The Sun. — London, England, 1841-03-11 00:00:00

, t'NING EDITION fairs Which is deemed the highest privilege of Britons is ao,uce more restored to th em. The Act which provides for ' 1 . 113 affixes certain conditions to the grant over which the Provincial Legislature can exercise no authority; e Mho it ,lwes to the final arbitration of that Legislature ali quo 3- ~ "°os but those which the Imperial Parliament in its wis time has deemed essential itself to determine—the legisla tive reunion—the establishment of a secure and firm admi nistration of government—and the maintenance of the dreg s t e. e do latl w tion sy s i of c o l ony an d parent state. Efforts have 'neon wale to d ece i ve t h e unwary , an d e s pecial: se some ur fell ow - subjects of French or , gie, upon this. point, to represent these provisions as iujutious—to them as Bseeptible of c h ange here—and to excite apposition which n only prove as mischievous as it crest be useless. " I rely, h owever, on these eff proving unavailing; Ita d aPheal with to use the ee,confideeee to loyalty and good sense so Of the i n h abitants of ) ~e Canada, of whateverer . p bands . a! , to r which is now agein committed to vaper , ia , t their . the trust whicl: our Sovereign and <ornament have reposed in them, and cor diallytare 1° Pra in an endeavour to promote the common in of 'Ode united province. N I i n tilVer Canad a th e sense o f th e p eo pl e was d ec l are d / a " freely, through their constitutional organs, upon 1 aeat by the of t h e un i on i tse lf an d on t h e pr i nc i p l es which it s h ould be based. Those principles have been ,1 4op rts of the I m p er i a l P ar li ament, an d i t w :11 ever b e fro o the ut most g at i f i car i on to me, that my hum b le 41. have bided in perfecting a measure, securing, as I cou i r nlY believe, to that provine which I regard with fi el- g! of a ffection, as w e ll as i n t erest , a d van t ages w hi c h it ld attain by no other means. " lebabitente cf the province of Canada! Hencefor d:rd.mae Yo'u be united i n sen ti men t as y ou are f rom t hi s L l 4 lll vile I Who can visit, as it has been my good for one e t a do, the e xtens i ve reg i ons w hi c h are now un i te d i n uretvanuon denominati on , an d f i ll t o ac k now l e dge the resources they present for all that can conduce to tt'e comforts and happiness of man? A part of the ugh empireire of England—protected by her arms— trade d by her t reasury - -a d m i tte d to a ll t h e b ene fi ts o f I.ue its her c i t izens—your freedom guaranteed by her f e 7: l and Your rights s upported by the sympathy of your 148s w ePubje c t s t h ere—Canada enjoys a position unsur tel - by any country in the world. " It is for you, its inhabitants, t) cultivate these adven t Zs- 40 avail y ourse l ves o f t h e rew era which now opens e n e ,Y e e n,. Our grac i ous Sovereig n and the people of 4 - I , h iun watch with anx i et y t h e resu lt of the great change wishehofhas to - day received its completion. It is the first and the Queen to rule in the hearts of her subjects, her — teel that they arc contented and prosperous under r nent . r n'icl and just sway; her Parliament and Govern conferring on you new institutions, have sought e ra ! Your happiness and advantage. In your hands rests l c Your ow n fate, and by the use which you will make of l ° l ) Portunity must it be decided. May the al-wise " o l oser of events so order your acts that they may tend Int :'e promotion of peace and happiness among you, and ky/pleasblessing Pour Hi, upon that union of which it is i a '. Ple t i on g duty this day to announce to you the com a, " under my hand and seal at arms, a' the Ge e, vernment 'Luse in the city of Montreal, in the strid P r °vinee of Canada, the 10th day of February, in the Year of our Lord 1841, and in the fourth year of her 14 9 . eSty's reign. " By command, `°D. DALY, Secretary of the Province." ----- - "-tRUUTION OF THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. kir following account is contained in an " extra from received at New York : ~,,uffice of th e Ad ver ti ser , B u ff a l o , F e b. 14,4 o'clock. World hasten to announce to our readers and to the rtri event in its nature at once the most stu a4-mt'ut and su bli me t h at h as ever b een recor d e d i n th e o ti tl4l e of the wonderful. The Falls of Niagara—the p o ttlat ehed ph enomenon o f na t ure —th e centralization of thewer, grandeur, and beauty—the theme of poesy and s lll tterial of th e t ra v e ller—the resort of the ennuie, a d g‘ 'tae delight of the susceptible—is no more. Saturday m o rn i n g, about nine o'clock, were lastshortly th e first symptoms of the great catastrophe la s hortly ensu e d. Mr. Arnold, a citizen of the vil 4at ; While waiting at the foot of the spiral staircase for t h e re turn of th e b oa t, i n or d e r to execute an errand on ot t c) h PPosite side, perceived thejutting rocks which formed Canada side the famous sub-marine cavern, to break - t Yriod fall i n t o th e cau ld ron und e rn ea th. The inci- . to ea it self, and its effect on the aspect of the Fall, were khrenlarkable t' at he returned to the village and corn maicated the facts to several citizens ; and very soon to large group had collected to watch for further deve 'l4;l4 the course of an hour considerable masses were h e f t)ca ted and thrown down. The sheet of water that o w ° r e fell abruptly, almost perpendicularly, with an towurn.,ken breast over ' the ' , g rounding cave, of course ria a ; *ant down an obtuse angle, losing its graceful and tettie curve, but gaining in tumult and effervescence. ii i i' k tu ree o'clock p.m., the number of spectators was th e t ie nted by many from Buffalo, ourselves Among • Nothing farther transpired that night. Early th` 07n ing p ar ti es w ere anxiously gazing towaida to Prt•alls, despite the severity of the weather, expecting a " the work of disorganization proceed. fro .. At half-past seven o'clock, a wide space of the ' OW bastion, near to Gcat Island, within the horse s, fell fe ll dowu ; and they followed effects with greatly aocullerated rapidity. What was actually taking place bid 4 "IY be surmised, as the great confluence of water it th e immediate stage of operations from sight. But t a ; aB Plain to all that the supporting fabric of the cata tit" was fast wearing away before the tremendous en be-etrY• Its immemorial durability might have Ula n °wing to the strongly-intrenched and ada ho—ne rampart that had alwys presented its t alder to the assailing flood s ; or the whole, peritel4llY compact and secure, might have been tol v ptr ing for this demolition, through ages of sapping, tli„,!.ntg percolation. The angle of descent every minute kti7i'llithed. At half-past eight the Biddle Tower Td all the adjoining groundwork had disappeared. l an e r t ,"er sunk into the gulf like a subsiding wave. p a - t'Y after, the water having made a subterranean 4-44.13 e, burst through the wall of Goat Island, ti e d ell with masses of rock and rolled with earth, as inst ant l y th e crus t a b o ve collapsed and mixedtio in the wild c h a os below. In rapid succes k n ; on th e C ana d a s id e o f t h e i s l an d, mass followed band the island, throughout its entire length, was t i, a ,ied and narrowed down to a l ean str i pe , w hi c h re j'ti further en croac h me nt s as if of more substantial liZest it uents. On the British border, the wall of loose, fri 11.0eroek was gored and ploughed away, until the Table 6 Ir a "' So much resorted to by visitors, fell down in ty,: le "ts, the spiral staircase toppled, and for awlide it tt atm ex Peoied that the hotel would farm. It still though in a perilous posture, all the furniture is -1 3 P r emoved. On the American side the great shelf di, 4 ll i 4 aLle s t e d ; b ut t h e water f a lli ng over i s grea tly elt a nis ed, it being diverted to the largely increased p ro j tl el CU the British side. Here the waters have a ge tt rgeti fall of nearly a mile, the plane of course very h e i o e, commencing above Goat Islam& and ending t he old fording place, the intermediate space being ' t &P and gr a d ua t e d by deposits from above. 141; rif " C aPPearance of the Fall in its new shape time E pt Permit us to sketch. 110 It . 8 . The hotel is gone, we learn. es have been lost." It is believed COURT oF ALDERMEN. "11 T HE BM'LORABLE CONDITION OF THE POOR IN THE CITY LOCALITIES. pea I nquest In qUeSt of the Ward of Farringdon Within ap ial-`1 at the b ar w i t h a p resen tment, to which they It PLered the most attentive consideration of the Court. tit:lts follo ws : ie Inquest of Farringdon Within in dispensing led annual bounty of the inhabitants of the Ward . were their ° prevent any imposition on the funds committed to t at i c ioo, personally to visit the poor at their own habi. °L W. In qu,i n „th e performance of this task they became ac feri„ In with a mass of heart-sickening misery and suf thi"g, ef which they had never previoudy formed any feelng lik e an idea, and at the existence of which they e th e most painful regret. All the relief that the ti, t f l u e't could give was far from being adequate to sat -0,4 the claims on their sympathy ; and so it mus and 13 0 all future occasions, unless a more systematic t i t l ia m a Pe t tn ancut mode of giving relief can be established the that which d epen d s on t h e casua l generosity of vi e ,..losper ous i nhabitants of the W ar d ; an d with a th t ," bri ng i ng something of the ki n d i nto operat i on seal m d ri e etl l it their d u ty t o ma ke the following pre t si r ; T he di s t r i ct to which the Inquest are most dc- St, L s °I drawing attention is situated in the parish of l 1-":,4rtio, Ludgate-hill, and St. Ann, Blackfriars. d t 40edu"s H oliday -yard, Ireland-yard, Glassbouse-yard, , 4 11 a great many yards and courts adjoining ; and I:titittsazeste. dye•arrds consist of buildings or houses . which, exceptions, are in a state of decay, in a greater g ee. It can scarcely be said that they th e xey other accommodation than a roof—none ,olt k Aristian feelin g would assign for a fellow-creature t these wretched plac e s are l e t in tenements f ro „, g c , t ing Of 4 s i ng l e apartment, each for sums vary i ng p ro — 4 B• 6d. to 4s. weekly, a most enormous rent in it is to th e value of the property, especially when th : consid ere d that the tenants arc of the poorest of Ishe °° r• And th e occup i ers, who are mostly persons ee subsistence mainly depends on casual employ me i° in the Ci ty, are compelled to pay this amount of 8.. ,.. e ; for, w h en through any misfortune any of these r their rent to go behind-hand for a few weeks, what little household furniture they may possess is le _ t o be instantly wrested from them by a summary 1, dlrocess, and too often they arc treated by their ei se rds with a ruthless severity that people in better are ueenstances cannot conceive. Many of these houses I,tyhicsrowded, some of the rooms containing fa uoutivof six, seven, or eight persons, old and young ; heapmariner of living is rendered doukly un end Y °Y the filth aievvers, and by buildings being dest:tute of drainage , th e consequent accumulation of "Y n the vici nity, which, however cleanly disposed also b " f amily may be, cannot easily be removed ; and tea s , Y a v ery scanty supply of water, as that very ne dam?' article is only to be obtained for two hours on three • a the Week, and then it must be fetched a mini- uesday a Court was held for the despatch of dcrable distance frcm some of the houses, under c+rcum• Flances of difficulty and annoyance. " From much conversation which the Inquest have had with many of the poor people, they are fully persuaded that most of their acute distress arises from their having such high rent demanded of them ; thus at times when they may be out of employment, or labouring under some other misfortunes, forcing them into a state of despair and deplorable recklessness. By this species of property being let in the manner described, the rental of eAcli house amounts to as much as 30/. or 601. per annum, according to the size, at which rate two or three )ears' rent amounts to the actual value of the property ; and after a strict investigation of all the cir cumstances bearing on the subject, the Inquest are of opinion that the loss to the landlords, from bad tenants, or having a tenements occasionally vacant, dces not average more than 5/. per cent. on the gross rental, for the number of dwelling places used by the most indigent of the labouring classes being very inadequate to the demand for them, tenants of that description have little inducement to remove from any place into which they may have once entered. " It is not fit that such a state of things should continue in the opulent and renowned city of London. There is abundant reason why its remedy should be made the business of various classes of the community. The plelanthropist will be moved to promote a remedy, by his kindly nature ; the faculty will acknowledge, that in such places contagious diseases often arise ; and the po litical economist will equally acknowledge that a worse infection, in the shape of vice, may have acquired a baneful influence that is utterly incompatible with the interests of society at large. " The Inquest have no intention to reproach the Cor poration with having evinced a culpable neglect of the domestic comforts of the poor ; but the fact cannot be denied, that the numerous improvements in the main thoroughfares of the City, and the embellistrments of the same (within a few years past) have so diminished the number of the humbler class of dwellings, as to con stitute one cause of the evil of which the Inquest com plain ; and therefore they trust it cannot be thought unreasonable to solicit from the Corporation some effi cient assistance for an amelioration of the grievance. There is - still much labour which the poor are required to perform in the City, and it is of importance to those who may be employed, that they should dwell as near as possible to the place where their services are in re quisition, for if any one of them be .not at hand when wanted, he will soon be supplanted by another and it is this fear of any such consequences that causes them to submit to the inconveniences to which they are sub jected ; otherwise, for the sum which they pay for one dark unhealthy room, they could get a decent little house with a patch of garden ground attached, on the outskirts of the metropolis. Under these circumstances the In quest earnestly hope that the Corporation will heartily sanction the plan they are about to suggest. " Having shown, as they trust they have, that a prin cipal cause of the distress arising from the poor having to pay nearly as much every week for rent as in unfa vourable seasons they earn during the same space of time, the Inquest now propose their remedy. It is that the Corporation, in the course of the numerous improvements which they still contemplate carrying into effect, should, in available situations (say Farringdon Market), cause to be erected as an experiment several capacious houses contiguous to or adjoining to each other, to be called " the Working Man's Home," or by any other name that might be deemed more appropriate, in which should be constructed rooms of a comfortable size, which might be let to the industrious poor in weekly sums, varying from Is. to Is. 3d. each, or, if the Corporation should consider it pi &rabic, that twenty-four small houses should be erected, each to contain four rooms, the two lower to be let at Is. each per week, and the two upper ones at ls. 3d. per week, which, altogether, would amount to 45. 6d. per week for each house. The In quest have ascertained from various inquiries they have made, that the cost of erecting one such small house in a neat substantial manner, with accommodations of a superior kind to any thing poor persons can procure, at the rent which they are at present compelled to pay, would be about 1301., or about 3,0001. for the twenty four. The gross amount of rent which these tene ments would return in one year, would be 2801., and allowing a diminution of one-seventh, or 40/. per annum for repairs and casualties in the occupancy, (and the probability is that the diminution on that account would be much less), 201. for taxes, 28/. being a per cent sge of 101. per cent., for remunerating the person employed in collecting the rents and letting the premises, there would then remain as interest for the capital refunded the sum at least of 2001. per annum, which would be quite sufficient to repay the Corporation, who must, in this instance, be actuated by the purest principles of Christian benevolence. But in the event of the Cor poration, from prudential motives, declining to enter so extensively into the speculation, the Inquest propose that they should place a piece of land (say the vacant piece at the end of Farringdon-street) free from the charge of ground rent, for a certain term of years, at the disposal of suitable trustees, in order to enable a few philanthropists to make the experiment on the same plan ; the parties in whose favour the land may be granted to give ample security that no person who should join the speculation should receive more interest for the money so invested than 5 per cent., and that if the proceeds of the speculation should amount to more than this, it should he handed over to the Cor poration to recompense them for the use of the land ; and the Corporation to give security that when the pe riod for which the land might be granted should have expired, the buildings should continue to be directed to the same purposes for which they were respectively erected. On such terms as these the Inquest are al ready prepared to give the sum (one gentleman will advance the sum of 1,0000 towards effecting the object they have at heart—the amelioration of the domestic condition of the poor in general. Thev have not the slightest doubt that this plan would be emi nently successful ; on its beneficial effect; being wit nessed, it would be adopted by many other Corpora tions and private philanthropists ; and in the course of a few years there would be manifest a richly gratifying neatness and cheerfulness in numerous localities where poverty in its most squalid and loathsome aspect has borne permanent sway. " BENJAMIN STEIL, Foreman." Sir MATTHEW WOOD said that the presentment was one of a most important nature, and required the utmost deliberation. He should therefore move, that it be referred to a Committee of the whole Court, for the examination of evidence on the subject.—(Hear.) Alderman Coreearm asked whether the Inquest had made representations upon the subject to the Board of Guardians?, Mr. STEIL replied that they had not. It was, how ever, their intention to apply to that Board, as well as to the Court of CommoniCouncil, for their co-operation. Alderman COPELAND asked whether the Inquest had conferred with the landlords of the tenements in the districts alluded to, with respect to the condition of the industrious poor occupying them ? Mr. STEIL said that in one. instance a landlord of several of the miserable tenements handed over to them ten shillings towards ameliorating the distress of the labouring poor, and the same landlord took spec'al care to send his own tenants to participate in the bounty of the district to which he had contributed. Indeed the tenants were objects worthy of compassion, and the In quest felt it so keenly that they distributed amongst them 10/.—a pound for every shilling which the charity of the landlord had so liberally produced.—(A laugh.) Mr. STEIL was then about to address the Court, but the proposition of Sir Matthew Wood was at once adopted. THE FARRINGDON WITHOUT WARD ELECTION. The Court was then cleared of strangers, for the pur pose of discussing the appeal of Mr. Marriott, the late Common Councilman of the ward of Farringdon With out, against the return of Mr. Wells, on the ground of illegibility. After a short deliberation the doors were opened, and The RECORDER announced that the election of Mr. Wells, as Common Councilman of the ward of Farring don Without, was confirmed. The announcement evidently occasioned much sur prise amongst both parties interested. RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS AT GLASGOW. We copy from the Glasgow Papers the following ac counts of two meetings, held in that town, called for the purpose of supporting Lord Morpetles Registration Bill : MEETING IN GLASGOW.—On Tuesday evening, the 2d instant, a public meeting was called, and held in the Justiciary Court Hall, Glasgow, by residenters in that city connected with Ireland, and principally of the Ro man Catholic persuasion, for the purpose of supporting Lord Morpeth's Registration Bill, and expressing their dissent from the measure proposed by Lord Stanley. The hall was crowded to suffocation, principally by Irishmen ; but, nevertheless, a very large body of the Chartist host contrived to wriggle themselves into. the meeting. The Right Rev. Bishop Murdoch having been proposed as Chairman by the promoters of the meeting, Mr. Ross, the Chartist shoemaker, was nomi nated by his friends. On a division the Chartists were beaten by a large majority, and a scene of the most up roarious kind ensued, the Irishmen fairly bearing down the Chartists by their own weapons, and in the midst of the tumult several smart blows were struck, and it was with difficulty the Irishmen could be restrained from inflicting severe chastisement upon the spot. Indeed, the efforts of the superintendent and the police alone prevented a regular Donnybrook, in which the men and boys cf the Charter must have come off second best. The business went on for a considerable time in dumb show, but eventually resolutions were carried, and a petition, founded on them, agreed to be transmitted to Parliament. The Chartist leaders, deeply mortified at their defeat in the Justiciary Court Hall, on Tuesday evening, re solved, on the following day, to make an attempt to reconquer their title to the championship by a second match, on Thursday evening, in the Bazaar, where they expected to be more powerfully supported by their bacieers than they had been on the night referred to, and hoped to regain some portion at least of the charac ter for "pluck" which they had so miserably lost on that occasion. Accordingly, the city was extensively pla carded, with intimations of the approaching meeting, the usual private means of securing a large gathering were resorted to, and circulars, as we have been in formed, widely scattered over the suburbs, and through the public works known to be devoted to the cause of the Charter. The placards announced that the object of the meeting was to denounce the Registration Bills both of Lord Morpeth and Stanley, and to petition her Majesty to dismiss from her presence. the Whig Ministry. True to the summons, a large body of Char tists were found surrounding the door of the Bazaar before seven o'clock, though the business was not to begin till eight ; and it soon became apparent that a large concourse of Irishmen had also as sembled to assert their particular views on the questions to be submitted for discussion. When the doors were opened, the crowd, which now amounted to several thousands, rushed eagerly into the place of meeting—at one end of which the leaders of the two parties were found seated on a platform erected for the purpose—and began at once a war of hooting and howling, which scarcely intermitted for even a single second during the whole of the proceedings that fol lowed. It was impossible to ascertain at first what the precise object of all the counter-howling and groaning could be, lbr no exclamation from either party could be heard amid the deafening tumult which filled every corner of the building. There seemed to be a general notion in the minds of both parties that there must be somebody or something on the opposite side they were bound in duty to groan down—who or what these were was of course little to the purpose—and most vigor ously did they put forth all the powers of annoyance with which nature had gifted them. At last, after a vigorous effort on the part of the leaders, a momentary silence was obtained, when Mr. John Rogers, a very honest Chartist, and, by the way, a very respectable young man, announced that two gen tlemen were to be nominated to the chair,—viz. Mr. George Ross, on the part of the Chartists, and Mr. Charles Bryson, on the part of their opponents. This intimation again let loose the vociferations of at least 4,000 throats, and the noise and confusion became more astounding than ever. Fully a quarter of an hour elapsed before it was possible to divide the meeting, which was ultimately found, by a large majority, to be in favour of Mr. Ross. Before this was ascertained, however, a pugilistic encounter came off at one side of the hall. From the platform it Was impossible to tell how this originated, all that was seen were the fists of several persons vigorously pitched into each other, and the increased confusion which a recourse to physical force necessarily created amongst that portion of the multitude placed in their neighbourhood. A long line of police penetrated at once to the scene of action, and took four of the parties into custody. Some idea of the confusion which generally prevailed in the hall may be formed from the fact that, while this pugilistic scene was enacting at one side of the meeting, those placed at the other side, and even in the centre, appeared to be utterly uncon scious that any thing of the kind was going on. Mr. Ross having taken the chair, Mr. Bryson addressed a few words to the audience, expressing a hope that no friend of Ireland, or Chartist, would act a part unwor thy of himself in the cause he espoused. Both parties had the same object in view—their differences were as to the means of obtaining it, and though the Chartists had not behaved as they ought to have done, let the friends of Ireland show that they are Christians as well as patriots, and return good for evil. This admonition having been partially heard, the cheering, groaning, and yelling were resumed with even greater vehemence than before. The business was proceeded witb,—the farce of moving and passing resolutions—not one word of which was heard by any living being but the movers themselves—if even by them—was gone through—the opposing parties cheering and groaning just in accordance with the signals which they ob served given by their leaders on the platform. When a Chartist spoke, he was cheered by his friends, and groaned, and hooted, and grinned at by his oppo nents ; when an Irishman spoke, the thing was reversed —and thus one continued round of the most tumultuous and outlandish noises prevailed to the very last. The Chartists (thanks to the pains they had taken to secure a gathering of their friends) had an evident majority : but the Irishmen showed themselves ready adepts in making use of the Chartists' own weapons, and com pletely prevented both their speeches and their resolu tions from being heard. Of this, of course, the Char tists can have no reason to complain, seeing it was only following up the example they have so often them• selves given, and which they had so strikingly exhibited before the eyes of their Irish brethren at the late meet ing in the Justiciary Court Hall. We are always pained and even disgusted, with these unreasoning exhibitions at public meetings ; but we must admit that, on this oc casion, we scarcely felt sorry to see the impracticable Chartists so effectually caught in their own snare ; we could not help thinking that alfew more such meetings— and we arc mistaken if the Irish working men don't fels low up their advantage—might lead the Chartists to a little reflection, and the absurd conduct which they could not see in themselves, might, when exhibited in others, become in time so manifest as to be at last departed from altogether. It is needless to continue further de scription of the scene at this meeting ; suffice it to say that the proceedings went off in dumb show. We un derstand that resolutions were passed against both the Irish Registration Bills now before Parliament—the principle of Universal Suffrage insisted upon—the Queen petitionsd to dismiss the Ministry—aud the meeting in the Justiciary Court Hall denounced as not a public meeting at all. Of all this, however, not a single word was heard. An amendment in favour of Household Suffrage was proposed, but it was voted down by a majority of the meeting, though they knew nothing whatever of its nature. Having enacted this farce, there was a long series of cheering and groaning for the Charter—for Feargus O'Connor, the martyr — for Daniel O'Connell—for Scorpion Stanley—for the Ministry, &c.—after which the vast multitude quietly separated. The four men who were taken out of the meeting were on Friday placed at the bar of the Police Court. Their names and occupations were stated to be— James Railley, labourer ; Thomas Higgins, brickmaker ; John O'Neill, mason ; and Dan. MeGinnes, hawker. They were all charged with disorderly conduct at the meeting, and Higgins and MeGinnes were further charged with assaulting Allan Pinkerton. The litter deposed, that after the vote for the Chairman was taken, and Mr. Ross was placed in the chair, the accused con tinued to call out in a disorderly manner, and when he checked them, Higgins struck him. A number of that party then got about him, seized him by the hair, and thtew him down and kicked him, leaving the wounds which he exhibited to the Court on his face and head. O'Neill and Higgins were fined each in one guinea ; and the case against the others was continued for fur ther consideration. On Saturday, M‘Ginnes was fined in a guinea and a half ; O'Neill not appearing, his pledge was forfeited. lEO l ' SELL. ly des. I.icY o f tog ap AC of 01° iow t° _ . to 113- I term 031 P eggll- re into o wl in 101 , is u poo or it J° 1313 ed that of th e ' DHOW ° 100, be p res o y, b°' ited f°r deOlP"te.! of in tte us ed i' atege Is of th ° e rights debit' rich tbe ree° 3 ! l4 °p oet) the per 3e Lich (13 1 porY 'for t a li t e ` arid be P a ' Gabriel ,t of the •ty t° orl ,be IS i ll ' to i t ! ' h e ir f' d rah 6° „f 'ove r°— eat rtY . . do Sp° 00 4 13is c " i d q3Pr ° :;,l spe7 aga l t ddl e " a 6 8, ip liPe w t o nod e 10 is Of fr oS. b e r og spe r ,c l r of `t ie" 4 0 0 osSil .oc l s ll°' i I c h g: op y for Aft l Apt ra ra_ 00t 0 - 0 L b° d re , a 0.. 0 , • 10, Ac. t 1 „AO icir THE sUN,. LONDON, THURSD Y, MARCH 11, Pia. LITERARY FUND SOCIETY. Yesterday, the Annual General Meeting of the Sub scribers to this inestimable Charity, was held in the Society's Rooms, Great Russell-street, Sir W. Chat terton, Bart., Vice-President, in the Chair. The at tendance of Members was very numerous. Mr. Blewitt, Secretary, read the Report. It appeared that the charity was progressing in influence and usefulness. During the past year 8831. had been distributed in grants for the relief of distressed authors, their widows, and orphans, making a total of 27,0431. 9s. expended for that humane purpose from the first establishment of the Society. The subscriptions and donations for the past year amounted to 890/. 1.55. 6d. The Marquis of Lansdowne was re-elected President. The Vice Presidents were also re-elected, and the va cancy caused by the death of Lord Henley was filled up by the election of Henry Hallam, Esq. The vacancies in the Council were supplied by Dr. W. C. Taylor,and G. B. Whitaker, Esq., and the vacancies in the Ge neral Committee were filled up by the election of Viscount Fitzalan, M.P., the Rev. H. H. Milman, and the Rev. Dr. Russell. The other officers, the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Tooke, and the Honorary Surveyor, Mr. H. Rhodes, were re-elected. Thanks were voted to the Auditors and Chairman, and the meeting sepa rated. THE WEATHER. ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE STREET. NooN, MARCH 11. Barometer 3O 52 In. Thermometer Highest 63 Lowest Wind S.E.—Freesing Point 32 Deg. CRIMINAL RET URNS. The Commissioners of Police have published their annual return of the number of persons taken into cus tody, and the results for the year 1840, with compara tive statements for the last ten years. The total number taken into custody in 1840 was 70,717, nearly 5,000 more than the previous year, arising from the extension of the police district in January, 1840, including an in crease of 135 parishes, hamlets, and liberties, with a po pulation of 267,266. Of these, more than one half, 37,559, were discharged by the Magistrates ; 29,076 summarily convicted or held to bait ; 4,082 committed for trial ; 3,081 convicted ; 660 acquitted ; and 300 against whom bills were not found. Notwithstanding the increase of the district the number of persons taken into custody was considerably less than in 1831 and 1832, when the numbers were respectively 72,824 and 77,543. The smallest number taken into custody in any one of the ten years was in 1836, amounting only to 63,384. More than one-third of the persons taken into custody in 1840, 23,938, could neither rend nor write,-37,551 could read only, and read and write very imperfectly, —B,l O l could read and write well, and 1,107, of whom only 62 were females, had received superior instruction. THE COBBETT DINNER. The anniversary dinner to commemorate the birth of Mr. Wm. Cobbett, took place on Tuesday evening, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand. At six o'clock a numerous party of gentlemen sat down to dinner ; and in the absence of Mr. Fielden, the Mem ber for Oldham, Mr. George Rogers took the chair, and in the course of the evening read the following let ter of apology from Mr. Fielden : " Todmorden, March 5, 1841. " Dear Sir,—l left London for here on Wednesday morning, and I now find that I cannot be back in town to take the chair at the dinner to commemorate the birth of Mr. Cobbett, and I write to request you to get some other gentleman to take the chair on that occa sion. It will be an important one, and time will show whether his predictions are not on the eve of fulfilment with regard to the downfall of " rag-money," and the consequences that must follow its extinction. The ad vice he so feelingly and repeatedly gave to those in power in his own country, to avoid being destroyed by this monster, by crushing it, although disregarded here, was followed by General Jackson, and his successor, Van Buren, in America ; and it now appears they have, at any rate, scotched the snake, if not killed it, and have thereby inflicted on it a mortal stab. " On my arrival in Manchester on Wednesday night, I heard that news had been received in Liverpool that day of the smashing of the American Banks, and the state of confusion the " rag-rooks" there were involved in ; and I could not help thinking how Mr. Cobbett, had he been alive, would have enjoyed the news, though no one would have lamented more than himself the sufferings of the innocent that would ensue. America will right herself, and secure her independence ; but how John Bull, with his debts, taxes, " coarser food," and coercion laws, will pass through the ordeal, no one can tell—we shall sce. Events will break down the system, if the people will be quiet.---I am, dear Sir, " Your obedient servant, " JOHN FIELDEN." After the cloth had been removed, The CHAIRMAN rose, and said—The followers of Cobbett, although not so numerous as those who were seeking place and power, and although not making so much noise in the world as those whose business it was to talk and not to think, whatever might be their un popularity, no one could deny that they were consistent in opinion, and that the progress of events was rapidly developing the soundness of the Cobbett principles.— (Hear, hear.) Every year they met they had further proof of the truth of his doctrines. They saw the public writers of the day giving a different solution to various events that arose. One party attributing them to the mi,takes of Lord Palmerston—another to the impru dence of Thiers—a third to the timidity of Guizot— and another to the ignorance of the Chinese—in fact, they were attributed to every thing but the right one. But the Cobbettite, who saw every thing clearly— (Hear, hear) —he knew that all these things were pro duced by bygone causes, which Mr. Cobbett had la boured to prevent, and the consequences of which he had foretold. The Cobbettite foresaw that the weak ness of the country was its debt—that the extravagance of the Government was daily adding to its amount for their own purposes, and not for the public good. What had tempted Thiers and Guizot, and the Americans and the Chinese, and the native Indian Princes, to envy and attempt to overturn the apparent prosperity of England, but that they foresaw that the bubble was about to burst, and that the great truth which had been propounded by Paine was about to be proved, namely, that paper-money although strength in the beginning, was weakness in the end 2—(Hear, and cheers.) That period the Cobbetite was looking for, and every moment told him that it was fast ap proaching. Another month, or another year more or less, was as nothing in the history of nations, and the only result of postponing the evil a little longer, would be to render more potent the resistance that would be brought against it. The Cobbetites saw clearly that the French people were burning to revenge the battle of Waterloo, and they saw that the time was fast coming when the battle was to be refought. If it was not to be done with the consent of Louis Philippe, it would be dono without him. America had also got its specific cause of quarrel, and felt the insults that had been cast upon it by England in bye•gone times. Russia was also ready to take up arms against England, and then they would find, as their great apostle Cub bat bad said, " The ship going to pieces upon the rocks." Mr. Fielden, in his excellent letter, had said that events would break down the system, if the people would but be quiet, but in the position in which the people were placed, he doubted if they could be kept quiet.—(Hear, hear.) Their public plunderers had gone on robbing the people, until cir cumstances over which they had no control would bring about an unqu!et revolution. It was melancholy to re flect that, in a country where so much intellect existed among the common people—in a country which had produced one of the most intellectual men that ever lived, and who exhibited a distintcrestedness which one rarely saw united with great talent—it was melancholy to reflect that the warnings of that grbat man had been neglected. The Cobbetites, at least, might say to them selves that they had taken no part in that state of things—their consciences were clear, and they were throughout anxious to effect such changes as would render such a revolution unnecessary. He believed a state of things was fast ap proaching when the people, who were now half st irved, would be without food. They bad a cur rency liable to be upset at any moment—they had an increasing expenditure, with a decreasing means of continuing that expenditure. Their whole fiscal state was getting into confusion, and the question would shortly arise what would such a state of things termi nate in ? How would it be when thousands were reduced to starvation under their highly artificial sys tem ? Was it to be supposed that people, without food, could be quiet ? Whatever their disposi tions might be, the raging lion olhunger would say, go out and feed yourselve..—(Hear, hear.) These were the real elements of society into which it would ul timately te resolved, and it was one which theitiLegis- lators would do well to reflect upon. If they did no they might depend upon it that it would ere long come upon them like a thief in the night, and involve the country in a state of ruin blacker and more terrible than they had any conception of. The Chairman con cluded by proposing the memory of their excellent friend William Cobbett.—Drank in solemn silence. Mr. SUTCHENS had been entrusted with a toast which he felt much pleasure in proposing " The Jury whose upright performance of their constitutional duty had preserved Mr. Cobbett from the doom which the base and perfidious Whigs had designed for him." —(Cheer. , .) That Jury had been chosen by the then Attorney-General, who bad been since dignified with the office of Lord Chief Justice of England, and he had used his best exertions to have his unfortunate victim in carcerated in a prison from which he would never have escaped alive. Thank God,diowever, some of these Jury men stood firm to their oaths, and they had now among them the Foreman of that Jury.—( Loud cheers.) He was well known to all of them, and they could not too highly appreciate the noble determina tion evinced by him and five of his fellow Jurors to ad here to their oaths, which he felt was not the case with the other six. He believed they went there determined to convict Mr. Cobbett, but although they had brought their great coats and night caps and provisions, after fifteen hours' deliberation the excellent constitution of his friend Mr. Wilkinson prevailed against them, and Cheers.) When Mr. Cobbett was th triedey gaveo thwaaty.—( occasion they brought no evidence at all against him,—( Hear, hear.) It must have been a gra tifying reflection to these men that they had snatched Mr. Cobbett from an untimely grave, and had enabled him to confer so much benefit upon his countrymen. While they had such honest and independent minded men among them England had nothing to fear. The toast was drank with great applause. Mr. WILKINSON wished the other five Jurymen were present , complim compliment that bad was sure they wou ld a pp rec i a te the bad been paid them. Trial by Jury was one of the great benefits conferred by the great and good King Alfred on the country, and it had not been much altered since its establishment. To be sure they did not go to,the nicety of being tried by their peers in all cases, because if the poor were tried by their peers, they would be as likely to come off without punishment as my Lord Cardigan.---( Hear and cheers.) They all knew the im portance did not blame the peers in that case, but what he proveG ew er a t, l h ' se nose ean,t ;,, complained of was, that the poor were not tried by c of trial by Jury, and knew the importance the of the functions of Jurymen who were to decide ac cording to the evidence. Now he had been simple enough to suppose that people meant what they said, tphoeritranpeeners like Lord Cardigan. and he was resolved to observe the oath he bad taken, Mr. Cobbett. There was no evidence , and to decide according to the evidence. The indict ment against Mr. Cobbett charged him with having in cited the people to violence, and went through the whole calendar of crimes, as having been stirred up by t w h h e at w e i v i e t i r e g o s f of Mr. such intention on the part of Mr. Cobbett. He admitted that he had written the pro ductions, but he denied the inference, and they could produce no evidence whatever to substantiate the charge. to the grindstone, and defied him to --(Hear.) In fact, it would appear during the whole case that it was the Attorney-General who was on his be had made. Now, that reminded trial and not Mr. Cobbett, for he kept the Attorney and he put down half-a him of the text of Rowland Hill---" I can do all things," saith St. Paul. " Can you ?—l'll bet you but he went on, " through the half e r o w a n - e o ro n w t n he yo p u ulpit ; help of our Lord J esus Christ " Oh," said he, " that's another mat ter —I won'." t bet,"_( H ear , an d cheers.) NOW, t hat was Mr. Cob bett's case ; he relied upon the context, and c ame off tri umphant. (Hear' and cheers.) He had been, from his early youth, an admirer of the writings of Mr. Cobbett, and he was convinced that they were calculated to make all classes of men wiser and betor. Why hi s " Legacy to Labourers" and " Legacy to Parsons" were e nough to give a man all the information he required to make him a virtuous and a useful mein ber of society. When he reflected on these things, he must say be did feel not a little pride at having rescued such a man from the fangs of the Whigs.--( Loud cheers.) Let them look at the change that had tdien place in the system of persecution adopted by the Whigs towards those who were unfortunate enough to get into their clutches. Formerly it was the law merely that a man should be incarcerated, and there was an end of it ; but now there was a treadmill and soli tary cot?finement, and when remonstrances were made, it was denied by the v Whigs that they had authorised it—it was the order of the Magistrates ; and then the Magistrates referred you back to tl.e Se cretary of State from whom the orders had emanated and thus in the most shameless manner they bandied you about from one to the other, all endeavouring to avoid the responsibil:ty. Why, he would a thousand times rather have the Tories, with all their open pro fessions of enmity, than such men.—(Loud cheers.) On behalf of himself and t►he five jurymen he begged to return them his sincere thanks. Dr. WADE proposed " The labouring people, and may they speedily regain their franchise," However humble that class might be they resembled the great Creator, and were, next to him, most to be regarded, as to that class they were indebted for all the bounties of Providence which they enjoyed. That class was now become an estate in the country, and they would prove themselves deserving of it. How had they lost the franchise ? Through the rascality of designing men— because in the days of Alfred they had the franchise, and it was only their cumbers that compelled them to resort to the appointment of delegates. But if the system of representation was freely and fully carded out, every man would be fairly represented by the delegate he selected. He had attended a vast meeting of the Chartists the other day, anti be was surprised to see so many of them tea-totallers. It was a proof of the independence of that class, and it was one of the first steps towards the regaining of their franchise.—(Hear, hear,) As to the intelligence of the working classes, he need only refer them to the work that had been published by Lovett and Collins while in prison—a work of which their great master, Cobbett himself, would not have been ashamed.— (Heir, hear.) They had their independence and intelligence, and he would add to that their vast numbers. What had population done in America? Why, it the slaves went on increasing at their present rate, they would shortly enforce their independence and be slaves no longer. Such would be the case in their own country if the people were but true to them selves. There were many things the people ought to have which they had been deprived of. They had a right to commonage lands and to Church lands, which they no longer enjoyed.---(Hear, hear.) The Bishop of London mistook his point when he looked after the sewerage and the ventilatior, and the drainage of the poor man's home, while he was excluded from his just rights.—( Hear, hear.) It was all very well to look after his health, but justice ought to be done in the first instance. It appeared to him that the middle classes were as much oppressed and persecuted as the lower classes, and if they were but true to themselves, and joined the Chartists, they would soon attain their objects. He maintained that it was the duty and the interest of the middle classes to join the Chartists.— (Hear, bear.) If they did not, they might depend upon it they would eventually be crushed by the oppressors. His duty was to mediate and unite all parties rather than create dissension and division, and for these reasons he was anxious to avoid saying any thing offensive to any party. Again, look at the manner in which the Poor law was now administered to the unfortunate paupers. They separated these persons from their families during their lifetime, :and then they were to be thrust into holes, like dogs, at the backs of their prisons.—(Hear, hear.) Talk of Sodom and Gomorrah !—why, he was astonished that the vengeance of heaven had not fallen upon that country for the manner in which the poor were treated. Talk of wars, and rumours of wars, with America and other places ! why, they had seen the judgment of Heaven fall upon countries 'which had not been guilty of half so much wickedness as their own. --(Hear, hear.) Dr. Wade concluded by proposing the toast, which was drunk with three times three. Mr. BUTLER proposed, " Our faithful friend, the Debt ; and may its weight, which is ever increasing, soon put an end to the plunder and oppression of the poor." He complained of the system pursued by the aristocracy in promoting their own interests, and placing the great bulk of the burdens of the country upon the shoulders of the poor. Mr. Cobbett had pointed out the infamy of the principle of the malt -tax, which, al though it contributed only four and a-half millions to the Treasury, took at least thirteen millions out of the pockets of the labouring classes. The same might be said of the tax on tea and on sugar, on tobacco and snuff, and all the other indirect taxes. In fact, it was from the labouring classes that the whole bulk of the revenue of the country was collected. He recollected when the interest of the debt was only 16 millions, and now it was not less than three times that amount, while the condition of the people was still worse. Mr. Butler then referred to the opinions of Mr. Cobbett on the subject of emigra tion, and read several extracts from his works on that point. After some further observations Mr. Butler concluded by proposing the toast, which was drank with due honour. Mr. CLEAVE then gave—" Health and a speedy re turn to their wives and families to all those expatriated or imprisoned, owing to their attempts to better the concition of the working classes."—(Cheers.) He was rejoiced to find that the Cobbettites had not for gotten such a toast on the present occasion.—( Hear, hear.) He had lately seen the son of Williams, who had made a journey from Wales to London, merely to see the surgeon of the ship which had taken out his father and his companions, that he might gladden the hearts of their friends on his tour home wards, by repeating what he heard of their condition from the lips of the surgeon.—(Hear, hear.) The last speaker, Mr. Butler, had referred to a petition to the House of Commons, but he believed they had little hope of redress in that quarter.—that House was a re presentation of the feeling cf the middle classes towards the Chartists, and lie was surprised to find so hostile a feeling on the part of the middle classes towards their industrious brethren. They had seen the operation of that feeling in the discussions that had taken place within the last few days on the subject of the Poor-laws. why, even the man upon whom Mr. Cobbctt had built most in the House of Commons, Mr. Wakley, had expressed his satiable- .ion that the Poor•law Commissioners were to be cou- tinned for five years longer.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Cleave then referred to the dietary tables in the Poor law Unions, and denounced the system of half stlrva tion, which he contended was practised towards the un fortunate paupers. Mr. Cobbett was not mistaken when he hoped that good would result from the Re form Bill. He believed the error, if any, was one which would speedily be corrected, for the people's eyes were beginning to be opened, and they would soon take their affairs into their own hands, and when they did that they must succeed. If they were to obtain their rights, if they were to have Universal suffrage, unmitigated and unrestricted, with the assistance of the middle classes, weil, but if the middle classes did not join them, they would obtain their rights without their assistance. The people of that country might be taunted with their want of union, or with their poverty, but he referred them to the rise and progress of the labourer's son, who had worked himself up from the plough to a seat in the House of Commons, and had obtained an influence which had made him the arbiter of many questions in that House.—( Hear, heAr.) He regretted to see that they were deserted by the sons and the colleagues of Mr. Cobbett on the present occasion, but there were in that room enough and to spare to carry out the principles of that great man throughout the length and breadth of the land.—(Hear, and cheers.) Mr. NEESOM had come there to add his mood of praise to one who was the dread of all tyrants and op pressors, and who had stood forward to defend the rights of his countrymen. He (Mr. Neesom) had been the victim of the base and perfidious Whigs for merely attending a public meeting, and telling the people that they must have their political rights, or there would be no peace for England. Notwithstand ing gagging Bills and oppression, he would repeat that assertion. Mr. Neesom then referred to the case of Mr. Pcost, and complained of the cruelty with which he had been treated by the Whigs. Mr. CARPENTER, after a few appropriate introductory observations, gave the toast of " The Press, and may it speedily become honest." The health of the Chairman was afterwards given. Mr. Rogers briefly returned thanks, and the compzely separated shortly afterwards. FOLLY AND MADNESS OF WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND TILE UNITED STATES.—We are not in a position to fight for national character. We have as much reputation in the field and in the cabinet as belongs to any nation. No Power desires to injure or insult us. It is only by cultivating peace that we can be happy. A war between this country and England would not be a war for territory or national azgran disement, but simply a war t) sea which can do the other the most harm. Let us imagine it; let U 3 sup pose that England, by her improvement in the art of war and by steam-ships, runs into our seaports, lays our cities in ashes, or levys contributions. In order to save our towns and their defenceless people, let us, in return, by our private marine, sweep her commerce from the ocean, and burn her mall towns. Let us thus go on, at im mense expense of blood and treasure, to injure each other for twenty years ; and at the end of that period we shall not have settled a single point of national honour; for the simple reason, that there is none to settle in the present dispute. It involves no principle or policy which cannot be settled by men desirous of preserving the blessings of peace, and promoting the happiness and prosperity of the country. —New York Mirror, Feb. 6. ASSESSMENT OF COTTAGE PROPERTY. The Guardi,ins of the Bille icay Union, in Essex, have adopted a petition, praying Parliament to rate the land lords of cottages and small tenements ins tead of the eteneiarnfdtls., By the present mode of rating, the tenants are discharged on account of their pove rt y , landlord obtains additional rent, owing to the presume lexemption of the tenant from payment o f parish rates, v_ bile the great body of the parishioners are p ro (onto defrauded. MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY CHRONICLE.— The news brought by the overland express from India of the state otnegotiat ions with the Chinese authorities had scarcely any perceptible effect upon the funds. The feeling, however, was rather heavy in consequence of the uncertain position in which matters stood at the most recent date, and had it not been that prices had been considerably depressed so soon before by the intelligence from the United States, it is the general opinion that the market would have given way. Business, however, was extremely limited. There was, in fact, nothing doing, the jobbers being kept. in a state of suspense by an announcement of the arrival of the packet ship England from the United States, three days later than the last advlces, and that her despatches might be hourly expected. POST.—The accounts from China produced no change worth noticing in the value of the funds. Consols ranged dur ing the morning between 88A and 88g for money, but files of American papers having reached the North and South Ameri can Coffee-house in the course of the afternoon, with intelli gence of three days' later date from New York, renewed ope rations were entered into. The news from this quarter is con sidered by our commercial men as by no means less pacific than that obtained by the West Chester. The internal exchanges had improved considerably, while the resignation by Mr. Web ster of his seat in the Senate of the Supreme Legislature, preparatory to the assumption by him of the office of Mi nister for Foreign Affairs under the new Administration, could not but be regarded as an auspicious circumstance. These matters being, however, but imperfectly undet stood at the Stock Exchange, some transactions hastily concluded in the after part of the day presented a retrogradation in the money value of stock of ir to g per cent. On a more dispassionate pe rusal being given to the advices brought by this opportunity (the England arrived at Liverpool), which come down to the 20th ult., a re-action may be confidently looked for. Great Western Railway Shares were 23 to 4 prem. ; Birm ingham, 76 to 7 prem. ; Brighton, 7* to 7. dis. ; and Black. wall, 5.1-, to 5 dis. per share. An address to the Shareholders of the British Iron Coral:tarty, on the critical position of that unfortunate concern, has been printed. It is rather an angry production, but at the same time free from coarseness, and, as the hints thrown out by the writer for the guidance of his co-proprietors and fellow sufferers touch their interests very closely, it is, never theless, entitled to an attentive perusal. If we un derstand its contents correctly, the Directors of the company are making calls on the Shareholders with the view of paying Mr. Attwood the large sum awarded him under the late appeal (Small v. Attwood) to the House of Lords. The Shareholders are urged to resist these calls, on the ground that after the fullest, the most unqualified, assurances have been given them by the Counsel employed that " there is no liability" to Mr. Attwood for the payment of the money—as surances which have been repeated and persevered in for years past—the point contended for is now all at once to be aban ' doned. It seems still to be admitted that the Shareholders have yet to obtain justice, but any further law is deprecated on account of the ruinous expense ofit, and hence the determina tion of the Directors to comply with the decision of the Lords, by paying over to Mr. Attwood 350,000/. as the value of an estate " acknowledged to be worth only between 90,0001. and 100,0001. TlMES—During the greater part of the afternoon much uneasiness might be observed in the city. A vague report had reached the coffee-houses and other places of City resort that the news arrived at Liverpool was of an unfavourable descrip tion, although there seemed to be no notion what the intelli gence actually was. The arrival of our express was looked forward to with anxiety, and when the papers were published, they were sought for with avidity. Sir. Firemore s resolu tion on arming the country was not regarded generally in a very retinue light, as the modifications which that resolution underwent were considered to weaken its effect. Some looked with greater apprehension to the threatened ex ecution of Mr. M'Leod, as an inevitable cause of war, if such an act were to take place, though per haps what was considered the most alarming of all was the re • solution referred to the Boundary Committee for removing the British troops from the disputed territory. The intelligence altogether has, doubtless, had its effect in strengthening an im pression that the disposition of the Americans is not so far from hostile as has sometimes been supposel in the City, and that the bad feeling of the people of the United States does not merely belong to a small party, while anything like very serious alarm is greatly checked by the belief that the Americans would find it almost impossible to sustain a war. In the Consol Mark: t the fall was near A per cent. immediately on the receipt of the news, but this is attributed to the operations of a few speculators for the full, who have taken advantage of the late arrivals to depress the market, and the want of some leading capitalist who might sustain prices. SUN.—The advices by the Overlatid mail to-day led to no depression in Stocks; but the intelligence pub lished in The Sun this afternoon, brought from New York by the England packet-ship, caused a decline of per cent., though the market closed rather better. The lowest prices of Consols for Money was 874, and for the Account 88; the latest were 81, and 88 to Exche quer Bills were 7s. to 93. prem. ; and the Now Three and-a- Half per Cents. 96:1 to The Foreign Funds were in a heavy condition. Span ish Active Bonds were reduced to 23k and ; and Portu guese New Five per Cents. to 31i. Colombian Bonds were marked 23, and Brazilian at 72, being without alte ration. French Three per Cents. were at 77 francs, and Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. at 50-1. to I. There was a fair business doing in Railway shares, but at lower prices. Great Western brought 23 to 22 ; the New, 10 to Ili; the Fifths, 5. ; the Birmingham, 77k; and the South-Western, 17k premium. Brighton were 7 to 74 ; Blackwell, 5 ; Hull and Selby, 7 ; Bristol and Exeter, 27; Eastern Counties, ; Manchester and Leeds, New, 1 ; Noah Midland, New, 5; and South- Eastern and Dover, 164 discount. Briti,h North Ameri can Bank Shares were ss. discount, and National Provin cial of England, par. The mercantile advices from America are scarcely more satisfac•ory than those which relate to political matters. United States Bank Shares had been down 2 per cent., or as low as 25, but the !west quotation was 25 to 26. We perceive that a meeting of the Stockholders in this institution had been held, at which it was resolved to pe ftion the Legislature for some Act in their favour, so as to prevent further serious depreciation in their property. The value of the shares held in New York alone is given at seven millions cf dollars. Money had been execs- sively tight, owing to the caution of the Banks, and from 11 to 2 per cent. per month was paid for discounts at Philadelphia. Business was in a very depressed condi tion owin; to the war fever, and the d3rne3tic exchanges were le.ssfavout able. POLITICAL SUMMARY OF THE MORNING JOURNALS. The Morning Chronicle of this day contains a leading arts cle on the subject of peace or war with America, the object os which is to prove thirt, as yet, there is nothing to justify the apprehensions which have been expressed, of hostilities be tween the two countries.—The Morning Post, in an article on home and foreign trade, expresses an earnest desire that the agriculture and home trade of Old England should be protected from injurious foreign competition, adding, however, that souse competition, or the continually-existing possibility of compe tition, is good as a spur to activity, and a shield against extor tion. —The Morning Advertiser observes, with reference to the Chinese affair, that much time has been wasted in pre liminaries, and that the "course of action is so manifest, that delay only argues incompetency or imbecility."—The Morn ing - Herald endeavours to show that there is still a chance left of tour maintaining peace with the United States, notwithstand ing the bluster and menace of the Van I3uren faction.—The following is from the Times:—" The Hatti Scheriff, which professes to confer upon Mehemet Ali the hereditary Go vernment of Egypt, is a new and threatening element in what is called the settlement of the Eastern 7questi , in. By imposing a variety of conditions, not anticipated in the recant conferences of London, it has undone the work of the last few day', which already promised to place upon a stable basis, and under the recognition of all the Powers, the great general interests of the Ottoman Empire. The conditions nn posed upon the Paella are in themselves calculated to keep alive constant jealousy and civil war. The selection of an heir from the various branches of an Oriental family would be the infal lible prelude to those horrid scenes of fratricide and butchery which have been but too frequent in Oriental history. The total subjection of the Pasha's naval, military, and financial resources to the Commissioners of the Porte is totally unprecedented in the Ottoman Empire ; where, subject to the penalty of his life, and the payment of tribute, a Paella has always been the full and sole representative of the supreme power within the limits of his province. But the question is not whether these measures are intrinsically good or bad for the Turkish empire or for Egypt. A larger interest is at stake—that of Europe itself. flow are these conditions to be reconciled to the lan guage of our Government here and abroad? to the tenour of Admiral Stopford's convention ?—to our subsequent com munications with the Pacha himself? They are calculated to disappoint the hopes of every lover of peace and fair ness in Europe;_ they are no less calculated to expoA. the advisers of the Sultan to the reproach of underhand deal ing and dishonest machinations, which has hitherto been thrown upon his antagonists. In the face of Europe it has been proclaimed that the fleet was to be surrendered to its rightful master, Syria evacuated, and peace consolidated, upon the restoration of Mehemet Ali and his race to the Pachalic of Egypt. In the face of Europe the Sultan and his allies evade their part of these stipulations, which were trusted in by Mehemet Ali because they were made in the name of Eng land. There is but one man, we verily believe, in the public service of an European Power capable of urging on a weak and unwise Government like the Porte to measures so shamefully devoid of justice, prudence, and honour. If Lord Ponsonby was retained at Constantinople to foster the dark intrigues of the Seraglio, or to take a part in the base vengeances of Asiatic courtiers, the country might understand his conduct. But he has failed—and insolently gloried in his failure—in the great object of restoring the relations of the Sultan and the Pacha to a firm and fair state of peace. He has exposed the Government and the country which he represents to the im putation of extreme bad faith. He has done all that in bins lay to defeat the efforts of the best and wisest statesmen in Eu rope for the maintenance of peace, by stimulating the brutal passions of the semi-barbarous Divan, and by pledging the policy of England to a course of action which had no source but iii his own wilfulness, rancour, and audacity. Until Lord Ponsonby be recalled, it is impossible that the Cabinet Council of the Queen of England can have their own instructions carried into execution ; it is hopelr tlsiatet anticipate an adjustment so promptly or equitably framet vi „ m h e i s : o this Marplot will not upset it by some fresh exttravassobey No ambassador, we repeat, ever before pre su Sovereign, the orders alleged to have been given hi m b y is Parliament, and avowed by the Ministers of the Crowz with no better justification than his committedp such intem perance. Certainly no ambassador 1 t • to (lie Queen, Wiens of his c u desperate and dangerous vio interests of Europe, was _ i o a s , v i n ng e; caprice or to the country, and to the c ommo t theuovernment of this country ever before allowed to retain a p and enormously abused.,:which Le has so frequently onb '3 successor Would by this credit of the nation, Lord ons were in the hands of men wilfile,respect their own promises or the time be on his way to C o nstantino') e. THE LATE FATAL COLLISION.-Captain Andrews, late Commander of the ill-fated emigrant ship Governor Fenner, sailed from Liverpool for New York in the American packet ship Stephen Whitney, on Monday a f ternoo n, and will be the first to conve y the m elancholy intelligence to the owners and tmderwriters in A mer i ca. Captain Andrews , with a commendable desire to have the whole affair fully and fairly discussed, and to a cce l erate b y every means in h is p ower the p ro g ress of in quiry' applied to the Mayor of Liver p ool to institute an e investigation, o s rp r inquirye s en t but his appi ca tion proved fruitless, Mr. ing that he had "no more powleiro the institute b to odie an la3or G o o f v L er o n n o d r o r n e .' n ' ner be brought to Liverpool , been found in the rigging e A of. the by Captain Church, of the Ilirm . mgharn steamer, an inves tigation would have taken place, and facts might have been e:icited ; but, as i . . ii ' there cogi izancc of it but Courta of i L s no other tribunal to take Law, and it must rest with the owners of the vessels t.) eubmit or not to invest:gation by s Ash proms. EVENING EDITION. PARLIAMENTA. I3 A BUSINESS. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10. 1. Metropolis linprovements,—Second Reading, March 15. 9. Wishaw aid Coltness Railway,—Committee on 13111, March 1 at one. 3. Chelsea Poor,—Committee on Bill, March 18, at one. 4. Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway,—Committee on Bill, March 18, at one. 5. Chri,tchurch and Lyndhurst Road,—Committee on Bill, Mareit 18, at one. 6. Dovenby and Papcastle Inclosure,—Sccond Reading, March U. 7. Bristol and Exeter Railway,—Second Reading, March 15. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. (From the Brighton Gazette.) PORTSMOUTH, March 10. _The new steamer Polypho. mus has been commissioned. in the river by Lieut, John Evans, reported fir serrice in the Nlediterranean. The Lidu ,- -3, 84, Captain Sir James Stirling, and ell-. vette Twccd, 20, Commander Douglas, went out of that harbour to Spitbead on Saturday. The latter ship is ready for sailing, except the payment of adyanee ; but the Indus, being short of handy, will be necessarily de teined. Three flee frigates ere is rapid progress here for corn-. mission, namely, the Vindictive, 50, Warspite, bO, anti Dublin, 50. Orders are also daily expected for the Ma-. dagasca , , 4(. At present not a single ship is fitting out. The brigantine Bonetta, destined for the coast of Africa. is commissioned at Chet!ram by Lieut. Francis Austin. The Monarch, 84, Captain Chambers, and Vernon, 50, Captain Walpole, are at Sheerness, and under orders t ) UEC (Nay expedition in rreeecding to Spithead. Them) ships have been in commission upwards of four months, but the severity of the weather has greatly retarded tbeir equipment The Wolverine, 16. Captain Tucker, may be expected in England about July next, to be paid off. Private let.. tees report her at Cape Coast Castle on the 14th December. The brigs Pelican, 18, Commander Napier, and Ninti lus, 10, Lieutenant 13eaufoy, are at Spitbead, ready to'bro de:patched wherever it may be necessary. The Prince Regent, 120, has been ordered to be in spreted and prepared for service, if necessary. The Asia, 84, Captain Fisher, is daily expecCed hero the Mediterranean, and will proceed to Sheerness to he paid off. This ship has been in commission upwards of five years. The Fair Rosamond schooner, and new brlg , Bittern, 16, will shortly hoist the pendant at this port. At Spitbead--Indus, 84; Tweed; 20; Nato, 10-, and Nautilus, 10. _ _ _ In Harbour—Queen, Victory, Excellent, Royal {forge yacht, Rapid, and steam , rs Echo and Alban. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIR CUIT. CHEL MSPOBD, Milled 10. (Before Lord DENMAN.) William Franklin, aged 55, labourer, was indicted for stealing a sheep, the property of William Fletcher, a far mer, at Southminster, in this county. Mr. RYLAND conduced the prosecution. The cote itself was of an ordinary nature, and possessed hio feature of public interest, but the circumstances whisk led to the detection, and the ultimate conviction of tin prisorer, were of rather an extraordinary character. It appeared from the e,i,lence that the prosecutor was a far mer, and on the night of the sth February, had a flock of forty-five sheep safe in one of his meadows; and the neat morning he discovered that one of them was missing. Upon his examinirig the yard where the shcep hint bee:;, he picked up a piece of rag, covered with a piece of printed cotton, in a form as though it had been tied over a cut or otherwise injured finger. The prosecutor took possession of the rags, but for some time no irifor motion or clue whatever could be gained respecting tho the guity party. At length, however, circumstances came to light which led to the apprehension of the pri soner, and it was proved that a short time before the sheep was stolen the prisoner had hurt one of his fingers, and a fellow-labourer of his proved that the prisoner had asked him to tie up the injured finger with some rags, and be clearly identified the rags found on the prosecutor's premi ses as being the same he had so tied. It was also proaed that on the day after the sheep was stolen, the prisoner was seen in possessi m of a quantity of mutton, and thit bis wife was also seen is the act of making a large mutton pudding. In the course of the case the pris • oner said to the witness who identified the rag, Wby did not I have a white rag on my finger?" The witness replied, " Yes, you had a white rag on yotli. finger, but not till after the day the sheep was stolen.' Other circumstances were adduced, which left slo doubt of the prisoner's guilt. The Jury returood a verdict of Guilty. r Lord DENMAN addressed the prisoner, and said that be had been convicted under evidence certainly of a minute and ia , lier singular character, but still it was such as to leave not the slightest doubt of his guile. He then or dered the prisoner to be transported for 15 years. WESTERN CIRCUIT.—DoRcHEsrEn, M4RcJI 8. The Commission for holding the assize.] for the county of Dorset was opened here on Saturday last. The calendar contained eighty prisoners, but, with a few exceptions, the offences were of very trivial descrip tion, such as to induce one to regret that the county should be put to an enormous expense in prosecuting. A person charged with stealing an article the value of which would not be ls., will cost the county 41 or 51 in giving lint three months' imprisonment Mr. Justice Wightman presided in the Crown Coup, and Mr. Justice Erskine sat at Nisi Prius. (Nisi Prius Court.) WINTER V. BUTT.-BKEACII OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE., Mr. Crowder and Mr. Barstow conducted the case for the plaintiff; and Mr. Edo and Mr. But: that of the de— fondant. This was an action for a breach of promise of marriage. The defendant pleaded that he had made no promise ; thNt, if he had done so, it had been reFeinded by mutual con• sent ; and that the plaintiff was a person of immodest awl immoral character. It appeared tl)at the plaintiff was tho widow of a pars= who had kept a public-house called the Old Roomsst Weymouth ; and she had been left a widow in 1837, a; which time she was only 29 years of age. Of course, ac cording to the rule in actions of this nature, she was beau tiful, but it was not stated that she was accomplished. She had two daughters. Toe defendant was a person connected with the steam-packets, and was stated to havo some share in them. In 1839 the parties b e came ac,.. quaintcd, and_ the defendant repaired to the plaintiff% Old Rooms" t) lodge. This took place in June, 188 P, and in a short time it 'could be seen that a courtship commenced between them, which was carried en ie so open a manner that all their friends and acquaint ances were perfectly an are of it, and the only person who was ignorant cr innocent in the matter was ihe servant gill of the plaintiff. Everrtbiig went Orl harmoniously; each parts• was pleased with the other, and such confidence had the defendant in the vlilititiff that he wrote her the following letter ; and although to somo per s ons the orthography may appear rather unique, and the eapitrl letters appear to have been rather inopportunely introduced, yet it is understood that the charms of person. of the defendant must rather Inve exceeded his education, as he has married a lady reputed to be worth 10,0001.,artd is living in good style : "June 6. "My Dear :Vim Winter—l am truly unhappyrespect ing the 13iil I Have to meet Has I have Cal(' on a fii.2nd who I cbligd with the Loan of 201. Short time A go and He evict Pay ins Bat will take 'eagle proceedings A gainst me ( r Rest the vessel has Soon as She Alive's which will Not only attend to Expellees But wonderfully Hurt my Credit which will Be, My Dear, injurious to you and your Dear Children whom I have the greatest Regard for there io not a person in Weymouth I would Be under the obliga tion to Excepting your Self to ask them for a stilling Now, my Dear, I am short of 5/. and If you will oblige me with the Loan cf 51. I shall he able to Pay you before you' may whant it, you will Not only Ease my unhappy mind But I shall be for ever under an Obligation to you which I heap to live long to prove myself, A Affectionate Husband and A Loving lather I should cold over to a.k of you Person ly But my feelings would not admit of it Pleas to answer this By the Bearer has I am anxious Here the Result of this Note as I must send of this afternoon By so doing you will for Ever oblige your constant Lover untill Death. " Captn CHAS BUTT." " to Mrs. Winter Oldrooms." The courtship progressed, but with it had grown up such . an intimacy that, early in the year 1840, wanting pee n s 1h to the widow was of such a nature that her t friends ear suspectedance n t that there must have been a clandestine marriage . Suc h,. Igi n y nd i turn however, was not the fact; the only thi ,o r m by tt l e avr t h . e m The man widow an wife became s ' T i an, therefore , from prty. pressed her suit, and the pecks. spot in which the foTraat dential motives, sought a distan t . t long temee termed parties te b h a a n d n s i t p e l u e b n l i d, in order that all eha ceremony should be performe d a she ' d, persons might reconcile it to their minda d t-h. s e s a 7s r fi e e m d ritably disposed been united a '' s" eret match, and that they hadccerniag that he had It would appeargone to Hat stock in order to have that on some previous owchcaatsioisn and from that p lace he favoured his lady love with th e fol lowing epistle:— l i :erch 51, 1840 . " Dear Jane — I lose no 4;iinnealisnto‘evk, writing inform y ou I did not arriv e here until ! yesterday alternoon'three o'clock And I Assure you I ease very much f etuegd afeer Jurney we cannot he cald over at Corsconahe I 411' a conse quence of my not belonging to the pearish I • intend to leave for London on Monday and shall Be back pleas ged by t hat day week content yourself, u nt ill t h at shall he for the test answer thi s by timer il t i hing return let me know how are by so doing you will oblig ,ouitss truly until death " CHAS. BUTT." " to Mrs. Winter." After writing this letter he appeared completely to have changed his mind. He returned not to SN reyrnout h fur rimy months, hut by some strange accident. in January, 18.10, the widow favoured eh's slightly populated district by the production of a sou. In September the defendant was on hoard a steamer in the port of 'Weymouth, and the servant girl, who had never seen anything like court in g g oin g on between the parties, was en t rus ted with a note to convey to the defendant on board his ship. The contents of this note did tint app9ar, but it was shown that the defendant was apprised of the accession to his fortune by the birth of the Et le innocent. He, however, kept far aloof, and at the end of the year took unto himself a more favoured help mate, which aroused all the indignant feelings of the widow, who immediately, in the very height of her wrath. repaired to her attorn e y , who commenced th e present ac tion, on her behalf, calling upon a Jury to compensate her for the wrong done to her, by directing the defendant to pay • her a sum of mon e y i n damages for the injury she had sustained. From the letters the defendant had written, as we ll a s from the mode in which the parties had lived together, and more particularly from the fact of a marrine sett l e ment having been prepared with (ho sanction and ar probroion of the defendant, it was clear that there had existed this engagement between them, and no proof being offered in support of the plea of justification, the Jury re turned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 1001.