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

LITERATURE. THE POPE AND THE ACTOR. 3 Vols. Newby, London, 1842. The period at which the incidents related in this historical novel are supposed to have oc curred, is the commencement of the sixteenth Ravenna, shortly after the famous battle of Itavenna, which was gained by the French over the combined Spanish and Italian fisrces, and in Which the celebrated French Commander, Gaston de Foix, received his death-wound. The hero and heroine of the story, are Giulio, son and heir of Count Rinaldo Zatti, a nobleman of Hu ancient and distinguished Italian family, and Lucia, a young girl of unknown parentage, who lives near the country residence of Giulio's father, and has been the youth's compassion front childhood. After undergoing—the girl More especially—the usual romantic vicissitudes Of fortune, the attached pair are made happy by marriage, it being luckily discovered that Lucia is the child of Fnoble parents, and every way, therefore, suited to the heir of the Zatti family. Much of the narrative is taken up with the in trigues of a scheming physician, Battista, to procure the hand of Luci:t, and also to advance the political interests of his patron, Cardinal Petrucci, who, with several other Cardinals, Plots against the Pope, but is foiled in Isis attempts at conspiracy. The character of this subtle, bland, intriguing Doctor, is forcibly pourtrayed, and indeed is the redeeming feature of the tale. THE ENGLISH BIJOU ALMANAC. Schloss, L , ndon, 1843. By the help of a pair of spectacles, we have been able to discover the peculiarities of this tiny volume, which is about the size of half a roast ehesnut, is edited by Miss Mitfbrd, and con tains several poems from her pen, which are ex ceedingly pleasing, thou 4 h we have had no slight trouble in deciphering them. Among th e pcortraits, is one of Mr. Rogers, the poet, but We cannot say much for the accuracy of the re semblance, which is at least thirty years too Young. The volume is enclosed in a neat red morocco case, and is certainly the greatest cu riosity of the season. JACK HIN7'ON: THE GUARDSIII4N. Curry, Dublin, 1842. This tale, which forms the first of a series, entitled "Our Mess," and which is from the pen of Mr. Charles Lever, has already appeared from time to time in the pages of the Dublin Univer aity Magazine, and was noticed by us. as suc cessive portions appeared, in our usual sketchy criticisms of the monthly periodicals. We need, therefore, sty nothing more on the present occa sion, than that the tal , is well worthy of repub licat;on in its present handsome octavo form, and that it is embellished with a half-length portrait of the author. JAY'S TV ORKS. Bartlett, London, 1842. This volume contains a series of Morning and Evening Reli g ious Exercises for October, No-. vember, and December. The author is Mr. William Jay, who has executed a useful and important task in a spirit of rational, unaffected, Yet fervent piety. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BETTING AT MANCIIESTER.-TUESDAY. DERBY.-8 to 1 agst A British Yeoman (t freely), 25 to agst Aristides (t), 25 to 1 agst Murat, 33 to 1 agst Wipesour, 35 to 1 agst Progress colt, 40 to 1 agst New court, 40 to 1 agst Blackdrop, 50 to 1 agst Chesterfield, 50 to 1 agst Everton, 50 to 1 agst Sir Valentine (t), 40 to 1 agst Napier, 40 to 1 agst Siriko!, 1000 to 15 agst Languish c, 1000 to-15 agst Lucetta c (t), 5 to 1 agst Scot's lot (offered), 15 to 1 agst Sir G. Heathcote's lot. COURSING.—At the Caledonian Meeting over the Duke of Hamilton's lands on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday last, the Highland Stakes of 35/. value Were won by Mr. G. Pollock's Young Sport ; Mr. A. Graham's Alexander rem up.—The Lowland Stakes of 351. were won by Dr. Brown's Heather Jock, Mr. Wat son's Beeswing running up. Heather Jock and Young Sport then ran together fbr the Caledonian Cup of 10 sons., which was won by Dr. Brown's dog in the first two courses.—The Thistle Stakes were won by Dr. Brown's Stewarton Bonnet-maker. THE BANK OF MANCHESTER. MANCHESTER, MONDAY. IN RE RALEIGH, GOOD, AND.IIOLLAND, BANKRUPTS This morning, at eVen o'clock, a special meeting of the creditors in this estate, was held at the Com missioners' Rooms, St. James's-square. The Learned Commissioner, Mr. JEMNIETT, presided. It will be in the recollection of our readers that in this bankruptcy the Bank of Manchester claimed to prove for the enormous sum of 187,946/. 6s. 8(1. ; and that, on the very last day of the existence of the late Commissioners of Bankrupts, they. decided that the Bank had forfeited all Claims upon the estate in con sequence of the bankrupts - having paid into the bank a bill of eXchange after, the docket , was struck, which was accepted by the officer of the bank, and placed to the credit of the bankrupts. The Court of Review was appealed to by the bank, and a temporary relief had been given by Sir George Rose postponing the final examination of the bankrupts for six weeks, which expires on Saturday next, and for which day the meeting is at present fixed. On the 21st inst., the Court was again moved further to postpone the bankrupts final examination, but the application was refused; at the same time an arrangement was en tered into . vesting in the hank all the rights of the assignees to examine the bankrupts, and to resist the granting of the certificatc. The bank having been invested with this power, called a meeting of the creditors for this day. in order to examine the bankrupts; the whole of whom were present, and said they were ready to give every information. J. F. Foster, Esq., the Chairman of our Quarter Sessions, with whom was Mr. Earl, solicitor to the bank, appeared on behalf of the bank ; Mr. Monk appeared for the bankrupts. Mr. FOSTER said, before he proceeded to the ex nninati,in of the bankrupts, he had an objection to take to the balance-sheet as laid before the creditors, which he urged was by vo means a fair statement of their accounts. A partnership between Raleigh, Holland and Good, commenced in 1836, which continued until 1840, at which time it was d'ssolved, and merged into that of Raleigh and Holland. Now, at the date of the new partnership, it is shown by the balance-sheet that there was a de fclency of 55,256/. 6s. 9d., and which sum was car ried to the credit side of the cash account, and which is not exp ained in the balance-sheet. He apprehended that the creditors had a perfect right to know how so large a sum was on the books at that period, and how it w s accounted for. Mr. MONK objected to this line of inquiry on the part of the bank, and contended that as the hank had claims upon the bankrupt Good, they had no right to inquire into his affairs. The hooks of that con cern were made up to the time of the dissolu tion, and were made open to the inspection of the bank, and if they neglected to satisfy them selves upon certain points of detail they ought not to come into court at so late a period of the proceedings and complain on that account; besides, it was quite unprecedented. They might just as well ask to go back to the previous concern of Joseph Raleigh, which (x'sted before the joint partnership of Raleigh, Holland, and Good. The discussion upon this point lasted nearly three hours, and The Learned COMMISSIONER ultimately decided that the creditors were entitled to a balance-sheet, made up from the commencement of fl• joint partner ship of Raleigh, Holland, and Good, in 1836, in order • to show how the deficiency of 55,256/. 6s. 9d., which appeared on the books at the date of the partnership of Raleigh and Holland, was explained. Mr. FOSTER said he was then prepared to go into the examination of the bankrupts, and that he had upwards of 200 objections to the balance-sheet as laid before the creditors, between the date of the partner ship in 1840 and their failure in 1842. As these ob jections- would occupy the Court upwards of four hours more, it was deemed advisable to adjourn the meeting, which was accordingly agreed to. STATE OF TRADE. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) MANCHESTER, TUESDAY EVENING.—We have had to-day, contrary to the expectations of many, a very excellent demand for cloth, accompanied too with a general, though not a large, advance on most quali ties and descriptions of goods. This increase in the demand, and,that before many have made an end of stock-taking, is a,most favourable symptom ; indeed, it may be taken as an almost infallible sign that more prosperous times are at hand. Twist is in fair demand, and the prices are not higher; this arises from the fact that few of our ex port merchan :have commenced their spring pur chases. The market is buoyant. POACHING AND Loss OF LIFE.--Intelligence way. on Friday received in this town of an inroad .4 poachers upon the lands of Kirkley Hall, in this county, the seat of the Rev. J. Saville Ogle, Dean of Winches ter. It appears that the gamekeeper of that gentleman was watching on ,Thursday evening, when the poachers, who were discovered on the grounds, fired offtheir guns and fled, leaving one of their party,who was subsequently found dead, having received the contents of a gun in his thigh, evidently from his own party in mistake, as Mr. Ogle'e keepers were without fire arms. Medical aid was immediately procured, but life was soon ex tinct, the deceased having received nearly the whole charge of shot, which had divided the artery, From which he had bled to death. The body, has not been identifielvonne Mercury. IMPROVEMENTS IN PARIS. Count de Rambuteau, the Prefect of the Seine, presented on Saturday to the Chamber of ,Commerce of Paris, an expose of his administration during the year 1842. After enumerating the streets, boulevards, and qua) s, that were either opened or improved in the course of the year, he described the immense works undertaken for ameliorating the navigation of the Seine, and fir supplying Paris with water. Thirty million francs were expended since 1832 in construct ing sewers, laying down pipes, and placing the 1,390 fountains that now distribute the water of the Canal l'Oureq and of the Clignon, throughout all the quarters of the capital. Independently of these, the Artesian well of Grenelle has, ever since its tubing, furnished 1,600,000 litres of perfectly limpid water in 24 hours. The religious edifices had like • wise been an object of special solicitude with the Ad ministration, and large sums had been applied to the construction of ne A , churches, and to the repairing of the old. The Municipal Council had granted two additional temples to the Protestants, the one in Rue Chatichai, and the other at Panthemont, and a new synagogue was to he built for the Israelites. The primary schools of Paris, which in 1834 were only 57 in number, - are now 206, and the pupils exceed 37,000. The augmentation of the Municipal Guard had im posed fresh sacrifices on the city. The works executed in the barrack ofthe Celestines alone had cost 1,800,000 francs, and the whole expense required for the accomo dation of that guard would, it was expected, amount to 4,000,000 f. Two prisons were completed in 1842, and another, for which the municipal authorities had voted 4,000,000 f., was to be erected in the place of La Force ; it is to contain 1,200 cells. Particular at tention had been likewise devoted to the hospitals, and the number of beds was increased dnring the year by 850. The situation of the savings'-banks showed that habits of order and economy were every year taking deeper root among the Parisian popula tion. The new pass-books delivered in 1842 amounted to 35,688, and the investments to 39,189,612 f., which, as compared with the 'returns of 1841, exhi bited an increase of 3,583 pass-books, and 3,400,235 f. The reimbursements in 1842, however, surpassed those of 1841 by 4,586,000 f. The financial situation of Paris had been as favourable as that of last year. The proceeds of the octroi or tolls amounted, on the 20th of December, to 29,634,2161., or about 500,0001. less than in 1841, which was attributed to the inter ruption, during several months, of the navigation of the Seine from the shallowness of the water. There had been a slight increase in the consumption of butchers'-meat. The value of Parisian exports, which amounted on the Ist of December, 1841, to 138,000,000 f., presented for the corresponding period of 1842, a diminution of upwards of 23,000,000 f. The silks figured in this diminution for a sum of 6,500,000 f., which the Prefect ascribes to the financial crisis in the United States and the elevation of the tariff. ON THE ORIGIN OF NEW YEAR'S GIFTS.—At this time of the year, why should presents be made upon the first day of January more than at other times? The origin of this custom is attributed to the reign of Romulus and Tatius, King of the Sabines, who governed jointly in aome, in the seventh year of the town. Here it is said that Tatius having been presented on the first day of January with some boughs, &c., out of the forest of the goddess Strania, m token of good luck, began this custom and called the present Strena: The Romans niade this a holiday, and consecrated it to the honour of Janus, offering sacrifices, &c., to him, and the people went in throngs to mount Tarpeia, where Janus had an altar, clothed with new clothes, and chose to begin their respective employments or work on this day; they wished one another good luck, and were careful not to repeat anything ill natured or quarrelsome ; the common presents, among the meaner sort, were dates, figs, and honey, which were usually covered with leaf gold, and those who were under the protec tion of great men used to add a piece of money. In the reign of Augustus the populace, gentry, and se nators, used to send him new year's gifts, and if he was not in town they carried them to the Capitol. From the Romans this custom went to the Greeks, and from the heathens to Christians, who very early came into the practice of making presents to the Magistrates. Some of the Fathers wrote very stre nuously against the principle, upon account of the immoralities committed under the cover and protec tion of it ; but since the Governments of the several nations in Europe are become Christians, the custom is still retained as a token of friendship, love, and re spect.— CorrespOndent of the Cambridge Advertiser. PROSPECTS-OF THE GOVERNMENT. -- The Ministry and their supporters will decidedly quarrel. Them will be a vast number of dismembered parties, not only contending with one another, but with the pre sumed and presuming heads of all the Ministry itself. They are clearly destined to contention on the Corn laws, the income-tax; the tariff, and the sugar-duties. They have gone about things in so unbusinesS-like a manner, that while they wished to raise the revenue by their accursed income-tax, they will pull it down by the effect of their tariff, and other proposed changes of duties both now and probably for some time to come. We do not expect that the European effect of the tariff will be much—the greatest hope we have is from America, but the distance and the freight will be so considerable, that we fear the country will not by any means profit by it to the extent that was suppose d.— Tyne Mercury. THE CROYDON RAILWAY COMPANY.—A special general meeting of the proprietors of the Croydon Railway was held on Tuesday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate• street, to consider the most desirable course to he adopted under the present embarrassed • state of the Company's affairs. W. A. Wilkinson, Esq., the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, took the chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting. He then called upon the Secretary of the Company to read the report of the Directors. The report., after setting forth the circumstances con nected with the payment of a toll of 42d. per passenger . by the Croydon Railway to the Greenwich Railway, stated that the Directors, having exhausted all means to endeavour to prevail on the Green wich Railway Company to modify their toll, had come to the resolution that it would tend to the advantage of the Company to discontinue the carrying trade. The Divectors concluded their report by expressing their belief that the Croydon Railway could not be profitably con tinued with a toll of 4d. per passenger. The Chair man, in moving the adoption of the report, remarked that the Company had for some time past been losing upwards of 121 per week, and there could be no doubt that it would be to the advantage of the Company to discontinue the traffic. • The report was then carried. A resolution to the effect that the meeting approved of the proposition made by the Directors for relin quishing the carrying trade until some arrangement with respect to the toll were made with the Green wich Company was then carried, but the Directors were requested to delay putting the resolution into effect until the 24th o f March next, and a Committee was appointed to negotiate with the Greenwich Com pany. A vote of thanks to the Chairman having been carried, the meeting separated. CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN POLYNESIA.—The most ardent patrons of missions to Polynesia will not main tain that in no instance has zeal overstepped the bounds of prudence, or that pearls have not occa sionally been thrown before swine, who tried to turn again and rend their benefactors. But to justify the use of the means which have been employed, they point with satisfaction, and even some degree of tri umph, to the effects which are already produced. They can assert that, wherever Christianity has been received, however imperfectly, the habits of the na tives are improved, their fierce tempers have been mollified, and a respect for human life has succeeded to that thirst for blood which formerly occasioned the most deplorable catastrophes. In all the islands where the missionaries have succeeded in establishing a set•• tlement, security is now - afforded to the mariner of every nation, who either seeks refuge from misfor; tune, the intercourse of trade, or the gratification of a liberal curiosity. At other places, on the contrary, where the mild spirit o f th e G os pel has not yet been felt, scarcely a year passes in which vi e do not hear of murderous quarrels between the inhabitants and those by whom they are visited. At some of the Marquesas, till very lately, a trading vessel scarcely dared to an chor. In the Friendly Islands, according to.the State ment of a recent author, while the chiefs were mani festing the strongest attachment to Captain Cook, they planned the assassination of himself and all his officers, and with this view invited them to an enter tainment by torch-light. Even on the shore of Otaheite, when Bligh's vessel arrived, the people cut the cables, in order that, being drifted on the beach, she might fall into their hands as plunder. Some years afterwards, the Society Islanders seized an English brig, murdered the officers, killed or disabled the crew, and took possession of her ; but since the lessons of the Christian teachers have been given, every ship that has touched there, or at any other in the adjacent groups, has been as safe as in the Thames or the Weser.—Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. XXXIIL Polynesia. How TO BRING 'CP CHILDREN..--" Mamma," said a little fellow, whose mother had forbid him drawing horses and ships on the mahogany sideboard with a sharp nail—" Mamma, this aint a nice house. At Sam Rackett's we can cut the sofa, and pull out the hair, and ride the shovel and tongs over the carpet, but here we can't get any fun at all." The following days of the week are set apart for public worship in different nations :—Sunday, or the Lord's Day, by the Christians ; Monday by the Gre cians ; Tuesday by the Persians ; Wednesday by the Assyrians ; Thurday by the Egyptians ; Friday by the Turks ; and Saturday by the Jews. We understand that the goods of Patterson, in Holywell-street, have been seized this week in execu tion for rent. Nothing has been heard of him since the warrants were issued on Saturday for his appre hcnsiou. THE LATE FIRE AT BRENT FORD CORONER'S INQUEST. O. Tuesday, at twels e o'clock, a jury composed of fourteen respectable inhabitants of the town of Old Brentford were empanelled in the p?rlour of the Barge Aground public-house, before Mr. T. Wakley, M.P., Coroner for the Western Division of Middlesex, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Swan, aged 38 years, who died from the injuries she received in a fire which occurred at the residence of her husband on the afternoon of Sa turday last. The jury having been sworn, and Mr. Burness ap pointed foreman, proceeded to view the body of the deceased, which was lying at her residence; on their return to the inquest-room the following witnesses were examined : Margaret Marshall deposed that her husband was a bricklayer, employed at the distillery of Sir F. Booth, Bart., in Old Brentford, She knew the deceased, who was the wife of Henry Swan, one of the foremen at the same distillery. The de ceased lived in a house adjoining the distillery, and witness and her husband resided in the same house. On the afternoon of Saturday last, the 24th instant, witness was engaged in the lower part of the house, when about five o'clock she heard the deceased call her from the upper part in a hurried manner. She immediately ran up stairs, and on reaching the land ing of the first floor she saw a basin on fire, on the floor at the foot of a cupboard which was on the landing. The deceased was endeavouring to put out the flames, and witness tried to do the same with her clothes, but her gown caught fire, and the deceased assisted her in tearing it off and extinguishing it, in which they were successful. Witness then ran down stairs for water, leaving the deceased still striving to subdue the flames, and on her return up stairs met the deceased running down enveloped in flames. Wit ness then saw that the cupboard and her own (wit ness's) room were on fire, and she immediately raised an alarm. When she next saw the deceased she was alive, but frightfully burnt all over, and died about ten o'clock the same night. The deceased went up stairs for the purpose of getting a woman some spirits. Some of the .Jury said they were present at the fire, and they thought at the time some spirits must have ignited, or the flames would not have been so fierce. _ _ Lucy Brooker deposed that she was in the service of Mrs. Malcolm, a market gardener in Drum-lane. Saw deceased in flames. Did not know how the de ceased's clothes caught fire, but supposed it was in trying to put out the fire. The CORONER said, after the evidence that had been adduced there could be no doubt that some strong spirit had accidentally ignited, and occasioned the un fortunate disaster. _ _ The Jury concurring in opinion with the Coroner, immediately returned a verdict of " Accidental death from burning." THE INCOME-TAX. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STAMPS AND TAXES TO THE SUR- VEYORS. Stamps and Taxes, London, Dec. 8, 1842. SlR,—The Board having reason to apprehend that some of the Surveyors have misunderstood the law with reference to assessments under schedules A and Bin the Property-tax Act, lam directed to inform you, that the tax is payable on the annual value only of lands and tenements, and not on the amount to which such lands and tenements have been assessed to the poor, and that such annual value is the rent by the year at which the same are let at rack-rent, if the amount of such rent shall have been fixed within the period of seven years from the sth of April last; and if not so let at rack-rent, then at the rack-rent at which the same are worth to be let by the year ; and that it is only in those cases where the annual value cannot be otherwise ascertained (such as upon lands and tenements in the occupation of the owners, or let on beneficial leases), that the poor-rate is to be re sorted to, and then only for the purpose of making the assessment on such last-mentioned properties, in a sum bearing a due proportion (as near as the same can be computed) to the assessment on properties let at a bona fide rack-rent ; as, for example : A house or farm is let at rack-rent for 1001. a-year, and is assessed to the poor on three-fourths of the rent, or 751. per annum. Assessment to the property tax must be on 1001. a-year. Another farm in the same parish is let on a beneficial lease, or is in hand, and £. s. d. is assessed to the poor at, a-year.... 500 0 0 Add one-third of the said assessment... 166 13 0 --- Assessment to the property tax must be on a-year . . • • • • .. 666 13 0 As the public will have great-cause of complaint if an assessment has been made upon a different prin ciple than herein set forth, I am to desire that you will take especial care that in all such cases the same may be rectified accordingly.. f take this opportunity of informing you that the Board have received directions from the Lords of the Treasury that in all cases where the overseers of the poor have been called upon by the surveyors for a copy of the last rate made for the relief of the poor, to assist the surveyors in checking the assessments, and have actually furnished the same, all reasonable ex penses for preparing such copy shall be defrayed by this department ; and I am to desire, that if any such copy shall have been furnished to you for the purpose in question, you will forward the overseer's account for making such copy to this office, with a view to its being discharged. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, CHARLES PRESSLY. IRELAND. AWFUL CATASTROPHE -LOSS OF UPWARDS OF THIRTY LIVES. DUBLIN, DEC. 26.—The particulars of the follow ing melancholy catastrophe are communicated by Correspondents of the Evening Mail. An event some what similar, but by no means so lamentable in its results, occurred in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Francis-street, in this city, last Christmas two years : " Galwav, Dec. 25.—A melancholy accident oc currei in this town this morning. At early mass, in the parish church, there was an immense concourse of people ; the gallery, as is usual on Christmas morn ings, was crowded to excess. One of the rails of the staircase by the pressure of the multitude was broken, and some persons in the vicinity having heard the crackling noise, gave the alarm, and cried out that the gallery was giving way. An indescribable but tre men,:lous rush was made by the dense mass to escape. The catastrophe was awful ; 30 persons, up to the time I am going to post, have been made the victims of the rashness of the assemblage. The gallery did not give way." (FROM ANOTHE R CO RRESPONDENT.) " I think it but right to tell you that a most tragical occurrence took place here, at six o'clock this morn ing, at the parish chapel, similar to what occurred in Dublin two years ago. Previous to the celebration of mass the chapel was crowded to suffocation, and some person gave the alarm that the gallery was giving way. The consequence was that a tremendous rush was made towards the stairs—numbers were thrown down the stairs and trampled to death by others getting into the street. At this moment (two o'clock) thirty-five per sons are dead, and it is supposed from ten to fifteen more are also numbered among the dead. There are a great many besides Maimed ; they are all of the lower class, such as poor tradesmen, labourers, and servants. There was no danger at all of the gallery giving way ; it is very strongly built, and would bear four times the weight that was on it at the time. There must have been bet ween 4,000 and 5,000 people in it at the time. I never witnessed a more heart rending scene. I saw myself twenty-five dead bodies." (FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.) " I have just seen Dr. Gray, who informed me that he has ascertained twenty-eight individuals to be dead, but he thinks there are a great many more, carried to different parts of the town by their relatives, that have not yet come under his observation. The town is in a frightfully agitated state. The sufferers are all of the working classes. I went through the chapel an hour ago, and found the gallery to be very strong, so that, if the foolish people had but thought for an instant, they might have been under no apprehension whatever of its giving way, and the lives of the poor creatures might have been spared. Two of our servants were in the chapel at the time, but escaped— they do not know how. This has been a scene very like that which took place at Kirkcaldy, and which I never can forget." COMMAND OF THE LIMERICK DISTRICT.—The re port of the command of the Limerick district having been offered for the acceptance of Major-General Lord Downes is quite correct, hut it is not certain whether the Noble and Gallant Officer will take upon himself the harassing duties inseparable from such an ap pointment. Some wag in Bangor (Me.) ad ve rtises, at great length, that he is preparing an immense balloon, to out of harm's way when Aairilrlyer happens in April. He says he carry co p n e fl o a lp g e ra of that atcit city has sent to Europe for an immense amount of silk, and the car iF to be 450 feet long and 90 wide. Seats in the balloon 200 dollars each. The books are be eonlsht hand to and a great body of constables t ( o p revent a rush.—New murderer of the messenger of the Or leans Bank, is now quite recovered from the effects of his late attempt at starvation. He takes his meals as usual. Last Saturday, as his breakfast, consisting of eggs and a cutlet, was placed before him, he ex claimed, " What, eat meat on a Saturday ! Not so bad as that! Give me the egg s : , MODtely's scru ples call to mind the conduct of the Calabrian robbers, who kill a man with one hand and make the sign of the cross with the other. The trial will, it is sup ' posed, ow on next month,t-9aAgnani. THE SUN, LONDON, TIC URSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 29, 1842. ALEXANDRIA. DEC. 6.—The Pacha is still at Mansourah, whither Colonel Barnett proceeded some days since from Cairo, without anything being known of the object of this interview with his Highness. All the other Consuls- General are at Alexandria. Nothing is yet known of the further movements of the Pacha, who is naturally seriously occupied with the fearful consequences of the nearly total extinction of the race of cattle in this country—a murrain frightful enough in itself, but still more horribly promulgated by the reckless habits of the natives and their Turkish masters. Healthy cattle may be seen tethered at their food within 20 paces of the abominably fcetid unburied carcases of their late companions, which may have died a day or two previously, and having been thus dragged this little distance frem the shed.; in which the yet healthy cattle sleep and eat, are thus left to rot, after afford ing a surfeit to the Arab dogs, it being no person's business to bury or destroy the bodies, which must, in every probability, propagate the infection. After seeing their race of cattle exterminated, their lands sown without ploughing, and every prospect of a famine in the land, they have at last thought it advis able to offer a premium for the importation of cattle fit for agricultural purposes. 'The following proclama tion was issued to-day : " His Highness the Pacha, in order to facilitate the importation of cattle, authorises the undersigned to inform the public that the same may be imported duty free, until the 6th of December, 1843, empowering him also to grant a premium of two dollars per head on all oxen brought from Europe, fit for agricultural or other labour. (Signed) "BOGHOS BEY." Under these circumstances it is not to be expected that the Government will be anxious to make sales at present low prices in face of the prospect of short crops next year ; and although last week they could not sell wheat at 41 piastres, they yesterday made an auction of wheat at 45 piastres, and beans at 32 piastres upset prices, which were of course retired without a bid, tantamount, of course, to a continued suspension of sales. One consequence of the mortality of the cattle is the natural deficiency of butchers' meat, connected with which is a story, just arrived from Cairo; of course, like all Cairo stories, from the very best authority ! worthy of a place in the " Thou sand and One Nights." On dit that a butcher has just been hanged there for fattening up, and selling as mutton, Arab dogs, of which a large stock, both alive and slaughtered, were found upon his premises. His Sardinian Majesty's steamer of war Tripoli, arrived yesterday from Malta, bearer of a letter from the Sardinian _Minister to his Excellency Boghos Bey, moderately and quietly demanding satisfaction fur the insult offered in Cairo to the Sardinian Con sulate there, and the violence Perpetrated on the Sar dinian Janissary. This most important dispatch must await his Highness's reply - :rom Mansourah, and there is little doubt that this communication will pro cure a proper inquiry into the real merits of the case ; for, whatever may be the Pacha's love of justice, it is equally true that, nine times out of ten, the whole truth does not reach his ears, unless when an event like this brings it forcibly to his attention. The Tripoli was bearer of a dispatch from Malta, which occasioned the immediate departure for Syria of the Medea steamer. It is also worthy of notice that the Pacha's steamer Hajji Baba, or, as now called, the Reschid (or Rosetta), brought a dispatch, in conse quence of which the French brig of war Alcibiade left on the 3d inst. for Syria, where evidently some thing of political importance is going on. The Generoso brought news from Scio of the re cent discovery there by an English diving apparatus of two immense pieces of brass ordnance, twenty-five feet in length, and with two feet bore, but the metal not sufficiently strong to have fired a solid shot of that dimension. The Pacha has now, perhaps, the same guns in existence—about thirteen feet in length, and fifteen and a half inches in the bore, carrying for five thousand yards a solid shot of nearly five hundred pounds weight. They are to be mounted on battery on the coast, and should they be found serviceable, will prove a formidable weapon of defence. LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S POLICY The following letter from Bombay, though of an old date, contains some interesting particulars respecting affairs in India and Affghanistan : " In my last I mentioned the regret I felt at being obliged to quit the force at Caubul and return to Bombay on sick certificate. What I then thought a misfortune has in the end proved in all probability my preservation, or I might have been numbered with those who subsequently met their deaths by treachery on their retreat from Caubul—a fearful tragedy ; but it is passed, and as far as British valour could effect, all has been repaired. But no thanks to Ellenborough for it. It will, however, be a long time, if ever, before our discomfiture will be got over in the eyes of the Native Powers; and to aggravate the matter, Lord Ellenbcrough's proclamation has tended to lower us still more in their opinion ; for he tells them we had no business ever to have entered the country, or interfered with them— a pitiful cut at Whig policy, but pregnant with ultimate injury to the service, as our whole system here rests entirely on opinion. Teach the natives only that Unity is strength, and our power would soon crumble to pieces. He also lets them into the secret that we are riot powerful enough to retain our conquests in the country, because it is 500 miles from our resources — a pretty tale to tell the Native Powers. He orders the troops to withdraw a second time, before the cap tives are released, and like a bully tells he Affghans they may now choose their own Sovereign, which they will do on our retreat without asking his leave or consent to their choice, having been told by him, we cannot send a force to coerce you, because it is 500 miles off. What a pretty Governor-General! The best of the joke is, he takes all the merit of our late successes to himself, whereas, if Pollock and Co. had withdrawn, when ordered, we should never have seen Caubul or Ghuznee again ; and as for the poor captives, both Europeans and natives, they might, for all he cared, have been left in captivity. Not a company, troop, or any supplies have entered the country but what was, previously to his arrival, ordered by Lord Auckland. So much for the Tory boaster. Pollock, since the second order to withdraw, has taken and knocked about their ears the two strongholds of Istalif and Chareekar, and recovered in theal, not only the guns and other plundered pro perty, muskets, drums, colours, &c., but taken pri soners some families belonging to chiefs of the highest rank. These, I hear, he intends to hold in bondage till Akbar Khan is delivered up. The battle of Te€zan, also, caused our captives to be restored. " A native brought me, a few days ago, a copy of the Governor-General's pi oclamation, and asked me the meaning of the words Conservative policy, as he could not understand them. I told him it was to preserve things as they were. "Then,' says he, why don't you keep Affghanistan ; or, if you quit the country, why don't you make them pay a yearly tribute as an acknowledgment of subjection, as Runjeet Singh did the Cashmiriars? I suppose now, (be added,) as Lord Ellenborough in this pro clamation says you ought not to have gone there, or interfered with them, that he will of course relea e Dost Mahomed, and give him twenty lacs of vagodas as an indemnification for his urjust captivity and knocking his forts to pieces.' I advised him to see his Lordship on the subject. It is nevertheless a pretty general opinion amongst the natives, that his Lordship ought so to do to be consistent, and cer tainly, as he says we had no business to enter the country or interfere in their concerns, I cannot see on what principle of equity or justice he can any longer detain in captivity Dost Mahomed. " On the 14th his Lordship issued another procla mation on the strength of' the peace with China. Here again is nothing but vain boasting, and another sly cut at the Whigs. He says in it— ' Two months after the arrival of reinforcements from England and India, and the troops being ordered (of course by himself) to the true point of attack, has compelled the Emperor to submit to all her Majesty's just demands.' "In the first place before his arrival here the attack was not only directed, but had actually . long com menced at this true point ; and secondly, since his ar rival not a man from India has joined General Gough but - what was previously ordered by Lord Auckland, and not one of the regiments from England had, when the peace was signed, joined Gough's force, but the Em peror has been compelled to submit to all our just demands. Bravo, Conservative Ellenborougb! 'Yet this is the same individual who in Parliament was most loud in condemning the Whig policy of the war, who declared over and over again it was a most unjust and unholy war, an opium war, &c., and prognosticated all sorts of reverses ; but now our just demands are complied with ! How wonder fully office opens a man's eyes. Depend upon it, if the - Tories had been in office, there would have been no China war, because it was 500 miles from our re sources. So the Chinese might have continued to in sult us with impunity, instead of, as now, paying the piper and submitting to our just demands. " It is currently reported that the gates taken from the tomb or rather temple of Sacunauth, at Ghuznee, are intended to adorn the new House of Lords as a memorial of the prowess of the Conservative Lord Ellenborough in A ffghanistan. Depend upon it, ere long, you will hear of some strange freaks of this im becile Governor, if not speedily recalled. Both civil and military would heartily rejoice to see him safe over the surf. " Bombay, Oct. 28, 1842." The Marquis of Douglas arrived at the Duke of Hamilton's, in Portman-square, on Sunday, from Mannheim, in the Grand Ducy of Baden. 'We hear that his Lordship's marriage to her Serene Highness the Princess Mary Amelia Elizabeth Caroline of Baden, the fair and accomplished neice of the reigning Grand Duke, will be solemnised in Germany, where the illustrious fiancee, who is one of the most distin guished beauties of the Continent, resides with b tr. mother, the Grand Duchess Dowager Stephanie. THE LATE MURDER IN WHITE CROSS-STREET. The following particulars in connexion with this horrid crime explain in some degree the mysterious circumstances under which the death of Leary took place, and pending the investigation by the Coroner, will be read with interest. It appears that Meaghan, the man charged with being concerned in the murder of the deceased, is one of those tradesmen common in low and densely populated neighbourhoods, techni cally known as " shoe translators," whose business it is to purchase second-hand boots and shoes, and to restore them to a saleable condition, for the use of the humbler classes of the community. Meaghan carried on this occupation in an extensive way, and employed no less than six journeymen, all of whom boarded and lodged with their master, in White cross-street. On Christmas-day (Sunday) all the men were in vited to dine at home with the Aleaghans, and with one exception, that of John Rice, they appear to have done so. After dinner Leary (the deceased), Meaghan, his wife, and Catherine Singleton (his sister-in-law), left Whitecross-street to join a christening party at the house of a man named Regan, Meaghan's brother-in-law, who re sides in Playhouse-yard, only a few paces distant from the scene of the murder, the other per sons (with the exception of the old woman Cotter, who remained in the care of the house, and Mea- Fhan's infant child) going out at the same time. The afternoon seems to have been spent in the usual manner, and Leary left Regan's between eight and nine o'clock. Shortly after this Meaghan sent his wife out for some rum, which she returned with, and immediately after went out again. While absent on this occasion she went to Mrs. Darby's (the baker's wife), and knock ing at her door, asked permission to pass through her apartment instead of opening the shop door, assigning as a reason that she thought the servant was asleep in the back parlour, and she did not wish to disturb her. Mrs. Darby at once consented, and Aleaghan's wife entered her husband's apartments. The parlours are divided by a thin partition only, and anything which is said in a loud tone on one side can be distinctly heard on the other. A very few minutes after Mrs. Meaghan had passed through she was heard by Mr. and Mrs. Darby to go through the shop, and, opening the door, let some person in. Nothing further transpired to attract Mr. Darby's attention, until about ten o'clock, when a loud knock was heard at the shop-door, arid immediately after Meaghan's voice, in an angry tone, in the back parlour. Mr. Darby, supposed that some quarrel had originated amongst them, and dis tinctly heard Meaghan, addressing some person, say, "If you don't get out, I'll kick you out." A scuffle then ensued, which ended in the alarm being given, as deposed to by the witnesses at the examination be fore Mr. Broughton, at Worship-street, on Monday. A most important fact was communicated to the re porter yesterday by the witness Rice—viz., that the deceased and Aleaghan had recently been at variance, and that Leary, after long consideration, had finally determined on leaving Meaghan's employ on Mon day last, and had packed up his tools for that purpose on the previous Saturday. Pending the Coroner's inquiry, it would be improper to give publicity to the rumours circulated in the neighbourhood relative to the dreadful occur rence, but it may be stated that the general belief is that Meaghan's suspicion of his wife's fidelity, coupled with her sudden absence from the house of his brother-in-law, induced him to follow her home, and that some circumstance at pre sent hidden hastened the catastrophe. Much dissatisfaction has been expressed at the delay which has taken place in holding the inquest. Leary is described as having been a very respecta ble and well conducted young mon. His father is a master shoemaker at Cork, in Ireland. Leary was only 26 years of age, and had been in Meaghan's employ six years. The body of Leary has been re moved from the shop in the back parlour, and the house remains in the custody of the police. THE INQUEST. Yesterday morning, at twelve, a Jury was empan nelled before Mr. Baker, the Coroner, at the Two Brewers, Whitecross-street, to enquire into the cir cumstances attending the death of Thomas Leary, the unfortunate man so barbarously murdered in the shop of his master, Michael Meaghan, shoemaker, 187, Whitecross-street, on the night of Sunday, the 25th inst. So great was the sensation excited among the inhabitants of that quarter, that a crowd of at least 200 persons was collected about the house in which the inquest was held. Jane Darby, sworn—l am wife of John Darby, baker, 187, Whitecross-street. We call it next door to Meaghan's, but in fact it is the same shop, the two being divided by a partition, and haying a coor com municating with either, from a passage In the middle of the house. Leary was in the employment of Meagan. I was standing at the door of my shop, on Sunday afternoon, about four o'clock, when I saw the deceased, and spoke to him. He was quite well, and was at the time playing with his master's child. Mea ghan is a married man, and this child is his only one. His wife's sister, Catherine 'Singleton, is in custody as well as themselves. Meaghan's wife is much younger than her husband. I have heard that deceased worked for Meaghan before the latter was married, which is about four years ago Mrs. Meaghan returned home from the chi istening of her sister's child, between nine and ten o'clock on Sun day evening. She came to my door and asked if she could go through my house, as her own door was locked. I allowed her to do so. She was alone, and went through and shut the passage door quietly after her. The door is generally kept on the latch, and only fastened at night. She went then to the front door of her shop. I distinctly heard her do so, as the partition is very thin. I heard her open the door and saw the deceased Thomas Leary go in. I was stand ing at the corner of my window, which looks into the street, and saw him then alone. After he had gone in I heard her close the door upon them both. Ido Lot know whether Meaghan was at home, hut think he was not. I know that Mrs. Cotter was in the house (she was servant to the prisoner), because Mrs. Mea gl.an said to me, " I suppose the old lady has fallen asleep, as she has not let me in." I have not known Mrs. Meaghan let Leary in in that way before. I then went out, and did not return until after the cry of "Murder" was raised. By the CORONER—I had been to the bottom of the street to visit a neighbour, and as I approached my own door Iheard a bustle, and a man named John Rice cry " Murder" three times, and then run up the street. I did not notice any one running either way before I saw Jack (Rice). lam sure I did not see either Sin gleton or Meaghan's wife. I should have known them if I had. I, came on the opposite side of Whitecross street, in the direction of Chiswell-street, when return ing from my friend's, and there was sufficient light in the street to see any one if they had been there. By a Juror—Meaghan did not come into my shop while I was there. I was going in to the next door to see what was the matter, when Mr. Neville, a neighbour, put me back, saying, " It was no sight for me." I then went in through the passage door, and saw the deceased with his head behind the counter, and his feet towards the door. He bad a large wound beneath the left breast, from which the blood was flowing copiously. The doctor was putting brandy into deceased's mouth, to see if he was alive. He did not speak, and it was only by his slight gasping that I knew he was alive. He tried to turn away his head from the brandy, but had not strength to do so, and died in a few minutes after. William Darby, husband of the last witness, said, I did not deceased on Sunday till I saw him wounded. I did not see him let in, as I was in the bakehouse at the time. My wife let Mrs. Meaghan through. I should say it was about half-past nine then. The partition is so thin I can hear everythi ng di st i nctly, and I heard, at twenty minutes past ten, th e vo i ce o f Meaghan in hisown shop, say, " O u t w i t h you, get out with you,' as if speaking t o some one inside.' I also heard the voice of his wife, but what she said I cannot say. There was a great deal of talking be tween ttvo or three, and qua rre lling, buttl could not distinguish the voice of Leary, for the talk was so low at some times. I had customers in the shop, and did not pay much attention. I heard several pushes against the partition. as if of scuffling, then a heavy fall on the ground, and then some one ran out of the front door, and some one said in the street, "A man's throat is cut." I cannot say exactly what was the matter, but think Meaghan and his wife were quarrelling. The words, " Out with you," were before I had heard a fall or groan. The only voices I heard were those of Meaghan and his wife. I threatened the woman Cotter, when I went in, to tell me the truth, but she could not answer me, and I saw the deceased as described by my wife. A knife was at his feet ; it was much stained with blood. The man, Jack, picked it up and laid it on the coun ter. lam sure it is not an act of Jack's, but of some other person's. When I went in with sir. Bland, a tobacconist opposite, I saw Mrs. Cotter come out from the back, wringing her hands, and saying, " Oh, God, who has done this !" (The knife with which the deed was committed was shown to the Jury, and it seemed a common shoe maker's knife, such as is used for cutting leather; the blade and handle were covered with blood.) Mr. BAKER said that , in consequence of other du ties, he should be under the necessity of adjourning the hearing of any further evidence till to-day. The Hon. F. Reginald Forbes is accredited Minis ter Plenipotentiary to the Court of Saxe Coburg Gotha, in addition to his functions at Dresden ; and Mr. Barnard is to reside at Coburg, as Charge d'Affaires. The Earl of Howth has sold his hounds and horses to the officers of the garrison of Dublin. It is stated that his Lordship intends going abroad for some time, l in consequence of the death of his amiable Countess. HOUGOUMON T. (From the Newcastle Journal.) The following interesting communication has been handed to us by the writer, whose name is subscribed, and relating as it does to an event of such importance as the memorable battle on the plains of Waterloo, it will be read with much interest : " Along with the detachment of British and foreign troops which Wellington posted at Hougoumont for its defence, was a brigade of English, consisting of the Light and 7th companies of the Coldstream Guards. No sooner were the Guardsmen fairly within the chateau garden than the temptingly ripe cher ries drew their attention, and the soldiers were to be seen plucking them off the wall trees by handsful, quite regardless of the shot and shells which were incessently pouring in amongst them You scoundrels,' roared out Major James M`Don nell, the officer in command of the brigade, if I survive this day, I will punish you all.' But, alas ! before the close of the murderous struggle, how few of the cherry stealers were left for punishment in this world ! Out of 134 as smart young soldiers as ever drew a trigger (the number of the two companies), only 13 could muster when the roll was called ; and these survivors were led out of action by Corporal Smith, every other officer and non-commissioned officer being either killed or wounded. The Empe ror's commands were Carry the post,' while our Duke's were Keep it ;' and a most terrible post it was to keep. Once the French broke into the court-yard, and such a scene of bayonet work I (the narrator of this article) never be fore or since beheld. It was fairly a trial of strength—the French grenadiers were not to be trifled with, and we looked like so many butchers red with gore, or rather like so many demons rioting against fire, for the shells had set two haystacks in a blaze, and many a poor fellow, bleeding and wounded, being unable to get out of the way, was burnt to death. Shut the court-yard gates,' roared out our Serjeant Major Frazer, and keep them out,' and a rush was instantly made to the gates, the French without and the Guards within. Life and death was in the struggle, for Ney was at hand with a force that threatened destruction to the post ; but English physical strength overcame the French ardour, and the gates were closed by the power ful shoulders of Major M`Donnell, and the giant of a sergeant-major, with as many of ours as could get to them. The French, thus enclosed in the court yard, surrendered by throwing down their firelocks, and were ordered to fall back ; but they forgot the duties of prisoners. Their countrymen again charged Hougoumont with horse and foot, and partly over powered the Nassau troops, and caused them to reel a bit ; and then it was that the few Frenchmen we had taken again seized their arms, and attacked us in the rear. Fortunately the post was not carried, and now a vengeance stern and dreadful awaited the prisoners. They had grossly violated the articles of war by taking up their arms after surrendering as prisoners, and the consequence was that every one of them was put to death, some by the bayonet, and some were thrown into the blazing haystacks by our in furiated men. " Though now 27 years have rolled away since that dreadful scene took place, yet it is fresh in my mind' eye, and my ears yet tingle with the yells of these misguided Frenchmen as they were tumbled into the fiery furnace. Charge after charge, and cannonade after cannonade, were repeated on this devoted post, yet still it was not carried. During one of the charges made by the French cavalry, I could not but admire the coolness of a Highlander belonging to the 92d Re giment. Donald by some means got separated from his regiment, and could not get to it before the Cuirassiers came up : he therefore came quietly up to our post, coolly saying, Lads, I'll just fa' in wi' ye a bit—our Regiment is receiving cavalry, I see.' As one of the 13 Guardsmen who was able to muster, being unhurt, I distinctly say that I have been in many a hard fought action, and seen many an arduous struggle, but the struggle to keep the post at Hougoumont was by far the mot dreadful I ever witnessed. We might have given it up, for there was scarcely a man, either foreign or English, that was not hurt ; but then our iron Duke's orders were ' keep the post,' and keep it we did, proving, to the strictest letter, that we knew and could do our duty. " RICHARD MACLAURENCE, Pensioner. " Formerly Light Company Coldstream Guards. " Backworth Colliery, near North Shields," CHARTIST MEETING. THE MILITARY CALLED OUT.—On the 18th inst., twelve of the inhabitant householders of the township of Oldham requested the constables to call " a public meeting of the inhabitants at an early day, for the purpose of electing a delegate or delegates, to a con ference called by the Council of the Complete Suffrage Union, to he held in Birmingham, on the 27th inst., to prepare a Bill to be submitted to the Legislature, • embodying the principles and necessary details of a full, free, and fair representation of the people in the Commons House of Parliament," &c. The constables declining to call any such meeting, 18 Chartist inhabi tant householders issued public notices, on Saturday week, convening a public open-air meeting, to be held for the above purpose, on the vacant land behind the Albion Inn, on Saturday evening last, at half-past four O'clock. Shortly after the appearance of this placard, the Magistrates and head constables became aware of the nature of the meeting; and the latter intimated their belief that it would be illegal, inasmuch as it was to be held after sunset. The Magistrates having heard a report of an intention to hold the Chartist assembly by torch-light, the following notice was issued on Friday evening :—" Notice.—We, the undersigned Magistrates, acting for Oldham, having called the attention of the constables to a placard calling a public meeting to be held in the open space behind the Albion Inn, on Saturday, the 17th instant, at half-past four o'clock, and the con stables thinking such meeting is both unseasonable as to time and place, and likely to endanger the public peace of the town, in which opinion we unanimously concur, do hereby give notice that such meeting will not be permitted to be held; and we further caution the inhabitants from attending on the ground, or join ing any strangers or others who may attempt to form any such meeting. Thomas S. Mills, E. Hibbert, A:Clegg, J. Mellor, John F. Lees." Up to within a short time of the period fixed for holding the meeting, the Chartists had not abandoned their intention, and a great number of special constables assembled at the Town Hall, on the call of the Magistrates, about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon; and, shortly afterwards, a company of the 15th Regiment of Foot, amounting to 52 men, under the command of Captain Brunkett, with about 30 of the First Dragoon Guards, entered the town from Manchester, and drew up in order near the Town Ball. About an hour before the time fixed for the meeting, however, public announcements were circulated, to the effect that as the authorities prohi bited an out-door gathering, the intended meeting would be held in the Chartists' Room, Greaves-street, at six o'clock the same evening. The meeting took place at the time stated, when persons were elected delegates to attend the Birmingham Conference. The proceedings passed off in an orderly manner. The cavalry left the town on Tuesday morning. All is quiet, and there has been no riot whatever.—Man chester Guardian. VOLCANIC ORIGIN OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.— Nearly all the regions of the Pacific bear the most unequivocal marks of having been the scene of vol canic action on a vast scale, and the prevailing features of the large masses of land confirm the inference which may still be drawn from the imperfect tradi tions of the people. Some of the isles present vol canoes in a state of activity; others exhibit only the form and altitude which denote a similar origin in remote ages ; while a third class display undoubted tokens of having been violently changed by the force of subterranean fire, if not by the more sudden shock of an e arthquake. Tanna and Pico belong to the first class ; Otaheite, Huaheine and Bolabola are distinct specimens of the second; and Easter Island may be adduced as an example of the third. In this last all the rocks are black, burnt, and honeycombed ; some have the appearance of slag; nay, even the soil, which is but thinly spread over the calcined masses, bears a close resemblance to dark yellow ochre. Mr. Williams divides the islands of Plutonic origin into two orders, the Mountainous and the Hilly. In the former, the height of the land varies from 'l,OOO to 15,000 feet above the level of the sea, the towering summits gradually rising from their base till they are lost in the clouds. The sides of these magnificent elevations are clothed with bright verdure of various shades, blending together in a very striking manner the elements of grandeur, wildness, sublimity, and beauty. All the islands of this class exhibit indubi table marks of volcanic eruption. In many of them the rocks are composed of a fine-grained basalt ; in others pumice is found, together with stones of varied • appearance, which have evidently undergone the action of fire. It is clear, moreover, that all these islands have at one time been under water; for at the top of the highest peaks, coral, shells, and other marine sub stances, are seen in great abundance. The savage and romantic appearance of the rocks, their broken, abrupt, and irregular forms, also indicate that at some remote era they have been subjected to disrup tion by the power of some mighty agent affecting their interior.—Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. XXXIII. Polynesia. A day mail has now commenced running between London and Cambridge. Letters for Lo n don , by this mail, must he posted before I 5 minutes past 11, a.m., at which time the letter-box closes. The mail arrives from London at 40 minutes past 3 p.m., and the letters and papers are delivered at the office win dow, and by the letter-carriers, as soon as sorted. The general delivery has commenced at present, at 15 minutes past four in the afternoon. —Cambridge Ad vertiser. A man in Missouri planted some beans late one afternoon, and ue3t morning they were up --thanks . to his hem. THE MARBLES FROM THE VAL LEY OF ZANTHITS. The arrival in England of the sculptures, orna ments, and monuments from the " valley of the Xanthus," where they have long lain in oblivion, until discovered four summers since by our enter prising countryman, Mr. Fellows, has created no small sensation among the classical antiquarians of the day. They are destined to enrich the apartments of the British Museum, and to add another store of trophies to the splendid accumulations of ancient art already gathered within its walls. But the literati of the day have to expect a ~ e t higher gratification, when the infeipreter of the } riezes of the Parthenon, and the glories of the age of Pericles, Ns ith other erudite scholars of the Museum, shall have cast the light of his learning upon the works of Lycia, which are admirable and perfect in their style and order. Oor readers may be pleased with an account of the discovery of these remains, as well as a specification of many of them which are about to adorn our metro politan institution. The beans and vetches were in bloom, when, in the April of 1840, Mr. Charles Fellows found himself in the valley of the Xanthus, bent on exploring the ar chitectural relics and sculptures which, illustrated by the language of Lycia, he knew to be treasured up for the antiquary in these long unvisited parts. For those who are jealous of geography, it may be as well to state the positi on of X - anthus. If the map be consulted, it will be found to lie on a point of the western coast of the promontory of Lycia, removed at a small distance from the Gulf of Slacry, and com manding from its harbour, which is bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterrannean, a fine view of the island of Rhodes, which lies within bowshot. This harbour is now rich in shrubs, and clustered with palm-trees. The river Xanthus, which receives its name (yellow) from its muddy colour, flows on the north of the city of Xanthus, which anciently rose on its bank ; but a great portion of it, like its once splendid bay, is now only a desert of moving sand, marked alone by the silver windings of the river to wards the sea. Colonel Leake, and others, have men tioned that the valley of the Xanthus had not been ex plored by Europeans. Mr. Fellowes was the first b prove an exception to the rule. It was here, then, that the tombs, and objects of other high interest to the antiquarian, sculptor, and artist appeared, and beside which, from day to day, Mr. Fellows pitched his tent. The ruins of the city of Xanthus, imme diately overhanging the river, were the first to rivet his attention. Beautiful tombs carved into the rocks surrounded him on every side, inscribed with innu merable and very perfect inscriptions in the Phoeni cian and Etruscan. Temples, triumphal arches, walls, and a theatre, crowded with elegant designs, and rich in poetical bas-reliefs and friezes, appeared on the rocks, rising perpendicularly from the river. It would be useless to recount a third part of the rich fragmentary sculptures, which, in the shapes of peices of porticos, pediments, reliefs, masonry, mar bles, and sarcophagi, form the crowded collection about to be placed at the study and disposal of the British people, so soon as time and labour shall have sufficiently assorted and prepared them for public view. The following are a few of the finer speci mens discovered. An obelisk, with an inscription exceeding 250 lines : not quite perfect, time or an earthquake hav ing split off the upper part. This is a very important monument, having on its north-east side a portion of the inscription in the early Greek language : these letters are comparatively ill cut. The subject is funereal, and relates to a King of Lycia. This will form the proudest addition to the British Museum if the whole. 1 sarcophagus, entirely of white marble, which stood on the top of a hill. On the top is a hunting scene, the figures well formed and finished. Lions' heads decorate the sides of it, and a chariotee - t,-- with his horses, group above. Low on the side of the tomb are a variety of erect figures, attired gracefully. On the other side is a battle-scene. The inscription is partially illegible. Another tomb, or high square pedestal, situated near the theatre at Xanthus, with curious mythical bas-reliefs with a variety of figures, about three feet high, and well executed in white marble. The com partments in which these appear are about nine feet in length, forming the top of the tomb, and are raised nearly twenty feet from the ground, upon a square pedestal of grey-stone. This tomb has no inscription. Fragments found in the walls of the Acropolis, consisting of a great number of beautifully wrought marbles. Lions, warriors, chariots and horses are to be traced in many fragments, and birds, like our game-cocks or pheasants fighting. A series of pretty friezes, about ten or twelve feet long, and one in width, representing small dancing figures with flying drapery : more than fifteen of them were remaining on the spot. The theatre has afforded some splendid specimens. The seats were not only of marble, but that highly wrought and polished, with each seat having an over hanging cornice, often supported by lion's paws. Cornices and masks also abound. All the pieces of sculpture brought over, indeed, are of a pure Greek date, and the subjects cannot fail to be of vast interest to the mythologist and student of the Greek games. Flos, Heracleia, and Kopalle, _ _ three cities, all situated in the same vallev, which is accounted one of the most lovely of Asia Minor, have contributed also to swell the calalogue of these archi- tectural treasures. When it is considered that these remains possess some of the earliest Archaic sculpture in Asia Minor, and this connected with the most beautiful of its mo numents, and illustrated by the language of Lycia— these sculptures, the work of the sixth or seventh cen turies before the Christian era—and altogether in the character of their art, Greek, fine, bold, and simple, rationally may it be supposed that a treat, second only, perhaps, to that afforded by the. , Elgin marbles, is promised to the antiquarian and scholar. PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 27.—1 t seems that the Admi ralty have determined that the inhabitants of Ports mouth shall have the advantage which would accrue to them by the paying off the Cambridge at this port. Although her three years period of commission has expired within a month, she has been ordered to refit, and proceed to Plymouth, where, as a matter of course, she will be dismantled and laid up. The re cent Conservative demonstration there may account for such favour being shown to those in the West ; and as to the expense, it is of no moment when poli tical partisans are to be served. AFFAIR or HONOUR IN CLIFDEN.--A hostile meet ing took place at Clifden, on Wednesday last, between Henry Ainsworth Hildebrand, Esq., of Boffin, and Patrick Bowes Daly, Esq., brother of the Rev. Doctor Daly of Galway. The parties, attended by their friends, Wm. Connevs, Esq., of Augbris, for the former, and Francis Browne, Esq., for the latter, met in a field near Clifden Castle. After an exchange o shots, Mr. Hildebrand apologised in suitable terms, and they left the ground perfectly reconciled. The quarrel arose out of a discussion on National Educa tion, which took place at a private party given at the house of Dr. Herald. Morgan, and at which both gentlemen were g uests.— Tuam THE ARMIES OF GERMANY.—The Allgemeine Zeitung, of the 21st instant, mentions a plan as having been in agitation for some time for an annual meeting of officers from all the armies belengint; to the Ger man Confederation. The object of this annual re union is, to afford opportunities for personal acquaint ance to officers who, in case of a war, would, it is hoped, be called on to fight side by side. The laudable zeal which at present prevails in Germany for everything that may tend to promte that union and nationality which alone can make the Germans strong as a people, makes it extremely probable that the proposed plan will be warmly taken up, and will meet with much favour among civilians as well as among military men. It is proposed that the first meeting should take place at Leipzic, near which city the great battle was fought, the " Volkerschlacht," as it is still called there, the happy issue of which rescued Germany from the degrading thraldom to which it had been subjected by the victories of Napoleon. We are enabled to state that the King of Prussia has consented to become the arbitrator between France and England upon the difficult and long-contested subject of the Portendic claims.—Evening• paper. As a party of revenue police were searching for poteen through the mountains of Barnes this week, they discovered a still-house, in which was a still at full work, and round the fire lay two men in a state of insensibility from intoxication, and another man quite dead. 'The police did all in their power to re store animation, but in vain ; the unfortunate man was called before his Maker while in a state of drunken. ness. The two other men are slowly recovering. Private distillation to a great extent is going on throughout this and the neighbouring counties.— Ballyxhannon Herald. COLI3URNIS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND 1111- MOURIST.—Under the Editorship - 4)f that Prince ow Humourists, Thomas Hood, and with the aid of ht own numerous contributions, and those of the most distinguished writers of the day, this favourite Maga. zine maintains its high position among our Monthl3 periodicals. The First Number for the New Yew, will present, we understand, some unusually attra.o• tive features ; the commencement of the publication o the Letters of the celebrated Lady Hester Stanhop being one ; and among other popular contributors t, the January Number are the Editor, Thomas Hood Barry Cornwall, J. Sheridan Knowles, Horace Smith " Peter Priggins," Laman Blanchard, Mra. 'Trollope W. T. Moncrieff, the Old Forest Ranger, the Medica Student, &c., &c., and we would recommend those wir are desirous to commence taking in this attractiv , Miscellany to lose no time in sendini their orders t their 4Dooli4ellers, so as to secuie the January Numb,