The Sun. — London, England, 1848-01-13 00:00:00

THE CORN TRADE. The most serious evil which has hitherto resulted from the unusually warm and damp weather has been the injurious effect it has had on the condition of the corn of last year's growth. The accounts from all parts of the kingdom complain of the bad order in which the grain has hitherto come to market; and there can be no doubt that this has had a material influence on the tone of the trade. Merchants and millers are naturally unwilling to buy largely of an article scarcely available for immediate use, for in many cases the wheat has been rendered so rough as not to be in a fit state to grind without a large mixture of old. Buyers have, consequently, contracted their opera tions; and the anticipations of higher prices gene rally indulged in by holders at the close of last month do not alone remain unfulfilled, but the tendency has lately been decidedly downwards. , Mean while farmers do not bring forward supplies freely, and, as the quantity held by other par ties is (excepting in the port of London) small, it is not likely that the value of bread-stuffs will, for some time as least, give way to any great extent. To enter into predictions as to the probable range of prices in spring would be wholly absurd, as that will depend on matters of which nothing can be now known, viz., the then appearance of the crops, the probehle extent of the shipments from abroad, &c. Hitherto ti.e actual fall in prices has not been important, indeed, we doubt whether, if due allow ance be made for the deterioration which the quality has undergone, the article can be quoted at all cheaper. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, really fine parcels of wheat, whether old or new, were held at the advance of the preceding market-day, or 2d. per 701bs. ab ove the currency of that day se nnight ; and though the ordinary kinds were offered at lower terms, the in trinsic value was quite as much less as the difference in price. On Friday business was excessively dull ; wheat was quoted from id. to 3d. per 701b5., and flour I a. per barrel lower. The reports from other large consuming markets in the north are on the whole dull ; an effort appears to have been made to obtain former terms, which had had the effect of checking business, and the transactions at Hull and Leeds were, on Tuesday, on quite a retail scale. From Wakefield we learn that goad supplies had been received ; and, on Fri day, wheat was offered at a reduction of ls. per qr. without exciting much attention. The advices from the western and north-western parts of the kingdom are generally of a very dull tone. At Birmingham, on Thursday, there was but little wheat on sale; notwithstanding which, an abatement of Is. to 2s. per quarter had to be submitted to on all but picked samples. This was also the case at Bristol and neighbouring markets. The accounts from nearly all the places above referred to ascribe the fall mainly to the want of condition in which the wheat has come to hand. The adv ices from Ireland in regard to potatoes are unfavourable, but prices of other articles of food do not appear to have been much influenced thereby ; indeed, Indian corn, the great substitute fur potatoes with the poorer classes, had receded in value, owing to the belief that larger supplies would be received from America than had been previously reckoned on. The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been on the same moderate scale this week as for some time past ; indeed, there was hardly anything exhi bited either on Wednesday or Friday from Essex or Suffolk, and the few runs displayed on the Kent stands consisted mostly of parcels left over from the previous receipts. With so scanty a supply the ope rations have necessarily been on a restricted scale ; but though the millers have acted with the utmost caution, factors have remained firm, and the little business done has been at previous prices. Further supplies of wheat have arrived from abroad—this was hardly expected ; still very little effect has been pro duced by the late receipts, as importers have refrained from pressing sales from on board ship. The country demand for foreign wheat has not been by any means active since our last, and the local inquiry has also been slow. Fine qualities (particularly Dantzic) have, nevertheless, been held for fully as much, and needy buyers have been obliged to pay Monday's currency for what they required for immediate use. In secondary and inferior sorts scarcely anything has been done, and quotations hare, therefore, remained nominally unaltered. The value of home manufactured flour has under gone no change requiring notice, though the turn may, perhaps, in some cases, have been rather in favour of the purchaser. Of American very little has come to hand ; but as the latest advices from the United States intimated that the stocks of the ports on the seaboard had increased, it is deemed probable that some small lots may drop in from time to time. Choice brands, being very scarce, have been held firmly at former terms ; and, though the inquiry for secondary sorts has been languid, prices have not suffered any abatement. The arrivals of home grown barley have been small since Monday, nor has much been brought forward by land-carriage samples from the neigh bouring counties. This grain has, nevertheless, been very difficult of disposal, the malsters and distillers having manifested a decided objection to buy more than absolutely necessary for their immediate wants. In this position of affairs prices have continued to tend downwards, and secondary sorts might in some instances have been bought a trifle lower on Friday than at the beginning of the week. Foreign barley has not excited any particular attention ; still prices of good heavy grinding sorts have been about main tained. Malt has hung on hand very heavily, but no quo table change has occurred in its value. The supplies of oats from our own coast have amounted to 3,360 quarters, and from Scotland 820 quarters have come to hand. In the Irish arrivals there is a slight increase, 5,820 quarters having been re ported. On the other hand, the foreign supply has fallen off, and, taking the total, the arrival i s small. The leading dealers have, throughout the week, acted on the reserve ; nor have consumers been inclined to take more than is required for present use. The trade has, therefore, been dull; but factors have insisted on previous rates, and the business done on Wednesday and Friday, though trifling in extent, was at full terms. Beans have been rather more inquired for, and neither English nor foreign have been sold at all cheaper than on Monday. The transactions in peas have not been very exten sive, and quotations have remained much the same as previously. Indian corn has been neglected, in consequence of dull advices from some of the principal Irish markets. Owing to the non-arrival of Tuesday's Hamburgh mail our news from the Baltic is not so complete as usual. We have Dantzic advices of the Ist instant, and accounts of corresponding dates from some of the other principal ports. The navigation having become closed, and the inquiry fur spring shipment having been comparative] v trifling, but little business seems to have been done either in wheat or spring corn. Our Dantzic letters state that prices of wheat were nominally 455. to 495. per quarter. Stocks were very short, and holders had remained exceeding l y firm. During the year 1847 there had been exported from Dantzic 38,706 lasts of wheat, and the quantity remaining in warehouse on the Ist instant amounted to only 3,338 lasts, about two-thirds of which consisted of old, and the other third of new. The weight of the new wheat which had come forward had varied from albs. to 601bs. per bushel. The news from the south of Europe is not of much interest. From Marseilles we have advices of very recent dates— viz., 4th instant ; prices of w h ea t had tend e d upwards there, in consequence of a demand for Languedoc ; for really fine Polish as much as 44s per quarter had been paid, and other sorts had re England was 7s. 4ed corresponding rate s . F r i eg ht t o per uarter, and 10 per cent. In Indian corn and beans thererel has not been much pass ing; both articles were G aiat lively higher there than in our markets, sa quarterldian corn 285., and Egyptian beans 295, p er From Leghorn we learn, free on board. ,fiudpeorrthe date of 30th of December, that a cargo of price wheat had been bought there, for Ireland, at a ivrar equ . al to 475. 6d, per quarter, i ncludin g frei g h t. — k-lane Express. painful duty to T—lt 19 OUT i'lirtillt; SoltOT, DREADFUL ...A CC f ID m E r N . William Ainswor th, record the death 0 fatal . It appears that, as by an accident as of Higher Bank. i n ocell" .. i" . 7 the 9 Mr. Ainsworth 11%1(14,1,ot it was sudden course of Wednesday ui''' Li"fs , . ~ it to one of his little boys. In the or a quarter to five Wein* a sparrow, and givers playing with his children, wh en afternoon, about half past four he was in the kitchen Id not, as they would all his youngest little girl asked him to shoot a bird for her. could He replied ho was afraid he c be gone to roost, but he would try. Ile then took down a gun, and h a ving loaded it ho went but a few into tho plantation besid e th e h ouse. Il e hail been absent mi nutes, wh en a f ema l e servant h ear d a person moan as if in pain ; an d on going out she saw her mas t er ,. who h just come th roug h a small gate leading to the plantation, a in the act of falling to the ground, his coat and waistcoat on his left side being on fire. She ran to support him, when he i•jaculatcl, " Oh, Ellen:" to the servant; and as sistance having been procured he was instantly taken into the house, where he di e d in about ten minutes. It would seem that, being unable to find a bird to shoot, the un fortunate gentleman was returning through the gate with the undischarged g some part.un in his left baud, wh en th gate, and, th ' e tria.g er must have caught of the immediate', exploding, the contents were lod.-ed i e n g h e i r : left side. The gun was lying on the ground, by the sid e of the gate, when the serv ant ran up to him ; and he had reached the back door, which 'he W a about to enter, a distance of fifteen yards from the gate, when his situa tion was discovered. Mr. Ainsworth, who was about 36 years of age, has left a widow and four children to lament his untimely fate, and a large circle of friends, by whom he was greatly esteemed, to sympathise with Shia most painful bereavement of his family. The Berlin journals announce that Prince Albert Of Prussia is about to imitate his cousin, Prince Waldo mar, by visiting the East Indies and other parts of Asia. THE SUN, THE DANGER OF INVASION. TO TIIE EDITOR or THE TIMES. Sir,—A letter of mine which you lately did me the favour to insert in your columns has received a share of public notice which it could have obtained by no other form of publication, but which I am well aware has been given to the subject and not to the in to some In thu s a dd ress i ng you, I h ave b een led some errors of execution which a more expanded form of publication might have enabled me to avoid, and I throw myself on your indulgence for permis sion not to retract, but to explain and develope one passage at lea s t w hi c h d ese rves censure, because it is liable to misconception. Private and public corre spondents have been startled and offended by the possibility which I assumed of the retreat of the Guards from London. It is not sufficient for the vindication of such a supposition to call public atten tion to the historical fact, that such a transaction has actually occurred, within our own memory, in the instances of the three great milit ar y P owers o f Europ e —Austria, Russia, and France. lam willing to discard these instances, and a host of minor analogous cases, and to admit that England, invaded, will be capable of sacrifices and exertions for which history will afford neither precedent nor parallel. It was, however, my object to convey the belief, which I retain, that if London is to be defended under cir cumstances which I have contemplated as possible, it must be defended in the field and not in Regent-street I,r Ludgate -hill. In specifying the Guards, I speci fied them not only as the natural, at present the only garrison in London, but as affording me, by their present high condition and the traditional lustre of their achievements, the strongest illustration my imagination could suggest of the inefficacy of merit against a certain disparity of numbers. Suppose them overmatched in the field—as on their own soil, or I be lieve on any other, they only could be overmatched—in virtue of such a disparity, and I believe they would be oflittle use within the city on which they had been forced to retire: My reason is, that a French force is not likely to be commanded by a man senseless enough to advance headlong into a large city, or engage him self in a street fight, while a prospect existed of in ducing it to capitulate by a bombardment. The latter was the course pursued by Napoleon in the plenitude of numbers and power at - Vienna ; the former by Whitelock at Buenos Ayres, from inca pacity ; by the Dutch, in 1830, from a desire to spare Brussels. The Archduke Charles, in 1809, wisely considered that he could turn the garrison of Vienna to better account in the Marchfeldt than in the streets of Vienna, and the Austrian capital was in French possession when he fought the battles of Aspern and Wagram. It involves at least no reflec tion on the military qualities of the household troops to suppose it possible that a persevering neglect of the Duke of Wellington's warnings might compel him e 0 issue to them such orders as the Archduke Charles issued to the men of Essling and Wagram. One word on the subject of the national feeling in France towards this country. Ido not feel that in stating a fact which I deplore, I have done so in a spirit which could tend to aggravate its intensity. It is indeed a fact, which in my view of it deserves our attention and demands our vigilance, but which ought not to receive bitter animadversion nor to excite corresponding feelings of animosity. In endeavour ing to judge of the feelings or conduct of others, it is prudent, as it is just, to imagine ourselves under the influence of analogous circumstances. I believe this country could have borne a serious military discomfi ture without conceiving any permanent or intense de sire for vengeance or reprisal. It is fairer, however, to picture to ourselves a naval catastrophe, produced, if you will, by a successful combination between France and other maritime Powers. What would then be the feeling of this country, supposing her fleets re-organized and her arsenals replenished ? It would be a feeling which statesmen might control and Christianity condemn, but which, should the op portunity occur for an encounter with France single• handed, would be something very like Irm leonum Frcena recusantum. It seems to me that the less reason we have to be astonished or offended at the existence of feelings which we have no cause ourselves to entertain, the greater is the necessity to provide against their natural consequences. - I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, Jan. 11. EGERTON ELLESMERE. AEROSTATION AND WARFARE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Ssa,—As the public has been supplied within the last few days with the highest military authority that our coasts are in a comparatively defenceless condi tion, and as a rumour prevails that our neighbours, the French, evince a spirit inclined to take advantage of our unprotected state, I deem this, a fitting time to endeavour, through your powerful aid, to provoke attention with respect to the modern science of aerostation, the utility of which, I seriously believe, will ultimately be developed to an important and immense extent in direct association with warfare. That the exordium of this communication gives expression to chimerical sentiments of a totally im practicable character many persons will no doubt aver, but'if it can be shown that aerostatic machines have alre;dy proved available as a means of obtaining valuable information for an army, and if also we can briefly and perspicuously demonstrate that balloons may in future be employed in services of the most momentous and useful kind, then do we meet and silence the objections of the unthinking, and at the same time give energy to the efforts of ingenuity which in many places and by many persons have been made for the furtherance of the noble science of bal looning, and which,lby a concentration of talent, may do much for the good of mankind. Firstly—l contend that although the infantile stage of aerostation has been principally characterised by exploits of a public and amusing description, yet there is no weighty reason why balloons may not be employed for military, philosophical, and useful pur poses besides, and although, in a scientific point of view, the reputation of this art is not so great as it might have been, and as it may be, still, as human skill is for the most part wisely permitted gradually to surmount difficulties and turn the inventions of men to a good account, so are there as reasonable hopes to be entertained of balloons as our forefathers might have felt with respect to ships, locomotives, &c., before time and united exertions crowned the labours of the wise, and the struggles of the determined class of mankind, with complete success. Nor is it a posi tive or presumptive evidence of labour in vain, be cause at present we cannot precisely contrive or define the peculiar kind of machinery requisite for guiding a balloon ; that is an end that may never be attained, or if at all, only probably in succession to subordinate contrivances and the mastery of superable difficulties. If then, at this juncture, one single ad vantage can be suggested, and that with reference to a subject of vital importance to the nation, I main tain that it is worthy the attention of the well-wishers of our country and the promoters of her good. Secondly —I will ext(act a paragraph from my magazine (Aerostatic) in order to show that balloons have already proved useful in warfare : " In the battle of Liege, at the beginning of the French Revolution, the success of the French was in a great measure owing to the discovery of the position and movements of the Austrians made by expert en gineers whom they sent up in a balloon. From this machine these engineers perceived whatever was transacted in the Austrian camp, and gave continual notice of it by notes thrown down among their own troops. By these means the number of troops in the Austrian camp, the quantity of their artillery, and their motions, were instantly made known to the French, who directed their attacks accordingly against the weakest point, and with great confidence, from their knowledge of the chance of success which this gave them. " It was not on this occasion alone that the French made use of balloons : they resorted to their aid at the battle of Fleurus, during the siege of Mentz, and afterwards at that of Ehenbrietzen. In all these cases the balloon was found to be of utility, but particularly in the last, where the great height of the fortress made it impossible, by any other means, to reconnoitre the internal parts. " When Robespierre filled France with widows and orphans, the Revolutionary Committee deputed Gar nerin, the aeronaut to the army of the north, then commanded by General Runsonnet. He appeared there in the capacity of Commissioner." Thirdly—l will briefly hint the way in which bal loons may be used as serviceable auxiliaries for our national defences, reserving, as expedient, the modus operandi for a tribunal before whom a f u ll di sc l osure Idi e compatible and prudent. Balloons, then, in warfare may believe be used in a twofold form— tracts sh oo „ for observation and for d es t ruc ti on . Th e a b ove ex that success has more tha n once attended the experiment as regards ob se r vat i on . I propose, therefore of there in the eve n t o f an i nvas i on, or rather in th e event y being a well• grounded apprehension of such that our south eastern coast shall be p r i o s „ it i a d tion, aud n i t )o may be kept on with several aerial observatories, so that a sharp l„ d k 0 up down the movements of Johnny Crup and on the other side of the Channelth eye, from a sufficient altitude, without the a he id u o m f an telescope, would command a vast circumf erence, a t of course, with the assistance of glasses, every but of operna tion desirable to be known could easily be detected. Any practical aeronaut will confirm the statement, that it is possible to obtain a good view of the French coast with a balloon from any of the Cinque ports. Sometimes of a clear day I have seen Sheerness, and the shipping in the Medway, soon after ascending from London; so I write from experi ence,tpealset 3; a n e p a a hry togs my mandyedt former yetm e twenty rex:inl aerial oduedn tarci propose thattheaus s e d hsr u est r er i dan electricei during the orl rather forestall it. I an aerial telegraph s pril h -oso a .sy l s l aAg s It is impossible to determine, in the event of an invasion, the amount of service that might be rendered in this way, and when we venture to estimate that for three or four thousand pounds, that part of our coast which has the greatest proxi mity, and which offers the most assailable front to France, that for this sum, I say, England might fly her aerial representatives, I see no cause, or physical impediment, why the hint should not at least be worth the offering. lam of opinion, also, that bal loons would have proved invaluable during the late war in India, and so must they ever be, affording, as they do, an opportunity to reconnoitre, which cannot be secured by other means. Lastly—For purposes of destruction, I have no hesitation in declaring that by the instrumentality of balloons the most powerful engine for wholesale annihilation may be used against an enemy. I will not affect to connect with this assertion any very wonderful invention, much less would I have it supposed that my views bear any analogy to the long range evolution. My plan is simple, effective, terrific and certain, re quiring merely the judgment of a skilful aeronaut and the application of an explosive compound that cannot well be projected from anything besides a balloon, but, so discharged from a moderate altitude, would inevitably annoy, destroy, and scatter an enemy, or, if required, demolish a citadel. The mis siWs which I could propose for use would not require that precision as to aim with which it is necessary to regulate the discharge of a cannon or a musket, whilst the effects would be such as to require no very lengthy prolongation of an engagement. Perhaps to say more on this head at present would be injudi cious ; therefore I shall conclude by advising that all persons who are interested in aeronautic science do exercise their spare time by devising schemes to carry out the plans proposed. And then, if our Gallic neighbours take French leave to visit our shores, they will find that aerostation, which owes its origin to French ingenuity, will become the instrument (like the gallows made by the carpenter, on which he was executed) of dealing out punishment with their own weapons. HENRY COXWELL. 10, Noel-street, Islington. COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS. The first Conversazione of the College of Preceptors took place on Tuesday evening at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street. The conversazione was attended by friends of the institution from all parts of the kingdom. The tables were covered with speci mens of some of the best elementary works for the use of scholars, and with apparatus illustrative of me chanics, and other branches of primary instruction. Amongst the gentlemen present were Mr. Turrell, President, Brighton ' • Mr. Lane, Plymouth ; Mr. Wharton, Brighton; Rev. Dr. Wilson, Chelsea; Rev. Mr. Lonsdale, London ; Dr. Reid, London ; Mr. Green, Clapham • Mr. Robson, London ; Mr. Seg gins, Sudbury ; 111 r. Coleman, Folkstone ; Dr. Hop kins, Birmingham ; Mr. Parker, Secretary, College of Preceptors ; Air. Walker, Maidstone. Dr. REID favoured the association by reading a paper on the relation of practical science to the wants of society and the extent to which it should become an object of attention to those he addressed, and to all entrusted with the primary education of youth. He said it is impossible to examine the present posi tion of education without observing the more just views which daily experience is unfolding as to its nature and capabilities and the relation in which it ought to be associated with the national institutions of all civilised communities. No fact is more pre-eminently expressive of the pro gress of this question in the present time than the institution of that association in whose name we have now assembled, and if the formation of public bodies for promoting literary and scientific pursuits be a praiseworthy object, sanctioned by universal practice wherever knowledge is appreciated, surely there is no body of men who are more likely to ad vance the cause in which they are engaged, by meet ing together for the :purpose of friendly intercourse, and by examining and discussing, from time to time, the numerous topics that bear upon the progress of education, than those who are members of the College of Preceptors. We hail this reunion as an object equally important to society and to the members of the profession ; the great body of teachers have been too long isolated from each other ; they have felt the want of that strength which union in a good cause can alone insure. Considering the present meeting as the commencement of that department of the col lege which may finally be to its members, their society for discussing every advantage which the pro gress of the times may bring to bear on the great business of education,kwe propose to devote the brief remarks which the present opportunity permits us to offer, to the notice of some facts connected with the relations of practical science to the wants of society and the extent to which this should become an object of attention with those intrusted with the primary education of youth. The progress of physical science, within the last century, has been so great, and has so largely extended the power of man over the material world that it may truly be said to constitute a new era in the history of mankind. It has multiplied the resources that may be brought to bear on his rela tions as a social, a moral, and a religious being, as well as those that minister to his natural wants. The prac tical application of the great principle of induction to the elaboration of physical truths has given the key which has explained the actual composition of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdom, and traced the reciprocal iinfluence of the different elements in maintaining the order and harmony that subsists be tween them. And when, amidst countless operations of art and science, we see such striking examples of its application as the development of the steam-engine, the railway, the daguerreotype, the electrotype, the electric telegraph, recent discoveries in astronomy, or the power of rendering the living man unconscious of the severest surgical operations, we ought not to be surprised at still further discoveries, but rather look forward from day to day to the further evolution of those manifestations of the power of the Creator, throughout every portion of the material world, that may be expected to arise from the pursuit of science with those more extended means and appliances that are now available for this purpose. Great as its influence is, however, it does not ap pear that physical science has yet been recognised to an extent, or admitted to a position commensurate I with the blessing which it appears to be capable of bestowing on mankind. The chairs devoted to phy sical science in our universities have, undoubtedly, done much to extend a knowledge of this subject throughout the length and breadth of the land, in addition to the purposes they have served in meeting the wants of professional education ' • and many new institutions, as well as th e e ff or t s o f individuals, have given an impulse to its onward course, while in another sphere new educational establishments for special professions and various kindred associations awaken an interest for such pursuits among a still wider class of the population, but these do not meet the great and essential wants of the people, however important and valuable in themselves. I assume, then, it is a fact capable of the most specific demon - stration, that in the present position of society the comforts of all classes would be greatly increased, the average duration of human life prolonged, the produce of innumerable operations of art augmented, the labour, the danger, the toil, and the exhaustion of life attending others diminished, and the time for education, reilection, and social improvement very much increased, were the great body of teachers merely to introduce that knowledge of the more im portant elements of science, which they could offer in successive years to their pupils between 8 and 16 years of age. They would thus awaken their atten tion to the great phenomena of nature and of art. An hour a week devoted to the systematic expositions of the subjects brought before their notice, and a running commentary and examination on the state ments made in such manuals as might be adopted, would of itself prove invaluable, and would no doubt in time be amplified and illustrated by such diagrams and familiar experiments, as each might ultimately introduce in his own locality, and in reference to the probable future occupations of the mass of his pupils. Let no one say that this course is impracticable ; it has already been introduced epoiinninitp a sufficient number of sch oo l s t o importance n r e e e s t of; neither sn ehn l f e n t r m a a n t y i n o n n . R under valuecompletevery in r et i h t v s ee e tn l:, eon a rt n k d ia no c df a r ne r xa y tt ueatrlloes extension, t ph h pel i ni t eed t v h e e irn s i e tt e h d ies s principle enunc i ated, every fact demonstrated, may be mofanfuifteusrteediminp operations of art. But it is not merely the acquaint ance with facts that is important : the acquisition of that spirit of philosophical inquiry which has ever been adverted to as far beyond any limited agreements of philosophy, would be facilitated and enhanced. To e many it would present the o n ly opportunity that they may ever have of attai n in g any k nowledge of science, higher before they are i mmerse d i n t h e cares, the business, and the an x i e ti es o f lif e . T o ot h ers, it will enable them to enter u p on pro f ess i ona l stud i es of a b range, and more adapted to the wants of the times. To all it will convey a lesson of the vast extent of human knowledge, at the very time it gives them a more convincing opinion than they can otherwise have of it should its imperfections, p b e e rf a e c c ko ti n on: ,l , e a d n gd deofanthd apehpurienciilaittd.yewith which The PRESIDENT complimented Dr. Reid upon the admirable paper which he had drawn up, and said Struck that it vas not their i n t en ti on to make speeches, or to di s pl ay their oratorical powers, but if any ideas had the subjaencyt it one ' they sh ou ld b e h appy to hear them, y opinion that might assist in th e e l a b orat i on of m ig r. t pLroadzsie a ce y ri; e l hey of ha r d i in - view. A h l or an • certain mouth, said that Dr. shown th em t h at b Reid had s amount d f o physical . p o wDeirds they h e not think that they might e re h c a ei d v p e ai i d nto their s c h oo l s much attention any amount of agent s ? u LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 184 S, to the study of natural history, and he could do as • much by that as by classical instruction, or by ma thematics. He claimed for the principles which Dr. Reid had laid down the same benefit as resulted from classical or mathematical study. Dr. WILsoN said that the great difficulty in im parting instruction was, that human beings would not think till it was forced upon them. The culti vation of the intellect, on moral and religious grounds, was the true foundation to go upon. Till parents and guardians aided tutors in doing that they never would have an efficient system of instruction. To inculcate the great moral principles of life was the duty of all parents. In educating, they must look at primary principles ; if they took partial views, arising from any particular development around them, they would be sure to go wrong. He called upon parents to inculcate upon their children the principles of self denial, self-instruction, and self-reliance. The great fault was, that parents would not do that. The parent, generally speaking, would not allow the tutor to be his locum tenems. That was a serious error. Very often remarks impressed upon the mind of the child became the germ of future greatness. The effects of the moral anti religious training bestowed upon lads in the north in his early days was most beneficial. Upon their arrival in London they used to be imme diately received into merchants' offices, as it was known that they could be trusted. He was sorry to say that that was no longer the case. All educa tion was of no value unless based on moral and re ligious truth. Mr. WHARTON hoped that they should have many opportunities to meet and:compare opinions. He hoped that in future they would adhere together like bro thers—(Cheers)—feeling zealous to raise themselves to their proper position in society, and zealous to raise the standard of education to the highest pitch to which it could be brought. One of the chief duties of a teacher was to teach the boys how to learn. Mr. WALKER observed that it was not so much the study itself as the mode of study that produced results.—(Hear.) A general conversation ensued, in the course of which various facts and circumstances bearing upon the subject of the paper read, were stated and ob served upon. A vote of thanks was given to Dr. Reid and to the President, and the members separated, apparently high pleased with their social and instructive inter course. THE AMERICAN CONGRESS. In the sitting of the House of Representatives at Washington on the 21st ult., Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, moved the following resolutions:— " Resolved, That the existing war with Mexico was just and necessary on our part, and has been prosecuted with the sole purpose of vindicating our national rights and honour, and of securing an honourable peace. " Resolved, That the rejection of our repeated overtures of peace leaves this Government no alter native but the vigorous prosecution of the war, in such manner, consistent with the law of nations, as will make the enemy feel all its calamities and bur dens, and until Mexico shall agree to a just and honourable peace, providing satisfactory indemnity in money or territory, for past injuries, including the expenses of the war. " Resolved, That the amount of indemnity must necessarily depend upon the obstinacy of the enemy and the duration of the war." _ _ Mr. Stephens gave notice that he would offer a proposition as a substitute, in case the question before the House is voted down.—(Loud cries of " Read, read.") It was read, prefaced by a preamble, and asserted that the war with Mexico was not waged or prose cuted for the purpose of conquest, or for the subju gation or dismemberment of that empire ; and that it is the desire of the United States that hostilities shall terminate, on terms honouraWe to both parties, and the establishment of a rightful boundary and proper indemnity to our citizens for claims against that country. The whole to be adjusted by negotiation, according to the constitutional forms of each Govern ment respectively. Mr. Botts—l have another—(Cries of "Read Bott's resolution—read, read.") The Speaker (after knocking to restore order) — No gentleman can present resolutions at this time as a matter of. right ; it is generally a matter of cour tesy.—(Renewed cries of " Read, read," and much anxiety visible.) The resolutions were twelve in number ; insisting, among other things, that the war was not brought on by the act of Mexico, but by the President's ordering the march of our army into the territory then in the possession of Mexico ; that we have no right to claim indemnity for the expenses of a war brought on by the act of a public functionary ; that our troops be withdrawn to the borders of Texas, where they were at the time of annexation ; that no territory of Mexico can be annexed to this country without in volving agitation and sectional difficulties ; that the assertion of the doctrine that might makes right, is the freebooter's plea and the tyrant's song ; and that, therefore, this Government cannot insist on the dis memberment of that empire as the price of peace; that if, on the restoration of peace, necessity may occur for gaining legal possession of a harbour in California, we should pay for it; and that, if it be determined by the people that this war shall be further prosecuted, then it becomes the duty of all parties to support our armies, and vote money to carry it on with energy. Mr. Thompson, of Indiana, had a very short re solution, and it was read—That, in the opinion of Congress, the President of the United States should forthwith communicate to the Government of Mexico, that peace may be established on the following terms :-1. The boundary between the United States and Mexico should begin at the Gulf of Mexico, striking the Nueces, &c. ; that the Government of the United States will purchase to 36.30 to the Pa cific Ocean, to Monterey, &a., in California. [ln consequence of the noise in the hall we could not ascertain precisely what was meant.] And that, in consideration of this, we should pay to Mexico such sum of money as may be agreed on by Commis sioners ; that this Government shall ask no indemnity for the expenses of the war; that as soon as a treaty of peace shall be made our army shall be withdrawn from Mexico, &c. Mr. Toombs—Here is one I intend to offer. — (Cries of " Read, read.") It was read as follows :—" Resolved, That neither the national honour, nor the interests of this Govern ment, demand the dismemberment of Mexico or its annexation, as an indispensable condition to the restoration of peace."— (Members were standing in all parts of the hall.) Mr. Van Dyke also sent up to the clerk's table a proposition, which was read, to the effect that the marching of our troops to the Rio Grande was an aggression on the part of the United States, and produced the conflict between the two countries ; that our armies should be withdrawn from Mexico, and afterwards commissioners sent there to treat for peace. Mr. Stephens—l give notice of my intention to debate the resolution offered by the gentleman from Illinois. (The original submitted by Mr. Rich ardson.) Mr. Botts—l move that the several propositions be printed, and made the order of the day. The resolutions of Mr. Richardson lie over. IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY AIEETINGS.—WOLVER. HAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.—The first of the usual_ quar terly meetings of the ironmasters of ,South Staffordshire and Shropshire for the present year was at Walsall yesterday; and to-day a second took place at she Swan Hotel, iu this town. The attendance was far rilim numerous, the great business being usually transacted at the Birmingham meeting, which will be held in that town to morrow. From the tone which pervaded the discussions to-day, it may be asserted that in all proba bility prices will range during the next quartfr at a reduction of about 2/. from the nominal prices fixed at the quartz rly meetings held in October last. The exten sive turn-out of nhe colliers, and the consequent and increaging suspension of iron works, may, however , have the eff,ct of advancing the price of some, if not all, descriptions of iron. Stocks are said to be low, and there appears, even amongst the manufacturers of arti cles for domestic use, little disposition to give orders. COURTS-MARTIAL AT CHATLIAM.—Thres private soldiers, tried at this garrison by general courts-maitial, were brought out of the prison of the main guard and received their sentences in the presence of the troops. Private Robert Carter, of the,lst Battalion Rifle Brigade, for desertion, was sentenced to imprisonment for twelve lunar months. Private Edward Carter, of the 89th Re giment, for having stolen, at Sheerness, from Ensign Atkinson, of the 89th, a purse containing two 61 Bank of England notes, and a quantity of wearing apparel, be longing to that officer, was sentenced to two years' Un prisonaient. Private bleorge Auld, of the 7th Dragoon Guards, for desertion, was sentenced to two years' im- Prisoninent, with hard labour. Tho prisoners wore removed under a military escort to the military prison, Fort Clarence, to undergo their sentences. MANSLAUGIITER.—Yesterday an inquest was held at Lea Bridge, on the body of William Ives, aged 37, laboorar, whose death resulted from injuries inflicted by Joshua getup and Daniel_ oradaington, in a violent and unprovoked 4:tlault upon the deceased on Christin a, - It was found, an a pat modem examination, th at four of the ribs of the unfortunate roan we re fractured, which had p ro d uce d a dh es i on of the pleura, and caused death. At the suggestion of the Coroner the inquest was ad journed. HINT TO PURCHASERS OF HOUSES. The pur chaser, as remarked in Mr. Hosking's new "Guide," must necessarily pay more for a well-built and well., drained, than for an ill-built and undrained house, but, buying th e l atter, he soon finds to his cost that he has bought too c h eap l y; —the walls bulge, nit t e h rs e , f b ly n r g s w g i a t p b e: g and creak; the lead on th e flats ' and out drips, after puckering in summer, cracks in winter, and as the snow thaws the ceilings fall; whilst the cess pool overflows or returns its filth to tho house - by the drains which led it thither;—he suffers in health and in purse, and t h us t h e pu b lic b members suffers.— Builder. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Jan. 12. MAC FUN v. SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. This case was tried at Guildhall during the last sittings, before the Lord Chief Baron, and a verdict entered for plaintiff for the sum of 1261. 13s. 10d. Mr. MARTIN now moved for a rule nisi to set aside the verdict for plaintiff, and enter same for defendant upon the last issue. The plaintiff, it appeared, for warded a bale of silk by the South-Western Railway from Andover to London. The bale duly arrived at the Nine Elms Station, and was then transferred to Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, the carriers, to be by them conveyed to its destination, but was alleged to be stolen by one Johnson, in the employ of Messrs. Chaplin and Horne. The question now raised was whether the company were liable to make good to the plaintiff the value of the bale, on the ground that it was feloniously stolen by a servant of the company. The Learned Counsel contended that he was a ser vant of Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, and not of the company. The COURT took time to considar. IN RE WILLIAM CORBETT. Mr. Cobbett appeared to show cause against the re turn to a writ of habeas corpus, granted on a former day, calling upon Mr. lludson, the keeper of the Queen's Prison, to say why he detained Air. Cobbett in custody. The ground of Mr. Cobbett's applica tion was, that he was placed by the keeper of the prison under an illegal restraint, having been removed on the 24th December last from that portion of the prison properly appropriated to prisoners confined for debt, to another part of the prison where fraudulent debtors, and others classed as No. 1, were confined. It was submitted that the removal to a part of the prison where the prisoner was subjected to increased privation and restraint, without the authority of any competent tribunal, amounted to an escape, and en titled the applicant to call upon the Court to order his discharge. Mr. UNTHANK appeared for Mr. Hudson, the keeper of the Queen's Prison, who acted in this case under the orders of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and alleged that he had no desire or design to treat Mr. Cobbett harshly. The facts were, that Mr. Cobbett was proceeded against by his creditors under the;.compulsory clauses of the Insol vent Debtors' Act, 1 and 2 Vic., c. 110. He was called upon to file his schedule in the Insolvent Court, and having declined doing so, after an order made to that effect, under the regulations made by the Secretary of State for the government of the prison, he was liable to be treated as a fraudulent debtor, and placed amongst that class of prisoners. The keeper of the prison had no discreticn, and was bound to obey the orders of the Secretary of State, and justified on this ground. The Court was occupied for a considerable portion of the day with the arguments in this matter, and after some deliberation amongst themselves, the Barons declared their opinions seriatim. The Barons were unanimously of opinion that it was not shown there had been an escape, and that Mr. Cobbett must be remanded to the custody of the keeper of the Queen's Prison. W hether he was kept in one part of the prison or another was immaterial : he was still in the proper custody. The Lord Chief Baron, how ever, doubted whether the Court had any authority to interfere with the internal regulations of the prison, as settled by the Secretary of State, and Mr. Baron Platt expressed a very decided opinion that the appli cant ought not to be consigned to that part of the prison appropriated to the class of fraudulent debtors, as no fraud was established against him. The Court declined at present pronouncing any opinion as to the expediency or propriety of the regulations made by the Secretary of State for the government of the prison. Mr. Cobbett was ordered to be remanded. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. William Death, warehouseman to Mr. Ormiston, of 26, St. Martin's-lane, commission agent, was brought up in the custody of Daniel Forrester, upon the charge of having embezzled money to a consider able amount, the property of his employer. The prosecutor, who deals in articles of brass, stated that it was the duty of the prisoner to sell the articles and receive the money and pay it over to him. At the end of December, 1847, a considerable defi ciency was discovered in the stock, and the prisoner could not give a satisfactory explanation of that defi ciency, and was placed in the custody of the officer. The prisoner said he had no objection to be re manded for a week, if such was the wish of the prosecutor. Mr. Ormiston said he believed that he should by next Wednesday be prepared with evidence of the extent of the plunder. The prisoner was remanded accordingly. John Jacobs was charged with having robbed Mr. Moses Juda, of Houndsditch, clothier. David Hart, foreman to the prosecutor, stated that the prisoner, on the 27th of December, was at the warehouse, and that after a gooa deal hesitation on the subject of credit, the prosecutor agreed to allow the prisoner to take some goods upon the understand ing that they were to be paid for or returned on the Monday. The prisoner went away upon receiving the articles, but subsequently returned, and said he had just seen " Mo " (meaning the prosecutor), and made an arrangement that he was to have two coats, two pairs of trousers, and three waistcoats more. These clothes were accordingly delivered to him in the belief that the application was sanctioned by Mr. Juda, who, it afterwards appeared, had not given his consent to such increased credit at all. Mr. Buchanan, solicitor, who conducted the pro secution, asked the witness whether, if the prisoner had not made the representation that Mr. Juda con sented, the clothes would have been given to him ? The witness replied decidedly in the negative. The prosecutor said he was in the habit of letting the prisoner have goods upon terms called " sale or return," and had supplied him with some on the 7th of December, but the clothes which the foreman had delivered to him were received from the stock without the necessary authority. The prisoner was remanded. Mr. Wallis, a person of very respectable appearance and address, was charged with having endeavoured to extort the sum of 2d. from Mr. Trollope, tea-dealer and grocer, of Eastcheap. The case was rather a curious one, for there was no doubt of the respectability of either party. Mr. Trollope said—The prisoner entered my shop to buy two pennyworth of liquorice, and I said to my little boy, who was behind the counter—" Toni, give the gentleman a piece of liquorice." Tom went to wrap the liquorice in a piece of paper, but the defendant took off the paper, and giving it to Tom, told him to be careful of it, put down a fourpenny-piece, and took the change from me-2d. He then left the shop contented. Tom returned to the business he had been at, and so did I, when in walked the pri soner again, and coming over to me, said, he had received the wrong change, as he had put down six pence. lat once opened the drawer in which I had deposited the fourpenny-piece, emptied it, and showed it to him, and it happened that there was no sixpence at all amongst the silver in it. He, however, per sisted in his statement, and I referred to Tom as to the money the man had given me. " Oh," said the prisoner to him, " you dog, you will swear to any thing your master will say." I then sent for a policeman ; but in the policeman's presence he per sisted in his statement, and charged me with having put the money out of sight, and I was determined to bring him before your Lordship to know whether he or I was the guilty person. The policeman who took Mr. Wallis into custody said, he had searched the defendant, and found upon him Is. 3d., and had discharged him upon his own bail. Mr. is l , r allis said, the statement of Mr. Trollope was remarkaNe for the number of falsehoods it con tained in a smal.l compass, and most willingly re ferred to the policeman, who was an unprejudiced witness, to arbitrate between them as to the correct ness of their statements. He says he emptied the till. He did nothing of the kind ; and it must be very singular, indeed, if a man who does so much business as he does, had not sixpence in the till. I certainly gave him sixpence, but what he did with It I do not know. He also commits himself to a falsehood when he says I went away. I did not quit the shop; but after I had received the change, rt. ^ ine mbering that I had given sixpence , I turned and m in en to tio h n is ed hea th l e to fa th et r strong tau. g then took is , I himself into an almost fighting attitude. I appeal the officer as to the conduct l r a o n u g n u ri age, p of both, and I must repeat again that the truth is nut in him. eate ri n h a e nd co u in se p The LC/RD MAYOR—This may be a mistake. There are, at any tat, two to one in favour of Mr. Trol : lope's version ; and it appears that Mr. hWallis d was going away under the impression that e harge but lam of his right change. I di smiss the c opinion that the complai nant is right. , o d, I am satisfied. Mr. Trollope—Very well, my r I assure your Lordsh i p that there day great many are a experiments of this kin d made every upon us, and is necessary to protect us. wallis—At all events you had the sixpence, - qu irrion you for the twopence.— Mr. and I shag D " (A laugh,) The complainantGaua HLL.nd detel lint then departed. T -11 n Elizabeth White was brought before Sir Pixie, charged with assaulting Mr. Alderman Sidney, M.P., merely because a prison is more comfortable than a workhouse as now managed. Mr. Alderman Sidney stated, that as he was going up Ludgate-hill on the previous afternoon he felt a slight blow on the hat, and on turning about he found the prisoner was his assailant, and she gave him a slap on the cheek. He asked her how he had given her offence ? She said she was in great distress ; she was discharged from prison on Monday and had no place to go to, and she thought she had better com mit an assault on a magistrate than damage a shop keeper's window. He told her she must have a parish, which was bound to sup port her if she waA destitute, and he asked what pi irish she belonged to ? She said she belonged to Exete r. He offered to pay her fare down to Exeter. She said she would never go back to the workhouse then e; they did not treat poor people so kindly as in pris on, and she would live in the prisons till she obtained some situation. She had not assaulted him with the intention to injure him, and therefore he did not wish to press hardly upon her ; arid .with that observation he would leave her in the hands of the sitting magistrate. Sir J. PIRIE asked the prisoner what she had to say to this charge ?—She replied, she had nothing to say ; the Alderman had stated the case fairly. Sir J. PIRIE remanded her. till Saturday to con sider how he would dispose of the matter. BO IV- S TREE 7. Emma Hall, a servant, was charged with having attempted to commit suicide by drowning herself in the reservoir of the Green Park. Constable 89 C stated that he saw the young woman jump into the reservoir opposite Piccadilly about nine o'clock in the morning. He procured a pole, and succeeded, after she had disappeared twice from the surface of the water, in dragging her to the bank and then taking her out of the water. He conveyed her, in a very exhausted state, to the work house in Mount-street, where the usual restoratives were effectually applied. It appeared that the defendant, who had got into bad company, having taken a situation in a house in Curzon-street which turned out to be a bro thel, formed the resolution to destroy herself when ever she could get out upon an errand. The mother of the young woman was sent for. She appeared greatly distressed by the occurrence, and implored the magistrate to procure her, if possible, the shelter of some charitable asylum, as she was herself, being 87 years of age, wholly unable to ren der her any assistance. It transpired, out of the court, that the old woman was, formerly, for twenty-five years, the laundress at the Chambers of Mr. Twyford, the late magistrate at this court, then a student and resident in the Middle Temple. By the recommendation of Mr. lIENna- the de fendant was received into an asylum for servants. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. The number of destitute persons who have received temporary relief from the funds of the poor-box between January and December last year is 800, and the amount of money divided among these persons, in sums varying from ls. to 11. or 21. is upwards of 2001. More than half the persons receiving relief were Irish, and money has either been given to them to help them on to their own country, or, if of good character and resident here, to give them the means of getting their own living at some industrious occupa tion. Another class who have experienced the season able relief afforded at this Court are female servants, who, when their money has been spent and their clothes pawned, and thus reduced to a state which prevented them from taking another situation, have had their clothes redeemed, or some trifle advanced to enable them to engage in a new service with decent clothing. The aged poor, as a matter of course, have been liberal participators in the charitable donations from this Court. MARYLEBOIVE. Mr. Broughton has received 101. from the Mercers' Company for the poor-box of the court; the Magis trate requested that our reporter would acknowledge the donation. WORSHIP-STREET. John Larney and James Lepine, one aged but ten years, and the other scarcely a twelvemonth older, and both diminutive for their respective ages, were charged with committing a series of robberies at the shops of various tradesmen in the neighbourhood of Hackney. Police-constables Clarke and Francis, of the N division, were passing through the Cambridge-heath road at five o'clock on the preceding evening, when they met the two prisoners, who were evidently trying to avoid observation, and noticing that Larney, the youngest, had something bulky secreted beneath his jacket, they stopped and searched him, and dis covered a lady's shawl, of a valuable description and nearly new, rolled up in a bundle, while concealed in his trousers were a new pair of women's shoes and a pair of French clogs. Larney accounted for his possession of the articles by stating that they had been given to him by his componion to carry for him, and :the other said that he picked them up in the street, but from subsequent inquiries they had ascer tained that each of the articles formed the produce of a separate robbery. Mr. James Abbott, a dyer, in Mare-street, Hack ney, identified the shawl, which he said was worth at least two guineas, and stated that he had seen it safe behind the counter less than two hours before the prisoner's apprehension, and the theft had been com mitted so cleverly he had no notion he had been robbed until, to his surprise, the officers brought the shawl back for his identification. Mr. Richard Cole, a haberdasher in Sussex-place, in the same neighbourhood, recognised the shoes produced as his property • they must have been stolen about the same time as the shawl from Mr. Abbott's, but, as in that person's case, he was not aware of his loss until asked if the shoes were his. It was intimated by the constables that if a remand were granted they should be able to establish one or more other charges against the prisoners, one of whom had been before in custody, and the other wa known to have been for a long time past a most inde fatigable young thief,:and generally effected his robbe ries without suspicion by watching the shopkeeper out of his shop, then darting in with a box of lucifer matches, which he presented for sale with a distressed tale and face if detected, and if not, disappeared with whatever he could lay his hands on. Alderman, the gaoler, proved that Larney, young as he was, had been twice previously convicted of felonies, and each time sentenced to a lengthened term of imprisonment, both of them having occurred since the month of March last. The prisoners now mutually recriminated upon each other, each declaring that his confederate had stolen the goods and handed them to him, while the other as stoutly denied it, and Mr. HAMMILL at length ordered them both to be committed eupon the two cases at present gone into, and directed them to he brought up again for the pro duction of the others deposed to by the officers. A morose-looking fellow named Joseph Jebb, a marine-store dealer in Spitalfields, was next charged with the following brutal conduct to his wife : The wife, whose clothes were much stained with blood, and who exhibited a fearful triangular cut across one of her eyes, sufficiently deep to admit the end of a finger, said that her husband had been for a long time past in the habit of beating her cruelly with a rope as thick as her wrist, and having on the night before refused to allow her to go to bed, and compelled her to sleep on the floor, on the following morning suddenly seized her, without the slightest provocation, by the neck, beat her about :the head with his fists until she was stunned, and finally struck her a blow in the face, which produced the cut then visible, and which she felt satisfied must have been inflicted with some instrument. Her husband was then proceeding to beat her with the rope before mentioned, but was deterred by a neighbour whom her cries of " murder " had alarmed, and she availed herself of that opportunity to escape into the street, and place herself under the protection of the police. The prisoner generally denied all that had been stated against him, but the magistrate gave no cre dence to his assertions, and sentenced him to pay the full penalty of 61., or two months' imprisonment, and in addition to put in bail for his good behaviour for the next three months. He could not do either, and was carried off in the van. THAMES. A tall and powerful man, named Paul Darlington, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with steal ing a card of gold rings from the shop window of Mr. R. Carpenter, pawnbroker and jeweller, in Charles street, St. George's-in-the-East. Yesterday morning Mr. Carpenter was in his shop, and saw the prisoner in the street passing his window, and as he did so he pushed his elbow through a large pane of plate glass, which he smashed and drew some through it. The prosecutor immediatel y went out, andcalled " Stop thief. The prisoner was running as hard as he could, and Mr. Carpenter pur sue d hi m , and although he did not see him stopped, he came up with him directly he was stopped, and found him in charge of a police constable in the Commercial load, Mr. Carpenter took hold of him and saw a card with some gold rings attached to it in his coat pocket. Mr. Ca rpenter took ,it out of the pocket, and the prisoner strugglei hard and said, "Let me go," at the same time dropping some gold rings on the road. They were picked up and handed to the police constable. On the prisoner's arrival at the station house he was searched and 10 more rings were found loose in his pocket. On Mr. Carpenters return to his shop he missed a card from the window which had con tained 27 gold rings, worth 61. George Simpson, w ho heard the e window br ea k, a police consta . ble, 140 K, who and saw the prisoner running with the card in his hand, and Bagley, caught the prisoner as he was running, and took from him a card on which were 13 gold rings and found 10 more in his pocket, were next examined. The prisoner, who offered no defence, was corn 'ted for trial. LAMBETH. t ' , 4e names did not transpire, --Ivice and assistance allowing this matter to remain there in large opals pits for a length of time. The nuisance thus created is in the midst of a densely populated neighbour hood of the more humble and indigent classes; and the consequence is that fever and disease are raging to a most frightful extent in the immediate vicinity, and the removal of the nuisance was not only ne cessary but absolutely urgent. An application had been made to the board of guardians of the parish of St. Mary's, Newington, who were the only parties under the Act of Parliament that could do so, to take the necessary means to put down the nuisance, but the answer received was, that they (the guardians) did not feel justified in going to the expense of medical certifi cates, which were necessary as a preparatory pro ceeding, and which expense could not be recovered from the offenders. That the medical certificate should not be an object or an obstacle, they (the ap plicants) not only offered to pay the expense, but sent to the clerk of the board the certificates of two pro perly qualified surgeons, and hoped that this would have the effect of moving them in the matter. In this, however, they were disappointed, for, on next applying, they were handed a resolution, passed at a meeting of the board of guardians, and of which the following is a copy : " That, taking into consideration the difficulty attending the carrying out of the Act of 9th and 10th Victoria, chap. 96, for the more speedy removal of nuisances, and 'the fact that its operation ceases at the expiration of the present session of Parliament, this meeting is of opinion that the board would not be justified in taking proceedings in the matter." So that thus they (the applicants) were left without the means of getting speedily rid of the nuisance ; and therefore it was that they had determined on waiting on, and taking the advice of, the magistrate of the district. Mr. NORTON, on referring to the Act commonly called the Nuisance Act, observed that the board of guardians of the parish of Newington were certainly the parties to put the law into motion in the matter, and he could not account for their refusal to do so in a case like the present, where disease was engendered and human life endangered by the nuisance, and more particularly when the expenses attendant on their proceedings were offered to be defrayed by the appli cants. He (Mr. Norton) had no doubt whatever that by mandamus they could be compelled to act ; but, as he was always an advocate for mild and con ciliatory measures, he would send an officer belonging to the court, with the applicants, to the clerk of the guardians, to state to the gentlemen that it was his (Mr. Norton's) opinion that the case was one in which the board of guardians should interfere to put down the nuisance. The applicants (one of whom said he was the owner of some houses in the vicinity of the nuisance, and that at that moment fever was raging amongst the tenants) expressed their thanks to the magis trate for his kindness and attention, and left the court in company with Redford, one of the sum moning officers. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 12. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate and East ern Junction, 2 1 4 dis.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Che shire Junction, 311. Shares, 5% dig. ex int.—Ditto (late C. and B.), 16 ex int.—Ditto, 22/. Shares, 7 dis. ex int.— Eastern Counties, 16 'East Lancashire, New, 3N dis. ex int.—Glasgow and Dumfries, N i ex int.—Great Northern, 61. Is. 3d. dis. ex int.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, I ,Q p.—Ditto, 32/. Shares, 4y B dis.—Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 1 dis.—London and North-Western, Quarters, New, VA p.—Ditto, Quarters (A and B), 4 1 4 p.—Manches ter, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 1, par ex int.—Ditto, Preference, 1 / 9 p.—Midland, 113—Ditto, 401. Shares, 44%—Ditto, Halves, 11 / a c. dig. ex int.— North Staf fordshire, par—North Union (A), 207—North-Western, 4% dis.—Preston and Wyre, Halves (A), 3j B D.—Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Cheshire, Preference, 2% p.—South-Eastern and Dover, 31 1 %—Ditto, No. 4, I% dis. ex int.—York,New castle, and Berwick (N. and B. Extensions), No. 2,2% p.— Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 1% p. ex int. —Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Cheshire, 4% dis. ex int. MANCHESTER, Jlx. 12. _ _ STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 5 13-16 ex int.—Bolton, Black burn, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire (A), 6 1 % ex int.—East Lancashire, New Quarters, 13.16 dis.—Leeds and Thirsk, Preferential,ll% dis.—London and North-Western (Manches ter and Birmingham), Quarters (B), —Maachester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire (Sheffield and Lincolnshire), 4% c. die. —North Staffordshire, IA dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 3,1% dis. ex int.—South Yorkshire, Doncaster, &c., 2 dis. LEEDS, JAN. 12. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting ham,and Boston, 2 1 4 dis.—East Lancashire, 21X— Ditto, New, 3% dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire ( West Riding Union), 575. dis.—Leeds and Thirsk, 16t4 dis.—North Bri tish, Thirds, Is. dis. —North Staffordshire, par—North- Western, 412 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, No. 2 (New Berwicks), 535. 9d. p. BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 12. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—Business was somewhat brisker to day, and in some descriptions of stock there was a slight advance. The sales were—London and Blackwell, 4% Midland (Bristol and Birmingham), 12 1 / 2 —Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 2 1 ,4 dis.—Birmingham, Wolver hampton, and Stour Valley, 21s. 3d. dis.—North Stafford shire, la p.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 3 1 A c. dis. ex int.—Ditto (B), 2 1 / 4 dis. ex int.—Shropshire Union, 2% dis. ex jut. HULL, JAN. 12. STOCK EXCHANGE —The sales are—North British, Quar ters, 3s. dis.—Ditto, Thirds, 2s. 6d. p.—North Staffordshire, 3s. p.—North-Western, 41; 2 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Bor. wick, Extensions, No. 1, BRISTOL, JAN. 12. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Great Western, Quar ters, V A p.—Ditto, New 171. Shares, 1% p.— Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester, 1 1 4 3 die.—London and North-Western, 152 k. YORK, JAN. 11. _ STOCK Excnaticin.—The sales are— Great Northern, 41. 6s. 6d. ex int.—Lancashire and Yorkshire (West Riding Union), 24s.—North British, Thirds, 38s. 6d.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (original), 31 1 / . l 2 —Ditto, N.. 2 (New Berwick), 12%. VICARAGE OF CAMBERWELL.—The advowson of the vicarage of Camberwell, and the right of presents• tion, subject to the life of the preseat incumbent, who is forty-four years of age, were offered for sale by auc tion yesterday at Garraway's. Tho particulars stated the gross income of the vicarage to be 2,2441. 15s. Ild., from the tithe rent charge, ground rents, surplice fees, and Easter offerings, from which the outgoings were 1401 Ils. There was a full attendance, and a good deal of discussion took place upon the terms of the sale and other points. The first tffer was 10,0004, the highest 12,6001. The reserve was 12,7001., and that amount not beinz bid the sale was not effected. NOTTINGHAM HOUSES NEVER BURNT.—At Not• tingham, where gypsum abounds, the flours of all houses were, till of late years, universally formed by an almost exactly similar process to that employed at Pari s — s t out reeds, however, being strewed over the joists as a basis, instead of split battens. The practice at Nottingham adds small coal and cinders to the plaster of t'aris (gypsum) in making the mortar, and the surface is at once trowelled over to finish. In this manner is pro duced an almost indestructible floor, capable of any surface, and so secure a protection against fire, through its imperviousness to air, that, notwithstanding the un ceiled and exposed joists below, houses in Nottingham are said never to be burnt, whilst the floors are said to be free alike from damp and from vermin.—Builder. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—A Gentleman Sixty Years of Age Cured of a Dreadful Bad Leg by Holloway's Oint ment and Pills.—Mr. Nicholas Page, residing at New sham, had been suffering for three years with wounds on his leg of a most awful nature, to cure which he tried a great variety of specifics, and consulted nearly every surgeon within twenty miles of his house, yet all failed to give relief ; as a last resource he used Holloway's famous Ointment and Pills, which healed his leg in a few weeks. In gratitude for the wonderful cure effected at his advanced age, he thus gives every publicity to the circumstance, that others may derive similar benefit.— Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's esta blishment, 244, Strand, London. T.. PORT OF HAVRE.—New conferences have been opened between the military officers of engineers and the head engineer of the port of Havre, to operate an almost complete change on the works that are to be undertaken for the defence of the town. The plan is now far more extensive than that of 1846. In fact, the first estimate of expenses was only sixteen millions, whereas at present the sum calculated on is not less than 64,195,700 f. BIRTHS. On the sth inst., at Southampton, the lady of Captain Lacy, Staff Officer of Pensioners, of a daughter. On the sth inst., at Great Staughton Vicarage, the lady of the Rev. Archibald E. Julius, of a daughter. On the 7th inst., at the Parsonage, Princes Risborough, the lady of the Rev. Charles Edward Gray, of a daughter. On the Bth inst., at Mount Grove House, Hampstead, Mrs. Jackson, of a daughter. On the 9th inst., at Dane. end, Herts, the lady of H. E. Surtees, Esq., of a daughter. On the 9th inst., at Gravesend, Mrs. Philemon Rolfe, of a daughter. On the 9th inst., at Holloway-court, near Rochester, the wife of Captain W. H. Roberts, R.E., of a son. On the 11 th inst., the wife of John F. Crookes, Esq., Argyle-street, of a son. On the 11th inst., at Hampstead, the wife of D. S. Bockett, Esq , of a daughter. On the 11th inst., the lady of John Hutchinson, Esq., Milton•strect, Dorset-square, of a son. On the 11th inst., in Finsbury-circus, Mrs. Mourice, J. I'oeno, of a daughter. MA R RA ED. On the 4th inst., at St. Pancras Church, James, son of Captain Gordon, R.N., to Julia, fourth daughter of the late John Harrison, Esq., of Welbeck-street, Cavendish-square. DIED. EtiLuw- Two gentlemen, applied to Mr. Norton for'llis urder the following circumstances : For some time past a nuisance of the most in tolerable and dangerous description has existed in Thomas-street, Lock's-fields, through the accumula- St r and, in the tion and mixing up of night soil , dung , and to, and tiliddlesex,Thurglar, On the 10th inst., Mr. laclhofrner, of King-street, Hol born, aged 76. On the 27th ult., in Langford-place, St. John's-wood, Harriet Hearsey, the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Hear sey, of the 10th Bengal Cavalry. On the 6th inst., at Cove of Cork, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher, Knight, C. 11., K.C.H., Commander•in-Chief on the IrisTA station, aged 69. On the 7th inst., in Hanover-place, Old Kent-road, Dirs. Ann Rebecca Steward, aged 83. On the 9th inst., at Hyde-park-place, the Rev. William Price Lewis, aged 66. On the 9th inst., Mrs. Pemberton, of Hay, South Wales. On the 10th inst., Mr. William Till, of Cambridge-heath road, Mile-end, aged 61. On the 10th inst., William, the infant son of W. G. Willes, Esq., of Hans-place. 1 "i: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, at `'rand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 114 —inct of the Savoy, in the county of ery 13, 1848. v r e . 4 . ›. • k