The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-11 00:00:00

ected to the penny postage, and woul :1 abolish that 3 Ystern. Now he (the Chancellor of tl to Exchequer) ileLl quite the opensite opinion.—(lieer, hear.) He be lieved it had conferred great benefit on ell classes of the community, and he took the opportunity of stating that since the establishment of the penny pc )stage the number of letters had quadrupled. During the first year the number actually doubled, and within the last six years that increased number had doubled; e o that, in point of filet, since the introdoction of the s; estera, the number of letters which had passed through t lie Post-office had actually quadr u pl e d. Th e li on . G en tleman objected to the improved prison discipline of the present day, and be supposed they would have another resolution on that Subject; but lie doubted very much if the House would agree with him in his views. Havine noticed the Hon. Gentleman's propositions regarding Ireland, the cur. ropey, free trade in gold, end the am ount of British capital locked up in debt, the Right 11 Incurable Gen tleman showed, that as each of those q uostions was to form the groundwork for inquiry and rt 'solutions, they could not expect to get through the pro erarnme before the end of half a dozen sessions at least.—(Hear, !leer.) On these grounds, therefore, h a felt justified In resisting the motion of the Hot tourable Gen tleman, and he trusted the House , by opposing the proposition submitted to their consk eration, would Prevent the waste of time which such an inquiry as pro posed would certainly entail. While bet ;ffered this op position to the resolution, he felt bound to state, that year by year a progressive revision of tax ation had been going on. Various alterations had be en made in their Customs and Excise duties, and bar ily a year passed that some portion of the burthen of ta: cation on articles of corbumption and manufacture w is not removed. Leaving out of the question the propert r and corn duties, no less than thirty millions of taxes b; id been remitted since the year 1813. During the last four years, from 1845 to 1818, the amount produr red by Custom duties had increased 887,0001, namely, from 20,700,0001. to 22,593.9301., while in the same p eriod there were remitted in Custom duties 4,681,000.: There could be no better pro ,f, he maintained, et the remission of duties on articles of consumption and manufacture, and of the t, ndency of the Governs I tent to relieve the labouring classes from those taxes wh i ch' interfered with their employment. The Right llon. Gentleman vindi cated himself and other Members or the Government from the charge made against them by the Hon. Member for West Surrey, namely, that when :lot in power they held out the expectation of effecting ; treat reduction of taxation, and he concluded by again c; tiling on the House to resist the motion, as it' carried lit ; believed it would only lead to a waste of time. Mr. SPOONER considered that the Right Honourable Gentleman had endeavoured to divert the attention of the House from the resolution submitt e d t o it s cons id erat i on 11 his Hon .Friend the Member for West Surrey. It did not follow that if they went ir.tc Committee, they were bound to enter into all the sub iects touched upon by the Hon. Gentleman in his amu sing address. The proposition which they had to decid a was, not whether they entertained his views, but es hether the House should resolve itself into a Cotnmitt to to consider the Public expenditure, and the existing .system of taxation, and how far both might be revised, with a view to re lieve the pressure on the industry of the country. Now, he should like to knew how could at: ; v man who opposed that motion justify himself before hit; constituents ? Tho Right Honourable Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that the present G overnment, by the constant revision of taxation, wf is making great Progress towards the object which the Honourable Member for West Surrey had in vi ew. Now, it that were the case, how did it come to pa se that the expendi ture, which in 1842 amounted to 50,000,000/., reached in 1849 between 53,000,000/. and 54,00 0000/ ? With regard to thepropositioa of reducing the salaries of public officers to the standard of 1794, be was prepared to show that it would not be the extravagent chat ege which the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, en deavoured to make the House beli' we. Before the war, the Master-General of the Ordna• ace was paid 1,5601., but he now received 3,0001. per arraum. The Surveyor- General has a salary of 325/ ; it was now 1,200/.; and the Storekeeper's salary was increased from 965/. to 1,200/. per annum. It was with ehose officers the Hon. Gentleman's resolution intended eo deal, and not with the incomes of the Secretary of St ate, or the President of the Council. He would vote s sith his Hon. Friend because he desired to go into Com mitteo to see if they could remove the distress without violating our obliga tions with the public creditor. Sir JOHN TYRELL would nr t have addressed the House had not the Chancellor of thee Exchequer and the Honourable Gentleman who ineroduced the motion, told them that the gentlemen whc. addressed the farmers recently, were imposing on the m when they said, that protection must again be given to corn. Now, he denied that the gentlemen who had addressed the farmers in their own counties or elsewhere, lied been imposing upon them. He:could not agree in the views of the Hon. Member who brought forward thiamotion, and he should not support him. Mr. M. GIBSON said that the words of the motion were unexceptionable, but the o,einions which he ex pressed he could not assent to in the slightest degree. He could not agree with him in going back to an in creased system of postage. At the same time he did not like to be considered as an obstacle to a revision or re duction of expenditure; but he thought it ought not to be put forward in its present sh ape, and, therefore, he would move the previous question, Mr. COBDEN seconded the amendment. Mr. PLUMPTRE regretted tee find that the Honour able Member fur Surrey had treated the question with levity. It was no laughing mat cer, for the people were in deep distress, and the day must come when the ques tion would press itself upon the consideration of the country. Mr. JACKSON Said he came down to the House to support the motion, but the speech of the Hon. Mover WAS so inconsistent with his motion, that he could not think of giving his vote in favour of the latter. Mr. B. COCHRANE should feel great pleasure in giving his support to a motion, the object of which was to relieve the poor of this country, by throwing the bur dens of the State upon the shoulders of those who were best able to bear them.—(Hear.) Mr. MUNTZ said the terms of the motion were un exceptionable, and the statements made in support of it were perfectly legitimate. He brought forward a mo tion on the same subject some time ago, and he then made statements which his experience had since fully confirmed. This he would say, that great distress pre vailed amongst the people, and some means must be taken to remove the pressure upon them; and they might de pend upon it that this must be done, and would be done by some one. Trade was deteriorating, and wages were deteriorating, and seeing all these things, he should support the motion. Colonel SIBTHORP would also support the motion, because he believed it to be necessary to do something to relieve the distress of the people. He had given notice of a motion in reference to the army and navy. He did this because it was right to overturn everything, in order that the bad might be selected from the good, and that justice might he done to the people, and the trickery, trumpery, and trash of every Government should be exposed. Mr. HEYIVORTH said distress existed, and the only way to relieve it was by extending commerce.—(Hear, bear.) Unless they did this, and revised the whole of the indirect taxation of the country, they would not be able to stem the tide of pauperism and distress which !as flowing over the country. If the motion was car• tied economy might be promoted, but he did not attach so much consequence to savings as to the remedy he proposed. _ Mr. HENLEY saw no objection to the resolution. As this appeared to be a practical measure he should support it. With regard to the amount of salaries, all he would say was, that the prices of the necessaries of life were very different from what they were now when these salaries were fixed, and ho therefore thought that ground for inquiry into their amount. There was great competition in every walk of life, and ha saw no reason why Government offices should be exempted from the principle of obtaining services at a moderate charge. He should vote for the motion. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said, Ireland had not bzen in cluded in this measure, but he should contend that if she was fairly dealt with she would be a source of consider able revenue to this country. Mr. DISRAELI said, the motion now under consider ation was one of universal interest. He had not heard the entire of his Hon. Friend's speech in introducing that resolution, but he had heard a great part of it, and he felt bound to acquit his Hon. Friend of having treated the subject with levity. A spirit of philosophic sarcasm did not involve levity. He knew his Hon. Friend had. devoted great attention to this subject. He could not admit that the resolution might not be separated from the speech which accompanied it ; but when calling the attention of the House to so important a question, which Was, in fact, equivalent to ,taking into consideration the state of the country, it was usual to lay on the table of the House the resolutions embodying the views by which it was proposed to meet the difficulties alleged to exist. He thought his lion. Friend did not do himself justice in bringing forward this motion in neglecting to adopt the usual precedent followed on simi lar occasions. Had he adopted that course, he would not h ave hem taunted as he had been by various Mem • bets e with h av i ng made omissions, such as not h av i ng !erred to Ireland. The course he had pursued led to this result , that it was on l y b y acc id ent t h a t th e H ouse had not come to a division upon the motion when the Ron. Member had concluded his speech. Had he given due notice that he required the deliberate and mature °Pinion of the House upon the several questions. and at the Sauna time candidly oh laid down what were his own opinions, it could takve happened that the sense of the House could be t comprehensive a questia en upon so important and the contrary,on after a short debate. On House having been prepared for the question, thethre result would have been that after a debate worth importance of the subject, the House wouldylmove. g th iv e en a vote satisfactory to the country and to thceaisreconnstituents; but hew ould ask, would that be the frlolme would not object to the motion because he diffeorewd? the concl • which his Hon. Friuenndophit mnaarnryiveodf. He bad nuestiMaat tion in expressing long period of time would elapse before the that us:°veould be called oil'onito Committee up in upon and would he induced to aiour.able Friend to this subject, but he put it to his g consider whether he would be advancing the object h e h a d i n view, by taking a motion, in a House which was not fully attended,u hiss ft was to he observed that there were many bruanoch the question which had not been touched was true his Honourable Friend had made ma p n l a. ,„ n , it gestions, which must have convinced every one, that must give a decided opinion as to the existing ay s tern of taxation. H e h o p e d hi s Honourable leriind from a due regard to th e i m p or t ance o f t h e question nnt press a 4 , cisiim without ma'ure consideratinn' and wuuld not iac#3 tuoin ill tuc plinut pu.11.1011 ut ut viding on his motion. Ile was most anxious that his Hon. Friend should withdraw his motion, rather than oblige him to adopt the previous question which carried.- THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, with it soma degree of censure. He thought the course he would adopt now that he candidly submitted his views to the House, and that they had been received with all due consideration, would be not to take the sense of the House upon the question. Mr. LABOUCHERE said tie wished, on the part of his Right Hof,. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to repudiate the imputation that he had treated the question of retrenchment, or that of the colonies with levity. His Right Hon. Friend did certainly regard with some degree of levity the manner in which the question had been introduced, but he did not extend it to the imb ject.—(llear.) With regard to the resolution before the House, he thought it would have more chance of success if the resolutions which it was intended to lead to had been laid upon the table. As the case now stood he was not prepared to follow hi m as a pil o t u p en suc h a voyage as he proposed to undertake. They ought not to get into a Committee unless they could see how they were to be employed when they got into that Committee, and how they were to get out of it. With regard, however, to economy and retrenchment, his Right Hon. Friend was as anxious to promote both as any Hon. Member of that House, and of that he had given ample proof; but it was another thing to embark upon a voyage of disco very under the auspices of the Hon. Member, which would only be a waste of time. It the Hon. Gentleman persevered, he hoped the resolution would be rejected. It was his intention to vote for the previous question. Mr. ROBINSON said he thought his Hon. Friend had adopted the best means of attaining the end he had in view. It was not correct to say that motions of this kind should be preceded by a series of resolutions em bodying the views the proposer entertained of accom plishing the object he aimed at. Ile had himself, in the year 1836, brought forward a motion for a revision of taxation. On that occasion, in a House of 372, be was beaten only by a majority of 66. The present Govern ment stated that they would take the question of re trenchment into consideration during the Easter recess; he wished to inquire now whether they had done any thing to redeem that pledge? Mr. COBDEN said he was disposed to qaestion the sincerity of the Hon. Member who had proposed this re solution. He agreed with him in the expression of the sentiment, that there was a tendency on the part of the rich to oppress the poor. He agreed with him upon the wasteful expenditure incurred in the dockyards, and also, that they should reduce the national debt ; and, with that view, that ,they should equalise the land tax, and impose a property-tax, and apply the pro duce of both to its reduction. He also agreed with him that they could never again resort to the bread-tax. With regard to the agricultural impostors that were re ferred to, all he would say was, that gentlemen could not assume a worse occupation than first deluding themselves to attempt the delusion or telling the farmers they wou!d get back protection. He could not, however, agree with him in his idea of progressive taxation, nor to the abolition of the penny post. In the present dis cussion, what he had to complain of was, that the Hon. Member had not told them what he meant to do. He was not in love with the motion of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Drumtnond), because he did not think that much good would arise from their going into Committee; and he regretted that a reduction of expenditure was not in troduced with it, because the revision was not what the country required, but a reduction. He perfectly agreed with the lion. Gentleman, that a reduction in the salaries of the State-paid officers was necessary, in consequence of the poverty of the country, through taxation ; not that he wished that talent and ability should not be fairly remunerated, but that there should be fewer officers in several departments, and that the taxation should be transferred from con sumable goods to landed property. When the Hon. Member for Essex (Sir J. Tyrell) spoke of the distress of the agricultural portion of the country, he (Sir John Tyrell) should bear in mind that that distress to which he alluded, was owing to the incessant rains for four teen days last year; and, also, that it was an exception to the general rule; and moreover, that the distress of which he complained, was confined to the western coun ties of this country.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that such could not be alleged as a reason for saying that the whole country was in distress. He would consider himself guilty of telling an untruth if he were to say that the immense population of the 'West Riding of Yorkshire, amounting to 1,500,000, were in dis tress, because through the late revolutions in foreign countries some of the manufacturers of that riding were not as successful as usual ; and such was the case with the agriculturists of the western counties, while those in other parts of England were happy and contented.— (Cries or " No, no," from the Protectionists.) He would say—Yes, yes; for in 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842 they (the Protectionists) were silent whilst the north of England was suffering under very great distress, and in 1848, they w ere also contented. In fact, whatever remedies were required for the agriculturist's interest should be obtained by a reduction in the national ex penditure, and in that he would gladly and willingly support them. He would recommend the county consti tuencies to keep their representatives from the House,and that they themselves, the free-traders, would reduce the ex penditure without them, for he considered that they were the principal barriers to so essential a measure. He considered that leis Right Hon. Friend (Mr. M. Gibson) had put his motion in the most courteous manner, and hoped that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Drummond) would withdraw his motion, for he could not go into Committee on it. He should therefore vote for the pree vious question. Mr. - DRUMMOND said that he did not impute a want of courtesy to any Hon. Member, and that he considered he was acting according to the standing orders of the House, and to the usual mode adopted, by refusing to lay the resolutions before the House previously to going into Committee. Such had been done by the President of the Board of Trade on the navigation-laws. He brought that subject on solely for the good of the country, and he thought that if the manufacturing interest did not get some other leaders besides those they had, that they would never do any good. The House then divided— For the previous question Against Majority for the previous question —5l EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. Mr. CHARTERIS moved for a Select Committee to inquire into and report upon the expenditure of certain sums which appear as unaccounted for, under the head of Parliamentary expenses, in the report which was re cently published by a Committee appointed to inquire into the management of the affairs of the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company. He felt assured that any Hon. Member of that House would join him to remove from the public mind the prejudices that that subject had created, and would not, therefore, trespass on the time of the House. Colonel SIBTHORP said that he felt fully satisfied that it would be essential to the benefit of the country that there should be a general inquiry into the state of railways; fcrpuch an inquiry would tend to show the pub lic that some parties were not in the position that they were represented to be. He was for examining every railway director and every engineer, for he believed they were a tricky set of fellows._ Mr. ROEI.IUCK implored the House not to be led away by the whims of any Hon. Member. That was no question for buffoonery.—(A laugh.) Certain seri ous charges and insinuations were made against that House, and it required the most searching investiga tion to arrive at a proper conclusion. It was not the peculiar company itself; or the manner in which rail- • ways were mannaged, into which they were to inquire, but the character of the House. He had no per sonal interest in the matter—he had not one farthing in any railway company whatever, but he was for a rigid examination into the conduct of the Members of that House, respecting certai❑ transactions. He could not, however, avoid remarking that those who cringed in that House to an Hon. Member while he was in the ascendant, and king of a petty dominion, now turned round basely with the tide, and swelled that tide against a fallen victim, whom they had cheered on almost to death.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Roebuck) had the same feeling towards the fallen favourite opposite in cheering on committeemen to hunt a man down; but it was dune for the same base purpose —money put him forward, and money was now the instrument to put him down. Sir H. INGLIS thought the motion ought to bo with drawn until the lion. Member particularly referred to was in his place. An HON. MEMBER—He had opportunities enough to do so. Sir R. H. INGLIS—Hon. Members may say he had opportunities enough to do so, but the fact was, that the Hon. Gentleman was labouring at that moment under the pressure of a severe domestic calamity. [Colonel Sibthorp here crossed the floor amid much laughter, and entered into an animated conversation with Mr. Roe buck.] He (Sir R. Inglis) pronounced no opinion on the transaction—(A laugh—he had had no communi cation whatever with any individuals concerned, but he received that morning a letter from Yorkshire, in which the writer urged upon him the common justice of post poning a decision upon the question, until the Hon. Gen tlemen so deeply interested could be present. Mr. HUMPHREY BROWNE said that the question which sought to be inquired into by the Committee was really settled that day, at a meeting of the Eastern Counties Railway Company. The accounts into which that meeting inquired comprise the following:—For ad vertisements. 1,5391.; solicitor's account, 1,6191.; loss on shares, 3,4001. ; advertisements, 342 g. ; printing, 2141. Now, what result could come from an inquiry by a Parliamentary Committee into such transactions, or such items as these, which did not include any Parliamentary expenses whatever? id hav m in u g ch ha l d aughter) a thSer B H T o l u i s2, R a P n and h s a e i n d ( hat amid addressed Colonel Member con versation with the Hon. Ale . m d ber t f i o n r te S n h d effi to el u d s , e t t h h a e t w H o o r n d . Sibth o rp) that distinct answer, informed him he dt which He h g e av d e id hi n m ot ( h C e o s l i o t n a e te l " buffoonery " in regard to hirm, to give on all occasions. Mr. the Hon I'll and a nn e Gallant r ns plainly man ißll°pEatßtUhCe ROEBUCK—If' again, as I can. Wh did Colonel SIBTHORP—My questionisthi this—When Hon. Gentleman used the expression " buffoonery," he mean to apply it to me?—(Laughter.) Mr. ROEBUCK—I shall repeat the words I used, and you, Sir (to the Speaker), no doubt recollect them, and carry them in your mind. I said "He should take no thing to himself, though I used the word buffoonery.' It . that expression is out of order, I retract it.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Colonel SIBTHORP, with considerable energy—l thank the Hon. Gentleman.—(Great laughter.) The motion was then agreed to. SUNDAY TRADING. Mr. HINDLEY moved for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent unnecessary Sunday trading in the metropolis. Mr. BARING WALL opposed the motion, as being contrary to the spirit of the British constitution. Mr. I iTNI)T,FX wn4 i! , tr ,, ! , :eA et the de pers . _ G. GREY admitted he had advised his Hon, Friend that the Bill ought to be withdrawn last session, and was aware that a great desire ex,iated t 9 prom t 4 improper Sundiy trading , in the metropolis. It was, however, surrounded with many difficulties, which re• quired the in ist seri:uis and careful consideration. L' rd 11. SIT ART bore testimony to the anxiety which existed that trading on Sundays in the metropolis should be put on a proper footing. He admitted it was surrounded with difficulties, but they could be surmounted by careful consideration. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. THE MARRIAGES BILL. Oa the order of the day being read for the adjourned debate cn the second reading of this Bill, _ Mr. S. WORTLEY said, that in consequence of the lateness of the hour—(Cries of " Go on, go on; Divide, divide")—he could not proceed with the dicussion. his Hon. suci L2arurd Friend the Member for the University of Dublin inured the adjournment of the debate, and in tended to speak upon it; but the hour was then too late. After a iew words from Mr. GOULBURN and Mr. NAPIER, The debate was further adjourned to the next day. Colonel SIB'FHOUP again called the attention of the House to the words tietl by the Hon. Member for Shef field (Mr. Roebuck), whom he regretted to see not then in his place. His character was dear to him, and he wished to have a satisfactory explanation of the meaning of the expression " buffoonery." The SPEAKER informed the Hon. and Gallant Offi cer that, in hi% opinion, the lion, and Learned Member for Sheffiold did Lot apply that expression personally to him. Colonel SIBTEORP—Then, Sir, I am satisfied. PUBLIC HEALTH (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the order of the day being put for the sec3nd read. ingof this Biii, Viscount iniIMIL AN RIG protested against its being brought forward at that late hour, and moved that the House do adjourn. The gallery was then cleared for a division, when there appeared— For the adjournment . . ... 33 Against it ... 96 Majority against the adjournment... —63 The LORD ADVOCATE, on our return to the gal lery, was explaining to the House that the intention of this Bill was to apply to Scotland the provisions of tho measure which last year was enacted with respect to England and Irelans!, and the operation of which had hiterto been attended with considerable success. Every provision of the English Bill was here re-enacted, to gether with certain others, peculiarly fitting for Scotland, the introduction of which was sufficient alone to entitle the Bill to a second reading. Amongst these new pro visions were some for the general supervision of the English Board, the appointment of a resident Scotch secretary, and one to enable all inquiries to take place under its authority, should be conducted under the super intendence of the Sheriff of the county. Mr. F. MACKENZIE complained of the lateness of the hour at which the Learned Lord Advocate had in troduced this Bill, and said that if he had only made his statement in the first instance, it would not have been opposed. After a few words from Lord DRUMLANRIG to the Caine effect, Mr. FOX MAULE said that the principles of the Bill were so obviously judicious that he was somewhat sur prised at the objection rah: el to its progress. He hoped they would not be allowed to interfere with it to any undue extent, as they might be examined most con veniently if concentrated. Mr. CUMMING BRUCE admitted the utility and general principles of the Bill, but he objected to the system of centralization upon which its provisions were founded, and also to that of inquiries before the Sheriff. Mr. OSWALD said the expense of this Bill ought to be clearly stated to the House, and that it was his duty, that not being the case, to make the circumstance known, with a view to its being provided for. After consider ing the Bill attentively, he greatly feared that it was premature, though ho thought its principle to be gene rally comet. rater a few words from Mr. SLANEY in support of the Bill, it was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The House then ad ourned at a Quarter before One LITERATURE. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF VICE ADMIRAL LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, KB., DUKE OF BRONTE, 6-c. By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew, F.R.S., F.S.A., Doctor of Phi losophy of the University of Gottingen, 6-c. 6-c. 6-c. The name of Thomas Joseph Pettigrew is no stranger in the literary world. Eminent as a phy sician, profound as a scholar, a learned antiquarian, an eloquent lecturer, he has already found time from his professional and scientific labours to give to the public more than one work of solid and enduring ex cellence. Formerly librarian to a Royal Duke, he had opportunities for mental discipline and culture few could cammand--few commanding could so well employ. But great literary talents are not Mr. Pettigrew's only qualifications to compose a life of Nelson. The son, as he informs us, of one who, as surgeon on board the Barfleur, had " done the State some service"—thrown from early years into the so ciety of naval men—livin- , on terms of intimacy with some of Nelson's chosen band—listening to the often told exploits of a Rodney, a Howe, a St. Vincent; to his deep and general information he added a per sonal enthusiasm, and was gratifying an old passion, and recalling unforgotten friendships, when he be came a naval biographer. Remembering the many:dis tinguished writers who have preceded him, from Clarke to Southey, Mr.: Pettigrew would not, he tells us, have undertaken these memoirs but, for a remarkable event, w hi c h supp li e d h i m with new and invaluable materials to illustrate the life and character of Nelson, as well as of others with whom the hero's fortunes were, happily for his country, unhappily for his memory, too closely associated—we mean the discovery of his private correspondence, ex tending from 1798 to the period of his death. A great man's letters are sometimes the best index of a great man's mind—a biography of Nelson incorpo rating an autobiography was a wise thought,.und an acceptable gift to the nation. One loves to trace the growth of such a character; through what progres sive stages his young ambition passed till it conceived and accomplished—heroism ! Nelson's letters display, too, that emotion of heart, that religious and high enthusiasm which so largely contributed to his suc cesses, which gave persuasive powers to " his blue thoughtful eye," and filled his weak body with an in domitable spirit! There is, no doubt, to be found in these letters that which a good man may condemn, and which a moralist cannot strictly excuse ; but, says Pil.r.Pettigrew, and we think the remark a just one,—"lf it were possible, consistently with what is due to jus tice, to have given publi c ity t o th e pr i vate op i n i ons of Lord Nelson on the passing events of his time, and of the transactions in which he was concerned, without unveiling the foibles and weaknesss of his nature, the task would have been more refreshing than it has proved to be ; but when imperfect and prejudiced statements are put forth under sanction which gives great weight to the nar rative, the demands of truth are imperative, and the publication of that which certainly was never intended for the public eye or the general gaze becomes justi fied." Without detracting from the of the biographer, and few will deny the elegance of his style or the judicious selection of his subject-matter, this private correspondence forms the principal and most novel charm of his admirable book. Other authors may tell us how Nelson's great battles were fought, the disposition and • number of his ships, what was the strength of his antagonist, and where lay the glory of his triumph ; but in these pages, for the first time, we learn how the man Nelson felt on the morning of the Nile, or on the eve of Trafalgar ! The mysterious influence of Emma Lady Hamilton—an influence she exerted much to her own shame—much also to her country's weal—an influence which infatuated to vice, yet inspired to what was great and noble—an influence which made Nelson captive to her charms, but cheered him on to the conquest of his enemies— seems always to pervade these letters ; and as we read, we lament that so much evil was united with so much good—that the weakness of the woman dimmed the virtues of the heroine ! It has been too much the fashion to censure the conduct of Nelson in re gard to the trial and execution of the celebrated Caracciolo, and his supposed repudiation of the treaty on the faith of which the Castles of Uovo and Nuoro consented to surrender. Mr. Pettigrew's narrative of this transaction, and his able vindication of Nelson, will be read with profound interest. Placing before his readers a graphic sketch of the unhappy condition of the King of Naples—plots and rebellions thickening around him, the defeat of his troops, his precipitate flight to Palermo--our attention is called to Caracciolo, a noble and a military officer, possessing the confi dence of his sovereign, sharing in his temporary exile, then quitting him to save his own property, deserting his royal 'master in his hour of necessity, despising repeated warnings, insensible to duty as a subject, to honour as a soldier, enrolling himself among the ar me d enemies f his king, an avowed rebel and an open traitor " May not," says Mr. Pettigrew, " the execution of Caracciolo be looked upon rather as a necessary measure to discountenance rebellion, and suppress anarchy —as a rigorous act of justice requisite under the circumstances ?'"rhat Nelson had authority to order his trial, and to set up the judgment -seat in a British vessel, is, we:think, satisfactorily shown,:while several charges urged against Nelson, in connexion with this transaction, are clearly and completely refuted. The letters of Lady Hamilton and the Queen of Naples will go far to remove the scandal which has been so illiberally uttered against them. There is indignation for manifest guilt—pity for merited suffering—but no vindictiveness in act or expression. The delicacy required in treating of these and other passages in the hero's life, where the name of Lady Hamilton has be e n con nected with the transaction , has been fully appreciated by Mr.se Pettigrew, and we cannot but commend th a t high sense of justice which has prompted hi m never to lo occasion of impartially wiping away any stain which has unfairly attached to the memory of that beautiful, unht-TPY lady—alas ! too beautif u l an d t - '" ' 'PP v r.mi a lucid and elegantnarrative, it', suitable occasion, when they form a luminous con fi,ei'ngi'introriuced just at the narrative, the lesitt'elit:s' fleeting link, throwing light on what precedes and follow!,; and so introduced as never to fatigue the attention, while frequently some daring exploit or well-told anecdote amuses the reader's fancy and illus trates the hero's character. The pleasing manner of the author may pe r h a p s b e gat h ere d from a quotation made at random from the book NELSON AT SANTA CRUZ. " The boat was then got ufl,,at (for it had grcunded from the falling of the tide), and Josiah Nisbet took one ' of the oars. The voice of his step-son . giving orders roused 1 •7-lson, whose fai n t ness wa s subsiding, and he desired to be lifted up to look a little about him. The scene of destruction, end the tempestunus sea, were su blimely dreadf u l ; a p a i n f u l uncerta inty prevailed re specting the fate of his brave companions, when, on a sudden, a gener a l s h r i e k f rom t h e c rew of the Fox, which had su nk f rom a s h ot s h e h a d received_ under water wade the Admir a l f orge t hi s ow n weak and pain ful state. Many w ere rescue d teem a w atery grave by Nelson himself; whose hu mane exert i ons on this occasion added considerably to the agon y an d d ange r of his wound. Ninety-seven men, including Lieut. Gibson, were and eighty-three were saved. 'file 3s, e first ship which the boat could reach happen e d t o b e t h e S ea h ors e; but no thing could induce the Ad m i ra l to go on board, though he was ass ure d t h at it m i g h t b e at the risk of his life if t h ey attempte d to ro w to another ship. ' Th en I would die,' he exclaimed, 'rather lo than alarm Mrs. Freemantle by her seeing in° in this stata, and when I can give her no tidings whatever of her hus band.' fhey accordingly proceeded without further delay for th e Theseus; IA hen, notwithstanding the in creased pain and weaknees which he experienced, he peremptorily refusei all assistance in getting on board. ' Let me alone, I h ave got my legs left and one aria. "' The concl u di ng chapter of the work is worthy. of its predec essors. It is a little gallery of portraits. We have there aff or d e d us an opportun i ty o f com paring the v ar i ous characters of Nelson as they have been draw n b y di fferent able pens and intimate friends of th e ill ustr i ous deceased, as well as a spirited and masterly sketch by the author himself, from which we quote a s h ort passage • " Contemplation of Nelson's career admits of no pause , it was one of incessant activity, He had a mind ades quato to any emergency, t o every ex i ge ncy; his promp titudein action was as remarkable as MS - judgment was dis tinguished; nott ing escaped his attention. He is an crum ple of decided genius in hisyrof eesion, for whilst he coul d enter into a consideration o f even the most minute and particular details, his grasp of intellect was such as enabled him to embrace and embody t h e w h o l e v i ew a nd entire object, and determine upon the consequences of action. The moment a conception was engendered it engrossed all his thoughts, and not an instant was lost in the contemplation of the me ans calculated to ensure accident. its success; his energies were prop ort i oned to the great ness of the object to be aebieved, and nothing the possibility of temporary necessity or He was too heroic to feel difficult an Oppositi on to h i s pro gresi, and nothing affecting either i n di v i dual or national honour was with him a matter of indifference." The appendix contains a short memoir of the " un fortunate Lady Hamilton" and her daughter, Horatia. The work, comprising tyro hands ome vo l umes, which are illustrated with copies of several interesting autograph letters of eminent persons, &C., &c., and embellished by some well-executed steel cuts, forms, on the whole, a most valuable addition to the lives of our naval heroes, arid merits the attention of all who desire to adorn their libraries with books of genuine and authentic information, or with histories replete with useful and entertaining instruction. Slll REGINALD MOHUN, BART., SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE AND ADVEN TURES. Done in Verse, by George John Cayley. Canto First. The old manner of the thing propitiated us. Done in verse was as agreeable to our palate a s a w i ne posset. And then the old - fashioned typography! two stanzas in a page ! the number of lines docketed in the margin! and one of those outlandish woodcuts at the head of the canto, representing impossible little boys in a highly tropical state of n u dity ! A n d on glancing through the quaint, odd, rambling " In troduction," we were still more predisposed to be satisfied, when we found that the poem was no am bitious flight into the heroics, but an off-hand, jocose, comical, satirical, and sometimes even a broadly burlesque narrative—in imitation of that scoffing strain which Byron rendered so popular by his " Beppo" and " Don Juan : " At a himself neers fairly those o on e downtal of poesy— poetasters who proclaim the trialthe very hefore outset the the ha r writer, o f Criticism, placing Are now content to reason against rhyme." against reason in . their time, the volumes of Tennyson, and of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, are a sufficient refutation. Those who The '‘ceAlenbdrarthetimpionegms of Bulwer Lytton, ,. not to say decry the age as unpoetical have never read, or, having read, have never appreciated either the "New Timon" or the remarkable epic of " King Arthur?' So thinks Mr. Cayley—and, thinking so, he still further prejudiced us in his favour. We read, and we read on—slowly—at length te diously—but ultimately to the end of the sixty-fourth page, or, which is the same thing, of the first canto. It was scarcely necessary for the author to disclaim so very expressly (Int. VI. 48.) any attempt on his part of fine writing—seeing that we find scattered profusely through his stanzas such colloquialisms, vulgarisms, or conventionalisms, as— " which answers pretty well" (Int. VI. 43.) " when we expected eloquence in blazes," (Int. XIV. 112)—" the cream of Nature's dairy," (Int. XVII. 132)—" they went along full slash , " (XXIX. 228) " I wish th a t I h a d l ots of tin," GAIN'. 500— " the hero tip s up all his little anna l s, " (LXXII. 572). Is this poetry ? Is it not rather the most witless of all slang ? If the reader is not brought by this time to the latter con viction by our foregoing specimens of Mr. Cayley's Poem, delicacy w i e s o g n i l v y e t o a n be e t h s e d surpassed r paasienetay by m orc someeau , 0 ft hwhiche gros ser for passages in the effusions of William Somerville—a poet of the last ce n t ury cred i tably known on l y as t h e writer of the lively and natural "Chase." We shall quote only one stanza—q u it e enoug h we conjecture— descriptive of the commencement of a conversation between two grooms or gamekeepers, who are re turning' to Nornyth-place in a boat— " They said Oh! what a gentleman to talk Is that there Lacy! what a tongue he've got! But Mr. Vivian is a p re t ty s h ot. ' And what a pace his Lordship wish to walk! Which Mr. Tancarville, he seemed quite beat; But he's a pleasant gentleman.—Good lawk, Reginald hai Georgenvi n a e g l we e m i o m o r Y e jh s uo i ; e n s ü ß i s r ac e s r I a y a t y. 1 3, e t e i u n o i o u s s g i th, noe How he do make me l aug h !—dang! th i s ' ere seat at N th s M y r of the generation a ft er t h at which has owned Barry t "Don nansjgh Juan," worthyvvnh and l e t t c dr e that Cornwall as one of its least prominent, yet one of its most estimable, ornaments. Says the poet— " If this be good—tbe world will find it out; If it be bad—they will not take it in ; Nor will it take them in." No doubt of it—and so Mr. George John Cayley had hatter (if he would deign to listen to our re commendation) hang hi mse lf i n his "last line" rather than attempt anything like a continuation. ,ENTS QUBSTTONS FOR, LAW STUD. TH MR. _ E SECOND EDITION OFSER GEANT STEPHEN'S NEW -ON COMMEN TARIES ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND. By James Stephen, Esq., Middle Temple. The educational preliminaries required to qualify the aspirant to the degree of barrister-at-law are so meagre and defective that he who contributes in any way to facilitate the acquisition of legal knowledge confers a benefit not only upon the legal profession but indirectly upon society, in which the members of this honourable profession have ever held a high and important position. The little knowledge to be gleaned from the law professors in our universities is of no practical use, and the system of our legal colleges, the inns of court, which ought to be the schools for legal instruction and the inculcation of sound legal science, has unfortunately more reference to Kitchener than to Coke, and until these de fects shall be supplied by the establishment of instruction in the several inns of court, under able professors, where the sound principles and practical knowledge of law shall be taught, as other sciences in the several schools and colleges, we can see no better mode by which the student can acquire l ega l know ledge a t s hr t o h u is gh ver t y he useful medium volum of e s e u f ch well-arr ange d helps ~ Questions" by Mr. James Stephen. These " Questions" have immediate reference to one of the greatest legal works of modern times Mr. Ser geant Stephen's "New Commentaries on the Laws of England," a work which we should not be surprised to see very soon supersede all others —they are clear and well defined, and the mode of reference is simple and well arranged. We cannot too strongly recommend both the " Questions" and the great work to which they refer to the attention of the self-improving student, anxious to acquire sound legal knowledge by the least difficult means. THE LOTTERY OF MARRIAGE.—The scene of this new novel, by Mrs. Trollope, is hid partly at Dover, and partly in ono or two English country residences. The interest of the work is evidently intended to depend more on the characters than on the fable, and though not liable to the charge of being personal, it is difficult to believe that the sketches are purely imaginative. Young tnarriag-able noblemen have furnished, from time immemorial, a favourite and a fair material for the pen of the satirical novelist, for few scenes of life are more pregnant with folly on all sides, than those which ensue upon the hunting down such a one, till he sinks at last into the soft repose of matrimony. The young man who enacts this part in " The Lottery of Marriage," is evidently sketched after some original, who knows how to fool his pursuers "to the top of their bent." But the frivolity of the character is redeemed by so much that is arnial}l , .. that no ens) conl,l be very nn7ry who !tvieied Ibcy recognised the portrait for ii: it own. Ti l e oririnai3 of the three noble beauties (it there be any such), who were let slip from one leash to pursue him, might not perhaps bo equally well pleased. MAY 11 1849. ' NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY. The annual meeting of this company was held at ! the London Tavern, on Wednesday ; Mr. T. Lamie Murray in the chair. The ACTUARY (Mr. Woolhouse) having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN said that the directors had pre pared a very full report of the transactions and pro ceedings of the company during the past year; and he believed that the proprietors would find in it everything which they wished to know. He would not then further detain them, but call upon the Actuary to read the report. Mr. WOOLUOUSE (the Actuary) then read the following " REPORT " The directors have again the pleasure of meeting the proprietors on the recurrence of the annual meeting. " On the last occasion the directors adverted to the excessive mortality which characterised the two preceding years. Since then the public health has remarkably improved, and the claims from the decre ment amongst the assured with the society Lave fallen as far below the calculated average, as in the two preceding years, they had exceeded the expectation. In the two years, ending 1847 and 1848, the claims liquidated by the society amounted to 45,5331. Of this sum the society paid in the last year, 26,6701., and for the most part, during the early portion of it. "During the past year both public credit and private fortune sustained a severe shock. These cir cumstances could not fail to interrupt seriously the progress of life assurance, based as it is on the surplus income of the community. Still, whether owing to the fact that life assurance is better understood than formerly, or from the stimulus given to it through the unusually large distribution made in the last two years to the representatives of deceased assurers (occasioned by the excessive mortality above referred to), not so decided a check has been given to it as the circum stances of the times would seem to warrant. " Acting on these vier\ s, as regards the ex tension of business, the directors have not been deterred by unfavourable circumstances from re newed exertions. They are happy to report a satisfactory progress, and a considerable increase in the number of policies issued; which is the more encouraging, as this remarkable increase of business has accrued in a greater ratio at the present moment than in the early months of last year. The number of policies issued by the society in 1848 was 516, while the number issued from the Ist of January to the sth of May, in the present year, is 405, covering a risk of 157,8991., and adding 4,246/. to the annual income of the society. The total amount assured under existing policies amounts to the large sum of 1,613,4421. " The agency of the society has been greatly ex tended within the past and present year, and a greater activity and still more zealous cooperation prevails, than heretofore, throughout its widely ex tended connexions. " The Transatlantic business of the society pro gresses satisfactorily, under the able management of our general agent and superintendent of our local board at New York. At New York our business has become extensive, and is conducted with safety and regularity. The mortality has in no year ex ceeded the calculated expectation. " Considerable preliminary expenses have attended the establishment of this branch of the society's busi ness, all of which are entirely written off, and are now brought into the account of the year. A greater economy is being practised, while the business is largely un the increase. "During the pecuniary difficulties of the past year, the advantage of the system of loan on policies, instituted by the society, has been beneficially felt by many of our assurers. This may be judged of from the fact that these loans have extended to the sum of 2,5,959/. " The directors, in conformity with the deed of settlement, have caused the annual investigation into the affairs of the society to be made by the actuary, and it is now presented, together with the auditors report, and will be read to the meeting. "The financial position of the society, enables the directors to divide amongst the policy holders, entitled to this distribution, a reversionary bonus, varying from 20 to 48 per cent. on the premiums ; and to the proprietors a bonus of 2i per cent. for the past year, in addition to the regular interest of 5 per cent. already received by them, and will be paid with the halt= yearly dividend in July next. "The following table, prepared by the actuary, ex hibits examples of the amount of the eight last bonuses to which the holders of policies of upwards of four years standing, have become en titled, with the option of receiving the same in cash, or by addition to their policies, or in permanent re duction of annual premiums : EXAMPLES. tlse , 6 Annual Policy Bonn in! !len rm t lie- ISnm Assured Age. E Pre- taken addition Bonus in 4uction of may bor .., g nabs]. out in to Sum Cash. Annual row on Assured.: £ d. Premium : Poliey d . e. . 1837 276 14 3!128 14 3 21 7 2 593 6 8 1838 251 1s 10 , 116 14 8 18 12 8 543 17 9 cd. 1839 226 6 010 15 1 16 2 494 810 60 1000 74 3 4 1840 178 0 0 1 8• - 2 14 2 12 14 11 145 0 0 1841 174 0 01 78 3 4 12 3 I, 395 11 1 I 1842 147 4 2 65 15 10 10 2 4 346 2 3 1843 93 18 41 44 8 4 615 li 396 13 4 11 1844 62 6 81 27 13 4 4 4 ( 247 4 5 " The business to be transacted at the present meeting, is the election of four Directors, in lieu of', John Elliolson, F.R.S., Edmond Sheppard Symes, Esq., Clement Tabor, Eiq., and Joseph Thompson, Esq., whose period of office expires, but who are eligible to be reelected, and offer tbem stdres accordingly ; and for the confirmation of the election, by the Court of Directors, of Augustus Vigne, Esq., as a director. " Also for the election of an auditor, in place of Professor Wheatstone, F.R.S., whose period of office also expires, but who is eligible to be re-elected, and offers himself accordingly. "By order of the Court of Directors, "T. LAMIE AIURRAY, Chairman. • " May 9, 1849." In answer to a question, the CHAIRMAN said that the accounts were always open for inspection by the proprietors at the office. The CHAIRMAN then said that it became his duty to move that the report be received, adopted, and printed for circulation among the proprietors. In doing so he believed that he might say that, notwithstanding the serious losses which the society had sustained by the extraordinary mortality of the last two years, their affairs were very satisfactory.—(Hear, hear.) lie for one was far from thinking that these losses would in the end be injurious to life as surance offices—(Hear, hear)—on the contrary, he believed they were calculated in the long run to be of advantage ti them. He had made a calculation, but of course there was great difficulty in obtaining the data to do so, from which it appeared that a sum of no less than 3,000,0001. had been distributed among the public by assurance offices in 1848. That sum might be said to be a premium on pravidence.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that circumstance must strike most forcibly those parties who had any regard for their families, or who depended upon the lives of others, to induce them to assure, when they saw the families of those who would otherwise have been in indigence, through the heads of those families being cut off in their prime, provided for by the means of life assurance. In the accounts then brought before them everything was written off to the end of last year. In those accounts the expenses appeared heavier than usual owing to the fact that they had never hitherto been able to tell what was the exact cost of their establishment in America.— (llear, hear.) They now, however, found that the expense of that establishment had not been less than 15,000/. cr 16,0001. since 1844 ; but the business they were doing in America was most extraordinary, and the expense which had been incurred by the direction, in New York and other parts of America, which was of the best descrip tion, would be fully justified.—(Hear.) As an in stance of the business they were now doing, he might state that at one board meeting they had no less than 108 proposals for assurance before them at one time. —(Hear, hear.) He believed that that was the largest number that had ever been brought before the board of any assurance company, six or seven proposals at the weekly meetings being considered a fair average, and therefore to have 108 at one time was,indeed, rather startling.—(Hear.) As regarded the expenses, they might appear rather heavy, , but it had been thought better by the board to bring them all up into a net sum at once, though, as he had ex plained, some of them extended over the last four years. At the same time he thought it necessary to explain that their American expenses were being re duced ; and from a correspondence that bad been going on between the American and English boards, he had no doubt but that in future they would be brought down so as to bear but a very small pro portion to the business transacted.—(Dear, hear.) He could not pass over that part of their busi ness without paying a fair rneed of praise to the Honourable Mr. Starr, their general agent in America, who seemed to take extraordinary interest in, and, indeed, he might say, devote d his whole life to, the promotion of life assurance.—(Bear, hear.) The commission of that gentleman already amounted to nearly 1,0001. a year; and as life assurance up peered to have become a fashion in America, he hail no doubt that it would be much better in the next year than in the last.—(hear, hear.) As regarded the mortality of this year as compared with former years, he might mention that they had paid for claims since the Ist of December last, a period of five mo nths, 2,1501., and they lied further cl a i ms ernannt i n g to 4,8%41, eo that they c o ~, lated that, iaatead of havire 4 to pay • as last year 26,0001., they would not have to pay more than 10,000/.—(Hear, hear)—their average calculation being 20,000/.—(Hear, hear). Reference had been made in the report to the rapid extension of their business in England. On that point he in'ght state that they had had applications for nearly sixty new agencies since the time when they last met, and there was a better understanding between the board and the old agents. Indeed, he had been lately stirring them up, and the Lus)aess had consequently greatly increased—(Hear, hear) — there being a greater increase on the business of the last than on any former year.—(Elear, hear.) In the accounts and report read to the meeting there carts one point which he ought not to omit to mention, viz., that, in addition to the bonuses al : ready declared, there was a sun of 51,0001. carried to the account of future profits.—(Cheers.) He be lieved that he had now stated all that was useful, and he thearefore begged to move the adoption and circu lation of the report. Mr. TnompsoN seconded the motion. In at swer to questions, The 'CHAIRMAN stated that the policies granted in 1847 were 617; the largest number ever granted in one year was in 1845, when they amounted to 704, a-nd in the present year they had already reached. 405. They were now doing a larger busi ness in America than any English office was doing in Englard itself.—(Hear.) The American and English accoun is were kept separate, in which foum they could at any ti me b e seen b y the propr i etors, though it was not thought convenient to produce them in detail et the general meetings. That company had been the first to admit the principle of paying the amount of polici es t o t h e families of parties commit ting suicide. They a t present required that such parties should. have been i nsure d seven years. It might pc , ssibly be pra c ti ca bl e to reduce that period to five years, as it could not be supposed that parties would . contemplate suicid e , an d go to the expense of n assurig their lives during that period with the view of mo ney being obtained from an assurance office, though. there could be no d ou bt t h at if the money ' was payable immediately on assurance many parties would be found to sacrifice their own lives for the benefit of their families. A short conversation took place on points of detail, in which the greatest confidence was expressed in the management and position of the company; and on the motion for the adoption of the report being put, it was cl,rried unanimously. The retiring directors and auditors having been re-elected, Mr. XAMESON, as the representative of a large number of shareholders in Scotland, begged to ex press his gratification at the satisfactory nature of the report presented to them, and also at the great interest, as evinced by their questions, which the shareholders appeared to take in the affair:. of the company. At the end of three such tremendous years as those which had just passed, it was most gratifying to find that their corpo ration, unlike other corporations which bad beer presided over by kings end emperors, had not only been able to get on steadily, but to meet and sur mount the severe crisis of the times through whici, they had passed.—(Cheers and laughter.) He hao great satin faction in observing, both on public am' private gr 3unds, that their business was progressing so " slick" with their cousins en the other side of till Atlantic--(Cheers)--and be believed thlt, withou- the aid of Cobden or peace associations, nothing would do more to prevent the Americans wishing to go a - gunning with the Britishers than being bound up with them in life assurance— (Laughter)—Mr. Wool house not yet having prepared any tables for war risk , . —(Cheers and laughter.) He regretted the absence from among them of their former secretary. Mr. Camroux ; but he k ew, that since the Chair mat; had taken the whip into his own hands, he had laid it soundly about the shoulders of the agents—him self (Mr. Jameson) among the number—and made them feel that they had indeed the master hand at the helm.—(Cheers.) He was sure, that from all he saw and heard of the company, that everything was conspiring to promote its best interests, and he there fore hoped the proprietors present would cordially join with him in giving a vote of thanks to the Chairman, directors, and office-bearers of the cow pany.—(Cheers.) Mr. Jourt SYMES seconded the motion with great Measure. He thought it ought to be made generally , known that the directors of that company were dis tinguished by the rareness with which they disputed claims made upon it.—(Hear.) It was a fact that they had never disputed one claim which they had taken into court in which they had not been successful, while in many others, where they had reason to doubt the fairness of the claim, they had given the benefit of the doubt to those making the claim.—(Hear.) Such conduct as that, he was sure, must tend to raise the cha- ratter of the office in the estimation of th e public.— (Cheers.) He agreed with the Chairman that their losses by the mortality of the la-t two years wer e likely to prove ultimately beneticlal to the company, as when parties saw their friends cut off in apparent strength and health, and their families, who would otherwise be destitute, provided for through the benefits of life assurance, they would, if they had any respect for their own families, at once secure to themselves the same advantages.--(Cheers.) The resolution having been carried by acclamation, The CHAIRMAN said that he could assure the gen tlemen present most unfeignedly that at no period since he had the honour to fill the position he then held had he received with greater pleasure the vote of confidence of the shareholders. The past year, like the preceding, had been one of considerable anxiety, but be thought that he saw a bright and pleasant prospect before them.—(Cheers.) He considered the opening of the present year most satisfactory, and it gave him great pleasure to re° himself sur rounded by, and receive the approbation of, many of the first members of the society—his old and valued friends.—(Cheers.) He had always endea voured to discharge his duty with efficiency, though he regretted the absence of his friend Mr. Camroux, who, he hoped, had provided himself with a better place—(Laughter)—he meant for himself— (Laughter)—he trusted that now that he had himself been compelled to put on the harness daily that the society would lose nothing, but that it would continue to increase in prosperity.—(Cheers.) He had used all the influence he could bring to bear in promoting the interests of the compahy, and he believed, without taking any merit to himself for it, that throu;h that influence the agents had done their work well.—(Cries of " hear, hear.") lie might here observe, that though his tim , had been lately almost solely occupied v‘ich the affairs of the society, he had, at the solicitation of several ot its friends, taken into consideration the propriety of adding a fire office to the society, as likely to be of great advantage in promoting the lite assurance.— (Hear, hear.) In every village were to be found agents for fire assurance, and if they could add that branch to their office it would diminish their expenses, while it would increase their con nexion. —(Hear, hear) Therefore, notwithstand ing the labour he had already had to perform, he had serious thoughts of adding to it by the establishment of a fire office.—(Hear, hear.) The fire-office, however, he wished it to be distinwly understood, would be established with separate capital and separate directors, and might be brought out as soon as there was a sufficient number of shares sub scribed for to give the requisite guarantee capital.— (Hear, hear.) He begged, before sitting down, to express the obligations he was under to the way in which the directors had co-ope rated with him in carrying on the affairs of the society—one or more attending at the office every day—and to assure the shareholders that he had not the slightest influence over them beyond that which might be necessarily supposed to apper tain to a man who gave his best attention to the affairs of any society.—(dear, hear) In conclusion, he begged once more to express his heartfelt thanks for the honour conferred upan him and his brother directors, and to express a hope that at the next meeting a more satisfactory report than even that of that day would be presented to them.—(Uheers.) The meeting then separated. CoNsumrrioN.--At the eighth anniversary festival recently celebrated in aid of the funds of that nob: et in stitution, the Brompton Hospital, the followin s g described inl interest ing statistics relative to pulmonary in. officersthe appendix : to a report prepared disea by the medical liability to certain diseases is a subject " The tendency of particular employmentsentnf_ greatto i i n n t d e u r c e e s t a , hthisical patients of a thei t its list o fo n ing this institution, and institutedab view t we between . general hospital. By..ay phthisical jeom ppaartiiseonntsi,"latttbeteiedri of men tioned that the liabilityl b of i n ii t l other th er diseases, ap pears with their liability tailors to c i o t n m su a m y p b t e io m n, en as . i l . 19 to 15 . ..• ••• • pears from this comparison y to be iii the proportion of ••• ••• - Of bakers ... ••• ••• as 45 to 28 Of in-door servants ... ... as 24 to 12 Of printers and compositors as 100 to 27 Of clerks and shopmen ..• as 314 to 78 " Among 1,294 fern le patients attending a general hos pital, 169 were milliners and dressmakers; but the number of females so occupied out of 1 679 consumptive patients attending the Hospital for Consumption was 312; the proportion of excess being as 312 to 220." Much of the liability to this disease among tailors and others may be attributed to the pernicious custom of age bodies of workmen being congregated in irnper fee:ly venti aced work-rooms. Now Messrs. Nicoll, the wholesale and retail Paletot makers, employ in their trade perhaps the greatest number of hands in this or any other country, it having been computed that in London only—that is to say, from their establi-htnents in Regent -street and Cornhili—they give employment to more than twelve hundred persons, amongst whom a much less susceptibility to this awful disease exists than is described in the above report; this is supposed to occur I hr ' , !;.zh Ihe arrangement of the vvie , kin,a ii: !:fn hh , , . • • -• • •!. ' ,•ur bvikig distributed in various parts of laA..!oli sus it... suburbs.—Muruing Post. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colonial-office for the Governor of Van Diemen's Land. I ' NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. 1 MALTA, MtY 2 —Malta is at pre sent full, even to ,v(1.1 - 1 ~ ,i,:g. of Sicilian-. Tne arrival here on Suud.) of h..r Majesty'. sieum-irigato 13ulid , g , announces the un conditional surrender of Palermo. Many persie.. of cote are here, and Lniong the most distinguished we .nay note the hue President of the Republic, Ruggiero Settimo—a fine old veteran; the Duke of Veidura, she Chevalier Carmela Ascenso di Santa Rosalie, the Baron Martinra, Prince San Giuseppe, the Baron Corcelli, &o. Her Majesty's steamer Tartarus arrived here on the 29th ult. She had been sent by Si r S. C anning to 4X. Wore the nests of prates in'esting the Greek islands, Ind that she was a-companitd by tfu French steamer Averne, and a Turkish cutter, charged with a similar mission. The Tartarus and Averne, on quitting Smyrna, minutely explored every bay, creek, and harbour from Vorulah and Cape Carabournou to Egri Liman, and then rejoined the French steamer at the Spalasadores. That vessel had visited Fokies and the passages, even to Metelin. Before anchoring at the Spalasadores, Sir G. Webster sent his boats to the north of the islands, with a view of visiting a certain number of boats there, and then landed a boat's crew, who thoroughly searched the island, without, however, meeting with any suspicious characters. On the morning of the 9th the Tartarus visited the east part of Scio from Cape Kamaniki to Castro. The Averne coasted along Carabournou and the isle of Goni, and rejoined the Tartarus at noon. The two Com manders landed at Castro, and visited the Mossa Safti Pasha, the new Governor-General of the 0 toman Ar chipelago, to whom they announced the object of their mission. Big Excellency received them with great politeness, and expressed his thanks for their prompti tude in acting; at the same time he gave them full powers to explore all suspected places, where there was no Ottoman authority, to examine all boats, and act entirely as they might think proper under the cir cumstances. On the 10th, very early, the two steamers explored the coast from Cape Blank to Cape Kavala. Without the last cape the Tartarus fell in with a boat, having seven men, and laden with soap. Her papers marked five men only. Besides this they had three muskets and a large blunderbuss, with four yataghans, which were not mentioned in her papers. Under these suspicious circumstances the boat was taken possession of by Sir Godfrey, and towed into Scala Nuova. At 3_ p.m. the Tartarus entered Kavaki, whilst the Averne proceeded to Vromo. Each commandant landed 25 men, who ma at the top of Cape Koraka, examining everything en route. They found nothing beyond some embers abandoned, as if the pirates had had notice of their approach. On the 11th, the two steamers visited Ypsaila, and late in the evening arrived at Scala Nuova, where Sir G. Webster gave up to the authorities his capture of the preceding day. The Bull•clog goes to-day to Paltrmo end Civita Vecchia. The outward India mail, by the Ripon, arrived here yesterday morning, and proceeded to Alexandria last night, on the arrival of the Medina from Marseilles. Another importation of Sicilians, in number 270, has arrived to-day, making a sum total of 3,770. No lodgings can now be procured. PORTSMOUTH, MAY 10.—The quarterly meeting of the Portsmouth Roy al Naval Club was held to-dl , . After the th-spateh of business the dinner took place at tie Portland Hotel, Suuthsea; Admiral the Hon. Sir i3laden Capel, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief. presided, ,upported ny Lord George Lennox, Admiral Sir John 1. Ommanney, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral Prescott, C. 8., Harrison, Capt. Turner, Capt. La•vreuce, R.N., taptain 'l'. R. Salivan, Captain Blackwood, of the Vdetury, Captain (Math, C. 8., of the Excellent, Captain Chads, Captain Matson, Captain Ommanney, Cap ain Crispin, Colonel Willes, R,N., Colonel Gibs:•n, A.M.A., Major Dawes, R.M., Mr. Richard Haig, R.N., Flag-Lieutenant Aplin, Mr. Vinter, Mr. Halliday, Mr. I'. D. Grant. Dr. Morgan, Mr. Edwards, &c. The Confiance steam-aug snivel this morning from ;he eastward, and sailed again for Devonpurt, about two tours alterwards. The ' Sylph tender, with supernumeraries from Ply- Touth, arrived to day. The Hecate steam-sloop, Commander W. C. Aldhttm (acting), sailed this forenoon fur the Downs. The Sphynx steam-sloop, Commander R. S. Hewlett, if the Excellent (acting), which was commissioned yes terday evening and imuaediittely left the harbour, remains :till at Spithead. The Apulline freight ship, with troops for Halifax, :ailed from Cowes last evening, as did the Constantine from Spithead for the Mauritius:. The ship basin having been cleared, and the stone facing fresh pointed, was filled again yesterday, and the Cormorant steam-sloop brought round from the steam-basin to be masted. The imaging was completed to.day, and she is now to be 'rigged as an advanced steamer. The Scourge steam-bomb vessel has been brought to the sheers to get out her mortar, and will, it is under- Stood, remain there to be paid off. Wind S.W. Light breezes and thick hazy weather. PLYMOUTH, MAY 9.—Her Majesty's frigate Alarm, 26, Captain Granville G. Loch, hove in sight to the westward this afternoon at four o'clock under topgallant sails, royals, and all studdingsails, and entered the Sound with a steady breeze from south-west. Inside the break water she lowered her fore-royal, signalled the telegraph :it Mount Wise, saluted the fig of Port Admiral Sir William Hall Gage, G.C.H., and then moored a little to the westward of the Camber. She left her Majesty's ship Imaum, 72, Commodore T. Bennett, and the Ti in comalee, 26, Captain Warren, at Jamaica on the 26th of March, arrived at Savannah on the sth of April, and sailed therefrom on the Bth. Off Scilly, on Sunday evening, the 6th inst., she spoke her Majesty's steam frigate Arrogant, 36, Captain .R0be...1 Fitzroy; the Alarm has thus been three days beating from Scilly to Plymouth•. She is to go to Hamoaze to-morrow to bo paid off. Her Majesty's paoket-brig Seagull, 6, Lieutenant- Commander James Sinail,sailed for Falmouth on the Stli. Her Majesty's steam-vessels Spiteful, 6, and Avon, 3, are to be commissioned. The barque Somersetshire, Captain Portier, arrived from Sierra Leone this afternoon with timber for the dockyard. The merchant brig Zsmpa, Captain Groot, from La guna, on the Spanish Main, landed on the 7th instant a box of silvPr bullion (dollars), weighing 3 cwt., which was the same day fornarded by the South Devon Railway to London. 9 P.M.—Wind northerly, variable. SPORTIN of IN'T'ELLIGENCE. NEW3IAIiKET SECOND SPlilMj MELTING. THURSDAY. Match, 100, h ft. T.Y.C. Mr. W. S. Stanley'. St. Ann, 7st (Charple) 1 Duke of Brdfurd's Saddle, Bst 111 b ••• ... 2 Bening-9 to 4 on S a ddl e. Won by a h:ngth. Ituq in 1 min. 12 sacs. ;Match, 200, h ft. T.Y.C. Duke of 13c(Ford s Retail, Bst 41b ... (F. Buhr) 1 Lurd Clitteh's Cz4rina, Bst 7:b ••• ••• 2 Evt'n betting, Won by it gth. Th.n in 1 mit,. 11 secs. Handicap Plate of 50 sovs., for three years old and ..A ward*. '1 . Lord Clifdun's sagacity, 5 yrs, Sat 2ib (Patnian) 1 Lard Stradbrokc's P 3 los, 3 yr, 6st 31b 2 Colonel Anson's Irish Jig, 3 yrs, hat 103.) ... 3 Mr. Stevt.nson's Ziska, 5 y rs , B st 41b kectit's fliochiribrook, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b 0 Mr. Wilson's DUp`ictry, 4 yrs, 7,t ... 2ib 0 Duke of Rutland' s Ni na , 3 yrs , i st 2 lb . . 0 Mr. E. Francis's St. Dents, 3 yrs, 6st 31b 0 Mr. Hobson's Carbuncle, 3 yrs, Est 0 Mr. Itoger.'s Sister to Jolly Dick, 3 yrP. 5-c 121 b ... 0 Mr. St. Aubyn's Juggler, 3 yrs, 10ib Betting-3 to I Pylos, sr. 1 , Lr./ Sagacity, 6to I each agst Nina, Carbuncle, and Sister to J oily Dick. Cat buncle took the Lad at staraug, toilo..ed by Saga city, Pylos, Irish Jig, and two or th ce others, and made play at a good pace in to the cords ; klylos thei took it up, and carried it on until within hall-a•doz,n strides of home, where Sagacity went up and detested him very cleverly by a length. Run Ex 1 min. 10 secs. Sweepstakes of 10 sous. each, with 50 added, for two yrs old; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 41b; winners extra. T.Y.C. (16 Subs.) Mr. Ashurn's Impres.inn Duke of Rutland's Outline (Bartholomew) 1 Mr. Bouverie's Ilardingstone Mr. G. Bulkeley's Virtue ... Lord Clifden's Le Beau ... Mr. B. Green's Michael Brunton Mr. Magenis's Tnr Secret Mr. Nevill's fby Nutwith, out of Agnes ••• ... 0 Betting—Even on Michael Brunton-5 to 2 agst Le Beau-5 to 1 agst Impression—and 6_to 1 agst Secret. '['he front rank for the first halt' mile comprised The Secret, Michael Brunton, I m pression, li H ar a d r i d n i g n s g t s o t n o n ne a , Ondine, and the Agnes filly, all lying so close together that it was difficult to discover which was l l e e a a r di o n i g c : st Im pression then went in advance, was never afterwards Sweepstakest)caught,adth i rda. and d The rain r l e a t :i n s s i o l p ) w ' r s e b . prevented two n a e t ehd lengths; : li s t ; w timingod demanded, i a s nd r ae d y :3Bl be ;. t l h 2 e l b v ; ,i t u h n t e e r e, to Bs tb be 2sl sold o fillies r s r ) geldingsd soya.ii. allowed \ l‘. SlashingTi Voltaire out o y i rs Gai ata, ( 4 F ) la .r t s raan .. ) . 1 Lord Exeter's I hy Lo l r ' d irs E t ii h ti a e l i f fi o ,s f Ab. Mr. James's Jane Eyre, 3 Y .) to 1 on Slashin r g s Betting-5 a length. Run in 53 sees. Alice, IQ easily by LATESTi;ERBY BETTING. 2to 1 agst The Flying I 25 to 1 agst Oh! Dan Dutchman. Tucker 11 to 2 ag4t Nunnkirk (t) 20 to 1 agst The Knout 11 to 2 agt. , t, Tadmor 1000 to 10 agst Hotspur (t' 12 to 1 a4tit Vanguard 1000 to :') agst Belus (t) 18 to 1 agst Vatican. 1000 to 5 agst Abd-el -20 to 1 agst Eltuiron Bader (t) 20 to 1 agst Chatterer The weather was, if possible, more inclement than on Wednesday, a cold driving rain having fallen, without a moment'o interval, from an early hour in the morning up to the departure of the train atter the ram.. The course IVBS Very thirly attPivied. Mr. Gillespie h au interview wait Lor.l Jahn Rus sell yesterday, at hi, (Alio .1 residence in Downing- street. FADVERTBEMENT.] —For Liver Complaints, Bad Digestion, Nervous or Sick Headaches., take Holloway's Pills. —This admirable medicine acts so peculia rly on the s y stem , that all p ersons s uff,rin g from general debility, nervous affec tions, liver or bilious complaints. headaches, indigestion, want of appetite, or any other disorder brought on sed•-ntal habits, should have recourse to it as a sate and remain r,nsedy; for, however great the suff,i , gs t,f the a ie,•[ fly tw, tie.. l iF4 f, , ,ve a most , ;•• •:. :• - the burly and restore lute imp Anet t. iacUit.leN tmLU. I iiey Lire also infallible in the cure of gout, rheumatism, dropsier, and palpitation of the heart.—Sold by all Druggists, and at Proreour Holloway's Latabliihuunt, 244, >sl,land, Loadia.