The Sun. — London, England, 1848-12-01 00:00:00

Ditto 1 / 2 (late Ilud derefield and Shefr.) 13 Go •• Do.(Wak,2ileld,rc,ute tract, and Genie) ... l;0 De.(:W. Riding Union) 7 ..... —•• ' —' ***** Do. (P reston & Wyre) 25 Do. IA Shares ( A)... 9 1 ,4 — Leeds and Bradford Leicis, Dewsbury, t:c.... 50 . .... Do., Half Shares 25 Leed s ••• Do., a n thdinThe) irsk Scrip ..... . 50 ••• Ditto, New ...... ....... 35 Do., Prefer., 6 per Ct . 3 1 AI ...... - ••••• L iverpool, Crosby and Southport. 31 .2 - .. Liverp., Manchester, and Newcastle Junaion... 2 1 h — London & Bl ac k wa ll ... l3/ . 6s. 8d.... Do. Extension .... ... 22 1 ..... •• • Londo 7 11' .on, , righton, and South Coast 5O Do.Guarant. 5 per ct.., 9 •••••• •- Do. P re f. C on. 5 per e t . 5 0 .. Ditto. ditto 1852 50 Ditto, New 51., guar. 6 per cent. - 4 Landon and Greenwich 12/15s 4d... ... ......... .. Ditto, Preference... 18117 a 2d... Londo n and N. Western 100 .....117 117 % - ..... Do Quarters (L. & B.) 22 ...... Ditto, New Ditto, Fifths ..... .. .. 2 D 0. ,40 /.Shares(L.M.) 25 Do. 10/. (M. & B.) A. 9 ..... 10 1 / 4 • Do. 10/. (M. & B.) B. 9 ...... 10 % 1 4 -• ' Do. 101. ( hi- & B.) C. I .•... 2 % Loal. &S. Western 5O Do. New 501. ... ..... 42%.. - ..... •••• .. Do. New , 4o/. 34 Do• Tenths (C ons ol.) 50 Ditto ditto Ditto. Thirds.. ...... 131.65. 8d — ...........•••. 111 , New Scrip, 1848, Pref. 7 per Cent. on Deposit., and 5 per Lo n don, Cent. ou Calls ...1/. 13s. 4d — ..... . ••••••• Salisbury, and Yeovil ..... -.• • --• ••• 14— L ondc•nderry&Coleraine 28 3 4 — -.- Londonderry and Ennis killen Lowestoft (4 per et.) ~,Ditto (6 per ct.) m atichester,Buxton, an d Mat10ck................ „ _.. ata nchester, Sheffield, ' and Lincolnshire... 100 Do. Quarters (No. 1) 18 Ditto ditto (No. 2)... 25 Ditto ditto (No. 3) ... 10 Ditto, New 10/. Pref... 10 Ditto, Gt. Grimsby -. 40 Ditto ditto . ......... 13 Ditto ditto Ditto Sheffield and Lincolnshire l5 . ••• Do., G r i ms b y D oc k ... 20 Do., Manchester and ,_ Lincoln Union..... 41.25. asadlseld-• 100 .. ... 77 76% ........ ..... Do. Consolidated Pref.loo Do., do , Ssol.Shares... 20 .... .. 9 9X ••• • . • - ••• . Do. Birm., and Derbyloo Do• Consul. Bristol and Birming., 6 per et.... 10 ll7 118% Ditto, Br it . & Glocstr. 38 0 Ditto, ditto ... .. ..... .14/. 185.... — , D itto,Leieest. & Swan nington, 8 per ct. guar.100 Midland Great Western Irish , 6 Deastieand r cent. guar. .. mewc Carhsie...100 Do. Q uarters 25 ...- •• a ••• Newmarket X , Do. E x t ens i on .........2/. 125.... •.•......•.••• 6 wPort, Abergavenny, l!and Hereford 6 ...... ... ewry and Enniskillen 7 New. and - N an d . itostrevor 2O Norfolk ........... ..... ....100 E49 Do. New 201. Do. Guaranteed 5 p ct. 20 Do. Guaranteed 5 %_pc. 5 Do. do. Waveney Val. 2 ...... Northern_. Counties Union 4 ...... Nor th,British ........ ... 25 .....„ 14 1 4 Ditto, Halves .• _— Ditto, Quarters Ditto,- Extension O% w •• Ditto, Thirds .... .. .. 91 4 •• •• 374 North & South -Western 2 — No rthlStaffordshire l5 North Wales . „ ...... ... 3 1 / 2 — .•..• N orth-Western . lO Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampto n ' ...... 5 0 heading, Guildford, and Reigate lO Royston and Hitchin ... 2 Sottish Central ........ •• Scottish Midl an d 25 •••• ••• •••••••••• Ditto, New Goole (Nor. Div.) ShDo. do (S ou. Di v.) ... 4 ...... ••• rewsbury and Birni... 9 •••••• ....•• _ Ditto ditto. Class B. 5 Ditto, New Guaranteed 6 tiShlarreewwBsbbulig and Herefd. 2 •••••• --••• ( Nor. W. ki & in. C ) hester 17 - ••• Ditto Halves ... ditto 81 / 2 •••••• ** .... Ditto Oswestry ...... 17 3 4 — Doto New .. ...... 1 ... - ...... ' ~_. 8 per Cent. Pret 10 ". 41tPehire Union pouth Devon 5O ...... .... ..... •• D~Do. Pref erence 25 ...Ea •••• •••• ••• Staffordshire 6% Eastern •• 3 3% 2 2 14 ~ 0., No 1 Do., N 0.2. Do., No. 3 —...•••-•• 25 """ 13 Do. No. 4 Thirds ... 10 Su South ' a thWales ......-••••••• 2 8 '''''' Yorkshire, Don _ caster, and Goole 5 tiviane. & Loughor & Ca meron's Stan. Coal. ... 6 ...... ... •• ...... • Taw V a l e Extension ... 8 ... ... ..... . Thames Haven Dock and Railway ..... .....• 17% — Vale of Neath .... .- ... 4 Waterford and Kilkenny 17%. .... ... Waterford and Limerick 47% ...... -.. Waterfd,Wxf r d,Wi c kl w, and Dublin ..... .. ..... 3 .... • --- Wear Valley 6 p er Cent. • . ....... .•••. Guaranteed ... .. ...... 42 3 4 ...... Do. do. do. ... 25 Do. do. do. ... 10 .. ... ... .......• West Cornwall West London .... 20 ...... -.n o. Do. Ist Class ... 20 - •••••••• Do. Do. 2d Class ..... 20 W hitehaveu & Furness 13 * South Western ..... ... 9% Wilts, Somerset, & Wey- Mouth ........ __ York, Newcastle, and Berwick..... ~. .. 25 Do. Original New and Berwick .. ...... .. .. 25 •••• • P.D Extensiox No. 1. 15 D0..d0. No. 2. ..... ... 15 ~ bo. G .N. E.Prefrzence 8 1 or k and North Ilidland 50 Ditto, Prefrcenco ...... 10 I)o. East and West Rid -1114 t atension .......25 ..... 23 1 4 •• • FOREIGN RAILWAYS. A I nen tallan (late rte ., liaii and Austrian).... 4%...... 13,onlogne and Amiens... 20 - %•;entrai of France (Or r, l eans and Vierzon) ... 17 eylon, . Darnel. , ................. 1,4..»» era De.ndre Valley. ........... 4 Dirt Bombay and Madras ... . ri tas ut t oh i n ß p on isla -e : - ............. 7,... -...--- •• ..... "*. G r .,., ,111T1.... ........... 34 — ...... -..- Lo7v6aruo i lan ta Lozerabou,-- Pe n i nsular 4 sara n] ... 7% — ....... D iu . -b.,- ...... 1/ ........ 7 4•• Madrid it ; . d . ............ .. 10 •••••• 1% -. Namur No ot Fra Valentia... 2 ...... • And Liege ...... 20 ... .. . • Ppas and Bo rince-..... 12 aris and r -eanat... 7 ...... ?aril's -and ti I; ro Y i °ns ....... .. 11 ... „ .• O rleans ....... .. 1. 2% ••••• ••• •• Paris and Ro Pe r i, ~, nen ... ..... 20 ...... ---&.. ..trasbour g ... 9 - ...... •••••••• gra2lll a`ueocae s &C u i aba 30 BIINES. Lt.,, -,OYD'S SHIPPING.—(THIS DAY.) 0 .11 ' I 1 "DON. DEC. I.—Wi n d S.S . W ., f res h b reeze an d hazy Weather. D EAL v Nov. 30.—Wind W.N.W.—Arrd. Carnation, Quebec • Edmond , B ec kf or d, di tto; R o b ert an d A nn , di tto; Canton ditto, for Hull; Protector, Sewell, Deme- Prara ; Bombay, St. John's, Nevi Brunswick ; Queen °Wager,' lixibinson,' Africa; Down, Valparaiso ; Bur ,,nampore. , Smith, Calcutta ; Maria and Elizabeth. il i u _ e _bee, and . sld for Yarmouth. Arrived from the "ri.Sopbta Moffatt, Bombay ; Unicorn, Demerara. Sld Stratford, Mauritius. Qu.ebec -Altbaoaasav Nov* 29.—Arrd. Henry, (of Ardrossan) . • Taco/I, Nov. 28.—llelen Thompson, Gray, Quebec. night IttakcoatE, Nov. 30.—1 t blew a heavy gale last frotn S.S.W. t o N. W., but it moderated in the mornin g . PuDTS3foUTII Nov. 30. Wind W.N.W.—SId. Co quette, Ch arleston. O ff port, Soubardar, Calcutta. WilsßoozEn.a, Nov. 29.—Wi n d W . —A rr d . C onst i tut i on , on, Quebec. YounMaltyprer, Nov .—Wind S.W.—Arrd. Trafalgar, ghusband,v. Quebec. WATERFORD, Nov. 2 8.—Wind W.S.W. to W.N.W. Arid, Medora, Knight No rfolk , United States ; Jesso, Bake r , N ew York. D un Ode FF MOIsITROSE, Nov. 28. Indus, Gibson, Callao for QGLotrcEsrElt, Nov. 29. —A rr d . I re l an d , E vans , ueb ec . SNVAIstsEs, Nov. 20.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrd. George Csildar.kE, ilesaitrnhpsaonl,, c Q u u b e a. bec ; Eagle, Parnall, Quebec. INIMTLroIto, Nov 2 9.—The Forsyth , Liverpool to ; 1131 ? 0 a, has put in here, with larboard quarter stove, naving been in contact yesterday, off Tuskar, wirh a vessel, name unknown. DUNDEE, Nov. 29.—1 t has blown a very heavy gale at W. to S.W. the last two nights. The sloop Margare t ,and Elizitetb, of this port, took fire and burnt to the veater's edge. I.lt E Sid' Gle aner , P ernambuco. Ar . , apooL, No v . 29 . —Wind W.N.W. to N.N.W.— rd. Mischief, hillier, Para; Rival, Pasemore, Nassau; NEWS. HBEE. such active week, still supported. t, comprise 6d. ; 300 :d. to 61d.; vere firmer. her a tran or the elec. ,dmitted to y becomes le cause of s the pro auggestions worthy of taxation of a party Tiew," ob- ; that Eng the world, !Ira of legis v bounties •otection to exportation that such die that wo Lent of the Parliament L other na doubt we enable our taxation, to .hich would st of bodily uperior ad s, our great pulation, be world, and sent fcsreigu real source see, except of things :t of all welfare and. their just ests of this in upon the r important diture. and - With our nt on other this, under products of. existing at elgera pro- on the out- sengers and nt. passengers ad Oriental Ave paiien lAaboh and Nadia. ablished by aeintenance carettoes at [penile, but sic after de- Jonsols are Exchequer and East ime. Bank Three-and the whole the market ipported Ind Spanish toads halv per Cents. steady, but CLOSIIia pRicES• 1 8 6.14 7 664 8 9-16 8 7- 16 8% 89 p 36 p 37% 43 p 40 P 43 P 401' cLosnia nucE9. 24 25 ton. 4734 cLoga n li ucgs• 16 ••• • ••• •••• • ••• d i% •••• 19 •••• 11••• - ...' 6..... II••• r r ••• ~... ••• 0... ... -•••• ••• ••• WO' ••• . • .... ** .. 44 .. . .~ . ..... :74 4 1 I. 164 N , .• . ' 4 1 4 • - 73 1 4 2 1 6 12 2142114 A ~ 21% 24 1 4 24% 11' 4 5 4 - - • - ii 1% ~ ~ 117% - SIA 104 10 1 4 2% . 77 1 4 ..... 8% 52 118% 14 1 4 .. 21 • ... - 3i 004 22 ... 1.21/2 am.• ill• ....• o•• ow. 1•• N 0..• ••• I • • dm. •••• -- 25 4 24 11 1 ,i 11% 6 1 4 48 23 1 4 5% 5% ... 4% THE SUN, LONDON, Lady Rowell, Harvey, Newfonnrillnd. 30th, Arcolo, Paved, Now York, 29th, Sld , Barbara, fleoatv, New Orleat,s. 30th, Airenso (Brazilian recain tug), Lifpon and Rio Janeiro, put hack; Laurel, Tampico. 29th, The Nelly, for Algiers, has put hack. In coaling up the River got in eoiract with a steamer and boat howsprit. 30:h, the Rival, from Nassau, arrived In:re last night, experienced very heavy weather on the ,3,1 inst., in lat. 61, long. 33, from all parts of the compass, but heaviest from N,W. to N.B. The Nathan, W. Bridge, from Picton to AIobilo; the Susan .Dr ow, of Galem, for Mobile; and the Urncomben ' VVinthorp, from Mobile, with captain and mate washed overboard, were all left at Nassau, 24th ult., dismasted; also an American ship in charge of wreckers, was seen, 24th Oct., off Abaco, going into Nassau. by the Rival, arrived here. HARTLEPOOL, Nov. 29.—The brig John and Richard, Thompson, of Sunderland, lying in dock here, caught fire on the 28th instant; and was scuttled ; part of ma terials saved. PETERHEAD, Nov. 29.—The Chevoit, of Berwick, Bangor to Ahmouth, was driven on shore at the en. trance of the South Harbour during a gale this morning, material saved. WARREN POINT, Nov. 29.—The Seraphin, from Now York, when proceeding over Cai tingtord Bar last night, during a strong gale from W.N.W„ got on shore on Cornfield Bay, but was assisted off this morn ing's tide, and will be towed up to the anchorage to-night. DUBLIN, Nov. 29.—The Maria, Dundalk to London, drove on the East-pier last right, but was hove off about nine P.m , making no water, although her bottom is sup posed to have suffered. ARDROSSAN, Nov. 29.—The Clydesdale, of and for Greenock from Porto Rico, is on shore at Sea Mills, near Keibride, full of water, and cargo (sugar and rum) all destroyed. BRISTOL, Nov. 30.—Arrd. Paola, Havannah; Nuevo Camago, Nisria, ditto; Dispatch, Wild, Quebec. DARTMOUTH, NOV. 30.—Wind S.W.—Arrd. Vulture, Harris, Newfoundland. KINGSTOWN, Nov. 29.—Arrd. James Fagan, Quebec SWANSEA, Nov. 30.—Tiie mainmast, with some rigging, &c., of the Aurietta, came on shore at Lang land Bay yesterday; the vessel is entirely broken up. FALMOUTH, Nov. 30.—The Sarah Fleming, from Taganrog, took fire in the cabin last night,;and was con siderably damaged, before it was extinguished. BERWICK, Nov. 29.—The Euphemia, of Whitty, Dun kirk to Grangemouth, struck on a sunken rock off Holy Island this morning, and filled with water; crew (except the master) saved. MAGAZINE DAY. BLACK WOOD. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton resumes his adi - Arable serial tale of " The Caxtons"—a narrative which has imperceptibly gained upon our affections while it has gradually secured our admiration. Although in a great measure reminding us of the odd jocularity of Steine in its style, it is nevertheless infinitely beyond a mere imitation. The resemblance is only such as arises from a congeniality of temperament in the two writers, and is perfectly compatible with the most perfect independence of genius. If anything had been required to demonstrate the extraordinary ver satility of this distinguished and industrious author, a more brilliant evidence could scarcely have been afforded than the domestic story which now constitutes the principal attraction in Black wood. It is as unlike anything he has ever before written as the mystic and beau tiful " Zanoni" is unlike the great prose epic of " Eugene Aram," or as the flippant and sparkling sarcasms of " Pelham" are different from the gor geous tableaux of " The last Days of Pompeii," or as the rude drollery of " Paul Clifford" is the very opposite of the melodious and poetic descriptions of " Harold," or as the meditative chapters of the " Student" are far from bearing any resemblance to the graceful passages of " Night and Morning." The stranger, who; goes by the name of Francis Vivian, but who is no other we conjecture than the lost scapegrace son of Captain Roland, becomes in the present instalment of the novel the protege of Pisistratus, and by correcting French manuscripts for Mr. Trevanion, obtains a competent livelihood. Brave old Roland falls ill from excessive agi tation, and in depicting his terrible malady, Bulwer writes this exquisite and thrilling passage—a passage the deep and awful truthfulness of which we have all of us more or less most bitterly experienced :--=- " Happy those who are strange to that indescribable silent bustle which the sick-room at times presents— that conflict which seems almost hand to hand between life and death—when all the poor, unresisting, uncon• scions frame is given up to the war against its terrible enemy; the dark blood flowing—flowing; the hand on the pulse, the hushed suspense, every look on the physi cian's bended brow; then the sinaplasms to the feet, and the ice to the head; and now and then, through the lull or the low whispers, the incoherent voice of the sufferer —babbling, perhaps, of green fields and fairyland, while your hearts are breaking! Then, at length, the sleep— in that sleep, perhaps, the crisis—the breathless watch, the slow waking, the first sane words—the old smile again, only fainter—your gushing tears, your low— • Thank God! thank God!' " In this manner the old soldier recovers—lying after wards convalescent in a tavern called the Lamb, near London-bridge. We miss Sir Sedley Beaude sert in this, the eighth, part of " The Cartons;"- and we regret it the more as the character has afforded promise of being one of the most felicitously pen cilled in the whole of the Bulwer-Lytton Gallery. The little . incident in the Opera Colonnade—(a spot which the writer describes, in a phrase of rather un necessary circamlocution,..as the narrow passage run ning from Charles-street into Piccadilly, the other precincts of her Majesty's theatre being familiarly known as the Opera Piazza)—is admirably told, and it is by no means difficult to perceive that, slight as it is, it is destined to.affect the fortunes of Fanny Tre vanion most powerfully. The love scene which follows is beautiful beyond measure, short though it be. While distracted with the knowledge of his love for the young heiress, Pisistratus is poring over his labours in the library of Trevanion, when he acci dentally discovers a miniature of Fanny among the volumes. " The painter had seized her peculiar expression—her ineffable smile—so charming, so malicious; even her fa vourite posture,—the small head turned over the rounded Hebe-like shoulder—the eye glancing up from under the hair. I know not what change in my madness came over me; but I sank on my knees, and, kissing the mi niature again and again, burst into tears. Such tears! I did not hear the door open—l did not see the shadow steal over the floor; a light hand rested on my shoulder, trembling as it rested. I started—Fanny herself was bending over me! " What is the matter?' she asked tenderly. ' What has happened ?—your uncle—your family—all well? Why are you weepiug?' " I could not answer; but I kept my hands clasped over the miniature, that she might not see what. they contained. "' Will you not answer? Am I not your friend?—al most your sister? Come, shall I call mamma?' " 6 Yes—yes; go—go.' " No, I will not go yet. What have you ,there? — what are you hiding?' " And innocently, and sister-like, those hands took mine; and so—and so—the picture became visible! There was a dead silence. I looked up through my tears. Fanny had recoiled some steps, and her cheek was very flushed, her eves downcast. I felt as if I had committed a crime—as if dishonour clung to me; and yet I repressed—yes, thank Heaven! I repressed the cry that swelled from my heart, that rushed to my lips —' Pity me, for I love Iou!' I repressed it, and only a groan escaped me—the wail of my lost happiness!" They separate in confusion, and without any explana tion whatever. At last the passion and the interest of the tale has commenced in earnest. A clever paper, biographical and critical, on " Mrs. Hemans" opens the number. It would have been immeasurably more to our taste if it had not contained such a very silly eulogium of Miss Mitford at the expense of Washington Irving : see page 644. A terrible chapter, called "Prophecies for the Present," will be devoured with emotion, referring, as it does, to the predictions of the Solitary of Orval, those of the Jesuit of Poictiers, and those of Robert Fleming— declaring that the world will be destroyed, " within a period of fifty 3 ears from the present time." There is something very awful in the German vatici nation : I would not be a king in 1848. I would not be a soldier in 1849. 1 would not be a gravedigger in 1850. I would be anything you will in 1851. Two magazine stories, " The Green Hand" and " Sigismund Fatello," with a review of " Eastlake's Literature of the Fine Arts," a sneer at "Republican First-Fruits," and a sensible paper on " The Miseries of Ireland, and their Remedies," complete an excellent December number of Blackwood. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, THURSDAY. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince took their usual walk in the grounds of Osborne this morning. The younger branches of the Royal Family also took walking exercise. The Marchioness of Douro left Osborne this day, her turn of attendance upon her Majesty having ter minated; and the Countess of Gainsborough will suc ceed her. Lord Dudley Stuart had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Mr. C. K. Murray had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. The General Board of Health held a meeting yes terday, at Gwydyr House, Lord Ashley in the chair, and received a deputation from the town of Taunton, consisting of Messrs. Vallance, Pollard, and Hitch cock, who had a lengthened interview as to the powers of the Public Health Act. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a general meeting yesterday, at their office, in White hall-place. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening, from the,Colonial-office, for the Governors of New Zealand and South Australia. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. The subjoined quotations are made up chiefly from the business transacted at Warwick on Tuesday and Wed nesday; the betting yesterday having been on so small a scale as scarcely to justify a return:— CHESTER CUP. 35 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Cossack —4OO to 10 laid *l,OOO to 20 agst Mr. Nolan's Blucher—taken 1,000 to 15 apt Mr. Eddison's Hetman Platoff colt—t *2,000 to 30 agst Mr. Disney's Bon-mot—taken 2,000 to 30 agst Lord Howth's Peep o'Day Boy—t *7,000 to 120 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Fuglernan—taken *5,000 to 70 agst Lord Stanley's Canezou—taken *2,000 to 25 agst Mr. Pedley's Tuscan—taken 2,000 to 25 agst Mr. Quin's Attraction—taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Merry's Limestone—taken DERBY. 12 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Honeycomb—tkn to 501. 20 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Osterley—taken 20 to 1 agst Lord Stanley's Uriel 40 to I:agst Mr. Macdonnell's Saucy Dick—t to 50/. *4O to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's The Knout—taken to 50!. 40 to 1 agst Mr. Holmes's Montague—taken 45 to 1 agst Lord Stanley's Escalade—taken OAKS. 7 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Sister to Arkwright —taken * Laid at Leamington. LEAMINGTON STEEPLECHASE.-If we may judge from the unequivocal feeling expressed at the withdrawal of St. Leger on Wednesday (not the first occurrence of the kind this season), he being, at the time, first favourite, the jockey weighed, and the number up, our future quo tations on steeplechasing will be on a very small scale. HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. Crawley and Horsham hds., Mon., Broadbridge Heath; Wed., Crawley Village; Fri., Haward Heath Crossways. Essex Union Ms., Wed., Rettenden Windmill; Sat„ Hadleigh Common. Monmouthshire hds., Mon., Graig Finger -post; Thurs., Colebrook Park-10i. Shropsh;re hds., Mon., Lee Bridge ; Fri., Holly Coppice. Tiverton lids., Mon., Roman's Land, near Witheridge ; Thurs., Redington Plymouth harro. Mon., Crown Hill; Wed., Plymetock and Staddon Heights-10. CHRISTENING OF THE HEIR TO THE CROWN OF BRAZIL.—The Imperial Prince was baptised on the 4th of October, and received the name of Don Pedro, the Emperor of Austria and the Duchess of Braganza being a the sponsors by proxy. The cerem on y was witnessed by immense concourse of people. H is Im p erial Majesty afterwards received the addresses of the Legislative Chambers, the diplomatic corps, and the congratulations of a vast number of the nobility and gentry. A great many titles and decorations were promulgated on the occasion, and in the evening the whole city was splen didly DEATH OF LIEUT.- GENERAL JOHN IV ARDLAW.-- We have to announce the death of this field officer. He expired at Torquay, where he had resided for some months past, on Tuesday last, in his 73d year. The gallant deceased had been in the army above 50 years, and had seen considerable service during the Peninsular war. He commanded the 76th It( giment at the battle of the Nive, and in consequence of his bravery and mi litary conduct on that occasion he received a medal. On the death of Lieutenant-General Sir W. Henry Clinton in 1846, the deceased was appointed colonel of the 55th (the Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot. His commis sions were dated as follow:—Ensign, 27th April, 1796; lieutenant, sth October, 1796; captain, 24th May, 1798; major, 16th January, 1806; lieutenant.colonel, 10th May, 1810; colonel, 12th August, 1819; major-general, 22d July, 1830; and lieutenant-general, 23d November, 1841. He married the youngest daughter of the cele brated Lord Lake. The colonelcy of the 55th Regi ment becomes vacant by his demise. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF MAJOR Ross.—This gallant officer of the Royal Horse Artillery, eldest son of Major-General Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross, K.C.13., Deputy Adjutant-General to the Royal Artillery, died on Sunday last at Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he was stationed on the recruiting service. His death took place from injuries he received a few days previously by fall ing from his horse when out riding, the animal having rolled upon him. Major Ross was a comparatively young officer. being by seniority Second Captain in Capt. Gilbart'sltroop of Royal Horse Artillery, although holding the brevet rank of Major in the service. WESTMINSTER PLAY.--The Phormio of Terence has been chosen this year as the play to be acted by the scholars of St. Peter's, Westminster, according to their usual custom. The play nights will be Monday, the 11th, Thursday, the 14th, and Monday, the 18th of December. DREADFUL FIRE IN GRAY'S INN-LANE. Two LIVES LOST.—This morning, about one o'clock, a most dreadful occurrence took place by fire, in the house of Mr. Powell, optician, Gray's Inn-lane, a few doors from Holborn. It appeared to have originated in the lower part of the premises, and notwithstanding the High Hol born, Farringdon-street, Crown-street, West of England, and other engines of the brigade were in surprising quick attendance, in a few minutes the flames had spread to every room in the house, three stories high, and princi pa,lly occupied by lodgers. The water was abundantly supplied to the firemen, and by two o'clock the flames were subdued, not, however, until Mr. Powell's house and the whole contents were destroyed, and the two houses on each side damaged. After some time the in mates were ascertained to have been saved (except two) a man and woman, lodgers in the upper rooms. The woman, who was far advanced in pregnancy, was found lying y the windows on their own floor, and deceased's husband was found lying on bis back apparently lifeless in the yard. Both were instantly removed, the former in a shell to St. Andrew's workhouse, and the latter to king's College Hospital, but so dreadfully burnt that the medical authorities considered his case hopeless. All the lodgers were persons in poor circumstances, and have lost every portion of their humble furniture. Mr. Powell is insured in the Licensed Victuallers'. office. BANKRUPTCY OF MESSRS. BOWLES, OGDEN, AND Co.—The amount of the dividend about to be declared on the estate of ftessrf. Bowles, Ogden, Wyndham, and Barrow, who failed in 1810, will be merely nominal, probably not amounting to a farthing in the pound. Since the last was declared, in 1826, a small sum has been received by the official assignee, whose object now is to divide it among the creditors, to relieve himself from responsibility, and wind up the estate. The divi dends already declared amount to 16s. 10d. in the pound —Salisbury Journal. DOYER.—The catch of sprats on this coast has been so en ,rmous that they have been retailed at a penny and three half-pence per one hundred and twenty for the last week. Many of them were as large as :mall herrings, mad proved a gr,:at treat, particularly to the poor.— . A catfish 'Observer. FRASE Fraser for this month opens with a history of the recently undertaken Artic Expeditions, the writer of which, who has evidently studied the subject carefully, is, we rejoice to find, of opinion " that we are war ranted in hoping, nay, more, in expecting that the autumn of 1848 will restore the gallant band headed by Sir John Franklin to their native country." The next article is an elaborate review of the recently published Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh, and right glad are we to ,see that even Tory writers are now compelled to admit that in 1814 and 1815 Lord Castlereagh "suffered himself to be overreached by almost every potentate and minister who attacked him on the side of the national vanity," and that the treaty of "Vienna was the most enormous blunder ever perpetrated by an incompetent states man. Even the Tory writer in this most Tory of periodicals is compelled to declare— " Unwilling as most of us may be to admit the truth, the truth still remains, that the late and present troubles of Europe may all be traced back to the territorial ar rangements of 1815. What was it that gave rise to the secret sccieties of Germany, and the Carbonari clubs of Italy, five-and twenty years ago, except the impatience of the German people under the denial to them of political rights which had been promised; and the rest lessness of the Lombards and Venetians under the rule of Austria? And now, see how the rope of sand has melted to pieces. The kingdom of the Netherlands, which the Congress erected as a barrier against France on her northern frontier, seized the first convenient op portunity that offered of dissolving itself. Lombardy and Venice have not conquered their independence, only because their resources were inadequate to cope with the strength of Austria, even in its decline. Genoa has at length hazarded the revolt which the best of her sons kept down for many years, in a mournful conviction.of its hopelessness; and Berlin and Vienna are, while we write, the scenes of events of which to read makes the blood run cold. And all is undoubtedly attributable to the narrow views of the princes and diplomatists who composed the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Bad they, instead of plotting to put down the spirit of liberty, fostered its growth and guided it in a wise direction, thrones, of which some have fallen utterly, while others are tottering, would have stood at this day as firm as our own." Such being the case, it is to be hoped that those who have succeeded Lord Castlereagh in the leadership of the Tory party will not attempt to involve us in a war in order to maintain this most unjust, tyrannical, and impracticable of treaties. The fact was, Lord Castlereagh, instead of studying the interests of his country and of Europe generally, thought only how he should best secure votes for the Ministry in a boroughmongering House of Commons. The " saints," at that time.a powerful party in . the House, were coquetting with the Opposition, and Lord Cas tlereagh purposely abstained from entering into commercial treaties " which every nation in the world was ready to sign at our bidding, and which, had they been wisely drawn, must have operated to enlarge our trade and to compensate by so doing for the sacrifices which the people of England had made to carry on the war," in order to "induce (we quote his own words) every power in Europe to pronounce against the slave trade;" they pronounced, and nothing more, for the traffic still goes on under the flags of every European power, and with the hearty concur-. rence of every nation in Europe except otirselves And Lord Castlereagh must have been perfectly aware that such would be the case (he at least was no fanatic), but it mattered not; the Tory landed ans..: tocracy were to be propitiated by the carrying of a corn-law, and in order to secure the votes of OA " saints" in favour of that most iniquitous measure, this general " pronouncement," w, hick never has beeni and which never was intended to be carried into exen cution, was obtained, at the sacrifice of the great commercial interests pf the country. We rejoice tcl find that even Tories are beginning to .discover the FRIDAY EVEgING, real nature of the diplomatic proceedings of Lbrd Castlereagh, and :0 we have got rid of his corn-law so we trw.t ttr.t. we shall ere long get rid of his otherhandiwork, the tr ea ty of Vienna, and then there may be some probability that the affairs of Europe will be established upon a permanent, because upon a natural and just basis. " Fuss in a Book Club" is an attempt to put down Miss Martineau's book on " Eastern Life" by sheer and mere abuse. The writer, like his hero, the Hon. and Rev. John Murray, contents himself with saying that the book is a mischievous book, but never points out in what the mischief consists, nor, although he expresses a wish " for a strong refuta tation" of all the errors ,which it contains; does he himself attempt to adduce a single argument in refutation of any one of them. " The .Army and the People, No. 2," is a well written exposé Of a few of the grievances under which the unfortunate soldier suffers from the petty, teazing tyranny of ignorant, inefficient, and, therefore, martinet officers—" a vile fellow," to use the words of Sir Charles Napier, " who worries his men, fellows whom soldiers hate, men who ought to be hated." The piper on the " Life and Works of Leopardi" is an interesting biographical memoir and review of the works of one of the greatest poets and philologists of modern Italy, the patriot -poet of despair, the laureate of death, the Dante of the 19th century, who died at Naples in 1837, at the age of 89. We have then an amusing paper descriptive of the Christmas festivities in Russia, and the first of a series of articles on the Austro-Italian question well worthy the study of all who take an interest in foreign politics. The present paper gives a history of the various Italian states, from the treaty of Utrecht to that of Aix-la- Chapelle, showing the decline of the. Spanish, and rise of the Imperial power in Italy, and the constant and systeniatic encroachments of the: Dukes of Savoy in attempting to carry out the am bitious project which every head of that family has entertained, of making himself King of "Lombardy first Piedmont, then portions of LornbarclY.an4 Man tua, then Sardinia, with the title of King,. then. Genoa, were obtained by this ambitious family, and Charles Albert, in his recent invasion of Lombardy, was but carrying out the hereditary policy of his house. " The Inundation of Pest," and " Yeast " are brought to a conclusion in this number, which con tains a condensed but well-written summary of the current history of the month. DECEMBER THE SCOTTISH HOSPITAL, The 183 i ant ivennrY dinner ofthis mot excellent charity was celebrated yesterday, St. Andrew's Day, at the London Tavern, under the mast brilliant auspices, since on no former .occasion did f o great.a number of Scotchmen, and Englishtren (fur the charity has received most liberal aid from the natives of South Britain) congregate within the walls of any bui!ding to do honour to the Scottish Hospital. The, managers, anxious to promote the increased prosperity of the charity, obtained the ready aid of the Lord Mayor, Sir James-Duke, himself a Scotchman, and a warm supporter of the institution.. It being the first public dinner in connexion with the charities of the metropolis to aid which his Lordship has presided, a vast number of worthy citizens, Scotchmen as well as Englishmen, stepped forward to support his Lordship. The announcement that upwards of 400 persons par took of the banquet will not be received with sur- prise ; certainly - those who know what ScGtchm - en can do when they " put shouleer to shoulder," will be prepared fix such a fact. The large room of the Tavern was therefore crowded almost to inconve- nielice.nt The arrangement of the tables across the room, and the utmost economy of space, failed to give more than elbow room to each man. The room was beautifully decorated with the national arms and ban ners, spears, targets, and Tartan scarfs of all the leading clans. The gallery was graced by many beautiful ladies. It was remarked that not one wore ,he Tartan, except to the extent of a ribbon or a scarf. Seventy or eighty gentlemen wore the kilt. The Lord Mayor took the chair at half-past six. He was supported on the right by M. Monthrot, attaché to the French legation, and on his left by Alderman Copeland. The Chisholm was croupier. Amongst those present we observed:—Captain Forbes, Chisholm •Anstey, Esq., M.P. (who wore the kilt) ; Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P.; the Hon. J, Melville, Mr. Alderman Finnis, Sheriff ; Sir C. Malcolm, General Milman, Mr. B. Cabbell, M.P. ; Mr. Moffatt, ; Major Campbell, Captain Denham, R.N. ; Captain Dalzell, R.N. ; Captain Lamont, R.N.; Mr. Alexander Thompson, the Rev. Dr. Stebbing, Mac.. donald, of Inch ; Mark Boyd, Esq. ; Charles Logan, Esq. ; Tulloch, Esq.; Archibald Master, of Car- lisle, &c., &c. Due justice having been done to the dinner, which Well sustained the high renown of the London Tavern, The LORD MAYOR gave the " Queen," which was received with the utmost expressions of loyalty. He said on looking over the list of those who bad aided the charity, he found that the Queen had been a liberal supporter of the charity ever since she came to the throne—(Loud cheers)—an act which demanded their gratitude and loyalty. It was a source of great con gratulation that no strife existed between the subjects and their Sovereign, and:it was a proud boast for the people of Scotland to be enabled to say that whilst the nations of Europe were engaged in civil strife, the Queen of England could go to her retirement in the mountains of Scotland and remain thereas secure as if she were surrounded by:her soldiers. He might say that there was nothing but affection in the breezes that floated over the heather and blue bells of Scot- land.—(Loud cheers.) No doubt her Majesty would long continue to visit their native land, and his hope was, and he was sure it was echoed in the heart of every Scotchman, that her Majesty might long reign over a happy and united people.—(Loud cheers.) lie then gave " The Queen." • The toast was drunk with true Scottish enthu siasm. The toast of "The Queen Dowager" (whom his Lordship said had been a liberal subscriber to the charity for the last 30 years) followed, and was equally well received. The LORD MAYOR then proposed "The health of Prince Albert," and said he was glad to find by an Aberdeen paper that his Royal Highness had become a Highland laird, which he was sure would endear him still more to Scotchmen.—(Loud cheers.) Since he had become a Highland laird, whenever he came among them, he was satisfied they would give him a Highland welcome.—(Cheers.) He begged to couple with the toast, " Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family." The toast was drunk with Highland honours.. The LOBD MAYOR next proposed " The Foreign Ministers." The French Ambassador had been unable to attend, but he sent them his private secretary.— (Cheers.) In giving the toast, his Lordship said— Since they had no right to quarrel with the mode of government 'which other countries chose to adopt, it was their duty to treat the representatives of those Governments with the utmost respect.—(Cheers.) He could not forbear calling their attention to the kind invitation he had received from the National Guards, on his accession to office, to visit Paris,— (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He trusted they would reciprocate the cordiality of feeling they had evinced towards this country.—(Loud cheers.) The recent speech of the French Minister would, he be lieved, do more to promote the peace of the two coun tries than twenty diplomatic negotiations. M. MARTHROT returned thanks in French. He said the French nation looked upon the people of this country with the utmost respect, and he believed that nothing would tend more to their mutual advantage and the preservation of peace than the existence of that reciprocity of feeling and communication to which his Lordship had adverted.—(Cheers.) Whenever they might come to Paris they would find a hearty welcome.—(Cheers.) The LORD MAYOR then proposed " The Army and Navy."—(Drank with the usual honours.) General MILLMAN returned thanks on the part of the army; and Admiral Sir CHARLES MALCOLM on behalf of the navy. The LORD MAYOR then rose and said—Gentlemen, I rise to bespeak your indulgence whilst I endeavour to address myself to the toast of the evening. If any thing is more gratifying to me than another, it is to have the honour of presiding over such an assembly, gathered together for such a purpose, on the first occasion of my taking the chair at a public dinner since I have been called to the position I have the honour to hold. lam proud, not only to take the chair on an occasion like this, but lam proud—l may say lam especially gratified—to see myself surrounded by so many , dis tinguished men who have gathered together here for the purpose of supporting this charity—(Cheers)— and I hope the Gallant General will not be offended if I say 1 think he took an unfair start of me in ad dressing himself as he did to the ladies.—(Laughter.) I wish to address myself to the galaxy of beauty that adorn yonder gallery—(Cheers)---and 'to beg that they will consider—notwithstanding the humble in• dividual who. is. now.addressing them—how they can best promote the prosperity of the charity, since, but for their countenance and support, it iwould never have flourished to the extent it has.—(Cheers.) I ain sure, if they will merely smile upon it, and interest themselves in so good a work, that it cannot fail to prosper.—(Cheers - .) Gentlemen, it is unnecessary for me to detain you by wearying you with any ob servations on this excellent charity, which has been so long acknowledged as one pre-eminently deserving of your support. It was founded nearly 200 years ago, and has since then been supported with more or less success, but always doing a great deal of good. —(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it had its origin in that feeling which I trust w ill long be cherished in Scot land and amongst Scotchmen when far away from home—namely, aiding each other.—(Cheers.) I believe it was in that spirit, and for this laudable purpose, that first induced a few Scotchmen, here in London, when railroads did not bring their own land so near, or enable them to pass so frequently as they now can to and fro—it was an equally rare thing to see a Scotch Lord Mayor—(Prolonged cheering)—to com bine together for the purpose of helping their destitute fellow-countrymen in the metropolis ; but whether those resident in London visit Scotland more frequently than they did, or whether those in Scotland come more frequently to London than in former days, I hope none of us shall ever forget this institution which is so peculiarly Scotch. My excellent friend the secretary, Major Adair, who is most indefatigable in the discharge of his duties—(Loud cheers) —has informed me that this charity provides for no less than 100 poor persons — to whom it gives a pension of 101. a year, and 30 more aged persons receive 81. a year each. Now, gentlemen, my experience tells me that there is nothing so difficult as to discriminate in the distribution of charity. The benevolent are always subject to the basest deceptions by the idle and unde serving, but this excellent charity employs its funds in succouring the aged above seventy years, when it is impossible anything like imposition can be prac tised.—(Hear.) It is the means of preventing many industrious, deserving men from being compelled to , adopt that der-144er• resort, the poor- house. Many most industrious and deserving persons, I need not . tell you, become ultimately so distressed, from no fault of their own as to have no other means of sub sistence ; and, herefore it is incumbent upon those whom Providence has blessed with wealth to spare out of that abundance something towards comforting old age. (Hear.) These are always the feelings that actuate me whenever I consider the applications to me for charity ; and I am sure, if you take into account the labours of this institution— the numbers it has relieved and the numbers it has helped back to their native home—you all agree with me that it peculiarly deserves your generous support ; for we all know well that nothing is more gratifying to a Scotchmen than to be enabled some time or other to visit his ancient home.—(Cheers.) Though he may be carried there on a bed of sickness, and pre sent himself there as an object of charity, yet still it is satisfactory to him to be enabled to die in old Scotland.--(Cheers.) Gentle men, these are the objects, the l au d a bl e o bj ec t s , lis ancient institution. I am sorry it has not been so well supported as it so richly deserved. On this ccoation I am happy to know that this large and -important assembly have gathered here on this occa sion to kindly mark the respect whichlhey -entertain 1, 1848.. for ti:e office which I hold.. I. trust they will allow me, Sco'xhinan, to-ritreat-theol,to rally round the lx•t i,stitution se 1.V.:.: c f thelind --(Cheers.) friend nor me TelltiLICIS me that «hen I advert to tiro institution sending Scotchmen home, I should also mention that about three hundred are relieved a month as casual poor.—(llear, hear.) Now, gentle, men, I have said that I have had some expe rionee of the poor ,of this . metropolis; and though not here to make ,harsh observations c r cpmparisons with respect to any country, yet I cannot help remarking that but few Scotchmen apply for relief.-_—(Hear.) I remember being present on an interesting occasion at a public dinner, and mak- _, ing mention of the power of foreign countries, of the magnificent wealth of our own, of her immense commerce, which is wafted to every shore, and of the vast importance and greatness of London, but I added, if you ask me what dues Lon don most , honour, I would tell you that it is her charitable institutions.— (Loud cheers.) Now, gentlemen, what charitable institution is more deserving of support than the Scottish Hospital.— (Hear, hear.) IVe know there are many Scotchmen in London, and therefore do not let it be said that the only institution in London, peculiarly wants any lack of support.—(Hear, hear.) lam glad, however, to say, that we are not solely indebted to Scotchmen for support, because I know that many of our friends who have no connexion with Scotland hive come .forward to support it.—(Hear, hear.) Scotchmen, we a ll k now, h ave t h e greatest disincli nation to receive charity, and that they never accept it except when driven to do so by stern necessity. The distress you are called to relieve, is, therefore, of the, most urgent and of the most necessitous kind. It is unnecessary for me to detain you with any fur ther.observations, except to state that,.as you must be aware, the population of this town is greatly increas ing, and I am happy to know the number of Scotchmen are also increasing. (Hear and laughter.) This iOtitution has increased detnands made upon its funds. I hope,,therefore, I shall have the happiness to night, .when I leave .this chair, to End, . that I have made a successful appeal on ~behalf- of this excellent charity ; and although I cannot . call upon the secretary to wait upon the ladies with " book and bag," yet I count upon their assistance. I am sure you will all add to the pleasures you have, enjoyed this evening, this [additional, one, the " luxury of doing good." 7-- (Loud cheers.) I ask you to join me in a bumper to " Prosperity to the Scottish Hospital and its Noble President, the Duke of Montrose." -The toast was drank with the utmost enthusiasm. The CurssoLm, who is treasurer to the charity, returned thanks on behalf of the Noble President (s ho was unable to attend), and the other principal supporters of the hospital, and expressed his regret that the Noble Duke himself was not present, to add, by the power of his tried and practised eloquence, fresh fuel to the flame already kindled by his Lordships's able appeal from the chair in be half of the Scottish Hospital. (Applause.) He hoped the company would sanctify this banquet, and make it a feast of love and charity; and, for his part, he esteemed it a high honour and privilege to be enabled to do so.—(Cheers.) Certain persons had slighted the claims of this charity, on the ground that it possessed resources in the funds— they withheld their support from it, because they considered it was rich. Now, his reply was that it was true the managers, in the exercise of that pru dence which was said'to be characteristic of Scotch men, had provided in some measure against the immediate requirements of the institution ex hausting all their available means, still he could only tell them that unless they received the regular subscriptions of the benevolent, the society would soon find its hands to be tied, and have to turn the aged and necessitous unrelieved from its doors. He appealed to their charity, not because they were rich, but because they were poor, and, being p oor , they were prudent.—(Cheers.) _ _ Lord D. STUART then proposed the " Health of the Chairman" in a very complimentary speech, in which he congratulated the citizens of London upon their good fortune in having so able and talented a Scotchman to fill the office of chief magistrate of the first city in the world. Drunk with great enthusiasm. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks in a very appro priate speech, in the delivery of which he was loudly and repeatedly cheered. The CHISHOLM then proposed " Prosperity to the City of London," associating with the toast the name of Alderman Copeland. Alderman COFELAND briefly acknowledged the com pliment, and in an able address commented upon the fact that London, whilst it derived deserved fame and renown as the mighty emporium of the world's com merce, received perhaps its highest glory from the circumstance of its holding out to the world an example of benevolence and charity, commensurate, to a lau.lable degree, with its transcend:. - t mercantile and industrial celebrity. The CHISHOLM proposed the " Sheriffs of London," which was responded to by Mr. Sheriff Finnis. The LORD MAYOR gave the health of " Mr. Chis holm Anstey, M.P.," who briefly responded. The health of " The Chisholm " followed. The. Cmsnar.st, in responding, alluded to the dis tracted state of Europe, and regretted that civil broils had kd even to the shedding of blood on the steps c.f the capital of. Rome, and to the life of the Pope being menaced. With respect to Scotchmen, he would undertake to say of them that whenever their services were . required in defence of the liberties of their country, they would be ready to fight " shoulder to shoulder," as in the days of yore.—(Cheers.) The LOaD MAYOR then proposed " Prosperity to the Caledonian Asylum." He wished to couple with the toast the name of the great benefactor of the institution, Sir Charles Forbes, who had not only devoted his money, but his best energies, to raising the institution to its present eminence. —(Cheers.) Captain CHARLES FORBES said the Caledonian Asylum had been appropriately termed the "twin sister of the Caledonian Scottish Hospital, he trusted it would long continue so. His father and family had ever taken the most lively interest in the-velfare of the institution, and, would, as they had heretofore done, use their best efforts to.promote its increased efficiency.—(Cheers) Major ADAIR (the Secretary) .read a goodly list of • subscriptions in aid of the charity already collected, for the purpose of providing for the wants of the en suing year. Among the principal contributors were —the Duke of Sutherland, the late President (half yearly subscription), 50/.; the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, 20 guineas;. Alderman Copeland, 10 guineas ; Admiral Sir C. Malcolm, 10 guineas ; Lord D. Stuart, 5 guineas, &c. The company did not separate till a late hour. Miss Ransford, Mr. Ransford, and Mr. Genge con tributed much to the harmony of the evening. Mr. Cooper the well-known singer of Sc o t c h songs, also enlivened the company by singing some good old songs in superb style. Mr. Higgs was the toastmaster. • The embellish ment of the room was tastefully accomplished by Mr. Douglas, one of the officers of the new society of Scotch Archers. THE ELECTRIC LlGHT.—Further experiments were made last evening in Trafalgar-square with , this newly invented apparatus for the production of light ; and vast crowds of astonished and delight , d foot passenr gers assembled from all parts of London to witness the extraordinary, elf, cts of this new and clever application of eleetro-galvanism. The flame, although small, from its intense whiteness and purity, is thrown, by means of a reflector, a considerable distance down Whitehall ; while in the immediate vicinity of Charing cross .a mann sctipt or small type may be perused with the greatest facility and pleasure. The discovery is of very great importance, and, after a short time, we should not be surprised to bear of the total extinction of half the gas companies in the kingdom. INQUESTS. —Yesterday no fewer than five inquests were held in the metropolitan districts. Two of these were upon persons unknown, whose bodies were tound in the river Thames; a man, apparently about 30 year s of age, six feet in height, and dressed as a lighterman, and a respectably-attired woman, rather above the mid dle stature, about 28 years, attired in a stuff dress. The Man was found on Monday, opposite the Fox-under-the hill, Strand; and the woman on Tuesday, off Uunger ferd, Pier.—A third inquest was held at St. Martin's workhouse, on the body of Frederick Le Sage, aged 57, who destroyed himself on Saturday night, at the Model Lodging-house, George-street, Bloomsbury, by swallow ing laudanum.—A fourth on the body of John He rring, aged 45, who, having gone ou t f or a walk, was after wards found drowned in the Surrey Canal, into which it is supposed he accidentally fell, the banks being in a cal ably unprotected state.—And the l ast upon the b ody of Thomas Carrol, ag e d 40, a l a b ourer in Covent-garden market, w ho was, accidentally run over by a Piccadilly oinnibus.j4rerdicts in accordance with the evidence were severally returned. THE SWELL Mon.—For some time past various robberies have been committed in railway carriages, on adjacent lines, supposed to be effected by sma ll detach ments of the L on d on swell mob, whose respectable dress and often affable deportment elude all suspicion of the purpose of their travelling. Two young wen of gentle manly exterior, who have been seen to take repeated trips on the Edinburgh and Northern line, without any apparant legitimate purpose, were apprehended by the police authorities on Monday, and brought by Mr. Moxey before the Magistrate on Tuesday, where failing to give an account of their mode of living, or to make re ference as to character, they were awarded the highest punishment the'- New Police Act inflicts on vagrants, namely 60 days' imprisonment. This clause reaches all cases where the party, having no employment, or ob vious means of living, is found wandering about idly, and with a- suspicious purpose. No substantive act could be alleged against the parties in question, but the strong suspicion which attached to their manners and conduct seemed to the Magistrate to warrant the putting in force of this provision. —Caledonian Mercury. There is a boy in Salem so bright, that his mother has to look At "him through ti-piece of- smoked - glass.— !Yew Ypik paper. NEW MONTHLY. The New Monthly December opens with the thirty- second chapter of Mr. ROWcroft's " Tick ; or the Memoirs of an Old Eton Boy." The narrative is, as usual, dashing in style and crowded pith adventure. Of the second article, " The Siege of Vienna," we shall say little. The opening paragraphs exult over the crushing of " the rebellion which had so shamelessly reared its head" in Vienna, and express their writers' opinion that it would be happy for the prospects of general civilization if such an example should be successfully followed in Prussia and throughout .all Germany ! We gladly turn to the narrative of " Mr. Jolly Green's Imprisonment in the chateau de Vincennes." His refusal to p ar t a k e o f anything but "du p ang e t de low," "for he will accept no ,favours from the Republican Government," becomes invested .with an air of sublime magnanimity after reading the chapter on Vienna. Lieutenant-Colonel Napier's interesting reminiscences of South Africa are ,brought to a con clusion. " A Gamin of the Garde Mobile," an epi sode of the Revolution of June, is narrated , in a very effective manner. The melancholy interest of the tragical catastrophe is considerably heighten e d b y it s unfortunately too great probability. AII VS WOR Til'S. Ainsworth's Magazine contains, as usual, a pleasing variety of light tales and interesting romances. Among :the latter is a continuation of the editor's brilliant novel of "Crichton.". Among the former the most amusing are some " Odd Chapters in the Life of a Single Gentleman." The chief interest of this very interesting article is occasioned by the per formance of some amateur theatricals. Richard is the chosen play. - The two principal actors, Mr. Jessop and Mr. O'Toole, each conscious of his own merits and his own dignity, are both resolved on acting the premier role: The Duke of Gloucester is apportioned to the one, and the Duke of Buckingham to the other, and all promises well enough until Mr. O'Toole discovers (for none of the party are well versed in Shakspere) that the Duke of Gloucester is also;King Richard, and that part he will yield to no one. Mr. Jessop is equally firm and on the rising of the curtain two Richards are discovered in the field. The first scene is performed as an ,oratorical duet. Queen Anne brings about an accommodation, and the rival Richards consent to perfocm in alter nate acts, and all goes on prosperously until the closing scene. Each has performed his part in two acts, only one more remains. Consequently in the field of Bosworth, Richmond is encountered by two op ponents, by whose united efforts he is fairly forced to fly, and then, says the historian, " catne the grandest scene of all," the two Richards . closed upon each other, and the curtain fell upori them both uncon quered! This marvellous incident is detailed with infinite humour and effect. THE ART JOURNAL. Extraordinary promise is given in the number of the Art Journal just published, as to the still further improvement which will be made visible in its cha racter on the commencement of the new year. Of the fulfilment of these promises, and of the realisation of our expectations in their regard, we are satisfied, from the remarkable energies hitherto displayed in the conduct of this beautiful periodical. The engravings for December are singularly clever. Poole's " Moun taineer," in particular, is a graceful token of the genius of that distinguished artist: The representation of the statue of . " The Friends," however, done ac cording to Bate's new process, is anything but to our taste. Of the miscellaneous papers we can speak in terms of the fullest approbation. DOLMAN. With the number just issued the eighth volume of Dolman's Magazine is compl e t e d. We may now, therefore, begin to regard it, not only as firmly esta blished, but almost in the light of an old favourite. The contributions for Decembet iustain its character. THE CHEMICAL TIMS ND JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. This useful hebdomidal record of the discoveries in chemical and pharmaceutical science, is, we believe,. intended as a successor t o th e Pharmaceut i ca l Ti mes , and is conducted on the same plan. It contains an immense amount of scientific information. LORD HARDIN GE • AT DOVER. DOVER, Nov. 30 .—Yesterd a y Lord Harding° dined with the 50th Regiment (71,een,, Own) at t h e Mess room, Dover Castle, when Lordship presented a massive gold cup to the officers,oii)r the gift of his Royal Highness Prince Waldemar The mess room was tastily decorated with the colours of the ei regiment, several flags taken by them S Ihs, arms, fifty ti tl accoutrements, &c., and about compris ing the officers of the 50th, amyl agefnwemden,. tistinguished visitors, sat down to dinner. Colonel 'Petit chairman, and was supported on hisrightl t't acted as of the evening, Lord Harding° and , on his left by Mr. E. R. Rice, M.P. for Dover. On the cloth being removed the usual loyal toasts were given and warmly responded to. S. M. Latham, Esq., Prussian Vice-Consul at Dover, then handed the cup to Lord llardinge; on which Lord ILLIIDINCE rose and said, he had the pleasing task to perform of presenting the cup to the officers of the gallant regiment; at the request of his Royal High ness Prince Waldemar of Prussia. They wire all aware his Royal Highness not only wished well to the officars of the 50th, but had acted with them in the late brilliant operations on the Sutlej , where the Prus sian L e g io n gre atly distinguished itself. Il e eulogized the Prince as a worthy descendant of the great Frederick. His Lord ship then read a letter he had received from the Prince, requesting him top resent the 'cup, and concluded by reading the inscription it bore, as follows :---" A s a token of remembrance of the happy days spent amongst' the officers of the 50th regiment at Loodianah, and the following glorious campaign en the banks of the Sutlej, this goblet is presented by his Royal Highness Prince Waldemar of Prussia." llis Lordship having placed the cup in the hands of Colonel Petit, begged to pro pose that it be filled with generous wine, and that they all drink from it to the health of Prince Waldemar of Prussia. This being complied with, the Prince's health was drank with all the hone ur s. Mr. LATHAN acknowledged the toast on b e h a lf o f t h e Prince, regretting the absence, from indisposition, of the Prussian Consul-General. Colonel PETIT returned thanks;and observed that the cup would be retained by the 50th with fe elings of pride and gratitude, as the g ift of an illustriou s Prince who joined the British army, s hared its dangers, and was no less distinguished for his kindness on all occasions, than for his gallantry in the field. The present was more enhanced on account of being received from England's most distinguished General. It was the gift of a soldier to his comrades and companions in victory; and he (Col. Petit) esteemed it the more, as it would tend to draw more closely the bonds of brotherhood between the Prus sian and the British soldier. He concluded by giving the " Health of Lord Hardinge. — (Drank with deep en thusiasm.) Lord HARDINGE returned thanks, and said he owed a debt of gratitude to the Indian array. He eulogised the conduct of General Napier, Sir 11. Smith, and proposed as a toast, " Sir H. Gough and the Indian Army." That distinguished veteran, he said, had won more victories in Asia than any of his predecessors, and he had no doubt he would render a good acco unt of Moultan; I t w as now half-past ten o'clock, and Lord Harding° re tired amid deafening cheers. A man down East has invented Yellow spectacles , for making lard look like butter. They are a great sa ving of expenso, if worn while eating. EXCISE INFORMATIONS. — SeveraI hotel-keeper's at Slough were y(stcrday brought before Mt Eton Bench of Magistrates, and fined f o r l etting carriages and horns without complying with the Excise regulations. THE ROYAL SOCIETY THE. RE:.-.T. - ; NATION coZ '1 J NORTHA Ml' .1% . A 1; Q iiiS OF A.S I.'R i-;11:11 ,. .,N 1. Yesterday being Sr. Andre-W's the tmniyersary of this society was held,- for the purpon.e of electing a council and officers for the ensuirf! ;.ear, at the apart ments of the society, at Somr , .. , t-!.!:)uq,-. There was a Very ` nurecrau-3 ci,!ten,lance, caused by th e retirement of the argiii3 '7`Ti , loo: - Epton, who has iled the proiiidentLl chair ~finer N,Netrib:?r, 1.939, when F.neree9cd to that lionciur,ble di tins tioti on die re tirement of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex; and also the retirement of the respected secretary, Dr. Peter Mark Roget, who has discharged the functions of his office in the council for a period of twenty years. At two o'clock the Fellows began to congregate, the Nob!e Preddent being amongst the earliest arrivals; and the Earl of Rosse, who was proposed as the Noble Marquis's successor, was also present. The following were elected Officers and Council of the society for the ensuing }e.ir:—Pre!,id i iv, the Earl of Rosso; treasurer and vice-pmsidenr, Mr. Goorco Rennie; secietaries, :Messrs. S%ruuel and Thernas Bell; foreign secretary, l,i. u!, mint, Coligiul Edward Sabine, Peter M. Ro2et, M.D., the Mar nuts of \`ortltatnptuu, Ge o r ge Bids, it Ait ( . y, M.A , Sir James Clarlc, Bait., M.D., J. I'. Gus,iot, Thoma s Horner, Sir R , ,bert L i ng „ , Bart. LL.D., John George Shew Dlev,e, M.A., Si c Charles L) ell, M.A., A!len Mi!ler, M.D., Richard Owen, John Pi,illips, the Dean m . lVeitminkter, - and Charles Wheittst.lne. Oa the publication of this list great dissiitisfaction was expressed by many of the Fellows that, although Dr. ll° _et, who had resigned the secretaryship, war a physiologist, and, as such, a repretentative of the - na-- tural history sciences, Mr. Grove, whom the c uncil proposed to succeed him, was principally known tor his researches in physical science. It was stated Ihtet the proposed list would constitute the " executive officers of the society entirely of cultivstors ot.physical science, leaving the natural sciences without an officer capable of abstracting an anatomical, physiological,,or natural his tory paper, or of giving an opinion on its merits." The eissatisfaction thus expressed was inert aied when the followirg tacts became known:— - " At a meeting of the committee of zoology and - ani - - mal physiology of the Royal Society, held July 4, 1848, the following resolution was moved by Professor Owen, seconded by Mr. Gray, and unanimously agreed to:— " That the committee taking into consideration the large proportion of papers communicated to the Royal Society on subjects of anatomy, physiology, and other branches of natural history, and the loss which the so. ciety is about to sustain by the retirement of a secretary eminent for his acquaintance with those sciences, bed respectfully to request the attention of the council to the advantage and desirableness of having one of the secretaries conversant with those branches of knowledge. Resolved, That the secretary be instructed to communi cate the above resolution to the council." " This resolution of the physiological committee hav ing been duly communicated to the council, it was pro: posed in council by Sir Charles Lycll, and seconded by Mr. Gassiot—' That Mr. Grove be rec inmended by the council to the society for election as secretary at the next anniversary;' on which an amendment was moved by Mr. Brown, and seconded by Dr. Ro,;(4—` That Mr. Thomas Bell be recommended as secretary,' which amendment being negatived, the original motion was then put and carried." Under these circumstances a few of the Fellows formed a committee for the purpose of securing, if possible, the election of Mr. Thomas Bell to the vacant secretaryship. In the " Statement of Facts" published by this commit tee, they also stated that they considered the election of a naturalist to the vacant office the more necessary, as it will be seen that in the new council as proposed by the present one, there is a most unequal apportionment of the members to the respective sciences which are supposed to be represented in that body; there being eight mem bers to represent the physical sciences, five geologists, and two chemists; while there is but one for compara tive anatomy, one for physiology, and one for zoology, and not one representative of botany. Thus, of the whole council of twenty-one members, three only repre sent the natural sciences. This state of things will ac count for the very large meeting of yesterday. At four o'clock the Marquis of Northampton took the chair, and called upon Professor Owen to read the re sult of the audit of the treasurer's accounts, when it ap peared that the income of the society daring the past year, was 3,303/. 12s. 3d., including a balance of 6361. I Is. 3d. in the hands of the treasurer at the last audit. Tho expenditure Lad been 2,8t81. 19s. 2d., leav ing in the treasurer's hands a balance of 4841. 13s Id. Of the receipts, 1,122/. 16s. were for annual contribu tions, being a larger sum than has ever been previously received by the society. The rest of the receipts is de rived from estates possessed by the society, and from 14,0001. Reduced Three per Cent. Annuities, and 18,4111. I Is. 9d. Consolidated Bank Annuities. Of the expenditure, 825/. was spent in the purchase of 1,000/. Consols. After the statement of accounts had been laid before the meeting, the Marquis of Northampton delivered a short address, on the occa sion of his Presidency over the society for the last time. He thanked the Fellows for the great kindness and forbearance they had exhibited towards him us long as he had occupied the chair. He felt that his scien tific merits were not equal to the position, but he would yield to none—not even to the Noble Lcrd who was about to succeed him—in the interest he had taken, and should still continue to take, i n th e we lf are of the I society._ The PRESIDENT then proceeded to award the medals of the society. The first royal medal was awarded to Mr. Galloway, for his paper on the movements of the physical universe in space; the st cond was awarded to Professor Hargreaves, of University College, for his paper on the solution of lineal differential equations. The Copley medal was presented to Mr. Adams, for his astronomical labours in connexion with the discovery of the planet Neptune. The Rumford medal was received by Colonel Sabine for Monsieur Reginault, for his la bours in connexion with the elasticity of vapours at dif ferent degrees of temperature. The SECRETARY (Dr. Roget) read, instead of the usual lengthened notice, merely a list of the Fellows who had died during the past year. The number of deaths was twenty-one, whilst the number of admissions was sixteen. The total number of members in November, 1847, was 821 ; in November, 1848, but 814. The PRESIDENT announced that in order to facilitate the voting, balloting papers, containing the cross list, proposed by Mr. Bell's friends, had been prepared. This led to some discussion, in which Sir Henry de la Bache and Mr. Leonard Homer took part. Sir C. LYELL then rose to explain the circumstances that led the council to fix on Mr. Grove as secretary. They had first proposed that Professor Edward Forbes or Professor Owen should take this office, on account of their wish that it should be occupied by a naturalist; but as these gentlemen could not take the office, it was considered, on account of the known business habits of Mr. Grove, his scientific position, and the zeal and earnestness with which he had advocated the various re forms which had recently taken place in the society, that he would be the most eligible candidate to put forward. Sir Charles was proceeding to meet the objections raised to Mr. Grove as secretary, when loud cries of " time" and " the ballot" compelled him to desist. Mr. WHARTON JONES observed that Mr. Bell was not a physiologist, but a zoologist. The PRESIDENT having appointed Dr. Royle and Mr. John James Bennett scrutators, the collecting the ballot ing papers and examining them commenced. During this process, Sir R. H. INcus proposed, and Mr. BROUGHTON seconded, a vote of thanks to the Mar quis of Northampton, fur the manner in which he had filled the chair of the society for a period of ten years. Dr. PARIS, President of the College of Phy sicians, pro posed, and Mr. IV. TOORE seconded, a vote of thanks to Dr. Roget, for his services as secretary during a period of twenty years. The examination of the balloting papers took an un usual length ofseven that t h the o ccreurtia acid made their report, time. when it hai appeared fasi council, proposed by the council, were elected, with the exception of Mr. Grove, to be secretary, in whose place Mr. Bell was elected. The votes for the three secreta ries were as follows:—For Mr. Christie, 215; for M r . Bell, 134; for Mr. Grove, 108. Thanks having been moved to the scrutators, the meet ing adjourned. established N A TIONAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. --Yesterday morning a general meeting of which governors lteesta and ed sub in . scribers to this institution, worthy 1812 by the late P. Herve, f or granting pensions c what was dis tressed members of th e m iddl e class of society of o I was held tthe to . aged tutors, governesses, a rti s t s, and other ever country or persu as i on, 1 Tavern, Great Qu een - street; the Right Hon. E r e a e r m a l v s e o r a u s : lam in the chair. Th e report for the present year-shows the continued prosperity of the society , but pleads for additional subscriptions on account theincreasing number of appli cants for its bounty. A. t Christmas 1847, the n um b er of persons receivi pensions of 201. and 30/. a 5 ear each Rai 234, of whom 16 were males and 218 tenndes, their average age being upwards of 72 years. Since the foundation of the society 722 members of the middle classes had been maintained, and the sum of 114,5951 193. Id. had been disbursed in pensions. The total receipts during the year ending 30th September last, including a former balance, amounted to 9,343/. 3s. 10d., and the disbursements (comprising 5,0361. 161. distributed in pensions, 2,074/. 19s. sd. in purchase of funded property, and 8351. 15s. 4d. to general expenses) to 7,9471. 10s. 9d., leaving a balance of 1,395/. 13s. Id. On the motion of the Rev. Thomas Dale, of St. Pancras, seconded by Mr. John Fish Pownall, the report was unanimously adopted. Resolutions of thanks to the Royal Family, nobility, and others for their support, having been likewise agreed to, the meeting adjourned, and the subscribers then proceeded to the election of 22 pen sioners upon the funds of the institution. LONDON AND MIDDLESEX COMMITTEES IN FAVOUR, OF Ma. DEN l SON. — Yesterday a meeting of the members of the bar favourable to Mr. Denison as candidate for the representation of the West Riding of Yorkshire was held in the Temple, when a committee of the gentlemen present was formed to promote his election. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed in favour of the lion. Candidate, and among those who have taken the most active part in this movement are several Learned Gen tlemen remarkable for their attachment to Whig prin ciples. It was stated, as the result of careful inquiry, that out of about 180 gentlemen in the Temple possess ing the electoral qualification for the West Riding, up. wards of 160 were decidedly in favour of Mr. Denison, and had pledged themselves to vote for him on the d er of election. A committee to promote the election of Mr. Denison is also in the course of formation for the: of Middlesex, in which there are a large number: of persons who have votes for the West Riding. The early Saxons punished adultery by btlThinir the female, erecting a gibbet over her ashes, and hang g thereon her. - paramour. Now-a-days the crime 'II' only punishable by law—in money. "Ima s