The Sun. — London, England, 1841-08-14 00:00:00

monNivet 'COURT CIRCULAR. wINDSOR, FICIDAT.—The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual ‘snik in the Park this forenoon. lier Royal Highness the Princess Royal was driven out for an airing to-day. T• h e Earl and Countess of Erroll paid a visit to Cum -411 And Lodge this morning. 41 the afternoon the Royal party left the Castle for 'n airing, in the Park, her Majesty being in a pony 1 4 iteton and four. attended by the Duchess of Bedford. Titbuntesi of Errol, and Lady Leveson. Another car- • contained the Lady Ida Hay, Lady Caroline h , o omers Cocks, and the Hon. Sarah Mary Cavendish. etis Royal Highness -Prince Albert accompanied on horseback, attended by the following Noblemen and gentlemen :—The Earl of Erroll, the Marquis of Head -1°14; Lord LeveSon, Colonel Wylde, Lord Alfred Paget, Itad.the Hon. Major Keppel. The Royal dinner party at the Castle this evening 'll include the Earl and Countess of Uxbridge, the La- L▪ les Eleanore. and Constance Paget, Lord Paget, and ` 4 lonel Paget 1 ., Yesterday was the birthday of her Majesty the Queen " 5 1rager.. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and 1,4 utulbess of Cambridge, and Prince George of Cambridge, ,rrived at Bushy Park, in the morning, from their resi dence at Kew, to pay a visit of congratulation to her 4 taiety, on the auspicious event. Their Royal High bosses returned in the evening to their residence at Kew. The Viscount and Viscountess Barrington left Bushy i llotise, Busby Park, on Thursday. The Viscountess has been succeeded as the Lady in " Waitinc , on her Majesty . Queen Dowager by Frances Ludy Clinton, who has 'trice& at Bushy Park, the residence of her Majesty. Her, Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester re turned to her residence in Bagshot Park yesterday, from leisit to his Grace the Archbishop of York, at his seat uteham, Oxfordshire. ‘ His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge left i residence -in St. James's Palace yesterday morning, Kew. Lord and Lady John Russell have arrived at their re idence in Wilton Crescent, from, Minto House, Rox burkbahire. Mr. Ward bad an interview with the Marquis of Nor- I llariby yesterday at the Home-oflice. Mr. Thornton; the Chairman of the 'Portuguese and 'Punish Bondholders, transacted business with Viscount l 'alnierston at the Voreign-office. Viscount Palmerston arrived in town on Thursday fr om Windsor Castle. LITERATURE. OWRMER; A TALE OF MESMERISM, WITH OTHER SKETCHES FROM LIFE. Bentley. ; The tale; which gives a title to the three interest -4tlg voluines before us, is by no means worthy of a leading place in the beautiful series of sketches ''high must be;: tiotriterely-shadowed, but oh 6eLtred by the associations connected with its Ytterious name. Itideed, of the five stories, three, at least, might furnish each sufficient ma terials for a full-sizedromance, of library dimen !lons, to any author gifted with equal powers of 4 1Figination, but restricted by a less pragmatical habit, and And less scrupulous in squaring the fancy 19 : the recollection of facts than Mrs. Romer. "Pon reading the sketch of the ill-fated Mesme tist, Stunner, which, after all, is not only like, nearly equal_ to, the. German Shakspeare's, (- WAirter" we were reminded at once of the ex elatnation ef Vives; when he read the earlier ofthe Princess Elizabeth, to whom e had just been appointed Latin tutor: — " Yes- I v gium-!-ee adhuc leouis!" We saw deeply Ml re. ssedupon every page- the footmarks• of the ° .),hut not yet full grown. As we advanced , Irunkh the volumes" . the marks of approaching maturity became evident, and in the pathetic and powerful histories—(such we must call them)— t a .!`. The' Grisettes," and the " Mother and t light& " every manifestation of the poet dis nthralled from artificial shackles, and every ytilbellishment which -natural grace and culti- I c ated taste can give to written expression. Nor " h re.we certain that a blemish, which we must to, , and which to us is very glaring, should u lige us to qualify that commendation. The a 1 1 1 tllor has travelled so much, and has had so ,1 feel intercourse with foreigners, that she may f eel translatiOn to be inadequate to the expres-. , 1 !?r 1 Of sentiments which, although common Co th e race and tongue, are intelligible only in le dialect in which they are purely tittered. Mrts• Homer seems herself conscious of her fault 11 . 1 his respect ; and in her preface to the Pisitl4teex e tale of the Grisettes, endeavours to pal it. The blemish still exists; and, admitting 4. We cheerfully do, with our " friend Flaccus," that it is only " a freckle upon a fair skin," we !lust avow our opinion that it looks more like one ' 1 those unseemly patches with which, a century the beauties of the'Court.used-to set off, not , ; 1 ," fairness of their comPleXions, but the pu -`,`Y of the paint . with which they were ,'„v,ered. Still we may talk of blemishes ;'' ll impelf,:ctions this rare work of genius, has only. one parallel in our language, that Mrs. Shelley's " Frankenstein." But , e ither our praise nor dispraise can prevent or ' t inote the reading -of ." Sturmer." It is minted, and as powerless as the Edinburgh Review the case of " Childe Harold," would be any ktie tnpt to write it down, or to restrict its circu "lon hy malignant criticism. Even with this .nowiedgment we cannot lay down these VIC. f umes without - avowing Our conviction that the a uthor has ill-advisedly given ,up half ,her Nvers in making the admission that the basis 'T her .tale was strictly historical. In the exer ,e,'s of those powers she has he re fettered ' herself i'teessively,. in a style too pragmatical, and tied 0 4 closely to facts an imagination .capable of p augin spheres to which ihe spirit neither of By , NI no g r Mrs. Shelley could travel. I. AWFUL INSTANCE OF SUDDEN DEATHe-i -t:l'ierday morning at ten, as Mr. Thompson , in com- I nY with Mr. Richardson, were "passing through Wig °N-street, they observed an elderly gentleman of in 4Poindent fortune, aged 84 years, a Mr. Oldfield, of No. iZ 3 4( . lgware-road, stagger and fall to the ground; they tailtly raised the unfortunate man, procured a cab , ko los t no time in taking him to his residence. Mr. t t , e4 P l , a surgeon of the neighbourhood, promptly at ; but, before his arrival, the vital spark had fled. the spoke from the time he was put into the cab up moment that he expired. 11, ,I)READFUL ACClDENT.—Yesterday morning, ` l ifOen eight and nine o'clock, George Rudland, aged of e lny-five years, carman, in the employ of Mr. Sinnott, 0 1 - olerkenwell, dust-contractor, was riding on the ac ts wh en of the cart he was driving along East Smithfield, o r? 1 the horse suddenly took fright, and he was jerked la arid one of the wheels passed over his thighs, 14S ing a compound fracture of both. He was removed , S t. Thomas's Hospital, and is not expected to survive. the CAUSE AND EFFECT.—The uneasy state of Public mind in Ireland, proc.uced by the prospect of -rory Government, has induced her Majesty's repre 6:!itative to recommend that an addition be made to the i:, ‘ 'llitary force in that country. We have , of late years , : 4 1 th e pleasure of reporting a reduction in the army , t 4 tione e i th ere . We have now the unpleasant duty of Stating that a regiment of cavalry is ordered to proceed to 4 Irela n d f or thwith, to be followed by two infantry ghoents. • To diminish the considerable number of cretins ip the narrow valleys of the Alps, an establishment has b een formed for the education of children, who, in their en eY, present indications of this condition. It has ' e t been ascertained that all young cretins might be hi red by. transferring them from their low valleys t o the ' f l ab mountains • and that, at a distance of about 3,000 ~ ii;" above the level of the sea, these unhappy creatures o no longer met with. - All the midwives of the narrow ,%11. us 'tea easily recognise cretinism at the time o r birth : ,73' know that every chi ld, born with a stu p id expres 'bt of face, uttering peculiar cries, and making strange b,;'venients, is sure to be a cretin. When such . . a one is ; . 1 ; 11 , a report will, in future, be made to the civil autho -1.17; 4 . that the child may be taken to the national insti tttiii", which is now founded on a mountain in Berner are and in which all the necessary arrangements -I.e tak en ' to secure the complete physical, intellectual, andn.—Moral development of the youngchild b Gaz_ette 4y iedip a l e — O n the Cure of Cretinism, Dr. Guy 19eit&Idti. SIiEiRNESS.—A report is in circula tion at this ;;; It i e, that it is the intention of the Lords of the Admi 4,:tY t:o'require all the mechanics who have been super eloated trom the Dockyard to attend nl uster on a not distant' day, in order to pass the examination of the a goon and all who may be pronounced able to work be ;equired•to return to the yard and resume their ' c ' t k, or in defaidt Of their so doing, to relinquish their pensions. The report adds, that this step is to be ta ken 1 / t Consequence of complaints having been made th at of h at e year s many able-bodied men have been superan t4ated from the dockyards, .who have immediately gone privat e yards and obtained work, which they were as well able po- do as any other men.—Kent Herald. We un d e rstand the death of the celebrated g i antess, M ar y L a skey, took plac? _on Tuesday evening St in Guernsey. She had attained the extraordinary sta tute of seven feet two inc hes, and ha d been exhibiting My as a giantess in that island. Her brother, who bad ee °Topanied her for exhibi tin g , measures sev e n feet ," : yen inches. The remains of the deceased are to be re eved to Southampton; her coffin measures upwards of se ven feet and a half.—Sherburne J ournal. ,r 11 le WEATHER A ND THE HARVEST.— I the prospect last week was gloomy it is much more so e w , " rain, rain, rain," being sti ll the order of the da y , and there does not appear much probability of a favour ti le change being near at hand. It is impossible to tell de amount of injury which 'may endue if the rain eon- OS much longer, but at present much grain Must be which we fear will never recover.— Worcestershire Chronicle ONE-SIDED CHARITY.-- At Wigan, the C hurch ministers have been going a bout, distributing l o aves to their Church-going friends only, The follow :tg circum s t ance has occurred :—One of the ministers, a j"anger in the borough, went into Spr in g - g ardens, and ' a little b o y, to whom he prom ised a p enn y if he ,„, "DOH show him in which houses Protestants, and in / thieh Catholics lived. In one instance the guide made a 041,;stake, but before the minister had entered he found tit his error, and drew back. The poor woman told him eY %'rete starving, but this didenot stop the dispenser of 94e-sided charity.—Bolton Free Press. TO SIR JAMES GRAHAM, BART. LETTER 111. Sir,--It may be that you plead -'not guilty" to the charge of unscrupulously perverting the Scripture which I brought against you in my last letter. But such a plea, it must be remembered, can only be supported on the supposi tion that you are among the most ignorant of mankind, that, indeed, your education has been so neglected that you know nothing of Babylonian or Macedonian, Nebu chadnezzar or Alexander, or of the final subjection of what we may call the fragments of Tyre, which survived the shock of both, to the Roman yoke, but fondly ima gined that the Tyre of Herod's days was the Tyre of the Prophets, the same in wealth, the same in power, the same in grandeur, magnificence, and commerce, the parent of them all. In plain words, Sir James, you are between the horns of .no very pleasing dilemma. You have perverted the Scriptures, either wilfully or igno rantly, in a most extraordinary manner. Take your choice. Shall we say that you were a wilful or an igno rant perverter of them ? One or other of these two cha racters certainly you are in this instance. But while pondering over the awkward lapsus lingua which I have exposed, perhaps you will yet be inclined to carry on the argument and to maintain that, even in the days of her greatness and commercial prosperity. Tyre was still dependent upon foreign nations for her supplies of corn. But how was she dependent, while her fleets swept every sea, and her mercantile navy pene trated to every coast of the then known world ? It was A dependence which could only be felt under a most sin gular combination of circumstances. There must harm been an union of all nations against her, or the element: , and seasons must have conspired against the crops in all lands at the same time, before she could have been cut off from obtaining food. But I pause on this point. Any one less ignorant than yourself must have known that no analogy can be traced between Tyre and this country at . any period of the history of the fomer. She was empha tically a city without any corn-growing territory attached to her, and, therefore, when her commerce went, all went together. Could, indeed, greedy monopolists and Anti-Christian Quarterly Reviewers have their will, and cut down and starve down the people of England, until they brought them within the capabilities of their owe soil, there are in this country broad plains and fertile vallies to retire upon for support. But it was not so ii. the case of Tyre. To tell her inhabitants to grow corn for themselves, would be, like telling the Londoners or the men of Manchester and Birmingham that they must have no supplies of .corn beyond what they could pro duce in their own streets, or on their own house-tops. Verily, Sir James, we cannot say of your sense, vires acquirit eundo, as we proceed with the analysis of your Dorchester speech. But I have not yet done with you. After the extra ordinary and astounding perversion of Scripture of which you were guilty, you crowned the whole by thus exult ingly exclaiming, " Now I believe this to be written fee our learning and instruction." I answer, that the arch saint of Toryism himself is said to be able to quote Scripture when it pleases him to do so. But only fancy . what a howl about blasphemy and infidelity would have. been raised by you and your party, had some unfortu nate Radical thus employed some text from Holy Writ to prove the correctness of some wordly object. Let us, however, have a little further talk together on this fresh point which you have started. You tell us that Tyre fell because she was not a corn-growing country. You gather, you say, this information from the Scripture, and, borrowing the language of an Apostle, exultingly ex claim, " This I believe to be written for our learning and instruction." If you do, Sir, then you can believe anything. In this case, however, you make your own Bible, and then announce your faith in it. But the Bible in general use says not one word, breathes not a single hint, about this fall of Tyre from not growing her own corn. It leaves no place, indeed, for you or any mar, to coin and circulate such fictions; for it speaks. out positively and loudly, and states, in language toe clear to be either misinterpreted or misunderstood. that Tyre fell under the withering influence of the Divine displeasure, and that displeasure was pro voked by the vices, and pride, and pomp, and insolence. and . oppression, which prosperity brought with it, and which turned the hearts of her high and lofty into a state of rebellion against the Most High. You, Sir, any. the rest of the aristocracy of this country, would do well "to point the moral" for yourselves. In the Propheb 'lsaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, and Joel, you will fine much information on the points to which I have alluded. but not one of them, even in a passing word, gives the slightest hint that Tyre fell because she was a corn-im porting city. That valuable fact remained in the store house of hidden secrets until the year 1841, when it war brought to light by the researches of the Rev. Hugl , M‘Neile, and welcomed with a faith, amounting to cre: dulity, by his one disciple, Sir James Graham. And now, Sir, let me 'ask you, in all seriousness, how long is the melanclibly state of things, which we see around us, to endure ? How long is the vampire of monopoly to prey upon the vitals of England's trade an d ' England s industry ? Is it really to be as the Man of Tamworth tells us ? Is nothing to be done to avert the destruction which seems to be even now impending over this once happy land ? Is Sir Robert Peel to take office simply to watch, like the poet's idiot, from the windows of Downing-street, until the flood of calamity has run itself out ? Is it to be over again, Rusticus expectat dum defluat amnis; at ille Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis cevum? But beware, lest you try the forbearance' and long suffer ing of'the people of this country too far. Human pa tience and human resignation have their limit, and it is not the part of wise men to put them through too severe an ordeal. And, bark—did you not hear it? There is a sound upon the breeze. It is like the mourning of the distant storm—but it approaches nearer. The voices of frantic women are mingled with the imprecations of starving and maddening men. They cry out against their oppressors, against those who cramp - the channels of commerce and trade, and set the iron heel of monopoly upon the efforts of industry.' They ask for food, that, the common children of one common Father, they should not be cut off from the blessings which his bounty has prepared for them, but which the impious legislation of men has intercepted in their course to them. You will say, perhaps, that I speak warmly on this subject. It may be that I do, but of the people and from the people, I am, with all my heart and soul, with and for the people. I pity their sorrows, I feel for their wants, and my heart beats with emotions which I cannot de scribe, as I behold them bowed down in utter misery and wretchedness, that pride or vice may trick itself out with a little gaudier apparel; or luxury purchase new ' sources of enjoyment; as its old ones cloy and pall upon its sated appetite. This, I doubt not, will be thought strange and unwelcome language to address to the aris tocracy of England. Elevated on the lofty pedestal of SELF, and arrayed in all the gorgeous drapery of self= satisfactioO, self-love, and self-idolatry, they are not ac customed to hear such plain and homely truth. But it is truth, nevertheless. Let them beware, and retrace their steps before it is too late. The. old Noblesse of France had their warnings, but they heard' them without heed ing them. And wkat was the result ? 'The social ava lanche fell. You know the rest. And now, Sir, as I conclude, a word with You' on an- other subject.' In all the fantastic gambols which your faction—the Tory faction—play before the eyes of an astonished Worldiein all their political vagaries, all their oppressions, .cruelties, and bigotry, it is their fashion to identify 'themselves with the Church. As a Clergyman of that I beg leave to tell you that she utterly disowns and utterly repudiates the whole of you. I am a Churchman from conviction, and next to the evidences of her truth which- , I draw from the Scripture, I find it attested, in the strongest manner, by the simple fact that she is not only able to struggle on, but to upraise her head, and enlarge her borders; in spite of the load of obloquy and reproach which the pro fessed attachment of the Tories to her brings upon her.' They tell me, indeed, that the age of miracles has passed away, but I say that it is a daily and hourly mira— cle in behalf of the truth of our venerated Church, that she is what she is, that she still commands reverence and wins affection, when she is so constantly disgraced before the eyes of men by the affected adhesion to her of a party who, in all their doings, outrage the Christianity which they profess, and talk of religion while they practise op pression, whose lips speak of charity, while bitterness and bigotry are in their heart, and who will tell you of their love and pity for the poor, while the sacrifice of a nation's industry upon the altars of monoply is all too little to pamper their luxury and feed the pride of their swelling appetite for pomp and show. lam ashamed ofou. • Farewell, however. for the present. I emphatically say, for the present, because I may again, and at no dis tant period, be tempted mice more to mingle in the arena of political strife upon whicl I have now entered, and we may again cross lances in the inelce. These are stirring times, and every man, however small may be his ability, who can do anything for the people, is, I, think, bound to exert himself in their behalf. 1 shall; and, .in doing it, I will have an especial eye upon yourself. Farewell. " We meet again at Philippi." A CLERGYMAN OF THE CHURCH OF Aug. 12, 1841. ENGLAND. THE QUEEN AND SIR ROBERT PEEL. (From a Correspondent.)--A gentleman of rank and talent assures me the Queen may very properly and con stitutionally say, "Having, by the advice of my Minis try, dissolved the late Parliament, I expect, in the for mation of a new Administration, that Sir Robert Peel will not be placed in any situation giving him necessarily access to me, as I have a personal objection to him. I rely on the loyalty of those who may come into office to secure me from this. I hope you will think thus, and say so too; it would ward off much evil; and mightily lower the consequence of that insidious spinner of wiles and fallacies, if adopted. The following distressing occurrence took place lately at Eaux Chaudes, a watering-place in the Basse Pyrenees. A gentleman and his wife were taking a walk in the environs, and came to a chasm between two rocks. The lady dared her husband to leap over it. Being a better judge of distances and of his own powers he at first declined, but, piqued by her reproaching him with cowardice, he made the spring and fell into the space between. When taken up it was found that his back was broken, and in e, few hours afterwards he expired, CURIOUS FIGHT.--A tame gull, a remarkably fine bird, brought from the cliffs at Flamborough, about six monts ago, and since domiciled in the garden of Mr. G. Shepherdson, Driffield, the other day walked into Mr. S.'s kitchen, and finding a cat and kittens, the gull cast an epicurean eye upon the you ng feline race, and was about to help himself to one of these tender morsels, when Pussp With maternal instinct, immediately com menced a furiou s attac k upon gu ll y , w hich he as fiercely repelled. The household dog then came to the assist ance of pussy, but the strong and piercing beak of the gull drove them both from the field, and his gullship • then, at one gulp, bolted a fine young kitten. kitten then became his p re y, w hi c h , Another more easy of passage, was s oon i n hi s ca p ac i o us maw.-- Yonis Courant, a fter making rather HAYMA►R.KET THEATRE. Mr. Placide, the celebrated American Manager and actor, made his first appearance in this country at this theatre, last evening, in the character of Sir Peter Teazle in the ; School for Scandal, and of Lingo, in the Agreeable Sitiprise. %Ye think this gentleman acted very injudiciously in choosing the character of Sir Peter Teazle for his debut. The character of Sir Peter Teazle is one so completely peculiar to the polished English society of the last century, that it is next to impossible rot.a persor. who has not been used to mix in first-rate English society, to understand or to act -the character. Sir Peter Teazle is a finished gentleman, and Mr. Placide was wofully deficient in the elegance of manner necessary-to give effect to such a character. His thorough acquaintance with the stage business, saved aim from.the commission of any grievous faults; but his conception of the character was altogether false, and his acting harsh, unpolished, and wanting in grace. He is a good farceur ; but no mere farceur can act Sir Peter Teazle. His Lingo was a much better performance. His reading of the character is different to what we have been hithertoaccustomed. lie makes Lingo more of the old man, and we are by no means disposed to say that he is wreng in so doing ; but he was at times very humorous, And some of his grimaces were most extraordinary.. He sings well, and was deservedly encored in the song " Amo, amas," which he gave with great quaintness. From what we saw of him last night we should imagine that in his line Mr. Placide was a good actor ; but genteel co medy is most decidedly not in his line, therefore, we hope he will not again attempt the character of Sir Peter Teazle. Miss Helen Faucit was the Lady Teazle, and we were agreeably surprised to find her so excellent in co .nedy. She was scarcely sufficiently buoyant in the car der scenes, but as the character developed itself, she rose with her part, and in the more serious scenes towards the ...lose she was excellent. The screen scene was given with a pathos that was exquisitely touching, and the scorn with which she retorts on Joseph Surface, at the .:lose of the scene, was most withering, and at the same lime most lady-like. We never saw this scene better acted. Mrs. Stirling, as Mrs. Candour, was per fect. It is impossible to imagine anything better than .the Mrs. Candour of this lady. The othr characters were all excellently supported (Wallack resuming his old character of Charles Surface), and the piece was got up • with all that attention to costume and scenery, for which this theatre has of late become so .:elebrated. At the conclusion of the play Mr. Placide was. called for, and on his appearance was loudly cheered. The house was well attended. DR BIRKBECK. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—l perceived by your paper, of some few days back, that a testimonial in honour of Dr. Birkbeck is about to be raised. lam glad to hear this, and cannot but feel pleased at the handsome manner in which you have introduced the subject to the public. In what has been done as yet, however, I disagree. Permit me to say that a piece of plate, a lectureship, or any of those means which have been proposed, would in themselves be too trivial and toy-like to be applied in the way of commemorating the services of the individual in question. I can understand the presentation, of a testi. monial of this description emanating from a private cir cle in acknowledgment of ordinary merit ; but I do not think any thing of this kind would be in keeping with the nature of the services of Dr. Birkbeck. The ser vices of the worthy Doctor are of a national character, and the testimonial which would go. !to reward or ac knowledge them should also be of a national character, and should emanate from the highest . quarter. I would say that the services which Dr. Birkbeck has rendered are of the highest importance to the age and to his coun try. He has devoted his life, his learning, his fortune, Ind his energies to the improvement and development f that portion of the public mind to which England th% es so much of her mechanical and commercial great ness. The State has not hesitated to bestow its honours on merit. Witness—ln physic, Sir B. Brodie and others ; in art, Sir David Wilkie ; in literature, Sir E. L. Bul wer ; in science, Sir D. Brewster and Sir M. Farraday. Might not some high national honour be conferred on the revered individual in question ? His services to his country have at least been as worthy as the noblest of the names above mentioned. I am, Sir, ONE WHO HAS PARTAKEN LARGELY OF THE BENEFITS CONFERRED BY THE DOCTOR'S LABOURS Aug. 14, 1841. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. The Sixteenth Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Court of Proprietors of this Railway was held yesterday, pursuant to printed notice, at the Euston Hotel; Euston ,quare, Sir Richard Carr Glyn, Bart. in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said, it was now the duty of the Di rectors to lay before the Proprietors an account of the proceedings of the last six Months, and he thought the consideration of that account would justify the anticipa dons formerly held out as to the satisfactory progress of the undertaking. The account showed a considerable in crease, of their earnings, and a decrease of their charges. The Directors were enabled to announce a dividend of Si. ss. for the last half-year. RICHARD CREED, Esq., read the Report, from which it appeared, that the' receipts for the present half-year ending June 30, amounted to 382,452 L, or 39,258/. more than in the corresponding half-year of 1840 ; that the cost of maintaining the road and working stock in an efficient state was 112,9361., or 6,4901. less than in the cor responding half-year ; and, consequently, that whilst there was an increase equal to lit. Bs. 6d. per cent. on the receipts, there was a decrease on the -charges equal to 51. 18s. 6d. per cent. That the net balance of the revenue for the two last half years (de ducting the dividend of 4 per cent., ordered on the 12th February last) was 192,1481., being the sum applicable to the dividend about to he. declared. That arrangements had been made between the London and Birmingham and the Birmingham and Gloucester Companies, which it was expected would give additioxial facilities to the traffic on the respective lines when the Gloucester Rail way should be opened, which would be on the 17th inst. That referring to the proceedings of the Harrow inquest in November last, so much of the verdict as awarded a deodand had been quashed. That Edmond Calvert, Esq., had resigned his seat in the Direction of the Company since the last general meeting. Mr. BOOTHBY, in answer to a question regarding the depreciation fund, said it had been presumed that about 5 per cent. on the value of the stock should be laid aside as a depreciation fund ; it would soon be seen whether that were too much, or not enough' ; a very correct valuation of the carriage stock, horse-boxes, and trucks. had been made ; and although 50,0001. had been laid . aside as the depreciation fund for those articles, the actual amount of depreciation upon them already amounted to more than had been set aside for the pur pose; he did not think that would be the case with re gard to the engines and other stoat ; however, he thought the amount laid by would be sufficient to cover. the de preciation. Mr. JAMES HEYWORTIt proposed that a dividend of 41. 10s. should be paid, . instead of 4/. 55., which he thought might very judiciously be done, out of the net earnings of the Company. He held in his pocket no less than 350 proxies, and the amount of shares he repre sented was immense; the owners of the proxies which he held would all have voted, to a man, for the dividend of 4/. 10s. ; and he did not consider he should be acting as a faithful steward if he did not press for that dividend. Mr. ORMEROD and others followed in favour of the greater dividend. The CHAIRMAN (Messrs. Rathbone, Hodson, Rams den, Moseley, and others) trusted Mr. Heyworth would withdraw his motion. It was not without much serious deliberation that the Directors had come to the deter mination •of offering the 'dividend they did ; it was a considerable increase upon the last, and they trusted Shareholders would be satisfied. They were sure, if gentlemen, whose proxies Mr. Heyworth held, were present and had heard the arguments, they would not vote as lie had intimated. ..... A great deal of discussion ensued, and Mr. ileyworth at last consented to withdraw his motion. Ihwas then moved and seconded that " the Report be received and adopted ;" which was carried unanimously, amidst loud cheers. _ _ _ Captain PORTER, R.N., stated for the information of his brother Proprietors, that a school had been opened at Wolverton, entirely under the superintendence of the Board of Directors, intended for the education of 100 boys and 100 girls, children of servants engaged on the line.. A Society had also been instituted for the reliev ing of those servants who had met with accidents, &c. ; 410 men had already been relieved by this Society, at an expense of 7001., and' only six deaths through acci dents or injuries, had occurred on the line since the open ing-of the Society ;he wished to remind the Proprietors that Mr. Saville was the treasurer of this Society, and that the smallest contributions from them would be most thankfully received. The CHAIRMAN spoke to the benefits accruing to the. Proprietors from this Society. IsTotWithstanding the great competition, and the great demand for good ser vents; and workmen, and their actual scarcity, the Lon don and Birmingham Railway always managed to retain good and efficient servants on its staff. A vote of thanks was carried by acclamation to the Chairman and other Directors of the Company. The former briefly acknowledged the honour, and the meeting broke up. The dividend will be available on the 23d inst. TOM BOWLING, A TALE OF THE SEA, BY CAPTAIN F. CHAMIER.--It is a long time, by far too long, since Captain Chamier has been vigilant and active in the press, and those who like racy, vigorous novels, fresh from nature's mint, or full of a seaman's character, had begun to think that he was " skulking under ginger bread hatches on shore ;" but here he revives, and makes his appearance on deck in a style to support his old fame, and resuscitate the taste for this species of novels. " Toni Bowling" is a work of the right good cast on a capital subject, and which the Captain manages with even more than his wonted tact and judgment. We have all the exploits of naval warfare vividly brought before us, so as to excite great 'and never-failing interest. Captain Chamier's humour is rather of the old school, and is, therefore, delightful as the representation of the reali ties of our old naval society, when the enemy, and that means all the world, scarcely dared to show a flag on the ocean.—Dispatch. A CURIOSITY.A farther in the neighbour hood of Wirksworth, has now in his possession a lamb, perfect in all its parts except the hind legs, which have only one joint, and are but half the length of the fore ones. When standing, its appearance resembles the giraffe, and when moving from place to place, it leaps like a rabbit. It continues in good health, and grows rapidly. A mod horrible accident occurred last i‘eek in the county of Two Mountains ; a man, while in a state of intoxication, having fallen into a kettle of boiling potash, had been completely dissolved. Search was made for his body, but not the least particle of it could be found.—Canada Times. STINILONDON. sAl l ll7l,firtir., AUGUST 14, 1/44i. Extract Despatch' from the Company's Chief CO/mils ! sioner to the Directors, dated Australind, Port Lesche nault, 30th March, 1841 : " The anchorage of Port of Leschenault is .much bet ter than I expected, and affords complete shelter, ex cepting from winds from N. by E. to W.,• and by N. or W.N.W., to large ships, lying in four and as half or five fathoms, or to smaller ones, lying further in, round to N.W.; but as the ground is clear of rocks, ani is good holding ground, whalers havelain at it through the win ter months, and it has become a place of . such resort for American whalers, carrying on th e ir operations in G'eo graphe Bay and along this coast, that it is stated to me that 400 arrivals of vessels calling here took place dur ing last year ; this fact I cannot vouch for. but I can po sitively state on the authority of Mr. Eliot, the Govern ment Resident at this port, that a few days before I ar rived fourteen whalers and a small vessel were anchored in the port at one time ; at the present moment there are three large ships bssides the Parkfield at the anchorage. " The bar at the entrance of -the inlet, us the BOard before understood, has so great depth of water upon it, but it is so protected that, exceptlag in heavy. gales *Om the northward; it has but little surf upon it, and none in the deepest part of the Channel ; it is therefore passable by boats at almost all times. The stores shipped here in the Parkfield, and the cargo, as far as at present landed from her, have all passed in safety in the ship's cutter, in the whale boats, and in a large flat boat which had been prepared for our use. " The depth - of water inside the bar is very consider able for some way up the inlet, and not less, as far as I can learn, than two or three fathoms any where in The Channel, as far as above Australind. I have ordered an accurate survey to be made of the whole inlet, with as much despatch as possible, above the point to which the French Chart extends, showing the depth of water in the Channel; and I shall take all other practical means to ascertain its capabilities or deficiencies. The inlet is a most beautiful piece of water of thicteen or fourteen miles in length, expanding, at a mile or two from its entrance, to a mile and a mile and a half in breadth. It is separated from the sea by u narrow, but high and pic tore ique ridge of limestone and sand, of broken outline, and generally covered with timber and vegetation; and is bounded on the east principally by the grants of Sir James Stirling and that which was purchased of Colonel Lautour,—the latter rising gradually from almost the water's edge, (in some places to the height of 120 feet) and covered with fine timber. The rivers Preston and Collie, both navigable' for many miles up, discharge themselves into the inlet on the eastern side; and the Brunswick. also navigable for many 'miles, which runs through the whole of Colonel Lautour's Grant, (now the Company's property), falls into the Collie a little above its embouchure. As the rise and fall of tide here is not considerable, the inlet has none of the character of creeks of England, being full to the edge of the shore and clear of weed. It is absolutely full of the finest fish, and abounds with black swans, ducks of various kinds, and other aquatic birds.. " The site'on which Mr. Austin is engaged in marking out the town, is that indicated to him in the instructions which I gave him under the sanction of the Board be fore he left England ; and I assure the Board, that it is not only the best which could be found, but it is beauti ful and desirable in all respects, excepting that its dis tance up the inlet is inconsiderable, being,-as I estimate, about five miles ; but even in this respect, it is better situated in reference to the port than Perth, which is sixteen miles from Freemantle, outside of which, and of ..the bar of the Swan, Gage's Roads are the only anchorage, excepting the more distant one of Cockburn Sound, at which slops for the river can lie. A small iron steamer would obviate this inconvenience, and be of creat advan tage to every one who might be located up the inlet, or on the Collie or Brunswick. The undulating nature of the ground on which the town site is marked out, rising, as before stated, in some places to 120 feet, affording limestone for building on the spot. and fine soil on the Brunswick, which, at the back of the town site, ap proaches the inlet to within three quarters of a mile, with abundance of water by digging anywhere a• few feet, and with superiority to flood, altogether render it a most promising and desirable position for a town. I . have not yet, of course, had time to survey the country land generally, but I have traced the Brunswick from its junction with the Collie for three miles, where it is thirty or forty yards wide, and on its banks found the finest land I have seen in Australia. Some of my party have traced this river (which Captain Grey stated he could not find), for six or seven miles, and it was still a considerable stream now, at the end of this (extraordi nary) dry season : and their reports, and the opinion current in the colony, speak most favourably of the value of land on its banks, and generally of the grants ,pur chased of Colonel Lautour and Sir James Stirling, and an additional one on the Collie, recently purchased for the Company. I need not add that the climate of this part of the country is acknowledged to be finer than that of almost any other part of Australia. Such is the posi tion in which Australind is fixed, and God grant that it may become a prosperous city. " The gentlemen who have come out with me as set tlers, and the emigrants one and all, are delighted with the decision that has been come to ; and several now tell me (Mr. Birch, a settler, in particular), that after what they had heard of the district to the northward, and have seen of this, they would have quitted me here if I had gone toPort Grey. " Now, I have every reason t o b e li eve I shall keep the whole colony together ; for there are so few grants yet brought into use in this part, that I do not fear the dis persion of my people to any extent. I have before re ported to the Board the exemplary conduct of the gen tlemen settlers with me, their zealous co-operation with me on all occasions, and their promise to devote their whole time to the general good till their lands can be chosen ; and it would be unjust to the emigrants if I did not again speak highly of their conduct since we have been at this port. They are now actively at work in as sisting to land the cargo and bring it up by water to Australind. I hope to locate. them all there in a few days, in tents or temporary huts, which I shall allow them to build, to fill up the vacancies among the men forming the Surveying Establishment from the most de serving, and to employ the remainder in objects for the general good till they find profitable employment among the settlers, allowing them, during that time, rations ac cording to the Directors' orders. " During my long ride to Perth and back, by different routes through the bush, I saw no country, except that on the Murray, which can be compared with this imme .diate district, and it is perfectly clear to me that there is a splendid opportunity for the beneficial employment of capital in it. The minor object of gardening even, to which hardly any attention has yet been paid, would re turn an ample profit. Every whaler on the coast would call here frequently for vegetables,. fruits, and other re freshments if they could get them ; at present they ac tually pay here 251. per ton for potatoes and 201. per ton for onions ; and the more important branches of stock and sheep rearing can no where in Australia be carried on with greater prospect of success than here." - Extract Despatch from same to same. Dated Australind, AUSTRALIND. 6th April, 1841. "In addition to my letter of the 30th ult., detailing the circumstances under which I have taken upon myself, in conjunction with his Excellency the Governor, to found Australind on the original site, up Leschenault Inlet, I have the utmost satisfaction in acquainting you, for the information of the Directors of the Western Aus tralian Company, that every hour confirms the wisdom of the choice of position for the settlement which has thus been made. The navigation of the inlet will be perfectly easy by steamers and boats, so that communi cation with the roadstead and sea is_ complete.' Inland navigation for many miles, by the B . runswick and Collie, is better by very far than in any other position which could have been chosen, and as the Preston also is navi gable for some miles up, and discharges itself into the inlet, communication with the district it waters is like wise accomplished. If a dam were constructed in the Brunswick, within the town site, to shut out the passage of sea-water, there would be. I am at present informed, no difficulty in hav ing the river full of fresh water to the town at all seasons of the year, as it is at present during the rainy season ; but such is the facility of obtaining water any where in the town site, that it is only necessary to sink a well three or four feet, and an abundant supply is immediately yielded of most excellent' quality. As soon as I pitched the first tent in the situation in which I .determined to place my establishment, I sunk a well about five feet deep and then placed a small cask in it; the cask immediately ' filled and keeps full of delicious water,. though sometimes we have taken eight or ten buck e t s f u l' out of it at a time, and in one day upwards of fifty buckets full; and another small well, sunk within a few yards from the edge of the Estuary, also yields excellent water; in fact, it may be found in every part of the town site, the depth of the well being, of course, regulated with reference to the height of the ground in which it is sunk. The town site is really in every direction beautiful; its western front, looking across the inlet, is commanding and the view delightful ; its eastern view •on the Brunswick is picturesque and full of charm, and the south-eastern angle has a most romantic view up and down the Collie and the , junction of the Brunswick, which almost surpasses any thing I have ever seen. The land rises boldly from the edge of , the Collie, and that part of the town will be sixty or eighty feet at least above the stream. Limestone_ crops out on the tops of some of the hills, and exists in others. Every part of the town site is superior to flood, and consequently affords facility for drainage. The only land in the town which bears the . . least appearance of being wet is on the banks of the Brunswick, not from floods, but from under-springs. It is the finest land I ever saw, and as I propose to make public gardens, &c., on this part of the stream adjoining . the town. as enjoined by my instructions, I have lent a part of it to the respective settlers with me for a year, to make gardens . thereon, till they can get on their own respec tive allotments. They will clear the ground and are to give it up t o me w ithout any claim to compensation for improvement. I have place) the whole of the emigrants under rick-cloths, tents, &c., and as the weather has been remarkably fine, they have not suffered at all,—they are all, men, women, and children, in perfect health." FINE ARTS.—The sketch for the statue of Sir Astley Cooper, intended . for St. Paul's Cathedral, has been completed by Mr. Baily, RA., and represents the late highly distinguished surgeon in an elegant and graceful standing a ttitude, with his left h an d resting upon a cranium. The figure is robed as a Doctor of Laws. This work of art, is very successful in portraying the ur banity and frankness of the highly gifted Sir Astley, nor are the dignity and self-possession, for which he was so eminent, wanting in the composition. Another novelty in art,—also in the studio of the above Academician,_ is a sketch for a memorial to the Reverend Doctor Hood, the late Dean of Ely, which is to be placed in St. John's College, Cambridge. BIRTH-DAY OF THE QUEEN DOWAGER.— Yetserday was the anniversary of the birth of her Majesty the Queen Dowager. Her Majesty was born in the year 1792, and has consequently attained her 49th year. STAFFORD and RUGBY ICA Lll AY. On Thursday a general meeting of the Subscribers of this Company was held at their offices, Bond-street, Man chester, to consider and determine whether, and upon what terms, they should dissolve the Company, and wind up its affairs. Shortly after twelve o'clock ROBERT GARDNER, Esq., was called to the _chair, and opened the proceed ings by requesting the Solicitor, Mr. Wheeler, to read the advertisement convening the meeting. The CHAIRMAN then obs erve d, th a t th e no ti ce referred to was sufficiently explanatory of the objects of the meet ing, and that it was not necessary for him to make any observation on th e su bj ec t, f ur th er t h an t h at t h e minds of the Directors were unchanged as to the utility and advantage of the line ; but that, in consequence of the circumstances of the time, and the difficulties under which commerce was labouring, they thought it desirable not to proceed 'my further with the undertaking for the present Mr. WHEELER then read the Report of the Directors (for which see Advertisement). Mr. J. BURT moved, that the Report be printed for distribution, under the sanction• of the Provisional Com mittee. Dr. AsuroN seconded the motion. A SHAREPOLDER—The Directors recommend, that the CompanY be not dissolved, but that it continue, and that no money be expended on the undertaking for the present—how will that affect the liabilities of Proprie tors who wish to withd raw ? Mr. CHAPPELL—The Report states, that the liabili ties of Shareholders will cease, after they receive their respective dividends out of the unexpended fund, A SHAREHOLDER—WiII that be according to law ? Mr. CHAPPELL---Certainly. Mr. WHEELER—According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, the liabilities of the undertaking cannot extend beyond a single Session. . The Shareholders are obliged, Session by Session, to renew the Parliamentary undertaking, before the Company be in a condition to go to Parliament at all, and consequently such renewal is necessary, before any liability can be incurred by any Sharehc&ler. No other Shareholder having any observation to offer, the motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr. CHAPPELL then moved, " That it is not expe dient to abandon the undertaking ; but, in pursuance of the recommendation of the Directors, that the unex pended funds be distributed among the Shareholders, and the further prosecution of the undertaking be post poned." He thought it was due to the Shan-holders to state why the Directors recommended them not to abandon the undertaking. The Company was at the ex pense of obtaining plans and surveys ; and, by abandon ing the undertaking, any other Company that wished might take it up, without any such preliminary expense. There was no responsibility on. any Shareholder,. after this postponement was agreed to. Before a Skirehol der became liable, he must sign another deed, as was ob served by Mr. Wheeler. lie (Mr. Chappell) thought it due to Mr. Edward Tootal to observe, that that gentleman had redeemed his - pledge. When he un dertook the last operations, he said the Company would not be at a greater expense than about five shillings per share. He (Mr. Chappell) beliered that was the case. He knew no one to whom the Company were more in debted than Mr. Tootal.—(Cheers.) Mr. Wheeler also was deserving of thanks, for, the exertions which he made to carry the Company through its difficulties. The opposition against which the Company had to con tend arose from a quarter that was least suspected of any intention to impede their efforts. Their defeat arose principally from the opposition of a Company that in tended to carry the Churnet Valley line. That Company knew, that, if the present undertaking were carried, it would deprive them for ever of any opportunity of get ting that line. That was the cause of the defeat of the Stafford and Rugby Company. They were defeated; but, when the residue of the funds was divided among them, it would be found to be greater than was ex pected. For this, the thanks uf the Company were due to Mr. Tootal.—(Cheers.) Mr. RICHARD BIRLEY seconded•the resolution, and it passed nem, dis. On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Molyneux, seconded by Mr %Villert, John Hyde and Edward Langworth, Esqrs., were appointed to audit the accounts. Mr. TOOTAL said, that from the very warm greeting given upon the mention of his name by Mr. Chappell he felt it right to say a few words, and that, however sin gular the statements might appear, he was totally unpre pared to thank them for the kind manner in which they had responded to the Chairman's notice of his exertions on behalf of the Company. He (Mr. Tootal) had not words in which he could adequately express the feelings excited in him by such an acknowledgment of his ser vices. In consequence of the active part he had taken in the affairs of the Manchester and Birmingham Exten sion, and the Stafford and Rugby Railway Companies, he had been brought into personal contact with almost every one of the Shareholders, with many landholders,a great number of Members of Parliament, and other in fluential persons ; and, although the Company were beaten, and had lost nearly all their money, but not their honour, still he had the satisfaction of finding that he had retained the confidence of those parties for whom he had acted.—(Cheers.)—He would state briefly, but emphatically, that, had he served himself as well as he had served the Company, he would have been a richer man.—(Hear, hear.) Had he served his God as he had served them, he would have been a better Christian. He had done his best night and day, at the expense of considerable trouble and inconvenience, the neglect of his private affairs, and his . domestic comforts, to promote the success of the undertaking. He never for a moment allowed his own private concerns to occupy his atten tion when the affairs of the railway required it. He was aware that the observations appeared rather egotistical ; it was the first time he had spoken of his own exertions, and perhaps it would be the last. He thanked them again for the confidence they had placed ill him, and expressed his regret that he was not able, with the assistance of his brother Directors, to bring matters to a successful issue in the last campaign. He did not wish to enter into any detailed account of the difficulties with which they had to contend ; but some parties had conducted themselves in a manner, in reference to the undertaking, which re flected little credit on them. Those who could say one thing on Monday, and do another thing on the Wednes day following, were unworthy of his support. Such was the case.. He had stated from first to last that the busi ness of the Company was conducted with every regard to economy ; but gentlemen must be well aware that the 1 expenditure of an undertaking of the kind was not easily controlled—there were a great many interests to contend against, which necessarily led to considerable expendi ture. However, he was not aware of a single dispute of of any kind having arisen, with reference to the money transactions of the Company. He was not aware of any unpleasant occurrence between any of the parties along the whole of the intended line, and the parties connected with the Company ; so . that, although the operations of the Company might be suspended for a time, the Company. could again make its appearance with credit and honour. Whatever Company might take the line up would find that the Manchester and Birmingham Extension Railway Company, and the Stafford and Rugby Railway Company, had not left a bad name behind them. On looking at the daily papers, he had found that Sir Robert Peel, on the occasion of his election at 'l'amworth, in alluding to the defeat of a line of railway through the district in which his property is situated, made the following remarks : "There have been few occasions on which your local and peculiar interests have been brought under the con sideration of Parliament; but, when they have, I have not permitted either private avocations or public busi ness to interfere with my attention to those interests whichaffeeted your local concerns. I may not have been successful—l allude now to the measure for the facility of communication by railways. The combination of powerful parties with Railway Companies and Canal Companies; may have defeated the measures which I thought you were entitled to expect.—(Cheers.) But, at any rate, it was not my fault. I gave, notwithstand ing the pressure of public business, the utmost attention to them, because I thought the public interest would be advanced by them, and your local interests also promoted." Mit Saunders, the Secretary to the Great Western Rail way, one of the most able railway servants in the king dom, a man justly esteemed •by that Company and the public, was examined before the Parliamentary . Commit tee on 'Railways, and asked a number of questions by Lord Granville Somerset. The following question and answer is taken from that examination : • " Take a case," said Lord Granville Somerset, "which was.submitted to Parliament this year : a proposition to unite .a portion of the Grand Junction with a portion of the London and Birmingham Railway, whereby it was presumed that a saving of nine or ten miles in distance might be effected; supposing the railroad to have been formed, would it not have been in the power of the Grand Junction and the London and Birmingham Companies to have - - completely neutralized the accommodation which that shortening of the distance otherwise might have afforded to the public ?—I do not think so, said. Mr. Saunders it is possible that, during a period of hosti lity between•parties, they might be blind to their own interests, and they might act at that moment upon false views; but I think, if that railway were made, it is so manifestly the object, and so palpably the duty, of the London and Birmingham Railway to get all the traffic they can upon their line, that they would immediately come to an arrangement which should bring to them that traffic, and that, when it was brought to them, they would conduct it in the best possible manner. I think that branch railways, come from where they may, must be looked upon as beneficial to the trunk railway. In the case of the Stafford and Rugby Railway, at the present moment, it is obvious the London and Birmingham would rather receive all their traffic from the Grand Junction at Birmingham, and carry it along the whole line, than receive it partly at Birmingham, and partly at Rugby ; but the moment the line was made which left it no longer ' a matter of doubt whether the Manchester, Liverpool, Wales, Ireland, or Scotland people would go by one line or by the other, the London and Birmingham Company would instantly see that they must make arrangement's to receive the traffic, and conduct it in the best style ; I cannot conceive that they could take any other course." He (Mr. Tootal) had stated, in the commencementuf the undertaking, that the Shareholders would have from 10 to 15 per cent. on their money, if the line was proceeded with, and his opinion remained unchanged. That opi mon was now, it possible, snore disinterested than ever, as his connexion with the Company was about to cease. He had embarked his reputation in the matter ; and it was gratifying to him to know that: the Shareholders and others interested in it had confidence in him. He thanked them for their kind consideration at all times, and concluded by stating, that the amount returnable to the Stafford and Rugby Shareholders would be about 31. per share, and would be payable in a few days. Mr. CHAPPELL thought it due to the shareholders to mention, that the Directors had not received a fraction of remuneration for their services, b eyon d trav e lling ex penses.---(Appluse.) Mr. R A wsosz—Before the meeting breaks up, I wish to ask a question. Provided a part of this Company are again formed for the purpose of making a railway, will those who dissent be entitled to a share of what the writings, surveys, papers, &c. will be sold for ? Mr. CHAPPELL-Yuu could not play fast and loose at that game. You will have the choice of joining any such Company, or otherwise; so that if you do not receive the advantages derivable from those surveys, &c., it will be your own fault.—(Haar.) Mr. RAWSON—I consider it a fair question. Suppose a party of this Company forms a new one—would the par ties who are dissentient be entitled to any of the money obtained for the surveys, ikc. ? Mr. WHEELER—If the - present Company obtained re muneration for its plans,. &c., from some new Company about to be formed, that remuneration would belong equally to all the Shareholders ; but, if a new Company were to be formed out of the elements of this Company, I do not think that those members refusing to join such new Company would have any claim on it on account of the plans. AC SHAREHOLDER-i suppose liberty will be given to each Shareholder to enter any such Company, if he choose ? Arr. CHAPFELL—It will be competent for every Share holder to enter. Mr. RAwsoN—l think any dissentient would have a right to a share of what the plans would sell for, if a part of this Company take the matter up, as well as if an independent body should do so. Mr. WHEELER —Supposing any Company whatever pay for these plans, then all the Shareholders of the pre sent Company are entitled to a Aare. Mr. RAWSON—That answers my question. A SHAREHOLDER—Has any particular day been fixed on for the payment of the money ? The CHAIRMAN—Nut at present. Mr. CHAPPELL—A day will be fixed upon as soon as possible. Mr. TOOTAL remarked, that, as some of his observa tions might mislead parties elsewhere, he thought it right to state that nothing would induce him to take such responsibility again in any railway undertaking. The CHAIRMAN spoke in very flattering terms of the devotedness of Mr. Tootal to the interests of the Com- PITY. Thos. Ashton, Esq. was then called to the chair; and, thanks having been given to Robt. Gardner, Esq. for his conduct while presiding, the meeting separated. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS' Vast quantities of rain, accompanied with cold winds, have fallen in this neighbourhood since our last publica tion, and although we do not find, from all the inquiries we have made, that any material injury is likely to - result from these untoward circumstances hitherto, still consi derable alarm begins to manifest itself in the prospect for the future. The markets are rising rapidly in every direction, bread consequently is now 9d. the loaf, and it is expected will soon further advance ; whils:, meat is proportionably high. So short is the supply of old wheat on hand, that it is generally supposed importations from abroad will be necessary to supply the wants of this country before the new crops can be brought to market.— Sherborne and Dorchester Journal. We noticed the favourable change in the weather which took ploce on Monday the 2d current. Up to Thursday all was propitious, but on that day heavy rain again fell, and continued during the wh o l e o f th a t night. There have since been frequent showers. The continu ance of this unseasonable weather is beginning to cause serious uneasiness. The wheat Has been much twisted and affected with rust, which, of course, will injure the sample very much when it comes to market. Fortunately there is a considerable breadth of spring wheat, which is not so much affected, owing to its having been later in bloom. The harvest altogether will be fully a fort night later than was anticipated in June, in conse quence of the excessiA. moisture, and the want of solar heat. The late-sown turnips have suffered from the same cause, but the early ones promise well. As yet, the oat and barley crops, though thrown back, can not be said to be much damaged. Oats generally will be beyond an average in this district, in grain, but deficient in bulk. Barley will be a good crop, but late. The weather in England and France appears to be the Same as here—too much wet. This is apparent from all the papers ; and a gentleman writing to us from one of the midland counties, remarks—" We have had heavy rains here, and it is threatening more. The wheats are fit for the sickle, and some barley has already been taken to market ; but generally operations are much retarded. Bread has advanced in price." We conversed yesterday with a gentleman from Nairn shire, who states that the late oats and barley have im proved greatly ; but from the superabundance of mois ture, the, turnip crop, in many places, has gone back. Here, also, the wheat has been damaged by rust.— Inverneis Courier. From a gentleman who has travelled nearly round Lancashire, and in some parts of Cheshire, within the last fortnight, during which period he has scarcely ex perienced one thoroughly dry day of summer weather, we learn that a considerable quantity of hay remained to be housed, and there was a great breadth of grass still uncut. The grass is rather heavy, and should the weather take up so as to allow the hay to be housed, the crop will be much more abundant than that of last year. Both wheat and oats are remarkably green for August, and indicate a very lute harvest. The size of the ears vary much ; in some districts they are large and nume rous, whilst in others they are both meagre and scanty. The straw is long and strong, and considering the preva lence of heavy winds and rain, a very small portion only is laid. This, it is to be feared, is owing to the lightness of the heads, and may account for ally deficiency in the yield when reaped. The potatoes look well, but the heavy rain has completely saturated the ground, and materially deteriorated the quality.—Liverpool Mercury. THE SOUTH HAMS.—The farmer's prospects for the present year are very good, and they continue to be very promising. We scarcely ever recollect a season, when from the commencement to the end of July, the wheat crop, on the whole, has made a more promising ap pearance ; though the storms on the 20th June, and again on the 20th ult., did it an injury, though to no great extent. Some of the early fields are tangled and knee bound, and others completely lodged, but notwith standing this, the crop is likely to be above an average one. The harvest will be rather late ;we do not expect to see much wheat cut until the 18th or 20th inst. The barley crop will be a very good one, except in some situations, where, in consequence of the frequent showers that have fallen within the last two months, it appears to be very long in the straw, and rather weak, which generally brings a poor sample. It is very probable, however, that the crop will be above an average one. The hay harvest is just concluded, and we do not re collect a season where the crop was heavier, or, with but few exceptions, better saved. The potato crop will be greater than we have had for many years past. There is a prospect also of an abundant crop of turnips. Apples are but a very partial crop, and but little cider will be made this season. In Kent, it is stated the crops begin to show unequivo cal carnage ; in Nottinghamshire the continued wet has produced mildew and rust extensively, but before this the crop was more than an average one; in Staffordshir,e the crops are much laid, but they have sustained no great positive damage ; in Bucks the crop promises fair, the ear being full and large ; in Oxfordshire the wheat is described as looking healthy, and promising good crops—if there be fine weather to get them in ;in Der byshire the wheat crop is suffering from mildew, and the red rust has damaged the ear to a considerable ex tent ; in llereford the wheats have been much beaten down ; in parts of Norfolk mildew prevails to a consider able extent ; in spme parts of Scotland the same com plaint is heard, butin general theaccounts from that country are not very discouraging.—Chelmsford Chro nick. During the past 'Week the weather has been cold and variable. Considerable falls of rain have taken place, and, on the whole, the season has been unpropitious for ripening the grain crops, which, in consequence, have slightly suffered. It has, however, been most appropriate for the potatoes and green crops, which are every where in the most thriving condition.—lliona's Herald. The annual hop meeting was bald at the Bell Inn, Castle Hedingham, on Thursday, the sth inst. There was very little business doing • one individual sold hi s growth (the present year) for a 15s. per cwt. Several samples of '3B and '39 were offered, but did not find pur chasers ; the betting was against the duty (150,000/.) One gentleman sold his growth of barley at 345. per quarter; another his crop of partridge peas at 40s. per quarter ; altogether there was less business doing than in former years.—Chelmsford Chronicle. surprise,reeenly mingled E AfiT RED, t T h F ofeßenl feelings g A s I r o G f u r s e T g re i4 . Th l a t t i vr s e w h i t a h v e seen.the most exaggerated statements put forth of th e great and serious injury which the corn c sus tained through the cold and wet weath et% r°l3 have therefore, proceed to notice the state of we as we will, the crop have found them, on inspection, both on the clays and I : h This fine tract, which includes some of the finest eat-land i n th e kingdom, s on the sands. And first of the cla of Treswell, Ramp ton, Levert ons,NorthParishe and South Wheat zdoni. No r th is and inc South in the leys, Bole, &c. &c., bas now one ° the riche s t coverings of wheat growing upon it th a t ever was seen. The straw is long and strong, th e ear large and bold— the whole free from- disease. on the same quantity of ground,Aasn last year's crops, there is now ripe ; indeed, before this will and it i p s a are red ad w y it n h ea t r b ly e twice as much growing readers the sickle willbe seen by many of your the harvest nearly be have commenced operation, and g can-pronounce them ese to be fine in quality, from three of these p ar i shes are S n am ow p b le e s fore of ne , w wheat likely to yield abundantly. The parish of Ranipton, very us bo a ld n , d a l n v d e of open field, containing several hundred acres growing wheat, is estimated at from 12 to 14 loads i apply per acre round. With respec t t o the barleys in this dis trict, they are as a b undant as were ev er before known, or, we may add, as they can be desired. The same remark will to oats, which are so good as to create a feeling of surprise in all who have se en them. The cro p of beans and as, however, we fear , will be but indif ferent. With plenty of straw, there will be but little and this may be attributed to a blight which they re .Ceixed when going into blossom, which destroyed the flower, and left in many instances nothing but a barren stalk. The crops of grass and clover in this district have been good, and a great deal of it got in in good condi tidn. The eddish is most abundant, and the pastures as luxUriant as ever were known. Turn we now to the sand ; and here we must admit that a greater diversity exists, particularly amongst the wheat crops, than in the clays. And this brings to our mind the old distich— " When the sand doth feed the clay, Then England woe and well-a-day • But when the c la y doth feed the sand, Then it is well with Old England I" Be this, however, as it may, we find on the light and ) sandy soils of the Forest of Sherwood, some—and that F a great majority, of the finest crops we have seen for . , ear s. It is true, in some places a little rust is to be fund, whilst in others the farmers complain of many L of the wheat ears being partly deaf,—and we believe they ' do not do so without reason. Still the great majority is , good, and will be found to be excellent both in quality MORN I NAG guN and quantity. The crops of barley and oats, too, are ge nerally abundant, with here and there a thin coverivg but these are the exceptions, not the rule. And now, as it respects the marley and alluvials, soils which extend themselves to the north and south of this place. We be lieve we may assert, without any fear of contradic tion, that, in general, all kinds of growing corn hare seldom presented such a cheering aspect. The wheats are splendid—the barleys strong and abundant, and the oats everything that can fairly be desired. Here, too, the beans are remarkably goOd—we hear but of few com plaints, and this satisfies us that there is no reason given why there should be. Such, therefore, is the general state of the crops in this neighbourhood at the present moment ; and all we want is suitable weather for gather ing in these bounties ofProvidence.—Nottingham Journal. The weather still continues precarious and unsettled, and the harvest cannot be said even yet to have fairly commenced. Small portions of grain are here and there cut, but it is not yet sufficiently ripe, a few days' sun shine being required. The protraction of the present stormy and chilly weather naturally excites considerable alarm, and if fine warm sunshine does not speedily ensue, the consequences in injuring the harvest will be very disastrous. As yet, however, little or no injury has been sustained, and, as we have before reported. the crop of wheat in point of quantity bids fair to yield more than an average. It is a peculiarity of the present year that the barley and wheat are ripening simultaneously. Tit potatoes are everywhere proving a productive crop,' and the turnips look remarkably well.—Dorset Chronicle. The weather still continues unseasonable. In this county the hay harvest is far from being finished ; and, within the last few days it has been no uncommon thing in the neighbourhood of brooks and rivers to see men employed in fishing hay out of the water to prevent its being carried quite away by the floods. With respect to the corn crops, they have sustained, perhaps, no-great deal of positive damage as 3 , et ; although in some in stances they are partially laid ; but a few days of bright dry weather would bring them round. We sincerely trust that a favourable change will speedily take place, otherwise the consequences will be truly serious.— Staffordshire Advertiser. MEHEMET ALI. The following reply has been sent by Mehemet Ali to the address of the East India and China Association, published on the 19th ult.:— " The address of the members of the London East India and China Association having been submitted to his Highness Mehemet Ali, the undersigned has been instructed to inform them, that his Highness fully appre ciates the sentiments which they have been pleased to evince towards himself and his future welfare ;. and that what he has done in advancement of the interests of humanity and of civilisation he is ready to continue, if God grant him life and assistance.. His conduct during the events which have taken place is, meanwhile, sufficient to convince them that it is at times preferable to trust in the known character of individuals than to solicit or exact measures which are not in accordance with the institutions and usages of a country. When it is possible to arrive at an end, with the satisfaction of all parties, it will always be advisable to intrust the executive power to whomsoever is in the most favourable position for act ing. His Highness believes that the members of the Association will participate in his sentiments, and is ex ceedingly grateful for their address. " The undersigned avails himself of this favourable opportunity to assure them of his highest esteem. " BOG I - 10S - JOUSSOUFF." NEW ZEALAND. The latest New Zealand papers received, which are of the 24th of April, refer with some dissatisfaction to the apathy exhibited by the representative of her Ma jesty with respect to Port Nicholson, and the settlements already made are not so prosperous as interested parties would make us believe. The emigrants who had ar rived out there were not located with any advantage, and in some of the papers it is said that Governor Hobson had taken the best of the mechanics for his own employ merit. Altogether the feeling between those who have become proprietors of land out there, and who appear, in some manner to have influence, and the local Govern ment, is not such as would instil confidence as to the cor dial co-operation of these parties. At one of the settle ments called Wanganui the settlers, in the absence of better occupation, had relapsed into habits of idleness and debauchery, and to such an extent was this carried that the appointment of Magistrates was thought neces sary to repress it. It was a bactexample to the natives, who had already commenced a system of depredation upon the shopkeepers, and even extended it to the gar dens of the settlers. To overawe the natives it was suggested that a short history of England should be translated and published, to show the resistless power of the English, and what they bad achieved in former time. It was reported that good coal had been disco vered at Evans's Bay, which, if it proved true, would, it is said, be of the utmost consequence to Port Nicholson; for the discovery would, if the article were good and abundant, make that place the head-quarters for steam navigation between New Zealand and Sydney, and the latter and the numerous islands to the west of New Zea land. Flour was 30/. to 35/. per ton ; beef, Is. to Is. 3d. per lb. ; butter (Irish), Is. 9d. to 2s. per lb.; ditto, fresh, ss. per lb. ; cheese, Is. 3d. to ls. 10d. per lb. ; candles, 10d. to 3s. per lb. ; fowls, 10s. to 18s. per pair ; eggs, 6s. per dozen and ducks, ss. per pair. Now compare the high price of wages, as it is termed, with these prices :—mechanics, 21. 14s. to 3/. 6s. per week ; la bourers, 11. 10s. to 21. 2s. This gives a fine answer to the pretended advantages of emigration. PUNISHMENT of CORN JOBBERS. (From the Cambridge Advertiser.) The following advertisement is copied from the Ge - tleman's Magazine, for June, 1758 : " Cambridge. " Whereas I, William Margetts, the younger, was, at the last assizes for the county of Cambridge, con victed upon an indictment for an attempt to raise the price of corn in Ely market, upon the 24th day of Sep tember, 1757, by offering the sum of 6s. a bushel for wheat for which no more than ss. 9d. ',rug demanded : And whereas on the earnest solicitation and request of myself and my friends,-the prosecutor has been prevailed upon to forbear any further prosecution against me, on my submitting to make the following satisfaction, viz., on my paying the sum of 50/. to be distributed by the ministers and churchwardens of the several parishes in the said town of Ely, and the further sum of 501. to the poor inhabitants of the town of Cambridge, to be distri buted by the ministers and churchwardens of th e severa l parishes in the said town, and the full costs of the prose cution; and upon me reading this acknowledgment of my offence publicly, and with a loud voice, in the presence of a magistrate, constable, or other peace-officer of the said town of Ely, at the market-place there, between the hours of twelve and one o'clock on a_public market-day, and likewise' subscribing and publishing the same in three of the evening papers printed in London, • and in the Cambridge Journal on four different days, and I have accordingly paid the said two sums of 50/. and costs, and do hereby confess myself to have been guilty of the said offence, and testify my sincere and hearty sorrow in having committed a crime which, in its consequences, tended so much to increase the distress of the poor in the late calamitous scarcity. And I do hereby most humbly acknowledge the lenity of the prosecutor, and beg pardon of the public in general, and of the town of Ely in particular. This paper was read by me at the public market place at Ely, in the presence of Thomas Aungier, gen tleman, chief constable, on the 2d day of June, 1758, being a public market-day there, and is now, as a further proof of the just sense I have of the heinousness of my crime, subscribed and published by me, " WILLIAM. MARGETTS. " Witness--limEs DAT, " Under-Sheriff of Cambridgeshire." XTRAORDINARY FELONY AND ATTEmpT ED ARsoN.—Monday, a respectably clad female, appa rently from 25 to 27 years of age, named Isabella Madge, was placed at th e b ar o f t h e P o li ce C our t, Liverpoo l , n u e n; der the followin g ex t raor di nary c h arge , the circrs ta_e lt of which w ere b r i e fl y prisoner introduced by Mr. D ow To g : is re appeared from th e evidence that the spect a bly connected, was on her wa y tothetini who States, and had taken up her lodgings, i n g er the stay of the paßage, at a packet-ship by which she had gs, taken her e araw h other , females also Mr. Sumner's, in Stewart. street, bed, but in the lodged there, who slept in a s ago,they were in bed, same room. A few nightssmike, and on rising saw the they smelt a suffocating sparkling as if from the prisoner with her n ignited materials ifl4'ldlieh Lucifer-matches are dipped. and, as she made some plausible They put out theu fire,itive again gone to rest, but the excuse, they ° c_•f burning being still strong, they roused smoke and smell the landlady, and informed her they apprehended fire. • S ex eased he came intoi the room, threw up the window, and ex .aeistaken opinion that the smoke came from the outside. The smoke soon dispersed, and the Matter subsided. 'Next day one of the females in the house missed a handkerchief, and complained of the circum stance to Mrs. Conolly, who had some connexion with the house. She (Mrs. C.) expressed surprise that it could not be found, and at last, on searching a chest of drawers in the room, missed a cloak, a dress, a remnant of cloth, and some other articles of her own. She also found two other handkerchiefs of her own partly burnt, and so placed as to form a sort of train to two packets of gunpowder, together of about four ounces weight, each in a separate drawer, which had happily not ignited, other wise the drawers would have been blown to p;cees, and '-some of those 'present much injured or killed. The pro perty missed, including the handkerehiefs and some f.Ather articles, were afterwards found, partly at a pawnbroker's and partly amongst the luggage which the prisoner had sent to the packet-ship. The articl es were id ent i f i ed, as also the prisoner, as having pawned some of them. The prisoner also admitted to one of the witnesses that she' had taken them, and that she had bought the powder and ignited the handkerchiefs extending to it. it wouid. appear that she was not aware of the probable immedia,to danger or effects of the gunpowder, and that her oittees was to cover her delinquencies by setting fire to the house. She was committed f or t r i a l on th felony only. The prisoner is from Wakefield. BRUSSELS, AUG. 11.- - The average price of Wheat last week was 23f. 34c. and that of Rye 12f. 7 3 c. Wheat is thus far exempt from , import duty, that on Rye remains at 21f. 50c. for 1,000 kilogrammes. The export ' duty on both is only 25c. for 1,000 kilogrammes, TRANQUILLITY OF IRELAND.—CoIoneI Co. nolly, the Tory Member for Donegal, has again come forward to give his testimony respecting the tranquillity produced in Ireland under the Whig Government. The Gallant Colonel, when Foreman of the Grand Jury of Donegal at last Spring Assizes, strongly protested against the continuance of a police force much larger than was required, in consequence of the unparalleled tranquillity of the district. Since that time there has. been some reduction of the force ; but at the present Assizes the Gallant Officer, in the same capacity o f Foreman of the County G ran d J ury, has required *it further diminution of the constabulary •