The Sun. — London, England, 1848-05-11 00:00:00

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday closed 11414 ' 61 Y. Sales 2,500 to 3,000 bales. There was no de cided alteration in prices. American realised 4d. to 5 cl. per lb. In Railway Shares there was a consideranle Improvement, and prices were advanced, the demand being good. The directors of the National Loan Fund Life Assur ance Societylhe.d their annual meeting yesterday, at which they declared a bonus of two-and-a-half per cent., in addi tion to the five per cent. interest. The business of the Society was increasing both here and in America. The advices, per Washington steamer, are not alto gether of so favourable a character as was expected. The troubles which have occurred in Europe were exercising still rather a decided influence upon com tierce, but the amount of specie sent away was not so large as it might have been, brcause of the hope entertained, that as the French Govern ment had permitted a certain delay in the Payment of bills, they might not be returned under protest to the United States. The Mexican treaty also appears to be difficult of arrangement, and the legisla tors of the coaquered country st ill manifest a dogged spirit th at may retard its ratification for some time to come. This is, to say the least, unfortunate, as the conclusion of the war would be important both for Europe and America. The lett ers f rom M a d r id give, if possible , a more un ,avourable pict ure o f th e state of financial affairs there than at Lisbon. The Government has been spending at such an enormous rate that the Bank of San Fer (lp iS pretty nearly drained of its resources, and the The expedient is adopted of increasing the paper issues. prospects of the bondholders, unless the military ex penditure is materially reduced, will nut be very en couraging. The affairs of the great firm of Cockerell and Co. are not turning out wors e than we expected. F rom the date of the meeting of creditors we perceived clearly 14 ! so large a proportion of the estimated assets were L r o i nlematical that there was very little chance of their one half much more than a third, or at the utmost _. of the nominal amounts. It now appears that, upon eOO,OOO/. of liabilities, a dividend of ss. will probably be as_ t much as can b e rea li se d , an d t hi s unfavourable position o he h ouse i s in part attributable to the mismanage mentt of th e Calcutta branch, which does not seem to hal'e known correctly the state of its boo ks, and pro imised The id by instalment of all its engag ements. h▪ at pain e l a of an alliance between the Norther n Powers excites much curiosity in the City, and shows danger s f s i tra e n i r company', may be kept where a common The Funds, a l t h ough there has not b een much doing, insproved again at the commencement of business, Con- The bein ,- . g 84 8 4 for Transfer, and 84i i for Account. J are noe.. n . count. Ex ti n' o's to i for Money, and 8 , 1 to i for Ac- Bli nk St e i equer-bills have been 38s. to 41s. premium. Thr ee - an r has Very litf been supported at 190. The New lik-Quarter per Cents. are 834 to 84. Three c e has been done in Foreign Stocks. Spanish Per Brazili an 68 :11t3. are 234 i ; Mexican are 168 f ; and 43 i to i . ‘• Dutch Two-and-a-Ralf per Cents. are Itail waY Shares Urns have b een generally dearer aga in. 14 fUN DS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Bank Stock . ( From the Official List.) 3 Per C e .... .. ......................... l9 O. 3 nt- Red uce d Annuit i es 8 2 34 83 82 3 % - per Cant. Consols Anus .. t:P e r Cent. Annuities, 1726 ........... Loa 31 4 per Cent. A ri as. B37i 84 83% ~13. 4 .nnuities, Exp. Jan. sth, 1860 B% 9-16 lama Stock Years, Expire Jan. 5, 1860 Bii. lama Stock 030 Consols for Account Si checluer Bill & Aid. & 3d. 1,000/ June. March. 38 41 p 41 40 43 p Small . 43 41p "ICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto Small Grenada, 1 per Cent. • .... ...... Mexican Bonds, 1846, 5 per Cent — , , Ditto for the Account ....... Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent,lB4o Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent — Ditto for the Account Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch 2% per Cent., 12 Guild — Ditto for the Account Ditto 4 Der Cent. Certificates lilo' -SINESS DONE IN RAILWAY SHANKS AT O NE O'CLOCK RAILWAIB. PAID. rig s ARY Aberdeen 4111113,1 %, Notting., Boston, &C. VA Ayrshire and Galloway ...... 2% — to Belfast and County Down .. 14% .. 111 irtninirnam & Oxford Juno... 20 -••" "to Birmingham,o irnu B. V01.,W01.,& Dudley 10. ~.. . I ng., Wol., & Stour Val. 121.4 5 . •• •_4 to Birke n head, Lancashire, and , Ckeshire Junction 7 3 /4 ...... ...... to no3to u , Stamf , & Birming 5 - Bristol an d E xe ter ............ 85 .., Dn. Thirds ....... . ........ 25 muckinghamshi . re.. .......... 12/. 4s 3 dis.... to 214 dis Caledonian ..................... 50 Dit Half Shares . _6 1 ,4 .. ... ...... to Ditto. Clydesdale J unction 50 - Chester and Holyhead, 42% to Ditt o , Preference .6:s. . l5 ..... 15 Clarence. 7 814 Do., let Class, 6 per Cent... 10 Do., 2d Class, 5 per Cent... 10 Do., Gov. Loan, 4 per Cent. 10 Direct London & Portsmouth 3 3 % — to Dublin and Belfast Junction.. 25 Dundalk and Enniskillen ... 17 1 East Anglia, 251. L. & .E., aid L. & D., . - Ditto, 181., E. & H lB ..... „ Ditto, 31. 108., E. & H... 3% — to Eastern Counties Do. l'erpet., 5 per ct. No. 1,6/. 13s. 4d par ...... to Do., d 0....... N 0.2,61. 13s. 4d ,4 dis.... to Do., Northern & Eastern... 50 Do., Quarter .... . ...... . ..... 12%... - _ Do., N ew &astern Union Ditto, Quarter Shares ...... 12% — to Ditto. Thirds 6 per cent.) Thi r d s l3s. 4d — to Ditto (guar. ... 10 . 8 1,4 to -- Ditto, dit t o •. 20 •••••• E at 5.,...... ....••-•• ' Lancashire Ditto, New Do '' New E,4Bt.Lincolnshire 20%•••••• v "Inburgh and Glasgow Ditto, Half Shares Ditto,x... Quarter Shares 1 2 1,4 ...... to Lunhurgh and Northern ... 25 1 • to Ditto,Ditt New 6% ...... New port.. ... ...... .. 13 bitt ditto,p i i, 03 / _ „,.... to 0 , New ... ./4 Fitter, "Yeovil & Dorchester 4Ditto ' 2 4 _ 1 18 ' New 250 ...... Gbg., Dumfries, & Carlisle-8/. 61.8 d... •• —t° to - lor Kilmarnock, & Ayr 50 Reitt_o,'New to 40 • to , 41." •Preference Consolidated 15 ••••• "", "'relit Northern 13 ..... 3% 4 1 ,s to 3)i Do- Loudon -*: ..... .... 1 . — • to •to Dt, s, & 1 ork Eaten. 2,4 • u r „„: 1 1 , 11. & West. (Ireland) 40 iZ!!' North of England 100 to ~,.,J!tto, N t v? 401 5 Mtto N, 30 , 1 c _Ditto:NZ 15/. .. . =vat West •.. 97 ..... to is., ern 90 t,,,,-0, Half Shares SO Ditto!‘t° Quarter Shares D O , ;Fifths to —. N, . 3 20 rh o , . ew 171....... ...... 9 1 ,4•• ••• 9!4 to 9 "Praffold . to Ditt, r r ,_ and Manchester 26 .. ... R u n • t hirds... to -, and s ••• ............... 9 Ditto, u a el i lY;- ................ 5 2 0 5 ...... 50 to ~, Ditto, Q uar , 9 8 1Vich s, B s hares Shares 12% — to D t o. do. and NorNich ury S t. to Edmunds 17 1)4 — v., do , (lote• _Extension Scrip ,caster (Uarnb. and Ely) 2% — ..... to _.. and Carlisle ... 50 ,0., Thirds .... to hire— tdineas and ;: ..................... . ::: g ..... Ditto, ditto Ditto 14 •° ......... b. - -- , -alf Shares tO rP Quarters 14% ...... 11%..... to Ditto tto Fifths Ditto Do. "yhirds (Reg.) - to Do.• "Aver,.. oo l a r ad Bury... 43 (Rudders. and Sheff.) 38 , Wakefield, Pontefract. Do " G° °le••••••• - ....... 50 TN , West Riding Union ...41. 20.... .3 3 A% dis to 04, Preston and Wyre ... 25 'e w in d °•, Ralf Shares (A) 9 Lotting:ll,d Bradford b '",,ewabo ry 8,,, Manches. 47% — to 0 . , rialf Shares Ditto, Blue (seri ) „„ 2% — ...... to E ds an d Thir s k . 14 . 45 ..... iotto, New ..... ..".. ....... .. .. 26 . •••• sth Liver.' d°.' Prefer 6 per Cent. 3 1 A. .... pool. Crosby, and South -1 _.purt. ......................... 2 to --- - -17erPool. Manchester, and Longo cattle J unction.... _.. 2% to Ditto N ew lack wall --.13/. Gs. 8d.... . fl itzte.,,N,_ 2 ..... 5/. 13s. 4d.... to i'D d Bri ''''' n ....... to Do.:, ght., & - ••••••• 20 Eighths... 40 coou,iict South Coast 50 Guarantated Do. Pref. c o ,! tv e tt Per Cent. 9 .6.1;;;i.t.ii.. . 1852 50 • Ditto, ditt o . ' ' Per Cent. 50 -- 47 .. ... to 46 London and Gre e.4.;r0.....18/ 17 4 2d • to London Ditt o Preferencew • 12/. 152, 4. d ... - & North DO. Quarters (1. and'ic: l°° ••• l3 6 135% 137 to 135 to 13 ) 22 ...... .... Do. New . ... .............. 2 . Do. Fifths .................. ...... 2 - ...... 5 34 ... .14 to Do. 40/. Shares L. &m . 20 ..... 9 1 4 ...... to Do. 10/.... M. and B. (A.) 7 1 *•••• —• ...... to Do. 101. .. M. and B. (Bo 7 C• .... -- .... to Do. 10/. ... M. and B. (C.) CI ..... -- .. .. .. to London and S. Western...—. 50 ..... „t!4%•• to Ditto, Now 50/......., ....... 42%::: '• **o ..... to 49 Ditto, New 40/.....-- •• - 34 ... : 353 4- ..... to 37 ...... to Do. Tenths (Consolidated) 50 .....: -- Do. Tenths (Consolidated) 40 . --- ...... t o ____ .. Ditto, Thirds lO '• ••• to -..- ..... to - London, Salisbury, & Yeovil 1% — ... Londonder r y an d C o l e raine... 27% - ... to -- Londonde rr y and Enniskillen 25 : .......... t t t o o 7 ... Lowestoft (guar. 4 per cent.) 20 Ditto (guar. 6 per cent. ... 3 •-••• -- ...... Manch. Box' - - Diatlock 3 idanchr, Sheffik -...i., ~.. ..ield, and Linc.100 Ditto 4 Shares (No. 1) ... 13 Ditto, dittc, (No. 2) Ditto, % Shares (No. 3 )... 74...... - Do., Ne w 101 . Preference.. 7 1 A 2 7 3 / 4%••• to Ditto Grimsby ... ............ 30 Ditto, ditto. ..... —. ......... 9 to Ditto, ditto ......... .. ...... 5 1 / 4 2...... Ditto, Sheffield, and Line. 10 ...... - to Ditto,to Ditto Grimsby Dock ...... 15 to it . M. & Lin. Union 41. 2S. ... anrh..tpr and southampton 2 1 4 14 , 4 4iissabiaai..._ s ____--.... ......... 100 106.1 A1 to 107% -.- to t 0 •-• 4f ltteet tmuloi. Jerk - great e... 1.0 Ditto, 50/. Shares l5 - Midland, Birm., and Derby...100 Midland, Cousol. Bristol and Birmingham, 6 per cent.... 100 ...... Midland, Bristol and Glouc. 36 ... .. 5.6 Ditto ditto 11/. 3d. .. Midland, Leices. and Swan to nington (8 per ct. guy. )•... 100 .... . _— Midld. Great Western (Irish ) 40 Middlesbro' and Redcar. 6 to ire p w e e r a c e e t n ie t. a g n u d a c r. a; ............ ~..........10050 ...... to _ . Ditto Quarter Shwas - N ew market and Chesterford 18% — ...... to Ditto Extension N e wport Abergy., and Here:10110 ...... _-- -to to— Norfolk Ditto New .0/. Ditto Extension D o . Guaranteed 5% per et. 5 ..... Do. Scrip, :847, N. of Norflk 2 Do. do. W ave ney Valley... 2 Newry and Enniskillen Ne-,Yry, Warrenpoint, and Rostrevor .;orthern Counties Union North British Ditto Half Shares. ..... Do. Quarters • 6 1 A 5% to Ditto. Extension ............ % — to Ditto Thirds ... ......... -.... 3 ..-.. 1.14 to North and South-Western... 2 ... .. North Staffordshire... .. ...... 10 ...... 10%:!4, % to North Wales North Western Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton Reading, G uildfd., & Reigate 7 1 ,4 7 Royston and Hitchin ... 1%...... Scottish Central Scottish Midland .... ....... .... 22% — ...... to Ditto, New lO Sheffield, Rotherham, and Goole Shrevrsbury and Birmingham 8 Ditto, ditto, Class B. 5 ...... 2% to Shrewsbury and Chester (Nor. . Min.) Ditto Halves, Ditto... 8 ... .. . Ditto, Oswestry Ditto (New) 1 Ditto 8 per Cent. Pref....... 8 Shropshire Union south Devon ... .... Ditto, Preference 22% ...... South Staffordshire 4 ...... .. .. to South Eastern ...... —.... 33% Ditto, New, No. 1 .Uitto, N ew, No. 2......»..... 17 Ditto, New, No. 3 Ditto New , 4. .. 2 3 A, 6}a 4.. to South Wales South Yorkshire, Doncaster and Goole 8 Swans. and Loughor and Ca meron's Strn. Coal ... . 4 amines Haven Dock and Railway 1 7 1,4.- - law Vale Extension ........ 4 Vale of Neath Waterford and Kilken Waterford and Limerick..... 40 ... .. Waterford, Wexford,Wicklw, and Dublin .. 2 Wear Valley 6 per Cent. Guaranteed ...... ..... ...... 42% — Do. do. do. West Cornwall Nhitehaven and Furness ll ... .. ..... to -- Windsor, Staines, and South Western Wilts, Somerset,&Weymouth 35 ...... to fork, Newcastle, and Berwick 25 Do. Original New & Ber'ck 25 .. 110. Exton. No. 1 (Y. & N.) 15 Do. do. No. 2, New &B. 10 ... Do. G. N. E. Pur. or Prof. 8 ... York and North Midland .. 50 Ditto, Preference Ditto East and West Riding Extension ... ... ..... 25 FOREIGN RAILWATS. Boulogne and Amiens 2O ...... 6 5 ,0 1 ... to Central of France ( Orleans and Vierzon) Ceylon Demerara. Dendre Valley Direct Bombay and Madras ss. ..... Dutch Rhenish 7 East Indian Great Indian Peninsular Italian and Austrian Jamaica S. Midland Junction 1 Louvain ala Sambre .....-.. 6 Luxembourg Lyons and Avignon (Con stituted) Madrid and Valentia Namur and Liege lB ...... ...... t o Northern of France. lO Orleans and Bordeaux ... .. 6 Over Yssel 4l3s 4d Paris and Lyons .. .. 10 Paris and Orleans 2O - Paris and Rouen .......... Paris & Strasbourg Rouen and Havre ........ -..... 20 Sambre and Meuse Strasburg and Bale ..... ...... 14 Tours & Nantes ... .. ...... .. 8 - ••...• to ....• l'ournay, Jurbise, Landen, and Hamlett . ..........».. .. 16 West Flanders JOINT STOCK BANKS. Australasia - British North American .... 50 Colonial ............» 25 Commercial of London London Joint Stock -... lO ...... ...... to London and Westminster National Provincial of Engld. 35 ....... Ditto, New National of Ireland 22% — ... .. to Provincial of Ireland Ditto, New Union of Australia Ditto,New 2% — to Union of London ...... ...... 10 Union of Madrid MIXES. Anglo Mexican lOO — to Asturian Mining Company... 12 ...... Australian... Blaenaryon Iron and Coal ... 60 Bolanos Scrip - •••••• ..... British Iron Brazilian Imperial ..... .. ... 24 .. — ...... to .--. Galvanized Iron - ...... to Ditto, New Real del Monte, Unregistered . Do. Black Debentures — LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, MAY 11.—Wind E.S.E., light and pleasant breeze, and fine clear weather. SCILLY, MAY 7.—The Cove of Quebec, was passed dismasted and abandoned, on the 29th ult. in let. 48, lox. 24, by the Hannibal, Foote, off this place. YARMOUTH, MAY 9. The Thomas and Margaret, Hull, of and from Sunderland for Portsmouth, caught the ground this morning, on the Knowl, grown out from the Barber Sand, but is throwing her cargo (coals) overboard, and it is expected she will be got off next tide. DEAL, MAY io.—Wind N.E. to E.N.E.—Arrd. 10. —Andelusia, Wilson, Baltimore; Baltimore, Baltimore; Sea Park, Humphries' Demerara. Arrd. from the River and sailed, 10. Cornelio, Sydney, New South Wales ; Seringapatam, Madras, &c. ; Herschell, New York; Eliza Ann, Quebec. DOVER, MAY Io.—Arrd. Conradina, Angrotura; Dense, St. Jago de Cuba, both for Bremen. OFF DOVER, MAY 10.—Arrd. Emigrant, Baltimore, for Bremen: Mary, St. Croix, Copenhagen. SHOREHAM, MAY 10.—Sid. Betsey, Quebec. LIVERPOOL, MAY io.—Arrd. Valoce, Bell, Calcutta; Franconea, Smith, New Orleans. Sld. Peking, Ba tavia; Royal Sovereign, New Orleans; Ritson, Trinidad; Espatnenondas, Booton Colchester, States Island; William IV., Newfoundland; Conbrook, Charleston Republic, New York; Hotlinguer, ditto; Agnes, Staten Island; Strang, Quebec. PORTSMOUTH, MAY 10.—Arrd. Boleth Puggaard, Lund, Rio Janeiro, for Copenhagen, and proceeded for Cowes; Protector, King, Cuba. COWES, MAY 10.—Arrd. Washington, steamer, Johnston, New York, and proceeded for Bremen. Orr WEvstouTw—Arrd. Catherine Maria, Rykon, Batavia, for Rotterdam. OFF THE START.—Arrd Six Sodekende, Love, Port au Prince. OFF SCILLY, MAY 3.—Arrd Harour, Krabl, Bahia, For Copenhagen. 5, Hannibal, New Orleans, for Havre. CORN AVERAGES. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORY For the Week ended May 11,1848, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales per Imperial Quarter. waEAT. I BAILEY.' OATS. I I ETC IMAM. I PEAS. PRICE • . 1 SOl4 ld I 32s 4d 1 19 s 8d 31s Ild 1 351 7d 363 3d DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. wrIEAT. BAELET. 1 OATS. E.TE. 1 BEANS. I PEAS. 71 Od 2s Od 3s Od 211 Od 2s Od 21 Od MARKET NEWS. -(THIS DAY.) NIAVGATE AND LEADZIVIIIALIip. These markets wero tolerably well, bat not to say heavily, supplied with Meat. All kinds met a dull inquiry, at barely the late decline in the quotations. Beef from 2s 10d to 3s 6d; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 6d; Lamb, 5s 6d to 65 6d; Veal, 3s 10d to 4s 10d; and Pork, 3s 10d to 55 per 81bs, by the carcase. MEAT MARKETS. MiYan d%,l,h.lch3ms e 2 t d a t odull 4s;at 4 s :to drooping currencies. ss ; 10.—Our market was fairly supplied SouTHALL, with fat stock, inquiry, Al u t Mutton, n, the offal. d I Lamb, 5s 6d ße to ef 6s fr 4 o d m ; Veal, 4s to 4s 8 d; and Pork 4s to 4s 8d per 81bs, to sink IlomFono, MAY 10. — Beasts, Sheep, and Lambs move Sibs. In Calves and Pigs very in some instances, 4rl per r 39 to 4s; Mutton, 4 s to off heavily , at a decline in the quo tations of from 2d to, little was doing. Beef from 5s 2d; Lamb, 5s 4d to 6s 4d; Veal, 4$ to 4 s 8 d; and Quarter-old s t o r e Pigs, 18s to 245; a Pork, 4 s t o 4 s 8d p er 81b s . Suckling Ca L l d ves m , i l i S c s h to co 24 rr s 9 ; , with their small Calf, 151 to 181 each. IlAnsitAx, MAY 10.—Our ma rket was heavy this supported. Beef, from tnorning, and prices were not 6s 4d; Vcal,Pork , 2d to 45 6d per as 4 4d n. t r :) ,E 4 . s tL 2 , d m i y M 9 ut . ton, 4s to 5s 2d; Lamb, 5s 4d to 4s to 4s 8d; and 4s albs. sale, at drooping currencies. Beef, from 3s 6d to Mutton, 4s 4d to c 4 s 2d -%i; Lamb, 5s 4d to 6s 2d; Veal, --Most kinds of stock were a 4 a s slow to 4- 6 , 1; and Pork, 4s 2d to 4s 6,1 per 81bs. toICISTR M Beef, from 4s to -4:41 10 .-_W© had of fat 6s to 6s 4d; and NreBadl,; ith Blb th s e ; Y. Which sold at drooping prices. 3 a s nd Bd Mi t h 3 s c lOd ows , p w e r 4A14 4 u d tto to n, 4 4: 6 B d d po t r o isi s b s s ; 25d fa ; t t Lamb, a plentiful supply Couples, 42s to 455. ir Su em ek a l l i l n o g ra C 4 all o es ito lo l s 4l to ese lB h s i; EAT MANLETS. ostrrimELD.--Meadow Bay, 31 to 31 15s ; Clover ditty, 4/ to 41 14s; and Straw, 11 8s to 11 lis per load. Triple dull, Pit barely stationery prices. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 3/ to 31 16s; Clover ditto, 3/ 18s to 411 9 5; and Straw, 1/ 8s to 11 lls per load. A moderate supply, and a sluggish demand. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow Hay, 3/ to 3/ 15s ; Clover ditto, 41 to 4/ 18s; and Straw, 11 7s to 11 lOs per load. Supply moderately good, and trade dull. 1 COAL DIARKE' Bate's West Hartley 14s Od Davison's Westriartley 14s Od Dean's Primrose l3s 3d Hasting's Hartley l4s Od Holywell Main New Tanfield l2s 6d Ord's Redheugh Tanfield Moor .... Tanfield Moor Butes l2s Gd Townley' l3s 6d West Hartley Framwell Gate ..... Washington Lambton Primrose _ _ Wall's End, &c. - -- — 1 Belmont lss 6d ; T. -YESTERMT. I Bell I Haswell l6s 6d I Hetton Lambton Russell's Hetton Stewart's Hartlepool l6s 6d Heugh Hall Seymour Tees West Hetton l4s 6d Derwentwater Hartley 14s Od Howard's W. H. Neal l4s Od Sidney's Hartley Ships at market 162. STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE FIRST QUARTER of the YEAR 1848. (From the Report of the Registrar - General.) The quarterly returns are obtained from 117 districts, sub-divided into 582 sub-districts. Thirty six district 3 are in the metropolis, and the remaining 81 comprise, with some agricultural districts, the principal towns and cities of England. The popula tion was 6,612,958 in 1841. The mortality has been high in the quarter ending March 31, 1848, but rather lower than in the previous quarter; and, taking the increase of popula tion into account, higher than in the corresponding quarter of the year 1847. The deaths returned were 57,710 in the last, and 57,925 in the previous quarter. The deaths in the corresponding quarter of 1847 were 56,105. The smallest number of deaths returned in the ten last winter quarters was 42,410 in 1839. The mor tality was below the average in the winters of 1839, 1842, 1843, and 1844 ; in the severe winter of 1845 it was 49,906, which is considerably above the ave. rage. In the mild winter of 1846 it was much below the average. The rest of the year was unfavourable to health ; some of the diseases of hot climates set in ; the potato crop failed in England and Ireland, with disastrous effects. In 1847, scurvy, typhus, and other zymotic diseases prevailed; and at the end of the year influenza broke out. Its raYages ex tended over the country, and continued in some dis tricts through the month of January, 1848. In London 16,455 deaths were registered in the first 13 weeks of 1848, and 15,289 in the first 13 weeks of 1847. The deaths in the winter of 1846 were only 12,518 ; in 1845, however, they had been 1 14,686. The mortality was high during the first five weeks of the present year. In the week ending February 5, 1,453 were returned exclusive of deaths by violence, and sudden deaths ; in the next week the deaths were 1,296. The temperature rose; and in the week ending Feb. 19, the deaths were 1,102 ; in the five following weeks the deaths only varied from 1,090 in the first, to 1,054 in the last week but one of the quarter ending April 1. Typhus is still epidemic in London, and destroys the lives of from 60 to 80 persons weekly. Small. pox, measles, scarlatina, and hooping cough were fatal to many. The deaths ascribed to influenza in the 13 were 102, 102, 89, 56, 59, 47, 27, 33, 18, 11, 10, 16, 8. Pul monary diseases (exclusive of consumption) were little more than half as fatal at the end as they were at the beginning of the quarter. A great difference may be observed in the causes of death in 1847 and 1848, although the mortality was high in both winters. In the winter of 1847 the deaths from dis eases of the lungs were 4,056; in 1848 they were 3,257 ; on the other hand, zymotic diseases were more than twice as fatal in 1848 as they were in 1847. In the districts of the kingdom generally, exclusive of London, the deaths in the winters of the five years 1844-8, were 32,494, 35,313, 31,332, 40,816, and 41,255. The deaths in the districts of Lancashire and Cheshire in the five winters were 11,168, 12,896, 11,928, 15,557, and 15,444, and nearly equal in the last two years to the deaths in London, although the population was only 1,530,460 in 1841, when the po pulation of London was 1,948,369. Typhus, scarlatina, hooping cough, and small-pox were epidemic in many parts of the country. The mortality of Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool still remains excessively high. The deaths in Bir mingham were 1,660; the population was 138,18 T in 1841. In Nottingham the mortality was high, but not so high as in the winter of 1840. The mortality in Liverpool and Manchester is still excessively high, but not so high as in the winter of 1847. There is a manifest improvement in Hud dersfield, Halifax, Bradford, and Leeds. In Shef field and York the mortality was higher in 1848 than in 1847. THE PLUNDER OF THE TUILERIES. Four persons, named Boutron, alias the Parisian, 18 years of age, an op era ti ve s h oema k er ; Retel, like wise a s hoemaker ; Duclos, a hawker of earthenware ; and Bersuat, the keeper of a wine shop, were tried before the C our t o f C orrect i ona l Policein Paris on Saturday last—the first as the principal, for stealing some valuable diamonds belonging to the Duchess of Orleans, from the Palace of the Tuileries, on 24th Feb. last, and the other three as receivers of stolen goods. It appeared from the evidence of Citizen Vidron, a proprietor, residing in the village of Gentilly, near Paris, that the first three prisoners lived at his house —the two first as workmen in his employment, and the third as a lodger. On the 24th of February, Boutron asked leave of absence of his employer, which was granted to him; but he did not return until the day following. His master then asked him where he had been, to which he replied that he had done like the rest. He was then told that there was no more work for him, to which he replied—" Bahl what do I care for that." " Why so ?" asked his fellow-workman, Retel, " Becaut.e," said Boutron, " I have got some thing ;" and, being pressed by his master to explain, he drew forth from beneath his blouse a sprig mounted with fifteen diamonds, a pearl necklace, and a silver cloak chain, with a large diamond in the centre. On being charged by his master with steal ing the Crown jewels, he said, "Bahl I did like the rest," and on being further questioned, he pretended that he had ibund the articles in the court-yard of the Tuileries amongst some old papers. Retel having asked to examine the diamond sprig, said, when he had it in his possession, "As you have stolen it, I shall keep it," which he did. Duclos having joined the others, then pro posed to introduce them to a Jew who would pur chase the jewels. Not having found the Jew, it ap peared that Bersuat stole the diamond sprig from Retel, and Duclos contrived to steal part of the plunderfromproved tht Boutron. the diamonds M w e li e e r r io the property and Bsti jewellers, of the Duchess of Orleans. The Court, after hearing counsel for the defence, condemned Boutron as the principal in the robbery to two months' imprison ment, and Retel, Duclos, and Bersuat, to one months' confinement. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 10. Boulogne and Amiens, 6%—Luxembourg, 3 / 4 —Namur and Liege, 33 4 —Orleans and Bordeaux, IX—Paris and Lyons, 2. " A DRor."—The 'cute mayor of this town flooded the walls during the late fair with large red bills, stat ing that the cheapest paper-hangings in Boston were to be had of Mr. J. Noble; to which a 'cuter town coun cillor added, in type of the same form and ink of the same colour, " Except at Edward Tewson's, Bargate." The worthy knight of the hammer has knocked his wor ship down " a decided bargain."—Boston Herald. BRIGHTON, WEDNESDAY.—ViSCOLInt and Via.. couutess Seaham have taken a house on the Marine Parade. Sir John and Lady Conroy are staying at the Bristol Hotel. Sir Charles and Miss Bannerman have taken a house in Brunswick-terrace. Prince Paul of Wurtemberg remains in Brighton. His Royal Highness is staying in Regency-square. Lady Mary Stevens has arrived at 5, Royal Crescent. The Earl and Countess of Macclesfield and Lady Louisa Parker are staying on the Marine Parade. Lady Augusta Whittenham is on a visit to Prince Paul of Wurtemberg. DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.—About seven o'clock on Saturday evening a most melancholy accident occur red at Auchinstarry Bridge, on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Canal. The child of a spirit dealer, of that place, named Stark, had fallen into the canal, and the father, attempting to rescue it, in the struggle had somehow overreached himself, and sank. The child was got out safe by some persons passing at the time, but about ten minutes elapsed ere the body of Stark was recovered. When taken out life still remained, but he soon after died.—North British Daily Mail. TEA PARTY IN CELEBRATION OF THE PASSING OF THE TEN HOURS FACTORY BILL.—A tea party on an extensive scale will take place in the Free Trade Nall, on Wednesday, the 7th of Juno. The following gentlemen, amongst others, have intimated their intention to be present:—Lord Ashley, M.P.; Mr. Fielden, late M.P. for Oldham; the Hon. W. Cowper, one of the Lords of the Admiralty; Mr. Charles Hindley, M.P.; Mr. Brother ton, M.P.; and Mr. Oastler.—Manchester Courier. BOURN.—An incendiary fire took place here on Wednesday night, on the premises of Mr. Gentle, which destroyed great part of a stack of wheat. It was effected by an abandoned female, who, on Thursday morning, confessed, and stated as her reason that she " w i s h ed to to see another country." Another stack of wheat and a haystack were saved, the wind being very still. The exertions of a young man named Moisey were most com mendable ; notwithstanding the fire and smoke, he fear lessly mounted the burning stack, and effected a saving of a portion of it.—Boston Herald. NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. The ninth annual meeting of this society was held at one o'clock yesterday, at the London Tavern ; T. Lamie Murray, Esq., in the chair. The Secretary having read the advertisement by which the meeting was convened, proceeded to read the following report : " The directors are again afforded the opportunity of meeting the proprietors on the occasion of the ninth annual general meeting. " The unusual rate of mortality, which com menced in 1846, increases in intensity during the past year, and became exhausted only in the early part of the present. "During its continuance ordinary calculations were far exceeded. The society has suffered in common with almost every similar institution. " Within the last few months the public health hbau h vs a ein s lbe a nse s sel s ln u BBBa4 m 44na673sd ed its wonted tone. The average rate of mortality has fallen, and, as is not unusual after the ravages of a prevalent epidemic, the low average of the next year may compensate for the high average of the preceding ones. " During the last eighteen months numbers of fa milies must have felt, amidst their severe afflictions, the value of such institutions, as a safeguard against unforeseen accidents. This sentiment will be come still more deeply instilled, and had it not been for the severe pecuniary distress pervading all ranks and classes, the augmentation in the number of policy holders in general would have far exceeded former years. As it is, the bu siness of life assurance is steadily advancing, under the influence of such practical lessons, and cannot fail to develop itself more on the first favourable dawn of national prosperity. " Although the calculation of the duration of life on the average of years is almost unerring, yet , as experience proves, nothing is more uncertain, as con cerns individuals or as regards any particular year. No better proof can be given than the experience of the society itself in the last few years. " The annual payment of claims on the society have been as follows, viz. : In 1843 • • • . £11,325 15 5 1844 • • .. 6,879 •/ 0 1 1845 . , .. 6,5 78 1 2 1846 ••• 11,718 2 8 1847 1848 : ... : : 112 9 :6 4 9 6 4 9 1 1 5 4 11 1 Accruing claims ... 9,731 2 0 " While, however, the rate of mortality experienced during the last 18 months has exceeded the expecta tion, making allowance for the great increase in the business of the society, yet the whole expectation of the society is greater by 15,4331. 6s. 4d., than the actual sum paid away in claims. Up to the date of this calculation, the end of 1847, the claims expected were 8 0,3661., and the sum then actually paid was 64,9321. 13s. Bd. ~ Within the .. period ..v.o..ifz co .t v h: leiseo.d.ccib2eyotit9hhsaevseenrfiagup:rdelys, ad vanced.the The ..f. i .o.. n a ...l c ri lo o n in w u s al e ,..... r . recei pt s of : p 7o r : e : m : ium : s on policies 1844 ... ... • • 22,687 18 0 • 32,825 12 7 And in the present year the ▪ income from premiums is estimated at about 50,000/. " Thus it will be seen, notwithstanding the diffi culties of the times, the business and income of the society have, during the past year, progressed steadily ; the number of policies now issued being 4,718, sho w i ng an increase within the year of 617. " The progress which the society has made in the United States and the Canadas has justified the ex pectations of the directors. The rate of mortality has ranged considerably under the calculation. " Indications of a narrew-minded policy, promoted by the rivalry of local assurance offices, have ex hibited themsel ves i n the Legislatures of ? several of tile States. Bills have been brought in by individual Members under pretence o f public security, but covertly intended to harass institutions of superior credit, and intended to exact a meddling surveillance, or to require the investment of an unreasonable amount of funds in the Government stock of the country. " The proprietors are aware that the sum of 10,0001. is already so invested, with a view to afford (as expressed in the last report) stability and credit to the operations found perat sufficien t ionsof the for society on purpose the spot. by ot.This sum was mhigenhtlyesrteabs p lshed in New e i ctableandin fl yo ue r n k. tial board of manage- " It is to be hoped that further interference with well and long-established life assurance societies will not be attempted, but as the business of the society, and its interest in the United States is valuable, and established on a sure footing, the directors will feel bound, in protecting the interests of the proprietors, to comply with the provisions of such reasonable laws as may be enacted. " The effort made last year to connect the different bodies of friendly societies with the plan of deferred annuities published by the society has so far been without any remarkable result. This is, in some measure, attributable to the great distress prevalent amongst the working classes. It is to be desired that the principle of these deferred annuities may ultimately make way amongst them, and that the in dustrious man may see the superiority 'of the society's plan over those to which he is fatally attached at the present moment. " The directors, in conformity with the deed of settlement, have caused the annual investigation into the affairs of the society to be made by the actuary, and it is now presented, t oget h er w i th th e accou nts of the auditors, and will be read to the meeting. Following the plan of distribution laid down in the preceding annual division of profits, of taking one - fifth of the reserve fund for immediate distribution to the proprietors and policy holders of five years' standing, the p r o sperous posi tion of the society en a bl es t h e directors, after reserv ing thirty per cent : of this sum, to divide amongst the policy-holders entitled to this distribution a rever sionary bonus varying from 27 to 65 per cent. on the premiums, and to the proprietors a bonus of 21 per cent. fit the past year, in addition to the regular interest of five per cent. already paid to them, and which in future will be paid so as to equalise each half-yearly dividend. " The following table, prepared by the actuary, ex hibits examples of the amount of the seven last bo nuses, to which the holders four years' standing have b ecome ent i t l e d, with the options of receiving the s ame i n cash, or by addition to their policies, or in per manent reduct i on of annual premiums : of policies of upwa rds of XXAMPLICS. In. / hum out in Assu re d . I Cash. a Perms - sum the .. 1 .6 Animal Policy Bonu s i n ' neat Re- Assured Age. git Pre- taken addltiot 'Bons/ail duction of ma y bor. Annual row •n co P re miums. Policy. - o 4 '. it, Xsd.Xg•d• 2 I. d. r 1.37 262 14 3 121 15 11 20 0 0 543 17 9 X Xs.d. I 1838 237 15 0 108 16 4 1 7 1839 211 18 7 445 0 11 60 1000 74 3 4 6 1 95 16 9 14 17 1842 163 2 4 75 15 10 11 10 9 395 11 1 1 1 1841 159 3 1842 132 2 6' 5 4, 71 5 0 10 1 9 8 348 2 3 i 817 6 819 10 296 13 4 l 1843 84 11 al 37 1 0 0 5 14 2 247 4 & 7 6 494 $ 111 " There are now to be elected three directors in lieu of Henry Fenwick, Esq., H un ter Gordon, Esq. , and John Rawson, Esq., whose period of office has to expired, but who are eligible - be re-elected , and offer themselves accordingly ; also the confir mation of the election, by the Court of Directors, of Edmond Sheppard Symes, Esq., as a director, and also of an a uditor, in place of Professor Wheatstone, F.R.S., whose period of office has expired, but who, in like manner, offers himself for re. election. " T. LAMIE MURRAY, Chairman." The CHAIRMAN then rose and said ,—Gentlemen, before I move that the report which y ou have j ust heard read be adopted, printed, and circulated amon g the proprietors and shareholders , it may be right that qu estion, I shall feel (No response I should offer a few observation s to you with respect to the progress of the inst itution during the past year; but before I do so, if any propri e tor or share holder wishes to ask a n y happy to reply to it. hav ing been made, the Chairman proceeded to say)— It appears that the confidence which the sharehelders by the share holders)have placed, from year to year, in the directors of annual re portsthis institution is intended to be continued to-day. It is very gratifying to the directors to find that their labours during the past year have met with the approval of the shareholders ; it has, I may say, been an invariable rule (and I am glacitu say y to it s is et ful f l o y rth a the exact position of the society ; an d pp7nciateodur I think when the proprietors who are pre sent, and those who are absent, read the report, they will find, -an examining the details, that we have had to encounter a season of peculiar difficulty, inas much as the rate of mortality during the last twelve months has been unprecedentedly great.-- (Hear, hear.) I suppose, since the visitation of the cholera, life assurance companies have net suffered so much from the great increase of mortality as they have during the period I have named. As you must be aware, the number of deaths that have taken place during the last 18 months has even been beyond the margin calculated. in the tables of assurance companies. It will be seen, therefore , by the accounts that this societ y has been called upon to pay claims during this period A amounting to the large sum of 42 1 0001. I n previtm; yearn we have paid 11,0001., 6,0001., 5,0001., and 12,0001. From a calculation I have made I find that within the last eighteen months the public have been benefited—and it is a consolatory thing to be acquainted with the fact— by life assurance companies to the extent of 3,000,000/. or 4,ooo,oool.—(Hear, hear.) The payment of this large sum is a satisfactory proof of the great public utility of institutions of this kind; in short, if anything is encouraging in the business of life assurance it is this fact, and the public will become acquainted with it through the various channels by which it will be distributed, that they are enabled to alleviate much suffering, which without their aid could not fail to exist, showing how incum bent it is upon all who have others dependent upon them to assure their lives.—(Hear.) As regards ourselves, I may say, notwithstanding the distress that has prevailed for some time, that during the past year we have issued 617 new policies. Not withstanding the year has been one of considerable commercial depression. The shareholders must not expect to find that our expenses have been proportionately reduced ; but it is right that I should explain some of the charges. For instance, in the accounts you will find 5,0001. charged on account of expenses incurred in establishing various branches. Now this amount was not ex pended in conducting the business of these branches for the past year alone, but arises from the accumulation of charges, spread over a considerable time, in connexion with the American and other agencies ; it may be said to be spread over the last four years, though not covered by the expenses from time to time set against them. These expenses are only now brought into the accounts of the present year, and the directors, instead of putting them do w n under the head of preliminary expenses, have thought it advisable to write them off at once. Notwith standing this, and the other drawbacks I have named, the business transacted last year will be found con siderable and satisfactory, though not so profitable as its predecessor—it is, however, within one per cent. of it.—(Hear, hear.) Recurring to the mor tality amongst those assured in this society, I find, by the published returns of the Registrar-General for the December quarter of 1846, that the num ber of deaths were 13,321, being an increase over the corresponding quarter of 1845, but that the number of deaths in the December quarter of 1847 was 18,555, which shows an increase of 45 or nearly 50 per cent. upon the general amount of mortality. A DIRECTOII—In London ? The CUAIRMAN—Yes, in London; it may be less in other parts of the country which are more healthy, but at any rate London is a fair indication of the rate of mortality elsewhere. The management of our business in America has been brought to a very satisfactory condition. There our affairs are managed by a body of directors se lected from the highest and most superior class of mercantile gentlemen to be found in New York. No payments are made without their order, and in fact as much attention and personal surveillance is given to the management of our affairs there as if we were there ourselves. A proof of this is to be found in the fact that we receive weekly accounts of the progress of the business. When we commenced we had monthly, then fortnightly ac counts, but now, as I have said, we have them weekly. So that every fifteen days we receive an account of the progress of the agency during the week before the packet started. The , increase of business in America, I am happy to inform you, has been considerable, and our affairs there have been brought to a satisfactory and systematic mode of management. And here I would take the opportunity of stating that our thanks are especially due to the board in the United States for the attention and vigilance which they have given to our affairs.—(Cheers.) It is right I should state that we were prepared, and had made calculations accordingly, for a higher rate of morta lity in the United States than that which prevailed in England, but subsequent experience has proved that this was not the case, and that we had over-calculated, and prepared ourselves for a greater amount of mortality than that which actually took place. It is true we met with some losses at first, which caused us to think that we had made some little mistake in this respect ; but the experience since obtained has led us to the opinion that lives are quite as good in America as in this country.—(Hear, hear.) Indeed, so satisfactory has life assurance in America been proved to be, that other English assurance offices have followed upon the model we have set them, and are endeavouring to obtain a share of the business ; for life-assurance seems a new thing to New York and to the States, and the pro gress which it is making is very satisfactory. As we have mentioned in the report, some jealousy has been created in the minds of some local offices at the progress of life assurance, at the in stance of English offices, and it has been sug gested that a measure should be passed to compel European offices to increase the amount of their de posits. We have already invested 10,0001., which we consider sufficient, and the gentlemen who con stitute the board in New York entertain a similar opinion; and, therefore, if we are called upon to make an increased investment under the same gua rantee and security as heretofore, we must of course accede to it. I think I have now alluded to all those topics that it is necessary for me to ad vance in elucidation of the progress and pros pects of this institution. I think that the unhealthy lives having been cleared away by the late epidemic, it is not unlikely that in the future years we shall have a much decreased amount of mortality, and consequently less claims to meet. As I have so often mentioned that we have a valuation every year, in stead of every five, like some other offices, it will only be necessary for me to add, that as every policy is valued, in order that we may know what bonus we can pay, consistently iwith a view to the ultimate interests of the assured, our actuary, with the aid of an assistant, is occupied about four months every year in arriving at a result. I have now only to move that the report be adopted, printed, and circulated among the pro prietors. The motion was carried unanimously. The following directors were then re-elected : Henry Fenwick, Esq., Hunter Gordon, Esq., John Rawson, Esq. The election of Edmond Sheppard Symes, Esq., as a director, was confirmed, and Professor Wheat stone, F.R.S., was re-elected auditor. The CHAIRMAN then thanked the proprietors for heir attendance. Mr. STUDLEY said, I am not aware that there is anything in the proceedings of the society during the past year which calls for any remark from the pro prietors, except with respect to the great mortality which bas occurred during the period, and that has been, I think, very satisfactorily explained. It is, on the other hand, very pleasing to find that the society is progressing every day, as its income is now 60,000/. I think such a result cannot fail to prove a source of great satisfaction to the shareholders. I have, therefore, great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors for their attention to the society, and systematic management of its affairs during the past year.—(Hear.) Mr. BnovvraNG had much pleasure in seconding the motion, which was carried unanimously. The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, on my own behalf and on the part of my colleagues, I beg to return our best thanks for the honour you have conferred upon us. I can assure you that during the past year the directors have found it necessary to pay great attention to the affairs of the society, on account of the large number of deaths and other matters arising out of them. Many persons died during the period who had not been assured more than six or eight months, which was in itself very unsatisfactory ; in cad dition to which some w e r e assured for 2,0001. an 3,0001., instead of 7001. or 8001., which is the ordi nary average. But I may say that I trust we have had all the bad luck this year. However, devoteder, as far as the directors are concerned, they h much attention to the affairs of t th s e cru soc pu i l e o t u y s , n a e n ss d , conducted its affairs with great \ and I am perfectly satisfied, frozntehae attention which the directors have paid to your affairs during the past year, and from an arrangement recently made, by which we shall have the more frequent at tendance of each of the directors than here - tofore, that the institution cannot fail to pro gress. Heretofore the business management of the society has devolved upon me to a great extent, but for the future I shall be assisted by my colleagues, who will attend with me every morning. I trust on the next occasion we meet you that we shall be in a condition to give a more satisfactory account of the progress of the society. The meeting then separated. ROYAL LITERARY FUND. The anniversary festival of this society was held last evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. The chair was taken by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland ; and amongst the noblemen and gentlemen present were the Archbishop of Dublin, Lord Campbell, Mr. Baron Parke, Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, Viscount Ebrington, Lord Bolton, Mr. Hallam, Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm, Rear-Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford, Major • General Sir John Rolt, Sir R. Joddrill, Mr. Cabbell, M.P., Mr. Heywood, M.P., Mr. Walter, Sir John Hensler, Mr. G. P. R. James, Sir Harry Ellis, Arch deacon Robinson, Mr. Sergeant Merewether, Mr. Adol phus, Mr. Thackeray, the Rev. Dr. Russell, Dr. Beke, &c. The party was much smaller than on such an occasion we could have wished. It did not number more than hem 70 to 100 persons. In proposing the health of her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND said, that since the ac cession of her Majesty to the throne she had been a con stant supporter of the Literary Fund. The health of her Majesty the Queen Dowager, and the other branches of the Royal Family, was then given, and received with the amount of enthusiasm usual on such occasions. In reply to the toast in honour of the Church, his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin returned thanks. His Grace said that he felt some difficulty in discharging the duty which had devolved upon him, as he could not very conveniently say anything in praise of that sacred profession of which he himself was a member. The clergy,however, were not unmindful of their position, for, while they contributed greatly to the litera ture of the country, they at the same time had educated many au thors who subsequently had obtained a di st i nguished position in the country. The object of the clerical profession was to enlighten men's minds, and not to keep them in a state of brutish ignorance. His Grace expressed it as his opinion that the duty of the country was to educate the poor , so as trash oable them t o discriminate between the mischi evous issued by a certain portion of the press, and the sound and moral doctrines of men capable of instructing upper classes them. The the market, or the cott tf a ho g re e co tn n s n tln e ilg x lhn io wt n , between the higher and lower orders was very in influence writing ,l i o t awn w ed - r a was not nytot h theeir wppossibleuribtlii writings ir. for hs oou t ns h ley e , Archbishop gehemr.classes of society hope to reach to for the 511 12 of the lower. As for himself, the HthiasnGforaer heisagoawinn middleat h e and d d d lo e w vo e t r ed el m as o s r e e s of o f h s is oe t i i e m ty e y returned thanks. he felt it to be his duty so to do. ' His Grace the brie ff of the Army and Na IRMAN then pr o p ose d t h e "H ea l t h' Ai s jer.Generai siarv,l.ol x ROLT and Vice-Admiral Sir Jo T HN he M i ne k o e L o sr f riszetourßn T e i ll= it s i. . oAND, on again rising, t r t e h pose to you the every eerßoyal Literary said—Gentlemen, I have now information toast of the evening, " Prosperity Fund." The address will give you respecting the institution, and I have only y to add a few words for the information of those who are as yet unacquainted with its operation. This charity is open to all persons without distinction of country and clime, and it is uninfluenced by politics or religion ; it has no t limits, in fact, but such as arise from its deficient finances. Many who have devoted their lives to the cause of truth, from the shores of the north to the sunny climes of the Mediterranean, have been relieved from the funds of this institution, and that assistance had been admi nistered by the committee in such a delicate manner as not to wound the feelings of the unfortunate applicants. The charity is one of the highest value, and it relies upon your assistance for its aid and support; and that assistance, I have no doubt, will be readily afforded. Gentlemen, I have to propose to you " Prosperity to the Royal Literary Fund." The Rev. Dr. RUSSELL read the first report, in the course of which he said, that thirty families of educated men had been relieved by the society during the last year, involving an outlay of 1,2301. Amongst the sub scriptions of the evening were her Majesty the Queen, 1001. ; his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, 1001. ; the late President, 10/. 10s. ; the Earl of Ellen borough, 101. 10s. ; the Earl of Ellesmere, 101. 10s. ; Archbishop of Dublin, 301. ; Mr. G. P. R. James, IW. ; Monckton Mikes, Esq., M.P., 5/ ; Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, Si. ss. ; Messrs. Longmans, 51. ss. ; Sir John Swinburne, 101. ; W. C. Macready, 51. ; the Bishop of Manchester, 101. ; Lord Viscount Ebrington, 101. ; Baron de Goldsmid, 101. ; Archdeacon Robinson, IL Is. ; W. F. Ainsworth, Esq., 51. ss. ; his Excellency the Belgian Minister, 9/. ; Chevalier Bunsen, Si, who was prevented from attending in consequence of a com mand to attend his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia to the Ancient Concerts. The Archbishop of DUBLIN :Froposed, in compli mentary terms, the health of the Chairman, who briefly eplied. His Grsce the CHAIRMAN then gave the healthy of the Marquis of Lansdowne, the President, and Lord Viscount llardinge, the latter of whom had consented to officiate as chairman of the festival of next year. Mr. JAMES proposed the health of Mr. Hallam and the historians of England; and Mr. Baron PARKE, in a complimentary speech, that of Lord Campbell and the biographers. Lord CAMPBELL said that he felt himself highly honoured in having his name associated with the bio graphers of England, and in being, in that capacity, brought before so distinguished a society. After some commonplace political allusions, his Lordship said that, amidst the changes and convulsions lately witnessed throughout Europe, and amidst the republican feelings now existing on the Continent, however greatly he might dissent from such opinions, there was yet one republic which he highly honoured—the republic of letters. It was one and indivisible, and their motto ought to be, " Liberty, equality, and fraternity." The subsequent toasts were—" Mr. Thackeray and the novelists,' "Mr. Lovell and the dramatists," " Mr. Lester and the literary and scientific men of foreign countries," " Mr. St. John and the travellers," "Vis count Ebrington and the stewards," and, lastly " The Ladies." It will be observed that in the list of toasts, numbering no less than sixteen, there exists what appear& to us to be a very curious omission. The society professes to call itself a literary association, and as such it is to a great extent dependent upon the assistance and support of the daily press in London. It must be also borne in mind, if we arc to deal with palpable facts, that the most distinguished writers of the past and pre sent century either are or have been connected with the metrcplitan press—they are men who, for the most part, have passed through a university career, whose daily toil in the field of politics is unceasing, and whose influence, whether as individuals or as a body, is greater, without any doubt whatever, than that of any other class in society. They can guide the public mind either to good or to evil ; they can raise sedition or quell discontent ; they can promote morality or subvert religion—in a word, by the daily exercise of the power confided to their keeping, that power may be productive either of an immense amount of mischief, or induce results tending to the happiness of the people, to the benefit of the State, and, by the pro motion of order, to the consolidation of society. Com pared with such a class there is no kind of literary effort, however distinguished, which can in any way, by the very nature of the case, bend to the same extent the public mind to its absolute will ; and for this reason " the press" has not been unappropri a t e l y termed "the fourth estate of the kingdom." B u t, notwith standing all this, and in a society composed professedly of literary men, and in the presence of a gentleman well known in his connexion with a l ea di ng j ournal, no mention whatever is made of the pr ess, e i ther as regards o e w i nlaa support t anomalous o. it w o omission. nld b e a Tost e its bearings upon literature or up on politics. T o us, we a confess attempt find is ea reasons sn s of time, and we shall, therefore, leave the public to form their own opinion as to whether literature can publicity but through th e press ; or whether the gain press can continue to exercise its functions but by the aid of the highest literary talent. The subscriptions of th • of 7001. e evening amounted to upwards MASSACRi AN E NGLISH NGLISH A TTEMPED CREW. Intelligence of Ca APTURE OF A WHALER. _ massacre perpetrated by the natives of the N ew Caledonia Island s , was commun i ca ted yes terday at Lloyd's. T briefly these :—The T he unfortunate circumstances are Vanguard, William Cunningham, master, sail e d from S on an y dney in the early part of October, expedition to the N the w N ew Caledonia Islands, reaching western portion in th natives exhibit e d friend ly as sisting course of a fortnight. Th e a feeling towards them , the crew daily in obtaining a cargo of sandal wood. They obtained about twenty tons of it, when one of the chiefs presented himself on board , a nd ur g ed Mr. Cunningham to take two boats up one o f the bays, where a large quantity of wood bad been collected for him by his people. This was on the 19th of Nour ovember.r. In consequence of the lateness of the h M Cunningham declined then to go, but re in the morning, req uestin g the chief to main on board for the night, which was ac cepted. At daybreak on the followin g morning, the boats started in c har g e of Mr. Cunning o seamen the se amen, t he c hie f am and ten officer, Mr. Bunting, tw, steward and the cook being left i , ri the care of the Van guard. Scarcely had the captain abo a t go t out of sight natives, when a canoe, filled with app roached the ship; three of them were allowed to go on board, but upon, one of them attempting to murder the mate with a toma hawk, they were turned out; the remainder attempted to board the vessel, but were beaten off, and i n the course of several su ccessive attempts, it was ne cessary to fire a musket. The canoe then retired. They re mained in anxious suspense till two o'clocklth ' day, when from forty to fifty canoes, lade' e following containing upwards of thirty men in each ,) with natives, the opposite side of the bay bearing were seen on vessel. It being impossible to res ist down upon the force, the mate, with much ju dgment, so tremendous a anchor, and making all sail, ran slipped her wind. In passing through the the ship before the and crew hadanded, not bay where the captain M g could 'be aeon of them or the boats. A large volume of amok• woe observed on shore, apparently as if they had been burning some bodies. The canoes attempted to give chase, but a strong wind fortunately sided the Van guard's crew in getting clear out to sea. She was then hauled upon a wind till daybreak the following morning, when they made for the bay, and remained cruising about for three days, in the hope of obtaining some in. formation of the unfortunate master and his men. The moment the vessel arrived at Sydney, and the particulars of the outrage were communicated to his Excellency the Governor, dispatches were sent to the naval officer at New Zealand to proceed in a vessel and seek redress of the natives—part of the survivors of the crew of the Vanguard to accompany him. It is feared two vessels' crews have met with a similar fate, and the vessels been captured, during the preceding three months, no tidings having been heard of them since. T 0 << THE PEOPLE" OF ENGLAND. A SONG. (From the Weekly Dispatch.) Onward " Liberty and Reason !" This is now broad Europe's shout ; England, it were moral treason Were thy lion voice left out. Britons ! keep your banner waving, Hang it forth in Freedom's sun; But beware the braggart raving, That would talk of sword and gun! Trust not to the brawling leaders, Lighting ye with Fury's brand! 'Tis brain-feeders,—not blood-breeders,— That shall purify the land! Heed not those whose noisy yelling Fain would waken Tumult's din; Let a nobler voice be swelling, In the battle ye must win! Shew that ye have sense and feeling, Fit to gain and guard your place ; Let your own determined dealing Meet oppression face to face ! Not with weapons red and reeking, Not with anarchy's wild flange ; But with loud and open speaking, In " the People's" mighty name ! Wisely think, and boldly utter What ye think, in Wisdom's speech; But ye must not even mutter Words that only madmen teach I Ye shall soon have wider Charters ! England hears the startling cry Of her poor and honest martyrs, And her " glory" must reply. Ask for all that should be granted! Shew the fester of neglect; If a " People's" love is wanted, " People's Rights" must have respect! Let the great ones, high in station, Lift their eyes, and see at length Ye are pillars in the nation, That alone ensure its strength! Tell your Rulers they must levy Fairer weights on wearied backs! Say the coffers that are heavy, Best can yield the heavy tax! Tell the Church, its first great Pastor Had no gathered wealth to count; Little had the Christian Master For his " Sermon on the Mount!" Say the Prelates—crammed unduly— Should divide their bloated spoil With the humbler Priests, who truly Serve mankind with ill-paid toil Tell the paupers clad in ermine, That your children are unfed ; And ye will not have State vermin Gnawing into Labour's bread ! Tell aloud your hearts are loyal ; e are suck not w Let .‘ God S ave th e Q ueen " b e sung : Yet th e idl e and the Royal hMustat y not hso” andrse leee , T„ h' f ' o t o o l n s g .: e Shew that y e h ave b ravely risen, That " te bru Say that ye will shun the " prison," When they gi • ve ye " work" and " schools I" Tell your wise and great Law Makers, (Moral o'er th e i r meat and wine), ers, That they might become Law Breakers , Left, like ye, to pinch and pine! Think they, with short-sighted meanness, Ye are weaker 'neath their will, With your flesh in wolfish leanness, And your minds less nourished still! Let " the People" have their " College!" Untaught men are fearful things: Only crucibles of Knowledge Serve to melt Crime's fetter rings! Sons of England, be ye steady! 'Tis your heads, and not your hands, That shall prove ye lit and ready To enlist in Freedom's bands! Trust not to your brawling leaders! Scorn to spring with tiger claws! 'Tis truth-heeders—not steel-speeders— That shall triumph in your cause. League in firm, unflinching quiet; Use your presses, print and read! If you ope the gate of Riot, Wives and little ones must bleed! Onward! " Liberty and Reason!" Let this be the chorus cry; And not a heart will dream of treason If 'wise Senate lips reply! ELIZA COOK. THE CLERICAL DELINQUENT. We (Sheffield Independent) understand that the Rev. Mr. Mahon has received a letter from Edin burgh, informing him that his late curate, " the Hon. and Rev." Mr.. Douglas, alias Fairfax, is in that city, where he has preached, and is begging in the name of some religious society. It has been suggested to some of the creditors that they should take steps to have the man apprehended, but to that course there are two objections. The first is a suspicion that this letter may he merely a trick of the accomplished im postor, to put them upon the wrong scent. But the second and more important objection arises from a natu ral disinclination to spend money, not to recover what they have lost, but merely to punish the delinquent. Two or three other cases of " Mr. Fairfax alias Douglas's dexterity have been published. Among the adherents of the church whom he was in the habit of entertaining at the rectory was the village tailor. To him Mr. Douglas stated that he had not brought to Rawmarsh his stud of horses, but bad left tnem in the care of his faithful and much at tached groom, Tom. He wished to make Tom a present, and consulted the tailor as to the suitable ness of taking Tom a stable suit. Of course the tailor thought it a good notion. But then came a pro fessional difficulty. How was he to measure the absent Tom ? " Oh, said the dexterous pastor, my old clothes exactly fit him. You have only to measure me, and the clothes will be sure to suit Tom." This was done, and now the poor victimised tailor has the sa tisfaction to think that when it shall suit the pastor to play the groom, he will hare quite ready the groom's habiliments. A young lady who had travelled on the continent, advertised, during February, that she was open to an engagement to accompany a lady or young family as travelling companion. She duly re ceived a very respectable-looking letter, dated from " Rawmarsh Rectory," where the Hon. and Rev.writer was doing duty for a short time for his friend Mr. Ma hon. lie was a widower with two daughters whom he wished to take upon the continent during the spring, and wanted for their companion just such a lady as the advertiser had described herself to be. The result was an engagement, but the exposure which has since taken place has frustrated the only design with which it can be supposed to have been made. In the height o f hi s b enevo l ence , Mr. F a irfax Doug las undertook to write to a neighbouring gehntlemhane on behalf of an old servant andtenant, u w t b re presented as being in distress , muc a h ke application on his own through delicacy, o l. oiralOwLhowniouthlde rev. be a writergreat that he was ready to be the felt so much interested behalf. assistance eof the gentleman's bounty. the t ipooron t t e ofind make ged with sincere , The letter was ac A to do t . h n steward would be in the neigh but as the gentleman's of a few days, he should have neigh bourhood in the course e old servant, and give such aid channel for the con k v h e e yzn e c d . sincere thanks instructions to see the .d. This as the case require simple circumstance scheme s ' baulked another of the rev. delinquent's clever h le:l vin w g itb be a en lar r g e e ad an by d meeting o TErz pitoTE , TA , NTf t A h s e so i c 3r r o a te ri s o ta rr n . t — A r ss e oe st i e a r t da io y n , w th as e anniversary Holloway, the which held at Exetegrsem blag the chair was taken by G. Rook ftfoashre:illei°cnivars'bpkieer:a E sq . Mr . . Law, the secretary, then read ra w y a e s re fil t h e annual report, which stated that during the past yea r the association had caused meetings to be held and lectures delivered against the Bill for establishing rela tions with the Papal States, and against the admission of Jews into Parliament. The association bad also issued cards, papers, &c., during the late general election, and had :been instrumental in awakening the Protestant energy of the country, many Members having been re turned pledged to oppose any measure calculated to strengthen the Church of Rome. Since the last anni versary the receipts of the association had been 1,554 L, and the expenditure 1,508/., there being liabilities to the amount of 4001. Resolutions in accordance with the objects of the association were passed, and the meeting separated. ADELPIII THEATRE . — Madame Celeste took her benefit last night. The performances comprised the melodrama of the Harvest Horne; the petite comedy of Flying Colours, atAl the second act of Buckstone's shelved, though still favourite drama, of the Green Bushes, Madame Celeste taking the principal female character in each piece. Mr. Webster, of the Hay market, who, as usual on these oocasions, gives the Adelphi the benefit of his talents, was the Captain Bans Sonci in Flying Colours. The house was . crammed. It is rum oure d th at M r . M aca ulay is about to re tire from the Cabinet. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial. office, from the Governor of the . Cape . of qOO4 gopp and from the Governor of Van Downs Laid, O le i If° 01 ee li I ci 94' i l 0111