The Sun. — London, England, 1848-04-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMON April 22. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition T of Saturday.) Mr. MORGAN JOIIN 0 CONNELL—The state; of the country was far from satisfactory, and he coil] t i not help stating that tke Government had not introduce Ici those measures for the benefit ?f . Ireland whice of that h, to their their conduct whilst in opposition, the peopl country had a right to expect. They had expected a. poor-law suitable for the eountry, but their expectations had not been realised; and ine reclamation of waste lands, with other important measures, had been aban doned; and the difficulties which the Government stated they had to contend with were of their own creating. The lion in their path was one of their own raising.. The wants of Ireland at this moment were rather more of a material than political nature. The people of Ire land wanted more employment rather than the further extension of the franchise. The Usher of the Black Rod then appeared at the bar, and summoned the House to the House of Peers, to hear the Royal Assent given, by commission, to se veral Bills. The SPEAKER, accompanied by several Hon. Mem bers, proceded to the House of Lords, and having returned, Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL proceeded to state that he believed that, notwithstanding the violent language held by some parties in Ireland towards this country, there was still a considerable fund of good feeling towards this country. Sir G. GREY said the Hon. Gentleman had given a right interpretation of the sentiments of his Noble Friend.—(Hear, hear.) He was most anxious to argue the matter in the House of Commons, and not to resort to force, except force were arrayed against the Govern ment. After the recess, no doubt, measures would be introduced by the Government which would give satis faction to every reasonable man in Ireland, as they were calculated to remedy the substantial grievances of that country. Mr. C. ANSTEY deprecated the violent means which were being taken by certain parties in Ireland, and con sidered that the violence which they were resorting to would be tantamount to the abandonment of the repeal cause. Mr. F. O'CONNOR said the present excited and dis contented state of the people of Ireland was the conse quence of the education which they received from O'Connell and their other leaders. Lord Brougham after the three glorious days in France, during the termer revolution, taught the people not to respect the Crown ; for he said, in soliciting the sweet voices of the electors of the West Riding, that if kings were arbitrary • towarda their people that their heads would soon roll in the gutters, for boys to play at ball with.—(Laughter.) The people of this country were kept in the dark with respect to the real condition of the people, in proof of which he related the following story, which he said. a Noble Lord, formerly the Member for North Staffordshire, pould confirm., A gentleman called upon him some years ago, and after saying that he was going to Ireland as a " commissioner" for one of the news • papers, solici7ed employment in a similar capacity for the .Nf rthern Star. He declined to do so, on the g und that as the letters would no doubt be correct, hec ro ould , copy them from the newspaper whose " commissioner' he was. " Oh," said the gentlema n, " they will not suit your newspaper. I must give on e yersion for the Paper for which I am specially going to Ireland, and I could give you anoiher."—(Loud laughter.) , 419„ 1344„ . .w ,-syc . vieg thei,rown Ile belieyed now kbat. and EfiSi-WainAtr-6(r reMiied the ' - royal assent, that the Government were traitors to the Crown for proposing such a measure, and allowing it to go out to the world that the monarchy was so weak as to require further powers to support it. The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY wished tc know when it was the . intention of the Hon. M e mb er t o bring in a Bill, leave for which he had some time sinc e obtained, upon the . t.twject of the Chartist La r d C om p an y. Mr. F. O'CONNOR said that it was his i n t e nti o n t o i do soimmediately after the Easter recess. DENMARK AND PRUSSIA. Mr. 1:Q151 - 1AliT gave notice tba he would on the 16th of Mn„ mure for a return of papers connected with the present state of Prussia end Denmark. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE. Mr. HUME gave notice that he would, on the 23d of May, bring before the House a motion with respect to the state of the representation of the people in that House. MR. COCHRANE'S PAUPER PROCESSION. Mr. J. A. SMITH said that he had seen an adver tisement in one of the morning newspapers to the effect that the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department had given his assent to a certain large procession taking place on Monday to the Home office, for the purpose of accompanying a petition. He wished to know whether such was the case. Sir G. GREY—In answer to the question put to me by the Hon. Member, I beg to state that I have seen this day a letter which has been published in the Morning Advertiser, signed by Mr. Charles Cochrane, stating that there would be a large assemblage—l believe they have been rated as highly as 90,000 persons—who were to proceed, accompanied by five large petitions, in proces sion to the Home-office, and adding " that the Secretary of State had most considerately declared that he would offer no opposition to such procession." That allegation, I beg to state, is totally without the least shadow of foundation, and Mr. Cochrane has been told, more than three weeks since, that no procession whatever could be allowed, and that no petition could be received by the Secretary of State if accompanied b) large numbers of persons; but if sent, in the usual way, to the Secretary of State's office, or brought by a small number of persons only, it would be received. Mr. Cochrane was also informed that it would not be con venient to receive the address in the Easter week, but that after that time, if presented in the usual way, it would be attended to. In consequence of the appear ance of the advertisements upon the subject, the Com missioners of Police have received instructions, which they are prepared to carry into effect, in order to prevent any procession from passing through the streets, which would prove a serious inconvenience to the trade and industry of the public at large. I do not believe that any such number as that stated could be called together by Mr. Cochrane. The statement which that gentleman has made with respect to my sanctioning the procession is totally without foundation, and effectual measures ail' be taken by the police to stop such procession if he should attempt to carry it out. With respect to the subject for which the procession is ostensibly designed, viz., that of the condition of the vagrant poor—it is one well deserving of the most serious attention, and there is at present under the con sideration of the Poor. law Commissioners measure, calculated to place that class of persons in an improved position under proper government. It is not necessary, however, to the due consideration of this subject that any such measures as that advocated by Mr. Cochrane should be carried into effect.—(Hear, hear.) DESTITUTE POOR (IRELAND) BILL. Sir G. GREY obtained leave to bring in a Bill to compel parties, before they evict, to give seven (lays' notice to the tenant and the nearest board of guardians, in order that food and shelter may be provided for them. THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS. Mr. C. BERKELEY inquired if it was the intention of the Government to introduce any measure with re spect to these laws this session ? Sir G. GREY replied that the k subject was under the consideration of the Government. SITES FOR CHURCHES. Mr. HUME presented a petition in favour of the Bi for granting sites for churches. The House then adjourned. A few days ago the commune of Signac (Haut- Garonne) was the scene of extraordinary events. M. Fouqu6, proprietor of the forest, happening to stop at the house of the mayor, a crowd assembled around it, uttering threatening cries, and throwing stones in the room in which M. Fouqu6 was. The mayor, having vainly attempted to calm the people, en deavoured to enable M. Fouque to escape, but the people surrounded the house on all sides. At length they forced open the gates, and filled the courtyard. M. - loupe then de manded that some of the rioters should be presented to him to explain what they desired. After some little hesitation they demanded the immediate repayment of all the fines which M. Fouqc6 had caused to be inflicted, receipts for the amount of all the judgments obtained by him, and the abandonment of all pending prosecutions. At three o'clock other individuals arrived in a state of great irritation and made further demands. Not being able to give them all the money they asked, M. Fouque expressed a wish to send one of his keepers to St. Gaudens to vet the ' d e require sum; but the people re fused, and compelled him to write to two of the principal persons of Clem to come with money. At eight o'clock these persons arrived, l and as it was not possible for them to procure the them all they o e sum demanded they brought with possessedthe eri in gold and silver articles. This did not satisfy N. Fouque should abtaenrds, and they next demanded that the property of the forest, and take an engagement to portent sums which it had disbursed the commune the im sbursed in a recent law , suit with him. The threats uttered r were so violent that M. Fouque was obliged to corn ./ w . and he signed a deed ~E 7 then compelled to which had been prepared. Il P e declare that I have sign the following declaration: _« in vgned this deed willingly and with order to discharge my conscience, without being being either commune of forced or recommended. I thack , u a t u ft 7 r . Signac for the kind reception which it ha ccnn " Nvh il ich e and beg it to give me similar receptions in fs given me, was next constrained to sign a bill for 2001' bo was allowed to depart, after being . detained ten hours, the must ter rible ven g eance be i n g declared against him if either he or h i s k e e p ers s ho uld venture to re appear in the forest. An investigation into these extra ordinary proceedings was subsequently set on foot by the legal authorities, and t w o of the rin gleaders of the crowdwere arrested.—Galignani. As some labourers, employed by John Goodall, Esq., on his Belvidere estate, near Whitchurch, were on Saturday last digginer up the roots of a fine old ash-tree e. theyAted recently felled , s everal p ieces of silver coin ,""e' l' iteleenliecovered by them, and carefully taken out of the e4rth, where it is believed they . must have lain buried rfeejeu:any years. One of the pieces is in a beautiful state of t 5,, , %,.: peeserYitko, and is of the reign of Charles 11. The e."" , :, , erflevs, - 'wlereh are a Pule defaced, appear to have been '',,.;!.,--.. eed . ins iie eireulation i}t the reign „ef _William IT. It i ' •-- conceived that these coins must hay._ idieu depC,siled e, IV - e e e-e_e,„ theroe.t.of the tree by the hand of the planter, at the •_ e time of its being planted,—§hropshire Journal. ii? ~~ HOSIERY AND LACE TRADES. In the cotton hosiery trade, despite the agitation and unsettled state of public affairs, the hands in general have work, more or less, few being wholly unemployed that seek for it; but every effort is made by numbers of men to leave the stocking-making business, which is now considered the worst paid of any description of labour in this or the neighbouring , counties. The silk-glove hands are also pretty well employed. The drawer, pantaloon, and shirt trade is also in a tolerable state, and several shops that were nearly standing have now full employment. The cut-up cotton hose branch is by no means worse. The troubled state of the times is, however, felt in the wrought hose branch, which, in some villages in this county, has further declined. The system of paying in truck is extending, and is fast becoming a most intolerable grievance which requires all the energy of the ma gistrates to repress the baneful practice. The silk hose trade, we regret to state, has not yet felt any amendment from the return of the English gentry ; but they most assuredly will do, as large quantities of fancy silk hose, of almost every description, have been sold and consumed in Paris, some of them of descriptions not known to the English workmen. The cotton bobbin•net trade is yet in a de pressed state, and a general gloom pervades the workmen and most of the machine owners, al though we hear in some quarters that the stocks are upon the move, the principal machine owner in this vicinity having made some extensive consignments ; but, as usual, every species of craft is used by the manufacturers to keep this increased de mand from the knowledge of the public. The making of lace muslins, we are glad to perceive, is again upon the increase. Some of the machines are engaged in making cotton ribbons, which are much esteemed by females, the peculiarly fine quality of cotton used giving it a glosss exceeding what has hitherto been seen in cotton fabrics. The ribbons are extremely cheap. The French lace-trade seems in a stagnant calm : the providing for so large a body to proceed to Australia has had a most tranquillising effect, not only in Calais, but in Nottingham —as, providing this measure of mercy had not been adopted, the local workmen would have been driven to utter despair by such an influx of hands. The cotton warp lace, once of such high importance to Nottingham, is still in a lingering condition. The silk branch, though better, is in a depressed state, especially when com pared with former years. However, there is still hope for this body of workmen, as articles are now made from coarse frames of hard-spun cotton, which closely re semble those so generally made by the hand and the knitting-pins. We have heard but little lately of bobbin or warp velvet, but we believe that it is not quite aban doned.-IVottingharn Journal. DEMAND FOR PIKES. A circumstance has been related to me, this morning, well worthy of observation, as exhibiting the peculiarities of our times—a circumstance which, when coming before Government, will serve to indi cate their true position. My authority is such that I can vouch for its accuracy. A Mr. —, a traveller for a cutlery establishment in Sheffield, called a few days ago on a respectable ironmonger-iti Dublin, to solicit orders, and obtain the settlement of the firm's running account. The account was presented, and the Dublin gentleman stated that, although the credit had a little time to run, he would have it arranged during the day in the usual manner. He stated, however, that his stock being extensive, and business very flat, his orders would be comparatively small, and that if Mr. would leave his list he would mark out what he required. This was done, and Mr. was turning from the shop, when the man of iron inquired, " By -the-b y e, could y ou fur nish me with any pikes ? They are the only things in demand now.' Mr. —, under the impression that his customer was jesting, laughingly replied, " Oh, to be sure ;" and immediately left. On returning to street, an order for a varied assortment of goods was put into his hands, and at the foot of it was written, " 1,800 pikes, according to sample," a model pike .head being handed to the traveller, with direc tions to have them manufactured precisely after that fashion. Mr. inquired if the customer was serious. " Serious !" replied the ironmonger ; " I never was more serious in my life. Didn't you tell me that you could provide the pikes ?" "Certainly I did," said Mr. —, " but I really thought you were jesting at that time. I certainly will take no order of the kind from any man." " Then," returned the Dublin merchant, " I cancel the entire order. Do not send me any other article I have noted. I won't receive them if you do." Mr. was surprised, but made up his mind on the instant, that, order or no order, he would be content with the settlement of -he account. The subject was accordingly mentioned; but Dublin met Sheffield by declaring that, since the order for the pikes was refused, he would not pay a farthing of money until the last moment of the general credit, no matter what discount would be allowed. He stuck inexorably to this, and Mr. left the metropolis minus both cash and order for goods. I look upon this circumstance as a promoni tory symptom of the coming fever, and one which tells forcibly of the present state of the national patient. Pikes and penknives, or neither—that is the order of the day in Dublin, so far as respects English cutlery establishments.—/Vorth British Mail. SUICIDE.—An inquest was held on Thursday at St. George's Hospital, before Mr. Bedford, on the body of Henry Vaughan, aged 21, a confectioner, who drowned himself in the Serpentine. Josiah Vaughan, of Vauxhall-street, Lambeth, said the deceased (his brother) had been out of work for the last five months, and all that time had lived in bis house, and depended upon him for support. On Thursday morning, while witness was from home at his work, the deceased and his (witness's) wife ran away together to Portsmouth, the latter taking with her the money saved to pay the rent. The next day his wife returned, followed by the deceased, who attempted to shoot her because she would not go back and live with him. He levelled a loaded pistol at her head, and pulled the trigger, but the pistol fortunately missed fire. He heard nothing more of the deceased until Saturday, when a messenger brought him word that he had thrown himself into the Serpentine, having previously left in his hat on the bridge a letter directed to witness. In this letter he acknowledged having seduced his sister-in-law, and stated that as she had refused to live with him his life had become a burthen to him. Witness believed that the deceased for some time past had not been right in his mind. Verdict —Temporary insanity. A very deplorable event occurred at Easton, near Stamford, on the lath instant. A man named Wilkin son, a labouring plasterer, aged about 45, in a state of frenzy made an attempt on the lives of his two children. fle unfortunate man had been for about eight weeks in a desponding state, and had been regularly attended by Mr. Charles Simpson, who finding him very docile, did not consider any restraint necessary, beyond ordinary ,urveillance, to prevent his making an attempt on his own life. Taking advantage of his wife's absence up stairs, Wilkinson took up an instrument used by him in his business (having a hammer at one end and a kind of hatchet at the other), and began to chop at both the children. Their screams brought their mother down stairs, and she succeeded in wresting the weapon from her husband, not, however, before he had inflicted five horrible wounds on the head of the younger, as well as a deep gash on the wrist. Wilkinson has been since con veyed to Camberwell Lunatic Asylum, there being no room for him either at Northampton, or Leicester, or Nottingham asylums .—Stanford Mercury. SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—PLYMOUTH, APRIL 20. —During the last few days the works on the line have been greatly retarded by the state of the weather. Nevertheless every exertion is being made to open the line to Lairs as early as possible. The uprights for the electric_ telegraph are erected to within one Haile of Brent, and th e a tt ac hi ng t h e w i res w ill comme n ce ne x t week. seva _ The viaducts have be e n t e st e d by an engine and several stand the work lies, ver f y ro w m ell. A heavily l a d en truc k s, an d appear, as t h e navv i es say, to th the locomotive Totnes down o t t i o ve La w i i r l a l pass over (the Plymouth station), this we, and it i 3 believed that the line will be o p ene d on or is raid that the req u i s it e notice ab out the a 2d of May. It been given to the Government inspector th a t t h e li ne is ready the for inspec tion. There will be no g oo d s station at light goads will be carried over t h e line at Lairs, but such articles as will come under the on9f—all denomination of parcels, and also fish, which now forms a large ind im portant item of traffic by rail from Plymouth. DISTRESSING SUICIDE.—PLYMOUTH, THUR SDAY . —An inquest was held this afternoon at the School-room . Plymouth Citadel, before J. Edmonds , Esq., the coroner,' on the body of William Robinson, a colour -sergeant in the 35th Regiment. The deceased had risen that morn ing at gun-fire, and called the roll of his company. A private soldier, about six o'clock, went to the pri v y at the sergeant's mess, and there saw the deceased on his knees. He at first thought it was a soldier, who, after being intoxicated the . night previous, had repaired the re for the purpo ses of nature! and, _ ' acting on that convic tion, he said , to the d e ceased, "Come, come, you h a ve been long enough here." h The soldier, after re maining there a short time, saw deceased's braces were round his neck; and on a closer examination , he found that lie was suspended from the door. He immediately circumstance, and the deceased gave information of the A towel had been fastened was afterwards cut d own. com municated from over the door, and a pair of b ra ces co I , e then hung on the towel to the deceased' s nee., a h nd e Mauritius, his knees. The deceased, while in th at tempted suicide by cutting his throat, the mark Thejury occa sioned by the act being perceptible on his neck. , returned a verdict, of " Temporary insanity. IMPORTATIONS OF APPLES.—The importations of apples from Belgium, as well as France , are j ust Clow Particularly numerous and extensive. One vessel, just .trrived, has brought nearly 600 cases of the fruit, form ing an entire cargo ; ani another vessel has broug ht 415 cases, comprising an entire cargo of the article. The importation of the fruit from G •rave Fries and that portion i , of France, are part' ocularly large and numerous. Information has been for dd to ar e the metropoli tan police-offices of the w following desperate means em plooed by a house breaker a police-constable:---Tho to escape from the custody of others of his class, had prisoner, h it appears, with two trates of Edrington, near BiariLien°'llmitte p el N by the m i agis• or h,ttie , )re , kinc: and whit t t g ,rn a e m ee , t_ n Varwic.c gaol ai 2. to the latter ,t, 4' pollee-sergeant "'Larson, ha suudunly vauited, harle quin like, through the window of the carriage. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. MALTA, APRIL 14.—The affairs of Sicily being brought to such a termination as warranted Lord Minto to return to Rome and Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker to leave the waters of Naples (at which place he arrived from Palermo on the .sth inst.), the British fleet—composed of the Hibernia, 104, Capt. P. Richards, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker; Trafalgar, 120, Captain C. Hope; Van guard, 80, Captain G. F. Rich ; Rodney, 92, Captain C. Collier ; Superb, 80, Captain Corry; Vengeance, 84, Captain Lushington ; and Terrible steam-frigate, Captain W. Ramsay—left Naples . on Sunday and Monday last, and after rendezvousing off Marittimo, arrived in Malta harbour on Wednesday last in beau. tiful style and in their order of seniority. The Ter rible accompanied the fleet under sail, having discon nected her engines, and proved a beautiful vessel under canvas. A portion of the squadrort yet remains on the Sici lian and Italian coast, and is thus divided : At Naples— Sidon and Porcupine steam ships. At Palermo—Gladiator steam. frigate. At Messina—Thetis, 36, and Hecate steamer. At Syracuse—Harlequin brig. The news brought by the fleet is not of any impor tance, and nothing, not known before, has transpired as to the political causes which led to its departure. On the flag-ship arriving off the mouth of the harbour, her Majesty's ship Queen exchanged salutes with Sir W. Parker. On Monday a signal was made for the Vanguard, Superb, and Vengeance to try rate of sailing ; the weather was beautiful but the wind very light, yet after eight hours the Vanguard was the victor in the struggle, beating the Superb by about eight knots, and the Superb paid a similar compliment to the Vengeance, which was thought to have stood a chance of being first at the winning post. The Superb was not in very good trim. We hear of the following changes that have taken place, or are about to be made, in the personnel of the fleet : Lieutenant Boys to the Hibernia, from the Tra falgar ; Lieutenant Parker, from the Hibernia to the Superb ; Lieutenant Charles Sullivan, from the Superb to the Trafalgar ; Lieutenant Fead, from the Hibernia to the Superb, vice Simpson ; Lieutenant Reynolds, from the Trafalgar to the Terrible, vice Need. Assistant-Surgeon R. E. Smart, from the Trafalgar to the Hibernia, vice Wells promoted. It is also said that Lieutenant G. 0. Willes, son of the late Captain Willes, will receive the appoint ment to the Spitfire steamer, vice Macdonald pro moted ; and Mr. Auret will be promoted to the rank of Paymaster and Purser, vice Milner deceased. A melancholy accident happened to a sailor of the Trafalgar on her passage to Malta—he fell off the foreward arm and was killed instantaneously. We learn that her Majesty's steamer Trafalgar will be the first to leave the Mediterranean. She will convey Rear-Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis to England, and will sail at the end of the month. Her departure will be much regretted on this station. The French mail steamer Lougsor , arrived here on t b e. 7;ll,4ist.from Marseilles direct, and proceeded on the following day to Alexandria and Beyrout. The French mail steamer Leonidas, from Mar seilles and ports of Italy and Sicily, arrived here on Saturday last, and on the following day proceeded to the Levant. Her Majesty's steamer Locust left port on the Bth instant with dispatches for her Majesty's British Con sul-General at Tunis. She is hourly expected on her return. Her Majesty's surveying ship Volage left port on Saturday last for Athens, whence she will proceed to the Levant and rjoin the research cutter, commanded by Lieutenant Lord J. Brown, and continue her surveys. The French steamer (Rost. Comp.) Boaphore ar rived here on the 11th inst. from the Levant, and on the evening of the same day continued her route to Marseilles, touching at Leghorn. Her Majesty's steamer Oberon, which left port on the 6th inst. with dispatches for Sir W. Parker, re turned on the night of the 11th inst. She is destined to proceed to Marseilles with the India mails expected to-morrow per Hindostan. The Egyptian frigate Shiarkie, from Alexandria, arrived here on the 12th inst. She was 17 days out. The United States' corvette Marion arrived here from Marseilles on the 12th inst. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Hindostan, with the India mails and passengers, is expected here to-morrow. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tagus, with the outward India mail and passengers, together with London dates of the 3d inst , is hourly expected. On arrival, the Tagus will put her mails and pas sengers on board the Ariel, which steamer will pro ceed to Alexandria, and the Tagus to the Levant and Black Seas. Her Majesty's steamer Ardent, with that part of the India mail sent through France, and London dates of the 7th instant, arrived during the night. The Neapolitan steamer Maria Christina, from Naples, arrived this morning. The French mail steamer Mentor, from the Levant, arrived this morning. The French mail steamer Caire, from Beyrout and Alexandria, is hourly expected. PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 23.—The Fairy royal yacht, Master Commander Welch, embarked her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and suite at half-past twelve yesterday afternoon, and conveyed them to Osborne on a visit to her Majesty. The usual honours were paid to her Royal Highness by the Government authorities of the port. We stated that the Earl of Auckland would pay a visit to Portsmouth on Monday. We believe his Lordship will call on Lord Palmerston, at Broad lands, whilst in the neighbourhood. Rear-Admiral Dundas, C. 8., M.P., left the Admiralty on Saturday, for Birkenhead, where he will be joined this day by Mr. Secretary Ward, M.P. The gallant Admiral is not expected to return to town before the Ist of May. In the meanwhile, it is probable that he will take a trip to Cork, to hare a look at the squadron there. The Hon. Captain Berkeley, C. 8., M.P., is spending the Easter holidays in Wales. Captain Lord John Hay, C. 8., M.P., is staying at Redlesham Rec tory, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Captain Milne and the Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P., remain at the Board, with Captain W. A. B. Hamilton, the Second Secre tary. Captain Henry Eden, private Secretary to Lord Auckland, is on a visit to his sister, Lady Graham, at Hampton Court. The Bellerophon, 78, Captain Baynes, C. 8., ar rived at Spithead from Gibraltar, on Saturday, at noon, the Admiralty orders countermanding her proceeding to Quebec with troops having reached her in time. Orders were awaiting at Portsmouth, directing her to come into harbour to be refitted, to take on board all her guns, to embark her additional marines, fill up her complement to 650, officers and men, and wait further orders. No doubt she will ultimately join Sir C. Napier's squadron, as will also the Powerful, 84, Capt. the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C.B. as we have before stated. The Colossus, 80, is ordered to be launched at Pembroke, on the Ist of June. We stated last week that she is to be navigated to Portsmouth and fitted as an advanced ship. The Dido, 18, Captain Maxwell, is ordered home from New Zealand to be paid off on the arrival of the Havannah, 20, Captain Erskine, on that station. The Comus, 16, Commander D'Eyncourt, on her arrival from Brazil, is to be paid off at Sheerness. Tie Seagull, 6, Lieut. Commander Dicken, at Devonport, will be ready by the 26th. An explana nation is demanded by the Admiralty respecting the extraordinary defects of this vessel. The Termagant, new screw steam frigate, now at Messrs. Young's, of Limehouse, is to have the alter ations in her stern completed as soon as possible, when she is to be coppered by them and sent to Portsmouth to be fitted for sea service. The Sharpshooter, steam. vessel, at Portsmouth, Lieut. Commander John C. Bailey, will not be ready for sea until the 26th. She is ordered to be employed in conveying newly-raised men, and in protecting the fisheries on the coasts of Sussex and Kent. She is F i The c f r , a left dozen Dee,toe r s at h i ns short of transport, uh h er o n Friday Master a Commander Madeira and the Cape, touching at Devonport for supernumeraries and offi c ers waiting a passage. She takes o u t or d ers for th e Rosamond, steam-sloop, come Command er F oot, to home. The abovemTlial s:i'lauEfracAdm India T iahas INDIAN SQUADRON. brought us letters from the Commodore Plum . ridge had not proceeded to China by ll th o e Nc la .. kt o a s cl o vi:ces but was about doing Commander Wille F o 'Bß. ar rive d h 7 a .— i 'r hereh Furyon thesteam-sloop, so s . th, nin time, which she weathered most days from Singapore,, steamed all the way against the north-east monso on, ng blow ing obly This vessel passage out sfr n obly . England,fgales all the made a splendid Kong in less than six months from the under date cf or h g e; sail nearly the whole distance, from reached being commissioned—one-half the time some steamers which have been sent to this station,and six weeks less than the quickest. The Furynd a can s team a distance of 2 , 4 7 0 miles in eight da ys h.s!f, and on the lowest step of expansion 3,262 miles in 19 days, which could be made more of if a chain of operations had to be carried out. The full power was never put upon her (515 horse• power) except by way of experiment, but usually averaged from 10 6 to 11 knots on the second step of expansion after her coal is reduced to 300 tons. She is considered the best and most efficient vessel in the China seas; her rig answers admirably, her sailing qualities being such that she could cruise with any lui,dron, and wi, 1 ' 11' • ~ bhae. So La ,y !, bile hi a sea wity 11...1k, 1.., ilv.o , j guns ivere friqu;:n:iji. worked with an inclination of 12 to 15 degrees. Her captain is trying a plan (an invention of his own) which will, if successful, prove highly important in the service with regard to steamers, by which, at any time of tle night or day, at sea or in harbour, he can get the immersion of the ship at the midship section and both extremes to the eighth of an inch or less, so desirable in a steamer, to work the coals off to keep her in proper trim, to ascertain the immersion of paddles, and in shoal water or up rivers to know imme diately what to lighten the vessel to if necessary, and many other advantages. It is most simple, and in a few hours may be fitted to any vessel in the service. The Daedalus, 20, Captain P. Maquhe ; Childers, 12, Commander Pitman, and Medea steam-sloop, Commander Mason, were at Hong-Kong on the 6th of February. The Columbine, 12, Commander J. C. D. Hay, is at Whampoa, and the Hon. Company's steamer Pluto at Canton. The Melampus, 42, Captain J. N. Campbell, and the Royalist, 10, Commander Gordon, arrived at Hong-Kong on the 14th of February, and Captain Campbell hoisted a broad pendant as senior officer in China. The Daedalus sailed three days after for Singapore. The Ringdove, 12, Commander Inglefield, is at Penang. The Scout, 14, Commander Johnstone, is at Amoy. The Childers, 12, Commander Pitman, was at Shanghai February the 27th. The Espiegle, 12, Commander Campbell, is at Ningpo. The Medea steam-sloop, Commander Mason, is under orders for Whampoa to relieve the Columbine, and will sail in a few days. We hear the Inflexible steam-sloop, Commander Hoseason, has been aground in the Paramatta River at Sydney. A French frigate, the Bajonnai se , was a t H ong - Kong on the 27th of February, with the French Ambassador to China on board. She was going to Manilla in a short time. The Vulture steam-frigate, Captain M`Dougall, left Singapore on the Bth of February, and passed Anjer on the 12th on her way to the Cape of Good Hope and England to be paid off. PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY, 5 p.m. Wind, INT:E.; moderate breezes and fine weather. CHATHAM, APRIL 21.—The Waterwitch, 10 guns, Commander R. R. Quin, is alongside the Tartar hulk ; she has got her topmasts on end. Her guns were put on board yesterday. The Ranger, 8 guns, Commander J. Anderson, from the coast of Africa, where she has been em ployed since 1844, is ordered to this port to be paid off, without her bulkheads or internal fittings being disturbed. Arrived—the bark Eliza Ann, J. Blyth, Master, from Savannah, with pine timber for the dockyard, and the Aid, Sinallman, Master, from Devonport. The following persons have been this week super annuated, viz., Henry Heard, fireman of smiths, at 281. per annum; John Hawkins, lead man at metal mills, 34/. ; Joseph Bailey, engine-keeper, at ditto, 24/. ; and Thomas. Gardner,•workman, at ditto, 231. ; Per annum. • The foundation of an official residence for Captain Mould, Royal Engineers, Director of Works, is being laid between the Pay-office and the officers of the yard residences. CHELSEA BOARD. During the pastyeartbere have been under medi cal examination at Fort Pitt 3,191 men belonging to the different regiments serving abroad. These men were sent home from the East Indies and other colonies to be pensioned off. Of that number 2,669 were placed on the Chelsea Board ; 433 were found fit to join their respective depots; and rights_ seven died in the hospital. So great a number of invalids in one year has not passed that board for some years. POLICE IN'I'ELLIGENCE. MANSION-HO USE. On Saturday a young man, whose name appeared upon the warrant on which he was apprehended as Bonniface Chrystie, was brought before the Lord Mayor in the custody of John Forrester, the officer, charged with having been concerned in a conspiracy to commit extensive fraud by imitating the current coin of the Republic of Colombia. Mr. Peachey, of the house of Oliverson and Co., solicitors to the Colombian Government, attended for the prosecution. John Forrester produced a warrant signed by Mr. John Burke Davis, a magistrate of Warwickshire, for the apprehension of the prisoner, to whom a parcel containing spurious coin had been forwarded by the North-Western Railway. The warrant charged the prisoner, who is no more than twenty years of age and a resident in London, with having been one of the persons engaged in the offence. The officer here produced a large parcel containing about 3,000 pieces of the spurious coin. The prisoner said his real name was Garredo, but ious say bi t et o il he had received parcels in the name of Bonniface Chrystie (as we understood him). Mr. Alexander Fletcher identified the prisoner, and stated that the prisoner had received parcels and let ters in the name of Bonniface Chrystie, directed from Birmingham. The parcels, it appeared, had been directed to a house in Lombard-street, with a clerk in which the prisoner was acquainted. John Forrester said, his object was to take the pri soner to Birmingham as soon as possible, and he should therefore be obliged to Alderman Gibbs to give him permission to do so. Alderman Gums—Has the prisoner anything to say.—The prisoner—l have merely to say that I should be obliged to you to remand me till Monday or Tuesday next, as I shall by that time be enabled to get papers ready, calculated to show that I have been merely acting as an agent and interpreter in this remanded. objectionnd might to have e e t t h h e e opp prisoner ort u tomatter.faConsul,ct ry Birmingham t ho l adt a lu t hde e ar n er a dare w ir ir t . r p an ea sa c c h t e i y on h s a o d f n th o eki • The spurious coin is a piece of yellow metal, of the n r ei r Ty a ho n ef d p e pr d rie , iop i na n erir o n r wg d as e t r het t h h ee a xa t p size of a half-sovereign, with the impression of the arms of Colombia of 1832 and of lERM Popayan. It is believed that 10,000 of them at least have been struck off. MARLBOROUGH.STREET. A tall, aged man, very respectably dressed, was charged hanenshwoeaanitodclercyaanmpsoprytoaheopais entrfragostt:: masbteeenna sending oli n t stg o aotm t id h s oe e . by a gentleman residing at Thompson's Hotel, Berkeley-square, with collecting a mob in Oxford-street, under the following peculiar circum stances : The gentleman said, that seeing so respectable an individual covered with placards, parading the streets, he conceived he was not in a state of mind to be al lowed to go at large, and he applied to a constable, and eventually caused the defendant to be brought to the court to b e questioned by the magistrate. Mr. BINGHAM wished to know what was the pur port of the placards on the back and front of the de fendant and round his hat, and was told that the front placard was headed, "To the Rich. Failure of the Potato crop.—The wet season will produce another failure of the potato crop ; and then, Lord have mercy on the poor." On the placard at his back was as fol lows A Scale of Prophecies for 2 ; 290 years, price twopence; to be had of the bearer." On the hat was, 6 , _Prophecies fulfilled.—James v. 9." Mr. BINGHAM asked the defendant if he had any friends to whom he could apply ? The defendant said he was independent of his friends. He could produce the first testimonials from parties in London and in Scotland. If the magistrate sent to Mr. Wil liams, No. 52, Regent-street, he would receive rea sonable satisfaction. He wished to know why he had been taken into custody, t and asked to have the name of the gentleman who had given him in charge. Mr. BINGHAM said, he should perhaps render the last proceeding unnecessary by a few words which he intended to address to him. In London a man might preach as much as he liked, and pretty nearly what he liked. A man might also advertise anything he had to sell bow and in what manner he liked; arid, strange to say, the more unusual the way he preached or advertised the more certain he was to attract pub lic attention. But, then, the liberty of preaching and advertising must be taken with this qualification— that a man either preaching or advertising must take care not to inconvenience persons or block up a public thoroughfare. Now, if a man of the defendant's ap pearance chose to hang a placard on the front and back of a good coat—the same way as placards were seen hung on a beggar's coat —it would naturally follow that such an unusual act would attract a good deal of public notice, especially if the p art y walked about the streets o f London. If the defendant had not actually broken the law,. he had gone sufficiently far. to justify the proceedings that had taken place. With this caution he should order the defendant to be dis charged this time. The defendant wished to know where he was entitled to walk without molestation to exhibit his warnings. Mr. BINGHAM—Why, on a very cold or a very wet day you may walk in the middle of Hyde Park. I don't think you can do much harm there. The prophet was then set at liberty. WORSHIP-STREE T. Amongst the reman ded cases appointed for re examination at this Court on Saturday, was one preferred against a well dressed man, named Henry Southcombe, who was charged on the preceding Wednesday with having,by false and fraudulent re presentations, obtained a large quantity of expensive household furniture from an upholsterer named Cut bill, in Worship•square, Finsbury, and who was liberated upon entering into his own recognizance to ; • •>, „, , GiAO usual manner, but did not appear ; and Mr. Vann, the solicitor, who was accompanied by several tradesmen, anxious to prefer charges against him, intimated that there was not the remotest pro bability that he would ever again present himself at that court, as he (the solicitor) was furnished with evidence which would conclusively establish the fact that a widely-ramified conspiracy had been carried on by Southcombe and others to obtain goods from tradesmen in various parts of the metropolis to an enormous extent. Amongst the sufferers who were able to establish clear cases of fraudulent collusion against the parties were Mr. Miller, a furniture dealer, in Old-street-road, from whom goods had been ob tained to the amount of 811.; Mr. Parkinson, an iron monger in Oxford-street ; Messrs. T ownes an d Packer, the pianoforte manufacturers, and various other tradesmen, all of whom had p ar t e d w i t h t h e i r property upon the faith of similar representations and by like devices. After the goods had been sur reptitiously removed from the west end, diligent inquiries were made to find them, an.i it was at last discovered that they had been in the first instance carried off to the house of a carman at King's-cross ; but it appeared that the instant the prisoner Southcombe had been liberated at this court, he went straight to that place and rapidly removed them again to a house in IVinchester-street, Penton vine, where he had advised his clients to proceed im mediately, and take forcible possession of all they could identify, or in a few hours the property would again disappear. In the meantime, however, he was instructed to apply for the issue of warrants for the apprehension forthwith of all the parties concerned in the conspiracy, as he considered it monstrous that they should be allowed to escape justice any longer and carry on such a wholesale system of depredation with impunity. Mr. ARNOLD repeated his opinion as to the insuffi ciency of the law to meet such cases, and though he concurred in the propriety of the course intimated as to the forcible re-possession of the property so obtained by its owners, and that the parties, if indicted for conspiracy, should be proceeded against in a superior ceurt, declined granting the warrants for their appre hension, as they might be given into custody when ever they could be met with. Mr. Vann thanked the magistrate, and withdrew with his clients, but returned in the course of two hours, by which time Southcombe had still not ap peared, and reported that the tradesmen upon pro ceeding to the house in Winchester-street, could hear nothing of Southcombe, and had been told by a woman who answered them, that no such property had been deposited there; but upon their expressing a positive determination to force their way in, she reluctantly admitted them, and then each one select ing his own, and by mutual assistance, they succeeded at length in recovering two waggon loads of their goods, which they had carried off triumphantly, whether legally or not, though a large amount of property still remained undiscovered. SOUTHWARK. John Smith and Henry Wallis, two young men, were charged with being found on the premises be longing to the South Eastern Railway Company, and attemptiag.to break into one of the warehouses. It appeared that a number of the arches near the terminus of the railway have been recently used as warehouses for the deposit of luggage and machinery the majority of which have been enclosed and locked up; but very lately a number of them have been broken open and valuable property stolen therefrom. Policeman 85 M, having heard of the robberies, kept a sharp look-out. That morning, a little after two o'clock, when passing the warehouse in which the prisoners were found, he heard a noise inside, and looked over the gate and saw a light moving about, which satisfied him that thieves were there. lie pro cured assistance, and when they entered the place leading to the warehouses they discovered the pri soner Smith attempting to force open a warehouse door, and the other prisoner was crouched up in a corner. On Smith was found a " jemmy," a piece of candle, and some lucifer matches; and on Wallis, a crowbar. The prisoners were committed for a month. HAMIVIERSMI7 H. Alice Lee, a pretty-looking young gipsy, with a child in her arms, was charged with fortune-telling. Susan Grant, a simple-looking young woman, about 24 years of age, stated that the prisoner came, on the 7th of February last, to her master's house in Ladbroke-square, and, after a little conversation, offered to read her fortune. Prisoner told com plainant that she must first cross her hand with a piece of silver. Witness then gave her half-a-crown, when the prisoner left, saying she would go and look at the book ; afterwards she returned, and said witness must cross her hand with a piece of gold. She gave her a sovereign ; and the prisoner told her she must put another piece of gold, with a card, into her bosom, and keep it there until she saw her again. When she called again she said she must have the piece of gold that was in her bosom, and she would go and " rule the planets." She took the second sovereign away with her, but came again, and said she must have witness's best gown, which she also took awa y w ith her. She afterwards had another gown, a shawl, several new articles of body linen, stockings, &c., all of which, she said, were absolutely necessary for properly ruling the planets, and she promised to re turn them the next day. She, however, never set eyes on her again until she happened to meet her that day in Kensington, with one of the gowns on, and the shawls wrapped round the child. The prisoner said the young woman had given her the money and things for telling her fortune and finding her a sweetheart. The MAGISTRATE, having elicited that the com plainant had been educated at the Kensington National School, expressed his surprise at her credulity. The prisoner was committed to the House of Cor rection, with hard labour, for three months. LAUNCH 01' A NEW IRON STEAMER.-A splendid iron steamer, built by Messrs. Harvey and Co., was launched from their yard at Hayle Foundry, on Tues day afternoon last, about four o'clock. The weather was rather unpropitious, and there were not so many specta tors present as on a former occasion. The vessel glided off her stocks without the least impediment, obstruction, ur accident. Mr. Jabea Bickle had the honour to stand sponsor on the occasion, and, with a bottle of wine dashed at her bows just as she started, christened her the Dordrecht. She is intended for a tow-boat on the River Rhine. Her length at the water-line is 197 feet; ex treme length, 205 feet; breadth, 23 feet; extreme breadth with the paddle boxes, 47 feet 3 inches; depth in the hold, 11 feet; her present weight is calculated to be about 150 tons, and she draws only 15 inches of water. Her engines are 250 horse power, and when on board, together with the whole of her machinery and stores, will draw only 4i feet of water. She is calculated to tow 1,000 tons 64 knots an hour against a stream that runs 4i knots an hour. She was laid down in October last, and is expected to be completed shortly, thus show ing what can be done at Hayle in case of emergency, as others of large dimensions can now be executed in less time if required.— Cornwall Royal Gazette. HEARTLESS CONDUCT OF AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN. —On Sunday last the Lady Pirie arrived at the Mum bles roadstead, from Cuba, bringing with her a cargo of 500 tons of copper ore. On her return voyage, on the 18th March, in latitude 28 deg. 10 min., longitude 57, she fell in with the boats belonging to a French barque, called the Taporica, of Havre, in which were the master, nine French seamen, and three passengers, all of whom were safely landed on their arrival here. It appeared that the barque, while on her voyage from Guadeloupe to Marseilles, had sprung a leak, and eventually sank. The crew and passengers were obliged to take to the three boats, and had been at sea for nine days, having endured the greatest privations, when they fell i❑ with Capt. Parker, who did all in his power to administer to their comforts. It appeared that just previous to the sinking of the barque, an American vessel was within a short distance, on seeing which the master of the barque hoisted a signal of distress. The American also made a signal that the Frenchman was observed by him; but instead of exhibiting any of the true feeling so charac teristic of the British seaman, evinced by Capt. Parker, the American master steered off his vessel, taking no further notice of the sufferers, and leaving them under such lamentable circumstances to the mercy of the elements.—Cambrian. Tits WILL FORGERS.—The three prisoners eon victed of the will forgery were removed from Taunton for Bath immediately after the close of the trial. They were conveyed from Taunton Castle to the station in one of the omnibuses, Daniel Ford and Lewi s b e i ng chained together, and John Ford being similarly se ' cured with a lad convicted of sending a threatening letter. On the platform at the station Daniel appeared to be very excited; he used some very strong language respecting several of the witnesses, charging them with false swearing, and expressed himself as very indignant at the conduct of the juror who left the court during Mr. Stone's address. While sitting on a form waiting the arrival of the train, Daniel asked a bystander to lend him his stick, intimating his intention of using it about the person of one of the witnesses near him. Some one near him asked what good that would do him ? " Oh," he replied, with a leer, "it would be a gratification." Lewis was very quiet, and appeared lik a man who dil not admire his prospects. John Ford was very dejected; he seemed to be quite spirit-broken, and, in appearance, those wbo knew him said he was greatly changed. Green, the man convicted of uttering the forged notes in Bath, was one of the company. He was also heavily ironed. At he sat on a form, he endea voured to hide his chains with his pocket handkerchief. A respectably dressed female met him on the platform, , and was in close conversation CA the arrival of the train. The prisoners still remain in the Bath gaol until direc tions are received from the Home-office respecting their future destination. On the arrival of the prisoners at the Bath station, Daniel Ford seized the opportunity when near Mr. Wintle, one of the prosecutors, to deal out to him a heavy blow on the bead. A gentleman close by, who witnessed the assault, raised a stick which he had in his hand, and retaliated by a blow on Ford's head. The guard who had him in custody also found it necessary to inflict some chastisement on his prisoner to brin4 him under subjection.—Batli Chronicle. EMIGRATION.—On Tuesday last a great number of individuals left thii place by the steamer, on their way to A',l.:Co u, GreezviA, and ot! lot wiwrc ;hey in tend embark:43f.! America, '; :fi'f'e were (I. g, 70(i few . from Wick, but the greater number were from the coun try.—John o' Groat Journal OPERATIONS OF THE HYDRO GRAPHIC DEPARTMENT OF THE ADMI RALTY—THEIR COST. Of all branches of our public expenditure there is scarcely any of the cost of which lass complaint can with justice be made than of the hydrographic de partment of the Admiralty. That our maritime sur veys--and especially those of our own shores—are shamefully backward, is less the fault of this depart ment than of our wise legislators. While money has been squandered with a lavish hand on the most Quixotic jobs, no Members of Parliament have ever called attention to the true economy of a systematic and liberal exoenditure in completing our marine surveys. The consequence has been that for a con. siaerable time they were in a manner clandestinely and timidly carried on by the Ad:niralty, at the ur gent solicitation of a few zealous individuals. The faults of the establishment are owing to its unrecognised or half recognised character. It is semi-private, and consequently there is more than the average amount of favouritism in bestowing employ ment. Money is advanced with a timid hand, and consequently there is want of comprehensiveness and system in its operations. The parties upon whom the management has in a great measure devolved arecon scions that but for their really disinterested and stre nuous efforts, nothing at all would have been done, are naturally jealous of the credit due to them, and disposed to repel as an affront any suggestions of improvement. Hence it comes that the materials which have accumulated in the department are frag mentary, though excellent ; that while tne special sur veys, thanks to the general ability of our naval officers, are admirably executed, the combinations of them in the office with a view to construct general charts are miserable even to contempt; and that the skill and efficiency of the department, after making one rapid stride, have been for some time stationary. It is but fair to add that for the backwardness of many of our home surveys not the hydrographical depart ment, but the slow progress of the Ordnance survey is legitimately responsible. The marine surveys of our coasts cannot have the least precision given them till fixed points have been obtained from the land survey. For the slow process of the Ordnance sur vey, again, not the officers engaged on it, but, as in the case of the marine surveys, the want of a conti nual national interest manifested by legislative at tention is to blame. The sketch given of the hydro graphical department would, with the change of a few words, accurately describe the survey branch of the Ordnance establishment. From some returns recently laid before Parlia ment, on the motion of Mr. Hume (Sessional Paper, 1848, No. 232), we learn that the expenditure of the hydrographical department (exclusive of Artic and Antartic expeditions) has been :—ln 1837.8, 68,517/. ; in 1.838-9, 59,2021.; in 1889-40, 58,8621.; in 1840-1, 52,517/. ; in 1841-2, 91,8321.; in 1842-3, 142,2351. ; W 1843-4,134,126/. ; in 1844-5, 136,5831. ; in 1845-6, 178,7821.; and in 1846-7, 123,678/. What has been effected by means of this outlay will be seen from the following report by Admiral Beaufort, on which we have at present only two re marks to offer. The first is, that much . more might be done to bring the Admiralty charts into common use in the commercial marine. The second is, that the services of the East India Company's officers, in the surveys of the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and elsewhere, are shamefully underrated in the report— a circumstance which betrays an unwillingness to do justice to another service most discreditable to the gallant officer. A RETURN OF SURVEYS UNDERTAKEN BY THE HYDRO GRAPHIC DEPARTMENT OF THE ADMIRALTY, BE TWEEN THE YEARS 1838 AND 1847 INCLUSIVE. 1838.—1 n that year the surveys in progress were the following :—At Home : River Thames, her Alajeaty's steam vessel Boxer; coast of Wales, hired boats; North Sea, her .ylajesty's ship Fairy and tender; Solway Frith, hired boats; Orkneys, her Majesty's ship Mastiff, and tender ; north east coast of Scotland, hired boats ; coast of Ireland, hired boats ; Lough Derg, hired boats; Irish Channel, her Majesty's steam-vessel African. Abroad : Mediterranean, her Majesty's ships Beacon and Magpi e ; west coast of Africa, her Majesty's ships Etna and Raven; West Indies, her Majesty's ships Thunder and Lark ; St. Lawrence River and Gulf, hired schooner; west coast of South America, her Majesty's ships Sulphur and Starling ; north-west coast of Australia and Bass Strait, her Majesty's ship Beagle. 1839.—The surveys were the same as in 1838, ex cept of the west coast of Africa, which was disco:). tinued in consequence of the sickness which prevailed in the vessels ; and that at home—the party employed on the survey of the coast of Wales proceeded to the coast of Cornwall. 1840.—The same surveys continued, except that the Lough Derg party was transferred to the navigable parts of the river Shannon ; and that of the Solway Frith was extended along the west coast of Scotland. 1841.—The same arrangement, except that circum stances requiring the immediate survey of Ports mouth and Spithead, the Cornwall party was removed to that duty in the Sylvia cutter ; and that abroad, her Majesty's ships Sulphur and Starling quitted South America, and were employed in surveying the waters of China, and in co-operating with our squadron there. 1842.—T0 the above surveys the important inves tigation of the Barrier Reefs of Australia and Torres Strait was this year added in the Fly and Bramble; the Philomel was sent to examine the harbours of the Falkland Islands, and a survey of the Azores was commenced by the Styx steamer; the Sulphur and Starling quitted the survey of the coast of China, but leaving the Plover and Royalist to continue that work. At home, the Sbearwater steam-vessel was appointed to the North Sea survey in the place of the Fairy (unhappily lost at the close of 1841), and the Rocket steam-vessel was substituted for the Sylvia at Portsmouth and Spithead. 1843.—The Rocket was replaced by the Fearless steamer; the Shearwater steamer was sent to the West Scotland survey, and the Blazer steamer to the North Sea, instead of the Shearwater. The survey of the coast of Lancashire and Cumberland was corn • menced in hired boats. Abroad, the survey of the dangerous Gulf of Fundy was commenced by the Columbia steamer, and the Beagle returned from her survey of Bass Strait, and of the coast of Australia. 1844.—At home the south and western coasts of Ireland were so little known that an additional survey was commenced in Galway Bay by means of hired boats, and the Shannon party, having finished that work, was directed to make a complete survey of Cork Harbour in the Tartarus steam-vessel, which was replaced in the Thames by the Porcupine. The Firefly was put on the soundings of the Irish Channel, of which there was no accurate chart; the Lucifer steamer was appropriated to the continuation of the east coast of Ireland survey, and the Sparrow ketch was given in lieu of hired boats for the survey of the north coast of Scotland. Abroad, with the close of I the year, the survey of the Azores and the Madeiras ' terminated. 1845.—Her Majesty's ships Herald and Pandora were dispatched to the Pacific to continue the survey of the west coast of America from the point where that of the Sulphur and Starling broke off, and the Avon proceeded to the Bight of Benin for a like purpose. At home, the Dasher was substituted for the Fearless in the Portsmouth survey, and the Tartarus was taken from the south coast of Ireland survey, which was continued by means of hired boats. 1846.—Tne survey of the Isle of Man succeeded that of the coast of Lancashire by means of hired boats; and the great interior lakes of Corrib and Mask in Ireland were undertaken. Abroad, the Fly returned from the survey of the Barrier Reefs of Australia, leaving the survey to be continued in her Majesty's ship Bramble and a hired vessel. The Philomel having finished the survey of the Falklands joined the squadron in the river Plata. The Avon also returned from Africa, having completed the work assigned to her ; and also the Plover from China, leaving the Royalists to carry on the remaining operations. 1847.—Abroad, the Rattlesnake was sent to pro secute the survey of Torres Strait, in continuation of the work begun by the Fly ; and at the close of the year the Columbia was ordered home from the Bay of Fundy, and paid off. Her Majesty' steam-vessel Acheron was commissioned to survey the coasts and harbours of Newfoundland. At home, in the spring of the year, the Avon steamer was established for the Sparrow on the coast of Scotland, the survey of which had advanced to Cape Wrath ; and in the autumn the Blazer, Dasher, Firefly, Lucifer, Porcupine, and Shearwater, with a new set of officers, were employed in relieving the famine on the western shores of Ire land and Scotland, the several surveys in which they had been respectively occupied being ordered to be continued in hired boats. The " Portions of the Unite Kingdom of which the Survey, Charts, and Sailing Directions may be considered defective," are : 1. The greater part of the south coast of England is very roughly laid down, and with none of that accurate detail which is absolutely necessary in con sidering the value of the numberless projects that are brought before the Admiralty. 2. The charts of the western coasts of Scotland, from the Mull of Cantire nearly to Cape Wrath, and all the Hebrides, are in a most disgraceful state, not only in that hydrographic minuteness requisite for the actual safety of its navigation, but in geographic positions, many of which are several miles out, even I, e l large never r i n b t e e e r n v aslusr surveyed, e t d h , e a nd t westernhe chartscoas coast a r o e f in latitude.n 3. rd.h a stern coast of Irel an d, b e t ween me 4 r . e r e r y h e e -sk so e u tche th- s. ea Waterford and Cork, is nearly in the same state. 5. A full investigation of the tidal streams of the English Channel is likewise a .2 desideratum of very •Y • =rk ,) _ v i gittor and These several obj ects m i ght probably be oug •ht t o b e 2 .. t once rtndert..!;.-.,. accom plished with the requisite precision in ten years by seven small steam-vessels that have been lately em ployed on this service, assisted by the fo ur boating parties, and averaging altogether about 550 men and officers. The foreign surveys that are requisite in order to ensure ensure correct charts and sailing di rec tions would include a very large portion of every sea-coast on the globe, and could scarcely be enumerated here in any reasonable space ; but those most urgently necessary to be taken up by this country may be thus stated: — 1. The Eastern Islands of the Mediterranean, alon. with the coast of Syria and Egypt , a nd as much or ii the northern shore of Africa as would me et the Frenc survey which, having commenced with Algiers and Morocco, will very probably be continued along eastern Barbary and Tunis. 2. From the Strait of Gibraltar the western coast of Africa has been sufficiently surveyed and publish_ed, as far as Cape Formosa, in the Bight of Benin ; t as th e re that great much bight le , g ts w i ma e t e l l a traffic ward, both it and many of the ports a nd anchorag o e a s re on this side of the Cape of Good Hope require a En careful and connected examination. 010 there exceedingly The charts of the whole of the Cape C e exceedingly defective, as the numerous s e , ffie further in the to eatshteensi south ward, amply testify, and from thence to the Portuga settlements of Delagoa we know scarcely 4. From Delagoa to the Red Sea, and the wholed en contour of Madagascar are sufficiently representetion, our charts for the general purposes of naviga former the though many further researches along coast might still be profitably made. Arabia, the 5. The Red Sea, part of the coast of _ Gulf of Persia, and many detached portions Cons'te East Indies, have been already executed by the the pany's officers, and no doubt it is intended that be anything. coasts of Malabar and Coromandel shall Malay undertaken by the same hands. The long -e- 141 1 ) peninsula and the Strait of Malacca will reqe,%, much time and skill to complete, and to combed. requite each other those parts that have been survey b bet t e r 6. With the China Sea we are daily becoming acquainted, but much is still to be done there L : al u e probably not one of the multitude of rocks and !'" in its with which it is almost covered is put e xactly right position ; and while some are repeated t° there" three times, others have been omitted. A sea, ibB fore, which is traversed by so many large and valuable vessels, and so replete with dangers, ought to be ear l y and efficiently undertaken. excellent, 7. On the coast of China the charts are r iver from Canton round to the mouth of the great o Yang- tse-Kiang; but of the Yellow Sea we kActhe very little, and still less of the Corea, Japan, an' 0 coast of Tartary, and up to the confines of the Russia empire. hi& 8. The southern passages into the Chino. sees en d never been examined with the care they deserve' _., all that is known of what are called the Eastern na., sages through the Great Malay Archipelago, are only the results of the casual observations and sketch es made years age by industrious seamen. 9. The islands and surrounding shores of the A t : o i fura Sea, if better known, would offer many op r in - e _ . refuge, and probably an increased opening to comet cial enterprise. orili 10. The Strait of Torres has been sa tisfact fo surveyed, but before it becomes the great highOiY.l,4 steam-vessels to and from Sydney, also its contiguous coasts of New Guinea She a more intimately known. s t e elis 11. The whole circuit of the great island of Au has been well explored, and the general characterirsti:a of its several shores are sufficiently known t ° 4 -i t s general purposes ; but far more minute s urveys re . immediate waters and maritime resources must pre' cede their being inhabited, beginning with the,Eas ,„ 6 coast, along which the tide of colonisation sfem• its approacbesidPbe to be already creeping. are el: t 12. The shores of Tasmania, in like mann er, very roughly laid down, and even to this day To, no chart of the harbour and entrance to Hobart ° its capl andprincipal seat of trade. bee e 13. A ita full survey Nust s ots commenced, and will no doubt answer all the w of both the settler and the navigator. the pacific 14. In advancing to the eastward acrossweb Ocean there are many groups of islands with w h i c h our merchant vessels have occasional traffic, o r in the whaling vessels refit, and which ought, there Tier to be more efficiently examined and charts charten' their benefit. 15. On the opposite side of the Pacific some P 10; gress has been made in surveying the coast het w ee . the Russian territory and the Strait of Juan del Fen; but with the long interval between the Oregon coe trict and the entrance of the Gulf of California wear very superficially acquainted, and but little is 1 1° " - t of the interior of that extensive gulf. In the presen state of those countries it does not appear neoess e ll ° push our survey into the inner waters ; but there 0.- be no doubt that the coasts of Mexico, Guatemala , a nd New Grenada, which contain many valuable harbours • nd innumerable trading ports, ought to be nainutell and connectedly surveyed. 16. From the Equator to Cape Hor n , and from thence round to the River Plata on the eastern side et America, all that is immediately wanted has bees already achieved by the splendid survey of Captain Fitzroy. 17. Some parts of the great empire of Brazil are owe to the labours of the Baron de Roussin and other French officers, but there is much yet to be done 00 that coast between the I'lata and the Amazon rivers , and again along Guayana and Venezuela up to the mouth of the Orinco. 18. The shores of the main land between Trinidad Island and the Gulf of Mexico have been charted ; published by the Admiralty; but many of the e' India islands are still wanting to complete a whole' some knowledge of those seas. 19. The United States are carrying on an elaborateg survey of their own coasts, and to the northward e` them, a part of the Bay of Fundy has been done 11 Y ourselves, as well as all the shores of Nova Scott Canada, and Newfoundland ; and when these surfer are finished we shall only want to complete W e eastern coast of America, those of Labrador and Hudson Bay, which, being in our possession, one: to appear in our charts with some degree of ' wit' In repy to the latter part of this clause it may the take th e stated, that on an average of the last few years Ow tha that e h a o d w e in v d e . r su i c e , ,,; Admiralty have employed on foreign surveys eleve n cam vessels b e n a t n on d about this c country r y men o ; efforts, still this amount of force, if buted and constantly employed, may properl y b. dered as our full share of that great d e f ty airl maritime nations owe to the interestsof which ion. The Admiralty surveys, charts, naviga ;inns have been rendered available ' and to the sailing c d a l e rf le marine by selling them at very low r. m e a rn d: lo order to prevent any mistake on that head the Pr ic° is invariably printed on each chart, pla n, or book . antiqu The largest s izes th a t are f graven,viz.,°l. „.. double eleph an t, are so ld or 35., the next size for P.' and so on d •oa n to the small plans for which 6d-ibi,sr charged. For the sale of the charts the Admire it commission a general agent (Bate, 21, Poultry), with o f rnmission of 40 per cent. Sub-agents in all theports United Kingdom are appointed by that 1ica.. 36 s%l an allowance of 25 per cent., and when alts 1 7.; tions . are . made in any plate, correct impressions ti given in exchange for all the coes whichi the see p may have on hand, and which are immediately can celled in this office. The several objects stated in the last clause of t ri order b of the House of Commons would be attain he hydraulic placing a competent person at the head of t i lt London. department of the East India H 01 1 , 5: to He ought to be a seaman, in order t he select the points of information required bY the navigator, and he ought to be a surveyor, that,.; may know how to express with precision that in; mation. The Court of Directors have always ' il e the patrons of useful science • they h ave several acv and experienced officers in their marine • and a v i • e o "' soon give a ne w to establishment would -ce to eastern hydrography. F. BEAUFORT, Rear-Admir sl ' March 2, 1848. Hydrographer • BIRTIIB. a pdr On the 10th of October last, at Wellington, New — ell/ the lady of Charles Clifford, Esq., of a son. On the 18th inst., the lady of the Rev. George Fitager sld Galaher, of a daughter. I AW On the 19th inst., at Monkton, Farleigh, MTN Browne, of a daughter. On the 20th inst., at Upper Gow er - s t ree t, Mrs. Ballantine, of a daughter. vight On the alst inst., in S ou th- street, the lady o f the "-- lion. Edward Strutt, of a daughter. A e On the 10th inst., th e w if e of W. H. Yell, Esq., of a the On the 15th inst., at M ontagu -street, Portman-squ ar O lady of the Rev. Charles Vansittart, of a daughter. o t ill• Oe the 15th inst., at Ospringe, the wife of William Esq., of a daughter. On the 18th iust., at Carlton-villas, Maida-vale, M rs ' Meller, of a son. . On the 18th inst., a t Ch ertsey, the lady of George J. EaclP Esq., of a son. M. CA l # On the 15th of February, at ARRIED the Cathedral Chur ch !, /.0., cotta, Major Carr, Deputy Judge Advocate-General 1 1 •I'vtl• to Sophia, youngest daughter of the late G. MainNvarit DI ED. On the 18th inst., Anne Lucy: Lady Nugent. On the 20th i ns t., i n G u ildf sr d -street, Horace, the you n g st son of the Lord Cief . On the 12th in h st., at ßaron Brompton, Catherine, daught er 01 the late Admiral George Mackenzie, aged 56. gurre' On the 10th inst., at Turin, the Hon. Lady widow of Lieutenant-General Sir John uurray, Bart. DV- On the 13th i n st., i n F re d er i c k- street, N ew h a ll-bib, miugham, Mr. Thomas Lingen, aged 77. On the 17th inst. at Gloucester, Major Francis Vi r e n y s : 3 , 01 , On the 18th inst., at Dowdeswell House, near Chelte u Gloucestershire, Mrs. Rogers, aged 88. ark, On the 19th inst., in H anover-terrace , Regent ' 6- r llarriet, relict of the late J. R. Ripley, Es q., aged 83 . _wet, On the 19th inst., Bl uc h er Elwall, Esq., of Judd -3 B r un s,‘ ick. flare, aged 34. I':i - :ted and Published by iitnzpo YOTT =w illt, I sthe Precinct Printer at I'ite Sun - Uilige, of Strand, in Of the Savoy in the Middlesex, Mond&y, April 25, 1848. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 24, 1848.