The Sun. — London, England, 1849-12-18 00:00:00

L't yer, Baltimore ; Laura, and Louise, Marcks, La Guayra, both for Falmouth. YARMOUTH, DEC 17.—Sid. Komeel, Valparaiso. The Japea has been gut off shore. RIRRITALI„ DEC. 13.—Tbe . wind continues to blow hard at S E., and the sea is much up. The vessel on shore at Copenshay has been taken into Deer Sound. A raeasur( rnent certificate, dsted Hartlepool, has been picked up relating to the Farsogel of Gothenburg. A piece of wreck has come on shore at Shapenshop, marked "Sylph of Illyth." 14. A sealed bottle has been picked UP at Deerness, in which is a letter from F. C. Poosh to bis wife at M nnel, dated sth December, takingi have of her, stating that his vessel is disabled, and on th 3 °nest of the Orkneys. This vessel may possibly be the one driven on Copenshay, with part of cargo, Memel rab r, on board. OFF LIVERPOOL, DEC. Boston. CLYDE._Arrd. Favourite, Wylie, Montreal; Cash mere, Paton, ditto. Si]. Ronachan, Mobile. SUNDERLAND, DEC. 17.—Wind W.—Arrd. John An derson, Bushell, Demerara. HULL, DEc. 17.—Wind S.W., fresh.—Sld. Ludvt kzhese, Valparaiso. 18.--Caledonia stem( r, MARKET INEWS.—(THIS DAY.) EMT VIC2I.IIVILETt3. SUITHFIELD.—Meadow Hay, 2/ 83 to 31. 10s; Clover ditto, 3/ Os to 4/ 10s; and Sraw, 1/ 2s to 11 8; per kacl• A moderate supply, and a dull trade. CIIIIIIIERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 2/ 85 to 3110 i; Clover ditto, 3/ Os to 4/ 6a; and Straw, 11 3s to 1/ 9s per load. Trade heavy, at our quotations. WIIITECIIAPEL.— Meadow Hay, 2/ 5s to 3/ 103; Clover, ditto, 31 Os to 4/ 9s; and Straw, 11 23 to 1/ 8 • per 1 °a(I. Both Hay and Straw moved off slowly, at barely last week's prices. COLONXILL. SUCIAR.—The market fur British Plantation continues firm, at an advance of fully 6d per cwt. since this day week. Sales 460 hhds, 280 cases, and 5,400 bags 8en g.„419 mostly sold at f u ll p r i ces , goo d an d fi ne whit e lieuares 40s to 425, date kind 35s to 39s 6d, and brown 30 3 to 31s; 1,230 bags Madras and 1,550 bags Penang , C ili`?fly sold at easier rates, brown Madras 29s to "Os 6d, low yellow 35s 6d, white Penang 37s 6d to 41s, yellow and brown 33s to 36s Gd; 1,156 barrels 135 casks St. Croix sold briskly at 40s to 43s 6il, being rather dearer. The quantity of British Plantation landed last week at the East and West India Daeks was 517 hhda 4 tree 191 brls; there were taken for home c onsumption 1,394 hhds 126 trcs 366 1)1 Is. The stock in the same pines is 13,028 hhds 1,875 tree 4,018 brls. COFFEE.--480 bags 170 casks Plantation Ceylon were nearly all withdrawn at previous rates, and 1460 bags Nativ e kind were taken in at 533, being the nominal 165 bags M,.cha (nearly all damnged) brought 'ad prices ; as also I,OOJ bags Manilla (tae latter for ._exßpour3t, at, —The 513 61 to 52s for fine ord pale. quantity landed last week at the East and Vest India Docks was 113 puns 99 bhd , ; there wcre t aloa for home consumption 359 puns 42 hhds, and ex- Ported 61 pun+ , 8 hhds. The stock in the saute places is 21,848 puns 2.027 hhds. Rfefs.—This article is dull, and again 3d lower. Of 6,200 bags Bengal , ffered by auction only 1,300 sold at 95 61 for mid white; 400 bag s B om b a y, o f l ow qaa lity, brought 8s 6d to 9,; 255 cases Sago brought a further ilvunce viz., 23361 to 25s for fine to very fine pearl. TALL`3IV.—P.Y.C. is 38s 6i to 393 per cwt. on the 8 1 50 f, and Town 425. Tl:A.—The market is steady, and with a moderate unFAttess doing. The deliveries are good. LAW INTELLIGENCE. JUDICIAL COMAIITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL.-(THIS DAY.) (Before the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, the Marquis of Lana dowte, Lord Langdale, Lord Campbell, Mr. Baron Parke, the Vice-Char.cellor Knight Bruce, Dr. Lush thgton, and Mr. Pemberton Leigh.) GORHAM V. THE BISHOP OF EXETER. The argument in this case was again resumed this mo rning on the re assembling of tho Council, at ten 0 clt,ek. Nothing can exceed the patience and attention which ev , e ll Member of this h!gh tribunal has bestowed upon protracted, learned, and ing( nious arguments which " 11 /0 been addressed to it, on the important question le'eolved in this case, by the counsel on both sides, After the second or third day, slight al gtlS of impatience were indicated by one or two kezbers of the Council at the great length the argu !lent Was likely to run to, and a hint was more than o nce thrown out to the Counsel that it would be highly desirable if their speeches could be condensed without in- Jurin g their force and efficacy • but, apart from those mo mentary signs o f impatience, Lore seems to have been an earnest endeavour prevalent among their Lordships Iron) the first to give to the momentous question sub• witted to their consideration and decision that sedulous attention which it deserves at their bands. The attendance of auditors this morning in the Coun cil Chamber showed that the public interest in the pro ceedings had not in the slightest degree abated. Lord CAMPBELL said that he had met with the terms Prevenient grace" in a passage in Milton's Paradise 4 °.q. It occurred in the beginning of the eleventh book, a nd whilst Mr. Badeley was arranging his papers, he (Lord Campbell) would read the passage he had referred le ; It was related at the end of the tenth book that Adam and Eve had committed a sin for w hi c h th e y f e l t the greatest remorse, and sued heaven for pardon with "notions of the deepest contrition, and the passage in question proceeded as fellows : "Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood Praying; for from the Mercy- seat above Prevenient grace descending, had removed The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breathed Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer Inspired, and wing'd far Heaven with speediest flight Than loudest oratory." Mr. BADELEY resumed his address shortly after ten o'clock. , He contended that the early Church had w ithout deviation held the doctrine of baptismal re generation. In proof of this he read voluminous extracts from the Fathers. He then referred to the Articles and formularies of the Church, and enumerated fr om princip a l persons concerned in their pr e p a r a ti on , an d pal thence deduced that the doctrines entertained by " appellant were inconsistent with the opinions of the ea rly Church on the fundamental doctrine of baptismal re generation. It was remarkable bow the tone of the tethers of the Church rose whilst treating the subject t)f baptismal regeneration, and how eloquent their lan- Page was in comparison with their more laboured treatment of matters of minor importance. No doubt . 1 2 fathers were impressed with the importance and 'lLlcaey of the sacrament of baptism, and their language expreseive of the doctrine of baptismal regeneration was eloquent and dignified. The Learned Counsel proceeded 3 contend that the doctrine held by the fathers was eoaflrmed by the Church at the time of the Reformation, a was undoubtedly held moreover by the Church at ' 4O present day; and in support of that position he read t t tracts from Bingham's Ecclesiastical Antiquities, "alit on infant baptism, a work of Iremeus, an oration, published by Saint Gregory iu the fourth century, the *t o ntines of St. Augustine and St. Zeno, and Harding's The passages be had read from the writings i? the early fathers showed that they, without an excep- Z'oes held that spiritual regeneration was given "ceenditioaally to infants at baptism, and that I prevenient act of grace was necessary. The h elpless ness and innocency of infants were deemed 1 54 Meient for the due administration of the sacrament ; d ud thatevas clearly and distinctly laid down in the 10th Z,Ulutn e of Saint Augustine's, p. 7, Benedictine edition. ' l 4 ,e submitted that the structure of the formularies of re ancient Church, passages of which he read, abun "4l4 proved that the doctrine for which he had been contending bad been entertained by both the Eastern 441 Western Churches, and, indeed, by the whole of C hri , tendom at that time. th at L IISHINGTON asked if those formularies indicated : l it anything beyond the grace of baptism was conveyed • baptism ? He could find nothing analogous to the 'Pus operatum. Mr. BADELEY said he understood that the full benefit eta conveyed in and by baptism. The Bishop of LONDON—lncluding the grace of God? Mr. B ADELE Y s a id the grace of God was given by the t il nPle administration of the rite, in the case of infants; t in adults, frith and repentance on their parts were fleeessary. Having shown what were the opinions of • e ancient Church, both its the east and west, on the s ubject of baptismal regeneration, the Le arne d C ounse l re ed passages from the writings of the Venerable Bede, b Peilhan's Concilia, the works of Bishop Wilkins, and a t ,.._ ° °k published by John d'Bargh in the fourteenth cen e7Y, to prove that the doctrine of baptismal regeneration the held by the Anglican Church contemporaneously with `a L e Eastern and Western Churches. In Cranmer 'e Cate rape there was the sermon on baptism ; and he (Mr. Ideley) believed that the opinions of Cranmer on the bJect ut baptism were sound and consistent with the 1 4 1 io ns of the early Church. ,It was remarkable that Cranmer, who had altered his opi n i ons on a l mos t ever y et her doctrine, had never changed his views on the sub- Itet of baptis m . C raumer l a id i t d own i n hi s C atech i sm, at infants by b a p t i sm " were b orn aga i n to t h e king ilLu▪ ° _ 'l l3l „ of God ;" and in his sermo n on b a pti sm h e set a the benefits of baptism most fully, speaking of re retleration in particul ar . Th at was the doctrine held _ Cranmer : u _tle . ority at that timer It had b een sa id t h at C ranmer il4s_llnfluenced in his opinion on b apt i sm b y Bucer and 1 1 .. ter Ma rt y n; b ut t h at cou ld scarcely be, for Peter was a Zuingliau, who was totally unsoun d on t h e • a Je ct ot bap t i sm; whilst Bucer was a Lutheran, and I C • rt . ained Catholic doctrine. He had been told, too, of '.t,_the parties employed in drawing up the formularies • itte Church were Calvinists. He (Mr. Badeley) de ev that assertion ;it was historically untrue. And ~;47a_osupposing they were Calvinists, there was no autho tp".Y_ r saying that they drew up the formularies cone ,7Y to the well-known doctrines of the whole Churci>, :nth the view ot accommodating them to their own yob © °f What ground was there for saying at h of the Reformation Cranmer and the o ther part ies te vi n drew up the Articles had a leaning towards Cal riod n ;;:. There was none whatever, for at that pe ve_ e . esentsm had nut become rife, and was indeed bo r . .) . little known if known at all. Melancthon was Pas. Calvinist ; ' and it is known that he expunged (gages from a book of a Calvinistic character. He ~-,41,181; _Badeley) contended it was historically untrue that rh en 'uer, Luther, or Melancthon were Calvinists. Nlur e h be e "'no down to the A r ti c l es of the tR u o f England, d rawn up in Convocation eh0 w . ) .. 2 and there was nothing whatever to "'At whetever the opinions might be of the iodi- 7% gl , i 1... .1. 01 ,1 0 7% 16% 1•• "a 1414 ... ••••11 ..... 614 •••• '"' , •••e ... la ••• ..." 1•••• "''' 61.. ONI, • roe 163; 1 h 3 LA 16Y 6,4 "• •. 13 •••••• 6'''' amo 1 6 3 / 4 17, 8 dl5 3 1 ,4 •• ••• 21 : U 914 10% 12% [S DAY.) on S., mode' izzling r ain. rong.—Arrd• - Sale, Brow 0! Emma, CD' . Madras; Ca' !Waif, Clark. Holdsworth. orrd. from the Lila ; Susse%9 ..qt; Victoria , with heal apparently, rsh Foreland' for Trinidad. is damage to the Mindolet leveral plavkl win har.' diem g Casdtle, New York! Brunswick, 'wick; binr riett, her, Africa' Dean, Spri g' I; Crotnl o "' Washingto n ' tonal]; C° ° : Knapp, el.itto, hers,Sulltvant of Claremon t, Amin, Good ° oger, Bruoi , lcutta; Lisp, , of Dundalk, OBS schoon er ~, r Fort don to Doi with 108.1'4 ith inst., wi t olm to Rio d e otherwise t ° , nt necesserg had to death ) —The M r Beterdsy del'e I to disollArb of this eri' yesteraive Of D v 'deuce. ~,, itby, with w . of ent b ri g, esterdal' 4us . 3 10 Roads. o _, Soroby S or Tbe r ie e off shorr„a deri ßw 5, ..,110 ha ►Lyn% been sot off „o 1 0 II” Dille to -- outin r yaw _ i; of Po ° 0 TA, n g ot ° On lb. rioftnevi ellS 00 k sac MS, IWl‘e° 'os —Old. Too h agolog i l -211 ' THE SUN, LONDON, victual members of the Convocation, in drawing up the Articles they had wickedly departed from the universally known opinions of the Church. Suppose Crenmer, or any other individual member of the Convceation, had held ht tredox opinions, it could not !se allowed that any individual member had controlled the vt hole body of convocation, any more than a single Member of Parlia ment could control the whole Legislature in paeans a statute. Then, in the first Prayer-book of Edward IV. the doctrine of spiritual regeneration was clearly expressed. The Articles (41552 were precisely the same as those which were originally published in 1536, and not one word that " prevenient grace" was necessary was to he found in them. Were they now to alter those Articles to accom modate a eeetion, and certainly not a majority of the Church ? If such tampering was to be allowed, where were they to stop ? When the last edition of the Prayer book was settled in 1661, the commissioners employed in settling it bad full power given them to examine, revise, and correct, without let or hindrance, the Articles, rubrics, and formularies. What was the result? The Articles were left unaltered, and the P. ayer-book was revised and settled as they now found it. That wes the present Prayer-b ok, which was then completely s-ttled and finally ratified by an Act of Parliament. Whatever opinions might hat e been entertained before that time was now nothing to the purpose, because the whole thing required a new forte and a new impulse, which was given to it by the Act of Parliament of Charles 11. Thenceforth the doctrine was so fully and clearly ex pressed that he who runs may read. (The case was proceeding when our report left.) see; that quite alters the cue. He's a regular smasher. When a man's hungry, it is sometimes excusable if he helps hirnnelf. The officer said he bad as many as ten pots about him. The COMMON- SEACIMANT—Oh, oh! Ah, ah ! that is another affair; regular system here—no hungry man this.—(Roars of laughter.) Is he known? Officer— No, my Lord. The COMMON-SERGEANT—It is a rule with me to transport fellows who make a regular trade ,of thieving, and have no other profession or calling; but there is one favourable point in this case that induces me to break through that rule—the pots were in the street, where they ought not to have been. The sentence therefore upon you is, that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six months. James Thatcher, aged 52, described as a porter, was convicted of stealing 451bs. weight of sugar, value 205., the property of Henry Hutton. The police-officer who had him in charge informed the Court that the prisoner had been 20 years in the employ of Slaerwoods, the carriers, and had always borne an excellent character. His wile, however, was a moat profligate woman, and her conduct had latterly brought him into trouble. The prisoner himself said he committed the robbery through distress, brought on by his wife's intemperance; and under these circumstances he was only sentenced to three months' imprisonment. .NEW COURT. The C)urt was occupied the whole morning with tho trial of Mint cases. MARLBRCY-STREET—(THIS DAY.) EXTENSIVE ROBBERY BY AN ERRAND BOY.—Robert Swill, a youth about fourteen years of age, in the em ploy of Mr. Edwd. Grayson, jeweller, &c., No. 16, Brewer street, was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with having stolen a quantity of gold filings, the property of his master. The prosecutor deposed that tho prisoner had been in his employ as errand boy for about eighteen months, and the greatest confidence was placed in him. Latterly, in consequence of gold and gold filings being con tinually missed from the drawers of the workmen, to which the prisoner had excess, the latter was sus pected as the thief, and information was accordingly given to the police, who lcept a sharp eye upon the prisoner's motions, and succeeded in taking him into custody on the previous evening as he was leaving his work. On being searched at the station, gold filings worth 21. were found upon him. O❑ being taxed with the theft, the prisoner admitted having stolen the gold, which he was in the habit of selling to a refiner on Clerkenwell-green for Is. per pennyweight, the same being worth at least 3s. The prosecutor added that he had been robbed to the extent of 1001. Police. constable Gregory, C division, proved taking the prisoner into custody lad night. On searching him he found 11. Its. 6d. hi gold and silver, a watch and chain, and a quantity of gold filings. He subsequently searched the part of the workshop to which the prisoner had access, and found a sovereign and a half secreted under one of the boards. The prisoner, who did not deny the charge, was fully committed for trial. THE LONDON CLERKS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlB,—The social ev►ls of the city of London, and the many crimes and distresses which arise from them, have lately much engrossed the public mind, and there is one to which I would particularly direct your attention, as I am confident it bas a very great influence on the rising generation. You are , no doubt, aware, that in many of the large mercantile houses in town the clerks, assistants, &c., live on the premises. These young men are hard at work from morning till eight or nine o'clock at night, when they are then allowed to go out till ten or eleven. This is the only boon they have conferred upon them, as far as regards relaxation from business; but this indul gence ii,s'ead of having any good effect has in many in stances the very opposite tendency. They club club together and spend their leisure hours in taverns, gaming -houses, &c., &c., spending the small salaries many of them are allowed for the mere gratification of the moment, that they may net be behind their companions in (miscalled) generosity, and that they may be considered " of the right sort.' These malpractices go on every night, and when their scanty salaries are all spent they must find money somewhere, and sometimes I fear by no very creditable means. lam far from imputing this to the whole community of clerks, but it must be allowed it goes on to an incredible extent. As a remedy for this, I would suggest that a fund should be raised by public subscription sufficiently large to establish libraries and reading-rooms in various localities of London, so that the really well-disposed of the thousands of young men who are now being led astray from the golden path of duty, might read and amuse themselves in a rational manner, and free of all expense. This, I think, would have a tendency to put a stop to that particular species of demoralization which I have mentioned ; and might I venture to hint to the many merchant princes of the city of London that 201. expended in purchasing a small library for their assistants, would not only be an act which would call forth the grateful thanks of many a young man whose natural disposition is averse to scenes of riot and debauchery, but it would be positively for their own interest. A few merchants have got such libraries for their clerks, but they are very few. The "Early Closing Association" may do their utmost to abolish the long-hour system, and there is every probability that in a very short time their efforts will be successful, but unless they also do some thing to provide a rational amusement for the many additional men who will hi early relieved from business, their success will do infinitely more harm than good. Let them, therefore, not think that they have finished the work they have taken in hand until they have public libraries and reading-rooms established all over London. If such rooms could not be entirely free, let there be a small charge of Id. or 2d. per evening exacted of every one who goes there to read. Many would eagerly avail themselves of such an opportunity of improving their mental faculties and usefully employing their leizure time, who could very ill afford to spend two or three pounds as a yearly subscription to a club. I have no doubt that if a spirited committee were formed to raise a fund for such a purpose the mer chants of London would, with very few exceptions, soon swell up the subscription list to a handsome sum, and in so doing they would be tendering a graceful acknowledgment of their appreciation of the services of a class of men through whose industry and business capabilities they have themselves in a measure been enabled to rise to their present proud position. The young men of London may think me a mi santhrope, and that I wish to represent them in false colours. There are many good, sober, honest, indus trious and persevering clerks in London, I am well aware; but it must also be admitted there are many bad ones, and many of the cases of embezzlement and petty larceny seen in the police reports could be traced to the practices I have mentioned. I can be actuated by no ill feeling towards any of them—l am one of them myself, and have known from experience that what I have said is correct. Craving your indulgence for thus intruding upon you, and trusting you will hare the kindness to insert this letter in a corner of your very liberal and widely circulated paper, should you think it worthy of such notice, I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, A CLERK. RESISTANCE :OF FROST BY GUTTA PERCHA TUBING. The following notes of an experiment with gutta percha tubing filled with water, and inserted in a low temperature, during the recent frost, have been fur nished by a scientific gentleman of Birmingham. The object of the experimentalist was to learn how far the non-conducting property of gutta percha would protect water from frost, as compared with lead : A vessel made of gutta percha was provided, which was 6 inches deep and 4 inches diameter. A piece of 3 -Bths gutta percha tube 7 inches long, with one end closed, the material less than 1-16th of an inch thick. This was called No. 1. A piece lead pipe 8 inches long, closed as above, the metal 3-l6ths of an inch thick. This was called No. 2. Another piece of gutta perch tube 7 inches long, the sides inch thick. This was called No. 3. The three tubes Nos. 1,2, and 3, were filled with ice cold water, and were placed in the first-named vess el. The tubes were separated so as not to touch each other, or the sides, and all round was packed with pounded ice. On the ice was poured a quantity of hydrochloric acid, which in a short time melted it, and reduced the temperature 2 degrees of Fahrenheit below zero. In five minutes the lead pipe No. 2 was frozen half way up, commencing at the bottom ; no ice at the time in No. 1. At the end of 10 minutes No. 1 was frozen about 1 3d of its length, No. 2 up to the top, and No. 3 no ice in it. In 15 minutes No. 1 was full of ice, and No. 3 just commencing to freeze at the bottom. In 20 minutes the No. 3 was nearly full of ice, and the temperature of the liquid had risen 4 degrees, or 2 • , ve zero. • a tube of gutta percha took a quarter of an As the while the lead was frozen as much in hour to freeze, as far as one trial goes, that five minutes, it shown.., • fer from frost at least 3to gutta percha will protect avu. 1 against lead. • We were prepared, in the first what would be the effect of freezing water of gutta percha, closed firmly at each end, but a having come on, and having used all the ice prepared, this is necessarily put off till the frost comes on. Birmingham, 9th Dec. 1849. stance, to see ;n a tube i-swe NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY.—A committee of shareholders in this company has been appointed for the purpose of, if possible, reducing the number of directors, to cultivate a friendly feeling with thm London and North-Western Railway, to economize the working expenses, and to postpone sine dine the construction of all branch lines for which powers are now possessed. CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.) The further arguments in s tLe part-heard appeal of Itackham v. Sidall occupied tho Lord Chancellor the whole morning. The Master of the bolls and the Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce did not sit to-day, in consequence of having to attend the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and nothing of any interest occurred except to the parties concerned in the Courts of the Vice• Chan cellor of England and the Vico• Chancellor Wigram. QUEEN'S BENCH.--(THIS BA Y.) BARKER V. GODDARD. This was an action, breueht by Messrs. Barker, the well-known advertisement agents, to recover from the defendant, a provisional committeman on two unsuccess ful railway projects, started in 1845, the sum ot 1,368/., f r advertisements inserted in the various newspapers. The defendant and a gentleman named Harvey pro jected the lines, and both of them took an active part from the commencement to the close, H irvey acting as the agent of the defendant. Evidence to this effect was adduced, and the jury found a verdict fur the plaintiff. GIBBS V THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. This was an action brought by Mr. John Gibbs, news agent, to recover from the North-Western Railway compensation, for having deprived him of the profits accruing from the sale of newspapers at the Euston square station. Mr. M. CHAMBERS (with whom was Mr. Bramwell) said this was a case ot some interest to the public, and he was quite sure that the jury would give their best attention to it. The case of the plainer; was, that being in possession of a stall for the sale ot newspapers at the Euston-square station, which had been let •to him by toe railway company, he was suddenly prevented from having accots to it, and from carrying on the pr_ kettle trade of selling newspaper and psnolicals at the station, to the exclusion of any one else. Such a privilege was of infinite value, and the plaintiff had derived considerable profit from its txercise. The pleintiff was formerly in the service ot the company, and in 1846 he was permitted to take pos session :he stall it, question. Seen alter the company charged him rent, and he agreed to pay 601. a year. This urrangemunt was entered into between the plaintiff and Mr. Thema: Long, the late assistant secretary to the company, and he should produce the quarterly vouchers. In 1848 Captain iluish became the general manager of the line, and very shortly after he ennui& steel a consider- ble degree ot curiosity to ascertain the profits which the plaintiff realised, e hich he satisfied. Finding that the plaintiff's business had become most profs able, or by great exertion he had extended it very much, he advised the company to advertise for tenders for the sale of news papers throughout the whole line, and the tender of Messrs. Smith and Son, the eminent news-agents, was accepted. The plaintiff would have wiliingly increased hie rent if the company had applied to him to do so. On the 26th of September, last year, the plaintiff re• ceived a notice stating that the company had let the sale of newspapers, and that by the Ist of November he must cease to do so. He remonstrated with the company by b ttcr, but he receise d no reply. and or the morning of the Ist of November the plaintiff and the men in his employment wero ejoeted from the platform when in the pursuit of bis avocation. The course which the company had pursued was most unfair. The plaintiff was entitled to at least six months notice instead ot a month's notice; but the proper time, ac cording to the law of tenancy when he should have given up his privileges was Lady-day, 1850. His profits would have been increased, and his estimated profits to Lady day. 1850, would have been 3,0001. Ho should show the exact number of copies he sold, and he con sidered that the jury would agree with him that the plaintiff was entitled to compensation for the injury which he had received at the hands of the company, who had sought to attract the attention of the wealthy in order to overwhelm a poor, industrious, and deserving man. Mr. J. Gibbs stated that ho was father to the plaintiff, and remembered his son being in the employ of the London and North-Western Railway Company as messenger. He assisted his son in managing the business of a newsvender at the stall at Euston-,quare. lie commenced the business about March, 1846, and continued it up to November, 1818. The stall that his son occupied was within the station, and of immense size as much as six men could remove. His sari was in the habit of going there daily as early as six o'clock in the morning, and remaining there till the last thing at night, say half- p , st nine. His son employed a man and three or four boys besides himself, as the business was an excellent one. Witness remembered going to the sta. tion about nix o'clock on the Ist of Nov. 1848, and serving the first train with papers. When the quarter to 7 train was put on they were ordered out of the station, some of Mr. Smith's (the newsvender's) men having arrived, but his son refused to go. The foreman of the station then called a policeman, and directed him to take his son away, and he was removed. The foreman then directed witness to take away the stock, but he refused to do so, and left the station of his own accord. The cupboard of the stall at the time contained papers and property of the value of about 101. Witness was well acquainted with the extent of his son's business. He probably sold as many as fifty papers a day away from the platform of the station. The boys were paid 12s. a week each, the man 11. a week, and himself 30s. a week. The amount of his son's gross profit from the Ist Jan., 1848, to Nov. in the same year was 1,213/. IBs. 811, exclusive ef the Daily News and the Evening Express. There were 53,471 copies of the Times sold in the station during these ten months. Cross examined by Mr. WATSON—That was the year of the French revolution, and a good one for the sale of newspapers. The boys used to go up to the carriage doors to sell the papers, but very ecEom to the side where the trains came in. A man named Lo..vcock had the station before his son. His son and himself were told the night before the Ist of November, 1848, that they were not to come there any more. Ills son never consulted a lawyer to his knowledge till after he was turned off the station. He did not know exactly what was inside the stall, but the night before they were told to take everything away. Mr. Charles Long, brother to the late under• secretary of the company, identified the handwriting of Mr. Saville, the transfer clerk, to certain receipts which had been given the plaintiff for the rent of the station. On cross-examination he stated that the cashier of the company received the rents. Mr. Saville was secretary to the sick fund of the scmpany. Mr. Saville is now under-secretary. An objection was taken to the reception of the re ceipts, first, that Mr. Saville was not authorised to receive the rent, and secondly, if he were, he was not authorised to give receipts. The Learned JUDGE took a note of the objection. Mr. Hubert Saville, the under-secretary, was called to prove that he signed the receipts and received the money to which they referred. He had no written or direct authority either to receive the money or give a receipt fur it. He, however, had a verbal authority from Mr. Thomas Long, the late late under-secretary, to do so. In cross-examination he stated that it was no part of his duty to receive moneys on account of the company. The affairs of the company are managed by a board of directors, who meet once a month, but there are separate committees who conduct particular departments, some of which meet weekly. He was formerly secretary to the Railway Friendly Society. The 601. received from Mr. Gibbs us rent w&lt to the credit of that society. Minutes are kept of the proceedings of the company. On re-examination the witness explained that the entire proceedings of the company were not carried on by written resolutions, inasmuch as sometimes they were conducted by verbal directione, CRIMINAL COURT.—(THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. (florae the CoMttok-St John Bartholomew, aged 29, a clerk in the office of the British Banner newspaper, pleaded Guilty to a charge of stealing several sums of money and forging and utter ing forged receipts for money, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment. Susan Harris, aged id, piest.. l, .. , d to a charge of stealing a gown and oth e r ar ticles, and wt:.! sentenced to six months imprisonment, with hard labour. George Lewis, aged 15, pleaded Guilty to a chargt; 9f stealing a sovereign, the property of his employer, and was sentenced to six days imprisonment, with occasional whippings. Isaac Keats, aged 18, a baker, pleaded Guilty to a charge of stealing 51. ss. from hi s master, and was sen tenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. John Williams, aged 30, pleaded Guilty to a charge of pot stealing. The COMMON SERGEANT asked the officer who had him in charge if the pots were stolen from the street or the house? The officer replied that they were stolen from the strict. The CONMONSERGEANT—Ab, Rh! there it is, you see, it makes all the difference. If a man will leave his pots in the street, he must expect to have them stolen. When I meet with pots outside a house, I make a point of kicking them into the street.—(Laughter.) A man is hungry, and seeing pots in the street is a *Tat te:npta tion to hi m . Did' the prisoner appear to be hungry ? The policeman said ho did not. He had s , mae broken pewter about him. 'Lhe Con4Qll-SEIMANT—QI3 ) 011! there it is, you HAYMARKET THEATRE. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS !" (From Eliza Cook's Journal.) " Cry Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war," is no unworthy expression of Shakspere, to intimate a coming state of hurly-burly and disastrous confusion; but we have strong doubts whether more mischief— albeit, less poetry—would not have been conveyed in " Cry, Home for the holidays,' and let stip the girls and boys." Reader, have you ever been resident in a respect able and well ordered mansion before the arrival of some half-dozen brambles—(we beg pardon, it should have been "olive branches") ? Have you enjoyed cheerful, undisturbed converse with the host and hostess over the breakfast-table ? Have you indulged in solitary luxury over a favourite volume in a little study ? Have you serenely dozed by the twilight fire, with all around breathing propriety, and, blessed word, peace ? Have you reposed in this balmy secu rity, we ask, before the importation of "six under fifteen," on or about the eighteenth of December? and have you managed to exist in the same abode after tLe said importation ? What nerves, what resolution, what endurance must be yours, if such ordeal can be borne without flinching ! Unrestrained symptoms of an incipient excitement may be detected in mamma a day or two before the auspicious period, and important communications to the cook may be overheard touching the size of cakes and the number of tarts. A deal of extra bustle and commotion in the general household may be observed, extending from the scullery to the topmost bedroom, and the increased pulse of domestic vitality indicates the approach of the restless fever which is ever brought from school by girls and boys. Papa, mamma, and perhaps a foolish aunt, go of course to the "station" to meet the " dear children ;" and when the carriagt doors open and the identified forms rush out, some strong delight and a little nervous agitation are displayed, which occasionally cause a degee of difficulty in getting the right lug gage together; and we once saw a fond father, in his exuberant bewilderment, carry a huge cricket-playing boy of ten years date, from one end of the platform to the other—but then the little giant had curly hair, and soft, laughing, grey eyes, and wan the youngest of the family, and above all "very like his mother." Home they rattle, their tongues going much faster than the cal;-wheels, with all sorts of spasmodic in terrogatories and replies, jostled together by impatient eagerness, that would perplex any but very partial auditors into confirmed lunacy. For a few hours, perchance, some slight • trace of "boarding -school" manners may linger about the "young ladies and gentlemen !" but full soon the uproar begins; play-boxes are unpacked, prizes voci ferously displayed, ushers abused, roasters mimicked, governesses called " old frumps," and lady-like teachers stigmatised as "disagreeable things !" Oh ! the vast chaage in the quiet house! Such tramping up-stairs, such sliding down balustrades, such hunt ing in attic cupboards, such invasions of the pantry, such litters in the parlour, and such a gathering in the hall of caps, cloaks, comforters, beaver bonnets, fur capes, and gloves, that one might mistake the place for a superior sort of Rosemary-lane! Master Henry has been violently smitten during the " last half" with an affection for theatricals on a small scale, and consequently every evening the whole table is occupied ,by a miniature stage, foot-lamps mest redo lent of bad oil, saucers of paste, bottles of gum, boxes of colours, gold and silver foil, spangles, brushes ; Mr. 0. Smith as somebody in The Fire King; Mr. Van Amburgh as somebody among four lions; and the whole " properties" and " personages" essential to The Miller and his Men. Master George insists on having room for his magic-lantern, and Miss Ellen and Master Tom cannot see any just reason why there should not be space for the draught-board. Jangling ensues, and a quickly-brewed st orm rages unt il papa is called upon to interfere. The surface of the waves is smoothed, but sundry kicks are carried on beneath the mahogany, and acute whisperings relative to "serving out" ms be distinctly heard. A rew and original play, in three acts, entitled The Lowing Woman, was produced here last evening with the most complete success. It is from the pen of Mr. Mark Lemon, which is as much as to say that it is well built, well written, and full of interest ; it is acted by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, Mr. James Wallack, Mr. Howe, and Mr. Rogers—that is to say, as perfectly cast, and as perfectly acted as possible; and that it was therefore triumphantly sue. cessful follows as a matter of course. The following is the plot of the piece :—Ottilia (Mrs. Charles Kean) is the ward of Wielfert (Mr. Howe), an old usurer of Prague, who would fain make her bis wife ; she however rejects his suit for that of the gay, the gallant, the accomplished Rosen (Mr. Charles Kean), the son of a widow who had brought him to Prague when he was a child, and who had bequeathed to him all she possessed. The usurer, before consenting to her marriage with Rosen, so ties up her property that not even Ottilia herself can transfer it to Rosen without the consent of Wielfert. He also discovers that Rosen's mother had borrowed money on the security of her property, buys up her bonds, and on the wedding day enters Rosen's house, accompanied by Hermann (Mr. Wallack), a beggerman clad in rags, and, taking possession of all that it contains, would fain instal Hermann, in hisr;gs, as lord of the feast. Ilermarn, who has caught a glimpse of the portrait of Rosen's mother, refuses to lend himself to Wilfert's revenge. Hermann, it appears, had been, some three-and-twenty years previously, a rich and prosperous man, to whom Wielfert was largely indebted; in order to avoid pay ment of this debt Wielfert bad, in conjunction with his servant Groschen (Mr. R oge r s ), concoc t e d an accusation of treason against Hermann, and had sup ported it by forged documents, so that Hermann was forced to flee-, and to become a kggar. In the course of his wanderings he had become acquainted with the mother cf Groschen, who when dying had informed him of the conspirators in the plot of which he had become the victim, and had likewise pointed out to him the spot in the house of Wielrert ) 1 in which the proofs of his innocence might be found, and it is to obtain them that lertnann has returned to Prague. Meanwhile Ottilia endeavours, by every means in her power, to console Rosen, but in vain. He feels that he is dependent on her, and he becomes fretful, suspicious, and, at length, jealous. Wielfert hires persons to irritate and annoy him, and he is at length almost driven to madness by a ballad, entitled "The Beggar's Wedding," of which lie is the hero. Ottilia proposes to sign a deed of divorce, to which he con sents. Hermann the beggar enters just as the divorce is signed, and declares himself the lather of Rosen, on which Wielfort denounces Hermann as a traitor, and having degraded Rosen into the son of a criminal, and deprived him of his wife, considers his revenge, complete. Ottillia, however, having now become free, tears to shreds the deed of settlement, and then kneels at the feet of Rosen and beseeches him to accept her hand now, when by so doing her fortune will be his and he will be no longer depen dent. Hermann, who has proved his innocence, produces his accusation against Wielfert, who is led off a prisoner by the city guard, and liermtn n R osen, and Ottillia are m a d e hippy. The character of the loving woman was most pathetically, most tenderly, most exquisitely delim ated by Mrs. Charles Kean, who threw a commanding dignity into the scenes with Wielfert, which contrasted beautifully with the ex quisite tenderness which she infused into her scenes with Rosen. Never had loving woman more fitting representative than Mrs. Charles Kean. Mr. Charles Kean's Rosen:was full of spirit and chivalrous bear ing, and the expression of nervous irritation in his tone, his manner, and his bearing in the last act, when he is writhing beneath the sense of dependence, is one of those gems of acting which genius, chastened and subdued by the most accomplished knowledge of art, can alone produce. Wallack's Hermann was perfect, and is worthy to rank with his Brigand, or his Don Cesar de Bazan, as one of the most picturesque impersonations on the' Wage. Howe's Wielr. rt is by the far the beat thing he has yet done—it is a great step in his Profe ss i ona l care er, and a step in the ri g ht direction. GroshEn the servant, was admir a bly acted by Rogers. At the conclusion Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, Wallack, and Howe, were all called for, and the piece was announced for repetition amidst the unanimous applause of a crowded house. The admirable comedy of the Serious Family fol lowed, and the performances concluded with Box and Cox, in which Buckstone and Keeley kept the audience in a continual roar. , I " Horne for the holidays !" Oh, words of übiqui tous import !—we hear them in the everlasting duets strummed to every visitor by two giggling girls, who do not think it at all necessary that bass should be in unison with treble; we hear them in the slang school phrases, blustered by gawky boys, in defiance of mamma's entreaties that they will not be "so rude ;" we see them printed in the " Polka" steps, with stampings and slidings, and hoppings and heelings, alike innumerable and mysterious ; we see them written on the jam puddings and marmalade tarts spread far and wide. We note the syllables in the medallion pieces of card-board traced with flowers unrecognised by Lint,muq, and in Swiss cottages that would have astonished the designing faculties of Sir Christopher Wren ; they haunt us in the forms of "fancy baskets," made to carry nothing; and highly-coloured maps that would have puzzled Cap tain Cook and all other captains. We tumble over them in the shape of bows and arrows, stray marbles, miniature cannon, skipping-ropes, bats and balls, and a variety of juvenile possessions left indiscriminately wherever they might have been last used. " Home for the Holidays" stares us in the face, as we look round the boxes of Old Drury, and see a grinning, rosy-faced regiment in white collars and smart frocks. "Home for the Holidays" jostles us in every highway, as the troops of independent youngsters make a dead stop at some enticing shop window, with various pulls at the maternal skirt, and corresponding inquiries as to whether certain desired articles cannot possibly be purchased. " Home for the Holidays" is stamped on the tailor's bag, contain ing loosely-fitting suits of dark blue, and the dress maker's parcel, teeming with deeply-tucked dresses. " Home for the Holidays" is detected in the piles of new shoes, new stockings, new hats, new bonnets, new everything, all coming in with the New Year. " Home for the Holidays," pleasant joyous words ! bringing to our hearts and firesides, health, hope, cheerfulness, and light. Children are the butterflies of our wordly wilderne!s, and we love to have them come about us at all seasons, though to confess the truth, they are very provoking sometimes, and to our certain knowledge many a doting sire who hastened with intense exuberance of joy to hail his progeny in the month of December, has been heard to make particular inquiry towards the end of January, as to " when school commenced," and a very truthful and genuine air has accompanied his remark, that he was " glad the time was near." Nay ! we once heard one of the best fathers in the world declare that he would have a fiddl e r an d a bonfire the day after the departure of his cherished brood, to celebrate the happy event; but, perhaps, it is fair to mention that that this declaration was wrung from him by the painful facts of two young gentle • men having taken infinite trouble to precipitate them selves through a most remote skylight, and three young ladies having indulged in preserves and sweet meats, to the extent necessary to insure a visit from the family Esculapius. We have noticed that depredations and enormities generally increase as the vacation draws to a close. Jackets and trowsers are damaged beyond reparation, frocks discovered with gathers out, and pins in, and a reckless apathy to all paternal discipline is often evi dent, exhibited, we suppose, on the desperate principle of "a short life and a merry one." Serious lectures are bestowed on "dear Tom," and sharp reprimands lavished on "sweet little Emily." It is protested that "such eating and drinking," 4 ` such running and racing," "such mischief and rudeness," cannot be "put up with," even by the proprietors of the crimi nals, and sorry are we in our charity and philosophy to say it, but it does really appear that a most har dened audacity, and brazen character of rebellion generally mark the conduct of very "young England" when "Home for the Holidays." • And yet these few words are traced in illuminated letters that we would not exterminate for the world. They are the beacon-lights that guide many a tiny craft through the stormy waters of "grammar, geography, French, Latin, and history." Many a small breast with large heart would sob itself to death, were it not for this El Dorado ever kept in sight. The frosty discipline of school duties, and the sharp atmosphere of "classes" and " examina tions," would try many a susceptible constitution severely, were it not for the six weeks of relaxing climate found in the southern latitude of " Home for the Holidays." "Home for the Holidays"—oh, words of magic might ! Who does not recollect the time when they had the power of sending the warm blood bounding through the heart with quickened glow ? Who does not remember the joyous thrill that prompted, as the stage-coach whirled away from academic walls, and visions grew stronger of fun, freedom, pantomime, and plum cake? Midsummer was merry enough; but Christmas, jolly, happy, glorious Christmas, was the acme of delight, with its beef and pudding festi val, its Boxing-day, its New Year's-day, its Twelfth day, and all its appliances of clowns, columbines, family feasts, juvenile parties, roasted chestnuts, smoking flip, and " Blindenan's Buff." Bright, warm young spirits—rollicking and romping, as we once rollicked and romped—we bless you from our inner most souls, although we are compelled now and then to scold, and occasionally wish you back again at Mr. Whackem's and Mrs. Trimtail's. Health and hap piness attend ye, and may the days to come never cause ye to look back with a sigh on the days gone—when ye shouted "Home for the Holidays!" ELIZA COOK. DIRECT LONDON AND EXETER RAILWAY.—Notice of appeal against the decision of the Master in Chan cery, Brougham, rendering all parties who had signed the deed, or paid the deposit, contributories to the expenses of winding up the company, has been lodged with the view on the ground of fraud, of rendering the directors alone, liable, and compelling them to return the deposit. ABERDEEN RAILWAY.—This line was opened for goods' traffic on Thursday last to Portleshen, and will be opened for passengers in a few days. TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, .849 I LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY COMPANY. A special general meeting of the shareholders of this company took place yesterday at the London Tavern, for the purpose of taking into consideration the report from the committee of proprietors appointed at the helf-yearly meeting of the company, held in August last. J. N. DANIEL, Esq., the chairman of the company, took the chair shortly after twelve o'clock, when Mr. GOLDSMID, the chairman of the committee, proceeded to draw the attention of the proprietors to the report of the committee, and to the observations made upon the several parts of that re port by the directors. From his statement and the report it appeared that there had been great mis management in the conducting of the line in many respects, especially in persons being able to get into the carriages of the company without paying ; the inconveniences at the Brunswick Pier ; the charging too high for the transit of some goods and too low for others; and that the interest of the proprietors had been overlooked by the directors in the course they had pursued. The committee recommended that there should be one general manager of the line who should be well paid, and the whole management of the [railway should be placed under his control ; and that, in order to effect this, the salary of the directors should be reduced from 1,0001 to 7001. a year. The report also recom mended that no iflicer of the company should hold any office in any other company. Mr. Goldsmid, after adverting at considerable length to the statements in the report, moved that the report, and the obser vations of the directors upon it, should be entered upon the minutes. The CHAIRMAN at some length defended the course pursued by the directors, and the answer given by them to the assertions in the report of the committee. The motion for entering the report and observa tions on the minutes was then carried. Mr. GOLDS➢IID moved a resolution to the effect that none of the officers of the company be allowed to hold office in the service of any other company. Mr. HICKSON, one of the committee, seconded the resolution, and in doing so said that he did not agree to the whole of the report, and he did not think the committee had done their duty to the company. The recommendation with regard to the appointment of a general manager had not been discussed by the committee at all, it emanated entirely from Mr. Gobismid, the chairman. Four out of five of the committee voted for the adoption of the report, and he (Mr. Hickson) was bound by the majority. The CHAIRMAN said he would not oppose the motion. It was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. GoLDsarin moved, that a manager be appointed by the shareholders under the control of the direc tors, to superintend the whole of the affairs of the company, and that his salary be contingent on a small per-centage of the profits, which was seconded by Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. TITR, surveyor to the company, explained that the directors were not to blame with respect to the carrying out of the agreement with the Eastern Counties Company, who had been at great expense with their station at Shoreditch, and they were un willing to give up part of that traffic to the Black wall Company ; and, if they came on this line to London-bridge, they would charge the same fare as if they took the passenger to Shoreditch, without making any allowance in favour of the Blackwall Company. lle knew that Mr. Hudson was extremely adverse to any arrangement with this company. With reference to a junction with the East and West India Dock and Birmingham Junction Rail way, although the company were prevented by Lord Sheftesbury's clau , e from joining the Blackwall at Poplar, on the level referred to the directors, they had secured a junction with that line at another point of the Bow and Stratford Junction Railway, he had no doubt that in the course of six months they would see traffic from Liverpool, by means of this junction, pass over the line. It was to Mr. Wight man, their superintendent of traffic, that they were indebted for the change in the system of working the line. He concluded by moving an amendment, to the effect that the further recommendations in the report of the committee be referred to the board of directors, who are to report to the next meeting thereon, and adopt such of them as may be expedient. Mr. J. WILSON seconded the amendment, and complained that the, committee had not touched the accounts ; being one of the auditors, he could say that the accounts were kept in a most perfect manner. Mr. BOSIIER was much disappointed with the report of the committee. He did expect a detailed account of the expenditure and other matters, so as to enable the proprietors to form some opinion on the position of their affairs. The motion of Mr. Goldsmid was then withdrawn, and the amendment proposed by Mr. Tite was put and carried. Resolutions were passed reducing the allowance of the directors from 1,0001. to 7001 per annum, and agreeing that all reports and accounts be sent to the proprietors at least one week before the general meetings. Oil the motion of the CHAIRMAN a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Goldsmid, the chairman of the committee ; and after a vote of thanks to the chair man, the meeting separated. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. 'flee Fire Queen iron steamer is ordered to be fitted at Portsmouth for the Holyhead packet station, according to the plans suggested by her commander Lieutenant Jones. She will be ready about the 28th inst. She is to be payed over by Mr. Hay with his corn position. The Birkenhead steamer was undocked on Friday at Portsmouth, and taken into the basin. We omitted to meution the state of her iron bottom when docked ; there was not the slightest appearance of oxide on the iron plates nor on the heads of the rivets, except on a part where she had rubbed off the composition when she grounded on a bank in Waterford river. She has now received another coating of composition, and will go to her moorings up the harbour. This coati:sag, it is said, is to be further tried in competition witle the Vulcan iron steamer, to be payed over by Mr. J'eacock. If so, both vessels should lie in the same: water, and not be examined fur a twelvemonth at least, for the principal value of the business is the durability of the composition. The annual examinations are proceeding at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and at the Central Mathematical School in the dockyard. Same plans for ventilation and for protection against fire, as suggested by Mr. Hay, the chemical assistant, are row being carried on, on board the Malabar coal depot, in Portsmouth Harbour. On the occasion of the launch of the Argus•at Portsmouth, on Saturday last, Juhn Fincham, Esq., the master builder, gave a sumptuous dejcuizer to his officers and to a large party of friends, at his resi dence in the dockyard. The Contest, 12, Commander the Hon. J. W. Spencer, will have her compasses adjusted early this week, and go to Spithead on Friday. So well and so satisfactorily has this brig been turned out of hand, both by the artificers and riggers of the yard, that since the officers and crew have joined, not a single alteration has been made nor required, nor has any defect in either department been discovered. It blew a hard westerly gale on Sunday night at Portsmouth ; it moderated a little yesterday morning, but the weather was still wild and stormy last evening. CHATHAM, DEC. 17.—The Crescy, 80 guns, build ing, had her figurehead, which is a bust of Edward 111., put in place on Saturday. The Eliza transport, with convicts, embarked on the 14th and 15th instant from Tilbury Fort, the first company of pensioners recently formed to proceed to Australia as a convict-guard. The strength of the company consists of 5 sergeants, 1 drummer, 3 cor porals, and 67 privates, with 59 women and 105 children. On embarking, 60 rounds of ball cartridge were furnished to each man. These pensioners are under the command of Captain F. B. Russell, of the 221 Foot, appointed for the payment and organiza tion of the troops in that colony. These veterans volunteered their services, in consequence of circu lars having been forwarded to the several staff dis tricts for returns of pensioners who are disposed to volunteer their services for such duty; and Cap tain Tulloch, Inspector of Pensioners, is at Tilbury Fort for the express purpose of forming more com panies for the same duty, to escort convicts from this country. Mr. thomas Laslatt, late purveyor of timber at Moulmein, is appointed acting foreman at this yard. Mr. Robert Virming, supernumerary draughts man, now at Deptford, is appointed draughtsman at this yard, vice Mr. James Barnaby, promoted to measurer. APPOINTMENTS. WOOLWICH, DEC. 17.—Lieutenant Samuel G. Cresswell (1849), to the Investigator, commissioned this day at Woolwich to proceed with the Enterprise in search of Captain Sir John Franklin and his party. Lieutenant Cresswell was mate of the Investigator on her recent searching expedition to the Arctic regions, and was promoted to Lieutenant for his services on that occasion. Second-Master Stephen Court (1842), to the In vestigator. This officer was Second-Master in the Enterprise under Captain Sir James Ross in the recent searching expedition. Clerk in Charge—Joseph C. Paine (1842), to the Investigator. Mate—James J. 11. Groves (1848), to the Strom boli, at Portsmouth. The Right Hon. Sir Francis T. Baring, Bart., the First Lord of the Admiralty, Rear-Admiral J. W. Deans Dundas, C. 8., and Mr. Parker, First Secre tary, returned from Stratton Park to-day to their official duties at the Admiralty. The Archer steam-sloop was tried at the measured mile in Long Reach, with her iron screw propeller, on Friday last, and the average speed of four runs, two down and two up, w 7.6 knots per hour. The vessel was brought up at Greenhitbe, and the iron screw taken up and the brass screw turned by machi nery at the dockyard substituted. On the trial of the brass screw on Saturday the average speed of six runs at the measured mile, three down and three up, was 8.1 knots per hour, a greater speed by about half a knot than was obtained by the iron screw. It was the impression of those on board on Saturday that a still greater speed would have been attained with the brass screw had it not blown so very hard during the trial. Captain Johnson adjusted the compasses of the Aroher at Greenhithe to•day, and she leaves to morrow for Devonport, and will be commissioned shortly after her arrival there. The Terrible steam-frigate, Captain Hope, C 8., is under orders to leave Woolwich on Monday next to have her compasses adjusted at Greenhithe, that being necessary before she again proceeds to sea, as she has now only two boilers, instead of four, her previous number. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, DEC. 15.--EXETER COLLEGE.—DIC Rev. C. Hutchinson, M.A., of this College, has been pre sented to the vicarage of West Dean, Sussex. The Rev. A. S. Sutton, 8.A., of this College, has been licensed to the curacy of Raunds, Northampton shire. QUEEN'S COLLEGE.—The Rev. W. C. Bennett, M.A., formerly of this College, vicar of Corsham, Wilts, ard canon of Bristol, has been appointed chaplain to Lord Methuen. NEW COLLEGE.—The Rev. G. C. Rashleigh, M.A., formerly of this College, Fellow of Winchester Cc. liege, and victr of Bradford Peverill, Dorset, has been presentei to the donative curacy of Hamble-le- R ice, Hants. BRAZENOSE COLLEGE.—The Rev. J. W. Hatherell, D.D., formerly of this College, incumbent of St. James's, West-end, has been licensed to a chapel at Bitterne, a hamlet in the parochial district. CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE.—Mr. Tbeophilus Josiah East. a native of the diocese of Bath and Wells, has been elected and admitted to a Scholar ship at this College. CHRIST CHURCH.—The Rev. J. P. Roberts, M.A., late student of Christ Church, vicar of St. Peter the Great, and minor canon of Chichester, has been pre sented to the rectory of Esstergate, Sussex. The Rev. J. Salter, M.A., of Christ Church, rector of Iron• Acton, Gloucestershire, has been col lated to an honorary canonry in Bristol Cathedral. ST. JonN's COLLAGE.—The Rev. IT. A. Taylor, B.A. of this College, has been licensed to the curacy of Diddington, Northamptonshire. JESUS COLLEGE.-13r. John Skinner Jones,com moner of this College, h as b een e l ecte d to a scholarship on the North Wales Foundation. MAGDALEN-HALL.— The n F. A. Bowles, M.A., of this Hall, has been presented to the rectory of Singleton, Sussex. Term ends on Monday, the 17th inst. OXFORD, DEC. 17.—1 n a congregation holden this morning, being the last day of Michaelmas Term, the following degrees %sere conferred, viz::— Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity, by Accumulation--The Very Rev. Henry Hart Mil man, Dean of St. Paul's, Brasenose College, Grand Compounder. Bachelor or Chit Law—Rev. Thomas Smythe Hill, Magdalen College. Master of Arts—Rz,v. Thomas Binstead Macna mara, Magdalen Hall ; John Sayers, St. Mary Hell. Bachelor of Arts—Edmund Ya!es • Peel, Christ Church ; Frederick William Bosworth, Merton Col ltge. CAMBRIDGE, DEC. 15.—At a special congregation held this day the following degrees were conferred : B. D.—J. A. Jerome, Trinity College ;W. Belwyn, St. John's College. M. A.—II. B. Smyth, Jesus Collegs. B. A.—II. Crookenden, Downing College. There will be congregations on the following days of the ensuing Lent Term : Saturday, Jan. 26 (B.A. commencement), at 10; Thursday, Jan. 31, at 11; 'Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 11 (Ash Wednesday) ; Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 11 ; Wednesday, March 6, at 11 ; Friday, March 15 (M.A. Inceptors), at 10; Friday, March 22 (end of Term), at 10. Coarus CHRISTI COLLEGE. -- The Easthridge Scholarship at this College has been appropriated to Mr. Robert John Biron, and Mr. Edward Gordon has been appointed to one of the scholarships founded by Sir Nicholas Bacon. COURT Cl RC ULAR. OSBORNE, MONDAY. The Queen and Prince, and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, walked this forenoon in the grounds and park of Osborne. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the younger members of the Royal Family, walked and rode as usual. There was no addition to the royal dinner party yesterday. A deputation from Goldsmiths' Hall had an inter view with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his cfficial residence in Downing. street. The deputation consisted: of Mr. Bogle Smith, Prime Warden ; Mr. A. Copeland and Mr. Johnson, War dens ; attended by Mr. Lane, Clerk of the Company ; and Mr. Hayne. His Excellency the Danish Minister had an inter view with Earl Grey, yesterday, at the Colonial office. Sir Francis Baring returned to his residence in the Admiralty yesterday, from his seat in Hampshire. The Solicitor- General had an interview yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Higham, Secretary and Comptroller-General to the Commis sioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and Mr. Tidd Pratt, had also an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. Baronet. Mr. Moyle had an interview 3 esterday with Earl Grey. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial. office, frcal the Governor of Gibraltar. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday, and resumed the hearing of the appeal from the Court of Arches, "Gorham v. the Bishop of Exeter." The case was adjourned until this day. ST., JAMES'S THEATRE. Mr. Mitchell has just published his programme for the season, of French Plays, at this theatre; and, in asmuch as Mr. Mitchell is noted for the scrupulous fidelity with which he fulfils his pledges to the public, we feel justified in asserting that the forth coming season will he the most brilliant season of the French Plays that we have yet had in London. The earlier seasons were all devoted to vaude- villes, subsequently we had tragedy during the latter portion of the season in addition to vaudevilles, and last season we had the Opera Comique. In the season of 1850, all these attractions will be combined. Mr. Mitchell opens the theatre on the 7th of January for the opera season. his company will comprite Mdlle. Charton, M. Chellet, M. Lac, M. Nathan, M. Quilly Leroy, Aidlle. Dehausen, and Mdlle. Guichard ; and his first opera will be the Tel d' Andorre of Halevy, which has created so much sensation in Paris. This will be followed by Herold's Zampa, in which M. Chellet will sustain his original character, and by several other popular operas , including the new work by M. Thomas, Le Caid. The operatic season will terminate before Easter, but on the Ist of April the theatre will re-open for French comedy and vaudeville, and M. Samson, Mdlle. Denain, M. Regnier, Madlle. Nathalie, and Mdlle. Dejazet will successively make their appearance. When these comic performances are ended, Mdlle. Rachel will commence a series of tragic delineations, appearing in four of the old tragedies, and in Dumas's Mdlle. de Belle isle, a petite comedic. called Le Moineau de Lesbie, and Scribe's Adrienne Lecouvreur. This is certainly one of the most brilliant pro grammes ever presented to the public, and we trust that Mr. Mitchell will meet with that patronage and encouragement to which his taste, his energy, and his exertions so justly entitle him. ASTLEY'S AidIPHITHEATHE. A new grand equestrian spectacle, entitled The Knight of the Eagle Crest; or, the Tourney of Love, was produced here last evening with the most . tri umphant success. To all admirers of mtcheval manners and sports, The Knight of the Eagle Crest will be most welcome ; it is one of the most complete, one of the most perfect, and one of the most mag nificent illustrAtions of the sports, pastime!, and wars of the days of chivalry that has ever been presented. There is a hawking party, which is a living illus tration of the descriptions of Strutt and Walter Scott, and in which my Lord John Manners and the other " Young Englanders " would revel ; :and the Tourney of Love is a vivid representation of a tournament equal in magni ficence to the display at Eglinton, and superior to it in other respects, inasmuch as the amateurs at Eglin ton committed divers mistakes which the actors at Astley's avoided. This grand spectacle was hailed throughout with repeated cheers, and was announced for repetition amidst the most enthusiastic applause. It was followed by scenes in the circle, in the course of which Mdlle. Codone appeared on the tight rope, and by her brilliant, elegant, and most graceful performances elicited thunders of applause. This young lady is far and away the finest tight rope dancer of the day. Since the time of Plege there has been no person who could be compared to her. The house was very well attended. DRURY-LANE THEATRlL—giTiriderson has made public his lists of the artists who, according to his present arrangements, will form his company. The ordinary difficulties of so gigantic an undertaking are, no doubt, enhanced by the almost impossibility of collecting in one establishment a sufficiently powerful force of histrionic talent at a time when the most valuable members of the profession are distributed at the different theatres. This consideration allowed for, Mr. Anderson appears to have collected together an effective company. This list in cludes Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Nisbett, Miss Vandenhoff, Miss Phillips, Mrs. Ternan, Miss F. Huddart; Mr. Vanden hoff, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Basil Baker, Mr. F. Vining, Mr. Emery, &c. The season opens on the 26th December, with The Merchant of Venice and a new pantomime; and report speaks of novelties in preparation for production when the attraction of the latter shall have declirei. INCENDIARY FIRE NEAR OXFORD.—About five o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday last the inhabitants of Beckley, a village four miles from Oxford, were alarmed by the appearance of a volume of smoke, which was discovered issuing from the farm-yard of the Rev. George Theophilus Cook, the perpetual curate of Beckley. An express was immediately sent to Oxford, and several engines from that city were soon on the spot, and having a good supply t of water, the fire was confined to a hayrick and an outhouse, which were nearly destroyed. Fortunately the wind was favourable, otherwise there must have been a great destruction of property, as much valuable assricultural produce, imp!e ments, and buildings were standing in a yard contiguous to where the fire broke out. Strong suipicion attach, s to a labourer formerly in the employ of the Reverend Gentleman, and who is now in custody. Papers from the Cape of Good Hope to the 28th of October have arrived. The colonists were yet resolute their resistance to the admission of convicts, and meet iu to be held on tho subject. The shops and ings (3 , 'lpo Tuwn remained closed, but business was stores at . suspended. not altogethet . nIN Ban.—On Monday last a MAN DROWN},- -•m, on board the sloop Turner, sailor named W. Latth. k out a plug in the vessel's lying on Duddon Sands, to, leakage water to escape. bottom, in order to allow the ~ a . n went to bed. He neglected to replace the plug n During the night, as the tide rose, the water, and drowned the poor fellow red.—Cur water, - Usk Journal MUNICIPAL ItLFORM,q. Yesterday evening an adjourned public meeting was held at the New Court, Old Bailey, to take into consideration the question of municipal reform ; Sir Jarn.2s Duke in the chair. On the platform were Alderman Sir J. Key, Al derman Sir George Carroll, Alderman Sidney, M.P., the Common Sergeant, Mr. Commissioner Bullock, Mr. J. Toulmiu Smith, and a large number of mem bers of the Common Council. Mr. PULLING entered at some length into an expo sition of the laws regulating the affairs of the City. Referring to those which he contended pressed se verely upon the citizens he moved the following reso lution :—" That various Acts of Parliament having interfered with the discharge of several of the rights and duties of the members of the corporation of Lon don, it is necessary to take prompt steps to procure the entire repeal of all such Acts of Parliament, and especially of a certain Act of Parliament passed in the 11 th year of the reign of George 1., and of all Acts founded upon or having reference to that Act." Mr. ACKLAND, in seconding the resolution, con tended that the Act alluded to needlessly and mis chievously interfered with local legislation. The Act of 1725—the first Act of interference—was obtained on the application of a small portion of the alderinanie body in defiance of the wishes of the great majority of the citizens. The preamble of that Act alleged as the necessity for its introduction the numerous dis putes which took place at elections, but the allegation was false. The fact was, that the free citizens of London claimed the right to vote at elections—a right which had been conferred upon them from the earliest times ; and the aldermen, at least 15 of them, con ceiving that they ought not to be allowed to exercise that right, endeavoured to prevent them from doing so; and when they could not do it by the means placed et their disposal, they went to the Legislature and got the Act of Parliament in question. The Act passed last session, so far as its electoral character was concerned, took the place of the Act of 1725. That Act was asked for by the corporation of London on the face of the reports of numerous committees, which instead of advising the corporation to apply fur any such Act, recommended that they should at once demand the repeal of the Act of 1725, which was, to say the least of it, trifling with the rights of the citizens of London. After some remarks from Mr. Deputy BEDFORD, the resolution was passed nom:con. Mr. T. SMITH remarked, that the next resolution to he proposed referred to measures which seemed best calculated to maintain the integrity of the corpo. ration of London and the general interests of the nation. It was one of great importance and would involve much discussion. Ile would, therefore, pro pose the adjournment of the meeting until Wed nesday. This was agreed to, and after the usual compliment to the chairman the meeting separated. THE LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.— Last evening this society performed liandel's oratorio, Joshua. Exeter-hall was well filled, showing that the competition between this society and its rival has not diminished the music-loving appetite of the public. The principal singers were Miss Birch, Miss Stewart, Miss lieunetb, Mr. Benson, and Mr. Lawler; atd the chorus was extremely strong. The whole performance went o ff ver y w ell, so much so, as to show that this society, stimulatc.el by rivalry, can assert its claims to a high consideration with amateurs. In consequence of the recent death of Queen Adelaide, the orchestra and the side galleries were bung with black cloth. .... 814 45%