The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-11 00:00:00

toted to the penny postage, and would abolish that system. Now he (the Ch;nedlor of the Exchequer) hell quite the opposite opinion.—(llegr, hear.) He be lieved it . had eonterred great benctit on all classes of the c•?mcaunity, and h e took the opportunity of stating that since the e sta bli s h ment of the penny postage the number of letters had quadrupled. During the first year the number actually doubl e d, an d w ithin the last six years that increas e d num b er h a d doubled; so that, in point of tact, since the introdaction of the system, the number of letters which had passed through the Post-office Ind actualy quadr u pl e d. The lion. Gentleman objt eted to the unproved prison discipline of the present day, and h e ate; posed they would have another resolution en that subject ; but he doubted very much if the House would agree With hina iu his views. Hiving noticed the Hon. Gentleman's propositions regarding Ireland, the cur reney, free trade in gold, and the amount of British capital locked up in debt, the Right Honourable Gen tleman showed that as each of those questions was to form the groundwork for inquiry and resolutions, they c old not expect to get through the programme before the end of half a dozmi sessions at la:it.—(hear, hear.)Ou these grounds, therefore, he felt jus:ifh d in resisting the motion of the Honourable Gen tleman, and he trusted the House, by opposing the proposition submitted to their consideration, would tr , vent the waste of time which such an inquiry as pro posed would certainly entail. While he offered this op- Posithn to the resolution, he felt bound to state, that Year by year a progressive revision of taxation hed been going on. Various alterations had been made in their Customs and Excise duties, and hardly a year passed that so me portion o f t h e b urt h en o f taxation - un articles of consumption and manufacture was not removed. Leaving out of the qtvstion the property and corn duties, no less th an thi r ty m illi ons o f t axes h a d b een rem itt e d since the year 1813. During the last four years, from 1845 to 1848, the amount produced by Custom duties had increased 887,0001, namely, from 20,700,000/. to 22,593 ; 9301., while in the same period there were remitted in Custom duties 4,681,000/. There could be no better proof, he maintained, of the remission of duties on articles of consumption and manufacture, and of the t-ndency of the Government to relieve the labouring classes from those taxes which interfered with their employment. The Right Hon. Gentleman vindi cated himself and other Members of the Government from the charge made against them by the lion. Member for West Surrey, namely, that when not in power they held out the expectation of effecting great reduction of taxation, and he concluded by again calling on the Rome to resist the motion, as if carried he believed it would only lead to a waste of time. SPOON ER considered that alb Right Honourable Gentleman had endeavoured to divert the attention of the House from the resolution submitted to its consideration by his Hon .Friend the Member for West Surrey. It did not follow that if they went into Committee, they were bound to enter into all the subjvcts touched upon by the lion. Gentleman in his amusing address. The proposition which they had to decide was, not whether they entertained his views, but whether the House should resolve itself into a Committee to consider the public expenditure, and the existing system of taxation, and how far both might be reviied, with a view to re lieve the pressure on the industry of the country. Now, he should like to know how could any man who opposed that motion justify himself* before his constituents ? The Right lioneurable Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that the present Government, by the constant revision of taxation, was making great Progress towards the object which the Honourable Member for West Surrey had in view. Now, it that were the case, how did it come to pass that the expendi ture, which in 1842 amounted to 50,000,000/., reached in 1819 between 53,000,000/. and 54,000,000/ ? With regard to the proposition of reducing the salaries of public officers to the standard of 1;94, ho was prepared to show that it Would not be the extravagent change which the Right Zion. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, en deavoured to make the House believe. Before the war, the Master-General of the Ordnance was paid 1,5601., but he now received 3.0001. per annum. The Surveyor- General has a salary of 3251; it was now 1,200/.; and the Storekeeper's salary was increased from 9651 to 1 ,2001. per annum. It was with those officers the Hon. Gentleman's resolution intended to deal, and not with the incomes of the Secretary of State, or the President of the Council. He would vote with his Hon. Friend because he desired to go into Committee to see it' they , could remove the distress without violating our obliga tions with the public creditor. Sir JOHN TYRELL would not have addressed the House had not the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Honourable Gentleman who introduced the motion, told them that the gentlemen who addressed the farmers recently, were imposing on them when they said, that protection must again be given to corn. Now, he denied that the gentlemen who had addressed the farmers in their own counties or elsewhere, had been imposing upon them. He'could not agree in the views of the Hon. Member who brought forward this motion, and he should not support him. Mr. M. GIBSON said that the words of the motion were unexceptionable, but the opinions which he ex pressed he could not assent to in the slightest degree. He could not agree with him in going back to an in creased system of postage. At the same time he did not like to be considered as an obstacle to a revision or re duction of expenditure; but he thought it ought not to be put forward in its present shape, and, therefore, ho would move the previous question, Mr. COBI)EN seconded the amendment. Mr. PLUMPTRE regretted to find that the Honour able Member for Surrey had treated the question with levity. It was no laughing matter, for the people were in deep distress, and the day must come when the ques tion would press itself upon the consideration of the country. Mr. JACKSON said he came down to the House to support the motion, but the speech of the Hon. Mover was so inconsistent with his motion, that ho could not think of giving his vote in favour of the latter. Mr. B. COCHRANE should feel great pleasure in giving his support to a motion, the object of which was to relieve the poor of this country, by throwing the bur dens of the State upon the shoulders of those who were best able to bear them.—(Hear.) Mr. MUNTZ said the terms of the motion were un exceptionable, and the statements made in support of it were perfectly legitimate. He brought forward a mo tion on the same subject some time ago, and he then made statements which his experience had since fully confirmed. This ho would say, that great distress pre• veiled amongst the people, and some means must be taken to remove the pressure upon them; and they might de pend upon it that this must be done, and would be done by some one. Trade was deteriorating, and wages were deteriorating, and seeing all these things, he should support the motion. Colonel SIBTHORP would also support the motion, because he believed it to be necessary to do something to relieve the distress of the people. He had given notice of a motion in reference to the army and navy. lie did this because it was right to overturn everything, in order that the bad might bo selected from the good, and that justice might be done to the people, and the 'trickery, trumpery, and trash of every Government `should be exposed. Mr. HEYWORTH said distress existed, and the only 'Way to relieve it was by extending commerce.--(Hear, hear.) Unless they did this, and revised the whole of 'the indirect taxation of the country, they would not be able to stem the tide of pauperism and distress which was flowing over the country. If the motion was car tied economy might be promoted, but he did not attachl so much consequence to savings as to the remedy he proposed. Mr. HENLEY saw no objection to the resolution. As this appeared to be a practical measure he should support it. With regard to the amount of salaries, all he would say was, that the prices of the necessaries of life were very different from what they were now when these salaries were fixed, and he therefore thought that ground for inquiry into their amount. There was great competition in every walk of life, and he saw no reason why Government offices should be exempted from the principle of obtaining services at a moderate cherge. He should vote for the motion. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said, Ireland had not been in cluded in this measure, but he should contend that if she was fairly dealt with she would be a source of consider able revenue to this country. Mr. DISRAELI said, the motion now under consider ation was one of universal interest. He had not heard the entire of his Hon. Friend's speech in introducing that resolution, but he had heard a great part of it, and he felt bound to acquit his Hon. Friend of having treated the subject with levity. A spirit of philosophic sarcasm did not involve levity. He knew his Hon. Friend had devoted great attention to this subject. He could not admit that the resolution might not be separated from the speech which accompanied it ; but when calling the attention of the House to so important a question, which was, in fact, equivalent to ,taking into consideration the • state of the country, it was usual to lay on the table of the House the resolutions embodying the views by which it was proposed to meet the difficulties alleged to exist. He thought his Hon. Friend did not do himself justice in bringing forward this motion in neglecting to adopt the usual precedent followed on simi lar occasions. Had he adopted that course, ha would not have been taunted as he had been by various Mem • hers with having made omissions, such as not having referred to Ireland. The course he had pursued led to this result, that it was only by accident that the House had not come to a division upon the motion w h en t h e lion. Membe r had concluded his speech. Had he given due notice the House required the d e liberate and mature e g am _ o the f . i m upon th e severa l ques ti o ns, and at Opinion::it could ou c i a d ndidly laid down w h a t were his own the House not have h a p pene d t h at t h e sense of comprehensive a could bo tak en upon so i mportant an d the contrary , the question after a s h or t d e b ate . Oa llouse having been prepared for the question, the result would have b een th a t a ft er a the debate worthy of i a m v p o o t r e ta sa n House would have given ti e s f c f t o t r h y e to s the e e c c o t the try and to their constituents;gih but he would ask, would that be the cap n ew s e would not object to the motion because he differed from which his Hon. Friend had many of the conclusions at pinionarrived. He bad no hesita tuhaotuse would tion in expressing an o no long period of time would elapse before the be called upon and would be induced this subject, but he put it to ohiciffinto Committee upon consider whether he would be onourable Friend to he had in view, by taking advancin ga the object motion, in a House which w as not fully v oteupon his was to bo observed that there were manyat_tended. It the question which had not been touched branches of upon. It was-true his Honeurable Friend had made m en u gestione, which must have convinced every one: thats he must give a decided opinion as to the existing sY s. tem of taxation. He hoped his Hon oura bl e Friend from a due regard to the importance of the question, not pres,; tu:.ture cfit, t'ra un, are wouid ; , ilc:' ill, :a in t:.P pinf,tl f di, viding on his motion. Ile was most anxious that his Hon. Friend should withdraw his motion, rather than oblige him to adopt the previous question Which carried with it some degree of censure. lle thought the course he would adopt now that he candidly submitted -his views to the House, and that . they hid been received with all due consideration, would be not to take the sense of the House upon the que.i!i,:n. Mr. LABOUCHEIIE said he wished, on the part of his Right ErieLd the Chancellor of the Exch e quer, to repudiate the imputation that he had treated the question of retrenchment, or that of the colonies with levity. His Right Hoe. Friend did certainly regard with e. me degre o of levity the manner in which the question had been introduced, but he did not extend it to the cub. jeet.—(hear.) With regard to the resolution before the House, he thou e ht it e ould have more cha-ice of success if the resolutions w hish it was intended to lead to had beer, laid upon the tahle. As the case now stood . he was not prepared to follow him as a pilot upon such a voyage as lie proposed to undertake. They ought not to get into a Committee unless they could see how they were to be employed when they got into that Committee, and how they were to get out of it. With 'regard, however, to economy and retrenchment, his Right lion. Friend was as anxious to promote both as any lion. Member of that House, end of that he had given ample proof . ; hut it aas another thing to embark upon a voyage of disco very under the auspices of the Hon. Member, which would only be a waste of time, If the Hon. Gentleman persevere d, he hoped the ressintion would be rejected. It wars his intention to vote for the previ nl5 eine sti n. Mr. ROBINSON said he thought his lion. Friend had adopted the best means of attaining the end be had in view. It was not correct to say that motions of this kind should be preceded by a series of resolutions em bodying the views the proposer entertained of accom plishing the object he aimed at. He had himself, in the year 1836, brought forward a motion for a revision of taxation. On that creation, in a House of 372, he was beaten only by a majority of an. The present Govern ment stated that they would take the question of re trenchment into consideration during the Easter recess; lie wished to inquiry now whether they had done any thing to redeem that pledge? Mr. COI3DEN said he was disposed to question the sincerity of the Hon. Member who had proposed this re solution. He agreed with him in the expression of the sc ntiment, that there was a tendency on the part of the rich to oppress the poor. He agreed with him upon the wasteful expenditure incurred in the dockyards, and also, that they should reduce the national debt ; and, with that view, that they should equalise the land tax, and irsposo a property-tax, and apply the pro duce of both to its reduction. He also agreed with him that they could never again resort to the bread-tax. With regard to the agricultural impostors that were re ferred to, all ho would sly was, that gentlemen could not assume a worse occupation than first deluding themselves to attempt the delusion of telling the farmers they would get back protection. He could not, however, agree with him in his idea of progressive taxation, nor to the abolition of the penny post. In the present dis cussion, what he had to complain of was, that the Hon. Member had not told them what he meant to do. 11e was not in lova with the motion of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Drummond), because he did not think that much good would arise from their going into Committee; and he regretted that a reduction of expenditure was not in troduced with it, because the revision was not what the country required, but a reduction. He perfectly agreed with the Hon. Gentleman, that a reduction in the salaries of the Sate-paid officers was necessary, in consequence of the poverty of the country, through taxation ; not that he wished that talent and ability should not be fairly remunerated, but that there should be fewer officers in several departments, and that the taxation should be transferred from con sumable goods to landed property. When the Hue. Member for Essex (Sir J. Tyrell) spoke of the distress of the agricultural pot tion of the country, he (Sir John Tyrell) should bear in mind that that distress to which he elluded, was owing to the incessant rains for four teen days lest year; and, also, that it was an e xeeption to the general rule; and moreover, that the distress of which he csmplained, was confined to the western coun ties of this country.—(hear, hear.) He thought that such could not be alleged as a reason for saying that the whole country was in distress. He would consider himself guilty of telling an untruth if he were to say that the immense popuistion of the West Riding of Yorkshire, amounting to 1,500,000, were in dis tress, because through the late revolutions in foreign countries some of the manufacturers of, that riding were not as successful as usual ; and such was the case H ith the agriculturists of the western counties, while those in other parts of England were happy and contented.— (Cries of " No, no," from the Protectionists.) He would say—Yes, yes; for in 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842 they (the Protectioniete) were silent whilst the north of England was suffering under very great distress, and in 1848, they were also contented. In fact, whatever remedies were required for the agriculturist's interest should be obtained by a reduction in the national ex penditure, and in that he would gladly and willingly support them. He would recommend the county consti tuencies to keep their representatives from the House,and that they themselves, the free-traders, would reduce the ex penditure without them, for he considered that they were the principal barriers to so essential a measure. He considered that his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. M. Gibson) had put his motion in the most courteous manner, and hoped that the llon. Gentleman (Mr. Drummond) would withdraw his motion, for he could not go into Committee on it. fie should therefore vote for the pre vious question. Mr. DRUMMOND said that ho did not impute a want of courtesy to any lion. Member, and that he considered ho was acting according to the standing orders of the House, and to the usual mode adopted, by refusing to lay the resolutions before the House previously to going into Committee. Such had been done by the President of the Board of Trade on the navigation-lswe. He brought that subject on solely for the good of the country, and he thought that if the manufacturing interest did not get some other leaders besides those they had, that they would never do any good. The House then divided— For the previous question Against it • lOO Majority for the previous question —5l EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. Mr. CHARTERIS moved for a Select Committee to inquire into and report upon the expenditure of certain sums which appear as unaccounted for, under the head of Parl'arnentary expenses, in the report which was re cently published by a Committee appointed to inquire into the management of the affairs of the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company. He felt assured that any Hon. Member of that House would join him to remove from the public mind the prejudices that that subject had created, and would nut, therefore, trespass on the time of the House. Colonel SIBTHORP said that he felt fully satisfied that it would be essential to the benefit of the country that there should be a general inquiry into the state of railways; ferl,uch an inquiry would tend to show the pub lic that some parties were not in the position that they were represented to be. He was for examining every railway director and every engineer, for he believed they were a tricky, set of fellows. Mr. ROEBUCK implored the House not to be led away by the whims of any Hon. Member. That was no question for buffoonery.—(A laugh.) Certain seri ous charges and insinuations were made against that House, and it required the most searching investiga tion to arrive at a proper conclusion. It was not the peculiar company itaelt; or the manner in which rail ways were mannaged, into which they were to inquire, but the character of the House. He had r.o per sonal interest in the matter—he had not one farthing in any railway company whatever, but ho was for a rigid examination into the conduct of the Members of that House, respecting certain transactions. He could not, however. avoid remarking that those who cringed in that House to an Hon. Member while ho was in the ascendant, and king of a petty dominion, now turned round basely with the tide, and swelled that tide against a fallen victim, whom they had cheered on almost to death.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Roebuck) had the same feeling towards the fallen favourite opposite in cheering on committeemen to hunt a man down; but it was done for the same base purpose—money put him forward, and money was now the instrument to put him down. Sir R. INGLIS thought the motion ought to be with drawn until the Hon. Member particularly referred to was in his place. An Hox: MEMBER—He had opportunities enough to do so. Sir R. H. INGLIS—Hon. Members may say ho had opportunities enough to do so, but the fact was, that the s i t n t ra G ersp o s n tht t re le er mu eocatranssevere was d tlh.tch boor rn domesticga n at under the that moment u l u oann e ed r l a m a u la c m h it l y a . ugh E t ei er o , entered into an animated conversation with Mr. Roe 110 (Sir R. In lis) pronounced no opi n i on on tbhuec ktransaction—(A laugh)—he had had no communi cation whatever with any individuals concerned, but he received that morning a letter from Yorkshire, in which the writer urged upon him the common justice of post poning a decision upon the question, until the Hon. Gen tlemen so deeply interested could be present. Mr. HUMPHREY BRO\VNE said that the question which sought to be inquired into by the Committee was really settled that day, at a meeting of the East ern Co ri tn i e e e s ti leigaiilnwqauyireCdomeopmaap3r-i The s© the faaaaunts into whi c h following : —For thaut ad vertisements, 1,539/.; solicitor's account,4,i; printing, 2141 . 1,6191. ; loss on shares, 3,400 1 . ; advertidsemieno e advertisements, 3 no transactions, a n a s u a c i t u i o ci n u s i , y o r b y such a N ya o r vr i , am w e h n a t t ar r y esul result coCommitteeul items as these, which did not include any Parliamentary exp-nses whatever? Colonel SIBTHOR P then (amid much laughter) a aughter) a ddressed the House , and said that having had con versation with the Hon. Member for Sheffield, that Hon. Member informed h im he did not intend to tee word " balfoonery "in regard to him. He gave him (Colonel Sibthorp) that distinct answer, which he did not hesitate to give on all occasions. Mr. ROEBUCK —If the Hon. and Gallant Gentle man will put the question again, I'll answer as plainly as I can. Colonel SIBTHORP—My question " this—When the Hon. Gentleman used the expression buffoonery," did he mean to apply it to me?—(Laughter.) Mr. ROEBUCK —I shall repeat the words I used, and you, Sir (to the Speaker), no doubt recollect them, and carry them in your min I. I said "He should take no thing to himself, though I used the word buffoonery.' It' that expros,ion is out of order, I retract it.—(Hear, hear, and iaughter.) SIBTHORP, with considerable energy-1 thank the Hon. Gentleman.—(Great laughter.) The motion was then agreedto. SUNDAY TRADING. Mr. lIINDLEY moved for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent unnecessary Sunday trading in the metropolis. Mr. BARING WALL opposed the motion, as being contrary to the spirit of the 13!itish constitution. Mr. lIINDLEY said a Bill was introduc'eil at the de sirsol pers,m; in trade thi'mcdves. Sir G. GREY admitted he had advised his Hon Friend that the Bill ought to be withdrawn last session, and Was aware that a great desire existed to prevent I r~ THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 11, improper Sunday trading in the metropolis. It was, however, surrounded with many difficulties, which re quired the m st serious and careful consideration. L ,rd S CHART bore testimony to the anxiety which existed that trsdiug on Sunda y s in the metropolis should be put on a proper footing. He admitted it was surrournicd with difficulties, but they could be surmounted by careful consideration. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. THE MARRIAGES BILL. On the order of the day being read for the adjourned debate on the second reading of this Bill, Mr. S. WORTLEY said, that in consequence of the lateness of the hour—(Cries of " Go on, go on; Divide, divide")—he coal not proceed with the di,ctLision. El s lion. and Learned Friend the Member for the Univerity of Dublin moved the adjournment of the debate, and in tended to speak upon it; but the hour was then too late. . . Aft( r a Lew words from Mr. GOULBURN and Mr, NAPIER, The debate was further adjourned to the next day. Colonel SIBTLIORP again called the attention of the House to the words used by the lion. Member for Shef field (Mr. Roebuck), whom he regretted to see not then in his place. his character was dear to him, and he wished to have a satisfactory explanation of the meaning of the ex pression " buffoonery." The SPE ARM?, informed the Hon. and Gallant Offi cer that, in his opinion, the lion. and Learned Member for Sheffield did rot apply that expression personally to him. Colond SIBTIIORP—Then, Sir, I am satisfied. _PUBLIC HEALTH (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the order of the d.ty being put for the s'.cmd read ing of this B!11, Viecount DR UML AN RIG protested eg :hist its being br,n,ght forward at that la:e hour, and moved that the lloue do adjourn. The gallery was then cleared for a division, when there appeared— For the adjournment . . ... 33 Against it ... 96 Majority against thn adjournment... —63 The LOllb ADVOCATE, on our return to the gal lery, V:23 exp!aining to the House that the intention of this Bill was to apply to Scotland the provisions of the measure which last year was enacted with respect to England and Irelatv:!, and the operation of which had hiterto been attended with considerable success. Every provision of the English Bill was here re-enacted, to gether with certain others, peculiarly fittinr , for Scotland, the introduction of w hich was sufficient alone to entitle the Bill to a second reading. Amongst these new pro visions w( re some for the general supervision of the English Board, the appointment of a resident Scotch secretary, and one to enable all inquiries to take place under its authority, should be conducted under the super intendence of the Sheriff of the county. Mr. F. MACKENZIE complained of the lateness of the hour at which the Learned Lord Advocate had in troduced this Bill, and said that if he had only made his statement in the first instance, it would not have been opposed. After a few words from Lord DRUAILANRIG to the same cifret, Mr. n MALTLE said that the principles of the Bill were so obviously judicious that he was s(imewhat sur prised at the objection raised to its progress. He hoped they would not be allowed to interfere with it to any undue ext,nt, as they might he examined most con veniently if conce:-.tratcd. Mr. (SUMMING BRUCE admitted the utility and general principles of iho Bill, but he objected to the system of centralization upon which its provisions were founded, and also to that of inquiries before the Sheriff. Mr. OSWALD said the expense of this Bill ought to ba eleLrly stated to the House, and that it was his duty, that not being the case, to make the circumstance known, with a view to its being provided for. After consider ing the B,li attentively, he greatly feared that it was premature, though ho thought its principle to be gene rally corr.( cf. After a few worls from Mr. SLA.NEY in support of the 13iii, it was read a second tiro", and ordered to be coramuted. The Houle then ad ourned at a QuartLr before Oae. LITERATURE. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF VICE ADMIRAL LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, K. 13., DUKE OF BRONTE,-c. By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew, F.R S., F.S.A , Doctor of Phi losophy of the University of Gottingen, 6-c. o'C. The name of Thomas Joseph Pettigrew is no stranger in the literary world. Eminent as a phy sician, profound as a scholar, a learned antiquarian, an eloquent lecturer, he has already found time from his professional and scientific labours to give to the public more than one work of solid and enduring ex cellence. Formerly librarian to a Royal Duke, he had opportunities for mental discipline and culture few could command—few commanding could so well employ. But great literary talents are not Mr. Pettigrew's only qualifications to compose a life of Nelson. The son, as he informs us, of one who, as surgeon on board the Barfleur, had "done the State some service"—thrown from early years into the so ciety of naval men—living on terms of intimacy with some of Nelson's chosen band—listening to the often told exploits of a Rodney, a Howe, a St. Vincent; to his deep and general information he added a per sonal enthusiasm, and was gratifying an old passion, and recalling unforgotten friendships, when he be came a naval biographer. Rememb?ring the many:dis tinguished writers who have preceded him, from Clarke to Southey, Mr.: Pettigrew would not, ho tells us, have undertaken these memoirs but . for a remarkable event, whi c h su p p li e d hi m w i t h new and invaluable materials to illustrate the life and character of Nelson, as well as of others with whom the hero's fortunes were, happily for his country, unhappily for his memory, too closely associated—we mean the discovery of his private correspondence , ex tending from 1793 to the period of hi s death. A great man's letters are sometimes the best index of a great man's mind—a biography of Nelson incorpo rating an autobiography was a wise thought, and an acceptable gift to the nation. One loves to trace the growth of such a character ; through what progrea sive stages his young ambition passed till it conceived and accomplished—heroism ! Nelson's letters display, too, that emotion of heart, that religious and high enthusiasm which so largely contributed to his suc cesses, which gave persuasive powers to " his blue thoughtful eye," and filled his weak body with an in domitable spirit ! There is, no doubt, to be found in these letters that which a good man may condemn, and which a moralist cannot strictly excuse ; but, says Mr. Pettigrew, and we think the remark a just one,—"lf it were possible, consistently with what is due to jus tice' to have given publicity to the pri v ate o pi n i ons of Lord Nelson on the passing events of his time, and of the transactions in which he was concerned, without unveiling the foibles and weaknesss of his nature, the task would have been more refreshing than it has proved to be ; but when imperfect and prejudiced statements are put forth under sanction which gives gre it weight to the nar rative, the demands of truth are imperative, and the publication of that which certainly was never intended for the public eye or the general gaze becomes justi fied." Without detracting from the ability of the biographer, and few will deny the elegance of his tyla or the judicious selection of his subject-matter, this private correspondence forms the principal and most novel charm of his admirable book. Other authors may tell us how Nelson's great battles were fought, the disposition and number of his ships, what was the strength of his antagonist, and where lay the glory of his triumph ; but in these pages , for the first tim e , we l earn hots the man Nelson felt on the morning of the Nile, or on the eve of 'Trafalgar ! The mysterious influence of Emma Lady Hamilton—an influence she exerted much to her own shame—much also to her country's weal—an influence which infatuated to' vice, yet inspired to what was great and noble—an influence which made Nelson captive to her charms, but cheered him on to the conquest of his enemies— seems always to pervade these letters ; and as we read, we lament that so much evil was united with so much good—that the weakness of the woman dimmed the virtues of the heroine ! It has been too much the fashion to censure the conduct of Nelson in re gard to the trial and execution of the celebrated Caracciolo, and his supposed repudiation of the treaty on the faith of which the Castles of Uovo and Nuoro consented to surrender. Mr. Pettigrew's narrative of this transaction, and his able vindication of Nelson, will be read with profound interest. Placing before his readers a graphic sketch of the unhappy condition of the King of Naples—plots and rebellions thickening around him, the defeat of his troops, his precipitate flight to Palermo—our attention is called to Caracciolo, a noble and a military officer, possessing the confi• dente of his sovereign, sharing in his temporary exile, then quitting him to save his own property, deserting his royal master in his hour of necessity, despising repeated warnings, insensible to duty as a subject, to honour as a soldier, enrolling himself among the arme d enemies f his king, an wowed rebel and an open traitor ! " May not," says Mr. Pettigrew, " the execution of Caracciolo be looked upon rather as a necessary measure to discountenance rebellion, and suppress ir►archy—as a rigorous act of justice requisite under the circumstances ?" That Nelson had authority to order his trial, and to set up the judgment -seat in a British vessel, is, we'think, satisfactorily shown,'while seve:al charges urged against Nelson, in connexion with this transaction, are clearly and completely refuted. The letters of Lady Hamilton and the Queen of Naples will go far to remote the scandal which has been sa illiberally uttered against them. There is indignation for manifest guilt—pity for merited suffering—but no vindictiveness in act or .xpression. The delicacy required in treating of these and other passages in the her o ' s lif e , w h ere the came of Lady Hamilton has been con • netted with the transaction, has been fully appreciated by Mr. Pettigrew, and we cannot but commend that ' qh sense of justice which has prompted him never to lose an occasion of impartially wiping away any stain which has unfairly attached to the memory of lady—alas ! I too beautiful and t4rougaeut are written . tumuli , a lucid and elegant being introduced just at the narrative, the letters l c f , : fa t tn, " d e eil 3 x,. beautiful, tuTnhhes style, suitable occasion/ w hen they forma luminous con- netting link, throwing light on what precedes and follows; and so introduced as never to fatigue the attention, while frequently some daring exploit or well-told anecdote amuses the reader's fancy and illus trates the hero's character. The pleasing manner of the author may perkips be gathered from a quotation made at random from the book it=elf:— NELSON AT SANTA CRUZ. " The boat was then got afloat (for it had grounded from the falling of the tide), and Josiah Nisbet took one of the oars. The voi c e o f hi s step-son giv ing orders roused Nilson, whose faintness was subsiding, and,he he desired to be lifted up t.) look a little about him. The scene of destruction, and the tempestuous sea, NTT_ su blimely dreadful; a painful uncertainty prevailed re specting the fate of his brave companions, when, on a F sudden, a general shriek from the crew of the ,)x, which had sunk from a shot she had received uns i er water made the Admiral forget his own weak and Fate ful state. Many were rescued trom a watery grave by Nelson himself, whose huraene exertions on this occasion added considerably to the agony an d danger of his welind . Ninety-seven men, including Lieut. Gibson, were and eighty-three were saved. The first ship which the boat could reach happened to be the Seahorse; but no thing could induce the Ad m i ra l to go on boar , l, though - he was assured that it might be at the risk of his life if they attempted to row to another ship. "Then I would die,' he exclaimed, 'rather than alarm Mrs. Freemantle by her seeirg me in this st Ito, and when I can give her no tidings whatever of her hus band.' They accordingly proceeded without further delay for the Th eseus; w h en, notw i t h stan di n g the in creased pain and weakness which he experienced, he peremptorily rerotrei all assistance in getting on board. ,, Let me alone, I h ave got my legs left and Date arm.' The concluding chapter of the work is worthy of its predecessors. It is a little gallery of portraits. We have there aff or d e d us an opportun ity o f com paring the various characters of Nelson as they have been drawn by different able pens and intimate which Contemplationw e qu ote o s f h short passage friends of the illustrious deceased, as well as a spirited and masterly sketch by the author himself, from it was one of incessant activity, He had a mind ade quate to any emergency,his promp to every exigency; tttudein action was as remarkable as his judgment was dis 'ssacgaele".Tr admits of no pause, tinguished; notl ing escaped hi s attent i on. He is an e exam ple of decided genius his professio n for whilst he could enter into a consideration of and particular details, his grasp of intellect was such as enabled him to embrace and embody the whole view and entire object, and determine even , the most minute upon the consequences of action. The moment a conception was engendered it engrossed all his thoughts, and not an instant was lost in the contemplation of the mesas calculated to ensure its success; his energies were pr oportioned to the great ness of the object to be achieved, en d nothing was left to the possibility of temporary nec ess i ty or accident. He was too heroic to feel difficulty an oppositi on to hi s pro gress, and nothing affecting either individual or national honour was with him a matter of indifference." The appendix contains a short me mo i r o f t h e " un fortunate Lady Hamilton" and her daughter, lloratia. The work, comprising two handsome vo l umes, wh i ch autograph ar letters eillustrated ofeminent with eopies of several interesting persons, &c., &c., and embellished by some well-executed steel cuts, forms, on the whole, a most valuable addition to the lives of our naval heroes, and merits the attention of all w h o desire to adorn their libraries with books of genuine and authentic information, or with hist or i es rep l ete with useful and entertaining instruction. 5111 REGINALD .1110 HUN, BART., 5011 IE ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE AND ADVEN TURES. Done in Verse, by George John Cayley. Canto First. The old manner of the thing propitiated us. Done in verse was as agreeable to our palate as a wine posset. And then the old-fashioned typography! two stanzas in a page ! the number of lines docketed in the margin ! and one of those outlandish woodcuts at the head of the canto, representing impossible little boys in a highly tropical state of nudity ! And on glancing through the quaint, odd, rambling " In troduction," we were still more predisposed to be satisfied, when we found that the poem was no am bitious flight into the heroics, but an off-hand, jocose, comical, satirical, and sometimes even a broadly burlesque narrative—in imitation of that scoffing strain which Byron rendered so popular by his " BoPP°and "Don J uan ." At the very outset the write r, p lacin g himself fairl y on trial before the bar of Criticism, sneers at those poetasters who proclaim the downfal of poesy— " against reason in their time, Are And rhyming The celebrated poem s of Bulwer L y tton, not to sa y the volumes of Te nn y son, and of Elizabeth Barrett i rc i o n ii g tent to reason against rhyme." Browning, are a sufficient refutation. Those who appreciated either the "New never decry the age as un p oetical have never read, or, h av ing read, have Timon' or the remarkable epic of " King Arthur." So thinks Mr. Cayley—and, thinking so, he still further prejudiced us in his favour. We read, and we read on—slowly—at length te diously—but ultimately to the end of the sixty-fourth page, or, which is the same thing, of the first canto. It was scarcely necessary for the author to disclaim so very expressly (Int. VI. 48.) any attempt on his part of fine writing—seeing that we Snd scattered profusely through his stanzas such colloquialisms, vulgarisms, or conventionalism s , as— " which answers pretty well" (Int. VI. 43.) " when we expected eloquence.in blazes," (Int. XIV. 112)—" the cream of Nature's dairy," (Int. XVII. 132)—" they went along full slash," (XXIX. 228) " I wish that I had lots of tin," (LXIV. 500— " the hero tips up 211 his little annals," (LXXII. 572). Is this poetry ? Is it not rather the most witless of all slang ? If the reader is not brought by this time to the latter con viction by our foregoing specimens of Mr. Cayley's Poem, we give another dainty 2noreeau, which for delicacy is only to be surpassed by some of the gros ser passages in the effusions of William Somerville—a poet of the last century creditably known only as the writer of the lively and natural "Chase." We shall quote only one stanza—quite enough we conjecture— descriptive of the commencement or mmen g c s e m m e e k n e t ep o e f rs a,whoconversation a re between two grooms re turning to Nornyth-place in a boat— " They said Oh! what a gentleman to talk Is that there Lacy! what a tongue he've got! But Mr. Vivian is a pretty shot. And what a pace his Lordship wish to walk! Which Mr. Tancarville, ho seemed quite beat; But he's a pleasant gentleman.—Good lawk, How he do make me laugh !—dang! this 'ere seat Have wet my smalls slap through—dang! what a treat!' Nothing more is surely requisite to show that "Sir Reginald Mohun, Bart." is no " Don Juan," and that Mr. George John Cayley is no worthy successor of the generation after that which has o wned Barry Cornwall as one of its least prominent, yet one of its most estimable, ornaments. Says the poet — "If this be good—the world will find it out; If it be bad—they will not take it in ; Nor will it take them in." No doubt of it—and so Mr. George John Cayley had batter (if he would deign to listen to our re commendation) hang himself in his "last line" rather than attempt anything like a continuation. STUDENTS ON QUIISTIONS FOR LAW SER GEANT STEPHEN'S.II3I.3fEN NEW THE, SECOND EDITION S T OF D C E - 3 0 1 TARIES ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND. The educational preliminaries required L qualify By James Stephen, Esq., . the aspirant to the degree of barrister - at law are so meagre and defective that he who contributes in any way to facilitate the acquisition of legal knowledge confers a benefit not only upon the legal profession but indirectly upon society, in which the members of Middle Temple.. 0 law a professorsndt the system in our u ofr ou universitiesr legal o o l l i e s g e of s , no h e practical t this honourable profession have ever held a hi g h an d important position. The little knowled ge t o b e gleane d frem tbe use, inns of court, which ought to be the school s f or l ega l instruction and the inculcation of so un d l ega l science, has unfortunately more re f erence to Kitchener than to Coke, and until th ese de fefcit be in theseveral i supplied by the e s t a bli shment inns of court, un d er a b le onsstrsu shall l on professors, where the sound principles and practical e knowledge of law shall be taught, as othe r sc i ences i n the several schools and colleges, we can se e no b etter mode by which the student can acquire ,4(u l e e s g to ailnknow ledge through the medium of such we ll- arranged helps as this very useful ful volume These cof "Questions" have o i immediate reference to one of th e greatest legal works or modern times Mr. Ser geant Stephen's "New Commentaries on the Laws of England," a work which we should not be surprised to see very soon supersede all others —they are clear and well defined, and the mode of reference is simple and well arranged. 'We cannot too strongly recommend both the " Questions" and the great work to which they refer to the attention of the self-improving student, anxious to acquire sound legal knowledge by the least difficult means. THE LOTTERY OF MARRIAGE.—The scene of this new novel, by Mrs. Trollope, is laid partly at Dover, and partly in one or two English country residences. The interest of the work is evidently intended to depend more on the characters than on the fable, and though not liable to the charge of being personal, it is difficult to believe that the sketches are purely imaginative. Young marriageable noblemen have furnished, from time immemorial, a favourite and a fair material for the pen of the satirical novelist, for few scenes of life are more pregnant with folly on all sides, than those which ensue upon the hunting down such a one, till he sinks at last into the soft repose of matrimony. The young man who enacts this part in " Thu Lottery of Marriage," is evidently sketched after some original, who knows how to fool his pursuers "to the top of their bent." But the frivolity of the character is redeemed by so much that is atniahl,, that no one could be very angry who fancied they recotviised the Foal ait, for their own. The originals of the th;ce noble beauties (it there be any such), who were let slip from one leash to Rune him, might not perhaps be equally well pleased. NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY. The annual meeting of this company was held at the London Tavern, on Wednesday ; Mr. T. Lambe Murray in the chair. The ACTUARY (Mr. Woolhouse) having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN sail that the directors had pre pared a very full report of the transactions and pro ceedings of the company during the past year; and he believed that the proprietors would find in it everything which they wished to know. He would not then further detain them, but call upon the Actuary to read the report. Air. WooLuousE (the Actuary) then read the following REPORT " The directors have again the pleasure of meeting the proprietors on the recurrence of the annual meeting. " On the last occasion the directors adverted to the excessive mortality which characterised the two preceding years. Since then the public health has remarkably improved, and the claims from the decre ment amongst the assured with the society have fallen as far below the calculated average, as in the two preceding years, they had exceeded the expectation. In the two years, ending 1817 and 1848, the claims liquidated by the society amounted to 4.5,533/. Of this sum the society paid in the last year, 26,6701., and for the most part, during the early portion of it. "During the pest year both public credit and private fortune sustained a severe shock. These cir cumstances could not fail to interrupt seriously the progress of life assurance, based as it is on the surplus income of the community. Still, whether owing to the fact that life assurance is better understood than fermerly, or from the stimulus given to it through the unusually large distribution made in the last two years to the representatives of deceased assurers (occasioned by the excessive mortality above referred to), not so decided a check has been given to it as the circum stances of the times would seem to warrant. " Acting on these views, as regards the ex tension of business, the directors have not been deterred by unfavourable circumstances from re newed exertions. They are happy to report a satisfactory progress, and a considerable increase in the number of policies issued; which is the more encouraging, as this remarkable increase of business has accrued in a greater ratio at the present moment than in the early months of last year. The number of policies issued by the society in 1848 was 516, while the number issued from the Ist of January to the sth of May, in the present year, is 405, covering a risk of 157,8991, and adding 4, 9 46/. to the annual income of the society. The total amount assured under existing policies amounts to the large sum of 1,613,4421. " The agency of the society has been greatly ex tended within the past and present .year, and a greater activity and still more zealous co operation prevails, than heretofore, throughout its widely ex tended connexions. " The Transatlantic business of the society pro gresses satisfactorily, under the able management of our general agent and superintendent of our local board at New York. At New York our business has become extensive, and is conducted with safety and regularity. The mortality has in no year ex ceeded the calculated expectation. " Considerable preliminary expenses have attended the establishment of .this branch of the society's busi ness, all of which are entirely written off, and are now brought into the account of the year. A greater economy is being practised, while the business is largely on the increase. "During the pecuniary difficulties of the past year, the advantage of the system of loan on policies, instituted by the society, has been beneficially felt by many of our assurers. This may be judged of from the fact that these loans have extended to the sum of 25,9591. "The directors, in conformity with the deed of settlement, have caused the annual investigation into the affairs of the society to be made by the actuary, and it is now presented, together with the auditors report, and will be read to the meeting. "The financial position of the society, enables the directors to divide amongst the policy holders, entitled to this distribution, a reversionary bonus, varying from 20 to 48 per cent. on the premiums ; and to the proprietors a bonus of 2 per cent. for the past year, in addition to the regular interest of 5 per cent. already received by them, and will be paid with the half yearly dividend in July next. " The following table, prepared by the actuary, ex hibits examples of the amount of the eight last bonuses to which the holders of policies of upwards of four years standing, have become en titled, with the option of receiving the same in cash, or by addition to their policies, or in permanent re duction of annual premiums : EXAMPLES. Perma- ' the .d Annual !Policy Bonus in\ vent Re- Assured tge.l IA; Pre- taken addition Bonus in , itietion el ma bor - mium. r out in to Sum Cash. Annual row on !Assured. Premium. Policy. X a. 4. £ a d. a. d. £ a. d. 1837 276 14 3 128 14 3 21 7 2 593 G 8 1838 251 18 10 115 14 8 18 12 8 543 17 9 1839 226 6 0 102 15 1 16 2 1, 194 8 10 60 1000 74 a 4 i 1840 178 0 82 14 21214 11 145 0 0 1841 174 0 0 78 3 4 12 3 C 195 11 I I . 1812 147 4 2 65 15 10 10 2 4 146 2 3 i 1843 97 18 4, 44 8 4 6 15 11 , :96 13 4 I 1844 62 6 8; 27 13 4 4 4 C !47 4 5 " The business to be transacted at the present meeting, is the election of four Directors, in lieu of, John Elliotson ' M.D., F.R.S., Edmond Sheppard Symes, Esq., Clement Tabor, Esq., and Joseph Thompson, Feiq , whose period of office expires, but who are eligible to be re-elected, and offer them selves accordingly ; and for the confirmation of the election, by the Court of Directors, of Augustus Vigne, Esq., as a director. " Also for the election of an auditor, in place of Professor Wheatstone, F.R.S., whose period of office also expires, but who is eligible to be re-elected, and offers himself accordingly. "By order of the Court of Directors, " T. LAMIE MußaAr, Chairman. " May 9, 1849." In answer to a question, the CHAIRMAN said that the accounts were always open for inspection by the proprietors at the office. The CHAIRMAN then said that it became his duty to move that the report be received, adopted, and printed for circulation among the proprietors. In doing so he believed that he might say that, notwithstanding the serious losses which the society had sustained by the extraordinary mortality of the last two years, their affairs were very satisfactory.—(Hear, hear.) He for one was far from thinking that these losses would in the end be injurious to life as surance offices—(Hear, hear)—on the contrary, he believed they were calculated in the long run to be of advantage to them. He had made a calculation, but of course there was great difficulty in obtaining the data to do so, from which it appeared that a sum of no less than 3,000,0001. had been distributed among the public by assurance offices in 1848. That sum might be said to be a premium on providence.—(llear, hear.) He thought that circumstance must strike most forcibly those parties who had any regard for their families, or who depended upon the lives of others, to induce them to assure, when they saw the families of those who would otherwise have been in indigence, through the heads of those families being cut off in their prime, provided for by the means of life assurance. In the accounts then brought before them everything was written off to the end of last year. In those accounts the expenses appeared heavier than usual owing to the fact that they had never hitherto been able to tell what was the exact cost of their establishment in America.— (Hear, hear.) They now, however, found that the expense of that establishment had not been less than 15,000/. or 16,0001. since 1844 ' • but the business they were doing in America was most extraordinary, and the expense which had been incurred by the direction, in New York and other parts of America, which was of the best descrip tion, would be fully justified.—(Hear.) As an in stance of the business they were now doing, he might state that at one board meeting they had no less than 108 proposals for assurance. before them at one time. —(Hear, hear.) He believed that that was the largest number that had ever been brought before the board of any assurance company, six or seven proposals at the weekly meetings being considered a fair average, and therefore to have 108 at one time was,indeed, rather startling.—(Hear.) As regarded the expenses, they might appear rather heavy, but it had been thought better by the board to bring them all.up into a net sum at once, though, as he had ex plained, some of them extended over the last four years. At the same time he thought it necessary to explain that their American expenses were being re duced ; and from a correspondence that had been going on between the American and English boards, he had no doubt but that in future they would be brought down so as to bear but a very small pro portion to the business transacted.—(Hear, hear.) He could not pass over that part of their busi ness without paying a fair meed of praise to the Honourable Mr. Starr, their general agent in America, who seemed to take extraordinary interest in, and, indeed, he might say, devoted his whole life to, the promotion of life assurance.—(Hear, hear.) The commission of that gentleman already amounted to nearly 1,0001. a year; and as life assurance ap peered to have become a fashion in America, he had no doubt that it would be much better in the next year than in the last. — ( Hear, hear.) As regarded the mortality of this year as compared with former years, he might mention th a t the y had paid for claims since the Ist of December last, a period of five months, 2,1501, and they had further claims amounting to 4,8741, so that they calcu lated that, instead of having to pay as last 3 ear 26,000/., they would not have to pay more than 10,000/.—(Hear, hear)—their average calculation 1849. being 20,000/.—(Hear, hear). Reference had been made in the report to the rapid extension of their business in England. On that point he might state that they had . had applications for nearly sixty new agencies since the time when they last met, and there was a better understanding between the board and the old agents. Indeed, he had been lately stirring them up, and the business had consequently greatly increased—(Hear, hear) — there being a greater increase on the business of the last than on any former year.—(Hear, hear.) In the accounts and report read to the meeting there was one point which he ought not to omit to mention, .viz., that, in addition to the bonuses al ready declared, there was a aura of 51,0001. carried to the account of future profits.—(Cheers.) He be lieved that he had now stated all that was useful, and he therefore begged to mcve the adoption and circu lation of the report. Mr. THOMPSON seconded the motion. In answer to questions, The CHAIRMAN stated that the policies granted in 1847 were 617 ; the largest number ever granted in one year was in 1845, when they amounted to 704, and in the present year they had already reached 405. They were now doing a larger busi ness in America than any English office was doing in England itself.—(clear.) The American and English accounts were kept separate, in which fork: they could at any time be seen by the proprietors, though. it was not thought convenient to produce them in detail at the general meetings. That company had been the first to admit the principle of p.►ying the amount of policies to the families of parties commit ting suicide. They at present required that such parties should have been insured seven years. It might possibly be practicable to reduce that period to five years, as it could not be supposed that parties would contemplate suicide, and go to the expense of assuring their lives during that period with the view of money being obtained from an assurance office, though there could be no doubt that if the money was payable immediately on assurance many parties would be found to sacrifice their own lives for the benefit of their families. A short conversation took place on points of detail, in which the greatest confidence was expressed in the management and position of the company • and on the motion for the ad o pti on o f th e report being put, it was carried unanimously. The retiring directors and auditors having been re-elected, Mr. JAMESON, as the representative of a large number of shareholders in Scotland, begged to ex press his gratification at the satisfactory nature of the report presented to them, and also at the great interest, as evinced by their questions, which the shareholders appeared to take in the affair, of the company. At the end of three such tremendous years as those which had just passed, it was most gratifying to find that their corpo ration, unlike other corporations which had been presided over by kings and emperors, had not only been able to get on steadily, but to meet and sur mount the severe crisis of the times through which they had passed.—(Cheers and laughter.) He had great satisfaction in observing, both on public and private grounds, that their business was progressing so " slick" with their cousins on the other side of the Atlantic—(Cheers) —and he believed that, without the aid of Cobden or peace associations, nothing would do more to prevent the Americans wishing to go a gunning with the Britishers than being bound up with them in life assurance— (Laughter)—Mr. Wool house not yet having prepared any tables for war risks.—(Cheers and laughter.) lie regretted the absence from among them of their former secretary, Mr. Camroux ; but he knew, that since the Chairman had taken the whip into his own hands, he had hid it soundly about the shoulders of the agents—him self (Mr. Jameson) among the number—and made them feel that they had indeed the master hand at the helm.—(Cheers.) He was sure, that from all he saw and heard of the company, that everything wa , conspiring to promote its best interests, and he there fore hoped the proprietors present would cordially join with him in giving a vote of thanks to the Chairman, directors, and office-bearers of the corn. pany.—(Cheers ) _ _ . 11Ir. JO' ITN SYM - ES seconded the motion with great . e deasure. He thought it ought to be made generally known that the directors of that company were dis anguished by the rareness with which they disputed claims made upon it.—(llear.) It was a fact that they had never disputed one claim which they had takes; into court in which they had not been successful, while in many others, where they had reason to doubt the fairness of the claim, they had given the benefit of the doubt to those making the claim.—(llear.) Such conduct as that, he was sure, must tend to raise the cha racter of the office in the estimation of the public.— (Cheers.) He agreed with the Chairman that their ksses by the mortality of the lat two years were likely to prove ultimately beneficial to the company, as when parties saw their friends cut off in apparent strength and health, and their families, who would otherwise be destitute, provided for through the benefits of life assurance, they would, if they had any respect for their own families, at once secure to themselves the same advantages.—(Cheers.) The resolution having been carried by acclamation, The CHAIRMAN said that he could assure the gen tlemen present most unfeignedly that at no period since he had the honour to fig the position he then held had ho received with greater pleasure the vote of confidence of the shareholders. The past year, like the preceding, had been one of considerable anxiety, but he thought that he saw a bright and pleasant prospect before them.—(Cheers.) Ile considered the opening of the present year most satisfactory, and it gave him great pleasure to see himself sur rounded by, and receive the approbation of, many of the first members of the society—his old and valued friends.—(Cheers.) He had always endea voured to discharge his duty with efficiency, though he regretted the absence of his friend Mr. Catnroux, who, he hoped, had provided himself with a better place—(Laughter)—he meant for himself— (Laughter)—he trusted that now that he had himself been compelled to put on the harness daily that the society would lose nothing, but that it would continue to increase in prosperity.—(Cheers.) He had used all the influence he could bring to bear in promoting the interests of the company, and he b e li eve d, without taking any merit to himself for it, that through that influence the agents had done their work well.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He might here observe, that though his time had been lately almost solely occupied with the affairs of the society, ha had, at the solicitation of several of its friends, taken into consideration the propriety of adding a fire office to the society, as likely to be of great advantage in promoting the life assurance.— (Hear, hear.) In every village were to be found agents for fire assurance, and if they could add that branch to their office it would diminish their expenses, while it would increase their con nexion. —(Hear, hear.) Therefore, notwithstand log the labour he had already had to perform, he had serious thoughts of adding to it by the establishment of a fire office.—(Hear, hear.) The fire-office, however, he wished it to be distinctly understood, would be established with separate capital and separate directors, and might be brought out as soon as there was a sufficient number of shares sub scribed for to give the requisite guarantee capital.— (Hear, hear.) He begged, before sitting down, to express the obligations he was under to the way in which the directors had co-ope rated with him in carrying on the affairs of the society—one or more attending at the office every day—and to assure the shareholders that he had not the slightest influence over them beyond that which might be necessarily supposed to apper tain to .a man who gave his best attention to the affairs of any society.—(clear, hear.) In conclusion, he begged once more to express his heartfelt thanks for the honour conferred upon him and his brother directors, and to express a hope that at the next meeting a more satisfactory report than even that of that day would be presented to them.—(Cheers.) The meeting then separated. CONSUMPTION.—At the eighth anniversary festival recently celebrated in aid of the f un d s o f th a t in stitution, the Brox:optima Hospital, the following interest ing statistics relative to pulmonary disease was described in the appendix to a report prepared by the medical officers : " The tendency of particular employments to induce a liability to certain diseases is a subject of great interest, and with a view to its illustration, a comparison has been instituted between the list of phihisical patients, attend ing this institution, and non-plithisical patients of a general hospital. By way of illustration, it may be men tioned that the liability of tailors to consumption, as contrasted with their liability to all other diseases, ap pears from this comparison to bo in the proportion of ... ... ... ... ... . . 19 to 15 Of bakers ..• •.. ..• as 45 to 23 Of in-door servants ... ... as 24 to 12 Of printers and compositors as 100 to 27 Of clerks and shopmen ... as 314 to 78 ~ Am•3no• 1,294 fenrzle patients attending a generalt thehos pita!, 169" w ere milliners and dressmakers; but number of females so occupied out of 1,679 consem tiv patients attending the hospital for Consumptionwaes 312; the proportion of excess being as 312 to D Much of the liability to this diseale among tailors and others may be attributed to the e pernicious custom of large bodies of workmen being No ingregated in imper fcc ly venti'ated work-rooms. c w Messrs. Nicoll, the greatestet ot m makers, wholesale and retail of heamndpsloiyn i t i i i i i t s h e e l; any other country, trade perhaps thenumber ers, it having bee n computed that i n London only—th at i s to in Regent - street and Co rs n a say, ;I 1 from their t es a br t.hnien's th ey give employment to mirel than twelve hundred persons, amongst whom a much less susceptibility to this awful disease than is exists is described in the above report; this is supposed to occur through the arrangement of the workmen in small parties, and their b • ' • being distributed in various parts of London and its suburbs. —Morn i ng Post. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Col • ontal. office for the Governor of V D' an temen' 3 Lind. -- NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. MALTA, MAY 2.—Malta is at present full, even to overfl 'wing of Sicilians. The arrival hero on Sunday of her Majesty's steam-frigate Bulldog announces the un conditional surrender of Palermo. Many persona of note are here, and among the most distinguished we may note the live President of the Republic, Ruggiero Settlino—a fine old veteran; the Duke of Verdure, the Chevalier Carmel(' Ascenso di Santa Rosalie, the Baron Martinez, Prince San Giuseppe, the Baron Corcelli, &c. Her Majesty's steamer Tartarus arrived here on the 09th ult. She had been sent by Sir S. Canning i to ex plore the nests of pir a t es i n ' est i ng the Greek islands, and that she was accompanied by the French steamer Averne, and a Turkish cutter, charged with a similar mission. The Tartarus and Averne, on quitting Smyrna, minutely explored every bay, creek, and harbour from Vorulah and Cape Carabournou to Egri Liman, and then rejoined the French steamer at the Spaltnadores. That vessel had visited Fokies and the passages, even to Aletelin. Before anchoring at the Spal.nadores, Sir G. Webster sent his boats to the north of the islands, with a view of vititieg a certain number of boats there, and then landed a boat's crew, who thoroughly searched the island, ithout, however, meeting with any suspicious characters. Oa the morning of the 9th the Tartarus visited the , last part of Seio from Cape Kamaniki to Castro. The Averne coasted along Carabournou and the isle of Goni, and rejoined the Tartarus at noon. The two Com manders landed at Castro, and visited the Mossa Safti Pasha, the new Governor-General of the Ottoman Ar ehiptlago, to whom they announced the object of their mission. his Excellency received them with groat politeness, and expressed his thanks for their prompti tude in acting; at the same time he gave them full powers to explore all suspected places, where there was no Ottoman authority, to examine all boats, and act entirely as they might think proper under the cir cumstances. On the 10th, very early, the two steamers explored the coast from Cape Blank to Cape ICavala. Without the last cape the Tartarus fell in with a boat, having seven men, and laden with soap. Her papers marked five men only. Besides this they had three muskets and 4 large blunderbuss, with four yataghans, which were not mentioned in her papers. Under these suspicious circumstances the boat was taken possession of by Sir Godfrey, and towed into Scala Nuova. At 3 . p.m. the Tartarus entered Kavaki, whilst the Avcrne proceeded to Vromo. Each commandant landed 25 men, who met at the top of Cape Koraka, examining everything en route. They found nothinc , beyond some embers abandoned, as if the pirates had had notice of their approach. On the 11th, the two steamers visited Ypsaila, and late in the evening arrived at Scala Nuova, where Sir G. Webster gave up to the authorities his capture of the preceding day. The Bull-dog goes to-day to Palermo and Civits Vecchia. The outward India mail, by the Ripon, arrived here yesterday morning, and procecded to Alexandria last night, ou the arrival of the Medina from Marseilles. Another importation of Sicilians, in number 270, has arrived to-day, making a sum total of 3,770. No Lodgings can now be procured. PORTSMOUTH, MAY 10.—The quarterly meeting of the Portsmouth Royal Naval Club was herd to-day. After the despatch of business the dinner took place at the Portland Hotel, Southsea; Admiral the Hon. Sir Bladen Capel, 1i.C.8., Commander-in-Chief, presided, ,upported by Lord George Lennox, Admiral Sir John A. Ommanney, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral Prescott, C. 8., Capt. Harrison, Capt. Turner, Capt. Lawrence, R.N., Captain 'l'. R. Sulivan, Captain Blackwood, of the Victory, Captain Chads, C. 8., of the Excellent, Captain 11. Chads, Captain Matson, Captain Ommanney, Cap tain Crispin, Colonel Willes, RN., Colonel Gibson, R.M.A., Major Dawes, R.M., Mr. Richard Haig, R.N., Flag-Lieutenant Aplin, Mr. Vinter, Mr. Halliday, Mr. r. 1). Grant. Dr. Morgan, Mr. Edwards, &c. The Coi.fisnce steam-tug arrived this morning from :he eastward, and sailed again for Devonport, about two hours al terwards. The Sylf h to❑der, with supernumeraries from Ply mouth, arrived to day. The Hecate steam-sloop, Commander W. C. Aldham (acting), sailed this forenoon for the Downs. The Sphynx steam-sloop, Commander R. S. Hewlett, of the Excellent (acting), which was commissioned yes ,erday eveuirg and immediately left the harbour, remains still at Spithead. _ _ _ The _Apo!line freight-ship, with troops for Halifax, iailed from Cowcs last evening, as did the Constantine from Spithead for the Mauriti us . ___. The ship basin having beescleared; and the atone -*acing fresh pointed, was filled again yesterday, and the Cormorant steam-sloop brought round from the steam-basin to bo masted. The wasting was completed co-day, and she is now to be rigged as an advanced steamer. The Scourge steam-bomb vessel has been brought to the sheers to get out her mortar, and will, it is under ,tood, remain there to he paid off. Wind S.W. Light breezes and thick hazy weather. l'irAmouTu, MAY 9.—Her Majesty's frigate Alarm, 26, Captain Granville G. Loch, hove in sight to the westward this afternoon at four o'clock under topgallant sails, royals, and all studdiegsails, and entered the Sound with a steady bre, from south-west. Inside the break water she lowered her fore-royal, signalled the telegraph tt, Mount Vise, saluted the flag of Port Admiral Sir William Hall Gage, G.C.11., and then moored a little to he westward of the Camber. She left her Majesty's ship Itnaum, 72, Commodore T. Bennett, and the Tiin cumalee, 26, Captain Warren, at Jamaica on the 26th of March, arrived at Havannah on the sth of April, and' sailed therefrom on the Bth. Off Scilly, on Sunday evening, the 6th inst., she spoke her Majesty's steam i'rigate Arrogant, 36, Captain Robert Fitzroy; the Alarm has thus been three days beating from Scilly to Plymouth. She is to go to liamoazi to-morrow to be paid off. Her Majesty's packet-brig Seagull, 6, Lieutenant- Commander James Smail, sailed for Falmouth on the Bth. Her Majesty's steam-vessel: Spiteful, 6, and Avon, 3 . are to be commissioned. The barque Somersetshire, Captain Portier, arrived from Sierra Leone this afternoon with timber for the dockyard. The merchant brig Zsmpa, Captain Groot, from La guna, on the Spanish Main, landed on the 7th instant a box of silver bullion (dollars), weighing 3 cwt., which was the same day forwarded by the South Devon Railway to London. 9 P.M.—Wind northerly, variable. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING. THURSDAY. Match, 100, h ft. T.V.C. Mr. W. S. Stanley's St. Ann, 7st ... (Chaiple) 1 Duke of Bedford's Saddle, Bat 111 b ..• ... 2 Betting-9 to 4on Saddle. Won by a length. Run in 1 min. 12 secs. Match, 200, h ft. T.Y.C. Duko of Bedford's Retail, Bst 41b (F. Butler) 1 Lord Clifden's Czarina, Bst 71b 2 Even betting. Won by a length. Run in 1 mill. 11 secs. Handicap Plate of 50 sovs., for three years old and up wards. T.Y.C. Lord Clifdcn's Sagacity, 5 yrs, Bst 21b (Mittman) 1 Lord Stradbroke's Pylos, 3 yrs, 6st 31b ... 2 Colonel Anson's Irish Jig, 3 yrs, sst 101 b 3 Kr. Stevt nson's Ziska, 5 yrs, Bst 41b Mr. Pettit's lliuchinbrook, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b 0 Mr. Wilson's Duplicity, 4 y rs , 7 s t 21b 0 Duke of Rutland's Nina, 3 yrs, 7st 21b . . 0 Mr. E. Francis's St. Denis, 3 yrs, Est alb 0 Mr. Hobson's Carbuncle, 3 yrs, Est 0 Mr. Roger's Sister to Jolly Dick, 3 yrs, s)t 121 b 0 Mr. St. Aubyn's Juggler, 3 yrs, sst 101 b ... 0 Betting-3 to 1 agg Pylos, sto 1 agst Sagacity, 6to 1 each agst Nina, Carbuncle, and Sister to Jolly Dick. Cat bunch) took the lead at starting, followed by Saga city, Pyles, Irish Jig, and two or three others, and made play at a good paco in to the cords ; Pylos the took it up, and carried it on until within half-a•dozen strides of home, where Sagacity went up and defeated him very cleverly by a length. Run in 1 min. 10 secs. Sweep takes of 10 soya, each, with 50 added, for two yrs old; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Brt 41b; winners extra. T.Y.C. (16 Subs.) Mr. Ashurn's Impression Duke of Butland's Ondine (Bartholomew) 1 ••• ... 2 Mr. Bouverie's Hardingstone Mr. G. Bulkeley's Virtue ... Lord Clifden's Le Beau .•• Mr.B. Green's Michael Brunton Mr. Magenis's The Secret .„ Mr. Nevill's fby Nutwith, out of Agnes ... ..- 4 ? Betting—Even on Michael Brunton-5 to 2 apt L t e . Beau —5 to 1 agst Impression—and 6to 1 aptt e Secre e The front rank for the first half mile comprised The Secret, ondine, M an i d ch t aLl A B g ru nc n s to fi n fly, lm al p i rss in i r on w; Bsrdingstone,close together that it was di ffi cult to discover w hi c h c a o r s o leading; a a d f i t n e g r w ; a l r m d 5 - t as hs: l llardingstone s two-year olds, 6st by t d our timing this race. bad third. The rain prcren e cparuegsshiznantbdenwowneenatsiilyn advance, two le a w g ;fort": fillies and geldings owed 31b; the winner to be sold for 80 soya, if a. .t a demanded, liyartaui an. . )• & e i Swle2elpbs;tatkhersee,oBfstlol22lobr. each First half of Ab. M. Lord Enfield's Slashing Alice, 3 yrs Lord Exeter's f by Voltaire out of Gal ' M B r. e j tt a i m ng e — s's s Jane Sla s hing 1 Eyre ,3Yrs Alice, who won easily by a length. Run in 53 secs. LATEST DERBY BETTING. 2to 1 agst The Flying I 25 to 1 agst Old Dan Dutchman. Tucker 11 to 2 agst Nunnkirk (t) 20 to 1 agst The Knout 11 to 2 agst Tadmor 1000 to 10 agst Hotspur (t.) 12 to 1 agst Vanguard 1000 to 5 agst Being (t) 18 to 1 agst Vatican. 1 1000 to 5 agst Abd-el -20 to 1 ag s t El t hi ron Kader (t) 20 to 1 ngst Chatterer The weather was, if possible, more inclement than on Wednesday, a cold driving rain having fallen, without a moment's interval, from an early hour in the morning up to the &Naar° of the train after the races. The course was very thinly aLended. Mr. Gillespie had an interview with Lord Jahn Rus sell yesterday, at his official residencein Downing-street. 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