The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 2. SALE OF BEER BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. M. GIBSON moved to substitute in clause one, "twelve o'clock at noon" for " half- past twelve o'clock in the afternoon," and to leave out the words after the word " afternoon," in line 13, down to the word " ser vice," in line 16. Mr. 1 - 11.IME seconded the amendment. The House divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 25 Against it Majority against it . —33 Mr. HUME then moved, that the words, " tea and coffeesshops" be struck out of the Bill. They had been instrumental in reducing the number of drunkards, and of spreading knowledge, and great injury would result if they were closed at twelve o'clock on Saturday Bight, and not opened before five o'clock on Sunday morning, as proposed in the clause. Mr. NV. PATTEN said many of these shops were now resorted to after the public-houses were closed, because the proprietors managed to sell liquors, and thus evade the law. Sir G. et.E.EY supported the clause as it stood, believ ing that Many of these shops were frequented lay persons of the worst class. Mr. OSBORNE opposed the clause, as it would make ono law for itie poor and another fur the rich. He saw no inure reason why these coffee-shops should be (dosed than clubs. Mr. HUME said if coffee-shops were closed, cabmen, and others who were compelled to be in the streets; would be unable to get any refreshment. Mr. WAELEY said this Bill would transgress the legitimate limits of legislation. Heretofore the principle on which the House had acted was the closing of those houses that sold intoxicating liquors : the Bill would press most unjustly upon the poor, who, when they were compelled to be in the streets at night, in order to earn a subsistence, would be prevented from getting a cup of coffee. Colonel THOMPSON said the avowed object of the Bill was to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors. Now neither tea nor coffee were intoxicating beverages, and it would be a wanton interference with the liberty of the subject to interfere in the way proposed, and would, moreover, bring the Government and the House into contempt and ridicule. After a short discussion the House divided, when there appeaved— For the amendment Against it . . Majority Several other verbal amendments were then agreed to, and the Bill passed. LAW OF MARRIAGE. In answer to a question from Sir R. INGLIS, Mr. S. WORTLEY said it was his intention to post pone his motion for the introduction of a Bill for amend ing the 5 and 6 Will. IV., c. 54, so far as related to marriages within certain degrees of affinity, until next session. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS PREVENTION BILL. Mr. MACKINNON moved the second reading of this Bill, and intimated that if the motion was assented to he did not intend to proceed further with the Bill this ses sion, as there did not appear to be any prospect of passing it in the present state of business before the House. Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY trusted that, as there was no prospect of passing the Bill this session, the Hon. Member would withdraw it altogether. After a few observations from Mr. Cornewall Lewis, the Attorney-General, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Healey, and Lord Morpeth, who recommended the Hon. Member to w ithdraw the Bill, Mr. MACKINNON ultimately consented to adopt the suggestion, and postpone it until next session. SMOKE PREVENTION BILL. In answer to a question from Mr. BRIGHT, Mr. NIACKINNON said it was not his intention to proceed during the present session with the Smoke Prevention Bill. STEAM NAVIGATION BILL. The second reading of this Bill was postponed till to morrow. WINDSOR CASTLE BILL. On Phe motion fur the House going into Committee on the Windsor Castle and Town Approaches Improve ment Bill, Mr. B. QSBORNE said he would not oppose the mo tion for going into Committee; but when the House was in Committee he should move the expulsion of those clauses which stipulated for the shutting up of all the public thoroughfares in Windsor Park. Mr. HUME trusted the House would postpone going into Committee on the Bill for a week, or until the House had befqy them the report of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests as to whether they could under take properly the subject. No man was more competent than the Noble Lord now at the head of the Woods and Forests to conduct the department that he *ow so ably filled ; but he trusted the House would not take away the rights of the people in the manner proposed by the present Bill. He would therefore m ove as an amend ment that the committal of the Bill should be postponed fur a week. Lord MORPETH felt bound to oppose the amend ment of the Hon. Member for Montrose, knowing that the report of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests would not throw any light on the sub ject. He had no disposition, and never had, to do anything that was detrimental to the public; his only object was to do good to the public, and it had been so ever since he had held the office he had now the honour to fill.—(Hear.) He wished, at the same time, to consider the interests of the public and the comforts of the Sovereign. After some observations from Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, Colonel SALWEY addressed the House in support of he amendment of the Hon. Member for Montrose. Colonel REID supported the committal of the Bill feeling assured that no public rights were invaded by and that if it did not pass the comfort of the presen beloved Sovereign of this cuuntry would be greatly in terfered with. Sir E. COLEBROOKE believed that the public would gain much more than they would loss by the pre sent measure. The amendment was then withdrawn, and the House went into Committee on the Bill. On Clause 1 being proposed, Mr. OSBORNE called upon the Committee to insert a clause binding the railway companies to contribute all the money required for the proposed works, or guaran teeing that the cost should not exceed 85,0001. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he would intro duce a clause upon bringing up the report which would obviate all objections. Mr. HUME thought it was highly desirable that such a clause should be introduced. 'they were told by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the cost of the improvements at Buckingham Palace should not exceed 300,000/., whereas they had cost 950,000/. Mr. LOCKE protested that the railway companies ought not to be called upon to contribute more than 85,0001. Clause 1 was then agreed to, and so were also the other clauses in the Bill, with one or two verbal amend ments. `The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported progress. The report was ordered to be received tomorrow. CALEDONIAN CANAL. The Caledonian Canal Bill was read a third time and passed. LOAN SOCIETIES. The report on the Loan Societies Bill was brought up and agreed to. MILITIA BALLOT SUSPENSION ACT. Mr. COB NEWALL LEWIS moved, in the absence of the Secretary at War, to bring in a Bill to continue the Militia Ballot Suspension Act. The Bill was subsequently brought in and read a first time - . The other orders of the day were then disposed of and the House adjourned. ELECTION COMMITTEE. DUBLIN. . _ The scrutiny into the validity of Mr. Reynolds' ma jority was resumed yesterday, but the petitioners did not succeed in striking off any additional votes. The petitteners announced their intention to abandon the objective founded on the non-payment of the Dublin wide-streets rate. ITALY. A flying slip of the Milan Gazette, received yester day, publishes the following : " EXTRAORDINARY BULLETIN. ‘.,` JULY 27, HALF-PAST TIIFIBE, P.M. " Authentic dvices received from parties arrived from the camp - attest the fact that the Italian army preserves its numerical superiority, and is assembled in complete battle array around Goito. Thither has also repaired the division of General Sonnez, which left Peschiera well armed and well supplied with provisions, &c., so as to be in a position still to sustain a tong siege. " The accounts already given that 2,000 prisoners were taken in the recent battle, and that the loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was far greater than on our side, are confirmed. The Provisional Government has destined General Zucciii to take the command of the available troops con centrated the entrated in Brescia. General Fanti has already set out direction of that city to take the command of a ~rcorpsof upward s o f 5,000 men t h ere assembled. Colonel t‘Tonitnedu in i will leave to-morrow with the troops now sta tioned Milan and the mobilized' National Guard. 1 a prompt subsidie s w ill re i n f o r c e the courage of the i w n h h o ah m ita nes n i t y sr t eside n t in the vicinity of the theatre of war, the best spirit in favour of the national cause. "The Government ha s appointed a Committee of Pub lic Defence, which w ill constitute the central source of all provisions required by the imperious exigencies of the circumstances for the defence of the country. The latest accounts received from the ca m p advise us that our troops hay& attacked the tee at V olta, but n the result of this A movement is, as yet, unknown.a lmost toin i s n p t ir ac e intact a :s o m n y . of 60,000 combatants, however, oug h t siderable degree of confidence. 13y order of the Provisional Governmen t (Signed) " G. C ARC Aneriec The same sheet contains another extraordinary bulletin, bulletin, dated a few hours earlier. We ann ex it at length : EXTRAORDINARY BULLETIN. " MILAN, JULY 27, Two o'CLoca, " We have received official aNices of the battle which has been fought during the last few days. "The enemy, strengthened by reinforcements, at. tempted an assault on the whole line, availing them selves of the support of the three fortresses of Mantua, Legnano, and Verona. On Sunday, July 23, the advanced corps of the army, overcome by a numerical superiority at itivoli and Sonuna Campagna, were compelled to abandon those strong positions, after an honourable resistance. "On Monday, 24th instant, King Charles Albert, having proceeded from Marmirolo to Villa Franca, our troops regained the positions of Somma Campagna. The battle was long and sanguinary. The loss of enemy was greater than our own, and the day closed with the prospect of a complete victory for the following day. But on Tuesday, whilst our artillery was fulminat ing from the heights of Somma Campagna, a fresh corps of the enemy, headed by Radetzky, having sallied from Verona, where it had been concentrated, after leaving Legnano and Vicenza, arrived at the scene of action and attacked the Italian army. The King, perceiving the danger of maintaining positions so exposed and extensive, gave orders to the Piedmontese army to fall back on Villa Fr anca. During the night it continued its retreat, conducting 2,500 prisoners, without being molested by the enemy, as far as Goito, where it intended to rest from the extraor dinary fatigues of the three preceding days, and unite with the corps of reserve on the line of the Mincio. Peschiera is bravely defended by the left wing of the army, commanded by General Sonnaz. "lay order of the Provisional Government, (Signed) "G. CARCANO, Secretary." The Milan Gazette of the 26th ult. quotes the fol lowing letter from Venice of the 21st :—" A person has just arrived from Padua, to demand prompt assistance from the commander of the city, the inhabitants of Padua having revolted, dis armed the Croatians, and shut the gates of the town. This popular movement was occasioned by the execution of three persons by order of the Austrian General D'ASPRE. At Treviso the popula tion has torn down all the proclamations, declaring the place in a state of siege. The small Austrian garrison was in imminent danger." The Avennire d'ltalia, of the 27th ult., announces that General PEPE had left Venice and occupied Padua. COMMERCIAL DISTRESS- Among other circumstances which invest the Lords' "Report on Commercial Distress" with unusual in terest and importance, must be reckoned the fact that it is clearly the work of a half-awakened bullionist. Had it been drawn by such men as Lord Stanhope or Mr. Spooner, the public would only have said, " Oh! we knew what Lord Stanhope would be sure to say; but how came he to be allowed to draw the report?" It is quite otherwise when we receive such a document from the pen of a 'Whig, a Whig financier, nay,‘as Chancellor of the Exchequer of the Grey and Melbourne times! It amounts, then, to a confession, to an admission of former errors, made by a man who, relieved from the entanglements of office, and left at liberty to follow the truth wherever it may load him, frankly acknowledges that, in several important particulars, the legisla tion of the last ten or twenty years has been egregiously mistaken. The three points i more particularly pointed out, n this report, as requiring immediate amendment, are, as Iwo have already stated:-1. The mischievous opera tion of the limit fixed, by the Act of 1844, to the Bank issues. 2. The objectionable principle of thus taking away the responsibility of the Bank, and then leaving it, with all its enormous power, and public cha racter, to speculate unreservedly for profit, by any means and all means, like any private adventurer. And 3. The enormous and wholly inexcusable folly of still further fettering the Bank by refusing it the liberty to increase its silver bullion beyond a certain amount; that bullion being just the cheapest, easiest, and safest commodity with which it could commonly deal. On these three points the Lord's Report leaves the Act of 1844, to use a common phrase, " not a leg to stand upon." Will the men of indomitable conceit, the Peels Jones Loyds, Charles Woods, &e., own their error, and consent to amend their ways? We much doubt it. We fear that their vanity and amour propre is too strong to permit them the exorcise of can dour and frank surrender. They will probably stand upon possession. They will say, "We have made the ' Act of 1844, and we will not undo our own work. It is for you to repeal that Act, if you can. You have beaten u in the Lords, we have beaten you in the Commons; it'is a drawn game; but we aro in possession; and you cannot get us out." If this is their language, then the country will probably have to undergo one more " groat tribulation," before it is sufficiently excited to break the yoke of the bullionists up for ever. For our own part, greeting this report of the Lords with the greatest plea. sure, as a clear, frank, able exposition of some of the chief blunders of Sir Robert Peel's last measure, we re main of the opinion which we have often before expressed that a sound and effectual reform of our monetary system would go much further than these first and most needed reforms. True, common sense demands, as an honest bullionist has, in this report, admitted, that the Bank should not be prevented from buying silver to any extent it chose, or from issuing notes for that silver ; inasmuch as the simplest and easiest of all transactions would be, whenever a necessity appeared, to sell the silver—the general currency of the continent—and so to reduce its outstanding notes. Similarly, does experience show, that the iron law, of just 14,000,000/. issue,:in good times and in bad times, in days when money is abundant, and in days when it is scarce, is a preposterous enact ment, and cannot be maintained in such days as those of October last. If these things are not at once rectified, it will clearly be because Sir Robert Peel loves Sir Robt. Peel's infallibility better than he loves the prosperity of England. But these amendments would only render the present, system tolerable—they would not make it a wise or good system. The grand questions would still remain to be asked :—ls it right or fitting that any one, or any body of men, save the Sovereign and her re sponsible servants, should be permitted to coin money in this realm of England? Is it decorous or safe, that the whole power of making the paper money of the realm should be given to a company of merchants and trades. men of London, whose first object avowedly is, not the good of the community, but their own trading profits? Is it consistent with common sense, that the mercantile interests of the country being wholly dependent upon a proper supply of money the care of that supply should be entrusted, not to a respon sible Minister of Commerce, but to this private, trading company of merchants and traders ? We feel assured that to these questions there can be but one answer given. Future ages will hardly credit the fact, that in these days of boasted enlightenment, the English Go vernment and Legislature should have left its monetary system wholly in the hands of a trading company ; which company, having regard to its own profits when money was cheap, made it cheaper ; and when it was dear, made it dearer ; and thus contrived to augment its gains at a moment when every other trading community in England was suffering loss, in many cases, even to the extent of ruin !—Herald. THE SUN, LONDON, _THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 3, 1818 SWINDLING AT OXFORD. The Oxford Herald of Saturday gives an account of an ingenious swindle practised by a recent visitor to that city. On the 22d of last month an elderly gen tleman, who appeared to be nearly blind, together with a young gentleman, his son of course, of about eighteen years of age, called at the house of a Mr. Par ker, baker, of Batley, who had some lodgings to let. He was a gentleman of easy and pleasant manners—he said he had come to Oxford to consult the eminent oculist, Mr. Clooburey, who had declined to operate upon his eyes for six months. Ho wished, therefore, to take lodgings in the neighbourhood for that time. Mr. and Mrs. Parker soon struck a bargain with the pleasant old gentleman, and were highly pleased with their new lodger. He {seemed to have plenty of money, more over lived well, and so forth, and even offered to lend his landlord a hundred pounds on moderate interest if ho wished. The landlord, however, said he had no occasion for this accommodation, but thanked Mr. Rowan (as the old gentleman was called) for his kind offers. Mr. Rowan then went to the bank and deposited a hundred pounds, and quickly silenced all suspicion, if any arose, with his cheque-book. His next step was to go to the shop of Mr. Hobdeil, silver smith, and there make purchase of a watch and a silver mustard pot. The latter he left to have his name engraved on, and the former he took away with him. lie would pay for them both when the mustard-pot was sent home. Of Mr. Hobdell he inquired the address of some respect able solicitor. Mr. liobdell referred him to a gentle. man, and directed him to write to Mr. James Curtis, of Abingdon, for 191. 153. duo to him for rent, and to threaten legal proceedings if ho did not pay immediately. Accordingly Mr. Matthews wrote for the amount, including his charge of ss. for the application. To this letter the promptest attention was paid, for by the return of post Mr. Matthews received two 10/. notes, accompanied with an angry epistle friim Mr. Curtis, who remarked in it that Mr. Rowan ought to have first pressed others who owed him larger sums for rent, and for a longer period. When Mr. k Rowan called on Mr. Matthews, he expressed him self satisfied with the way in which this business had been done, and Mr. Matthews handed him his cheque on Messrs. Wooten and Co. for 19/. 15s. Mr. Matthews was then instructed to apply to a Mr. Hudson, of Wallingford, for 851., being the amount which Mr. Rowan represented he had advanced on some deeds. This application was equally successful, and as promptly attended to, for immediately after its receipt a person re presenting himself to be the veritable Mr. Hudson waited on Mr. Matthews, and, pulling his money out, said be came to pay the debt, and asked for the deeds to be given up to him; but as they were not in the solicitor'spossese sion he could not do so, and accordingly it was agreed.to put the matter off till the following Monday morning. Here, then, was another point gained, that of having a respectable solicitor, to whom there was an opportunity of referring; and that this was of some use was soon seen, for Mr. Rowan favoured several other trad es . men with orders. Clothes and jewellery were sent to him in abundance. Meat and poultry, and fish and wines, and spirits and perfumery, and all that ho desired, poured in upon him, addinc , at once to his comfort and the "respectability" in which be lived. Feeling indisposed, Mr. Rowan sent for Mr. Symonds, a medical man of some reputa tion, who prescribed for him with his usual care. Mr. Rowan was so much pleased with the care his doctor took of him, that he invited him to dinner the following Sunday, and gave him a draft (due on the following Monday) for his medical services. The amount of the draft exceeded by 121. that of the debt, and Mr. Symonds, of course, paid down the difference in cash. What could there be amiss in a gentleman for whom • a respectable solicitor was col lecting rents ? Mr. Rowan's bankers were so satis fied of his respectability that they allowed him on the following Saturday to draw out 1081. from their bank, being 81. more than he had put in. The next day, while dinner was being got ready, Mr. Rowan took an a i r i ng i n a fly. He was late coming home, however, for dinner was ready before he had returned. His guests also arrived, and were somewhat disap pointed at their host's lateness, and at last, as he did not cog . come hom e at all, the tru t h flashed out. An un 1, Was immediately made. Mr. Bowan t :•~ was traced to 'London, and there was an end of him. Next day his obsequious tradesmen called in vain for their money. His landlord had received no rent, and had spent 141. upon his lodger, while his landlady had made him a set of shirts, which he took with him as a keepsake. The bill due on Monday was dishonoured as a matter of course. The account that had been overdrawn remained unsettled, and Mr. Hudson never called on Mr. Matthews for the deeds. Some gentleman, however, who seemed to bear a strong resemblance to Mr. Hudson, was found to have gone to London by the same train as Mr. Rowan, and some persons thought that this gentleman was Mr. Curtis as well. In the mean time, as these gentlemen seem to understand their trade so well, Mr. Rowan will doubt less favour many more persons, if they aro not on their guard, with his urbane manners and his numerous orders. HOP - INTELLIGENCE. MAIDSTONE.—The wind and rain of last week has made the hops turn up their leaves and look sickly. Other appearances discourage the expectation of any thing like a crop. The succession of large growths the last few years, with the unseasonable spring and the considerations that they have not been even fairly manured this year on account of the crop, however large or small, not paying the grower, causes the duty to stand from 190,0001. to 200,0001., but they must have fine weather to do even this. TALDING, WEST FARLEIGLI, CIIART.—Bine not abun dant, some weak and rather yellowish. Some lice on a tew grounds. STAPELUURST.—Coming into burr; generally looking healthy and promising. MEREWORTII.—The hops continue growing and com ing out in burr very fast. 1 here is not so much bine as last year, and the crop cannot be large. EAST PECILIIAM.—BiIIQ not quite so healthy. The high winds and cold nights have been much against the progress of the plantation. The duty is much over stated, according to the appearance of this district. ULCOMIL—The wet weather this last fortnight, ac companied with cold winds, has considerably affected the hops, and stopped their growth; they are not look ing so well as at the beginning of July; there is much slack bine that will not reach the tops of the poles. This year we shall be quite one-fourth short of last year's duty, if we get kindly weather fur the next three weeks. CRANIIROOK.—The bine has done but little this fort night— some yellow, otherwise very slack—the stronger very much whipped by the late high winds and cold nights, and if such weather continue much longer the crop will come much short of expectation. In the sheltered situations the burr is coming forward and looks tolerable. GOUDHURST.—The hops have made but little pro gress since our last report. The late weather has in jured them, and there is an inclination to fire-blast. ROLVENDEN.—Some of our best grounds are doing pretty well, but a considerable part of the old grounds have much fire-blast, and cannot do much. Some lice have also made their appearance. CANTERBURY.—With the discovery of a great quan tity of bine which will produce little or no fruit, and the damage done by the late high winds and rains, a mate rial declension has taken place in the duty, which is now laid at only 180,000/., with indications of some 20,000/. less, should the weather not greatly improve. General accounts speak of the hops retrograding by reason of the cold winds.—Mai,lstone Journal. TRIBUTE 10 BRITISII TALENT.—We hear a great deal of the diabolical manner in which the unfortunate negroes are packed together in the slave-ships. A gen tleman who gave his evidence on this subject before the House of Commons, declared that it was impossible for human ingenuity to cram more people into an equal space. Here, however, he was mistaken. It is with t h h o e n e r s e t s t p u r i f d e the w e i wu n r f l o d r mhe i this,n t public we h e a l t l as England every e o x t c h el s other science. The Brazilian merchants have sent over five agents of great experience in the slave trade to study the superior mode of loading practised on board our river steamers.—Puppet Show. OPENING OF ItAlLwAys.—On Tuesday the Chester and Holyhead Railway was, with the excption of three miles and a half adjoining the Menai Straits, opened throughout for goods and passenger traffic. This open ing will materially accelerate the communication between London and Dublin ; the mails from either capital will now arrive in both cities at five A.M. The Leeds, Dews bury, and Manchester Railway lessening the distance Letween the former and the latter town ten miles, was on Tuesday opened for public traffic. ST. HELEN'S AND RUNCORN RAILWAY AND CANAL. —LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.—The halt-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this railway was held this afternoon, in the Clarendom Rooms. In the absence of the chair man of the company (Mr. Gilbert Greenall, M.P.), Mr. Thomas Ross, one of the directors, presided. The meet ing was numerously attended. The secretary read the report, from which we take the following extracts "It will be no matter of surprise to the shareholders that the extensive depression of trade during the pa,t twelve months has much affected the revenue of this in common with nearly every other company in the kingdom; the falling off in the income of the last twelve months being upwards of 2,7001., while the diminution in the expendi ture is only 9001.; thus showing a diminished surplus of 1,8001. The whole of this falling off is in the coal trade, the difference in the two periods being 60,000 tone, whilst there has been a slight increase on the income from passengers and merchandize. The directors do not doubt that on the revival of the general trade of the country, the deficiency will be quickly re moved. From the accounts it appeared that on revenue account, the canal income for the half-year was 6,372/. 95., and the expenses 2,658/.55. 3d., leaving a surplus of 3,614/. 3s. 9d. The in come from the railway was 6,4191. 1 ls. 83., and the expenses 3,8521. 135., leaving a surplus of 2,566/. 18s. 83., and a total surplus of 6,1814 2s. 53. Deducting the interest on the canal and railway bonds, and the guaran teed dividend on the preference shares, left a net profit of 5551. 4s. 2d., and adding this to the balance from the last account left a clear balance in favour of the com pany of 5,830/. 1 ls. 3d. The capital account showed the entire receipts of the company, including payments on shares, mortgages, debts owing to the company, ba lance of purchase money due to the canal company, and surplus on traffic account, to he 415,154/. 13s. 63.; and the disbursements showed that there had been expended on the railway 209,173/. 12s. Bd.; on the canal, 175,000/. ; and on the new branches 30,9811. Os. 10d." The report was received and adopted. A resolution of the directors for the forfeiture of upwards of 2,000 shares, held by Mr. Jonathan Higginson, a bankrupt, was confirmed; and after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. REFORM MEETING IN WESTMINSTER.—On Tuesday night a public meeting was held at the Temperance Hall, Broadway, Westminster, for the purpose, as the bills announcing the meeting expressed, "Of taking into consideration the present representative system ;" Charles Lushington, Esq., M.P., in the chair. The spacious building was densely crowded shortly after the doors were thrown open. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that he fully concurred in the points of the People's Charter, with a qualification for universal aufTrage—(Hear, hear.) He then went through the points of the Charter seriatim. He would rather work fur honour than for wages—(Cheers)—hut if they liked to pay him he would have no objectionto accept it. — (Much laughter, &c.) He had promised at his election to attend all meetings that might be held for a legitimate purpose, and he was now present in accordance with that pledge.—(Cheers.) Mr. iy dd moved the first resolution, viz., " That this meeting is of opinion that the monopoly of the elective franchise by any class is unjust in principle, unsafe in its operation, and injurious in its results ; that in a country professedly of free institu tions every man of sane mind, unconvicted of crime, and of not less than twenty-one years of age, should pos sess the right of voting for a representative in Parlia ment ; and this meeting is fully convinced that perma nent prosperity can only be obtained and secured through the emancipation of all classes from political thraldom ." —(Cheers.) Mr. Basset seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. Mr. Stanwood then moved the next resolution—" That this meeting pledges itself to continuo its exertions, by all legal and constitutional means, until such time as every man shall be admitted within the pale of the constitution—his vote protected by the ballot—the property qualification abolished—the electoral districts rendered equal—the old constitutional method of paying Members for their services, and an nual parliaments should be restored." The resolution having been seconded was carried nem. eon. Other gen tlemen having addressed the meeting, a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. MEETING OP LABOURERS REFUSING TO PAY POOR RATES.—At Great Bardfield Petty Session on the 24th ultimo, before J. Walford, Esq., Chairman, and the Rev. Messrs. Lampet and Barnard, three men named Ramsey, Jealous, and Coal, were summoned for non payment of poor-rates. It appears that summonses having been issued against many of the poor in the pa rish of Great Bardfield, who, our correspondent states, hare never before been called upon to pay the rates, on Saturday night last a meeting was held, and about 200 labourers assembled. Several spoke and declared they were not able to pay the rates, a man with a wife and five children, only getting Bs. per week, and hearty young men who went to plough only 6s. per week. On Monday last, a body of the labourers, as numerous as that at the meeting, attended the bench, defy magistrates any person to they execute and the court was the whole of the time in great con fusion. The parties summoned laid their cases before the bench, w h o t o ld th em it was impossible for the magistrates to excuse them. They (the bench) had but one duty to perfor m , a n d it was a painful one, as they must order them to p a y. Thi s cause d great excitement, which cont i nue d some t i me, t h e part i es d ec l ar i ng th e y wou t l h d e would not pay, a n d di s t ress warran t s being in conse quence granted. Th e w h o l e b o dy i n ti m ated to the t s lo ke Lords, from entit led certain a w l l a r a r c an tas.—soles,seax H t ndw er o a u l l d d . Suotts PROHIBITION BILL.—A Bill, brought from te Af furnaces ti A a e c e t s touu chimneys,"hat th e nuisance provides,of ;that from and after the tat day of January, 1849, opaque smoke shall not be permitted to issue from any chimney of a furnace for any longer period of time than is bond fide necessary for the kindling of the fire of such fur nace." Clause 3 enacts " that from and after the said Ist day of January, 1849, if o p aque smoke shall issue from any such chimney for any longer time than is hereinbelore limited in that behalf, the occupier of the furnace connected with such chimney shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and shall for every such offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding 5/." THE GRESUAM LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICE. —A dinner to celebrate the establishment of this new office took place at the Brunswick, Blackwell, on Tuesday evening. About 100 partook of the banquet, which was presided over by Alfred Smee, Esq , M.D., surgeon to the Bank of England. The object of the office is the assurance of lives declined by other offices as not being first-rate, at a small increase on the ordinary premium. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Francis Charman, one of the cashiers in the banking house of Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., in Lembard street, was brought up in the custody of Daniel Forres ter, the officer, charged with having stolen a Bank of England note for 10!., the property of the firm. Mr. Mullen, of the firm of Bush and Mullens, solici tors to the Committee of Bankers for Protection against Forgeries and Frauds, attended for the proseCution. Mr. William Deane, clerk to Messrs. Barclay and Co., stated that, on the 24th of July a Bank of England note for 101., and numhersd and dated 61,321, 4th of April, 4 his hands in the hous e , a nd he entered it, together was raws in with other notes which he received on that day. He made the entry from the note itself; and deposited it with the other notes. Mr. James 13. Cavalus, also a clerk in the house, said be recollected having made the balancing of the notes on the day in question, and having found the balance short by 101. He had examined the books himself, and taken the particulars of the whole of the notes received, and he accounted for all with the exception of the 101. note, No. 61,321. The prisoner was one of the cashiers, and had access to the bank -notes. Mr. R. Bevan, a partuer in the firm of Barclay and Co., stated that he had on that morning spoken to the prisoner on the subject of the missing money, and told him that he was suspected of having taken it. At first the prisoner denied that he was the guilty person, but upon being afterwards told that the 101. note had been traced to his brother, he said it was of no use to deny it any longer, and he confessed that he had taken it. No promise at all had been made to him. The prisoner, upon being asked whether ho was desi rous to say anything, made no observation. He was then at the request of Mr. M u ll ens , rem a nded fur a It e appeared that he had been f o r som e time employed i w n e t l k :e . sovereign department of the establishment, and that at various times sovereigns had been missed, and had never been accounted for. At last, however, the prisoner obtained leave of absence for some days, and during the whole period of his absence no money was missed. The suspicion was thus fixed upon him, and a sharp watch was, of course, kept upon his-movements. W. IL Smith, a clerk in the employment of Messrs. Nicholson, Besley, and Co., wharfingers and warehouse men, was brought up in the custody of Michael Hayden, the officer, charged with having plundered his employers of property to the amount of 1051. es. 7d. The solicitor for the prosecution said the prisoner was foreman of the fruit department, and that about two months ago he had suddenly abseeted himself without permission. Suspecting thal &s_:, nasty was the cause conduct, the infirtmhe took stock, and found a eon prisoner never returned Unt ris h o i n s o si f d s e u r c a h blere'ms employers` threatened to put his name in the Ilia and Cry, and then he re turned, and on Friday presented himself to Mr. Besley, who, upon being assured that he could satisfactorily account for the deficiency, perm:tee" • im to be at large, that he might have a full opportueey of acquitting him self of the imputation, until Tuesday, when it was con sidered necessary to give him into custody. Mr. Frederick Besley stated that the prisoner entered the employment of the firm on the 9th ei February, 1847, and on the 30th of last May left their service without notice. Witness inquired personally et his house in the Wlntechapel-road, but could not Lim. The prisoner, however, called oti Friday at tha warehouse, and was told of the amount of the deficiency, and he then said he could give a satisfactory explanation. Upon his return on Tuesday to give the required explanation, he failed iu the attempt. The prisoner, who requested to be furnished with a copy of the alleged deficiencies in the fruit warehouse, and was told he should be imtnodt supplied with the document, was then remanded for a week. William Crisp, an able-bodied Somersetshireman, was charged by Mr. Thwaites, the relieving overseer to the City of London Union, with having endeavoured to obtain ss. by means of a forged order, purporting to be the order of Mr. Ruddick, one of the guardians of the union. Thu case was clearly proved e and the prisoner was sen tenced to imprisonment and hard labour in Br idewell for the term of six weeks. WORSHIP-STREET. DESPERATE ATTACK UPON A BROKER.—A married woman, named Anne Conway, was charged before Mr. Hanunill with having attempted to stab Mr. William West, a broker in the Hackney-road, and also with violently assaulting Joseph Palmer, one of his men. It appeared from the evidence, that, pursuant to in structions he had received from the landlord of a house in which the prisoner's husband occupied apartments, the complainant West went there with two of his men that morning, to levy a distress for rent, but had no sooner communicated the object of his visit than the pri soner, in a state of great excitement, caught up a table keite, and threatened to stab them with it unless they instantly left the premises. Without further parley she commenced a furious attack upon, them, and made a sud den stab at the broker's breast, which ho fortunately parried with his stick, and knocked the weapon out of her hand. The prisoner then made towards the fire• place, and seizing hold of the poker renewed the attack with such impetuosity that they were compelled to make a precipitate retreat; and having obtained the assistance of a policeman they returned to the house and gave her into custody. Police-constable Lee, 179 11, stated that upon entering the room ho found the prisoner brandishing a poker, and declaring that she would dash out the brains of the first man who approached her; but he succeeded, with some difficulty, in disarming her, ,and conveyed her to the station. house. In defence, the prisoner said that her husband had been for a lung time out of work, and finding that their little things were about to be swept away by the brokers, her feelings so fur got the better of her that she certainly drove them out of the room, but positively denied having used a knife or any other weapon for the purpose. Me. lIImmiLL remarked that she had been guilty of a most serious outrage, and ordered her to pay a pe nalty of 51, or to be committed in default for two months to the House of Correction. LAMBETH. Amelia Glover, who was on Monday remanded on a charge of throwing a man out of a window, by,which he was most severely injured, was yesterday brought up for re-examination, and, some further evidence having been taken against her, she was committed fur trial. WANDS WORTH. John Brown, aged 41, a gardener, was placed in the dock before Mr. Painter, charged with criminally as saulting Sarah Beadle, an old woman, 76 years of age. The prosecutrix, who is very infirm, but otherwise seems to possess all her faculties unimpaired, stated that she is a widow, and lived at Wimbledon; she had known the prisoner many years as living in the neighbourhood. On Monday last, about noon, prosecutrix was in a field near the Warren farm and adjoining Wimbledon com mon, picking up dry sticks, when three men passed her, one of them carrying a gun. Soon afterwards the pri soner, who was not one of those men, came up to her and said " Good morning," and she returned the salutation. He then, without saying anything more, took indecent liberties with her and threw her on the ground. She screamed and got away from him a few yards, when he again threw her down; and although she resisted as far as her strength would permit her, he succeeded in per petrating the offence. Other facts were elicited by the Magistrate from the prosecutrix, which fully established the commission of the felony; and the charge was sustained by the evi dence of the old woman's nephew, and that of another man who witnessed the a ssau lt. Mr. PAYNTER committed the prisoner to take his trial at the Surrey Assizes. f i l o o s n r ok o ne f od t v v h bn e y i a m l, p ht o oh r me t a ai n s, e t m} c : ab o rr l 1 0l e - f SALE OF THE PEMBROKE COLLECTION or COINS.— e y n oins b tury since, was commenced c i tO j i o o e a l N e b o' t r fo i r k n da e , ar from ye u p tc h a a d v l s ae i n u o g db t. n a a e eti ce d en ca n t by Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson, the auctioneers, of IVellington street, Strand. The sale, on account of the number of lots and the extreme rarity of the coins, will extend over a period of twelve days. Monday was devoted to the disposal of a portion of the English coins, which fetched most extraordinary high prices, as the following notice of a few of the most re markable coins will show :—A penny of Offa, King of Mercia, in a most extraordinary state of preservation, sold for 10 guineas ; whilst a penny of Cynethryth, his Queen, produced the large sum of 31/. ; Wiglaf, King of Slercia, a penny struck between the years 825 and 839, sold for 301. Kings of Northumbria—A penny of Sitric, in a most perfect state, and considered unique, struck A.D. 915, sold for 401.; a penny of Anlaf, another of the Kings of Northumbria, extremely rare, sold for 23/. To give some idea of the size and thick ness of these coins it may here be stated that the heaviest did not weigh more than 20 grains. Among the ecclesiastical coins a penny dedicated to St. Martin, having on the obverse a sword and " Sei Marti," and struck at Lincoln in the eighth century, sold for 16 guineas; a penny of Vulfred Archbishop of Canterbury, in perfect condition and unique, sold for Si. 2s. 6d.; Viginund Archbishop of York, A.D. 851, a gold solidus weighint , 67 grains, having on the ob verse a bust with lull face, and on the reverse a cross within a wreath—this perfect and unique coin sold for 59/.; a silver penny of Henry Bishop of Winchester, the illegitimate brother of Stephen, unique, and in per fect preservation, except a small piece broken off the edge, and weighing but 15 grains, sold for 201. 103. Among the Anglo-Saxon coins (pennies) of the sole Monarchs, one of Ecgbercht, struck A.D. 800, sold for 16/. 55.; and one of the Harthacot, struck 1042, sold tor 171. Of the English coins, a penny of Henry I. sold for 111.; and one of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, his illegitimate son, the latter being tho only specimen known, except the one in the British Museum, sold for 11/. 10s.; a penny of Eustace, son of Stephen, extremely rare, sold fur 17/. 10A. Henry VII., a shilling struck in the year 1504, and the first coin known by the name of a piece,fi n e oann shilling, a coin of extreme rarity on account of there being but two or three extant; it sold for 22/. A testoou, or shilling of Edward VI sold for 15/, Charles 1., a 20 shilling piece of the Oxford Mint, or half sovereign,sdtirtuiocnk, i s n old the fo y r ea2 r 51 1 . 64 10 -I s ,..in a a c n ur e io x u t s re T ie e g ly aei, 4 ,.. l l l 7 a L t ; the present coin oblong piece of silver, rudely iinpressed with , a castle, struck at Scarborough, sold for 24/. 10s. The follow ing among Rita English coins in gold were most remark able—a noble of Henry IV., struck before his thirteenth a ryal, yeilr,lad O o f fi g i r e e n a r t y r r arity, 11., s s oo rare is believed to be the second or third known, sold for 100 guineas; a double ryal, or sovereign, of the same mo narch, sold for 221. The ears sale produced upwards of 850/., the coins fetching hig her p rices than were ever known before. We understand the Queen Dowa g er contem p la tes visiti ng th e i s l e o f Wight in th' •arse of next mon th , and it is very probable will resi de ei t her at Cowes or Ityde a month or six weeks. A BANQUE f: T lgjciioe:ErlriGri TO LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES J. NAPIER, G.C.B. Yesterday the members of the Junior United Service Club gave a grand entertainment to Lieut. General Sir o C ojNe, l ac i Th a par r hsil l eie e omr s :Eaa J ocnai . fridoti N hi‘noe d ia al William Ellenborough, G.C.8., a l re. aom,ntueegNr Major-GeneralahGtil p o si v Ler e ri e r e n u2u o tsr r entni o lat e-Sinde,SirgG England.ia Regiment, ta t n ll the er invited to meet the Gallant General ; and among the members of the club present at the entertainment were Major-General H. Daubeny, K.H. ; Colonel W. Mac adam, K. 11., late Bth Regiment ; Colonel Dancey, R. A., Colonel C. M. Hay, Coldstream Guards ; Colonel E. H. Robinson, Colonel L. S. Dickson, Colonel Pennefather, C. 8., 22d Regiment ; Lieutenant-Colonel Macpherson, Lieutenant-Colonel Harriott, Lieutenant- Colonel V. Dunne, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Pettit, 50th Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson, R.E. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Oldtield, Bengal Cavalry ; Lieutenant-Celonel J. Cox, late Rifle Brigade ; Lieutenant.-Colonel Justin Shiel, K. L. S. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, Lieutenant.-Col. Taylor, M.P., Lieut.-Col. Brookes, 24th Regt. ; Lieut.- Colonel Manes; Majors P. P. Neville, F. H. Stephenson, Napier (Cape Mounted Rifles), M`Malion, Stack, Al drick, R. E. Conway, 22•1 Regiment; Harvey, 87th R-giment; Macready, S. Cole, Q. Vivian, Tyler, 16ta Lancers; Jeffreys, 88th Regiment. Captains H. G. Boldero, M.P.; Sir T. J. Burke, ALP.; W. Edwards, 86th Regiment; G. G. Malet, Bombay Cavalry; Brown, late 100th Regiment; Evan Macpherson, lath Dragoons; Clement Johnson, Linskill, late sth Dragoon Guards; Robert Miller, late 2d Dragoons; J. Temple Bowdoin, late 4th Dragoon Guards; George Jefferies, Knowles, 50th Regiment; Hart, late 94th Regiment; J. Batters • bee, T. 11. Preston, J. Campbell, 7th Dragoon Guards; R. Shubrick, sth Madras Native Infantry; D'Arey, 94th Regiment; W. F. Vernon, late 68th Regiment; Graham Henry, J. Hillier. Lieutenants F. S. Deshon, 22d Regiment; E. Morris, late 54th Regiment; James Campbell, late 13th Bengal Native Infantry; R. H. Webster, lute 9th Regiment; Stoddart Douglas, M. P., , R.N.; Mr. C. G. Dupid, M.P., Mr. S. Petrie (Deputy Assistant Commissary-General), Mr. H. Angelo, &c. Captain H. G. Boldero, IMP., presided, supported on the right hand by Sir Charles Napier and Sir John Mac donald, and on the left by the Earl of Ellenborough and Sir W. Napier. The banquet was served in the grand saloon, covers being laid for sixty persons. On the removal of the cloth, the Gallant Chairman proposed the " Health of her Majesty the Queen," which was responded to with the greatest enthusiasm. The other loyal toasts having been duly responded to, The CHAIRMAN said he regretted the absence of the illustrious Duke at the head of the army, on an occasion when they had met to do honour to a gallant officer, who had so ably maintained the reputation of English valour when in a distant country. They had, however, the pre sence of a gallant member of the staff, who assisted greatly, in conjunction with the illustrious Duke, in promoting the interests and efficiency of the British army. He should, therefore, give them "The Duke of Wellington and the Army, coupling therewith the name of Sir John Macdonald." The toast having been duly honoured. Sir JOHN MACDONALD said he rejoiced at being pre sent at an entertainment given in compliment to a brother officer, one than whom no braver man ever led an army. The Gallant General, at some length, expressed his high admiration of the military career of Sir Charles Napier, and paid a well-merited compliment to his great services in India. After dwelling on the high state of efficiency of the British army at present, and his confi dence in the loyalty of the troops, the Gallant General concluded by stating, that when he commenced his career in the army his prospects were very humble, and he wished that all young officers present would re member the motto of the Junior United Service,' Never despair." The CHAIRMAN, on again rising, remarked that he did not see an officer of the sister service present, and he only regretted that there was not a jolly old Commodore to witness with what warmth the mere suggestion of " The Navy" as the next toast, would bo received. The toast was cordially responded to. The CHAIRMAN, on again rising, expressed the plea sure the company had experienced at the presence of one of the most distinguished men in the British service. It was not his intention to dwell in detail on his brilliant services, for it would only be necessary for him to remind those around him that had it fallen to his (Sir Charles Napier's) lot to have retired from the service from his wounds, and ho had plenty of them—(Cheers)—he would have retired crowned with honour, glory, and re nown. Thank God he had been spared, and might he long live to lead some of those present that evening.— (Cheers.) Ile would pass over his gallant career in the Peninsula, and in various parts of the globe until he planted his country's flag in Sinde. There he had achieved two exploits almost unknown in the history of the world; with a handful of men, for he commanded 1,50 1 ) against 23,000 on one occasion —(Cheers)—and against an enemy by no means deficient in scientific knowledge or martial courage worthy a better cause, the Gallant General had the head to plan and the heart to execute. He had a brave body of men under him, and the example he displayed gave them confidence, for there was no danger they would not encounter, or fatigue they would not endure.—(Cheers.) Having said that much, he would propose to them the " Health of Lieute nant-General Sir Charles Napier, and long might he live."—(Loud cheering.) The toast was drunk with three times three. Sir CHARLES J. NAPIER, G.C.8., on rising, was cor dially greeted by the company. lie said he could not be otherwise than highly gratified with the flattering testimony of their approbation. He received this mark of their regard as he received all compliments, as due to the bravest of troops. They had fought two battles, Meeanee and Hyderabad, in a manner which required no eulogium. The young soldiers in their advance were met with fire and sword—(Cheers)—and their steadiness was admirable against the overwhelming foe. He could not separate the Queen's from the Company's officers, for their conduct on those occasions was meritorious be yond all praise, for they were always to be found in the front cheering their men on.—(Cheers.) He could not arrogate to himself that which was not due, and he was sure they would all agree those battles were desperately fought and desperately won.—(Cheers.) He saw before him a brother officer (Colonel Pennefather) who had led on the 22d Regiment in two successive engagements, and he could bear testimony that that regiment had been se verely tried. The Gallant General then adverted to the commerce of India, after 20 years' peace in Europe, and claimed the attention of the company to point out what had been done for commerce in India, while that country was under the Governorship of the Earl of Ellenborough. Sir Charles, at considerable length, said, that up to the period of the Noble Earl going to India, the Indus and its tributaries—forming an inland navigation of 2,000 miles—was closed by the Ameers, and all their towns and harbours were strongly fortified against friend and foe. Sinde, during the Earl's administration, was at tached to the British dominions, and, in doing so, he opened those 2,000 miles, and all the nations on the left bank of the Sutlej, to British commerce and enterprise. —(Cheers.) The Gallant General then pointed out the great facilities that Sinde afforded for the enterprise of the merchants of this country and India ; and, after as serting that he had made these observations as the policy in Sinde was not generally well known, he concluded by drinking " Prosperity to the Junior United Service Club and all their very good healths." The CHAIRMAN next gave " The health of the Earl of Ellenborough." The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH acknowledged the com pliment, and expressed the high gratification he had ex perienced in being of their party to do honour to a gal lant and esteemed ornament of the British army. The Earl of ELLENSOROUGH rose, and said he had the permission of their Gallant Chairman to propose a toast. It was " The health of his Gallant Friend, Sir William Napier."—(Cheers.) His Lordship expressed his admi ration of his literary as well as his military ability, and brought to a conclusion a pleasing speech, by saying that he perused the records of the British victories from the pen of his Gallant Friend with far greater delight than any book he had before read.—(Laughter and cheers.) The toast was drunk with warm applause. Sir W. NAPIER returned thanks. Colonel L. S. DicresoN said, with the kindness of the favour T : Lo e hi i ue : rue health .1 Chairman, he was allowed to propose the next toast. He would give " The health of a gallant brother of their dis tinguished guest, Lieut.-General Sir George Napier, late Governor of the Cape of Good Hope," whose absence from England woad account for his not being with them on that occasion. Lie need not mention the services of that Gallant General, as Isis claims to distinction were too well known. The toast was cheerfully drunk. Major WM. NlriEu briefly replied, ou behalf of his father. The Earl of ELLENUOROITGR rose, and, after some in troductory observations, gave "The health of their gal lant chairman, Captain H. G. Boldero." The health was cordially responded to, and when silence was father, the ob tained,Vice-Chair- man, General Sir C. NAPIER saidinbe reply, had s a b i y d the he Captain 11. G. BOLDER°, M.P., rose to acknowledge of the chair, the great pleasure conferred on the particularly gratifying manner his name had been Lv o e. f 1: o Nd l o Na n E e gF l rieT l a ' at e eE n r R n man , who commanded the 22d."—(Loud cheers.) him than had been done him by the Gallant General. He only did' his duty.—(Cheere.) Ile only attempted to follow in the General's footsteps, and if he please him he only accomplished all ho wished.—(Cheers ) This was the last toast, and the company shortly after wards broke up. could not jh.a . • THE RESULT Of TH E MIXED GAUGE.—The mixed gauge, applied as is proposed on the Oxford, Birming ham!), and Wolverhampton lines, will not really diminish the evils of diversity of gauge. It is true that in theory the mixed gauge may seem to save the break of gauge to the district and towns to whioh a mixed line is ex tended; but, on the other hand, it establishes a break at each end of the mixed gauge line: for example, by lay ing the mixed gauge between Oxford and Rugby, the district between Oxford and Rugby is theoretically saved a break of gauge; but Oxford and Rugby themselves in turn become the sites of breaks of gauge, at one or other of which all traffic from the narrow gauge to a broad gauge district, or vice versa, must be transferred. Again, every new line, and every new branch intersecting a mixed -gauge line, must either cause a break of gauge in one direction or the other, or otherwise be on the mixed gange itself, so that " the brcak of gauge cannot be re medied by the mixture of gauges until such mixture be comes co-extensive with railways themselves." — From Messrs. Robert Stephenson and Loc/e's Report. THE NEWMARKET AND CHESTERFIELD RAILWAY. —A very superior description of carriages is being used upon this railway. The third class are fitted with plate glass windows and handsomely painted, and the second class are lined with stuffed cushions, and.ore extremely comfortable, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Fox, 42, Commodore Sir 11. Blackwood, Bart., will be paid off on Saturday. The Virago steam-sloop, Command** Harris, remains at Spithead ready for service. The Colossus and the Collingwood, 80, at this port, are ordered to be fitted as advanced ships. The Mercury tender has been brought back from her surveying duties in the Bristol Channel, being altoge ther unfit fur the service. She is to be paid off, and leer place supplied by the Myrtle steamer. - We have repeat edly noticed this penny-wise-and-pound-foolish method of doing business practised by both parties of politicians when in office. Here is a service acknowledged by all to be the most essentially important in the Admiralty department, yet it is really the worst paid and found. They actually grudge to employ vessels for this most necessary purpose, which is so requisite fur the preser vation of life from shipwreck, while they hesitate not to bestow rewards and pensions on men who never did a meritorious deed in their lives. When the present Sir Charles Fitzroy was employed in the Beagle in survey ing on the coast of Patagonia and Terra-del Fuego, &c., he purchased a schooner to employ as a tender, which was proved to have very materially facilitated the pro gress of the survey. A s a mat t er o f course , h e ex p ec t e d the Admiralty would pay for her, but it is a positive fact that they refused to do so, and they have never re imbursed him for his outlay in their service! — Times. On the 19th ult. a grand ball was given expressly to Sir William Parker and the officers of the British fleet by the English residents at Palermo, as an acknowledg ment of the solicitude shown fur their safety and in terests during the late troubles, and also of attentions in forwarding their correspondence when the communica tion with Naples was cut off. The Admiral and officers of the French fleet were invited, as well as the elite of the nobility and gentry. The greatest harmony and good feeling prevailed, and the compliment was warmly acknowledged by the Admiral and by all present. The Defence, 72, went out of dock at Sheerness on Saturday, to be masted, and went in afterwards to have her bottom sheathed. The Acorn, 16, Commander Bingham ' arrived at the Nore on Sunday from Plymouth, and sailed up the Medway, to be paid off at Chatham on Monday. The Africaine steam tug was docked on Monday, to be cleaned, and went out the same day. The Diamond corvette is nearly ready for launching from Sheerness Dockyard. THE IRISH FORCES.—The squadrons on the Irish coast comprise four line of-battle:-ships, two frigates (4 , ne with an auxiliary steam force), three steam frigates, four sailing sloops, two steam sloops, one screw steam schooner, two steam transports, three store ships, two tenders, and four steam vessels, carrying in the aggre gate 539 guns, and amounting to 24,817 tons, and 3,848 horse power. DEATH OF ADMIRAL HONEYMAN. The death of this venerable and gallant flag officer, which was stated some time since to have taken place at Paris, has now been officially reported. He was a Lieu tenant of 1790; Commander, 1796; Captain, 1798; Rear-Admiral, May, 1825; Vice-Admiral, January, 1837; and Admiral of the Blue, February, 1847. By the death of this distinguished (but undecorated officer, Vice-Admiral Sir F. W. Austen, K.C.8., late Commander-in-Chief in the West Indies, becomes Ad miral of the Blue, leaving Thomas James Maling, the senior Vice-Admiral; Sir R. H. Bromley, Bart., becomes Vice-Admiral of the Red; and C. B. H. Ross, C. 8., senior Vice-Admiral of the White; Rear Admiral John Impey becomes Vice-Admiral of the Blue, leaving Henry M. Ommanney senior Rear-Admiral; Lord Radstock, C. 8., becomes Rear-Admiral of the Red; and Richard Arthur, CB., becomes Rear-Admiral of the White. Captain Gordon Thomas Falcon (1813), Superinten dent of Pembroke Dockyard, by the above promotion obtains the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue, leaving Sir Watkin Owen Pell (1813), the senior Captain on the list. Captain H. D. Chads, C.B. (1825), now of the Blenheim, succeeds to the half-pay list of 14s. 6d. per diem, and Christopher Wyvill (1832). to the 12s. 6d. list. As we have before stated, Captain Peter Richards, C.B. flag-captain to Vice-Admiral Sir W. P ar k er , B ar t., in the Hibernia, 104, on the coast of Sicily, will succeed to the superintendentship of Pembroke Dockyard; and Captain Charles %Vise (1847), formerly commander of the Hibernia, will succeed Captain Richard in the com mand of the Hibernia. EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE IN LAUNCHING HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS.—It will bo seen by the following ge neral memorandum, issued to the respective superin tendents of her Majesty's dockyards, that the Admiralty have at length made an effort to curtail the extravagant waste of the public money in ship launching. If their Lordships had issued this memorandum a week previ ously, or at the time when we pointed out to the board the tendency of this great abuse, they would have pre vented the disgraceful squabbling at Devonport Dock yard at the launch of the Indefatigable, and have saved themselves all th• inconvenience of having to deal with a very serious breach of the rules of the public service. We are gratified, however, that we have succeeded, to some extent in inducing the Admiralty to check, at least, one dockyard abuse. " Admiralty, July 28. " My Lords having had under their consideration the large sums that are annually expended in the erection of booths, scaffolding, &c., on the occasion of ships being launched, are pleased to direct that in no case hereafter shall the expenses on such occasions exceed 401. ">3y command, "W. A. B. IIAMILTON." APPOINTMENTS. The commissions of Captain the Hon. G. F. Hastings (1845), promoted from the Harlequin, and last of the Endymit n, appointing him to command the Dragon, and prospectively to the Cyclops st eam -f r i gate , when he finds that vessel on the coast of Ireland, were received at Ports mouth on Tuesday. Lieutenants—T. Andrews, additional to the Birken head steam•frigate, employed in conveying troops on the coast of Ireland ; J. Townsheud, to the Pantaloon sloop, on her way to the coast of Africa. Mate—Charles Gibbons, to the Hastings, 72, flag ship of Sir Francis Collier, on her passage to the East Indies. Chief Engineer—T. Bullion, to the Fisguard, pendant ship at Woolwich. Assistant-Engineers—J. Stow and W. Ibbett. to the Lucifer, tender to the St. Vi ncen t, Si r C. Napier's flag ship at Cork. Midshipman—The Hon. H. W. Chetwynd, to the Eurydice frigate, on the Cape of Good Hope station. Lieut. Algernon F. H. De Horsey (1846) to study at the steam-factory, Woolwich. Master—J. T. Crout 0844) to the Cyclops steam frigate, on the coast of Ireland. Surgeon—John T. Jenkins (1846) to the Waterwitcb, 8, on the coast of Africa, vice Negus. Assistant Surgeons—Charles Layer Hugs, of the Trincomalee, 26, in the West Indies, has been confirmed to that vessel; seniority, May,1847; George H. Edwards, of the Queen, 116, in the Mediterranean, has been con firmed in his rank—seniority, March, 1847; David 0. West (1846) to the Linnet, 6, packet-brig; James Ed mondston and Horan H. Smith, acting, to the Victory, flag ship, at Portsmouth. Clerks—Charles D. Lindsay, Frederick Field, and George Lapidge, to the Raleigh, 50, flag-ship, at Monte Video. ROYAL MARINES.—The commissions of Captain C. J. Hadfield and First Lieutenant Henry Adam have been received at Portsmouth; and those of Captain Hayes Marriot and First Lieutenant John Grieve, at Chatham. DOCKYARD.—Mr. Ebenezer Wood, inspector of ship. wrights at Devonport Dockyard, having undergone the necessary examination and reported to be qualified, has been promoted to the rank of foreman, vice Peake, pro moted. Mr. Wood has been engaged most assiduously in correcting errors and defects in the lines of the Inde fatigable, which ship may be said to be as much Mr. Wood's as Mr. Hyde's, and as much after the lines of the designer of the Southampton as she is after any of the naval architectural notions of the above-named persons. —Herald. CHATHAM, Am. 2.—The Spy, 3-gun brigantine, was put out of dock on Monday last, when she was taken alongside the shears and received her masts. The Wolverine, 16 guns, was put out of dock also on Monday last. The Acorn, 16 guns, Commander John E. Bingham, from the East Indies, was towed into this harbour yes terday afternoon by the African steam-vessel. She is now alongside the Hussar hulk, and will be paid off on Tuesday, the Bth inst. Yesterday a detachment consisting of 45 men in charge of a sergeant of the Royal Sappers and Miners, arrived at this garrison from Woolwich to take part in the field operations under Colonel Sir Frederick Smith, K.H., of the Royal Engineers. WOOLWICH, AUGUST 2.—The Spiteful steam sloop, 280 horse power, will be completed by the dockyard workmen, and ready for commission on Saturday next. The Daedalus, 12 gun frigate, Capt. Peter M'Quhae. left Singapore for England on the 25th of May. She was about to proceed to Siam, to quell a mutiny of the Chinese coolies (about 4,000 in number), who had de stroyed some sugar mills, and done other damage to British property, but the Meander, 44 gun frigate, Capt the Hon. Henry Keppel, having arrived on the previous day, proceeded to the execution of the Daedalus' orders. Mr. Claude de Crespigny,is o th s midshipman, e itoyaist, 6 gunhasbe brenaipi pointed from the Daedalus and the latter vessel has proceeded to survey the coast of Borneo, which will occupy her about six or eight months. - The Termagant steam frigate arrived at Sheerness yesterday e►ening at eight o'clock. Her speed was ascertained to be 7.12 knots per hour, and her engines were found to work well. The coals on board were not of the best quality, which prevented a trial with her full power of steam. FUNERAL THE Two FIRE BRIGADE MEN.— Yesterday afternoon the remains of Piercy a n d H ancock, the two firemen who lost their lives at the recent fire at Wapping, were deposited in the parish churchyard of St. George's in the East. A procession of sixty firemen attended on the occasion, and a great c oncourse of per sons were present. Provision, for a time, will be made by the establishment for the benefit o f t h e unfortunate men's widows and children. Mr. Mackay, the engineer, whose life was so fortunately saved on the fatal occasion, is fast recovering; but it will be 80/110 months before he will be able to do duty. A JEREMY DIDDLER.--" Will you pay me my bill, sir?" said a tailor to a waggish fellow, who had got into him about a foot. "Do you owe anybody any thing, sir?" asked the wag. " No, sir," said the tailor. " Then you can afford t o wait!" an ' d be walked off. A day or two afterwards the tailor called again. Our wag was not at his wit's end yet; so, turning on his creditor, he says—" Aro you in debt to anybody?" " Yes, sir," says the tailor. " Well, why the devil don't you pay?" " Because I can't get the money." " That's just my case, sir; I am glad you can appreciate my condition— give us your baud, old fellow!" DREADFUL MURDER. One of those fearful deeds of blood, which are but too common where large bodies of labouring men are con• gregated, occurred on the morning of Saturday last at the works now in course of formation for the purpose of crossing the Menai Straits near the Britannia Rock. It appears that the extensive platforms on which are con structed the enormous iron tubes, with the massive ma chinery, materials, workmens' tools, &c., are watched and guarded every night ; and.one of the watchmen thus em ployed has been the victim of a most foul and brutal murder. His remains were discovered on the shore close by the staging, whence they had been thrown ; the head was disfigured by two fearful gashes; one extending over the left side of the head, cutting through the temple, and the other on the crown of the skull, and both these fractures had evidently been inflicted by some heavy blunt instrument, in all probability a piece of iron. *The deceased's brains were scattered about, showing with what fearful effect the fatal blows must have been in flicted. No marks of blood were observed, nor was there anything which could afford a clue us to who were the perpetiatcrs of the awful deed. One of the fellow watchers of the deceased was at first suspected, but as no evidence could be brought forward at the inquest to show that he was at all connected with the crime, he was discharged, and we regret to say that the daring perpe trators of the revolting outrage are still at large. On Monday last an inquest was held at the offices of the in spector of the works, at the Bridge, before E. G. Powell, Esq., coroner, and a highly respectable jury. The evidence adduced was to the effect that the de ceased's name was John Rowlands, a native of Anglesey, and that he and John Pritchard, his fellow-watcher, were on duty on Friday evening; that the latter, about half- past t,celve o'clock en Saturday morning, came to the house of Robert and William Lewis, stating that two men had broken into a shop, or wooden house, at the works, where paint, hides, &c., were kept; that the deceased had been attacked by them; and that he (Prit chard) had heard them express a determination to kill Rowlands in consequence of deceased having said that he recognised them. Pritchard said that he had been also attacked as he was proceeding to Rowland's assist ance, but that he had escaped by running into a small house up a midden, and had dropped himself through and waded down to his neck in water, in order to pre vent the men detecting him, where he had remained for half an hour; that he had heard the deceased cry out, but dared not again proceed to his assistance; that when he came out of the water he ran to Lewis's house and gave the alarm, and they, with others, went down to the staging, and discovered the dead body of Rowlands lying on the beach. It had been thrown from off the stage; the head was much fractured, and the deceased's hat was on the platform. Another witness deposed to having been called up about half-past twelve o'clock by Prit chard, who stated that Rowlands had been murdered. He went with the rest, and had the body removed into the joiner's shop. Evidence was brought to show that Pritchard was perfectly wet when he gave the alarm, and that he ap peared much terrified. The paint-shop had been broken open and articles disturbed, and placed ready for being carried away. Pritchard, on being questioned, said, that he could not recognise the men who had attacked him as he was going to the assistance of Rowlands, who he heard call out, " Spare my lifer He jumped into the midden, whith opens on to the water, to save his life. His lantern fell from bis hand and rolled on the beach, where it was found. He distinctly heard the deceased cry out while he was in the a ater. Mr. Florence, surgeon on the works, deposed that the skull of the deceased was fractured in three places, and the scalp was much lacerated. There was a deep wound on the upper lip, and a heavy blow had been intlictod on the cheek bone. There were blood and brains on the upright post, but none on the platform. The wounds had been cased by some heavy blunt instrument. Evidence was brought to show that no quarrel existed between the two watchmen. The jury brought in a verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown." THE KIRTON MIikDER. LINCOLN, Aua. 2.—lt will be in the recollection of our readers that a young man, named Joseph Travis, was convicted at the late assizes at Lincoln, on a charge of having robbed Charles Copeman. Th© case excited unusual interest, in consequence of the circumstances attending it, which may be briefly stated as follows:--- Travis and Copeman had been companions for some time, and both were sons of respectable farmers, one residing at Kirton and the other at Blyborough. On the even ing of the 19th of December .last the two parties had been drinking together at a public-house; the next morn ing the body of Copeman was found on the road leading from Kirton to, Blyborough, bearing several marks of violence, and also having a wound on the throst. Deceased was quite dead, and consequently no direct evidence could be obtained as to who was the perpe trator of the murder. Circumstances, however, trans pired that led to the suspicion that the prisoner was the guilty party, and he was, therefore, committed upon the coroner's inquisition, on a charge of having murdered the deceased. Ho was tried at the Lent assizes upon this charge, before Mr. Justice Maule, when he was ac quitted. Other circumstanc e s a ft erwar d s came out which led to a man named William Fell, together with Travis, being taken into custody, and committed upon a charge of having robbed the deceased. Subsequently Fell Was admitted as an approver on the part of the Crown, when his evidence, corroborated by that of other witnesseet left no doubt upon the minds of the Court and jury as to the guilt of the prisoner, and he was consequently con victed, and sentenced by Mr. Justice Patteson to be transported for life. After his conviction the demeanour of the prisoner became altogether altered, his spirits were greatly depressed, and he appeared to be labouring under considerable mental agitation; this increased to such an extent, that at the request of the prisoner Captain Ni cholson, the governor of the gaol, together with the Rev. Padley, the chaplain, attended the unhappy man in his cell, when he -made a confession, of which the following is the substance:—" On the night that the murder was committed, I overtook Copeman, when we had some words together. A scuffle took place, and I became so excited that I took my penknife, on the point of which I had stuck a cigar that I was smoking, and jobbed him several times in the neck, after which I cut his throat, but, at the time when I first came up with the deceased, I had no contemplation of murdering MM. nor should I have done so, had it not been for the scuffle. After I had committed the act, I took four sovereign* . from deceased, and then; finding that my hands were very bloody, I went to a gate-post and wiped them upon it, as stated by Fell. As to the shirt that I wore at the time, and which the police could not find, I burnt it as soon as I got home; but how Fell came to know these circumstances I cannot tell, as I never saw him. He might, however, have been near the place at the titnet and watched me in the manner stated by him." The prisoner entered into a general detail of the circum stances attending, and subsequent to the murder and robbery, in which he fully supported the evidence given by the numerous witnesses examined at the respective trials. After signing the document, the prisoner said he felt easier in his mind, and was now more reconciled to his fate. We doubt not that the foregoing acknow ledgment of guilt by the unhappy culprit will, bo satis factory to the Court and jury betore whom he was tried. as well as to the minds of the friends of the deceased. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Sxocx EXCHANOR.—The following are the' quotations of the actual sales of to-day. It will be observed that they are • barely so good as yesterday, and the market closes dull. The sales are—Caledonian, Preference, 4 p.—Grest. Northern, ri dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 10/. Prete.. rence, 3 p.—London and North-Western, New Quarterly c. p.—Ditto, Thirds,2 dis.—London Brighton,and South . Coast, New 5/. Shares, 1 4 p.—Midland Stock, New Halves/ • 5 3 4 dis.— Shropshire Union, 2% dis.—York, Newcastle, ant Berwick (G. N: E. Purchase), ILA p.—Ulster, 6% dis. MANCHESTER, AZG. 2. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Eait Lancashire, ' Preferenc Quarters, 6-16 p.—Great Northern, 8 15-16 Lancashire and Yorkshire, Preference, 6 per cent., 13-16 P. —London and North-Western, Fifths, 6 p.—Ditto, Quarters (C), 2% n. p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 51 /s dis.—Ditto, Preference, 10 1 A—Ditto (Grimshy)r 501. Shares, 21 3 4 dis.—Ditto, ditto, 201. Shares, 8 11.16 dis. —Ditto, ditto, 12/. 10s. Shares, 5 1 4 'dis.—North Stailerdshireo dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, c. dis. • HULL; AUG. 2. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Hull and Selby, 100 —Ditto, Halves, 49 1 A—North British, Halves, 9 1 4—Ditto, Quarters, 4 3 / 4 --.Ditto, Extension (scrip), 3s. 9d.-Ditto, Thirds, 525. 6d. n. BIRMINGHAM, Aua.' 2. Srock - Exciferwx.—The glint market, from some cause or other, has been so languid the last two days that there has not been any official list published. ----- BRITISH MACHINERY AND MILLWORK.—It ap pears, from a return just made to Parliament, that t declared value of British machinery and millwork, ez• ported from the United Kingdom in the year ended tbo' sth of January, last was 1,263,0151. 10s. 4d. ti On Monday last, at Easton, the lady of John Henri Gurney, Esq., of a son. On the 30th ult., at Brooke Vicarage, near Norwich, the wife of the Rev. W. Beal, LL.D., of a daughter. On the 30th ult., at Reading ; the lady of H. Phillips, Esq. , of a son. On the 30th ult., at Hartharn- cottage, Kentish -town, the wife of John W. Bennett, Esq., of a daughter. On the 31st ult., at Havering-grange,•Essex, Mrs. Hope, of a daughter. On the 31st ult., the wife of E. West, Esq., of Mornington* road, Regent's -park, of a son, stillborn. On the 31st ult., the wife of the Rev. W. Beckett,'ef Harlow-bush, Essex, of a son. - - Oa the 31st ult., at Denmark-hill, Camberwell, Mrs. W• A. Bain ; of a son. - • MARRIED. On the Ist inst., at St. Min's, Paddington, the Rev. G. R. Mackarness, M.A., of Merton College, Oxford, to Marl Ann, eldest daughter of the late Crosby Young, Esq., Lahard, county of Cavan. DIED. On the 29th ult., at Burght-hall, Norfolk, aged 32, Mrs Frances Astley, wife of .Fraiteis L'Estrange Astley, Esq. On the 30th ult., Francis Y a t es , Esq., o f S treatham sa d , Mincing-lane, aged On the 30th ult., at Albert. street, Regent's-park, Benjamin West, Esq., the youngest scn of the late Benjamin Weill PresiOent ‘f the Royal Academy. On the 30th ult., at the Woodrow, Broomsgrove, Worcer tershire, G. F. Iddins, Esq., aged 66. On the 31st ult., at Wadenhoe, Northamptonshire, Willis" Mackworth Bulkley, second son of B. J. M. Freed, aged lour years and four months. On the 31st ult., at Brighton, aged 18, Eliza Jane, the eldest daughter of J. H. Chancellor, Esq., of Chester-terrace , Regent's-park. On the 31st ult., aged 42, at Notting-hill, the Rev. Edward Owen, late curate of Gawsworth, Cheshire. London: Printed and Published by MURIA) 1:01JNO: 116 No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 1 0 1 0 _, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, is the meaty Thursday, August 3, 1848. .:.~.:~. - I ,