The Sun. — London, England, 1841-04-26 00:00:00

f ~~~ 111- 0 1 FBA), 3IIRE I :, MI0)1 e true." i 3 itudevt4° follow '1 • - r ion pa ma Min e ; „; , beg you., tmirk - 0 with otl' ' hich e kurselv es ' jahou re [I, Or h"ce loci• dee" t feel c ° '"; ore P iell ;110(1°3' ac her.. al SCielle hOSe i t i () .oSe'S ell ' P .ou which 63iti c)— ,i 3 we to Y°°' tu rtati t Lave "' o u t e n 5 i° tile os. o er i e ., hich 5 duri°'' of nce am we ioa es tiola t r fla P IY .fyifig elied 1 " f 110 °. l 101 1 b e n r ' 'e , r it 1 " ) reg.tir di re I to '"° tll aP °3 ll ft lr wo. yard a°e ! Ey r eco.l3 r `a. y ItS ; b •, atel l"° 7a and ctu. be ; ire " 0 on ce al ty• o f osi op ursue te 6505• Ce r w ere her as - ryeti gb e r reel he I sis e: 9 ' 4 011 chair, od Jail i f o r e fiiEY 11 .ot c tak es e a , 1 11"‘ • t the iting rc i; dies "l u te it lo a ru fAl re 11"° • rte;. jre't aV Evg l " of um ber 3 6,6° ) elcct o6 the 1° ,5 bOrAtt )f , ; g l'i t o R39 -4° A 0 3 1* Ire' e t s jith I ) 3, -Ettgl4U ie booe sy t e , ithe ji l y g o rY. raor 1; 1 our : ac ind ji I " o u MORNING EDITION ROYAL HIGHLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY. The anniversary festival of the Royal Highland School S ociety took place this evening (Saturday), at the Fre:- masons' Tavern, Great Queen-street. This national in stitution, which, for nearly a century and a half, has so Powerfully conduced to the best interests of the whole British Empire, and which has constantly more than 300 schools, and upwards of 20,000 children under its daily care, appears to be annually rising in public mtima tt!on, if we may judge from the number and rospecti ility of those who attended the festival on the present --__se__ _ . O ccasion. et• The following sketch of the rise and progress of the e - Society may - not, at the present moment, be- uninter estinge.._ ' '; = The Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledg e i n the Highlands and Islands was originally ~ ~ founded in the year 1701, by a few individuals in Edin burgh, '“ for the reformation of manners" in that metro s Polis. Its philanthropic influence at length reached those , - • ' distant regions of the North, where the errors of super stitious ignorance had too long prevailed. The effseta of the Institution were speedily felt there also, by giving ad ditional influence to the ministrations of the estaLlehed Clergy, whose pious labours had been previously frustrated, not less by the miserable condition of the people, that by the immense extent of the parishes by which they were surrounded. Inquiries into the state of those places soon furnished Melancholy proofs of the moral destitution of their neg ' located inhabitants. These few Protestant ministers were Mainly arsattered over an extensive surface of rugged country. divided, indeed, into parishes, but rather re sembling. counties or provinces; several of them being More than sixty miles in length by thirty in breadth, any other consisting of numerous islands, separated by many leagu es of boisterous ocean. The parishes on the main land of the Highlands being also, for the most part, intersected by arms of the sea reaching far into the country, and by rapid rivers destitute of bridges, which are in the winter generally impassable—or divided by morasses, bays, and Mountains, covered for months together with insurmount able barriers of ice and snow; all intercourse is thus pre cluded, not only between the different parts of the same parish, but also between the minister and his people, ex cepting in that immediate district in which he happens to reside. The Act of Union having received the Royal Assent on the 6th of March, 1707, the condition of the High , lands then became a great object of national concern ; and on the 25th of May, 1709, this Society received a .Patent of Incorporation from her Majesty Queen Anne, Sutler the title of the Society in Scotland folPropaga. I :rag Christian Knowledge. It was then strenuously sup- Paled by the Scottish Nobility and Parliament, under *itich distinguished patronage, the patriotic advantages • of the Institution rapidly became more manifest; and in _.• the year 1735 the Directors obtained from his Majesty eking George 11. a new patent, authorising them to erect schools of industry, for teaching the youth of both sexes, and particula r ly females, its more common employments. On this p ar t of their plan, as well as on that of their first charter, they have ever since proceeded ; and now, the pupils in these schools, who are chiefly giils. are all oczu , pied in employment befitting their sex ; whilst they arc at ' the same time taught the first principles of the Christian re s ition. e, n aid of the Parent Establishment in Edinburgh, Which then very greatly needed additional assistance, in the year 1773 a corresponding board of co-operation was formed in London, the munificent support of which has been ,equally honourable and advantageous to the Insti tution, and has most materially aided the Society's ad vancement to its present solid respectability, and exten sive greatness. The population of the Highlands and Islands is com- Puted to exceed 450,000 souls, amongst whom the bles sings of this charity arc daily diffused. It has there most exteniively improved the morals, influenced the sentiments, and ameliorated the condition of the people, which bene ficial effects have been principally accomplished by giving gratuitous instruction to the poor; for whom schools have • been erected wherever they were most required. These e seminaries are supplied with able teachers, the faithful discharge of whose duty is secured by the vigilant super. intendeuce of the parochial clergy and catechists ; by Whose united means the pupils are fitted for filling their future stations in society with propriety and usefulness. Though chiefly instructed in the English language, the knowledge of which prepares them for an easy intercourse with every quarter of the kingdom, yet the visiting corn- Minces are particula ly directed that—" in districts where Gaelic is chiefly spoken, they try the scholars in the translating of Gaelic and English; and whether they un derstand the meaning of what they read." At a few minutes past six o'clock the Right Hon Sir Robert P, el, Bare, M. P., entered the room, preceded by the stewards bearing white wands, and wearing the Royal tartlet waif over their shoulders. In the van marched the Highland piper of his R iyal Highness the Duke of Sus sex and the piper of the Scotch Fusilier Guards, playing the spirit-stirring air of " The Campbells are coming." yokedg Hon. Baronet, who wore the rosal tartan, extremely well, and indeed it became him better than any other di cis ne have ever seen him in. He was re ,'! te ved eith loud and general acclamations by the assembly, which consisted of upwards of 300 gentlemen of all shades ";., or political opinions. The Right Hoe. Gentleman took .',. his seat at the head of the table, and was supported on his e''' right and left by the Ma'quis of Northampton, the Earl 'steal Eldon, Sir George Murray, Sir Augustus D'Este, Sir AA. Grant, M. P., H. Kemble, Esq., M. P., the Chisholm, e:l3 Bond Cabbell, Esq., Edward Kemble, Esq., Thomas Cooke, Eaq , J. W. Farrer, Esq., Rev. Dr. Croly, Major Oliphant, &c. &c. , Over the Chairman was a white silk flag, splendidly ' reblazoned with the arms of Scotland ; the galleries were 411 itl with lovely and elegantly-attired ladies, many of the s ' guests wore the national costume Of Scotland, and the ' appearance of the hall, when all the company were seated, Was extremely brilliant and animated. The band of the •'• Coldstream Guards were stationed in the end gallery, and, alternately with the Highland pipers, entertained the company during the evening with a variety of fashionable and national airs. The professional gentlemen present Were Messrs. Broadhurst, Cooke, Fitzwilliam, Yenning, and Bradbury, and their exertions contributed much to the • , gratification and amusement of the company. After ample justice h :d been done to an excellent dinner, the cloth was removed, " Non nobis domine " was sung in a %cry beautiful and impressive style. The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said,—Gentlemen, it is now my duty to propose that toast, which, in every as sembly of loyal subjects, particularly in this country, claims precedence—the health of her Majesty, the Queen.—( Loud and long-continued cheering.) Gen tlemen, I well know that in this assembly of men, devoted not only to the monarch of this country, by feelings of cordial and affectionate attachment to the • Person of the Sovereign—( Loud cheers)—there will be no additional motive required to induce you to drink that toast with enthusiasm, but, gentlemen, it is fitting on this occasion, and in this room, that we should remember that we not only drink the health of the Sovereign—but the health of the illustrious lady who has condescended to honour this institution with her special patronage.— (Loud cheers.) I have no doubt, therefore, when you have fulfilled your duty to your Sovereign, you will have fo reserve a cheer for our Illustrious Patron—the Queen. "`(Loud cheers.) Air....." God save the Queen." The CHAIRMAN then said—The next toast I have the honour to propose i., " The health of his Royal High bvss Prince Albert, and the Princess Royal."--( Loud and long-continued cheering.) And, Gentlemen, I have sixtreme satisfaction in informing you that the Society stands, or, at least, with your consent, is about to stand 1 ,,,0 the same re'aion to the illustrious Consort of her ralesty in which it stands towards the Queen herself.— (C s eers.) I have no doubt that if I had merely pro_ Posed to you the health of that illustrious Prince, the °tally accomplishments and virtues that adorn his cha racter would have ensured an enthusiastic recepisu to the mention of his name. But, Gentlemen, it is my Veasin g duty to announce to you that, a ithin the last I ,esv days, his Royal Highness has declared his readiness . o accept the office of Vice-Patron of the Royal High. ll and Sseol S ciety.—(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I be , Oev e t • ancient forms and rules of this S ciety, to ; this'll it is most desirable that we should 'Obese, require that the appointment of his Royal H gneess should be sauctica d by the consent and election of this meeting, Ind I therefore propose to you that we should as it 1 Were by ateamation, elect his Royal Highness to that ap , 1 e Pointment, which he has signified his wiilingneas to accept. ''' --(Loud cheering.) Gentlemen, with respect to the : • Princess Royal, I cannot possibly be in doubt of the fact of se an Illustrious Princess, brought up under the auspices of e t such parents, immediately connected with tl is Society, at • i ' s some remote period, when in tie course of time she may % succee d to the office she is destined to fill- that our re "'' •ett.ote posterity may have the satisfaction of seeing this in - ' At% * talon mcc • , _ under the auspices of t hat Illustrious Princess , . 1; ,lit now meets under the auspices of he r Illustrious Mo . 4er. I he : , therefore, to propose to drink, with every toke n of en th usiasm, " The health of his Royal Highness P rince Albert and the Princess Royal."—(Loud cheers , ) 44 -- 4 Hail, Star of Brunswick." ,_ The CMAIRMAN, on r i s ing to propose the next toast, said 40 bad now the honour to propose the health of " The Queen Dowager, and the other Members of the Royal ''' : Palbily."--( Long continued cheering.) It was almost i mpossible to name any member of the Royal Family . . !aithout awaking feelings of the greatest gratitude for their bin volence towards the public charities of this country. tAp e ra l ) Her Majesty the Queen Dowager was one er the p 4 s r eeesses of the Institution, and be believed that. s • Since the reign of Queen Anne, her Majesty was the first 10 ,,vereign who bad accepted the o ffi ce o f patroness of the rligaland School Society ; and he had no doubt that their ‘ 's a cknowledgment, for that instance of her benevolence, `. and their respect for her private virtues, would induce them to receive the toast with the proper enthusiasm. `'The Queen Dowager, and the rest of t h e R o y a l Fa ' P amily,"—(Great applause.) The CHAIRMAN next begged to propose as a toast— . '' The Navy and Army of the United Kingdom."— (Cheer.) At toast which he knew they would drink Seith peculiar satisfaction, for he considered he was o ce f iv the d - full y wart 'teed in stating that the Highlands of Scot hod had contrihutati their full sharheeetors.t)he He glo c ry on et a and army of this eburitry.--( c "e was right in stating that emonust the best and bravest ° 1 the soldiers who filled the ranks of the Highland re g i_ l e„oet• ' they could number those who were ed ucated in the highland schools.—( Cheers.) He conceive d he was ri ght 4 stati ng t h a t thi s t oas t w o uld be acknowledged by two .1. whom members of the Highland Society , each of ona bad fill e d the highest situations in the pro fession to W atch they belonged.—( Applause.) He was instructed t - q ° State that it was owing to accident that his friend and ' s t e _ftlae . xion, Sir George Cockburn was absent upon this ''°,easton, but be bad the gratification of lee:ng present his soldie r Hon. Friend Sir George Murray—(Cheers)—a l e ii, -tier who stood on the right hand of the illustrious Wel ' m ho cheering) —a soldier and a states. ei - e " 4 of whom Scotland had a right to be justly proud, and • t ' l °. whatever might be his military eminence and mai :l7 fame, must be proud of the distinction this day t e ar` lr e Zardd ita u—t himhat of returning thanks for the Army of .--( Great cheering. ) I 6' Rule Britan&a," Sir G. MURRAY rose and said, he should have been happy if his Hon. Friend, Sir G. Cockburn, had been able to attend and discha , ge the duty which had been al lotted to him, in returning thanks for the applause which was bestowed on the naval service of the country (Cheers.) That branch of the public service must always 1 to considered, and he was glad so to consider it, on ac ' count of the insular situation of the country—on account of its extended commerce—and also on account of its own brilreint achievements, as the right arm of our country.— ( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He had much pleasure also in acknowledging that part of the compliment which was paid to tl:e army. No man could offer his acknowledgments for that distinction with more sincerity than he did, because no man could be more satisfied than he was of the value of such testimonies of public approbation of the conduct of both services. —(Cheers.) In this free country these testimonies of public apprebation formed the best re ward fir past service, and the most powerful incentive to future exertions.—(Cheers.) Several years had elapsed since this country was engaged in any general war, and since the period of the achievement of those great victories by sea and land which would go down to our remotest posterity as memorials of the skill of British commanders, and the valour of British soldiers and sailors But occasions had not altogether been wanting, in the meantime, to prove to our countrymen, and to the world at large, that British commanders, and British troops and sailors, se ere still the same as they were in the days of the the victories of Wellington, and the triumphs of Nelsoe. —(Loud cheers.) The remotest nations c f central Asia had Ii arnt to appreciate the powers of our genera's and soldiers; and on the coasts of the Mediterranean, already familiar with British heroism, the renown of the exploits of the British navy were again revived.—( Cheers.) His Right Hon. Friend in the chair had been so kind as to al lude to the share which Scotland bad in the achievements of both services.--( Hear, hear.) Perhaps he might be pardoned for indulging in some little national feel ing in this Scottish festival, and for also remind ing them on that occasion, that the laborious researches of an Elphinstone and a Bruce bad paved the way for the march of our army into the central parts of Asia, and that the fiery spirit of Napier—(Continued cheers)—and he said this with the greater satisfaction, because that spi rit was not confined to one individual of that family. They all sought for renown where danger thronged thickest to oppose their progress. —( Loud cheers.) He trusted to be allowed, before he sat down, having expressed his thanks for their gratitude to the army and navy, to allude to an other topic. It was his good fortune, some years ago, to be present on a similar occasion, when the chiair was filled by Lord Stanley, immediately after be had accepted the honourable situation of Rector of the University of Glas gow.—(Cheers.) His Right Hon. Friend was making the same return to that country for the same honour con ferred upon him (Sir Robert Peel). That was the object which had brought them that day together, to promote the education of the humbler classes; and, he was happy to add, that already Scotland had benefited much by the ad mirable institutions of all kinds that existed amongst them; for to that they were to attribute that character for trustworthiness, and that disposition to cultivate the talents which nature had given them, and which had been so con spicuous among Seotchmen all over the world, and to which the schools they were now met to support had so much contributed. He begged to thank them for the cordial manner in which they had received the toast. The CHAIRMAN again rose and said—Although, Gen. tlemen, we have manifested our respect collectively for all the members of the Royal Family, yet there is one member of that illustrious family to whom we all owe such a peculiar debt of gratitude, that I must take an exception in his case, and reserve him for a peculiar and special notice. Gentlemen, his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex has on all occasions manifested the deepest interest in the prosperity of this Society.—( Loud cheers.) We have the honour of meeting here under the presidency of his Royal Highness. But it is not only the manifestation of his interest in this particular Society that entitles him to our peculiar gratitude, but be has on all occasions shown himself fully entitled to it. He has shown that he deserves the title of Earl of Inverness by directing his at tention to every institution connected with the welfare of the country, and keeping up those peculiar habits and usages which are familiar and dear to the inhabitants of the H.ghlands.—(Loud cheers.) You wi 1, theref re,. cordially concur with me in the propriety of giving a se parate acknowledgment of your gratitude to his Royal Highness—the drinking his health with every mark of enthusiasm. The toast was then drank, with loud and enthusiastic cheering, and his Royal Highness's piper proceeded round the hall, playing Tullochgorum and other popular airs. Sir AUGUSTUS D'EsTE returned thanks. He said that it was impossible for him to refrain from expressing his grateful thanks, first to the Chairman, for the gratifying manner in which his Illustrious Father's health had been proposed ; and, secondly, to the gentlemen assembled who had received it in so warm and enthusiastic a manner. When he took into consideration the important character of the individual who had honoured the institution by pre siding at their annual festival that evening, and when he re flected on the respectability and influence of the gentlemen present, who had assembled for a most praiseworthy, and truly benevolent purpose, it was gratifying to bin heart that the great statesman who occupied the chair, had se kindly proposed his Must, ious Father's health.—( Cheers.) It was gratifying to his feelings to know that that dis tinguished individual had so borne testimony to his fa ther's worth, as if it had proceeded from even the most influential person whose political feelings coincided with the ()Onions entertained by his Roy al parent.— ( Long-continued cheering.) It was exceedingly gra tifying to his feelings that they were that day presided over by an individual who, on the s!cred ground of charity, could forget and abandon all little poli tical differences fur the purpose of doing justice to the il lustrious Prince who, he would venture to say, notwith standing that he stood in a relation so near to him, had done much to promote the intere.t and advantage of the country. —( Cheers.) He bad been alwa)s ready to assist in every work of charity, and to preside when called upon at every meeting convened for the promotion of science, and he could not help saying that a good star shone ever him when it devolved on the distinguished person in the chair to bear testimony to his merits.—(Cheering.) After a most feeling and sincere expression of thanks, Sir Augus tus t esumed his scat amidst loud applause. Miss Steele, who was seated in the gallery, at the re quest of the Chairman, sang the beautiful Scotch ballad, " My heart's in the Highlands," with much taste and ex= pression, ar.d was greeted wi h loud and general applause. The CHAlRMAN—G e ntlemen, it now devolves on me, in fulfilment of my duty as chairman of this assembly, to call your attention to the particular object which has brought us together this day. Gentlemen, we are met on one of those occasions so characteristic, and so honour. ably characteristic of society io this great country, when we add dignity and grace to a tavern dinner, by making our conviviality contribute to the great ends of benevolence and charity. Gentlemen, I have little doubt that you are all perfectly acquainted with the nature of the institution whose claims I am about to urge upon you. I have little doubt that you know it is an ancient institution, and that its special object is to train up the youth of the Highland.. of Scotland in the principles of reverence to their God and loyalty to their Sovereign.—( Loud clie:rs.) You know, gentlemen, that the education winch is distributed by this Society is founded upon the only sure basis, that of the principles of religion.—( Cheers.) You know that that education is strictly a scriptural education, in conformity with the tenets and doctrines of the Established Church of Scotland.—( Hear, hear.) You know that that educa tion is now dispensed, through th . e in,trumentality of above 260 schools; and that 20,000 scholars are receiving the benefits of a sound, moral, and rel.gious education, through the means of this Society.—( Hear, hear.) You know that it is mainly d4pendert upon voluntary benevo lence, and it is under these circumstance; that I now make to you an earnest, and I trust, a successful app al. to maintain, nay to uphold, to extend, the usefulness of this institution.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I believe this is the 68th anniversary on which this assembly has met on an occasion like the present, and I have little doubt that on all those occasions these walls have re-echoed with nearly the same sentiments, delivered on behalf of the Society by the chairmen who happened to preside. Gentlemen, I hate been anxious to discover whether there were any new and peculLr shims which I could urge on your consi deration whether the4e had been any recent evi dence of the usefulness of this Society, or any recent means of demonstrating its beneficial effects as resulting from the exer c ise o f your benevolence. Gentlemen, I do not wish to make an appeal to your passions, but to your reason and your understanding. Gentlemen, the condition of the Highlands has within the last two months attracted the attention of the Legislature of ihis country, in consequence of the great distress prevailing there. In eensequence of the necessity of providing some remedy for that destitution the House of Commons has recently appointed a Committee for the purpose of inquiring into the condition of the population of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.—( Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, the main object of the appointment of that Committee was for the purpose of considering whether extended emigration might hot afford the best means of relieving the distress that prevails there, and I fear to a frightful extent. Gen tlemen, I referred with some anxiety to the evidence taken before that Committee. I knew the main object of it was to consider and to recommend emigration as a reme.ly for the distress existing in the Highlands. Gentlemen, I referred to that evidence with some anxiety, for I thought it might be possible that I should find in that evidence no admission of the advantages of education. I feared that the minds of men might be so occupied with the dis tressing scenes they were called upon to investigate, that they might direct their attention merely to the main re- ' medy which was proposed for that distress, namely, the transport of that population which was suffering great distress from its excessive numbers and its disproportion to the means of employment. I was afraid that their atten tion might be so exclusively directed to an immediate re medy, that I might find no evidence from their recent tes timony in favour of education, and of the public benefits that might be expected to result from it. But, gentlemen, I was agreeably surprised to find in that evidence, cawing from men of the highest character —coming from men with the most ample local information—l was gratified to find that I was enabled to lay before you this day the most conclusive evidence of the advantages of that education which the Society is calculated to confer. Now you will deserve, gentlemen, that the evidence of those witnesses on whose authority I rely was of the most impartial and un suspicious character. Their inquiries had no reference to education—they were not called upon to give any esifence respecting education —they were only called upon to testify to the extent of the distress then existing, and to suggest a remedy ; and therefore if those men, with their practical knowledge of the distress then existing, and their means of local information—if they gave their decided testimony in favour of education—of a religious and moral education as the only permanent and effectual remedy for the evils existing in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, can I resist the force of that testimony ? and if I succeed in demonstrat ing the necessity of this remedy, am I not making a legitimate appeal, not to your passion, but, as I said before, to Vour reason and your understanding ?—( Much cheering.) Gentlemen, the Committee to which I refer, was appointed only six weeks ago; and at the time when it was appointed nothing was said about education, how ever convinced those who had moved for its appointment were of the here fits ef eduevion. The only point which was rec tranencie d to their attention was' the distress exi=t ing in tie Highlands of Scotland. and the immediate remedy of that destres.e Tney hal to i :quire into the condition of the pep:teflon of the Highlands anti Maid e.f Scotland, and into the praciicability of afferdine them relief tsy means of emigration. They have made a'first or preliminary report, and they state in that, that the recent distress which prevailed in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland arose mainly from the excess of population, and they u-ge the meessity of considering of some irnme d'a'e and efficient remedy to alleviate the existing dis tress. They state that the chief remedy for that dis tress is a well-regulated system of education; and they call several witnesses of the highest respectability, aed I will state whet the result of their testimony is to you. Mr. Baird, the Honorary Secretary to the Glasgow Committie for Affording Relief to the Destitute Islanders in 1837, a gentleman of ample. experience as to the condition of the Islanders, and the souses of distress, was asked this question, " What is the . best remedy for the proent state of things in the Islands of Scotland ?" And he replied; that the prospective remedy was educa tion, the want of which lie conceived to be the greatest curse of the Islands ; and he gave an instance of four islands, with a population of 1,105 individuals, which hal at present only one school for the four islands. He was asked in what way education would benefit them? and he said that it would qualify them for accepting situations in the Low Countries, where they could better their for tunes, or for procuring an honourable livelihood in a foreign land. The next witness was a clergyman, whom lam proud to cell my friend—a gentleman of whom Scot -1 ind may be justly proud—l refer to Dr. Norman* M'Leod, who also bears testimony to the deficiency of education, and its effect in promoting emigration. In quoting these proofs of the deficiency of education, it is but right to bring forward testimony to the moral courage and the peaceful conduct of those who are suffering under the sev rest privations.—( Hear, hear). There was a gen lee an named Braham appointed by the Government to inqu re into the condition of the Highlands, and who said that education was the best and surest foundation of any if etual cure that could be offered ; and he also bore testisneny to the morality, the patient forbearance, and the honesty of that unenlightened people, who were exposed to such severe privations. Mr. Bra barn said, the exertions they made for one another were quite extraordinary ; that it was quite beauti ful to s_! the sacrifices they made, and the perfect honour among thein,—( Cheers.) Now, it is on behalf of such a people I make as earnest appeal to you this evening. It is possible that a great part of this company is composed of gentlemen who are natives of Scotland; and I luok around the meeting with feelings of pride and satisfaction in reflecting that every hostile feeling between the two countries is extinguished—(Cheers)—that nothing re mains but that generous rivalry which makes each rejoice in the success 4i the other, and which makes each deeply interested in that success; first, because it contributes to his own prosperity ; and next, because it a,dvances the na tional character and renown of cur own common country. —( Cheers.) But, gentlemen, you who are natit es of that. country, I trust will never suffer those salutary pre judices to be extinguisheJ, which ought to make you proud of your country.—(Cbters.) I hope, on this occasion, that you will remember you are Scotchmen, sepata ed perhaps for the terms of your lives from the country to which you owe affectionate allegiance. I trust you will, on this occasion, mark your rest ect for your native land, and your love f..ir its institutions, by remembering the claims of your fellow -countrymen from whom you are searated, by administering to their wants, and laying the foundation of their moral and social improvement.—( Cheers.) For us, who be long to another part of the empire, 1 trust we shall never forget the obligations we owe to Scotland for its ample contribution to the arts, sciences, literature, nay.l and military renown of this great kingdom. I hope we shall both acitnowledge the claims upon our cha.i:y and benevolence towards those who are far removed from us, but who are suffeting under the severest privations.— ( Cheers.) This Society, as I said at the outset, is mainly dependent on voluntary benevolence. Let me entreat you, then, on this occasion to maintain the fund which enables it to continue its useful exertions for the advantage of the people of Scotli.nd.— (Loud cheers.) Let me advise you to adopt a simple rule. If you do adopt it you will never forget it. There is not one man in this room, who, it he adopts the resolution of doubling the subscrtption, which m the cowl and sober moments of the morning be 'clotted to gtve, will regret it, or think that he has done so under the influence of a wine-warmed imagination.—(Hear, and cheers.) If you adopt this simple plan, there is not one man among you, woo, on rising to-morrow morning, will not congratulate himself that he has done well.— (Loud cheers.) If you will follow out this simple pro cess, I venture to sey that not only the revenues of the pi e,ent year will be greatly increased, but that young sue. cessors who will attend at future meetings, will be either encouraged or shamed at your example, and will double the amount of their subscriptions.—(Cheers.) Perhaps some of you think teat you have already committed your selves by handing in your subscriptions, but I have the pleasure of informing you there is a locus penitentice, and therefore an opportunity of amending toe involuntary error you may hsve committed—(Cheers)—and of pre. venting your names from appearing to disauvantage, when compared with those more fortunate persons who have not yet committed themselves.—( Cheers.) Geutlemen, al low me to say, that although these words appear speken in levity, they are yet perfectly true.—(Cheers.) Let me assure you twat you will not suffer or repent of so doing, but will reflect upon it with pleasure • and though remLved by hundreds of miles from those whose wants and privations you supply, their gratitude will be as lively as if we were on the spot.—(Loud cheers.) By so doing you will not only promote their essential interestr, but perform your duty as Christians and benevolent men, and strengthen the bond of con nection between this country and that potion of the popu lation who may be uneducated and illiterate, and have teen its right arm in the day of peril, and have added to the fame, and protected the interests of this country; and whi, under the pressure of severe adversity and of priva tion, amounting almost to famine, have shown that pa tier ce, forbearance, and submission to the law, which entitle the m to the commiseration and sympathy of every British subject. The Right Hun. Baronet concluded a most elo quent speech amid loud applause, which continued for se oral minuteF, by proposing the toast of " Prosperity to the Royal Highland School Society," with three times three, and that enthusiasm which properly belonged to the subject. The toast was drank with great applause. Mr. Broadhurst then sang the following song, written for The. occasioa, wi h great applause:— Fill your glasses all bumpers, till joy's ruby tide O'arflow them with sparkles of light ; And be this the libation to waken your pride, The Chief of our meeting to-night 1 Let the roof-tai e that o'er us its shelter imparts, Re-echo the gladness we feel Whil,t our voices embody the wish of our hearts, Health 1 Welcome 1 and Honour to Peel The far-beaming splendours of Highland renown, For ages have brighten'd the past; And their glory shall still go refulgently down, Unclouded and pule to the last, Yet famed as the noblest its annals can boast, Is the worth which his virtues reveal ; And 'cis Scotland's warm gratitude hallows the toast, Health ! Welcome ! and Honour to Peel. The CHAIRMAN said the toast he was about to propose would render all ornament superfluous, and whose high character would,baffie every attempt to pourtray it as it deserved. He then gave them—" His Grace the Duke of Wellington, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Society." The toast was received with enthusiastic cheering, which lasted for some minutes. Atr—" See the conquering hero comes." The next toast given from the Chair wa3 the health of a gentleman whose name was pre-eminently distinguished in connection with every charitable institution of the country —" Mr. Benjamin Bor,d Cabbell."—( Loud cheers.) Mr. Cannata., returned thanks. The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON then rose, and, in an able and ellquent speech, which we regret our limits will not enable us to give, proposed the health of '• the Chairman, the Right Honourable Sir Robert R ei," which was drunk with tie greatest enthusi,sre. Sir ICPEet., in returning thanks, adverted to the kind ne.s he had invariably received from the people of Scot labd, and the honour conferred on him by the academic youth of that country ; and said that, although he was, from the multiplicity of oth !r occupations, frequently obliged to decline similar invitations, he could not from these considerations decline the honour of presiding on this occasion.—( Loud cheers. ) Song—" The Chinese Jars." The - CHAIRMAN subsequently proposed the health of " the Earl of Eldon, the last chairman of the Society,' " the Marquis of Northampton," " the Landewnera of the Highlands of Scotland," and " the Chisholm," " the Secretary," and other officers of the institution ;. and the Stewards, each of whom returned thanks in a very eloquent speech, which nothing but the absolute want of space prevents us from inserting. The health of " The Ladies" was afterwards drunk with great enthusiasm; shortly after which the Chairman retired, amid great applause, and was succeeded by the Chisholm, by whom the chair was ably filled until the company separated. The Hon. Gentleman proposed several convivial toasts, which were received with raptur ous applause. He took an opportunity, during his presi dency, of perusing a report of the evening's proceedings which appeared in the second edition of this paper, and which was circulated in the room by the Stewards before eleven o'clock. 'I he great dispatch and accuracy which characterised the appearance of the Report appeared to excite the utmost surprise and gratification. It would be doing a great injustice to the spirited proprietors of the Freetna.un's Tavern, not to mention the excellent style in which the dinner was served. Indeed, we have seldom attend& ,I one which in all respects went off with greater eclat. The singing was excellent, particularly the old song of " John Anderson my Joe," by Mr. Broadhurst, which was rupturiiuly applauded. The Secr etary in the course of the evening announced subscridtions amounting to upwards of 8001 ; amongst which the principal were, her Majesty (annually) 501., the Q icon Dowager logs, the Duchess of Somerset lOga, the Duchess of Buckingham loge, the Duke of Buc cleuch 501., the Duke of Rutland 10gs, Lord Bexley sgs, the Duke of Mui.trose 101., B. B. Cabbell, Esq., lOgs, Sir B. Brodie, 10gs, the Vice-Chancellor logs, Sir George Murray 5 gs, Sir Alex. Cray Grant 10gs, the Earl of Eldon togs, Sir A. D'E , t:t sgs, Henry Kembk, Esq., logs., Sir IL Peel, 501.—British Qneen. TILE FETES OF VERSAILLES.—The luxury of dress, the splendour of equipages, the beauty of the Court La6ies, the magnificence of the grand concert, presented altogether a l erlect scene of enchantment. The gardens 5.f the palace were illuminated by several millions of va. riegated crystal lamps, which were lighted a!most simul tan,ously, as if by the touch of a magician's wand. Some e , tirwate of the aplemiour of the illuminations may b , . formed from the ex; ease of the bouquet d'artifice. In the space of a few moments thirty thousand rockets were let off, each of which cot a crown.—Theodore Hook's French Stage. SUN* LONDON% MONDkY, APRM 28, inn. THE MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE IMPORT DUTIES. MANCHESTER, APRIL 22. —An extre rely interesting meeting of the Chamber cf Commerce and Manufactures took F la :e here to-day, for the further consideration of the impart duties question, and for the purpose of determining on th propriety of petitioning Parliament on the question. John Benjamin Smith, Esq., President of the Board of Directors, was present, and took the chair. The PRESIDENT was happy to say that the question of free trade was not now brought befute this Chamber for the first time. He found that no long ago as 1824, by the records of the Chamber, that when Mr. Huskisson brought forward his trade measures, by which it was pro posed to allow the free exportation of machinery and arti sans, it was opposed by the Chamber, but at the same time they pas:dd the following resolution :—" That in the pro gress which Ministers and Parliament are making towards a revision and liberalisation of our commercial syvetn, this meeting think it necessary to request the Directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to call their at. tentiim to the overwhelming restriction under which the commeseial interests of this country are placed' by the pre soot state of the Corn-laws, which not only tend to give a factitious value to the most important article cf human food, but to throw obstacles in the way of mercantile ope rations, by materially augmenting the difficulty of procur kg returns." From this resolution it was evident thatthe Chamber thought it was beginning at the wrong end to allow exportation of machinery without allowing a free importation of food.--( Hear, hear.) In 1825, when Mr. Huskisson brought forward his free-trade measures, the fallowing resolutions were passed by the Cham ber :—" That having taken into consideration the im portant changes in the commercial policy of the country, recommended by the resolutions of the House of Com mons, whereby foreign manufactures and descriptions of foreign raw produce will be admitted on a greatly reduced scale of duties, the members of the board feel it to be a duty to declare their approbatioq of the proposed mea• sures, their concurrence in the sound and enlightened principles of government on which they are founded, and their hope and belief that, whilst they are calculated to promote the general prosperity of the worn . ry, they will not prove lormairently or seriously injurious to any branch of the tra.!e of this district, provided they be followed by that repeal of the duty on raw cotton which is pointed out and required by the same principles of sound policy by which these measures have been dietatid. That the repeal of the existing Corn-laws, and free acres to the corn markets of the world, under easy duties on importation (if any should be required) sill be more than ever necessary when the proposed changes regarding the introduction of foreign manufactures are canied into effect, and ought to be earnestly and unceasingly pressed on the consideration of Parliament." Such were the resolutions passed in 1825 ; since then the duty on raw cotton had been reduced, but no change had taken place in the Corn-laws, and very few changes had taken place affecting our commerce with ether countries.--( Hear, hear.) It was impossible to look at the present state of our trade without feeling considerable alarm.—( Hear, hear.) The effect of our restrictions upon the importation of foreign productions had been to establish masufictories in foreign countries, particularly in the north of Europe and the United States of America, and now we found these countries seeking the means of importing our machinery instead of our ma. nufactures.—( Hear, hear.) Another important feature in our commercial prospects was the near approach of the termination of our treaty with the Brazils ; their Government had given notice that, on the termination of that treaty, unless we admit their staple produce, which was sugar and coffee, that they would prohibit our manufactures.—( Hear.) Now the Brazils took a larger quantity of our manufactured goods than any other part of the world, and therefore this be came a very important consideration.—( Hear, hear.) The United States were also about to take into consi deraim the duties on the import of our manufactures there. At present they were admitted at an average duty of 25 per cent. ; but it could hardly be expected that they would continue to allow our manufactures to be imported on such easy terms, if we persevered in excluding their products from our markets.—( Hear, hear.) This question, he was happy to say, was one in which men of all parties could join ; it was not a political question ; they did not seek to obtain any favour from the Legislature ; all they asked was a fair field for their own exertions; they sought no legislative protection for their own inter ests—all they asked was to be feed from monopolies for the good of others at their expense.--( Hs ar, hear.) He could now read to them the resolutions prepared, and about to be submitted to them.—[The Chairman then read the resolutions, which appeared in our columns on Saturday]. Mr.-Aicooarao HOOLE, in rising to propose the adoption of the fiarst resolution, alluded to the report of the Direc tors on•Vais questions read at the last meeting, and said he lelieved (tat the public mind had been more enlightened by that do'ctoruent than by any report which had ever issued from that'Cfhamber. He understood that such had been the demand for that report, that it had been necessary to print 4,Q01:f copies of it ; and when they took into con sideration that this was in addition to the wide circulation which Lad teen previously given to it by the newspapers, they would see the great interest taken in it, and that the public mind began to be roused to the danger of our posi. tion.—( Hear, hear.) He hoped that the interest which had thus been awakened would not be allowed to diminish, but that this Chamber, and all gentlemen who took a lively interest in the question, would follow it up by pressing the subject upon the consideration of the House of Commons. He himself imagined that he had a sort of protection, and he was anxious to ascertain to what extent, for which ream he had paid some atten ti .n to the subject for the last few weeks. He was speak ing in reference to the exportation of machinery. He had supposed that he was protected against the foreign spinner by the prohibition upon tho exportation of machinery. He examined into that question, and really if that was the protection they enjoyed, it seemed to be reduced to the smallest poss.ble standard, for it did appear in a most extraordinary way that licences of the Treasury had been granted for the exportation of what was called preparation machinery, or machinery for manufacturing fidesses up to that point where two slivers were joined together, from a supposiiion that cotton up to that point was not under going any manufacturing process.—( Laughter.) He never heard of anything more absurd ; if that was protec tion they had it but in name, and the sooner it was done away with the better. He woutd put the case in this way :—Suppose the agricultural interest, who were pro tected, or were supposed to be protected, by .the Corn• laws, were protected in this manner, what should we say if all corn imported into this country were admitted, by li censes from the Treasury, in any state of manufacture short of being made into bread, on the understanding that until it had undergone that process it was not an article of food 2—( Laughter and applause). Yet this was really the sort of protection the manufacturer enjoyed, and nothing more.—( H car, hear.) • Mr. J. HEREFORD second the resolution. Mr. ADSHEAD could not conceive any subject more de serving of wtsntion than' that before the Chamber—a sub ject not only connected with the commercial policy of the country, but also with the existence and prosperity of the manufacturing community, Inquiries had been instituted to ascertain the bearing of these import duties on our com mercial at d manufacturiug relations, and he thought it would be admitted by all parties that an amount of evi dence so important in its details, so conclusive in its prin ciplet, and so full of valuable information, had never been brought under the especial notice of the Chamber.— ( Hear, hear.) The resolution was agreed to unaniarionsly. Mr. R. GARDNER, in moving the second resolution, said that protections were a benefit to the community was quite an erroneous doctrine. They might be a temporary advantage to those whom they were intended to protect; but, is the end, much evil would result from them. With respect to sugar he found that in the year 1839 there bad been a falling off in the importation of that article, in con sequence of these protections, amounting to 12,400 tons ; and in 1840 he found there was a still further falling off of 13.800 tons, notwithstanding the increase which was taking place in our population, in the consumption, being a full reduction of 12i per cent. in the last three years. ®Our policy, as regarded our own population, and as regarded that of our colonies, appeared to him to be really crooked and suicidal in the extreme. The policy of our Government always appeared to him to be a starvation one.—( Hear.) The object always appeared to be to ascertain the lowest quantity of food they could teach the people to exist upon —( Heir, hear)—or, to levy the greatest amount of taxes out of toe smalluat possible quantity of the necessaries of life.—(Applause.) They appear to add tax upon tax, till the more they increased the taxes, the more they deg eased the revenue.--(Laughter and applause.) It was one of the most astonishing things to him ; and if he expressed himself atrongty, it was because he expressed his own feelings, that whilst we possessed colonies, and perhaps had a population under the crown of this empire amounting to one-tenth part of the population of the world—that whilst we held colonies possessing every quality of soil, and in every climate of the world—colonies that were capable of producing as many hundreds weight of sugar and coffee as we could consume, supposing we consumed double what we now did ; he repeated that if we consumed double the quantity of these articles we had ever y -t done in one year, we have colonies capable of producing as many hundreds weight as we now required pounds; yet, notwithstanding this it was surprising that with a protec tion of 395. per cwt. upon sugar, over and above the duty paid for sugar grown in the colonies, and 345. per cwt. upon coffee, notwithstanding all our immense territories and ad vantage;, we could not produce the amount of sugar and coffee necessary for ourselves , but were compelled to pur chase it from ne ighbouring States where they h a d no pro tection ; and those neighbouring States without this pro tection were able to supply our markets as well as their own. For instance, he found that the consumption of coffee alone, in one year, amounted to 12,823 tons; and of this quantity, 6,470 tons were the produce of our colonial posses sions, while 6.353 tons were the produce of foreign countries. But it must be c'early understood that this did not pay the protective duty of 345., for Government admitted foreign coffee touching at a British port at Bd. less per lb. (in creased by the expense of reshipping, insurance. &c., by another penny) ; and thus these 6,353 tons of foreign coffee would have paid an additional duty of about 375. per cwt. This really led him to conclude that our pro tection, our cradling or nursing system, was a very bad one indeed. —( Hear, Lear.) There was another inconsistency as to our consumption of slave-grown sugar, for while the slave grown sugar was prohibit e d f or consumpt i on i n t hi s county, we purchased it and refined it in bond, and shipped it out for the use of our colonies; therefore, while the black population were supplied with fine sugar at 4id., we were paying them at least 7d. or 7f _their coarser for coarser sugar.—( Hear, heir.) All this was done for the purpose of doing away with slav ery ; b ut so l ong . as Allis protection lasted it appeared to him that it would increase, and tend to increase the value of slave-labour, and' it was his decided conviction that so long as slave-labour was profitable, it could never be suppressed..—( Hear, bear.) The only way to end slavery teas to do away with the attending it.—( Hear, hear.) profit a It was his , full and firm conviction that if the duties were reduced, it would not only add to the revenue, but to the comforts of the people. Mr. H. AsutcosTu seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr. L. WILLIAMS trusted that much good would result) from pubieity being given t i what had passed in the Chamber on tom, subject, aid that public attention would be drawn to it, f,,r hitherto he believed it had beer, very Effie regarded by the public. Mr. Williams then moved ill!, third resolution. Mr. Wm. M'CoNNELL seconded the motion. Mr. PROCTER was engaged in the trade; and though he could not speak for the whole trade, he knew there were individuals among them who considered tlut they required prot?ction in the present artificial state of things. If the greater protection upon food and so forth wi.ec retrieved, that would alter the case. The CHAIRMAN—The resolution embraces them all. - Mr. PROCTER said, if it had passed without observa tion, it would nave been understood that the silk trade were quite agreeable to give up these duties for protection ; and they felt that they were exposed to quite as much compe tition as was desirable. He was engaged in the higher branch of o , e manufacture, which felt French competition the most; and they felt it vary eructs at this time. But, by the way, he begged to state that they were not agree able to the removal of the duties so long as other duties existed—ht', if the others were removed, they would not cl irt; any pi euliar privi!ecre for themselves. Toe CHAIRMAN—I understand Mr. Procter to say that if the du.ie. on all other articles were removed, their trade would not claim any protection ; and that is the spirit of the resolution. Mr. W. RA wsoar said he belonged to a branch of trade which had been fo•merly well protected—so well protected, that they had now no businessat all. There was certainly a protecting duty of 20 per cent. still left (he alluded to the stocking trade) ; but they had been nearly two years with out employment. He had received a letter from a friend et Coventry to say that there they had 20,000 ribbon weavers, who were all engaged in the silk trade, which was getting this boasted protection, and their wages were not more than 7s. per week.—( Hear, hear.) Could any thing place that trade in a worse position? It was a folly to sup pose that protection could be given to the workmen of this country while we exported fif t y millions of our productions. It was a folly to say that any body but the landlord was protected. It kept up a high artificial price for agricul tural produce, while it was utterly impossible to keep up wages and profits artificially. As regarded the exportatien of machinery, unless they c,uld get rid of the Corn-laws, he should recommend manufacturers to be selling their tools while they could get any thing for them. His ma chinery was worth as many thousands in 1836, as it was now worth hundreds ; he was not sure that he could get anything at all for it; it was going into the state of old iron, and was becoming more worthless every day. Mr. R. ROBERTS—Allusions had been made to the ex portation of machinery, a subject with which he was well acquainted, and on which, ten %cars ago, he strongly, and almost alone in this town, raised his voice against the in convenience and extreme impolicy of attempting to forbid tl e exportation of machinery. Of late he had held his tongue on this subject, for this reason. He did think, when Mr. Huskisson brought forward his principles of !roe trade, and a general promise seemed to he held out, by the pro ceedings in Parliament, that they should be carried into effect, that it might take away, to a great extent, that sore point in the diplomatic intercourse between this and other countries, which the nations of Europe especially, urged against permitting a free interchange of commodities, — namely, that the British Government peremptorily forbade the exportation of all labour, saving machinery ; and thaa, therefore they wet e placed in such a disadvantageous posi tion that they could not accede to the free trade principles offered by England. That was one ground why be thought .he removal of those prohibitory laws ought to be urged. Another war, the original error that had been committed in permitting steam-driven machinery, water wheels, and heavy gearing to go abroad, at a time when it would have been, to a certain degree, a protection to this country to maintain the prohibition, these things being the very foun dation of manufacturing industry. That had been origi nally done, he believed, because the iron-masters and en gineers possessed more influence in the Legislature than the humbler classes of machine makers. He meant not to say that we should forbid the exportation of any sort of machinery, large or small ; he held it to be a universal principle that at! sorts of knowledge and all sorts of pro ductions of human ingenuity and human labour were for the benefit of all men—( Applanse)—but if they de parted from that sound elementary principle, it was most injudicious to send away that which they might dely the foreigner to get in the outset, forbidding him those things only which he could construct for himself, and giving the very foundation of our manufactures. With regard to the silk trade, there wero very serious doubts whether it could stand foreign manufactured silks, unless all obstacles to free trade were swept away : and this was what the resolution contemplated. In the same way, in the article of leather, every obstacle must be swept away to the free importation of foreign bides, foreign hark, and everything that added to the composition of the raw mate rial ; and then the tanners and curriers would say that they would do very well. It was not that British industry was inferior to French—it was not that any branch of manufacture could not be carried on advantageously, pro vided it were permitted to exist on equal terms. But we must not only take away duties, but prohibitions, for the prohibitions of the import of live cattle made boots and shoes dear. We must give to the people the means of feeding themselves cheaply, and then every branch of in dustry in the country would not only be sustained, but would flourish ; for such was the ingenuity, the patient persevering industry, the habitual frugality and pat simony of the British people, that they would live by their indus try, and repel any competition, if they were placed on equal terms with other nations._( Applause.) We courted an intercourse with a people whose language and literature were founded upon, and were continually copying ours; we had a most beneficial trade with them, and yet we for bade them to trade with us. They might send their ships and take our manufactures, but to pay us, they must first go the sl ' ve stases, buy cotton and sugar, and then send it to us. And we were professing, all the while, not only a love of free trade and of extended intercourse with this people, but also, what every English man who had a heart in his breast mast feel—an abhor rence of slavery—( Heat, bear)—whilst we were eneourag• ing the continuance of slavery in America in the most palpable way in the world. If we were to take the corn, flour, and animal food which the free States would willingly send us in exchange fur our manufactures, our exports to those countries would he enormously increased; they would take all they now paid for in cotton and tobacco, and would superadd an amazing amount, many millions a year. The Chamber had been charged with having shrunk a little from the position it bad taken up two years ago, and with blinking the great question of the Corn and Provi sion Laws under the consideration of a general revision of the tariff. It did not appear from the speeches there delivered, that there was any falling off in the feeling of the members on the subject; but be should like to see a more pointed and distinct reference to the mischievous cha racter of the Corn and Provision Laws than seemed to be implied by the resolution so far. He had drawn up two or three clauses, which, when they came to the petition, might be embodied in it, and which he would then offer to the Chamber.—(Applause.) Mr. JAMES KERSHAW, in moving the next resolution, said he wished that Members of Parliament understood the question as well as it was understood in this patt of her Majesty's dominions, and would set their minds end hearts upon putting things on a better footing. Air. CHARLES POOLEY seconded the resolution. Mr. DYER rose to submit the addition to the petition of which he had spoken, but withdrew it on the Chairman assuring him that a special meeting would be called to petition about the Corn-laws. Mr. Dyer said he did not look for a repeal of the Corn-laws from the present House of Commons ; but if their petition was a third time con temptuously slighted, and inquiry refused, it would be the duty of the Chamber immediately to call upon the So vereign to dismiss that House of Commons and appeal to the people, and he did not believe the present constitu ency would elect another Bread-taxing House of Commons. Mr. R. ROBERTS moved the next resolution, and said he would take the opportunity of adverting to the Bill of Mr. Labouchere for the revision of the colonial duties. He wished to direct attention to the question how this would affect the relative position of United States manu factures and those of this country, in Canada and the British possessions in America.—(Hear, bear.) The duti.:s levied on our manufactures imported into the United States were on an average, at the least amount, 25 per cent. ; and the goods which were admitted spe. dally for the use of the subjects of this realm in Ca nada, he believed were subject to a higher rate than twenty-five per cent. The practical working of Mr. Labouchere's proposition would be this: the Ameri can manufacturers of exactly the same kind of goods as we exported, who were in close proximity to our colonies, could maintain an intercourse, by paying a duty only 4} per cent. higher than ourselves, with productions of a simi lar kind, made from their own staple commodity, the growth of their own soil, and manufactured with all the skill and energy which we know them to possess. Thus they were to be allowed to meet us in their own markets, while they excluded our manufactures by a duty of not less than twenty-five per cent., thus placing our trade in the very worst position by this arrangement. We were thus adding fuel to the fire by giving another impulse to American manufac. tures, and carrying them into our own country, The dif ference of duty was only 4 per cent., while we bad to pay the expense of transit, commission, freight, insurance, and ever thing else..—[Mr. R. Cobden—And the duty on cotton]—and then to meet the most competent, active, and enterprising rival we had.—( Hear, hear.) Was it pos. sible that a gentleman who had been present in that Cham ber, and hay heard as much as it was possible to condense into an interview of two hours, could be a party to a revi sion of duties which should involve such a strange ano maly as this? He was positively forgetting that Canada and the American colonies were British possessions, and promoting an intercourse founded upon the very worst prin pies for our manufactures. The Resolutions were agreed to. --- The announcement in the papers of Friday, under the head of " Middlesex Sessions," that a Magis trate of that County was accused of having offered, for a gratuity of 3,0001. to obtain the discharge of a prisoner confined under a sentence of imprisonment in the House of Correction, Cold-bath-fields, has created a most extraor dii:ary sensation throughout the metropolis and the whole of the metropolitan county, and various have been the spe. culations as to who the prisoner was and whom the Justice of Peace alleged to be implicated. From the inquiries we have made, although the greatest degree of secrecy is main. twined on the subject by the officers of the prison, we have reason to believe that the person whose liberation was to have been effected is Mr. Francis Hastings Medhurst. We need hardly say that the m agistrate, whoever he be, must have been guilty of the basest falsehood if he de. dared that he possessed influence in the quarter he is re ported to have named sufficient to effect that or any other object inconsistent with the strictest regard to public jus the magistrate ac cuse d , a l t h oug h lice. With respect to his identity is known to every magistrate in the county, his name has not yet been publicly mentioned ; but we are in formed that he is the son of an old and bighly-esteemed magis.rtte of one of the Police Courts of the metropolis, has been several ycals in the commission of thn peace, and was formerly a most active member of the bench at the Middlesex Sessions,--Observer, MR. MeiLLAN, THE DENTISTT As ,;cveral applice.tions have b.en made for informa,ion as to the manner in which the chsrge made by Mrs. Fol.. kard against Mr. Mallnn, the dentist, of Ludgate-hill, for having possessed himself of 1001. under a promiso to sup ply her with a first-rate set of teeth, was ultimately dis posed of, we give the following summary of the In:- ccedirgs and the results : The complainant attended on several dif f erent occasions, in expectation ef meeting Nlr. Malian, before Sir Peter Laurie, but that individual never made his appearance. His solicitor wrote a letter to Sir Peter Laurie, apologising for his (the solicitor's) absence, and stating that as his client wa3 willing to do everything that was necessary for the lady, he saw no further necessity for attending to give legal assistance: - Mrs. Folkard. who was accompanied by Mr. Hob jun., states to Sir Peter Laurie that she bad, after the matter was exposed in the newspapers, rece ived from Mr. Malian two boxes, containing each a set of teeth, which if they were ever made for mouths et all, were made for mouths very different indeed from hers, one of them being as much to small as the other was tio large for her mouth. They were, besides, of the very roughest and vulgar construction, and she could ❑ever think of allowing such things to be placed in her mouth at all. Sir Peter Laurie said that it was evident Mr. Malian was afraid to meet the charge, and that the fraud was an exceedingly gross one. He then advised the ►ady to put the two sets of teeth she had lately received into the hands of some dentist who understood his businese, and request him to say what they might he worth, and he should issue another summons to Mr. Malian to attend and give an ac count of the transaction. Mrs. Folkard, at her next visit at the Mansion-house, stated that she had obtained the opinion of a dentist of character as to the value of the two sets of teeth, and was assured by him that they were not worth 51. Several other persons had, she said, lean treated in a similar manner by Mr. Malian ' but she had been given to understand that he had gone to America to try his chance with the natives there. Mr. Nobler, jun., said that he had received a letter from a gentleman who was connected with the press, giving an account of what took place between him and Mr. Malian, is illustration of the practice of the dentist. He delivered the letter into the hands of Sir Peter Laurie. The following are extracts from it : " If the statement I now give you will at all aid Mrs. Folkard's case, or if my personal testimony will serve you, should it again become the subject of judicial notice, it is entirely at your service. In the month of May last I was induced, by the specious advertisments of Mons. Malian, of Ludgate-hill, to apply to him to restore two teeth of which I had been deprived by accident. He examined my mouth, assured me of his unrivalled art not only to supply the deficiency occasioned by the ac cident, but that if I would consent to have the de fects in the back parts of my mouth filled up the entire artificial arrangement should be so complete that I should not know that either time or accident had caused me an injury. I was, as I thought, very cunning. I told him that I doubted his powers, and that although willing to have my losses supplied, I had no faith in such promises—that if for the sum specified (10/. lOs.) he would engage to make a complete s e t, gi b ing me a month's trial of them, I would consent, but that I would pay no deposit, nor enter into any engagement on any other terms. I gave him my address that he might ascertain my respectability, and having seen the order and the amount entered in his book, I added my name and address. He was to inform me whether he would com plete the order on the terms I have stated, and I heard nothing from him, although I called two or three times, and left my card. I concluded that he did not choose to risk the result. Three months afterwards, a box, sealed, was left at my office, accompanied by a letter from an attorney, stating that he was instructed to deliver a set of teeth, which I had ordered of Mr. Malian, and had not called for ; and that if the amount was not paid im mediately, he had also instructions to proceed, &c. This was followed in a few days by a writ ; • and as I was in structed that such a delivery of a piece of mechanism, which was useless except fitted to the part in which it was to act, was not a delivery in law, I defended the action. The Secondary and Jury were, however, of a contrary opi nion; bat, as a kind of salvo, cut down the demand to Si. " On my return home, I, for the first time, looked at the article, and on examining the part intended for the upper part of the mouth, discovered that it was not possi ble it could be intended for mine, there being several front teeth supplied, while mine were sound and pet feet, I ob tained the company of a friend as a witness, and waited on Monsieur Malian, pointed out to him this damning proof of his rascality, and threatened him with exposure. He appeared confounded, and said it was all a mistake from the beginning, that the action was prosecuted without - his knowledge, and the teeth sent without his inspection. He took away in a hurried manner the imperfectly supplied part, and engaged to supply another, for which he took a new model, with ti gold palate, wire, &c., which should be worth at least 30 guineas. At the expiration of a few days the new specimen of his art was fitted into my mouth, and soon after I became seriously affected in health ; my mouth became corroded, and I was unable to eat any thing but the softest food. I called on the artist ; he assured me that all was right so far as the teeth were concerned but matters became worse, and at length I had the metal palate tested, and was assured that it was of the basest des cription, and that had I continued to persevere in allow_ ing it to remain in my mouth, I should have found out my mistake in permanent, if not fatal injury to my constitution. I recovered my health from the hour I removed the machinery." Sir F. Laurie said he believed that he had obliged Monsieur Malian to take a trip to America, and the Eng lish public we re thus released from the probability of further imposition from that quarter; be, however, could not help expressing his regret that the departure of the dentist took place before an interview had occurred between them. It was his opinion that if the case in the Secondary's office had c.)tne on after the exposure at the Mansior-house, the verdict would have been different, and he advised Mrs. Folkard to proceed by indictment against Malian if he should return to this country. Mrs. Folkard declared that she should strictly follow the advice of Sir Peter Laurie on the subject, and consult him from time to time as she might receive intelligence with respect to the tooth manu facturer. EDINBURGH.—At an adjourned meeting of the Commissioners of' Police, held last week, a Report of a Committee on Vagrancy was read. This Report states that drunkenness is not only the fruitful source of poverty, but of crime. During the last three months there have been committed to the police prison for drunkenness 956 persons, of whom 543 were males, and 413 females. Be tween Saturday at four o'clock P.M., and Sunday at four P.m., the number of committals for drunkenness during that period was 285, while only 112 were taken into custody between Friday at four and Saturday at four. The num ber of committals for the last three months, for various offences, exclusive of drunkenness, was 1,368, whereof 06 were males, and 712 females. From Saturday at four o'clock to Sunday et four o'clock, the number of committals was 242, while only 150 were apprehended between Friday at four and Saturday at four. Since the Ist April, 106 have been committed charged with beg ging. Comparing these tables with those furnished for the same period last year, the number of persona commit ted for drunkenness between Saturday and Sunday has in creased from 221 to 285. The total number of persons committed during last year was 9,161, or about one out of every sixteen. The Report expressed a hope that the Judges in the Police Court would give effect to the law when vagrants brought before them were committed ; it also recommended that the giving of certificates to low public houses should be restricted, and, as far as practicable, that all shops or premises should be shut the whole of the Sabbath. Report ap proved of,—Mr. Richardson brought forward his motion, " That the Board recommend to the Justices of the county and the Magistrates of the city, to annex the following to the ale license certificates :—' I hereby agree to shut my shop, tavern, &c., for the whole of Sabbath—viz., from twelve o'clock on Saturday night till Monday morning at flva o'clock." He supported this resolution at some length, and maintained that there would be no great diffi culty in getting retailers to agree to it. After some re marks by Mr. Horne and Mr. Weroyss, the motion was agreed to. LORD PONSONBY'S VISIT TO ENGLAND.— We feel bound to declare that nothing political whatever is in any way mixed up with the very natural desire which Lord Ponsonby must now feel, after nine years' absence, to return to England to attend for a short space of time to some private affairs that require his personal supervision. His Lordship has repeatedly expressed his anxious wish for leave of absence ; the importance of the affairs th en i n agitation rendered it, however, inexpedient that our Am bassador should for a moment abandon his post in the Turkish capital. Now that matters are on the point of adjustment, leave of absence has been granted to Lord Ponsonby; but, to show how utterly gro un dl ess are the reports of his Lordship's recal, we ought to mention that the period of his departure from Constantinople is left en tirely to his Lordship's own discretion. He will leave Constantinople when in his own sound judgment the state of affairs admits of his absence without injury to her Ma jesty:a service. It is understood that Lord Ponsonby'a stay in England still not exceed two or three months. Observer. DINNER TO MR. CLARKE.—Last week the medical practitioners and heads of families resident in the northern division of the parish of St. Pancras gave a public dinner at the Bedford Arms tavern, Camden -town, to Mr. Joseph Clarke, the surgeon, of Park -street, who, it will be remembered, lately figured at Marylebone Police Coart, and subsequently at the Old Bailey, under a charge, made by a female named Mary Anne Hall, re siding at No. 9, Upper Albany-street, of having committed a rape upon her, whilst attending her at the above house professionally. The dinner had been got up as a public testimony to the character and reputation of Mr. Clarke by a few of his friends, and, as a proof of the estimation in which he is held, upwards of one bun dren of the most influential gentlemen of the neigh bourhood were present. Joseph Ivimey, Esq., occupied the chair ; and in proposing the health of Mr. Clarke proceeded at great length to detail the circumstances connected with the case, from which it appeared that the prosecutrix was of most questionable character. That Mr. Clarke was innocent, and had been the victim of a foul conspiracy, was proved by the fact of his accuser hay. ing absconded. An impression had gone forth in the public mind that the traducers had been bought off. This he, as R man who valued his reputation, declared was not the fact. He had sworn to it on oath. Mr. Clarke had sworn to it on oath, and the inspector of police had also sworn that he had used every exertion to find the parties, but without avail. Mr. Clarke returned thanks, and declared his en tire innocence of the crime imputed to him, and his readi ness to meet the charge at any time. Colonel Babbing ton, Captain Dowling, the Rev. Dr. M or l ey, P ro f essor Key, and other gentlemen having spoken in eulogistic terms of the character and conduct of Mr. Clarke, a reso lution was determined on expressive of the opinion of the assembly that he had been the victim of a most foul con spiracy, and that , the charge made against him was without the slightest foundation. MORNING EDITION. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. • - - - WOOLWICH, APRIL In.—LAI:NCH OF THE,SIREN.—The.v launch of this handsome brig too', place exactly at two o'clock this afternoon, and she entered the water beautifUlly, amidst`" the ch eers o f t h e spectators, o f w h om a great number werp,) prese n t, a l t h oug h the day was very unfavourable, on accou n t o f - the rain and co:dness of the wind The Siren is built to carry sixteen guns, and will be commanded by Lord Francis Beau clerk, who recently inspected her, and expressed himself highly pleased with her elegant appearance; and every naval officer present to-day, gave her a high character, OR account of the superiority of the model she presents to the eye. The scene was very animated after one o'clock, the workmen being all ac tively employed in withdrawing the wedges, and continued with considerable inte. elt until Mrs. Parker, the widow of the late Colonel Parker, and sister of Captain Hornby, C. 8., superintendent of W o ol w i c h dockyard, broke a bottle of wise on her bows, at the moment the vessel was named the Siren. Captain Hornby and the authorities of the dockyard, and a great number of naval and military officers, were present, and appeared delighted with the spectacle. The Siren was crowded on deck, and rarried two union flags, and the Royal standard and the Admiralty flag, when she entered the river. The In fernal, a large war steam-vessel, will be immediately com menced, on the same stocks front which tie Siren has been launched. (From the Hampshire Telegraph.) PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 24.—The Kite steamer, Lieut. Snell, returned yesterday from the West Indies, where for two years she has been carrying the mails from Island to Island. The Dec steamer, Commander Sherer, had quitted the West Indies, but from defects was caged to run for Bermuda. The Kit e h a d experienced very bad weather in the I2st week of March arid the first week of this mouth. The Kite called in at Plymouth, and brought several men from the Stag frigate for the Indus, 80 guts. Sch sailed tc-day for Woolwich, to be paid off. She left Antigua on the 23d Ms.rch. Tee Scringapatam, 46, was at Barbadoes, and the Griffon at Tobago, when the Kite left the West Indies. The French West Indian squadron had been jniried by the South American division, said to be on their way home, makings force in all of nil e frigates (three of them 50's), four corvettes, five brigs, and one steam vessel. The Polypi:emus steamer, and Cockatrice brigantine, arc delayed at Sheerness, to be fitted with lightning con ductors; the former goes to Malta, calling at Plymouth, The Boretta is at the Nore. The It-yid sails to-morrow (Sunday) for the roast of Sussex, to protect the fisheries from the French boats. The Avon steam-vessel, Lieutenant Pritchard, arrived to•dsy from Liverpo.A and Bristol, with newly-raised risen. for the Indus, Monarch, Vernon, and Fair Rosamond, She will return to Plymouth. Ou the 15!11 instant Lieut. Parsons, Chief Officer of Swanage Coast Guard station, captured eight notor',ous smugglers and 117 tubs and one flagon. The smugglers had got down by ropes over the cliff, and after the tub boat had put off, the patrols prevented the smuggl,rs from corning up at a place called Tilly \Vhim, near Warleston Head. This is the third capture made by this officer, be sides h4ving Tendered assistance to a great number of wrecks, while in command at S•. Alban's head. A p.rty of smugglers, on Tuesday morning earlyonade an attempt to run a cargo on the station of Lieutenant Bulley, R.N., at Athertield, Isle of Wight, when 59 tubs and one man were taken. The smugglers issued from all quarters to the number Of 30. but were soon dispersed by tee resolute conduct of the officers and men on the station. PROMOTIONS AND APITINTMENTS. PantoTioss.—Surgeon—Jula ii (late of the Pcircois Cbarlottc), to be Deputy Inspector of Hospitlas and Fleets. Assistant Surgeon—F. Mansell, M. r,. to the Blenheim to the rank of surgeon, and to that ship, in death vacancy of Mein. APPOINTMENTS. - Lieutenant; William' Tringham, from the Queen, to command the Spitfire steam packet. vice Checsman ; H. Binstead, whose appointment is can celled, and who remains First of the Qu, en. Surgeon—John Gib.ion, to be Superintendent to West morela,id convict ship. Assistant Surgeon—S. Live.iay, :11.D., to the Victory, ♦ice Corry, promoted. Second Muster—J. M. O'Brien, from the Blonde, to the ViCl! King, promoted to the Nlodeste. Mate—Jjnscs Pynter (from the Excellent) to the Ver non ; and Nl‘Clintoch (from the Crocodile) to the E neat. Naval Instructor—A. Gerard, to the Indus. The following gentlemen passed for Lieutenants at the Royal Naval College on the :).ist inst :—Charles K. Jackson, Mate of the Queen, and Thomas Cochran, Mate, late A,ia. PLY;ttot-sei, APRIL 22. —The Avon steamer, Lieut. R, D. Pritchard, shi ed for Liverpool and Bristol last Friday; and the Westminster and Pearl, with emigrants for Australia.—Tbe Devon lighter arrived from Pem broke, Ivith stores, on Friday.—The Soudan steamer, Coratraader Bird Allen, and Harriet freight ship, sailed on Saturday for the coast of Africa, and when joined by the Albert and Wilberforce, will pro ceed to explore the Nigcr.—The Hamoaze lighter returned from Liverpeol on Sunday, having repaired. the moorings of the Lazaretto at that port ; the Hainoaze sailed again for Portsmouth, on Monday, with old stores. The Burhampooter, with emigrants, sailed on Sunday tor Auvtralia. The Cornwallis, 72, Capt. P. Richards, was undocked on Tuesday, having been new coppered. The. Kite, steamer, Lieut. G. Snell, arrived from Antigua, on Tuesday, 28 days on her passage; when sac sailed from Bar bacloc.,;, the 13th of March, the followin.2 ships were lying there, viz. Siring ipatam, Grecian, Firefly, and Brazier; the Kite will proceed to Woolwich to r(6.. The Mercury tender arrived from Portsmouth on Wednesday.—The Acorn, 16, t2OOl. J. Adams, was taken into dock on Wednesday ; on examining her bottom, it was found that about seven feet of her false keel had been knocked off by touching on a coral rock.—The Stag, 41, Captain T. B. Sulivan, was paid off on Wednesday. The gun room officers have presented Mr. Brown, the Master, with an elegant tea and coffee service, as a token of their esteem. In Hamohz—Caledonia, San Josef, Cornwallis, Acorn, and Kite. In the Sound—lmpregnable, Belleisln, and La Belle Affiance. By an Admiralty order, no boys (in future) are to be entered for the Ordinary, who do not weigh 96.b5., not one out of a 100, at the alie of 14, will weigh that weight, and very few at 16. SALE OF COINS AND MEDALS. The following is a list with the prices of the first lot of coins and medals belonging to the late Baron BO land, sold by Sotheby last week : Lots 1 to 4 were ancient British coins ; one (copper) with" Hippopotamus" and letters and figure of victory ; and fetched 11. and 1/. 10s. each. Lot 15. Noble (gold, Edward III.) ; with the flag bearing St. George's cross flying at the stern, with C in the centre ; supposed to be struck at Calais ; a cross or qugtrefoi!--11. 6F. Lot 27. Noble (gold, Richard II.), the King stand ing in a ship; reverse, type as in the noble of Edward 111., but with It in centre ; a cross-31., Mr. ‘Vhite. Lot 60. The Perkin Warbeck Groat ; obverse, " DOMINE Sal/Plin regC/T1 :" also, " Maui techel phares" (1494), in allusion to the divisions in England, as compared with that of Belshazzar's kingdom, noticed Dania e. After much contest it was knocked clown at 111. It was mentioned in the room that Baron Rolland gave 301. for it. Lot 68. Sovereign of 34th ; . ear of Henry VIII.- 10/. 15s. Lot 73. George sovereign (Henry VIII.), St. George on horseback (like the first sovereigns of George IV.) —lO/. 15s. Lot 51. Halfpenny (silver), struck at London, m.ro,, the united rose and sun, exceedingly rare, of Richard 111.-5/. 7s. 6d.! ! Lot 55. Sovereign, or double rial of Henry VII, • obverse, the King seated on his throne un d er a ca nopyse ; reverse, arms within a d r o ia u l b r; i :ovb r v o e s r e s , o tunh.emK. King on Lot 5 ( 6 • x . t re Sovereign, mely rer e — 0 r4/.18 doubles. ui. h in i s ., t a b r d o r n a e g , o b n u . t e x w t i r t e h u o l u el t y c r a a n re o p a N t ' i ; (I fin e e_r 1, , e 2 , :31 a . s ! l betore, Lot 92. Silver Threepence of Henry VIII., with a " tun" 0 9. n 3 each ol side—broughtovereiSovereign 3/. 6.. Lot * ( • seated in a chair o f state ; revelirseen,; Henry VIII.) E. R. below, Y. b ot h sides-6/. l''j ' V r l o l y l a . l ) , a t rmhes' withing King Lot 102. H a ll- crown (gold), save reign ; crowned bust, without th e letters-4/. 10.9 n"*f ";$ Lot 103. S overe ; gn, 1553 (go l d co i n 4e — of Mary); obver se , th e Q ueen on gar throne, with portcullis at her feet ; r everse, arms i n the centre o f a double rose, m. m.. on either side, a pomegranate after the first word ; well preserved and scarce-34 13 s• Lot 110. " Angelet," legend (n ot abrid g ed ) , and type similar to the angel , tn. m., a p ome g ranate on bot h sides, extremely rare (go ld, Mar y ) 71. 15s. Lot 112. Shilling (Philip and Mary, silver coinage)! obverse, their busts and pr ofile, face ,_tl9 obverse, ; rever se , shield of arms crowned ; well struck viß,.anfl highly pre served-41. 10s. u Lot 113. Shilling, but with the date 1554 over the busts ; well preserved--- 21 . (is. with the date 1554 unsdlcr ; the Lot 118. Sixpence, bust ; very rare and well preserved —3 /. 17s. 61 Lot o t . 119. 120 .11aIf Angel groat, (gold), %' ery rare-11. obverse,re— l/ i: - is. Ls usual re verse, the same, but I '. o n the l eft , and M. 00 the right of the mast, in. in., fleur delis-3/. is. M R . RANSFOItD S k,ONCERT.-I\lr. Rang. ford will give a Concert on Wednesday next, at the Mu sical Hall, in Store-street, in which he will he assisted by Mr. Young, Mr. Pearsall, Mrs. Toulmin, and several ot h e r excellent :-ingers. Il e w ill sing a new nat i ona l song " fif the first time, erentitled'6 The Captain of the age ;" and Miss Dolby will give that beautiful ballad , "My Jamie, thou wt. rt kind t o me ," A number of instru mental performers are a l so engaged, an d t he entertain ments altogether w ill b e of a very su perior description. Mr. Kansfurd is 50 vtll known to the public that it is un necessary to sa y , and we have no doubt that he w ill meet w i t h t hat patronage which ho so well deserves. a word in his prais.: We have sheath' announced that Colonel Hodges has been appointed to the Consul-Generalship at Ham. burgh. We unduntand, however, that Colonel Hodges will r e t urn t o Alexandria with the Consuls of the other Great Powers, parties to the Treat y of Jul y , when th ey shall all have agreed to re p air to the E gyp tian ca p ital ; but his stay there will be only temporary. We understand that the most active means are in progress fcr selecting a plot, at the eastern end o fthe sufficiently extensive, and in every way suit a bl e .— on in , there appeared an Dick' s Linlith gow Advertiser d e tLe t tc r e rt CHURCH i ° u s s l purposes e i nr ' ci foir the park.iofoapLpriueTsbeliinccts month, month, ad vertisement by an unmarried young gentleman desirous of a partner for life, one of whose qualifications behoved to be the holding of anti -patronage opinions. In the Ayr Advertiser yesterday there appears an advertisement for is saddler in Stewarton, who must be neat-handed, of indus trious habits, and a professor of Moderate Church politics. Iw. NF -4 4