The Sun. — London, England, 1849-03-08 00:00:00

light XAGAZIN.ES, - COI7I i UED.) NE IV MO 2% . 771 L The New Monthly for MAreh of more than Usual fixcelience. It opens with a ch,pter of Soupy Sponge's Sporting Tour," which brings us to the eve of the monien-ous fox-hunt. It is appro priately left for Apiil Fools'-dly to tell the result of the expected trial or !kill. The second paper of this number of the New Monthly is the most interesting, . 1 1 brief . but m o s t w r a phi c : ket c h o f " A hu r ric a n e M Antigua," by Captain Mack;nnon. The narrator Was on a visit to a friend at Dry Hill-house, in tle ,vicinity of St. John's, the capital of Antigua. The nay, thencetorwsrd " memorable in the annals of that unfortunate island," broke with unusual splendour, and the stranger could hardly cre-lit the prediction of 11 li host, rendered wi,e by thirty years' re indence in the West ladies, that " a terrible day was before them. There was a hurri cane in the air." The whole household was im mediately in violent commotion, one negro woman almost turned pale with fiar. A huge trap door was opened leading cliwn ti a spacious cellar, contrived as a place of refuge during hurricanes, into which all portable articles were at once transported. The barometer continued steadily falling throughout the triwning. After noon a light breezy sprang up—by three o'clock a furious gale wee raging, which rapidly increased in violence. We quote Captain Mackinnon's vivid description of what followed : " Darkness now closed upon us. The violence of the tempest waxed strong , r and stronger; the noise in creased to such an overwhelming roar, that the strongest ()tint s of the human voice in elutes! proximity, became totally ust hss ; they ware a, a whisper in the ears of death, unheard,' Loud cracks now gave notice that the house b( gen to complain. The women and children Were immediately roused from their sitting position, and by signs, desired to go below. Ttlis movement was speedily effected, and the ground floor was left in pos session of the manager and myself. Our attention was note divided betwe e n the barometer, which fortunately hung near the open trap-door (our last retreat.), and the perilous vibration of the building. The walls appeared to bend and give before the raging blast. " Suddenly, a violent shock was felt, sending a thrill to our hearts. This was afterwards ascertained to be caused by the demolition of the kitchen, stable, and out houses adjoining the dwelling, which, with all their contents, had Hewn away on the wings of the wind. Net a vestige was ever recovered or seen. Numerous smaller shocks succeeded, like reports of cannon. Huge stones hurtled through the air, battering and tearing away the verandahs that surrounded the house.* "At this time, the barometer had fallen to 2.8.50. We felt, or fancied we felt, the house giving way. 'faking a farewell look at our faithful monitor, we prepared to de scend into the cellar. To my intense astuniahment, the mercury suddenly fell a quarter of an inch. In the , tzcitement of the moment, I seized hold of the manager, roaring the information in his ear; but, as before, the human voice was of no avail in such a turmoil. B) dumb show, I succeeded. " On a sudd en , we w e re aware of a marvellous change in the state of things. Great heaven!' I ejaculated, what can this mean?' "There was a dead calm—a profound silence, disturbed only by the low wailing sobs and incoherent prayers of the women and children in the cellar. We were in the Vortex of the hurricane! It is impossible to describe the horror of this period. A door was unbarred and ..OPened, and, with a lighted candle, I stepped out. The. "arcle took its upward course steadily. All around was black, and calm, and silent. = "But the stillness was of brief duration. In a short time, a distant rumbling noise was heard, when I quickly re-entered the house, drawing bolt and bar. A slight • tremor shook the ground: au earthquake was added to our ills. Again came the hurricane from the opposite quarter, overwhelming our senses with its fierce impetu 4 . ° 'itY• The house, already shaken, now rocked to and 're, threatening instant destruction. We immediately d escended into the cellar, fastening down the trap-door With a strong lashing. During several dreary hours, we remained in suspense, stunned by the hellish disturbance over head, our b clings being occasionally varied by the horribl e and aiekeraug sensation of the earthquake. Some bottles were thrown down by the agitation of the ground, and the long rows of rum-casks heaved and fed. " At four, A .M., there was a sensible diminution of the g a le- We proceeded carefully to unfasten the trap floort. On its falling back, the moon was plainly visible, Grovina light on groups of dense, black clouds, driving ! f uriou s ly': across the heavens. Nothing was above us but th e sky! The upper part of the house was gone!" A well-deserved eulogium of "King Arthur" is followed by the adventures of " Sir %Vigolais of the Wheel," one of the Knights of the Round Table, Whose marvellous exploits are worthy of a stanza in t he epic. 'The first chapter has a somewhat unro nznantic heading—" How Sir \Vigolais set out for "rotin, accompanied by a Sulky Damsel!" The 11101 '4 important contributions to the New Monthly are a continuation of " Men and Things in the New World of Australia ;" " A Walk in the Landes of atrotieie.. Bo rdeaux," by Francis Ainsworth ; a well-written on " Colonies and Colonists," by W. H. G. Kingston ; and " Beggars and Almsgivers," in which the so-called charity of giving alma to street-beggars !s severely, almost too severely, reprobated. There Is, nevertlielc SS, a great deal of truth in the writer's stricture. A I A'S WORT II The encounter between Crichton and his invete terate enemy, Vincenzo de Gonzagr, is described in the present 'instalment of " Crichton," in Mr. Aips- Worth's happiest ! manner. We are for the time transp orte d to t h e tournamen t fi e ld, an d th e admirable il lustration of Ilablot K. Browne is not required to bring the combatants I.efore our eyes. The " pro c ession," by the same artist, is well designed, but is Trip somewh a t indistinct in the engraving. "A - "IP to the Unknown Gold Mountain or California," undertaken under the direction of " The Grand Auriferous, - Stultiferous, Assiniferous, Califor. At ari Bamboozle Company," is an amusing satire upon the present California mania, b . ) t ‘ r • 11 . G. Kingston. " Pyrotechnics versus Elec .c telegraphs" gives a report of a public meeting of pyrotechnics, which it seems was held the other Qte ning at the " Fireworks Manufactory," for the Purpose of getting up a society for the suppression e lectric telegraphs. The first speaker was " a young who gave in his name as Gun Cotton." his ; had was o f a d e li ca t e t a llowy white, and h e ltd the a pp earance of bei n g " u se d up," as Cha r l es Mathews would say. Ladies also were present at t h. meeting, Miss Catherine Wheel being one of the s peaker s . D ur i ng t h e con f us i on G un Cott o n got s o h eated, that he suddenly exploied and went off it, a , W hite smoke. Shortly afterwards the meeting was ill uminated by a stream of light " from the opposi " shop over the way, where a mad fellow called Electric Light was addressing the mob from the top of .- • a ' , " A Day's Adventures in Fatherland" the title of a romantic tale by Thomas Roscoe. the Countess of Rudolstadt," and thedlumestead, i Lower Britanny," are continued. " Cambrian ;tales" and " Jacob van der Nees" finish the cata I° gUe cf the contents of Ainsworth. TAIT. There is a ver y ag reeable diver s ity o f su bj ec t s i n the number for the blustering month of March. One h!ticl e —an intelligent one, meriting perusal—is colo lal, relating to our " Canadian Possessions.' Another, B.e Pgraphical and entertaining, is an account of " Re- Tint Australian Discoveries." A third is biographical, being a criticism upon Mr. Foss ' s lately published volumes on the " Judges of England." A fourth is znonetary, being a retrospect of thc " Railway and Joint-Stock Business of the Month." A fifth is fiapiose and discursive, being a continuation of the description of the Dee among the number of " Scottish Rivers." Besides these there are— a rapid narrative of the succession of occurrence 3 in " Revolutionized Italy ;" an artistic celebration of the " Royal Scottish Academy's Exhibition for 1849 ;" and some additional chapters of Mr. Percy St. John's enthralling talc of the great French Revolu tl ", " Miranda." The last mentioned has long been, r 1 ( . 1 still continues to be, the principal attraction of t he magazine. A few miscellaneous verses by several of the letters of the alphabet, together with the us ual Literary and Political Registers, complete the current number. DUBLIN UNIVERSITY. The present number fully sustains the well-earned tene which this periodical has won amongst its con; rn Peraries. The first paper, a notice of Mr. Dennis s I ' Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria," is a very able and Jus t criti c i sm on th a t gen tl eman ' s most interesting ° tic, and will be read with pleasure by all of classic b a te and l ea r n i n g. " The Massacre of St. Bartho. t r l,- "ew" is a full and graphic account of that horrible gedy, collated from the " Correspondence of the e r eneh Ambassadors in England with their own ~G ur t," and several other authentic sources. " Waren ; v-r t he Oracular Afflatus of the Hiodoos:" these etche s conta i n a d eta il o f ver y extraor di nary f acts, •d will prove intensely interesting to the inquirer, it ito physical and psychological phenomena, and may p4r haps throw some new light upon the great mod ern ' st ery animal magnetism. The biographical sket c h W t)f ~ Mr• the eminent Irish barri,ter, doe, .u.rlite credit to the biographer. It is graceful t e T l eut flattery, ample and truthful without bei ng p h „. l°ll s ; and most fully can we concur with the ` :ter - in the reg r e t he expresses, when he exclai ms , th e ‘iftim, too often, in this unhappy country do we earnest, honest man, who his spent his life in unre ezetlng toil, who has worked his own way, by his owl. c e j ti °us, who has never stooped to unseemly acts, nor it;"Prunaised the character of his profession by trading th o P°lit ics—who has never th.viated from the straight 444 '0 rugged path which leads to fame, although he ni 4d cis Foremost in the rank of his profession, though he fo r h `Pired for his ability and acquirements, and esteemed ri , fri : 3 atepri worth—how often du we see such a one Pa?r e cteci y h who are the dispensers of official ad" 4a ge, while the political charlatan, the dishone,:t b ad neuter, the obscure practitioner, who has Rout recourse to acts to which no man of honour lit QoP.--his inferior in every acquirement which can diAinguisli a lawyer, and every quality which ran adorn a man—is lifted over his head. Alas! it is true, too true. In Ireland. in the distribution of political patronage, merit is very r.rely the test. Genius, learnin,t, wit, and cloquercc are left neglected in the shade, while political tergiversation and profligacy, empty bluster and factious agitation, often carry off the prize." The etching is most accurate and life-like. A paper on " The Poor-laws, Potatoe Disease, and Free Trade," is well worthy of perusal. A series of tales. classica ly and gracefully written, entitled " The Seamen of the Cyclades," will also be read with pleasure. The next paper is " A few Plain Words to the People of England, respecting the State of Na tional Education in Ireland." This paper is ably written, and puts forward the views of certain par ties in Ireland conscientiously opposed to the present system of national education ; and though we are among the most strenuous advocates for the present s 3 stem, yet, if any too rigid rule could be relaxed, so as to throw open to all sects and parties the benefits of education, and relieve the ten der consciences of all denominations of our fellow.. Christians, it would give us sincere pleasure. The next paper is a notice of a very able work by Surgeon Wilde, "The Closing Years of Dean Swift's Life," a work manhesting the deep research, minute ob servation, and untiring industry of the learned author. Next follows a continuation of "Ceylon and the Cin galese," playful, witty, and instructive as usual. 'There is a notice of a new novel, "illy Uncle the Curate," by the author of " The Bachelor of Albany" and "The 'Falcon Family." The number closes with a powerful and argumentative article, entitled " The Times,' the Poor-law, and the Poor-law Committee." We regret our space will not allow us to follow the able writer through the whole subject, but . we cannot avoid giving his answer to the question, " Why the British public should pay the heavy costs of our social revolution ?" as indicating the views of many Irish gentlemen.—" We are free to confess we know but one reason—the fact that they have caused it. The poor. law is their infliction upon Ireland. It wa, enacted and carried into effect against the will of the Irish people and their representatives, and fur the ad. vantage of the British public"—" and we only re quire :that Great Britain shall contribute to the poor law, regarded in its aspect of benevolence, according to her ability, and that as a penal infliction she shall bear her portion also." INCIAL frcm house, o dis• Agent, kston. 1, New or king, Bo!ton G►if , New IV; St. , Bus• back, Rim retup- t sail ItrlVlr, Cran© ' riton, , New , New e, St. r, Tri ro for !Amer, ;resle, in the ,press, New- New e, for h, for tron,l ough- 1. 7. ne re- ra 150 Intine wn to h, or ports a ex- i qua- 28. )o1 to V) and 3d; aid o-day o the ittun, 6d to ecru other to 45; k, 3 6 245; ;offs, very 4i t) is 41 foyer 1_ per 133 ; 55 to trade lOs ; 11 9$ es. •f th• Wales EAR. 1 104 !Inn, ).g. lb- to A ired frs ; ncil, Frs ; sg [is THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 8, 1849 THE BANKERS'. Several important and tncst interesting subjects are discussed in the present number of our talented con temporary. The first paper relates to the " Expected Supply of Gold from California." The results o!' a vast increase of the precious metals on our currency is discussed with considerable ability. Our contempo rary sums up the advantages that may be expected from the influx of gold in the following manner : " We expect that a great impetus will be given to the trade of the country. The demand for our manufactures in exchange for gold will be certainly increased. Not only California, but the United States also, will find the products of Manchester and Leeds more useful than the diggings. The question may be very fairly put, If a miner at St. Francisco will give an ounce of gold for a seidlitz powder, what would he give for a yard of broad cloth, or a roll of linen ?' It will soon be discovered that gold itself is not wealth ; that it is only a means for enjoy• went, and that the productions of the mine, the loom, and of the colonies of the United Kingdom, are very use ful (quivalents tor the gold of California." There is also an admirable " Review of the recent Parliamew,ary Inquiry into the Commercial Distress 011847," in which the report of the Lords' Committee is ably defended. In " Letters to a Branch Mana ger," Thomas Bullion concludes his observations on " Discount, , ," and touches on " Rivalry in Banking." There is a variety of valuable intbrmation on com mercial subject, and a few interesting papers on banking and commercial law. There is but one part we could have desired omitted. In the "Railway Digest" certain observations are given respecting the half-yearly accounts of the principal railway companies of a de preciating tendency. Our contemporary expressos an opinion that " too unfavourable a view is taken of railway property and prospects ;" then why give additional currency by admitting the too unfavour able views into its pages ? In every other respect we approve highly of the number for the present month. DOLMAN. Latterly the chief interest in Dolman's Magazine, even to the Catholic reader, must be said to have ex isted in its foreign intelligence. In the number for March, however, there are two or three enter taining contributions, such as the serial called " The Catholic at Sea," and a story entitled " Casting the Grapnel," besides an ingenious paper upon that inex haustible theme even to the witty scribes and draughts men of Punch—the gold region of California. THE BELLE ASSEMBLEE. The Belle Assemblee this month contains a beautifully engraved portrait of Jenny Dennison, the skilful abigail of " Old Mortality." Jenny is represented holding up in one hand a silver piece, and with the other pretending to open the door in order to depart, the successful feint by which she finally overcame the scruples of the gaol-keeper, and enabled tier mistress to enter the prison. The literary con tents are, as usual, of very varied character. A "Tale of th , ..1 Passions and Sentiments—the Wife and Mother," gives a mournful but very effective instance of the sad consequences of a want of self-government. THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL. The People's Journal endeavours, and generally with success, to instruct while it entertains, and to improve while it interests its readers. One of the most interesting and useful articles it has recently given is a history of Mr. Banvard and his Panorama, As another instance of the power of perseverance, we quote a passage which tells of the difficulties over come by the painter. The whole article is worth perusal : " We next find him the proprietor of the St. Louis Niuseutn, which he putchased; but this speculation also proved a failure. He remained in St. Louis just long enough to lose all his hard-earned gains. After visiting Cincinnati, where he was very unsuccessful, he procured a small boat, with which ho started down the Ohio, without a shilling in his pocket, living frequently upon nuts which he gathered in the woods. He cous inneed trading in a small way; first selling a pistol .which had cost him twelve dollars at St. Louis for twenty-five, with which sum he speculated till he found himself master of several thousand dollars. With the capital thus accumulated, he commenced his daring ex pedition down the Mississippi. For the purpose of tak ing the sketches for his giant picture, he travelled thou sands of mil( s in an open skiff; and though not more than twenty-two years of age, encountered extreme peril and danger in the pursuit of his darling scheme, that of producing the largest painting in the world.' His hands became hardened by constant plying at the oar, and his ski❑ became as tawny as an Indian's, from constant exposure to the weather. His bed was fre ventry nothing more than the soft bottom of some sandy cove, or the leaves of the cotton trees which grow in AIM luxuriance upon the banks of the river. With his gun to provide him with game for food, and his ch-book and pencils, he passed several 3 ears of his life. But he is reaping the harvest of all this toil and danger, in the approbation of thousands of all classes, both among his own countrymen and ours. "In this undertaking the character of the man may be discovered. To a lore of the romantic and the beauti ful he unites the most daring perseverance, and the greatest patience and activity. When his drawings were completed, he erected a wooden building at Louisville, ICentucky, to transfer them to canvas. His object in painting and exhibiting his picture in the West was, that those who were familiar with the scenes depicted might see and judge of its correctness. When his pa norama was nearly completed his funds were exhausted, and he applied to the merchant who had supplied him with canvas, and with whom he had spell bundr,ds of dollars, for credit, offering to deposit his unfinished painting; but—to the merchant's shame be it said—he refused to accede to his request. No way dismayed, he looked about him, and obtained a commission to deco rate an Odd-fellow's lodge, and, with the money so pro cured, finished his great undertaking. Even when completed he was not enabled to exhibit it without a further sacrifice. The gas company refused to supply him with light unless he deposited double the amount of the fixtures in their bank. To raise the ne cessary funds for this purpose, he gave to the city autho rities a valuable piece of philosophical apparatus, in re turn for the price of fifty admission tickets. Instead of tieing proud of the painting, the city authorities taxed his exhibition, and it was not without the greatest perse verance ho could persuade the public to visit it. For the first day he opened, nut a single person visited him. At night he went out among the boatmen, and distributed iickets among them, telling them it was a picture of their own river, and inviting them to come and see it. The boatmen were delighted with the exhibition, and spread such a report of its beauty and faithfulness, that crowds soon came to examine it. " After exhibiting his panorama for "01110 time, he carrn.d it to Boston and New York, and admiring thou sands came to inspect it. And now he has come t , ) London, and is nightly exhibiting his stupendous work to crowds." BENTLEY'S STANDARD LIBRARY.- The History of Scotland By Robert Chambers. We have ulreadv frequently spoken in terms of commendation of Bentley's Standard Library, and every succeeding number of that publication attests the justice of that commendation. Awhile ago we were presented with a picture of " California," which was followed last month by Fairholt's " Eccentric and Remarkable Characters ;" and, as if to show the diversified nature of this library, this month it gives us Chambers's excellent " History of Scotland." The history of Scotland is, perhaps, the most interesting of all modern histories ; in its pages romance is reality, and reality is romantic. SHARPE' S LONDON MAGAZINE. Sharpe's contains as usual two illustrations —one, a view in 13ritany, is remarkable for the clearness of the engraving, which gives it a very beautiful effect, the other represents " Lord Ullin's Daughter," as she is being annihilated by the "stormy water." Part of the picture shows the father "left lamenting" on the shore. This is the first of a series of illustrations of the British ballads with which Sharpe proposes t o favour his readers. Under tiw head of " Curio'sities of Science" are a variety of useful and interesting paragraphs collected from various sources. " Lewis Arundel " is continued, as is also Mrs. Cowden Clarke's paper on Shakspere, &c. &c. THE BRITISH POLITICAL, COMMER CIAL, ECCLESIASTICAL, AND HISTO. RICAL GAZETEER, TRAVELLING ROAD-BOOK, AND COUNTY ATLAS. By .11 G. Collins. Tne third part of this very enterprising work has just reached us. It fulfils the promise of the former parts in every particular, and •we can confidently commend it to the consideration of the public. Its statistical information appears to be derived from the most authentic sources. It inves is every village and hamlet with a new interest, all useful information connected with each is fully supplied, and no historic record is forgotten. When per:eet it will form a most interesting and attractive volume of English history, The maps could not wall be exceeded in accuracy and beauty. 'We trust the labours of the proprietors will be properly appreciated. THE POTTLETON LEGACY._ By Alber, Smith. Parts VI. awl VII. The Pottleton Legacy still continues its career right merrily. These parts are full of amusing read ing, and the illustrations are admirable. We com mend the following extracts from Purt VII. to the care ful perusal of all " Sisters of Mercy," " Sisters of Charity," et hoc genus oinne. The scene is in Mr. Twinch's parlour, and the actors are Mr. Twinch and his sisters—Septimus Twinch /ortitur " • District Visiting, indeed stuff ! What is it ? Nothing !' It is everything, Septimus.' " 'Pooh! It would be if it did them good, but it don't. It worries them. What do you do? Go and poke about amongst a let of poor devils who haven't a halfpenny to bless themselves with, to see that their house is " clean," and their brats well " brought up."' " But is there any harm in that, Septimus?' "' Not in the least, if you gave them anything to make up for the intrusion. It's as much their own private home as this is ours. But you don't.' " Don't 1' "'No, don't ! I don't call a bundle of dreary books, that you get wholesale at three for a penny, any pre. ,ent—books that they never hive the time to, and some times can't, read. Why don't you gire them bread, or bacon, or beef, instead? Besides, you hold out a pre mium for filth.' " Septirnus 1' " You do. When you find a nest, clean family, you say to yourselves they look comfortably off ; and never send them a coal or a blanket in consequence. But it you come upon a hovel of dirty drunken never-do-wells, with ragless children, and everything that could be sold parted with for liquor, you mag about their.destitu tion, and work up sympathy. Bahl it's enough to make one sick.' "4 But, Mr. Page-' Fiddle, Mr. Page 1 He would be a good fellow if you'd let him; but you've spoilt him. You hunt him to death. There is no reality in what you do ; its a clutch of despair at a floating straw, and poor Page is the straw.' "' I don't understand what you mean,' exclaimed both sisters at once. "' Yes, you do. Your feeling is not religion ; its perverted excitement. Out of every hundred district pokers, I'd be bound you would find a clear ',inlay old maids.'" CLEMENT LORIMER. Parts IV. and V. By Angus B. Beach. The interest of the tale is wrought up to a fearfti degree of intensity in these parts. Mr. Angus .13_ Reach is as great a favourite with the tragic as with the comic muse. Having already acquired name and fame as one of the first comic writers of the day, he now puts in a claim to equal rank among the poets of the wild, the terrible, and the sublime, and he has shown in " Clement Lorimer" that the rival of Dickens may be at the same time the rival of Ann Radcliffe or M. G. Lewis. THE MIRROR. The Mirror for March commences with a well written review of the recently published " History of 1848," by Mr. Walter K. Kelly. The writer in the Mirror is disposed to regard M. Ledru Rollin in much more favourable light than he has been gene rally regarded in this country, and protests against the severity with which he is treated by Mr. Kelly. Although we do not appreciate so highly as does the writer in the Mirror the character of Ledru Rollin, although we disapprove entirely of many of his pro ceedings, yet we cannot but wish that some of his colleagues in the Provisional Govern ment and in the Executive Committee had possessed his energy cf character and determination of purpose. Had such been the case, there would have been no re action, The Liberals have, however, learned wisdom by experience. "If it was na weel bobbit, We'll bob it again." And the next time they will recollect the fate of Robert Blum, and act accordingly. This notice is followed by an interesting Indian tale from the pen of Mr. Percy B. St. John, entitled, the " White Rose." From the " Adventures of a French Repub lican," by the same author, we extract the following account of the first overt act of the French Revolu- tion of 1830. For the accuracy of the description we can vouch from our personal knowledge. The scene took place at the office of the Temps newspa per, in the Rue Richelieu, on the morning of the 26th July. The paper had been published in contraven tion of the ordinances, and the Commissary of Police, accompanied by a detachment of horse gendarmerie, knocked at the gatea of the court-yard in which the establishment was situated : " The double doors flew open, and showed the pro prietor of the paper, M. Baude, bare headed, and sur rounded by his editors, readers, printers, &c. " The commissary of police advanced, and announced that his mission was to sieze the printing-presses of the paper, which had illegally appeared that morning. He spoke with hesitation, and with pallid cheek, the mein of all was so solemn, and the very gendarmes looked sulky. " B is in 'virtue of the edict,' said M. Baude, that you come to touch my presses. In the name of the law, I bid you respect my property.' " Monsieur,' replied the commissary, I must obey my orders. In the name of the King, I bid you open your doors.' " Monsieur the commissary,' continued M. Muk, my doors are locked and padlocked; the key is in my possession. Break open the doors at your peril.' " I must pick your locks,' said the commissary, firmly—though pale as death—' go fetch a locksmith.' " A man went. The crowd increased, and began to growl. The gendarmes sat sullen on their horses. " A locksmith came with his tools. " ' Pick that lock,' said the commissary, who wore the marks of his office. " The locksmith advanced to obey. Ile was an honest workman, about to do a job for his daily bread. " Stop,' said M. Baude—drawing a book from his pocket, and reading aloud the clause in the code civil which punishes severely robbery with violence in a dwelling-house—(vol avec ejfractivn). " Open these locks at your peril,' said M. Baude—a tall venerable man, of rude aspect—' this man'—point ing to the commissary of police—' comes to steal my presses : beware being his accomplice.' " I will guarantee you,' said the commissary, se verely—' do as I tell you : pick the lock.' " The blacksmith—who had taken off his cap while the article of the code civil was being read—hesitated. " Obey,' continued the commissary, the law will bear you harmless ; and here are ten francs for our labour.' " • Obey,' said M. Baude, coolly, ' it is only hard la bour for life. Gentlemen,' turning to the crowd, ' you will bs my witnesses before the Court of Assists.' " A pocket-book was handed round: every man pre sent wrote his name and address. Despise this mummery,' said the commissary of police, angrily. " The locksmith shook his head, threw his basket of tools over his shoulder, and turned away. " The law seems against you, M. the commissary,' he said, with the slyness of a true Parisian. " The crowd applauded, and bore him away in triumph. " Fetch me another serrurier,' said the magistrate, moodily; for he saw that his obedience to his orders was kindling the flame of insurrection. " Another came. He declined equally. " The commissary turned to a gendarme. " Hide to the prefecture, and bring me Michel, the locksmith of the prison.' " The mob hooted, for this man was the one who fas tened the chains on the convicts. " A suddea motion took place in the ranks of the gendarmerie. •° What is it?' said the commissary. " • A barricade is rising at the bottom of the street.' " Gallop off and disperse the mob,' said the commis• sary. " The gendarmes galloped away." The other papers of the Mirror are of a very inter esting character. " The Murdered Post-boy," by W. H. Maxwell, is especially worthy of perusal. .WSCELLANEOUS. "The Storm and the Conflict" is continued with spirit in the new number of the Metropolitan. The editor has contributed a paper on "Cigars and Tobacco," in which he bestows unmeasured commendations on the fragrant weed. According to him, modern history begins with Sir Walter Raleigh. The greatest achievements► of science and philosophy followed on the introduction of tobacco ! Right eloquently does he defend his favourite practice from all fault finders. Smoking, he says, is called " low" only by " women without susceptibility and men without sense." He enumerates a multitude of illustrious smokers, from Sir Isaac Newton to Lord Byron, and finally sums up his eutogium by citing the genuine smoker as in all respects a "model man." In addition to these articles, the Metropolitan contains a variety of prose and poetic contributions.-- The Sporting Review contains a beautiful engraving of St. Lawrence, the winner of the Cheater Cup, 1847, and a spirited representation—" all but bagged !"—of the last effort at escape of a wounded duck with an eager spaniel close upon it. Among the literary contents of the Sporting are "Hunting and the Million," by Harry Hieover, " Sketches from the Cape of Good Hope," " Bath and . Bristol Steeplechases," " The Turf," &c., &c.—The Farmers' Magazine has " portraits" of a magnificent " Hereford Ox" and a " Cart Stallion."—The Farmers' Magazine, as usual, contains an abun dance of matter of agricultural interest.—The Colonial Magazine, having recently passed into new hands, its managers propose to add to its attractions by giving it a literary as well as a colonial character. The present number opens with an article on " Responsible Government for Colonies," mainly quoted from a pamphlet by the late lamented Charles Buller.—The Follet, in addition to its three beauti fully coloured plates of "fashions," contains a sheet of patterns of fancy work and dresses, fresh from Paris, which will doubtless prove highly acceptable in the workroom and the boudoir.—The London Journal and Repertory of New Patent Inventions presents us, as usual, with some beautiful representations of newly invented machines, instruments, Sze.; among these are improvements in constructing breakwaters, gas meters, boats, thrashing machines, &c.—The Patent .lournal and Inventor's Magazine possesses manifold attractions to the lovers of science and mechanism. Manufactures of all kinds, from Damascus blades to boots and shoes, are here described, in a very interest ing manner.—The Church of England Magazine furnishes its wonted variety of admonitory and inte resting reading for the several Sundays of the month. BISHOP PHILLPOTTS. Bishop Phillpotts does not appear to have succeeded any better in his attempt to perform the part of a judge, than he does in the imitations which he occasionally gives of the character of a Bishop. Having nothing particularly on his hands the other day, he must needs go to Devenport, to hold a voluntary " Court of Enquiry," into a matter of great Christian scandal, and so indiffer ently did he play the part of an honest judge, that in several passages he was horribly hissed, and in others, which he thought the most effective and impressive hits, ho was met with the most derisive shouts of laughter. The unhappy talent which the prelate has of burlesquing so lemnities, appears to have overshadowed him on this oc casion. All the accounts of this proceeding concur in showing that it was a very bad performance. But the evidence of failure is not left to the concurrent testimony of the journals merely—the most considerable of the spectators have published a solemn protest against the day's performance (which appeared in our paper last week). We had not time to refer to it then from the lateness of the hour at which it was received; but the certificate of the Bishop's failure in the part of the "judge' must not be entirely passed over in silence. Now this is a very grave matter; and though we have been tempted from the notoriety of the performer to look at the technical character of the performance, yet, there is a very different aspect from which it might be re garded. This gentleman (Bishop Phillpotts) receives a great deal of money every week of his life for teaching the Christian religion; but so little does he appear to know about the spirit of Christianity, that he is charged here with conduct which strikes at the root of all respect for religion itself ; for if the well-paid teachers of reli gion cannot add to their lip instructions the necessary virtues of a candid and truthful practice, why then it is evident, that the sooner their offices are abolished, or they are removed from their offices, the better for the security of the Church which they are so well paid 'to defend. A clerical writer in an episcopal paper ob serves, "the gentlemen who have signed the above de claration in a very coarse and virulent spirit." W e almost fancied that he had dipped a very jagged pen into Bishop Phillpotts' own ink .stand. He calls them the " re cusant schismatics of Plymouth—with the Rev. John. Ilitchard at their head—who have been guilty of at taching their names in cold blood to an insulting docu ment"—" this vulgar attack upon their diocesan." The publication of a document like this is not to be railed off by harsh wo r d s an d outrageo us epithets. Bishop Phill potts may compl a i n o f th e insult, but the question for the public will b e —i s thi s attac k deserved? It it be deserv e d, his bishopric, instead of sheltering him from punishment, ought to ensure a d ou bl e measure of reprobation, if not a summary dismis s al f ro m the post which he so badly occupies. We will not, however, frighten him too much at once, but we would respectfully advise the Bishop to be on his guard. He is now so fully known that old practices cannot be continued with impunity.— IV estern Times. BRITISII COLONIAL BANE AND LOAN COMPANY.— The annual meeting of the shareholders took place yes terday, at their offices, in Moorgate-street, when Mr. James Stewart occupied the chair, and the report of the directors was submitted to the meeting. It stated that since tho last annual meeting debentures to the amount of 1,5004 had been paid off, leaving only 3,6004 still to be paid by the company. In consequence of the general depression felt in the Australian colonies, the receipts of rent and interest had rather fallen off; yet the bslance sheet would have warranted a dividend to the same amount as last year, but that it was necessary to reserve 1,3121. to meet the possibly unfavourable issue of Chancery suit. The directors, therefore, recommendee only a dividend of two per cent. this year. The state went of accounts gave the mortgage loans, now exist ing at 38,654/, and such as were foreclosed at 1 9 7,1441; and the amount of cash and bills in the hands of the company at 6,5671. The profit and ' loss account for the year showed a balance, after paying the expenses of the establishments at home and abroad, of 3,394/.; but that sum included 1,099/. of forfeited shares, and also the reserve of 1,3121. to meet the Chancery suit, which could not be made available for the dividend. The chairman in laying the accounts before the meeting, begged the proprietors to consider the general commercial difficul ties of the year, which had affected that company in common with every other ; t h at, a l though there had been a slight falling in the mortgage interest and in rents, there had also been a considerable reduction of their liabilities; that there was n ow a prospect of property in Australia rising in value, in consequence of increased emigration, and the enhanced value of Australian wool in the British market. Several proprietors, in a conver sation that ensued, urged the reduction of the expenses in Sydney, and the speedy w i n di ng up of the company ' s affairs. The directors said they were as desirous as any to reduce the expenses to the lowest amount compatible with the interests of the company, and they had already given orders to the managers and directors at Sydney to sell the property as soon as the sums advanced on it could be realised; but that the last advices from Sydney, of the 2d September, said the value of property was re duced, by the general w i s h on all hand to realise, to a merely nominal amount. Resolutions were adopted, receiving the directors' report, au th or i s i ng a di v id e nd of 2 per cent., and voting th o thanks of the shareholders to the chairman and di rectors. The meeting then ad journed. The Right Hon. Sir R. Peel gave a Parliamentary entertainment last evening at the Right lion. Baronet's residence in Whitehall gardens, when the following po litical friends of the Right lion. Baronet honoured him with their company to dinner:—The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Right Hon. henry Goulburn, the Right llon. Sir George Clerk, Earl Jermyn, Lord Alfred Hervey, the Hon. Mr. Stuart Wortley, Sir John Pakington, Bart., Sir Philip Grey Egerton, the Right Hon. Sir F. Lewis, Sir John Young, Sir James Weir Hogg, Sir Frederick Thesiger, Mr. J. Wilson Patten, Mr. W. Beckett , Mr. B. Denison, Mr. Adderley, the Dean of W est minster, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, &c. &c. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury gave a magnificent entertaintment last evening to his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, at the family mansion in Arlington-street. The Royal Prince was attended by Admiral Arriens and Captain Gendriche, and arrived shortly before eight o'clock, and was welcomed by the Noale Marquis. The guests present to meet his Royal Highness were the Duke of Wellington, his Excellency the Dutch Knister and Mdlle. Schimmelpenninck, the Marquis of Granby, the Earl and Countess of Eglintou, Viscount and Viscountess Mahon, Viscount Cantilupe, Viscount Chelsea, Viscount Cranbourne, Viscount In• ges' re, Lord Brougham, Lord and Lady Stanley, Lord and Lady Charles Wellesley, Sir Henry Lytton and Lady Bulwer, Mr. Johnson, &e. The company separated shortly after eleven o'clock. Haft MAJESTY'S THEATRE.---The opening night is definitively fixed for this day week, the 15th March. The opera will be the Cenerentola, in which the princi pal characters will be sustained by Mdlle. Alboni, Bel letti, Lablache, and Gardoni. Carlotta Grisi, Marie Taglioni, and Rosati, with Paul Taglioni and Louis d'Or, will perform the ballet of the Diable it Quatre. OPERA COMIQUE, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE , -..Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and her Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Cam bridge, attended by Baron Knesebeck, honoured the per formance at this theatre with their presence last evening. There were also present—the Marquis of Anglesea, his Excellency the Austrian Ambassador, the rdL o ßuss a i n a d n LAamdy bassador, the B aroness 13runnow and Mdlle. Olga d e Lochner, th e B e l g i an Mi n i s ter and Mad ame V an de Weyer, th e E ar l and C oun t e ss Craven Newport, Earl and Countess of Malmesbury, Countess Tankerville, the Baron and Baroness de Nieumann, Lord Mandeville, Lady Isabella Blackford, Lord and Lady Trimleston, Lord Clifden, Lord Ossulston, Baron and Baroness Dimsdale, Sir William and Lady Herries, the Right Hon. W. Lascelles, Lady Quentin, Lady and Miss Macdonald, lion. Mr. Spalding, Sir Philip Brooke, Miss Mitchell, Colonel George Knox, Major Udney, Mr. and Miss de Horsey, Mr. Ball Hughes, M. and Madame Urielle, Miss Udney. LEGAL STATISTICS.---It is stated in the preface to the second edition of Mr. Parton Cooper's pamphlet on the " Delay in the Offices of the Masters in Charetry," that in 1814 there were 821 barristers and 1,836 London attorneys, and that in 1848 there were 3,176 barristers and 2,872 London attorneys. The barristers, therefo, e, have during 34 years increased almost fourfold, whilst the London attorneys are far from having doubled. Allowing for such barristers as may be abroad, it is probable that the number of barristers in London ex ceeds the number of attorneys in London; and that, therefore, a London barrister who has but one London attorney for his client has, nevertheless, more than his share. TRAFFIC ON THE LONDON ANDNORTII•WESTERN RAILWAY.--Amongst other indications of a revival of trade may be mentioned the fact, that the traffic of the London and North Western, for seven weeks since the closing of the last half-yearly account, shows an in crease of nearly 17,0001. over the corresponding period of the previous twelve months, or an increase at the tate of 2,4001, per reek. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU2I: your paper of the 16th ult. you did me the honour to make some remarks, in its leading article, on a few thoughts I had put together in the shape of a letter to my friend the author of " The Clockmuker " (merely for the perusal of friends, and such influential persons as could find time to read and reflect on such a subject) on an Atlantic and Pacific Railway communication. Those thoughts were hastily and enthusiastically written, but time and cool reflection have only tended to strengthen the conviction of their correctness, and to im press my mind the more deeply with their importance. Again, therefore, I venture to call your attention to the subject, although as yet no other London journal has echoed your kind voice; but whether we are right or whether we are wrong, there are many points that must be, and that before long, brought to the serious consiJer ation of the British public. In the Times of the 13th ult. we have a long and in teresting article on the various projects (suggested during the last half century) for opening a communica tion between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There are four paragraphs of that article to which I would re quest particular attention, commencing severally— " To adventurous minds; " This state of affairs ; "A few days back; " Important however. In the first paragraph we read—" Each projector has made a point of declaring all to be impracticable except his own." Now, Sir, lam anxious to draw the attention of the editor of the Times to the few thoughts I have written on this subject, and which are now published, and if he can spare me the time, I would request his at tention to a small pamphlet I have had the pleasure to forward to him. In that pamphlet Ido not think he will find an insinuation even of the impracticability of any pro ject ever brought forward for a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I would also wish to call his attention to a pamphlet published by Lieutenant Millington Henry Synge, of the Royal Engineers, called " Canada in 1845,' and although that officer dues not actually propose a communication, he strongly points out both its possibility and its probability, and I do not ob serve that he in any way alludes to the practicability or ' otherwise of any former projected scheme. In the fourth paragraph of the article of the Times, to which I have alluded, we read—" A railroad from the Mississippi, already talked of, would at once furnish an outlet for all the produce of the States to the easter❑ seas, but England has no such resource." Surely, Sir, these few last words have escaped from the press of the Times without permission; for such a decision against England cannot be considered otherwise than, to say the least of it, rather premature. For my own part, I be lieve that Great Britain, as an empire, is now in the quiet possession of territory—most valuable and magnificent territory—through which could be constructed (at an im mense gain to herself) as good, as short, and as practi cable a line of communication as it is possible to make between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And further, I believe with Lieut. Synge, " That there is a field open to an almost illimitable capital of labour. " That the systematic development of the resources of British North America will, so far from being a drain on Great Britain, be of immediate advantage to her. " That such development entails the natural enduring and perfect union between Great Britain and that part of her empire." In the fourth paragraph also of the article in the Times, to which I have alluded, we read—" It is impossible to look at the map and not to perceive that it is of far more importance to England." I am most happy to agree in this with the Times, and if the editor Rill do me the favour to look at the small map attached to the pamphlet on the subject of the " Atlantic and Pacific Railway," he will perhaps, as it is somewhat different from the maps commonly in use, be more strongly impressed with the importance of this subject as regards England, or rather we should say the British empire. In the Times of the 2d instant, the City article refers to that of the 13th ult., then relates some historic facts connected with the Nicaragua route, informiag us that the report (as far as it went) of the special agent, sent by General Jackson, was ad verse to the Panama route, again alluding to the railroad from the Mississippi to the St. Francisco, and then concludes with an extract from Mr. Stephens' most interesting work, in which that author eloquently and cleverly trios to excite the jealousy and pride of other nations. "If," the extract says, " Europe is indifferent, it would be glory surpassing the conquest of kingdoms to make this greatest enterprise ever attempted by the human force entirely our own." Now, Sir, I may per haps be excused from making an extract from a private letter, since such opinions have had great influence in in ducing me to appear before the public, and here I must take the opportunity of saying, as regards myself— " Pardon, gentles all, The flat, unraised spirit, that hath dar'd, On this unworthy scaffold, to bring forth So great an object." Thus runs the extract from my private letter:—" The conception is a magnificent one, and carrying it into effect would be a crowning glory to Great Britain." I must not trust myself to continue, for your space and time are both valuable.—l have the honour to remain, Sir, your most obedient, obliged servant, ROBERT CARMICHAEL SMYTH. SCOTCH MARRIAGES AND REGIS'IsBATION BILLS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—I am anxious to draw attention through the medium of your widely-circulated journal to the Scotch Nlairiage and Registration Bilk which have again been introduced by Lord Campbell, although twice rejected by Palliser ent—having met with the unanimous opposi tion of the people of Scotland. They were submitted to a Committee of the House of Lords last session, of which I was a member, and though many of the ob jectionable clauses contained in the original Registration Bill were amended they still bear a highly penal charac ter, a►ad, moreover, cannot be carried out without con siderable expense—to be met partly by a rate upon pro • perty (which, considering the rapid increase of poor persons and county-rates, is highly objectionable), and partly by the State. The system of registration having railed in England, and being neither popular nor requi site in Scotland, it seems most undesirable in these days when economy is so necessary to introduce a measure of no pressing importance, entailing the creation of filmy officers such as registrars, sub-registrars, deputy registrars, in addition to the register-office and its attendant expenses —a demand upon the Exchequer which Sir Charles Wood can scarcely have duly con sidered. A Bill brought i❑ thus early and hurried on may slip through Parliament unless the attention of Scotch Members is especially directed to it. It time be given petitions will pour in from every county and borough, and most of the parishes and presbyteries in Scotland, for the people are feeling alive to the evil of creating . new offences by the unnecessary multiplication of statute laws, and of adding to the local taxation for purposes of a public character, which, as they are valuable chiefly as a means of obtaining statistics, and confer no advantages of a local nature, should fall solely on the State. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, Rossie Priory, March 6, 1849. KINN AIRD. IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN VOLTAIC ELECTRICITY. —Mr. Alfred Smee, the surgeon to the Bank of England, and inventor of the battery which bears his name, has announced important discoveries in animal electricity. By a test, which he terms electro-voltaic, he has satisfied himself that the terminations of the sensor nerves are positive poles of a voltaic circuit, whilst the muscular substance is the negative pole. The sensor nerves are the telegraphs which carry the sensation to the brain, and the motor nerves carry back the volition to the muscles. The brain he i n f ers t o cons i s t o f five distinct voltaic circles, whi c h, u p on t h eore ti ca l groun d s , h e be lieves to be sufficient to account for all mental pheno mena. Mr. Since has succeeded in making artificial elec tric fish, and artificial muscular substance. The bare aanuuncement of such a discovery mus t p u t th e w h o l e medical world upon the alert, and in their bands, for the present, we leave it. Should Mr. Smee's views be con firmed by other investigators, he will establish an im perishable name in the records of physiological science. THE HARBOUR MASTER.—Yezterday the Port of London and Navigation Committee of -the Common Council met at the Guildhall, for the purpose of elect ing a principal and superintending harbour master, va. cant by the resignation of Commander Fisher, R.N., who has retired on a pension, after thirty years' ser vice. Tho Committee discussed the question with closed doors, and at length came to the determination that the old harbour masters should rise in seniority, according to established usage, and Mr. Rowland was appointed principal and superintending harbour master, at a sa lary of 5004 per annum. Lieutenant Stone, R.N., of Limehouse, second, at a salary of 4001.; Mr. James, of Gravesend, third, 3004; and Captain Coffin to enter, as his colleague had formerly done, at a salary of 2504 JOHN HUNTER THE ANATOMIST AND THE DENTISTS.—In the latter part of the last century the celebrated anatomist, John Hunter, in the course of his valuable physological labours, made himself master of the anatomy of the teeth, and published a work on dentistry, in which he recommended, as a more scientific mode of extracting carious teeth than any other, the raising the tooth perpendicularly or in the line of its axis. It is only within the last few months, and after the lapse of fifty years or more, that an ingenious in vention has been put forward to carry out Hunter's sug gestion. At the last monthly meeting of the Medico- Chirurgical Society, held is Berners•street, J. M. Ar nett, Esq., F.R.S„ in the chair, the attention of the members was engaged by the exhibition of a new sur gical chair for operations, to which is attached what is called a dental fulcrum, by which teeth can be extracted, on true scientific principles, and causing less pain than was heretofore produced by the torture•inflicting instru ment, known as the "Key." The invention is patented, and employ( d professionally by 11. Gilbert, Esq., M.R.C.S. The msmbrrs of the above society expressed themselves much pleased with the invention, as calcu lated to prove a boon to the public and the profession. DEATH OF DAVID SCOTT, ESQ., 8. : 5.A.- 7 11e regret to announce the decease of this distinguished artist, which took place at his residence here on Monday afternoon. Mr. Scott had been suffering from serious illness fur several weeks, and for some days past, no other than a fatal issue had been expecexpected.—Scotsman.Two men, named Nicou and Michel, wero cited . on Saturday, in the name o f the ex-fling Lotus-Pht lippe, under his title of , Count do ,. Neuilly, to appear before the Correctional Trib unal of 1 arts, to answer a charge of cutting and ca rrying away faggots from the forest of Bondy, belonging to the ex-lung. They made default, and were condemed to pay a fine of 4f., and also 2f. as damages. THE WAR. IN THE PUNJAUB. THE OFFICIAL DISPATCHES. A series of di s p a t c h es, t hi rty - t h ree i n num b er, ap pearin a supplement to the Gazette of Tuesday, detail ing the military operations which have taken place in the Punjaub since the 9th of September last. The sub stance of nearly all of these, and in some instances the documents themselves, have already been published in The Sun, but as th e y now appear tor the first time under official authority, an a b s t ract of them may not prove uninteresting:— The first dispatches relate to siege operations before Moultan, the mode in which the enemy was con ducting their defences, and the casualty returns of the field force engaged. The first dispatch is ad dressed by General Which to the Adjutant. General, and is dated the 9th September, 1848. After some de tails it states:—" The enemy were troublesome at day break yesterday and midnight, and particularly at four a.m. this morning, on which latter occasion their attack on the trench was more decided." The second dispatch, dated the 10th of September, 1848, from General Whish to the Adjutant-General, gives an account of an abortive attempt, attended with considerable loss, to dislodge the enemy from a position apparently similar to one near it, which they had been easily driven from a day or two previously. It concludes with the particulars of a move ment to turn the position referred to, in which operation Brigadier Markham was w.tunded. The third dispatch, between the same parties, dated Moultan, September 12, conseys intelligence of the capture of the position with comparatively little loss, that event having been delayed considerably by the prevalence of stormy weather. In his fourth dispatch, dated the 13th of September, Ge neral Whish continues the narrative of the mode in which the attack on the enemy's position was so suc cessful. " The position," he states, " was a strong one, and stoutly defended, the conflict terminating only in a si ries of hand to baud encounters." The dispatches 5, 6, and 7, from General Whish to the Adjutant-General, are dated on the 7th, 9th, and 12th of November, 1848, and give the particulars of a successful attack, attended with comparatively little loss, on the strong position oc cupied by the enemy on the eastern side of the Grand Canal: The enemy was in strong force on the west side of the Canal also, but had uo guns there. The dis patch attributes the result in a great measure to a rapid advance of cavalry and horse artillery, under Major Wheeler and Captain Anderson, and the steady advance and brilliant bayonet charge of the infantry force on the enemy's batteries. Five pieces of cannon were captured in the engage ment. Next follow in the series letters from Briga dier F. Markham and Brevet-Major Wheeler, the first to General Which, the second to Captain A. S. Balfour, Major of Brigade, giving further details of the action to which the two preceding dispatches refer. Following these documents come two dispatches from Major 11. B. Edwardes, C. 8., and Lieutenant E. J. Lake to General Whish, describing the conduct of the allies under their command on the 7th of November. Some doubt had been thrown over their fidelity by the desertion on the previous night of half of one of General Courtlandt's re gular regiments; but on the morning of the 7th they vi gorously repulsed a fierce attack of the enemy, and during the day they took an important part in the successful operations on the eastern bank of the Grand Canal. :Next in the series is a dispatch from Gen. Whish to the Adjutant-General, dated the 27th of December, and stating that, having been joined by;the Bombay column, he had resumed operations against the enemy. It describes the plan of attack which had been adopted against Moultan, and then announces the complete success which had attended it. In his dispatch of the following day, General Whish enters more into details of the operations, and designates as the strong posi tions taken, " Sudee-lollke-bed," " Mundee-Awa," the suburbs east of it and to the north-east angle of the citadel, the " Amkhap," " Sawan Mull's Tomb," the brick-kilns with strong entrenchments, the " Shums tobreeze" or Blue Mosque, and the village or tort of Wuaerabad. "Aa of these," adds the re port, " the enemy had evidently determined to de fend manfully, but were deterred when the time came by previously witnessing the discomfiture of their friends from the triple and earlier attack on the left." The dispatch is followed up by reports from Brigadier the Hon. IL Dundas, in command of the Bombay column, to General Whish, and from Brigadier 1). Capon, com manding the Ist brigade of the Bombay column, to the Assistant-Adjutant-General, Major Green. These supply many particulars of the military operations by which the capture of Moultan was effected. On the 30th of December General Whist] continues his narrative of the siege, and describes the blowing up of the Grand Musjid in the citadel, appropriated as the principal maga zine. On the 31st of December he reports that the tire from the citadel had been almost entirely subdued. On the 2d of January General Whish writes to the Adjutant- General that in a week the troops under his command had effected the reduction of the fortified city of Muultan, and made the interior of the citadel a wreck. A dispatch dated the 3d of January, written by the Hon. H. Pundits, announces the same facts to the Adjutant-General of the Bombay army. Then follows the dispatch of General Whish, dated the 22d of January, announcing the fall of the citadel and the unconditional surrender of Moulraj. This document has already appeared at length in The Sun. This closes the series of papers touching on the beige operations before Moultan. Next comes a letter from the Adjutant-General of the Army to the Secretary of the Government of India, announcing, under date October 4, 1848, that Major S. Fisher had dispersed a band of marauders near Noorpoor, under a leader named Ham Singh. The report of Major Fisher on the subject is subjoined. A dis patch troth the Adjutant-General of the Army comes next, a idressed to the Secretary to the Government of India, dated lialka, October 22, 1848. It states that Brigadier H. M. Wheeler, commanding in the Jullundur 1)oah, bad effected the reduction of the fort of Bangor Nuggal, a strongly fortified place, without any loss of itfe. Brigadier Wheeler's 1, ttcr, dated the 15th of Oc tober, to the Adjutant -General follows, with details of the siege. Then follows the official announcement of the capture of liullalwulla by the same officer, and his letter, ,dated Kullulwalu, Nov. 23, to the Adjutant- General, explaining the manner in which it had been ac complished. To these documents succeeds the dispatch of Lord Gough, giving the details of the action which took place at Itamnuggur. The report of Brigadier. Gene ral C .Canapbell, dated 24th November, is subjoined, with a long return of the killed, wounded, and missing in that disastrous affair. Then follows the general orders to the army of the I'unjaub, the letter of Lord Gough to the Governor-General, dated Hillah, the sth of December. The list of papers closes with a lungdispatch from Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell to the Adjutant-General, explaining very fully the reasons which induced hiaa to select the ford over the Chenaub at Wuzeerabad to that at Runnee laThitn-ke- Puttun, or that at Alice Shere-ke -Chuck. The Brigadier also gives a full account of his engagement with Shere Singh's forces on crossing the Chenaub, and ascribes to the small force of cavalry under his command, and to the advanced time of the day, his not being able to capture the enemy's guns. THE EAST INDIA HOUSE AND SIR C. J. NAPIER. Yesterday morning a special meeting of the Directors of the East India Company was held at their house in Leadenhall-street, to take into consideration the appoint ment by the Government of Sir Charles Napier as com mander-general of the forces in India, contrary to, and in defiance of, the expressed wishes of many of the Di rectors, who, it has always been admitted, have had the power to veto any recommendation made by the Crown. Lieut.-General Sir James Law Lushington, chairman of the board of directors, presided, and there ware present R. D. Mangles, Esq., M.P., J. Masterman, Esq., M.P., the Hon. W. H. Leslie Melville, W. H. C. Plowden, Esq., M.P., M. T. Smith, Esq., M.P., H. G. Tucker, Esq., M.P., Major. General Caulfield, Major-General Sir Ar chibald Galloway, and other directors. The meeting was held with closed doors, and the ut most secresy was observed, so that it was impossible to give anything like a detailed report of what took place. We (the Guardian) may, however, state that on the as sembling o`.. the board, Mr. J. C. Melvill read an official notice from Sir John Cam Hobhouse, President of the Board of Control, conveying to the Directors intimation of her Majesty's appointment of Sir Charles Napier. This occasioned considerable discussion, and the appoint- ment was opposed by Major-General Caulfield, and de fended by Sir J. Law Lushington, each of the Hon. Directors becoming, as it were, the leader of a party. The appointment of Sir Charles was eventually con firmed, and it was stated to the board that at an inter view which he had with the Duke of Wellington on Monday, the terms on which he would accept the ap pointment wore settled; one of the principal being that he would nut be controlled by any political agent in directing the movements of his armies. Recruiting parties have been ordered out by the mili tary authorities to enlist men to replace the casualties in the regiments serving in the Punjaub; it is also un derstood that volunteers will be received trom regiments serving at home, and proceed immediately for service in India, as these men, already trained as soldiers, will of course be more effici en t th an recruits can be for some months after joining the service. WEST INDIA MAIL. The West India papers which the Severn did not bring have arrived. The 22d of January is the latest date from Jamaica. REVIEW OF MARKETS. (From De Cordova's Mercantile Intelligences.) The business of the past fortnight has been extremely dull. Complaints of the inactivity of the markets have been general in all branches of business. In breadstuffs there has been unusual inactivity, and resort has been had to auction for the purpose of forcing off late receipts of flour, meal, &c. Salted provisions are in somewhat better request. Irish butter and candles are much wanted. There has been an improved feeling in the bngar market, consequent on some purchases for expor tation, coupled with the very light receipts in town. ExcwruEs ox LONDON.—Colonial Bank: 90 days, per cent. pm.; 60 days, 11 per cent. ',pm ; 30 2/- per cent. pm.; between packets , ipli per , erce cent, nt. ext t 4 l t:on ea ch rate. Jamaica Bdainko. Merchants' Bills: 90 d : 90 days, Ipays.: 60 days, 1;1 3 percent. ditto. 1 per cent. nitto. freights laE ic a u r T e s . v — e r ' r y o d n o n l a l . g e s i u s gu a r b l u y n o d ul a d nt b , e t but ak e n a homeward 3 per r ton, rum at 4d. per gallon, and pi men t o at id. per lb. SOUTHAMPTON, )VEDNESDAY.—The Madrid, Pe ninsular Company's steam-ship, Captain Bowen, with the Peninsular mails, left this day. She took out about twelve passengers, and a large general cargo. The Erin, Captain Russell, from the Black Sea, is expected hourly. The Montrose, Captain Clive, from the Italian route, is expected in the course of a day or two. Sir George Anderson, Governor of the Mauritius, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Co lonial-office. • RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LA NCASHIRE AND YORKSH IRE. MANCHESTER, MARCH 7.—This morning the 25th hall-yearly meeting of this company was held in this city; Henry llouldsworth, Esq., in the chair. The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that " The disposable amount of 152,556/. 10s. id. would provide for the preference shares and loans, and for a dividend on the ordinary share capital, at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, subject to income-tax, and would leave a balance of 13,9931. 14s. Id. to be carried forward. " The directors were glad to report that the favourable change in monetary affairs had enabled them latterly to secure such sums as they required at a reduced rate of interest ; also that the late calls had been more promptly met than during the last two years. This change might, therefore, supersede the necessity of any further issue of the 6 per cent. preference stock." The CHAIRMAN said, that in examining the accounts in order to prepare himself for that meeting, it occurred to him that it would be of very great importance to ap point auditors from amongst the shareholders, to re , examine all the accounts alter the directors had prepared them, and he was glad to say that his fellow directors concurred in the value of that suggestion. He had great hopes, now that trade was improving, of a very large in crease in both the passenger and merchandise traffic. The board had last year given up their allowance of 100/. per annum each, but it was now resolved to ask the meeting for 2,800/. for that purpose for the present year. The Chairman thin moved the adoption of the report. The Earl of SEFTON seconded the report, and observed that he thought it would be a great advantage to have auditors appointed from the body of proprietors to exa mine the accounts. After some conversation, the report, together with the accounts of the directors, was unanimously carried. A dividend of 2} per cent. for the half-year was then adopted, and the retiring directors re-elected. Mr. Atkinson, of Kirby Lonsdale, and Mr. Dunlop, of Edinburgh, were appointed auditors, and the meeting terminated. - RA IL WA Y ACCIDENTS. By a careful analysis of the returns made to this de partment, it appears that, of the 112 persons killed, and 120 injured, on all the railways open for public traffic in Great Britain and Ireland, ,during the half-year ending the 31st December, 1848, there were-3 passengers killed, and 66 injured from causes beyond their own con trol; 7 passengers killed and fire injured, owing to their own misconduct or want of caution, 6 servants of com panies or of contractors killed, and 18 injured, from causes beyond their own control ; 73 servants of com panies or of contractors killed, and 24 injured, owing to their own misconduct or want of caution; 23 trespassers and other persons, neither passengers nor servants, killed, and 5 injured, by improperly crossing or standing on the railway. Total 112 killed; 120 injured. The number of passenger conveyed during the half-year amounted to 31,524,641. The number of miles of rail way open on the 30th June, 1848, was 4,357; the number of miles open on the 31st December, was 5,007, increase during the six months, 650 miles. DUNCAN AFGREGOA, Registrar. Office of Commissioners of Railways, Whitehall, March 1, 1849. EXPRESS TRAINS. TO TEIE EDITOR OP THE TIRES. Sir,—lt will be your painful duty as a journalist to record another railway accident attended with the loss of life. The express down train from London to Newcastle ran off the line between Darlington and Durham on Saturday evening, without any apparent reason, causing the death of the engine-driver, the injury of the stoker, the destruction of the engine and tender, and great damage to all the carriages and manyyards of both lines and rails. Most happily and providentially, the coupling between the engine and the tender gave way, and the passenger carriages were thrown off on the opposite side to the engine, which flew across the other or up line of rails, swung completely round and buried itself in the earth. A broadside from a hundred gun ship could not have made the havoc on the engine, carriages, and rails, which in one minute was erected by the uncon trolled power of the impetuous locomotive when once it had diverged from its proper course. No fault can be attributed to the poor fellow, the driver, who was in stantaneously hurried into eternity. His assistant, too ill to be questioned, could render no account. He was no doubt stunned by the sudden overthrow. The pas sengers, including your correspondent, have great rea son to thank God for their merciful preservation. Tom know the speed of an express train. Imagine, then, the sudden plunge off the rails while under that great ve locity. The heavy iron rails and massive wooden sleepers broken, and the dislocation into fragments of the once noble engine, attest the mighty power which had been at cork to accomplish such havoc. It is mar. vellous that any of the carriages should have remained whole to afford protection to the passengers. It was not, however, my intention to enter into a do tailed account of the accident, but to address a few ob servations to you on the present modes of travelling by railway, in the hope that your powerful pen will be used to advocate.the adoption of a safer and more secure one. On all the principal lines there are express, ordi nary, and slow trains. Now, whatever may be said about the excellent appointments of the express train, it is easy to prove that the hazard of an accident is in creased by the excess of velocity. And as the hazard is greater, so is the danger to all the passengers tearfully augmented. Who that standing close to the rails has witnessed an express train passing along in al its speed, would insure the life of a single individual in it were any obstruction to occur? The ordinary trains do not keep up the same uniform degree of speed. At times, however for a short distance, they do almost, if not quite equal, the velocity of the express. When they do so an additional danger attends them. Unlike the express, the ordinary trains are long and heavy. Should, therefore, an accident happen in the front of the train, the weight in motion behind would press on with dis a strous dr, ct. Had any weighty carriages been attached in the rear on Saturday, every passenger carriage must have been crushed to atoms. Of the slow trains I need say nothing; but as every one cannot travel by them, it appears to me that to insure a greater degree of safety a train should run for passengers only, at a less speed than the express, and without the weight of the ordinary trains. For in stance, lot the rate be twenty miles an hour, and let there be no trucks or vans for merchandize. If railway companies will not adopt trains whereby reasonable ex pedition may be obtained without incurring the hazards which the present system embraces, the law of the land should compel them to afford one such safety train at least in the day. I inclose my name and and address, but I would rather that you should receive this letter from Monday, March 5. A PASSENGER. THE LONDON WEDNESDAY CONCERTS.—Last night was commenced an " extra season" of eight concerts, the undertaking having proved so successful as to demand a continuation of tl ese attractive entertainments. The programme for last evening was, as usual, varied and at tractive, combining the names (among others) of Mdlle. Nissen, Miss Lucombe, the Misses Williams, Miss Poole, Mr. Thalberg, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Whitworth. Among the most successful of the performances were Bellini's duet, " Deh con to" (Norma), sung by Mdlle. Nissen and Miss A. Williams; Beethoven's cantata, " Ab, perlido," sung by Miss L ucom b e; C rouch ' s " Kathh en Mavourneen," sung by Miss Poole•, Bishop's duet, " As it fell upon a day," sung by the Misses Wil liams; and the " Bay of Biscay,' sung by Mr. Sims Reeves. On the last song being re-demanded, the singer substituted, " In this arm chair," which he ren dered very effectively. Mr. Thalberg also played two fantasias on the pianoforte in masterly style. The hall was crowded. TEE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA'S ASCOT RACE CUP.-- The model from which the annual cup, given by the Em peror of Russia to be run for at Ascot-heath Races, is to be made, has been completed by Mr. Cotterill, and the cup is now about to be manufactured in silver at the establishment of the Messrs. Garrad's, in the Haymarket. What is properly the " cup" is au elegant vase, the shape of which has the purity of the Etruscan specimens, com bined with the elegance of the Venetian taste. It sur mounts a fragment of the rock, and is partly encircled by the limbs of two marine monsters, which form one of the groups of the design of the artist. This design is a representation of the death of Hippolytus- Mr. Cotterill has chosen the moment when the horses, ttereriir ktebeEc;hpapnoloyttuosf fied at the sight of the monsters which threaten . h destruction from above, have overturned their master and broken away from the yo exhibit the is falling, whilst the horses, " Turbatis distractus equis," characteristics described by the inp erryThe figure of the un boee nu m ber,t predicted te the d result,as e fate of the unhappy char . anatomical propor s t t i r o a n tion b Phstedeiliosntgeisyearydmfiinrealbylydmevoedioeplleedd: and of strength, both moral and fortunate victim of . this artist's horses invariably ate, representations of nature, and in this in figure, most happily described, sufficiently idealized to the classic, with outinto mere fabulous extravagance. snip, thertbahoynse in stance co mplete oate m brjgc, s p euei.yr l nss e aua t t e btearbleri p eem r , oa falli ngt se d bon The whole composition is masterly, and worthy of high praise. OXFORD AND CAMERIDGE BOAT-RACE. The public will be gratified to learn that an eight-oar cutter race is about to take place between the gentlemen of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The event, we are assured, is to be decided on or about Thursday, the 29th inst., over the usual course from Putney to Mort lake, when a great aquatic treat may be anticipated. NORTH KENT RAILWAY.—OD Thursday last an experimental trip was made upon this line from Graves end to Frith. The train consisted of an engine and tender, followed by three carriages. At every viaduct and difficult portion of the works upon the line the train stopped, and the engineers and contractors tested the iron girders and the brackets underneath them. The carriages were driven several times, both slowly and ra pidly, over the bridges, timber erections, and earth works, and tho result was satisfactory,. 'inn CORONER rod MIDDLESEX. --MT. Wakley, M.P., is, we understand, confined to his residence at Han field park in consequence of severe illness. Mr. Wakley, we learn, has been Buffering from indisposition for some weeks past, Yesterday (Monday) week his ill ness suddenly became much aggravated, and since that time he has not quitted his room. GALWAY GAOL.—On Tuesday an order was re• ceived from the Lord- Lieutenant by the Governor of the county gaol for the dismissal of 90 persons in custody for petty larcenies. The names of the prisoners had been sent up by t h e governor according to di rections which he h a d rece i ve d, b u t before the or d er for their had died.—Galway dismissal had time to arrivetenrinoudticoaftotr.h e number to b e dismissed Tun RIVER Enz.—Since fly-fishing commenced, a great number of salmon have been caught up the river with the fly; and on Tuesday last one, weighing between five and six pounds, was caught agar the elvers —Age* Gazette.