The Sun. — London, England, 1848-12-28 00:00:00

f our fat of 3 Newport, total wreck; .n i g h t , from the weather Swansea to ;onsiderable rrd. Sod, -Put back, ong. 11 W., A ship was Tohn; from ondesburg , a daraagEd Nantes to Bay 019 uno boY been raised r gale here llarmot?ic ad material he Susan , day, i 5 red to pal Packer, of Hiles south stant, and .mast, 60,, stared. DAY. L 3.. with each somewhe m 28 Si 3s 8d to le carcase* es of fat od c lear• :eef; from eal, 48 to he offal. ?ep, ;lbs. AU rom 3s 4d 6d; and Ives, 184 each. r firm to- Mutton , 1 to 43 4d I; Clover 11 9s per mind. 31 15s; 11 4s to le rather 31 133 to 11 9s )RN trn of the and Wale. I PEAL 379 Ila 'oLIS S AND 3 under , and 0 !as held Cilgourf ie lion• of the it, Esq• t Ward, Esq• jbarleS t, Esq•; I of the ted the that it million supplY mpingr River vice it ‘.mi! LITERATURE. PICTURES .li-om t.EVOLU iIO.2VARY 2 Vois. By J. Palgravc Simpson. Hans Christian Andersen first conceived the notion of writing a "Picture Book without Pictures." Those who have once perused the beautiful glimpses of the moon, scattered in patches ON er the leaves of that most poetical of all the graceful volumes penned by the Danish novelist, will remember that there may, in truth, be some descriptions so vivid in colour ing, and so distinct in outline, as to dispense with any necessity for pictorial illustration. To obtain an accurate idea of the incidents and characters grouped . together in the Improvisatore for example—that exquisite companion of Madame de Steel's Corinne — the reader requires no embellishments from the needle of the engraver. Mr. Palgrave Simpson—already distinguisr ed by his brilliant fictions of " Second Love" and " Gisella"—has recognised the possibil:ty of substituting letter-press for painting. That he himself possesses the capacity for effecting this agreeable substi tution is shown in a very striking manner by the two volumes now submitted to our criticism. They lave all the gorgeous hues of Laroche, and all the animas tion of Vernet. Throughout the twenty-two chap ters into which the narrative is partitioned passages may be detected which recal to our remembrance the delineations given from time to time, according as events succeeded each other, in the French capital, and distributed through a number of our most eminent contemporary periodicals. As " Our own Correspondent" in the Times, as the " Flaneur" in Bentley's Miscellany, and as a casual contributor to Blackwood: Magazine, Mr. Palgrave Simpson had depicted, in glowing dyes, the tragedies and pomps of the last revolution. Here, according to the an nouncement made in the preliminary " Preface," the least perishable portions of those descriptions have been accumulated, in a substantial form, and placed together with a certain symmetry of sequence. Se veral parts are altogether new, others are rewritten, and the whole presents a result something better than a mere lukewarm rechanifee of casual scraps and ephemeral paragraphs. As an example of the pic turesque and animated character of the narrative we will transcribe into our columns the account given by Mr. Palgrave Simpson of the sublimest act of the whole revolution. Here is his narrative of LAMARTINE REPUDIATING THE RED FLAG " In the midst of that scene of uproar, excitement, and mistrust, ready to recommence anarchy and destruction, one deed—a great and good deed—was done, however, upon which, probably, depended fur the time the destiny of France, perhaps of the whole world; and it was done by Lamartine, the man of imagination, and not of action (except in moments, when he can act a part before the face of the world) —the poet-statesman,' as he will henceforward be called by his allies, and glory in the name—once the ardent legitimist—then the pretender to power under Louis Philippe—now the republican. Upon the barricades had been raised aloft the red flag of revolution; it even then waved over the Hotel de Ville; but to that blood-red banner popular fancy had always attached the idea of a republic of violence, war, and revenge; it was the bloody pirate flag of propagan dism by force of arms—the symbol of a rule of terror by the scaffold. This Lamartine knew: the policy which he intended to put forward as his own was to be that of peace, and order, and tolerance; and of that the tricolour flag was to be the emblem, as it had been the banner of the reign which took for its motto, Liberty and Public Order.' He knew too, probably, how easily the French might be led away by the outward show, and engage their future sentiments in their outward symbols; and he felt that in the change of colours on a flag-staff lay the present fate of Paris, of France, of the rule on which he had staked his own destinies. IR the face of the waving crowd of those thousands of stormy men, choking in manifold group the square, ho stood before the gate way of that picturesque historical old building—upon those steps on which so many scenes of history had already passed, and none more important in its results than this—pale, but erect, and seemingly resolute. The picture was a grand one, and may be often painted in future days. He presented the tricolour flag in his hand, tore down the blood red banner. Then, even then, was he, who again afterwards fell so low in the awards of history, the man of the moment—the man of courage— the men of right feeling; that deed was to make him, for the time, the hero of France, the respected of Europe. It was done at the hazard of his life; for, at the sight of this suspicious deed in the face of a mis trustful crowd, a single cry, ' He is a traitor! he deceives us!' might have been the signal for his death; and guns, swords, pikes, daggers, every instrument of death, were at that moment presented at his head. Yes, he was the man of the moment. He made a powerful appeal—one of those appeals that become words in history. lie spoke of the triumphant colours that had gone round the world;' ho declared that none other ought to be waved aloft in the new republic: he flattered with poetic and powerful language the instincts of the mob; and he touched there; he communicated one of those electric flashes of simultaneous sentiment which sometimes per vade crowds, thrilling through all frames alike at once, as if it were a supernatural influence, but which few mortal men know how to direct, when, and far less as they would. The electric shock ran through that armed infuriated mob; guns, swords, and pikes were lowered; ' Vive Lamarfiner issued from every mouth; the tri colour banner was raised, accepted, recognised as the national standard; the cause of humanity was gained— for the time at least. When Lamartine, atter a sitting of sixty hours in the labours of the Provisional Govern ment at the Hotel de Ville, returned to his own house, it was with difficulty that he could escape from the throngs who received him with acclamation on his passage, or disemfArrass himself from the embraces of his admirers. At that time men kissed the skirts of his coat." Yes ! the picture was a grand one—and already the vivid pencil of Philippoteaux has embodied the heroic deed upon canvass. Whatever may be the ingratitude of the people, or the blindness of the indifferent, or the calumny of the unscrupulous—Lamartine will reap the rewards of that sublime act in the panegyric of the historian, in the homage of posterity, and in the perpetual admiration which will shine back upon his memory from the distance of the future. In the general tone of the work we are altogether opposed to Mr. Palgrave Simpson, for that tone is a tone of disparagement to the revolution. Our author looks upon the whole of the astounding spectacle presented to him in Paris, between June and February, with an imagination jaundiced by the reflection of the atrabilious hue of his ultra-conservative temperament. Democracy, in its struggles against despotism, finds no throb of sympathy in his bosom ; he perceives only a treacherous conspiracy in the thirst of unsatis fied patriotism. In .the downfal of the Orleans dynasty he can detect only the successful issue of a dark and bloody plot, concocted and carried out by that handsomest of demagogues—Lagrange. The only moments when the beating of his heart resounds through his delineations, are those when he tells of the death of Duvivier while waving his plumed hat at the foot of a barricade, or when he depicts the awful and touching assassination of Denis Affre, the Archbishop of Paris. As affording materials to the future annalist or biographer, the two volumes written by Mr. Palgrave Simpson in the midst of the city of revolutions must be regarded as peculiarly valuable. NOW AND THEN." [On Christmas-day we briefly alluded to the pub lication of the Third Edition of Mr. Warren's latest fiction. We have now the gratification of laying before our readers the whole of the simple and manly " preface" prefixed to it, in extenso :—] PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. I am at a loss for terms in which to express my sense of the favour with which this work has been received by the public, both at home and abroad. Two very large editions, thrice as large as I could have contemplated, before yielding to the confidence of my publishers,were exhausted almost immediately, and the second has been now out of print for several months. I greatly regret the delay which has oc curred in bringing out this third edition, and the dis appointment which may have been felt by numerous applicants for copies of the work. That delay has been occasioned by the pressure of numerous engage ments, which prevented my bestowing upon the pre sent edition the careful revision which it has now received. The necessity of that revision may be ac counted for by the rapidity and suddenness with which " Now and Then" was written, and passed through the press, Not a line of the manuscript was in existence previously to near midnight on the 20th November, 1847 ; yet it was in the hands of the printer at a very early hour in the morning of the 9th of December, and was actually published on Saturday, the 18th of December; on which day, and the ensuing Monday, the entire edition was disposed of, and the second in preparation. During the brief interval above mentioned, I wrote 'principally in the night time, my days being necessarily otherwise occupied. While making these statements, however, I anxiously deprecate the imputation of having rushed before an iindulgent ,public without due and respectful consideration; for this story, the elements iof which Lad been long floating in my mind, had been thoroughly thought out, in all its parts, during the two months immediately preceding the day on which I began to write ; and I venture to doubt whether many modern books of this description have occasioned their authors more delibe rate and anxious consideration than I had bestowed on this one before sitting down to write. Whatever faults of execution and detail may still be found, this at least I can truly affirm, that every character, con versation, and incident introduced, is the result of much reflection, and is in strict subordination to a determined purpose, steadily kept in view from be ginning to end. The plan may be faulty, and the conceptions unsatisfactory ; but such as it is it has been completely carried out. I had, as I conceived, very important objects in view, in writing this work; but it would be almost an impertinence here to indicate them, for they are suffi ciently obvious to a thinking reader. I have, how ever, two observations to offer on this subject. First,—that I most advisedly abstained, for grave reasons, from so contriving the plot of the story, as to make it in accordance with what is under stood by the woxds " poetical justice." klAd L been THE SUN, LON DON, TTIURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1848: so minded, few experienced readers can avoid perceiving, from the ensuing pages, how abun dantly easy it would have been to effectuate such an intention. Ie the second place, I solemnly disclaim an obj; - ct which a great organ of public opinion, the Times newspaper, suggested as likely to have been contemplated by the writer of this work, viz., to con tribute towards the abolition of capital punishments, even in cases of murder. I am, on the contrary, quite agreed in opinion on that subject with my able reviewer in the Times. I had, in truth, given the subject great consideration, long before writing this work, and fear that the Legislature has, in recent. times, gone unwisely, though with praiseworthy intentions, too far in abolishing capital punishments. Entertaining these views, I feel it rather hard that the author of this work should be represented—as has been the case, not only in this country, but on the continent, and in America—as favouring and endea vouring to advance doctrines which he utterly re pudiates. I acknowledge that as a subsidiary object, I have endeavoured to illustrate the awful liability to error, to which even ,the highest and best human in tellects and institutions are liable, in judging of, and dealing with, especially judicially, the events which happen around us, in the mysterious scene of action in which God has placed mankind—where he has or dained that we should know in part only, and see through a glass darkly. These are topics suggesting many solemnising and salutary reflections. On the particular subject under consideration, which has been repeatedly mentioned to tee, as the author of this work, I express my entire concurrence with the critic in question, who says that " if we are to suspend a punishment essential to public example, and justified by the laws of God, as well as by the oldest sanctions of man, until human institutions are rendered abso lutely perfect and unerring, we must, on the same grounds, stop short also of inflicting smaller penalties for secondary crimes, and finally resolve to inflict upon our fellow-creatures no punishment whatever." I feel constrained to say, that the almost unanimous approbation of this work, expressed by the public press—overlooking, in a noble spirit, defects of detail., while recognising good intentions—has deeply, in delibly impressed my heart. I have also received a surprising number of private communications, of a similar kind, from persons in all ranks of society, and even in far distant lands. I humbly hope that the feelings and intentions with which " Now and Then" was written will, as some of those communications have suggested, bear that terrible test—deathbed reflection. I regarded the publishing of this work as a very hold experiment; and it is impossible to ex press the anxiety with which I awaited the issue, which was destined greatly to surpass my most san guine expectations. The tide* of the work has been variously remarked on. It was deemed by myself to be peculiarly signi ficant and suggestive; but I intended that, while it should awaken curiositye the propriety of the words should become fully apparent, only on finishing the perusal of the work : when "Now and Then" might present themselves under several aspects, to one who might have taken the trouble to reflect on the course of the narrative. The scheme of the story is purposely simple and slight; but it appeared to afford opportunities for exhibiting human nature under circumstances of exquisite interest, difficulty, and perplexity, such as are calculated to call into action its strongest passions and highest faculties. The aim of the writer was to deduce, from such a display, lessons of sterling value. And finally, this work was, with all its imperfections, composed under a strong sense of the serious moral responsibility attaching to him who ventures to write for the public ; especially if he believes that what he writes has the faintest chance of being read by many, or influencing the feelings, opinions, or conduct of one. December, 1848. * "For Now we see through a glass, darkly; bil l THEN face to face: Now I know in part; but THEN shal I know even as also lam known."-1 Cor. xiii. 12. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, EDNESDAY. The Queen and Prince Albert took an early walk this morning in the Home Park and Slopes. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the younger branches of the Royal Family took their accustomed exercise in the Home Park. The royal dinner party this day will include, in addition to the royal household, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl and Countess Grey, the Earl of Liverpool, and Viscount Canning. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl Grey, Viscount Canning, the Hon. Colonel Phipps, and Colonel Bou verie, went out shooting in Windsor Park. Mr. Faija has had the honour of completing his sittings for a miniature of her Royal Highness the Princess Helena by command of her Majesty. The band of the Coldstream Guards attended yesterday evening in the Castle, and performed the following pieces:— Overture, " The Legend of Montrose " Sir ll.R.Bishop. Duetto, "'Thou art the support" (Joseph) Selections from " Haydee " (arranged by C. Godfrey) .. Auber. The Drum P01ka...... Valse, "Fleur de Marie" .. Barret. The Queen's private band was in attendance in the Castle last evening, and performed the following pi€ ces : Overture, " Die Najaden " (first time) W.S.Bennett. Quartetto—solo, violin, M. Sainton ; - violin, viola, and violoncello : Messrs. Cusins, Hill, and H. Chirp. Mayseder. I-lochzeits Marsch Herbstbtumen Walzer (first time) Lord Ashley returned to town yesterday, and presided at a meeting of the General Board of Health, at Gwydyr House, Whitehall. The Right Hon. the Secretary at War and the Hon. Mrs. Fox Maule left town yesterday for Scotland. Lord and Lady John RuEsell arrived in town yes. terday, from Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED EN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DEC. 2g, 1848. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... ...*331 ... 46 Turbercular Diseases... ... 163 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses—. 113 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 29 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organt of Respiration ... 177 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... ... ••• Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. ••• Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations... ... ••• Premature Birth ... .. Atrophy ••• ••• ••• ••• Old Age ••• ••• ••• ••• Sudden ... Violence, Privation, Cold, or Intemperance Causes not specified ... ... 38 ... 29 clearing in earnest. His wages, if not spent in i ldrink, will provision him for some m-_,nths ; while he, with the help of his neighbour, builds his log hut, clears at least half an acre of ground, and gets it ready for cropping the next spring. In the autumn, if he is not prepared for the winter, he must take another turn at lumbering, unless he is lucky enough to get employment under some gentlerEan- - settler, to chop firewood, split fencing poles, &c., for \Nhich he will get from Ss. to 3s. 6d. currency per day. Next spring let him return to his farm es early as possible, and harrow in his oats : he need never leave it again. If, after the first trial, the lumberer's life should be found to possess irresistible charms, I would advise the emigrant to give up all ideas of farming on his own account. The two occupations cannot be carried on with any chance of success in the latter.—A Lum berer, in Sidney's Emigrants' Journal. HON. and REV. BAPTIST W. NOEL'S EXPLANATION. This work has just issued from the press. The fol lowing is an extract:— " As in the following work I have frankly attacked the union between the Church and State, I feel con strained to bear my humble testimony to the piety and worth of many who uphold it. I have stated, without reserve, the influence of the system upon prelates; but how many instances occur in which men, raised to the most ensnaring honours, have successfully resisted their temptations? Of those prelates with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, some I admire for their sim plicity, benevolence, and liberality; and others still more for eminent piety. Most wisely in many instances, and most conscientiously I doubt not in all, have the present Government administered their ecclesiastical patronage. Still more anxious am I to do justice to my beloved and honoured brethren, the Evangelical ministers of the Establishment. Having acted with them for many years, I can speak of their principles with confidence. Numbers of them, whose names I should rejoice to mention here with honour, are as sincere in adhering to the Establish ment as I wish to be in quitting it. Of many of them I am convinc, d that they surpass me in devotedness to Christ. Worthy successors of Romaine and John Venn, of Newton, Cecil, and Thomas Scott, of Robinson end Simeon, I hope that, remaining conscientiously in the Establishment, they will have the respect and affection of all good men. May they enjoy increasing comfort and usefulness to the end of their ministry! While I condemn a State prelacy, I honour each pious prelate: while I mourn the relations of godly pastors to the State, I no less rejoice in their godliness. The reasons for separation appear to me clear ; but I do not expect others to think as I do. In claiming my own liberty of judgment, I learn to respect theirs. To remain in the Establishment with my views would be criminal—with theirs it is a duty. If by any of my expressions I have unnecessarily wounded the feelings of my Christian brother, I ask him to forgive me. If I have un consciously fallen into any exaggeration, I deeply deplore it. Throughout the work I have made a clear distinction between Evangelical and un- Evangelical clergymen—between those who preach the Gospel and those who do not preach it. No spurious liberality—no fear of censure—should obliterate the distinction; yet many, doubtless. who are not ranked among the Evan gelical party—who do not support their institutions, and who do not usually act with them—may be con verted and faithful ministers of Christ. Lastly, I must ex press my regret that I have not done more for the welfare of a friendly, considerate, and willing church, to which I have been for twenty-two years a pastor, and with whom I hoped to have spent the remainder of my days. Sterner duties, which the study of the Word of God has forced upon my attention, have to be fultiiled. But I cannot quit them without an earnest prayer that my successor may receive much grace to build them up in piety, nor without my grateful thanks for their abun dant and unvarying kindness.—llornsey, Dec. 14." NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. We are happy to hear that the Admiral of the Fleet was better yesterday, although, for that gallant ve teran's age (about 93), we cannot expect he will be re stored to a long enjoyment of health. Royal Marines—The following Gentlemen Cadets in her Majesty's training-ship, Excellent, at Portsmouth, have passed examinations for commissions i❑ the corps: —Messrs. Meheux, Graham. Savary, Gill, and Brydges ( And the following officers, studying at the Royal Naval College, have qualified for joining the military compa nies of the corps:—Lieutenants 11. B. Roberts, E. R. Horsey, N. Macnamara, and E. 11. Cox. Court-martial.—The court for the trial of the officers of the Sharpshooter steam-schooner, at Portsmouth, were sitting up to six o'clock last night, at which time there appeared no chance of the decisoa being come to that evening. PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—Tho Constance, 50, Captain Courtney, was at San Blas, collecting freight for the Juno to bring home, on the 3d of October. The Dotterel steam-packet, Lieutenant-Commander E. Wylde, sailed last night after dark for Woolwich, to be paid off. The Driver steam-sloop, Commander C. R. Johnson, arrived at noon to-day from her cruise in the Channel, the wind having become westerly. The Devastation steam-sloop was removed to-day from the steam basin, and the Ajax, 56, steam guatd ship, taken in. Wind, W. by N., light airs and hazy. THE CONSTITUENCY OF ENGLAND.--OH Monday next (January the Ist) the new Act passed in the last session (11th and 12th Victoria, chap. 90), to regulate the time of payment of rates and tuxes by Parliament ary electors, will take effect. It is provided that after the Ist day of January, 1;49, no person shall be re quired, in order to entitle him to have his name inserted in any list of voters for any city; town, or borough in England, to have paid any poor-rates or ivsessed taxes, except such as shall have become payable from him pre viously to the sth day of January in the same year, and that no person shall be entitled to be on such list of voters unless the poor -rates and assessed taxes payable from him previously to the sth day of January shall be paid on or before the 20th day of July following. THE CITY OF LONDON SEWERS ACT.—On Mon day next the new Act for the sanitary improvement of the city of London, and for the better cleansing, paving, and lighting the same, will come into operation. It contains 266 clauses, and eight schedules of forms, repealing fur two years several other Acts of Par liament, and conferring on the commissioners of sewers additional powers for sanitary purposes. New regulations already framed will be shortly en forced. The sole power of cleansing, lighting, and paving the city of London, is vested in the commis sioners. There are various provisions with respect to the preservation of health and the removal of nuisances of a similar description to clauses in the Health of Towns Act and the Removal of Nuisances Act passed in the last session of Parliament. It is provided that no inter ment in any grave shall take place which shall not leave five feet clear of soil above the coffin, and by the eighty-ninth section it is declared that the poor have great difficulty at all times in 'obtaining and frequently are utterly unable to procure a fit and pro per place in which to deposit their dead before in terment, and for remedy whereof, it is enacted that the commissioners of sewers, if they shall think fit, provide a place in which the poor, under pro per rules and regulations, may bo permitted to deposit the bodies of their dead previously to interment, and to cause the bodies so deposited therein to be decently tuken care of so long as the commis sioners shall allow the same to remain. New houses are not to be built without drains, and notice of build ings is to be given to the commissioners. Full powers are to be given to the couireLssioners with respect to all sewers within the City and liberties thereof. Penal ties are to be enforced against persons neglecting or re fusing to comply with the provisions of the statute, and on non-payment of fines, the offenders to be committed to Giltspur-street prison for any period not exceeding three months, unless the penalty or forfeiture be sooner paid and satisfied. The Act is declared to be a public Act, and to be judicially taken notice of as such, it is to be called " The City of London Sewers Act, 1848," and. to remain in force for two years from the Ist January, 1849. and thence to the and of tho then next ses.ion of Parliament. ----- FALL OF AN ANROLITE.—During a storm of rain, hail, thunder, and lightning, which occurred about eight o'clock on Friday, the Ist of December, a servant girl, in the washhouse of Mr. Atkins, painter, plumber, and glazier, Fisherton, was scared by a loud crash as of a heavy body having fallen and broken on the pavement, in the yard adjoining. Owing to the darkness of the night shO,could not ascertain by what the crash had been produced; but early on the following morning she found, scattered about the yard, fragments as if of an iron stone; the external surfaces rounded and polished, and the internal radiating from many centres. Some of the rounded prominences of the stone have a blistered ap pearance, not unlike some specimens of chalcedony. None of these fragments (of which Mr. Atkins picked up about one pound twelve ounces) had the slightest influence on a magnetic needle. Numerous other frag ments, reduced to powder, were not collected, but un fortunately swept away.—SeUsitry Herald. A young man, Collette, was condemned, in a recent sitting of the Court of Assizes of Calvados, France, to hard labour at the hulks for life, for assassinating a fellow-workman named Le Soudain. On the 25th May, after spending the day together, the prisoner and the deceased were walking by the side of the river Orne, near Heronville Saint Clair, when the former struck the latter several blows on the head with a heavy club, and threw him into the river. lie waited calmly looking at his victim struggling in the water, and when he suc ceeded in reaching the bank rushed on him, beat him again on the head, and pushed him into the river. Ile then remained until quite sure that ho was dead. The motive of this crime appeared to be only to steal a port manteau, containing money and effects, belonging to the deceased. The jury having, in giving their verdict, declared that there were extenuating circumstances, the persons present in court gave expression to their feelings by hissing. LATTER-DAY SAINTS.—The Perth Advertiser says: —" On the Sabbath night a number of the disciples of Joe Smith were observed wending: their way through the town, as if bent on some special purpose; the little company, by the edlission of the wonder-seekers as they went along, was soon augmented into a crowd that con tinued to enlarge till it reached the side of the river on the North Inch, where it halted; when two men and a woman, after being surrounded by their respective friends began to strip in the moonlight, and were forthwith led into the Tay in succession, and severally baptised in the new faith by immersion. Letters from Posen represent the number of Russian troops now concentrated on the Polish frontier as amounting to 200,000 men, presumed to be so formed in anticipation of any movement by the French in favour 9f Ugly. MEMORANDA OF A MUSICIAN. BY GEORGE J. 0. ALLMANN. "Notes, notes, forsooth, and noting!" Sim IiSPERE. No. V. DONIZETTI. The pen of the Historian or of the Eulogist is, alas! doomed, beyond that of all others, not only to spread regret and gloom over all who peruse his labours, but to self inflict a sadness when he, sifting and waking forth the Things that are with the Past, is called upon to record the untimely end of Genius—and when is the end of genius not untimely? Is Man's life so long on the earth that, did he not die till twice three score and ten revolving years had sown their silver over his frame, would he not be mourned, missed, and lamented by the sorrowing friends he leaves behind? Would not the death of Genius be far, far more so, even did it usurp the honoured age of a Methusaleh—is not its existence all too brief? But when it is snatched away from our tearful, our adoring eyes, clothed in all the strong-limbed vigour of maturity—the early manhood of its power, when we have dreamed with delight as we watched over its young promise, how great, how glorious would bo that maturity, when we behold it suddenly withdrawn from our gaze, and the once bright eye, whose flashirgs, so watched, so prized, spoke or the Inner fire which in the Temple of the Mind was ever burning, is closed and dim, when the form of beauty that once breathed its divine images, lies stricken by the unerring shaft of Death, pulseless, inanimate, and cold—then, 0 then, do we not feel how deplorable, how irremediable is our loss, when the bright soul radiates in its orbit no longer, and the maturity of Genius is gone—fled for ever. Donizetti—with the exception of Rossini the best composer whom Italy could boast of late years—is no more! In many respects he was Rossini's equal—in many his superior, for the gran maestro, as the latter is wont to term himself, never possessed the solemn ten derness, the deep pathos, or was imbued with the pas sionate flow of sympathetic sadness which our dead Composer exemplified. What might Donizetti have not achieved had he taken time and thought twice upon his works? As an orchestral writer his fancy was bound less and exuberant in forms and imagery, but it is to be lamented that he seldom gave it free scope, so that hurried on by a seemingly irresistible desire to produce much, be fell rapidly in the estimation of those who would have, by banding his works down to posterity— generation succeeding generation vieing with each other in doing so—rendered his name immortal if he had only done little and " that little well!" But it was, alas! with Donizetti in his early youth more a matter of necessity than choice, for, to earn a wretched pittance scarcely sufficient to ensure him from sheer starvation, he was compelled to fulfil the wretched post of composer to a theatre and under a penalty to its Impresario bound to produce two serious and three comic operas annually !!! A short sketch of his brilliant career will at the present moment doubtless be interesting. Donizetti was born at Bergamo, celebrated for being the birthplace of musical genius, in the year 1793. After several plans for his future vocation were considered and rejected he eventually determined to enlist under the banner of Euterpe, and accordingly embraced the musical profession. He studied under Simone Mayer, with whom he was a favourite pupil, and afterwards under Pilotti and Mattel of Bologna. But from some cause or another, which is not recorded, he joined the army ; it is believed, however, that he was driven to take this impulsive step by the difficulties that beset him on his first outset in his profession. But he afterwards forsook his cockade and recommenced with additional vigour the study of his art. His first opera, Enrico di Burgogna, was produced at the Fenico in 1818, but did not prove successful; nor, out of thirteen successive works which he brought out between that period and the year 1827, did any of them, unless I may except one, Zoraida, obtain a full and entire success. The reason of this was manifest to all. During all this time he had followed as a model the style of Rossini, who was then in the zenith of his fame—courted and admired by the great ones of the earth. But ho at length abandoned it, and from that period nothing but success is to be recorded of his efforts. He commenced a series of brilliant triumphs that were only brought to a close by the lamentable prostration of intellect which took place little more than two years agone. It would be utterly impossible to furnish a complete list of his operas, for it is more than probable, as he kept no diary, his own family would find such an attempt abortive ; but I have every reason to think the following will be found as correct an enu meration of them as it is possible for us in England to obtain. He composed and produced— In 1828—L'Esuk di Roma, La Regina di Golconda, Gianni di Calais, andGiovedi Grasso. 1829 Kenilworth and Il Pa; ia. 1830-1 Pazzi per Progretto, Francesca di Foix, Imelda di Lambertazzi, La 11omanziera, and an Oratorio 11 Diluvio Universale. 1831—Anna Bolena and Fausta. 1832—Ugo, Conte di Parigi, d'Amore, and Sancia di Castiglia. 1833—Parisina and Torquato Tasso. 1834 —Leer ezia Borgia, Rosamonda d'lnglielterra, and Maria Stuart. 1835—Gcmma di Vergy, Marino Faliero, and Lucia di Lammermoor. 1836—Belisario, Il Carnpanclli, and L'Assedio di Calais. 1837—Pia di Tolomei and Roberto Devereux. 1838—Marice di Rudenz. 1839—Giunni di Paligi. 1840—La Fille du Regiment, Les Martyrs, and La Favorite. lB4l—Adelia. 1842—Maria Padilla and Linda di Charnoeni. 1843—Don Pasquale, Maria di Rohan, and Don Sebastiano. 1844—Catarina Cornaro. Being the almost incredible number of sixty three operas produced during a period of twenty-six years. Added to these, he composed an enormous quantity of minor works, amongst them a miserere, which is reckoned one of Donizetti's finest inspirations. The majority of his later operas' were composed for the most renowned singers of their eras. As a wonderful instance of his truly miraculous facility I would exemplify that of the Elisire d'Amore, which was composed and produced under very singular circumstances. The season of 1834, at Milan, had, from various causes, proved a most dis • estrous and unfortunate one, end towards the close the director of the Scala supplicated Donizetti to improviset an opera. He entreated him to do it in order to save him from utter ruin. Our composer at last consented, and it was agreed upon between them that himself and the poet of the establishment, who was to supply the verses, were to be confined in a room, with all necessary comforts, and that no one was to have access to them till the entire opera was completed and it was in a fit state to be drafted over to the musicians, actors, and copyists, which was to be done piece by piece, so that it might be learned, and thus cause no delay. It is an extraordinary fact that the opera was written,composed, copied, learned, and performed in twenty days, and all the world knows with what success. As a convincing proof of Do nizetti's marvellous industry, it is said and accredited, that he has been known to score a full opera in thirty hours—a circumstance unprecedented in the annals of music. But there was, of course, necessity for exertion, and it abundantly proves that necessity is the tenth muse. The same kind of occurrence happened to Rossini with one of his best and most popular operas. Donizetti was married once only ; his wife died at Naples in 1835, during the time the cholera raged there with so much virulence and devastation. He himself departed from the field of bis past glories at his native place, Bergamo, where he expired on the Bth of April, 1848, and whither he had repaired a short time before with the vain hope of ameliorating his unhappy con dition—the mental prostration under which he had sunk upwards of a twelvemonth previously; but it proved un availing, for, after a brief change towards amendment, a relapse of his malady occurred, and on the day recorded breathed his last sigh. During the six days prior to his decease the sufferings of this child of genius were intense. He has left several unfinished works amongst his papers. He succeeded Zingarelli in the poit of director of the Conservatoire at Naples, and was afterwards appointed to the office of Maestro di Capella to the Imperial Court of Vienna! He has passed away from us at time when his loss will be keenly felt, for ueeer was the number of continental musicians no lamentably confined as at the present moment. I cannot name one who is worthy to fill his place meritoriously, or who possesses aught like the amount of talent our poor Donizetti displayed during his dazzling career. " so perish all—the Bright! the:Fair! The Great ! the True ! the Just I Into a crumbling particle of—dust ! The Nothingness of—Air! " MENDELSSOHN Was the grandson of the great Philosopher Mendelssohn. Placed between two names of such distinguished eminence, his father is reported to have exclaimed, " And what am I myself? When I was young I was only the son cf Moses Mendelssohn, and now I am old I am only the father of Felix Mendelssohn. SHAKSPERE AND MUSIC. How delicious and charming is the following sonnet by our Bard of Aron, Immortal Will! What a pleasant and delicate admixture of tenderness, yet quaint arch ness, breathes through every line. " How oft, when thou, my Music, music play'st Upon that blessed wood,* whose motion sounds With thy sweet fingers—when thou gently sway'et: The very concord that mine ear confounds, Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap To hiss the tender inward of thy hand, Whilst my poor lips that should that harvest reap At the wood's coldness by thee blushing stand: To be so tickled, they would change their state And situation with those dancing chips O'er whom thy fingers walls with gentle gait Since saucy jacks so happy are in this Give them thy fingers—me thy ears to kiss!" ANDEL • Was, and with very just cause, much offended if a singer expressed dislike of any song allotted to his character in the drama. In his opera Alcina the beautifully simple and well-known air " Verdi prati" was confided to Carestini, who returned it to the composer, stating as the reason for refusing to sing it, that it was too trivial and easy for him to sing. Burning with his usual irascibility, Handel hurried in a trementlous inp i ass a it e s t ii to he the singer's lodgings none t he whit mollifie d by the dis tance between there and Broole•street, which, had well nigh ran. Almost out of breath, and with a look and tone that no one but Handel would have ventured to use to a,/first singer, he vociferated in his customary broken English, " Ach ! you tog! tont I know petter as yourself vast is pest for you to sing? Aha! if you will not sing all de song vast I gif you, I will not pay you ein steifer I" * The keys of the " virginal "—the instrument in Shak spere's time that answers to our modern pianoforte—were made of wood. The virginal must, from all accounts, have been a very wretched and tuneless instrument ; and:yet that Spenser thought otherwise witness his line— " Playivg alone careless Qi4 her heayealie yirsinalle." THE ASSASSINATIONS AT STAN- FIELD-HALL. WYMONDIIAM, WEDNESDAY.—Mrs. Jenny and her maid, Eliza Chestney, have prog7(,ssed so favourably as to be deemed by their medical attendants to be beyond danger. The gratifying fact has been the source of the most lively satisfaction throughout the county. In - the course of Monday Mr. Cann, the magis trates' clerk, accompanied by Mr. Superintendent Witherford, paid a visit to Rush's farm, at Felming ham, where the chief of the family are residing. Here some papers were found, which it was deemed pru dent to secure, and they were accordingly taken pos session of by the police. Their purport has not yet transpired. - Potash Farm continues in the care of Mr. Super intendent Andrews and a number of the constabulary. The search for the pistols or guns of the assassin pro ceeds with the greatest vigour, but not the least trace of the weapons has been obtained. No expense is spared with a view of effecting the desired discovery. Gangs of labourers are daily engaged in searching all the neighbouring preserves and plantations; every hollow tree and stump is undergoing a careful exami nation, and in order that the search may be complete the soil in the track leading from Stanfield-hall to the farm is in course of being turned up. Rush's son, Mr. James Rush, and his wife still occupy the dwelling-house, subject to certain restrictions. The boy Savory continues on the farm, under the sur veillance of the police. The positive testimony of the wounded girl, Eliza Chestney, as to the disguise of the murderer, appears to have removed all impressions in reference to his wearing a mask. It will be remembered that she stated distinctly that the assassin neither wore a hat or cap. She clearly saw th e f orm o f th e head and bushy hair over it, and on seeing 'Rush attired in the peculiar long wig found in his bed -room, she imme diately stated that it was the form and description of disguise the man wore. Before this additional state ment was made, Rush took a stand on the presump tion that the murderer had on a mask. He appeared as if anxious to fix the impression tbat it was such a disguise ; and then, with his usual tact, cross examined the witnesses as to how they could possibly identify the man when his featuies were concealed. Miss Emily Sandford (the widow James), the prisoner's housekeeper, remains in safe keeping at the Bridewell of this town;- and, from circumstances which have transpired, it is very likely that she will communicate other disclosures ere the prisoner's trial takes place. Her several statements have excited considerable attention, and it is asked which of them will the jury credit. With the exception, however, of her first testimony, they have not varied in the main fact. She evinces no desire to leave the prison, in deed she seems grateful for the asylum afforded her, and is constantly expressing her thanks toMrs.Bryant, the matron, for her kindness. It is stated that she will be unable, for obvious reasons, to give evidence at the next assizes, should they fall in March. At the next quarter-sessions 'for the county it is expected that the magistrates will decide on the propriety of soliciting a special commission of assize. The prisoner Rush is daily employed in taking copious extracts of the evidence and arranging his de fence, and it is generally believed that he will conduct it himself. BURGLARY AND ROBBERY OF JEWELLERY, &c., AT KENSINGTON. Yesterday information was circulated throughout the metropolitan police districts of a most daring and, extensive robbery of Bank of England notes, jewel lery, ancient and foreign coins, &c., to the value of upwards of 500/., having been committed on the pre vious night, at the residence of Count Carlo Pepello, No. 11, St. George's-terrace, Gloucester-road, Ken sington. Amongst the property stolen were eighteen Bank of England note's, numbered from 90,117 to 90,134, both inclusive, and dated October 2, 1848 ; a pair of diamond ear-rings, with stone drops ; a dia mond brooch, two gold chains, a cameo bracelet set in gold, two gold bracelets set in Geneva work, with miniatures of the members of the Bonaparte family ; a large gold cross set with pearls and garnets : a French gold watch set with a miniature of the Holy Virgin and Child, two gold watches, makers' names and numbers at present unknown; a gold brooch set with turquoise and emeralds; gold ditto, having ears of corn upon it, and one with small pearls; three gold rings, one set with rubies and diamonds one with amethysts, and one bearing the motto, "Forget me not';" a gold enamelled snuff-box, a tortoiseshell ditto encircled with gold, a small plain gold ditto, and a boxwood ditto; a small ring set with rose diamonds, a large heavy gold chain, very antique ; a large oval opal mounted in gold ; a pair of gold and turquoise spectacles; a gold ring set with garnets ; a ditto set in nikel, having on it two hands joined in faith ; a massive gold ring set with a Medusa's head; a gold ring with a representation of "Milo holding an axe ;" a gold ring set with jasper, and representing a man's head ; three other gold rings, two set with turquoise, and one with emeralds ; an amber necklace, set in gold, with gold medal suspended ; an agate ditto, with a silver medal ; two ten-pound Bank of England notes, a quantity of French and Italian coins (gold and silver), consisting of Napoleons, smell of Pius IX. ' Charles X, Gregory XVI., Louis XVI., and one of gold of Domitian ; also a great many copper medals of the first French Republic ; with some given in hone to the workpeople; and a med it of Louis Philippe and Queen Victoria, struck on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit to England ; and a turquoise and diamond brooch, one diamond wanting. The robbery is supposed to have been committed between seven and nine o'clock, while the Count, &c., were dining in the drawing-room on the first floor, and the thieves effected an entrance by opening the door of an empty house, No. 19, St. George's-terrace, by means of a skeleton key, and carefully re-locking it to avoid sus picion by its being found open, made their way up to the roof, and, passing over the roofs of the intervening eight houses, removed a square of glass of one of the attic windows of the Count's residence, and opening it, obtained access to the bed-rooms on the third and fourth floors, in which all the drawers and desks were broken open and ransacked. The robbery was not discovered until nearly midnight, when, on some of the servants going to turn down the beds, they dis covered the rooms it a state of great disorder, and gave the alarm. THREEPENNY PIECES.—The current coin of the realm will doubtless be universally admitted to be a sub ject which materially engrosses as it necessarily excites, the attention of every class of her Mejesty's subjects, and therefore, for the convenience and comfort of all, we beg to recommend that a speedy and plentiful issue of threepenny pieces in silver coin do take place. It is now some time since the silver fourpenny pieces were first issued, and they have been found to be a great convenience to the community in the various transactions of life. We need hardly mention the fact that, with scarcely a single exception, the public vehi cles which have now become the main source of com munication throughout and in the most public streets of every portion of this vast metropolis, have divided their fares so that passengers travelling by omnibuses may, if they are going but half the distance, be conveyed for a moiety of the fare, which is almost universally threepence. No doubt this arrangement , at the same time that it has been found to be good policy on the part of the proprietors of these vehicles, as meeting the wants and wishes of a large portion of the public, and producing an equally, if not indeed a much larger return, has been most acceptable to the entire community; but the time which is wasted on the road by the receipt of the half fares, and the production of coppers in change by the conductors of these vehicles, is so great as to cause the journey throughout the town, in all directions, to be considerably lengthened in dura . tion of time, and to cause very great inconvenience. The issue of a largo supply of threepenny pieces would completely remedy this difficulty, and we feel certain that we shall receive the thanks of the public for draw ing attention to the matter. OBTUSENESS EXTRAORDINARY.-4B the course of the mining case, tried by Mr. Justice Erie, a number of old and not very brilliant witnesses were examined to prove the extent and mode of working the mine. The following dialogue took place between one of them and Mr. James, the barrister engaged for the prisoner : Mr. James: " Now you say you worked at the mine ?" —Witness : " Ees, sir." Mr. James : " How did you work ?"—Witness : " Why, it wos woorked oop and down, you 'no—this way, that way, t'other way, foot ridden way—dang it every way."—(Loud laughter.) Mr. James : "I must confess I don't understand you." —Witness : "I think I spoke plain enuf."—(Loud laughter.) Mr. James : "No doubt you did, but the stupidity is on my aide, not on yours."—Witness : " That's it. You are quoit stupid. —(Roars of laugh ter.) You canna onderstand Englisb."—(C on tinued laughter.) The Judge : "If we had been in the habit of working in mines, doubtless your language would be perfectly intelligible, but as it is we cannot understand you."—Witness : " Well, I conna' spake ony plainer. Dsiag ice if ever I seed such stupid people since I left pit." Some further attempts were made by the learned counsel to obtain a more defirito answer to the question, but it was " no go," and the witness was at length told to leave the box, which he did apparel! tly with a still stronger conviction than before of the natural and irre mediable obtuseness of judge, jury, counsel, and auditory. —Liverpool 7 lutes. TiE CAVERNS AT K EPSIIE AD.—We understand that the excavation of these interesting caverns will shortly take place. The investigation cannot fail to be most important to the science of geology.—Durizani Chronicle. MARRIAGE IN lIIG/I LIFE.—Tile marriage of the Duke do Guiche and Miss Emma Mackinnon, only daughter of Mr. William Alexander Mackinnon ' M.P., was solemnized yesterday at St. Mary' s Church, Bryan , stone-square, having been previously performed, accord ing to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, at the chapel of the Spanish Embassy. A numerous and dis tinguished circle of the relatives of both parties assem bled at the nuptial solemnity, the ceremony being per ' formed by the Rev. Dr. Molesworth , vicar of Rochdale. The American trotting horse, Trustee, trotted ' lately twenty miles in 59 minutes and 39 s.i.conds for a 1 wage of 1,500 dollars. NEW ZEALAND. WAGES OF LABOUTI, AT WELLINGTON IN THE YEAS 1847. Farm labourer, per week, 1/. ls., or 301. to 351. per annum, with board and lodging, and 401. to GO/. per annum for superior servants as shepherds, with ditto; other labourers, per week, 11. 4s. ; domestic servants, per annum ,12/.tc 75/. for girl's, 201. to 251. for women, 151. 3o : 51. for boys, 251. to 351. for men, with board and lodging ---great scarcity ; artizans, viz ,carpenters, per diem, ss. 6d. to Gs. 6d.; brick layers, per diem, ss. to Gs. ; masons, per diem, ss. to Gs.; sawyers, per 100 feet, Bs., for labour only; blacksmiths, per diem, 55.; cabinet-makers, per diem, ss. to Gs.; shipwrights, Gs. to 75.; journeymen to tradesmen, per diem, 4s. Hours of labour, from eight to five, with one hour for dinner. POPULATION-TRADES AND PROFESSIONS-AT WEL• LINGTON IN THE YEAR 1847. Capitalists and agriculturists farming their own lands, 7 ; capitalists occupying grazing runs, 60; capitalists employing labourers, 36 ;* agriculturists and small farmers, 94 ; labourers, 325 ; - f . domestic servants, male 18, female 64 ; lawyers of all grades, 9 ; medical practitioners, 10; clergymen and priests, 8 ; merchants, traders, and auctioneers, 32 ; store keepers and tradesmen, 29 ; Government officers, 22 ; Company's ditto, 5 ; constables (armed police), 30 ; surveyors, 10; gentlemen, 7 ; architect, 1 ; banker, 1 ; clerks, 24 ; shopmen, 10 ; settlers, 22 ; chemist, 1; distiller, 1 ; tallow chandler, 1; schoolmasters, 9; schoolmistresses, 8 ; bakers, 23; butchers,l7 ; millers, 3 ; lodging-house keepers, male 1, female 1 ; brewers, 4 ; ginger-beer makers, 2 ; carpenters and joiners, 85 ; cabinetmakers, 8 ; turner, 1 ; millwright 1 ; shipwrights, 13 ; boatbuilder, 1 ; boatmen, 10 ; sea men and whalers, 50 ; hotel-keepers and publicans, 18 ; brickmakers, 6 ; bricklayers, 16 ; plasterers, 5 ; masons, 2 ; slaters, 2 ; painters and plumbers, 14; wheelwrights and cartmakers, 9 ; carters, 18 ; horse breakers and grooms, 4; coopers, 9; sawyers, 59; brushmaker, 1; sailmakers, 3 ; tanner, 1 ; currier, 1; farrier, 1; shoemakers , 45 ; tailors, 15 ; blacksmiths, 18 ; engineers, 2 ; boilermaker, 1; gunsmith 1; cut ler, 1; tinmen, 2 ; watchmakers, 3 ; printers, 11; saddlers, 2 ; bookbinder, 1 ; stationer, 1 ; dyers 2 ; gardeners, 24 ; apprentices, 6 ; ropemakers, 4 ; sta tuary, 1 ; women employedin washing and needle work, 10 ; milliners and straw-bonnet makers, 9 ; cowkeepers and dairymen, 13 ; professions not ascer tained, 44—total males 1,321; females 92. * These are included in the other capitalists—graziers, merchants, and others. t The greater proportion of persons returned as la bourers cultivate small quantities of land, which they lease on their own account. The number of labourers who live entirely by weekly and daily labour does not probably exceed the number of 150; the remainder only work occasionally, when their affairs allow them a little unemployed time. A great proportion of the mechanics, artizans, &c., do not follow their trades exclusively, but either as pur chasers or lessees of small parcels of ten to twenty acres of land, employ their time in cultivating the same.—Anew Zealand Journal, Dec. 16. In consequence of the increase of traffic on the State railways in Belgium, the production of coke has become insufficient for the consumption, and it has been necessary to enter into an arrangement with private companies to make up the deficiency. VISCOUNT HARDINGE.—This distinguished General and statesman passed through Maidstone early on Wed nesday morning last, on his way to visit his old Penin sular friend, our respected neighbour, Sir John Croft, Bart., at Milgate, to join a shooting party. We hear, from an eye-witness, that throughout the day the gallant veteran perfectly astonished, by his shooting with his ono arm, those who never before had the honour of bring cut with him, killing his bird the first ten shots. Long may his Lordship continue to enjoy undiminished his present health and strength, and v, ell-earned respect and admiration of bis grateful country men.—Maidstone Journal. THE EARL or LEVEN.—We are glad to learn that the Earl of Leven is now rapidly recovering from the serious illness under which he laboured lately, and which spread the greatest alarm amongst his family and friends, assuming as it did for some days a very threatening ap pearance.—Tifeshire Journal. COURT-MARTIAL AT CUATKAM, DEC. 26.—A general court martial assembled at this garrison, of which Lieutenant-Colonel 2PPherson, of the 17th Regi ment, was President, for the trial of Thomas Kelly, No. 2,728, a private in the 50th Regiment of Foot, stationed at Dover. The prisoner was arraigned fer absenting himself without leave from the barracks, making away with part of his regimental necessaries, being drunk and striking a non-commissioned officer, and breaking away from an escort. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the three first charges, and denied that he struck the non commissioned officer. Several witnesses were examined. The Court found the prisoner guilty of the tour charges. The issue will not be known until confirmed by the Horse Guards. The highest temperature in the United States ia: the eleven years ending 1847, was 98i degrees, on the 16th of July, 1845; the lowest temperature was six de grees Lelow zero on the sth of February, 1840. The ex:reme range of the temperature in those eleven years was 1041 degrees. laisn PRODUCE.—The following is a compendium of importations of provisions into the metropolis from the tiger country during the period comprising from the 11th to the 23d instant, viz., 4,612 boxes, casks, and other packages of butter, 144 casks and bales of hams, 39 packages of feathers, 203 sacks of malt, 683 hampers, boxes, and casks of bacon, 503 boxes and cases of eggs, 133 casks of whisky, 439 packages of pork. 205 packages of soups, 161 casks of lard, 659 bales of paper, 273 packages of general provisions, 301 casks of porter, 480 casks of beef, 21 packages of soap, 25 of linen, 4 of seed, 18 of salmon, 500 sacks of oats, 86 head of horned cattle, and a variety of other articles of food and of general merchandise, of lesser interest and im portance, which need not be more particularly detailed. A WOMAN KILLED BY A LAMB.—On Sunday last, an old woman going across a field at Methley, York shire, was attacked by a tup lamb, and so much injured that she died on Tuesday. - _ PCST-OFFICE NOTICE.—A notice has just been issaed from the General Post-office that on and after the Ist January, 1849, the British rate of postage of 6d. the half-ounce on letters from the United Kingdom, addressed to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and conveyed by the direct Hamburgh packets, or by private ship, direct from London, or Hull to Hamburgh, will be combined with 4d., the rate due to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, which includes the transit rate payable to Hamburgh. This combined rate of 101. the half-ounce, &c., , may either be paid in advance or left unpaid, at the option of the sender ; but the payment of the British rate only, according to the existing practice, will not be permitted. PosT-Orficr. NOTICE.—The Lords Commissioners c, of her M2jesty's Treasury having authorised the remis sion of all charges for packet postage heretofore levied in the United Kingdom, upon letters conveyed be tween the United Kingdcm and the United States of America, by the contract packets of the United States, no charge is hereafter to be made upon letters brought into this country by such packets, or upon letters posted in this country addressed to be forwarded to the United States by such packets. SAINT CLEMENT DANES RAGGED SCHOOLS. On Monday last Mr. Jacquet, the churchwarden, and the benevolent friends and supporters of these schools, pro vided the boys belonging to them with a very appropriate Ciusstmas treat. After attending divine service at the parisi: church in the morning, the boys assembled in the hall of the vestry•house, where beef and bread, half a pint of pox - ter, and a large slice of plum pudding, were supplied to each. They were afterwards addressed by the rector, the Rev. W. W. Ellis, Richard Twining, Esq., and other gentlemen of the parish, and exhorted to be punctual in their attendance at school. RAILWAYS.—On an average of six of the leading railways, they suffer to the extent of 100,000/. a year by depredations and negligence. They also pay 200,000 k a year for the Government tax of five per cent. on first and second-class passengers ; 200,0001. a-year for parish rates and taxes for laud which had before not paid 200,000 sixpences. This is in addition to stamps, which make another 100,000/. a-year, and tithes, income-tax, &c., all levied in the most capricious manner.— C . r Nash, on Railway Management. ST. MARTIN'S BATHS AND LAUNDRlES.—Yesterday this, the first building established underthe 9th and h 10th Baths s ul a e n d d anw Wash-houses encourage sesfo of f esta blishment Victoria, o frthe t e Labouring Classes," and erected at a cost of about 5,000/., by the rate-payers of St, Martin's-in-the-fields, in Orange street, Leicester-square, was opened for public inspection till Saturday next. The structure covers about 14,000 square feet, having a frontage of 150 feet in Orange street, with five entrances, one to the laundry, and two to each division of baths, one for exit, the other for en trance. The basement is occupied by the apparatus for heating and pumping water. The ground floor contains the baths —the east wing, for females, hold 5 first and 19 second class baths ; the west, for males, 9 first and 35 second class ; each bath room is six feet square, the bath one side, and a row of pegs for hat and clothes on the g e Yi o n tber ; at the head is a seat and swing looking glass; the first-class female baths being of a superior kind. The total number of baths is 68. The laundries are on the first floor; they are at present incomplete, but will contain accommodation for 100 women, all washing within distinct partitions. On Monday the baths open for use. The charge will be :—Second-class, with use of one towel, comb, brush, and cold water, id.; hot, 2d. First-class, with two towels, &c., cold, 3d. ; hot, Gd. " CHRInbIAS WAils."—On Saturday evening a party of gentlemen havieg bargained with the railway to tind them wings wherewith to fly to the merry homes of Christmas, were snugly ensconced together in a carriage at Brentwood, but alter indulging for a time in the warm flew of the conversation of the season, they t)unci that instead of speeding along gaily by the mail-train, the happy root's they sought, were as distant as ever, and they were left alone in the cold hoar frost. The train by mistake had kit carriage and company bodily behind; it was not till reaching Ingatestone that the loss was trippeddis ould back o on h fo nv r e •i )e th en e w m a i i s t s s ;a '' in many r. me:ry celebration of Christmas eve.—. Essex c th or e e m r e ' u d s ' i c c' n o d f t x, i s m . ( l ' i o e s n e g i v n oic Standard. Letters from Zante, of the sth instant, mention that dried fruits of the present year were declining in value. The quantity remaining untold was estimated at little less than three millions of pounds, against about 400,000 lbs. in former years. The export during the present year is estimated to have been 6,600,000 lbs. There was little doing in oils, owing to prices being high. A decline was expected, when purchases would mat likely be made. The grain market was firm. DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ... 1,118 Populatien Enumeraied, 1841 West Districts... 300,711 North Districts.. 375,971 Central Distras 373,653 East Districts ... 392,444 South Districts.. 501,190 Average weekly Deaths Deathm, 1843-7. in the Flee Summers. Week. . • 142 ... 173 .. 182 ... 245 ... 178 ... 169 ... 219 ... 253 ... 251 ... 288 Totals... . 1,948,369 972 ... 1,118 Males ... ... ... 567 Females ... ... ... ... ... 551 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males ... 774 Females ... ... ... ... ... 747 Total ... ... 1,521 * In this number aro included 31 cases of death by Cholera, 110 by Scarlatina, and 46 by Typhus Fever. THE KING OF BAVARIA AND THE POPE. The King of Bavaria has sent the following auto graph letter to Count Spaur, his Majesty's Ambas sador at the Court of Rome : "Dear Count Von Spaur,—l have read your report of the 30th ultimo, respecting the happy escape of his Holness the Pope and his arrival at Gaeta, with the greatest interest. I was deeply grieved at the intelligence of the acts of violence perpetrated against the honoured head of the Roman Catholic Church by a party of treacherous and undutiful men, and the foul ingratitude with which they requited the abun dant gifts and acts of kindness which had flowed to them from his benevolent heart; and though sin cerely lamenting with every true son of the Church that the Holy Father is reduced to the necessity of avoiding further outrages, by seeking protection and security beyond his own d om i n i ons , yet was my pain and grief converted into joy and thanksgiving when I heard that the escape of the vicegerent of Christ upon earth had been happily ac complished. Nor can I refrain from acknowledging my especial gratitude to Divine Providence that my Ambassador was the chosen instrument of this escape. " The zeal, the caution, and the fearless devotion with which you, my dear Count, undertook, and happily executed, the dangerous enterprise so highly important, not to the Iloly Father alone, but to the whole Catholic Christendom, are in strict conformity with my views and sentiments for his Holiness the Pope. You have acted entirely in the spirit of the directions which I gave you on the 20th of May for any contingency in which you might be of service to the Holy Father. "I have great plemure in expressing to you my entire acknowledgments and gratitude; and while I reserve to myself the gratification of giving you some special memento of my grace and satisfaction, I am anxious to assure you of the esteem and good will of " Your approving King, "MAXIMILIAN. " Nympbinburg, Dec. 16." At the same time his Majesty sent the following orders to Rome : to Count Sparn, the Grand Cress of Merit of the Order of St. Michael; to the Cardinal State Secretary Antonelli, the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown ; to the Envoy of the French Republic in Rome, M. d'Har court, and to the Spanish Ambassador in Rome, Mar tinez de la Rosa, the Cross of the Order of Merit ; and to the Spanish Secretary of Legation, d'Arnao, the Order of Merit of St. Michael. All these were more or less concerned in effecting the escape of the Pope.—. Russian Staats Anzeigcr, Dec. 24. FRANCE. The Evdnemcnt publishes the following letter, as having been addressed by Abthel-Keder to the Presi dent of the Republic : " To Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, President of the Republic—The Emir Abd-el•Kader detained with his family in the Chateau of Ainboioe. " 'I will die in prison if unexampled rigours condemn me so to do, but never will I be brought to lower my character.'—Prince Louis Napoleon, at Han).. " God is great, and Mahomet is his prophet. May this God of clemency, under whose protection the Na tional Assembly has placed the French Constitution, in spire the chiefs of the Republic with an act of justice and humanity, which will give to all the nations of the globe a high opinion of the hospitality of France, which country is already renowned by her bravery and chivalrous spirit at all times. When, guided by my confidence in the bravery and the promise of the French, I came to place mysclf and mine under the protection of France, by giving myself up to General Larnoriciece, at that time Commandant of the province of Oran, I received the formal promise that I should be sent to the noble land of France, and be afterwards conveyed to Egypt, and from thence to Syria, near the sacred tomb of the Prophet, that I might enlighten myself with new light, and my days be wholly devoted to the happiness of my family, and far from the hazards of war, the theatre of which I abandoned forever to the domination of France, in execution of the will of the Almighty, who lowers or raises empires as he pleases. Fur from these sacred promises having been fulfilled, I and mine have been subjected to captivity, without being able to cause justice to be rendered to me. Napoleon, after his abdication in 1815, went to seat himself at the British hearth, and notwith standing the sympathies which his great defeat inspired, English policy inflicted on him torture on the rock of St. Helena. One of his noble nephews has also been subject to exile and imprison ment! But moral tortures have an end. God so wills it, and enlightens the temporal government. If the mis fortunes with which I have been assailed in my family, which has been decimated since my captivity—if the sufferings of my poor mother, old and infirm, can excite some interest in the hearts of the French people, and especially in those of wives end mothers, I demand of the chief of the French Government to fulfil the pro mises that were made to me by the Generals of Africa, and to accord me the liberty of going on parole, with my family, into Syria to follow the precepts of our reli gion. Grateful for such an act of clemency and justice, I would pray our God to bestow on France and her chiefs all his great consolations and blessings. I rely on the wisdom of the President of the Republic and of the National Assembly, "Thu Emir ABDEL-KADER. " Amboise, 27 Moharrem, 1265 (llec. 23, 1848)." The Journal des Debats says it is announced that M. Guizot has written in London a work entitled " De la D4mocratie en France," which will be pub lished in Paris in the course of the next month. The Akbar gives the following es the result of the votes irk the three provinces of Algeria :—Louis Na poleon, 38,314; l;avaignae, 20,854 Larnartino, 3,024 ; Ledru Rollin, 5,403; Raspail, 142. RUN GARY. According to a letter from Brunn of the 14th, Kossuth was seriously wounded in one of the recent engagements in Hungary. HINTS TO EMIGRANTS FOR NEW BRUNSWICK. I would advise all emigrants for New Brunswick to go out, if possible, in the months of March or April, and to make St. John their landing place; it is a stirring, busy town, with more than 30,000 inhabi tants, and, in fact, the real capital of the province, although the seat of Government is at Frederickton, eighty miles higher up the river. The course to be pursued on arrival must vary with the circumstances and means of the emigrant. To agricultural labourers, single men, and without capital, I would say, get employment on a farm as soon as possible; do not stand out for high wages, but take anything like a fair offer. Having worked through the spring and summer, and thus gained a little experience in the mode of tillage adopted on new land, which, after all, has its peculiarities, I would advise him in October to engage with some lumberer, of whom, as master or " boss," he hears a good character from his fellow labourers, for the ensuing winter, or till the logs come down in the following spring. This is called*" engaging for the route." His pay will vary from 3 - 1. to 4/. per month, and he will feed like a prince on salt pork, and cod fish, beans, excellent bread, with tea and molasses. There is no stint of food in a camp, and master and men share alike. Here he will learn to handle the axe, an indispensable accomplishment, but one which few Englishmen can master at first ; he will have a complete specimen of life in the woods, which will enable him to judge how far the climate, the nature of the work, and the mode of life suit his habits and constitution ; and if he be possessed of ordinary intelligence, he will obtain from his com rades, as well as from his own observations, a store of hints and maxims, as well as local information, which will be of the greatest use to him in his selection and management of land, or in any other occupation which he may afterwards decide on following. As soon as stream driving is over, which will be, according to the earliness or lateness of the season, in April or May, I would advie him to make immediate. application at the Crown land or Company's office (I prefer the former), for gfty gores of wilderness 'Aud i And to commence IRELAND. DUBLIN, DEC. 27.—The few provincial journals come to hand to-day, do not contain any intelligence worth extracting. The morning metropolitan journals contain not much of interest. The Freeman mentions the probability of a fourth bill against Mr. Duffy. \Ve have our Christmas bounties on a small scale, a s you have your large ones on a royal scale. His Excellency sent a whole ox to the Mendicity on Monday, and 200 loaves of bread. This is an insti tution long in existence here for the support of casual pauperism. The Lord Mayor has been dispensing the corporate charities and his own. The inmates of our union workhouses have been regaled with meat and beer, and generally our poor people have not been without tasting the customary beneficences of this joyous season. Dr. Al'Hale has had a triumphal entry into Tuam. A long procession and an address greeted his arrival in the ecclesiastical capital of the west. The further argument on the demurrer in Mr. Duffy's case will take place on Thursday, at the sit ting of the Court, but as the counsel on both sides will certainly occupy that whole day, and not impro bably some portion of the next, we may conclude that no judgment in the matter will pass this year. The Freeman's Journal contains an account of one of those horrible cases of death by starvation which, from time to time, appal us ; and some people have the inconsiderateness to look for the remedy of such occurrences, not in the amendment of the poor-law, but in its abolition. CORONER'S INQUEST.—FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAlLWAY.—Yesterday even ing Mr. Payne held an inquest at Guy's Hospital, on view of the body of Caesar Augustus P. Bumpstead, aged 21, a guard in the service of the London and Brighton Railway Company. It appeared from the evi &xe that in the forenoon of the previous day the Brighton train was at New - cros s station, and had started to proceed on its up journey, when the deceased at tempted to go on his seat, which was attached to the third carriage from the engine. He placed his foot on the step, but in consequence of his slipping he fell be tween the carriage and the platform. He was dragged a short distance and then dropped on the line. The alarm was given, but before the engine could be stopped the other carriages passed over him. Upon being taken up both his legs were discovered to be nearly separated from his body. He was promptly conveyed to Guy's Hospital, and died there in half an hour after his ad mission. Verdict, " Accidental death." REPRESENTATION OF BOLTON.—On Saturday evening an address was presented by Thomas Ridgway Bridson, Esq., offering himself as a candidate for the representation of the borough, in the place of Dr. Bow rieg. Mr. Bridson had been previously spoken of, but having the day before proposed Mr. Peter Ainsworth, at a Conservative meeting at the Swan Hotel, the rumour had died away, and the appearance of his address ex cited more surprise among his friends than among the Liberal electors. Mr. Bridson promises economy and retrenchment. and says he is " an advocate for the re form of all proved abuses;" hnr, beyond this, there is nothing in his adtlrres to indicate to which party he would appeal for support. As an indulgent employer, a kind and good neighbour, and' a generous benefactor to the poor, Mr. I3ridsen has the esteem and respect of all his fellow-townsmen; bat these excellent qualities would induce the electors to keep him at home rather than send him six months out of the twelve to the House of Com mons,—lficteehrster Guardian. THE PROPOSED NEW HOUSE OF CORRECTION: — Yesterday a memorial, adopted by 9,454 ratepayers of the united parishes of the liberty of Great Saffron-hill, Ely Rents, tied Hatton-garden, to prevent the erection of the proposed new house of correction, was forwarded to Sir G. Grey. A similar memorial has also been for warded from the Hendon and Strand unions, and others are about to follow from Maryleboae, St. Pancras, 1411 d uearly eyery par4lla . ju the county. PEAS• 2s od been i with most deilee y the thou• w ater itity) , ) pro' )f na° I 34r. Water. VOU I quint t One 1 the Ist be f the weer' ation con ,don, Ision pita and sal with ;ion; ring pur the 'e Cif 360 Sent OBI' ft