The Sun. — London, England, 1846-01-31 00:00:00

...,, ~. 'OO -sUIDP " , 1 , 1)t (3 : . id 1 1 ' 4.1 0. 1 trust , b‘" OP° EN D'S it. to r , of a 4 ,,,, a tibe na li r ti be rer f ,° 2 al de f' a rt 004 9 0 c — into , igre ern ke: ofiral r ;of Coro_ A r - 1 i tio oe ' I 144 ref' °'llo D., ,op.' s l7el frog' o ti v oio,, 0 )013 -.-L-STOV,7, FOREST OF DEAN, A ND GL:WCE STER JUNCTION IZAILW - .%Y. I spe,-ial general meeting of the directors and share liej)-t:l's in this railway was held at the London Tavern, at „ v • - for the nurpose cor:sidering ,a 5 p os afternoon, , Parr • lti9n nf the Company, and its offscance of success in tatuent. A considerable number hareholders were atiZ e h nt ; E. E. Dayrell, Esq., High Sheriff of Buckingham, The au vertisement convening the meeting having been ,711 e o.ara st rose and said—Gentlemen, if I have delayed .lingittle in taking the chair, it was for the purpose of assem yi...c pbout as large a body of the shareholders as we could nic.atbtoogurthoezi-ri.akle,must beg your attention to the statement and to the motives which have induced ;earfOirectors to summon you to this meeting. They have to2r!Lea their duty to the present moment ; they have, arewp(lieci with all the requisites required of them, and they 'w in the Course of performing another duty in calling have ogether to receive further confirmation of what they whi,hderie, and to receive suggestions as to the future course Eou rthey Ought to adopt. We do not conie_ . to l° the purpose of stating that, after has In . g staildea a portion of your capital, we are not in Itiar it i° 4 to comply with all those requisites ii tay be required of us; we have done everything y our e " could be required of us as directors ; we have lodged posit "could money required for the payment of the de pared 2 to the A ccountant-General is ready, and we are pre afi; ge into Parliament if you intimate that such is your ih tete out the altered circumstances of the lines7circum fors, 3 w hich it was not in the power of the directors to tak-eeehave rendered it a paramount duty with them to aal.;,e,ar opinion as to the course which you think it C, o4 7"ne they should pursue. When the project of this hod 1 1) o an Y was first submitted to the directors, we intend notice —no kind of information, that any other parts troia e ,.. e d to take the ground which the line was prepared to Sat p, ‘", or to occupy the position which the Company does eij as et• I know that the South Wales Compa had am to th rown out last year in their endeavour to obtain . a hat w e e h e altruct a railway from Chepstow to llopp Crib; NeoPlitBtiest_itioltnci not the smallest intimation of their intention to N * • tue Matter further, and were strengthened in this by the fact that the Admiralty bad been op * Prin c i,„"",, this project, and that they had been defeated It ith" -au Y on this account. It wa's not, however, until k a l a th e fie. „ last fortnight that their real intentions were . korte. 7,,,"1ieY were certainly not known to us before this . " 13 may at least be some justification for the directors til t 8,5 entertained your project, and for having taken all j. 2 1.8 inT po a s ti s e : e,asary for its submission to the Leislature. It . -a n t t h e o .4ote for them to foresee that a powerful Company, I for ,sety h ad been ^,outh Wales, inte n d e d t o t a k e up a pro j ect on which previously defeated. It will be unnecessary Yo h e i r : to describe the course of our line, because trkand doubt well acquainted with its geographical po io thd,Plat between Chepstow and Gloucester it is a Ore at e l l ,tile of railway between two great Companies— "44lalga eatern and the South Wales, which have since Weal, aiated. It then became uestim with us whether Show " 14 enter • a . q d s he . into a contest with them, and whether we Muse I can_ into funds in our hands in fighting a contest, 1 - "ra it. ir.:mt but in my conscience believe to . be hopeless, ti tti 'a .scareely to be supposed that after Parliament,. Peadat,,aation of Sir Robert Peel, will permit an inde -1440 ord er ‘jtii)niaany to step in between two , pow erful Companies al t o Pe ih a t t : , i t inay endeavour to defeat their line from . L,.in i7B t nit and Liskeard.—(Hear.) I say it is ini 4ea bv°ll,selieve that such a proposition will be enter fort.ehoide or nament. It may naturally be asked by the ta —l ed 0 1: 1 by the d'r ctors had not been in 41y, t.,1 this before? 'lo that question I would t i es at it Dilly wl'in the last fortnight, ratnieB titiaattwtemr.ted. to ope‘t a ne.:oti - tion with . these corn• I t , the me e. became aware of their cet , rmination to con tiso‘esy with as. On remonstrating with them on the con they ra p pp they had shown with regard to their project, i eteraT'' " e are not bound to make a statement of k h ,, e °B to the public, we are not bound to let all the ta"l' t oor s -w. what we propose to do, and, therefore, have t tleht-e,)%re..t, to the present moment." I think that, Ds tir 'id be a justification, as far as it . goes, par s f ats B as adopted a inject which it was impossible for 6JY. ().• ee would be contested by so powerful a Corn eet(4tel are aware of the funds which are at our dis 'he a'nount of the deposits, and you are also aware ;Ziat lta nd. "c!iul machinery against which we should have to , 04 , 1 hat machinery has been so powerfully organised 1a oW ente,,st with us would not cost 5001., whilst it would 14„. °11 r ha h r a "earlY the whole of the deposits you have placed I therefore ask whether we have not acted ste",,"l.Justiv and whether we have not adopted the h O' t 'otki ht il, in seeVing your advice as to the course which v i t ell srael'it it a a rl d:fisable to pursue ?—(Hear, hear.) We have to k .„ seeined._ol your money on an useless project sa h 2oin g ta " to nave coo chance of success. We have qded. A ',how for the portion of the money we have ra ht ,_ l oine nt _ -- , 5 I have said, we are in a condition to go to ' an l'er ' i t You think proper, but we must leave the sabla t _ Your hands. I think it would be scarcely ex tow% that contest this project, because we are perfectly tati eivt th t at tli"e Companies have declared their intention. 4 1 Wa s or acporamodation to the public which this Cora tB po t be.Fanised to afford. I believe that if outs scheme ~:it t e opia t' e a t t Projected it is possible they never would have oiaL e ar, t renewing their application to Parliament. hot th e -a 6•) say it is my opinion, that had we not qtyta4de thehepsto and Forest of Dean Railway, had we i t , wow. ae monstrations we . have, the South Weirs k r Oita Would not have carried out a scheme in ha_.elntegait3,, We all know that the Iv a , for some time past, been amused N's,h 'Nett whichto pass under the Severn. t e ° W eyer, a , 4 1 . ‘n y difnd FDeE?red is hn practicable that it did ipt thills)roiaoters ence in our minds as to the opposition which 53 4 ,,diffic alf ,Would be enabled to offer to our line With to I,"'S to a - o v : staring us in . th . e face, and the importance o tMulediate decision as to whether we should go ved s, e at, and enter into a contest in which we con - ° cell ..a 311 ° 111 d fritter away the funds in our hands, With he c /Te d to us to endeavour to effect an amalgamation ,ouch Wales Company. We acco r di ng l y opene d a l ~ o tetylewith that Company, and h ave had several with the directors ; but at length no amalgama takolo,roetff,e.cted. nobe.lieve they would have been happy . to ;int fo uhd ", , vas in their power, for after investigation full we sepmainatetid,:zs a: ht , 0 , 0 tee had a tithe of the shares necessary to ithietrefore, after two or three useless meet- I. deter "ped our attc attention g"cl feeling on both sides, and with r_zor_aitinthw to carry out our project. We then rheigchard to woulsewhere, in order to obtain an amal- Place you in an equally good post emrai dt sci I,7aY hot very dist :otYour interests, and with a com from the scene of our contem- We entered into communication with Lett ev project well known . to you as to us. too ag._. ne oeola_e ths pute as thecredibl'it - a of that under 10,ileetea with hill question the respectability of the parties *IT who • alai the large number of influential per ich • give it their support. I believe the line is one v ip lt e o r i a lh . : 0 1 1 meet with the approbation of Parliament . They qh condition to give us shares in the 'Zia,that ruand itself, but they offered us shares a m e `al % ea eOnsider the more valuable portion of their t(;',We enteredn In the West Midland and Hereford Junction, kyciat into an arrangement, on which it is for you x °,,Y ar id n. _-!ne terms of amalgamation betw , !en this Corn titettes euurselves were the we should each pay our ta t 'll4 ta the present time, and, that they should give s hoal, rem a i n i . ti the Welsh ilEdland Extension for Itt" wo - " l ng portion of our capital—that we ktiv into Parliament together, and with our ti k t,,iltag'tswi.el organised. No doubt we should obtain great art havins, their aid in a Parliamentary combat; 14tio Rare to go ' into Parliament separately, I have no pf IQ s, • lo •Yllig that a great portion of our funds would litai e l ir act• It is not proposed to diminish the amount k ti after the payment of the expenses which, a re ich circumstances, you would have to pay, hn a . e t, b o would amount to one-fifth share. They tay t l!tss h fi i‘:''N'er, to give us four shares for every five lo t u tir t , t " ; they only ask, pari passe, that each should tale as p the time of going to Parliament. aph i s to Ue"nsider whether their shares are not of equal j is ti barewn. This is the second proposition of the three t f ,91 e, to submit to you for the settlenient of our affairs. litiorsstos, directors, conscientiously fulfilled our duties at I,,thottLiale• There is, we believe, no spot to be found or e ';"'""em.dings which we submit to your most search- Pro t‘ l Yo l iA, ll ";„,'''e are ready to lay our whole course ofconduct , tic,titoo'"o that you may please yourselves as to the third Ilab; „Ithich is open to the shareholders, namely, t hin" ‘ ' t i • t tio t V i l e scheme and then returning your money, t p o ,▪ uat , e xPenses already incurred. Gentlemen, I iot , opthettit,,- ea.eservations are required on this point. We • one ear any party who maybe disposed to address bIS tt. e t a .,1_ 01 those propositions, and we only trust that n'tt net ) i tv Ut said will be p in good temper. We trust also tit;thilet:ttrollire.ctors have endeavoured to deserve your ori; l 'itit t ,aY Will be honoured with it to the end. wished to know if the directors possessed any tt4iNtia,t3trily,,,f4sto the position and prospects of the other 1 ,anom they proposed to amalgamate ? If 1 1 7_ • a„, cads li t ' L g.t, the Welsh Midland was not the Compai C Bi tl ‘•;lt ttgotlating with Itteknlc,./t." explained that the Gloucester and Here svanvetigilt„,"4°, with which they proposed to unite, was ,„I'll t ‘, ll off: 11 0 4 5 into Parliament asap independent scheme) a , -- , ae t from the trunk line. 'Ol e, potlier the 1- 6 0 “ )11 could not state what the available capital • 141 ° . h rn P a n was, but this he knew, that they had ttile prYovisiOnsof the . standing orders. oa u ",osiee,avin ipit,.. oll ght, that the directors had shown a cul ej' In entering into the proposed arrangement, ascertained the real standing of the 'l . ltl o ate% Dot e• -„'"ould, therefore, propose," That the meeting oirlatioo.; Judicious or expedient to consent to the ka le t sa l "ter) a Otk, ed the proposition. t h :q h ,a, W ords from Mr. SANDERS, in support of the 1 4 4 1 . k l tt lioL, *tb,-,?titAt asked what the expenses already incurred 4in et ‘ sji lie,.,.' s a arid what proportion of the deposit would 111.retiltAtax•Larned? 1 to 30 8 5 4 t --- From 13,000/. to 14,000/. of expenses are l rho ore Per A b e . shareholders will probably receive from 'tin,rtAlpTl' have it —(Laughter.) e bs _ t her i , l `;!„ B _aid he . had only now to submit the reso • 4 ,l?an y ' c ( rg• th t olin, Was i n "e would observe that he knew that no 'h 11 1,1 41 , ~a bette r position than they were to go to a at We st ' “icY were not in a position to contend w tr ith s fir, Sr 13 ' hh(4 11 ,,• lie would, therefore, propose that this sec diSSOlVed. itfr AVN t c( nicled the resolution. h i oil ed said he 4, 1 1 i t the ih was of opinion that some time . should_ - "Oe t w 43 decid e as to the merits of the line with odes l 7 4 he s t ' so l i e l t o.sed they should amalgamate, before they attato on of dissolving the Company. to i laa t 4,Lobnelt.,s,,aid he thought, when there was so large oa t na ve a urth . to be made from the deposits, they "INh e est the .).nomtnittee to investigate the accounts, and ei ,Th e „to `alt au,swectors had done their duty ; not that he 4 1114`lL‘/ R , i ,"_Y -aspersion on those gentlemen. T he nc, difiLlaesenplamratttelcte. resolutiou that the Company (-1, which was unanimously agreed to. Til t iii,A:4ll,,l,,,,ritiClatrriAt _D_IA:NS-P—F :TH—E CITY OF LONDON UNION i the !l'inen, trir!br.otlier it to move at the nextCouff it,, for of of to, jt the Court do memorialise " the guardians o ii tc ;' .or th e .ioon Union to provide an asylum within the or No fr,. ._r!ception of the destitute and houseless . poor, who th r !'t forluei.alY malting application at the office in Canno.i)iy t E ke 't relief The alderman expects to be supported I 4"tt,,k,.1,rN, a'r,ajority q the aldermen, a ig o a , his determination to use every effort to acc i l d the Lord Mayor , ‘.o h m a .. s ,„; Iviti,„„eirable an object, having had many 'N.t ti -ig the bad effect of sending the poor helpless opportunities c 'l'or 1." 11 P0a a trarup of four miles to Peckham Asylum, A ''llieli tl - • , j ai le city magistrates have no control whatever. ~1 4, tliq ,4all.n,ad O'Di'a, residing on the lands of Cregg, k'Pet Jr,- 4,1 1 of Cool ~ fri,.. hand . . rneen, near Bally.nacallv, a few days t of religious enthusiasm, nailed ho'th his feet and ~.ikki'-n to the Posts of his bedstead, imitating the era -41 t1a," . ,1)f OUr SayioPur. He previeusly barricaded the door, I;ray ii,'"tlee of his family who were obliged to force their titc444;6',,., When they found th w e ' poor man in a state of exhaus , "44r141glelkii. THE SUN LONDON, SATURDAY! MORN IN JANUARY 31, 1846. 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 January, 1846, after abating the Expenditure thereout d e f ra y e d by th e severa l Revenue Departments, and of the actual Is s ue s or P a y men t s w ithi n th e sam e Period, exclusive of the Sums applied to the Redemption of Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt, and of the Advances and Repayments for Local Works, &c. Applicable to - INCOME OR REVENUE. Consolidated Other Public EXPENDITURE. Fund. Services. Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. ORDINARY REVENUE AND RECEIPTS. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Funded Debt.—lnterest and Management of the Permanent Debt ............... 23,847,242 19 0 Customs 19,695,196 0 4 501,660 110 20,196,856 2 2 Terminable Annuities 3,980,022 11 3 Excise 13.585,582 17 1 ... ••• 13,585,582 17 1 Stamps 7,710,682 19 9 ••• ••• 7,710,682 19 9 Total Charge of the Funded Debt, exclusive of 9,407/. 2s. 3d., the Interest Taxes (Land and Assessed).. 4,223,842 210 ... 4,223,842 210 on Donations and Bequests. . 27,827,265 10 3 Property-tax 5,026,570 0 2 ... ••• 5,026,570 0 2 Unfunded Debt.—lnterest on Exchequer-bill s Post Office 753,000 0 0 ••• ••• 753,000 0 0 ---- 28,253,872 6 11 Crown Lands 120.000 0 0 ••• ••• 120,000 0 0 Civil List ~ 392,165 0 0 Is. and 6d. and 4s. in the £on Pensions and Salaries.... 4,639 15 8 ••• ••• 4,639 15 8 Annuities and Pensions for Civil, Naval, Military, and Judicial Services, Small Branches of the Hereditary Revenues of the Crown 56,104 16 0 •.• ••• 56,104 16 0 &c., charged by various Acts of Parliament on the Consolidated Fund 5 44,408 8 0 Surplus Fees of Regulated Public Offices 41,839 10 8 ••• ••• 41,839 10 8 Salaries and Allowances ---____ Diplomatic Salaries and P ens ions , 175, , 192 8 3 51,217,458 2 6 501,660 110 51,719,118 4 4 Courts of Justice ........................................................................ 769,433 1 2 Miscellaneous Charges on the Consolidated Fund 286,379 13 5 OTHER RECEIPTS. Army Money from China under the Treaty of August, 1842:- 1,142,923 18 9 ••• •••• 1,142,923 18 9 Navy , ................................................................................. 6,809,872 10 7 Imprest and other Monies Money received from the East India Company 60,000 0 0 ••• 60,000 0 0 Miscellaneous, chargeable on the Annual Grants of Parliament 2,726,147 3 7 Unclaimed Dividends (more than paid) 52,558,693 15 11 501,660 110 53,060,353 17 9 49,061,411 17 7 Unclaimed Dividends more than received 49,242,713 6 7 • Excess of Income over Expenditure ••• 3,817,640 11 2 53,060,353 17 9 ••• 1 I 53,060,353 17 9 An Account of the Balances of the Public Money remaining in the Excl ended the sth day of January, 1846 ; the Money applied towards tl Works, &c., with the Difference accruing thereon ; and the Balances i hequer on the sth d ay of January, 1845 ; the Amount of Money raised by the Additions to the Funded or Unfunded Debt in the Year ;he Redemption of th e F un d e d or p a ying off Unfunded D e b t; t h e T o t a l A moun t o f Ad vances and Repayments on A ccount o f L oca l in the Exchequer, on the sth day of January, 1846. £ 0. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. ISSUED. £ a. d. £ s. d. BALANCES in the EXCHEQUER on the sth day of January, 1845 ••• ••• 6,254,113 9 8 To the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt, to be applied to the redemption of the Public Debt : MONEY RAISED IN THE YEAR ENDING THE STH DAY OF JANUARY, 1846, BY By issues per Act 10 George IV., c. 27 3,134,484 0 11 By interests on donations and bequests 9,407 2 3 THE CREATION OF FUNDED OR UNF UND ED D EBT . 4,143,891 3 2 Exchequer-bills 18,407,3001, charged on Supplies, per Act 7 Victoria, , Deduct sum applied not in redemption of Funded c. 149,024,900 0 0 Debt, but of Consolidated Fund Deficiency Bills 2,800,000 0 0 1,343,891 3 2 To the Paymasters of Exchequer-bills for payment of Exchequer-bills, 9,379,6001., charged on Supplies, per Act 8 Victoria, Unfunded Debt : c. 23 .. . 9,269,600 0 0 Money out of the Consolidated Fund for payment! 18,294,00 0 0 of Public Works, West India Relief, and Shan- , non Bills ' 173,500 0 0 Exc lidhatedeq ueFunr-bills per for Public Works.—G C. 10 reat Britain (charged o n C onso - Money out of Ways and Means Grants applied' d),Victuria, .• ••• 12,000 0 0 to payment of Supply Bills ; 24,300 0 0 Exchequer-bills issued for payment of Supply] Bills 18,294,500 0 0 Exchequer-bills, West India Relief, per Act 6 and 7 Victoria, c. 87 Total amount of advances for Local Works, BLc., under authority of various Act of Parliament ••• 2,005,570 13 3 Exchequer bills, IV ist India Reli f, p.r Act 2 and 3 William IV., c. 125.... 2,700 0 0 Deduct ditto re-payments, ditto 1 1,860,897 15 74 54,700 0 0 144,672 17 71 18,361,200 0 0 Balances in the Exchequer on the sth day of July, Excess of Income over Expenditure ••• ••• ••• ••• 3,817,640 11 2 1846 ••• ••• 8,452,090 0 01 28,432,954 0 10i 28,432,954 0 101- Whittball Treasury Chambers, Jan. 22, 1846. STEAM STATISTICS OF THE BENGAL PRESIDENCY. The Friend of India, of Nov. 27, has an elaborate article on the Steam statistics of the Bsngal Presidency. The progress ss hich has been made in the introduction of steam power at this presidency, cannot fail to be an object of interest to all those who are desirous of seeing the application of European skill, enterprise, and capital to the development of the natural re,ources of the country. The above journal, therefore, offers no apo logy for the publication of the following statement of the numbers cf steam-engines now employed in the various departments of industry, and their aggregate horse power. It has been drawn up with considerable labour, and though, in particular cases, it may be some what deficient in accuracy, from the difficulty of procur ing information regarding private establishments, yet it is presented with a feeling of perfect confidence in its substantial correctness. According to the figures thus furnished, there are 15 engines, working at the rate of 168-horse power, in sugar factories; 14 engines, with 123-horse power, in sugar refineries; 8 engines, with 111-horse power, employed in the traffic of the docks; 8 engines, with 80-horse power, in the collieries; 6 en gines, with 158-horse power, in the flour and rice mills; 4 engines, with 46-horse power, in the paper manufac tories; and 15 engines, with 238 horse power, in miscel laneous establishments. The steamers carrying on the trade of the presidency, including the Hindoostan, Ben tinck, and Precursor, number 73 engines, with 4,894- horse power. In the Government departments 8 engines, with 168-horse power, were employed. The steamers building would increase the number of engines by eight, with 370-horse power; and the sugar factories in pro gress would further augment the amount by 4 engines, with 70 horse power. The summary of this statement is as follows : Engines. H.P. Sugar works and refineries Docks Collieries Flour and rice mills Paper manufactories Miscellaneous l5 238 Government departments Sea steamers Inland steamers Packets Tugs and pleasure boats 2l 1114 From this account it seems that there are in active em ployment in the Bengal Presidency no fewer than 151 steam-engines, of nearly 6,000-horse power. It is gene rally supposed that the first steam-engine set to work in the Presidency was introduced by the Serampore mis.tionaries in the year 1820, for the manufacture of paper, which then sold at 150 per cent. beyond the price now realised in the market. Before that event, it is said a Mr. W. Smith employ ed a small engine of 2-horse power in his dock-yards, but the statement is regarded as not altogether authentic. Between the years 1820 and 1837, 65 engines of 1,800-horse power were introduced, 35 engines of 574-horse power being contributed by the enterprise of private individuals, and 30 engines of 1,258-horse power by the Govern• ment. It is, however, during the last seven years, since the liberty granted to Europeans to hold lands in India has effectually come into operation, that the extra ordinary increase of steam power, as applied to agricul tural improvements, has take-n place. During this period the number of steam-engines introduced into the country by private individuals and public associations, as well as by the Government, amounted to 97, and their aggregate horse power to 4,700. Neither has the increase of steam rniviiinery reached its height. The introduction of new engines continues without diminution. Every year, and almost every month, new factories are established, and attempts are constantly in progress to apply steam power to fresh branches of labour. It is considered that the presidency of Bengal is only in its infancy as regards the. employment of steam power, and the statistics of another seven years, it is believed, will create much greater sur prise than those now published. With respect to the subject of. fuel the Friend of China observes, " that the quantity of coal brought do vn from what are erroneously called the Burwan col lieries, during the present season, has °mounted to 72,000 tons, or about twenty lakhs of maunds ; and that such is the rapid increase of steam-engines, that even this supply is by no means adequate to the demand. Then, it must be remembered, that the numerous sugar works with which British enterprise is now studding the upper provinces, are rapidly consuming the supply of wood which is now available ; that the country must, at no very distant period, become as bare of trees as ever Scotland was in the days of Johnson, and that the con tinuance of manufactures in the Agra Presidency must soon come to depend on the chance of obtaining coal from the lower provinces by means of the rail, unless beds of coal in accessible localities be intermediately discovered in the more immediate neighbourhood of these sugar factories." STEAM VESSELS OF TUE BENGAL PRESI- DENCY. The following is a detail of the number of engines and amount of horse power of the Bengal Presidency. The first four belong to the Peninsular and Oriente' Steam Navigation Company. Hindostan, Bentinck, and Precursor 6 1560 India 2 249 Fire Queen Inland Steam Navigation, Govern ment 9O Sea steamers, Government Tugs, Tug Company ▪ Hoogly Company • Bates, Fielden, and Co. ... Belleau ... Satellite ... Coal Company ▪ Assam Company ~. Pleasure boats.. 670 1030 520 200 220 50 90 METROPOLITAN DRAPERS' AS- SOCIATION. A public meeting of this Association was held yester day evening, in the Theatre of the Marylebone Literary Institution, Edward-street, Portman-square, Commodore Sir C. Napier in the chair. The theatre was densely crowded, a great portion of the audience being ladies. The CnAramAN then rose and said—Ladies and Gen- tlemen, I have been requested this evening to attend this meeting, in order to assist in every way that we can do the exertions of the Metropolitan Drapers' Association in their admirable objects ; more particularly by inducing the inhabitants of the metropolis to use their endeavours t ) assist the drapers in abridging the hours of business. It must be very evident to every lady and gentleman here, that without their aid the drapers them s, lees, where competition is so great, cannot put an end to their late hours, unless they are assisted by the parties who deal with them. I address myself to the ladies par ticularly, because it rests more particularly with them to change this system. lam reminded by my friend beside me that the Metropolitan Drapers' Association does not confine its operations to one class of shopmen, but that they extend it to all trades in London. It is obvious that unless ladies and gentlemen unite firmly and de terminedly to give the preference to such shops as close at an early hour, that these young men cannot succeed in their efforts. You must all be aware that when a young man sets up in business in any street in London, it is his object to rise in the world as soon as possible. But to do this it is necessary that he enters into compe tition with richer and more powerful neighbours. In order to do this it is to be expected that he will keep open as long as he can, and, therefore again, unless the ladies show their determination not to encourage the late hour system, he will continue to keep open ; but if they once show their disapprobation then the system is got rid of. lam almost ashamed to say that I have not paid much attention to this subject, because it had never before been brought before me, but I had a book sent me this morning, which I had just time to read, and I can recommend it strongly to those who have not read it. That book tells me that these young men are engaged from seven in the morning till ten or eleven o'clock at night. It is therefore impossible that they can enjoy either happiness, or comfort, or health—(Hear, hear)—and the medical men who have studied this sub ject show clearly and distinctly, that owing to the sours they are confined it is a matter of impossibility that they can enjoy good and sound health. I repeat that it is not then to be wondered at that persons thus placed, from one end of the country to the other, in London, as in the villages and towns of England, whether engaged in manufacturers or otherwise, cannot reach a mature age. You can hardly find a shopkeeper, unless he has reached the dignity of a conductor, who has turned 35 or 40 years of age, I call on you, therefore, ladies to come forward and unite in this cause as much as you possibly can. Last night in the House of Commons Lord Ashley brought forward his motion for a ten hours' factory Bill, and no person who heard him, or read his speech, but must have felt most strongly the force of his argu ments. Even those who opposed him admitted that those things required a change. When the mill was started in the morning the poor men, women, and children employed in it were obliged to remain for the day, whether they pleased or no. It was al,o stated that many men were, in consequence of the ex tende.t laws, thrown telt of employment, be cause a great part of the work was of that character that it was more fitted for women and for children. Unless this Bili is passed, I cannot see that any pro tection will remain to these children, and so it is with the shoptnen of this metropolis. Therefore, let you who are assembled here in this district, as well as those who are met in the other districts of London, lend your helping hand to compass this good end, and endeavour to influence your friends also, to give, by an early system of shop-shutting, an opportunity to the young men em ployed to benefit themselves. As placed here, my only duty is to preserve order while the resolutions are being moved and seconded, and if any gentleman has anything to say in opposition or in favour of them, they will be heard with patient attention. I shall now call upon the gentleman behind me to move the first resolution. Mr. LILLWALL said he rose with much pleasure to express his sentiments on the object which had called them together. The importance of it, he believed, was felt by all present. There was certainly one irre sistible argument in favour of the object which the association sought to obtain, that in proportion to the amount of good there was not a corresponding amount of evil ; much more, there was a great and invaluable good without any resulting evil. The reasonableness of this demand could not be denied. Many might delay in coming forward to help in advancing the cause, but no one came forward to oppose them. No one came that employer, was afterwards written to, requesting him to become one of the Vice-Chairmen of the Society, and he returned a polite letter complying with the re quest, and inclosing a donation of five guineas to the funds. Many more cases might be cited, but he would not. The next thing was the practicability of what they advocated. If any said it could not be done, he denied what was said. Was it impracticable, because the business could not be transacted in a shorter time ? Was it that the time of the drapers was wholly em ployed ? Was there any one in that meeting who had any occasion to go into these shops or go near them, that had never seen how many hours of the day they stand idle ? In fact the hours of business might be easily reduced to two-thirds of the time at present allotted ; and he dared any one to get up and even hint the oppo site. The cause of the present system deserved the attention of those who would apply a remedy. The ladies supported it, but not from inhumanity ; from a wart of forethought they reserved every business they had to transact till a late part of the day. Employers were in many instances men of honourable sentiments, but a portion of them acted from a selfish motive ; if, however, no customers came to their shops after a certain hour of the day, there would be no inducement to them to oppose early closing. Even on their own motive, if nothing honourable could affect them,—acting on their own motive, they would in that case rather close than keep open, for they would find the gas rather expensive. The speaker concluded by urging all, and especially the ladies, to aid the cause which he advo cated, at the instance of the association ; and having read and moved the second resolution, sat down. The Rev. JAIIEZ BURNS said it gave him the greatest pleasure to second the resolution which had been moved. He said the custom complained of and prevailing was known to all. Shopmen were detained in their places of business from seven o'clock in the morning till eleven and twelve o'clock at night. Perhaps, however, all were not aware equally of the magnitude of this custom. It had been ascertained that 40,000 young men, drapers, grocers and chemists, were subjected to this system of long hours. That fact was connected with an amount of distress which arose out of it. There were moral and physical evils resulting from it. There were three things which might convince persons of the great evil of the system —there were three things necessary to human beings, due exercise, relaxation from labour, and wholesame air. These shopmen were confined for thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen hours a day, kept standing behind a counter, a kind of employment which any one may feel is very wearisome, and which anatomists know is most injurious to the system. Indeed, at a carpenter's bench, or labouring as a stonemason, they would be more healthy, as a comparison of the appearance the two classes present might very readily evince. Ladies were not aware how much they added to the toil of these young men. Some ladies went into shops, hardly knowing wherefore, or what they wanted, and so one of these young men had to find out their wants.—(A laugh.) Some ladies were not very easy to please, but the young shopman must succeed in making a sale, for on the event depended his salary and his situation.—(Hear.) He had to remind them that fresh air was little enjoyed by that class of individuals. Shops were ill-ventilated, and the gaslight during the evenings, with the doors shut, made the air additionally injurious which they were compelled to breathe. Out of the system, he said, came a moral evil and a physical evil, and he might add an evil intermediate between these—a mental evil.— (Hear, hear.) By the time these shopmen left their business the library was shut, the lecture was over, the door of their friends was closed fur the night. But the tavern was still open, the cigar divans might be gone into—the theatres were ac cessible—yes, the gambling-rooms might receive these young men ; and who could attempt to estimate the in jury which they would sustain in body and in mind, in interests that were temporal and those that were eter nal. The R-v. Gentleman hoped that the meeting would sympathise practically with the association in their en deavours to secure so great an object. He sat down after seconding the following resolution : " That this meeting, believing the mainstay of the late hour system to be the habit, on the part of the pub lic, of evening shopping, and that it is, above all things, necessary to point out to the public the nature of the evil they are unconsciously upholding, cordially approves of the plan of the Metropolitan Drapers', Association to send a prize address to every house in London, and hereby records its willingness, by soliciting such con tributions as each can afford, to raise the fund requisite for so important a step." The Rev. W. CHALMERS supported the same resolu tion in an able and eloquent speech. A young man in the body of the meeting rose and moved an amendment, to the effect that not only drapers should be included, but shopmen of all trades—that all shops, gin-shops, and cigar-shops, should be closed at an early hour; but the Hon. Chairman satisfied him that the resolution was so general as to comprehend all he intended, and he withdrew it accordingly. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. print and du by evening should Mr. NASII th e n moved a resolution to the effect that s w oc as iat s io ta n ye send a copy of a prize essa y on the subject to every tsbheopspyisntge,m and of long tat the hoursas house in the metropolis. Rev. D. MooRE seconded the resolution, and sup• ported the spirit of it by ver a y able address. It was put by the Chairman, and carried uanimously. A vote of thanks was moved to the Gallant Commo dore for his conduct in the chair, which was carried with acclamation. Sir Charles replied, and the meeting broke up. forward to say that early closing is impossible. With nothing against them, they had the most cogent argu ments in their favour. Why, when one looked abroad over this great empire, and considered the extensive in inudei n v c i d e u which, as , m fo ig r h e t xa b m e p e i x e, er b ei y se vi d o i v lb e e r rf s o o r c c i e e , ty an b d y ith on en e consider the importance of the commercial class in the community, he would feel it impossible to measure the influence exerted to good effect, which that class, when improved, would exercise upon society at large.—(Cheers.) The attainment of their object would benefit young men ; he had to recollect, however, that some denied it would. That amazed him, but left his reason unaffected. They had had experience of the good effect resulting in many instances where the system had been adopted. He might name those shops where it had been adopted with the best effect—he might name employers who had lent their aid to it. And he would nam3 Mr. Pearce, of Waterloo House, and Mr. Hitch cock, of St. Paul's Church-yard, and Mr. Owen. These gentlemen, and all others who had taken up the opinion, said, they had found, in proportion as opportunity had been given, the men concerned had seized it and gave evidence of improvement. Under the old system it was no wonder the young men exhibited little or no improvement. How could they look for it, if the time tp which they had a right as intellectual and thinking beings was entirely swallowed up by the engagements of business ? " If," as the Rev. Hugh M'Neil had said, " they were reduced to a mechanism in business, and to an anornalism in enjoyment, was it pos sible for them, thus debased, to become elevated in one day ?"—(Hear, hear.) Had those who opposed them on that subject given the system they advocated a fair trial? Had they provided the young men with proper sitting rooms, and with the convenience and the means for in tellectual enjoyment ? When they had done that, they would find a change immediately in favour of the young men, and to the humar and advantage of their employers. —(Cheers.) If a more incontrovertible argument were necessary, it was th a t th e l onger th e y had existed as an association, the stronger had the general feeling throughout the trade and the public become in sympa thy with it. An instance had occurred in his own experi ence: A young man, a colleague of his own, had joined the association ; his employer called him one evening, and asked him whether he bad any connex'on with the Early-closi'..ig Association ? And upon the young man's admitting that he had, his employer said that no asso ciation -Iran should continue in his shop ; and he gave L the yotvg man the option of withdrawi ng f rom t h e as tiocie on, or leaving 4,i5 envie". Yet that beaus perm, EDW. CARDWELL. TAFF VALE RAILWAY. PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO EDWARD HIGHT3N, ESQ. On Monday evening last a deputation from the servants of the Taff Vale Railway Company, headed by their re spected secretary, A. F. Morcom, Esq., waited on Mr. Edward Highton, the late engineer of the Company, at his residence, for the purpose of presenting him with a service of plate, on his resigning his appointment, as a testimonial of the regard and respect in which he was universally held by them during the time be had the management of the line. As a proof of the good feeling evinced towards the above-named gentleman, we may mention that subscriptions were commenced in three different departments of the railway simultaneously, having one object, viz., that of testifying the high opinion entertained of his merits. The testimonial, which was subscribed to by 250 of the persons in the Company's employ, consisted of a handsome silver tea•service, of the newest design, the principle article of which was the following inscription :—" Presented by the officers and workmen of the Taff Vale Railway, to Edward Highton, Esq., C.E., on his relinquishing his appointment as en• gineer to the Company, in testimony of their cordial respect andesteem,and of the high opinion they entertain of his conduct during his connexion with the railway.— Cardiff, Jan. 19, 1846." The whole reflected the highest credit on our fellow-townsman, Mr. J. T. Barry, who executed the order. We understand Mr. Highton is engaged by the London and Birmingham Company to lay down and superintend the working of the electric telegraph, about to be established on a large scale by that Company, on a principle to be patented by Mr. High ton.—Cardiff Paper, Jan. 24. We regret to learn that Thomas Miller (the poet basketmaker, late of this town) is at present labouring under total deprivation of sight, in consequence of an attack of erysipelas. This visitation derives additional interest from the fact that in the present instance the calamity has his native land, befallen one of Nature's most gifted children, whose genius has revelled in the pic tures q ue beauties of aind who, in his works, has de..cribed with inexpressible smplicity and pathos the scenes and incidents of rural life. To add to the disaster, a numerous family of young children rdely dependent ol the literary exertions of Mr. Miller.— Nottingham Review. INTERMENT OF THE DEAD IN CHURCHYARDS.—Mr. Anderton, one of the Common Council members for Farring don Without, has given notice of the following motion, which will be discussed in the next Court:—" That this Court do petition Parliament to pass an Act to prohibit interment of the dead in churches and churchyards within the city of London and other large cities a nd towns, a nd prevent the violation of waves." The honourable bothn 3 ember has given notice that a petition be presented to Houses of Par liament to pass an Act to prevent nuisances arising from the smoke of steam-engines and furnaces in manufactories and buildings situate in and near the cities of London and West minster, and steam-boats on the river Thames. A L LITERATION ARTFULLY " Pll E:D.—Adored And Angelic Amelia,—Accept An Ardent And Artless Amorist's Affections; Alleviate An A n guished Admirer's Alarms, And Answer An Amorous Applicants Avowed Ardour. Ah, Amelia! All Appears An Awful Aspect: Ambition, Avarice, And Arrogance, Alas! Are Attractive Alla] ements, And. Abase Au Ardent Attachment . Appease An Aching And Affectionate Adorer's Alarms, And Anon Ackowledge Affianced Albert's Alliance As Agreeable And Acceptable. Anxiously Awaiting An Affectionate And Affirmative Answer, Accept An Ardo nt Admirer's Aching Adieu:— August. • POLICY OF FRANCE IN LA PLATA The following important and interesting document has been laid before the French Chambers : (Official.) " roris, March 22, 1845. " Monsieur le Baron—The two Governments of England and France, taking into consideration the inde finite duration of the war whiCh is carried on by the re publics of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, the interrup tion of Commerce which thence results, and the injuries of all kinds which the neutral foreigners established in those latitudes are compelled to sostain, hare just con certed measures for the purpose of catis:tig their media tion to be accepted by the belligerent parties. As every thing connected with the mediation is to constitute a separate question—a temporary mission—which will re main independent of the functions, both of the Chargé d'Affaires of France at Buenos Ayres, and of our Consul- General at Monte Video, the King has thought it his duty to appeal to your experience and your tried zeal for his service, by appointing you, on my proposal, his Extraordinary Commissioner in La Plata. " Mr. Gore Ouseley, recently appointed Minister of her Britannic Majesty at Buenos Ayres, in the room of Mr. De Mandeville, and destined by his Government to fill the same mission as yourself, must have already set out to proceed to his post. You will, therefore, have the goodness to prepare likewise to set out as quickly as possible. His Majesty's frigate Erigone, which is to convey you to La Plata, has r. ceived orders from the Minister of Marine to keep itself in readiness for sailing. You will, in the first instance proceed to Rio Janeiro, in order to inform the Government of the Emperor of Brazil of your voyage. It is, in fact, in consequence of the communications of the Brazilian Cabinet, repre sented by M. the Viscount d'Abrantes, on the La Plata question, that the Governments of France and England, already occupied with the difficulties of the situation, and resolved to take it into serious consideration, have defini tively adopted the decision to interfere in common. I annex a copy of the dispatch which has been addressed to me by the Viscount d'Abrantes, and one of the reply that I have made to him. You will perceive therefrom, that, according to our first ideas, we had consented to agree with the Brazilian Government respecting the means of execution. Aft( r a more mature examina tion, the two Governments deemed it more advisable, for the interest of Brazil itself, not to engage in any mea sures which might become coercive with respect to a neighbouring Government, and to leave France and England in the utmost independence. as well as the responsibility of action. You will explain to the Im perial Cabinet the motives of our conduct, and you a ill inform it that our sincere good will towards it makes us attach a real value to keeping it accurately informed. " Your stay in the capital of Brazil will necessarily be short; and immediately afier having discharged the im portant duties which call you thither, you will set out for La Plata. On your arrival at Buenos Ayres, your first care will be to put yourself in communication with Mr. Ouseley, who will, without doubt, have reached that city before you. You will learn from him the actual state of the question at the hour of your arrival, in conse quence of the preliminary steps which he will have taken whilst awaiting you, and you will take measures with him for all those that will follow. You will habitually re side at Buenos Ayres, where also your colleague is to re side, in order to keep yourself in constant communication with him. It will be easy for you to communicate from thence, in writing, with the Goverment of Monte Video. The Argentine is, moreover, the more consider able of the two states, which it is our object to reconcile ; it is undoubtedly, from its government that the resist ance to our mediation will arise ; it is the latter, at least, that will have to make the first sacrifice for the re- establishment of peace ; and it will be advisable for you to remain at the seat of the principal difficulty, in order to labour more closely for its solution. " The object proposed in the first place by France and England is to cause the cessation of hostilities. " Mr. Ouseley is instructed first, to address to Gene ral Rosas, friendly representations to this effect. To these you will add - your own, which will derive a new degree of authority from the peculiar . situation of France with respect to the Argentine Government. You will render General Roses sensible of the regard which the King's Government has not ceased to enter tain for him since the conclusion of the treaty of the 29th of October, 1840, of the, no doubt, use less, but persevering, efforts that have been made by our Consul. General at Monte Video, in order to maintain in a state of neutrality the French sub jects who wished to take arms against Oribe ; of the re sistance which we have opposed for the last four years to the efforts made in France itself to influence public opinion, for the purpose of driving us to interference. You will inform him that our intention is by no means to recommence what the treaty of 1840 happily termi nated ; that we are not the allies of the present Go vernment of Monte Video against him ; that we re cognise, in common with all sensible persons, the neces sity that has borne him to, and which maintains him in the Government of his country, that we have waited as long as we could, in order that the war might terminate of itself; but that we are no longer justified in waiting any longer at present, in face of the sufferings and the reiterated requests of those of our nation who have remained neutral, and that we are compelled, for the interest of our commerce, as well as for that of humanity, to put a period to a state of things which has become intolerable. " We are inclined to believe that the Government of Buenos Ayres will acknowledge the evidence of these facts. You might add, that in the conversations that have taken place between the two Governments on the subject of mediation, we have always taken care to make all the provisos necessary for preserving the honour and the interest of the Argentine republic ; pro visos that the English Cabinet, moreover, has admitted with perfect good faith. You will inform him, in fine, that his own dignity, the future prospects of his power, and his very devotion to the American cause, counsel him, in our opinion, to yield with a good grace, and not to prolong a ferocious contest that is con demned by the whole world. The conditions that he will obtain in the final arrangement, after having taken the initiation in the work of pacification, will be neces sarily better than if he persists in exciting every interest agains • -t him. You will assure him that, in the negotia tion, we will spare no pains to obtain the concession to him, in fact, of the best terms possible, but at the same time reminding him that we have recognised, as well as England and Brazil, the independei-ce of the Eastern State, and that we can admit nothing that puts that in dependence in question. " Even although Mr. Ouseley should have failed, be fore your arrival, in his attempt at friendly persuasion, you will yourself make a further endeavour. If (4eneral Rosas yields to these reasons ; if he consents to Teal General Oribe and to order his army to evacuate She eastern territory, you will undertake, without delay, in concert with your colleague, the negotiation of an arrangement between the two republics. Here, the resistance will no doubt change its nature ; you will have to contend against the claims of the present heads of government of Monte Video, exalted by an unexpected deliverance. You will not hesitate to reduce such demands to their proper value ; you will de clare that the two great powers have not interfered to satisfy local animosities and (migrant rivalries, but to establish peace upon solid bases, and to ensure the main tenance of order upon the two banks of La Plata ; you will say, loudly and firmly, that far from taking part in favour of one of the two republics against the other, the two cabinets are determined to guarantee the security of each of them for the future, as well of that of Buenos Ayres as that of Monte Video. " Consequently if the Government of Buenos Ayres deems it necessary to its repose to banish from the eastern territory the Argentine refugees that are to be found there, you will admit the legitimacy of this claim, and accept it as a condition of peace. It is well under stood that, in this case, you will interfere in case of need, in order to furnish the individuals pointed out the means of quitting Monte Video, and to insure for their persons and property all the protection de sirable. On the other hand, if the Eastern Republic claims, on the part of that of Buenos Ayres, guarantees against future aggressions, you will take care to give to those guarantees such a form as shall appear to you the most serious and efficacious. In a word, you will spare nothing, with your colleague, firmly to cement the good harmony which you are commissioned to re-establish be tween the two banks. We leave the choice of the means to your own experience. "I have only. spoken to you h itherto, Monsieur might voluntarily Baron, of cases in whic h the bell ige rent par ti es voluntarily accept your mediation even after some uncer tainty. It is, in fact, not very probable that both will resist the friendly observations that you are instructed to offer. If, however, you shall meet with an unconquer able opposition, you are authorised to have recourse to the employment of force. You will address, at the same time, to the two Governments, an invitation, signed by Mr. Ouseley and yourself ; and if, within a certain given time, one of them has not consented to submit to your invitation, you will inform M. the Admiral Leine, Commander of the French naval forces in La Plata, who will take, in concert with the commander of the naval forces of her Britannic Majesty, such measures as shall be deemed necessary against the obstinate bellige rent party. The combined squadrons will, if necessary, occu py the rivers, and establi s h an e ff ect i ve b lockade on either of the two banks of La Plata ; but the two Admi rals are enjoined only to employ the maritime means, which have been deemed sufficient, and not to effect any landing other than the temporary occupation of the isle of Martin Garcia, or every demonstration of the same sort useful to the success of the maritime operations. " Within these limits you might indicate on your own responsibility, and after having come to a preliminary understanding with Mr. Ouseley, such a measure as shall appear to you efficacious at a given moment, Admi ral Laine will receive orders to obey the summons that you shall address to him in writing. Copies of his in structions are nor exed. " It is expressly agreed between the two Govern ments of France and England, that neither shall seek to obtais, in consequence of this mediation, either a concession of territory, or any other separate advans tage. It is also agreed that if it is possible to avail ourselves of the novel situation about to commence, in order to obtain the opening of the streams of Plata to free navigation, the representatives of the two Great Powers shall occupy their attention with the question, but only in cases in which the opportunity may present itself naturally, and when the other difficulties may be overcome. It is. no doubt, advantageous to open to Eur( pe In trade those great fluvial channels which pene trate to the very heart of South America ; but that is, for the moment, a merely secondary interest, compared with those which are contending in La Plata, and it would be imprudent to increase in the outset, by any demand whatever, the uneasiness and distrust of the Argentine Government. " In conclusion, I enclose a copy of the instructions given have been c ommunicated to to Mr. Ouseley by the Government f h er Bri tannic Majesty, and e ts being Lnu nicated to us. The intentions of the tw o Governmen in exact conformity, you will find i h n e thweantiwnsgtruic.n tions of your colleague what may 73 4894 STEAMERS BUILDING. Captain Hyde's vessels Union Company's vessels -_. - 8 370 FREEMASONRY.—AMERICA..—We have received the very gratifying intelligence from the United States, that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has paid an expressive but justly earned tribute to the merits of those distinguished brethren of our Grand Lodge. the Rev. Dr. Oliver and Dr. Crucefix, by unanimously conferring on the former the rank of Past Deputy Grand 'Master, and on the latter that of Past Scnior Grand Warden. This compliment comes with greater force from the circumstance of its being the first oc currence of the sort on the part of the Grand Lodge re fe: red to ; and affords very conclusive evidence of the great moral effects which these eminent and exalted brethren exercise, even in a distant hemisphere. Their names run parallel in Masonic history, the one as the un rivalled expounder of doctrine and illustration, the other as the most accomplished proficient in discipline and practice. As Freemasons we cordially concur in the propriety of this act, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and very sincerely wish that our estimable brethren may wear their well-earned honours, thrount many a year of utility and happiness. — L outh Loudon ZTeum COLLISION ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. NEWPORT, THURSDAY EVENING.—An investigation that occupied several hours this day, was proceeded with at the police-court of the town gaol, before Messrs. Wolf and Smith, county Magistrates, in hearing a series of charges laid against Mr. John King, the late station -master at Stanstead, on the Eastern Counties Railway, through whose neglect it was alleged the recent fearful collision on that line was oc casioned. The defendent was arrested a few hours after the accident, and underwent an examination before the board of directors at the Shoreditch terminus. The prosecution was referred to the county Magistrates, and on Monday he was taken before Mr. Smith, who released him on bail, to meet the charges of the Company this day. He was defended by Mr. Taylor, a solicitor of Bishop's Stortford. Mr. Widdecombe, of the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany's Solicitor's office, then proceeded to state the nature of the charges he was entrusted to prefer against the defendant. They were three in number, the first being laid under the by-laws of the Company, for endangering the lives and limbs of her Majesty's subjects ; and the other two under the Act for the better regulation of railways, called Seymour's Act, for neglect of duty and impeding the passage of an engine. The Company had deemed it incumbent to institute the prosecution for the full protection of the lives and property of the public, and to prevent, by all possible means, the re currence of a similar disaster. The charge against the de fendant was a very serious one, and he could assure the Bench the Company was not actuated by any vindictive spirit, but only promoted the present proceedings with a view of punishing him as the law afforded, provided the de fendant had so neglected his duty as to jeopardise the lives of the public. lie then called John Lowe, who stated that he was a guard in the em ploy of the Company. He accompanied the goods train from Ely at half past nine o'clock on Saturday night, the train comprising 22 trucks, drawn by two engines, numbered 55 and 56. On reaching within two miles and a half of El seuham the train came to a stand-still, in consequence of the slippery state of the rails. The engine 56 was detached to go on to Bishop's Stortford, to water, and he afterwards went on with half the trucks, drawn by 55 engine. On ar riving at Stanstead the trucks, thirteen in number, were put in a down line siding, to avoid the main rails, and to allow trains to pass. Both engines then went on to Stort ford and watered, and returned, the 55 engine taking the trucks left on the line at Elsenham on to London. After the lapse of some time the engine 56 he saw on the up-line, close to the station, in readiness to take the trucks from the down siding, when one of the trucks was found to be off the rails. As soon as he ascertained the obstruction he went to the defendant, and asked him if he had got the signals up and down the line, who replied, " Yes, I have. It's all right." Witness saw a signal towards London as far as a bridge, held by a porter, and was more than half a mile from where the engine stood. He also saw a small red signal lamp on the farther end of the plat form of the station towards Elsenham. He did not request any one to take a signal down the line. With several others, he then assisted in moving the truck that was off the rails, when he heard a train coming up ; it was a cattle one. He instantly ran into the middle of the read with a red lamp in his hand, when Charles Randall, the driver of the engine, standing on the up-rails, ready to take the trucks on, snatched it out of his hand and proceeded to run towards the approaching train, waving it. It was then not more than thirty or forty yards distant, the distance being too short to prevent a collision. It was going at about seventeen or eighteen miles an hour, and it was not going to stop at the Stanstead station. The engines of the cattle train struck the one on the rails in waiting for the trucks, and forced it onwards fifty or sixty yards, damaging it much. The cattle-train engines were driven off the rails, greatly injured, and five trucks con taining bullocks, and one of the trucks on the siding was also completely smashed. The engine -driver, stoker, and guards escaped injury by jumping from the train. Oae of the drivers and one of the stokers were hurt. The time of the collision was about a quarter to seven o'clock on Sunday morning. It was twilight; he could see half a mile down the line. Could not say that the defendant saw the stationary engine on the up-rails; he did Rot tell him of it being there. By the BENCH—After the collision saw the defendan_tecoame out of thastation, and he (lid not appear to be saber H aid to witness, " This is a bad job, Lowe; what is to bedon m e a r a Witness answered that it was , and i n q uired where the was who was sent down the line with the sirwala, but 1 t p. a hhee hadha d De fendant replied thath t e fe d r i m d . no l t v s i e t n n d ee a s got a light on the pia deceived him in saying that the si g nals were all right up and man n served that down the line. The defendant might have been of much service after the collision, but he did not in the least assist or give any directions. Cross-examined —The defendant knew what he was about. It was dark and rainy, and a man sitting up during the whole night was likely to appear drowsy in the morning. Cattle .trains are in the habit of passing up the line all hours of the night. Nobody knows when they are coming. The facts of the case having been so recently before the public, it is unnecessary to pursue the evidence farther. The Court was then cleared of strangers, and after a short consultation of the Magistrates, they expressed their judg ment, to the effect that as there was a doubt suggested to them upon the applicability of the Act of Parliament they had determined upon sending the case to the quart r sessions, requiring the defendant to put in good sureties for ,his ap pearance to answer any charge or indictment 'that might be preferred against him. The Bench further observed, that if they had adjudicated upon the case, they would have con victei the defendant, but in order that full publicity should be given of the enormity of the offence, they had-resolved to send it to another tribunal, as it would operate in checking the recurrence of similar offences. The defendant was then cammitted for trial. Nr.NV TARIFF.—In the schedule published on Wed nasdav, by authority, the following item appeared amongst the duties to be reduced -" Plain linen and diaper, not other wise enumerated or described, and whether chequered or striped with dye, yarn, or not, for every 1001. value 10/." A corrected list was issued with the-Votes yesterday, in which the above paragraph is omitted. r these. I need not renew, in cotcluding, the essential recommendation to maintain, on all oeceack.2lls, a goad and cordial understanding with Mr. Ousefey, and to contribute, by every means in your power, to eau's° MI same sentiments to prevail amongst the officers of the two squadrons. That is one of the principal duties , of your mission, and the King's Government expects. 'that you will attach yorself to its fulfi'ment with the intelligence and devotion of lc,hich you have already given so .twin 7 prods, . _ "Receive, &c., . " To M. le Baran Deffaudis, &c." " GUIZOT.. THE RIVER PLATE. The following are extracts of letters from Buenos Ayres, received per her Majesty's steamer Cyclops. " BUENOS AYRES, Nov. 13.—Everything is perfectly quiet here, and whatever may be the opinions against:the administration of General Rosas, there is but oDe against, foreign intervention, particularly as regards the forcing of the river Parana. " The batteries and defences erected between San Ni colas and San Pedro, to resist the passage of the expe dition upwards, are said to be respectable, but, in our opinion, they stand no chance against the Gorgon and Firebrand, whilst further hostilities are to be car ried on on both banks of the river, wherever practicable, on the whole route to Corrientes. Armed whaleboats are stationed in the different creeks to surprise the merchant vesselss in the convoy, as well as on the coasts and ports in the pro vinces of Santa Fe and Lake Rios, and we much fear that without reference to the unfavourable result which the speculators may expect from the heavy quantity of goods of all descriptions going forward, that loss of life and property will befal many of the merchant adven turers, who, without the least consideration, have com m.tted themselves from Monte Video in this (in our opinion) most hazardous enterprise. We shall, how ever, see the result before long. The war vessels to clear the passage are said to have sailed. The convoy is assembled at Martin Garcia, and will no doubt wait there until the passage is free. No Brazilian vessels are allowed by their authorities to join in the expe dition. " The advises from Monte Video to the 10th inst., do not lead us to expect a change. Mr. Ouseley ex pects something important from England by the end of December. It is stated that the French are becoming lukewarm, and that the Baron Deffaudis does not second Mr. Ouseley so promptly as the latter could wish. "The Eagle had sailed for Maldonado, andok was ex pected that place would be occupied'and entrenched. "Baron Mareuil, the French Charge d'Affaires, dis sentient from the Ministers, was about to proceed to . Rio. The proposals which he made were considered inadmissible by the Ministers ; at least so it is reported. " Advices are in town to-day, stating that the war vessels to force the passage of the Parana were off San Pedro, three or four leagues below the batteries. It is supposed they are waiting the French steamer Fulton, that was to sail from Monte Video on the 11th or 12th instant. " BUENOS AYRES, Nov. 14.—From advices received in town last night, •it is presumed that the expedition attacked the batteries ou the River Parana yesterday. " From gaod French authority, we are informed that it is not the intention of the Governments of France and England to send any expedition to these countries. They think that Roses wishes to get rid of foreigners, and they therefore will attempt to show him how insig nificant this province will become wanting foreign trade, whilst by the opening of the River Parana they count on throwing the trade to Monte Video, where for the present a more liberal system exists. Meantime Buenos Ayres will continue under blockade. The realisation of such views as these will be attended with some difficulty; for whilst Oribe remains in the Banda Oriental (and this he will do as long as there are resources in that coun try, unless a formal expedition is sent against him, or his supplies through Brazil entirely cut off), it is clear that there will be no trade in the State of Monte Video on any side. Then there is Entre Rios and Santa F 4, from which an army must be driven ; and having done so in the last province, it remains to be seen whether the interior states of this confederation will or not join the new league. We fear the Ministers do not well calculate the difficulties they have to contend with, and they have committed a grand mistake in laying hold of a party, who, with good intentions, can never obtain the preponderance necessary to govern these countries. In the event of Buenos Ayres being attacked, we believe it is resolved that if the force is overwhelm ing, to abandon the town, and establish a siege from Quilmes to Las Conchas, which would reduce as to the state that Monte Video now is in, and which you will agree would not be very pleasant. " All these things, however, must only be expected, in the event of no arrangement taking place directly with the Home Government, and in which we place some little reliance, as we think these people would make some arrangements in this way, which with the Ministers they could not accede to. " We have heard nothing lately from the Uruguay. The advices from the interior provinces continue of the most tranquil kind. " The packet is posted to sail positively on the 18th. She takes a great many passengers to Monte Video, and amongst these Mr. Ball. British Secretary of Legation, and Mr. Griffiths, late Consul here. " BUENOS AYRES, Nov. 15.—Her Majesty's ship 14Ielampus has arrived here this morning, to reinforce the blockade squadron. " We cannot help thinking that this Government has received some advices respecting the expedition. The alarm which exists here will not subside until the vessels have passed up, and many people are of opinion that some severe measures will be taken with English and French residents ; but we hope that although the people may feel themselves irritated at this aggression, they will be discreet, as such a course is for their interest. " BUENos AYRES, Nov. 18.—We have heard nothing further of the expedition. There is no gleam here yet of anything like peace ; on the contrary, violent and energetic re s istance seems to be the order of the day, and such will be carried on, fulfilling our prophecy that intervention and ruin were synonymous. "BUENOS AYRES, Nov. 26.—Advices are in town of the attack on and destruction of the batteries on the Parana by the combined fleet, on the 19th instant. No details have as yet been made public here, and we are quite at the mercy of reports. It seems, however, pretty certain, that the loss of life has been considerable on both sides. Up to the present everything remains quiet, and we do not expect that any measures wilt be taken by the Go vernment until they obtain direct advices from England and France. " This Government now permit the free importation of goods of all kinds from Monte Video, and on these and all other imports they deduct one-third of the duties. saveral adventures have been entered into, and will no doilbt be successful whilst the fleet is in the Parana, but after wards they will be well looked after. From the interior everything is quiet. "It we:.' reported yesterday that three of the Parana convoy had been captured by the whale boats dispatch.. d from this, but we doubt if such is true. " Exchange, 2 13.16; doubloons have reached as high as 335 dolls." Extract of a letter from Monte Video, dated Dec. 1, received by her Majesty's steamer Cyclops:— "The day before yesterday intelligence was received of the total destruction of the defences thrown up on the Parana, to oi:struct the passage up that river; this was effected by the combined English and French forces, after a desperately contested engagement, which lasted ' nine hours. We enclose an account of this affair, which has been published here, and which we presume may be con sidered sufficiently correct, inasmuch as it is said to be a summary of Captain Hotham's dispatch, given by Mr. Ouseley to the publishers. " The merchant vessels are still anchored at Martin Garcia, where it is ascertained they will have at least to wait six or eight weeks, until the vessel o.forL th u z:ee turn to convey them up, a 9 itin ennte r Pl a a nd cOMm part of the latter, to proceed to t he Baja e a, nicate with Paz ere their return of the expiition, the demand for " Since the sailing goods has almost entirely ceased."' DRIED FRUIT, In noticing the position of the market for dried fruit, there are some circumstances of interest, with regard to the consumption, touched upon in a report by a broker in the City, Mr. R. Witherby. Though within the last month the consumption of currants has fallen off, the returns for the year exhibit an increase. In fact, there has been a progressive increase of late years, the total clearances at the port of London having been in 11142, 5,125 tons ; in 1843, 6,800 tons ; in 1844, 7,050 tons ; in 1845, 7,550 tons —showing an increase of nearly 5a per cent. since 1842. Those of raisins do not exhibit a similar result, having been in 1842, 5,350 tons ; in 1843, 7,150 tons ; in 1844, 6,125 tons ; in 1845, 6,350 tons — showing an increase of 20 per cent. upon the 1842 clearances, but a decrease of 10 per cent. upon those of 1843. It appears, therefore, that the increased con sumption of currants is partly attributable to the high prices of raisins which the Spaniards have kept up. In 1833, with the kigh duty of 445. 4d. per cwt. and prices ranging from 755. to 80s., the consumption of the United Kingdom was only 7,020 tons, and was limited to the higher classes of society. In 1834 the duty was re duced to 225. 2d., or one-half, and seven years later, in 1841, with prices still high, say 60s. to 705., the con sumption had only reached 9,500, yielding a revenue of 220,0001. In 1843 the price had fallen to 40s. to 435., which left a heavy loss to the grower. In 1844 the duty was further reduced to 155., and the consumption of the first eleven months of 1845, with prices from 465. to 505., has reached 14,184 tons, being an increase of 50 per cent. wi thin four years, and yielding for those eleven months of 1845 the same revenue of about 220,000/. as had been derived from currants during the whole of 1841, with the duty at 225. 2d. In January, 1844, while the duty was 225. 2d. per_ cwt. Patras currants were at 455. to 475., and , p(fw s. t i o u January, 1846, with the duty at 151, the price 41 495. The growers must, therefore, have fullTori3‘e.trierrvhede the losses they euliered by the low prices ofMoreja, and the increased cultivation of currants in the 'n of raisins, leave entire change in the relative reasonable grounds to hope tha p 4 ate in the benefit con templatedßritish consumer will p Pa°tsintio° distant period, the t3uirleimin the recent remission of by th Legisla ture sTrl proposed t i o .T I A MEN TA Ry 1) E . iae,itiLi duty. d e ti p e r t is r Nt s t sd : e : Com mercial eibpdatioett.isn duringed for the l th a s e i e l ssi on purpose,o f P Parli ament, i au a whiche n t, Gloucester-street, verpool mboaßyrAePaalTeu:nitbsj:ti thecompetent heee R e ruedl jf r rl importa nt E a leng t acil ive classes, at a small charge, may obtain a knowledge of all the Parliamentary proceedings in which thf y feel an interest, and thereby be enabled to judge for themselves. The notion is a good one, an d we wish it suc cess.—Liverpool Albion. • MONTESQUECS DEFINITION OF DESPOTIS3I.—When the savages of Louisiana are desirous of frait they cut the tree to the root, and gather it. This is an emblem of de ;. • ?Ole gOTell4lollt. , . 'I