, who, in the work under consideration, has recorded the results of his experience in perspicuous language, and in a manner that cannot fail to be advantageous both to the profession and the public. TABLESfor EARTHWORK, LAND, CURVES, and GRADIENTS. By J. B. Huntington, C.E. Considering the extreme complexity of tha systems usu ally adopt, d, and remembering that no work of a precisely similar character has hitherto appeared, we must con- fess that we are surprised at the precision, we may even say the adroitness, with which simplicity and elabora tion are combinei in the present volume. It is a book which the many thousand practical men, engaged in the formation of railways, will find either absolutely indispensable or exceedingly acceptable. The plan which Mr. Huntington has evidently kept before him, is facility in what we may term the mani. pulation of his profession. as applied to " earth work, curves, and gradients." This he himself announces to have been his intention : " The great obj, ct I have endeavoured to keep in view has been utility, especially to students in civil engineering. I have, therefsre, a vo id e d a ll su bj ects t h e i nvest i ga ti on o f which is merely in gen i ous w i t h out pract i ca l a i m ." A n d this aim we believe to have been approached as closely as could in all reason be expected in a production so novel in its treatment. One part, especially, deserves particular commendation for its perspicuity of arrange ment and general copiousness ; we mean the calcula tions of Earthwork from Base 20 to Base 36 inclusively; and the Essay on the Prismoidal Formula, at p. 173, is also deserving of praise for its ingenuity. A theodolite could scarcely be more necessary in the operations to which it is dedica!ed than this volume of " Tables." Mr. Huntington has lightened the task and smoothed the pathway of many a young contemporary, while, at the same time, he has ensured a greater degree of accu racy in the preliminary labours of any new company, whether for the construction of railways, roads, or canals. THE WELSH PRESS. On Tuesday evening a dinner was given at Dolly's Coffee house, Paternoster-row, by several gentlemen connected with the principality of Wales, to Mr. James Rees, the proprietor and publisher of the Carnarcon and Denbigh Herald, to re cord their sense of the talented and judicious manner in which that journal has been conducted during the period of his management. The chair was taken by John Williams, Esq., of Oxford street, supported in the vice-chair by William Jones, Esq., solicitor, of Greenwich. The cloth having been removed, and due honour having been done to the usual loyal toasts, The CHAIRMAN rose to propose ihe toast of the evening, " Health to Mr. Rees, and and success to the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald," o b served, that having narrowly watched the principles on which that paper had been con ducted since its establishment, and always feeling a deep interest in the welfare of North Wales, he had with no ordi nary pleasure sought the acquaintance and friendship of Mr. Rees, as of a patr i ot and a benefactor of his country. Ile considered that the successful establishment of a liberal paper at Carnarvon was one pe t n h e greatestthut district benefits e f that one man could confer the principality tendingto elevate society, and to g ive the public mind anw onward dire c ti6 n . M r . R ees bad conducted his paper ith spirit and ho nes ty, an d was a man determined to these4reaet cause of the peopl e by a d voca ting those measures which tend to emancipate them from the influences of ignorance andop i 3 was ression. Wh en th e las first moo t e d subject of the en dowed schools of Wales more i i i i e might be ht the Herald rende red its assistance to exposemuch many instances of the shameful ab use of their funds, done were the efforts of the Herald seconded by t proprietary of Wales ; but he regretted to sa y t hat the Welsh gentry, as a body, were lamentably indifferent to the improvement of the lower classes. Indeed if the Welsh population were lower in the scale of civilisation than their fellow-subjects in other parts of the empire, most Of the fault lay at the door of the Welsh gentry. Mr. Williams then adverted at considerable length to the Herald's able advocacy of the Reform Bill in its original integrity, the extension of the suffrage, the right of the industrious poor to relief, its opposition to an irresponsible rural police force, and the support of those great measures now under discussion by the Le 4 isla'ure, when free-trade principles were much less fashionable. Ha also adverted to the publication by Mr. Rees of the Amaethydd, a monthly . supplement given with the Herald, containing information in the Welsh language on agricultural subjects. The toast was received with great applause. Mr. REEs said, I hardly know how to express to you the pleasurable and grateful feelings which you have excited. I am sincerely grateful for the kind way in which you have introduced me to the friends around, and the flattering man ner in which I have been received ; and I experience heart felt pleasure to learn that my humble but sincere exertions to make the Carnar von and Denbigh Herald useful and bene ficial to the principality are appreciated. It is true, that it has ever been my price and study to make the Herabl inde pendent ; but I must not take the whole credit of its conduct to myself ; I am associated with a gentleman to whom I have entrusted the political and literary department of the paper, and who has, I am bound to say, after some years' ex perience, discharged the trust reposed in him honestly and honourably. When the Herald was first announced in the year 1830, the proprietors then promised that it should con tain early and full reports of all public meetings and occur rences which might h a ppen in the district. Since I have be come the proprietor I have spared neither trouble nor expense to fulfil that promise. The paper was also promised to unmask every abuse; to the best of my ability I have fearlesilv performed the task, however irksome at times the task might be. Indeed there is nothing that my means will permit, and the support I receive will warrant, that I willa a not do, not only t o ma intain the proud a position I occupy tairnalist in N or th W a l es , b u t t o ma k e the paper eqa an al to 6 journal in the kingdom. It would hardly ;become meenumerate th the benefits which I may conceive have accrued to principality by the establish ment of the Herald; b ‘ u , t ha th m e e r a e are, I flatter myself, some y recal to mind many instanees amongst the company in which abuses have beenexposed, ra and the rights of the subject vindicated. I shall now say, that your appro hation of the course I have hitherto pursued will be a sti mulus to me to continue in the straightforwa r d path I have distant day the Herald marked out; and that at no very equal will be, in size as well as in talent and independence, to any contemporary print. I again nn thank . you most e 4 r in which you have sin cerely for the kind and ge i n n e y ro p u u s l n ic ie con .uct. testified your approval of gentlemen, anim a D ch r ,e . r L te e d w a is t On the health of those patriotic and Mr. Hugh Owen, being proposed, considerable length on the merits of thet they y ifferent systems of education in Wales, but we regret that space will not permit us to publi,,h their interesting remarks. Several other gentlemen, including M essrs . W. Thomas O. W. Thomas, J. James, and 0. Rowland, addressed the co mpany on subjects of interests, chiefly that of the educa tion of the lower classes of their countrymen. We may remark, that it was unanimousky resolved to rev ive the Gwyneddigion Society. After v. rious toasts, including the health of the Editor of the Calnarron Herald, the, Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Mr. Davis of Wigmore-street, &c. &c., the company separated. Preparations are being made for the reception of the ministers, nearly 500 in number, expected to attend the Wesleyan Conference, which will be held this year in Bristol. Bristol Journal. TEE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY :MORNING, APRIL 23, 1E46. PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.- BALANCE-SHEET. An Account of the Net Public Income of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the year ended the sth day of April, 1846 (after abating the Expenditure thereout defrave , Revenue Departments), and of the actual Issues or Payments within the same Period, exclusive of the Sums applied to the Redemption of Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt, and of fl Repayments for Local Works, &c. Total. EXPENDITURE. INCOME OR REVENUE. # — ................................................................. .£ s. d. .£ s. d. ORDINARY REDENUE AND RECEIPTS. £ S. d. Funded Debt.—lnterest and Manag ement of the Permanent Debt 19,768,392 19 0 3,953,215 5 11 Terminable Annuities Customs 13,296,619 13 4 Excise 7,660,339 13 11 Stamps Total Charge of the Funded Debt, exclusive of 9,4071. 2s. 3(1., the Interest Taxes (Land and Assessed)...., ..... .. Poperty . -tax 5,084,741 1 6 Unfunded Debt. Interest on Exchequer-bills Post Office , 791,000 0 0 424687 2 3 Crown Lands ...................................................................... ls. and 6d. and 4s. in the •E on Pensions and Salaries 4,639 15 8 Annuities and Pensions for Civil, Naval, Military, and Judicial Services,..... 392,465 00 ' ' Small Branches of the Hereditary Revenues of the Crown Surplus Fees of Regulated Public Offices 56,590 10 10 Salaries and Allowances Diplomatic Salaries and Pensions .... : ................................................. 174, 9 64 8 0 51,074,034 17 7 Courts of Justice ... 751,810 6 7 Miscellaneous Charges on the Consolidated Fund 283,777 12 7 OTHER RECEIPTS. Army Money from China under the Tr eat y of Au g ust, 1842 750,1159 3 2 Navy .......................................................................................... 6,968,916 13 2 Imprest and other Monies Money received from the East India Company 60,000 0 0 Miscellaneous, chargeable on the Annual Grants of Parliament 2,871,672 15 9 Unclaimed Dividends (more than paid) " ••• 52,009,324 9 10 49,400,167 5 4 Unclaimed Dividends more than received 49,628,724 12 3 Excess of Income over Expenditure •.• 2,380,599 17 7 I rrn nnn on . 4 CI in 52,009,324 9 10 An Account of the Balances of the Public Money remaining in the Excl ended the sth day of April, 1846 ; the Money applied towards an `Works, &c., with the Difference accruing thereon ; and the Balances i d by the several he Advances and RAILWAY COMMITTEES. "that," and to add the words "the investment of each mem ber shall be employed for the sole benefit of the person investing, or for his children, or kin, and that no party shall give his investment for the relief, maintenance or endowment of any other person or member whatever." That addition would make the in vestment the property of the parties subscribing, or their relatives. After some observations from Mr. RUTHERFORD, which did not reach the gallery, Sir J. GRAHAM, in reply, said th a t h e was p er f ec tly will ing to admit the right of persons to combine against their employer for higher wages, and under the existing con bination laws every facility was given to them. He was willing to give every facility to those friendly societies to come under the sanction of the law. They would be strong bodies, with large funds, which, by the indulgence of the law, bore a high rate of interest ; and their funds might -be directed to the purpose of holding out, under the strife with their employers, for a considerable length of time. He conceived that the insertion of the words which he had proposed was quite necessary to render the abuses which might take place under the present law impossible. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL supported the insertion of the clause proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department. It was perfectly clear that some such regulation was necessary. Mr. DUNCOMBE said that what he had proposed was that if the member of a society wished to retire from it he should hive the privilege of transferring his rights, not to a stranger to the society, or to one that was inimical to the interests of the society, but to another member of the society, or to a relative. Nothing would be so pernicious, fatal, or injurious to these societies as to give them anything of a gambling or speculative character such as that which had been proposed by the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite. ' But he did not want to mix up the question of stock jobbing with that of these societies. The. Right Honourable Gentleman had admitted that his object in introducing this Bill was to make illegal all strike associations. He had admitted at the same time that it was perfectly legal for masters and men to combine for the purpose of settling wages. The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite had said that he bad never seen the rules or regula tions of any society by which a party subscribing to a society, was disabled from withdrawing his investments ; but in point of fact, he (Mr. Duncombe) had then before him the rules of a society held in the very borough which the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman represented, which en abled any member to do so; but that was a saving society or a saving bank. It was true that a subscriber to a friendly society could not withdraw his investments. All he could do was to transfer his interests to another individual. And he agreed that it was right to prevent them from with. drawing their investments. But when the Right Hon. Gentleman said that those parties should be prevented from dispoeingof their funds to the supporting of parties that had struck for wages, he conceived that the Legislature had such purposes, a a m fa aa ir d h a a y d 's a no right wh a t ever to say that men should be revented from right a h f t p a t i a r d co a m y' b s in w e or fa k. r w pe a r g f e ect fo r r i purposes, and that to deprive him of such a right was illegal. Rules of societies in which there • • made for the support of parties outon was strike a provision certified by Mr. Tidd Pratt, because tha t Learned Gentleman knew that such an object was perfectly. legal. He contended that this Bill was calculated to cir cumscribe, in a very material degree, the operation of the present law with regard to friendly societies ; at all events, it would very much limit the privileges of the members of such societies. With regard to the decision of Mr. Justice Wightman, on the point alluded to in the course of this de bate, he might state that the Hon. and Learned Solicitor- General had stated that that decision was entirely - wrong, and that the decision could not be maintained if it were appealed against. The opinion of the Solicitor-General was that Friendly Societies, in whose rules there was a provision for the support of members out on strike, had every right to be certified and enrolled, because, as he and Sir Charles Wetherell had stated in their written opinion, such a purpose was perfectly legal. The fact of these societies having applied for permission to be enrolled showed that they wished to come under the operation of the law. He felt quite confident that if the clause proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Horne Department was adopted, it would impose very grievous and unnecessa7 disadvantages on many a deserving member of the community as well as his family.—(Hear, hear.) The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, that there were two questions involved in this discussion which should be kept entirely distinct; the first qaestion was, as to whether any shares or interests in the funds of a friendly seciety should be allowed to be transferred or not: and the second question was, whether any such share or interest should be trans ferable by a member of these societies or his family. Ia the belief, then, that the law still remained, and that it would still remain as it was expressed in this clause, it was desirable to retain the enactment, which was framed ex pressly with the view of preventing speculation among those classes of society to whom it was most mischievous, and it was one of the chief ditties of the Legislature to take mea sures for saving such an evil from ever taking place. It was true that it they had only to do with lawyers, the greater part of the interests of friendly societies would be well taken care of under the provisions of the present law. But in reference to the observation of an Hon. Friend opposite. he must beg to observe that the amount of the property of any contributor to a friendly society's funds could no more be di-posed of than could any one in the receipt of such an income, sell or mortgage his next quarter's salary. He ianist positively assert that the transfer of any such power was altogether illegal, nor was there any power, or any words, which at all sustained the opinion that such contributions had been made, or could be made, transferable. But, in order to save the public from such an IMPERIAL PA RL lAM ENT. impression, and to give a sufficient reason for actually hin dering the transfer of contributions to the funds of friendly HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 22. societies, this clause w as express l y i ntro d uce d, and it The BPSAKitit teak the Chair shortly after Twelve o'clock. was partly to remove the impression which seemed to be en- The following motions were agreed to without any obser• tertained by his honourable and Learned Friend opposite, rations:— that lie (the Solicitor-General) declared that was the case, That it be an instruction to the Committee of Selection, and he would emphatically state that the interests of a con that the Liverpool Sanatory Regulations Bill; the Liver • tributor to a friendly society were not transferable. It was pool Paving, Sewering, and Watering Bill ; the Liverpool the more necessary that this should be known, be- Water Bill; the Liverpool and H arr ington Waterworks Bill ; cause if they allowed one transfer to be made—if they once and the Toxteth Park Improvement Bill, be referred to the threw around a transaction of this sort anything like the same Committee. sanction of legal approval, if the) permitted only a single That the Exeter, Topsham, an d E xmou th R a il w ay Bill, case to occur, there would be no limit to the practice of dis of which notice of report was given for Thursday, the 9th posing of those contributions, and the wife and children of day of April, be reported t o - morr ow, W e d nes d ay , th e 22d day the contributors might in the time of sickness, or suffering of April, notwithstanding the resolution of the House of the from accident, be deprived of that relief which was their only 7th day of April. reliance. It was consequently necessary to prevent the That the Order made on the 6th day of February last, re- transfer of these contributions, either by selling, mortgaging, ferring the petition for the Li ve rpool, W arr in g ton, IlanVies- or pledging, or otherwise raising money on them for any ter, and Stockport Direct Railway Bill, be now read. That future period. Though the sum s t o w h ic h thi s c l ause re - Ihe said Order be discharged ; that the said petition be with - ferred might seem small to some persons, yet it was of immense drawn. importance to the parties concerned, and these individuals That the Order (6th February last) referring the Ayr m i g ht i n a moment of thoughtlessness, or by gambling, give shire and Caledonian Junction Railway Bill to the Corn- up all that, which a month afterwards, in the time of sick mittee on Petitions be now read. That the said Order be dis- ness, they would need ; and this the family of a man who charged ; that the Bill be withdrawn. relied upon these contributions for their support, would be Mr. GREENE moved, that, in consequence of the agents deprived of all advantage from them, If the House only not having obtained the breviate in time to give an earlier considered the subject, they would see, that of' all the coin notice of the second reading, the Holme R eservo i r Bill be munity it was this class of the people which was mostentitled read a second time on Monday the 27th day of April, not- to protection from the Legislature. He was now desirous of withstanding the time prescribed by th e sess i ona l order has removing the impressions of the Hon. Gentleman opposite expired.—The motion was agreed to. (Mr. Dimeombe) respecting the words of the second part of The How MEMZER then moved that, in consequence of the this clause. Whether the words could bear the meaning agents for the Bill not having obtained the breviate in time or not—he (the Solicitor-General) believed that they to give notice of the second reading, the Sheffield General did; it was desired to put a still more stringent restriction Cemetery Bill be read a second time on Wednesday, the 22 d upon the selling or pledging of contributions to friendly so day of April, notwithstanding the time prescribed by the cieties by this measure. But mistakes had arisen in the sessional order has expired.—The motion was also agreed to. minds of some persons which it was necessary to remove. It Mr. HAWES presented t wen ty pe titi ons f rom the Wes- was, in the first place, supposed that if any person who had, leyan Methodists and various Dissenting bodies in Cornwall contributed to the funds of a friendly society in London was 'and other counties, praying the House to take into consi- desirous of removing to some part of Scotland or Ireland, deration the best means of preventing the sale of intoxicating that on doing so be ceased to become a member, and that he liquors on the Sabbath. lost his title to his portion of the funds in the hands of the Mr. DUNCOMBE gave notice of a motion that he in society, and was, consequently, deprived of all right to his for tended to move to-morrow for i nqu i r ing into the merits of mer contributions to the society's funds. This was a great mis the various railways before the H ouse , w ith a view to provide take, for it was a misapprehension to suppose that he was to lose for their better regulation. all this benefit. Although deprived of the right to sell his RECEIVER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS. contributions or to pledge them, yet he was entitled to re- Mr. BARING asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer ceive back the whole worth of his property in the funds; and whether it was the intention of the Government to make any it was desirous of rendering this power more explicit, although alteration in the Receiver-General's department of the Cus- it was already in existence. There was no desire to prevent, toms, now that the Receiver-General (Sir W. Boothby) was any of those advantages, but the object of the Secretary of State dead ? He also wanted to know whether the Right Hon. for the Home Department was to hinder the appropriation of Gentleman had any objection to lay on the table of the the funds of any society towards the support of individuals who House a Copy of the report of the proceedings in the depart- had entered into any association or combination for the purpose ment of the Receiver-General. of supporting two or more pe: sons who were conspiring or com- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that he bining to raise wages, or had entered into any arrangement was not in a position to answer the first part of the Right to strike for wages. The object of the amendment, as pro- Hon. Gentleman's question, as he had only so recently as posed by the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Duncombe) was, in fact, last night heard of the decease of the Receiver-General of the one to be regulated by the rules for governing the society, Customs. With respect to the latter part of the question, he rather than for the law under which it was established, and could see no objection to lay on the table the report which he believed that it was, in fact, comprised in the rules of was inquired for. most friendly societies now in existence, and cams In reply to question of Mr. WADDINGTON, more under the control of Mr. Tidd Pratt, wbo Sir J. GRAHAM said it was not the intention of the Go- was the proper officer to supervise or introduce it. vernment to make any alteration at present with respect to Au Hon. Member had stated that the law re the branch of the Poor-laws which provided for the casual lating to friendly societies as it then stood, was reception of paupers. very uncertain in its operation. He was not prepared FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL. to state, that under the words in the existing ' The orders of the day were then read, and the further eon- Act of Parliament, namely, " for any _other _purpos_, not sideration of the report of this Bill was proceeded with in illegal," that the powers of the Act might not be applied to C omm itt e e. purposes o ther than those connected with friendly Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed to. societies ; such, for instance, as the Hon. Member Mr. DUNCOMBE rose when clause 4 was rea d , and said had suggested. It was because there e x i s t e d much upon the present laws relating to that the Bill at the present moment was much inisunder- s o . alterations tl uncertaintyt number of friendly friendly societies is h e considered some were stood. There was no doubt that a great . in existence would be greatly circuzp essent i a lly necessary. societies now scribed and crippled in their oper a tions .ll whose speech were allowed to stand part of the Bill. e proposed was perfectly inaudible in the gallery that these societies should, under the new Act, have the there ought to be a separate claus '• • said that e, providing that of transferring theirahares. A deputation had waited members:of any friendly soc . ' • power wales constituted under the pro upon him that morning, from a friendly society, stating posed law, should have the power of receiving the sums they a case in which they would be interfered with. A few days had paid, • ago some members of a friendly society wished to emigrate. t i e . if they left: England for Scotland or Ireland, or They had been subscribers to their society for a length of v e • v time, and of course their subscriptions were worth something Si r AM —S GRAHAM was of opinion that as little inter to them. After the passing of the 4th clause of this Bill ference as possible should be made with the free circulation they would be unable to withdraw their money, or to trans- of labour, and if there was any doubt in the Bill as for their shares to aay other persons, whether hey were or it l at present stood, to satisfy the Hon. and Learned Member he would propose, in bringing up the report, to were not connected with the society, and of t coarse their add words to meet the' difficulty. He would also have a money would be left behind them in this country. He did special proviso, that the funds of the societies should not be not see why their shares should not be transferable to their families, or even to strangers, and he should theref ore pro- i f n o r y e tte ed ß i e n du an c tTosnaovifntt i lr a n ti k a s n , a r D e e v b i t t . h the Commissioners pose such alterations in the clause as would admit of the The clause was then agreed to, transfer of these shares. On clause 5 being read, Sir J. GRAHAM said that the observation made by the Mr.' • T. DUN teOMB h objected to the power proposed to be Hon. Member, when he said it was the tendency of the Bill given to the Secretary of State over the granting of certifi to narrow and restrict the existing powers of friendly socie- cates, The arrangement proposed would materially inter ties, was incorrect. The object of the Bill was not to inter- fere with the carrying out of the intentions of the Act. He fere with any existing societies which should have been re- hoped the Right Hon, Gentleman (Sir J. Graham) would gistered before the passing of this Act—but foreseeing how consent to the leaving out the proviso relating to the Seen much legislation and inconvenience was likely to arise in tary of State, future if the law contin ue d i n it s present state, this Bill was air J. GRAHAM thought the clause necessary as it stood. introduced for the purpose of extending and enlarging these In cases wherein the certifying barrister did not see proper associations—and it would secure what was lawful and just. to grant a certificate, the parties had the power of pets The sth cla u s e ena bl e d an y soc i e ty t o apply f or registration, tioning the Secretary of State. On receiving the peti and to certify that its object was a legal one—and this lion, the latter would communicate it to the law adviser Bill, so far from narrowing the space of the operations of the Crown, and if in his opinion the object of the society was of these societies, would greatly extend it. With reference to legal, then the Secretary of State, if he considered the so the particular point made by the Hon. Gentleman with re- cietv for the public good, he would order the certificate to gard to the transfer of the shares of these societies, he (Sir be granted. No doubt some inconvenience would arise from J. Graham) thought that the Hon. Member was not correct this arrangement, still he thought it would operate for the in stating that if the law at the present moment permitted public benefit; and, therefore, be supported the clause as it the transfer of shares, this Bill would interfere with that stood. power. The clause they were discussing did not operate so The clause was agreed to. as to interfere with those societies registered before the pass- On clause 6 being proposed, ing of the Act ; for all shares in such societies, if they were Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he considered the provision it transferable, would remain so. With regard to the policy of contained, restricting the interest of members in those so making shares transferable, he objected extremely to the cieties to within 200)., would destroy much of the benefits, principle ; for he conceived that these associations and also operate injuriously on many societies in operation were associations of mutual contract and assurance under the existing law, The law assumed, and rightly assumed , that the members of Sir J. GRAHAM said the provision was not retrospective. these societies were parties known to each other, and who Mr. T. DUNCOMBE—So far that was good ; still he thought trusted each . other ; and, as the case w as p u t by the Hon. ewe too small a sum as a maximum provision for Member, members members of these societies would have the power of once in death. He considered that the limit of 200/. transferring shares to persons not known to the society— n te would not be suitable to reach the objects of the Bill. The parties not trusted by them, and not acceptable to r e e r n in i, e a m a . law as it now stood was, that when these societies exceeded who might not be agreeable associates for theother 'members two hundred pounds, they then became lisble to stamp-dutee hers. He conceived that it was not right that n ew. and the additional interest of th checking or Con-th ree pounds eighteen shillings was should be admitted without any power o f t, _ f the society not granted • and, therefore, in point of fact, they collid trolling their admission on e part make ttie-se shares, not , never have friendly societies beyond the limit of two hundred in general. He wished to did n ot pounds.—(Hear, bear,) wish to a matter of barter—he did Create Si r . 0 GRAHAM considered that the Hon. Member did not e as well as stags •f another friendly society stags which the Act applied. The the law with respect these clearly apprehend the cases to nature, and whatever might be introduce to 2OO/. didnotapply to the cases of illness or death. He . . he was no t prepared to the principle of societies,wished to remind the Hon. Member that it was_paragrapn unlimited and unchecked transfer to s t rangers, for the law under the discussion of the I - louse. societies on the assumption that they five which was then hased these friendly were ATT ORN EY-GENERAL said the Bill provided that formed for the purpose of and mutual assurance. 1:1 The . formed hereafter should be keptent• el t,herefore prorsed to strike out tb, iriAs atter Abe wmo a new societiesli neparate _ - - , , _ 7 . . _ -- - ..- from those now exis t ing . (YESTERDAY.) Sub-Committee, No. 2. This Committee met shortly after twelve, in Room 6; present Sir John Yarde Buller (Chairman), Mr. Acland, and Mr. Walker. THAMES HAVEN, DOCIL, AND RAILWAY. This Bill stood over in consequence of the absence of a witness, npon Whom a SIIIIIMOI3 to appear before the Com mittee will be served. VIARVTICKSHIRE AND LONDON, No. 2 (V7ORCESTI3R AND WEEDON). This adjourned case was called on, and ev id ence g i ven i n support of the petition against the Bill. WA/LWICKSTAXICE AND LONDON (WOR CE✓cTEIL AND:WMEDOLT niza. rs CH). in this Bill the standing orders were not complied with. lIIDEPORD AND TAVISTOCIL. This Bill was called on, but ns it was found that it would be imposible to complete tile erve to-dad• it stood over until twelve to-morrow. THAMES HAVEN, DOCZ, AND ZAILWAY. The absent witness not being in attendance at the rising of the Committee, the 'case stood adjourned, and the Com mittee rose at about half-past two o'clock. Sub- Committee No, 3. This Committee did 1;4 meet till a quarter-past one o'clock, there not being a sufficient number of Members pre sent to form a quorum. At that hour, however, there were present Mr. Aglionby (chairman), Mr. E. Buller, and another Hon. Member, and the case of the NORTH DEVON was proceeded with. It occupied the Committee the whole of the day, and had not been disposed of at a quarter past four o'clock, when the Committee rose, and adjourned until Friday next, having declared the standing orders not com plied with on several points. Sub-Committee, No. 4 . . - This Committee met at twelve o'clock ; present, Sir W leathcote (chairman), and Mr. H. Johnstone. NORTH GRAVESEND. This was the first case taken, and the formal proofs com menced on a former occasion were completed. EAST AND WEST OF ENGLAND =NOTION. This adjourned case was then proceeded with, and evi dence given in support of the allegations of a petition against the Bill. The Committee decided in favour of the petitioners against this Bill en several of the points raised, and in favour of Os promoters of the Bill upon others, and were occupied with the case up to half-past four o'clock, at which hour they adjourned. Sub• Committee, No. 6. This Committee met at the usual hour ; Captain Jones in the chair. Present also, Mr. Pakington and Mr. George Phillips. They first took the case of the TRENT VALLEY MIDLAND AND GRAND ZUNCTION. The object of this Bill is to connect the iron districts of Staffordshire and the towns of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, &c., with the Midland and Eastern Counties Rail ways, by a line of twenty-seven miles in length, the esti mated cost of which is 700,000/. Engineers, Messrs. Stephen- son, Goucb, and Bidder ; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Ellicombe. The Bill was unopposed. It appeared in the course of the formal evidence that certain proofs of notices had been already given before the Sub-Com mittee No. 3, the Bill having been originally placed on the list oT that Committee. The promoters were not prepared to repeat this evidence, as the lists of the persons served had been left in the hands of the clerk to that Committee. The CHAIRMAN said the promoters could apply to the clerk of Committees and get the papers back, and that if they failed to produce them in this Committee they would find it would put them to much trouble. Mr. ELLICOMBE would endeavour to obtain the papers. After some further evidence was given the case was ad journed. WA.ItNVICIC AND VITOROESTZE. This Bill vas next taken. Its object is to make a line Commencing at the terminus of the London and Birming ham Railway_at the town of Warwick, and proceeding by Alcaster to Worcester. It will have a branch from Crafton Flyford to Droitwich. The length of the main line will be 28 miles, and the branch 7 miles. The cost is estimated at 550,000/. Messrs. Dorrington and Co. are the agents, and Mr. W. B. Prichard is the engineer. This Bill was opposed by several petitioners, but on the formal proofs being given, Mr. Dorrington applied to have the opp2sition adjourned. Mr. 1 7- ENABLES and Mr. JOSEPH BUEKE, on the part of the petitioners, were willing to have the case adjourned until Friday, but not until to-morrow or Monday. The CHAISMAN could not consent to any such arrangement. The case might be adjourned, but if any other Bill was before the Committee on Friday this could not take precedence. Mr. VENABLES had agreed to the adjournment, but only on condition that it should come on on Friday, as some of his witnesses could not be present tither to-morrow or on Mon day. After soma discussion, however, it was agreed that the case should come on at the meeting of the Committee to-morrow, and the Committee then adjourned at a quarter past two o'clock. 152,009,324 9 10 hequer on the stl to Redemption of in the Exchequer h day of April, 1845 ; the Amount of Money raised by the Additions to the Funded or Unfunded Debt in the Year E . the Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt; the Total Amount of Advances and Repayments on Account of Local on the sth day of April, 1846. X U. d. £ so d. ' £ s. d. A a. d. £ s. d. BALANCES in the EXCHEQUER on the sth day of April, 1845 MONEY RAISED IN THE YEAR ENDING THE STH DAY OF APRIL, 1846, BY To the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt, to be applied to the redemption of the Public THE CREATION OF FUNDED OR UNFUNDED DEBT. Debt : Exchequer-bills 9,379,6001., per Act 8 Victoria, c. 23, charged on Supplies By interests on donations and bequests 9,437 2 3 Exchequer-bills, 9,379,6001., charged on Supplies, per Act 8 Victoria,, c. 23 ' Deduct sum applied not in redemption of Funded Exchequer-bills, 9,024,9001., per Act 8 Victoria, c. 129, charged one Debt, but of Consolidated Fund Deficiency Bills 2,480,000 0 0 Supplies -- 18,301,500 0 0 Exchequer-bills for Public Works.—Great Britain (charged on Conso- To the Paymasters of Exchequer-bills for payment of lidated Fund), per Act 3 Victoria, c. 10 - ••• ••• 4,000 0 0 Unfunded Debt : Exchequer-bills, West India Relief Bills, per Act 6 :and 7 Victoria, c. 87 60,000 0 0 Money out of the Consolidated Fund for payment of Public Works, West India Relief, and Shan- Exchequer•bills, West India Relief Bills, per Act 2 :and 3 William IV., non Bills i 168,000 0 0 c. 125 . 2,700 0 0 • 62,700 0 0 Money out of Ways and Means, Grants for pay- Total amount of Repayments for Local Works, Btc., under various Acts of Parliament Exchequer -bills for payment of Supply Bills Total amount of Advances for Local Works, &c.., under various Acts j— 18,493,800 0 0 of Parliament Balances in th e E xc hequer on the sth day of April, Excess of Income over Expenditure - ••• ••• ••• ••• 2,380,599 17 7 1846 6,507,463 4 9,i • • ..• 27,137,160 19 2 4 27,137,160 19 21 i EDW. CAIIDWELL. Whitehall Treasury Chambers, April 17, 1846. TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. An address has been widely disseminated amongst the working classes, calling on them to preserve their rights, and this bears the signature of Thomas S. Duncombe, M.P., President. In fact, although the master builders in Lancashire and other places are the first to feel the effects of the trades' unions, it is evident that a wide-spread organisation exists throughout the country, and if the master trademen in this locality shrink from the struggle, the demands of the millions will spread like wild fire throughout the land, and general confusion will be the result; or otherwise the price of labour must be so much advanced that the effects will soon be appa rent in railway calls, and monetary difficulties will ensue. by another party of everything but his shirt and trousers, and was glad to escape with his life. lie had returned to the vessel, telling the officers that he thought I was murdered, and they immediately sent an armed boat's crew in search of me. I wanted the captain to give me another boat with armed men, and I would go and burn the village ; but he said he could not take so much upon himself. At the time of the war such a thing might be done, and fre quently was for less cause. He tells me he will report it to the admiral, who will most probably take notice of it through the Chinese authorities. You may depend upon it the Chinese will pay dearly yet for the way they have been going on lately. Since this occurred, I heard of several Europeans having been mal treated quite as ill and worse than me in this neighbour bocci. Only this morning an American boat's crew was attacked by these savages, but they broke their oars into cudgels, and beat them off. Mr. S--- told me that he and two missionaries were nearly killed in the same way; they were severely beaten with sticks, robbed, and their clothes torn to pieces.—Scotsman. A public meeting of the friends of this society was I held on Wednesday evening, in Exeter Hall, where a. great assembly was congregated some time before the. hour appointed. Mr. O'CONNELL, who bad been announced to take the chair, was, on entering the hall, received with vocifer ous cheering, which was repeated after he bad taken the. chair. When it had concluded, he rose and said, he could not consent to fill the chair, without in a very few words acknowledging the very warm reception be had. met with. Such a reception showed they thought.; rightly of him—that his spirit was kindred with theirs.. Ile would not address them on the subject of temperance , at any length, not because it was not important, but be-• cause the topics were so very obvious---obvious to all''. present. Indeed, nothing new could be said on the subject„ But he believed that it was the greatest blessing God ever: showered upon a country, independent of religious feel - iug.—(Cheers.) Temperance was the suitable con s panion of man in every condition, for there was no fee l ing which it did not soften and sweeten, no evil which it did not smooth and alleviate, no good which it did r et cherish, and no vice to which it was not an antagoni et. Many calumnies had been poured upon his country, at icA among the rest it had been reported of Irishmen, th at they were drunkards ; no grosser calumny than this ha d been published upon his country. The Parliatnen tar y Reports now, however, exhibited the true state of In land in this respect, for Irishmen were found to con ;- same the minimum quantity ; one-half less than wt consumed in Scotland, and one-third, he was sorry t o say, less than the quantity used in England. He meal i't no taunt, but be claimed the full meed for Ireland. his country he was proud to say the temperance mov e_ meet began, and every successive impetus in the mo' merit was received from Ireland.—(Cheers.) TI ie.t country was at present suffering from poverty, but so :r - tue was the loveliest in the poorest ; the brightest gc tr in the crown of the monarch shone not with so great a lustre as that virtue which followed the peasant to I ri a home.—(Cheers.) Drunkenness degraded the character , relaxed the habits, made the family haggard ; tempo. - ranee made the parent kindly, the home happy, ar..( I conduced to preparation for another and a better r e - pion.—(Cheers.) The meeting was then addresed successively t ly• Messrs Whitaker, Grosjean, Ridley and Ellen. Dr. HonsoN, who had resided several years in Chin. said he was glad at all times to protest against the us a of intoxicating liquors. In Europe he said distillatio a was not known till the 11th century; but he found by, is Chinese work which he consulted the other day, that it; was known in China 1,300 years before the Christian era, nod an Emperor about that time, whose name was. Woowang, said to his Minister, if the people drank of the liquor to intoxication, they were to be dissuaded from, the use of it, and rewarded if they complied ; in case they persisted, however, they were to be punished after the second warning, and after the third time , they were to be put to death. Dr. Hobson said, that saniehoo, which was the only alcoholic liquor in' China, and was made from rice, was always used hot and without water, but in so small quantities as never to inebriate the drinker. Comparing the few who used it, to the mass of the people, and the moderate quantity taken, be thought the Chinese might be called a very temperate people. Dr. Hobson then remarked on the deleterious effects from the use of intoxicating liquors on. I Europeans in eastern climates, and resumed his seat; ! amid cheers. _ In Ireland, as we find by the Irish papers, one por. tion of the peasantry are stated to be in want of food --still the stonemasons are discontented with 4s. 6d. a day, and have actually struck for ss. a day. We fear that any advice which we may tender will be thrown away, for in the excitement of a turn-out few men will listen to reason. Combinations seem at present to be the order of the day, and we much fear that they will be carried so far as to ruin trade. They have already laid a very heavy tax upon the operatives themselves, and we fear that they are preparing much subsequent distress for the workmen engaged in them. The masons are still the most determined in standing out, but it appears, by facts that have come within our knowledge, that their obstinacy will render them greater loosers than the masters, who are willing to employ them on reasonable terms. As a proof of this, we may men tion that the principal engineer on the Liverpool and Bury line has struck out, or dispensed with, the whole of the masonry of the foundations of the bridges, &c., on the line, and the quoins of the piers, purposing to substitute concrete (a mixture of lime and pebbles) in place of the intended stone-work fixed upon in the original plans. In fact, about three- fourths of the masonry that would have otherwise been executed is to be dispensed with. In Ireland, too, the heavy con tracts taken by Mr. M•Cormiek on many railways are, for the same reason and necessity, to be reduced in cost to the contractor by the adoption ..f similar measures. The men in the employment of this gentleman had, be fore he engaged them, only 3s. 6d. a day. He raised their wages to 4s. and they have now " struck " for ss. Instead, therefore, of turning the arches of the bridges in stone-work, as was intended, it has been determined to use iron beams of cast-iron, to prevent delay in the completion of the work. It should be added, that many of the architects throughout tl.e empire are reducing, or doing away with, a great amount of the masonry, being of opinion that the demands of the workmen in that department are most unreasonable. The strike has already prevented many parties from building who had the intention, but have abandoned the idea for the pre sent season. The masters bad a meeting yesterday, and the general feeling was that a crisis had arrived when they must protect their interest to the utmost. disappeared, and that the cause of Charles Edward was not the successful cause. His weak and obstinate cha racter, his prejudices and connexions, would have en tailed upon us another struggle for constitutional liberty. But with these admissions, we may recollect, with pride and emotion, that the Highlanders of old were not un worthy their beautiful and magnificent country. They were brave, loyal, and generous, and incorruptible in their fidelity. These high qualities were developed in the Forty-five, and though a century has now gathered over their fame, interposing many a deed of glory since achieved, they still shed a lustre on our national history. The field of Culloden is therefore hallowed ground. It is not an Agincourt or a Bannockburn, but it is a great landmark in our Scottish annals—an index to a state of society gone by for ever—a record of the last ravages of civil war in this kingdom—and a touching memorial of unfaltering faith and devotion, supported by high but unavailing bravery. May its green graves be always sacred! SUSPECTED MURDER OF MR Our English readers will be much shocked to learn I that it is now strongly suspected that Mr. Astley, whose melancholy fate we communicated in a former number, did not meet with his death by accident, as was then supposed. but that he had been foully assassinated. Various rumours are in circulation en this subject, tut we believe the following are all the facts that have transpired :—lt appears that the unfortunate gentleman had dined with a friend at his own house at Houton ; after dinner they went together to a cabaret in the vil lage, which he habitually frequented, and remained there till about eleven o'clock. On leaving the house, Mr. Astley remained behind on the bridge for a necessary purpose, and his companion walked on; but had not pro ceeded far when his name was called, not in a tone of urgency or as in any danger, but in the usual manner. He, however, paid no parti cular attention to this, and went on to the house, but finding, after a lapse of ten minutes, that Mr. Astley did not return, he went back to the inn, and, procuring a lantern, searched the banks of the river, which was not more than two feet deep at the sides, accompanied by the landlord's son, without dis covering any trace. This, however, did not excite much alarm, as Mr. Astley's habits were very eccentric, and it was concluded that he had gone away on some sudden whim—a not very unusual circumstance. When the next morning arrived without his making his appearance, his friends became alarmed for his safety, and sent men all over the country to search for him, and had boats out to drag the river. But it was not until after the lapse of two days that the body was found at a place about three leagues down the Ourthe. It had a large wound, seemingly inflicted by some heavy blunt instru ment, which had broken in all the crown of the skull, and some slight contusions on the legs. The sleeve of his coat wss torn, and the knees of a pair of heavy fish ing boots he wore much abraded, as if he had been dragged along a stony road. These appearances led to the suspicion that murder had been committed; and, upon the examination before the tribunal at Marche,it came out that two men, who had been drinking at a neighbouring ca baret, had left just about the time when the affair must have occurred. These men were carpenters, and it was stated that there existed a quarrel of about two years' standing between them and the deceased, relative to a disputed account. They avowed that they were both too much intoxicated to recollect anything that happened ; and there not being sufficient evidence to criminate them, they were liberated, but still remain under the sur veillance of the police. An old man, inhabiting a cot tage near near the bridge, said that he heard cries for help, but on going out could not perceive anything un usual. No attempt at robbery seemed to have been made, as the watch, money, ring, &c., of the deceased were all found on the body; a large German pipe he carried, and his hat, being the only articles missing. The officers of justice are still engaged in the investigation of, this sad affair, but it remains up to this time involved in impenetrable mystery. Lord Hastings came from England to be present at the examination before the Juge d'lnstruction, and has conveyed his unhappy bro ther's remains for interment in the family vault.—Brus sels Gazeite. Mr. J. S. SMITE and Mr. LEARE addressed the audi ence at some length. Dr. OXLEY stated that there had been a considerable debt incurred in the temperance movement, and tha t the money gathered in consequence of the meeting, would go to the liquidation of it, as would appear in t) ie public papers. A vote of thanks to Mr. O'Connell, the Chairman, was carried with great cheering, and the meeting sepa rated. IMPORTAN T IN VENTION F'OR RAILWAYS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Stn.,—You would much oblige by inserting these f. , :w lines in your valuable paper. Having my attention drawn to the recent accident on the Eastern Countie s Railway, by which almost the entire line of carriages: were thrown off the rails , and a fearful loss of life had' nearly been the result, I beg leave to inform those gentlemen connected with railways; that I have invented a plan, the construction of which is to prevent carriages f! can running off the rails. The grand principle of this in .ention is, that it can be applied to any railroad with the utmost facility and ease ; and, as the first law or mechanics is to avoid friction, in this invention none is required, so that speed will nut be retarded; anditwilliast. fur years without requiring repairs. Even a concussion (which is generally sure destruction) CANNOT PosSIBLr throw the carriages off the trains. As I am not pos sessed of capital sufficient to meet any expenses whichi would accrue from an experimental trial, I should feel. most happy to t communicatewitthhasneylvesin thisgentleman mot might be disposed o interest themselves R. G. USEFUL a a s n t t i r m :t ° , ll l T l A a N n T c h i e n s v te e ;- t s m q n u . a re. CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN. (From the Inverness Courier.) Thursday, the 16th of April, is the anniversary of the battle of Culloden. It is the hundredth anniversary, for a century will then have completed its cycle since that memorable event. Improvement was slow in reaching this remote locality, but it is visible even on the moor of Culloden. Inclosures, pastures, and arable land diversify the surfa3e of that long, bleak plain. The plough has been driven through a considerable part of the battle field, but much of it is still a cold and dreary waste — grim-visaged as war itself, and harmonising, in its gloom, with the disastrous fortunes of those whose blood, on that fatal day, stained the heather. The relics of the fight are few, but impressive. The green mounds of the buried dead (" How that red rain hath made the verdure grow!") are still conspicuous on the moor. The boggy marshes which impeded the English artillery—the small spring or well at which the wounded and thirsty stooped to drink—the old, tall ash-tree at which Prince Charles stood when the conflict began—and the broad flat stone on which Duke William took his hasty morning meal, are still there. We can trace parts of the important stone wall, which, for a space, defended the right of the Highland army, but which the Argyleshire Campbells broke down, when they rushed, like a flood, on the Jacobite clans. The position of the different lorces may be clearly ascertained on the spot ; and we can easily picture the wild stormy struggle, with the maddened shouts awl gestures of the clansmen as they rushed desperately on the firm, compact lines of the English troops. What a contrast between the meagre, sinewy, half-clad, enthusiastic Highlanders, and the heavy, com fortable Southron soldiers, arrayed in the military cos tume of' the day —the long coats, cocked hats, and white gaiters ! Their heavy dragoons, too, in ample red drapery, trunk square -toed boots, large holster pistols and carabines, and mounted on fine sleek horses of great power, seemed as if they could trample down the whole clans north of the Spey. Yet the very weight and mas siveness of the English troops would only have cum bered them if the brave Highlanders had not been in a wretched condition, greatly disproportioned in numbers, orn out with hunger and fatigue, and set up, like targets, on a level plain, to point the murderous fire of the artillery. The very elements seemed to be against the Jacobites. The rain and sleet beat in their faces, and, joined to the smoke of the fierce cannonading and musketry, compelled them to fight in all but darkness. The struggle was a brief one—a shock like an earth quake, that threw down all the long-cherished hopes of the royal line of Stuart, sacrificing, on this one fatal day, above two thousand brave men, and leaving hun dreds more to perish by cold-blooded cruelty, by cap tivity, exile, and harsh tribunals. Nothing could be more prosaic or unromantic than the general character of the reign of George the Second. The affair of the Forty-five burst like a meteor on this dull period. It was poetry in action. "A primitive people," says Scott, " residing in a remote quarter of the empire, and themselves but a small portion of the Scottish Highlanders, fearlessly attempted to place the British Crown on the head of the last scion of those ancient kings whose descent was traced to their own mountains. This gigantic task they undertook in fa vour of a youth of twenty-five, who landed on their shore without support of any kind, and threw himself on their generosity. They assembled an army in his behalf—their speech, their tactics, their arms, were alike unknown to their countrymen and to the English —holding themselves free from the obligations imposed by common law or positive statute, they were yet governed by rules of thei r ow n, de r ived from a general sense of honour, extending from the chief to the lowest of his tribe. With men unaccustomed to arms, the amount of the most efficient part of which never ex ceeded 2,000, they defeated two disciplined armies com mandedtrated deep into Engan , app _ the King's the capital, and made the crown tremble on by officers of ex d perie r n o c a e ch a e n d d wrietrintataion, hundred on the point of being intercepted between mi h e ad; retreated with the like . success when they appea red three hostile armies; checked effectually the attack of a superior body detached in pursuit of them ; reached the north in safety, and were only suppressed by a concur rence of disadvantages which it was impossible fur saw, the e t a h ow e : laN vpureibthe Prince oiandsurprise,nu devoted thdiosn vea rhinoo wu a attachment t an a r h eag m nu e i lt n ay t r human nature to surmount." To this enumeration of facts, forming altogether a picture dazzling to the ima gnay ination, wander ings and misfortunes, and the contrast which they pre sent in true nobility of mind to their sordid and cruel victors. The excesses committed after the battle of Cul loden form a deep and ineffaceable stain on the English i g. 611. we a n i g o ifn theatio nH, military force, trained in a civilize nation, and army,com mandedan courtesy, and feelings of honour, by a rude mountain race, reared in comparative solitude • amidst the wild and savage scenes of nature. b d y t a e w pr o i r n l e d e, The breaking up of the feudal system in th High lands was a necessary result of the progress e of society, but it was accellerated by the defeat at u lod e n Good sprung out of seeming evil. Th e statutes pro scribing the use of arms and the national dress people were unjust and absurd, but the Act, passed in 1748, abolishing the hereditable jurisdictions, and vesting the administration of justice in professional Sheriffs, was a wise and salutary measure. The ure. system of vassa l age and military service was at an end, and law was substi tuted for a purely despotic power. What a vast change has been effected in the last century ! With little trade been a a public road or communication —arts and agriculture unknown or neg lected, we wonder how our ancestors could drag out ex istence. The wealth of the chief lay in the number of his clan, not in his rental. When Dlacdonald of Kep poch was aske d the amo unt of his income, he replied, " I can raise five hundred men." Those men, however, ware miserably lodged and fed—subsisting often by plunder—and at all times dependent on the character and caprice of their natural leader. It was a state of things that could not last—a form of society alien to Vie spirit of the British Constitution. But under it rose many a generation of brave men, and flourished many virtues- ws_may rejoice that its harsher features have RADE. THE TURN-OT UT in the BUILDING any (From the Liverpoo l Sta n d ard.) is ta therendard.) app i * nee of its termination. Bu t it. is ear. nor This strike still continue s, not confined to this S town and neighbourhood , for it extends otherndsto in all Manchester Bradford, Sheffield, Birm i ng ham, an places,at issue. The men who are employed hlve to of which the builders and t heir work me e n o n are largely towards the support o f those who are standing tribute very not only ig papers and soliciting subscrip i r s , out, and men have been engaged (luring ti week die tributifrom housekeepers, shopkeepers, and oth from persons in the streets. The latter class cs; but also fsol . i s citors are generally the labourers. By a letter, which pub lished in another column, it will be seen that the unions have absolute controul over men who are hundreds of miles distant, and that masons have been prohibited coming from Aberdeen to set the column at the New Assize Courts. All the avenues of the town—the railway station, the dock ' quays, and the pierheads—ere closely watched, lest strangers should come here in search of employment ; and picquets are set who keep watch upon all the prin cipal builders' establishments, so as to prevent, if pos sible, any man from entering. Yet, in spite of these precautions, many of the large employers aro procuring bands, and every day brings an accession. It seems to he pretty well known, that but for the terror of the trades' unions, the great majority of the workmen would gladly resume their work ; and it is lamentable that, during this struggle, buildings are standing still in every direction, not merely in Liverpool, but in yea.: rious parts of the country. The men object to quit The unions, and the masters say that they have no security in undertakicg contracts so lung as their men are in fluenced by the leaders of these combinations. A startling fact appears in the letter of the President of the 0 der of Forres . ,ers, which is publi,hed in another culumn, viz.:—that more than one million of adult men are enrolled in secret benefit societies in this country. ASTLEY. AN IRISHMAN'S PlG.—The pig takes his meals with the rest of the family, whom, at best, he regards as his poor relations. He sits down with the circle at the family board (often literally a board for a plate), and eats with them from the same dish, from which they usually select for him the largest potatoes. Instances, it is true, have been known where a disloyal peasant has endeavoured to persuade the pi ve the pig something in addition, such as porridge, bran and mashed up w is ith it th to e g re i at, but g cake, t s o e a l d e n a o d t m c a l a v b i l b t e l s a t v g e s p . u o c t b a N e t s o o s success. merely Far m peelings, n o i is re the pig better fed than the peasant, with his wife and children, but in several dis tricts it is the only animal that is sufficiently fed. This is more especially the case in Sligo and Roscommon. The pig, meantime, knows how matters stand, and is quite aware of his own importance. Hite happens to be coming in at the door of the cabin at the same time that one of the children is coming out, he tries to make it appear that there is not room enough for both, and gives the child a hunch with his shoulder in passing, like a surly brute who would gt owl, " Get out of the way, don't you see me coming !" A traveller in the provinces told me that he once overheard a sort of dialogue between a peasant girl and the pig of the house. The pig had absconded, or at least had not returned all night, and the girl, who had been out searching for him since daybreak, was now bringing him home, reproaching him for his ingratitude as they walked along, the pig returning a sort of grudging acquiescence to each touching interrogatory. " Didn't I always get you enough straw at night to cover round you, and a wisp to stick in the chink o' the wall to keep the wind out?" " Ouff," said the pig. " Haven't I given you the best praties, and leaves, and warm mash, and often gone without a male myself for you—eh, now ?" " Ouff," said the pig ; but the grudging acquiescence did in some degree partake of an " Oh, don't bother me." "And wouldn't I always do my duty by you—eh ?—wouldn't I I How could you have the heart to leave your own home—eh? Will I tell you of all your ingratitude, eh ?" " Oujr," said the pig; meaning, in this case, " Well, I don't care if I do hear about that."—Col - respondent of a morning paper. A HAWK AND A WEASLE. —While watching the a bloodsuckers, hawk overhead.l concealed ceale(T myself movements of a brood of weasles, w hi c h were b as ki ng upon a shelf of an old wall, by the edge o f a woo d i n th e ne i gh b ourhood of Mor- P u e p t o h n ' the Believing t amongsthat he ha t d h e hl s eebrush wood, and watched his motions with considerable interest. After wheeling round a few times, as if to ascertain the most favourable point of attack, he took up a position directly above his game. Gradually and cautiously descending to the point of attack, he darted upon his prey, and, in an instant, was seen winging his way through the air with a young weasle secure in his talons. So soon as the hawk was out of sight, I again turned my eye to the wall, and ob served that the weasles had all Disappeared but an old one, which stood upon its hind legs snuffing the air, and, by the violence of its gestures, appeared to feel its less acutely. At length it laid itself down, and, by the apparent carelessness of its position, seemed to invite attack. The hawk was again overhead, and, emboldened by his recent success, descended with great velocity upon the only re maining object of his appetite. He caught a Tartar. No sooner had he secured his prey than he shot upwards with the rapidity of a rocket, and in an instant was almost lost in the clouds. A desperate str..ggle appeared to be going on for the mastery, which ended in the two combatants falling violently to the ground. In running to the spot where they fell I found them both dead. .l Guardian. THE NIGHTINGALE —This charming songster, for whose melodious notes the Trumpington-road is so rcnowed, has begun to pour forth its " Jug jug" in our neighbourhood earlier than usual this year. Last week it was hearth and by this time It is alusus common.-- Cambri4ye Climick, LETTER FROM CHINA-AN AD- VENTURE. (The fc 'flowing are extracts from a letter by the chief engineer of one of the war-steamers at present on the coast of China to his friends in Edinburgh.] (11P0A, Jan.26.—The last instalment of the Chinese ransom money (2,000,000 of dollars) was paid in Canton last wee k. The inhabitants being in a riotous state, we were or Jered from Hong-kong up the river to lie abreast of Cant on, and I believe to fire into the city in case of their attempting to burn the factories. We remained there ei.g :lit days, every man on board under arms, as we expect d every night an attack from the populace, who seem to have the most bitter enmity towards Euro peans. The money was all paid, however, and the riot ing hay i:ng partially subsided, we were ordered away, at which I" was just as well pleased, having got tired of my bed-fell .ows, no other than a pair of loaded pistols and a drawn cutlass. Engineers were ordered to lie under arms, as well as every one else on bnaid. We have since t aken up our station here, which is twenty miles further down the river than Canton, and about sixty from I bong-Kong. The s cenery in this place being most beautiful, and yester di y, feeling inclined to enjoy it in a walk through the cow itry, I took a boat and one of my apprentices with mg and thinking I might find some game, I took my gun also. We sailed up a small creek, and leaving the boy to take charge of the boat, I, with the gun in my hand, w• alked into the country. I had not gone a quar ter of a t vile, when approaching a small village, the people came to'i yards me, about thirty or forty in number. They be, ;an hooting and crying at me, which is the usual way they have of treating us " barbarians " when they get a lone one unprotected ; and as they kept pressing round me closely, I thought it useless to persevere in going forward. Therefore, turning myself round to go back to the boat, one of them from behind made a sudden spring, grasping in his arms, both my legs under the knees, and another seizing the barrel of my gun, they dragged me to the ground. The latter kept pulling at the gun trying to wrest it from me, all the while the muzzle pointing to his breast. The gun being at the time in full cock, I had his life completely in my power; my first thought was, , " I will take it -" the second was, "Ifl do so, mine will certainly pay aie penalty." In the meantime another was striking a t me ' a i t h a st i c k, an d I was compelled to arms, relinquish my h o l d of the gun to d e f en d m y f ace with myarms, wieldingth i e t fellow asif ntoow strikei in possession the n of the gun h, gad with the butt-end. I cannot tell you how I felr, ev, lry instant expecting a death-blow. It was eer y strange, that at that moment the picture of the dea th of Captain Cook, in the volume of his voyages in m y father's book-case, came vividly before my eyes— thei r gestures and appearance were altogether quite as save we like. Before the blow came, I managed to spring to a av feet, and attempted to keep them back, unarmed as ' I sv. ts. They then desisted, and went into the village,taking with i a tem nay gun, hat, powder-flask—in fact, all my pro completely fleeced, my cloth es torn to p ieces, 131,,ert y. l i. was ets and their • confrom t e nts torn away my p , )c. coat. Glad I was , I can assure you, when I saw theirl saw backer turned ; and walking on t o wards the boat, me. Now. theno. ass embling again, and to intercept tis thou .f lit I, they are going to have a shot a me —'his la t , his h o ano A .er ordeal ; but presently th e gu n went off mid d le of them, and I felt relieved so far, as it is very like l• ,r some of them were hurt. The savages are quite ign. ;rant of the use of a gun, and one of them may have bee a looking into its barrel, for all I know to the con tral My troubles dii not cease here; for on reaching the s p o t vhere I had left the boat, I found both it and the e b o y bole. I saw, however, two Chinese in a boat, .d promised them money if they tl Le c. reek. I went into their boat, and finding in one o'k• m, 7 pockets two rupees, which the late robbers had miss; al, I gave them to them ; they then wanted more, and flaying me a prisoner in their boat, made motions as if th, -.-y were going to search me, upon which I made an att2l apt to throw one of them o verboard. They desisted, and landed me on the other side. I know the villains only wain ted a few more to help them—they don't consider tl ie odds in their favour ; two against one European. I th el a walked along the banks of the river for a long listan ce, until I discovered another boat, which I per suaded by promises to take me to my ship. It turned out bat the boy I had left in the boat bad been plundered I I