The Sun. — London, England, 1849-02-08 00:00:00

ma I IN THE NATTER OF DYCE SoMBRE. Mr. DOLT, immediately upon the conclusion of the judgment in the case ot " Prince Albert v. Strange," ap- Plied to his Lordship to appoint an early day to hear the petition now lodged on behalf of Mr. Dyce S,otrihre, upon the ground of the parties petitioning being in possession of very strong evidence, from some of the most eminent phpicians iu London, as to the sa nity of Mr. Dyce Sombre. The LORD CHANCELLOR asked whether the petition sought for a suspension of the commission? Mr. Rohr said it nid; but should his Lordship not find sufficient evidence for superseding the commission, the petitioner prayed for other matters of relief, such as that the petitioner might be allowed to reside in England or any part ot the United KinVoiu. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he would hear the peti tioner next Friday week. All the other equity courts sat to-day, and beard Motions, it being the first seal after Hilary Term, but nothing of the Slightest interest occurred in them. EXCHEQVER.—(THIS DAY.) (Sittings in Banco.) SHARROD V. THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. This action was brought to recover the value of a cer tain number of sheep, which , having got upon the rail - Way, killed. way, w ere run over by an express train and lt Was tried at the Stafford assizes before Mr. Baron Rolfe, When a verdict was foun d for the plaintiff, leave being reserved to move fur a non suit if an action tor trespass Would not lie. A rule having been obtained for this purpose by Mr. Godson, Mr. Sergeant TALFOLTRD, for_ the plaintiff, now showed cause against the rule, and contended that it ought to be discharged. The difficulty in the present case arose upon the application of the very old and well-established principles of trespass to a new state of thing s , an d t h e question was whether the act which gave rise to the acci dent bad been done or committed under the general directions of the company. If the engine -driver had, through neglect, killed the sheep, then he admitted that the company would not be responsible, but in this case the accident arose from the necessary or natural conse quences of the direction given by the company, whom he held were alone liable. The engine-driver was not in the situation of a coachman , but simply formed a por tion of one great piece of machinery which propelled a train from one station to ano th e r, and which in the coarse of its progress did that which was the subject of this action. Th e case t h ere f ore reso l ve d it se lf into on e point—whether the Act in question was constructively an act of the company, or of their servant, who had ne glected his duty ? Mr. GODSON was heard in support of the rule, con tending that the engine-driver was exactly in the same situation as a coach-driver, and that he was not a passive, but an active, agent, whose duty it was to mode rate, restrain, or stop the train. Mr. HUDDLRSTONE followed on the same side. Mr. Baron PLATT said, the question :really to be raised was whether there was any evidence that the act of collision took place in pursuance of the com mands of the company. If so there could be no doubt that the company were responsible in trespass. Mr. Baron ALDERSON said the authority given by the company to the engine-driver amounted, in fact, to t° lB —drive the engine at such a speed that it shall average a certain race—do not drive over the sheep if You can help it, but it it be physically impossible to do SO, then drive over them. The COURT, however, intimated that they would fur ther consider the case before giving their decision. S HERIFFS' COURT.—( THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURCHELL.) FROME V. CHILDS. This was an action to recover damages for breach of sa agreement. The plaintiff in this action is a lady residing in De len shire, and the defendant is a solicitor in London. It appeared th a t th e d e f e ndant had acted as the solicitor to the i c , Plaintiff, and in July last yea r a pp lied to her for the - sal of 2171., and agre ed at the time to pay 7 per cent. interest,and to and to get a bond executed by three sureties , sad a policy of insurance on his life for 999 / 1 . 18 a security for the repayment of the principal and in terest. The money was advanced, but defendant did not Perform h is promise. The defendant suffered judgment to go by default. 4.113 e UNDER -SHERIFF said all the facts were admitted the a mount o f interest was entirely a question for the _ury, s - te jury gave a verdict for 2 1 7 1 , and interest at Per cent, TENISON V. MORTIMER. The plaintiff in this action is a tailor in the Hay -140, and defendant is an attorney. This was a new trial, which had been allowed in con sequence of an informality in the notice of t rial on the jilt occasio n , when a verdict was given for the p laintiff, the defendant having pleaded, but did not appear to su pport his lea. buT t the defendant now pleaded that he was not in debted, e evid ence on t h e p a rt of the plaintiff was quite conclusiy • e ' and the jury gave a verd ict for the amount claimed, 9/ The 17 e. 6cl. d e f endant's COUNSEL urged that the action s hould have been b roug ht in the County Court. Mr. THOMAS said if they bad, defendant would have Pleaded hi s privilege to be sued in his own court which all attornies did. _ Au application was then made to enter a suggestion via the record, and for the writ to be retained. The UNDER-SHERIFF said he had never retained a grit on such grounds, and saw no reason to interfere In this case. NORSE v. MILLIR-BINGULAR CASE. This was an action to recover a sum of money for tame supplied to defendant. Mr. MAY, the plaintiff's attorney, said, that he held a great member of letters; which, however, ha was not in a position to put in, but would prove two admissions by the defendant. Be offered to be sworn. Mr. THoMAs—I object, as it has been decided by the Court of Queen's Bench that where an attorney had ad dressed the jury he could not give evidence. The UNDER-SHERIFF —That is so. Mr. MAY—Then I call the defendant's attorney. Mr. Tnosus—You may " call spirits from the vasty deep," but will they come? The UNDER-SHERIFF—Who do you call? Mr. MAT—Mr. Collins or Mr. Rigby. There's one of them sitting by Mr. Thomas, but he won't come. The UNDER-SHERIFF—Which of them is it ? Call him upon his subposea. Mr. MAY—I have not got one, and I don't know which is which.—(Laughter.) Mr. THOMAS—Yon had better be called yourself. The plaintiff was " called" in due form—i. e. nonsuited. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. CHELTENHAM ANNUAL STEEPLE CHASES. WEDNESDAY. The Grand Annual Handicap of 20 sous. each, h ft, and 5 only if declared, with 1001. added. Four miles. Mr. Oliver's Pullaway, llst 2lb (Davis) I Mr. Vevers's Vengeance, lost kr. Litton's Linkboy, lOst 6lb The f ol l ow i ng a l so rani —Kathiten, lOst 81b—Kath leen, lOst4lb—Equinox, lOst 41b—au€1 Justice to Eng land, lOst 21b. The Won by two lengths. Aristocratic Stakes of 10 sous. each, h ft if de clared, with a Cup added by the Ladies. Gentlemen riders. 1 l s t 71b eac h. Three miles. Mr. Bedford's L inco l n (C a pt. Peel) 1 Capt. Fraser's Kilkenny al ~. lick. The following also started:—The Jew, Anna, and , The Farmers' race was won by Mr. Taylor's Victoria °wrier) beating Resolute and six others. NEWMARKET COURSING MEETING. WEDNESDAY—Boning Field. Lord The Port Stakes. Stradbrooke's Minor beat Mr. Arabia's Ales. litr• B uckworth's Brush beat Lord Stradbrooke's Mercury. M r. v ill°(l dY'e Rattle beat Mr. Fyson's Formidable. -378 "'s F .B beat Mr. Leader's Lightfoot. Ittr. anLY 9' uckvvorth's Blucher beat Lord Stradbrooke's Maid. Dobede's Diamond beat Mr. B. Smyth's Skyscraper. I(i ng'S Rutilla beat Mr. Dobede's Dreamer. r. Gillett's Great Western beat Mr. Vipan's Valiant. Rex b e The Derby.—First Ties. Ir oner at Druid—Desperate beat Hubert—Baron beat /Mew:native beat Bruce. P at lY e b rac ea o t Br The Oaks.—First Ties. be f a reble—Olinda beat Bessie Bell—Moreen ul " — Verbena agst Mirth (undecided). The Cup.—First Ties. L Alder raan beat Signora—Bridesmaid beat Doron— avender beat Field-Marshal—Fanny beat Gay Lad. The Exning Stakes. M. / 3 : Smith's S a li s b ury b eat M r . D o b e d e ' s Dacia. x t ,"' 1 • , 111 g's Rosins b ea t L or d Stradbroke's Mainmast. .r Pee's Faithful beat Mr. Vipan's Vespasian. r• Leader's Louis Philippe beat Mr. Buckworth's Bard _ G. — MURAL THE ATRICAL F UN D.—A meeting of the rec tors was held y es t er d a y, a t t h e Lyceum. Mr. Cul lenford the sec re t ary , reported to the board that Mr. Balfe h ad ki n dl y consented to direct the musical ar• tingements at the ensuing anniversary festival, at which Mr. Ch arles Kean would preside, supported by Mr. Charles Dickens and a number of other literary and dra matic gentlemen, and on which occasion a third donation ( e; 10 0 guineas from the Queen would be announced, her Majesty having been graciously pleased to become the patroness of the fund. The respect entertained for Mr. 'hire in the profession would ensure the active co , operation of a number of other distinguished artistes, native and foreign, members of her Majesty's Theatre and the Royal Italian Opera. From the report of the directors it appeared that the General The atrical Fund was established in 1839, for the granting of annuities to aged and decayed actors, and relief to ' their widows and orphans, and among its earliest and warmest supporters may he mentioned Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Mr. Cliarles Dickens, Mr. Charles Kean, Mr. llacready, Mr. Benja min Webster, Mr. T. P. Cooke, and Mr. Bucksto ne . I n the last annual financial account it was stated that the capital then invested was 4,0141. 10 8.8 d., an d i n the hands of Mr. Buckatone, the treasurer, 39L Bs . 10d year total of 4,053/. I9s. Bd. The receipts durin g . that had been 746/. 9s. 4id., while the expenditure had only been 3501. 3s. 2id., leaving a bal ance of 3961 6s. 2d. Since then the invested capital had been in creased to about 5,0001. After the customary routine of business (which contained no feature of say pnblic lute. rest) had been transacted, the board adjourned. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday last Mr. M. Bever ley, of Foncet, w h o f ormer ly k e pt a pack of hounds a n d bas followed the chase for the past forty years, met with fatal accident. I t seems t h at M r . B eve rley was o u t with the harriers and was about taking a leap, when his h L ome refused, on w hi c h h e was v i olently t h rown over it s . 'ea& and fell heavily on his skull. Some gentlemen made up to him as speedily as possible, but to their deep gorrow they found that life was extinct. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 8, 1849. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY. tro T il h er e o ß t ig th b e t Q ll u o e n e . n, W s l i i ll o ia u m seh S o e h b i , r i h g a n d t an ra El a s u e d e e l e n s c ' e Comp. m h P e r . Majesty this morning in the Castle, and presented an Address fr,,m the House of Commons to the Queen. The Earl of Listowel was the Lord in Waiting. The Queen and Prince Albert took their accustomed early walk. The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise in the Little Park. Her Majesty, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Albert. rode out on horseback this forenoon into the Great Park, Lord Alfred Paget and Colonel Wylde attending the Queen and the Prince. Lori and Lady Ashley are expected to arrive this evening at the Castle, on a visit to her Majesty. The Queen's private band played the following pieces yesterday evening:— Overture—" Zanetta" Selection—" Les Huguenots" Meyerbeer. Cauzonetta Carlzbader Walzer " Der Gruss in Alyendale," Marsch This evening the royal dinner circle will include Lord and Lady Ashley, and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Royal Household in Waiting. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by her Ladies, is expected to visit the Queen this evening. Her Majesty's private band will attend in st.e Castle after dinner. e Bishop of London had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Captain Maxwell, R.N., from New Zealand, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial office. The School of Design had a meeting yesterday at the office of the Board of Trade. _ Some of the Cabinet Ministers dined yesterday even ing with the Corporation of the Trinity House. Dispatches were sent off last evening from the Co lonial-office for the Governors of Ceylon and Hong-Kong. THE NATIONAL DEBT. TO THE EDITOR OF TEE SUN. have been much gratified by the perusal of a pamphlet, written by the Hon. Edmund Phipps, and entitled " A Few Words on the Three Amateur Budgets of Cobden, Macgregor, and Wason." It would be libellous for me to suppose that any gen tleman of education, upon reading " The Budget for the Million," would not immediately perceive that its great principle is " That it is discreditably dishonest not to pay off the National Debt." And it would be still more libellous to suppose that a member of the aristocracy was perfectly careless whether that proposition was or not correct; yet the Hon. Mr. Phipps is perfectly silent on this most important topic. He who could find sufficient leisure to occupy several pages in pointing out an error noticed in your columns a fortnight since, has not a word to say against the pro position— That it is discreditably dishonest not to pay off the National Debt. "What is the fair, may I not say charitable, inference? Why, that silence is more eloquent than words, and that Mr. Phipps has tacitly admitted that he is unable to point out any error in the proposition, or in the argu ment by which it was supported. I venture to think that if it can be clearly shown that it is discreditably dishonest not to pay the National Debt, Englishmen wil► insist on its being paid; and that the question of how much it will take is one in which they will take but a secondary consideration. Show to Englishmen that which J . believe is incapable of being denied with truth—that the industrious classes of this country have been syStematically robbed, and I believe that all true-hearted Englishmen, whether of the aristocracy or of the people, will resolve that the rob bery shall not be continued. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, RIGBY WASON. THE NATIONAL DEBT AND PUBLIC FUNDS SIMPLIFIED.* Mr. Brenan, after having shown the unlearned how they may write and punctuate unobjectionably, has now tried his hand at simplifying the National Debt and Public Funds. It is indeed surprising how few of our people understand them, when we consider that this is the greatest commercial country that perhaps ever existed. Mr. Brenan's plan of explanation is quite ori ginal, and certainly one must be very dull who cannot comprehend such a homely exposition. On reading it attentively, all the seeming Mysteries of the funding system disappear; and that and the national debt are perfectly intelligible to those who could never under stand them before. This little work comes out very opportunely in these times of financial Reform discus sion, as its cheapness will enable every one to speak correctly on that portentous subject, the National Debt. " " The National Debt and Public Funds Simplified for General Comprehension. By Justin Brenan, Author of Composition and Punctuation Familiarly Explained." Ef fingham Wilson, 11, Royal Exchange. CHILDREN'S BOOKS. TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF FRED. HAMILTON. By the Rev. John Young. This little volume possesses every attraction. The story is exceedingly interesting, and the moral is of universal application. The interesting nature of the tale may be imagined when it is known that Fred. Hamilton, a mere youth, is transported for a robbery of which he is innocent ; he is soon after set at liberty, and undergoes many strange vicissitudes, both at home and abroad. The story is throughout of a pleasing character, even although some of the incidents may (for the time) appear unfortunate. The moral inculcated is perseverance —perseverance in trials which will inevitably, like the perseverance of Fred. Hamilton, convert those " trials " into " triumphs." PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUESDAY, FEB. 6. Mr. Macgregor gave notice that on Tuesday, Feb. 20, he should submit to the House the following Resolutions:- 1. That considering the magnitude of the maritime com merce of the British empire, and that no vessel or ship, with a cargo, in ballast, or with passengers, can, when engaged either in the coasting, colonial, or foreign trade, arrive at, discharge, or take is a lading, or passengers, or depart from any port in the United Kingdom, without the interference of the officers and submitting to the regulations and laws of the Customs, it has become necessary for Parliament to take into consideration the whole subject of the administration, organization, management, and regulations of that depart ment : 2. That the friendly and peaceable relations, and reciprocal social benefits, and commercial advantages between the United Kingdom and all foreign countries, can be most harmoniously andldurably maintained by the maritime and trading intercourse being rendered as free as the security of the revenue may allow from all vexatious, ignorant, and useless restrictions, delays, and expenses : 3. That with a view to facilitate maritime intercourse be- tween British and all foreign ports, and to effect a direct re sponsibility of duties and efficiency of services in regard to the security of the revenue, and the quick dispatch of the commercial and shipping business of the United Kingdom, it appears the following changes are absolutely necessary : First. A complete reform of the system of regulations, orders, and management of the Customs. Second. An abolition of the present administrative organization of appointments, and especially that of the Board of Commissioners. Third. That for the purposes of responsibility of duties, the security of the Revenue, and the quick and efficient dispatch of ships and their cargoes, an efficient re-arrangement of the personal organization of the Customs' department appears necessary. 4. That considering the effect which the commerce and the financial legislation of the United Kingdom have, at all times, upon the employment of the people, the prosperity of the empire, aid the public revenue and credit, it appears necessary to inquire into the progress of the trade and navi gation between the United Kingdom and foreign countries, and also between the United Kingdom and the British pos sessions abroad, including India, from the sth day of January, 1827, to the sth day of January, 1849. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7. The following Railway petition was presented, and the Bill ordered to be brought in : Stockton and Darlington (Lease of Line to the York, New case!, and Berwick Railway Company, and Amalgamation of the two Undertakings.: SECEDING CLERGYMEN. Mr. Granger gave notice that he should on Friday, Feb. 9, ask Lord John Russell whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government, during the present session, to bring forward any measure to relieve clergymen who have seceded from the Established Church against the penal consequences of ecclesiastical censures, incurred by preaching in other places of worship. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. FINE ART COMMISSION. The eighth report of the Commissioners appointed by her Majesty for the purpose of promoting and encou raging the fine arts has just been printed; it is as fol. lows:— TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. We, the Commissioners appointed: by your Ma jesty for the purpose of inquiring whether ad vantage might not be taken of the rebuilding of your Majesty's Palace at Westminster—wherein your Majesty's Parliament is wont to assemble— for the purpose of promoting and encauraging the fine arts in your Majssty's United Kingdom, and in what manner an object of so much importance might be most effectually promoted, humbly report to your Majesty that having on a_ former occasion, viz., in our report of the 13th July, 1847, expressed a hope that certain of the frescoes proposed to be painted in the House of Lords would be completed during the autumn of that year, we have now to state to your Majesty that three frescoes, in addition to the first executed by Wil liam Dyce, R.A., have been painted accordingly, the subject of Religion by John Calcott Horsley; the sub ject of the Spirit of Chivalry by Daniel Mediae, R.A.; end the subject of Edward the Black Prince receiving the Order of the Garter from Edward the Third, by Charles West Cope, R.A. We consider that these works, the designs for which have been before approved by us, are highly satisfactory as examples of fresco paint ing; their effect confirms us in the opinion that, under certain circumstances of light and distance, fresco painting is well calculated for the purposes of decora tion; while, from requiring the preparation of careful designs, the method recommends itself as being fitted to promote the study of form. Two subjects remain to be painted in the same locality; that of Justice, and that of Prince Henry, afterwards Henry V., acknowledging the authority of Chief Justice Gascoigne. We propose to commit the subject of Justice to Daniel Maclise, and the subject of Prince Henry acknowledging the au thority of the law, to Charles West Cope, R.A.; two corresponding frescoes on each wall will thus be executed by the same artists. We recommend this course, not only from being satisfied with the ability dis played by those artists, but also as a means of insuring a due conformity of style and a due symmetry of composi tion in the works. As considerable time will be required tor the preparation of the cartoons, it may be found ne cessary to postpone the execution of the paintings till the next year. We have already, as expressed in our last report, which has received your Majesty's approval, adopted the recommendation of a Committee appointed to select subjects for the decoration of tke Palace of West minster, to the effect that William Dyce, R.A., should be employed to decorate, chiefly in fresco, your Majesty's robing room in the said Palace, and that the subject to be illustrated should be the Legend of King Arthur; and we have now humbly to report to your Majesty, that we are prepared to con• dude an agreement with Mr. Dyce, according to which he undertakes to complete certain stipulated work in the said locality, within a period not exceed ing six years, commencing from the let of July, 1848, and for which it is proposed that he should be remunerated at the rate of 8001. a year; other con ditions being included in the agreement, which may make it his interest to complete the work, subject to the approval of the Commissioners, in less time; and, on the other hand, allowing an extension of time in the event of certain additions or changes in the decoration being proposed by the Commissioners. We have further humbly to report to your Majesty that the statue of Lord Falkland, by John Bell, and the statue of Lord Clarendon, by William Calder Marshall, A.R.A., which are intended to be placed in St. Stephen's Hall, in the Palace at Westminster, have been completed, and that we consider the execution of those works in marble (the models having been before approved by us) as highly creditable to the artists. With respect to the models for statues to be placed in the House of Lords, as.proposed in our last report, we beg leave to state that, having referred to a Select Committee the consideration of the designs submitted by the sculptors commissioned to prepare those works, we have adopted the report of such Committee, and have subjoined it to this our general report. We have also humbly to state to your Majesty that four designs for frescoes, to be executed in the Upper. Waiting Hall, as recommened in our repert of August 7th, 1845, have been approved by us, and that the artists so selected are now invited to commence frescoes in that locality. The expenditure which the works now recommended to be undertaken will involve consists of 1,6001. for the two remaining frescoes in the House of Lords, and also the annual remuneration of 800/. to be paid to Wil liam Dyce, R.A., for the work above specified, for which expenditure we request the sanction of your Majesty. Westminster, Sept. 5, 1848. The following is the report of the Committee ap pointed to inspect the small models for statues, to be placed in the House of Lords, of barons and prelates who signed Magna Cbarta:— Your Committee appointed to inspect the small models for statues of barons and prelates to be placed in the House of Lords, are prepared to acquiesce in the opinion expressed by a former Select Committee, whose inquiries were connected with this subject, and who observed that " the very narrow size of the niches and their gothic form" necessarily restrict the choice of attitudes. Your Committee also acknowledge the justice of an observa tion by the architect, in his letter on this subject, dated the 17th of March, 1647, that the character of the statues referred to " should be severe and monu mental, and, consequently, free from all violence of action; and that they should be designed strictly with reference to the form and proportion of the niches, upon architectonic principles." Your Committee, in inspecting the models and designs for the statues in question con sidered it their duty to bear in mind these conditions, which had been duly communicated to the artists, in the first instance, by the secretary. Your Com mittee. were also of opinion, that in so strictly historical a series an attention to costume was especially desirable, as farther tending to preserve a harmony of appearanee between the character of the statues and that of the ar chitecture. The artists have readily paid attention to the sugges tions of the Committee on these and other points, and the designs bavo been as much varied as, in the opinion of your Committee, is consistent with the conditions above noticed. The order of the statues in the eighteen niches is pro posed to be as follows : In the niche immediately on the east side of the throne the statue of Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. In the niche immediately on the west side of the throne, the statue of Henri de Londres, Archbishop of Dublin. In the niche at the south-eastern angle the statue of William Earl of Salisbury. In the niche at the south-western angle the statue of William Earl of Pembroke. In the first niche on the west side, next the statue of William Earl of Pembroke, the statue of Almeric, as ter of Knights Templars. In the four niches next in order the statues of William Earl of Warren, William Earl of Arundel, Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent, and Richard Earl of Clare. In the niche at the north-western angle the statue of William Earl of Aumerle. In the two niches next in order on the north side, the statues of Geoffry Earl of Gloucester, and Saber Earl of Winchester. In the niche at the north-eastern angle the statue of Henry Earl of Hereford. In the five niches next in order on the east side, , the statues of Roger Earl of Norfolk, Robert Earl of ' Oxford, Robert Fitzwalter, Eustace de Vescieand Wil liam de Mowbray. Westminster, July 18, 1648. • The following commissions for Frescoes in the Upper W a iting Hall have been given The subject of " Satan touched by Ithuriel's spear while suggesting evil dreams to Eve," as an illustration of Milton, to be painted in one of the compartments on the east side of the Upper Waiting Hall, to Jelin Calcott Horsley. The subject of " The Trial of Griselda's Patience," as an illustration of Chaucer, to be painted in one of the compartments on the north side of the same hall, to Charles Wost Cope, R.A. The subject of " Lear disinheriting Cordelia," as an illustration of Shakspere, to be painted in one of the compartments on the east side, to John Rogers Her bert, R. A. The subject of " Alexander's Feast," as an illustration of Dryden, to be painted in one of the compartments on the south aide, to John Tenniel. NA VAL DITELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 7.—The First Lord of the Admi ralty issued the following letter of thanks to his consti tuents this morning:— " To the Electors of the Borough of Portsmouth. " Gentlemen,—Accept my thanks for the honour you have this day conferred upon me by re-electing me as your representative. Be assured that lam grateful for your long-continued kindness. Official duties prevented my presence here before the day of election. I regret, that in consequence, I have not been able to pay my personal respects to you, as I have been accustomed to do, and am sincerely obliged to my committee, who un dertook to canvass in my absence. I now quit you, to enter on the duties of my office, with the earnest hope that I may not disgrace your choice.—l am, Gentlemen, your faithful servant, "FRANCIS BARING. "Portsmouth, Feb. 6." The Arrogant, 46, new steam-ship, has been, we are informed, pat back three weeks in her commissioning, but on what account is not stated. The Ilashemy convict-ship, the same on board which Asiatic cholera broke out, and which was compelled to put in here in consequence, has been released from qua rantine, and came up from the Motherbank to Spithead to-day. She has been here 51 days. The Racer did not finally get away, in consequence of the light winds, until this morning, and was in sight at 4 P.M. to-day. Wind S.W. Light airs, and dark cloudy weather. The licensed victuallers of this garrison held a meet ing last night, to adopt resolutions for obtaining some redress under the grievances they are and have been for some time labouring in having soldiers billeted upon them without occasion, barrack room for 1,000 men being unoccupied within the walls. CHATHAM, FEE. 6.—The Juno, 26, Captain Patrick J. Blake, was towed into this harbour this afternoon by the Rhadamanthus steam-vessel, from Portsmouth. The Juno will be paid off next week. The President, 50 guns, Captain W. P. Stanley, was paid off this day into ordinary. The Royal Marines joined their head-quarters at this division, the others belong to Portsmouth. The Rhadamanthus steam-vessel sailed this afternoon, taking on board 50 seamen riggers, lent from this yard, to assist in navigatiug the Spiteful steam-sloop from Sheerness to Plymouth; and the Royal Marines and able seamen from the President, and belonging to Ports mouth, the Admiralty have kindly permitted a passage on board the Spiteful. The Rlaadamanthus, after dis embaiking the whole of the men at Sheerness, proceeds to Woolwich. WOOLWICH, FEB. 7.—The Rhadansanthus steam vessel, Master-Commander J. Ayling, towed the Juno, 26 guns, Captain P. Blake, up to Chatham yesterday, to be paid off on her return from the Pacific. The Rbada manthus is ordered to Woolwich to be paid off and re commissioned at this port, and she arrived to-day. The Alban steam-vessel, Master-Commander Brad shaw, arrived at Woolwich yesterday afternoon, to be paid off. The Spiteful steam-vessel was to leave Sheerness yes terday, and take round the men paid off from the Presi dent to Devonport. The Conflict steam-vessel will be detained at Sheerness until about the middle of the month, to have her steam chest made perfect. The Niger steam-vessel is having some alterations made in her valves. A 50-gun frigate, named the San Fiorenzo, is ordered to be built at this dockyard, from a design by Messrs. Reid, Chatfield, and Cruze, members of the School of Naval Architecture, and her keel will shortly be laid in the spacious new slip No. 4; and another 50-gun frigate is to be built, and named the Bacchante, at Portsmouth. These frigates will be of the same character as the Thetis, 36, designed by the same members of the Naval School of Architecture, and launched at Devonport in August, 1846. The Thetis is now serving on the Medi terranean station, under the command of Captain Cod rington, and the official reports made by Rear-Admiral Sir William Parker, and published in the Parliamentary returns, have been highly satisfactory. The San Fio renzo will be a powertul vessel—the whole of her guns on the main deck, of eight inches bore, for firing 56- pounder hollow shot, or 58-pounder solid shot. The Espiegle, 12 guns, commander F. Campbell, paid off at Sheerness on Saturday last, on her return from the East Indies, has been reported highly' of as to her sail ing and other qualities, having accomplished 12.5 knots per hour under double-reefed topsails, top-gallant sails, and studding sails, and sails so well on every point of wind, that it is difficult to state which is her best. The trials were made when she had four months' provisions on board. The Black Prince was taken out of the basin at high water this afternoon, and will be towed to Chatham to morrow. THE MERCHANT NAVY. (From Tuesday's Gazette.) A list of the masters and mates in the merchant ser vice who hare voluntarily passed an examination, and obtained certificates of qualification for the class against each assigned, under the regulation issued by the Board of Trade, since 31st Dec. last:- Masters-M. W. Kett, 2d class cert. Sir Thomas Gresham, London ; W. Digby, 2d, Gilbert Munro, London; W. Hamilton, 2d, Thomas Jones, London; G. M'Lean, 2d, Miame, St. John's ; R. Back, 3d, Florentia, London ; A. C. Campbell, 3d, Essex, London ; J. Sedgwick, 2d, Juverna, Waterford ; B. D. Pugb, Ist, Diana, London ; C. R. Tel lidge, 2d, Helvellyn, Whitehaven ; J. Crawley, 3d, Quebec Packet, Newcastle; W. S. Baker, 2d, Chris tina, Port Glasgow; J. Todd, 2d, Chins, London; J. P. Anderson, 2d, Mariner, London ; W. B. Simpson, Ist extra, Hibernia, Glasgow; W. Tillock, 3d, Huntcliff, Newcastle; G. Pottinger, 2d, Zephyrus, Newcastle; T. Restarriok, 2d, Eagle, L ondon; G. Mainland, 2d, James, London; M. Martin, 2d, Mariner, London; W. Richard son, 2d, Symmetry, Scarborough; J. Merits, 3d, Su sannah, London; J. Littlewood, 3d, Nautilus, London ; P. Dickinson, 2d, Maria, London; J. Middleton, 2d, Sir William Molesworth, Liverpool ; D. Forrest, 2d, Ocean, Newcastle; T. Lodge, 2d, Industry, Newcastle; W. F. Millar, let, Cambria, Glasgow; J. S. M'Leod, 2d, Lan nercost, Liverpool; T. T. H. Culverwell, 2d, Emma Eu genia, London; J. Clark, 2d, Maria, London; G. Hayman, 2d, Crusader, Jersey; M. Conway, 2d, Lanchester, Lon don; A. G. Hartley, 3d, Gleuelg, London; E. Johnson, let, Blue Bell, Liverpool; J. Furguson, 2d, Helen and Jane, Arbroath; J. Bewick, 2d, John Burrell, South Shields; G. Pottinger, 3d, Zephyrus, South Shields; E. Ous ton, 3d, Wandering Shepherd, South Shields:; J. James, 2d, Posthumous, London ; W. F. Sager, 2d, Symmetry, London ; Z. C. Pearson, 3d, Royal William, Hull ; W. Finlayson, 3d, James M`Queen, London; E. Fletcher, Ist, Marmion, Liverpool; R. Davidson, let, Janet, Leith ; J. Ploughman, 2d, Rambler, London ; A. C. Maclean, 2d, John Bright, Greenock; W. Tilloch, 2d, Jane A. Milvain, South Shields; J. Woodhouse, 3d, Jane Shirrefs, South Shields; G. W . Watson, 2d, Victory, London; J. Lind ley, 2d, Duchess of Northumberland, London; J. Parker, 2d, Horatio, London; G. Thorns, 3d, Anne Milne, Dundee; C. Clapp, 3d, Anne Milne, Dundee; P. Cuiliton 2d, Inconstant, London ; H. N. Gardner, let, Apolline, London ; W. H, Kemp, Ist, Emigrant, Liverpool ; G. H. Slater, 2d, Hibernia, Glasgow ; J. Campbell, 2d, Be raza, London ; T. Sparks, 2d, Northam, South Shields; J. Oliver, 2d, Fort Augustus, South Shields. Mates-H. J. Woolcc,t, 2d class cert., Tagus, Liver pool; H. D. Bayly, 3d, Rajasthan, Glasgow; J. Park, 3d, Emma Eugenie, London • J. W. Horn, 2d, Posthu mous, London; L. C. Goldsmid, 3d, Splendid, New York; P. H. Hall, 3d, Maria, London; J. Fowler, 2d, Rookery, London ; W. M'lntyre, 3d, Inconstant, London. THE TRINITY HOUSE.—Last evening the Master, Deputy, and Elder Brethren of the Corporation of the Trinity House, assembled at the Trinity House, Tower hill, to initiate Lord John Russell as an Elder Brother, in the room of the late Viscount Melbourne. The Duke of Wellington, the Master, arrived at twenty minuted to seven o'clock, and the different guests assembled soon afterwards in the Court-room, when Lord John Russell went through the customary ceremony previous to his becoming one of the corporate body. As usual on all such occasions, a grand banquet was given under the presidency of the Master (the Duke of Wellington) and the Deputy, (Sir John Henry Pelly, Bart.) in the vice chair. There were among the Elder Brethren present —the Earl of Minto, the Right Hon. Sir Robert P ee l, Bart., M.P., the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart., M.P., Captain Aaron Chapman, Captain Andrew Timbrell, Captain R. Welbank, Captain John Hay man, Captain John Rees, Captain Henry Nelson, Admiral Sir Thomas B 3 am Martin, G.C.8., Captain Charles Weller, Captain Frederick Madan, Admiral Sir C. Adam (Governor of Greenwich Hospital), Cap tain S. Ellerby, Captain George Probyn, Captain Wil liam Pixley, Captain Charles Farquharson, Captain Robert Gordon, R.N., Captain W. E. Ferrer, Captain Henry Bonham Bax, Captain John Shepherd, Captain Edward Foord, and Captain Gabriel J. Redman. The visitors who availed themselves of dining with the mem bers of the corporation, were the Marquis of Lans downe, the Right Hon. Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bart., M.P., the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, the Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons; Captain Lord John Hay, Captain the Hon. Maurice F. Berkeley, the Hon. W. F. Cowper, and Capt. Alex. Milne (Lords of the Admiralty) ; Rear-Admiral Sir F. Beaufort. K.C.B, and F.R.S., Captain William A. Baillie Hamil ton, R N., and Mr. Henry G. Ward, M.P., Secretaries of the Admiralty; Dr. Lushington, Captain Richard Pelly, &c. Viscount Palmerston, the Earl Grey, and the Earl of Granville were prevented dining with the honourable assembly from prior engagements. The customary loyal toasts of the Queen, the Queen Dow ager, and the Royal Family; Prince Albert (an elder brother), the Master (the Duke of Wellington), the Deputy, Sir John Pelly, Lord John Russell, the new elected brother, were given among the leading toasts; and at eleven o'clock tfie circle broke up. ACCIDENT TO 'THE BEE STEAMER.—Yesterday afternoon, about one o'clock, as the Bee halfpenny steamer was proceeding on her up-voyage from Landon bridge to the Adelphi-pier, an accident occurred which might have been attended with the most frightful con sequences, and as it was, caused the utmost alarm to the passengers on board. It appears that the steamer, when above Blackfriars-bridge, came in contact with a barge coming down the stream, which ran into her w ith such force, that the barge cut the starboard paddle polleetely' bo a x the and confusion that immediately ensued amongst • a s it was appre hendedpassengers may be easily con ceived, lower aw parta away f r o o t in t h t e h e p a s d i d d e l e o . w f t h h e e e l s . t e a T in h e e r , t a a n t d e fl e tatclesonrmendl uatt she would go down. s and conveyed the off from the Essex and Temple i stai , fortunately beyond passengers safely on shor e ; that the side of the th e e um ve b s e s r el e w f no nj y by th e collision. The the fright having be en caused wa s occurrence, it is understood, purely accidental. boats, o stovea , h however, e a v n e d r , t p h B r it o ns, in the room of the late Earl Fowls. of Ancient The Hon. Colonelhas been George e elected t e ßice r e T si r d e e v i o a r , 0 f M t . h r e . for Carmarthenshire,So ciety THE GOLD IN CALIFORNIA. The following letter from Admiral Hornby, with the annexed document, will be read with intt rest : _ " My Dear—Since I finished my letter I have received this paper, the truth of which is more than confirmed by Captain Courtenay, of the Constance, just arrived from California. I have, therefore, no hesitation in saying it ought to be made known, so pray show it wherever you think fit. " Yours truly, " Nov. 17. " P. HORNBY .1- • " Mr. Editor—l have now spent several months at the Gold Plains, during which time I have visited the principal diggins. I find these dry diggins' far ex ceed anything that has ever been discovered. At the lower mines, the miners count the success of the day in dollars ; at the upper mines, near the mill, in ounces ; and here, in pounds. The pieces found here are of an astonishing size; the largest piece which I shall inform you of (for you would not believe me if I told you the whole truth) weighs about thirteen pounds. The only instrument used at first was a but cher's knife, and the demand for the article was so great, that 40 dolls.has been refused for one. Now, a pick,or spoon or shovel is used. The earth is taken out of the ravines which make out of the mountains, and is carried on waggons, and packed on horses, from one to three miles, to the water, where it is washed. 400 dollars has been an average for a cart load. In one instance five loads of earth u hick had been dug out sold for 47 ounces (752 dolls.), and which yielded, after washing 16,000 dolls. Instances have occurred here where men have carried the earth on their backs and collected from 800 to 1,500 dolls. a day. Notwithstanding all this, I am confident the fountain-head has not yet been discovered. The hills in all directions must abound- in gold, and when proper machinery is intro. duced and the hills cut down, huge pieces must be found. News has just arrived that new diggins have been dis covered on the Stanislaus River, and ■bout 200 persons leave this morning for the new prospect, myself among the number, from whence I will write to you. Send me some papers. I would give half an ounce of pure gold for one of your valuable papers at this moment ; I have not seen a paper since I ;have been in the Gold Plains. Let us have 100 copies ; most any one coming up will take them, and, besides greatly accommodating us gold hunters will make a handsome spec. on them. " Yours fortunately (Signed) J. P. S. " Aug. 15, 1848." CHRISTMAS EVE. This is a beautiful little tale translated from the German. It will prove an agreeable and valuable addition to many a juvenile library. Little Anton, the hero, a poor friendless child, is on a Christmas eve received into a benevolent family, and ultimately becomes a great painter, and proves the benefactor in their day of need of his early benefactors. The story is more interesting than the generality of such tales. FIRST STEPS TO ZOOLOGY. By R. Patterson. This little volume, as its name indicates, teaches the rudiments of zoology. It is em bellished with more than two hundred illustrations, and while the letter-press can give instruction in a valuable sense to youths of all ages, the pictures will render it invaluable in the nursery. Insects, birds, beasts, fishes, and reptiles, are here both depicted and described. There are few studies so generally in teresting to children as that of the animal kingdom, and for young and old there is scarcely a more bene ficial subject of inquiry than the admirable wonders of nature. GARDENING FOR CHILDREN. By the Rev. C. A. Johns. A delightful little book, written in a very interest ing manner, and containing pictures and descriptions of a variety of flowers, with minute directions for the juvenile florist. Neither is the kitchen garden nor the tool-house forgotten. As spring advances all children who have the happiness of possessing "gar dens of their own"—and for a child such a possession is a happiness—will, we doubt not, be most grateful to the kind friends who may present them with a copy of Mr. John's " Gardening for Children." FINE ARTS. THE ART JOURNAL. In fulfilment of its ambitious programme for 1849, the Art Journal continues its series of engravings from the original paintings in the Vernon Gallery. For February, we have a representation, by R. Staines, of Leslie's " Sancho and the Duchess," one of the most conspicuous and attractive productions in the whole collection. And, in addition to this gro tesque incident, from "Don Quixote," there is an en graved copy of Stanfield's " Venice." Roffe's plate of the " Blue Bell," from the basso-relievo of West macott, is exquisitely beautiful. There are also, as among the " pa3sages from the poets," two excellent woodcuts, in illustration of the " Sluggard's Home," by Dr. Watts, and of " The White Doe of Rylstone," by Wordsworth. The most interesting contribution in the number, however, is that relating to the career of the great French painter, Paul Delaroche, portraying, among his works, his chaste and masterly embodiment. of " Fame." the " Execution of Lady Jane Grey ;" and his cele brated group of "The Young Sons of Edward con fined in the Tower." Two clever wood engravings bring vividly before us the faces of Sir William Charles Ross, the distinguished miniature painter, and of John Henry Foley, whose youthful labours have already placed him in the very foremost rank among the most eminent sculptors of the age. Mrs. S. C. Hall makes a pilgrimage to " The Tomb of Thomas Gray," the account of her wanderings about Stoke Pogis being embellished with sketches from the faithful and picturesque pencil of Mr. Fairholt. The same industrious artist resumes his serial description of ancient ships. Of all the original designs for manufacturers, the most dainty are those for the gas bracket, the wine glass, and the decanter—the de canter especially. The door-handle appears to us rather painful than otherwise. Altogether the Art Journal has not degenerated. JEvrs' WESTERN FREE SCHOOL FOR BOTS.--A ball i n a id of the funds of this excellent inst i tution too k place last ni g h t at Willi s ' s R ooms . I t was we ll atten d e d, and dan c i ng was kept up with spirit till a late hour. We are authorised to contradict the announcement that appeared in the morning papers of Monday, stating that Mrs. Nesbitt was about to become lessee of the Strand Theatre. INLAND REVENUE BILL. This Bill rather promises to smooth the way to future reforms than to effect any directly and immediately. It proposes to abolish only one office—that of Comptroller and Auditor of Excise. The offices of Receiver-General of Excise and Receiver-General of Stamps and Taxes are to be consolidated, and also those of Accountant and Comptroller-General of Stamps and Taxes; but in both instances the two appointments are already held by the same person. The consolidated board is to be composed of all the Commissioners of both boards; provision is made that all the officers at present acting under both are to retain their commissions; and no provision is made for a future diminution of the numbers either of commissioners or officers. Any importance attaching to the measure is owing to—First, the improved classifica tion of all the revenues derived from direct or indirect taxation, except the customs, the crown lands, and mis cellaneous, under the head of inland revenue: this will facilitate readjustment of taxation. Second, the power given to the Commissioners of the Treasury to transfer the auditing/of the Excise accounts from a departmental auditor to the Commissioners for Public Accounts: this pares the way for an arrangement by which the gross receipt of the Excise may be paid into the Exchequer without deduction of the expenses of collection or other payments. The great defect of the measure is the ad surdly numerous Board of Commissioners, where one responsible manager would suffice. We subjoin an ab stract of the Bill: It is declared in the preamble that the revenue from excise and the revenue trom stamps and taxes shall henceforth " be and remain under the care and manage ment of one consolidated board of commissioners to be called The Commissioners of Inland Revenue.' " Clause 1. Enacts that from and after the passing of thepersons appoi n t e d a nd now being several Excise and C omm i ss i oners o f St am p s Commissioners "the o and Taxes respectively shall, without any further com mission or authority than this Act, become and be the consolidated board; and that all the revenues and duties hitherto administered by both " shall be denominated and deemed to be inland revenue." 2. Empowers her 'Majesty to appoint from time to time, as seats at the board become vacant, commissioners of inland revenue, who are to hold their seats during pleasure. 3. Enacts that all the powers and authorities vested in the Commissioners of Excise and Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes respectively are to be exercised by the Commissioners of Inland Re venue. 4. Declares that three shall be a quorum, except in special cases where Acts of Parliament have directed that a less number shall suffice. 5. The chief office of inland revenue is to be held " at such place as the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury shall in that behalf and from time to time ap point within the limits described, designated, or referred to as the limits of the chief office of excise by an Act passed in the eighth year of the reign of George IV." 6. Consolidates the offices of Receiver-General of Ex cise and Receiver-General of Stamps and Taxes into one office of Receiver-General of Inland Revenue. 7. Consolidates the offices of Accountant-General of Excise and Accountant and Comptroller• General of Stamps and Taxes into one office. 9. Empowers the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to abolish the office of Comptroller and Auditor of Excise, and to order the accounts of the Ex cise revenue to be passed before the commissioners for the auditing of public accounts. 10. Declares that all commissions and appointments of ~fficers under the Commissioners of Excise and the Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes shall remain in force, and the persons holding the same be officers of inland revenue. 11. All bonds and securities to the Commissioners of Excise and the Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes are to remain in force and to extend to the duties under the care of the Commissioners of inland revenue. 12. Deposits of stock or Exchequer-bills in lieu of securities under the Acts 6 and 7 Will. IV., c. 28, and 1 and 2 Vic. c. 21, are to be made in the name of the Chairman of Inland Revenue. 13. Empowers the Chairman of Inland Revenue to transfer stock: deposited in the name, of the Chairmen of Excise and Stamps respectively. 14. Lands and buildings now vested in the Secretary of Excise in trust for the public service, to be vested in the Secretary of Inland Revenue upon the like trusts. 15. Empowers Commissioners pf Inland Revenue to appoint officers to be collectors and receivers of several branches of inland revenue. 16. Prescribes the manner in which licenses are to be granted. 17. Explains how terms in former Acts, and in writ ten documents relating to the revenues of Excise and Stamps and Taxes, are to be construed atter the passing of this Act. 18. Enacts (as usual) that the. Act may be amended or repealed by any Act passed in the present session of Parliament. Lord Rosse, accompanied by Sir James South, yesterday visited the establishment of Messrs. De La Rue and Co., for the purpose of inspecting the models of M r . Warren De La Rue's equatoriafly mounted telescopes. SOCIETY or ARTS, JAN. 31.—W. Took, Esq., in the chair. Mr. Hunt read a paper, by Mr. Claudet, giving a description of a new instrument, invented by himself, for measuring the intensity of light in the da guerreotype operation, which he calls a photograpko meter. Mr. Claudet shows that the light we see is not the light which operates in photography, and that hitherto the photographer has been always working at random, owing to the want of an instrument to measure that power of the light at the moment he is to make use of it. It is well known that when the light is tinted with yellow by vapours in the atmosphere, the opera tion is longer and more liable to failures than when the light is pure and white. Mr. Claudet, by this in genious and useful discovery, has rendered the photogra phic operation more certain, having now the means of as certaining, before taking a portrait, the time required for the sitting. This is certainly one of the most important improvements introduced in photography, and for this, as well as for his former discoveries in the scientific and artistic branches of the art, Mr. Claudet fully deserves the praises and encouragement of the public. Among the experiments made by Mr. Claudet for illustrating his paper was one which considerably interested and amused the audience.—He exhibited a frame containing a por trait of her Majesty. The reflection of the image of this frame, by a daguerreotype apparatus upon a silver plate, had produced a portrait, not of the Queen of England, as might have been expected, but of Prince Albert. This would have appeared to be a conjuror's trick but for the scientific explanation given by Mr. Claudet of the curious metamorphosis. The frame had, on the left, the portrait of Queen Vic toria, covered by a light yellow glass, through which it was seen clearly, and on the right, the portrait of Prince Albert, covered by a deep blue glass, by which it was completely hidden from ordinary view. The yellow glass, having the property of absorbing all the photo genic rays, had prevented the representation of the por trait of the Queen,and the blue gl a ss, having the pro perty of allowing hese photogenic rays to pass freely, the portrait of the Prince was represented on the da guerreotype in the most forcible manner; besides the curiosity of this result, the portrait was a beautiful ape : cimen of the art. The announcement of this paper at ' tracted a great number of mem b ers an d visitors, and the room was crowded to excess. After Mr. Claudet's paper, Mr. Jordan exhibited his beautiful and ingenious ma chine for curved and bevilled sawing. We are glad to see that the Society of Arts is in full prosperity, and that we have a liberal institution which affords so freely to inventors the means of bringing before the public the productions of their labour and ingenuity, and which remunerates those who deserve it. REPEAL OP THE MALT•TAX.—A very influential meeting of farmers and landholders• took place yester day afternoon, at the York Hotel. New Bridge-street, Blackfriars, for the purpose of taking into consideration the necessity of petitioning Parliament for the total re peal of the malt-tax. The farmers, generally, spoke strongly of their determination to effect the repeal of a burden which pressed so very oppressively upon them at the present time ; and plainly told the landlords that if the Protectionist Members would not assist them in their endeavours, they would to a man use the most strenuous exertions to prevent their re-election at the next vacancy in the representation; for so destructive to their interests had been the mischievous results of the free-trade mania, that nothing but the total anni hilation of the malt-tax could possibly save the British farmer from the irretrievable ruin now impending over him. The petition to the Legislature was unani mously adopted. MONUMENT TO GENERAL SIX GEORGE MURRAY.-- A simple but graceful monument in Carrara marble has just been completed by Mr. Gaflin, of the Quadrant— consisting of a tablet, upon which is engraved the fol lowing inscription to the memory of the late gallant and lamented General Sir George Murray To the Memory of G.C.8., GENERAL THE RIGINT HON. SIR GIDORG2 M URRAY , Colonel of the Ist (Royal) Regiment of Infantry, Second Son of Sir William Murray, Bart., of Ochtertyre Perthshire, and the Lady Augusta, his wife, G.C.H., D.C.L., F.R.S., born 6th February, 1772 ; who, after many varied and important services in Holland, Egypt, Syria, the West Indies, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal (where he was present at the most celebrated actions as Quartermaster- General of the Army) ; in Canada, as Commander-in-Chief; in France, as Chief of the Staff of the Grand Army of Occupation ; at home, as Commander of the Forces in Ireland ; Secretary of State for the Colonies ; twice Master-General of the Ordnance; and Representative of his native county in several Parliaments, closed his distinguished career, after much and protracted suffering, borne in meek submission to the will of his Maker, on the 28th of July, 1846, in the 75th year of his age. Also of the Lady Louisa Murray, hi s Wif e Third Daughter of .Henry, first Earl of Uxbridge, born March 26,1777, . , who departed this life January 23d, 1842, in perfect peace, relying upon the Scripture testimony, " The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." This Monument is erected, in grateful and sorrowing remembrance of beloved and most affectionate Parents, by their only Child, Louisa, Widow of Henry George Boyce. (From the New York Herald of Jan. 23.) The news which we publish to-day, being three weeks later from California, will attract the observation of the whole community. The statements confirming the vast gold discoveries, in that region, coming from our cor respondent, will not only command the attention of the commercial world, but of civilization itself. We have arrived at a. new period, a new era, a fresh crisis, in the history of commerce, and even of civilization. A spirit is generated from those dicoveries, which is more active, more intense, and more widely spread, than that which agitated Europo in the time of Columbus, Cortez, and Pizarro. These late accounts will be read with great interest, and we desire our readers to watch the effects which they will certainly produce on the commercial and other interests around us. According to these recent advice', the gold region of California is the most wonderful that has ever been discovered. There seems to be no doubt that, in a short time—probably in less than two years—these mines can be made to produce 100,000,0001. per year. The region is the most extensive of the kind in the world, being eight hundred miles in length and 100 in width, with every indication that gold exists in large native masses, in the rocks and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. But these vast gold mines are not the only mineral discoveries that have been made. The quicksilver in the same region seems to be as abun dant as the gold, so that there are approximated to each other two metals, which will have a most important effect and utility in making the gold mines more va luable. Heretofore the gold and silver mines of Mexico and Peru have been valuable to Spain, because she possessed a monopoly of the quicksilver mines at Almaden, in the Peninsula. This is surpassed by Ca lifornia. According to the last accounts now given to the public, emigrants were crowding in from every port of the Pacific to California—from Mexico, Peru, the Sandwich Islands, Oregon; and we have no doubt by this time the British possessions in the East, China, and everywhere else in that region, are furnishing emigrants to the wonderful regions of California. In less than a year there will probably be a population of 100,000 to 200,000 souls, all digging for gold, and capable of producing from 100,000,000 to 300,000,000 dolls. worth per annum of pure gold, to be thrown on the commerce of the world at one fell swoop. This will produce results that no one can at this time estimate. These are the general views of the productiveness of this region, and the prospect before us for the next few years. What is to be the effect of such vast dis coveries on the commerce of the world—on old com munities, on New York, London, and other great commercial cities ? The only common-sense mode by which we can arrive at a correct solution of this problem, is to inquire and to ascertain the effect which they have already produced in California. We have seen that prices of every description of produce or manufactures have risen tremendously; and the same results, on a wider scale and on a more extended basis, will be produced by the influx annually of a hundred millions of pure gold throughout the com mercial world, and particularly in this country and Eu rope. Such a vast addition to the gold currency of the world will at once disturb the prices and value of all productions and merchandize to a similar extent to that which we see in Monterey and San Francisco. The prices of every commodity will therefore rise extrava gantly during the next few years, according to the pro duce of gold from that region. N ow, in a rising market everything prospers; every one gets rich, civilization expands, industry increases, and all orders of society are benefited. As soon as the first crop of gold from California reaches New York, the impulse which it will give to commercial enterprise, and the advance in the price of everything which it will cause, will be tremendous. The bank currency will be expanded, for the basis will be abun dant; real estate will increase in value, agricultural productions and agricultural labour will advance at once, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 40 per cent., even to as great an extent, perhaps, as was witnessed when the demand came from Ireland for the food of this country to feed the starving Irish. New York and her sister cities will be the centre of all those revolutionary movements which are certain to spring from the gold productions of California, on the com merce of the whole civilized world. Ship-building will increase in value, steam-boats will be wanted, the railroads projected across the Isthmus in various places in Mexico and Central America will be pushed to completion, and we should not be surprised to see an active attempt made, under the auspices of the Federal Government, to construct a railroad across the continent, through the South Pass, from St. Louis, or some other point on the Mississippi, to San Francisco. The dis covery of these great gold mines will no doubt form the agent of the greatest revolution in the commercial cen tres of the world and on the civilization of the human race that has ever taken place since the first dawn of history. These are our views, carefully deduced from common sense, and the ordinary facts recorded in history, as well as developing themselves in California. Are they ex travagant ? are they fanciful ? We don't think they are. We think we talk soberly, religiously, and quietly. New York will henceforth, from its position to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, probably in less than a quarter of a century, present a population greater than that of Paris, and display evidences of wealth, grandeur, magnificence, and industry, to an equal, if not greater degree, than what we see in London at this day. We expect that in the next 25 years we shall make as rapid a march in this metropolis, and in the neighbour ing cities, as any city has done during the last 25 centu ries. There is no necessity for all going to California. Those who remain, and will raise produce, manufacture goods, build ships, construct steam-engines, and advance the fine arts, will enjoy the benefits of those discoveries to as great an extent as those who go to the Sacramento to dig for gold. All the results of the labours of those diggers must come to this metropolis, swell its magnificence, and increase the intensity of its action in commercial affairs. Even in a political point of view the discovery of these wonderful gold mines in California, under the Government of the United States, will have a wonderful and astounding effect. We should not be surprised to see, in a short time, all the old provinces of Mexico, as far as the Isthmus of Darien, knock ing for admission into this union ; while, on the other side, the British provinces of Canada, and even the Spanish island of Cuba, may be begging and praying to be let in at the same time, and be permitted to enjoy some of the vast advantages, and participate a little in the energy, which this vast confederacy will exhibit to the astonished world. When Colonel Mason, and the Government officers and troops in that region —when, also, Colonel Stevenson, formerly of this city, al d the youthful men who accompanied him, return to New York, and exhibit their thousands, tens of thou sands, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, as we ex pect they will do in less than a year, these wonderful facts and discoveries will produce their natural and legi timate impressions on the public mind. Wait and see! THE TRIAL OF THE NEW STEAM. CA!._l4 o l n A d G a ß y an expe rimental COUNTIES RAILWAY,--O A Monday Counties tin:mutat trip was made on the steam carriage, with this new species of intended chiefly to work the branch lighter trains, than the rai traffic at a more moderate cost, by means o eng ines, the substi present system of heavy locomoti ve h tution being that of a lig passenger engine of about twelve tons for one of bet between forty and fifty. Some of the directors and oth er gentlemen connected with th e line were in the train du ring the s ati s p f a r o c g t i r o t n , s , s of the in experi ment,the which worked w ith course of a trial at ex press speed the engine, as i t i s technically termed, "broke down, from an over -strain ing, it was understood, of the delicate machinery. o pENING OF THE ENFIELD AND EDM ONTON RAIL wi The opening of this suburbancom mences extension, which com mences nine miles up the Cambridge line of the Eastern Counties Railway, at Edmonton, terminating, after running somewhat more than two mile; at Enfield, will be opened i n the course of a few days. Satisfactory excursion trips were yesterday made between the termini, by Mr. Lawford, the engineer, Mr. Earle, the contractor, and other gentle men connected with the railway, which embraces in its route all the picturesqueness of that rural region. It has been constructed in the space of some six months, at a cost of between 40,0001. and 50,000/. The only engineering work of note is a bridge of some dimensions at the Edmonton end; and at Enfield a fine old mansion, up to which the line runs, has been selected to form the station. The steepest gradient is 1 in 87, the smallest radius of curve above twenty chains. The Act was obtained in August, 1846, but the postponement of the works was the result of the then gene ral suspension of operations. The transit from Slioreditch will be effected daily in a few minutes. IRELAND. FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) DUBLIN, FEB. 6.—The truly fraternal affection ex hibited by Lord Brougham in the debate on the Address in the Lords, when his Lordship referred to the Irish Crown lawyers, has excited a vast deal of merri ment, and afforded, in the dearth of business, a great fund of talk amongst the bar. I wonder, however, that Lord Brougham, who has not destructively submerged his great intellect beneath the load of legal horse-hair, has not dealt with the case of Irish Crown lawyers in a more extensive view than that in which th e y are pre sented to him, as hair - spl itters o n points of law, an d fa bricators of quirks and quiddities. Why has not the Noble Lord taken them as part of an unwholesome system of government, which requires to be purified from their narrow-minded and ignorant interference in its concerns? In England an Attorney-General, and of course all those under him, are attendants, gentlemen in waiting, on the behests of authority. An Attorney- General is told to hold back and he halts, beis desired to prosecute and he prosecutes, and possibly he convicts. It may not be one of thb least influen tial elements in his official success, that he goes to work like a mere impassive instrument of power—with no excited feeling —no indecent anxiety for success—no burning resentment to be gratified—no collateral issue as to his own wisdom or prudence raised, or to be tried, with the question sent to the jury. How different is the case here. Amongst us, the Attorney- General is a part of the Government. He advises and directs in the first instance, and he carries out with all the rampant zeal of a partizan the project which be may have originally co unse ll e d w ith t h e o b st i nacy and ignorance of a blunderer. In thus speaking, I mean no offence to the distinguished equity lawyer who is our present Attorney-General, nor to his colleagues, who are all men of unexceptionable good character and worth, and hold high places in their profession. But Ido not hesitate to embody an opinion that is very generally en tertained that Irish lawyers are too much mixed up in the government of that country. Men, in order to be qualified to take a share in government, should be men of the world, and those who are not so, who have merely studied human nature in black letter and not in the vivid Bud burning characters of the living world, are unfit to be rulers in the social state. It is no libel to say that a mere lawyer is at best a narrow-minded man, and the more tho roughly imbued he is with the study and lore of his science, as applied to the mercantile business of the world, in the same degree will he be a pedantic and frequently dictatorial formulist, no more suited to the functions of government than Dr. Syntax himself. Experience proves that lawyers always oppose reform. Fed upon precedent, and fattened on tradition, they hold things as they are in a degree of reve rence that confers sanctity upon an ancient abuse, and regards any improvement as a dangerous innovation. Hence, too frequently, they are enemies to re form in every shape, and it would seem that the paramount duty of every Irish lawyer is to be as busy as possible, doing nothing, and availing himself of the first opportu nity to spring into a soft seat on the Bench, leaving his successor in office, if, to say so, be not a bull, to finish the work that he himself had never begun! The obvious remedy for this is—to turn the lawyers out. Keep them in their proper places—whatever is right to be done do it, but take none of their advice—let them stick to their lasts, and until that rule is enforced, there is no hope for Ireland. MURDER NEAR BRIGHTON. Yesterday morning a little before four o'clock infor mation was given at the Brighton Town Hall by Mr. Hodson and Mr. Kirton, that Mr. Griffith, the brewer, had been murdered. These townsmen had been out on a shooting excursion, and on their way homewards at a very late hour they discovered a body lying on the road between Dale gate and the Plough at Piecombe, which, on investigation, turned out to be that of Mr. Griffith. It was resting on the back, and life was extinct. The hat of the deceased was picked up a few yards off, his pockets were turned inside out and rifled, and a wound was discovered in the chest, showing that he had been shot through the body by his assailant. A gig whip and part of a rein, cut, were also picked up on the spot, leaving no doubt that the deceased had been waylaid by highwaymen. He was a high-couraged and power ful man, and the probability is that he resisted the at tempt at robbery, and paid the penalty with his life.— Mr. Griffith had been out on a short country journey to collect cash and take orders from publicans whom he supplied. The spot where the murder was committed is inune diately under the South Down-hill, and there is only one dwelling near the place, namely, a farm-house in the occupation of Mr. Mannington, and one of Mr. Man nington's servants heard the report of a pistol between nine and ten o'clock in the evening, supposed to have been the time the murder was committed. Mr. Griffith had been in the country collecting cash, and he arrived at Henfield soon after eight o'clock, and having baited his horse, he left Henfield at ten minutes before nine o'clock, and the spot where he was murdered was about four miles from Henfield, so that he must have reached the place where he lost his life at about half-past rune. The horse and gig were found at Poyning, the reins were cut nearly close up to the hand, and it is evident that they had both been cut asunder by a sharp knife. Footsteps were traced on some rising ground leading to the Downs, but whether they were the footsteps of the assassins cannot yet be known. In January last deceased received an anonymous let ter, warning him of an attack from robbers. The letter was as follows:—" Sir—Some parties intends to xob you the next time you goes to Horsham, so bee on your guard." The letter bears the superscription of " Mr. Martin, Grill's brewery, Brighton;" and it was posted in Tratelgar-street, Brighton. There is no doubt that the writer of the letter knows the guilty parties, and every exertion is being used on the part of the police to discover the murderers. It is the general impression that the crime was perpetrated by persons well ac quainted with the business habits of the firm, and that the assassins expected to obtain a very large booty. But we understand that the cash deceased had with him did net probably amount to more than about 201. Mr. Griffith took two pistols with him, and when his body was discovered one of the pistols was found lying by his side discharged, whilst the other pistol was found in his pocket loaded. Mr. Griffith settled in Brighton in November, 1845, and entered into partnership with Mr. Sewell, the manager of the Branch County Bank, at Brighton. He was an active member of the commis sioners, and an intelligent man. His loss will be la mented by a large circle of friends. He has left two boys, one eight and the other ten years of age. THE INQUEST. Yesterday afternoon the coroner proceeded with the inquest. The jury having viewed the body and the spot where it was found, Mr. H. M. Blakes, surgeon, Brighton, who had made a post-mortem examination of deceased, stated that he found a bullet wound in the centre of the breast ; it had passed through the heart and lodged in the back part. It would cause iustant death. Deceased might utter one shriek, not more. The pistol or gun must have been discharged close to him, as the clothes were singed. Mr. Jame Hodson, hatter, Brighton, deposed to find ing the body as above stated, and also that near it were a discharged pistol, an iron spectacle frame covered with crape so as to disguise the face, a glove, a whip, an empty purse, and a rein. He and his companion at once recognised Mr. Griffith. W. S. Martin stated that he is a manager of the Rock Brewery, at Brighton, of which deceased was the pro prietor. Witness had been in the habit of going the Horsham round himself during the last twelve months to collect money. This time Mr. Griffith took the jour ney himself in consequence of having some business at Horsham which witness could not do. Witness then produced the anonymous letter above referred to. The deceased, he stated was lying on his back when they found him. The legs were rather in a crevaped position and ono of them was rather raised. They placed the body in the cart and brought it to the Plough. They did not discover the wound until they brought him to the house; they then saw the wound in the breast. The de ceased generally wore a gold watch and chain. The knife produced was not deceased's property.—The in quest was proceeding when our report left. Letters have been received from Maynard a nd . Garrett, containing some valuable information relat ing to their operations. Mr. Nash, exer tions in the investigations and defeat of e t e ha to ga acc ng ept of their attempts at intimidation, has deolinw..ch was the testimonial from private individuals , hl whose unceasing and and expenses in the pub licly announced, for his exertions. affair, considering that the companies ropriated a sum ought to ac knowledge them. He has recently (wnh interest) made of money to liquidate the advan ces by companies, though he h a d from those claims. i his friends in his defenLceisret.o_thionse aalcituiosTnioshnebrtoougthby been in cir e RIGS against him and the railway Noble been presented release with_tiGn paragraph c b t l a i r i i o n n g s, Las e C R IM. CON. IN th e defend an t i s i n the 52d thhe a b o ve title, which h as l atel Britannia says " a nd has of late 6 red in reg ar d to age, the large gu year Duke 0 f w who figure a nd liabilities, anddema nds made upon him, i n A manner which has created a pa i nful feel i ng .in his be h a lf in the public mind, from the princely and royal associations connected with the defendant becoming the property of the highest bidder. The aggrieved party is a gentleman well from known to the public b y name, m his filling a high and important office in the House of Lords, the office being one of great responsibility, and in cases of precedency and all matters that affect the peerage he has to be applied to to furnish the necessary information. The alleged offence on the part of the Noble Duke is of some standing, but has only within the last month or two come to the knowledge of the injured husband. It is but justice to state, on the part of th e N o bl e D u k e , t h at h e h as indignantly denied the charge, declaring that the alleged offence never took place; and to enable a plea to that effect being put on the record, application was made to Mr. Justice Erle; but tho Learned Judge being fortified by the decision of the full Court in the case of " Cook v. Wetherell,' considered that he had not the power to comply, by making an order for the plaintiff to give dates and occasions when the alleged criminal intercourse took place; and, as the application was not entertained, the case in its present form, stands for trial. In the legal circles it was rumoured there (listed a doubt as to whether the matter would proceed further; if it did it would be en tered for trial at the mxt sitting of Nisi Prius in the Queen's Bench, the damages being laid, it is said, at the enormous sum of 50,0001. " WRECKED PROPERTY.—An immense quantity of white boiling p eas h ave , d u ring the past week, been picked up on the c o as t a t Blackpool,which has pro ve d a great boon to the poor people in that locality. Prunes, figs, &c., have also been washed up, and form part, no doubt, of the cargo of some ill-fated vessel which has been lost during the late gales.—Liverpool Mail. MOTTO Fox HES MAJESTY'S DOCKYARDS.— Vivant Wrecks et Regina.—Punch. Y.) veza >.-- 11114 go- ?er- art- Lb' and Teen rrd. ing, ket, or- r.-- side, In- TONI Ann Sld, slie, ills; &sr- 'ork, ant, Iton, 4th .gus, 2g 11 loes; and id at ,adh Is 4a Is 0 'lvo Aber ni 38 and and :d to and 24s 45 to albs littot Ippli lov.t load• 300 load• •f tb• Wide. NUS, 2s U is aria% Llbert it a* after seat, L Our i the on of re so re. pub- 0 00' 01,10: