The Sun. — London, England, 1866-10-03 00:00:00

West Herta Agricultural Society. WATFORD, Tuesday. The second annual dinner of the members of this society, which took place last night in the Corn Ex change, was very largely attended. The president for the year was the Earl of Clarendon, butthe noble earl was prevented from attending by indisposition. In his absence the chair was occupied by the Earl of Essex, and among the guests were Lord Chesham, Lord Ebury, Viscount Malden, Lord Rokeby, Capt. the Hon. R. W. Grosvenor, M.P., the Hon. H. Cowper, M.P., Mr. Abel Smith, M.P., Mr. Surtees, M.P., Mr. T. F. Halsey, Mr. Alderman Copeland, Mr. W. Jones Loyd, Mr. A lfred Sedgwick, Mr. G. Webb, Mr. J. 11. James, and many other influen tial agriculturists. The noble CumamAN prefaced the toast of " The Queen" by stating that the Earl of Clarendon was unable to preside in consequence of being in a deli cate state of health, which rendered a short resi dence in Italy desirable. The toast was drunk with all the honours. The toast of " The Prince and Princess of Wales and the other members of the Royal Family" was received with great enthusiasm. The noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The Army, Navy,Yeomanry, Militia, and Volunteers," expressed his satisfaction at the statement which had been made a few days ago by the Earl of Carnarvon that her Majesty's Government had come to the full determination to use every possible effort to put our troops on the same footing with regard to equip ment and organisation which had proved so success ful in the case of the arms of Prussia. (Cheers.) The toast was responded to by Lord Rokeby, Viscount Malden, Major Foskett, and the Hon. H. Cowper, M.P. Mr. W. JONES LOYD then proposed " The House of Lords," connecting with the toast the name of Lord Ebury. (Loud cheers.)l Lord EBuRY returned thanks on behalf of the august body to which he had the honour to be long. He was perhaps better acquainted prac tically with the Lower than the Upper House, but he had acquired such a knowledge of that House that he felt a great honour to be associated with such a distinguished body, and he had there fore peculiar pleasure in responding to the toast. (Cheers.) Speaking in the presence of the men of Hertfordshire he might be allowed to say that the House of Lords had recently been greatly honoured by the accession to its ranks of one of their mem bers, and he was quite sure there was no society that would not feel proud in the accession of such a man. (Cheers.) There was no doubt that on ordinary occasions the boast of the House of Lords was a conventional one, a method of showing the respect of the nation for one of the constitutional autho rities of the country. But at agricultural meetings that toast had a peculiar significance. The House of Lords derived great influence and authority from the fact of its being a territorial aristocracy. In fact, it contained the bulk of the lauded proprietors of Great Britain, and if any set of men were inte rested in the progress of agriculture it must be the landowners of England. He trusted the time was far distant when the toast of the House of Lords would be received otherwise than it had been re ceived on the present occasion. He hoped it would always be received in that cordial manner, because it proved that those who possessed the fortune of birth had not neglected those responsibilities and duties which were attached to property. He had been requested to propose the Bishop and the mi nisters of religion. Fortunately the religious and civil elements in this country were so closely inter woven together that neither party could make a move without the other participating in it. The consequence of these meetings was that they were always favoured with the presence of a clergyman. He congratulated the clergy and laity upon the revival of an institution which had been so long seriously neglected in this country—he meant the harvest homes—four or five accounts of which he had recently seen in the Hert fordshire papers. Whatever the agriculturists might do to increase the fertility of the soil, every one must acknowledge that it was God alone who gave the increase. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. R. L. JAMES responded. _ _ . _ Mr. lIALsEY then proposed "The health of the Members for the County, Mr. Surtees, the Hon. H. Cowper, and Mr. Abel Smith." (Loud and repeated cheering.) Mr. SURTEES, M.P., in responding to the toast, congratulated the company on the excellent gather ing which had taken place, and on the ploughing, which had been extremely good—so good, that if our ancestors who lived at the beginning of the cen tury could have witnessed it they would have been greatly astonished. If any one asked how such ploughing had been brought about, he should say it was not so much owing to the skill of the manufac turers of ploughs or of the ploughmen, but to the imagination and intelligence of the farmer, who had in many instances suggested the improvements which had been adopted by the manufacturer. (Cheers.) He regretted that he had not the plea sure of meeting the agriculturists of Hertfordshire under more favourable circumstances. They all knew the inconveniences and losses which the far mers had sustained in consequence of the cattle plague ; they all knew the inconvenience which the butchers had sustained by the prohibition of cattle from the markets, but he trusted that better times would soon arrive. (Cheers.) Referring to the completion of the Atlantic telegraph, the hon. mem ber observed that one of the first messages sent by that instrument was certain information respecting the Fenians in America. With regard to that body he would just say that it was most extraordinary that the people of Ireland could be so deluded as to imagine that they could by any possibility over throw the union between England and Ireland. He pitied many of those poor deluded persons who had been in the habit of receiving contributions from their friends and relations in America, these con tributions having been stopped for the pur pose o f promoting Fenianism. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the army he hoped the Go vernment would consider whether some increased pay should not be given to those soldiers who had served for 10 years and were willing to serve again. He also thought that additional fuel ought to be afforded to them during the winter months. (Hear, hear.) He;wished to take the opportunity of in forming those who might not be aware of the fact that a Central Agricultural Association was in course of formation, and that it was well deserving of their support. The prospectus stated that in order to meet the want which at present existed, it was con sidered desirable that a Chamber of Agriculture should be established, whose duties should be to watch the agricultural interest, and to support or oPPO6O any measures which in their opinion were calculated to affect the same. Ile trusted that the agriculturists generally would take the trouble of making themselves acquainted with the objects of the society, and give it their cordial support. (Cheers.) The Hon. H. CowPER, MP briefly responded, expressing his conviction that le society was now firmly established and that its years would be counted by tens and twenties. (Cheers.) Mr. ABEL SMITH, M.P., also responded,'. n s t os doingsm e d so he observed that those who had beenaCu to attend meetings like the prese n t would m that occasion the brilliant remarks o f th e i r late one presentative, but they would, neverth e l ess, rejoice that the House of Lords bad received such a dis tinguished acquisition. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Smith) had been a farmer for some 12 years, and had always felt great pleasure in meeting those who were engaged in agricultural pursuits. (Cheers.) Ile congratulated the society on having at its head men so conversant with agriculture as the Earl of Essex, than whom no man in the country had done more to promote the calm° of agriculture. (Cheers.) He did not take quite so gloomy a view of the present prospects of the agriculturists as some of his friends. His own balance-sheet had certainly been a very poor one ; but he believed that times were improving, for wheat was 103. per quarter higher than last year, and barley also was at a higher price than it was at that time. There had also been excellent crops of grass, and sheep were realising higher prices than they formerly did. Linder these circumstances he hoped and trusted that the prospects of the farmers were improving. • Viscount MALDvN, in proposing -, "The Health of the President, Lord Clarendon," said that, although politics were properly tabooed on occasions like the present, he believed that should the present Go vernment, at no remote period, be inclined to relin quish office—(cheers, laughter, and cries of " No, no")—there was no man to whom the country would look with greater satisfaction, and no man who was better qualified to take the reins of Government, than Lord Clarendon. (Cheers.) The noble CHAIRMAN expressed his great regret at the absence of Lord Clarendon. The contingency to which his noble friend had alluded might not be so far distant as some persons imagined, and he believed that if any such change did take place, no man could be looked up to with greater respect than Lord Cla rendon. (Loud cheers.) The Hon. H. W. GROSVENOR, M.P., then pro posed " The Master of the Hounds" (Lord Malden), to which his lordship responded. The noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing "Prosperity to the West Herta Agricultural Society," said that last year, in referring to the birth of the society, he expressed a hope that, being well nurtured and at tended to in its infancy, it would gradually improve. It was now his pleasing duty to say that the hopes which he then entertained had been most fully rea lised, especially taking into consideration the ad verse circumstances under which it was established. (Cheers.) The unfortunate visitation with which the country was afflicted was sufficient to throw a damp upon the energies of the farmers and make them unwilling to enter into a society which, under ordinary circumstances, they would be most will ing to support. But, notwithstanding these draw backs, the society had prospered. The num ber of members had increased by 20, and the subscription had increased something like £5O, and there was a much larger attendance than on the previous occasion. (Cheers.) He might also men tion that with regard to the Cattle Association formed last year, its operation had been very suc cessful. The number of cattle insured amounted to 900 head, and the mortality had been only 3 per cent. (Applause.) It was also satisfactory to know that the funds contributed to meet the losses were quite sufficient, within a few shillings. (Hear.) Un der these circumstances, he believed the society would go on and prosper. The most perfect unani mity prevailed among the committee, and the society was greatly indebted to the worthy hon. secretary, Mr. Alfred Sedgwick, for his unwearied assiduity and attention to its interest and welfare. (Cheers.) If all these circumstances could tend to the pros perity and increase the usefulness of a society, he thought they might all look forward to its growth and long continuance with perfect confidence. (Loud cheers.) Lord PLOKEBY then proposed " The Health of the Chairman," who responded. The toast of " The Vice-Chairman and Committe e of Management, the Treasurer, and Hon. Secre tary," was proposed by Mr. J. IL JAMES, and re sponded to by Mr. Alderman COPELAND and Mr. SEDGWICK. " The Judges" and several other toasts were afterwards given." The Wreck Register and Chart for 1865. A foreigner, looking at the Wreck Chart of the British Isles, might not unnaturally conceive that a very large proportion of the ships that pass to and from our ports every year were wrecked on our shores. When, however, he came to be informed that the number of vessels that cleared outwards and entered inwards last year alone, from the dif ferent ports in the United Kingdom (without counting vessels employed solely as passenger-ships) was 409,255; that they represented a tonnage of 65,231,034 ; and that the value of their cargoes must be estimated at not less than £500,000,000 ; the said foreigner would probably be much sur prised, after all, to learn that not one per cent. of this great multitude of vessels was wrecked either in our narrow seas or on our coasts. Such, however, are the facts of the case ; and it is not for us to justify even the loss of this relatively small amount of valuable property. On the contrary, we are amongst those who contend that„as education advances, and careful and thoughtful habits are in stilled into sailors, this percentage of wrecks must diminish. Considering the increasing trade of this country every year, and the consequent increase of shipping frequenting our shores, the general average of ma rine disasters reported to the Board of Trade will probably continue to augment proportionately from year to year. Again, it should be remembered that the number of wrecks in a year cannot fail to be increased or diminished, according to the prevalence or absence of gales of wind like those which proved so disastrous to the ill-fated ship London in January last, and to so many other vessels which were in such compara tively safe anchorages as Torbay affords, where it bad been supposed the whole British navy might have ridden in safety during the fiercest storms. Thus, in October 1859, there was the Royal Charter gale, and a loss of 343 ships. In January, February, and November, 1861, there were north east and south-easterly gales, which added 460 to the number of casualties. In January, October, and December, 1862, there were westerly gales, with upwards of 540 casualties ; and in January, March, September, October, November, and De cember, 1863, there were westerly gales, with 930 casualties. In November, 1864, there were 264 casualties, with the wind chiefly in the south-south east and south-west ; but, owing to the absence of any special gales of remarkable duration and vio lence during the previous part of that year, the total number of casualties in it was 274 below the - number in 1863 ; and it is worthy of remark, that the whole number of casualties, other than collisions, reported in 1864, was less than the numbeireported in any year since 1858. The annual average for the ten years ending 1865, including collisions, is, for total losses, 505, and for partial losses, 889 ; as against this the numbers for 1865 are, for total losses, 540, and for partial losses, 1,116. From the carefully compiled Wreck Register of the Board of Trade, we find that the total number of wrecks and casualties, from all causes, on the coasts of the United Kingdom and in the surround ing seas, reported in 1865, is 1,656. The number reported in 1864 was 1,390. The corrected annual average of the 11 years, from 1855 to 1865 inclu sive, was 1,372. It should, however, be mentioned that the wrecks in 1864 were below the average of the preceding five years, alihough they were above the corrected average of the last 10 years. The number of ships lost or damaged iu the 1,656 casualties reported in 1865 was 2,012, repre senting a registered tonnage of 377,000 tons. Of these 2,012 ships, 1,690 are known to have been s hips belonging to Great Brit a i n an d i ts de pendencies, with British certificates of registry, and 9 38 t o have been foreign ships. Of the remaining 84 ships the country and employment are unknown. Of the British ships 1,198 were employed in the coas ting trade, and 492 were employed in n and home trade; and of the foreigntßhrh e i (over ti British ships were employed number in the British coast ing trade. Thusl w of British vessels sea)i foreign o wrecked continues to maintain awseadrec,re t to pre-eminence in the work of destruction, a nd add, as a natural result, in the sad loss of life. Of the total number of casualties (1,656) re ported iu 1865, 354 were collisions, and 1,302 were casualties other than collisions. Of these 1,656 casualties 540 resulted iu total losses, and 1,116 in partial damage, more or l ess ser ious. We find that 470 total losses took place from causes other than collisions ; 245 only were caused by stress of weather ; 99 were caused by inatten tion, carelessne ss , or neglect; 38 arose from d e f ec t s in the ship or in her equipments (and of these 38 no less than 30 appear to have foundered from unsca worthiness), and the remainder from various other causes. Again, of the 832 partial losses, other than colli sion, 501 were caused by stress of weather, 137 arose from carelessness, 48 from defects in the ship or her equipments, and the remainder from various causes, which we believe to be, in the majority of cases, obviously preventible if ordinary care and skill had been shown. It is for those who feel an interest in Preventing shipping disasters to ponder over these startling fac ts, and continue to direct public attention to this J'.m portant subject. Our object is, to some extent, l'omplished in thus calling general attention to it ; bu t our main purpose at present, is to make a few rea narks on the distressing loss of life which these v a:rious and inexcusable causes of disasters inevit ably produce. We find that the total number of ships reported to have foundered, or to have been lost on our coasts from unseaworthiness, in 10 years, is 423 ; and that the number of casualties caused through vmseaworthy ships, unsound gear, &c., and resulting in partial damage in. the same time, is 499. With these 423 vessels sank, probably, one million ster ling's worth of property, and several hundred valu able lives. In 1865 there were 98 casualties to fishing-smacks and vessels. There can be no doubt that the wea ther must have been most severe to produce such havoc amongst our fishing-craft ; but even in these cases, the indications of handy, trustworthy weather glasses, or barometers on the plan of those so use fully employed by the IN ation al Life-boat Institution at nearly all its numerous life-boat stations, might probably have saved many a fishing vessel and her hardy crew from the terrible fate which overtook them, not without unmistakeable atmospheric warnings, during the fearful gales of last winter. But excluding these 98 fishing-vessels, the num ber of ships employed in the regular carrying-trade that have suffered from wreck or casualty during the year is shown to be 1,914. If this number be again subdivided, it cannot fail to be observed that more than half of it is represented by the unsea worthy, overladen, or ill-found vessels of the collier Blass, chiefly employed in the coasting-trade. In cor roboration of this remark it is only necessary to cast a glance at the Wreck Chart which accompanies the Wreck Register. We observe that the north-east coast is, as usual, completely covered with the sad results, in too many cases, of unseaworthy, over laden, and ill-found vessels in the coal trade. The wrecks are thus specified in the returns to the Board of Trade : Vessels. No. Fishing-smacks ••• ••• •.• •.• ••• ••• 98 Colliers laden ... ... ... ... ... ... 535 Colliers in ballast... •.• ..• ••• •e• ••• 140 Metallic ores ••• • . 11 •110 11011 II" 111. 150 Stone ores.... 41" elle ID" ••• ••11 ••• 109 Ships with other carges, and other ships in ballast... 980 Total vessels... ... 2012 It is a remarkable fact that, taking the past seven years as our guide, we find that casualties to compa ratively new ships continue to bear a very high pro portion to the whole number of disasters ; thus :- 908 casualties happened to nearly new ships ; and 1,701 to ships from 3 to 7 years of age. Then there are casualties to 2,086 ships from 7 to 14 years old ; and 3,477 from 15 to 30 years old. Then follow 1,267 ships from 30 to 50 years old. Having passed the service of half a century, we come to the really old ships Lamely, 230 between 50 and 60 years old ; 102 from 60 to 70 ; 48 from 70 to 80 ; 14 from 80 to 90 ; 6 from 90 to 100 ; and 4, 101 years and upwards. The ages of 3,002 are unknown. The state of rottenness and the want of repair of some of the ships above 20 years old often call for remark. Even at the age of 25 to 30 it sometimes happens that a ship is so rotten as to fall to pieces immediately on touching the ground, without giving the crew the slightest chance of get ting out their boats. In one case, an old ship, a foreigner, which went to pieces as soon as she touched the ground, it was found that her seams had been payed with clay and red ochre, to keep the water out. It seems to us that the Merchant Ship ping Act has failed entirely to control this sad state of things ; and, indeed, its authors contend that the provisions of the act never contemplated touching them ; for they argue—and there is much force in their observations—that the common law of the land should be brought into operation to compel shipowners, like all other owners of property, to b© answerable for wilful or overt acts of carelessness. Of the 2,012 vessels lost or damaged in 1865, 82 were rigged as ships, 130 were steam ships, 542 schooners, 419 brigs, 187 barques, 187 brigantines, and 196 smacks ; the remainder were small vessels rigged in various ways. Of the 2,012 vessels referred to 902 did not exceed 100 toss burden, 793 were from 100 to 300 tons, 210 were from 300 to 600 tons, and 107 only were above 600 tons burden. From the table showing the parts of the coasts on which the casualties happened, it will be seen that, as usual, the greatest number occurred on the East Coast. The numbers are as follows :—East Coast, 868 ; South Coast, 187 ; West Coast, 386 ; N.W. Coast of Scotland, 46; Irish Coast, 146 ; Isle of Man, 15 ; Lundy Island, 3 ; Scilly Isles, 5. As regards the loss of life, the returns show that the number lost from shipwreck on or near the coast of the United Kingdom in 1865 was 698. These lives were lost in 164 ships ; 124 of them were laden vessels, 33 were vessels in ballast, and in 7 cases it is not known whether the vessels were laden or light ; 131 of these ships were entirely lost, and 33 sustained partial damage. Of the 698 lives lost, 275 were lost in vessels that foundered, 53 on board vessels in colli sions, and 335 in vessels stranded, or cast ashore. The remaining number, 35, were lost from various causes, such as being washed overboard in heavy seas, by explosions, &c. The loss of life in 1864 was 516, which was less than the number in any year since 1855. In that year (1855) the National Lifeboat Institution began to take most active steps to provide our coasts with lifeboats, having during the previous 30 years struggled hard for support to carry on its great and national work on our shores ; but in that year the late Capt. Hamilton Fitzgerald, R.N., left the society the munificent legacy of £lO,OOO. Its committee most wisely and promptly decided to spend the whole of the money in placing new lifeboats on the coast. Since that period the Institution has contributed to the saving of 5,758 lives from shipwrecks. How many of these persons, in addition to their wives, children, and other rela tions, have reason to bless the name of this and many other benefactors who have given the cost of lifeboats, and who have thus aided to accomplish such a large amount of solid, palpable, good work. The greatest loss of life during the seven years ending.in 1865 occurred in the Irish sea, which is one of our principal highways to and from America. The number of lives lost on the coasts and sand banks of the Irish sea, during these years, is more than double the number lost on any other part of the coasts, although during the year 1865 the num ber on the East Coast of England was very slightly in excess of the number lost on the coasts of the Irish Channel. The most fatal winds during the year 1865 are thus given :—N., 61; N.N.E., 59 ; N.E., 90 ; E.N.E., 58 ; E., 55 ; E.S.E., 56 ; S.E., 97 ; S.S.E., 60 ; S., 94 ; S.S.W., 133 ; S.W., 192 ; W.S.W., 102 ; W., 73 ; W.N.W., 91; N.W., 101; N.N.W., It will thus ho seen that westerly gales are far more destructive to shipping than gales from any other quarter. Again, we find that distinguishing the casualties of the past seven years according to the force of the wind at the time at which they happened, 678 occurred when the wind was at force 6 or under, that is to say, when the force of the wind did not exceed a strong breeze, in which the ship could carry single reefs and top-gallant sails, and that 810 only happened with the wind at force 9 and upwards, that is to say, from a strong gale to a hurricane. Thus we observe that in the last seven years, 118 took place in a calm ; 176 in light air or just suffi cient to give steerage way ; 450 in light breeze ; 120 in gentle breeze ; 78-1 in moderate breeze ; 1,280 in fresh breeze ; 1,217 in strong breeze ; 441 in moderate gale; 836 in fresh gale ; 1,873 in strong ga le ; 1,444 in whole gale ; 505 in a storm ; G 93 in a hurricane ; 50 variable ; and 400 unknown. During the past year the number of collisions re ported was 354, of which 114 occurred in the day time and 240 at night. In 1864 the number was 351, that being an excess of the number of collisions reported in any year since 1855. We know of nothing more distressing than a col lision between two powerful ships far out at sea. On a recent occasion, when the screw steamship Osprey, of Liverpool, and the steam sloop-of-war Amazon, came into violent collision, nothing but the calm that brooded upon the waters off Start Point saved hundreds of lives from being lost. In deed, if the survivors had not fallen in, after the ETHE SUN, LONLON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 3, 1866. collision, with some fishing-smacks about 12 miles outside Torbay, when they were pulling their boats about the channel, with a compass which had gone wrong, and with no food or water on board, we should have had to-day to lament a frightful addi tion to the list of deaths. Amidst this desolation and havoc, it is very satis factory to find that the means used in saving life from shipwreck on our coast have made, and are making, the most encouraging progress. There are now nearly 200 lifeboat stations on our shores, and nearly the whole of them belong to the National Lifeboat Institution, whose activity and usefulness commanded not only the admiration of the British people and Parliament, but also that of nearly every maritime power throughout the world. Indeed, it is a remarkable fact that during the past few years kindred institutions have been established on the coasts of many of these nations ; while at one of our thriving colonies in the antipodes, it is reported to the institution, they have built self-righting lifeboats equal to the mother country. Again, the Board of Trade support 249 life-saving rocket-apparatus stations, which are worked by that valuable body of men the Coastguard. These, in conjunction with the provision-of lighthouses and floating light-vessels, and lifeboats on nearly all of the most difficult points of navigation on our coasts—the gradual improvement of natural har bours of refuge ; the decoration of the Albert medal by her Majesty the Queen, and the rewards of the National Lifeboat Institution to our boatmen and fishermen for noble efforts to save life from ship wreck ; all these admirable provisions testify to the unceasing skill and liberal care for the safety and deliverance of our tens of thousands of seafaring men, which their perils, acting upon a benevolent public, have drawn forth. At present nearly every class co-operates with the Institution. The resident gentry and others, at its lifeboat stations, give their superintendence ; the boatmen give readily their personal services for stipulated payments ; the railway and steam-packet companies convey the lifeboats carriage free ; and the public support the institution liberally. The Lifeboat Society is infinitely more than an office or an agency. It is an organisation of intel ligence, a focus to which information converges, and a centre from which it radiates. By the circu lation of facts which it maintains, it interests the whole public, awakens sympathy, excites to effort, and is continually submitting itself and its work to general supervision. It lives on its proper merits, and every shilling it receives may be said to be given under the valuable law of " payment for results." Thus, though it may be possible at the present moment to say that the institution has not reached this or that place on the coast to supply its wants, we are to remember that it is chiefly owing to what the institution has done to interest the pub lic in the subject, that isolated cases of deficiency attract even casual notice ; while the principle of progress at work in the institution is a guarantee that at no distant date every want when pointed out, or as it arises, will be promptly supplied. All this comes of private benevolence, energy, and zeal ; and so striking is the result that the principle has, as we said before, commended itself to every other maritime country in the world. We feel assured that an institution of such na tional interest will continue to receive a large amount of the sympathy and support of the British public, in aid of the maintenance of its noble life saving fleet of one hundred and seventy-two boats; and that no society has a stronger claim for that sympathy and support than the National Lifeboat Institution, is testified by the gratifying fact that its lifeboats and other means preserve every year, under Providence, hundreds of our hardy sailors from a premature grave, and many homes from the desolation of widowhood and orphanage. We may add, that contributions in aid of the great and important work of the National Lifeboat Institution are received by all the bankers through out the United Kingdom, and by the Secretary at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London. THE PUBLIC HEALTH. (From the Registrar-General's Return) In the week that ended on Saturday, Sept. 29, the births registered in London and 12 other large towns of the United Kingdom were 4,574 ; the deaths registered 3,176. The annual rate of mor tality was 27 per 1,000 persons living. In London the births of 1,057 boys and 1,089 girls, in all 2,146 children, were registered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years, 1856-65, the average number, corrected for increase of population, was 1,977. The deaths registered in London during the week were 1,418. It was the 30th week of the year, and the average number of deaths for that week is, with a correction for increase of population, 1,239. The deaths in the present return exceed the estimated number by 179. One hundred and seventy-seven deaths from cholera and 67 from diarrhoea, were registered dur ing the week. Of these 12 deaths from cholera and 9 from diarrhoea occurred in the west ; 36 from cholera and 17 from diarrhoea in the north ; 28 from cholera and 17 from diarrhoea in the central ; 55 from cholera and 18 from diarrhoea, in the east ; 46 from cholera and 12 from diarrhoea in the south districts. During the last 13 weeks, 4,174 persons have fallen victims to cholera, and 2,298 deaths were caused by diarrhoea. The cholera matter is now diffused very equally all over London, and as the waters of the upper Thames, of the Lea, and of the wells become in fected, the utmost exertions of the authorities will be required to ensure its decline. Each health offi cer should consider that the safety not only of the people of his own district, but of three millions of people depends on his activity. It is to be regretted that these inadequately paid officers cannot devote the whole of their time to the duties of their office. L The annual rate of mortality last week was 24 per 1,000 in London, 23 i n Edinburgh, and Dub lin, 22 in Bristol, 18 in Birmingham, 47 44 in in iv er Liver pool, 28 in Manchester, 26 in Salford, 18 in Shef field, 29 in Leeds, 26 in Hull, 36 in Newcastle-upon- Tyne, and 25 in Glasgow. The rate in Vienna was 55 per 1,000 during the week ending the 22d ult., when the mean temperature was 5.3 deg. Fahrenheit higher than in the same week in London, where the rate was 23 per 1,000. The fatality of cholera continues to decline steadily in Liverpool ; last week of the 437 deaths 116 were referred to this disease, while in the previous six week the numbers were respectively 157, 146, 225, 145, 182, and 159. In Dublin, however, the num ber of fatal cases is still increasing ; the 268 deaths including ek d w in e g9 s B t f h r e o y wemchreol4el7 52,, whereas in the four pre vious 55, and 65. Manches ter even now appears to be threatened with a visi tation unless the danger can be averted by strenuous exertions on the part of the local authorities ; last week in Manchester and Salford of the 248 deaths 14 were referred to cholera, of which several were of a severe type. In Vienna an epidemic of cholera is raging with increasing violence ; in the week ending Sept. 22, of 586 deaths 274 were cases of cholera, showing a large increase upon the three previous weeks, when the numbers were 64, 107, and 201. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.677 in. The barometrical reading increased from 29.21 in. on Sunday to 29.87 in. on Tuesday. The mean tempera ture of the air in the week was 55.5 deg. which is 0.9 deg. above the average of the same week in 50 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The highest day temperature was 71.0 deg. on Friday, and the lowest night temperature was 41.3 deg. on Tuesday. The en tire range of temperature in the week was, therefore, 29.7 dog. The mean of the highest temperatures of the water of the Thames was 55.6 deg. ; that of the lowest was 51.7 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point temperature and air temperature was 3.1 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 89, complete saturation being represented by 100. The rain which fell on Monday, Wednes day, and Thursday measured 0.23 in. On Monday the rainfall at Wakefield was 0.77 in. and at Bir mingham 1.17 in.; on Thursday, at Clifton, 0.61 in. ; and on Friday, at Manchester, Eccles, and Clifton rain fell to the amount of 0.77 in., 0.76 in., and 0.71iu. respectively. The general direction of the wind was south-east. The mist was observed on five days of the week, The Saturday Half-Holiday Movement. A numerously attended meeting was held last night at St. James's-hall, under the auspices of the Saturday Half-holiday Committee, for the purpose of publicly thanking the employers who have recently adopted the Saturday half-holiday, as well as re porting upon the present position of the movement, and promoting its further extension. Mr. B. Bowen (Shoolbred and Co., Tottenham-court-road) pre sided, and in opening the proceedings said he would not occupy the present position in which he had been placed if he did not believe that the interest of em ployer and employed in the movement were iden tical. From the experience of the past three months they found that the same business could be done up to 2 o'clock on Saturday as was done 20 years ago up to 9 o'clock in the evening, and when such was the case it was to be hoped that the employers would make a concession which was so much needed and desired. On the 13th of July 42 houses closed at 2 o'clock on Saturday, and since that time the number had increased to 84. In Islington, some of the houses which had transacted business up to 9 o'clock on Saturday evenings had begun to close at 5 o'clock ; and the shops in the Burlington-arcade now closed at 4 o'clock, instead of a much later hour. Mr. Larkin (Messrs. Hitchcock, Williams, and Co.) moved the first resolution, as follows : " That the sincere thanks of this meeting be offered to those employers, who, by closing their establish ments at 2 o'clock on Saturdays, have conferred the benefits of the Saturday half-holiday upon a large number of persons in various trades, and have led to an abridgment in the hours of business on Satur day night in the late shopping districts of the me tropolis." In the course of his remarks he expressed the hope that the employers of the metropolis would further their own interests by countenancing the movement. He said the young men to whom a half holiday was given on Saturday entertained grateful feelings towards their employers for the much-needed boon, and in the end those employers, instead of losing by the concession, gained by it. Mr. Ferry (Messrs. Goode, Gainsford, and Co.), who seconded the resolution, entered his protest against protracted and continuous labour. He said the trade assistants in their efforts to gain the Satur day half-holiday did not want to do less work than they did at present, but they wished to do the same amount of work in a shorter space of time—(cheers) —and they wanted to be enabled to devote the Sabbath to its legitimate use. (Renewed cheering.) The resolution was then put and carried amid ac clamation. Mr. St. Clair (Messrs. Marshall and Snellgrove) proposed the next resolution :—" That this meeting presents its sincere thanks to her grace the Duchess of Sutherland, whose generous exer tions, with those of the Countess Ducie and Lady Elcho, have secured the co-operation of a large number of the metropolis for the support and ex tension of the Saturday half-holiday." He said it was insinuated by some persons that the majority of the trade assistants did not sympathise with the movement, and by others that the assistants wished to force the employers into submission. He wished to repudiate both of these insinuations, and to assure the employers that no such sentiments were held by the assistants. Mr. Hyde seconded the resolution, and it was carried with enthusiasm. Mr. Hamer (Messrs. Dewar, Son, and Sons) proposed the third resolu tion :—" That this meeting respectfully solicits the public to support the Saturday half-holiday move ment by not shopping after two o'clock on Satur days, and thus to promote the abridgment of the late hours which still prevail on Saturday even ings in various parts of the metropolis. Mr. Bryant (Messrs. Debenham and . Freebody) seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. The Chairman acknowledged the receipt of nu merous subscriptions given in support of the move ments, and said that as £l,OOO was required to carry out the programme adopted by the committee on a recent occasion, he anxiously hoped that in creased aid would be afforded. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. THE CHOLERA. MANSION HOUSE RELIEF COMMITTEE. Yesterday a special meeting of the working com mittee was held at the Mansion-house ; the Lord Mayor presiding. There were also present Sir Mordaunt Wells, Mr. J. A. Smith, M.P., the Rev. F. G. Blondield, Mr. Charles Hutton, Mr. Needham, Mr. R. Wigram, Mr. W. J. Maxwell, Dr. A. Clark, Mr. Henry Ripley, and Rev. W. Rogers. A deputation from Nottingdale attended before the committee, of which Mr. Allan, a clergyman residing iii the district, but not parochially con nected with it, was the spokesman. They repre sented that iu St. Andrew, Notting-hill, and Kens ington potteries cholera had recently made its appearance in a very virulent form, there having been several deaths within the last few days, with all the Asiatic symptoms. The committee granted them £25, and also made an additional grant of £5O to the Wapping HOR pital, a grant of £2O to the Tower Hamlets Dis pensary, and £l5 to St. Thomas Charterhouse Schools. A grant of stores was made to the Poplar and South Bromley committee. Sir MORDAUNT WELLS reported that from care ful and minute inquiries he had made, and from re turns sent in by the local committees, the ➢lansion house committee would have to provide in the first instance for 521 orphans, and that of the Bishop of London for 539, as the result of the recent conference and scrutiny between the two committees. Since that the names of over 100 orphans more had been returned, all of them being dis tressing cases, several having lost both parents, who were respectable people. Ile had no hesitation in stating that out of £5,000 which thalansion-house committee had set apart for orphans they would have to provide for at least 560. On the motion of Sir Mordaunt Wells, £374 was voted by the committee for the relief of 187 poor widows whose husbands had died of cholera, leaving children dependent upon them. The committee had a long conference with the local committees from the various districts in the east of London in reference to the apportionment of the money voted for that purpose by the com mittee (£5,000), the general result of which was that the committee having stated the sum they in tend to give towards the maintenance of each orphan, and ascertained the number of orphans to be relieved it was left to the local committees to prepare each of them a scheme as to the expenditure of the money, such scheme to be submitted to the Mansion house Committee afterwards for their approval be fore being carried into effect. The Lord Mayor, addressing the local com mittees, said that their formation for the special purpose of meeting the epidemic might be*made the groundwork of a powerful agency for some com bined action, with the view to improve the condi tion of the poor as to the manner in which they lodged, as disclosed by the house-to-house visita tions made during the disease, and he hoped those committees would not allow them to vanish into " thin air." London proper, he said, owed them the deepest obligation, and he urged them to pro secute the good work for the relief of the destitute widows and orphans with such assistance in money as the Mansion-house Committee would be able to render. In that committee no other feeling was recognised but that of humanity. They had nothing to do with Churchmen, Catholics, Dissenters, or Jews. They were a working committee for the re lief of distress, and to that view of their duties in the emergency much of their success was attributable. The committee then adjourned. The following is the official return of deaths in London from cholera and diarrlicea registered on Sunday, Sept. 30, and Monday, Oct. 1: Cholera. Diarrhoea. West districts ... 1 „. 1 North districts ... ... 8 1 Central districts ... 1 ... 5 East districts ... 14 6 South districts ... 10 ... 4 Total ... ~. 34 ... 17 The return for the sub-districts of St. James's square and Borough-road were not received in time for publication. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.--Towards the close of last August we in troduced our readers to a story of Indian life, which had already created much scandal, and which, what ever might be its issue, could only furnish matter for regret. The case in question has now been closed, but closed in a manner so unsatisfactory that the attention of the public at home must be invited to it anew. It will be remembered that Sir William Mansfield, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian army, had suspected Captain Jervis, one of his aides de-camp and a member of his military household, of improper and dishonest conduct in the discharge of certain duties intrusted to him. On conceiving these suspicions Sir William had not put himself personally in communication with his aide-de-camp to hear what would be said, but had assumed the probability, if not the truth, of the charges, and had brought Captain Jervis before one tribunal or another, until in the end a court-martial was held for the public trial of the whole case. The charges against Cap tain Jervis had in the meantime been seriously mul tiplied, until at last he stood accused of misappro priation, embezzlement, and fraud. He was said to have made free with the wine, beer, and other stores of his chief ; to have made false entries in the house hold accounts, and to have been guilty of disgraceful deceit and downright robbery. Under these imputa tions the aide-de-camp lost his self-command, forgot what was due to the discipline of the service, and ex posed himself to the further charges of contumacy, disobedience, and insubordination. Th a t was th e position of the case when we last left it, with the court-martial still sitting, and the issue altogether undetermined. Since then the telegraph, but only the telegraph, has informed us that Captain Jervis was found guilty by the court-martial on three out of the five charges framed by the prosecution, that he was sentenced to be dismissed the service, and that, though the court added a recommendation to mercy, this recommendation was rejected by the Com mander-in-Chief, who confirmed the sentence in all its severity. The report as thus given would appear— at any rate in the absence of fuller information—to suggest little material for comment.Theprisoner would seem to have been found more guilty than innocent, the prosecution to have been sustained rather than invalidated, and the impartial sentence of a lawful Court to have been confirmed by a lawful authority. But the actual facts are very different indeed. The results of the trial, even as now briefly communicated to us, present, upon a little closer examination, so startling and yet so plain an aspect that it is hard to imagine how the more complete intelligence on its way can alter their substantial purport. To convey this impression to the reader we need only say that though Capt. Jervis was indeed convicted on three charges and acquitted only on two, the charges on which he was acquitted comprehended the entire indictment for dishonesty and peculation, while those on which he was convicted related ex clusively to his intemperate behaviour under• such offensive imputations. According to the deliberate judgment of the Court, after a most patient inquiry, Capt. Jervis had not embezzled Sir William Mans field's stores, he had not kept fraudulent accounts, he had not refused to produce his books and his vouchers, nor had ho done those acts of larceny with which he was charged. Of all this he was not guilty. But he was guilty of disobedient conduct and insubordinate language in meeting the pro ceedings taken against him, and thus, but thus only, did he fall under the sentence of the Court. It is impossible to deny that these facts—facts which seem hardly to admit of qualification—furnish mat ter for very grave reflection, and constitute at first sight a case which Sir William Mansfield will be expected to explain. No doubt Captain Jervis conducted himself unjustifiably towards his supe rior officer, and the sentence of the Court, heavy as it may appear, was no doubt in conformity with military law. But whereas the Court itself, after thus discharging its inevitable duty, made al lowance for the prisoner's natural indignation, and recommended him to mercy, this recommendation was rejected by the very man whose injustice, un conscious though it was, had created the resentment of the sufferer. It is hardly too much to say that Sir William Mansfield himself was the cause of the only offence which was brought home to Captain Jervis. He had accused his aide-de-camp wrong fully, for so, after the verdict of the Court, we must necessarily believe, and if under this wrongful accu sation Captain Jervis forgot what was still due to his Commander-in-Chief,that Commander-in-Chief ought surely of all men to be the first to condone the fault. Yet Sir William would not even adopt a merciful course when it was pressed upon him by the Court which tried the case, and Captain Jervis is thus punished by the sole voice and authority of the man whose unintentional provocation drove him to the commission of the wrong. We must still remind the public, in justice to the Commander-in- Chief, that his own explanations have yet to be received ; but we must also, in justice to Captain Jervis, and in the cause of right, repeat our opinion that a defence of Sir William's severity under such circumstances is almost impossible. We can con ceive that Sir William, in his own conviction©, dif fered from the finding of the Court on the first two charges ; indeed, he appears to have been impressed with an ineradicable belief in his aide-de-camp's guilt from first to last. But in this case he was, un happily, prosecutor as well as judge of appeal, and it was especially incumbent upon him to dismiss from his thoughts all that might warp, his mind from judicial impartiality. It may be that, not withstanding the conclusion of the court-martial Sir kl'illiarn was firmly convinced of the prisoner's sub stantial unfitness to continue in the service of the Queen, but even thus it will certainly be the opinion of the public at home that he should have submitted his own judgment to that of the court after its solemn cognisance had been invoked. All that Sir William knew or thought about the deserts of his aide-de-camp he had an opportunity of stating to the Court ; and he did state it, for he appeared as a witness, and did his best to sustain the prosecution. In this, however, he failed, and, having failed, it would surely have been wiser if he had surren dered his own opinions, instead of indulging in what wou ld infallibly be regarded as vindictiveness rather than inflexibility. It is not without sincere reluc tance. that we make these remarks upon an officer whose honour and principle are well known, and whose judgment and discretion have, up to this time, been held in high esteem •, but we see no escape from the conclusion. It would be the most chari table, and we imagine also the most correct, hypothe sis, if we supposed that Sir William Mansfield, abso solutely convinced in his own mind of the prisoner's demerits, and holding himself still ultimately respon sible for the issue of the case, had refused to exercise, against his convictions, the prerogative of mercy with which his office invested him. Perhaps this is the truth of the matter, but even so the decision was ill-judged and wrong. The Court had pronounced that Sir William was originally mi s t a k en i n the opinions he had formed of his aide-de-camp's pro ceedings, and as these opinions had undoubtedly given rise to the real offences which followed, it was obviously the better course for the Commander-in- Chief to accept the judgment of the Court, even in opposition to his own, iu the one part of the case, and to concur with its recommendation in the other. PosT.—Foremost amongst the institutions of this country with which it has become the fashion for the more advanced section of political reformers to find fault stands the House of Lords. Decency, respect for the Sovereign, and possibly a wholesome dread of the law, prevent Mr. Bright and his immediate followers from attacking the occupant of the Throne; but none of these considerations have sufficient weight to deter them, whenever the opportunity presents itself, of having a fling at a branch of the Legislature, the status and privilege of whose mem bers depend on the accident of birth and not on the expression of the popular will. It is, as Mr. Bright has frequently expressed it, an opprobrium to a peo ple having any pretensions to being considered civi lised to entrust legislative functions to an hereditary peerage ; and, by a parity of reasoning, we suppose it might be equally suggested that it is b ar b arous to elevate into a distinct branch of the Legislature an hereditary monarch. Dismissing, however, from consideration arguments which are directed against the House of Lords, inasmuch as it forms a portion of our monarchical system, and which are intended to prove that republican institutions are superior to all others, there are other arguments which have of late years been advanced by men who do not necessarily desire to see our present form of government exchanged for a democracy. Of what use, it has been asked, is the House of Lords—what good pur pose does it serve ? And assuming that it was abolished, would any material change be effected in our mode of government? Questions similar to these have not unfrequently been put of late years, and it must be confessed that it has not been easy for those who believe in the excellence of the existing order of things to advance conclusive reasons for entertaining that belief. On the other hand, those who would gladly see our institutions assimilated to those which flourish on the opposite side of the Atlantic have arguments ever ready at their fingers' ends to demonstrate that the. House of Peers, if not mischievous, is at least practically useless. Though possessing co-ordinate jurisdiction with the House of Commons, it is urged that the House of Lords is on all matters in which the bulk of the people are interested obliged to confirm the opinion expressed by the other House of Parliament, and that, for all practical purposes, its functions consist in ratifying the measures to which the Commons have given their assent. Considering the two houses as re spectively representing the aristocracy and th e multitude, those who ject to the House of Lords contend that it is unable to vindicate the rights of those who are its constituents, because, whenever the interests of the few and of the many come in colli sion, those of the former are inevitably sacrificed. In a word, it is said that the. English people would not tolerate for a single day an hereditary peerage with legislative functions if it ventured to assert the rights conferred on it by the constitution, and to put its veto on measures which the Commons in insisted on being passed into law. A legislative chamber which performs its duties on sufferance, and which is only permitted to have a will of its own on unimportant occasions, or when the counsels of the remaining chamber are divided, is not, it is said, a serviceable element of any political organisation. This, however, is not all. Some who watch the manner in which the Houses of Lords and Commons discharge their respective duties pretend that the former, by its own conduct, admits that its func tions are comparatively unimportant. Although every enactment which at the end of each session finds its place in the statute-book must have been formally submitted for consideration an equal num ber of times in each chamber, still the time occu pied in the House of Lords in discussion does not equal one-twentieth part of the time similarly passed in the House of Commons. The Lower House sits four evenings in the week at 4 o'clock, and seldom rises till after midnight, besides having a morning sitting on Wednesdays from noon till 6 o'clock. The House of Lords, on the contrary, sits but three or four times in the week, and on each occasion, in the large majority of cases, disposes of its business in the course of one or two hours, and very fre quently in a few minutes. The Lord Chancellor takes his seat on the woolsack at 5 o'clock, and, unless on very exceptional occasions, any debate which happens to supervene is brought to a close before dinner time. If any peer springs to his legs when the hour-hand of the clock approaches seven, he invariably apologises for addressing the house at so late an hour, and if he does not bring his remarks to a conclusion before the clock strikes he will pro bably find himself with no other auditors than the Chancellor and one or two of the other Ministers of the Crown. As to the peers themselves, their ene mies allege that they are personally indifferent about the important functions allotted to them by the constitution, and, with the exception of such as are, or hope to be, Ministers, never attend in their place in Parliament. If, however, any young nobleman just emerged from a minority should chance to re gard the work of legislation as a really serious occu pation, and should venture to introduce or to take part in discussions on the merits of any measure before the House, the cold looks of surprise with which he will be greeted by noble lords apprehensive of seeing their chamber converted into a debating club will, in the majority of cases, deter him from repeating the experiment. The House of Lords cannot he an efficient branch of the Legisl a t ur e if it is thus that it discharges its duties, and if, even in the opinion of those who are anxious to preserve it, it is considered a fitting receptacle for worn-out statesman who have passed their working years in the House of Commons. There is no doubt much weight in these charges, and those who recognise the value of an hereditary peerage as part of our political system would wish that they could be con clusively met. It is not in itself a valid objection to the retention of a House of Lords that its mem bers do not do their duty as efficiently as might be expected, nor is it any reason for depriving all peers of their right to act as legislators because many of their number, except on isolated occasions,- do not care about availing themselves of their privileges. It may, however, be fairly questioned if the neglect of which some complain is not more apparent than real. Supposing that peers attended in their house in large numbers, and that the debates there, as in. the House of Commons, occupied the entire even ing, would the actual result be much different from what it is at present? It is not suggested that any measures which have passed the Commons are al lowed to fall through from the unwillingness of the Upper House to take them into consideration, and if the peers are willing to accept them without ques tion because they have received the sanction of the Lower House, it is not for the advocates of popular rights to complain. The debates are of greater duration in the House of Commons than in the House of Lords, but the amonnt of bills passed in both houses is the same. In the Upper House many useful measures are originated which are approved of by the Commons, and which otherwise might never have found their way into the statute-book. But although in practice the House of Lords may be now found to fill as important a place as it did in early times, we think that its members would do well to recollect that it is the tendency of human nature to judge by appearances, and it might act wisely in evincing a little more interest in the gene ral work of legislation. COUNTRY MARKETS. -0- GAINSBOROUGH-TUESDAY. Our market was tolerably supplied with wheat to-day. There was au improved trade at rather more money than this - day week--old, 60s to 625; new, 50s to 565. Barley in moderate show, and trade brisk, at fully late prices. Oats and beans scarce, and quite as dear. LIVERPOOL-TUESDAY. At this day's market there was a fair attendance of the town and country trade, but the weather being fine, with a more settled appearance than for some time past, little disposition to buy was evinced, and the business done was quite insignificant. Wheat and flour met with a very slow retail sale, at an advance of 3d. per 1001 b., and is to 2s per barrel on the week, or rather under the prices current at the close of last week. Oats and oatmeal, being more freely offered, showed a decline of I.d to 2d per 451 b. and is per load on the prices lately obtainable. Barley, beans, and peas, being in very small compass, brought extreme prices. Indian corn was not in so much favour as of late, and with several parcels pressing for sale ex quay, mixed American cannot be noted worth over 29s 6d per 4801 b. MARKET lIARBOROUGIL-TUESDAY. - - ----- A good supply of wheat, which met with a healthy demand, at is over previous rates. Barley was in tolerable show, and brought is more money. Oats were in more request at good prices. Beans made is advance. Old white wheat, 57s t0,62s ; new red, 50s to 58s per 36 stone. Barley, fine, 46s ; other kinds, 34s to 37s per 30 st. Oats, new, 22s to 32s ; old, 30s to 34s per qr. Beans, old, 53s to 555; now, 46s to 48s per qr. LEEDS-TUESDAY. The arrivals this week are moderate. We have only had a slow trade to-day in wheat, our millers appearing careless about buying, but prices may be noted the same as Tuesday last. Barley, beans, and oats bring rather more money. SHEFFIELD-TUESDAY. At our market to-day there was a good show of new wheat, but old sorts were scarco. A steady business was done at is per qr advance. Malting Barley met a fair in quiry, and business done in sellers' favour. Oats in mid dling supply, and brought full prices. A tolerable demand for beans, and prices tending upwards. Red wheat, per load of 3 imp. bushels....2os Od to 21s 01 White do do ....2's Od 24s Od New red do do ....193 Od 20s Od New white do do ....21s Od 23s Od Beans do do ....19s Od 20s Od Peas, per qr.. .. 3Bs Od 40s Od Grinding barley, per qr 34s Od 37s Od Malting barley, co 3Bs Od 42s Od Oats, do 27s Od 32s Od F10ur....1s 10d to 2s td per 141 b. PATENT OFFICE MUSEUM, SOUTH KENSINGTON. Number of visitors for the week ending Sept. 29, 2,397 ; total number since the opening of the Museum free daily (12th May, 1858), 1,078,753. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Holloway's Pills.—Nervous De bility.—Persons who feel weak, low, and nervous may rest assured serious ailment is looming in the distance, against which instant action should be taken. Holloway's pills present the ready means of exciting energetic action on the liver, liberating accumulated bile and lifting at once a load from the spirits and expelling a poison from the body. This simple and natural method of remedying the first tendency to disease gives present ease and insures future safety. The pallid and all those who are losing flesh should try these pills, which aro especially useful when the digestive and other functions are imperfectly performed and demand immediate correction, or in after years neither mind nor body will be developed. Births. CROSS—On the Ist inst., at Peters&ld, the wife of R. S. Cross, Esq., of a daughter. Cox—On the 2d inst., at Ewell-road, Surbiton, the wife of E. T. Cox, Esq., of a son. FALxiNER—On the 2d inst., at 7, Wimpole-street, the wife of S. E. Falkiner, Esq., of a son. IJASLER—On the Ist inst., at 19, Dover-street, Piccadilly, the wife of H. Hasler, Esq., Royal Artillery, of a son. Marriages. lIARRINGTON—WRIGHT—On the 2d inst., at St. George's Church, Bloomsbury, J. N. Harrington, Esq., of Gray's inn-square, to Christina Dunning, widow of the late W. L. Wright, Esq., of Elgin-road, Kensington-park. LEONARD—LEWIS—On the Ist inst., at St. John's, Brixton, Albert Bolton, youngest son of W. S. Leonard, Esq., of Wellington-square, Chelsea, to Annie Elizabeth, only daughter of Richard Lewis, Esq., barrister-at-law, Brix ton, Surrey. Deaths. BROOKSBANK —On the Ist inst., at 14, Paragon, Now Kont road, George Brooksbank, Esq., aged 56. CROFT—On the 27th ult., Hugh Croft, Esq., The Down House, Lamberhurst, Kent, aged 59. FISHER—On the 28th ult., at Manchester, James Fisher, of Priory Villa, Cheltenham, aged 77. MORRICE—On the 30th ult., at Heath House, near Leighton Buzzard, the Rev. A. D. Morrie°, M.A., rector of Bets hanger, Kent, aged 81. POOLE—Ou the 30th ult., at Martock, Somerset, W. Poole, Esq., aged 83. RICHARDS—On tho 28th ult., at Clifton, Captain Edwin Richards, R N. TucKEY—On the 2d inst., at 2, Victoria-square, Pimlico, Thomas Tuckey, Esq., aged 57. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREW'S, of No. 112, Strand, Punter, at Trin Still °Moe, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Mlddlescx.—Wednesday, 04teber 3, 1840.