The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-05 00:00:00

LITERATURE. T ILE DESERT I. 10 ME. By Captain Mayne Reid. David Bogue. ti A more beautiful book than this has not for a long ate been issued from the press for the entertainment a nd instructi on o f c hild ren. I ts i nterest f rom fi rs t to last is enthralling. It constitutes, as the author himself f rl s ti mates upon the tills:-page, a record of the adventures lost fa m il y in thy, wilderness, a family worthy c,f , ‘ ., 641 g designat e d " Th e E ng li s h F am ily Robinson. been Ma,yno Reid's ability as a narrator has already rec displayed in a very agreeable m a n n e r through his nrB t work, a woik well known as a The Rifle Rangers," and still better, last season, through his second work , e ntitled " The, Scalp Hunters." In the volume now be fore us, hcswever, the novelist has shown that he can eirect murals more for his reader than the supply of Mere a aarasement. He has hero told a tale, and a very ✓rveii `'pus tale it is too of the vicissitudes befalling aaeaers Rolfe and ot e his 'amity in the great central desert of a v r 'r , America. In recounting the adventures of Rolle :me 7 uthor has manitestly kept before him the undying _abaination of the masterpiece of Defoe, and has endea ratted, without anything at all approaching to a servile mitation of his prototype, to invest his hero with some ?f those attractive attributes which have made us all 10 0 k with more than the affection of the parrot upon "Poor R o bi nson C rusoe ." I nstea d, h owever , o f t h e lovely island of Juan Fernandez we are introduced into the bosom of a valley oasis in the wilderness of North 4ta eriee. Instead of being doomed to the horrors of p r otracted solitud e , th e p r i nc ip a l p ersonage i n th e s tory 'children. .hlessed w i t h t h e compan i onsh i p o f h i s w if e an d hi s hildren. Instead of simple hearted, untutored Friday, , b e has as his attendant the skilful•handed, merry tempered Cudjo—to our thinking the most de lightful and original creation in the narrative. Aided by his brave, fine spirited boys, Frank and Harry good.marksmen both—and by his faithful negro, al ✓awly mentioned, a first-rate domestic architect, and o'oe who understands, h 'of the fore s t- ap i ary, Rolfeot er contrives,t h i thing?, g , the mysteries inthe Robert val ley before particularised, to establish a home replete with comforts and—incredible as it may appear—to rea lise the jest of his wife by amassing a little fortune in the very heart of a sterile and almost impenetrable wil demean. How all this is accomplished the reader would do well to learn by an examination of the book itself, for it is a volume calculated to instruct and amuse " chil dren of a larger growth" than the occupants of the nur lierY or the schoolroom. Here, in his desert home, Rolfe and his fa m ily a re d esc rib e d t o have been accid e nt a lly dis covered by some prairie merchants returning from 13 ftata Fe to the Mississippi,with whose caravan the writer r epresents himself as having been associated. Received b y the'hale and stalwart Englishman. who is the head of this new " Family Robinson," the North American Fa ders hear from his own lips the t account of his adven- I!". The volume, therefore, is almost entirely adaten, in the first person, after the manner of an auto . biography. An incident of a startling character, and _l n a Which may be described as partly agreeable and C os r lly painful, dashes the otherwise tranquil narrative with the momentary excitement of romance. We refer it tno discovery of his daughter in little Luisa by en -! '"" ni ght, the miner from Scotland. Previously to the Captain of the subject-matter of his narrative 2 .,, -4 .PPlin Mayne Reid endeavours to render his child „ipZuer familiar with the- general aspect of the scene in Great his story is situated. His delineation of the J r eat Desert lying in the interior of the North Ame ehem Continent, forming as it does the introductory a o —a P t ,_er of the volume, will be found on perusal -• ,„ be not the least admirable portion of its .`"ents. Conned with attention, it will familiarize the i ntent s _ with the marvels of that wonderful division of the I °l3 e, revealing in the American wilderness more asto nishing aspects of nature than are to be found in the _esert of Sahara. Sometimes clothed with the wild sage Or w ormwood, called artemisia—sometimes strewn for . I ',nos with a thick covering of salt, sometimes clad with 12 brilliant layer of soda, sometimes laden with innu merable frag men t s o f s t one , or i g i na lly scat t ere d over it s ti 4 i r e htee by the eruption of s ome now ex ti nc t volcano— se extending over a space equivalent to about one it, and a half of square miles, or, a s th e wr it er p u t s 'a 11l terms more compreheasible for children, somewh e r e tbttt twenty-five times as big as all England"—lies great North-American wilderness. In this wilder- Nls the En g li s h family lose their way, and ultimately act as the region of their sojourn a lovely island of verdure, sunk into the desert table land of that vast vontinent. Quiet though the existence of the family trail after th e moment o f it s first settlement in the spot ere indicated enlivened as it was only by the adven tures of itsmembers with the wild creatures of the lo ality, the reco r d o f t h at ex i s tence is still, from the opening page to the • conclusion, enthralling in a very remarkable degree, thanks to the graphic and refreshing lt yle of th e aut h or, and to the inexhaust ibl e c harm in- Ve sting the app earances b ot h o f t h e a nimal and of the, vegetable kingdom. Dying of thirst in the Midst of t he desert, we observe the family of Rolfe suddenly and unexpectedly saved, not by a well of thrivulet, but by the juicy or succulent marrow globe cacti that n e bubbli:g surprising cacti —an incident reminding us of one of the fresh-water spring and there tin the raidst of the salt waves of the ocean, eby saving Atvares sa de scribed " gifted hand of Elio in the pag es of and his companions, We observe by the Eliot Warburt‘o‘nD. "Darien," by time with intense interest, the onslaught made, and at last su ccessfully, upon an unfortunate arma dillo. Then we follow the hunters, ' Robert Rolfe, Frank, ._au.dellar_ry, breathlessly and eagerly, as the one or the other of the three shoots a prong horned antelope, or that aprobat of wild animals. the bighorn, or the stately •_€l.gaigantic elk, or the terrible and tiger-like carcajou, tla t skulking and deadly foe of the beavers, the thr_wolverine, Again we - pursue, in their movements to thigh the " happy valley" —most unlike of all valleys 6 valley of the good Prince Rasselas—seeing them tlaas luxuriate in a " battue" of black-tails, or watching, movey another sense, somewhat painfully detecting the 2.nents of the American skunk, or polecat observing, be tween With still greater attention, the deadly conflict rwee n the yellowish-coloured rattlesnake and the t u o lftek-hu e d b oa constr i ctor. Frank, by the way, manages v ,... 1 ...rap and collect togethe r a s t r ange and beautiful trees, of bi r d s , i nc l u di ng amongst t h e number th e w ild the red-winged st ar li ng , the orange-headed trou- V , es the oriole, the waken, the paroquet, the grey fea- ' b;rd ! ° amock-bird the blue jay, the green-bird, and the or red- Virginia nightingale. Mary, the wife of Rolfe, 1 , 11 the mother by him of "little Mary," Harry, and of is not less us e f u l t o the " settlement "by her love botany than the last-mentioned person himself by his tsrion for ornithology. Aided by her instructions the wily, soon after their arrival in the valley, obtain treaclell as well as sugar from the sugar-maple, and de ''olls Canes from the bread-pine. Cudjo, meanwhile, I,' o esidea constructing almost unassisted a splendid log building it up from floor to roof without a single ntul to hold it together, contrives to track the wild bees a very simple and ingenious method to the nest pore, in the hollow of a lofty tree, they have. deposited the honey. The account of this latter adventure and t ho destruction in the course of it of the bear who has clambered up the hollow trunk to devour the honey, is ens of the most entertaining sections of the nar rative, as ono of the most striking in interest to k the mention of the formation of the lake q t the dam unexpectedly constructed by the beavers. nese same beavers, by the way, are the source of the wealth accumulated by ten years' industry in the bosom of the American wilderness. From what we have h ere r emarked upon the volume it must be manifest that a d elightful charm, the charm of novelty and adventure, parka every chapter of the " Desert Home. Zia pretentious in its character, and less ambitious in its v olume we cannot but regard this very beautiful little ":dume as perhaps the most truly artistic in every re- LPect of any amon g th e w orks yet written by Ca p tain AIL ZIYne Reid. It confirms us in our opinion of hi s g reat Ithilities, and will command we feel assured from all who the it a genuine and sincere admiration. To e nhance l'uo general attractions of the book some of its more Picturesque passages are accompanied by appropriate embellishments, the facile pencil of William Harvey having contributed to its pages twelve graceful and cha racteristic illustrations. AZERVYN CLITHEROE. No. 111. By Harrison Ainsworth. Although merely an intermediate number, so to speak, a number w i t h ou t any very striking i nc id ent, but still Materially advancing the interest or the narrative, the p re sent instalment of " Mervyn Clitheroe" will be fou n d to be ver y far indeed from being unatt ract i ve. The principal occurrence transpiring before the close is the death of old Uncle Moberley ; and the doubt hanging over the nature of his will renders us breathless for the next chapter and its revelations. Pownall—rascal that he is —has evidently drugged old Tal bot, to keep him q uiet during the night, and frightened Sam Massey and o , _ William Weever o u t o f their w its by his ghost-stories, with a view to p enetrate uno b s erved into the chamber of death for the purpose of purloining the inestimable Having Parchments kept in the e s c rutoire. a presen.ti meet of all thi s , wo await the next num ber with no considerable anxiety, dreading jest that vagabond _. a o a 2 barber m a y b e the means of consigning ,0001 Year and the farm of Nethercrofts to Malpas Sale, the most execrable character in the book, thereby , of course, depriving of his rights our favourite Mervyn Clitheroe. Prior to the incident of the death of old Moberley, we are introduced to the family of the Bride oakes, who are bettered in condition by the benevolence of Dr. Foam and the munificence of good old Mrs. Mervyn. The dinner given by the latter hospitable dame in the mansion of the Anchorites, is admirably described from first to last—the pencilling of the various guests displaying consummate ability in Mr. Ainsworth. Pr. Bray is evidently intended for Dr. Parr, and, accord ;l3, g to all accounts preserved to us of the latter personage, the resemblance is masterly—all, of course, except the w ig, and we may add also the general external appear "Tice. As a delineation of character, the sketch seems to be surprisingly good. Colonel and Mrs. Harbottle are also Manifestly ",from the life." The butler, Mr. Comberbach, comes out resplendently. The only failure in the whole description, indeed, appears to us to be the very part of all which the novelist plainly hoped to be the most suc cessful —we mean the account of Cuthbert Spring. Pleasant fellow enough he doubtless must have been --but his anecdotes fall flatly, being in truth altogether surpassed by the droll incidents of the fallen wig de posited by the butler on the bald head of Dr. Foam, and the pie monopolised by the rest of the guests, to the de triment of Dr. Bray. Before closing our notice of the number for February, we may observe, by the way , t hat John Bride oa k e is out of danger, and the whole family are on the eve of proceeding to Ned Cule heth's cotta g e, at Marston, in Cheshire. Mrs. Brideoake, whom we suspect to be a Wi -"ington under a false name, almost t destroys the reader's interest in the family by her in tolerable pride. From the next few chapters we shall pect much in the way of stil l greater involvements in the plot—a plot which •delightfully in tricate, like most of theprorpises to be Alaiworth. ingenious fictions of lar. THE SUN, SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—It is certainly not a trifling matter to undertake the revision and repair of almost the only free constitution which is now left standing in Europe. Nothing but the prospect of great benefits, or the remedying of great abuses, can justify such a proceeding. We arc well, and it is not for a slight or dubious improvement, nor for the sake of remedy ing trifling or theoretical defects', that we ought to attempt to be better. Our present political regimen agrees with us well enough, and the advantage must be very manifest, and the danger very small, of any change which we shall do wisely to adopt. It is with much regret that we state our conviction that the Reform Bill which Lord John Russell is understood to be about to propose satisfies neither of these conditions. It is an inadequate remedy for those gross and admitted abuses which form the best justification of its introduction; and yet, inadequate as it is, it carries with it elements of danger and uncertainty which no prudent statesman will needlessly or gratuitously called into action. A Reform Bill worthy of the name should aspire to remedy existing abuses on the one band, and on the other to extend the fran chise in a liberal and comprehensive spirit, always bearing in mind that there is no measure so illiberal as intrusting the fi anchise to persons unqualified for its exercise, and that the uneducated classes have ever been found the readiest instru ments for the subversion of well-ordered government and rational freedom. . . . What public opinion does re quire is not a rash and empirical lowering of the franchise, but a destruction of the haunts of corruption and venality, a check to the reviving and surviving practice of borough mongering, the removal of glaring anomalies and inequali ties in the franchise and in electoral divisions, and a vigorous attempt to check the practice of bribery and intimidation. To satisfy these reasonable and moderate wishes, Lord John Russel proposes to perpetuate Harwich, and to extend Caine, guaranteeing their purity by adding to their constituency a class of electors more ignorant, more needy, and, therefore, at least equally venal. CHRONICLE. --Lord John Russell was either very skilful or very fortunate in the occasion which he seized for dismis sing his formidable colleague. Over and above the point of official form on which the Premier mainly rested his case on Tuesday night, and about which the world at large ca res little, the Foreign Secretary had, luckily for his chief, taken the unpopular as well as the wrong side on a European ques tion of capital moment—the question of liberty and usurpa tion in France. It is true that Lord John Russell himself— if we may judge from the apology which he so strangely vo lunteered for the French President—seems now to differ but by a hair's breadth, if at all, from his late colleague, on the substantial question at issue. But, although that timid or prudential sacrifice to a supposed expe diency leaves very little to choose between the two statesmen in point of constitutional principle, the first super ficial report of the affair is probably that which will still be taken by ordinary observers. In the view, perhaps, of the generality of persons, the Minister who has for years en joyed the confidence of ultra-Liberals at home and abroad, has fallen because he was more indulgent to a military despotism than the official superior whose opinions on ge neral politics have never been quoted or discussed beyond the narrow seas. At all events, on the immediate ques tion which caused his dismissal, Lord Palmerston was on the side of Austria and Russia, and the Pope. An opinion which he even now deliberately repeats cannot be explained away. So far as the debate of Tuesday eluci dated the causes of the rupture, it must be admitted that the late Foreign Secretary is a martyr to the cause of Absolute Government. HERALD.—So much for the Ministerial speech delivered from the throne on Tuesday. With regard to the debate upon it in both Houses of Parliament, we have not left to ourselves space for any lengthened remarks. It will be seen that in the House of Commons an explanation—if the speeches of the two Noble Lords can be so termed—of the causes of the dismissal of the ex-Secretary for Foreign Affairs was offered by the Premier and Lord Palmerston. The affair was exceedingly bald and unsatis factory; but if we may offer " our " opinion upon the subject, the Noble Member for Tiverton had decidedly " the best of it." The admirable addresses of Lord Derby and Mr. Dis raeli—temperate in their strictures upon the sins of commis sion and omission of the Government, yet thoroughly expla natory of the principles by which the country party are guided, will be read with equal admiration and attention. They must form the subject of a future commentary. DAILY NEWS.—The speech of Lord Palmerston will be read with feelings of disappointment and regret by many who have heretofore honoured his courage, and energy, and talent in the discharge of the duties of the duties of the office he so long has filled. It was listened to with breath less attention by the House, but it failed to produce an effect favourable to the gifted speaker. With the exception of some adroit pleasantry in the nature of a to quoque, it was heard in total silence. All the main facts were admitted; and worse than all, Lord Palmerston, with a species of infa tuation, reiterated the expression of his approval of Louis Napoleon. We willingly forbear from comment. Had there been no Parliamentary disclosures or debate, the point might have remained unsettled. But all disguise and doubt is now unfortunately removed, and for a grave error, rashly com mitted, and obstinately adhered to, we are constrained to own that Lord Palmerston has gone far towards severing the link that united him to the party whose confidence he so long enjoyed. POST.—Lord John Russell, in his singular statement on the strange proceeding which he was on Tuesday night called on to defend, dwelt, with discursive complacency, on the several influences which he declared had not determined his chronic petulance into acute mischief, but touched,lith a natural and hesitating reluctance, those which he has se lected as his official and Parliamentary materials ofjustifiea tion. Thus we heard much of our policy to France, which has not been altered, and cannot be condemned— much of the Finsbury deputation, on which it was allowed that the ex-Minister had been misrepresented—much of that famous Palmerston policy, which was owned to be worthy of all ap proval and imitation ; but comparatively very little of the ostensible causes which are stated to have led to the unpre cedented requital of all these services. These alleged can ies lie, in fact, in the smallest compass. They are simply . that Lord Palmerston, in his communications with our Mintst.ers abroad, and with Foreign Ministers here, did not observe with sufficient exactness certain points of Ministerial discipline, armed in a new and extraordinary man tier with the declared personal authority of the Crown—that he did not, on other points connected with the less imposing but, as now introduced, the more constitutional ground of the supremacy of the Premier, pay sufficient deference to that Minister's well-known appetite for every description of detail. The evidence of this twofold offence consisted of a writ ten dispatch and of spoken words. The dispatch was neither an instruction nor a Government declaration, but a courteous and confiding answer to a distinct question from a diplo matist who has proved himself unworthy of confidence and ungrateful for courtesy. The spoken words were the mere expression of opinion in familiar intercourse, such as has been always admitted and must always be practised between the Minister charged with our foreign relations and the re presentatives of foreign powers. Lord John Russell teas sought by a most unfair misrepresentation, to give to the d is patch referred to, that of Dec. 16, the character of an instrt tc tion to our Minister at Paris —of a document committing Eng land to a moral support of certain acts, to the exercise of moral influence in a certain direction—he would have Itad the House believe that to have sent this dispatch with out the concurrence of the Cabinet and the sanction of the Crown was a grave breach of Ministerial discipline—an offence to the Crown, to ,be visited by the severest exercise of :the Crown's authority. But Lord Palmerston showed clearly, nay, Lord John Russell's own words show clearly, that ithe dispatch had no such character as that attributed to it—tlhat said nothing of the Crown, the Government, or the nation --that it only, in answer to Lord Normanby, explained guid repeated the opinions of Lord Palmerston, as they had been expressed in conversation. Still more futile is the pretence of the conversation with M. Walewski, on the subject of th a e e vents of the 2 d of December. It is not urged that the 'w ter of that conversation is unwise or impolitic. It can'aot be denied that its spirit has been adhered to in subsequent conversa tions with the name Minister, on the same subjoct. The offence was not the nature of the opinion, but the expression of any opinion at all. Yet, but a few hours !had pas sed since Lord John Russell had dismissed the Queon's a blest Minister by his sole act— on his sole responsibility — before he was himself committing the alleged offence, which had so excited his constitutional indignation. Nay, it seems there was more than one of the Ministry, including the Pre sident of the Council and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was thought entitled to express an independent opinion on foreign affairs to a Foreign Minister. It was only to the Secretary of State for that particular department that the subject was forbidden ground. Such are the paltry and in consistent pretexts which the Prime Minister of Engln,nd seeks to impose on the nation as the true causes for a in ea sure which has shattered his party, disquieted the whole country, weakened constitutional confidence throughout Europe, and given fresh impulses to the old Intagonism of Absolutism and Democracy. For our own farts, we must be allowed to take Lord John's explanation in the most purely official and conventional sense possible. We cannot conceive his own defence to be anything but a formal jplea more derogatory to his reputation as a statesman than would even a candid confession have been, had such confessio n been p o ssible. The whole history of the French communications persuaded, remain to the public as they d o. in ou among those influences to which Lord Pal. will,r own Nl' e oarpeinion, m erston's removal ca nnot j u stly be attributed. Lord John Russell's defence is, in fact, so evasive and so unsatisfac tory, that it is su gg estive and confirmatory of all that IN feared. Its only redeeming points are " the moral influ ence" which his declared opinion in the House of Commvus demnation of those gives to Louis Napoleon's maintenance of authority in France, and the uncompromising con safety and to lower our French continues to jeopardise our mischievous English papers whose reckless abuse of the reputation. COURT CIRC ULAR. WINDSOR, FEB. 4. ter T a h ay er . e was no addition to th e Royal' dinner party Park: anld'hseloQpouseethniasnmdol:oriinncge. Albert walked in the Home The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal , and t he y oun g ei: members of th e R oya l Family, took their usual pony am walking exercise. The Mar qu i s and Marchioness o f rf rea d a lb a ne, Loy] Cowley, and Lord Portman, have been invited, and are ex • petted at the Castle this afternoon. Colonel W. L. Iy'reLabouchere, Labouchere, m.p., had an interview with the deputation from th 3 e , Right Hon. llenr yesterday, at the Board okf yesterday, and Fellows of Eton Col- Trade. . i Whitehall. the General Board ( )f The deputation con sisted had an interview, a Thomas Carter, M.A. ; B‘ cheldor, Rev. Edward Crave n Health, at their offices, NI,T sisted of the Rev. the Provost, the i Registrar to Ilawtrey, D.D., F.A.S.; the Rev. T. Wright Flower, John from the Directors of the . Australian Gold E. S. Creasy, Counsel; and Mr. T. the A College. deputation Mining Company, consisting of Messrs. William Walker, and Mr. Jr. Lambert, tary), had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday at (Secre t the Co lonial-office. Colonel W. L. Freestun, M.P., had a interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home office. A deputation from the parish button, consisting o f Messrs. Allem (churchwardens), (overseer), C orner Morer, an d Capt. Miller (parishioners), and. Mr. Mellish. (vestry clerk), had an interview with the Right Irono t a_ able henry Labouchere yesterd a y at the Board of Trade: - --..m........••••••• --_____---------- On Tuesday the parish church of Lambeth, w lc b the Bishop OPENING or TIIE NEW CHUTICII AT h . %A i l! 8 B b L e T e u n . e -; tirely rebuilt, was opened 1. , ith much ceremony of \Vinci:ester, assisted by a large nu h n e l bosirayo foundations,f theloc.a l clergy. The new edifice is built upon t Ti ts and follows the ,a nc i en t groun d plan. -- d f o a a nave, with aisles, cl eres t ory , porc h on the consisan South, well-apportioned chancel. It is in the early dedOrated style of architecture. The roof is open and of handsome construc tion—that of the chancel is vaulted in oak. The sermon in the morning was preached by the Bishop, that in the even ing by the Venerable Archdeacon Robinson, D.D., Master of the Temple. 1 We are requested to state that the public will be admitted, gratis, to view the House of Lord s e very Saturday during the session, between the hours of 10 an d 4 o'clock, by tickets, to be obtained at the Lord Great ChaMberlain's QeC I CQ Any Saturday from 11 till 4 9'cleck. THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY. Yesterday, at twelve o'clock,, the proceedings were resikmed in Vice-Chancellor Kindersley's Court, before Master in Chancery llumphry. The Court was crowded. Mr. O'Con nor arrived shortly after twelve, and took his seat under neath the bench. - Mr. Roxburgh, counsel for the official manager, proceeded to examine Mr. O'Connor with reference to the balance sheets and accounts, to which he had directed attention on the occasion of his previous examination, published in the Daily News and Nortlaera Star, and which he deposed were the only versions of the company's financial transactions he could speak to or attest. These accounts had been obtained and examined by the official manager, who found that they only exhibited the expenditure' by Mr. O'Connor on account of the land company, and not the receipts; and, unless Mr. O'Connor gave some clearer explanation with reference to particular pecuniary transactions, he should have to charge him to account seriatim for the whole 112,000/. that had been received. Mr. O'Coanor said that the accounts' rendered by. Mr. Grey, to, the Committee of the Home of Commons gave all the particulars. Mr. Hayter was the chairman of that Committee, and when Mr.' Hayter asked him what he (Mr. O'Connor) considered an impertinent question, taking hold of him by the coat collar, he said, " Do you mean to address me in that way, 3ou ruffian," and so saying knocked him down on the chair.—(Loud laughter ) The Master (impressively)—Mr. O'Connor, on the occa sion of your previoui examination before me as judge of this Court, I was disposed to listen with that patience and for bearance which your position as a witness in this inquiry I thought entitled you to receive,— Mr. O'Connor—Humph ! A-hem ! I told you that if Prince Albert had built these cottages—(Laughter The Master—Hear me, Mr. O'Connor. If you have any thing to say I am willing to hear you, provided you address yourself to me in terms proper to be addressed to a judge, and in terms relevant to the subject-matter on which you are being examined, but I will not allow you to stand up here and make speeches to an audience just as you may be capriciously inclined. Mr. O'Connor—Well, then, your Honour, I will behave myself.—(Laughter.) Tbe Master—l cannot, for the purpose of this inquiry, take the accounts of Mr. Grey to the House of Commons in 1848 as conclusive, more patticularly in pecuniary transactions that have since occurred. Mr. O'Connor—Mr. Grey reported that the company owed me 3,400!. Mr. Finlay son, actuary to the National Debt, reported that it was more than that after five weeks' inves tigation of the accounts, and the subsequent accounts are in the Daily News and Northern Star. The Master—You have now heard my determination, and I trust for your own sake you will not again go on rambling into unnecessary observations. Mr. O'Connor—l am not rambling at all, it's that barrister is rambling.—(Laughter.) The Master—Have you the banker's book? Mr. O'Con nor—No ; they've got them. (Mr. O'Connor here turned round to the Master and whispered.) The Master,Speak ont, Mr. O'Connor. Mr. O'Connor—May I go to the House of Commons? — (Laughter.) Will you let me go? The Master—No, Mr. O'Connor, I will not. Mr. O'Connor—Why not? The Master—Because your attendance is necessary here. Mr. O'Connor—l suppose I may state to you what I stated in the House of Commons ?, The Master—No, Mr. O'Connor, you must go on with your examination, and reserve that for another occasion. • Mr. O'Connor—But you see, your Honour, not a farthing of the money came through my hands. It was all .paid into the bank by those who received it. Mr. Roxburgh—Does the statement in the Daily News contain a correct account of all the moneys you received since October, 1848, on account of the company ? Mr. O'Con nor—l dare say it does. (Mr. O'Connor here burst out into an abrupt and rapid extemporaneous statemeat of what he had done to Mr, Hayter in the House of Commons, followed by a running fire of effusions, which it was impossible to stop, as to what O'Connorville and Snig's End might have been if Prince Albert had, built them, and concluding with the dedamations•he indulged in the other day against Lords and Ladies Nincompoop who spoke disparagingly of his efforts.) Mr. Roxburgh—Really, Sir, this is about the sixth time we have had to suffer this infliction. The Master (emphatically)—Mr. O'Connor, on a previous occasion I passed over without notice the, many irregular and improper observUtions you gave vent to. I did so then be cause I thought the state you were in might require indul gence at the hands of the Court. lam not, however, of that opinion now, and I warn you that I will not allow of a repe tition of this conduct.— (Sensation.) Mr. O'Connor—Oh dear, oh dear.—(Laughter.) Mr. Roxburgh—*-Now, Mr. O'Conner, look at your account in the Daily News. Mr. O'Connor here took up the Daily News, and for se veral minutes surveyed it through his eye-glass. Mr. Roxburgh—Do you know a man of the name of Watkins ?,- Mr. 'O'Connor Oh, you're a funny man. Mr. Roxburgh—Do you see in that account any sum of 1 2001. received by you from Watkins in respect of purchase money for a portion of the Great Dodtbrd Estate, not men tioned by you in the Act of Parliament? Mr. O'Connor — No (turning to the Master). Your Honour, will you :allow me to go?—(Laughter.) If it is not in the Daily News it is published in another way. Look in the Northern Star. - Mr. O'Connor made similar replies to questions having re ference to various other sums received by him for land from other persons, addisig, "_By my soul, I never raw the man in my life." • Mr. Roxburgh—We want to know Mr. O'Connor, where credit is given to the company for all these sums of money. Mr. O'Connor—There; you,will see it in the books and in Mr. Grey's report: I will leave it all in the hands of my profes&iopal advisers. • They are the most, intellectual men, and I'd trust them with anything, your Honour. The Master—lf you took the advice of your professional advisers, Mr. O'Connor, yon would answer these questions clearly. I cannot take Mr. Grey's account for the purpose of this inquiry. I must have yours, and if yon think I have decided wrong you can appeal to a higher court. Mr. O'Connor—Really, your Honour, I must go out for a few minutes. Mr. O'Connor here retired outside the court, and the Master took the opportunity of retiring into the robing room. In about three minutes Mr. O'Conner re turned and exclaimed, " Where is that juggler? "--(Laugh ter) - and shaking his fist in a mock menacing style at the official manager—" I say, Goodchap, you ought to be called Badchap.— (Loud laughter.) You know very well you are employed the Government, and the Government are op posed to me —( Laughter.) I tell you, all of you, if Prince Albert had allotted these lands and built these cottages"— Mr. Marshall Turner and Mr. Chuvery (Mr. O'Connor's professional advisers) here rose, and the former said, "Do for God's sake, O'Connor, for mercy's sake, be quiet. There are many enemies of yours here." to me.mßnyilGaoddeutaphe,yhaarveeaylloma y b e e n en emies. M r . O'Connor-1 know. it, Turner. They are all enemies over t O h h e d estates? ear, Mr. O'Connor — Did you juggle them out of any money? _(Laughter.) Now then hav e y ou d on e with me? I G I s e a o y dchap -- I have. oh dear! mr. must Igo to the House of Conimons. I have got a motion there. Mr. Roxburgh then asked some questions relative to the Land and Labour Bank. Mr. O'Connor—l protested against its establishment, but, bein g f a iled for 4,0001. Really t o the majority. Was anfodr truly y ver y s e al suudfferaegxe,amgianvee mine proprietor of the bank which ha d roost curiously, upon my soul. I don't know what you mean or what you say. Will you have a pinch of snuff ? (Loud laughter.) [Mr. O'Connor here raised a green ban dannaansl blew his nose 'violently, replacing it with a violent fling ad a snorting kind of noise, amid loud laughter, in his hat.] ' • The Master--,Me. O'Connor, Mr. O'Connor. Mr. O'Con nor (sharply)--Sir The 'Master—l-warn you, Mr. O'Connor, to conduct your self as a 'witness under examination. ought to do. Mr. O'Connor—l spent 2,0001. in travelling to see all the estates, and charged the company nothing for it.—(Laughter.` Heigh° ! The company owes. me 7,5061. The Master—Will you explain how? Mr. O'Connor- will explain to your Honour how I have been destroyed — ruined.—(Laughter.) Men that have been located on four acres of land each for five years, and who got 50/. head money and loan money, and as much manure as would fill this court twice, and lived and cultivated it five years, have not paid a fraction of rent ; while the men located at Great Dodford, where there was the best land in the world, and paid froth 601. to 1001. bonus—there, where originally they could plough the sod for 400 yards like soap, the land is now like land in a flower-pot, and all the rent paid. (Laughter.) The ruffians on the four acres have not paid a farthing of rent, and one day last summer, when I was down at O'Connorville, at Rickinansworth, from six o'clock in the morning to six in the evening, I had to roast a beef steak with one of the bricklayers on the tongs for my din ner that very day. (The ruffians cultivated the land and collected heaps of manure, but paid no rent. (Mr. 'O'Connor here sat down, apparently much agitated and affected.), The Master--,Mr. O'Connor, we can enter into all that an other time. Mr. O'Connor—Your Honour, it 'makes my blood boil— (Laughter)—it makes my blood boil when 1 think of the amount of money I have expended, and the time I have given, to locate these poor men. God d—n their eyes.— (Sensation, laud laughter, and confusion, during which Mr. O'Connor was apparently so much affected as to be obliged to cover his face in his handkerchief and hands. ) The Master—Mr. O'Connor, I shall be obliged to adjourn this Court, and report your conduct elsewhere. I have not, and I regret that I have not, power to commit you as a witness misconducting himself in a most gross manner towards a court of justice. Had I the power, I would not hesitate to exercise it immediately. Mr. O'Connor—Well, your Honour, I will proceed properly. The:Masfer—On a repetition of such conduct I shall break up this Court, and report your conduct, which I feel to be a disgrace to any English Court of Law.—(Applause from the audience.) Perhaps that will bring you to a proper behaviour. Mr. O'Connor —I assure your Honour it makes my blood boil when I think of it. The Master—lt -is indispenable to examine you on these h matters, t em toco an 3, ascertain, or froni y whether o there u to i. t is a balance due to you from Mr. O'Connor (turning familiarly to the Master, and in an undertone)—l say— The Master—l can hear nothing, Mr. O'Connor, privately. Mr. O'Connor—l've got the spasms.—(Loud laughter.) Will you let me go? I've got the spasms. The Master—You can retire into my room. Mr. O'Connor (painfully)—Let me go entirely. I've got the spasms. Mr. Chuvery—l know Mr. O'Connor is in bad health. Mr. O'Connor (putting his hat on)—I have not eaten a bit nor slept a wink these last thirteen days, and unfortunately now I've got the spasms. The Master (gravely)—Yon state that upon your oath? Mr. O'Connor—Upon my oath. Let me go. The Master—Will you be here to-morrow, at twelve? Mr. O'Connor (in trepidation)—l will. Let me go. I'm very bad. Oh dear, oh dear ! Mr 4 O'Connor then made his way through the crowd in court i ; got into a cab in the court-yard, and was understood to tell the . driver to take hi m t o th e H ouse o f C ommons . After some further proceedings, the Court adjourned at four o'clock. SEIZIIEES BT THE COAST-GUARD.—It appears from a Parliamentary document yesterday printed by order of the HoUse of Commons, that in the year 1850 the seizures of brandy by the coas t- guard and revenue cruisers numbered 5,129 13-32 gallons; of whisky, 119 23.32; of Geneva, 446 31-32 ; of rum, 5 2-32 ; and of wine, 378 12-32 ; pf tea, 301 b. 12oz. ; of tobacco, 40,1701 b. 130 z.; of cigars, 4511 b. 10oz. ; of snuff, 891 b.; and of soap, 2431 b. The con veyance was made in 35 vessels, 57 boats, and one horse and cart. The smugglers numbered 218 men, nine women, and six boys. !..t A GREENHORN INDEED !—SOIDO singular remarks are attributed to a member of the Canadian Assembly, by the Halifax Weekly Sun, in the report of a late debate. The orator commenced by saying that he I , oped the reporters would correct any blunders, as h e was a new spea k er, and con tinued :—" There are some parts of the country where the people not only know nothing about railways, but hardly k no\ s , what a nawspaper is. lam a greenhorn at it myself." NATIONAL DEFENCES. . TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Under ordinary circumstances I should, with all due deference, have adressed myself to his Grace the Commander-in Chief, on the subject of the following observations, but the manner in which hi s Grace's letter to Sir John Burgoyne was received by the public, and treated by the Administration, precludes me from the course; inasmuch as it is highly improbable that the Duke of Wellington will again take the initiative in re commending measures of defence, except indeed such as are immediately connected with the department over which his Grace presides. I turn, therefore, to the public Press, which has al ready published many highly interesting nasal and military discussions, trusting that I shall not be denied an opportunity of laying my views before my country men, and in the hope of at once awakening the atten tion of all who are qualified for " the consideration of such questions," and of impressing upon the minds of those who are bound to provide for the safety of the realm the necessity of acting promptly. The general who vanquished the hest disciplined armies iu Europe, in many of the most memorable cam paigns on record,_ can afford t o l aug h at b e i ng ca ll e d a n alarmist. But, Sir, those warnings were not uttered from a feeling of alarm; they were put forth in the calm and deliberate conviction of the moment, that his Sovereign and his country were heedlessly exposed to insult and danger. That warning m a y but it has never been qualified; neithernot be repeated, have the Duke's sentiments undergone any change. There is yet time, and let us hasten, with unremitting diligence, to follow the counsel which his Grace's loyalty and patriotism urged him to give, and which, had the spirit of wisdom been in us, would have been then adopted. The number of men for the due security of the king dom, the proportions of each force, and improvements in their arms and accoutrements, are all questions of momentous import, and will doubtless receive mature and timely consideration, now that so many able minds aro directed to the serious points at issue; and upon neither of those do I presume to offer any suggestion. It is with the vulnerable portions of our Southern coasts, and upon the dispositions of the forces for their defence, that my mind has been long engaged; and a paramount sense of duty to his Sovereign and to his country, by a soldier who has numbered nearly fifty years in the service of the Crown, is both my motive and apology for this address. I will now proceed to submit the opinions which a careful consideration of the subject has forced upon me. Allow me, in the first place, to quote two passages from the Duke of Wellington's monitory letter. Speak ing of steam-power, his Grace says— " This discovery immediately exposed all parts of the coasts of these islands, which a vessel could approach at all, to be approached at all times of the tide, and in all seasons, by vessels so propelled, from all quarters. We are in fact assailable." " I am accustomed to the consideration of these questions, and have examined and reconnoitred, over and over again, the whole coast from the North Fore land, by Dover, Folkestone, Beachy Head, Brighton, Arundel, to Selsey Bill, near Portsmouth; an d I s ay, that, excepting immediately under the fire of Dover Castle, there is not a spot on the coast on which infantry might not be thrown on shore, at any time of the tide, with any wind, and in any weather; and from which such a body of infantry, ao thrown on shore, would not find, within the distance of five miles, a road into the interior of the country, through„the cliffs, practicable for the march of a body of troops. His Grace's wonted intuition has in an instant marked the limits within which we are most assailable; and while I entirely concur in the policy of making the strong places, that is strong by comparison, stronger, yet it is to the weak ones alluded to in the extract last quoted that lam anxious to direct attention. By all means let the defences of Sheerness, Dover, Portsmouth, and Plymouth more particularly, be carefully examined, and augm e nt e d w h ere expedient; but it is not by ap proaching fortified towns that w o shall be att ac k e d . No; an active and enterprising enemy will seek to throw his troops on our shores precisely where they are easiest of access, most devoid of protection, nearest to his own ports, and least distant from our metropolis. To war rant a reasonable expectation of success, and without such an expectation the attempt would be madness, these conditions seem indispensable. That a combination of them all is to be found on our South-Eastern coast is but too apparent to those " accustomed to the considera tion of such questions;" neither is it at all difficult for a military eye to indicate still more precisely than his Grace has done the points which w ould p robabl y bo se lected for debarkation. Having an intimate knowledge of the whole line of coast between the North Foreland and Portsmouth, I do not hesitate plainly to state that within a few miles of each side of Beachy Head these points, uniting all the premises, are to be found. Many valid reasons might easily be assigned for these opinions, but it would be imprudent to divulge them in a communication of this nature. Enough has been said, and I proceed to consider the course to be pursued. We must occupy Beachy Head by an entrenched work of considerable extent, and keep the key of the country in our own hands. "We are not safe;" this step should be taken forthwith, and Ido earnestly urge it upon the consideration of her Majesty's Ministers, believing it to be essentially necessary to the defence of that coast, eminently conducive to the inviolability of our shores, and to the security of the kingdom. If we omit to fortify this remarkable promontory, a dangerous stronghold is left open to an invading enemy, from which it would be exceedingly difficult to dislodge him, and from whence hie might securely await reinforcements. There is one other position on the south-eastern coast, and one only, which it appears to me advisable to for tify—namely, the high ground behind the town of Rye. As an advanced post the position is important, and though of much less consequence than Beachy Head, not to be neglected. In addition to these works, it is highly desirable that the utmost possible progress should be effected in the formation of the Breakwater at Portland, which will form an admirable harbour of immense importance for a steam squadron of observation. I suggest, also, that the pier now building at Dover be forthwith finished at its existing length, and the present costly mode of con struction discontinued. It is b ecom i ng more expensive daily, owing to increasing d epth of water an d other causes, and cannot be carried much farther seaward. The difficulty should be met at once, an d the most s t re nuous efforts made to complete the harbour of re fuge, on the plan of the Plymouth Sound Breakwater. With these principal measures i n a prudent aug mentation to the army, and progress; a liberal supply of the mos t approved musket s f or t h e soldiers , the public mind would probably be at ease. With reference to minor matters, the martens) towers o n the coasts of Sussex and lien; which have b een many years dismantled, should bo p u t into a state of defence; batteries established at B r i g hton and Hest tings; the electric telegraph laid down on the South Coast Railway, and sidings for artillery formed at such places as the roads on the coast would require. B e achy Head is of th e chalk formation, b u t little masonry for revetment wouldand therefore be requisite; the excavation of the ditches and formation of the the hic i s m i g ht be entr us t e d to non e o f o ur great railway contrac tors, who are a ccustomed to deep cuttings and well trimmed slopes, and would be readily whose organised establish mentsand inexpensively put in motion. But it is not desirable , at this crisis to leave ourision measu res of defence to the decision of howeve r eminent his p os i t i on to one person, o of the ablest officers of artilleryr andta lents. Let a council engineers be ap pointed, and charged with th e duties ofreconnoitering t he coast from the North Foreland to Selsey Bill, and of reporting their opinions on the best mode of defending it. Let their report be laid before the Commander-in- Chief, and, after it has received such comments as his Grace might be pleased to offer, uted a uthorities for early and remitted to . the consti tuted lam not an alarmist, but i trusty execution. _ against unwelcome intruders, andysudeut bar . my doors ne cessary that the land of my believe it equally nativity shall be made safe against a ruthless and re morseless floe. I to be, &e., I have the h Colonel S. H. ' WILLIAMS, Ramsgate, Jan. 31 . Retired Royal Engineers. THE PRorr p - -CTIoNISTS. TO THE EDITOR _._ Sin.—My attention has been OF THE SUN. a greed upon at a meeting o f .. ti alled to the "declaration Protection," held in London on t e he Xational Association for 1 2th of December last, an d recommended by them for th e r i o us Protectionist Associations throughout of the va rious the country. Now, , will allow me to tre space, Sir to offer you a few observation s s p atse upon your valuable others" to whom the above-mention the "Farmers and submitted for adoption? There isned "declaration" is minded, nor a more honest set °jar a more single- English farmers ; and no land, or men, than the people, can produce a more high-minded and honourable class than our Prote3c7i landed proprietors ; it is this Con • . v h l etion that induces me to address them to point out grossly the in terested agitators for a return to would betray them into a violation of honesty and your.ho°la These agitators are for the most part irresponsible and who by ingratiating themselves into the - fa eaPhantish jobbers, ,are vour of " Country people ' by their pretended patriotismenabled to pawn the imbecile of their families upon local si t U:cures, and with out expense travel about the country i n pompous cha racter of delegates. But to the " declaration, e (it is too long for full quotation )—the first clause is an asosefratieo'en that almost all classes in the country are " in a state P and dangerous depression ;" this is a simple statement' and as simply untrue, and therefore deserves no further comment. The condition second is to the effect that the " disastrous tie ion of these great interests is mainly attr ibutable" to free tr i ai t o tally deny that free trade ex ists, o r has existed \ i i n ° thi w i I , s country, therefore no evils that are felt can be attributable to that system. With the third clause I most heartilyconcur, viz., " v e m aintain the inalienable r i g ht of the - highly-ta xe d and l r estricted British produc er to j ust protection,,, &c. sco. Mark the adjective just, but beware of seeking un just protection. It is true that th e agricultural producers are " highly-taxed and restricted;" this de mands redress and adjustment, but form s no ground for d es i r ing an unjust protection the impost on foreign production sought to b e re-established as the price for which a production ean , be urought into a market, is its true value, irrespective of who produces it. Now, supposing the hom e produce . of an articl e cannot b r i ng it into the market at t his rate, to have a profit ; what is the character of that Legisla ture which shall say to the consumer , we know that the wo rth of this commodity is only 355. per quarter, but you must have 4 .from our home p ro d ucers , and because they cannot furnish You with it at that rate, for every quarter you purchase from them, you shall give them over and above its value 25 s ? Y et this is exactly the effect . of P protective imposts,aY one shilli ng , b u t they do not make the foreign producer compel the home consum er to give t e home producer a sum of money over and above the worth of the article of com merce. If you oblige me to buy from one person an article f9r 6Q5,, which o,stot4e/ cau faraidl of equal quality A 850,, LONDON, THURSDAY EVEN IN &, FEBRU AR Y 5, 1852. if you are not actually a robber, are you not the aider and abettor? This is the position in which the advocates of protective imposts would place the Legislature, and it is the more illustrious character of the robber himself into which they would betray the agriculturist and farmer. Let honest men ponder this well ere they give in their allegiance to a system of protective imposts. The fourth clause, " affirms that in the re-establishment of protection, no class of the community is so deeply interested as British labourers," &c. &c. Now, supposing it were the case, that the money price of labour would be equally reduced, by a reduction of the market value of commodities, as this clause would represent, still I deny that the labourer's " social position would be ab solutely degraded :" would he not be able to obtain all the comforts he had before, even though persons with " fixed in comes" should be placed in more easy circumstances? But, under a just system of direct taxation, the labourer would only have to pay about one per cent. for taxes, instead of sixty per cent., which is taken from him by protective imposts and indirect taxes ; whilst those with " fixed in comes" would have to pay some one per cent., instead of an infinitesimal fraction, as (in some cases) by indirect taxa tion ; consequently, under a free trade and direct taxation system, the labourer's position, relatively, would be more elevated than that of other c l asses o f soc i ety. T he fif t h clause is a complete misrepre sen t a ti on, i ts purport b e i ng "to affirm " that free trade tends to diminish the demand for British labour—and gives as proofs, "the alarming ex tent of the desertion of their country by the industrious and able-bodied ;labourers," and " the deplorable condition of Ireland," &c. There is no ground, however, for this affirma tion, even under the present unadjusted state of taxation; there is as much labour employed in this country as at any former period, nor is it true that there is any " alarming ex ten'. of the desertion of their country by the industrious," &c., as the census of 1851 proves, by showing about the same increase of population as former periods. The condi tion of Ireland, and the desertion of h er "industrious ! ! and able-bodied labourers," are all-sufficiently accounted for by the dreadful failure in the p otato cro p , from which that country suffered for a succession of years ; and can in no way be shown to proceed from free trade measures. The sixth clause, being a kind of summary of the foregoing, re quires no further comment than to point out the incompre hensible deduction, that by becoming dependent to a large extent on foreign countries for food, " this country may be exposed, through a deficiency of home produce, . to the evils of scarcity, or even to all the horrors offamine, ' c., &c. There is nothing more in this " declaration" requiring no tice; I shall, therefore, not trespass further, than once more to exhort the agriculturist and farmer to look at the ques tion before they commit themselves by action, lest they be led to follow the well-known advice," Get money, honestly if you can, but get it."—l am, Sir, &c., Feb. 2, 1852. AELLO. BANKING INSTITUTE. GOLD DISCOVERIES. The third monthly meeting of the members of this society was held on Tuesday evening, at the rooms in Threadneedle street; Sir Moses Montefiore in the chair. Mr. DALTON, the hon. secretary, read a paper on the probable effects of the recent discoveries of gold in California and Australia. Mr. Dalton stated he was about to con sider the probable effects of the gold discoveries as regarded the currency, the price of commodities, the rate of interest, and fixed income. Some years ago there were very impor tant gold discoveries in Wicklow, and the peasants gathered several thousand pounds' worth in a few months. The gold discovered up to that time was worth about 10,0001., when the Government took the matter in hand, and gathered 945 ounces, worth 2,5671. The cost of producing this gold, how ever, was 91. per oz., whilst it fetched on 31. 17s. 10d., so the mines had to be abandoned. There could be no doubt, however, that in California there was a regular gold district, and its value was proved by the large amount already im ported from that place; and from the recent advices from Australia there could be little doubt that an equally valuable district had been discovered in that country. There could be no doubt that when the mines came to be worked by the new companies with efficient machinery, the amount of gold procured and exported would be much more than hitherto, and must have a material effect on the value of money. The first question which arose was, whether the present supply of gold would be continued—whether it would diminish or in crease ? And from all the information he could obtain from the agents of the banks, and other parties connected with Austra lia, he had no doubt that the supply would be increased. The first discovery of gold in Australia which excited any particu lar attention was in July last, and by the 3d of September more than 100,000/. worth had been brought into Sydney. The quantity of gold obtained from California last year had amounted to about 20,000.000 dollars. The effects of the receipt of large quantities of gold would, in the first in stance be, in his opinion, the increase of gold in the hands of the Bank of England and the bankers, and the conse quent reduction of interest, which had already begun to take place; in the next place, there would be an increase in the price of commodities and the rates of labour; and in the third place, reduction in the value of money and of fixed incomes arising from the funds or other securities bearing interest. The result of these effects would pro bably be the alteration of the standard of value to silver or platinum —most likely the latter, as it was very scarce —the greater portion at present coming from Russia, though some of it had recently been found in Australia. He thought it probable that the value of a Si. Bank of :England note might, some ' years hence become worth more than live pounds in gold, and that the bankers would rather pay in that come modity than in their own notes. lie believed that the price of the funds and paid incomes must be decreased in value, but the depreciation would be very gradual, and all that was lost by the fundholder would be gained by the tax-payer, and the burdens of the country press less heavily on the people than they now did. The paper was illustrated by the exhibition of various specimens of the quartz, and lumps of almost pure gold, valued at from 11. to 1301. each, as discovered in California and Australia, amongst which were portions of the pocket or mass of gold, discovered near Bathurst, by Dr. Kerr, valued at 4,000/., and consigned to Messrs. Matthiesne, large portions of which consisted of nearly virgin gold. At the conclusion of the reading of the paper, Mr. TENNANT and other gentlemen spoke as to the value of the specimens of gold produced, and the extent of the diggings. Mr. TENNANT produced specimens of gold from Brazil in 1824, which gave rise to a mania in those days, and ex pressed his opinion that many of the gold companies now forming would hereafter have cause to regret their specula tions. In Hungary and Russia the working of gold hardly paid expenses. And during the last four years, the gold from Siberia had fallen off—the cost of obtaining it being about 225. for a pound's worth. From 3,000/. to 4,0001. worth of gold was still annually collected by the peasants in the Wicklow mountains, but the Government took no notice of it, knowing that if they were to attempt to work the quartz by machinery it would cost more than the value of the gold. He believed from what he had heard, and the specimens he had seen, that in Australia they were daily throwing away articles more valuable than the gold—some of the sp ec i mens h av i n g diamonds mixed in with the gold. In 1824 the Brazilian gold mine shares rose in two months in value from 50/. to 110 L, whilst now they might be obtained for a few shillings. In Russia platinum had been used as money from 1835 to 1844, but they were forced to abandon its use in consequence of its scarcity. Indeed, there was no metal so scarce and valuable. The mineral wealth of England was 32 ,000,000/. a year, more than three times the value of the gold yet produced from California; but the study of mineral ogy was too much neg lected in this country. He thought it a disgrace to England that she had possessed Australia so long without having sooner discovered the extent of her mineral wealth. Mr. CATHREWOOD, who is connected with the Mariposa mines, said that the majority of the veins of gold he had seen were only two or three inches in thi c k ness, t h oug h some of them were two or three feet wide • A great deal of gold dust was found in the alluvial soil, beneath which was a decomposed granite, very rich in gold. They were work ing the quartz with Cornish miners, whose earnings averaged about 30s. per day ;:but there were from 180,000 to 200,010 persons engaged in the gold mining districts in California, and he believed that their average returns were not more than 7s. or Bs. a day. Mr. NEWMARCH expressed his opinion that the quantity of gold to be produced in consequence of the expense of working would not be so great as to have any very material influence on the currency for some years to come —only about 26,000,000/. sterling having come from California in four or five years, of which something like 17,000,000/. had been absorbed in the United States. Mr. GELS ART agreed with the last speaker, that the effect of the importation of the gold would not have a very material effect on the currency, nor did he think it would fbllow as a consequence that with the increase of money the price of commodities would rise much beyond their present value, with out the supply exceeded the demand, which he did not think very likely to take place. As regarded the rate of interest, he believed that the increase of money would affect it, as it would also the price of shares and other money securities. He thought the supply of gold might give rise to new chan nels of demand for it, which would prevent its affecting, to any great extent, the currency. After some further conversation, in which the general opi nion appeared to be in accordance with that of the previous speakers, votes of thanks were given to Mr. Dalton and the chairman, after which the meeting separated. INDUSTRIAL RELIEF OF HIGHLAND DESTITUTION. —Yesterday a meeting of the Highland Industrial Relief Committee was held at 18, Parliament-street, to receive the report of the commissioner sent by them to investig ate the condition of the Highland peasantry, and to advise regarding the appropriation of the funds that are or may be placed at its disposal. Cluny Macpherson was called to the chair. The meeting was also attended by Sir James Clark, M.D. ; Colonel Sir Duncan Macdougall; Mr. Charles Forbes, of Astown ; Captain A. Macdonald, Mr. George Bain, Mr. Charles Bond, &c. The commissioner having been gratui tously occupied since the 26th of Decemher in examining the condition and prospects of the destitute people in exten sive districts in the West Highlands and islands produced a luminous report. Its principal features refer to the exist ence of severe distress among the Highland peasantry, many of whom are living upon the c harit y of their poor neighbours, to the inexpediency of eleemosynary aid, and the inefficiency as regards permanent ameliorations of de sultory alms. The opportunity possessed by the Royal Patriotic and Industrial Society of obtaining fair terms and tenures for such crofters as they may be able to assist; and the anxiety of poor women to stave off famine from their doors by knitting, weaving, &c., were forcibly dwelt upon, and a willing testimony was born Ito their exemplary pati ence, and to their . general industry. The proposal of the committee to forward money to responsible persons in the destitute districts, and to give immediate relief in fair wages for knitting, &c., had everywhere been hailed with grand tude and joy. Knowing that all the funds would b . e require in setting the plan of industrial relief in operation in twenty one districts, he abstained from raising hopes elsewhere, until the committee had more extensive means. In accord ance with the above suggestion, the treasurer was a.utho rised to exhaust the balance at the bankers by sending to the destitute districts upwards of 2001., to be applied in im mediate relief; and arrangements were made for . opening a depot in London for the sale of goods received in return. Bankers, Messrs. Smith, Payne, FIRES YESTERDA.T.--YeSterdity TOOrn.ing, a t a few Cannon-street, City. the discovery' and Smith. minutes after two o'clock, a . fire broke out in the premises belonging to Mr. James English, pasteboard manufacturer at No. 23, Budge-row , was made by a City police-constable who , o a b n s d er t v h e e d m th a e in fla b in the second floor warehouse. The constable raised an im mediate alarm and sent for proper assistance.. The flames mediate premisesth_ continued to spread until the roof fell in, m od e y : of flame continued to extend until the several floors were either burned out or west severely damaged. As to the of the fire nothing is known. A short time previous causee Blile-end Old -town. Considerable da r kiag o e . w 7 a 9 s , above outbreak a very serious fire took place on the belonging to Mr. G. A. Richards, cabinet make 'Richards was insured in the Ro l I.; the premises in the London fire-office. d W o n e set. -stureert. ya iverpool, and EDINBUNGII AND to RAILWAL—The stand pagrders were complied with in this case t ny further powers to adjust share • o grant the debt. The The financial declaration in c . apital and mortgage evidence set forth that the company have a free surplus an d that the new works, at a co at of revenue fund of 43,087 L, 5,000/,, will be defrayed tliereout. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4. PUBLIC BUSINESS. Resolved—That in the present session of Parliament all orders of the day, set down in the order-book for Mondays, Wednesdays, an 'd Fridays, shall be disposed of before the House will proceed upon any motions of which notices shall have been given. Resolved—That at the time fixed for the commencement of public business, on days on which orders have precedence of notices of motions, and after the notices of motions have been disposed of oa all other days, Mr. Speaker do direct the clerk at the table to read the orders of the day without any question being put. Resolved—That the orders of the day be disposed of in the order in which they stand upon the paper; the right being reserved to her Majesty's Ministers of placing Government orders at the head of the list, in the rotation in which they are to be taken on the days on which Government Bills have precedence. Resolved—That no notice shall be given beyond the period which shall include the four days next following on which notices are entitled to precedence; due allowance being made for any intervening adjournment of the House, and the period being in that case so far extended as to in clude four notice days falling during the sitting of the House. Resolved—That the House do meet every Wednesday at twelve o'clock at noon, for private business, petitions, orders of the day, and notices of motions, and do continue to sit until six o'clock, unless previously adjourned. Resolved—That when such business has been disposed of, or at six o'clock precisely, notwithstanding there may be business under discussion, Mr. Speaker do adjourn the House without putting any question. Resolved —That whenever the House shall be in Com mittee on Wednesday at six o'clock, the Chairman do im mediately report progress, and Mr. Speaker do resume the Chair, and adj ourn th e H ouse, without putt i ng any ques ti on . Resolved —That th e b us i ness under d i scuss i on , an d a ny business not disposed of at the time of such adjournment, do stand as orders of the day for the next day on which the House shall sit. Resolved—That when any Bill shall be presented by a Member, in pursuance of an order of this House, or shall be brought from the Lords, the questions " That this Bill be now read a first time," and " That this Bill be printed," shall be decided without amendment or debat e . - Resolved—That the Committees of Supply, and Ways and Means, shall be fixed for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and for any other day on which orders of the day shall have precedence of notices of motions, of which notice shall haye been given on the preceding Friday. Resolved—That when a Bill or other matter (except Supply or Ways and Means) has been partly considered in Committee, and the Chairman has been directed to report progress and ask leave to sit again, and the House shall have ordered that the Committee shall sit again on a particular day, the Speaker shall, when the order for the Committee . has been read, forthwith leave the Chair without putting any question, and the House shall thereupon resolve itself into such Committee. Resolved—That at the close of the proceedings of a Com mittee of the whole House on a Bill, the Chairman shall re port the Bill forthwith to the House, and when amendments shall have been made thereto, the same shall be received without debate, and a time appointed for taking the same into ccnsideration. NOTICES OF MOTIONS GIVEN ON TUESDAY. Lord SEYMOUR gave notice that he should on Friday next bring in a Bill for the better supply of water to the metropolis. Mr. WILSON PATTEN gave notice that on Monday next he should move the appointment of the following Com mittee on Standing Orders :—Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Ord, Sir Robert Ferguson, Mr. Greene, Sir John Yarde Bailer, Mr. Aglionby, Captain Jones, Mr. Home *Drummond, Mr. Henley. Mr. Mr. Evelyn Denison, and Mr. Mr. MILNER GIBSON gave notice that on Tuesday, Feb. 10, he should introduce a Bill to establish county finan cial boards for the assessing of county rates, and for the ad ministration of county expenditure in England and Wales. Mr. MITCHELL gave notice that on Thursday next he should move the renewal of the Select Committee of last ses sion, appeinted to inquire into the constitution and manage ment of the Board of Customs. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that on Thursday next he should bring in a Bill to effect the compulsory enfranchise ment of lands of copyhold and customary tenure. Mr. THORNELY gave notice that on Thursday next he should move the appointment and nomination of the fol lowing Select Committee on Public Petitions :—Mr. Thornely, Sir Robert Harry Inglis, the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Captain Jones, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Brotherton, Lord Alfred Hervey, Mr. Scott, Mr. Carter, Mr. Clements, Mr. Lushington, Mr. Duncan, Sir Charles Douglas, Mr. Adderley, and Mr. Owen Stanley. Admiral BOWLES gave notice that on Thursday next he should move " That an humble Address be presented to her Majesty, praying that orders may be given for a return to this House of the number of days the squadron at Lisbon, under the command of Commodore Martin, has been at sea for the purposes of instruction and exercise in naval evolu tions, during the years 1850 and 1851, distinguishing the two years, and the names of the ships so exercised." Mr. WHITESIDE gave notice that he should on Thurs day next ask the Secretary of State for Ireland whether he has prepared any measure to reform the system of forming juries in Ireland. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4. PUBLIC BUSINESS. Motion made, and Question put, ~ That no new Vote for Public Money, if opposed, be taken after twelVe o'clock at night." The House divided :—. _— MINORITY—AYES, 64. A nstey, Thomas C. Fox, W. J. Mowatt, Francis Baillie, H. J. Gibson, T. M. O'Connor, Feargus Baird James Goold, Wyndham Pilkington, Jamea Barrow, W. 11. Grace, 0. D. J. Power, Dr. Bass, M. T. Grattan, Henry Power, Nicholas Bell, Jacob Greene, John Roche, E. B. Blair, Stephen Gwyn, Bowel Scholeileld, William Bremridge, Richard llardcastle, J. A. Scobell, Captain Bright, John Harris, Richard Scully, Francis Brotherton, J. Henry, Alexander Sibthorp, Colonel Clay, James lleyworth, L. Sidney, Alderman Clifford, 11. M. Hindley Charles Smith, John B. Cobden, Richard Horsinan, E. Spooner, R. ColHqs, Thomas Jackson, William Sullivan, Michael Cowan, Charles Keogh, William Thompson, Colonel Crawford, W. S. Kershaw, James Walmsley, Sir J. Dawes, Edward Locke, Joseph Williams, John D'E3.ncourt, T. Long, W. Willoughby, Sir H. Duncan, George Lushington, C. Evans, Sir De Lacy M'Gregor, John TELLIES. Evans, John Meagher, ThontaS Hume, Joseph Ewart, William Marshall, J. G. Williams, W. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Milligan, Robert MAJORITY—NOES, 14G. Abdy, Sir T. N. Freshfield, J. W. Naas, Lord Adderley, C. B . French, F. Ogle, S. C. Bailey, Joseph Fuller, A. E. Ord, W. Baines, M. T. Gallwey, Sir W. P. Packe, C. W. Baring, Sir F. T. Galway, Viscount Paget, Lord A. Barrington, Viscount Gordon, Admiral Palmerston, Vis. Berkeley, Admiral Graham, Sir James Parker, John Berkeley, C. L. G. Greene, Thomas Peel, Frederick Birch, Sir Thomas Grey, Sir G. Pendarves, E. W. Booker, T. W. Grey, Ralph W. Pannant,:Colonel B o uverie, B. P. Hanme r , Si r J o h n Pi nn ey, William Bowles, Admiral Hardinge, C. S. Price, Sir R. Boyle, Colonel Harris, Captain I Prime, Richard Bramston, T. W. Hastie, Archibald Pugh. David Bruce, Lord E. Ileadlam, T. B. Roebuck, J. A. Bulkeley,Sir It. B. Ileneage, G. H. Buller, Sir Y. Henley, J. w. v Romilly, Colonel Russell, Lord J. Bunbury, E. 11. Herbert, Sydney Seaham, Viscount Burghley, Lord Hodges Sir , T L. L. Seymour, Lord Campbell, W. F. Hope, Somerville, Sir W. Cardwell, Edward Hotham, Lord Sotheron, T. 11. Carew, W. 11. Pole Howard, Lord E. Stafford, Augustus Carter, J. B. Howard, C. W. G. Stansfleld, W. R. Cavendish, G. 11. Hudson, G. Staunton, Sir.G. Caylcy, E. S. Plughes, W. B. Strickland, Sir G. Charteris. Francis Jermyn, Earl Strutt, E. Childers, J. W. Johnstone, Sir J. Sturt, Henry G. Clerk Sir G. Johnstone, James Thompson, Alderman Clive, 11. B. Labouchere,.Henry Thornely, T. Cocks, T. S. Langston, J. 11. Townshend, Capt. Colebrook°, Sir T. Lawley,lß. It. Trelawny, J. S. Compton, H. C. Lennox, Lord 11. G. Trollope, Sir J. Dalrymple, Captain Lewis, G. C. Tyler, Sir G. Denison, J. E. Lindsay, Colonel Vane, Lord 11. Divett, Edward Lowther, Colonel Vivian, J. H. Dod, J. W. Mackenzie, W. F. Waddington, 11. S. Douglas, Sir C. B. Mackie, John Wall, C. B. Drummond, Henry Mahon, Lord _ Walpole, Spencer Duckworth, Sir J. March,:Earl of Walsh, Sir J. B. Duke, Sir James Matheson, Colonel Willcox, Brodie Dundas, Sir David Melgund, Viscount Wilson, James Dunne, Colonel Miles, P. W. S. Wilson, Matthe w Egerton, W. T. Milner, W. M. Wood, Sir Charle s Ellice, Edward Manes, R. M. Wood, Sir W aduke . Elliot, John E. Mitchell, T. A. Wyvill, Marrn sir John Estcourt, J. B. B. Molesworth,Sir W. Young. Euston, Earl Moncreiff, James rzr•Lx!'• Fergus, John Mostyn, E. HayterZW• U. I Floyer, John Mundy, ,William 11111, Ldrd M arcus Forster, Matthew Mu r p h y , F. S. -------. 4:- Co uncil wa C ABI NET COUNCIL.--A Cabin ets held_ yesterday at Lansdowne-house, Berkeley-square, Mar quis of Lansdowne being indisposed with an t . gout. The Council was attended by Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Mint°, Sir George Grey, Earl Granville, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Francis Baring, the Right Hon . Fax Maule, the Barl of Carlisle , the Ri g ht Hon. Hen ry Lab ou chere, the Marquis of Clanricard e, and Lord Se ymour. The Council sat two hours. MrW CASE CarOF DI, c oroner for A NSLAUGHTER.Surrey—On Tuesday evening, and a jury, held an . . ter East the body of inquest, at the Kingston union workhouhseea, heaver , had died , late living at Stephen Lawrence, aged 48, a ballast.. Thames Ditton, who, it was alleged of wounds received by being thrown a • in that house the taproom of the Crown and Anchor against a "settle" in at Long Ditton, by n Thomas Slyfield, a bricklayer, who i s Guy, of Hampton - wick , s olicitor, attendedow in custody. M r . f or Mr. Payne , the landlord. After a to watch the case retur ned a verdict of manslaughter long inquiry, the jury against Thomas Slyfield. CURIOUS CASE Or 1 , named John Burton was exa , ORGERY.—A young man yesterday u- ined at the Liverpool police courtpon the charge of a bill of exchange f or 191/. as having been en The prisoner represented him selfAugut last he was in gaged in the malting business. In chased two horses. li Denbigh, North Wales, where he pur tions with an innkeeper e appears to have had some transac tions on one eper of the town, Mr. Edwin Hughes. cash, -box. in occasion, l he observed to place some money in a give Mr. Hughes ae l w ol. minutes after this he proposed to whatever might be e r the cash-box with its il con tents,sas-sented, and thethe amount. Mr. riug cask-box was handed over to Burton. There proved to be within the bom between six and seven pounds in cash and some s a bill memorandums, amongwhich wa drawn by Manders and Co., p or t e r brewers, of Dublin , on Mr. Edwi n Hughes, for 1911. The bill was , however, not \ accepted. About five o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday Burton called upon Mr. Ashe, spirit merchant, of South Castle-street, Liverpool, to whom he presented the bill to be cashed, but he was told it was not accepted, and therefore not negotiable. At the same time an accepted bill was shown to him, as he appeared ignorant of the required form. Two hours after this Burton presented the same bill, now pur porting to be accepted by Jonathan Hughes, of D en bi g h , to Mr. Roberts, tea dealer, Royal Bank-buildings. The ac count he then gave of himselt excited Mr. Roberts's suspi cion, and he was handed over to the police. Yesterday Mr. Jonathan Hughes, who is the father of the original possessor of the cash-box, proved that the acceptance was not exe cuted by him, as it appeared to be. Burton was therefore committed for trial. A Chamber of Commerce has been established by t h e man ufacturers in the Potteries. One of its objects will be to settle disp utes between employers and the employed. The Justice Department of Darmstadt has issued an order forbidding the advocates to wear the moustache. At t he last sitting of the Court of Assize a counsel appearing w ith the prohibited append age , th e j u dge refused to hear him. a nd the case was postponed till another advocate could be found tc) Conduct it, .~ .~~ ~~~~~ THE NAVY. • • MANNING THE NAVY.—A great many of pofil taseam, late of the Ganges, 84 , paid off Sheerness havvs tif'entersid the navy, and have gone on six weeks' lea e.: ; (l7i.i,Y could, not volunteer for the London, 92, as she had _ordert; , -to Sll up to her sea-going complement. Seamen" bavejmert in large ships generally . prefer a turn in a stissiler*sre; and thus it is not surprising to find that the Horativ;;:siseve steam guard-ship at Sheerness; Magicienne, steam= ward ship at Devonport ; and Vesuvius, steam-sloop, a t bevon port, have entered nearly all their crews ; at the same time, the Britannia, 120, has nearly completed her full ship's com pany. It is, perhaps, as well to repeat that now no na tal having a good certificate need leave the naval service on paying-off. He has only to enter his name, and he will hav e six or eight weeks' leave, and be paid on rejoining front his holidays. Tu SCREW Sans.—Orders have been issued and received at Devonport to expedite the fitting of the 81-gun screw ship Sanspareil, for commission. The Ist of April was the time allowed for her completion, but it is likely she will be commissioned before that date. Her engines are in a for ward state, and her distilling apparatus nearly complete. They have commenced operations on her. All three of her tops have been put in place. Agamemnon, 90-gun screw ship, to have engines of 550-horse power, now on the stocks at Woolwich, is ordered to be launched by the end of March. The 60-gun screw-frigate Imperieuse, building at Deptford Dockyard, is ordered to be proceeded with as quickly as pos sible. Rea!-Admiral Deans Dundas, C. 13., is no longer the repre sentative of Greenwich. The new writ has been moved tor, an now Rear-Admiral Houston Stewart, C. 13. is ac tively in the field for his colleague's vacancy. Admiral ' the Earl o f D un d ona l d. G.C.B visited Ports mouth Dockyard on M on d ay. The Gallant Admiral is stopping at the George Hotel. Captain James 51‘Farland, on the retired list of 1840, died a few days since. He had served afloatfrom years his first entry into the navy in 1781. Be was acting lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte on the glorious Ist of Jane, and was promoted for that service June 23, 1794, and was also in that ship in Lord Bridport's action, Sept. 12, 1800 • when s enior of the Lancaster he sustained a compound fracture 9 of the right arm, and was o ffici ally commended for his conduct at the cutting out by the boats of th a t vessel and the Adamant, 50, of a ship lying under the fire of two heavy batteries at Port Louis, Isle of France. He was promoted to the rank of com mander after commandin g the Penguin, the sea F s e o v t i h b a l e 1? m . ton on th e sloop, at the Cape , June 1803, and was subs equently for aboveLieutte.ncyheaarrles Rainercommand( 1 844 ° ) f , h 30th ult. He was son of the lat e Captain Ramer, R.N., died entered the navy in 1830; passed in 1837, was promoted in 1844, and as a lieutenant served in the Formidable, Tyne, 26, Penelope, &c. We are glad to find that the Adm iralt y have at len g t h promoted Mr. Charles Richards, clerk , of 1845, to the rank of paymaster. It is a reflection on the commanders of the late Arctic Expedition, that they did not nse their interest to obtain the promotion of Mr. Richards, when the other Arctic promotions took place. Three lieutenants, three as sistant surgeons, three mates, and three second masters were promoted; but only one clerk received his commission, and his promotion was due by seniority without lefeeence to his Arctic service. PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—The Rodney, 32, Captain C. Graham, C. 8., was this day ordered to make up her complement to 820 men and officers. She has at present about 350 only. It is hoped some of the Ilisbanded and dispersed men of the Ganges and Southampton may be picked up for her. Rear-Admiral Prescott, C. 8., and staff went off to the R e t r ib u ti o n steam-frigate, Captain Warden, at Spithead to day, and paid her crew wages. The Neptune, 120, Captain I ates, flagship of Rear-Ad miral Superintendent Prescott, C. 8., has sent down her jury topmasts for the purpose of having her own fitted. The Gorgon steam-frigate, Commander Paynter, has been paid off to-day. The admirable state of this vessel and the eminently efficient state of officers and crew elicited the warmest commendation from Captain G. B. Martin, C. 8., when he mustered and inspected her. The Sprightly steam-tender, Mr. George Allen, acting master, commanding, left to-day for Plyme c uth, with super numeraries, &c. SHEERNESS, TIIESDAY.—By a private communication re ceived from Woolwich this morning, we are informed that it is highly probable Commodore Henry Eden will fill the seat at the Board of Admiralty, about to be vacated by Rear-Admiral J. W. Deans Dundas, M.P., appointed Com mander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet, and that the appointment of Superintendent of Woolwich Dockyard will be conferred on the Hon. Captain Montague Stopford, of het Majesty's ship London, at this port. Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-vessel Fearless, Captain F. Bullock, employed on the survey of the Thames and Medway, left port this morning. The ship Tinto, of Bridgewater, Hicks master, bound from London to Bombay, was towed in here on Saturday, being compelled to pat back from off Beachy Head in consequence of having come into collision with the schooner Triumph, of Brigham, Sprague master. The crew of the Triumph aban doned their vessel, and put into Deal. The stem and cut water of the Tinto have received considerable damage, which will render it necessary for her to be docked to enable her to resume her voyage. Application has been made to the dockyard authorities at this port for that purpose, but, as she makes little water, an attempt will be made to tow her to London, in order that the damages she has sustained may be repaired. The schooner Latona, of Rochester, l a den with coals, came in contact with a brig off the Maplin Sand. The brig, after getting clear of the Latona, went on the Maplin Sand. The yawl Wellington, fortunately being near, came to ,her assistance, and, after discharging about forty tons of coal, the brig was got off, and passed through here on Satur day for Rochester, in a leaky state. APPOINTMENTS. Mr. W. N. Young, midshipman, from the London, 00, Sheerness, to the Excellent, gunnery-ship, Portsmouth. WOOLWICH, FEB. 4. Assistant -Engineer Edward BPAvoy, to the Horatia steam guard-ship at Sheerness. Gunner John R. West, to the Britannia, 120, at Spithead. Boatswain Alexander Gunn, to the Tortoise steam store ship, at the Island of Ascension. The Highflyer steam-sloop is expected to be commis sioned at this port in the course of next week. ANTIQUITIES IN SUFFOLK. Some workmen at present employed in digging gravel on Stow-heath, about five miles north-west from Bury St. Edmunds, the property of the Rev. E. R. Benton, of Culford, have within the last few days tnrned up many interesting relics of ages long since past. The spot appears to have been a Saxon burying-ground, or the place of sepulchre of an encampment, of which there are some indications a few hundred yards to the west ward. Among other things dug up was a very rudely formed stone coffin, five feet eight inches in length in side. There was no lid to it, and it lay about fifteen inches under the surface; it contained a few bones , several beads of various forms and material, a bronze c l as p, several pieces of corroded iron, possibly the re mains of some sort of defensive armour. On the left side of the coffin lay the blade of a spear about eighteen inches long, an d some portion of the wood shaft could be per ceived in the socket ; also the iron centre part of a shield, about eight inches diameter ; the surround ingpart having doubtless been com p os ed of less durable material, had entirely disappeared. A great ma ny graves have been discovered near the same spot, but no other coffin as yet. The men work in a trench which l ft e run nirg north a nd south, and the bodies having been deposited cas t and west, as the work proceeds the sites of the g raves are merely indicated bydark sistrgeeankerianll y the u y n ' e d l l a o w q; c s o n i t o i u t y r e d o f g r b a e v s e d l r a s n a nd n the d o , in side the corroded remains of a spear blade. No remains of a sword have been found. Most of the graves also contain urns, composed of dried or burnt clay; they. vary in sire from six to ten or twelve in c h es di ameter „ s ome of them are in a state of preservation. In one grave, I picked up se veral teeth in excellent preservation (pro tected, I supp ose , by the enamel) , although the skull and other bones had crumbled to dust. night this admirable REn/sioN Dlis ARTS.—Last its last but one society g e v x io c l e in llen a t n ; d thefirst m p o a s r t t opened zree of the winter season to. a n overc-roalvved ed usual, t b w ut a elegant company. The musical pro tashovilseen'es Sonata for most t r sitely performed by those very accomplished piano, '- artists Madams and Herr Goffrie, followed by excellent gr wi a thle e e ' i‘lagner and Herr Brickman, and songs sung by Miss Kloss. After this, lien solo on the piano by Mr.. henry Leslie's splendid quintett for piano and wind instruments was great ifidelity and precision, / most masterly executed, with 1300se, harper, and by Messrs. Waley, Pollo 4 :1 4 Snelling. ' Madame Lemair, with 1 ler usual vivacity an d meld moi lxis voice, gave a beautiful so ng from Ern an i, " I n Vola _ / which was most enthusiastica Ily encored, and whi c h finished the first part. The second p art consisted of songs: andisolos. Mr. Allen * (from thei Conservatoir of Paris,) with * a well . trained irv an i d ng ;ery melo dious voice, delighted us with Donizetti's " Romanza," 8 5 well Miss Mary Rose with an English ballad, which wa s beautifully sung and much applauded. Miss Blanch Yonn,g in an Italian song, Mr. Harper on the horn, Mr. Wasterman on the flute ;Mr. Snelling on the bassoon, and Messrs. G ollmie k and Rummell were well received and applauded by the wh&le company, and the evening finished, as usual, with gregit (slat at a very late hour. FATAL ACCIDENT IN A CHURCH. —On Thursday afternoon, as four men were pointing the slates under the roof of a new church, which has been erected in City-road, Manchester, the scaffolding on which they were at work gave way, and they fell from a height of 32 feet upon the floor of the edifice. Three of them were so badly bruised that it was necessary to make them in-patients of the Royal Infirmary, and one of them, named Thomas Doyle, a slater, had a compound fracture of the skull, and other injuries, which left no hope of his recovery, and he was reported at. the infirmary yesterday to be in a dying state. The acci dent was attributable to their own want of judgment in: load ing too heavily one of two thin fir horizontal bearclon which their scaffo ld rested, and which snapped in two The church is a new stone edifice, erecting for the Rev. .Mr. 1 Archer, and is to be dedicated to St. Mark. MorisrMAßKET.—The quotation of gold at Paris is about par (according t o th e new tar iff), which, at the English Mint price of 3/. I7s. 100. per ounce :for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.17; and the ex change at Paris on London at short being 25.25, it follaws t h a t gold is about 0.32 p er cen t. dearer in London than i n Paris. By advise s f rom H a mburgh the price of gold is 428 k per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10t-d. per ounce for standard gold, givesnenexehaege of 13.6 1 ; and the exchange at Hamburgsh ( ;) 46 London at short being 13.7 i, it follows that go ld I h The course of ex. dearer in London than in Hamburrg bills at 60 days' sight ex ; change at New York on London ib change between . 11th per cent., and the par of per e cent., it follows that England and America being 109 23-40 er cent. in favour of En 1 the exchange is nominally 0.67 p . .. . g and; ance for difference of interest and and, after making allow leaves • resent rate a small rout o charges of transport, the irgm the United States. p 11 1 the importation of gold . Cambridge who is still in The Duchess of . , Ger many,tly return to this country, when the Royal ' will shortly her domestic establishment ' Duchess will form at Kew and St. James's. NG THE POLICE.--The DAILLTse rgeants and men of the police force doing duty at the dockyard, Royal Arsenal, and in the town and vicinity of Woolwich, includ jog shooter's -hill, were drilled yesterday for one hour on the Dockyard Battalion Parade-ground, and they arc to as semble three times in each week for the same purpose, until further orders. The police appear a remarkably fine body of men, quick in learning the infantry manoeuvres, in which they are receiving a course of instruction. A SMALL SHOT.—If the "calibre" of the British Army is no better than its muskets, the sooner both are dis charged the better.—Penek M. Mezzini is about to deliver a lecture "on the Italian question, with special reference to the condition of Euroe and the p os iti on of t hi s cou ntry at the present tithe,'