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

EVENING T 7 . SPAIN. OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMEN I IN EEPLY TO THE PROTEST OF MARL , CHRISTINA. It is now some time since the Government became cc painted with the plans which the enemies of the Consti tution were concerting, as their last hope of exciting r reaction in Spain. In the frenzy of .;their passion: they sought a pretext, and imagined they had found 1. suitable one, in the question of the guardianship of the august orphans, the Queen Dona Isabel 11., and Dona Maria Louisa Fernando, immediate successor t( the throne. Through this question, however, alone they could not greet their wicked purposes without a leader, a centre of their party. Difficult, if not impossible, it was to find such a person in Spain, and fir this reason they had to seek one without the precincts of the kingdom. With this intent disaffected Councillors sur rounded an illustrious personage in a foreigt, country to make themselves masters of her will ; and it is to be feared that others no less dis affected, residing in Spain, directed- their effort from hence to compromise that illustrious person, without considering the consequences which should, un der all circumstances, have been fatal to her. - Without other object than the accomplishment of their own ambitious views, and realisation of their own desires of depriving the nation of those very institutions which they themselves accepted and approved at the hands of this same illustrious personage—in short, .not for any atten tention towards her, or wish to preserve those rights contended for, unless they tended to their own interest And aggrandisement, these men put into action all the means they supposed conducive to their ends. That such a scheme should have been hearkened to appears incredible. The Royal word, pledged in per fect liberty, and voluntarily pronounced—the interposi tion of sacred rights—regards of the last importance— all tended_ to guarantee in the strongest manner the cer tainty of these plans, which could only lead to horrors and crimes, being rejected. It is difficult to conceive, indeed, how that august per sonage could have lent herself to schemes as wicked as they were.unworthy of the dignity, and contrary to her word of honour and dearest interests. The Government, notwithstanding, learnt that Spaniards, unworthy of the name, had succeeded in compromising her in not only an act unworthy of her, but completely in opposition to others, not very remote, of her own, but also to violate the laws, the sovereignty of the nation, the authority of the Cortes, and legality of the Government. The latter neglected not for a moment the duty re quired by this new state of things. Well aware that the proposed scheme could only recoil upon its authors, the Government was of opinion that it was prudent to await the attempt to execute the plan, in order that punish ment might the more certainly fall upon them, and the laws and Cortes, whom they pretended to set at defiance, be fully vindicated. The imprudence of the parties concerned in this scheme has gone so far as to hurl amidst the people the protest of the Queen Mother, Dona Maria Christina de Borbon, in contradiction of the solemn declaration made, by the Cortes, that the guardianship of her august daughters was vacant, in contradiction of the appoint inent of the guardian, and in opposition to the interfer ence represented in that ill-advised document as having been exercised in these acts by the Regent of Spain and his Government. The situation of the country, the melancholy division yet existing between Spaniards, and consequent excita bility of the passions, entered, no doubt, as elements into the calculation of our enemies ; and reckoning upon these deplorable circumstances, have introduced into Spain, by means of foreign newspapers and printed copies, a document, which they looked upon as the in cendiary torch which was to set the kingdom in flames. But the Government, whose strength increases with the difficulties and dangers with which it has been sought to surround them, neither fears these machinations, nor any others to which the enemies of the country think proper to have recourse, and are prepared in such a manner, that these attempts can only fall upon the authors of them. Having, first, attended to the necessity of the pre servation of social order, the moment has arrived for re futing and repudiating with energy the false arguments upon which the protest has been based ; to vindicate the laws from the insults offered to them ; and protect the Cortes and the whole nation from the unmerited offence given to them. Spain and Europe will behold with astonishment a document as singular as it is inconsistent, as devoid of truth as it is destitute of circumspection and propriety. But before treating of it in detail, it is necessary to premise that it not only protests against the declara tion of the Cortes that the guardianship is vacant, but in the letter which accompanies it a new offence is added to the Cortes and the nation by not recognizing the Constitutional authority of the Supreme Head of the State, and pretending to preserve the Queen -Mother in that position which she before occupied, and which, contra* , to the reiterated advice of the Government, she had voluntarily resigned. This letter, addressed to Don Baldomero Espartero, might be considered private, if it did not contain an ex press command to him to have the document immediately published in the official Gazette of Madrid. It was thus it was discovered that the letter was really directed to the Regent - of the kingdom—a letter which, upon one hand, is addressed as private ; while, upon the other, it assumes the possession of an authority, on the part of the Queen Mother, which she did not possess since its voluntary abdication. In this pretension there is a novelty contradicted by the Queen Mother herself. As yet it is too soon to forget the well-known event at Valencia of her Majesty's abdi cation, the address to the Cortes on the occasion, and the remonstrances of the Government appointed by her self, and of which I was then the President. The ma nifesto also published by her Majesty at Marseilles on the Bth of November last, must also be still fresh in the memory of all Spaniards, and at the conclusion of which she states thus :—" That she who had been Queen now requested nothing more of the Spanish people than that they would love her children and respect her memory." And after declarations so explicit and voluntary, how can it be pretended to preserve still an authority renounced by the former act, and confirmed and recognised by her self in the second ? Notwithstanding this, the letter just alluded to makes the Queen Mother say that the Regency -was wrested from her. So palpable an inconsistency can only be accounted for, by keeping in view the plans of the instigators of this idea, and of the ruin and desolation of the empire. In this letter it is also asserted that every effort for a prudent arrangement of this question of the guardianship had been made, consistent with the dignity of the Queen Mother, but ineffectually. It is but right the country should know what those proposals were which are here called prudent. Her proposal was, that the nomination of the guardians of the Queen should be loft entirely to her, and upon this condition she offered to resign the office her self. This obviously amounted to holding the guardianship in ;her own hands, which would be contrary to the Constitu tion, which grants to none but the Royal father, or to the Cortes, the right of naming the guardian of the Sovereign. In short, to comply with this proposal would be to arro gate those faculties which the nation had conferred upon its representatives alone. The Government, which exists in power by the will of the nation, and faithful to the Constitution and Cortes, could not admit such an uncon stitutional proposition, and which, on the other hand, disclosed objects sought to be concealed. And, finally, it should be alsolnown that this much boasted proposal of conciliation implied the perpetual absence of the Queen Mother; and that all the negotiations with the Govern ment upon this subject assumed her Majesty's residing in a foreign country. The necessity of appointing a guardian being thus created by her Majesty herself, y should it be wondered at that the Cortes would comply with that necessity in the only way in which the 60th article of the Constitution ordains in the absence of a guardian named in the will of the Sovereign, or of the father or Mother of the Royal minor when widows ? On coming to treat of the protest, it will be observed that it has been sought to make this document a means of disturbing the tranquillity of the country, and that this war-cry has been raised by the august personage who de clared as follows, in her manifesto from Marseilles :—" I could have rekindled the civil war, but that war, the ter mination of which had just given you the peace you de sired, ought not to be revived—a peace, too, based upon an oblivion of the past. For this reason, my maternal eyes turned away with horror from such a frightful pro posal, saying within myself, that when children are un grateful, it is better the parent suffer even to death than kindle civil war amongst them." Without remarking that the Spanish people have never been ungrateful to their Sovereigns, is it possible that in so short a time the mother of your Queen should have for gotten duties so plainly recognised, and that she should turn her eyes towards the horrible scheme of plunging you in that civil war which she so lately asserted ought never respect her Niaj e to be revived? Yet so it a pp ears , f or th e p rotes t w i t h guardianshipsty,s a is but I t i l s m er t s oi t x u q rekindle desiel thisgn for that pe c t purposeo he y civil war, and which might have taken effect had the spark not fallen amongst a people distinguished for their good sense. It has never been denied that the late King, Ferdinand the Seventh, had appointed his august wife as the guar dian and protectress of his illustrious children; but it cannot either be denied that these august Princesses, the one as Queen and the other as heiress-apparent of the Throne, belong to the nation, and that their being is so intimately connected with the political system of the Constitution, that the one cannot be separated from the other. For this reason the Constitution provides for the care of these august persons, places them under the pro tection of the nation, and charges its legitimate represen tatives with the selection of a guardian to see duly admi nistered that care and protection. Thus the question of the guardianship became to be limited to the consideration, whether the august minors required this protection or not ; because, if once shown that they did stand in need of such protection, it then became the duty of the Cortes to provide them with it by the appointment of a guardian. This question her Ma jesty herself decided, when in perfect liberty in a foreign country, s he stated, in her address at Marseilles, "I thrown the sceptre from my hands, and abandoned my children !" Abandoned her children undoubtedly were ; mind in want of this protection, they required that the Cortes would provide it for them, in the appointment of a guar dian. In this state of the question, the will of Ferdinand o VII. was to no purpose. It neither provided, nor could To-morrow will be ttie anniversary of the birth provide, this protection for the august minors. It is also day of three remarkable and distinguished individuals— inyain to refer to the laws of Partida in the case—laws Admiral Blake, who was born in 1599 ; Napoleon Bona -Parte, born in 1769 ;and Sir Walter Scott, born 1771. have which, no c a b ef l y referring to CAWS of ordinary life, can STRIKE OF COLLIERS. --According to accounts The qu p es p ti i u c u at o io f n in cases of Princes.o o ing the o •- • from Dudley, a gre_ut number of the Bilston colliers had pion of the august the. withoutguardianshipspp proper s protePci !nrned out for an advance of wages on Thursday even- tion to be well founded and ittine•other various 'ng ; and serious apprehensions being entertained that a considerations, was in the anon' if Ferdinand VII. nut might be the result, as the Bilston colliers came in a had never appointed a guardian—insaine state as same state, in the • body to compel the Dudley colliers to join them, a mes- short, as if the august mother nor minors had neither senger was sent to Birmingham for military aid. A , Queen Mother, troop of dragoons was in consequence immediately dis- appoint them a guardian. notched to Dudley, where considerable exc i t ement p ro • ; Fo r these reasons the Cortes performed one of the LITER AT URE. 77 1 e ,PARLIAMENTARY COMPANION fin. 1841. By CluTrle.s B. Dodd, Esq.—Whittaker and Co. - Mr. Dida,'with hiS usual skill and expedition, Las just brought out a new edition of this valu atle, and entertaining publication. It contains a complete list of all the Members of the New House of Commons, with a great variety of in teresting details. personal as well as local, the state of the poll at every contested election, the number of 101. electors, the amount of assessed taxes for each borough, and the constituency of each county, city, and borough throughout the United Kingdom, forming altogether, perhaps, the most useful Parliamentary guide yet pub lished. As a specithen of the information fur 'fished respecting Members of the House of Commons, we take at random the description of Mr. Muntz, the Member for Birmingham, *hick is thus briefly given • , MUNTZ, GEORGE FREDERlCK—(Birmingham.) — S. of o German merchant of great respectability, who settled in Birmingham in the year 1783, and married a kiss Purden, of that town. B. 1794, in. in 1818 d. of Rev. John Pryce. Is a merchant, a metal roller, and in i'entor and manufacturer of patent yellow metal ship sheathing and bolts. Was the first Vice-Chairman of the Birmingham Political Union, and one - of its most strenuous supporters : underwent several prosecutions on account of an alleged riot at a Church-rate meeting in Birmingham —was convicted upon this charge in 1837, hut the proceedings were quashed, the Judge (the late Sir J. A. Park) and the Court of Queen's Bench being of opinion that they were illegal, and that the prosecu tion should never have been instituted. A Radical Re former, " wishing to remove all abuses without injury to the just rights of any." Has written several pamphlets commercial, financial, and . politico-economical sub- Jects.—Reform : Brittonferry House, Glamorgansh. It contains also a list of the Peerage, with the dates of creation, and the ages of the Members; 41 1(1 in addition to the usual information given in former editions, has a new department, under the title " Explanation of Parliamentary Terms and Proceedings." This will be found useful to new Members, of whom there, are about 190 who did not sit in the last Parliament, and nearly 150 Who never sat in any Parliament. It will be of service even to some of the old stagers, and to the common reader will furnish no little insight lute the mode of conducting business in the Re formed House of Commons. The boOk is beau tifully printed, and the arrangement altogether is well adapted for speedy reference. STORMER; A TALE OF MESMERISM,WITII OTHER SKETCHES FROM LIFE. Bentley. t The tale, which giVes a title to the'three interest olg volumes before us, is by no means worthy of k leading place ia the beautiful series of sketches Which must be, not merely shadowed, but ob scured by the associations connected with its loysterious name. Indeed, of the five stories, three, at least, might furnish each sufficient ma terials for a full-sized romance, of library dimen sions, to any author gifted with equal powers of ltuagination, but restricted by a less pragmatical habit, and less scrupulous in squaring the fancy t) the recollection of facts than Mrs. Romer. u Pon reading the sketch of the ill-fated Mesme rist Stunner, which, after all, is not only like, but nearly equal to, the German Shakspeare's, ` 1 Werter," we were reminded at once of the ex clamation of Vives, when he read. the earlier uipositions of the Princess Elizabeth, to whom ne had just been appointed Latin tutor :—" Ves tigium nec adhuc leonis !" We saw deeply im- pressed upon every page the footmarks ^ of the 4 1 1 0 0, but not yet full grown. As we advanced "Irough the volumes, the marks of approaching l oaturity became evident, and in the pathetic and l i bwerful .histories—(such we must call them)— ° r " The Grisettes," and the " Mother and "aughter " every manifestation of the poet dis -I.)thralled from artificial shackles,, and every Nbellishment which natural grace and culti ted taste can give to written expression. Nor ) 4 s te we certain that a blemish, which we must 'point to, and which to us is very glaring; should Oblig e us to qualify that commendation. The 4 uthor has travelled so much, and has had so much intercourse with foreigners, that she may eel translation to be inadequate to the expres -14011 of sentiments which, although common to every r ace an d tongue, are intelligible only in The dialect in which they are purely uttered. 1 lqrs. Romer seems herself conscious of her fault 1n this respect; and in her preface to the ex trisite tale o f th e Grisettes, endeavours to pal late it. The blemish still exists; and, admitting .4 .; % We cheerfully do, w ith our " friend Flaccus," t hat it is only ''a freckle upon a fair skin," we I llost avow our opinion that it looks more like one 41 ' those unseemly patches with which, a century 4 0, the beauties of the Court used to set off, not the fairness of their complexions, but the pu rity of the paint with which they were , e ‘ overed. Still we may talk of blemishes nd imperfections in this rare work of genius, Reich has only one parallel in our language, end that Mrs. Shelley's cs Frankenstein." But neither our praise nor dispraise can prevent or 11 ,.tornote the reading of " Stunner." It is Printed, and as powerless as the _Edinburgh Review th e case of " Childe Harold," would be any I l ttempt to . write it down, or to restrict its eircu atioa by malignant criticism. Even with this knowledgment we cannot lay down these vo miles without avowing our conviction that the 411 thor has ill-advisedly given up half her I ) ' ) wers in making the admission that the basis "T her tale was strictly historical. In the ex.er °lBe of those powers she has here fettered herself 'i , '' '‘eessively, in a style too pragmatical, and tied ') closely to facts an imagination capable of r • auging spheres to which the spirit neither of By puo nor Mrs. Shelley could travel. THEATRICALS DURING THE PAST WEEK. 4 The past week has been prolific in the production of r tiniatic novelties, and, with the exception of the Italian t `iPera House, the season of which is drawing fast to a s, ° se, every - theatre of importance has contributed its h are. At the English Opera House, on Monday even- Mr. C. Selby contrived to place Mr. Keeley and p"'s• Waylett in a peculiarly perplexing situation." t :yery evening s i nc e that gentleman and lady have found rmselves equally perplexed,and there is every probability °F their p er pl e xities being renewed nightly to the end of the Cason. Atthe Strand Theatre on the same evening Hall produced as an afterpiece a version of Barnaby Budge, jitil the pen of Mr. Stirling. It was, as stated at the P(', completely successful, and with The Frolics of the ;,( 4 iries will carry on the management triumphantly to end of the season. At the Olympic the - tiornt-out" dramatic company of Astley's still con their performances, and have been fortunate in Jleeiving the assistance of various minor stars. T his 1" 1 ( Miss Mitchell, from the Philadelphia Theatre, vo lnteered her services in their behalf, and performed the aracter of Agnes de Yore on Monday. Another ver et of Barnaby Rudge . was on the same evening pro „aced at Sadler's Wells, where Elton has been ILarrino• it during the past • week, and htt been ''erg illy supported by Marston and Mrs. R. lion sr• Ducrow commenced his engagement at the tk a rrey, on Monday, with llfazeppa, and the scenes in ",c circle. The manner in which the pit has been l i t `Japtect f o r the equestrian performance& reflects the ' t ' i git es t credit on the skill and ingenuity of Mr. Lowe, 0 3 mechanist.. It is needless to say that the theatre has I 'en crowded every evening—who ever knew the Sur „3' otherwise ? At the Victoria, which, under judicious management of Mr. Osbaldistou, ' 1 , 44 completely regained its f o rmer hi g h character, L k te 'as produced on Monday one of those touching dramas for which this theatre has of late 14 -e°4l e so celebrated It is founded on the story of Brownrigg's cruelties, and as Miss Vincent act ed the part of the heroine, it is almost a. Worl of supererogation to say that the drama 8 completely successful. This. theatre, like its rival, is crowded every e vening. On W e d -e suaY, 'at the Haymarket, a very pleasant two O ct comedy was produced, entitled Foreign Affitirs. Rill 4 t is well written, well acted, and superbly got up ; an , d therefore run through the remainder of Celeste s engagement, whose personation of the Count St. Louis (the hero of the comedy), is excessively clev er . At the same theatre last evening Mr. Placide, the c elebrated American comedian made his'bow to anEnglish Public in the characters of Sir Peter Teazle and Lingo. leis Sir Peter bad—his Lingo good. While on tl►i very s subject, we would just hint to those concerned, that the dialogue of the School for Scandal is so carefully )vritten, that it is exceedingly improbable that it can be amended, and therefore it would be advis able for those who act in it to adhere •strictiv to the text. Where, for instance, does Mr. Placide find t hat Sir Peter Teazle ever addressed Sir Joseph Surface ay Joe. It is a vulgar familiarity of which the polished , 1 r Pet er T eaz le could never have been guilty. Joe, per • oaps, t o his servant, but Joseph to his equal. Again, A ir. Wrench, as Sir Benjamin Backbite, talks of I t rivulet of letter-press murmuring through a Meado w of mlrgin. Sheridan's Sir Benjamin speaks ( A • a rivulet of letter-press meandering through a meadow (4 margin. Now letter-press may meander, but it can tut murmur, and therefore Mr. Wrench is wrong and Sheridan is right. At the Queen's Theatre, which closes this evening, Mrs. Honey has been starr in g it f oe the last 16 v weeks, to . 'the Mutual satisfaction of herself and the anager.ill • and down in the far East , w e understand that fir. ienvil is drawing crowds to the Pavilion every evening. THE SUN. I ONDON. SATTTM) V. A TI . Gr:.‘3TI.. Iq4l. ost importnnt duties imposed upon them by the Con titution ; and, fir from 11:ninr, exceeded the powers al owed them by that instrument, their conduct was re lilated exactly by it. So also is it to be inferred that he declaration of the Cortes is no forced or violent surpation of faculties, as asserted in the protest, but he legalexercise of those conferred upon them by the institution. Other charges and declarations are also made against 'he Government. The first of these is limited to the as sertion of their having interfered with the Queen Mother in the exercise of her authority over the Royal patri mony, by the appointment of agents for this purpose. The Royal minors being, as confessed by herself, aban loned by their mother, as also were the household and Royal estates left withont a head ;- and -as the Cortes, whose duty it was to supply this deficiency, were not then assembled, it became the duty of the Oovernment, and a duty of the fulfilment of which they may be justly proud, to afford the.necessary protection to a pre ).e'rty'whieh could not have been attended to by 'one re siding in a foreign country. What could have been meant by the disaffected advisers of . the Qtieen ',Thither in thus insisting on leaving the Royal patrimony in this state, the Spanish people will be able to judge. •With respect to the second charge made against tin Government, that they meddled in the settlement of the question of the guardianship, and that consequently they neither respect laws nor policy, the allegation is false, inasmuch as the Government neither interfered, nor exercised any authority whatever in the settlement of that question. From the moment at which the Govern ment took the precaution of appointing joint-adminis trators of the Royal household and 'patrimony, as re commended with propriety by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, the Government interfered in no manner what ever with the administration of the household or patri mony, either by the appointment or removal of officers, before or-after, the Queen Mother's departure from Spain. It will be thus seen that. the Government exercised no faculties in the case, and that the measure taken by them can be justly viewed only as - precautionary or provisional. And, in short, so far were the-Govern ment from arrogating the faculties presumed in the set tlement of the guardianship, that after they had referred the claims of one of the Royal Family to it to the proper tribunal, they left the whole matter to the wisdom of the Cortes to deal with it as they thought fitting ; and for the same reasons the Government., when the subject was taken up by the Cortes, took no active part what ever in it. With this I presume I have said enough to prove how unfounded arc the charges in the protest against the Government. So weak, indeed, are the arguments, and contradic tory the statements in the protest, that it will be seen at once that it has only been sought as a pretext to insult the sovereignty of the nation, and the Cortes which re present it ; to provoke pernicious dissensions, and to re turn to the state we were in for years before. The nation, which has with so much constancy and energy defended the institutions which now rule the country, shall ever look with horror upon such a pro spect. The Government, which has sworn to defend at all risks the Constitution, will be faithful to its oaths, re pelling attacks upon it, from whatever quarter they pro ceed, or whatever appearances they assume. Those who dare to attack the fundamental law, the authority of the Cortes, to disturb the public tranquillity, to frustrate the blessings of a peace acquired at such an expense, and to renew those scenes not yet forgotten, shall be pro secuted and punished with the utmost rigour of the law. To conclude, confide in the vigilance of the Govern ment. The efforts of the conspirators shall prove abor tive; the infernal pleasure of again involving us in anarchy and civil war they shall not enjoy ; great interests and honourable compromise support the Constitution ; my authority is your safeguard; and the Government, with the aid of the laws, a valiant army, the National Guard, and of public opinion, doubt not to triumph over the enemies of the happiness of the country. THE DUKE 1)I: LA VICTORIA (Countersigned) DON ANTONIO GONZALES. Madrid, August 2, 1841. THE NAPOLEON COLUMN AT BOULOGNE. All Boulogne is in a ferment in anticipation of the grand doings which are to take place next week, com mencing with Sunday. People are arriving in crowds by steam boats and diligences. Louis Philippe and Soult, and Generals out of number, will be present on the solemn occasion, and as this celebrated column, and the circum stances which gave rise to it, are intimately connected with the history of England, the following account will be found interesting :—The column stands at about the distance of half a league from the Haute Ville, or Upper Town of Boulogne, and on the right of the road to Paris, situated in a quadrangle of about two acres. The shaft of the column is constructed of a species of white marble, discovered at Marquise, the quarries of which are in the neighbourhood. Originally it was intended to have adorned the pedestal with military and naval trophies in bronze, and a large eagle of , the same metal was to have occupied each of the four corners. The identical circumstance, also, which is now about to come to pass—that of placing at the top a colossal statue of the Emperor in his robes—was absolutely meditated at the very first, but while the work was slowly advancing, those great political changes took place, which led to the re establishment by the people of the old throne, and ac cordingly the column was terminated by a gilded globe, surmounted by a small crown, and having on its circum ference, in the direction of the four cardinal points of the compass, the star of the Legion of Honour. The first stone was laid on the 9th of November, 1804, in the presence of 150,000 military veterans, by Marshal Soult, assisted by a grenadier of each regiment. it con sisted of an immense block of marble, upon which was engraved the following inscription : " The first Stone of the Monument, decreed By the Army of the Expedition of Boulogne and the Flotilla, to the Emperor Napoleon, Laid by Marshal Soult, Commander-in-Chief, 18 Brumaire, year 13 (9th November, 1804), Anniversary of the Regeneration of France." In this stone was inclosed a leaden box, with a book containing an account of the design of the erection, with the name of each subscriber in regiments. At the commencement of July, 1821, when the column was almost completed, M. Ic Baron Simeon, Prefect of the Department, accompanied by all the authorities, as cended the column, and placed the Royal ordonnances for completing the structure, and the minutes of the ce remony, with a bottle containing various coins, in the key:stone of the cupola. Among the coins was a medal, having on one side the head of Louis XVIII., and on the reverse the following inscription : —" This - Column voted by the Army assembled at Boulope, from whence it menaced England, was begun in 1804. Having become a Monument of Peace by the Restoration of the Bourbons to the Throne, , it has been finished under the auspices of his Majesty Louis XVIII., and is dedicated as a Remembrance (always dear to Frenchmen), of his happy Return to this country in 1814. The last stone was placed 2d July, 1821, .M. le Comte Simeon being Minister of the Interior), by M. le Baron Simeon, Prefect of the Department of the Pas de Calais, Labarre, Architect." This elegant column is erected upon a square pedestal, to which the ascent is by a flight of steps on each of its sides, and, taken as a piece of architecture, it is consi dered highly beautiful, being modelled upon the cele brated Trajan column at Rome. It is of the Doric or der, and has a projecting column near the summit. Its altitude is about 150 French feet ; the pedestal upon which it stands is upon a raised platform, and beyond the base of the platform is a low wall with an opening to the east, where, on two projecting parts, are the statues of two lions, finely executed in bronze. From the gallery there is a most charming panoramic view of the sea and the country. Dover, with its cliffs and ancient castle, appear to the north ; and in a north-easterly direction, Mount Cassel in the Department du Nord may be clearly seen. _ _ Various representations have been made as to the direct occasion upon w hi c h this column was constructed, and though the broad and ostensible reason generally adduced was, that it emanated from Napoleon hinnelf, to commemorate his projected descent upon England, yet others, on the contrary, state that it was the voluntary and exclusive act of the soldiery t►► show their respect and attachment to Napoleon ; though, undoubtedly, had it not been for the above project, the memorial would not have been erected in its present place. It will be remembered that one of Nt.poleon's favourite designs upon England was that of invading the island itself, and so strike a fatal blow at the heart • of his greatest enemy. In 1804, troops to the amount of 160,000 'WM mustered in camps along the French and Dutch coasts, and vast flotillas, meant to convey them across the Channel, were formed, and constantly ma namvred in various ports, that of Boulogne being the chief. It was in this port that Julius Caesar prepared his first expedition against England, the year 35 before our era. By little and little the name Gesoiiacum, which it then had, disappeared in Bononia, whence later Boulogne. Under the reign of Francis the First, henry VIII., King of England, took thi s city with the naked sword ; it then sustained eight assaults, and many successive attacks, when the inhabitants capitulated in Sept. 13, 1544. 'The English remained masters of Boulogne to 1550, 'an epoch when Edward the Sixth restored this town to France, upon payment of 400,000 crowns. Charles the .Fifth de: stroved it, de fond en comble, in 1553, after a siege of six WCeigs. The port of Boulogne, formed by two large basins, joined together by a beautiful quay, and defended by many forts, was thus, as we befbre observed, aggrandised and embellished by Napoleon in 1804, who made for a time this town his general quarters for the arsenal and army, destined for the invasion of England. An immense camp was established to the right and left of the-port of Boulogne, from La Tour d'Ordre to Whnille, and from the summit of the mountain of Outreau to Portel. Eight dead-brigades of infantry of the line, two of light in fantry, atideight companies of cannoneers, formed the hulk of the army which was about to assemble itself. The first few clays the soldiers only bivouacked ; in a very little time, however, the soldiers constructed barracks as com modious as solid, with logs and boughs which they brought in from the forest, the clods of the plair, and the stones of the shore. It was in the construction of these barracks, which engrossed all their mighty indus try, that the woods were turned to every use—beds, clocks, stands for arms, crosses, doors, wore all made from them with admirable dexterity. A French chronicle goes on to inform us, that charm ing gardens, filled with flowers of all seasons, of fruits and plants, were created by them, as if by enchantment. They had there placed obelisks, columns, pyramids, and allegoric figures formed of clay, covered with shells from the sea-shore, and made with such art that they ap peared formed of the rarest marbles. The barracks of • the °fliers were every where as elegant ittyl commodious as pleasure-houses. In their t , ardens there was wanting .re to be desired. They saw their trees filled witl the birds of the country, and sat beneath tlic • trees n which they warbled ; others had court-yards admirabi garnished with columbines and crowds , of flowers. Finally the fields atordod them all the pleasures of : rural life. .The - officers went in crowds to nisit the (Adel warriors, and, forgetting the terror on the Continent, malt themselves modern Cincinnati, while they only waited the signal which was to bring to them new laurels, and to lead them against an enemy whom they burned to meet, whom they • could see every day in their distant view, whose fires they could discover during the night, And which they, as yet, could not extinguish. Bonaparte thus began in earnest to employ the vast means he had at his command, in the. most unremitting exertions, and the most astonishing preparations for the invasion of Great Britain. To this attempt he was arged forward by every motive: Great Britain, exhausted in wealth and resources by the longest war, was at the moment of these renewed hostilitieWbrough the appa rent improvidence of our Goveitineni, comparatively very weak in' the number of her troops; while Bonaparte stood in a situation directly the reverse. His armies, ad nimbly appointed and flushed with -conquest, were more tumerons than his deranged finances could well support. ft was, there6(re, undoubtedly sound policy in him, to venture considerable armies on an expeditiou which, if ;t succeeded, he knew would make him master of the .vorld; and which failing, would nevertheless leave him lisc”eumbered of a dangerous and almost insupportable burden. _ _ Wen aware that every effort would be employed to nerease the military strength of Great Britain after the war, he commenced and nearly completed, with a&- patch perhaps unexampled in history, the most im mense armament ever d es ti ne d f or the invasion of any ,:ountry, Despairing of being able to raise the French marine to an equality with that of Britain, he conceived the mighty project of rapidly constructing and uniting at Boulogne, a flotilla capable of conveying an army sufficiently powerful to attempt the invasion and conquest of England. He had satisfactorily ascertained that any number of French gun-boats * could sail with perfect safety along their own shores, and reach, under the protection of their numerous batteries, that port, where ' once arrived, they were equally safe from hostile attack. Boulogne was therefore made the centre and head-quar ters of his vast preparations, and the point from which he meditated forcing the passage of the English Channel The national vanity, and national pritiadices of France, encouraged the project ; and as no - circumstance could flatter the pride, or increase the power of France, so much as the conquest of England, the hope held out by its attainment, inclined most of the Continental Powers to consider Great Britain as already subjugated. No truth could be more clear at the time than that the conquest of Britain would have given Bonaparte uni dorsal empire, and when England escaped that calamity ;he owed it, under the Divine Providence, to that spirit of rational liberty and genuine patriotism in the inhabi tants of this isle, on which her Government found, in the moment of danger, that the most unbounded confi dence could be. placed. Had the men of our kingdom acted under despotic rule, our island could scarcely have escaped the danger with which it was menaced, while, at the same time, its population could not afford to maintain a naval superiority, or to keep up a regular force to cope with the immense armies of France. The spirit of that lofty freedom, which has for ages animated the British nation, made, however, ample amends for every deficiency. and baffled the calculations, and frustrated the object of the immense preparations of Bonaparte. A vast army of volunteers. was imme diately formed in our kingdom, for the additional security of the empire ; and there can be no doubt, frOm the spirit and enthusiasm in which that system was em barked, that such an auxiliary force, in conjunction with the regular troops, and the invaluable militia of the country, would have been sufficient to repulse any force which France could spare, or her flotilla convey. All the menaces and preparations of France, indeed, pro duced no other effect than to consolidate and strengthen the defensive system of our island, and teach her to know and feel ber own strength and security, and grandeur. Still it must be allowed that no little trepidation ex isted in English hearts at the expected invasion, and Hazlitt has painted these qualms with due effect. •He thus speaks:— " 1% bile Bonaparte's projected expedition was viewed with various sentiments at home, and was ridiculed by many as childish and extravagant, from a comparison of the gun-boats with the size of the British men-of war, it caused a great deal of bustle and alarm (serious or affected) on this side the Channel. All our fleets were put into requisition, from the Baltic to the Tagus, from the Tagus to the costs of Sicily. Upwards of five hun dred ships.of war scoured around the shores. By land the hubbub and consternation was not less. Britain armed from one end to the other to repel the threatened invasion. An army of volunteers sprung up like grass hoppers. Every hill had its horseman; every bush or brake its sharpshooter. Petitions were put into our Liturgy to deliver us from an insolent and merciless foe, who was about to swallow us up quick;' nor was there a church-door in the remotest corner of Great Britain on which was not posted a call on high and low, rich and poor, to bestir themselves in the common defence, pro ceeding •from Cobbett's pen. What a difference between that period and the present! France seemed then to rear up and enlarge its vaunted power, as if it would fall and crush , us; the revolutionaay hydra haunted and took sleep front our eyes; now we can scarcely find its faded form in the map, and it is no more to us than if it had never existed, or than if the waters of the Channel had rolled their briny ooze over it." Among the soldiers of the old time, the chief reason allegel for the erection of this Column was to commemo rate Napoleon's .distribution of the first decoration of the Legion of Honour, which took place on the plain at Bou logne in August 15, 1804. . This distribution was used by Napoleon as a means of exciting the enthusiasm of the assembled army, and to dispose them to obey promptly the first signal he might give. The distribution of the Honours took place in a vast plain near the .site of the Column ; a little hill formed the throne of Napoleon in the midst of hiS soldiers .; there he stationed himself with his Staff, and around this centre of glory, the regiments were drawn up in lines, like so many diverging rays. From this throne, which had been erected by the hand of nature, Napoleon delivered a form of oath, which was the signal for a general burst of enthusiasm. The Emperor was in ecstasy. "Fortune," says 1)e Bourrienue, " then seemed obedient to his wisheS. A storm came on during this brilliant day, and it was apprehended that part of the flotilla would have suffered. Bonaparte quitted the hill from which he had 'distributed the crosses, and proceeded to the port to direct what mea sures should be taken, when upon his arrival the storm ceased as if by enchantment. The flotilla entered the port safe and sound, and he went back to the camp, where the sports and amusements prepared for the soldiers com menced ; and in the evening the brilliant fire-works which Were let off, rose in a column, which was distinctly seen from the English coast." It was to commemorate this spectacle, say. the old survivors of the Guard and Gendarmerie, rather than the attempt at invasion, which caused the Column to be erected, and by the new inscrip tions which are now to be carved on the east and west sides of the pedestal, this statement is at once con firmed : NSCRIPTION ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE PEDESTAL. SVR • CE • RIV AGE NAPOLEON 'EN • PRESENCE •DE• LA • GRANDE ARMEE DISTRINVA • LES • DECORATIONS • DE • LA • LEGION D'IIONNEVR AVX • SOLDATS • AVX • CITOYENS QVI • AVAIENT DIEN • AIERITE • DE ' LA ' PATIIIE LE ' XIME • COMMA NDE • FAA • LX • MARECIIAL • SOVLT ET • LA • FLOTTE ' SOVS ' LES 'ORDRES ' DV • CONTILX ' AMIRAL 3ILVIEY VOVLVRENT PERPETV ER •LE ' SOVVENIR 'DE CETTE • lOVRNEE ' PAR TN • MONVMENT LOVIS • PHILIPPE I. ROI DES • FRANCAIS ACHEVE ` CETTE • COLONNE CONSACREE PAR ' LA • GRANDE • ARMEE • A • NAPOLEON M. MCC. ELI. " On 'this spot, IGth of August, 1804, Napoleon, in presence Of the Grand Army, distributed the decorations of the Legion of Honour to the soldiers arid citizens who had deserved well of their country. The four corps com manded by Marshal Souk, and the flotilla under the command of Vice-Admiral Bruer. " Wishing to perpetuate the remembrance of this ►lay by a monument, Louis Philippe 1., King of the French, finished this Column, consecrated by the Grand Army of Napoleon." The Latin inscription is on the northern side of the Column : it is cut on a slab of very coarse dark marble, and the letters look very strange, being painted in flaring red. It is thus worded : INSCRIPTION ON THE NORTHERN SIDE. LvDovicvs • I•HII.IPPV S • L FRANCOUVM ' REX QVIBVS ' IN LOCiS, • NLAPOLIO • imp. EXERCITVI rLORENTISSISIO • INVICTO • PROPVGNATOR FATRIAE. INSIGNIA • LEGIONIS • HONORATVAI • DR • SVCG ESTV PISTILIBVIT VTI • MEMORIA • EIVS • DIEI • QVI • I , VIT • D • XVI. • AvaysT ANN. 3I.PCCO• IV. GLORIA ' QVE ' EXERCITVS lIONVMENTO ' CONSECKATAE ' POSTEltili TRADEKENTVIL COLVMNAM XXERCITV ' D ' IX. ' NOVEMBER.' ANN • M.DCCC.IV. INCHOATAM OPERE ' DIV ' INTERMISSO PERFICIENDAM ' CVRAVIT ' DEDICARI ' QVE ' PRARCEPIT ANN. M.DCCC.XLI. The arrival of the procession at the column on Sun day will no doubt lie' a grand and imposing ceremony. The.elevation of the bronze statue of Napoleon to its top—a height of upwards of 160 English feet, will be as superlative a spectacle as the hoisting up of the gigantic horse into the walls and citadel of Troy. A grand can tata is to be sung, and the veil placed over the statue of the Emperor will be withdrawn, under a salute of 21 guns. The fireworks, too, On the Port promise to be surerb. The statue itself is of bronze, excellently wrought., and. weighs about six . tons.. It stands about sixteen feet high, and is accounted an'admirable likeness of Napoleon. The boats destined for this boated expedition were built. in workshops upon the esplanade of the Hotel des Invafides at Paris, and from thence conveyed to Boulogne. --- THE MANCHESTER FRIEND S OF THE CON FERENCE.-Our Manchester readers will perceive, front the list published in another part of the Circular, that between four and five hundred ministers have already announced their intention of attending. the Great Na tional Conference, to commence on Tuesday next, and it may now be reasonably expected that before the day of meeting the number will be increased to at least six hun dred. The Council of the League and. the Committee of Ministers, in the fullest contid,ence that the known hospi• tality of the people of Manchester would not be wanting on this occasion, have guaranteed to each of these good men a generous reception and hospitable entertainment during the Conference. Many of our friends haw already sent in their names and the number they can accutnmo , date.--Anti-Bread - tax Circular. WOOLWICH.-FRIDAY. ROYAL ARTILLERY, GENERAL ORDER, AUG. 5. Second Lieutenant Neville is transferred from Captai: A. Maebean's Company (6th battalion) to Lieutenant• Colonel F. Macbean's Company (sth battalion). By order of the Master:-General, 11. D. ROSS, Colonel, Deputy Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDER, AUG. 6. The Master-General has been pleased to appoint Lieu tenant I;arrison to the Company of Gentlemen Cadets. vice. Tireman, promoted. Lieutenant Willis is posted to Captain Trevor's Com pany (2d battalion). IL D. ROSS, Colonel, Deputy Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDER, ALTG. 7, In consequence of the promotion of Captain Ord to a company in the regiment, the Master-General has di r•ected him to be relieved from his emplovment as In tructor in Practical Artillery at the Royal Aca lemy, in order that he may return to the general dutief: -if the regiment, in conformity.with the principle laid down by_the General Order of the 7th of February, 1832. The Master-General has therefore appointed Second Captain Wilford (now Instructor in History and Geo graphy) to succeed Captain Ord as Instructor in Practi- Artillery, under the same conditions, with respect to removal, us already established. 1), ROSS, Colonel, Deputy Adjutant-General. Captain Mitchell has taken charge of Captain Drew's company, 9th battalioU, until further orders. . . Captain hiolesworth's company, Gth battalion, corn • menced a course of Repository instructions on the 10th of August. Lieutenant Mackie has gone on leave. . No practicelias been carried on during the week. The men have attended lrittaliondrill under Colonel Lacy and the Repository exercise. Few recruo,, nave joined from the country during last month, and, with the. exception of one or two head-quarter recruits who,are occasionally taken, the recruiting in the corps might almost be considered at a stand-still. This is attributed to the present pension warrant, which holds out only the miserable prospect of Gd. a day arm- twenty-five years' service to men who enlist in the prime of life, and expend their bodily strength in their country's cause ; as after twenty . -five years' service their constitutions must be so impaired as to require something more than Gd. a day to sustain existence, it is to be hoped a re• turn to the old pension warrant of Is. per (Jar 'will soon take place, as an inducement to obtain efficient recruits and men of good character, which in too many instances is not the c9se at present. . . . ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY. • On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the heads. of the various departments of this valuable institution were occupied in examining candidates for admission for a course of study to qualify them for commissions in the Royal Artillery. Thirty-six candidates came forward, and itisexpected sixteen out of that number will be ad ... . but it will be about a fortnight befi)re the result is known. That number, added to 147, the number of students at present, will make 163, the full complement of the establishment, and equal to the number at and• period during the late 'lvan NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Tortoise is at Chatham under orders to proceed With convicts to Van Diemen's Land. She will receive 100 convicts from the Warrior, stationed at Woolwich. The Tortoise, after delivering the convicts, will proceed to New Zealand for timber and spars for the dockyard. The Aid sailed to-day from Woolwich for Portsmouth. The Heroine, 10-gun brig, will be launched at about one o'clock on Monday at the Woolwich dockyard. The Siren, recently launched at Woolwich, has been commissioned this week, and the following officers ap pointed to her ;—Win. Smith (b), Commander ; Thus. Hodgkinson, Lieutenant ; Frederick J. Gruzelier, Mas ter; John Brickwood, Purser ; Wm. Roy, Surgeon; John Compton, Gunner; Charles Grant, Boatswain; and Wm. Croad, Carpenter. The St, x, first class war steamer, has been commis sioned this week at Sheerness by Commander Hastings Reginald Henry, late of the Salamander steam-frigate. CHURCH-RATES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In this quiet little parish nothing has occurred for a long time to interrupt the harmony happily pre vailing between Churchmen and Dissenters. Our late parson was not a man to trouble himself with the re- ligious opinions of his parishioners. The only thing that ever disturbed his equanimity was the Bishop in sisting on his preaching two sermons every Sunday. This ruffled him with a vengeance. But he is gone, and whether the recent change is in favour of religion or not, it certainly cannot be said to have brought any increase of charity along with it. On the contrary, the demon of intolerance has now made his appearance, and the dominant sect, according to well-established precedent, has invoked the secular power for the purpose of op- pression. The usual preliminaries having been carefully gone through by the churchwardens, Messrs. Charles 'rooks and Joseph Stone, with the assistance and advice of the clergyman of the parish, the Rev. Alexander Broadly, the said churchwardens made the following seizures : Rate demanded. Goods seised. Value. X s. d. £ s. d. Mr. James Williams 0 16 0 a dining table 3 0 0 Mr. Peter Keuway 014 8 2 chairs and a table Mr. Samuel Bennett 0 18 4 10 bottles of wine Mr. Wm. Kenway 018 4 a pair of silver table spoons, a pair of silver salt 1 5 0 spoons, a set of lire-irons 2 6 0 Mr. J. P. Stephens 1 G set of harness 2 3 0 These goods were taken away into the village, and there sold privately, withlut tho aid of an auctioneer or any notice of sales; and report says the / churchwardens were buyers as well as sellers, and that some of the articles now form part of the furniture of their houses. It is proper you should know, Sir, that • the village of Walditch is about a mile from the town of Bridport, but the part of the parish where these seizures were made lies close to the town, and by the Reform Bill was in cluded within the • borough. Furthermore. all these officials are Tories, and all the sufferers Liberals, who warmly supported Messrs. Warburton and Mitchell at the late election. Add to this, that the time Selected to make the seizures was soon after the galling defeat the Tory party sustained, and then say if the question does not naturally arise—" Is the Church to be converted into an engine for the gratification of politic:l revenge ?" Surely, even reflecting Churchmen themselves, who wish well to the Establishment they belong to, must giieve to witness such disgraceful proceedings perpe trated under a hypocritical pretence of promoting re ligion, but in reality as utterly opposed to the benign spirit of Christianity, whose ruling principle is " unto others as ye would that others should do unto you," as light is to darkness. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Walditch, near Bridport, Aug. 13, 1841. IL ALARMING FIRE IN THE ADELPIII ARCHES IN THE STRAND.—Friday morning, between twelve and one o'clock, the highly respectable inhabitants residing in John and Adam-streetz, Adelphi. Strand, were aroused from their beds in their night dresses, and thrown into the utmost alarm and excitement, by their bed-rooms and other parts of their houses being filled almost to sutfoca _ _ tion with a dense smoke, which — also issued up the areas into the street in complete volumes. The policeman in stantly hastened to Chandos-street fire-station for the immediate assistance of the fire-engines and brigade men, who promptly arrived, under the superintendence of Mullett, the engineer, when the fire was discovered to be in some extensive stabling beneath the houses in the dark arches of the Adelphi, in which were many loads of loose straw deposited, adjoining to which is a long range of stabling, in which were between 20 and 30 valuable cart-horses, besides 14 cows, all of which with , great difficulty were got out. So dense was the smoke, that for some time it was totally impossible for the firemen to approach, but at last the fire-engines were got into operation. It about an hour and a half all fears were subdued by the exertions of the firemen. Nearly the whole of the straw is destroyed, but the flames were prevented reaching the adjoining range of stabling. The fire originated by a number of houseless mendicants congregating in the stables to sleep amongst the straw and hay, some of whom, in obtaining A light from a lucifer match to smoke some tobacco, dropped it amongst the straw, which ignited, and no doubt would have been attended with most extensive loss of properly had it not been for the prompt arrival and exertions of the firemen. It is the intention of the inhabitants to so licit the Commissioners of Police to place , constables in those parts of the dark arches, to prevent a recur rence of such danger. It was only on Saturday last 17 were apprehended sleeping in the same place, and all committed to the House of Correction for various periods. MESMERISM, BY DE LA PONTA INIL--The exhibition - of Mesmeric phenomena which was to take place yesterday, at the Queen's Rooms, Hanover-square, was postponed to Wednesday next, in consequence of the alarming illness of the young gentleman who has hitherto been the principal subject. We have seen the youth in the course of the day, and may venture to affirm that the illness is but too real. Among the tourists at p resent in the Highlands, who have visited Inverness, Von Reamur, the we ll-k no wn German author ; the Rev. Henry Melville, London, &c., &c.—lnverness Courier. A FREE-TRADE MISSIONARY FROM TIIE U NITED STATES. — An address was d e livered on 'rues ' day evening to the members of the Manchester Anti- Corn-law Association by John Curtis, Esq., of Ohio, North America. upon the capabilities of that country to supply us with corn and provisions. He stated that he his e o for u nt t r was a uthorised by the public v oice in t he United Stitt( 4 to state that 'nothing was more desired by me n than to exchange their agricultural produce man ufactures of England. He was listened t o a t ; i ntere st whilst he went into a great variety of showing the rich resources of the " grett w es t ,!, facts, and at the close of his address a vote of thanks was m tendered to him by the meeting. We uuttilielii7=nitNt Curtis intends to snake a tour through principal towns of the kingdom for the purpoSe of explaining the capabilities of t he United States to supply deficiency o f food for our population.— Arai. -Brcad-x Circular. We Understand. the death of the celebrat ed g i an t e ss, Mary Laskey, took place on . Tuesday evening l a st in Guernsey. She had attained the extraordinary stature of seven feet two inches, and had lately as a giantess in that isl an d. Iler brOentehere,x‘i:liibitohilfd accompanied her for exhibiting, measures seve n feet seven Inehea. The, remains of th e d ecease d are toe be re moved to - Southampton; her coffin measures upward s of seve n feet and a half.—Shcrbornc Journal. STAFFORD tint( RUGBY RAIL WAY On Thursday a galena meeting of the Subscribers o:' his Company was Reid at their offices, Bond-street, Man- Aester, to consider and determine whether, and upon what terms, thiy should distolve the Company, and wind Uf: i t. 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 observed, that the notice referred to was sufficiently explanatory of the objects of the meet ing, and that it was not necessary for him to make anti• observation on the subject, further than that the minds of, the Directors were unchanged as to the utility and advantage, of the line ; but that,' in consequence or the circumstances of the time, and the difficulties under which commerce was labouring, they thought it desirable not to proceed gny further with the undertaking for the present. Mr. 'WHEELER then read the Report of the Directors (for which' see Advertisement). - Mr. J. Bur.T move, that the Report be printA for listribution, under the sanction of the Provisional Cum uli 4:2e. Pr. ASHTON seconded the motion. A SUAREHOLDER—The Directors recommend, that the Company be not dissolved, but that it continue, and that no money be expended on thw undertaking for the wesent—how will that affect the liabilities of Proprie, tors lvho wish to withdraw ? Mr. CHAPPELL—The Report states, that the liabili ties of Shareholders will cease, after they receive their re.pi,'ctive dividends out of the umxpended fund. A SHAttrmor.nta—Will that be according to law ? Mr. CHAPPELL—Certainly. Mr. WHEELEa—According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, the liabilities of the undertaking canr.ot 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 Shareholder. 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 he poSt poned." Ile thought it was due,:to the Shareholders to state why the Directors recommended them not to abandon the undertaking. The Company was at the ex• pense of obtaining plant and surveys ; and, by abandon- Mg 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 Shireitol der became liable, he must Mali another deed, as was ob served by Mr. Wheeler. Ile (Mr. Chappell) thought it doe 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) believed that was the case. Ile 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 front 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 of 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 Willert, John Hyde and Edward Langworth, Esqrs., were appointed to audit the accounts. _ _ Mr. TOOTACsaid, 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 their honour, still he had the satisfaction of finding that lie had retained the confidence of those parties for whom lie 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 nffitirs of the railway required it. He was aware that the observations appeared ratheregotistical ; it was the first time he had spoken of his own exertions, and perhaps it would be the last. He thanked them again fur the confidence they had placed in 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. lie 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 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 Tamworth, 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 which affected 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, time utmost attention_ to' them, because I thought the public interest would be advanced by them, and your local interests also promoted." Mr. 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 vv rs: t o n w to ✓ a Lord Granville Somerset. The following question an d ans wer is taken from that examination : Take a ease," said Lord Granville Somerset, " w hi c h' was submitted to Parliament this year a proposition unite a portion of t he Grand Junction with a portion of the London and Birm in g h a m Railw ay, s presumed that a sa vin g of nine or ten miles i n di stance might be effected; supposing the railroad to have been turned, 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 do not think so , said Mr. Saunders ; it is possible that, during a period of hosti lity between parties, they might b e bli n d to t h e i r ow n interests, mid they might act views; but I think, if that railwaythat were made, it is so manifestly the object, an d so palpably the duty, o f t h e London and Birmin g h am R a i lway to get all the traffic they can upon their li ne, t h at • t h ey wou ld i mme diately 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 froth . 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 J unction at Birmingham, and earn- it along the whole line, than receive it partly at Birmingham, and partly at Rugby ; but the m omen t the line was made' which left it no longer a !natter of doubt whether the Manchester, Liverpool, Wales, Ireland, or Scotland people would go by one line or by th e other, the London and Birmingham Company would instantly see that they must make arrangements to receive the traffic, and conduct it in the best style ; I cannot conceive that they could take any other course." Ile (Mr. Tootal) had stated, in the commencementof 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, more disinterested than ever, as his connexion with the Company was about to cease. Ile 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. Ile 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 a 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, beyond travelling ex penses.—(Applause.) Mr. RAwsort—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, EVENING SLUT. will those who dissent be entitled to a share of what he writings, surveys, papers, &c. will be sold for ? • Mr. CHAPPELL—You 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 advantagesAerivable from those surveys, &c., it will be your own fault.—(Hear.) . _ _ Mr. RA.WSON—i consider it a fair question. Suppose a rty of this Company forms a new one—would the par ti4 s who are dissentient be entitled to any of the money o? tained for the surveys, Rze. ?. 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. . SHAREHOLDER—I suppose liberty will be given to each Shareholder to enter any such Company, if he choose ? Mr. CHAPPELL—It will be competent for every Share holder to enter. Mr. RAwsoN—l think any dissentient would have a right to a sham 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 share. Mr. RAwsoN—That answers my questior. A SHAREHOLDER—IIRS any particular day been fixed on for the payment of the money ? The CHAIRMAN—Not at present. Mr. CHAPPELL—A. day will be fixed upon as goon 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 pany. Thos. Ashton, Esq. was then called to the chair; and, thanks having been given to Robt. Gardner, Esq. for 116 conduct while presiding, the meeting separated. LONDON AND BIRAINGBAM 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 }tote!, Euston square, 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 tions 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 chlrges. The I;irectors were enabled to announce a dividend of 4/. ss. for the last half-year. RICIIIRD CREED, Esq., read the Report, from which it apptared, that the receipts for the present half-year ending June 30, amounted to 382,4521., or 39,2581. more than in the corresponding half-rear of 1840 ; that the cost of maintaining the road and working stock in an efficient state was 112,936/., or 6,4901. less than in the cor responding half-year ; and, 'consequently, that whilst there was an increase equal. to 11/. Bs. 6d. per cent. on the receipts, there was a decrease on the charges equal to 51. 18. s 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 192,148/., beiug the sum applicable to the dividend about to be declared. That arrangements had been made between the London . and Birmingham and the Birmingham and Gloucester Companies, which it was expected would give additional 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. BOOTHRY, 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 oorrect valuation of the carriage stock, horse-boxes, and trucks had been made ; and although 50,000/. had been laid aside as the depreciation fund for those articles, the actual amount of depreciation . upon them almitly amounted to more than had been get aside for the pur pose ; he did not think that would be the case with re gard to the engines and other stock ; however, lie thought the amount laid by would be sufficient to cover the de preciation. Mr. JAMES HEYWORTII proposed that a dividend of 4!. los. should be paid, instead of 4!. 55., which he thought might very judiciously be done, out of the net earnings of the Company. Ile held in his picket 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 ma t i for the dividend of 4!. ilk ; and he did not consider he should be acting as a faithful steward if he did not press for that dividend. Mr. OamElton and others followed in favour of the greater dividend. The Citinit AN (Messrs. llatlibone, - Hodson, Rams den, Moseley, and others) trusted Mr. Ileyworth would withdraw his motion. It was not without much serious deliberation that the Directors had come to the deter . mination of ()tiering the dividend they dih ; it was a considerable increase upon the last, and they trusted Shareholders would be satisfied. They were sure, if 6 frentletnen, whose proxies Mr. Heyworth . held,• were present and had heard the arguments, they would not vote as he had intimated. A great deal of discussion ensued, and Mr. Heyworth at last consented to withdraw his motith% It was then moved and seconad that " the Report bo received and adopted ;" which was carried unanimuitsly, amidst loud cheers. Captain PORTER, R.N., stated for the information df his brother Proprietors, that a 63(41001 had been opened at Wolverton, entirely tinder 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, Ste. ; 410 men had already been relieved by this Society, at an expense of 700!., 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. Notwithstanding th e great competition, and the great demand for good ser vants 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 11'nechuhation 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. RAILWA S. Dr•tr .CTORS OF THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.— The following is the result of the poll demanded at the meeting of the proprietors of the Grand Junction Rail way Company on Friday:—Mr. Moss. 3,513; Mr. Crop per, 3,136; Mr. Hardman Earle, 2,984; and Mr. Dud geon, 1,565. The three first are of course elected. Tut; PARIS AND ROUEN 11AILW Ay.—This great work, which is as much English as French, i 5 proceeding; rapidly under the superintendence of Mr. Locke ; and we understand that thirty-five miles of the Paris end of the line will be opened early in the spring of next year. ADDITIONAL TRAINS ON THE MIDLAND COUNTIre RAILWIY.—The Midland Counties' Company on Monday next, additional and di'rea trams, u, Co l . ''entry', Birmingham, Liver pool, and Manehestr,, wit) - out any delay ta:..ing place at llagby, will start, as hith rte ; also lot additi o n a l train (first class Only) direct to London. EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW PAILWAY.—It IS gT3liry ing to observe the incessant exertions which arc making everywhere on the line in the vicinity _t is city to get this national undertaking com pleted : The ningnificent entrance to our great -1 is drawing to a conclusion, while the bouking . du::tllll'er platf'orms art. n offices are all but finished. now getting very liana: un`4 s heds, with east-iron supports set up ; in , ". out for l it • an d t h e gronta,..s e yern.a- Yesterday Mr. John Craig, the enneralo nent rails. of the tunnel in furtherance of Ilia gist' made 3 c s" ll v r e ? - tishand summation, proceeded Tight Obji•CLl th tlirough it, i n company with the very polite and spirited contractor, Mr. Marshall. Amongst many other geolo gica - 1 specimens got in the jour nvy, we saw perfect masse , ot the Nucula Tumida, Products Scotia, Pro, ducts Martinii, Bellerophon Uri, and Apiwinite k , im bedded in a shale, above a two-feet linrestone, with many other interesting remains of a period long before the creation of man.— Glasgow Coustitutionui. NORTH UNIoN RAILWAY.-011 Fuesday last the pro prietors of this raitway met at the Railway Station, Preston, to receive the Report of the Directors for vAk last half year, and to elect three Directors in the roclTs of those • retiring front office. Theodore W. Rathbone, Esq., presided. The Report having been read, a discus sion took place as to whether a sutu,4 money should he, laid aside for the purpose of repairing such portions Lit railway stock us would necessarily', in time, wear out. Mr. Garnett moved that 5,000/. be set apart for that pur pose. Mr. Ormerod seconded the motion, and it was lost by a large majority. The Chairman stated: that the claims upon the Company were very insignificant, not amounting to more titan perhaps 2,000/. for the building of some cottages upon the line, and other mutters of a similar nature. Ilu further stated, that they had not ex hausted the loan already obtained, and -that they had power in the Act to borrow a very large sum. in additimt to what had already been so obtained. The Report W then unanimously adopted , and, on the motion of J. Wilcockson, Esq., seconded by J. Biggins, I , l‘sq., Joseph Hornhy, Esq., Richard Earle, Esq., and Williani i Tay, for, Esq., were re-elected as Directors. A vote of ranks was then given to the Directors for their conduct during of the Board ' of Directors, and the meeting separated. the past year, and also to W. Rathbone,Esq., Ch"ritan TRANQUILLITY OF IRELAND.—COioncI Co. nolly, the Tory Menibcr fin. Donegal, has again come tt G ii : l a e nd th J e t r ii t r: h o a f s forward to give his testimony respc:eting',the tranquillity produced in Ireland under t h e Whig Government. The when 14'6i-email ot the .11),::Lsgtaithaet e i Zt t int S ta p i l :e i e ng Uf Ajzes,tt'llec slitVel:,.gltynnellirttrsgte4ler t i i i .a ",;, :iiquui , n is ity re o i t u t ir h ( e ‘d, d i i n sti e .i ( e n t i . sc(i s u i t; l i e t o ee t ; i f t,t; Gallant Colonel, n ,( t mi ( 1 1;11 7 coerr,:uilt.tt, Jury, . y u s :11 1 3 1 . 1 1:e s t i l e . l c a e l p: P i t i re r i e t) s d - el o i s f t boon some reduction of the for'ue .; /fk,tiosrsrtieizlienersaitlitirnhoefin the 'constabulary. Gtuiloinair of