The Sun. — London, England, 1842-12-29 00:00:00

WITH NINETEEN ILT,USTRATIt)NS BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK, ALFRED CROWQU[LL, AND LEECH. The JANUARY NUMBER, price Half-a-Crown, of WENT LEY'S MISCELLANY, Will contain : THE ADVENTURES OF MR, LEDBURY AND HIS FRIEND JACK JOHNSON. By ALBERT SMITH. WITH AN ILLUSTRATION BY LEECH. CHAPTER X.—Mr. Ledhury's Journey Home. CHAPTER XI —A few particulars of Mr. Ledbury's family. CHAPTER XII.—Of the Grand Ball given by Mr. Led burv's friends to cel.brate his return to his Native land. The Races at Celle (Life in Hanovor), by Dudley Costello. This World of Ours, by W. G. J. Barker. George Child's Second Love ; a Legend of Southwark. by Paul Pindar. The Wandering Jew ; Leaves of Legendary Lore, by Dr. W. Cooke Taylor. Pleasures of a Trip in a Budgerow, by H. R. Addison. Song of the Morning Star. Christmas Eve; this Story of a Scull, by Henry Curling. A Lay of Ancient Rome, by John Stewart. MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH SHEPHERD MUNDEN, COMEDIAN. BY HIS SON. With Original Anecdotes of Garrick, Shuter, Mrs. Siddons, George Frederick Cooke, &c., &c. THE GALANTI•SHOW ; or. Laughter and Learning all the Year Round, by Jack Gossamer, P.P.P.S.S.E., Rail.. road Philosopher Extraordinary to the Million. With five Illustrations, by Alfred Crowquill. The Soft Man, by Alfred Crowquill, with Illustrations. The Sedar, by H. R. Adiison. To Anna. by K. J. FIGURES FOR THE MILLION, by a Cypher. With ten Illustrations by Alfred Crowquill. THE GOLDEN LEGEND: THE LEGEND OF ST. MEDARD. Hy THOMAS INGOLDSBY, ESQ. WITH AN ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. &c. Rieard Bentley, New Burlington•street. AINSWORTH'S AIAGAZIME Price Half-a-Crown. Contents of the JANUARY NUMBER : WINDSOR CASTLE, An Historical Romance. By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH. Book ll.—Chapters 1., 11., 111., and IV. With Two Illustrations on Steel, by GEO. CRUIKSHANK, And Woodcuts by W. ALFRED DELAMOTTE. A Legend of Normandy. By the Baroness de Calabrella. My Dream at Hop-Lodge. By Laman Blanchard. The Consecration of King Henry's Weapons. By John Oxenford. The Dying Poet to his Wife. By Charles Hervey. Astrology and Alchemy. By Camilla Toulmin. State and Prospects of the Legitimate Drama in China. By Charles W. Brooks. On Our Late Success in India. By M. Y. W. Throe Days Lost in Taurus. By W. Francis Ainsworth. A Scene during the Early Part of the French Revolution. By Miss Skelton. A Charade. By Naeck Esmiryn. The Monastery of L'Avernia. By the Hon. C. Stuart Savile. The Adventures of Ganderfield, the Borehater. By A Crotchety Man. . Old Parrs Ghost ; a Legend of Wexford. By Charles Hervey. The Sick Child. By the Hon. Julia Augusta Maynard. " Working up Junk." By John Barrow. On Seeing an Advertisement of the Intended Retirement of an Eminent Firm, By Mrs. Gore. The Serious Miller. By Dudley Costello. A Venetian Romance : Part 11. By Edward Kenealy. Old German Ballad. B i y Margaret Scott. New Year's Eve. By:A THE - ELLISTON PAPERS. Edited by GEORGE RAYMOND. Chapters V. and VI. II ith a Portrait of Elliston, engraved from the Original Picture in the possession of the Garrick Club. Cunningham and ➢Mortimer, Publishers, Adelaide-street, Trafalgar-square. UNDER THE ESPECIAL PATRONAGE OF H.R.H PRINCE ALBERT. HE SPORTING Edited by " CRAVEN." The JANUARY Number, embellished vv.th Two Engravings on Steel, arid other Illustrations, contains— HYDE MARSTON. Chap. XXIV. By the Editor. The Philosophy of Gaming. IPassages from my Sporting By Leontine Foy. Life. By Lord Wm. Lennox. Notes from the Tuscan Ma. Beekford's Thoughts on Hunt• remme. ing, collated with Modern Newmarket Champion Meeting. authorities. Public Amusements of the Me-, The Chase. tropolis. Monthly Memorabilia. Her Majesty's Favourites. i Literature, &c., &c. London : Mitchel!, Sporting Review Office, 33, Old Bond st-cet. TE :NEXT DISTRIBUTION of MONEY DIVIDENDS, AUTFIORISED and GUARANTEED by HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR. of AUSTRIA, contains MONEY DIVIDENDS of £5O, £6O, £7O, £BO. £9O, £lOO, £llO, £l2O, £l5O, £2OO. £4OO, £6OO, 1.;z400, £l,OOO, £1,500, £5,000, and £25,000 Sterling. Amounting together to 272,170 sterling. Direct for PROSPECTUS with full particulars, WITH OUT DELAY, to HEINE BROTHERS, at HAMBURG H, Cr, to HEINE BROTHERS, at LUBECK. HEINE, BROTHERS having remitted during a very short time very large amounts of Money Divi dend= to their Correspondents in Gre:lt Britain and Ireland. Dividends of 25,0001., 18,0004., 9,0001., 5,000/., and 3,6001. to London; 3,600/., 800!., an 17001. to Edinburgh; 3,600/. to Dublin ; 3,6001. to Beverley ; 3.600/. to Halifax ; 1,200/. to Porthleaven Harbour; 900/., 700!., and 6001. to Liver pool ; 990/. to Hull ; 900/. to Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; 900/. and 600/. to Manchester ; 700/. to East Retford, Nottingham. shire; 7001. to Colne. Lancashire; 7001. to Ryde, Isle of Wight; 600/. to Cork ; 6001. to Bideford ; and 600!. to Bradford, &c.. &c., they beg to call the attention of those desirous to obtain large :gooey Dividends to the approaching EIGHTEENTH DISTRIBUTION of LUBECK, gua ranteed by the Government. This Distribution offers the possibility of obtaining mere than 25,000/. upon One Share. 2,400 of the :hares obtain Money Dividends of 1/. and upwards. Price of One Share, 11. ; two Shares, 2/. ; three Shares, 3/.; four Shares, 41. ; five Shares, 5/. ; six Shares, 01. ; seven Shares, 7L ; eight Shares, Si. ; nine Shares, 91. ; ten Shares, lot. Direct for Shares, without delay, to HEINE-BROTHERS at ,Lubeck. The full Prospectus, with all particulars, may be had gratis upon addressing a line to E 1 sine Brothers. THEATRE ROYAL. COVENT-GARDEN. THIS EVENING, DEC. 29, Will be repeated Dr. Arne's Opera of A RTAXERXES• Artaxerxes, Mrs. Alfred Shaw; Arbaces, Mr. Manvers ; Ar tabanes, Mr. W. Harrison; Mandane, Miss Rainforth; Semira, Miss Poole After which, Mr. Bunn's Comic Interlude of MY NEIGHBOUR'S WIFE. Mr. Somerton, Mr. Coop-•r ; Mr. Brown. Mr Meadows ; Mr. Smith, Mr. Bartley ; Mrs. Somerton, Mrs. W. Lacy. To conclude with a New Comicality, called PUNCH'S PANTOMIME; or, HARLEQUIN 'KING JOHN, and MAGNA CHARTA. By the Writers of " Punch." King John, Mr. W. H. Payne ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Ridgway; Pan taloon, Mr. Garden ; Columbine, Mrs. J. Ridgway ; Clown, Mr. T. Ridgway. Doors open at Half-past Six, and the Performances com mence at Scven.—Dress Boxes 75., Second Price 3s. ,Id. ; • First and Second Circles as., Second Price 2s. 6d. ; Pit 3s; Second Price 2s. ; Gallery Is. Pri7ate 11r,xes to be had at the Box-office ; of Mews. An drews. 167, New Bond-theet ; Mr. Mitchell, Old BoA-street ; and of Mr. Sims, Pall Mall. Tickets and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr. Whit low, at the Box-office, from Ten till Four, where Season Tickets may be had. THEATRE ROYAL, HA - i ; -NIARKET. THIS EVENING, DEC. 9. Will he r. peated Congreve's Comedy of THE WAY OF THE WOULD (Adapted for Representation). Period, 1699. Sir Wilfull Witvvoud, Mr. W. Farrell; Fain a ll, M r . Vining;' Marcvoud, Mr. Stuart ; Wit7tid. Mr. Charle s Afathews ; Petulant, Mr. Buck tone; Waitwell, M r . s tr i ckland• kmant, Madame Vestris; Lady Wishfort, 11Irs. Glover.' To be followed by the Drama of THE BASTILE. Louis Quatorie, Mr. H. Holl; Fricandeau, Mr. Webster; the Duchess de Montbazon, Miss Charles; Ninon Labatte, Ma dame Celeste. To conclude with a Grand Comical Burlesque Bur letta, called RIQUET, WITH THE TUFT. Prince Eiquet, with the Tuft, Mr. Charles Mathews ; Green-horn the Great, Mr. James Bland ; Prince Finikin, Miss Charles; The Princess Emeralda. Madame Vestris. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. LAST FIFTEEN NIGdTS OF THIS PRESENT SEASON. The Public is respectfully informed that this Theatre, being compelled, by its License, to close on the 14th of January, Ma dime Vestris, Mrs. Glover, and Madame Celeste; Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. Buekstone, Mr. Webster, an 4 Mr. Strickland, will not perform beyond that period again until Easter week. J. F. ARCHER, Box Book-keeper. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. THIS EVENING, DEC. 29, Will be repeated an English Version of Bellines Opera of LA SONNAMBULA. Count Redolph, Mr. W. H. Weiss; Alessio, Mr. Walton ; Liza, Mrs. T H. Se vern; Amina, Madame Eugenia Garcia (her first appearance on the English stage); Elvino, Mr. Templeton. To conclude with a New Fairy burlesque burletta, entitled THE YELLOW DWARF. Principal characters by Mr. Oxberry, Mrs. Anderson, Miss Noel, Madle. Melanie Duval, and 11. Deneze, who will make their first appearance in this country in the incidental ballet. Places and Private Boxes to be had at the Theatre, and at alt the principal Libraries. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. THIS EVENING, DEC. 29, Will be repeated the new Burletta, entitled THE MER CHANT AND HIS CLERKS. The principal characters by Messrs. Lyon, 0. Smith, Paul Bedford, Wright, Maynard, '*ieland, Miss Chaplin, Miss Brooks, and Mrs. P. Grattan. After which, a New Faree,called YANKEE NOTES FOR ENGLISH CIRCULATION. Principal Characters by Mr. Rice (the celebrated representative of Negro Character), Messrs. Wright, Wilkinson, Maynard, Mesdames H. P. Grat tan, H. Beverley, and Chaplin. To conclude with a New Christmas Pantomime, called THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD ; or, HARLEQUIN AND NOBODY. Harlequin, Mr. Frampten ; Anti •Clown (No body), Mr ieland ; Clown, Mr. H. Beverly ; Pantaloon, Mr. Sanders Co umbine, Miss Bullin. Boxes,4; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. Doors open at half-past six, commence at seven o'clock. DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. As usual, the most magnificent Pantomime in London—A ter rific hit !_ Acknowledged by audiences crammed to the ceiling —Superb Dresses—Splendid Scenery—Unequalled Appoint ments. THIS EVENING, DEC. 29, Will be repeated a New Drama, entitled RICHARD SAVAGE, in which Messrs. Hughes, Hicks, R. Bonner, J. Webster, Neville, Smith, Mrs. R. Honner, Mrs. H. Vining, Ni t s Terrey, &c., &c., will perform. After which, a New Grand Fairy Pantomime, with splendid Scenery, Dresses, Tricks, Mechanical Change s , an d Appoint nients, to be called HARLEQUIN PUCK; or, THE EN CHANTED STATUE t)F THE CHRYSTAL FOUN TAIN. Harlequin, Mr. Harvey; Clown, Mr. C. Montgo mery; Pantaloon, Mr. T. Blanchard; Columbine, Miss M. R. Fairbrother. Th e effects will exceed everything hitherto attempted. M essrs . suns, Mitchell, Andrews, and Seguin, are Agents for Private Boxes during the run of the Pant om i me. Places and private Boxes to be had of Mr. J. Kerschner, at Bei.osce i from oleven_to four. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, DEC. 28. THERMOMETER, Lowest, 32 ; Highest, - 49 : Noon, 38, BAROMETER, 30.05.—W1ND, W. to S.W. NOTE.—The number 32 on the Thermometer denotes the freezing point, and 55 temperate. In Barometers fair is usually placed opposite 30, and rain at 29. H!GH W ATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY. ilorning 5l minutes after 11 1 Evening t • vto ... ez. 4 • „S ~,,AlO,l - f4t- 4 - , m 0 „" m•- gib gfrit ... - N WM. LONDON : TIIURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 29, 1842. Ever since the:close of the war, if not before, almost every class of political Jeformers have been accused by their opponents of wishing to get rid of the National Debt. Some persons, like the present Secretary of State for the Home Department, have not concealed their desire to reduce it by the strong hand. That mode of pro ceeding corresponds to border law, and the pre judices of birth and education may be pleaded in excuse for the Right Honourable Baronet. But whether political reformers have breathed a ord on the subject or not, their opponents have invariably accused them of wishing to cancel the National Debt. All other topics of abuse against the League being exhausted, this is now taken up, and the League is accused by a Contempo rary, notorious for striking with any weapon which comes to hand, of having for its latent object to cancel the National Debt. " While you live," was Dean MILNER'S advice to an in timate friend, who had begun to reproach him on finding a pack of cards on his library table, " never be afraid of bugbears." If there were the least chance of the League being alarmed at the revival of this antiquated piece of stale abuse, we should repeat Dean MILNER'S advice to it; but there is not, for the League is not now to be frightened by a monster that has been paraded so often, thateven the little girls pluck it by the tail. It is said, with an air of uncommon sagacity, that " the National Debt is a mortgage on the land ;" if it be so, who mortgaged the laud but the landlords, for they have and had the legislative power, and why should not the land pay the mortgage? If it be unable, why should not the landlords, like other miscalculating or spend thrift proprietors, suffer a foreclosure, and allow their creditors to have the property mortgaged for what it is worth ? - But this statement, that the land is mortgaged for the National Debt, can 014 be received with explanations. Of itself land is worth nothing. Like sunshine or rain, it is merely one of the natural elements by the help of which the industry and skill of man wins or creates food. In its natural state it produces nothing but rank grass, bushes, and trees, which must be cut down or rooted out, or burned—as in the United States—before it can be productive. If the land be left unt:lled, too, what does it produce ? Rank grass, bushes, and trees; and it must be again conquered, as it were, be fore it can be rendered productive of food for man. Sunshine and rain lend their fructifying powers without any previous labour; but the land must be cleared, and kept cleared, of natural in cumbrances b.fore it can be employed to supply food. Land, therefore, we repeat, is merely one of the natural elements by the help of which the industry and skill of man creates food; and, but for one circumstance, it would be as wise to talk of the National Debt being a mortgage on rain or -Junshine as on. the soil of the empire. Rain and sunshine cannot be monopolised, but the land can, or, rather, the people by whose labour it is cultivated may be enslaved. We all know that the land has been monopolised, and that the people who lived on it were succes sively made slaves of by more than one con queror, whose power to exact the toil of their slaves has descended with modifications to the landowners of our own times. W hen men talk of the land being mortgaged for the National Debt, what they really mean is, that the land owners, claiming a power to dispose of the indus try of the people, have plech m red that to th e _ _ lolders of the National Debt. In Parliament and out of Parliament, the landowners, by way of taxation, have claimed, and exercise to this day, a power over the industry of theapeople, somewhat similar to that which was first gained by the sword. They may podsi bly have given up some of the produce of that industry to others in contract ing a National Debt, but what they have pledged to pay it is not the land, but the labour of the community. The land by itself could not pay one farthing. The National Debt, there fore, is a mortgage on the industry of the people, who having that mortgage to pay have become impoverished, while the landowner has been enriched. We must remind those who talk of the land , eing mortgaged for the National Debt of the ,wo economical truths—that all wealth is the produce of labour, and that nearly all which is annually created is annually consumed. These two truths p.ove that all taxes are and must be paid by the annual produce of industry, whether it be applied to the soil or a steam-engine. It is not the land, therefore, but the laLour of the peasant and the husbandman, the labour of the weaver and the spinner, of the smith and the tailor, of the machinist and the manufacturer, ‘vhich annually pays the whole interest of the National Debt, as well as pays all the rent of the landlords and tire. profits of the capitalist. Asserting broadly that industry pays all taxation, it is scarcely worth while to notice, as another refutation of the statement that the land is pledged to the National Debt, that the bulk of ta xat i on i s l ev i e d on consumpt i on, to which a ll persons contribute, that the land scarcely yields, directly, the thirtieth part of the annual taxation, and that if the industry and consumption of the nation be not diminished by the total repeal of the Corn-laws, it is a mon strous bugbear to assert that lowering the rent of land by such a repea l would have the e ff ect o f diminishingthe r evenue and e n d angering the public credit. We shall briefly show that it would not, and that the League is composed o f men who would be amongst the last in the king dom to sweep off the National Debt. The first ef f ect of abolishing the Corn-laws would be to increase the industry of the commu nity. Mills, forg - es, furnaces, power-looms, steam-engines, ships, locomotives,would instantly be set in motion, or receive an additional im petus. It wauld be impossible fir the industry of the country to be increased without a corre sponding increase of consumption. The revenue, which has of late suffered Ao much as really to endanger public credit—hardly assured by the unpopular Income-tax, at which the holders of property assessed under schedule A begin to kick most vehemently—would be immediately increased, and the dividends more easily and more certainly paid. The abolition of the Corn-law would remove from the people the tax they now pay the landlords, and enable them to contribute more to the Exchequer. It would also release trade from a restriction, and instantly increase the productive power of the community. The industrious people would both gain more, and they would have less to give to the landlords. The course, therefore, adopted by the Anti-Co. .n-law League, apart from its intentions, about the best possible means to secure the continued pay ment of the National Debt. It will give the nation capability to pay, and, wanting that, the most sanguine would scarcely look for the pay ment of the next dividends. As for the members of the League designing to cancel the debt, nothing can be more absurd. They are nearly one and all manufacturers, and if not personally interested in the preservation of the debt, as many of them are, they are all closely bound up by ties of interest with bankers arid the monied classes, most of whom are large holders of the public funds. As a class they are infinitely more interested in the due pay rent of the dividends than the landlords. They belong to the monied classes. They are captalists, and th:it which they are said to design would deeply injure themselves. The accusation, therefore, that the League design to cancel the National Debt is as absurd as it foolish to sup pose that the repeal of the Corn-laws will injure the national revenue, or endanger in the smallest degree the payment of the dividends. Such absurd accusations and such silly inferences show how hardly the landlords and their scribes are driven to find anything to say in support of their proved injustice. It is for us quite amusing to find Lord JOHN MANNERS, the son of the Duke of RUTLAND, a foremost bread-taxer—a man who, we will ven ture to say, would never be heard of but for his father's wealth and station—" adding," as he says, " his protest against the national idolatry of wealth to those which have of late so sea. sonably appeared from divines and philan thropists." Would not his protest be more efii'i- cacious if he were to give up his appanage, and rely, like other men, on his' own labour for his own subsistence? There would be something like consistency, if he did that, in protest ing against other men idolising wealth. He, however, only follows in the rank of certain " divines," who, having got for the Church from the people, and from the Church for them selves, all that they can, now preach against the idolatry of wealth. Not that they' blame it in Bishops or Deans, but in master-manutacturers and capitalists it is a great vice. Toey do not even reprobate it in Dukes. We have yet to learn if any of them have lifted up their voices against the avarice which is embodied in Acts of Par liament; but the avarice of traders is an abonti• nation in their eyes. To hear youthful Lords and eminent divines launch out against the idolatry of wealth, apropos of manufacturers endeavouring to grow rich, and not thinking of granting holidays to their workmen, appears to us another example of the cant which is now so common, and whi:th finds a necessity for reform, and an occasion for the exercise of justice and philanthrophy, everywhere but at home. These gentlemen discovered nothing to blame in the pursuit of wealth as long as it was confined to the nobility and clergy, and as long as their pursuit of it was crowned with success; but when the other classes imitated their example, and surpassed them in the acquisition—when manufacturers became more opulent even than Bishops and Dukes, then it became convenient to cry out against the idolatry of wealth. A little envy has had a much more powerful effect on their minds than the precepts of their Divine Master, which were utterly neglected till they could be directed against the intruding opulence of the trading classes. We hope we are not idolators of wealth, and we are glad to find auxiliaries in denouncing that idolatry. At the same we should like the Lords who preach on this subject to begin by vot ing in the House of Commons to abolish the bread-tax, and by laying on the altar of the new divinity all the pensions and emoluments which they and their families have extorted from the people. We should like, too, that the divines who uphold the new worship by their • words, should set the nation an example by their deeds, and, resigning to the poor all of what the clergy in successive ages have plundered the poor, be come the worthy successors of those who had neither silver nor gold. At present, does a rumour prevail that the Metropolitan is ill, all the Bishops are at once set in motion, courting the Minister, wooing the patronage of some great nobles, in order to benefit by a translation. Is there a rich living to be given away, there are scores of applicants, all eager to forsake their flocks,- whom they say they are appointed to lead to salvation, in order to get a larger income. Is there a lectureship or a preachership vacant in the City, worth having, there are more clergy seeking for the post, than clerks sending to an swer an advertisement for a steady young man who writes a good hand. In Parliament and out of Parliament all sortsof intrigues areset on foot, all sorts of missions and societies promoted, to increase the emoluments of the clergy ; and while that is the general practice, what avails it that a few divines, who give up nothing, denounce the ido latry of wealth which prevails amongst laymen ? Let the clergy only act on the precepts of their Divine Master, and then their preaching against the idoLtry of wealth will be as efficacious as even Lord JOHN MANNERS can wish. A great variety of schemes has been brought forward by the clergy for awakening a stronger sense of religious duties among the people, and a more lively attachment to the services of the Established Church, bnt Protestants cannot fail to regret that alt the proposed innovations are copied from the practic e an d discipline 'of the. Catholic Church. While that Church remains fixed in its tenets, and claims the character of infallibility,the Protestant Epis cupal Church is receding from its first principles, and gradually approaching, with the sanction, at all events with the connivance, of the Bishops, towards " Mother" Church. The Puseyites, and they are not few in number, approve of auri- - cularcoufession and absolution. Some of them have adopted the genuflexions and other outward signs made by Catholics, burning lights on the altar, and imitating ceremonies in Divine worship which theßeformedChurch bad hitherto regarded as the peculiar abominations of Antichrist. These ceremonies, it is vainly supposed, will attract the multitude, and excite that fervour and devotion so conspicuous among Catholic worshippers. An other notable device has just been discovered, and we regret to find that a prelate of so much learning and good sense as the Bishop of NOR- wicH should have sanctioned it, as a means of gathering together the strayed flock. Pews now are found to be highly injurious to religious worship, and orders have been issued in several churches for their demolition, and substituting in their place chairs and stools on which the rich and the poor, the high and the low, may take their seats promiscuously as in the olden times. The Bishops are great Conservatives, they dis like reform, and least of all reform in that esta blishment where it is most wanted, and it is therefore strange that they should encourage an innovation which might make things even ' worse than they are. if the poor come in this way to church they may drive away the rich. Do these Reformers imagine for a moment that the haughty squire, with his proud dame and delicate daughters, will con tinue to frequent a church where they must come hi contact with farm-labourers, low mechanics, and paupers'! The habits of the people, and the mi customaihigher ra cmi o zat f st o t e l ns i e;w ill eles and tah, the result r e r a i alike pod b s a e el d i dt that o h tetti s t u itih c eer desert the Church altogether, or erect chapels of their own, where they can enjoy their snug pews. associate with persons of their own rank, and perform their devotional exercises without any of those interruptions or annoyances which they would find among a mixed multitude. In either case the parish church would be more deserted than ever. The poor not unfrequently attend church for the purpose of seeing their richer neighbours; and the ex ample of the higher classes is as certainly fol lowed by those beneath them as the effect follows the cause. This is not the way to en courage religious worship ; and a very different system must be adopted before the " poor man's" Church becomes an object of general attraction. There are ample funds set apart for ecclesiastical ' purposes, to build more churches than are wanted. Let these funds, therefore, be properly distri buted, let ample accommodation be provided for the poor without money and without price, but alive all let the clergyman—as is done in Ca tholic countries, mix inure frequently with his flock, consoling them in their distresses by his exhortations and his prayers, and brilit eniog their future prospects at the hour of death. The cause of all the present apathy and coldness towards the Establishment lies in the system. Our clergy, at least the greater portion of them, have no community of feeling with their flocks. They are educated among the nobles and the wealthiest classes of the land. They assume the habits, the an tipathies, and too often the pride, of the i rich. They look, consequently, to wealth and preferment, and regard the moral and religious education of the people as objects only of secondary consideration. A thorough reform of the whole system of ecclesiastical education and Church government might, increase the power and usefulness of the Church ; but to imagine that this great work is to be accom plished by the demolition of pews, the tinkling of bells, and bowings at the altar, is one of the wildest of visionary schemes. The intelligence from Madrid is to the 19th instant. A general belief prevailed that the Cortes would be speedily dissolved, and that a decree for the dissolution had been forwarded to Catalonia, for the signature of the REGENT, This event is exceedingly probable, as that body had evinced great opposition to the present Go vernment, and hopes are entertained, that since the revolt at Barcelona, the feeling throughout the country is favourable to the REGENT. The following account from Seville, dated December 15, appears in the Patriota In the morning of yesterday an extraordinary courier arrived, with orders for the disbandment of the battalions Nos. 1 and 3 of the National Guard of this place. This measure took place immediately in the greatest order. The disarming commenced yes terday, and will be terminated this day. It is gene rally thought here that the remaining battalions will be re-organised. This measure would give great satisfaction to the public, as the National Guards of Seville, are in a state of disorganisation and disorder which cannot any longer be tolerated. The judicial investigation into /the circumstances of the late dis turbance is proceeding actively, and it is asserted that warrants have been issued for the arrest of several persons. There is at this moment the greatest tran quillity, and nothing indicates a probability that it will be again disturbed. Three companies of regular troops arrived yesterday, and others are expected. The Constitucional of Barcelona publishes the following order of the day : " Army of Catalonia.—The Generals and Officers named in the following list (the list contains nine teen names) are comprised in Article 1 of the procla mation of the sth inst. Consequently, the General in-Chief orders the publication of their names in the general order of the day, that all persons may be well apprised, that if they are acquainted with the place of asylum of either ofthese Generals or Officers, and do not reveal it to the authorities, they will incur the penalty of death, decreed by Art. 4 of the sane proclamation." The REGENT left Sarria on the .22d for Ma drid, via Valencia. VAN HALEN remained in Barcelona, which has thus never been entered by ESPARTERO. It is said that Girona, Figueras, Olot, Valencia, and other towns, are to be dis armed like Barcelona. MADRID BOURSE, ON THE 19TH.—Five per Cents., 271, at 60 days. No transactions for cash. The French Government has received the fol lowing telegraphic dispatch, announcing the pa cific settlement of the Syrian question : " VIENNA, DEC. 21. " We have received accounts that the Porte has consented to give a Christian chief to the Maronites, and to the Druses a chief of their own nation." It is gratifying thus to find that the Porte has yielded to the suggestions of the other Powers, and adopted a plan which will in all probability lead to better government in Syria. The other intelligence in the papers is not of much interest. The excitement caused by the Barcelona affair was gradually abating, and the journals of Monday were chiefly occupied with discussions on the late ordonnance fir the crea tion of a Privy Council. The Ministerial papers of course approve of the measure, while those of the Opposition object to it; some on the ground that it should have been a legislative measure, instead of being an act of the Royal will. The Constitutionnel takes this view of the measure, and observes, " That as the only question to be submitted to the Chamber is the financial provi sion necessary for carrying the ordonnance into execution, none of those ameliorations which might have been the result of a discussion on the details of the measure can now be introduced." The National, after denouncing the measure as immoral and illegal, gives the ordonnance pro. mulgated by Louts XVIII. after the battle of Waterloo, co ns tituting a Privy C ounc il, an d ob serves, "than the Government of the Restora_ tion endured but for fifteen years. Then came the Revolution of July, and with it. a Royal or. donnance suppressing - all Ministers of State. Now, again, on the 24th of December," adds the National, " we find the Privy Council reconsti tuted, which we consider the, most audacious, as well as the most significant among the acts which most clearly demonstrate the progress of the counter-revolution. What the Revolution of July had destroyed is now restored, and at the same time the Government glorifies in the recol lection of that well-constituted period when, under the protection of foreign armies, the spiteful Government of the BOURBONS acted with unlimited audacity against the spirit of the Revolution, introduced anarchy and discord into our institutions, and placed the remuneration of intrigue, and the salary of treason, to the charge of a ruined country." " One of the first acts of the Revolution of July," observes the Commerce, " was the sup pression of the Ministers of State. A Royal Or donnance, published this morning, re-establishes them. We have again fiillowed in the track the pure old monarchy. This is a material act of re-action against one of the consequences of the Revolution of 1830, and a formal violation of the Charter. By degrees, as the for:ificatious are rising above ground, and the military regimen is being organised in Paris, the extra-represen tative Government is developing itself. An institution, abolished in 1830, as contrary to the principles of a Parliamentary Government (the Privy Council) has been re-established." The Gazette de France, of Sunday, says:— " The ordonnance which creates Ministers of State, is another means of influence created for Government over Parliament. It is a mode of dominating the representative principle. Sine cures are offered to political opponents, and statesmen are created Ministers for life, to blunt their eagerness for being Cabinet Ministers, &c." A report having been in circulation at Paris that a new creation of Peers was about to take place, the Presse states that the rumour is with out any real grounds, and even that the Cabinet has postponed the four or five promotions it had intended to make previously to the meeting of the Chambers. The latest accounts from Algiers are to the loth of December, contained in a letter quoted in the Sentinelle, of Toulon, to the following effect : " On the 2d inst. the three columns of Algiers, which had been acting separately, united on the Oued Kechab, at the foot of the Ouanseris. On the pre ceding day the rear-guard of the right column was engaged for several hours with 300 or 400 Kabyles of the tribe of Beni Ourac. The affair, however, was riot a serious one, and we had only two men slightly wounded. The centre column, under Colonel Forte, received no submissions, but the left column, com manded by General Changarnier, received those of all the tribes it passed through, and imposed upon them heavy contributions of barley and wheat ; so that the General was able to supply the right column, com manded by the Governor-General, with 200 sacks of barley. A razzia made by part of General Changar flier's troops in the night of the 2d produced nearly 1,000 head of cattle." A letter from Oran, Dec. 10, says :—" The troops of the Mascara division are in the field, and General Lamoriciere is to proceed with his troops to join the expedition di rec t e d b y t h e G overnor -General against the tribes of the Ouanserres. The Mostaganem brigade, under the orders of General Gentil, is out since the end of November. It is designed to sup port the Mascara division." BOURSE—PARIS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 26. First Highest .....nwest Last Price. Price Price. Price. French Five per Cents. 119 10... 119 :30... 119 10... 119 25 Four per Cents. 101 60... 101 60... 101 60... 101 60 Threes 7B 90... 78 90... 78 85.. 78 90 Bank of France 3320 —.3350 ...3320 ...3345 Laffitte Bank 5,000 f 5082 50...5082 50...5082 50 ..M)B2 50 Belgian Bank BlO ... 810 810 ... 810 .... 1841 ~ 104' 1 ...1080 ...10S0 —lOBO Belgian Fives 1O&% ... 103* 1031 1 1840. 104; ... 1041 ... 104* ... 104 i Threes 73 73 ... 73 ... 73 Spanish Active. 24 24 ... 23/ .•• 23i Passive 4 ... 4 4 4 Portuguese Fives - 32 32 1 1 ... 32a 321 Neapolitan 106 40... 106 50... 106 40... 106 70 Roman . lO4 ... 104 ... 104 104 MONEY , and COM Vi EFt CiAL NE WS. CITY, WEDNESDAY EVENING. Our Consol market continues to look good, and the latest quotation this. afternoon was 934 buyers. The transactions, however, were not extensive. Ex chequer Bills brought 535. to 555. premium; and India Bonds 475. to 495. prem. Reduced Three-and a-Half pir 'Cents. were 1014 to 1011. There was an increase of activity in the Foreign Securities after two o'clock, and the quotations exhi bited some buoyancy. We must except Spanish, however, as those did not close quite so good. Portu guese New Five per Cents. remained firm at 401, and the Three per Cents. were 24 to 241. Mexican improved to 318 and 321. Colombian Stock was at 21a ? • Brazilian a t 71 t o 711 ; and Chilian at 75 t o 76, I being an advance again in the latter. French Five per Cents. broaght 118 f. 50c. to 118 f 75c. ; and the Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. 53. The Five per Cent. Spanish Bonds left off at 18k, and the Three per Cents, at 24i. The market for Shares is without a feature, there being- very very few parties at present either buyers or sellers. Great Western, New, were 14, and Man chester and Leeds, 2 prem. Bristol and Exeter were 21i. Midland Counties 39, and Brighton 134- discount. Paris and Rouen were 6 prem. British North Ame rican Bank Shares were 7 discount, London and Westminster 18, and Union of Australia 7 prem. (From The Size of Last Night.) In the Cotton-market at Liverpool, yesterday, there was a fair demand from the trade, the sales being 4,000 bales, at previous rates. The Share-market had rather improved. Paris and Rouen were a shade higher; Birmingham and Gloucester Scrip were marked 128 ; Eastern Counties, 88 ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 47k; Grand Junction, 190 ; Birmingham Thirds, 631 ; Brighton, 36a ; and Paris and Rouen, 261. Accounts from Hobart Town of Sept. 2, and from Launceston of September 1, notice the important fact of a reduction in the rate of interest charged upon the discount of bona fide bills by the banks, from 10 to 8 per cent., and on mortgages from 12i to 10 per cent. To meet this increased accommoda tion to 'the public, no interest was to be allowed to depositors, and the Governor had consented to let the public money remain NA , ithout interest, the same as that of the other customers. His Excellency, in his speech upon the opening of the Legislature, seems to anticipate great relief to the colony from this mea sure, and from the abandant crops, intimating, at the same time, his intention to assign convicts as 'labour ers while the stoppage of immigration continued. Flour was lower, and stock could be bought very cheap. From Sydney there is nothing later than Aug. 20, when less was doing in Manufactured goods. Ship ments of flour to some extent were going on. We learn also by this indirect opportunity that the river Yarra, at Port Philip, had broken its banks, and flooded the country, causing much damage. The crops were expected to be good, and such as to yield a surplus for exportation. Letters received at Port Phillip, from South Australia, give a very gloomy picture of the state of affairs there; and the contention at New Zealand between the settlers and the Govern ment, though, as we believe, very grossly exaggerated, was expected to lead to re-emigration. That the principles of free- trade are appreciated in America, the following remarks prove :—" The late Tariff of Great Britain was enacted with the view of encouraging the import of American agricultural pro duce into England, in exchange for her manufactures, as a means of relief. The late Tariff of the United States was enacted with the view to exclude foreign goods, for the protection of manufactures. Hence it is seen that England will not be able to sell goods enough here to pay for the raw cotton which she must have, and which she cannot get elsewhere. All beyond which she imports from this country she must pay for in coin, which cannot be done to any extent and preserve her paper system. Hence it becomes with her an urgent matter of self•defence, to prohibit the import of everything of United States growth, except cotton. It is not matter of conveni ence, nor of State policy, but of urgent State ne cessity.' Unless, therefore, our new tariff is promptly modified, the farmers are likely to lose, at a critical juncture, a large market for their produce, both English and colonial." When the Americans themselves write such sound sense, who shall assert that they are not likely to meet England in a fair spirit of commercial liberality ? English Stocks are well supported to-day, although the business doing is not extensive, and speculative operations have not been entered into, most of the transactions being bona fide. The purchase for the Commissioners of the Savings' Banks was again effected to about the usual amount in Reduced Three per Cent. Annuities at 94i. Exchequer Bills hays realised 535. to 555.; and East India Bonds 475. to 48s. premium. Reduced Three-and-a-Half per Cents. have been done at 104 to 1014. Consols are 93i to 934. • The Foreign Market - 'has been again rather ani mated, hnt there is a falling off in the business done as compared with yesterday in the Spanish Bonds,- all the large holders being inclined, apparently, to take advantage of the rise got up by the parties putting forth the New Loan. The Actives have been quoted 19k to 18/, and the Three per Cents. 24t to 245. Mexican Stock has touched 31,- 7 T to 32i • Colombian is firm at 21,1 ; Brazilian at 74 ; and Buenos Ayres at 241 to 25. Portuguese Converted Stock has realised 34, and the Dutch Two-and-a• Half per Cents. have been marked 53. Business in the Railway Shares is very inanimate, but prices are maintained. Great Western are 25, and Brighton Loans premium. Brighton are 13, and South Eastern 27i discount. MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, DEC. 27.—We have had a steady market to-d a y, an d prices continue firm. Dublin and Drogheda, 22* ; Lancaster and Preston, 29 ; South Eastern Scrip, 171 173 171 ; Manchester and Birmingham, 20 to 20f. CLOSING PRICES. BRITISH, FUNDS. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Red. ...... 94a 3 per Cent. Cons 3i per Cent. Red 101 i New 31 1 per Cent......... New 5 per Cen'. Long Annuities to expire Jan. 1860 ...... 1211 India Stock — pm Ditto Bonds ....... 49 pm Ditto Old Annuities 911.1 'Ditto New Annuities...., Ex. Bills, 1,000/....2d. 55 - err. Ditto 5001 53 -pr. Ditto Small ..... 53 • ,m Rank Stock for Aect. India Stock for Opg... ,Consols for OM. UNDS. 'Portuguese, 5 per cent — Ditto, New Ditto Prussian, 5 per cent. 40* Russian, 5 pei cent Ditt0,Meta11ic.......... — Spanish, 5 per cent 18& Ditto, Deferred.... Ipi French, 5 per cent.llBr. 75., Exchange • —f —c French, 3 per cent. —c. iDutch, 2i per cent....... 53 Ditto, 5 Der Oct. 1859 Jan 1860 — roaEic knstrian, 5 per cent Rolgian,, 5 per cent — Brazilian Bonds... 7l Buenns Xyres6 per cent. 25 Chilian, 6 per cent. 75 Colombian, 6 per cent — Ditto, 1824 214 Cuba Bonds, 6 per cent — Danish, 3 per .ent — Greek, 1825, 5 per cent — 11exican, 5 per cent 324 Ditto, 6 per cent. 1837 Peruvian,lB2s,6 per et. 19i SHARES. Bristol ..nd Exeter (70 paid) .. Great Western, (65 paid) Ditto New Shares (50 paid) . London and Brighton (50 paid) Ditto Loan Notes (10 paid) ... „, ...... ... 103 Manchester and Leeds (70 paid) Midland Counties Railway (100 paid) North Midland Railway (100) • 63 Paris and Itionen (20 paid) ..„, ._ _ South Eastern and Doier (50 paid) 22} Ditto Sorip () uaidl DUTCH FUN M.—Amara RDA Dnc. 24 Monet. Bills. Actual (Jett, 2% per Cent ........ 52U 52$i Jitto, ditto 5 per cent. RmottSvndic,4h per cent 9. 944 Ditto, ditto, 2% per .......... 77'4 7754 Commercial Company. 454 per cent 1 2 4% 130 Loan 1107, 5 per .......... 99y4 jvh Exchange on London, One month.... Twomonths 12 15 Hamburgh, One month 35 87% Twomonths ...... 35 6334 Dutch Papers. Dec. 24. HAMBURG H BORSEN HALLE, Dec. 23. Bilis. Money. 110 Austrian 5 per Cents. Bank Shares Anglo-Russian Loan. Russian 5 per Cent., Ist 102 x _ Inscription, Ist series Russian 5 per Cent. Hope and Co., 3d and 4th Series Ditto in Certificates • New 4 per Cent. (1840) ts7l4 67 Dutch Actual Debt, 2,4 per Cent. Ditto 5 per Cent. - Polish Bonds — ...... -- New Tickets — Anglo-Danish Loin, 3 per Cent. 825 82 Spanish, New 5 p..r Cents. . — EXCHANGES ON LONDO.F. HAM BURGH, Dec. 23-13 85, Twe months 13 7 1 4. PETERSBURG, Dec 13.—Three months, 37% pence. Rica, DEc :5. --Three Months, 37 STOCKHOLM, 1 P.C.I 16 —Seventy-five days, 12 20. RISTIAVIS. DEC. 7.—Three months. 4 f 6. VIENNA. DEC. 13 . — Threernonthc 9.49%. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—BetaLm: ; Thtc. 23. St. Srhuld Sch. Biils. Money , 4 per cent. Prussian English Bond., 1830, 4 per cent..l 2K 14 Exchange on London .... Q 245 Prussian Slate Gazette. Dec. 24. HAMBURO MARKETS. GrIAIN. Wheat, Marks 270 to 330 i Barley, Mecklenburgh ;62 to 213 -- Maxdeburst 270 to 384' .-- Magdeburgh... 194 to 225 _.—. Anhalt, white 318 to 384 --- Holstein ---.— red ... 279 to 7'60 -- Oderbruelt 174 to 192 ...—_ Brunswick 2.4 to 3 0 Oats, Elder ll4 to 150 -- Mecklenburg.. 244 to 360 -- Mecklenburg -- Polish 324 t0.'96 Holstein '44l IS" Holstein - Upland Rye, Mecklenburg .... 270 to 318 Pease, Mecklenburg -- Marks 240 to 284 Beans t.22 .n 246 -- Elbing ;.iid Ko. Rack Wheat. 2:11 in S 0: nigsburg Pomeranian -- Anlislt - 284. fares . .............. ......... 26 is 234 COTTON. ..atolina and Tennessee 7% to 11% 'vtatvishans ‘:,..irgia, ist , :utt 7% 7% Madras 4% 5% 2d....,.,. ....... 6% 6 1 , Swats l% I% :id and 4th ... 4% ti Domino •• • COF FEE. Mach& 91; to II Domingo 3% t 63% Batavia ... 43; 5% I, Guayra 3,4 63, Sumatra Porto Rico 4% 6 Rio 2% 4% llavannah II% 63 1 Bahia SUGAR.— (Wit .lavannah, White s%to 7t, Brown 1% 54 !tip. White Brown . 2 % 4 Manilla, Brow I 8 2 !, Discount.) Bahia, White to s 7t. 3rown 31,, 4ti Pernambuco, White 4% 6 Bravo 3 5% I, 4% to 4% REVIET THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 29. 1842 RAILWAY SHARES . Versailles, L.B l2O ... 120 117 50... 120 R. B 287 50... 290 ... 287 50... 290 Rouen Orleans. 627 50... 630 ... 627 50... 630 Strasburg to Bale 203 75... 203 75... 203 75.,. 203 75 g F4: l 0 " FR' "5 3 - AND itO tsb I t l 4 :, pt " Who runs may read.' FO.~i,x;3Gti. A telegraphic dispatch has been received at Paris from Vienna announcing that the Porte had consented to the appointment of a Christian Governor for the Maronite or Christian population of Syria, and a Druse Governor for tho Druses. On Saturday evening their Majesties the King and Queen of the French received the Duc Decazes, M. Dupin, Procureur-General at the Court of Cassation, the Comte D'Haussonville, Baron Thenard, and Ge neral Dariule. " Tt was on Saturday given out as certain," says the Constitutionnel, " that the session would be opened without any speech from the Throne; but that the Ministry, in o der to bring on a political discussion, will immediately preaern the Bill for the grant of secret service money. On the other hand, it was asserted that this point is not yet positively decided upon, but is to be finally determined at a Council to be held on Jan. 4." Private letters from Paris of Monday announce that the King of Sardinia had conferred on M. de Lesseps, the French Consul, and M. Gatier, com manding the French naval station off Barcelona, the Cross of St. Maurice, for their exertions on behalf of Sardinian subjects during the bombardment. The celebrated Vidocq, formerly chief of the secret police, will in a few days be brought to trial on several charges—one for having assisted a fraudulent. bank rupt in secreting the preiierty of his creditors, and again for having been connected with the fraud com mitted by Madame Benard, the housekeeper of Count Deraidotr. The Chamber of Commerce of Havre met on the 23d to hear the Report of the Committee on the Sugar question. After the document had been discussed, a letter to the Minister was drawn up, in which the Chamber strongly recommends the entire suppres sion of the home-made manufacture on paying an in demnity. The Mimiteur publishes a return or the imports of I France during the month of November last, froni which it will be seen that, notwithstanding the recent elevation in the tariff duties, the introduction of fo reign threads into Franc• was still very considerable. The quantity imported in that month amounted to 659,432 kilogrammes ; :that of linens to 236,555; coals to 130,417,685, &c. Espartero left Sarria on the 22d for Madrid, with out having entered Barcelona.. The E;ipectador informs us that the Supreme Tri bunal of War, which had been ordered to investigate the charge of brutality and ill treatment brought by M. Lerobvre against Zurbano, is about to give in its report, and that it is generally believed to be favour able to the General. The belief in the dissolution of the Cortes was very current in Madrid. The Patriota announces that the Duchess of Vic tory's soiree , on the 18th was numerou s ly att e nd e d, and nearly all the foreign diplomatists in Madrid were present. pvitzic OPINION. The Times, after pointing out a variety of absurd anomalies in our Ecclesiastical Courts, adds :—" Nor is it easier to comprehend the principle which has de fined the limits of that peculiarly ecclesiastical juris diction which is exercised pro salute aniintz, not for the redress of wrong, but for the reformation of the offender. Defamation, incontinence, swearing, and one or two other vices, seem to be separated off from the great :nass of human delinquency, and consigned to the care of the spiritual authority, as arbitrarily and unreasonably us the 20/ note from the Leicester shire freehold, as if the robber or murderer were less in need of emendation, or his practices less inconsis tent with ecclesiastical morality, than slander or loose living. That the Christian Church should undertake, as in a certain sense, and by certain means, it does, to contain all Christian men, or at least its own mem bers, within the limits of the Christian law, is no more than its necessary duty ; the question being v ith what weapons she is commissioned to perform her task—persuasion, exhortation, nienac., eccle siastical censure, deprivation of civil privi lege, fine and imprisonment, or fire and sword : but that the Courts of the Church should claim a jurisdiction over, and should not ex tend that jurisdiction beyond, certain elegant extracts of vice, of which no separate account can be given except that they look a little like the leavings of mu nicipal law, is a fact somewhat startling to the un derstanding of a plain man. Nor is the claim ren dered more intelligible by recollecting that the ultimo ratio of the Ecclesiastical, as of the Civil Courts, is the temporal penalty of imprisonment, and that its jurisdiction does not in this, any more than in the preceding cases, confine itself within the limits of the English ecclesiastical establishment; How far the practical inconvenience of all these anomalies is cured by fictions, limitations, and exceptions—and what will be e ected in its peculiar department by the late well judged Statute of Wills—it is not to our present pur pose to examine. We wish only to point attention to the nature of these anomalies as a prepwation for probing more closely the nature of this confusion." The Herald Omer - yes, in an article on the question of the Sugar Duties :—" There is, however, no ap prehension in the We,t Indies that the present Minis ters, in proposing a reduction of the duty on foreign sugar, will bring forward so monstrous and one-sided a project as that of the Whig Administration, so signally and righteously rejected by the House of Commons. The colonists entertain the most con fident expectation that any reduction of duty on the foreign will be accompanied by a modification of the colonial tax. And all the protection they appear to seek is such as will give them the opportunity of ulti mately demonstrating that free labour is in the tropics cheaper than slave labour. That a prohibitory duty such as the present is indispensable for this purpose, the present state of our sugar colonies alone disproves; for that duty has not, owing to particular circum • stances, done aught to destroy the profit of the slave trade, whilst it has, in conjunction with the circum stances referred to, checked the consumption of sugar in England and impoverished the Imperial exchequer. There can be but one objection to a diminution of the duty on colonial sugar, and it is that the reve nue ma y suffer therefrom • but surely the duties o n th e co l on i a l and foreign article may be so judiciously proportioned that the present amount o revenue may he maintained without diminishing the consumption of the sugar of British posse - ssions at home ?" The Post, reverting to the question of free trade, says :—" We are reminded by a correspondent that it was Mr. Alexander Baring, now Lord Ashburton, who presented to the House of Commons, the petition of the merchants of London in favour of free trade, to which the Anti-Corn- law League' refers in its advertisements, as containing imperishable princi ples.' Our belief is that such maxims' as those re commended in the old London petition are very perish able. We believe that the most acute minds which, two and twenty years ago, acceded to their truth, are now convinced of their unsoundness, and very reason ably so, because they have been taught by experience that these free trade maxims ought not to be relied upon in the policy of a State whose interests are cir cumstanced as the interests of Great Britain undouht ,ly are. Beyond question the most acute-minded, as well as the most eminent of all those who joined la the London petition, was Lord Ashburton. Have the free-traders still the advantage of his support? The Government to which the Noble Lord has done such essential service in the United States of America has done much since its accession to power to promote the maxims of free-trade, and to give them great weight and currency in these islands. Does Lord Ashburton approve of all the proceedings of Govern ment in that regard ? We believe that experience has satisfied the mind of Lord Ashburton, that the views expressed in the London petition of 1820 were to a very considerable extent fallacious, and to his i praise be it said, he is not so bigoted to theories as to refuse to be tangle by the lessons of experience, nor so wanting in candour as to refrain from supporting the modified views to which experience has given rise." The Chronicle says :—" To Sir Robert Peel mud be attributed the want of employment for labourers, of which we have such distressing accounts from nearly all the agricultur a l di s t r i c t s . W e h ave no t so mean an opinion of his understanding, as to suppose that he was the dupe of his own arguments in favour of the sliding scale, and we do not, therefore, think that we are chargeable with any want of charity toward the Right Honourable Baronet, in assuming that he took up the sliding scale merely as a means of driving his political opponents from power. But though we accuse the Premier of dishonesty in pro posing the sliding scale against his better judgment, we will not go so far as to impute to him that he anticipated all the mischievous consequences which have flowed from it. He could not believe that his sliding scale would be a permanent settlement of the corn question ; but he might not be aware, that so long as the farmers entertain the belief that a change must take place, they cannot in prudence take leases, or enter on any of those improvements by which employment may be afforded to the multitudes of labourers now idle in every parish. The farmers ar now as hostile to the sliding scale as the manufacturers They have found, from experience, that it afford s th em no protection, and that no calculations can he safely made under it. The language of almost every paper circulated in the agricultural districts is, away with the sliding scale, and let us have a permanent law." MONEY - TILADE-CCIMEMER.CE. At the meeting of the proprietors of the Croydon Railway on Tuesday, at the London Tavern, it was re solved to discontinue the carrying trade, by which the Company had recently been losing 12/. per week, This resolution is to come into effect on the 24th •f March next. Negotiations will be made ineanwhil• with the Greenwich Railway Company to get them t modify their toll. rarTzniusy AND scizziTaric. The public records in the care of Sir Francis Pal grave, are undergoing classification and reparation They contain a vast body of historical and antiqua rian information : the charters alone amount 20,000. Out of the total number of document! 34,557 have gone through the requisite processes, an( are already accessible : the entire mass of records con thins about 388,400 on the whole. An astronomer of New York, states from seientifi( observation, that extraordinary changes are place in the solar system. The inclination of tb( earth's axis with the ecliptic he shows to be changing The poles of the planet Venus are changing, and het colour approaching to a deep red :,Herschel is dimi nishing in size, and Saturn appears to be partly in conflagration. The statements are announced with all seriousness and gravity. COUR.T-rasEMONAXILE. The Dowager Countess of Essex and Miss John stone have returned from a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Er rington, at Newnham Paddox, Warwickshire. Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence has returned from a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey, Count and Countess d'Harcourt have returned to Manchester House. on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Wil" Liam Harcourt, at St. Leonard's, near 'Windsor. Lord and Lady Carteret are passing the winter at Hawnes-place, near Ampthill, Bedfordshire, where they have been entertaining a select party. His Excellency the French Ambassador and the Conntess St. Aulaire have accepted the Duke of Beau, fort's invitation to join th e c i rc l e a t Badminton Pan" ci and will leave town, accompanied by Coun t i a f.. Countess d'Harcourt, on a v i s it t o his Grace, on", terwards proceed to Bowood, on a visit to the 3- 01 r" quis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, wh.) have in vited a select party to meet his Excellency. Mr. and Lady Caroline M axse have arrived St Berkeley Castle, on a visit to E ar l Fitzhardinget fr °lll Badminton, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort. tic The Duchess of Hamilton, wh ose health linsg.l B l at improved by her sojourn at B a d en •B a den, i s ' l the Mannheim. The Duke of H am ilt on is passing Christmas at Hamilton Palace, Lanarkshir• ntISCEX.X.IIISTEOUS At Lewes and Brighton, Mond a y last wa s kePt I's es a holiday, in commemorati on o f th e British vicwri in India and China. Upwards of 1,000 persons visited Westminsht,e„r Abbey during Monday and Tu es d a y, and ow n ° t h e 300 persons the United Service Inst:tution• ad former day, more than 2,000 persons au'-- paid for 1 4 . sion to the Royal Adelaide Galle r y a fter seven O'clotche A serious fire occurred on Thursday last, iletl i r e d village of Westonzovland, by Brid ge water, nec as lhe by a fire balloon, the machine of which burst in air, and falling, ignited a stack, which, svith t" others, were consumed. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY. Sir Henry Wh enti" took his departure from the Castle yesterday f took This morning the Queen and Prince Albert gi their accustomed walk in the Home Park. Her It°Y- Highness the Princess Royal was also taken out. „ $ Prince Albert rode to Cranbourne Tower 0" : t „, shooting excursion. His Royal Highness was n tended by the Marquis of Ormonde, Viscount Ca.,l. ning, Major-General Sir E. Bowater, Mr. G. P as Anson, and the Hon. C. A. Murray. The sport excellent. the The Duchess of Kent visited her 11Iajesty at Castle in te afternoon. er Ral Hig h ne ss tOt a i - carriage airing in the forHenoon,oy at t en ded by La d y Fanny Howard. Her Majesty and her Illustrious Consort walk ed t° Frogmore Lodge, and returned in a pony ha et " . P her Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent andthe ac Lady in Waiting, and Mrs. Arbuthnot, il l have the honour of joining the Royal dinner c ircle Castle this evening. " I I Her Majesty the Queen Dowager took an airing . an open pony phaeton on Saturday, in th e drives et 10, the vicinity of her residence, C*nford House, D ors shire. The Hon. William and Mrs. Ashley took vase of her Majesty on Tuesday, and left Lanford on a• visit to the Earl of Shaftesbury, his sea Giles's House, Dorsetshire. , d the Baron Brunnow, the Russian Minister, afmr..e. • Earl of. Aberdeen yesterday at the Foreign-effi—'4-I,r:. Excellency Count Kielmansegge."the Hanoverian.. f nister, transacted business yesterday at t he office ° the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Windso r Viscount Cannino• left town yesterday for Castle. His Lordship returned to town yester 3) morning. Dispatches from the Governor of Van °' Vernece Land were received yesterday at the Colonial..offi,, Dispatches were also received from the Gove rnor South Australia and from St. Helena. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The lessee of this beautiful theatre has .begn n" pew career with spirit. He last night produ eed"tivc The pieces, both of which were completely suceqssTal'a.„ first, which is entitled Sh e ' s riot to. Blarne , mestic drama, ad a pt e d f rom the French, and intro duced, for the first time to a London . audience, Miss Amelia Mercer, from the York theatre. Thiqoung lady is, we suppose, t o b e th e h ero i ne of domestic drama at this_ house, and she is well adapted to sustain that ,oel character. Her person is good, her feature s expresci. 8 her enunciation distinct, and her action appropriate. SO was last night evidently suffering from the nervous: ness necessarily attendant upon a first appearance, b°l' h for she gave indications of talent which promise rn ue I.e the future. She su s tai n ed the pxrt of Matilda, t".l. daughter of Sir Thomas Dudley (Mr. F. Wil l i aws ( t ; whose character having been unjustly slandered awl e t consequence of the more than imprudent COlr:lin of a young officer in a Hussar regimen t, Car Ile, Pemberton (Mr. J. S. Balls) has been cast off- father. The old man becomes blind, and n eeds Oc of one to attend to his comforts, and under the l'u lle „ o n Ellen Courtenay, the cast-off daught er takes uu t „ herself this filial office. The old man becora".- tached to her ; she takes an opportunity of reve herself to him, and declares her innocence. C3;Pnttaela Pemberton has in the meantime become !Wi t ha t it with Sir Thomas, but the old man knows Hold that been was owing to Peinberton's conduct that he ha w induced to cast off his daughter. The CaPtftillail°ftll demands her hand of her father in marriage, a nd ' t he ends happily. This plot affords situations 01 by most intense interest, and Miss Mercer, ge c , c ,,,, il s t. sneaking, availed herself of them to the tu n — t ° of There was ouasionally perceptible a "I,Cous power, but that we attribute to " — A - to ness, and when she gets more accustom e" ou t her audience she will no doubt fully carrYiiia-rns the intentions of the author. Mr. F. sor ting acted the part of the old man. Oxberry, reli ef Baronet, afforded, by his drolleries, an e a s a p xcelient to the serious business of the piece. The se cond rich laughablewas abi a )it,and the hfiutenrlude, upon the in one act, e nti_t d lf f el n u l t j e s of R Balls,Snobson, as a lawyer's clerk, turned ' i n g eting time e irn e is to partake of the savoury dish from which th e the iv named, which had been prepared for'hira by Betty Bright (Miss Emma Stanley), the la"' r• of the said Snobson, and maid-of-all-wo 1 rk in the.e vice of Mr. Crowquill (Salter), an attorney, at Highgate. To attempt to describe the ma n Y. — "to betwixt the plate and the lip, would be like attemptlllg of count the bubbles which effervesce on the s . t he a glass of Champagne. Balls was exactly fit: b ut part, and he sustained the whole, not wei t g" ; ," ' o lo. lightness, of the farce. He bustled throug u tolo riously; and all those who desire ment " should assist, as the French would 58):4' at the at Welsh Rabbit at the Princess's. It is Ser ie "' 11 / 4 to WhO bidS &trice nine o'clock by Miss Emma Stanley, be one of the most espeigde of' soubrettes. We admits Mr. Snobson's taste exceedingly. Both pieces 187,,ei. not crovvae quite successful. The house, although was well filled. "good 'enter the rn that It appears, from a recent statistical rettiTh' there are in Austria and its dependencies, ine n ' ll o - 00 its Italian territory, 25,500,000 Catholics, 3,5 ,,;j ° of members of the United Greek Church, 2,90 0 9 vv - of the non-United, 1,260,000 Lutherans, 2,240,000 000 the Reformed Church, 45,000 Socinians , and 600 Jews. The number of religious houses for amounts to 766, comprising 10,354 persons, and e eluding 27 religious orders. The Brothers of g er e s possess 34 houses, and 542 inmates; the Beneclictiovd 37, and 1,093 inmates ; and the Ca uchins 9 8 % • g 3,6611298 i w n o n m la e te n s . . There are 157 conlP'ents, cont .This r . rn . E GREAT ANTI - CORN-LAW building is fast progressing, 'notwithstanding "01 firm bad weather and the holidays. Its g e ,." e t - be and arrangements will be better adaptede„-oe purposes of sight and hearing than the last; an' 9- , - 01 acoustic contrivance for aiding and throwing, fol ly ; j 4 the voices of the speakers, will be devised. h L r ing to be a gallery or galleries. The invitations arc u;' - ot li issued to various distinguished Members of„ i n ; - f l• Houses of the Legislature ° and to many out al a ` g -I fi ct ment, who by their efforts of voice, and Pe"' - purse, have advocated and helped forward' the cuse.os free trade. We hear that the second evening In ee .,„ t le , in the pavilion will probably be a sort of proinel'd e understand that for each meeting a chairtnal two secretaries . will be appointed, to c onduct it.l lu o .fof gulate its proceedings. Everything is' prep iff these occasions on a scale of great magnitude, atolo deed must he indispensable, where so ma n y th°llor %tif are to be seated and provided ' with food, boteh ft __ A f a - o hster physical and intellectual appetites,