The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-27 00:00:00

ms "e CO A. 4 "r-4 !LUSH OVER AM ENT.—THE REPEAL be e MAGISTRATES. fo . r the LIN At7ol7sT 24.—Nicholas Maher, Esq., M.P. from of' Tipperary, has received a communica, - in the Lord Chancellor's Secretary announcing his restoration tO the naagissracy. REPEAL ASSOCIATION. % The weekly meeting of the Association was held this tak e . , ° ll the moti on o f M r. O'C onne ll, th e c h a i r was The b j John Reilly, E sq ., J.C. ton lI AIRILAN congratulated Ireland and the Asso c ()11 on the steady and solid advance which the re (: q ue stion was maki ng a t th e present moment. He ofChairman) found that notwithstanding the doubts few, the question of repeal was steadily advanc °' and that the reealers stood in a much higher Peaiti o p th e n TI World OW b than they ever did when they astonished Whi c h y the peace, order, and determination 143. they exhibit e d a t th e mons ter meetings of the -- (Cries of " Hear, hear.") He also observed that great e° 1 01 e were never on t h e p o i n t o f achieving any • read y cir to i mportant good, but there were men found the Liberator ins to obtain • asur sty th e s t of a l bsneficial nature; but he exertions was happy to theith ei at the se men had been invariably overcome, and r hat W ork Machinat ions neutra li se d . Th e same sys t em was a t th e - °w, but he trusted that the good sense of th ro 137p1e of Ireland would enable them to see tips,s u “ the absurdity of these persons, who estred Who m so anxious to run 'counter to Mr. O'Connell, teas; "'ice, if adopted, would ultimately lead to the .ta ro • of de- ation their hopes, the restoration of their iegislature.—(Cheers.) He (the Chairman) es,• ellibered the period when the Roman Catholics were tito build their places of worship in any but the est s i b s th e eUre corners. What was the case now? In 10,ses Catholic churches of the most imposing magni hasdebe• In that change he recognised the 44051,- j " r k of O'Connell.—(Loud cheers.) He also re- Iver e v ez re d the tim e w h en th e grea t b u lk of the citizens stm, eluded f rom a ll s h are of' civic honours, notwith sagZio the a mount of taxat i on to which they were' liable. Of p,' in corporate reform, he perceived the handiwork taigh t s4l nnell.—(Cheers.) He saw the power of the of d e 7 „, a nd of the rich reduced, and the principles that tl oracy in the ascendant. Bringing about inept4totef O'Connell.—(Cheers.) ration he regarded as a glorious achieve , Connell.—(Cheers.) He was, therefore, Lih e in saying that whatever line of policy the (th e Z r r Might consider proper to adopt, that would he that airman) follow, and, saying so, he did not believe bli n - s w as renderin g himself liable to the imputation hile so i; se rvility • he would, therefore, at once declare a n humble follower of O'Connell, and that in aelli te s e nt and p o li t i ca l f ee l ing h e was t h oroug hly O'Con eonci„:"(Cheers.) After some further observations iliatFs n atery of th e policy adopted by " YoYoungl re ue °se sa. concluded by expressing his conviction that We re 7°o differed from the regenerator of his country se_either actuated by folly or roguery. esp,,evseral address es f rom var i ous p a rts of the country, Were t h in e of unabated confidence in Mr. O'Connell, A rt s ed. the Te r Bbl,„ch Mr. O'HEA, barrister, read a letter from at,.`"Alir. Spain, of' Birr. •Keis-V-ICosiNELL having moved the insertion of the sdtis e Spain's lett e r in the minutes, proceeded to the z.- l sorit - ; the Ass oc i at i on. H e did so w ith the greatest " greatest pleasure, because he believed that tr ess Peal had never made a more majestic pro moral th an it was making under the banner o th at forc e , There was one magic in politics, and ee te ; w as to be right—the magic of putting your that their ay s in the wrong, and he was happy to say Wereenemies were in the wrong.—(Cheers.) They ,Were i' h ga,tl because they asserted those propositions which •, - , ° „ l sis of the Association. He did not delay one 44 1 , 1 ; "sing to state that no act should be done, that no With „ - g e should be indulged in, which was inconsistent . lain An and order—that was at variance with patriot „Ass 1 ,1 love of Ireland. That was the basis of the and one of the frauds committed by the 17 0 t4 0 :: 47 t t ' n ° r 4 ; in s n eY - General and the other prosecutors, was N ee - g uack from the court and the jury the original sa d ho °I I Which they were associated together. Fair eas e. ri,est prosecutors would have disclosed the entire „ t°l ' O' sr , h eY would, when they indicted the Association adder which it have shown the rules and regulations rend ; s ",'eh it was formed. In honesty they were duty „ CIO so, and he asserted that they violated their they illegal men, and as officers of the Crown, when s cents the meanness and audacity to institute a pro• Co urt a nd at the same time kept back from the f the jury the basis, and rules, and regulations o l ee4 let Y for being members of which they were pro thleted (Rear, hear.) If any junior barrister had cons Ilref es . 4 ease in that way he would be scouted by his the h o si oll, and would lose ' all chance of succeeding in tviriley-11Prable profession of a barrister. But the At otheros veneral was formed of a different stuff ; Brewster ;a1 different order, and if they had prosecuted us !vee Ny t e, than they did, they could not have succeeded gear.) the aid of the Nation newspaper.—(Hear, Pee ~,,I w l l, at had the done to confirm the principles " l eo '''en the Asso y ciation was formed ? He (Mr. fos ee nnell)found there was vapouring about physical Lstion ittl i ," V indication by the sword. Faugh Vindi iraid ts - 1 the sword talked of by men who would be t e l L t IC 0 k at a poker.—(Laughter and cheers.) ,as t „as mischievous, and it became there itt;„%sary that there should be nothing equi t2ll Wa s - 1 4 the principles upon which the Associa ' sho ts b ased. He found in the newspapers arguments ape* ' that the rules and regulations were not so ph s , i i'e but they admitted the alternative of a resort to heVal force. He was determined l to bring that point or, r . th e Afi t sociation,.and t t a h e t t e principle_of !:noral i t , e ileciared so unequivocally a no . man could mistake . and that no man could, without being laughed at, die- L a i te it. lie was framing resolutions for that purpose On there appeared in the Nation newspaper a positive i'elaratio that in 1843 they were working for high th r Z t i t n hat they were working for physical force— ts, they were working to bring about a contest be -147_11 the Irish people and the . Government. And could Thy be anything more horrible than such an attempt. f e , e , r e were at that period 30,000 troops, and a police I s . ' s amounting to 7,000 or 8,000 men in Irelsnd, all __ell a; tie - •seiplined and well armed—the bravest soldiers in eeivorld. And yet there was a newspaper inciting to tilletiUtest with that force the Irish people, unarmed and 4 , (3 Iseiplined, and without even a cudgel ; and what eideswould a cudgel be in s uc h a ease ? Be reaiti . 'England could in one fortnight throw in th,,,,4t to the a moun t of 40,000 ; and was it not, l .: ore, absurd, ridiculous, and highly criminal for fe ros Yg Irel an d" to recommend the adoption of physical 1%1 18 1 'o '43? He (Mr. O'Connell) at once perceived Was • was his duty, and he did not hesitate to set. It trun‘lrue they had lost some assistance, but to tell the t hat t r ile r„e was but one secession that he regretted — Rae t t i ) ; arr. Smith O'Brien.—(Hear, hear.) It was teased at sorne of the Young Ireland gentlemen pos thevs' talent, and some possessed activity, but AittrinPreferred talking and railing to actual work. ~t h ees- , ,i , h e would repeat, that the only one amongst . 't l tit „:""e absence he regretted was Mr. O'Brien. try,they o s v i t a n to regain him they could not yi?lcl co not deviate from one iota of their principles. A . force had been avowed, but the steps taken by t hera -- 7 8°0 iation in connexion with it should prevent 1 1 ght -rol n being i nvo l ve d in any criminality. Men he Oil a s aY ‘s t , h eY were members of the Association, but .44 4 . • k-) Connell) would assert, that no man syas a hee tt s r of the Association at all who did not repudiatea flay r se to physical force, under any circumstance, or in e ry e9litin gency.—(Hear.) " Young Ireland" may e chtt4reellent companions at small tea parties—they may 13 all ed t he polka exquisitely—they may write pleasing fa c :',, ° rWhat is called " transcendent prose;" they may, ey "' u° what they please out of the Association, but y cannot continue members of it. The Hon. 444f-1114 n Proceeded to show, that if the Association had eat ed b°rreation in 1841, been based on the principles advo -4eaCl t he Nation, its members would be liable to pro trait,:l°ll for high treason. They would therefore be a (110 4 : ° Ils assembly if they acknowledged those men Ir. principles found an advocate in the Nation. He Zi4t t ,;" Connell) would do anything that was not incon °lllth: w ith his duty to conciliate Mr. Smith O'Brien, a nd he bound to take care of the Association, I_°f seta he would do though at the loss 1 4n s hUndred O'Briens.--(Hear, hear.) Hew l o a u w ld ; tt atth e t " Association . within the limits of the a rase* would again declare that . no man could remain iltie 6 e ,r of the association who did not agree in the moral t hat - P i e, and eschew that of physical force. Acting on Zl i t !r e ll i tn eiPle they would struggle on in th great work l ati an d's regeneration He repeated thesethings for ti me. ln adopting their present course, they 12, 0 4 , raerely protecting themselves, and there should i. lieni4l,lnitigation, no swerving. There were m ho WOlarwYers connected with the Association, w h aiisti no t permit the people to join the p ?• Wer e • rn ree men, even if he (Mr. O'Connell) fa ke - Inclined to allow them. Away, then, with physical eta iri ,„"ild let them endeavour to regenerate their tt o ''Y through the instrumentality of moral means. t w h ° 4. lll d assert that they were more likely to succeed 110 11 4 ,1,,,, c "r5e, That was his opinion ; if the Associa• deseuered with him he was ready to yield the le i nto other hands. The Roman Catholic their Were with them; the corporations were with ed SA' t he Honourable Cecil Lawless had join hod because they had repudiated physical force. o ~adls sP r o ved themselves sincere, and rational me h k.ses e - ‘_°rdingly placed their confidence in them. 171° °1e lk e e nt were well disposed towards the Irish Te ° f, IseL a nd they should have the support of the people 1 1 / 4 11 0 „: 4 21d as long as they continued to deserveits he s i lk! e ",.; n est)) He then alluded to an error which utetclnraitted on the 3d August, in stating that he hadthat .dayl.eStOred to the commission of the peace onnlithe 1 5th the fact being that he was not reinstated ti lett e r a a ,c,9111d be perceived by the Lord Chancellor's 4 ° l :ne . zle alluded to the matter in consequence of tPer s '; tr agraphs which appeared in certain.cnhewthe sc r 'n reference tomanner in whi t a. Chancellor acting with regard to the res or ablo of r was ac duall y " dismissed magistrates was highly commend ,That high functionary was proceeding gra tin 11"" e . s sle did not issue the commission of the peace was erst understood whether the person to whom it b e ttor Isr.?e,ted would accept of it. The Lord Chan b„„",_°4l avowed the principle that no man should theVslied for seeking, legally and constitutionally, ‘ Ps hiabl etti o f an Act of Parliament. That avowal was m bag e• All parties in En g land had united in declar ✓ at the fullest and most comprehensive measures *y olk jillit ine should be conferred on Ireland. The Sees 04.m:emission bad declared that forty-five •1• slis7: the union the most miserable people the civilised globe were the w' ritere P t le ° f ir aC el e and O ! ~., But that deplorable picture was to be 1411 1 der si r Ro be Peel, on his retirement from office, a►ithkired that Ireland should be raised to an equality °lteerb, England both social and political. That was 1.06 4 4- On this very night two Bill were to pass the tilN wh ich, he believed, would prove of SITN,-4:40 /NT D T VR3 DA Y 'EV EN I N ,A,TT GUST 27, 1946. the utmost value to the people of this country The first related to the law of ejectment, and would prove of immense benefit to the tenantry of Ireland. He explained the nature of the proceedings under the old, and dwelt on the advantages of the new system, which he observed was the first instalment of justice from the Whigs. The second improvement was, that under the new law it was requisite to give notice in writing in every particular case of distress, and bailiffs were prevented from distraintng without a warrant in writing. The great injury of the old system was that bailiffs were in the habit of going about and threatening to distrain if they did not get a gratuity of 2s. 6d. from each tenant. In future it would be necessary for them to distrain only under a stamped warrant, so that the bailiffs' trade was gone. — (Laughter.) Some men accused him of supporting the Whigs. When had the Tories given him such a law as that ? When had the Tories framed a law against the rich and in favour of the poor ? (Cheers.) He was supporting the Whigs, and would support them as long as they continued to do good towards Ireland. They were not, however, rapid enough in their movements. See how Lord John Russell was acting. He had brought in a Bill granting 50,000/. for the promotion of public works in Ireland. It was a very small sum, but the Act that accompanied it was a very useful one. It authorised the Government to advance the full amount. It was imperative on the petty sessions to set the people to work immediately. True the sum was but as a loan, but still it served the purpose. The people of Ireland did not want charity, but wages— (Cheers)—a full day's wages for a full day's work. And how was this sum to be repaid? Not by the poor, but by the rich.—(Cheers) The landlords should pay their full share in proportion to their property. That was the largest step towards a universal poor•law he had ever known to have been taken. It was quartering the poor upon the rich.—(Cheers.) He would now call on the gentry of Ireland to join him. They knew him now—they knew he was not for force—he was not for violence. He would be their ally and their friend. He would form a perpetual alliance between the gentry and the people of Ireland.—(Cheers.) The people did but want their landlords to act fairly and honestly by them, and never was there a gentry so well beloved as the gentry of Ireland would be, if they did that. He would be the bail and security of the people. In 1830 he had published letters informing the gentry, that if they did not assist the people, they would be bur dened with a poor-law. They had laughed at him, but they now gave more serious attention. Well, he was open to receive them. He would ally himself to any but a physical force man.—(Cheers and laughter.) Oh, then let him but have the repeal and their Parliament on College-green—Oh, then would there be the triumph of moral force—then would there be no more of feud and fanaticism. They of the ancient faith would ally them selves with other persuasions to promote peace and good will amongst men. The following are the heads of inquiry for the repeal discussion committee's purposes. (The committee is formed for the purpose of preparing a digest of facts, to be laid before the English members previous to Mr. O'Connell's motion relative to the union of which he has given notice in Parliament):— .‘ 1. Absenteeism. The existence of this grievance previous to 1782, the effect upon it of the advantages gained by Ireland at that period, and the effect upon it of the legislative union. " 2. Penal legislation for Ireland since the union. " 3. Effscts upon Ireland of the commercial legisla tion since the union, embracing the operation and in tepretation of the Act of Union itself in matters of commerce. " 4. Fiscal legislation in its effects upon Ireland since the union, including the operation of the financial clauses of the Act of Union itself. " 5. Lgislation respecting the landlord and tenant question since the union. " 6. Legislation on Irish franchises, municipal and political, since the union. " 7. Recommendations of Government commissions and Parliamentary Committees, relative to the waste lands of Ireland. " 8. Operation of the Act of Union and subsequent legislation upon the economic condition of the idustrial classes in Ireland. " 9. Union, promises and predictions—how borne out by the facts. " 10. Conduct of the Irish Parliament, showing the effects of home legislation under the most unfavourable circumstances. " 11. General system of the internal administration of Irish affairs since the union. --- " 12. Reconsideration and digest of various repeal tracts and documents, edited by persons not members of the Repeal Association." Some other members having addressed the association, it stood adjourned for a week, on the motion of Mr. O'Connell, the rent having been announced at 1.38/. 16s. The most remarkable feature in the proceedings was the unusually large attendance of Roman Catholic clergymen from all parts of the country. There were upwards of 130 present ; thus affording an implied sanction to tho mode of proceeding adopted by Mr. O'Connell with reference to " Young Ireland." LITERATURE. POEMS. By Camilla Toulmin. Among our magazine writers, there are some where about a dozen who have acquired for their names a certain prestige —insomuch that their mere signatures have become at last a passport to popular favour. In this group of periodical favourites the authoress of this unpretending volume must be classed —among those welcome autographs, the name of Camilla Toulmin is conspicuous. The abilities and the fine feelings of our fair writer have already acquired for her a considerable share of popularity ; and, see ing that her compositions are generally unaffected, and animated by a generous motive, that popularity has not been undeserved. There is, unhappily, so much of the dandyism of letters, so much of spurious deletanteism, among our scribes, that:any one who can think and speak honestly, without any mincing efforts at sentimentalism, or any fastidious tarryings after epithets, is most agreeable to us, and welcome : There are persons struggling after literary popularity who assume a virtuous indignation at the oppressions of the poor, or what not ; and who are in short the most melodramatic and unnatural of all book-reformers. It is pleasant, therefore, to encounter a writer like Camilla Toulmin, who speaks from the fullness of her heart. Whenever she pleads in behalf of the contemned and tyrannised, it is not simply to propa gate an erroneous admiration, but simply because she was "mad for the sight of her eyes that she did see !" And it is because of so much sincerity being linked with so much kindness of feeling, delicacy of thought, and picturesqueness of imagination, that Camilla Toulmin has become such an acceptable con tributor in our periodicals. The present volume, consisting of some fifty-three fugitive pieces of verse, is divested of every ambitious characteristic. The subjects are devoid of extravagance, and are some times homely—witness the lines upon "The Railway Whistle" and "The Best Chamber." The language is simple and graceful : the ideas are never decorated by an undue splendour of diction ; the sentiments are conveyed in a simple guise. Nor can this be re gretted when we remember the truth of that principle in nature that the melodies of the nightingale are not one whit the less enchanting because of the russet hue of her plumage. Occasionally there is a pensiveness in the strong and earnest simplicity of Miss Toul min which is singularly touching. Is not that a noble and solemn ideal to pledge in - the wine-cup— "To the Brave Hearts?" " Not," says the song stress, "to the brave hearts of warriors or sena tors. No— " Drink to the hearts which do not break, But suffer, and are true! Not of a radiant beauty speak, But cheeks of pallid hue. To mortal eyes their crowns are dim; But fill the goblet to the brim! " To Genius, doomed with drooping wing, To toil a sad life through, Yet keeps itself a holy thing, With holy work to do. To them who ne'er such birthright sold— Abused God's gift—for tempting gold!" In several essential particulars there is an affinity of sentiment between these little poems and the " Voices from the Crowd," recently published by Dr. Mackay. As an example of Miss Toulmin's reverence for justice, we will transcribe a few of the verses addressed by her to the soldiers of the Sixty second Regiment, who were maligned as the cowards, but who were in reality the heroes and martyrs of Ferozeshah. Camilla Toulmin thus vindicates them ; and we conjecture her words of homage to real gal lantry would meet with a ready response from Sir Howard Douglas. " Fling back the scorn in the Scorner's teeth, Ye remnant brave but stricken; For ye have looked i' the face of Death, And seen his terrors thicken. " Fling back the scorn—but do not stoop To humble exculpation, Nor ask compassion for the troop Who merit admiration ! " Yet 'tis enough: ye see a band— Eight hundred fellow-men — All exiles from the native land How few shall see again! " Foot-sore with weary, weary march, Athirst! No water nigh ; No food; and night—yet Heaven's arch Their only canopy! " Yet faint, exhausted, on they lead, To meet the iron shower,' Nor quailed till half their numbers dead Beneath its murderous power. " Not till their captains fell like reeds Sway'd by the tempest's breath — More wise to live for future deeds Than rush on certain death! " God! what a scene for angels' eyes A field of battle is ! God! what a scene for star-lit skies Was horror like to this! " Rivers of blood the arid sand Suck'd in like crimson rain; While quivering flesh on either hand Bestrew'd the accursed plain: " Fling back the scorn! again I say, Ye were the bravest brave ; And sad misfortune's sombre ray Should hallow every grave. " Fling back the scorn! survivors few, Yours is the martyr's crown, Seen by the sunlight of the true, In glory all your own." It is however impossible to convey any adequate notion of an offering so delicately devised as the present, by merely such piecemeal extracts as our columns will permit. Those who will themselves refer to the collection will find it composed of the fruits of thought and the music of rhythm—bells and pomegranates more truly than the latest lucubrations of Robert Browning. ALGERIA IN 1845. By Count St. Marie. More adventures were never told of the aboriginal Mexicans immediately after the famous conquest by Hernan Cortez, than have been, and are still being, narrated of the Arab tribes, since the invasion of Algeria by the French legions. The disguised pere grinations of Halroun Alraschid have not excited more romancing than the supple and yet chivalrous policy of the renowned Emir, Abd-el Kader. The doings of Colonel Pelissier at the caves of Dahra have not aroused less horror and loathing than the cannibal accomplishments of Sawney Bean. The narrative of Mr. Gulliver, of Rotherhithe, contained no more astonishing fables than the dispatches of Monsieur le Marischal Bugeaud. These facts have received the accordance of so many thousands, that travellers in the northern provinces of Africa have discovered it to be no unprofitable speculation to recount their wanderings in those quarters. Possibly, from the circumstance of the prevalence and long continuance of peace throughout the European nations, a remarkable curiosity has been testified, in regard to the military tactics of the Gallic warriors in Algeria. The Kaffirs, the New Zealanders, the Mexicans, and the followers of Abd-el-Kader are about the only people now-a-days afflicted with the epidemic of wholesale pugnacity. The Chinese, the Poles, the Sikhs, and the Circassians have just recovered from the contagion ; and their unfor tunate successors in that national malady are now the principal objects of attention. Although a tolerable library has been already written upon Algeria we cannot regard the present volume as superfluous : Count St. Marie is too lively a nar rator to be spared, he is too shrewd an observer to be discarded, and too sensible a commentator not to command a perusal when the opening chapters have been once fairly entered upon. His visit to the French possessions in Africa have caused one ex cellent circumstance, namely, the publication of these two hundred and eighty-four lively and clever pages. We cannot but consider Count St. Marie as amongst the most successful literary travellers in Algeria. His book is not unworthy of its frontispiece—a characteristic portrait of the handsome and heroic physiognomy of Abd-el-Kader. COMPARATIVE POWER OF THE CHIEF NATIONS OF EUROPE..—By grouping the statement contained in a statisti cal work, drawn up at the instance of Government, at Mi lan, we obtain the following general comparative tables of the powers of the five principal nations of Europe. The various figures are all compiled from the best and most recent authorities and documents in each country :—ln England, the number of inhabitants is 28,000,000, on 90,950 square miles, or 308 per square mile ; in France, the population is 34,700,000, on 154,000 square miles, or 225 per square mile; in Austria there are 37,500,000 in habitants, on 204,000 square miles, or 184 per square mile; in Prussia the population is 15,500,000, on 80,450 square miles, or 181 per square mile ; In Russia, in Europe, the population is 50,500,000, scattered on the enormous quantity of 2,000,000 of square miles, being but 2i persons to each square mile. Thus the British soil contains on one square mile one hundred and twenty times as many per sons as Russia, nearly one-third more than France, and about double the proportion of Austria and Prussia. At nearly the same period the public debt and revenue of each of these powers were as follows :—England—revenue 53,400,000/. ; debt, 813.800,000/ ; France revenue, 38,480,000/. ; debt, 156,000,000/. ; Austria revenue, 20,880,000/. ; debt, 68,000,000/. ; :Prussia revenue, 8,320,000/. ; debt, 25,800,000. ; Russia revenue, 17,360,000/. ; debt, 61,500,0001. Thus England is indebted to the extent of thirteen times its revenue, while France and Russia owe but four times their respective revenue; Austria and Prussia little more than thrice. The relative number of troops kept up in time of peace by each nation holds about the same proportion, the number of soldiers in the whole British empire, being 410,000; in France, 363,000 ; in Austria, 424,000 ; in Prussia, 131,000 ; and in Russia, 1,000,000. These forces can, however, be in creased in war time by two-thirds. A large part of the public revenue in each country is absorbed by these two millions of soldiers, who consume the sums appointed to their support in the most unproductive manner. A great benefit would undoubtedly accrue, if the five powers hi ques tion would mutually agree upon some meaus Of diminishing their large standing armies. COURT CIRCULAR. Yesterday was the birth-day of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. At seven o'clock in the morning the band of the 74th Highlanders, from Gosport, performed a serenade at Osborne House. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, arrived early from :Barton, to pay a visit of congratulation to the Prince on the auspicious return of his natal day. The Royal Duchess breakfasted with her Majesty and her Royal Consort, at Osborne House. The Queen and Prince Albert afterwards promenaded in the pleasure-grounds and plantations. After the re turn of her Majesty and his Royal HighneSs, the band of the 74th Highlanders attended at Osborne House, and performed a number of favourite pieces during luncheon. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, took their accustomed walks and rides yesterday on the sea beach. A Cabinet Council was held at four o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Mar quis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Viscount Pal merston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl of Auckland, Sir John Hobhouse, Lord Camp bell, the Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Morpeth, the Right lion. T. B. Macaulay, and the Right Hon. H. Labouchere. Sir George Grey subsequently joined his colleagues. The Council sat two hours and a half. Mr. J. Oswald, M.P., and a deputation from Glasgow, transacted business yesterday at the Treasury. Sir Harry Verney had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home-office. The Earl of Besborough left town yesterday for Ireland. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colonial-office, for the Governor of Gibraltar. THE QUEEN'S visir TO GUERNSEY. (From the Guernsey Star of Monday.) Yesterday evening, about six o'clock, the royal squa dron, consisting of royal yacht steamers Victoria and Albert and Fairy, and her Majesty's steamers Black Eagle and Garland, were seen off St. Martin's Point, ap parently coming from the westward, the royal standard of England flying on the Victoria and Albert. In about half an hour from this time the royal squadron came into the roads, and cast anchor, and shortly after a Royal salute was fired from the guns at Fort George. As soon as the squadron were perceived, information was sent to his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor at Haviland hall, and to the commanding officer at Fort George ; while the news of her Majesty's approach penetrated even into churches and chapels, then filled with their re spective congregations. The Lieutenant-Governor was speedily in his carriage on the road to town; and Major Goodman, who had immediately ordered the depot of the 27th to get under arms and to march to the preceded them in all haste on horseback. The Lieute nant-Governor and Major Goodman then embarked in a boat from the pier, acccompanied by Advocate titer marck, the Solicitor-General, Dr.Hoskins, and Mr. Napier, it being then about 20 minutes past seven o'clock. By this time the piers were crowded with spectators, whose numbers received large accessions as the services in the different places of worship terminated, great numbers embarking in boats and rowing off to the squadron. The Lieutenant-Governor having reached the Victoria and Albert, went on board with Major Goodman, when her Majesty's orders were communicated to him through Lord Alfred Paget. In the meantime, as it became dark, the houses, from one extremity of the town to the other, were rapidly illuminated. The display was less artistic than would have been the case had there bean more time for preparation, but the [promptitude and ex tent of this spontaneous demonstration of loyal joy made it highly creditable to the people. The period during which the Lieutenant-Governor was going to and coming from the royal squadron was occupied by the assembled multitude in speculations as to whether, and when, her Majesty and her Royal Consort would land. His Excellency returned to shore about 9 o'clock, when he announced to the assembled crowd that her Majesty had intimated that she was desirous of seeing her subjects in Guernsey, and giving them an opportu nity of seeing her, and that she would land on the fol lowing morning at 9 o'clock, and proceed in her carriage to take a cursory view of the island, and re-embark at 11. This announcement by his Excellency was received with enthusiastic cheers. The Lieutenant• Governor then issued orders that the whole of the militia of the island should be under arms in the morning, and various officers were sent into the country parishes to give the necessary notices; whilst intimation of her Majestys ar rival was sent by his directions to the magistrates of the Royal Court, who thereupon decided on holding an ex traordinary meeting . at half-past 7 in the morning, other orders being given for all such preparations being made as the time would permit. The inhabitants generally allowed themselves but little rest. The militia officers were going about all night, giving notice to their mcn, and every man, woman, and child who was able to move was a-foot at day-break —many of them much earlier. Some were occupied in collecting and arranging flowers and branches for gar lands and festoons, others in preparing flags, &c., and others getting ready to perform their military duty or to secure places for witnessing the scene in which all took so lively and heartfelt an interest. At an early hour preparations were being universally made for decorating the houses with flags, garlands, &c. The ships in the harbour and roads were dressed in their gayest attire, and on every point were seen the most unmistakeable evidences of loyalty and welcome towards the royal visitors. At half-past seven the Royal Court met and prepared a dutiful address of congratulation and homage in the name of the Lieutenant-Governor, the magistrates, the clergy, and the other authorities. This address was subsequently signed by the Lieutenant-Governor, in the name of the authorities, and takers off to her Majesty by Mr. N. Lefebvre, her Majesty's Sheriff, and Messrs. Peter and Stephen Martin, his deputies. The address was, by her Majesty's command, received by Lord Afred Paget, with an intimation that an answer would be given to it on her Majesty's return to England. The Lieutenant-Governor, with several officers of his staff, together with Mr. S. Carey and P. Le Lievre, con stables, and all the assistant and special constables, were on the pier and in the streets at an early hour, making preparations for her Majesty's reception. The ships and boats in the harbour were, under the directions of Mr. William Jones, the assistant harbour master, so arranged as to remove all obstructions, and the streets through which her Majesty was to pass were thickly strewn with sand. The 27th depot, under the command of Major Good man, came down a little before eight o'clock, and were stationed close to the south slip, forming the right line through which her Ma'esty was to pass, a guard of honour of that corps being under the command of Cap tain Williamson. The Ist or East Regiment of Militia were stationed next the 27th, and the other militia regi ments continued the line up the Grange-road. But de cidedly the most beautiful part of the spectacle was a party of about a hundred young ladies belonging to the first families of the island, who, mostly clothed in ele gant white dresses, and carrying in their hands baskets of beautiful flowers, were stationed immediately adjoin ing the landing-place, and presented a picture which it would be impossible to surpass. The royal standard of England having been planted at the south slip, and the causeway covered with carpet, all was in readiness for the reception of her Majesty and her Royal Consort. A few minutes before nine o'clock her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Alfred Paget, the Hon. Miss Napier, Lady Jocelyn, and Sir James Clark, em barked in the royal barge from the Victoria and Albert yacht, under a royal salute from the guns at Fort George. The barge was in a few minutes pulled to the landing place, where his Excellency Major-General Napier, Colonel Ward, of the Royal Engineers ; Major Good man's 27th depot ; and the officers of the Lieutenant- Governor's staff, together with the constables of the town, parish and other officials, were in readiness to re ceive her Majesty and Prince Albert. Her Majesty was assisted from the barge by Miss De Havilland and Miss De Saumarez, immediately on which the ladies before mentioned commenced singing the national anthem, ac companied by the band of the 27th depot. Her Majesty then, leaning on the Prince's arm, and followed by her attendants, walked up to the top of the slip, where two of the royal carriages were stationed. Her Majesty and :Prince Albert took their places in the first, to gether with the Hon. Miss Napier and Lady Jocelyn ; and Lord Alfred Paget and Sir James Clark occupied the second carriage, the magistrates, the clergy, the law officers, and the advocates of the Royal Court being assembled close to the carriages to make their obeisance to their Sovereign. The Lieutenant-Governor, Lieu tenant-Colonel Ward, Captain Munday, of the Royal Artillery, Major Goodman, and other officers, then placing themselves in front of the royal carriages, the cortege moved on, amid st most enthusiastic cheers, which had not ceased from the moment her Majesty was first seen, and which were most graciously acknow ledged by her Majesty and Prince Albert, round the church, up High-street, the Grange-road, Petite Marche, and Colborne-road, to Fort George. Having entered this fortress the cortege proceeded till opposite the en trance of the citadel, where the keys of that place were offered to her Majesty by the Lieutenant-Governor. The royal cortege then continued through the fort, past St. Martin's Church, and down the Grange -road to the harbour. By this time the troops, not exactly knowing the course her Majesty would take, were assembledon the piers and in the neighbourhood, the depOt of the 27th Re giment occupying the south pier, and, with the East Regi ment, forming a double line from the church to the south pier head. The royal carriages, occupied as before men tioned, reached the harbour about 20 minutes past 10, and proceeded along the pier as far as the upper steps, where the illustrious party alighted, her Majesty leaning on Prince Albert's arm, and, preceded by the Lieut.- Governor, and followed by her suite, descending the steps and proceeding to the place of embarkation, where her Majesty, the Prince, and party, entere d the royal barge, the scene being again embellished by the beau teous company of ladies befor e - mentioned, who again strewed flowers o n their Sov ereign's path. At the i n e:— i s s m ed — by her Majesty in a guns G f o r d om sav t e ne th gentle and simple— fort Q r t e a e g n a i ; n „ tributes of respect moment of depart ure the scaaainelledduetareteirdidleec; assembledwtitiohtnhe whichb h a e n a d r s t fwe s l t et r mr u eeu c nr l c tet het u ouu p gsd manner which seemed to declare that she believed and appreciated their sincerity. The barge was quickly rowed to the royal yacht, and her Majesty, the Prince, and party, having gone on board, the glorious standard of England was again spread to the breeze, and a little after 11 o'clock the royal squadron (with the exception of the Garland, which remained to embark the car riages) was on its way to Portsmouth, where it is ex pected to arrive to-night. In this hasty sketch of this the most gratifying event in the history of Guernsey, which, since the days of King John (now upwards of six centuries ago), has not been honoured by the presence of its Sovereign, we have ne cessarily given au immethodical, and but very imperfect representation of the transient but•brilliant scene which has been witnessed, and still less have we been able to do justice to the feeling which has been manifested on all sides. Her Majesty's gracious visit, although wished for, was scarcely expected. No preparations for the gratify ing event were therefore made, and consequently what ever demonstrations of respect, of joy, and of loyalty were offered were spontaneous and imperfect. But there was hearty goodwill amongst all ; and hence, if her Majes ty's reception was less ceremonious than could have been desired, there was a cordiality, a spirit of welcome, about it, which, it is to be hoped, has more than atoned for its deficiencies. The courtesy, the kindness—we might almost venture to say the friendliness—of the manner of her Majesty to all who had the honour of approaching her, es well as to the loyal crowds by whom she was surrounded, would appear to justify the belief that her Majesty understood the feelings by which her Guernsey subjects were ac tuated, and accepted as they were meant the manifesta tions of their joy and affection. There has been, per haps, but little of state and ceremony in the too short intercourse which has taken place ; but there has been a warmth and cordiality in it which gives it a grace that we would not willingly exchange for more formal and more stately proceedings. We learn with pleasure that her Majesty and the Prince expressed themselves well pleased with their visit and reception. On entering High-street they seemed agreeably struck with the profuse display of de corations which were there observable, and with the thousands of faces which were beaming welcome on them from the houses. On approaching the entrance to the Fort the Prince appeared struck with the beauty of the surrounding scenery, and asked, with much interest, of one of the special constables, who were near the car riage, the names of the islands in sight. When the French coast and cape La Hogue were pointed out to his Royal Highness, he spoke to the Queen, who ap peared to take an equal interest in the scene, and the Prince was heard to say that he was not sur prised that General Napier had chosen that view for their inspection. On the whole we have reason to believe that her Majesty was well•pleased with her visit ; and indeed it is said that her Majesty inti mated that she might, within a short time, repeat it,, when she would also honour our sister island, Jersey, with her presence, which engagements in England pre vented her doing on the present occasion. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. THE TURNER FAMILY. The Turner family, consisting of three infant sisters, Caroline, aged eight, and Rosina, aged six, harpists; and the little Sophia, aged four, a violinist and harpist, whose musical performances in private have recently created a great sensation in the fashionable world, gave yesterday afternoon their first and only public perform ance for the season at this theatre. These children are natives of Somersetshire, and they have, we understand, had no musical instruction, save that which they have derived from their father ; and yet they play part music in a manner which, for ac curacy of tune, for accuracy of time, for fair, honest, un trickey playing, might put performers of double their united ages to the blush. To the mere common obser ver, the performances of these children are very wonder ful—to the musical tyro, who is acquainted with the mere A B C of music, they are astonishing—and to the accomplished musician, who is perfectly acquainted with the difficulties of his art, who knows how hard it is to get even professors to play together so as to produce one whole as contradistinguished from an inharmonious conglomeration of solos, the performance of these children is miraculous. That which it takes long years of toil to drill into others, these children have by intuition. They have the divine gift of genius, " And toiling art pants after them in vain." Not that they are wanting in art. Everything that art can teach they have—they are artistes in the highest sense of the word. • " Ars est celare artem," is an adage which does not apply to them—they have nothing to hide. Nature in them has done the work of art, and done so more effectively than mere unaided art could ever have done. They—we will not say under stand, for understanding comes of reasoning and of study—but they intuitively perceive that which to ungifted mortals comes only by years of study and re flection and practice ; and they are gifted with such power of execution on their respective instruments as to be enabled to develop perfectly those intuitive per ceptions. We have in a former notice described the manner of the performances ; such, for instance as the two sisters performing on one harp ; and with regard to the matter of them, whatever was done was perfectly done, and there is nothing in the way of harp music which these children could not perform in a manner equal to the most celebrated professors, save those pieces which as yet it is physically impossible for them to compass—that is to say, it is impossible to give to a child of eight years of age a hand equal in width, from the thumb to the little finger, to the hand of a man of forty. This advantage the grown up professors of the harp possess over these children, and this is the only advantage they possess; but for taste, for expression, for accuracy, ay! and for power too, as far as their stretch of hand goes, we will back the little Turners against any harpist of the present day. And then with regard to little Sophia, the little violinist of fouryears old. Her performances are even more wonderful than those of her sisters. The violin is dif ferent from the harp. In the harp the instrument is at tuned—you strike the chords, and you know beforehand exactly the sound you will produce. In the violin, on the contrary, all depends upon the player. If each note is not accurately stopped by the fingers of the left hand and a hair's breadth differ ence in the stopping makes a sensible differ ence in the sound—if the bow is not most accu rately applied to the strings, all is discord. Yet this child of four years old performs on this most difficult instrument in the most perfect and masterly manner. She laughs while she overcomes difficulties, which nothing but the most constant practice can enable a professor to overcome. There was no shrinking—no slurring over of hard parts, which one so con stantly meets with in juvenile and amateur performances—every difficulty was fairly met and fairly conquered. Every piece was played in the most prononct style. The bowing was full, sweep ing and free, and the stopping close and accurate. We have chosen rather to describe the general system of the performance of these wonderful children than to criticise minutely the different airs performed. With inferior artistes a particular criticism might be necessary ; but with such artistes as these it is not neces sary to descend to particulars. They have no crack tunes, into the performance of which they have been drilled, and beyond which they cannot go. They are natures own musicians, and are not to be " cribbed, cabined, and confined " to any particular programme. The house, notwithstanding the lateness of the season, was most fashionably attended. MR. BETAKE'S HISTORY OF THE LANDED GENTRY or ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND. —This im portant, and truly national work is just concluded by the publication of the Fourth Part, and may now be had com plete in two volumes. This work has been undertaken as a Companion to Mr. Burke's " Dictionary of tie Peerage and Baronetage," and upon a similar plan, in order that the two publications may embrace the whole body of the British Peerage, Baronetage, and Gentry, and may furnish such a mass of authentic information in regard to all the principal families in the Kingdom, as has never before been brought together. It relates to the untitled families of rank, as the " s Peerage and Baronetage" does to the titled, and forms, in fact, a peerage of the untitled aristocracy. It embraces the whole of the landed interest. The landed gentry of Eng land are so closely connected with the stirring records of its eventful history, that some acquaintance with them is a matter of necessity with the legislator, the lawyer, the his torical.student, the speculator in politics, and the curious in topographical and antiquarian lore ; and even the very spirit of ordinary curiosity will prompt to a desire to trace the origin and progress of those families whose influence pervades the towns and villages of our land. This work abounding in interesting anecdote, and displaying deep re search, must rank among the first class of those publica tions which elucidate, or connect themselves with the annals of our country, and is indispensable to the library of every gentleman. WILD NIITMEGS.—The Commissioners of the Cus toms have received a communication from Mr. Parker, one of the Secretaries to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, stating that with reference to a letter from their Lordships, dated the 12th instant, transmitting resolutions of the House of Commons, altering the duty on certain articles (among which was the article nutmegs, on which the duty has been redueed to 2s. 6d. per lb.) he was com manded by their Lordships to desire that the board would give directions for the admission of "wild nutmegs in the shell," at the duty of 3d. per lb., as heretofore. Copies of this order have been issued to the several departments in the port of London, and the outports of the kingdom, with directions to the officers to take care that the same be duly obeyed. AN OLD MONSTER.—It may be remembered that an old man, seventy-nine years of age, named Lacombe, was taken up at Niort, on July 12, for having fired four pistol shots, and killed the servant-girl of his daughter, and wounded one of her workwomen. The case came on for trial last week before the Court of Assizes at Deux-Sevres. The prisoner, though .of such advanced age, appeared vigorous, with an eye of unusual brightness. He was dressed respectably in black, and wore a white cravat. It appeared I from the evidence that Lacombe lived at Niort with his daughter, a marchande des modes. He had on several occa sions paid attentions to one of the workwomen, named Vic torine Dubois, aged twenty-three, and at last absolutely per secuted her with his prayers to become his mistress. The young woman, who was perfectly well conducted, constantly refused. It would appear that the prisoner pursued pre cisely the same course with the servant-girl, named Celeste Simonet, aged twenty, and always met with a similar re pulse. He at last became exceedingly irritated, and threat ened to do them an injury. On July 12 he went out early in the morning and bought a pistol, having already in his pos session three others. He returned home and charged them all, and then entered the part of the house inhabited by his daughter. Finding Celeste Simonet in the first room, he at once fired at her and missed. He then took better aim, and shot her through the heart. He quietly- proceeded towards the salle a-manger, and perceiving Victorine Dubois through a glass-door, he took aim at her and fired also. She saw his intention, and mechanically put her hand before her face. She received the ball on one of her fingers, which was dread fully shattered, though in all probability it saved her life. He then fired the fourth pistol, and the ball struck her on the side of the forehead, but glanced off. The prisoner was then going tranquilly out of the house, when the neighbours rushed in and arrested him. On his trial he declared that he knew nothing whatever of what had taken place on the morning in question, and he could not have been in his right mind. This was, however, disproved by the testimony of a number of witnesses who had spoken to him during the morning, and who declared that he was perfectly calm and collected. He was found guilty, and sentenced, in con sideration of his great age, to only solitary confinement for life.—Galignanes Messenger. The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Chief Secretary for Ireland, will leave town on Monday next, for his official residence in the Phoenix-park, Dublin. This will be his first visit to Ireland in an official capacity. TESTIMONIAL to MR. ETIVALL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sri;,—l am a poor man, with a very small wife, who has given .unequivocal proofs that she will at no distant time honour (?) me with a most tremendous family— tremendous in numerical power: for although I have not as yet seen thirty summers, five slices must come off the loaf ere I can safely calculate on touching it, so that if matters go on at this rate I shall be compelled, in a few years more, to place myself under the fatherly (?) guardianship of the Poor-law Commissioners ; and it is with such a dim shadowing of the future, that I beg to call your attention to a proposal for a suitable testi monial from all who are similarly situated to myself, in humble and sincere acknowledgment for the persevering exertions of Mr. Etwall, M.P., in the cause of outraged humanity and oppressed poverty, as disclosed at the Andover inquiry. Sir, I feel, and every labouring man feels, that had it not been for the worrying of Mr. Etas all for an investigation, those dreadful cruelties would still bo in operation against the unfortunate victims of poverty and want, whose sufferings would have been treated by another Sir James Graham as " a workhouse squabble in the south of England." But Mr. Etwall has unkennelled the lot—he is the.terrier of the " House"—and, backed by the all-powerful aid of the press, has succeeded in drawing these filthy badgers from their holes (the Right Hon. Baronet amongst the number), and exposing their meanness to the world. Well, Sir, having said so much by way of preface, I'll now tell you my proposal. Let a penny subscription be entered into for the purpose of presenting Mr. Etwall with a piece of plate, as an humble testimony of gratitude from the working men. of Eng land, for his disinterested advocacy in their behalf. I know there are thousands who are anxiously waiting for such a mode of thanking the lion. Gentleman for his services, as well as to prove to the legalised oppressors of the helpless in their adversity, that the labouring classes have souls that feel, and heads that can appreciate the services of their friends ; nor must the press be omitted in such thanksgiving. The press is the great lever that directs the battering-ram of public opinion against the statute-bound citadel of cruel misgovernment and official wrong. Honour to the press—the dreaded scourge of all who turn a deaf ear to the wailings of misery, and sneer at the wretchedness of their fellow creatures—the free and untaught press—and there honour is 'given only where honour is due. This is the suggestion of a working man—will you give it publicity, that the labouring classes of this kingdom may see that the proposal emanates from one of their own order, who, like themselves, wishes to testify his sense of gratitude for the triumph over consolidated tyranny by one of the few humane and disinterested champions of the poor. If you should feel inclined to aid in such a praise. worthy object, when it is completed, I have a design in my mind's eye that might not be deemed inappropriate. ONE OF THE MILLION. Chenies.street, Bedford-square, Aug. 25. THE GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. On Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Johannes Czerski, whose name from its frequent association with Dr. Rouge, in his mission through several of the German States, to procure converts to the recently formed sect of Pro testants, must be familiar to the English public, delivered an address on the subject of the religious movement in Germany, at Trinity Chapel, John-street, Edgware-road. From three o'clock, when the address commenced, until its close at half-past four o'clock, there was scarcely standing room in the chapel, and several persons went away unable to obtain admission. The greater part of the congregation was English, from an announcement that the address, which was spoken in the German lan guage, would be interpreted ; but there were also many Germans, members of the various German Roman Catholic and Protestant chapels in the metropolis. The service commenced by the delivery of a prayer for the success of the movement in Germany, after which a portion of the Gospel of St. John was read, and an English hymn sung. The Rev. J. Czerski then pro ceeded with his address, taking as his text, the 32d verse of the Bth chapter of St. John, containing the following words:—" And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The Rev. Mr. Herschell, minister of the: chapel, also stood in the pulpit, and interpreted the discourse sentence by sentence. M. Czerski observed that he came amongst them, a stranger in habits and customs, but was their brother in inward union and fellowship. He came to bear testimony to the truth which had made him free, and the freedom he had re. ceived from truth, and through which thousands upon thousands had arisen from the torpor in which they had long been slumbering. Great was the spiritual sleep from which the people had been raised, and he did not deny that his eyes had been closed in that sleep. Be fore he awoke, he sought for salvation not from God, but from man and human institutions. He was brought up very strictly in the Roman Catholic religion, and intended for the priesthood, but was early struck with the fallacy thrust upon him, that none but those within the pale of that Church could be saved. , He described his inward struggles before he renounced his religion, and gave the arguments which had de termined his change. After his conversion he looked around and saw millions in the same chains which had formerly bound him. He found, instead of confession to God, prostration before man ; saw a religion in force which undermined the wealth of kingdoms, and had set nation against nation for centuries. Contrasting Catholic countries with Protestant England, he saw the fault was not in the people, but in their guides. Now that he had freed himself he had been followed by the anathemas and persecutions of Rome, but truth gave him power to dare the punishment of men. This was not only his case but that of many others. There were now 200 congregations in Germany, which had been converted from the Roman Catholic Church. In conclusion, he addressed himself to such Roman Catholics as might be present, urging them to renounce their religion, and be free. At the close of the address, the Rev. Mr. Herschel' said that he had made the closest scrutiny into the re ligious opinions of M. Czerski. and felt assured that the important object he had at heart—the reformation of Germany—was well worthy the support and encourage ment of England. M. Czerski arrived a week ago, and would leave London next week. HERRING FISHERY. DUNBAR, AUGUST 25.—The fishing for the last two days has been good ; bettor this morning than in any morning during the season. From the number of curers, and the season being far advanced, prices still keep ; about 15s. a cran is generally given. BERWICK, AUGUST 21.—Our herring fishing this week has still been very light, and no general take of herrings has taken place sincelour last. Although tt few boats have got from twelve to twenty crans this week, yet the greater part have not taken ten crans for the whele week. - HOLY ISLANDS, AUGUST 19.—The good appearances from which we expected so much at the beginning of the week have not been realised, the highest shot of her rings on Monday being eleven trans. On Tuesday the fishing was general, but no great shot. This morning there was a great falling off, the highest being three crans, with the exception of one strange boat, which had 24 crans. In consequence of the thick fog only three boats are out to-night. NORTH SUNDERLAND, AUG. 20. —Since our last the fishing has been progressing, but with little success, and the quantity of fish taken is far short of last week. Some few boats have fallen in with from two to twenty crans, but upon the whole the fishing has not been good. The fishermen say they expect the fish yet to set in as the tide comes to hand. The Customhouse officers have ordered all the French vessels to sea, and will not allow them to cure their herrings in the har bour without paying one shilling on each barrel, be sides an additional penny for landing on each empty barrel. The result will be that no Frenchmen will enter the English ports to buy herrings, which will be the means of greatly reducing the price in the English market. _ BURGHEAD, AUG. 20.—The fishing at this station has been very irregular since last report. On Friday there was a good fishing ; average 9 crans. Saturday, 4 crans. Tuesday was almost a failure, and from the appearance of the weather a very few boats ventured out that night. This morning (Thursday) a few boats only will go to the cran. There is still an excellent ap pearance of fish ; but the weather is too fine, and the water too clear. IVlcx, AUG. 20.—Our fishing has not, this week, been accompanied by that degree of success which could be wished—still, however, no day has been an entire blank. The average for the week is 14 crans, and for the season, 72. Along the coast, as far as Helms dale, the fishing is much behind. That station now averages about 65 crans, or 15 crans under 1845, and five under 1844, which was a bad year. At the inter mediate stations, however, matters are more backward, and the general average is very low indeed.—Caledonian Mercury. ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT'S BlRTllDAY.—Yesterday being the anniversary of the natal day of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the salutes were fired from St. James's-park, the Tower, and the other metropolitan forts, at all of which the royal standard was displayed. The Italian Opera House, most of the theatres, and the Colosseum, as well as the houses of the Prince Consort's tradesmen, were illuminated in the evening. THE OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS.—On the 10th inst., a youth named Robert Grant, residing at his father's in Whaf street, died suddenly from incautiously taking . a dose of oil of bitter almonds. Mr. Denton, surgeon, found in his stomach a quantity fully sufficient to cause death. How the deceased got hold of the poison was at first involved in some mystery ; at length a bottle was found in the father's house, contain ing the oil of bitter almonds, a portion of which it was now plain the deceased had drunk. The mother had never used, and knew nothing of the nature of the liquid, except that it was given to her by a lady as " something good to put into puddings." On inquiry, it was found that this lady had received this bottle from her daughter, now in Manchester, who told the same tale, and said she found it in a house in St. Peter's-lane; but none of them knew the poisonous nature of the liquid. This house was formerly oc cupied by a chymist and druggist, as a drug warehouse, and amongst the bottles was one containing the essential oil of bitter almonds, which (when the drugs were looked over after being removed) was missing. There was, there fore, no doubt that the bottle from which the deceased drank was the identical one belonging to the chymist. An inquest was held on deceased the same evening, and, after two ad journments, and the whole of the facts had been most pa tiently investigated, the jury returned the following verdict : —" That the deceased died from the effects of essential oil of bitter almonds, but whether taken by himself or adminis tered by any other person, there is no evidence. The jury wish, however, to add, that there is no evidence before them that any one about Robert Grant's (the father's) house, was aware that the essential oil in question was of a poisonous nat ure."—Leicester Mercury. A RELIC OF OLD PARIS.—The demolition of the old house on the Quai Napoleon, No. 9, which is said to have been formerly inhabited by Heloise and Abelard, after having been suspensed for a short time, to see if any one would purchase the building for the sake of preserving it, has been resumed. In a few days the house will be 1 , -*Alled to the ground,--Galignanes Messenger. • f; •;;,, ;,, 0z.4 ~~ ~irlli ~' r ~ W ..~ M`` IPS Wiell tiVarr On Saturday last the first day of this ij nual fair was held at the usual place, near Hall, and was attended by a large body of agricul breeders, dealers, &c., resident in this part of the coup- try. The stock of lambs was much shorter on this oc casion than last year—some competent judges stating it to have been one-third less, and others asserting there were not so many hurdles required by 80 dozen. The causes of scarcity are alleged to be—a really short sup ply ; the upward tendency of prices ; and an abundance of feed. During the transactions of Saturday stiff prices were asked and given for everything that bore the shape and feature of a lamb—in fact we heard persons who had attended the fair for 40 years assert, that for some descriptions of lots they never saw higher prices given. The following is a list of some of the lots that changed hands:-10 scorce half-Leicesters, sold by Mr. Mun flings, at 245. each ; 10 score of ditto, by Mr. Rodwell, Livermere, at 265. ; 13 score black-face shearlings, Norfolk and Down, by Mr. Folkard, Stanway, 40s. to 455. ; lot of half- bred Leicesters, by Mr. Webb, at 255. 6d. ; 5 score half-Down and Norfolk crones, by Mr. Cutting, Bacton, at 225. 6d. ; 20 score of half-bred Down and Leicesters, by Sir R. Harland's steward, at 295. ; 20 score of ditto, by Mr. Ruffle, at 265. ; lot of half-bred Down and Norfolk, by Mr. Ablitt, Alderton, at 295. ; 3 two-year-old taps from the Duke of Rich mond's stock, sold for 41. each, ot. being asi:ed : 10 score Down wethers by Mr. Everitt, Brightweg Hall, at 235. Eight score ewes and wethers, by Mrs. Catling, Chils ford Lodge, at 295. Mr, W. Webb, of Great Bentley, had four score of pure Leicesters which excited con siderable attention : they were a beautiful lot. Two Leicester tups, the property cf Fisher Hobbs, Esq., were also much admired. Mr. George Sexton showed a lot of Southdown shearling and two-year-old tups, several of which were let fo r the seas o n, at' prices vary ing from 12 to 15 guineas. At the clos=e of the day most of the lots were cleared off. The horse field pre sented rather a meagre aspect. Mr. Edwick's stock of Welch colts was unusually short. There were some nice things amongst them, for which stiff prices were asked. The average price last year was from 81. to 12/.; this year it was from 101. to 151. Mr. Edwiek was the only dealer present. The stock field was more nume rously supplied than is usually the case. One lot of 12 heifers sold for 121. ss. each ; the average price per stone was 7s. The business done was very limited. The principal exhibitors of beasts were Messrs. Simp son and Cooper, Chelmsford, and Mr. Nunn, of Whitton. Monday.—The lots of Saturday having mostly changed hands to the dealers, they were on this day offered by them at high rates.—lpswich Express. NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE. ADMIRALTY, AUG. 26. APPOINTMENTS. Captain—W. H. Henderson to the Sidon. Surgeon—John James Douglas Brown to the Dido. Paymaster and Purser—Walter Clatworthy to the Redwing, for packet service at Liverpool. PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—This being the anni versary of the birthday of bis Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Victory and other ships in harbour were dressed in colours, as was the North Star, at Spithead; and the royal standard was hoisted on all the Govern ment offices. At noon a royal salute was tired from the Victory and the other ships and the Platform Battery. His Grace the Duke of Wellington arrived at Gosport by the nine o'clock train from London this morning, and was met by the ➢Zarquis of Anglesey and Colonel Car dew, Commandant of the Royal Engineers in this gar rison, who accompanied the Duke over the fortifications in progress on the Gosport side. After which his Grace returned to London by the half-past three P.M. train of the South-Western Railway. His Grace made his in , spection on horseback. The Harlequin, 12, Commander Curry, was at Smyrna, all well, on the 16th of July. Her further movements were very uncertain. The Apollo troop-ship, Commander Radcliffe. is very shortly expected at Spithead from Rio and the Cape, with troops and invalids. The Amazon, 26, Captain Stopford, was at the Pirieua of Athens on the 7th inst. The Vestal, 26, Captain Talbot, was at Hong-Kong on the 23d of June, 1846. She was to start about the Ist of July for Chusan. The Admiral, in the Agin court, 72, had gone to Borneo. The royal yacht Victoria and Albert, Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, came into harbour this afternoon for fuel. The Fairy also came in some time prior. DANGEROUS CONDITION OF WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE. On Tuesday afternoon considerable alarm was created amongst the numerous workmen employed in the repair ing of Westminster-bridge, by the sudden cracking of the crown of one of the arches of that structure. Upon making an inspection, it was found that the roadway of the bridge, as well as a portion of the foot pave ment, had opened very considerably, and the carriage way, a short distance towards the centre, had to all appearance sunk several inches. Intelligence wag quickly forwarded to the proper authorities, and during the same night the following notice was issued:— " JOHNSON, MAYOR. " Notice is hereby given, that the navigation through the centre, and the two next arches of Westminster bridge, towards the Surrey side of the river, is stopped by order of the Lord Mayor. (Signed) " NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, " Sub-Conservator and Water Bailiff. " Mansion-house, August 25, 184 G." Whilst the men were at work yesterday afternoon two large pieces of stone slipped from their level, and again caused much confusion. The men, fearful that the arch was about to fall, got ashore, and it was some time before they were satisfied that their work was attended with safety. An extra number of workpeople was put on to the bridge during the afternoon, and with the assistance of the regular hands, the wooden palisading on the upper side of the bridge was removed, and large poles in the shape of derricks were fixed on either side of the bridge, so as to protect the part that had given way. At eight o'clock last evening it was understood that the dangerous arches were properly braced and pro tected from danger. ct , w W I 4 %.e) DUTCH PAPERS. AMSTERDAM, AUG. 21.—Her Royal Highness Prin cess Albert of Prussia, with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, will remain here, as we learn, till the begin ning of September, while the young Prince Albert, her son, is taking the benefit of sea bathing at Wagonrog. The Queen Dowager of Great Britain, who is ex pected at the Hague on Monday, will be accompanied by Baron Van Capeller, who was Ambassador of the King of the Netherlands, at the coronation of Queen Victoria, by the Duke of Saxe Wiemar and Mr. Disbrone, the British Ambassador. It is said that her Majesty will make but a short stay here, and probably leave this place again on Tuesday. We are informed further that the intended journey of the King and Queen, and Prince Alexander, will take place on Wednesday. AMSTERDAM, AUG. 24.—Her Majesty the Queen Dowager of Great Britain, with a numerous suite, ar rived here to-day from Arnheim. She was received at the station by the Governor of the province and the burgomaster of this town. In consequence of her Ma jesty's visit the intended journey of their Majesties the King and Queen and Prince Alexander is put off for a few days.—Dutch Papers, Aug. 25. PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY BENEFIT AT VAUX HALL GARDENS.—A three nights' benefit on behalf of the funds of this most valuable institution will take place at the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wed nesday next, on which occasion every amusement of this favourite place of resort will be produced. The refreshments to be obtained in the gardens will be within the means of all, extravagant prices having during the present season been abolished. A COACH SUBMERGED.—The Dublin mail to thi town was on Tuesday delayed three hours in consequence of the heavy rains of the previous night, which involved no only the delay of the arrival of the mail, but also its pro bable loss and that of the lives of eight passengers. The mail left Longford at the usual hour, and proceeded in safety to Tarmon bog, about six miles on the route from that town. When the car arrived at this spot the road was found to be considerably flooded, with a very rapid current passing over it, also large heaps of earth carried down from the mountains were lying on the road. There was an immense collection of country people, at the place, and fortunately a large body of constabulary ; and on the passengers paying the country people, they were induced to remove the heaps of earth. The car was then driven forward, the leader (it was a three horse car) having previously been unyoked, but scarcely had it proceeded a few yards when the horses were turned round by the impetuosity of the stream, and car, horses, and pas sengers carried away with its current. The passengers, im mediately on perceiving the horses being turned off the road, threw themselves into the water, and most miraculously and providentially, and by mutually assisting one another, were saved from a watery grave. The car, horses, and driver were brought up by the wheels of the car coming against some obstruction, the water washing over the car, and carrying away all loose luggage, and the heads of the horses scarcely above its surface. The country people, on seeing the lives of the passengers in danger, made every exertion to save them, but they would not stir hand or foot towards extricating the car, horses, and driver from their perilous position, untilthey extracted a promise of ;payment from the passengers, when six or seven of them went into the water, and with the assistance of ropes, at last succeeded in bringing all safe to land. The conduct of the police was very different. With out any solicitation, after assisting to save the lives of the passengers, they followed down the current of the course, and fearlessly entered it to save the various articles of luggage which were floating on its surface. Subsequently they sup plied the passengers with clothing (their own clothes and baggage being wholly saturated with wet), so as to permit of their proceeding on their journey.— Tyrawiey SEALS.—Those scourges to the salmon fishings have been this season unusually severe. In the Firths and lower parts of estuaries, their presence is never wanting. Stake and bag net fishings suffer most, whose vicinity they constantly haunt, so that no fish dares approach. River fishings suffer also, as t he tracks leading to them are thus infested and way-laid. No method of destroying these destroyers has yet been adopted, perhaps planned, which could promise to be of the least general utility. this is oae is captured now and then, and another is shot ; but only stopping up one hole in the sieve : he is not missed out of the number, and the fisherman may obtain a little revenge, but he experiences no relief. Of all aquatic animals the seal is the most astute. Give him but a few feet water, and he will mock all pur suit. He will not approach suspected places, or, if hunger prompt him to advance, it never will induce him to lay aside his wary caution, and his address is such that he is rarely taken or defeated. He is not only voracious, but nice and fastidious. He will not bait on carrion. If he crosses a dead fish he will not touch it, let his appetite be ever so keen or his hunger ever so great. He will have the living and the best. His vicious and pampered taste, and the resources he has for its gratification, make him an extremely troublesome and expensive neighbour. He not only frightens fish away, but he tears up nets. or at very high water springs into their chambers, creating fearful havoc. Here he is sometimes taken, and the retaliation is certain. When he cannot enter or break the net, he will draw the salmon to him by suction. It would be well that some means were devised for the wholsale destruction of this pest of the fisheries. Hunting will never recompense in our firth, except, perhaps, in Loch Beauly, where there are many shoals and banks. Proprietors should offer a pre mium for an effective plan to guard their tenants. Traps might be invented by those who know the nature and habits of the animal ; but, in the meantime, the stake-ssext at tendant should never be without his gun on cock, as, how ever small the chance may be of killing, there is always the certainty of annoying and making the place disagreeable to the unwelcome visitor.—lnverness Journal. LIVERPOOL AND BURY RAILWAY VIADUCT.—The first stone of this stupendous undertaking will be laid on Saturday, the 29th instant, when about 500 persons will be invited to witness the ceremony. James Brancker, Esq., chairman of the directors, will officiate upon the occasion. After the stone has been laid, a splendid dejeuner will be given, at which about 300 ladies and gentlemen will be pra sent. The intended viaduct will extend from B9undary street to the borough g aol, and ultimately to Tithebarn street—Liverpool Standard. Mr. Buckingham left town yesterday, for Marseilles and Genoa, to attend the Literary and Scientific Congresses to be held at these cities in September, to each of which he had been invited, as the director of the British and Forei g n Institute 9f LOMI9II. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the Rouse of commons.) WEDNESDAY; AUG. 26. Messengers from the Lords brought up the following Bills, to which their Lordships have agreed : Public Works (Ireland—No. 4) Bill—Public Works (Ire land—No. 5) Bill—Constabulary (Ireland) Bill—Leases ( Ireland) Bill—New Zealand Government Bill—Ejectments, &c. (Ireland) Bill—Conselidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill —Amendments to Waste Lands (Australia) Bill, without amendment—Rateable Property (Ireland) Bill—Steam Na vigation Bill—Drainage of Lands l3ill—Customs Duties (No. 2) Bill—Poor Employment (Ireland) Bill, with amendments —Private Bills Bill, with an amendment. PREVENTING THE OXIDATION OF IRON.—Mr. Poole has taken out a patent for preventing the oxidation of iron, and for rendering malleable iron harder and more durable. The first improvement consists in adding to pig iron, when in a state of fusion, from two to ten per cent. of copper, tin, nickel, or antimony, whereby it is rendered mo re malleable and less subject to oxidation. The second im provement consists in coating iron with steel, or with a species of iron containing less carbon than common cast metal, by adding one part of blister steel to four parts of molten cast-iron, and then continuing to add scrap iron to the molten mass, until an iron rod is no longer rendered brittle by being dipped into the mixture. With this iron common iron is coated in the same manner as in the case of covering iron with brass. The third improvement consists in case-hardening iron, and preventing it from rusting, by the use of the ferrocyanide of sodium, calcium, or barium, avoiding the use of the ferrocyanide of pot ass i um , w hi c h h as already been employed for the purpose, as mentioned in vol. 3of the Artizan, p. 115. An alkaline bath formed with car bonate of soda, or any of the other alkalies, is used in con nexion with the ferrocyanide. The iron, to be case-hardened, requires to be heated to nearly a red heat, and is then to be immersed in the bath, where it is raised to a higher heat. after which it is to be plunged into the ferrocyanide previously fused, in another vessel. The process appears to us to be far too complicated to be likely to come into general use, even if effectual for the purpose, of which wo have doubts.—Artizan. PRICE OF GoLD.—Tho premium on gold at Paris is 16 per mille, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17 3 . 10 1 ,4 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchangeofogfo2lsd 55 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at sho rt being 2S 7714, it follows that gold is 0 . 87 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. By advises from Ilamburgh the price is 436 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of W. 17s, 1014 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 1014 ; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13 11 1 4, it follows that gold is 0.34 per cent. dearer in, London than in Hamburgh. A SUBSTITUTE FOR FLOGGING IN THE Anaiv.—We are informed by Sir Charles Napier that blistering was sue-, cessfully tried as a substitute tor flogging in two corps, and he is not aware that this mode of punishment was adopted in any other regiment. The commanding officer of one of the regiments in question, then stationed in Guernsey, where liquor is cheap, determined to put a stop to the crime of drunkenness on duty, by an appeal to the honourable feel ings of the soldiers, and at the same time to make drunken ness as unpleasant as possible, but without the lash. Ha gave out an order to say that he would not flog, but trust to the soldier's self-respect for keeping sober on duty. Next day . a man was drunk and confined. The colonel, accom paniedwent to the guard-house, and felt th e drunkard's byt led surgeon,se. iievas declared to be in a fever. Nothing could be more true. He was therefore put into a bla'ket, and four soldiers bore him through the barraclr.:a. Hi g comrades all laughed at the care taken of him. Oa reaching the hospital, the patient was put to bed and blistered between the shoulders, fed on bread and water for n week, and then discharged cured. He was then brought on the parade, when the commanding officer congratulated him on his re covery from the fever, and sent hire to rejoin his company, where he was laughed at and jeered by his comrades during the space of a week. Many others underwent the same treatment; but the joke, though very amusing to the sober soldiers, soon began to be none to the drunkards. There was considerable pain and uneasiness—some bread, plenty of water, but no pitying comrades—no commisseration—no mercy. The experiment was completely successful. Not a man of that regiment was flogged in Guernsey from, the time the men were treated with blisters; and after a fort night there was no such thing as a man drunk for guard or parade. Now this regiment has been in an infamous state.-. Military Miscellany, by Henry Maxwell, F.R.S.E. A PETRIFIED FOOT DISCOVERED IN TILE THAMES...- Yesterday afternoon, some boys, playing on the river bank. at the end of Essex street, Strand, nee. - r the Watermens' Pier, picked up a petrified foot, which ~ :11 examination proved to be that of a female. The anklo bone and the bones of the toes were perfect in form and consistency, but towards the. nails of the toes, the process of decomposition had taken place as regarded flesh, the nails being perfect. Several gentlemen from King's College Hospital inspected it, and pronounced that it must have been embedded in some pecu liar soil for a great length of time, and had probably been ' washed down from one of the sewers, as the river water had no tendency to petrifaction. This relic of " brief mortality* was purchased by a gentleman in the parlour of the Swan Tavern, who expressed his intention to forward it to some ' scientific institution. The foot if, small, and the indications are, that it is that of an adult iemale. Lord John Russell has taken a country residencr_t for the season, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and it is now in course of preparation for ther eoeption of and family. • ;~:.