The Sun. — London, England, 1849-03-22 00:00:00

rt 4 4 , Ty t ttoll j: .4% SUN OFFICE, Seven o FRANCE. neral Petit deliver:d yesterday, at the Hotel ` 1 lvalides, into the hands of Jerome Bonaparte, Sullie articles of value entrusted to him, viz., the sword worn by the Emperor at the battle of Auster litz, his hat, and his cordon of the Legion of Honour ; the Imperial crown presented to him by the inha bitants of Cherbourg, the crown of gold worn by _him at his coronation, the keys of the tomb where his ashes repose, the pall adorned with the emblems of the Empire, and which enveloped the coffin brought from St. Helena, and 52 standards taken at Aus terlitz. Jerome Bonaparte distributed, in the name 'of . the President of the Rep ublic, ei g ht crosses of honour to as many invalids of all ranks. The Rev. Father Rootan, General of the Jesuits, has arrived in Paris, from Rome, on his way to Por tugal, where he intends establishing the head-quarters of the order. • FRANKFORT. The adjourned debate on th e election of his Majesty the King of Prussia to the Imperial Crown of Germany was resumed in the sitting of the rankfort Parliament of the 19th inst. The discus sion WAS on this occasion opened by M. Wydenbrugk, who said the speaker before him (M. Vogt) had proposed to appoint a dictator, and to make war with Austria. M. Wydenbrugk showed the evident folly of such a step, and concluded by saying " the house of Hohenzollern will be but the representative of that majesty to which he will bend—of the ma jesty of the nqtion." M. Raveaux warned the House againt Prussia, and protested he should vote against M. Welker's motion. M. Schulz (from Darmstadt) then rose to move an amendment, which was received with loud and general laughter. M. Schulz's amendment proposed to elect the King of Prussia with the condition that that monarch should immediately declare war against Russia. Messrs. Waitz and Mohl made lengthened speeches against the motion before the House. M. Eisen mann, too, made a long and rather confused speech on the relations of Prussia to Germany, and of Germany to Austria, and after M. Ahrens had spoken against the motion, and M. Bauer (a Bavarian) for it, the debate was adjourned to Tuesday, the 20th init. TATTERSALL'S—THIS EVENING CIS ovLocK. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 7 to 4 agst The Tartar 6 to 1 agst Westow 7 to 1 agst FerLhill 8 to 1 agst Loup-garou 14 to 1 agst Giselle METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 12 to 1 agst Dacia 13 to 1 agst Do •the• Boys 16 to 1 agst Surplice TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. 5 to 2 agst Honeycomb 5 to 2 agst Nunnykirk CHESTER CUP. 11 to 1 agst Joe o' Sot 16 to 1 agst Halo 25 to 1 agst Chanticleer 25 to 1 agst Inheritress 50 to 1 egbt Clercaont DERBY. 7 to 2 agst Flying Dutchman 7 to 1 agst Nunnyltirk 50 to 1 ugst Westow OAKS. 9 to 2 on the field THEATRE.—We understand that her Majesty has expressed her royal desire that Othello, with the characters reversed, be performed to-morrow (Friday) evening. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. ROYAL COMMISSION. Their Lordships assembled at Four o'clock. The Royal Assent was given this day by Commission to the Overseers in Towns and Boroughs Bill. The Royal Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the B , larquis of Clanricarde, and Lord Campbell. Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure. Their Lordships resumed at Five o'clock. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Society for the Protection of Trade praying for an ex tension of the County Courts. The Duke of RICHMOND presented several petitions complaining of agricultural distress, and praying for re lief from local taxation. The Earl of ERNE presented a petition from some unions in the county of Donegal against the rate in aid. The Earl of MALMESBURY presented a petition against the Petty Sessions B;11, and gave notice of an amendment which he intended to move in the preamble of the Bill to-morrow. The Earl of WICKLOW presented several petitions against the rata in aid. OUT-DOOR PAUPERS BILL. Their Lordships then went into Committee on this Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND thought that houses in which paupers were farmed should be placed under the regulation of the Poor-law Commissioners in the same manner as union houses, and he should propose a clause to the Effect; but he objected to the practice of farming out paupers, and would wish to see it abolished. The Earl of CARLISLE thought it would be difficult to - abolish the system, and while it existed, certainly it ought to be under stringent regulations. Lora BEAUMONT considered this Bill would do away with the whole of the evils of the system of farm ing paupers•. The clause proposed by the Duke of RICHMOND was negatived without a division, and the Bill passed through C ,minittee. NORTH WALES RAILWAY. On the motion of Lord MONI'EAGLE, the order for the attendance of Mr. W. Chadwick and Mr. J. Marriner was discharged, and they were ordered to attend this day week. NORTH OF ITALY. The Earl of ABERDEEN rose to draw the attention of their Lordships to the state of affairs in the North of Italy. Ile had long feared, from the attitude assumed by the Sardinian Government, that the war would be renewed, but he bad abstained from drawing their Lordships' attention to the subject so long as any chance remained of peace being preserved, or of the Brussells congress, taking place. lie moved for the production of any correspondence which had taken place between her Majesty's Government and any other "'ewers with a view to the preservation of peace. lle dis approved of the course of policy punned by our Government in the north and south of Italy. It was now just twelve months since the King of Sardinia had with perfidy unparalleled, invaded the terriitores of Austria in Italy without a declaration of war, and without the allegation of any grievffnce or injury. Ile would, before going further, allude to the position of her Majesty's Govern ment between the contending parties. Last year two dispatches from Prince Metternich, dated 2d Au- gust, 1847, declaring that the Emperor of Austria had no object in view in his proceeding but to secure the observance of the treaty of 1815, and the answer of Lord Palmerston recalled the attention of Prince Metternich to the rig ht which the Independent States possessed of introducing reforms in the internal administrations. Hor Majesty's Government, entertain ing an idea that the Austrian Government entertained ambitious views of aggression and encroachment in Italy, instructed the Minister at Vienna to represent to the Austrian Government the hope that Austria did -not entertain views of aggression on Sardinia or the Pope, and reminding the Austrian Government of the alliances existing between this coun try and Sardinia, and that it could not look with indif ference on any aggression by Austria against the King of Sardinia. Six months after, in the month of August, on the motion of his Noble and Learned Friend, the answer to the dispatch was produced, in which Prince Metternich assented to the justice of the principle hid down of non-interference in the internal affairs of the Italian states, and declaring the readiness of Aus tria to 1,1 ice h erse lf by the side of Great Britain in order to d,feri Sardinia against foreign aggression. The Go vernment had been in possession of this answer twelve months before they laid it before the House. How, then, while in possession of such an answer could the Govern ment take credit for having stopped Austrian aggres sion. That answer ought to have been produced at the same time with the other dispatches, and the non preduction of it could not but excite feelings of indignation in the Austrian Government. It was a suppression of the truth amounting in fact to an assertion of that which was actually false. He aceuitted the Noble Marquis of all, blame in this transaction, to which he would not have lent him self had he. been aware of the nature of it. He (the Earl of Aberdeen) had asked if similar re presentations h.al Leeu made to the Court of Turin, and the Noble Marquk had stated that representations bad be a mode but 11,. thoughtvwrhiiethai e I c lad had the effeceof retarding the war, ~old show from the pap, rs moved by his Nobl e that great remissness had been sheen in doing any thin g , and th a t t h a t li tt l e cou ld no t h ave produced any et?, ct. The fist in timation made toPn3 th b a le Srdinian Government was in March, 1848, ex pressing ws,wan t c he satisfaction of the Government at tkoweuld not interfere o t e f e ea t rhede either CourtC ourt in Turin, that they the affairs of France or in those of Italy,nthe 27th March the King of Sardinia and theSaurdiocianparrmy crossed the frontier, and the Ildarcini s t o entered assistto declared to the British Minister that Sardainnida into the war to di ice Martini from Italy, the Provisional Government of Lombardy, ‘e b ere. upon the British Minister sins instructed to remind the Sardinian Goverement that the war in which theyh a d entered was one of doubtful issue. It was true advice was given to the King of Sardinia not to go to war with Austria. The advice might have ben given had the war been just, but- he found no remonstrance against the in justice of the war, no protest against the violation of treaties on the part of the King of Sardinia. (LEFT SITTING.) ..mMtft s , - ..... THE SUM, LON DO, Mr. HAWES said, in arswer to the first question, he had to state that no in structions whatever were given to the Noble Lord at the bead of the Canadian Govern- PRIVATE BUSINESS. I ee of At sembly. llis Noble Friend the into the 1 ma rnent with reference tee the introduction of those Bills The report en the resolution . of the Rock Life Assu- . ranee Company, for the imposition of stamp duties on dense in diet Noble Lord, and was not in the habit of fet- Secretary of State for the Colonies had entire memorials of of enrolment, was considered and agreed to. :with ROYAL ASSENT. uestion, he had to state that all the colonial lan s—he t e ring him instructions. With regard to the second Sir Augustus C.ifforcl, the Usher of the Black Rod, believed universally, havi e appeared at the table to summon the House to attend at re., passed through their formal stages, and having passed through the House of Assem the bar of the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent bly, come into immediate operation, unless they con - given, by commission, to several public and private Bills tamed a suspending , clause, That would apply, of e (for which see Lords' report). course, to all Acts, whether for the appropriation PRIVATE BUSINESS. of money or not ; and they would come into On the return of the SPEAKER , t he following Bills operation immediately, unless disallowe d b y the Q ueen. were read a third time and passed: —Darlin g ton Gas and In that case it would only cease to be law on the arrival Water Company Bill, Epsom Rates Bill, Feltwell Se of the Queen's disallowance in Canada. In reply to cond District Drainage Bill. the third question no dispatches had been received PETITIONS. from Lord Elgin whatever on that subject. Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from the Lord Grey had received a private letter— Skibbereen Union, praying that some temporary mea ( Mr. HUME said, in connexio n with the subject,Hear, hear)—which was only received y esterda y . sure of relief might be passed t o miti g ate the distress of that district. ' whether or not the sum of 100,000 /. had, or had not, Mr. TOLLEMACHE presented a petition from a essu voted as a compensation to those who were not place in Cheshire, against the admi ssion of Jews into b actua:ter rebels, in compliance with the report of a Com. Parliament. Lord RENDLESHAM presented several petitions, said that the Hon. Member REY praying for the repeal of the hop and malt duties. Sir G. Cr, mitt . ee . e," the Canadian Legislature. trose seemed tei consider t he Bill which was before the Captain PECHELL presented a p etition from House as already pa ssed. When it had really passed Brighton, praying the House to sanction no interna- then he might give a definite answer to the question. tional relations with Spain or Brazil till t h o se p owers Mr. HUME said the qeestion which he wished to ask consented to suppress the slave-trade. was w hether her Majesty's , g overnment had or had not Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON pre sented a p etition received from the Tower Hamlets in favou r of international arbi- a communication from is ord Melcombe, to the effect that this grant of 100,000/. has been voted on the tration. recommendation of the Committee of tire, Canadian Le- Mr. Alderman 1 3 UMPHERY p resented a p etition gislature. from Southwark to the same effect. Mr. BUSFEILD,: Mr. BRIGHT, and other Hon. Mem tam ybeen stated, but he was unwilling to enter . I . Sir G. GREY said something of the sort had cer bers, presented petitions Se, the same effect. Lord CASTLEREAGH Presentedfa petition from the matter, e. . equivalent which could be only mischievous without any as it might very possibl raise a discussion Ulster Railway Company, complaining, of the present benefit to be derived from it. system of rating railways. Mr. GLADSTONE wished to ask whether the House . , Mr. HUME presented a petati an from the inhabitants of Assembly could have justified such a pro ceedin g ? of Westminster, setting forth the . abominations of the Sir G. GREY begged to reply to order. If the matter Palace Court, and praying for its ah nation. The HoN. MEMBER also presented a had been one of which the House had a right to take petition from a public meeeting in Finsbury, praying any cognizance— Mr. GLADSTONE conceived that the matter was in terfere in the attempt to force Pope the e House to in pa the people the hands of the Government, and therefore that it was of Rome. The Hon. Member intimated th at he did not competent to deal with all that concerned it. approve of this country interfering in the affteirs of other After a few words from Mr. Rouursosi and Mr. IlAwEs, nations. the matter dropped. Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from Whi!' , eeslitipel, INTERFERENCE WITH THE ARGENTINE praying for a repeal of the window-tax. REPUBLIC. WORKING CLASSES. Mr. URQUHART rose to ask the First Lord of the Mr. SLANEY postponed his motion with refe,•en,ce Admiralty by what adjudication the vessels of war of t' e to the condition of the working classes till after Eas eer. Argentine Republic, specified in the return of the 9th POOR-LAW (IRELAND). Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL moved for copies of all March, have been transferred to the British Government correspondence between the Rev. Mr. Donovan, Catholic or to that of Monte Video. NI h • • dnotice curate of Kanturk, and the Poor-law Commissioners of Lord PALMERSI'Oe not eying receive any the question until that afternoon, could not g ive any Ireland, relative to certain charges made by the former of ', against the managers and officers of the workhouse in re"`-r° tr. URQUHART said t h at the q uestion which he that union ; also, of Major Bolton's report on the same. A reed to. had taddresed W2B one which it more concerned the A. —g Mr. CURTEIS gave notice that on an early day he Right Hon. Baronet et t he head of the Admiralty than should move " That the Excise duty on hops is local, Sir F. BAR IN G said that his Noble Friend at the any.othear person. partial, and oppressive in its operation, entailing peri odical distress, and not unfrequently ruin upon the head of the Foreign Department ;would rtment -you'd give a reply to grower; that it greatly limits the means of employing morrow. labour, thereby promoting pauperism with its attendant evils; that it forms but a precarious source of revenue INROAD OF RUSSIA UPON WAI.LACHIA AND MOLDAVIA. to the Exchequer; and that such duty ought to be forth- Lord D. STUART, in rising to move for an auls'iress with repealed." for co p ies or extracts of any correspondence between WAR IN THE PUNJAUB. this Government and the Government of Turkey, and Mr. HUME wished to know whether it was the in- between this Government and the Government of Russia, tention of the Right Hon. Baronet the President of the relating to the occupation, by Russian troops, of the Board of Control to lay on the table of the House provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, regretted his any papers with reference to the late extraordinary inability to do justice to so important a subject. proceedings in India? It appeared, from the accounts A feeling prevailed amongst some Members that ques which had been received, that after the victory was tions relating to the foreign policy of this country gained, for which salutes were fired, the Commander-in- ought not to be introduced into the house, but Chief, Lord Gough, entrenched himself within a few some of our greatest legislators, from the time of miles of the enemy. Lord Chatham downwards, had held a very dif- Sir J. C. lIOI.3IIOUSE, in reply, stated that the ferent opinion, and even the Noble Lord at the papers which had been received from India were very head of the foreign department some years ago, urged voluminous, but that he would give his best attention to upon the House the necessity for discussing those ques them, and lay such of them as he thought necessary before tions in Parliament. He hoped, therefore, the Noble the House on as early a day as possible. Lord would not find fault with him for endeavouring to In reply to a question from Mr. HINDLEY, take a leaf out of his book, He was not a total abstainer, Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE stated with reference to the or a political teetotaller, on these matters, but even distribution of the prize. money among those engaged at those who were, qualified their opinions in this the victory of Moultart, that a question had arisen us to way. They said, "You ought not to in - whether or not theCurnmander- in-Chief of the forces in In- terfere with foreign affairs, unless your own dia was entitled to any share of it. That question had been honour or interest was concerned. Well, he would referred by the Governor-General of India to the show that both the ono and the other were deeply im authorities at home, and it would be decided according to plicated in this question. It was because this precedents in the usual way. As to the other question, couutry was a commercial country that we ought with reference to the plunder said to have been committed to interfere in this case. Honourable Gen by the British troops after the taking of Moultan, he had tlemen who were famil i a r with his o p inions and to state that the whole transactions in India had ' been sentiments with regard to Russia, but he could assure exceedingly misrepresented—(Loud cries of .. H e ar, them, nevertheless, that he was not anxious that Govern hear ")—and he could assure the Hon. Gentleman also, ment should declare war against Russia in reference to unless some facts should be made known which did not this matter. He was not for war, but for peace. He was appear or were even hinted at in any one of the dis- simply asking for information as to what had been patches, that the rumours which had got abroad were done by Government. Do not let it be said that he was totally unfounded.—(Hear, hear.) bringing under the attention of the House a question of THE CHARTIST SHAW. no moment in this country, because if it was of no mo- In reply to questions from Mr. F. O'Cosneon, ment, of course there had been no correspondence respect- Sir GEORGE GREY was understood to say (for his ing it, and if the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign voice was scarcely heard in the gallery), Affairs would state that there bad been no correspon that the prisoner Shaw was subject to no dence he would sit down at once.—(Laughter.) But it special regulations with respect to his con. was notorious to all the world that there had been a finement in Newgate. A regulation was made at great deal of correspondence on the subject. It had long the last court with respect to him, but it would be re- occupied the attention of the country, and all he wanted considered at the next meeting of the justices. Some was, that the Noble Lord should place the House of the books sent to Shaw by his friends were deemed in possession of information so that they might know to by the chaplain of the prison improper books for his pe- what extent we had interfered, and what bad been the rusal, and were therefore rejected by him. object and result of the interference.—(Hear, hear.) ABOLITION OF THE COURT OF EQUITY Now, in order to understand this question, they (IRELAND). must first of all inquire what were Moldavia and Mr. OSBORNE wished to know whether it was the Wallachia. They were provinces of Turkey s and intention of the Government to introduce a Bill for the had been so for 400 or 500 years. They were origi abolition of this court? nally independent States, but for the number of years he Sir G. GREY said, neither the Chancellor of the Ex-- had mentioned they had been united to Turkey. chequer nor the Secretary for Ireland were present; The treaty of Adrianople contained one of the most ex perhaps the Hon. Gentleman would renew his question traordinary guarantees that had ever entered into the when they were, head of any prince or statesman. The Emperor of Russia GRAND JURY BILL (IRELAND). was doublers a great authority, but one would imagine Mr. J. O'CONNELL gave notice that he intended to from the course he had pursued that be had almost ask, on a future day, whether it was the intention of the invested himself with the attributes of the Almighty. Government to introduce a new Grand Jury Bill. There was something of this nature, though not in INDIAN RAILWAYS. strictness, in the documento on which Russia would en• Lord JOCELYN inquired whether any arrangement deavour to found a claim. The constitution of that pro had been entered into between the Board of Control and vince had been settled by what was called an organic the Court of Directors of the East India House relative to statute, into which Russia endeavoured to introduce pro• railway commueLation in India; visions to suit her own purpose, and words by which she Sir J. C. HOBIIOUSE replied that the B oar d o f was called " The Protector." The Chambers refused Control, alter giving a great deal of attention to this to ansert the words; notwithstanding which Prussia most important subject, had felt it their duty to present prevailed with the authorities, and the words were in to the Court of Directors the statement of a plan from serted in the printed documents; but the Chamber hay which, he believed, the Court could fairly come to terms ing originally refused to put in the words, persevered in with the railway companies. It was laid before them on their refusal, and declared that the then insertion was Monday, and they would give immediate attention to it. unauthorised and illegal. Although the Turks ;agreed So soon as they came to a decision, he would convey its to allow those words to be there, certainly they could nature to the House. not be considered as binding in any respect, because they PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND). were at variance with the fundamental laws of the pro- Lord CASTLERE AGH drew attention to the fact that vince which had been acknowledged both by Russia a fatal collision had taken place in the county Down in and Turkey. It was on a pretence of that sort consequence of a party procession, and gave notice that, that Russia had acted, and violated the territory on a future day, he should ask whether it was the inten- of a neighbour, and occupied that territory by Lion of the Government to introduce a Bill with respect a large and verwhelming force of her men. to them. This was the first step towards the dismemberment of Turkey. The first step was to Pesth, next to the Froth, and how long would it be before it reachee the Danube. When they thought of the dismemberment of Turkey, they should recollect that Turkey, in her commercial dealings, was the most liberal country in the world.— (Hear, hear.) Therefore, if Turkey were to pass to other hands, it was evident that our trade must suffer a great discouragement.—(Hear, hear.) Of all our cnstomers Turkey was one of the best. Germany was the first, Holland the next, and Turkey and the lonian Isles the third; France, though our nearest neighbour, was as a receiver of our goods only on a par with Turkey and Russia, although as much beyond her in the extent of her empire, was far behind her as the recipient of British exports.— (Hear, hear.) Our trade with Turkey was not only large, but annually on the increase. In 1827 our trade with Turkey yielded 500,0001., in 1834 it was 1,200,0001., while in 1846 it had increased to 2,400,0001—(Heer.) Surely these figures were sufficient to prove that the settlement of this question in favour of Turkey was of the utmost importance to England.—(Elear, hear.) In 1827 the exports to Russia amounted to 1,400,000/. in 1846 they had only increased to 1,700,000/., while the exports to Turkey in the same period increased from 531,703/. to 2,400,0001. a comparison which clearly showed that Turkey was a much better customer to England than Russia. With these facts, then, before them, who could say that it was not for our interest to take the side of Turkey. But there were larger questions than mere commercial considerations involved in the speedy settlement of this question. If Russia succeeded in subduing Turkey, how lung would Persia remain in dependent? HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPENKEII took e chair shortly before Four O'C:~ C.C. • EMIGRATION. Mr. SCOTT wished to ask the Under Secretary for the Colonies the following questions:-1. Whether any official information has been received by the last packet from any and which of the Australian colonies upon the subject of emigration.-2. What debt has been incurred in New South Wales, on account of emigration, since Ist January, 1847.- 3. Whether any further loan has been recommended forestalling the annual revenue derived from the Land Fund in New South Wales.-4. Whether such proposal has been rejected by the colony.-5. Whether the funds applicable to emigration to that co lony are not expended, and if not, how much remains. —6. flow much of the Colonial Fund available at the meeting of Parliament hal since been expended in Dorset and Wilts alone, to pay the whole passage money of emigrants from those counties only.-7. Whether it is known to the Government that shoe makers and other mechanics have been passed by the agents of the Government as " agricultural labourers eligible for a free passage;" and whether those agents have received a commission of fifteen shillings a-head for passing such emigrants, and if it is intended to continue such a system of per-tentage to agents. —S. Whether her Majesty's Government :mean to persist in restricting the nufter of emi grants, and limiting the benefits of emigration to persons whose entire passage money is paid for them, or whether it is intended to economise the funds, and pro mote a continuance of emigration upon a principle of mutual advantage, by giving a preference to equally eligible emigrants who contribute towards their pas sages. -9. Whether there is any intention of reducing the numbers of clerks or others in the emigration de partment in Park-street, Westminster? Mr. HAWES said, with regard to the first question asked by . the Hon. Member, none but the the ordinary information had been rec e i ve d, an d none o f t h at of fi c i al character which the Hon. Gentleman desired. To the second, third, and fourth questions, a mode had been pro posed for meeting the difficulty, but that mode had not yet be en called into operation. Wi t h respect to the fifth and sixth question he expected to hav e h a d an account sent him before to - day, in order to have been abl e t o answer the Hon. Member's question, but he had not received it. He hoped to have it to-morrow. With respect to the seventh question, he was not i aware of that circum stance. He had made some inquiry whether any me chanics had been passed by the agents of the Governm en t as " agricultural labourers eligible for free passage," buth.escd. In wu s not reply otawar t e o tolf:eannyintsh question,uchpartiesiie havin ghadonly been o so pa to say, that the correspondence in that department was daily increasing, and increasing to such an extent,. that rather en augmentation than a diminution of the clerks would become necessary. CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1837 AND 1838. Mr. GLADSTONE rose to ask her Majesty's Govern ment-1. Whether any instructions have been given to the Governor-Gen e r a l of C a n a da as to the course which he is to pursue, in the event of its being proposed to him by his advisers to allow them to introduce into the House of Assembly any Bill giving compen sation to any persons known to have been implica'ed in the rebellions of 1837 or 1838, on account of the &image sustained by them in those rebellions, or it. the event of the passing of any such Bill through the two Houses of the Provincial Legislature. 2. Whether, according to the usage of Canada, if any such Bill should have passed through both Houses of the Legislature, and should have become an Act by the Go vernor -General's assent, without a suspending clause, the money thereby aethorised to be paid would be payable forthwith, or before her Majesty's servants, had had an opportunity of advising her Majesay with respect ho Whether rthe anyofficial allowance intelligence disallowance had yet of such boe n Aet 3. vi re ceived in respect to that transaction from Canada? (LEFT SPEAKING.) NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. APPOINTMENTS. Chaplain—L. Bell, to the Vengeance, 84, in the Medi terranean. _ _ . Mate—J. Trevenen, to the Southampton, flag-ship on the Cape of Good Hope station. Midshipman—F. H. Coldogwood, to the Arrogant, 46, at Portsmouth. CHINA AND THE SQUADRON. HONG KONG, JAN. 29.—There has been much gaiety both in the squadron and on shore since the last mail. I went up to Canton on the 23d, for the purpose of wit nessingthe wy rejoicing which commences theicingwithwhichon h Chinesete24th usher f e l their January. The shops were all shut early on the sdressedtree streets sin in their gay a y groups, holiday exchangingatt throngedsalutatien people,di e with evening of the 23d, and th e alread ynarrow e ae h other. Atter nightfall I repaired to the fair, which is held " for that night only " in th e utskirts of the suburb, where the foreigners reside, where, at countless stalls, brilliantly illuminated, we saw an infinite variety of Chinese manufactures displayed for sale, generally of a coarser description than those offered for purchase in the shops. Towards midnight the crowd had increased so greatly that it was with much difficulty we could make any progress at all; but about that time a smart shower dispersed them for a time as speedily as the Chartists vanished from Kennington-com mon on a memorable occasion, from a similar cause. As the gongs sounded the last hour of the old year, a simul taneous explosion of fireworks took place all over the city of Canton and the suburbs, and from that time until daylight the noise of crackers was incessant, while the air seemed filled with rockets and other fireworks of every imaginable hue, constituting altoge!her a curious and not unimposing spretc.cle. As no business is ever transacted by the Chinese during the first meek of the year, the shops were all shut next day, and the streets thronged with their owners in rich and pie. turesque silk dresses, of various colours and descrip tions, according to the rank and degree of the wearer. THURSDAY EVENING 9 M. An en S. I When paring one of the gates of thi, city, I en deavoured to enter, but was humeri iateiy repulsed by persons stationed there for the purposE • of prevent ing strangers from entering under any .eircumstancs. They were, however, vary civil; nor did 1, during several da) a' stay. remark anything in :the demeanour the people towards myself or my friends with which e e could have reasonably felt offenied. Perhaps they remember how often and how deterly they hid to pay for the indulgence of their impertinent propensities on former occasions, and are not unmindful of the ap proach of April, when it is just possible that they may call down on themselves chastisement once more. While pulling round the flower boats on the river, we were fre quently saluted with cries of " fanqui" (foreign devils), and other complimentary phrases from the children, with which we were not a little amused. It would appear that there is no immediate prospect of the abolition of the punishment of death in China, no fewer than 146 individuals have had their heads cut off at Canon alone since the Ist of this month. We left the Hon. East India Company's steamer Phlegethon anchored off ti.e Factories, and at Whampoa (13 miles down the river) we left the Arab, Commander Morris; and the United States men-of-war Plymouth, 22, Commodore Geisinger, and Preble, 16, Commander Glynn. The Fury steam-sloop, Comman er tows d the Arab up to Whampoa. The Inflexible steam sloop, Commander Hoseason, ar rived from Singapore and Labuan oa the 25th; and on the 26th the Medea steam sloop, Commander Mason, ar rived from the northern ports. The Mariner, Commander Mathison, is still at Shanghai. Tha Scout, 16, Commander Johnstone, is refitting at Foo Chow, preparatory to coming here en route for Bom bay, where she will undergo a thorough repair. About the 10th of next month Mr. Benham, the Governor of Burg-Kong, and General Staveley, com mander of the Forces, will embark in the Hastings, 72, flag ship of his Excellency Sir Francis Collier, the naval Commander-in-Chief, and accompany Sir Francis up the Canton river, where the Hastings will anchor in Anson's Bay, below the Fort of the Bocca Tigris. The object of their visit is to communicate with the Chinese authorities respecting the formalities to be observed at the opening of the gates of Canton, and other matters which have not yet transpired. The Pilot, 16, Com. Lyons, and the Albatross, 16, Com. Farquar, are daily expected hero to augment the squadron. The inflexible leaves here to-morrow for Cochin China, in search of the Kelpie, a clipper, supposed to have met with some veryserious disaster, in the ty phoon of October, as she has never since been heard of. The Meander, 44, Captain the lion. lion. H. Keppel, is at Singapore. The Cambrian, 40, Commodore rlumridge, is at Bom bay, with the Childers, 16, Com. Pitman, and the Ring dove, 16, Corn. Miller. MALTA, MARCH 12.—The news of the island is en tirely confined to incidents connected with the navy. The French steam frigate Panama has quitted Malta for Trieste and Venice, after having undergone a thorough repair of the injuries received in her machinery. The Locust went to the islands with the last mails, under command of Lieutenant-Commander Glin, of the Triton, and is expected to-morrow on her return. The Indian mails may be expected here to-morrow, or at the outside by the 14th, by the Ripon steamer, from Alexandria. The screw-steamer Osmanli arrived here from Con stantinople on the ith, and on the 9th proceeded on her Lgneward route. News having reached the island that her owiner had suspended payments in Liverpool, she was arrested he; and not liberated till her captain had given security for the debt owing. Fearing a similar detention at Gibraltar, she will push through the straits ssithuut touching. The Sultan steamer arrived here yesterday, and is de tained in port in consequence of her inability to dis charge several 32-pounders she has on board, as it is blowing a stiff gale. Some say the guns are for our batteries, others for the Sicilians. The agent here pre serves a prudent silence. The Ardent, Lieutenant -Commander Nowell, from Trieste and Cor!ti, arrived on the 6th, and is coaled ready to proceed to the fleet. After the loss of the s A u l e u e t c in e( e i e s a li e io w o a b s ta e i m m t: i l g oyed the bestin getting bower up her re aedshe s e t t os, and anchors, and half another snapped in two at the fluke, 90 fathoms of hemp cable and 60 fathoms of chain, all the gun car riages, several stores, including rum, slops, &c.; but, owing to the cold, the divers would not go down for the guns. She has been sold for 6201. to a Mr. Barlow. Her copper, 13 tons, alone sold for 1,5002; and, owing anstoe thing was ad emlaargoonmallewboyodbriemapkoit:tgedheinrtoop.Venice, a hand om REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS OF SHIPS ORIGINALLY MAL CONSTRUCTED. The sums set down for " repent," ot ships in the re pert on the navy and dockyards are thus detailed in a tract recently issued by the Liverpoc:l Reform Associa tion. The history of th- Vernon, g4hered from official documents, seems to be the following:— The Vernon was the earliest offspring in the official career of Sir William Syrnoil.i. Her keel was laid at Woolwich in October, 1831, and she was launch< d on the Ist of May, 1832. ller tonnage was 2,082; her cost, " fitted for sea," 48,4871. In one winter and spring, six months only, the Vernon came into complete existence. Other ships, such as the Trafagar, at Woolwich, begun in 1829, being without their own constructors to protect and foster them, were neglected, and all the favours of the new builder and the new Admiralty lavished on their own. The Trafelgar was not completed until 1841. A number of other ships were similarly delayed. Thus many thousands of pounds of the taxes of 1828, 1829, and 1830 were expended, and lay a dead loss upon tho timber stock twelve years. Yet such a disposal of the taxes seems to have been more favovrable for the nation than that disposal of 48,487/. which brought the Vernon into existence. It was seen by the evidence quoted at length in Sec tion 111., that the accounts of her " repairs " were de signedly misrepresented, to conceal her infirmities and costliness ; yet, even according to those accounts, she appears to have had, at a vt ry early age, an extraordi nary power of consuming taxes. From May, 1832, to some time in 1833, she lay a helpless thing upon the breast of the ocean, or in her watery cradle at Sheer ness, not yet a tax-eater; but in the next twelve months her consumption became enormous, for a ship under two years of age. Her " repairs" cost 3,0811. ; and in the next twelve months—still lying at Sheerness, still unfit to leave the nursery-hospital—this young " wooden wall" of Old England swallowed up 2,111/. more for " repairs." In 1835 she was either moderate in her tax-eating appetites, or the " falsification of accounts " made her appear to be so, the cost for repairs was only 2731. In 1836 it was less, only 103/. In 1837, the fifth year of her age, she made up for the moderation of the two pre vious years. Her " repairs" were set down at 9,036/. ; and in in the next year she consumed 3,4231. more. In 1839 she moderated to 455/., rising to 7071. in 1840, but decreasing to 1411. in 1841. In 1842 nothing is told of her; while, in 1843, she is put upon the homeopathic allowance of 77/. She does not appear, however, to have thriven on such short allowances, for next year, 1844, she obtained 2,372/, and in 1845, 1,181/. ; in 1846, only 641.; but in 1847, though there is the entry, Not yet received, being at sea," there is the ominous intimation of her return to her native country and her tax-eating, in the words "Requires a very large repair." There are statements of particulars of the cost of other ships given with those of the Vernon, to show, by com parison, that other builders have given the country costly ships as well as Sir William Symonds. To this dispute about the merits of men the public are indebted for learn ing something . of the merits of ships and their cost, which otherwise they might not have 'mown. The Caledonia is a first-rate, carrying 120 guns, and measuring 2,712 tons. She was launched in 1808, has been twenty-one years in commission, and nineteen years lying unused. The first cost of the Caledonia was £81,507 Her repairs cost, from 1808 to 1815, £10,448 it from 1815 to 1831, 92,151 If from 1831 to 1834, 3,575 1) from 1834 to 1839, 9,500 ft from 1839 to 1844, 4,715 f) from 1844 to 1847, 3,959 123,348 Total for cost and repairs ... £204,855 The St. Vincent, a ship now in commission, built in 1815— Cost ... ... ••• ... ... ... £37,444 And for repairs since then ... ... ... 63,088 £1.50,532 "Requiring a large repair when paid off," in the words of the Admiralty return. The Impregnable is an unfortunate instance of a mis applied name. She was built in 1810, at A cost of ... £G0,267 Fitted for sea in 1812, at a cost of ••• 4,739 And has seen b3en troubled with " repairs" to the cost of ... j 95,426 Cost and repairs of the Impregnable, now a harbour ship ... LC160,432 But the story of the Tremendous is a more interest ing one. The hair-breadth escapes of this ship, in the perilous service of lying in harbour at Sheerness and Chatham, boarded every year by her " enemy," the sur veyor, ordering repairs for her, and ultimately dooming her to be taken to pieces and sold for old timber, are ro mantic. Like the Impregnable, her name was a misap plication of a strong word. The Tremendous was, among ships. a friendless orphan. Nobody seemed to have any friendship to her. They ran up bills of repairs against her to take away her character, and still ordered more, until the event came which they seem to have had in view. Her name and fame became such a reproach; extravagances of other ships in their " repairs" being laid to her charge, that the Lords of the Admiralty at last signed her death-war rant, and she was taken to Deptford to be destroyed. The work of destruction began, but, like the heroine of a milo-drama, doomed to suffer for another's crime, her de liverers appeared at Deptford just in time to save her, and she was saved—has changed her name, and is now a respectable frigate, and may be heard of any day by inquirinc , for the Grampus. The following "Extracts from the Annual Surveys" give the leading facts in official language:— " Sheerness, 1835.—Tremendous requires a middling repair." "Sheerness, 1837.—Tremendous requires a middling repair, and will cost 31,9871." "Chatham, 1843.—Tremendous requires a middling repair, and will cost 31,987/.; after such repair she may last six years." THE STAMPS AND TAXES AND THE EXCISE. The consolidation of the depa rtment of Stamps and Taxes with the Excise will lead to considerable altera tions in the management of the clistribution of stamps and collection of the dutiesin provincial districts. Under the old system each county possessed an officer styled distributor of stamps for the county. In some cases, however, especially in Wales, where the amount of stamps used is but trifling, two ortthree counties were placed under one head dis tributor. Again, in some of the manufacturing districts, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the amount of the population and the extent of business to be trans acted, rendered it impossible for any one offics r efficiently to attend to the whole duties, the distritcs have been divided into two or more head distributorships. In all cases the head distributor has been required to reside iu that town within his district where the largest amount of stamps was usually disposed of. In every other town of sufficient magnitude to jus tify the appointment, an officer, called a sub-dis tributor, was stationed, who was supplied from time to time by the head distributor for the dis trict with the necessary stock of rtamps, and who accounted to that officer for the sums collected by him for stamp duties; security being given, both by the head distributor and the subordinates, to an amount sufficient to cover the average value of the stock of stamps in their hat.ds, as well as the amount of their remittances. The head distributor was remuerated by a per centage on the amount of stamps sold by him in the town where he resided, such per centage va r ying in different dis tricts; and in addition to this emolument, he was allowed a poundage of about 11. 103. per cent. upon the stamps sold by the sub-distributors in the other towns co mprised within his district, and who were themselves remunerated by a similar per centage. The total amount of poundage in England alone, for the last year, was about 33,0001., of which about two-thirds, or 22,0001., was paid to the head di s t r ib utors , an d t h e remain der to the respective sub•distributors. Of this 22,0004 about 10,0001. was the amount accruing on the collec tions ma d e by the head distributors in their own offices, and about 12,0001. arose from the poundage on the stamps sold, or the duties received, by their sub-distri butors in the other towns of the district. It should be borne in mind that the aforegoing state ment has no reference to the amount of stamps sold or stamp duty collected in the m e t ro p o lit an di str i c t, w h ere the entire business is conducted at the office at Somer set-house. It is now decided that, with a view to the saving of this poundage, and also t o th e more s p ee dy e revenue, the present system of supplying . the officers in th e m i nor t owns th roug h a bead distributor shall b e di scont i nue d , an d i n nceofthe f u t u re these officers will n o l onger b e treate d as subor dinates, but ;will act as i n d ependent distributors, rniitta double com municating with the cont ro lli ng department i n L on d on . and accounting directly to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, instead of through the present head distribu tors, whose powers and emo l uments w ill th ereupon cease, excepting in so ~far as they may be derived from the sale of stamps and collection of stamp duties in the towns wherein they respectively reside. it is proposed to make this change gradually, in order to prevent inconvenience and em b arrassment i n t h e con duct of the business in the central office in London; and as soon as it shall have been brought fully into operation, the benefits resulting from the new arrange ment will be confined not merely to the pecuniary saving, but a better system will be introduced in checking the accounts of the distribut ors , their remittances will be more regular and frequent, and their conduct and proceedings brought more immediately under the cogniziece of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue; while the employment of the collectors of Excise in superintending the stocks and sales of the dis tributors will be a guarantee for the security of the revenue far more t ffectual than has been hitherto exer cised under the old system. (These two sums are not explained.) "June 28th, 1843.—1 would recommend that the Tre mendous, as she will require more than 32.000/. to make her efficient for service, be selected to replace the Duke as a lazaret at Standgate Creek, being found unfit for further service. (Signed) W. SYMONDS." " Admiralty Order, 15th July, 1843—Tremendous not to be fitted, as another ship in ►ieu of the Duke is not required." " December 19th, 1843—Proposed, with other ships, to be sold or taken to pieces, as more economical than to repair. (Signed) " W. SYMONDS." " Admiralty Order, 28th February. 1844—The Tre mendous, at Sheerness, to be prepared for bei ng sen t t o Deptford, to be broken up." _ Next follows a report, dated May 2, by Captain Hill, stating how his attention was drawn to the ship after the breakage had begun; that she was in a sound con dition, " not having been at sea, or in commission, since she had a large repair." Next comes an " Admiralty Order," dated May 4, 1844, stopping the work of up-breaking. And this is followed by an order to appoint surveyors to examine her, " Taking care," says the order, "not to recommend any who have been engaged in any of the former or present surveys of this ship." From this it would ap pear that the Admiralty doubted the propriety of en trusting her fate, though her sound timbers were now exposed, to those who bad before passed sentence on her. She was saved accordingly. Next comes " A returni of the expense of converting the Tremendous, 74-gun ship, into a frigate of reduced form ; number of days in hand, cost in labour and ma terials, in comparison with cost of building a new ship." In baud from 21st May, 1844, to 10th January, 1846: Cost of materials £8,028 Workmanship ... ... ... 6.006 Total ... .., £14,034 Comparative cost of building a new frigate of equa class and armament: — Materials ... ... ... .£33,354 Workmanship ... ... ... 11,813 Total ... 14,034 Difference ... £31,133 The difference is a key to many of the most remark • able phenomena in ship-building, repairing, altering, and fitting up, now in progress in the dockyards. The ship was supposed to be worthless, except as for old materials. She was discovered to be worth converting into a fifty gun frigate. The difference between the cost of her conversion, and the cost of a new frigate, is credited to the country as a saving. Accordingly, steps are taken to enrich the country by a succession of such savings, of which a few specimens are subjoined. The Prince Regent was a three. decker. A master shipwright and an admiral superintendent thought she would make a good two-decker, carrying 90 or 100 guns' and would only cost 25,000/ to be cut down to that class. After a correspondence with the Admiralty, in which it came out that the razLing of the Windsor Castle, on some former occasion, had cost 42,5801., and of the Ocean 45,432/., the estimated cost for the Prince Regent was re duced to 24,500/. On the 16th of March, 1844, the Admiralty ordered the ship to be cut down. The surveyor of the navy suggested that, in cutting down ships, they cut away the soundest parts, and left the unsoundest, which were in the bottom. The sur veyor, Sir William Symonds, was not so potent as he once was. He was now a builder of experience, but he was fast growing out of favour. The prospect of having an excellent two-decker for 24,5001. seems to have charmed the Admiralty, and they seem, by the returns which they ordered, to have contemplated a number of other cheap two-deckers, to be made out of the Hiber nia, Queen Charlotte, St. Vincent, Britannia, Howe, Princess Charlotte, Impregnable, Camperdown, Nelson, Royal George, and Royal Adelaide (the three last being ships that had never been at sea!). But Sir William Symonds reminded the Admiralty that such a reduction would be " equal to twelve decks mounting 240 guns," and would reduce the effective power of the navy." This seems to have let in a new light upon the Admi ralty; they paused, and the Prince Regent only was re duced. The estimate for cutting her down to a ninety gun ship bad been 24,500/, but the actual cost being a trifle more, namely, 29,315/. more than the estimate, the service done to the country, even by Sir William Symonds, in - )reventing, for a time, the reduction of twelve decks instead of one, will appear to be consider able. Here is an official return of the actual cost of the Prince Regent, repairs, alterations, &c., sailing from Portsmouth 2 Ith March, 1848:" WINE BRANDC—Application was recently male to the revenue authorities at one of the docks, to be allowed to take off the marks or brands from some casks of wine for shipment to France, and the request was demurred to, on the ground that by altering the marks th e cas k s could not be traced in case of necessity, and also th a t b y making a general use of su c h a permission some fraud might be committed by making the wine to app ear o f however, considered th a t more value than with the original import marks. The and d o thesohsmarls mark allud e d to would not b e reco g nised f or any re b.jectionable, ve o n uld ue p b u o rp i o n s v e o s l , ved an . d wasit was, its imported and b on d e d , tsas place, was o n for trad e p ur p oses , in which no revenue c onsiderations R the request t o c ut out the quality . mark of the wi ne , an d al tu substitute by another which in it the ban ge , or qua lity mark, being .equally it not more important than the brand, as denoting the quality and value of t', (3 wine. It would, however, be permitted to the parties to put the required. mark on the casks a s he exp ort mar k, w ithout erasing the original ones HIGHLAND DESTITIITION,--911 Thursday after noon several flushing boats arrived at Granton Pier from the Fife fi s hing villages , on their way to the %Vest Highlands, for the purpose of instructing the natives in deep-sea fishing. There were three large b oa t s with their crews, amounting to twenty-four men, from Cellardykes, and two large and two small boats with sixteen men from St. M . onance. They were engaged by C ap t. Ross for the Edinburgh commit tee, and are to proceed to Skye and Wester Ross. The men are fine hardy-looking fellows, and their boats are in first-rat e or d er an d we ll supplied with fishing mate rials of all kinds. ' In each boat there was a smart active looking woman for cocking and baiting the lines, who are to initiate the Highland women in the art. Early on Friday morning they all assembled at Granton Pier, and after bei ng i ns p ec ted by Mr. Skene, the secretary, , who addressed a few words of encouragement to the men, they departed in high spirits for their new field of en terprise.-- Edinbuish Advertiser. UNIVERSITY or Dunnem.—An open scholarship in this university, of the annual value of 301., tenable for three years, will be filled up in October next. The Venerable Archdeacon Thorpe, D.D., warden of the university, has given notice that the examination will commence on Wednesday, October 17. Cost of cutting down and repairing her hu11... £37,673 Mast and yards ... 2,954 Rigging and stores 13,188 Total ••• ••• ... 53,81.5 The last thing heard of the Prince Regent was her " behaviour " in a stormy passage to Lisbon, at the be- 1340. einminfe ofJanuery 1849, in the squadron of Sir Charles 'Napier, which " behaviour " is reported to have been so gotal, comperison with the bad behaviour of certein three-deckers, and of herself when she belonged to tlitt class, that a case s, , erns to he made out for the reduction of the rest. The erithmetic of the Admiralty will de tnoestrate what the country gains by cutting down three deckers, vthieh dip their portholes into the sea ia th, gentlest. of la( ezes, some of which they dare not send to sea et all, as a breeze would lay them on their beam Nlfi. or semi thew to the bottom ; o r if b a ll aste d su ffi c i ently to be steady, the quantity of ballast required would bring the water mark above the lower ports. One of these three-decker s which has not been and canntl be sent to sea, is the Nelson, built and named in honour of the most famous of the working admirals, but lying in dock, a monument of satire upon the political jobbers who take upon themselves the management of the navy. But the cutting down of larger vessels to a smaller size is carried to a greater extent among ships of the inferh r class. There is a return, dated the Ist of May, 1848, showing the saving, and, consequently, the accession of wealth, to the country by cutting down nine 42-gun fri gates to corvettes. It is shown that, to have built cor vettes, the cost would have been 27,0004 each, whereas the nine have only cost as follows: Curacoa ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• Aigle (exp ense returned as " unknown; not in office") ..• Magicienne Amazon Dmdalus Brilliant Havannah Trincomalee Amphitrite £3,790 ••• 6,610 ••• 8,104 •.• 5,464 ••• 8,321 ••• 9,707 ••• ... 11,721 ••• ..• 15,238 Making a total of ... ... ... £68,955 Nine at 27,0001. each would have been £243,000 Deduct ... ... ... 68,955 And there is an accession of wealth to the country, according to the Admiralty, amounting to *174,045 There have been many more ships cut down than those referred to in this section; but the specimens here given are deemed sufficient to illustrate the Admiralty system. That system seems to be founded on the supposition that nobody is likely to have penetration enough to see, or power of reasoning to comprehend, that the cost 91 building the large ships should be the proposition in the question of profit and loss on cutting them down. As thus:— Cost of building a three•decker ... £82,000 Cost of reducing that three-decker to a tyro decker ... ••• ..• 53,815 Total cost ... ... ... £135,815 Cost of building a two-decker ... ... 60,000 Loss by the Admiralty system of getting a two-decker 75,815 But the " cutting down" is a trifling matter compared with the " adding to the length " of ships to make them into steamers. This leads to an examination of the steam navy, a more serious financial subject now than the sailing navy. Thirty-four sailing frigates, which cost 45,0001. each, or upwards, were found to be useless from mal-construc tion. One of them was lengthened. and made into a steamer, at a cost of 59,4891., and the rest are to be similarly dealt with. And this is to be done because the steam-frigates, built of iron, are now alleged to be unfit for ships of war. Thirty of those first-class iron steamers were built by order of the Admiralty, in opposition to the opinion of the practical servants of the dockyards, without the iron being put to the proof as a material for war. One of them, built and named in honour of the town of Birkenhead, is, however, talked of as a ship fit to be placed under fire, to prove how many broadsides she will bear before going to the bottom. No less costly method of proving the applicability of iron to war ships has been suggested than a battery upon one of the most expensive naval steamers. Proofs were not sought until thirty such frigates were built, and others ordered; and now, still without the proof, thirty-three timber-built frigates are being transform,d into steamers, to supersede those of iron, at an expeike for transformation greater than their original cost in building. DISTRESSED CONDITION OF THE COMPOSITORS OF LONDON. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS. Sir,—Amongst the numerous artizans in London who are suffering through non-employment, the deplorable condition of the numbers of that heaven-born art — printing, is to be commiserated. Of all the arts and sciences that have been discovered, that of the art of printing has conferred the greatest benefits upon man kind, yet there never was a time in the history of print ing in which compositors have suffered so much distress. Throughout the late eventful year only one-third of the compositors of London were in full employment. Now that the Parliamentary sesiion has commenced, there are still great numbers out of employment. This is, in a great measure, to be attributed to the recent altera dons in Parliamentary printing, which has been con siderably curtailed. The only remedial measures that will benefit the compositor are the repeal of the paper and advertisement duties. The paper duty is a tax upon thought and reason ; by repealing this duty a great boon would be bestowed upon the working classes by placing within their r eac h f or a sma ll sum the treasures of literature. The advertisement duty is a fetter upon the poor tradesman, inasmuch as the high duty p-events him from advertising his goods—even the poor servant girl must pay eighteenpence to the Government before she can advertise for a situation. From the vast numbers of cheap publications which everywhere meet the eye, a . careless observer would imagine that printing was the best business going. Let him look but a little beneath the surface, and he will find the contrary to be the fact. Out of fifteen months, I have only received three months' casual employment; and, from present appearances there is no evidence of returning prosperity, as in the history of all nations literature follows commerce ; and until the manufactur ing districts are fully employed will the compo.itor re main in " virtuous poverty." As your paper has the largest literary circulation, I hope you will give inser tion to this letter, that the literary world may take note of the depressed condition of the London compositors. I am, Sir, &c., • A COMPOSITOR. THE ARMY.—It was currently reported yesterday that the Government had offered to Lieutenant•Geneiul Sir George Napier, K C. 8., the important situation of Lord High Commissioner aed Commander of the troops in the lonian Islands, in succession to Lieut. General Lord Seaton, G.C.B. The following will add another to the many in stances of bravery evinced by our troops in India. In a letter from Captain W. 1I•Leod, of the Bombay Infantry, who writes from Kurrachee, he says :—" F. C. Rivaz, of our Ist Fusiliers, distinguished himself very much at Moultan the other day. He saved a brother officer's life, killed the man, and cut down two others directly afterwards." It may not be uninteresting to state that this young gentleman is but an ensign, and that the present has been the first opportunity he has had of marching onward in the active path of duty. ALARMING FIRE.—FOUR LIVES SAVED BY THE FIRE ESCAPE.—On Tuesday, about a quarter before 11 o'clock, the oil and Italian warehouse belonging to Mr. Bowman, No. 3, Tottenham court-road, was discovered by police-constable No. 70 Etobe on fire. The officer immediately sprang his rattle and raised an alarm, and after repeatedly knocking at the front door, he succeeded in arousing the inmates, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins, the lodgers, with their two children. These parties were sleeping on the second floor, and upon be ing aroused from their slumbers, found the building so filled with sulphurous vapour and smoke, that none of them were able to make their descent by the staircase. Mr. Tompkins made the best of his way to the front room on the second floor, the only place of escape le ft, when the police called to him, and told him to remain until the fire escape arrived. The man, appre hensive thst some of the gunpowder or other inflammable articles would explode, was just on the point of throwing his family out of window when two of the Royal Society's fire escapes arrived. The con ductors having mounted their machines, they entered the second floor, and in the back room they found the four parties above mentioned, whom they succeeded in carrying in their arms and dropping them down the can vass bagging of the machine. So dense was the smoke that the female was completely overcome and dropped senseless on the staircase prior to being conveyed to the front room, and the conductor himself nearly fell as he was carrying the parties out. The engines of the Lon • don Brigade and West of England Company quickly at tended, under the commaed of Mr. Braidwood and Messrs. Staples and Connorton. Plenty of water having been obtained the flames were extinguished, but not until considerable damage was done. Mr. Bowman was fortunately insured in the County Fire Office. The ori gin of the fire is unknown. A strong muster of police, under Mr. Superintendent Grimwood, rendered essential aid to the firemen, by keeping the great crowd of spec tators out of the reach of danger. ACCIDENT ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. —Considerable excitement was created at the Shore ditch terminus of the above line, on Sunday evening last, in consequence of the non-arrival of the Norwich Parliamentary train, due at forty minutes past nine o'clock. Tho Woolwich train, being likewise overdue, increased the consternation, and on inquiring down - the line, it was ascertained that an accident had occurred at the other side of Mile-end station, by the Woolwich, with two engines, having overtaken and ran into the Norwich train with such violence as to have thrown the pilot-engine of the former off the line. About half- past ten o'clock both trains arrived at the terminus, with from twelve to fifteen passengers (Norwich) more or less severely injured. Mr. Richardson, the superin tendent, and Mr. Hancorn, the surgeon, were instantly in attendance on the sufferers, some of whom were ultimately conveyed to their residences in cabs, while others it was found requisite to accommo date with beds in the neighbourhood. It is stated that the delay of the Norwich train was through inability to make way iu consequence of the slippery state of the metals, and that every precaution against accident was adopted by showing the signal lights, &c. The Wool wich train was heavily laden with passengers who would not proceed to London by the steam-boats on account of the prevailing fog, and the driver of the pilot engine as serts, that no signal lights were e l escried by him until too late to avert the accident, ho of course deeming the Norwich train to have passed long previous. THE PLAINTIFF PRELATE. —The word verses ap pears so often in the law reports, in connexion with the name of the Bishop of Exeter, that after ages ts ill per haps be led to suppose that it was actually one 01 his Lordship's titles. Th ere i s probably nut a single -con fessor or martyr that has had eo many trials as Bishop Phillpotts,--Punch. SURREY SESSIONS. (f 3 fore j. W. FREsuFIELD and a full bench of nzgis trates.) Ye3f.; , r(lay, W illiam Greenwood, 61, a respectable; looEing Old man, Was iririctoci for stealing a cruet-stalla CCd TWO silver pthe property of Thor Saunders. The nrise,utor, apus , ar,d, is lan , slord of this Yk.rit' sou-q, t thy e. Wat eriet. and )I.'iik" roads. ()!i the at ~1 the 16 . .1) ult. the f risoner entered the coffee-roont, and during the absence of the waiter purloined the from a sideboard and slid' deuly left the house. The son of the prosecutor, seeing him leave so abruptly, suspected him, and oh entering the coffee-room discovered the felony. He instantly pursued the prisoner, and after a sharp chase s uc ceede d in capturing him, wh en th e crue t-t ops were f oun d i n lug possession. The prisoner's family were highly connected , he having been for some time in a respectable situation in Parliament street, when he embarked in railway sr cul.itions, which caused his ruin, and drove him t o corn mit crime. The prosecutor produced a letter which 1 1 ° had received fr om t h e p r i soner w hil e i n prison, begging to he forgiven, and expressing his contrition for the offence. lie (tile prosecutor), therefore, begged leave to recommend him to mercy. A verdict of Guilty having been recorded, The COURT sentenced him to three months' hard labour at Brixton. /in A eaves, 20, and Joseph Frenhoirn, 20, two note• rious thieves, who were tried and acquitted for the murder of Mr. Belleharebers, at Westminster, were re' dieted for stealing a quantity- of lead, the property of Michael Bryan, at Lambeth. Police•constable, 65, L, deposed that he met the pri soners carrying some lead in the direction of their lodgings, in the New Cut. As soon as they perceived him approach, they threw the lead at his bead, and ran away. lie, however, pursued them, and after a severe struggle, secured them, and took them to the police station. The lead was picked up by another constable , and shortly afterwards the officer ascertained that it bad been stolen from the prosecutor's house. The prisoners denied having the lead in their posses' sion, but the jury found them Guilty. Romaine, an active officer of the L division. said that the prisoners were notoriously bad characters. The/ were tried with Sale for the murder of Mr. Bell• chambers, and acquitted. They had been in custody several times since for felony, and had been eq ual], fortunate. At the last Surrey sessions they were tried for stealing lead from a dwelling-house, but owing t° some informality they were again acquitted. Two days after that occurred they were caught with the lead in the present case. The COURT complimented the conduct of the constr bles for the activity they had displayed in bringing txh bad characters to justice, and sentenced each of the prre soners to ten years' transportation. ----- POLICE INTELLIGENCE. CLERKENWELL. Mary Watt, alias Mary Wilkens, alias Mara Mather" , , a handsome, fashionably-dressEd woman, 40 years 0 age, who was remanded on a charge of stealing a ban' ker's parcel containing 4001. in gold and silver moneiP was again placed at the bar before Mr. Combe for further examination. The case excited considerable interest, the court being crowded to CXCOS3. Several ladies were allowed send during the proceedings. The parish authorities of SC 4 Pancras were also in attendance. Mr. Bu,h, the solicitor to the Bankers' Protection So' ciety, attended for the prosecution; and Mr. Parry, di° barrister, for the defence. Since the last examination, the officers Archer se a I.4'clterby traced the prisoner to have taken lodging about three weeks ago, at No. 2, Bridge-street, Lse l '' beth, where she went by the name of Miss Matheet On searching the place, a number of empty jewel cat ( ' were found, which it is expected will lead to the disco' very of other robberies. It sppears that after taking th e above lodgings, she was driven to the house in a eabrie; let, with several trunk , , when she said she had P is a arrived from the country on a visit to a friend who be met with injuries, tit 1 wa'i then a patient in Guy's 11° 1 9, pi tal, and she f u r n i s h e d th e apartments, and subsequen tly tht. patient in the h os pit a l was recognised as a returne e transport, named Ja c k son , w h o , on dropping from t he wall of St. Pancras workh ouse , w h ere a robbery had bee . committed, broke his leg, an d was secretly conveyed '- the above hospital. The evidence adduced communicated no new featur e to the case, and was mere l y corro b orative of the feet, deposed to at the fi rs t exam i nat i on, as to the ingenietla way in which the p r i soner an d h er male confederate hti attempted to obtain p ossess i on o f the parcel at the ere ,. Keys Inn, St. J o hn- s t ree t. Th e man is not yet in c u e tody. After the evidence had been heard, Mr. COMBE said he should commit the prisoner fe r trial on the charge, and th e w it nesses were bound ove r ta prosecute at the Central Criminal Court. Mr. Parry said, by his advice, the prisoner would re ; serve her defence. He now applied for the restoratt e r of the six sovereigns, & e ., f oun d i n the prisoner's P° session after her apprehension. Lockerby, the officer, said that some of the dirente re of the poor of St. Pa ncras p ar i s h were present, an d t hey :( had reason to suspect th a t th e money was the pro d uc er; a robbery which to o k pl ace at the workhouse, a 5h.,(31 14 time since, and if he w e r e a ll owe d , h e (Lockerby) c°" a give his reasons why th e money should be detained, a nd the prisoner remanded. Air. Parry a aid the officer bad no right to prejudic: the prisoner by s uc h statements. Was there 611:0 other charge against h er ? The officer ought not 'a have said what he h a d i n t h e presence of the press all the public. CONBE justified the officer. Mr. Parry—Then I wa i ve my application, an a he will apply t o a j u d ge , an d I have no doubt as to t results. Mr. COMBE said, as the police asked for a remand, he Should remand the prisoner for a week. Sergeant Archer—Th ere i s another party yet wanted Mr. Bush said he had instructed the officers to 06 every effort to tra ce an d apprehend the man allude d , 0 and if possible they ought to do so before the session the Mr. Parry said if it was the determination of Bench to commit, and to remand the case, which c-. 1 tainly required f urt h er i nvestigation, he woul d 0 nothing more. The prisoner, w h o was a ll owed to sit during the it 0 vestigation, conducted herself with the utmost Ceelligoi and self-posse s si on . Sh e was conveyed to the Ras e Detention. ,g THE IRO N TRADE.--WOLYERIIAMPTON, WS" i- 11 0 DAY. —The demand during the past week for irclqbe not been as brisk as during the preceding week. demand, however, i s suc h us to warrant the maintenP";e, of the late adva nce o f 20 s. per ton, and unless sonl e o trograde movement, cause d b y t h e unfortunate turn ~ things have lately taken on the Continent, s_ h sll tie place, the above rise will, we think, be declared 5t tb ,0 next meeting of the trade for the spring quarter. „,,, are a majority of the masters in favour of the ad va- iti but there is an influential minority rather opposed t ° p a but on the whole the trade is steadily improving , furnaces are being blown in. c COMMISSIONERS Or SEWERS' RATI NG OF -- 1 CHURCHES.—On Saturday the several inspectors elff pointed by the Commissioners of the Court of Se w e e f for the city of London were busily engaged in . ., °3 bes suring the ground on which th e severa l City chni',.o stand, for the purpose of being assessed to the se w rate. Hitherto the sacred edifices have only been te no towards the Consolidated Fund ;_ the only exceP ti t - i l being the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, and these" . c 4 burial-grounds attached to the building, the whole or which are exempted by an Act of Parliament. -1 ' 1 ;d of three weeks since, the medical officer of the Bo ar ,„ - be Health caused the area of the several churchyards 'ate tiken, and th e num b er of interments within the rthe ceding p ar. The variation being so great, led 10 ( the :opposition th a t a s i milar difference in respect °Do' churches mi g h t ex i st, and as, under a recent Act 0t the liaaie:it, the abov e b u ildi ngs are li able to be rated t " d a 0 sev.ers rate, the deputies of the several wards is; tle o . the order for their re-admeasurernent, the Act gi, v : l f, 3 er power to levy a ra t e of 2d . her square yard. t he sure has already created a powerful sensation ' fl d o b• City, it being looked u p on i n t h e l i ght of a new a nd the noxi.Jus tax, which will come i n di rectly ou t ° o g/ pockets of tho s e assesse d to t h e several rates. Meet ear are contemplated tor th e p urpose o f di rect i ng them the b,l.s of the Court of Common Council to oPP° 9 ii proposed assessment, w h ic h , i n a l l probability, lied, done, as the members of the court are annually e' e and irons which body the commissioners are chosen. of ASSOCIATION FOR THE AID AND /3E 141 E 111 0 00 DRESSMAKERS AND IT ILLlNERS.—Yesterday afternoiit, AshleY, bar a numerously attended meeting of the Ladies' ,_,Ce r° 4 le tee of the above association was held at their °thee" Prof e' Clifford -street, Bond-street, the Viscountess Grey ) siding. Amongst those present were the Countess Ellesmere, Viscountess Canning, Lady The r e f o u g . James Taylor, Mrs. H. 1). Grainger, &C. stated the progress of the society to be very etle °l ! na te ing, more especially for the reduction of the Word' _ ei hours of labour of th e vas t num b ers of young fenl .3 , employed in th e d ressma ki ng an d millinery establ re ment3. To carry out the objects of the association le fully funds are required. BIR,THS. the lady of W. V E s E 9 4' Ot On the 14th inst., _tie lady . Whitehouse, is Brighton, of a daughter., _ ~,, wi d a en t , l o e f m apsleo-ng.rove, East Sheen, L. el. of wife of 'l'. Sheppard, jun., Esq., of a daughter. w ife On the 16th inst., at John-street, Bedford-row, th e of o Of i n ni e t tß h h e ee'l l: D t t h lir.i in tß 7si w" , at Wappenham, G. Train, Esq., of a son. * eel° On the rith inst., at Camberwell, Mrs. Henry Northamptonshi re ' Smithers, jun., of a son. On the 17th inst., Jack; the Trai n i ng College, — B at tersea ' t _ . .... 116 wife of the Rev. T. ackson, of a daughter. At Pleasance, Dundee MAR on the RIED. 13th inst., Charles 111 „beg, 'st Esq., form er l y o f St. John's, New Brun sw ick, to daughter of the l a t e A. Lowson, Esq , Arbroath. h-1 0144 On the 13th inst., at St. James' s Ch u rch, Toxte - A t A rf , Major R ee d , of her Majesty's 84th Regiment , E youngest daughter of II Deni son , E sq. , o f Li v erpool. xio r f On the IfAh inst., at Foxearth, Mr. Charles Long , ofhter o f street, Port man - square, London, to Henrietta, `daughter F. W. Bethel, Esq., of Foxearth, Essex. MED. oOv' T On the 16th inst., at Abbey-place, St. John's - - w W. Bo t ys ; aged 21. ing tollf On h e 17th inst., at Nelson-terrace, Stoke Ne w willoit a Mrs. Sarah Mountf or d, age d 83 , re li ct o f t h e late Mountford, Esq., of Stamford-hill. Cath erine At Hammersmith, on the 16th inst., aged 5 1 , the wife of Dlr. W. Morison. „ On the 18th in Fitzroy-s quare , Samuel \va c ] 10 0- On the 16th inst., at L ancaster -l e d ge , N e w-road' mersmitn, I\lr. T. Hill, aged 39. London t Prink(' and Published by MURDO 1 -01 j.,), 1 11 1 No. 112, Strand, Print er , at Th e S un Office, - o '""ty Strand, in the Preci nc t o f t h e S avoy , in the Co "- Middlesei, Thursday, March 22,1849; Tic' Esq., I e. retar Age. E oL 40 1( Pros or any warded PEC Polk tlon of Pere stant, lame in the securit, rances, utoval. Lone E' I: OFFIC J. S. ] A. w. ITE bin, 1 Ills Oct His ( shit His ( • laru Most • do% Right bur • The that t Preen The Samu4 T. W. Henry W. B( G. R. •Jam Charh Georg, John ] Chest( Angus E. LI The Propri Mod • Two Ann Half Exti Mod B per cei r E, Cl] LIA] MOI liedi A Pc Pren The A' Furt Lary, I SP Port of Life A tleial r Viousl , disput: Loth Pc Baloon No oti Obso Street. Pam bitted OEIT every BOA Three packet Brun. Pas! Way, Porter large i Maj ....._-_. T' gliir FLA and F ledoni RO' Zvery Satur AN' Ogl it'll. illg. Pend Xleve ED The 28 ; 11 . 21 An ;7,g Stan BO lug. CA Twel YA ternc depal Rege] I Dar] deei