The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-17 00:00:00

ettrb EVtttoit SUY OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The CHAIRMAN (in continuation from our Afternoon Edition) said—He had yet confidence in the future suc cess of the line notwithstanding the difficulties it had to pass through. It must be remembered that in the year 1846 they were running trains at reduced fares as an experiment, and fora purpose. Then theytwere contending against parties who were anxious to rob them of their traffic by making Mid-Kent and North Kent lines, and he ap pealed to the meeting, in such a state of things, while they were struggling against false legislation, would it have been wise and judicious to have charged 31,0001. for counsel's fees, and 30,000/. paid fur the withdrawal of opposition ?—(No, no.) So much, then, for that policy. and now let him add that the directors were pr!paren to carry out the recommendations of the committee, and at the next half-yearly meeting the direction would be remodelled.—(Cheers.) Mr. LEVY said it was useless now finding fault with the report of the committee. They were appointed by the shareholders, and the question now was were they honest men.? He agreed with the Chairman, that the line was one of the best in England. In fact it passed through a " cultiwated" garden, and it was no use anybody saying nothing to him. He knew Kent well, and this line was one of the " werry" best in the world.—(Hear and laughter.) It was his opinion that the line long ago would have been a fix had it not been for the talent and ability of the Chairman, and , if he could have his way, he would vote him 4,0001. Now that, perhaps, was a stopper! —(Hear and laughter.) However they might relish his suggestion, when they must remunerate the directors for their services. —(Cheers.) He should continue to sup port the Chairman upon all points but thesteam-boat question, and he hoped, as the Honourable Gentleman had come clear through his trial, he would meet the support of the meeting.—(Cheers.) Mr. J. Wensoze would not place confidence in the Chairman, nor exonerate him from all blame. The re port of the committee of investigation represented that 270,000/. had been paid in the shape of dividends which had never been earned, and the meeting, therefore, was not justified in refusing to hear the opposition.—(Oh !) He admitted that the committee was fairly and legiti mately appointed, but he found fault with them for having conducted their investigation upon an erroneous principle, inasmuch as they took no oral evidence, but insisted upon receiving no communication except it were in writing.—(Hear, and a cry of " Very proper.") Ile com plained that the moneys of the company had been unduly and improperly deposited in the coffers of the Commer cial Bank of Liverpool. lie wrote to the committee, detailing some of these facts, but they had not con descended to notice them in their report, and with the permission of the meeting, he would read his letter. The CHAIRMAN cal:Ed the proprietor to order. Idr J Wieesosr—Oh you do, eh? The CHAIRMAN—I do; but perhaps if I were to let you go on it would be necessary for some one to warn you that you are committing a libel.—(Cheers.) Mr. J. WILSON was afraid, after this intimation, to read his letter.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and " You don% seem to be afraid of anything.") He could see no difference between this case and the Eastern Counties, and he could place no further confidence in the direction.—(lronical cheers.) It was too bad to tell them that 20,0001. had been lost in running experimental trips, or that heavy pariah rates should be paid because their Chairman was so much engaged in Parliament, nor could it be tolerated that 300,0001, should be paid as a dividend, which had never been earned. Where had it gone to ? A VeiecE—Why you are a pretty fellow not to know ! Where do dividends go but into the pockets of the share holders, and if the 300,0004 were to be refunded, you will have to stump up some of it.—(Lhughter.) Mr. J. WILSON would pass over that then—(A laugh) —but on another occasion he would say something more to them about their affairs. At present he had said enough for them to ceeitate over till their next meeting; and there he should leave the meeting, thank ing them for their at:ention.—(lronical cheers.) Mr. BARER saw a strong similarity between this com pany and the Eastern Counties Company. The Chair man and Deputy-Chairman appeared to have been the managers of the concern, and the directors their puppets. So it was with the Eastern Counties Company. The meeting, no doubt, well remembered the circumstances which led to the retirement of Mr. 13axenclale, and he would pass it over; but there was one circumstance which he should be glad to have explained. Since Mr. Macgregor had assumed office no less than eighteen directors had resigned, while their successors, a short time before their election, were not qualified? Why, whom did the meeting think had been elected to the deputy chair, in the room of Mr. Pritchard, who resigned ? Why, no less a person than Mr. Hen , shaw, who, on the 25th of last November, held not a single share in the concern.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") Then, again, one man had been elected a director mho had been turned out of the Eastern Counties; and if the meeting wished to place their property on a safe footing they would at once set about reforming the direction. Mr. C. HOLLAND thought they owed a deep debt of gratitude to the opposition, who bad been instrumental in bringing about the appointment of a committee that had made a report which must prove of great service to the property.—(Loud cheere.) He could see no analogy between this company and the Eastern Counties, for in this case the committee of inves tigation had exonerated the Chairman from all blame, while in the Eastern Counties it appeared the chairman had been most culpable.—(Cheers.) No doubt the directors and the Chairman had fallen into error, but they had not erred wilfully, and now that they had got an excellent and cheering report upon the exist ing condition of their line, he hoped their future efforts would be directed towards carrying into effect the recom mendations which that report contained. Appoint paid accountants and auditors, as the report recom mended to the directors, and than they would guard against future error, and secure an efficient manage ment of the line.—(Cheers.) The resolution was then put and carried by a large majority, only three hands being held up against it. The CHAIRMAN then moved a vote of thanks to the committee, and in doing so, he took occasion to express a hope that the company would continue to have the as sistance of some of its members either as directors or as auditors —(Cheers.) Mr. REwsaAw, the Deputy-Chairman, seconded the motion, and hoped that ere they met again, he should have done something which would show that he was not unworthy of their confidence.—(Cheers.) The motion a as then put end carried with acclamation. Mr. L. MOZLEY briefly acknowledged the compliment, and warmly repelled the insinuation that he, or any member of the committee, had acted as the puppet of the directors. He pledged his honour as a man that every ward in the report of the committee was based upon strict truth, arrived at after a long and tedious investigation, and it was too bad now to be taunted with partiality by a gentleman who confessed that he had signed 288 cheques as a financial committeeman without knowing what they were for. IN ith respect to el hat had fallen from Mr. Wilson, he could assure that gentleman that the paper bullet he fired at the committee—he meant his letter— received the utmost attention, and it had been entered on the minutes as a record, either of the fully of Mr. Wilson or of the importance of his document. If the committee had remained investigating every mare's nest submitted to them, the committee would have been sitting to this day.—(Hear, hear.) Now, let by gone.) be bygones, and having discovered the errors the concern had fallen into, let them turn their entire at tention to the future improvement of the undertaking. Mr. THOMSON explained that he signed the cheques as a director, and not as a committeeman. The CHAIRMAN said, at the last meetir.g it was agreed that two auditors should be appointed at this meeting. Was it the wish of the meeting to appoint auditors now, or to depute the accountant of the Committee of Inves tigation to examine the accounts of the next half-year, and at t! - :o next meeting appoint them as auditors, with a salary? The meeting elected to adopt the Later course. Three hearty cheers were then given for Mr. Mac gregor. X VOlCE—Three groans for Thomson. Three very dismal groans were ace..raingly given, Mr Thoaason joining in them. Mr. Tuomsell—Gentlemcn, if I had come here as a thief I should have been well received, but this is the treatirent an honest man always meet: with. The meeting then broke, up at four o'clock. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. he SPEAIiER took the Chair at Four o'clock. L9RDs' AMENDMENTS. The Lords' amendmeLts to the following Bills were considered and agreed to : Marshland Smeeth and Fen (Eqqaliz4tion of Drainage Rates and Repair of Roads) Bill. Whitchavcn Water% orks Bill. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed : Edii burgh and Glasgow Railway and Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal (Amalgamation or Sale or Lease of the Union Canal to the Railway Company) Bill. London• Gas Light Company (Amendment of Act) Bill. Staflordshirn Potteries Waterworks (Extension and AraLmiment -of Act) Bill. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition with respect to some prir.ste Bill, the name of which did not reach the gallery, and obtained kayo of the House to appear before the Committee on the Bill in his official capacity. PETITIONS. Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition in favour of representative and financial reform. Mr. DUNCAN presented a pet i t i on f rom Dundee a g ainst various clauses in the Health of Towns Bill, and a petition from Ediiburgh against the Registration (Sc;'tiand) Rill. Mr. srooNER presented a petition from the trus ters of the Rugby Schrol, complainitg of certain provi sions in the Charitable Trusts Bill, and praying that they might be exempted from the operation of the Act. Mr. BROTIIERTON presented three petitions, one from Manchester against capital pun shments, one from Tuxtcth Park in favour of county financial boar, and one from Haltted, in Essex, for the gradual aboAtion of beer-houses. Mr. GROGAN presented a petition from the Sanitary Commission of Dublin praying that a measure for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages might be extended to Ireland. Mr. OSBORNE presented a petition from graziers cou• fleeted with Smithfield Market,praying that they might be heard by counsel before the Cora. , ,ittee now sitting. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—MR. JIUD- SON'S STATE ME ,4T. Mr. DIVETT presented a petition from 31 share holders in the Eastern Counties Railway Company re siding in Devonshire, making certain grave charges against the lion. Member for Sunderland in his capacity of chairman to that company. He (Mr. Divert) had furnished that Honourable Member with a copy of the petition, and therefore it would be unnecessary to trouble the House with a statement of the charges in detail. The prayer of the petition was that the House would inquire fully into the charges, and, in the event of their being proved, expel that Hon. Member from the House. The petition was read by the Clcrk at the table. Mr. CHARTER'S also presented a petition from sixty shareholders in the Eastern Counties Company, complaining generally of the mismanagement of the affairs, and stating that that mismanage ment commenced almost as soon as Mr. Hudson and Mr. Waddington, both Members of the House, had become respectively chairman and deputy chairman of the company, and had also taken place while Mr. Bagshaw, another Member of the House, was upon the directory. The petition concluded, like the former one, by a prayer, that an inquiry might be made into the conduct of each of those three gentlemen. Mr. HUDSON then rose and appeared so deeply affected that he was unable to proceed for a few moments. He said he cattle down to that House immediately upon receiving a copy of the petition from the Hon. Member, although with considerable difficulty, owing to a severe domestic affliction.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") He thought ho was, therefore, entitled to the indulgence of every Member in the House while he offered to it some explanation, and some observation with re ference to those two petitions which had just been pre sented to the House.—(Hepeated cries of "Hear, hear.") If he had been guilty of the practices which had been imputed to him with respect to the capital and the revenue, without fair and sufficient reason, it might be, perhaps, that he had done so through some error, but he could assure the House that it was not an intentional error on his part.—(Hear, hear.) His first connexion with the company was in 1845, he believed in the month of October. He received a deputation from the board with a requi sition, signed by 7-Bths of the shareholders, soliciting him to become their chairman. He, at first, had some objection to take upon himself the office, but after some pressure he consented to do so. Before then he had no shares in the company, nor any interest in it, and, in fact, he was not connected with it in any way what ever. When he joined it he endeavoured as much as possible to benefit the shareholders and to effect that purpose with the then projected London board. Upon his accession to the office he devoted himself as anxiously and as assiduously to his duties as he possibly could.—(Cheers.) He believed that the first charge was that he had raised the dividend for the first half-year from 33. to 9s. without any change in the circumstances of the affairs of the com pany. Now, when he stated the facts of the case, he thought. that the House would agree with him that the statement that there was no change iu the circumstances of the company wee not correct. Alter incidentally stating that the shares were higher in the market before he became connected with the company than they had ever been since, he said that the gross income for the half-year ending July, 1845, was 114,0001,, and that in the next half-year it nad risen to 173,0001., showing an in crease of nearly 60,000/. Ile thought that the House would consider was some justification for giving a higher divi dend. No two persons seemed to agree as to the ac counts. As far as the dividend was concerned, he thought there was ample reason for recommending the one he had. It was said that the capital had been raised from 5,000,000/. to 10,000,0001. That was not true either. It was said the capital of that company when he joined it was 2,900,0001., and 13,000/. in the Northern and Eastern Company, but instead of the capital being 2,900,0002, it was 4,300,000/., while the addition of a bonus of 1,000,000/., increased it to 5,300,000/, or 5,500,000/. Ile had to complain most deeply of the uniair proceedings of the committee of investigation. Ho had no notice given whatever with respect to it. He had no knowledge of what was passing in that Committee—no information was fur nished to him except three or four written questions. —(Loud cries of "Hear, hear.") He had no notice that such a charge was to be made against him as an indi vidual; and when he called upon them yesterday morning with a friend, to see the real position in which he was placed—to see the documents which purported to be in his handwriting, and some of the figures of which it was said he had altered; he had great difficulty in seeing that document, and when he did see it, he was told that no other person should be permitted to to see it but himself. When they did consent to let him see it, two of the committee came into the room, and said they only gave him that permission that he should ask no questions nor receive any information.—(Hear.) Now what did the House think of such conduct as that? —(Loud cries of "Hear, hear." and cheers.) He was sure but one opinion would prevail among Englishmen with respect to this—namely, that he should have fair and just information furnished him, when a specific charge was made against him, in order that he might have a fair opportunity of answering it.—(Hear.) But what did the House believe?—that on the testimony of the two gentle men who were present, and he dare say he could bring forward hundreds of others, to prove the same—that not one figure in that document was in his handwriting.— (Cheers.) He utterly denied that the document had been altered by him at all.—(Hear, hear.) As far as he could understand the charge made in the report by the accountant, it was t his, that he had altered the sum of 10,0001., and turned it into capital. Now ,he denied that he, in his individual capacity, had altered the figures at all. But with respect to the mistake which he had committed he cautioned the House not to pay too much credence to that committee. It was stated by that committee that he authorised the change of 115,0001. from revenue to capital. He had no hesitation in saying that he did not authorise anything of the kind. But this com mittee seemed to be a singular one indeed, for . he found, from looking at the working expenses of this low, that the published account showed that those working expenses were 1,250/. per mile. The committee made those working expenses 1,5501. per mile. Now the London and Birmingham is worked at 39 per cent., the Great Western at 40 per cent., and the Leeds and Lancashire at 39 per cent. They would have the House believe that this line could be worked at 55 per cent. This was brought forward against himself as a grave charge. If it were true he should deeply regret that be had been betrayed into such an error; hut he thought the House would agree with him that the committee which had reported in such a manner, and with such an animus, had shown that they were not now entitled to that credit from the House which the report, if it had only appeared yester day, would have been entitled to. It was irei , nuated that he had done this for the sake of profit, but he totally denied it. Let Honourable Gentle men search the share register of the company, and they would find him registered without change for the stock for which his name was registered when he first joined the company.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Ile still held the stock which he first owned when he joined the company.—(Hear, hear.) He did not know any other point which called for explanation. The accountant stated distinctly that any alteration that was made, was made by the directors; therefore the petition ought not to have been directed against him (Mr. Hudson) alone, but against the directors as a body.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") He held a joint responsieility with these directors. He never signed a cheque of the company he believed in his life. He had merely presided over that company, and he had endeavoured erroneously to do his duty. Ile might have taken too sanguine a view of this undertaking; but he was a suffsrer along with the rest from that too sanguine estimate. But he was convinced that this undertaking would yet amply remunerate the shareholders, if the expenses were kept down, and it had been his anxious endeavour to force down those expenses. He threw himself upon the Holies ; he was perfectly ready to bow to any decision it might coma to; he denied that he had sought to en hance the shares, or to give an undue value to them. When ho joined the company there was scarcely a day without a serious accident happening on the line, and large sums of money had to be expended on the stock of the com pany. The House would see from a report th a t had been published this morning that another company had placed 150,000/. to capital, which ought to go t o revenue, and that chairrnau, instead of being blamed by the committee, was praised and extolled by them.— (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") What ought to go to capital and what to revenue? The Grand Junction charged 14,0001. for repairs , which was taken from capital and paid to the company. There was a charge about interest. Why, Parliament h ad sanctioned that pay ment out of capital constantly , a nd be did not know .i w i 1 one law should apply to the Easter n Counties Company, and another to any other company. He was driven to discharge duties of many kinds, and he left the to deal with the petition as they might oeern best and proper. He had no other explanation to give than his i total denial that the share fi g ures were n his hand writing, or that he altered them in any Ivey in the paper.—(Loud cheers from the Opposition beaches.) Mr. WADDINGTON said it was his meat painful duty to have to follow the Hon. Member for Sunderland, and he would do so briefly in the observations which he bad to address to the House. lie should not have thought it necessary to address them if he had not thought some explanation was due from him. In that petition he was charged eith being a party to deceiving the shareholders with respect ! to something like 9,000,0001. of money. He availed ' himself of this opportunity of first calling the atten- ' Lion of the House for one moment as to ha N those state- ; ments made their appearance. They appeared from the report of the investigation committe e; an d hi s o bj ect in ; rising was to claim the indulgence of th e H ouse t o detail ' a few of the proceedings of that investigation committee 1 as regarded himself, inasmuch as the House had an in- ' terest in Lis character and in defending him from 1 statements to which he was not a party. He had, however, alluded to this on a former occasion, when a committee of the shareholders made a charge against him, and which a Committee of that House WRS I appointed to investigate. Ho wished now to allude to it, inasmuch as when he recently addressed th e shareholders he charged the committee of investig, tio with having inserted a clause which many of th e ir body looked' upon as expunged, and which was obviously incorrect. He, therefore, called upon the House to tear iu mind the evidence given before the Committee ap pointed by the House, inasmuch as he had nut the op portunity of correcting any statement which might have been made before it. With respect to what had fallen from the Honourable Gentlemen (Mr. Hudson) in reference to the alteration of the document nut being in his handwriting, all he wished to say was that having denied that it was in his handwriting he had nothing more to say upon the point. He should not trouble the House with the details referred to in the report of the Committee, believing that it would not be edified by them. He had already stated that the amount of liabilities mentioned by the Committee was incorrect. He reiterated that statement now, and had to complain that the committee had not given him an opportunity of answering the statement during the sitting of the committee. With respect to investigation, he should be happy to bow to any that the House might think proper, believing that they would come to the determination that during the last three years of his life he had devoted every faculty of his mind to promoting the present and future welfare of the Eastern Counties Railway, and if he had erred in judgment, they were simply errors. He had done all in his power to promote the prosperity of the line, and to put it in a healthy con dition. Mr HUDSON again rose, and said he was sure the House would allow him to explain a matter which he had forgotten to mention. He was merely going to show the incorrectness of the report of the committee respecting the amount of money stated to have been car ried over to revenue and capital. The Committee had forgotten that 72041004, according to the rules laid down for the working of the line, was due from another com pany to the Eastern Counties, and not 115,0001., as was set down by them, and which ought to have charged to revenue. This showed that they were wrong in this as well as in other matters. Besides, they had put figures down three times over, and therefore, the House could not place much reliance upon such a report. Mr. BAGSHAW said he stood in a different position to the Honourable Gentleman the Member fur Sun derland. The petition stated that there were certain members of the board of the Eastern Counties Reilway who held no shares (as we understood the Hon. Member.) Now he was one of these, as he was principally connected with the Northern and Eastern Railway. It appeared that out of 14,000 proprietors but 60 had been found to sign the petition in question. He owed no allegiance to them; but as a Member of that House he owed it an allegiance, which he was perfectly ready and willing to acknowledge, and bow to—and not being a very young Member, he wished to state, that if he were capable of acting as the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Charteris) had stated the directors had acted, he should have been un worthy of a seat in that House. As a member of the Northern and Eastern he wished to state that the di rectors of that railway had had a meeting to-day, the whole matter was gone into by his colleagues, and he might be permitted to say that he had been una nimously elected to a seat in the Eastern Counties Board by the self-same gentlemen who had formerly sent him back. In justice to Mr. Hudson, he thought it right to state that the last time he went into Norfolk—last yenr—he said to him, in the agony of spirit—" Mr. Begshaw, I have been greatly deceived in these matters." So much he (Mr. Bogshaw) was bound to say. There were several other matters in the Hon. Gentleman's speech which he should how ever leave untouched. The petition was then ordered to lie on the table. Mr. COBDEN presented petitions from Diss and other places praying for a repel of the malt tax. CONVICT EMIGRATION. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from the New Zealand Company against convict emigration. Mr. J. S. WORTLEY presented several petitions in favour of the Marriage Bill. Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY presented a petition from Southwark in favour of financial reform. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Mr. PACKS gave notice of his intention on an early day to move an address to her Majesty, stating the want of accommodation in the present House of Commons, and praying that her Majesty would order the New House to be ready next session. COPYHOLD BILL. Mr. AGLIONBY, in answer to a question from Mr. Heathcote, stated that it was li!s determination to pro ceed with the Copyhold Bill on Wednesday next, not withstanding it was the Derby-3ay. Mr. ANS FEY, as the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was not in his place, wished to 110( the Noble Lord the First Minister of the Crown whether he would lay on the table of the House the copy of a later of the 22d November, 1848, addressed by Under-Secretary Lord Eddisbary to Mrs. Castellari, stating that an Englishwoman by her marriage with a foreigner adopts the nationality of her husband, and oven after widowhood loses all claim by right to the assistance of her Majesty's Consul in the place where her husband died, in recovering or ascer taining the state of his property there. And whether ho would also lay on the table the instructions which deter mine the conduct of her Majesty's Consuls in such cases. Lord JOHN RUSSELL could not answer the ques tion in the absence of the Noble Lord at the Head of Foreign Affairs. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING-, MAY 17, 11149. NEW ZEALAND. Mr. AG LIONBY wised to ask the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether any circular or other dispatch had been addressed to, or any dispatch received from, the Governor of New Zealand, on the subject of convict immigration, other than those already presented to the House; and whether any information bad been received on the subject of a Legislative Council being held at Wellington, for the southern province? Mr. HAWES said that no dispatch had been received from the Governor with respect to the meeting of the Legislative Council, but he had reason to believe from private letters, that such meeting had taken place. there had been no dispatches received since those that had been laid on the table. CANADA. Mr. HAWES, in answer to a question from Mr. Glad stone relative to compensation for rebellion losses in Canada, said that no other papers than those that had been laid on the table of the House were on the Colonial office on the subject. - SHEEP STEALING. Nfr. HAWES, in answer to a question from Mr. Bright, ssid that sheep stealing was still capitally pu nished in Van Dieman's Land. LAND IMPROVEMENT AND DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this Bill Mr. GROGAN said if five-shilling and two-shilling rates were struck in the distressed unions of Ireland that the effiacy of the measure would be materially inter;ered with. What they wanted in Ireland were z7alous, energetic, and intelligent guardians of the poor. Mr. P. SCROPE approved of the general provisions of the Bill, although be thought there where a great number of omissions from it; especLlly with respect to workhouses in Ireland, many of which were most im properly conducted. (LEFT SPEAKING.) TATTERSALL'S—THIS EVENING six o'clocK. DERBY. 2 to 1 agst Flying Dutchman 4 to 1 agst Nunny kirk 6 to 1 agst Tadmor 7 to 1 agst Chatterer 14 to 1 agst Vanguard 18 to 1 agst Elthiron 20 to 1 agst The Knout 33 to 1 agst Old Dan Tucker 50 to 1 agst The Old Fox OARS. 6 to 1 agst Woodlark 6 to 1. agst Glauca 7 to 1 agst 8 to 1 agst Sister to Atkwright 9 to 1 agit Lady Jersey 10 to 1 agst Lady Tryptiena THE BOTANIC SOCIETY. The first of the annual series of flower shows given by this society for the encouragement of horticultural science took place yesterday, in their gardens in the . Regent's P a rk. T o re port one of th ese mee tings to give an account of all, as, with the ordinary alternations of fine and favourable weather, and more or less excel lent collections of plants, they resemble each other most nearly. The exhibition in question, however, certainly surpassed, in quality and quantity, any former show; although, necessarily, the plants a ere of the same kind as are generally exhibited at the fetes given in this early month of the season. The weather was not particularly enoouraging, yet there was a very numerous attendance of visitors. The arrangements were precisely the same as in preceding years, and the music was well sustained by under their mast ers , bands of th e cava l ry h ousehold regiments in attendance Messrs. Tutton, Waddel, and Waet sig. Among the company present were—the Duke of Norfolk, the Duchesses of Norfolk and Sutherland, the Countesses of Pembroke and Galway; the Ladies Leveson Gower, Winter, M. Monck, Molyneux, Knightly, Saun derson, Hamilton, Sandford, Fellows, A. Hervey, Lygon Molesworth, Flower, and Ord ; th e Bi s h ops of Durham ' end Winchester; the Marquises of Ailesbury, North ampton. and Ely; the Earls of Mansfield and Delawarr ; Lords Durham, Glenelg, Templetown, Alf re d H ervey Sondes, Henry Loftus, and Grosvenor; Sirs J. Ramsay, J. Hamilton, W. Fremantle, D. Capel Brooke, J. L. Lushington, J. Drummond, J. Fellowes, J. Cockburn, 'T. R. Gege, J. Johnson, J. Campbell, F. Booth, M. Wyatt, and W. Newton. The following is a list of the first pia s for the various collections of plants For 30 stove and greenhouse plants, to Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence ; for 20 plants, to Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Bart.; for 10 plants, to Mr. Carson, for sing!e specimens of new orchids; to Mr. Mylam and Mr. Smith, for new or rare plants in bloom ; to Meesre. Veitch and Son and Messrs. Header soß and Co., for plants of eco n o mi cal interest ; to Messrs. Veitch end Son, for Nepenthes sanguinea ; for Alpine plants, to Mr. Wood, Norwood ; for SIK species of pelargoniums, to Mr. Parker, gardener to Mr. J. H. Oughtun; for Cape heaths, to Mr. Mylam, gardener to Mr. S. Rucker, Messrs Veitch and Son, and to Mr. Cole ; for greenhouse azalias, to Mr. May and Mr. Fal coner, gardener to Mr. A. Palmer, Cheam; for 25 or chids, to Mr. Alylam; for 15 orchids, to Mr. Plant, gardener to Mr. F. 11. Schroeder; fur exotic ferns, to Mr. Williams, Hoddesdon ; for pelargoniums, to Mr. Cook, Mr. Dobson, Isleworth, and Mr. Parker ; for fancy pelargoniums, to Mr. Moseley and Mr. Gaines; for pansies, to Ur. Turner; for ealceolarias, to Mr, Gaines ; forcinorarlas, to Mr.lvery, reekliarn ; for roEs.3, to Messrs Paul and Son, end to Mr. Terry. STATE OF 11iADems. (From the Manchester Guardian.) MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The telegraphic an nouncement of the acceptance of Lord Palmerston's proposition, by Denmatk, has had no sensible influ ence upon yarns in this day's market. Favourable as the removal of the blockade (if confirmed) must be to the northern trade, there stilt remains, in the revolu tionary turmoil which pervades the whole of Ger many, a much greater obstacle and a far more for midable danger to our commercial intercourse with the continent. The private letters received this morning give a very gloomy and di scourag i ng picture of the state of political affairs, and of the prospect which the German people have before them. The anxiety of the merchants is, of course, increased; and their determination not to purchase beyond the bona fide wants of the hour is strengthened. To. day. their operations have been of trifling amount. In this protracted absence of demand, the yarns suitable for that class of buyers have been purchaseable, in some instances, on rather lower terms than sellers were willing to accept a week ago. For India but little has been done, and No. 40's are scarcely firm. The manufac turers are very cautions in their buying. The goods market has been inanimate. The India houses are less inclined to enter into contracts than they were last week, though they are still purchasers of such suitable fabrics as are ready for delivery, of which, however, very little is to be met with. The Levant merchants are doing extremely little ; and other classes of shippers rendered increasingly wary in their operations by the state of European affairs. On the whole, however, there is much firmness in the prices of goods. It is hoped that the fine weather will produce a good effect upon the home trade, which has been in a very unsati s f ac t ory s t a t e throughout the season. _ _ __- ROCHDALE, M ONDAY.—In the flannel market we have had but very little doing to-day, and the mer chants have purchas e d very spar i ng l y at f ormer prices. The wool market continues inactive with little or no change in price. HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY. — But little has been doing to-day in our m a rket, and very few buyers have visited us. In the warehouses, the business is equal to the general average of this season. HALIFAX, SATUEDAY.—Our Piece Hall has pre sented to-day a very i nanimate appearance, an d th ere is n o improveme n t i n t h e d eman d f o r wors ted goods. Prices are consequently drooping. The demand for yarns is also slack for the home market, and entirely at a stand for the continent. The spinners have now, for the most part, completed their orders, and are working to stock. The late rates are, accordingly, not maintained. The wool market is still very quiet, and prices more in favour of the buyer. LEEDS, TUESDAY.—There is no change worthy of notice in the state of our market, which continues much the same as last week. The colonial wool sales now going on in London fetch quite as good prices as last February, contrary to the general expectation. FIRE AT AN OIL WAREHOUSE.—Yesterday morn ing between two and three o'clock the inhabitants of Plough-yard, Shoreditch, were alarmed by a €►re in the premises belonging to Messrs. Gsbcy and Wells, oil merchants and ginger bleachers. The engines of the London Brigade promptly attended, and the firemen succeeded in extinguishing the flame:, but not until about four cwt. of ginger was destroyed, and other property considerabl y damaged. Neither the premises nor their contents wire insured. SUlClDE.—Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the Elephant and Castle St. Pancras-ruad, before Mr. 11. M. Waltley, on the body of Frederick B. Murrell, aged 53, late captain in the 6th regiment of foot. It appeared that the deceased had resided since the 30th of last month at a coffee-house, No. 77, Waterloo-road, and had been in a very nervous and excited state, attributed by those who knew something of his affairs to the loss of 1,6001. by the failure of the Nottingham Bank. lle left his residence at seven o'clock on Thursday evening last, and at twelve o'clock was found in the Regent's Canal, at Battlebridge. What led to his discovery was the re port of a pistol, heard at the adjacent lock-house. The lock-keeper then went to the bridge, and on the towing-path under it found two pistols, one of which was loaded. The deceased was soon after discovered in the river quite dead, and an examination of the body disclosed a wound from the left breast through to the back, evidently the perforation of a pistol-ball. It was supposed that the deceased shot himself while standing on the bank of the canal. The next morning Mr. Gould, his landlord, received the following letter, which had been posted the previous night at Battle -bridge:—" Mr. Gould—When you receive this I shall have ceased to exist. A pistol will have put an end to all my troubles, which have of late caused me much misery and wretch edness; indeed, to the extent that no other remedy was left me but to commit a dreadful deed, which I hope the Almighty will pardon, and have mercy on my soul. The things I have left at your house will, I trust, sufficiently compensate you for the nine or ten weeks' board and lodging I had of you. Whenever you again see Miss —, tell her I felt very much pained at her not writing a line in answer to my last letters; also tell her my last thoughts and wishes were for her well-being and hap piness. Now, farewell, &c.—F.M." The jury re turned a verdict—" That the deceased shot himself, but in what state of mind there was not sufficient evidence to show." DREADFUL OCCURRENCE.—Yesterday, about three o'clock, a dreadful occurrence took place at a house in Shire-lane. near Temple-bar. It appears a young female took a lodging there the previo us n i g ht, s t at i ng s h e had left her situation in Golden.square. In the afternoon she went out for a short time, and when she returned was watched in by two women, who shortly after wards, accompanied by a City policeman, en tered the house, and proceeded upstairs to the room of this unfortunate girl. No sormer had they en tered the room than she sprang from the window, and fell a distance of forty feet into a back yard, fracturing the back part of her skull in a dreadful manner. She was conveyed to King's College Hospital, with but slight hopes of recovery. She was said to have a great quantity of property in her possession. THE DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN'S SOCIETY.—A meeting of the ladies' arid gentlemen's committee of this institution took place yesterday at the residence of Mr. Luke Hansard, at which there was a full attendance of the members, for the purpose of receiving the report of the accounts of the society, which had been inspected by the auditors, assisted by two paid accountants uncon nected with the institution, the result of which has shown h that the honorary secretary has expended a cons id e r a ble sum of money from his own private resources, in order to carry out the objects of the charity. A public meeting will be called in a few days, at whi c h M r . Ald erman Farebrother, the president of the society, will preside, when it is intended that steps shall be taken to publicly acknowledge the services rendered by Mr. Roper in pro mopticriGgiLthies e btahteticehafroitry. 201. aside, between Adams, of Westminster, and Herbert, of the cast-end, was decided yesterday, near Grays, in Essex, after a spirited contest. Herbert was declared the Victor, he receiving a foul blow from his opponent. THE Loss or TUN FORM—The following corre spondence has taken place between the directors of the Royal West India Mail Company and the Lords of the Admiralty : 6, Royal Mail Steam packet Company, ` Moorgata-street, London, May 8, 1849. "Sir ,—The full inquiry into all the circum stances atten the Al acrane s N 0.55, Court of Directors of this company hat ing dant upon the loss of their steam ship Forth upon Reef, in January last, have felt se highly satisfied with the meritorious conduct of Lit ut. Molesworth, It.N., of her Majesty's ship Wellesley , who was a pa ssenge r on board on that occasion, that they have desired me respectfully to r, quest you will be good enough to move my Lords Commissioners of the Aj miralty to transmit to that officer the best thanks of the Court for his exertions, together with a gold watch, taut herewith as a token of the Court's approbation. "I have the honour to be, Sir, your obelent servant, " E. CHAPPELL, Secretary. " The Secretary t o t h e Admiralty, &c., W hitehall." " Admiralty, May 9. " Gentlemen,—With reference to a letter of the B th inst. from C aptain Chappell, transm i tt i ng a go ld watch for Lieut enant i Molesworth, R.N., of her Majesty's ship Wellesley, and requesting that it may b e f orwar d e d to that officer with y our b est thanks for Lis exertions on the occasion o f the loss of the contract s t eam -p ac k e t Forth on the Al acranes Reef, i n J anuar y l as t, I am com manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint y ou t h at they will b e h ap py t o carr y ou t y our wishes with regard to his gallant an d mer it or i ous co nd uc t on that occasi on .— I am, Gentlemen, " Your most obedient humble servant, W. A. B. Haames ON " The Royal Mail Steam-packet Company, 5 5, Mooreate-street." Vice-Admiral Sir F. Mason, K.C.8., h sd an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday. The Attorney- General for Ireland had also an interview with his Lord ship yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street. A n LIVERPOO L , M AY 16.—W i n d S. an d S.W.—Arri ve d Jane, Stanl e y, Bailey, B uenos Ayres; Mary Queen of Scots, Wilcox, Barbadoe s; Henrietta B u tcbard, New Orleans ; Wm. Botsford, All Orleans —an, New Orleans; Amaranth, Bliss, New Angry Pequina. Sid. Match 10 , Janthe, Hun ter, Parsons, M o bil e• Ottawa , Dry n an, Mobile; Emily, ; Chatham, Vi nn i s , New Orleans; Kate Agry, Charleston. 15. Isabel, Antigua; Fanny, Hayti; Jupiter, Charleston; Enterprise, New York. 16. Pan thea, Bombay; Gothen Lima; William Bailey, Buenos Ayres; Hermione, Buenos Ayres; Adam Smith, Buenos Ayres; Camilla, D emerara; Milford, Barbadoes; Dag gers, Jamai ca; Isabel, H on dU ras ; Colonist, S taten I s l an d ; Mount Holy woo d, C u ba; Lightning, La Gu a y ra; Washington, Boston • Ann, Portland; Martha Jane, St. Andrew's, New Bru ' ilswiek ; Fisher, Newfoundland; Hcarts of Oak, Newfoundland. Off Port, Mexican Packet; Smyrn a , S py; M ary, R a y ; Rosalie ;s G aliens ; Creamore; Hibbert• Glamere; Flirt; Maria Hardy; Jessie Stephens; Ilele. CORK, Mau; itius; Sarah, J ones C a lloa ; Boa Harmonic, Libel, MAY 15 .—Wind S.S.E. — Arrd. Jane, Roach, Caminha ; Courier do' Caaniuha, Caminha ; B ac h e M'Evers, Hughes, New York. BELFAST, MAY 15 --Wind N.N.W.—Arrd. Napole on , Feeley, Baltimor e , A u stralia. Sld. Henry Sh e lt on , Long, New Y or k . LOWESTOFT, MAY 16.—The Donegal (brig), Mear, ran upon the Croton Sand this morning, was ftSbiSted off, and proceeded with but little damage. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. CLE.RICE IV WELL. k_minue, lur . b v rectors of the poor of St. Pancras with having been concerned in a burglary in St. Pancras Workhouse, and stealing twenty sovereigns and 1551. in silver monov. Mr. Prendergast attended for the prosecution, and Mr. I luddlestone for the prisoner. The prisoner was brought from the House of De tention in a cab, in a very weakly condition, and was allowed a seat during the investigation. William Cockerill, a constable, No. 10S L division, being sworn, identified the prisoner as having gone by the names of William Morgan, William May, and William Coleman, and being concerned some years ago in the Custom-house robbery, with Gowell, Jordan, and Sullivan, and w h o were conv i c t e d f or that offence. The prisoner was indicted, but not tried. Several witnesses were examined to move that on the night of the robbery, the Bth of Vebruary last, the doors of the strong-room, &c., were locked, and all appeared safe, end that ou the following morning the robbery was discovered. Robert Clarke, a cab•driver, proved that between twelve and one o'clock on the morning of the 9th of February, the prisoner was supported into his vehicle with his leg broken, when he drove him, according to instructions, to Guy's Hospital, Borough. On his road he was ordered to stop at a house in the neigh bourhood of Blackfriars-road, where a man looked out of a window and came down and conversed with the prisoner for ten minutes. Sarah Tiffin proved having found four skeleton keys, and Jamestnwin a dark lantern, near the spot where the prisoner was found injured, which were handed over to the police of the S division. The keys opened the doors of the vestry-room, &c. Lockerby, 180 S, deposed that subsequent to the commission of the robbery he was consulted by the parish authorities to make inquiries into the matter, when he traced the prisoner to Guy's Hospital, where he visited him in plain clothes, and found him lying in bed. He asked him how he got his thigh broken ; he replied that he had slipped down on the pavement at the other side of Westminster-bridge. Witness, after some conversation, told him he was an officer, and he should take him into custody on suspicion of a robbery ,at St. Pancras Workhouse on the night of the Bth of February. He replied, " Very well, all I have to do is to prove to the contrary, I suppose." Witness left a constable with him. Mary Reading, a pauper girl, was sitting at the gate of the workhouse between twelve and one o'clock on the morning of the 9th of February, when she heard a heavy fall, and some one exclaim, three times, " God help me, I am killed!" Mr. Prendergast said this concluded his case. Mr. COMBE said he should commit the prisoner for trial, and, with the usual caution, asked if he would say anything in his defence. Mr. Huddlestone said, if the Bench was determined to adopt that course, he would reserve his observations and the defence for the prisoner's trial. The prisoner was conveyed to prison in a cabriolet. MAR YJEB OAT. Long before the opening of the Court some hun- dreds of persons congregated in its immediate vicinity, in consequence of its having become known that a man was in custody for having attempted to violate a child only four years of age. The prisoner, whose name is Henry Welley, is a blacksmith, and so great was the indignation excited against him, that Inspec tor Wiggin, of the D division, found it necessary to bring the prisoner up in a cab. Several witnesses were examined, from whose evi dence it appeared that on the previous afternoon Mrs. Jane Roberts, residing at No. 17, North Wharf-road, Paddington, sent her little girl, Emma Louisa, out to play, and while playing she was taken into a field by the prisoner, who was caught in such a situation with her as to leave no doubt whatever with regard to his intention to perpetrate a repo ; the child screamed, and the prisoner was given into custody. A certifi cate from a surgeon was put in, which stated the nature and extent of the injury caused. Mr. BROUGEITON asked if the prisoner was known, and the reply made by a constable was that he had been in custody before for an assault of a criminal na ture upon a child eight years old. The prisoner denied the allegation made against hip• :, and said that all which had been sworn by the witnesses was false. Mr. BnouGirroN remarked that a more atrocious case had never before been brought under his notice, and remanded him till Tuesday next. lle was then locked up in the cell, and at half-past si▪ x, when he took his seat in the police van, upwards of 600 persons had congregated at the door by which he made his egress. Twenty constables were present, and but for their interference the prisoner would no doubt have been roughly handled while getting into the vehicle which convey ed him to his destination. RICHMOND. James Nye, who was described as a smith, living in Alarylebone, was brought from London, in custody of Sergeant Bennett, of the D division, and charged before Sir Henry Batter, Bart , with being concerned with the three prisoners now in custody in sacrile giously breaking into Kew Church, in February, 1845, and stealing therefrom an iron chest, containing the parish registers. James Henry Price, a brass-worker, proved the connexion existing between the prisoner, Standen, and Hart. It was further shown that the prisoner was concerned in the taking of the iron chest to Standen's house, and he was remanded to Kingston Gaol, to be brought up for re-examination with the other prisoners. It was stated in the court that the parochial autho rities of Kew had received a letter from a person named Avery, living in Red Lion-street, Holborn, v.lo, after alluding to the reports published in the papers respecting the case, said he could, on being assured of receiving the reward originally offered, undertake that the original certificate of the marriage of King William IV. with the Dowager Queen Adelaide should be forthcoming. Inspector O'Brien, of the A division, who has the management of the case, was instructed to wait upon this party, and the result was a visit to Doctors' Commons and a production of the duplicate. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. FIRST LORD'S LEVEE.--The following officers at tended the levee of the Right Hon. Sir F. T. Baring, Bart., M.P., at the Admiralty, on Tuesday :—Captains— Stephen Fremantle, W. Preston, J. B. M'Hardy (High Constable of Essex), C. E. Patey. Commandrs—Spar shott, A. Cuppage, A. lieseltine, G. E. Patey, C. Hada way, H. D. Twysden, F. Lowe, C. F. Shadwell, W. Hutchinson, Harris (of the Ganges), Georges, H. Price, T. D. Eyncourt. Lieutenants—G. Williamson, T. Jackson, 'l'. A. Butler, G. Bishop, E. H. Gunnell, 11. Tcmple, T. Tright, R. Beale. Master—J. Aylen. Sur geon—V. Duke. Paymaster and Purser—J. Colvill. SENIOR NAVAL LORD'S LEVEE.—The following officers attended the levee of Ilear•Admiral Deans Dundas, C. 8., M.P., at the Admiralty, on Tuesday:— Captains—Boyes, Sir Burton Macnawara, W. Johnson, F. Warden. Commanders—T. Mdler, Philip Somer ville, Cuppage, Patey, F. Campbell, Hutchinson, Georges. Lieutenants—Bishop, D'Aquilar, Francis Marten, H. King, W. 11. Bri:lgo, T. Robins, H. Christian, H. P. De Kuntz )w, Lean, Jackson. Master—Tucker. Surgeon —H. Macfarlane. Paymasters and Pursers—J. P. Ser jeant, C. A. Thorne. Second Master—C. Grigg. Clerk —A. A. Speed. PROMOTION. Master—Alexander Karley (1814), Master-Attendant of Chatham Dockyard, has been promoted to the rank of commander on the retired list of 1841. This gallant officer has filled the office he now retires from since 1346. He served in the Cleopatra at the capture of the French frigate Topaz and reduction of Martinique in 1300. APPOINTMENTS. Lieutenants—William 11. Bridge and Crawford A. P. Pasco, to study at the steam factory, Woolwich. Masters—Thomas Laen (1812), of the Royal Sove reign yacht, at Pembroke, to be Master-Attendant of the Chatham Dockyard, vice Karley retired; Thomas Driver (1809), formerly in command of the Dee, steam-transport, to the Royal Sovereign, at Pembroke, vico Laen. Chef Engineer—James Pool:, from the Myrmidon to the Stromboli, steam sloop, at Woolwich, vice Jaye, deceased. Assistant Surgeons—William T. Alexander, late of the St. Vincent, to the Hibernia, 104, on her way home from the Mediteranean; Dr. William B. Baikee, to the Volage, hurvey in g. vessel, in the Mediteranean; Dr. Andrew Batwell, to the Wellesley, 72, flag-ship, at Halifax. Midshipmen—Henry M. Alexander, to the Dragon, steam•frigate, at Kingstown; H. G. Payne, to the Wellesley; 13.. M. K. Fayle, to the Castor, 36, at Chatham. Navel Caiet—Charles P. Bathe, to the Castor. Boatswain—George Newberry, of the Fisgard, to Woolwich Dockyard, Tick) M'Callum, deceased, an officer of good practical knowledge, who received a silver cup, from the committee of the Duke of Wellington's Statue Fund, for his services in facilitating the erection of that collosal structure, at Hyde Park; Michael Lawler, to be acting boatswain. Carpenter.—Charles Price, to be acting. PonTsmouTH, MAY 16.—The Grecian, 16, Comman der Louis S. Tindal, arrived this afternoon from the south-east coast of America. Orders were awaiting her here, to proceed to Plymouth to be paid off. She was to put her pay-books, invalids, &c., on board the Superb, and sail, without anchoring, for that port. Sho has since been ordered to remain here until. the present lowering weather clear 3 up. She sailed from Pernambuco on be ing relieved by the Tweed, 18, Ccmmander Lord 1. Russell, on the 12th of April; but has brought no more important news than the packet which arrived on Sun day. The Driver steam-sloop, Commander C. R. John. son, had arrived previously in the River Plate en route to Valparaiso. The Grecian has brought home sundry . naval and marine invalids, and Lieutenant Fox, R.M., of the Creicent, from Rio, passenger. General Victor do Gaja is the guest of tho Comm 9. der. in-Chief Admiral the Hon. Sir Bladen Cape), and is inspecting the various objects of interest in the dock yard, under the chgperonum of Flag-Captain F. Black wood, of tho Victory. The Niger and Basilisk experimental steam vessels proceeded yesterday afternoon from Cowes roads on their voyf , t,rv, and althcfugh , 711 trAtbriA arcel t;etweon tlittr rrfirr_ria,..CCS fiS as be seen from this shore, w© are informed that in a run of twenty miles towards Plymouth there was not the distance of a ship's length between their speed; after that run fog and haze came on, and they parted com pany, and about one o'clock, A.M. this day the bottom of the boiler of the Niger was discovered to have got red hot, and set fire to the bottom of the ship. With some difficulty the fire was got at and extinguished, and she then bore up for Spithead, where she was ultimately re joined by the Basilisk. Both have come into harbour this afternoon—the Niger to repair damages, which are expecte i to be of a serious character. 'Thirteen men were apprehended this morning on a charge of smuggling. The capture was made jointly by Lieutenant Scott, of the Southsea Castle station, and Lieutenant Brown, of the Hardway station, about one A.M. About 150 half ankers of foreign spirits comprised the seizure, together with the men engaged in the illicit venture, whose names, as given before the magis trates, are—Francis Kemmitt, Henry Gardner, Charles Bailey, Nathaniel Richards, James Hewett, John Min• chin, William Spraggs, otherwise William Downes; William Seal, William Muggeridge, John Clark, Joseph Sherwin, Nicholas Courtnell, and William Turner, who are all in custody, remanded for further examination. The three first named were taken on board the steam tug Peter Bolt, the property of the eminent Government contractor of that name, which was also seized, but ul timately released on bond put in by the owner's re presentative. " - The Reynard screw steam-sloop, Commander P. Cra croft, was docked this morning, in lieu of the Plumper undocked last evening. Commander H. G. Shute, R.N., of the Coast• guard service at Greenhithe, died on the 12th inst. Wind, W.S.W., fresh breezes, and cloudy weather. THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND. The sixtieth anniversary of this excellent institution was celebrated last evening at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, under the presidency of Viscount Hardinge. Upwards of 100 sat down to dinner, which was served in good style by Messrs. Bacon. At the right of the chair sat the Hon. Lesli© Melville, the Hon. C. Hardinge, Mr. R. Trevor, M.P., Sir C. Pasley; and on the left the Hon. E. Stanley, M.P., Sir H. Bulwer, Sir C. Malcolm, Colonel Mure, M.P., Mr. Wyld, M.P., Mr. Alison, Rev. Dr. Hessey, Rev. Dr, Major. Among others present we observed Mr. Thackeray, Mr. P. Simpson, Mr. Finlaison, Mr. Forster, Mr. G. Cruik shank, Professor £fanccck, Mr. Stanfield, Mr. Sergeant Merewether, Mr. Whiteside, Mr. lir.dt, &c. The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the first tcast—" The health of the Queen"—said he was confident they would be disposed to receive it not as the mere expression of ordinary loyalty. They would recollect that her Ma jesty bad always been a very sincere friend, and had al ways taken a very warm interest in the welfare of the Royal Literary Fund, of which she wus a munificent patron.—(Cheers.) In the midst of the convulsions which had shaken the thrones of the Princes of Europe that of her Majesty remained secure.—(Cheers.) The high qualities which distinguished her in no ordinary degree, and her virtues in domestic life, had endeared her to such an extent in the minds of all her subjects, that he felt confident the throne would remain secure.— (Loud cheers.) He gave " The health of the Queen," which was drunk with three times three. The CHAIRMAN, in giving the next toast, said, on occasions when charity was to be dispensed, the name of the Queen Dowager was associated with acts of be nevolence—(Cheers)—and they were all aware that Prince Albert had manifested the greatest interest in the prosperity of this institution. His Royal Highness was a warm admirer and patron of the Literary Fund— (Cheers)—he trusted that in due season the Prince of Wales, inheriting his father's love of literature and science, would follow in his footsteps, and when he reached the years of maturity would honour the chair by presiding over one of their anniversaries. —(Loud cheers) Ile begged to give "The Health of the Queen Dowager, Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family." The next toast the CHAIRMAN gave was "The Church," from the ministers of which the Royal Lite rary Fund hai from its commencement derived the greatest encouragement, not only by their direct contri butions to its funds, but by their zealous advocacy of its claims.—(Cheers.) Dr. INGRAM, President of Trinity College, Oxford, briefly responded to the toast. The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast which stood on the list, " The Army and Navy," begged, as a military man, to transpose the words, and to give " The Navy and Army."—(Much cheering.) He had always entertained for that glorious profession, the navy, un bounded admiration, and he felt that the national great ness, independence, and security were concerned in its efficiency. He had the greatest pleasure in stating his opinion thus publicly, that if ever a financial crisis should occur, as a military man, he hoped any reductions that economised expenditure might require should fall rather on the army than the navy.—(Loud cheers.) Admiral Sir C. Ma.ncoaet and Major-General Sir C. PASLEY returned thanks respectively for the services to which they belonged. The CHAIRMAN next proposed " Prosperity to the Literary Fund." He was confident that the system upon which the institution proceeded, was an excellent one. He only regretted that he had not been better acquainted ,with it before, or he should certainly have been a constant subscriber many years ago. Its object certainly was not to entice men to tread the paths of literature who might not have the requisite qualifications for its successful pursuit; but, whenever it found men of merit who had contributed by their genius to any branch of literature involved in difficulty or embarrassment, it relieved them in the most delicate manner, without subjecting the objects of its benevolence either to the obtrusion of private circumstances or the pain of personal solicitation. He was happy to be able to state that the subscription list was this year most prosperous. He had the.day before yesterday received a note from the President of Trinity College, Oxford, whom he was happy to see now present, stating that lie feared the state of his health would prevent his attend. once, and enclosing a cheque from Dr. Ingram for fifty guineas towards the funds of the society.—(Loud cheers.) A young friend of his, Major Edwardes— (Loud cheers)--who, he must say, wielded his pen as well as his sword—(Loud cheers)—had also sent a contribution of ten guineas.—(Cheers.) He was con fident they would all do their best to promote the pros perity of the Royal Literary Fund. Mr. M. MILNES proposed "The health of the Chair man." In this country when so many were apt to draw a broad line of demarcation between men of thought and men of action, he thought it peculiarly fitting that such a society should be presided over by one who bad not only distinguished himself in the senate but gained fresh laurels on the broad field of military enterprise. He could not but recollect that the battle of Albuera had been fought on the 16th of May, that it was gained by the more than military energy of the Noble Lord who now sat in the chair, after one of the most tremendous conflicts in which the British army had ever been engaged.—(Loud cheers.) His brilliant achievements in India had gained him the approbation of his Sovereign and the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, and his efforts to promote the spread of education in India entitled him to the warm commendation of every friend of civilization in the em pire.—The toast was drunk with all the honours. Viscount HARDINGE felt most grateful for the compli ment which had been paid to him, proposed as it had been by one for whom he entertained the greatest re spect as an orator and a statesman, and a horns for many years he had personally regarded as a friend. He could not claim the merit of being an author. Indeed when he recollected that he should be surrounded by men eminent for their literature, he had some difficulty in accepting the honour of being chairman on that occa sion, but his scruples were overcome when he considered the admirable objects of the institution, and he thought he was justified in accepting that post from motives of gratitude as a military officer. There was no class of ber Majesty's subjects who owed a deeper debt of gra titude to literary men than soldiers.—(Cheers.) Few perhaps of their number were fortunate enough to attain high rank and station, nor were there many opportuni ties of performing great deeds which would justify the historian in handing them down to posterity. But when such cases did occur they were much indebted to the faithful and impartial record of their achievements.— (Loud cheers.) This was not all. A more disin terested feeling actuated the great mass of the army, who, from the regimental libraries which were now esta blished, could solace themselves, from the higher officers down to the very drummer-boys, with the pleasure and instruction of literature, which would not otherwise have been accessible to them. As his military services had been alluded to, he might be allowed to say that, forced as be had been to draw the sword afteramost unprovoked aggression, he had sheathed it the earliest moment he could with honour and safety--(Loud cheers)—when by the valour and discipline of that glor"ous Indian army the campaign was terminated in sixty days after fighting four bloody battles.—(Cheers.) With respect to his policy in India, he was happy to say that two successive Administrations—that of Sir R. Peel and of Lord John Russell—had approved of it —(Cheers.) He confessed with refer( ace to the time when he had the honour of administering affairs in India, he looked back with peculiar gratification to that portion of his civil duties which concerned the education of the people. Both by Lord William Bentinck and Lord Ellenborough great efforts had been made with the assistance of the Court of Directors for this purpose, and the most gratifying progress had already been made. He had himself heard children of twelve years of age, natives of India, read Milton and Shakespere in the English language, not only with facility but with remarkable intelligence ; and it was by no means uncommon in India to hear the Hindoos take part in the most important discuss:ons con ducted in the English language ; indeed, to such an ex tent was the English language now cultivated in India that he looked forward to the period when it would be come the adopted language in that country.—(Cheers.) He had, himself, when in India, sent over three young men to be educated here, and he was happy to find that one of them fled this year been a most successful compe titor for prizes at the London University. Ile begged again to thank them for the honour they had done him in drinking his health. The health of " the Earl of Carlisle, chairman elect," was next drunk. Then followed " the health of Lord Lansdowne, the president of the Literary Fund;" the " health of the Ambassadors" (briefly responded to by Sir 11. Bulvver); " the Writers on Science " (acknow ledged by Mr. Finlaison); " the Members of the House of Commons," (for which Mr. R. Trevor returned thanks); " the Writers of History," (acknowledged by Mr. Alison); " the Literature of Ireland," (responded to by Mr. Whiteside); " the Writers of Fiction," (res ponded to by Mr. Thaekeray); and several other toasts, after which the company broke up. Dispatches from the Governor of the Mauritius were received yesterday At the Gvlonial• (Ace. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. LEEDS, MAY 15.—0 - arriinizi (if grain fO-(-I:l7n—re—n,- I his, ct.rtiLittett vtitli ;12 t.t.e ...at h, r, busiiwts, but the sales mails are at rather improved prices. Barley nominal ; oats and shelling steady ; beans fully as dear. NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKET, MAY 15. -- We have about 490 head of fat beasts on offer here to-day, 100 of which are from the northern counties of Scetland ; the principal of the supply are from North Northumberland, Berwick, and Roxburghshire. As a whole the qnslity is good. With sheep the supply is seasonably good, both in quantity and quality, including several lots of hoggets out of their wool ; also about 163 very good lambs, which are a ready sale. Respecting the demand, the beef trade has considerably imi.rovei from last week, at fully mod. advance. It is now nine o'clock, and few remain unsold. The number of sheep is 4,C,0). The im provement in the beef trade has had an influence on the demand for sheep. Though sales are now easily effected, yet we cannot quote much advance in prices. Pigs are a large supply, and in good demand ; several lots of which are bought for the south. Prices—Beasts, 5s to 63 31 per stone of 141bs ; sheep in wool, 51c1 to 6d; shorn, 41d to 5 t4cl per lb, sinking the offal. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET, MAY 15.—There were in in the market to-day 84 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801bs imperial, whereof 71 sold thus : —45 at 118 s Od, 9at 1176 6d, l 7 at 1/ 7s Od, 0 at 11 is Od, 0 at I/ 6s 9d. Average price of the whole, 11 7s 83 4-12ths. 12, sacks flour, whereof 2 acid at 325, 4 at 30s, 2at 295, and 4at 28s. 3 sacks peasemeal, whereof I sold at 20s, and 1 (bean meal), at 16s 6d. 24 sacks pot-barley, whereof 16 sold thus:— 1 at 1/ 6s Od, 2 at It 53 Od, 4 at 114 s 6d, 5 at 114 s Od, 4 at 113 s 9d. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET, MAY 15.-- Supplies of all kinds again large. Oat straw, from 6s Od to 7s 6d per kemple of 16 stones trop; wheat ditto, 6s 03 to 7s Od ; barley ditto, 5s Od to 5s 6d. Hay from 7d to Od per stone. ct.i ieT w BELFAST, MAY 14.—Grain—As usual at this season the supplies are short at our stock market between Friday and this day. We have a fair demand, and steady prices. Wheat, 9s Od to 105 6d ; barley, 6s 6d to 7s ; oats, 6s 9d to 7s 6d ; oatmeal, 12s Od to 12s 8d per cwt. Indian corn in moderate demand, at about last week's prices. Yellow 81 2s 6d to 8/ lOs per ton, and white 5s less. Butter—firkins, first 9d ; crocks 9d ; firkins, third 7#d; crock bid per lb; shipping price 70s to 86s per cwt. Potatoes, per stone, 9d to 10d; ditto, per cwt, 5s to 5s se. Fruit—Apples, per dozen, 6d to 9d ; pears, per ditto, Od to Od; grapes, per lb., Sd to 10d; lemons, per dozen, Os 9d to Os 10d; nuts, per quart, 6d to Ed; wall-nuts, per hundred, Is to is 3d; chest nuts, per ditto, Is Od to Os ; cocoa nuts, 6d to Ed each; American apples, 10d to ls Od per dozen ; mixed pickles, 10d to Is. Butchers' Meat—beef, per lb, 4d to 7d ; mutton, 5d to 7d ; veal, 6d to 7d ; lamb, 5s Od to 6s Od per quarter. Fish--Trout, Os 6d per lb ; brett, 3s Od to 4s Od ; soles, Is to Is 6d per pair. Poultry—Fowls, 2s 6d to 3s a• pair ; chickens, is 6d to 2s per pair; ducks, 2s to 2s 6d per pair ; turkeys, 3s to 4s each ; geese, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; eggs, per doz., 5d to 6d. Hay, Is 2cl to 2s 2d; straw, oat, Sd to is 3d ; ditto, wheat, 10d to is 2d per cwt. COAL MARKET.-.-YESTERDAY. Carr's Hartley East Adairs Main l2s Od Lambton Hasting's Hartley l3s Od Morrison l3s 6d Ravensworth's W.Hart 12s 6d Russell's Hetton Tanfield Moor .... l3s Od Stewart's Wall's End, &c. Kelloe lss Oci Brown's l3B Od Whitworth . - . . 13s 6direes Riddell's ..... ... ...... ... 13s Ed Llangcnnech . 22s 6d. Eden Main Bradd,yll's netton l6s Od Ships at market, 128. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRI STOL,'. MAY 16. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The Share Market to-day was somewhat firmer, and there was an evident disinclination on the part of holders to sell at the present reduced prices. The sales are —Great Western, Quarters, 6% dis.— Ditt o , 17/. Sh ares,: 4%—Taff Yale, Quar ters, 28%. LIVERPOOL, MAY 16. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Share market was rather betteeto4ay, and prices were a shade higher. The sales are—Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and Cheshire (late C. and B.), 221. Shares, 7% dis.—Lanca shire and; Yorkshire, Fifths, 47. dls. Ditto, Preference, 11% London and North-Western, 126% —Ditto, New Quarters, Is. 3d. p.— Midland, 67—Ditto, Halves, 3s. Id. c. dii.-111anchester, Shrews bury, and Lincoln, Quarters (No. 1), guaranteedi,7% per cent. till 1853, 7% dis.—North Union (A), 220 — South•Eastern and Dover, 21% —Ditto (No. 4), 6% —York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Original N. and B.), G. N. B. Purchase, guaranteed 6 per cent. till 1850, Vs. 9d.—York and North Midland, 29. 2U.NCIII STER, MAr 16. STOCK EXCHANGE.— The transactions to-day were as follows :-- Manchester and Birmingham, New Quarters, 3 p.—Ditto (C), 3 p. —Dorer (No. 4), ( 9 —Wharfdalcs, 2% dis.—Eastern Counties, 8 1-16—G reat Northern (B), 1% di3.— Leeds, Preference, n 15-16 Ditto, Fifths, 4% dis.—Aorth estaffordshire, dia. BIRMINGHAM 2Oty 16. STocir EXCriANGE.—The following are to-day's transactions : Birmingham and t xforcl Junction, 25— Wolverhampten and Stour Valley, 10% —Eastern Counties, B—Chester and Holyhead, 15— Midland Stock, 67—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A.), 6 1-3 dis.— York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 19 . YORK, MAIr 15, STOCK EXCHANGE —The business transacted to-day was as fol lows :—Great Northern, 101. 3s. 9 d. — Caledonian, Preference, 11% —North Staffordshire, 125—York, Newcastle, and Berwick(G. N. E. Purchase), Si. 19s. 3d. FINANCIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.—Yes- , terday a meeting of the electors of Southwark (convened by the high bailiff 1 ursuant to a requisition addressed to him for that purpose) was held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best mode of co operating in the objects, and furthering the views of the Metropolitan Financial and Parliamentary Re form Association. At one o'clock the high bailiff (Wil liam Pritchard, Esq.) took the chair, and, having read the requisition he had received, said he had derived great pleasure in acceding to it, inasmuch as the meet ing was convened for the purpose of considering a matter of vast and important public interest, and which was now occupying a very large portion of the public attention—(Cheer.9.) Ho then read two letters he had received from Mr. Alderman Humphrey and Sir Wm. blolesworth, the members for the borough, announcing their inability to attend the meeting in consequence of , being obliged to attend at twelve o'clock in their place in Parliament, on the discussion and anticipated division upon Mr. Page Wood's Affirmation Bill. A number of resolutions, iu furtherance of the objects of the meeting, were then proposed and seconded by Messrs. Liking ton, Blake, Thwaitcs, Douglas, Pellatt, Bronterre O'Brien, and other gentlemen, and the whole of them were carried. A petition was ordered to bo presented to the House of Commons founded on them. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting broke up. KING'S COLLEGE HOSPlTAL. — Yesterclay a quar terly general court of the governors of this charity was held at the board-room, Portugal-street, Lincoln's Inn- fiel,ls. Mr. E. F. Burton in the chair. The report read by the secretary stated that the number of patients dar ing the last quarter was 396; of whom 252 were dis charged cured or relieved, 32 proved incurable, died, or left tor disorderly conduct, and the remaining 112 are under treatment. The out-patients during the same period numbered 4 ,772—meking a total of both classes, since the opening of the charity, of 132,943. The re port having been adopted, and a reference made to the , high estimation in which the , charity was held (as testi fied by a subscription of 2,0951. being made at the anni versary on Saturday), Mr. W. Moody proposed the thanks of the court to the worthy chairman, who had recently undergone three months' treatment in the hos pital for a very severe and dangerous accident. In seconding the resolution, Mr. T. G. Sambrooke expressed his gratificetion at finding Mr. Burton become a gover nor, and subsequently chairman at a quarterly court, after availing himself of the medical and surgical skill of such a public institution in preference to the high professional services that his position and affluence en abled him to command. The Chairman, after acknow ledging the compliment, trusted that none of the go vernors present would have a similar occasion to witness the behind-Lcenes of the hospital, although his experi ence and observation, in one respect, had afforded him the most pleasing satisfaction. Some routine business having shortly occupied the attention of the court, the meeting separated. THE POISONING CASES AT GIIESTLING.--A verdict of " Wilful Murder" has been returned by the coroner's jury against Mary Ann Gearing, the widow of one' of the poisoned men, and mother of the others. Since the accused has been in custody, she addressed a letter to her children. It was intercepted by the gaoler, and the magistrates have taken it as evidence against her. The fulfowing is an extract:--" My dear children—l never bad-any poison for to use after I had the last, which you know was before your father died some time. I could not recollect yesterday, when I was in court. If poor James could know, he would be very sorry for me to suffer fur him; for when he wanted poison to kill vermin in the horses, I always got it for him. He used to tell ale what to get, and not let anybody know whom it was for. I have got it for him many times. The last that I ever got for him was that week that he was getting better. He said to me, Mother, ye must go and get me some more stuff for my horses.' I went and got him several sorts, and then mixed them all together, and done them in the oven when I had been baking, and he never meant to give it them. I did not let any one see it. I threw it away after he was dead. My dear children, I never had a bit of poison for myself afterwards." [ADvenuseatnaT.] —Constitutions however 'Weak or Debilitated may be completely removed by Holloway's Pills. —The extraordinary sale of these admirable Pills throughout every part of the civilised world, is the most convincing proof ,f their efficacy in the cure of various disorders. In cases of weak or debilitated constitutions, their properties are such is to purify the blood, invigorate the system, and establish the sonudest health. Persons suffering from lowness of spirits, nervousness, imperfect digestion, deranged stomachs, bilious affections, liver complaints, determination of blood to the head. or even epileptic fits, will find in this truly valuable medicine, a certain, safe, and efficacious remedy. Sold by all Druggists. and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRTH. On the 11th inst., at Bishop's As Teignton, Devonshire, the wife of Capta'n A. G. West, R.N., of a son. On the 13th inst , at St. John's , hill, Battersea, the lady of the Rev. J. M. Soule, of a son. On the 13th inst., at Rottingdean, near Brighton, the wife of Commander George S. Reynolds, R.N., of a daughter. On the 15th inst., at Amwell• terrace, Pentonville, the lady of T. M. Wilkin, Esq., of a son. MARRIED. On the 12th inst., at St. Lawrence Jewry, City of London, Alr. E. A. Fawcett, of Lawrence-lane, to Jane, daughter of he late Mr. A. Harrison, of Sandford, Westmoreland. On the 15th inst. at St. George's, Bloom s b ur y, Mr. G. Wagner, of Upper darlotte.street, Fitzroy-square, to Letitia Sarah, third daughter of the late Major Sallery, formerly of Downham, Norfolic. DIED. On the 12th inst., at Hampstead-heath, J. T. Gordon, Esq Captain 15th Regiment B.N.L, late Principal Assistant - Commissioner, Upper Assanr, aged 42. On the 13th inst., aged 48, W. R. Morris, Esq, late of the H.E.I.C. Bombay Civil Service, fourth son of the late J. Morris, Eso., East India Director. On the 13th inst., at the Elms, Cookham, Berks, aged 22, William Alfrpy, second son of the late James Walter Bur rows, Esq. On the 15th inst., at West-square, Lambeth, aged 86, William Fry, Esq , formerly belonging for 86 years to the late Transport-office. .ondon : Printed and Published by lIIURDO YOUIV.I, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of 41addltsex, Tlnirslay, May 17, 1849.