The Sun. — London, England, 1841-12-21 00:00:00

EVENING SUN ILECTION OF COMMON COUNCILMEN. (THIS DAY.) of TWARD OF FARRINGDON WITHOUT. t. ili° morning a very numerously attended wardrnote "e ward of Farringdon Without, was held in the New t o - g urr 2 Old Bailey, for the purpose of electing members an for the ward in the Court of Common Council, other ward officers. A et n i • e i ri nan Sir J. Duke took his seat on the bench at th er ,',°eh. The late Common Councilmen arranged ,pls..eiv.es on each side.. more s ALDERMAN said it was unnecessary for him to do -vre th an tse t , t • 'at' express the very great pleasure he felt in i s) '''`g with the inhabitants of that respectable and im thrtant ward. He would only make one suggestion—if it s e li S p h ad a contest, he trusted that all who took part in it 'P re ; abstain from all personalities. If contest there ors„ ° De, it would be an honourable one for a public GilPers,"; an d, as such, ought to be carried on without either nality or ill feeling. &fore commencing the re his r business of the wardmote, he had to deplore that ter:tot-thy D e p u ty h a d withstood all solicitation and de- I ke : fled to retire. It was his wish to address the r ttlni t .l) ePuty BLACKET did feel anxious for an oppoF fted- 01 expresSing to the inhabitants of the ward his itsig s of thankfulness for their uniform kindness tq their period o f twenty - n i ne years w hi c h he had been lou.neir service. It was thirty-one years since they 1114, 14 him out for the honour ; he refused, in conse the tof th e inability he felt to discharge the duties of t teet:r e in a proper manner ; but, having been the k. Peon the third occasion, he had consented to s t 4 Ind wishes and solicitations of his friends, tesj ei ghbour s . On entering upon office, he had de- Itit ui , 4 ' n e d to consider no interests but those of his con !illiej,"lts and of the City in general. The manner in oef s '„,",,e had carried out that determination had been *itL'etn, and he was happy in believing it had met Ilts the approbation of nearly all. He felt that he ought the t i p , disappear from before them without touching upon s i„ 4 , r , 1 3' all-engrossing subject of the Corn-laws. He tisp;:,Lne Court when these iniquitous laws were first 'k w '' , but at that period it was not at all a political 44, d, but recollected that Ald. Birch was then Lord 4, j , :r, and the principal person in their favour. Tho f o tit Y of the C ou rt certainly resisted their imposition, li k4ie 4 3 it was possible; they not only petitioned li,r -,pont'ttagainst them, but they also went to the King t t ne throne against them. That such iniquitous a)ok , had remained so long upon the statute ' only to be accounted for by knowing "e lyre "' Our law-makers, that . they were the class most 4e1.41 interested in their maintenance.—(Cheers.) Ge tliski,in thi s country. di spu t es we re settled by twelve the e -3 tenata men sitting in a jury -box, but that was not L the l a as a e with the dispute between the country and et4 ) ° 'owners ; the matter was wholly settled by the ebs t f r : and they still maintained them, but could not Nte i i ite to do so if the people would only become 141„ii,,After alluding to the improvements of the City them`le° he had taken part, he hoped he had satisfied 14,44 at all events he had acted conscientiously. He °,1o: 41 „ t hem most heartily for the confidence they had repos e d in him, and assured them he retired be cause th at he thought he was not capable of giving itt(l at :• ' r gY to their concerns which one placed in the St r t ? r ti he h a d so l ong h e ld oug h t to d o . —(Ch ee rs.) 'es sw u . ; WlLLOasts then rose and said, he felt himself mor e e " in health and strength in being called upon to full y a vote of deserved thanks to a man who had faith tl)ciisne,,ed his fellow-citizens in that important ward for t il)," L of near 30 years. He had had the pleasure of sit gtll,lLti, r ) eputy Blacket as a colleague for manyyears, c 't 'eat thing he could say of him was, that no Member Nth „,"'eurt of Cornmon Council had performed his duties al)re forbearance, yet firmness—with more suavity, eve 4 ,setermination to perform them conscientiously bi ta in s e who differed with him in politics differed with ward nothing else. He moved that the thanks of the Keith r aote s t , were due to Deputy John Blacket, and were l "th s l g i ven —that they be emblazoned and presented gentleman in any manner thought most proper. 4it its Iltr TTEnwouTH after passing a very high eulo the ". the character of ' the Deputy, cordially seconded id : lion s/1 w • Ns ts Ems said, since he had had the honour of a kes y "on with the ward ; he had been engaged in ,_ th els, st , c ' r niy discussions, but if, in the course of any of ue had ever sa id one wor d w hi c h gave p a i n ter lie r e - Black et , h e unfe i gne dl y w i t hd rew i t . Hi s t hey h: d had been long, and he knew that for some years i l been unremitting. In place of the expense of ratherAh' Id r the vo t e b e i ng c h arge d u p on the waogeerd he , that it was engraved on a silver salver, to o oth rich and poor might contribute; he would be h" 11 e first. —(Cheers.) "erev°te was then passed unanimously, and with ge krlteelaination. thp istq keekET (evidently affected) again returned th 8 ' He had seen some cling to office after he, and 'lad right themselves, must have been convinced they of .t h e °st that energy necessary to the proper discharge sal ties of . their office. He had been afraid of that of him, therefore he retired. Wass e Wardmote Clerk then read the precept, and the Ill'inote proceeded to the election of the officers. former members h vin been again recommended bast4elPr,eicinet Meetina, were aga . in submitted—the 'Pub Harding being substituted for that of hie. I 3 6 L 411% ewLE then proposed Mr. Lowden as a candidate. wdes 4W sosr seconded the nomination because Mr. :vow e d e arne forward at a most critical time as an rtia n e nemy of monopoly in every shape. He was Prig e f„, W ell known and respected i n hi s p ar i s h. Hi s hpt ir reS were those of a Whig, but he (Mr. D.) sup k him because he was an honest man, and a deter ote(3 and c onsistent hater of all restrictions upon trade tpf, 'brnerce.—(Cheers..) He was also in favour of a tirt ri P of all abuses in the only unreformed . corpora ttitil the world.—(Cheers.) The times were very 1 , and it behoved every one to come forward 4s s „ b oldly assert those . principles which he thought ne the for the salvation of the country. He knew that tt k g.reat majority of the Ward were opposed to the de 14'g Corn-lavvs, he therefore hoped they would re -11.7 a man who would give effect to their opinions. ttr, ATBON nominated Mr. Prendergast, the barns cr 44 ie1l nomination was seconded by frie l n a Thett, who said his Learned Friend en awarm r t as hol t o ? prog ress i ve re f orm ,' and a determined was em as it wherever it existed, but more especially was to was ata~ ee lelded enemy to the accursed Corn-laws, which lgaa a our p o p u l at i on .—(Ch e ers and hisses.) Now reP re t he time when the ward wanted men to ss Itus. s - nt them' who were firm of purpose, deter pursue a course which would be for the ts ligt, not o f the few but of all, and en li g h tene d enoug h der n 'w what that course was. In his friend Mr. Pren taltgskst they would find all those qualities combined wit h Csuriteirhieh would make him respected in the Common I♦Z" hi „ fc,„ & l lo crort did not like to come forward to opp ose Pot and neighbours, but some of them having for 'on • a t Were the opinions of the great majority of their ,stu sen - th . i_ts upon a most vital question, he could not inn rin '‘ i ng that his duty required him to do all sa s e rwer t o relieve them from their duties, and send , w ,h,o would fully and .fairly represent them, their „"" interests. He therefore proposed Mr. Richard Is PeeT s "s s ' who was a firm friend to freedom of trade, :11 in corn and provisions. ad P. r - i 4111( seconded - the nomination, because a crisis parrin•V.ed whnevery one was bound to act from pub vate r ciPle alone. If they were to be swayed by pri t"onst",,li"gs, they would never be able to beat down the Slr s' Ar m enopoly, the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.) ELI A was then proposed and seconded, upon last he insisted that he and all those who were returned and What w h at should had left undone during that period. After 1a any C n ' uste n, the Learned Gentleman, after disclaim roi h wish for precedence, said he hoped, although they t s 4 t strike him, they would hear him. He had at atte t . 1 (1 . 2 2 out of 23 Common Councils--had only omitted t ° n the Sewers once, and he was glad to be able Spoc-gratulate them upon a decrease of 2d. in the pound ,qf se rl , A t he Sewer Consolidated Fund, which had been " b e `i hy obtaining 2,000/. of the Corporation Funds; "ata Pmgratulated them more particularly upon . the he of the principle that the City funds were Qt t i l „ e4 bie to the City improvements, and were not all to ?l k i h - voted to eating and drinking. He had still to comA 'angioof the . Bool. spent upon the Maria Wood—( rid Ur i" but he understood that that would never be got tsr s 'or it wa s p a rticularly useful in getting off da_ugh ther's 4 h e was told that more matches had been made up (LEFT SPEAKING.) fl T his rn „ CORNIIILL WARD. V i e ah o y - A .413 111g, at half-past ten o'clock, a Wardtnote of ~Il e b e t'', Ward was held in the Vestry-room of St. Common 'etin a • - i' \-011 03111, for the purpose of electi n g 1 , 6 el t m e , " and other o ffi cers for the Alde"ght Honourable the Lord Mayor3epagrreseidnisnuginags. Atesinira,n of .the ward. IN Ang e l, H arri son, Eaton, Johnson, Thomas, too th , arras, the l a tt er two h av i ng b een e lec ted in the el eetAA ef Me ssrs . H ornett an d I srae l resigned, were T h ` e " as Common Councilmen. chosen inquest- men an d ot h er o ffi cers having been th e a vote of thanks was voted to the Right Hon. Lord Vr 4144y0r, and the Wardmote separated. WALBROOK WARD. 'ward 'LaY at 12 o'clock, a Warchnote for the aboye f or shwas held at the School-house, No. 16, Walbrook, °th e , ° Purpose o f e l ect i ng C ommon C ounc il men an d Ald e (At eers, for th e y ear ensu i ng ; Mi c h ae l Gibb s , E s q., r ti Zan of the ward, presiding. ar, n ames of th ose who were candidates for the last lowi' n w ere then read, and Mr. Amos resigned. The fol k,. Halle th e names ..—Mr. Thomas Watson (Deputy), 4 4 , Mr. D. W. Wire, Mr. Conder, and Mr. Wm. Air. Josi a h C o l man an d Mr. Thomas R ow l e y ttl'ented themselves to fill the vacancy, and a poll was ne e d ed'T; l ll „, which will con ti nue o p en until Thursday. th e and l nuest- men and other o ffi cers were then elected, wardinote adjourned. TOWER WARD. opposition is expected. 'll- BILLINGSGATE WARD. ° o pposition is expected. BRIDGE WARD. opposition is expected in this ward. At WARD OF PORTSOKEN &hi nt . , 11 ,Vardnaote held this morning, before the Wor th,,efouo. Johnson, E sq ., Ald erman o f t h e a b ove W ar d, e ,ur oen log gentlemen were elected Common Cowl. , oun dsditchPrecinct T. Rayne Liberal. ;(- Bar g h - street Do. .G. Nicholson Do. Do. C. B rown Do. Tower -hill Do. S. Hall Do. Sava ge - garderiDo. ~ Moses Levy Do. BISHOPSGATE WARD, At twelve o'clock this day a Wardmote was held at the School-rOoms, in Peter-street, Bishopsgate, to elect Common Councilmen and other ward officers, for the year ensuing. Alderman COPELAND presided, and briefly addressed the meeting, and proceeded to the business of the day, stating, that as the election of Common Councilmen was the all-engrossing matter, he should proceed with the election of the other officers first in order to insure at tention. This having been done, the list of persons nominated by the different precincts was then read, as follows : Messrs. Richard Howell, T. Rodgers, T. Welch, Richard Thomas, Solomon Bennett, C. Gibson, W. H. Pitcher, M. E. Wilkinson, Thomas Tagg, Wm. Jones, Wm. Stevens (Deputy), W. A. Peacock (Deputy), H. Patten, William Barker. Mr. Wm. Day resigned. Mr. Johnsen, who formerly served the office for four years, and resigned in 1839, was duly nominated and seconded. Mr. Ehsha was also proposed and seconded. Mr. T. Hall was likewise proposed and seconded. After a few words relative to the presumed curtailment of allowances to freemen's widows, which Mr. Stevens negatived, the candidates were called upon to address the meeting previous to the show of hands, and one of the speakers had commenced when our reporter left. PUBLIC DISTRESS. A meeting was held last night at the Montpelier Ta vern, Walworth, to address her Majesty, and petition Parliament for redress of grievances. The room, soon after eight o'clock, was nearly filled by working men, many of whom brought their wives, who were accommo dated with seats on the platform. Mr. BROWN, having been voted to the Chair, declared in appropriate terms his desire to give every person a fair and liberal hearing. The meeting was called to consider the great distress of the country ; secondly, to petition the House of Commons for a remedy. So far as the existence of distress was in question, he thought the reports from Paisley, and even in Walworth where they were then assembled, must remove all doubt. The National Petition, which they were then called upon to advocate, had already been signed by 10,000 in the Borough of Southwark. He had no doubt it would re ceive a- large addition to those signatures within a short space of time. Mr. W. BALLS proposed the first resolution :—" That it was the opinion of the meeting, that the distress which then pervaded the country was solely occasioned by class legislation." He proceeded to enumerate the many in stances of suffering among the working classes in Not tingham, Bolton, and other parts. The artisans of Eng land were in a state of starvation. In Ireland, during a considerable length of time. one-th:rd of the population had been living as mendicants. The present state of so ciety was unnatural. Those who made garments and produced food, were without food or garments. The cause of this unnatural state was class legislation. The legislators had denied the working classes the benefit of thir labour. They had sanctioned a debt of eight hun dred millions, with which the working men had no con nexion. —(Hear.) They had introduced the game laws, and supported the law of primogeniture, introduced in the time of William the Conqueror, to keep up the power of the Barons and rivet the chains of the people. They had also of late years passed no less than 1,948 Inclosure Acts, depriving the poor industrious parts of the community of millions of acres. Having adverted to the expenses of the army and navy, which were upheld, he said, in the Legislature to support the sons of the aristocracy, he asserted that the repeal of the Corn-laws would not benefit the people. The time had gone by. The workmen on the Continent were then the rivals of this country. The only remedy for the misfortunes of the country was the extension of the suffrage to the workinc , classes. Sir W. Jones had said the possession of the franchise made the difference between a freeman and a slave. The Charter claimed by the working classes alone would be the means of rescuing the people from their present degraded state. He concluded by moving the resolution be adopted. Air. R. RIDLEY seconded the resolution, and stated, with great talent, the present hardship and sufferings of the distressed operatives. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr. WHEELER then read the National Petition to the House of Commons —(the same voted at the Southwark meeting)—which was adopted. Mr. MAYNARD stated that nothing could be further from the intention of the Chartists than the violation of property. They did not want a revolution; but merely the rights which belonged to their class, and to all their fellow-subjects. The next business was a memorial to her Majesty on the subject of the offences committed by Frost, Jones, and Williams, and praying her Majesty, on the birth of the Prince of Wales, to grant those individuals a pardon. The memorial was agreed to. The petition to the House of Commons and memorial to her Majesty were then referred to the Members for the county to be by them presented. Thanks having been voted to the Chairman for his ex cellent conduct in the chair, the meeting adjourned. DISTRESS OF THE COUNTRY. MEETING OF THE DISTRESSED SPITAL- FIELDS WEAVERS. On Saturday night, at nine o'clock, a numerous meet ing of the Spitalfields weavers was held at the Knave of Clubs, Club-row, Bethnal-green, for the purpose of re ceiving the Report of the Committee, in reference to the steps taken towards the relief of the unemployed and dis tressed weavers in that district ; Mr. Boddington in the Chair. Mr. CLAISSE, the Secretary, having read the Report of the many cases of urgent destitution in the neighbourhood, Mr. JENNINGS said that the Committee had been now four weeks engaged for the benefit of the weavers. They had waited on bankers, manufacturers, and gentlemen of property without any remuneration. They had done all they possibly could for their distressed fellow-workmen. A WEAVER said that much sympathy had been ex pressed for the Spitalfields weavers ; but, though they had now been some weeks calling for relief, none had been offered. They had heard of the distress in Bolton, Mancheaer, Paisley, and other manufacturing towns, and relief had been afforded; yet the distress was not greater in those places than it was among the weavers of Spitalfields. There were 8,000 looms unemployed, and taking three persons from each loom, made 24,000 out of work.—(Hear, hear.) How many were there who would now be glad to have a few coals, and some bread for their families!—(Hear, hear.) Many will be starving if relief is not afforded soon.—(Several voices, " They are starving and dying.") He should move that a meet ing of the unemployed weavers be forthwith called. The resolution having been seconded, and several weavers having spoken to it, Mr. Fox said that the propriety of a similar meeting had been discussed by the Committee. It was, however, thought better now to wait, in order to see whether a district meeting would be called. If the money in the hands of the Lord Mayor be given for distribution to persons in whom they have no confidence, then they could call a general district meeting. Three weeks ago the necessity for relief was said to be urgent. But, from some cause, this extraordinary delay has occurred.— (Hear, hear.) Now the gentlemen have another move on the board. Ho consideaed that the best course was to see what plan would be recommended. Mr. WELss moved an amendment that the considera tion of the resolution be adjourned to Tuesday night. A WEAVER seconded the amendment; when The CHAIRMAN, having observed that they could not proceed any further in the discussion of the question at that late hour (twelve o'clock), put the amendment, which was lost. The meeting then broke out. A public meeting was held yesterday at Bridge water for the purpose of voting addressess to her Majesty and Prince Albert, on the birth of a Prince. The meet ing was convened by the High Sheriff of Somersetshire, William Francis Knatchbull, Esq., in pursuauce of a re quisition signed by most of the leading men in the county, amongst whom were the Earl of Cork, Lord Lovelace, Lord Poulett, Sir William Medlicott, Bart., Sir Alexander Flood, Bart. ; Colonel Gore Langton and W. Miles, Esq., Members for the Eastern Division ; T. D. Acland, Esq., and F. H. Dickinson, Esq., Members for the West ern Division ; Poulet St. John Mildmay, Esq., and many others. The addresses were unanimously agreed to, and, after a vote of thanks to the High Sheriff had been passed, the meeting broke up. We regret to announce the death of Lady Eliza beth Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, which happened on last Tuesday night. Her Ladyship, whose benevo lence and kindness of heart justly endeared her to her numerous tenantry and friends, was sister to the late po pular Earl of Llandaff and General Montague Mathew. On the decease of the late Earl the title became dormant, and 'the representation of this ancient family devolved or. George Mathew, Esq., the father of the late Member for Athlone. SCOTCH PRIDE.—A rather amusing instance of Scotch pride has recently been exhibited in conse quence, as inquiry has shown, of a mistaken rumour in reference to the improvements going on in the Assembly Rooms. It has been imagined that there is a door at which all who go in hackney-coaches are to enter. This has caused a prodigious sensation among persons who, not keeping carriages of their own, are ashamed to have it known they use hackneys ! It may be useful to in form such persons, that the first nobility in the land think nothing of going about in cabs; and that many fashionables do not take their horses out late, but use hackneys. The proposed regulation, however, turns out to be, that all hired carriages, as well as private ones, are to set down at the two doors, according as they come from west or east. —Scotsman. A letter from Montpellier of the 13th inst., in the Gazette des Tribunaux, states that Madame Laffarge continues to be so ill, that her stomach rejects nearly all kinds of food. When the jail costume was presented to her for the purpose of her putting it on, she exclaimed, " Never will I wear this dress of infamy," and threw herself on her bed, which she has not quitted since. She is not permitted to see any persons from without, except some relations whom she has at Montpellier, for a few moments on Sunday ; and some artic les of furniture, which were brought to the jail by her relations, were sent back. The cell in Which she is placed is the same as those of the other prisoners, and her illness alone presents the en forcement in her case of the prison regulations as to . labour. A few days ago a person named Fonvtelle, an inhabitant of the little town of Realmont, was brought before the Court of Assize at Albi, on a charge of having attempted to excite hatred and contempt of the Govern ment by hanging in front of his house, during the ex citement caused by the census, an effigy, having in one hand a reed, and in the other a paper bearing the words, "Mesures Fiscales, Mahul, Soult, Hamann, Guizot," and over the head another paper, with the words, " Con demnation d'Humann et de ses complices." The Jury acquitted the prisoner after a few minutes' deliberation. LAW INTELLIGENCE. CHANCERY COURT.-(THIS DAY.) This being the Fourth Seal, the Lord Chancellor took appeal motions to-day. YOUNG V. LORD WATERPARK. This case came before the Court upon motion, the object of which was to restore the cause to the Vice- Chancellor of England's paper, it having been tranferred to that of Vice-Chancellor • Knight Bruce. The ground on which the application was made was, that Vice- Chancellor Knight Bruce had hitherto been the Counsel the cause cf Lord Waterparic and Mr. Cavendish. The LORD CHANCELLOR ordered the cause to be re stored to the paper of the Vice-Chancellor, of Eno - ;land. HALE V. HALE. This case came before the Court upon an appeal motion from the decision of the Master of. the Rolls, by which he appointed a receiver over the brewery business, and also of the stock, effects, and property belonging to the brewery of Messrs. Hales, and also directed a reference to the Master, for the purpose of inquiring into the propriety of selling the stock, effects, and good-will of the trade. This short Narrative of the case may be thus given :—Mr. Hale, the plaintiff is a beneficed clergyman, who be came entitled, under the will of his father, as the resi duary legatee, to a share in the property, and also in the business of the brewery carried on by his father in partnership with the defendant. For some time after the death of the plaintiff's father the business was carried on by the executors and the defendant ; subsequently, however, it became matter of contract between the plaintiff and the defendant, and it was carried on in that manner fur a considerable time. Some time since, dis agreements taking place between the parties, the plaintiff filed his bill for the purpose of putting an end to the bu siness, and in that suit the order was made by the Master of the Rolls, which was now sought to be discharged. Mr. Bethell and Mr. Goodive appeared on behalf of the appellant; and Mr. Sutton Sharpe and Mr. Romilly were in support of the order below. Before Mr. BETRELL had concluded his opening on behalf of the appellant, an arrangement was come to, to refer all matters in difference in the cause to Mr. George Turner, the Queen's Counsel, who was to be at liberty, if he thought fit, to call in an accountant, and to have full power to make awards from time to time as he should think fit. TILE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 18.41, QUEEN'S BENCH.—(THIS DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi Prins at Guildhall, before Lord DENMAN and a Special Jury.) HUTTON AND OTHERS 2): BARNET. The SOLICITOR-GENERA L (with whom was Mr. The siger) stated the case. It was an action brought by the plaintiffs, who are merchants trading to the coast of Africa, to recover compensation for the loss sustained by them in consequence of the defective description of cer tain guns called Tower guns, supplied to them by the defendants, who are gun manufacturers carrying on busi ness in the Minories. The order was given to the de fendants in the year 1838 for 400 Tower guns. They were understood to be for the African trade, and the price paid was 9s. each. When the goods were landed ,on the coast of Africa, it was found that a large number of the guns were spliced in the stocks. They were old Government muskets instead of being new 'ones, and many of them were in so defective a state that they were not merchantable and were obliged to be taken back to England. The principal trade with the African market was carried on by means of barter, and the ivory and other articles received in exchange were taken to another part of the coast and again sold or bartered, so that the profit was thereby considerably increased. It would be shown that the other goods taken out could not be bartered without a supply of guns, and the loss sus tained by the plaintiffs arising therefrom amounted, as would be shown by the accounts to 6971. Bs., and it was for that sum the plaintiffs now sought to recover a ver dict against the defendant. The followinc , witnesses were then examined:— _ Joseph ReedLl am in the employment of the plaintiffs, Messrs. Hutton, who are extensive merchants trading to the coast of Africa. The principal articles of traffic were cloths, cottons, guns, powder;•&e. The defendants are gun-manufacturers, carrying,.on business in the Minories. The Medora was one of the vessels which the plaintiffs were in the habit of sending out there. I know the defendant, who is a gun-manufacturer. In the month of November, 1838, the plaintiffs prepared for a voyage to the coast of Africa. An order was given to the defendants to supply a quantity of muskets. They were what are called Tower guns, and the same as had been ordered on former occasions from the defendants. The order was for 400 muskets at nine months' credit, and was dated Sept. 6th, 1838. A shipping order was made out, and left with the manufacturers. The Medora afterwards sailed for the Coast of Africa. An invoice was put in and read. The price charged was nine shillings each. There were others purchased from another Birmingham manufacturer of the same descrip tion at 7s. 9d. The Medora returned on the 11th May, 1840. The value of the cargo she took out was 7,0741.; she brought back a quantity of ivory. The price paid for the muskets was 2461. 7s. She brought back 116 of the Tower muskets. Mr. Barnet was told the guns were defective, and he came and examined them himself. He expressed himself sorry for seeing them in the state they were, and said he should never send o ut any more joined stocks. Many of the joinings were open. Cross-examined—Our house has dealt with the defen dants for a number of years. We purchase various sorts. We paid Mr. Barnet from ls. 6d. to 2s. for Tower guns more than we were in the habit of paying to the Bir mingham manufacturers. I think we paid Mr. Barnet 10s. on former occasions. The Captain of the Medora had a commission on the goods shipped. Some of the guns shown to Mr. Barnet were slightly rusted. The Captain was examined on the subject in July, 1840. He is now on his voyage home. The deposition of Capt. Serjeant, of the Medora, were then put in and read. The voyage was to the south western coasts of Africa. Guns were one of the leading articles of barter for ivory. The guns taken out were Tower and Danes. The Danes are a larger description of guns. The Tower guns were purchased from the defendant. When I opened the chests of Tower guns on the coast of Africa, for the purposes of bnrter, the stocks appeared to be spliced, and in some of them the joints were opened. There were 38 defective, and not merchantable. We were kept out three weeks longer in consequence of the guns not being merchantable. Our expenses were four pounds per day. My com mission was five per cent. on the proceeds of the voyage. There were a large quantity of goods which I could not sell in consequence of the guns being defective. Walter Adams—l am a gun-manufacturer at Birming ham. I have been 18 years in the trade. There are new guns manufactured by us called Tower guns, and there are also old guns called Tower guns. We manu facture guns for the coast of Africa—they are always new guns for that trade. The barrels are bright, and the stocks are made of beech. The guns for the army in the Tower are made with walnut stocks, and the broad arrow is also put upon them. We do not do that. I be lieve it is a punishable offence. Some of the guns shown me are, I think, partly walnut stocks and partly beech. I saw about 110 of these guns, and the stocks are most of them joined with glue. The gun would be much better if the stock were all one piece. I should think the guns now shown me are not proper merchantable guns. The one now handed me is an old Government musket. It appears to have been made 30 or 35 years. The barrel is nearly as good as when it was made. There are only three pipes for the ramrod in the Government muskets, and this ono has four, the pipes having been altered for that purpose. Some of them have been pieced with glue in other places. In 1838 I sold Mr. Hutton new Tower guns at 7s. 9d. They were then at a low price. Unless it was so ex pressed in the order I would not supply old Government stores. I think the old Government barrels are better than the new ones. Cross-examined--I sometimes purchase old Govern ment stores. They are sometimes spliced when we buy them, and sometimes we splice them. I generally sup ply my own manufacture. I should never think-of selling the old Government stores as new guns. They are called repaired Tower guns. All Tower guns are an inferior article in the trade. I have sold such guns as these in perfect repair for about Bs. a piece. The gun now handed me is an old Tower gun, spliced and in good repair. I should say 9s. with nine months credit was not an extravagant price for it. I looked at 116 guns said to have been returned from the coast of Africa, and of these 110 were spliced. Many of them were very much open in the joinings. John Baines—l have been 25 years in the gun trade. I have been in the habit of supplying what are called Tower guns for the African trade. It is an imitation of the Government muskets. If an order were given for Tower guns for the African trade, I should of course supply new guns. In 1838 the London-made Tower guns were 9s. to 9s. 3d., and the Birmingham Towers were Bs. 3d. to Bs. 6d. I have examined about 116 of the guns supplied by the defendant. They are spliced, and decidedly unfit for the African market. I carry on busi ness in Fenchurch-street, but I have no manufactory. Guns are a principal article in my trade, which I have made up for myself._ Richa a rd Bailey—I am a wharfinger in the St. Cathe rine's Docks. I have been years on the African coast in command of vessels, and at one time I sailed vessels for the plaintiffs. I have been from one end to the other of the coast, and know the trade very well. It is chiefly carried on by barter. Guns and powder are the two staple articles of trade there, and nothing can be done with the natives without them. I have taken out a great number of 'rower guns. The natives examine the guns very minutely. I have seen the 116 guns brought back, and think them decidedly unfit for the African market. I never took out any spliced guns. If you palmed these guns upon the natives they would not deal with you again. I have seen glued articles drop to pieces in that climate. John Courtly—l have been twelve years in the African trade as captain of vessels. I have made 13 or 15 voyages, and have bartered a great deal with the natives, who examine the guns very minutely. I have examined about 20 of these guns, and, in my opinion, they are unfit for the African market. Glue is oleo use whatever —it gives way immediately. Samuel Samuels—l have been 25 years ift the African trade. I should say that guns spliced like these are de cidedly unfit for that market—the natives would not purchase them from their defective state. I never sent a spliced Tower musket to my knowledge, nor never heard of their being sent. I have sent second-hand guns, but not very often. James Secker—l am conductor of the Ordnance stores for the Indian market. The stock is always in one piece when the musket is new. If the stock was broken below the tail. pipe it would be condemned. It would be apt to come to pieces in firing if spliced below the tail-pipe. All the guns I have looked at are spliced be low the tail-pipe, and some much lower, which makes them more insecure. They would be sure to give way in a hot climate. The guns we splice are dove-tailed and pinned, and are allowed to be used in garrison service. William Hamilton—l have been thirteen }ears an African merchant, and know the trade. I would not send out spliced guns, and do not consider them fit articles for that market. Robert Harrison—l have been ten or twelve years in the African trade. I never inspected the guns before sending them out. I never heard of a spliced gun till these were shown me. I should think they were not fit for the A frican trade. Charles Pugh—l am an upholsterer and cabinet-maker, and' have made furniture for the African market. I think glued joints would not be fit to send. We dove-tail and mortice. It would not hold without that. Arthur Lewis—l have been thirty-five years an ivory broker. The best quality of ivory comes from sor 10 degrees mutt' of the line. The best quality fetches 321. the cwt. In Juno, 1840, I was employed by the plain tiffs to sell ivory brought by the Medora. The quantity sold was 5 tons 5 cwt., and fetched something more than 2,400/. .(The case was proceeding when we went to Press.) COMMON PLEAS.—(THIS DAY.) Sittings in London, before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.) LEGGE V. BOYD. This was an action against one of the collectors of Customs of the port of London, to recover the value of 25 hogsheads of tobacco, damaged by unavoidable acci dent, which the defendant refused to deliver up on the tender by the plaintiff of a duty less than that to which the tobacco as first imported was liable, but, as the plaintiff alleged, equal to the whole price the tobacco would fetch in the market. The 'action was commenced in 1836, and in 1837 issue was joined on the defendant's plea of " Not Guilty by the statute," but in conse quence of a motion to alter or add to that plea, the case has been detained before the Court in bunco, until the present sittings. The Attorney-Genera l, Sir Thomas Wilde, and Mr. Sergeant C Spankie appeared for the defendant, and Mr. Sergeant hannell and Mr. Martin fur the plaintiff. The Court was occupied almost the whole of the morning in hearing evidence and argument as to what should be taken as the actual state of the record. It was ultimately decided that the case should go to the Jury on the general issue, according -to the plea of not guilty by the statute. It was further agreed that instead of raising a special case upon the clauses of the Act, for decision, a full and special verdict should now be taken on the evidence, subject to the direction of the Judge. For o i e plaintiff, it was shown that the tobacco in CARTER V. JONES. This was a motion to discharge an order of the Vice- Chancellor of England, dissolving an injunction restrain ing the defendant from infringing a patent which the plaintiff had obtained for an improved apparatus for re gulating the supply of gas to the burners. (The case had not concluded when we left.) ROLLS' COURT.--(THIS DAY.) • CLARKE V. CLARKE. Mr. TURNER moved to have the bill in this suit, which had begin filed against the defendant as an executor, taken pro confesso, for want of answer. The defendant was in custody for contempt of Court. Mr. DixoN opposed the motion, on the ground that the requisitions of the Court in such cases had not been complied with. The order of the Court required that the defendant should be brought to the bar of the Court, to clear his contempt, within thirty days after arrest, if that time should expire in term, and if not, within four days after the expiration of thirty days. The de fendant in this case had been arrested by a Com mission of Revenue on the 13th October last, being in the long vacation, and had been taken to the private residence of the Master of the Rolls on the 15th October, not, he contended, for the purpose of clearing his contempt, but merely to be transferred, ad interim, to the custody of the Flee', which had been done. Under these circumstances, he contended that to have complied with the order of the Court, the defendant should have been brought to the bar of the Court on or before the 12th Nov., whereas he had not been brought to the bar of the Court at all. The MASTER of the ROLLS said he had no doubt that it was quite competent to him to transfer the prisoner to the Fleet. His opinion was, that what had been done was correct ; but, as it was a case that might frequently occur, he would inquire as to the practice of the Court. DUNN V. FLETCHER. Mr. ELDERTON moved on behalf of the creditors of a testator for a special injunction to restrain the defendant Melville Fletcher, from receiving from the auctioneer and purchaser of a leasehold estate that had been sold, the residue of the purchase money, and to restrain the latter parties from paying the same to him. The defendant resided in Scotland, and was the sur•• viving executor of a person named Ramsay. On testator's death, defendant came to London and proved his will, and having possessed himself of considerable assets re turned to Scotland, taking the whole of the proceeds with him, without satisfying or making any arrangements for the satisfaction of testator's debts, as he had been required by the will, notwithstanding he had been applied to by the creditors for that purpose. Since that period, a leasehold public house belonging to the testator, called the Angel, and situate in St. Giles's parish, had been sold by public auction for 1,500/., and the purchaser had paid a deposit of 3751., and was about to complete the purchase to-morrow, for which purpose defendant had returned to England. It was alleged in the affidavits, that if he were allowed to receive the money, it was believed that he would again remove out of the jurisdiction of the Court, and appropriate it with out paying testator's debts, or otherwise carrying into effect the directions of the will. The MASTER of the RoLLs—You may take the order, subject to the right of the other parties to move to dissolve the injunction it they shall think proper. CREASE AND WIFE V. JOHNS AND ANOTHER. This motion for an injunction to restrain defendants from holding and working certain mines in Cornwall was again mentioned this morning. The facts were re ported in The Sun some days ago. Mr. KINDERSLEY having stated that Mr. Williams would give an undertaking to appear, The MASTER of the ROLLS granted the injunction, the plaintiffs undertaking to keep accounts, and to work the mines in a workmanlike manner until the trial, and the defendants being at liberty to inspect the mines twice a month, with liberty to apply. These motions being disposed of, the Court rose. VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.) (Before the VICE-CHANCELLOR of ENGLAND.) SIR JOHN MORRIS V. VIVIAN AND 'WILLIAMS. This was an injunction to restrain the defendants, who represented the Swansea Coal Company, from draining the water of the Vern Coal Mine, in Glamorganshire, into certain adjoining mines, the property of the plaintiff. It appeared from the statement of Mr. Stewart, who appeared for the plaintiff, that, in the year 1839, a drain was opened in the mine of the defendants, which con veyed the water from it into the mines of the plaintiff, to the great injury of his works. Pro mises were made at the time that the evil should be remedied. In the month of January, 1841, how ever, the passage was again opened, and the plaintiff after having in vain made certain remonstrances felt it necessary to bring forward the present motion. Mr. LOYD, on the part of the defendants, applied for time to answer the affidavits of the plaintiff, which had not been filed until the 14th instant. His HONOUR granted the request, ordered that the answer should be filed by the 31st instant, and stated that he would come down specially to Court to hear the case on the Tuesday following. (Before Vice-Chancellor KNIGHT BRUCE.) SEDDONS V. PRINCE. Mr. COOPER showed cause against dissolving an in junction to stay trial. The Learned Counsel said the cause had already been heard before his Honour on ex ceptions. Thomas Seddons and James Seddons were the plaintiffs, and John Prince, Daniel Prince, and John Bird, the defendants. The bill prayed an account of dealings and transactions between the plaintiffs and the defendant Daniel Prince, and prayed that certain promis sory notes, or bills of exchange, nine or ten in number, might be delivered up to be cancelled, and that the de fendant John Prince, and Daniel Prince might be restrained from proceeding on them. The motion against destroying the injunction was made on behalf of the first defendant, J. Prince. When the cause came before his Honour on the 10th of November, upon exceptions, all the exceptions after the 6th were allowed. John Prince had made a further answer, and on his behalf he now moved to dis solve the injunction. The Messrs. Seddons were extensive upholsterers. In the year 1832 their circumstances be coming embarrassed, they came to a composition with their creditors. By the deed of composition the creditors of the plaintiffs gave them a license to carry on their business, and the plaintiffs agreed to pay certain instal ments towards the liquidation of their debts, and also entered into a special covenant that the defendant Daniel Prince should keep their accounts, and be in the nature of an inspector for the security of the creditors. Daniel Prince was to receive 1501. a year for his services. Whilst at the manufactory, the defendant Daniel Prince received and paid several sums of money ; and the plaintiffs, who became indebted to him on various occasions, handed _ _ _ over to him various bias of exchange towards the satis faction of those debts. Some of those notes were the subject of the present suit. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant Daniel Prince had not kept the accounts in an intelligible way, and that it was impossible to as • certain from them whether the sums which he alleged to be due to him from time to time, were in fact due to the defendant. There had been a settlement of accounts be. tween the parties in July, 1838, and the result was that there was then a sum of 2391, 2s. 2d. due from the plain tiffs to Daniel Prince, and for that balance the first of the bills of exchange was given. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to state that John Prince went in 1837 to China, and before leaving England appointed Daniel Prince his agent ; but he contended that it appeared that although the agent of his brother, Daniel had no general authority to accept and indorse notes and bills of ex change. Upon the investigation of the accounts, it had turned out that there was the sum of 2,808/. 10s. due from Daniel Prince to the plaintiffs. He contended that he only stood in the shoes of his brother. John Prince, on his return from China, discovered that his brother had defrauded him to a considerable amount ; he did not appear to have been more faithful to his brother than he was to the plaintiffs ; and John Prince having got into his possession these bills of exchange and promissory notes, it would be for his Honour to say whether he was to be considered in a better condition than his brother with respect to those bills of exchange. His HONOUR, after hearing Counsel on the other side, refused the motion. The Administration of Telegraphs is now in stalled at the Hotel of the Minister of the Interior. Be sides the principal telegraph at the summit of the tower, there are four others communicating in as many different directions on the walls of the same building. LIEUTENANCY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.— 'We have reason to believe that the dignity of Lord Lieutenant of the county of Northampton has been offered to, and will be accepted by, the Marquis of Exeter. question was part of a cargo shipped from Plymouth for Londonderry, on board a vessel named the Sarah, by the wreck of .which, off Torbay, the cargo was lost except these twenty-live hogsheads in question, which were conveyed to St. Katharine's Docks. They were valued by two brokers, who were of opinion that the tobacco would not fetch more than from Is. l Id. to 2s. 9d. per lb., the duty being 3s. per lb. Then, as the Ware housing Act makes provision for a remission of part of the duty in such cases, the plaintiff, by his broker, ten dered to the defendant, the collector, the amount of duty at 2s. 9d. per lb., being, the whole market value of the article, according to the opinion of the duly qualified brokers. Mr. Boyd . refused to accept the tender, or to sign an order for the"delivery of the goods, without pay ment of the full amount of duty. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for the defendant said, that the action was improperly brought against the collector, who, according to the 15th, 23d, and 27th clauses of the Warehousing Act, had no discretion in the matter, and was bound to act by the orders of . the Commissioners. Further he contended that although the Act gave the Commissioners the power of abating the dut) in certain cases, it left them expressly the sole judges of that abate ment in all cases, by their own discretion solely ; and it was in no case imperative upon them to make any abate ment, be the evidence of the brokers what it might. It subsequently appeared, that since the commence ment of the action the plaintiff paid the full duty upon six hogsheads which were less damaged than the rest, and the case went to the Jury in reference to the nine teen remaining hogsheads still in the warehouse. . The Jury fOund — for the plaintiff, subject to the deci sion of the full Court on the interpretation of the Act. SHERIFFS' COURT.-(THIS DAY). JACKSON V. ASH. This was an action to recover the sum of 9/. 15s. Bd. for money advanced by a Loan Society. Mr. C. JONES appeared for the plaintiff, and said that the defendant had some time ago borrowed a sum of money from the North London Loan Society, which sum had been reduced to that named in the declaration, and which was to have been wholly liquidated by weekly instalments. The plaintiff had beef - 1 surety for the de fendant, and had paid the remainder of the debt due to the Society for him. - - - The defendant stated in his defence that he had paid 4L 16s. for costs, &c. for the plaintiff, and other payments, which reduced a debt to 21. 16s. 6d.. which being proved a verdict was taken for the plaintiff for that amount. M. ODILONf BARROT AND THE FORTIFICATIONS OF PARIS. The following letter, in answer to some remarks made by the Morning Chronicle upon the fortifications of Paris, has been addressed by Al. Odilon Barrot to the editor of the Siecle " MY DEAR CHAMBOLLE—You have very well ex plained the cause of the choler of the Morning Chronicle against the fortifications of Paris. It is evident, that as long as France remains without defence against new in vi sions, her alliance with England must be a compulsory one, unless she prefers to throw herself into the arms of Russia, disavowing thereby the principle, as well as all the morality of her policy ; and every alliance which is not free and facultative is a dependency, and a species of servage, rather than an alliance. We, who were parti sans of the English alliance, never desired such depen dence. We wished that France might suffice to herself. A nation is not a first-rate nation but upon one condi tion, which is, the being able, in a good and just cause, to combat alone against all, and when Europe says yes, to say no. Prussia acquired its rank as a first-rate nation the day that she had the courage to accept the defiance of all the Powers united against her and re sist them. It does not evince too much pride for France to pretend to the same honour. In this great and unequal duel, which we neither desire nor provoke, but which is possible, and necessary to provide against, we should have to combat two Powers, both beyond our reach — Russia and England, one cuirassed by the ocean, the other with the entire breadth of Europe before her, and behind her the deserts of Asia. Are we to face such enemies without casque or armour? It would be too chivalrous, even if resistance could be continued on other points, after the occupation of Paris—if our population was united, as it would be were there but the choice be tween an established Government and that of the foreigner; but who does not know that Paris fallen, and the Tuileries occupied by a Government having its partisans, announcing itself as the pledge of reconciliation with Europe, and holding in its hands all the powers of centralization, national resist ance could not be long effectual. Has not mo dern history afforded two examples of this last and cruel truth ? Should we run the risk of a third, which would probably be the last of French nationality. Where is the French patriot, who, in 1814 and 1815, has not shed tears of blood at the aspect of a brave and numerous population stricken with powerlessness, and witness of a revolution taking place for the profit of a family, of which it the day before knew not the existence? We were then exhausted, discouraged, but less divided than we are now, and Napoleon still commanded our armies. Where is the patriot, who, in 1830, when France resumed the right of disposing of herself, and flung a defiance to Europe—where is the patriot who did not at the instant, and from the mere instinct of national inde pendence, regard the fortification of Paris as the first necessity of the country. I was then at the Hotel de Ville, and I avow I first started the project. Marshal Soult reminded the Chamber of this during the late debate ; and he was right. I then looked upon this measure as so necessary a consequence of the revolution of July that I did not conceive the possibility of doubt or contradiction. If later, I com batted a system of detached forts, which alarmed Paris, and did not defend it, and which would have left the po pulation, as in 1814 and 1815, mere spectators of the struggle which was to decide the fate of their country, I defy any one to cite a word of mine doubting the neces sity of fortifying Paris. As to the alarms which the English journal mani fests for liberty, I am nowise moved by them. I love liberty probably more than the Whig writers of the Chronicle, but 1 love it proud and strong, with the sen timent of nationality. The liberty which might vege tate under the dependence of the Cossack knout, or the insolent and forced protection of England, is not to my taste. It is not for that liberty that our fathers com bated. Let those who affect fears for liberty abstain from giving their support to the authors of all those re • action ary measures, which, since 1830, have kept the coun try in a state of crisis ; let them join us, instead of re sisting us by votes, calumniating us in speeches, and I promise that we shall obtain by our united efforts such guarantees that the fortifications of Paris shall no longer occasion anxieties for freedom. There will then remain of these fortifications merely what made us vote them—an immense force for the country, increase of dignity in foreign policy, and, above all, more internal security against that extreme of misfortunes, a foreign invasion, which hangs suspended over the head of the nation; and which, as long as it remains dreaded, will expose us to the alternative of desperate resolutions, or of humiliating and shameful concessions. " I give you here currently the reflections inspired by the Morning Chronicle. In the situation in which the statesmen whom the Chronicle represents have placed my country, I am more proud than saddened by such attacks, leaving to others the melancholy glory of merit ing the praise of the foreigner. You were right not to take up seriously the reproach which the Chronicle ad dresses to me, of not having in 1830 stipulated more serious guarantees in favour of our liberties. The men and the affairs of this country are ill known in England; this is not the first time that I have perceived it. Not only was I not Deputy at the moment when the destinies of our revolution were decided, but I was not in Paris. It is only in England that people can be ignorant that I accompanied Charles X. as his safeguard, to Cherbourgh, and that all I could do on the eve of my departure was to carry to the chamber (which, alarmed by the revolution, and anxious to have done with it, was in haste to fill up the vacancy to the throne) that protest of the National Guard and the provisional government, which I developed to the tribune, against any grant of the Crown before certain guarantees were stipulated as conditions of that grant. This protest produced the 69th article of the Charter, in which it is repeated, in deed, word for word. On my return I accepted the post of Prefect at the Hotel de Ville, merely as a political post; and I kept it as long as I found means of resisting subversive and anarchist passions on one side, or that reaction which began to manifest itself on the other. And if in this resistance I ceased to have for auxiliaries Lafayette at the head of the National Guard of Paris, Lafitte and Dupont de l'Eure in the Ministry, it is well known that it was not my fault. It would be sovereign injustice to render me responsible for my want of power. The Morning Chronicle, before it speaks of us, should de rive its information from other sources than those from whom its correspondents draw. " Tous a vous de cceur. " ODILON BARROT. " P.S. The Commerce takes advantage of the article of the Chronicle. It must be blinded with passion to seek its arms and arguments there !" THE GARTER.—It is probable that the vacan, stall in St. George's Chapel will remain for some time unoccupied. SOCIETY OF ANCIENT BRITONS.—THE PRINCE OF WALES.—Yesterday a meeting of the So ciety of Ancient Britons was held at the Welsh School room, in the Gray's Inn-road, for the purpose of agreeing to an address of congratulation to her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, on the snfe accouchement of her Majesty. The chair was taken by Colonel Wood, M.P. for Brecon, and the meeting was numerously attended. The address to her Majesty dwelt particularly on the circumstance of the Royal infant being created Prince of Wales. Mr. Sergeant Atcherly moved the address, which was carried with applause. Addresses to his Royal Highness Prince Albert and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent were also agreed to una nimously. The speakers were Dr. Rowland, Mr. Wm. Williams, M.P., Mr. Bateman, Mr. Jones, and others. The addresses are to be presented by the officers of the society at the next Levee day. There are at present in the Welsh school 120 boys and 65 girls, who are main tained, clothed, and educated. NORTHAMPTON.—(From a Correspondent.) —A County meeting was held here on Thursday last, to address the Queen oa the birth of the Prince of Wales. Mr. Markham, in the absence of the High Sheriff, was in the chair, and Earl Spencer moved, and Mr. Cartwright seconded the address. An amendment was moved and seconded by C. Harrison and T. M‘Far• containing a s t atement of the lane, both working men, prevailing distress, and a prayer for the remission of all punishment to political offenders. The amendment was pit, and in the opinion of the Chairman negatived, but the Chartists thought otherwise, and appointed a new Chairman, while Mr. Markham, with the nobility and clergy left the hail. A number of resolutions were then passed, and the meeting separated in good order, CORN-LAW COMPENSATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sia,—l proceed to fbllow up the subject of my letter in your paper of Tuesday evening, .Dec. 14. In settling the form in which compensation for the manufacturing and commercial interests ought to be demanded from the landowners, the object is not to determine what would be the snuggest, cosiest, and on the whole the most politic mode, if an Act of Parliament entitled "An Act for Retribution on the Landed Inte rest" were sent down to us from the Lords, with blanks which we were invited to fill up according to our own choice and 'judgment of what we should like best. This would be the error of the Chartists, who say " What would be so comfort• able as the Charter ? Therefore let us gd for it and nothing else." But it is to 'determine what is the tbrm of demand, which carries with it the greatest probability of practical effect; the effect being after all, to a considerable extent, like that produced by the artilleryman, when he points his gun to a given star, less with the expectation of hitting it, than of hitting something else which lie has set his heart upon demolishing. When the proposal is made to tax the land owners twenty millions a-year, it may be the justest thing in the world, but people do not see it to be so. It may be the most exact measure of retribution, weighed out to an ounce in the nicest scales of political economy, but it does not carry the proof and evidence upon its face. The argument also by which it has been accom panied—that it would still leave the landowners the richest in Europe—is of an unfortunate com plexion. It is the counterpart of the argument which states, that because Mr. Strutt rides in a carriage, and Mr. Evans is understood to give claret, it is clear they have not been robbed more than they ought to be. It is, in fact, an ar gument for a Prime Minister. The demand for a bounty on foreign corn, in duration and magnitude equal to the past duties, bears, on the contrary, the justice of its own dimensions on the face of it. It is as difficult to object to on the score of justice, as levying a simple restoration from a thief. Another objection to the proposal for levying twenty millions a-year by a land-tax, is that the payment of a land-tax (notwithstanding what nas been lately done by Mr. Scott upon the question, which, however powerful, cannot have had the effect of removing all prejudices from all minds) is one of the strongholds of the land owners, rather than what they count a weakness. It would, therefore, be running directly upon what they consider as their point of strength. "We are paying one land-tax already," would be their answer, "and you come to tell us we ought to pay another. We think the public in debt to us for what we do, and you choose this for an argument why our burdens should be in creased." There is no use in saying this defence cannot resist the examination-of a searching and impartial mind. The question is not - of whether an enemy's defence ought to be effective, but whether it will be. If the landowners object that a bounty on foreign corn is not, per se, in the first style of political economy, but is to a certain extent a throwing away of the natural resources of a country on the same principles as a duty, one answer is, that whenever the landowners shall propose to remove this damage to the community by offering a commutation into a tax on land or rent, there is no doubt that fair terms would be accepted, or even that something would be done towards meeting them, in the way of allowing them a favourable bargain. But the offer must come from the landowners. But another answer is, that it may be main tained with great appearance of justice and of ultimate success, that a bounty . of the nature and character described, though in one direction uneconomical or a source of national loss, would more than compensate for it in another direction, by the tendency it would have to recover such portions as might be recoverable, of the trade and commerce of the world, which pains have been taken to cut out of the hands of English men, and a premium given to foreigners for being the instruments. There is nothing like being distinct. The position advanced is, that though a bounty on foreign corn is undeniably a national expense and an outlay, it is an outlay it would be most wise to make at the present moment, for the. sake of the trade and commerce now in the act of expiring, which might be rescued from destruction. A dram may be in a general way a needless or harmful expense but if pouring a dram down the throat of a man apparently drowned, will save him and all the posterity that may be in the loins of their father, it can hardly be said to be improvidently expended. The manufacturing and commercial interest demands justice in the shape of this dram. And there is an amazing difference in point of popularity, between a tax to bring corn in, and a tax to keep it out. Note here, that all intelligent advocates on Le side of the manufacturing and commercial interests, know that whenever the change comes, it must be by some kind of gradations. But they know too, that this is no impediment to compensation being afterwards made by a boun ty, by gradations of the same kind. Allow me to notice further, that there may be suspicion of a mistake being abroad, on the subject of the necessity or desirableness of coming to a fixed duty as a preliminary to abolition. It looks like the bad start of some not very clear mind, which saw distinctly that to get a duty of 10s. and then remove it by two shillings a-year, was one way to remove the Corn-laws, but did not see that the end might be obtained with equal certainty by deducting annually from each grade of the existing scale; which might with equal ease be changed into a bounty by corresponding steps. Why are we to encounter all the prosing, and all the chances of disappointment and trickery, which may arise out of insisting on fighting a bye battle for a fixed duty as a preliminary? If anybody can show good reasons, let the thing go on; but let the reasons be shown. Yours very sincerely, T. PERRONET THOMPSON. Blackheath, Dec. 21, 1841. UNITED 'SERVICE CLUB. THE HORSE GUARDS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—lf it be true that " coming events cast their shadows before," the late articles and letters in the Times would lead us to suppose that the present Government had in contemplation to make some inquiry into the patronage of that nest of ultra-Toryism, the Horse Guards. Why the present system has endured so long can only be accounted for on the supposition that civilians take no interest about military matters, whilst the unfortunate officers of the line, pos sessing no Parliamentary influence, and passing the best part of their lives in the Colonies, are obliged to " grin and bear it," since "suffering is the badge of all their tribe." For this reason it is that the officers of the three regiments of Foot Guards are still allowed to retain their un just privilege in jumping t 3 the rank 'of Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel after ten years' service in St. James's-street, whilst an officer of the line may be twenty years before he attains even the rank of Major, then frequently at the expense of his constitution. I can answer for. it, that no soldier envies their position as Guards, but why maintain this unnecessary and unjust distinction? Why not place the officers on the same footing in iobliged bye . e b v: rank with their younger brethren of the li ne ? There are also sundry abuses committed un d er the head of " Staff appointments," by w hi c h young men of interest and family . (byen tswhilsteo these are synonymous terms) are permitted the to absent themselves from their regiments the "Smiths" and "Thompsons" are obliged to do the duty of the absentees, and are, moreover, deprived of their own leaves of abs ence • xepli gratia—the present Lord Lie u t enant of Ireland has twelve officers on full pay on his Staff and Household, whose sole duty consists in wearing aoff i li c e e te e r s o a g n en d e t o h u e s la u t n e if i‘ o i r r m . uniform, between Ast ley's amphitheatre, i n which they nl are called upon to carve at th e Viceroy's table, whilst their less fortunate companionseie are mounting guard the Colonies tomenies or elsewhere as oin ways appeared thatse e r e ; indeed o ffi ce of e L ed 0 r i di t Lieutenant was continued for the convenience of certain officers; any on must feel that the Viceroysbipho vehicle for patronage. With regard to the bare facedanything be more derogat:ry to system of trafficking in commissions, can, knows Ireland e w. is nothing, but a the high feeling which should belong to an officer ? The Regu lation Price for a troop in Dragoons is 3,2251. No officer can buy a troop.under 5,0001., or gui -2251. neas! The consequence is, this branch of the s w e i r i v o ic a e re b p e l lo ac ri e g d s i e n xe it lus t mon ied If m a e n n y , i s i o e ldiers. Military M.P , not having the fear of the horse i o re p ly lay to at Cluards befor . e his eyes, would lay the whole Parliament,the public would be system before EMERITAS. the gainers. EMERITAS. We understand that an inquiry is about to take bill fraud in which the late Exchequer was per place, under a Royal Commission, into so much of the manner similar frauds in future. The peteated, as may elicit information tending to secure the public a gainst Commis sioners named are Lord Ashburton, Dr. Nichols; John Esq., and George Glyn, Esq. LefevSErLeECT PREACHERS FOR OXFORD.—The gentlemen who have !nen designated Select Preachers, to succeed those who will go out of office at Michaelmas i 842, are, we believe, all anti-Tractarians, with the exception of Archdeacon Manning, ,the apostle of INseyisna in the diocese of Chichestere—Oxford Chronicle. EVENING SL ANTI-CORN-LAW CONFERENCE. The number of ministers and members of Dissenting Churches who have promised to attend the great Ani!i- Corn-law Ccnference in this city, on the 11th and 12th January next, has greatly exceeded the most sanguine anticipations of its projectors. Upwards of 201 minis ters, and 452 members have promised to attend ; and every post brings additional names. We understand there is now no doubt that the meeting will take place, and that it will be.the largest and m os t i n fl uent i al ever held in Scotland on the suject of the Corn-laws. In addition to those who are to attend, nearly 300 other ministers, who from various causes are unable to leave their homes at this season, have sig nified their cordial approbation of the proposed meeting, and their anxious desire to do everything in their power to promote the total abolition of the Corn and Provision laws, which they regard as unjust in principle, and con trary to the spirit of Christianity. With about six or eight exceptions out of upwards of five hundred ministers who have sent answers, they are all opposed even to a fixed duty, and in favour of an entirely free trade in corn ; and, with very few exceptions, they state that their people are nearly unanimous in entertaining the same opinions—even in agricultural districts. In very many instances, it is stated that meetings have been held, and that the congregations are perfectly unanimous on the subject. Other letters state that even among the 'armors the abolition cause has recently made rapid progress, and that if some provision were devised by which the landlords should be required to make an equitable arrangement regarding existing leases, the tenantry would soon be quite unanimous in favour of total repeal. Altogether, the letters are of a most cheer ing character, regarding the progress of the repeal cause. .. .... The different bodies haveintimated their intention of being present as follows : mi nisters. Members. 1. Secession Churches 2. Relief Churches 39 79 3. Independent Churches 4. Baptist Churches 5. Smaller Sects - 7 7 Scottish Pilot. ADELPHI THEATRE. The story of " Barnaby Budge " was last night dra matised at the Adelphi, with strong fidelity to the fea tures of the original fiction. This is the second dramatic version of the story of " Boz," it having been attempted before at the English Opera • but in the present instance the dramatist has had the advantage of waiting for the conclusion of the novelist., and has fashioned his materials up to the climax of the original tale. It were needless to go again over the plot of Dickens's popular work ; it will be enough in the present instance to indicate the order of the characters. Par exempk, Mr. Wright sus tained the part of Tappertit. His scene with old Varden and his daughter in the breakfast-parlour was a triumph of comic acting, and, when put in juxta-position to his request to Hugh, the ostler (O. Smith), to shake hands with him, brings out two ludicrous contrasts of humour and fun. Ile sees the dirt on the ostler's one hand, and asks him if he has not another. He has no second hand cleaner than the first, and therefore the droll and deli cate Tappertit is content with owing him the shake. The versatility of Yates drew down the applause of the house. In the first instance he took the part of :Biggs, the maid, and in the next that of Sir John Chester, the dandy of the olden time. It is enough to say that Mrs. Yates performed the part of Mrs. Rudge, to indicate that the pathos and passion of that episode of the novel were developed with spirit, energy, and success in the drama. Barnaby, the idiot boy, became, in the hands of Miss Chaplin, an interest ing performance, chastely and quietly acted, and with out any straininr , after effect. John Willett, the sturdy, burly-headed Boniface, was well given by Wilkinson ; and Paul Bedford did his utmost for old Varden. The scenery . was nearly perfect, and deserves all praise. Westminster-bridge, the pleasUre-grounds of the War ren, the Warren on fire, and Newgate in flames, were all most cleverly represent e d ; an d t h e var i ous tableaux of the drama were so striking as to help materially in work ing out its action. At its conclusion Mr. Yates an nounced its repetition for every night during the holidays. MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—Yesterday, Joseph Adams, the fashionable swindler, who was apprehended at Southampton about three weeks ago, was brought up for the third time for re-examination. Mrs. Colonel Hill being in attendance, vi as sworn, and stated that she re sided in Pyle-street, Newport, Isle of Wight, and was a widow. She had no knowledge whatever of the prisoner. The letters written in Mrs. Colonel Hill's name to Miss Ethma Clapham, by means of which the velvet dress was obtained, were handed to the former lady for her inspec tion, when she stated that they were not in her hand writing, nor did she know anything about them ; she had never authorised any person to write such letters in her name. Mr. Maltby said the case was now completed against the prisoner, and he should commit him for for gery and uttering a forged request for goods. FUNERAL OF THE LATE LADY ANNE FITZ-. PATRICIE.—The remains of this much-respected and amiable lady were interred on Friday last in the family vault at Grafton Underwood, in the presence of the Right Hon. Vernon Smith, M.P., chief mourner ; Lord Lilford, Baron Robeck, the Hon. and Rev. D. Finch Hatton, the Rev. Sir George Robinson, Bart., the Revs. G. Stopford and J. Miller, W. Fitzpatrick, &c. The Rev. T. Cooke, the Rector, officiated, and it was evident how deeply . a large assemblage of persons were affected by a repetition of the same solemn rites so lately paid to the beloved sister of the deceased. The procession was attended by a long train of carriages belonging to the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood, amongst which we noticed that of the Earl of Cardigan, Lady de Capel Broke, &e: A fatal accident took place on Sunday afternoon, near the Eyre Arms, St. John's Wood. Shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon, a young man, about 20 years of age, but whose name is unknown, was amusing himself by trying the substance of the ice on a pond, in a field near the Eyre Arms Tavern, the water in which is ten feet deep. He was standing on the ice, and kicking a hole in it with his heel, when suddenly a large mass gave way. Police-constable 91 S, saw him disappear, but upwards of 20 minutes elapsed before the body was recovered, when life was quite ex tinct, and it was conveyed to Marylebone workhouse. He is of fair complexion and dark hair, and wore a fustian jacket and waistcoat, corduroy trowsers, and laced shoes. Up to a late hour last night the body had not been owned. CHARITABLE BEQUESTS.—The will of Mrs. Anna Maria James, of Birmingham, has just been proved in Doctors' Commons by the executors. The personal property of the deceased is sworn under 16,0001. Amongst the various charitable bequests are the following :—British and Foreign Bible So ciety, 5001. ; London Missionary, 5001.• Colonial Mis sionary, 500/.; Moravian Missionary, 200 L; Baptist Mis sionary, 100/. ; Religious Tract Society, 200/. ; Congre gational School, Lewisham, 20a. ; School for Mission• aries' Daughters, at Walthamstow, 200/. ; :Congrega tional Union for England and Waits, 300/. ; the Village Itinerary, 1001. ; Irish Evangelical Society, 100/. ; to the Southwark Sunday School Society, 1001. ; to the Carr's lane Sunday School Society, 1001. ; to the Sidmouth Marsh Chapel Sunday School, 501. ; and to the Irish Congregational Union, 501. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT POPLAR.—Shortly before six o'clock last evening a dreadful fire, attended with considerable loss of property, took place in the spa cious rope and rigging-manufactory, belonging to Messrs. James, Wright, and Westhorpe, situate in Preston-fields, East India-road, Poplar. The premises, though not sub stantially built, consisted of a range of buildings, two stories high, built chiefly of wood, and upwards of 180 feet long, consisting of foreman's dwelling-house, riggin shed, pitch and tar stores, workshops, hemp-rooms, wood-yard, and stables and hay-lofts. At the time of the commencement of the fire the workpeople were busily , engaged completing some rigging for a vessel lying in the East India Docks ; and though the cause of the fire was not precisely known last night, it was supposed to have occurred by the carelessness of one of the boys dropping a lighted candle on a heap of hemp in the rope-room, which ignited instantaneously, and before the alarm could be given to the workmen in other parts of the manufactory, the flames had caught the roof. In consequence of the combustible character of the manufactory, the fire spread to the adjacent depart ments with all possible violence, and on arriving at the pitch and tar stores, amounting, it is said, to 150 bar rels, it blazed with terrific force. Large burning flakes fearing were seen flyi ng i n a ll di rec ti o ns, producing the greatest . alarm amongst t h e i n h a bitants, many of whom, f that the roofs of their dwellings would i g nite, set rabout removing. Owing to the plugs of t he water- p i p es bein g were got fully into frozen up, by the time the engines play, the whole of The loss could not , dirsod to be covered by in o t be ascertained ; it was understood the manu s f a a l c ,e t d ot:y was on fire. No portion of the premises were surances. presents an increase of burials of 1,411 of the year 1840, w Mortality Bill, made up to the f " There is a consi derable over those recorded deaths in 1840, at all the ages, with The Glasgow derable increase of between eight • and ninety years, exception of those b the . the of slight decrease. Between ages in 1839. and fifty yea"' where there is a great increase has taken a very twenty p l overe the deaths at the same ages in 1839. "THE STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE.---The blowing out of so many iron furnaces as were recently • extinguished has already given a spur to trad e, and • m akers will not take orders for next q uarter at le ss than 10s. per ton advance upon pigs. There is ev ery ap pearance of further advance from the anxiety in in quiries.—Paisley Advertiser. Wednesday; being the annivereary of the deposit of the remains of the Emperor Napoleon at the Hotel des Invalides, a great many National Guards in uniform, soldiers of the Old Guard, and the Polish Army, with numerous other persons, visited the Emperor's tomb, and made offerings of crowns of immortelles, with which the chapel was strewed. There is a stout controversy between the partisans of a railroad from Paris to Strasburg by Metz or Nancy, and of one to some important frontier town by Dijon. The principal towns on each line make large offers. Troyes proGrs 20,0004 in support of the one, Nancy 20,0001. for the commencement of the other. Strasburg is, of course, for the more direct line; and this is abetted by the Finance Minister, who is Deputy for Strasburg. The military people declare against the direct line, as too far north, and too near the Prussian frontier :on the Saarre. The Courrier Francais says that the present two great lines, such as that to B e l g i um and that to Strasburg, exclusively for the north and east, would ex cite the jealousies of the south and west; the deputies of which would league together to throw out the project. • Better, it says, to run the indirect line to Strasburg by Dijon, which would also be aline to Marseilles and the Rhone. This discussion is carried on with more vivacity from its being known to be the Minister's intention to devote a certain portion of the loan to one or two chief , railroads, • • •