The Sun. — London, England, 1849-12-24 00:00:00

110 1 4 12% 2 30% ~ 1% dill ~ SA . - 9 ,1 4 . 23i sm. 0 0.•• I DAY.) light MC bfensiefr Ge orge• New a• Light, kw Zes. ); As; Net Robe), larleatelli avannab• Gwen)/ Spark', Bstavie• d. Hata . W I too, ambueet Davisoot lntwerP• is towed a il s , &a• put in ~...seve Ind ball Part 01 n escligor OM. 1% ili 3% 7% 16 4J . 4 5i - 4% ..... 0,4 - 25% 114 Ph 17% 6% and a board marked `• John Re-d" in yellow letters, have wash,d cal sh r) at Kini - pdoven. DOVER, DEC. 23.—The Margaretta, Mop to Jersey, tunit 21ist. instant :Al' Romney Hoy; crew saved. GnEnNocx, Dac. 23.—The Ih gattt, Liverpoo 1 to Glasgow, which ran on shore sth instant, has been got off ani taken into Ardrossan, with con,iderable damage. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 23.—1 t has blown a stror.g gale all night from the eastward, and continues.—Arrd. her Majesty's ship Britomart, Sierra LFi ne; John Wickliffe. 1)41 3 7 , China. Oil Port, Apex, Pixley, Bombay. The Dablia, from London for Vekutia, has put iu here with damage to hull and spars from contact with a schooner off Dungeness on the 19. h inst. BRISTOL.—SId. Emerald, Barb:does. CORK, DEC. 22 —The o:3nahie steamer, of and for Liverpool, from Palermo and Gibraltar, has p:it i❑ with damage from cont•.ct, last night, with the schooner Cape Packet from Antwerp. Tne latter was struck amid ships. The mute and four mkt' got on board the former, leaving behind only the master and a boy. Her Majesty's '`earner Trident has been dispatched in, search of the latter vessel. 1 1Aawica, DEC 22.—1 t has blown hard all night from the eastward. A schooner is reported to be on shore on the Gur.fleet Sand. LoND NDERRY, DEC. 21.—The Seknce, Constanti Ih.ple to Westport, baa arrived hire with pumps chukr d and cargo heated; will discharge. DovErt, DEc. 23.—Wind E.N E,, strong.—Acrd. Critherare, Nelson. Richibucto ; Thomas Edwards, Clarke, Rio de la Hac.:lie. OFF DIINGENESS.—Roompot, Do Boer, Batavia, for M d ielburg. CLYDE, DEC. 20.—Wind S.E.—Arrd. Parkfield, Smith, Callao; Elizabeth Margaret. Duthie, Newfound land. Sld. Mary Ann, and Pursuit, Trinidad; A•alanta, Bar hadoes. KINGSTOWN, DEC. 22.—Arrd. Brothers, Pernambuco. QUE.ENATOWN.—Arrd. Huskisson, De Witt, Bonny. ABERDEEN, DEC. 22.—The Clio of and from this por for Cromarcy, was vvreckcd near Rosehearty, 19th inst crew nut heard of. WHITSTABLE, DEC. 23.—Severai pieces of wreck and a counter board, marked " Perseverance," in gilt letters, a quarter board, painted green, with yallow moulding, hay, been picked up at Sessalter. REDCAB, DEC. 22.—Part of a stern of a vessel has come on shore this morning. with the name of "Ranger" cut out in gilt letters on a blue ground. RULE, DEC. 23.—The wreck of a large brig, about 300 tons, mast-heads above water, was passed the 20th, at Middle Bulks, bearing N.N. E. MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.) CORN-EXCHANGE—MONDAY. The country markets held on Saturday:,were very Steady for Wheat, at, in some instances, an advance in the quotations of is per quarter. Grinding Barley, the beat Oats, and Indian Corn, moved off somewhat freely It full prices. In all other articles very little business Ivae transacted. Our advice' from the large shipping ports are to the effect that ver y f ew transact i ons have ntely taken place in a n y ar ti c l e on E ng li s h account. vary moderate supplies of English Grain were received up to our market last week. From Scotland, upwards of 8,000 quarters of Oats reached us. The imports from abroad were liberal, viz., 12,338 quarters of Wheat; 2 2,109 ditto of Barley; 16,846 ditto of Oats; 220 ditto of Beans; 3,231 ditto of Peas; 100 ditto of Tares; 2058 ditto of Linseed; 10 ditto of Mustard Seed; 58 ditto of Sundry Seeds ; and 3,353 sacks of Flour. The quantity of English Wheat received fresh up to this morning's market coastwise, from Essex and Kent, was moderate, and of somea hat improved quality. From Lincolnshire, Cambrid ge , & c ., t h e rece i pts were small. Y land carriage and sample the supply was slightly 01 1 the increase. The show of all kinds of Wheat of Iflootne produce was li m it e d, ow i ng t o w hi c h t h e d eman d r all descriptions, especially the finest white, ruled Pilo, at prices fully equal to those obtained on Monday nat, and at which a clearance was readily effected. 13 everal offers came to hand from Lincolnshire and other quarters, to ship Wheats at present rates. With he avily Wh ea t we were tolerably well,, but not to say n eavily supplied, and we ma y remark that the number of really prime parcels was small. Fine dry Wheats loved off steadily a t f u lly l ast wee k' s currenc i es. 4 the middling and inferior kinds only a m oderate business w as t ransacte d at l ate rates. floating cargoes next to nothing was doing; the im totters are mostly landing in warehouse. Very little E nglish Barley was on the market, but the supply of . ci teign was tolerably good. M a l t i ng parce l s were a f a i r I nquiry, a t f u ll pr i ces . I n gr i nd i ng and distilling sorts ! °l3 nparatively , little was doing, b u t we h ave no d ec li ne 0 notice in value. Notwithstanding that the supply of alt was small, that article moved off heavily, at unal nred quotations. The aggregate supply of Oats was to lerably good. Fine dry Corn sold without diffi culty, at full prices, but damp and otherwise out of o ndition qualities met a slow sale. The quan- PY of foreign Oats at this time in warehouse is small. n Beans, the supply o f w hi c h was very mo d erate, next I° nothing was doing, at a decline in value of is per ;carter. The sale for Pe as was d u ll i n t h e extreme, pr of most kinds gave way Is per quarter. Curn and Meal were held at full prices; but the in quiry was limited. The Flour trade, owing to the p r essure of foreign qualities for sale, ruled dull, at late CURRENCY PER IMPERLA.L MEASURE. s?l,9 at—Essex & Kent, •. 56810 565 Red, New.... 37. to 44s Oats— Yorkshire and Ditto,White, New 405 46s Lincolnah ., Feed. 14a 165 Norfolk and Lin- Potato ...... • • 178 228 Coln, lied. •. •• 385 408 Youghal and Cork, Ditto, White.... Is 445 Black . 138 15 Irish, Red.... •• .. 385 4Ps Cork, White..... 148 16 : k bitto,White.. •• •• 403 433 Scot c h, F ee d..... 18 s 21. ............ 24s 255 Bean s —Ti c k . •... 255 31; 24s 258 Pigeons ..... 293 36: 'ler —Grinding 208 2 11 . Peas—Grey .. • ... • 255 27; Malting . .... •• • • 21s 26s Maple. ... ••• •. 26i 28 s . i t Chevalier •• • •• • 26, 30s White......— .. 26s 29 li t—Suffolk and Nor- Boilers ......... 284 30 s s folk 83s 568 Flour—Town-m a d e ... 35 5 40 5 br0wn........... 448 47s Suffolk ...... •• .. 33. kingston and Ware 555 565 Stocktn & No r f o lk 30 3 33; SEED MARIEET. Clover, Linseed, and flanpseed are in steady request, `t fully last week's quotation. AU other Seeds move off kl o wly, and late rates are with difficulty supported. Both T iLse e d and Rape-cakes are lower to purchase. 141,1 1),White, per bush. lOs to lls Carraw ay • • ...... 298 345 Red awl Green.. 108 11 s Coriander .... ••..• • .• 16s 22s mtard Brown.. •• • 98 12s Hempseed, per quarter 32s 35s T., White .....• • ... 78 9s Linseed, Eng.. 4 owing.. 54s 66 8 'es, New Whiter.. 5s Od 55 6d Crushing •• • . 405 43s 0 Old .. 43 4s 6d Baltic ...... •• .. 38s 44s • lit rl arr, per quarter • . 785 88s Odessa ..... 428 451 ti ° •...•• 20s 21s Linseed Cake, pr.l,ooo— Red Et 4. (cwt.) 35s 505 English .. ••.91 Os 91108 White .......... 355 50s Foreign, per ton 6/ Os 7/ 155 Foreign lied.. • . 32s 425 Rape Cakes, pr ton 41 5s 41 4,s Tre k. White.... 30s 44s Rapeseed, New, print 281 lOs 32108 •148 ltis SMITHFIELD. th ° Wing to the partial closing of the navigation abroad, iMportations of foreign stock into London, last week, e ° re comparatively small. The total arrival was con ed t 2 , 388 head. At the corresponding period in 18 48 2 ° we received 3,656, and at the same time in 1847, 0 84 head. The quality of the sto c k a t h an d, s i nce our '"t report, has been good. 1 , IMPORTS INTO LONDON IN THE PAST WEEK. 4'reni Beasts. Sheep. Lamb s . C a l ves . Pi gs h o tterdam 314 ... 858 ... ... 149 ... erlingen 47 ... 397 .. 8 ... A I N Diep 5B ... 405 ... 1 ... ... 3 ... o,„"verP • ... 23 ... et) Total 419 ... 1,660 ... 295 .. 14 v t :t,esponding tOlt 411848 628 ... 2,881 141 1 1 ,e week in \t:° 4 7.. 4 t Y few arrivals have taken place at the outports. By basketm Ireland, 117 Oxen have come to hand for this Much attention has been directed of late to high prices charged by the b u t c h ers o f th e metro pl3 tor the That pri suppliesces in ofthis meat disosed of to their cus kers.market have fallen fully 25 Cent during the present year is a well-known fact, t ttp d • Yet we perceive that the consumer, up to the present 4", has derived little or to advantage from this fall. tk eeordi ng to the present rarge of value in this market, II ' : best joints of Beef and Mutton could be sold at 70. lb., if for ready money, and then a large margin of 4 ( lnt would be left the butchers. A contemporary, in o s Porting the trade here on Mond a y l as t, o b serve d th a t t r best Beef was s e lling at 4d. p er lb. S uc h was no t t h e ti 4 e, as th e primest Scots produced 4 s 6d p er 81b s , or k: Ilt lY 7d per lb. If the ready money system was t i 4 erttlly adopted we should speedily find a considerable el ioe in the quotations of meat—we mean those agedT by the butchers—all over the country. Long are sure to entail heavy losses upon th e purchasers. being almost a holiday market, the supply of tC a ,tft—which was chiefly composed of th e re f use o f d 4 ',‘ exhibited on Friday—on offer to-day was li m it e d, 4 " of full average quality. All kinds ruled heavy, 1 4 4 Were lower to purchase, the best Scots realising only 0 4 ,1 1 t'r 81bs, and a clearance was not effected. The It oers of Sheep were very small. Nevertheless, so 14; 4 , business was transacted in that description of tu trek that prices were nominal. Calves were in short S e I3 WY and heavy demand, at barely stationary prices. qt.teely Was tr ifl . - Per Ribs. to sink the OW. o . N. d. to d. to I. d. Z I Or Beasts-- 3 0 3 4 Second qual. Sheep 3 4 3. 3 ?ti ns " quality -.• . 3 4 3 6 Coarse-weolledditto3 10 4 II lA ti Zt large Oxen— 2 3 310 Southdown Wether 4 2 4 4 ,Le r Scots ......3 le 4 0 Ditto Hut of the wool 0 0 0 0 I . coarse Calves 3 4 3 6 Large Hogs ......3 4 3 3 , 0 °lntall ditto 3 3 310 Small Porkers ——3 10 4 2 4 4 941 .. ,!, , 4 3' Calves .. Quartar old Pigs ••;. I. `or Slkeep .. • 3 0 3 2 Lambs ......... 0 0 0 0 TOTAL SUPPLY AT MARKET. t 1 Guts. I Sheep, 1 Calves. I Pigs. .545 7,090 75 140 FOREIGN SUPPLY. I Sheep. I Calves. I Pigs. 450 62 SCOTCH. I Sheep. I Calves. 1 Pigs 70 11 ( , a , ta. 150 Il easte. TI, IrIdIVIVGATZ AND LEADENHALL. 1 1pQ supplies of Meat on sale in these markets since 44 4 4LY last, for Chri s t mas consumpt i on , h ave b een ltp t s4 ally large, even for the time of year, and of excel- It k u-,1. gilty. serve Their exnt will be better und of Beef erstooll. WO ob that ne te arly 20,000 carcases, dis t : °ll , and Pork, have arrived hith er f rom var i ous ati ii :, ll t Parts of England, includi ng S co tl an d. Th e sea vQrt"le change in the weather has been productive of a qf—T steady demand, and good clearances have been 40%tt his .ed at improved quotations. The sh ow o f f ore i gn ." s fallen off. At per stone by the Carcase. li t tf , S. d. to s. d. 1 8. d. 05. d. \s' 4fe r10r...... 2 8 210 Ifuttcn, inferior .. 2 8 210 \., e',,,,i4idling .... 3 4 i middling.. a 0 3 4 - "Molar3 6 3 6 1 prime .... 3 6 310 kip, ge .. e kl., -- e small.. 310 4 0 , Pork, large .. •••• •. 2 8 3 4 ~....• •• ••••.• 3 0 310 small —••• • • • 3 6 4 2 „ 0 0 . 440 1ELOXIGE ..ND sPxmaxx:ELDs. itk 'stwiseabout 3 500 tons of potatoes have reached 4% ~.. , , ,27ster-side during the past week. The receipts, by wet, have exceeded 1,000 tons, mostly in excellent NU LAW INTELLIGENCE. JUDICIAL, COMUITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL-(THIS DAY.) GORHAM V. THE BISHOP OF EXETER, A statement in the Western Times of Friday to the effect that the Committee of the Privy Council, so far as respected this case, stood adjourned to this day, induced us to think that judgment would have been given this morning; but from the inquiry of one of our reporters at the office of the Privy Council this morning, we find the statement referred to above is incorrect, for the Council did not sit at all to•day. COMMON PLEAS.—( THIS DAY.) The Lord Chief Justice Wilde and a common jury were occupied this morning in trying the case of Steer and others v. Goodall, which involved a matter of account transacted on the Stock Exchange, only of interest to the parties immediately concerned. This is the last day of the sittings after term. EXCHEQUER. —(THIS DAY.) (Sittings at Guildhall, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a Common Jury.) UPSHER V. TRUNDLE. The plaintiff in this case was a draper, carrying on business at St. Ives, Huntingdonshire, and he sought to recover from the defendant, who is a miller at Spalding in Norfolk, the amount of a bill of exchange for 259/. Mr. Watson and Mr. Duncan appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Martin and Mr. Willes for the defendant. The particulars of the case were simply these :—A person named Charter, a draper, at Grimstone, in Norfolk, obtained a quantity of goods from the plaintiff, for which, owing to embarrassed circum stances, he was unable to pay ; the plaintiff brought an action for the amount, when Charter got his father in-law, the present defendant, to give a bill of exchange to the plaintiff for payment of the debt and costs. Subsequently Charter became a bankrupt, and the defendant refused to meet the bill of exchange, and the consequence was the commencement of the present suit. The defence was, that the bill of exchange had been satisfied by an agreement entered into between the parties, and several witnesses were called to prove that this was the case, and the question simply re solved itse:f into the amount of credibility which could be attached to the witnesses on either side. The jury interrupted his Lordship almost as soon as he had commenced summing up, to state that they bad already made up their minds that the verdict should be for the plaintiff.—Verdict accordingly for the plaintiff, for the full amount. MARLBRO'-STREET-(THIS DAY.) EMBEZZLEMENT BY A CLERK.—Thomas Eagles, a well-dressed man, was brought before Mr. Hart'wick, charged with emb( zzling upwards of 58/. belonging to his employer, Mr. John Rogers, tobacconist, 392, Ox• ford-street. The prosecutor stated that the prisoaer was employed by him as clerk and collector. It was also his duty to take orders and collect in all moneys due to the estab lishment; and the utmost confidence was reposed in him up to the 6th instant, when he absented himself from his employment. Not making his appearance the following day, witness suspected all was not as it should be, and, upon subsequent Inquiry, be discovered defalcations in the prisoner's accounts to the amount of 581. Witness saw nothing more of the prisoner until the 10th inst., when he met him in King's-road, Chelsea, and imme diately taxed him with robbing him. The prisoner expressed his sorrow that things had taken such a turn, and begged to have a private interview with prosecutor, when, no doubt, all would be made right. Witness accordingly made an appointment with the prisoner to meet him between eight and nine the next night at his (witness's) house. The prisoner came at that time, and, in the course of conversation, he asked witness to convert the money in question into a debt, and pressed him much to do so, promising to pay him 11. per week, till the w h o l e amount was paid. Wit ness declined to acoede to these terms, but told the prisoner if he could find good and substantial security for the payment, he (witness) would consider about employing him again. The prisoner then left the house, and, in consequence of further defalcations having been discovered, prosecutor gave information to the police, who succeeded in apprehending the prisoner at his lodg ings on Saturday night. The prosecutor could, if the prisoner was remanded, bring several other charges against him. — Mr. HARDWICK remanded the prisoner until Thurs day II( xt. BENEVOLENCE.—The Magistrate requested our re porter to acknowledge the receipt of 11. 145., being the proceeds of a sixpenny subscription for the relief of the casual poor, collected by Master Charles Cook, of No. 8, Clifford-street, Bond-street ; from the Goldsmiths' Company, 201. (annual) ; and from E. C., the whole of a Bank note for 51., to be applied to the same benevolent purpose. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. We have received Cape of Good Hope papers to the 3d of November inclusive, but the intelligence they contain differs very little from that supplied by many of the late arrivals from that colony. The people at large maintained most firmly the " pledge ;" but the Government had always obtained what they required for convicts, troops, and every one else who needed assistance. The Admiralty House is converted into a cattle kraal, and the Court House into a slaughter house. The Government makes its own bread and biscuit, kills its own cattle, and procures its own vegetables, without the aid of contractors. Some fifteen or twenty individuals have incurred grave censure by supplying Government, either directly or indirectly, with different kinds of food. Among the number are the names of Messrs. J. B. Ebden and Co., Hpdrick Morkel, sen„ Henry Boase, and Samuel Drake. The strictures upon the conduct of Mr. Ebden have been exceedingly severe, for Mr. E. occupied the chair of the Anti- Convict Association for a considerable time. He was one of the first who advocated and insisted upon ap plying the " pledge" to the naval department at Si mon's Bay, and so impressed was he with the neces sity of resistance, that he even promised to die in the cause of the people. This gentleman is now charged with selling some 2,000 muids of wheat to the Go. vernment. Mr. Ebden has written the following letter in justification of himself:— " Cape Town, Oct. 31, 1849. " Sir—ln reply to your letter of yesterday, received at a late hour last evening, stating that you had been directed by the Anti-Convict Association to ascertain from me the correctness, or otherwise, of a report that I, or my firm, have either directly or indirectly been supplying government departments, I hasten to say, without recognising for a moment the right of the association to catechise me, or in any way to inter fere with any transaction of mine, in the ordinary course of business, that neither I nor my firm, have teen supplying government departments;' but while I make this statement without any mental reserva tion, I have no wish to disguise or to conceal from the public the fact of my having sold a qu an tity o f wheat to Mr. Edmund Leahy, for cash, which wheat, as I have been informed by Mr. Leahy, has since been resold by him to the Government at a considerable profit. " From the 18th of June list, the day on which, as one of a deputation from the Anti Convict Asso ciation, I presented an address to his Excellency the Governor, up to the present hour, I have had no connnunication, either directly or indirectly, with the Government, or any department of the Government, regarding supplies or any other transactions of business ; and it is matter of notoriety that, since the TITH fatlV, LONDON', e , ndition. The imports from abroad have amounted to 67 tons from Ostend. 320 ditto from Rotterdam, 462 ditto from .Rouen, 422 ditto from Aritwerp, 75 ditto from Havre, 74 ditto from Dunkirk, nod 34 ditto from Ghent—forming a total supply of 1,454 tons. Notwith standing the seasonable change in the weather the de mand, owing to the large supplies offering, has been verb inactive, and, in some instances, have had a down ward tendency. Per Ton. York. Regents 90s to I lOs Ditto Shahs —s to s Scotch Reds ... 653 to 75s Ditto rnitheups 40s to 60s Ditto Buffs ... 50s to 55s Blues .......... 5.5 s to 60s Pink Eyes .. ... 55s to 60s Lincoln. Regents. 80s to 95s Wisbeach ditto 60s to 75s itto Kidneys .. 60s to 78s Newcastleßegts. 60s to 75s Per Ton. Cornmeal Whites 45s to 50s Kent Kidneys 703 to 85$ Essex Regents —s to —e Ditto Shaws —s to Ditto Kidneys s to French Whites COs to 75 s Ditto Reds 65s to 70 8 Belgian ditto 4os to 6 , .t s D tto Reds sto -- s Dutch ditto German ditto 1101£011G13 BOP D/11.11t1CICT. Really fine Hops—the supply of which is small—are in steady request, at fully lust week's quotations. In all other kinds i.nly a limited business is doing, at late rates. New Mid and East Kent pockets, 61 los to 12/ ; New Weald of Kent ditto, 6/ 5s to 81 O.; New Sussex ditto. 51 15s to 61 15s ; New Earnhams. 121 to 131; Yearling Kents, 31 to 4/ 12s; Yearling Sussex, 2/ 8s to 3/ 17s; Old Hops, 11 to 4/ per cwt. WOOL. Only three bales of Wool, if we except a few parcels from Ireland, were imported into Lundun last wee k. Since the conclusion of the public sales, a very limited amount of business has been transacted in the private contract markets, arising, in a great measure from the holders having raised their pretensions to some extent. The quantity of Colonial Wool at this time i❑ London is unusually small. TALLOW. Since our last report, the demand for all kinds of Tallow has been in a very inactive state, and prices have hrd a downward tendency. Today, P.Y.C. on the spot, is selling at 383 6d per cwt. For forward deli very, exceedingly little is doing. Town Tallow, 39s 6d per cwt. net cash; rough fat, 2s 3d per 81bs. Letters from St. Petersburgh represent the trade heavy. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. Stock th!s day Price of Y. C. .... Delivery last week .. Ditto from June 1.... Arrivals last week Ditto from June 1 ... Price of Town ......, 24,260 10,100 51s Od 46s Od to Os Od to 4683 d 1,855 2,054 53,439 ' 56,336 1 31,947 , 42s 9d to, Os Od 1,860 1 58,515 45,5C1 38s 6d to Os Od 2,337 b 5,0311 2,048 78,071 424 Od 621 , 796 G 7,976 158,337 535 Od 49s 6d 631 85,929 45s 0,1 28th of Sof tember last, I have openly, in common with s.2veral of the principal ;merchants of this pllce, conclanntd and rQprobut.. - d, in the most unqualified manner, the resolutions of the w:.sociation proscribing all intercourse with the Government, in any shape or on any terms,' as certain, in my humble opinion, to injure the cause we have at heart; and further, in the present position of the question, I have no hesi tation in cleaning, that I would as readily have sold the wheat to Government as to any private individual, had any application been made to by thcqn. " I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, " J. B. EBDEN. " Mr. John Saunders, Secretary to the Anti-Convict Association. " P.S. I observe by the Advertiser of this morning that, without waiting for the information desired, touching the truth or falsehood of the report alluded to in your letter, the association have announced the firm of J. B. Ebden and Co. as under the pledge; and I have only to remark that I shall be prepared to appal to the laws of my country for the redress of any loss or injury I may thereby sustain." A serious attack was made upon Mr. Hendrick Morkel, Justice of the Peace for Somerset West, he having supplied Capt. Stanford with sheep, knowing that they were intended for the Government. Mr. Morkel and his two sons arrived at Stellenbosch on the 25th of October, when the whole village rose in commotion. These gentlemen were pelted with rotten eggs and mud, and soon became soiled from head to foot. One of the sons was severely in jured, and the magi.trate himself was struck on the ekr. His Excellency Sir Harry Smith, we regret to hear, is seriously indisposed, owing, it is believed, to the intense excitement under which he has laboured for some time past, caused by the discontented and inflammatory state of the colony. WEST INDIA AND MEXICAN MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY MORNING, FOUR O'CLOCK, A.M.—The royal mail steamer Dee, Captain W. Allan, arrived off this port at two o'clock, bringing the usual "West India and Mexican mails, in charge of Lieute nant South, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates from Mobile are to the 22d of Novem ber; TampicJ, 13th ; Vera Cruz, 13th ; Havannah, 27th ; Jamaica, 21st ; Demerara, 18th ; Barbadoes, 27th ; Trinidad, 20th ; St. Thomas, 30th; and Ber muda, Dec. 6. The day after the :Dee left Bermuda a gale at north-west commenced blowing, and she has experi enced extremely heavy weather the whole voyage. She brings the following very valuable freight— viz., on merchants' account from the Gulf of Mexico, &c., 1,841,933 dolls., and 69,998 dolls. for account of the Mexican dividends—total, 1,906,931 dolls., or say about 382,000/ sterling; also 65 cases cigars, 91 bales tobacco, 18 live turtle, 339 serons cochineal, 33 serons jalap, 6 bales sponge, 10 cases succades, and 47 pack ages sundries. There are only 22 passengers. Our advices from Jamaica by this steamer extend to the 22d of November, being twelve days later than received via Liverpool. The Legislature of the island continued in session, and its proceedings were of the same unsatisfactory character as at the date of the previous accounts. The House of Assembly had passed a string of resolutions declaratory of the right of the House to direct, limit, and appropriate the public money, and defending the course lately pursued by the country party. These resolutions, upon being reported to the Council had drawn forth from that body a series of counter resolutions. The excitement upon the subject of retrenchment had in no way abated. The Council had unanimously rejected a Bill contemplating a decrease in the salaries of the public officers, which had passed the Assembly. It was stated that the Government party was anxious to provoke another dissolution of the House of Assembly. Mr. 13ristowe, a member of the Government party, had given notice of his intention to bring forward a motion for the imposition of an income-tax in order to equalise the revenue with the expenditure of the island. This proposition would doubtless be rejected. The Hon. Mr. Stanley had arrived in Jamaica on his tour of inspection. There had been seine disturbances in the parish of Manchester, and the Governor had sent a detachment of military to the district. Happily nothing serious occurred, except a slight outbreak on the part of the black population, instigated by a famous " Obeah man." The island was healthy. The estates on the south side and a few on the north side had commenced sugar-making. The weather had become very fine and particularly pleasant. Subjoined are the (Wails of the most important quotations in the Jamaica markets, extracted from De Cordova's Mercantile intelligencer : Flour—The following have been the transactions since our last, reported in the order in which they occurred :-200 barrels of Baltimore, in small lots, at 325.; 200 barrels of New Orleans, at 305., and 100 barrels at 325. ; 250 barrels of Baltimore, at 325. ; 800 barrels of Philadelphia, and 100 barrels of Baltimore, at 325. ; 250 barrels of Baltimore, in lots, at 325. 6d. ; and 200 barrels of Baltimore, in lots, at 345. The remaining parcels of Baltimore and Philadelphia are now held for 345. Hams—Lancashire rule at Bd. to Sid. ; American, sd. to lid. Herrings—ln consideration of the moderate stock, 20i. has been obtained in parcels. Lard—The stock is ample. Prices range at from sd. to 6d. for prime qualities ; 100 kegs have been taken at sd. per lb. Lumber—The demand is so inactive for white pine that, notwithstanding that the stock is moderate, only 80s. can be obtained for it. White cedar shingles come under the same observations ; they are not worth more than 1.55. to 16s. for the best, and 10s, to 1.25. for the commonest descriptions. Mackerel—The arrivals having been moderate, 245. has been obtained for small parcels. Meal has advanced since our last report, but the operations have been confined to small sales, at 18s. and 19s. Holders are now asking 19s. to 20s. Oil—Cod is scarce, and would be taken at 2s. 6d. per gallon. Pimento—Buyers are endeavouring to effect a decline to 3d. per lb. ; 3 3 1 d. cannot now be obtained. Pork—Mess is looking up; 68s. has been refused for 500 barrels. There is not anything to report of other descriptions. Potatoes—The market is glutted, and almost any figure would be accepted. Rice—East India is inactive, and xemains at our last rates, viz.-13s. to 13s. 6d. per 1001bs. for ordi nary Bengal, and 14s. for the best sorts, and lls. 6d. to 12s. 6d. for Madras. We have not anything to report of Carolina, which is scarce. Rum is sold at 2s 9tl for proof 21, but the demand is very limited on account of the un certainty which exists regarding the Rum Duty Bill. . Soap—We have no transactions to report. The ai title is very inactive, and the stock is exceedingly heavy. Sugar—Prices range at from 155. to 16s. for dark, 17s. to 18s. ad. for middling, and 19s. to 21s. for fair samples. Tobacco—Sales of a few bales leaf b.ave been made at 625. Manufactured has been moved at Bfd. Tongues—American pigs' tongues are unsaleable. Irish are scarce. Ox tongues are much wanted. Exchanges on London—Jamaica Bank, 90 days, per cent. premium ; 60 days, one• per cent. pre mium. Colonial Bank, 90 days, per cent. pre mium. Our accounts from Havannah, .0( the 27th ult., mention that the planters had gradually reduced their pretensions for sugar, and lower rates were accepted, at which considerable purchases took place. The prospects of the growing crops were favourable. A considerable demand for coffee had shown itself, and an advance in price had been the res•mit. - Freights to Europe, 2/. to 2/. 2s. 6d., and to Fal mouth and Cowes, and a market, 21. 10s. ; Exchange on London, 11 to 11i per cent. premium ; Paris, par; New York and Boston, f to Itl- premium. In Trinidad the weather had been variable. Little, if any, sugar had been made, butt the cane fields promised a large yield. Commercial matters were dull. Exchange on London, 90 days, 486; 60 days, 487; 30 days, 489. In St. Ltici . g the weather was very fine, and a few estates had commenced operations.. The small•pox was thinning the ranks of the la.'bourers fearfully, otherwise the island was healthy. We learn from Antigua that thee weather in that island had become extremely dry. 'The yellow fever was raging amongst the soldiers at Shirley Heights. About 24 deaths had occurred. Deputy- Commissary General PAce died on the 29th of November, of yellow fever, ton board the royal mail steamer Conway, off Guadalc 'ape. All the Windward Islands were healthy, and crops looking well. From Martinique we are lam.) nsd that Governor Bruat, who is more than suspected of being a Schoel cherist, was far from popular at o ongst the Creole citizens of the French Antilles. At Barbadoes there had been tome rain, and the crops were very promising. A q irantiue was ins. posed upon all vessels coming from. islands where the smallpox prevailed. In Bermuda the elections had p used off without disturbance, and the island was perfectly quiet, no riot or insurrEction whatever having occurred as stated in some of the American pap ers. There is no ne As of iniportan ce from Mexico. Everything was quiet and no fresh revolt was imme diately anticipated. A more just :and correct method of collecting the customs revenue had been adopted, which will doubtless be of adva) itage to the holders of Mexican bonds. Her Majesty's ship Wellesley, Admiral Dundunald, and her Majesty's steamer Plutr iper, were at Bermuda. Her Majesty's ships TPlacorn *lee, Sappho, and He- MONDAY EVENING, DEcnrvinnit 24, 1849, lens, were at 13arbadoes, preparing to sail for Gray Town, Mosquito Shor, to protect British interests re lative to t'-::e Nicaragua dispute. The Great Western sailed from Bermuda on the Gth inst. for New York; the Thames and Medway were at Ihvannah ; the Avon in the Spanish Main ; the Conway on the Demerara route ; and the Eagle at St. Thomas. MR. COBDEN AT BRADFORD. (From the Times) Mr. Cobden's speech at Bradford on our coloni'd system is a masterpiece of agitation. It is a suffi cient answer to those simple souls who think that agitation ever dies, or is ever likely to die, in this world. We have no wish to disparage a trade which, besides its uses, appears to be a necessity of our existence. If the man is to be honoured who brought philosophy from Heaven down to men, we presume that some prai.e is due to the man who brings politics from Downing•street to Bradford. The schoolmaster is abrcal ; if any one doubts it, let him read Mr. Cobden's " Colonial Policy made easy to the Meanest Capacities," and he will see that whatever difficulties and scruples may perplex Parliament or the Colonial-office, it' is all as plain as A, B, C, in the Temperance•hall at Brad ford. The artizans there have learnt one simple rule for dealing with all dependencies, from Van couver's Island to Ceylon, and from Canada to Corfu. The rule is not exactly the rule of thumb, but, certainly, is not more artificial. It consists in cutting the connexion altogether, or at least as expeditiously as is agreeable to both parties. Should the colonies still cling to us like " mammy- I sick" children, Mr. Cobden suggests that we should wean them at once from the sweets of the British Exchequer. Should England, on the contrary, still push her parental authority, the colony would do well,or ra ther are already doing well, in showing that they are no longer children. The same rule holds for the whole family. England is to send to all our fifty colonies a circular certificate that they have come to man's estate, and are free. They have only to send back a message equally obliging, and the famous mother country, of whom we have heard so much in grave school- books and conversational pamphlets, may forth with throw up her cap, and sing, in the lines of the old stave : COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, SATURDAY. Th. Queen and Prince Albert, with the Prince of %tales, Prince Alfred, ti:e Princess Royal, the Prin cess Alice, the Princess litlene, and the Princess Louisn, left Osborne at seven minutes before ten, A M , on Saturday, for Windsor Castle. WINDWR, SATURDAY. IL-r Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, with the Royal Family, and attended by the Marchioness of Douro, the Hen. Miss Lennox, Lord A. Paget, Colonel Bouverie, and General Bowles, arrived at Windsor Castle from Osborne at twenty ' five minutes past one o'clock. The royal party tra velled by a special train on the South Western Rail way to Basingstoke, and from thence by the Great Western Railway to Windsor. A Guard of Honour of the Grenadier Guards received the royal party at the railway terminus at Windsor. The guard was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton. Her Serene Highness the Duchess of Saxe- Weimar, with their Serene Highnesses the Princesses Anne and Amelie of Saxe-Weimar, and their Serene Highnesses the Prince Edward and Prince Gustavus of Saxe-Weimar, arrived at the Castle this day on a visit to the Queen and Prince. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent joined the royal party at dinner this evening. "I care for nobody, no not I, And nobody cares for me." But let us look a little into this new agitation. We will neither be fascinated by its simplicity, nor abashed by its grandeur. In the first place, the sub ject matter is a good one. It is as good as Catholic Emanipation, the Reform Bill, or the repeal of the Corn-laws ;—nay, granting these three premises— granting that England has now foresworn religious, civil, and commercial monopoly, colonial independence is a necessary sequel to those great national acts. The doctrine has now gone through all its ordeals. It has been talked about and written about. It is the conclusion of a long controversy, and among many proposals is that which survives. In several leading instances it is the actual state of the colonial game. By a natural process the leading co l on i es have worked up t o it, and their independence is a great fact, whether we like it or not. The doctrinaires, Wakefield, Roebuck, Buller, Molesworth, have culled all the statistics and argu ments of the question, and nothing remains to be written or calculated upon it. Blue books have been accumulated ad nauseam, till the labour of their peru sal is so great as to be an excuse for utter ignorance of the subject. When the question is in this state, the old theory of a great colonial Zollverein is sud denly abandoned. Only the other day men still dreamt that it was possible to stretch England like a belt round the globe, and buy and sell chiefly with our own fellow-subjects. That is past away. Meanwhile the estimates show the enormous expenditure of solid coin which we suffer for a merely sentimental return. One thing only wa s wanting, and that is now supplied. The colonies, after going through nearly the same process of argument, have arrived at precisely the same conclusion. They announce to us and to the whole world, in the most energetic and striking manner, that they will be independent. Thus the facts of the case almost anticipate our own hesitating judg ments and tedious calculations. All this time our first-born colony shows the way, and stamps o n th e most loyal and mo s t imperial mind the sure convic tion that, sooner or later, every other colony will set up for itself, and that this is the order of nature and of Providence. Such is Cobden's case; and, if Cobden had not been born, the case would be the same. Find ing it, however, he picks it up, and, by his singular gifts of agitation, will probably make it his own. We have described a -great controversy, a great conclusion, and a great fact, which severally force the idea of colonial independence on the public mind. How, then, does Mr. Cobden appropriate the idea ? First he reduces it to its simplest and most popular form, by treating it merely as a ques tion of economy and independence. "Save your own pockets, and give the colonists their liberty. Let the tie grow less and less at the pleasure of both parties, till it is attenuated or sublimed into the growing sym pathy that binds the British empire to the United States." If the matter does, indeed, depend on a vote ; if the separation could be effected by merely tearing a bond, or dissolving a legal partnership; if it could be done once for all with each and every one of our colonies, and the matter were sure to end there, then, certainly we might save our ten millions, more or less, and make the colonists happy. But in most, if not all, of the fifty instances to be dealt with, there are difficulties which could not be thus quickly dis posed of. It is questionable whether a siagle colony can be independent with safety to population or com merce. Mr. Cobden takes the strongest case, that of the Cape; and he quotes for his purpose a distinguished military autho rity, the Rev. Dr. Adamson. This divine points out pretty clearly to the lambs of his flock that their geographical and social position offers peculiar facilities for shutting out British interference, and taking to the trade of piracy. Granted. But un• fortunately they have frontier as well as coast to defend, and Kafirs as well as British to keep out. There may be another Kafir war, and that war a war of extermination. Should the Kafirs be worsted Ni e can easily imagine that the British and Dutch boars would soon balance in South Africa the Cave of Dahra in the north ; not much to the credit of the British name. Should the colonists be worsted, it is not likely that England would sit still at home or sail quietly past the Cape, while merciless savages were carrying death and destruction to the very walls of Cape -town. Mere instinct would compel us tointer fere. With such a danger and such an interference in prospect, a statesman will consider some time be fore he resigns a colony to its own discretion and its defences. With all the smaller settlements in Australasia and elsewhere the case is still stronger. The colonial politicians themselves think to meet the difficulty by proposing a defensive and offensive league; or, in _other words, that England shall re tain the power of settling the foreign relations of fifty Lilliputian states scattered over the globe. Mr. Cobden is judiciously silent on this point. He abstains from filling up the blank with any positive sugges tion. He knows full well that a league, offensive and defensive, with fifty helpless and quarrelsome little communities, most of them at the antipodes, and the rest in the jaws of our greatest rival, is simply a chimera. Such leagues can only be made with powerful and well-established states, or with near neighbours. They suppose common inte rests and facilities for mutual counsel and co-opera tion. They suppose a mutual and equivalent service. There could be nothing of the kind with our fifty colonies. Yet—and here is the great natural diffi culty of the question—should we allow our own offspring to be devastated and reduced without rushing to their aid ? Would not nature restore the colonial system when political economy had de stroyed it ? Mr. Cobden says nothing on this point. Such misgivings interfere, with the force of popular appeals, and find little favour with profes• sional agitators. After supplying the people of Bradford with two simple reasons for sending the colonies adrift, the agitator's next object is to give an equally compendious and intelligent account of the opposition he is likely to meet with. Mr. Cob den gives his hearers to understand in very plain terms, that the colonial system is kept up in this coun try for the sake of the patronage it involves; in other words, that we go to an expense of perhaps 10,000,0001. a year for the sake of the governorships, deputy governorships, and other appointments at the dis posal of the Colonial Minister, and the indefinite multiplication of generals, colonels, admirals, and captains. Now, it may suit Mr. Cobden's purpose to say that our colonies are simply a Ministerial job; but a person of common sense and common candour will assign to a very different cause the favour with which they are regarded. The bulk of the educated classes have been taught to regard the colonies as almost indispensable to the commerce, the power, and especially the glory of this empire. They know not otherwise how it can be called an empire. The colo nies they treat as an exiting fact ; and, though they may not be prepared to dispute the economical reasons now urged for abolishing that fact, they think it the safer course to maintain and preserve an existing dominion. They can hardly take up any classical writer of the last generation, or any historian, how- ever enlightened, without finding our colonies spoken of as appendages of the most unquestionable advan tage and hononr. Thus, the regard felt by a large class at home for the colonies may be a prejudice, and may be a mistake, but it is rather patriotic than selfish. We will venture to say that of those who would now hold up their hands in favour of retaining colo nial supremacy at almost any cost, not one man in twenty has the least prospect of patronage, or prefer ment, or any other boon a Government can confer. But would it answer Mr. Cobden's purp ose t o ma k e this admission ? No. His object is to divide party against party and class against class ; to fill the many with suspicion of the few; and to represent the whole SUNDAY. The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning in the Slopes and Windsor Park. The Royal Family took walking exercise. The Queen and Prince Albert, with her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, her Serene Highness the Duchess of Saxe-Weimar, their Serene High nesses the Princesses Anne and Amelie of Saxe- Weimar, and Prince Edward and Prince Gustavus of Saxe-Weimar, the ladies and gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic household, attended Divine service in the private chapel this morning. The Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley officiated. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent left Clarence House, St. James's, at half-past ten o'clock on Saturday morning, for Frogmore House. Their Serene Highnesses the Duchess of Saxe- Weimar, the Princesses Anne and Amelie of Saxe- Weimar, and the Princes Edward and Gustavus of Saxe Weimar, left Marlborough House on Saturday afternoon, for Windsor Castle. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary honoured the establishment of Mr. C. F. Hancock with a visit on Saturday. Dispatches for the Governor of the Mauritius were sent off on Saturday evening from the Colonial-office. THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS. 'Twas joyous Christmas, merry Christmas eve, And on that blessed night each child, 'tie said, Forms golden dreams, builds castles in the air, And goes to bed smiling with happiness. They say the Christmas Angels (no child doubts it) Gently fly from the celestial vault, And descend that night upon the happy roofs Where sleep those children most beloved by them. On that night they enter not the usual way, To weave their charms, to bring their gifts, But 'tis said, wider all those chosen roofs, Wh« re balmy sleep smiles o'er each little cradle, The Christmas Angels enter softly, Not by door, or window, but the chimney. Oh, good Angel I breathed softly in his curtain'd cot A rich and lovely child during his happy dream, I beg of thee to fill the mantel-shelf With dainties rare, and pretty playthings; Those of last year I've 1 ,- .;st, others I want, And many such, to make me happy. Oh, good Angel! sobb'd a starving child, With tearful tones, in tatter'd threadbare clothes, I'm hungry—'tis freezing, and I'm very cold; Then shed thy bounties on our wretched home, And bring us bread in pity, Angel blest. In our chimney dark, the wind now loudly howls, Bring us some coals, and wood, to make a fire— I neither ask for dainties rare, or playthings choice, But bring us bread. Oh, hear my humble pray'r. On Christmas•day more bright than ever Glisten'd each expecting little eye, Some found new frocks, and hats with feathers, Others trinkets, playthings, cakes and comets. The dainty had their cakes, the merry their play things— Each had his gift according to his wish. But in the attic's gloom, where pined the starving child, How did that wretched creature pass his Christmas day? Who filled the mantel shelf with much long'd-for bread? Christian Charity!!! The Christmas Angels heard his lowly pray'r, And pitying his helpless misery, Each bounteous Angel wing'd a different flight— One gave pleasure to the happy rich, The other bread unto the starving poor. H. J. ST. LEGER. Christmas, 1849. LEGAL EDUCATION.—We understand that the ancient usage of readings is about to be resumed at the Middle Temple. Readings will be delivered by Mr. 'Bowyer, D.C.L., and barrister-at-law (who has been appointed to perform the duties of reader), on the evenings of the three Wednesdays in Hilary Term next, the I6th, 23d, and 30th of January, in the hall of the Middle Temple; and all the students and other members of the inns of court will be admitted, without payment of any fee, to these and the subsequent readings. A favourable result may be hoped from the opening of these meetings to the profession, and their transfer from New Inn to the fine old hall of the Middle Temple. DEATH raom NOT GIVING A COUNTERSIGN.—A most melancholy circumstance occurred here recently, which - deprived an octogenarian suddenly of life. A deaf Jew, above eighty years of age, one evening passed a sentinel of the castle, near the Bernadiner church, without replying to the call. The sentinel passed again, but the poor afflicted man went quietly and steadily on. He might, perhaps, as the sentinel maintains, have un consciously trebpasscel on the ground prohibited to the public. The sentinel, however, did not wait long, and fired; the ball took cffect, and the old man fell. He died a few hour after.—Jewish Chronicle. The Observer, on Sunday morning, Dec. 23, gave six of their folio columns of the proceedings at the meet ing of the shareholders in the London and South- Western Railway on Saturday ; also the letter of the chairman, W. Chaplin, Esq., M.P. The extensive pub lication of the Observer commences at four o'clock on Sunday mornings, in time for the early Sunday morning railways. Monday's edition of the Observer, best for the country and abroad, at four on Monday afternoons. MARYLEDONR VeSTRY, DEC. 22.—PAYING OF OXFORD STREET.—Mr. J. Bird moved the appointment of a committee to consider the propriety of paving with granite 14,000 yards of Oxford-street. Mr. Bridgeman seconded the motion, a hich was warmly supported by Mr. Garnett. Messrs. Joseph, Wilson, Potter, and Halkes, opposed the motion, as it contemplated an un necessary expenditure when the parish could least afford it. On a division, there appeared 17 for and 16 against the motion. A committee was then moved, after which the vestry broke up. FIRE AT ROLLS' CHAMBERS.-011 Saturday, about half-past eight o'clock, a fire, which caused considerable damage, although of short duration, broke out in the premises termed Rolls Chambers, situate at 80, Chan cery-lane. The premises, which bad a frontage in Chancery-late, extended backwards upwards of 150 feet into Chancery-court, and from the fact of the houses in Carey-street and numerous other buildings abutting upon the one on fire, a fearful conflagration was ex pected. With the exception of the front shop before alluded to, the whole of the upper floors were occupied by gentlemen connected with the law, as chambers, and although most of the apartments have escaped the action of the fire, the water thrown by the engines into the flames has penetrated every room, and done much mis chief. The damage done by fire is confined to the de struction of several chambers on the upper part of the building, and the lower floors are severely damaged by water. In about an hour the fire was extinguished. THR GOVERNMENT AND CHRI ST M AS GRATUITIES. —The Lords of the Treasury, as will be perceived from the subjoined circular, have determined to abolish all gratuities generally termed " Christmas-boxes," after the present year, as the sum annually given by the dif ferent public offices form in the gross a very large amount. The following circular has been delivered at the several public offices and commissions:— "Audit-office, Somerset House, Dec. 1849. " Sir,—A practice has hitherto prevailed of charging in some of the public accounts at Christmas, to postmen and other parties, and the attention of the Lords Com :a:salon( rs ef her Majesty's Treasury having been called thereto, they have been pleased to direct that the Commissioners for Auditing the Public Accounts should make known to those public accountants in whose accounts such charges have hitherto appeared, that no allowances of this descriptie n are to be paid by them on behalf of the public after the expiration of the present year, and that notice should be accordingly given to the persons who have been in the habit of receiving them. I am, therefore, directed to communicate to you this decision of their Lordships for your future guidance.—l am, &c , " BROMLEY, Secretary." ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—At a meeting of the council on Friday evening the following gentlemen were admitted members of the college:—H. T. Spratt, Bridge street, Southwark; J. S. Stocker, Baker-street; H. S. Locock, Lee-park, Blackheath; and Henry Col lins, Birmingham. MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, DEC. 22.—The market to-day was very firm, with a continued and de cided tendency upwards, both in yarns and oloth. , -ewasswat . system of Government as a conspiracy against the THE CHANNEL ISLAND§ . . freedom and the pockets of the people. As if to show TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. how utterly groundless is Mr. Cobden's account of STll,—Aq the peat Council of the Nation will be the feelings shown in favour of the colonial system, shortly convened for the dispatch of business, I beg he is obliged to exclude expressly the two persons leave to suggest to you, as one ever ready :to advo ca t e just now mos t i nvo l ve d i n th e matter—Lord Grey and reasonable reforms, the ' propriety of your rousing Mr. Hawes, though he might have reflected that the public attention to the horrid state of affairs in the case on which he dwells the most, viz , that of Labuan, Channel Islands, especially as regards their laws and has originat e d un d er th e present Mi n i stry. But the the manner in ve:hich they are administered. charge has no basis whatever except on the exigencies I will give you a case by way of example. Some of agitation. For that purpose it is necessary to in- months ago, Mrs. Belson sued her husband, Captain vent an enemy. A candid and faithful account of Belson, late of the Rifler, before the Royal Court of our colonies, and the present state of our intercolouial Jersey for separation quant aux Liens, not for cruelty, relations, might answer every legitimate purpose ; but immoral conduct, or wastefulness of property, but on something else is to be done. The aristocracy is to account of his unsoundness of mind, and claimed a be blackened, and Mr. Cobden is to be glorified by I maintenance and the care of their children. After representing the former as the selfish maintainers, the hearing evidence on the allegation, the learned Jurats latter as the heroic demolisher of the present costly shirked the question as to whether the Captain was and discreditable colonial system. insane or not ; and without granting act of separa tion cr a maintenance, decided to deprive him of the custody of his two youngest children ; but mark—not on the ground upon which it was claimed, but in consideration of their tender age ! Now, this is not a valid reason in lase; for a father is entitled to the cus tody and control of his children, regardless of their tender age or rex, because it makes him responsible for their civil acts and their maintenance; and he cannot be lawfully deprived of that custody and control until his disability to exercise it has been established. In the case of " Rex v..De Manneville," before the Queen's Bench, it was held that the father of a child was entitled to the custody of it, though an infant at the mother's breast, if the Court saw no ground to impute any motive to the father injurious to the health or liberty of the child. In the present case, the Jersey Court deprived the father of his common law right 1 without imputing to him anything that disqualified him from enjoying it; but, in lieu of it, they imputed tenderness of age to the children, which does not affect I that right. This is the baneful consequence of our Jurats exercising the functions of judges instead of those of jurors, by which they decide points of law I that they have never studied, instead of questions of Ifact, which their humble education fits them for. The bailiff, who is Chairman of the Bench, and was bred to the law, never enlightens them, and never decides any question whatever, excepting when the Jurats are equally divided in opinion ; and even then he is bound by his oath of eyfice to adopt one or the other view, though both should be contrary to law and repugnant to common sense I! I If this is not infa mous, I declare that I know not what is ! Well, Sir, the usual course for a party who is dis satisfied with this sort ofjustice (!) is to appeal to the Privy Council ; but as it was probable that the chil dren would become man and woman before judgment should be rendered, Captain Belson resolved to adopt a more summary course. Doubtless, he bad heard of the case of Peter Brouard, w hi c h has been pending before their Lordships nearly 15 years, to compel a Jerseyman to restore ayessel he had plundered him of, worth about 1,5001., and that was enough. Poor Brouard has been reduced from comparative affluence to complete beggary, and is now in London, seeking means to carry on his case. Charitable persons may find him at Hercules-buildings, Lambeth. Captain Belson had lived long enough in Jersey to understand that an appeal to Council was a dilatory proceeding, and his children being wards in Chancery, he very properly moved the Court for a habeas, and the result was, that about two months ago, a tipstaff came down to'Jersey with two writs, one for Mrs. Belson, and the other for a Captain Hartman, requiring them, as having custody of the children, to bring up their bodies, with the cause of their detention, before the Vice-Chancellor. The writs were returnable forth with. After they had been served, the parties went before his Lordship and showed cause, by means of a Jersey advocate, why the said writs should be quashed, as having been issued inadvertently, or without due consideration ; but did not succeed The time for making the returns was enlarged; and it is said that the parties formally engaged to obey the mandates. Having, however, failed to do so, warrants of attachment for contempt were issued against them, and brought hither by the tipstaff, who had instruc tions to seize the parties, take them across the Chan nel, and commit them to the Queen's Bench prison The officer arrived here about three weeks ago, and applied to the bailiff to back his warrants, or grant assistance to capture the 'parties; but, in the mean time, the latter moved the Court for protection against the invasion of their liberty, pretending that, by a certain charter of Charles the Second, they could not, as " inhabitants," be forcibly taken out of the island to answer for any matter or thing before an English tribunal. The Court granted their request, and in terdicted the tipstaff from serving his warrants. He, however, still remains here, waiting further orders. Captain Belson next complained to the Privy Council of the conduct of the Jersey Court in having obstructed execution of process ; upon which an order was sent down, commanding them forthwith to show cause to their Lordships. The bailiff and Jurats have held secret councils, day after day, to concoct their justification, which, it is said, has been dressed up by a Chancery barrister in England. The contents of it have not transpired, but it is understood that they have alleged that not only the warrants of at tachment, but also the writs of habeas that preceded them, have no force in this island, not having been registered to give them vitality (1), pursuant to an Order in Council, dated the 21st May, 1679 ; that the Acts of Parliament, also, on which they were issned, viz„ 31 Chas. 11. and 56 Geo. 111., have no force for the like reason (although the island is expressly men tioned in them, and the bailiff and Jurats were com manded by Order in Council, in 1832, to register them) ; that by the said ,Acts, ,the Lord Chancellor had not the power given to him, like the ether Judges, to issue a writ of habeas; and, lastly, that the charter of Charles 11. provides that no inhabitant shall be forcibly taken from the island to answer for any mat ter before an English Court. Now, it may be easily shown, that neither of these reasons are tenable. In the first place, the Order in Council of the 21st May, 1679, was repealed by one of the 17th of December of the same year : but, inas much as the former was surreptitiously introduced into the Code of Laws of 1771, the Court pretends it was revived ; whereas, there is a rider placed at the end, which declares that if any Order in Council had been omitted that was not repealed, it should still have force ; and if any was inserted that had been re pealed, it should have no effect ! The parties who su perintended the printing of the Code were roguish enough to get this rider intermixed with the law re lative to the cutting of sea-weed, that it might escape observation ! There has, however, been a judicial decision upon it, which puts the matter at rest. When the father of the present bailiff was appointed Attor ney-General, the Court refused to register his patent, because he had obtained the office without their re commendation; and they held that until it was regis tered it had no force, and prevented him from exer cising his functions ! Mr. Le Breton complained to the Privy Council ; and when the Court was called upon to justify their conduct, they adduced this order of the 21st May, 1679, which runs as follows : " The laws and privileges of the Island of Jersey are confirmed as of ancient times, and no orders, war rants, or letters missive of any sort, shall be put into execution within the island till after having been presented to the Royal Court, in order that they may be registered and made public ; and in case any such orders, warrants, or letters missive shalt be found contrary to the charters and privileges, or burthen some to the said island, the registry, publication, and execution may be suspended by the Royal Court until the case has been represented to his Majesty, and his will and pleasure on the same be signified." The matter was referred to the Committee of Council, when their Lordships decided, that " having maturely considered the order of the 21st May, 1679, and also another of the 17th December, 1679, by which it was repealed, are of opinion, that the refuse' of the Jurats to enregister his Majesty's letters patent was a grave contempt of his Majesty's Royal authority ;" and in a subsequent order to this the King confirmed the report of the Lords of the Council, by which it was recommended to his Majesty not to act with rigour towards this Court, considering that the Jurats sinned through error and not through obstinacy, in conse quence of which they were peremptorily ordered to enregister the said patent, and to carry the same into execution on pain of his Majesty's great displeasure. The Court complied, and there the matter dropped. Thus, it will be seen that the Jurats escaped punish ment for their contempt. This is vastly different to the fate which their countryman, John De Carteret, experienced, who, on the 25th March, 1588, was com mitted by the Lords of the Council to the prison of the Marshalsea, there to remain until he did humbly confess and acknowledge his offence, and promise to behave himself as a good and loyal subject in future ! As to the Habeas Corpus Acts not having force in Jersey, because the authorities refused to register them in spite of the Order in Council, it is perfectly ridiculous. They cannot take advantage of their own misdeeds ; besides, the orders expressly say that the registration is not essential to the Acts, but only that his Majesty's subjects may have notice of the said Acts having passed, and "that they are bound thereby." In this matter, I happen to know that the authorities committed a breach of faith. They memorialized the Government ; and finding that they could obtain no relief, they promised the Under- Secretary of State, Mr. Lamb, " though reluctantly (I quote his own words) that they would register them forthwith." They have, however, never fulfilled their engagement. A few days since, it was found necessary to make formal proof that the Acts had not been enrolled. A member of the Court was called upon to search the records, with the view to pass an affidavit of the fact, but he declined ! It has, nevertheless, been accomplished. As to the power of the Chancellor, it is true that none is given to him under the statutes, because he already possessed it at common law, which the other Judges did not. I should think that little strength can be placed on the charter of Charles (if ever he granted any) in face of the 4th William IV., c. 83, which provides for the service of writs of subpoena from the Courts of Chancery and Exchequer (it is presumed to compel attendance in England, because that Act establishes the principle. The merits of Belsen's case lie in a nutshell. The Jersey Court has done him a great injustice, and they wish to obstruct inquiry into it, to shelter themselves from disgrace, and present him frem obtaining redress. This is shocking, but still it is true. It is said by way of excuse, that if this mode of revising their pro ceedings were tolerated the independence of the tribu nal would suffer; but I have yet to barn that the Royal Court of Jersey is beyond the control of the superior Courts of Westminster when a proper case is made out for their interference. Even the charter by which it was instituted expressly provides for the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, in these words, which are translated from the Latin,—" No man shall be compelled to answer concerning the free tenement which he has peaceably held for a year and a day, without a writ obtained from the King's Court of Chancery, expressly mentioning the tenant and the tenement (Ace 9.h Art.); and no Order its Council, custom, or usage, can tale it away. I hell this to he incontestable. lam aware that the it rAey Court has for a long period interdicted the ser vice of process; for I find that in 1766 Juie 21, Philip Collas was sentenced to a flute, and stt Lick off the roll of solicitors, for having served a summons from the Court of Chancery on Deb. Dutetroesq. They have also interdicted the service of proce s from the Court of Admiralty. In the case of Hillary Brocq, a Jersey pirate, who plundered four English vessels, richly laden with merchandize ' off the Welsh coast, and brou g ht hi s b oo t y , to the value of ten thousand pounds, to Jersey, a warrant was sent over here for his apprehension and removal to England for trial, where all his accomplices had been convicted and executed; but, strange to say, he escaped punish ment, the Court having interdicted service of the war rant for his protection. The Lord High Admiral " did greatly marvel, and thought it meet that the bailiff and Jurats should be called thither to answer their disobedience." (See his letter, dated. June 17, 1593.) In 1608, a warrant from the Admiralty was sent to Guernsey, under cover of an Order in Council, for the surrender of a vessel found on the coast of Sark, which had been abandoned ; and even this the Court of that island refused to obey ; but in another case, 1660, the Lords of the Council issued an extra order to compel them to execute all orders, warrants, decrees, and judgments', which the Court of Admiralty should from time to time make, give, and set forth in that particular case, which concerned a frigate and prize. It is not long since that a Guernsey merchant committed an act of bankruptcy in England, and re fused to surrender to the fiat, upon the pretext that he was a privileged person. His Guernsey creditors also held that they were privileged to plunder his estate by attachments. However, the bankrupt was out lawed, and threatened with an indictment before the Central Criminal Court, which had the effect of bring ng him to his senses; and - an interlocutory decree of the Privy Council stayed the plunder of his estate, which, after some difficulty, was equitably di s t r ib u t e d among all his creditors. If an inhabitant of these islands can be exempted from the laws of England for acts that he may commit there, by merely escaping back to his country, the sooner such a system is abo lished the better. It is injurious to the body politic, and must be got rid of. Hoping that you will lend your powerful pen to accomplish this object during the forthcoming Parliamentary campaign, and to obtain for us English laws and English judges, I subscribe myself, Sir, Your ever faithful friend in the good cause, ABRAHAM JONES LE CHAS, Author of a work entitled " The Laws, Customs, and Privileges of the Island of Jersey." Aldenhury Lodge, Les Petit Vaux, Isle of Jersey, Dec. 20, 1849. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PUN. SlR,—Having seen your remarks a few days ago upon my speech here at the cattle show dinner, I sent you on Thursday a Birmingham Midland Herald, which contained a much more correct report than any previous one. I see that you object to raise revenue upon the importation of corn, and so do I ; but as long as you raise revenu e u p on the i mportation of manufactures, there is no valid or reasonable objec tion why you should not do so on corn al.o. I cannot admit your objection, " that it would be a small amount for revenue compared with what would be lost by the higher price of corn here." In the first place, I do not believe that the price would be as much higher as a low duty ; all the experience of former times from 1700 to 1790 shows that it would not; and nothing since 1790 can be received as evidence, because so many extraordinary circumstances affected all prices. Again, I have yet to learn that the nation sustains a loss or obtains an advantage by any altera tion in prices of either agricultural or manufactured produce by which either class obtains the produce of the other cheaper. The one interest or the other may be gainers or losers, but the nation as a whole can only be affected by very low prices giving an advan tage to all the idle money interest over all the indus• trious classes, as is now the case. I should prefer that all import duties should be abolished, and the whole revenue be collected by a tax on property. As to pro tection, which I am confident our heavily taxed industry requires against the lightt'y taxed industry of the rest of the world, that can on l y b e justly obtained by such an equitable altorati on o f our monetary system as will protect our industrious classes against our idle classes. I have always been of opinion that manufacturers and agriculturists have an equal right to live, and those of either class who think to live long upon the other will find themselves egregiously mistaken.—Yours respectfully, G. F. TIUNTZ. Ley Hall, near Birmingham, Dec. 22d, 1849. A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. (From Eliza Cook's Journal.) I cannot let my harp be still While holy chimes and bells are ringing. Come round me, neighbours, if ye will, And help me in my carol singing. Chaunt, loud and long, 'tis " Christmas Eve," We've got a merry time before us. And now, old friends, by your goo d leave, I'll troll the song and ye the chorus; And this; shall be the theme for glee, A theme no cynic dare condemn, May kindly word and loving heart Be household " stars of Bethlehem." We all have had our yearly share Of pains and griefs and;sad vexations, For grim old Care comes everywhere, And claims us as his near. relations. Our heads huie ached, our hands have toiled. But blackest bread may hold some leaven, And all earth's trials never spoiled A spirit that had faith in heaven. Crashed bloom a perfume still imparts, Though hard the blow that smote the stem, And hearts that feel for others.' hearts Are human " stars of Bethlehem." But surely some bright hours have come Of Hope and Joy, of Pace and Beauty; Some welcome ray has cheered our way, And lighted up the path of Duty. Some blessings have been scattered round, Some drops of mercy have been showered; Some heavy chains have been unbound, Some clouds have passed that darkly lowered. So let us raise the notes of praise, For gratitude is Nature's gem, And breasts that wear it shed a beam Like holy " stars of Bethlehem." Let friend and foe, let age and youth, Let weak and strong draw nigh together, And spread the wing of social truth Without one rough or broken feather. 'Tia fit that such a time as this Should link us closer to each other,' To spread the circle of our bliss Until it reach our poorest brother. Oh, " help the needy," for 'tis said, The hands that raise and succour them Will find a friend in Him who made His sign " the star of Bethlehem." God give us might, God give us will To render thanks for Plenty's measure, And may our bounty ever spill A goodly portion of the treasure. May blessings fall on each and all Who rightly use the gifts entrusted ; But shame to Wealth that keeps in stealth Its " talent" cold, and dim, and rusted. The pearl of Charity is yet The Christian's purest, fairest gem, And every bosom where 'tis set Serves well the " star of Bethlehem.' Hark! there are merry bells without, And let us ring our chimes within, Let mirth and music breathe about, For simple pleasure killeth sin. Chaunt loud and long, 'tis " Christmas Eve," Come help me, neighbours, in my singing, Ye give true notes, and by your leave, I'll string the echoes ye are flinging. And thus the g l a d re f ra i n i s h eard, A theme no cynic dare condemn, May loving heart, and kindly word, Be household " stars of Bethlehem." ELIZA COOK. STRIKE OF PORTERS kik D DRAYMEN ON TAB MIDLAND RAILWAY.-011 Thursday morning notices were posted at Leeds, offering ()mph)) Mein to able bodied men as porters at the goods station o' the Mid land Railway, in Hunslet-lane, at wages of 16s. per week. The demand for these men has arisen in con sequence of the porters at present employed having refused to accept reduced wages. Their wages have bean 17s. per week, and the directors have determined to reduce them to 16s. The draymen, aho have blen in the receipt of 18s. per week, have also been offered is reduction of Is.; and they, like the porters, laL,ve deter mined not to accept it. The consequence is that ablut forty men employed at the Leeds goods station will leave their employment at the end of the present week; and the directors were sitting yesterday (Friday) at the station to engage new hands to supply the place of these who had turned out. 4 rt 11 1 4 161/2 ~~ 125 WNW, 2% 79% 18214