The Sun. — London, England, 1848-06-27 00:00:00

rove his charge or to withdraw it. Toe Noble Lord fled entrusted hit retraction to the 11 )n. Member for Bucks and the Hon. Baronet, and therefore he (Sir G. Grey) would put that matter aside. The real question was the charge which had been made on Friday night, and now a new series of charges were brought forward. The Noble Lord and the Hon. Member had spent the interval in ransacking Hansard for speeches, or rather scraps of speeches, imputed to Lord Grey in the other House of Parliament to support charges of neglecting to lay certain papers before a Committee. He appealed to every honourable man in that House whether there was not a difference between accidental omission and fraudulent suppression, as charged by the Noble Lord. The charge had been brought forward recklessly, for the purpose of injuring the character of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Hawes). Lord G. BENTINCK replied with some warmth, and reminded the Government that there was ample time to have produced the dispatch to the Committee, after the fact of its not having been received was known. He would not retract the charge which he had preferred against the Government, a charge involving a grave and serious offence deeply injurious to the best interests of het transmarine possessions of the Crown. Mr. CHARTERIS was obliged to understand that the Nohle Lord had withdrawn his charge against the Un der-Colonial Secretary, but he certainly had not done it in the handsomest manner. Mr. NE WDEGATE did not see why his Noble Friend should be called upon to withdraw a charge which in reality he had never made. The motion for adjournment was then withdrawn. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH SPAIN. In answer to a question from Mr. OSBORNE, Lord PALMERSTON said that the only medium of communication between the Government of this country and that of Spain was their respective Consuls ; and, as regarded the Quadruple Treaty, it had been established for a particular purpose for maintaining the indepen dence of the Spanish crown and the Spanish people; bat if it were not so all he could say was that the British Government would never be a party, by treaty or no treaty, to enslave any nation on the face of the earth.— (" Hear," and laughter.) SUGAR DUTIES—ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. G. THOMPSON resumed the debate, and con tended that there had been no breach of contract with the West India body ; the full compensation had been paid, and West India property, so far from having de teriorated had increased in value since 1834. He con demned the practice of importing coolies into the West Indies as unprofitable and demoralising. His opinion was that the system of immigration had been a failure, and that if carried out extensively it would only create a slave trade under false colours, and injure materially the interests of the colonies, both in their social and moral condition. The Hen. Gentleman then referred to the apprenticeship system established at the period of the emancipation of the slave, and contended that as early as 1835 there were numerous complaints of the cruelties practised against their apprentices by the plan ters in the West India islands. The Marquis of Sligo, formerly a governor of Jamaica, and himself connected by property with the colonial interest, on his return home published a pamphlet, which fully justified all the repre sentations which had been previously made in the Imperial Parliament respecting those cruelties; and the Earl of Mulgrave took a similar course. He admitted that the planters had a fair claim to relief if it could be given consistently with the principles of the basis of our commercial legislation, and with the rights, interests, and future prospects of the negro. But the House ought to be careful how it sanctioned immigra tion by private individuals, or encouraged grantsof money for promoting that object. Missionaries in Jamaica had complained of the system, and of the iniquitous manner in which the emigrants were entrapped to leave their own country, and abandoned and left to starve when no longer of use to those whom they served. If it was wrong to consume slave-grown sugar it was equally wrong to consume slave-grown cotton and tobacco. If Hon. Gentlemen produced slave-grown produce alto gether he would know how to deal with the question. But the vision of those who sought protection for the West India interest seemed to be circumscribed within the dimensions of a hogshead.—(Laughter.) In advo cating protection they were only hiding their selfishness behind a cloak of humanity.—(Hear, hear.) He was as strongly opposed to slavery as any man, but he could not vote with those who called upon him to support discriminatory duties; nor did he think they could be at best more than a temporary advantage to the interest which it was sought to relieve by them; while advancing money was only like giving pecu niary aid to a man already very much embarrassed, who grasped at a straw but eventually sank. The fate of those islands was sealed. They could not compete with Cuba and Brazil. It was a question of extent of terri tory and cultivation, and he confessed he hoped to see the day when there would be no absentees from the es tates. He lamented that the Government had made any concession, or that they had departed from the principle laid down by the Bill of 1846. If their principle afforded a large measure of relief to gentlemen opposite, it would have some recommendation, but it did not. It was, in fact, a change without an advantage. It was a retrograde step on their part, without conferring any benefit on those for whose distress they expressed their sympathy. He could not, therefore, support a vote of money, be cause its tendency would be to diminish the wages of those who had a right to the full value of their industry; nor could he on the other hand support protection, be cause it would be a gross injustice to the people of this country, who were such large consumers of sugar. He must, consequently, vote against both propositions. Mr. BERNAL honed the House would deal with the question in a spirit of itni artiality and candour—looking not merely to the interests of the proprietors, but to those of the public at large. The West In lie interest had un fortunately to deal with dubious friends and open and concealed adversaries. The opposition of the Hon. Gentleman for the Tower Hamlets was certainly open and avowed, and he had been the undeviating, he might say without meaning disrespect, the rancorous adversary of that interest for many years. But he scarcely ex pected that that Hon. Gentleman would have attempted as he had done that evening, by a reference to the cruelties of slavery and the mitigated cruelties of the apprentice system, to revive the old West India debates of that House. The Member for Westbury, speaking of the beet-root sugar, declared that the Zollverein were anxiously encouraging its production. Why, had they not put a heavy duty upon it? Again, the Hon. Member had held up Porto Rico as an example to the West Indies, and had talked of the excellent roads in the colony. Why, there was not a single carriage road in that island. Again, the same Hon. Member said that there were no less than 800 miles of railway in the island of Cuba. Why it was true there were tramways, but the railways on which there was anything like passenger traffic were very limited in extent. The Hon. Member for Kinsale told them the other night " that the truth must be told." Would his Hon. Friend revert to a dispatch of Sir C. Grey of the Bth of December last, showing the number of estates abandoned since 1833 in Ja maica? Of the 640 sugar estates in that island, no less than 142 had been given up; and the coffee plantations abandoned were even in greater proportion. There were sixteen gentlemen who had become proprietors in Jamaica since the abolition of slavery, and every one of them declared his inability to go on under the pre sent system. It was said the West Indians were a reck less, improvident set, and that they were so deeply mortgaged that they could never hope to prosper. There were many proprietors, however, within his own expe rience whose estates were quite clear of mortgage. His own properties in Jamaica had never been encumbered to the extent of one penny. Every claim had been met —money bad been provided for every want. His es tates were under the charge of a free-trader—as free as the Honourable Member for the West Riding. No one who knew his (Mr. Bernal's) opinions would charge him with bigoted views or with being insensible to the advantages of new machinery and new plans. And yet, under all these circumstances, " the fact must come out"—his estates were losing concerns.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman who sp o ke last was connected with ]ndia, and most probably that circumstance was the key to his speech. The Hon" Member had talked of the la bour of the West Indies. It quite true, as he had said, that the island of i wasarbadeasur and parts of Jamaica were well peopled ; but o th er dcertain quar tars of Jamaica were sadly in w an t o f labourers, w ould never be prosperous until there was a regular and n w d ( ce rtain supply. The negro at present would only and five days a week under any circumstances. The negro labourers often kept horses and gigs, and some of their horses were high bred. What would be thought of a chew-bacon in this country who kept a horse worth 201.? Who was it that had encouraged slave labour in our West Indian colonies? The British Legislature. Yet the West Indian planters did not desire the Legislature to retrace its course as to emancipation; all that they required was that the Legislature should aid them to struggle against the difficulties in been which, as a c Ifonse quence of emancipation, they had placed. the Government thought the colonies worth preserving most at all ly their —perhaps they did n ot—the y must app earnest consideration to the complaints of the Wet India planters. What was t he state of Jamaica at this moment ? That estates one after another were being abandoned ; that estates, forced to a sale, fetched next to nothing, as an instance of vvhieh he could mention the apparently incredible fact that an estate of 2,000 acres, well stocked with machinery, with 200 head of cattle upon it, was sold for 2,0001; that another estate, whose cultivation was continued, which had once pro duced 12,000/. a year, now produced scarcely 3001. a year.—(Hear, hear.) On what ground was our West India planter thus left to destruction ? On what prin ciple was he to be refused the same paternal protection which the British farmer enjoyed ?—(Hear.) The Bri tish corn producer had the protection afforded him in the home market, as against the Pomeranian corn grower, of the freight and other charges which the latter had to pay before he could bring his commodity to a sale in our market ; but the West India sugar or coffee grower had no similar protection as against the sugar or coffee grower of Cuba or Brazil.—(Hear, hear.) As to the duty, he admitted that as far as the scale of reduction upon Muscovado sugar was concerned, the proposition of the Government was better than that of the Right Hon. Gentleman on the Opposition benches. He be lieved that if he were to go amongst his mercantile friends and connexions he could not raise one shilling upon his West Indian estates. Why, therefore, under such circumstances as these were the West Indians to be subjected to the charges so constantly made against them of apathy and idleness, when they had not the Means of cultivating properly their estates? He should be sorry, in the year 1848, to find that England had so far departed from the dictates of common sense as to give up the West India colonies for worthless posses sions. For the reasons he had stated, and considering that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had held firm to his differential duty on rum, and had not listened to the gay Lotharios from Ireland, he should vote for the pro positions of the Government before the House.—(A burst of laughter.) Sir J. GRAHAM said that he had not joined in the THE SUN, LONDON, TVESDAY EVENING-, JUNE 27, 1818. laugh which accompanied the announcement of his in tended vote by the Hon. Member for Rochester. He concurred in the sentiments uttered by him at the com mencement of his speech. The subject was surrounded with difficulties, and it must be decided upon principles consonant with the general interests of the community. But what were the remedies proposed for the distress in the West Indies by the Hon. Member? He was opposed to the importation of creolea and to coolies, as well as to large immigrations of liberated Africans. He also disclaimed all wish for protection, and after so many dis claimers he was at a loss to discover the Hon. Member's remedy. With respect to the slavery part of the ques tion, that certainly was a most important feature. The abolition of the slave trade, and subsequently of slavery, were the greatest achievements ever accomplished by the humanity of a nation. He was sorry that the appren ticeship period of the liberated negroes had been cut short, as that had been attended with baneful effects on the happiness and prosperity of the co lonies. But with respect to the question before the House, when his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Tam worth thought it wise to reduce the price of all primary necessaries of life, he considered it only right that so important an article of consumption as sugar should also be included in that reduction; and in 1844 he saw that the time had arrived when the duty on that article must be lowered ; but it was necessary also to attend to the state of the supply, for if that was deficient, the reduction of duty would go to the seller, and not to the consumer. The result of inquiries showed that the supply was so limited as to render it indispensable to enlarge the area of supply, and in consequence the then Government ad mitted, on easy terms of competition with West India free-labour sugar, the free grown sugars of foreign colonies. The question of slavery was not the only difficulty that existed in making this - alteration of the law, for it was urged that, under the most favoured nation clauses of the reciprocity treaties with foreign countries, slave-grown sugars could be imported into England under the Act of 1845; and the question was argued with consummate ability by the Right Hon. Gentleman below him (Mr. Glad stone), but still it was a doubtful case. Under these circumstances, it was that the present Government sought to introduce the Act of 1846, which levelled the distinctions between slave and free-labour sugars, a measure to which he had given a reluctant support. The House and the Legislature, in passing the Act of 1846, had done so deliberately, upon full argument, and with all the facts brought under review; and he must say, therefore, that the Act of 1846 was to be considered as a deliberate and final settlement, which gave ample warn ing to the West Indians and to foreign powers that their policy was a settled one.—(Hear, hear.) What had been the effect of that measure? It added greatly to the revenue, and cheapened the price of an almost necessary article to the consumer; and he was not satisfied that it had increased the slave trade to any perceptible degree. The intentions of the Legislature were there fore fully carried out by the consequences of the Act of 1846. He had heard different distinct suggestions made on this subject. There was the statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Coventry (Mr. Ellice), that what the West Indians wanted was a little assistance to tide over their difficulties. Why that was what he had been hearing on this subject since he had the honour of a seat in that House.—(Hear.) Then the petition of the West Indian body said, " That no le gislation which did not assure profitable cultivation would be of avail." The Legislature to assure a profitable cultivation ! How could the Legislature give any such assurance?—(Hear, hear.) It was a request with which it was impossible to comply. Then there was the pro position of his Hon. Friend the Member for Droit wich, which he thought would have contained something more specific. He said, indeed, that a discriminating duty of seven shillings would not be sufficient; but he (Sir James Graham) wanted to know how much would be sufficient ? The Committee over which the Noble Lord had presided proposed a discri minating duty of ten shillings, without which the aban donment of a majority of the West Indian estates was in evitable. Sir C. Grey, in the dispatch of which they had heard too much—(Hear, hear)—gave an opinion to the same effect. But he thought that the answer of Earl Grey to that dispatch contained the sound and true doctrine on the subject. He said in that answer that a high rate of wages, insufficient labour, and the want of a steady command of it, which were the great difficulties of the West Indian colonies, were in a great measure to be attributed to the duties on sugar, which, by main taining an artificial high price of that article, had in duced the planters to compete with each other in the sugar market, and had thereby created an artificial rate of wages. It was by keeping both at their natural level that he hoped to see the colonists able to produce sugar with a profit. He (Sir James Graham) looked upon that passage of the reply of the Noble Earl as sound in principle, accurate in point of fact, and the true answer to the recommendation of the Corn mittee.—(Hear.) The Honourable Gentleman the Member for Leominster said that the maintenance of the protection proposed by the Committee beyond two years would be, in the highest degree, injurious to the West Indies. The Mauritius afforded a remarkable illustration of the soundness of the doctrine of Earl Grey. An immigration of labour had taken place to Mauritius which was almost incredible-65,000 coolies having been introduced within the last six or seven years. But, notwithstanding that, the rate of wages rose from six dollars to ten dollars a month.—(Hear, hear.) He considered that protection with regard to the article of sugar was very dangerous, and that it gave encouragement to a species of gambling like that which took place with respect to the cultivation of hops in this country, where the profits were either great or the losses immense. His Honourable Friend the Member for Droitwich said that the average cost of production in the West Indies was 1/ 2s. 6d. per cwt., whilst the average cost of protec tion was only Gs. 101 d. per c w t., making a difference of 15s. 9d. Assuming that to be true, a duty of 10s. would not enable the West Indian planters to cultivate with a profit.—(Hear, hear.) He was decidedly opposed to a pennant 10s. duty for six years. It was inexpedient to grant it first of all to the colonies. That was his parti cular ground for opposing the amendment, but he would also state the general ground on which he opposed it. The Hon. Member for Buckinghamshire said the other night that our recent commercial policy would lead to a reaction, and that the time had arrived when it was to take place. In the other House of Parliament also Lord Stanley had proposed as expedient a prolonga tion of the time within which the corn-laws were to expire, and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Stamford (Mr. 'ferries) had said that nothing really ef fectual for the relief of the West Indies could be accom plished except by a discriminating duty approaching to a prohibitory one. He also saw in manifestoes from the Protection Society signed by the Duke of Richmond that cheapness was treated with derision. Taking all these signs together, he believed that an attempt at re action was impending, and to such reaction he was de cidedly opposed.—(Cheers from the Free-traders.) In passing, he would speak of the value of cheapness. Lord G. BENTINCK—And the cheapness of wages. —(Protectionist cheers.) Sir J. GRAHAM would not shrink from that part of the question.—(Hear, hear.) His experience of the year 1842 convinced him on that point. Lord G. BENTINCK—You stated it both ways. Sir J. GRAHANI—The Noble Lord's taunts fell harmless on him.—(Hear, hear.) No taunts could drive him now from power, to make room for others. —(Hear, hear.) He was there ready and bound to speak the truth—(Hear, hear) —and his experience of the distress of the manufacturing districts con vinced him that the converse of the proposition —namely, that lowness of price was accompanied by lowness of wages, was true, and that low wages fell on the working community when articles of first necessity were dear. —(Hear, hear.) He:was satisfied, therefore, that they must be cautious before they allowed taxation to enhance the price of articles of the first necessity.—(Hear, hear.) Cheapness of price could not be put down by the ana themas of the Duke of Richmond.—(Hear, hear.) What was the practical bearing of the cheapness of sugar ? It entered into the consumption of every family. It was almost the only condiment to the tasteless rice, the insipid gruel, the saur-krout of the poor man.—(Hear, hear.) And when he could get nothing more nourish ing,:it rendered palateable his coffee and his tea. — (Hear, hear.) Cheapness, therefore, in this matter was everything. This was the first attempt at a reactionary policy founded on a return to prohibitory duties, and he was opposed to that reaction.—(ilear, hear.) He believed in the present state of society in this country, and with all that is taking place around them, that it was impracticable—(Hear, hear)—and if practicable, he be lieved it to be most dangerous. He believed it was the very reverse of conservative with regard to all their institutions, and, if carried into effect, he trembled for the consequences.—(Hear.) This proposition was the first step to give effect to the prophecy of the Hon. Mem ber for Buckingham. He was nut prepared to take that stop.—(Cheers.) He thought it unwise and impolitic, and, holding that opinion deeply and sincerely, he could not hesitate to give his vote against the amendment of his Hon. Friend.—(Cheers.) Mr. CALLAGHAN stated that it was his intention to support the Government proposition in as far as sugar was concerned; but he should reserve himself on the subject of spirits until he heard what the Govern ment proposition really was. On the motion of Sir R. INGLIS the debate was ad• journed until Thursday next. The House adjourned at Half-past Twelve o'clock. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JuNE 26. STOCK EXCHANGE. -A good business has been done to day in stocks, and especially is London and North-Western, w hi c h sold at 11 8; New, 1 ,4, and % p.—Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and Cheshire Junction, 311. Shares, 7V dis.—Ditto, 221. Shares, 5 1 4 dis.—Eastern Counties, New, 10/. Shares, 1 ,4; p.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths (late West Riding Union), 41. ls. 3d. dis.—London and North-Western, 96 118— —Ditto, New Quarters, p.—Midland Stock, c.— North Union (A), 201—South -Eastern and Dover, 23 c.— Ditto, No. 3. Thirds, 10 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (N. and B. Extension), No. 2, 7 ; 4 p. MANCHESTER, JUNE 26. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The. sales are—Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and Cheshire Junction , 7% c. dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire (West Riding Union), 4 1-16 dis.—London and North-Western, Quarters (C), 13'8 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, SW. Shares (Grimsby), 2N dis.—Ditto (Sheffield and Lincolnshire), 10 dis.—North Staffordshire, 3 1 4 dis.—So u th-E as t ern an d Dover, No. 4, Thirds, 3 S-16 dis. E BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 26. STOCK XCsnhrNewoEsb•—ur'y rhaenasallir sales are—North Staffordshire, 61s. 3d. di5...... TIIE GREENLAND FISHERY.—A letter received by Mr. John Bilton, of this port, on Friday las t, from Ler wick, states that th e T ur k, Friends, and Traveller, landed their Shetland men last week, and report as fol lows :—Anne, Hunter, 85 seals and two tons of oil ; Sarah and Elizabeth, Willis, 140 seals ; Swallow , Low den, 3,200 seals and 32 tons o f o il s ; Eli za , Graham, 666 seals, 12 tons of oil ; St. George, of Loudon, Well*, 125.—Hu1l Packet. BANK OF FRANCE. The imouitcur publishes the following weekly debtor nd creditor account of the Bank of France, made up to the afternoon of Thursday last:— DEBTOIt. Capital of the bank ... 67,900,000 00 Ditto of the new branches 23,350,000 00 Reserve of the Bank 10 000 000 00 Ditto of the new branches ... 2,980,650 14 Reserve of the Bank in house property . 4,000,000 00 Bank notes in circulation ... 287,110,600 00 Ditto of branches Notes to order . .„ 77,677,275 00 .., 430,476 51 Account current of the Treasury ... 17,097,736 4 Sundry accounts current 69,941,628 66 Ditto at branches ... 20,724,853 00 Receipts payable at sight 1,914,000 00 Ditto of branch banks ... 329,930 00 Drafts of the branch banks payable by the Bank ... ... 3,685,353 79 Ditto of bank payable by branches ... 1,814,796 00 Dividends payable ... . . 147,499 25 Algiers branch bank ... 1,106,888 19 Discounts, diverse interests, &c. 4,182 , 035 67 Discounts, &c., at the branches ... 3,536,919 23 Re discounts of the last six months ... 728,692 37 Ditto in branches ... ... ... 703,475 00 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 901,636 94 E 600,26 4 1470 84 were taken at the reduction without producing any sen sible amelioration. The principal parchaFex were for the United States and north of Europe. In April, 123,073 bags were exported; being an access over the correspondinc , month of 1847 of 27,902 bags. Sal es a t the end of April h were effected to the amount of 30,000 bags, which caused the market to again become flat. Prices quoted at, for washed, 30s. 3d. per cwt.; superior, 255.; first good, 235. sd. The steamer Gi „ last from Falmo u th, f or B ah i a, left th i s port on M onday PseY, Captain Lock, from London, last, and on the 23d instant, when about 80 miles W. by S. of Scilly, sprung a l ea k . T he s hi p was p u t a b out to make for the first p or t ; at t h ree, P.M. , fell in with a pilot-boot, which took off the master and people. At seven, P it., she went down. The Pilot cutter camo in here this afternoon. The Lords of the Treasury have granted permission, on application, that the war-bound ships detained in the Channel might tran s hip t h e i r cargoes i n t o British bot toms for conveyance to Hamburgh and other ports iu the North Sea. AMERICAN AFFAIRS• NEW YORK, MAY 30.—1 am your columns are constantly overloaded with important political events which are almost hourly transpiring in Europe, and consequently that the interest in " American affairs" must be somewhat diminished; but I still feel it proper to present you with the great movements that are now makinc , in the United States—movements that have for their ulterior object a total change of the policy of this country. During the past week great excitement has prevailed throughout the United States. The Democratic Con vention, held in Baltimore for the purpose of nominating candidates for the offices of President and Vice-Presi dent, have, after great contention and a furious struggle, terminated their labours by nominating as their candi dates General Lewis Casa for President and General Butler for Vice-President. These nominations are far from being satisfactory to any party or faction. The " Barnburning" section of the Locotocoa have protested against the proceedings of the Convention, and withdrawn from it. The Conven• tion, however, had previously adopted a resolution which substantially recognized the attending delegates of the " Old Hunkers" as the legal and proper delegates of the Locofoco party. If the Whig party could be united, there is not the shadow of a doubt they would succeed i❑ electing their President, which success would assuredly change the political aspect as well as the policy of the United States. But this union cannot, will not be effected. The great contest at present is between the friends and supporters of Mr. Clay and those of General Taylor, or rather, between the Whig party and the No-party. The latter consist generally of men who are attached to No-party, and who cry aloud for new men and a new distribution of the spoils of office; thus sacrificing venerable, gallant, and patriotic Whigs, who have long borne the heat and burde❑ of the battle; while the No -party men—a class of politicians the same in every country—sought retire ment to avoid responsibility. The Whig Convention of Delegates meet on the 7th of June to nominate their candidates for the same offices. The most unjustifiable efforts have been resorted to by the advocates of General Taylor to secure his nomi nation, and I regret to add, with strong prospect of suc cess. This Convention is not less distracted than was that which nominated General Cass. It is, however, impossible to speak with any degree of certainty as to the final result of their action. _ The Barnburners" have called a new Convention, to make a nomination in opposition to General Cass. Should this be done it will darken the prospects of the General, and, consequently strengthen those of the Whig party candidate, whoever he may be. Many of those friendly to Mr. Clay will vote for him, even if ho fail to be nominated by the Convention. General Scott has been received by the citizens of New York with appropriate marks of distinction. He has received orders to proceed immediately to Washing ton; in pursuance of which he has started on his journey. His friends evince a fixed determination to press his no mination in the Whig Convention as a candidate for the office of President of the United States. How changed in a few years is the American people! It was, as it were but yesterday when a "standing army in rime of pect•e" was repudiated as a blot upon the escutcheon of this Re public. Now we aro inundated with military heroes of every grade and calibre, seeking or demanding appoint ments to every office in the country, from the Presi dency down to the doorkeeper of a department. But the most alarming fact is, that the people view with ap parent apathy this systematic movement towards the establishment of a military Government. Among the Generals who evince an anxiety to serve the nation as its Presidents, may be enumerated Gene ral Pillow, General Worth, General Butler, General Quitman, General Taylor, General Shields, General Scott, General Cadwaller, &c. But I pause, lest I occupy more of your paper than you may be willing to assign me. Since the date of my last letter I have made diligent inquiry as to the prospects of the grain crop, and I have pleasure in renewing the assurance heretofore made, that everything indicates, not only an abundant but an over flowing crop. A letter from St. Louis of a late date, says, " By an arrival at this city from Salt Lake we learn the Indians have made an attack upon the Mormons and murdered a number of their men, women, and children. An express was dispatched for assistance. No cause is assigned for the outrage. The Vice-President laid before the Senate, yesterday a communication from General Cass, resigning his seat as a senator for the State of Michigan. On the same day the House of Representatives re ceived from the President a message respecting Indian depredations in Oregon, and recornmendmg the prompt assistance of the Government. It was referred to the committee on military affairs. —Times. A GENEVESE TRAVELLER. PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTIIAMPToN, JUNE 24.—The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's ship Madrid, Captain John Weeks, arrived here this afternoon with the usual Spanish and Portuguese mails, in charge of Lieutenant Newenham, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates are—Gibraltar, June 16; Cadiz, June 17; Lisbon, June 19; off Oporto, June 20; Vigo, June 21. During the passage home the Madrid experienced fresh head winds and fine weather as far as Vigo; afterwards S.S.W. breezes, rain and cloudy. The Madrid brings 70 passengers, amongst whom are Earl Ducio, Countess Ducie, Lord and Lady Moreton, &c.; and the following on freight;-42 chests and 520 half-chests of oranges, 90 boxes of lemons, 41 casks of wine, 4 barrels of dates, 12 cases of eggs, 6 cases of provisions, 15 packages of sun dries, and 36 packages of specie, value about 11,5001. We have letters of the 16th from our correspondent in Lisbon; that city was perfectly tranquil. Numerous arrests of parties formerly connected with the Oporto Junta had taken place, and a great many more were concealed for fear of the police. The prisoners were to be accused of high treason upon the evidence of parties they were said to have enlisted for an insurrectionary movement. The truth of these accusations was greatly doubted as regards some of the prisoners, and the legal Proofs with respect to the whole bad been delayed be yond the time allowed by the Charter. The editors of several of the Liberal journals awe amongst those seised by order of the Government. The Cortes were going on unsatisfactorily, and the session was likely to be brought to a premature close for want of Members. Her Ma jesty's steamers Stromboli and Comet were at Lisbon. The Pluto put into the Tagus for coals on the 9th and left on the 12th for Madeira. Exchange on London at 30 days'sight, 521 ; and at 90 days' date 52k to 53 ; Bank of Lisbon notes 54 per cent. discount. There had been an arrival at Lisbon from Pernambuco with dates to the sth of May. All was quiet there since the withdrawal of the President, M. Choxord da Game- Exchange on London. 26i to 27i. Sugar in bags, free on board, brown 1,450 to 1,500; white, 2,100 to 2,200. Freights for sugar to London, and for a port between Havre and Hamburgh, 903. At Rio Janeiro, on the 30th of April, Exchange on London, 251 to 25k. Coffee improving, in consequence of the appearance of American vessels— first quality quoted 2,600 to 2,700. Her Majesty's troop ship Resistance, with the 79th Highlanders, under com mand of Lieut.-Colonel Maule, sailed from Gibraltar for Canada on the 14th; a French sloop-of-war having troops on board, and a Spanish steamer, were off Algesiras. Exchange on London at Gibraltar, 90 day s date, 481 ; on Paris, 6f. 30c.; Marseilles, sf. 30c. t o sf. 32c.; OR Genoa, sf. 32c.; at eight days' sight o n Madrid, 4 discount ; Cadiz, discount ; Malaga, to discount ; Seville, to discount ; Ali can t e and Valencia, 14 discount ; Barcelona , I discount ; Spani s h pillared dollars 2 per cent. p remiu m. On the 21st of June the Madrid passed Her Majesty' s s hi p H owe, standing W.N.W., Cape Villario bearing eas t ; t h e Madrid also spoke the Tagus and Portuguese steamer voyage outwards from Southarap- Falcao, Sunday, June 25.—The packet brig Brilliant, Captain Newton, arrived here yesterday, a f ter th rA e Peninsular and Oriental Steam a 'fine passage of thirteen days from Madeira. She passengers, and a cargo of wine brought thirty-four and measurement goods. The Brilliant was only eight days to pe F r u fo n r c in ha in l g . ton Navigation Company's ship Indus, Captain Soy, having undergone considerable repairs, arrived here to-day from London, to take up her station on the Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria line. The Montrose, Captain Bowen, is to take out the Spanish and Portuguese mails of the 27th, and the Sultan, Captain Brooks, will sale same day for Constantinople and the Black Sea. The Hin dostan, Captain Lewis, ma y be expected to-morrow, with the homeward East India and China mails. The Canton, Captain Jameson, sailed to-day for China, vii the Cape of Good Hope, to take up her station in carry ing the mails between Canton and Hong Kong .— Times. ...., WlLsoN's SCOTTISH .bNTERTAI!IMENT.-- This fa vourite and talented vocalist gave his last entertainment on Scottish Songs for the season yesterday, at the Music Hall, Store-street, when h . e illustratFd and sang some of his choicest songs, including the recital of Burn's famous poem of " Tam o' Shanter. Mr. Wilson wa s i n excel lent voice, and enraptured hi? audience with hi s delight ful manner of singing Scotia s beauties. On a side table exhibited the magnificent silver tankard and salver lately presented to him at the London Tavern by a few . friends,. l ti clog ornamented with appropriate devices antly chased, anu - the on dit taking We (TVexford of the passage to the hall was enhwerill attached h l e r d el a an n d d ornamented with appropriate devices and an inscription of their testimony. to his success in rendering Scotland's songs such favourites with the public taste. The enter tainment was well and respectably filled, verifyi V n t a st p T o T si o tio l n ßE to LAND press,. that the Queen ' this year. Immediately after the termination of the present Parliamentary session, our good and beloved loyal Irish subjects; and if we know . the national heart Independent)therTHEounds QUEEN. a t r h ' e s e we can promise her such an affectionate and enthusiastic' Sovereign will . throw herself among greeting as sovereign never before experienced, and 1 which Irishmen alone can give. CUNNINGHAM and CARTER'S NEW SYSTEM OF RAILWAY. An entirely new mode of communicating motion to a :rain of carriages on an ordinary railway has recently been perfected by Messrs. Cunningham and Carter, the extreme simplicity of which, and its economy, and general susceptibility of application to all the require ments of an extensive system of railway traffic, will render it extremely serviceable in reducing the expen.di lure of railway companies, by enabling them to diminish the costs of production in a degree the extent of which cannot easily be anticipated, but which will readily be perceived to b e a ttributable to the novelty of the principle. A little attention, indeed, to the details of the machine will suffice to show that its projectors have succeeded in finding a remedy for the great disadvantages of the locomotive system, without laying it open to the new ones which the atmospheric and rope-haulages have as , sumed. I n ma ki ng t h e same e ff ort M essrs . Cunningham and Carter have constructed a working model of the railway at the pre m i ses o f th e water-works, Peak-hill, Sydenham, where two concentric circular railways, of about fifteen feet iu the extreme diameter, and repre senting the up an d d own ma i n li nes, are traverse d by trains of carriages in opposite directions, sufficiently large for any purpose of experiment. The smoothness and regularity w i t h w hi ch the miniature tra i ns per f orme d thetheir mi mind a s tohe mechanical t experimental trips ee a was ni ca i quite practicability sufficient of the t o satisfy plan; ;.rf a uao n rii d lnwg t a nf3 a c n rse : ws, sa s ta c rede i m e c n ool t rns i d fi ir c ntehg g gelu e y n is. gentlemen, together with some emi nent engineers, have ex ra p emd r l e evt s o s i e tbh d ea themselves upon its per have undertaken .. the construction effective, premises, f i e a s , sa enedo nt however, whd ei and lu patenteesd b oe larger ex hibiting. the machine in the several situations in which a model, o . which is now nearly completed. This work is 140 feet in length, representing the tortuous course of a railway as affected by curves and gradients, ,and the applicability of the sy s t em i n working branch lines, deviations, crossings, an d sidings bythe ordinary process of turnin g th e " switches," as sisted by the peculiar re sources o f the proposed plan. It must be understood, in the first place, that the patent of these gentlemen does not contemplate any alteration in the mode of forming the roadway, or of placing the rails upon them; but that it is in the mode of working the trains that the new system is proposed. For this purpose a continuous tube is fixed upon one side of the railway, which throughout its entire length is closed against the external atmosphere, not having any valve or other orifice whatever. At intervals of about ten miles it will communicate, by means of branch pipes, with stationary steam-engines, worked sufficiently to maintain an atmosphere of the same degree of attenua tion in its own section of the tube. In every mile of the railway there will likewise be several pairs of small pneumatic engines, deriving their motion successively by communication with the main tube. At the place where a pair of air-engines occurs, a rectangular trench will be cut transversely in the road, beneath the rails. Into this trench an iron chest will be firmly bedded, and then receive three up right arbors or shafts standing, placed in a direction theacr across atchee incr a l i l u s d , e t d h e b e c t e w n e t r e e n s t h h a e f t twolaeintgr a i m n w t h a y e s andiddl eof the he other two about three feet beyond the exterior rails ou either side. Each shaft carries two wheels, or pullies. The three wheels stand above ground, on the same horizontal plane with the nave-boxes of the carriages, and the three lower revolve within the chest, at the same level with ono another, carrying an endless strap, which causes the roves of the two driving-wheels above to be discharging in contrary directions. The work of alternately forming and destroying the communication between three air-engines and the ex hausting tube will be performed by the train itself in the following manner:—An inverted lever of the first kind is suspended beneath the roof of the cheat, in the line of the three shafts, and its fulcrum placed in the centre of that portion of the roof which is included be tween the two rails of each pair. Small rods are at tached vertically to the extremities of this lever, one of which forms the piston of what is termed a " starting valve," and the other acts indirectly upon the lever of a " reversing. valve." Above either end of the lever a small orifice is bored in the top of the chest, and through those pass piston-rods, terminating in little trucks or rollers, which, protruding above the surface of the road, are termed " tappets." The pistons of the air-engines act by means of a crank rod and pin on the spokes of the exterior driving-wheels. ro the above it is only necessary now to add, that con tinuous rails of wood, coated on three sides with iron, are attached to the train on either side, at the level of the nave-boxes, and consequently, when the train stands at a pair of engines, these rails touch the peripheries of an exterior and the interior driving wheels. The train being now supposed to have been brought up to a pair of air-engines, the moment it enters the rove of a pair of driving•wheels, the rails at its sides are grasped by the peripheries. On the train's advancing the smallest distance beyond the place we supposed it to occupy, an inverted inclined plane, fixed below the foremost car riage, moves over the tappet near the starting-valve. The air-engines are gradually set into rapid mo tion, and, by their piston-rods, the driving-wheels ; these, by revolving forcibly in contact with the traction-rails, urge the train through the rove with a gradual and regular motion, because the motion of the driving-wheels is itself gradual and regular. The air.engine, by a simple adjustment, works so long only as the train is occupied in passing through the rove, and the train proceeds with the momentum thus generated to the next pair of air-engines, where this process is repeated until its journey is concluded. The above is merely a brief description of the me chanism of this novel mode of propelling carriages, as some peculiarities of the construction and of the work ing, highly interesting to a mechanical and scientific mind, have necessarily been omitted. It may, however, be mentioned, that the great advantage of the system consists in its having dispensed with the use of the loco motive engine and the valve-tube of the atmospheric. This will be admitted on all hands to be a great me chanical triumph as the destructive effects of locomo tives on the rail, and on their own mechanism, involve an enormous outlay for first cost and repair. Our limits preclude us even from adverting to the chief sources from which economy might be expected by the adoption of this system; and therefore, in anticipation of the forth coming experiments, we shall conclude this article by stating, for the sake of comparison, that a double line of railway on this plan might be constructed at 4,0001. per mile, and afterwards worked at 31d. per train per mile, adopting purposely exaggerated data. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, arrived this afternoon from Jersey, &c., in the Lightning, and rehoisted his flag on board the Victory. The Bombay transport, Lieutenant Still, agent, was towed into harbour this morning to disembark the 77th Regiment. The Maria Some. transport, Lieutenant J. R. Black, agent, put back last evening from stress of weather, on her way to Plymouth, with the 2d division of the 82d Regiment on board. NOTICE TO MARINERS. Consulate of Venezuela, 16, Tokenhouse-yard, London, Juno 21, 1848. Sir,—l beg leave to inform you that by a decree dated Caracas, dated May 11th, 1848, the Government of Ve nezuela has declared an effective blockade, with the ex ception of ships of war of friend . ly nations, o f the Gulf' of Maracaibo, in co nsequence of that city not having yet given in its submission after the late revolt of General Paes. The time allowed by the decree for the notification to vessels arriving from Curacoa and its dependencies is eight days, and the United States and Europe forty days; but these terms have been modified by an explanatory resolution of the Minister of War and Marine, dated the 17th of May, of which I enclose a translation. J. , Cons Captain G. A. Halsted, R.N., Sec M retary, ILLIGAN Lloyd's. ul. (TRANSLATION.) 1848 Cracas,a 17, . To avoid the diffi cu l t i es and mi a sunde standings which might give rise to unfounded reclamation*, with refer ence to the decree of the 11th instant, declaring the blockade of the f port of Maracaibo, and the adjacent coasts, it is resolved :- 1. By the adjacent coasts of Maracaibo are under stood all those properly bordering the Gulph of Mara caibo, between Cape St. Roman in the Peninsula of Paraguana, and the Point of La Espada iu the Peninsula of the Goagira. 2. For the penal effects of the blockade, the term of the notification for vessels proceeding from Europe is extended to seventy days, and to thirty days for those proceeding from Demerara and the Antilles. with the , exception of C uracoa and its dependencies, St. Thomas' and Santa Cruz; and until the expiration of that time the blockading squadron will confine itself to informing the vessels proceeding from either of these points of the existence of the blockade, for which purpose a note of the fact shall be made upon the register or document, which certifies the nationality and owners of the vessel so visited, and also a memorandum of such notice having been duly given; and only in case of her attempting after such notification to enter the limits comprehended in the terms of the blockade, shall such vessel be subject to detention and adjudication in conformity with the law and practice of nations. (Signed) MEJI A. THE NEW IRISH NOVEL, " THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLvs," by A. Trollop e, Esq. in 3 vols., is published this d a y b y M r. Colburn , and May be had at all the libraries. Also, just published-2. Miss Bre mer's new novel, " Brothers and Sisters," translated by Mary Howitt. 3. Angela, by the author of " Emilia Wyndham." 4. A Father's Curse, a Daughter's Sacri fice, by Mrs. Bray. 5. Adventures of a Medical Stu dent, by the late R. Douglas, surgeon, R.N. 6. James the Second, an historical romance, edited by by W. H. Ainsworth, Esq. 7. Leonora, a Love Story. e. The Hall and the Hamlet, by William Howitt, cheaper edi tion, 2 vols., 12s. TRIAL OF LORD ARBUTTINOTT.—The Lord Chan cellor on Friday night (according to the official records of the House of Lords) called the attention of the House to the indictments found against John Viscount Arbuth nott, certified in this House in pursuance of certain writs of certiorari, issued by the Lord Chancellor, and which, together with the said writs, were delivered at the bar of the House yesterday. Then the Lords pre sent this session were appointed a Committee to inspect the journals of this House upon former trials of Peers in criminal cases, and to consider of the proper methods of proceeding, in order to bring the Viscount Arbuthnott to a speedy trial, and to report to the House what they shall think proper thereupon ; any five of the said Com mittee to be a quorum. Then it was ordered that the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House do take into his custody John Viscount Arbuthnott, 'and bring him to the bar of this House, RESERVE OF SEAMEN FOR THE ROYAL NAVY. The following circular has just been issued by com mand of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty:— " REGULATIONS FOR THE ENTRY OF SEAMEN - RIGGERS. " The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having taken into their consideration a proposal for the exten sion of extra seamen-riggers into her Majesty's dock yards for the purpose and with the view of forming a reserve of seamen at such ports, have been pleased to issue the following regulations on the subject:— I. The seamen who enter as seamen-riggers must have served for a period of not less than six years in her Majesty's service with the ratings of ordinary and A. 8., and must produce certificates of good conduct and ability from the captain of the ship in which they last served. They will be entered subject to the express condition of being called upon to serve in any of her Majesty's ships, should any sudden emergency require their services ; but it is not in tended that the complements of her Majesty's ships pro ceeding to foreign stations shall be filled up from such men, but only such ships as may be required to be sud denly manned or fitted for the home stations, or to aid i❑ the navigation of ships from one port to another, or in duties connected with the home ports, or to complete the complements of the experimental squadron during a few months' cruise. " 2. For every 25 seamen there shall be entered one petty officer ; the pay of such petty officer to be 3s. 6d. per day. " All A. B.'s who are willing to enter under such conditions shall have the pay of 2 , . 6d. per day, and the time of servitude of such petty officers and seamen shall be considered as sea time, and be allowed to count for pension. "3. All such seamen-riggers shall be allowed to have the privilege of obtaining slop-clothing from her Majesty's stores at the same price as that now charged to the seamen of the fleet on demands made out by the Master-Attendant, and approved by the Rear-Admiral Superintendent of the Dock-yard, but not to a greater sum than 20s. per month, the same to be deducted from their weekly wages. "4. If absent from the port to which they belong, their wives and families shall be allowed to draw weekly one-half the pay due to the seaman himself, provided such seaman obtains a certificate from the commanding officer of the ship, which must be countersigned by the master-attendant of the dockyard, that such man is em barked on service. " 5. The seamen-riggers are to be under the directions of the master-attendant of the dockyard, and shall per form all such duties in the yard as may be required. 6. On going on board any of her Majesty' ships en service, they are to be entered as dockyard-riggers on special service-' and so l ong as t h e y are so employed they shall b allowance of provisions be granted the established , acording to the regulations of the service, in addition to their pay as seamen riggers; but this privilege is n ot longer period than two months, n to extend for a placed on the ship' v s books, acco; die e they will then be to their respective ratings, and he paid accordingly, wh en they may make out allotments according t o the ad miralty instructions. " 7. The period of servitude as a seaman rigger shall not exceed 18 months at any one time ;but if they have been at sea during any tim e of suc t iup t eriod, such sea time is to be granted over and above 18 months, at the end of which time they shall b e discharged . " 8. During the time of servitud e as seamen-riggers they they may volunteer for any of her Majesty's ships out at any of her Majesty's ports, and s h a ll have the privilege of entry into the ordinary on vacancies occur ring, or into the permanent riggers, or dockyard or victualling craft. " 9. They are to have all the benefit of the Royal Naval Hospitals, as the seamen of the fleet, and in case of death by accident while upon duty their widows shall be noted for entry as nurse in the hospital establish ments, and their sons shall have the privilege of entry as boys in her Majesty's service, provided they are properly qualified. " 10. The captains of her Majesty's ships are to re commend men for entry. " 11. Seamen-rigger; refusing to proceed in any of her Majesty's ships when ordered to do so shall forfeit all claim to servitude and pension.. "By command of their Lordships. "H. G. WARD." FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR HALF-WEEKLY PAY TO WIFE OR lAMILY. " I hereby certify that (petty officer or A. 8.) is now serving on board her Majesty's ship , that he requests payment to be made to his wife, mother, or daughter), of the sum of , being one-half his weekly pay from the (date). " Signed, in charge of party." "I hereby certify the above person is embarked from this dockyard, and I see no objection to the above request. Master-Attendant, Dockyard." COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Royal suite, honoured the performance of the concert of the Philharmonic Society with their presence yes terday evening. The royal party arrived at the Hanover-square Rooms at eight o'clock, in four car riages. In the first carriage were her Majesty and Prince Albert, the Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady in waiting, and the Master of the Horse. In the second carriage were the Hon. Miss Cavendish and the Hon. Flora Macdonald, Maids of Henour in waiting, the Groom of the Stole to the Prince, and Lord Elphin ' stone, Lord in waiting. I n th e bird carriage were Lord George Lennox, Lord in waiting to the Prince ; Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Robert Boyle, Groom in waiting, and Colonel Wylde, Groom in waiting to the Prince. In the fourth carriage were Colonel Buckley, Equerry in waiting, and Colonel Bouverie, Equerry in waiting to his Royal Highness. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augus Bruce And Sir George Cooper, also honoured the performance of the Philharmonic Con cert with their presence. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback yesterday, attended by Colonel Bouverie. Prince Alfred, the Princess Helena, and the Princess Louisa, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, took an airing yesterday, in an open car riage and four; and the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice took airings in the gardens of the Palace. Mr. C. K. Murray had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday; Sir Benjamin Hall had also an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. Baronet, at the Home-office. A deputation from malt distillers in the west of Scotland, consisting of Mr. Charles Grey (Glasgow), Mr. Graham Menzies (Paisley), Lord James Stuart, Mr. Lockhart, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Bouverie, Mr. Alexander Hastie, Mr. Archibald Hastie, Mr. Smol lett, Mr. Oswald, and Mr. Macgregor, had an inter view with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chairman of the Excise yesterday, in Downing street. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of Hong-Kong, Ceylon, and New Zealand. A deputation, interested in the manufacture of Gold lace and m ili tary ornaments, waited on Sir eorge Grey at the Home-office yesterday, to repre sent the distressed condition of the working people in their trades. The deputation consisted of Sir de Lacy Evans, Mr. Samuel Lambert, Mr. Firmin, Mr. Webb, Mr. Jennens, Mr. Smith, Mr. Starkie, Mr. D'Almaine, a n d Mr. Joseph Brown. Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Napier had yesterday an interview with Secretary Sir George Grey. A full-dress inspection of her Majesty's Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms took place yesterday, by their Captain, Lord Foley, in St. James's Palace. The Noble Captain expressed his approbation of the corps. The Judicial Committee of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council had a meeting yesterday. The Lords present were—Lord Brougham, the Master of the Rolls, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, and the Judge of the Admiralty Court. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Prince George of Cambridge visited her Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening. Prince Leopold of Naples (Count of Syra cuse) and the Duke of Wellington were also present. In addition we observed the Duke and Duchess of Beau fort, the Duke of Leeds, the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, the Duchess of Leeds and Miss Lane Fox, the Duke and Duchess of Leinster, the Duke of Bed ford, the Russian Minister, Baroness Brunnow and Mdlle. Olga de Lechner, the Sardinian Minister, the Hanoverian Minister, the Swedish Minister and the Baroness Rehausen, the Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare, the Marquis and Marchioness of Aylesbury, the Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo and the Ladies Browne, the Marquis of Huntley, the Marquis of Donegal, the Marquis of Granby, the Countess of Rose bery, Lord and; Lady Waterpark and party (who eccu the Earl and Count e ss o f Sef- pied her Majesty's box) , ton, the Earl of Chesterfield, the Earl and Countess of ' Wilton, the Earl of Bruce, the Earl of Munster, the Countess of Lichfield, the Earl of Cadogan, the Earl of Lonsdale, M. de Berg, Count de Burke, the Baron iyugglas, the Baron Nicolay, M. C. Koudroaffsky, the Viscount Enfield, Viscount Ranelagh, Viscount Somer ton, Viscount Exmouth, Lord Southampton, Lord Gardner, Lord and Lady Carew, Lady Morgan, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Foley, Lord Sandys, Lord George Lennox, Lord Ernest Bruce, &c. DEATH OF VISCOUNT LASE.—We regret to have to record the demise of the above nobleman, who ex pired on. Saturday morning, at his temporary residence in Park -street. His Lordship had only been taken un well early in the week, and his death was unexpected by the members of his family. The deceased Warwick Lake, Viscount Lake, and Baron Lake of Delhi and Laswary, and of Ashton Clinton, county of Buckingham, was third son of the gallant Viscount Lake, who ob tained a peerage for his great military services in India. He was married in November, 1815, to Miss Elizabeth Duncan, daughter of Mr. James Beveridge Duncan, by whom, who survives his Lordship, he leaves issue two daughters; the Hon. Isabella and the Hon. Elizabeth Lake. On the death of his elder brother, Francis Ge rard, in May, 1836, he succeeded to the viscountcy, which now becomes extinct by default of male issue. The Dowager Countess of Pomfret, the Hon. Lady Bo rough, the Earl of Pomfret, Sir Thomas and Lady Anna Maria Hesketh, Sir John and Hon. Lady Harvey, &c., are placed in mourning by his Lordship's death. The executors of the late James Watt, Esq., have requested us to state that there is no truth in the report of a sum of money having been bequeathed to Lord Brougham by Mr. iVatt. ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY. WOOLWICH, JUNE 26.—Au examination of gentlemen cadets for commission in the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers took place to-day in the examination-hall in the practical class department at the Royal Arsenal. The board of officers consisted of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Downman, C.B. and K.C.H., Commandant of the garrison ; Major-General Sir J. F. Burgoyne, K.C.8., Inspector-General of fortifications; Major- General J. Webber Smith, C. 8., Director-General of Artillery (Lord Clarence Paget, Secretary to the Master-General of the Ordnance, sat on the left of the Commandant); Major-General J. B. Parker, C. 8., Lieu tenant-Gbvornor of the Royal Military Academy; Colonel J. E. Jones, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant -Colonel English, Commanding Royal Engi neers; Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, Inspector of the Royal Carriage Department; Lieutenant-Colonel Dun das, C. 8., Inspector of Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel Ilardinge, K.H., Director of the Laboratory; and Bri gade-Major Walpole, Royal Engineers. Amongst the other officers present were—Lieutenant • Colonel W. D. Jones, Inspector at the Royal Military Academy; Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, Royal Horse Artillery, Brigade-Major Cuppage, and Captain Tylden, Deputy-Assistant Adjutant General of Artillery; Cap tain Stotherd, Instructor in Surveying, and the officers attached to the establishment. At the conclusion of the examination the following gentlemen cadets were passed for commissions in the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, subject to the ap proval of the Master-General, when they will be ga zetted:-1. Edward Taddy; 2. Henry Crofton Singer; 3. Wilbraham Oates Lennox; 4. Arthur Leahy; 5. Ed ward Loftus Bland; 6. Charles Edward Stuart Baynes; 7. Charles le Gallais; 8. Anthony William Durnford; 9. Donald Alexander Frazer; 10. Henry George Tees dale; 11. Thomas Molyneux Graves; 12. William Christian Anderson; 13. John Bawden Parkin; 14. Charles Johnston; 15. Thomas S. Poor Field; 16. Law rence Augustus Bradshaw; 17. John M'Candie Camp bell; 18. William French; 19. Sir W. George Johnson, Bart.; 20. Edward Adolphus Seymour. The Commandant, after congratulating them on the highly creditable manner in which they had passed their examinations, called forward and presented a handsome regulation-sword to Arthur Leahy, and a prize to Wil braham Oates Lennox, for special proficiency. Prizes were also awarded to the following gentlemen cadets for acquirements or great proficiency in study:— First Class Mathematics, Mr. Koe; Second Class Mathe matics, Mr. Hawthorn: First Class Fortification, Mr. Oldfield; Second Class Fortification, Mr. Wolfe; French, Mr. Higgins; German, Mr. Andrews; History, Geo graphy, Military Plan Drawing, and Sketches, Mr. Birch; sth Room Landscape Drawing, Mr. Luard; 6th Room Landscape Drawing, Mr. J. Adams. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.—CHATHAII, JUNE 26. —OFFICERS FOR INDIA.—The undermentioned officers from the Provisional Battalion at this garrison are under orders to proceed to India to join their respective regi ments serving in the presidency of Bengal:-18th Royal Irish, Lieutenant A. W. S. Armstrong, Lieutenant C. Woodwright, Lieutenant Charles Crompton Abbott. and Ensign G. A. Elliot. 24 th Regiment, Lieutenant F. Spring, Ensign Robert G. Montmorency, and Ensign J. C. W. Kippen. 29th Regiment, Lieutenant Joseph Singleton. 32d Regiment, Lieutenant R. Stacy Coils, Ensign E. Chippendale, Ensign J. Birtwhistle, Ensign W. L. Inglis, and Ensign John Hadley. 53d Regiment, Captain C. Lempriere, Lieutenant G . . Herbert C ox , Lieutenant E. Dyne Fenton. 61st Regiment, Lieutenant W. Maycock, Ensign C. Bisset Fenwick, and Ensign J. G. M. Strode. Convict Guard.—On Wednesday, .the 28 th inst., d e t ac h men t s from the Provisional Battalion, consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 20 privates of the 11th Regiment, and 2 corporals and 26 men of the 96th, for m i ng a convict guard, march from this garrison en route for Woolwich, there to embark on board the ship Ratcliff, to proceed with convicts for Van Diemen's Land. Lieutenant Richard Maunsell, of the 11th, and Ensign Willi am A. S wift, of the 96th, with Sergeant- Major Charles Hopkins, .of the 58th, transferred from the Scots Fus ilier Guards on th e Ist of the month for the purpose of being appointed sergeant-major, vice William Moir, promoted to quartermaster of the 58th. THE ALLEGED MURDER IN HYDE-PARK.••••••YeS. terday Mr. Bedford resumed, a t St. G eorge ' s Hospital, the adjourned inquest respecting the death of George Jemmitt, aged 40, a mendicant, who, it was reported, had been murdered in Hyd e - par k . From the evidence ' taken yesterday, it appeared that the deceased, on Monday week, went into a tripe shop at No. 47, West minster-road, to solicit alms, when Thomas Brown, who was behind the counter, ordered him to leave. The deceased not going out as fast as requested, Brown came behind him, and laying hold of his shoulders pushed him off the step of the door, and he fell with great violence, with his head upon the pave ment. Ho was picked up and carried into the sur gery of Mr. Burrell, Mount-street, Lambeth, where, the wound was strapped up by the surgeon's assistant. The deceased then walked on to Hyde-park in the company of his son, where he was seized with a fit. He was removed on a stretcher to the ,above hospital, where he expired the following morning. Mr. Cowell, the house surgeon, who had made a post mortem examination of the body, proved that the deceased's skull ;was fractured, which had caused an effusion of blood on the brain, and which had caused death. The fracture might have been produced by a fall or by some blunt instrument—the former, in witnosse's opinion, was the most probable. There being some doubt in the minds of the Jury as to whether the injuries were caused by the deceased being pushed down, or by his striking his head when he fell down in a fit, they returned a verdict That death was caused by a fracture of the skull, but by what means produced there was no evidence to prove." The Coroner stated that as the verdict was lel t open, he would recommend the police to make further inquiries into the:case. The sinecure office of Gazette writer for Scotland has been abolished. It was created in 1810, for the ex press purpose of rewarding the celebrated Dugald Stewart, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Univer sity of Edinburgh, and was to continue in his family for forty years, which period expi res, o f course, in 1848. Theincome was 6001. per annum, on receiving which Mr. Stewart resigned his chair. Mr. Lawrie, who has for sometime been the depute printer and actual manager of the Edinburgh Gazette, receives the appointment, minus, we believe, the salary, but the tariff of charges so remaining as to make it still a place of some emolument. Had Scotch forms of law not been somewhat cumber some, the all-devouring centripetal gorge of London would probably have made the Edinburgh Gazette an appendage to the London Gazette, and so suppressed it altogether. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.---Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by his Royal High ness Prince Albert, honoured the theatre with their presence on Saturday eveniug. In attendance on her Majesty and his Royal Highness were the Viscountess Jocelyn, the Hon. Miss Cavendish, Lord Elphinstone, Colonel Buckley, and Colonel Bouverie. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary also honoured the theatre with their presence; their Royal Highnesses were attended by Baroness Bose, Baron Knesebeck, and Mr. Edmund Mildmay. Among the visitors were the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce and Viscount Cantelupe, and the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and the Ladies Somerset, the Duchess Dowager of Bedford and Lady Rachel Rus sell, the Marquis of Tachfield, the Marquis and Mar chioness of Ailesbury, Earl of Besborougb, Earl Sid ney, Earl Bruce, the Countess Dowager of Essex and Miss Johnstone, Earl of Munster, the Earl of Cardi gan, Viscount Templetown, Lady Charlotte Denison, Lady Harriet Baring, Lady Caroline Capel, Viscount Clifden, Viscount and Viscountess Maidstone, Lady Adelaide Paget, Lord and Lady Carington and Hon. Miss Cotton, Lady Macfarlin and party, Lord Suffield, Lady Morgan, Lady Scott, Lady Webster, Lady Jod drell, Lady Jervis, Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Miss Lopley, Hon. Miss Maynard, Hon. G. Miles, Hon. J. Fortescue ' Hon. Mrs. Pierrepont, Sir John and Lady Thorold, Sir Jasper and Lady Atkinson, Sir John and Lady Walsh, Sir Henry Webb, Sir William and Lady Molesworth, &c. &c. DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION AT THE PAPER MILLS, BITToN. BRISTOL, JUNE 25. About two months ago I sent you some particulars of a destructive conflagration at the extensive paper-mills at Bitton, near this city, known as Bevan's Mills, and by which the dry ing-room, a large portion of the machinery, and other parts of the property, were reduced to a heap of ruins. Yesterday the same mills were the scene of another most alarming fire. Expresses were, upon the breaking out of the conflagration, dispatched for the assistance of fire engines, and several were dispatched with all speed from this city; but before they could arrive the whole of the buildings not previously consumed were wrapped in flames, and although every possible effort was made by the firemen and others, the devouriug element could not be got under till the whole range of buildings was com pletely destroyed. I have been unable to ascertain the premise amount of damage, but it must be considerable. The premises are understood to be insured. SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 26.—The Oriental Com pany's steam-ship Hindostan, Captain Luvis, arrived here last evening, from Alexandria, and landed the re mainder of the East India mails, which ware forwarded to London by one o'clock A.M. this day. The Hindos tan left Alexandria on the 9th inst., Malta 14th, and Gibraltar 20th. She has brought 105 passengers, 63 packages of specie, value 18,0001. Her cargo consists of 30 packages of silk and 150 various. The new iron steam-vessel Canton left the river this day f or H ong _ Kong and Canton station, where she will remain for some years. She is commanded by Captain Jamieson. The Indus arrived here yesterday from London, having undergone her repairs. A very fine brig, the Brilliant, from Madeira, arrived here on Saturday, with a full cargo of wine and fruit, also 40 passengers. She left Madeira on the 11th inst. The Transit, a new small steamer, arrived here at twelve o'clock this day, from London, and, as soon as ready, will be seat toAlexandria Tan WORKING OF THE BALLOT.—Lord John also. observed, that the ballot in France has been no security against revolution. No ; yet what the ballot did, in ' France notwithstanding te in fl uence of corruption upon a small electoral holy, comprising a large proportion of officials, is truly wonderful. The existence of a mino rity opposed to the Government was referable solely to the ballot. But let us see how it worked after the revo lution. It was the buckler of the moderation of France. It baffled mob-intimidation ; under cover of it the friends of order marshalled their forces, and put forth their chosen leaders. The rage of the anarchists and terrorists was directed against the electoral urns , _ which in many places they attempted to destroy, but the crypt of political liberty was too strong for them, and the mind of the country pronounced, beyond the shadow of a question, for order and law. But for the protection of the secret vote, this happy result would either net have been obtained, or obtained at the cost of a fierce etreggla, and vast effusion of blood.--,Examiner, CREDITOR. Cash in coin and ingots f. 82.230,686 Ditto in branch banks 69,532,368 00 Bills past due ... ... 3,503,576 41 Bills discounted, but not yet due, of which 24.902,066E92c. received from the branch banks ... 114.431,757 17 Ditto by branch banks... ... ... 147,477,061 44 Advances on ingots and coin ... 10,357,700 00 Ditto on French public securities ... 33,010,682 90 Ditto at branch banks ... ... 3,341,115 00 Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor of the Republic ... 50,000,000 00 Reserve Rentes ... 10,000,000 00 Rentes, disposable funds ... ... 11,660,197 89 Investments of the new branch banks in the public funds ... 12,744,493 00 Hotel and furniture of the bank ... 4,000,000 00 Immoveables in the branches ... ... 2,515,005 00 Interest in the Algiers Bank ... ... 1,000,000 00 Interest of the branch banks in the na tional comptoires in the towns ... 200,000 00 Interest in National Discount Bank ... 230,000 00 Past-due bills ... 29,616,659 89 Ditto in the branches 11,874,464 00 Expenses of administration of the bank 664,089 51 Ditto of the branches ... 849,217 00 Miscellaneous ... 1,025,292 29 £600,264,470 84 Certified by the Government of the Ba❑k, D'ARGOUT. THE BRAZILS. FALMOUTH, JUNE 25.—Her Majesty's packet Crane, Lieutenant Parsons, arrived atithis port to-day, with the usual mails. She left Rio on May 10th; Bahia, on the 23d; and Pernambuco, on the 29th; but previous to her sailing thence, her Majesty's ship Volage arrived from Rio, with three days' later advices, and reported that the Collingwood, from round the Horn, had put in there, on her way to England, and the arrival of the Linnet packet, in thirty-eight days, from hence. The rate of exchange upon England had fallen to 23d.; nothing doing upon Paris. At Bahia the exchange was nominal at 25d.; and at Pernambuco the quotation was 24d. The coming crops of sugar were promising well. The new President of the northern province, including Per nambuco, was popular, and had allayed the discontent hich recently had manifest itself. The Emperor, on May 3, opened the Imperial Parliament. Senor Jose Pedro Carvalho had joined the Ministry to hold the depart ment of the Interior, and to Senor Antao was allotted that of War, which completes the number. Some doubts had been mentioned as to the stability of the Government, but the addition now made is said to be of some importance, and will add much to the tone of Mi nisterial strength. The Spider conveyed to Rio the River Plate mails, but afforded nothing in addition to the intelligence already received by tha Firebrand. The Grecian was on a cruise; the Comus, Spider, Crescent, and Nautilus, transport, remained at Rio.—Passengers: Mrs. Hudson and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan and fa mily, Mr. Rally, Mr. Pailket, Mr. Fihnie, Dr. Williams, Mr. Modeno, and Mr. Hawkins. SUGAR. The united arrivals of campos barely amounted to 500 cases, and the sales barely amounted to 1,000 cases, of which only 120 for export. The principal shipments were for the River Plate. Prices quoted at for white, 235. sd. per aroba; for brown, 21s. The decrease in shipment amounted to 39 cases. The markets for hides had been depressed throughout the month. In exchange the united business in April did not ex ceed 125,000/. Regular bills were passed upon Ham burgh; upon Paris nothing of moment after the 11th. There has been a sad falling off in the customs re venue upon that of 1846 of equal to 39i per cent.; upon 1847 equal to 36. per cent.; and in the Con sulado like wise a decrease upon 1846 of 2 par cent., and upon 1847 of 51 per cent. British Merchant Vessels at Rio—The Elephanta for London; henry Winch, fur Valparaiso; the Hazard, fur llavannah; the Orpheus, for Bahia; the Iris, Charlotte, the Royal Exchange, the Judith, for Hamburgh; the Margaret, Courier, Perseverance, Chapmans. TIIE EMPEROR'S SPEECH. August and most honoured Senhores, Representatives of the Nation,—The pried of your assembling to gether, which is always looked for with pleasure by me, is now arrived ; and I felicitate myself upon seeing myself surrounded by the representatives of the nation, whose intelligence and experience hold forth the promise of the most beneficial effects being produced upon the civilisation, the peace, and the prosperity of the empire. Having endeavoured to cultivate relations of peace and good understanding with all the states of Europe and America, and to bring to a proper solution some difficulties with which you are already acquainted, I have continued to employ myself in measures both peaceful and honourable. The question between the Republics of the River Plate has not yet come to any definite termination, and the interests of my subjects continue to be gravely pre • judiced by a struggle as disastrous as it is prolonged. The pacification of these two Republics is the object of my most sincere wishes; they are completely in accord ance with that interest which the independence of the Oriental and Uruguay should inspire us. In accordance with the desires which I had previously expressed to you, I, at the commencement of the present year, visited some of the municipalites of the province of Rio de Janeiro, and I observed, with satisfaction, the development of their industry and wealth, whilst I was extremely gratified by the demonstrations which were made by them all, of affection to my person, and attach ment and loyalty to our native institutions. Public order has not been disturbed; but still I have not failed to perceive that the state of security for per son and property is not such as I could desire to see it in some provinces of the empire. I confide, therefore, to my Government the care of revising and perfecting cer tain fundamental laws which will place upon a basis more solid and permanent such necessary guarantees. There will be presented to you a proposition relative to the law of the 3d December, 1848, and another which has for its object the declaring the incompetency of being elected of certain public functionaries in places in which they exercise authority or jurisdiction. I recommend to your consideration the examination of the law for organizing the national guard, as well as those which regulate the promotions for the army and fleet as well as to the mode of recruitment for them. All these subjects merit the particular attention of my Go vernment.. I likewise hope that in this session you will benefit the country by a law which may have the effect of at tracting to the empire useful and industrious colonists. You cannot fail to appreciate the urgent necessity for such a measure. By the account which shall be presented to you, you shall see the connexion that exists between the receipts and expenditure of the state; and I can assure you that a severe fiscal economy shall preside over the acts of my Government, and that in the application of the supplies granted to me I have in view the improvement and ma terial amelioration of the provinces- August and most worthy Senhores, Representa tives of the Nation,—l feel assured of your loyal and patriotic co-operation in maintaining order and that love of concord which constitute the dis tinctive character of the Brazilian nation; and my Government will endeavour to cement, by perse vering in that course of justice and of political tolera tion which it has prescribed to itself. Our cheering hope is that the Divine goodness may preserve to the empire all those blessings that it now enjoys, and bestow upon it in the time to come peace and progressive im provement. The session is now opened. (From the Rio Mercantile Journal of May 9.) All the branches of trade were much depressed throughout the month of April. In imports business was restricted by reason of a paucity of arrivals, not more than 31 vessels having entered the port. This absence of arrivals was to a certain extent beneficial, for some important reduction was in consequence made in the existing stock of dry goods, although at prices far from advantageous, unless a material improvement occur in the exchange prior to the realisation of the sales thus effected. Produce was sensibly affected by the disheartening accounts received from foreign markets, by the intelli gence received of the French revoluticn, which news served to paralyse business, and to render the circula tion of war premiums of insurance at the 'least pruden tial, it not indispensable, and by the dearth of shipping and consequent rise of freights. The money market was likewise influenced from these ' circumstances, calculated as they are to excite an alarm which was perfectly justifiable, though we hope and believe groundless. When to all these we add a very extensive commercial failure, the firm of Ignatio Ratton and Pines, the debts of which are stated at 130,0001., independently of liabilities to a large amount, the fact that money did not become much enhanced in value can only be accounted for by its previous abundance. Ex change will be seen to have declined 4 per cent., and the sum of transactions was very restricted. Specie rose considerably, and stock fell 6 per cent., but had closed at an improvement of about 1 per cent. upon the lowest price. Of piece goods the business although partial was ex tensive, and in the absence of important arrivals during the :past two months, the stocks have become much re duced. THE EXPORT TRADE.—CODTEE.--Prices were steady early in the month, and a fair business was done from April 4 to 11; from this period until the 25th scarcely any sales were effected; the stock accumulated, and prices declined fully 300 roil; and nearly 50,000 bags