The Sun. — London, England, 1848-02-24 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) KINSALE. The Kinsale Election Consmittee re-assembled at the usual hour this morning; Mr. Bouveric in the chair. Dr. Jago's examination was resumed this morning. lie most positively denied having bribed any voters either directly or indirectly. He was in the habit of attending the poor of Kinsale gratuitously, and since the eleetioet he had discovered that many of Mr. Guiness's poor supporters had been terribly persecuted. Michael Bateman, an undertaker and cabinetmaker, of Kinsale, proved that shortly after the election And Ryan came to him with a shaving bill, and demanded Payment of the amount of 3s. Bd. He told her he had never ordered the shaving, that he knew nothing about it, and he should not pay it. The paper produced was the bill. It was a bill for shaving twenty-two persons at twopence a head. It was a curious document in its Way, and set forth that two Cork men required two shaves a piece to cleanse their chins, while one Jim Crow and another, Mick Mahoney, were satisfied to put up with one shave between them. Witness believed that 9 out of the 22 persons were voters. Ryan so pestered him for the amount, frequently waylaying him in the streets about it, that eventually he paid her father the 3s. Bd. to get rid of her. He knew a man named Herne, he voted for Mr. Guinness so early as eight o'clock in the morning. Before ten a civil process was out against him and others who had voted the same Way, for their arrest for trifling debts which they owed, but witness represented their case to a grocer named Williams, who told him that rather than these persecuted men should go to gaol, he, Mr. Wil liams, would pay their debts twice over. Mr. Williams did pay their debts, but this generous act did not have the effect to putting an end to the persecution, and since the election, these poor fellows had been subjected to many acts of petty tyranny. One of the witnesses who had been called on the other side, waited upon witness's father shortly after the election to demand some money Which the fellow said witness had agreed to pay him for voting for Mr. Guinness ; but as witness had never done any such thing, he deliberately kicked the fellow out. Still the fellow had since had the impudence to State that witness paid him what he called for. LANCASTER. The Lancaster Election Committee re-assembled at the usual hour this morning, Mr. Deedes in the chair. John Dodson, a freeman of Lancaster, stated that a few days before the election he went to an inn at the village of Heysham and was sumptuously entertained at somebody's expense, but whose he did not know. On the night before the election he and a number of others were entertained at a supper upon the :same terms, and after supper they were brought to Lancaster in an om nibus, accompanied by Mr. Wyse, an agent of Mr. Gregson. They were conveyed to the Fleece Inn, at Lancaster, where they had as much to eat and drink as they liked to call for. Somebody, but who It was he really did not know, gave him 50s. at the Fleece. He voted for Mr. Gregson, and upon giving his vote he received a ticket, which he afterwards changed for ss. This 'witness, in his cross examination, gave such Prevaricating and contradictory answers to the questions put to him, that the Committee ordered the roomto be cleared to consider the propriety of committing him. COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS. (THIS DAY.) The Metropolitan Sanitary Commissioners held a Court of Sewers this morning. Lord Morpeth in the chair. It was resolved, that in the districts of Holborn and Finsbury a rate of sixpence in the pound be declared and that a court be held on the 3d of March, to sign the rate. _ _ _ Mr. Harris, sen., was appointed in the room of Mr. Earth, jun., to collect the remainder of the rates for the Tower Hamlets. In answer to a question from Mr. LESLIE, The SECRETARY said the appointment would not in validate tho bond of the sureties. A resolution was then passed to the effect that the Commission would entertain no proposition for the drainage of any house unless the proprietors consented to do away with cesspools. Mr. Thomas Lovett, of St. Margaret's, Holborn, Was appointed assistant-surveyor, and a letter was read from Mr. Wells, of the Surrey and Kent district, resigning his office of surveyor. It was then resolved that summonses should be issued for parties to attend a court, to be held on the 4th of April, for the Surrey and Kent Districts, at the Court house, Newington. Mr. BYNG complained that the Commissioners of the Bermondsey district had allowed ditches to exist in that neighbourhood six feet wide, containing a large accumu lation of filth without taking measures to do away with the nuisance. Mr. Drew said the ditch to which the Hon. Gentleman alluded to was a private one at Doek Head. This was the first time any complaint had been made about it— not even during the cholera was any complaint made of it. Mr. BYNG said it mattered not whether complaints had been made; the Commissioners must have been aware of its existence long ago, and it was their duty to have taken steps to abate the nuisance. Mr. LESLIE also insisted that it was the duty of the Commissioners for the district to adopt legal measures to put down the nuisance. Mr. BYNG wished to know whether it was true that in the districts of Surrey and Kent there were upwards of 70 wiles of open ditches filled with accumulated filth. Mr. DREW said he believed there were from 60 to 70. Mr. LESLIE remarked that the other day in a public street, which formed a continuation of Tooley•street, lie observed a number of open cesspools and privies exposed to the view of the passers by. Mr. DREW said the remark of the Hon. Gentleman was perfectly correct, but the nuisance existing in pri 'ate property was beyond the control of the district Commissioners. The COURT generally expressed its surprise that the surveyors of the district had not, in conformity with the request of the secretary, attended at the present Court, and an intimation was directed to be forwarded to the surveyor, requesting him to attend at the next Court without fail. The Court then adjourned. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE SPRING LYTHAM CHAMPION MEETING. The Great Clifton Cup for 48 clop at 51. 10s. each, *as won by Mr. Lamb's Laundry Maid, Sir St. George Gore's Phosphorus ran up. Th e Talbot Cup for 48 all-aged (lop at 31. 10s. each, was won by Mr. Bradley's Bellona; Mr. Jardine's Esk dale ran up. The Lytham Cup for 48 all-aged dogs, at 21. 7s. each, was won by Mr. H. Mason's Sybil; Mr. A. Graham's Curry Powder ran up. The Veteran Stakes for 48 dogs at 21. 7s. 6d. each, was won by Mr. J. Swan's Sparks of Fire; Mr. Duckworth's AjaX ran up. The Ribble Cup for 16 dogs was won by Mr. Jepson's Princess, Mr. E. G. Hornby's Handicapper ran up. The Sappling Stakes were won by Mr. Lamb's Lu cretia; and the second class Sappling by his Lancashire Witch, THE GREAT OPPRESSORS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR—The long " pent up" feelings of the middle and the working classes will now soon be manifested. My Lord John Russell has about opened the valve for the Steam to issue, in his endeavour to further ease the real Property-men (himself included), and the fundholder, at the expense of the rest of the community, by making property and income still pay the same ratio of duty, and on the same total amount. The landholders and the fundholders have oppressed others too heavily and over Lortg_the foul wrong and injustice must not be suffered to go on. If this taxing alike the strong and the weak (in the Way of property and income) is to be continued five year ! more, then it is high time to commence agitation (for injustice is the mother of agitation) in right good earnest, and make the real property pay probate duty and legacy duty. This ought to be the case, and must be the case. Feb. 22, 1848. COMMON HONESTY. O'NEAL THE POET. TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SUZQ. &Rl—Perceiving in the columns of The Sun of the pth inst., a letter stating that O'Neal, the author of the Blessings of Temperance" (a work reviewed and strongly recommended by most of the London journals, ;ind by you, Sir, in your edition of the 9th of November "t), was in distressed circumstances, and feeling in terested in the fate of a son of genius, I discovered his retreat at No. 15, Little Wild-street, Lincoln's Inn- Prlds. and found him in his exalted abode , himse lf and nily, foal. in number, suffering the greatest privatio ns. Too proud to seek charity, and too old to work at his trade (shoemaking), being now septuagerian, and a tlfering the infi rm ities consequent on old age. .Iruly as your correspondent of the 17th observed, that testimonials aro freely rewarded, by a generous 1311 ,blic, to meritorious individua l s , and I feel con fident that nothing short of igno r a nce of this p oor but highly gifted individual's forlorn condition would pre /4,14 th e humane, and the admirers of genius, from assisting in smoothing down his path to t he g rave, and r endering his family that assistance which they so much I learnt, on inquiry, that were it not for the humane assista nce of Edward Moxhay, Esq., of th e Hall of -;?tunierce, the poor poet would have to retire content :with his crown of bays, and enjoy his otiutn cum dignitate in the parish workhouse. Trusting that this will find a corner in your highly v aluable journal, and that it may meet the eye of those have the means and the disposition to assist genius in its struggle with adversity. I am, Sir, yours respectfully, JAMES 11. A. HYDE. 16 , Charles-street, Cavendish-square, Feb., 1848. ALAEMING FIRE AT THE GOLDEN LION, ST. JOHN s2I;}. -T.—This morning, about one o'clock, a fire, s 'ltonded with cons iderable loss of property, and narrow ale ePe of life , took place at the above.named hotel. It °li gnutted is a sleeping-room, where a gentleman had re tired to rest. The room soon afterwards was disco 'led f u ll o f smo k e, an d, on tracing the cause , the bed iitctes were fo u nd burning very furiously. The domest i cs .n g been apprised of the facts , water was p lentifully taken to the assistance of those on the floor, and in five " L Tutes afterwards the Farringdon-street brigade eng ine and firemen arrived, but the furniture was destroyed, sad other d amage was th e cons equence. The cause was . aftertained. THE SUN, COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen walked yesterday in the royal gardens of Buckingham Palace. The christening of the infant daughter of the Mar quis and Marchioness of Abercorn took place yester day, in the private chapel in Buckingham Palace. The sponsors were—his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Countess Cowper, and the Viscountess Jocelyn. The infant was named " Albertha Frances Anne." The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated at the ceremony. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday, at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out en horseback yesterday, accompanied by his Royal High ness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Count Arthur Mensdorff. The Royal Children took walking and pony exer cise yesterday, in the royal gardens. The royal dinner party at the Palace yesterday evening, included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe• Coburg, Count Arthur Mensdorti, his Excellency Baron de Beust, the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Lady Fanny Howard, Madame la Baronne de Wangenheim, Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Right Hon. Wil liam Lascelles, and Baron Fritsch. Lord Elphinstone has succeeded the Earl of Morley as the Lord in Waiting to the Queen, and Major the Hon. Robert Boyle has succeeds d Colonel Berkeley Drummond as the Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. The Hon. F. Scott, M.P., had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home• office. A deputation from the Steam Shipowners' Associa tion, consisting of Mr. Anderson, M.P., Mr. Williams, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Morgan (secretary), and accompanied by Mr. Brown, M.P., Mr. Forster, M.P., and Mr. Bryden (Parliamentary agent), had an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, at the Board of Trade. Mr. John Duncuft, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. Edward Strutt yesterday, at the office of the Commissioners of Railways in the Board of Trade. _ _ . Mr. Sotheron and Colonel Buckley had an inter. view yesterday, with Sir George Grey. Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood had a dinner party yesterday, at their residence in Downing-street. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee :- 1. That in the case of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway (No. 2—Amendment of Acts, New Branches, Abandonment of Branch, and Increase of Capital) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with: —That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on the insertion of a Clause restraining them from raising the road occurring at or near the distance of one furlong three chains, as measured on the section of the Branch marked A. B. on the plan, from the commence ment thereof, to a greater height than 11 feet 5 inches. 2. That in the case of the Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Roscobie, Keltyhead, and Glencraig Branches) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with: —That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, with the exception of that part which authorises the proposed Deviation of the Dunfermline Branch. 3. That in the case of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (Deviation Line from Mullingar to Athlone) petition, the standing orders ought to be dis pensed with:—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, with the exception of the Clause ex tending the time for taking land to three years. 4. That in the case of the Great Yarmouth Coal Duties petition, the standing orders ought to be dis pensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, with the exception of such parts as alter or amend the Act of sth Anne and the 6th William 4th, provided that the same be presented not later than three clear days from the presentation of this report. That the Committees on this and the three preceding Bills do examine, in the first place, how far such orders have been complied with, and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill. 5. That in the case of the Great Northern Railway (Deviations in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, and Enlargement of Boston and Lincoln Stations) petition, the standing orders ought to be dis pensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. • 6. That in the case of the Edinburgh and Northern Railway and Stirling and Dunfermline Railway (Queens ferry and Inverkeithing Branch:_!s) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with:—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 7. That in the case of the Royston and ifitchin Rail way (Extension to Cambridge and Branches) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with:—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 8. That in the case of the Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neils ton Direct Railway (Amendment and Branches) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : —That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 9. That in the case of the Dublin Consolidation Im provement petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. First eight Resolutions agreed to.—Report to lie on the table. The following Railway Bills were ordered to be brought in:— Great Northern (Deviations in Lincolnshire, Notting hamshire, and Yorkshire, and Enlargement of Boston and Lincoln Stations). Glasgow, Barhead, and Ncilston Direct (Amendment and Branches, &c.) Edinburgh and Glasgow (No. 2—Amendment of Acts, New Branches, Abandonment of Branch, and Increase of Capital). Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (Deviation Line from Mullingar to Athlone). Royston and Hitchin (Extension to Cambridge and Branches). THE NAVIGATION Laws.—Last night, at seven o'clock, a public meeting was held at the Eastern Insti tution, Commercial-road, for the purpose of adopting the most prompt and effectual measures for opposing the repeal of the navigation•laws, or any important relaxa tion of the principles on which they are founded. Mr. M. Wigram presided on the occasion, and the large room in which the meeting took place was crowded to excess. There could not have been less than two thousand persons connected with the shipping interest present, and throughout the proceedings the utmost unanimity prevailed. The assembly was addressed by Mr. George F. Young, Mr. John Robertson, Mr. Thomas Teighe, Mr. Spencer, and other gentlemen, and resolu tions were adopted in conformity with the objects for which the meeting had been convened. Tho business of the evening was disposed of in about an hour and a-half, for at nine o'clock the proceedings had terminated. SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE TTNE.—A serious accident, resulting in the loss of four lives, occurred on Tuesday last at the works of the High Level bridge in course of being erected over the Tyne at Newcastle. A party of joiners and smiths were proceeding, after the dinner hour, from the shore on the Newcastle side to the nearest coffer-dam, in order to bolt the piles, an opera tion which could only be done at low water. Fourteen of them had got into the boat, and all of them were standing up, the boatmen sculling with one oar behind, when the boat struck against a pile, and the shock caused the men, many of whom were unaccustomed to the water, to stagger, whereby their weight was thrown, to one side and the boat upset, and the whole party precipitated into the water. The boat was not more than a dozen yards from the shore, and three or four of the men con trived to clear the ruck, and reached the shore in safety. One who was an excellent swimmer nearly lost his life by his foot being seized by one of the others. Both were carried some distance down the stream, but the swimmer contrived to keep his head above water till death compelled his comrade to relin quish his grasp; and then he swam ashore, and was taken up greatly exhausted. The others, though unable to swim, succeeded in keeping themselves from sinking till the police boat and some others which were immediately put off, reached them, with the exception of four, who were afterwards discovered to be missing. The grap pling irons were immediately set to work, but when their bodies were found they were beyond the means of resuscitation. One of the sufferers, when taken out of the water, had his tin can in his hand. They were all healthy young men in the prime of life. One of them was married only a few weeks ago. Another had only commenced work on the noon of that day, and had not in fact got started. The whole party had been in a public-house kept by one of the foremen, where they had been detained some minutes by the rain; and while the man about to commence work, and another men who had only been set on the day before, paid what is termed their "footing"—an allowance of beer to be drunk by the gang of workmen with whom they are associated in the works. None of the men were, however, under the influence of liquor at the time ; and the occurrence was wholly accidental. MEETING 01 ATTORNEYS IN OPPOSITION TO THE CERTICIDATE MlTY.—Yesterday afternoon a meeting of London and provincial attorneys was held at Lyon's-inn Hall, for the purpose of taking measures for obtaining the repeal of the certificate duty, or the deduction of the duty from the amount of income-tax paid by attorneys. Mr. Brcmridge, M.P. for Andover, in the chair. Mr. Harrison moved the following resolution :—" Thot the certificate duty was originally imposed to aid the sup plies in the nature of an income-tax, and that attorneys have been compelled to pay, in addition, the property tax, and all the taxes which they pay in common with the rest of the community." Mr. Clark having seconded the resolution, it was carried unanimously. After some discussion Mr. Carew moved—" That the certificate duty is unjust, unfair, and oppressive in its principle, and therefore that steps should be taken for its imme diate repeal." The resolution was seconded and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Ilooper, seconded by Mr. Stephenson, a committee was then appointed to carry out the objects of the meeting. A vote of thanks was then passed, and the proceedings terminated. DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CHOLERA IN RUSSIA.— A letter from St. Petersburgh, of the 7th, states that the cholera had disappeared from the provinces of Pensa, Woronesch, Toula, and Taurida, and from Cherson and the neighbourhood. In the provinces Nenij•Novogorod, Koursk, and Kiew, the malady had not made any fresh progress; whilst in those of Podolia, Volhynia, and Minsk, it had become more intense. THE INCOME-TAX. The proposed increase of the income-tax is likely to work its own cure in one respect. Upon the whole it may be judged right that this country should be brought under direct taxation. This may, or may not, be sound policy. It is, however, unfair in the highest degree, where a billet should be evenly distributed, to quarter a Field- Marshal and staff upon or.e proprietor, and let another off with a corporal. The unequal imposition may be borne as long as it is inflicted with moderation, and while there was a hope of relief, simply because the victims of its operation are not goaded up to resistance point. Keep on, however, adding "last ounces" to the camel's back and the patient animal has but one of two courses open for its adoption. It must either submit to a permanent derangement of the spine, or take a good roll in the sand, and dispose of keepers, drivers, burdens, and last ounces once for all, and hare done with them for ever. We do not re member in the whole history of taxation anything more unjust than the rating of professional men to that which is, as far as they are concerned, called by the misnomer of the income-tax. In the year 1841 it was calculated that the three professions of divinity, law, and physic, contained upwards of :60,000 persons. Add to these 60,000 all persons in the civil employment of Govern ment, or of private firms, or of individuals, where the incomes of the employed exceed 1501. per annum; take officers in the army and navy, from the ensign or cornet, who is still under the necessity of ex tracting honey from the paternal hive, to the half pay admiral or general with his sixty years' service, his wounds, and his 8001. per annum; take, in fact, all persons in the kingdom who maintain them selves and their families by the wages of their labour, skilled or unskilled, and whose incomes exceed the amount mentioned above, and it will be seen that by the operation of the income-tax, and on a very low calcula- tion as compared with the landowner or the fundholder, they pay in the proportion of seven to one. There can be no valid reason assigned for any further submission to this flagrant injustice. Now or never is the time to make a stand. We should esteem a man unworthy of serious argu ment who could for a moment understand the intention of public men of all parties to make the tax perpetual. We are saddled with it as securely as with the hospitable " Customs," or the domestic felicity of the " Excise." This income-tax is like Bishop Heber's noiseless fabric, which, we are informed on the same authority, grew up silently, like a tall palm-tree. Mr. Geulburn or Sir Charles Wood, as Chancellors of the Exchequer, must manipulate on their neighbours' pockets; we cannot quarrel with them for that, only let them take from all alike. Public bills must be paid as well as private ones. When the fundholder comes with a receipt and a smile to remind us of that little balance of " thirty millions," we are compelled to disburse just as freely as though it were Madame Larose, the milliner's playful addition to the private agony of Christmas times. The reason usually assigned for keeping the hard-worked part of the community in the interior of Phalaris's bull for a longer period than their neigh bours is, that it is so hard to distinguish between cases. This was Sir Robert Peel's guillotine pretext on the first imposition of the tax—the Whig Government have, we presume, in adopting his policy, adopted his arguments. Shadowy annuitants and visionary rent-charges are con jured up before the imagination of the Minister. Because official ingenuity cannot meet all cases, it refuses to grapple with any. The argument just amounts to that. Now, we will undertake to say that any one of the official assignees in Basinghall-street, if he be fit for his place, would in three weeks' time solve any or all of the Minis terial hesitations as to the equitable apportionment of the tax. It is just as easy to calculate property from income as income from property. The mystery thrown over the subject is merely a delusion. It is the income arising from the interest upon property .that should be taxed to put all on a footing of equality. Professional skill vests as it realises, and then it falls rightly within the scope of the tax. It is trifling with patience and common sense to require of us the ad mission that the clerk in Somerset-house who will now have 121. 10s. stopped out of his income of 2501. per annum is on the same footing with the owner of acres of fee-simple to the same amount. No There is another reason why the professional classes have been chosen as the victims of successive Ministers, and of this we will speak presently. A further anomaly remains behind. We find in Lord John's finan cial statement a pompous enumeration of how much has been done for the humbler classes of the community. The object of all the recent policy of the Exchequer has been to relieve them. Good. They have been re lieved, other classes have not. This would appear a reason the more for subjecting those who have been relieved in common with those who have not been re lieved to the operation of the tax. Why should income under 150/. be excepted from the fiscal shears when every burden has been removed that could affect the fortunate possessors of 1491. 19s. Hid. per annum ; The answer is—it would be impossible to reach them, just as it was in the former case impossible to apportion the tax on an equitable principle. One almost begins to suspect that where the disturbing forces are so great and so numerous, the theory of a property-tax is more fit for a Utopia of conscientious mathematicians titan for this rough, hardworking, struggling—we grieve to add— deceitful, every-day world. No, the real reason why the industrious section of the community, which have hitherto paid the tax, have been again singled out, and will, unless they strenuously exert themselves, be un- equally subjected to this tax in perpetuity, is that they are comparatively unrepresented in either house. Make the owners of fixed property, of the land which pays nn legacy duty, contribute their equit.bie share, and the Lords would start up in arms. Touch the humbler classes, and the polling-books will have strange tales to tell, such A% Edinburgh and Lambeth hare already shown to he possible. Professional men are in this un fortunate dilemma—that they are either unrepresented in the llouse, or if any of their class struggle in there, it is in the shape of an expectant lawyer. The learned gentleman is more occupied with attorney•generalships and puisne judgeships than with the interests of his class. Professional men are, however, powerful out of doors, and if they are not disposed to submit to this barefaced extortion, it is time they should make ther power felt. Let the man who by labouring day and night earns 5004 per annum for the support of his family remember that when he is called upon to pay 251. out of that 5001. to this impost, ho is just paying in a proportion seven times greater than the idle possessor of land. It cannot be that such an injustice should be longer endured.—Times. 'LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 24, IB4E. THE INCOME-TAX. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. " Sin,Ll beg:to call your attention to the following specimen of the mode in which the present income (?) tax is collected. " Mrs. AP - Loughlin, of North-end, Fulham (whose husband died twelve months since), had an application made to her by the district collector for the sum of 21. 18s. 4d., and she being unable to pay, and knowing in fact the same nor any part thereof was not properly payable by her, applied to the Commissioners to bo excused payment on the ground of ' poverty,' to which they returned in answer, ' that her request could not be acceded to, for, that, they had applied to the district collector on the subject, who had made the following report to them:— ‘. That your late husband in addition to his trade of a builder, was possessed of an income of 1101. 2s. from the following sourees, viz , " Rent of 10 cottages in Portland street ' Profits from other leasehold houses at North end 281, "Commission for collecting rents And that such cottages still continued in your possession, and that you have also a house in the Bridge-road, Hammersmith, let from Michaelmas last at 401. a year. Now, this report being entirely false in every respect, Mrs. M'Loughlin again wrote to the Commissioners a full and explanatory letter, contradicting, and showing the groundlessness of their district collector's report — and in answer received (I suppose) the usual reply, " that they had received her further application to be excused payment, but that they could not accede to it, and unless the amount was forthwith paid, proceedings would go on for its recovery." Now, Sir, I think it is time if this inquisitorial tax is to be continued, that the public should know whether they are to pay upon their actual incomes, or upon in comes created by the report of a district collector, and if the latter is not intended to be the case, then, that some easy remedy should be pointed out to meet cases of unjust assessment like the present. Your most obedient servant, WILLIAM ALLEN. King-street, Hammersmith, Feb. 1848. IRELAND. THREATENING NOTICES. DUBLIN, FIB. 22.—The threatening notice or intimi dation system has commenced anew in Clare. For a brief period after the Special Commission it was thought that the incendiaries had been coerced into the abandon ment of their infamous policy ; but there is too much reason to fear that it has only been suspended. A notice, of which the following is a copy, has been served on Mr. Daly, of Ennistymon, a gentleman who has been active and unceasing in his exertions to mitigate the distresses of the peasantry:— " Take Notice. Any person taking any sad of the lands of Lahincy he may have his coffin near him if he has cows horses sheep he may be shure they will be houghed so Mr. Daly will be the first to ketch it. Signed in behalf of " MOLLY M'GUIRE." EXECUTION OF CROWE. The Clare Journal, referring to the execution of John Crowe, at Ennis, on Saturday last, for procuring the murder of the late ➢lr. Watson, says—" We have not witnessed any criminal who met his death with more apparent unconcern than this unfortunate man. Pre vious to his being pinioned by the executioner, he with drew for a few moments from his cell to the water-closet, walking with a firm step, and in passing along looked out through the window at the crowd. On returning to his cell he spoke to one of the turnkeys, remarking ' That it had been the fate of many a better man; that every man must meet death some time; and that perhaps he himself might never be better prepared than he was then.' We heard but very little sympathy expressed by any person for this unfortunate man. The base crime of which he had been proved guilty appeared to excite universal indignation. There can be no doubt that the wretched man was guilty, but we cannot con clude without again protesting, in the name of Christi anity, which is scandalized by such exhibitions, against the inhuman law of capital punishment." WATERFORD ELECTION. 'WATERFORD, FEE. 21.—Mr. Lamie Murray has quitted the field, and Sir _Henry Winston Barron has entered it. These are the principal items of our elec tion news. The two gentlemen arrived here on Saturday, the Banker from London and the Baronet from Dublin. Mr. Murray seeka to stipulate that his present with drawal gives him a claim to be called on at some future vacancy. In one respect Sir Henry Barron's entrance is inopportune. It spoils a very pretty stand-up fight be tween the Young and Old Irelanders. A letter from Alderman Meagher was received yester day, expressing disapproval of Mr. Thomas F. Meagher coming forward as a candidate, but the disapproval is based principally upon an apprehension that the consti tuency will object to have father and son in the repre sentation. Alderman Meagher says he is ready to resign, should such objection be made. Mr. T. F. Meagher held an open-air meeting yester day on the hill of Ballybricken, a well-known suburb of ours. He and his immediate friends went there in pro. cession, with band and banners, from the Confederate Clubhouse. Mr. Peter Walsh, victualler, was in the chair. Mr. Meagher, who continued highly popular, re newed his pledge to context the city to his last shilling, and last drop of blood, if requisite. At nine o'clock in the evening, when the band was playing through the streets, the crowd attacked the Repeal Reading-room (Old Ireland), in King-street. After breaking a few panes, the assailants nave way before the rush of a small but determined party of Old Ireland buat.m,o The. Mayor and some of the constabulary afterwards com pleted the clearing of the street by remonstrance with the people. Something in the shape of a preliminary voting is going on this day (Monday), at the Town-hall, as pro posed at the stormy meetings of last week. Mr. Costello will have all the suffrages there, for none but his division attend. _ _ The election writ did not reach the Sheriff until yes :erday afternoon. It appears to have been mis-sent to the county Sheriff. LITERATURE. LITERARY EXTRACTS, 1 Vol. By John Poynder, Second Series. Several years ago it was fashionable in the pub lishing world to produce volumes of a miscellaneous character, called most frequently by their generic title, "Elegant Extracts." The name was good not only as an alliteration, but as significant of the con tents ; and the custom was good not only as a specu lation, but as the means of affording an inexhaustible fund of instruction and entertainment. We are right glad that Mr. Poynder has not forgotten this pleasant old style of compilation, and that he has been indus trious enough, and intelligent enough, and—what is still more—adventurous enough to revive the habit in our own generation. In the present volume, a goodly vo l u me of 710 closely pri n t e d pages , b e i ng th e secon d series of his undertaking, he has accumulated an ex traordinary amount of poetry, anecdote, description, wit and wisdom. We would by no means pretend that we have perused the book through from beginning to end—(we would as soon lead our readers to sup pose that we have devoured a whole encyclopmdia through before writing a cr iti ca l no ti ce o f it)—b u t we have examined the work discursively, poring ove r it here and there, and digesting the tid -bits as the leaves opened to our hand accidentally, and, having scrutinized the volume, we are prepared to pronounce it excellent in material and as in arrangement. The scraps are strung together alphabetically, like the words in a dictionary. And such scraps !—tho pickings out of the literaay treasury of Europe. As Tennyson has exquisitely expressed it-- "Jewels five-words long, That on the stretched forefinger of all time Sparkle for ever!" There are gems in Latin, and gems in French, and gems in English ; fragment s o f verse , an d sna tches of prose ; apophthegms from Bacon, declamations from Jay, moralities from Baxter, epigrams from Selden, aspirations from St. Jerome, aphorisms from Ter tullian, metaphors from Horace, dainties from Charles Lamb, sketches from Alison, pathos from Shakspere, extravagancies from Hood, couplets from Boileau, stanzas from Piron, adages from Johnson, and ejacu lations from Robert Hall, &c., &c. To afford some conception of the nature of these extracts, we may transcribe a few of the briefest, In page 200 we hear from the lips of St. Augustine that glorious and con solitary truth, " The desire of grace is grace." In page 185 Cicero exclaims, with sarcastic bitterness, " Summunz omnium malorum staltilia !" In page 161 Seneca remarks, in a tone of sententious exactitude, " Longum iter est per pracepta : breve et efficax per exampla." In page 304 Boileau de scribes the theoretical moralist as "Anti de la vertu plutot que vertueux." In page 35 4, Pope, writing to a portrait painter (Jarvis), says— " Beauty, frail flower ! that every season fears, Blooms in thy colours for a thousand years." In page 369, Shakspere, in the person of Master Slender, gives this capital apology for taking pre cedence— " I'd rather bo unmanner l y t han troublesome." In page 409 Lord Sidmouth, quoti ng f rom an o ld ballad, assigns these reasons as some excuse for re tirement : “ I hear a voice you cannot hear, Which bids me not to stay ; I see a hand you cannot see, Which beckons me a way. ” In page 417 St. Augustine (again) expresses thus the secret of true religion, and the panacea of public happiness, " Unity in thine essential—liberty in things indifferent—and charity in all things." We might go on extracting lovely passages from the ex tracts until we transferred nearly the whole volume to our columns. We began . our examples with St. Augustine ; we finish with him, and in doing so we again congratulate Mr. Poynder upon the completion of the second series of his delightful and most read able compilation. GREEK Lo account as just been pre sented to Parliament of the money paid out of the Con solidated Fund, under the Acts of 2 and 3 William IV., c. 121, &c., for interest. and sinking fund on that part of the Greek Loan guaranteed by this country under the authority of the said Acts, and of the amount repaid by the Greek Government, on account of the Consolidated Fund for this purpose the sum of 33,583/. 17s. Id.; in 1844, 46,784/. 4s. Bd.; in 1345, 46,4971. 45.; in 1846, 46,4971.45.; and in,1817, 47,1881.95. 7d.; making together 220,550/. 19s. 4d., of which 23,844/. 13s. 4d. has been repaid by the Greek Government in 1847, thus leaving 196,7061. 56. 11d, unpaid. FLANDERS AND HAMBURGH MAIL. BRUSSELS, FEB. 19.—The Chambers this day re sumed the discussion of the project of law relative to the reimbursement of part of the securieties to the company of Grand Luxembourg, for the railwayworks. After a very animated discussion, the project was finally adopted by 44 votes against 19. The opposi tion was founded upon an excessive distrust which some of the members evinced in regard to the inten tions of the society. COLOGNI3, FEB. 11.-Dr. Mendelssohn has just been declared guilty, and sentenced to five years' im prisonment in the 1 - louse of Correction, with for feiture of all rights of honour. The Rhine is now entirely clear of ice, it having broken up without any serious damage having been occasioned. Coblentz has now been fixed upon as the place forithe safety harbour, which into be erected above the city, near Oberwerth. At Dussel dorf active preparations are going on for the comple tion of the hall for the assembling of the Provincial Diet, which is to take place in the spring. It is hoped that the Diet at Berlin will not assemble till August. The theatres begin to be quite out of vogue, and can scarcely meet their expenses, as the opening of the political stage presents objects of superior interest, and consequently attracts the majority of influential persons.—Allgerneine Zeitung. BRUSSELS, FEB. 20.—The typhus fever continues to rage, not only in Flanders, but has spread to the Nassogne in Luxembourg. The direct communicatian between Trieste and Egypt will be open on the 10th of May next.— Journal du Commerce d'Anvers. _ STUTTGARD.—The discussions on the disturbances of the 3d of May last were carried on with much warmth and asperity in the Chamber of Deputies on the Bth and 9th. Romer gave a detailed account of the sad disturbances, to which the Minister of War and the Minister of Interior replied at some length ; the latter stated that, after the strictest investigation, he could not find that the soldiers were to blame ; the mob was ordered to disperse, and three signals were given before the soldiery fired upon the people. Romer contested the legality and necessity of the steps he had taken, and contended that they fired when all necessity for doing so was past, though he ac kowledged that they had been ill-used and pelted with stones by the populace. The Minister much regretted the subsequent meeting of the judiciary advocates and the summonses in the public journals to meet on a stated day for referring complaints. Baron Von Varnbuler drew attention :to the excited state of the mind of the poor at that time from want and famine. Other members urged that the subject might now rest in peace, as the critical state of the times called for unity. Romer's friends endeavoured to prove the legality of his proceedings, though they regretted his having taken this step. The Chambers adjourned for six weeks. COPENHAGEN, JULY 12.—An edict, published by his Majesty on the Bth instant, enjoins the ministers of the various churches throughout the country, as well as at Copenhagen, to preach a funeral sermon on the day of the interment of his late Majesty Christian VIII.— Universal Prussian Gazette, Feb. 18. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—Blaurr, Fan. 18. Bills. Money. gt.Schnld Sch., 334 per Cent • • • • .• • 92 Pruss.English Bonds, 1830, 4 per Cent.. •• • . Foreign Exchanges • . Exchange on London, .£1 Sterling, 3 Months HAMBURGH BORSENHALLE, la. Bills. Money. Austrian 5 per Cents •. • • • • • • • • • • 102% Bank Shares • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1580 Anglo-Russian Loan •••••••• • • • • • • • • 108% 106 Russian 5 per Cent., Hamb. Certificate. 102 Ditto Ist series Inscription. ••• •• • ....• 102% Ditto, Hope and Co., 3d and 4th series • • 95 Ditto, in Certificate ••••••••• • • • • • • • • • 95 New 4 per Cent., Hope and Co• ••• • • • 87 Ditto Stieglitz .• ••••••••.• • • • • • • • • 86% Spanish New 5 per Cent •• • • Ditto 3 per Cent .... ••• • • . ........ 24% 24 Anglo-Portuguese Loan, 234 per Cent• • Dutch Actual Debt, 234 per Cent 55 Ditto 3 per Cent. ••••••••• • • • .• • • Polish New 4 per Cent. Loan, 1844 79 Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent ••• • • • 83 82 3 { ational Bank Shares.• • • • • • AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIENNA, Fus. 14. 5 per Cent. Metalliques.• •. 1011 i 4 per Cent. ditto • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 85% 3 per Cent. ditto.• •••• • • ••••.• • • •• 61 Loan, 1834 ..... .151 Ditto, 1839 .......................... 110 Bank Shares • . • . EsteriaazT's Loan . .• ... .• 57% RAILWAYS. The Northern, or Ferdinand 130% Ologgnitz -. • • .... • • • .• • • •• 107 Vienna—Milan • • ..................... 85}.i Leghorn ••••••••••••••• • •• • • • • • • • • •• • • 73 Oldenburg ••.••.••••.••• • • • . •• .. • • • •• . _ resth Bridge .. • • ...... ••••••••• • • • •• •• Apennines ...... THE RIVER PLATE. By the Petrel packet, which arrived yesterday at Falmouth with mails from Rio de Janeiro, we have advices from Rio to the 9th January. She brings a 3inail Aright ur gum. hacnange 274 to 25d., at which a fair amount of business had been done on the morning of the Bth. Ships of war at Rio, the Grecian, Griffin, Spider, and Crescent. _ _ _ In coffee, extensive business had been done since the 10th December, and sales amounted to about 200,000 bags. The demand was chiefly for clean green, good first and fine superior qualities, which, owing to their great scarcity, were likely to improve in price ; the lower descriptions, on the contrary, were neglected, and not saleable, unless at a very considerable reduction. The stock on hand was about 75,000 bags, and consisted principally of the latter qualities. Superior washed and pulped were quoted 35200 to 3sBoo per arroba. . Superiors 25900 to 3sloo „ Ist good Ist ordinary The shipment of last year amounted to 1,650,300 bags, being an increase of 130,568 bags on those of 184 G. The quantity of washed coffee shipped last year amounted to as much as that in 1846—about 50,000 bags. The shipments in December were 115,832 bags for the United States, 2 for Africa, 20,331 for Antwerp, 9,109 for Bremen, 3,841 the Channel, 2,150 for Copenhagen, 1,522 for Genoa, 3,200 for Gibraltar, 52,872 for namburgh, 2,422 for Liverpool, 1,982 for Malta, 2,764 for Marseilles, 2,250 for Sweden, 16,148 for Trieste. Freights to England, 505.; English Channel, 50s. to 525. 6d. ; llamburgh direct, 455. to 50s. In stock there had been no alteration in the price for some weeks. The sales for the opening, both of general and provincial, were considerable—at 87 to 88 the former, and 86 to 86} the latter. A few sellers had appeared a few days previous to the packet's sailing, in consequence of the payment of the dividends being partly made in silver, to which great objection was evinced by small holders. Statement of domestic funded debt of Brazil:— Issued 6 per cent. up Re. to 1547 Ditto in 1847 14,2005000 50,354,400e000 Redeemed 6 per cent. up to 1842. 46,7 12,400,5000 Issued 5 per cent. up to 1847 Ditto in 1847 Redeemed 5 per cent up to 1842 1,249,400000 161,2005000 Issued 4 per cent. up to 1847 1,088,2005000 119,6006'000 Total Rs. 47,920,200 $OOO REMOVAL OF SMITHFIELD MARKET.—On Tuesday an:investigation, commenced on Monday, was proceeded with before F. H. Goldfinch, Esq., and W. H. Hoskins, Esq., commissioners, appointed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests,junder the:lmprovement of Towns Act, for the purpose of receiving evidence with reference to the establishment of the New Smithfield, or Great Metropolitan Cattle-market and Abattoirs. The mar ket is proposed to be erected on a piece of ground, con sisting of 57 acres, situate between the Camden-road and Maiden-lane, the ;proposed East and West India Dock Railway passing through it. The first abattoir on a vacant piece of ground, at present in use as a brickfield, between the New North-road, Shepperton-street, Isling ton, and the Regent's canal ; the second at Bethnal green, by the side of the Eastern Counties Railway, and extending to the Regent's-canal; the third by the side of the Surrey-canal, in the Old Kent-road; the fourth at Battersea, between the River Thames and the South-Western Railway; the fifth between tho Kens ington-canal and the London and Westminster Ceme tery; and the sixth at Westbourne-green, on a piece of land between the Regent's-canal and the Great Western Railway. The evidence taken on Monday consisted principally of the estimates of Mr. Galloway, the en gineer to the company, from which it appeared that the entire expense of purchasing the land and the erection of the buildings in the different localities would not exceed 371,5001., leaving a surplus out of the capital of the company (400,0001.) of 28, 5001 . to meet allcontin • gencies, which would be amply sufficient. On Tuesday several witnesses were examined in reference to the eligibility of the proposed sites and arrangements, and the meeting adjourned. MUTINY AND SHIPWRECK. The captain of the Joseph Albino, lately arrived, reports that the Samuel Smith, of about 500 tons, from Penang, bound to London, struck on the N.W. end of Rodrigues, on th e 15th instant, and became a total wreck on the 18th; about 80 tuns of the cargo were saved, and the masts cut away. According to a statement sent by the police magistrate and the captain, the chief officer and crew of the Samuel Smith had been in a state of mutiny since the vessel left Penang, and at the time the Joseph Albino left Rodrigues the captain , officers, and police were obliged to protect themselves with fire-arms, and they asked assistance from the Government here. The captain had his wife, sister, and four children with him. The Government:schooner Legere is to leave this day 4 with some aid.—From the Mauritius Papers, Nov. 25. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. WEST CORNWALL RAILWAY. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Tuesday at the offices, 35, Broad-street-buildings; Cap tain W. S. Moorsom in the chair. The report stated, that although the prospects of the undertakinr , had been somewhat impeded by the late crisis in the commercial world, yet the directors had every confidence that it would, by reason of its remu nerative properties, eventually rise above all difficulties. That legal proceedings were pending against a gentle man for enforcing the performance of a contract for the disposal of the unappropriated shares of the company. This circumstance created delay and rendered it obliga tory to call upon the proprietors for another instalment of 21. per share, to meet the liabilities of the company (about 15,0001.) Since August last payment in respect of the first call of 21. per share had been made upon 2,430 additional shares, giving a total to the present date of 10,210 shares upon which the first call had been paid, leaving 5,725 shares in arrear, irrespective of the shares engaged to be taken by the gentleman alluded to. The call of 2/. due on the Ist of February has been paid on 2,675 shares. The directors have not thought proper to enter into contracts for the execution of any portion of the works, and have thus been enabled to relieve the proprietors from calls for a period of twelve months, al though they have received the sanction of the proprietors to enter into such contracts if a favourable opportunity should occur and the means be placed at their disposal. The directors obtained an estimate from Mr. Brunel of the cost of the works on the portion extending from Hoyle to Penzance, upon which estimate the traffic re turns show that a net revenue of 81. per cent. may be ex pected. That the suspension of all progress of the works would not relieve the proprietors from calls which must be made to pay off the liabilities of the company as they fall due. The directors havo applied for an extension of time for the purchase of land, and the construction of works. The traffic on that portion of the undertaking which lately formed the Hoyle Railway had increased, the traffic upon which in 1846 amounted to 11,7831., and in 1547 to 14,045/., while the expenditure, it was stated, had decreased. That the solicitor's accounts for the Parliamentary . business of the company in 1845 and 1846 have been revised and satisfactorily settled. That Messrs. Russell, Barlow, and Mowatt had retired from the di rection, and that Captain Moorsom and Mr. Emery had been elected. That Mr. J. Alston, Mr. E. Turner, M.P., and Captain W. J. Moorsom retire by rotation, but are eligible for re-election. The capital account to the 31st December showed that 180,5221. had been received, and 178,9621. expended, leaving a balance of 1,560/. at the banker's. The traffic account from the 2d of November, 1846, to the 31st of December, 1847, stated that 15,936/. had been received, and 12,6901. expended in working expenses, rates, and taxes, leaving a balance of 3,245 Z, out of which a sum of 2,209/. was taken to pay one year's interest on loan and debentures. After a discussion of three hours' duration, in the course of which it appeared to be the general opinion of the shareholders that the undertaking had not been properly managed, the report was unanimously adopted, and a resolution passed, appointing a committee of shareholders to inquire into the company's affairs, and report the result to an adjourned meeting to be held on the sth of April next, the directors pledging themselves not to enter into any contracts for extending the line until after such meeting. The proceedings concluded with a unanimous vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors. INCOME-TAX.-DERBY. TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED. The humble petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of Derby, Sheweth—That your petitioners have read with sur prise and regret the proposal of her Majesty's Govern ment to increase the taxation of the country, and add to the burdens which already press too severely upon the industrious portion of the population. That, independently of the odious and' inquisitorial character of the income-tax, and the impolicy and injus tice of levying such an impost in time of peace, your petitioners cannot but view the proposed increase from 3 to 5 per cent. with- well-grounded indignation and alarm; and your petitioners are determined to make every constitutional effort to resist such an imposition. That your petitioners protest against the manifest in justice of taxing the incomes of those who are dependent upon their exertions equally with those derived from real property; and agree in the opinion of Members of your Honourable House that if, under present circum stances, it be found impossible to entirely abolish the tax upon incomes, your Honourable House ought at least, instead of increasing it, to levy the tax upon a fair, equitable, and graduated scale. That your petitioners are weary of the yearly in creasing expenditure, and pray your Honourable House to adopt the wise economical course of reducing the ex penditure to the lowest possible scale, being convinced that in reduction alone is the wellbeing of the country to be sought. That the only effectual mode of curtailing expendi ture is the refusal of supplies, fatal experience having taught the people that whatever may be the amount of grants Ministers will expend them, and still be asking for more. That to your Honourable House your petitioners, as is their right, look for protection, and humbly suggest that if Ministry after Ministry is allowed to go on in creasing the burdens of the country, and all alike sup• ported in ,their extravagance, the hearts of the people will fail them, and all confidence in the Legislature be lost. Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honourable House will not pass any Bill to increase the income tax; that by rigid scrutiny the expenditure of the country may be reduced, and no more be levied by taxation than absolute necessity requires : that by revision and regu lation such taxes as press heavily on the poor may be repealed ; and that, if it be too much to expect that the burden should be shifted from the poor to the rich, the rich may at least be made to bear their just proportion of public bu►dens, imposed mainly for the protection of themselves and their wealth. And your petitioners will eves pray, Szc. A memorial has been sent to the Members for the Borough. The excitement against the Budget is great. EAST RETRoRD.—A meeting of the inhabitants of this town was held on Wednesday, the 23d inst.; John Mee, Esq., Mayor, in the chair. Resolutions, condem natory of the proposed increase in the income-tax from 3to 5 per cent., were passed; and a petition to Parlia ment was prepared and signed, which will be forwarded for presentation to the lion. Captain Duncombe and Viscount Galway, the Members for the borough. THE INCOME-TAX.—A meeting of the vestry of the parish of St. Marylebone, was held yesterday even ing at the Court-house, in Marylebone-lane, for the pur pose of petitioning Parliament against the proposed increase in this tax, and to make arrangements for a public meeting of the inhabitants generally, in order to obtain the expression of their opinion upon the measure. A most numerous assemblage of the vestry having arrived at six o'clock, Mr. Sandford was called to the chair, who opened the business of the evening by calling the attention of the gentlemen assembled to the particu lar objects which they were met there that evening to discuss. Several other gentlemen addressed the meet ing, who complained of the unequal bearing of the income-tax, which they considered not only unnecessary and oppressive, but which might be advantageously replaced by a tax on property generally, landed as well as personal. A resolution was then proposed, " That a general meeting of the parish should be called Itt the School house on Monday next, to take into their consi deration the proposed increase of the income-tax." And a committee of seven having been formed to arrange the detail of such meeting, the vestry broke up. OPPOSITION TO AN INCREASE OF THE lscOME TAX.—Yesterday a preliminary meeting of the inhabi tants and rate payers of the parish of St. Mary, New ington, was held for the purpose of petitioning Parlia ment against the increase of the income-tax. Similar meetings are to be bald in the other metropolitan parishes. SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER RAILWAY. At the half-yearly meeting held on Tuesday, at Chester, it was stated, that the opening of the line to Shrewsbury, and of the branch to Oswestry, may be expected to take place early in the autumn of the present year. A considerable increase is expected to take place in the traffic on the opening of the line throughout. That of 577,100/. called up there was an arrear due, on the 31st of December, of 39,774/. This arrear was now reduced to 22,4811. The company have borrowed 249,8001. It was stated that it would be necessary to raise 80,0001., besides the calls already made, before the Ist day of August. The revenue for the half-year amounted to 14,5101., and after making all necessary deductions there remained a balance sufficient for a dividend, which the directors recommend, of 10s. per share on the original 20/. shares-161. paid ; and ss. per share on the 101. shares-81. paid. The CHAIRMAN stated, that they were under no guarantee or obligation to any other company, and they trusted to their own resources. LOWESTOFT RAILWAY. At the half-yearly meeting of the company, held on Tuesday, at Lowestoft, it was stated that the receipts of the railway during the past half-year had been 2,5351., and the expenditure 7091. A long discussion arose on the subject of the guarantee of the Norfolk Company to the original shareholders of 4 per cent. and half profits on a capital of 120,0001., another Bill having been ob tained to authorise the raising of 120,000/. additional capital, with a guarantee of 6 per cent., which it was considered had the effect of depriving the original share holders of half profits, and compelling them to subscribe for additional capital. After several amendments being proposed unsuccess fully, the report was adopted, and the retiring directors were re-elected. SHREWSBURY AND HEREFORD RAILWAY. At the half•yearly meeting held on Tuesday at Chester the directors recommended the discontinuance for the present of the allowance of interest on calls. They had irauced the expenses of the wilco establishment by re moval to Chester. The question of taking legal pro ceedings against defaulters was under the consideration of the board, and the meeting recommended that strin gent measures should be adopted to secure the payment of calls i❑ arrear. The operations were confined to the works at the Shrewsbury station, including the bridge over the Severn and the portion of the line adjoining thereto. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, Fni. 23.—The Stromboli steam•sloop, Commander Lord A. W. Beauclerk, arrived today, i❑ six days from Lisbon, with dispatches from the British Minister for the Admiralty, which were forwarded by the half-past two o'clock train this afternoon, to town, by the South-Western Railway. She left Lisbon on the 17th. The squadron was still lying in the Tagus, but under sailing orders. Fever was abating. The Strom boli has come into harbour and commenced replenishing fuel prior to dropping out to Spithead, and awaiting there further orders. She brought home Commander Dixon, promoted from the Queen, Mr. Moore and Mr. Evans, clerks of the St. Vincent, and Mr. Ayres, midshipman of the Canopus, to join the Havannah. The Flying Fish, 12, acting Commander Powell (First- Lieutenant of the Styx) also arrived this morning from the west coast of Africa station. The Actreon having so recently brought news from the coast, and of the Flying Fish having sailed from Ascension for England, leaves the latter but little news to impart. She has brought home Commander re_die Hart Dyke, formerly Commander of this vessel, who was superseded in her command by Admiralty order for his alleged conduct in the affair of Count Bomfim and other Portuguese refugees. She has also brought hemo the surgeon (Mr. Robert Bernard) and purser (Mr. Joseph E. Autey) of the Contest, and other invalids. Commodore Sir Charles Hotbam, K.C.8., and the French Admiral, were at Sierra Leone on the 26th of January. The French brig of war Abeille was wrecked off Quits on the 25th of December. The squadron was (generally) distributed as we detailed on the arrival of the Actmon. The Flying Fish has not lost one man through fever since she has been on the coast, neither has she sent one case of fever to the hospital. Although a very fast sailer she has made only three captures. She is ordered into this harbour to be paid off: The Illustrious ordinary guard-ship, Captain R. A. Yates, was masted yesterday, and has since been hauled alongside the Blake receiving htilk, They are jury masts. The Sinbad lighter sailed this morning with stores for the river. _ _ _ Wind W.N.W., strong gales and cloudy. WooLwickt, FEB. 22.—The Fisgard, flag-ship of Com modore Sir Gordon Bremer, K.C.B. and K.C.11., is in an advanced state, and will be taken out of the basin on the 28th instant. The Driver steam-vessel is in the basin under the shears, and had her three masts put in yesterday, and her gun-carriages put on board to-day. In addition to the armament formerly mentioned, the Driver, Sphynx, Rifleman, and l'hceuix, will each be supplied with a light 6-pounder gun-carriage of the same description as used by the Field-Artillery, with timber-carriages com plete. The Driver had her steam up to-day to try her engines in the basin. The Investigator, one of the vessels of Captain Sir James Clarke lioss's expedition, arrived in the river from Greenock on Saturday, and was taken into Messrs. Green's dock yesterday to be fitted for sea. She is to be commanded by Captain Bird. The Salamander steam-vessel was towed by the African from Sheerness to Woolwich; having been thoroughly refitted in a most efficient manner at the former port, she now looks remarkably well. She has been fitted with Mr. Barr's davits for her paddle-box boats, and was taken into the basin at Woolwich this afternoon to have her machinery completed and to be made ready for sea. The Rattler steam-vessel was also taken into the basin to be proceeded with. The other vessels in the basin are the Janus, Phconix, Rifleman, and Pluto s team•vessels. In the Inner Basin—Spiteful, Hecht, Prometheus, Dee, Myrtle, and Dover steam-vessels. In the East Dock—Caradoc, Holyhead Mail Steam packet. In West Dock—Niger steam-vessel, fitting with screw propeller. Captain &althea, commander of the Garland, Dover mail steam-packet, has been appointed to command the Vivid steam-vessel, recently launched at Chatham, and at present fitting with engines at Messrs. Penn's for the Dover station. The Vivid will be ready for trial down the river in about a fortnight. APPOINTMENTS. ADMIRALTY, FEII. 23.—Henry Johnson, Lieutenant, Star; Oliver J. Jones, and G. F. S. Winthrop, Lieu tenauts; Charles Gahan, master; Thomas Kerigan, paymaster and pursor ; G. R. Douglas, boatswain; John Smith, carpenter, Ganges. AUSTRALIAN WrIEAT.—The vessel Ilarpley, arrived in the docks from Launceston, Van Diemeu's Land, has brought 2,599 bags of wheat, the produce of that distant colony. The grain imported from this south-eastern district of the globe comprises several descriptions or qualities of wheat, and it is considered that they arc par ticularly applicable for sowing in this country, for which purpose they are imported, and are inconsiderable re quest. It is usual on this account to import the wheat in packages rather than in bulk, which would, in a great measure, have the effect of deteriorating the utility and value of their supply. n; . r-,~ STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, FEB. 22.—The dullness in the Liver.. pool cotton market has rendered buyers very unwilling to operate in goods or yarns, beyond the extent of their immediate wants ; and this cause, combined with the excessive wetness of the weather, which:always :c.0 .", aggravates the condition of a drooping Market, caused a very limited business on the exchange to day ; more particularly in yarn, which was sold, in some cases, at a trifling concession from the rates of last week. In goods, there has been rather more firmness, particularly in the lighter kinds of shirtings, and some:other fabrics suitable for the Indian markets, in which, prior to the receipt of the Indian letters this morning, a fair business was done at the full prices of last Tuesday. For other descriptions of manufactured goods there has been very littlo demand, but prices, upon the whole, were tolerably well maintained. We understand that the private accounts received by the mail from India are not considered favourable. There are several additional failures at Calcutta, amongst them, two native merchants of some standing. Owing to these calamities, and the virtual suspension of the Union Bank, there was a very general feeling of distrust among all classes; and very little business had been done. We do not hear of any material diminution of the hours of labour during the last few days, for which the state of the cotton market may, in some degree, account. The weekly return of the state of the factories, &c., shows, indeed, a rather consider able diminution of those fully employed; but that is the effect of changes which we mentioned last week. As almost every article is now produced at a loss, and, in many cases, a very serious loss, to the spinner and ma nufacturer, the present rate of production cannot be long maintained without a change in the market here or at Liverpool. The official return, prepared under the di rection of Captain Willis, for the present week, includes an addition of four brass foundries, employing 154 hands! there is also a further addition of sixteen hands from other causes. The comparison of this return with that for last week gives the following results:— Four cotton mills have gone from full to short time. There are 1,075 fewer operatives, in the cotton factories, working full time; 943 of whom are now working short time, and the remainder have been thrown out of em ployment altogether. Of the total works included in the table, there are two more working full time, with a full complement of hands; three fewer working full time, with a portion only of the hands ; eight more are work ing short time, and three fewer are stopped altogether. There are 1,608 fewer operatives working full time ; 1,558 more working short time ; and 220 more wholly out of employment. Altogether, the return is of 3 decidedly unfavourable character. ROCHDALE, FEB. 21.—There is no improvement in the flannel market to report this week. There has been but a thin attendance of buyers, and no eager desire, in those who have been present, to purchase. Wool has been rather firmer, but the business done has been light. HALIFAX, FEB. 19.—The continued dulness in the piece trade compels us to repeat the same monotonous tale of a slender attendance of merchants in the Piece Hall, and a very limited amount of business done, what is done being at prices far from remunerating. As to yarn, our report of last week may be repeated for this. The only change is that the belief that the demand must improve some time or other comes nearest realisation as each week passes away, which induces a greater unwillingness on the part of spinners to make any further sacrifice in price. With regard to long wool, the same dragging trade continues, with * disposition on the part of the holders to sell out before the searching winds of the next month set in. Some sorts of short wool are rather harder to buy, in conse quence of the Government contracts before mentioned. and the smallness of the quantity now produced. HUDDERSFIELD, FEB. 22.—About the same amount of business has been transacted in the Cloth Hall as last week, and what has been done is at a slight improve ment in price. Complaints aro heavy in the warehouses, and we cannot report at present any favourable change in the general state of the district. LEEDS, FEB. 22.—We have not had to-day so good a market as last Saturday, when a very fair amount of business, chiefly for the home trade, was transacted. For export very little is doing as yet.—Manchester Guardian. MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY NAVIGATORS.—Three navigators, Michael M'Nicholas and his brother and James Byrns, were brought up on Monday at the Dewsbury Police-court, charged with a most murderous assault ou a man named John Feely, who was attacked in a savage manner with a knife by one of the ruffians. The prisoners were remanded for a fortnight. The Manchester Courier says :—" No motive at present is apparent for the commission of the deed; but, knowing something of the state of feeling in the neighbourhood, we have little doubt that it is one result of the hatred engendered by the murder of Mr. Wraith and his family, within a quarter of a mile of whose house this foul deed has been accomplished. The people of the district are in the habit of applying the terms Patrick Reid,' soldering-iron,' and such like remembrancers of that bloody work, to Irish labourers and navigators; and it is nut improbable that, in the madness of desire for revenge, the party fell upon this unfortunate man, mis takir, him fur some obnoxious individual." _ - JOSEPH ADY ONCE MORE..--This redoubtable limb of the law was yesterday prosecuted at the Whitechapel County Court, by Mr. Jay, coal merchant, Pimlico, for having received 205., under the pretence of tolling him kiinec.lllllg to his advantage. Poor Joseph was unable to attend, but sent his " man of business," who stated the extreme distress to which his client was now reduced, but offered no defence. The Magistrate sentenced the man of figures and letters to pay the amount by instal ments of 4s. a month. Who is to be the ultimate sufferer? METROPOLITAN DEBTORS' PRISONS.—The metro- , politan prisons for debt present a different appearance to what they did some time back. There are now nearly 220 persons in Whitecross street Prison, and upwards of 200 in the Queen's Prison. The only other prison in the metropolis for debt is llorseniouger-lane Gaol. In Whitecross-street Prison there are but few commit ments from the new County Courts, and not many in the Queen's Prison, including the commitments from the Palace Court under the Small. Debts Act. It is a very common thing for persons to be heard under the new Insolvency Act, and on having their cases adjourned, without protection, to be taken in execution and conveyed to prison. It would seem from the number of cases filed under the old system of insolvency that the new system has decreased in the estimation of debtors ; they find that they are required to exert themselves for their creditors. FROG RESS OF WESTMINSTER PALACE COMPARED WITH THAT OF OTHER GREAT EDIFICES.—Poor Fine Arts! Poor Barry! Or rather let us confine our excla mation to fine arts, since the badgering to which the latter is periodically exposed has served, up to this time, only to elicit eloquent tributes to his integrity and ability from men in power, who had otherwise, perhaps, been silent. This "unnecessary delay" cry is a monstrous absurdity; it has been demonstrated to be such again and again, and would scarcely be listened to any where out of the Rouse of Commons where art is little thought of and less understood. Compare the progress which has beau made with that of any of the cathedrals of the middle ages at home and abroad, painsfully built up during centuries; ask how long it took to complete St. Peter's or the Vatican; how many architects and how many years passed away before this was achieved; and look to St. Paul's, raised by one man in about thirty years, an often•quoted contrast with the last example; and it must be at once admitted by those who know the extent and elaborate nature of the works at Westminster, that much more has been done there within the time than could reasonably have been anticipated .—Buildcr. STATE OF TRADE IN MANCHESTER.--Depression, almost amounting to stagnation, continues, and from the downward tendeecy of the market this week there is reason to fear that renewed activity is far distant. The home trade is suffering severely from the distressed state into which all ranks of the community are thrown, and most other branches of the staple manufacture of the town and district are equally flat. Short-time generally is contemplated, so that bad as things are at present, it is not unlikely that they will become still much worse in a very short period. In the out districts, where limited employment is' almost universally adopted, the working claws are deeply distressed. The weekly official return, showing the state of employment of the whole of the operatives within the borough of Manchester, exhibits a serious increase to the number of hands heretofore out of work. Last week there were 33, 0 96 hands working full time; but in the present week there are only 31,688. The number last week working short time was 3,659; and in the present week, 5,217. A strong feeling is entertained in the town and neigh bourhood against Lord John Russell's proposed addition to the income-tax, and no doubt that feeling will be strongly and generally expressed forthwith. The pecu liar position in which the district is placed renders the people keenly alive to all Government measures, espe cially those affecting their interests. Only one opinion is expressed on this subject, and that is unqualified con demnation of the measure, and determination to oppose it by every constitutional means. Public meetings are already spoken of. THE ROYAL ORTIIOPCEDIC HosiTrAL.--Yesterday the tenth annual meeting of the governors and subscri bers to the above charity was holden in the board-room of the institution, No. 6, Bloomsbury-square. Quarles Harris in the chair. The report read by Mr . the secretary, stated that daring the past year 148 in patients had been admitted, and 1,213 out-patients placed on the books. The total number of patients admitted since the establishment was founded have been 6,658. The receipts were 2,318/. 14s. 5d., and the expenditure was 2,1721. 7s. 24., leaving a balance of 141/. 7s. 3d. During the past year the number of patients had greatly exceeded the previous years. FRANKLIN'S GIFT TO AMERICAN MECHANICS... Dr. Franklin left a sum of money to the town of Boston, to be loaned to young m arried mechanics at a low inte rest. In December last it had accumulated to the sum of 40,465 dollars: also 1,000 dollars, the interest en which is invested in silver medals, and distributed, at the annual examination of the schools, among the most deserving boys in the writing and grammar departments.—Builder. DENTAL STATISTICS.—A correspondent of the Manchester C,lourier gives the following as the result of a dentist's labours in the way of tooth-drawing during the year 1847:—January, 10 , 1; February, 101 ; March, 103; April, 121; May, 130; June, 114; July, 98; August, 174; September, 120; October, 175; November, 173; December, 102; making in the aggregate, 1,479. CovENT• GARDEN OPERA HOUSE.—A consider bl© improvement is being made in the Italian Opera Hous,e, Covent-garden, for the accommodation of the public in the ensuing season. The second amphitheatre and gallery, formerly separate stories, are being thrown into one general incline, and, by an extension backwards beyond the present external wall, will be wade capable of containing 600 persons.—. Builder, •