The Sun. — London, England, 1841-05-05 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION H Jus T t ready, in 3 vols It po . st Bvo., that it could notbe executed, was opp ose d by th e we put down after him the whole population of E US TE E. I people. Riots ensued—lives were sacrificed— 1 1836 at 26,158,524 1837 26,518,885: 1838, A NOVEL. By the Author of the Tragedy of " THE PROVOST OF BRUGES." Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough -street. Henry Just ready, in 3 vols. post Bvo., THE QUEEN'S POISONER Or, FRANCE in the SIXTEENTH CENTURY. By DHSS LOUISA STUART COSTELLO, Author of " A Summer among the Bocages and the Vines." Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN. IJNDER the MANAGEMENT of MADAME VESTRIS THIS EVENING, MAY 5, Will be repeated the New Comedy, in Five Acts, entitled LONDON ASSURANCE. Sir Haresu.vt Courtly, Bart., Mr. W. Farren ; Max Hark. sway, Mr. Bartley ; Mr. Charles Courtly, Mr. Anderson ; Mr. Adolphus Spanker, Mr. Keeley ; M r . D azz l e , Mr. C. Mathews ; Mark Meddle, Mr. Harl e y ; G race larka:vay, Madame Yestris P • Lady Gay Spanker, Mr s . Nisbett ; Mrs. Pert, Mrs. Humbc. Atter which will be repeated, the Grand Romantic Fairy Ex travaganza, entitled BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. B ea uty, Madame Vestris : The Beast, Mr. W. Harrison ; John Quill, Mr. Harley ; Dressalinda, Miss Rainforth ; Mar rygolda, Miss Grant ; Queen of the Roses, Miss Lee. To-morrow, London Assur a nce, with Beauty and the Beast. Doers to t e opened at half-past Six—the performances to eommence at Seven &Clock. Dress Boxes, is. ; Second Price, 3s. 6d.; First and Second Circles, as.; Second Price, 2s. 6d. ; Pit, 35.; Second Price. 25.; Gallery, Is. Tickets and paces for the 13oxel to he taken of Mr. Grogan, at the Box-office, from Ten till Feur, where Season Tickets m ty oe had upon application. Private Bost:, to be had so'ely of Mr. Andrews, bookseller, 167. New Bond-street. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. GNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. DAVIDGE AND MR. WILLIS JONES. The most powerful attraction ever offered. Third Night o Claude Duval, supported by Mr. J. S. Balls, and the ac knowledged best Company in the Metropolis, with an en tire change of Pieces. THIS EVENING, MAY 5, Will be acted an Historical and Domestic Drama, entitled CLAUDE DUVAL, THE LADIES' HIGHWAYMAN. With entirely new local and beautiful Scenery, extensive Ma chinery, &c. Claude Duval, Sir. J. S. Balls. After which, the Comedy of WILD OATS; OR, THE STROLLING GENTLEMAN. _ _ Rover. Mr. J. S. Balls. To conclude with the Romance of Diablerie, entitled APOLLYON, THE GREAT FIEND. Apollyon, Mr. 0. Smith, The Last Week of his Engagement. "THE CHINA SUN," WHICH WAS REPUBLISHED LATELY, IS NOW ON SALE, With all the LATEST NEWS. THE RAILWAY SUN WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A FEW DAYS. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS JAY. X srning"—:.lB minutes after I I Evening ......47 minutes after I His reasoning on Monday night was worthy f his history and his colleague in oppo sition. The great Peer, who will be handed down to posterity as the inventor of the Kentish fire, far superior to the steam-engine of WATT or the safety -lamp of DAVY, joined the Earl of RIPON in exclaiming against the injustice and barbarity of taxing the people's bread. One said such a thing was never heard of in any country. The other summoned the Lords to arm to resist it. Both professed the utmost horror of a bread-tax, while the one was the inventor and the other a supporter of a bread-tax so enormous that it could not be levied, and both now support a bread-tax at least four times as onerous as the bread-tax which the Mi nisters propose to substitute for the pre sent exaction. To be sure the Lords pre sent laughed at both Peers, and, were it not a breach of privilege, such a mighty chuckle would have been elicited from the gallery as would have for ever silenced both the orators. It would have broken forth spontaneously, and would have been as much superior to the Kentish fire as the works of nature are to those of art— thunder to a pop-gun, or the roar of the Nia gara to a cascade at Eastwell. But the respect visitors bear to Newgate kept down the almost irrepressible laugh, and now it is bursting forth in all parts of the empire. Did these Lords suppose they were playing at. conundrums, one asking " When is a tax not a tax ?" and the other answering " When it is . a protection." Yes, a protection to them, and a d'is e extortion from the people. But legislation is so'orte thing ofmore importance than word-catching, and they only exposed their terrible hypocrisy and their terrible desire to delude themselves and others, which latter is now beyond their reach, when they called their 235. duty a protection, and the 7s. or ss. duty to be proposesl by the Ministers a bread-tax. For their deurinciations, however, against all bread taxes we heartily thank them, but they are guilty to a fourfold enormity of the very crime they denounced in Lord MELBOURNE. That other great and potent lover of a bread tax which is not a bread-tax, the Duke of BUCK IN GHAM, fancied he had made a deadly thrust when he quoted against Lord MELBOURNE his eloquent description of the effects of a struggle to repeal the Corn-laws. But if the heavy Duke is not wholly unconscious of what is going on in society he would be aware that the struggle Lord MELBOURNE fancied is actually stirring society to its foundation, calling into question the right of the Peers to their estates, and throwing doubts on the whole right of property as it now exists. It is dividing the people into parties, and filling their hearts with the deadliest animosity. Who can submit with patience to be starved to death ? Cries of distress and threats of revenge, the supplications of hunger and the imprecations of crime, are resounding through the land. All the dreadful evils which Lord MELBOURNE sketched as the result of a struggle to repeal the Corn-law, and which the Duke of BUCKINGHAM quoted as a justification of his support of that law, are now continually engendered by its existence. Who can look at any part of society and not see it heaving with trouble and anguish ? Who is at ease ? Not even the landlords, for they live in dread of a change, because they are conscious that their law is unjust, and dread the fellow men they trample on. We say nothing of their starving labourers and serf-like tenants, who are in a sad state of fear, dependence, and poverty. Who is contented? Not even the priests, for their rapacity cannot be satiated by anything short of absolute mastership over the property and being of the whole community. The only class which appears at ease and contented, because honestly thriving, are the lawyers. For them new courts are to be opened and new Judges appointed. Endless suits promise them endless fees. Swind ling, forgery, casting away ships —now common occurrences—with fraudulent insolvencies and bankruptcies, assassinations and murders, and all the endless villainy that grows from a system of legislation of which the main principle is plunder, make a rich harvest for the lawyer tribe. They thrive most when the community is most in straits, and are now the only con tented class. If the Duke of BUCKINGHAM would look into the world he would see, we re peat, that all the mighty evils he dreads from repealing the Corn-laws are actually inflicted on society at this moment by that very law of which he is the foremost champion. Mr. WILSON, whose pamphlet on the Influence of the Corn-laws attracted so much attention, has published another short and able work on " The Revenue ; or, What should the Chancellor do ?" Though the promulgation of the Budget on Friday has answered the question, as Mr. WILSON himself answers it—that he should re duce, not increase, the taxes on articles of con sumption—there are several statements in the pamphlet of considerable interest. Mr. WILSON states that from 1821 to 1831 the population of the whole kingdom increased at the rate of one and a halfper cent. annually on the population of 1821, and he assumes that from 1831 to 1841 the increase has been at least in the same ratio. The progressive increase, we very much doubt, and are much inclined to believe that the increase of the population in the first six of the ten years was considerably greater than in the last four years. The census which is soon to be taken will inform us of the whole increase in ten years, but it will not inform us of the increase in every successive year. In the absence of all positive information on the point, we must state that we look on the slow increase of consumption in the last four years, the proof of which we are about to quote from Mr. WILSON'S pamphlet, to be an indication that the progress of population, in that time, has been arrested ; while the comforts of those who have been brought into life, or who have remained in life, have been abridged. Before copying Mr. WILSON'S observations we must make one remark. Population on any given space does not increase by au equal nutn ber of human beings every year through a series of years, but if it increased 360,000 in the year 1821, adding that to 24,000,000, the increase next year ought to be, provided the same ratio con tinued, very nearly 5,300 more; and so popula tion should go on increasing year after year through the whole series till the increase in the single year 1841, instead of being somewhere about 360,000, should be somewhere about 412,000. we do not calculate to a nicety ; we are only pointing out a principle which corrobo rates and enforces Mr. WiLsoN's view, much more than his own assumption of an equal in crease of population year after year. Accord ing to this statement the increase of the reve n4e, so far as that depends on an increase of ss in the po pulation, ought t o h ave b een near l y one- f ourth more year 1840 than the increase in 1836. m g, however, w i t h Mr. Watson, that population h as gone on increasing year after year, since 1831, at the rate of 360,361 persons, and human bl ood to this day lies heavy and dark on the G overnment of which Mr. ROBIN SON was a Member, and on the Legislature which, at its instigation, carried an imprac ticable law at the point of the bayonet. But that Peer, who may probably sup pose that men have forgotten his deeds as he changed his name from ROBINSON to GODBRICH) and fled from GODERICH to RIPON, was on Mon day night so sensitive on the score of character that he pitied Lord MELBOURNE for his incon sistency, who has forsaken the vices to which the other still cleaves through the many changes of his name. He is, in truth, consistent in error and mischief, and professes, as Earl of RIPON, the same horror in 1841 for freedom and justice as he professed in 1815, when human lives were sacri ficed to the barbarous and impracticable law de vised by him and carried into effect by the Par• liament. While, in the thre e f o ll ow i ng years,£lo7 ,13333 by the 3, same calculation the cost was-- 1837 1838 1839 X 152665 Showing a diff erence in the cost of wheat ,866, alone of upwards of forty-five millions during the latter three years, as com pared with the former, which sum must necessarily have been abstracted from the channels of expenditure in which it had previously flowed, and, by diminishing the demand for all other articles to the same amount, at once embarrassed and curtailed commerce and manufactures, and diminished the re venue derivable therefrom. The high price, arising from the Corn-laws, is clearl3 the cause of the deficiency of the re venue, of the people being deprived of the ne cessaries and comforts of life, of many of them being starved to death, and of the progress of population and national greatness being impeded. The passage points out, also, the cause of fluctu ation. Confining the supply of our people to a narrow space, when the whole world is at their command, necessarily exposes them to the enor mous fluctuations in the price and quantity of food, and in the demand for other articles indi cated by the above passage. The extent of inter change will be in proportion to thecommoditiesto be interchanged, and the fluctuations of commerce must, to a considerable extent, follow the great fluctuation of the harvest in our island ; while in the whole world there are perhaps no fluctua tions, but a steady increase. Prices were low in 1834,1835, and 1836, and then commerce spread all her sails. Prices were high, as the crops were short, in 1837, 1838, and 1839, and poor com merce, assailed by the landlords' storm, was almost reduced to bare poles. The worst of the matter is, that commercial men, who adapt their canvass to the landlords' weather, are blamed by ignorant observers for those changes in their conduct, which are made necessary by the Corn_ laws. The aim of commerce is to diminish fluctuations. The business of the merchant is to buy when and where commodities are cheap, and sell them when and where they are dear. His exertions, when left free, tend to neutralize the variations of the seasons, and reduce to no thing those terrible fluctuations in the condition of society—worse, probably, than positive and un. varying privation—which it has hitherto appa• rently been the delight of our legislators to came We beg to remind the friends of the claimants for losses in Denmark, that the case stands as an " Order of the Day" for this evening. We cannot understand the ground on which the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER has so obsti nately resisted the repeated decisions of the House in favour of - the shipping class of the claimants, who are equally, if not more, enti tled to relief, than the other two classes who have already received indemnity. We now trust that Mr. BARING will have the good sense to accede to the wishes of Parliament, and do justice, though tardily, to these poor claimants. In case, however, of any tnanceuvre on the part of Government to prevent a House being made, we hope that Members will be early in attend ance to thwart any attempt of this nature. Saturday and Sunday were gala days in Paris, the first being the KING'S birth-day, the second the day appointed for the baptism of the Count of PARIS. The journals of Sunday, which we have received, record no disturbance of the public tranquillity on these days. At the Court of the Tuileries the inconvenient custom prevails of presenting Addresses to the Sovereign on the annual celebration of his birth-day, and as it ex tends to the diplomatic body, it is not difficult to discover in the introduction or the omission of certain topics, ground for political speculation. 1 The Austrian Ambassador, Count D'APPoNy, who, as the oldest of the members of the diplo matic body ; is the mouth on such occasions, thus addresses the King of the FRENCH : " Sire,—You you know the sentiments of the Corps Diplo- matic for your Royal person. We earnestly avail ourselves of the anniversary of your Majesty's fete to have the honour to renew our homage. Faithful to our wishes for everything that can contribute to your Majesty's happiness, we cougratu late ourselves to be admitted to express them under such solemn ci rcumstances so dear to your paternal heart. The baptism of the Count of Paris will be for you and our august family a lively subject of hope and joy, and for us a security for the continuance of th e b ene fit s w hich P rov id ence h as p l eased to impart up to this moment. Such, Sire, are, on this occa sion, our wishes and desires, and we beg your Majesty to ac cept them with our respectful congratulations." Not a word is here said about the blessings of peace, or the merit due to the king for its maintenance. Nor is there more than a hope expressed that the blessings enjoyed up to the present moment may be continued. Altogether the address bespeaks an altered state of rela tions with France. It loses sight of the Sove reign, and confines itself to the feelings of the individual. The King is sunk in the grandfa ther, and the Royal heart gives place to the paternal. Nor was the King's answer less guard ed. It is as follows : " The Diplomatic Corps knows the value that I attach to the sentiments you have just expressed in its name. It is very agreeable for me to hear them at the moment when, as you say, the celebration of the baptism of my grandson is for me and my family a new proof of the divine protection of which we have had so many testimonies. In thanking you for the good wishes you express, I beg you to receive the expres. - JO; _ 20,879,246 ; 1839, 27,239,607; 1840, 27,599,968. The years prior to 1836 are unnoticed, because in them considerable alterations and reductions were made in Customs and Excise duties. Sub sequent to 1836, no alteration of any importance was made in the duties, till the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER levied the increase of 5 per cent. in 1840. On these premises, as the revenue of 1836, from Customs and Excise, was 3 6,392,4721., Mr. WILSON says it ought to have been respectively-- In 1837 £36,938,363 but wa5...... £33,958,42l 1838 37,484,254 ...... 34,478,417 1839 3 8,030,145 1840...... 38,567,036 The last year includes the additional duty of 5 per cent. " From the calculation," says Mr. WILSON, " it appears clear that if the population have increased in the same ratio that it did be tween 1821 and 1861, and that if each individual in the community possessed the same command of the necessaries and comforts of life which he did in 1836, then the nett produce of the con sumption revenue in 1840, without any additional rate of tax whatever, should have been at least 3,000,0001. sterling more than it has actually been, notwithstanding an increased rate of five per cent. which the community have paid on every thing consumed." From our emendation of Mr. WILSON'S principle it follows that the increase in the revenue should have been greater than he states, and the real falling away of national pros perity is more alarming than he imagines. In all statistical calculations we must always bear in mind that native has implanted in man a power ful spring of prosperity and of increase, capable of surmounting. even all the hardships of savage life and all the severities of the most rigorous climate. Consequently a nation is not prosperous when its resources do not increase, or increase only sky vvly,—they ought, consistently with the wise provisions of nature, to increase rapidly, and the more rapidly the further a nation is advanced in krtuwledge and skill. • We will now borrow a long passage from Mr. WimsoN, which will show how, and by whom, the be nevolent provisions of nature are contravened : From 1833 to 1836, notwithstanding a reduction was made irt each year both in the Customs and Excise duties, yet the 7 .aeceipts rapidly increased, even in a greater ratio than the sup posed in crease o f population, showing that the consumptive ability of the community was also as rapidly increasing; but, as we have already seen, from that period to the present time we have experienced a great falling off. So striking a change in the condition of the country, indi cating so great a diminution of the command of the great ne cessaries and comforts of life, cannot but excite much anxiety; and we are surprised that a greater effort has not been used to arrive at a satisfactory solution of this melancholy fact: —some will no doubt be content to say that from 1833 to 1636 com merce and trade were particu la rly prosperous, labour greatly in demand, and wages good, and that, consequently, the peo ple possessed a great power of purchase and consumption ; and that since 1836 the contrary has been the case. Such has no doubt been the fact ; but this distinction could not have ex isted between the two periods without some primary cause, which we have no doubt will be found to arise from the great difference in the price of food during the two periods alluded to. In 1834, 35, and 36, the whole cost of wheat to the com munity, calculating the consumption at sixteen millions of quarters annually, at the average price of each year, was -1834 1835 1836 1:4 ti• 4 4- A , - 4 • ' - t, -77 - ,`" • 434 , • • -Ak" )- 1 , • t Vht LONDON: WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1841. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave an important notice last night in the House of Lords, namely, for a Committee to in quire into the rate of interest paid on promissory notes and bills of exchange. We hope that in the inquiry both the lenders and the borrowers will be examined, so that light may be thrown on the transactions of those who have certainly turned to "good account for themselves the partial repeal of the Usury laws. The Drainage Bill was read a third time. Several additions were made to it, and several amendments proposed, but Ox ford University was, at the suggestion of the Duke of WEL LINGTON, exempted from the Bill. Birmingham was ex empted, on the motion of Lord LYNDHURST. Derby and ether towns were not exempted from its operation. After getting through the Bill their Lordships adjourned. The Commons did not collect in sufficient number to make a House, and stand adjourned till this day. The Provincial Papers which we received yes terday assure us that the propositions of the Ministers to reduce the planter's tax on sugar, the shipowner's and Canadian's tax on timber, and the landlord's tax on bread, are hailed with delight, and will immediately find a correspond ing and great suf)port.. It could not be other wise. These reductions are the very things the people have been justly clamorous for, and it would betoken imbecility or fatuity not eagerly t o seize the good which is offered. Every where, except where some sinister and corrupt interest enchains men, they will get up meetings and forward petitions to Parliament. At present sugar is almost as much a necessary of life as bread. Last year much fruit was spoiled in consequence of the high price and scarcity of sugar. At present there is again a great show of fruit. The proposed measure of Ministers will reduce the price of sugar nearly to the Continental level, or probably not much short of cent. per cent., and enable the fruit growers both to obtain sugar cheap for them selves, and get a good price for their . fruit. To all classes—for all are consumers of sugar, which is extremely nourishing, and may be substituted for other food—such an increase of the supply, and such a reduction of price, will be an im mense benefit. All the consumers of sugar, all the mothers of the empire who know how much the health of children depends on nourishing food, all fruit growers, we are assured, will exert themselves to secure the great advantages which the Ministers offer, and which they have no chance, we are sure, of getting from any other hands. The people will not so readily appreciate the value of the change in the timber duties, though that will spare a number of long voyages, cheapen a most useful article, and save the lives of many brave mariners, who now annually perish in the timber vessels which are eapsizedor wrecked at sea. But the advantages of the reduc tion of the Corn tax, they will readily be sen sible of. The fixed duty, low as it will be, will reduce the price of corn to the continental level, phis that duty and the expenses of bringing it here, and will ensure a continual and steady supply. The price of bread will fall in propor tion, more bread will be purchased with the same money, employment will be more abundant and steadier, and all will be made happier by the change. Poverty and hunger are the parents of many crimes, and hunger and poverty will be lessenod by the Ministerial plan. All, therefore, who live by industry, all who wish to see it properly and justly rewarded, and men made virtuous and contented, will at once bestir themselves to se cure the immense advantages of cheap bread as well as c h ea p sugar. we are not habitually given to trust too im plicitly to the Minister s , b ut their pre sent plan is so much in accordance with vve have espoused, and so the p r i nc ipl e s well calculated to promote f urther im call on all our readers provement, th a t We to exert themselves to obtain for it complete suc cess. By so doing they may gain i mmense ad vantages for themselves ; by being supine or slaggish they will ensure a continuance of the landlords' bread tax and the planters' sugar tax. To both those taxes the Tories are pledged, and will support them to the utmost. The Tories are nearly all co rruptionists, monopolists, and job bers; hypocrites who plunder the in the name of the country,people and in the still more sacred name of religion. The sinew s of their power arc cut from the hearts cf the people. Vampire like they live by suekins; the strength and blood of the nation. By withdrawing theirnourishment, by uniting one and all, first to limit, and ulti mately to stop altogether, the su pplies they whole from us by b rea d taxes, sugar taxes whole host of other t axes l ev i ed for their ' a a and dvan tage, we shall starve th em out of existence, and again gathe r health, strength, freedom and prosperity. The present Earl of RIPON, formerly Mr. FREDERICK ROBINSON, was the parent of the original Corn-law in 1815, which was so mon strous that it could not be executed, and after it had been set aside in two or three instances by Orders in. Council, it was at length made to give place to the present less monstrous regulation. The enactment of that law, which was $o bad TH E SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1841. The Gazette will be defended by Messrs. Benyer and Du fougercies. The case will be opened by Mr. Dufougercies, Mr. Benyer will reply.—La Gazette de France. A letter from Rome, of 17th April, says—" Viscount Car reira, the Portuguese Ambassador, has just been authorized by his Government to sign the Concordat, and accept all the con ditions of the Holy See. The Bishops nominated by Don Miguel will be recognised, and the Papal Bull come into effect. Viscompt Carreira will be appointed Minister Pl en i potentiary of Portugal t o th e H o l y S ee. " And the letter from Rome says, that the dome of St. Peter's having been illuminated on the 12th, a misfortune happened on that occasion. The Pontifical carbineers having attempted to prevent carriages passing before the church, the people, as usual, hissed a n d h oote d them. The soldiers drove back the crowd, and several persons were wounded.—Le Commerce. By the schooner Ariel, which arrived at Hali fax from Bermuda, we have accounts from that island to the Bth of April. We regret to state that the Ariel heard no news whatever of the President. The Madrid papers are of the 25th ult. They leave little doubt of the appointment of ESPAR TErto to the sole Regency. The provincial deputations of New Castile had presented an Address to the Cortes against the POPE'S allocution. A Commission to inquire into the claims of Spanish subjects against France was appointed to the Cortes. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, I'l /ERDAL—Her Majesty and Prince Albe rt rode out this afternoon in a pony phaeton, his Royal Highness driving, accompanied by the Princess of Leiner gen, and attended by the whole of the Royal Suite. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent walked to Adelaide Cottage and returned in a pony phaeton. The Queen and Prince Albeit inspected this morning a proof of a portrait of her Majesty by Ross, engraved by Mr. F. Bacon, which was submitted by Mr. Martin Colnaghi, of which her Majesty and his Royal Highness were pleased to express their high approbation. H R, (er eoyal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester ho noured the Russian Minister and the Baroness Brunnow with her company at dinner last evening, at his Excel lency's residence, Ashburnham House, Dover -street, Viscount Melbourne left town last night, on a visit t, ht r Majesty at Windsor Castle. General Alava, the Spanish Minister, and Mr. Hodgson, M. P., bad Interviews with Lord John Russell yesterday, at the Colonial-office. The Right Hon. Sir George Murray. and Major M'lslamara, M. P., bad interviews with Viscount AL.:- bourne yesterday, at his official residence in Downing. street. Mr. Oswald, M.P., had interviews with the Marquis o Normanby yesterday, at the Home-office. .04EW COACH BETWIXT EDINBURGH AND DARLINGTON. —We understand that the proprietors of the Highflyer coach have resolved to start on the 2hth of this month, a new, light, and commodious four-horse coach be t% ixt Edinburgh and Darlington, by way of Kelso, Wooler, &c. The coach will leave Edinburgh in the morning, and reach Darlington some hours before the departure of the early train for London. By this route, the distance betwixt Edin burgh and London, which is computed at 387 miles, will be accomplished in about 30 hours.-- Tyne Mercury. A FRENCH STEAM-BOAT.--.An Englishman, who had never before seen Frenchmen, and their mode of doing things, would have deemed that the boat was on the point of blowing us all into the air, or at least that every soul on board was some very near and dear relation of every soul on the quay, and that we were all bound for New South Wales. The cap tain, standing on the paddle-box, had, from his air and gesti culation, every appearance of being in the agonies of frenzied despair, caused, as I presently perceived, by the tardy move ments of a little boy, who was lugging down the quay a huge basket of hot rolls for our breakfast. Clang, clang, jang, jang, went the bell unintermittingly ; the steam hissed phizzed, and roared by turns ; and the crowds, both on the quay and on board, evidently labouring under the influence of the most exciting emotions, were chattering, hallooing, swear ing, and gesticulating with an intensity of purpose quite as tounding. At last, after a vehement contest between the cap tain and a peasant who insisted on bringing a great hog on board with him, in which dispute most of the by-standers took part, the rope which held us to the bank was thrown off, and away we phizzed down th e r i ver.— Trollope ' s Summer in Western France. WANT OF RESIDENT SURGEONS IN THE LONDON HOSPITALS.—.IIIr. Baker held an inquest on Monday at the Duke of Sussex, Rosemary-lane. on Phillip Meyer, aged 36, a dock labourer. Jane Meyer, of No. 7, Star -court, Rose., miry-lane, said deceased was her husband, and that on Tuesday morning last, about six o'clock, whilst chopping wood with a hatchet, he chopped off the fore finger of his left hand at the top joint. He directly went to St. '1 homas's Hospital, where he said he was kept waiting an hour before he saw a medical officer, and when he did his finger was merely dressed with common strapping, and he was told to call again on the follow ing morning.. He again went, and the same species of dressing was repeated, and nothing more done. Next( Thursday) morn ing he was seized with violent and rapid internal pains, and soon after his jaws became firmly lock,d. Mr. Jenkins, a neighbour ing surgeon, was called in, who tried all he could unavailingly for the recovery of deceased, as he died at noon the same day. Mr. Jenkins, surgeon, said that deceased died of tetanus, or lock-jaw, caused by the injury to the finger. If deceased had consulted him in the first instance he should have poulticed the wound and not strapped it with adhesive plaster. The Jury considered that hospitals were left too much to the care of house pupils, and they hoped soon to see a legislative enactment passed that would enforce the residence in our hospitals of well-qualified and experienced practitioners. They then re.. turned the following verdict--" Accidental death, and that it was to be exceedingly regretted that deceased had not received prompter surgical assistance tit St. Thomas's Hospital." DEATH OF PRESIDENT HARRISON.— MEETING OF AMERICANS IN LONDON.—At a numerous meeting of the citizens of the United States in London, at the residence of the American Minister, on Saturday, the Ist of May, 1841, in c onsequence of the recent intelligence received of ate death of the late President of the United States, the following proceedings took place :—On n:otion the American Minister was requested to preside, and the American Consul, Colonel Thomas Aspinwall, to act as Secretary. '1 he follow ing resolutions were unanimously adopted:—" That the citi zens of the U n i ted States now present have received with feelings of de e p sensibility the painful intelligence of the sud den death of Willi am Henry Harrison, President of th e U n i te d States, whi c h took lace on the 4th of April, a t t h e seat of the Federal Government. That, as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, we will wear badges of mourning for three months, and that it be recommended to our countrymen abroad to do the same. That copies of these resolutions and proceeding s be transmitted to Mrs. Harrison, with our sincere condolence in the late afflicting bereavement by Divine Provi dence." Th e th anks of the meeting were unanimously pre sented to th e A mer i can Minister for his kindness in affording his countrym en t h e opportunity of expressing their feeling s on the occasio n , a f ter which the meeting adjourned. RAISING OF RENTS —We regret to find that the present Duke of Marlborough, immediately upon suc ceeding to the Dukedom, gave notice to the tenants of his extensive estates to quit, and this for the purpose of raising their rents. These rents have s ncc been put at a most extravagant sum, an d they have no other alternative tha n quietly to su b m i t to them, or to sacrifice a considerable portion of th e i r property by going out" and " selling off." One of the most respectable farmers that &tend our market has received the intelligence that he must in future Fay 1,700/. a year for the farm, for which he has hitherto paid 1,30°1 only , or quit, a rite of 400/.—De v i zes Gazetk sion of those which I form far the happiness of the Sovereigns whom you represent." But his Majesty felt the necessity of being more explicit, respecting the past and present policy of France. Accordingly, in answer to the address of the Chamber of Peers, read by Baron PASQUIER, its President, the King said with strong emphasis " I have the happiness to have ensured to France for eleven years the blessing of peace. Your assistance will aid the maintenance of this state of things, which is the best guarantee of liberty, and the surest means of resisting those illusions of the spirit of con quest, which so often cast nations into an abyss of evils." And in his reply to the Address of the Deputies, the KING further said :—" I hope, with the support of the Chambers, to preserve France from all the ills which result from poli tical errors." These sentiments are exceedingly praiseworthy. We wish the Chambers were influenced by them when debating the propriety of continuing the war in Africa. For ourselves, we never doubted the desire of the KING to maintain peace in Eu rope—never once called in question his opposi tion to the hair-brained and dishonest policy of M. TRIERS. Saturday and the morning of Sunday, as we before observed, passed over peaceably in Paris. But there was almost as little enthusiasm as out rage in that capital. The people seemed indif ferent to the spectacles prepared for their amuse ment. The fireworks were magnificent, but the loudest admirers of them were foreign residents in Paris. The LOUIS-PHILIPPE correspondence con tinues amidst the fetes and festivities to occupy th e Paris Journals. When they once get hold of a subject they stick to it like leeches. In this respect their columns present none of the variety of topics found in English newspapers. The French Journalists never hunt singly or in couples. At the first scent of the game the whole pack are in ' motion. Nor is their zeal at all regulated or affected by magnificence or insignificance of the object to be achieved. They are as ferocious in the rabbit-warren as in the jungle, amid the roaring of the lion, and the growling of the tiger. M. TRIERS says the French people cannot live without a passion, and the passion of the French Press is to he always in a fury about something or other. (From the Gazette de France.) The sentence condemning us to a fine of 5,000 f. and to posting 3,000 copies of the sentence, is a new instance which we shall refrain from characterising ourselves. Nothing shall make us deviate from the moderation which has always been our rule. We have felt confidence in the justice of our cause, we shall therefore oppose this instance as soon as it shall be noti fied to us, and we shall appear with the most respectable testi monies, and provided with the most authentic documents to prove our sincerity and the probity of our conduct in all this affair. Seville .15(JENOS AYRES, FEB. 18.—The fleet of the Oriental Re publicof Monte Video is at anchor off the port, apparently with hostile intentions. The British Funds are firm and steady this morning, with an improvement on the leaving off prices of yesterday. Consols left off at 894 sellers for the Account, and 893 1 for Money, opened at 894 90 for Account, and 891 4 Money; as yet no operations of consequence have taken place. The determina tion in the House of Lords last night to oppose the measures of Ministers in respect to the Corn-laws, has caused a buoy ancy in the Funds this morning. Exchequer Bills 10 12 prem ; Bank Stock 166 168 ; India Stock 251 253 ; India Bonds '2 4 prem. In the Foreign Market Spanish Active much the same as it left off, 234 * ; Deferred 12* 4 ; Passive 53 1 ; Portuguese 331 34 ; Brazilian 684 691 ; Buenos Ayres 23 25 ; Colombian 22%; Mexica n 281 29*; Dutch Twe-and- a -H a lf per C ents. 524 3 ; Five per Cents. 994. SHA RES.—Great Western 30 31 prem. ; New 141- 154 ; prem. ,_• London and B r i g ht on 23 4 di s. ; B lackwall 6 54 dis. ; Birmingh ain 71 73 prem. ; Southampton 58 59 per share ; Croydon 14* 4 per share ; Greenwich 8* 1. per share ; Manchester and Birmingham 15 14 dis. Since the opening of the Market a reaction has taken plice, and Consol, have receded to the leaving off prices, 894 sellers for the Account; Money 894 4, owing to money being in de mand—no doubt for electioneering purposes. PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE. RAILWAYS. Paid. Per Share. Cheltenham and Great Western. 624 33 ...... to London and B r i g ht on 5O 4711 ... to Alanchester and Leeds Since the re-action, which took place in the early part of the morning, in Consols, when they receded from the opening price of 89% 8 90 to 894, sellers, for for the Account; a slight im provement has taken place, and they may be quoted at present 894 90 for the Account. No operations of consequence has taken place during the morning. Money continues in demand. Exchequer Bills, 10 11 8, rather lower, prem. ; India Sto c k, nothing don e ; I n di an B onds, ditto ; Bank Stock, 1654 166. In the Foreign Market little doing ; Spanish !Active, 23* ; Colombian, 224 1 ; Mexican, 294 ; Portuguese, nothing done; Russian, 1131 ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 524 4 ; Five per Cents., 994. In the Share Market nothing doing : Cheltenham and Great Western, 33; London and Brighton, 474; Manchester and Leeds, 57. No reports nor news to the present hour. Consols, Account, 894 4 ; Mexican, 294; Dutch Two• -and a-Half per Cents. 524 4; Portuguese, 344 4; Spanish, 23* 4.- CLOSING PRICES. BRITISH FUNDS, Bank Stock .. 166 !India Stock 252 3 per Cent Red. BB3 Ditto Bonds pal 3 per Cent Cons B9l Ditto Old Annuities .. 34 per Cent Red 974 Ditto New Annuities... New 31 per Cent 984 Ex. Bills, 1,000/....20 Bpm New 5 per Cent ll6 1 Ditto 5001 Bpm Long Annuiti es t o exp i re ' Ditto Small Bpm Jan. 1860 ... 12 11.16 Bank Stock for Acct... Oct 1859 124 India Stock for 0pg.... Jan. 1860. — Consols for Acct U94 FOREIGN FUNDS. Austrian, 5 per cent.... 'Portuguese, 5 per cent. Belgian, 5 per cent lOl Ditto, New Ditto — Brazilian 80nd5.......... Prussian, 5 per cent... Buenos Ayres, 6 per cent Russian, 5 per cent II3 Chilian, 6 per cent — Ditto, :Metallic Colombian, 6 per cent... 224 , Spanish, 5 per cent 2 3; Ditto, 1824. — Ditto, Deferred ... Danish, 3 per cent — .French, 5 per cent. --f. —c, Greek, 18'45, 5 per cent 'Exchange --f. - e. Mexican, 5 per cent.... 284 French, 3 per cent —f. —c. Ditto, 6 per cent, 1825. !Dutch, 21 per cent. ... 52/ Peruvian, 1825, 6 per et. ' Ditto, 5 per cent 99] SHARES. Cheltenham and Great Western (62i paid) 321. Great Western llailway (65 paid) Ditto New Shares (50 p a id 64 i London and Brighton (50 paid) 47} London and Croydon Railway (Trunk) l4k Manchester and Leeds (70 paid) ...... ... .... 57 Ditto New Shares (30 paid) 23 South Eastern and Dover (33 paid)... 18 York and North Midland Railway (50 pd) 73 COURSE OF EXCHANGE—(YESTERDAY), Amsterdam CF.I2 6 'Gibraltar Ditto, at sight Rotterdam .2 U. 12 6i Genoa Antwerp 12 6 iMilan Hamburgh M.8.13 12 IVenice 47 Altona Paris, 3 days' sight ... 25 50 ,Palermo, per oz ll9 Ditto, 3 months 25 70 iLisbon Marseilles Bourdeaux 25 75 Rio Janeiro 27 Frankfort on Maine... 1501 Bahia Petersburgh, 3Us ... 37 !Buenos Ayres Berlin. Vienna, effec. 11. 3 M lO 1 Philadelphia Trieste, ditto Madrid Cadiz Bilboa Barcelona ..,... . ....... ...... 35 Silver in Bars 0 0 0 SURREY THEATRE. A melodrama of considerable merit, from the fertile Len of Mr. T. J. Haines, (author of ‘. Poll and my Partner Joe," the " Yew Tree Ruins," &c ) was produced here on Monday night, and was eminently successful. It is entitled Claude Duval; or, The Ladies' Highwayman, and is founded on the recorded adventu res o f t h at eccen tric and celebrated Knight of the Road. In the principal incidents, we believe, the author has adhered pretty closely to the recorded actions of the hero ; but we are unable to say, at this moment, whether he has more largely drawn upon Johnson's Lives of Highwaymen, or upon the well-known romance which some years ago had the run of the libraries under the same name as this drama, and combined in some degree the cha racteristics of the "fashionable" school of novels with those of the Jack Sheppard" school, which have not yet ceased to be " the rage." Tne time at which the drama opens is that of the siege of Oxford by the Parliamentary army, and the splendid scenery of the locality, admirably paiated, called forth great and merited applause. Indeed the scenery throughout, in all the various passages of the hero's eau_ er—in the woods, in remote villages, mills, cottages, and solitary lanes—in the neighbourhood of London (as it was two centuries ago)—with the domestic and public ar chitecture of the city itself at that period—is suffi ciently curious and excellent to form an a tt ract i on by itself, even if it were not, as it is, an adjunct to clever acting and well contrived incident. A l ove s t ory (not very commonplace or destitute of pathos) forms the thread by which the adventures of Claude are bound inta a dra matic form. But the main interest is fixed upon the for tunes of the polished and handsome robber himself, whose whimsically gallantry to the ladies, whom he overtook in the way of this business, obtained him such a reputation, that it is said to be a fact, that many ladies" rich and fair," contrived to send letters to him. informing him of the in tended journeys aid praying for the pleasure cf being waylaid and robbed. This extra ordinary and almost incredible part of history i; made a merry use of, and tickled the fancies, especially of the female portion of the crowded and respectable audience assembled live last night. There is so much archness and fun, perhaps also of grace, in the robbing scenes, that the roguery is overlooked, and the gay bandit becomes as great a favourite with the theatrical spectators of his feats as he was with the actual objects of them. The part of Claude was sustained with much vivacity and spirit by Mr. J. S. Balls. A puritan hosier, and soldier, named Never-right, who is driven by the ingratitude of the Par liament, and the loss of his business, to Claude's gang, is admirably drawn, and was represented by Mr. Hicks with efergy and judgment. His more comic follower, Shorn Seraggs. received equal justice in the hands of Mr. W. Smith. On the whole, the style in which the piece has been produced does great credit to the management, and there can be no doubt of a long run. The Royalists are distributing secretly, but pro fusely, the copy of a letter addressed by the Duke de Nur deaux to a Member of the Chamber of Peers, who has distin guished himself much recently by his zeal for this young Prince. There is nothing in the letter which could render a prosecution even probable, much less successful ; for it ab stains from all allusions to the reigning dynasty, and is full of clap -trap sentiments, suited to all parties, and to none less than the Republicans ; for there is just the same disgraceful game going on here between the Legitimists and the Republicans, as between your Tories and Chartists. —Letterfrom Paris. The other day a young lady, walking with a gentleman, stumbled, and when her companion, to prevent her fall, grasped her hand somewhat tightly, " Oh, Sir," she simpered, "if it comes to that, you must ask my Pa!" MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, TUESDAY EVENING, The Stock Market was in rather a better position today, but the impr.;vement was not firmly supported. For the sake of all parties it is much to be desired that Ministers should act with vigour and decision in carrying out the suggestions they have thrown out with respect to the alteration of the duties, as the suspense upon this sub. ject has a most injurious effect upon every branch of tr idc, besides affecting the value of the public sceuritiev. To day there was a completn stagnation in the produce mar kets, and this it must be understood does not arise from apprehension on account of the proposed reductions, but from the natural desire of intendin g buyers to profit by any alteration th a t make colonial produce cheaper, and from the disposition, on the other hand, of the holders of foreign staples to enhance their demand, in expectation of an advance on the particular articles they deal in. The more current value of Consuls to.dey was 894 for imme diate transfer, and 89i for Account, though n:eee prices were acceded to early in the day. At the close of busioeqs those we have given were barely realised. Exchequer Bills were Bs. t'.) 11a. premium • Bank Stock was 165+ to 166; India St oc k 252 ; an d the Reduced Three-and-a- Half per Cents. were 97/ to 97. The Foreign Stocks and the Railway Shares were very dull. Spanish Active Bonds et 23 to / ; Portuguese New at 34h i; Mexican at 284 ; and Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. at 521. The Great Western Railway Shares were at 22#; the New at 14/ ; and the Croydon at about / premium. Brighton Shares were 21; and S,uth Eastern 15 dis. The rates for foreign bills of exchange were this after noon as follows :—Hamburgh 13 91 ; Frankfort 1494 ; Paris 25f. 60c. to 65c. ; and Amsterdam 12 3. The following are the official returns of the exports of bullion fawn the port of London, for the week ending Thursday last : Silver Coin to Harnburgh Rotterdam Belgium Bars to Hamburgh .. 16,500 ( From The Sun of Last Night. ) LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, M&Y 3.—The sales of Cot ton this day have been limited to 2,090 bales wholly to the trade. The Market continues exceedingly flat. LIVERPOOL SHARE MARKET, MAY 3.—The transactions at the Stock Exchange this day are limited, but the market is steady. Chester and Berkinhead New Shares, 19i; Glasgow, Pai,ley, and Greenock New Shares, 24 ; London and Birming ham Quarter Shares, 231- ; New ditto, 25i ; Landon and Brighton United Company 431 ; Midland Counties, 90. MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 3.—The market to-day has been dull ; prices generally are steady :—Manches ter and Birmingham, 254. 26; Manchester and Leeds, 58; London and South Western, 58 59; Lancaster and Preston, 33 33}; Ditto, New, 2.n 24; Union Bank of Manchester 71. 16s. 6d. ; Peak Forest Canal, 74. B-- THE GALLANT NAPIER. Estimate of the character of Admiral Napier hi 1833, extracted from the Memoirs of Sir Charles Shaw. " The power of mind which Admiral Napier possesses has something overwhelming in it. In reviewing a subject, he sees at once all its different bearings ; not a trifle escapes his eye, but he pushes those trifles aside, and bears only upon that which his acute mind in a moment decides is the great pant which, once attained, he knowt will carry every other. To use a military phrase, Nallier can at once muster the different divi sions of his mind " en masse," then he advances, bearing all opposition before him ; not attacking insignificant points, but with a tact peculiarly his own, seizing and occupying tit (Mee great positions ; while other people were thinking *hat ought to be done, and were discussing the means of attaining that purpose, they only knew of Admiral Napier thinking of it by finding that he had succeeded in achieving the great object they had been puzzling their brains about. This was the style of man to carry success with it."—Extract, page 45. . COURTS OF JUSTICE. Extracts from au account of the Sums paid to ()dicers of Courts of Justice in Great Britain and Ireland out of the Consolidated Fund in the year ended the .sth January, 1841. ENGLAND.—The Chief Justices of the Courts of Queen's Bench and Common Pleas, 8,000/. each. The Master of the Rolls and the Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, 7,0001. each. Mr. Justice Patterson, 5,500/. The co her Puisne Judges 5,0001. each. The expenses of the Metroeolitan Police Courts 32,7371. The expenses of the Mounted Police, the River Police, and Police-van Service, with superannuation al lowances to the horse and foot patrol, 20,0001. Towards de fraying the charge of the police of the metropolis, 70,289/. The two Commissioners of Police 1,200 each. The Judge of the Court of Admiralty 1,670/. By way of compensation for loss of fees in the Court of Queen's Bench, Lord Ellenborough re ceives 7,70 W, the Hon. Charles Law 1,000/, Hon. Thomas Kenyon 5,4964, and Lords Ellenborough and Kenyon 2,089/, 17s. 4d. laELAtin.—Lord Chancellor 8,0004, Master of the Rolls 3,965/., Chief Justice in the Court of Queen's Bench 5,0741., in the Common Pleas 4,612/. the Chief Baron 2,1211. Th e salaries of th e n i ne Puisne Judges average about 3,658/. each. SCOTLAND. —President of the Court of Session 4,8001., Lord Justice Clerk 4,5001., and the ten mi nor J u d ges 3,000 i. each. The C ourt of Exchequer in Scotland was abolished some years ago. DEPTFORD ANTI-CORN-LAW CORN LAWS. The announcement of the Government of their intention to propose an alteration in the Corn-laws, struck terror into the minds of the landed Aristocracy, which has not yet been al layed after they have had three days for its consideration. The neighbourhood of Whitehall Gardens was crowded this morn ing with Tory Alembers of b o th H ouses — a meeting having Si been held at r It. Peel's residence, for the purpose of de ciding upon the tactics the party are to adopt on the present emergency. It is said they have determined to muster the whole strength of the Conservatives on Friday, and attempt to defeat the Ministry upon Lord Sandon's motion on the Budget. GIMI*1111.....•••••• ADDRESS OF THE METROPOLI TAN ANTI-CORN-LAW ASSOCIATION. FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN-Our course of peaceful agitation has now arrived at its ci isis. We have sown the seed—the field is white unto harvest—shall it be reaped and garnered, or left to rot upon the ground ? The Cabinet has transferred the re sponsibility for the existen ce o f th e bread-tax from itself to you. The struggle now lies betwixt thirty thousand land owners and the people of England. Be up, then, an d d o i ng. Convene public meetings in every city, town, village, and hamlet throughout broad Britain. Let every district have its wardmote. Where parish officers do not of their own ac cord assemble the inhabitants, let them be called upon to do so by requisition. The citizens o f L ondon have on all suitable occasions protested against the Corn:laws. Common consistency dictates that the livery should now act both collectively and in their several wards. Let all branch Anti-Corn-law Associations redouble their efforts. Carry petitions from house to house for signature, and send them to Parliament for presentation by thousands. Let every man act as if:the issue depended on himself. Scorn in timidation, let ordinary business look after itself for the time. This is business. Make but one mighty effort, and victory is certain. By order of the Committee. FRANCIS PLACE, Chairman. SINE Y SMIT H,y. Every inform a ti on and assis D tance will be afforded Secretar or; appli cation at the office, 448, Strand. Funds are of the utmost im portance. Subscriptions, as liberal as possible, are earnestly entreated, and are absolutely necessary. They may be sent to the office, or left at Messrs. Prescott, Grote, and Co.'s Thread needle -street. CANADA. DEPUTY-GOVERNOR OF CANADA.--00101101 Foster has been al:pointed to the command of the forces in the room of Sir George Arthur. DISMISSAL OF SIR ALLAN M'N.A.n.---From the Hamilton Gazette we learn that this " grea and good man" has been superseded in his office of Queen's Counsel, by the appoint ment of James E. Small, Esq., who has received instructions from the Governor-General to conduct the Crown prosecutions throughout the Western Circuit. CANADA.—The following address to Lord Sydenham has been prepared at Toronto, and received, as we learn from the papers of that city, a great number of signatures : We, the undersigned inhabitants of the city of Toronto, aderess your Excellency, in order to bring under your notice the alarming and lawless condition of this city and neighbour hood, in which at present, but for the presence of the military, there would be safety for the lives and properties of her Ma jesty's subjects. "It is our firm belief that all the ;njuries and loss of life lately inflicted on the peaceable inhabitants of Toronto and the adjoining counties may be traced to the members of the Orange Society, encouraged by the inefficiency or connivance of the city and district magistracy. " Under these circumstances it cannot be expected, if the late murderous and lawless proceedings be left to be investigated by the city authorities, but that the perpetrators will be screened from punishment, and that a still more gloomy state of things awaits the province. We, therefore, earnestly implore your Excellency to have these outrages and their causes inquired into by means of a Commission composed of men living at a distance from the spot, of undoubted character; and also to have instituted an Immediate, full, and penetrating inquiry into the effects of the Orange Society on the peace and security of the country_ convinced that the impartial investigation we claim will cer tainly issue in the suppression, by the strong arm of the law, of all secret political societies, as endangering the lives and properties of her Majesty's subjects—retarding the settlement and advancement of the province —destructive of the operation of the law—and as subversive of British authority in North America." THE LATE FIRE IN ALBEMARLE-STREET, PICCADILIX.—The following is a correct statement of the ex tent of damage. The St. George's Hotel, Nos. 33 and 34, totally destroyed. The furniture insured in the Scottish Union Fire-office (it is believed for 4,00 W.) The plate valued at 3,000/., kept in an arched chamber on the basement floor, found to be safe. It was not insured. The building of No. 34, insured in the Phcenix Fire -office for 3,000/., and it is be lieved thebuilding No. 34, is ins ired in the Globe Fire-office. No. 32 (Mr. Stewart's private house), greatly damaged by fire, water, and removal. The furniture insured in the Scottish Union, and the building in the Westmimter Fire-office. No. 35, in the occupationof Messrs. Wikland Gilling, milliners, similar damage. Furniture insured in the Globe Fire-office. Miss Anne Soper, a lodger in the same house, inured in the Westminster Eire office. Building believed to be uninsured. No. 15 (opposite the hotel), in the occupation of Mr. Maynard, the front much scorched. Insured in the Union Fire-office. At the rear in Dover -street, the house of Mr. Wilson, No. 20, has suffered considerably, the back windows having been burned out, and the furniture and premises very much damaged by removal and water. Uninsured. No. 21, Mr. Graham (of the Queen's Theatre, Opera House), had a most narrow escape, the gable end of the roof, which was only a few feet from the north western wing of the hotel, having been on fire no less than seven times, and each time preserved by the exertions of Car ter, the foreman, and the firemen of the County Fire-office, in which Mr. Graham is insured to the extent of 3,6501. Nos. 22 and 23, forming a private hotel, in the occupation of Mr. Brown, damaged by wate r an d remova l. Insured i n th e Union Fire-office. The total amount of loss is estimated at from 10,000/. to 12,000/. _ _ MILITIA.—The first grand dinner of the Offi cers of the Militia of the United Kingdom, that truly c ,nsti tutional force, will take place to-morrow at the Freemasons' Tavern. We understand a very full attendance is expected. ASSOCIATION. Petition unanimously adopted at a crowdet meeting, called by public advertisement, in Dept. ford, on Monday, April 4, and lying for signa. ture at the White Swan and various other places To the Honourable the House of Commons in Parliamen assembled, The Petition of the Members of the Deptford Anti-Corn-law Association and others. Sheweth—That your petitioners are connected with trade and navigation, and live in continual sight of the memorial of England's naval greatness, which they have been taught is mainly founded on the same. That the existing Corn-laws amount to a confiscation of their property, of the same nature as would have been inflicted on the owners of the soil, if the owners of the commercial and water-borne properties within the country had prohibited the sale of the produce of the soil in a free market. That your petitioners also believe the wealth, revenue, and standing of the country in relation to foreign States, to be cut down in the same manner as if your petitioners had roguishly and foolishly procured the prohibition of the free sale of the produce of the soil, for the sake of importing more provisions from abroad. They therefore pray for justice and compensation, first, through the removal of the present Corn-laws by the subtrac tion of three shillings annually from every grade of the exist ing scale ; and afterwards, through the substitution of bounties on the importation of foreign corn, by corresponding augmen tations of three shillings annually on each grade of the existing scale, till the bounties equal the present duties, and then to be continued for twenty-six years, or so long as shall correspond to the period during which the property of your petitioners has been sibjected to confiscation. With reservation always, that such bounties shall at any time be commuted for a per manent tax on rent, of such magnitude as to your Honourable House shall be proved to be a fair equivalent on the part of the owners of the soil. MEETING AT DEPTFORD FOR THE ABOLI TION OF THE CORN-LAWS. Monday evening, at half-past seven o'clock, a meeting was held for the above purpose at the Swan Tavern, High street, Deptford, Mr. JOHN WADE in the Chair, who stated that Colonel Thompson would deliver a lecture, after which a petition to the House of Commons would be submitted to the meeting for their approval and signature ; and expressed his gratification at seeing so large an assemblage of persons. He then begged to introduce the gallant Colonel Thompson, a tried friend to the question at issue. Colonel P. THOMPSON then rose amidst tremendous cheer ing, and dwelt on the evils arising from the present state of of the Corn-laws. Mr. JOHN WADE said that several of the ministers of the neighbourhood had been requested to attend this meeting_. all, in fact, with the exception of the Rector. The SECRETARY then read letters from the Reverends Mr. Hope, Squire, and others, all of whom expressed their regret at not being able to attend, in consequence of important pri vate business. Mr. PAINE was most happy to think that Government had taken the question up, and he trusted that thepresent assemblage would give strong opposition to this obnoxious and starvation tax, by signing the petition extensively. Mr. WADE (the Chairman) proposed that the petition be adopted, which was carried unanimously. The crowded state of the large room of the Swan Tavern, which is capable of accommodating upwards of 500 people, and the numbers that went away, not being able to get stand ing room, prove strongly the interes of Deptford for the aboli tion of the Corn-laws. VOANINi; E4]DITION".. FINE ARTS • • a) of The Annual Exhibition (the Seve n ty-thir t he the Royal Academy was yesterday opened t° o p public for the season. It is, on the -whole Loy average one—neither better nor worse than to o which have preceded it for the last four or bo t years, comprising several clever pictures, 00 1 I scarcely one—if we except Sir William NeV i r . . exquisite miniature painting entitled the ~,'"o r mage"—of first-rate merit, whether in desigl i i, execution. We miss Landseer among the el h ii butors, and regret to learn that the cause o ', e r, absence is ill health ; Sir David Wilki e , how ol o has co n t r ib ute d a few pictures; and so also 0 0 1 Stanfield, R o b er t s , Maclise, Lee, Chalon/ tl o t Turner; but not one of these able artistsl' o o even Wilkie hi mse lf— can reconcile us to the ()f of Landseer, who has been the great magne t o the more recent exhibitions. The paintings, o f upwards of tw e l ve h un d re d i n num b er; a nd course many medi ocre ones are to be I°",oe among them, som e o f w hi c h we are sorry to tio occupying f a r t oo consp i cuous a station on walls, while others of superior merit are hung (1 . such a height that it is scarcely possible to q a t mine them w ith attent i on. We had h o ped tP c i, this system of f avour i t i sm was at an e nd' but we find that it i s near l y as act i ve as e/(1, But to our notice. No. 9 is by Stan 0 It is entitl e d " C aste ll o D'l sch i a from the Mni'l and exhibits m uc h o f t hi s fi ne sea-painter's 'it'd force and truth of effect. The water is distnr,u o a by a half-spent gale, and dashes wildly 4 8 1 1 ;le the eminence on which the castle is built, vi' l ao its towering front and solid battlements wel ro , aspect of calm, majestic strength. The l e d ground is vividly and beautifully coloured, fl ibe affords a fine relief to the other portions of ' OO picture. No. 10, "Portrait of William Ilarfi, s of Ainsworth," is a flattering likeness of the an t ."O of "Jack Sheppard." It is not in Pickersg l y happiest manner. No. 38, "Going to the P i l e ' s , is one of Chalon's lively, animated skefea ne The scene is full of bustle, and exhibits serer dextrous foreshortening. No. 45, " Midsulut Nights' Dream," by H owar d, is not -wit" The merit, but, a s a w h o l e, t h e effect is stiff. attitude of the sea-maid, in particular, wan ts ease ease and fre e d om . No. 33, " The -n a- Girl," shows m ore s ki ll of composition /0 colouring th an appears i n some of the 914;',,--t,16, (Maclise) m ore am bi t i ous productions. So. V o f " Portrait of Si r P eter L aur i e. " The .origin°Lo this likeness has great reason to be pleased 1 1 ` 55 'Wilkie fur the vi gour an d expression thatile„ o f thrown into it. No. 63 i s a sp i r i ted portra"Q. his Grace the Archbishop of Canterburh by l e d Martin Archer Shee, who ha s no t often a„ccluittj-co himself with mor e success. No. 223, " Por,"; of the Temple of I)endera, in Upper Egypt, fo r one of those carefully-painted oriental scene which Roberts is so deservedly celebrated. thing can surpass the subdued vigour and harn l o nious beauty of the colouring. There are L; gaudy, meretricious effects of light and 8/ 18 ","j the whole is toned down with exquisite g i p ' s , taste. It is one of those few stirring pictu r- Ii which, the longer it is beheld, the More it o l d be admired. s - Indeed, it strikes the spect ti , t . - 0 , more on a second, than on a first survey. 242, " Poor-law Guardians—Board day—aPP if cation for Bread," is a taking theme, nearlYA 6 ,, not quite, spoilt, from a want of earnest and". cided character. No. 249, "An Equestrian j f v e , trait of Miss Hoare," by Cooper, is chiefly , i ' e r markable fbr the vigour and truthful man" o , in which the horse is painted. The e louring her e is a l most wort h y of Landseerc o, No. 255, " C o a s t o f D over, " i s a promising P duction, from th e penc il o f an artist named , , neur. The wate r h as t h at perfectly liquid sell elastic character whi c h V an d eve ld e knew so Ie v e , how to throw i n t o hi s sea - p i eces. N o. 277, "-“1,0, positing of John Beilini's th ree Pictures in Chiesa Redentore, Venice," is one of Turne r e freakish productions. It cons i sts of but thre colours, blue, yellow, and green, which are coin; pounded —or rather, are contrasted—in the otitle; and most fanta s ti c manner possible. No. " Sir Roger D e C over l ey ' s Courtship, " is fr Redgrave, who has missed Addison's notion ° r the old count r y B aronet, w h o certainly 'fere intended him to look like a ninny, while malti% love. The arch, h a lf- averte d countenance o f mistress is skilfully painted. No 300, " land Scene r y," conv i nces us t h at Lee (the a rtist) is not so much a t h ome i n pourtray i ng the 10i; misty, mountain scenes of the North, as t" d; tamer and more syl van l an d scapes of Englan There is a want o f t rut h i n t h e colouring. of ttl picture. No. 312, " H unt t h e Sl i pper at Neigil' bour Flamborough's" is deficient in chast e i l ness and simpli c i ty . Th e lights are B„4' too staring, as if th e art i st ' s chief object or'" to surprise and s t ar tl e t h e spectator. Mr. Mael i s e deals too much in exaggeration in the majority' of his pictures, and is far too fond of glarifli contrasts in his colourin g . N o . 4 2 8, " CeleSt;:. City and River of Bli ss ," p arta k es i n a high '';`e, gree of Martin's usual mannerisms. No. 4 ' " Mary Queen o f S cots , an d h er Retinue .te;l turning from the Cha se t o th e C ast l e o f Stirling; contains one admirably drawn figure, narn ell, that of the famous R egen t M urray, who is riding beside his Royal sister, and fully realizes our notion of the man, as we find him drawn by Robertson. No. 466, "Th e Sculptor's Triumpu) is a showy, fanciful picture by Danby.. 402, "Party at Ranton Abbey," is one of . Ciran' - clever sporting sketches. The portrait of Lori. Melbourne is capital. No. 539, " The Trial 0 Effie Deans," conta i ns some striking effects 01 , light and shade. In the Sculpture Room-- - , 11 mere cup-board, by t h e b ye — t h e b es t statue 15 that of " Eve listening to the Voice," which is replete with grace and. beauty of expression, fin d harmonious symmetry of figure. Bailey is the sculptor of this fine work of art. DREADFUL FlRE.—Yesterday mornino; be" tween the hours of twelve and one, a 'fire, attended with the loss of two lives, property, and serious injuries to the surviving parties, broke out in the lower part of the pre mises of Mr. Burling, a marine store dealer, Back-lan e. Whitechapel. From the firm hold th e fi re ha d got previoaa to its discovery by a police-constable, all chance of escaCe for the inmates by the street-door was impossible. M t. Burling, on being apprised of th e fi re, alarmed his fam ily' and called on them to follow him and drop from the foo t and back windows. Mrs. Bu r li ng, h er daughter, an d the lodgers, fAlowed the advi ce g i ven by Mr. Burling, yvh°A' front his fall, unfortunately has broken both his strides a n : his right thigh ; his wif e a l so, from dropping on g l a s s bottles into the back-card, was dreadfully cut abort bet hands and face; and the daughter and other inmates, with the exception of t wo o f Mr. Burling ' s sons (one age c eight, and the other thirteen years), escaped with slight injuries. Shortly after the outbreak of the fire the engin es of various fire establishments arri‘ed, but notwithstanding: all the exe r ti ons used on the oceasion, before the hour , two the scene of destruction was complete. Not the lea st portion of Mr. Burling's property could be preserved. After the ruins were somewhat cooled the firemen beet their search after the lost children, when, about six o'clock, the little suff.rers were found at the back of the fir st floor, under a portion of their bedding, but so dreadfully burnt that they could be scare( ly recognised by those 0 4 2 had know n t h em w hen elite. F rom t h e i n f ormat i o n ob tained from one of the survivors, it appeared that the Pre: vious night the family retired to rest about eleven o'cicci , d at which time everything appeared perf ec tly sa fe, and it not been from the timely notice given by Op police; " would hare brim impossible for any of them to esosPes LITERATURt. I THE GRAMMAR OF THE ENGLISH GUAGE TRULY MADE - EASY 114 4 4 USING, BY THE INVENTION, PHREP HUNDRED MOVEABLE FAA . OF SPEECH. Br GBoßoft Londorryt-' 6 , t This is an attempt to make the ilitricaei e f ' grammar intelligible to tie eye, and a suece ss ti : attempt. Why the Art of learning to us e " 0 - , mother tongue correctly, or of karraing the rest use of any other language, should be g e ' rally repulsive, is more referal)le, we ' the manner of teswhing It than the art Were our mother tongti itione and an explanation given of th:J,:.4iyeral of words and o f th eir a d aptat i on to-91M ttnet without any refe rence t o any otherjangua,,g" fi thing, as is done by this writer,'tgere earl ljc, doubt that it m:gbt easily be learntond be P'`, l sant in the acquisiti on , UnfortunaJejy, that is not the way that grammar_ktaught, 11 4 the way in which the art was fordia. nut 5 0 1 e, very learned persons imported hither the 01 1° , and the terms employed by some 'Opier peep ,4 and to the utmost o f th e i r a bili t :endeavo",' , , o , to drill our lan g ua ge a f ter that particular fae l ' A lv a i making youth learn term s an d apply rule s rd in reality b e l ong no t t o i t . Mr. Mudie, perhaps going to the root of the e ' o l points out i n hi s pre f ace a gre ai' v arietY,4 thults committed by the writers' of se li ) - y grammars, which be avoids, and presents the ject to his readers in its simplest. form. 0 1. practical and visible gra mmar consists of 3c ,, tection of moveabl e wor d s , b y Whi c h he il l trates the use and employment of every 1 0 4 1 speech. We do not o bj ec t to ma ki ng sc i e nee" fir art easy and pl easant , f or we h ave never 6° 4 prehended the wisdom of compelling rim rising generation to learn the faults a 11 4 9. i errors of their predece ssors , as we ll as the vti. elusions in w hi c h th ose f au l ts an d error s i' eo mately terminated, and ought then to have a le rejected. N e ith er sc i ence nor art i s valuitio, for its difficulties, but f or it s resu l ts, an d w i l t h ever and whatever e n abl e s us t o a t ta i n t h es e the greatest ease and pleasure is, pro tant°;; public benefact or . O n t hi s groun d, we , Mr. Mudie has done a public service, which ' we be peculiarly acceptable to the your%, arid cordially recommend his little book to their 0 4 tention, and to the patronage of -purto 8 teachers.